A History of the Empire [Archive]

The Macabees

07-03-2005, 00:09

Introduction: Emerging from a Post-Bellum World
The one hundred year civil war which had plagued the area of the 'old Empire' had left the nation weak, desolate, everything a war zone was. The case was that the civil war had ended not with a bang, but with a whimper, as how some of the more learned philsophers had acclaimed the world was to end. However, although the states of Macabea and Hassel were united by the pen and not by the sword the uneasy peace left a ruptured Empire in the hands of administrators unfit for such a job which required skill, precision, and most of all morals. Consequently, the world which was left after the now termed 'unification' was not as unified as some could claim and in fact the Hasselic marrage perhaps fractured more than helped the new Empire.

The new Macabee administration was further undermined by the fact that the Hasselics had, in truth, not surrendered their territories to the Macabee king, but to Jonach Catalan, the most prestigous general in the Macabee Heer, but perhaps the least Macabee of them all, as he was a Spaniard adopted into a prominent Macabee family. So, as soon as the peace was struck the 'new Empire' was already in the staging points in crumbling once again, and this time it threatened to fracture into dozens of small city-states but unlike after the fall of the 'old Empire' there would be no civil war to re-unite the Empire, which meant that the Empire would cease to exist from there on. Some historians, such as the Macabee historian who chronicled the First Great Mississipian War named Arnold Faschluss, claimed that the "Empire could still the be saved [and] that the Macabee king [arguably] would have escalated the Macabee's image into that of a world power." However, other historians argue otherwise and claim that the fall of the Macabee king was inevitable. The most valid of the arguments was the former, however, in truth the chances that the Macabee king was to survive any insurrection which was led by the able Catalan was thin, and once the insurrection began it became quickly obvious that Catalan would not be stamped out easily.

The Old Guard Army andevens leading to the March of One Thousand:
The king, evidently aware of the grave situation, was quick to act and ordered that the army units still loyal to his command, and that of his most loyal general, who not suprisingly was a personal enemy of Catalan, Field Marshall Wilhelm von Strasburg, unite in Hassel for a display of force. However, although the order was given 27 January, 2005, only one army had made it to the Hasselic border by 1 Febuary and the others had not even budged, afraid that once they left the provence they occupied would go up in flames. Not only that but the logistical system supplying these armies had been more or less abondoned since the General Staff thought that it would be best to cut costs since the war was effectively over. That decision would cost the king his throne.

Events moved quickly and on 3 Febuary several contingents of Field Marshall Wilhelm von Strasburg's army group, finally making their way north towards the Hasselic border - by foot -, had broken off and began the fateful 'march of one thousand'. The march of one thousand would turn out to be the first of several bloody engagements leading to the rise of Catalan and the general rise of the Macabees as a world power.

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Important Documents:

To: General-feldmarschall Jonach Catalan
FOR HIS EYES ONLY

It is obvious that the days of Hassel are numbered, however, it would be blasphemous for us to surrender to the king of the Macabees who we dispise as not only a non-religious, but as a phsycopath, unable to command an army, much less a country. However, you in turn prove to be quite the command and quite the leader. You may ask what this has to do with you, and why we have sent you this letter. Well lad, it is quite simple really. Hassel, outnumbered, can no longer win this war. In effect, we have lost and we accept the fact. However, we would not accept a surrender to the king of the Macabees, and would instead die fighting. But you seem as an ample candidate to rule both Hassel and the Macabees. Such a proposition may seem a bit weird, and I must admit, if there was another agreeable option I would exploit it. Moreover, this has the chance of backfiring, and that chance is large, indeed, the chance of success is almost null - but there is a fire in me that claims that you are different from them, and thus I have opted to send you this letter - my terms for peace.

First, our army is to turn over to your command or that of one of your own generals whom we know you trust. Our army shall not fight or work for the king of the Macabees. If you force them too you will lose their faith and you will find yourself in the same boat as your king.

Second, you, with Hasselic aid, are to lead a coup against the king of the Macabees and nominate yourself as head of state. This may seem strange coming from us, however, we fear it is the only chance that we have to see this land free of foreign armies and occupationary forces. We know that the rule of the king will only lead to that, and we must avoid that.

Third, the ruling house of Hassel is to be given same quarters in Hassel until their death and the children are to be insured their safety. They will have their name changed in order to ensure that the ruling house of Hassel ceases to exist when the current king is dead.

We hope that these terms seem ample enough to pall your seemingly insatiable lust, as we have not only termed our surrender, but we have offered you the opportunity of a life time to turn around your life as a general to a life as a leader.
[signed]King Albrecht von Daerg

[i]The following documents are first hand resources depicting the rise of Catalan in the army, and the fall of Field Marshall Wilhelm von Strasburg:

Kamraden,

The King had ordered me to inform you that you are to keep command of the First Infanteriearmee. However, you are to lose your gifted Chief of Staff as the King as hereby promoted him to the rank of General-feldmarchall, and commander of newly designated Heeresgruppe Hassel. He has received his batch of orders also. The King also wishes to grant you permission to choose your own chief of staff. Finally, all offensive operations are to be halted until our General-Feldmarchall makes his decision.

Thank you,

General der Infanterie Karl von Bievach

To: All Field Commanders of Heeresgruppe Hassel

I have decided to postpone the offensive towards Soburguntia to 0300 hours tomorrow morning. This is due to a series of news reports I have received from our King. By that time tomorrow the ranks of the 1st Infanterie Divisionen should be reinforced, as well as the losses endured by the aerial assault three hours ago on the 2nd Infanterie Divisionen. Most importantly, the I Panzerkorp is to arrive tomorrow at noon, meaning that our offensive will have some hours before we have armored aid - but shouldn't be a problem.

Furthermore, Strasburg has been sent home due to several health problems, and in his place I have appointed the hereby unchallenged Generaloberst Adolf Schliehammer.

[signed]Catalan

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