Roguesia

The Modernising Empire of Les Rogues and their Followers, commonly shortened to Roguesia or Les Rogues' Territory, was a short-lived fascist state governed by militia group Les Rogues. It was situated at the north of the Sherby Hoodwounds Island and existed from April 6 to May 14th of 1968, effectively lasting for 38 days.

Aiming to "modernise" the world and unite it under the banner of the future time, the country was well known for burning records and revising history to an extent that any events that happened before, such as the state of Azilda, never ocurred or existed. They tried to engineer a "Super Penguin" (not to be confused with the Super Penguin) and bring about Antarctic domination through this forward, totalitarian technology.

Roguesia unsuccessfully launched a campaign against Olde Antarctica in an event ironically titled War of the Worlds, trying to suppress and conquer it. As it had managed to eradicate Sherby Hoodwounds' enemy, Azilda, it signed a peace pact with the neighbouring republic, only to break it on April 15 when they started invading several cities. Due to the extensive cost of damage and infrastructure used, the state was ceded to Sherby Hoodwounds on May 14 in a bid to recover their debts. The group itself disbanded the following year on June 16th.

Precursor
Main article: Les Rogues Les Rogues was a extreme left-wing militant group which was a perpetrator of the anti-monarchy protests. It guised itself as the Azillians Nationalists' Party but lost and proceeded to continue spreading support.

During the financial crisis in 1968, Les Rogues took the opportunity and bought weapons from the Azillian army at as low as 10,000 pebbles per battery. Under the pseudonym/anagram Gels Serous, it purchased more than twenty-five thousand weapons and more than nine million packs of ammunition. Most of these items were leftover from the army during the 1964 Sherbian Crisis.

These weapons, as well as support garnered throughout Antarctica, were factors for their success in conquering Azilda and establishing a new state.

Invasion and Establishment
Main article: Azilda

On the morning of April 6, 1968, Les Rogues militants started invading Samuels, Johannes and the countryside of Azilda. Within a matter of hours, Azilda was occupied.

Les Rogues established a new state under the banner of Les Rogues' un Charmonix van Sunda, shortened to Roguesia. The state was headed by a figurehead leader colloquially known as Dear Leader. Meanwhile, Azilda was cornered to the southwest of its former territory. It thus claimed this land as the Autonomous State of Azilda (even though it was fully independent from Roguesia).

It was first recognised by Sherby Hoodwounds (against the will of Diana V) on the same day. Sherby Hoodwounds had long-standing tensions with its former neighbour, Azilda, and harboured no resentment against Roguesia. Roguesia agreed to establish bilateral trade relations on the same day.

The four monarchies of Olde Antarctica, however, had different views over Roguesia. The Water and Fire Kingdoms both agreed to recognise Roguesia as the legitimate authority of that governing area, but the Air and Ice Kingdoms disagreed. The Air Kingdom was concerned over Sherby's relationship with Roguesia. Due to the death of a senior Air Kingdom official in Azilda four years prior, the Air Kingdom had a relatively unstable relationship with its Sherbian counterpart. For Sherby to agree to Roguesia's invasion of Azilda concerned the government.

The Ice Kingdom, on the other hand, was angered over the invasion of Azilda by Les Rogues. Ice Kingdom police received intel that Les Rogues was a extreme left-wing militia organisation, aiming to bring down monarchies to establish a non-aristocratic state. Like the Air Kingdom, it recognised the Autonomous State of Azilda as the sole legitimate government of the area.

Beginning
The invasion was broadcast over Radio Television Azilda on the 7th of April, and pamphlets were mailed to all citizens describing the new changes implemented by the Les Rogues government. One prominent change was for "all media supporting monarchy (including that of Sherby) to be eradicated before the fourth Tuesday of May". The fourth Tuesday of May in 1968 was May 28. A second, less drastic measure was for all citizens to register as part of Roguesia by April 6, 1969 or be deported to another country sans royalty.

Les Rogues received some support from citizens after implementation of welfare services, new healthcare centres and several universities. However, a recurring theme in all its projects and policies was to remove all support for monarchies. This was evident in the propaganda issued by the government, reflected mostly in the form of posters, pamphlets, media and policies. Read more on the measures taken by the government in other sections.

