Principality of Savoy
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The Principality of Savoy is the successor-state to the defunct Commonwealth of Sutica, which was dissolved in 40 S.A. by Oliver Renault after the passing of Queen Johanna of Sutica. The Principality is largely home to the Savoyard culture, though it does have a minority of Hyspians and Reinmaren who remain from the previous Commonwealth.
Contents
History
Olivier Renault (R. 1836 - 1851)
The Principality of Savoy finds its roots in the old Duchy of Savoy and the Reformed Kingdom of Oren, from which the Principality claims cultural heritage through its Savoyard rulers. In the years from 1834 to 1836, the Commonwealth of Sutica saw a massive influx in Savoyard immigrants, in which they soon became the majority of the very sparsely-populated Kingdom. Following the end of the Sutican Civil War, the Savoyard population led by then-regent of Sutica Olivier Renault Ashford de Savoie proclaimed the dissolution of the Commonwealth. From there, he proclaimed the creation of the Principality of Savoy and himself as its new absolute monarch [1]. The dissolution had the support of the Savoyard population within Sutica as well as many native Suticans who felt the old regime had not done enough to strengthen Sutica's power in southern Almaris. Despite this, there was a very small minority of Waldenians who felt that they had been cheated of their heritage due to the Barclays no longer being in power. Yet, this led to naught as the new Savoyard regime had the overwhelming support of the people.
In the opening months of Savoy's existence, Prince Olivier Renault's reign was extremely popular and he quickly set to work establishing new laws for his domain. He and the Savoyard government soon released the Lex Savoia, which was a codex of laws to dictate how Savoy would enforce the peace in its borders [2]. His Government also soon released The Royal Courts of Savoy, detailing Savoyard courtly culture as well as detailing the members of the Nobility and Royalty in a clear document [3]. Despite the peaceful beginnings of the Principality, it would not be long until the Savoyards faced their first taste of combat. In the same year the principality had been established, the Rozanian Civil War known as Oisin's Rebellion broke out. Oisin had contracted Savoy's canonist ally of the Principality of Sedan to fight the war, and so Prince Olivier Renault used the war as a possibility to test the strength of his army. Therefore, he sent a small volunteer force to Sedan to support the Oisinite cause, and these troops saw action in almost every battle of the war. Eventually, the war came to its short conclusion as Oisin left Almaris and the Savoyard volunteers returned home. However, the Savoyard performance in the war had proven that their Army was a formidable force, capable of defending itself from most threats posed to it.
Following the end of Oisin's Rebellion, the Principality of Savoy saw many years of peace with Olivier Renault ruling in a time where banditry was low and San Luciano was heavily populated. That was until the return of Philip Amadeus, Duke of Furnestock to Almaris. Prince Olivier immediately invited the Imperial Heir to San Luciano, and the two began secret negotiations with one another. At the same time, the Urguani-Orenian War broke out which threw the northern half of Almaris into chaos. With the reconstruction of Providence, Prince Olivier and Prince Philip Amadeus decided now was the perfect time to unleash their plan. In a missive, Philip Amadeus declared himself the rightful Holy Orenian Emperor and, with Savoy's backing, marched on the capital of the Holy Orenian Empire and successfully couped the sitting Emperor, Philip II.
Despite the success of the Savoyard Coup, there was now a question that plagued the minds of many Savoyards back home in San Luciano. Had the Principality of Savoy become a vassal of the Empire? This is not a question that Prince Olivier Renault would answer any time soon, as he constantly put off answering any question regarding Savoy's relationship to the Holy Orenian Empire. Many Savoyards were incredibly Anti-Imperial, and many more wished for Savoy to remain an independent Nation free of Orenian rule. Eventually, Prince Olivier Renault would abdicate in favor of his eldest son Olivier Laurène, and he soon went to accept the position of Vicechancellor of Oren while leaving behind his life in Savoy.
