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History of Urcea (1575-1798) (view source)
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A war was fought between [[Kiravia]] and [[Urcea]] during the Caroline Succession known as the [[Cronan Beaver War]]. The conflict, a primarily naval campaign, was resolved in 1748 as part of an effort to exchange concessions to foreign powers in exchange for recognition of Leo's Imperial claims. As part of this agreement, Urcea ceded a string of colonies in [[Crona]] known as the [[Julian Belt]] which had largely fallen into neglect. It retained the [[New Archduchy]] colony as part of the peace terms. | A war was fought between [[Kiravia]] and [[Urcea]] during the Caroline Succession known as the [[Cronan Beaver War]]. The conflict, a primarily naval campaign, was resolved in 1748 as part of an effort to exchange concessions to foreign powers in exchange for recognition of Leo's Imperial claims. As part of this agreement, Urcea ceded a string of colonies in [[Crona]] known as the [[Julian Belt]] which had largely fallen into neglect. It retained the [[New Archduchy]] colony as part of the peace terms. | ||
===Concession of 1747=== | ====Concession of 1747==== | ||
During the war, King Leo required huge sums of [[Taler|Talers]] in order to keep the army on its feet, and while on campaign he asked the [[Concilium Daoni]] to raise taxes. The Daoni agreed to do so in exchange for concessions in the form of general consent of the Daoni for Royal appointments to the [[Concilium Purpaidá]], the ministry. The Daoni also asked as part of concessions that the King's [[Criminal_justice_system_of_Urcea#History|judicial appointments]] had to be confirmed by the Purpaidá, and further that all districts of the Daoni be elective rather than the mixed elective-appointive system. This latter proposal was offered as not only a demand of the Daoni but as an offering of benefit to the King, as it allowed him to take the final steps in destroying the power of landed vassals. King Leo received these demands in 1747 after several inconclusive battles that pointed to a long, expensive war. In absentia, he agreed to the concessions. This agreement, called the Concession of 1747, was among the first major developments towards the modern [[Constitution of Urcea]], and following the war Emperor Leo agreed to permanently uphold this concession. | During the war, King Leo required huge sums of [[Taler|Talers]] in order to keep the army on its feet, and while on campaign he asked the [[Concilium Daoni]] to raise taxes. The Daoni agreed to do so in exchange for concessions in the form of general consent of the Daoni for Royal appointments to the [[Concilium Purpaidá]], the ministry. The Daoni also asked as part of concessions that the King's [[Criminal_justice_system_of_Urcea#History|judicial appointments]] had to be confirmed by the Purpaidá, and further that all districts of the Daoni be elective rather than the mixed elective-appointive system. This latter proposal was offered as not only a demand of the Daoni but as an offering of benefit to the King, as it allowed him to take the final steps in destroying the power of landed vassals. King Leo received these demands in 1747 after several inconclusive battles that pointed to a long, expensive war. In absentia, he agreed to the concessions. This agreement, called the Concession of 1747, was among the first major developments towards the modern [[Constitution of Urcea]], and following the war Emperor Leo agreed to permanently uphold this concession. | ||
=== | ===Reform efforts=== | ||
The period of the reign of Leo IV - who had now taken on the slightly pejorative title ''"Levanticus"'' following his victory in the Caroline War - saw one of attempted centralization and reform of the [[Holy Levantine Empire]] that occured in concert with his unprecedented implementation of {{wp|primogeniture succession}} in the Empire. Although historians of the Empire have noted many of these reforms were needed - such as changing the structure of the [[Imperial Diet]] to reflect the current makeup of the Empire, reorganization of the Imperial Army, and introduction of a common import tariff throughout the entire Empire to fund Imperial projects - they were extremely unpopular among the Princes of the Empire, who almost immediately began to chafe under increased rule from Urceopolis. It was during this time that the general quality of the Royal Army began to decrease as a natural consequence of complacency, considering that the Apostolic King had the resources of the Holy Levantine Empire, including the Imperial Army, to dispose with. Some would-be reformers, such as Lecáti James Lavofual who is perhaps better known for his work as an artist, decried the state of the army and implored King Leo IV and his successors for reform minded leaders to take control of the military, but these requests were rejected. | |||
