An Introduction to the Duchy of Caradia
Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2019 3:45 pm
by Caradia Gov
Salutations! I am here to announce my full arrival here on these forums, and give some background information on the duchy before I make a reservation claim.
But first, some information about me. I have been a micronationalist since January 16 of 2019, when I created the real-world simulationist micronation of Kaznika on MicroWiki. I worked with the Kaznikan Empire until March 27th, when the nation faded out of my life, since I lacked the real-world resources to continue the actual development of a real nation. The Duchy of Caradia sprang up as an intellectual exercise between myself and some friends between April 12 and April 24 of this year. Upon discovering Micras, I began to make plans for integrating the duchy within the community, though my friends still require a small amount of persuasion.
Now, onto Caradia. (Warning: large amounts of text)
But first, some information about me. I have been a micronationalist since January 16 of 2019, when I created the real-world simulationist micronation of Kaznika on MicroWiki. I worked with the Kaznikan Empire until March 27th, when the nation faded out of my life, since I lacked the real-world resources to continue the actual development of a real nation. The Duchy of Caradia sprang up as an intellectual exercise between myself and some friends between April 12 and April 24 of this year. Upon discovering Micras, I began to make plans for integrating the duchy within the community, though my friends still require a small amount of persuasion.
Now, onto Caradia. (Warning: large amounts of text)
Spoiler!
Caradia has a small claim along both banks of the River Caledon, called Seo Acken-Wasick or Relacul Miroc by the locals, where the tributaries of the river converge to flow into the delta. The countryś location along a river offers ready access to water, which allowed the early settlement period to grow at a rapid rate.
The history of Caradia as an independent territory begins with Hamland losing its grasp on the area, leading to the cities there forming city-states. An uneasy peace between the city-states on the river was broken rather quickly and what became known as the Chaotic States period began. Minor wars between city-states for the pettiest of reasons led to the area being in a state of constant war, hindering economic development and scientific progress in areas not directly related to war.
This period came to an end when the leaders of the remaining city-states came together and formed a council, technically a new country, but functioning more as a non-aggression pact than a united nation, known as the Sarn Confederacy. This brought back the uneasy peace that existed before the Chaotic States, and allowed the economy to regain its traction and flourish. Insular protectionist trade allowed for local noble houses who owned land to stay rich by hiring workers to live on their land. This semi-feudal organisation of work lasted well into the next historic period.
The Sarn Confederacy did not last long, as the original founders of the Confederacy grew old and wished to maintain their power in their line, instead of having democratic elections of councilmen upon their death. A new law was passed without the consent of the people, officially transforming the nation into the Sarn Republic, though it functioned more like an oligarchy. Councilmen could overrule votes from the populace for little to no reason, and as such dynastic lines appeared within the council. The sons and daughters of councilmen became the new councilmen after their parents' death, and so on.
The Republic didn't waste time in transforming the country into a totalitarian state. The state was split into two administrative regions, separated by the river, while the nobles and family of the council lived on a small area of land to the north of the river or on the island at the middle of the convergence point. The Republic also created institutional regression of technology, forcibly going backwards with technological development to keep control of the populace. Taxes were raised to pay for luxuries of the upper class.
Eventually, the son of a councilman decided to remove the council from power and equalise the classes of the state. His name was Godrick I, and he is extremely important to modern Caradia. He spoke secretly to the Sarn populace about how strong their oppression was, and he intensified emotions of rebellion against the oligarchical Council. He gathered a peasant army and marched on the capital, removing the Council from power and placing himself on the throne as King. During the war, his numerous exploits heightened perception of him into something almost like a god. He held a powerful position in the eyes of the people, and thus was placed as a king. He renamed the country Caradia, which means "rebirth" in his local tongue.
King Godrick I set about expanding the country's economy and military. He instituted mandatory military service, took control of the media, and nationalised labour-intensive jobs, such as the now booming mining industry. He created the Caradian Coal Company (CCC) when a deposit of coal was found beneath the river, and began modernising the nation. However, Godrick I was assassinated before his plans could come to full fruition. His body was burned on the river. According to local belief, the fire on the river turned black, and sank to the bottom, burning underwater for three days straight. This was the final act that caused a formal organised church to spring up around Godrick I, renamed King-Saint Godrick I. The religion, the Church of the Black Flame, holds military duty to be sacred, and demands fanatical nationalism to whatever nation adherants call home.
King-Saint Godrick I was deemed a holy title by the church, and his son, Duke Alecsi I, was not called king. The country transformed into a duchy, as all new rulers would be known as "Duke". However, every so often, a leader is highly regarded by the church, and the leader is considered a reincarnation of Godrick, and the leader is renamed "King-Saint Godrick". This dynastic line culminates in modernity with Duke Alecsi XIV.
The economy of the duchy is based around heavy industry. Coal and iron mines dot the hills around the river, and steel factories dominate the cities. The industry does have a negative impact on the environment, however, as acid rain is near constant near cities, and the river downstream is beginning to turn toxic from waste dumping in the river. The insular economy was only expanded to remove protectionism and allow nearby nations to trade was only lifted recently, by Alecsi XIV's predecessor, Duke Princkenfel II.
