Hattusha

The Republic of Hattusha is a country in the Summerlands. It is bordered by Enaidia to the north, Keyseri to the west, Ulkesh to the south, and Shir-Dalai and Kar-Dalai to the east. Under the Shairin Emperors, Hattusha was a poor region exploited for its agricultural value. The people banded together in the wake of the Empire's collapse and overthrew three successive rulers who were eager to maintain a tight hold on these rich lands. The endless fields of Hattusha are now the pride of its people, owned and shared equally among the populace.

History

The rich fields of Hattusha have long been sought after by those with power. Under the Shairin Emperors, the region was exploited for its agricultural value, and the populace extremely poor. The Empire was well fed by the fields at its heart, but those who provided the backbreaking farm work necessary to keep up with the demand saw little reward.
Following the collapse of the Empire, there was an immediate scramble to grasp control of the Hattushan fields. The first to seize power was an Ulkeshite, who claimed to hold the fields in trust for the next Shairin Emperor. Hattusha saw no difference in treatment from their time under the actual Emperor's thumb. Seeing the rise of newer nations around the Summerlands, the farmers of Hattusha rose up and overthrew the Ulkeshite governor in 253 SF.
Several decades passed in relative quiet, but the Queen of Keyseri saw an opportunity to expand her lands beyond the long shoreline of the Summerlands. The fields of Hattusha were once again conquered in 303 SF. While they were treated better than they had been under the Emperor and the Ulkeshite governor, Hattushans were still viewed as second-class citizens of Keyseri. Initial attempts to break free from Keyseri were stymied by offers of gold, and promises of better treatment by the King. The Second Hattushan War for Independence ended in 470 SF with the restoration of Hattusha's original borders.
In 501 SF, a halfling Hattushan farmer named Danyal Brightearth rose to power, naming himself the First Hattushan Governor. At first, Brightearth was embraced by Hattushans, who were glad to be ruled by one of their own rather than a foreign power. Public opinion degraded over time, however, as Brightearth became corrupted by power, and it became obvious that he did not intend to listen to the concerns of the common folk. His daughter, Ayla, stepped into his shoes immediately following his death and proved no more agreeable than Danyal had been. The short-lived Brightearth dynasty was overthrown in 594 SF.
After centuries of oppressive rule, the Hattushan people had developed a strong aversion to hereditary power structures. A democratic culture by nature, the Hattushans sought to create a government of their own, where the voices of the common people would be heard and respected. The lottery system was developed over the course of several decades, and the First Harvest Court convened in 633 SF to declare the Republic of Hattusha as a sovereign nation.

Government

Hattusha is governed by the Harvest Court, a body of representatives chosen by lot to serve for a five year term. Seats are turned over on a rotating basis (25% each year) to avoid a scenario in which every member of the Court is new at the same time. Seven lower Courts handle local affairs, and follow similar procedures to determine who serves.
Every eligible adult Hattushan's name is entered into a lottery. Lots are drawn following the completion of the harvest, so that the families of those called to serve are not unduly burdened by a sudden loss of labor. They are likewise provided with an allowance to make up for the loss of labor during a citizen's term of service.
Citizens are exempt from the lottery under the following circumstances:

• Not of sound mind, whether due to age, injury, or illness
• Physically unable to serve, whether due to age, injury, or illness
• Parents of infants up to one year in age, or those due to give birth
• Under the age of majority (20)
• Serving on a lower Court, or those within five years of a completed term on a lower Court
• Completed a term serving the Harvest Court

Founding Date

633 SF

Type

Geopolitical, Country

Demonym

Hattushan

Government System

Democracy, Representative

Neighboring Nations

• Enaidia
• Kar-Dalai
• Keyseri
• Shir-Dalai