Chryse
| Chryste | |||
| |||
| Motto: 'Durch den Segen der Frommen wird eine Stadt erhoben By the Blessing of the Upright the City is Exalted | |||
| Location of Chryste | |||
| Administrative Division | Free City of Chryste | ||
| Founded | 512 AN | ||
| Demonym | Chrystish | ||
| Leadership | Jana Al-Basani | ||
| Districts | |||
| Transport hubs | |||
| Major roads | |||
| Rail connections | |||
| Population | 3,340,500 (1678) | ||
The Free City of Chryste, also known historically as Chryse, is an autonomous city of Francia on the Benacia continent. The city rose to prominence when the Iron Company established its headquarters in the early 17th century. As a free city in Shireroth, the city became one of the wealthiest urban areas of Benacia. Following the Kalirion Fracture, Chryste became the capital of the Verionist Republic. The city was transferred to Batavia in 1676 AN, and after two years was established as an autnomous city in the Frankish Empire. The transfer of sovereignty upset the Raspur-dominated order on the Benacian continent, and was one of the triggers of the Second Amokolian War.
History
Early History
Chryste was founded in 512 AN, and remained a small town until the early 16th century. It received attention when one of the citizens of the town, the alchemist Nicolo Struph, allegedly discovered a method to transfer pure iron ore into gold.
Iron Company
The Royal Iron Company of Goldshire made Chryste their largest port and headquarters for the daily operations of the Company in Shireroth. It has been one of the three cities governed by the Company under the previous charter, along with New Harbor and Erudition. This move also saw a major extension of the Chryste harbour and the industrial facilities to the North of the city. The city was returned to local rule after the Iron Company failed to maintain its royal contract and the warrant was officially withdrawn in 1662. In 1669, upon the signing of the Peace of Fieldburg, the Iron Company again was granted governance of the city.
Bombing and rebuilding
The metal-working districts of the city were struck by a heavy air-raid on the night of the 11th of Nomeziooqu in the year 1641 carried out by the Imperial Shirerithian Air Forces on the personal order of the Minister of Military Affairs, Thorgils Tarjeisson[1]. His motivations for doing so remain obscure [2] but were believed to be related to the ongoing Civil War in Goldshire.
Rebuilding of the damaged city centre of Chryste started immediately after the airstrike. However, the rebuilding of the damaged industrial areas of the city went on more slowly because of the fact that the Institution for Alchemy, a crucial factory for the industry as a whole, was struck by a bomb and was almost entirely destroyed. About 60% of the Gold and Silver transport was relocated to the port of New Harbor.
By 1651, the population of the city had become 1,483,037 inhabitants (source: Shirerithian Census, 1651)
Kalirion Fracture
After the death of Kaiser Ayreon IV, the Iron Company sided with the self-declared kaiser Verion (in opposition to the child Kaiseress Salome who succeeded in accordance with the law). Its territories, including Chryse, were run as during its time in the Imperial Republic with the only change of a Verionist kaiser. However, the isolation of the Verionists and the decreasing profits for the Iron Company made the Verionist kaisership untenable. So in 1673, the Iron Company territories in Goldshire, centred in Chryse, attempted to join Elwynn as an autonomous republic. Although the prince, Ander Avon-El, was initially positive to the prospects of adding more territory to Elwynn, the idea was quickly vetoed by the Nationalist Humanists.
Under Batavian flag
In 1676 AN the city was transferred to Batavia. When the Verionist Republic left for the continent of Keltia, a small remainder of the original population remained. Arkadius Frederik Gustavus des Vinandy tried to claim the territory with the city under the flag of West Amokolia. But that attempt failed and the vast territory was handed over to Shireroth. Only the city of Chryste was transferred to Batavia. On 16.VIII.1678 AN the city was transferred to the Kingdom of Amokolia, to protests in both the city and in Batavia. At that time, neighboring Ransenar was already building a fortified border and prepared for a naval blockade. Batavia handed the city over to West Amokolia to prevent it from becoming involved in the Second Amokolian War, which had already broken out between Elwynn and West Amokolia, with Elwynn being supported by the Unified Governorates of Benacia and Ransenar.
Under Frankish flag
The Frankish emperor ordered the evacuation of all children from the city, even before the city was completely closed off as a result of the naval blockade by Ransenar. However, Jana Al-Basani immediately refuted the move by the Frankish, calling it foolish and dangerous for the citizens of Chryste, who had lived in a delicate peace with Ransenar. The transfer of formal sovereignty to the Frankish empire triggered the Second Amokolian War. The Chryste armed forces, as well as the Iron Company private merchants were mobilised in the defense of the city.
Places of Interest
Aside from the renowned architecture of the Royal University, Chryste is home to several other notable sites. The Residency, once home of the Governor-Representative of the Royal Iron Company, is one of the most luxurious and eye-catching buildings of the city, made out of bright white marble and precious stones. The city is also home to one of the largest ports on Benacia, the Iron Ports.
For the fans of history among us, the Iron Pit was the second largest fighting pit in Goldshire, after the Kingsgate Pit, before both were converted in to penitentiaries in late 1662. The city also houses the football club Chryste Miners FC.
Royal University of Chryste
The Royal University of Chryste is considered one of the most prominent institutes of higher education in Goldshire in the fields of economics and philosophy. Their engineering department, however, has consistently received criticism from other academic institutions. Albeit being damaged in an airstrike, the University compound is still one of the most beautiful buildings of the city. Notable University graduates include:
- Jeremy Archer
- Valkner Lewis
- Ludovic Verion
Trivia
The city is nowadays listed as "Chryste" on the MCS map. But previously the city was listed as "Chryse".
