Michaelite Schism
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The Michaelite Schism, or the Petty Schism, was a short schism in the Church of the Canon orchestrated by Holy Orenian Emperor Philip III, his Holy Orenian Empress Anastasia, and Prince Olivier II of Savoy to take control of the Church from High Pontiff Everard VI. The schism lasted one month, and ended with the condemnation and renunciation of the schism by Philip III and Olivier II, and the exile of Michael I. Philip, Anastasia, and Olivier were all made to undergo walks of penance to Karosgrad, during which they were insulted and had tomatoes and other waste thrown at them before publicly asking the Pontiff's forgiveness.
Prelude
Philip Aurelian, the Duke of Adria and heir to the Imperial throne, was murdered by Lady Mary of Carrington in 1849 in a shock assassination. This was the first in a series of events culminating in the Aster Revolution, in which Emperor Philip II was deposed by his grandson Prince Philip Amadeus. High Pontiff Everard VI had been an ally of the Emperor and his Archchancellor Princess Josephine, often having to reject claims that he acted only in Philip II's interest, and so was distrusted by the new Imperial administration. The Pontiff had also clashed heads with the incoming Imperial Vice-Chancellor, Prince-Emeritus Olivier of Savoy, over Savoyardic raids and attacks against Yong Ping and the Duchy of Rozania, whom Everard had been attempting to convert to Canonism. Despite this, He reluctantly crowned Philip as Emperor almost immediately following his coup and recognized Philip's position as Emperor in Quindecimus Aurea Bulla Providentia, signaling to the new administration that the Pontiff was willing to work with them as he had with their predecessors.
In order to focus on his new position as Vice-Chancellor, Olivier abdicated the throne of Savoy to his eldest son Olivier Laurène, who subsequently asked the Pontiff to crown him as Prince. Everard agreed, hopeful that the change in leadership in Savoy would reduce the tension between it and the Church and finally allow him to continue his efforts to convert Yong Ping and Rozania. He arrived in San Luciano on the day of the coronation, bringing with him a sizable contingent of Haeseni soldiers who had offered to escort the elderly Pontiff to the city and attend the ceremony. Everard began the coronation, reading off the lines from the Savoyardic Oath when Christoff, Bishop of San Luciano, interrupted the ceremony and accused him of being an apathetic Pontiff who conspired with pagans to destroy both Oren and Savoy. It was then that Olivier, in the middle of his coronation ceremony, and Philip III stood in support of Christoff and rejected Everard's pontificate. The Haeseni soldiers, under the command of Lord Palatine Eirik Baruch, quickly surrounded Everard and escorted him to safety in Karosgrad while the Orenians and Savoyards in attendance crowned Christoff as Anti-Pontiff Michael of the Canonist Church.
The Schism
From Karosgrad, Everard was quick to condemn the actions of the schismatic rulers in his encyclical letter Qui Tradet Deus, in which he issued an interdict over their nations and highlighted their hypocrisy and pride in labeling him a false Pontiff. The letter had its intended effect and the hypocrisy of these rulers was not lost on their people, commoners and nobles alike. Many disavowed the schism and fled Oren and Savoy to the Canonist haven of Haense where Everard had moved his Holy See. House Barclay, of which the Anti-Pontiff was a member, disowned and rebuked Michael for his role in the schism. This move is said to have had a profound effect on the Anti-Pontiff as he had taken great pride in his family name and desired his family's recognition as the true Pontiff of the Church. This sent Michael into a deep depression and he held fewer public appearances as a result.
Councilors in Savoy were also among those who denounced the schism, infuriated that their new liege had taken such drastic action without good reason and without consulting them. Many threatened to rebel or take their followers and abandon the Principality and Olivier relented, allowing rumors to reach Everard that the Prince was willing to denounce the schism and repent. For his penance, the Pontiff demanded that Olivier humble himself and march barefoot to the Haeseni city of Karosgrad while wearing a sackcloth robe. Such a penance had never been demanded before in the history of Canonism and Olivier, a man of great pride, acquiesced in the penance at the behest of his council. This was the first Walk to Karosgrad and upon completion, Olivier was forgiven for his role in the schism. Savoy was welcomed back into Canondom.
Oren however remained in a state of schism, with Philip and Anastasia both refusing to acknowledge Everard as Pontiff. In response, he issued his Pontificia Bulla Fidei Defensoris, stripping the Orenian rulers of their titles as Defenders of the Faith and granting it to King Sigismund III of Haense, whose soldiers had defended Everard when the schism was launched in San Luciano. The rulers of Oren had held the Fidei Defensor title for centuries, losing it only during rare occasions. Much to the chagrin of Philip's administration, they had managed to lose the title within one month of coming into power. It was this that forced Oren to capitulate, with Imperial Archchancellor Minuvas Melphestaus issuing a proclamation that the Empire recognized only Everard as the true Pontiff of the Canonist Church and denouncing Michael as a false Anti-Pontiff.
In the wake of the Archchancellor's declaration, Michael went into hiding and was not seen for years to come. Philip and Anastasia wrote public letters to Everard suggesting what penance they might perform to be forgiven for causing and supporting the schism. Offers of land and money were made, but Everard rejected all in favor of another penitential walk to Karosgrad, much like Prince Olivier II had performed. The Orenian rulers agreed, and the second walk was held one month after the schism had begun.
Aftermath
With the rulers of both Oren and Savoy having performed penance for participating in and supporting the schism, Everard lifted the interdict over those countries and allowed priests and other clergy to continue performing religious services. He had gained significant political support throughout Canondom and, through his walks to Karosgrad, was the first Pontiff to have an Orenian Emperor bow in submission to him. His actions had greatly expanded the power of the Pontificate and brought about peace between the Canonist nations. This peace would not last long however, as it would be revealed that Empress Anastasia had conspired with Azdrazi to plan the assassination of Philip Aurelian in the early days of the Aster Revolution, an act which would have the Orenian rulers excommunicated again and lead to the events of the Sinners' War.
