Ashington Monarchy
Ashington is a strange blend of a corporation and a hereditary monarchy, founded by an outcast Terran prince in the 10th century. The head of the royal family, the Prince (the title is used irrespective of gender) exerts dictatorial powers over the city-state, although since joining the United Mercantile Federation in TN 1620 there have been a number of reforms and the monarch is advised by an elected advisoty council. The Prince also serves as the President of the Ashington Power Corporation, the UMFs largest power utility and one of the most profitable companies in the Federation, claiming a seat on the Corporate Council. The Royal family also has major interests in a range of other commercial interests, including the Ashington Import Corporation (AIC), a minor import-export agency, and Racine-Ash Distribution, a long-haul distribution company operating across the CNCS.
Firmly entrenched in both the corporate and political spheres, the Ash family i s among the most powerful in the UMF. This has led to a tendency for its members - and citizens of Ashington - to regard themselves as superior to the rest of the UMF. Furthermore, some branches of the family feel that Ashington should part ways with the Federation, returning to the independent status it enjoyed before TN 1620. These secessionist feelings have twice caused major unrest in the city, first in TN 1797 (allegedly with Mekong Dominion support during the Second Merchant War) and again in TN 1814. On both occasions only a federal show of force prevented Byron Ash, who had deposed his brother, from seceding from the Federation. The current prince, Hans William Ash VI, is an advocate of remaining in the Federation but several of his immediate family are less convinced of the benefits of the arrangement.
Nepotism is rife in the city-state, exemplified by the Prince's control over the Ashington Royal regiments. Membership of these units is tightly controlled, open only to those born in Ashington and given out by the Prince to nobles and commoners alike as rewards - the units' first loyalty is to the Prince. Furthermore, the Prince's daughter and heir, Hannah Ash, rose to command the Second Royals barely five cycles after graduating from the Lyonnesse Military Academy and at 32 cycles is the youngest colonel in the UMFA. Indeed, many members of the city's nobility have military experience, regarded as little more than completing their education. The UMFA does not like being used as a finishing school for ladies and gentlemen, but the noble families have made generous donations to allow the practice to continue.
Structure
The nobility of Ashington are broken into two distinct groups: the Royal Family and the Estates. The Royal Family consists of the Prince and his immediate family, while the Estates are the lesser nobles of Ashington - a l l of whom claim Ash blood. The Prince has the power to nominate his own successor, though traditionally this i s determined by primogeniture among his children. This is not automatic, however, and there have been cases of the throne passing to younger children or even to another branch of the family.
Since joining the UMF, the Prince has been advised by a body known as the Privy Council. This twelve-member committee contains eight members elected from the commons and four from the Estates. The Council advises the Prince in a wide range of matters, from public opinion to inter-league affairs, but has little power of its own. Nevertheless, the council's influence is considerable, especially over weak-willed rulers. The current chairman of the committee is a member of the Estates, Count Mykel Galen-Ash, who unknown to the Prince is head of the Order of the Chain, a group of nobles who believe Ashington's destiny lies outside the UMF.
Public Agenda
Current Concerns
The presence of power generating facilities, as well as major rail yards and transshipment depots for trade into and across the Western Desert, make Ashington a prime military target, and the city-state was attacked repeatedly in the St. Vincent's War and the War of Alliance. The Prince i s concerned that in the current conflict Ashington will once more become the focus of military action. To date the AST has refrained from attacking the city-state directly, but as the war progresses such attacks appear increasingly Likely. Similarly, with the Second Royal regiment off in the thick of the fighting, Hans William fears for the safety of his daughter and has made secret provisions for the succession to pass to his younger son, Frederick, should something happen to both himself and his heir. The outbreak of war has also seen public demonstrations, claiming that the city and its troops have no part in this "Revisionist crusade." A growing minority, secretly manipulated by Count Mykel, are calling for the city-state to cut i t s ties with the UMF and CNCS. declaring its neutrality for the duration of the Conflict. The intelligence forces of the UMF are as yet only dimly aware of this movement, but they are following several leads. Some are very anxious to deal with "Ashington traitors."
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