Olivier Laurène (R. 1851 - 1857)
Following the abdication of Olivier Renault, Olivier Laurène was made the sovereign Prince of Savoy per his Father's request. His reign began with his first attempted coronation, which would come to spark the largest controversy of his reign to date. When the High Pontiff Everard VI went to crown the new Prince, Olivier Laurène rejected him and instead called upon his own established Anti-Pontiff known as Michael I. After Savoyard soldiers attempted to unsuccessfully apprehend Everard VI, Olivier Laurène was then coronated by his Anti-Pontiff Michael I, sparking the Michaelite Schism.
However, this Schism would not last long as Olivier Laurène received a tremendous amount of backlash from not only the other Canonist nations, but his own people. As a result, he later denounced his own Anti-Pontiff, and made a walk of atonement from San Luciano all the way to Karosgrad. There, he atoned for his sins before the High Pontiff Everard VI and was absolved and lifted of his Excommunication. After such an event, Savoy was struck with mass immigration from the Principality to other places around the world, specifically the Holy Orenian Empire. The reasoning for this was due to the sparking of the Urguani-Orenian War, in which many Savoyards had hoped that Savoy would join the war on Oren's side, yet did not.
Soon, Olivier Laurène would declare that the Principality of Savoy remained an independent nation from Oren and would not join the war against Urguan in his missive titled Simple Assertions [4]. Because of his refusal to join the war on the Orenian side, the Savoyard mercenary company known as the Blackwald Company attempted to lauch a Coup d'etat against Olivier Laurène in favor of his younger brother Leufroy Renault. However, both the Kingdom of Haense and Grand Kingdom of Urguan came to Olivier Laurène's aid and put down the Coup before it could depose him. The Urguani and Haeseni nations thus cemented their friendship with the Principality, which would culminate in Savoy joining the war on the Tripartite's side under the reign of his eldest Son.
Following the attempted coup, Olivier Laurène had the Blackwald Company banished from Savoy and later had Elijah Keen appointed as Lord Commander of the new Argent Legion. The Argent Legion would serve as the Principality's new Army, and was responsible for the protection of both himself and the Principality as a whole. Despite Savoy's slow recovery due to the creation of the legion, Olivier Laurène declared the Winter Regency due to his wish to go on a pilgrimage. His missive established a regency council in his absence which would rule until his eventual return to Savoy. [5]
Soon, Olivier Laurène would return to Savoy briefly to continue his personal rule. However, after having extended exposure to Canonist Monks during his pilgrimage, he became extremely discontent with ruling over Savoy. Olivier Laurène would eventually go on to abdicate completely after only a few months of returning to the throne, and left the country to another Regency Council. Following his abdication, he would go on to serve as a Monk for the rest of his life. Unbeknownst to him, his surprise abdication would be the very spark of the Savoyard Succession Crisis which saw the Regency pitted against Olivier's eldest Son.
Lucien Auréle (R. 1857 - 1867)
Lucien's reign began rather chaotically. The Regency council that Lucien's Mother, Princess Catherine of Sutica had established was widely unpopular by a majority of the native Savoyard population. The remnant Myrinian population was especially against the Regency, and called for Catherine's abdication as Regent and for Lucien's personal rule to begin. Despite her attempts to sway the crowd, Princess Catherine eventually became distraught due to the lack of support and allowed an assassin within the courtroom to take her life. Lucien was crowned by a Cardinal of the Canonist Church, and his personal reign began.
Almost immediately, Lucien's personal reign was defied by the remnant of Catherine's Regency, which declared that Lucien's personal rule was illegitimate until he reached the age of majority. Despite not having the backing of the majority of Savoy's population, the Pro-Regency members of the Council found support within the realm of Daeland, which had previously declared neutrality in any internal conflicts. Lucien, despite his young age, personally led a band of Savoyard soldiers to the gates of Daeland to demand that the Daelish extradite the Pro-Regency members of the Council. The Daelish Lairds of the settlement refused, and opened fire upon Lucien's band. This in effect sparked the Daelish Uprising and the Savoyard Succession Crisis. After three years of low-level conflict, the Daelish lords whom had supported the Pro-Regency members surrendered and those who still supported Catherine's Regency fled to Oren. Once the conflict was over, Lucien focused on consolidating his power and began his personal rule.