The period of the reign of Leo IV - who had now taken on the slightly pejorative title ''"Levanticus"'' following his victory in the Caroline War - saw one of attempted centralization and reform of the [[Holy Levantine Empire]]. Although historians of the Empire have noted many of these reforms were needed - such as changing the structure of the [[Imperial Diet]] to reflect the current makeup of the Empire, reorganization of the Imperial Army, and introduction of a common import tariff throughout the entire Empire to fund Imperial projects - they were extremely unpopular among the Princes of the Empire, who almost immediately began to chafe under increased rule from Urceopolis. It was during this time that the general quality of the Royal Army began to decrease as a natural consequence of complacency, considering that the Apostolic King had the resources of the Holy Levantine Empire, including the Imperial Army, to dispose with. Some would-be reformers, such as Lecáti James Lavofual who is perhaps better known for his work as an artist, decried the state of the army and implored King Leo IV and his successors for reform minded leaders to take control of the military, but these requests were rejected. | |||
It was also during this period that the role of the [[Procurator]] became more pronounced, as the Imperial Kings found themselves needing to delegate more and more power to their chief steward given the need to focus on Empire-wide affairs. With the King often away in [[Corcra (City)|Corcra]] to handle that kind of Imperial business, the regency powers of the Procurator naturally evolved into a national leadership role. Though previously Chief Steward and First Lord of the Treasury, the Procurator often served in an advisory role and merely a representative of the King at the [[Concilium Daoni]], but real decisions were beginning to be made by the [[Procurator]] at the [[Concilium Purpaidá|Purpaidá]] level. Another major [[Constitution of Urcea|Constitutional]] development came in 1759 when a Count in the Ionian highlands wrote the King, sitting in [[Corcra (City)|Corcra]] at the time, asking for a recent policy of road construction set in motion by the Procurator reversed. King Leo wrote back, upholding the Procurator's decision, and sent a copy of the letter to Urceopolis. The so-called "''Botharvia Letter''" legally confirmed some of the Procurator's executive authority, an important step towards the current authority of the office. | It was also during this period that the role of the [[Procurator]] became more pronounced, as the Imperial Kings found themselves needing to delegate more and more power to their chief steward given the need to focus on Empire-wide affairs. With the King often away in [[Corcra (City)|Corcra]] to handle that kind of Imperial business, the regency powers of the Procurator naturally evolved into a national leadership role. Though previously Chief Steward and First Lord of the Treasury, the Procurator often served in an advisory role and merely a representative of the King at the [[Concilium Daoni]], but real decisions were beginning to be made by the [[Procurator]] at the [[Concilium Purpaidá|Purpaidá]] level. Another major [[Constitution of Urcea|Constitutional]] development came in 1759 when a Count in the Ionian highlands wrote the King, sitting in [[Corcra (City)|Corcra]] at the time, asking for a recent policy of road construction set in motion by the Procurator reversed. King Leo wrote back, upholding the Procurator's decision, and sent a copy of the letter to Urceopolis. The so-called "''Botharvia Letter''" legally confirmed some of the Procurator's executive authority, an important step towards the current authority of the office. | ||
