Gheebmae Freidom

Black Heart

**Gheebmae Freidom** (27 May 1761 - 12 August 1821) was an Aeslandic political leader, statesmen, and revolutionary who served as the first Chancellor of Aesland following the First Aeslandic War of Independence. Freidom played an indispensable role in the founding of Aesland and the creation of its government and political system. He championed the Aeslandic System, creating a stable and democratic government. He was re-elected for a second term as Chancellor in the first Aeslandic federal elections in 1820.

Freidom was born in Exteran, Lägenburght, Dominion of Aerland, to a prominent political family in the Holy Empire of Doge Wonderland. He studied at the Royal Academy of Doge Wonderlandian Advancement and was appointed as Adjudicator Maximus for the East at the age of 25 under Otto von Longdawg MMMMCCCLXXXVIII, and was appointed to the office of Lord-Mayor of Exteran after his father's retirement. He also served as Imperial Governor of Lägenburght until the office's dissolution during the Spring Revolution, using his political and economic ties to help organize the Aeslandic independence movement.

After the war, Freidom was extremely important in unifying the country and promoting the Aeslandic System, a clear departure from the former Confederation of the Aer and opposing major political rivals who favored a return to the looser confederation. He was twice elected Chancellor, setting up a strong, well-financed national government under his administration, while embracing Aerish traditions such as the former anthem and flag in order to reclaim lost cultural heritage.

Freidom was assassinated by Fich Michinden Arsch, a Doge Wonderlandian sympathizer, on 12 August 1820 in Drömrith during a commemoration ceremony for the Battle of Drömtaßford.

## Early life

Freidom was born in Exteran, Lägenburght on the 27 May 1761. The House of Freidom was a prominent, wealthy political family with strong ties to both the former Confederation of the Aer as well as Doge Wonderland.

In 1784, he graduated with a doctorate in political philosophy (d.PP) from the Royal Academy of Doge Wonderlandian Advancement in Exteran, one of the most prestigious universities in Doge Wonderland. He triple majored in political science, military engineering, and philosophy, as well as minoring in both history of the Confederation and Doge Wonderlandian ideology. His dissertation, *Colonization: Consequences of Conquest and the Advancement of Society*, made waves throughout the political landscape. It strongly advocated for the conquest of “lesser people”, in particular those in Dystavia claiming that colonization promotes technological advancement and societal development.

He continued his education, receiving his Juris Doctor from the Woofertown Institute of Law and Order in 1786.

## Early career

Freidom's educational excellence and family ties allowed him to be appointed as Adjudicator Maximus for the East. He acted as a covert special prosecutor for the Doge Wonderlandian secret police, suppressing insurrection and terrorist movements in the eastern states.

Freidom opposed religion of any kind, but he largely kept this to himself due to the state mandated religion of Dogeism. He found another outlet for his disdain in Robotism. As Adjudicator Maximus and empowered through the Purity Act (1784), he pursued harsh punishments to Robotists unilaterally sentencing thousands to death or hard labor. However, Freidom did develop a level of sympathy towards those advocating self-governance and self-determination, especially those advocating for independence of the Confederation. Freidom harbored treasonous ideology very well from the Doge Wonderlandian central government, keeping up appearances by continuing to issue severe sentences to Robotists but often being lenient toward Confederation independence operatives.

## Lord-Mayor of Exteran

Freidom succeeded his father as Lord Mayor of Exteran after his retirement in 1799. As the capital of the state of Lägenburght, the mayorship of Exteran held significant power.

## Imperial Governor of Lägenburght

In 1808, he was appointed as the Imperial Governor of Lägenburght by Otto von Longdawg after the unexpected death of the former governor.

## Assassination

Fich Michinden Arsch was a well-known actor and pro-Doge Wonderlandian activist from Eascorpar; he attempted to serve as a spy for Doge Wonderland during the war, but was rejected on account of his sickliness. After the war, he was initially arrested for his Doge Wonderlandian sympathies, but escaped from custody before being sent to trial. He spent three years living as a vagabond under the assumed identity of Boris Ivanov. In late July 1821, he arrived in Drömrith as an itinerant worker, and upon reading news in the local paper about Freidom's planned speech at the commemoration ceremony for the Battle of Drömtaßford, devised a plot to assassinate the Chancellor. He purchased a surplus military revolver from a street vendor, picking an officer's revolver with a decorative ivory grip for the reason that it would be more ostentatious. He also purchased large quantities of ammonium nitrate under a guise as a farmer purchasing fertilizer, planning to construct explosive devices to injure or kill many in the crowd; the improvised explosives failed to detonate and were disarmed by Drömtaßford police, many of whom formerly served in the military.

At 2:13 PM, in the middle of Freidom's speech, Arsch shouted "Doge is great! Long live Longdawg!" and fired four shots from his revolver, two of which struck Freidom in the chest and one of which struck Czcibor Preqkjzwioq, Mayor of Drömrith, in the head. Preqkjzwioq died instantly, while Freidom fell to the ground. Arsch was immediately tackled and disarmed by the police; the crowd was initially unaware of what happened, preventing a stampede and allowing the police to properly arrest and detain Arsch without him being killed via mob justice.

Freidom suffered from a punctured lung and pierced aorta from the shooting and quickly bled out before being able to receive medical care from his doctor, who was attending the ceremony with him. According to his aides, doctor and the aides of Mayor Preqkjzwioq, his last words were "Long live Aesland". Arsch was arrested and charged with murder and high treason. He was put on trial just twenty-seven hours after the assassination and found guilty of all charges and sentenced to death. He was executed by carbon monoxide poisoning on August 29, 1821. Reportedly, authorities were forced to move him to different jails twice because they feared that angry mobs would lynch him; the method of execution was chosen because it was the only method available at the closest facility.