Kingdom of Anglamay
WILLIAM III "THE GOOD" ruled Anglamay for many years. His bulk, age, and many old wounds allow him to sit a horse only with difficulty, and he rarely took up arms. Despairing the religious conflicts of his father, he attempted to rule in an equitable fashion. Despite that he has thrice was drawn into wars with his dukes and once with the Holy See at Avignon. To this effect he maintained a host of knights and men-at-arms. His heirs have maintained this armed stance and today these troops occupy the many royal castles and forts throughout the realm. He energetically enforced the realm’s feudal dues; requiring the dukes, barons, clergy and other various lords to pay in a mixture of coin and service, the coin being used to keep his own knights housed and equipped. Despite his impairments he frequently traveled throughout the realm, mostly during the spring, arriving unannounced at various estates and monasteries. In this way some of his feudal dues were taken in kind, foodstuffs, lodging, and the like, and it enabled him to keep a close and careful watch upon the realm.
The dukes, ensconced in their own lands, rule separate from the king. The duchies named are the DUCHY OF TILDUNE, the DUCHY OF ODGEN, the DUCHY OF BEIUEL, the DUCHY OF THRACE, and the DUCHY OF LIMNULE. These powerful lords rule scattered, but large domains, and command armies of knights and men-at-arms. Though sworn to the service of the king, they possess many rights and guard and protect them from any threats from on high.
Beiuel, Limnule and Tildune, all centrally located, are wealthy in foodstuffs. There, the traditions of the tournament are strong. The feudal culture dominates the central duchies like no other. The lords, great and small, sport their wealth upon the backs of their great horses, with lance and shield, sword and mace. They call for and hold tournaments frequently and it is rare that somewhere in the duchies there is not a tourney occurring. These events draw knights from all the surrounding lands, from the County of Kleaves, the COUNTY OF CEEANA, and the COUNTY OF KAREELIA and even further south, sometimes drawing FONTENOUQ Twilight Elves or even wandering Knights of Kayomar and ronins moving across the sprawling expanse of the Lands of Ursal. They come to the central duchies, for here is the heart of feudalism, and these lords stand apart like few others. From these regions also come the greatest calls for war and crusade. Many of their younger sons have gone on the crusades called by the Empress of New Aenoch.
The Duchy of Ogden in the Greenwood is the furthest west of the dukedoms. The duke commands the valleys between the HANSE CITIES and Kleaves. His are the gates of Anglamay and frequently the duke must make war upon the creatures that come from the ruins of the Great Wall further west. For that reason Ogden is filled with experienced soldiery and battle hardened warriors. Though some of their younger sons enjoy the fruits of the tourney, most who live in this western march focus on the very real dangers posed by hobgoblins, orcs, and that ilk. Ogden’s is a stark life, most of their wealth spent
on fortifications and armaments and perhaps for this reason they have attracted a sect of religious zealots who have broken off the Church of Ore-Tsar. The KATHERINES espouse that clerics and priests should carry no wealth in the world other than what they need to survive.
Thrace, braced as she is against the city state of Avignon, is a hotbed of rebellion and discontent. It is the duke there who continually calls for the rights of the Bishop of Avignon over the kingdom’s clergy and even for the King to recognize the place of the Bishop of Avignon. Here wealth abounds for the merchants and rogues flood the lower plains with traffic. This adds to the political discontent, for many of those in the service of the duke are also on the payroll of the Bishop of Avignon.
William III's death did come, and when it did the various claimants made their case. As none would step aside the ANGLAMAY CIVIL WAR resulted. The Dukes were all claimants, as was EREN the King's adopted son. Eren was an astute general, and that allowed him to maintain the loyalty of most of the King's forces. Once he had defeated the Ducal forces he had himself crowned King of Anglamay by the Bishop of Anglamay.
Eren had not only asserted his authority over the Dukes, but he also had broken with the Bishop of Avignon. That Bishop had backed the Duke of Thrace, and with that act he was assigned a losers share in the conflict. Eren was generally magnanimous in making the peace, but did pull back various powers that William II had sold. Eren would go on to rule for twenty years and left a land of peace and prosperity to his son WILLIAM IV.
William IV had only been of age to be a squire during the Civil War, and had never been tested in war during his Fathers reign. But that was not to last long as Avignon backed an attempt on his crown by ERMIS DUKE OF THRACE. This lead to the bloody THRACIAN WAR. William IV did defeat and remove Ermis from the Duchy. He also was determined to quell the lust of the Duke's for his crown. The other Dukes had not rushed to his aid, and each had looked for their opening in the conflict.
