Henry Chamberlain

Henry Chamberlain is the Chancellor and Head of State and Government of the Maritime Republic of Hansa. Whom according to himself was born to a family of merchants and sea-farers somewhere along the coast of the Sea of Tortuga, most likely on of the various port cities and islands in the south east. He is a somewhat well known figure in Rathnir, despite the small size of the nation he governs. Henry has ties to the Rathnir Guilds and various private enterprises, as well as diplomatic/personal connections in many larger nations. His first notable appearance in the historical record occurred on December 19th, 2021 after having been given the the title of Baron by the then King Damswamp of Dubris shortly after. On December 21, he founded the city of Hansa as a vassal state of the Fjarldom of Aatyeli with himself as it's Baron and ruler. The nation eventually gained independence and was reformed as the Maritime Republic of Hansa on January 31 with Henry as it's first elected Chancellor. He is still Chancellor at the present day and is serving his fourth term.
== Beginning ==
=== Origin ===
The origins of Henry Chamberlain are not entirely confirmed, although he has personally claimed to have been born to a mercantile class family of sailors and captains somewhere along the coasts and island port cities of the Tortuga Sea. This claim appears accurate as he is known to have been mentioned in numerous crew ledgers and other minor records and letters that originate from the region. Based on the ledgers and mentions by local officials merchants, he is known to have worked primarily as a sailor and petty officer on numerous merchant ships; occasionally partaking in criminal activities such as smuggling goods into neighboring regions and other related acts of profiteering. It is assumed that he first encountered the future King Giggio of Dubris and during his time in Tortuga, likely in his early twenties. For on December 15, 2021 he appeared disembarking a ship in the Kingdom of Dubris under the personal invitation of the then Prince Giggio of Dubris around the age of twenty-five.
=== Ascent in Dubris ===
Shortly after Henry Chamberlain first arrived in Dubris by invitation, he was appointed to the Dubrian council and given the title of Baron on December 19, 2021, merely four days after his arrival. Though it was later confirmed that it was the then Prince Giggio who had appointed him to the council directly and with whom he would share a friendship. The day after Henry's appointment, King Dampswamp abdicated the throne and passed his title on to the now King Giggio after controversies regarding Dampswamp's competence. On December 21, 2021. King Giggio was delivered an ultimatum by the Kingdom of Lunaris, who claimed that Dubris had broken agreements made under Dampswamp's rein and demanded that King Giggio either surrender control of Dubris to Lunaris or face an invasion. The King who had only gained the title the previous day, reluctantly accepted and subsequently abdicated mere hours after accepting the ultimatum. The Council of Dubris then passed the crown to the then Baron Henry Chamberlain, who became king on December 22, 2021. This was not to last however, and Henry immediately saw Dubris' situation as hopeless and abandoned the town and Lunaris altogether; leaving the Kingdom to become fully integrated into Lunaris. 
=== Founding of Hansa ===
Three days prior to leaving Dubris, Henry Chamberlain had lead a small private sailing expedition to discover new potential islands in the Osterium Sea for him to claim and build a new port city. During this expedition he rediscovered an abandoned artificial island that is estimated to have been constructed during the times of the Escharian Empire by one of it's trading companies as a forward outpost; Henry quickly seized the opportunity and claimed the unmarked island for himself, renaming it the Isle of Hansa. After Henry left the Kingdom of Dubris, he permanently relocated to Hansa intending to build an independent city state. His proclamation of independence however had alerted the nearby Fjarldom of Aatyeli who laid claim to the island as being within their maritime border, and demanded his subordination. Henry, left with no other option, managed to convince Aatyeli leadership to allow him control over the island as an autonomous vassal and so was proclaimed the new Baron of Hansa as an Aatyeli vassal on December 26, 2021. 
== Hansa ==
=== Construction ===
After incorporating Hansa as a vassal state of Aatyeli, Henry immediately went about encouraging immigration and working to improve the island's incredibly underdeveloped infrastructure; renovating and constructing several buildings and streets in the process. Overtime the town's population steadily grew and notable figures such as the former King Giggio of Dubris and the Dampswamp would immigrate to the island. It is also during this early phase that Ledvig Bach, future Prime Minister and leader of the Monarchist uprising which caused the Hansan Civil war; arrived in Hansa and quickly rose to local prominence. As well as Jehalson da Frostmarch, future Hansestag Member, and Horst von Arbeit, future Prime Minister and architect of the majority of Hansan infrastructure. 
=== Independence and Chancellorship ===
On January 31, 2022, Henry Chamberlain paid an agreed sum of 150,000 gold to Aatyeli and was officially granted independence as an independent nation state; he immediately reformed the Barony into the official Maritime Republic of Hansa, adopting a representative-democratic system of government with Henry as it's first provisional Chancellor. He was officially elected as Chancellor six days later on February 6, 2022 and remained Chancellor until June 18 the same year, losing the election to the socialist candidate EG. Following the collapse of the socialist government however, he was reelected to the Chancellorship on September 11, 2022; reinstating him as the Head of State and Government. He remains in power to this day and is currently serving his fourth term. His policies have remained largely the same throughout his administration, overseeing and managing the steady growth of the republic and managing it's foreign policy directly. Among his notable achievements are the preservation of Hansan democracy for nearly a year ongoing, the creation and solidification of multiple alliances between Hansa and other powers across Rathnir, the overseeing of Hansan infrastructure and economic growth, the intervention on Fisk and his victory in the Hansan Civil War against an attempted monarchist coup, and the promotion of democracy and economic liberty in nations abroad. 
== Other Occupations ==
=== Media figure ===
Henry Chamberlain owns and operates a radio station based in Hansa as part of the Henrey Broadcasting company. Which first began it's program on January 21, 2022. It's program consists of news and music and it has is as of current a rather small radio station, much smaller to it's inspiration Herb Dashwell Broadcasting. A station which ceased broadcasting shortly prior to the founding of Henrey Broadcasting, which was formed as a result of the end of Dashwell's program. Henry Chamberlain has also produced numerous works of art and propaganda often relating to Hansa and it's affairs, including numerous paintings regarding Hansan historical events and political propaganda. 
=== Mercenary Commander ===
Henry Chamberlain in addition to being a Baron is also the commander of the Hanseatic Sveiland Mercenary Company, founded by himself on December 30, 2021. The company at least 18 members including himself, and is known to have participated in the Kartek-Rohel war on January 7 and at the 2nd Siege of Adwa in the Alamaynian War of Independence on January 8, 2022; both of which the Sveiland Company were on the side of the victor. As well as the 3rd Siege of Ada on January 22, which as an astounding victory for Alamayn and the who besieged and occupied the Plagatean capital. Henry Chamberlain is known to have been present and active commander of the Sveiland Company at the 2nd and 3rd Sieges of Adwa.
=== Cartographer ===
Henry is a member and participant in the Cartography Guild of Rathnir and is known to have produced at least one map. 
=== Brewer/Bartender ===
Henry owns and operates a large tavern and theatre in Hansa known as the Hanseatic™ Tavern & Theater along with an employee known as Itasoc. Henry built the tavern himself and works to maintain it and do some of the brewing and experimentation, and is also a member of the Brewers Guild. Hansa's domestic beverage industry is best well known for it's fine wine, vodka and rum. However since he has become Chancellor he has ceased brewing as his time is demanded elsewhere.
Category:Traveler's Era