[Map Game] Novus Ordo (POD - 732)

[Corman50]

Map:

Official Name: The Principality of Moldova
Common Name: Moldova
Capital: Iasi
Head of Government: Prime Minister
Head of State: Prince Alexandru Kallimachis
Major Political Parties: Conservative Party-29 seats, Liberal Party- 26 seats, Aristocratic Party- 24 seats, Reformist Party- 21 seats

Demonym: Moldovan
Languages: 75.8% Vlach (official language), 11.3% Slavic, 12.9% Other
Ethnic Groups: 65.4% Moldovan, 0.1% Vlach, 3.3% Black Khazars, 3.0% White Khazars, 0.2% Russian, 14.6% Avar, 10.2% Magyar, 2.1% Greek, 0.2% Bulgar, 0.9% Other
Religions: 93.3% Eastern Orthodox, 0.5% Catholic, 6.2% Other
Population: 1.5 million
Location: Rest of Moldova, parts of Romania
History: The Territory that now composes the Principality was originally populated by Christian Vlachs. Sometime before the 13th century most of the region (with the exception of the coastal city of Mavrokastro, which was under Byzantine control) fell under the control of the Brodnici, a Khazar vassal state. After the Khazars began to decline the largely Vlach state became independent, took advantage of subsequent Byzantine weakness to take the coastal regions and in 1346, the Principality was founded. Being a relatively small nation the princes of Moldova have largely relied on diplomacy for their survival and have maintained particularly good relations with Serb- Wallachia. Outside of two instances in 1475 and 1746 of disputed succession, there has not been significant internal conflict in the country, However recently there has been tensions building up in the Northwestern parts of the country where significant minority populations reside.
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Spoiler: Flag (Larger than I thought)

 

[Emperor Ike]

Well we are closing in a full map soon. HYPE.

 

[Afaslizo]

Map:

Official Name: The Kingdom of Lithuania
Common Name: Lithuania-Estonia, Potato wastes
Capital: Minsk (located on a different river north of its otl location)
Head of Government and Head of State: King Treniota IX.
Major Political Parties: -
Demonym: Lithuanian
Languages: Lithuanian (actually a mix of Old Prussian, Lithuanian, Livonian and Russian) 74%, Eesti 25%
Ethnic Groups: Lithuanian (a mix like the language) 73%, Eesti 23%, Russian, Saxon and Magyar minorities
Religions: 54% Orthodox, 34% Nestorianism, 7% Estonian Pagans
Population: 3,4 Million
Location: Baltic territory without Riga and southern Lithuania and with Northern Byelorus
History: After the creation of the pagan Lithuanian kingdom Estonia and Livonia were quickly subdued though the Estonians waged a century long war of resistance against their new overlords which occupied more kings than difficulties with foreign powers. When Minsk was taken in the late 13th century and Byzantine missionaries brought the Orthodox Christian faith it quickly rose to become the new capital with the old royal seat of Vilnius being a border fortress to the Magyars after they took most of the southern areas away. Never bein religiously united the kings finally gave way to tolerance in the 16th century to preserve and expand royal power in the name of this new claim and named the unruly nobility as trying to disturb the religious peace.

While Lithuania is mostly shut out from mayor events and turning in history it nevertheless became a successful agrarian state following the import of potatoes from Northern America. Lithuanian landscape is a long road along potato, vegetable and wheat fields, with the occasional town, bog or forest thrown in between. These days Lithuania holds onto its territory with the most stable absolute monarchy of Europe, Estonian and Lithuanians who view each other as best enemy buds but do not clash violently with each other anymore, a weird mix of conservative backwardness and religious tolerance and in the relative ignorance of its neighbors who do not wish to subdue a region which delivers potatoes and vegetables anyway. The only thorn left in Lithuania's side - which acknowledged the permanent loss of the south to the Magyars long ago - is the city of Riga, as the prevalent criminal activities disturb the blissful serenity of the kingdom.

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[Firehound15]

Official Name:
The Ducal Confederation; Vévodský Konfederace

Common Names: Moravia, The Four Duchies, The Moravian Confederation
Capital: Brno, Prague, Ostrava, Drezdany
Head of Government: The Esteemed Lord Viktor Czajka, Voice of the Council, the Duke of Silesia
Head of State:
Moravia - Duke Lorentz II
Bohemia - Duke Václav XII
Silesia - Duke Viktor V
Nemeska - Duke Wincenty I

Major Political Parties:
N/A

Demonym: Moravians, Czechs, Slavs, Confederates
Languages: 82% Czech, 14% Polish, 4% Saxon
Ethnic Groups: 37% Moravian, 22% Bohemian, 18% Silesian, 17% Polish, 6% Saxon
Religions: 92% Latin Christian, 5% Donar's Oak, 2% Other
Population: 6 Million
Location: Moravia, Bohemia, Silesia

History:​

The arrival of the Moravian tribes to Central Europe was one which would culminate in the creation of Great Moravia and the beginnings of modern Moravian society. The Great Moravian Empire, however, despite its great success in the early part of 9th Century, would come into significant and extended conflict with many of the nearby tribes and emerging realms of the region. This, combined with internal instability would result in the collapse of Great Moravia and a period of subjugation under a succession of foreign rulers, often Slavic, occasionally Magyar, and, ultimately, Saxon.

