Zacharias Richmond

**Zacharias Richmond** (New Earth 5, 30;2E/July 5, 1098 - Endings 23, 90;2E/December 23, 1159) was a Southambian politician and militant who was the Magistrate of Southambia from 81;2E to 87;2E. He became the Conservative Loyalists magistracy candidate in the 81;2E Southambian Magistracy Election. Richmond won the election by influencing the vote through means of violence as a result of the Southambian Civil War. Despite winning the election, then-Magistrate Volodymyr Puotiin would refuse to officialize the election results as a result of the voter manipulation. This sparked the 7 Day Coup which would put Richmond into power as the Magistrate of Southambia through force.

## Early Life

Richmond was born on New Earth 5, 30;2E to Gilbert Raphaël Richmond, and Sylviane Reine Richmond (née Brugière) in the Burg of Holney. Richmond was born to a middle-class farming family, and was apart of one of the five farming families in Holney. At a young age, Richmond was friends with Raymond Courbis, his future and the first Deputy Magistrate. By his mid-20's, he'd lost contact with Courbis as he was employed in the Holney State Police. He was in employed in the Police Force up until he was 43 when he became a Field Marshal in the Army. Before joining the Army, he was appointed the Commissioner of the Holney State Police by first term Governor Édouard Vidal.

## Magistracy (81;2E-87;2E)

### 7 Day Coup

Near the end of the Southambian Civil War, Richmond and his army of Conservative Loyalists would march onto the nation's capital, Tabrad, and would put the city under siege for 7 days. Following the end of the siege, the Pro-Puotiin forces were wiped out, and nearly all of the Loyalist forces were wiped out as well. Around 17:00, Ending Earth 25, 81;2E, Volodymyr Puotiin would be deposed, and Richmond would assume office as the 16th Magistrate of Southambia.

### First 100 Days

Within the first 2 months of his Magistracy, he would see the formation of the National Federalist Party, the National Liberal Progressive League, and the Social Solidarity Ordinance Party. He would also see the downfall of the Socialist Party as a result of the NLPL's formation.

Within the first 2 weeks of his magistracy, he would oversee an deal with the Vasarite government in Stotford to establish a permanent Stotford National Guard in turn that the Vasarites formally end the civil war.

### Assassination attempt

*Main Article: Attempted assassination of Zacharias Richmond*

On New Earth 10, 82;2E, Richmond, Holney Governor Édouard Vidal, Tabrad President Hervé Beaulieu, and Stapton President Sigguatr Selkollrsson were struck by gunfire from would-be assassin Panfilo De Chiaro.

## Post-Magistracy (87;2E-90;2E)

Following his lost in the 86;2E Southambian Magistracy Election, Richmond planned to retire as Magistrate instead of choosing to fight the election results. This led the Conservative Loyalists to betraying him, and losing their trust in Richmond.

### Assassination of Zacharias Richmond

Before the year of the 91;2E Southambian Magistracy Election, members of the The Answer, assassinated Richmond on the 23rd of Endings.

## Military Service

Richmond was a Field Marshal for Magistrate Suga Yuzawa when the Southambian Army was established. He was recommended the position for his experience in the Holney State Police, and in leading hunting parties. He would be given the job based on his political allegiance instead of his merit. He served in the Army as a Field Marshal from 73;2E-77;2E. Within that timespan, he was responsible for putting down insignificant rebellions and revolts against the Southambian government. During his service, he also made significant connections to Loyalist groups such as the National Salvation Group, among others. By the final year of his service, he employed several loyalists in key positions.

## Magistracy (81;2E-87;2E)

*Main Article: Magistracy of Zacharias Richmond*

### 7 Day Coup

*Main Article: 7 Day Coup*

The End of the First Southambian Civil War is generally recognised as the 7 Day Coup, wherein Richmond leading an army of Conservative Loyalists marched into the National Capitol deposing the Socialist Party Government and Volodymyr Puotiin. This deposition resulted in Richmond assuming office as the 16th Magistrate of Southambia on Ending Earth 25, 81;2E. Days following the coup, several protests and riots denouncing Richmond and the Loyalists broke out. Several of the protests were put down violently, and some peacefully. One of the most significant results of the coup (Apart from Puotiin's deposition.) was the deal made between the Loyalists and the Vasarites. This deal formalised the establishment of the Stotford National Guard, and the establishment of the Stotford Autonomous Region.

### Inauguration

Richmond, following tradition, was formally inaugurated on Beginnings 20, 87;2E with around 60,000 visitors attending. In the inaugural address, Richmond assured the protection and security of Southambia's democratic process. Richmond further assured that the lessons of the civil war would not go unnoticed, and that the youth will be taught the horrors of war, and the magistracy of Volodymyr Puotiin.

Richmond's address was criticised as an attempt of legitimising the Loyalist takeover of the Southambian government, and that the teaching of Volodymyr Puotiin would be altered to more heavily favour the Loyalists. During his inauguration, several small protests took place, though were put down by the local police. Unlike previous Magistrates, Richmond did not host any post-inauguration events, instead he focused on implementing loyalist policies as soon as possible.

### First 100 Days

The first 100 days of Richmond's Magistracy is noted as being the most important and busiest. Within the first 100 days, several Loyalist policies proposed and passed by the National Council were signed by Richmond. These policies included education, economic, and political policies. Education policies included the teachings of the First Southambian Civil War, of Volodymyr Puotiin's Magistracy, and overall pro-Loyalist subjects. Economic policies included the lessening of Economic restrictions on businesses, prices, and government oversight. Political policies included the future change of the National Council's seat count from 164 to 107, and greater government oversight on local and provincial elections. Richmond's first 100 days are described as a very "Radical, and reactionary period hellbent on demolishing freedom, transparency, and accountability.".

### Remainder of Term

#### Remainder of 82;2E

In the remainder of 82;2E, several policies were being implemented, though at a less frequent rate than in the first 100 days. Within this timespan, Richmond established the Southambian National Guard as a reserve component of the Southambian Army. Also within this timespan, Richmond traveled across the Country in an attempt to heal the wounds and scars of the first Civil War. The most important of these travels occurred on New Earth 10, 82;2E, in Tabrad, at the National Capitol, where he met with Governors Édouard Vidal of Holney, Hervé Beaulieu of Tabrad, and President Sigguatr Selkollrsson of Stapton.

##### Attempted Assassination

*Main Article: Attempted assassination of Zacharias Richmond*

On New Earth 10, 82;2E, in Tabrad, at the National Capitol, where he met with Governors Édouard Vidal of Holney, Hervé Beaulieu of Tabrad, and President Sigguatr Selkollrsson of Stapton in rally attempting to heal the wounds and scars of the first Civil War. In the middle of the rally, all 4 (Richmond, Vidal, and Selkollrsson were the intended targets, though Beaulieu was also shot by misfire) were shot and injured by Socialist revolutionary Panfilo De Chiaro in an attempt to avenge Volodymyr Puotiin by assassinating key Loyalists in government. De Chiaro was apprehended by attending National Guard. The rally was ended prematurely, and the four were immediately treated, preventing death.

##### 84;2E National Council Election

*Main Article: 84;2E Southambian Council Election*

A

### Assassination

*Main Article: Assassination of Zacharias Richmond*

B