Ripuarian National Congress

The Ripuarian National Congress (: Nationaler Kongress; : Congrès National) was a temporary emergency government lead by Chairman Gaultier Rühl and established by the military commander Lauther van Stokfort-Lautherstein. The government was established at the start of the Ripuarian Revolution as a revolutionary national alternative to the Lindian provincial government on the 25 February 1853

Originally, there were no intentions of the congress to declare independence. The initial establishment paper read the ultimate goal of the congress was to reach a compromise with the Lindian King and increase the autonomy of the Ripuarian Province of Lindenholt and allow nationalist sentiments within the province without ethnic and religious integration to the Kingdom.

Ripuarian Revolution
At the start of the Ripuarian revolution, Lauther van Stokfort-Lautherstein and Gaultier Rühl established in Gefell the National Congress with the ultimate goal of creating an autonomous Ripuarian government against the despotic rule of The Kingdom of Lindenholt.

The congress was established, 25 February 1853, in the city of Gefell. Initially Gaultier was appointed chairman along-side nine other members of congress, all from different political factions within the province. On 28 February, the congress applied its laws over the entire province and a day alter on the 1 March it started a recruitment campaign for the Free Ripuarian Army and established the army as the congress military wing. On the 2 March despite harsh criticism from other Ripuarian statesmen and political figures, the congress proclaim the province independent from Lindenholt.

Rühl tasked the congress for the following days to draft a constitution for an independent Ripuarian republic. The constitution draft was never completed as the war ended, the Congress declared elections for the representatives who would eventually write the modern day constitution of Ripuaria that is still in effect.

Members of the Congress

 * Gaultier Rühl (Chairman)
 * Alexander van Stokfort-Lautherstein

Free Ripuarian Army
The National Congress' unofficial armed wing was the Free Ripuarian Army lead by Lauther van Stokfort-Lautherstein.

Order of battle - 1 March 1853
Order of battle on the 1 March 1853:


 * 1st Ripuarian Division : General Lauther van Stokfort-Lautherstein
 * 1st Brigade Lauterhügel
 * 1st Infantry Regiment Gefell
 * 2nd Infantry Regiment Ripuaria
 * 5th Infantry Regiment Kempten
 * 2nd Brigade Hovensebeemd
 * 4th Infantry Regiment Lerwijk
 * 3rd Infantry Regiment Dassel

Order of battle - 13 March 1853
Order of battle on the 13 March 1853:
 * 1st Ripuarian Corps: General Lauther van Stokfort-Lautherstein
 * 1st Brigade Lauterhügel
 * 1st Infantry Regiment Gefell
 * 2nd Infantry Regiment Ripuaria
 * 6th Hussar Regiment
 * 2nd Brigade Hovensebeemd
 * 3rd Infantry Regiment Dassel
 * 4th Infantry Regiment Lerwijk
 * 7th Hussar Regiment
 * 3rd Artillery Brigade Westliche Brigade
 * 5th field-artillery Regiment Kempten
 * 8th Regiment
 * 4th Brigade Freiheit
 * 9th Fusilier Regiment Jenaer See
 * 10th Fusilier Regiment
 * 11th Fusilier Regiment