History of Urcea (1798-1902): Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
m (Mandt Affair) |
|||
| Line 52: | Line 52: | ||
Now empowered, Procurator FitzRex convinced the elderly King to grant him the previously Royal title of [[Ranks in the Urcean Armed Forces|Magister Militum]], granting FitzRex total control over the [[Armed Forces of the Apostolic Kingdom of Urcea|armed forces]], subsequently inducing the Daoni to vote the powerless title Commander-in-Chief to the King instead. The Daoni remained without a [[Chancellor and Temporary President]] for the remainder of the 1886-1890 term, and Procurator FitzRex used this to push through a series of aggressive reforms intended at modernization, which were initially popular. In 1889, King Aedanicus VIII died and supposedly named FitzRex as Crown Regent for the Kingdom rather than the normal succession to his son and heir, the Prince of Halfway, [[King Patrick III|Patrick]]. Historians, scholars, and forensics experts have long argued whether or not "''Aedanicus's Last Will and Testament''" was forged. Either way, Procurator [[Gréagóir FitzRex]] became Crown-Regent Gréagóir FitzRex, as no King sat in the [[Julian Palace]]. The new Crown-Regent swore to install a "legitimate but popular" King following a brief period of reform. | Now empowered, Procurator FitzRex convinced the elderly King to grant him the previously Royal title of [[Ranks in the Urcean Armed Forces|Magister Militum]], granting FitzRex total control over the [[Armed Forces of the Apostolic Kingdom of Urcea|armed forces]], subsequently inducing the Daoni to vote the powerless title Commander-in-Chief to the King instead. The Daoni remained without a [[Chancellor and Temporary President]] for the remainder of the 1886-1890 term, and Procurator FitzRex used this to push through a series of aggressive reforms intended at modernization, which were initially popular. In 1889, King Aedanicus VIII died and supposedly named FitzRex as Crown Regent for the Kingdom rather than the normal succession to his son and heir, the Prince of Halfway, [[King Patrick III|Patrick]]. Historians, scholars, and forensics experts have long argued whether or not "''Aedanicus's Last Will and Testament''" was forged. Either way, Procurator [[Gréagóir FitzRex]] became Crown-Regent Gréagóir FitzRex, as no King sat in the [[Julian Palace]]. The new Crown-Regent swore to install a "legitimate but popular" King following a brief period of reform. | ||
== Crown Regency== | == Crown Regency == | ||
{{Infobox former country | {{Infobox former country | ||
|native_name = ''Rìognum Urciona Abostolo'' | |native_name = ''Rìognum Urciona Abostolo'' | ||
| Line 110: | Line 110: | ||
The early regency period gave the colony of [[New Archduchy]] a pretext to move against [[Urcea]]. Chafing for decades under efforts to reduce its autonomy, the colony cited the lack of a King and lack of legitimate Royal authority exercised by FitzRex. Citing that its charter established it as a "crown colony", the colony declared independence on 9 August 1890 stating that the bonds between it and Urcea had lapsed as the latter no longer had a King to rule the former. While FitzRex refused to recognize their independence, he had limited resources - and very little naval capacity - to resist their independence, resolving to reclaim the colony at a later date. | The early regency period gave the colony of [[New Archduchy]] a pretext to move against [[Urcea]]. Chafing for decades under efforts to reduce its autonomy, the colony cited the lack of a King and lack of legitimate Royal authority exercised by FitzRex. Citing that its charter established it as a "crown colony", the colony declared independence on 9 August 1890 stating that the bonds between it and Urcea had lapsed as the latter no longer had a King to rule the former. While FitzRex refused to recognize their independence, he had limited resources - and very little naval capacity - to resist their independence, resolving to reclaim the colony at a later date. | ||