Somewhere towards the late-middle of Lucien's reign, he found himself being confronted by Aeldenic mercenaries during one of Savoy's many court sessions. They proclaimed their hatred for the Savoyard royal family, and proclaimed that they would do what they could to eliminate the Savoyard bloodline. At this moment, a fleet of Aeldenic ships opened fire upon the capital of San Luciano and effectively destroyed the city whilst covering it with Thanium. Lucien and the survivors of the attack quickly regrouped and retreated to the city of Niseep, and later to Myrine where they established a temporary capital for Savoy until a new one was constructed.
After years of tense political buildup between Savoy and the Holy Orenian Empire, and the revelation that Oren had been responsible for the past coup attempts against Savoy, Prince Lucien issued a Declaration of War upon the Holy Orenian Empire, and joined the Urguani-Orenian War as a member of the Tripartite Accord. Following the declaration, Prince Lucien led Savoy's Army into the Battle of Eastfleet, in which Tripartite Forces intercepted and pushed back the Orenian offensive into the Grand Kingdom of Urguan. Lucien himself led the Savoyard forces, and proved his masterful combat skills by personally slaying a handful of Orenian soldiers whilst on the field of battle.
Eventually Lucien grew tired of leading Savoy, and abdicated in favor of his sister Renata de Savoie and her husband, Duke Remus of Drusco. Once retired, he would continue to fight for Savoy and the Tripartite, but would take a far less active role in politics from there onwards.
Renata Adelina (R. 1867 - Present)
W.I.P
Government
The Principality of Savoy is a constitutional monarchy that is broken down into three estates; the Patricians, the Plebians, and the Serfs. In addition, the Prince of Savoy is afforded his own council of personal advisors known as the Pricy Council who are tasked with governing different aspects of Savoyard life.
The Privy Council
The Privy Council holds collective responsibility for the maintenance and administration of the Principality. Above all, the Privy Council is tasked with the duty to aid and advise the Prince, and may be amended at will by him. The Privy Councillors are bestowed the distinction of Lord for the duration of their tenure upon the council and are to be addressed by the courtesy of Excellency. The Privy Council is chaired by the Lord Chancellor and may convene without the presence of the Prince. In prolonged absences, interregnum, or minority the Privy Council is invested with the Regency of the Principality.
The Three Estates
I. The Patricians
The Patrician, by virtue of high office and birth, are the highest of the classes in the realm. Their status is hereditary, and the paterfamilias act as the head of the household. They have a duty to uphold and preserve Savoy’s traditions and customs through service to their liege, and dedication to their polity. Patrician families are expected to contribute to His Serene Highness’ prosperity through socage or military tenure in His Serene Highness’ personal levy. All Patricians have the inviolable right to set a duel upon those of their class, and them of the Plebeian classes; a Plebeian may do the same of their class, but not of those above him.
List of Savoyard Peerage Houses
- House of Savoy-Drusco
- House of Barclay
- House de Bar
- House of Basrid
- House von Alstreim
- House of Mareno
- House of Keen
- House of Sainte-Blandine
- House of Jazloviecki
- House of Douglas
II. The Plebians
The Plebeian class is characterised by their libertas. That is, they are free men, but are distinguished from the Patrician's through virtue of being commoners. Plebeians broadly reside within the metropolis of San Luciano. Manufacturers, craftsmen and artisans by trade, their contribution to the Principality is immeasurable.The Plebeians are represented by the Seigneur of Savoy, a person of their class who they elect to sit in the Assembly, and who has a hand in city administration. Whilst the Plebeians enjoy libertas, some fields of high office are promised to the Patrician. The many Plebeians of Savoy serve the Patrician through a transaction-based system of clientele. In exchange for numerous services, including the creation or resourcing of goods, Plebeians are secured by their patron in money, protection, or favours.
III. The Serfs
The serf class is the lowest of the estates. They include farmers, labourers, and servants. Serfs are obliged to their lord through a complex system of socage or military tenure. Although being the primary labour force of the Principality, serfs have limited participation in government due to the existing contract with their liege lord. While serfs may vote in the election of the Seigneur, this is granted by city officials begrudgingly, and is only given to the paterfamilias of each serf household.
