New Harren and United Cities: Difference between pages

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{{Infobox country
|conventional_long_name = United Cities
|native_name =      联合城市
|common_name =        UC
|status =            <!--Status of country, especially useful for micronations-->
|image_flag =        TanhaiFlag1.png
|alt_flag =         
|flag_border =        yes
|image_flag2 =       
|alt_flag2 =         
|flag2_border =     
|image_coat =       
|alt_coat =         
|symbol_type =       
|national_motto =   
|englishmotto =     
|national_anthem =
|other_symbol_type = 
|other_symbol =
|image_map =         
|loctext =           
|alt_map =            <!--alt text for map-->
|map_caption =       
|map_width                 
|image_map2 =       
|alt_map2 =          <!--alt text for second map-->
|map_caption2 =     
|capital =            [[Heng]]
|coordinates =        <!-- Coordinates for capital, using {{tl|coord}} -->
|largest_city =      capital
|largest_settlement_type = largest city
|largest_settlement =
|official_languages = Corummese
|national_languages =
|regional_languages = <!--Languages recognised or associated with particular regions within the country/territory-->
|languages_type =   
|languages =         
|languages_sub =      <!--Is this further type of language a sub-item of the previous non-sub type? ("yes" or "no")-->
|languages2_type =   
|languages2 =       
|languages2_sub =    <!--Is the second alternative type of languages a sub-item of the previous non-sub type? ("yes" or "no")-->
|ethnic_groups =      {{ublist |item_style=white-space:nowrap;
 


