A Study on the Edict of Separation

[louislxix 3066]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzB1VGEGcSU

 

A STUDY ON

THE EDICT OF SEPARATION

and the events preceding Haense’s independence 

 

WRITTEN BY ALRIC RUTHERN

EDITED BY IRENE C. RUTHERN & COUNT MARIC RUTHERN

A STUDY DONE BY THE NORTHERN GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY

 

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As from the 11th of Harren’s Folley, 1786, the nations consisting of the Holy Orenian Empire and the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska, who were previously tied together, have been separated since. This was the result of the Edict of Separation issued by HIM Empress Anne I and HIM Emperor Joseph II, where the Kingdom of Hanseti Ruska were removed as vassals from the Holy Orenian Empire. The named separation between the two was apparent and imminent, due to years of inner turmoil, differences and thinning dependency upon each other. Yet some inconsistencies and unknown questions still remain as to why such a separation occurred, how it happened and what affects have been brought about to each nation as a result. This study aims to clear up these inconsistencies and provide clear answers for those with their own speculations, while also giving incite to the opinions of others. 

 

HISTORY

 

In the early 1730s of the First Era to the late 1740s, riots broke out on the streets of the imperial city of Helena by several citizens of then vassal to the empire, the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska. Although the meaning of the riots are muddied (some claiming it merely done out of spite against the Helenians and others calling for it in the name of ‘worker’s rights’), it was a notable showing of the early tensions between the empire and its vassal. For many, this had been no defining factor of separation and a numerous number of the Haeseni people were disapproving of the rioters actions. By 1740, the Rubern War was declared; where the Holy Orenian Empire aided its vassal in a decades-lasting collision with the Duchy of Morsgrad and their allies (oft referred to as the Alliance of Independent States [AIS]). 

 

Major changes were underway in the imperial capital, culturally and governmentally. Many of those residing in Helena started to fashion wigs, akin to their Emperor Peter III. Dresswear itself underwent immense change at the hands of Lady Mary Philippa, some of which was at first accepted by the Haeseni people; such as the wearing of hats (further inspired by the Lady Maer at the time, Aleksandra Alimar). Any further than that was soon opposed by the Haeseni, going as far as the banishment of wigs from the Ekaterinburg Palace by the Queen of Haense. To quote Mister Lukas Rakoczy, “[It was] an absolute incompatibility between the two nations and their culture.”

 

In spite of the cultural differences under the reign of Emperor Peter III, and simultaneously the young King Sigismund II’s regency, there was no ill will but rather an understanding of the differences in Imperial and Haeseni values. It had been said that even the emperor visited the young Haeseni king after the almost-successful assassination attempt, where Sigismund II was shot in the throat by a crossbow bolt. He and the then Archchancellor, Simon Basrid, removed their caps and knelt at the bedside where Sigismund II was to recover. However, by 1762, the relations on the behalf of the Haeseni were greatly soured after the Emperor Peter III stormed the Ekaterinburg Palace after news was released of the Queen-Mother’s death. His orders to have the bedchambers of the late Queen Maya of Muldav was not taken in kind, nor the alleged threats against the Princess Amelya of Reza or the betrothed Lady Viktoria of Metterden. Although young, the King of Haense held a grudge against the imperial state and its leaders for the reaction on the night of his mother’s assassination. A public apology for the occurrences was drafted and published soon after by the former Archchancellor; to quote, “These events stirred great turmoil in the heart of our imperial sovereign and have led us to the circumstance before us. We would see that turmoil undone in time and intend a process of healing, rather than that of escalation.”

 

The following year, the Holy Orenian Empire furthered its ideals of centralization with the Curonian Resettlement of 1763. The integration of the Curonian people into the crownlands and removal of their land incited fear of the growing desire from the imperial government to condense. A similar event would take place in 1768 in the Commonwealth of Kaedrin amidst the Varoche Palace. There, Peter III was made King-Elect by the Kaedrini house of electors and crowned King Peter II of Kaedrin. By then, the Haeseni people frequented the imperial capital far less often because of the notable tensions held. Many were concerned by the centralization effort now noticeable to all and the fate to those kingdoms, most notably in that of the quietness of Kaedrin and Curon. 