Throughout the long periods of foreign rule, much of "Czech" culture would begin to homogenize as the native residents of the region began to cling to the core factors of their native culture, a process aided by the punctuated, often exceptionally short periods of local rule that often separated foreign expansionism. This period, however, would end in 1673 with the rebellion of Moravia from [insert here]. The three commanders of the Moravian Rebellion, however, had great difficulty in deciding who was best suited to lead the newly formed nation. Their solution, then, was to become equal partners in a confederation.

The early confederation was formed between the traditionally Czech lands of Moravia, Bohemia, and Silesia, although a not insignificant tract of formerly Thuringian land was held as Nemetska. Eventually, with the defeat of the Saxons in the 12 Years War, Nemeska would be expanded and elevated to become an equal ducal member of the confederation. Now, with the oldest of the four Dukes acting as the de jure leader and head of government of the Confederation, they are poised to further consolidate their position as a rapidly industrializing nation in Central Europe, even as calls are beginning to be heard from certain portions of the Nemeskan population...
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[Mikkel Glahder]

Official Name: يكتا كاتالونيا (Iqta of Catalonia),

Common Name: كاتالونيا (Catalonia), الكهنوت (The Priesthood)

Capital: برشلونة (Barcelona)

Head of Government: الأمير عبد الرحمن باخوس (Emir Abdur Rahmaan Bacchus)

Head of State: آية الله فيصل عبد الله (Ayatollah Faisal Abdalla)

Demonym: كاتالونيين (Catalonians)

Languages: Arabic (49%), Catalonian (45%), Frankish (6%)

Ethnic Groups: Moors (40%) Catalonians (52%), Frankish-Moors (8%)

Religions: Sunni Islam (49%), Shia-Islam (6%), Catholicism (42%), Judaism (3%)

Population: 5 Million

Location: Catalonia, Aragon and Valencia regions of OTL Spain

History: After the Ummayad Caliphate collapsed in 755, many smaller states arose in northern Iberia. In North-East the states often joined up in coalitions with each other. Especially the christian catalonians held together and fought with great valor against the muslims armies that had the support of Al-Andalus. The north-eastern Iberia had these many wars until the year 901 a united Islamic faction brought down the christians fiefs an united an Iqta. In the medieval era, there were many disucissions and even rebellions over who should be ruling. In 1403 they finally found a solution. An Ayatollah being the head of state and then the islamic nobles elected one amongst themselves to lead be the head of "government" (which at that time was a council of muslim noblemen). In 1523 the christian subjects of the moors revolted against their rule. A rebellion that almost destroyed the Iqta. A solution was found however, which abolished the Jizya tax and the christians got limited autonomy. In 1723, the christians were granted an autonomous region that they could rule themselves that could how it liked, as long as it acknowledges the Iqta as it's overlord. The state is split in a mostly christian part and a mostly muslim part. The borders are pretty loose and the two parts cooperate greatly.

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[Firehound15]

Most up-to-date map as of yet:

 

[AzagalTheGreat]

(Texel is not part of Frisia, that was a deliberate open spot.I will be filling it in tonight.)

 

[Firehound15]

(Texel is not part of Frisia, that was a deliberate open spot.I will be filling it in tonight.)

That's fine, feel free to do so.

 

[Duke Dan `the Man`]

Offical name:Kingdim of Kurdistan
Common Names: Kurdistan, Defender of Levant, Sword of islam
Capital: Erbil
Head of Government; Erdelan VI Dasani, King of the Kurds
Denomyn: Kurdish
Languanges : Kurdish-58%,Persian-22,15%-Arabic
Religion: Yazidi-68%,SHia Islam-12%,Sunni Islam-5%
Poplulation: 8.7 millon
Location:Iran,Iraq
History: Founded by Mir Jafar Dasani after a rebellion against the Caliphate in 876. The Kurdish Kingdom was a great regional power. During the [insert Turkic nation name] invasion, the Kurds and [turkic nation denonym] fought many wars until the Battle of Baghdad, where the great [insert turkic leader name] was felled and the nation fractured. The Kurds briefly owned all of Persia and most of northenr India during the reign of Zoro the Coquester. After Zoro's death in 1078, the country desented in the Kurdish Civil War, where the leader Erdelan II tookmleadership of the Kurdish and caused major unrest in all of the provinces. In 1125, after the death of Erdelan, entered a period of leace After this, many years of peace would come. In 1793, a small protest wanting the common folk of Kurdistan to have a say in its government turned into a full scale revolution. The revolt would be crushed brutally by the King Bakrid. Today, Kurdistan is currently in the middle of a revolution. The people want to overthrow their King. Small militias in support of the people have taken over much of the countryside. The military is corrupt. Many surrounding nations Are looking greedily that Kurdistan. Currently, Kurdistan does not have a bright future. Perhaps another Mir Jafar will rise up and restore order tomKurdistan. But at this point, anything could happen.

