Gepid Republic (The Ashes of Rome Map Game)

The Gepid Republic is an eastern european nation, the region gained it's independence from the Byzantine Empire after a long struggle. Based on the Roman Reppublic and its Senate, the Gepids proudly claim to be their successors the same way the Byzantines are the successors of the Roman Empire.

Independence (600-615)
The Gepid Kingdom was annexed by the Byzantine Empire in 535, and since that day the gepid nation lived as subject of the Byzantines. However, in the few decades them, the Gepid people adapted very well to their new realm. The Gepids converted to Christianity by St-Iakonos, who would later become the patron saint of the Gepid Nation, and many learned the greek as a secondary language, to the point that the gepid language changed to include the new greek influence.

But still, the Gepid hoped for independence once again. And the occasion came at the start of the 7th century, when the Byzantine Empire and the Gothic Empire were fighting a difficult war, and the Gepid's lands, called Dacia by the byzantines, was one of the main battlefield. This sparked desire to revolt against the byzantine who were destroying the lands and local towns in a stupid war.

Five man became the symbol of this desire for independence, five men later known as the Five Founding Fathers: Elemund Aric, Theodulf Umund, Ardaric Valomer, Geberic Hunigild, Sigibald Bessas. According to the stories, they were all descendants of old noble houses that served under the Gepid Kingdom, and thus were the perfect leaders for a new Gepid Realm. Hunigild, who once went to Rome, and Aric, who lived in Constatinople for a time, were both inspired by the Roman Senate, and saw in the old Roman Republic a symbol of perfect society. Thus, inspired by the Roman Senate, the Five Founding Fathers organized the first meeting of a Gepid Senate in 605, with the topic of starting a rebellion against the weaken byzantines. During the meeting, the senators choose Elemund Aric as the first Consul because of his charisma and his role in the founding of the Senate, and choose Geberic Hunigild as Leader of the Assembly, since he was the expert in the senatorial system. The speech of acceptance that Elemund Aric gave to the Senate that day would remain in history.

“I, heir of Rome, son of Gepid, accept the responsibility of leading the Senate and Republic, of preserving our independence and lands, and of leading our people to their destiny through history.”

After 10 years of war, the gepids were finally able to win the war against the byzantines, who were forced to recognized the independence of the region. Thus, the Five Founding Fathers, with the help of the Senate, built in details the their own republican system, mainly based on the Roman Republic, which included many elective offices. Geberic Hunigild, in particular, helped to make the laws of the Republic, and created many offices, including the one of Justicar, which would serve as a counterbalance to the Consul. Elemund Aric was allowed by the Senate another 5 years as Consul, Geberic Hunigild became the first Justicar and Theodulf Umund, who had replaced Hunigild as Leader of the assembly in 613, continued in the office.

Rise of the Five Founding Fathers (615-650)
In the years that followed the independence, many realized something. The power was supposedly in the hand of every senators, and each of them supposedly had a chance for high offices. But in fact, the power in the Senate was in the hand of the Five Founding Fathers and their relatives and descendants, known as the Five Founding Families. The other senators, in order to obtain something out of the power structure, had to support one of those families, which in the end only served the Five Founding Families. The new Gepid nation, which was a republic on paper, was in fact an oligarchy.

After the independence, one problem remained to solve. Although they achieved autonomy, the Gothic Empire still held lands that were part of the historical Gepid Kingdom, and thus that should be under the Gepid Republic. Three successive Consuls tried to regain those territories, without any success. Elemund Aric wanted to organize a military operation to regain those lands, but realized that the gepids were tired after the war for independence, and died in 619 before he could make his plan a reality. Ardaric Valomer took Elemund's idea, but in the end failed to conquer the lands in 624, which lead to his political downfall. Theodulf Umund tried another tactic, corrupting local officers and trying diplomatic approach. Althought it did succeed, it made possible for Geberic Hunigild to regain the territory, conceding to the gothic rulers commercial rights in the region for 50 years and giving them any sums of money.

