The Principality of Pruthenia

## Overview of Pruthenia

State Flag

The Principality of Pruthenia is a Feudal Kingdom in the North-Eastern region of East Erestriz, home to the Pruthenian Germans, and the largest bastion of Catholicism in East Erestriz.

The Principality is a heavily feudalized, absolute monarchy, under the leadership of the Pruthenian 'Mór Dynasy', its leader being deemed 'High Prince', and its current High Prince being 'Oscar Mór II'.

Pruthenia is mainly Pruthenian cultured, primarily speaking 'Pruthian', a East-Germanic language native to Pruthenia.

Pruthenian Culture is mostly surrounded around old traditions, family, god, fatherland, and... wine!

Pruthenia is best known for its historical empire, the 'Pruthenian Empire' which lasted from 520 to 1379 AD, before being annexed by the Zelaznakorona Empire, a Slavic Empire based in Polonia and Vaclav.

Under Zelaznakorona rule, the Pruthenians and several other duchies within the Empire would face mass oppression, and assimilation, until Pruthenia and its allies would rebel and destroy this Empire in the year 1600.

Pruthenia from then on organized its allies into Autonomous Duchies of its new 'Grand Principality', which continue to stand to this very day, and create a interesting diverse, and at the same time, united identity of Pruthenia.

Outside of its History, Pruthenia is also known for its Farming; being almost entirely dependent on Agricultural exports for profit, the Pruthenians have mastered agriculture within their lands becoming one of the best Agricultural producers in Erestriz.

Pruthenia also has a interesting Military Culture, every noble within Pruthenia is expected to serve within the Primary Pruthenian Army, or one of the Ducal Militia's, including the High Prince himself, who is expected to lead the Pruthenian Army in-person during war.

Despite this, Pruthenia struggles with Discipline amongst its lower ranks, especially in the ducal militias, Pruthenian Formations will often break mid-battle into anarchy out of pure fear and lack of discipline, which has lead to many devastating losses in Pruthenia's recent wars.

## Origins of Pruthenia: Early Pruthenia

Around 100 BC, a large migration of Germanic Tribes began to newly discovered East Erestriz, from here the tribes would travel and settle in the North East Steppe alongside the Coast-line, encountering and assimilating local Slavic Tribes.

Following this, in 300 AD, Christianity; Catholicism, and new technological developments were introduced to the entire continent via merchant trading, kick-starting the establishment of the First Pruthenian Empire, a united Monarchy of these former Germanic Tribes under the 'Finsweld' Dynasty.

In 450 AD, Pruthenia began conquering Westwards into the Steppe, establishing 'West Pruthenia' and fighting off constant attacks from Nomadic Tribes in the region.

In 520 AD, Pruthenia would see the succession of Benedict Finsweld 'The Conquerer', beginning an era of conquest and glory for Pruthenia.

In 522 AD, Pruthenia invaded the Polonians, quickly conquering vast territories and integrating them into the Pruthenian Empire.

In Summer of 522 AD, Pruthenia would split off a territory of Polonia referred to as 'Entezig', and this would later become the Pruthenian Duchy of Entezig, the largest city in Pruthenia.

In 523 AD, Pruthenia would attack the Vaclav Tribes, putting them under a Fiefdom and introducing them to Christanity and Feudalism.

In 527 AD, Pruthenia attacked the Northern Forest, deporting Elves and Slavs from the region and replacing them with Pruthenian Settlers.

The Era would end with the attempted conquest of the Western Tiaga, where 'Barbaric pagans' would destroy the Pruthenian Armies and kill Benedict Finsweld in battle.

Following this the Nomadic Tribes would rise again and overthrow the Dukedoms established in the Western Steppe, causing constant death for farmers and settlements in West Pruthenia, Polonia, and Vaclav.

In 700 AD, Pruthenia would invade the Northern Mountains and 'Glacierlands', encountering the Reido's.

The Reido's surprisingly shared many cultural aspects with the Pruthenians, leading to the peaceful integration of the first autonomous duchy of the Pruthenian Empire.

The Reido's and Pruthenians from then on would become great allies, with the Reido's being introducing to both Orthdox and Catholic Christanity.

In 750 AD, Pruthenia would begin to closen relations with Eklund, sharing similar foes, and similar allies, as well as the shared faith of Catholicism, the would be integrated into Pruthenia as a Autonomous Duchy, starting up the starting of Economic Expansion.

In 900 AD, Pruthenia would begin its Navy, and start sending out expeditions to the then mythical Western Erestriz Lands, leading to the rediscovery and mapping of the continent as well as relations with the Coastal Empires of West Erestriz.

At the same time Pruthenia's Agricultural imports were over-filling, leading to Pruthenia turning to Agricultural exports, becoming dominiant in this sector and leading to a economic boom.

## Origins of Pruthenia: Downfall of Pruthenia

In 1200 AD, the Polonians would attempt a uprising, soon followed by the Vaclav, and Steppe Tribes, which would be controlled and put down at a heavy cost to causalities, moral, and the economy.

