Tlahtocayotl Tlaca xoxouhcayotl

Republic of Freedom Tlahtocayotl Tlaca xoxouhcayotl
1613–1634
Motto: Cuitlatlaza
Anthem: La Libertad es dulce (unofficial)
Rough boundaries relative to the Askihuac
Capital and largest city	Cidade do Ouro (renamed to Altepenayotl 1620-1634)
Common languages	Mexal, Middle Spani
Religion	New Mexal Church
Government	democratic republic under a benevolent dictatorship
Topilecahua
• 1613-19 October 1619, 18 November 1620-1634	Moyolenolli
• 19 October 1619-21 November 1619	Teuixahual
• 21 November 1619-18 November 1620	Tetzotl
Legislature	Centlataca
• Upper house	House of Elders
• Lower house	Assembly of Freemen
Historical era	Arcadian colonial period
• Christmas Slave Uprising	25 December 1612
• Established	29 March 1613
• Establishment of the Centlataca	12 April 1613
• First direct popular elections	30 May 1613
• Coup of 33 Hielah	19 October 1619
• Coup of 21 Moyem	21 November 1619
• Constitution ratified	3 June 1620
• Disestablished	7 April 1634
Currency	Suroikoian colonial peso, Eneas national peso (1621-1633)
Today part of	Carinansia
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The Tlahtocayotl Tlaca xoxouhcayotl, often shortened to 'Tlajoyotl', was an unrecognised independent state beginning as an anti-colonial slave rebellion in the Eneas Rainforest. An early pioneer of representative constitutional democracy, it was led by slave leader Moyolenolli for most of its existence except for the year of military-rule for most of 1620. It ended following the colonial government's reestablishment of control over the rest of Suroikoia including Vóclaria City in 1633, allowing them to focus all of their forces on the reconquest of the Rainforest the following year. Although early fighting proved successful, a 2:1 numerical advantage for the Arcadians in the Battle of Altepenayotl eventually collapsed the Republic.

History

Early period

The Christmas Slave Uprising in 1612 saw a group of four thousand slaves working on the massive Parmuco Plantation seize control of the area, and kill their masters. Moyolenolli led and planned these assaults, and was recognised from early on as the group's Primus inter pares. For two months they occupied the area and consumed their own food that they picked, while she organised escapes and similar revolts in other plantations nearby, to recruit a total of approximately ten thousand slaves, from various parts in Suroikoia and the world as a whole. With weapons and armour seized, the group marched on Cidade do Ouro and occupied the local garrison. Due to a local uprising in Voclaria City which had spread throughout southeast Voclaria, units from all over the viceroyalty were mobilised, and local garrisons placed on bare capacity.

On March 26, 1613 at noon, the slave army began their approach to the city from the plantation. Along the way, they successfully recruited a further five hundred slaves to the cause by killing the owners of a smaller plantation. In the early morning of March 29, they entered the city, and quickly killed the few remaining soldiers before request for help could be sent. By sunset, the city and its surrounding areas were under the complete control of the group. Approximately an hour after sunset, Moyolenolli held a transparent vote by caucus among the army on whether to establish a formal political state, and received "4098 people in favour, and 2941 against." Thus, the Tlahtocayotl Tlaca xoxouhcayotl was officially established, and they formally recognised Moyolenolli as their supreme leader.

Initially, she installed vigilant border patrols, and a strong border garrison, in order to ensure no incursions from the Viceroyalty. She imposed a mandatory work order, and the city's manufacturing district became a large producer of weaponry and armour, as well as some consumer goods. Less than two weeks after being recognised as the republican leader, she passed the first Government Bill, which laid out the foundation for how the government would function. It included the establishment of a quasi-tricameral legislature known as the Centlataca, which is composed of the House of Elders, and Assembly of Freemen. The former was composed of the 45 so-called "Slave Elders" from the plantations they had freed, and were deemed to be exceptionally wise. The Assembly of Freemen was to be a democratically-elected body of 90 freemen elected from among the ten thousand who had arrived. Two thirds of the seats were reserved for freed slaves, and the remaining third for the unenslaved population. Additionally, it formally entitled her as the "Topilecahua". The two chambers met separately at least once every twenty days, and they met in joint sessions at least once every sixty days although sessions of both could be called at any time, for any reason deemed necessary.

Year of Usurpers

Teuixahual Government

The month-long government led by Teuixahual was marked by the Purge of 39 Hielah, resulting in the dissolution of the Assembly of Freemen and the establishment of a conservative government with strong theocratic elements. Throughout his brief tenure, he called upon the citizens of the Republic to vote for a War of Liberation with the surrounding Arcadian Empire. This was to be determined at a caucus scheduled to be held on December 5th. After extensive attempts at religious centralisation in the office of the Topilecahua, he was deposed by a force of the Revolutionary Guard before it could take place.

