Old Guard (Roscamistan)
The Old Guard is the commonly but unofficial term referring to the leading political and social leaders in Roscamistan from its foundation on 18 February 2021 to the coup on 18 May 2021. The leading member overall was Thomas Jacobs, who founded the republic along with Connor Barrows on 18 February 2021. Most of the old guard were students at Gaelscoil Dara, an all Irish taught primary school located in what is now Mervustan Province. On 18 May 2021, a coup by Anthony Hanlon, Prime Minister of Mervustan overthrew Thomas Jacobs and set forward the short but brutal Hanlon Era. When Thomas Jacobs returned to the presidency, all politicians after his return were considered a part of the New Guard.
Background
In late January 2021, in protest to alleged neglect of Galway City East by the city council and COVID 19 lockdowns, Thomas Jacobs founded the Roscam Liberation Front to free the areas he thought were neglected. After a period known as the Roscami War of Independence, Thomas Jacobs, from the playground in Roscam proclaimed the Republic of Roscamistan. Later on Connor Barrows joined him, becoming Vice President of the fledgling nation.
History
Mid February to Mid March
From the founding of Roscamistan to Mid March, Andrew, Connor and a few others in Roscam, Dougiska and Oranmore were involved. Roscamistan was initially only comprised of three regions, Roscam, Dougiska and Oranmore. Only after schools returned to in person classes in Mid March in a slight easing of lockdown restrictions did it really start to take off.
Mid March to Late April
After schools in Ireland began to reopen on 15 March 2021 did Roscamistan start to take off. Initially Jacobs only told a very few of his friends about it (it is unknown Barrows told anyone as he and Jacobs were in different schools at the time). Over time, he told the assistant teacher in his class Fearghas MacLochlainn about it. He got on board as Jacobs’s Chief Advisor. Eventually everyone in Andrew’s class had heard of Roscamistan, including Anthony Hanlon. The area Hanlon had and still lives in, Mervue was annexed to Roscamistan as a province. Hanlon became the first Premier of the province when it was made autonomous due to Jacobs not being able at the time to control a territory that was far from his house. A few other areas, including Renmore, Ballybane, Briarhill and Terryland became colonies of the Republic. David Moore joined government as Minister of Defence, while Dean Merritt became a government spokesman and Deputy Defence Minister. Kayden Conboy became Chancellor of Galway City, a position meant to be the government minister for the newly claimed Province of Galway City. All areas east of Galway City that were a part of the old Irish administrative division were separated from Galway City. Tadhg O’Regan, another good friend of Jacobs’s became Minister of Agriculture. Barrows remained Vice President during this time.
Late April to Mid May, end of the era
On 27 April 2021, the Province of Mervue, and a few surrounding colonies were merged together as the Province of Mervustan. Anthony Hanlon, formerly Premier of Mervue, became the first Prime Minister of Mervustan. David Moore, former Prime Minister of Renmore Colony, became Deputy Prime Minister of Mervustan. Fearghas MacLochlainn also suggested new ideas, including a currency for Roscamistan, called the Rosso. However signs were showing that the Jacobs Government was breaking. Merritt and a few others attempted to hold an illegal election, a royalist faction tried to declare Thomas Jacobs King of Roscamistan, that attempt failed but signs were showing of division within government.
The final blow to the era came on 18 May 2021, when Anthony Hanlon, Kayden Conboy and a few others attempted a coup on Thomas Jacobs’s government. A few ministers, including Tadhg O’Regan defended Andrew’s time in office. This led to nowhere and by the afternoon of 18 May 2021, the Jacobs Government was overthrown. Jacobs and Connor Barrows were removed from both the Presidency and Vice-Presidency respectively. Anthony Hanlon and Kayden Conboy became the second President and Vice President respectively. This drew the line between who was of the Old Guard and who was of the New Guard.
Return of Thomas Jacobs and the end of the Old Guard’s grip on power
When Thomas Jacobs returned to the Presidency of Roscamistan, and reappointed Connor Barrows as Vice President, it became apparent that all politicians and social leaders after the return were now of the New Guard. The exception to this rule was Matthew Hanlon, who because of his relation to Anthony Hanlon became the last to join the Old Guard on 28 June 2021 when he became the 2nd Prime Minister of Mervustan. Overtime more and more of the old guard left government, becoming plain citizens. Anthony Hanlon and Conboy left politics on 23 June 2021, Tadhg O’Regan became inactive over a long period of time, becoming fully inactive in December 2021. Dean Merritt and David Moore retired in December 2021. Matthew Hanlon was sacked in November 2021 from his positions. By February 2021, the only politicians that could be considered Old Guard were Thomas Jacobs, Connor Barrows and Fearghas MacLochlainn. When Thomas Jacobs announced in December 2021 he would not be running in the February 2022 Roscamistan presidential election, it signalled the end of the Old Guard’s grip on power.