Treaty of Saldan

The **Treaty of Saldan** was signed on Saldan on June 14th 445 A.U.. The treaty concerned the breakup of the Fialta Confederacy and the eventual emancipation of all slaves in Fialta Space, with all of the cosmic great powers of Imperial Space included as signatories.

## Background

*See also: The Grand Strategy Campaign*
The Treaty of Saldan was precipitated by a period of significant unrest within the Fialta Confederacy, with rising tensions and sectarian violence between Confederate Kirvan radicals, pro-Fialta Imperium factions, and anti-Imperial Fialta Princes. After a largely failed peacekeeping effort by the non-Fialta great powers and increased agitation for the end of Kirvan slavery within Fialta Space, and with war looking like a more and more likely possibility (especially after the mobilization of the Shantine military), a summit was convened on Saldan to reach an agreement concerning the Confederate situation that would hopefully avert a second disastrous cosmic war.

## Full Document Text

*All Terms of this Agreement to Be Secret Until 1st of 446 A.U.*

### Article 1: Recognition of the Fialta Union

*To Be Executed 1st of 446 A.U.*

* 1.1 - The Signatories recognize the legitimacy of the Fialta Union and its head of state, Prince Paloctus.
* 1.2 - The Fialta Union shall have its capital on the planet of Firhbank. The Empire of Alusia shall cede its territory at Firhbank to form the capital and shall provide the right of free navigation by Union-flagged vessels through Alusian space between any discontinuous regions of the Union.
* 1.3 - The recognition of the Fialta Union is preconditioned on the dissolution of the Fialta Confederacy and of the Fialta Congress. The Congress, Fialta Imperium and Thalranese Marches shall dissolve the Confederacy by mutual agreement and assent of the Coalition Powers. The Fialta Congress shall then self-dissolve by a constitutional majority vote.
* 1.4 - The Signatories recognize the right of the Fialta Union to seek incorporation with the Shantaran Free State.
* 1.5 - The Fialta Union shall owe no tax obligations to any other power, but it shall be economically integrated with the Empire of Alusia.

### Article 2: Recognition of the Right of Self-Determination of the Fialta Princes

*To Be Executed 1st of 446 A.U.*

* 2.1 - The Signatories recognize that all Fialta Princes currently party to the Congress of Princes shall have the right to self-determination. With the dissolution of the Congress of Princes, all members shall have the right to determine individually whether they wish to become members of the Fialta Imperium, the Thalranese Marches or the Fialta Union (the Fialta Powers).
* 2.2 - Each Fialta Prince shall not be abrogated in his choice of membership by the choices of his neighbors. However, navigational rights in any segment of the present jurisdiction of the Fialta Congress of Princes shall be governed by whichever power (of the Thalranese Marches, Fialta Imperium or Fialta Union) controls the majority of the worlds in that segment.If no majority controller exists,joint navigational privileges for all three powers shall be the default.
* 2.3 - No Fialta Prince shall be coerced by force or threat of force to align himself with any one of the Fialta Powers in preference to any other.
* 2.4 - Each Fialta Prince shall make his declaration of loyalty immediately following the dissolution of the Fialta Congress.

### Article 3: Provisions for Disarmament of Confederate Forces and Division of Peacekeeping Responsibilities

* 3.1 - With the dissolution of the Congress of Princes, the Congressional military shall be considered defunct. All Congressional forces shall be immediately relieved by appropriate Peacekeepers (see Article 3.2), disarmed and returned to their worlds of origin. Once all personnel have been disbanded the Fialta Powers shall divide Congressional war materiel (e.g. naval craft) according to a draft pick mechanism.
* 3.2 - Upon fulfillment of Article 2.4, Peacekeeping responsibilities on all worlds formerly under Congressional jurisdiction shall immediately revert to the militaries of the power to which each Prince belongs. All other Peacekeeping forces shall remove themselves immediately from the jurisdiction of the new power.
* 3.3 - The Empire of Alusia commits to provide peacekeeping services to the Fialta Union until such time as the Fialta Union has established a military capability to conduct peacekeeping efforts.

