Lendosan Confederation
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MONARCHIST PARTY
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The Monarchist Party was the second oldest party in the country, and was the first real rival to the Imperial Party. It was established with the goal of strengthening the power of the Emperor, which was being eroded by the Imperial Council (dominated by the Imperial Party). Most of the party's supporters came from the nobility, and at the time, voting rights were restricted enough that nobility were a significant proportion of the electorate. The Monarchists never managed to win power from the Imperials, however, and the party's influence gradually declined. As suffrage was extended to the middle classes, the voting power of the nobility dwindled, and the Monarchist Party eventually vanished.


Colour and Emblem

The official colour of the Monarchist Party was purple, often used in conjunction with gold. Purple, as in several other countries, was traditionally associated with nobility in Lendosa, dating back to the days of the Liliani Empire. The official symbol of the party was three golden crowns, arranged in a pyramid. The crowns represent monarchy, but it is unclear why three were used.

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The party's official name in Lendian was "lo Partido Monarcisto". Sometimes, its enemies in the Imperial Party referred to it as "lo Partido dolo Emperadoro", or "the Emperor's Party". This was contrasted with "lo Partido dala Imperia" ("the Empire's Party"), an alternative name for the Imperial Party. It was meant to imply that the while the Imperials served the entire Empire, the Monarchists were simply the lackeys of a single man.


Quote

"To trust the governance of our nation to demagogues, populists, and radicals is dangerous in the extreme. Those who speak loudest for the 'common good' are merely manipulating the people for their own purposes, and are willing to destabilise our entire social system to achieve their ends. Only a monarch, free from petty politics and self-interest, can govern with true wisdom."


History of the Party

The Monarchist Party was founded in 160 AP, during the reign of Emperor Virantoro. It was established by aristocrats who believed that imperial powers were being eroded, and that the "demagogues and rabble-rousers" in the elected Imperial Council were attempting to destroy the monarchy. The aristocrats believed that the Imperial Party, which gained its strength from merchants and intellectuals rather than the nobility, was a danger to society. The new Monarchist Party gained the immediate backing of the Emperor, who saw it as a means of regaining some of his lost power. The conflict between the Monarchist Party and the Imperial Party was heated. The Imperials, who saw themselves as representing "the Empire, rather than merely its Emperor", accused the Monarchists of self-interest. The Monarchists, for their part, accused the Imperial Party of being insincere about their beliefs, and of attempting to manipulate "the masses" in support of their own agenda. 

In the 160 AP election, the Monarchists won nineteen seats, mostly at the expense of the Imperials. While this was considered a good start, it was far short of a majority in the 150-seat Council. Over the next twenty years, the Monarchist Party gradually increased its share of the vote, reaching a peak of thirty-one seats, but although they were able to present a certain amount of opposition to the Imperial Party, they were never able to displace it. Emperor Tandisto, who took the throne in 178 AP, did not share his successor's support for the Monarchist Party, believing that it would never be sufficiently popular to achieve its stated mission.

At the Imperial Party's insistence, the number of people eligible to vote in Council elections was gradually increased, and the voting power of the upper classes was consequently diminished. The Monarchist Party gradually lost seats, falling to fifteen by 235 AP. Despite the popularity of the newly crowned Emperor Carigo, the Monarchists were not able gain traction - Carigo was seen as modern, noble, and approachable, but the remaining members of the Monarchist Party were still viewed as elitist and old-fashioned. The emergence of the Conservative Party further damaged the Monarchists.

In the 245 AP elections, the Monarchist Party was reduced to just three seats. The bulk of the party then decided not to contest further elections, instead establishing the Monarchist Association (which still exists). A small number of candidates continued to stand under the Monarchist Party banner for the next two elections, eventually giving up in 257 AP.


List of Leaders

  • Carganto Caldo (160 - 188)
  • Albio do Galvario (188 - 210)
  • Alandro Donez (210-212)
  • Eltiro Dias (212-220)
  • Alandro Donez (220-226)
  • Quio do Galvario (226 - 250)
  • Piro Torino (250 - 257)