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'''The Imperial Republic of Shireroth''', or simply '''Shireroth''' ([[shire:Istvanistani|Istvanistani]]: ['ʃaɪɻ.ɻɑθ]; [[Yardistani]]: ''Širo'' ['ʃi.rɔ]; [[shire:Shirerithian language|Praeta Sxirothes]]: ''Sxiro'') is a [[shire:Shirerithian Neofeudalism|neo-feudal]] empire that has dominated the Benacian continent, as well as vast swathes of the globe at various intervals, for more than two hundred and fourteen years under the [[shire:Norton Calendar|Norton calendar]]. It is, not withstanding its largely mythical history, by any reasonable standard the most ancient of the surviving states on Micras.  
'''The Imperial Republic of Shireroth''', or simply '''Shireroth''' ([[shire:Istvanistani|Istvanistani]]: ['ʃaɪɻ.ɻɑθ]; [[Yardistani]]: ''Širo'' ['ʃi.rɔ]; [[shire:Shirerithian language|Praeta Sxirothes]]: ''Sxiro'') is a [[shire:Shirerithian Neofeudalism|neo-feudal]] empire that has dominated the Benacian continent, as well as vast swathes of the globe at various intervals, for more than two hundred and fourteen years under the [[shire:Norton Calendar|Norton calendar]]. It is, not withstanding its largely mythical history, by any reasonable standard the most ancient of the surviving states on Micras.  
==Government==
===Kaiser===
The Kaiser is the monarch of the Imperial Republic of Shireroth. Historically this position was autocratic, if not despotic in scope, but with successive constitutional reforms it became more akin to the traditional role of a constitutional monarch.
Originally, the Kaisers of Shireroth simply served as nothing more than warrior kings and politically leaders of the Realm. Their presence in folklore, myths and in religion only grew over time. The tale of Rrakanychan who was defeated by one of the early Kaisers (some sources mention Raynor I, but others depict one of his successors as the hero) is a primary example of the central role of the Kaisership in Cedrism. With the need to strengthen central authority, Kaisers often used religious customs and myths to unite the several ethnic groups under one banner.
While not holding any official religious position, the Kaiser was depicted as highest representative of the Gods (above the High Priests) and on some rare occasions dead Kaisers have even been considered to have achieved a strange kind of apotheosis. Kaiser Mog I became infamous for granting land to another nation and became God of Political Blunders while Raynor II made an attempt to - literally - catapult himself into godhood by constructing a huge catapult; an idiotic fable. Kaiser Gaelen IV made an attempt to expand the position of the Kaiser by establishing the Imperial Cult, which received little popularity outside of the Imperial Household.
Historically, the powers granted the Kaiser were limitless. The Kaiser was the ''fons honorum'', granting all titles and holding all lands, granting them in fief. In practice however the Kaisers were heavily circumscribed in their ability to enjoy the vast powers nominally within their gift. With monotonous regularity, Kaisers were assassinated, deposed, or felt obliged to resign to avoid unspecified consequences. So deeply ingrained did this practice of deposition become that the average duration of a Kaiser's reign - about three years - became culturally ingrained. On the occasions where a Kaiser survived past the three year mark, awkward questions might be asked in the Landsraad and the first ominous rumblings of discontent could be heard out in the provinces.
The effect of this was to make many Kaisers into transient non-entities who spent their reigns balancing a myriad of threats, appeasing their overmighty subjects and trying to ward off the inevitable knife in the back. This brought constant change to the government, and was justified as ensuring that the Imperial Bloodlines continued to receive a fair opportunity to obtain the highest office in the land. The high turn over also paid lip service to the republican and meritocratic ideals of Shireroth's peculiar brand of governance. Over time the quality of the nobles who attained the Kaisership began to decline markedly - with each successive candidate becoming, seemingly, progressively more self-serving and or imbecilic. The reasons for this decline has been debated continually over the course of decades. For the most part the prevailing consensus is that as the powers of the Kaiser became increasingly curtailed by the stringency of the reformed Charter and the particularist tendencies of the Imperial States so the candidates who continued to be attracted to the role began to value the form over the substance of high office, beginning an inevitable march towards mediocrity.
In the year 1648 during the reign of Kaiseress Noor that tradition was done away with because it was no longer deemed suited to the modern age and ran contrary to the sacred interests of strong and stable leadership in a properly ordered, coordinated and harmonious Imperial Republic. In consequence thereof any Kaiser nowadays reigns for an indefinite term. The succession, furthermore, has become dynastic, with the grandson of Noor, Ayreon IV attaining the Golden Mango Throne during his minority. Thus, almost unprecedentedly, the reigning stewards of the early 1650s are also regents.
Following the promulgation of the Imperial Charter of 1654 the Kaiser ceded most his remaining executive powers to the Steward, who was henceforth to be elected by the Landsraad, and to the Imperial Advisory Council, which would handle the arrangements pertaining to any regency period during a Kaiser's minority. The Kaiser does however remain the font of honour and can dismiss the Steward at his pleasure, albeit at the risk that the Landsraad may vote the same Steward straight back into office.
===Imperial Advisory Council & Ministries===
===Landsraad===
===Imperial Judex===
==Foreign relations==




== History ==
== History ==
''For a more in depth treatment of the various (mutually contradictory) histories of Shireroth, please peruse the [[shire:Main Page|Shirewiki]].''


Between 1636 and 1655, between the [[shire:Wars of the Dark Orchid|Wars of the Dark Orchid]], the [[shire:Auspicious Occasion|Auspicious Occasion]], the [[Alexandrian Flu]], famine, emigration, and the [[War of Lost Brothers]] the population of Shireroth fell by 21% to 554 million.  
The general tradition is that Shireroth was founded as a successor state to the enlightened and technologically advanced Empire of Khaz Modan (-1211bN to -0bN) which was brought to an end by a sudden and violent cataclysm brought on by dabbling in inter-dimensional research, which seldom ends well. In this instance the experimentation of the so-called mages established a connection between Micras and a [[shire:Balgurd|pocket hell-dimension]] which allowed [[shire:Daemons|hostile entities]] to enter this plane of existence, whilst concurrently releasing a pulse of energy which destroyed the Empire's home island and plunged the western hemisphere into a dark age that was, not coincidentally, the '''First Era''' (circa 0 AN to circa 880 AN).


[[File:Shireroth Current States 6337.png|thumb|right|The Imperial States and Imperial Dominions of Shireroth during the reign of Kaiser Dominus.]]
Shireroth rose from the ashes of the Khaz Modani Empire in the form of the Duchy of Brookshire that rose in Southern Benacia under the House of Raynor. After a successful conquest of Goldshire by Brookshire's proficient armies, the newly-gained territory was incorporated in union with Brookshire under the name Shireroth. The capital, Shirekeep, was established as a fortified position on the confluence of the Rivers Elwynn.
 
This unity proved to be extremely transient and the '''Second Era''' (878 – 1442) was dominated by warring states, who somewhat tenuously laid claim upon the bloodlines of the Kaisers of the preceding era, which vied for dominion over the course of the Red Elwynn between Shirekeep and Musica. An increasing reliance upon necromancy and daemons on the part of the houses as they struggled for paramountcy saw the society of the duchies of Brookshire and Goldshire progressively undermined until, after the diabolical pact of Kaiser John, those who remained were unable to maintain the sovereignty of eastern Benacia in the face of foreign colonists.
 
===Third Era===
[[File:Imperial Charter of Shireroth.png|thumb|left|The ''[[shire:Charter of the Imperial Republic|The Imperial Charter of Shireroth]]'' was written down during the Third Era.]]
 
Shireroth's modern founding was in 1442 (the beginning of the Third Era). Foreign recognition of the Kaisership occurred later, in approximately 1462, with Erik Mortis becoming Kaiser Metzler I. The accurate record keeping in the Imperial Household began with Gaelen II in 1465, and all [[shire:List of Kaisrs|accession dates]] after that are taken to be authentic.
 
Having established dominance of the Benacian continent, the Kaisers of the House of Raynor eventually expanded their reach to Yardistan and Kildare. Despite further acquisitions, these initial territories constituted the core "Ancient Duchies" of Shireroth for many ages.


==Government==
Although the Duchies frequently rebelled against the Kaiser and fought each other, their unity within Shireroth was maintained by an informal system of quality control wherein the succession of the Kaisership was passed through individuals with proven ability to rule (with occasional notorious exceptions) ensuring that their attitude toward Shireroth's restive fiefdoms, while often less than amiable, was neither harsh enough nor feeble enough to precipitate those territories' complete break from the government in Shirekeep.


===Kaiser===
Legitimacy rested upon descent from Kaiser Raynor I. After seventeen centuries, much of Western and Central Benacia, as well as a fair smattering of Babkhi and Kildari can claim this boon. Nonetheless the frequently rotating succession remained within the clutches of a dozen or so noble houses who jealously guarded their notoriously intermarried bloodlines. In spite of the the vigilance of the Imperial Republic's noble oligarchs there have been several "sanglorian" Kaisers in the modern era, alongside a half dozen inhuman Kaisers (whether revenants or aliens). As the Third Era wore on, things became progressively stranger, until a measure of sanity was restored by the confirmation of the dynastic succession in the hands of the House of Ayreon-Kalirion, itself being however troubled by some of its dynastic associations.
Almost everything you'll read in this article is wrong.


====Feudal Shireroth====


===Imperial Advisory Council & Ministries===
Shireroth in its present form began inauspiciously. The last Kaiser of the second era, John II, a greedy and unscrupulous ruler who had consorted with daemons to further his rule, had been overthrown by Kaiser Erik II and torn apart by the Shirekeep mob. Erik however proved to be a weak ruler who failed to control the populist forces he had unleashed. The so-called Direct Democracy Riots destabilised eastern Benacia, which was at that time under vassalage to [[Audentior]]. Erik's provisional government ended abruptly in the seventh month of 1444 when Audentior, tired of the anarchy, formally annexed Shireroth. Erik was allowed to keep his title and history records that his reign continued for another year.
The Kaiser appoints or dismisses at will three Imperial Advisors and approximately six Ministers, each of whom controls one of the country's Ministries. The current ministries of Shireroth are Exterior, Interior, Information, Military Affairs, Immigration and Naturalization, and Trade. A Minister has full power over their Ministry, limited only by the generally uninterested Kaiser.


He was succeeded by his son, the eccentric and irascible Kaiser Brrapa V, who in 1446 staged a successful attempt to break away from Audentior's crumbling colonial empire. The effort was perhaps not so successful however as the act of secession was followed immediately by annexation by the [[Flying Islands of Jasonia]] in the same year.


