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Halfway: Difference between revisions
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=== Urcean incorporation === | === Urcean incorporation === | ||
The Principality's traditional governance and autonomy would come to an end in the 1600s. Urcea had become the dominant power in [[Crotona]] and was ascendant in [[Tromarine]], giving it a significant presence in the [[Sea of Canete]]. This geopolitical change required a administrative reorganization to meet the new domestic political reality. After several years of negotiations and new laws implemented in the 1650s, the [[Kingdom of Crotona]] was established in [[1660]] as a consolidation of Urcea's insular territories. In [[1665]], the government formally abolished the role of Prince of Halfway and office of Principal Vicar, instead incorporating Halfway as a [[Government_of_Urcea#Overseas_Possessions|subrectory]] divided into six [[Government_of_Urcea#Prefectures|prefectures]] in accordance with [[Kingdom_of_Crotona#Seventy-two_entrenched|broader reforms in the Kingdom of Crotona]]. The Princely title would continue on as one of the titles of the Apostolic King before becoming established as the title of the Urcean {{wp|heir apparent}}. The Great Court was allowed to remain intact primarily as an advisory body for the island's subrector, now sent from the administrative court in Toulonium. In practice, however, the institutional inertia of the Great Court meant that the abolition of the role of Prince and Principal Vicar and their replacement with a mere Subrector established the political supremacy of the Great Court. In [[1702]] it became nominally under the authority of the [[Kingdom_of_Crotona#Seventy-two_entrenched|General Estates of the Kingdom of Crotona]], though over time it would receive special grants of {{wp|immediacy}} and was largely outside the grasp of the "seventy-two", the prominent Crotonan-based mercantile families that ruled the Kingdom. | The Principality's traditional governance and autonomy would come to an end in the 1600s. Urcea had become the dominant power in [[Crotona]] and was ascendant in [[Tromarine]], giving it a significant presence in the [[Sea of Canete]]. This geopolitical change required a administrative reorganization to meet the new domestic political reality. After several years of negotiations and new laws implemented in the 1650s, the [[Kingdom of Crotona]] was established in [[1660]] as a consolidation of Urcea's insular territories. In [[1665]], the government formally abolished the role of Prince of Halfway and office of Principal Vicar, instead incorporating Halfway as a [[Government_of_Urcea#Overseas_Possessions|subrectory]] divided into six [[Government_of_Urcea#Prefectures|prefectures]] in accordance with [[Kingdom_of_Crotona#Seventy-two_entrenched|broader reforms in the Kingdom of Crotona]]. The Princely title would continue on as one of the titles of the Apostolic King before becoming established as the title of the Urcean {{wp|heir apparent}}. The Great Court was allowed to remain intact primarily as an advisory body for the island's subrector, now sent from the administrative court in Toulonium. In practice, however, the institutional inertia of the Great Court meant that the abolition of the role of Prince and Principal Vicar and their replacement with a mere Subrector established the political supremacy of the Great Court. In [[1702]] it became nominally under the authority of the [[Kingdom_of_Crotona#Seventy-two_entrenched|General Estates of the Kingdom of Crotona]], though over time it would receive special grants of {{wp|immediacy}} and was largely outside the grasp of the "seventy-two", the prominent Crotonan-based mercantile families that ruled the Kingdom. | ||
Halfway during the late Principate and early Subrector period transitioned from a world center of trade to the a major location facilitating trade between [[Urcea]] and eastern [[Sarpedon]]. The merchant classes of Halfway had gradually abandoned their mainland Sarpedon enterprises to instead build commercial links in the Urcean metropole. By [[1680]], most of the business coming into Halfway was Sarpedon-bound export goods, purchased by Halfway-based traders to sell to markets in modern [[Thessia]] for a markup. Relations between Halfway-based merchants would become critical during the [[Veltorine War of Independence]] in the 1780s, as prominent Veltorine merchants used their connections on Halfway to serve as political intermediaries with the court in Urceopolis, successfully inducing [[Urcea]] to join the conflict. Veltorine independence, which was secured after the war, would be a significant boon to Halfway merchants as Halfway became the primary market of exchange between [[Veltorina]] and [[Levantia]]. In the 19th century, Halfway would also become a major coaling station, strengthening its longterm relationship with world trade. | |||
