Shan States Duchy

The Shan States Duchy is a puppet state of the Empire of Japan that is located south of South China, east of the Kingdom of Burma, North of the Kingdom of Siam and Northwest of the Kingdom of Laos. The Duchy was created as a way to incorporate all the Shan States into a Puppet States to win their support against the British.

## History

### Origins

Historical mention of the Shan states inside the present-day boundaries of Burma began during the period of the Pagan Dynasty; the first major Shan State of that era was founded in 1215 at Mogaung, followed by Mone in 1223. These were part of the larger Tai migration that founded the Ahom Kingdom in 1229 and the Sukhothai Kingdom in 1253. Shan political power increased after the Mongols overran Pagan in 1287 and the Shans came to dominate many of the northern to eastern areas of Burma—from northwestern Sagaing Division to the present-day Shan Hills. The newly founded Shan States were multi-ethnic states that included a substantial number of other ethnic minorities such as the Chin, Palaung, Lisu, Pa-O, Kachin, Wa, and Burmans.

The Shan States were a dominant force in the politics of Upper Burma throughout the 13th to 16th centuries. The strongest Shan States, Mogaung, Mongyang and Hsenwi, constantly raided Upper Burma. Mogaung ended the kingdoms of Sagaing and Pinya in 1364. The Mohnyin-led Confederation of Shan States captured the Ava Kingdom in 1527 and ruled Upper Burma until 1555.

The Shan States were too fragmented to resist the encroachment of bigger neighbours. In the north, China annexed today's Yunnan in the 1380s, stamping out the final Shan resistance by the 1440s. In the south, the Toungoo dynasty captured all those Shan States that would become known as Burmese Shan States in 1557. Though the Shan States came under the suzerainty of Burmese kingdoms based in the valley of the Irrawaddy River, the Shan saophas (chiefs) retained a large degree of autonomy.

### Japan's conquest

Japan annexed the Shan States after annexing Burma, instead of incorperating the Shan States into Burma, Japan merged them all into a Puppet State that is an elective Monarchy ruled by a Grand Duke who is elected into power by Association of Shan Princes.

## Government

The Government of the Shan States Duchy is an elective monarchy ruled by a Grand Duke who is a Saopha elected into the position by the Association of Shan Princes Council Leadership. The Grand Duke then elects members of the Council to serve as his deputies and he decides the seniority of the Shan States of his deputies and how the election will go. If the deputies of those Shan States die then they will be replaced by their heirs or the Saopha will elect new deputies which will be the heirs of those deputies in those Shan States or another member of the Council.

Saophas not elected into the Association of Shan Princes if they are minors, too old to run, not stable physically or mentally or have scandalous allegations against them for scandalous relationships or corruption.

### List of Shan States

* Maw (Baw)
* Hopong (Hopon)
* Hsahtung (Thaton)
* Hsamönghkam (Thamaingkan)
* Hsawnghsup (Thaungdut)
* North Hsenwi (Theinni Nord)
* South Hsenwi (Theinni Sud)
* Hsipaw (Thibaw)
* Hsihkip (Thigyit)
* Kehsi Mansam (Kyithi Bansan)
* Kengtung (Kyaingtong)
* Kokang
* Laihka (Lègya)
* Lawksawk (Yatsauk)
* Loi-ai (Lwe-e)
* Loilong (Lwelong)
* Manglon
* Monglin
* Mawkmai (Maukme)
* Mawsön (Bawzaing)
* Möngmit (Momeik)
* Mong Nai (Monè)
* Mongnawng
* Mong Pai (Mobye)
* Mong Pawn (Maing Pun)
* Möngsit (Maingseik)
* Möngtung (Maington)
* Namhkai (Nanke)
* Namtok (Nantok)
* Pangtara (Pindara)
* Samka
* Tawngpeng
* Wanyin (Banyin)
* Waing Hso (Wynn Tho)
* Yawnghwe (Nyaungshwe)
* Hkam Ti (Zinkaling)

## Military

### Army

The Shan States Duchy Army has 3 Infantry brigades and 2 Calvary Brigades and 1 Mechanized Infantry Brigade.

## Foreign Relations

* Colonial Relations with the Empire of Japan.
* Great Relations with the Kingdom of Burma
* Bad Relations with the Kingdom of Siam and Kingdom of Laos.