“Desperation is a fact of
life in many poor, overcrowded countries.” -Anthony Lewis
Conditions
for the Martian Revolution – Political
Although Martian
society had been remarkably static for nine centuries, there had been
certain political, economic, social, and technological changes in the
decades preceding the Elysium Mons Observatory incident that laid the
way for the revolution to come.
The first change was
in the ruling dynasty of Elysium. The Ludei dynasty took control
of Elysium in a coup in 4,892 AD. The Ludei steered a uniquely
successful course in foreign relations, fighting few wars and largely
winning those they did fight, while managing trade relations with
neighboring cities with remarkable success. Elysium, the oldest
surviving human city on Mars, was also its most populous; under the
Ludei regime it became the richest as well.
The primary
geopolitical rival of Elysium was, as it had been for centuries, the
Amazonis Bloc to the east. Under the Ludeis, the two powers
largely avoided direct military confrontation, but struggled for
control over the minor city-states to the north and east of Elysium.
These had originally been Elysium tributaries, but had broken free
with Amazonis support in the early 4,800's. The eastern states were
subsequently swallowed up by the Amazonis Bloc, but Ferrograd and
Lucky Strike to the north remained independent, though ruled by
pro-Amazonian dynasties. Elysium fought a series of wars of
attempted reconquest in the 4,800's with little success, the last of
which catalyzed the rise of the Ludei dynasty. The Ludeis used
economic pressure and elite intermarriage to turn Ferrograd, and at
times Lucky Strike, into supporting allies. The Ludeis also secured
economic and military alliances with New Amazonis against their
common rival.
While the Ludei dynasty enjoyed an unprecedented run of good leaders, its fortunes
began to run dry under the final Autarch, Miraxus II. Weak,
frivolous, vain, and indecisive, Miraxus preferred to leave the
running of the City to his council of advisors while pursuing his
personal pleasures. However, for the first decade of his rule, the
city nonetheless continued to enjoy peace and stability.
Interrupt
from Author:
Good leaders my macrocarbon arse. I've gone through the deep
archives; they were all malcons and nutters, every one of them.
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