Excerpt from Economic History of the Third Triumvirate, Chapter II, publ. 2456 by revolutionary areosocialist Isaraduun Aevul, known by the pseudonym Mi-Ka.
The Last Century of the Second Triumvirate
From the beginning, the whole project of the Shianvists has been financial perversion. To see its course we must turn back time and follow the chain of events. Its origin is in the latter days of the Second Triumvirate, at a time when the perils and failings of strict stratocracy as a mode of government had become apparent. The forces of military reaction brought about their own ruin within two centuries. The stratocrats, in tearing apart nations and clans, destroyed global rule from within like a virus. Long before its final death at the hands of Shianva II, the Second Triumvirate had been slain by the Wars of the Worlds. Military adventurism on Terra and elsewhere had depleted the royal treasury and fatally damaged the once-invincible institutions created by Ravma I and bolstered through authoritarianism by Clan Teva. With newfound technology, the earthlings had come out from their planet into the void between worlds, to Desuul and even the very City of Deshanor in their ships, capable of returning home within a single season.
In this environment, the pre-Shianvist Empresses perpetrated unimaginable misrule leading to their downfall. Miveo I, having seized the throne from Clan Muth with the Diet's support, spent the entirety of her reign in war against them. The war killed her, leading to the election and coronation of Miveo II, her litter-sister, who reigned only a decade before her forced abdication. Tsadara I, her successor, lasted longer, feuding constantly with the Diet, and placating the military clans who had placed her on the throne with astonishing dealings and pitiful public groveling that degraded the supposed sanctity of the imperial office. Then came Shianva I, who had few of the failings of her later relatives: her reign saw a brief realignment towards reformists in the Diet. She died young, before bearing any heirs of her own flesh.
Clan Miveo then returned to the throne, in the persons of Miveo III and her daughter of her flesh, Miveo IV. As we shall see, Miveo III's casual acceptance of militarism, ardent reaction, and totalitarianism led directly to the political crises which plagued the rule of Miveo IV, whose neglect and general misrule caused the total collapse of the old legal and political order.
The Misrule of Miveo IV
Miveo III, like Tsadara before her, granted ever-greater privileges to the military clans of her day. The sole difference was her competence at ruling, and her strength of will. With the support of the militarists, she dissolved the Diet frequently. So numerous were these dissolutions that, by the time of her daughter's rise to power, the persistent running of the Diet had become a forgotten feature of the past, an outmoded form of government associated with Shianva I and some of her Ravmist predecessors. In spite of this penchant for absolutism, Miveo III balanced with skill the interests of many different military factions to continue her reign. In interplanetary policy, she made a number of deals with the earthling Houses which enriched herself and Clan Miveo, which would soon be a common theme of Triumvirate governance. Only corrupt acumen yet staved off collapse.
The harsh winter which led to her death came on suddenly, with carbonate snows falling as south as Deshanor, which would not occur again until the farcical Great Rebellion against Clan Shianva over a century later. During a retreat to the southern coasts, word reached her that one of her militarist rivals, the head of Clan Gvand, was to arrive before her to the Amunist celebration Tavan Sa. Whether she feared a challenge to her rule or simply being upstaged, history tells us nothing - regardless, she demanded her royal guards set off with her, immediately, to Deshanor in an attempt to arrive beforehand. She died hours later, freezing in the royal traincar.
Miveo IV took the throne days later, crowned quickly to avoid a crisis of succession. She was one of her mother's heirs of the flesh, from the only litter she ever bore - quite controversially - by one of her own clanmates. Though it might be tempting to see the aristocracy's opposition to this union in a moral or ethical light, it was certainly not, and reflected not simple disgust at cousin marriage but classism. This practice had been long associated with the lower clans; that is, the rabble. They saw in all of Miveo III's prospective heirs the same spirit as they did in the world's proletariat - quite wrongly, given their persuasion of politics. This assumption colored much of the next regnal period.
