History of Annivia

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Viscount Angus
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History of Annivia

Post by Viscount Angus »

Annivia is a relatively new protectorate which gained it's sovereignty from the United Kingdom in 1937. The relationship between the Emperor and the then region Annivia were falling since 1902, when Edward VII refused to help the seriously injured Annivians. Two years later, he used his authority to force Parliament to take away all powers of local authorities in Annivia over local issues, stating that "the Great Empire should be centralized - Annivia is in no way a special case". Althought Annivians threatened a rebellion, the Act passed and local authorities were almost forbidden. During the years the economy of the land faced several crisis and in 1934 it had fallen to 0.9% compared to 1900. Many Annivians were hungry and even homeless, a fact that forced them to go out and strike. After a short civil war of a month and a half, Annivia was proclaimed an independent protectorate.

For the first several months, it was believed that Annivia is a republic. However, since it's Parliament did pass several Bills that would enforce and centralize the system so much that Members of Parliament would be almost Gods, Annivians were forced to seek the help of the United Kingdom. It was George VI who took responsibility over finding a legitimate King who would start a new Royal dynasty. Although he did, George VI never gave any information who the new King (named Edward I) was. On the 4th of May 1938, Edward I was named King of Annivia, First Lord Protector and Defender of Faith.

[more to follow]

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Vilhelm Benkern
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Re: History of Annivia

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Keep it up. :up1: So I take it your micronation is a kind of fictional history of real life? Do you intend to claim any land on Micras? Or have you not decided yet?
Vilhelm Benkern DEOMI, Member of the Order of the Dragon, Silver Swan, Red Dragon
Dirigent of Musica, Count of Mar Sara
In Aryasht Prapta Vrteti, former Prince of Aryasht; Zaila Vrteti, Norfolknath
In Elwynn Benjamin Sebasokrator Timothy Quentin Kern, Duke of Raikoth
In Khalypsil Representative of the Wisdom

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Viscount Angus
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Re: History of Annivia

Post by Viscount Angus »

Thanks, I will! Yes, its an alternative story indeed ;) And its going to be interesting during the Cold war :P Im not sure how I could possibly do it, could you please explain? Thank you in advance!

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Vilhelm Benkern
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Re: History of Annivia

Post by Vilhelm Benkern »

Yes I'm sure it would be interesting during that period! Which area of the UK does Annivia consist of?

"Micras" is the name we use for our fictional planet, it's useful to claim land there in order to share borders with other nations and give a geographic frame to your micronation. Here's a link to the current up-to-date political map: http://micras.org/maps/claimsmap.png A few Bastion nations can be spotted by looking at the key at the bottom. There is a rule that micronations have to be 90 days old before they can claim (I think? Might have been reduced) - all questions about claims can be directed to the forum of the Micronational Cartography Society here. They administer the common map.
Vilhelm Benkern DEOMI, Member of the Order of the Dragon, Silver Swan, Red Dragon
Dirigent of Musica, Count of Mar Sara
In Aryasht Prapta Vrteti, former Prince of Aryasht; Zaila Vrteti, Norfolknath
In Elwynn Benjamin Sebasokrator Timothy Quentin Kern, Duke of Raikoth
In Khalypsil Representative of the Wisdom

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Viscount Angus
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Re: History of Annivia

Post by Viscount Angus »

The first duty of the newly proclaimed King was to guide the Parliament through the creation of a new constitution. Instead of vesting the entire power to the elected representatives, Edward I urged for some kind of constitutional monarchy where the monarch plays an active role in the management of the country. On the 12th of May 1938, Edward I dissolved the two Houses of Parliament with the argument that parliamentarians must be true representatives of the people if they are to write a constitution. He, however, did not set a date for the election. For the first month and a half, under the strict eye of the king, several King's advisors wrote a draft constitution. It's main core were the three parts of Parliament - the House of Commons, the Advisory Concil and the King. The constitution stated that the Commons would be elected by the people every 7 years, while the Advisory Concil would be appointed by a decision of His Majesty. In the months and years to come, it would prove that the Advisory Concil is nothing more, but a King's own representative. The third part was the King himself - although the constitution didn't require that the King signs a Bill to become law, it did state that "A Bill is declared an Act of Parliament in the case of an agreement between Parliament's bodies" (which included the Advisory Concil and the King).

