Alusian Legitimist Crisis

The was a power struggle within the Empire of Alusia that occurred in the late 5th century A.U.
== History ==
In , Alekai Chevik of Alusia died peacefully in his sleep, hailed as "The Man Who Rebuilt Alusia." History also remembers Chevik as the "Last Emperor," as his designated heir, Nikki Yevozh of the Alusian Department of State, was assassinated the day before her coronation. The would-be Empress Yevozh was challenged immediately prior to her death by an attempted coup from the Legitimist faction of the Alusian clergy, civil service and junior brass, which sought to install a bloodline member of the Imperial House of Alusia and to counter the perceived corruption of the Inner Circle.
While the security apparatus of Alusia strongly supported the Inner Circle, the Legitimists (who never officially took responsibility for the death of the Crown Princess) managed to claim control of government facilities and to challenge or in some instances co-opt the lightly-armed Deadhand Era Alusian military. The Legitimist platform demanded the nationalization of all foreign assets in the country as "war reparations," the restoration of a bloodline Alusian Royal to the throne and the abolition of foreign-funded churches in the country.
Alusian senior cabinet officials received evidence that the Legitimists were supported by Aeldman private actors connected to the Aeldman Secular Nationalist Party, and seriously considered activating Operation Dead Hand against Aeldrum. They were dissuaded by a strong show of economic and intelligence support for the regime by the Bank of Valdos and the Aeldman Government (controlled by the Industrial Party). A divided Alusian cabinet could not agree on a new Emperor to hold the title for life, and instead chooses to elect a Regent, who served as first-among equals within the cabinet and could be recalled. The office of the Emperor was left intentionally vacant while the Inner Circle under newly elected Regent Vilma Ornoff systematically eradicated the Legitimist movement in an increasingly brutal two-year campaign (472-). 
As the Legitimists were dismantled, the reconstituted Alusian cabinet adopted a secret policy of extermination for the Alusian Imperial House, morphing the succession crisis into a ruthless shadow revolution. Close members of the Alusian royal family were liquidated with varying degrees of publicity, including two nephews of Emperor Chevik who were deemed "latent material" for Legitimist efforts. Terror attacks and assassinations of royals were often attributed to bloodthirsty Legitimists seeking to eliminate competition for their chosen candidates, but Aeldman and Fialta intelligence services concluded that a significant share of these murders were carried out on the orders of the Alusian government.
At the end of the Legitimist Crisis, Regent Ornoff and cabinet declared the Alusian Imperial house extinct, all unaccounted royals officially dead, and all possible claimants as, by definition, doubles and traitors. While not abolishing the title of Emperor, this stance made it effectively impossible for an Alusian Emperor to be crowned, setting the stage in coming decades for a succession of Regencies.
Category:Historical Events