NationStates Jolt Archive

OOC: This is a historic account of the Knootian Declaration of Independence, 1581.

Introduction
Toward the end of the Middle Ages, many of the large cities of Knootoss had bought or won charters giving them many rights of freedom, but when Karl Ludwig I came to the throne of Lavenrunz he disregarded these charters. When Calvinism spread over the United Provinces of Knootoss he introduced the Inquisition and tried to root it out. Heinrich VII of Lavenrunz increased the persecution. The people rebelled in 1566 and the Duke of Carlsbad was sent into the country to put down the rebellion. The people elected William of Knootcap as their leader, and the Knootian Revolt began. The war lasted for forty years with varied fortunes. The Prince of Knootcap was assassinated in 1584, but the struggle went on under his second son, Prince Maurice, a boy of seventeen. Other countries also came to their aid, such as rebel groups from Der Angst who were also under Catholic Dominion rule at the time. Finally in 1609 a truce was established which ended in the acknowledgment of the provinces in 1648 as one of the provisions of the Treaty of Hofburg.
The declaration given below -- the first in modern times -- brings forward prominently the great idea that rulers are responsible to the people and can be deposed by them. The growth of this idea is centre of the development of constitutional and republican government.



The States General of the United Provinces of Knootoss, to all whom it may concern, do by these Presents send greeting:

It is apparent to all that a prince is constituted by God to be ruler of a people, to defend them from oppression and violence as the shepherd his sheep. God did not create the people as slaves to their prince, to obey his commands, whether right or wrong, but rather the prince for the sake of the subjects (without which he could be no prince), to govern them according to equity, to love and support them as a father his children or a shepherd his flock, and even at the hazard of life to defend and preserve them. When he does not behave thus, but, on the contrary, oppresses them, seeking opportunities to infringe their ancient customs and privileges, exacting from them slavish compliance, then he is no longer a prince, but a tyrant, and the subjects are to consider him in no other view. Particularly when this is done deliberately, unauthorized by the states, they may not only disallow his authority, but legally proceed to the choice of another prince for their defence. This is the only method left for subjects whose humble petitions could never soften their prince or dissuade him from his tyrannical proceedings; and this is what the law of nature dictates for the defence of liberty, which we ought to transmit to posterity, even at the hazard of our lives. This we have seen done frequently in several countries, and more justifiable in our land, which has been always governed according to their ancient privileges, which are expressed in the oath taken by the prince at his admission to the government; for most of the Provinces receive their prince upon certain conditions, which he swears to maintain, which, if the prince violates, he is no longer sovereign.

The declaration goes on to tell the history that led to the declaration of independence…

It was the Emperor of Lavenrunz, after the demise of the emperor, his father Karl Ludwig I, who forgot the services done by the subjects of these countries, both to his father and himself, by whose valour he got so glorious and memorable victories over his enemies that his name and power became famous and dreaded over all the world. He also forgot the advice of his father and instead listened to the counsel of those Lavenrunzians surrounding him, who had conceived a secret hatred to this land and to its liberty because they could not enjoy posts of honour and high employments here under the states as in other countries under the Emperor's dominion. Thus allured by the riches of the said provinces, the counsellors, or at least the principal of them, frequently remonstrated to the Emperor that it was more for his Majesty's reputation and grandeur to subdue Knootoss a second time, and to make himself absolute (by which they mean to tyrannize at pleasure), than to govern according to the restrictions he had sworn to observe. From that time forward the Emperor of Lavenrunz, following these evil counsellors, sought by all means possible to reduce this country to slavery, under the government of Lavenrunzians after having first, under the mask of religion, endeavoured to settle new bishops in the largest and principal cities and endowing and incorporating them with the richest abbeys.

