Confederation of Haystan

The Confederation of Haystan, named after its founder Redor Haystan, is a loose alliance of states, provinces, city-states and even individual castles and temples. These principalities enjoy a large degree of autonomy and the larger and more powerful states even conduct some limited independent diplomacy.
The confederation is ruled by and Emperor or Empress with the official title of Grand Prince or Grand Princess. 
== Geography ==
The Confederation of Haystan is a enormous nation spread across all of Hylthia, the Lakelands of Eratium and parts of the Highlands. 
In the south, it reaches into the foothills of the Highlands and borders the United Provinces of Conthia along the Arkaruan Pass. In the north, it extended its influence across almost all of the North Burn, where small trading posts and isolated castles dot the frozen shores of the Tideless Abyss. In the east, past the Lakelands ,the confederation borders the Republic of Wailaia along the Skyfallen Mountains.
== History ==
=== Origins ===
==== Settlement ====
The lands now part of the Confederation of Haystan were not settled by imperial colonists until late into the Era of Discovery and Settlement and what settlement did take place, was spontaneous and not coordinated by the Old Empire or the Imperial Colonies. Rather villagers and farmers slowly spreading out from Flaria, northwards in search for new virgin lands.
This often brought them into conflict with local native Lizardfolk. Unlike the wars fought in the south, these conflicts were not full on wars with armies and sieges and did not bring about immediate extermination of the local natives as a result. Rather many small skirmishes between villages, farmers, tribes and border guards slowly pushed the lizardfolk further north away from the imperial settlements.
This life on farms outside the more urban south and the constant conflict with the lizard folk, slowly established the northern colonists as hearty people and the first to begin deviating from Old Imperial Culture into what is now known as Hylthian.
With the frontier moving farther and farther north, many of the towns and villages dotting the plains of Hylthiawere out of the effective range of the legions of the Imperial Colonies but were kept in check by the popular and diplomatic Governor Alanus Damian. When the the Stormrift descended and shipment of food from the Old World ceased, it was Governor Alanus Damian who negotiated huge amounts of food to be imported from the northern settlements to the more urban south.
Partially due to this massive increase in wealth pouring in and partly due to the consolidation of small fiefdoms, the push further north and eventually west into native lizard folk land grew more aggressive and brutal. The frontier was no longer a border but a mess of villages, tribes, nomads and castles and settlements on both sides were razed on a regular basis. It was during these Northern Wars that the modern-day Hylthian concept of "Held" first originated. These were often Knights and Barons who would lead warbands into battle, vanquishing some great foe, rescuing people in need or entering the domain of folklore through any one of a thousand deeds deemed heroic enough.
====Founding====
When Governor Alanus Damian died under suspicious circumstances and his son Auxilium Damian took up the mantle as Governor, many of the northern settlements lost the last bit of connection they felt with the colonial administration in Pomariames. While no official declaration of independence was issued, these settlements slowly began flaunt even what little lip service they offered before. Administrators and Bureaucrats of the Imperial Colonies were ignored and taxes, tithes and conscriptions slowly dwindled up.
In the year 204 AtS Governor Auxilium Damian issued the Auxillian Decrees, in which he called for all local leaders of the northern settlements to travel to his capital in Pomariames and swear loyalty to him and the Imperial Colonies as well as the establishment of provinces under the control of his administrators. When these demands were ignored, he began the War of Rectification against the northern settlements. 
