Ladiria

Full arms of Ladiria.

Lesser arms of Ladirian duchies.

Ladiria is a kingdom in Western Glirelle, comprised of 4 smaller and slightly autonomous duchies: Entravia (also called South Ladiria), Fichtenland, Kolmandy and Ruvonia. According to the Ladirian Constitution, the Duke of Kolmandy is always the King of Ladiria.

Ladiria's political capital is in Robinsburg, the primary residence of the Robinsburg dynasty and the historical capital of the Ladirian Confederation. It is also the site of the Library of Kolmandy and the Volkstag (see Government).

Ladiria borders the Republic of Arkaly to its west and Westwinter to its north - on its southern border are Calixian-occupied territories formerly belonging to the Kingdom of Aldair.

## History

- ***(circa OWC 270-240)*** Ladirian tribes, including but not limited to the Kolman and Entravi peoples settled in Ladiria, having migrated from somewhere in northern Glirelle. The tribes co-existed somewhat peacefully, allowing their slightly different languages & cultures to slowly converge.

- ***(circa OWC 240-110)*** Following the general trend of other peoples in Glirelle, Ladirian tribes began to feudalise, with minor nobility-ruled princedoms and dukedoms beginning to form. Several leaders claimed kingship of Ladiria, leading to frequent clashing, but by this time a truly unified Kingdom of Ladiria was not feasible.

- ***(NGC 11-0)*** The threat of the Repherian Empire led Ladirian chiefs to align themselves with King Reginald Gervaise of Glirelle, accepting annexation of their lands and the inclusion of Ladirian warriors in a greater Glirellian fighting force in return for freedom of trade.

- ***(circa OWC 60 - NGC 20)*** As the skill of literacy passed down the social hierarchy in Ladiria, the languages of the area began to homogenise, becoming the singular language of the Ladirian peoples alongside the Glirellian lingua franca. Additionally, various powerful individuals within Ladiria were granted noble titles under the Empire of Glirelle.

- ***(NGC 20-51)*** During High King Erart's reign over Glirelle, many Ladirians - especially from the south and west - fled further north where the influence of the central Glirellian authority was much less, in fear of assimilation or even another purge like the one launched against magical beings, largely in what is now the province of Trudus in Leaneven. These people would integrate with the local people of the area, producing a unique cultural mix of South-Ladirian and West-Nordheimic culture.

- ***(NGC 46-53)*** Due to the inactivity of the king of Glirelle after Glirelle was defeated by Repheria, many Ladirian nobles unilaterally and without recognition declared independence from Glirelle, leading to a mass of self-sustaining, self-proclaimed Ladirian states.

- ***(NGC 60-63)*** A Civil War broke out in Glirelle as Asmodean asserted himself as the King of Glirelle by invading minor dukedoms in Ladiria and central Glirelle. With the help of Sir Guille, at the time Duke of Calix, Asmodean's forces were pushed back.

- ***(NGC 63-66)*** A need for co-operation among Ladirians gave rise to the question of Ladirian unity, as thus far none of the Ladirian states had any leverage to achieve anything meaningful in the way of diplomacy outside Ladiria, and thus many Ladirians sought a better future as one country. This, ironically, lead to a series of battles between states called The First War of Ladirian Unification.

- ***(NGC 69)*** The Duchies of Kolmandy and Ruvonia formed the Ladirian Confederation after the marriage of Manfred von Robinsburg and Erika von Kurzau. This saw both duchies co-ruled by Manfred and Erika and internal reforms passed by the Ducal Councils.

- ***(NGC 72)*** Democratic ideas within the Confederation led to the establishment of the Council of Ladiria, where elected representatives as well as nobles debated on issues within the nation. The Confederation also gained recognition from Arkaly and other countries by proxy as the Kingdom of Glirelle had been dissolved a year prior.

- ***(NGC 72-77)*** With funding from all member states and assent from the Council, the Confederation established the Landwehr (see Military). Veteran commanders from the First War of Unification were granted official commissions as military officers and given command over several Fahnleinen as well as the first three regiments.

- ***(NGC 79-81)*** Second War of Ladirian Unification - the Archduchy of Entravia was invaded and absorbed by the Confederation, after Archduke Aldus Karlhagen of Entravia was allowed to maintain internal authority in return for his surrender and demotion to a Duchy. After the already-drafted Ladirian Constitution was ratified and signed by the ruler of each duchy, the Council was reformed into the Volkstag and the Confederation was reformed into the Kingdom of Ladiria.