It did not help matters at all that Miveo IV shared none of her mother's skill. Being only 38 at the time of her coronation, she was barely an adult, with no ability to smooth over the concerns of militarists twice her age. The Diet had not been called in nearly thirty years by the time of her reign, so she had no other political body loyal to her but her advisors and the royal guard, and them only by sworn oaths. No allies had been prepared for her. Empress Miveo III simply had not expected to die, perhaps at all. Worse, many of the military clans now were ruled by ambitious women who had lain in wait for Miveo III's passing, and finding it unexpectedly early, immediately pressed the advantage. Clan Muth rose its banners in rebellion, fondly recalling the glory days of their short time on the Obsidian Seat - likewise, Clans Annand, Dejah, and Daegaff refused to recognize imperial authority or legitimacy.
With no support from among the militarists, Miveo had no power at all. She desperately needed the political and legal authority only the Diet might provide to her. Just a year into her reign, she sent out a writ of assembly to gather the lords of the Diet once more to resolve the many crises plaguing the land and her reign. A series of political battles began. Miveo IV held the imperial seat only by tooth and claw alone, always remaining just lucky enough to avoid an open challenge or full-scale revolt. By the winter of her sixth year, she had grown weary ruling indeed. Her hair had begun prematurely losing its color and her fur had become sparse from stress. The anxieties of the imperial office wore heavily on her.
At the dawn of the seventh year of her reign, she aspired to set aside the throne to her litter-sister, Surimiveo Shaan, following every tradition only as necessary. Surimevo had spent time rotating to different positions Miveo IV's royal advisory board and had become a known quantity, and, to the letter of the law, an "experienced ruler." At the end of the following autumn, she announced her sister would become her co-ruler. And quite boldly she took the name Miveo V.
The Year of Two Empresses
While the earthlings might describe Miveo IV as a hardliner, authoritarian, or monstrous - this is only out of association with her sister, the would-be Miveo V. The runt of her litter, she grew up to be an aggressive, confrontational, and violent woman. She smoked Terran-imported cigars, drank heavily of darkwine, held court only in banquets and festivals, and in general seemed the truest incarnation of all the gluttony and excess of the old Sabaean bourgeoisie. In matters of government, she openly insulted and threatened members of the Diet - once even attacking one with her claws - to get her way. She refused, with her sister's support, to renew many contracts with the Terran bourgeoisie that her mother had agreed to.
In the face of this behavior one must ask what possessed Miveo IV to select Miveo V, out of all her litter-mates, as co-ruler. Gender alignment was not the sole concern. Miveo IV had two additional siblings participating in at least some nara, and most, if not all, might have changed alignment in return for being made Empress. Some earthling scholars, stupidly, have suggested Miveo V might have cajoled or threatened her way to the position. This can be tempting only from the outside perspective. In truth, it appears most likely that Miveo IV was simply fond of Miveo V the most, and believed her the most trustworthy. The Empress, though being first-selected by Miveo III among her heirs of the flesh, had never been very charismatic nor skillful, and as a misfit among her litter got on well with her sister the runt.
During the year of co-rule, Miveo IV took no care to curtail the excesses of her sister, preferring to retreat from view entirely, more or less allowing Miveo V to attain total control of the imperial office in quick fashion. She spent her days at cinemas, theater shows, high society parties, and all told avoided the public. Miveo V used her newfound power to enrich herself, her spouses, and her many lovers. In addition, she garnered the support of a limited number of militarists by overseeing the final defeat of Daegaff's Rebellion - her total disregard for the Diet and its officials certainly did not hurt either. The public and proletariat in those days had no ability to differentiate between the two Empresses. One newspaper of the time simply talked of them as though they were the same person, perhaps a Shianic reflex, and others reported the people confused Miveo V for her sister at all public events.
