Duchy of La Manche
Structure
The Duchy of La Manche is a feudal state, a duchy sworn to the Crown of Neustria, although in reality it maintains significant legal and actual autonomy, acting in many ways as an independent state. This is exemplified in the Treaty of Epte, which grants the nobles of La Manche final approval of laws and protection from "arbitrary" Royal proclamations. La Manche's political independence is bolstered with strong ties with the Kingdom of Logres and the Orkney Isles.
The seat of Norman power is currently held by the Kont of Rotomagus, but it has been held in the past by the Konts of Duron. The Dug of La Manche is the sovereign over their vassal states (See Territories), but these exert significant autonomy, a tradition drawn from the independent clans of Orkney and the Lost Peninsula. Generally, these lesser nobles provide Rotomagus with revenue and soldiers, but are responsible for their own maintenance and development of their economies and civic life. The major counties are further divided into smaller baronies, lordships and other subregions to allow for more efficient direct control.
The Southern Church possesses a good deal of direct temporal power in the region, directly controlling the region of Lisieux as Kont-Bishops, administering it under ecclesiastic law.
Culture
The culture of La Manche is drawn from a number of disparate sources, a melting pot of Neustrian and Orkish culture unique in Alvez, merging continental sensibilities and stability with the stubborn independent streak of the Fomorian raiders.
Normans are known for their military prowess and fighting spirit and their culture contains several holdovers from its Fomorian forebears, both socially and politically. For example, unlike in other regions, illegitimacy is not a bar to succession and many Dukes and Counts have been the children of concubines and mistresses.
Public Agenda
La Manche sits between two worlds. Politically sworn to the Crown of Nuestria, at least officially, it is embroiled in continental politics, closely watching the succession crisis that grips its Western and Southern neighbors. La Manche seeks to keep its options open, its nobles offering their service, patronage and alliances to those who seek them.
However, it also retains strong ties to the sea, culturally and economically tied to Orkney and the Fortunate Isles, and their maritime routes. Norman trade routes cross the seas, while its raiders and mercenaries are renowned from Fjallkonan to Pharos. Trading colonies with ties to the Duchy dot the Mor Kreizdouar.
Assets
The Duchy's most prominent asset is its control of the Sena River, commanding trade and movement between the Neustrian capital of Per-Ys and the Mor Breizh. Important port towns, such as Rotomagus, Honfleur and Carusburg help establish La Manche as a powerful force in trade and shipbuilding, and the guilds and nobles of the Duchy command notable fleets of ships and Windships.
History
The region was held by the Empire of Tarif, heavily supporting its operations on Albia with evidence of a developed network of paved roads and ports. Following the Tear, the region was conquered by Magnus Maximus, Emperor of the West, serving as his main base of operations during the early campaign. Following the defeat of Magnus, his empire collapsed into petty kingdoms and disparate tribes. The region found itself assailed by Sidhe pirates from the Fortunate Isles and the onslaught of the Alfr under the reign of The Erlking.
Around 750 SI, the Fomorian Viking fleet of Hastings Fireforged sacked Jumieges and established a permanent presence on the Saena River, allowing a foothold to harass Anjev and Gallia, threatening even Per-Ys itself. Hastings grew his small empire into a powerful presence, successfully occupying both La Manche and Letha until 842 SI, where he was defeated at the Battle of Trans-la-Forêt by Duke Alan "Al Louarn" II of Letha. Hastings' half-Fomorian son, Rollo I, seeing a shift in the world, pledged fealty to Charles the Simple of Gallia, gaining the territory that Hastings had conquered prior to the Battle of Brissarthe (723 SI) as well as the Contentin Peninsula. This treaty established La Manche as a Duchy North of the River Epte, making it a nominal vassal of Gallia.
In 964 SI, Gwilherm II, Dug of La Manche, launched a successful invasion of Albia against Milliget Prince Harold Godwinson, taking the island kingdom from the Sidhe and forming the Kingdom of Logres. This tied the Duchy to Logres, with Gwilherm retaining sovereignty of both lands, but still ostensibly the vassal of the Gallian King in La Manche. Several events and succession crises lead to significant infighting among the Normans and long periods of anarchy.
