Dominion of Astraeus
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59,809 CE - 97,821 CE
What a curious occasion, the binding of two individuals to become a single legal entity. The strange practice, originating from where else but Herschel Space, would be first practiced here on this day 59,809 years after the fall of the Triumvirate. The motivation behind this exotic ritual is to allow for the smooth merging of Tenshi and the Ursa Syndicate into the largest conglomerate in history. It goes without saying that those witnessing the occasion are numerous, each one eager not only to see the spectacle but to forge a stronger alliance with the "bride" and "groom," strange words that no one attending can quite pronounce right.
The room shudders, signifying the arrival of the betrothed. These two being some of the wealthiest to ever inhabit Cosmoria decided that the ceremony would commemorate with a grand entrance, the two largest warships fielded by either group both docked our relatively small station. From one, came Nicodemus IV, First Lord-Officer of the Ursa Syndicate and from the second came Meiko III, archon of Tenshi. After much fanfare and greetings, vows were given, and not only the first marriage in Aylathiya's history took place but the complete upheaval of the galactic order began.
This day marked the creation of the Dominion of United Duchies, with the various oligarchs, investors, and elites present on the occasion each promised a parcel of territory across Martial Space. In a brazen act of treason, the newly-weds burned the flag of the Neo-Terran Co-Prosperity Sphere and declared themselves its rightful rulers. With loud applause and much celebration, Meiko and Nicodemus signed the declaration of war, arguably one of the most important in history.
General Information
Dominion of United Duchies | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| 59,809 CE | |||
| 97,821 CE | |||
| 3.087 | |||
| Yakusoku, Err, Scipio, Demiurge, Thalsiedeln, Petra, Gira Gira, Lowa | |||
| Diarchy | Feudal Capitalism | ||
| 190/1000 | 94 Nonillion C-Units | ||
| Very Unequal | Post-Scarcity | ||
| Superpower | Superpower | ||
History
Precursor States
The Dominion of United Duchies, named simply after its embrace of the oligarchy that had calcified in Martial Space at the time, can trace its origins back to the Triumvirate Civilization, as so many nations currently do. As the Triumvirate collapsed and The Administrator lay waste to Martial Space like a god furious with mortals, a number of organizations began springing up in the ruins. The Vexlores created a highly decentralized warrior-noble state while the Humans fractured into thousands of small states, two of which being Tenshi and the Confederacy of Borealis.
In 21,655 CE, taking a page out of Tenshi's playbook, the Confederacy began a hostile takeover of Vexlore territory, ensnaring its noble class in a debt trap while collectivizing many of the assets they owned, making them popular amongst the populace. As the Confederacy increased the freedom of the working class, it soon gained control over most of the Vexlores' economy with nearly all of the workers in the species becoming card-carrying members of the Confederacy. Meanwhile, bordering the territory of the Confederacy, Tenshi also began expanding. It too had recently conquered a new people, the citizens of the Ventemir nebula. Soon, the two titans of industry, one controlled by the workers and one controlled by the elites, faced off. In a fierce competition, Tenshi and the Confederacy competed all within the framework of the Neo-Terran Co-Prosperity Sphere, the nation with de jure control over both of them.
Freedom for the Vexlores
A near-legendary individual, simply known as Nicodemus, would begin to call for the Vexlores to be freed of Human influence. While most certainly not the first, Nicodemus was the most effective and spreading this ideology. His idea of a vanguard, a group of ultra-devoted highly-trained Vexlores devoted to the protection of the workers, came to become popular amongst much of the people as Humans began gaining more power in their territory. Nicodemus began organizing the workers, and by 40,000 CE he had stoked a strong enough identity amongst them to begin breaking away from Confederate control.
In 40,007 CE, the Vexlores held a referendum and peacefully split from the Confederacy. Unlike the war-like Confederacy of the modern era, this Confederacy accepted the outcome of the referendum and only asked for loans given to Vexlorian cooperatives and unions be repaid while also requesting a military alliance with the new nation to stand up against Tenshi. Both terms were agreed to.