 

[sealy300]

Yazidism is its own faith, nothing to do with Islam at-all.

 

[Deaghaidh]

Is it? There's a fair amount of contradiction in what little I've read about it, because they have historically been fairly secretive. Certainly many Muslims seem to consider them some sort of Heresy.

Would there be a possibility of some sort of syncretic faith emerging in an alternate timeline, perhaps one where Yazdi weren't so actively persecuted? I'm seriously asking, as I don't know enough about either Yazdi or Islam to say. Also, there's nothing to say that the other Muslims consider them 'real muslims.' They could be the Mormons of the Muslim world.

In any case, I propose we agree to leave the Papal State for last, so that we can use it to wind the varying threads together.

Edit: I'm a technology incompetent old man, I can see nothing in the Google Doc except a format. Has anyone claimed Egypt and or Tunisia?

 

[Afaslizo]

Rest of Algeria, Tunisia and Western Libya have been claimed.

 

[Duke Dan `the Man`]

Is it? There's a fair amount of contradiction in what little I've read about it, because they have historically been fairly secretive. Certainly many Muslims seem to consider them some sort of Heresy.

Would there be a possibility of some sort of syncretic faith emerging in an alternate timeline, perhaps one where Yazdi weren't so actively persecuted? I'm seriously asking, as I don't know enough about either Yazdi or Islam to say. Also, there's nothing to say that the other Muslims consider them 'real muslims.' They could be the Mormons of the Muslim world.

In any case, I propose we agree to leave the Papal State for last, so that we can use it to wind the varying threads together.

Edit: I'm a technology incompetent old man, I can see nothing in the Google Doc except a format. Has anyone claimed Egypt and or Tunisia?

I will just change Yazidi to it`s own religion.
Also,fun fact, the name of the God of Yazidism is another name for devil in Islam

 

[Deaghaidh]

Map: Egypt, Off-map also Sudan, Eritrea, nominally Somalia and east African coast as far as Zanzibar
Official Name: Sardukar Empire
Common Name: Great Egypt, Domain of the Great Sarduk
Capital: Cairo
Head of Government: Vizier Suleiman
Head of State: Padisah Ismail Sardukar V
Major Political Parties:
Demonym: Egyptians
Languages: Arabic, Coptic, Swahili, Somali, other African languages
Ethnic Groups: Egyptian Arabs, "Turks" (almost entirely Arabic speaking and with at least some Arab ancestors) "Black Arabs" (Arabized Africans) Swahili, Somali
Religions: Sunni Islam (70%), Shiite and other non Sunni muslims 15%, Christians 10%, Jews 2% (mostly in Alexandria),
Population: (Please include an approximation of the nation's population. Remember that the date of this map game is 1832)
Location: (Please give a description of the nation's location)
History: The Sardukar Empire has its roots in the Turkish invasion of Persia, specifically in the decisive Battle of Baghdad. Thousands of Turkish prisoners were sold into slavery. Around 5000 wound up as slave soldiers in Egypt.

As often happened, these slaves became an elite corps of bodyguards. Within a century they had become powerfull and numerous enough to overthrow their masters, and Sarduk I named himself the first Padishah.

Until this point, the varying dynasties to control Egypt had been surprisingly passive. They generally looked inward, focusing on internal matters and paying lip service and some tribute to whichever power seemed to be dominating the Muslim world at the moment. Egypt hadn't been a genuinely independent power since Ptolemaic times.

That changed with the advent of Sardukar rule. Military minded, the Sardukar Padishahs tried to expand. In the Levant and Mediterranean they met powerful resistance and weren't able to make much progress.

Southward was much more promising. The smaller, less powerful kingdoms of the Upper Nile fell to Sardukar advances. One by one the principalities and Sultanates of Nubia fell, while fleets of galleys on the Red Sea established dominance over the East African coastline, conquering as far as Zanzibar and bringing the lucrative trade under the Padishah's rule. The Sardukar Padishahs were fond of resetting peoples, installing Arabs throughout Africa and various African peoples as garrisons in Egypt.

The wealth of Africa made Cairo, already important, even more glorious. The Sardukar energetically patronized Islamic scholarship and mosque building, and elaborate public works like aqueducts and sewers.