At this time, among the Diet, pre-revolutionary ideas began to spread. Many councilors of the diet hoped to use the instability of the monarchy to force greater privileges and administrative control to the Diet. Indeed, between the apathy of Miveo IV and the violent gluttony of Miveo V, the councilors had taken up much of the bulk of governance along with the royal advisors. In some circles, the idea of republicanism surfaced, though in those days the idea of imperial divinity was much more prevalent than today. Whisperings of conspiracy turned to revolutionary thinking quickly.
During the festivals of the next autumnal equinox, several councilors of the Diet publicly announced they would no longer recognize Miveo V as Empress, denying her legitimacy to rule or wield authority. In the hours after, many more announced support for them. Within days, a majority of the Diet opposed Miveo V's co-rule. The Diet's premier, appointed not one season before by Miveo V with her sister's written support, openly urged Miveo V to abdicate - and suggested that her sister might well have to do the same.
It is likely that neither sister paid close attention to the appointment of the premier. By their time, that office had held no true power since well before the Wars of the Worlds. The advisors who suggested the appointment also likely held no ill-intent; premiers were typically selected based on suggestions from among the Diet, usually based on seniority and progression of rank through committee. The whole process of the premier's appointment may have been simple as an advisor, perhaps not even one of important rank, asking a handful of councilors of the Diet their opinion, writing a name down, and transmitting it to Miveo V, who would drunkenly sign it at one of her many banquets, and to Miveo IV, who might have simply ordered one of her assistants to sign it on her behalf.
The Premier's name was Taanshianva Meos.
The Midwinter of Taanshianva
Within days, Taanshianva held the ear of an entire planet, speaking to the press, in speeches to the public, and to the Diet, demanding the abdication of the Co-Empress. It soon became clear that the Diet might also attempt to force Miveo IV out of office. She had, at the outset of co-rule, assured the Diet she would leave the imperial seat within two years. Thus, the premier dragged Miveo IV out of her life of leisurely apathy in a futile attempt to sway the Diet out of open rebellion. She immediately dissolved the Diet for a period of twenty days in the face of the crisis. Longer would have been politically unfeasible. The military clans would not assent to or support the dictatorial rule of Miveo IV and V.
What followed is one of the most shameful and pitiful acts of imperial cowardice, possibly in all the Triumvirate's history. More contemptible even than Tsadara's placations of the military elite was Miveo IV's campaign to save her sister's rule. It involved banquets and feasts, wining and dining, the screening of councilors' preferred serials, and, allegedly, the arrangement of at least two marriages. A popular folk legend in those days was that Miveo IV had even offered to bed - or wed, depending on the source - Taanshianva to prevent the collapse of her rule. The truth of such legends cannot be ascertained. What is known is that by the beginning of midwinter, Miveo IV was on claw and knee, begging councilors to remain steadfast in support of her reign. Though the sight of the Empress on her knees might have been pleasing to them, no swaying could be done. They had spent the better half of decade obeying the whims of the Empresses Miveo. They were through, and all it showed was a weak and slovenly Empress.
As midwinter drew to a close, Miveo IV met with militarists, loyalists, and any others who might be convinced to come to the crown's aid in time of war. Ironically, many hardliners considered supporting the continuation of Miveoan rule, if only because of their opposition to Taanshianva and their amusement with Miveo V. Taanshianva was a reform-minded legislator, supportive of Terran market reforms, democratization of administration, expansion of the Diet, and limitation of both military clans and imperial powers. Though she had been kin to Empress Shianva I through clan, many were alarmed by her political positions, and afraid she might try to dissolve the Triumvirate altogether in favor of a republic. A loose coalition of loyalists was assembled the day before the reconvening of the Diet.
Miveo V did little during this time, apparently held at bay by her sister, who feared her particular brand of ruling would spark civil war. Midwinter's end brought three things. The first was the reconvening of the Triumvirate's Diet, the second was the return to public life of Miveo V, and the third will become clear later. Over the course of the latter half of the year of co-rule, the threat of war appeared everywhere. Most of the major military clans denied support to either the Diet or the Empresses. Blood feuds resumed between them. During the crisis, the Diet began assembling a private army of spacers, mercenaries, and militiawomen to defend itself, as many believed Miveo V might attempt to gather forces to storm and destroy the legislature.
