The Kingdom of Arracia

The 2nd Kingdom of Arracia (Formerly)

Novar del Ciavas

Absolute-Monarchy

Modern Arracian

The Confederation, 1st Kingdom, and subsequent 2nd Kingdom of Arracia, or collectively known as the Kingdom of Arracia, was formed after the consolidation of various territories surrounding the Arnen river during the Conference of Ciavar, in the year 1158. From here, the Kingdom of Arracia would take many forms, from a decentralized Confederacy, to a brief constitutional-monarchy, to an absolute-monarchy, up until its violent transition to a Republic, a whole 710 years after its initial founding, in 1868.

## History of the Kingdom of Arracia

### Confederation Era (1158-1558)

Following the Conference of Cíavar in 1158, where the leaders of the various territories agreed to sovereignty under King Rodrigo Antonucci of the Kingdom of Cíavar, the most powerful force in the region for the common defence against the Khedivite incursion that had swept through the west, in what is now Raszovia and Achaeyand in previous years, the combined armies of the Confederation managed to halt the advancing Khedivite in several battles near what is now the city of Alsard.

The 400 year long Confederation Era was marked by extreme decentralization, even with states in the outer corners of the Confederation engaging in open conflict with one another. Following the successive droughts of 1465 and 1469, several mass famines weakened the Confederate States significantly, and the various petty kings, princes, and other rulers of the weakened Confederate States found themselves unable to protest the growing centralization and consolidation of power done by King Síevenson of Cíavar, who became the de facto leader of the Confederation of Arracia following the Congress of Alcíenta in 1401. The Congress of Alcíenta also stipulated the removal of all the customs taxes and barriers to trade that were previously levied by the various statelets of the Confederation, allowing a massive increase in trade within the Confederation. This led to limited economic growth.

However, this brief period of growth and prosperity would not last. The predatory taxation and failed attempts to convert the Confederation to East Sutherianism by King Antonucci IV led to the Wars of Deconfederation in 1419, where the statelets in the south and east vied for the dissolution of the Confederation. The war was won in 1424 by forces led by King Antonucci IV, but the conflict left the Confederation severely weakened, and the previous centralization of power had all but disappeared. The Confederation decentralized once more. The final blow to the struggling Confederation came at the start of the War of the 2nd Schism in 1521. The near constant warfare over the 30 year span of the War of the 2nd Schism led to the continued decline of the central monarch, and the eventual collapse and effectual dissolution of the Confederation at the end of the War of the 2nd Schism in 1558.

### Parliamentarian Era (1558-1834)

Out of the ashes of the Confederation of Arracia came the Parliamentarian Era of the newly proclaimed Kingdom of Arracia, which comprised of the few statelets that had not seceded from the Confederation at the conclusion of the War of the 2nd Schism in 1508. Heavily influenced by the Kremwellian parliamentary system that had been created in the previous decade, the creation of the Arracian parliament was spearheaded by the growing merchant class, who demanded checks to the power of the monarchy. The Parliamentarian era was marked by various sweeping reforms through the introduction of the First Constitution of Arracia, which granted the right to vote to all adult, landowning males, the adoption of the Arracian Parliament as the supreme legislative body, albeit still allowing the King the power to veto anything done by the parliament, and finally, the abolition of serfdom.

The 1600s saw a massive expansion of Arracia’s overseas possessions, especially in the Alaequan continent. During this time, the Arracian colonial empire expanded from several coastal forts on the western coast of Alaeque to nearly the entire southern half of the continent, bringing vast amounts of wealth to the nation, although this wealth was largely concentrated in the hands of the economic and political elite. Political reforms stalled during this time due to the King’s veto power, however, in the wave of revolutionary sentiment in the 1700s, political reform once again made headway, culminating in the Second Constitution of Arracia in 1754, which removed the veto power of the monarchy, made the royal family subject to law, and effectively rendered the monarchy a mere figurehead. These reforms were revolutionary for the time, and immense public pressure disarmed opposition from the monarchy. However, despite significant reform, the later years of the parliamentary government in the 1780s was marked by proliferating corruption, incompetence, and economic and fiscal strain following numerous revolts and independence movements in Arracia’s colonial possessions on the Alaequan continent. In addition, opposition to the parliamentary government and the rise of monarchist sentiment continued to grow in this time. The parliamentary government was temporarily saved from certain doom due to the rise of nationalistic sentiment in the late 1790s, but growing independence movements in what is now Obechliand and Arvel sparked the First War of Liberation, in which the Arracian army, under Generalissimo Alciéde Salandra, made several stunning victories, defeating coalition forces consisting of Kremwell, Kaubech, and the Union of Reyan-Arve.

Unfortunately for the parliamentarian government, the conclusion of the Liberation Wars in 1834 once again allowed opposition to flourish, and the death of the parliamentarian Generalissimo Salandra in 1836, shortly after the conclusion of the war allowed monarchist forces within the military to stage a coup d'état against the parliamentarian government. A short civil war ensued in 1833 between the monarchists, backed by the majority of the military, and the aptly named “Parliamentarians”, the supporters of the democratic government.

### Monarchical Era (1834-1868)

The Parliamentarians were swiftly defeated within the year, with the fall of the last parliamentarian stronghold at Savíenta, marking the end of the Parliamentarian Era in 1834. Although sporadic conflict still erupted at times, resistance to the monarchist forces was ineffectual at most. King Nicolo was brought in to become the new monarch of the Second Kingdom of Arracia. The economy was only slightly damaged in the quick war, however, this period, later referred to as “The Lost Decades”, saw the Arracian economy stagnate and enter a recession due to an autarkic economic policy instituted by the monarchy, while Arracia’s neighbors prospered and industrialized. The monarchy under King Nicolo eventually lost their backing from the military. The new generation of officers did not have the monarchical leanings of their predecessors, causing the king to begin to distrust the military. The military budget was continuously decreased, often to pay for King Nicolo’s lavish lifestyle.

Parliament was soon reinstated in 1865 due to mass protests, and the reformist, openly anti-monarchy politician Astiéro Totaro was soon elected Prime Minister, a position that essentially had no power under the monarchy. Despite this, Totaro soon became the figurehead of anti-monarchy sentiment, much to the chagrin of King Nicolo. Astiéro Totaro was assassinated in December 19th, 1867, although whether this was done under orders of King Nicolo is unknown. Regardless, his death sparked further civil unrest, and eventually revolution after Generalissimo Evodio Cutrona, head of the army, openly voiced his opposition to the monarchy. Left without the majority of his support from the military, and no support from the population, King Nicolo, along with his supporters in the navy, fled to the Arracian colony of Novar del Cíavas, seceding from Arracia. The monarchy was no more. The Republic was born.