{{Infobox country
  }}
|native_name                =  
|ethnic_groups_year = <!--Year of ethnic groups data (if provided)-->
|conventional_long_name      = Kingdom of the Confederation of New Yustona
|ethnic_groups_ref = <!--(for any ref/s to associate with ethnic groups data)-->
|common_name                = New Yustona
|religion =          
|image_flag                  = New yustona flag.png
|religion_year =     <!--Year of religion data (if provided)-->
|image_coat                  =
|religion_ref =       <!--(for any ref/s to associate with religion data)-->
|symbol_type                = Emblem
|demonym =          
|national_motto              = <br>''WIP''<br/>
|government_type =   Plutocracy
|national_anthem            = <br>''[[TBD]]<br/><small>"TBD"</small>''
|leader_title1 =     Grand Secretary
|image_map                  = Vespia (orthographic projection).svg
|leader_name1 =      
|map_caption                = Location of '''New Yustona''' in [[Cusinaut]]
|leader_title2 =    
|map_width                  = 250px
|leader_name2 =      
|image_map2                  =
|legislature =        Council of Cities
|map_caption2                =
|upper_house =      
|capital                    = Port St. Charles
|lower_house =      
|latd=  | latm= | latNS = <!--capital's latitude degree/min/dir-->
|sovereignty_type =  
|longd= |longm= |longEW = <!--capital's longitude deg/min/dir-->
|sovereignty_note =  
|largest_city                = capital
|established_event1 = Establishment
|largest_settlement_type    = largest city
|established_date1 = 915
|official_languages          =
|established_event2 = 1st UC-Zhong War
|religion                    = [[Catholic Church]]
|established_date2 = 938
|demonym                     = New Yustonese
|established_event3 = 2nd UC-Zhong War
|legislature                = Grand Council
|established_date3 = 1125
|government_type             = [[Benefactor confederacy]]
|established_event4 = 3rd UC-Zhong War and dissolution
|leader_title1               = [[Apostolic King of Urcea|King]]
|established_date4 =  1215
|leader_name1               = [[Riordan VIII|Riordan I]]
|area_rank =  
|leader_title2               = Governor-General
|area =  
|leader_name2               = Martin de Daphan
|area_km2 =          
|leader_title3              =  
|area_sq_mi =        
|leader_name3                =  
|area_footnote =     <!--Optional footnote for area-->
|sovereignty_type           = Formation
|percent_water =  
|sovereignty_note           =  
|area_label =         Total
|established_event1         = Colony declared
|area_label2 =       <!--Label below area_label (optional)-->
|established_date1           = 1858
|area_data2 =         <!--Text after area_label2 (optional)-->
|established_event2         = [[War of the Northern Confederation]]
|population_estimate =  
|established_date2           = 2008
|population_estimate_rank =  
|established_event3         = Crona Organic Act
|population_estimate_year =  
|established_date3           = 2010
|population_census =  
|area_rank                   =  
|population_census_year =  
|area                       = <!-- major area size (in [[Template:convert]] either km2 or sqmi first) -->
|population_density_km2 =  
|area_km2                   =  
|population_density_sq_mi =  
|area_sq_mi                 =  
|population_density_rank =  
|area_footnote               = <!-- optional footnote for area -->
|nummembers =        <!--An alternative to population for micronation-->
|percent_water               =  
|GDP_PPP =           <!--(Gross Domestic Product from Purchasing Power Parity)-->
|area_label                 =  
|GDP_PPP_rank =  
|area_label2                 = <!-- label below area_label (optional) -->
|GDP_PPP_year =  
|area_dabodyalign            = <!-- text after area_label2 (optional) -->
|GDP_PPP_per_capita =  
|population_estimate         =  
|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank =  
|population_estimate_rank   =  
|GDP_nominal =  
|population_estimate_year   =  
|GDP_nominal_rank =  
|population_census           = 20,224,195
|GDP_nominal_year =  
|population_census_year     = 2020
|GDP_nominal_per_capita =  
|population_density_km2     =  
|population_density_sq_mi   =  
|population_density_rank     =
|GDP_PPP                     =
|GDP_PPP_rank               =  
|GDP_PPP_year               =
|GDP_PPP_per_capita         =  
|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank     =  
|GDP_nominal                 =  
|GDP_nominal_rank           =  
|GDP_nominal_year           =  
|GDP_nominal_per_capita     =  
|GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank =  
|GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank =  
|Gini                       =  
|Gini =              
|Gini_rank                  =
|Gini_ref =           <!--(for any ref/s to associate with Gini number)-->
|Gini_year                  =  
|Gini_rank =  
|Gini_change                =  
|Gini_year =  
|Gini_category              =
|HDI_year =           <!-- Please use the year to which the data refers, not the publication year-->
|HDI                         = 0.851
|HDI =              
|HDI_rank                    =
|HDI_change =        
|HDI_year                    = 2024
|HDI_rank =  
|HDI_change                  = increase
|HDI_ref =           <!--(for any ref/s to associate with HDI number)-->
|currency                   = [[Taler]] (₮)
|currency =          
|currency_code               =  
|currency_code =    
|time_zone                   =  
|time_zone =         <!--e.g. GMT, PST, AST, etc, etc (wikilinked if possible)-->
|utc_offset                 =  
|utc_offset =        
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|drives_on =       
|drives_on                  = right
|cctld =            
|cctld                      = [[.urc.ny]]
|iso3166code =       <!--Use to override default from common_name parameter above; omit using "omit".-->
|iso3166code                =  
|calling_code =       <!--e.g. [[+1]], [[+531]], [[+44]], etc-->
|calling_code                =  
|patron_saint =      <!--Use patron_saints for multiple-->
|image_map3 =         <!--Optional third map position, e.g. for use with reference to footnotes below it-->
|alt_map3 =           <!--alt text for third map position-->
}}
}}
The '''United Cities''' was a state that existed in northwestern [[Corumm]] and parts of [[Canpei]] from 915 to 1215. Emerging during the death throes of the Chen dynasty and the Four Great Impostors crisis, it was originally created as a confederation of city states, the main aim of which was mutual protection, eliminating bad governance, promoting the slave trade and evading imperial taxation. The original members were the cities of [[Heng]], Sho Battai, Brink, Heft and Stoat. The economy of the United Cities was heavily dominated by slavery and not soon after its founding would slavers become the ruling class, effectively creating a highly corrrupt and despotic plutocracy. The United Cities would fall to [[Corumm]]ese Zhong dynasty armies in 1215 but many of its trade  and societal practices would continue in the territories that it had ruled.
=== History ===
=== Geography ===
=== Climate ===
The predominant climate of the area covered by the United Cities is cold semi-arid, featuring warm, dry summers and freezing winters with temperatures dropping below zero. Winters usually see light to moderate snowfall.
=== Government ===
The United Cities was ruled by the Council of Cities, a collection of the wealthiest and most influential men of each city. Only the richest ten citizens from each city were allowed to take part in the council. The choosing was not through election but by a tallying of the monetary worth of the aspirant, usually carried out by Traders Guild accountants. Every ten years a member of the council would be elected by simple majority to serve as Grand Secretary of the United Cities. The Grand Secretary had powers to represent the UC in foreign matters and trade negotiations. For the United Cities entire three hundred year existence the position was typically rotated, with no one city ever holding on to the position for consecutive terms.
=== Military ===
The United Cities kept a unified standing army known as the Iron Legion, composed of twenty thousand men in lamellar armor, divided into footmen, cavalry and artillery corps. It was augmented by city self-defense forces and private militias composed of slaves as needed. The Iron Legion was able to repel the numerically superior armies of the Zhong for many years until funding cutbacks, corruption and the intake of slaves into its ranks drastically reduced its combat effectiveness.
=== Foreign Relations ===
=== Economy ===
The United Cities economy was heavily reliant on slave labor for its agricultural and industrial manpower. UC slavers would undertake great raids into [[Rusana]], [[Duamacia]] and the rest of Zhong dominated [[Corumm]] to procure slaves for both internal use and for export. It would also acquire Audonian slaves through intermediaries since the UC never had direct access to the sea. The semiarid climate made for poor agricultural output, crops that required little water like cactus were favored. The rare alcoholic Cactus Rum has its origins in the United Cities and was also a big earner. Another source of revenue was taxation of caravans traversing through UC territory. Most trade in and out of the United Cities was overseen by an institution known as the United Traders Guild
=== Culture ===


