Charlottesborg
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Duchy of Charlottesborg | |
|---|---|
 Flag | |
 Map of Charlottesborg | |
| Capital and largest city | Charlottesborg |
| Official languages | Volscine Norvian |
| Recognised national languages | Volscine Norvian, Asendavian, Cryrian |
| Ethnic groups | Human 100% |
| Demonym(s) | Charlottesborger |
| Government | Dukedom |
• Duchess | Louisa Reitz |
| Establishment | |
• Duchy of Segolstad | Early 13th century |
• Duchy of Charlottesborg | 1515 |
| Area | |
• Total | 17,156 km2 (6,624 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• Census | 2,000,000 |
• Density | 116.57/km2 (301.9/sq mi) |
| GDP (nominal) | estimate |
• Total | 60 billion SHD |
• Per capita | 30,000 |
| Date format | MM/DD/YYYY BCE/CE |
| Driving side | right |
| ISO 3166 code | VSC |
Charlottesborg, formally known as the Duchy of Charlottesborg, is a constituent state within Volscine Empire ruled by the Reitz family. Much of the population lives within the capital city of Charlottesborg along the Cerenerian coast.
Between the 13th and 16th centuries, Charlottesborg was called the Duchy of Segolstad and was a major Cryrian possession on the Novaran mainland. Following the Sorrows, the local aristocracy rejected the authority of the Drifting Throne and aligned with the Cadrigranic League in the War of the Seven Emperors. It later became part of the Volscine Empire.
The Government of Charlottesborg is notably illiberal, particularly following the Volscine Civil War. Power is primarily held by the House of Reitz, and the Ducal Council serves as a rubber-stamp legislature. The Duchy's Cryrian ancestry still influences its culture to this day. A regional variety of Cryrian remains the territory's official language next to Volscine Norvian. The Duchy boasts a developed economy with diverse technology and services sectors, and Cryrian firms sometimes outsource to Charlottesborg. The city of Charlottesborg is further home to an important shipbuilding industry. The Duchy's coastline famous for its spectacular beaches that draw significant numbers of tourists each year. Due to its cultural ties and comparatively lower cost of living, it is a popular vacation and retirement site for Cryrian citizens
History
Talveri migrations to the northern tip of the Asciec Peninsula began in 800 B.C., and provide the earliest surviving written records of settlement in the area that later became Charlottesborg. The site that would alter host the city of Charlottesborg began as the Talveri settlement of Breze. The region was later overtaken by the Celanoran Empire during the Talveri Civil War of the eleventh century.
Segolstad
The decline of the Celanora saw the Empire lose its grasp over its western territories. In the early 13th century, the Kingdom of Cryria under King Segol joined the war against the embattled Empire and reclaimed Breze as part of the Duchy of Talvere. The town was renamed to Segolstad in honor of the King, and became one of the most important Cryrian holdings on the Novaran Mainland for the access it provided to both the Labarge Sea and the rest of the Asciec Peninsula. Segolstad also became a focal point of the Cryrian Church's missionary efforts, and was one of the first parts of Talvere to fully come under the Church's central authority.
Much like the rest of the Duchy of Talvere, Segolstad declared its allegiance for Queen Charlotte during the Sorrows and sent ships and soldiers to the disastrous Battle of the Lindesgaard Straits. Segolstad itself remained largely unmarred by the war however, and was protected by distance unlike the rest of Talvere which suffered greatly from Helen of Tarva's marauding fleets. The Impalement of Karlin and subsequent death of Queen Charlotte did not dampen the fires of rebellion in Segolstad. While many of the Queen's forces surrendered, those fearing heavy punishment or retribution fled south across the sea. These included many of the Queen's notable advisors and generals, including Lucas Reitz among others. Surviving elements of the Talveri fleet also escaped south. These remaining diehards renamed Segolstad to Charlottesborg in honor of their fallen queen, and soon afterwards aligned with the Cadrigranic League in the ongoing War of the Seven Emperors in exchange for protection against Leidenstad's inevitable retribution.
Charlottesborg
Lukas Reitz was named Duke of Charlottesborg in exchange for his service in the War of the Seven Emperors, and the title is held by his descendants to this day. Despite its rebellious history with the Cryrian Kingdom, Charlottesborg retained some links to its old homeland. The Cryrian Church technically remained the primary religious institution in the Duchy, though the Charlottesborg branch continued to recognize the deceased Queen Charlotte as its official head for centuries afterwards. Charlottesborg also remained a common port of call for Cryrian traders who generally considered it to be the northern gateway to the Asciec Peninsula.
It was not until the Albertine Era that a degree of political unity returned between the Kingdom and the Duchy. King Albert married Leonora Reitz who later became the Duchess of Charlottesborg. In doing so, the schism between the Cryrian Church in Leidenstad and the Church of Charlottesborg was healed, with the Charlottesborg branch accepting King Albert as its figurehead, and the Council of Cardinals in Leidenstad inviting Charlottesborger representatives back into its fold. The union between the two Houses later turned Charlottesborg into a central piece in the Tanznozhiv and the personal union between Cryria and Volscina.