Republic of Fühlgart

"The lonely rider that fought the world and won."

***“**Millions bled and died in dozens of nations on four continents, and for what? The Republics fall and the Kingdoms return, their corrupt monarchs stronger than before the Great War. Sometimes, I fear the last three decades of my brother's work were a waste of time.**”***
— Ulfric Luftschwert

The **Republic of Fühlgart,** often referred to as just **The Republic**, is a major power in the North and the leader of the Republicans. It borders the City-State of Whitecrest, the Duchy of Western Innyria, the Republic of Southern Wyrsia, and the Protectorate of Nordelver to the north, the Republic of Ostland and the Kingdom of Vachstadt to the east, the Republic of Marenbach, the Free City of Rosendorf, the Protectorate of Weckstein and the Stratocracy of Kirchenstau to the south. It also has a coastline along the Western Ocean.

The country has served as the leader of the Republicans since its creation in 1205 AW and is considered to be the strongest nation in Enselonde by many. However, despite being the victors of the Great War, the Republic of Fühlgart's many Protectorates and allies are beginning to collapse in the ongoing Epilogue Wars, whereas the Republic itself has their hands full with the ongoing Second Fühlgartian Civil War, caused primarily by corruption, forced conscription, and extensive warmongering,

## History

### Creation

The Republic of Fühlgart started off as merely a concept in the mind of Jan Luftschwert in the early 1200s. With the reigning von Kalzberg dynasty in the Kingdom of Fühlgart being widely unpopular, and after having suffered yet another defeat in the Sixth Fühlgartian-Wyrsian War, whispers of rebellion arose across the nation. The Luftscwherts, based in Freistadt, were the first to take action in 1202 AW.

Jan Luftschwert's revolt would gain widespread support from minor noble houses and the common people. In the early stages of the Fühlgartian Civil War, he proclaimed to be fighting to overthrow the monarchy altogether and establish a republic for the people. With this proclamation, the Republicans became a united group.

Another factor that led to Republican successes in the civil war was the support of the God of Thunder, Syarus. Syarus was, at the time, a relatively minor Divine. Yet, having a Divine on your side is enough to win a war, and the Monarchists were rapidly pushed east. During this time, Jan Luftschwert announced the Fühlgartian Protectorates, areas of Fühlgart which have historically been isolated and, as a result, neglected by the monarchy. The first protectorate was Ostland, with Kirchenstau and Weckstein later being forced to become protectorates at gunpoint.

Another factor for Republican successes is their disregard of the Dishonorable Weapons doctrine that was common in Human nations. The Republicans imported rifles and pistols from the Empire of Nytalyria in the tens of thousands. While they were slandered as cowards across the world, the Monarchist armies were severely outgunned. Demand for rifles skyrocketed worldwide, yet the supply had already been bought up by the Republicans, giving them somewhat of a monopoly.

By 1205 AW, the Siege of Kalzberg (1205 AW) ended in surrender, at which point the Fühlgartian monarch, Jacob III, ordered the remaining Monarchist armies to lay down their weapons. This order was followed, but not by all, as resistance continued mainly in the northeast of Fühlgart and in the Western Ocean, where remnants of the Monarchist navy seized the Sylvir Cluster, forming the Free Fühlgartian Navy. Jacob III would be executed.

The remaining von Kalzbergs, led by Reinhart von Kalzberg, were appointed as the new 'governors' of Frosthaven Island: a small rock with roughly 3,000 residents. In other words, they were exiled in all but name. In Freistadt, the Fühlgartian Senate was created, a group of men representing the people's interests throughout Fühlgart. However, the Republic of Fühlgart was, to few observers' shock, rather undemocratic. The Republican Senate consisted of only eleven men, all of which were supporters or friends of Jan Luftschwert, including his two living brothers. The Republic had become somewhat of a monarchy in all but name, under the complete control of House Luftschwert, who many consider having been under the control of Syarus at this point.

