Canis

**Canis**, officially the **Kingdom of Canis**, was a Kingdom of Cartonia, home to the dog species. The nation fell to Vulpus in 725.

Canis was located along the Eastern Ocean in the northern half of the continent. It bordered Porcinia to the northwest, Phantine to the west, Capricon from the south, and Bovo to the southeast.

Canis sided with Mallardia during the crisis of 707, and joined its ally against Vulpus at the outbreak of war in 708. Canis led the Granite Bloc alliance throughout the majority of the War, until its fall.

## Geography

Canis has one of the most diverse climates of Cartonia, which aids the different types of dog breeds that occupy the territory. The Terrier River runs through the country, and ends near the capital of West Terrier, eponymously located to the west of the river's head.

## History

Canis pledged allegiance to the Harmony Crown in the Year 1, thus uniting the Cartonian continent. It precedes Vulpus and succeeds Eusuchia in the rotation.

In 691, Canis inherited the Harmony Crown from Farress Nilia of Eusuchia. After Canis's term expired, reigning King Ewan I passed the Harmony Crown to Queen Vixen VII of Vulpus.

In 707, Canis was thrown into a constitutional crisis when heir apparent Crown Prince Bentley Connelly announced his intention to marry Victoria Vixen of Vulpus, thus violating the interspecies marriage ban, even if it meant abdication or the renouncement of his claim to the throne. Complicating matters was the deteriorating health of King Ewan I, his father. Bentley had been declared Prince Regent before the scandal broke. The tensions came to a boiling point when Victoria Vixen was assassinated on December 24, 707. Queen Vixen VII blamed Mallardia for the attack and issued an ultimatum demanding reparations. Bentley, still acting as Prince Regent, did not believe that Mallardia had been responsible and instead was convinced that Vulpus had killed its own heir. Bentley organized an alliance between Canis, Willie, Eusuchia, and Mallardia. The ultimatum was ignored and on New Year's Day 708, Vulpus invaded Mallardia. Canis, Willie, Eusuchia, and Mallardia subsequently declared war on Vulpus.

Canis suffered another loss in February 708 when King Ewan I died. His eldest son, the controversial Bentley Connelly, succeeded as Bentley II.

After the Vixen Queen abolished the Harmony Crown in February 709, King Bentley II consolidated his allied nations into an official alliance called the Granite Bloc. They gained four new members in response to the abrogation of the Harmony Crown.

In 712, after Felexa was betrayed and invaded by the Summer Sun, its royal family and hundreds of refugees sought exile in Canis. They were given lodgings in Highland Castle and West Terrier. Felexa officially joined the Granite Bloc and became a close ally of King Bentley.

As plague ravaged the nation in 713, it became apparent that Queen Libby Connelly had played a significant role in the planning of the Victoria Vixen assassination. She was stripped of her titles and banished from the capital.

In 718, Canis became the first nation to legalize interspecies marriage.

The tide of war turned on Canis over the closing years of the War, and in 725 Vulpus troops entered the territory. By November, West Terrier was surrounded. All the royal heirs hiding out in the capital had already escaped, with the exception of Bentley II. He refused to surrender on November 11, when Vulpine forces occupied Highland Castle. He was publicly executed, and Canis fell thereafter. The monarchy was abolished, and the territory was absorbed into Vulpus and Cervidium.

## Trivia

* Canis is named after the collateral adjective for dogs: "canine." This also serves as the Kingdom's demonym.
* The flag of Canis is supposed to mimic a Scottish kilt design, since the ruling family is comprised of Scottish West Highland White Terriers.
* The capital of West Terrier is a reference to West Highland White Terriers.
* Highland Castle is based on Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany, and is named for the Scottish Highlands.