FitzRex's regime heavily relied upon the veneer of legitimacy granted by the [[Concilium Daoni]], whose flag and arms he adopted as the de facto symbols of the nation during a regency period. While continuing to push new laws through the Daoni, observers noted an increasingly autocratic tendency as members of his [[Concilium Purpaidá]] were Generals or other army officers loyal to him. The election of 1895 was mired in allegations of fraud, ballot-stuffing, and violence that returned an overwhelming majority in the Daoni for independent politicians aligned with the Crown-Regent | FitzRex's regime heavily relied upon the veneer of legitimacy granted by the [[Concilium Daoni]], whose flag and arms he adopted as the de facto symbols of the nation during a regency period. While continuing to push new laws through the Daoni, observers noted an increasingly autocratic tendency as members of his [[Concilium Purpaidá]] were Generals or other army officers loyal to him. The election of 1895 was mired in allegations of fraud, ballot-stuffing, and violence that returned an overwhelming majority in the Daoni for independent politicians aligned with the Crown-Regent. In 1896, FitzRex began to spearhead two of his other major initiatives. He announced the formation of a commission that would disentangle Urcea's economic and political institutions from the [[Holy Levantine Empire]], and that Urcea would secede from the Empire by 1905. His proposal to secede was approved by the [[Gildertach]] in February of 1896. Second, he passed the Property and Holdings Requirement Act of 1896. This law reduced the property requirement to join the noble [[Social class in Urcea|optimate class]] to virtually 0 [[Taler|talers]], and also suspended the mechanisms necessary to enroll and maintain membership in the optimate class, functionally abolishing the class by attrition. While most - even traditionalists and conservatives - had little to offer regarding his class changes, given how irrelevant the optimates were, the decision to pull Urcea out of the Empire was highly controversial. Despite the animosity between Urcean nationalist tendencies and the Empire spawned by the [[Recess of the Julii]], Urcea still had some national pride in its role in such an ancient institution. | ||
In spring [[1896]], FitzRex began to circulate the notion of a new [[Apostolic King of Urcea]] being crowned by [[1905]] upon the exit of the Kingdom from the Holy Levantine Empire. While FitzRex never formally proposed a candidate to the Daoni, he unofficially negotiated with Daoni leaders and prominent military officials about the possibility of crowning Aedanicus Mandt as Apostolic King. Mandt was the head of the House of Mandt, a relatively prominent [[Social class in Urcea|optimate]] family with historic ties to the [[Creagmer republics]]. He had descent from a daughter of King Brian II (reigned 1768-1781) and had long maintained his historic relation to [[Saint Julius I]]. Despite this, the Mandts did not claim to be part of the [[Julian dynasty]] and openly eschewed the Julian identity, instead emphasizing their identity as Custóirs of the [[Estates of Urcea|Scipii estate]]. Mandt had a degree of public noteriety and his father had served with distinction in the [[Third Caroline War]], bringing the family public noteriety and fame. Aedanicus Mandt had been responsible for overseeing, during the later reign of Aedanicus VIII, for several building projects in [[Urceopolis (City)|Urceopolis]], using the opportunity for self-aggrandizement and political fame. FitzRex alluded to his support for Mandt in a public letter written in March 1896, referring to Mandt as a "prince of the people" both due to his popularity and membership in the Scipii estate. Mandt was broadly unacceptable to nearly all prominent political and military leaders excepting those closest to FitzRex. Many would simply not accept any non-Julian candidate, and many found Mandt to be personally faulty as many leaders believed Mandt's desire for fame would make him a King that could be easily manipulated by FitzRex. The proposal enraged Ionian delegates in the [[Concilium Daoni]] and Ionian military leaders, who FitzRex had previously hinted to that he may appoint an outlying member of [[House de Weluta]], who still enjoyed the loyalty of the people of the [[Ionian Plateau]]. Many Ionian senior officers and delegates resigned in protest and returned to the Plateau in May 1896. By the end of that month, even FitzRex's closest advisors and supporters believed Mandt to be untenable, and by early June FitzRex conceded in his private writings that Aedanicus Mandt would never be Apostolic King. The Mandt Affair had the effect of consolidating Ionian opposition to the Crown Regency and lead many of FitzRex's supporters to question his political instincts. | |||
