Bretalyon
| Bretalyon | |
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| Subdivision type: | Chivalric Order |
| Capital: | St. Litavia |
| Population: | {{{population}}} |
| Largest Cities: | St. Litavia |
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| Local Leadership Title: | Grand Master |
| Local Government: | Monarchy |
| Current leader: | John Giraud |
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| Local language: | Cibolan Saxon, Bretallois |
| Local Religion: | Saxon Church |
Bretalyon, officially the Sovereign Order of the Knights of Bretalyon, is a small semi-independent country associated with the United Principalities of Treisenberg. It occupies the southwestern peninsula of Cibola that bears the same name. It is one of the oldest regions of Cibola, having been settled by crusading knights dispatched from New Brittania during the first conquest of the continent. They were soon joined by Treisenberg, long considered to be the first civilized settlement on the continent, and established a crusader state on the peninsula. The fusion of Brittanic and Treisenberger cultures led to the rise of a unique local culture that combines elements of both.
Etymology and terminology
Prior to settlement by crusaders the peninsular region of Cibola had no formal name. It was during the crusading period when Brittanic forces met with the Treisenberg knights. The New Brittanian forces had landed at the northern tip of the peninsula, while Treisenberg's knights had been pushing west from the eastern boundary. Neither side was aware of the other until they met in battle with the heathen Cibolan tribes at the Fields of Litavis. Recognizing each other as fellow knights, the two sides joined forces and soundly defeated the heathens. The Treisenberg knights, known as the Knights of Liyon, decided to join the Brittanian crusaders, forming Bretalyon and founding the city of St. Litavia on the site of the battle.
Geography
Bretalyon is located on the western shores of Cibola, occupying the northern tip of the southern peninsula at about -50 degrees longitude. The region has a temperate climate with mild summers and cool winters. Its proximity to the ocean also influences the region, lending it some aspects of an oceanic climate and contributing to higher levels of rainfall.
With a maritime temperate climate the flora is dominated by seaside species such as scrub oak, pine, bayberry, and many grasses. Higher elevations inland, which attain an altitude no higher than 93 m (306ft) above sea level, tend to be mixed coniferous forests of pine-oak communities. Fauna includes deer, turkey, bear, and of course fish.
History
The discovery of the hitherto unknown island of Cibola around 1700 ASC (2004) quickly escalated into a mad rush for colonization as the powers of Micras vied to stake claims. While peopled by barbarous tribes, of which little evidence remains today, the rest of Micras looked upon Cibola as a land of heathens. In particular, Cranda, Baracao and Slobovia eyed the island with a zealous attitude. But neither nation officially sanctioned colonization. Instead groups of volunteers took it upon themselves to form bands of crusaders meant to "cleanse" the land of heathens. The resultant mass of loosely organized armies landed on Cibola with little foresight beyond converting, by conquest or capitulation, the entire native population to the Saxon churches dominant in their home countries. The resulting clash was a disaster and most of the armies dispersed across Cibola never to return home. But it did result in creating a distinct Saxon culture in the south, while precipitating a Baracaoan culture in the north. Following these early crusades the Germanian state appeared in the south and San Martin in the north, marking these as the first civilized states to develop.
The Germanians are credited with spreading Saxon culture and religion throughout southern Cibola. For several centuries they dominated the entire southern half of the island. Meanwhile in the north San Martin spread its own culture, setting the stage for what would eventually become Alexandria. Germania never had a strong central government, often formed of several feuding states so that it eventually disintegrated. In Germania's wake several principalities banded together to form Treisenberg. Unlike the Germanians the Treisenbergers occupied much of the central territory of Cibola, nor were they strong enough to exert influence much beyond those areas.
It wasn't until 1980 ASC that crusaders from Nova England and New Brittania began arriving for what would be called the Second Crusade. Like their predecessors, these knights acted independently of their homelands. In the collapse of Germania many of the old heathen religions had reappeared, so that the knights felt justified in launching a new crusade. It was also a good excuse to claim new colonial lands. Thus armies began to land at the tip of the Bretalyon Peninsula, fighting their way south and conquering the lands before them. Around the same time, Treisenberg also launched its own crusade, pushing towards the west from their mainland stronghold of Vaduz.
The Knights of Brittania, led by Nigel Pershing, easily defeated the disorganized heathen tribes and rapidly advanced south. Likewise, Treisenberg's Knights of Liyon (Lion Knights), led by Gunther Haddam, were pushing in from the east. The native tribes broke before the onslaught of a war on two fronts and doubled back to an area between both advancing armies. Here the tribes were rallied by a clansman known only to history as Artonius. Artonius gathered the remnant tribal forces into a coherent army and met both the Treisenberg and Brittanic knights on the Fields of Litavis. Pershing and Haddam, meeting for the first time, agreed that only by joining forces could they hope to defeat Artonius. Thus the first seeds of the Bretalyon Knights were sown.
The two armies battled fiercely for several days, but in the end the the knights had superior weaponry and tactics. Artonius was slain in battle and the tribes utterly subdued. Pershing and Haddam agreed that they should remain united in their goal to convert the land. The two leaders dedicated the site of the final battle to Saint Litavis, one of Treisenberg's early Saxon saints, founding the city of St. Litavia on the same site. They also coined the name Bretalyon, representing a combination of both orders. For the next four centuries the Knights of Bretalyon ruled over the peninsula and built a small maritime nation therein.
