The Revolution of 1855

The 1855 revolution in Isidorrey was a period in Isidorrey’s history that was characterised by Isidos everywhere gaining new attitudes of wanting drastic change. These new attitudes would begin in 1855, however they would last for a long time after the revolution, inspiring revolutionary literature, music, and the development of a truly unique identity from France.

The revolution would begin in April of 1855 and would end by September due to lack of organisation in revolutionary ranks as well as threats from the French to easily encircle and bombard the islands from the coast. Although it was short lived, it had a great impact on the history of Isidorrey and as well as inspiring future revolutions and the eventual independence movement, it caused the deaths of an estimated three and a half thousand people.

Causes
There were many causes for the revolution that had been developing for decades, and all causes can be linked to French rule of Isidorrey. Firstly, a food shortage had been running since 1843 and was solely due to the fact that mainland France refused to provide Isidorrey help when a large storm hit that destroyed almost all agriculture on the islands.

Generally, the French government completely ignored the wants and needs of both the local administration of Isidorrey and therefore the Isido people entirely. At the establishment of the Second French Republic, The Governor of Isidorrey requested that a certain level of autonomy be given to Isidorrey to manage its own affairs succefully, however this was outright rejected and the French army stationed a further one hundred soldiers on the islands that added to the already one hundred and fifty that were previously there.

Military presence was another cause that was listed by revolutionary Karl Monesior in his manifesto ‘The Right to Self Administration for Isidorrey’. The large amount of troops on the island and the fact that they basically had free reign to steal crops and alcohol when they wished caused the Isido people to be extremely aggravated and on edge. In 1853, as revolutionary activity preceding the revolution of 1855 was discovered, the French government practically installed martial law. The local government had their powers all but fully removed and given to the army. This made the Isido people feel less like French citizens and more like foreigners being occupied by France.

A crumbling economy is cited as being one of the main reasons as well. As the French government seemed to be requesting heavier taxes from Isidos than from mainland French citizens. And this was found out by Karl Monesior’s brother, Louis Monesior, when he visited Paris to essentially spy on the French administration. These higher taxes created a society in which the people of Isidorrey could not spend their precious earnings, many moved away, and many simply died from not having the capital to support themselves or their families.

Preceding the Revolution
For years before the revolution began, revolutionaries like the Monesior brothers and Jacob Franciene were working slowly towards stoking the flames of uprising. Karl Monesior was a writer before the revolution, and so he became the brains of the operation, writing the manifesto of the revolutionaries. The manifesto was essentially only a small leaflet that explained how the French government had oppressed the Isido people and how revolts could change how the French treated them. This shows that the Revolution was not about independence from France, as most Isidos knew that Isidorrey could not support itself at the time, but it was in fact about just gaining a level or autonomy and gaining recognition of their problems.

Louis Monesior was not seen as intelligent by his companions, but he was crafty and a natural in the art of espionage. This is why Louis was sent to spy on the French government in Paris and why he was the main leader of the guerrilla attacks on French army supplies in Isidorrey.

Jacob Franciene is held in a high light and is probably the most known however. Even though Karl was the brains and even though Louis was the reason why the early revolt was so successful, Franciene was the propaganda chief. This is why he is held so high as he was sort of like the front of the operation. He created posters, wrote songs (including what would become the national anthem of an independent Isidorrey, Les Rives de Notre Terre), and spoke at taverns where he would rile up the masses to the cause.

Before the revolution began, this revolutionary activity would slowly build a strong feeling of revolutionary spirit in the common people and without the work that went in to instil the feelings of anger and resentment of the French mainland, the revolution may have not happened as it wouldn’t have had the level of support that it did.

The Uprising in April
After preparation for years, the revolution finally started on April 15th, where hundreds of people armed with all that they could muster, stormed army encampments around Isidorrey and slaughtered all the soldiers that didn’t surrender. This was met with a quick retaliation by the French mainland, who sent more soldiers to quell the rebellion.

Isido sailors used their ships to try and attack incoming French army transports, however most were blown out of the water. Isido farmers mostly stayed to defend their own crops from invading forces and this left mostly peasants from Criqueville, and the Monesior brothers leading them, to deal with the landing French troops. This force of revolutionaries was destroyed in a battle on the Renon coast and Louis Monesior was killed by three musket balls to the chest. Karl Monesior managed to escape and he would live out the rest of his life in Oxford, England.

Even though the main forces of the revolution were killed, Jacob Franciene managed to lead a Gurrilla effort that lasted until September. In September he would by captured and hung, and the revolution would be crushed swiftly after that.

The Fall of the Revolution
The death of two of the main leading revolutionaries and the disappearance of the other, meant that revolutionary activity was disorganised and swiftly crushed by the French government. Eighty seven people were said to have been hung as a show of French force after September. Although many were disheartened from fighting further, some remained in the spirit of trying to fight back. And although there were no large scale revolts in many years later, revolutionaries speaking in taverns and organising secret anti French meetings was common.