However, there were significant changes made to the role of the nobility in the Republic. Whereas many nobles sided with the Republicans during the civil war, their power was weakened a lot by the Senate, especially when it came to the military. The Republic, heavily militarized, would be led by people who showed talent, not by nobles, a somewhat radical decision at the time. However, the results were undeniable, as many of the greatest generals in Fühlgartian history arose during or after the civil war, many of which were born as nobodies. The most notable of these, of course, is Albert Schmied, general of the Second Army. Many argue that Schmied should have been in charge of the more elite First Army. However, this position was granted to Ulfric Luftschwert in an act many considered nepotism.

Economic reforms also followed to increase the wealth of the common man, seizing wealth from Monarchist-supporting nobles and investing them into infrastructure projects, housing programs, pensions, aid for the many homeless, and increased salaries in the military. Overall, the Republic is controversial, as it was far from being anything resembling a functional Republic, yet it has improved the lives of its citizens significantly. However, before long, more reasons to oppose the Republic arose.

### The Gemstone Wars

*Main Article: The Gemstone Wars*

In 1208 AW, massive fleets appeared off the shore of the Gemstone Islands, opening fire on ships belonging to the ruling Nadai Dynasty. Before long, ground troops stormed the islands in the tens of thousands, while Fühlgartian airships bombed the wooden cities from the sky, causing tremendous fires to erupt across the islands. The Gemstone Wars lasted little under a year, and it absolutely decimated the islands, killing civilians in the millions and destroying and looting cities. With the war all but over in 1209 AW, the Fühlgartians simply left, leaving the islands under the Protectorate of Lao Muji. The reason for the invasion was unknown at the time, but it eventually became known that Syarus was the brain behind the attack. Fühlgartian soldiers left no stone unturned, gathering the pieces of the shattered Godslayer's Blade to be taken back to Fühlgart, where the sword would end up in the hands of Syarus. However, this was unknown to most mortals of Enselonde at the time, and the Fühlgartian diplomatic reputation plummeted, with treaties and pacts being broken en mass while embassies were shut down in Freistadt.

However, with Syarus and the Godslayer's Blade on their side, they had no need for allies. Fühlgart would bring republicanism to the world at gunpoint if they had to.

### The Republican-Wyrsian War

*Main Article: Republican-Wyrsian War*
In 1211 AW, the dream of a peaceful relationship between the Kingdom of Wyrsia and the Fühlgartians was shattered when troops under Ulfric Luftschwert rushed into the Highlands of Death. This led to the usual stalemate with more destruction than ever before, as the hills were turned unrecognizable by gunfire, cannons, and pyromancy scorching the land. However, before long, the Wyrsians got concerning reports of the Green Grove burning.

Albert Schmied and his Second Army had marched into the Grove alongside Syarus, where they managed to capture Nyara's Roots and later Nyara's Heart. The local defenders never stood a chance, and the Divine Nyara was killed by Syarus using the Godslayer's Blade, an act that sent shockwaves around the world, with all Divines taking notice.

Meanwhile, Republican troops landed on Frosthaven Island, putting Frosthaven under siege. While they managed in killing Reinhart von Kalzberg, his younger brother Erik escaped with the aid of Avateauxan spy Eveline Lecuyer and the Free Fühlgartian Navy. What remained of the von Kalzbergs' power fled to the Wyrsian capital, Woodhall. However, this changed the war little, and Republican troops took city after city, most of which were practically left defenseless.

With the majority of the Wyrsian armies trapped at Stavia, mass surrenders followed, with Woodhall falling in 1212 AW, the remainder of the Wyrsian forces fleeing north across the sea. However, the Fühlgartians would have a great final victory when they negotiated in secret with Liam Ashfrey, the governor of the Wyrsian Wintersong Colony. In late 1212, Ashfrey rebelled, killing most of the Wyrsian armies stranded in the colony. The desolated remains of the Monarchists fled to Redwall in the Eastland.

The Republic had won their great victory and rapidly set up a protectorate and sister republics in the former Wyrsian lands: the Republic of Southern Wyrsia, Protectorate of Woodhall, and Wintersong's Republic. Frosthaven and Woodhall Island were annexed into the Republic. Fühlgart had gained their complete hegemony over the North.

