Corland

The **Corlian Kingdom** (Corlian: *Royaume Corlais*), commonly known as **Corland** (Corlian: *Corlagne*) is a Southron nation that spans the central third of the east Tannosian coastline. It is ruled by King Andreis XII "the Grey".

It shares borders with five other countries: Rannikko, Medland, Lekland, Antis, and Laconi.

Corland still maintains overseas territories. They maintain a colony on Alemi called Gratis, as well as a growing colony in Corlian South Yanam.

The western of the Kingdom are comprised of the Tergal mountains, with their northern border being the Esta range.

## History

### Kingdom of the Korls

Corland can trace its history back to the founding of the Kingdom of All Korls in 260, and the smaller Korlish petty kingdoms before that. Gonderic, a powerful Trinalist Korlish chief was given the title for pushing back the Rannikolla beyond the Esta mountains.

After Gonderic's death in 273, the Kingdom was split in two - the Kingdoms of the North and South Korls. Gonderic's eldest son Radigan the Whistler was given the southern realm, whilst his younger brother Alaric Longsword was given the northern. In 320 the Kingdoms were reunited after Alaric II defeated his cousin, Lothar.

Korlish dominance of Tannos began during the reign of Alaric's son, Gonderic II. He overthrew Rector Mandos and replaced him with is vassal, the Magister of Vels, as Emerus II. Through this act, and financial support of the Curia, the Korlish kings ensured land grants given by the Rector went to Korlish vassals.

The House of Sivolking, which had ruled over the kingdom since its foundation, ended in the male line in 501 when Orvander II (also known as Orvander the Lame) died without issue. His closest living relative was his cousin one-removed, Alaric of Grothe who, in 499, had been crowned as Rector Vexillus II. Vexillus II was bequeathed the lands in the king's will and absorbed the kingdom.

Now fractured between many powerful vassals, one of which was the Lordship of Vels, an important city in the north, near the Estas. In 672, the lordship was granted to a Dernish nobleman who had settled the area. The lordship was given after the noble, named Vidofan, converted to Trinalism. He changed his name to Vidus.

Vidus began to consolidate the other small states around Vels and built up a prominent influence in the area. After pushing back a Dernish army in 682, he was raised to the rank of Duke by Rector Vexillus III. Upon his death in 689 he was declared a Blessed. Succeeded by his younger brother, Gedus, the consolidation of neighbouring lordships continued.

### High Ages

Gedus' successor was his grandnephew, Otho, the son of Blessed Vidus' only daughter, Ethelind. Otho had also inherited the County of Aruen (modern-day Orvienne) from his father, Endras. Through this joint succession, Otho now controlled the vast majority of formerly Korlish lands. In return for rescinding all claim of lands south of the River Caera, Otho was granted the title of King of Corland.

For a long time after this, Corland was the largest and by far most powerful kingdom in Tannos. However, their power began to be challenged with the rise of Verria, with the two engaging in the Laureal Wars - fighting proxy wars in the Laureal Bay over control of the Rectorate, beginning in 932. During this war, Otho VI of Corland (as well as Verria's Ferinado I) were killed at the Battle of Villiarmo Castle in 937.

After the death of Otho VI, his closest male relative was a second cousin once removed (the Count of Andois, the grandson of Andreis II). His two younger brothers had predeceased him, as had his elder sister. However, his younger sister, Odetta was married to Charon III, Duke of Duxeme. The Duchy of Duxeme had been a minor duchy in the north of the kingdom but, under Charon III, had risen to prominence on the national stage. The Duke had already been pressuring the court to recognise his wife as the legitimate heir of her brother before his death. When news arrived at court of the king's death, Charon was quick to ensure a quorum accepting his wife (and, in effect, him) as their new liege. He was successful, however, he died only 6 months after his wife's accession.

Whilst the succession of the House of Duxeme was considered legitimate during the lifetime of Charon I, doubt was cast over Charon II's reign. During this time, Andreis, Count of Andois, began to contest the legitimacy of the King and claim he was the rightful ruler. His grandfather had been the Count of Andois that had been passed over in favour of Odetta. Andreis raised an army in 1012 and, after 6 years of fighting, captured the king and deposed him. He was crowned Andreis V.

