Harold Suntter

== Harold Suntter ==
Born in 1862 to a well off merchant family in Radonstinatle, the young Harold would remain a sickly child for the majority of his young life. His father, ever the ambiious man, sent his son to Radonstinatle to become a licensed merchant, just like him. This license would allow Harold to travel outside of Essotori to sell his goods, and advertise the Kingdom's will. He accomplished the contemporary, rigorus merchant exams and purchased a ship with his father's money. The majority of licensed merchants at the time travelled throughout Calderia, looking to sell their high quality wares to people who could also be potential converts. Harold instead used his family's boat, to sail to the decaying Pam Empire, upon the reccomendation of his colleagues. The Pam, at this point in their history, were squeezed between Essotori, and Kemet, then in Corusconian rule. As such, the Essotori government maintained a strong, privileged trading position, and tariff free access to sell goods. Harold exploited this, and spent his time opening up several companies, particularly mining, where he made the vast majority of his independent fortune, and his family stock of foods and clothing. He formed a powerful cartel with mining oligarchs, primarily Essotori based merchants like himself, to keep the prices high on precious metals, that the cartel would then sell back to the decadent Emperor. By 1900, at the age of 38, Harold Suntter was the richest man in Essotori, with some estimates suggesting he was the richest man in the world at the time.
In 1903, the Pam Emperor died. The monarchy was elective, though by this time, the electorate consisted of Pam nobility, all bought by Essotori merchants and government officials. The winning candidate was supported by former Cartel member Andrew Hughes, which sparked an ambition in Harold to end the farce of Pam royal politics. Hughes’ puppet turned out to not be particularly obedient, resisting Essotori policy for many years, until he demanded all Essotori to leave the country, and executed Andrew Hughes as a collaborator, despite their close friendship. Without official sanction, Harold launched the December Coup, which dethroned the former Emperor, and installed a Republic, with himself as President. Only at this point, did he inform Essotori. The first reaction of the government was to order Harold arrested and executed as a traitor to Essotori, for breaking the permissions of his merchant license and exposing the people of Pam to Entaria.
Speaking on his own defence before the High Court of Essotori, with representatives of Cabinet in attendance, Harold defended his actions as being in the interests of both Essotori and the people of Pam. Citing his own company’s record of industrial investment that was at risk, as well as the dramatic rise in literacy rates since Essotori influence permeated Pam, as well as the death of Andrew Hughes. He finally alluded to the internationally accepted doctrine of diplomatic immunity, stating that while a Crownslave, he had climbed so high that the Nozerod would acknowledge his achievements. The Court, and the Government, pardoned him, allowing him to reign as President until the Pam peoples could be assimilated into the Ascendancy.
As President, Harold Suntter ruled Suntterland as a personal fiefdom. His face was plastered on every sign, declared as ‘Father of the Nation’, with almost every facet of Suntterland life revolving around the President. He formed the National Pacification Army, though, despite its name, it was originally a passover from the Suntter Corporation’s private army, employing almost exclusively Esso officers. He began the intensive, and brutal process of ‘Purification’, with the ultimate goal of fully integrating his new domain into the Ascendancy. At the same time, Harold resisted attempts by the Essotori government to rein him in, as he feared punishment, and wished to live on through history. As President, he gave passionate speeches asserting Suntterland’s political independence, and as ‘The first free nation in Selaria’, and even hosted foreign dignitaries not from Essotori. The implementation of Essospeak would be successful in most major urban centres, though generally in the form of Low Essospeak, native language imposed with Essotori characteristics.
In 1926, Harold deemed Suntterland ‘significantly pure’, and summoned Essotori to conduct the Grand Induction Ritual, which would involve the restoration of the former Imperial Family of Pam, now styled as an Essotori noble title, the Dukes of Suntterland. His title was shifted to Governor General, while keeping virtually all of his powers. His bridges with Essotori were restored, and while he continued to live in Suntterland as a sign of solidarity with his countrymen, he was honoured heavily in Essotori for his work. His wife and children were finally allowed to join him after seven years in the capital of the Duchy.
Harold Suntter has a complicated legacy, inside of Essotori, he is generally remembered for his heroism, daring attitude, and political skill. Inside Suntterland, especially in western territories, Harold is still regarded as the National Father, and almost defied, with the Baeling of Suntterland frequently requesting the Nozerods to declare him as blessed. Outside of Essotori, he is the very personification of Imperialism, with very little care for the natives until he became their President on a whim, and his brutality is believed to have caused a huge number of deaths. His direct contributions to Suntterland’s economy and society are similarly divisive.
Category:Essotori Politicians
Category:Essotori
Category:Suntterland