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((Due to the time it took to get the vote results out and other factors revolving around the update, I won't be able to finish it until tomorrow afternoon most likely. Sorry for the delay.))
 
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1788-1793 – The Opium Wars

The Elementary Education Act was amended during a session of Parliament, fixing most of the issues towards minorities. Most Hispanians were quite pleased with the changes, and the initial outrage faded away. The costs did rise as the government had to fund housing complexes for the poorer students. The Improvement of Quality of Life Act started the lengthy process of constructing hospitals all across the Empire. Hispanians could now receive basic healthcare, although the costs were quite extensive.

The Minister of Trade, with the implicit support of the Minister of the Navy, began construction of ships to defend the trade fleets. Galleys were constructed for the Mediterranean trade fleets, while heavy ships were built for the ocean fleets.

Austria was truly pushing limits by demanding Treviso next to be returned as part of the HRE.

Kaffa declared war on Alodia to decide who would dominate East Africa.

Wealth from India was flowing in, keeping the Hispanian economy strong.

The colony in Barito became self-sufficient, allowing for resources to be freed up to colonize Gorontalo as Parliament desired.



The navy continued to suffer, the shipyards not as active as always, as the army received extra attention for the upcoming wars.

As money became available, the Minister of the Interior ordered the expansion of forts in Canton and India after requests from various members of Parliament to defend the vulnerable regions better.

Although the capital had not been threatened for decades, memory of the Civil War never went away. Some expansion of the fortifications around Valencia were made in the meantime.

As troops were moved east to the Levant and more to Romania in case Lithuania backed up Persia, a declaration of war was sent to Persia. Scandinavia was the only one willing to assist, for France and the UKA felt the conflict was too far away to get involved. While Yemen had been the initial target, a declaration was extended to Persia as well, since they had also closed their borders to Hispania.



As troops swarmed over into Lithuania, fate showed some favour for Hispania. Rebels broke out all across Lithuania, separatists attempting to obtain freedom.

At sea, Persia’s fleet made an attack on the Hispanian trade fleet operating out of Ceylon. The Flota Colonial was still stationed in India and headed over, but Persia caught wind of their arrival. They fled to port after sinking three light ships. Replacements were placed under construction immediately.

The armies stationed in the Levant had yet to take action, and that was for good reason. They were waiting for the second war declaration. Yemen was targeted next, with the intention of opening up their borders to trade as well. They had Malwa on their side, but they were still weak from the previous war with Hispania. After the declaration was sent, the two armies in India swarmed over the border into Malwa. Two armies in the Levant went south into Yemen, which was poorly defended, while the one remaining one met up with a new arrival to move on to Persia.



Ethiopia was the latest victim of the chaos of East Africa, annexed by Kaffa.

Malwa moved down the west coast of India, but the two armies marched over after taking Berar. The first of the armies, a tiny one, was swept over by Lieutenant General Dias’s army. The two armies then converged on the main force in Surat. In a repeat of battles from the previous war against Malwa, the entire enemy army surrendered, and Malwa stopped being a threat.

Over in Lithuania, Byzantium’s army had arrived and launched an attack on a Lithuanian army that had been lingering near the border. A single Hispanian army went to reinforce, assisting them in their efforts to push the Lithuanians back. With the Scandinavians already rampaging through northern Lithuania and Bavaria even making an appearance, Lithuania shouldn’t be much more of a problem. When their fort in Rowne fell shortly afterwards, that only reinforced that thought.

Captain General Saint-Pierre marched straight on Yemen’s capital in San’a, where he found the Yemeni army. A quick assault overwhelmed the puny defence and swept them aside, leaving the capital open to siege.



Admiral Charles Gustave de Saint-Pierre took a tour of the Persian Gulf, picking off Persian fleets foolish enough to stay out in open waters. His fleet took out over a dozen ships, not allowing them to venture back to port.

With the front extending all the way from Romania down to Arabia, there was a lot of ground to cover and not enough armies for every theatre. With Persia being the one nation that didn’t share a border with Hispania, it was deemed the least important during the early stages of the war. There had also been the assumption that Byzantium would pick up most of the slack there. These both proved to be oversights. Byzantium sent its larger army to Lithuania and smaller one to Persia, while it soon became apparent that Persia could mass an army larger than some of the other combatants. As a Hispanian army marched away from the other, Persia struck at the siege force in Mosul. Byzantium’s army force marched over and the other Hispanian army turned around to assist, but they were too late. In two weeks, the entire Exercit Granada was wiped out.

At least the other fronts were still going well. Yemen had yet to raise a new army and Malwa was doing little to prevent the sieges in its lands. In Lithuania, another fort fell, opening up the interior as Field Marshal Leon led the charge east.

In Scandinavia, King Gustav VI de Valois finally came of age. While not the most inspiring person, he was married to Emperor Alfons’s daughter Clara.

Malwa had been gathering regiments together in the east, but much too close to the border. A quick sweep of the province saw them lose seven regiments.



By April of 1789, Saint-Pierre had taken Yemen’s capital, with the other army already taking most of the coast along the Red Sea.

Persia proved a pest again, unwilling to let anyone take Mosul. They marched on the new siege army, who did not have another Hispanian army nearby. The Hispanians struggled to hold out, but were losing great numbers. Fortunately, the Greeks were faster this time, arriving just in time to save the day. The Persians were repelled, but only after great loss.

During the siege process in Malwa, their navy was forced from port. The Greeks had sent a token fleet to blockade, but their galleys weren’t suited for the ocean. The Flota Colonial had to assist to ensure victory, and even then the enemy fleet just fled to port anyway.

The Persians used the opportunity to get their fleet out into open waters, but neglected to sail away. The Flota Colonial caught it before it decided where to go. They lost several ships in the process before having to flee.

Byzantium decided the best way to defeat Lithuania was to attack their rebels. Perhaps they should focus on Persia instead.



It seemed that Byzantium chose to ignore many things, including its own people. While Hispania and the rest of Europe progressed greatly in the ways of government, developing new institutions and adopting constitutions, Byzantium remained stuck in the past. The only remaining feudal monarchy in Europe, Byzantium was still dominated by the Basileus and the ever-powerful nobility, with commoners given little say. Now they had had enough. Demands were sent to the Basileus, somewhat tame compared to the rest of Europe. The people wanted a reformed administration, one that allowed for those other than nobles to participate. While a constitution was not mentioned and the Basileus would retain his powers, its mere acceptance suggested a slide towards it. When confronted with the issue, Basileus Ioannes XI and his cabal of loyal nobles refused to relinquish any power. The government would remain unchanged. The people had no choice but to seek their demands by force. ((I thought it strange that Byzantium has remained a feudal monarchy for so long, so I felt it was best to give them the option to reform or face the consequences. Obviously the AI didn’t want change. :p))

As the Lithuanian front quieted down, seeing as Scandinavia and Bavaria were doing their part and Lithuania had retreated inwards, Leon marched away from the front to assist the Greeks in quelling their rebellion. It would not do to have rebels threatening the route back home.

