Heiligarian History (Very Brief)

In the ancient time of the Artemid Empire, the area that is now Heilgaria was called Schusteria, a region well known for it’s hostilities towards the Artemid Empire and it’s culture, which would later translate to Selenian Culture. This sort of tradition persisted until Grand Duke Leopold V started to “Seleneize” Heiligaria by granting large tracts of lands, previously belonging to poor Heiligarian Farmer, to Aristocrats from Sartoria, Sylon and Selene itself. The new lords burned acres of farmland to make elaborate castles and hunting lodges. They were seen as demons by the Heiligarian public, Heiligaria being one of the most religious countries in Selene, and countries such as Sylon, Sartoria and Selene itself were seen as godless heretics, and these new lords were causing massive famines. This caused a conflict known as the Scheibean Peasant War, a 23 year conflict between the Peasants and the Nobility, in some regions half the population was killed or displaced. The war finally ending when Leopold V was assassinated and Leopold VI ascended to the throne, whom immediately brokered a peace. New, democratic, offices were created, most notably Chancellor and Palatine. The Chancellor shares power with the Grand Duke as a sort of counterweight, and the Palatine replaced the Dukes as the rulers of the 4 regions of Heiligaria (Pomer, Shustland, Ilantia, Valea) To do this, the Grand Duke had to relinquish much of it’s power. And lastly, the more “Selenian” aristocrats were stripped of their land, which was then given back to their original owners. After reigning for 51 years, Grand Duke Leopold VI was assassinated by nobles who opted for more “Selenization” Grand Duke Maximilian III ascended to the throne, who was most well known for his liberal policies. First, he gave more power to the Chancellor and Palatines, whilst also giving all rights Nobility has to the peasantry, making him extremely hated by the nobility. A coup ensued that opted for Maximilian III’s brother, Friedrich Emanuel, who annulled the peasantry’s newfound rights and gave more power the Duchal side of the government. At this, an uprising occurred in Rilendria, which burned the Lord Mayor’s palace, which prompted the Grand Duke to send in Duchal forces to deal with the mob. The Chancellor, Ludwig von Pomer, agreed, which gave him a lot of bad press from the far left extremists. The uprising was put down and the city was put under martial law for two weeks. After a long, peaceful reign of 57 years Friedrich Emanuel passed away of old age, and the current Grand Duke, Grand Duke Leopold VII ascended, Leopold VII abolished the positions created in the aftermath of the Peasant War, and funded massive campaign to blame the Peasant War on the revolutionary leader Peter Frelyn, exposing many “war crimes” that many claim to have to real evidence. This version of the Peasant War would be taught at school, and his eventual execution was praised as strike against barbarity.