The December Revolution

The Equestrian Severnaya region had been one of the centers of industrialization in Equestria thanks to its rich natural resources. However, its populace always felt mistreated, especially among the lower classes. The situation turned dismal in 1902, when a weather disaster led to food shortages and economic turmoil. The Equestrian businesses, whose newfound wealth came from the recent industrialization of the region, refused to lower food prices, further worsening the situation. Civil unrest grew, leading some ponies to question the basis of the Harmonic system.

Steel Stallion was one such pony. He drew on the ideas of an old pony scholar, Caramel Marks, who argued the need and theory for a new kind of worker's state where everypony would be given equal opportunities and everypony would receive everything according to their needs. Steel Stallion quickly rose to become leader of this revolutionary movement.

The Spark of Revolution
In 1905, the Equestrian Guard responded with unprecedented violence to the growing revolutionary movement. Enraged ponies took to the streets in bloody battle, routing the guard, an event that became known as the December Revolution, proclaiming their independence as a state. The surrounding countryside flocked to the cause, until the state was in full rebellion.

The Equestrian Guard moved in full strength to crush the uprising, and a brutal, grinding week of combat ensued.

Princess Celestia, appalled by the violence and spiraling disaster, withdrew all Equestrian forces and fired the Captain of the Guard, effectively conceding to the revolutionaries. A peace treaty was signed with limited Equestrian recognition of the new state. Shortly afterwards, Steel Stallion died of illness and the capital of the region - Princessyn, was renamed to Stalliongrad in his honour.

With Steel Stallion dead, the revolution elected ponies to a Communist - a committee of representatives of the workers. Two ponies and their ideas came to dominate the Communist - Altidiya Revoltsova and Vasiliy Pentsushenko.

A New State
To the surprise of many, Stalliongrad saw success after success - industrial output began to surge, the military grew, equipping tanks, planes and a respectable navy, and scientists kept Stalliongrad at the head of modern progress.

Soon, cooperation on the Communists began to fail. Hard work turned to competition, debate turned to deadlock, and shared ideology turned to polarised factions. Altidiya and Vasiliy's factions found themselves in an unproductive stalemate, and by 1914 the stunning progress of Stalliongrad had ground to a halt.