 

In the year of 1769, Queen Viktoria of Metterden and the Princess Imperial Anne Augusta entered into negotiations for a marriage between the Queen’s younger sister, Lady Irene of Metterden and Prince John Charles of Novellen. The friendship developed between Queen Viktoria and Princess Anne saw to the consideration of the marriage, with the benefactor of mending Imperial-Haeseni relations. 

 

As the kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska’s soldiers lay down their lives against the Crow’s vow offered by the Scyfling leader, Bralt the Boar, machinations had occurred within the free-state of Sutica. A relation of the Emperor Peter III, Lord Peter Amadeus and his mother, the Countess of Pompourelia had been assassinated at the hands of the trade-king, Lord Corwin van Alstreim. The Emperor, in response, had demanded an ultimatum for the Suticans to hand over Lord Corwin which was subsequently denied and so war was declared in 1776. The Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska was unaware that the war was to be declared, with the Scyflings having pushed back the kingdom's military to hold New Reza as its last hold-out. A sentiment of apprehension was further felt by those within the HRA with the numbers of troops that participated in the war between the ISA and HRA oftentimes being equal for a war they had no belief in. 

 

Other nations began to form a coalition against the Empire, including the Kingdom of Urguan, Kingdom of Norland and the princedom of Vanmark. Additionally, the trade-city of Sutica had hired the mercenary group known as the Hangmen. Up to a year passed without word on where the kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska would side with until his Majesty’s brother and Lord Lieutenant of Haense, Nikolas Barbanov declared war for Haense. 

 

King Sigismund II was found by his wife having committed suicide by piercing a dagger through his neck. The suicide of Sigismund II was at a high time of tension with the empire for his strong dislike of it, and the first act proposed in duma after his death was called ‘the Sigismund Memorial Act’ which passed unanimously. The importance of the act lies in the tensions shown from it directly after the king’s passing, and how it was denied by the imperial government without explanation. At around the same time of this sudden event at the peak of tensions between Haense and the Holy Orenian Empire, the marriage between Lady Irene and Prince John Charles fell through. She was said to have escaped in the night from the imperial palace soon after the marriage ceremony was announced breaking any potential Haeseni-Imperial ties. 

 

In the year of 1780, the Peace of Merryweather was signed. This brought the Sutican War to an halt after the growing threat of the Inferi in the years previously while Emperor Peter III began to slowly move away from public life until his eventual passing in 1784 by throat cancer. Snubs had occurred over the regency and afterwards with few Haeseni coming to the funeral whilst the Imperials had snubbed the wedding of King Josef and Queen-consort Isabel. Relations were tense as Empress Anne was crowned alongside her husband, Emperor Joseph II with the underlying elements of centralization versus federalization remaining ever present.

 

Once the Imperial monarchs were crowned, extensive conferences were held between the Palatine Konstantin Wick, King Josef I, Empress Anne I, and Emperor Joseph II. This is where the fundamental difference of centralization versus federalization was most present and communicated. Tensions continued to soar, so when King Josef I was crowned in 1786, this ultimately ended in the tensions' culmination. Many debates were held on taxes, Haeseni representation in the Imperial Diet, Haense’s role in the Empire, and centralization efforts - but they all ended with more concerns and no answers. King Josef had taken on his late father’s agitation with the Empire, explaining as to why these debates were so inconclusive, with neither side willing to give ground on their positions. The Haeseni people no longer desired to be in the Empire, and the Empire saw their relationship with Haense as a lost cause, so the option of separation was cemented. Therefore, the Edict of Separation was finally issued, releasing Haense as a vassal of the Empire and granting it its independence. 

 

QUESTIONNAIRE of both Haeseni and Orenian Figures

 

1 - What do you believe were the primary causes of the separation between the Holy Orenian Empire and the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska?