Soon enough later, in 1320 AD, another Uprising would happen but this time the Pruthenian Empire would be crushed, and would soon after collapse due to a succession crisis as its leader Imperator Christopher II would die in battle.

This would lead to the extinction of the Finswelds, as he had no heir, and soon after a civil war would break out, lasting 29 years, and leading to the short-term leadership of the Frost Dynasty, a wealthy noble family from Eklund.

The Frosts would bring back a sense of pride, honor, and faith to Pruthenia, resulting in a slow recovery of the economy from the Empire's collapse and the unity of East Pruthenian, West Pruthenia, and Entezig.

Pruthenia would meanwhile join Catholic Crusades in West Erestriz in 1360 AD, bringing Veterans to their ranks, and a heavy restoration of faith in Catholicism among the Pruthenian people, who had their faith damaged by their Empire's collapse 40 years prior.

But this would not last long, as Polonia would form the 'Zelaznakorona Empire', and begin conquering the Vaclav, Steppes, and even Eklund in the years of 1366-1372.

This would be end times for Pruthenia, as the Zelaznakorona lurked on their literal doorstep, the Frost Dynasty tried to hold order, prosperity, and peace, but would be met with a full-scale invasion, the Zelaznakorona seeing these peace attempts as a sign of weakness.

In 1379, Zelaznakorona crossed the border, Entezig fell in a day as Pruthenian Nobles rushed in shock to organize their Regional Militias and Knights, resistance only began as the Zelaznakorona crossed the border of West Pruthenia.

The war was brutal, farms would be scorched, towns would be destroyed, cities would be seiged and looted, tens of thousands would be victimized and murdered, the Frost Dynasty would be brutally executed by burning, and Pruthenia would be annexed.

Tis' would be the beginning of a darker era for Pruthenia, Zelaznakorona continued to conquer the entire Northern half of East Erestriz, replacing nobles loyal to their people with entirely new dynasties who swore oath to Zelaznakorona.

One of these Dynasties to rise in this Era would be the Mór Dynasty of Pruthenia, a Eklund-Pruthenian (Swedish-Prussian) Dynasty, they would be the only Dynasty to volunteer to lead over West and East Pruthenia, as well as Entezig.

And began further assimilation from Zelaznakorona; city names, town names, flags, symbols, and even the clergy would be changed to Polish alternatives, and the Zelaznakorona would force all Pruthenians to learn the Polish language as their first language, forcing Pruthenian-German into the shadows.

Zelaznakorona Settlers would also begin moving into Pruthenia, soon enough making up a quarter of the population, and would begin intermarrying and assimilating the Pruthenians, leading to outrage among the Pruthenian populous.

But there was nothing the Pruthenians could do now, they had to hope for a messiah, or the oppurtunity to rise up when Zelaznakorona weakens.

## Origins of Pruthenia: Uprising and Revival

And after 200 years, the oppurtunity came as the Zelaznakorona would lose their territories, constraining them to Zelaznakorona Proper, Vaclav, Reido-Russ, Eklund, Pruthenia, and the Steppe Peoples.

And from backdoors and secret meetings, the leaders and dynasties of Pruthenia, Entezig, Vaclav, Reido-Russ, and Eklund would plot a rebellion, securing the loyalty of their generals and militias.

In the year 1600, right after the new year began, all of the duchies would rise up together, named 'The Pruthenian Secession War', where All of these duchies of shared Catholic faith, shared Cultural aspects, and shared hatred for their oppressor Zelaznakorona, mobilized all of their militias and even peasant militias, with every noble fighting on the front lines alongside their forces to free their nations from the Zelaznakoronan empire.

The war was glorious, and would be remembered for centuries to come, Zelaznakoronan Settlers were expelled to Zelaznakorona, and soon enough over the border came the united oppressed peoples, crushing Zelaznakorona in a matter of weeks.

In a meeting within the Capital of Zelaznakorona, 'Slavhelm', the leaders of Pruthenia, Entezig, Vaclav, Reido-Russ, Eklund, and the Nomadic Steppe Tribes would meet up and agree to form a new Pruthenian Realm, East Pruthenia being the capital.

This new realm would be different from the previous two empires however, vouching for political and economic unity, but cultural, relegious, and military autonomy, with the exception of these autonomous militia's being expected to fight in Pruthenia proper's wars.

And so it was, the Principality of Pruthenia was declared, and the Mór Dynasty would rise to power, with the first leader being High Prince Oscar Mór I, a grand reformer and economist who brought Pruthenia back to significance on the global stage.

Following this, he would die in his sleep peacefully, and his eldest son Oscar Mór II would take the throne, leading to where we are now, it has been 50 years since the Pruthenian Principality was declared, and Pruthenia currently stands with great pride and honor, the only issues plaguing the Empire being that of the disorganization the armed forces from the many Militia's, and specifically lack of discipline within Pruthenia's Ducal Militia's; breaking formation and refusing to follow orders often in battle, causing heavy losses and occasionally lost battles, Oscar Mór II's goal is to reform this militia and bring back the honorable chivalry of the prior Pruthenian Empire.