===Landsraad===
The chaos resumed with renewed vigour during the reign of Brrapa's grandson, Gaelen I, during which time Shireroth broke away from Jasonia (1451), found itself ensnared in the Amity Crisis (1451–1452) with its former colonial master, witnessed the final submission of Elwynn (1452), was ruled by Commonwealth of Benacia (1455–1458), embroiled in the Paramount War (1456), became a partner in the Hegemony of Alexandros (1458–1466) and part of the [[United Republic of Tymaria]] after 1461. It was a period during which many unstable and declining states sought to ward off collapse by voluntarily merging into ever larger, ever more diffuse, and ever more unwieldy, federations. The last and largest of these, Tymaria, spanned the globe like a colossus. It's federal structure and competing [[Attera]]n and [[Apollo Sector|Apollonian]] centres of power however meant that it was a giant with feet of clay.
All citizens participate in Shireroth's legislature, the Landsraad. Ostensibly the Landsraad is limited to the nobility, but titles are handed out in Shireroth like confetti so this rarely serves as any meaningful bar to entry. The Landsraad is controlled by a Praetor, elected by the populace, who acts as its speaker and enforces the rules of order. The Landsraad has the power to enact pass resolutions, enact legislation, typically in the form of amendments to the Lawbook, amend the Charter (in conjunction with Imperial States) and to veto the decrees of the Kaiser. The last power has, in the modern era, been used exceptionally sparingly.  


Whilst the overarching empire spiralled into ever more doomed complexity, the office of Kaiser began to gain the attributes of an absolute monarchy under Kaiser Gaelen II, and recreated a small feudal system with two Duchies, [[Brookshire]] and [[Goldshire]]. The feudal system was expanded vastly to include a new level, Baron, and the [[Landsraad]] became a major organ of government. Shireroth soon became much more important than its subordinate status would indicate as [[Patrick Foley]] chose to bequeath the remnants of the UAS to it as the [[Duchy of Kildare]]. With a number of military-oriented types like [[Daniel K]] and [[Greg Russell]]. Shireroth would go on to gain De facto independence from Tymaria (1466) during the reign of Kaiser Mors I (1466–1468). In the year 1467 however Philip Locke set a fire amongst the papers of the government record office. Infamy and a significant lacuna ensued.


===Imperial Judex===
Formal secession from Tymaria was deferred until the reign of Kaiseress Viviantia I (1469–1470) and not long afterwards the states of Hyperborea, Yardistan, Jaris, and Akerbjorn fell under Shirerithian rule. It was perhaps unease at this rapid expansion which prompted Kaiser Mog (1472–1473) into his foolish attempt to cede Amity and Mirioth. His reward was deposition and death in the wake of Letifer's Revolt.
Constitutional crises, as well as the occasional criminal trial, get referred to Shireroth's sole court, the Judex. The Arbiter of the Judex is charged with interpreting the Charter, the Lawbooks, and the Imperial Decrees. However, the Kaiser outranks the Arbiter and can fire zir or use imperial decrees to avoid the effects of zir decision. The only case in which the Arbiter has power beyond the Kaiser's is that both Kaiser and Arbiter must mutually agree on any changes to Shireroth's Charter.


The Battle of Cimmeria (1477) is the conventional name given to a partially successful attempt to defend Shireroth against the depredations of a slightly unlikely group going by the name of Anarchy 21. Kaiser Raynor X, who had arrived late to the battle, then declared the day a national holiday, and rewarded its heroes. Robert Belci, a Crandishman, and Harvey Steffke, a Menelmacari, were given honorary citizenship and military awards. Stjepan Aracic, already an honorary citizen, was given double honorary citizenship. More substantially Jadie Mathematician was made the Duchess of Goldshire.


==Foreign Affairs==
====Federal Shireroth====
Shireroth was unusually isolationist for most of its history, but nevertheless has several productive foreign relationships. It even joined the [[Bastion Union]], a forum sharing project between several nations.


Shireroth was frequently accused of believing itself to be better than everyone else, to which the most traditionally Shirerithian response is "But we ARE better than everyone else, aren't we?" The nation's attitude to foreign relations has been compared, not unfairly, to that of Imperial China. Like Imperial China, that complacency eventually came back to bite Shireroth on its arse.
This system began to break down from the approximate time of Kaiser Letifer III in the -2200s AF, wherein the old reliable noble houses faded from prominence and the Kaisership was passed to increasingly less competent and more self-interested individuals. The ensuing bitterness caused those elements of the old guard remaining to become cantankerous and lose the knack of wise rule themselves, culminating in the notorious House System; an enormous feudal reform which attempted to codify the chaotic situation by making the retention of one's land holdings essentially dependent on one's skill in political skullduggery. Naturally the ensuing mess produced victims, the foremost of whom being the disenfranchised population of Elwynn who responded by seizing control over the greater part of that territory and effecting a secession from Shireroth in -1068 AF. Although this secession was temporary, it forever shattered the myth of Kaiserial infallibility and permanently damaged the unspoken belief in Shirerithian nationhood which had long bonded its many peoples in ways that government could not.


As a consequence modern Kaisers, particularly [[shire:Kaiser Hjalmar Redquil|Hjalmar Redquill]] and [[shire:Kaiser Dominus|Dominus]] pay significantly closer attention to relations with the other notable powers of [[Micras]].
Shaken by the impotence of the Kaisership in maintaining Shirerithian harmony, the political current in Shireroth moved gently in favour of democratisation with the Shirerithian legislature, the Landsraad, ending its ancient nobles-only rule and opening membership to the entire citizenry in -1036 AF. Opinion also moved toward insulating the provinces from the worst failures of Imperial policy by granting them substantial autonomy, in order to restore a sense of trust and wellbeing that would, in turn, keep Shireroth together. This culminated in the Lich Charter of -198 AF, promulgated by Kaiseress Mira Raynora Major, wherein Shireroth's territories were transformed into a series of autonomous Imperial States with profuse powers to determine their own affairs. This partial restoration of sanity contributed, among other things, to the reunification of Elwynn with Shireroth in -68 AF.


===Alexandria===
Unfortunately the Imperial State system depended on a certain level of good faith on the part of the Imperial States toward the Kaiser's government in Shirekeep, as those bonds which were no longer maintained by the Kaiser's power came to depend on the voluntary co-operation of the Imperial States with each other and with the Kaiser. The inability of the Kaiser to deal with the excessive self-interest of Imperial States was explosively demonstrated with the surprise secession of Kildare in 468 AF. What Elwynn began in demoting the vaunted myth of the Shirerithian Kaisership, Kildare all but finished.


A close ally through the SANE Pact until its demise in the wake of the [[Alexandrian Flu]].
From 615 AF, large swathes of the population in Lichbrook and southern Goldshire had resolved that suffering constant disruption by other Imperial States, only to be collectively punished for those states' excesses by progressive reductions of their own political autonomy, was proof of their systematic expulsion from the Shirerithian political process and rendered the Kaisers of Shireroth illegitimate as their archsovereigns. Not wishing to indulge the Shirekeep peanut gallery with the drama of their own secession, they forged an option of their own and began emigrating to Minarboria.


===Natopia===
====The years of blood====


A close ally through the SANE Pact. Relations were somewhat strained by the dynastic entanglements and tri-citizenship arrangements that became manifest in tensions after the ouster of the House of Ettlingar Freyu from Elwynn.
The Imperial Republic, long dissatisfied by the federal system became ensnared in a series of interconnected conflicts beginning in 1635 AN and finally coming to a conclusion in the year 1644 with the entry of Kaiseress Noor into Shirekeep. The prime cause of the conflict was the unbalanced relationship between a weakened Imperial Government and the over-mighty [[shire:Imperial States|imperial states]], of which [[Elwynn]] was the prime offender.


===Minarboria===
The wars began with the so-called [[shire:The River War|River War]] (1635), an unsuccessful attempt by hard-line Cedrists and Elwynnese ultra-nationalists to mount a quick decapitation strike on the Monarchy of Elwynn which was led by Princess Margana, the daughter of Kaiser Brrapa VII and sponsored by the patricians of Shirekeep and the Court within Raynor's Keep.


Minarboria was founded in 2015 after a number of Shireroth's inhabitants found themselves increasingly discomforted by the combative atmosphere of the Bastion Union. Rejecting Shirerithian hegemony and the cultural legacy of [[shire:Cedrism]], these self-imposed exiles moved onto a new forum and claimed vacant land on the Benacian continent at some remove from the borders of the Imperial Republic.
In spite of being well resourced and brutally executed, the attempted takeover of Elwynn by a combination of a coup and 'hybrid warfare' failed spectacularly and rebounded upon the heads of the plotters. Not only were they unsuccessful in their efforts to exterminate the Royal Family of Elwynn but the war ended with the King's father entering Shirekeep as a conqueror.


Shirerithian borders have since expanded inexorably meaning that the schismatics and the "old country" once more share a land frontier.
It was said by some that Brrapa VII was conveniently ill at the start of the war and conveniently dead at its end.


The relationship of Minarboria towards its larger neighbour is best described as a wary ''armed-neutrality''. In spite of this, the heritage of these expatriates in the Imperial States of Lichbrook and Goldshire means that there is still a strong inter-personal and cultural relationship between the two realms which, whilst occasionally fraught, is nonetheless one of the richer and more developed of those simulated on Micras.
One of the notable aspects of the war, which effectively lasted for two months at most, was the rate at which stockpiles of modern hi-tech guided munitions and missiles were rapidly depleted. The Imperial Shirerithian Air Forces (ISAF) had expended its reserves of cruise missiles within the first week of the conflict and was still trying to acquire and adapt ship launched missiles from the Imperial Shirerithian Navy (which had remained neutral in the conflict) by the time the war ended. Similarly the UDF had been caught short and taken by surprise by the war and was still trying to reactivate the Southron Barrage programme by the war's end. The UDF had also run its stockpiles of medium-range anti-aircraft missiles down to the point of exhaustion during the Battle of Echo. The decision of the Imperialists to hold back their remaining air assets, particularly the UCAVs, after the shocking losses of that engagement proved to be the hinge point that turned what might have been a mere setback into the decisive victory that ensured the survival of the Elwynnese Union and its eventual victory.


After Minarboria's demise the essential dynamic of this relation persisted with the successor state [[Kalgachia]].
By the final weeks of the war even the supplies of unguided 'dumb' bombs were being run down to the point that the Arandur of Alalehzamin and Utasia was obliged to establish workshops to produce crude unguided rockets in order to keep up the rate of fire on the defenders of Shirekeep and the ISAF was giving serious consideration to adapting its remaining UCAV force to drop re-purposed canisters packed with high-explosives.


===Stormark===
This experience subsequently informed the strategic and operational doctrines of both the UDF and the reformed (i.e. purged) Imperial Forces in that the technologically sophisticated weapons systems began to be viewed as an exquisitely crafted and expensive blade of tremendous penetrating power that nonetheless blunted quickly through frequent use. For this reason it began to be felt that what was required was a second line of sufficient mass and firepower that would be less sophisticated, and for therefore more affordable, that could get the job done - through blunt object trauma if need be - once the enemy's own, exquisitely wrought, first line of defences had been sufficiently burnt through to provide an opening.