The '''Kingdom of the Confederation of New Yustona''' is a kingdom in [[Cusinaut]] under a real union with [[Urcea]], although it has alternatively been described as a colonial possession of Urcea. The Kingdom was established out of the earlier colony of New Yustona following its expansion during the [[War of the Northern Confederation]]. The Kingdom is a confederation of [[Levantia|Levantine]] colonial settlements and native tribal polities that aligned themselves with Urcea during the war.
{{Alshar topics}}
 
[[Category:Countries]]
The Kingdom is a member of the [[Nysdra Sea Treaty Association]].
[[Category:Alshar]]
 
[[Category:Tanhai]]
== Geography ==
 
== History ==
===Prior to the 19th century===
The territory now encompassing New Yustona was initially part of a larger entity in Western [[Crona]] known as the [[War of the Northern Confederation#Background|Northern Confederation]]. Established in the 17th century, the Northern Confederation aimed to solve long-standing disputes between a myriad of local tribes via Confederate arbitration. It was held that forming such a Confederation would help all members resist the incoming [[Levantia|Levantine]] traders, who had already extracted trade interests and established treaty ports in Crona, particularly in [[Quetzenkel]]. The Confederation was comprised of six "great tribes" along with many smaller tribes and Cronite city-states; the Mixcala, the Cheektowaga, the Tepetlcali, the Tonawandis, the [[Algoquona]], and the Schoharie. The Mixcala and Tepetlcali in particular frequently required Confederate intervention to prevent war.
 
