1945 Gelonian Great Council
The 1945 Gelonian Great Council was an convocation of the Gelonian Clans and local officials to select the form of government of Gelonia, and ultimately served as the only royal election in Gelonian history. It took place at Guillous Aedificium, now known as Tinolea Palace, in Durnovaria, on 2 May 1945 to 1 August 1945. Alan Rouanti was elected King of Gelonia.
Background
On 12 April 1945, the Ascanium Massacre occurred in Latium and resulted in the death of Constantine XIX Anicius and other members of the Latin Imperial Family, and marked the beginning of the Social War. At the time, Gelonia was a diocese of Latium under the governorship of Eligius Antistius, who was unpopular with the local populace. Initially, central government authorities maintained control in Gelonia, but increasingly faced protests and increasingly violent gatherings led by the GNF and other growing nationalist groups. On April 25, Imperial legions clashed with protestors and over 400 individuals were killed. A week later, two of the four legions stationed in Gelonia were recalled to Adrianople to support the Imperial war effort, which resulted in a gradual breakdown of Latin control in the Gelonian diocese with remaining forces spread thin.
On May 29, Vicar Antistius was recalled from Gelonia by newly proclaimed Empress Diana I Anicia, on the order of her regent Dowager Empress Alexandra. Antistius was ordered to returned to Latium with the sole remaining Gelonian-based legion. Aurelius Canbarico was appointed the last Vicar of Geloina, and would have been the first Gelonian-born vicar; however, he never assumed de facto control of the local government. The collapse of Latin control in Gelonia resulted in a gathering of the Gelonian clan chiefs, who despite their displacement and lack of involvement in the Latin power structure still maintained a place of honor and status in Gelonian society. On 2 May 1945, chiefs from 187 clans gathered in Durnovaria, at what would become Tinolea Palace, to hold the first Seanado in over three centuries. The chiefs first elected a leader of the Seanado, and subsequently laid out plans for restoring order to the diocese.
Despite the Seanado initially setting policy to safeguard Gelonia during the Social War, a number of chiefs began to call for a vote on independence and overthrow of Latin rule in Gelonia. The first vote for independence was held on May 6, but was tabled and later defeated as the chiefs later approved a measure to support the Imperial cause in the Social War in exchange for re-establishing the Seanado and self-government. The courier departed Durnovaria with these terms for Castellum; however, there were never reports that the courier reached Castellum and no Latin response was ever sent back to the Seanado. Due to the lack of response, the Seanado soon voted in favor of independence and the establishment of a Gelonian nation. After four votes, on 17 May 1945, Chief Speaker Comux Margana issued a proclamation for Gelonian independence and ordered any remaining Imperial officials out of "Gelonian lands." A second vote was held for the creation of a Gelonian Army and raising militias. Alan Rouanti was appointed Military Count of Gelonia by the Seanado on May 19.
Votes on form of government
On 21 May 1945, following the Seanado's declaration of independence, the Seanado began debate on establishing a government, with the Seanado appointing a series of interim officials to represent Gelonia internationally and call for support, and fill vacant offices left by Latin officials. Initially, the Seanado continued to maintain Latin government structure in Gelonia. By 1 June 1945, representatives from major Gelonian cities were invited to join the Seanado for debate on the formation of a Gelonian government. Representatives from Sasora were invited to join, but few representatives, if any, were able to travel due to a strong Latin naval presence around Sasora.
A number of factions began to form in the Seanado. While previously the factions were split based on an independence or autonomist basis, this time the line was drawn on monarchy or republic. The largest faction consisted of those that wished to establish a monarchy, with those inside the faction split on what sort of authority a monarch should have in Gelonia. The largest continent of the royalist faction consisted of those that wished to have a strong monarch, similar to that of Latium, while a lesser group wished to install a weaker, more ceremonial monarch, in an effort to win over some of the autonomist faction and Catholic chiefs. A second division evolved between a hereditary or elective monarch, the former favored by Protestant chiefs and the latter favored by Catholic chiefs.
Fabrian chiefs, who also consisted of a strong portion of the autonomist faction, began to offer lukewarm support for a noble republic; however, others in the republican faction, primarily representatives joined from rural cities and municipalities, supported a more typical republic. But it was due to the power of the Seanado that the group began to coalesce and draw up a proposal for classical, noble republic. A minor socialist group of chiefs or municipal representatives withdrew from the republican faction and later presented a proposal for a non-socialist republic.
Sezeca Plan
The monarchists eventually settled on a quasi-hereditary monarchy, in which the king was nominally elected, or acclaimed, by the Seanado following the death of his predecessor. Under the Sezeca Plan, the king would have a series of executive functions, such as appointing the [head of government] and ministers, directing foreign policy, assenting to legislation, among others. The plan did not call for a specified monarch initially, and was expected by supporters to be debated among the Seanado once the plan was selected.
Original drafts of the Sezeca Plan called for a unicameral system, which would be comprised of clan representation alone. However, the plan allowed for clans to determine amongst themselves how to determine representation, in most cases either appointment of the clan chief or intraclan election. The plan evolved to later allow for the establishment of two legislative chambers, one consisting of clan representation and a second based on national election.
