Normandie

The Order of the Holy Lakes in right of the Duchy of Normandie
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[[|250px|Location of Normandie|frameless]]
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Capital	Quimper
Largest city	Béthencourt
Official language(s)	Norman, Amalandic, Karnali, Varjan, Hurmu Norse
Official religion(s)	Reformed Norman Church
Demonym	Norman(s)
- Adjective	Norman
Government	Proposed realm of the Order of the Holy Lakes
- Duke	Theodoric van Orton
- Legislature
Establishment	1744 AN
Area
Population	737,121 (estimate)
Currency	Crown (HUK)
Calendar
Time zone(s)	CMT+3
Mains electricity
Driving side	left
Track gauge
National website
National forum
National animal
National food
National drink
National tree
Abbreviation	TBD

Normandie (In Hurmu Norse: Noorðmannaland) is one of the List of realms of the Order of the Holy Lakes of the Order of the Holy Lakes located on the west coast of Keltia, in the Normandie region, immediately north of Amaland and east of the Hexarchy. Normandie was admitted to the Order of the Holy Lakes on 6.I.1745.

Moreover, the Order of the Holy Lakes has not claimed sovereignty over it. The title dukedom is used only for the title of ruler. Known for its rugged coastline, harsh winters, and historically rich settlements, Normandie traces its origins to the era of Storish rule, when it served as a distant but culturally distinct province. Following a period of foreign domination by the Hexarchy and administration under the Autonomous Region of Lysstyrer, the region fell into disorder during the Vanic incursions, which brought widespread devastation and spiritual desecration.

After years of unrest, the duchy was liberated in 1744 AN through a coordinated uprising led by local militias and clergy aligned with the Reformed Church of Normandie, a fiercely anti-Vanic religious institution that now serves as a cornerstone of national identity and governance. Today, Normandie is ruled by Grand Duke Thedoric van "Randy" Orton, whose reign emphasizes religious purity, agrarian values, and resistance to foreign cultural influence.

With a population of roughly 700,000, the duchy’s economy is centered on subsistence agriculture, coal mining, and religious tourism. The Norman people are known for their deep spiritual devotion, communal lifestyle, and ancestral connection to the land. Major cities include Quimper (the capital), Bèthencourt, and Caustren, each playing a unique role in the duchy's political, industrial, and spiritual life.

History

Norse Roots and Francian Domination (c. 500–1040)

The origins of Normandie lie in the early Norse settlements that began in the sixth century AN. These settlers established their culture and language across the region, with Old Norse becoming dominant among the common population. In the early 900s, the Kingdom of Franciana, an Old Alexandrian-speaking realm, conquered the territory. Although Francianan rule began the slow Alexandrianization of the region, linguistic and cultural assimilation remained limited. The nobility gradually adopted Alexandrian, while the common folk retained their Norse identity.

The War of the Hand of Hallvarður (1103–1108) and the County of Quercy (1108–1150)

The saga of Normandie's true founding begins with the birth of Rognvald of Valtia in 1040, father of the twins Horik and Hyngwar Rognvaldsson, who were born in 1078. Following their father's assassination in 1100, widely believed to involve the Valtian leadership, the twin brothers were eventually exiled from Valtia. Their notoriety as brutal, cunning mercenaries—commanders of the feared Leopard Legion—preceded them.

In 1103, the Valtian Althing dispatched Jarl Hallvarður Jónsson of the House of Haukdælir to negotiate a political alliance with Franciana, including a proposal for the marriage of Princess Clotilde to a Valtian noble. Rather than accept the offer, King Clovis responded with cruelty and contempt. He had Hallvarður's hands severed and returned them to Valtia with a mocking note. The mutilated envoy was then stoned to death, and his remains desecrated.

This act constituted not merely an insult but an act of war under the diplomatic customs of the time. It was a sacrilegious breach of the sacred trust afforded to emissaries, universally acknowledged as inviolable. The Althing of Valtia declared war, calling upon their maritime chieftains, privateers, and allied warlords to exact retribution.