2 - Was there, in your opinion, any chance to salvage the relations between the Holy Orenian Empire and their previous vassal, Haense, before the Edict of Separation?

3 - How has the Edict of Separation affected your nation (the Holy Orenian Empire/Haense), in a most candid manner?

 

Haense

Manfred Barclay, Duke of Reinmar and Lord Marshal of Hanseti-Ruska

Isabel of Valwyck, Queen consort of Hanseti-Ruska

Konstantin Wick, Lord Palatine of Hanseti-Ruska 

Lauritz Christiansen, High Justicar of Hanseti-Ruska

 

Oren

Franz de Sarkozy, Archchancellor of the Holy Orenian Empire 

Peter Maximillion, Imperial Prince of the Holy Orenian Empire, Count of Kaphro 

Wilhemina Beatrix, Crown Princess consort of the Holy Orenian Empire, the Duchess of Helena

Jonah of Stahl-Elendil, Former Archchancellor of the Holy Orenian Empire, Lord of Stahl-Elendil

 

QUESTION: What do you believe were the primary causes of the separation between the Holy Orenian Empire and the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska?

 

DUKE MANFRED

“I believe there were multiple reasons to hold accountable for our separation from the Holy Orenian Empire. One reason was that a distinctive cultural divide had grown toward the end of and after the end of the AIS war. This divide made it extremely difficult for Haeseni and Helenian natives to work within and migrate between the two nations. Not to mention that many within our kingdom felt disgruntled to hear that lords from Helena could directly affect who gains titles within Haense, a right previously held by our King. The divide of our nation then grew larger with the death of King Otto Sigismund, a death that many say was indirectly caused by Peter III dragging the Kingdom into a war that the populace had no motivation to fight within. Since the Sutican War relations between our nations were never properly repaired, which I believe led to our seperation.”

 

QUEEN ISABEL

“The differencing goals and ambitions of Haense and the Empire were the main causes of the separation. Our goals for our Kingdom did niet align with the plans the Empire had for our future, and we were not willing to give up our ambitions for our people.” 

 

PALATINE KONSTANTIN

“The primary cause was an acceptance that the two nations had fundamentally different ideals and ways of doing things, and this acceptance came from a series of long talks with the Holy Orenian Empress and her advisors in which butting heads was set aside in favour of actually discussing and exploring the issues we faced as a union, and lead to the conclusion both nations would fare better separated.” 

 

MISTER LAURITZ

“I believe the root cause of the separation was due to differing sentiments in regards to whether the Empire should be a centralised state or whether it should be a federalised one. It is the question of whether the Empire was a nation state or a multinational state. In the perception of the Imperial Government, there was one people, the Orenian people, one nation and one state. However, in the minds of the Haeseni, there were the Haeseni people, the Kaedreni people, and the Curonian people, nations within a state. This contrast in the mindset of the makeup of the nation is the primary cause, the Imperial belief that the Empire was one nation and one state, in contrast to the Haeseni that the Empire was a nation within a state. It led to fundamental disagreements over policy, commonly seen in the House of Commons, and in particular during the reign of Sigismund II. It is impossible for a nation to function properly if there is disagreement about it's very core foundation.” 

 

MISTER FRANZ

“I wouldn't say there were any truly vital events. The expulsion was more of a natural conclusion to the respective paths that had been taken by the Empire and by Haense for many years at that point. One would probably point to the Sutica War as a divise moment, but the decision was made long after the conflict had ended, so it wasn't discussed very much- as I said earlier, the expulsion was on ideological and practical grounds. If the expulsion was predicated on a few events, rather than larger developments in regards to government and ideology, then such a decision would have been made out of spite. However, it wasn't, for we are both Canonist states, united under God, and we enjoy a military alliance; one I, as Archchancellor, am fully prepared to honor should the need ever arise.” 

 

DUCHESS WILHEMINA

“I believe a divide cemented by years of quarrels, both stately, cultural and even at times familial were all cause of the separation, as well as the desire of the late Imperial Majesty to wend her own way as the head of state, and administer the nations as she saw fit. One cannot force a horse to drink water, but must rather allow it the freedom to quench itself at its own will.” 

