United Federation of
Abaco
Reichstadt is one of two states that make up the United Federation of Abaco.
Reichstadt is made up of 16 states, called Länder. Each Land has it's own Provinzieller Senat (Provincial Senate) that is elected by popular vote of the individual state's citizens. The 16 Länder are:
The land that makes up Reichstadt was originally controlled by the Teuvian Empire. One-hundred-twenty-six years before the Reichstadt Revolt, the city of Reichstadt was founded by Duke Reginald Gerhardt I. The Duke of Reichstadt was a vassal of the Empire, and in return for his servitude, was granted the immediate area around the city of Reichstadt. The small area became known as the Grand Duchy of Reichstadt.
The Grand Duchy of Reichstadt was loyal to the Emperor through 6 generations. However, on December 25, 1449, Arwic IV was named Grand Duke by right of heredity, but the Emperor deigned not to acknowledge the claim. The Emperor at the time was Sashen Valgord, and he coveted the Duchy for himself. So, instead, the Emperor named his cousin Duke of Reichstadt, and offered the title of Baron to Arwic IV. The offer soon reached the people of Reichstadt, and they were as insulteded as Arwic. Duke Arwic IV sent his reply to the Emperor on January 1, 1450. It was short and blunt, but it was Reichstadt's formal Declartion of Secession. It said, "Der Herzog von Reichstadt ist ein Löwe, und Sie enlernen dieses auf dem Feld der Schlacht!" (The Duke of Reichstadt is a Lion, and You will learn this on the Field of Battle!).
The Emperor sent his personal legions against the rebellious Duchy. They were met on the fields outside of Reichstadt proper by a force much larger than had been anticipated. 120,000 Imperial Legionaires met a motley army of 100,000 volunteers; the battle became known as Erste Schlacht (First Battle). It was a victory for the Empire. The remaining force of Reichstadt retreated back to the city, even so, the battle had inflicted such a tremendous toll on the gathered legions that they had to retreat as well.
During the winter of 1451, both sides regrouped and made plans to attack in the spring. However the Duke was quicker in mobilizing his forces, and on March 8th of 1452, the Reichstadt Militia moved out of it's encampments and proceeded northeast for the city of SchloßGatter. The Emperor's forces had wintered within that city and were quite surprised when on April 3rd, 1452, a large Reichstadt force assaulted them. The battle became known as Schlacht des fallenden Himmels (Battle of the falling Sky), because so many shells rained down upon SchloßGatter that the commander of the garrisoned troops surrendered within 3 days.
News of the loss at SchloßGatter reached the Emperor on April 9th, and he was so angered that he killed his own wife and child. He sent orders to the remainder of his legions. Two of the legions (120,000 men) were recalled to defend the Imperial Capitol, while the remaining five (300,000 men) were ordered to march on Reichstadt and raze it to the ground.
The Imperial assault force began gathering at Himmels Haupt, but it would be another 6 months before they were ready to march on Reichstadt. The outdated mode of communication between legions was to blame for this delay. Meanwhile, the Reichstadt Militia began to swell as disatisfied citizens from all over the Empire joined the Duke's banner in the hopes of overthrowing the Emperor. By July 21st, 1452, the Militia had grown to over 300,000 men and women, and with this force, the Grand Duke turned his sights on Gebirgsstadt to the northwest. During the march, the Reichstadt Militia continued to swell. By the time the army reached the gates of Gebirgsstadt, it numbered over 400,000. Most were armed with little more than hunting rifles, but the size alone was intimidating.
On August 11th, 1452, the Reichstadt Militia took up siege positions around Gebirgsstad. The Duke was content to wait, since he wished to draw the Empire's forces to the city. Duke Arwic did send a peace contingent to the city though, in the hopes of avoiding unecessary civialian casualties. The Reichstadt Militia was increasingly popular with the Empire's citizens, and the Duke did not wish to damage that. To even the Duke's surprise, on August 17th, the Bürgermeister of the city surrendered to the Reichstadt Militia. Not a shot had been fired by either side. This news traveled quickly through the Empire, and even more recruits flocked to Reichstadt's banner.
Finally, on September 4th, 1452, an Imperial assault force numbering 300,000 set out from Himmels Haupt and headed for Reichstadt. The Grand Duke heard from scouts of the large force moving out of Himmels Haupt, and decided to engage them. The Reichstadt Militia wheeled around and set a course to intercept the Imperial force. With supplies and better armament obtained from Gebirgsstadt the Reichstadt army was more prepared when the armies met northwest of SchloßGatter on September 26th. The ensuing battle became known as Blutige Masse (Bloody Earth), and after 14 hours of continuous fighting the few remaining Imperial troops surrendered.
The price had been heavy for the Reichstadt Militia, having lost 150,000 men. But with determination, the Duke turned the force toward the Emperor's Niverian capitol city, Holz. Upon recieving news of the defeat, the Emperor reassesed the situation, and sent a peace proposal to Duke Arwic IV. It was refused, and on December 8th, 1452, the Reichstadt Milita began a siege of Holz. The Militia outnumbered the city's defenders by almost 3 to 1, so the Imperial forces could do little but sit and hope peace would be made.
Peace came, but only after the death of the Emperor on January 18th, 1453, when a Reichstadt artillery unit shelled his palace for 6 hours. With the death of the Emperor, the Commander of the Imperial Legions formally surrendered to Duke Arwic IV on January 20th, 1453.
Upon victory, Grand Duke Arwic IV declared the Teuvian Empire on Niveria dead, and assigned all previous territory to the Grand Duchy of Reichstadt. However, he kept the remaining aristocracy and allowed them to maintain their former lands and retain their titles within the new state. The Grand Duchy of Reichstadt remained relatively unchanged through 2 successive Dukes, and by 1503 the state was a power on the continent of Niveria.
Grand Duke Cirion, the last Grand Duke, was child-less. As a result, he left no heirs upon his July 20, 1503 death. The people voted to form a representative democracy; Duke Cirion's widow, Duchess Gertrude, ruled as regent until the Grand Dominion of Reichstadt came into being on September 1, 1503. The Duchess retired from public life and lived quietly until her death in 1513.
The Dominion continued to prosper and weathered the Communist threat of 1507-1509. In late 1509, the Dominion joined with the United Federation of Unionist Republics (UFOR) to oust the repressive, illegitimate Communist rule in neighboring Abaco. Following free elections in Abaco, the occupiers withdrew. In part to prevent future Communist threats and as a result of the close ties developed between the two countries, Reichstadtans voted to unite with Abaco. On June 1, 1511, Reichstadt became a semi-autonomous state within the new United Federation of Abaco.