This lead to him pursuing numerous conflicts with the surrounding nations. Particularly he fought wars with the Hanse Cities and Avignon. He also put much effort into bolstering Allis as a port of entry to replace Avignon. The result gave William IV what he was looking for. It kept the Dukes busy, and too weak to fight him. However, it also harmed the economy of Anglamay and all the nations affected.
When William IV passed his son HENRY became King. Henry simply kept to his Father's course. With no overtones of peace coming Hanse and Avignon hired a great army of Northmen, and declared war on Anglamay. So began the WAR OF THE COALITION. Much of early years of Henry's reign were consumed by this war. The war ended poorly for Henry, as the coalition forces were victorious. Anglamay had to make concessions on trade, including limits on trade in Allis. Henry was forced to levy a heavy tax to pay the reparations demanded by the victors. He also had to accept Northmen settling along the coast of Anglamay.
This defeat was largely the result of the mercenaries from the east. Pouring into Anglamay these Northmen came to stay not just fight for their employers. This did win the war, but it also cemented the Dukes in their loyalty to Henry. So Anglamay came out of the war poorer, but more united.
Henry was then able to change his direction into working with the new migrating peoples. Initially there was more internal conflict with the settlers. Over the course of his rule he was able to define the territories they are welcome in, and get them to operate inside the feudal system. He was then able to re-settle the dispossessed Ethrum to other locations in the Kingdom.
By the time of his death Henry had been able to re-establish a peaceful and prosperous realm. His Grandson EDMOND ascended to the throne. Edmond has wisely followed the policies of his Grandfather. However the DUKE OF LIMNULE who was hard pressed by the Northmen has been rebellious throughout his reign. The Duke of Thrace has also on two occaisions attempted to take lands north of the ANGL RIVER.
History
During the age of Winter Dark the lands of the whole of the Ethrum and Aenoch were divided into provinces which reflected the realms as they existed in the days before the Dark Lord’s reign. The lands from the Hanse River to the MASSIF and the TWILIGHT WOOD were divided into nine provinces; Anglamay, Olgdon, Tildune, Limnule, Beiuel, Thrace,
Kareelia, Kleaves, and Ceeana. The folk who lived there, a proud people, traced their lineage to the ancient Ethrum, and as with their ancestors, they reveled in war and tournament. To bring these folk to heel, Unklar appointed governors to rule them and garrisoned cohorts within town and country.
Despite this, these warriors proved difficult to govern and they rebelled continually. To overcome this, the governors appointed them to administrative offices and gave them the title of knights. They exempted these newly minted knights from taxes and allowed them to employ small troops of retainers. To control these men further, a noble, usually the most influential, was appointed as count of that particular province. The counts, though locally powerful, ruled in name only, answering to the dictates of the governor. In this way, the governors pacified the region by creating an aristocratic cast of bureaucrats who made their wealth through controlling the whole of the region’s commerce.
When the Winter's Dark Wars began, Unklar’s generals, hard pressed in other regions, stripped the central lands of Ethrum, from the GREAT WALL OF ETHRUM to the STRAITS OF URSAL, of their garrisons. The lords of Aufstrag desperately needed experienced soldiers for the battles in the south and east. The central lands they deemed safe from rebellion, and they did not fear the consequences of withdrawing so many soldiers. They did not count, however, on the raids of the NORTHMEN and the ambitions of WILLIAM I, the Count of Anglamay.
William, an older man, bore three titles, given to him by the Lords of Aufstrag. A younger son of a minor bureaucrat, William joined the legions in around 1105. He eventually attained the position of Horse Commander, at which point he retired to his home in Anglamay. There he married the only daughter of Philip, the count of that province. Recognized for his loyal service, he soon attained the post of Governor of Anglamay and, when Count Philip and his only son died in one of the many plagues that haunted the Winter Dark, William attained the title of count from his father in law. By the outset of the Winter Dark Wars, William served both posts as Governor and Count of Anglamay. This powerful position, unrivaled in the region by vassals of Aufstrag soon attracted him a following of warriors, adventurers and soldiers, many of the knightly class.
When the Winter Dark Wars began, William took a decidedly neutral stance. The imperial defeats in the FLINTLOCK and in Kayomar coupled with the civil war in MAINE cast him in the firm belief that the age of
the Horned God would soon be over. In 1123 he called his knights to arms and drove out the few imperial garrisons left in the area and established himself within the halls of his castle of ANGLAMAY-OT-NEIDER. His revolt spread rapidly to the other provinces. The imperial governors tried to rally the garrisons but those troops who remained could not be relied upon. With the empire helpless in the provinces, the imperial bureaucracy joined the revolt and the peasants shortly thereafter. William asserted himself over the other lords from the beginning. He commanded an impressive array of knights, ex-soldiers, lords, and
bureaucrats. Within a few short years, the provincial counts, some reluctantly, recognized William as their king, giving him rights over them for his protection, guidance, and leadership. In turn he invested each of the great lords with property and privilege. All joined but for Kareelia, Kleaves, and Ceeana.
