Paladinian Democratic Revolution

The Paladinian Democratic Revolution was a major political revolution which occurred in the Asperian nation of Paladinia in 2021. The revolution first began with a declared state of emergency on March 4th, 2021, by Interim Supreme Dictator Nathan Greenawalt, the supreme leader of the prior Paladinian government. The state of emergency was declared after the death of co-dictator Logan Warren VI on February 28th, who had suffered from numerous heart problems. The death of co-dictator Warren VI led to Nathan Greenawalt becoming Interim Supreme Dictator, as per Paladinian law, while awaiting the recognition of Logan Warren VII as successor to the co-dictator title. On March 3rd, however, Warren VII declared his intention to turn down the role of co-dictator in a proclamation denouncing the Paladinian dictatorial system. As Warren VI had no current living heirs other than Warren VII, confusion occurred in the government, which was capitalized upon by the pro-democracy group Doves of Peace, who organized military forces to overtake Building States on March 4th, in an apprent coup d'état. This led to the declaration of national emergency by Nathan Greenawalt on the 4th, and the deployment of troops under the command of Military Governor Helios Jackson to the capital to protect Greenawalt.

After a decisive and low-casualty military action by the pro-democracy forces on March 28th, the capital was overtaken and Greenawalt was denounced and imprisoned. Initial reactions to the emergency by both the national and international political communities were mixed. While the Venturian Union Bureau of Security recognized the emergency as a coup d'état, the Venturian Union did not take any action on the emergency, with many members supporting the coup for its democratic ideology. After the decisive March 28th action, and the relative support of the country's populous, the revolution was much more widely praised by the majority of the international community, including the VU and previously neutral countries such as Bymaria and the Megatridimensional Order.

After the denouncement of Greenawalt on March 28th, the new government led by Gina Capel pronounced a declaration to the rest of the nation, asking for three delegations from each of the "former" Paladinian states. This was accomplished by April 13th, with analysts widely recognizing this success as an approval of the new government by the nation's populous. By April 16th discussions on a new government began, and by April 24th the committee announced the creation of a new pro-democracy republic, similar to the Megatridimensional Order but with the prime minister reporting to the new legislature. Official elections are set to begin on May 1st.

Background

Co-Dictatorial System

The Paladinian political system was formerly that of a Paladinian Co-Dictatorship, which puts complete power in two co-dictators to run the nation. There was no legislature in the nation, only a government made up of numerous executives and headed by the two co-dictators. The system, which had existed since the Paladinian Civil War in 1948, depended upon the leadership and complete power of the two Co-Dictators, who were charged with directing different parts of the nation and its regional governors. When disagreement occured between the two dictators, the Colligationem would be the tiebreaker on any dispute. Disputes do not occur frequently, however. The two co-dictators were chosen by succession, meaning that the two spots were always filled by a member of the Greenawalt Family and a member of the Warren Family. By tradition, once a co-dictator dies in the system, the position is given to their son, though if there was no son it would be extended to children, then other family members.

As a summary, the Paladinian political system depended nearly entirely on the power of the two co-dictators, as the regional governors received all instruction and funding from the co-dictators. Besides directing the governors, the co-dictators controlled the Building States Treasury, and national systems like education, military, health, and foreign relations.

Health of Logan Warren VI

The health of Logan Warren VI, co-dictator of Paladinia from 2017 to 2021, was in question and under scrutiny since his coronation, as he suffered from numerous heart problems. Finally, on February 21st Warren VI was rushed to the hospital, as he conferred his power temporarily to the Colligationem, Tyler Edmenshock. After suffering for a week, Warren died from heart disease at the age of 50 in Building States. After two days of mourning, wherein Nathan Greenawalt assumed the temporary title of Supreme Dictator, it was expected that Logan Warren VII would declare his acceptance of the co-dictatorship on March 3rd, 2021, as per tradition. Warren VII had been active in government before, even taking over from his father for a few weeks in 2019 due to health problems, and previously it was reported he had agreed in private with his father to become the next co-dictator.

