The Eisenburg Federation

I grew up in a small village in the rural parts of the Federation before I traveled to Reinhafen as a young man to become a soldier. In the country we didn't much consider what it meant to be part of the Federation, but focused more the nearby city. In the city on the other hand, people seemed to be torn between being proud of their own city, but also wanting to be part of something bigger.

— from "Memories of a Caravan Guard" by Clais Hiltprandt

Structure

Each city in the Eisenburg Federation is ruled by a Merchant Prince who has direct authority over the city and surrounding lands. The Merchant Princes, or a representative, meet four times a year, in the week following the feast weeks, in Eisenburg to discuss issues that affect the Federation as a whole. The official head of the Federation is the Chancellor, often called the Merchant King by commoners, who is elected to the position from among the Merchant Princes. Elections are held every three years and it not uncommon for the same Merchant Prince to get reelected for several periods at a time.

History

The cities and lands that now make up the Eisenburg Federation were once a group of independent city-states much like Potavoli or Trierre. Each was founded by strong individuals or groups at different times and grew to control a small section of land. Trade between the cities was common as were minor border disputes, but overall each city-state was content with their own holdings.

That all changed with the rapid conquests of the soon to be formed Graslendi Empire. When it became clear that even the famous knights of Aethilcour could not stop the Graslendi expansion the leaders of the various city-states met at the small town of Eisenburg to discuss a formal alliance. Over the course of a little less than a month the plans for a federation were drafted, and after much discussion approved by all the leaders. The plan was not to mount an effective military resistance but rather to present a unified front during the inevitable peace talks.

Federation lands were the first to be invaded after the Graslendi Empire had been declared following the wedding between the heirs of Graslendi and Aethilcour. The combined armies of the city-states met the imperial forces in a number of minor battles over the course of two weeks before the Eisenbrug Federation surrendered. During the following negotiations imperial rule of the federation as a whole was accepted, allowing each individual city-state to retain most of their autonomy, which had been the goal all along.

When the Empire fell, some expected the former city-states to declare their individual independence again. However, more than 300 years as an imperial province had slowly shaped the idea that they all belonged to the same nation. The leaders of the cities met once again in Eisenburg and despite the protests of a few merchant princes, they decided to renew the federation pact made centuries earlier.

Demography and Population

Most of the people of the Eisenburg Federation are humans. The southern parts are also home to large groups of dwarves who originally came as refugees following the Iron Crown War. Smaller groups of elves feeling the orc invasion of Gold Pine Forest have also settle in the southern region. Numerous halfling clans travel the roads and rivers of the Federation, but no one, not even themselves, considers them part of the Federation. Smaller groups of halflings have however begun to settle in some of the cities in the Federation.

Founding Date

691 AtB

Type

Geopolitical, Country

Capital

Eisenburg

Alternative Names

Eisenburg, The Federation

Government System

Plutocracy

Notable Members

• Aneke Talhein