Chapter 250: More Constitutional Reforms (2/2)
”You do realize that when word of this gets out, the neighboring Duchies and Kingdoms will be even more upset with you than they currently are. You are single-handedly overhauling centuries of governance into something new which greatly strips away the nobility's power.”
To this, Berengar laughed as he grabbed ahold of Linde's perfectly shaped face before expressing his views on the matters at hand.
”Sure, the nobility loses their ability to draft troops, issue their currency, and own all of the lands. However, they will still act as de facto governors of their territory and will have more wealth than before when my reforms go into place.
At the moment most noblemen gain their wealth by taxing poor peasants. With the industrial age upon us, businesses will boom, and goods will be sold. The common people will grow wealthier and afford nice houses, which the currency they use to purchase the land to build those houses upon will go into the hands of the nobility, who currently own that land.
It is not like I am taking all of the lands of nobles away from them. They will still have vast swaths of territory, and they will more than make up the loss of land with shares in the businesses that are bound to sprawl across Austria in the coming years.
The nobles may not hold all of the wealth of the Duchy in their hands, but they will be wealthier than they were before, and that is all that matters. When the neighboring Kingdoms realize that our realm's nobility is more affluent than they are, they will grow envious and spiteful.
They might lash out against us, but we have the power of industry on our side, and their feudal armies have already proven not to be the match of my professional army.”
Hearing Berengar's long-winded speech about the forthcoming age, Linde grew wide-eyed as she imagined what it would be like. She greatly admired Berengar's vision for the future and the lengths he was willing to go to to achieve it.
Thus she wrapped her arms around her lover, and gazed at the latest draft of the Constitution, and asked another question that was on her mind.
”In the end, all the power rests in your hands, doesn't it? Everything else is just a ruse to appease the commoners and the nobles. According to this Constitution, you can pretty much replace anyone you don't like in the government with someone who supports you.”
To this, Berengar smiled and took a sip from his beer; after doing so, he thought about it deeply for some time before responding.
”The average person can't be trusted with any semblance of political power. Even if I were to make my population fully literate, the masses would never understand the inner workings of government. They inevitably will vote into power people who promise to give them the most benefits at the expense of the Nation.
With that, corruption will take hold of society, and the Nation will slowly decline into total collapse. Only by maintaining an educated and intelligent electorate can a Republican-style government genuinely thrive. However, the more literate people become, the more they will ultimately want representation.
Thus if I try to hold onto all the power like a Despot, there will inevitably be a revolution. Creating a lasting Empire is built upon compromise. With this, I hope to make a long-lasting system where our descendants maintain power, and those intelligent enough to understand how the government works are placated with appropriate representation of their interests.”
Hearing this, Linde nodded her head, and a sly smile appeared on her face.
”In other words, the Duke knows best, right?”
To this, Berengar chuckled before responding.
”I suppose you could say that….”
Thus with this, the Constitution of the Duchy of Austria was drafted, in a system that somewhat resembled a limited republic, while still giving significant control to the nobility and the Duke.
Berengar had carefully drafted a constitution that he felt limited the negative effects of constitutional republics, and monarchies alike while still maintaining a significant degree of control for himself, and his Dynasty.