Free Democracy of Storøy-Vestøy
Free Democracy of Storøy-Vestøy Free Democracy of Taranger, Fjordland, Vestøy, Alfheim, Nordlandene and the Southern Lands | |
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Flag | |
Anthem: Republikkmarsjen | |
| Capital | None |
| Official languages | Breheimian |
| Ethnic groups | Breheimian |
| Religion | N/A |
| Demonym(s) | Free Democrat Demokrat Breheimian |
| Government | Confederal Direct Democracy |
• Headman Hovedmann | Arne Torsteinsøn |
| Legislature | Urban Forums and Rural Tings Storvik Forum Bjørnborg Forum Taranger Forum Kirkby Forum Alfby Forum |
| Founding | |
• Revolution | 1791 |
| Population | |
• Estimate | Est. 3 million |
| Currency | Various |
| Date format | dd.mm.yyyy |
The Free Democracy of Storøy-Vestøy (a term largely used after the fact, as its only official name at the time was 'The Free Democracy') is the name of the state ruling Breheim between the Republican Revolution of 1791 until the Second Revolution in 1797.
Politics
Following the formation and dissolution of the National Assembly in 1791, the Free Democracy functioned as a confederal direct democracy, with each city and rural area handling their own affairs through public assemblies (called 'forums' for urban areas and 'tings' for rural ones, although some areas had other terms, most prominently the Fjellmøte of Odinberg). The only prohibitions on the individual assemblies was prohibition of slavery, aristocracy and monarchism. However, a form of elected national government persisted through the Headman (a title held by Arne Torsteinsøn throughout the Free Democratic period) who was responsible for maintaining foreign affairs, and in times of war could overturn the decisions of individual assemblies. The Revolutionary Militia, the armed forces of the Free Democracy, was also structured nationally under the supervision of the Headman. The Headman had no term limit, but if a majority of assemblies decided to recall the headman, the five largest assemblies (those of the cities of Storvik, Taranger, Bjørnborg, Kirkby and Alfby) would appoint a new Headman. In times of peace, the Headman had no authority over the decisions of any single assembly.
Political Factions
While no real political parties formed during the Free Democracy, there still existed extensive factionalism. These were typically structured around chapter-based political clubs, who argued for certain policies. The largest of these was the Revolutionary Society for Justice, typically named 'Arnites' due to their leader, who was extremely radical and vehement in anti-monarchism and authority. The RSJ, or the Arnites, were predominantly of the 'brokklause' (a term for free urban labourers) and former slaves, although also had the support of several intellectual figures. Other factions includes the Constitutional Club (who favored a more moderate approach, as well as representative democracy), the Society of the Compatriots of Rights and Liberties (a radical society who primarily held sway in certain urban areas), the Freeborn Society of Labour (a moderate faction who also consisted primarily of urban laborers, as well as merchants), the Society for the Establishment of Nationhood (a primarily rural faction who increasingly favored stability), the Moderate Society (self-explanatory) and the League of the Dispossessed (the only well-known faction to have been more radical than the Revolutionary Society for Justice, typically called Blankets).
In addition to the aforementioned, many smaller political clubs existed. The only faction to ever have been banned during the course of the Free Democracy (barring a handful of areas) was the Counterrevolutionary Society, who advocated a reversal of revolutionary reforms and a restoration of the throne. Most members of the Counterrevolutionary Society ended up guillotined within years of the Revolution. The Society of Order and Rightful Rule was also banned in some cities, such as Storvik and Bjørnborg, and many of their leaders guillotined. The SORR advocated a constitutional monarchy under the control of an elected national assembly, and formed the basis of the post-revolutionary monarchist movement (who maintained some degree of activity all the way into the 19th century, but had all but died out by 1836).