Ave Ratae (Latin) ("Hail Leicester") | |||||
| Capital (and largest city) |
Loughborough | ||||
| Other cities | Coalville, Quorn | ||||
| Language official |
English | ||||
| others | Hindi | ||||
| Government | Authoritarian socialist state (2018-19) Hybrid city-state (since 2019) | ||||
| President | |||||
| Premier | |||||
| Area | 1,436.76 km² | ||||
| Population | 28,659 | ||||
| Established | 2018 | ||||
| Currency | Leicesterian Pound | ||||
The Republic of Leicester is a landlocked country on the island of Great Britain which formed in 2018 through violent action by an armed militia known as the Sons of De Montfort. The Sons had operated for years in wild areas of East Leicestershire and Rutland; now they seized control of the partly-abandoned town of Loughborough and occupied much of North West Leicestershire to claim it as their new state.
Direct rule by the militant group lasted 1 year and 7 months until its military defeat by a coalition of forces from Rutland, Lindsey and the Organisation of British Nations, which led a force into the republic's seat of government, Loughborough. In the wake of the invasion, civil rule was instituted in the tiny nation. The republic today is a small rural state that derives its income from overland trade across the Midlands.
History[]
Three factors can explain the rise of the unusual left-wing nationalist movement in Loughborough. First, the region found itself in a general state of chaos and instability in the 2010s. The allied British Nations had shattered the hierarchy of the True British Army, a militant nationalist group with a decidedly right-wing bent, in the Rutland War of 2011. But the OBN lacked the resources to occupy the territory effectively, leading to a vacuum of power in the eastern Midlands. Second, the same war marked only the latest in a series of losses for the True British Army; after years of infighting and defeats by more organised powers, the stage was set for a new movement, with a new ideology and feel, to make gains in the region (though the TBA remained active as an underground movement in the larger settlements). Finally, the governments of the OBN nations underestimated the gravity of the situation in Leicestershire. Very few soldiers could patrol there, and they were unprepared against a sudden violent uprising. Therefore the Sons of De Montfort were able gain control of the territory quickly and with relative ease.
The Sons began operating in the wilds of the eastern Midlands around 2012, drawing away drawing away some of the defeated fighters from Rutland and East Anglia. The group espoused an ideology of localism (or "shireism", as they called themselves) and republicanism. Its young fighters had been radicalised not by dreams of a restored Britain, but by encroachments by the states of the Organisation of British Nations. The Sons of De Montfort engaged in extortion and outright robbery along the highways of the region, which before long became the militia's chief source of income.
The town of Loughborough itself was growing along with the overland trade between East Anglia and the Celtic Alliance states in western England and Wales. It was beginning to develop the rudiments of a civic life, and the Sons of De Montfort managed to inject themselves into the town's politics and become much more than a mere bandit collective. Some civic leaders, such as Peter Soulsby and his left-wing nationalist party Together for Leicester, became close allies of the Sons, in effect their political wing. They were able to employ propaganda and aggressive oratory to supplement the word-of-mouth campaign to win supporters to the militant cause and, by the latter half of the 2010s, become the leading faction in Loughborough.
The Loughborough bunker
On the 10th of February 2018, the Sons of De Montfort, with their local supporters, staged a takeover of Loughborough, seizing the old emergency bunker that now served as the town citadel. They gained control of much of east Leicestershire with relative ease and established a socialist republic with former Labour Party councillor Peter Soulsby as Premier (head of government) and Sean Sheahan, another local supporter, as President (ceremonial head of state). The republic was founded on the idea of shire nationalism or "shireism".
In the drafting of the Constitution, Hindi was made a co-official language in order to accommodate the substantial Indian population scattered throughout the area - many having fled there from TBA-aligned territory. Because of this, the country was officially bilingual. However, the majority of the population is of English-descent and speaks English as a first language, and 80% of the Popular Council only speak English. This caused people to question the necessity of this official bilingualism.
The republic's founders also claimed the entire county, including the ruined capital, the City of Leicester. For this reason, the nation's constitution named the state the Republic of Leicester and expressed a long-term goal of rebuilding a capital in Leicester itself. A month after the declaration of the new nation-state, Leicesterian Pound (LEP) banknotes with the face of President Sheahan started entering in circulation.
Loughborough's Town Hall, the meeting place for the Popular Council and the Republic's seat of government (October 2018).
Propaganda and plans for expansion[]
In July 2018, the military ventured into nearby settlements, occupying Coalville, Quorn and other nearby villages into the republic. Other expeditions ventured around the ruins of Leicester and set up a military camp was in the rural village of Stapleton, near Hinckley. Throughout the growing republic, Together for Leicester organised an artists' campaign to paint murals representing left-wing and shireist values.
Attempts at gaining recognition.[]
The Republic of Leicester never formed part of any international organization like the League of Nations and, unlike the old True British Army, proved not to be adept at attracting local allies. Premier Peter Soulsby publicly expressed a desire for the state of Leicester to join worldwide leftist organisations including the CSTO, a proposal that would never have been realistic and would have greatly provoked both the Organisation of British Nations and the Celtic Alliance. The majority of the Popular Council disapproved, as did most leading militia leaders.