State of Emergency

On March 3rd, however, instead of declaring his acceptance of the co-dictatorship, Warren VII declared his intention to reject the office of co-dictator, denouncing the current system of government and arguing for a democracy. This, he proclaimed, could not be done with his ascension to the office. After examination, the Charter of Succession was unclear about who should become the next co-dictator after Warren VII declined, with Warren VI's closest remaining relatives all being of nearly the same age, experience, and status, as his three female cousins were the only remaining relatives. After none of the three cousins declared their intention to ascend to the office, (in fact, Alyssa Warren departed for Allia on March 3rd) confusion occurred in the government and among the citizens, with Nathan Greenawalt urging calm, but not taking any concrete action towards rectifying the issue.

On March 4th, one hour after noon, a group of armed militia under the Doves of Peace democracy group assembled at the capital of Building States, having been organized by their leader, Gina Capel, to capitalize on the confusion for the benefit of democracy. The event is not believed by intelligence sources to have been pre-organized, nor was Logan Warren VII known to be associated with the group prior to the death of his father, although he did announce his support for the group's aims on March 5th. With Warren VII still not accepting the position, residing at his private Port Logan residence with private security, Supreme Dictator Greenawalt unilaterally declared a state of emergency in the country on March 4th, with Military Governor Helios Jackson leading thousands of the troops still loyal to the dictator to the capital to face the Doves of Peace.

Forces and Revolution

The forces assembled at the capital numbered nearly 100,000, with nearly 35,000 military troops and 65,000 Doves of Peace militia groups. The two groups remained at a standoff in and around the area known as the Supreme Dictatorial Stronghold, where Nathan Greenawalt and his administration resided, from March 4th until March 28th. During this time, Port Logan saw major democratic uprisings, with the city converting to a pure democratic government on March 15th. However, across the rest of the country there was an expectant inaction, with many local governments taking over operations and most attention being focused on the capital.

On March 28th, a massive offensive was launched by the Doves of Peace group, with all 65,000 militia troops storming the stronghold under the leadership of Gina Capel. Sources close to the action reported infiltration of the pro-dictator forces by pro-democracy leaders, leading to an inefficiency and massive desertions on the 28th. This resulted in a major victory for the pro-democracy forces, who took the stronghold and used surrendered troops to take the entirety of the capital later that week. The revolution was complete with the denouncement and imprisonment of Greenawalt on March 30th.

Response

Domestic Response

Domestic response to the state of emergency were largely neutral, with the majority of Paladinian news and media covering the state of emergency's facts. However, the media that did comment on the crisis largely supported a resolution between the two sides, with advisers such as Paula Storm advocating for a compromise which would protect democracy as well as the tradition of the dictatorship, one such as the system of the Democratic-Republic of Lindsaya or Bymaria. The majority of Paladinians, as seen in a 2019 poll, are in support of democracy, and though state governors maintained control with the use of police forces, numerous local government organized to respond to the crisis in violation of Paladinian law. Numerous analysts have recognized this as a hopeful sign for the new democratic government, and the population's support of it.

After the revolution and the March 28th assault, Paladinian polls conducted by independent sources confirmed these theories, finding that a majority of Paladinians (68%) favor democracy and the new Capel government.

International Response

Due to political tensions, international response was initially mixed. The state of emergency itself and the economic troubles along with it were internationally decried, with most nations supporting a peaceful resolution immediately. However, the pro-democracy groups assembling in the capital and across the country gave many nations pause in demanding a peaceful settlement, as a major change in the government's policies could result from a pro-democratic government being installed. Outside of politics, numerous pro-democracy and humanitarian groups called for a new form of government and revolution in the country, arguing democracy is worth the cost of the current emergency.

After the revolution, international views on the situation became much more favorable and unified, with many countries supporting the new democratic government and the general populous' apparent support for it. Only countries such as the Northern Patrons of Ice and Fourth Laborer Socialist Republic have denounced the revolution, with the NPI criticizing the lack of a strong executive and the Fourth Laborer government criticizing the insurgency and violence of the revolution, though violence was limited.