Hambourg

Hambourg, 190

Hambourg also known as the Free City of Hambourg is a city-state on the northern coast of the continent, the city is an important mercantile hub and is home to the renowned Martyr Pylkintanos University.

Hambourg is the second largest city of the member states of the Volkhard confederation with a population of approximately 330,000 at the time of the 200 census.

Hambourg is heavily involved in politics on the continent and was a founding member-state of the Volkhard Confederation, signing the pact of cooperation in 190. The city contributes 3 delegates to the Volk-diet, a consequential number considering many states larger than itself are only represented by a single delegate, and many more hold no seats at all.

Hambourg is perhaps most famous for its university built many centuries before the conquest of Mordus, it is one of the most prestigious of its kind on the continent (almost as renown as the Imperial College of The Capital) and is certainly the oldest. Named for Martyr Pylkintanos the university would grant a boon to the city as a hub for arts and culture, including the Zazou movement in the late 190s. Pylkintanos' University would boast an impressive alumnus including Wilhelm Mandred Ziegler, Margheriti Ziegler, Vincent van Goul amongst others.

Hambourg saw significant action during the Astarian war of aggression, with two major battles taking place involving the city and in its role as a fulcrum for Astarian miliary and political exertion over the continent during its occupation.  Prior to the war, Hambourg gained its notoriety through its mercantile ways, hosting famous inventors and artists such as the wristwatch maker Gustaf Krantz and the hub for Admiral Farthingdale's own brand of whiskey.

## History

Hambourgs founding is placed anywhere from 450 B.C - 400 B.C, sometime during the early Western Volka Empire period, however like much of the northern coast, evidence of settlements in the area date back thousands of years. The city was likely established with the northern expansion of the Western Voka Empire, as a means of allowing the fledgling empire to conduct trade with further a-field realms and command the waters of the northern shore.  The first surviving written record of the city arrives in 322 A.C within the journals of Igvinius the Elder, chief scholar to the emperor Vigo I, approving the commission of the university in the city of Hambourg; which by this point would likely have been well established and prosperous.

**Mordus’ Conquest**

With the coming of Mordus’ Conquest of the continent the city of Hambourg experienced a period of turbulence. Unlike many similar small states on the northern shore, Hambourg refused vassalage, going as far as to demolish the several bridges providing access into the city by land as to hinder the advancing armies. Yet Mordus’ scholars urged their liege to take the city that it would be possible to grant them access to Hambourgs renown university and vast archives.

Lacking a strong navy Mordus laid siege to the city by land and had his engineers rebuild the bridges that had previously been destroyed. This was costly for Mordus both in time and men as his engineered came under fire from the well manned defences of the city walls. Eventually the city would fall and would be incorporated into the conquered territories until the passing of Mordus and the dissolution of the Continental Empire. At which point Hambourg briefly found itself as the capital of the new Kingdom of Thollenskaar; which had incorporated much of the northern coast under the reign of the crown prince Kristoff and princess Freja.

**The First Republic**

Following years of visualisation; being conquered, integrated and transferred between various larger states, sentiment of independence was a raising yet still contested subject within Hambourg, with many idolising the old glory days of the suzerainty whilst others challenging the practicality of an independent Hambourg, questioning whether it would have the strength to enforce its independence and resist conquest from larger states. patriotic fervour would reach a high in the year 96 …

**Astarian War of Aggression**

By late 195, it was clear that Hambourg would be a target for an Astarian attack; with the war dragging on the Astarians we’re keen to open a second front on the continent. Their plan was to invade Hambourg by sea and push south putting pressure on the western theatre. Predicting an imminent invesion the Army of the Coalition sent the 64th Rifle Corps, led by Major-General Rupert to prepare the defence of the city. In early 196, the Astarian navy would attack the Volkhard fleet, sinking the H.M.V Prince Henrik and crippling the Coalition's navy. Fearing an invasion, Hambourg would prepare its defences for their eventual arrival in the First Battle of Hambourg. The famous Hambourg pier would be destroyed by both sides, preventing any more naval landings or escapes, causing the Astarians to loot Pylkintanos' University and begin the long siege of the city. Thousands died in the ensuing artillery and many high officers would flee, seeing Hambourg as a lost cause to the Astarians. Major-General Rupert would lead a last charge with Sir Adolf von Rosengart in an effort to free one of the bridges and allow the army an escape. Victory came at a heavy cost, with Rupert dying in the battle and Hambourg itself occupied by the Astarians.

In 196 Hambourg fell to Astarian forces, and the republic was abolished 3 months shy of its 100th year.

Hambourg would suffer almost two years under Astarian occupation, destroying the university and rebuilding the pier as a supply base for the Astarian's attack further into the continent. Volkhard propaganda report the men being enslaved into labour camps and the women as sex slaves for the Astarian soldiers, though the validity of this is in doubt. A resistance movement built underground before attempting a coup in early 198 that would force the Astarian overlords to loot the city for any weapons not in the army's hand. News of the resistance arrived at the Capital too late and the movement, headed by ex-Zazou leaders, were hung or forced into more extreme labour.

**The Zazou commune**

As Hambourg was the center for mercantile trade in the northern Volkhard Confederacy, different genres of music would take root in the city but it was only after news of the Dark Continent and Robert Darlington's meeting with the natives did their blues music reach the city. Alumni of the University would meet to compose a new style of music known as jazz. In a racially charged attack, several jazz clubs were forcefully closed in 187 that did nothing to temper the flame of the youth's rebellion. More and more students would wear zoot suits and perform jazz in open areas, dancing wildly. The government nicknamed them Zazous, after a tribe from the Dark Continent.

Eventually the government relented on the Zazou and the commune was fully established in the districts near the university. Students such as Wilhelm Mandred Ziegler would take part in these club activities, partying and listening to jazz through the night. Many famous musicians would arise during this time such as Vincent van Goul who was spearheaded into a life of acting.

When the Astarians invaded Hambourg, the Zazou commune became a form of resistance in the city. Members would meet at cafés randomly chosen that day to plan attacks to diminish the war effort. These actions would eventually spark a coup in 198 where three Astarian officials were murdered by the Zazou and a battle to occur in the streets of the city. Outnumbered and outgunned, the Zazou were pushed back to their original commune and held a last stand for a week before a mole known as Javier would sneak the guards in, arresting the members and apprehending the leaders. As revenge for the failed coup, the Astarians would loot the entire city, destroying buildings and seizing any goods or weapons necessary. The Zazou leaders were publicly hanged and high ranking resistance members were sent to heavy labour camps. The movement was disbanded even after the city's liberation.

**Liberation**

Relief would eventually arrive in mid 198 with the Second Battle of Hambourg with the arrival of The Capital's 51st Infantry Division nicknamed the "King's Finest." General Durnovo saw the city as a vital cog in the Astarian's supply machine and reclaiming the city would offer a boost in morale to the failed Operation Dandelion the year prior. Edvard Fairfax would serve with distinction in the battle, rallying waning troops with the song; "Men of Periford".

**The Second Republic**

Freed once more, Hambourg would struggle to reclaim its past glory as the occupation had destroyed many districts of the city. The Zazou movement would disband and Pylkintanos' University would re-enroll students at a much lower capacity than it once did, calling into question if change was in order.