1835 - The Right to Rule
The sale of Labrador was the first business to be dealt with going into the new year. While Hispania's finances had recovered, some extra gold in the treasury couldn't hurt. Also, with Hispania's position becoming more and more tenuous, it would not do to make enemies in the Americas, a region where Hispania's positions had only strengthened, albeit indirectly through its colonial nations. Either way, the United Kingdom of America's offer was accepted, and Labrador was sold to the Americans, who were more than grateful for the transfer. Now they controlled the coastline and could focus on their colonization efforts into the interior.
The extra boost to the treasury provided extra funds for the government to get involved in the new industries popping up. These factories and railroads were clearly the future, and the government clearly saw this. The state began investing funds into these business ventures, supporting the creation of new factories to provide jobs for Hispanians and bolster the economy.
Not everything was so rosy and positive for Hispania. The situation in Asia continued to deteriorate. While Qing was not quite as advanced as their neighbours and did not have the full support of the local Koreans, Hispania's armed forces were stretched thin in the area. The Exercit Cathay was nearly decimated and could not leave Macau or Hong Kong without risking losing them to Ming. The Exercit India could not safely leave the subcontinent, for the Indians had rebelled once before and it could happen once more. That left the Exercit Colonial, but its distance from the war theatre presented a problem. By the time it arrived in Korea, Qing had captured most of the peninsula. Attempts to create a beachhead were thwarted on several occasions, leading to massive casualties. Even when they finally managed to land, a new problem presented itself. The ranks of the army had been filled with colonial subjects to keep numbers up, but unlike their European counterparts, these men weren't quite as thrilled about Hispania's imperial ventures. Morale was quite low, for these men from the colonies had no interest in fighting for some far-off land they cared nothing about. When forced into battle with Qing, they were just as likely to retreat as charge the enemy. Attempts to instill discipline in the men failed, and a full-on mutiny soon erupted. The Colonial Colonial was in shatters, and what remained had no choice but to abandon Korea or get wiped out by the Qing while its own men fled. The whole campaign had ended in disaster.
Perhaps the war against Qing could have gone better if the government had focused its undivided attention on the area, but Regent Joan de Trastámara had much more serious matters to deal with at home. Even as war erupted in Asia, forces in Hispania gathered to strike at the regency and force through reforms the Regent had denied for years. A plan soon developed, one that would see Joan brought down along with his most trusted men. While Joan's rise to power had been permitted by law, it was maintained by the army. His hold on the army was nearly absolute, for only those he trusted most rose in the ranks. The only way to remove him was to remove those controlling the army. To leave any of them untouched would result in the army moving in to restore order. Fortunately for those involved in planning the coup, Joan provided them with an opportunity. The Regent met with his general every few months to discuss the state of the army and other affairs. During these meetings, all the most powerful men in the army, and thus those propping up the regency, would be in the same city. If they could be taken down on-route before they reached the security of the meeting place, the Regent could be brought down. When the time came for the next meeting, the members of the coup moved to strike.
Men followed the carriages of the generals and the Regent as they gathered at the meeting place in Valencia. Each of the carriages rolled towards the meeting place, but none would reach their destination. As they drew near, the coup forces struck, attacking the carriages and dragging their occupants out into the streets. It was soon a surprise to many that those in the carriages turned out not to be the generals or even the Regent, but random servants. Realization soon hit them. They had been betrayed.
Just as the coup had struck, the Exercit Valencia filtered into the city. Soldiers marched on those that had tried to take out the generals and Regent, now exposed in the open. Many tried to flee, but the army had blocked the side streets and surrounded the rebels. The army had been prepared for them and cut off all routes of escape. One by one, they were all rounded up to face justice at the hands of the Regent. The capital was locked down as the city was scoured for all those involved. The conspirators were unmasked as more and more evidence was discovered. Nearly a third of the members of the Assembly were directly implicated in the coup attempts, and even a handful of members of the Cortz were connected. Even more were loosely connected, although not enough to try them for treason. Those who undoubtedly rose up against the government faced the wrath of Joan, who had them executed for treason. As for Parliament, it was not to escape Joan's anger. With undeniable proof that seditious elements existed in Parliament, ones intent on overthrowing the Crown, there was nothing holding him back at striking at those who meant him harm. The Assembly, the main source of the coup, was disbanded, its members either locked up or sent home. Joan stated that the body had become a hotbed of revolution and would cease to exist until Hispania was purged of such treasonous thought. As for the Cortz, not even Joan would disband that body, risking the wrath of the nobles as well. However, there was still undeniable proof that some nobles on the Cortz had been involved and that could not be ignored. The body had to be altered to remove such treasonous elements and ensure it served the Crown's best interests. Regent Joan declared that nobles would no longer be guaranteed a seat on the Cortz, with the exception of the dukes and grand dukes who would retain their hereditary seats. From now on, the Crown would appoint titled nobles to most seats at the recommendation of the Cortz, ensuring that only those who served the Crown faithfully sat on the body. With such dramatic changes to Parliament, it seemed clear to all where the true power now lay.
