NationStates Jolt Archive

Φγθηαπυ Юεγε
The Kingdom of Garindi

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/4759/garindiptflag9uj.png
Flag of the Monarchy


The Kingdom of Garindi (Φγθηαπυ Юεγε) is a large renaissance kingdom ruled by King Thaddaeus Garindi III (Τωτγξш Юεγε III). The Kingdom is located on an isthmus that connects the two parts of the continent of Zomaria. The land that the kingdom encompasses is often refered to by its inhabitants as Duvay (Γжνε). The monarchy has nearly absolute control over the country, with the only other authority coming from nobility and some local parliamentary systems. The city in which the king resides is Simonine, the capital of the Kingdom. Culture in the kingdom has been shaped by growing humanist beliefs in recent times, although religion still has an enormous effect on everyday life. The official religion is Duvaynism (Γжνεηθщ), which is a sect of Orthodox Christianity. The primary language of the kingdom is Duvayni (Γжνεш).

History
The first people to settle Duvayn came from the region to the Southeast. They first settled along the Dimisso and Torintho Rivers, as well as in the Fishers Valley. They brought with them their domesticated plants and animals, as well as their technology and agricultural techniques. Soon, they had spread to all of Duvayn, although the population tended to settle near rivers and not high in the mountains, where agriculture and travel were difficult.

Because of its location as an isthmus between the two parts of the continent of Zomaria, all trade routes between the northwest and southeast parts of the continent traveled through Duvayn. This made Duvayn become a cultural hub, with all the cultural and technological developments gathering in Duvayn. This caused the fragmented kingdoms of Duvayn to develop quickly as a large cultural and military power.

The next major chapter in the history of Duvayn was the unification. About 200 years ago, Duvayn was fragmented into over 300 kingdoms. These kingdoms warred with each other, and were somewhat separated by mountain ranges. The most populated part of Duvayn was the Torintho River Basin. The first kings of the Garindi dynasty came to power in the region about 250 years ago by utilizing their larger population to conquer surounding kingdoms. Instead of forcing the defeated kingdoms into slavery, like was normal during the time, the Garindis let the local leaders keep power and their militaries as long as they pledged loyalty to the royal family. This development made the Garindis the most powerful force in the region. Their influence spread over the next 250 years. Most of the fragmented kingdoms were conquered by war, but as the Garindis gained power more and more gave up without a fight. Eventually, the Kingdom of Garindi spread to have the large influence that it has today.

Political Structure
The King sits at the top of the government. His word is absolute, since he is considered to be a holy figure who has been given the right to rule by God. The King rules for life once he has attained his position on the throne, with the position being transferred to the king's first born son upon death. If no male heirs exist during this time, then the kingship will be passed to the king's nearest male relative by female descent.

To help him control his kingdom, the king creates a class of nobility that are given certain government tasks to complete and in exchange for the services to the king are given estates of land called fiefs. There are several titles in Duvayni peerage given to these nobles. In order from most powerful to least, these titles are King, Duke, Marquess, Earl, Viscount, Baron, and Baronet. Members of the nobility may also be female, with the female equivalents (starting at "Duke") being Duchess, Marchioness, Countess, Viscountess, Baroness, and Baronetess, respectfully.

Several cities, such as Matthiema, also have local parliaments that assist in governing the Kingdom. The members of the parliaments are elected by the aristocratic elite, and generally pass laws for the area which they represent.

Economy
The Kingdom of Garindi is very wealthy. It has prospered off of its abundant natural resources and good climate for agriculture. The mountainous northern part of the Kingdom has prospered from mining valuable metals such as gold and silver. The rest of the Kingdom sustains itself primarily through agriculture, although timber trade is a primary economic activity in some parts of the Kingdom. Most of the citizens of the Kingdom are farmers, although new methods of storing food have been developed in recent times, leading to a larger surplus of food and larger city populations. Trade between other peoples in the Kingdom is not well developed, but some trade has been achieved. This is especially the case for commodities such as silk, which is highly sought after but not naturally available in the Kingdom. The cities of the Kingdom use a currency of coins, which are normally made out of copper or bronze, but are sometimes made out of gold or silver.