Laorana Plan
Members of the autonomist faction proposed a semi-parliamentary noble republic. Under this plan, the legislature would consist of two houses, one composed of 250 members elected from the clans, and a lower house composed of 450 nationally elected representatives. The upper house, the Seanado, would nominate the head of state and government, who would then be elected by a vote of both houses of the legislature. The head of state and government would nominate ministers to a national cabinet to oversee the day to day government, upon the consent of the Seanado.
The Laorana Plan saw strong support from Fabrian chiefs and local leaders, as well as those favoring a stronger democracy.
Popular Plan
A small minority of attendees supported the establishment of a democratic republic, which would feature a nationally elected unicameral legislature. There was no consensus among those supporting the plan whether the head of government would be chosen following an election or by the legislature. The plan was dropped before it could be formally proposed to the Seanado.
Royal election
Once the Seanado approved the re-establishment of the monarchy, it requested all claimants submit their claims to the throne within 96 hours. Nearly 15 claimants submitted claims to the Seanado. Ten minor claims were dismissed without debate, but only two of the remaining claims were seriously considered by the representatives: Ria Rouanti and Chief Alan Rouanti. Both Ria Rouanti and Alan Rouanti were considered the most senior heirs of their shared grandfather, Riothamus Rouanti. The claim of Ria Rouanti was considered the senior claim according to primogeniture. However, the claim of Alan Rouanti was favored according to agnatic seniority and proximity as the most senior male heir of Riothamus Rouanti.
Claims
| Claimant | Claim | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Alan Rouanti | Senior male descendant of King Arthur IX; he was grandson of Chief Riothamus Rouanti | Considered one of the initial front runners, and ultimately elected king. |
| Ria Rouanti | Senior heir of King Arthur IX according to primogeniture; she was granddaughter and senior heir of Chief Riothamus Rouanti according to primogeniture. | Considered one of the initial front runners, but and runner-up of the Council's vote. |
| Adiuni Sezeca | Descendant of Arthur IX. | Claim withdrawn and endorsed Alan Rouanti. |
| Some Nyrundy-Roebeck descendant | Descendant of Arthur IX. | Claim withdrawn. |
Seanado vote
On 31 July, the Seanado gathered to hold a final debate between the claims of Ria Rouanti and Alan Rouanti. It was believed by many that Alan Rouanti was the favored candidate going into the vote, due in large part to his position as Military Count of Gelonia, and commander of the newly established Gelonian military. Despite this, Alan was not the senior claimant to the Gelonian throne, a status held by his first cousin Ria. However, Ria's claim suffered due to her gender and the lack of desire among the chiefs to enthrone the first woman in Gelonian history.
The supporters of Ria Rouanti consisted of a number of clans with ties to Ria's brother-in-law Brennus Uxentia, and Clan Uxentia, as well as Clan Guegani. Ria's claim also suffered from a fear of Latin influence from her mother [TBD], and husband . Fearing a loss, some supporters considered instead supporting the claim of Ria's son, Robert of Keld; however, his claim was previously set aside by the Seanado due to his age and the desire to avoid a young, inexperienced king at a time of war. Ria spoke to the Seanado in favor of her claim on the afternoon of July 31. She urged the Seanado to support her claim and break from history as the realm first did when it allowed the throne to pass through the female line to King Arthur IX, who inherited the throne from his mother Rimoete.
Reports from the Seanado also note that a faction of chiefs feared that Alan Rouanti would seize control of throne regardless of the outcome of the vote due to his control of the military and loyalty of the officers. Chief Erasmo Laorana revealed in his biography that his vote for Alan as king was only to safeguard the potential reputation of the fledgling Gelonia in the event that Alan lost and attempted to seize the throne by force, demonstrating the real concern among chiefs that Alan may act. Unlike Ria, Alan did not speak to the Seanado, but supporters of Alan, including Chief Belado Sezeca reminded the Seanado that Alan's daughter, Beladore, was Empress of Ghant. Other supporters spoke to Alan's dedication to the war, and that Alan was away from the Seanado attending to the war and fortifications at the border.
On the morning of August 1, the Seanado voted by secret ballot. The votes were tallied the following day, Alan Rouanti was victorious with 283 votes in favor, with Ria receiving 49, and one abstaining vote from Clan Rouanti.
Aftermath
Alan was in Ranneo (then Vorgium) during the vote, a notified the following day that he was elected king. He informed the Seanado and his troops that he would take the regnal name Alan V, thereby recognizing himself as a continuation of the line of monarchs from the first kingdom. This has continued among his successors. Alan called for a constitutional convention to be called after the war was concluded, and that they should follow the Sezeca Plan.
The vote established a precedent on succession matters that a woman should not inherit the throne and that one can no longer inherit through the female line. It also established the precedent of the Seanado playing a role in the ascension of the monarch, with a vote among the clans to finalize ones's ascension. However, in 2013, the precedent against a female succeeding to the throne was set aside by proclamation of King Arthur XI when he named his daughter, and eldest surviving child, Princess Lena, heir apparent and required oaths of fealty from the Seanado, Tinolea, members of the military, and royal family.