=='97 Rising== | Behind his public persona, FitzRex worked to consolidate power by moving away from the bourgeoisie-backed [[Crown Liberalism|Crown Liberal]] system of Urcea into a more dictatorial, military, technocratic apparatus. This division between the urban [[Social class in Urcea|privilegiata]] and the military privilegiata created most of the political fissures in his regime. The [[National Pact (Urcea)|National Pact]] began to openly contest the 1895 election results in July 1896, resulting in the [[Royal and Imperial Army (Urcea)|Regal Army]] being called in to seize their headquarters and dissolve the party, though most party leaders learned of the operation beforehand and fled to the [[Ionian Plateau]], receiving protection from the recently alienated local leaders. Meanwhile, Crown-Regent [[Gréagóir FitzRex]] claimed plausible deniability by decrying the operation having occurred "at the hands of rogues" who "must face the rule of law", but no charges were filed. In 1897, the Crown Regent announced that provincial Governors would not be elected as per the Administrative Reorganization Act of 1892, but rather would be appointed directly by the Crown-Regent with approval of the provincial legislatures, most of which were lead by FitzRex loyalists. This lead to widespread protests, and by July 1897, the [[National Pact (Urcea)|National Pact]] had been outlawed by the Crown Regency on account of it being a "criminal conspiracy against the stability of the state". National Pact leaders fled [[Urceopolis (City)|Urceopolis]] and rallied clans in the [[Ionian Plateau]] into open revolt. Civil war had begun, and it took the names "'97 Rising" or "Red Interregnum" for the blood spilled during the conflict, though some historians use that term to refer to the entirety of FitzRex's administration. | ||
==='97 Rising=== | |||
{{Main|'97 Rising}} | {{Main|'97 Rising}} | ||
While the initial revolt was largely between disaffected [[Crown Liberalism|Crown Liberals]] and the Regency, leaders of the uprising pledged to recall the [[King Patrick III|Prince of Halfway]] of [[House de Weluta]], then living in exile in [[Burgundie]], to the Throne. The promise of restoration motivated [[Catholic Church|Church]] officials to lean towards the side of the | While the initial revolt was largely between disaffected [[Crown Liberalism|Crown Liberals]] and the Regency, leaders of the uprising pledged to recall the [[King Patrick III|Prince of Halfway]] of [[House de Weluta]], then living in exile in [[Burgundie]], to the Throne. The promise of restoration motivated [[Catholic Church|Church]] officials to lean towards the side of the insurrectionaries, and the liberal National Pact successfully forged an alliance with traditionalist conservatives who held power in the [[Ionian Plateau]]. No large scale fighting occurred in 1897, but by the end of the year a portion of the armed forces had defected to the rebelling parties, which were now calling themselves the "''Legitimists''". Facing a larger coalition, [[Gréagóir FitzRex|FitzRex]] began to move his technocratic regime in an increasingly socialist direction in an attempt to bring the lower classes to his banner, a move that many historians claim was successful and politically shrewd though in complete contravention of FitzRex's stated rationale for his alliance with Caphiria. Early 1898 saw a campaign of [[Royal and Imperial Army (Urcea)|Royal Army]] forces trying and failing to break into the [[Ionian Plateau]] in an effort to capture Legitimist leaders, and the failure to do so - culminating with a decisive Legitimist victory at the Battle of Goldvale in April - put the Regency regime on the defensive for much of the remainder of the war. Various states of the [[Holy Levantine Empire]] - citing the illegality of Urcea's planned secession and answering calls from within Urcea - declared war following the battle in an effort to help the restoration. Much of the war from 1898 through 1900 focused on the guerilla conflict and small scale clashes domestically, though the war - which was now part of the global [[First Great War]] - saw relatively significant naval action in the run up to allied intervention. The presence of large rebel armies on Urcean territory and foreign blockading actions provided FitzRex with the pretext to indefinitely suspend meetings of the [[Concilium Daoni]], leaving total control of the war government in the hands of his handpicked [[Concilium Purpaidá]] ministers. | ||