Although official interactions with Stormark are seldom, the Imperial Republic had a certain amount of affinity with the High Realm on account of the ''dynastic ties'' between the House of Ettlingar Freyu and the various Imperial Bloodlines of Shireroth, particularly the Line of Ayreon-Kalirion. These ties had a particularly ''Storish'' ([[shire:Froyalanish|Froyalanish]]) identity associated with the crown of Elwynn and firmly entrenched there since the characters of [[Harald Thorstein]] were installed on the White Orchid Throne. The subsequent ouster of the House of Ettlingar Freyu from Elwynn led to an abrupt rupture in relations between Shireroth and Stormark.
The desire to test this new theory against a representation of an avowedly unconventional opposing force gave rise to the series of military exercises known as Operation Long Haul and all the attendant controversies that ensued when neighbouring Minarboria became thoroughly alarmed.


===Jingdao===
[[shire:The Anarchy of Angularis|The Anarchy of Angularis]] (1635-1640) was a five year period of disorder in which Elw ultra-nationalists and other separatist, anti-monarchist and anti-imperialist groups waged a low level insurgency, gradually extending their influence throughout the Vale of Angularis. These forces were violently suppressed by Elwynnese and Imperial Forces under the overall direction of the Arandur of Alalehzamin and Utasia in the Campaign of 1639, considered by some to be amongst one of the bloodiest episodes in modern Benacian history, second only to the Green Mortality of 1605 in the reign of Kaiser Aiomide, although this record was subsequently overtaken the calamities of the 1650s.


The great bête noire for the Imperial Republic is the [[Jingdaoese Empire]], a ruthless orientalist tyranny that infiltrated, subverted and finally annexed the former [[Dutchy of Kildare]]. The current position of the Imperial Republic with regards to Jingdao is that it should be destroyed as a matter of principle. The reigning Kaiser has only narrowly been talked out of launching a preemptive strike on several occasions. The peace that exists between the two realms is best described as grudging.
[[shire:Martial Law in Goldshire|Martial Law in Goldshire]] (1639) was declared after the assassination of the Goldshirean and Elwynnese Princes Arn and Rostam Ayreon-Kalirion by parties unknown in the year 1639. This being the third such attempt on a member of the Ayreon-Kalirion bloodline in which poison was administered in a secure environment, suspicion quickly turned to the Leonid Guard whose duty was to protect the family of the Emira of Sathrati. This latest failing proved to be final straw and the Royal Government of Goldshire, administered by the ESB-Jörmungandr Group, declared martial law and instigated a purge of suspect individuals and organisations within the Kingdom. That this poisoning was part of a wider conspiracy was proved when the secretive Assayers successfully, albeit temporarily, countermanded the martial law decree.


===MTO===
After two days of confusion, Queen Noor was able to reassert her authority and reinstated the martial law decree - adding to it the proscription of the now openly treacherous Assayers. The Assayers, more formally the Chamber of Assay of the Avakair Mint and Bullion Depository, had a fearsome reputation for being able to instil psychological terror and also a capacity for actual acts of terror, including abduction, torture and assassination, in pursuit of its relentless drive to try and maintain standards of purity in the 'gold standard' Erb and a ruthless determination to destroy any threats to that self same purity. This put them on an inevitable collision course with the ESB-Jörmungandr Group which has, no less ruthlessly, sought to promote its fiat currency - the Teldrin Thaler - throughout the river ports of the the Red Elwynn and beyond.
Shireroth is the founder and host of the Small Commonwealth, an organisation that allows nations to sign specific treaties of operation. Though some denounced the Commonwealth as a YAMO (and in fairness every micronational organisation is a YAMO), it had some successes - for example, unifying the economy of most members and creating an international criminal court. Prominent Small Commonwealth members included Shireroth, [[Batavia]], [[Ashkenatza]], [[Natopia]], [[Nelaga]], [[Gralus]], [[Nederlanden]], and [[Stormark]]. Some enemies of the Commonwealth, especially [[Antica]], accused members of being Shirerithian puppet states or the Commonwealth of being committed to Shirerithian domination. While this was probably the intention of its founders, in line with the Alexander Doctrine, Shireroth was has since divested itself of these pretensions and the organisation was rebranded as the [[Micras Treaty Organization]], which continues to function, after a fashion.


Its most visible adjunct, the Small Commonwealth Unified Currency Exchange (SCUE), has however become increasingly moribund and a number of countries, including Shireroth, divested themselves of SCUE assets during the course of 2016.
Faced by such a dangerous and unpredictable foe, and concerned about wavering morale amongst the Goldshire Regulars, the Royal Government, on the 11th of Araroqpinu 1639, invoked its right under the Martial Code of Shireroth to seek the assistance of Imperial Forces. The Imperial Government had already taken steps to order Leonid Guards based overseas to return to ESB run rendition facilities in Goldshire and Zy-Rodun. Now, with an official invitation, it could act with full force. The situation led inevitably to full blown [[shire:Civil War in Goldshire|civil war]] (1639-1643).


The civil war ended with the Armistice of Airle (Reire the 15th of Nomeziooqu, 1643), the terms of which surprisingly generous, by Shirerithian standards. Rebel leaders were castrated and sent to monasteries. Golems, alchemical artefacts and Gnostic grimoires meanwhile were be destroyed. Beyond this there was a prohibition on reprisals. Imperial Constabulary assumed responsibility for peacekeeping in Goldshire while the crimes of the rebels, as well as of pro-government militias were to be investigated equally by judicially appointed inquisitors.


===Micronational Cartography Society===
The civil war saw a revival in the ancient Cedrist religion as well as the reintroduction of various practices such as gladiatorial combat, human sacrifice and the mass enslavement of displaced persons. The various factions on both sides sought to make the war pay for itself by resorting to the plunder of the opposing sides territory. Criminality also dramatically increased with the Mercaja side especially resorting to drugs smuggling, extortion, racketeering and the fraudulent transmutation of base metals into gold and silver in order to fund its operations.
Shireroth is the founding member of the Micronational Cartography Society (MCS), which links thirty six nations, mostly English-speaking but also Dutch and Polish, together on a single map. Shireroth is a strong partisan of the Society and fiercely defended it during its conflicts with other cartography societies like the [[Geographical Standards Organization]]. Some accused Shireroth of dominating the society, which was once plausible when most of its top positions were held by Shirerithians. However, today only one of five MCS Council Members is Shirerithian, and most nations have stopped complaining about Shirerithian influence even though it holds much more Micras territory than any other country.


Officially the Royal Government of Goldshire acknowledged 43,770 fatalities as a consequence of the civil war. It has however been suggested that these figures were deliberately underplayed to avoid causing embarrassment to the Alexandrian government during the negotiations leading up to the formation of the Sxiro-Alexandrian-Natopian Entente.


===Past relations===
An estimate contained in a report by the ESB Group suggested a death-toll of 8,431,770, several orders of magnitude greater than the official tally. The reason for the disparity laid in the omission from official statistics of the victims of chemical weapons attacks carried out by the Imperial Forces and the death-toll from clean-up operations in Lunaris after the collapse of the organised rebellion. The report and its authors were suppressed and pulped by the Jaysh al-Sathrati on the orders of Queen Noor.
In the past, Shireroth frequently entered into agreements to annex other countries. For many struggling nations, Shirerithian annexation was attractive both because Shireroth had a good track record of surviving and because its feudal system made it easy for countries that joined it to keep their own land. During its history, Shireroth has directly annexed [[Apollonia]], [[Cimmeria]], [[Hyperborea]], [[Jaris]], [[Akerbjorn]], [[South Mondesia]], [[Cognito]], [[Lac Glacei]], [[Arminy]], [[Antica]] (dinarchy), [[Comstokia]], and [[Hurmu]] (among others).


Holwinn and Lunaris felt the effects of the war disproportionately, with advance and retreat of first the Jaysh al-Sathrati and then the Army of the Golden Dawn which caught the civilian populations of those two counties in a desperate maelstrom of violent reprisal, where civilians were targeted as much as, if not more often than, the opposing combatants. 25% of the Lunatic population was killed or died of communicable diseases during the conflict whilst a staggering 41% of the population of the County of Holwinn perished as collateral damage after the Technomaezji unleashed its full arsenal of chemical and biological munitions in an attempt to halt the rebel advance towards Cabbagefall.


Shireroth had a very long history of interaction with Babkha, culminating in the Mango-Camel Pact of 2003 which allied the two countries. After a falling-out, Babkha and subsequently the [[Grand Commonwealth]] it created became Shireroth's chief rival. This enmity lessened when popular Babkhan [[Hesam Jahandar]] won the throne of Shireroth, but flared up again with the revelation that he was under the control of Babkhan interests. Though the line "May we slay all treacherous Babkhans" was added to an unofficial version of the Shireroth anthem, after Babkha closed shop as a micronation Shireroth mostly agreed to let bygones be bygones. Recently, Babkhan-Shirerithian relations received a boost when former Babkhan [[Ardashir Osmani]] attained the throne of Shireroth. The legacy of
It was the scale of this slaughter which convinced Kaiser Dominus to initiate war-crimes trials against the guilty parties of both sides in the civil war. A matter of some embarrassment considering the support that the Imperial Government and the ESB Group had lavished on Queen Noor's private army. By the end of the war however the Jaysh was a broken force, discredited both morally and militarily.


Shireroth had a very warm relationship with the Dinarchy of Antica, but when it was overthrown by revolutionaries, Shireroth's relationship with its successor state, the Republic of Antica, started off on the wrong foot and has stayed there ever since. Shireroth, which allied with the defeated Dinarchy, fought the Republic for control of Antican territory. Although it won control of the territory, political factors later forced it to give most of it up to the Republic; this incident caused enmity which has persisted ever since. However, with the departures of prominent anti-Shirerithian Anticans [[Olorix]] and [[Steven]], the Antica-Shireroth rivalry has recently turned into more of a friendly competition than bitter hatred, with only a few holdouts like [[Ben Kern]] still causing trouble. Many Anticans, especially [[Chris Mules]], are respected by Shirerithians and welcome in Shirerithian territory, while a few Shirerithians, such as [[Scott Alexander]], would venture to Antica for their macronational political arguments.
[[File:Shireroth Current States 6337.png|thumb|right|The Imperial States and Imperial Dominions of Shireroth during the reign of Kaiser Dominus.]]