On the 12th of September 2019, President Sean Sheahan made an announcement aimed at the neighbouring states in Britain, declaring: "We, in possession of the power and rights of a nation-state, like any other on this once great isle, demand only recognition and trust from our neighbouring communities. The autonomy and rights of the free shires of Englamnd have been cast aside by our neighbours, and through the creation of this republic, Leicester has regained the freedom and the unity that it deserves. On behalf of the workers of our community, I merely wish to say this to the outside: We exist. Leicestershire exists. I call upon the working class of all places outside these borders to unite and strive towards a common goal: that of improving our conditions of life and looking to the horizon to help create a better Earth with free of oppression and imperialism. Strength to the workers, and Ave Ratae".
The Campaign of October 2019[]
Despite Sheahan's rhetoric, the Sons of De Montfort continued to support themselves by extorting from trading caravans and raiding settlements on the outskirts of the larger city-states. Now, in fact, strengthened with the resources of the new Republic could stage larger raids. Cottagers abandoned a few outlying villages of Rutland, Lindsey and Kesteven to seek the safety of the central settlements.
Kesteven initially sought military help from its ally, the Parts of Holland, and the Organisation of British Nations. The Hollander Royal Guard were bogged down occupying their own unruly hinterland, but Chancellor Nick Boles finally agreed to join a pact to expel the Sons from the western frontier. He proposed a reorganisation of troops and the formation of a united coalition to march into Loughborough, as long as Kesteven took the lead. The Hollander troops could only offer a supporting role, and anyway Boles knew that Lindsey and Rutland, fearful of OBN domination, would never accept Hollander military leadership.
Command thus was given to former Brunnian officer and current Kesteven leader Edward Poll, who waged a successful campaign that won him fame throughout the east of England. The allied force outmaneuvered the enemy, forcing them between the heights of the Charnwood and the ruined urban area of Leicester. Coalition forces reached the Loughborough Town Hall soon after. Leaders of the Sons of De Montfort were besieged in the old bunker and negotiated conditions of surrender.
The allies allowed fairly generous terms. Leicester could continue to extract tolls from the overland trade, but within limits and without the extortionate tactics that had been used. Raids against eastern settlements were to stop. The Sons were permitted to maintain control of the republic via their young civil wing, Together for Leicester, which maintained its hold on the local Popular Council. The deal was successful, and hostilities ended.
Civil rule[]
The peace settlement shifted the balance in the republic in favour of the civilian authorities. The Sons of De Montfort became regularised and responsible to the government of the republic, rather than the other way around. This effectively killed it as a militant organisation. A citizens' militia of Leicester had fully replaced the Sons by the end of 2021. Some fighters remained in Loughborough and integrated into the civil system. Others moved back east and became involved in the movement for a Commonwealth of Great Britain, while others scattered into the lawless countryside to pursue a life of banditry.
Together for Leicester kept its hold of politics in the republic. Its organisational strength, especially its ties to the militia, left little room for any competitor. Some of the leftist rhetoric associated with the Sons has mellowed in the 2020s, but the party continues to present itself as uplifting the workers and opposing outside elites.
Cancelled projects[]
The state's eventual goal was to rebuild the old city of Leicester (which was obliterated in Doomsday by a 100KT bomb) and create what they call "a blend of a perfectly reconstructed historic city of Leicester, and a glorious socialist utopia, which shall stand out among the rest of the world as a haven for all proletarians", to quote the Popular Council's statement. Leicester was hit by a 100KT, which according to scientists working for the Celtic Alliance will begin to be completely habitable again by roughly 2020.
In a speech in the ministers chamber, Peter Soulsby named an example of what type of buildings they intended to build in the employment of this blend: "The new Palace of the Popular Council shall be built in the image of the old Chinese Great Hall of the People, and on the frieze of its splendid façade: AVE RATAE."
In addition, among these future projects, the government planned on initiating an urban planning and housing project which would have resulted in the construction of several Soviet-style standardized apartment blocks across what would be a rebuilt Leicester and also in towns like Hinckley and Coalville for the slowly rising population.
Whether the Newolland government plans on bringing any of these plans (or greatly modified versions of them) to fruition is unknown.
Geography[]
The Republic of Leicester is a small city-state centered on the market town of Loughborough. After 1983 Loughborough contracted to a modest village centered on its emergency bunker, about a kilometre to the northeast of the old town centre. The town hall and other parts the centre began to be refurbished in the republic's early days in 2018. The built-up area of the city comprises the zone between these two places; other parts of the old town lie abandoned.
A few surrounding villages are fully incorporated into the republic's civic life, while settlements lying still further out have a more informal relationship with it.
Cantons before 2019[]
In 2018-19, the republic claimed jurisdiction over a much wider area. Its government declared the formation of administrative divisions called cantons, which would eventually be subdivided into districts. The republic never had real control over all six cantons, but the Popular Council voted to create the cantons to guide its future expansion. In most of the cantons, a single militia camp marked the republic's only presence on the ground. They were:
- La Zouch Canton: administrative centres in Ashby de la Zouch and Coalville.