Several attempts by Toulonium and Urceopolis-based officials to abolish the Great Court were eventually abandoned by the time of the [[Caroline Wars]], and the crown granted a major concession to the local authorities in [[1745]] when the appointment of Subrector was made subject to Great Court ratification. As it took on additional authority, however, it became increasingly subject to scrutiny. The [[Constitutional_history_of_Urcea#Concession_of_1747|Concession of 1747]] had transformed the Urcean [[Concilium Daoni]] into a fully-fledged elective legislative body. By [[1790]], the Great Court lagged behind significantly, still employing a primarily-[[Social class in Urcea|class]] based model that also saw significant membership by hereditary nobility, similar to the [[Constitutional_history_of_Urcea#Reforming_the_Daoni|Leonine Daoni]]. This caused significant calls for reform in both Urceopolis and on the island. The [[1800]] election in Urcea caused a massive riot in [[Koureiros]] due to the lack of a fully representative system; the city itself, though the largest on the island, had no elected members of the Great Court. Urcea's military failures in the [[Second Caroline War]] made it appear that a possible rebellion was likely, but the issue was deescalated in [[1806]] when the Concilium Daoni sent a five-member commission to examine the traditional constitution of the island and possible changes to be recommended to the Daoni and the Crotonan administrative court. The commission returned with a number of required changes to the governance of Halfway, requiring the entire island to have representative elective districts by the [[1815]] election. This requirement was met as a hostile act by many of the traditional nobility of the island, many of whom dated to the establishment of the Crusader state. A conspiracy to rebel against the government was discovered and crushed before an uprising could occur, and society was subsequently reformed throughout the 1810s and 1820s. Despite their ascendancy in [[Crotona]], the [[Kingdom_of_Crotona#Seventy-two_entrenched|seventy-two]] prominent mercantile families that ruled the Kingdom failed to make economic inroads into Halfway, marking it as distinct from the rest of the Kingdom. The various problems Urceopolis faced with the [[Kingdom_of_Crotona#Reform_efforts_and_Valerian_Rebellion|nobility of the Kingdom of Crotona]] made the idea of separating Halfway back out as a separate possession - possibly as a [[Government_of_Urcea#Crownland|Crownland]] - popular both on the island and in Urceopolis. The idea was proposed several times but faced various legal problems, not least of which being the opposition from the Kingdom's General Estates in Toulonium. During the [[Kingdom_of_Crotona#Reform_efforts_and_Valerian_Rebellion|rebellion of the Valerii]], the Great Court declared its allegiance for the [[Apostolic King of Urcea]] in opposition to the Crotonan-based nobility. After the rebellion, the government of the Kingdom was dissolved and replaced by [[Kingdom_of_Crotona#Military_rule|military rule in Tromarine and Crotona]], though the traditional institutions of Halfway remained in place due to its loyalty. Throughout the [[1880]]s the separation of Halfway from the Kingdom seemed all but certain but the issue was delayed within the context of broader territorial reform proposals. The rise of the [[History_of_Urcea_(1798-1902)#Crown_Regency|Crown Regency]] in [[1889]] set forth administrative reform as a top issue, culminating in the [[Administrative Reorganization Act of 1892]]. That Act provided for Halfway's establishment as a [[Government_of_Urcea#Province|province]]. The transition to becoming a province was completed in [[1894]] in time for the [[1895]] election; it transitioned the Great Court to a bicameral system, wherein the larger matters of state were delegated to the Lion Chamber whereas most of the body was transitioned into a lower house called the Principal Assembly with an elected