History of the Holy Empire of New Israel
The history of the Holy Empire of New Israel refers primarily to political and religious developments within the Holy Empire itself and its respective states. This history overlaps on multiple occasions with the histories of other nations, such as Rocklund, Wurdigeland, and the Saxon Empire.
The Freedomian Empire
The Empire of Freedomia, which lasted under various forms of government from April 2009 to March 2013, was the immediate predecessor to the Holy Empire of New Israel. Along with the Saxon Empire's Kingdom of West Germania, Freedomia contributed to the formation of the Holy Empire.
After the Emperor of Freedomia formally converted to Protestantism in late 2012, he immediately adopted fundamentalist positions and began to impose these positions on the larger country. Such acts as the "Christian Revolution", as Emperor Markus entitled it, coincided with Freedomia's transition from a secular republic to a Protestant monarchy.
However, these reforms were not widely supported, particularly among Freedomia's Imperial Senate. After the collapse of the Confederate States of Prosperity, which outraged Markus and caused him to publicly berate the Confederacy's leaders and new member-states, many in the Imperial Senate felt Markus was no longer fit to rule. Lord Chancellor Dakoda George, on the infamous coup of 18 December 2012, declared a rebellion against Emperor Markus. However, this rebellion was quickly suppressed and Emperor Markus, with the support of President David of Ultamiya and King Penda II of Saxony, essentially scrapped the constitution and furthered his Christian agenda. However, many states in the Empire, including Rocklund and Carlington, seceded.
Freedomian Civil War and the dissolution of Freedomia's government
The Freedomian Civil War lasted from 18 December 2012 to 10 January 2013, ending nominally with the 10 January Accords. In a stark change of mind, the Emperor relented to secessionist movements in Rocklund and Carlington, accepting limited powers and a dual-monarchy with Titania Smith, wherein Markus would control the Church of Freedomia, and Titania would wield secular power.
This arrangement, which Markus quickly regretted, deteriorated quickly. By the end of the month, after Markus appointed Penda II to the Imperial Senate, tensions erupted into open infighting. A final chaotic meeting of the Imperial Senate - the last one ever held - on 1 February 2013, where profanities were exchanged on both sides, led to Markus, at Penda's urging, renmoving co-Empress Titania from power and barring Titania from Freedomia's online presence, where most government business was conducted. This was condemned by Yurt Kyong-yon, also known as J.J. Hakimoto of the Democratic People's Republic of Yurtyzstan, who had until that time been a senator in the Freedomian Imperial Senate. A state of war was proclaimed between Freedomia and Yurtystan, Rocklund, and probably Carlington as well.
During this time, as Freedomia's government was dissolved and Penda II made Lord Chancellor of Freedomia, Emperor Markus and Penda began to discuss a new government, even a new nation, to replace the current one. The Freedomian constitution was in tatters, most states outside of Markus' immediate control had seceded, and Markus had lost most of his supporters. Markus initially proposed a "united Christian empire", which confederated Saxony and Freedomia for several weeks.
Throughout February, the provisional government of the united Christian empire issued no decrees or constitutions. It was a purely ad hoc arrangement. Markus claimed a dream - which he called a divine inspiration - proposed the name "united Christian empire" to him.
It was not to be. Markus and Penda persuaded President David of Ultamiya to join the Confederation, but David claimed he required the approval of his government. The Vice-President of Ultamiya at the time, Mikaila, disagreed with joining the Christian empire. Within weeks, Ultamiya itself would be dissolved.
Formation of the Holy Empire of New Israel
In late February, several weeks into the united Christian empire arrangement, Emperor Markus proposed a more centralised and cogent administration for the confederacy between Freedomia and Saxony, and the name "Holy Empire of New Israel" was proposed by Markus to Penda's approval. A date was set for the formation of the Empire: 1 March 2013.
Once the Holy Empire was established, its Emperor and the Supreme Governor, Penda II, began working on its constitution and code of laws. Uniquely, the nation preceded the constitution, not the other way around.
Throughout this time, the former co-Emperor Titus would join the Oasis Islands republic under the leadership of Casey Hamlin. After Casey Hamlin publicly announced his homosexuality, Emperor Markus condemned him for this and published several articles on New Israel Today on sexual and moral issues, to the general consternation of most of the micronational community.
Spice Wars
On 1 April 2013, after a month of agitation from Yurtyzstan, the Oasis Islands, and personal attacks from Jacques Miles of Rocklund, all three of these nations were formally prosecuted in War. The Imperial Knesset, the name of the New Israeli legislature at that time, by unanimous consent of Markus and Penda, declared war on Yurtyzstan, Oasis Islands, and Rocklund.
