2395 Brekenreidkegt Brekepaine

The Brekenreidkegt Brekepaine (English: Breaking Point of Brekenreidkegt; Exteras: (INSERT TEXT) was a revolt that occurred at Brekenreidkegt Town Hall, Esthullen in Empherias on the morning of 18 January 2395. Inspired by a novel by the same name just two months prior, the event saw a seizure of the town hall by approximately 500 middle class civilians holding lit torches and common weapons. There was extensive property damage and a combined 37 casualties on both sides and caused the Duke of Eystaveil to flee, and for Rijkse James VII to declare a national emergency.

Many people say that the event has important symbolic importance and perhaps started the later 2395 Empherias Revolution. It also spread the popularity of populist freedom fighters such as Edgard Morrison, Henry Alark and Felix D'laminet who would eventually be essential in creating the first true democratic government in Empherias.

Background

Following decades of out of touch politicians continuously winning in Parliament, due to the bad representation system, having dukes and high titled men and women being allowed to vote, many people are angry. The most angry are the middle class in the suburbs of the largest cities: Wynnoa, Esthullen and Rommes, who are upset that the gap between them and the upper class were increasing. the "Brekenreidkegt Brekepaine" was a novel written by poet Lewis Rhommel in late 2394 criticising the institution of pointless suppression of voting by the lower and middle classes. The Brekenreidkegt being the local name for a town hall in southwest Esthullen which had been notorious for often comical voting margins and gerrymandering. The building was seized in the early morning at around half past four by around five hundred middle class civilians, with hundreds of lit torches and common weapons such as cricket bats, fencing swords and cooking knives. However, the pure amount of people forced the doors to break under pressure and the people to swarm through the front gates. One of the leaders of this protest was Edgard Morrison, an avid populist, who wanted to convince the corrupt Duke in the area to free up voting regulations and allow people to vote and elect a new representative of the people. This was important as a new tax law, which would've raised taxes, was about to be passed by the government of the nation. Windows smashed, royal guards stabbed and killed, and the Duke fled the scene and declared an emergency to Rijkse James VII of Empherias.

A local populist man named Felix D'laminet was chosen by the local mass of people among popular opinion to replace the current duke in hiding. The overthrown Duke self-declared his exile, being rich enough to support himself elsewhere in the countryside and fearing a return. Felix had previously worked as an adviser to the Duke, trying to promote new and radical reforms and ideas. He was fired after not blending well and then started work at a local outspoken newspaper, the "Real People's Work" where he gained popularity amongst the classes. A cult of personality had formed around Felix D'laminet. He had formed the People's Populist Party (PPP) and hoped to challenge the ruling class in the upcoming elections under the Rijkse James VII. However, another popular man. Henry Alark was also popular amongst populists known for his more violent and militarist opinions. This extremist branch believed that they should remove the entire current Parliament by force in a revolution. These Alarkists began planning to take over.