NationStates Jolt Archive

History

The Dark Times
Originally, the lands ruled by Philanchez were a vast Kingdom ruled by a tribe called the Scythii. After years of neglect by the rulers of this tribe and an invasion from the south by dark men they Kingdom was turned into a small personal fiefdom of the last King in Gascony. The rest of the nation had been conquered by foreign men bringing new technology and totalitarianism. Through the years the tribes of Philanchez eventually formed into two seperate tribes. One in the east and one in the west, the Philan and the Cumans. When the Scythii began a quest to reconquer their lands the Philan and Cumans rose up in revolt and fought a long grueling war against the dark men and eventually formed three nations. The renewed Kingdom of Scythia in the north, the Kingdom of Cumany in the west and the Grand Duchy of Philanchez in the east.

Civil Wars and Reconciliation

It would seem that almost as soon as the new nations were formed they began to fight each other. Years of war turned the populations of these nations into hardened warriors and honored veterans. For several decades all three nations were at a stalemate, this all ended when the Grand Duchy of Philanchez developed a new cavalry weapon called the Knights of Philan. Carrying a spear originally designed for infantry use which had a curved, one edged sword blade at the end and which they used for lengthened reach and devastating sweeps when in the midst of infantry to decapitate the men below them. Several more years of war ensued in which Philanchez gained more and more land from their rivals in Cumany. The war was ended when the last heir to the Cuman throne, a Princess by the name of Isabella, married the Philanchian Grand Duke, Hector II. After another seven years of war with Scythia the nation was finally united by a treaty creating a Principality of Scythia in which the Hereditary Kings of Scythia became the Princes of Scythia and owed allegiance to the Grand Duke of Philanchez. Within a decade however, the last Scythian Monarch of the Ibarretxea Family died and the Principality was absorbed into the Royal Domain of the Grand Duke of Philanchez, Garcia II.

Current Age

Over the next two centuries the Grand Duchy of Philanchez became a global power and began to crave new lands. The current Grand Duke, Hector IV, has worked tirelessly to maintain the economy of Philanchez and ensure its safety through diplomacy and intimidation.

The Grand Duchy of Philanchez
"Semper Veritas"

Capital: Veritas
Areas Under Control: Spain, Portugal, Islas Majorcas, Gascony
Population: 10,730,000
Head of State: Hector IV, Grand Duke of Philanchez, King of Cumany, Prince of Scythia &c.
Heir to the Throne: Fernando Miguel, Infante of Philanchez
Head of Government: Miguel de Toledo y Pimentel, Duke of Alba(C)
Foreign Minister Andres Lopez Feria, Duke of Feria
Language: Spanish, Latin, and English
Religions: Catholic(59%), Protestant(27%), None(11%), Judaism(3%)

National Assembly
Conservative Party - 68 Seats
Liberal Party - 32 Seats
Carlist Party - 0 Seats

Important Characters

Hector IV
Titles:Grand Duke of Philanchez, King of Cumany, and Prince of Scythia
Age: 31
Marital Status: Married
Bio:He is the Head of State and is extremely Nationalistic. He has worked tirelessy on achieveing his goal of an oversees empire and is a shrewd politician.

Manuel de Toledo y Pimentel
Titles: Duke of Alba, Prime Minister of Philanchez, Grand Chamberlain of Cumany, Chancellor of Scythia
Age: 63
Marital Status: Married
Bio: The head of Government of all the Philanchian domains. He is a shrewd politician and has also served in the military attaining the rank of Colonel before resigning his commission to begin a career in politics.

Charles Garcia de Ferrer y Prieto
Titles: Count of Barcelona, Marshall of the Royal Domains, Admiral of the Fleet
Age: 52
Marital Status: Married
Bio: The Uncle of Hector IV, he is a shrewd tactician who is not afraid to fight any nation. He has earned his position through valour and courage and is a career military officer serving his thirty-first year in the military.

Andres Lopez Feria
Titles: Duke of Feria, Foreign Minister
Age: 41
Marital Status: Married
Bio: A career politician. He has recently been appointed Foreign Minister and is trying to bring about Hector's dream of an overseas empire.

Military

Royal Army
Cavalry
1st Philan Brigade
2nd Philan Brigade
3rd Philan Brigade
4th Philan Brigade
1st Cuman Brigade
2nd Cuman Brigade
1st Scythian Brigade

Infantry
1st Philan Spear Division
2nd Philan Spear Division
1st Cuman Sword Division
2nd Cuman Sword Division
3rd Cuman Sword Division
4th Cuman Sword Division
1st Scythian Bow Division
2nd Scythian Bow Division
1st Mixed Rifle Division
2nd Mixed Rifle Division

Artillery
1st Scythian Serpentine Company
2nd Scythian Serpentine Company
1st Scythian Bombard Company
2nd Scythian Bombard Company
1st Scythian Ribault Company
2nd Scythian Ribault Company

Royal Navy
Six First Rate Ships of the Line
Ten Second Rate Ships of the Line
Four Third Rate Ships of the Line
Twenty-three Frigates
Various Smaller Vessels

Military Unit Descriptions

Cavalry
The Philan: Heavy Cavalry who use a modern version of the ancient Philan Spear. They are mostly used for shock and are sent in when a group of infantry are near ready to rout.

The Cumans: Armed with pistols and a sabre, these Medium Cavalry are used to fire into enemy units and then charge in with sabres drawn. they often use a tactic in which they circle around firing until they run out of rounds.

The Scythians: Light Cavalry armed with a composite bow. They can fire deadly volley from afar and their mobility allows for them to be anywhere on the battlefield.

Infantry
Philan Spear: Spearmen using the infamous Philan Spear. They are heavily armoured and are used to rush into enemy positions after they have been hit by ranged units.

Cuman Sword: Swordman using a bastardized version of the Roman Gladius. They are well armoured and follow the Spearmen into battle.

Scythian Bow: Bowmen using a composite bow which allows them to shot far with great velocity. An equal amount of men in the units also use a version of the longbow.

Mixed Rifle: A mixed unit using muskets as well as a few rifles for ranged support as well as close up battle.

Artillery
Serpentine: A cannon used for firing into moving enemy formations. Fires an eight pound ball and is capable of using grape shot.

Bombard: A large cannon firing a twenty-four pound or thirty-two pound ball. Primarily used for firing at fortifications but can also be used to fire at massed, stationary units.

Ribault: An odd cannon, often called an Organ Gun. It has eight barrles which fire six pound balls. It is used to fire at massive lines of enemy troops as well as massed clumps.