Harren

Grand Duchy of Harren
Crownland of Urcea
Flag
Country	Urcea
Cathedral City	Cálfeld
Government
• Grand Duke	Riordan
Population  (2014)
• Total	109,104,666

The Grand Duchy of Harren is one of three crownlands of the Apostolic Kingdom of Urcea. Since the Golden Bull of 1098, the Grand Duchy and associated Grand Ducal title have been one of the two definitive integral parts of the Urcean Crown, with the other being the Archduchy of Urceopolis. Initially a Duchy, Harren was elevated to the level of Grand Duchy in 1138. It is the third largest subdivision of Urcea by area and the second largest by population.

History

Pre-Ducal history

From prehistory until the establishment of Great Levantia, the northern portion of Harren was largely settled by Gaelic peoples, consisting of small urban areas and numerous semi-nomadic tribal groups. Most of the small urban core of the region remained intact with the arrival of the Adonerii Latins based out of the Urce River region; most of modern Harren's major cities can trace their history to Latinized Gaelic city centers from the prehistoric period. Much of modern Harren became a major province - Hortia - of Great Levantia following its establishment, forming the outer expanses of the southern Great Levantine core region. During this period, Gaels were largely deprived of their land by Latin settlers, and most tribes either relocated elsewhere or intermarried with the new arrivals, forming the demographic backbone of Harren during antiquity. Harren was largely spared of the warfare and Gothic raids closely associated with the late period of Great Levantia. In 486, the Hortia's Imperial governor died and was replaced by a governor elected by prominent local families, a figure who was invested by the local notables as Dux. This elevation, in line with other similar moves throughout Great Levantia, signified military command over the entire southeastern Valley region north of the southern wastes and west of the Magnag. This state of affairs ensured Harren was already autonomously governed when Silvanus, last Emperor, was deposed in 502.

Most historians agree that the area of Harren had already been partly Gaelicized by the time of the collapse of Great Levantia in 502, similar to other areas in the Valley.

Economy

As of 2014-15, the Grand Duchy's total GDP was calculated to be $4,463,580,990,726, with approximately a $40,911 GDP PC.

A large amount of Harren's non-urban land area is made up of cattle ranches.

Government

The Grand Duchy of Harren functions using a parliamentary model rather than the more common federal presidential model in use by the provinces of Urcea. The Royal Parliament of Harren functions as the primary government for the Grand Duchy. Upon advice of the Chancellor and Temporary President, the Apostolic King of Urcea appoints a Governor-General for the Grand Duchy. The Governor-General appointed for Harren is typically of the same party as that of the Chancellor and Temporary President, giving the Governor-General something resembling a democratic mandate, unlike the appointment process for the Archduchy of Urceopolis. Consequently, the Governor-General of Harren exercises some executive powers and serves as the Apostolic King's representative for constitutional functions. The government of the Grand Duchy is similar to the Government of Urcea, with the Governor-General serving as an analogue for the Procurator, albeit less powerful, and the Archducal Chancellor filling the role of head of government and leader of Parliament. The Royal Parliament and Grand Ducal government is based in the Hermitage in Cálfeld, the official residence of the Apostolic King of Urcea in the Grand Duchy.