As is elsewhere written, PHILIP, THE GUILELESS came to Anglamay during these days, bringing with him the worship of ORE-TSAR. The peasants and town burghers embraced this new religion of hard work and reward so much so that almost the whole realm converted. William, a shrewd man, did not let this opportunity pass. He openly converted, embracing Philip upon the steps of his own Great Hall.
By as early as 1125, William ruled a vast and extremely wealthy region of the Lands of Ursal. He attempted for a time to conquer the Hanse river basin, though this ended in failure when those peoples formed the league of Hanse City States. The free city of Avignon avoided his conquest as well, being ruled by the bishop and several powerful guilds; however, the bishop proved a valuable ally and friend to the king.
William proved a benevolent ruler, sitting on the throne for nigh on 15 years. He strongly supported the creation of churches and monasteries. When he died his young son was crowned by the powerful Bishop of Avignon as WILLIAM II, King of Anglamay. William II ruled much as his father did. He enjoyed his pleasures in the quiet of his castle on the NEIDER RIVER.
William II allowed the various lords of his kingdom to exercise an impressive amount of control and rule. For monied payments, he exchanged rights and privileges. Under his tender rule localism became the norm and the nobility grew in power, more so than before. The local rule of the churches of Ore-Tsar waxed powerful as well, organizing into parishes and bishoprics. In truth William cared little for all of this, for they too paid dues in coin, which he used on horse races, prostitutes, and gambling houses in Avignon. There, in the free city, the king died of a curse, it is said, laid upon an ancient dwarven coin which he had won in a game of cards.
Philip William, his son, crowned once more by the Bishop of Avignon, stood in stark contrast to his father. A devout monk for much of his life, he left the cloth when he saw his father’s kingdom slipping into ruin. As king he ruled far more firmly and the first
true struggles between the king and dukes began. Philip appointed his old master, the monk JARED, as Bishop of Anglamay, installing him in the town of ALLIS. He assumed the power of appointing prelates throughout the kingdom, taking it away from Avignon; this privilege he gave to his friend. In time, this proved a powerful tool used against the dukes and barons and the Bishop of Avignon.
He granted those churches who supported him tax exempt status, freeing them of feudal dues. They waxed in wealth and proved loyal servants of the crown, bending their own powers over the burghers and peasants in the kingdom to force the hands of the nobility to follow the king’s will. Also during those days, various religious sects sprang up across the kingdom, most particularly in the Duchy of Ogden. There the Katherines shirked the rule of bishops and monastic lords, calling for a simpler life for the clerics of Ore-Tsar. The DUKE OF OGDEN, a benevolent ruler, did little to quell the unrest so that in time most of his duchy had converted to the new creed and developed a fierce loyalty to their duke.
The religious/secular disputes erupted in war in 1160 when the dukes rebelled and called to the Bishop of Avignon to grant the kingdom to William, Philip’s son. The bishop acquiesced, having suffered at the hands of the monk he had crowned, and threw his own loyal guard into the fray, but William Philip commanded a powerful force of knights from his own realm and relied on many lesser nobles to aid him. The war lasted for two years, during which time many sieges and small engagements took place. Much of the land was ravaged and the wars ended only with Philip William’s death at the BATTLE OF HARDON.
The Bishop of Anglamay preempted any action from his fellow cleric in Avignon when he crowned William III, king of Anglamay, in 1172. This act ended the war in an uneasy truce. The affront left strained relations between the two bishoprics, for the Bishop of Avignon sought to assert his traditional right of crowning the Kings of Anglamay. So great was his ire, that the Bishop of Avignon offered some support to the Katherines, an act that caused strains within his own very wealthy and powerful house.
William III has ruled for two decades, now sitting upon the throne as an old, seasoned campaigner. He is wise and benevolent, though hard on those who work against him. Loved by his people, his loss is greatly feared for he has no heir to follow him. A gaggle of nephews, the Count of Kleaves, and an adopted son whose lineage is not known are among those who would take the throne. This last, ENRE, serves as his CAPTAIN OF HORSE, and is a knight of great worth, but whose right to assume the throne is doubtful at best.