The last Founding Father to become Consul was Sigismund Bessas, a religious zealot who helped during the independence war by convincing the local religious authorities to support the Senate. But the 57 years old man rapidly became unpopular after his election, mainly because of his submissive attitude toward the papacy and the archbishop of Buteridava. But because of his image as a pious man, he helped to improve the relations with the Gothic Empire and Frankish Empire, who finally recognized the independence of the Gepid Republic. Still, his unpopularity paved the way for Carobald Umund.

The Umund Brothers (650-670)
In 645, Vidimir Umund, the first son of Theodulf, became Justicar. Under the unpopular Sigismund Bessas, he became popular figure of the government, even opposing the Consul in many nomination of generals. In 650, when came the time for the Consul's election by the Senate, Vidimir proposed his younger brother Carobald, who had been a popular senator since his arrival to the Senate. Both Houses Aric and Valomer supported Carobald Ucmund nomination, opposed by an old and sick Sigismund Bessas and another candidate of House Hunigild. Carobald was easily elected by the Senate as the 6th Consul of the Gepid Republic.

With both brothers to support each other, they were able to pass their reforms without opposition, and for the first time Consul and Justicar truly worked hand in hand. He was able to turn the harbor of Buteridava in one of the main harbors of the Black Sea, used by byzantine, persian and rus ships and merchants. He also gained in from the situation in Crimea, as one the Gepid main rival in the sea economy was in turmoil.

After both of their reelection by the Senate in 655, they got into an argument with the archbishop of Buteridava. Saying the Gepid Republic should imitate the Roman Republic on religious matter, he proposed to the Senate to make the archbishop of Buteridava an elective title, similar to the Maximus Pontifex of Ancien Rome, a title that could be given to a senator for a given time, thus affirming the Senate power over religion. Although opposed by House Bessas, who claimed it would be an insult to St-Iakonos (who was the first archbishop of Buteridava), the idea was in general well received, and he proceeded to action in 656, and the Senate elected Rechimund Aric as their first elected archbishop.

The brothers remained undisputed for the following years, and held more and more power in the Gepid Republic, and both were still in office in 665. However, with the power centered in their hands, many began to fear that Carobald Umund hold on power would end up with a monarchy. This lead to an alliance between the Aric and Hunigild, who accused the Umund of abusing their power. They were joined by the Bessas, who were against the elective archbishop. In hope of destroying the alliance, the Umund brothers elected a Bessas to the office of archbishop, hoping it would stop the movement. But in 670, Carobald was replaced as Consul by Rechimund Aric, the first elected archbishop of the Gepid Republic. Vidimir would also lost his office of Justicar five years later, ending a period of Umund domination in gepid history.

End of the Century War in Lombardy (670-698)
The end of the Umund brother left the political scene open for the four other families, who gladly occupied it. However, none of the decrees applied during the consulate of Carobald Umund were revoked, as the other houses had to admit that Carobald helped the Gepid Republic to rise even more.

When the High Council of the Mediterranean began war against the Lombardy, the Consul Rechimund Aric decided to open border for lombard refugees, a decree adopted by the Senate. However, they refused any possible implication in the war, which was agreed. The new lombard immigrants easily adapted to the gepid life style and society, with one exception, the religion. This would be dealt with Rechimund successor, the Consul Berig Bessas, who helped to convert many lombards. Some lombard nobles decided to stay and became citizen, some of them even entering the Senate. In 698, however, a new Consul was elected, Euric Umund (son of Vidimir Umund), who closed the border in order to became totally neutral in the war. After the war, some lombards who didn't adapt in gepid society would returned to their homeland.

Neutrality in the European Conflict (698- )
Consul Euric Umund took a neutral stance in the european conflict, remaining entirely neutral, refusing help to both side. He believed this would help to secure the Gepid Republic from any nation that would use this war as an excuse to invade. His successor Hilderig Hunigild, also continued his policies of neutrality and peace, focusing more on interior matters. But the population was more and more afraid of the conflict in Europe, this lead to the election of Recimer Valomer as the 12th Consul of the Gepid Republic.