By this incorporation the bishops (who might be strangers as well as natives) would have had the first place and vote in the assembly of the states. He also introduced the Lavenrunzian inquisition, which was so dreadful and detested in these provinces as the worst of slavery that his imperial majesty, having once before proposed it to these states, had given up on it, thereby giving proof of the great affection he had for his subjects. However, despite the many requests to the Emperor both by the provinces and particular towns, in writing as well as by some principal lords by word of mouth. In particular, the Baron of Montigny and Earl of Egmont, with the approval of the governess of the Knootoss, were sent several times to Lavenrunz upon this affair. The Emperor had by fair words given them grounds to hope that their request should be complied with, but in his letters he ordered the contrary, soon after expressly commanding, upon pain of his displeasure, to admit the new bishops immediately, and put them in possession of their bishoprics and incorporated abbeys, to hold the court of the inquisition in the places where it had been before, to obey and follow the decrees and ordinances of the Council of Trent, which in many articles are destructive of the privileges of the country.

When the people of Knootoss heard of this it rightly caused great uneasiness among them, and it diminished the good affection they had always borne toward the Emperor and his predecessors. Especially because he did not only seek to tyrannize over their persons and estates, but also over their consciences, for which they believed themselves accountable to God only. Upon this occasion the chief of the nobility, in compassion to the poor people, sent a petition in the year 1566, humbly praying to soften the said points, especially with regard to the rigorous inquisition, and capital punishments for matters of religion. This in order to appease them and prevent public disturbances. He also asked to be allowed to inform the Emperor of this affair in a more solemn manner, and to represent to him how necessary it was for the peace and prosperity of the public to remove the measures, and to moderate the severity of his declarations published concerning divine worship. The Marquis de Berghen, and the Baron of Montigny had been sent, at the request of the lady regent and of the states-general as ambassadors to Lavenrunz. In Lavenrunz, the Emperor, instead of giving them audience and redress the grievances they had complained of, declared all those who were concerned in preparing the declaration to be rebels, and guilty of high treason, and that they were to be punished with death, with confiscation of their estates. Soon after he imprisoned the lords and the ambassadors and put them to death. He confiscated their estates, contrary to the law of nations, which has been always religiously observed even among the most tyrannical and barbarous princes.

Although the disturbances were now appeased by the governess and her ministers, and many friends to liberty were either banished or subdued, the Emperor had not any show of reason to use arms and violence, and further oppress this country, apart from for the reasons the Hofskriegsrath had always wanted. To annul all the privileges of this country, and govern it tyrannically at pleasure. At the instigation of the Hofskriegsrath he showed how little regard he had for his people, so contrary to the duty which a good prince owes to his subjects, and sent the Duke of Carlsbad with a powerful army to oppress this land. For his cruelties he is looked upon as one of its greatest enemies. He came in without the least opposition, and was received by the poor subjects with all marks of honour and clemency the Emperor had often hypocritically promised in his letters. The Emperor had said that he had intended to come in person to give orders to their general satisfaction, having equipped a fleet to carry him from Lavenrunz, and another in Zealand to come to meet him at the great expense of the country, so that he could better deceive his subjects, and allure them into the toils. Nevertheless the Duke of Carlsbad, immediately after his arrival (even though he is a stranger, and in no way related to the Royal family), declared that he had a captain-general's commission. Soon after he declared that he was governor of these provinces, contrary to all its ancient customs and privileges. He immediately garrisoned the principal towns and castles, and caused fortresses and citadels to be built in the great cities to awe them into subjection. Very courteously he sent for the chief nobility, in the Emperor's name and under the pretence of taking their advice. Those who believed his letters were seized and carried out of Brabant, where they were imprisoned and prosecuted as criminals before him who had no right, nor could be a competent judge; and at last he, without hearing their defence at large, sentenced them to death, which was publicly and ignominiously executed.

The others, better acquainted with Lavenrunzian hypocrisy and residing in foreign countries, were declared outlawed and had their estates confiscated, so that the poor subjects could make no use of their fortresses nor be assisted by their princes in defence of their liberty against the violence of the pope. A great number of other gentlemen and substantial citizens were executed, and others were banished so that their estates might be confiscated, The other honest inhabitants were plagued, by the injuries done to their wives, children and estates by the Lavenrunzian soldiers lodged in their houses, by diverse contributions, which they were forced to pay toward building citadels and new fortifications of towns even to their own ruin, by the taxes of the hundredth, twentieth, and tenth penny, to pay to be employed against their fellow-citizens and against those who, at the hazard of their lives defended their liberties. In order to impoverish the subjects, and to incapacitate them to hinder his design, he executed the instructions received in Lavenrunz to treat these countries as new conquests. He began to alter the course of justice after the Lavenrunzian mode, directly contrary to our privileges. Imagining at last he had nothing more to fear, he settled a tax called the tenth penny on merchandise and manufacture, to the total ruin of these countries who’s prosperity depends upon a flourishing trade. He ignored protests, not by a single province only, but by all of them united. The tax would have been effected if it had not been for the Prince of Knootcap together with diverse gentlemen who had followed their prince in his exile, who were banished by the Duke of Carlsbad.