Sardukar dominance over the eastern trade was shattered in 1509, when the light ships of the Sardukar and their vassals were defeated by ((who wants to have the Portugal role?)) at the Battle of Diu. The lost income set off an era of internal conflicts among the 'Turk' elite. Now assimilated by the Egyptian Arabs majority, these descendents of the original slave soldiers dominated the military and government, and expected money to flow from the treasury to support their lavish lifestyles.

From 1509 to 1530 there were 12 Padishahs proclaimed and deposed. The Padishah Saddam I, having put down his rival brothers, uncles, and half brothers, decided to create a new corps of slave-soldiers to serve as personal guards.

Shadaam was savvy enough to see the weakness in the "Ghulam System." ((More to come))
Flag: (Optional, but always appreciated)

 

[Mikkel Glahder]

Official Name: Archduchy of Carinthia

Common Name: Carinthia

Capital: Wien

Head of Government. Prinz Maxillian von Wittelsbach, Kanzler von Kärnten

Head of State: Erzherzog Leopold Alexander III von Wittelsbach

From left to right: Liberale Partei, Zentrum, Eisenring

Major Political Parties: Zentrum, Liberale Partei, Eisenring

Demonym: Carinthians

Languages: Carinthian - OTL German really - (85%), Lombardi (10%), Saxon (5%)

Ethnic Groups: Carinthian (67%), Lombardi (10%), Bavarian (18%), Saxon (5%)

Religions: Catholicism (93%), Judaism (3%), Donar's Oak (2%), Other (2%)

Population: 9 Million

Location: Austria, South Tyrol and Southern Modern Germany

History: The archdukes of Carinthia can trace their ancestry back to the first Count of Wien who fought beside Charles Martel at Tours (or so they say themselves). The battle was lost and so was the first count of Wien. When his son, Albert, heard the news, he saw it as a chance to expand his newly aquired realm. After 20 years of conquest he proclaimed himself duke of Carinthia. He died the following year leaving his 28 year old son, Leopold to rule the realm. He and his succesors continued the expansion of the realm. Some did it sword in hand whilst other rulers choose the diplomatic way. In 1432 however, the only heir that was left, was a lady. Many felt that a woman could not rule the realm of Carinthia but her fathers supporters eventually "convinced" the opponents into believing that she could rule well. Her name was Elizabeth and she married the duke of Bavaria who was a distant family member. The many years that followed were rather uneventful. Other than Duke Leopold II declared himself archduke, nothing happened in between 1464 and 1722. In 1723, Archduke Leopold Alexander II was forced to sign a constitution and his own abdication in favor of his son, Maximillian. The parliament is elected by a part of the people (around 25%) and the Kanzler is choosen by the Archduke. In 1788, the Archduchy joined the coalition against Saxony and provided most of their army to the effort. After 12 years of war, the population was tired of war. When the war finally ended the Burgundians rolled over most of their former allies and took some of the Carinthian land but was eventually forced to stop and pull back a bit due to winter and scorched earth. Since the 12 years war, the Archduchy rapidly improved and expanded their army to make it one of Europes finest armies. This was mainly financed by the silver and gold mines in Tyrol. In 1811 Carinthia allied The Ducal Confederation as a coalition to stop further Burgundian expansion and in 1814 Saxony joined. In 1821, there was a general election where the most conservative party, the Iron Ring got a majority.

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[Noco19]

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Official Name: Status Pontificus

Common Name: Papal States, Papal Estates, the Papacy

Capital: Rome

Head of Government: Prime Minister Marcantonio IV Borghese

Head of State: Pontiff Florian

Demonym: Papalini

Languages: Syncretic mixture of Roman-Latin, Sicilian, Neapolitan, Lombard, Sardinian

Ethnic Groups: Syncretic mixture of Roman-Latin, Sicilian, Neapolitan, Lombard, Sardinian

Religions: Roman Catholicism

Population: 10.4 Million

Location: Central Italy

History:

The modern history of the Papacy has been shaped primarily by two aspects: the failure of Christendom to contain Muslim expansion, and its two powerful neighbors - the Orthodox Kingdom of Naples and Sicily and the revolutionary Cisalpine Republic of Lombardia.

With the humiliating decline of the Frankish Kingdom and its subsequent downward spiral, the Papacy was left reeling. Islam gradually crept into the West, displacing lands that could have served as a fount of Catholic power, and on the peninsula, the Lombards now proved unchecked, and many wars between the two sparked until the 12th century. Worse yet, southern Italy seemed poised to fall prey to Islamic conquest as well, threatening Rome by 954. However, by the Grace of God, as Pontiff Marinus II put it, Rome remained strong, and the the Romano-Greek Invasions of the 12th and early 13th centuries were originally celebrated. Many within Rome believed that perhaps the Eastern Emperors would again assert their will throughout Southern Italy, but it was vastly preferable than an Islamic Sultanate. Perhaps even reconciliation between the Christian sects could be possible.