===Aedanicad and restoration===
 
In the 1850s, [[King Aedanicus VIII]] sought to acquire land in Crona to boost Urcea's prestige and, additionally, in order to find territory to settle veterans of the [[Third Caroline War]]. After much searching, the tribe of [[Glossary_of_peoples_of_Cusinaut#Q-T|Schoharie]], the southernmost tribe in the Northern Confederation, agreed to sell its marshy southern coastal region to Urcea for four million talers in 1857. King Aedanicus declared the territory the colony of New Yustona in 1858, and the new settlers arrived to find a difficult, swampy environment, which was only cleared through expensive application of new industrial technologies. Port St. Charles was established by the settlers in 1858, and by 1868 most of the bogs had been drained, allowing for arable land. [[Urcean people|Urcean]] colonists flooded into the country in the 1870s in light of constant overcrowding in [[Urcea]], and by 1880 it was clear that the small territory was no longer sufficient to hold the growing population. Urcea declared war on the Schoharie in 1881 in the hopes that overwhelming Occidental power would prevent the Confederation from intervening, but it became clear that the gambit had failed as huge warbands and armies from the Confederation appeared on New Yustona's frontiers. Using the power of its advanced [[Royal Navy (Urcea)|Royal Navy]] and [[List of equipment of the Armed Forces of Urcea#Muskets%20and%20rifles|bolt-action rifles]], Urcea quickly seized coastal fishing areas, transforming the war into a war of attrition. Growing expenses lead to the war ending in 1883; Urcea was ceded some territory from the Schoharie but the effort was largely considered a failure due to the inability to win a decisive victory. The war had claimed the lives of thousands of natives, and the Schoharie living in the ceded territory fled northward, settling in the lands of the Tepetlcali and Algoquona. Many of the Schoharie living in its remaining territory also began to migrate northwards, as many believed it would only be a matter of time until the Urceans returned.
 
[[King Aedanicus VIII]] did intend to try again, but died in 1889, and the colony was considered one of the King's vanity projects. Following the Crown Regency and [[Red Interregnum]], [[King Patrick III]] sought to restore Urcea's reputation abroad and to test Urcea's rebuilt military might. New Yustona had again reached its comfortable population limit, and the King intended to prove that it was not merely his father's side project - Urcea was here to stay. To that end, he deployed several of Urcea's rebuild Royal Navy ships to shell the [[Glossary_of_peoples_of_Cusinaut#Q-T|Schoharie]] coast before a formal declaration of war came In August of 1908, after which time the [[Royal and Imperial Army (Urcea)|Royal Army]] expeditionary force came to occupy Schoharie by the end of September, though they found it mostly depopulated. This time, the very well-armed Urcean expeditionary force defeated the Confederation in several major battles, advancing as far inland as the city of Tepetlcali in November of 1909 before malaria and supply issues forced the Urceans to turn back. The Confederate troops - armed mostly with muzzle loading rifles purchased from [[Audonia|Audonian]] nations in the late 1860s - were overwhelmed by Urcean fire, but the sheer number of troops made a total victory over the Confederation difficult and it was determined that an advance past Schoharie would be impossible given the resolve of the Confederation. The [[Treaty of Electorsbourg]] ended the war in 1910; Urcea annexed Schoharie but agreed to recognize the Confederation's extant borders, and the Confederation agreed to open fair trade relations with Urcea. The Schoharie War was the last formal conflict fought between Urceans and Cronites in the 20th century, and Urcea formed strong trade relations with its Confederation neighbor, the tribe of the Mixcala. Though there was peace, numerous Urcean and other Levantine settlers filibustering into Confederate lands; these efforts were all defeated, sometimes with Urcean assistance.
 