The Ursa Syndicate
What emerged from the Confederacy was the Ursa Syndicate, a new economic bloc controlled almost entirely by the Vexlores. The new vanguard, simply called the Ursa Party, would begin transforming the new organization from a free market socialist to a centrally-planned socialist nation. As Nicodemus' son took power, it became clear that the Syndicate had become a monarchy with left-leaning economics at best.
With independence secured, they emerged as a new power occupying billions of systems. With control of Holo's Ring and a vast military apparatus, the Ursa Syndicate became one of the leading Thaumic societies.
Creation
As the Neo-Terran Party waned and their nation fell into disarray, nearly every polity in the region scrambled for a chance to become their successor. As millions of worlds burned as every warlord in the galaxy took the opportunity to make a name for themselves, a discussion began taking place within the Ursa Syndicate. Ideologically far closer to Tenshi than the Confederacy, they broke the alliance and instead opened trade to Tenshi.
Their alliance would only deepen as the Confederacy occupied Albedo, the capital of the Neo-Terran Party and begin asserting their dominance over Martial Space. In 59,704 CE, the Ursa Syndicate would work with Tenshi to capture the Imperator, leader of Martial Space, and execute them. 105 years later, the symbolic crown would be split between the two nations, creating a Diarchy in which the leader of the Ursa Syndicate would share the title with the leader of Tenshi.
Formation of the Duchy System
After the seizure of power by the Diarchy, they declared that every loyal nation would become a duchy while those disloyal to them would be forcibly disarmed. Starting a millennia-lasting war, the Diarchy and its allies fought across Martial Space. In 61,331 CE, the president of the Confederacy of Borealis agreed to become the "Arch-Duke of Borealis," ending their involvement in the conflict and thus most of the resistance to the accession of the Diarchy.
A new noble class was born at this time, the rich and powerful across Martial Space ascending to various thrones. These thrones did not rule territory, however, but the economy. Dukes of various organizations would specialize in certain industries and be guaranteed a capital that would be protected from warlords, pirates, or competitors in the same industry not sanctioned by the government.
With time, most industries were controlled by the nobility with large-scale production of goods banned. This was a huge blow to the Nachleben, ancient star-system-spanning intelligent machines who were accustomed to full self-sufficiency. Millions of these machines would be purged as they resisted opening themselves up to the galactic economy. Both co-rulers, Nicodemus and Meiko, would not only personally lead armies against dissenting Nachleben, but would go on diplomatic missions with other nations to clean up the poor reputation of Martial Space.
Thaumaturgy and Mars
As the new rulers took control of the nation, Mars' favor quickly turned to the new rulers, forsaking the Party that it originally created. Mars would begin a more active role in Martial Space, adding a weight to the words of the Diarchs for which no mere corporeal authority could substitute.
With a nearly deific status, Mars has mostly been a representation of the people of Martial Space, an entity with little more than symbolic power, however. As the Dominion continued its expansion, a new phenomenon called the The Blessing of Mars began manifesting, granting both leaders immense power as Magi. This allowed them to continue leading troops into battle not just as figureheads, but as fighters on the front lines. Thus a trend began of an increasing reliance on Thaumaturgy by the Dominion, its military becoming characterized by noble Magi leading vast swarms of machines in the fight.
The Dominion would be a magocracy, a society ruled by Magi, by the end of the reign of Nicodemus and Meiko, who both abdicated at the same time when Mars began favoring the next leaders, Adeline and Bolin, would share the last name Drusus, the name of the legendary Svartálfar known as Hal Drusus that lead an ancient rebellion against the legendary being known as Holos which was responsible for destroying their civilization.
Post-Diarchy History
Government
The Diarchy
The Parliament
Society
Martial Civil Religion
Main Article: Martial Civil Religion
Ibaradism
Main Article: Ibaradism