Although the Legitimist Front was active within the [[The Valley (Urcea)|the Valley]], the [[Royal and Imperial Army (Urcea)|Regal Army]] was having better success keeping most of the allied Imperial forces bottled behind the [[Ionian Mountains]]. Attempts by [[Burgundie]] and other Imperial nations to bypass the mountains via the Julia Bay were no less successful, as combined efforts of the [[Royal Navy (Urcea)|Regal Navy]] and Caphiria's [[Imperial Naval Fleet]] successfully managed to interdict allied efforts to break through for most of 1898-1901. Despite the availability of machine gun technology, it was not widely employed during the early war, making the Red Interregnum the final major [[Occidental world|Occidental]] conflict to employ traditional cavalry charges and other traditional techniques. The early parts of the war saw employment, on both sides, of technology that would later have significant use but was not yet technologically ready for warfare. Most prominently, [[Caphiria]] and Urcea collaborated on the creation of fifteen armored cars for use in battle, but each of the fifteen broke down on the battlefield and the idea was scrapped for a decade. The failure of the forces of the [[Holy Levantine Empire]] would be temporary, however, as the internal successes of Legitimist forces - which, by February of 1899 induced defections of entire [[Ranks in the Urcean Armed Forces|Cohorts and Regiments]] at a time - opened the doorway for external aid. Defections within the Regal Navy meant that an organized Legitimist navy - sailing out of bases in [[Gassavelia]] - took to the seas by the summer of 1899. By August 1899, the Regal-Caphirian joint naval operation no longer held absolute dominion over the Julia Bay. On land, Legitimists scored a significant victory over the Regal Army, defeating it in battle at [[Northgate]] and was forcing to retreat. This victory allowed the creation of a Legitimist government in [[Carolina]] and allowed Levantine armies to link up with Legitimist forces. Despite this, allied forces could proceed no further as regrouped Regal forces created a successful defensive perimeter stretching from Westglen and Goldvale. | Although the Legitimist Front was active within the [[The Valley (Urcea)|the Valley]], the [[Royal and Imperial Army (Urcea)|Regal Army]] was having better success keeping most of the allied Imperial forces bottled behind the [[Ionian Mountains]]. Attempts by [[Burgundie]] and other Imperial nations to bypass the mountains via the Julia Bay were no less successful, as combined efforts of the [[Royal Navy (Urcea)|Regal Navy]] and Caphiria's [[Imperial Naval Fleet]] successfully managed to interdict allied efforts to break through for most of 1898-1901. Despite the availability of machine gun technology, it was not widely employed during the early war, making the Red Interregnum the final major [[Occidental world|Occidental]] conflict to employ traditional cavalry charges and other traditional techniques. The early parts of the war saw employment, on both sides, of technology that would later have significant use but was not yet technologically ready for warfare. Most prominently, [[Caphiria]] and Urcea collaborated on the creation of fifteen armored cars for use in battle, but each of the fifteen broke down on the battlefield and the idea was scrapped for a decade. The failure of the forces of the [[Holy Levantine Empire]] would be temporary, however, as the internal successes of Legitimist forces - which, by February of 1899 induced defections of entire [[Ranks in the Urcean Armed Forces|Cohorts and Regiments]] at a time - opened the doorway for external aid. Defections within the Regal Navy meant that an organized Legitimist navy - sailing out of bases in [[Gassavelia]] - took to the seas by the summer of 1899. By August 1899, the Regal-Caphirian joint naval operation no longer held absolute dominion over the Julia Bay. On land, Legitimists scored a significant victory over the Regal Army, defeating it in battle at [[Northgate]] and was forcing to retreat. This victory allowed the creation of a Legitimist government in [[Carolina]] and allowed Levantine armies to link up with Legitimist forces. Despite this, allied forces could proceed no further as regrouped Regal forces created a successful defensive perimeter stretching from Westglen and Goldvale. | ||
| Line 131: | Line 132: | ||
The blockade lead to rapidly deteriorating conditions inside the Regal lines, as food became scarce and most lower class [[Social class in Urcea|freemen]] were laid off and sent home due to the lack of available work. Widespread unrest gripped [[Urceopolis (City)|Urceopolis]] as the city approached starvation by the end of January. [[Gréagóir FitzRex|The Crown Regent]] diverted more of his power to the [[Concilium Daoni]] in order to reduce the unrest and began to re-purpose some of the Regal Army for night raids across the lines to take foodstores back to the city. The Crown Regent began a semi-effective food rationing system, and began to open the [[Julian Palace]] to the public, sharing the Palace's food stores with the masses. These measures were effective in restoring confidence for much of