Spice Wars
The Spice Wars were a series of conflicts (both military and ideological) between the Holy Empire of New Israel and the Wurtige Empire, the Wurtige Empire's successor states, affiliates thereof, and early enemies of the Holy Empire, that lasted from 2012 until 2015. Throughout the wars, the Würtige Empire fielded large coalitions against Emperor Markus II. The Spice Wars began before the founding of the Holy Empire, during the final months of the Freihetian Empire. A state of conflict between Freihetia (and later New Israel) and the Wurtige Empire has continuously existed since 18 December 2012, when the Empire intervened in the Freihetian Senate and attempted to overthrow Emperor Markus. This failed attempt instigated resentment between the two states and their respective spheres of influence. After the Holy Empire was created, a state of war was declared directly against the Wurtige. However, the wars existed only on paper, as there were no casualties or battles, many of the nations existing in large distances from one another.
Etymology
The name "Spice Wars" was used primarily by the New Israeli side of the conflict, with most on the Würtige side simply referring to wars with New Israel and not knowing where the term originated. There were no spices involved with the war.
Freihetian Civil War
| Freihetian Civil War | |||||||
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| Part of The Spice Wars | |||||||
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Separatists Supported by: |
Freihetian Empire Supported by: | ||||||
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Separatists
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Freihetians
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The beginning of the Spice Wars, though not formally called "Spice Wars" at the time, is traced to December 2012, when then-Freihetian Emperor Markus II violently opposed and fought against creation of the Würtige Empire. Attempting to create opposition to the Würtige Empire, which was gaining new states from a declining Confederate States of Prosperity, Emperor Markus eventually failed and the Confederacy was dissolved.
I will not serve a nation of fools and imbeciles, the lands of House George are hereby withdrawn from all Freedomian jurisdiction. The North is hereby declared from all House George protection and returned to the United States of America, except for the land held legally by House George itself.
— Dakoda George
(Formerly) being a lord in Knoll Island, Markus lobbied for Knollish secession from the Würtige Empire, eventually being tried for treason in a Würtige Court (in absentia)[1]. In this, he was expelled from Knoll Island (soon after renamed Nolland. Markus' attempts to prevent the dissolution of the Confederacy, and harsh, swear-ridden comments against the Wurtige, led to an internal rebellion in the Imperial Senate of Freihetia, commandeered by Dakoda George and Jacques Miles. The revolt of the 18 December happened in this manner: On 18 December, disillusioned members of the Senate, led by Dakoda George and Jacque Miles of Rocklund attempted a coup d'etat against the government of Freihetia. The Emperor summoned his mother, a senator from an obscure province of Freihetia, as well as a few of his micronational contacts, and managed to halt the attempt to remove him from power. In the following days, he spoke with Jacque Miles on the phone and was famously wiretapped, claiming to be a "champion of democracy". Markus maintains that this recording still exists, and the wiretapping is one example of the hostility to his government. The revolt of 18 December was suppressed by Markus, but not before numerous states seceded from the Freihetian Empire, which began a decline almost at the same time as the Confederacy. Markus refused to recognize the secession of the states, which led to hostility; though the conflict between Markus and the rebel states was temporarily stymied by the 10 January Accords, negotiated by Yurt Kyong-yon. Yurt Kyong-yon of Yurtyzstan, representing the Freihetian Maturity and Pacifism Front, a political party calling for non-involvement in wars and democratic reforms, entered the scene, and proposed the Accords' sweeping reforms, which included the institution of a democratic government to largely limit the scope of the monarchy.
10 January Accords
The Accords called for a constitutional referendum on the status of Emperor Markus, as well as the appointment of Titus as a co-Emperor. Markus was to assume authority over the church, and Titus over the state. These accords also called for limits on imperial power.