When the first session of the reconvened Diet began, the collected memories of Miveo IV tell us she felt excellent about her chances. In the royal palace, surrounded by her allies, watching the legislative business from afar, she convened mentally with her friends in the Diet and the bureaucracy there. They informed her of all the goings on, and it became readily apparent that disaster had struck. Proclamations of the Diet arrived, with support from across the political spectrum - including from militarists - that both Empresses must immediately abdicate. With only the barest support from hardline military clans, no support from the Diet, and all their allies well-funded by the earthling houses, a rebellion had little chance of success.
The Shianvist Coup
That evening, Miveo IV assembled her allies and confidants, who suggested she redissolve the Diet. Her sister, ever the firebrand, argued that if the Diet rose in rebellion, they ought to call upon the military clans for aid. "They will be honorbound to defend our rule," she said, "for they will surely be under threat if the Diet comes to rule all of Desuul, either through a monarch or, Arun forbid, a republic." Some among her court cautioned that civil war would surely lead to the collapse of the Triumvirate, and Terran influence or control over Desuul's governments. These statements clearly weighed on Miveo IV.
She remained awake well into the morning, when Taanshianva herself entered the Palace of Deshanor and sought an audience with her. In person, she urged that Miveo IV withdraw her support for Miveo V, abdicate the Obsidian Seat, and give her assent to an imperial conclave to resolve the succession. What else exactly transpired in this conversation, we shall never know in full, as none of it reliably survives in the collected memories or the tellings of the memorists, who have studied her thoughts in full. After the premier left the Palace, Miveo IV called up her advisors and her royal guard, and drafted a writ of abdication, making it clear therein that she no longer accepted Miveo V's rule and gave instruction that an imperial election be held no later than ten days hence.
Perhaps the Empress hoped that in the remaining ten days, she might be able to convince her sister to stand down; nonetheless, Miveo V remained on the Obsidian Seat, demanded that her loyalists within the royal guard hold her sister under house arrest, and sent out letters calling on the support of the great military clans against the Diet's rebellion. At this moment, a great turning point of history came, as some within Taanshianva's council of ministers grew fearful and called on her to deliver their paramilitary forces to the capital to root out the false empress. Taanshianva refused, giving ten days, after which point the sortition of an imperial conclave began.
Earthling financiers and advisors remained at her beck and call, and a few well-placed earthly allies were selected to be given seats on the conclave, a stunning move. This alone might have convinced the militarists to come to the aid of Clan Miveo, but no help came. In this, we can be certain of fraud. Taanshianva instructed that all outgoing mail from the palace be burned, paid criminals to destroy all telecommunication lines, and had all riders and couriers stopped and placed under arrest. Even psychic communication was interrupted. Several well-trained telepaths under the Diet's employ sent out misleading or confusing information and emotions to people within the military clans, blurring their minds.
People within the conclave, earthling and rook, were largely allies of Taanshianva. It came as no surprise to those in the know that within just a few hours, the conclave elected Taanshianva as Empress Shianva II. The priests anointed her in Deshanor's greatest plaza, for all the world to see, and the public celebrated her coronation as they would any. With her word, she now called on the military clans, the royal guard, and all true women of the Triumvirate to come to her aid. With the palace surrounded and her allies now faltering, Miveo V had now choice but to surrender to the will of the new Empress. She sent out couriers to tell of her surrender at morning light; by mid-day, she was in irons.
Miveo IV retired quietly, living on estates north of Deshanor until her death, refusing public appearances or requests to speak with the press. Only when the hour of her death approached decades later did she meet with the memorists and give over some of her memories to them for the public record. Her sister spent a decade in various parts of Shianva II's dungeons before being released; she later became a militarist and separatist within the Diet, and died in a duel at the age of 89.