### Masters of the World

The Great War raged on, mainly on the seas, as the Monarchists desperately sought allies. However, the Republicans were not concerned and planned their conquest of the North. While Syarus led his own war against the other Divines, the Republic of Fühlgart funded invasions, civil wars, and rebels across the North, but also in the South and Eastland.

In 1213 AW the Kingdom of Toscov became a Republic through a coup, allowing for an invasion of Avateaux between 1213 and 1214 AW, which ended with the establishment of the Protectorate of Avateaux. However, when the Republic of Toscov was couped once more by Monarchists in 1214 AW, another invasion followed. The Fühlgartians failed to secure all of Toscov, which led to an independent Kingdom and a  protectorate being established.

With their position secured and a mighty army established, the Fühlgartians began to influence the politics of the North while also intervening in the South. The first target was the Protectorate of Kirchenstau, involved in the Kirchenstauer Civil War since its creation almost a decade earlier. Republican forces finally managed to end the conflict near the end of 1214 AW.

Another intervention followed in the City-State of Whitecrest, where the Fühlgartians came to the aid of the League of Whitecrest with limited successes. While the War for Whitecrest was won by 1216 AW – aligning the city to the Republicans in the process – the Crestian Syndicate remained a constant threat from the shadows.

In 1219 AW, the Fühlgartians launched the Northeastern War against the "uncivilized tribes" of the northeast. The successes of this war were relatively limited, especially once the Divines Ihyll and Ildius became involved. However, the Republicans did come out victorious, consolidating the conquered territory into the Protectorate of Nordelver. By the end of the year, they also funded and supported a Republican coup in the neutral Kingdom of Marenbach.

Fühlgart's final conquests would both come in 1221 AW. They intervened in the ongoing war between the City-State of Rytow and the Duchy of Kierzew, funding the armies of the smaller Rytow and ensuring victory. However, this aid came with a price, and the newly established Republic of Rytow-Kierzew became little more than yet another Fühlgartian puppet.

Finally, the Republic saw a minor victory near the end of the year, when the Empire of Da'al Mon began to collapse due to an invasion by the Empire of Sallant. A Republican coup was hastily plotted by agents operating out of Lao Muji. However, due to the rushed nature of the coup, they only secured a small rump state while the now-hostile Empire continued to exist. Here, at the end of 1221 AW, the Republic of Fühlgart reached the height of its power, and before long, it would lose it all.

### The Fall

It is here that one has to mention the enormous toll taken on the Fühlgartian population. While the Republicans had become a power to be reckoned with across Enselonde, they had raised a staggering eighteen standing armies and would end up raising four more in the near future. By 1222 AW, 35% of the adult male population of Fühlgart was in the army, many of them being unmotivated conscripts. The Fühlgartian economy worsened as the Republic got itself involved in dozens of rebellions and proxy wars across the world. Decades of warmongering had killed national morale, relations with other nations, and long-distance trade.

Furthermore, the Fühlgartian Senate was – over 15 years after its establishment – still a small collection of hand-picked loyalists to Jan Luftschwert. Many of Fühlgart's citizens looked at the new Kingdom of Fühlgart which led a similar set of proxy wars, yet was incorrupt and relatively good for its citizens, and were outraged by their own government. With the popularity of the Republican government at an all-time low, reforms were desperately needed. However, those reforms never came.

The shock that shattered Fühlgartian morale for good came in 1223 AW, at the height of the War for Weckstein. It was here that the Ninth Army defected to the Monarchists to the last men. This act sent shockwaves across the Republican world, and before long, Fühlgartian troops everywhere began to desert or defect to rival groups. The final straw had been reached, and after almost two decades of near-constant war, the Fühlgartian people started to rebel.

Widespread protests erupted inside Fühlgart, forcing the Senate to recall many of its armies to keep the peace. This left their protectorates and allies vulnerable, and the Monarchists knew how to exploit it perfectly. Cracks began to appear throughout the Fühlgartian military, and by 1224 AW, Syarus, the Divine guardian of Fühlgart, abandoned the Republic altogether, leaving them to fend for themselves.