### Article 4: Commercial Regulations

* 4.1 - The Thalranese Marches, the Serene Duchy of Aeldrum and the Empire of Bishant consent to bilateral trade with the Fialta Imperium on terms of 100% mutual exposure. This article will come into effect with the beginning of the Emancipation Period (Article 5).
* 4.2 - The Serene Duchy of Aeldrum and the Empire of Bishant commit to facilitating toll-free bilateral trade between the Fialta Imperium and the Academy of Saldan and the Republic of Sermaye. This article will come into effect with the beginning of the Emancipation Period (Article 5).
* 4.3 - The Signatories commit to forming a mutual trade regulation organization (provisionally titled STAAB) 6 months after the beginning of the Signatory Period. This organization shall include all signatories as leading members, with invitation to accept identical status for the Academy of Saldan and the Republic of Sermaye. All participants in this body shall agree to 100% mutual trade exposure, common customs standards and toll-free transit rights for shipping by all other members. Further government of the body is detailed in the provision STAAB charter. Article 4.3 shall supersede the terms of Articles 4.1 and 4.2.

### Article 5: Emancipation of Enslaved Persons

* 5.1 - The Signatories recognize the right to freedom of all enslaved persons and the moral imperative to abolish slavery in civilized space.
* 5.2 - The Signatories affirm that Article 1 recognizing the Fialta Union shall take as a precondition the immediate abolition of slavery without slaveholder compensationin all territories of the Fialta Union, upon formation of the Union.
* 5.3 - The Signatories affirm that slavery shall be legally abolished in the Thalranese Marches and the Fialta Imperium after a 5 Year Emancipation Period, to begin the 180th of 446 A.U.. For the duration of this period, no free person shall be enslaved in the Thalranese Marches or Fialta Imperium, and all currently enslaved persons shall be given the privileges of indentured service (except the right to self-emancipation).
* 5.4 - The Signatories affirm their commitment to the economic and personal liberty of formerly enslaved persons and recognize in principle the importance of economic development targeted at the material autonomy of the formerly enslaved.

### Article 6: Recognition of Religious Liberties within the Fialta States

* 6.1 - The Signatories recognize the right to free religious practice and expression of the Kirvan and Idolmarite faithful in the territories of the Fialta Powers. This right shall not include violent zealotry.
* 6.2 - Free religious practice shall extend to enslaved persons according to the privileges of indentured service guaranteed in Article 5.3.

### Article 7: Compensation of Slaveholders and Burden of Compensation

* 7.1 - The Signatories recognize the right of slaveholders in the Thalranese Marches and the Fialta Imperium to compensation for the emancipation of enslaved persons.
* 7.2 - The Signatories commit to an estimated compensation plan of 76 billion crecibles annually, to be paid in semiannual installments, for the duration of the Emancipation Period. These funds shall be the exclusive preserve of current slaveholders. (Henceforth the term “economic unit” shall refer to a value of 20 million crecibles).
* 7.3 - All cash funds shall be paid to the Openness and Transparency Commission Fund (Article 8).
* 7.4 - The Fialta Imperium shall owe an obligation of 967 economic units semiannually payable to the Openness and Transparency Commission Fund. Of these an estimated 500 economic units are to be derived from the gains from trade realized by the Fialta Imperium under Articles 4.1 and 4.2 (and later from article 4.3), so that the effective Fialta Imperium level of payment is 467 economic units.
* 7.5 - The Empire of Alusia shall owe an obligation of 400 economic units semianually. The Empire of Alusia reserves the right to offset its obligation with direct sales of modular factory units to the Fialta Imperium at a volume and price agreed independently by the two parties. Any obligation of the Empire of Alusia offset in this manner shall be assumed by the Fialta Imperium.
* 7.6 - The Serene Duchy of Aeldrum shall owe no cash obligation, having offset its obligation through concessions of trade.
* 7.7 - The Shantine Empire shall owe an obligation of 400 economic units semiannually.
* 7.8 - The Thalranese Marches shall owe an obligation of 115 economic units semiannually.
* 7.9 - The Bank of Valdos shall owe an obligation of 18 economic units semiannually and undertakes to cover additional shortfalls in compensation funding relative to compensation due resulting from underestimation of compensation costs, up to a total obligation of 50 economic units semiannually.
* 7.10 - The Empire of Alusia undertakes to provide supplemental funds within reason in the event that any underestimates of compensation should exceed the shortfall coverage of the Bank of Valdos given in Article 7.9.
* 7.11 - In the event of an overestimation of compensation, the amount of the Fialta Imperium’s gains from commerce directed to compensation shall be reduced commensurately.

### Article 8: Distribution of Compensatory Funds

* 8.1 - The Signatories consent to the formation of an Openness and Transparency Commission (OTC), to be headed jointly by the Bank of Valdos and the Shantine Kirvan Church (in addition to representatives of all signatories). This Commission shall have the function of receiving and distributing funds (in the body of the OTC Fund) for the compensation of Fialta slaveholders as well as reviewing any possible violations by slaveholders of the terms of the compensation agreement.
* 8.2 - Fialta Princes or equivalent potentates (e.g. the Fialta Emperor in Imperial jurisdictions without a princely authority) shall be responsible for the identification of slaveholders to be compensated, determination of the amount of compensation they are due and the disbursement of compensation. Each step shall be conducted with the supervision and support of the OTC.
* 8.3 - The Signatories affirm that each administering Prince or equivalent entity shall be responsible for the punishment of all violations by slaveholders. Failing appropriate corrections, the OTC shall reserve the right to terminate all payments to the Prince.