Recimer Valomer was part of House Valomer, which had always been known to be the more militarist of the Five Founding Families. Many Valomer served as general before taking high office, and Valomer was no exception. He was also Leader of the Assembly since 5 years by now. His election didn't came as a surprise in this time of insecurity. Still a defender of the neutral stance, he argued that neutrality didn't mean being defenseless. He passed many military decrees, appointed more generals than any Consul before him and reenforced the garrison on the frontiers and in the cities. Although he was elected three times, people began to fear the increase of military in their daily life, and in 725, the Senate made sure he wouldn't get another five years as Consul, instead electing Galindus Aric.

Senate
Based on the roman/byzantine senate, where noble families vote laws and make the decisions of the nation. It is the base of the Gepid Republic. Members of the Senate are elected to higher offices by the the other senators.

The Founding Families:
The Founding Families is the name used to talk about the 5 noble houses that mostly control the Senate and the Gepid Republic. They are also commonly aknowledged for creating Gepid Republic and winning the Gepid Independence. Those houses are: House Aric, House Valomer, House Umund, House Hunigild and House Bessas. 

Consul
Based on roman consul, it is the highest political office of the Gepid Republic.
 * Civic powers: He has the task of carrying into effect decrees and laws voted by the Senate. He can call an assembly of the Senate every time he want, and had the task of presiding them. If the situation require it or if the senate isn't available to take the vote, the Consul can take autority over any matter of the state. He can also present any law he want to the Senate. During war time, he can order the arrestation of any person he suspect of being a traitor, but cannot judge them.


 * Military powers: The Consul is the commander-in-chief of the Republic's army, and thus have full autority over it. In war times, he must lead the troops on the front. He can order new deployments of troops and promote officiers without passing by the senate. However, the Justicar has the final word over nominations. The Consul is also responsible of the state diplomacy.


 * Mandate: 5 years, can be elected again. If the Consul die in office or is forcesto resign, the Leader of the Assembly will take his place until the end of the mandate.

Justicar
Based on the roman censor, it is the second hightest political office of the Gepid Republic.
 * Civic powers: He is task of being the judge of any crime and accusation in the capital about including the nobility and senate (paysans are dealt by local military officiers), althought he can delegate some case to one of his 5 assistants, called Suspectants. When the Consul arrest someone, the Justicar is charged of dealing with the case. As military officiers can serve as judges for the low-born population, the Justicar has the final word on the officier's nominations, the Consul only proposing the nominations to the Justicar. If the Senate think the Consul is abusing of his powers and pass a Decree of Abdication, the Justicar is the one deciding if the Consul is in his right or not, and what punishment should be applied if he isn't. Time of
 * Mandate: 10 years, can be elected again.

Leader of the Assembly
Honorific political office, his role is similar to the one of a regent. He is to preside the Senate if the Consul is absent. He also has the civic powers of the Consul, but must pass by the Senate to act. If the Consul die in office or is forcesto resign, the Leader of the Assembly will take his place until the end of the mandate.
 * Mandate: Can be given and revoked by the Senate any time. The Leader of the Assembly is traditionnaly proposed by the Consul.

Archbishop of Buteridava
A religious office, the Gepid Republic decided in 656 to make it elective as well, which wasn't appericated in the christian realms. The owner of this office is concidered the main religious autority in the realm after the Pope.
 * Mandate: 2 years, can be elected again. The normal condition to become archbishop aren't applied here.

Suspectants
There is 10 of them. They are the assistants of the Justicar. Althought not an official law, candidate for the post of Justicar had habitually been Suspectants by the past.
 * Mandate: 2 year (by being chosen by the Justicar as Suspectant), then can be elected by the Senate again for 1 more year each election.

Currency
The currency of the Gepid Republic is the Ardar, named after the first king of the Gepid Kingdom, who is concidered as the founder of the Gepid State. One side of the Ardar represent a portrait of the incumbent Consul and the other side show the incumbent Justicar. Each portrait is of profil and looking right. New Ardar are frequently made to show the change of rulers.

Christianism
During their time under the Byzantine Empire, the Gepid were converted to christianity by the priest Iakonos Nogopolos, future St-Iakonos of Dacia, and patron saint of the Gepid Republic. His work among the Gepids and his creation of the archdiocese of Buteridava helped to spread christianity among the population, and by 600 the pagans beliefs of the region had been totaly abandoned. The Cathedral St-Iakonos in Buteridava is the main symbol of the christianity power in the region, which stand unchallenged.