- Charnwood Canton: centred on the capital city, Loughborough.
- Melton Canton: administrative centre in Melton Mowbray.
- Rutland Canton: administrative centre nominally in Oakham, really a camp just outside Melton Mowbray
- Bosworth Canton: administrative centre nominally in Hinckley, really the camp in Stapleton.
- Canton of South Blaby: administrative centre nominally in Sharnford, but it was run by nothing more than a detachment of the Stapleton unit.
No cantons were ever organised for the remaining former districts of Leicestershire (Harborough, Oadby and Wigston, the northern part of Blaby and the City of Leicester). After the defeat of 2019, such elaborate plans for regional government were abandoned, and the cantons ceased to exist.
Politics[]
Leicester is in essence a unitary, parliamentary republic. Its governing bodies comprise a unicameral legislature, the Popular Council; a President who serves as the largely ceremonial head of state, but with some important powers and duties (the office is very similar to that of a constitutional monarch); and the head of government, the Premier, elected directly by the people every six years in a general election. The President, is chosen every ten years by the Popular Council (and must be a member of the ruling political party) and can rule another decade if the Popular Council approves his or her request.
Peter Soulsby, Premier (head of government) of the Republic of Leicester.
The first Premier was Peter Soulsby, of Together for Leicester; the main socialist party, which was the largest party of the country.
Despite trying to present itself early on as a socialist republic, Leicester had a multi-party system with two main political parties:
- Together for Leicester: the largest left-wing party in the Popular Council which was in power by absolute majority, almost having a parliamentary monopoly. It was founded by Peter Soulsby and was basically brought to power by the Sons of De Montfort.
- The People's Party: the largest right-wing party, led by Andrew Bridgen. However, it could have really been considered centrist or even aiming towards the centre-left, as they fully supported Together For Leicester and Peter Soulsby as Premier (possibly by force). Therefore, it was criticised for not being a true opposition party, despite it supposedly being the main opposition to the socialists.
In addition, four minor parties arose in the early years, both left and right-wing.
(Red) Together for Leicester: 46 seats, (Blue) People's Party: Eight seats, (Green) Baen: Three seats, (Purple) British Unionists: Two seats, (Yellow) Vox: One seat.
- Baen - बाएं ("Left" in Hindi). It aimed to support and fight for the interests of the Indian population of the area, and was pro-multiculturalism and was the biggest supporter of State bilingualism in the Popular Council.
- British Unionists. Leaning centre-right, the party aimed to reunite the country with Newolland and Cleveland, and eventually negotiate with the other successor states such as the Celtic Alliance to create a united island of Great Britain again, with Leicestershire as a province of sorts. In a sense, this was the true main centre-right conservative party. It eventually merged into the British Party of Newolland once the republic collapsed.
- Vox. Far-right nationalist. Supported the republic's independence, but was against socialism. Their goal was to transform the republic into a capitalist nation and completely eradicate Hindi elements from the government (such as by abolishing official bilingualism), preferring to embrace their English heritage. This party was declared illegal after the fall of the republic and its members were arrested by Newolland law enforcement.
Branches of power[]
The republic's government comprises three branches:
- Executive: The head of government is the Premier. The holder is appointed by the President of the Republic after each general election and must have the confidence of the Popular Council to remain in office.
- Legislative: The legislature of Leicester is a unicameral parliament known as the Popular Council, a permanent body of 60 members serving staggered six-year terms and directly elected by popular vote in the general elections.
- Judiciary: Under the republic, the irregular town court that had operated in Loughborough was reorganised into the Supreme Court of the Republic. Members of the court are nominated by the President on the advice of the General Council of the Judiciary.
Head of state[]
The ceremonial head of state of the Republic of Leicester is the President of the Republic.
As the head of state, the President has the power to promulgate laws, select and dismiss the Premier (prime minister) as well as the ministers of the Popular Council, declare a state of emergency, issue mass mobilization orders, and issue state honours. In addition, the President names and dismisses envoys to other states and can sign and annul treaties with foreign entities. The President is empowered to conduct state visits on behalf of the Republic as the main representative of the unity of the nation. The President of the Republic is, in essence, a symbolic post without direct say in the governance of the state. The Premier, the head of government in Leicester, is, de facto, the most important political appointment in the Leicesterian government.
The President of the Republic is not elected by the people, instead being elected for ten years by the Popular Council in joint session.
Propaganda[]
The Republic of Leicester was notorious for its strong left-wing propaganda, largely posters and murals with inspiring messages aimed at the working class, as well as the propagation of songs with military and resistance themes which would be sometimes played on the loudspeakers outside public buildings in Loughborough.
Military[]
Leicester's military was small, but strong and very well trained; and managed to resist Newolland's forces and occupy East Leicestershire and Rutland.
Most of their weaponry was presumed to come from old TBA outposts. They had a very reduced number of pistols (rarely used, as ammunition is scarce). The Sons of De Montfort mostly relied on knives, bats and homemade explosives.
See Also[]
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