Free City of Augustin
The Free City of Augustin is located along the northeastern coast of the Jakonian Peninsula. The majority of the land of the free city is located between the San Jon River and the much smaller Matanzas River. To the north they are bordered by the Badlands and the mushroom forests of King's Bay. The Augustinians believe to possess a heritage dating back to before even the Nameless Empire itself, and despite centuries of Jakonian rule, value their old traditions and ceremonies above all else.
Structure
The ruler of the Free City of Augustin is an elected Crowned Mayor who acts as the voice of the people to foreign states and is the overall executive of the nation. Any landowning males who have reached adulthood may vote for the Crowned Mayor when their terms end after ten years and anyone in the same group is also eligible to be crowned. The Crowned Mayor is the executive of the Free City Council, which consists entirely of any individual who can pay the ten thousand gold piece admittance fee after demonstrating residence of Augustin as their primary citizenship for at least thirty years. All legislation and decisions are made by the Free City Council, and approved of by the Crowned Mayor, who can issue a veto should they feel the Council is acting against the best interests of the nation. The Secretary of the Free City Council is voted upon by members of the council and acts as the advisor to the Mayor and if the Mayor is unable to fulfill his duties in a meeting, he is able to veto or choose not to veto any legislation.
The Council oversees all budgetary and financial concerns relating to taxation and management of the Free City, and it is further in charge of the Drakans, the elite mercenaries who patrol the territories under the Free City's control, and act as law enforcement. The Drakans are the for hire justice department of the Free City, enforcing the laws set by the Council and arresting and imprisoning anyone violating those laws. They are a predominantly self-financing organization, that offers fines in lieu of punishment when charged with any crime.
History
The Free City of Augustin was one of the powerhouse merchant states that emerged in the wake of the Fall of the Nameless Empire. One of several communities in the south that survived the collapse of the Empire, Augustin managed to trim the sails and survive in the chaos. At first they were close allies and friends with the Nasite Kingdom, and this proved lucrative right up until the moment the Jakonians shattered their empire. The Nasites attempted to turn towards the Free City for aid, due to similar cultures and backgrounds, but the rulers of the Free City turned their backs on their old friends, and the Nasites were abandoned.
As reward for their betrayal, the Jakonian Empire forced the Free City of Augustin into a satellite state arrangement, threatening to invade should they refuse to submit. With the entire Jakonian army on their doorstep, the rulers of Augustin had no choice but to comply. They were given the status of "Trade City" which placed their Council under the management of a direct representative of the imperial crown. This status lasted for some time, with the Trade City being theoretically independent, but functionally a part of the Jakonian Empire. In 270, the last pretense of independence ended, as the Emperor passed the Trade Cities Act, which marked the official assimilation of Augustin and Capcora as full lordships of the Empire.
For nearly seven hundred years, Augustin remained part of the Empire, still an important trade port, but just one among many. The Nasite culture and people that the Augustinians once denied became the foundation of their society. Therefore, when the Northern Rebellion began in 944, Augustin rose up with the other states, as their people advocated for a new Nasite nation. Despite their rebellion, the past could not be denied, and the locals of Augustin struck a bargain once more with the Jakonian government. In exchange for a restoration of Trade City status and local freedoms, Augustin would end its support for the rebellion. Despite being called out as traitors, the Jakonians accepted the proposal, and Augustin avoided the devastation that the war brought to the rest of the Nasite province.
After the rebellion ended, the Jakonian government was focused on the suppression of their remaining provinces, and few gave much thought to the Augustinians. The wealthy Nasites of Augustin quietly built up their wealth, power, and influence. In 1000, they reached a point that should they rise up, it would cripple the Jakonian economy all on its own. Faced with the implied threats of these merchants, the Jakonians realized that another rebellion would likely bring the empire to a final conclusion. In exchange for a payment of a mere six hundred thousand gold pieces as compensation for infrastructure and bureaucratic services, the Jakonians granted Augustin its full independence as a Free City.
As a Free City, Augustin has become a power player due to the extensive trade ties they have established within the Endless Ocean. The maps and ports of call used by their traders are precious national secrets, but they often bring in exotic goods, creatures, and peoples from distant lands. Their merchant fleets are the second largest after only their rivals in Capcora. They occasionally have had some recent skirmishes with various Bahami mukarribs, but the Cooperston Reprisal demonstrated that the Augustinians can bring a truly massive war fleet to bear should their trade be seriously threatened. After that, most Bahamis are content with the payoffs offered by Augustin, rather than risking open conflicts.
Demography and Population
The majority of Augustin's population consist of Nasite humans and various assorted halfbreeds. High elf families have also settled in Augustin, due to the commerce conducted there. The high elves have become welcome additions to the city, and several have even acquired seats upon the Free City Council. There used to be several communities of dwarves in Augustin, but rising tensions with Kiralyno have made their residence untenable, and they were expelled by the order of the Free City Council in 1030. They are allowed to trade and visit, but they are no longer allowed to maintain residence within the Free City's borders. Due to the openness of the nation, however, members of other races have been welcomed, and there is a greater variety of racial minorities in Augustin than in any other city on the Jakonian Peninsula barring Capcora.
