Division of the Natopian Empire
The Division of the Natopian Empire occurred in 1707 when the Bovic Empire of the Natopian Nation was divided into two co-equal viceroyalties that eventually became sovereign states. The process began when Emperor Nathan III proposed the division in order to better govern the east by himself. The demesnes east of the River Egale were organized into Eastern Natopia and the demesnes west of the river became Western Natopia. The constitutional process that separated the empire into two states lasted into 1708.
Origins of the Division
The differences between the eastern and western regions of the Empire have been pronounced ever since Natopia first expanded beyond the River Egale. The river had been the traditional demarcation of the Natopian frontier for generations. After the Natopian state expanded into the Laval Peninsula and slowly assumed territory in eastern Tapfer, the River Egale was seen as natural boundary for the empire. Beyond the Egale were territories of such long-lived nations like Alexandria and Stormark. Therefore, western Tapfer occupied an "otherness" in the Natopian zeitgeist that was not challenged until the Alexandrian flu required Natopian expansion beyond the river. The former Alexandrian territories beyond the river were integrated into the empire but received large influx of Alexandrian refugees. The possibility of Natopian manifesting across all of Tapfer was now a possibility, and the control of Tapfer was seen as Natopia's destiny.
After the unraveling of the Vanic Web, Natopia expanded into the Storish land on Tapfer. The new territory was treated carefully, having to undergo years of de-Vanicization and proper assimilation of the native population into modern Natopian society. The lands west of the river were settled, colonized, and managed by Alexandrians, Arborians, Neridians, Safir, and Babkhans, giving the west a cosmopolitan culture while the east remained comparatively unchanged, with the same cultures and peoples residing their for generations. The west experienced rapid growth too. After the total conquest of Tapfer, Natopian policy shifted towards Cibola and hegemony over the Jasonian Sea. As the imperial government looked further and further west, the east became overlooked.
When Nathan III became emperor in 1704, he had years of training, education, and personal experience with government at many levels and regions of the empire. He saw that the weight of history stubbornly anchored the east, holding back the vibrancy of the west's yearning to expand. The attitudes of eastern and western Natopians was also different, as he noted during his travels. Easterners were more conservative, easily contented, and introspective. Their cultures had been settled and intermingled for generations. Westerners were still experiencing the melting pot phenomenon of new immigrants, and the challenges of taming new lands. The Emperor himself felt more of an affinity to the Easterners, and felt like their cultural uniqueness was being overshadowed by the expansive west. Likewise, he also felt that the vibrant Westerners were being held back by the Easterners.
The idea of the division arose during private discussions between father and son in 1705. The emperor-emeritus gave his blessing for the plan, telling the young emperor that the reason for his own early abdication was to allow for this radical ideas to come forward: "Son, I could never fathom the idea of splitting up this eternal nation, but you have shown me that the Natopian Nation endures beyond borders, and that as long as the people of the east and of the west continue to see themselves as proudly Natopian, it does not matter to me--or our ancestors who built this expansive empire--whether or not that happens to be united into a singular state. If dividing the empire will maintain, expand, and protect the Natopian Nation, then your imperial oath and duty is satisfied." After more private discussions over two years, the Emperor proposed the first phase of the division to the Frenzy in 1707.
Viceregal Period
The Frenzy amended the Caprine Code to reintroduce the old legal concept of a demesne union, this time as a viceroyalty with a viceroy appointed by the Emperor. With the viceroys appointed, the eastern and western halves began to govern themselves independent of the other half. The viceroys took advantage of demesne compacts, that allow demesnes to coordinate, to create supra-subnational governments still legally within a single Natopian state. In the east, Nathan III appointed his sister, Leonora Noor Waffel-Paine to serve as vicereine, but in practice took control of establishing the government of Eastern Natopia himself, with Leonora's viceregal position intended to serve as regent, heir, and deputy. He established the Compact of the Eastern Bovic Lands, as a transitional constitution for Eastern Natopia that essentially duplicated the imperial institutions and limited their jurisdiction to Flaventia and Klaasiya. The Caprine Code was also duplicated as the Aigoeidis Kodikas.
As vicereine of the west, Vadoma Rowena Waffel-Paine, began to focus on developing the culture and policies of Western Natopia. Her husband, Prince Edward of Alexandria, has taken special interest in cultivating and preserving the Alexandrian culture amid the former Alexandrian territories that are now occupied by the the Natopian regions of Transegale, Arboria del Sur, New Alexandria, and Waffel Plains.
Representatives from the east and west continued to meet throughout 1707 to discuss the final arrangements of the division, such as the shared right to the imperial titles and dignities, combined use of the Natopian Defense Force (which would not be divided), the important role that the Dozan Bovic Church will play in both states, and perpetual agreement on certain policies to be enshrined in each jurisdiction's constitution.
