Nordtvein (nort-vine)
The kingdom of Nordtvein was originally created in 2460 1A when the king of the city-state of Engelberg successfully penned alliances or treaties with the other six city-states north of the Castillon River. Some of these alliances were forced at the end of military campaigns, while others were arranged marriages or pacts of mutual defense.
Following the events of The Smiting, few people were left in Nordtvein, but there was plenty of evidence and historical documentation of the old kingdom. When the cities and towns began to expand once again, they linked up with neighbors and re-founded the old kingdom, tracing its heritage back to the founding in 2460. This refounded kingdom lasted until 1038 2A when it finally succumbed to its southern neighbor, the Kingdom of Castillon, and was forced to join that empire. Nordtveiners had the last laugh, however, as that kingdom only lasted until the death of that emperor twenty years later. The various cities of Castillon joined with the nationalist forces in Nordtvein to demand the young successor's surrender and the creation of a republic that would work for all and not just the emperor and aristocrats in Castillon. The people of Nordtvein are pretty hearty and tough to rattle, owing to their existence in a somewhat harsh northern climate that - depending on which part of the kingdom one is from - varies between temperate plain and outright tundra. The rough climate prohibited massive population growth and agricultural strength throughout Nordtvein's history, and the northernmost towns' frequent encounters with roving barbarians did nothing to help in this regard. Even after constructing a series of border forts at the five northern towns, King Otto XIV and his successors found themselves constantly sending men and resources to these towns to repel the raids. This leeching effect somewhat declined as the centuries wore on, but by the eleventh century 2A Nordtvein was not in a much better position than at the time of Otto XIV's rule. Their inability to accumulate wealth and power made them susceptible to a stronger, imperialistic southern neighbor. Today, Nordtvein is a varied region with temperate forested towns, tundra forts, farming villages, and a capital city built partially into a mountain. Almost all manner of industries and products can be found in Nordtvein, and those that can't are transported in from the southern reaches of the kingdom and beyond. Nordtveiners are still patriotic and a bit nationalistic, yearning in private conversations for freedom and independence once again, but for over four hundred years they have been content with the power-sharing representative government they currently have. The existing system takes care of everyone's needs pretty well and even allows for some comforts and luxuries that Nordtvein wouldn't otherwise have access to. So, all in all, despite their occasional bluster and pomp, the people of Nordtvein are generally happy to be part of the larger kingdom of Oestbernia and have no plans to declare independence in the near future.
Following the events of The Smiting, few people were left in Nordtvein, but there was plenty of evidence and historical documentation of the old kingdom. When the cities and towns began to expand once again, they linked up with neighbors and re-founded the old kingdom, tracing its heritage back to the founding in 2460. This refounded kingdom lasted until 1038 2A when it finally succumbed to its southern neighbor, the Kingdom of Castillon, and was forced to join that empire. Nordtveiners had the last laugh, however, as that kingdom only lasted until the death of that emperor twenty years later. The various cities of Castillon joined with the nationalist forces in Nordtvein to demand the young successor's surrender and the creation of a republic that would work for all and not just the emperor and aristocrats in Castillon. The people of Nordtvein are pretty hearty and tough to rattle, owing to their existence in a somewhat harsh northern climate that - depending on which part of the kingdom one is from - varies between temperate plain and outright tundra. The rough climate prohibited massive population growth and agricultural strength throughout Nordtvein's history, and the northernmost towns' frequent encounters with roving barbarians did nothing to help in this regard. Even after constructing a series of border forts at the five northern towns, King Otto XIV and his successors found themselves constantly sending men and resources to these towns to repel the raids. This leeching effect somewhat declined as the centuries wore on, but by the eleventh century 2A Nordtvein was not in a much better position than at the time of Otto XIV's rule. Their inability to accumulate wealth and power made them susceptible to a stronger, imperialistic southern neighbor. Today, Nordtvein is a varied region with temperate forested towns, tundra forts, farming villages, and a capital city built partially into a mountain. Almost all manner of industries and products can be found in Nordtvein, and those that can't are transported in from the southern reaches of the kingdom and beyond. Nordtveiners are still patriotic and a bit nationalistic, yearning in private conversations for freedom and independence once again, but for over four hundred years they have been content with the power-sharing representative government they currently have. The existing system takes care of everyone's needs pretty well and even allows for some comforts and luxuries that Nordtvein wouldn't otherwise have access to. So, all in all, despite their occasional bluster and pomp, the people of Nordtvein are generally happy to be part of the larger kingdom of Oestbernia and have no plans to declare independence in the near future.
Jewel of the North
2460 1A (refounded 104 2A) - 1059 2A
Type
Geopolitical, Province
Capital
Successor Organization
Demonym
Nordtveiners
Government System
Monarchy, Absolute
Power Structure
Feudal state
Neighboring Nations
Comments