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History of Urcea (1575-1798): Difference between revisions
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Leo initiated a series of wide-reaching post-war reforms in which he sought to not only bring to Kingdom together into a cohesive unit, but also planned to undercut the [[Social class in Urcea|optimate class]], who he blamed for the war as well as the [[Saint's War]], and planned to simplify [[Social class in Urcea]]. The King reduced the number of classes to three and formally abolished serfdom in [[Urcea]], though the institution had already been rendered mostly nominal due to the devastation of the wars. Part of King Leo's program also included the famous Leonine Land Decree of 1590, which opened lands acquired as part of the [[Dragonnades]] to any family in the [[Urceopolis (Archduchy)|Archduchy of Urceopolis]] of [[Social class in Urcea|privilegiata or freeman]] rank without considerable land holdings. The Land Decree divided the acquired estates in [[Gassavelia]], and, to a lesser extent, in [[Ænglasmarch]], into 40 acre parcels to be used as smallholds. This created the first wave of [[Ómestaderoi]], and Leo intended for it to strengthen smallholders at the expense of the optimates, which, following several future waves of Ómestaderoi, proved successful. In [[1591]], Leo organized the standing [[Royal and Imperial Army (Urcea)|Royal Army]] and [[Royal Navy (Urcea)|Royal Navy]] which were loyal only to the Crown, further reducing the authority of remaining local magnates. Leo's primary reform, however, was standardizing the legal code throughout nearly all of [[Urcea]] at the time, including the final elimination of the separate legal code in [[Canaery]]. By bringing the disparate duchies and territories under one standard code, Leo forged the legal nation of Urcea out of the medieval crown confederation of Urcea. With the standard legal code also came the abolition of internal tariffs, bringing about strong economic recovery following decades of war. His legal reforms also stripped the right of heads of the [[Estates of Urcea]] to appoint representatives to the [[Concilium Daoni]], and he began the process of creating "districts" for members to represent, though these districts were often coterminous with local communes - which elected members - or with lower vassals, who appointed members to the body. | Leo initiated a series of wide-reaching post-war reforms in which he sought to not only bring to Kingdom together into a cohesive unit, but also planned to undercut the [[Social class in Urcea|optimate class]], who he blamed for the war as well as the [[Saint's War]], and planned to simplify [[Social class in Urcea]]. The King reduced the number of classes to three and formally abolished serfdom in [[Urcea]], though the institution had already been rendered mostly nominal due to the devastation of the wars. Part of King Leo's program also included the famous Leonine Land Decree of 1590, which opened lands acquired as part of the [[Dragonnades]] to any family in the [[Urceopolis (Archduchy)|Archduchy of Urceopolis]] of [[Social class in Urcea|privilegiata or freeman]] rank without considerable land holdings. The Land Decree divided the acquired estates in [[Gassavelia]], and, to a lesser extent, in [[Ænglasmarch]], into 40 acre parcels to be used as smallholds. This created the first wave of [[Ómestaderoi]], and Leo intended for it to strengthen smallholders at the expense of the optimates, which, following several future waves of Ómestaderoi, proved successful. In [[1591]], Leo organized the standing [[Royal and Imperial Army (Urcea)|Royal Army]] and [[Royal Navy (Urcea)|Royal Navy]] which were loyal only to the Crown, further reducing the authority of remaining local magnates. Leo's primary reform, however, was standardizing the legal code throughout nearly all of [[Urcea]] at the time, including the final elimination of the separate legal code in [[Canaery]]. By bringing the disparate duchies and territories under one standard code, Leo forged the legal nation of Urcea out of the medieval crown confederation of Urcea. With the standard legal code also came the abolition of internal tariffs, bringing about strong economic recovery following decades of war. His legal reforms also stripped the right of heads of the [[Estates of Urcea]] to appoint representatives to the [[Concilium Daoni]], and he began the process of creating "districts" for members to represent, though these districts were often coterminous with local communes - which elected members - or with lower vassals, who appointed members to the body. | ||
The reign of Leo II (1565-1597) left Urcea a dramatically different country than the one he had taken by force in the midst of the Great Confessional War. His legal reforms had a significant, lasting impact on the [[Constitutional history of Urcea|development]] of the [[Constitution of Urcea]], and his religious and social reforms are credited with entrenching Catholicism within the Urcean psyche. He was also the first de Weluta leader to die peacefully in the [[Julian Palace]] in over half a century, having completed decades of work in service to both [[House de Weluta]] and the [[Catholic Church]], both of which remain in place in Urcea largely due to his efforts, according to many historians. | |||
==Leonine successors== | ==Leonine successors== | ||
After the death of Leo II, his son Constantine III, who would reign just four years until his death in 1601, when his own son Aedanicus IV (1601-1612) took his place. Leo's successors would be characterized by relatively short reigns, but the prolificness of Leo and his progeny meant that the period was characterized by dynastic security, as sons, brothers, and uncles succeeded without issue controversy. Leo would not pass the [[Emperor of the Levantines|Imperial throne]] to his heirs, as the [[Collegial Electorate]] returned to selecting [[Dericania]]n princes when they convened in [[1597]]. Regardless, the Leonine reign over the Empire had succeeded in elevating [[House de Weluta]] to one with historic Imperial dignity, a dignity which would elevate its standing abroad and its own ambitions at home in the century to come. | |||
Leo's successors in the 17th century took part in the economic spoils and successively attempted to expand the country's eastern border, with several successful wars bringing neighboring duchies and counties to heel. It was also during this time the Crown began to devise schemes to acquire the [[Grand Duchy of Carolina]], a polity to the north, though such attempts would not come to fruition in the 17th century. The profile of Urcea in the Empire continued to rise under Leo's successors, greatly unified and strengthened by the victory of the War of Religion and with a powerful southern Gassavelia no longer extant to contain Urcea. The 17th Century, besides continuing expansion within the [[Holy Levantine Empire]], was a time of something of a second Renaissance in Urcea as the baroque period took off and the Crown focused on making internal improvements. The [[Julian Palace]] was given a major renovation at this time, building the [[Julian Palace#Caeline Palace|Caeline Palace]] which remains the core of the structure as of the 21st century. The Crown spent lavishly on infrastructure improvements as well as rebuilding several palaces and Churches. | Leo's successors in the 17th century took part in the economic spoils and successively attempted to expand the country's eastern border, with several successful wars bringing neighboring duchies and counties to heel. It was also during this time the Crown began to devise schemes to acquire the [[Grand Duchy of Carolina]], a polity to the north, though such attempts would not come to fruition in the 17th century. The profile of Urcea in the Empire continued to rise under Leo's successors, greatly unified and strengthened by the victory of the War of Religion and with a powerful southern Gassavelia no longer extant to contain Urcea. The 17th Century, besides continuing expansion within the [[Holy Levantine Empire]], was a time of something of a second Renaissance in Urcea as the baroque period took off and the Crown focused on making internal improvements. The [[Julian Palace]] was given a major renovation at this time, building the [[Julian Palace#Caeline Palace|Caeline Palace]] which remains the core of the structure as of the 21st century. The Crown spent lavishly on infrastructure improvements as well as rebuilding several palaces and Churches. | ||