The Triarchy System

The Triarchy System, is a complex set of laws and regulations, developed in Rhodevus between the years 1705-1715 following the Failed Revolution (1671-1673). Known colloquially as the first anti-discrimination laws in Rhodevus, the Triarchy System as a whole sets the groundwork and basis for all other laws and rights within the country, predating the constitution of Rhodevus by three years.

The Triarchy system is a formal agreement between English and French colonials and Rhodevan Natives to ensure equal treatment in a Rhodeve country.

History

The Failed Revolution (1671-1673)

From the 1630s onward, national fervor had grown due to the successful end to the Rhodevan-Colonial Wars. As a majorly colonist led war, especially in the final decades, it helped to unify the multiple colonies on the island into a strong mostly unified people who began to identify less with their colonial homelands and more with the land they fought to claim. It was in the 1640s that Rhodevus began to emerge as the name for the system of colonies as a whole, as opposed to just the islands where these colonies were located.

In 1641, the Capslandian colonies in the south and French colonies in the north signed the 'Treaty of Religious and National Respect', which would ease tensions between Catholics and Protestants on the island, as well as declare that the two main colonies on the islands would work together to achieve their goals for fair economic and industrial practices. This would become the first treaty signed between colonial governors without the input, or permission granted to them by their governments in Ventismar.

By 1650, the Treaty of Religious and National Respect was further signed by the Englean colony of Ludendorff and the Ruzkov speaking colonial towns of Wroclaw, Lublin and Katowice.

Nationalistic fervor continued to grow, with the development of the Rhodevus Daily (1652) and Kingstown Daily (1657) newspapers which spread news and information around the nation.

In 1652, the Acadian Fire burned down large portions of the city. it had been started by independence supporters in an attempt to remove the governor and his family from the city. In a twisted turn of events, the Governor's Mansion remained one of the few buildings untouched by the fire after the wind turned, spreading the flames to the poorer districts of the city. The men responsible were arrested and flogged, then hanged four days later. This event was spread across the islands' colonies through newspapers as a sign of nationalistic reprisal. Articles would detail the cruel execution of these men, but many papers would leave out the reason behind their executions. This would lead to further revolts and riots in cities such as Quniac City, Cundas City, Kingstown and Rome throughout the ensuing decade.

In 1659, a seamstress by the name of Mari DuSond sewed a primarily red flag called 'The Rising Sun'. It would gain popularity and become the official flag of Rhodevus's independence movements by 1666.

The Rising Sun Flag. The official Flag of the Democratic States of Rhodevus. Used as a foundation for the flags of both the Republic of Rhodevus and the United Sovereign Kingdoms of Rhodevus

1665 saw the establishment of the Rhodeven Senators Guild, which would house diplomats from all colonies on the central island. They would be tasked with dividing up the largest colonies into states as well as drafting the First Constitution of Rhodevus. The constitution was completed in 1670 and a proclamation of independence was presented in 1671.

Fighting between backers of the colonial empires in Ventismar and the newly established Rhodevens began almost immediately following the declaration of independence. The first shot of the war were said to have been fired by Susanna D. Corroly against a loyalist who had attempted to burn down her father's farm just outside of Cundas City.

The first Capslandian ships to arrive were those under the command of the Royal Capslandian Shipping Company. Their arrival would result in the First Battle of Port Diamond, in which the RCSC fleet of five ships faced off against the combined Rhodeve controlled fleet of five ships. This minuscule Rhodeve fleet was the entirety of Rhodeve controlled war ships at this time. It resulted in a Rhodeve victory, with the capture of one ship and sinking of one more, without any Rhodeve ship losses.

At the same time, fighting had erupted between loyalist and Rhodeve forces in Quiniac City, Fallow Hills and St. Goldith. St. Goldith was of particular note, as the town held a valuable metallurgy industry which could be used to fit sailing ships with cannon. St. Goldith fell to Rhodeve forces within three weeks of the declaration of independence.