==Culture==
1644, the Year of the Four Kaisers, was a tumultuous moment in Shirerithian History which saw the deposition and murder of Kaiser Dominus, and the emergence of three claimants to the Golden Mango Throne.
===Influences===
Shireroth deliberately avoids basing itself wholesale on any particular real world country or even around a coherent idea or political system. Instead, its culture evolved chaotically over its existence. Some dispute the very existence of a national culture, instead saying that culture is mostly limited to the various subdivisions with the imperial government tying them together politically. Those who believe in culture cite elements taken from Germany, Hinduism, the (Holy) Roman Empire, Warcraft and Dune, plus a large chunk that is uniquely Shirerithian and mostly incomprehensible to other micronationalists.


Much of Shireroth's culture is an accretion of the dozens of other micronations that have risen and fallen over Shireroth's lifetime. Shirerithian conversations are peppered with references to [[Menelmacar]], PRH, [[Diga]], [[YAMO]]s, magigarp, and the apocollapse. Although most citizens understand these, they present a formidable barrier to foreigners trying to make sense of Shirerithian life.
The next cycle of wars that began with the Struggle for the South (1649–1651), a series of inter-related disputes and conflicts following the Elwynnese confiscation of Mishalan and the collapse, demotion and or dissolution of the Lich Realms of Lichbrook and Minarboria, ending the dominion of the dead over the lands of southern Benacia. The disputes saw an increase in anti-Elwynnese sentiment and the first semblance of opposition to the Ayreon-Kalirion dynastic succession to the Mango Throne.


The Struggle ended with the restoration of Mishalan, the establishment of the Domain of Malarboria and finally the [[shire:Auspicious Occasion|Auspicious Occasion of 1651]]. This decree marked the beginning of a systemic purge of [[Stormark|Storrish]] influence in the Imperial Republic. More specifically the expulsion of the House of Ettlingar Freyu and the Church of the Froyalanish Ancient Ways from the Elwynnese Union resulted from a double coup in Shirekeep and Eliria which brought to an abrupt end the Froyalanish hegemony over the Imperial Republic that had begun with the abdication of Prince Jonathan Ayreon-Kalirion in 1623 and the River War of 1635.


===Duchies===
King Noah disputed the legality of his expulsion but failed to gain any measure of popular support at home or abroad, with the sole exception of the then Emperor of Natopia, Zakyyr. A complete rupture in the [[SANE|Sxiro-Natopian alliance]] was averted but Noah remained Natopian foreign minister for a time longer, prompting some awkwardness.
Shireroth's five Duchies were each ruled by a Duke, technically ruling at the pleasure of the Kaiser but effectively chosen by the previous Duke. Each Duchy previously had several Baronies under Barons who rule at the pleasure of the Duke, and Counties, one-person feudal units to develop culturally in whatever direction takes the fancy of the Count - but these have mostly been done away with since the Fifth Age began.


Shirerithians can go on for hours about their subdivisions, each of which is fiercely patriotic and occasionally locked in deadly war or alliance with various other subdivisions. Although the subdivision list is subject to frequent change, the most current list includes:
The speed of the collapse of Elwynnese resistance, combined with the success of the Imperial Government in delivering a fait accompli had brought the Auspicious Occasion to a swift and decisive conclusion, greatly limiting the destruction and loss of life endured by the Elwynnese. This contrasted strikingly with previous Imperial interventions in Dietsland, Goldshire, Lichbrook, Minarboria, Puritania and Voltrue over the course of the previous sixteen years.


*[[Kildare]], a collection of historic lands built up from the territories of some of Shireroth's progenitor states. It wears its history with great pomp and ceremony, is the country's economic center, and sometimes flirts with an Irish theme. It calls itself a Dutchy instead of a Duchy, an old joke that refuses to die.
On the Elwynnese side, the centralising of decision making powers into the hands of the King and his court had meant that once Noah was isolated and unable to maintain open communications the once formidable array of forces at his disposal gave a poor account of themselves, in marked contrast to their performance during the Year of the Four Kaisers seven years previously. The selection and advancement of officers noted for their loyalty to the Crown and love of pomp and pageantry over their professional ability had degraded the quality of command and control and led to a loss of the capacity for displays of individual initiative.


*[[Machinaria]], once the core Shirerithian lands of Brookshire and Goldenmoon, now a vaguely steampunk area of people merged with technologies in disturbing ways. Likely to change back to Brookshire at some point in the future thanks to Shirerithian conservativism.
The Imperial Forces meanwhile had continued to expand, rearm and professionalise following the defeats endured in the River War and the Year of the Four Kaisers. The Imperial Army was performing at near the peak of operational readiness it had achieved during an abortive war scare with Jingdao in 1647, and its officers were highly motivated to gain revenge for the slights they had endured from the Elwynnese over the years.


The Imperial Forces were, to be sure, still bedevilled by the perennial problems of a creaking and sclerotic logistics chain as well as a command structure of bewildering complexity. Nonetheless the matter was resolved before these issues could make a decisive negative impact.


===Real-world territory===
The Imperial Marshals had finally proved themselves with their involvement in the capture of Krull Palace. Unfettered by the constraints of the Martial Code they had been free to move assets into the city under the guise of rotating personnel out of the Imperial Legations, without the level of domestic surveillance that Imperial Forces transiting Elwynnese territory routinely had to endure.
In terms of real-world territory, Shireroth claims Sonoma County, California as its capital. However, this claim was placed when a much higher proportion of Shirerithians resided in the county, and for the most part we like to pretend this never happened.


Debate continues as to whether the establishment of a new period of dynastic rule constitutes a fourth era. In the past, using a discredited historiography and calendar, as many as seven eras were postulated. However, following the Auspicious Occasion, a more rational approach to historical research has taken hold and the process of investigating and verifying the reigns of the Kaisers of the early era, and indeed the nature of their rule, is ongoing.


===Notable Projects and Accomplishments===
One of the most notable attributes of the aftermath of the Auspicious Occasion was the systematic repudiation and destruction of much of what had previously been considered integral to Vanic and Froyalanish iconography. In many regards the Royal Government was obliged to legislate to keep up with the popular anger and the tearing down of Vanic monuments.
====Literature & Art====
Shireroth is the subject of several works of art and literature. Most notably, it gets a mention in [[Harvey Steffke]]'s [[Control of Destiny]] series of computer role-playing games, in which several Shirerithians are prominent characters. A few other Shirerithians are involved in programming projects in one way or another, including [[Jonas Windsor]] (who is working on a game about Shireroth's Duchy of Kildare), Erik Mortis (who wrote the Small Commonwealth Bank), and [[James Raine]], who created the ShireFox modification for Firefox to allow easier access to Shireroth's internet presence.


The novel Unaimed Arrow takes place in Shireroth, as do several shorter works of fiction. Notable among these are the Elwynnese story threads pioneered by [[Andrew Allot]] and his friends, the poetry of Philip Locke, and the Lac Glacei and Mirioth story arcs in Yardistan.
The smashing and destruction of the "viking helmet crowns" prominently displayed on all royal crests, proved to be an especially popular pastime amongst the masses.


The sudden fall of the House of Ettlingar Freyu threw into sharp reverse the expansionist policy pursued by Elwynn hitherto. Instead, under the terms of an agreement brokered in Eliria, Elwynnese territory was ceded to the Kingdom of Goldshire, the Dominion of Malarboria and the Imperial Republic itself - so as to form new Imperial Dominions.


====Conlangs====
The much reduced Elwynn would subsequently go on to cast off the last vestiges of monarchical rule and refound itself as a constitutional republic.
Shireroth has several constructed languages in various states of completion and complexity. The most notable of these is [[Audente]], developed by [[Bill Trihus]] as the language of the County of Greater Audentior. [[Nicholas du Grifos]], a linguistics grad student and former Duke of Yardistan, is currently working on [[Praeta Sxirothes]], which when completed will take its place as Shireroth's national conlang.


Between 1636 and 1655, between the [[shire:Wars of the Dark Orchid|Wars of the Dark Orchid]], the [[shire:Auspicious Occasion|Auspicious Occasion]], the [[Alexandrian Flu]], famine, emigration, and the [[War of Lost Brothers]] the population of Shireroth fell by 21% to 556 million.


====Advertisement Campaign====
====Global war====
In 2006, Shireroth ran a successful advertisement campaign on the webcomic Real Life Adventures, whose creator, Greg Dean, was at the time a Shirerithian citizen. Shireroth's other brush with the spotlight was a brief mention on BBC during the program [[How To Start Your Own Country]], in which [[Danny Wallace]] signed treaties with several leading micronations including Shireroth.


The [[Sxiro-Jingdaoese Confrontation]], reinvigorated by the War of Lost Brothers, had become an all consuming international phenomenon, whose reverberations were felt upon every continent. Particularly badly affected was the nascent [[Florian Republic]], whose dreams of great power status were cruelly dashed by an alternating succession of Shirerithian, Jingdaoese, and Natopian occupations of all or part of the country.


====Micronational Olympics====
More seriously for Shireroth was the challenge posed by the numerically poor but economically powerful realm of [[Passio-Corum]] which, via the influence it enjoyed on the [[USSO]], seemed poised to rewrite the world economic order in its own favour. Although autarchic Shireroth was insulated from the worst of these economic shocks by its Benacian energy and mineral reserves and the free trade arrangements with allied and neutral states such as [[Natopia]], [[Constancia]], [[Caputia]], and [[Raspur Khanate|Raspur]], the long term challenge posed by Passio-Corum was long-term and structural. In the words of the then Steward, Waldemar Zinkgraven, ''"where [[Jingbuism]] is a disease of the skin, the [["A Sustainable Economy"|Cult of Superabundance]] is a disease of the heart"''.
Shireroth co-hosted (with limited success) the 2004 [[Micronational Olympics]]. Although logistical problems prevented it from continuing in the field of micronational sports, it now hosts a relatively popular online version of the board game Diplomacy that attracts participants from all over the world. There's even a micronational variant.


This gave the War of Lost Brothers an ideological edge that went some way towards explaining its duration and its bitterness.


====Other Intermicronational contributions====
==Culture==
Shireroth is also responsible for starting major organizations such as the Small Commonwealth, the MCS, and [[SNARL]] (the Shireroth-Natopia-Antica Recwar League). A Shirerithian (Scott Alexander) runs the [[FNORD Awards]], and another ([[Josh Coales]]) runs the [[Forum List]].


Shireroth has been a multi-ethnic state for its entire existence and, since the decline of Cedrism in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, has also become multi-confessional.


===Religion===
===Religion===
====Cedrism====
====Cedrism====
Shireroth doesn't have an official national religion, but [[Cedrism]] is so important in daily life that it is informally seen as the national religion. It's a native (fictional) pagan mythology based around Mors, the God of Death, and his ex-wife Viviantiana, the Goddess of Life. Worship tends to involve sacrificing citrus fruits (hence the name) and lighting explosions (which has given it its alternate and more popular name BOOOOMism). Cedrism also shares some Hindu beliefs like reincarnation and enlightenment.


