Republic of Fühlgart

The **Republic of Fühlgart** is a Northern predominantly Human country and the leader of the Republican alliance for all of its existence. The country spans its namesake region of Fühlgart, ranging from its shores on the Western Ocean to its other shores on the Endless Ocean.

Fühlgart was often at the centre of history previous decades, instigating the Great War and often spreading Republican ideals at gunpoint. Following the death of Jan Luftschwert, the country entered a period of chaos with the Senate Crisis which eventually escalated into the ongoing Second Fühlgartian Civil War. Despite losing much internal territory to opposition groups both small and large, Fühlgart maintains a military presence in many of its allied Republican states.

## History

### Prelude

The desire for a republican government in Fühlgart came as a combination of a myriad of factors. Following the Sixth Fühlgartian-Wyrsian War, which ended with the death of the popular King Heinrich II, the Kingdom of Fühlgart came under the control of the young and inept Klaudian I in 1198 AW. The Fühlgartian army, consisting primarily of conscripted retinues of peasants led by nobles, was disbanded without compensation, leading to disgruntlement.

To compensate financial losses from the disastrous war, many nobles imposed higher taxes in an already economically stagnant period. In 1200 AW, Syarus, God of Storms, broke Withdrawal in Marenbach, leading to uncontrolled storms ravaging much of the North. This led to widespread crop failures in Fühlgart, as a famine broke out. With his coffers empty, Klaudian I sat idle and the poorer populace was effectively left to fend for themselves. Relief efforts were often small-scale and local, with a handful of exceptions from philanthropical aristocrats.

One such aristocrat was Jan Luftschwert, Duke of Freistadt on the western coastlines. Luftschwert had recently taken to the ideals of one Heinrich Lennart Bruhnman, often called the Father of Republicanism in later years. Bruhnman preached an end to aristocracy and monarchy, radical reform for the people, and widespread modernisations. This landed him in a dungeon initially, yet Duke Luftschwert not only pardoned but even hired him, letting him work freely from court despite protests from his advisers. Jan Luftschwert launched some early experiments with republican ideals in the closing days of the 12th century, implementing elections for a new city council and the position of mayor of the city. These were largely advisory positions, yet nevertheless popular reforms amongst the city's electorate (primarily consisting of rich citizens).

When famine broke out in Fühlgart, Jan Luftschwert was one of few lords willing to turn over his coffers, buying grain and other staple foods in bulk and distributing them at no cost throughout Freistadt, the surrounding area, and even further as time went on. Freistadt's position as a hub of trade allowed for large-scale imports of food from foreign traders and, with time, most of western Fühlgart was fed by imports through Freistadt, Kirchenstau, and Neuesfeld. It became a common sight, then, for a peasant to curse Klaudian I and his local lord but sing praises towards Jan Luftschwert and other nobles willing to sacrifice their own wealth for the greater good.

The Duke was popular with the common man and, unsurprisingly, unpopular with the lords whispering in the king's ears, concerned about insurrection. House Luftschwert fell out of favour with the crown, being dismissed from all manners of positions in a ploy to reduce their influence. This act by the young Klaudian planted the seeds of rebellion in Jan Luftschwert's mind. All it took to spur him on would be the influence of a recently resurgent God: Syarus.