Golden Revolt

The Golden Revolt was a political uprising in Ovaron. While the fighting only lasted for a single day in 2451, the revolution usually includes the surrounding political events which started in the 2040s and lasted until the Ovaren Constitution was enacted in 2458. It saw the end the Regencia of Ovaron, the establishment of the High Council of Ovaron, and the formation of the United Ovaren Empire.

History

Background

In the decades leading up to 2150, Ovaron saw unprecedented economic growth due to higher than average temperatures increasing crop yields, the development of trade networks between neighboring territories, and a cultural shift towards more effective business practices. As wealth swelled, aristocrats and business owners became more wealthy, their political influence increased. In 2136 and 2138, King Halavia III issued several authorizations shifting control of public works projects to private enterprises, such as maintaining roads. These companies were often ineffective, letting bridges decay and bathhouses fall into disrepair, while also instituting several fines or tolls. This—combined with stagnant wages—led to a decrease in the quality of life for the average worker, despite the rising productivity. Businesses capitalized on this by offering contracts with higher wages in return for a decrease in the worker's legal autonomy. By 2150, over a dozen citizens possessed more wealth than the king and one third of the population was working under conditions that gave equal or greater legal authority to their employer than the government.

Crowning of Trask the Red

In 2150, King Halavia III died in her sleep due to an undiscovered genetic defect in her heart. Having no children, her younger brother Trask was crowned king that fall. Trask was popular with the working class, seen by the public as more connected with the poor than his sister. Trask attempted to capitalize on this, undoing much the privatization enacted in the previous decade. This drew the ire of the upper class, who quickly moved to mobilize a resistance against him.

The Emergency Council

The aristocracy was quick to fight back against Trask, mobilizing armies which were a mixture of mercenaries and indentured workers. Trask recognized the growing threat and called an Emergency Council in 2151, gathering the nobility and wealthy citizens at Jolune, one of the king's estates, to negotiate terms and avoid war. His initial offer of creating a governing body for economics and infrastructure legislation was met with hostility, prompting a few of the members to leave early. After several hours of failed negotiation, the council grew more agitated and uncooperative, prompting Trask to grow irate and leave the room. He then locked the room and ordered whom he thought were his guards to set fire to the building, but were actually one of the noble's personal guards, all of whom had been required to stand outside during negotiations. After Trask left, the guards unlocked the doors and informed the council what had transpired. They fled the palace and rallied their armies, attacking the palace three days later.

Capture of Jolune

Unable to form an adequate defensive force in three days, Jolune was overwhelmed by the invasion and Trask was captured on the first day of the attack. He was drug out into the courtyard and beaten. Nearly dead, Trask was forced to reconvene the Emergency Council and unconditionally accept its proposal. The Charter of Order was drafted in the palace's library and Trask signed it that evening. Immediately after, one of the businessmen present killed Trask with a dagger.

The Years of Darkness

Like his sister before him, Trask the Red had no children, which left succession to the throne uncertain. This was complicated by the throne's complete loss of power and the brutal execution of its former holder, making several possible candidates wary to claim a birthright.

Restoring the chancellor

In

Hyranian Death Cult Massacre