Frankosian Empire

The Frankosian Empire is a Nation in Westoak. It began in 703, when the Proto-Frankosians successfully conquered Dannavir. It is defined by great military might and lots of arable land.

## Physical Geography

The Frankosian Empire consists almost exclusively of very fertile grassland. The reason the soil is so fertile, is the fog from Kartoba and the Sea of Empires, combined with many rivers flowing from the Ocean, the Sea of Empires, and Lower Fertile Scorscii, and branching out all throughout Frankosia. This creates something of natural irrigation system, and if land is not fertile enough, there is always freshwater close enough to irrigate somewhat easily. About 97 percent of land in Frankosia is arable, and about 78 percent of arable land is used for farming. The only non arable grassland in Frankosia is the small bit of jungle around the border with Kartoba, and the Antago Savanna around the border with Lakosovia. Frankosia also contains a bit of steppes as part of Fertile Scorscii.

## Political Geography

The Frankosian Empire's borders are defined by the Aksakan mountains and Antago savanna to the southwest, the middle parallel of the Sea of Empires to the south, and the Obsidian Mountains to the north.

## Government

The Frankosian Empire is a constitutional monarchy, where the King of Frankosia, and the Parliament of the Frankosian Empire hold equal power. The Frankosian Empire is not a dynasty, as the king is elected from the Parliament, by the Parliament, after the previous king dies. The king may draft laws regarding military and foreign policy and for them to be put in place, they must be approved by the parliament. This means that qualities such as good generalship or a keen eye for diplomacy are often what gets on elected as king. Likewise, the Parliament may draft laws about domestic policy and taxation, which must be approved by the king to be put into place. The king may also fire a member of the Parliament of the a majority of the Parliament agrees. Two parties rule the Parliament, the Conservative-Monarchists and the Liberal-Republicans. The Conservatives believe more power should rest on the king, and the common peasantry should have less rights than the nobles. The liberal-republicans believe that more power should rest on the Parliament, and that common peasantry should have more equal rights with the nobility. The people elect the members of Parliament every decade. Due to this governmental system, the Frankosian Empire is actually a quite democratic state, and in a survey conducted by the Frankosian Census Authority, 83 percent of citizens said they were content with their governing body. Thus Frankosia is one the most stable nations in the world, and is generally regarded as having the second highest standard of living, only behind Greater Dwanemar.

## Military

### Army

The army of the Frankosian Empire is widely regarded as the strongest in the world. The Frankosians equip their foot soldiers with chainmail armor, spears, round shields, and throwing axes. This heavy infantry makes up the bulk of the force. The Frankosians tend to use archers or occasionally slingers as their skirmishers, but do not like javelins. The Frankosians also believe that the throwing axe should be only the ranged weapon of the melee infantry, and that all skirmishers should use a bow or sling. Generally Frankosian skirmishers are more lightly armored for greater mobility. The Frankosians boast world-class cavalry, covered head to toe in steel plate armor decorated with turkey feathers and fox tails. The horses also wear thick bronze plate horse-armor with red feather crests. The distinct Frankosian lance is painted decoratively and features four thin fin-like blades that run along the shaft, so that not only will enemies be pierced by the point, but also other enemies may be sliced by the blades. Thus, a charge by Frankosian Cavalry is a terrifying experience, and can cause many enemies units to rout due to the heavy losses, and shock factor because of the impetuous charge. The Frankosian cavalry also carry hand-axes for melee combat after a charge. The Frankosians also construct some of the best siege weaponry, generally preferring trebuchets and ballistas.

### Navy

The navy of the Frankosian Empire, often referred to as the Sapphire Navy, is also quite powerful, only being beaten out by the navies of Greater Dwanemar and Albeitia. It mainly consists of Triremes equipped with seige weaponry, usually trebuchets, to obliterate other ships with flaming boulders, marines with grappling hooks and swords, ready to board other ships, and seamen, who shoot arrows at enemy ships, sometimes setting them alight in an attempt to burn an enemy ship.

## History

### FA: 698-841

The Proto-Frankosians invade Dannavir, and once they have conquered it, form they Frankosian Empire. This is the time when the Frankosian government goes from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional one, when the reforms of King Cantajohan II added the Parliament and elections. When the Empire sees how much of Lakosovia is being taken by Kartoba, they decide to get a slice of the pie by partitioning Lakosovia in the Great Partition of 704-710.

### FA: 841-943

The Empire invades Scorscii in 841, in an attempt to expand the Empire to its second ancestral homeland, the first being Dannavir. The Frankosians make good progress at first, pushing into Lower Scorscii, but are defeated at the Battle of Curstawait. Meanwhile in the Valley of Plenty, the geographical homeland of the Dannavir, some of the Dannavir revolt and form the Legion of Brigands. The Legion quickly spreads across the Empire, and Frankosian forces are forced to retreat from Scorscii to deal with the threat of the Legion. This provides an opportunity for the Great Lakosovian Revolt in 870, because the Empire is pre-occupied. The Frankosians decide in 890 to recognize Lakosovian Sovereignty, and concede the Dannavir Valleyland. In 898, the Legion reforms its army, giving it its distinct modern strength, and cracks down on the legion with full force. The legion territory shrinks, and in 978, the legion is finally driven out of Westoak, but not before spreading elsewhere.

### FA: 943 - SA: 240

In FA:1000, during the Great Island Appeal, the island nation of Parkoni asks to be invaded by the Empire, in order to drive out the Legion of Brigands. The Frankosian Empire agrees as long as Parkoni becomes a Frankosian protectorate, and Parkoni agrees to these terms, desperate to drive out the devastation of the Legion. Frankosian then invades, and drives out the Legion in the Battle of Argonowch in SA: 49. Not much more happens in the empire for 190 more years.

### FA:40-315

In 240, the Empire once again invades Scorscii, with initial success, taking all of Lower Scorscii. The Frankosian forces then push into the Scorscii Peninsula but are defeated after the Nervicherusc Assault of 314, the Frankosian army is pushed back to the Obsidian Mountains, and the Frankosian Empire sues for peace.

### FA:315- Present Day

In 315, the Legion resurged in Lakosovia, and swiftly conquered it, purged all government and religious leaders, and burned all religious landmarks. In 349, The Frankosians gathered a massive army to liberate Lakosovia. Combined with revolts from the Lakosovian people, and the Frankosian army, the legion is driven out and the Lakosovian. The legion retreats to the Western Sea of Empires coast. Through the Gallogalaich agreement of 430, the Legion and Frankosia agree to a Ceasefire for 50 years. This agreement will expire in 6 years, in 480.

## Name

The name Frankosia comes from the early Proto-Frankosian language, in which Frankos means "Our Land".