Saalenia wrote:Veroniek and Celeste (March 20, 2023)
It was kind of cute how fascinated Veroniek was by something Katarina took for granted. However, her attention fell on Celeste.
"We haven't had the absolute monarchy for a long time," the princess began. "It was my ancestor and namesake, Princess Katarina I, who at the end of the 19th century curtailed her own power and gave the realm a constitution.", she briefly considered what could never be done. "Now in this constitution, a matriarchal-aristocratic basic order with democratic shares is laid down and political actors who suggest against this are observed by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution. For years, special attention was paid to the left-wing extremist Stallioness Movement," she used the German word "Hengstinnen ", i.e. "Hengst" (stallion) for the male horse, but with a female ending, which would sound strange at first. "However, one was blind in the right eye and did not understand that the courtly and religious absolutists also opposed the basic order. At least until I came."
As a result, Celeste and the Princess of Alzatia seemed enthusiastic about the idea of an alliance. "I am pleased that you want to cooperate. International institutionalization is one of my special concerns," Katarina finally began. "I have to warn you, however. My area of responsibility in Saalenian politics is the executive. Since such contracts usually affect legislation, they have to be approved by the Congress of the Realm, i.e. the lower house of parliament." She thought for a moment. "In an absolute monarchy you might have an assembly of estates, the parliament is something like that, just democratically elected and with more power. Anyway, of course this means that the process from my principality's side may take a little longer and in the worst, but unlikely, case, Congress can reject it and then it can't happen, even if I agree to it." She shrugged and shook her head slightly. "The parties that are well-disposed towards me in Congress have an absolute majority combined, so that shouldn't be a problem."
Katarina pressed a button under her desk and then spoke into cracks that were in it. "Bring me a scribe, please," she said.
A muffled "Yes, my princess" came from it.
She straightened up again. "A built-in intercom that connects directly," she said, smiling. "A regular one would have sufficed for me, but my husband was so excited to talk about how he had seen them in foreign tech magazines and was practically begging me to get some. Oh, men can be so childish." She cleared her throat. "So how are we going to raise this?".
"So if I'm not mistaken," Celeste commented, "the Office basically functions as an intelligence service, to keep track of extremist and terrorist groups?"
"Alzatia used to have one as well—the Marechaussee, a gendarmerie force modeled after the Spanish and French ones, but with the additional role of suppressing the local aristocratic elements in the Principality, since they staunchly opposed the progressive social policies enacted by the Spanish emperor Esteban III, and were viewed as threats to his rule. As a result, many Alzatian nobles and clergy were rounded up by the Marechaussee, and imprisoned or killed on accusations of plotting against the Spanish crown. But Esteban III was assassinated in 1900, and his successor Esteban IV was far less hardline than he was. So Spain no longer had an iron fist on their client states, and the Marechaussee, which they created and trained, was permanently disbanded."
"Anyway, I hope your Highness didn't mind my little history lesson," she said with a smile. "But basically, that explains why Alzatia today is still so traditional and conservative. The harder you try to erase somebody's customs and impose your own, the harder they'll dig in and resist."
"We could start with a friendship treaty or non-aggression pact, and then build up from there," she suggested. "It's unlikely that either Congress or the Spanish court would have any issues with that, since we aren't committing to any political or military alliances yet."
"Soundeth wonderful!" Veroniek exclaimed.
For the friendship treaty text, here are some IRL examples, such as the one between India and Bangladesh, to copy from.