With Persia presenting more problems than first suspected and the people of Byzantium now in open rebellion, Hispania had to consolidate its forces or risk becoming overextended. Yemen was all but done and fully willing to come to the peace table. While a truly crushing peace could not be pursued at the time, both Hispania and Yemen were eager for peace. Yemen ceded the valuable province of Adan, as well as Suqutra as a naval base and an African colony neighbouring Hispania’s in East Africa. A single province on Malwa’s eastern coastline was demanded too, with more not much of an option without continuing the war, something that risked allowing Persia to make gains. Yemen was also to pay war reparations, but most importantly open its borders back up. Trade would return to normal, although the Yemeni people now despised Hispania for their interference.

With the war with Yemen over, the two armies in their lands were able to march into Persian Arabia, and an army from India was on its way to assist.



Time had favoured Hispania on the issue of the new Italian lands. Hispania’s new Austrian subjects at first were quite rebellious, stirred up by their home country, but things mellowed down as they realized they would not be excluded from government. Now if only the Occitan, Lombard, and Ruthenians felt the same.

Kaffa truly upset the balance of power in East Africa, conquering most of Alodia and becoming the clear dominant nation in the region. They also forced Alodia to grant Egypt its independence, bringing back to life a former enemy of Hispania’s.

Armies were starting to shift towards Persia. The new Exercit Granda had arrived in the Middle East, with the Exercit Valencia soon on its way. The timing was off though, for Persia decided to make its move by attacking the army in Mosul again. This time the besieging army had no help and was forced to retreat after losing most of its infantry and cavalry. Another Persian army was moving into Byzantium. Hispania would have to go on the defensive until more troops arrived.

Leon targeted a rebel force in Tarnovo, and with Byzantium’s help quashed the rebellion. He and the Greeks aimed to remove the rebel threat from the Balkans before moving towards Persia.

Despite a shift south, progress was still being made against Lithuania. Another fort fell, this time near the Persian border.

Persia overestimated its enemies when it came to the Greeks. Byzantium sent a much larger army to Mosul to expel the army that had done so much harm to Hispania. The Hispanians were more than willing to help. The Persian force was finally overwhelmed, thousands of men throwing down their arms in surrender.



Leon continued to make progress against the rebels, this time in Slavonia. The Scandinavians, for some odd reason, had decided to send down a large army to help. Perhaps the absolute monarch wished to ensure the old order remained.

The Lithuanian rebels could not distinguish friend from foe and attacked a Hispanian army in Bahmut. They paid dearly for that mistake.

In the Far East, Bukhara and Qing decided to settle a white peace.

As armies filtered down to Persia, Lithuania tried to make a comeback. They attacked the siege army in Bahmut, who for now was all alone. They underestimated Hispania’s strength though, and although Hispania suffered many losses, they won the day. A week later, as though to rub it in, Hispania captured the fort at Bahmut. This crushed Lithuania’s will to continue the fight, and Hispania had no reason to fight on further with them. Lithuania agreed to pay war reparations and break ties with both Persia and Austria.



Times of war could still be times of progress. New scientific theories and feats of engineering were devised that proved both practical and productive. When applied properly, these ideas could be used to bolster production and produce more money for Hispania. One revolutionary idea was the creation of insurance companies. By offsetting the potential risk that came with trading ventures through the payment of a fee to protect one’s business, merchants were more willing to expand and pursue new markets. Of course, the army received the greatest innovation, as per usual. Skirmishers were to be used to harass the enemy before the main attack, proving more manoeuvrable and damaging enemy morale.

Leon continued his march towards Persia, taking out another rebel army on the way over. The Leon name was being whispered on the lips of Greeks all over yet again.

An attempt to liberate Van turned into a mild disaster as the Persians intercepted the Hispanian army. The other Hispanian armies were still approaching the theatre, with armies marching south from Lithuania and others arriving from the coast. Dealt another defeat, the Hispanian army had to retreat.

In religious news, His Holiness bestowed the rank of cardinal upon Justinian Lagos. ((There’s your expected promotion, @hirahammad.))



Sometimes protecting Hispanian merchants had a price. Some were becoming quite lazy as they felt they didn’t have to compete with other nations when they had the might of Hispania had their backs.

France turned its gaze overseas, declaring war on Ottawa. French Louisiana had expanded greatly over the years and it seemed France wanted it to be even bigger. Perhaps France was noticing the expansion of the UKA nearby and wanted to get the land first.

Chinook, a native tribe on the West Coast, managed to copy western ways after being wedge between Nuevos Valencia and Oregon for so long.

By the middle of 1790, most of Persian Arabia had fallen and armies were moving up towards Baghdad. The Persians did not want this to occur and sent an army to intervene. The attacked the siege army in Samawah, but unlike with previous times there were reinforcements nearby. General Dias had been preparing to sail around to Suez when he received the call. He raced north, arriving just in time. The Hispanian army was ready to rout, but his arrival turned things around. The Persians had no choice but to pull back. By then, Scandinavia and Byzantium had arrived in force on the Persian border. It seemed likely that Persia would not be fending off this invasion any further.

France took little time in annexing Ottawa, expanding their New World presence.

As armies gather in Persia, a plan of attack was devised. Two armies were to focus on the Caucuses Mountains. Two more were to finally take Mosul and the surrounding land. As for the south, those in Arabia would focus on securing the Gulf. Saint-Pierre, who was in the area, sailed for Suez with orders for a new venture in the works. Now that Persia was on the run and Hispania’s allies swarmed the region, armies started shifting towards Morocco, who had little ability to fend off an invasion.

In early 1791, the Crown Prince Pere sired a son named Ferran, securing succession for the future.

To encourage merchants to seek new markets far and wide, the Crown offered incentives to those willing to take great risk. Embellishing the glory of such ventures surely helped too.



France wasn’t quite done with its conquests in North America. War was declared on Illiniwek next.

Speaking of war, with three armies having made their way to Morocco’s border, war was declared on the weak North African power. Saint-Pierre led the charge on the capital, with two other armies securing the countryside.

Three years after the passing of the new Elementary Education Act, the effects were truly starting to be felt. Non-Iberians across the Empire were rejoicing in this new education that valued their language and culture. For the first time in perhaps forever, even the Occitan, Lombard, and Ruthenian people of Hispania felt accepted. A mysterious figure known only as the Prophet credited this change to the massive influx of silk from China.

The colony in Gorontalo was coming along nicely, showing just how well Hispania’s colonies could grow.

Saint-Pierre reached the capital of Morocco, encountering their army and making such short work of them that some wondered if there had been a battle at all.

In August, Emperor Charles VIII de Valois of France passed away after almost half a century on the throne, his brother Louis claiming the crown. Despite his age, Louis had yet to sire a son, only having daughters so far, including the wife of Crown Prince Pere. His wife was pregnant though, and several months later gave birth to the much-desired heir.