After the male-line descendants of Lutois IV died, the crown passed to a descendant of Lutois III's second eldest son. The son was made Duke of Vountin. His son, the second Duke, married the Queen Edeanne II of Tolmandy. Tolmandy had been an independent kingdom west of the tergal mountains, but had shared a general culture with Corland. The death of Tenadier III marked the joining of the crowns of Tolmandy and Corland. They were ruled as separate entities, with separate royal courts.

Following Tenadier IV & II's death, the crown of Tolmandy passed to his daughter, Edeanne III. However, as the crown of Corland was male-only succession (after laws passed in 1021), the crown passed to a descendent of the first Duke of Vountin, through his second son. This descendant was crowned Jehan II, however due to his advanced age at his accession to the throne (he was 73), he is commonly referred to as Jehan the Old.

### Revolt of 2134

Tenadier VI was deposed in 2123 after near-bankrupting the nation with his lavish lifestyle and wars against the Rector. Immediately following his removal from the throne, a series of short-lived regencies followed before an aristocratic republic was established with a Senate made up of the Ducal families as well as other prominent nobles. In practice, the various nobles simply became more and more autonomous until little remained of a central government - the Senate was little more than a vestige of a bygone era by the mid-23rd century.

### Glorious Return

With decentralisation came a breakdown in the strength of the Orthodox Communion's presence in Corland. In 2303, the Rector of the time backed a minor noble - the Count of Parte and Louseaux to retake the throne. The count, Andreis, was a scion of the house of Vountin-Loge, being the great-great-grandson of Albere III. His return was a triumphant one, as many of the people had clamoured against the return to feudalism that the breakdown of the centralised government saw. After taking the former capital (and the royal palaces therein) of Orvienne, he was crowned Andreis X on midsummer's day. The following military campaign, known as the 90 Days, saw him reclaim the vast majority of the Kingdom. By 2305 all of the former lands of the Kingdom of Corland were under his control.

Since the restoration, Corland has made colonial headway in both Alemi and Yanam. It was too late to conquer Arrana. However, during the Independence Wars of The Union, Corland did finance as well as lead border skirmishes on both Medland and Nerro to divide their military strength.

## Geography

### Administrative Divisions

The Corlian Kingdom is divided into 8 provinces, and 2 overseas territories.

#### Provinces

Since 2314 Corland has been divided into 8 provinces The provinces are further subdivided into around 240 cantons.

The Provinces replaced the previous patchwork nature of feudal duchies, counties, baronies, and marquisates. After the restoration of the monarchy is 2303, Andreis X wished to centralise the government and ensure that the nobility could not curb the power of the national government (and, ultimately, the monarch).

The Provinces are, from north-to-south, with their provincial capitals:

1. Grand Nord (Ben-Thedde-sur-Doix)
2. Gordais (Gorteme)
3. Verannais (Vels)
4. Orveaux (Orvienne)
5. Cote Centrale (Chavelle)
6. Chamsaute (Liarmont)
7. Audelais (Audel)
8. Partain (Parte)

#### Territories

The Kingdom of Corland currently has 2 colonies, classified as territories:

* Gratis
* Corlian South Yanam

## Government

### Monarch

Main article: Monarch of Corland

The current king is Andreis XII, of the House of Louseaux. The Monarch’s heir apparent is known as the Prince of Louseaux. The monarchy is male primogeniture, this was made official during the Succession Law of 1021.

Whilst the Monarch still holds significant power in the kingdom (indeed, it is considered an absolute monarchy), it is considered a principle that the King cannot act without first consulting the Court Royale.

### Court Royale

The Court Royale is generally undefined officially and the king is free to appoint as many or as few as they wish. However, convention dictates a minimum of 8 offices:

1. *Chamberlain Royale*, the King's senior minister and advisor
2. Senseschal, arranges council matters and oversees work delegated by the Chamberlain
3. Keeper of the Royal Seal, the third-most senior minister who is considered to control the judiciary
4. *Marechel du Roi*, commander of the military
5. Financier-General, chief of the Royal Treasury
6. Legate-General, head of Foreign Affairs
7. Grand Admiral, head of the Navy (La Flotte)
8. Archon of Orvienne

As well as these 8 offices others, knows as Ministers of State, can be created as and when required to deal with matters of any description laid out by the King (or, more likely, Seneschal).

