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History of Urcea (1902-1955): Difference between revisions
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As the Apostolic Kingdom prepared to focus on its external affairs and the duties of the [[Emperor of the Levantines]], a decade and a half of instability and political turmoil came to a close. Following about fifteen years of unsuccessful efforts to restore the [[Urcean Republic]], the [[Republican Party (Urcea)|National Republican Army]] decided to disband in [[1924]]. As a consequence, the Republican Party was legalized and became a legitimate political party, though in the upcoming [[1925]] [[Concilium Daoni]] election it would fail to gain seats. Improving economic conditions in Urcea in addition to effective techniques employed by the [[Agency for the Preservation of the Restoration]] lead to the NRA's significant decline by 1919. The negotiated end to the NRA lead to increased public scrutiny against the Agency for the Preservation of the Restoration, which was viewed as an unnecessary. Although the nation's secret police was used sparingly between 1924 and 1927, it continued operations until its final abolition in 1927. | As the Apostolic Kingdom prepared to focus on its external affairs and the duties of the [[Emperor of the Levantines]], a decade and a half of instability and political turmoil came to a close. Following about fifteen years of unsuccessful efforts to restore the [[Urcean Republic]], the [[Republican Party (Urcea)|National Republican Army]] decided to disband in [[1924]]. As a consequence, the Republican Party was legalized and became a legitimate political party, though in the upcoming [[1925]] [[Concilium Daoni]] election it would fail to gain seats. Improving economic conditions in Urcea in addition to effective techniques employed by the [[Agency for the Preservation of the Restoration]] lead to the NRA's significant decline by 1919. The negotiated end to the NRA lead to increased public scrutiny against the Agency for the Preservation of the Restoration, which was viewed as an unnecessary. Although the nation's secret police was used sparingly between 1924 and 1927, it continued operations until its final abolition in 1927. | ||
Early in 1925, an election in the Republic of Lutsana - a state in the [[Kingdom of Dericania]] - returned the Lutsana Worker’s Party in the government. The LWP appointed an openly communist Prime Minister. The Emperor was compelled by the princes to suppress the results of the election and adopt an Empire-wide policy of rollback in order to combat revolutionary threats. The Diet and Emperor issued a joint proclamation demanding a new election, but the government of Lutsana refused. The conservative-minded Army of Lutsana viewed this proclamation as delegitimizing the new LWP-lead government, and consequently the Army launched a coup, but were soon defeated by an army of workers and peasants. The Emperor sought to intervene, but the 1925 [[Concilium Daoni]] was considered close and, as [[Apostolic King of Urcea]], James did not want to take any drastic moves to interfere with the normal functioning of government. This, combined with the attention the King was increasingly showing towards the growing crisis in the [[Kingdom of Dericania]], lead to a further strengthening of the precedent of Royal withdrawal within the [[Constitution of Urcea]]. The 1925 election saw a resurgent [[National Pact (Urcea)|National Pact]] threatening the now two-decades long control of the [[National Democratic Party (Urcea)|National Democratic Party]]. The National Pact was sympathetic towards the liberals in the [[Kingdom of Dericania]] and was concerned with the growing power the King was accumulating as Emperor. The National Democratic Party, on the other hand, viewed themselves as fierce defenders of the existing Constitutional settlement and champions of stability and order in [[Levantia]]; the NDP held that the existence of the [[Holy Levantine Empire]] was absolutely necessary to ensure stability and prevent open war, a position it had dramatically reversed on since the party's founding during the FitzRex era. It additionally campaigned on the notion that a challenge to James as Emperor was a challenge to Urcea and an insult to national pride. This attitude was increasingly being felt throughout Urcean society, and the refusal of Lutsana to comply with the Emperor and eject its radical socialist party - one that many Urceans associated with the horrors and excesses of the [[Urcean Republic]] two decades earlier - resonated with the people. The National Democratic Party won a commanding majority in the [[Concilium Daoni]] in 1925 and the government consequently created a series of temporary laws - collectively known as the Regional Stability Acts of 1926 - allowing the [[Apostolic King of Urcea]] absolute carte blanche control of the [[Armed Forces of the Apostolic Kingdom of Urcea]] for use in [[Levantia]]. The government issued a statement of support for the King's reign as Emperor. These policies were collectively referred to by a phrase used in a speech made by then-[[Chancellor and Temporary President|Chancellor]] Seán Virius: "The Emperor's word is [[Urcea]]'s word | Early in 1925, an election in the Republic of [[Lutsana]] - a state in the [[Kingdom of Dericania]] - returned the Lutsana Worker’s Party in the government. The LWP appointed an openly communist Prime Minister. The Emperor was compelled by the princes to suppress the results of the election and adopt an Empire-wide policy of rollback in order to combat revolutionary threats. The Diet and Emperor issued a joint proclamation demanding a new election, but the government of Lutsana refused. The conservative-minded Army of Lutsana viewed this proclamation as delegitimizing the new LWP-lead government, and consequently the Army launched a coup, but were soon defeated