Phoenixian Free Cities

The Phoenixian Free Cities are a loose federation of cities who share cultural, religious and idiomatic bonds. They are located in the Phoenix sea, aptly named after the Phoenixian culture due to their predominant naval power. The Phoenix is an important deity in their culture, although Phoenixian religion often seems as confusing and cryptic by outsiders.

Structure

The Phoenixian Free Cities are independent of each other for most affairs of law, taxation, and governance. The great majority of the cities within the Phoenixian's dominions are ruled by a Council formed by rich merchants and members of influent families. Different cities may have slightly different criteria for participating in the council. From the Council of Thirteen in Makos to the House of the Five Hundred in Tyros, they can also vary in size. Regardless of the city, Phoenixian's believe in free trade and see the function of the ruling councils to maintain city infrastructure and provide security, leaving the affairs of coin and diplomacy to be conducted by each trader in their affairs. This approach lead to a common saying, every Phoenixian captain is king of his own ship.

History

The Phoenixian coast was settled a hundred years after The Great Dark, as people moved into the then abandoned walled settlements there for security against marauders. Most of them from Uraoi descent. These settlers shared a common language, but where suspicious of each other intentions and only ever cooperated to trade for goods they couldn't produce themselves. However, invasions from outsiders of different ethnic groups where feared, and after the city of Dyacos was raided by Thraxiani warbands in 203, attracted by it's growing riches accumulated from commerce, the cities came together for a defensive alliance. Phoenixians had the no military to speak-of, each city only able to hastily put together a poorly equipped militia, and they began relying on pooled funds to hire foreign mercenaries when protection from invaders was needed.

In several occasions, however, mercenaries would desert or turn on their masters for the chance of stealing the riches they were being paid to protect, and the Phoenixian cities soon realized that model wasn't a viable way to protect themselves. In 315, under the Treaty of Yxos, the Phoenixian cities agree to fund a professional standing army collectively, to be equipped and trained with their combined funds, but only summoned in case of war with what they perceived to be foreigners. They created a model of rotating control over the army, so each of the great five cities would get a general in the new army, with the position of High Commander, changing between them every 3 years.

Founding Date

315

Type

Political, Federation

Alternative Names

Phoenixia

Demonym

Phoenixian

Location

City of Byhos

Controlled Territories

• City of Byhos
• City of Dyacos
• City of Makos
• City of Tyros
• City of Yxos

Related Ethnicities

• Uraoi