The Republic was hanging on, albeit barely. The only thing that could destroy everything now was a leadership crisis. Unfortunately for the Republic, that crisis would come in early 1227 AW, when the aging Jan Luftschwert's health began to rapidly deteriorate. On the 4th of Greenburst, 1227 AW, he would die. In the following days, all hell broke loose.

### Aftermath

After the death of Jan Luftschwert, the Fühlgartian Senate grabbed emergency powers as they failed to figure out who would succeed him. However, it was already too late to pick a successor, as the senators all had ambitions to become the next ruler of Fühlgart. Across the nation, every last favor was called upon by senators as rivaling militias and units began to shoot at each other. Fühlgart descended into a chaotic mess of paramilitary conflicts and scheming until Ulfric Luftschwert arrived in Freistadt, having hastily returned from Kirchenstau.

Ulfric had all the senators arrested and killed, replacing them with mostly military men. He had most armies recalled to Fühlgart as rebels rose up across the nation. Ulfric's most important target was a long-time rival, the peasant general Albert Schmied, who had deserted and conquered the city of Amberg. Luftschwert failed to defeat Schmied, however.

Albert Schmied – who was perhaps the most popular general to have ever come out of Fühlgart – betraying the government he fought so hard to establish was enough motivation for other armies to turn against the Republic. Those that remained loyal would suffer from mass desertions and defections.

The present-day Republic of Fühlgart is in over its head, involved in a brutal civil war and way too many proxy wars. Its protectorates fall and collapse like dominos as the Republic lacks the manpower to defend them. To add insult to injury, even the Monarchist leader, Erik von Kalzberg, has returned to Fühlgart, operating out of Neuesfeld.

The future of the Republic is uncertain, and many predict that it will collapse in the near future. Perhaps it is for the better...

## Relations

* **Stratocracy of Kirchenstau** - Of all the states alligned with Fühlgart, Kirchenstau is the closest, literally and figuratively. Kirchenstau's close proximity to Freistadt and aligned government make for the perfect subject state, albeit a rather weak one.
* **Republic of Southern Wyrsia** - Southern Wyrsia is one of the few Fühlgartian subject states that never needed to be constantly babysat against every minor threat. The Republic views them as a respectable self-sufficient ally, albeit a somewhat strange one.
* **Protectorate of Nordelver** - Nordelver is stable and led by competent people, which is already a remarkable achievement for a Fühlgartian Protectorate. However, the two governments are heavily incompatible, so the two care little for each other.
* **Republic of Ostland** - Ostland was the first region to become a protectorate. It is an area with a rich history and a decent economy, yet the Republic sees it as led by a group of imbeciles. After all, the ongoing Vachstadt Rebellion has grown from a minor annoyance to a massive threat due to Ostland's neglect.
* **Republic of Marenbach** - Marenbach is one of the many Fühlgartian-sponsored republics. Fühlgart sees the Republic of Marenbach as its little brother, a sentiment that Marenbach doesn't share. At the very least, Marenbach's existence prevents an invasion of Fühlgart from the south.
* **Wintersong's Republic** - Liam Ashfrey betrayed the Kingdom of Wyrsia at just the right moment, eliminating a future threat to the Republic and adding the former colony to the alliance. However, relations between the two nations have been close to non-existent, mostly because of the distance and the lack of strategic interest in the area.
* **Republic of Rytow-Kierzew** - Rytow-Kierzew is a relatively small nation, yet it serves as an essential base of operations in the South, mostly due to its large ports. However, the two nations aren't too diplomatically involved, mostly due to the distance between the two.
* **Protectorate of Weckstein** - Weckstein was large, stable, and prosperous, and they lost it all to a mob of religious rebels. What Fühlgart managed to salvage has become the small Protectorate of Weckstein, yet their reputation is ruined. The natives of Weckstein will never hear the end of how they lost to a bunch of peasants.
* **Protectorate of Lao Muji** - Lao Muji was established after the Gemstone Wars and tasked with keeping the peace over the Gemstone Islands, a task they utterly failed at as warlords, bandits and later even the old Nadai Dynasty grabbed power in the islands. While Lao Muji is relatively stable, it has become the victim of widespread mockery inside Fühlgart's borders.
* **Empire of Daletia** - When the Daletian Civil War broke out, the Republic began aiding the Empire as they were poised to win easily. This would grant them favor with the victorious Empire. However, it's been over two decades, and no end is in sight for the civil war. The Daletian Empire has proven itself time and time again to be a corrupt mess, and Fühlgart finds itself involved in a proxy war alongside – according to them – a bunch of morons. Technically the two states are allied, but if the Daletian Empire were conquered, nobody in Fühlgart would care.

