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History of Urcea (1902-1955): Difference between revisions
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=== Imperial Resurgence === | === Imperial Resurgence === | ||
With Urcea as a fully integrated member of the [[Holy Levantine Empire]] once again and a seat in the [[Collegial Electorate]], [[King Patrick III]] fully committed the Kingdom to supporting the cause of Emperor and Empire. In 1911 he cast his vote for the election of [[List of Emperors of the Levantines#Marius%20Dynasty|August I]] of [[Burgundie]], both because he sincerely believed in his capacity to rule but also as part of a larger effort to continue courting [[Burgundie]] as a close ally. The [[Collegial Electorate]] believed that Burgundie, as the relatively-new premier power in [[Levantia]] (given [[Urcea]]'s isolation since 1889), could be trusted to lead the Empire back to stability. [[Derian people|Derian]] nationalists, already in revolt or planning revolt in some principalities in [[Dericania]], severely resented the notion of a [[Bergendii]] ruling over them. For most Derian nationalists, the memory of the [[First Fratricide]] - and the effect it had on the possibility of a unified Deric Republic - was an open wound, and resentment against an Emperor from [[Burgundie]] worsened the situation "on the ground" in most Deric principalities. | With Urcea as a fully integrated member of the [[Holy Levantine Empire]] once again and a seat in the [[Collegial Electorate]], [[King Patrick III]] fully committed the Kingdom to supporting the cause of Emperor and Empire. In 1911 he cast his vote for the election of [[List of Emperors of the Levantines#Marius%20Dynasty|August I]] of [[Burgundie]], both because he sincerely believed in his capacity to rule but also as part of a larger effort to continue courting [[Burgundie]] as a close ally. The [[Collegial Electorate]] believed that Burgundie, as the relatively-new premier power in [[Levantia]] (given [[Urcea]]'s isolation since 1889), could be trusted to lead the Empire back to stability. [[Derian people|Derian]] nationalists, already in revolt or planning revolt in some principalities in [[Dericania]], severely resented the notion of a [[Bergendii]] ruling over them. For most Derian nationalists, the memory of the [[First Fratricide]] - and the effect it had on the possibility of a unified Deric Republic - was an open wound, and resentment against an Emperor from [[Burgundie]] worsened the situation "on the ground" in most Deric principalities. | ||
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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. | ||
===2nd Great War Domestic bits (salved from main)=== | |||
{{Main|Second Great War}} | |||
{{OOD}} | |||
[[1929]] was a momentous year for the [[Holy Levantine Empire|Empire]] and for [[Urcea]]. In February, Emperor James III announced that his son, [[King Brian IV|Brian, the Prince of Halfway]] would be assuming the role of Crown Regent of Urcea so that the Emperor could fully devote his attention to the affairs of the Empire. Early in the year, the King decided to reform the Royal Air Fleet into the [[Royal Air Force (Urcea)|Royal Air Force]] given the growing importance in heavier-than-air airplanes in emergent modern warfare. The Royal Air Force was comprised of air corps units from the Royal and Imperial Army as well as other independent agencies within the [[Government of Urcea]] devoted to airplane research and development. | |||
On October 2nd, 1929, the 70-year old Emperor James III - King James VI of [[Urcea]] - died. In [[Urcea]], the ascension of King Brian IV was met with considerable optimism, as the new King was very popular and well-liked during his eight months as regent. The members of the [[Collegial Electorate]] and [[Imperial Diet]] - both of which were now meeting in [[Urceopolis (City)|Urceopolis]] - were sharply divided on the prospect of electing another [[Urcean people|Urcean]] to sit as [[Emperor of the Levantines]]. Given the emergency environment, the Electorate was convened the same day as the Emperor's death. Following hours of debate and rounds of voting, King Brian IV was eventually elected Emperor by a plurality of 12 votes. The next day, October 3rd, he received a dual coronation from the [[Pope]] in [[St. Peter's Archbasilica]], receiving the traditional coronations due the [[Apostolic King of Urcea]] and [[Emperor of the Levantines]]. The campaign season ended soon after, but the new Emperor - Brian VIII in Levantine numbering - took steps to put Urcea on a total war footing, bringing the entire industrial base of the country into the war effort with approval of the [[Concilium Daoni]]. His predecessor, Emperor James III, had been of the opinion that the rebellion in Dericania could be subdued with expeditionary forces and Urcea's current supply system, but Brian recognized that, even if that were true, war with [[Caphiria]] was probably inevitable. The [[Concilium Daoni]], on the King's request, also introduced a limited conscription program. | |||
With the war devolving into a static boundaries, enthusiasm for the [[National Democratic Party (Urcea)|National Democratic Party]] and its handling of the war began to fall, while Urcean public support for the war was still high. Also during the summer of 1930, [[Urcea]] agreed to support [[Burgundie]] in its ongoing war in [[Audonia]], which soon became the eastern theater of the expanding [[Second Great War]]; Urcea and Burgundie agreed upon a [[Kingdom of Dericania]]-first strategy, prioritizing the existential threat to Burgundie and the Empire over what Urceopolis considered a "colonial squabble". In November of 1930, the [[National Pact (Urcea)|National Pact]] won a majority in the [[Concilium Daoni]] and elected a [[Procurator]], allowing it to form its first government since the national unity government of [[King Patrick III]] prior to the 1905 election. The National Pact renounced the policy of "The Emperor's Word is Urcea's Word", but nonetheless promised King Brian IV that his emergency war powers were safe for the time being. Instead, the King had a new popular mandate from the National Pact government: preservation of the [[Holy Levantine Empire]] was important for regional stability and should be a priority, but the first priority for the Emperor was to attain an honorable end of the war. A secret conference between the King and the incoming National Pact leaders held on December 11th, 1930, set forth the nation's policy. | |||
