Difference between revisions of "Gyre"
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motto=Aut Viam Inveniam Aut Faciam | | motto=Aut Viam Inveniam Aut Faciam | | ||
map=No Map Available | | map=No Map Available | | ||
| − | language= | + | language=Skarharnë | |
| − | capital= | + | capital=Karzhannan | |
population=3.67 billion | | population=3.67 billion | | ||
currency=mark | | currency=mark | | ||
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===The Age of Colonialism: 1550 to 1850 AD=== | ===The Age of Colonialism: 1550 to 1850 AD=== | ||
| − | The relative isolation of Gyre came to an end in 1550 with the first European explorers landing upon its shores (although Basque fishermen had been in contact with their Skarharnic counterparts for at least fifty years before that). By 1600 English and French explorers and colonists were stopping at Karzhannan Port on the way to Vasconia. This led to a surge in trade and an upswing in (Protestant) Christianity; the former was controlled by the High King's officers, and the latter suppressed by him with reactionary fervor. In 1650 the ''Enröchanë'' (Margraves, approximately equivalent to European Dukes), hungry for a slice of the trade revenues, marched on the royal capital at Karzhannan, executing the King and declaring the formation of the ''Kurjant Enröchanë'' ( | + | The relative isolation of Gyre came to an end in 1550 with the first European explorers landing upon its shores (although Basque fishermen had been in contact with their Skarharnic counterparts for at least fifty years before that). By 1600 English and French explorers and colonists were stopping at Karzhannan Port on the way to Vasconia. This led to a surge in trade and an upswing in (Protestant) Christianity; the former was controlled by the High King's officers, and the latter suppressed by him with reactionary fervor. In 1650 the ''Enröchanë'' (Margraves, approximately equivalent to European Dukes), hungry for a slice of the trade revenues, marched on the royal capital at Karzhannan, executing the King and declaring the formation of the ''Kurjant Enröchanë'' (Margraves' Council) with an elected ''Garünet Kurjantev'' (First Councillor) as chairman and nominal head of state. |
Under the ''Kurjant Enröchanë'' trade with Europe and Vasconia increased, Christianity expanded as a minority religion, particularly among the commons, and Gyric trading posts expanded alongside European colonies in Vasconia. The colonial ambitions of the ''Kurjantë'' were doomed to failure; although the ''Enröchanë'' now had modern ships and cannon, the European powers remained at the forefront of technological development, and were less politically fragmented; since the ''Enröchanë'' now had individual standing armies, debates in the ''Kurjant'' often dissolved into brawls, and were solved outside the council halls by armed skirmishes. Still, despite the inefficient political structure, the individual ''Enröchanë'' flourished, and Gyre made it into the industrial age unconquered by European powers; the Skarharnë retained their medieval reputation as fierce warriors. | Under the ''Kurjant Enröchanë'' trade with Europe and Vasconia increased, Christianity expanded as a minority religion, particularly among the commons, and Gyric trading posts expanded alongside European colonies in Vasconia. The colonial ambitions of the ''Kurjantë'' were doomed to failure; although the ''Enröchanë'' now had modern ships and cannon, the European powers remained at the forefront of technological development, and were less politically fragmented; since the ''Enröchanë'' now had individual standing armies, debates in the ''Kurjant'' often dissolved into brawls, and were solved outside the council halls by armed skirmishes. Still, despite the inefficient political structure, the individual ''Enröchanë'' flourished, and Gyre made it into the industrial age unconquered by European powers; the Skarharnë retained their medieval reputation as fierce warriors. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===The Age of Industrialism: 1840 to 1925=== | ||
| + | |||
| + | Industrial development in the early 19th century took place under the aegis of the ''Enröchanë'', who developed at this time their hold on the Gyric economy; but this, alongside news of popular revolutions in Europe, created a disenfranchised and growing middle class, as well as an expanding working class. In 1839 famine sent many farmers into the cities, and this, combined with the already present disenfranchised classes, gave spark to an abortive Republic in 1840. The Republic spread throughout Gyre until 1850, and lasted in Karzhannan until 1852, when the armies of the ''Enröchanë'' pushed the revolutionaries back to the capital and crushed them after months of siege and heavy street fighting. In the wake of the revolution the ''Kurjant Vecherë'' (Commons' Council) was established, and the franchise extended to all male citizens over 20 years of age; the election of the ''Garünet Kurjantev was extended to the commons. The aristocracy, however, were given a weighted vote depending upon a formula incorporating their rank and the population of their lands, which meant that a united aristocracy could effectively impose it's will over the ''Kurjant Vecherë'' and a united commons could impose theirs upon the ''Kurjant Enröchanë''; in theory, of course, neither was united, and both commons and aristocrats courted alliances among the other Council to further their aims. | ||
Revision as of 10:13, 19 June 2007
| |
| Flag of Gyre | |
| Motto: Aut Viam Inveniam Aut Faciam | |
| No Map Available | |
| Region | Western Atlantic |
|---|---|
| Capital | Karzhannan |
| Official Language(s) | Skarharnë |
| Leader | National Leader |
| Population | 3.67 billion |
| Currency | mark |
| NS Sunset XML | |
The Marchlands of Gyre comprises a large island or small continent in the Western Atlantic, as well as associated offshore islands and a handful of territorial dependencies. It is viewed variously as a constitutional monarchy without a monarch or a republic with an entrenched aristocracy.
