Wyneil Empire
Structure
The Wyneil Empire is an elective monarchy in which one leader is regarded as first among equals, a head of state called Sovereign, who holds the position until death or abdication. The Sovereigns achieve their position through an elective body known as the High Imperial Court. The Sovereign also holds the title of King of Wyneil and Duke of Dunover, though such titles are not limited to male rulers.
Below the Sovereign are the many hereditary titles. This includes the Princes/Princesses of each of the empire's major principalities - Norgarden , Southgarden, Riverlands, Haisan Region. Below the Princes but often of equal power and standing are the Grand Dukes of the Grand Duchys - Grand Duchy of Black Hills, Grand Duchy of Framland, Grand Duchy of Sylvale. Below that are the Dukes/Duchesses of various provinces within the empire.
Further subdivisions of rulership abound below that, most of which claim no direct familial link to the Sovereign's family line but remain hereditary titles. This includes and is ranked downward as follows:
- Counts/Countesses who rule over the various counties comprising each province.
- Barons/Baronesses, who rule over smaller provinces. Baron is a title often given for military valor and has been used to subdivide counties that have no extant familial line of succession or to disenfranchise noble houses of Counts.
- Margrave, a title similar in rank to a Baron, which often rule over small and contested territories along the provincial borders. Margraves are often drawn from the military ranks in a manner similar to Barons, but tend to be from the "common" class rather than the "noble class." Considered a noble title, but carrying less weight in court than a Baron or Count. Margraves are addressed as "Margrave."
- Bannerets, a hereditary title associated with the rulership of a fief. Bannerets are military roles first, and a form of Knighthood. Considered a Minor noble, Bannerets take their name literally from the carrying of banners in warfare and bring Vassal soldiers to the field at the call of their ruling Duke, Count, Baron, or Margrave. Bannerets are addressed as "Lord," but may often be referred to as "Ser" as part of their honorific. Many cities have a ruling Banneret who passes on stewardship hereditarily, though the death of a Banneret requires a new oath of fealty be sworn by their surviving heir to the noble family that bequeathed the land initially.
- Vassal Knight, a title given to a person bequeathed a small property or fief (often enough for a manor) by a Banneret in exchange for the guarantee of fealty and military service should the need arise. The property itself is managed by the Vassal, who passes on stewardship hereditarily, though the death of a Banneret requires a new oath of fealty is sworn by their surviving heir to the family that bequeathed the land initially. Addressed as "Lord," but may often be referred to as "Ser" as part of their honorific.
- Household Knight is a landless knight who lives in the household of the lord who knighted them, serving as a personal man at arms, general, or champion. Their title is non-hereditary, though in many cases a Household Knight who has served well may be rewarded with a property of their own when they pass their fighting age. Addressed as "Ser."
Culture
The Wyneil Empire is famed for its rich culture, and any conversation about it will ultimately fail to include huge swaths of information.
Several linked cultures form the base of the Wyneil Empire's modern cultural heritage - the Dayne, Ercorone, Stormbrewel, Ouestcrest and Wyneil, who all share a common ancestry from the tribes of the Breeze Kings of the Hundred Kings. That said, there are many defining characteristics of the Wyneil Empire in the Weinlands that see echoes across the entirety of the heartland kingdoms.
The capital city is Weinwyr, which boasts The University of Trefyr, a major center of mundane learning that attracts many young nobles with the best modern education one can buy, second only to The University of Rose and Violet on the Loch. The University of Trefyr is a relatively modern institution in comparison to the Univeristy on the Loch, with liberal-minded professors have already clashed with the religious conservatives over the content of their classes that questions long held classical standards. In comparison, the University on the Loch has its foundations at the very beginning of the Wyneil Empire, and is the leading place for an education in the arcane.
Architecture
Early Gothicesque - Many of the oldest buildings carry traces of the Haisan style, especially religious and military structures. Vertical shafts, clustered columns, compound piers, plate tracery, and groups of narrow openings. Since Haisan architects were commissioned during the early era of the Wyneil Empire, many Wyneil structures are built on the foundations or early structures of this style, and have an asymmetrical style as add-ons and extensions of these sturdy buildings were later constructed. Quality Limestone is available in the regions, as well as dark green marble, often found in outcrops. The green marble of the area is often used in inscriptions, mouldings, and veneers. Many towns are built with extensive town walls.Art
Art is particularly prized in the Wyneil Empire, which is often considered a leading force of modern artistic movements throughout the whole of the heartlands. Monumental sculpture is popular in the region and sculptors in the Wyneil are some of the most skilled. The rise of a bourgeois class has created a system of patronage for the arts and commissioned works have begun a proliferation of painters and high quality illuminated manuscripts. Secular themes are popular, and the growth of the trade guilds have lead to skilled art professionals. The humanity of the subjects in these works is far more pronounced than in other works of the continent. Natural human positions, behaviors, and poses dominate the work, and religious works have evolved from depicting deities as monolithic blocky entities to natural and human manifestations. Textile art, frescos, stained glass and panel painting dominate the religious world of art, but the blurred lines of secular and religious art mean that many wealthy Houses and Manors fill their spaces with this work. Illustration in books increases their prices drastically, but some common works have been made with bookblocks for text that allow a much cheaper cost. However, often remain out of the price range of the lower class. Major crafts including Masonry, Carpentry, Painting, Cloth making, Tanning, Baking, Cobbling, Apothecary, and Candlemaking are controlled by powerful guilds. Trades are regulated within major towns and cities, and sale of goods outside guild structures is often met with violent repercussions from guild members. So powerful are the guilds in Weinwyr that streets are named after the collection of tradesmen that surround guildhalls and the guildmembers have taken to wearing livery and symbols no unlike that of the noble houses.Entertainment
