From what I've been told, typical Orlesian bullshit. Harsh taxes, and every so often some idiot with a cruel streak decided to take his aggression out on the populace. Lasted for like an Age. Euh about a hundred years, in our calendar.
I think that people my age might be the first to be truly free Fereldans, but honestly patching stuff up sounds good regardless. Had people that did that for me, which makes me sound a lot more like a noble ass then I really am. Just one of the few things I never picked up, oddly enough.