Technology
Technology in the Kingdom, for the most part, resembles that of Renaissance Italy in the 1400's. Gunpowder weapons are used, by they are a recent development, and have still not replaced swords and bows as normal military weapons.

Military
The military of the Kingdom is made up of the nobility, as well as the knights that they appoint. The relationship between the noble and the knight is like the relationship between the king and the noble. The knight gets land and wealth in exchange for protecting the noble and serving the Kingdom in times of war.

Religion and Demographics
The Kingdom of Garindi is a very homogenous nation, with almost all of the population being of caucasian ethnicity and everyone in the Kingdom being a Christian in the Duvay Orthodox Church.

Culture
The Kingdom of Garindi is a cultural powerhouse. Most leaders are patrons of the arts. Duvayn's many celebrated artists are always creating new paitings, sculptures, and other works of art. Music in the Kingdom is similar to the Baroque era of European music. A popular art in Duvayn is landscaping. Nobles compete with each other for the most intricately detailed estates, and have many servants and/or slaves whose sole job is to take care of the gardens and parks to make sure that all the paths are kept clean, hedges and grass cut to uniform length, and so on.

Geography
Physical Map with important cities and settlements labeled (http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/2686/ptgarindimapphysical7qm.png)

Map of the eleven major duchies of the Kingdom of Garindi, as well as the other Major fealties and fiefs (http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/1696/ptgarindiadministrativemapwith.png)
The following are the fealties and fiefs labelled on the map above:
Grand Duchy of West Duvayn
1. Duchy of Warwick
2. March of Huntington
3. Shire Reeve of Allen
4. Earldom of Carroll
5. Margrave of Newton
6. March of Cass
7. March of Durbon
8. Earldom of Parke
9. Shire Reeve of Marion
10. Earldom of Randelph
11. March of Rush
12. Margrave of Dekalb
13. March of Crawford
14. March of Morgan
15. March of Montgomery

Grand Duchy of Bartholomewland
16. March of Oswego
17. Margrave of Warrent
18. March of Ulster
19. March Tiogan
20. Margrave of Cattaraugus
21. March of Chemung
22. Shire Reeve of Putnam
23. Barony of Nassal
24. Duchy Genesee
25. Shire Reeve of Herkimer
26. Margrave of Schenectady
27. Margrave of Rockland
28. March of Cortland
28. March of Lewis
30. Earldom of Suffolk
31. Margrave of Yatelle
32. Earldom of Onelia
33. Earldom of Schoharie
34. Earldom of Rensselaer
35. March of Kilton
36. Margrave of Allemary
37. Duchy of Onondaga
38. March of Livingston
39. Principality of Chataqua
40. Earldom of Greene
41. Margrave of Suler
42. March of Oming
43. March of Sullivan
44. March of Cayuga
45. March of Broome
46. Margrave of Albany
47. Duchy of Stebel

Duchy of Concordia
48. March of Lassen
49. Margrave of Amador
50. Earldom of Mariposa
51. March of Mendocino
52. Earldom of Yolo
53. Earldom of Sutter
54. March of Mono
55. Barony of Humboldt
56. Margrave of Kern
57. Shire Reeve of Plumas
58. March of Obispo
59. Earldom of Yuba
60. Duchy of Central Concordia
61. March of Tehama
62. Margrave of Glenn
63. Shire Reeve of Mervasas
64. March of Lake
65. March of Placer
66. Earldom of Colusa
67. March of Stanislas
68. Margrave of Modoc
69. Earldom of Alameda
70. Duchy of Inyo
71. Earldom of Contra
72. Shire Reeve of Tulare
73. March of Mateo
74. March of Venalis
75. Margrave of Norte
76. Duchy of Marin
77. Barony of Kern
78. March of Alachua
79. Margrave of Pinellas
80. March of Sarasota
81. Earldom of Duval
82. Shire Reeve of Dade
83. March of Gilchrist
84. March of Gadsdell
85. Margrave of Flagler
86. Earldom of Holmelster
87. March of Wakulla
88. Margrave of Brevard
89. Earldom of Hendry
91. March of Baker
92. March of Hardee
93. Margrave of Osceola
94. Earldom of Escambia

