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Weekend of the Cannonade

Gen. Alejandro Rouco (center left) prepares to announce the transfer of power to the public in Carutagua following the purge's end.
Native name	Fin de semana del Cannonade
Duration	April 2 - April 5, 1926
Location	Nuxica
Also known as	Operation Absolute Will, the Roucan Coup, La Traición Intentada (by pro-Rouco supporters), La Victoria (by pro-Rouco propaganda), La Limpieza (amongst high-level Rouco supporters)
Type	Coup d'etat
Cause	Concern of Roucoists over Gaullican and functionalist political domination Desire of business interests to maintain trade ties to friendly nations Decision of Martín Fernán to deepen ties with the Parti Populaire Opposition to Fernan's functionalist policies Rouco's desire to maintain Nuxican geopolitical sovereignty Elimination of internal threats to the junta
Organised by	Alejandro Rouco Bruno Noboa Maximiliano Vera Emmanuel Arrabal
Participants	Nuxican Army, Civil Guard, Guardianes de la Nación
Outcome	Gen. Alejandro Rouco seizes control of the junta Martín Fernán summarily executed in a raid on his home Near total purge of functionalist public officials De-facto end of Nuxican geopolitical neutrality Cementing of the buisiness-military relationship
Casualties
Reported 129, estimates range from ~250 to ~1000
Missing	30 officially reported missing, estimates range from 100 to 120 public officials
Arrests	3000-5000 overall detentions

The Weekend of the Cannonade (Auratian: Fin de semana del Cannonade), or the Roucan Coup, also known as Operation Absolute Will (Auratian: Operación Absoluta Voluntad), was a coup d'etat and purge that took place in Nuxica from the 2nd of April to the 5th of April, 1926. On that day, Alejandro Rouco, General of the Nuxican Army, launched an internal operation against Martín Fernán–then leader of the Nuxican military government Rouco was supported by nationalist politician and buisiness leader Bruno Noboa, as well as military and paramilitary leaders Maximiliano Vera and Emmanuel Arrabal. Following the seizure of power Rouco ordered a systematic purge of all major Fernanists and influential functionalists within the junta, consolidating his power as leader of the junta and guaranteeing continued political and economic association with Estmere, Werania, Etruria, and Narozalica. The official narrative by pro-Rouco sources claimed that the coup was actually launched by functionalists, and that his forces were merely reacting in defense of the junta in order to maintain national stability and security.

The primary agents of the coup were the Nuxican Army-led by Rouco, the Civil Guard-led by Vera, and the Guardianes de la Nación-led by Arrabal. Many of those killed, however, were members of Nuxican Army and Guardianes aligned with Fernan. Fernan himself was captured and summarily executed in a raid on his estancia, making him the most high-profile victim of the operation. Members of the Functionalist Party, such as party chairman Adán Quesada, were also arrested on charges of treason-with many also being summarily executed or imprisoned. Politicians also not aligned with the junta were also detained, with many being imprisoned or forced to swear loyalty to the military government. Finally, many remaining members of the Nuxican Section of the Workers' International who had previously escaped the death penalty in the aftermath of the Nuxican Revolution were also killed.

Rouco, a staunch Nuxican nationalist, viewed Martín Fernán's insistence on developing close relations with Functionalist Gaullica-at the pressuring of Adán Quesada, as the beginning stages of Nuxica promulgating official defense agreements and accords. Such behavior was seen by many within the military and political establishment as highly treasonous, as they viewed such treaties as tantamount to Nuxican subservience to Gaullica. In addition Rouco was also wary of the influence Marirana, which Gaullica also had close ties to, could possibly have over Nuxican politics should diplomatic and military ties be furthered. Furthermore, Rouco was equally concerned with the rising 'functionalization' of the armed forces given Quesada's increasing authority within the military-which included the ability to weigh in on military organization and policy. The Functionalist Party had also been growing in power within the bureaucratic structure of Nuxica, in many ways forming quasi-deep state outside of military and nominal political authority. Finally, members of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce wished to maintain lucrative Euclean business ties, which had been placed under threat by Fernan's implementation of functionalist policies and growing closeness with Gaullica and Xiaodong(?).

129 soldiers and politicians were reported to have been killed as part of "anti-coup operations," though the true number of soldiers, officials, and civilians killed as a result of the coup and purge is believed to range widely, with the lower estimates being around 250 and the upper estimates being as high as 1000. A further 30 public officials were reported missing in the wake of the coup, though historians belive up to 120 public officials were forcibly disappeared. Up to a further 5000 individuals were arrested and interrogated, though not all were killed or tried.

Following the coup, the event began to be known officially as The Victory (Auratian: La Victoria), the Attempted Betrayal (Auratian: La Traición Intentada), or the the Weekend of Absolute Will (Auratian: El fin de semana de la Voluntad Absoluta) by pro-Rouco propaganda as part of a larger anti-functionalist, anti-Fernanist narrative. The latter name is actually a thinly-veiled reference to the name for the operation, as well as the codeword that set it in motion.

Background

Factionalism within the Junta

Main articles: Militaristas Nacionales (faction), Comercialistas (faction), and Fatherland Defense Front

Martín Fernán and Adán Quesada, Foreign Minister and FDP chairman, during a victory parade in Carutagua 1925.

Following the victory of the Nacionalistas in the Nuxican Revolution, divisions between different political ideologies and factions began to emerge as the military junta cemented control over the whole of the country and began to decide how to best direct the country's governance. Specifically, many groups began to place pressure upon nominal junta leader Martín Fernán in order to sway him to support their side. The primary factions within the military government were the Militaristas Nacionales, the Comercialistas, and the Fatherland Defense Front. The Militaristas Nacionales, predominantly right-wing conservatives, traditionalists, general Nuxican nationalists, and lingering aristocrats, are primarily concerned with maintaining Nuxican geopolitical independence, sovereignty, national security and stability, and anti-leftist action. These officials and officers made up a significant portion of the military's command structure and the majority of the rank and file, being de-facto led by General of the Army Alejandro Rouco. The Comercialistas made up representatives, lobbyists, and business magnates-turned-politicians from the country's business lobby, led by CIC president Bruno Noboa. The Fatherland Defense Front (Auratian: Frente de Defensa de la Patria; FDP) was made up of Nuxican ultranationalists, far-right demagogues, and functionalist provocateurs with ties to Gaullica, and was led by party chair Adán Quesada. The FDP had limited levels of support from within the armed forces, but held considerable sway within the civil services of the nation, and were also quite influential in directing government policy under Fernán.