There was one person implicated in the coup that shocked many, and it was Joan himself who pointed her out. A dramatic scene occurred at court as soldiers marched into the palace and arrested Empress Jeanne for possible involvement in the coup. Joan revealed that he had discovered the coup when he had the Empress's servants followed, for he had never truly trusted her. One of them had unintentionally led him right to those organizing the coup, allowing him to infiltrate their ranks and learn the full extent of their plans. While there was nothing directly implicating that Jeanne's servant had gotten involved at her insistence, and thus not enough evidence to convict her of treason, the implications were strong enough to confine her to her chambers without protest from the court. One by one, all of those who opposed Joan were falling away, caught in their own plans against him. It seemed that Hispania was destined to be ruled by its Regent for a little longer.
For a few months, Joan tightened his hold on power. His greatest opponents had either been locked away or executed. Perhaps the one person in a position to contest him, Crown Prince Ferran, refused to show up at court, preferring to spend his days with his wife's family in Leon. He had never been that interested in politics, and did not have the wilful spirit to put up any meaningful resistance to Joan. Yet even as Joan cemented his power, it was always dependent on one single fact: he was a regent and only served as long as Pere both lived and was incapable of ruling. The attack on Pere nearly a decade ago had left him comatose and provided the means for Joan's rise to power, but his death could just as easily remove him from power. The difficulty of the Emperor being comatose was that no one ever saw him. The only evidence of his continued survival was the servants continuing to care for him and the doctors attending to him. If he was to die, only those closest to him would know. As the years passed by, rumours would circulate that the Emperor was actually dead and had been for quite some time. There was nothing to substantiate this rumour, but with the Emperor kept from the public eye, there was nothing to disprove it either. It didn't manage to gain much ground, that is until tragedy struck.
The Empress had been confined to her quarters for some time, never permitted to leave or even allowed to see her husband. Jeanne wallowed in solitude, and some said that took its toll. One afternoon, a maid heard the sound of breaking glass followed by a loud thud as she washed clothes outside. She went to investigate, only to find the Empress sprawled on the ground, having thrown herself from her second-story window. Jeanne, frail and old by that point, barely survived the fall, and she had only enough time to say one thing before she passed away. As the maid came to her side, Jeanne looked the maid in the eye and said, "The Emperor is dead. Long live the Emperor."
Word of the Empress's tragic suicide, as well as her final words, spread like wildfire, despite Joan's attempt to keep it secret. The last thing he needed was a rumour of the Emperor being dead surfacing yet again, especially when it was started by the Empress herself right before she died. When confronted on the issue, Joan stated that the Empress had not been able to see the Emperor since the coup, for he could not allow someone involved in an attack on the Crown anywhere near Pere. If the Emperor was truly dead, she would have no knowledge of it, and if she did it would have been from before the coup, which then she could have simply said so then and ended things then and there. It was merely the act of a dying woman to topple the Regent from power and nothing more. Despite his claims, people wanted to see the Emperor for themselves. Mobs gathered outside the palace demanding to see him, but Joan would always refuse. While he permitted servants and doctors to see him, as well as those he trusted not to harm the Emperor, he refused to let the common people anywhere near him. He would not put his brother on display, nor allow those who meant him harm anywhere near him. Even with those allowed to see the Emperor stating he was still alive, no one believed them. All of them could be in the Regent's pay or simply loyal to him. Unfortunately this only fanned the flames of the rumour that the Emperor was truly dead.
As the rumour continued to circulate and word of the Empress's tragic death got out, the Crown Prince finally set out from Leon for Valencia. He intended to lay his mother to rest, and more importantly put these rumours to rest. If any one man could prove whether or not the Emperor was dead or alive, it was the Crown Prince. As Ferran made his way to the capital, the city was on edge. The Exercit Valencia was on high alert, watching over the city and keeping the people in line. As for the Regent, Joan grew irritable from the whole affair. His hold on power was being questioned because of some foolish rumours, and no one would trust him when he said that his brother still lived. As the Crown Prince approached the capital, everyone watched to see how events would unfold. Would the Regent find himself forced from power by events he could not control and succession restored, or would the last bit of opposition be removed once and for all.
((And that nearly brings the gap years to an end. Now we have only to settle who shall rule going into Vicky 2. Both the Regent and Crown Prince have a legitimate claim to rule, although each one is dependent on whether or not the Emperor lives. Joan, by law, serves as Regent as long as Pere lives. To defy that would be to go against Hispania's laws, ones set in place by Alfons IX. However, if he is dead, then the Crown Prince would be the next in line and become Emperor, removing the need of a regent. Ultimately, you have to decide who you want in power, but also who you think has the legitimate right to rule based on these conditions. As for the Emperor, think of him as Schrödinger's cat: he is both dead and alive until someone observes him.
You must gamble on his condition. If the players support the Crown Prince and the Emperor is dead, Joan may find himself in a tough spot and have no choice but to step down. If, however, Pere still lives, Joan may not give up his power so easily. On the other hand, if you support Joan and the Emperor lives, the Crown Prince may just back down. Now if the Emperor is dead, the Crown Prince may just have to press his claim and fight Joan for the right to rule. How this turns out can go either way and may greatly affect Hispania's position at the start of Vicky 2. Now for the vote.
Ruler of Hispania:
Regent Joan/Crown Prince Ferran
Players have until
Friday at 12PM PST to vote. Please
bold your vote. Seeing as we're back to the old voting format, you just need to post one option. As stated before, the stability and instability actions are no longer available.))