Jugglers, tumblers, and minstrels are the most commonly seen street performers, often banding into small troupes to display their talents. Jugglers in specific have become very popular in the region, and many also play instruments, sing, and tell stories. Amusing poetry and love songs are the most popular acts, and tumblers have begun to incorporate the exhibition of trained animals - often from far-flung regions - as well as play with knives, slings, surface juggling and other feats of skill. Dancing is a popular entertainment for the wealthy and poor alike, though the styles vary greatly. Common dance is often simple and organized, whereas the wealthy have taken to dance that incorporates jumping or sharp movements that often require the help of a dancemaster to learn. Popular with young men of all classes is “Dances of One” which are often linked to specific humorous songs, and incorporate irregular movements and a degree of buffoonery and are something of fad dances based on whatever song is currently popular in court. Flips is a gambling game played with two players, where each bids a small value (a penny, often), and a token coin is flipped by one of the players. If he comes up “heads” the flipper takes the purse. If it comes up tails, both players bid again and the flipper switches. Hadan’s Cross is played upon a cross-shaped board consisting of a 3x3 point square in the middle with four 2 x 3 point areas adjacent to each face of the central square. This makes a total of 33 points. Pieces are allowed to move from one point to another only along lines that join points. Accompanying the board, there should be a single playing piece representing the Hero in black or red and 15 white playing pieces representing the Soldiers. The objective of the Hero is to jump soldiers, moving in any direction, and avoid being boxed in.Law
Fines exist for most minor offenses, but shaming such as the stocks is common with minor victimizing crimes. Mutilation and death are used for cases ranging from theft to murder and assault. While cities may have dedicated law enforcement, smaller communities do not. With no dedicated law enforcement, these community members often must apprehend and deal with the law-breakers, but all law lays in the hands of the ruling lord. The most serious crimes may reach the Lord’s Court, which is overseen by the Lord as judge or his steward as his proxy. A jury system is often practiced by local communities for cases between community members, but a Lord may take offense if larger crimes are not brought to his court for judgement. Magistrates often take the role of Judge in civic cases within their demense.Currency
The official currency of the Wyneil Empire is known the Mark, a reference to a unit of one gold coin. It is subdivided into the much more common currencies of Silver and Copper. Very few gold coins are actually minted, with gold more often being made into jewelry, lavish items for personal use, or holy items. Gold marks are mostly used as a currency for settling debts between lords and kingdoms, with the weight being far more important than the form the metal has taken. The most common currency is the Silver Mark (10:1 Gold Mark), used by people throughout the empire as a standard for large exchanges, 10 Silver Marks being worth one Gold Mark. Secondly, the Copper Mark, 100 of which are worth 1 Gold Mark, is the most common currency used for daily exchanges. There are less common denominations as well. The Platinum Aureus is worth 10 Gold Marks, and is used primarily for exchanges between kingdoms. Additionally, several denominations of Silver still circulate despite the standardization of the silver currency - the Silver Victory (4:1 Gold Mark) was a coin specifically given to veterans of military campaigns. The Silver Lune (20:1 Gold Mark) or "Half Silver" is a leftover currency in circulation throughout the empire that predates the standard currency valuation. Additionally, the Copper Star (200:1 GM) and Copper Hand (500:1 GM) still see circulation at the lowest levels of enterprise or for the smallest of transactions.| GM | SV | SM | SR | CM | CS | CH | |
| Gold Marks | 1 | ||||||
| Silver Victorys | 4 | 1 | |||||
| Silver Marks | 10 | 2.5 | 1 | ||||
| Silver Rivers | 20 | 5 | 2 | 1 | |||
| Copper Marks | 100 | 25 | 10 | 5 | 1 | ||
| Copper Stars | 200 | 50 | 20 | 10 | 2 | 1 | |
| Copper Hands | 500 | 125 | 50 | 25 | 5 | 2.5 | 1 |
History
In 2900AE, the Kings of the Heartland Alliance adopted the The Octan Faith and appointed King Riven the Pious of Wein as the first Sovereign of the unified Heartland, now called the Wyneil Empire. Riven took a Haisan wife as Queen, solidifying the Empire's connection to the people of Sunhollow.
This system of absolute authority and direct patrilineage continued for 400 years, establishing the House of Riven as a major dynasty until 300 DE, in which the Assemblage of Princes and House of Worshipful Deans was established following the death of the last of the Riven dynasties direct line. This system began the elective monarchy of the Empire, and went unchanged until the death of the Sovereign _____ in 500 DE when his wife, the Queen Regent Melodia, acting in the stead of her unborn son (and the assumed Sovereign to be) rode to Wodeland to parlay with the Wode. After establishing a truce with the Wode, it was agreed that the land known as Wodeland will remain outside of the rule of Sovereignty. The Council of Electors was founded by the Assemblage of Princes in concordance with the will of the House of Worshipful Deans as a means to empower and align with provinces that were directly affected by her mandate as acting Regent, and to outvoted the Regent Sovereign's unborn child and authority.
All is good to those of pure hearts.
Founding Date
1400 AE
Type
Geopolitical, Empire
Capital
Alternative Names
Weinlands, Wyneil, the Wein
Demonym
Wyneil
Leader Title
Head of State
Head of Government
Government System
Monarchy, Elective
Power Structure
Feudal state
Economic System
Market economy
Currency
Weinland Mark
Official State Religion
Location
Official Languages
Related Ethnicities
Comments