### Signatory Nations

* Serene Duchy of Aeldrum
	+ 14th of the 6th, 445 Years After Unification of Aeldrum
	+ Monsieur Manuel Emiir, Aeldman Finance Minister
	+ His Excellency Count Guillarme du Montreal, Aeldman Minister of War
	+ on behalf of His Excellency Count Bareth Aefendt, Serene Doge of Aeldrum
* Empire of Alusia
	+ D. 43, Year 4 of the Reign of Empress Illyana I
	+ Her Imperial Majesty, Illyana I, Empress of Alusia
	+ Giannis Politis, Alusian Minister of Foreign Affairs
* Empire of Bishant
	+ D. 112, Year 10 of the Reign of Empress Theoboda IV
	+ Her Imperial Majesty, Theoboda Valentina Theodosia, Anointed of Kirva and Blessed of the Flame, Sword and Cup of the Faithful, Protector of Korinth, Emancipator of the Enslaved, etc.
* Fialta Imperium
	+ D. 346, Anno Imperii 146
	+ His Imperial Majesty, Asterion son of Bruscius son of Constantinus, Imperator Dar’Fialt
* Thalranese Marches
	+ 2nd Concordia, 5367 Anno Fialta
	+ Prince Gunnot

### Signatory Institutions

* Bank of Valdos
	+ D. 346, Anno Imperii 146 & 2nd Concordia, 5367 Anno Fialta
	+ Her Excellency Filiki, Chairwoman of the Bank of Valdos
* Church of Dalthad
	+ D. 346, Anno Imperii 146 & 2nd Concordia, 5367 Anno Fialta
	+ His Holiness the Bakken, Alia
* Shantine Kirvan Church
	+ D. 112, Year 10 of the Reign of Empress Theoboda IV
	+ His Holiness Patriarch Jan of Bishant

### Other Non-National Signatories

* Prince Paloctus
* Halifax Novascotia

## Aftermath

The breakup of the Fialta Confederacy saw 66% of formerly-Confederate princes join the Second Fialta Imperium, 6% join the Fialta Union, and 28% join the Thalranese Marches. In contrast, expected values prior to the unveiling of the treaty were 70-75% Imperium, 15-20 Union, and 10% Marches. The surprisingly large number of princes joining the Thalranese Marches was largely attributed to a speech given by Prince Gunnot, the Marcher Prince of Tar'Thalran (see below).

### Prince Gunnot's Speech to the Confederate Princes

A transcription of the speech is as follows:

> "Some of you have heard rumours that I am a puppet. I am in fact a puppet; a puppet of our great lord Thalran. Thalran recognizes conquerors, yet I am not a conqueror. Thalran recognizes those who spill the blood of his enemies, yet my vessel is empty. But I stand by our Lord Thalran. I see you, my brothers, and I see that some of your brains have been poisoned. Poisoned by the insidious words of a silver-tongued defiler. The emperor whispers words of weakness into your ears, and he woos you by lining your pockets with his gold. Oh yes, I know of the gifts you have received. I have a list, right here, of those who have been misguided and misled. I know that you are threatened. I know that you face an existential threat, and I know, above all else, your duty to care for your people. But the emperor cares not, for he has forsake the right of noble blood to claim its rightful claim to its throne. Do you think he shall allow your sons to grow and care for your future, or do you think he shall smother your children in their cradle, in the name of his state of tyranny? I may not yet be the conqueror that Thalran would laud. But I am the man who would see that our sons and daughters are raised by his word, and not by the feeble bleatings of a blood traitor."
>
>

> "I hear your demands. I shall grant you your requests. I shall not even ask you to renounce the gold in your pockets, your rightful spoils. I only ask that you put it forward to raising heroes of our faith."
>
>

## Notes

1. ↑ Beginning of Turn 6.
2. ↑ End of Turn 6, gains from trade starting turn 7.
3. ↑ End of Turn 7, program to come into effect beginning of Turn 8.
4. ↑ Mechanically, STAAB will permit all members to maintain trade with all other members at a cost of 1 action per turn.
5. ↑ Turn 7.
6. ↑ 1892 economic units each turn.