Duchy of Tangipahoa
95. Earldom of Josephine
96. Earldom of Clatsop
97. Shire Reeve of Gilliam
98. Margrave of Tilamonk
99. March of Cambria
100. Margrave of Umatilla
101. March of Marion
102. Shire Reeve of Deschutes

Duchy of Kentwood
103. March of Bien
104. Margrave of Avoyelles
105. March of Tensas
106. March of Winn
107. Earldom of Vernon
108. March of Morehouse
109. Shire Reeve of Papides
110. Barony of Catahola
111. Shire Reeve of Tammany
112. Earldom of Landry
113. March of Lavurch
114. Margrave of Terrebon
115. Margrave of Grant
116. March of Feliciana
117. Shire Reeve of Bossier
118. Shire Reeve of Mary
119. Duchy Caldwell
120. March of Pointe Relia
121. Earldom of Webster
122. March of Natchinton

Duchy of Ameet
123. Margrave of Briscoe
124. March of Delta
125. Earldom of Grimes
126. Duchy of Ector
127. March of Alcona
128. Margrave of Oscoda
129. Shire Reeve of Lapeer
130. Margrave of Wexford
131. Shire Reeve of Saginaw
132. Margrave of Ionia
133. March of Manistee
134. March of Ontonagon
135. Margrave of Ratiot
136. March of Charlevoix
137. Earldom of Ingham
138. Shire Reeve of Ogemaw
139. Barony of Houghton
140. Barony of Montcalm
141. Earldom of Presque
142. Barony of Hillsdale
143. Shire Reeve Emmet
144. Barony of Alger
145. March of Berrien
146. Margrave of Branch
147. March of Isabella
148. March of Mason
149. Earldom of Nackar
150. March of Golberim
151. Earldom of Mecosta
152. Shire Reeve of Antrim
153. Margrave of Menominee
154. Earldom of Lucelima
155. Barony of Newaygo
156. Earldom of Roscommon
157. Barony of Shiawa
158. Barony of Traverne
159. Shire Reeve of Baraga
160. Barony of Moultrie
161. Shire Reeve of Cumberland
162. Earldom of Marshall
163. March of Woodford
164. March of Shelby
165. Shire Reeve Will
166. Duchy of Zebedee
167. March of Donough
168. Margrave of Grundy
169. Earldom of Pike

Grand Duchy of Simonland
170. Grand Duchy of Simonland

Grand Duchy of Bodo
171. Duchy of Hevbard
172. March of Valens
173. March of Seville

Duchy of Marrero
174. March of Blair
175. Earldom of Lehigh
176. Barony of Northumberland
177. Earldom of Shuylkill
178. Earldom of Lycoming
179. Margrave of Juniate
180. March of Clarion
181. Shire Reeve of Vernango
182. Duchy of Susquehanna
183. March of Bucks
184. Margrave of Lackawanna
185. Duchy of Butler
186. March of Dauphin
187. Earldom of Luzerne
188. March of Snyder
189. Margrave of Somerset
190. March of Lancaster
191. March of Montour
192. Shire Reeve of Tifflin
193. March of Perry
194. Margrave of Westeland
195. March of Wield
196. Earldom of Dolores
197. March of Gunnison
198. Earldom of Costilla
199. Margrave of Carson
200. Shire Reeve of Toutt
201. Barony of Sedgwick

Duchy of Fishers
202. Earldom of Plata
203. Margrave of Chaffee
204. Duchy of Arapahoe
205. March of Teller
206. March of Pitkin
207. Shire Reeve of Kiowa
208. Shire Reeve of Larimer
209. March of Sagache
210. Barony of Animas
211. Earldom of Hinsdale

