Patriotes
Patriotes were those colonists of the Domain of Cassier who rejected Gaullican rule in the Patriote Movement or Patriote Rebellion during the Asterian War of Secession. Their decision was based on the political philosophies of republicanism and self rule as expressed by spokesmen to the south in the United Colonies whom they aligned themselves with. They were opposed by Cassien loyalists who supported continued Gaullican rule.
Patriotes represented the spectrum of social, economic, and ethnic backgrounds present in Cassier at the time. Despite widespread promotion of similar revolutionary ideas found to the south the Patriotes would only encompass a minority of Cassiens, with generous estimates placing the total number of active Patriotes at 10 to 12,000 out of a total Cassien population of over 140,000. Contentment with Gaullican rule during the "Gaullican ascendancy", combined with the cultural and geographic differences compared to the revolutionaries in the south, prevented a large scale outpouring of public support for independence. This difference of public opinion among Cassiens for the rebels compared to those found in the United Colonies significantly hampered Patriote efforts. The Patriotes did achieve some successes however, successfully capturing several Gaullican forts and supply depots during the conflict. The climax of Patriote effort was reached at the Battle of Louiseville which saw an army of 5,400 Patriotes led by general Vivien Gérin-Lajoie decisively defeated by 3,500 strong loyalist and Gaullican force, resulting in the death of general Lajoie and the shattering of the bulk of Patriote forces. The defeat resulted in the near total collapse of Patriote forces in Cassier, with the remaining Patriote forces and their supporters fleeing south to the United Colonies. The Patriotes would continue to fight alongside fellow rebels outside of Cassier until the end of the war in 1771.
Terms
Liberal politicians during the early days of the Cassien domain were known as “Whigs”, identifying with other political groups in Gaullica with similar politics and ideologies. Patriotes were the most radicial of the Whigs, and represented a small but vocal minority in Cassien politics. In Gaullica during this period, the word “Patriote” had a negative connotation and was used as a general epithet for a factious disturber of the government.
Prior to the Asterian War of Secession, Cassiens who supported Gaullican authority where known by a variety of different terms, though "Tory" became the most widespread. Torries generally identified with the philosophy of traditional conservatism and monarchism in Gaullica. During the war Torries who actively opposed the Patriotes became known as Loyalists.
Influence
Many Cassiens who would align themselves with the Patriotes were active before the start of the war in groups such as the "Sons of the North". Those considered Patriotes represented a cross-section of the population of the Domain of Cassier and hailed from a plethora of backgrounds. Modern estimates maintain that about 10 percent of the white population in the Cassier openly supported the Patriotes' cause, between 25 and 30 percent actively supported the Loyalists, and the remainder either remained neutral or held private sympathies to either side. The majority of Patriotes and their supports fled to Halland after the defeat of Lajoie at the Battle of Louiseville, and would settle there after the war.
Motivations
Historians have explored the motivations that pulled men to one side or the other. Most modern historians use the published materials, personal writings, and letters of men on each side. The general consensus among experts is that there were eight characteristics that differentiated the two groups. Loyalists were generally older, better established, and more likely to resist innovation than the Patriotes. Loyalists felt that Gaullica were Cassier's legitimate overlords and believed that resistance was morally wrong. The mentality of most Patriotes was that morality on their side because the colonial government had violated their constitutional rights as fellow Gaullicans. Those who were alienated by physical attacks on royal officials took the Loyalist position, while those who were offended by heavy-handed Gaullican rule became Patriotes. Merchants in particular with long-standing financial attachments to the Gaullican empire were also generally loyal, while very few Patriotes were so deeply enmeshed in the system. Some others were "procrastinators" who believed that independence was bound to come some day but wanted to "postpone the moment", while the Patriotes actively wanted to "seize the moment". Loyalists figures were also generally cautious and afraid towards a Patriote victory, fearing the possibility of anarchy that might come from republicanism which they generally viewed as mob rule.
Defeat and Legacy
The Battle of Louiseville proved a devastating blow to the Patriotes and damanged what little public support they had been able to acquire amongst Cassiens. Following the death of general Lajoie the majority of Patriote groups were routed out of Cassier entirely, with their supporters or leaders who failed to escape being tried and punished for treason and most being sentenced to death. Paranoia swept the domain as thousands were labelled as traitors to the Gaullican crown during this time. Public support for independence dwindled rapidly as the fearful population did not wish to potentially associate themselves with the Patriotes and face the same fate as the accused. Serious discussions for Cassien separation from Gaullica would not resurface until the 1840s, with Cassier itself not becoming fully sovereign until the end of the Great War.
Cassien attitudes towards the Patriotes have changed significantly over time. Since the 1860s many Cassien writers, artists, and political figures have portrayed the Patriotes in an increasingly sympathetic way, giving rise to the mentality of the "lost Patriote cause". The Great War period saw the public's perception of the Patriotes significantly change, with the mentality of the rebels post-Great War having moved away from the label of tratorous rebels to forerunners of the now independent Cassien republic. General Lajoie and other Patriote figures have become viewed as martyrs or national heroes in the minds of modern Cassiens, and numerous memorials dedicated to the Patriotes being erected throughout Cassier, the most prominant being the site of the Battle of Louiseville which is now a national monument. This shift has been criticized by many pre and post-war Cassiens however. Many have expressed that the more favourable picture the public has been presented with is the result of contemporary works often whitewashing the Patriotes and their supporters, covering up the true nature of many within the movement.