The document then goes on with a declaration of independence


All these considerations give us more than sufficient reason to renounce the Emperor of Lavenrunz, and seek some other powerful and more gracious prince to take us under his protection. Our countries have been for these twenty years abandoned to disturbance and oppression by their Emperor. During his rule the inhabitants were not treated as subjects but as enemies, enslaved forcibly by their own governors.

Notwithstanding all this we have used all possible means, by petitions in writing, and the good offices of the greatest princes in Christendom, to be reconciled to our Emperor. We maintained our allegiance for a long time hoping that his imperial majesty would procure an honourable and lasting peace, and some degree of liberty, particularly relating to religion (which chiefly concerns God and our own consciences.) At last we found by experience that nothing would be obtained of the Emperor by prayers and treaties, This has plainly appeared by certain proclamations and proscriptions published by the Emperor's orders, by virtue of which we and all officers of the United Provinces with all our friends are declared rebels and as such to have forfeited our lives and estates. By rendering us odious to all, so he could interrupt our commerce, he likewise reduced us to despair by offering a great sum to any that would assassinate the Prince of Knootcap.

So, having no hope of reconciliation and finding no other remedy, we have, agreeable to the law of nature in our own defence and for maintaining the rights, privileges, and liberties of our countrymen, wives, and children, and latest posterity from being enslaved by the Lavenrunzians, been constrained to renounce allegiance to the Emperor of Lavenrunz and pursue such methods as appear to us most likely to secure our ancient liberties and privileges. We have unanimously and deliberately declared, that the Emperor of Lavenrunz has forfeited, ipso jure, all hereditary right to the sovereignty of those countries, and are determined from henceforward not to acknowledge his sovereignty or jurisdiction, nor any act of his relating to the domains of the United Provinces of Knootoss, nor make use of his name as prince, nor suffer others to do it. In consequence whereof we also declare all officers, judges, lords, gentlemen, vassals, and all other the inhabitants of this country, to be henceforth discharged from all oaths and obligations whatsoever made to the Emperor of Lavenrunz as sovereign of those countries. We command and order all justiciaries, officers, and all whom it may concern, not to make use of the name, titles, great or privy seal of the Emperor of Lavenrunz from henceforward.

We order and command that from henceforth no money coined shall be stamped with the name, title, or arms of the Emperor of Lavenrunz in any of these United Provinces, but that all new gold and silver pieces, with their halfs and quarters, shall only bear such impressions as the states shall direct. We order likewise and command the president and other lords of the privy council, and all other chancellors, presidents, accountants-general, and to others in all the chambers of accounts respectively in these said countries, and likewise to all other judges and officers, as we hold them discharged from henceforth of their oath made to the Emperor of Lavenrunz, pursuant to the tenor of their commission, that they shall take a new oath to the states of that country on whose jurisdiction they depend, or to commissaries appointed by them, to be true to us against the Emperor of Lavenrunz and all his adherents according to the formula of words prepared by the states-general for that purpose.

We farther command of the president and members of the privy council, chancellor of the Duchy of Brabant, also the chancellor of the Duchy of Guelders, and county of Zutphen, to the president and members of the council of Holland, to the receivers of great officers of Beoostersheldt and Bewestersheldt in Zealand, to the president and council of Friese, and to the Escoulet of Mechelen, to the president and members of the council of Utrecht, and to all other justiciaries and officers whom it may concern, to the lieutenants all and every of them, to cause this our ordinance to be published and proclaimed throughout their respective jurisdictions, in the usual places appointed for that purpose, so that none may plead ignorance. And to cause our ordinance to be observed inviolably, offenders should be punished impartially and without delay; for so it is found expedient for the public good. And, for better maintaining all and every article hereof, we give to all and every one of you, by express command, full power and authority.