Governor replacing the role of Subrector. | Several attempts by Toulonium and Urceopolis-based officials to abolish the Great Court were eventually abandoned by the time of the [[Caroline Wars]], and the crown granted a major concession to the local authorities in [[1745]] when the appointment of Subrector was made subject to Great Court ratification. As it took on additional authority, however, it became increasingly subject to scrutiny. The [[Constitutional_history_of_Urcea#Concession_of_1747|Concession of 1747]] had transformed the Urcean [[Concilium Daoni]] into a fully-fledged elective legislative body. By [[1790]], the Great Court lagged behind significantly, still employing a primarily-[[Social class in Urcea|class]] based model that also saw significant membership by hereditary nobility, similar to the [[Constitutional_history_of_Urcea#Reforming_the_Daoni|Leonine Daoni]]. This caused significant calls for reform in both Urceopolis and on the island. The [[1800]] election in Urcea caused a massive riot in [[Koureiros]] due to the lack of a fully representative system; the city itself, though the largest on the island, had no elected members of the Great Court. Urcea's military failures in the [[Second Caroline War]] made it appear that a possible rebellion was likely, but the issue was deescalated in [[1806]] when the Concilium Daoni sent a five-member commission to examine the traditional constitution of the island and possible changes to be recommended to the Daoni and the Crotonan administrative court. The commission returned with a number of required changes to the governance of Halfway, requiring the entire island to have representative elective districts by the [[1815]] election. This requirement was met as a hostile act by many of the traditional nobility of the island, many of whom dated to the establishment of the Crusader state. A conspiracy to rebel against the government was discovered and crushed before an uprising could occur, and society was subsequently reformed throughout the 1810s and 1820s. Despite their ascendancy in [[Crotona]], the [[Kingdom_of_Crotona#Seventy-two_entrenched|seventy-two]] prominent mercantile families that ruled the Kingdom failed to make economic inroads into Halfway, marking it as distinct from the rest of the Kingdom. The various problems Urceopolis faced with the [[Kingdom_of_Crotona#Reform_efforts_and_Valerian_Rebellion|nobility of the Kingdom of Crotona]] made the idea of separating Halfway back out as a separate possession - possibly as a [[Government_of_Urcea#Crownland|Crownland]] - popular both on the island and in Urceopolis. The idea was proposed several times but faced various legal problems, not least of which being the opposition from the Kingdom's General Estates in Toulonium. During the [[Kingdom_of_Crotona#Reform_efforts_and_Valerian_Rebellion|rebellion of the Valerii]], the Great Court declared its allegiance for the [[Apostolic King of Urcea]] in opposition to the Crotonan-based nobility. After the rebellion, the government of the Kingdom was dissolved and replaced by [[Kingdom_of_Crotona#Military_rule|military rule in Tromarine and Crotona]], though the traditional institutions of Halfway remained in place due to its loyalty. Throughout the [[1880]]s the separation of Halfway from the Kingdom seemed all but certain but the issue was delayed within the context of broader territorial reform proposals. The rise of the [[History_of_Urcea_(1798-1902)#Crown_Regency|Crown Regency]] in [[1889]] set forth administrative reform as a top issue, culminating in the [[Administrative Reorganization Act of 1892]]. That Act provided for Halfway's establishment as a [[Government_of_Urcea#Province|province]]. The transition to becoming a province was completed in [[1894]] in time for the [[1895]] election; it transitioned the Great Court to a bicameral system, wherein the larger matters of state were delegated to the Lion Chamber whereas most of the body was transitioned into a lower house called the Principal Assembly with an elected Governor replacing the role of Subrector. | ||
