The Meritocratic Monarchy

Bertrand believed the measure of an individual came not from their birth, but from their actions. His family began as refugees before being uplifted to nobility. He believed that progress defined the success of a nation. He focused his entire model for government on these beliefs.

Places of learning

During his time, Bertrand was among the few who could read and write. Noble families relied on advisers hired to do the task, leading to occasional corruption.

Bertrand established universal education for all, giving scholars an important role in shaping the nation with their knowledge. He established these places of learning and made sure to structure them in such a way that those with strengths in certain areas are always given the means of excelling in those areas, while driving those who have few strengths to try new things until they find something that suits them.

Both peasants and nobles found themselves welcome, and often sat side-by-side as equals. Many noble families took exception to this, others were humbled by it. It was common for a peasant to possess skills and excel in areas that a noble failed in. This was done intentionally to ensure that Bertrand's system would not fail simply due to how the different classes view one another.

The Citizens of Merit

The literacy rate shot up, but not as much as Bertrand hoped. There was a growing minority of individuals who were illiterate by choice. Peasants quit their education and nobles refused due to the fact that they believed themselves to be above it. Peasants had the education, but no way of using it, many of them being more intelligent than those that ruled them. Bertrand established The Citizens of Merit, a group of peasants who excelled to such degrees, that their skills could be considered payment for their debt to society. They owned businesses and by becoming members of an upper class of peasants, they enjoyed benefits others did not. The only true benefit they received was a universal cut to taxes on all except the peasantry below The Citizens of Merit.

The Minor Nobility



Bertrand decided to cut out the idea of a caste or class-based system. At this point Bertram had to find a way to get the nobles on his side which he did through political favors, giving freedom of taxation to the nobility, and enforcing a dual ownership of land between major nobles and minor nobles. After two years, a new branch of government would emerge: consisting of The Major Nobility and Minor Nobility It was surprisingly well received.