- ***(NGC 81)*** Manfred of Robinsburg was crowned King of the Ladirians at a ceremony in Kurzau and gained recognition from Arkaly and Calix.

- ***(NGC 82)*** A conference was hosted in Robinsburg between the leaders of Arkaly, Calix, Nordheim and Ladiria to discuss collective security against the threat of Aldair, as well as for the opportunity for the new Ladiria to start trade with other major powers.

- ***(NGC 82-86)*** Ladiria and Calix waged a pre-emptive errantry war on Aldair, leading in the total defeat of the latter. Aldair was forced to relinquish control of all its territory except the capital island, allowing minor powers to gain independence and receive support from Calix.

### Notable conflicts after unification

#### The Great Errantry in Aldair

##### Battle of Jorion Forest

A Kolman troop of men-at-arms commanded by King Manfred encountered and neutralised Aldairian forces after exiting Jorion Forest - the passage through the woods was part of the Ladiran offensive in the west of Aldair. During the battle, arbalists and Raketenwagens were used to great effect by the Kolman forces, with Duke Aldus' Entravian cavalry unit supporting them.

##### Siege of Calsely

The Knights of Equitaine and the South Ladirian Regiment, the former under Sir Guille and the latter under Oberst Gerhard Roth, laid siege to the fort of Calsely in Aldair. The siege began when Sir Guille led a cavalry charge into the fort, as Ladirian cannonfire destroyed the walls and provided support for the cavalry. Ladirian forces then went around to the other side of the fortress to flank the Aldairian troops, even making use of the Höllenfeuer Elixier (basically the Ladirian equivalent of a molotov; means "Hellfire elixir") to decimate remaining forces after a refusal to surrender. After all enemy forces died or fled, the Knights of Equitaine buried the remains of fallen soldiers, both friends and foes. Ladirian and Equitainian banners were then hoisted at the fort.

## Society & Economy

### Women in Ladiria

As Ladiria was for so long divided between minor states, the role of women in society differs from place to place within the Kingdom - see "inner-outer divide". Upon the proclamation of the Kingdom of Ladiria, much of existing Confederation law was implemented elsewhere, whereby women were allowed to serve in the Royal Landwehr as well as be recruited as [wo]men-at-arms, and had to have the same availability of education as men, and salary laws were implemented in most economic sectors such that a man was not to be paid more than a woman of equal rank or proficiency in her profession.

### Trade

Ladiria's more valuable exports include raw materials such as coal and iron, coming mostly from the mines of Fichtenland, as well as weaponry and tools manufactured from such materials by adept smithing guilds across northern Ladiria. Literary and informational written works by Ladirian writers are also popular among the middle and upper classes across central Glirelle.

Ladiria tends to import grain, meat and sometimes timber, to supplement its own supplies of such resources, as although farming is certainly present as an industry in Ladiria, its output is less compared to agriculture in other countries and so it is often more profitable to import grain from elsewhere.

### Currency

The standard Ladirian coinage introduced in the year 69 with the founding of the Confederation, consists of gold coins, Gulden (or Gilders) and silver coins called Kreuzer, of which there are 64 in 1 Gulden. Kreuzer can come in the form of 1-, 4- or 16-Kreuzer coins, which are different sizes and have different markings and actual silver content befitting of value. By prior Confederation law and present Kingdom-wide law, all coins of specific types minted after the year 69 have to be of a specified diameter within a certain tolerance. They also are required to have engraving on the reverse ("tails") describing the value of the coin, e.g. "SIXTEEN KREUZER"; however, the design on the obverse ("heads") typically features the coat of arms of a duchy, a landmark or, on coins minted after the year 81, the Ladirian Eagle.

Similar gold and silver coinage was used in most Ladirian states prior to this, with the new standard of coinage intended to set certain types of coins on par with and equivalent to each other.

### Religion

The religious beliefs of Ladirians are varied, with no single state religion.

Some people in Ladiria are simply irreligious or agnostic, although many other people, especially in more rural areas of Ladiria, are "Ahrenites"; they believe in the Ladirian patron god Adelfried, the god of freedom and justice. With regard to the legend of Ahren, a spirit of rebellion, some regard it as absolute truth and others regard it as purely a parable. Ahrenites generally do not hold strong views on the creation of the world, as that gap has largely been filled by influence from other religions, as well as certain theories devised by ancient Glirellian intellectuals.

Some other religions and/or beliefs in different Gods are also practiced and tolerated within Ladiria - some even believe in the Lady of the Lake, known for the cult following among Calixian nobility.

