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[FICTION] History of Naxos: The First & Second Naxian Merchant Republics

     After the collapse of the Old Empire, an immense power vacuum was left in Naxos. Various noble families still claimed the throne, but needed coin to finance their ambitions. These houses began to patronize mercantile groups and families for support, and they did oblige. Over time, however, power shifted from the nobles to the merchants; they could continue without the nobles, but the nobles could not without the merchants.

    While the nobles continued their infighting, the merchants consolidated themselves into the Naxian Commerce Union, who would decide on mattes of trade and finance. This outraged the nobility, but without support or coordination, they could never mount an effective resistance. After years of instability, many commoners chose the Commerce Union. Over time, the nobility eventually fell in line as well.

    With the long running civil war effectively over, the merchants somewhat unwittingly won the generations-long conflict. Their Commerce Union acted as a government for some years, only stepping in on matters of trade, leaving other areas to fend for themselves. Many Despots simply chose to keep enforcing laws from the Old Empire. Despots who found themselves deviating from the norm of Naxian culture, or upset the balance, quickly found themselves out of funds at best, or under attack by rivals at worst-- financed off their own seized goods.

    For a time, trade once again grew in Naxos as things stabilized. But it grew increasingly clear that the patchwork of laws and domains would be an issue. A great meeting was held by the Commerce Union, and it decided to dissolve itself, and form a true government. By this time, there were none left that could challenge them. 

    They became the Naxian Merchant Republic, and gave themselves the duty of full governance over all of Naxos, and the other islands. Nobility and the Despots, who could no longer effectively fight against them, simply chose to create their own companies to better participate, financed on what remained of their generational fortunes.

    Local markets and unions would vote on representatives, who would then vote in the Forum to decide on national matters. Each Forum held would be overseen by a pre-chosen representative to adjudicate disputes.

    While the scope of government expanded, politics became a much more corrupt affair. Many representatives were either elected with specific goals in mind, in the pocket of nobility, or were just blatantly on the take. The wealth of Naxos, while no where near Imperial levels, once again rose to staggering levels, but the quality of life for many fell low, and only continued to fall. Once great public works fell into ruin and disrepair, and with even the Great City of Naxos having a number of empty districts.


Next week, we will look at the Reclamation, and the founding of the Duchy of Naxos.

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