===20th century===
 
===21st century===
 
== Government ==
New Yustona, as a confederation, consists of several tribes, cities, and the Urcean colony of New Yustona under the loose executive presidency of the [[Apostolic King of Urcea]] and his Governor-General in his stead, who the King directly nominates and submits for the approval of the [[Concilium Daoni]] in [[Urcea]]. The King, and consequently the Governor-General, has total control over the Kingdom's foreign policy, but relatively limited influence in the domestic affairs of the constituent parts of the Kingdoms save for the New Yustona colony, where the Crown exercises direct control. The Kingdom has a small central government apparatus, responsible for regulating relations between the constituent parts of the Kingdom as well as providing for the basic functions of a small welfare state; much of the domestic policy decisions are made at the constituent level, though the Kingdom's legislature has broad discretion to keep local laws and statutes similar by providing for legal baselines for conduct and the regulation of economic activity. Much of the government's activity is done under the purview of representatives of the [[Government of Urcea]]. Under the King and Governor-General is the Grand Council of the Kingdom of New Yustona, the Kingdom's legislature, which consists of three elected representatives from each constituent part for a total of twenty one members.
<br />A map of the seven constituent parts of the Kingdom of New Yustona.
The seven constituent parts of the Kingdom of New Yustona are:
 
* The Colony of New Yustona
* The Tribal Dominion of Mixcala
* The Tribal Dominion of Cheektowaga
* The Tribal Dominion of Tonawandis
* The Condominium of Weluta-New Mixcala
* The Free Cities
* The Free Tribes
 
=== New Yustona ===
The Colony of New Yustona was established, as described above, in 1858. It is the largest constituency in the Kingdom both in terms of geography and demography; it comprises nearly half of the Kingdom's territory and is populated by 9 million people, more than half of the Kingdom's 16.5 million population as surveyed in 2034. Originally the expansive but sparsely populated territory of the Schoharie, the Colony of New Yustona slowly expanded over tribal territory from 1858 to 1910, during which time the population grew rapidly. Like [[Urcea]]'s [[Government of Urcea#Province|provinces]], the Colony has an elected executive (called a Deputy) and a bicameral legislature comprised of the Colonial Senate and Colonial Assembly. Much of the colony's government mirrors that of the [[Government of Urcea]], retaining a similar cabinet structure to that of the [[Concilium Purpaidá]]. The Colony is divided into fifteen dioceses, again mirroring the [[Government of Urcea#Local%20Government|local government structure]] of [[Urcea]]. Unlike Urcea, New Yustona does not employ a guild system, and it employs only two kinds of localities; the Urcean commune and the Urcean polis.
 
Port St. Charles, governed as a polis, is the oldest city in the Colony of New Yustona. Originally serving as an important coaling station into "inner Crona" (the internal Sea of Nysdra region), the city became an important military port in the years leading up to the [[Great War]], as the [[Urcea|Urcean]] [[Royal Navy (Urcea)|Royal Navy]] established the city as the headquarters of the new [[Royal Navy (Urcea)#Fleet%20Structure|Nysdra Squadron]], established in 1927 to protect the colony from foreign aggression. The colony was not harmed during the war, and following the conflict some veterans were given parcels of land in the colony. Despite these developments, New Yustona remained somewhat populous for a colony but largely irrelevant until the [[War of the Northern Confederation]] and discovery of uranium further north. With the establishment of the Kingdom, the Colony of New Yustona has become the cosmopolitan hub of the Kingdom and residence for many non-Levantine descended New Yustonese. Port St. Charles, as the Kingdom's capital city, has grown substantially with the establishment of political and diplomatic quarters; a large service economy has grown up around the Kingdom's central government apparatus, leading to beneficial ripple effects throughout the entire Colony. The Colony's population is overwhelmingly of Levantine descent, with 93.1% of the population in 2034 recording "some or entire Levantine ancestry", though the non-Levantine population is on the rise as Port St. Charles continues to grow as an economic hub. The growth of the city and attraction of people throughout the Kingdom has turned Port St. Charles - and the Colony as a whole - into a cultural melting pot, developing new and interesting variations on both native and Levantine cultural traditions.
 
