Raymond Courbis

**Raymond Vivien Courbis** (b. Aged Earth 23, 32;2E/September 23, 1100) is a Southambian Loyalist politician who served as the 1st Deputy Magistrate of Southambia from 82;2E to 87;2E. Because of his role in the Richmond Administration, he is credited with furthering the passage of pro-Loyalist policies in education, and the military. He is also credited with cementing the role of the Southambian National Guard as the vanguard of Loyalist thought. Courbis declined renomination for the Deputy Magistracy in the 86;2E Southambian Magistracy Election, and endorsed Édouard Vidal for the position. When he left office in 87;2E, he became a more secluded figure, and isolated himself from others. He immigrated to the Southambian colony of Kenbeckia in 94;2E.

Courbis was born in the Burg of Holney on 23 Aged Earth 32;2E to Jean-Marc Courbis, and Marie-Louise Courbis. Courbis grew up impoverished being involved in several petty thefts at a young age. He became friends with Zacharias Richmond but would lose contact with him in his mid-twenties. Courbis would be employed by the Gotsforth Foundation Plantation throughout his twenties and thirties, however he would be drafted into the Southambian Army at the age of 41. During his time in the army, Courbis joined the National Salvation Group, a Loyalist group based in Holney. Courbis served in the army for three years before retiring at the rank of First Master Sergeant.

At the time that Courbis joined the GSN, it was the largest Loyalist organisation in Southambia. During this time, Courbis would also be reunited with Zacharias Richmond, who was a high-ranking member of the GSN. Courbis and Richmond grew a close bond, which allowed Courbis to quickly climb the ranks of the GSN, being appointed as the GSN's Militia Commander in Tabrad. Because of his post in the GSN, he became one of the most prominent commanders in the first Southambian civil war. However, when the war first began in early 81;2E, the GSN was not among the first of Loyalist organisations to declare insurrection against the federal government. Following Holney's capture by Loyalist forces, the GSN would declare insurrection against Southambia. Courbis assumed control over GSN forces in and near the Burg of Holney, and would also be one of the Loyalist electors that would elect Zacharias Richmond to partake in the election as a candidate. Following the election, Courbis was engaged in guerrilla warfare in Bambelister not partaking in the ongoing siege in Tabrad.

## Early Life

Courbis was born to Jean-Marc Courbis, and Marie-Louise Courbis (née Devillers) on Aged Earth 23, 32;2E in the Burg of Holney. Born to a low-class farming family, Courbis had survived on minimal resources. Courbis was friends with future Magistrate Zacharias Richmond at an early age, but lost contact with Richmond in his mid-20's. In his mid-20's to late 30's, Courbis worked as a tour guide in the Gotsforth Foundation Plantation. Eventually, Courbis was eyed by the Southambian Army and eventually drafted into it's ranks in 73;2E.

## Military Service

Following his draft at the age of 41, Courbis was a First Master Sergeant. Around this time, Courbis joined the National Salvation Group, a Loyalist group based in Holney. After being in the army for 3 years, Courbis left at the age of 44 in 76;2E.

## Conservative Loyalism

### Pre-Civil War

Around mid 75;2E, Courbis joined the National Salvation Group, which was at the time the largest Loyalist group in Southambia. In 79;2E, Courbis regained contact with Zacharias Richmond, who was now a high-ranking member of the GSN. Courbis grew close to Richmond during this time, eventually becoming a part of Richmond's inner circle. Courbis eventually was granted the position of "Commander of the Salvation Militia in Tabrad", becoming one of a dozen GSN militia commanders to take part in the First Southambian Civil War.

### First Civil War

*Main Article: First Southambian Civil War*

When the first Civil War kicked off in early 81;2E, several Loyalist factions began fighting with the Southambian government. The GSN was not part of the initial group of Loyalist factions to first attack Southambia. However, upon the occupation of Holney by Loyalist forces, the GSN declared war on Southambia, becoming the largest faction at war with the Government. Courbis was one of a dozen commanders of the GSN, and one of dozens Loyalist commanders. Courbis took part in the group of electors that declared Zacharias Richmond the Loyalist's candidate in the 81;2E Southambian Magistracy Election. However, unlike Richmond, Courbis did not take part in the 7 Day Coup. Instead, Courbis was tasked with conducting guerrilla warfare in Bambelister.