Holy Columbian Confederacy

305 years since it's founding by Leonidas Royal, the Holy Columbian Confederacy can boast of being one of the most powerful and stable realms east of the Mississippi. The Confederacy prides itself on its chivalric culture and boasts of being the true successor to Old America.

## Culture

The HCC is predominantly governed by the Southron and considered a Southron realm. Southron culture has been spreading with the conquests of the Emperors westward. It is however not the most prominent culture among the realm's subjects. Rather it's the third highest population which is next to the lowest of landed cultures. The Dixies comprise the most abundant culture and where largely Post-Adventist before being conquered. They have the most in common with the Southrons but differ in having more agrarian values with customs of more rural roots. Tuskegean culture comprises the second highest population in the HCC and was predominantly Revelationist before the conquests of old Alabama. It's related to Dixie culture from which is draws a number of cultural values. The fourth-most prevalent culture in the HCC, and the smallest one represented in landed rulers, is Gullah which holds to a coastal region near the capital of Charleston. Gullah has some common heritage to Tuskegean culture but differs in lacking Dixie influences. Gullah cuisine is considered exotic and often an exciting dish served to those in the realm's capital. As such the culture has a great deal of respect within culinary circles. Other minority cultures in the HCC include significant Native American populations of the Catawba and Muscogee tribes, which thousands of years ago ruled the entire land of the HCC, along with Gulfard and Rostmann immigrant communities.

## Religion in the HCC

Today the majority of the HCC's territory are practicing Evangelicals however at the time of the Empire's founding such was not the case. Territory west of the Savannah River was predominantly Charismatic, Postadventist, and Revelationist in practice with the Postadventist at the time of Leonidas I's conquests having recently retaken Atlanta from Revelationists and established a feudal society after years of tribalism. With the Empire's expansion westward it's Evangelical Emperors put in place other Evangelicals to govern the territory as it transformed from tribal to feudal society. These early rulers where very spiteful of Postadventist and through the hunting of apostates managed to ride their new territory of the denomination. So focused where they on stamping out Postadventism, which did not recognize the secular authority of non-Postadventists, that the other two religions occupying the territory have survived though marginally into the present. With no ruler publicly practicing the Revelationist nor Charismatic religion both are expected to wain in the coming decades. Still there have been rumors that even now some rulers are secretly practicing one of these religions.

## Politics in the HCC

Holy Columbian Confederate politics are deeply intertwined with Evangelicalism. The ages old struggle between Church and State have manifested in two prominent political factions. The **Bulldogs** who believe in the prominence of the Church over secular authority and the **Rams** who see secular rulers as stewards of the church in their realms. The friction between these two is most noticeable in the old territory of former South Carolina where the confederate capital of Charleston is situated between the factional strongholds.

### The Emperor

The HCC is notable as the largest Elective Monarchy in North America. The seat of Emperor is an elected position with every direct vassal, and the Emperor, having a vote on the next monarch. This system is enjoyed by the various members states of the Confederacy but has not been without issue. Dynasties that maintain control for many generations tend to indicate some seated corruption and such dynasties have at times taken a lose of rule very poorly. Their members still enjoy Princely titles and the benefits of such even if they loose the election and for a number this is enough to simply be content with. For those who are not, the formation of factions for a specific someone to take the throne have been formed. The HCC is most stable under long serving dynasties but such rule tends to bring with it a situation that can leave a number of the members unhappy. That being that long standing familial ties lead to favoritism and corruption can set in as favors are exchanged. The HCC's Elective Monarchy is heathiest when power is changed between dynasties often yet it's also the most divided when such occurs. The duel edge of the situation of a long serving dynasty is that such does bring favoritism which harms vassals who are not in the circle of the Dynasties connections but it also brings the realm together for the same reason. The ties a long dynasty forms allows it to diminish internal rivalry in the HCC and even garner generational confidence among the citizenry. It's because of this that Dynasties garner support and reputable bloodlines that leave lasting impressions.

## Theories

* Americanists strongly dispute any notion that the Holy Columbian Confederacy has any claim to be a successor to Old America. Rather they claim it's historic predecessor was an evil and traitorous rebellion that forsake the founders in order to maintain the wicked institution of slavery. The Holy Columbian Confederacy denies all such claims and certain Emperors have cut out the tongues of those who speak too loudly about such things. During the conquests of Leonidas I, who established the Holy Columbian Confederacy during the life time of President Bannistar, there was a battle with the Postadventist Duke of Peach Tree. Prior to the battle the Postadventist used an ancient artillery shell to destroy on old stone work located on Stone Mountain. No one in the HCC will say what was there before, only that Leonidas I had the mountain resculpted with his image. Those who meddle in this conspiracy believe that the mountain was a monument to this 'Evil Rebellion' and Leonidas had the mountain recarved to hide the true heritage of the HCC.