The Church of the Black Flame is near end-all be-all in Caradia, being instituted as the national religion, and the reigning Duke being the head of the religion. Adherants of religions other than the Black Flame have heavy taxes levied on them, and proselytising any religion other than Black Flame in the duchy is highly illegal. The religion also creates the propaganda that fills every second of the citizen's censorship filled lives, promoting the military and fanatical nationalism above all.
The nation also has an extremely strict policy on crime, with no prison time being less than ten years, and a great many crimes being punishable by death, which is either carried about by guillotine or hanging in front of the mines. All prisoners must work in the coal and iron mines for no pay, and are regularly preached to by Black Flame acolytes in an attempt to reinforce the foolishness of not adhering strictly to Caradian law.
The history of Caradia as an independent territory begins with Hamland losing its grasp on the area, leading to the cities there forming city-states. An uneasy peace between the city-states on the river was broken rather quickly and what became known as the Chaotic States period began. Minor wars between city-states for the pettiest of reasons led to the area being in a state of constant war, hindering economic development and scientific progress in areas not directly related to war.
This period came to an end when the leaders of the remaining city-states came together and formed a council, technically a new country, but functioning more as a non-aggression pact than a united nation, known as the Sarn Confederacy. This brought back the uneasy peace that existed before the Chaotic States, and allowed the economy to regain its traction and flourish. Insular protectionist trade allowed for local noble houses who owned land to stay rich by hiring workers to live on their land. This semi-feudal organisation of work lasted well into the next historic period.
The Sarn Confederacy did not last long, as the original founders of the Confederacy grew old and wished to maintain their power in their line, instead of having democratic elections of councilmen upon their death. A new law was passed without the consent of the people, officially transforming the nation into the Sarn Republic, though it functioned more like an oligarchy. Councilmen could overrule votes from the populace for little to no reason, and as such dynastic lines appeared within the council. The sons and daughters of councilmen became the new councilmen after their parents' death, and so on.
The Republic didn't waste time in transforming the country into a totalitarian state. The state was split into two administrative regions, separated by the river, while the nobles and family of the council lived on a small area of land to the north of the river or on the island at the middle of the convergence point. The Republic also created institutional regression of technology, forcibly going backwards with technological development to keep control of the populace. Taxes were raised to pay for luxuries of the upper class.
Eventually, the son of a councilman decided to remove the council from power and equalise the classes of the state. His name was Godrick I, and he is extremely important to modern Caradia. He spoke secretly to the Sarn populace about how strong their oppression was, and he intensified emotions of rebellion against the oligarchical Council. He gathered a peasant army and marched on the capital, removing the Council from power and placing himself on the throne as King. During the war, his numerous exploits heightened perception of him into something almost like a god. He held a powerful position in the eyes of the people, and thus was placed as a king. He renamed the country Caradia, which means "rebirth" in his local tongue.
King Godrick I set about expanding the country's economy and military. He instituted mandatory military service, took control of the media, and nationalised labour-intensive jobs, such as the now booming mining industry. He created the Caradian Coal Company (CCC) when a deposit of coal was found beneath the river, and began modernising the nation. However, Godrick I was assassinated before his plans could come to full fruition. His body was burned on the river. According to local belief, the fire on the river turned black, and sank to the bottom, burning underwater for three days straight. This was the final act that caused a formal organised church to spring up around Godrick I, renamed King-Saint Godrick I. The religion, the Church of the Black Flame, holds military duty to be sacred, and demands fanatical nationalism to whatever nation adherants call home.
King-Saint Godrick I was deemed a holy title by the church, and his son, Duke Alecsi I, was not called king. The country transformed into a duchy, as all new rulers would be known as "Duke". However, every so often, a leader is highly regarded by the church, and the leader is considered a reincarnation of Godrick, and the leader is renamed "King-Saint Godrick". This dynastic line culminates in modernity with Duke Alecsi XIV.
The economy of the duchy is based around heavy industry. Coal and iron mines dot the hills around the river, and steel factories dominate the cities. The industry does have a negative impact on the environment, however, as acid rain is near constant near cities, and the river downstream is beginning to turn toxic from waste dumping in the river. The insular economy was only expanded to remove protectionism and allow nearby nations to trade was only lifted recently, by Alecsi XIV's predecessor, Duke Princkenfel II.
The Church of the Black Flame is near end-all be-all in Caradia, being instituted as the national religion, and the reigning Duke being the head of the religion. Adherants of religions other than the Black Flame have heavy taxes levied on them, and proselytising any religion other than Black Flame in the duchy is highly illegal. The religion also creates the propaganda that fills every second of the citizen's censorship filled lives, promoting the military and fanatical nationalism above all.
The nation also has an extremely strict policy on crime, with no prison time being less than ten years, and a great many crimes being punishable by death, which is either carried about by guillotine or hanging in front of the mines. All prisoners must work in the coal and iron mines for no pay, and are regularly preached to by Black Flame acolytes in an attempt to reinforce the foolishness of not adhering strictly to Caradian law.