Duchy of Orange
212. March of Dupage
213. March of Locon
214. Margrave of Perry
215. Shire Reeve of Sangamon
216. Barony of Fulton
217. Earldom of Stalk
218. March of Kendal
219. Margrave of Menard
220. March of Macoupin
221. Principality of Woodland
222. Margrave of Kane
223. Barony of Boone
224. Earldom of Coles
225. March of Wabash
226. Shire Reeve of Whitesdale
227. March of Gilpin
228. Duchy of Crowley
229. March of Quray
230. Earldom of Hurfano
231. Margrave Elber
232. Shire Reeve of Otero
234. March of Moffat
235. Margrave of Archuleta
236. Margrave Mineral
237. Duchy of Marinette
238. March of Sawyer
239. Earldom of Walworth
240. Shire Reeve of Dane
241. Margrave of Sheboygan
242. March of Washburn
243. March of Ilium
244. Margrave Portage
245. Earldom of Outagamie
246. Shire Reeve of Dodge
247. March of Clair
248. Shire Reeve of Langlade
249. Earldom of Kenosha
250. March of Leo Island

Reserved

Reserved

This thread is now open for questions/comments

This looks to be an intersting PT nation. I am curious...will this be the roots of House Garindi in your FT nation? We noticed that you did not mention the time in terms of exact dates. Bravo! Ambigous time...people will assume it is PT but I have an intution that they are right and wrong at the same time? eh?

How exactly will you organize your armed forces other than through levies and knights errants? Surely you will have a "hostage" brigade of the most notable nobles' heirs? They will look pretty as they butcher the oppressed wogs. Perhaps, another turn of phrasing. You will have a corps of Highborn elite Guards to the Throne composed of the young scions of Garindi. They will be trained at the best acadamies and will be the recruiting pool for your officier corps. However, they also serve as a "hostage" to the vassal's good conduct. Attila the Hun was a foster "hostage" to the Romans. Part of the reason he did so well against them.

Good to keep the empire's fiefdoms united under one strong fief, BUT what about all of the other lesser lines. You will have alot of them.

Perhaps you ought to have a split system? Where wealth and property is passed through the female lines, while titles and political honors are passed through the male line. Sorta of a maternal paternalistic society...I wonder how the "merchant" women class would turn out. It would redifine the term Golddigger!:p

Send me a telegram when you have this finished. Oh yeah have you considered House status in the PMT timeframe/universe?

This incarnation of Garindi wont be at all related to my FT nation. My FT nation is mostly descendent from the Persians of Terra, not white caucasians. As far as time is concerned, I may assign my nation a date, but most likely I will come up with an entirely new calendar for the Duvayn Church so that I can have dates, but no one will be able to pin-point my nation on an BC/AD timeline. I am not sure what exactly you mean by "hostage brigade", but I think the military I have set up will be sufficient for what I want it to accomplish (and, although it may just be a case of semantics, "levy" is not an accurate term to describe this military. Mass conscription has not yet been developed in this nation, the warrior class still being somewhat above that of the common person). And about inheritance, while power is transferred primogeniturely, wealth is not necessarily transferred in the same way. It is normally up to the one in the family with power to take care of the rest of the family, which with the wealth of the nobility is an easy task. In the case of females, the family usually encourages them to marry a rich man that will take care of her.

I have a lot that I want to add, but the thing that is holding me up is the map that I am creating, which I am too lazy to do right now.

The hostage idea is interesting, but it would run counter to the society of the Kingdom of Garindi. That is also the reason why I can't have the females gain the wealth and property once a ruler dies, since women themselves are somewhat seen as a kind of property. There are a few females in the nobility, but for the most part it is a male dominated society.

Also, for this thread, you can make just a completely new post when you want to add something on. That would in fact be easier because I would know when someone has said something new without checking each post in this thread. I have reserved more space than I probably will ever use.

As for PMT, Garindi wont be moving into that timeframe anytime soon.

I've added the history and geography section, with two maps. The next thing I will do with this will probably be an article about the Duvayni language, although this will not be for a long time.

I just realized that I didn't have a culture section, so I added that.