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History of Urcea (1798-1902): Difference between revisions
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History of Urcea (1798-1902) (view source)
Revision as of 12:21, 15 February 2023
, 15 February 2023Text replacement - "National Commonwealth Party" to "Commonwealth Union"
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=== 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 [[ | 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 [[Commonwealth Union (Urcea)|Commonwealth Union]], 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 Assembly voted, in the middle of March, to completely abolish the [[Social class in Urcea|optimate and privilegiata]] classes, establishing a so-called "socialist nation of freemen". Within the first three months of its existence, the Republic's efforts - including the workshop program - had largely been effective in revitalizing the city's wartorn economy and ending the food shortage. The Republic's existence galvanized socialists within the remaining territory it controlled, and many came streaming into [[Urceopolis (City)|Urceopolis]] to join the Guard. While the Republic saw some political and social successes, the National Republican Army saw a series of reversals on the front. Legitimist and Imperial forces routed Republican defenders at the critical Battle of the Urce on July 9th, 1902, creating a large hole in the defensive line around the [[Urceopolis (Archduchy)|Archduchy of Urceopolis]]. Most of the officers of the National Republican Army - conservative privilegiata - surrendered after the Battle, but about half of the forces from surrendered armies defied their officers and retreated to [[Urceopolis (City)|Urceopolis]] to defend the Republic. Historians and scholars have debated whether or not the average Republican soldier was a socialist or truly believed in the Republic. A consensus has formed suggesting that about a third of these soldiers were committed republicans of some form or other, but most had developed a hatred of the enemy in the last five years of war and wanted to continue fighting. Whatever the cause, more than 75,000 soldiers - many of whom were gravely injured or ill - continued on to Urceopolis to defend the Republic. By August, the Republic was reduced to just the city and its environs, and the [[Siege of Urceopolis]] began. On paper, the remaining National Republican Army and National Guard forces numbered somewhere around 300,000, but scholars have estimated that the amount of men ready for service was not higher than 125,000, and the realistic figure was probably around 75,000 fit to fight at their peak. | The Assembly voted, in the middle of March, to completely abolish the [[Social class in Urcea|optimate and privilegiata]] classes, establishing a so-called "socialist nation of freemen". Within the first three months of its existence, the Republic's efforts - including the workshop program - had largely been effective in revitalizing the city's wartorn economy and ending the food shortage. The Republic's existence galvanized socialists within the remaining territory it controlled, and many came streaming into [[Urceopolis (City)|Urceopolis]] to join the Guard. While the Republic saw some political and social successes, the National Republican Army saw a series of reversals on the front. Legitimist and Imperial forces routed Republican defenders at the critical Battle of the Urce on July 9th, 1902, creating a large hole in the defensive line around the [[Urceopolis (Archduchy)|Archduchy of Urceopolis]]. Most of the officers of the National Republican Army - conservative privilegiata - surrendered after the Battle, but about half of the forces from surrendered armies defied their officers and retreated to [[Urceopolis (City)|Urceopolis]] to defend the Republic. Historians and scholars have debated whether or not the average Republican soldier was a socialist or truly believed in the Republic. A consensus has formed suggesting that about a third of these soldiers were committed republicans of some form or other, but most had developed a hatred of the enemy in the last five years of war and wanted to continue fighting. Whatever the cause, more than 75,000 soldiers - many of whom were gravely injured or ill - continued on to Urceopolis to defend the Republic. By August, the Republic was reduced to just the city and its environs, and the [[Siege of Urceopolis]] began. On paper, the remaining National Republican Army and National Guard forces numbered somewhere around 300,000, but scholars have estimated that the amount of men ready for service was not higher than 125,000, and the realistic figure was probably around 75,000 fit to fight at their peak. | ||
Under siege, the Republican government adopted an increasingly radical posture, moving from a position that could be called revolutionary democratic socialism to a more overt dictatorship of the proletariat, purging the remaining privilegiata from the officer corps and arresting any remaining former [[Social class in Urcea|optimates]] as potential fifth columnists. Increasing war footing alienated the outer boroughs of the city, which had always been tepid in their support, leading to the Republican forces retreating into [[Urceopolis#The%20Pale|the Pale]] and [[Urceopolis#Oldtown|Oldtown]], which they fortified. The radical footing of the government undermined its authority, however, as a dispute with the [[Pope]] lead to the National Guard seizing the [[Papal State]], sending Pope Leo XIII fleeing to allied lines and polarizing the thoroughly Catholic population of the Republic, as the Church - heretofore a neutral party - now fully condemned the revolutionary government. The radicalization also resulted in a crackdown on the [[ | Under siege, the Republican government adopted an increasingly radical posture, moving from a position that could be called revolutionary democratic socialism to a more overt dictatorship of the proletariat, purging the remaining privilegiata from the officer corps and arresting any remaining former [[Social class in Urcea|optimates]] as potential fifth columnists. Increasing war footing alienated the outer boroughs of the city, which had always been tepid in their support, leading to the Republican forces retreating into [[Urceopolis#The%20Pale|the Pale]] and [[Urceopolis#Oldtown|Oldtown]], which they fortified. The radical footing of the government undermined its authority, however, as a dispute with the [[Pope]] lead to the National Guard seizing the [[Papal State]], sending Pope Leo XIII fleeing to allied lines and polarizing the thoroughly Catholic population of the Republic, as the Church - heretofore a neutral party - now fully condemned the revolutionary government. The radicalization also resulted in a crackdown on the [[Commonwealth Union (Urcea)|Commonwealth Union]], which soon fled the city and defected to the Legitimist cause, making a large public disavowal of republicanism in the process. | ||
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 [[ | 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 [[Commonwealth Union (Urcea)|Commonwealth Union]] 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. | ||
==Social changes== | ==Social changes== | ||
The Reform period saw the continuation of social and economic changes that had occurred during Urcea's [[History of Urcea (1575-1798)|Imperial period]], and in many ways was the culmination of the changes that occurred during that period. At the beginning of the Reform period, the [[Social_class_in_Urcea#Privilegiata_2|privilegiata]] had become the primary drivers of the economy and culture within Urcea, and their influence not only furthered the development of the [[Constitution of Urcea]] but also drove the development of Urcea into an industrial economy. | The Reform period saw the continuation of social and economic changes that had occurred during Urcea's [[History of Urcea (1575-1798)|Imperial period]], and in many ways was the culmination of the changes that occurred during that period. At the beginning of the Reform period, the [[Social_class_in_Urcea#Privilegiata_2|privilegiata]] had become the primary drivers of the economy and culture within Urcea, and their influence not only furthered the development of the [[Constitution of Urcea]] but also drove the development of Urcea into an industrial economy. | ||