Speaking of heirs, the year before Emperor Alfons’s daughter Clara, now queen of Scandinavia, had given birth to a son.



The war against Persia was progressing smoothly for once. All of Arabia had fallen and the western border was all but secured. The Caucuses were well on their way to becoming occupied as well. Mosul had even fallen after all the hardship it had caused. As for Morocco, with their army gone, victory was a forgone conclusion. Their navy had been forced from port at one point, but the Greeks had been patrolling the coastline and dealt with that threat.

As the armies pushed further into Persia, it seemed a favourable peace could finally be achieved. While the goal was to reopen trade, other options had to be considered. Yemen could be pushed around easily and forced to trade as Hispania pleased, but Persia had proven that they were less pliable. While opening their borders was still desired, the possibility of having to pursue another war if a similar situation arose was not preferred. A more amiable power needed to replace Persia in Arabia. Najd just barely clung on to existence, but they were weak and conveniently had claims on Persia’s lands in Arabia. A demand was thus sent that all of Arabia held by Persia be handed back to Najd, with the exception of a single province that only the dead nation of Oman could call its own. Seeing as Persia was still a threat, their coastline on the Black Sea was also taken for Byzantium to ensure they did not interfere in Hispanian-dominated waters. Persia was now forced to trade with Hispania again, but their influence in Arabia was gone. Now there was a friendly power, Najd, more than willing to trade with their new friend.

Scotland seemed to be plopping down colonies all over the place, this time in Guaycura near Nova Hispania.

The Moroccans had mustered together a small army and tried to push north, only to be thwarted and destroyed. When the fort at Tafilalt fell a few days later, their ability to resist was weakening.



Empress Camelia shocked many when she gave birth to her fourth son, Miquel, even though she was approaching fifty. The Emperor now had six children, four sons and two daughters.

The capital of Morocco fell at the end of March, the last line of defence. With this war coming to an end, it was also time to take a close look at the army high command. The leading generals were ancient, both near or over a hundred years old. General Leon, who had been Minister of War for decades and served as the highest ranking general since the Hispanian Civil War, was granted the highest military honours and silently shuffled into retirement, although many expected he would soon to pass from this world. Saint-Pierre was expected to follow shortly after, once someone was found who could replace him. ((Everyone in the army is so old! :p))

France greatly increased the size of its colonial holdings by annexing Comache, who they had convinced to serve as their subject at some point.

The Inclusion Act presented years ago had brought up the issue of the nobility in North Africa. While few in number and low in rank, they still existed but were merely subservient to the Crown as with any other Crown province. Perhaps as a way to appease them after they failed to receive seats on the Cortz, the Emperor granted them exclusive privileges to collect revenue within the African provinces, specifically in regards to trade in the African interior. While the Emperor did not consult Parliament on the matter, he was technically within his right to do so, although perhaps some members of the merchant class weren’t too pleased about it.

By August, Morocco was completely occupied. The entire nation was annexed, securing one of the last holdouts in North Africa. With Hispania at peace, Emperor Alfons decided to send a message to the young Holy Roman Emperor. Denouncing the Austrian Archduke as an imposter and no true successor of Rome, Alfons officially declared that Venezia, Treviso, Verona, Mantua, and Ferrara would no longer be considered part of the Holy Roman Empire. The Austrians were furious, but there was little they could do.



Merchants in India were dealing with some unruly pirates and required funds to build up proper defences.

As October approached, the Lombard and Ruthenian peoples became discontent once more, feeling unaccepted in Hispania. Perhaps they felt outnumbered or isolated. The Prophet though denounced these claims, stating instead it was the declining amount of silk being imported into Hispania that was the root cause.

Mali, perhaps feeling closed in now that Morocco was gone, declared war on Zazzau, their only remaining neighbour other than Hispania or France.

While Hispanians in Europe had schools, the colonies had the encomienda system. Natives were taken in by the locals and tutored in exchange for free labour. It created cooperation with the native peoples, as well as made them more productive members of society.

The colony in Maguindanao became self-sustaining, allowing Colonist Joaquin Villanova to head to Great Karoo on behalf of the Saint-Pierre family.

France annexed yet another native nation, this time Illiniwek, after forcing war reparations out of Shoshone first.

Lithuania attempted to bounce back after the invasion of their lands and rebel problem by attacking Nogai.













JpsioAG.png

Presenting His Imperial Highness, Alfons IX de Trastámara, Emperor of Hispania, Caesar of Rome, Duke of Bavaria, and Protector of the Greeks.

Our recent campaigns were perhaps more hard-fought than expected, but we have triumphed regardless. No one can be permitted to disrupt our trade, the lifeblood of the Empire. I expect Arabia to be more open to our presence from now on. As for Morocco, it is good to see North Africa secure, although Egypt has returned once more. I doubt they will pose a problem any time soon though.

The Austrians prove to be a nuisance with their ever action. While I understand their resentment as the loss of their land, they wield the Holy Roman Empire like a divine weapon, as though its desires are the will of God. They fail to see that their Empire is a mockery, a failed mechanism once used to keep foreign invaders and internal threats at bay. Yet it has failed even at that. It merely exists because we allowed it as a means to keep Germany from swallowing up more of its neighbours. Now that Bavaria looks to us for guidance, it serves no purpose other than to fuel the Archduke’s vanity. Perhaps it is time to reassess whether we should indulge the Austrians any further.

I have been contemplating new ideas for Hispania and this Parliament. Our government and nation is one that is ever evolving, improving with each passing year as we seek a better future for ourselves and our children. And yet those very same children can prove such a handful that you rarely find time to perform such duties. If I seem distracted these days, it is merely my young ones requiring my attention. There is nothing quite like having a bunch of young children running around the palace to remind me what we fight for, or what will be left behind. I received word yesterday that my cousin Carles passed away from various health complications. His three daughters now no longer have a father, and the youngest at three will never know her father. Fate can be cruel at times. While perhaps not the best time to announce this, I shall be bestowing Carles’s titles, which passed on to me through succession, to my second son Joan.

Now we look to the future yet again. Do we seek expand through colonization or conquest? Our colonies in Southeast Asia are proving quite fruitful, but perhaps expanding into the African interior, into lands filled with gold, might be a better option.


((Well there’s that update. Ministers should post their plans before Wednesday at 12PM PST. Players may propose laws before that deadline, and any challenges to the position of Speaker or Minister of Education should be made now. Seeing as Leon is over one hundred years old, we may as well start nominations for a new Chamberlain, so any member of the Cortz may put their name forward. Also, since the current Minister of Education will not be able to run in 1796 when his term ends, the Assembly can propose new candidates if they want, otherwise a neutral independent NPC will get the position. Might also be good to get some people making some general characters soon or we’ll run out.

One thing to keep in mind is that with the passing of the Inter-Parliamentary Relations Act, people can’t propose legislation affecting the other house without the permission of that house’s representative. If it just affects that house you could get around it by proposing it through an NPC member of your party in the other house, although that won’t work if it affects both houses. The Crown can override the decision of a house’s representative or make the decision instead of them when it comes to permitting legislation, so don’t feel pressed to not present legislation because of that barrier.

