Revolution of 1879

Revolution of 1879
Date 13 December 1879 - ??? Location Thraysia Result Overthrow of the Kanatos Dynasty Baron dominance put to an end Establishment of an Autocracy under Emperor Theodosios VI Rise of the Melodus Dynasty Beginning of the Theodosian Renaissance Mob-led massacres against religious minorities, foreigners, barons, and industrialists
Belligerents
Baron Government Imperial Thraysian Forces	Nationalists Statists Thraysian Republican Front
Commanders and leaders
Stephanos II Kanatos Dionissis Xenotis	Theodosios Melodus

The Revolution of 1879 (Greek: Επανάσταση του 1879) was a successful popular uprising in Thraysia against the government. It lasted from 1879 to ???.

The events of the revolution began in the capital of Konstantinopolis, where long-standing discontent against the Kanatos dynasty erupted into a violent uprising over food shortages caused by the Great Thraysian Famine. It had later spread to several other Thraysian cities and in some rural areas, where workers went on violent strikes against their managers. Many had blamed the government as responsible for the famine over the extreme exploitation of natural resources, supply chains that prioritized exporting Thraysian produce at the expense of its population, and the heavy prioritization of growing cash crops that left less room for food.

The revolution involved a successful overthrow of the Kanatos dynasty, putting an end to the Baron dominance of government in Thraysia and the re-establishment of an Autocracy. It was quickly accompanied by mob-led massacres against several targets deemed to be a "traitors and oppressors."

Background

While the main trigger of the Revolution was the Great Thraysian Famine, it had roots that represented long-standing and progressively increasing discontent with the Kanatos dynasty of the Thraysian Empire.

Entrenchment of the Barons

Main article: Barons' War

The Baron class emerged in Thraysia as a group of a wealthy landed gentry that emerged as a consequence of decentralization reforms to deal with the rapid expansion and over-extension of the re-emerged Thraysian Empire. The westernizing reforms of David II had unintentionally created a sharper divide between the baron over-represented elites and the commoners of Thraysia. The Kanatos dynasty was established by the Baron class in 1796 as a coup against Emperor Nikephoros II, who attempted to undo several reforms and re-establish the power of the Imperial Bureacracy against the Barons. The Emperors of the Kanatos dynasty exercised power alongside a Presidency elected by the Senate under the new government setup by the Barons, though most de facto power was expressed through the Presidency while the Monarchy retained a ceremonial role as a figurehead.

Industrial Revolution

Thraysia did not undergo significant Industrialization during the 19th Century, however it did undergo significant changes in its economy as a result of industrialization. It was brought into a closer relationship with industrializing powers in western Belisaria and Scipia. Its wealth of natural resources such as previous metals and gems, gold, and coal were crucial to these nations. In return, it became a significant destination market for finished goods. Foreign capital investment stimulated its growth of railways, mines, and plantations, but also led to foreign control of many sectors of the economy.

The social structure established by the Barons became more rigid as a consequence of industrialization. Over time, they accumulated large estates and enriched themselves from investment (especially foreign) into their properties. Many landless commoners and peasants were employed to work on these estates. The profits generated by the estates were skewed towards the Barons, while the commoners were underpaid, overworked, and impoverished. Their conditions became extremely poor, even by standards at the time. The Baron-dominated government did little to help the plight of the commoners. Social mobility was extremely difficult and rare.

The Rise of Thraysian Nationalism

The rise of Thraysian nationalism had emerged and stood in sharp contrast to the Baron class, whom they perceived was selling out the country to foreign business interests. They sought populist economics reforms such as land-reform, nationalization, anti-trust laws, and increased worker protections. They were initially influenced by some ideas of socialism, though they later sought a third way through economic theories grounded in distributism. They also sought to bring Thraysian culture back to its roots and restoring its suppressed indigenous values and traditions, opposing the westernizing reforms that applied more towards the upper class of barons, which in turn created an inferiority complex among the commoners over their traditional culture.

The nationalist movement of Thraysia was divided between several factions regarding political matters. The most common faction was that of the Statists, who were inspired by the bygone golden era of Thraysia and sought to restore the Thraysian autocracy under a sole ruler. Another faction, known as the Republicans, believed in progressing past antiquated governments into a Republic. Some moderates sought compromises, though the statist faction grew to be more popular given that republicanism was associated with the Arthuristan Illumination, an intellectual movement popular among the baron class of Thraysia during its westernization. Voting rights were denied to the vast majority of Thraysians. As a response, they strongly advocated for universal suffrage but were still unable to gain as much support. Regardless, they set aside their differences united in a common cause during the revolution to overthrow the Baron-dominated government.