Soon a local farmer turned baron turned Held, proofed himself by defeating a larger imperial colonial force with only his levies. At the Battle of the Broken Fields, Redor Haystan was proclaimed Held for the third time. This victory send shockwaves through both the northern settlements and the Imperial Colonies. Realizing the waning public support and in need of a show of strength as well as the threat of loosing the food imports of the fertile north, Governor Auxilium Damian sent most of his remaining legions to the north. Meanwhile, in Redor's own fief of Kassinsted, a large alliance was formed, with most of the northern settlements enlisting their soldiers under Redor Haystan's banner. This alliance was briefly called the Hylthian Alliance but after another string of stunning and decisive defeats, it was renamed to the Confederaion of Haystan in Redor Haystan's honour and he was offered the title of Emperor. He declined the title, instead choosing the title of "First Grand Prince", stating that: 
"My war is with the illegitimate government of Governor Auxilium Damian, not with our righteous emperor beyond the Stromrift" 
Soon the forces of Redor Haystan pushed the imperial colonial legions out of the the north, past the Arkaruan Pass and eventually even out of western Flaria. The War of Rectification ended when a local revolt overthrew Governor Auxilium Damian and, with the declaration of the Flarian Diarchy the Imperial Colonies as an entity ceased to exists. 
Upon his return, the barons, knights and priests pledged their eternal loyalty to Grand Prince Redor Haystan, reaffirming the Confederation of Haystan and beginning a new golden age. 
=== The Golden Age ===
At the beginning of the Era of Tranquillity, the Confederation of Haystan was the most powerful nation on Ferra. With the federal and feudal nature of the confederation, problems and crisis's usually stayed on a local level and didn't much affect the greater nation. This relative peace and stability and the incredible surplus of food led to a rapid and explosive population growth. Villages were turned into towns then cities sometimes within one generation and while the nation as a whole was still predominantly rural, the biggest imperial descendant cities of Ferra could new be found in Hylthia.
=== The era of Unrest ===
While the federal nature of the confederation has kept the nation stable, it has also left it relatively incohesive especially during times of peace when there's no outside threat to rally against. This allowed a cult to spread across the east of the confederation. The Cult of Yozstan preached violent action against anything that supresses their idea of the ´Divine Self´. Soon the violence spread out and the self proclaimed League of Yozstan rose in violent revolt against the confederation. The personal armies of Grand Princess Lorelei von Rittersdamm set up a series of forts, blocking further expansion of the Cult of Yozstan while the Grand Princess tries to convince the House of Princes to raise their armies in support against the League of Yozstan.
== Territories ==
== Politics ==
====Grand Prince / Grand Princess====
The Grand Prince or Princess is the sovereign of the confederation. They are elected by the House of Princes and rule for life. They handle the confederations diplomacy but are severely limited in their powers when it comes to internal matters and imposing laws, raising taxes and armies can only be done through negotiation with the princes.
==== The Princes====
The Princes are the rulers of the different provinces and states of the confederation. As long as a noble holds a landed title and is not subject to another noble except for the Grand Prince or Princess, they automatically are called a Prince or Princess of Haystan. Some may be hereditary while others are elected by the people of their state. They differ in power and influence, from some princes who rule great swaths of land to other princes who may only possess a single city or castle.
====House of Princes====
The House of Princes is a informal political body. It stands for the sum total interests of the princes. During times of crisis the Grand Prince or Princess wouldn't negotiate with each prince individually but rather with the House of Princes as a whole.
====The Shimmerhand Association====
The Shimmerhand Association, a organisation seated in Badenbach, is the organization almost all mages, wizards and artificers in the confederation receive their training and education from. The association is wholly independent from the confederation or any one prince and as such has massive influence over the confederation. In times of disagreement, the association would establish an embargo against the princes and states that drew their ire. When in need of special services that require a group of mages, such as the employment of war-mages, the confederation is forced to negotiate with the Shimmerhand Association.
====Past and Present Rulers ====
Name 	Start of Rule	End of Rule 	Years of Rule
First Grand Prince Redor Haystan 	206 AsT
(Founder)	288 AsT
(Died of old Age)	82 years
... 	 	 	
Grand Prince Ulrik Fulke 	1220 
(Elected)	1227
(Died under suspicious circumstances)	7 years
... 	 	 	
Grand Princess Lorelei von Rittersdamm	1541
(Elected)	Still Ruling	> 9 years
Category:Nation