Castamere

The **Kingdom of Castamere** is an absolute monarchy located on several islands in the Diana Sea.

## Historical data

### Founded

136 T.E. (Lore)5-19-23, Winter of 241 T.E. (Actual)

## Ancient History

### Pre-Historic tribes

Blackstone was a volcanic island with a minute population, so small and unnoted that it was never noted by mainland empires. A similar situation occurred on Couronne. Each island would come to be dominated by a tribe, and both fought several wars against the other. In 136 T.E., Couronne was dominating the tribe on Blackstone, and ruled both islands.

Castamere, the largest island by far, was within sight of the mainland in some places. In had a number of tribes, but these boiled down to the two largest, one at the Black Creek in the West and another at the Point in the East. Tribes were usually ruled by Princeps, an ancient title meaning leader.

### Unification

In 136 T.E., a relatively obscure warrior known by Mikail assumed leadership of the tribe located at the Point, after the death of it's previous rulers death, during a war with Couronne. With ingenious strategy, he slew the rival Princeps after posing as a ship's cook and sailing to Blackstone. After this, the East of Castamere was united with Couronne and Blackstone. Then, Mikail sent messages demanding the submission of most smaller tribes on Castamere.

Upon this news, the Princeps of the Black Creek and its vassals marched on the Point, with the goal of killing Mikail in battle. However, with the ships of Couronne now in his hands, Mikail left a token force to distract his foes, and sailed to the Coldmoat, an old fortification upon the largest hill on Castamere. Facing little resistance, he quickly took it, and then marched south on the Black Creek, By now, most of the rival Princeps were with their armies near The Point, so there was nothing they could to to respond.

Only knowing of the fall of Coldmoat, Mikails enemies committed to a forced march to Black Creek to prevent their stores of weapons and food from being lost to the enemy. However, they met Mikails army at the Fork, and were completely destroyed after their exhausting march. With his most powerful rivals dead, the remaining Princeps swore themselves to Mikail, who granted them mercy. He then declared himself King of Three Isles, and went on to begin organizing his lands.

## Kingdom of Three Isles

### Mikail I The Conquerer

With his Kingdom materializing, Mikail would organize a nobility, with Princeps ruling over land, in return, their armies pledged to Mikail and Mikail alone. He also began to endeavor to learn more about the outer world, which had been feared for so long across the oceans. He would rebuild Blackstone into a proper fortress, and do the same to Coldmoat. The point was also rebuilt. Mikail I reigned for 32 years from Autumn of 136 T.E. to the Summer of 168 T.E.

### Timotei I The Unfortunate

Timotei was the older brother of Mikail. He had taken little part in the wars of conquest, and he was widely considered effeminite and weak, more concerned with art, riding and gold than a sword. However, Mikail kept him as the only heir of the kingdom. On the day after Mikails death, Timotei announced his intent to curb the power of nobility, and reduce their privileges. It proved a fatal mistake, as his disinterest in governance meant he knew little of the nobility, and that they still had considerable power. Thus, only hours later, several Princeps poisoned him at dinner.

## Kingdom of Castamere

### Alexendrei I

In the summer of 168, Timotei I was assassinated. That day, Alexendrei I was crowned as the new king at age 26, being Timoteis son. His appearance soon made it clear that disease and deformity ran through the family, with Alexandrei having the same illness his father had passed of, and soon developing partial blindness, as Mikail had in the later half of his life. He also had the same deformed eyes as Mikail and Timotei. He would begin by executing the men who had killed his father as traitors. He would, however, take careful steps in reform in fear of the fate of Timotei.

He became one of the great rulers of Castamere, modernizing, establishing defense's against foreign invasion, and working to combat corruption. The realm prospered under his long rule. He was noted for being physically weak, however, and developed some hearing loss at 28. He reigned from the Summer of 168 T.E. to the Spring of 219 T.E. All seven of his children would all die before him, and so would his two grandchildren. As a result, the throne passed to his great-grandson, Anton.

### Anton I The Mad

A sickly child, Anton was never meant to be the King. He had little training, was physically weak, with deformities, and worse, was born half blind and partially deaf. He also had a shriveled right arm, and a schizophrenic. He was never crowned, because he was to infirm to be involved and it was feared that if the people saw him they would lose spirit. He spent most of his reign on Blackstone while his council ruled.

His council proved weak, ineffective and nepotistic. Thus, his two year reign would see the economy ruined, the military weakened, as a weak government caused famine. He was king from Summer of 219 T.E. to the Winter of 221 T.E. when he died of his illness.

### Mikail II The Good

With Anton finally dying, his brother Mikail would take the throne. He would spend his entire reign fighting to undo the horrendous ruin the council had brought on the country in his brothers reign. Some of his reforms ensured that a council could never again take power, attacked the serious government nepotism, and worked to fix harvests. He dissolved the position Princeps, and replaced it with Dukes and Archdukes. He was king from Winter of 221 T.E. to Winter of 241 T.E.

### Stefan I The Unlikely

Mikail II was believed to be infertile, as he failed to produce any issue. Thus, upon his death, A cousin by marriage, Cactus would take his place. Cactus would take the name Stefan I, while being known as a government official in Merkonis, previously. He is currently the king. It is he who put the nation on the map, opening it up to the outside world and creating alliances.

## Establishment As A True Nation

On 5-19-23, Cactus declared the Kingdom of Castamere to to world, and established it on the map. A rival at the time, the Diakite of Orisifell would contest this.

Currently the Kingdom is focused on internal politics and securing MDP, NAP and DCP agreements. The King works to fortify the nation and store wealth and war material, along with growing it's population. The king has established many modern reforms.

## Government

### The King

The king is the head of state of Castamere, and has the absolute royal prerogative. He is the leader of the military, and head of The Faith of The Seven. Kings with a previously unused name with take the title "The First" as a symbol that there will be another king of that name in the future.

### The Chancellor

The chancellor is chosen by election or appointment, and assists the king in his duties as ruler.

### Ministers

Minister, such as of War, Economics or People serve under the chancellor to work to govern the nation.

## Vexillology

### The Royal Standard

The Royal Standard is a tri-colour of red, dark red, yellow and green. In the center, the Royal Seal is present, an embroided red shield with an ornate key in the center, topped with a crown.

On the deal, the crown represents the King of Castamere, while the key has several symbols. It is meant to show that the crown has the right and ownership of Castamere, and symbolizes a claim to ownership of greater territory.

The colors on the flag also have meanings. The red represents the military culture and stoicism of Castamere, while the yellow represents its rich coffers, and the green represents natural beauty and cycles.

### The Royal Coat of Arms

The Royal Coat of Arms symbolizes the royal house, and has several similarities to the Royal Standard. It uses the same color pallet, where red refers to militarism and stoicism, yellow referring to wealth, and green to beauty. An ornate pattern on the left side represents human beauty and royalty.

The Crest on the center is a two-sided shield, each with a lion, topped by a crown and surrounded by two crowned lions. The shield, with one side being a yellow lion on a blue field, and a black lion on a yellow field, is a reversal of the the sigils of Reyoume and Daekrahm, representing unity, with two crowned lions showing the two kingdoms further. The crown that tops the ensemble represents Castamere above differences.