Tetzotl Government

The Coup of 21 Moyem was caused by Tecuhtli Tetzotl arresting Teuixahual before proclaiming herself as the new Topilecahua. Immediately she suspended both houses of the Centlataca for so-called 'emergency reasons', assuming complete control of the Revolutionary Army to mobilise a force of 10 thousand to the southern half of Cidade do Ouro to defend against an attempted Arcadian recapture of the area. It proved successful and allowed for the further capture of the towns of Zádil and San Jumente, which quickly saw all Arcadian residents enslaved and the freeing of the slaves they already held.

The houses remained suspended with martial law imposed for two months until the Edict of Peace was imposed, which saw a curfew of 3 hours after sunrise imposed but otherwise greatly reduced mobility restrictions. Both houses of the Centlataca called the move unconstitutional and affront to the system of republican democracy established nearly a decade prior, but recognised the authority of the office to do so. Moyolenolli was permitted to reenter the republic, and the government was stable until new elections in early November, which saw attempts at massive voter fraud to increase the power of the pro-Tetzotl factions of the Assembly of Freemen. Extensive debate eventually led to the passage of the 18 Moyem Removal Instrument by both chambers, removing Tetzotl from her government positions and placed into the custody of the military.

Return of Moyolenolli

A prominent resident of the country under Tetzotl following her return, she was an outspoken advocate for her removal following the allegations of voter fraud. In a joint session to determine the country's leadership, a near-unanimous vote saw them elect her to serve as the provisional director of the country until a new Topilecahua could be elected in democratic elections. The 7th Year elections held in December saw 83.7% of eligible voters vote for her leadership, formally returning to the position a day later.

Second Moyolenolli Government

Promulgation of constitution

One of her first actions back in the position was the declaration of their intent to codify constitutional law in a governing document. After six months of writing by the Assembly of the Freemen and one week of amendments by the House of Elders, she signed the revolutionary document into law with "thunderous applause" from a crowd of voters in front of the Executive House.

Some features of the constitution include:

• Universal franchise for all above the age of 15
• Equally strong executive and legislative branches, with a neutral judiciary that also acts as a moderating power.
• Free, mandatory education until adulthood (described as 15)
• Civilian control of the armed forces
• Regular elections for the position of chief executive

Decade of Prosperity

After the formal proclamation of the constitution, the Republic underwent a period of extensive economic growth for the next decade, seeing a rise of standards of living to a level which rivaled that in nearby Moliropa. During this time, periodic leadership and legislative elections were called, which were respected by the public for being free and reflective of their wishes. Several extensive infrastructural programs were undertaken, during this time, such as the construction of the Grand Wall around Altepenayotl, several plantations beyond the city walls to provide for the growing population, and even the minting of a a currency.

The Eneas national peso was initially backed by a system known as the Commodity standard, wherein the intrinsic value of money was tied to the actual production within an economy, but was replaced by the gold standard in 1625, as republican gold reserves were inflated by the further capture of three haciendas towards the fringes of the rainforest. The currency was considered to be strong for the time period, and was minted using melted down Suroikoian colonial pesos, to different specifications to allow for a greater quantity. The Currency Ordinance of 1621 mandated all commercial bodies within the state accept the currency in exchange for goods and services, and established a regulatory body which oversaw the minting, but also enforced anti-counterfeiting measures.

In 1623, all slaves within the country were formally freed by a special proclamation of a joint-session of the Centlataca, stating:

By unanimous will of the Centlataca, composed of the House of Elders and the Assembly of Freemen, we proclaim this day, in the name of all who have suffered, that all those who remain enslaved within the borders of our republic shall henceforth be free.

Arcadians, our former masters and oppressors, shall also be freed from the state of servitude imposed upon them as punishment for their crimes. While the injustice they inflicted upon us is deep and enduring, we, as a free people, recognize that it is neither just nor moral to perpetuate the cycle of subjugation. As such, all Arcadians currently enslaved within our territories are to be liberated and granted full rights as citizens of the republic. They shall be held accountable for their past misdeeds through lawful means, and not through the continuation of the very institution they imposed upon us.

After the emancipation took place, many Arcadians began to assume governmental positions. The highest position believed to have been assumed by one is that of Speaker of the Assembly of Freemen, by Lafrenia Ausonia between 1624 and 1627. As the wife of a plantation guard, she championed expansive divorce laws which allowed her to become the Republic's first official divorcee in early 1625.