Now to get working on the 1792 election....

Dying:
@zenphoenix

))
 
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before the next years
"Archbishop, if you believe these were personal insults directed at your person, than Parliament is clearly the wrong place for you. To clarify it: This was directed at your person. And threats? Please, I am in no position to threaten anyone. A politician's task is different from a clergyman's, and I've always mentioned the general clergy, not just yet another hypocrite. This is not an insult either, but rather a fact, seeing what you want to achieve with your new faction."

((While you don't have to take it into consideration for the results (if there's no other), my election campaign holds the promises for the next one, be it only an orientation for what to expect or not. ;)))

As usual, the members of the Facció del Fénix travelled the land before the next election, praising the recent successes in legislation concerning social aspects and regional governance, while expressing regrets for the failed acts, acts only failed due to the machinations of the oligarchic minority that still tried to guide the empire like before the reforms, would love to make the Parliament non-exisstent again. A newfound regional autonomy, only created thanks to the energic actions of the Campos and Phoenix politicians who created these acts and gained enough support for them. Some factions at least were true to their ideals in their voting, to have all Hispanians directly controlled by one of their puppets. Another one should have done the contrary of what it did. How could anyone trust the Facción de La Edredón if it doesn't even support its own foundation ideals, but wants a fully centralized, only Hispanian state?
Then, the Purification Act came to be a main part of their speeches. Why the Assembly should only represent the will of the people if it was to achieve its purpose. How the act only failed in the Assembly due to these same appointed members who would have lost their positions. What a perfect example for the entire Parliamentary idea this was: a fully necessary change, yet one that has been flawed in its initial conception. Flaws that are now used by those who take advantage of them to keep them around instead of making the changes that would drive Hispania forward. These flaws that the Facció del Fénix and the Camponistas as well aimed to correct, but which other factions wanted to keep around!
The faction would continue working hard to eradicate these flaws, strive to improve Hispania's government. There had been some success, but there had to be far more. Byzantium proved that the people shouldn't be shackled forever, even if the Greeks were far more oppressed than the Hispanians, a circumstance that deserved political pressure as well. On the contrary, there was always need to give the people more power in the government. More liberties, more rights. No meaningless warmongering. No church forcing anything, the state only intervening if necessary. This is why one should vote for the Facció del Fénix.
 
The Election of 1792

Many of the acts passed in 1788 had faded into memory by 1792, although their impact was still felt. Reconquista was credited partially with the new hospitals, although Phoenix siphoned some credit away due to their amendment. Marina saw an influx of support for their changes to education, a complete 180 from previous views on that party. However, most gains that would have been made by these acts were offset by the creation of a new party, Edredón. Catering to minorities throughout the Empire, they siphoned away many of the seats Reconquista had gained during the previous election, as well as dampening growth for Marina and Phoenix.

The Election of 1792 was primarily decided by the events of the Opium Wars. Opinion towards the wars was heavily divided. The merchant class put its full support behind the conflicts, seeing as they would most benefit by the resumption of trade with the Arabian nations. And as they saw trade take precedence for once, they flocked to the party that best represented them, Marina. Yet there were those that heavily opposed the war as well. Many felt the wars had little impact on them, and yet thousands of soldiers were dying in the Middle East. The military gaffs involving Persia particularly stood out. Most of the blame fell on the Imperials, for it was their leader who was in charge of foreign affairs. There were still those who supported such wars, and the Moroccan war in particular was quite popular due to its easy victory and great gains closer to home. This perhaps prevented a further collapse of the Imperials, but their numbers fell. Those who grew tired of these conflicts abroad ended up drawing towards Los Campos, for they represented the more anti-war sentiment that existed throughout Hispania, as well as a more moderate alternative to the Phoenix. Their numbers bounced back up, allowing them to retain their title as largest party in the Assembly.


Assembly

Independent (Appointed) - 74 (0)
Independent - 52 (-18)
Imperial - 27 (-6)
Reconquista - 25 (-8)
Marina - 33 (+11)
Los Campos - 42 (+5)
Phoenix - 35 (+4)
Edredón - 12 (+12)


Cortz

Independent (Crown) - 10 (0)
Independent - 11 (-5)
Imperial - 22 (-2)
Reconquista - 24 (-2)
Marina - 10 (+2)
Los Campos - 15 (+4)
Phoenix - 1 (0)
Edredón - 3 (+3)​
 
((Private))
Alejandro de Leon was now 102. He didn't feel like a day over sixty, though. Guess leading troops for almost eight decades did make you feel young. But he knew that he wouldn't last for much longer.

He was the last of his generation. Many of his comrades had passed into the next life years ago. His brother Cesar had died in battle years ago and had not lived to see what the Reconquista and Alejandro had become. His beloved wife had died maybe thirty years ago. He had outlived all of his children. His grandson Fernando, the son of his youngest son, whom he had last seen as a bright young man just entering the academy, was now in his mid-thirties and had a family of his own. He was also an accomplished soldier, having served in the Opium War and in the Greek intervention, and had demonstrated a talent for politics. Fernando reminded him so much of himself in his youth.

It was time to let the next generation take over, he realized. He had done enough in his one hundred years.

After officially granting his seat on the Cortz to Fernando, he returned to his estate in Leon and began preparations for succession. He granted the chairmanship of the Partido Reconquista to one of his brightest unrelated proteges, all of the founding members having since passed away, and gave Fernando the positions of "senior policy consultant" and official spokesperson of the Party.

((Public))
In the months leading up to the 1792 elections, he went out and gave his last speeches to his people. He didn't travel far, as his legs were starting to give out. He urged them not to give in to the siren calls of the angriest and most radical voices in the Parliament while also telling them to vote their conscience. He argued that the people of Hispania had the responsibility to choose the best leaders for the nation and that he and the Party would do everything they could to make sure their voices were heard.

Towards the end of the summer of 1792, he officially announced his retirement from public life and the military. After a grand ceremony in which he was awarded practically all of the most prestigious medals in the country, he departed again to Leon, where he would give his last speech.

Thousands of Leonese had turned out to hear him speak one last time. Dozens of young officers Fernando's age, accompanied by local politicians, teachers, priests, businessmen, and many others from all walks of life showed up. All of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren were in attendance as well, Fernando sitting in the front row, wearing his uniform proudly. He only wished that his wife, brother, children, and parents could see him. For he was no longer simply a duke and a general; he was a man of the people, a leader and role model for all Hispanians, the symbol of a generation.

Alejandro cleared his throat and began. His voice had weakened over the decades, but it still contained much of the strength and charisma it had in his youth.

"My fellow Hispanian citizens. It seems like it was only yesterday that my grandfather died, and I became the Duke of Leon. Back then I was only a young man, inexperienced in many things that weren't swinging a sword and holding a gun. I came of age and succeeded my grandfather in a different Hispania, one that would hardly be recognized today.