This, however, would prove to be a false assumption as just like the Muslims before them, the Romano-Greeks sought to subjugate Rome itself through force and without diplomacy. Again, the Grace of God sheltered Rome, and the Romano-Greeks were halted by a series of brilliant defensive tactics from Papal noble supporters, as well as the ever-boiling nature of the Christian peoples of Southern Italy, who balked at the notion of their liberators suddenly turning against the Bishop of Rome.

Surviving this turmoil, there appeared no light at the end of the tunnel. Instead was a time that required a great deal of action, and the Pontiffs ruling through the 15th through 18th centuries were ofttimes known as the Time of the Capelli Grigi [Trans: Grey Hair], as the effort needed to manage the Papacy seemingly wilted men.In the north, the Iron Crown of the Lombards grew divided, torn due to the ambitions and greed of merchants and lesser nobles. While the weakness of their enemy was a welcome boon, the Papacy was forced to become extremely active in the petty dealings of Lombardia, as the whims and favor of the merchant princes were constantly managed to ensure the financial and political support they provided. This in turn would bring a veritable renaissance of great works and ecclesiastical art, revitalizing Rome as a cultural center from which genius both flew from and into. Famously during this period, the brilliant Lombardian artist Tinortetto painted the entirety of the Paschaline Chapel, immortalizing the Last Judgement and various other divinely-inspired scenes in great detail. On the political side of things, it was also during this time that Pontiff Julius III succeeded in diplomatically obtaining the old lands of the Exarchate of Ravenna, using his renown wit to encourage its donation to the Papal Estates, which in turn greatly bolstered the temporal abilities of the Throne of Saint Peter.

In the South, the abominable reign of the Romano-Greeks turned even moreso sinister as in 1453, Constantine XI waged a war against the very faith of the Roman Catholic Church. Places of worship were vandalized, the clergy was outright attacked, and the peoples of Southern Italy were forced to abandon their faiths or perish under inquisition. Although strongly protesting, the Papal States were not up to the task of enforcing protection over the Faith, and so instead chose non-violent ways to subvert this heinous act, opening its borders, financing revolts, and doing its utmost to accept the ever-burgeoning flow of Catholic refugees. The beloved revolutionary Alfedero 'Il Magnifico' was promised the Crowns of Sicily, Sardinia, and Naples for his resistance, but fate would have other plans, and his righteous cause was never fulfilled, ended too early with his death on the battlefield. Even today, his heirs stand as pretenders, harbored by Rome.

The 18th Century proved no less hectic, as revolution gripped the Italian Peninsula in the North, and even within Rome on a single ocassion. The Lombard Kingdom devolved into chaos, known as the Red Election of 1791, and radical communes emerged to form the Cisalpine Republic, an entity that immediately earned the ire of the Church when it launched a war against the nobility. Beyond being a simple challenge to status quo, the strong network of ties and relations built over centuries of Papal diplomacy vanished in an instant, and the grim prospect of a Papacy without some degree of influence in the north was frightening. Worse yet, this display inspired similar action in the communes of Ravenna, in Urbino, and in Rome, all of which were quelled, but the fright was cemented. Rallying the Catholic states within Germania, as well as the Avaric and Croat Kingdoms, the Papacy engineered multiple coalitions against the evils of this republic, all of which ended in at best a grueling stalemate. The citizen armies of Cisalpinia proved superior to the archaic and untested military guard of the Papacy, and peace was finally settled out of fear of annexation should the Papacy continue to fail.

Both the pogroms of the south and the revolutionary terror of the north served to greatly bolster the population of Papal population, as refugees poured into Central Italy. The surviving aristocracy of Lombardia and the Catholic nobility of the south were all transplanted in the one seemingly sane part of Italy, and Catholic, or oftentimes simply scared, peasantry found their way too. This prompted immense change, culturally, politically, and economically, and for a long time, the Papacy almost buckled under the growing pains of their ever-swelling populace. Central Italy became a melting pot for Lombard, Neapolitan, Sicilian, Sardinian, and Romano-Latin cultures and tongues. The aristocratic crust of the Papacy, now bloated with transplanted foreigners clamoring for a return to normalcy and power, now held a stronger base, albeit one characterized by conflict between the various regional cliches from abroad and with the 'native' elite.