February 1902, but even the Palace's food stores began to run low by the end of the month. FitzRex had restored public confidence in his regime for a temporary time, but the effort became his undoing. On the night of March 2nd, 1902, a family of Urceopolitans were refused larger portions despite the state of their famished children, causing an argument between the family and the workers at the Palace. FitzRex attempted to mediate the discussion, but the argument escalated and the leader of the family stabbed the Crown Regent, leading to the Palace dining hall erupting in a massive riot. FitzRex, not fatally wounded, was trampled in the chaos and was pronounced dead in the Palace. The Daoni met in an emergency session into the early morning of the 3rd, and, following hours of debate, the socialist majority in the Daoni declared a republic which would continue the fight against the Legitimists. It voted to abolish itself and replace itself with a "National Assembly of the Republic". | The blockade lead to rapidly deteriorating conditions inside the Regal lines, as food became scarce and most lower class [[Social class in Urcea|freemen]] were laid off and sent home due to the lack of available work. Widespread unrest gripped [[Urceopolis (City)|Urceopolis]] as the city approached starvation by the end of January. [[Gréagóir FitzRex|The Crown Regent]] diverted more of his power to the [[Concilium Daoni]] in order to reduce the unrest and began to re-purpose some of the Regal Army for night raids across the lines to take foodstores back to the city. The Crown Regent began a semi-effective food rationing system, and began to open the [[Julian Palace]] to the public, sharing the Palace's food stores with the masses. These measures were effective in restoring confidence for much of February 1902, but even the Palace's food stores began to run low by the end of the month. FitzRex had restored public confidence in his regime for a temporary time, but the effort became his undoing. On the night of March 2nd, 1902, a family of Urceopolitans were refused larger portions despite the state of their famished children, causing an argument between the family and the workers at the Palace. FitzRex attempted to mediate the discussion, but the argument escalated and the leader of the family stabbed the Crown Regent, leading to the Palace dining hall erupting in a massive riot. FitzRex, not fatally wounded, was trampled in the chaos and was pronounced dead in the Palace. The Daoni met in an emergency session into the early morning of the 3rd, and, following hours of debate, the socialist majority in the Daoni declared a republic which would continue the fight against the Legitimists. It voted to abolish itself and replace itself with a "National Assembly of the Republic". | ||
== The Republic == | === The Republic === | ||
The [[Urcean Republic]] was declared on March 3rd, 1902, in the [[Royal Green]] to large crowds assembled outside the [[Julian Palace]]. The crowd, largely assembled from groups sympathetic to the socialist majority in the new National Assembly, cheered. The new Republican government began to establish laws, create a new food rationing system, organize the now "National Republican Army" out of the old Regal Army, and created national workshops and gardens from which material and food could be provided. It decamped the [[Julian Palace]] and determined to take up residence in [[The Praetorium (Urceopolis)|the Praetorium]] instead, citing their intent to distance themselves from the "Royal" history. Additionally, the Assembly created a citizen National Guard to keep order and provide a reliable alternative to the conservative privilegiata officer corps of the National Republican Army. The National Assembly was made up of independent socialist members of Assembly in a loose majority (which eventually coalesced into the [[Republican Party (Urcea)|Republican Party]] just prior to the fall of the Republic) as well as a well organized minority party known as the [[National Democratic Party (Urcea)]], which was made up of the Crown Regent's supporters and allies and were known informally as "FitzRex's Party" prior to the establishment of the Republic. The party established itself as a formal organization with the establishment of the Republic, and it vowed to carry on FitzRex's ideas of social egalitarianism without full economic socialism. | The [[Urcean Republic]] was declared on March 3rd, 1902, in the [[Royal Green]] to large crowds assembled outside the [[Julian Palace]]. The crowd, largely assembled from groups sympathetic to the socialist majority in the new National Assembly, cheered. The