"God soon gave me a challenge in the form of Bartomeu. Your parents and grandparents surely told you the story of the corrupt Bartomeu, right? You know of all of our involvements in that incident, including my own. I will not brag or boast about it; I'll let history decide what to think of them. But in the end, Bartomeu fell, and I thought things would get back to normal.

"Things only escalated from there. The early stages of the Reconquista soon had to deal with Montsegur and the Phoenix War. This I trust you all were taught about in school. A madman attempting to overthrow the legitimate government of the Empire, only to be stopped by the brave men loyal to the Emperor. Again, I will not brag or boast. You decide whether what I did was right. It is your judgment that matters.

"The same can be said of Hispania today. It is your responsibility to choose the best men to represent your interests to the Emperor. You have the power to shape your own destiny. And I know you can make the right choices. You are citizens of the greatest nation in the world, an empire not only of the Mediterranean, but also of the entire world. And your voice will be heard. I will no longer be leading the Reconquista or representing you in Parliament, but capable men will succeed me and continue our legacy. We will continue to defend the people of Hispania and the great Hispanian nation against its enemies. After all, the Reconquista's namesake fought for centuries against the Moors, persisting through hardship after hardship so that future generations could have dignity and freedom. And we - no, you - will continue their tradition so that future generations of Hispanians will live with dignity, pride, and freedom.

"Today, I see before me many different kinds of people: bakers, farmers, merchants, soldiers, monks, students, just to name a few. But I also see all of you as one thing: Hispanian. You are all equally Hispanians, fully entitled to the dignity and rights accompanying such status. Wear your identity proudly, for nobody can take it away. When you argue with your fellow countrymen over petty matters, remind yourself that you are a Hispanian, and tell your countrymen to remember that they are Hispanians too. We are all Hispanians, and if we are united, we will be unstoppable. There will be those who wish to divide us, to play on our fears of each other, and in doing so weaken our great nation. You must resist them, and then they will fear you, for there is nothing more powerful in this world than the people of Hispania, united as one.

"Long live Hispania! Long live the Emperor! Long live the people! Long live--"

"LONG LIVE THE PHOENIX AND THE COUNTRYSIDE!" interrupted somebody in the crowd.

A shadowy figure drew a pistol from his cloak and pointed it at Alejandro. Before anybody could react, he had fired.

"SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS!" shouted the assassin.

Alejandro looked down and saw blood seeping out of a wound in his chest. For some reason, he laughed, and then he lost his balance. The last thing he saw was the ground rushing up to meet him and the crowd scattering in all directions.

((I hope this is acceptable to other players. The assassin is not affiliated by any political party, as will be explained later in this IC.))
Name: Fernando de Leon
Date of birth: 1762
Class: Landed Noble
House: Cortz
Faction: Partido Reconquista
Religion: Church of Jesus Christ
Bio: Fernando de Leon is the grandson of the decorated war hero and politician Alejandro de Leon. He graduated from the Imperial War Academy at the top of his class and rapidly rose through the ranks of the military. He is on track to becoming one of the youngest generals in the army. Besides his military training, Fernando is also highly educated, speaking all of the major European languages fluently. He is well versed in the latest Enlightenment topics in science and culture, though faith remains a large part of his life. He is also trained in political science and seeks to participate in the affairs of the government. Fernando is highly popular among the people of Leon for his down-to-earth and humble personality, which he hopes to use to unite the citizens of Hispania.

((Public))

Fernando de Leon stands up for what is his first speech in the Parliament.

"Honored members of Parliament, my beloved grandfather, who has served the Empire with distinction for eighty long years, was brutally murdered in front of his home, family, and countrymen a month ago. He had survived eight decades of battles against Lithuanians, Austrians, Persians, rebel Greeks, Indians, and many other enemies of the Empire, but what he did not expect was to meet his end at the hands of one of the citizens he swore to protect.

"The assassin was immediately taken into custody by local law enforcement officials. He freely admitted to his crime, saying that my grandfather was a traitor to the Empire. The local government has identified him as Juan Sanchez, a Phoenix War veteran who fought for Montsegur. After the war, he managed to escape prosecution by changing his identity and retiring to a life on the farms. Although he never officially applied for membership in any political party, he frequently voted for either the Phoenix or Los Campos parties in local elections. Note that I am only stating facts and not making any political statements; I wish to work closely with both the Phoenix and Los Campos parties for the sake of improving the welfare of the Empire and its peoples. He will be executed tomorrow in the center square of Valencia.

"However, I wish to use this incident to bring up the state of our empire's justice system, which I believe could be made more efficient and fair. Therefore, I propose the following bill for civil debate and discussion by the other Members of Parliament:

Judicial System Reform Act

All Hispanian citizens are now entitled to a trial by a jury of their peers.

Courts and justice systems will be set up at the following levels: municipal, provincial, and national.

Municipal courts will be established in every major town or city (where "major" is defined as having a population exceeding five thousand citizens) to address legal matters of local significance.

Provincial courts will be established in every administrative district of the Empire and handle legal matters of provincial significance.

A National Court will be established in Hispania and handle legal cases of national significance. This National Court will be staffed by nine justices, appointed by the Emperor himself, whose job is to not only deal with legal cases affecting the entire country but also to review all laws passed by Parliament and determine if they are constitutional, that is, they do not violate the constitution.

Citizens may seek legal action first in municipal courts. Should they not be satisfied with the court's decisions, they can then appeal to their provincial court, and should they not be satisfied with the provincial court's decisions, they can appeal to the National Court or to the Emperor himself; the decisions of both the National Court and the Emperor are final. All appeals are not guaranteed to be heard and may be rejected.

The Emperor and only the Emperor reserves the right to overturn any court verdict at will.

Judges at municipal and provincial courts will be selected from individuals with the proper educational requirements, that is, those who have university training and experience in legal matters.

"I yield the floor. Thank you for your patience and time."
 
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((Public))

Fernando de Leon stands up for what is his first speech in the Parliament.

"Honored members of Parliament, my beloved grandfather, who has served the Empire with distinction for eighty long years, was brutally murdered in front of his home, family, and countrymen a month ago. He had survived eight decades of battles against Lithuanians, Austrians, Persians, rebel Greeks, Indians, and many other enemies of the Empire, but what he did not expect was to meet his end at the hands of one of the citizens he swore to protect.

"The assassin was immediately taken into custody by local law enforcement officials. He freely admitted to his crime, saying that my grandfather was a traitor to the Empire. The local government has identified him as Juan Sanchez, a Phoenix War veteran who fought for Montsegur. After the war, he managed to escape prosecution by changing his identity and retiring to a life on the farms. Although he never officially applied for membership in any political party, he frequently voted for either the Phoenix or Los Campos parties in local elections. Note that I am only stating facts and not making any political statements; I wish to work closely with both the Phoenix and Los Campos parties for the sake of improving the welfare of the Empire and its peoples. He will be executed tomorrow in the center square of Valencia.

