Church of Albion
"These events, and others have demonstrated that The Church and the Hierarch of the West have betrayed all that we the faithful hold dear. Therefore, we declare that henceforth the Kingdom of High Albion will no longer bow to the corrupt and immoral persons who have usurped the authority of God in Heaven."
In 1493, protests against the Northern and Western Churches began on the continent of Elbid, beginning the Church Wars. These protests were brought on by many causes revolving around corruption within the hierarchy of The Church, many of which involved uses of Magic expressly forbidden by the teachings in both the West and the North.
Seventeen years later, King Edmund VII of High Albion issued a "Proclamation of Purity" which separated the Kingdom of High Albion from the Western Church, and established the Church of Albion. All property of The Church within High Albion was seized by the crown, and redistributed by King Edmund as he saw fit. In the Proclamation, Edmund asserted that as he was chosen by God in Heaven to lead the kingdom, he was also the proper person to lead Albion's church, and adopted the title "Supreme Head of the Church of Albion". When High Albion merged with the Kingdom of Alba to form the The Empire of Albion, this title was retained and is held by the Empress of Albion to this day.
Structure
The Church of Albion is led by the monarch, who is considered the direct representative of God in Heaven to the people of Albion. Beneath the monarch are six archbishops, each of whom head an ecumenical province. These provinces are comprised of 42 dioceses each, with a bishop leading each diocese. Within each of these are a number of parishes, usually one for each town and village, although larger communities may have several parishes within them.
Collectively, the bishops and archbishops make up the General Conclave, and meet to determine matters of theology and church policy. The monarch is the official head of the Conclave, and has veto power on all decisions. In practice, the monarch will typically delegate their authority to one of the archbishops, who have been known to scheme and plot in order to gain the favor and authority of the monarch.
Internal Conflicts
The transition from The Church to the Church of Albion was not a smooth one. While the island of Albion was not torn apart by The Church Wars, many people resisted the Proclamation of Purity, and the subsequent theological changes imposed by the General Conclave under Edmund VII. During the remainder of Edmund's life, executions for treason became almost commonplace, and plots to overthrow the monarchy proliferated. In 1516, Edmund established the Ministry of Correspondence to establish a national mail service, and outlawed private couriers, all in order to aid investigations of treason and sedition. While these changes were rolled back after his death, the modern Ministry of Correspondence marks this as their origin.
In 1553, tensions again flared when the Kingdoms of High Albion and Alba merged under Emperor Henry I. The Kingdom of Alba had not previously adopted the Church of Albion, and there was significant resistance against it, including the notorious Katherinian Rebellion which nearly destroyed the Empire. It was not until well into the reign of Margaret I that the Church of Albion became firmly established in Alba, and even then there were still sporadic uprising in the name of The Church for a century onward.
Magic and the Church of Albion
One of the most significant changes Edmund VII implemented was the acceptance of Magic and magicians among the faithful. Under the new Church, High Albion became a haven for secular magicians, and many fled the chaos on the continent to take refuge on the island. Many historians believe that this concentration of knowledge set the stage for Sir Edwin Harlowe to discover the principles of Universal Magic in 1687. His publication of the Principia Arcana introduced a new era of commonplace Magic to Albion, transforming it into the nation it is today.
The Cause of the Division
While Edmund VII was truly disturbed by the internecine violence occurring on the continent, this was not sufficient cause for him to separate from The Church. The reason most historians ascribe to his decision was his fear of dying without an heir. In 1510, Edmund was seriously ill and aging prematurely, and had not yet sired a child. Having exhausted all mundane and spiritual cures, he clandestinely sought magical aid that was forbidden by The Church. This came in the form of Cornelius Frisius, a magician and heretic who was introduced to the King by his mistress and promised that he could cure the King's ills and guarantee him an heir.
At this time, the Hierarch of the West had several spies within the Court of High Albion, and quickly learned of the King's transgression against Church doctrine. He sent the Bishop of Carbury to the King with an ultimatum; denounce and burn Frisius, or be declared a heretic himself. The Bishop arrived to meet a King much altered from his last visit. He was healthy and vital, and knew that Cornelius Frisius had the credit. Edmund refused to accede to the demands of the Bishop and the Hierarch, and instead delivered the Proclamation of Purity two days later.
Very nice! I'm getting some Henry VIII vibes :) Seriously though, excellent writing, as usual.
Thanks! Yep, Albion's history definitely rhymes with the history of England :)
I love it! I'm a huge history buff, trying to make more effort to branch into non-western historical studies; I love when a story skillfully and creatively incorporates real historical themes and events.