In addition to the developments in the [[Second Great War]], 1938 was also a momentous year for the [[Constitution of Urcea]]. Public opinion had changed considerably during the war years as popular input was growing increasingly valued given the contributions of the Urcean people to the war effort. No major democratic movements formed, but across the political spectrum there had existed both ideological and practical concerns with the 83-member Procuratorial College system to elect the [[Procurator]]. While there was democratic input in the system, many believed that a more direct election system - namely, a nation-wide popular vote - would be the best way to select a Procurator. This impulse was not only based on a desire to increase popular input, but also due to complaints from the members of the College themselves that selecting a [[Procurator]] was a major distraction from their primary responsibilities as Governor or member of the [[Concilium Daoni]]. Consequently, on 7 May 1938, King Brian IV gave his assent to a measure abolishing the Procuratorial College and replacing it with a nation-wide vote for [[Procurator]] beginning with the 1945 Election. This system would retain some provincial input as the party primary process for Procuratorial candidates was still to proceed on a province-by-province basis. This change was the most recent major change to the [[Constitution of Urcea]] and governs how the [[Government of Urcea]] presently functions. It marked the final step on the transformation of the [[Procurator]] from a Royal functionary to a true pseudo-chief executive, and also elevated the mandate of the Procurator above that of the [[Chancellor and Temporary President]]. | |||
Lucás IV entered his fifth year as [[Apostolic King of Urcea]] in 1952; as a reversal of his earlier posture, the King began working with the [[National Pact (Urcea)|National Pact]]-led government in order to try and bring the fighting to a peaceful settlement, an effort with which he met considerable resistance. Particularly, the [[Ministry of State (Urcea)|Minister of State]] wielded particular influence within the government, and his view - that a negotiated peace was essentially a zero sum proposition - meant that most within the Pact would not accept anything besides the total defeat of [[Caphiria]], a goal that looked increasingly unachievable despite victories in the [[Great War#V.C3.A2lcean%20Theater|Valcenian Theater]] of the war. Specifically, the government's stance was that of "no peace without [[Veltorina]]", or in other words, [[Urcea]] would not accept an end to the war that did not include the full sovereignty of [[Veltorina]] being respected, a stance that the King and opposing [[National Democratic Party (Urcea)|National Democratic Party]] viewed as unreasonable and as an unnecessary waste of men and resources. Although the King had the authority to contradict the government and bring an end to hostilities through his own authority - a power the [[Apostolic King of Urcea]] still retains - the King was unwilling to push the boundaries of the [[Constitution of Urcea]]. Consequently, he began a whistle-stop campaign throughout the country by meeting with governors, local officials, and members of the [[Concilium Daoni]] in their districts rather than in [[Urceopolis]]. His intention was to bring awareness to how unlikely an outright victory in the war was and to implore officials to begin calls for an end to the war that the King himself could join later. On July 30th, 1952, this campaign took him to Fort St. Andrew in [[Eastvale]] to meet with the Governor of the province. At the Fort St. Andrew Station, a car bomb detonated, and though the explosion did not directly harm King Lucás IV, the force of the explosion tipped the King's car on him as he was about to enter it. The King, crushed under the car, was still alive though unconscious when a group of armed men stormed the area. The King was not shot by the men, but the desperate attempts by the outnumbered [[Life Guard (Urcea)|Life Guard]] to hold the perimeter meant that the King could not be given help in time. King Lucás IV, 32 years old, died later that night in the Hospital of St. James. He was the first [[Apostolic King of Urcea]] to be assassinated. The next day, [[Derian people|Derian]] extremists claimed responsibility for the assassination, claiming that [[House de Weluta]] was responsible for the misery and bloodshed of the ongoing [[Third Fratricide]]. | |||
What King Lucás IV could not achieve in life, he achieved in death. Lucás's brother, the new King Patrick IV, was informed by the [[Procurator]] on August 2nd, 1952, that the government intended to try and achieve a "peace with honor" on [[Sarpedon]] so as to focus on the [[Third Fratricide]], as links had been decisively established between the extremist cell and the Derian Liberation League. Popular support for the [[Second Great War]] in the 1940s had turned to resigned apathy by the 1950s; popular focus now began to shift in favor of war in [[Dericania]] to avenge the fallen King, as the Rally 'round the flag effect came into full effect in the weeks following the King's assassination. In response, the [[Government of Urcea]] began arms shipments to the Dericania National Congress beginning on August 10th, though no full military response could be mustered without removing significant forces from the [[Second Great War]]. Popular opinion had begun to grow to anger by October, as polls indicated that most Urceans believed the [[National Pact (Urcea)|National Pact]] government had "not sufficiently responded to the assassination" and that the assassination was a "grievous insult to Urcean nationality and the pride of the Kingdom". On his part, King Patrick IV associated himself with the views of the people and began to urge the Government - in private and in public - to reach some kind of accord with [[Caphiria]] to end the conflict. | |||
[[Category: Urcea]] | [[Category: Urcea]] | ||
[[Category: History of Urcea]] | [[Category: History of Urcea]] | ||
[[Category:IXWB]] | [[Category:IXWB]] | ||