Marchòcchiese

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Timberland (Nord-Brutlandese: Marchòcchiese) is a grant in the province of Brutland, Brutland and Norden. It is notable for having a distinct culture and roots than the rest of the country, having been an English colony for about 670 years.

History

The oldest known human settlement in the area was dated to 1880 BCE, near the present-day town of Saint Margaret. When the Vikings came, they populated the area.

The area was part of the realm of the Brutii, a group that emerged after the collapse of the Ruman administration. In 1192, English explorers under Sir James Crook arrived in the Brute capital. They asked to Brute king for some land in return for trade. Brutland ceded the almost uninhabited southwestern peninsula to the English.

The English settlers described the area as the “land of timber”, in reference to the thick stand of forest that occupies the entire peninsula. From this, the name “Timberland” applied to the area. Its Nord-Brutlandese name, Marchòcchiese, is a translation of that name.

Trade between England and Brutland became the mainstay of the Timberlander economy for quite some time. Certainly, some industries sprung up in Timberland, notably lace making and gun making. Timberlanders also were excellent in shipbuilding, harnessing the resources surrounding them. To protect their lucrative post, the English signed the Treaty of Timberland with Brutland, guaranteeing them possession of the peninsula for two hundred years.

Eventually Timberland became more linked with Brutland than with England. Thus, when the Treaty of Timberland expired in 1862, Timberlanders opted to revert back to Brutland. England did not object, and Timberland became united once again with Brutland.

Since its reunion, Timberland had become one of the richest and most industrialized grants of Brutland and Norden.

Politics

During its colonial days, Timberland was ruled by a Royal Council, with its members elected and its leader appointed by the King of England (eventually the English Parliament).

Nowadays, the grant is administered, like all other grants, by a Grant Council (Consellio Grattia). There is a noble, carrying the title “Governor of Timberland” (Gobernotto di Marchòcchiese), who is appointed by the King and is the ceremonial head of the grant. The title is a holdover from the colonial era.

Timberland is also known to be a stronghold for the Popular Party and has dominated elections even in Timberland City. (Urbanized areas are weak areas for the PP.)

Interestingly, Timberland also maintains an old remnant of the colonial system. The grant is divided into 9 counties (contesotto): Timberland, Pittsylvania, Bristershire, Berkshire, Southumberland, Eastmoreland, Alderland, Middlesey, and Buckshire. They carry no administrative or political significance, but are frequently referred to by native residents.

Culture

Timberland culture is distinct from the rest of Brutland in that it is English with a Brutish tinge.

Most native Timberlanders speak English, and some never learn to speak Nord-Brutlandese, as the grant of Timberland is officially bilingual. The names of people and places are also in English and are usually never translated to Nord-Brutlandese, even though it may have equivalents. Also, most Timberlanders are Protestant, in contrast to the Roman Catholic Brutes.

However, a considerable influx of migrants from Brutland is diluting the culture. The government is working to preserve Timberlander culture.

Impact

Timberland has made a huge impact on the country. The royal family of Brutland and Norden can trace their ancestry to Timberlanders. In 1792, King Simon III of Brutland and Norden married Hannah Poole, an English noble from Timberland. The King married Poole even though Timberland was not part of Brutland and Norden at the time. The marriage was deemed advantageous to the monarchy: she reformed the court, gave her children good education, imposed standards of moral behavior, and made the monarchy more popular.