In May of 1671, the Rhodeve fleet led by Captain Julian Fyres blockaded Port Joy, keeping the few remaining Capslandian ships harboured at the docks. The Port Joy militia, under the command of Alfred Taylor fought against a small loyalist-Capslandian force defending the city. The city would fall to the Rhodeve rebels and become the capital of the Democratic States of Rhodevus.

By September 1671, the Democratic States of Rhodevus would control Port Joy and much of the surrounding lands, up to the Setan coast in the West, Cundas City in the North and Quiniac City as the south, with Kingstown and Quiniac City remaining steadfast loyalist holdings. A continued siege of Kingstown would remain in effect until its fall in the winter of 1672.

In December of 1671, a Capslandian fleet of twelve ships, carrying reinforcements would arrive in Acadia, linking up with the French forces in the North. A blockade would be established, using the colony of Bavven Rhode as a base of operations. The colony would remain loyal to the Capslandian empire, even with overtures of peace and union with the Democratic States.

The Battle of Wilkins' Wood, in 7 January 1672 outside of Brevin would be the first major Rhodeve defeat, seeing the capture of 700 soldiers.

19 April 1672 held the Battle of Waraan Fire in which a combined Ripuarian-Capslandian-Laaban-Waraan army crushed the Democratic fourth and fifth divisions. It was after this battle that the Democratic States began to send letters to important Rhodevan tribes, asking for support in return for accepting them as equal citizens. These letters were met with the response 'Jakti Ouewei Tansi'.

September of 1673, negotiations between the Democratic States and the Capslandian and Ripuarian forces began. on 2nd of October 1673, the Democratic States surrendered.

While the Failed Revolution was indeed a failure of the Democratic States, it would form an important part of the mindset of an independent Rhodevus less than thirty years later. Its legacy would involve the establishment of the 'Triarchy System' between the English-speaking, French-speaking and Native Rhodeves. A system which is still in place to this day and lauded as one of the greatest successes in native-colonial relations in history. The failure would also develop into intense Rhodeve nationalism and a nation-wide 'failure-complex' which would lead to the quick rise and fall of the Rhodeve Colonial Empire.

The Battle of Waraan Fire (1672)

Taking place on 19 April 1672, the Battle of Waraan Fire was a three hour long engagement between a combined force of French, English, Laaban, and Waraan soldiers, and the fourth and fifth divisions of the Democratic States of Rhodevus. Democratic Forces had taken control over the main islands of the Bitoshi Island Chain early into 1671, cutting off direct access between the Bay of Rhodevus and the Rhodeve mainland. A crucial location which both sides fought heavily to control, as it would allow for greater control of the bay, and thus easing of troop movements between the north and south of the country.

As ancestral lands to the Waraan Clan, there was a bitter hatred between these native Rhodevans and the Democrats whom forced all indigenous peoples off the islands. Small skirmishes by Waraan warriors took place throughout the war, as a means of harassing soldiers stationed on the islands.

As a strategically important location, English and French forces, in cooperation with the Waraan clan planned for an invasion of the islands to regain control of the Bay of Rhodevus in its entirety. The Waraan clan chieftain called upon her equal within the Laaban tribe, requesting support, which the Laaban tribe supplied, in the form of two hundred warriors and forty long-canoes.

A landing zone was chosen, in a northern outpost, wherein the main supply depot was located. In a tactically odd move, the English general leaked information regarding their landing zone to the Democrat generals, leading to the fourth and fifth divisions being brought to the area as defense.

The battle started in the morning as the sun rose. English and French ships shelled the outpost with their long guns, fighting against shore-mounted canon. All the while, Waraan and Laaban warriors aboard the long-canoes made their way to the far side of the island, attacking the outpost from the rear. The Democrat forces split, English and French landing parties moved to cut off the outpost's remaining access to the bay, fully encircling the Democrat forces. The fourth and fifth divisions would surrender an hour and a half later after a large number of casualties.

This crushing defeat for the Democratic State forces lead to a call for native support in their war for independence.