 

MISTER JONAH

“So the primary cause for the split was the direction and identity of the two nations. Frankly, the Haenseni national identity did not see itself as compatible with the Orenian national identity and the institutions that came with it. If there are no shared bonds of nationhood, how can you expect a Haenseman to be an Imperial? You can’t force them, for it breeds resentment. On the Imperial end, because of Haense’s desire to be largely autonomous but be involved in the Imperial Diet, which had legal and budgetary powers, and receive military protection, many Orenian’s felt that Haense wanted all the benefits of citizenship with none of the obligations. So it seemed like a very unfair relationship to all involved.” 

 

QUESTION: Was there, in your opinion, any chance to salvage the relations between the Holy Orenian Empire and their previous vassal, Haense, before the Edict of Separation?

 

DUKE MANFRED

“Honestly, I believe that would've required the Empress and her government to provide us with greater autonomy. By making concessions such as returning our King's ability to choose his own nobles would've definitely improved relations but I'm not sure it wouldn't have led to the separation of our two nations just happening further down the line. The cultural divide between our nations had grown too large, which would've made our relations increasingly more difficult to fix.”

 

QUEEN ISABEL

“The only way of salvaging the relationship between Haense and the Empire would be for the empire to grant us the autonomy we wanted. We did not want to be dragged into paying a tax and did not want to seek approval from the emperor for our peers. So allowing us to rule our own Kingdom how we wanted would have been the only way our relationship with the Empire would have worked.” 

 

PALATINE KONSTANTIN 

“In terms of whether it could have been salvaged, it depends on your definition. Could things have continued the status quo, with ups and downs over time? Most definitely. But both Oren and Haense had higher ambitions than dealing with this problematic status quo, and both were better off going their own ways.” 

 

MISTER LAURITZ

“I was very involved with both nations at the time, and I did see some hope myself, though as I have gotten older that hope has faded and I believe my younger self to be wrong. The people of both the Empire and Haense were both set on what they wanted, whether the Empire should be centralised or federalised. Unless something radically changes, I do not believe that the situation would have ended up any different, though I must say that I consider us quite lucky that that the separation did not happen in a bloodier fashion.” 

 

MISTER FRANZ

“The issue at the time wasn't so much one of relations. I feel no ill will towards the Haeseni people, nor was most involved in the decision. In the meeting room, as the deed was done, there was no arguing or bickering, no taunts or jeers, instead it was conducted as these functions typically are: serious, straightforward, and professional. Had this been a matter of poor relations, rather than ideology, then we wouldn't have left the room with a military alliance between our countries. It is the charge of a Canonist to love one's brothers and sisters under God, even if they go down paths that you disagree with, so long as they aren't sinful. I feel this reflects the circumstances and context of the expulsion. The Empire wished to implement various systems to fulfill the long held dream of centralization and Haense did not wish to do so. Friendlier, or less-friendly, relations between the two wouldn't have changed that outcome. Of course, moving forward forward, I do aim to make the Canonist unity between our countries strong, for we are all one people under God. Although my ministry is new, it means that we have a clean slate to work with here, enabling us to move beyond any problems of the past and aim for a better future together.” 

 

DUCHESS WILHEMINA

“Though it was, and is, a most ardent desire of mine to see our peoples joined in merriment and common understanding, acknowledging and accepting our differences, it seems that such an hour has not yet dawned upon us. Still, I maintain hope that in future, we may reconcile our differences and join hands once more; not separated by the weight of rank, but rather as partners, where each is free to act of their own accord, laying blissfully on the bed of friendship.” 

 

LORD JONAH

“There were many attempts to salvage the relationship during Peter III’s reign and during Anne’s as well. Lots of discussion circles, repetitive negotiation, and so on lead us to the same answer every time: that both parties are incredibly anxious about the state of national cohesion. Talks went on for almost sixteen to twenty years. I was involved in them for five and they were always the same. Haense’s unwillingness to pay taxes, and Peter III’s tendency to act unilaterally and ask questions later really strained negotiations as well.” 