* **Kingdom of Fühlgart** - The Kingdom of Fühlgart was defeated in 1206 AW, and their story should have ended there. Yet, the Kingdom has always remained a constant thorn in the Republic's side. The attempt to wipe out House von Kalzberg on Frosthaven Island failed as some managed to escape. Now, the Kingdom led by Erik von Kalzberg-Mitthel has built itself a vast network of alliances and rebel groups that have attacked the Republic and its allies across Enselonde. They even had the nerve to return to the Fühlgartian mainland and claim Neuesfeld! The greatest enemy of the Republic is less than a week away from the capital. This is unacceptable for the Republic.
* **Kingdom of Wyrsia** - The Kingdom of Wyrsia resembles in many ways the Kingdom of Fühlgart, as they too have been a constant pest. They're less hated than the Kingdom of Fühlgart, but it is a close second. If the Republic is to have peace, Wyrsia must be driven back into the sea once and for all.
* **The Hexad Empire** - Despite being far away, Liang Nadai's, Hexad Empire has been the backbone of the Monarchist armies. In the last five years, they have aided in practically every conflict involving the Monarchists. If Lao Muji had done their job, the Hexad Empire would have never existed in the first place. However, they do, and they must be dealt with.
* **True Republic of Redwall** - Redwall, initially a duchy, adopted a dangerous ideology. They claim that the Republic of Fühlgart isn't a republic at all and push a naive and idealistic ideology of total citizen rule. While Redwall itself is not a threat militarily, their thinking has poisoned the minds of thousands within the Republic's borders.
* **Kingdom of Vachstadt** - It is one thing to rebel against the Republic, but to invoke the name of a long-dead Human kingdom from the past is nothing but a thinly-veiled propaganda campaign. Vachstadt resembles everything wrong with the Monarchists, and their close proximity to the Republic makes them a long-term threat.
* **Grey Kingdom of Weckstein** - The "Grey Kingdom" that was established from the remnants of the Republic of Weckstein is a collaboration between the Grey Temple and the Monarchists. It sets a dangerous precedent for future cooperation between the two, and while there are two proxy states between the Republic and the Grey Kingdom, it is a threat that must be dealt with in the future.
* **City-State of Whitecrest** - Whitecrest has been unstable for almost a century, yet it was believed to have been resolved when the War for Whitecrest ended. However, the Crestian Syndicate simply retreated into the shadows and waited it out. Sure enough, when our own civil war erupted, the League of Whitecrest under Armin Oligel proved to be totally incapable of protecting their own country, abandoning it and fleeing. Now Whitecrest is governed by criminals. Criminals! This is totally unacceptable!