Prior to the signing of the Accords, on 3 January, Titus Smith arrived unexpectedly, communicating his wishes to the Emperor to be re-introduced into the Freihetian government. Smith, who had previously served as a governor and a member of the Imperial Senate of Freihetia, had resigned during the summer of 2012, though his return was well-received by the Emperor. Titus was restored to previous government positions, including his seat in the Senate. The crisis in Freihetia continued, however, with the demands of the Emperor to annex Rocklund back into the Empire, by force if needed. This was opposed by Smith, who called for Rocklund's independence.
The 10 January Accords created a dual monarchy in the Empire of Freihetia - Titus I, a prominent (and elusive) Freihetian senator who had not joined the rebellion, was declared a co-Emperor with powers over the state, whereas Markus would govern the church. Almost immediately after the 10 January Accords' supposed peace, Markus declared New Israel had annexed Jacque Miles' rebel state of Rocklund (which had been declared independent in the Accords), and Emperor Titus condemned this, declaring to Markus that he was his mentor, and must listen to him. This created a feud between the two which culminated in a chaotic (final) meeting of the Senate in early February 2013. Soon after, the Senate was dissolved and Markus led a successful coup against Titus with the help of his newfound ally Sean Anderson. The Senate and Constitution were abolished, and Freihetia was declared a Christian theocracy. Also, Markus had secretly negotiated the creation of a league of Christian states, a united Christian empire, which was publicly announced after the coup. The united Christian empire consisted of West Germania and Freedomia; and Ultamiya was invited, but declined to join. The formation of the united Christian empire was due to the crises in the declining Freihetian Empire, but especially by a prophetic dream the Emperor claimed to have had in the beginning of the year, envisioning a large Christian state.
Formation of New Israel
Within a matter of days, the united Christian empire's leadership, Markus and Penda decided to unite their holy league into a formal state. This was the creation of the Holy Empire of New Israel, which was formally established on 1 March 2013.
Mere days beyond its establishment, New Israel declared war on the Würtige Empire, an act that was never officially recognised by the Würtige government. The declaration was re-issued on the 1 April 2014, which began the Second Spice War, as known by New Israeli historians. Following occasional flashpoints in the conflict throughout 2013, all-out war finally broke out in July 2014 when the Kingdom of West Germania, a part of New Israel, declared independence. The Würtige Empire immediately sided with their West Germanic allies, leading to the West Germanic War of Independence (also known as the West Germanic Bishop's War).
First Spice War
| First Spice War | |||||||
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United Christian Empire Supported by: |
Wurtige, et al | ||||||
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United Christian Empire |
Wurtige, et al
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Emperor Markus issued a declaration of war first early in February. Upon the establishment of New Israel on 1 March 2013, the declaration was apparently reneged. This brief conflict throughout February was the First Spice War. On Easter Monday, 1 April 2013, New Israel declared war on Yurtyzstan, the Würtige Empire, Rocklund and the Oasis Islands, citing aggression to New Israel's establishment; this began the Second Spice War. The First Spice War is not often mentioned, as it was brief, and occurred during the existence of the Christian league (prior to New Israel was formed). The First Spice War had no particular outcome.
| Second Spice War | |||||||
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New Israel |
Wurtige, et al
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New Israel |
Wurtige, et al
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Oasis Islands involvement
On 13 July 2013, New Israel was allegedly criticized by a "MicroGroup community" after attacking Casey Hamlin unprovoked. Hamlin, the Emperor had declared, supported perversions, and forwarded a video comparing homosexuality to farm animals,[2] thus ratcheting up the conflict. The war, which remained unrecognized by the Oasis Islands, continued with New Israel attacking the Oasis Islands for factually nonexistent inactivity and the nation's positive reaction to the overturning of the US Defense of Marriage Act.
In late July, Hamlin began to become wary of the effects of the conflict on his nation and its standing in the micronational community, believing that the conflict had become too overblown. Contact began between Hamlin and the leaders of the Holy Empire with Oasis Island News reporting on 21 July that the two nations were close to an agreement to end the conflict. These talks continued until 23 July, when New Israel's internet assets suddenly disappeared and contact ceased.
