Madisonia

== The Township of Madisonia ==
Located in the north of the Coran'i peninsula, Madisonia is a scenic, rural town within the nation of Coran'i.
It was founded a bit after Jardij'abes was founded, approximately when the Rig MacPhòil’s War began raging - thus, some 9 years after the fleeing Montroigians and other Havenites arrived in Abexilas. Its founder and namesake is Harriet Jaiden Madison.
== History ==
=== Founding & early History ===
When Rathnir and Eldham were destroyed, the Montroigians and many other Havenites would flee on high ships and, after 9 long years, arrived in Abexilas, where they would go on to found the nation of Coran'i. Among these people was the Montroigian politician Harriet Madison. Looking for a more outlying place to settle herself, away from the capital and its tight regulations, Madison wandered across the lands around the Coran'i peninsula. By the time the Rig MacPhòil’s War between the Montroigian settlers and the native population began raging, Harriet had set up camp in what would become Madisonia.
The small town would do its best to remain neutral in the conflict between Coran'i and the natives, providing shelter, food, and medical care to both parties alike. When, some 25 years after the Montroigians' arrival in Abexilas, Coran'i and Ischanor went to war, the Madison farmstead was quickly captured by the forces of Ischanor and all produce was seized. During the uprisings of the Leja Free Army against the Admirality, some 45 years after the departure from Rathnir, Madisonia was captured early on by the rebel forces and supported them in their efforts.
=== Arrival of the Bjørnsons ===
In the year 63 after the depature from Rathnir [~16.06.2024], founder and governor of Madisonia Harriet J. Madison was approached by Kaspar Bjørnson about a potential Bjørnson residence in Madisonia, which would soon prosper into a close cooperation between the Bjørnsons and the town of Madisonia. With the assistance of the Bjørnsons, Madisonia soon saw rapid growth and many new residents moved into the lovely village. Kaspar Bjørnson would go on to become the first Vice-Governor of Madisonia.
=== Autonomy-Movement ===
During Harriet Madison's term as Aegis of the Republic of Gran Coran'i, Madisonian autonomy began becoming an increasingly popular notion in the town. As her term progressed, she continued agitating for Madisonian rights and autonomy within Gran Coran'i. When, however, the proposal to make Madisonia an Isolary Republic, such as Port Spotlight or Bel'Coreb, was struck down by the Assembly, tensions between the rural northern region and the capital city of Jardij'abes flared up. The inhabitants of the capital began to claim Madisonia was a mere suburb, which only fuelled the Madisonian fury and eagerness to no longer be directly under the thumb of the capital. Even more dissatisfaction was sparked by the passage of the Towny Act, which limited the internal forums of the Isolary Republics and other regions within Coran'i, in order to further centralize the nation into the capital region. After then-Aegis Madison's attempt at vetoing this act, that would shoot down her region's rights, failed, frustration began to boil up.
=== Isolary Republic ===
After Harriet's term ended, she frustratedly took a step back from politics, supporting Eddard Ashwood in his bid for the Aegisship. In exchange for her support, she negotiated that Madisonia shall finally be granted its rightful autonomy, to which Ashwood obliged. With the two of them pulling all the strings they can, towards the end of Eddard's term they would finally secure Madisonian autonomy, by proposing the Madisonian Autonomy Agreement, which would elevated the township to the status of an Isolary Republic. After her passionate speech in favour of the bill, while discussing an act to crack down on extremist absolutist agitation, Harriet J. Madison was assassinated by the very group she argued against. Only a few days afterwards, the Public Assembly would successfully pass the MAA and make Madisonia an Isolary Republic, thus fulfilling Harriet's final mission.
=== Absolutist Civil War ===
Not long after the passage of this act however, a civil war between the loyalist forces of Coran'i, who defended the Constitution and that were primarily based in the island of Selchar, owned by the daughter-in-law of Harriet, Ayn Luxemburg, who had married Harriet's adoptive son Ayla, as well as in Madisonia. With their mother's death, the Madison family had to pick a new head of the house, as per The Madisonia Charter, which Harriet had proclaimed as the fundamental law of family procedure. Without opposition, Harriet's daughter, Allison Harriet Madison, was elected and thus became the second Lady of Madisonia, destined to lead her People through these trying times of crisis.
== Culture & Society ==
=== Demographics ===
==== Ethnic Groups ====
The vast majority of Madisonian residents are of Havenite ethnicity, mostly Aurorans and Montroigians, but also a few Alfheimis. With the arrival of the Bjørnsons, Valkyries became increasingly common in the town as well.
A strong sense of otherness and alienation from the residents of Coran'i City has led these locals to form a strong regional identity, which, some scholars argue, has begun to evolve into its own ethnicity entirely. A great contrast to this strong bond of solidarity among the Madisonians is formed by their treatment of the local native population, which have been systematically discriminated against over the decades since the Rig MacPhòil’s War. Most of these natives have been forced into servitude at the hands of Madisonians in a quasi-feudal system.
==== Religions ====
The largest and most present religion in Madisonia is Korvostroganism, the followers of which have built a gigantic church for their worship in the town. G0NFism also has established a foothold in the area, with its own, yet very small, church in the very south.
=== Customs & Traditions ===
Known as a farming region, Madisonian culture has largely developed around agriculture. Madisonian potatoes are held in high regard, often being considered to be the "only true successor of New Baldian potatoes", with a common folktale explaining how H.J. Madison, upon her arrival in the region, planting her last New Baldian potato in the ground. This potato, according to the myth, would sprout into a great garden, a sign for Madison to found her settlement here. Outside of potatoes, which are deemed a symbol of Madisonian heritage, carrots are extraordinarily popular as well, fields of which taking up large swaths of land and being seen as the equal opposite to the potato and symbolizing Madisonia's unique identity and future. Especially in Coranese art, Madisonia is frequently represented with a carrot.
=== Language ===
Travellers' Tongue and Madisonisch, the latter of which evolved from the former, are the most common language in Madisonia, with Montroigian being sometimes, but rarely, spoken mainly in official contexts, but overall being deemed to be elitist "city-dweller speak". Madisonians are known for their distinct "southern accent" (named such due to Madisonia's location in the southern hemisphere) when speaking Travelers' Tongue.