by an army of workers and peasants. The Emperor sought to intervene, but the 1925 [[Concilium Daoni]] was considered close and, as [[Apostolic King of Urcea]], James did not want to take any drastic moves to interfere with the normal functioning of government. This, combined with the attention the King was increasingly showing towards the growing crisis in the [[Kingdom of Dericania]], lead to a further strengthening of the precedent of Royal withdrawal within the [[Constitution of Urcea]]. The 1925 election saw a resurgent [[National Pact (Urcea)|National Pact]] threatening the now two-decades long control of the [[National Democratic Party (Urcea)|National Democratic Party]]. The National Pact was sympathetic towards the liberals in the [[Kingdom of Dericania]] and was concerned with the growing power the King was accumulating as Emperor. The National Democratic Party, on the other hand, viewed themselves as fierce defenders of the existing Constitutional settlement and champions of stability and order in [[Levantia]]; the NDP held that the existence of the [[Holy Levantine Empire]] was absolutely necessary to ensure stability and prevent open war, a position it had dramatically reversed on since the party's founding during the FitzRex era. It additionally campaigned on the notion that a challenge to James as Emperor was a challenge to Urcea and an insult to national pride. This attitude was increasingly being felt throughout Urcean society, and the refusal of Lutsana to comply with the Emperor and eject its radical socialist party - one that many Urceans associated with the horrors and excesses of the [[Urcean Republic]] two decades earlier - resonated with the people. The National Democratic Party won a commanding majority in the [[Concilium Daoni]] in 1925 and the government consequently created a series of temporary laws - collectively known as the Regional Stability Acts of 1926 - allowing the [[Apostolic King of Urcea]] absolute carte blanche control of the [[Armed Forces of the Apostolic Kingdom of Urcea]] for use in [[Levantia]]. The government issued a statement of support for the King's reign as Emperor. These policies were collectively referred to by a phrase used in a speech made by then-[[Chancellor and Temporary President|Chancellor]] Seán Virius: "The Emperor's word is [[Urcea]]'s word", or in other words, that the will of the Emperor was the will of the [[Government of Urcea]], and to refuse the lawful demands of the Emperor was an insult of Urcea's national pride. Though the situation in the [[Kingdom of Dericania]] was rapidly declining by January 1926, the supreme confidence invested in him by the [[Government of Urcea]] gave him renewed confidence to impose the will of the Empire in the [[Kingdom of Dericania]]. | ||
In February of 1926, another imperial state, Geneseo, elected a syndicalist government and the election results were confirmed by the Duke of Geneseo before he fled the Duchy. The Emperor issued another proclamation demanding the election be reconsidered, and like in the Lutsana case it was refused. Unlike in the case of Lutsana, the Emperor sent an expeditionary force of the [[Royal and Imperial Army (Urcea)|Royal and Imperial Army]] through [[Dericania]] to subdue the government of Geneseo. The Royal and Imperial Army was stopped at the border of the Margraviate of Novaustramark, which refused entry to the Royal and Imperial Army. Following three days of tense standoff, the Derian nationalist-filled Novaustramark army began firing on the expeditionary force, causing a major international incident. The Emperor appeared in person before the [[Imperial Diet]] and demanded the Duke of Novaustramark be censured and asserted that the Imperial Army could enter any territory within the [[Holy Levantine Empire]] in order to execute the business of the Empire. The princes of Dericania, though appreciative of the Emperor's efforts, chafed severely under this assertion and refused to censure Novaustramark. The [[Concilium Daoni]] was outraged and demanded the King take action. Seeing no other option, on March 3rd, 1926, King James VI began the full mobilization of the [[Armed Forces of the Apostolic Kingdom of Urcea]]. The mobilization was enough to break the will of Novaustramark and compel the Diet into censuring the Duke; the mobilization was partially canceled although the Army was now on permanent elevated alertness. The Army quickly restored the Duke in Geneseo and crushed the rebellion. After the incident, the Royal and Imperial Army pulled out but established heavy garrisoning on Urcea's eastern border as well as positions in [[Burgundie]]. The Emperor's garrisoning of Burgundie was intended to be a vote of support for Burgundie against the increasing pressure it was put under from neighboring Derian nationalists. Derian nationalists and the princes alike viewed this as an insult and implicit threat, and the entire Novaustramark incident had severely polarized the [[Imperial Diet]]. The Emperor decreed at the end of March that Novaustramark, Aescarata, and Geneseo would be responsible for footing the cost of the bases in [[Burgundie]], yet another severe insult to the Derian national consciousness. | In February of 1926, another imperial state, Geneseo, elected a syndicalist government and the election results were confirmed by the Duke of Geneseo before he fled the Duchy. The Emperor issued another proclamation demanding the election be reconsidered, and like in the [[Lutsana]] case it was refused. Unlike in the case of Lutsana, the Emperor sent an expeditionary force of the [[Royal and Imperial Army (Urcea)|Royal and Imperial Army]] through [[Dericania]] to subdue the government of Geneseo. The Royal and Imperial Army was stopped at the border of the Margraviate of Novaustramark, which refused entry to the Royal and Imperial Army. Following three days of tense standoff, the Derian