Major Cedrist gods include Anandja, Goddess of Bliss, Lumina, Goddess of Light, Ifni, Goddess of Luck, and Sakat, God of Time. More popular are the minor "joke" gods, including Google, Bringer of Knowledge, Mog, God of Political Blunders, and B'caw, God of Spicy Chicken. However, by far the most popular god is [[Malarbor]], the Evil Tree God of Online Forums. Malarbor has had a prominent place in the announcement box of Shireroth's forums for many years, and has become the country's unofficial mascot and badwill ambassador. Malarbor's catch phrase, insofar as gods can have catchphrases, is "MALARBOR DEMANDS IT!"
====Holodomatic School====


Other features of Cedrism include the Demon (occasionally Deamon) Fish of Balgurd, the archdemon Rrakanychan, and the legendary Sword of Vengeance, symbol of the Kaiser's might (but arguably pilfered by the Babkhans a while back).
====Zurvanism====


====Bovinism====


====Soloralism====
===Neofeudalism===
Furthermore, [[Soloralism]] also plays an important part in religious affairs. The religion is most practised in the Antyan counties ([[Kildare]]). Nonetheless, the religion is also influenced by Cedrists: the God of History, Sakat, is very popular in the Soloralist society.


===Militarism===


==Economy==
==Economy==
Shireroth's currency is the erb, which comes in denominations of 1, 5, 18, 29, and 100.
Shireroth is a founding member of the [[Small Commonwealth Economy]], and hosts the [[Small Commonwealth Bank]] and SCEX, the [[Small Commonwealth Stock Exchange]]. Its economy is based on a system of bounties, in which people work without assured compensation but the Ministry of Trade rewards anyone who helps the country especially greatly with a cash gift. There are then gradual taxes that replenish the government treasury. Although the economy hasn't entirely caught on, there are several cases of people selling land and titles for money.
In the past, the country experimented with a system in which votes in the Landsraad were linked to the amount of money people in a Duchy had. But because Shireroth's Duchy-based voting system made it impossible to link it to personal wealth, this became awkward and was later abandoned; the economy has not really recovered.


[[Andreas Mayer]], Minister of Trade, is widely considered to be the only person who fully understands Shireroth's economy.
==Demographics==


The Shirerithian population is distributed unevenly into the following categories: 1% citizens, 82% denizens, 9% in loyal subjecthood, and 11% in community servitude.


==See Also:==
By subdivision these are distributed as follows:
[[History of Shireroth]]


{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Subdivision !! Jurisdiction !! Citizens !! Denizens !! Loyal Subjects !! Community Servitors !! TOTAL
|-
! Agnesia
| ELW || 182,712 || 18,513,458 || 0 || 0 || 18,696,170
|-
! Alalehzamin
| ELW || 482,247 || 40,111,222 || 0 || 0 || 40,593,469
|-
! Amarr
| MAL || 57,044 || 5,932,854 || 601,046 || 710,023 || 7,300,967
|-
! Amity
| JKM || 125,013 || 13,500,000 || 2,105,661 || 3,017,236 || 18,747,910
|-
! Angularis
| MAL || 16,050 || 2,210,113 || 221,012 || 902,175 || 3,349,350
|-
! Araxion
| ELW || 97,153 || 10,192,888 || 0 || 0 || 10,290,041
|-
! Automatica
| ELW || 83,290 || 8,199,991 || 0 || 0 || 8,283,281
|-
! Batavia
| BAT || 8,017 || 582,972 || 443,917 || 5,108,063 || 6,142,969
|-
! Benacia–Iridia
| MAL || 3,107 || 503,134 || 32,046 || 41,428 || 579,715
|-
! Cape Farewell
| ELW || 105,808 || 9,846,340 || 0 || 0 || 9,952,148
|-
! Caverden
| BRK || 162,066 || 15,871,071 || 816,186 || 708,363 || 17,557,686
|-
! Cimmeria with Illumination
| ELW || 76,863 || 9,877,991 || 0 || 0 || 9,954,854
|-
! Crowsilver
| GLD || 20,027 || 2,770,000 || 180,073 || 210,032 || 3,180,132
|-
! Dietsland
| CPS || 5,024 || 600,199 || 60,774 || 85,752 || 751,749
|-
! Eliria
| ELW || 304,104 || 9,188,991 || 0 || 0 || 9,493,095
|-
! Elsyran
| GLD || 203,886 || 20,346,856 || 2,019,007 || 719,771 || 23,289,520
|-
! Fiorecittà
| TEL || 5,049 || 512,000 || 0 || 0 || 517,049
|-
! Florencia
| MAL || 102,992 || 1,477,911 || 138,141 || 111,192 || 1,830,236
|-
! Froyalan NR
| FNR || 2,138 || 198,186 || 115,607 || 6,101,880 || 6,417,811
|-
! Hawshire–Dura
| HSD || 43,761 || 3,220,240 || 0 || 0 || 3,264,001
|-
! Highpass
| MAL || 3,977 || 148,530 || 320,142 || 103,573 || 576,222
|-
! Holwinn
| GLD || 67,663 || 8,936,977 || 618,575 || 210,057 || 9,833,272
|-
! Iserdia
| ELW || 270,057 || 25,888,199 || 0 || 0 || 26,158,256
|-
! Kezan
| KZN || 264,407 || 1,762,714 || 0 || 0 || 2,027,121
|-
! Kralizec
| BRK || 110,018 || 11,056,432 || 654,991 || 430,124 || 12,251,565
|-
! Lachmeren
| MAL || 80,631 || 7,932,854 || 486,062 || 7,001,662 || 15,501,209
|-
! Lachmodan
| MAL || 150,013 || 15,451,711 || 1,981,162 || 651,555 || 18,234,441
|-
! Lunaris
| GLD || 70,084 || 7,220,283 || 4,531,019 || 2,162,614 || 13,984,000
|-
! Lywall
| LYP || 3,483 || 354,211 || 914,610 || 813,103 || 2,085,407
|-
! Lywind
| MAL || 94,103 || 9,715,777 || 971,016 || 204,356 || 10,985,252
|-
! Mar-Sara
| MSR || 220,701 || 2,305,263 || 110,076 || 942 || 2,636,982
|-
! Mil Gov Oleslaad
| MGO || 2,167 || 336,137 || 17,280 || 5,291,074 || 5,646,658
|-
! Mil Gov Westpoint
| MGW || 9,037 || 981,238 || 51,842 || 4,718,037 || 5,760,154
|-
! Mirioth
| JKM || 78,535 || 7,440,305 || 817,353 || 510,916 || 8,847,109
|-
! Mishalan
| MSH || 173,524 || 17,000,111 || 2,018,571 || 3,052,055 || 22,244,261
|-
! Monty Crisco
| BRK || 148,826 || 13,816,992 || 1,001,874 || 651,047 || 15,618,739
|-
! Musica with Delta
| BRK || 88,242 || 8,019,187 || 817,010 || 1,402,026 || 10,326,465
|-
! New Blackstone
| NBL || 810 || 75,865 || 46,807 || 15,682 || 139,164
|-
! Puritania
| CPS || 4,237 || 430,039 || 102,025 || 100,017 || 636,318
|-
! Raikoth
| ELW || 30,176 || 2,001,002 || 0 || 0 || 2,031,178
|-
! Romero
| TEL || 8,534 || 700,100 || 0 || 0 || 708,634
|-
! Rossavro
| TEL || 5,199 || 510,100 || 0 || 0 || 515,299
|-
! Savona
| TEL || 4,412 || 400,300 || 0 || 0 || 404,712
|-
! Scoglitto
| TEL || 2,103 || 234,500 || 0 || 0 || 236,603
|-
! Shimmerspring
| MAL || 2,981 || 105,045 || 201,050 || 623,991 || 933,067
|-
! Shirekeep
| SHK || 427,166 || 21,791,866 || 6,018,917 || 1,819,582 || 30,057,531
|-
! Skyla
| BRK || 7,816 || 420,991 || 433,173 || 318,917 || 1,180,897
|-
! So-Sara
| JKM || 102,881 || 12,170,024 || 8,001,766 || 3,916,532 || 24,191,203
|-
! Suthergold
| GLD || 208,882 || 19,728,215 || 1,187,913 || 210,491 || 21,335,501
|-
! Talenore
| TNR || 5,131 || 3,524,094 || 0 || 0 || 3,529,225
|-
! Transamarr
| TEL || 9,117 || 819,199 || 0 || 0 || 828,316
|-
! Utasia
| ELW || 189,155 || 18,991,001 || 0 || 0 || 1,918,156
|-
! Vattnaland
| ELW || 60,328 || 6,406,145 || 0 || 0 || 7,506,665
|-
! Voltrue
| CPS || 8,175 || 1,065,332 || 435,750 || 67,186 || 1,576,443
|-
! Wintergleam
| GLD || 29,129 || 3,050,702 || 2,100,201 || 2,018,881 || 7,198,913
|-
! Yardistan
| JKM || 298,186 || 38,560,730 || 6,791,771 || 4,306,660 || 49,975,347
|-
! Z and Azarea
| BRK || 4,017 || 340,999 || 610,100 || 410,175 || 1,365,291
|-
! Zy-Rodun
| ZYR || 1,607 || 140,468 || 415,100 || 483,017 || 1,040,192
|-
! TOTAL
| IRS || 5,331,861 || 443,490,055 || 48,389,626 || 59210187 || 556,421,729
|}


==Links==
==Links==

Revision as of 23:53, 2 January 2018

Imperial Republic of Shireroth
Sxiroþ
Flag of Shireroth
Flag
Coat of Arms of Shireroth
Coat of Arms
Motto: Shireroth sumus. Tempus in parte nostrum est.
Anthem: Land of the nifty
Location of Shireroth
Map versions All
Capital Shirekeep
Largest city Shirekeep, Ardashirshahr Allswell, Araxion, Citadel, Cortallia, Demonsfall, Echo, Glenfiddich, Mesior, Nee
Official language(s) Præta Sxiröþes (official), Shirerithian English (administrative), Elw, Yardistani
Official religion(s) Cedrism
Demonym Shirerithian, Shirithian
 - Adjective Shirerithian, Shirithian
Government Federative Constitutional Monarchy
 - Kaiser of Shireroth Kaiser Ayreon IV
 - Steward Waldemar Zinkgraven
 - Legislature Landsraad
Establishment 1442 AN
Area NA
Population 556,421,729
Active population n/a
Currency Erb (€)
Calendar
Time zone(s)
Mains electricity
Driving side
Track gauge
National website ShireWiki
National forum Shirithian Forum
National animal Blue Moose
National food Mango
National drink Antyan wine
National tree Malarbor
Abbreviation IRS

The Imperial Republic of Shireroth, or simply Shireroth (Istvanistani: ['ʃaɪɻ.ɻɑθ]; Yardistani: Širo ['ʃi.rɔ]; Praeta Sxirothes: Sxiro) is a neo-feudal empire that has dominated the Benacian continent, as well as vast swathes of the globe at various intervals, for more than two hundred and fourteen years under the Norton calendar. It is, not withstanding its largely mythical history, by any reasonable standard the most ancient of the surviving states on Micras.