Bretalyon survived as a small nation-state, often by selling its services as mercenary forces or by trading with other local nations. But by 2400 ASC the country had weakened significantly, so that within another century the country fell to stronger forces. A long succession of rulers then utterly erased Bretalyon from existence. From Monovia to Holzborg to Jingdao, foreign armies tramped over the land while the Order was forced to exist in the shadows. It wasn't until 5700 ASC, when the Empire of Sangun and South Cibola took over the region, that the knights began to inch back into the light.
Sangun was the cultural and political successor to Treisenberg. Sangun's royalty was directly descended from the Rossheim stock of Treisenberg's ancient princes. Thus the persecution of the knights was significantly lessened when Sangun took control of the peninsula. While not gaining any political power, the knights were able to bring Bretallois culture back into the open, leading to renewed interest and a minor renaissance. Over the next several decades the knights reasserted themselves on the political scene. First by resurrecting the sovereign order as an active political entity, and then by encouraging Bretallois nationalism. This culminated when Minarboria was dissolved and Treisenberg regained full independence. Under Grand Prince Aurelien, the sovereign order was granted dominion over the peninsula and Bretalyon was reborn.
Under Grand Master John Giraud the order has flourished. The knights have been reinstated as the local military division, acting as an extension of Treisenberg's army. Under a more liberal constitution than its medieval predecessor, the order has adapted to modern times. A diversified economy has helped to stabilize the region and encourage growth, with St. Litavia once again becoming an important port. Tourism, with visitors flocking to enjoy medieval spectacles of knights on parade, has also been a significant boon to the economy.
When Treisenberg again faltered the knights attempted to maintain the peace by joining forces with Helderbourgh. The Grand Duchy was able to sustain unity in southern Cibola for some time, though their royal line faltered and the entire country passed into the hands of Batavia. The Order would retain its autonomy during this entire period, even when Batavia was transformed into the globe-spanning Franco-Batavian Empire. But the fracturing of the empire during the Batavian Revolution caused a serious rift and the South Batavian population of Barbarije briefly established the Barbarian Republic. The Republican Guard clashed with the Order, who viewed loyalty to the Chidao Emperor as sacrilege. In the aftermath of these clashes the Order was overrun by the Republican Guard and forced to accede to terms, essentially rendering them powerless. Alas, it came to be a brief victory with the death of Ase Wittenduin in 1689 which precipitated the Collapse of Barbary. Vindicated in their distrust of Jingdao, the Order regained significant support from the population. Unfortunately it hadn't regained enough strength to fend off invaders from Akhidia who colonized the peninsula.
The Akhidian era saw the movement of vast numbers of ethnic populations as they migrated - either naturally or forcibly as the case may be - throughout the region. The Akhidians wanted to suppress both the Bretallois and Batavian locals in lieu of ethnic groups more favorable to their government. During this time they repressed the local Cibolan Saxon religion with the Nazarene religion of Matbaa, which Akhidia had adopted. The hardline stance by Akhidia solidified the common bond of resistance between the Batavians and Bretallois and the Order began working to liberate the country via an underground network of resistance.
Government
The proceedings of the Order are governed by its Constitutional Charter and the Order's Code. It is divided internationally into three territorial Grand Priories.
The three Grand Priories are:
- Grand Priory of St. Litavia
- Grand Priory of Nordmark
- Grand Priory of Barbarije
The supreme head of the Order is the Prince and Grand Master, who is elected for life by the Council Complete of State. Within the monarchy of Treisenberg, the order is treated as a sovereign principality and therefore grants the title of Prince to the Grand Master.
Electors in the Council include the members of the Sovereign Council, other office-holders and representatives of the members of the Order. The Grand Master is aided by the Sovereign Council (the government of the Order), which is elected by the Chapter General, the legislative body of the Order.
The Chapter General meets every five years; at each meeting, all seats of the Sovereign Council are up for election. The Sovereign Council includes six members and four High Officers: the Grand Commander, the Grand Chancellor, the Grand Knight and the Receiver of the Common Treasure.
The Grand Commander is the chief religious officer of the Order and serves as "Interim Lieutenant" during a vacancy in the office of Grand Master. The Grand Chancellor, whose office includes those of the Ministry of the Interior and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is the head of the executive branch; he is responsible for the Diplomatic Missions of the Order and relations with the national Associations. The Grand Knight's responsibilities include the offices of Minister for Humanitarian Action and Minister for International Cooperation; he coordinates the Order's humanitarian and charitable activities. Finally, the Receiver of the Common Treasure is the Minister of Finance and Budget; he directs the administration of the finances and property of the Order.
Culture
Originally a military order, Bretallois culture has taken the better part of four-thousand years to evolve into its present form. The knights that landed on the shores of Cibola had little plans beyond conquering and converting the heathen tribes that occupied the sparse villages of the peninsula. When those knights were victorious, the resultant crusader state of Bretalyon struggled in those early years to define itself. Nonetheless, the seeds sown sunk deep roots, and over the intervening centuries grown into a strong culture.
Bretallois today take great pride in being descended from knights of honor, and from Nova England and New Brittania. In a region dominated by Saxon and Alexandrian influences, the Bretallois stand out for their distinct language, styles and tastes.
