Greater Kildare

"Greater Kildare is by far the largest region within the Imperial Republic. Ranging from the Carama Bay with is gentle sea breeze to the rough and icy waters of the Northern Sea. From the vast Riponian steppes with its nomad tribes in the east, to the industrious cities at its western coastline. The Region is both rich in land, resources and people. One can almost not fathom that these Lands, which are divided into six mighty fiefs, were once united as one under the Great Jing."
Hai Pei, scholar at the Ecclesiastical Academy of Pentapolis, nephew of the Duchess Liu Pei, 1707 AN.

Map of Greater Kildare, drawn in 1707 AN (source: the Gurandoatorasu, Great Atlas of Jingdao).

Whomever looks at the map of the region of Greater Kildare, or Eastern Imperium, feels impressed by its sheer size. Ever since its independence as an nation in 1617 AN, it not only kept most of its ancestral lands (with exception of the Norfolk Islands and Aryasht) but successfully expanded east and northwards during the Great Jing.

During its expansion under the Great Jing, the tribes which once raided villages and threatened cities within Kildare's heartland, were subdued. The Zygus Qamil, a defensive line of bunkers and castles, which once stood as a proud example of Shiro-Kildarian engineering, wastes away, with time as its sole enemy still standing.

The tribes of the east, now utterly crushed, subjugated, enslaved or integrated within Kildarian and Jingdaoese society, became merely a reminder of days long gone at the end of the 17th century. Only in the Lands of Qyzyl a visitor can still frequently visit a nomadic tribe. Those tribes, while mostly peaceful, still have territorial conflicts over the lands most fertile plains.

Bastard children born in Greater Kildare are called by the surname Lightborn.

Fiefs

Greater Kildare itself is divided in a number of fiefs, which are loyal to the Kaiser of Shireroth:

• The Dutchy of Kildare: Kildare is without doubt the richest and most populous. It's the heartland of the Imperial Republic's eastern territories and houses fertile lands with numerous resources, like gold and uranium.
• The Duchy of Jingdao: Shirerithians with bad blood towards the Jingdaoese mockingly laugh with what they perceive as the shattered remnants from the House of Erasmus. In the early 1700's - during the Decade of Inharmonious Regrets - the Heavenly Court secured its home islands in the far east and the region beyond the Walls of Zijin for itself. While limited in size, it's the home of religious power in the eastern part of the Imperial Republic.
• The Duchy of Jinkeai: the northernmost duchy within Greater Kildare is home to numerous expats. Its access to Lake Lamantia and the Northern Sea proved vital for the mountainous and poor lands. Residents of Jinkeai are known as shipbuilders and miners.
• The Duchy of Outer Antya: Outer Antya has long been the periphery of the Great Jing, and later became a crossroad between the western and eastern provinces. Nowadays, it's one of the least populated parts of Greater Kildare, mostly inhabited with traveling merchants and religious clergymen. It's famous for its many natural landmarks and shrines.
• The Duchy of Qyzylqaystan: the Lands of the Qyzyl consists of the vast Riponian Steppes. For an eternity, those lands were called home for wild tribes whom roamed the lands and pillaged its villages. The Green Tribes from the past were eventually subjugated, but there way of life has been sustained. The northern lands hold a number of cities, which are home to the Duchy's immigrant population (or those whom could not live with the harsh nomad life).
• Duchy of Raynor's Isles: Once home to pirates, nowadays home to many fishermen who inhabit the small islands. Why, and how, it thanks its name to Raynor (most likely Raynor the First) is still debated, but the locals saw themselves - to the annoyance of the Jing - as loyal citizens of Shireroth, long after the Kaiser's rule had ended over these territories. The War of Lost Brothers led to the expansion of the province of Liao (its old name). The war, close to their border, strengthened ties between the populace and its Jingdaoese overlords. Nowadays, the Raynorites are mostly busy living their harsh lifes and looking with suspicion to its north: Floria bides its time, awaiting to conquer and pillage their lands.
• Protectorate of Alrig: Small but strong are the citizens of Alrig. While culturally connected to the Jing, they paved their own way.