new Republican government began to establish laws, create a new food rationing system, organize the now "National Republican Army" out of the old Regal Army, and created national workshops and gardens from which material and food could be provided. It decamped the [[Julian Palace]] and determined to take up residence in [[The Praetorium (Urceopolis)|the Praetorium]] instead, citing their intent to distance themselves from the "Royal" history. Additionally, the Assembly created a citizen National Guard to keep order and provide a reliable alternative to the conservative privilegiata officer corps of the National Republican Army. The National Assembly was made up of independent socialist members of Assembly in a loose majority (which eventually coalesced into the [[Republican Party (Urcea)|Republican Party]] just prior to the fall of the Republic) as well as a well organized minority party known as the [[National Democratic Party (Urcea)]], which was made up of the Crown Regent's supporters and allies and were known informally as "FitzRex's Party" prior to the establishment of the Republic. The party established itself as a formal organization with the establishment of the Republic, and it vowed to carry on FitzRex's ideas of social egalitarianism without full economic socialism. | ||
| Line 140: | Line 141: | ||
On September 8th, combined Urceo-Burgoignesc marine forces stormed [[The Pale]], successfully taking the island after a short skirmish on the [[Royal Green]], which notably left bullet holes in parts of the Levantine Forum which can still be seen today. The same day, the [[King Patrick III|Prince of Halfway]] took up residence in the [[Julian Palace]] but announced he would not take the crown until the whole of Urceopolis was unified under Royal control. The Republican government, now confined to Oldtown, grew increasingly radical and formed the [[Republican Party (Urcea)|Republican Party]], the only legal party within the Daoni. The siege continued on and, without access to the [[Urce River]], the city slowly began to starve once more. The once-strong political binds between the workers and the Republic slowly began to fray, and party officials were often seen openly feuding in the street and gathering rival street gangs. Morale recovered somewhat to begin October as a Legitimist raiding party was captured and publicly executed as reactionary traitors, giving the impression that the National Republican Army was still a fighting force of note. By October, fighting men (and, by now, women) fit for combat was probably no higher than around 40,000 due to defections, disease, and the loss of The Pale. Legitimist forces could have stormed the city - allied forces were probably around 400,000 all told - but a potential sack of Urceopolis was considered to be the absolute worst possible scenario for the legitimacy of the Restoration. | On September 8th, combined Urceo-Burgoignesc marine forces stormed [[The Pale]], successfully taking the island after a short skirmish on the [[Royal Green]], which notably left bullet holes in parts of the Levantine Forum which can still be seen today. The same day, the [[King Patrick III|Prince of Halfway]] took up residence in the [[Julian Palace]] but announced he would not take the crown until the whole of Urceopolis was unified under Royal control. The Republican government, now confined to Oldtown, grew increasingly radical and formed the [[Republican Party (Urcea)|Republican Party]], the only legal party within the Daoni. The siege continued on and, without access to the [[Urce River]], the city slowly began to starve once more. The once-strong political binds between the workers and the Republic slowly began to fray, and party officials were often seen openly feuding in the street and gathering rival street gangs. Morale recovered somewhat to begin October as a Legitimist raiding party was captured and publicly executed as reactionary traitors, giving the impression that the National Republican Army was still a fighting force of note. By October, fighting men (and, by now, women) fit for combat was probably no higher than around 40,000 due to defections, disease, and the loss of The Pale. Legitimist forces could have stormed the city - allied forces were probably around 400,000 all told - but a potential sack of Urceopolis was considered to be the absolute worst possible scenario for the legitimacy of the Restoration. | ||
=== End of the Republic === | ==== End of the Republic ==== | ||
