Rumburg

Flag of the Kingdom of Rumburg

**- Independence from Markian Empire**1599**- Annexation of Dome**1921

The **Kingdom of Rumburg** (Rumian: *Kingrick of Rumburg*), also known as the **Kingdom of the Rums**, or simply **Rumburg**, is a country spanning Eastern and Northern Merkopa. Rumburg shares land boundaries with nine countries: Nahrbuk, the Principalities, Erdmarg, Agard, Wehlen, Sordland, Agnolia, the Baronies of Soradis, and Markanissa. It also shares maritime borders with Valgsland. The country has a total population of 121 million people. Its capital is Thornbourgh.

Rumburg is a constitutional monarchy ruled by the Parliament of Rumburg and the monarch. It is a member of OMEC, the Alliance of Nations, and GRACE. The country ranks poorly in civil rights and political freedoms. Rumburg is also the world's 4th largest economy by nominal GDP. Additionally, it houses one of the world's largest standing armies and is a nuclear-weapon state.

The current monarch of Rumburg is Beatrice Livingston, ascending to the throne in 1921.

## History

In the 7th century, the ancestors of the Rumburgians, the Rums, settled in Eastern Merkopa. The Rums founded a march which would become the Kingdom of the Rums. This precursor to the modern kingdom became the victim of raids from migrating tribes from the north, which weakened it significantly.

Soon, Rumburg became a vassal of the Markian Empire. In 1599, following Emperor Turmund's death, Rumburg stopped paying tribute to its suzerain and later declared independence. The Markian Empire responded by invading the kingdom in what would be called the War of the Dying Roses, which left the kingdom destitute. The Rumburgian king then launched an invasion into the newly-established Renan Aristocracy in order to gain financial recompensation for the war.

In the 18th century, Rumburg fought and lost several wars with its neighbors. In light of these defeats, the government resolved to embrace technological progress in order to strengthen the nation's military. What followed was, according to the Codex, "a period of rapid industrialization through collectivization and forced labour, particularly investing in military technology." This age of industry lasted through the 19th century, and enabled Rumburg to conquer vast swathes of the cold northern plains, establishing frontier settlements linked by rail. It also brought modest improvements to the standard of living, and made Rumburg a major regional power.

In the early 19th century, the Century of Revolutions had overthrown the Kingdom of Arcas, which became the Republic of Arcasia, beginning a wave of revolutions that affected countries around the globe. Rumburg weathered one such revolution. In response to the revolutionary wave, King Uthred transferred some of his powers to the Council of State, which became the Parliament of Rumburg. Additionally, Rumburg and other monarchies formed the Guild of Royal Alllies for Economic Exchange.

In 1870, tensions with the Kingdom of Sordland boiled over into the 15-Day War, which ended in a stalemate but claimed many lives nonetheless. The actions of the Sordish Imperial Forces in perpetrating the Estord Incident are still a source of bitterness between the two countries.

The Kalsington Automatica, commonly abbreviated "KA-74", was developed by Michael Kalsington of Rumburg in 1874. It was the world's first automatic rifle, and the 1940 variant has become the most popular rifle in Eastern Merkopa, as well as a mainstay of Rumburg's armed forces.

In 1921, Beatrice Livingston acceded to the throne upon the death of King Alfred II. The Queen’s rule started with the controversial Annexation of Dome and expanded Rumburg’s borders further south, starting what Queen Livingston calls “The Great Unification,” which seeks to take back old lost territories and unify ethnic Rums under the kingdom.

Following the socialist revolution in Valgsland, the Queen cancelled her father’s plans to form an Eastern Merkopan Pact with Valgsland, and instead, started warming up to Arcasia by establishing important trade deals. Despite the Rumburgian government’s claims, the country is believed to have been heavily involved in both the Wehlen Civil War and the Sordish Civil War. During the Wehlen Civil War, Rumburg closed its borders to refugees.

In the early 1930s, Lena Livingston, the younger sister of Beatrice Livingston, married Romus Toras — the Duke of Valenqiris and the heir to the Rizian throne. This marriage brought the Kingdoms of Rizia and Rumburg closer together.

## Geography

Rumburg spans the entirety of Northern Merkopa, and has borders with Wehlen, Sordland, and Agnolia.

Rumburg is a truly vast country, and the portion of it seen on the in-game map encompasses only a fraction of its total area. However, most of Rumburg's major cities (including the capital, Thornbourgh) are located in this fertile southeastern region, watered by the Tranquil Sea.

### Cities and towns

* Aethelrad
* Alferdon
* Alrade
* Cafeth
* Chimestown
* Crimsrad
* Datefort
* Dedway
* Dessax
* Dome (annexed from Agnolia)
* Eskdaleton
* Gaschaster
* Glenhill
* Himerad
* Ironsrad
* Killblair
* Lards
* Maggs
* Merdon
* Merritown
* Midsbourgh
* Mulles
* Northumshire
* Port Grim
* Rachaster
* Rueston
* Spikeston
* St. Athel
* Thompsfort
* Thornbourgh, the capital
* Tzarsbourgh
* Willems
* Younghaven
* Zonster

## Strategy

Rumburg is a constitutional monarchy and slightly aligned with Arcasia. It has a powerful military, and if not handled properly can become an immense threat. Depending on the path you take, Rumburg may become extremely hostile (to the point of closing consulates and spreading weapons among disgruntled citizens), or rendered harmless thanks to alliances with the superpowers via the ATO or the CSP.

Regardless of the path you choose, the military threat Rumburg poses cannot be understated (though it is particularly hostile to socialist governments). Possessing the largest, best equipped, and most capable military in the Eastern Merkopa region, Rumburg is a powerhouse that is not to be trifled with. This is rather unfortunate for Sordland; as the crippled nation has drawn great ire from the regional superpower peering within.

An easy target and potential new dominion for the Kingdom, the nation is also opposed by Agnolia; their relations were soured to a point of no return following a Rumian annexation of the Dome region. It is up to you to take steps to stop this regional superpower in their tracks by making strategic alliances, making peace with them, neutralizing them via the international community, or go the extra mile and make sure Rumburg will never threaten Eastern Merkopa again, By Fighting a war with them.

## Trivia

* The Rumian language and culture is primarily British inspired, particularly drawing inspiration from Scotland and Northern England. The name of a past monarch of Rumburg, King Uthred, seems to be inspired by Uhtred of Bamburgh. Queen Beatrice's last name, Livingston, is a Scottish surname. The Rumian term for "kingdom", *kingrick*, is similar to the Scots word, *kinrick*. The name of Rumburg itself is similar to Rumburgh, (pronounced "*Rum-bruh"*) a village in Suffolk.
* The Rumian currency is abbreviated as *RQ*, while the exact name of Rumburg's unit of currency has yet to be confirmed, it is potentially the *Rumian Quid*, deriving from the nickname of the pound unit of Sterling, the United Kingdom's currency.
* Geographically and politically, Rumburg is inspired by the Russian Empire, with its "massive area of steppe, tundra and ice in the far north" and a powerful executive monarch presiding over a sidelined parliament. Continuing the mix of Russian and British influences on Rumburg, a city is named *Tzarsbourgh*.
* What is presumably a Nurist cross/Rumburgian war cross is seen on the country's national flag. This might be a nod to the flag of the German Reich with the Iron Cross superimposed on it.

## Navigation

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