The Issue of Terra
Now the question remains: how was the Shianvist coup accomplished? What great allies and support did the reformist and overtly liberal Diet have to call forth?
On this point, we can be sure that the Houses of Terra played a significant role. Throughout the whole story of the Second Triumvirate's last century - indeed, long before, since at least the conclusion of the Wars of the Worlds - the earthlings have been behind the scenes, playing an unseen role in the histories that most do not bother to capture at all. No effort is made to tell of their role in the collapse of Muthist rule. Before that, they were becoming advisors to many of the Triumvirate's high queens, warlords, and clans.
During the Dark Age of Terra, only the Old Spacers remained on Mars as their own home went through something akin to our own history. By the time of the first Miveoan Empresses, then, these spacers had become a significant power in their own right already, serving our monarchs and even becoming their lawful subjects. The city of November is the oldest surviving earthling settlement on the planet, and today the capital of their whole enterprise here. It began to arise not three decades after the end of hostilities with their planet many centuries ago. So, when new generations of earthlings came to Mars, in the form of the Houses of Terra, telling of the end of their dark age and offering a return of contact and economic opportunity, many were eager to have the earthly ships return.
Now this occurred during the reign of Tsadara, and neither herself nor her successor, Shianva I - Shianva the Good, we might very charitably, say - brought themselves to sign any undue contracts with the earthlings. However, during Miveo III's reign, as was stated above, many were signed, solely for the enrichment of the imperial office and her clan. When Miveo IV came to power she had grown accustomed to being quite wealthy from the support of earthly companies - the Martian Mineral & Water group among them - and had no intention of dissolving any agreements. Indeed, she signed a great many more deals during her reign until the beginning of co-rule with her sister, Miveo V. While Miveo IV may have had trust and good relations with her sister, Miveo V was of a much different political style and belief system. When it came time to begin renewing old agreements, Miveo V had come into control of nearly all arms of imperial governance, and she quickly and eagerly began to sever ties.
In that moment is the whole of the Shianvist Coup and how it happened - the legitimacy of the Empresses Miveo by then came not from the people, nor the law, the militaries, certainly not the Diet, and not even their royal bloodline. Instead, the entirety of the reason for their rule had become their financial support by the earthling powers. Here the first capitalist economic expansion had begun. For Terra, this was only the beginning of one of many profitable business cycles which followed in the aftermath of their second, much more expansive and permanent, venture into space. For our world, it was the first ever. The transition to industrialized capitalism had never taken place here on Desuul, for feudalism remained ever entrenched into our political systems.
The earthling corporatists arrived with great ships, technology we had once possessed but forgotten, and began the process of taking our resources for their own. The consequence was the end of our own world. Water miners of old became no longer by clans but by money and employment to extraplanetary powers, and paid next to nothing of the gains of their labor. Neither would their labor be fruitful for their neighbors - for their clans had been eradicated by the whims of capital - but would be shipped through the void of space to Terra, for their enjoyment. The same is true of all precious commodities of Desuul: diamond, iron, blacksteel, our animals and plants, even our own communities and our very own minds.
Thus when capitalism arrived, brought by a foreign power, riches of inconceivable quantity began to fall into the laps of the aristocratic clans. All these contracts were of course exploitative, and the supposed riches merely the tiniest fractions of the sheer amount of wealth that had begun to be transferred to Terra. The traditionalists, led foremost in spirit by Miveo V's refusal to renew those exploitative agreements, had no revolutionary motivation whatsoever - we should be perfectly clear upon this point. It is their ideological failings which caused the total collapse of their objective. The age of Desuul's feudalism had ended, and the age of capitalism began in the absence of true revolutionary goals or ideas.
With the rise to power of Clan Shianva, a turning of history had been completed, and the beginning of capitalist exploitation on our planet began in earnest with her reign. Next, in our analysis of Shianvist policies, from the ascension of Shianva II to the recent election of Shianva VII, we will see the political, economic, and cultural effects imported capitalism has had on the Triumvirate...