Government

Kaiser

The Kaiser is the monarch of the Imperial Republic of Shireroth. Historically this position was autocratic, if not despotic in scope, but with successive constitutional reforms it became more akin to the traditional role of a constitutional monarch.

Originally, the Kaisers of Shireroth simply served as nothing more than warrior kings and politically leaders of the Realm. Their presence in folklore, myths and in religion only grew over time. The tale of Rrakanychan who was defeated by one of the early Kaisers (some sources mention Raynor I, but others depict one of his successors as the hero) is a primary example of the central role of the Kaisership in Cedrism. With the need to strengthen central authority, Kaisers often used religious customs and myths to unite the several ethnic groups under one banner.

While not holding any official religious position, the Kaiser was depicted as highest representative of the Gods (above the High Priests) and on some rare occasions dead Kaisers have even been considered to have achieved a strange kind of apotheosis. Kaiser Mog I became infamous for granting land to another nation and became God of Political Blunders while Raynor II made an attempt to - literally - catapult himself into godhood by constructing a huge catapult; an idiotic fable. Kaiser Gaelen IV made an attempt to expand the position of the Kaiser by establishing the Imperial Cult, which received little popularity outside of the Imperial Household.

Historically, the powers granted the Kaiser were limitless. The Kaiser was the fons honorum, granting all titles and holding all lands, granting them in fief. In practice however the Kaisers were heavily circumscribed in their ability to enjoy the vast powers nominally within their gift. With monotonous regularity, Kaisers were assassinated, deposed, or felt obliged to resign to avoid unspecified consequences. So deeply ingrained did this practice of deposition become that the average duration of a Kaiser's reign - about three years - became culturally ingrained. On the occasions where a Kaiser survived past the three year mark, awkward questions might be asked in the Landsraad and the first ominous rumblings of discontent could be heard out in the provinces.

The effect of this was to make many Kaisers into transient non-entities who spent their reigns balancing a myriad of threats, appeasing their overmighty subjects and trying to ward off the inevitable knife in the back. This brought constant change to the government, and was justified as ensuring that the Imperial Bloodlines continued to receive a fair opportunity to obtain the highest office in the land. The high turn over also paid lip service to the republican and meritocratic ideals of Shireroth's peculiar brand of governance. Over time the quality of the nobles who attained the Kaisership began to decline markedly - with each successive candidate becoming, seemingly, progressively more self-serving and or imbecilic. The reasons for this decline has been debated continually over the course of decades. For the most part the prevailing consensus is that as the powers of the Kaiser became increasingly curtailed by the stringency of the reformed Charter and the particularist tendencies of the Imperial States so the candidates who continued to be attracted to the role began to value the form over the substance of high office, beginning an inevitable march towards mediocrity.

In the year 1648 during the reign of Kaiseress Noor that tradition was done away with because it was no longer deemed suited to the modern age and ran contrary to the sacred interests of strong and stable leadership in a properly ordered, coordinated and harmonious Imperial Republic. In consequence thereof any Kaiser nowadays reigns for an indefinite term. The succession, furthermore, has become dynastic, with the grandson of Noor, Ayreon IV attaining the Golden Mango Throne during his minority. Thus, almost unprecedentedly, the reigning stewards of the early 1650s are also regents.

Following the promulgation of the Imperial Charter of 1654 the Kaiser ceded most his remaining executive powers to the Steward, who was henceforth to be elected by the Landsraad, and to the Imperial Advisory Council, which would handle the arrangements pertaining to any regency period during a Kaiser's minority. The Kaiser does however remain the font of honour and can dismiss the Steward at his pleasure, albeit at the risk that the Landsraad may vote the same Steward straight back into office.

Imperial Advisory Council & Ministries

Landsraad

Imperial Judex

Foreign relations

History

For a more in depth treatment of the various (mutually contradictory) histories of Shireroth, please peruse the Shirewiki.

The general tradition is that Shireroth was founded as a successor state to the enlightened and technologically advanced Empire of Khaz Modan (-1211bN to -0bN) which was brought to an end by a sudden and violent cataclysm brought on by dabbling in inter-dimensional research, which seldom ends well. In this instance the experimentation of the so-called mages established a connection between Micras and a pocket hell-dimension which allowed hostile entities to enter this plane of existence, whilst concurrently releasing a pulse of energy which destroyed the Empire's home island and plunged the western hemisphere into a dark age that was, not coincidentally, the First Era (circa 0 AN to circa 880 AN).

Shireroth rose from the ashes of the Khaz Modani Empire in the form of the Duchy of Brookshire that rose in Southern Benacia under the House of Raynor. After a successful conquest of Goldshire by Brookshire's proficient armies, the newly-gained territory was incorporated in union with Brookshire under the name Shireroth. The capital, Shirekeep, was established as a fortified position on the confluence of the Rivers Elwynn.

This unity proved to be extremely transient and the Second Era (878 – 1442) was dominated by warring states, who somewhat tenuously laid claim upon the bloodlines of the Kaisers of the preceding era, which vied for dominion over the course of the Red Elwynn between Shirekeep and Musica. An increasing reliance upon necromancy and daemons on the part of the houses as they struggled for paramountcy saw the society of the duchies of Brookshire and Goldshire progressively undermined until, after the diabolical pact of Kaiser John, those who remained were unable to maintain the sovereignty of eastern Benacia in the face of foreign colonists.

Third Era

The The Imperial Charter of Shireroth was written down during the Third Era.

Shireroth's modern founding was in 1442 (the beginning of the Third Era). Foreign recognition of the Kaisership occurred later, in approximately 1462, with Erik Mortis becoming Kaiser Metzler I. The accurate record keeping in the Imperial Household began with Gaelen II in 1465, and all accession dates after that are taken to be authentic.

Having established dominance of the Benacian continent, the Kaisers of the House of Raynor eventually expanded their reach to Yardistan and Kildare. Despite further acquisitions, these initial territories constituted the core "Ancient Duchies" of Shireroth for many ages.

Although the Duchies frequently rebelled against the Kaiser and fought each other, their unity within Shireroth was maintained by an informal system of quality control wherein the succession of the Kaisership was passed through individuals with proven ability to rule (with occasional notorious exceptions) ensuring that their attitude toward Shireroth's restive fiefdoms, while often less than amiable, was neither harsh enough nor feeble enough to precipitate those territories' complete break from the government in Shirekeep.

Legitimacy rested upon descent from Kaiser Raynor I. After seventeen centuries, much of Western and Central Benacia, as well as a fair smattering of Babkhi and Kildari can claim this boon. Nonetheless the frequently rotating succession remained within the clutches of a dozen or so noble houses who jealously guarded their notoriously intermarried bloodlines. In spite of the the vigilance of the Imperial Republic's noble oligarchs there have been several "sanglorian" Kaisers in the modern era, alongside a half dozen inhuman Kaisers (whether revenants or aliens). As the Third Era wore on, things became progressively stranger, until a measure of sanity was restored by the confirmation of the dynastic succession in the hands of the House of Ayreon-Kalirion, itself being however troubled by some of its dynastic associations.

Feudal Shireroth

Shireroth in its present form began inauspiciously. The last Kaiser of the second era, John II, a greedy and unscrupulous ruler who had consorted with daemons to further his rule, had been overthrown by Kaiser Erik II and torn apart by the Shirekeep mob. Erik however proved to be a weak ruler who failed to control the populist forces he had unleashed. The so-called Direct Democracy Riots destabilised eastern Benacia, which was at that time under vassalage to Audentior. Erik's provisional government ended abruptly in the seventh month of 1444 when Audentior, tired of the anarchy, formally annexed Shireroth. Erik was allowed to keep his title and history records that his reign continued for another year.

He was succeeded by his son, the eccentric and irascible Kaiser Brrapa V, who in 1446 staged a successful attempt to break away from Audentior's crumbling colonial empire. The effort was perhaps not so successful however as the act of secession was followed immediately by annexation by the Flying Islands of Jasonia in the same year.

The chaos resumed with renewed vigour during the reign of Brrapa's grandson, Gaelen I, during which time Shireroth broke away from Jasonia (1451), found itself ensnared in the Amity Crisis (1451–1452) with its former colonial master, witnessed the final submission of Elwynn (1452), was ruled by Commonwealth of Benacia (1455–1458), embroiled in the Paramount War (1456), became a partner in the Hegemony of Alexandros (1458–1466) and part of the United Republic of Tymaria after 1461. It was a period during which many unstable and declining states sought to ward off collapse by voluntarily merging into ever larger, ever more diffuse, and ever more unwieldy, federations. The last and largest of these, Tymaria, spanned the globe like a colossus. It's federal structure and competing Atteran and Apollonian centres of power however meant that it was a giant with feet of clay.

Whilst the overarching empire spiralled into ever more doomed complexity, the office of Kaiser began to gain the attributes of an absolute monarchy under Kaiser Gaelen II, and recreated a small feudal system with two Duchies, Brookshire and Goldshire. The feudal system was expanded vastly to include a new level, Baron, and the Landsraad became a major organ of government. Shireroth soon became much more important than its subordinate status would indicate as Patrick Foley chose to bequeath the remnants of the UAS to it as the Duchy of Kildare. With a number of military-oriented types like Daniel K and Greg Russell. Shireroth would go on to gain De facto independence from Tymaria (1466) during the reign of Kaiser Mors I (1466–1468). In the year 1467 however Philip Locke set a fire amongst the papers of the government record office. Infamy and a significant lacuna ensued.

Formal secession from Tymaria was deferred until the reign of Kaiseress Viviantia I (1469–1470) and not long afterwards the states of Hyperborea, Yardistan, Jaris, and Akerbjorn fell under Shirerithian rule. It was perhaps unease at this rapid expansion which prompted Kaiser Mog (1472–1473) into his foolish attempt to cede Amity and Mirioth. His reward was deposition and death in the wake of Letifer's Revolt.

The Battle of Cimmeria (1477) is the conventional name given to a partially successful attempt to defend Shireroth against the depredations of a slightly unlikely group going by the name of Anarchy 21. Kaiser Raynor X, who had arrived late to the battle, then declared the day a national holiday, and rewarded its heroes. Robert Belci, a Crandishman, and Harvey Steffke, a Menelmacari, were given honorary citizenship and military awards. Stjepan Aracic, already an honorary citizen, was given double honorary citizenship. More substantially Jadie Mathematician was made the Duchess of Goldshire.