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In 1780, Emperor Brian VII intervened in the [[Veltorine War of Independence]], a war that saw the [[Royal and Imperial Army (Urcea)|Royal and Imperial Army]] fight on [[Sarpedon]] for the first time against [[Caphiria]]. The war concluded under Brian's successor, Emperor Lucás III, and in 1782 the Urcean Crown received [[Talionia]] as compensation for their aid to [[Veltorina]]. The Kingdom of Talionia was established that year as a holding of the de Weluta family outside the jurisdiction of the Empire and, critically, it was not directly incorporated under the sphere of the [[Concilium Daoni]] as had been the case with other crownlands. The decision to not incorporate Talionia within the Empire damaged relations between the Emperor and the [[Imperial Diet]], senior leaders in which viewed the move as a consolidation of power for House de Weluta at the expense of a potential gain for the Empire. Despite this incident, some efforts towards legal reform and centralization continued to receive favorable votes within the Diet and were implemented throughout the 1780s. | In 1780, Emperor Brian VII intervened in the [[Veltorine War of Independence]], a war that saw the [[Royal and Imperial Army (Urcea)|Royal and Imperial Army]] fight on [[Sarpedon]] for the first time against [[Caphiria]]. The war concluded under Brian's successor, Emperor Lucás III, and in 1782 the Urcean Crown received [[Talionia]] as compensation for their aid to [[Veltorina]]. The Kingdom of Talionia was established that year as a holding of the de Weluta family outside the jurisdiction of the Empire and, critically, it was not directly incorporated under the sphere of the [[Concilium Daoni]] as had been the case with other crownlands. The decision to not incorporate Talionia within the Empire damaged relations between the Emperor and the [[Imperial Diet]], senior leaders in which viewed the move as a consolidation of power for House de Weluta at the expense of a potential gain for the Empire. Despite this incident, some efforts towards legal reform and centralization continued to receive favorable votes within the Diet and were implemented throughout the 1780s. | ||
Centralization continued without incident until the death of childless death Emperor-King Brian II in 1781 at the age of 37. His brother, 34-year old, King Lucás III, ascended that same year. Traditional historiography typically depicted Lucás as a petty tyrant who abused the rights of the Princes of the Empire, but modern historians tend to view this depiction more critically. The Holy Levantine Empire had been under hereditary rule for approximately thirty years, and the destabilization presented by the relatively young death of a King presented opportunities for Imperial Princes to try and | Centralization continued without incident until the death of childless death Emperor-King Brian II in 1781 at the age of 37. His brother, 34-year old, King Lucás III, ascended that same year. Traditional historiography typically depicted Lucás as a petty tyrant who abused the rights of the Princes of the Empire, but modern historians tend to view this depiction more critically. The Holy Levantine Empire had been under hereditary rule for approximately thirty years, and the destabilization presented by the relatively young death of a King presented opportunities for Imperial Princes to try and increase tensions in an effort to break free of the domination of House de Weluta. Modern historiography has revised the depiction of Lucás III as something of a well-meaning reformer who wanted to continue the path of his predecessors but was mostly unable to, both due to his own personal failings but also decades of built up animosity on the part of the Princes of the Empire. Histories of the [[Holy Levantine Empire]] tend to refer to King Lucás III as Emperor ''Lucius'' III as a latinization of Lucás, descended from and related to the Urcean name Luciás. Lucius and Lucás are sometimes confused, but they were the same ruler. His distant descendant, King Lucás IV, also nominally ruled the Empire as Lucius IV in the 20th century. | ||
The first decade of Lucás's reign proceeded mostly without incident, but under the surface several Princes were conspiring. The Duke of Upper Verecundia, son of the Emperor who was defeated in the [[War of the Caroline Succession]] was revealed in 1794 to be part of the so-called "''Red Emperor''" Plot, a conspiracy to potentially assassinate the Emperor in conjunction with a mass uprising of the Princes. King Lucás's forces easily overcame Upper Verecundia's small forces and took the Duke into custody. While imprisoned, several other conspiracies began to grow throughout the Empire, particularly in the [[Kingdom of Dericania]]. The question of what to do with the Duke of Upper Veredunia became a major political issue in both [[Urceopolis (City)|Urceopolis]] and in [[Corcra (City)|Corcra]], but in early 1796, after waffling indecisively for two years, Emperor Lucás decided to sentence the Duke to death for treason. The decision to sentence the Duke to death for treason, rather than the conspiracy itself, lead to widespread outrage within the Empire and, in conjunction with three decades of de Weluta primogeniture, proved to most the "despotic" nature of the Urcean Crown. The