Valtian-backed corsairs and mercenaries descended upon Franciana, devastating its coastal settlements and trade. Neighboring powers, including Vermandois and Noyon, took advantage of the chaos to launch their own incursions. Franciana, already strained by internal disunity, found itself under siege on all fronts. In desperation, King Clovis turned to a pair of exiled Valtian mercenaries: the Leopard Brothers, Horik and Hyngwar Rognvaldsson.

These brothers—known for their brutality and martial brilliance—had personal grievances against Valtia. In 1104, they agreed to enter Clovis's service. Their Leopard Legion turned the tide of war. At the Battle of Narresroux, they crushed the forces of Vermandois, restoring Franciana’s strategic footing. They were instrumental in purging the land of raiders and bandit hosts.

With Franciana under siege by pirates, mercenaries, and rival kingdoms, Clovis sought unlikely salvation in the Leopard Brothers, who had no allegiance to Valtia and had already begun opportunistic raids in the region. In 1104, the brothers entered Clovis’s service and were rewarded in 1108 with the County of Quercy under the Treaty of Pont l'Évêque. This feudal investiture, marked by the symbolic banner Montjoie, is regarded as the birth of the Duchy of Normandie.

Early Duchy of Normandie (1150–1350)

Horik's son Rollo was born in 1109 and later inherited the county in 1144 following the deaths of Horik (1134) and Hyngwar (1144). Intermarriages with Franciana’s nobility laid the dynastic foundations of the Norman nobility, while the Leopard Brothers' consolidation of power ushered in feudal order. In 1150, Rollo declared himself Duke of Normandie and his duchy independent of Franciana.

With Rollo's succession and stabilization of rule, Normandie grew steadily in influence. The apex of this ascent came with Duke Fulk, the grandson of Rollo, who in 1204 famously conquered the kingdoms of Bosworth and Anglethyr. His rule extended Norman reach across Micras and reinforced their reputation for martial supremacy and cultural sophistication.

Following Fulk's death in 1228, Normandie entered a century-long period of chivalric golden age (1250–1350), defined by the flourishing of knighthood, heraldry, and troubadour culture. The Norman Code of Chivalry, an intricate synthesis of martial, religious, and romantic ideals, was codified and celebrated in tournaments and courtly life.

Fragmentation and Foreign Rule (1350–1543)

Following the end of its golden age, Normandie was increasingly entangled in external conflicts and political instability. From 1452, it was incorporated into the Free Republic and then successively occupied by Varja (1470–1483), Korhal (1487–1490), and Karnali (1490–1516). Governance was inconsistent, and by 1516, Normandie was once again leaderless. Incursions by Durntkinstan beginning in 1529 and expanding in 1534 in the north, and Iridia (1544), in the south, fragmented control.

This was a period of significant decay in Norman sovereignty. The nobility lost cohesion, and ecclesiastical leadership became increasingly influenced by foreign ideologies. It set the stage for a desperate population to welcome Stormark as liberators.

Vanic Subjugation and Cultural Corruption (1543–1685)

In 1543, Stormark entered the scene under the guise of liberators but quickly imposed their ideological and cultural hegemony. Harald Freyjugjöf the Generous Giver, High King of Stormark, was installed as Duke of Normandie. Under Stormark's influence, the Duchy entered an era of Vanicization that deeply corrupted its institutions.

The Église de Normandie, once a Nazarene church rooted in feudal piety, was transformed into a libertine vessel of Vanic cultic influence. The worship of Vanic deities as saints, the installation of female clergy in parity, and ritual nudity during liturgy marked the church's decline into hedonistic spectacle. Most troubling was its theology of sexuality, which elevated polyamory, self-gratification, and public eroticism as sacred acts. Though couched in the language of love and freedom, these practices constituted a profound betrayal of the values upon which the Duchy was founded.

While Stormark praised this era as one of cultural flowering, Norman traditionalists regarded it as a time of humiliation and degradation. The once-honoured Norman Code of Chivalry was distorted into a parody of itself, entangled with Vanic rites and arcane symbolism. Harald Freyjugjöf ruled as both Duke and Pontiff, despite not adhering to the doctrines of the very church he led – a glaring contradiction.