=== Mixcala ===
 
=== Cheektowaga ===
 
=== Tonawandis ===
 
=== Weluta-New Mixcala ===
The Condominium of Weluta-New Mixcala is jointly administered by the Colony of New Yustona and the Tribal Doninion of Mixcala. The territory, previously the lands of the [[Glossary_of_peoples_of_Cusinaut#Q-T|Tepetlcali]] prior to the sack of the city by the Mixcalans, is partly based on subsistence farming, as most industries had been destroyed during the [[War of the Northern Confederation]]. The primary economic activity, however, is uranium mining, as the rich uranium deposits in the Condominium have been key in the explosive growth of Urcea’s nuclear energy sector. Mutual control over the territory was part of the initial agreement binding the Mixcalans and Urceans together. Consequently, both parties have been working to establish a long-term economic development and investment plan, planning to use many of the funds generated from uranium profits to rebuild the local economy.
 
The mostly depopulated region demographically consists of approximately two thirds native population - the remnants of the [[Glossary_of_peoples_of_Cusinaut#Q-T|Tepetlcalis]] and Mixcalan settlers. The remaining third are Levantine smallholders or designed communities of Levantines. Both the Colony and Dominion are negotiating the potential of a fixed ratio of Mixcalan and Urcean settlers.
 
=== Free Cities ===
The Free Cities, formally known as the Federated Cities Administration, are a series of city states which were members of the Northern Confederation sitting on the border between [[Algoquona]] and Cheektowaga. The population of the Free Cities is approximately three quarters of a million people. These cities largely act autonomously of eachother and are self-governing. The Free Cities area is overseen by a Legate who serves a two year term, beginning with he first election in 2030. The Legate is elected by the mayors and chiefs of the various cities and has limited power. The primary responsibility of the Legate is to ensure fair trade relations between the cities and to raise the requisite number of soldiers from the cities according to the manpower needs of the Kingdom’s defenses. The Legate also commands the unified militias of the cities in time of war, being the primary individual responsible for defense of the border with Algoquona, aiming to slow Algoquona’s advance until the [[Royal and Imperial Army (Urcea)|Royal and Imperial Army]] arrives.
 
=== Free Tribes ===
Like the Free Cities, the Free Tribes, formally known as the Federated Tribal Administration, are a number of small and primarily autonomous tribal groups who previously served as members of the Northern Confederation. Their total population is approximately a quarter of a million people. Many times, these tribes also served as tributaries of [[Algoquona]] and Tepetlcali, which made them natural allies of [[Urcea]] and Mixcala during the [[War of the Northern Confederation]].
 
These tribes, which retained their promised autonomy after the war, typically life in small villages or communal agricultural settlements. The economy of the Free Tribes area is mostly subsistence farming with the development of some cash crops since the advent of New Yustona. Like the Free Cities, the Free Tribal area has a small regional government, with a Legate responsible for territorial defense and conflict resolution. The Legate is elected by the heads of each of the recognized tribes, which currently number at 43. Like they Free Cities system described above, the Legate of the Free Tribes serves a two year term.
 
== Culture ==
 
== Demographics ==
 
=== Linguistic Demographics ===
 
=== Religious Demographics ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Religious affiliations in New Yustona (2036)
!Affiliation
! colspan="2" |% of population
|-
|Christianity
|'''74.2'''
|74.2<br />'''Kingdom of New Yustona'''
|-
|[[Levantine Catholic Church|Levantine Catholicism]]
|'''72.1'''
|72.1<br />'''Kingdom of New Yustona'''
|-
|Other Christian
|'''2.1'''
|2.1<br />'''Kingdom of New Yustona'''
|-
|Indigenous religion
|'''21.4'''
|21.4<br />'''Kingdom of New Yustona'''
|-
|[[M'acunism]]
|'''21.4'''
|21.4<br />'''Kingdom of New Yustona'''
|-
|Other
|'''4.4'''
|4.4<br />'''Kingdom of New Yustona'''
|}
[[Urcean people|Urcean]] and [[Cronin people]] comprise the large majority population of the Kingdom of New Yustona, and consequently, the [[Levantine Catholic Church|Catholic]] faith is the predominant religion in New Yustona. The majority of non-Catholics live in territories acquired during the [[War of the Northern Confederation]]. The Dominions of Mixcala and Tonawandis, prior to incorporation within the Kingdom, each had large Catholic minorities in their coastal regions, adding to the overall number of Catholics within the teritory. [[Arzalism]] is banned within the Kingdom; approximately 2.5% of the overall population of the Kingdom on its foundation, all native people, were Arzalists; the majority of these individuals are now [[M'acunism|M'acunists]], though a minority became Catholic following the banning of the Arzalist practice.
 
