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Eduard Olsov Едуард Ольсов | |
|---|---|
 Olsov in 1884 | |
| President of Soravia[a] | |
| In office January 4, 1857 – June 9, 1890 | |
| Premier | Robert Marinin (1856–70) Anton Gavel Yemelin (1870–90) |
| Preceded by | Position created |
| Succeeded by | Vasily Isayev |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 19, 1821 Syrnitsa, Lushkina Governorate, Soravia |
| Died | June 9, 1890 (aged 69) Patovatra, Pavatria, Soravia |
| Political party | Independent |
| Education | University of Damesbridge |
Eduard Olsov (May 19, 1821 – June 9, 1890) was a Soravian politician and revolutionary who served as the first president of Soravia from 1856 to his death in 1890. Having been one of the leading figures of the Soravian Revolution, Olsov's administration oversaw a number of sweeping changes in Soravian society, including the abolition of slavery, serfdom and corporal punishment, the adoption of the gold standard, local ethnic self-governance, the expansion of suffrage, and the ratification of Soravia's first constitution, which persists as the country's supreme law. His 33 year-long tenure is one of the longest by a non-royal head of state.
Olsov was born into a devoutly Episemialist and wealthy family in 1821. He studied at the University of Damesbridge until 1843, when he returned to Soravia and worked as a writer for Gazeta in Samistopol. Olsov was initially supportive of the Soravian monarchy, but wrote extensively on political, particularly democratic, reforms in the country. He began to embrace republicanism during the War of the Triple Alliance, and was part of a clique of journalists who reported on the war for the paper. As a chief writer, he was well-known in Samistopol, but was fired for his support of the Borzhava Mutiny in January 1856. Olsov ultimately fully embraced republican politics, and led the large-scale liberal revolt in Samistopol as Count Mikhailitsyn was simultaneously assassinated in Kholmogory. After a compromise with the autonomist forces of Robert Marinin, Olsov was elected as Soravia's first president by the National Congress on January 4, 1857, with Marinin becoming the first minister-president.
Soravia was divided into a series of federal states in 1857, with a strong emphasis on local governance backed by a strong head of state. Olsov served initially as the president of Soravia, Chistovodia and Vinalia which were united in confederation with the Soravian mainland. His administration attempted to extend suffrage to free non-whites in Asteria, resulting in the Chistovinalian declaration of independence which was largely uncontested by Soravia. Olsov led the final abolition of slavery and serfdom in 1865, followed by the abolition of corporal punishment in 1883. The death of Marinin in 1870 saw Anton Gavel Yemelin become minister-president, and gradually the two centralised power in the presidency and away from local governments. He died in office in 1890.
Olsov's legacy as president has been controversial. He is generally rated very highly within Soravia, praised for his modernising reforms that brought Soravia from an antiquated and fractured state back to one of Euclea's foremost powers. Historians abroad, however, criticise him for eroding the democratic traditions that were established after the revolution in favour of a dictatorial head of state.
Notes
^ a. Styled officially as President of Soravia and Chistovodia and Vinalia from 1857 to 1859.