The Republic of Footballia

During this period, Footballia was under a Republican government and fought two civil wars. In this article, the wars will be referred to by their names as used by historians. The Civil War articles contain an Imperial perspective, the Republic, a Republican one.

The Civil War (1211-1214)

Growing discontent with the Overlords, especially with Xet X, gradually led to increased civil disorder. When Torm XIII took power, he was hoped for as a savior from the old order. He failed to reform the government, however, which sparked a revolution in 1211. The Civil War began as a small movement in the province of Skelton. The inability of the FNA to quickly stomp this out led to its becoming a full-scale revolution by late September. As the movement swelled, the rebels gained control of the north, and with their promises of increased civil rights for the Rorçn, quickly gained support of the natives in the northern territories. On May 3, 1212, the rebel army came flooding out of their bases in the north, quickly sweeping back the FNA into southern Kasam and eastern Korrefea and Umqásar. The Imperials were able to sustain themselves in Oberepyun for a few months, before they were flushed out on October 15, 1212. The Army rapidly darted out, and was able to escape. It found little support in the countryside, but hung on anyway, in vain hopes of the new Republic being toppled quickly. The Republican Army chased after the Imperials, who managed to stay one step ahead. However, by mid-1213, it became obvious that the Imperials would run out of time and space, and that the Republic would last, for a while at least. The Overlord began using contacts to arrange a place to stay in exile. On December 18, the Imperial and Republican Armies finally met in the Battle of Kolba. The Imperials were resoundingly crushed. They fled north, crossing the border into the Britannic Empire's Starblaydia on February 2, 1214, ending the Civil War. The Empire would remain nominally the government of Footballia in exile, with official recognition not given by any Power, including the Britannic Empire.

The First Republic (1211-1223)

The First Republic was developed in early 1211, before a rebellion was launched. Its political system held closely to that of the Empire, with a President ruling the nation. After achieving total control over the nation in early 1214, the Republic was isolated politically. It received no recognition, and many, including the Britannic Empire itself, were openly hostile to the young nation. The young, vibrant President, Opaç Rorbç, seen by many as a figurehead of change and revolution, workerd tirelessly to get the Republic recognized. However, in all of this, the nation itself was largely ignored, left to languish. None of his attempts succeeded, and he left the office a tired man in 1217. Eñort Fin succeeded him as President, and his administration quickly proved even more inefficient and corrupt that that of Rorbç. As a second civil war loomed in September of 1221, the Forum began drafting a new Constitutionm, in order to form a better republic. This was adopted in 1223, leading to a gentle slope away from Revolution.

The Second Republic (1223-1256)

The early years of the Second Republic were marked by a significant increase in prosperity. The corrupt First Republic, which lasted only twelve years was gone, replaced by a nation governed exclusively by a popular-elected body. The Forum was elected every other year, and the Head was elected by the Forum at the same time. The years of Walç Xo were efficient and clean, but unfortunately his declining health in his last few years allowed for a great deal of inefficiency. The Head increasingly came to rely on Ñolç Xotíñ, a young, energetic, ambitious representative from Oberepyun. This young representative campaigned extensively for Headship behind the scenes, and when he came out in the open before the election of 1231, was seen as a traitor by many, especially Xo himself. Xo lashed out bitterly against Xotíñ, making the campaign into a personal one rather than a political one. These insults were turned the other way, Xotíñ being willing to sacrifice much to fulfill his ambitions. The sickly appearance of Xo, as compared to the vibrant, charming Xotíñ, has been attributed to the victory of this little-known man. Xotíñ quickly consolidated his power, and in 1232 banned all competing parties. His "democracy" continued to thrive, however, with the people living in terror of the Nation Party Army. The workers continued to work well, however. The Party Army was separate from the FNA, and this contributed to many jealousies between the two, the latter seeing the former as a threat to its position. The two military bodies came close to a civil war in 1243, but Xotíñ managed to hold his country together. In 1252, the Imperial Army returned to Footballia, restrengthened and ready to restore itself. This launched the nation into another civil war, and gave Xotíñ the excuse he needed to abolish elections and to consolidate himself as a dictator. The Imperial Army continued to flee from the FNA and NPA, darting everywhere seemingly at once, with the Overlord as a master of guerilla tactics. In 1255, Ñolç Xotíñ was assasinated, leaving the government confused. Ñart Xos was appointed Head in his place, but proved unable to handle the Imperials. In December, Loçñalkyo fell to the Imperials, and the Republic was officially abolished in February.

The Imperial Restoration (1252-1256)

In the late 1240s, seeing the increasingly weak position of the Republic, the Imperial Army, under the leadership of Overlor Torm XIV, began preparations for a restoration of the Empire. In 1252, the invasion began. With a small amount of aid from neighboring Starblaydia, the Army quickly established control over the northeast, the Rorçn putting up a large amount of resistance as was expected, due to their fear of a new time of repression. The Republican Armies, however, combined to beat back the Imperials, who began a guerilla campaign rather than one of outright military campaigning. The province of Alñe, one of the most troublesome provinces in the Republic, became the home base for the Imperial Army, and its members in the Forum were brutally mocked and even attacked. Overall public sentiment began to lean towards the Imperials when on November 17 Xotíñ abolished all pretences of a republic. In March of 1253, Alñe officially seceded from the Republic and its capital, Alç, became the seat of the Empire temporarily. This marked the true turning point of the Restoration, as the other provinces now began to waver. The guerilla warfare ended soon thereafter, with the Imperials receiving large support from the eastern provinces, with the exception of Rorçnyun. However, no other provinces seceded. The FNA and NPA still put up large resistance, but after the death of Xotíñ, the war essentially ended. All that remained was the formality of taking control of Loçñalkyo and of the end of the Republic. These were both accomplished near the beginning of 1256, and the Empire was officially restored. They just needed to clean it up.