On 8 August 2013, New Israel's online presence came back up with their new news website, New Israel Today. Shortly after that, the President and the Emperor began contact again and on 26 August 2013 it was announced that the two nations had officially ended the conflict.
Annexation of New Wiltshire
| Annexation of New Wiltshire | |||||||
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| Part of The Spice Wars | |||||||
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New Israel |
New Wessex | ||||||
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New Israel |
New Wessex | ||||||
Emperor Markus happened to independently rule a possession of New Wessex (a colonial form of Wilcsland which existed between 2012 and 2014). Markus' religious zeal throughout the war prompted him to withdraw New Wiltshire on account of the behaviour of Declan I, the Wessaxon/Wilcslandian king.
This was coupled with an order of annexation, bringing New Wiltshire under New Israeli control. Subsequently, it was merged into Rocklund. This act of war against New Wessex was ignored - there was no official response from the Wessaxon king, who in the latter part of his reign abandoned the government of his nation. Declan I was deposed on 31 December 2014, and his successor Ptolemy II does not lay claim to New Wiltshire.
Second Spice War
West Germanic Independence
In March 2014, the Puritan Act of 2014 was passed by the Senate of West Germania, forbidding images of Christ, government-sponsored holy days, or bishops in the West Germanic church. It was not until 14 June when Markus discovered the act, and he contacted Penda two days later expressing his objections. This led to a long theological debate between Penda and Markus, where Markus claimed the Puritan Act was against "sound Christian principles established by New Israeli law", and would result in a "schism". According to King Penda II of West Germania, the New Israeli emperor repeatedly lectured him on theology.[3]
On July 12, Markus sent several imperial decrees to King Penda, who administrated the legislative archive of the New Israeli government. He asked him to post the various decrees to the now-defunct government website. Among these decrees, Penda objected to a "theological synod" held on 1 April 2014, believing it to be further intrusion on the West Germanic church. Another decree recognized the Jewish religion in New Israel. In response, the Saxon monarch wrote an editorial calling for a peaceful solution to Palestine. Penda called Palestine antagonistic, but Israel a "bully". He confirmed he would not support Israel, or Zionism, and proposed a two-state solution.[4]
This exchange prompted further debate between Penda and Markus over eschatological topics, finally resulting in the Saxon legislature issuing a decree against Judaism, which was called "filthy and vain", and not a true Abrahamic religion. Markus seized on this and confronted Penda through an imperial decree on 19 July.
The decree was essentially the New Israeli government declaring support for the state of Israel and Zionism, a move that was strongly opposed by Penda. After Markus refused to back down on the matter, Penda declared his intent for West Germania to secede from New Israel.
On 20 July, the arguments between Penda and Markus began to deteriorate, and news soon broke in the Yellow Bear Micronational Skype chatroom about the situation. King Penda immediately gained support from the several Würtige officials present there, along with other micronationalists such as Luke Albertschine and Vera Hewitt. This encouragement prompted an official declaration of independence to be issued on the evening of the 20th at around 22:52 PM GMT. By 23:04, Penda had resigned from all his New Israeli offices.
Declaration of War
Meanwhile, a document known as the Treaty of York was being drafted by Würtige officials. It was passed through the Imperial Council and posted online, signed by West Germania and their observer state, the Empire of Kleinebayern. This alliance solidified the the fact that the war was a continuation of the Freihetian Aggression, at least from the perspective of the Würtige Empire. Simultaneously, Vera Hewitty proposed a declaration to the Federal Assembly of Ashukovo, however, this was later withdrawn. Similar preparations by Luke Albertschine on behalf of Hobartstown and Victoria were also withdrawn, with him instead advocating a peaceful resolution to the conflict (to the ire of Emperor Markus).
| Second/Third Spice War West Germanic Bishop's War War of the Freedomian Aggression | |||||||
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New Israel Supported by: |
Yorkists
Supported by: | ||||||
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New Israel |
Yorkists
Supported by: | ||||||
Over a week after West Germania declared independence, Emperor Markus and the New Israeli government issued a declaration of war against the Treaty of York. In the ensuing conflict, the NINBC, the state media of New Israel, produced several propaganda films, highlighting the anti-Jewish remarks of the West Germanic Senate.