### Class system & education

##### Lower class/peasantry

The lowest class in Ladirian society largely consists of people working in primary industry as well as in informal economy; peasants/farmers, miners, fishers, hunters etc. Although still the majority demographic in Ladirian society, it is a much smaller majority than in other kingdoms. On the higher end of this lower class, there are also some shop-owners, butchers, bakers and other low-level food-related professions, as well as the majority of men-at-arms. Education to some extent is available to these lower classes, although not to the extent nor the level that higher classes can get.

##### Middle class - Merchants, guildsmen and specialised craftsmen.

The middle class of Ladiria is a larger demographic than in other kingdoms. Blacksmiths of Ladiria, especially in areas like Kolmandy and Entravia, have a well-earned reputation for being adept in nature and true masters of their craft. Brewers are also a quite reputable profession in the lower-end of this class; Ladirian beer is popular for its high quality relative to its cost. Education is more available to this class, although it usually only involves literacy, mathematics, Ladirian history and the skills necessary for their craft. People in the higher end of the middle class are known to work in banking/finance and other more advanced economic sectors. Additionally, much of the House of Representatives in the Volkstag is comprised of this class.

##### Upper class - Nobility

The nobility mainly serve to govern their land and collect taxes alongside the MdVs (Mitglieder des Volkstages - Members of the Volkstag). The barons are largely figureheads with little power and responsibility, as counts represent their counties (which are made up from baronies) in the House of Nobles. Many of the Ladirian Knights are also nobles, although the lower and middle classes can still become knights through significant displays of heroism, courage or good-will, be it within civillian life or in the battlefield. Counts are answerable to the Volkstag House of Nobles as well as to their Dukes, who in turn are only answerable to the King or Queen.

##### Social mobility

It is very difficult to become a noble except as a knight, as positions in nobility and ownership of baronies, counties etc is almost entirely hereditary; however, at least in the more developed areas of Ladiria there is some social mobility between the lower and middle classes. A lower-class family could, perhaps, attempt to educate their child[ren] on the skills of certain professions, such that they may take on the right career path for them and become reputable, self-made individuals.

## Government

### Volkstag

Elections take place every 4 years to elect a Representative for each county in the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the Volkstag. The Representatives then vote for the next Royal Chancellor, who is the Head of the House of Representatives and effectively works with the King/Queen to govern the country and pass laws voted on and debated on by the Volkstag. The Chancellor is also responsible for appointing ministers and can run for as long as 3 consecutive "terms".

The upper chamber of the Volkstag is the House of Nobles, where the nobility meet and act as a check against the Representatives, debating on pending legislature before it is ratified for Royal Assent to be given. The Dukes and the King are the highest-ranking peers of the House of Nobles.

## Military

### Royal Landwehr

Raised originally in the year 72 NGC as the Confederal Landwehr, this is a professional army of which the King *(formerly Head of the Confederation)* is ceremonially commander-in-chief, though in practice the highest-ranking officer is the Generalfeldoberst (Field Colonel-General).

#### Administration

The brigade is subdivided into regiments, each commanded by an Oberst, with a regimental Oberster-Feldwebel responsible for battlefield drill. Each regiment is further divided into ten Fahnleine ("bannerettes"), each commanded by a Hauptmann with two Leutnanten as staff officers assisted by Feldweibeln, who are additionally responsible for training drill and formations. Each Fahnlein is then divided into 18 "sections", each lead by a Weibel and numbering about 15 soldiers, of which around one-third are normally veteran soldiers or "Gefreite" (singular: Gefreiter).

#### Uniform and Armour

Soldiers of the Landwehr are generally issued a sleeved gambeson, brown leather gloves, a plain-colour undershirt or tunic and black or dark grey breeches worn with brown leather cuffed boots. This is accompanied by a leather sheath (for the Messer shortsword carried as a sidearm), a steel cuirass and a "Lanzbrucker" spiked helmet.

#### Weaponry used

The majority of the infantry are equipped with pikes for increased effectiveness of formation fighting. Halberds are also carried by a minority of soldiers - in the field, they are carried by the Weibeln and Gefreite to supplement the pikemen in offensive actions, but halberds are also used by guards. There are often also 5-6 sections within a Fahnlein armed with crossbows, for greater ranged combat capability.

Siege weapons such as cannons are also used by up to 3 sections per Fahnlein. Soldiers in these sections are also sometimes issued with Hellfire elixirs (essentially like the real-world Molotov cocktail), for use when a fort is finally breached.