## Military

### Land

* **First Army** - The First Army is deployed in and around Freistadt and is involved in the Second Fühlgartian Civil War. It is led by Falk Krech, the long-time second in command under Ulfric Luftschwert who previously led the army.
* **Third Army** - The Third Army is deployed north of Freistadt and is involved in the Second Fühlgartian Civil War.
* **Fourth Army** - The Fourth Army is deployed in Kalzberg and is involved in the Second Fühlgartian Civil War.
* **Seventh Army** - The Seventh Army is deployed in the Protectorate of Weckstein and is involved in the War for Weckstein.
* **Eighth Army** - The Eighth Army is deployed in Torstadt and is involved in the Second Fühlgartian Civil War.
* **Tenth Army** - The Tenth Army is deployed in Wargekirchen and is involved in the Second Fühlgartian Civil War.
* **Eleventh Army** - The Eleventh Army is deployed in the Protectorate of Toscov and is involved in the Toscovish Civil War.
* **Thirteenth Army** - The Thirteenth Army is deployed in the Empire of Daletia and is involved in the Daletian Civil War.
* **Fourteenth Army** - The Fourteenth Army is deployed in the Protectorate of Nordelver.
* **Fifteenth Army** - The Fifteenth Army is deployed in the Republic of Avateaux and is involved in the Blue Rose Rebellion.
* **Sixteenth Army** - The Sixteenth Army is deployed in the Republic of Ostland and is involved in the Vachstadt Rebellion.
* **Seventeenth Army** - The Seventeenth Army is deployed in the Republic of Southern Wyrsia and is involved in the Wyrsian Civil War.
* **Eighteenth Army** - The Eighteenth Army is deployed in Afenberg and is involved in the Second Fühlgartian Civil War.
* **Ninteenth Army** - The Ninteenth Army is deployed in Jasernberg and is involved in the Second Fühlgartian Civil War.
* **Twentieth Army** - The Twentieth Army is deployed in Schorburg and is involved in the Second Fühlgartian Civil War.
* **Twenty-Second Army** - The Twenty-Second Army is deployed in the Stratocracy of Kirchenstau and is involved in the Second Kirchenstauer Civil War.

### Sea

* **First Fleet** - The First Fleet is based in Freistadt and is involved in the Second Fühlgartian Civil War.
* **Second Fleet** - The Second Fleet is based in the Republic of Ostland and is involved in the Vachstadt Rebellion.
* **Third Fleet** - The Third Fleet is based in Kirchenstau and is involved in both the Second Kirchenstauer Civil War and the War for Weckstein.
* **Fourth Fleet** - The Fourth Fleet is based in Freistadt and is involved in the Second Fühlgartian Civil War.
* **Anti-Piracy Fleet** - Initially created to combat the Free Fühlgartian Navy, the Anti-Piracy Fleet is now based in the Protectorate of Toscov and is tasked with destroying the Bleakbanner Navy.

### Air

* **Grand Airfleet of the Republic** - The Grand Airfleet is based in Freistadt and is involved in the Second Fühlgartian Civil War.
* **Dreichmann's Fleet** - Dreichmann's fleet is based in Torstadt and is involved in the Second Fühlgartian Civil War.
* **Secondary Airfleet** - The Secondary Airfleet is based in Kalzberg and is involved in the Second Fühlgartian Civil War.

## Fühlgartian Heads of the Republic

* Cabinet Jan Luftschwert I, 1205-1210 AW
* Cabinet Jan Luftschwert II, 1210-1215 AW
* Cabinet Jan Luftschwert III, 1215-1220 AW
* Cabinet Jan Luftschwert IV, 1220-1225 AW
* Cabinet Jan Luftschwert V, 1225-1227 AW
* Leadership Crisis, 1227 AW
* Cabinet Ulfric Luftschwert I, 1227 AW-

## People of the Republic of Fühlgart

*For a full list, see: Category:Characters (Republic of Fühlgart)*

* **Ulfric Luftschwert** - Head of the Republic and former general.
	+ Falk Krech - Second-in-command under Ulfric, Fühlgartian Senator, general of the First Army.
* Generals
	+ Frigerus Whitefeather - Half-Harpy general of the Thirteenth Army.

## Settlements of the Republic of Fühlgart

*For a full list that includes buildings, see: Category:Locations (Republic of Fühlgart)*

* Freistadt - Capital of Fühlgart.
* Kalzberg - Major city in central Fühlgart, the former capital of the Kingdom of Fühlgart.
* Torstadt - Oldest capital of Fühlgart, a major trading city in the south.
* Afenberg - Minor city near the border with Ostland.
* Amberg - Minor city under the control of Albert Schmied.
* Wargekirchen - Minor city in central Fühlgart.