This war, lasting from 28 July to 8 August, was brief and resulted in few exchanges. Markus insisted that West Germania had no right to secede and intended to form a government-in-exile for the Saxon Empire (this never materialized).
Rocklund Armistice
As pressure mounted and the Yorkist coalition grew, Emperor Markus was increasingly encouraged to capitulate. On 8 August 2014, His Lordship Richard I privately urged the Emperor to sign an armistice. An internal development was announced to the Emperor, that the Würtige Empire intended to threaten him further if he did not sign. Despite the protests of prominent Würtige politicians from the Tsardom of Nolland and Mercia, New Israel signed the Rocklund Armistice.
In an impetuous effort at reconciliation, the Emperor offered extravagant gifts to the Yorkists. Rocklund and the entirety of the Sullivan Republic was ceded to the Tsardom of Nolland. Markus likewise offered up the Holy Empire as a vassal of Mercia. New Israel was required to decrease its military forces and turn them into a strictly defensive force. The Emperor also became a bishop within the Mercian Church, but resigned shortly thereafter due to a controversy over the theological issue of the ordination of women to the diaconate.
Subsequent developments
After a lost copy of the Treaty of Rocklund was discovered in May 2015, Rocklund was declared a possession of the Holy Empire by order of the Edict Concerning the Several States, reversing the Treaty of York's provisions for Roccish independence. Throughout the previous year, the leader of Rocklund privately made several inflammatory remarks towards the Emperor; this was seen as additional justification for declaring jurisprudence over Rocklund.
Reconciliation of the Holy Empire and Saxony
The Saxon Empire shall henceforth be an Imperial Circle of New Israel.
The Emperor of New Israel shall therefore hold the title of Saxon Emperor.
The Republic of Saxmark shall be admitted as an Incorporated State of New Israel, directly accountable to the Emperor and to the Constitution.
The other Saxon states, overseen by the Steward of Saxmark, shall remain as Special Autonomous States, retaining the right to their own governments, monarchies, legal systems, and monetary systems, and the right to secede at any time.
— The Treaty of Reunification[6]
While the Wurtige Empire was in decline, Emperor Markus planned a reconciliation with Saxony. Having reconquered Rocklund and secured the blessing of Nolland to the rest of the Sullivan Republic, Markus announced that, on 10 August 2015, the Holy Empire of New Israel and the Saxon Empire had reunited.
If everything is up front already, may I just remind New Israel that it's [sic] union with the Saxon Empire is illegal under the Wuertige State Joining Treaty, under Article 3 (3): "States may not possess federal, confederal, imperial, colonial and commonwealth claims under their authority and hegemony, unless these claims are given official permission by the Reichsrat to be claimed. Also, these claims must acknowledge the Würtige State Joining Treaty as the legitimate binding document between themselves and the Würtige Empire."
— Richard I of Mercia
Wurtige leader Richard I declared the union between the Saxon Empire and New Israel to be illegal,[7] prompting Emperor Markus to declare the Wurtige to be aggressively intervening in New Israel's governance.[8] At the same, the Emperor announced a rebellion against the Wurtige Empire for alleged abuses, such as insults exchanged against the Emperor and New Israel in the Wurtige legislature, and a "conspiracy" to suppress Christian laws within New Israel.
In vengeance to the Wurtige, Markus, as once more the emperor of the Saxon Empire, signed a new document withdrawing the Saxon Empire from the Treaty of York alliance, and reneging on the Rocklund Armistice. This cancelled out all gains made by the Yorkists in the Second Spice War.[9]
Saxon Withdrawal from the Treaty of York
On 1 September 2015, the Saxon Empire formerly withdrew from the Treaty of York alliance, and reneged on the Rocklund Armistice.
