TOPIC OF THE MONTH: The Thyatian Reformation
By Vivianna Romanones
Insightful observers have for some time been aware that the
Thyatian Empire was not as vigorous as it once was.
Maladministration and venality among some elements of the nobility
and within the government itself made "Thyatian" a byword for
corruption in some nations. This decline was first noted in Thyatis
itself after the Alphatian Spike Assault of the mid 10th century
AC.
When Emperor Thincol took the throne he did his utmost to reverse
this process, and a resurgence of Thyatian strength began. The
recent Great War swept away the gains of his rule, however, and
exposed for all to see the dissolute self-centeredness of some of
the most prominent families of Thyatis. These people showed an
almost Alphatian sense of narcissism, evidencing none of the
traditional Thyatian virtues which made the imperium strong
in the past. Their lack of interest in the commonwealth made the
defeats during the early stages of the war almost inevitable.
Though Thincol did his best to set things right, promoting able
commanders and weeding out the dissipated and worthless ones, he
could not work fast enough to prevent retreat and near
disaster.
Many thought that in the aftermath of the war the empire would be
able to right itself. Its most inimical enemy, the foe of all free
Mystarans, was gone. But the humiliation at the hands of the
insignificant Thothians showed that Thyatian society still was not
working right. Thothian knaves were even able to deploy weapons of
mass destruction within the Thyatian heartland itself, something
not even the Alphatians had managed to do-or even been wicked
enough to do. This embarrassment convinced many of those who at
first refused to believe there was anything wrong within the empire
that strong steps needed to be taken to restore it to its former
greatness.
The rise of a new, dynamic emperor determined to not only restore
the empire but to overhaul it and initiate much-needed reforms has
caused tensions in Thyatian society. He has purged the senate of
dead wood and put public-spirited men in charge of the imperial
civil service. The Thyatian military is being reorganised and
modernised; it will be a smaller but stronger force, better able to
defend the empire's interests in a dangerous world.
Laws had not been enforced properly, because many judges were
corrupt. While it is unarguable that Thyatian slaves live better
lives and have greater legal protections than even the servant
class of Alphatia, some think that the institution of slavery has
no place in today's Mystara. Emperor Eusebius has walked a middle
ground, insuring that the legal rights of slaves are observed.
Intemperate judges who ignore the law have been removed from
office. The rights of Thyatian citizens are being re-emphasised
with a new concentration on local government through republican
institutions.
Though Thyatis is known as a centre of trade, Thyatian mercantilism
suffered in recent years by comparison to nations like Minrothad,
Darokin, and even lowly Karameikos. Eusebius has adopted programs
to support the development of a strong internal trading network
within the empire, and to encourage enterprise beyond it. The new
Mesonian Millworks, adapting Darokinian methods combined with
Thyatian efficiency and ingenuity, is one of the surest signs of
Thyatian resurgence. The imperial tax system has been changed, with
an eye on encouraging reconstruction and discouraging
inefficiency.
The emperor knows that though Thyatian methods were necessary to
save the world from enslavement by the Alphatians, the expediency
this required ironically made the imperium unpopular in many
nations that nonetheless benefited from our vigilance. Now that the
Alphatian threat has disappeared, he is interested in forging
better relations with the Mystaran family of nations, through
honourable diplomacy.
But though the emperor's reforms are popular among the common
Thyatian people, not all are contented. Many powerful families that
were stripped of title and position are grumbling. Some see the
emperor's reforms as a threat to the very traditions he seeks to
preserve. Many are not happy with the new, efficient
administration-especially those that built their fortunes on graft
and corruption. How these tensions will work themselves out remain
to be seen, but it is likely that some of those who want to retain
their prerogatives will be willing to stoop as low as treason.
But for the patriotic and intelligence, there is no choice. The
emperor's reformation is long overdue. The traditional Thyatian
virtues can only be preserved by adapting to a changed world and by
uprooting corruption and restoring civic pride.