Algoquona

The Hierarchy of Algoquona was a country in Cusinaut. A, the Algoquonan state came into being during the War of the Northern Confederation from the Algosh people, who established a new state under the leadership of its military hierarchs. The Algosh people were founding members of the Confederation and continued the war against Urcea following the Confederation's downfall, also subjugating many local tribes and nations who were previously members of the Confederation. The Hierarchy was recognized as the Confederation's successor in the Treaty of Narasseta and by the League of Nations.

Algoquona was dissolved at the end of the Final War of the Deluge after four years of fighting and the fall of Kaigwa. Out of its former territory the Chenango Confederacy, Ashkenang, and Maloka became independent, while other lands were ceded to New Harren and Sabnaki. The core Algosh lands at the heart of the Hierarchy became the Algosh Republic.

Rising influence
By the time of the War of the Northern Confederation, Algosh officers made up a majority of those within the Confederated Army's officer corps, a massive disproportionate influence.

Government
Algoquona was a organized as a fusion unitary-federal  divided into two types of administrative units, hierarchies - which were units of direct administration from the central government - and chiefdoms - which were "federal" units of subject tribes and nations with varying degrees of autonomy. The system of hierarchs and military control pre-existed the Algosh coup, while the chiefdoms were established as a result of it. The leaders of those units were arrayed together in the Assembly of Chiefs and Hierarchs, the primary decision-making body of the Hierarchy of Algoquona. The Assembly was responsible for creating and implementing legislation as well as organizing the state. The Assembly was also responsible for elevating hierarchs and chiefs and was thus responsible for choosing its own members. The Grand Hierarch was, nominally, chosen by the Assembly to serve a life term as guardian and protector of the Hierarchy. In practice, the most powerful hierarch used their military power and influence to establish themselves as the Grand Hierarch in violent wars of succession. Three major conflicts occurred in the fifteen year history of Algoquona, with the final event in 2015 empowering the Hierarch Pa-Akanti. In practice, Algoquona was a military dictatorship lead by ethnic Algosh people who rule over other, subject peoples of Cusinaut by means of military force. The Assembly was responsible for ensuring the subservience of subject tribes to the state, typically by means of elevating loyalist chiefs or by means of bribery. The Algoquonan state was considered one of the "least free" states according to numerous freedom watchdog organizations. It has been characterized by many as a militaristic  constructed for the service of the Algosh people.

Hierarchies
Hierarchies were which were responsible for the direct governance of large portions of territory, especially within Algosh proper but also in regions bordering Occidental territories. They represent a form of governance; rule in hierarchies was direct central administration with no degree of autonomy. Hierarchies were lead by Hierarchs, who serve both as administrator and local general. Hierarchs have ultimate judicial authority within their hierarchy without any appeal beyond their ruling. While Hierarchs were nominally appointed by the Assembly, in practice the Hierarchs were the most powerful local who receives legitimation from the Assembly, often by means of marriage alliance with other Hierarchs or by means of political connections. Hierarch was a life post, and typically most Hierarchs succeed by means of a war of succession between.

Chiefdoms
Chiefdoms were semi-autonomous tribal units associated with national and ethnic groups which were subject to the Algoquonan state. The degrees of autonomy and rights afforded to each Chiefdom depended on the Chiefdom, but many of the nominal rights afforded to the Chiefdoms could be superseded by order of any Hierarch. Chiefs were a life post which were normally succeeded on basis of heredity, but the Assembly resolves the right to replace Chiefs at any time. In effect, this practice lead to jockeying between leading members of tribes attempting to be appointed Chief in exchange for loyalty and favors to members of the Assembly and the central government. Chiefdoms were classified by international observers as political entities.