Baekhae

Baekhae is a country that exists in the western parts of Gyerim. It has a cultural history of at least 600 years when it existed as a loose confederation of city states and later united into a kingdom with a small aristocracy and direct ministerial government based on meritocracy decided by examinations. The ministries were developing oligarchic tendencies until recently when the Ju-ui Taebugong initiated a series of reforms.
The country sees itself as a sea power. Most of the country's territories are close to the coast or on islands and rely on ocean-related industries. That said, it is blessed with several critical Yeongseon that allow it to easily transport important resources from it's interior to the key coastal cities.

Structure

Baekhae is a hybrid monarchy with elements of aristocracy and meritocracy. The monarch of Baekhae has the title of Wanghae. Under the monarch is a parallel system of lords (saju) and ministers (chiju). The lords directly administer the different parts of the old city-states of the confederation and are hereditary positions from the original chiefs and lords of these areas or appointed replacements where the old lines died out. Meanwhile, the ministers are in charge of the ministry (gongchi), which administers the capital's old lands in the original hegemony, the new lands that have been added since then, and administering the various duties of the monarch. These are selected from a pool of candidates given bureaucratic ranks through forms of testing and then appointed by the Wanghae.
It is important to note that ultimately all power resides with the Wanghae. The ministers administer his will and the lords rule at his leisure. The Wanghae has classically ruled as an absolute monarch.

History

A timeline for the history of Baekhae can be found here.
Baekhae started out, like many of the monarchies of Gyerim, as a small confederation of coastal towns that formed at least 600 years ago. It became more unified in a hereditary monarchy about 450 years ago as the hegemony was solidified. More recently, the dynasty experienced a change after a period of mismanagement when the Ju-ui Taebugong led a response to a succession crisis, leading to her regency, unofficial rule, and the succession of her own family to the monarchy.

Founding Date

~450 years ago

Type

Geopolitical, Country

Alternative Names

The Hegemony of the Western Sea

Demonym

Baekmin

Government System

Monarchy, Absolute

Power Structure

Unitary state

Economic System

Traditional

Official Languages

• Min-eo

Related Ranks & Titles

• Secret Investigator

Controlled Territories

• Gowonhang

Notable Members

• Ri Ansu
• Riyukju