Template:UnderConstruction The Phoenix Age (4000–4027) is the name used to describe the reign of King Andrew when the re-united Hapes Consortium was rising from the ashes of the Hapan civil war. The time-period is considered a transition from the Age of Queen-Mothers and Dark Age on to the Golden Age as the King mixed the new with the old in order to re-establish a firm government. Most Hapans look back on this period in Hapan history with fondness.
Monarchy & Government
Initial Years
King Andrew ruled the Hapes Consortium with a firm yet gentle hand. He adopted a style of leadership similar to many of the historical Queen-Mothers and encouraged unity across the Hapes Cluster.
The first few years of the Phoenix Age were difficult as many Hapans had trouble accepting a male monarch. The King relied heavily upon the support of the old nobility of the Rim Worlds and Rifle Worlds regions to maintain order and peace. The frail alliance of the re-unified Hapes Consortium was held together primarily by the King Andrew, Lord Laz Tylger and Nilij Cal'taru. At the same time the King was suspicious of the conservative nobility as only a few years earlier they had been sworn enemies.
As time passed and most of the population came to terms with the idea of a male monarch, the King gradually reduced the power and influence of the nobility throughout the Hapes Consortium.
Rebuilding the Economy
The King encouraged the nobility to donate fragments of their wealth to the Hapan treasuries in order to build the infrastructure of the Hapan society. Many of the Consortium's worlds were still in ruins from half a century of warfare and the Crown was left with the bill. King Andrew sent ships out of the Hapes Cluster in secret, establishing a trade network from the outside galaxy in to Hapan space. Using fairly common, but valuable Hapan trinkets and gems, he was able to acquire many of the things that the Hapan peoples desperately needed to rebuild their society.
Black Sun was one of the Hapes Consortium's major suppliers of goods throughout the Phoenix Age and the King established a friendship with Princess Storm who ran the trade conglomerate.
In 4024, Lorell was opened to the outside galaxy and the Hapes Consortium's unique nature and untouched markets attracted many foreign businesses to set up shop on the galaxy's newest trade hub and commerce nexus. The taxation of imported goods, not to mention tax revenue from the planet, stabilized the Hapan economy.
Trans-Galactic Transportation was established in 4024 as a nationalised corporation specialising in the import and export of goods to and from Lorell, and was the first Hapan company to operate in the outside galaxy.
Social Reforms
King Andrew carried out a number of social reforms which he considered necessary after the Hapan civil war. In 4005 he settled the dispute between the sexes, making sure they had equal employment and service opportunities. While this was not welcomed by most of the female Hapan population, especially in conservative circles, the males were happy to be able to serve the government and armed forces as well.
He permitted strict and limited immigration to the Hapes Cluster from 4012 and on, leading to some non-humans moving in and becoming citizens of the Hapes Consortium. He ensured that non-humans were treated fairly, along the same lines as all non-human species native to the cluster.
Lorell Hall
King Andrew oversaw most aspects of the Hapan society and government himself with the assistance of a small group of advisors which frequently visited the Royal Hapan Palace. He toured the Hapes Cluster and spent very little of his reign on Hapes Prime itself. When he became too sick to rule in 4026, he appointed Lord Alexander Tylger as Regent and Prime Minister. Crown Prince James was originally meant to oversee the Hapes Consortium, but was in isolation on an unknown world, studying for his future rule.
Lord Tylger re-established Lorell Hall and appointed a select number of Ministers to help him administrate the Hapes Consortium. The cabinet's firm and stable administration of the state helped ease the transition between the Phoenix Age and Golden Age.
