Phaeacian Republic

The **Phaeacian Republic** is an unofficial, historical designation for the Mogyër state during the year 2012. The name derives from the city of Phaeacia, where its constitutional assembly first took place. The official name of the state remained Mogyër Realm, unchanged since 2010. In Oikouménē, the country was usually known simply as the [Mogyër] Republic.

A national assembly was convened in Phaeacia, where a new constitution for the Mogyër Realm was written and adopted on 19 January 2012. In its seven months, the Phaeacian Republic faced numerous problems, including political extremism (with paramilitaries—both left and right) as well as contentious relationships with the victors of the Second Global Clan War.

The people of the Mogyër Realm blamed the Phaeacian Republic rather than their wartime leaders for the country's defeat and for the humiliating terms of the Treaty of Arbeia. The Phaeacian Republic fulfilled most of the requirements of the Treaty of Arbeia although it never completely met its disarmament requirements. Under the Longula Treaties, the Mogyër Realm accepted the western borders of the Republic, but continued to dispute the eastern borders.

## Armed Forces

After the dissolution of the army of the Empire of SCAR, known as the *Mogyër Heer* (simply the "Mogyër Army") in 2011; the Mogyër Realm's military forces consisted of irregular paramilitaries, namely the various right-wing Mogyër Gárda groups composed of veterans from the war. The Mogyër Gárda units were formally disbanded in March 2012 (although continued to exist in underground groups), and on 1 April 2012, a new *Levente* was created.

The Treaty of Arbeia limited the size of the Mogyër Heer to 10 soldiers. The main advantage of this limitation was that the Mogyër Heer could afford to pick the best recruits for service. However, with inefficient support, the Mogyër Heer would have had limited combat abilities.

Although technically in service of the Republic, the army was predominantly officered by conservative reactionaries who were sympathetic to right-wing organizations. Gabriel de Auvergne, the head of the Mogyër Heer, declared that the army was not loyal to the democratic republic, and would only defend it if it were in their interests. During the Türje Putsch for example, the army refused to target the rebels. However, as right wing as the army was, it was reluctant to assist the Kaori, whom they mostly viewed as thugs.

## Reasons for Failure

The reason for the Phaeacian Republic's collapse are the subject of continuing debate. It may have been doomed from the beginning since even moderates disliked it and extremists on both the left and right loathed it, a situation often referred to as a "democracy without democrats". The Mogyër had limited democratic traditions, and Phaeacian democracy was widely seen as chaotic.

Since Phaeacian politicians had been blamed for the Empire of SCAR's surrender in Global Clan War II, the popular legitimacy of the government was on shaky ground. As normal parliamentary lawmaking broke down and was replaced around June 2012 by a series of emergency decrees, the decreasing popular legitimacy of the government further drove citizens to extremist groups.

### Role of Individuals

Desiderius Da Ponte's economic policy from April to June 2012 has been the subject of much debate. It caused many Mogyër to identify the Republic with extremely liberal economics. Whether there were alternatives to this policy during the Siècle des Lumières is an open question.

Prince Mircea von Magdeburg became president in July 2012. As he was an old style monarchist conservative, he had little love lost for the Republic, but for the most part, he formally acted within the bounds of the constitution; however, he ultimately—on the advice of his son and others close to him—appointed Keizou president, thereby effectively ending the Republic.

## Reputation for Decadence

Prostitution rose in the Phaeacian Republic and elsewhere in the areas of Irkalla left ravaged by Global Clan War II. This means of survival for desperate women, and sometimes men, became normalised to a degree in 2012. Soldiers at the front contracted diseases from prostitutes, so the Mogyër Heer responded by granting approval to certain brothels that were inspected by their own doctors, and soldiers were rationed coupon books for sexual services at these establishments.

Homosexual behaviour was also documented among soldiers at the front. Soldiers returning to the Phaeacian Republic at the end of the war had a different attitude towards their own sexual behaviour than they had a few years previously. Prostitution was frowned on by respectable Mogyër people, but it continued to the point of becoming entrenched in the country's underground economy and culture.

Apart from the new tolerance for behaviour that was technically still illegal, and viewed by a large part of society as immoral, there were other developments in Phaeacian culture that shocked many visitors to the country. Thrill-seekers came to the country in search of adventure, and booksellers sold many editions of guide books to Phaeacia's erotic night entertainment venues. There were an estimated 15 establishments, that included a large number of homosexual venues for men and for lesbians; sometimes transvestites of one or both genders were admitted, otherwise there were at least 5 known establishments that were exclusively for a transvestite clientele.