Faithful capsuleers celebrate the Empress’ Jubilee in Amarr.
Empress Catiz I has celebrated her tenth year on the throne by proclaiming an Imperial Edict instituting her Blessed Exchange plan for economic reform. Rapturous celebrations were held across the Empire, with the Empress herself addressing crowds on the planet of Amarr. “There is no blessing greater than to be your Empress,” she told the millions who had gathered before the Imperial Palace, “and as your Empress I lay before you a path to a more perfect exchange within the glory of our faith.”
Though the Empress' Edicts are uncontestable law, the radical nature of the planned reform required a great deal of resources, coordination, and political goodwill to ensure that its rollout would be smooth and to give it a chance of success. It was for this reason that the Amarr organized a capsuleer campaign around the planned change. Without their groundwork, the chaos of such a drastic change could have resulted in severe civil unrest. The Empress took the time to thank all who had supported the campaign: “May the Lord’s light shine on all those who have worked so tirelessly to lay the foundations for our brighter tomorrow.”
The details of the Blessed Exchange reforms will simultaneously increase the rigidity of the Imperial hierarchy while also allowing for much freer trade within the Empire. Taxes, fines, and other regulatory charges have been standardized based on territorial control. The economic rationalization of Imperial authority based on territory by itself would be relatively punishing to the commoners, with benefits increasing significantly for those further up the Imperial hierarchy. However, restrictions on trade have been reduced, and the wealth it generates is handled separately from these territorial charges. This means that commoners, for the first time, have the real possibility of earning significant wealth from specialist craft skills or merchant enterprises.
The edict also stipulates changes to the control of military forces. More power and authority will be granted to local holders, along with the ability to request Imperial Navy support to resolve local conflicts. In exchange, the updated tax requirements include stipulations for high-performing members of the holder’s military staff to be submitted for reassignment to the Imperial Navy. Captain Marshal Sirdan xer Qosh, who oversaw the Blessed Exchange’s campaign efforts, has called these changes “the greatest boost to Imperial security in my lifetime.” Greater local autonomy is expected to help holders deal with local conflicts, especially along the borders of the Empire where Imperial Authority is the weakest. The reassignment clause will ensure that the Imperial Navy remains the ultimate force within the Empire despite the increased power to local holders. Military analysts suspect that this measure is included to quell any theoretical delusions of rebellion.
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