 

QUESTION: How has the Edict of Separation affected your nation (the Holy Orenian Empire/Haense), in a most candid manner?

 

DUKE MANFRED

“At first, I will confess that many citizens within our kingdom were left feeling unsure as to what the separation would do to Haense. Though, after a portion of time had been allowed to pass, it came increasingly clear that we've grown stronger and larger since our separation from the empire.”

 

QUEEN ISABEL

“Since our separation we've been able to create our own systems and govern our Kingdom how we wanted. Independence and autonomy is something we have desired for years, so our separation was definitely a positive. Haense can only be ruled by a Haeseni, and it has been far too long since we've been able to rule our own people.” 

 

PALATINE KONSTANTIN 

“The Edict of Separation, needless to say, had a more profound impact on Haense, whose activities and institutions were no longer subject to any Imperial laws. It was, at the beginning, quite hectic - the most pressing task was writing our own laws and creating our own court system, which I did over a sleepless week. From there, the other major things to create were a diplomatic department and expanding the Royal Duma. It's overall been a beneficial and empowering development, in and of itself.” 

 

MISTER LAURITZ 

“It opened up a lot of opportunities for Haense, for one, Haense is now able to conduct its own foreign policy, and seek diplomacy with whom the nation desires. This has proved to be a bountiful opportunity, as Haense now has alliances with not only the Empire, but Norland and Urguan as well. Additionally, it helped grant the Duma more of a responsibility towards the people and Haense, now that legislation was not limited to only passing things that were not already covered by Imperial Law. Which leads me to the third point, how it helped my department, the the department of the High Justiciar. With Haense having its own legal codex, it has been made possible to convict crimes very efficiently, while following the ideals of the Haeseni nation and cover crimes in a way that is more fitting for the mindset of the people.” 

 

MISTER FRANZ

“The Empire is faring well, and our centralization efforts have allowed us to expand and develop at a rapid rate. We've been able to charter a few towns and estates, beyond Providence, as a result of this, allowing us to accomodate for numerous cultures and peoples while still retaining our core Imperial values and identity. Whether this is a result of the Edict of Separation, or of our systems in general, I know not, but what I do know is that the Edict affects our foreign diplomacy in a positive way. I am a man who believes in the best of people, and I feel that the Sarkozy Ministry represents a hopeful progression for the Imperial-Haeseni relations. Now is a greater chance than ever to bring about fellowship, cooperation, and goodwill between our people.” 

 

DUCHESS WILHEMINA

“In a most candid manner, I applaud the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska in their efforts to establish themselves as a free state once more, waving their banner high. It is my belief that, in allotting Haense their freedom, the Holy Orenian Empire has had the opportunity to consolidate its efforts onto the homeground.” 

 

LORD JONAH

“The Edict of Separation really has allowed the Empire to secure itself internally and really grow stronger. There are issues that still need addressing, but population and revenue are up and internal anxiety is very low.” 

 

CONCLUSION

With no definite conclusion to be had, I leave it to the reader to formulate their own opinion. However, I will give my own thoughts regarding it all, keeping them as true to both sides as possible. Both nations had ample time to realise they were too dissimilar to ever further themselves towards greatness together. As elucidated in both history and the responses above, there were both ideological and cultural differences that were incompatible to one another to ever achieve anything else whilst the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska remained a vassal state of the Holy Orenian Empire. 

[GoodGuyMatt 7064]

Brandt gives his good and hard working squire Alric a pat in the back as he sees all the fine work he had put in on his study "Nice work Sohn" the man said with a smile before proceeding to read the study.

[Eryane 3629]

Within the manor of the House Ruthern, Irene Ruthern set down her glasses after having finalized her edits upon her nephew's study. There were a few bobs of her head in approval of the missive that was placed before her. "Well done, Alric. Perhaps you ought to join the Northern Geographical Society. You'd do well in it, with these kinds of studies."

 

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additional music: 

 

 

 

Edited January 3, 2021 by Eryane