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The enduring popularity of the [[Administrative Reorganization Act of 1892]] ensured Halfway's loyalty to [[Gréagóir FitzRex]] during the the [['97 Rising]], a conflict that was part of the broader [[First Great War]]. The island provided men to the Regal Army and ports to the Caphiric [[Imperial Naval Fleet]] until February of [[1901]]. Earler that year, the [[Navy of Burgundie]] established naval supremacy in the [[Sea of Canete]] at the [[%2797_Rising#Battle_of_Abylf_Steppe|Battle of the Abylf Steppe]] in January. Following their victory, the Burgoignesc Navy worked quickly to open Urcea's western coast to amphibious invasion, and that strategy required the quick submission of [[Crotona]], [[Tromarine]], and Halfway. In addition to the strategic demands of taking Halfway, the Burgoignesc believed taking the island would have significant political benefits: they supported [[Patrick III of Urcea|Patrick, the Prince of Halfway]], the legitimate Julian claimant to the Throne, and Patrick's title of Prince of Halfway gave him his legitimacy in the eyes of his supporters. Accordingly, having Halfway in the hands of the Regency and so ardently pro-FitzRex was viewed to be an embarrassment. The [[Navy_of_Burgundie#Marine_infantry|Burgoignesc Marine infantry]] landed on the island in late February 1901 following a lengthy bombardment of the island by the [[Navy of Burgundie]]. The island's primary defenders had already been redeployed to mainland Levantia in anticipation of its immediate seizure, ensuring that the island could not resist the Burgoignesc advance. The flag of [[Burgundie]] was briefly raised over the Emirate Palace in [[Koureiros]] for part of 27 February 1901 before being replaced with the [[Flag of Urcea|flag of Urcea]]. Patrick traveled to the island and remained there in the summer of 1901, governing it directly as Prince of Halfway. Patrick and his senior generals would oversee the [[%2797_Rising#Antonine_Campaign|Antonine Campaign]] from the island before returning to their traditional headquarters. In November 1902, Patrick became [[Apostolic King of Urcea]], ending the war. Halfway's status as a freestanding province was confirmed in the [[Constitutional Settlement Act of 1902]], ending a year and a half of anxiety about the island's permanent fate. | The enduring popularity of the [[Administrative Reorganization Act of 1892]] ensured Halfway's loyalty to [[Gréagóir FitzRex]] during the the [['97 Rising]], a conflict that was part of the broader [[First Great War]]. The island provided men to the Regal Army and ports to the Caphiric [[Imperial Naval Fleet]] until February of [[1901]]. Earler that year, the [[Navy of Burgundie]] established naval supremacy in the [[Sea of Canete]] at the [[%2797_Rising#Battle_of_Abylf_Steppe|Battle of the Abylf Steppe]] in January. Following their victory, the Burgoignesc Navy worked quickly to open Urcea's western coast to amphibious invasion, and that strategy required the quick submission of [[Crotona]], [[Tromarine]], and Halfway. In addition to the strategic demands of taking Halfway, the Burgoignesc believed taking the island would have significant political benefits: they supported [[Patrick III of Urcea|Patrick, the Prince of Halfway]], the legitimate Julian claimant to the Throne, and Patrick's title of Prince of Halfway gave him his legitimacy in the eyes of his supporters. Accordingly, having Halfway in the hands of the Regency and so ardently pro-FitzRex was viewed to be an embarrassment. The [[Navy_of_Burgundie#Marine_infantry|Burgoignesc Marine infantry]] landed on the island in late February 1901 following a lengthy bombardment of the island by the [[Navy of Burgundie]]. The island's primary defenders had already been redeployed to mainland Levantia in anticipation of its immediate seizure, ensuring that the island could not resist the Burgoignesc advance. The flag of [[Burgundie]] was briefly raised over the Emirate Palace in [[Koureiros]] for part of 27 February 1901 before being replaced with the [[Flag of Urcea|flag of Urcea]]. Patrick traveled to the island and remained there in the summer of 1901, governing it directly as Prince of Halfway. Patrick and his senior generals would oversee the [[%2797_Rising#Antonine_Campaign|Antonine Campaign]] from the island before returning to their traditional headquarters. In November 1902, Patrick became [[Apostolic King of Urcea]], ending the war. Halfway's status as a freestanding province was confirmed in the [[Constitutional Settlement Act of 1902]], ending a year and a half of anxiety about the island's permanent fate. | ||