Federal Shireroth

This system began to break down from the approximate time of Kaiser Letifer III in the -2200s AF, wherein the old reliable noble houses faded from prominence and the Kaisership was passed to increasingly less competent and more self-interested individuals. The ensuing bitterness caused those elements of the old guard remaining to become cantankerous and lose the knack of wise rule themselves, culminating in the notorious House System; an enormous feudal reform which attempted to codify the chaotic situation by making the retention of one's land holdings essentially dependent on one's skill in political skullduggery. Naturally the ensuing mess produced victims, the foremost of whom being the disenfranchised population of Elwynn who responded by seizing control over the greater part of that territory and effecting a secession from Shireroth in -1068 AF. Although this secession was temporary, it forever shattered the myth of Kaiserial infallibility and permanently damaged the unspoken belief in Shirerithian nationhood which had long bonded its many peoples in ways that government could not.

Shaken by the impotence of the Kaisership in maintaining Shirerithian harmony, the political current in Shireroth moved gently in favour of democratisation with the Shirerithian legislature, the Landsraad, ending its ancient nobles-only rule and opening membership to the entire citizenry in -1036 AF. Opinion also moved toward insulating the provinces from the worst failures of Imperial policy by granting them substantial autonomy, in order to restore a sense of trust and wellbeing that would, in turn, keep Shireroth together. This culminated in the Lich Charter of -198 AF, promulgated by Kaiseress Mira Raynora Major, wherein Shireroth's territories were transformed into a series of autonomous Imperial States with profuse powers to determine their own affairs. This partial restoration of sanity contributed, among other things, to the reunification of Elwynn with Shireroth in -68 AF.

Unfortunately the Imperial State system depended on a certain level of good faith on the part of the Imperial States toward the Kaiser's government in Shirekeep, as those bonds which were no longer maintained by the Kaiser's power came to depend on the voluntary co-operation of the Imperial States with each other and with the Kaiser. The inability of the Kaiser to deal with the excessive self-interest of Imperial States was explosively demonstrated with the surprise secession of Kildare in 468 AF. What Elwynn began in demoting the vaunted myth of the Shirerithian Kaisership, Kildare all but finished.

From 615 AF, large swathes of the population in Lichbrook and southern Goldshire had resolved that suffering constant disruption by other Imperial States, only to be collectively punished for those states' excesses by progressive reductions of their own political autonomy, was proof of their systematic expulsion from the Shirerithian political process and rendered the Kaisers of Shireroth illegitimate as their archsovereigns. Not wishing to indulge the Shirekeep peanut gallery with the drama of their own secession, they forged an option of their own and began emigrating to Minarboria.

The years of blood

The Imperial Republic, long dissatisfied by the federal system became ensnared in a series of interconnected conflicts beginning in 1635 AN and finally coming to a conclusion in the year 1644 with the entry of Kaiseress Noor into Shirekeep. The prime cause of the conflict was the unbalanced relationship between a weakened Imperial Government and the over-mighty imperial states, of which Elwynn was the prime offender.

The wars began with the so-called River War (1635), an unsuccessful attempt by hard-line Cedrists and Elwynnese ultra-nationalists to mount a quick decapitation strike on the Monarchy of Elwynn which was led by Princess Margana, the daughter of Kaiser Brrapa VII and sponsored by the patricians of Shirekeep and the Court within Raynor's Keep.

In spite of being well resourced and brutally executed, the attempted takeover of Elwynn by a combination of a coup and 'hybrid warfare' failed spectacularly and rebounded upon the heads of the plotters. Not only were they unsuccessful in their efforts to exterminate the Royal Family of Elwynn but the war ended with the King's father entering Shirekeep as a conqueror.

It was said by some that Brrapa VII was conveniently ill at the start of the war and conveniently dead at its end.

One of the notable aspects of the war, which effectively lasted for two months at most, was the rate at which stockpiles of modern hi-tech guided munitions and missiles were rapidly depleted. The Imperial Shirerithian Air Forces (ISAF) had expended its reserves of cruise missiles within the first week of the conflict and was still trying to acquire and adapt ship launched missiles from the Imperial Shirerithian Navy (which had remained neutral in the conflict) by the time the war ended. Similarly the UDF had been caught short and taken by surprise by the war and was still trying to reactivate the Southron Barrage programme by the war's end. The UDF had also run its stockpiles of medium-range anti-aircraft missiles down to the point of exhaustion during the Battle of Echo. The decision of the Imperialists to hold back their remaining air assets, particularly the UCAVs, after the shocking losses of that engagement proved to be the hinge point that turned what might have been a mere setback into the decisive victory that ensured the survival of the Elwynnese Union and its eventual victory.

By the final weeks of the war even the supplies of unguided 'dumb' bombs were being run down to the point that the Arandur of Alalehzamin and Utasia was obliged to establish workshops to produce crude unguided rockets in order to keep up the rate of fire on the defenders of Shirekeep and the ISAF was giving serious consideration to adapting its remaining UCAV force to drop re-purposed canisters packed with high-explosives.

This experience subsequently informed the strategic and operational doctrines of both the UDF and the reformed (i.e. purged) Imperial Forces in that the technologically sophisticated weapons systems began to be viewed as an exquisitely crafted and expensive blade of tremendous penetrating power that nonetheless blunted quickly through frequent use. For this reason it began to be felt that what was required was a second line of sufficient mass and firepower that would be less sophisticated, and for therefore more affordable, that could get the job done - through blunt object trauma if need be - once the enemy's own, exquisitely wrought, first line of defences had been sufficiently burnt through to provide an opening.

The desire to test this new theory against a representation of an avowedly unconventional opposing force gave rise to the series of military exercises known as Operation Long Haul and all the attendant controversies that ensued when neighbouring Minarboria became thoroughly alarmed.

The Anarchy of Angularis (1635-1640) was a five year period of disorder in which Elw ultra-nationalists and other separatist, anti-monarchist and anti-imperialist groups waged a low level insurgency, gradually extending their influence throughout the Vale of Angularis. These forces were violently suppressed by Elwynnese and Imperial Forces under the overall direction of the Arandur of Alalehzamin and Utasia in the Campaign of 1639, considered by some to be amongst one of the bloodiest episodes in modern Benacian history, second only to the Green Mortality of 1605 in the reign of Kaiser Aiomide, although this record was subsequently overtaken the calamities of the 1650s.

Martial Law in Goldshire (1639) was declared after the assassination of the Goldshirean and Elwynnese Princes Arn and Rostam Ayreon-Kalirion by parties unknown in the year 1639. This being the third such attempt on a member of the Ayreon-Kalirion bloodline in which poison was administered in a secure environment, suspicion quickly turned to the Leonid Guard whose duty was to protect the family of the Emira of Sathrati. This latest failing proved to be final straw and the Royal Government of Goldshire, administered by the ESB-Jörmungandr Group, declared martial law and instigated a purge of suspect individuals and organisations within the Kingdom. That this poisoning was part of a wider conspiracy was proved when the secretive Assayers successfully, albeit temporarily, countermanded the martial law decree.

After two days of confusion, Queen Noor was able to reassert her authority and reinstated the martial law decree - adding to it the proscription of the now openly treacherous Assayers. The Assayers, more formally the Chamber of Assay of the Avakair Mint and Bullion Depository, had a fearsome reputation for being able to instil psychological terror and also a capacity for actual acts of terror, including abduction, torture and assassination, in pursuit of its relentless drive to try and maintain standards of purity in the 'gold standard' Erb and a ruthless determination to destroy any threats to that self same purity. This put them on an inevitable collision course with the ESB-Jörmungandr Group which has, no less ruthlessly, sought to promote its fiat currency - the Teldrin Thaler - throughout the river ports of the the Red Elwynn and beyond.

Faced by such a dangerous and unpredictable foe, and concerned about wavering morale amongst the Goldshire Regulars, the Royal Government, on the 11th of Araroqpinu 1639, invoked its right under the Martial Code of Shireroth to seek the assistance of Imperial Forces. The Imperial Government had already taken steps to order Leonid Guards based overseas to return to ESB run rendition facilities in Goldshire and Zy-Rodun. Now, with an official invitation, it could act with full force. The situation led inevitably to full blown civil war (1639-1643).

The civil war ended with the Armistice of Airle (Reire the 15th of Nomeziooqu, 1643), the terms of which surprisingly generous, by Shirerithian standards. Rebel leaders were castrated and sent to monasteries. Golems, alchemical artefacts and Gnostic grimoires meanwhile were be destroyed. Beyond this there was a prohibition on reprisals. Imperial Constabulary assumed responsibility for peacekeeping in Goldshire while the crimes of the rebels, as well as of pro-government militias were to be investigated equally by judicially appointed inquisitors.

The civil war saw a revival in the ancient Cedrist religion as well as the reintroduction of various practices such as gladiatorial combat, human sacrifice and the mass enslavement of displaced persons. The various factions on both sides sought to make the war pay for itself by resorting to the plunder of the opposing sides territory. Criminality also dramatically increased with the Mercaja side especially resorting to drugs smuggling, extortion, racketeering and the fraudulent transmutation of base metals into gold and silver in order to fund its operations.

Officially the Royal Government of Goldshire acknowledged 43,770 fatalities as a consequence of the civil war. It has however been suggested that these figures were deliberately underplayed to avoid causing embarrassment to the Alexandrian government during the negotiations leading up to the formation of the Sxiro-Alexandrian-Natopian Entente.

An estimate contained in a report by the ESB Group suggested a death-toll of 8,431,770, several orders of magnitude greater than the official tally. The reason for the disparity laid in the omission from official statistics of the victims of chemical weapons attacks carried out by the Imperial Forces and the death-toll from clean-up operations in Lunaris after the collapse of the organised rebellion. The report and its authors were suppressed and pulped by the Jaysh al-Sathrati on the orders of Queen Noor.

Holwinn and Lunaris felt the effects of the war disproportionately, with advance and retreat of first the Jaysh al-Sathrati and then the Army of the Golden Dawn which caught the civilian populations of those two counties in a desperate maelstrom of violent reprisal, where civilians were targeted as much as, if not more often than, the opposing combatants. 25% of the Lunatic population was killed or died of communicable diseases during the conflict whilst a staggering 41% of the population of the County of Holwinn perished as collateral damage after the Technomaezji unleashed its full arsenal of chemical and biological munitions in an attempt to halt the rebel advance towards Cabbagefall.

It was the scale of this slaughter which convinced Kaiser Dominus to initiate war-crimes trials against the guilty parties of both sides in the civil war. A matter of some embarrassment considering the support that the Imperial Government and the ESB Group had lavished on Queen Noor's private army. By the end of the war however the Jaysh was a broken force, discredited both morally and militarily.

The Imperial States and Imperial Dominions of Shireroth during the reign of Kaiser Dominus.