In witness hereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals, dated in our assembly at the Hague, the six and twentieth day of July, 1581, indorsed by the orders of the states-general, and signed J. De Asseliers.

:shock:

What the heck?

I thought you declared independence from the Netherlands in 2003!

What's going on here!?!

PLEASE don't interfere with the past like this? Oi.

God bless,

The Republic of Syskeyia

:shock:

What the heck?

I thought you declared independence from the Netherlands in 2003!

What's going on here!?!

PLEASE don't interfere with the past like this? Oi.

God bless,

The Republic of Syskeyia

OOC: Well, that was a stopgap story. We've been working on shared histories for some time. Enjoy the read on the evil Catholic people. :lol: Of course, this is the Knootian account.

Other historic tidbits involving Knootoss
-New York & Jersey as actually founded by the Knootians, on manhattan island, but then taken away by the Angstians at gunpoint.
-Several Knootians were on the original ships of the people that sailed to the pacific and founded Ruhr.
-Der Angst occupied Knootoss for 5-10 years in the Napoleontic era.
-Tanah Burung was a Knootian colony untill 50 years ago. (But that is old news)

Other people have more history outlined... for further release I guess.

OOC: Well, that was a stopgap story. We've been working on shared histories for some time. Enjoy the read on the evil Catholic people. :lol: Of course, this is the Knootian account.

Other historic tidbits involving Knootoss
-New York & Jersey as actually founded by the Knootians, on manhattan island, but then taken away by the Angstians at gunpoint.
-Several Knootians were on the original ships of the people that sailed to the pacific and founded Ruhr.
-Der Angst occupied Knootoss for 5-10 years in the Napoleontic era.
-Tanah Burung was a Knootian colony untill 50 years ago. (But that is old news)

Other people have more history outlined... for further release I guess.

Oh great, now we're interefering with MAJOR REAL LIFE EVENTS in the past.

Please, can't we keep RL world history basically normal. By "basically" normal is that major events in world history occurred without our interference (Why else do you think Menelmacar was isolationist for so long?). That doesn't mean that you can't have some soldiers or something take some part in major RL world events (I've thought of having Syskeyian soldiers take part in the horrible Thirty Years War and wind up having to go to Poland to be evvacuated home or something) but they can't have immense influence on it. It was Eisenhower, not your general, who was the mastermined of D-Day and they landed at Normandy, not Menelmacar. You get what I mean.

Point is, I'm fine with "this RL territory became mine in 2003" or "my country was owned by the British until such-and-such date" (I am willing to believe, for example, that Tanah Burung was owned by the Holland until 50 or so years ago, but not Knootoss) whatever because it does not contradict the major facts of the country. However, you, Knoot, have chosen as your country a section of the RL country of the Netherlands. I, for one, will gladly accept the notion that you were part of the Netherlands until 2003 when your country declared independance. But, this whole 1581 thing knocks out, oh, 423 years of RL history, making it impossible for people like me, who like calibrate their history with reference to RL history and take extreme offense at NS nations messing up the RL past.

Knootoss, if you had chosen a ficitional land for your country, I'd be fine with this, you didn't, so you'll either have to say this is an alternate universe timeline, or get rid of it.

God bless,

The Republic of Syskeyia

Actually, no. If you had read carefully you would have noticed that the declaration of independence for the United Provinces of Knootoss falls on exactly the same day as the declaration of independence of the United Provinces of the Low Countries. Lavenrunz is - more or less - taking on the role of spain here.

We're all having fun together. Nobody minds and NS is simply somewhat different from the real world, however you can still play with all major events. The thirty years war would still have happened. There is just a little more to it. I won't change my history because I still think its neat, esp. for RP interaction because it is much more fun to interact like this if you have a background to fall back on. Much better then "oh, a new nation I conveniently knew nothing about before they applied to join my alliance." :wink:

The history stays.