"However, I wish to use this incident to bring up the state of our empire's justice system, which I believe could be made more efficient and fair. Therefore, I propose the following bill for civil debate and discussion by the other Members of Parliament:



"I yield the floor. Thank you for your patience and time."

JpsioAG.png

This is the second time that I have seen a reform for the justice system that eerily resembles the system we currently have, although this one goes into further detail and could improve that which we already have. The Provincial Courts already exist, and the National Court is currently the Supreme Court of Hispania, the only difference being that it currently contains seven judges rather than the proposed nine and a different name. The official creation of municipal courts is welcome and indeed something I overlooked two decades ago, as well as the right for a trial by jury and official process of appeal. The requirement for judges already exists, although it may be needed again if municipal courts are added. Other than those additions and the name change of the Supreme Court, the only other change I noticed is that I would be able to serve in place of a final court of appeal instead of the Supreme Court and I can overturn decisions, something I am not certain about. I believe the part about this National Court deciding whether any laws are considered unconstitutional is unnecessary, for that would require a constitution to begin with, unless of course you mean the Parliament Act. I think with proper adjusting, this law could serve as an appropriate amendment to the Justice Act of 1773 rather than simply overriding it. It is better to improve than to replace entirely when we have a similar functioning system already.

As I said previously, I have been considering reforms that could be adopted to better our country. I have devised three laws that I believe shall take us a step forward.

First of all, over the years numerous reforms have been presented to reform the Ministry of Religious Affairs, mostly to make it more representative of the various sects that make up the Church of Jesus Christ. I have seen attempts to make the Ministry include members of all faiths, and yet all failed. Each time I have suggested that there is little point in creating a body within the Ministry of Religious Affairs that's more inclusive of all Christian faiths when one already exists. I believe the more prudent path is to merge the Council of Churches into the Ministry of Religious Affairs. This would ensure that members of each sect, chosen by their own sect, would be represented in the Ministry. The Minister of Religious Affairs could then be chosen from amongst them, which further ensures that someone chosen to represent one of the many sects would claim the position. I think such a solution may fix the issue at hand without creating redundant religious bodies.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs Representation Act

I. To ensure proper representation of all Christian faiths, the Council of Churches shall be formally merged into the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
a) The Council of Churches within the Ministry of Religious Affairs shall retain its current form, with three members of each sect chosen to serve as a member by their respective faith.
b) All bureaucrats and administrators within the Ministry of Religious Affairs shall be subservient to the Council of Churches, which in turn shall be subservient to the Minister of Religious Affairs.​
II. The Minister of Religious Affairs shall still be appointed by the Prime Minister, but must be a member of the Council of Churches.

Second, I have noticed with some votes in the past that well over a third of either house choose not to vote at all. While there are times when some members of Parliament simply cannot be present or someone chooses that not voicing an opinion is best, I also think that is a potential problem to allow any vote to pass when a large segment of Parliament refused to vote at all. I thus wish to present a quorum that would prevent any law where over half of either house chooses to abstain from passing. While it seems unlikely we will see many laws where half a house abstains, I believe it a precaution against allowing a small portion of either house deciding the fate of a law.

The Parliamentary Quorum Act

Any act presented in Parliament that half of all members of either house abstain on cannot pass, regardless if more people voted for an act than against it. If the vote is conducted in only one house, then it must meet that requirement for only that house.

Third, I think it is time we alter and improve the way we interact with other nations. While diplomats and ambassadors have served us well, providing them with a full staff and permanent residence within their host country would make them better able to conduct diplomacy with our neighbours. Formalizing the process of diplomacy should also be pursued, for despite the conflicts that may erupt between nations, we must still live alongside them at the end of the day. Undoubtedly this will be a costly endeavour, but one I believe well worth the costs if it can make improve our reputation and relations abroad. The focus, for now, should be placed on Europe, but may expand in the future as we assess the progress of such an effort.

The Embassy Act

I. Embassies shall be permanently established in the capitals of all nations in Europe, to be staffed by members of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or officials approved by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and to coordinate with existing ambassadors. These embassies shall be charged with conducting diplomacy between Hispania and the host nation.
II. The Minister of Foreign Affairs may choose to open an embassy in the capital of any nation outside Europe and may choose to close any of these embassies at any time.
III. Negotiations shall be conducted with all nations to arrange diplomatic immunity for all Hispanian diplomats and ambassadors, in which case said diplomats and ambassadors may not be harmed or prosecuted by the host country. Those nations that accept shall be granted diplomatic immunity for all their diplomats and ambassadors within Hispania.
IV. Negotiations shall be conducted with all nations hosting Hispanian embassies to arrange extraterritoriality status for all embassies, in which case Hispanian law shall override all local laws within the territory granted for the embassy. Those nations that accept shall be granted extraterritoriality status for all their embassies established within Hispania.
V. If at any time a nation rescinds diplomatic immunity for Hispanian diplomats and ambassadors or extraterritoriality status for the Hispanian embassy within their nation, a year shall be granted for the offending nation to reconsider their decision before the equivalent status is rescinded for the offending nation within Hispania.
VI. During times of war, all diplomats and ambassadors of hostile powers shall be confined to their respective embassies or appropriate quarters unless called upon by the Crown or a member of the Cabinet, or recalled by their home country.
VII. Anyone granted diplomatic immunity within Hispania who breaks Hispanian law shall be confined to their respective embassy or appropriate quarters until such a time as they are recalled by their home country. They shall not be prosecuted under Hispanian law.
VIII. Any Hispanian official granted diplomatic immunity within another country who breaks a law of the host country shall be recalled back to Hispania. They may be tried under Hispanian law, if applicable, at the behest of the Crown, Minister of Foreign Affairs, or Minister of Justice.

I ask for recommendations and suggestions for these laws, for some of them deal with major issues and could prove costly if not carried out correctly. I also wish to take the opportunity to appoint new ministers to the Cabinet. While I do hope for some changes to the Ministry of Religious Affairs, it is still my prerogative to appoint a new minister. I thus wish to offer the position to Cardinal Justinian Lagos. It has also come to my attention that despite the large presence of Los Campos in Parliament, they do not have representation on the Cabinet. It is my goal for the Cabinet to truly represent the people, which are represented in Parliament by a variety of parties. I thus wish to offer the position of Minister of Justice to Juan Augusto Adrián de Salcedo.

- His Imperial Highness, Alfons IX de Trastámara, Emperor of Hispania, Caesar of Rome, Duke of Bavaria, & Protector of the Greeks


((I'm offering both @hirahammad and @Firehound15 positions on the Cabinet. I also wish to clarify that with the Parliamentary Quorum Act, it would only apply to the final tally and not players who don't vote. So if half of the Assembly or Cortz abstains in the final tally, that law cannot pass. Players not showing up to vote will still have no impact. As for the Embassy Act, I will be creating a modifier to accompany it. Most likely it'll boost diplomatic reputation and other similar modifiers in exchange for lowered tax income.))
 