1644, the Year of the Four Kaisers, was a tumultuous moment in Shirerithian History which saw the deposition and murder of Kaiser Dominus, and the emergence of three claimants to the Golden Mango Throne.

The next cycle of wars that began with the Struggle for the South (1649–1651), a series of inter-related disputes and conflicts following the Elwynnese confiscation of Mishalan and the collapse, demotion and or dissolution of the Lich Realms of Lichbrook and Minarboria, ending the dominion of the dead over the lands of southern Benacia. The disputes saw an increase in anti-Elwynnese sentiment and the first semblance of opposition to the Ayreon-Kalirion dynastic succession to the Mango Throne.

The Struggle ended with the restoration of Mishalan, the establishment of the Domain of Malarboria and finally the Auspicious Occasion of 1651. This decree marked the beginning of a systemic purge of Storrish influence in the Imperial Republic. More specifically the expulsion of the House of Ettlingar Freyu and the Church of the Froyalanish Ancient Ways from the Elwynnese Union resulted from a double coup in Shirekeep and Eliria which brought to an abrupt end the Froyalanish hegemony over the Imperial Republic that had begun with the abdication of Prince Jonathan Ayreon-Kalirion in 1623 and the River War of 1635.

King Noah disputed the legality of his expulsion but failed to gain any measure of popular support at home or abroad, with the sole exception of the then Emperor of Natopia, Zakyyr. A complete rupture in the Sxiro-Natopian alliance was averted but Noah remained Natopian foreign minister for a time longer, prompting some awkwardness.

The speed of the collapse of Elwynnese resistance, combined with the success of the Imperial Government in delivering a fait accompli had brought the Auspicious Occasion to a swift and decisive conclusion, greatly limiting the destruction and loss of life endured by the Elwynnese. This contrasted strikingly with previous Imperial interventions in Dietsland, Goldshire, Lichbrook, Minarboria, Puritania and Voltrue over the course of the previous sixteen years.

On the Elwynnese side, the centralising of decision making powers into the hands of the King and his court had meant that once Noah was isolated and unable to maintain open communications the once formidable array of forces at his disposal gave a poor account of themselves, in marked contrast to their performance during the Year of the Four Kaisers seven years previously. The selection and advancement of officers noted for their loyalty to the Crown and love of pomp and pageantry over their professional ability had degraded the quality of command and control and led to a loss of the capacity for displays of individual initiative.

The Imperial Forces meanwhile had continued to expand, rearm and professionalise following the defeats endured in the River War and the Year of the Four Kaisers. The Imperial Army was performing at near the peak of operational readiness it had achieved during an abortive war scare with Jingdao in 1647, and its officers were highly motivated to gain revenge for the slights they had endured from the Elwynnese over the years.

The Imperial Forces were, to be sure, still bedevilled by the perennial problems of a creaking and sclerotic logistics chain as well as a command structure of bewildering complexity. Nonetheless the matter was resolved before these issues could make a decisive negative impact.

The Imperial Marshals had finally proved themselves with their involvement in the capture of Krull Palace. Unfettered by the constraints of the Martial Code they had been free to move assets into the city under the guise of rotating personnel out of the Imperial Legations, without the level of domestic surveillance that Imperial Forces transiting Elwynnese territory routinely had to endure.

Debate continues as to whether the establishment of a new period of dynastic rule constitutes a fourth era. In the past, using a discredited historiography and calendar, as many as seven eras were postulated. However, following the Auspicious Occasion, a more rational approach to historical research has taken hold and the process of investigating and verifying the reigns of the Kaisers of the early era, and indeed the nature of their rule, is ongoing.

One of the most notable attributes of the aftermath of the Auspicious Occasion was the systematic repudiation and destruction of much of what had previously been considered integral to Vanic and Froyalanish iconography. In many regards the Royal Government was obliged to legislate to keep up with the popular anger and the tearing down of Vanic monuments.

The smashing and destruction of the "viking helmet crowns" prominently displayed on all royal crests, proved to be an especially popular pastime amongst the masses.

The sudden fall of the House of Ettlingar Freyu threw into sharp reverse the expansionist policy pursued by Elwynn hitherto. Instead, under the terms of an agreement brokered in Eliria, Elwynnese territory was ceded to the Kingdom of Goldshire, the Dominion of Malarboria and the Imperial Republic itself - so as to form new Imperial Dominions.

The much reduced Elwynn would subsequently go on to cast off the last vestiges of monarchical rule and refound itself as a constitutional republic.

Between 1636 and 1655, between the Wars of the Dark Orchid, the Auspicious Occasion, the Alexandrian Flu, famine, emigration, and the War of Lost Brothers the population of Shireroth fell by 21% to 556 million.

Global war

The Sxiro-Jingdaoese Confrontation, reinvigorated by the War of Lost Brothers, had become an all consuming international phenomenon, whose reverberations were felt upon every continent. Particularly badly affected was the nascent Florian Republic, whose dreams of great power status were cruelly dashed by an alternating succession of Shirerithian, Jingdaoese, and Natopian occupations of all or part of the country.

More seriously for Shireroth was the challenge posed by the numerically poor but economically powerful realm of Passio-Corum which, via the influence it enjoyed on the USSO, seemed poised to rewrite the world economic order in its own favour. Although autarchic Shireroth was insulated from the worst of these economic shocks by its Benacian energy and mineral reserves and the free trade arrangements with allied and neutral states such as Natopia, Constancia, Caputia, and Raspur, the long term challenge posed by Passio-Corum was long-term and structural. In the words of the then Steward, Waldemar Zinkgraven, "where Jingbuism is a disease of the skin, the Cult of Superabundance is a disease of the heart".

This gave the War of Lost Brothers an ideological edge that went some way towards explaining its duration and its bitterness.

Culture

Shireroth has been a multi-ethnic state for its entire existence and, since the decline of Cedrism in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, has also become multi-confessional.

Religion

Cedrism

Holodomatic School

Zurvanism

Bovinism

Neofeudalism

Militarism

Economy

Demographics

The Shirerithian population is distributed unevenly into the following categories: 1% citizens, 82% denizens, 9% in loyal subjecthood, and 11% in community servitude.

By subdivision these are distributed as follows:

Subdivision Jurisdiction Citizens Denizens Loyal Subjects Community Servitors TOTAL
Agnesia ELW 182,712 18,513,458 0 0 18,696,170
Alalehzamin ELW 482,247 40,111,222 0 0 40,593,469
Amarr MAL 57,044 5,932,854 601,046 710,023 7,300,967
Amity JKM 125,013 13,500,000 2,105,661 3,017,236 18,747,910
Angularis MAL 16,050 2,210,113 221,012 902,175 3,349,350
Araxion ELW 97,153 10,192,888 0 0 10,290,041
Automatica ELW 83,290 8,199,991 0 0 8,283,281
Batavia BAT 8,017 582,972 443,917 5,108,063 6,142,969
Benacia–Iridia MAL 3,107 503,134 32,046 41,428 579,715
Cape Farewell ELW 105,808 9,846,340 0 0 9,952,148
Caverden BRK 162,066 15,871,071 816,186 708,363 17,557,686
Cimmeria with Illumination ELW 76,863 9,877,991 0 0 9,954,854
Crowsilver GLD 20,027 2,770,000 180,073 210,032 3,180,132
Dietsland CPS 5,024 600,199 60,774 85,752 751,749
Eliria ELW 304,104 9,188,991 0 0 9,493,095
Elsyran GLD 203,886 20,346,856 2,019,007 719,771 23,289,520
Fiorecittà TEL 5,049 512,000 0 0 517,049
Florencia MAL 102,992 1,477,911 138,141 111,192 1,830,236
Froyalan NR FNR 2,138 198,186 115,607 6,101,880 6,417,811
Hawshire–Dura HSD 43,761 3,220,240 0 0 3,264,001
Highpass MAL 3,977 148,530 320,142 103,573 576,222
Holwinn GLD 67,663 8,936,977 618,575 210,057 9,833,272
Iserdia ELW 270,057 25,888,199 0 0 26,158,256
Kezan KZN 264,407 1,762,714 0 0 2,027,121
Kralizec BRK 110,018 11,056,432 654,991 430,124 12,251,565
Lachmeren MAL 80,631 7,932,854 486,062 7,001,662 15,501,209
Lachmodan MAL 150,013 15,451,711 1,981,162 651,555 18,234,441
Lunaris GLD 70,084 7,220,283 4,531,019 2,162,614 13,984,000
Lywall LYP 3,483 354,211 914,610 813,103 2,085,407
Lywind MAL 94,103 9,715,777 971,016 204,356 10,985,252
Mar-Sara MSR 220,701 2,305,263 110,076 942 2,636,982
Mil Gov Oleslaad MGO 2,167 336,137 17,280 5,291,074 5,646,658
Mil Gov Westpoint MGW 9,037 981,238 51,842 4,718,037 5,760,154
Mirioth JKM 78,535 7,440,305 817,353 510,916 8,847,109
Mishalan MSH 173,524 17,000,111 2,018,571 3,052,055 22,244,261
Monty Crisco BRK 148,826 13,816,992 1,001,874 651,047 15,618,739
Musica with Delta BRK 88,242 8,019,187 817,010 1,402,026 10,326,465
New Blackstone NBL 810 75,865 46,807 15,682 139,164
Puritania CPS 4,237 430,039 102,025 100,017 636,318
Raikoth ELW 30,176 2,001,002 0 0 2,031,178
Romero TEL 8,534 700,100 0 0 708,634
Rossavro TEL 5,199 510,100 0 0 515,299
Savona TEL 4,412 400,300 0 0 404,712
Scoglitto TEL 2,103 234,500 0 0 236,603
Shimmerspring MAL 2,981 105,045 201,050 623,991 933,067
Shirekeep SHK 427,166 21,791,866 6,018,917 1,819,582 30,057,531
Skyla BRK 7,816 420,991 433,173 318,917 1,180,897
So-Sara JKM 102,881 12,170,024 8,001,766 3,916,532 24,191,203
Suthergold GLD 208,882 19,728,215 1,187,913 210,491 21,335,501
Talenore TNR 5,131 3,524,094 0 0 3,529,225
Transamarr TEL 9,117 819,199 0 0 828,316
Utasia ELW 189,155 18,991,001 0 0 1,918,156
Vattnaland ELW 60,328 6,406,145 0 0 7,506,665
Voltrue CPS 8,175 1,065,332 435,750 67,186 1,576,443
Wintergleam GLD 29,129 3,050,702 2,100,201 2,018,881 7,198,913
Yardistan JKM 298,186 38,560,730 6,791,771 4,306,660 49,975,347
Z and Azarea BRK 4,017 340,999 610,100 410,175 1,365,291
Zy-Rodun ZYR 1,607 140,468 415,100 483,017 1,040,192
TOTAL IRS 5,331,861 443,490,055 48,389,626 59210187 556,421,729

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