nationalist-filled Novaustramark army began firing on the expeditionary force, causing a major international incident. The Emperor appeared in person before the [[Imperial Diet]] and demanded the Duke of Novaustramark be censured and asserted that the Imperial Army could enter any territory within the [[Holy Levantine Empire]] in order to execute the business of the Empire. The princes of Dericania, though appreciative of the Emperor's efforts, chafed severely under this assertion and refused to censure Novaustramark. The [[Concilium Daoni]] was outraged and demanded the King take action. Seeing no other option, on March 3rd, 1926, King James VI began the full mobilization of the [[Armed Forces of the Apostolic Kingdom of Urcea]]. The mobilization was enough to break the will of Novaustramark and compel the Diet into censuring the Duke; the mobilization was partially canceled although the Army was now on permanent elevated alertness. The Army quickly restored the Duke in Geneseo and crushed the rebellion. After the incident, the Royal and Imperial Army pulled out but established heavy garrisoning on Urcea's eastern border as well as positions in [[Burgundie]]. The Emperor's garrisoning of Burgundie was intended to be a vote of support for Burgundie against the increasing pressure it was put under from neighboring Derian nationalists. Derian nationalists and the princes alike viewed this as an insult and implicit threat, and the entire Novaustramark incident had severely polarized the [[Imperial Diet]]. The Emperor decreed at the end of March that Novaustramark, Aescarata, and Geneseo would be responsible for footing the cost of the bases in [[Burgundie]], yet another severe insult to the Derian national consciousness. | ||
Despite the fact he himself was a constitutional monarch, James himself deeply believed in the rights of the princes of the [[Kingdom of Dericania]] and the principle that Urcea ought not and, legally, could not be concerned with the internal affairs of other members of the [[Holy Levantine Empire]]. Following the conclusion of the Novaustramark incident, a faction within the [[National Democratic Party (Urcea)|National Democratic Party]] met with the Emperor and tried to steer a change of national course. It was suggested that the Emperor should force the princes to attempt reforms, aligning the institution of the Empire with the various reform-minded liberals and the majority of the [[Derian people]] rather than with the princes. This course of action was secretly endorsed by [[King Brian IV|Prince Brian]] of [[Principality of Halfway|Halfway]], though his involvement in organizing the conference was not revealed until the 1950s. The meeting was a failure as the Emperor rejected the course of action as cowardly and an illegal intervention in Latin affairs. Despite this, the Concilium Daoni continued to support the Emperor and applauded his successful intervention in Novaustramark and Geneseo. The [[Urcean people]] also generally approved of the Emperor's actions and felt that the national honor had been avenged. The remainder of spring and early summer were peaceful and stable, though the [[Imperial Diet]] was now a contentious place where, on June 3rd, fist fights broke out between the members. In July, the peace was disrupted in multiple states as Imperial Tax Collectors meant for Novaustramark were viciously assaulted, branches of the Imperial bank were robbed and destroyed, and the residents of several Imperial princes were violently attacked. The Emperor again announced the mobilization of the whole Army; this time, there would be cancellation. Fifteen states were in some kind of conflagration by the middle of fall, and the Emperor was hesitant to fully use the might of the Royal and Imperial Army lest the [[Imperial Diet]] begin to turn against him. | Despite the fact he himself was a constitutional monarch, James himself deeply believed in the rights of the princes of the [[Kingdom of Dericania]] and the principle that Urcea ought not and, legally, could not be concerned with the internal affairs of other members of the [[Holy Levantine Empire]]. Following the conclusion of the Novaustramark incident, a faction within the [[National Democratic Party (Urcea)|National Democratic Party]] met with the Emperor and tried to steer a change of national course. It was suggested that the Emperor should force the princes to attempt reforms, aligning the institution of the Empire with the various reform-minded liberals and the majority of the [[Derian people]] rather than with the princes. This course of action was secretly endorsed by [[King Brian IV|Prince Brian]] of [[Principality of Halfway|Halfway]], though his involvement in organizing the conference was not revealed until the 1950s. The meeting was a failure as the Emperor rejected the course of action as cowardly and an illegal intervention in Latin affairs. Despite this, the Concilium Daoni continued to support the Emperor and applauded his successful intervention in Novaustramark and Geneseo. The [[Urcean people]] also generally approved of the Emperor's actions and felt that the national honor had been avenged. The remainder of spring and early summer were peaceful and stable, though the [[Imperial Diet]] was now a contentious place where, on June 3rd, fist fights broke out between the members. In July, the peace was disrupted in multiple states as Imperial Tax Collectors meant for Novaustramark were viciously assaulted, branches of the Imperial bank were robbed and destroyed, and the residents of several Imperial princes were violently attacked. The Emperor again announced the mobilization of the whole Army; this time, there would be cancellation. Fifteen states were in some kind of conflagration by the middle of fall, and the Emperor was hesitant to fully use the might of the Royal and Imperial Army lest the [[Imperial Diet]] begin to turn against him. | ||