Second 10 January Accords
| Saxon Rebellion | |||||||
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| Part of The Spice Wars | |||||||
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New Israel |
Wurtige Empire | ||||||
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New Israel |
Wurtige Empire
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In December 2015, the newly-formed Apostolate of the Holy Office issued a statement against false pretenders to the papacy, attacking the office of the Austenasian Pontifex Maximus, declaring Pope Francis the only legitimate Pontifex Maximus. The statement also chastised the policy of iconoclasm in the Saxon Empire.
About a fortnight following, on 9 or 10 January 2016, Earl Pende of Saxony discovered Markus' statement, which he had quietly promulgated. He followed-up by declaring the dissolution of the Saxon Empire and a "rebellion against the emperor". To avoid war, Markus privately negotiated the Second 10 January Accords. These Accords declared:
- The semi-autonomous states of the Saxon Empire (Prussia and Libertaria) were constitutionally withdrawn from the Holy Empire, as they were annexed to the Holy Empire under the contingency that they could choose to leave;
- Saxmark would be formally dissolved;
- Markus would remain Emperor of the Saxon Empire, and thus the Saxon Empire would be maintained, contrary to Earl Pende's announcement.
Resolution
In the end, the Holy Empire, although it had suffered greatly in foreign policy due to the wars, by sheer time, managed to outlive most of its opponents, before being eventually dissolved in August 2018. The Duchy of Carlington faded into obscurity and presumable disbandment; the Democratic People's Republic of Yurtyzstan effectively ceased to exist in December 2013; Jacques Miles ceased to antagonise the Empire in late 2014, though Rocklund had long before been ceded to New Israel by the infamous Treaty. Many of New Israel's opponents in the Third Spice War, though later acknowledged to have been correct on the Zionist question, and similar matters, neverthless also collapsed, namely: the Principality of Prussia, whose war against New Israel was one of its last actions; the Sabbahid Caliphate being lost to history; and the Empire of Kleinebayern, which also fell into inactivity in 2014. Although New Israel itself was publicly inactive for a long period of time from 2016 to early 2018, with many changes in its leadership and policy, it is a fundamentally different state than it was from 2013-2016. Later threats to the Holy Empire before its dissolution were found not in the Spice Wars nations, but rather the Grand Republic of Delvera, a libertarian state that greatly opposed to New Israel for religious and political reasons.
Foreign response
Democratic Republic of Leylandiistan - The President of Leylandiistan released a statement on the Béal na Tíre news blog [10] stating his sympathy for West Germania, but saying "Leylandiistan will likely (and hopefully) remain neutral" in the conflict. The rest of the government in Leylandiistan has yet to respond and make a decision on what their position on the conflict is, although the chances of Leylandiistan ever signing the Treaty of York are very slim. During the brief Third Spice War, Leylandiistan's Béal na Tíre state media heavily covered the events going on during the war, interviewing both Emperor Markus and the then-rebel king Pende II.
Empire of Austenasia: The government of Austenasia made no official stance on the Spice Wars. Emperor Jonathan I made some unofficial remarks in Skype on 21 July 2014 querying the validity of a war in which neither side is able to take physical action against the other.
References
- ↑ The Trial of Mark Williams, Accessed 9 January MMXX
- ↑ Two Roosters Can't Make a Chicken
- ↑ http://saxmark.saxonempire.com/west-germanic-bishops-war.html
- ↑ http://raicespell.saxonempire.com/?p=47
- ↑ http://saxmark.saxonempire.com/uploads/9/8/4/5/9845410/_8132223_orig.png
- ↑ http://mw.micronation.org/w/images/f/fe/Reunification_of_the_Holy_Empire.pdf
- ↑ http://forum.micronation.org/showthread.php?pid=21117#pid21117
- ↑ http://forum.micronation.org/showthread.php?tid=1975&pid=21186#pid21186
- ↑ http://mw.micronation.org/wiki/File:Withdrawal-TreatyofYork.pdf
- ↑ Béal na Tíre: A message from the President, 21/7/14