@others. Comments? Do you like it?

Hey, sparky, if you don't like what he's doing, ignore it. But, of course, that means not posting in this thread. Why would you even care if Knootoss declared independence from the Netherlands or Lavenrunz?

Also, if you have to have your perfect historical accuracy, then why is he allowed to be a fictional province of a real country, but not a fictional province of a fictional country? Your argument makes no sense.

Now, Knoot, I enjoyed reading it. And since you did such a good job, I'm sure you enjoyed writing it. Isn't that really all that matters?

Thanks! :wink:

I had a lot of fun doing it indeed, as well as planning it out with the others... please do note that this is biased as hell of course. Maybe Jo will have some piece with her point of view later that is posted in this thread... you know, evil heretic Knootians :mrgreen:

ooc, it's a fine history. The events certainly parallel real-world events, but that's fine. And if Knootoss and me both say that Tanah Burung used to be a Knootian colony (and it's certainly beeen said in enough threads by now) then that's how things are -- don't like it, ignore it. For me, having the former colonial power around as a player makes for richer interactions. As far as my timelines are concerned, the real world doesn't even exist -- which means when i interact with Iansisle, i have to ignore the second world war, but it hasn't been a problem so far. We all gotta be flexible, right?

(edit to add: of course, the "evil catholics" bit is outrageous lies.... :wink: )

ooc, it's a fine history. The events certainly parallel real-world events, but that's fine. And if Knootoss and me both say that Tanah Burung used to be a Knootian colony (and it's certainly beeen said in enough threads by now) then that's how things are -- don't like it, ignore it. For me, having the former colonial power around as a player makes for richer interactions. As far as my timelines are concerned, the real world doesn't even exist -- which means when i interact with Iansisle, i have to ignore the second world war, but it hasn't been a problem so far. We all gotta be flexible, right?

(edit to add: of course, the "evil catholics" bit is outrageous lies.... :wink: )

Thanks again :) Well... indeed. Iansisle and me even interact from different timelines, more or less... I'd have to fix the WWII thing but its impossible cuz I would be right next to "Germany". :wink: Call it: "Suspension of disbelief."

(And of course the pope is an evil being, the devil in disguise. or so claims this loony website (http://www.pacinst.com/antichri.htm). The "Jesuit-controlled news media" just prevent us from finding out!)

OOC: Well, that was a stopgap story. We've been working on shared histories for some time. Enjoy the read on the evil Catholic people. :lol: Of course, this is the Knootian account.

Other historic tidbits involving Knootoss
-New York & Jersey as actually founded by the Knootians, on manhattan island, but then taken away by the Angstians at gunpoint.
-Several Knootians were on the original ships of the people that sailed to the pacific and founded Ruhr.
-Der Angst occupied Knootoss for 5-10 years in the Napoleontic era.
-Tanah Burung was a Knootian colony untill 50 years ago. (But that is old news)

Other people have more history outlined... for further release I guess.

Oh great, now we're interefering with MAJOR REAL LIFE EVENTS in the past.

Please, can't we keep RL world history basically normal. By "basically" normal is that major events in world history occurred without our interference (Why else do you think Menelmacar was isolationist for so long?). That doesn't mean that you can't have some soldiers or something take some part in major RL world events (I've thought of having Syskeyian soldiers take part in the horrible Thirty Years War and wind up having to go to Poland to be evvacuated home or something) but they can't have immense influence on it. It was Eisenhower, not your general, who was the mastermined of D-Day and they landed at Normandy, not Menelmacar. You get what I mean.

Point is, I'm fine with "this RL territory became mine in 2003" or "my country was owned by the British until such-and-such date" (I am willing to believe, for example, that Tanah Burung was owned by the Holland until 50 or so years ago, but not Knootoss) whatever because it does not contradict the major facts of the country. However, you, Knoot, have chosen as your country a section of the RL country of the Netherlands. I, for one, will gladly accept the notion that you were part of the Netherlands until 2003 when your country declared independance. But, this whole 1581 thing knocks out, oh, 423 years of RL history, making it impossible for people like me, who like calibrate their history with reference to RL history and take extreme offense at NS nations messing up the RL past.