Gyre is a first-world industrial economy notable for the strong economic presence of the aristocracy as directors of private corporations, and the state's reliance upon similar (national) corporations for much of it's finance.
Contents
History
Prehistory: to 750 AD
The origins of the indigenous Gyric (Skarharnic) population are unknown, as they do not resemble any ethnic groups in Vasconia or Europe. Theories range from pre-Indo-European or archaic Vasconian Indian settlers to Atlantean colonists, the Lost Tribes of Israel, or an autochthonic branch of H. sapiens. What is known is that agriculture dates to approximately 750 BC; and that by around 1 AD they had developed bronze-working, megalithic architecture, and stone ring-forts, indicating a high level of indigenous technological development (although contact during the early Nordic Bronze Age cannot be ruled out).
The Age of Kings: 750 to 1550 AD
The prehistoric age came to an end with the arrival of Irish missionaries during the Eighth century AD. Although the native chieftains proved hostile to Christianity, the missionaries' example prompted the adoption of writing and the beginning of written history. More immediately useful to the Gyric population were Viking traders, who began arriving fifty years later, and brought with them European agricultural species such as sheep, goats, cattle, horses and crops such as oats, barley, rye and wheat, as well as technological innovations including iron and steel production and ship-building.
By 900 AD the Skarharnic population had fully adopted all the introductions of the Norse traders, and by 1000 AD the island had been unified under the Adravön or High King. The end of the Viking Age saw the decline of North Atlantic shipping and the relative isolation of Gyre from European contact; it was occasionally visited by Norwegian or Danish traders venturing west from Iceland, who reported the island as a flourishing pagan kingdom inhabited by fierce warriors; of special note to the Europeans were a minority Christian population, which never amounted to much due to hostility from the indigenous religion and the distance from Rome.
Local literature from the time records the building of castles throughout the land as a kind of local feudalism developed; the development of a written system replacing the oral epics of the past; and, interestingly, some trade with Vasconian Indian populations further west.
The Age of Colonialism: 1550 to 1850 AD
The relative isolation of Gyre came to an end in 1550 with the first European explorers landing upon its shores (although Basque fishermen had been in contact with their Skarharnic counterparts for at least fifty years before that). By 1600 English and French explorers and colonists were stopping at Karzhannan Port on the way to Vasconia. This led to a surge in trade and an upswing in (Protestant) Christianity; the former was controlled by the High King's officers, and the latter suppressed by him with reactionary fervor. In 1650 the Enröchanë (Margraves, approximately equivalent to European Dukes), hungry for a slice of the trade revenues, marched on the royal capital at Karzhannan, executing the King and declaring the formation of the Kurjant Enröchanë (Margraves' Council) with an elected Garünet Kurjantev (First Councillor) as chairman and nominal head of state.
Under the Kurjant Enröchanë trade with Europe and Vasconia increased, Christianity expanded as a minority religion, particularly among the commons, and Gyric trading posts expanded alongside European colonies in Vasconia. The colonial ambitions of the Kurjantë were doomed to failure; although the Enröchanë now had modern ships and cannon, the European powers remained at the forefront of technological development, and were less politically fragmented; since the Enröchanë now had individual standing armies, debates in the Kurjant often dissolved into brawls, and were solved outside the council halls by armed skirmishes. Still, despite the inefficient political structure, the individual Enröchanë flourished, and Gyre made it into the industrial age unconquered by European powers; the Skarharnë retained their medieval reputation as fierce warriors.
The Age of Industrialism: 1840 to 1925
Industrial development in the early 19th century took place under the aegis of the Enröchanë, who developed at this time their hold on the Gyric economy; but this, alongside news of popular revolutions in Europe, created a disenfranchised and growing middle class, as well as an expanding working class. In 1839 famine sent many farmers into the cities, and this, combined with the already present disenfranchised classes, gave spark to an abortive Republic in 1840. The Republic spread throughout Gyre until 1850, and lasted in Karzhannan until 1852, when the armies of the Enröchanë pushed the revolutionaries back to the capital and crushed them after months of siege and heavy street fighting. In the wake of the revolution the Kurjant Vecherë (Commons' Council) was established, and the franchise extended to all male citizens over 20 years of age; the election of the Garünet Kurjantev was extended to the commons. The aristocracy, however, were given a weighted vote depending upon a formula incorporating their rank and the population of their lands, which meant that a united aristocracy could effectively impose it's will over the Kurjant Vecherë and a united commons could impose theirs upon the Kurjant Enröchanë; in theory, of course, neither was united, and both commons and aristocrats courted alliances among the other Council to further their aims.
