Hirdism
Hirdism is a far right political ideology created by Tir Dveirleson a colonial officer stationed in Ymirland during the Great War. The ideology being mainly based around Dveirleson’s book called ‘Total Krig og den Nasjonale Sjelen (Total War and the National Soul)’, the book was released in 1900 and became popular among members of the Norgsveltian army especially those stationed in its colonies.
In the book Dveirleson argued for the creation of a military junta whose loyalty was to the nation instead of the monarchy. Proclaiming that the only way the nation can protect itself from foreign and domestic threats is through a “national purification” of political institutions and national culture. According to Dveirleson the establishment of a political system that will ensure a secular, nationalistic, republicanist and militaristic government is the only way to ensure national unity and strength.
Dveirleson’s ideals were formed through his experiences as a member of the Norgsveltian settler community in Ymirland. In which he grew to despise what he viewed as a “weak” native population, mainly as a result of the kemonomimi natives following Akuanism. Which he viewed with disgust for its pacifist stance, in which according to letters he had sent to another army officer he has said: “The natives are the most cowardly people i've ever had the displeasure to meet. They hide behind their degenerate pacifist religion as an excuse of why they are inferior. I wonder if the kemonomimi is just genetically inferior or if they are simply culturally inferior.”
Though he was not alone among the settler community in the attitude of viewing the kemonomimi natives as inferior, he was alone in his attitude against the settler elite which was mostly made up of elven nobles or gothirs. Proclaiming them as leaders of an old and dysfunctional monarchical system. Viewing them as something holding settler societies back, and that if one freed those societies away from those old structures can they be purified.
During the Great War the ideals of Hirdism became popular in the army, but especially in the Norgsveltian colonial forces. With colonial forces being biggest perpetrators of the Akuan Atrocities , with Tir Dveirleson and his fellow colonial officers doing what most have considered to be an genocide against the native Akuanists living in Ymirland. In which most historians think was him trying to establish a settler society based around his Hirdist ideals. In which he proclaimed in a nationalistic speech in Kyinster for his soldiers that they were going too “wipe Ymirland clean from religious degeneracy and start a completely new society built around our superiority”. Dveirleson would be captured and executed for treason after the Great War when he and his soldiers started the Hirdist Rebellion after they got the news of Haakon III dissolving the Norgsveltian parliament.
Etymology
Hirdism was originally known as Dverlesonism and National Republicanism but was later known as Hirdism. The term Hirdism being only first used by the far right paramilitary and terrorist group called the Ny Ulvrikia National Army (NUNA) which was founded after the Great War and operated in Ymirland and Hustreache. The group stated they called it after the Hird a settler militia group that operated in Ymirland during the mid to late 1800s. With Tir Dveirleson being known to have been a member of the Hird during his teenage years. The Hird being famous at the time for its harassment against the natives that lived in Ymirland.
Ironically originating from the term hirdmenn, which were soldiers of noble blood that served as personal guards of Jarls and kings alike. It was most famous during the time of the Ulvrikian Empire and the Norgsveltian viking era.
Origins
The historical roots of Hirdism can be mainly traced back to Norgsveltian nationalistic and secular philosophers during the early and mid 1800s. Most being defined by their dislike of nobility and the Ulvriktru faith. Blaming them for what was seen as an overstretched and ineffective colonial empire that Norgsveldet established during that time. This is clarified in letters written by Gustaf Ederman, the leader of the NUNA during the 1920s, in which he proclaimed: “I am firmly convinced that Dveirleson’s ideals were most inspired by the works of Tønner Elgsent and Ylva Danidatur. In which Elgsent’s ideals of Organic Nationalism I would state has had the most impact on his ideals.”
Organic Nationalism
According to Gustaf Ederman Hirdism would not exist the way it does without the work of Tønner Elgsent having set said precedent. In which Elgsent’s works of Organic Nationalism should have said to help inspiring Dveirleson’s Hirdism.