Princes and Estates of the Kingdom of Dericania declared themselves in rebellion by June of 1796, joined later in the year by most of the other princes in the Empire, beginning what was later known as the [[Second Caroline War]]. | The first decade of Lucás's reign proceeded mostly without incident, but under the surface several Princes were conspiring. The Duke of Upper Verecundia, son of the Emperor who was defeated in the [[War of the Caroline Succession]] was revealed in 1794 to be part of the so-called "''Red Emperor''" Plot, a conspiracy to potentially assassinate the Emperor in conjunction with a mass uprising of the Princes. King Lucás's forces easily overcame Upper Verecundia's small forces and took the Duke into custody. While imprisoned, several other conspiracies began to grow throughout the Empire, particularly in the [[Kingdom of Dericania]]. The question of what to do with the Duke of Upper Veredunia became a major political issue in both [[Urceopolis (City)|Urceopolis]] and in [[Corcra (City)|Corcra]], but in early 1796, after waffling indecisively for two years, Emperor Lucás decided to sentence the Duke to death for treason. The decision to sentence the Duke to death for treason, rather than the conspiracy itself, lead to widespread outrage within the Empire and, in conjunction with three decades of de Weluta primogeniture, proved to most the "despotic" nature of the Urcean Crown. The Princes and Estates of the Kingdom of Dericania declared themselves in rebellion by June of 1796, joined later in the year by most of the other princes in the Empire, beginning what was later known as the [[Second Caroline War]]. | ||
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The death of Emperor-King Lucás brought to an end what many historians considered the "Urcean Golden Age", a period of dominance in the Holy Levantine Empire combined with territorial growth that left Levantia a nearly uni-polar continent. In the 226 years since the election of [[Emperor Leo III of the Holy Levantine Empire]] in 1572, de Welutas had sat on the Imperial Throne for 121 years, more than half of the time. Urcea had grown by nearly half through its acquisitions of [[Carolina]], [[Gassavelia]], and elsewhere. The Golden Age marked a renewed alignment of the interests of Urcea and the Empire as a whole; with its closure, Urcea would come to adopt an openly antagonistic attitude towards the institutions of the Empire, an attitude it would maintain for nearly a century and a half. Without the economic, diplomatic, and military support of the Urcean Crown during this crucial period, the Holy Levantine Empire entered a slow, but terminal, decline. | The death of Emperor-King Lucás brought to an end what many historians considered the "Urcean Golden Age", a period of dominance in the Holy Levantine Empire combined with territorial growth that left Levantia a nearly uni-polar continent. In the 226 years since the election of [[Emperor Leo III of the Holy Levantine Empire]] in 1572, de Welutas had sat on the Imperial Throne for 121 years, more than half of the time. Urcea had grown by nearly half through its acquisitions of [[Carolina]], [[Gassavelia]], and elsewhere. The Golden Age marked a renewed alignment of the interests of Urcea and the Empire as a whole; with its closure, Urcea would come to adopt an openly antagonistic attitude towards the institutions of the Empire, an attitude it would maintain for nearly a century and a half. Without the economic, diplomatic, and military support of the Urcean Crown during this crucial period, the Holy Levantine Empire entered a slow, but terminal, decline. | ||
==Industry and the arts during the Imperial period== | |||
[[File:Cromford 1771 mill.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Early steam mills, such as this one, became an increasingly common sight in Urcea during the late 1700s]] | |||
Besides the major geopolitical and legal developments that occurred between the [[Great Confessional War]] and [[Second Caroline War]], many changes had occurred to Urcean society. In the period 1730-1765, devices such as the flying shuttle, spinning frame, and the spinning jenny were invented in the Imperial heartland. With increasing mechanization bleeding into other sectors and a greater ability to refine cast iron, the early stage of the Industrial Revolution had begun in Levantia. King-Emperor Leo (to 1768), and his son Brian (reigned 1768-1781), largely allowed the economy to progress without intervention. | |||
[[Category: Urcea]] | [[Category: Urcea]] | ||
[[Category: History of Urcea]] | [[Category: History of Urcea]] | ||
[[Category:IXWB]] | [[Category:IXWB]] | ||