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| Capital: | Alnwick IV | ||||
| Language: | German, Chinese and Russian | ||||
| Type of Government: | Autocratic, Absolute Monarchy | ||||
| Great Khan: | Ulrich Strobel | ||||
| Organizations: | None | ||||
The Eurasian Empire is a large, populous autocratic absolute monarchy and one of the many powers of the 240-300 area. Sharing many similarities with its ally, the Kingdom of East Asia, the Eurasian Empire is currently fighting on their side in the Second 240-300 War. The Eurasian Empire is currently ruled by the “Mad Baron” Ulrich Strobel, a man with delusions of being the reincarnation of Genghis Khan.
History[]
The Eurasian Empire found its start when the British colonial government in Alnwick IV declared independence from the United Kingdom at the start of hostilities. Having saved itself from Soviet and Chinese aggression, a new constitutional monarchy revolving around the system’s governor was established. The new Kingdom of Alnwick quickly found itself embroiled in post-Collapse warfare, but the government managed to defeat its opponents mostly by virtue of having an intact first-rate military. Although Alnwick did have the strength to defend itself from outside aggression, it had little ability to project its power. To remedy this, a policy of aligning itself with weakened powers in exchange for bases on their territory was adopted. This is one reason why the modern Eurasian government shares all of its systems with other powers. The government in Alnwick eventually began to increase its influence on its clients, eventually annexing them. However, the annexation had the side effect of making the then-democratic Alnwick IV government less British; influence from German, Chinese and Russian immigrants had their hold. Culture became more Eurasian than exclusively British, a multicultural basis that would affect the Revolution of 2548.
The Revolution was started due to growing discontent with the current government, which was viewed as too distant and incompetent. The Eurasians had lost a massive war against the Republic of China, losing continents, moons and in two cases entire worlds in the Tientsin, Peking and Lingya systems. Democracy was viewed as weak, an unfit system that belongs in the 19th century. The current King, George II, was an advocate of extreme militarization and closer relations with the young Cathay Federation. Absolutism was seen as a solution to the kingdom’s problems. The people called for a new war with the Republic of China to regain lost land. George II, for his part, was growing tired of Alnwick’s government and began to plot against it himself. Adopting a Eurasian narrative, George personally led an armed mob (supported by loyal soldiers) against a terrified Parliament. Parliament surrendered to their king, and George proclaimed himself King of the Eurasian Empire. Eurasia and Cathay were allied against the Republic of China and stragglers of the betrayed Cathay revolution, both gaining victory. However, the friendship would not last, and decades later Cathay would fight against Eurasia over territory in the Peking system. It was at this point that Eurasia aligned itself with East Asia, keeping a close eye on Cathay.
However, Eurasia would find that its greatest enemy lay within. In the 2680s a group of intellectuals, happening upon pre-Collapse communist literature, rallied the nation’s serfs against the king and his government. A civil war was sparked, with communist rebels gaining aid from the Republic of China and the Conseil Systems and the monarchists from every other power, including Cathay. During the Eurasian Civil War, Cathay harbored one Ulrich Strobel, a reactionary Eurasian baron with delusions of being a new Genghis Khan. Supplied with advanced weapons and Cathay support, Strobel rallied the ailing monarchists and retook Alnwick and other Eurasian territories in the name of the King. The monarchists crushed the reds, with Strobel setting himself up as Chancellor in the new government. He led a bloodthirsty purge of Red elements within Eurasia. Communists, those with communist sympathies, or anybody accused of either were impaled, burned at the stake, or beheaded. As an example to all who might act against Eurasia, Strobel ordered the corpses of the rebel leadership gutted and their innards strung from the light posts of Alnwick IV’s capital.
Modern Eurasia is suffering both from the Cathay invasion and Strobel’s unique personality. Although Strobel loved absolute monarchy, the King himself had very little power; it all belonged to Strobel. A superstitious man, Strobel consults soothsayers and witch doctors for advice on running his interstellar empire. One piece of advice given was that all red things go faster, forcing the entire Eurasian Navy to repaint their cruisers. Another was that if one bathes in the blood of captured enemies one can gain eternal life through the intervention of the “Blood God,” with predictable results for those arrested on the front lines. Although claiming to have powers of divination by convening with the spirits of the departed, Strobel failed to predict the Cathay invasion that begun mere months after the war with Eurasia. Feeling betrayed, Strobel has publically announced that his witch doctors have placed curses on the entire Cathay leadership. Representatives of the Cathay Federation have yet to respond to this claim.
Despite outnumbering their enemies and being led by "the 28th century's Genghis Khan," Eurasia’s military has performed poorly against Cathay and Anglian attacks. Officers accused of disloyalty to the state are executed, regardless of their performance. The replication of Mongol tactics, complete with horses, also met with considerable failure in the trench-filled battlefields of the war. However, a few gems can be found in the officer corps, although many of their successes were made only though the sheer weight of their forces’ numbers. However, Eurasia's military has succeeded in preventing their homeland from being overrun.