### Grand Parlemant

In times of need, the King can call upon the convening of a *Grand Parlemant*. This includes: all nobles of the rank of count and above, all magisters and other priests and abbots of note (*fideles privilegies*), and elected members of the landowning commonfolk (one per canton, as well as additional representatives of larger cities).

Grands Parlemants are always convened for the coronation of a monarch. They hold not formal power, but the pressure they represent often ensures their decisions become law.

The last Grand Parlemant was called for the coronation of Andreis XII in 2495.

## Military & Law Enforcement

### Army

The **Corlian Royal Army** (Corlian: *Armee Royale Corlais*) is the principal land force of Corland. It is regarded as Tannos' second-greatest greatest military force and one of the most powerful armies in the world for much of its existence.

The Corlian Royal Army (ARC) is comprised of around 40 regiments of varying functions. Including in this are the renowned *Bande des Chasseurs*, the elite mountain light infantry.

### Navy

The Corlian Royal Navy, known commonly both in Meddish and Corlian as *La Flotte*, is the naval branch of the Corlian military. La Flotte is considered one of the most powerful navies in the known world.

### Gendarmerie

The Gendarmerie is the national policing entity of Corland. Established during the reforms of 2314 as a part of the new Army, it was established as a separate entity in 2358. The head of the Gendarmerie is the Grand Constable, who answers directly to the King. They are not considered ex-officio part of the Courte Royale, but are usually included.

Cities usually have their own volunteer or professional policing force, but in rural areas of the kingdom, the Gendarmes are the principal officers of the law.

## Demographics

### Population

With an estimated 2499 population of 28.5 million people, Corland is the most populous country in Tannos.

Most Corlian people are of Korlish origin, with an admixture of Laureal/Antian and Middern (mostly Dernish/Nerran) groups.

Large-scale immigration over the last century has led to a more multicultural society. In 2490, it was estimated that within the Kingdom, 24 million people were ethnically Corlian (84.2% of the population), 3.5 million were Alemi (12.3%), and 1 million were Yanamese (3.5%).

Corland has a significant Annite (Annique) population, numbering between 50,000 and 100,000.

### Language

According to the 2314 Grand Reforms, the official language of Corland is Corlian, a Southron language derived from Antian. There are also regional languages spoken in Corland such as Tolman, Velais, Motelan, Sudon (Dernish-derived dialect), and Autelain (Corlian-Laureal hybrid). Until the Grand Reforms, Corlian was rarely spoken outside of Orvienne, however from 2314 it was mandated that all Universities and Schools must teach in Corlian.

The Kingdom does not regulate the choice of language in publications by individuals but the use of Corlian is required by law in offical communications, as well as by members of the armed forces. In addition to native languages, there are large portions of the population speak Gratois and Vindhese, with large concentrations in Orvienne and Parte.

From the 15th to the 22nd century, Corlian served as the pre-eminent international language of diplomacy as well as a merchant's tongue of Tannos. The dominant position of the Corlian language in international affairs was overtaken by Meddish after the fall of the Monarchy in 2123.

### Religion

Trinalism, specifically Orthodoxy, is the state religion of Corland. All holders of public office must be members of the Communion. The Archon of Orvienne has long been seen as one of the most powerful offices in the Communion. Corland, unlike Medland and Nerro, never had widespread religious reform and so there are very few other denominations present in large numbers within the Kingdom. There is also active repression of such denominations taking root.

#### Amarism

After Anrum and Rynholm, Corland has the largest population of Amaris in Tannos. Around 1,150,000 people (around 4%) of the population are followers of Amarism.

#### Kidai

Kidai, one of the 3 primary Yanamese Religions, is a more recent import to Corland through their colony of Corlian South Yanam. There are around 250,000 Kidists in the Kingdom.