Benesuolo
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The Principality of Bensdorf (Arkian: Fürstentum Bensdorf) is a principality, one of the various internal sub-divisions of the Arkian Empire. It is known primarily for its wine production and financial services industry. Bensdorf was established in 1714 when the Ethalrian crown issued a land grant to Günther von Weingärtner, a wine merchant favored by the court. The Von Weingärtner family is still involved in winemaking today, operating the largest vineyard in the state. In addition to its characteristic wine, Bensdorf is famous for its Honor Guard, a ceremonial military unit outfitted with plate armor and halberds that guards the Von Weingärtner estate and government buildings in the principality.
Principality of Bensdorf Fürstentum Bensdorf | |
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 Coat of Arms
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 Bensdorf is shown in light pink, between the Electorate of Ambach and the Grand Republic of Jessern. Click the map to enlarge. | |
| Capital and largest city | Bensdorf |
| Official languages | Arkian |
| Ethnic groups (2020) | Human 99% Other 1% |
| Demonym(s) | Bensdorfer |
| Government | Federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy |
• Prince | Reiner von Weingärtner |
• Chancellor | Ingrid Geisler |
• Kaiserin | Ilse Erika von Freyaelv |
• Federal Chancellor | Ludwig Noske |
| Legislature | Grand Council |
| Establishment | |
• Established by Royal Land Grant | April 22nd, 1704 CE |
• Constitutional Monarchy Established | July 10th, 1984 CE |
| Area | |
• Total | 775.42 km2 (299.39 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• 2020 estimate | 210,984 |
| Currency | Note (ARK) |
| Driving side | right |
The principal settlement in Bensdorf is the city of Bensdorf, which gave its name to the principality. The city of Bensdorf and its immediately surrounding suburban area contains an estimated 158,000 people, almost 75% of the principality's population. The city has a sizable financial services industry, and is a regional banking hub. Bensdorf regularly touts its relatively lax regulatory environment compared to neighboring jurisdictions as a reason for corporate headquarters to relocate there. The city is roughly halfway between the major cities of Amboss and Stoppsmund in the northwest of the Arkian Peninsula and long served as a major commercial hub in between them.
Arch-Treasurer
The hereditary Princes of Bensdorf also hold the title "Arch-Treasurer," or Erzschatzmeister. The title is a ceremonial one, only having formal duties in the coronation of the Kaiser, but it grants the Prince of Bensdorf the place of first among Princes in the imperial order of precedence. The title was granted first to Prince Wolfram von Weingärtner in 1754 for "services rendered to the crown." Prince Wolfram served as the chief negotiator representing the newly-independent Arkalarian government in negotiations with Ethalria over assuming portions of Ethalrian sovereign debt. The resulting deal was very favorable to Arkalarius, with little assumption of responsibility for any Ethalrian debts, and King Johann cited Prince Wolfram's skill in negotiating as the primary reason.
Winemaking
Bensdorf wine is a protected origin label referring specifically and only to red wine made from grapes grown in Bensdorf. It is a very light-bodied red wine with relatively high acidity, and is often served chilled in the manner of white wine. Winemakers in Bensdorf also have a tradition of using a technique known as carbonic maceration, which makes Bensdorf wines distinctive from that of other areas. Bensdorf wine has been described as "the only white wine which happens to be red." It is known to be a favorite of Acronian Prime Minister Žarís Nevran Alandar, who it was reported by wire service CNS received a bottle for her birthday from the Arkian Embassy and loved it so much she immediately ordered four more.
Rokoch people
The far west of the principality is historically the home of the Rokoch people, a community of people descended from settlers who arrived centuries prior to colonization of the region by Tretrid or other outside powers that speak an isolated language believed to be related to Rodokan and Vesienvällic. As of 2020, there were an estimated 100 remaining native speakers of the language, making it among the world's most in danger of going extinct. The language saw marked decline in the 18th and 19th centuries and for long periods of time was banned in schools. However, in recent years efforts have begun to record the language and encourage teaching it to both children and adults.
Oral history of the Rokoch people says that they are descended from pirates or raiders that came from northern Novaris, some of whom decided to remain on the coast in what is now Bensdorf about two thousand years ago. Given the linguistic similarities to the Rodokan language, known to have been spoken by humans migrating south from Vesienväl along the coast of the Arkian Sea at the turn of the 1st century CE, it is theorized that the Rokoch people could be an offshoot from or relative to the Rodokan people, or that the area had been one stop the Rodokans made in their journey south. It is considered more likely by historians and anthropologists that Rodokans would have been in the area closer to 1,500 years ago. Some scattered archaeological evidence indicates the presence of a large settlement in the area dating to between 300-600 CE. Today, the area is exclusively rural and sparsely populated. Rokoch people have a reputation of being reclusive and distrustful of outsiders.