Fellow Hispanians, the embassy proposition is a welcome addition to the diplomatic scene. But in times of war or when the host nation simply cannot, or want not, protect the embassy, we must. As such, I propose the following act.
I. The Embassies set up in other nations will be accompanied by a security detail consisting of a platoon of Hispanial Imperial Marines.
II. The Marines will answer to the Imperial High Command as usual, but also to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the respective Ambassador in which country they are stationed.
III.The Marines will not intervene in the host nations affairs, their only mission is to protect the embassy, embassy grounds and the embassy staff, aswell as diplomats or dignitaries which are visiting the embassy.

I would also like to propose an extension of the military and make a part of it into a new special operations force to be used in delicate operations.

I. A new special operations forces command will be set up within the Imperial High Command, the Imperial Special Operations Command, ImSpecOpCom.
II. The Special Operations Command will be headed by a Colonel with suffient background, and answer to the Imperial High Command, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Emperor and the Spymaster.
III. The Special Forces outfit will be recruited from all branches of the Hispanian Military and given special training and equipment.

Hopefully this will strenghten Hispanian security both in Hispania and abroad.
I yield the floor and thank you for your time.

Also, the Minister of Finance plan: Same as before.
 
"We Camponistas denounce the use of violence to further any political agenda, especially our own. I motion that an investigation by the Ministry of Justice be conducted to determine what the true motivations of this killer were, as well as that he might be arrested and sent to face judgment for his wrongdoings."
 
"Don Alvaro, I am afraid that the position of spymaster was replaced long ago, unless you mean to bring it back?"
 
Fellow Hispanians, the embassy proposition is a welcome addition to the diplomatic scene. But in times of war or when the host nation simply cannot, or want not, protect the embassy, we must. As such, I propose the following act.
I. The Embassies set up in other nations will be accompanied by a security detail consisting of a platoon of Hispanial Imperial Marines.
II. The Marines will answer to the Imperial High Command as usual, but also to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the respective Ambassador in which country they are stationed.
III.The Marines will not intervene in the host nations affairs, their only mission is to protect the embassy, embassy grounds and the embassy staff, aswell as diplomats or dignitaries which are visiting the embassy.

I would also like to propose an extension of the military and make a part of it into a new special operations force to be used in delicate operations.

I. A new special operations forces command will be set up within the Imperial High Command, the Imperial Special Operations Command, ImSpecOpCom.
II. The Special Operations Command will be headed by a Colonel with suffient background, and answer to the Imperial High Command, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Emperor and the Spymaster.
III. The Special Forces outfit will be recruited from all branches of the Hispanian Military and given special training and equipment.

Hopefully this will strenghten Hispanian security both in Hispania and abroad.
I yield the floor and thank you for your time.

Also, the Minister of Finance plan: Same as before.

*De Salcedo leans over to one of his partisans*

"Why do we need to create a naval military force in order to guard embassies which are firmly rooted on land? Is this not a tad... obtuse?"
 
"We Camponistas denounce the use of violence to further any political agenda, especially our own. I motion that an investigation by the Ministry of Justice be conducted to determine what the true motivations of this killer were, as well as that he might be arrested and sent to face judgment for his wrongdoings."

Seeing as the assassin, Juan Sanchez, murdered Leon in plain sight with plenty of witnesses and was unable to escape afterwards, he is already in custody and awaiting execution. Initial investigations and the assassin himself revealed that he was a Phoenix War veteran who had fought for Montségur and had escaped the authorities for decades by changing his identify and becoming a recluse. His links to any political party are dubious at best. While he may have voted for Los Campos or Phoenix at some point in his life, although this is difficult to prove due to his need to keep out of the public eye, he never obtained official party membership nor showed open support for either. It is likely current politics had nothing to do with his motives and the attack was spurred on by the past events of the Hispanian Civil War. Due to Leon's prominence during the war, with him having led the Imperial forces, all evidence points to Juan Sanchez seeking revenge for the Phoenix loss. Evidence was found suggesting the assassin had served under Fausto Villanova in the Battle of Madrid, a conflict where Leon played a prominent role in securing Castile and the loyalty of half the Exercit Madrid for the Imperials. This was likely an attempt to settle an old score, not a politically motivated assassination.
 
((As long as this death has no political impact, I'm fine with any outcome.))

A man, visibly hailing from Cusco, presents himself at the Ministry of War. He says his name is Martin Charles de Montségur, born in 1760 as the second son of the governor of San Dionisio. His distant branch of the family had no ties whatsoever to the civil war, of whose outbreak the people learnt only after it had already ended. But this is not why he comes, this is not what he wants to say. His name is of no significance, he would be fine with the name Martí de San Dionisio if that would be deemed necessary. The reason is that he has earned an excellent reputation first in the academy and then on the battlefield, and offers Hispania his services as general. Not all great generals serve their home colonies, some are willing to serve the homeland of their ancestors, their distant home.
 
Sophia sat as she considered the laws in front of Parliament, feeling every one of her seventy four years.

Marines typically operated in smaller groups than the army. Ships didn't have room for a regiment after all. Also, there was the fact that the Marines were considered to to superior fighters than the average solider. Less numerous than the army standing at a near ten thousand, the Marines needs as an anti-mutiny force aboard ships along with their duties of amphibious invasion, port defense, and boarding action made them crack units above all except perhaps the Grenadiers in the Army. A deep rivalry between the two unites ran deep in the armed forces.

But, Sophia had to admit, their training and duties would make them effective in the role the Grand Duke suggested. Perhaps she should think of a role the Grenadiers would play, perhaps those special forces...

((Ok, writing some lore here, but I am basing our Marines on the UK Marines, which is a small force of crack commandos used to operating in smaller units rather than the modern day US Marines (nothing small about them). More historically accurate. Also, I am introducing the Grenadiers. Bigger stronger elite shock troops used by European Armies in this time period, one of the most famous Grenadier Units in this time period was Napoleon's Imperial Guard, which I used as inspiration for the Hispanian Grenadiers. Elite Army units above the other regiments, the Imperial Guard were like the modern US Army Rangers, used as frontline fighters and a tactical reserve.))
 
Sophia sat as she considered the laws in front of Parliament, feeling every one of her seventy four years.

Marines typically operated in smaller groups than the army. Ships didn't have room for a regiment after all. Also, there was the fact that the Marines were considered to to superior fighters than the average solider. Less numerous than the army standing at a near ten thousand, the Marines needs as an anti-mutiny force aboard ships along with their duties of amphibious invasion, port defense, and boarding action made them crack units above all except perhaps the Grenadiers in the Army. A deep rivalry between the two unites ran deep in the armed forces.

But, Sophia had to admit, their training and duties would make them effective in the role the Grand Duke suggested. Perhaps she should think of a role the Grenadiers would play, perhaps those special forces...