On November 17th, party leaders decided to launch a purge of any remaining privilegiata officers from the ranks of the National Republican Army. The regular Army - as well as those manning the barricades - had become loyal to their commanders rather than to the Republic, and the Assembly decided a quick, nighttime purge would sure up their own position. Informants immediately rushed back to the barracks, where the officers summoned a large contingent of loyalist troops, where they fortified and laid a trap. Party militia arrived and were slaughtered, and the Republican Army forces quickly marched on [[The Praetorium (Urceopolis)|the Praetorium]] and besieged the building by 10 PM that night. At 2 AM the following morning, the Army stormed the Praetorium and massacred the leaders of the [[Republican Party (Urcea)|Republican Party]] and any members of the National Assembly it could find. On the morning of the 18th, the Army found several former members of Assembly from the [[National Democratic Party (Urcea)]] which had remained in the city and installed them in the Assembly. The Republic was now in the hands of the Army and the National Democratic Party, though [[The Praetorium (Urceopolis)|the Praetorium]] was now besieged by socialist partisans lead by a few Republicans which had escaped. A tense standoff was broken by 3 in the afternoon on the 18th, as reinforcements from the city's defenses routed the partisans in a particularly bloody affair. Army leaders began to meet with the new Assembly majority members to determine the best course of action to take. On the next morning, November 19th, 1902, the Assembly voted to dissolve the [[Urcean Republic]] effective midnight and voted to reconstitute itself as the [[Concilium Daoni]]. Before adjourning, the Assembly gave the formal order to the Army to stand down and also formally invited the [[Patrick III of Urcea|Prince of Halfway]] to take control of the city. The National Republican Army surrendered to the Legitimist cause by 1 PM on the 19th, and the newly reconstituted [[Royal and Imperial Army (Urcea)|Royal Army]] entered the city. Prince Patrick and the [[Pope]] soon followed. A hastily organized coronation ceremony in [[St. Peter's Archbasilica]] followed that evening, and the Prince of Halfway formally became [[Patrick III of Urcea|King Patrick III]], cementing the restoration and end of the Republic. | On November 17th, party leaders decided to launch a purge of any remaining privilegiata officers from the ranks of the National Republican Army. The regular Army - as well as those manning the barricades - had become loyal to their commanders rather than to the Republic, and the Assembly decided a quick, nighttime purge would sure up their own position. Informants immediately rushed back to the barracks, where the officers summoned a large contingent of loyalist troops, where they fortified and laid a trap. Party militia arrived and were slaughtered, and the Republican Army forces quickly marched on [[The Praetorium (Urceopolis)|the Praetorium]] and besieged the building by 10 PM that night. At 2 AM the following morning, the Army stormed the Praetorium and massacred the leaders of the [[Republican Party (Urcea)|Republican Party]] and any members of the National Assembly it could find. On the morning of the 18th, the Army found several former members of Assembly from the [[National Democratic Party (Urcea)]] which had remained in the city and installed them in the Assembly. The Republic was now in the hands of the Army and the National Democratic Party, though [[The Praetorium (Urceopolis)|the Praetorium]] was now besieged by socialist partisans lead by a few Republicans which had escaped. A tense standoff was broken by 3 in the afternoon on the 18th, as reinforcements from the city's defenses routed the partisans in a particularly bloody affair. Army leaders began to meet with the new Assembly majority members to determine the best course of action to take. On the next morning, November 19th, 1902, the Assembly voted to dissolve the [[Urcean Republic]] effective midnight and voted to reconstitute itself as the [[Concilium Daoni]]. Before adjourning, the Assembly gave the formal order to the Army to stand down and also formally invited the [[Patrick III of Urcea|Prince of Halfway]] to take control of the city. The National Republican Army surrendered to the Legitimist cause by 1 PM on the 19th, and the newly reconstituted [[Royal and Imperial Army (Urcea)|Royal Army]] entered the city. Prince Patrick and the [[Pope]] soon followed. A hastily organized coronation ceremony in [[St. Peter's Archbasilica]] followed that evening, and the Prince of Halfway formally became [[Patrick III of Urcea|King Patrick III]], cementing the restoration and end of the Republic. | ||