Grand Duchy of Pietu Erizjia

The **Grand Duchy of Erisia** (*Lielhercogiste du Pietu Erizjia*) was formed in the late 1600s and early 1700s as part of larger developments elsewhere in the Kingdom of Liotain.

### History

PASTE EXISTING ERISIAN HISTORY UP TO 1400

Following the fall of the Second Reman Empire, the Erisian region, formerly divided into the Imperial provinces of Crispia, Sextiana and Petraea, broke into a chaotic region of city-states and petty fiefdoms. The population in these regions was quite heterogeneous, composed of a mix of ethnic Remans, Erisians, migratory Picts, and other small minority groups drawn from the length and breadth of the Second Reman Empire.

The Kabirite Invasions, beginning in 1324 CE, resulted in the conquest of Appia (1447) and Atilia (1442), which represented the eastern third of the traditional Erisian heartland. The western third slowly fell into Celtican orbit and gradually integrated into the forming empire, although small pockets of Celtican-speaking Erisians remain in the region to the present day.

In the central section of the former Erisian heartland, usually titled *Pietu Erizjia*, three duchies - Maleikenai, Kursenai, and Kybartai - slowly rose to prominance. At various points, the aristocratic families who controlled these territories paid tribute to Anitkabir, or Liotain. By the mid 1500s, however, the fiefdoms in Pietu Erizjia faced increasing pressure from Anitkabir to outlaw practice of both Theophanite and pagan religions, and instead adopt Hishelma. This pressure caused many of the Theophanite-professing towns to seek protection from their fellow coreligionists in Liotain. The ethnic Remans began to largely imitate the language and customs of the Liotines to their north, although the ethnic Erisians continued to practice their traditional polytheism.

During the Anitkabir War of 1693-1700, fought between Liotain and Anitkabir, the duchies of Maleikenai and Kursenai were occupied by Kabirite armies. The Liotainian King Kazimieras III positioned himself as the region's defender but failed to assist Maleikenai and Kursenai in repelling the Kabirite invaders. Duke Mykolas of Kybartai took a principal role in preventing the Kabirite armies from taking any further territory in the Battles of Vestiena and Lazdona, but failed to eject the invaders. The treaty signed by Anitkabir and Liotain at the end of the war failed to address the situation in the Erisian duchies, resulting in a Kabirite warlord, Bey Shakan Mundzuk, proclaiming himself lord over Erisia.

The death of Kazimieras III at the end of the war resulted in the ascent of King Karolis to the Liotainian crown. Unlike his elder brother, Karolis took strong and decisive action in the southern duchies. Despite the brewing disaster of the Firoccan-Liotainian War, Karolis dispatched eight thousand infantry and four thousand cavalry. In tandem with the local forces marshaled by Duke Mykolas, the Liotainians defeated Mundzuk's army at the Battle of Kirmuskiai and the Battle of Mureikai in 1703, with the Bey himself committing suicide rather than face capture.

With the ducal houses of Maleikenai and Kursenai ravaged by the war and occupation, and the region in disarray, King Karolis and Duke Mykolas reordered Pietu Erizjia to unify and strengthen the entire region. In 1704, Mykolas established himself as Lielhercog (Grand Duke) of Pietu Erizjia in exchange for recognizing Karolis as king, formalizing the de facto arrangements in use since the 1600s.

During the Maurizian Reforms in the 1780s, the Grand Dukes lost much of their power with the Land Reform Act of 1785 and the devolution of power.

Although fully integrated into Liotain, Pietu Erizjia maintains its own regional flavor, although many of the same cultural trends found in Liotain are reflected in the Grand Duchy as well. Notable is the Erisian Privilege - the use of the blue, white, and orange Erisian flag flown next to, rather than below, the Liotainian flag.

### Government and Politics

Following the Maurizian Reforms, Pietu Erizjia's seven provinces are organized in the same manner as the other Liotainian provinces. However, provincial laws, annual budgets, and other provincial proclamations which require Royal Assent are instead submitted to the sitting Grand Duke or Grand Duchess, who signs on behalf of the monarch.

As of 1909, the post of Lielhercog (Grand Duke) of Pietu Erizjia is held by Martins Landsberg.

* **Lielhercog** (Grand Duke) and **Lielhercogiene** (Grand Duchess): Martins and Samanta Landsberg

### Culture

While Pietu Erizjia largely reflects the broader Liotainian culture, certain regional variations are identified within the Grand Duchy.

The traditional greeting in the Grand Duchy is "*Alé!*" rather than the Liotainian "*Sveiki!*" A modest number of other words are substituted in the regional dialect.

Towns in the Grand Duchy almost always have a name derived from Liotainian language roots, but several towns also post their names in the Erisian language, a hybrid of Kabirite and Middle Reman. These names sometimes share a passing similarity, but not in all cases. According to the lists maintained by the Liotainian Post Office, one in five towns in the Grand Duchy are named in both Liotine and Erisian, with each city voting on whether or not to use the dual convention. Signposts must always present both names.

Only a small minority of inhabitants, even ethnic Erisians, speak the Erisian language, which is identified as an endangered language. The written form of Erisian, using a pictograph alphabet dating to the 12th Century BCE, is nearly extinct outside of scholastic fields, and has been replaced by the Velravian alphabet.

While the popular Liotainian equestrian sport of Sritije and the more informal corda still rank highest in the Grand Duchy, locals also play a game called Kolona, a football derivative. Inhabitants of Pietu Erizjia also have a joke sport called Zmona Nesa ("wife carrying"), a form of footrace.

A modest number of ethnic Erisians, numbering between twenty-five and thirty percent, still follow the traditional polytheism that has survived since pre-Reman times. Including the worship of the god Dielli (sun) and goddess Hene (moon).

#### Flag

The flag of the Grand Duchy is based off the original banner used by Duke Mykolas during the late 1600s. The seven orange and white stripes represent the seven provinces of the Grand Duchy, while the three yellow crosses on a blue brace represent the duchies of Maleikenai, Kursenai, and Kybartai, which were foundational components of the Grand Duchy. The flag receives the Erisian Privilege, being flown co-equally with the Liotainian White Cross within the Grand Duchy. (Elsewhere, the flag is rarely flown.)