= Chronological History Part Seven, The New Century = '''1402''' [[King Siegfried]] died quietly in his sleep after an illness this year, and was succeeded by his son [[King James|James]]. The circumstances surrounding his death were somewhat mysterious. Evidence supporting the claims that he was poisoned was thought to have been discovered at the time, but nothing decisive can now be found. The guards did not have the power to act against James legally, as he was now King, and Siegfried had written this into the constitution. Many of the guards leaders were pleased to be rid of Siegfried, too, and this may also explain the lack of attention at the time to subject of justice. '''1403''' [[King James]] increased the activity of his guards in the east. With the first of a new breed of naval vessel, the raiders were identified and tracked before they landed, and if they did reach shore James' Guard were much more effective. New tactics and an element of surprise they'd not known before meant that the defenders were suddenly much more deadly in the field. They fought well, and were often brutal with the raiders. Over the next five years these telling victories and a growing ability to patrol the seas discourage the raiders. This was the greatest achievement to date of the Guard and was final proof of their power and ability. [[King James]] rewarded them with a host of new powers. '''1406''' The newly acquired ship technology had meant a new range of vessels were now becoming available. Before Juem 1406 all these new ships were allocated to the military, but now they were available to traders and explorers too. The military ships were used to help deter any further raids by patrolling the seas to the east of [[Arthea]]. '''1408''' Seafaring had been growing as an industry for many years, but it became big business in Siphus 1408, as explorers on a sea journey west out of Cellam discovered a small island range overseas to the west, rich with precious minerals, and most importantly for Arthean nobles, gold, silver and gemstones. The civilisation of this land are no less advanced than the people of Arthea, and are very happy to trade; they seemed to suffer many of the food production problems suffered by [[Ticetia]] two hundred and fifty years before. The travellers arrived back in Arthea with trade goods in Lapuada. Regular trade journeys followed. '''1410-1411''' The seeds of rebellion appear on the streets of Arthea. In two separate events in Caldonacia, a small peasant gathering turned nasty, and the Kings Guard were hard set to deal with rioters and looters. The protest were aimed at local feudal barons, and the chanting was aimed at the feudal system, and some directly at the King. Although the riots were dealt with in a typical rough manner by the Kings Guard, the state of the peasants was now watched. More riots were intercepted and disrupted in Caldonacia before they began, and similar sentiments were recorded in some of the rural north areas of Ticetia in early 1411, and shortly afterwards in parts of the former Empire. These rioters proved difficult to monitor and trace, so the King tood political steps to improve matters. '''1411''' In response to the prospect of uprisings among some sectors of the peasantry, particularly in Tholain, Antaurus and parts of Caldonacia, King James imposed tighter controls over the lives of peasants in [[Arthea]]. Nobles were virtually given a mandate to treat peasants as they pleased, and to receive the backup of the Kings Guard in their actions. This right came in Onara 1411 with the Canbrath Decree. [[King James]] was not willing to consider another uprising or civil war, and wanted to give complete security to his position of power. The decree was intended to secure the loyalty of the feudal lords who had been muttering their displeasure. It wrapped together some of the lobbying of these lords and a clamp down on the perceived threat from an increasingly unhappy peasantry. It has been criticized by members of the King's own feudal aristocracy as being too tough on the peasants while doing little to counter the real ring-leaders whe are considered to be members of the middle class, merchants, teachers, artists and senior clergy. '''1412''' Campaign Starts. Prev: [[Chronology Part 6| Part 6: Unification to 1400]] ---- [[History|Back to History]] <
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