((Ok, writing some lore here, but I am basing our Marines on the UK Marines, which is a small force of crack commandos used to operating in smaller units rather than the modern day US Marines (nothing small about them). More historically accurate. Also, I am introducing the Grenadiers. Bigger stronger elite shock troops used by European Armies in this time period, one of the most famous Grenadier Units in this time period was Napoleon's Imperial Guard, which I used as inspiration for the Hispanian Grenadiers. Elite Army units above the other regiments, the Imperial Guard were like the modern US Army Rangers, used as frontline fighters and a tactical reserve.))

((No, this is dumb. Most countries didn't have marine regiments by now, we've never had one before, and even if we did, they didn't start becoming famous or 'elite' units until long after this. The Royal Marines at this point were no more than naval enlistees and officers who served double duty. There was nothing special or crazy about them, and even if there might be, you can't create a lore about a military group that has, for all intents and purposes, not existed for the entire duration of this game so far. If we want to create marines, then that's fine, but this whole business about assigning them to things and glorifying them when they don't matter is ridiculous.))
 
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Liu has resigned from his position as Minister of the Navy, due to what can be cited as a visible opposition to the second amendment to the Imperial Governance act, most notably the portion that struck the local governance portion from the first amendment.
 
Local Election of Governors Act

I. Any male over the age of 25 who lives within his jurisdiction is eligible to run for election to become a local governor. The governor shall serve a two year term, and shall assume the roles and duties of managing his local area in accordance with the plans and proposals of the local assembly for that region.

II. The role of governor as established in the Imperial Governance Act is hereby abolished.

III. Should he believe the public choice to be dangerous, the Emperor may veto the election of any governor.

IV. In times of emergency, the Emperor may appoint an interim-governor until such a time that the crisis is resolved.
 
((Public))

I am pleased to see many of the proposals regarding diplomatic relations with our neighboring countries. I believe such relations could have gone a long way toward preventing the costly recent war against our Arab neighbors. Many of you recall that during the war I was one of the most staunch supporters of the conflict, as I believe that an any ongoing war we must show the utmost support for our troops and our nation regardless as to our personal feeling of the war in particular.

Now that the war has been completed, in a victory for Hispania no less, I feel as though I must express my opposition for the reasons behind the conflict. When I first joined the Cortez all those years ago, I was too embroiled in concerns closer to home to worry about the storm brewing which led to the trade war. Now with more years served in the Cortez, I hope that I may speak openly on this issue and be acknowledged. I believe that the wars fought over trade in the middle east were a grave mistake.

I believe that many, though not all, Hispanian merchants have grown lazy, believing that Hisapnian military might will always be present to enforce a monopoly. As such, quality of goods have begun to decline. Hispanian goods produced today are greatly inferior to those produced even as short a time as five years ago. We seek to control the world's trade by quantity alone, backed by military might. The war itself was excused on the basis of a diplomatic insult, but do we really believe that it is practical for the mere words of foreign leaders to banish our merchants? Perhaps. But I choose to believe that Hispanian merchants are more wily, more skilled, more wise than that.

The merchants that I know and grew up with knew how to make a profit in the most difficult of circumstances, regardless of the forces opposed against them. Many of the newer sorts of merchants simply make the journey. I haven't had to barter on the price of goods within the last two years! Now many of my friends in the Cortez, and the Assembly, know how rare it is for me to oppose a war to improve Hispania's interests. But in this case, war greatly injured our interests. We must do more to promote competition. We must show the merchant class that while they are essential to Hispania they must continue to work. They are what make Hispania great.

If our trade becomes weak and decrepit, we will fall apart much faster than decentralization ever would, and many of you know my feelings towards that. While I can put forth no law in good conscience to spur our merchants to work harder and better, I urge this assembly to make its feeling clear. And while I certainly support any war that advances Hispanian interests, I cannot ever support one that weakens us."


((In a separate address))

I hereby put my name forward for Chamberlain, I hope that as an Independent candidate I can represent the interests of the assembly accurately. To my friends on the left, I remind you of my support for any advancement for the people of Hispania, and for those on the right I remind you of my general tenancy for cynicism and caution in the face of new ideas. I will instead of pushing any party's agenda serve as a gentle mediator and representative of our whole beliefs toward His Imperial Majesty.

Altair Spoleto, Count of Cremona
 
Transdacian Establishment Act
I. The Transdacian territories shall have powers decentralized to them such that they will have their own parliament, co-equal with that of Valencia, their own laws, and a separate military force.

II. The name of these territories shall be "The Grand Principality of Transdacia," and its ruler shall be the Emperor of Hispania.

III. Transdacia shall receive military support and protection from Hispania.

IV. Transdacia shall be forbidden from engaging in diplomatic relations which any nation with which Hispania has formal relations.

V. Under the Emperor's discretion, he may appoint his heir apparent or any other male member of the Royal Household to temporarily act with the powers of the Grand Prince, such that he might develop a greater sense of personal capacity in political matters.

((Release Transdacia under a personal union))
 
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Romanian Establishment Act
I. The Romanian territories shall have powers decentralized to them such that they will have their own parliament, co-equal with that of Valencia, their own laws, and a separate military force.

II. The name of these territories shall be "The Grand Principality of Romania," and its ruler shall be the Emperor of Hispania.

III. Romania shall receive military support and protection from Hispania.

IV. Romania shall be forbidden from engaging in diplomatic relations which any nation with which Hispania has formal relations.

V. Under the Emperor's discretion, he may appoint his heir apparent or any other male member of the Royal Household to temporarily act with the powers of the Grand Prince, such that he might develop a greater sense of personal capacity in political matters.

((Release Romania under a personal union))
"May I ask for what purpose you propose naming the territories as 'Romania'? As far as I know the people of Wallachia don't consider themselves Romans, and the Greeks already refer to their empire as Basileia Rhomaion or Rhomania. Adding another Romania to the mix would not only be confusing but also give the Wallachians the idea that they are the true heirs of Rome, not us or the Greeks. Please explain if I am mistaken in any way."

((I thought the name Romania was a 19th century construction after Ottoman independence? Can't we just call it Dacia or Wallachia-Moldavia or something more period appropriate?

Also, I will be applying to be a general.))
 
"May I ask for what purpose you propose naming the territories as 'Romania'? As far as I know the people of Wallachia don't consider themselves Romans, and the Greeks already refer to their empire as Basileia Rhomaion or Rhomania. Adding another Romania to the mix would not only be confusing but also give the Wallachians the idea that they are the true heirs of Rome, not us or the Greeks. Please explain if I am mistaken in any way."

((I thought the name Romania was a 19th century construction after Ottoman independence? Can't we just call it Dacia or Wallachia-Moldavia or something more period appropriate?

Also, I will be applying to be a general.))

((From Wiki:

The oldest surviving document written in Romanian, a 1521 letter known as the "Letter of Neacșu from Câmpulung",[15] is also notable for including the first documented occurrence of the country's name: Wallachia is mentioned as Țeara Rumânească (old spelling for "The Romanian Land"; țeara from the Latin terra, "land"; current spelling: Țara Românească).

Now, with that being said, I actually kind of like the idea of naming it Dacia...))
 
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