Organic Nationalism is the idea that if a nation is meant to prosper and help its people the fundamental political establishment of said nation has to work for that goal. In which the ideal that a nationalistic democracy or an “Organic Democracy” should be established to ensure the national soul of the people comes to life. In which a more nationalistic society would emerge according to Elgsent which he called “True Nationalism” or “Organic Nationalism” as it one created organically by the people. In which he contrasted it with what he called for as the “Imperial Nationalism” or “False Nationalism” used by the Norgsveltian nobility. One which he argued had no other purpose but to line pockets of nobility instead of enriching the Norgsveltian people.
Elgsent was well known for his dislike of the colonial empire Norgsveldet has and proclaimed that only lands settled by ethnic Norgsveltians should be controlled by Norgsveldet. He had a deep hatred of natives that were under colonial control and promoted the idea of deporting them to create “living space” for the Norgsveltian people. Through such actions can an “Organic Empire without noble elites” be established according to Elgsent’s views.
Radical Secularism
The second large influence on Dveirleson’s work has been suggested to be Ylva Danidatur and her book titled ‘Uten Guder Kommer Friheten’ (Without Gods There Comes Liberty). Danidatur being a 19th century writer in which she predicted in her book that the Norgsveltian colonial empire will collapse as a result of its overly hierarchical and religious nature. In which through said collapse that nation states will be born in which a new golden age of science and progress will be born. Promoting the idea of getting rid of all religious and spiritual beliefs that she proclaimed was holding people back. According to Danidatur’s book religious and cultural superstition should be replaced with heavy emphasis on science and modernity. That a society built on those ideals will rid nations of old traditions in its place a completely new society would be made. Stating in her book that: “With the death of empire a new society will be born, in which the nation shall be reborn around the ideals of modernity and secularism. Liberating us from the ideas of gods, and in its place progress will be our new god.”
Danidatur’s ideals can be seen repeated by Dveirleson’s work in the repeating of secular ideals and the idea of creating an entirely new society. As such inspiring his ideals of radical secularism. Though it had less impact if one compared it to Elgsent’s ideals.
Ideology and Program
Hirdism as according to Dveirleson’s ideals has mainly four principles that it stands behind. Those being Nationalism, Secularism, Republicanism and Militarism. With some of said principles having been expanded on by Hirdist movements after it. Which had their own interpretations of said ideals with often infighting between each other dependent on what principle they place as higher importance.
Nationalism
Nationalism is the most famous principle connected to Dveirleson’s work. With one he had written most extensively about. Fundamental part of this principle being what Dveirleson called “The Cult of Purity”. In which he argued that a nation has to be cleansed of ethnic and cultural minorities that do not fit into the national collective. Proclaiming existence of said minorities as an inherent weakness to the nation. Stating that the fundamental goal of any nation state is protection of its own people from “foreign” threats, be they foreign states or foreign people did not matter they had to be dealt with. His ideas are made on the assumption that the world is a constant power game between nations and dismissed fraternalism and co-existence between nation states as fairy tales.
The ideas of ethnic and cultural supremacy staying as a significant part of Hirdist ideals. Most famously against Akuanists which Dveirleson viewed as a stain on the Urth. He viewed people that did not follow those ideas as traitors to their national group and have to assimilate into the nation again. Ethnic, cultural and national unity was according to Dveirleson sacred, in which the true form of the nation can be established. Bringing forth what he called the “Natural Progression of National Superiority”. Which according to him would purify nationalism to represent the purest form of the nation in which none else matters.
Secularism
Secularism is another crucial principle in hirdism. With Dveirleson in many ways copying Danidatur’s work especially in the extremity of its opposition to religious and spiritual beliefs. Though with hirdism having a nationalistic spin on it which was absent from Danidatur’s work. Rather than promoting modernism and secularism being promoted for the sake of said ideals according to hirdist thought they should be promoted for the sake of strengthening the nation.
Another echo of Danidatur’s work was the ideal of making a “new society” and that nations will be “reborn” through secularism and modernity. In which hirdist thought the “old” nation state will be reborn in a new nation state. In which the new nation state shall have advantage against the old ones by freeing itself from gods and be the masters of its own destiny. Which is seen as important into proving their nation’s superiority over others.
A curious bi-product of hirdist thought is its open promotion to gender equality and tolerance of the lgbtq community. This mainly being the result of its wishes to abolish all traditional and religious ideals. In which includes conservative social norms.