NationStates Jolt Archive

OOC: please make any OOC comments by TG. Thank you.

IC:
Royal Gender Barrier Snapped, Trampled, and Spit On!
June 23rd, 648 AS (2008 AD); Ottonia, Davarica

Emperor Heinrich II, a figure noted by political pundits throughout the Empire for his progressivism, has struck again.

Citing the most ancient law of the emperors (traditionally) that any Imperial decree that overrules the Diet (or, in this case, Parliament) (decrees like this are allowed only once every eight years, and they cannot be used to give the emperor an unlimited number of them) must be obeyed, and may not be contradicted by the nobles, has been used against traditionalists, in opening up the possibility of an Achae-Ottonian Empress.

The Emperor has often pointed out that he is worn out by the stresses of ruling two empires, and extremely annoyed that a woman cannot be ruler of Ottonia (thereby blocking, by extension, the possibility of an Achae-Ottonian Empress) by using his Overriding Decree to make his cousin Marie de Esla co-ruler of the Empire until further notice.

Traditionalist nobles were livid as the 22-year-old Emperor read the decree to an assembled Parliament.

"He's trying to destroy the very fabric of this great nation!" sputtered Richard Becker, Duke of Untersitzen, a leader of the Traditionalist movement, which generally tries to put all power back in royal hands by citing ancient, inalienable laws laid down by Emperor Otto I "the Unconquerable" who founded the Empire.

Senator Spurius Camillus of South Octaea, however, applauded the action.

"I think that this is a major step foward," Camillus said happily when asked about his feelings on the decree. "Women have always been able to assume the position of Empress in Achaea. Admittedly, there haven't been many of them, but still, the important thing is that there is a genuine possability present."

The Emperor's choice of co-Ruler is rather unsurprising, ignoring the circumstances. Marie de Esla is one of Heinrich's cousins, and is very close to the Emperor. The fact that she has studied government and politics extensively only helped her get the appointment. For the most part, according the plan released by Imperial aides, she will probably defer to her more senior cousin on foreign policy decisions and the like, but will have a good deal of say over domestic affairs in Ottonia, with guidance from supporters in Parliament and from Marshal Wilhelm von Dredicburg, as well as her cousin. It is assumed that she will not need most of this guidance as she adjusts to the job.

Announcement of Celebrations
June 31st, 448 AS; Ottonia, Davarica

The Public Works Planning Committee of Ottonia announced today that preparations would be made in cities across Ottonia for the 200th anniversary of the unification of the Empire.

"We hope that these celebrations will be an opportunity for everyone to enjoy themselves while reflecting on how far we've come since the War of Unification," said Gerd Jaelson, the Chairman of the Committee.

For those who do not know, a brief explanation of what is being celebrated is included in the following paragraphs.

In 438 AS, Kaiser Heinrich I "the Stubborn" of Westphallia was elected Ottonian emperor by the Diet of Davarica, a counsel of electors, nobility, and clergy from across the region of Ottonia. Immediately prior to his election, the Westphallian Kaiser had made a bold announcement: he would unite all the Ottonian kingdoms under one nation properly. A the time, the Empire existed in name only, and some of the member kingdoms dreaded the removal of their power and influence from the running of the system. Some, however, agreed with the soon to be emperor.

On Heinrich's election, the kingdoms of Nurphallia, Saphallia, Thallica, and Aglaland had declared that they would resist any attempts by the Emperor to erode their power. For this reason, when Heinrich's first decree went out, ordering them to disarm immediately, they responded by declaring war on Westphallia and its supporters.

The war seesawed back in forth between who had victory closest in sight: Kaiser Heinrich and the Imperialists, or Kaiser Rudolphus of Nurphallia and his coalition. However, by 443, Field Marshal Fedor Hocher of Westphallia had scored a decisive victory at Agren. General Rufus von Adenburg of Kallevia all but annihilated the Saphallian army at Neste later that year, and Thallica had fallen to a Umbero-Davaric army earlier that spring. Rudophus surrendered on September 3rd, 446 AS, and Wilhelm II, Heinrich's successor, was also crowned emperor, in the process dissolving the old kingdoms, and declaring war on Aglaland. After a four year war with the Aglic kingdom, in which Ottonia gained some territory, a peace treaty was signed in Westfall between all the defeated Allied rulers, the Imperialist leaders, and the Aglic king, affirming the creation of a new, real Ottonian empire, the dissolution of the old kingdoms (with the exception of Aglaland), and confirming Ottonian territorial gains. Withe the signing of the Westfall Accords on May 8th, 449, the Ottonian Wars of Unification ended.

It is this final victory that will be celebrated, as over the last 200 years it has brought the people of Ottonia together, helping them to see themselves as Ottonians (and now Achae-Ottonians) first, and as Westphallians, Nurphallians, Davaricans, Umberians, and Kallevians second.

OOC: Sorry, its rather dense reading.

Savonica Requests Semi-Autonomy

August 19th, 648 AS; Imperia, Central Achaea

Senators Furius Usilius (Populist, South Savonica) and Spurius Camillus (Reformed Republican, West Octaea) have introduced a motion that would allow the populations of the provinces of Achaea to vote in a referendum as to whether or not their province should recieve semi-autonomous or imperial status. This measure has been pushed especially hard by compromise politicians, especially those from Savonica, which has a strong tradition of resistance to Imperial rule.

Savonica's most recent attempt at breaking away came a few years ago, in which they declared themselves an independent country, with the help of the Army of Savonica and its commander, Field Marshal Baden P. Khamar. The attempted revolution was defeated by Marshal Marcus T. Regulus, and Savonica was readmitted into the Empire a month after as a fully functioning province, with all functions of citizenship restored. The treaty signed between Khamar and Regulus included a clause guarenteeing that a referenda of this sort would be considered by the Senate.

For this reason, many compromise and moderate Savonican politicians champion the referendum, as it would help avoid future violence over this particular debate. As per normal governing rules, if this measure is passed for Savonica, referenda must be held in other provinces as well, regarding the status of those provinces.

Populist Party Falls in Achaean Senatorial Elections; Traditionalist Party loses Hold in Ottonian House of Commons

October 23rd, 648 AS

Record voter turnout was a major aspect of the Imperial Parliamentary elections, held yesterday. Young voters, as well as recently admitted citizens were a notable force in the polls.

The long-dominent Achaean Populist Party lost its stranglehold on the Senate, as they lost 74 of the 142 seats they held prior to the elections. There are 314 seats in the Achaean Senate. In their place, the Reformed Republican party gained the majority, winning 48 of the seats lost by the populists, and winning another 37, in addition to holding 46 prior to the election. This left them in the clear majority, with 131 seats. The next most prevalent party was the Monarchists, holding 87 seats. The populist party held on, holding 68 seats. The Socialist Party and Liberal Republicans held 14 and 9 seats respectively. The Laissez-Faire party won the remaining 5. The Communist Party was shut out entirely.

In Ottonia, the heretoforth growing Traditionalists have been decisively rejected, now holding 34 of their original 73 seats. The Reformed Republicans, a coalition that includes the Conservative Republicans, the Reformed Monarchists, and the Libertarians, won a majority with a total of 42 seats. The Ottonian House of Commons has only 120 seats. The Liberal Republicans held 21 seats, the Socialists held 14, and the remaining 9 are held by smaller parties.