Such severe issues could have very well ripped the Papacy apart, were it not for the Pontiff Martin V, known today as the Supreme Reformer, who reigned from 1793 to 1808. Elected by Conclave during a time of potential ruin, the faith of the Cardinals was well-warranted, as Martin V proved to be a most able administrator. Firstly, Martin V almost single-handedly formed the backbone of the modern bond between the peoples of the Papacy, writing a number of encylicals highlighting the idea of a land built not on nationalism, but on faith, which was meant to pervade all aspects of life. Using his motto of Pax Christi in regno Christi (trans: Peace of Christ in the reign of Christ), the Papal bureaucracy was expanded, using the extensive nobility and clergy to hold positions and have learned men in charge of administration, both temporal and spiritual. In many ways, the Papacy assumed many elements of a traditional government, encouraging development, commerce, and the establishment of a true state, all built fundamentally on the tenants of the Catholic faith, and thus Papal power.

This, however, would not be without cost. Empowered and most benefiting from this new state were the nobility, both 'native' and immigrated, as they now held a vital role in propping up the temporal aegis of Papal administration. The rights and privileges of the nobility reached new heights, and many peasants who had fled into the Papal States now found themselves as little more than serfs to the aristocracy, having little established clout to advocate for fair treatment and having nowhere else to turn to. Under Martin V, the titles of most every noble family were entrenched and recognized, and a the Consiglio was formed as a hereditary body of lords, designed to advise the Pontiff on matters of temporal and civic nature. From this Consiglio, a Prime Minister was elected (although Roman stylings were suggested, its association with the Cisalpine radicalism begat simpler stylings), who would in essence manage the temporal government alongside the Pontiff. The Cardinal Secretary of State lost much of his power, as did the Pontiff himself, as the de-facto noble government would push forward with their own plans., especially following the death of Martin V.

From 1808 to 1828, a twenty year period now known as the Saeculum Obscurum (trans: Dark Age), the development of the Papal States in terms of science, arts, and economic development would at first advance due to noble patronage, but at the increasingly weakening of the Throne of Saint Peter itself. By the early 20's, rampant corruption and cronyism would take hold, and many say morals themselves seemed to die out, as a number of weak-willed and short-lived Pontiffs would rule, dying out of excess, bawdy shenanigans, and reputed assassinations, sometimes blamed on Cisalpine boogeyman, sometimes blamed on political enemies from within. This Dark Age would culminate in the Interregnum of 1828.

When Pontiff Clement XV died in 1828, the Conclave convoked. But it did not reach its verdict before it was seized by a contingent of soldiers. The Papal Army - l'Esercito Pontificio - had been formulated during the revolutionary wars with Lombardia, and was finally notewothy by 1825, using the concept of a conscription, and the droves of willing peasants, to reform itself into a truly powerful entity. The Consiglio had entrusted its management under Prince Marcantonio IV, of the Borghese family, who had been noted as a man knowledgeable in tactics. However, what was lesser known was Marcantonio's religious fervour, and his disgust at the current state of affairs. Conspiring with the old guard of the Church, those who remembered the intent of Martin V's reforms and the legacy of piety of earlier years, Marcantonio effectively used his military and political connections to coup the Consiglio. Rome firstly and then the various cities and estates that dotted the Papal States, were seized, and the heads of this noble cabal were captured. Sentenced and trialed before the masses of Rome, the leading figures of the Consiglio were stripped of rank and property, and forced into a monastic life, while the lesser nobles were spared with the condition of complete obedience to the Throne of Saint Peter. The underlying similaries between this and the chaos of Lombardia brought panic across the Papal States, but they were cooled when the Conclave quickly re-convened, sans a number of the recent additions of corrupt and nepotistic cardinals.

By 1829, a Pontiff had arisen in the form of Florian. Renowned as a man of simple living, of simple taste, and pure faith, Florian was born as Rowland of Wassen, his early life dominated by an ascetic lifestyle. One of the minority Germanic-speaking Swiss in Upper Burgundy, and one of the even fewer Germanic cardinals, Florian's victory can only be attributed to the intense desire for a return to the Church's roots, free of vice, by the remaining cardinals. The name Florian derives from Saint Florian, and it stands as both a clear nod to his Germanic roots as well as his desire to stand as a protector of the Church, from decadence and oppressive forces. Prince Marcantonio was granted the position of Prime Minister, the Consiglio was abolished, replaced with a streamlined set of ministries appointed by the Prime Minister and approved by the Pontiff, and power was firmly reinvested in the Papacy.

From 1829 to 1832, Pontiff Florian has proven to be a worthy successor to Martin V, reforming the state apparatus and redefining the nature of Christendom by adopting a broader appeal to simplicity. Notably, Florian has proven an ardent opponent of the perceived backwards forces of revolution, Islam, Paganism, and the Orthodox subjugation of southern Italy, and an equally ardent supporter of the Catholic cause on a global scale, from the Germanics to the Avars, and beyond. Time will tell if the efforts of Florian are for not, and if his reforms will fade away just as Martin's before him.

