1727 Shirerithian regency

1727 Shirerithian regency crisis
Salome in her sickbed.
Date 18.V.1727 AN– Location Shirekeep, Shireroth
Belligerents
Pro-Rubin Faction in the Landsraad Laqi Faction Loyalist Faction Parts of the Democratic-Conservative Faction	Pro-Ichirō Faction in the Landsraad Ayreonist Faction Bovic Faction Kildarian Faction Parts of the Democratic-Conservative Faction	Pro-Erudition Faction in the Landsraad National-Humanist Faction
Commanders and leaders
Rubin Leonid Orientalis Ayreon-Kalirion	Ichirō Ayreon-Kalirion	Daniyal ibn Daniyal Simrani-Kalirion
A neutral faction, consisting of mainly Batavian, minor nobles and the Heavenly Palace, kept itself out of the power struggle.

On 18.V.1727, Shireroth began a regency with Prince Rubin as Regent, due to Kaiseress Salome's failing health. Princess Kian, who was the primary heiress of the Kaiseress, had repeatedly shown her disinterest in politics and preferred the life as a nun.

The Laqi nobility, which had had to relinquish more and more of its power since the annexation of the Kildarian and Batavian areas, saw this as the perfect moment to put her younger brother - Prince Rubin - forward as Regent. Due to the imperial heiress's disinterest in the Golden Mango Throne, it was widely believed that whoever would bear the regency would also ascend the Throne, or increase his odds to take it, perhaps even by force. Duke Hon ben Gyoku quickly gathered a group of noblemen around him within the Landsraad to enter into a power struggle against the disgruntled Laqi Faction. Hon's daughter, Kaika bat Gyoku, was married to Ichirō, another contender for the throne, and through pulling strings, Hon successfully assembled the eastern nobility behind the prince.

In the heat of the political struggle and backroom politics, a candidate also emerged from the Humanist side: the Count of Erudition.

Background

Following the state visit to Shireroth by the Shahanshah of Çakaristan, Kaiseress Salome's health took a turn to the worse. By the fifth month of 1727, the Imperial Advisory Council reached a conclusion that a Regent needed to be appointed to take care of the matters of state requiring the attention of the Golden Mango Throne. As such, on 18.V.1727, the Imperial Advisory Council declared a regency and appointed Prince Rubin to the position of Regent of Shireroth.

The appointment of Prince Rubin was expected but not entirely given. According to the Order of Succession to the Kaisership, the next in line to the throne was Rubin's elder sibling, Kian Aiomide Shahnaz. Kian, for reasons of biology and religion, would not be able to procreate. As such, the youngest of the siblings, Rubin, was – since Prince Kir's treachery of marrying without Salome's consent – was given instruction to be the heir in all but name. He joined the Kaiseress in formal occasions and he was always spoken of as the heir.

Kildare opposes

In the wake of the incorporation of the eastern Dominions into the Imperial Republic, the Jingdaoese and Kildarian nobility found themselves struggling to adapt to their new role in the political landscape. For generations, they had been accustomed to the idea that the government was led by a divine authority: the Heavenly Light, and now also the Kaiseress. This was further exacerbated by the fact that many of them were unfamiliar with the inner workings of the Landsraad and Legislature as a whole. They found the intricacies of politics confusing without a clear guiding hand. As such, they often chose to keep a low profile, preferring to avoid involvement in matters that they believed did not concern them.

However, this relative passivity was not solely due to a lack of understanding or interest. There was also a deep-seated fear among the Jingdaoese and Kildarian nobles that they might suffer a repeat of the Chastisement of the Hereditary Lords, a traumatic event that had left a lasting impact on their collective psyche and had strengthened the Provincial Assemblies.

Despite these challenges, Duke Hon ben Gyoku saw an opportunity to capitalize on the discontent and frustration that was simmering among his peers. Over the course of the past decade, he had worked tirelessly to build a Kildarian Faction within the Landsraad, using a combination of strategic marriages, bribes, and flattery to win over supporters. The fruits of his labor were beginning to bear fruit, as the Kildarian Faction slowly but surely gained momentum. Its members, though still somewhat wary of getting involved in the cutthroat world of Shirithian politics, were increasingly willing to flex their muscles and advocate for eastern interests.