== Economy ==
New Yustona's economy is considered "moderately strong" by most global metrics especially considering the relative poverty of other nations and territories in northern [[Crona]]. Much of its economy is centered around the extraction of uranium and other fissile materials discovered during the [[War of the Northern Confederation]], but the heavy presence of the [[Armed Forces of the Apostolic Kingdom of Urcea]] within the country also serves as a major boost to the economy. As of 2037, the Kingdom had a GDP of $453,042,192,195, bringing its GDP per capita to $22,401.
 
== Military ==
 
== See Also ==
 
[[Category:Urcea]]
[[Category: Crona]]
[[Category: The Deluge]]
[[Category:IXWB]]
[[Category:IXWB]]

Revision as of 05:53, 5 June 2022

United Cities

联合城市
Flag of UC
Flag
Capital
and largest city
Heng
Official languagesCorummese
GovernmentPlutocracy
LegislatureCouncil of Cities
Establishment
• Establishment
915
• 1st UC-Zhong War
938
• 2nd UC-Zhong War
1125
• 3rd UC-Zhong War and dissolution
1215

The United Cities was a state that existed in northwestern Corumm and parts of Canpei from 915 to 1215. Emerging during the death throes of the Chen dynasty and the Four Great Impostors crisis, it was originally created as a confederation of city states, the main aim of which was mutual protection, eliminating bad governance, promoting the slave trade and evading imperial taxation. The original members were the cities of Heng, Sho Battai, Brink, Heft and Stoat. The economy of the United Cities was heavily dominated by slavery and not soon after its founding would slavers become the ruling class, effectively creating a highly corrrupt and despotic plutocracy. The United Cities would fall to Corummese Zhong dynasty armies in 1215 but many of its trade and societal practices would continue in the territories that it had ruled.

History

Geography

Climate

The predominant climate of the area covered by the United Cities is cold semi-arid, featuring warm, dry summers and freezing winters with temperatures dropping below zero. Winters usually see light to moderate snowfall.

Government

The United Cities was ruled by the Council of Cities, a collection of the wealthiest and most influential men of each city. Only the richest ten citizens from each city were allowed to take part in the council. The choosing was not through election but by a tallying of the monetary worth of the aspirant, usually carried out by Traders Guild accountants. Every ten years a member of the council would be elected by simple majority to serve as Grand Secretary of the United Cities. The Grand Secretary had powers to represent the UC in foreign matters and trade negotiations. For the United Cities entire three hundred year existence the position was typically rotated, with no one city ever holding on to the position for consecutive terms.

Military

The United Cities kept a unified standing army known as the Iron Legion, composed of twenty thousand men in lamellar armor, divided into footmen, cavalry and artillery corps. It was augmented by city self-defense forces and private militias composed of slaves as needed. The Iron Legion was able to repel the numerically superior armies of the Zhong for many years until funding cutbacks, corruption and the intake of slaves into its ranks drastically reduced its combat effectiveness.

Foreign Relations

Economy

The United Cities economy was heavily reliant on slave labor for its agricultural and industrial manpower. UC slavers would undertake great raids into Rusana, Duamacia and the rest of Zhong dominated Corumm to procure slaves for both internal use and for export. It would also acquire Audonian slaves through intermediaries since the UC never had direct access to the sea. The semiarid climate made for poor agricultural output, crops that required little water like cactus were favored. The rare alcoholic Cactus Rum has its origins in the United Cities and was also a big earner. Another source of revenue was taxation of caravans traversing through UC territory. Most trade in and out of the United Cities was overseen by an institution known as the United Traders Guild

Culture

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