 

[Michaelangelo]

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Official Name: Kingdom of Dagestan

Common Name: Dagestan

Capital: Makhachkala

Head of Government: Tsar Alexis II

Head of State: Tsar Alexis II

Major Political Parties: No parties

Demonym: Dagestani

Languages: 46% Russian, 40% Georgian, 9% Armenian, 5% Other

Ethnic Groups: 47% Georgian , 36% Russian, 12% Armenian, 5% Other

Religions: 78% Orthodox, 18% Muslim (72% Shia, 28% Sunni), 2% Jewish, 2% Other

Population: 425,000

Location: Dagestan (parts of Russia near Caspian)

History:
Dagestan did not exist as an independent entity for centuries after the Battle of Tours. It served the Caliphate up until 1100, when Armenia and Georgia broke away. Dagestan at the time became part of Georgia. The Dagestani people had a mix of cultures and languages, but no common identity. The next few centuries following Georgia's independence saw policies instituted by the Crown to make the region more homogeneous. The Georgian language and culture was promoted and at times forced upon the people. Most of the local nobility were Georgians and the Dagestani people found themselves heavily repressed.

When the plague hit in 1346, Dagestan took the brunt of it. The peasantry was devastated, while the nobility was hit less severely. Due to the Dagestani people being at the bottom of society, they died in greater numbers than the Georgian population. While the population did recover with time, the Dagestani languages and cultures did not. Much was lost and supplanted with the Georgian language and culture.

A series of famines in the 15th Century struck Dagestan hard and fuelled the peasantry into revolt. In 1412, peasants across Georgia rose up against the king, Alexander I. When the king died in battle with only an infant heir to succeed him, the nobles attempted to rein things in as regents. While their ties to Georgia allowed them to maintain control in the west, they had less influence in Dagestan. The Georgian nobility who had been placed above the Dagestani people were forced from their homes and murdered. Georgia could do nothing as it lost control of the region. The Dagestani people declared independence, free from Georgian dominance at last.

Things moved slowly for Dagestan at first. They had no local nobility and most of their language and culture was based on that of Georgia. Wealthier landowners found themselves elevated in society to fill the empty upper echelon. They also had no ruler to govern them. With no nobility to pick from, the Dagestani people looked elsewhere. This led to them courting Kievan Rus to the north, partly as a deterrent to Georgia potentially trying to reclaim the country, despite the fact that Georgia was doing the same. As their ties increased, this saw the adoption of many Russian values and the rise of a significant Russian population within the country. The Dagestani people even requested that a relative of the Kievan tsar be made their king, a request that was granted with the ascension of the first Dagestani king, Ivan I.

Dagestan remained a quiet locale for many decades. It participated in several of Kievan Rus's wars, although it was usually so far from the theatre of war that it could do little and was rarely in danger. However things picked up locally in 1541 when King Dmitry I ascended to the throne. Previous kings had been quite tolerant towards the Dagestani people, who were Georgian in most aspects, despite being descended from a dynasty from another country. Dmitry was a strong russophile, and this would have a lasting impact on Dagestan. His first act as king was to change his title. No longer would he be called king, instead styling himself as tsar as the Russians would. He also disapproved of the Georgian language and culture and instituted a harsh pogrom to eradicate it from the nation, despite it being the majority. Anyone caught speaking Georgian in public was thrown in the stocks. Tsar Dmitry I is credited with the rise of the Russian language as the dominant one in Dagestan, although many do not think this a good claim to fame. He was less successful with removing the culture, but he did facilitate an influx of Russians from up north. Muslims were also heavily persecuted, although this was not entirely unusual and most Dagestani were devout Orthodox Christians.

In the mid 17th Century, Kievan Rus fell to the Novgorod Republic, removing Dagestan's strongest and only ally. Dagestan saw an influx of Kievan people as they fled the war. It also presented an opportunity. Georgia was in disarray after the Rus-Khazar war of 1661-1664, while Dagestan had kept its participation minimal and avoided getting invaded. With Kievan Rus gone, neither of them had to worry about their mutual ally intervening on behalf of their enemy. In 1669, Dagestan invaded Georgia, leading to a brutal campaign that lasted until 1679. Despite having gotten out of the Rus-Khazar war the better, Georgia had more resources to call upon. They fought to a standstill, eventually signing a white peace. Instead they opened the way for Armenia, who annexed Georgia in 1686.

Events in Armenian-controlled Georgia soon led to a mass migration of Orthodox Christians into Dagestan as they were persecuted at home. Within a couple decades, most of the pogroms under Tsar Dmitry I were undone as the Georgian population skyrocketed. Russian still remained the dominant language, but the Georgian people had greater numbers in Dagestan.