Being forced to call an election, Edward I announced that an election would take place on the 1st of September 1938 - a period small enough so political parties could not form a policy on each and every issue, but still long enough so that "the King's Constitution" as it became known could be finished. On the election day, the results were as follows:

1) Conservative Block (new formation of the old Conservatives): 37% (74 seats out of 200)
2) People's Labour party (new formation of old Labour): 41% (82 seats out of 200)
3) Socialist League: 14% (28 seats out of 200)
4) Monarchist Party: 8% (16 seats out of 200)

Althought the People's Labour party and the Socialist League did agree on a coalition, Edward I appointed Simpson Resber -the leader of the Conservative Block- for Prime Minister. After days of unrest and even open battles, the People's Labour party abandoned their goal to bring down Edward I. The King's constitution was put to a vote as soon as the Commons gather for a very first time. Both the Poeple's Labour party and the Socialist League voted against it, so it failed. Simpson Resber and Edward I were determined to pass it, so they continuingly urged the Commons to divide - again and again. After almost a month of everyday failures, His Majesty announced that unless the Commons pass the constitution, he would dissolve Parliament again. On the next day, the question was put "that this House passes the September Constitution of the Protectorate of Annivia". After a long day of debates, the Commons did divide. The vote resulted 90 Ayes and 110 Noes, but nevertheless Edward I did not dissolve Parliament, perhaps bearing in mind that Labour would most probably be returned with a majority. Instead of doing so, the King instructed the Prime Minister to negotiate a solution with the People's Labour leader - Arthur Elsan. Seven days passed before both parties reached a compromise - Labour would vote with the Government, but the constitution would state that a Bill should become law on the 90th day of it's passage, even if it did not get Royal assent. However, this could still be considered a win for the Monarchy, because the appointed upper chamber remained as powerful as the elected Commons. So, on the 17th of October the Commons passed the Constitution with 167 Ayes and 33 Noes. The same day, the Advisory Concil, consisting of 19 appointed Lords, voted the Bill 19-0. The next day Edward I signed the constitution that would be implemented on the 1st of January 1939.

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Viscount Angus
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Re: History of Annivia

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The first several months after the Constitution passed were still exceptionally difficult. As Annivia needed a new taxation and expenditure system, the Commons had to work almost every day, every minute to provide the new framework for the Protectorate. The political disagreements between the two main parties made things worst, especially bearing in mind the minority Conservative government. The first ever minister appointed by Edward I was George Peter who was named King's Minister for the Economy, Taxation and Finance. George Peter (GP) was given the difficult task to provide a taxation system that would have a chance to pass the Commons and yet - be conservative enough to pass the Advisory Council. On the day after the appointment was announced, the Prime Minister declared that "nothing more but a fair taxation system for all will be implemented" while the People's Labour Party Leader claimed that he "would support only a system that would provide true and real equality". Geroge Peter was originally to propose a fixed rate tax for all citizens above 21, but a leak proved the case to be impossible since Mr. Elsan claimed "If that is their proposal, the Government will face a censure motion as soon as the next Commons meeting comes". Another month passed until a new system was proposed - the Council Charge. It would guarantee that every citizen pays "a fair part", while still letting the rich become richer. Arthur Elsan was prepared for a fight and on the 22nd of February 1939 he went to the Commons with the intention to bring down the government. However, Edward I knew that it was intended to happen, so he claimed that "unless the Commons prove their unity in helping Annivia and it's new and fair taxation system, proposed by my Minister for the Economy, the Commons will never enjoy the true support of the people, so the Monarchy will be forced to do it's previous job". He eventually threatened for the end of the Commons. Althought it is speculated whether it was possible, there is no doubt that Edward I still had the good reputation among the Annivian people that he enjoyed in 1938. The Bill to implement the Council Charge arrived in the Commons and was debated on the 24th of February (since the meeting on the 22nd was suspended). Everyone were expecting that the Goverment will fall, but several People's Labour Party MPs (unknown why) voted with the Government, securing 102 Ayes against 98 Noes. For this, the People's Labour Party would prove to lose almost 10% of it's support and of course - those 12 MPs who broke the three party line were excluded from the party, Elsan's leadership - challanged by the Deputy Leader Chris Ben. Politically sSince that day, with several exceptions, the Government was able to carry it's legislative program with a very small majority (usually of 2 or 3), however those 12 MPs remained independents and did not join the Conservative Bloc, nor the Monarchist Party.

One more crisis was over, but another one would soon prove to be critical!

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