Briayonish September Revolution (1921)

## Briayonish September Revolution

~ Corruption in the Briayonish parliament.

~ Decline in the Briayonish economy.

## **Background**

In 1910, a Lindocnian colonial governor was assassinated by a Saharan native in their Saharan Colony. In the aftermath, the great war erupted across Europe, Africa, and Asia. The Republic of Briayon, under the administration of Harvey Brooks and the Nationalsit party, promised victory over the Mrassian Empire in this war. From 1910 to 1913, the Western front remained at a stalemate, while in the East the Professional Powers continued to advance in the East, occupying Abaland and most of Jayassia by 1915. By 1915, the Mrassian Empire and Kingdom of Alesberg launched a counteroffensive against Briayon and Lindonce. This counteroffensive began when the Mrassian Empire declared war on the Kingdom of Emistad in an attempt to widen the front and weaken their enemies.

Emistad was fully occupied by November 1915 and from there the Mrassian Empire breezed through Northern Lindonce before advancing South and capturing their capital city of Clacton by January 27, 1916. While Lindonce was on the brink of collapse, Briayon held small pockets in the North before their men were transported back across the channel. By January 30, 1916, Lindonce surrendered with the final fall of Clacton. Facing a mutiny in the navy, and with social unrest demanding an end to the war rapidly escalating, the Republic of Briayon surrendered on February 18th, 1918. The Treaty of Fritzberg was signed, ending the war by February 22, 1918. However peace in Briayon would not come as easily. War veterans coming home from the mainland, with the promises of victory no longer possible, and with the Briayonish economy collapsing from the war effort, people began turning to the ideological extremes. The Green Shirts under the fascist leader Rex Doyle, began denouncing the government and promised revenge against the Mrassian Empire. On the other side, the workers unions began organizing, forming the Grand Council of Briayonish Syndicates in April 1919.

## **Post-War Troubles**

After the war, the Republic of Briayon came under a provisional government under the leadership of the conservative Beau Holland. The main goal of his government was to restore law and order to the nation, and to calm down the concerns of the radical left and right. However behind closed doors, moves were made to ban the practices of the Green Shirts and Grand Council of Syndicates, and banned them both from the Briayonish parliament. This led to protest from both groups. The Green Shirts began planning a violent takeover of the government. Rex Doyle declared a march on Pendel on September 29, 1921. Not wanting to fall behind, the GCBS began their own plan for a takeover. The syndicate leader, Calvin Harrison and his closest advisor comrades decided to launch a coup before the fascists could. It was agreed that their coup would occur six days earlier on the 23rd.

## **The Race for Power**

From the time of planning in the summer of 1920 and the day of the expected coup, both the Green Shirts and Grand Council began competing for influence either through force, intimidation, or propaganda. The fascists were gaining popularity but not as much as the syndicates. The syndicates made promises to the people that they would help the economy improve, and for better working conditions and the improvements of living standards across the country. The fascists began to decline as their popularity among the population was miniscule. In the shadows, the Red Guard, the military branch of the Grand Council of Syndicates, had been picking off opposing leaders one by one throughout 1920 and early 1921.

## **The Defining Showdown**

Finally in September 1921, the final preparations were made and the council rallied the support of the people and began their march on the capital and parliament on September 23rd as previously planned. However the resistance to the coup was fierce. Beau Holland’s loyalist guard defended the parliament with their lives but while the loyal guards had the support of the provisional government, the syndicates had the support of the people. The battle lasted for 12 whole hours before the parliament and president palace were stormed and their leaders were killed. In the chaos, Beau Holland and his wife and children fled the country for Kendena. At 10:46 PM, the city of Pendel was secured and the provisional government surrendered. Calvin Harrison was now in control of the country and began making his promised reforms. On September 25, the fascist Green Shirts were purged and some managed to flee into exile. On the 27th, the old constitution of the Republic of Briayon was torn up and burned. On October 10th, the new constitution was finalized and the Commune of Briayon was established with Harrison as its first syndicalist chairman. And the revolution in Briayon would soon inspire other revolutionaries across the world.