The 18th and early 19th Century were mostly uneventful, but proved to be a time of introspection. Many famous philosophers and intellectuals tried to solve the identity crisis that plagued Dagestan. What constituted a Dagestani? The constant influx of migrants from Russia and Georgia, as well as the strong influence by those same neighbours, had resulted in the assimilation of the old cultures and led to a mish-mash of Russian and Georgian. Arguments were made over whether the Dagestani people were just Russian-speaking Georgians or Georgian-speaking Russians. The monarchy was clearly Russian-influenced, since a tsar still sat on the throne, but the Georgian culture dominated amongst the lower ranks. The search for an identity would continued well into the 19th century as the age of nationalism approached.

 

[Afaslizo]

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Official Name: Kingdom of Afnar

Common Name: Afnar

Capital: Reykjavík

Head of Government and Head of State: King Ingólfar II.

Major Political Parties: No parties

Demonym: Afnari

Languages: 99% Norge

Ethnic Groups: 99% Norge

Religions: 87% Nordic Loki (reformed monotheist Nordic faith which places Loki in the centre of worship as god of fire and cunning for both are needed everyday)

Population: 21.000

Location: Iceland, settlements on Greenland

History: Settled by Norwegian explorers and their British slaves Afnar soon became an independent realm due to its remoteness. Over the centuries the island was only scarcely settled and arable land was soon occupied. In the milennia to come Afnar politics were largely decided by all free men in the Althing though around 1300 that transitioned to the Gothi of Loki who claimed both political and spiritual power. The only notable event was the partial colonization of Greenland with settlements there remaining loosely part of the early Afnar Commonwealth.

In 1784 finally Ingólfar Asmudni challenged the traditional Council of Gothi through the power of his personality and made himself king of Afnar while forcing the Gothi in a mere advisor role. Since his death three years ago it is still unclear if his legacy will survive and his son able to ensure the hold on power.

Flag:

 

[Duke Dan `the Man`]

Map:

Offical Name: Kingdom of Nirribhidh
Commen Names: New Scotland, South Norway
Capital: Trondheim
Head of Government: Council of the Clans
Head of State: King Alexander Macintosh
Denomyn: Nirribheach
Languages: Scots-Norwegian-72%, Geatish-22%
Ethnic Groups: Scots-Norwegian-81%, Geatish-13%
Religion: Germanic Pagan-78%
Poplulation: 3.4 million
History: After the fall of the Scottish kingdom, many rebellions took place in Scotland, each rebellion was crushed and the rebels fled the British Isles to flee punishment. The Scottish made several small settlements along the Skagerrak strait. Many of the settlements grew into cities and Scottish nationalism grew among the poplulation. In the midst of the Norwegian Civil War in 1559, the militas of the Scottish cities united and formed the Scottish Army. The Scottish army fought against the war-torn armies of the Norwegians. The Scots were lead by Johan MacAlasdair, who earned renown at his heroic victory at Bergen. After the Battle of Akershus, Johan MacAlasdair was crowned as King of Norway in 1568. The Scottish language fused with the Norwegian culture to form the Scots-Norwegian language known today. Johan reestablished the clan system with chiefs being administrators of the country. The Council of the Clans was formed after the death of Arthur "the Brave" after his death defending Nirribhidh from attacks from the North. The Council rules Nirribhidh from the city of Trondheim. Nirribhidh has an elective monarchy with votes coming from the Council. The state of Nirribhidh is set back by the bickering of the Council and is relatively unimportant in the World stage.

 

[Afaslizo]

I put the other remaining claims into the map as well

Offical Name: Euskal Herria/ Castellian Marches
Common Names: Basque Iberia
Capital: Burgos
Head of Government and Head of State: Sultan Montxo Nafarres
Denomyn: Euskalian
Languages: Basque 74%, other Iberian languages
Ethnic Groups: Basque 65%, others
Religion: Sunni Islam 79%, Christian and Shia minorities
Poplulation: 4,4 million
History: Euskal Herria is the Sultanate of the Basque people in Iberia and readies itself for war against Aquitaine to "liberate" the rest of "rightful" Euskalian homeland. After its islamization in the 10th century the Emirs and later Sultans of the Euskalian territories always were more faithful to the Basque people than to faith. It is the country's greatest irony that despite their tradition to compromise in matters of faith it is still the most conservative and authoritive realm in Western Europe.

Euskal Herria is a largely agricultural country and it holds nothing but contempt for the liberalism of the Andalusians, the modernism of the Asturians and the appeasement policies in the east. Euskalian power has always been the iron fist of its Sultan and his armies, who plan to hold down minorities forever and coerce them into assimilation with the Basque people. Aside from that a third of the army is always deployed to the Castellian Marches, a cluster of Emirates and Christian counts under the "protection" of the Sultan but too unruly to being controlled like the heartland. Aside from the control issue most Euskalians deam the marches a good thing for it forms a buffer against surrounding nations and its splintering ensures that no local ruler may challenge the peace. And it holds the majority of agrarian lands so the locals depend on Euskalian money for their products.