At the heart of the Kildarian Faction's agenda was the belief that the Regent and heir to Salome should be none other than Prince Ichirō, the most senior heir to Kaiser Ayreon IV. This move, they hoped, would help to strengthen the unity between the east and west as the prince's successors would hold a bit of divine blood of the Heavenly Light's ancestors, and ensure that the voices of the Jingdaoan and Kildarian people were clearly heard in the halls of Keep.

As the political landscape continued to shift and evolve, it became clear that the Kildarian Faction was a force to be reckoned with. Hon ben Gyoku's bid for brought the Imperial Republic closer to a crisis and - if none of the factions would bow down - could very well lead to a split and situation where two Kaisers would be crowned.

How does Batavia respond

The Batavian government initially adopted a wait-and-see approach towards the regency of Prince Rubin, amidst the turmoil in Shireroth. However, as the debate intensified and pressure mounted from both sides, the Batavians faced a difficult dilemma. On one hand, King Frederik II, who ruled over Batavia, pressed for neutrality in the conflict, mindful of the delicate balance of power in Shireroth and the potential risks of taking sides. He was also aware of the importance of maintaining good relations with both Rubin and her opponents, given Batavia's vulnerable location in the west. Fear of a humanist invasion was at an all time high and had been one of the reasons why Batavia had become part of the Imperial Republic in the first place.

On the other hand, Louis Thuylemans, who had acted as prime minister of Batavia in the past and now served as the Shirerithian Steward, was acutely aware of the implications of the regency struggle for the future of Shireroth. He knew that the outcome would significantly impact the balance of power in the region and potentially reshape the political landscape forever. Moreover, as a former Prime Minister of Batavia, Thuylemans had cultivated strong relationships with various factions within Shireroth, including those opposing to Prince Rubin. Personally, the man was conflicted to make a choice and remained silent when asked for his opinion and advise by 's Koningenwaarde.

As a result, the Batavian government found itself torn between several candidates and wanted to avoid conflict in any way possible. Ultimately, the conflicting pressures led to a formal declaration of neutrality, aimed at preserving Batavia's goodwill from all involved factions while avoiding entanglement in the conflict.

Despite this official stance, whispers circulated that certain elements within the Batavian nobility, ultraroyalists and military were covertly supporting Ichirō's cause, drawn by the prospect of a stronger, more centralized government in Shireroth. Conversely, others in Batavia worried that open support for Ichirō would antagonize Prince Rubin, invite retribution and would lead to a loss of autonomy in favor of a more central administration in Shirekeep.

Response of the Benacian Union

With relations between Shireroth and the Benacian Union having all but collapsed to the point of an undeclared war following Operation Jagdbeute, the attempt of Benacia Command to recover allied equipment and personnel placed in Shirerithian territory during 1724 AN, the regency was taken as a sign that the institutions of the Imperial Republic were once again heading towards a period of decay and paralysis. As such the determination of the High Presidium of the Benacian Union was to redouble the support provided to the Humanist movement in Benacian Shireroth, whilst moving forward with the creation of dedicated siege armies with which to strangle Shirekeep once the moment of opportunity arrived.

Regency in Sathrati

On 24.V.1727 the Council of Sathrati, having been apprised of developments in Shirekeep, declared the appointment of the Count of Erudition as Regent over the Emirate of Sathrati together with the Imperial Dominion of the Marquessate of Zy-Rodun and the Counties of Yardistan, Amity, and Mirioth.

Landsraad stuff

In a sedate speech personally given to the Landsraad, the Viscountess of Lumenetra Esmeralda al-Osman, concurrently the reigning Basilinna of the Imperial State of Constancia, sought the continued health of the Kaiseress and the stability of the Imperial Republic, and called upon everyone to unite behind the Golden Mango Throne in this time of trial.