Collapse and the End of Ducal Normandie (1685)

Stormark's collapse in 1685 marked the abrupt end of the Duchy of Normandie as a coherent political and religious entity. No successor government emerged with legitimacy or stability. The Église de Normandie fragmented into regional sects, all repudiating their Vanic past and returning to more orthodox Nazarene traditions. But the damage was lasting: centuries of feudal heritage and chivalric tradition lay buried beneath the rubble of spiritual libertinism and foreign occupation.

Normandie in the Green

• Add context with Amaland and Karnamark... Vanic warfare in the Green

In the late 17th century, during a period of regional instability, Hexarchy forces invaded and annexed the territory. This marked the beginning of a turbulent era. Control was later transferred to the Autonomous Region of Lysstyrer, under which the Normans experienced partial self-governance but limited cultural freedom.

A darker chapter began with the emergence of the Vanic bands, lawless raiding parties whose reign of terror disrupted daily life and eroded local autonomy. For years, these groups committed acts of violence, religious desecration, and economic sabotage across Normandie.

Re-establishment of the Duchy

In 1744 AN, after a sustained campaign of resistance and a series of decisive skirmishes, the Vanic presence was entirely eradicated. This victory is annually commemorated as the Day of Purification, marking a turning point in the duchy’s modern history and solidifying its commitment to self-determination and spiritual unity.

Government and poltics

Today, the Grand Duchy of Normandie is governed as a realm duchy, blending ecclesiastical oversight with romantic leadership. At the helm is Grand Duke Theodoric van “Randy” Orton, a charismatic yet austere figure who embodies the ideals of piety, martial valor, and national rebirth.

Political authority is shared with the Church of Norman, a fiercely anti-Vanic religious institution that commands enormous influence over both civil society and cultural life. The Church dictates education, public morality, and even local policy, serving as the moral backbone of the Norman people. In contrast, an intense wave of secluderization has been observed since the establishment of the state.

The governance structure is hierarchical yet participatory; town councils and regional synods ensure that community voices are heard, albeit under the guiding hand of religious law.

List of rulers

Name	Birth	Title	Tenure	Death	Comment
Horik Rognvaldsson	1078	Count of Quercy	1108–1134	1134	Twin brother of Hyngwar
Hyngwar Rognvaldsson	1078	Count of Quercy	1108–1144	1144	Twin brother of Horik
Rollo le Léopard	1109	Count of Quercy	1144–1150	1192	Son of Horik, nephew of Hyngwar; Elevated to Duke after unifying Norman holdings
		Duke of Normandie	1150–1192
Fulk	1152	Duke of Normandie	1192–1228	1228	Son of Vilhelm, son of Rollo. Vilhelm predeceased his father.
Osmond le Juste	1185	Duke of Normandie	1228–1247	1247	Eldest son of Duke Fulk; known for legal reform and stabilizing chivalric orders.
Raoul de Quercy	1210	Duke of Normandie	1247–1269	1269	Son of Osmond; consolidated Norman control over Bosworth.
Bertrand I	1235	Duke of Normandie	1269–1293	1293	Nephew of Raoul; claimed ducal title through maternal line and papal support.
Arnaut I	1268	Duke of Normandie	1293–1294	1294	Young son of Bertrand I; ruled briefly before dying of illness.
Bertrand II	1242	Duke of Normandie	1294–1302	1302	Uncle of Arnaut I; reclaimed title amidst regency collapse.
Henri de Béthencourt	1270	Duke of Normandie	1302–1348	1348	Married Bertrand II's granddaughter; brought Béthencourt line into succession.
Louis the Pious	1312	Duke of Normandie	1348–1366	1366	Son of Henri; emphasized religious patronage and cathedral expansion.
Amaury I	1338	Duke of Normandie	1366–1380	1380	Cousin of Louis; succeeded by designation during Louis’s final illness.
Gilles	1359	Duke of Normandie	1380–1387	1387	Son of Amaury I; died young in a hunting accident.
Thibault	1326	Duke of Normandie	1387–1423	1423	Elder cousin of Gilles; brought stability during times of external threat.
Arnaut II	1400	Duke of Normandie	1423–1429	1429	Grandson of Thibault; killed in battle against Varjan forces.
Bertrand III	1403	Duke of Normandie	1429–1433	1433	Younger brother of Arnaut II; abdicated due to illness.
Henri II	1408	Duke of Normandie	1433–1449	1449	Son of Bertrand III; last fully autonomous duke before period of instability.
Amaury II	1430	Duke of Normandie	1449–1450	1450	Killed in uprising.
Geoffroi the Short-Reigned	1445	Duke of Normandie	1450–1450	1450	Cousin of Amaury II; reigned only six months.
Jeanne d'Aruncourt	1425	Duchess of Normandie	1450–1452	1470	Sister of Henri II; ruled as duchess before Varjan occupation began.
–	–	–	1452–1543	–	Interducal era due to warlordism, foreign occupation, and the collapse of internal succession.
Harald of Stormark	Duke of Normandie	1446	1543–1685	1685	Duchy of Normandie (Stormark)
Esther	Imperial Chieftainness of Normandie	1638	1638–1685	1703	Paternal great grandchild of Harald; title given by Harald at her birth; mainly symbolic. She repudiated the title in 1685.
–	–	–	1685–1744	–	Interducal era due to warlordism, foreign occupation, etc
Theodoric van Orton		Duke of Normandie	1744–