So far, the government received little opposition. The only parties not supporting the Roguesian government were hardcore Johannes/Samuels supporters, supporters of the former Azillian republic, aristocratic supporters and extreme right-wing groups who argued that economic freedom be increased. Out of the four parties, the aristocratic supporters were most heavily charged. They were often deported or jailed, some even assassinated by secret police (SOV). Extreme right-wing groups, however, had their suggestions granted, and they soon exited the opposition.

Throughout 1968, Roguesia remained relatively stable, both politically, economically and socially. However, it would make a stark contrast for the upcoming year as conflict ensue between them and the other realms of governing.

Increased aristocracy opposition
On January 25th, 1969, it was announced that anyone found supporting existing monarchies at the time would be prosecuted heavily. Charges ranged from 10-year jail sentences to public hanging. This new measure shocked many, and Olde Antarctica-supporters and immigrants tried to flee the country through air and sea. However, the government performed a tight lockdown on airports and harbours, as all penguins leaving the country were to show an invisible approval seal on their flippers. Many of the supporters and immigrants were detected and prosecuted. An estimated 25,000 of them were deleted in deletion camps. This was largely referred to as the Roguesian Genocide, and spurred controversy of the ruling party.

As criticism rose, another measure was implemented in March of 1969, as quoted in the Law of Roguesia - Criminal Defiance and Charge:

'' "Any creature of living state, who has, in defiance, criticised, mutilated, insulted, disgraced, explicitly compromise or abase the Rogues de la Rive-Sud, Les Rogues' un Charmonix van Sunda, Dear Leader, Seventeen Policies of the State, supporters of said subjects and the Anti-Aristocratic Movement, will be heavily charged, with a jail sentence, to be at least of 25 years, or through immediate cleansing, through means of noose, axe or magazine, and all subjects related to said criminal, including mutual companionship, intimate relationship or formal discussion of up to fifteen days totaled, will be jailed, to be at least of 10 years." ''

By April of 1969, more than 70 thousand penguins were prosecuted, with 7% of them hanged.

Meanwhile, the budget that was released that year shifted 99% of the government's spending power to propaganda and military, while 1% was reserved for internal affairs. This angered even more citizens, and in March, many protests were held. However, the military force that was called in pushed back the protestors. This was often referred to as the Roguesian Protests.

In response to the new anti-aristocratic measures imposed by the militia, the Water and Fire Kingdoms immediately broke off all relations with Roguesia. Sherby Hoodwounds agreed to recognise the Autonomous State of Azilda as the legitimate governing body of the area. Other countries at the time, such as Frankterre and MAI, resigned support for the country.

This was a foundation block for the upcoming Old World vs. New World conflict.

War of the Worlds
Main article: Old World vs. New World Starting April the 1st, Roguesian navy and air forces started patrolling the area around the Air and Ice Kingdoms, which were the initial countries to not recognise Roguesia.

On April the 6th, the anniversary of Roguesia's independence, all penguins who never registered to be a citizen of Roguesia were deported to Sherby Hoodwounds. Sherby Hoodwounds, a republic then, was thus not considered a monarchy even though the former monarch (Diana V) was the ruler.

At approximately 4:25am, Universal Ternville Clock time, Les Rogues started bomb raids on small seaside towns lining the coast of the Air Kingdom. Navy troops reached shores and moved forward in direction of the Ice Kingdom. By 7:00 am, three towns were seized, and two thousand monarchy supporters were imprisoned or confined in boxes.

Olde Antarctica called for an emergency meeting at the Summit, before deciding to take action and sending out troops to attack the Roguesians. At 9:00am, the battle in Olde Antarctica came to a stalemate, with seven towns seized by the Roguesian army.

At 10:00 am, Roguesia's army started moving towards the border of Sherby Hoodwounds. The border checkpoint was demolished and Roguesians started invading Sherby Hoodwounds by 11am. Sherby instantly sent out its entire army, including those still in training, to push back the Roguesian forces. The Battle of Johnston, as it was so called, lasted until April 11.