Norman power reached its zenith during the reign of Richarzh "Kalon Leon" IV, but fell shortly after his death when King Yann Dizouar took the throne, losing many of his key Norman holdings to Philippe II of Gallia in roughly 1101 SI, but remained disputed for some time afterwards. At this point, the Duchy became an Gallian appenage, but with significant autonomy from the Crown, with the Exchequer of Rotomagus holding final say, unable to be reversed by the authority of Per-Ys, nor was the King able to raise taxes without the consent of the Norman lords.
La Manche experienced a crisis in the reign of King Philippe Le Bel, which sees mass riots in the Clockwork City ending with the lynching of the Lord Mayor and the looting of noble houses. Philippe revoked many merchant privileges, but these are taken back in a revolt of the barons with the backing of the Merchantmen and other guilds.
Demography and Population
Territories
General Location
La Manche is located along the Northern Coast of Kornôgel, along the Mor Breizh, separating the continent from Albia and the Fortunate Isles. The western coast is the Duchy's most prominent geographical feature, the Contentin Peninsula, continuing Eastward to the Opal Coast and the Cloth Cities.Borders
Although without Northern neighbors, the Duchy still shares its border with several other Sovereignties. Starting from the East, it borders the Duchy of Letha (The Viscounty of Dinan and the County of Roazhon ), Duchy of Anjev (the County of Cenomannie ), Gallia (the County of Perche, the counties of Dreux, Mantes, Vexin Gallia and the Viscounty of Chaumont . Its Western border is made up of the Gallian occupied Cloth Cities of Beauvais, Samarobriva and Ponthieu.Vassal States
Starting in the West, the Contentin Pensinula is dominated by the Viscounty of Coutances and its smaller Southern neighbor, the County of Avranches, each bordered to the East, almost respectively by the counties of Bayeux and Mortain. This continues with the coastal County-Bishopric of Lisieux and the inland County of Alencon until the Saena River, which marks the relative borders of, from North to South, the Counties of Caux, Rouan and Vexin. The Northern coastline continues past Caux to the Counties of Arques and Eure. The tiny County of Aumale, dominated by Eure and Rouan, juts out like a small point on the Eastern edge of the Duchy.Geographic Features
La Manche is heavily developed with Bocage taking up the majority of the populated area. While primeval forests still remain, these are fewer and smaller than those found in neighboring Letha. Settlements are found largely along the coast or rivers. The coastline of the region along the Mor Breizh is filled with indented valleys for ports and magnificent stone arches and columns, most notably the spectacular Ar Mor Alabaster within the County of Caux, where high cliffs of white chalk and flint dominating long stretches of pebble beaches below. In the west, the coastline is marked with low sandy beaches. This region, North of the Saena is marked by rich clay, favourable to cattle grazing. South of the Saena is a region of plateaus and agrarian fields used for cereal production, occasionally broken by small stretches of forests. Deep gorges have been cut by rivers through the chalky landscape, featuring the largest waterfalls in the North of the continent. The Saena, Orne, Eure and their tributaries dominate the region's hydrography, Several small islands in the Mor Briezh, West of the Contentin Peninsula, also fall under the territory of La Manche.Military
Norman military is very much in line with the norms of neighboring feudal states, with a reputation as good fighters. There are two noteworthy excpetions that stand out.
Hird - A holdover from Northern tradition, a personal retinue of armed companions that follow a noble as a sort of honor guard. These are made up of the Candlemen, squires who hold candles at ceremonial events, men-at-arms and knights, as well as low-born Gestir, who serve as an intelligence network, but are forbidden from sitting at the same table as their liege except at specific special occasions. Technically, the upper levels of the hird are equals, the leader being the first among equals. These units are often the source of highly-placed officials within a noble's court and elite warriors on the battlefield.
Leidang - A form of conscription to organize and mobilize coastal fleets for seasonal excursions or the defense of the realm. All freemen are required to serve in these fleets or contribute to a fund instead. This has led to the Normans holding one of the most formidable levied armies in Bedouar, especially in naval combat, although not always the best equipped.
Religion
Following the fall of the Empire, the missionaries of the Southern Church settled the region heavily, establishing monasteries and abbeys along the navigable rivers of the region.
