Nobiles

Nobiles
Author	Ignatius Barozzo di Tolia
Subject	Political philosophy Aristocracy Six Families
Publication date	689 TT
Publication place	La Rossa

Nobiles is a political text believed to have been written by Ignatius Barozzo di Tolia, arguing in favor of the island's aristocracy, of which its author was a part of. Originally published in 689 TT, the text is one of the earliest ones to ever be printed on the island of La Rossa using the recently invented printing press. However, the initial novelty of mass-publication did not make it a lasting work, and it was forgotten quickly after its author, seen by contemporaries to be just as vapid as his lavish life. Despite the limited impact he had made during his life, his texts have been readopted centuries later by Rossan conservatives who opposed the democratic reforms following the Spirit Revolution, and later La Denunzia, and sought to bring back the nobility back to power. The election of Leo Minestrici di Mineria in 39 PC would largely serve as a victory hailed among the movement.

Summary

The text, likely written by a ghostwriter, centers around the systems of power surrounding the Six Families, making the argument that an aristocratic system produces a fair environment that selects and produces good leaders. Nobiles makes the argument that as planned marriages with magnates and traders are made, familial relations are created with people initially outside of the Families, meritocratically selecting for successful individuals. In addition, having internal elections between the Families to select a Dux to rule the island requires consensus and trust be built, asking for leaders who will not look out only for their Family but the entire island. Barozzo contrasts this with other systems of government, such as the island's more ancient primitive democracies, bringing up the example of Tolia. Claiming that such systems subject to changing popular will are easily corruptible and prone to poor decisionmaking only consider a short-term view. Contentiously, the text makes explicit mention and praise of the fact it was Marcus Lucios Barozzo di Tolia, an ancestor of Ignatius Barozzo himself, who used his wealth to help abolish democracy in Tolia and replace it with an enshrined aristocratic form of government, "a consequence most great this land shan't ever forget."

Legacy

Upon publishing, the text was hailed more as another product of a technology that was becoming of rapid importance than a work worth remembering. Although its print was promoted by the Dux at the time, it failed to keep a lasting impact, and was forgotten soon after the death of its author. Despite its initial lack of success, the text was revived several centuries later by conservative supporters of the aristocracy, especially following the democratic reforms following the Spirit Revolution, where the right to participate in electing the Dux was expanded to all men possessing property, or approximately 30% of the population. Calling for a return to an older system of values, the text became a rallying cry, more important in its name and symbolism than actual content. Nobilis was additionally adopted by the Rossan elite, which still dominated the Rossan political system until La Denunzia, in order to rebuke calls for further democratization. Following the revolt, however, goals changed, and instead a focus was placed on returning the nobility back to the throne following several years of popular rule of Duxes from working backgrounds. The election of Leo Minestrici di Mineria, and the success of Mare, the internationalist political party dominated by the Families, have been hailed as great successes of the Rossan conservative movement.