Kalkenstein

Kalkenstein, officially the Duchy of Kalkenstein is a sub-realm under the Kingdom of Blomach within The Empire of Ischanor located in the east of Kejafros and the South East of Ischanor. Kalkenstein is an absolute monarchy ruled by House Graber with the current Duke being King/Prince Elector Paul Eburch Graber.
Kalkenstein is one of the few direct succesors of The Thondean Empire still alive and so is native to the world of abexilas
== Etymology ==
The name Kalkenstein was choosen by the Thondeans because it was the word the natives used for the rocks the mountain Kalkenstein was located at was made out of. Kalkenstein was also known for its high quality stone and grew to become the number 1stone miner in Thondeum but that quickly ended with the fall of Thondeum, 
Kalkenstein is also assumed to come from the Mythical giant called Calker, who was a giant that lived before humanity existed and helped elru defeat evil spirits (atleast according to the legends told across the kalkinian regions)
== Heraldry ==
Kalkensteins flag consists of two colours, Kalkinian Blue and white. White resembles the peace and the purity Macelanor grants us humans. The Blue stands for the strong will of the people of Kalkenstein, its meant to resemble the power of a river. The coat of arms on the standard flag is the coat of arms of the Kalkinian People, it wears the first crown of Kalkenstein and the "Diamond Carpet of the people" where the strong will of the people together with Macelanors power form a indestructable shield for Kalkenstein
Kalkensteins war flag has the same colours as the normal flag except for the fact that the diamond carpet now covers the entire flag, symbolizing a state of isolation and danger. On the coat of arms now sits Kalkensteins eagle, the animal that watches over us in Macelanors name.
Although Kalkenstein doesnt have a strong navy it does have atleast 2 small battle ready vessels and for these ships Kalkenstein created its own Naval flag, again with the same colours as the standard flag but now on each blue square rests a ship, symbolizing the strenght of our ships, not even Kalkinian will power can destroy them.
The royal coat of arms holds two duke crowns, the Kalkinian Eagle and Macelanors heart. It also has a pickaxe and one limestone on it to remember the past profesion of the family, which was stone mining.
== History ==
=== Pre-history ===
The oldest records of Human civilisation in the Kalkinian regions date back to before the Thondean empire was founded where the Native kalkinains were split from what would become the Lachawakans. There is also archiological evidence suggesting battles between the Thondeans and the Native Kalkinians, those battles would result in the death of an estemated 5000Natives.
=== Lowelthangian rule ===
The Lowelthangians (origionally the lorewalatangas in the Lachawakan tongue, meaning "people of the white stones") were the native people living in the Kalkinian regions. They are related to the Lachawakans and came with them into the regions but later got seperated as they travveld to the diffrent sides of a mountain. This enabled the Lowethangians to develop their own culture and history. But as you may know, the lachawakans are the only real hunter gatherers left so what happend to the Lowelthangians you might ask? The vinitcans came and constructed the City of Kalkenstein, a city build on mining and trading stone, and waged war against the native Kalkinians who were either forced to adapt to the city live, make their own village in the country side and farm food for the vinitcans or be killed. Only little is known about the Lowelthangians today but archeologists find more and more every year.
==== Thondean era ====
Kalkenstein was formed by the Thondean Empire, as a castle used to keep a strong controll over the region. This castle slowly became a city because of soliders familys moving there and due to people looking for jobs at the nearby limestone quarrys setteling around the castle. Over time this enabled the thondean culture to merge with the Native lowelthangian culture and slwoly form the New kalkinian culture today known as Kalkish. Kalkenstein became a powerfull City state within the thondean empire and remained a powerfull Country after the Fall of thondeum.
==== Post Thondean Era ====
After the fall of the Empire a large military base in the western swamps formed a new kingdom, a succesor state of Thondeum. This post thondean state managed to conquer the entire swamp and defeat the Kalkinians in battle. They also managed something that the Thondeans never did, conquer the herlundy. But because of heavy revolt and chaos caused by them they were enslaved and used as cheap labour by the (INSERT NAME HERE!!!). After many years of slavery the herlundians managed to break free and start what historians today call "The Herlundians fury". The herlundians ravaged the lands and sacked many citys, including Kalkenstein but the Capital of this post Thondean state, Apringen, was left mostly untouched and would become its own city state. After a few years the Herlundian fury turned into more of a civil war between the diffrent Helrundian rebel leaders. This gave kalkenstein, Apringen and other citys time to recover and after many years they came together to end the herlundian civil war and start a time of relative peace. It was during this time that the Herlundian warlords, who each ruled over a handfull of farms, continued small raids on neighbouring states like Kalkenstein and Lachawaka. And when these raids didnt stop the neighbour of the herlundy came together once more and established the confederate cantons of lovvia and invaded the herlundy, establishing a more central rule with the help of the city state of Loedry which later became the capital of the herlundy.
=== Ischanic and Lovvian Era ===
A few years after the Confederation was created the leading members voted in favour of joining Ischanor, a new growing force on the continent. The Confederation joined in order to avoid brutal battles like they have seen in the bast with the Thondean empire and the Post thondean state. After Lovvia joined Ischanor Kalkenstein had better contact with all the surrounding lands and finally managed to restart its stone trade, although the quarrys didnt hold as much high quality limestone anymore Kalkenstein still manged to restart the stone economy it once had and re enter a great time of wealth and growth, that it now shared with the herlundy to the south and the Lachawkans and Apringi to the west. It was only recent history that Lovvres became an ArchDuchy, such reforms were never spoken of before and they were proposed by none other than Ludwig Otto Graber, this happend when Ludwig was still young and had a lot of goals in his life
== Government ==
Kalkenstein is a monarchy lead by the Duke, which currently is Ludwig Otto Graber. Under the duke exists a city council made up of up to 6 respected community members who form the voice of the people to the duke. They represent the peoples needs and desires but the duke can overrule them anytime as the councils decisions are not binding. 
Kalkenstein itself is the political center of Lovvia, being home to the leading royal house and the sub realm who kick started the centralisation era of Lovvia. Thus Kalkenstein also has a high role within the wider empire, because of the Archduke title its leader bears.
== Economy ==
Kalkensteins economy is mainly dependent on the export of wood, wheat and stone to realms like Bachengart in the north west. But Kalkenstein is also a highly important doner, having donated over one million to the imprial military through the money reserves still left from thondean times
Category:Ischanor