Originally followers of the Norse religion of the Fomorii, Normans were early converts to the Southern Church during the reign of Rollo I, as part of the treaty with Gallia to establish the region as a Duchy and head off the losses of Trans-la-Forêt and a resurgent Letha. Despite this, Norse revivalism, spurred on by a constant flow of people and trade with the Orkney Isles is not uncommon. Similarly, the influence of Letha and the Fortunate Isles has led to a sizeable population practicing Druidism. Both of these religions are in the minority compared to the much more established Faith.
The Church holds a good deal of temporal power in the Duchy, directly controlling the County-Bishopric of Lisieux and the County of Bayeux, as well as smaller sub-regions. Norman Dukes impose heavy feudal burdens to ecclesiastical fiefs, which provide many of the duchies soldiers and knights. This in turn keeps the lay lords of the region in check. These regions are the only within the Duchy which bastards cannot inherit, a point of some contention.
Agriculture & Industry
Norman politics exerts little direct control or obligations between the levels of feudal vassalage compared to its Southern neighbors. However, it still maintains a high level of production as a result of its long history of development and trade, as well as its beneficial geographic location.
The primary industry within Norman territory is agriculture, with most arable land given to the production of wheat, oats and barley, typically in the form of pasture or bocage. Flax is also a common crop, supplying much of Northern Kornôgel. Apple orchards are the pride of the region, specializing in the fabrication of Cidre and Calvados, a heavily distilled apple brandy.
Animal husbandry, especially dairy cattle, is common in the region, which is well known for both its meat and its milk production. La Manche is known for its wide range of domesticated animals, which includes regional breeds of cows, donkeys, sheep, pigs and poultry, as well as the Cathusian Cat and Basset Hound.
Trade & Transport
La Manche has become a powerful trading state in the Northern Trades, maintaining a large presence in Logres, Fjallkonan and the Cloth-Cities, where Norman merchants are known for their wine sales. The slave trade is very active in many ports, despite an official ban from the Church, largely consisting of Viking slavers from Fjallkonan against inhabitants of the Lost Peninsula.
The Merchantmen have established their power base in the Clockwork city of Rouan, from which they control a vast network of local craftsmen's guilds and Merchant fleets, a rising middle class possessing wealth equal to the nobility as well as significant civil power in urban centres.
Infrastructure
Windmills dot the landscape of La Manche and watermills lines its rivers, powering the grist and lumbermills of the region.
Móðugr eða speki (Courage and Wisdom)
Founding Date
723 SI
Type
Geopolitical, Duchy
Capital
Alternative Names
The Northern Duchy, Normandi
Demonym
Normans
Leader Title
Government System
Monarchy, Absolute
Power Structure
Feudal state
Economic System
Mixed economy
Currency
Like most of its neighbors, La Manche operates its economy based on the Livre Tournois, following pressure from the Lugoni, which is based in Rotomagus, and other merchant traders. With heavy ties to the Golden Sea and Asturias, Norman traders quickly saw the benefit of a uniform currency, leading to the the Duchy being an early adopter of the concept. As a result, the use of coin is widespread, even in rural areas that might otherwise have remained on the barter system.
Major Exports
Major Imports
Legislative Body
La Manche is a rarity among continental holdings, following their Orkish cousins with the establishment of a þing, an assembly of all the clan leaders, later nobility to create laws and advise the Dug. It has steadily lost its power as the nobility consolidates their own, but remains an important cultural event whose proclamations are often adapted into wider practice and given serious influence over policy.
The Duchy recognizes lay marriages completed outside of the Church, as well as the right of Bastards to inherit property and title.
Judicial Body
La Manche retains some of its Northern traditions in its laws, such as the ullac, punishment by banishment. Norman exiles typically head to Tevenn Du or Asturias. Norman nobility possess the rights to administer High, Middle and Low justice, as do some city elders and Ducal magistrates.
Executive Body
Like most of its neighbors, executive power rests in the nobility, stemming from the Dug through the Konts to the lesser nobles, gentry and local peasant leaders.
The Dug possesses several reserved rights, including jus Naufragii and a monopoly on whaling and sturgeon fishing in Norman waters.
Official State Religion
Parent Organization
Subsidiary Organizations
Location
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
Related Ethnicities
Comments