Demography and Population
Due to the efficient union of imperial bureaucracy, powerful merchant families, and a wealthy peasantry, Anglamay prospers. A great deal of trade passes through the kingdom. Many of the towns, though frequently walled, are well off and able to field their own small armies. Merchants travel in large caravans, trading the local textile goods, sheep, cattle, horses, wood products, pottery, and grain for foreign iron, coal, and worked steel. Anglamay is well known for the production of finely crafted armor. The merchant guilds are struggling to assert their power in the towns, and to do so they are attempting to control the trade routes, paying for road and bridge improvements in exchange for the rights to charge tolls. Thus, tensions grow between the noble and
mercantile classes.
In the west, the realm commands a deciding voice in the young kingdoms and is the major pillar of the Church of Ore-Tsar. The BISHOP OF ANGLAMAY vies for control of the church with the Bishop of Avignon.
The greatest threat to travelers are robber barons and lordless knights who prey on the weak. The king attempts to quell these brigands, but his realm is large, and though Anglamay fields an impressive array of mounted knights in battle, often supported by a large peasant levy, it is difficult for the king to bring these to bear on wandering knights and bandits. Such lawlessness makes for great sport amongst the landed knights, who challenge themselves by attempting to serve the king by bringing these rogues to heel.
Military
Anglamay can field and impressive army, one of the largest in the world, from the king’s house knights to the freeman, they range from heavy horse to footpads.
It's King commands an impressive array of knights, all in his own service drawn from his own lands. These consist largely of heavy and light horse. Some are under permanent arms, other rotate out of his service when their dues are paid. He also can call up large contingents of men-at-arms and crossbowmen. Doing so requires him to strip many castles of their garrisons. He also employs a small rump of a mercenary force, largely foot soldiers and archers. These are augmented in time of war by his very large purse which allows him to hire more as needed.
The dukes and barons of Anglamay owe him feudal levies. These range from knights to footmen and archers. Their armies can be large but pay homage to their own lords. For every ten freemen, one must be sent to the king’s service in times of need, or money to hire one mercenary in his place.
Religion
The church of Ore-Tsar is very powerful in Anglamay. Its clergy and temples dwell in most towns, all the cities, and almost all the castles and bergs. Few do not pay the God of the Wheel homage, but the bishops vie for power with the head of the Church of Ore-Tsar in nearby Avignon. Here dwells the second greatest seat of that god’s worship. The bishop lays great claims upon the kingdom; claiming for one to be the only prelate able to crown the king. These ceremonial disputes are compounded by the on-going schism with the Katherines who, originating in Ogden, and have spread throughout the realm.
Trade & Transport
Anglamay is a large land which extends from the gates of Avignon to the TOT RIVER and GREEN FOREST. The northern border lies upon the HANSE RIVER but in the south the border is more fluid, with the king claiming much of the ELITHIAN WOOD for his own. There are towns, several large cities and many castles across the wide kingdom, offering the weary traveler warm drink, good food, and refuge from the weather
Travel in Anglamay
The land is gentle on the traveler, generally flat, where small rivers and streams abound. In the western regions, small forests, outgrowths of the greater ones to the north and south, dot the landscape. Roads, dating from the imperial era are still in fair shape. The URSAL ROAD remains the main thoroughfare upon which east-west traffic moves. It is cobbled and in good shape.
Founding Date
1127
Type
Geopolitical, Kingdom
Capital
Predecessor Organization
Leader
Leader Title
Head of State
Government System
Monarchy, Absolute
Power Structure
Feudal state
Economic System
Market economy
Gazetteer
ABEL, ALLIS, ROYAN, DURAS, MONTEUR, HANSE RIVER, LEVIL RIVER, ALLIS RIVER, URSAL ROAD, ANGL RIVER, HYRIS RIVER, AVIGNON ROAD, LITHANIAN STEPPE, LITHANIAN RIVER, ELTHIAN WOOD, TOT RIVER, LAKE BEIUEL.
Official State Religion
Location
Related Ranks & Titles
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
Notable Members
Related Species
Related Ethnicities
WILLIAM I (b. 1038 (1127-1142)),
WILLIAM II (b. 1063 (1142-1161)),
PHILIP WILLIAM (b. 1082 (1161-1172)),
WILLIAM III (CHARACTER) (b. 1132 (1172-1228)),
EREN (b. 1190 (1228-1248)),
WILLIAM IV (b. 1212 (1248-1291),
HENRY (b.1231 (1291-1338),
Edmond (b. 1280 (1338-Present)
WILLIAM II (b. 1063 (1142-1161)),
PHILIP WILLIAM (b. 1082 (1161-1172)),
WILLIAM III (CHARACTER) (b. 1132 (1172-1228)),
EREN (b. 1190 (1228-1248)),
WILLIAM IV (b. 1212 (1248-1291),
HENRY (b.1231 (1291-1338),
Edmond (b. 1280 (1338-Present)
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