As it was the site of light fighting, Halfway did not require significant investment to rebuild after the war. | As it was the site of light fighting, Halfway did not require significant investment to rebuild after the war. It largely resumed its status as a mercantile hub for goods changing hands between Levantia and eastern Sarpedon once the [[First Great War]] ended and trade relationships resumed. The island did lag from its pre-war highs, however, as the conquest of [[Veltorina]] by [[Caphiria]] during the conflict was followed by steep tariffs, as Halfway merchants were largely blamed in [[Venceia]] for the continued survival of the Veltorine state. The end of the provincial issue led to the gradual loss of ground by the FitzRexists and the [[Commonwealth Union (Urcea)|Commonwealth Union]] party on the island in favor of the more pro-market [[National Pact (Urcea)|National Pact]] by the [[1915]] election. The National Pact became politically dominant on the island afterwards and remain so in the 21st century. | ||
In the 1920s, Halfway became increasingly militarized in the face of a militarizing [[Caphiria]]. By the end of the decade, it became evident that war between Caphiria and the Levantine powers was almost certainly on the horizon, leading to a massive rush of fortifications being built on the island between [[1929]] and [[1932]]. Significant parts of the jungle were cleared for airbases and a [[Royal Navy (Urcea)|Royal Navy]] squadron was deployed to the island. On 17 January [[1935]], Caphiria declared war on [[Lariana]], formally beginning the Sarpedon theater of what was already a year-old conflict. Caphiria focused on isolating the island rather than trying to take it in a head-on assault at this phase, preferring to concentrate Legion forces elsehwere. The island was subject to constant aerial and naval bombardment, effectively putting the island under siege. Caphirian leaders decided that the island would be taken once the [[Imperial Naval Fleet]] was given a free hand to operate and the Urceans could no longer relieve the island as part of their broader pursuit of a decisive naval battle. That battle would come in November 1935 with the [[Battle of the Adonáire Strait]], a battle which decisively destroyed the offensive capability of the Naval Fleet. From then on, the siege of Halfway was reduced to recurrent aerial attacks, though the Caphirian shift to submarine tactics would significantly disrupt supply to and from the island. Later in the war, Halfway became a staging area for an invasion of [[Thessia]], opening an eastern Sarpedonic front in the war; the island became the major supply and command center for that theater. | |||
At the end of the war, Halfway was among the most militarized places on earth and would remain so during the [[Occidental Cold War]]. Reduced trade between Urcea and Caphiria after the war as well as the effects of globalization on trade infrastructure made Halfway largely superfluous as a trade hub, and the major mercantile houses of Halfway's major cities went into terminal decline in the late 1940s. In their place, a new urban service-sector based economy emerged in support of the significant military bases that now dotted the island. The personnel of the [[Royal Air Force (Urcea)|Royal Air Force]] and [[Royal Navy (Urcea)|Royal Navy]] became the primary economic driver of the island, and industries emerged everywhere to cater to their needs individually as well as the needs of the armed forces on a contractual basis. This period also saw a significant influx of permanent Urcean residents on the island, as servicemen would return to Urcea following their discharge and relocate their families to the tropical island. These patterns generally led to a massive influx of Urcean visitors by the [[1960]]s, requiring the need of a major expansion of the tourism amenity economy. Tourism was also boosted by the travel of relatives and family of servicemen, who would come to Halfway to visit. In [[1900]], Halfway had forty-eight hotels, a number which exploded to eight hundred and forty by [[1980]]. The end of the [[Occidental Cold War]] with the [[Assumption Accords]] in [[1984]] threatened to disrupt the island economy again, but the military retains a significant presence on the island through today, though down from its peak. The service sector and tourism-based economy that grew around the military became self-perpetuating. Today, Halfway is known as a major tourist destination with a healthy urban economy, and [[Koureiros]] still serves as the base for the [[Royal Navy (Urcea)|Royal Navy]]'s Sarpedon Squadron. | |||
== Geography == | == Geography == | ||