Georg von Reinerbach

Reinerbach in 1054

> *"Each and every Social Democrat is a threat to the empire."*
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**Georg von Reinerbach** (*Georg Ulrich von Reinerbach;* 998-1055) was a Fengelian military officer and nobleman who served as emergency Chancellor during the 1053 Crisis, and until his sudden death in 1055.

## Biography

### Early life and background

Georg Ulrich was born in 998 to a middle class noble family in Halsenburg. His father was an officer in the Heinese military who settled down and became a shop owner after a serious injury made him no longer fit for active duty. Reinerbach was descended from the middle son of a medieval Graf, and by the 990s they did not have any land to their name. However, Reinerbach's shop secured them a stable life and income.

### Career

#### Police

Reinerbach had no interest in continuing the family business, and the shop was sold in 1022. Reinerbach joined the military and became an MP, serving at several military garrisons until the 1040s. In 1045, after a (suspected socialist) terrorist attack near the Royal Palace, Friederich II had the military take over the policing of the Heinstadt-Halsenburg Metropolitan Area. When the Sixth Fengelo-Aulmierrese War broke out, the more experienced MPs were transferred to the frontlines, and Reinerbach became the police chief of the whole Metropolitan Area.

#### Emergency Chancellor

Reinerbach was police chief of the Heinstadt-Halsenburg Metropolitan Area in 1053, when Emperor Friederich II fled the country and the cabinet resigned as revolts broke out across the country. As the police chief, Reinerbach was essentially the highest ranking leader of the capital region left, and the one with the power to maintain order. When Crown Prince Franz August arrived at Heinstadt a few days later, Reinerbach supported him becoming the new Emperor, and Franz August appointed Reinerbach as provisional Chancellor to lead the effort against socialist uprisings. The police force and freikorps managed to crush the rebels in the Metropolitan Area, and then pacified the rest of the empire by 1054.

#### Post-Crisis

After the end of the Crisis, Reinerbach remained "provisional Chancellor". The young Emperor, alongside members of the cabinet such as Larriech von Naydea, believed that liberalization was necessary to appease the populace and prevent them from revolting, whereas Reinerbach believed that the police needed to be further militarized and take over the country to maintain order and crush disobedience. This idea, the *"Polizeistaat"* (police state), was promoted by a clique of police and freikorps officers led by Reinerbach.

Reinerbach clashed with the Emperor numerous times over the issue of empowering the police force. In his last meeting with the Emperor, which happened 3 days before his death, the argument got heated and it was said that Reinerbach was considering a coup against the Emperor. This would never materialize, as Reinerbach was found dead in his bedroom one morning. The official narrative is that he died of a sudden heart attack in his sleep, though conspiracy theories say that the Emperor ordered Reinerbach's assassination to consolidate his power.

### Connections

Reinerbach was said to be "particularly close" with Prince Joachim, the youngest son of Friederich II. Therefore, some say he planned to install Joachim as a puppet Emperor after deposing Franz August. The Prince has denied any allegations and connections with Reinerbach.