Demographics

The vast majority of Normandie's inhabitants identify as Normans, a hardy and devout ethnic group with strong ties to the land and to each other. Their identity is forged through shared struggle, particularly against Vanic incursion, and reinforced through religious and agricultural traditions. The Storish people have largely assimilated, their numbers have dwindled to 17,000. The Karnalis are the second largest ethnic group, living largely in the southern highlands, but recently the Karnalis, who fled Aerla and live in the green lands, have arrived. The Varjans are the fourth largest ethnic group and have a long history in the region, but their numbers have diminished greatly. There are also many Amalandics.

Norman society is deeply conservative, rooted in family structures, communal agriculture, and faith-based values. Hospitality, honor, and devotion to the land are considered sacred duties. While urban centers like Quimper and Béthencourt exhibit some cosmopolitan traits, most of the population lives in rural hamlets, adhering to a lifestyle shaped by the rhythms of the soil and the liturgical calendar. There are considered to be many people who became secularized under the influence of Hurmu in 1744 AN.

Geography and Climate

Normandie lies along a rugged coastal strip, characterized by cold maritime winds, fog-laden cliffs, and dense pine forests that stretch inland to a series of highland plateaus. Winters are long and harsh, with heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures dominating much of the year. The sea, while treacherous, remains vital to the duchy’s fishing communities and modest maritime trade.

The interior is marked by fertile plains and mineral-rich highlands, particularly known for their substantial coal reserves. These geographical features not only sustain agriculture and energy production but also define the social and economic rhythms of Norman life.

Economy

Normandie’s economy is modest but stable, with three primary sectors sustaining its livelihood:

Agriculture

Farming remains the cornerstone of Norman life. The duchy's fertile valleys support the cultivation of barley, rye, potatoes, and other cold-resistant crops. Livestock—particularly sheep and hardy cattle—are also integral to both sustenance and trade. Farming is organized communally in most regions, with techniques passed down through generations.

Coal mining

Normandie possesses some of Micras’s most productive coal deposits, located primarily in the highland regions surrounding Verdenhall. The mining industry is tightly regulated by the ducal government and the Church, both of which seek to prevent exploitation and maintain a balance between industrial progress and spiritual purity.

Coal is exported to neighboring territories, where it plays a vital role in supporting industrial and energy infrastructures. Miners are highly respected in Norman culture, often seen as spiritual warriors defending the land from darkness both literal and metaphysical.

Traditional crafts and religious tourism

Normandie's ancient stone churches, shrines, and monasteries attract pilgrims and cultural tourists, especially those aligned with anti-Vanic movements across Micras. The city of Caustren, in particular, is a renowned theological center, home to the Seminary of Saint Elgar, where clergy are trained in both doctrine and national service.

Artisans also contribute to the economy through the production of handcrafted icons, woodwork, and religious textiles, often sold at regional markets or exported as symbols of Norman resilience.