Gallia || A Brief History of Gallia

For a country that is famed for it’s policy of neutrality, the history of Gallia has been one of seemingly endless violence, warfare, and armed resistance. From the country’s subjugation at the hands of the Empire at the turn of the 19th Century, it’s war of national independence, the invasion at the hands of the Empire in two separate continental wars, and the constant covert operations conducted by the Federation to undermine the principality’s government culminating in the outbreak of the Gallian Civil War… Even the very sands and rocks of the country is stained with thousands of years of warfare that can be traced to the ancient War of the Valkyrur. If the official line that Gallians as a people wish for nothing but peace is indeed true, then one must come to the conclusion that this is a wish that the world will simply not permit.

During the Imperial Invasion of Gallia, with the country’s population only a fraction of that of the Empire, total mobilization was put into effect, with a significant portion of the population drafted into military service, even children as young as 12 was conscripting into frontline combat in the militia.

Ultimately, against all expectation by international observers, though the sacrifice and determination of it’s people, after 7 month of savage fighting against the Empire and another year of civil war against the GRA rebels, Gallia emerged victorious, having beaten back every attempt to subjugate or conquer the country, gaining the respect and admiration of the world.

However, the Gallians paid the full price in blood, sweat, and tears in the defense of their homeland. By the end of the war, the country was in shambles: 265 thousand lives, almost 6% of the entire national population, perished during the conflict; The majority of it’s military was wiped out in the Second Battle of Ghirlandaio; It’s capital city of Randgriz was sacked twice during the war, first by the Empire then by the GRA rebels; Entire towns and villages were depopulated and left in ruins; And the country was in a state of political disarray.

However, out of this chaos came opportunity: During Gallia’s darkest hour, it was ultimately the militia, the country’s irregular citizen soldiers drawn from all walks of life: Florists, farmers, bakers, teachers…. that proved their nation’s salvation. Tales of their heroism and courage even in the face of impossible odds, as popularized by Irene Koller’s book, “On the Gallian Front”, became pivotal in forging the new Gallian national identity in the post-war years. And from their ranks will come the battle-proven and patriotic leaders that would go on to form the political reform movement known as ‘The Young Vanguards’.

With the entire upper echelons of the regular military (which consist mostly of political appointees) wiped out, Prime Minister Borg killed by Prince Maximilian, and the destruction of several great noble houses in the aftermath of the Civil War, Archduchess Cordelia realized that with so many of her fellow nobility gone, several layers of bureaucracy and establishment interest had suddenly vanished, allowing her the freedom to completely reshape the country to her vision.

After a PR campaign to pin the blame of the country’s internal miseries and mismanagement of the regular military on the corrupt aristocracy (with the exception of the royal House Randgriz, of course), those who remained loyal to House Randgriz during the Civil War were allowed to keep their wealth and titles, and were even guaranteed a sizable pension. However, the archaic system of aristocratic privileges was abolished, effectively removing their political influences.

Working together with members of the Young Vanguards, a campaign of political reformation was put into place by the Archduchess, and the entire system of the constitutional monarchy was revamped:

The Archduke or Archduchess will continue to serve as the monarch and head of state with executive power. The Prime Minister, to be appointed directly by the monarch, will serve as the head of government and manage the day-to-day running of the country. However, only the parliament, a chamber elected proportionally by universal suffrage of all adult citizens every five years, will have the right to pass legislation, but with the Archduchess retaining the authority to veto any laws or decisions they pass. Despite all of this, parliament will be far from just a rubber-stamping institution, with enough electoral support, it can pressure a prime minister to resign or even bring down the government.

On October 10 1938, the third anniversary of the ceasefire between the Empire and Gallia, the first Gallian General Election took place amidst a spirit of excitement. Posters and wall paintings proclaiming the advantages of the various newly established political parties decorate the streets of Randgriz, Fouzen, Lanseal and beyond whilst the people staged poetry recital, musical concerts, and public debates to celebrate their national revival.

After the election, the First Parliament of the Principality of Gallia, dominated by a coalition of center-right political parties, was sworn by the Archduchess, with Kenneth Herman, the leader of the First National Party and former businessman, appointed as the first Prime Minister from a non-aristocratic background (The Archduchess originally wanted to appoint Welkin Gunther, the Savior of Gallia, as Prime Minister due to his status as a war hero and a national symbol. However, he turned down the offer, stating that he enjoy his life as a teacher, only wishes to live with his new family in peace).

Here, the Young Vanguards lived up to their name, with the 150 newly elected Members of Parliament consisting mostly of EWII militia veterans, and having an average age of just 25. However, the youthful determination that served them so well during the war soon prove to more than make up for their lack of political experience.

As the dust settled, the new government’s first order of business was post-war reconstruction and to formulate a proposal to restructure the economic landscape. To this end a mixed economic model was developed, coordinating both the private and public sectors. The vital ragnite industry was nationalized and expanded, to give the state an important source of revenue. Understanding that Gallia will never be able to compete with the Federation in term of the economy of scale, the government subsidized the creation of high-tech infant industries, in particular, on the field of aviation and precision manufacturing.

While the revelation of House Randgriz’s Darcsen heritage was the cause of the Gallian Civil War, after the conflict it has the unintended positive effect of attracting a large number of Darcsen immigrant, fleeing from persecution, to settle in the country, bring with them their technical expertise, not to mention a source of cheap labor, greatly benefit the country’s industrial expansion.

By the end of the turbulent decade of the 1930s’, Gallia emerged like phoenix from the ashes of war, with it’s economy, and the population’s average standards of living growing at a steady pace. And what's more, it is for the most part insulated from the woes of price fluctuation in the international market, as the demand for the country’s chief export, ragnite, is always high.

By the mid 1950s’, government economists are reporting an overwhelmingly positive outlook for Gallia's economy. In addition to it’s always profitable ragnite industry, the country has effectively cornering the international market in civil aviation due to their head start in field of aeronautics, while Gallian produced goods such as medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, and luxury timepieces were high demanded worldwide. Under the positive economic climate, talks begin in parliament on the idea of introducing a welfare system for all citizen that includes free healthcare and a minimum living wage.

For the generation born after 1937, if it wasn’t for the system of universal conscription, compulsory military education since childhood and the constant reminders from their parents, it would difficult to imagine that a bloody war has ever been fought on their homeland….