Knootoss, if you had chosen a ficitional land for your country, I'd be fine with this, you didn't, so you'll either have to say this is an alternate universe timeline, or get rid of it.

God bless,

The Republic of Syskeyia

i agree.real history has to be avoided.
[adding his 2 cents to that of the Syskeyians]

I don't mind either way. Too many times people forget that this is a game, and that people are here to have fun. Why make a big issue out of it? We all know that Nationstates history never really coincides anyway. I certainly haven't seen any Chimaean troops in the grainy pictures of World War II :P But the point is, nobody should give a damn.

Just have fun! I like detailed histories like this and its very imaginative.

This works fine for me. Nice job, Knootoss.

I pretty much did something similar-- just borrowed the concept of Switzerland, and dumped it into a parallel universe that shared most of the history of the meat world.

I don't use any tech that won't be more or less practical within the next fifty years, or its analogue in the NS parallel universe, as it were.

I figured out what you were doing right off.

Nice :)

Thank you all!
I'd like to point out to North Star that Sys is arguing the exact reverse: keeping NS history out of normal history.

- Knyaje! We have word from the lands far away across the seas! Our merchants tell us that there is a new people who got their freedom there! A nation named Knootoss!

The Veliky Knyaz, or the Namel Zethar, or the Grand Duke rubbed his chin and shrugged.

- Good, our descendants will have someone to ECTOS.

- ECTOS?

- Don't know, some uber future tech...

- Oh...

[OOC: In other words a little tag :roll: ]

OOC: I see no problem here. My nation was founded by militant Polish that made a deal with the Russians to let the militants take care of the Polish government, so the Russians could continue to kick German ass.

Following a fourty year civil war(and a nuke going off in Berlin), Crimmond is founded. I have my timeline sepreated into Pre-NS, NS-Early, NS and NS-Current. Pre-NS can be taken out completely, it just adds an extra layer of depth to my nation.

The Emerald Heights of The SLAGLands applauds Knootoss for this remarkable achievement. It demonstrates true bravery, pluck, and honour, three things that are lacking in this world.

In celebration, on behalf of my entire nation, I hereby ALSO declare independence from Lavenrunz! No more will we be held captive by the imperialist chains of these dogs who have oppressed us for too long! THE SLAGLANDS WILL BREATHE FREE ONCE AGAIN!

http://invisionfree.com:54/40/9/upload/p3448.gif
Bonne Gregor Westerburg
Prime Minister
The Emerald Heights of The SLAGLands

ROFL - good one Oz / SLAG :mrgreen:

Not to be outdone, Chimaea will declare independance from Lavenrunz too, despite being half a world across and at this time a Commonwealth of the British Empire. :)

Final bump before requesting archiving

*secretly hopes for Jo to post something*

Wow! Good job, Knot! :D

I agree with TB. Having colonial powers makes the NS world more diverse and fun.
I'm comfortable with histories that are a paralel or similar to real events, as long as they are well written and don't conflict with other histories/events and are not godmoddy (example: claiming your country owned all Europe)
But this history is well written and does not conflict with anything.

As for Hell Bovines, I like to say in my history that we were an spanish colony. Of course, there aren't players here that own Spain, France or others, but the mentioning of those countries helps to add flavour to the national histories.

OOC: thanks. Hell bovines is in South America, is it not?

OOC: You're welcome!

Actually, Hell Bovines is located on Greenfields, a separate continent on its own, but my nation does have a latinoamerican/nativeamerican feel, maily because we were a spanish colony.
If you are interested, you may visit Hell Bovines' website (http://www.cozumelandia.8k.com/) :D

Ai Caramba. Nice website! I have one too but it is outdated (www.knootoss.tk)

Also nice to see:
The GDP Per Capita is $ 250, but there is practically no population below the poverty line.
Isn't $250/capita pretty much the poverty line? :wink:
[/offtopicness]

Thanks! Your website is nice too. Gotta love the little hamsters. :P

About that, my GDP rates are not updated. I will do so when I get a good GDP calculator. But I consider my population living above the poverty line.