Military
There are three clear branches of the Augustinian military. First is the Drakans, who preserve order in the towns and city while administering the courts. They are responsible for keeping the peace and often hire adventurers to deal with any threats beyond their pay grade. The second branch of the Augustin military is the Menorcan Battalion. Originally a mercenary battalion before the Jakonian annexation of Augustin, they became a storied military unit within the Empire. As one of the most distinguished human units within the Jakonian army, they were completely staffed by humans from Augustin. After the Northern Rebellion, the regiment defected and formed the core of what became the Augustinian army. They are financed for by the taxes of the people of Augustin, and as such can occasionally be well equipped or poorly equipped depending on the fickle whims of democracy.
The naval protection of Augustin falls to the people. The city of Augustin has no standing navy, but all citizens who own ships are obligated to provide their ship should the city call for it. This would seem to be a losing proposition in the case of a naval presence, but the citizens of Augustin own hundreds of ships, each of which is typically well armed for ocean voyages. Although it may take several months to bring together their power, the Augustin fleet dwarfs all others when assembled. They may not have the same standardized quality of Jakonia or Capcora, but they do possess strength through considerable numbers.
Technological Level
The city of Augustin has managed to stay upon the cutting edge of technologies in Emicara. Influx of money, high elves, and all of the hangers-on for those things have allowed the nation to maintain parity with the Jakonian Empire. New technology that enters into the ranks of Jakonia will soon find their way into the Free City. Most of this is due to bribery and extortion, allowing Augustin to pay to keep up with their rivals, rarely making advances of their own.
Religion
The residents of Augustin have always been more dedicated to the Church of the One Sun than their other Nasite cousins. The Church therefore takes a looser hand in Augustin, and the laws are not as strict as you might find in the Fruitlands or Nasite territory. Therefore women are allowed to walk the streets unaccompanied and the presence of other races and religions are allowed. Open practice of other faiths is unusual though, despite the Church of Keshush having a temple within each of the towns and a fairly substantial minority of the population following them over the One Sun.
Foreign Relations
As a Free City with trading agreements across the world, Augustin must pay very close attention to international affairs. They seek to have good relationships with any nation with a coastline or trading port, hoping to consistently provide their merchants with places to sell and buy wares. In this, they frequently compete with other Free Cities, specifically Riveraineville and Capcora. The Free Cities frequently hire privateers to assault and bedevil each other's trade routes, granting letters of marque to do so. They have yet to fight any true wars against each other, but most people view it as only a matter of time. They are constantly trying to usurp contracts, steal map information, or otherwise gain an upper hand over their rivals, and it seems likely that sooner or later the Free Cities will end up at war.
The Bahami Federation is another state that the Augustinians pay close attention to. The mukarribs regularly raid shipping across the Endless Ocean and Circle Sea, and with Augustin being a trade power, their ships are occasionally targeted. The Augustinians have learned to tolerate a minor bit of piracy, and their ships will offer a small tribute to any corsair that threatens their crew and voyage. A wise pirate will accept this proposal, as the Augustinians used the Cooperston Reprisal as an example of what would await any corsair who took their efforts too far. The Augustinians nonetheless maintain an embassy in Aljana, keeping an eye on the affairs of the Malik and those who come to pay him tribute from other islands.
The Jakonian Empire remains a constant thought in the minds of any Augustinian politician. Although the Free City is independent, the Empire could one day attempt to regain power or it could collapse. Either way, it is a possible problem. To make matters worse, many Nasites view the leadership of the Free City as traitors and puppets, having turned their back on their people, and so rebel Nasite attacks have a tendency to spill over across the border. The Augustinians have tried to forestall this by turning a blind eye to the smuggling of weapons and supplies to the rebels, while maintaining a delicate balance of pretending to police the border to appease the Empire. Both sides see the Free City in its current position, and everyone is sure that sooner or later they will have to commit to a side.
The San Jon River is a major thoroughfare for trade, albeit a relatively minor one to Augustin. Due to that, they find themselves in a splendid position of being able to tax the trade and put pressure upon both Columba and Kiralyno. Kiralyno has been more aggressive in their responses to this interference, but the Augustinians are constantly hanging the threat of closing the river over the heads of both states. They can only push this so far, as the Jakonians also enjoy San Jon trade, and it seems likely that if the Augustinian government becomes too greedy, they risk unifying the other states against them.
Agriculture & Industry
The farms of Augustin produce enough for their people, more or less. They have a few luxury resources, and the cattle ranches of the northern Free City territories are extensive and plentiful. The cattle are the most common of these produced, as room for ranches rarely exists in other regions. Local industry is also in play, mostly focused upon the shipyards here. The Augustinians build plenty of ships, although only about half of their own vessels are made locally, with the rest from Jakonia or Forard. To accommodate this industry, they have a sizable lumber industry from the woods, although it mostly just services local needs. For export, the production of pitch and tars is also common.
Trade & Transport
The majority of trade in Augustin takes place by the waterways. Even between the towns of the Free City, the San Jon River acts as the central highway for travel. There are a handful of old Jakonian paved roads, but these are rarely used except by cattle ranchers and wanderers, often bereft of even the smallest caravan. The most overland trade takes place between Augustin and the Jakonian town of Matanzas, but even this is moribund by the standards of the sheer amount of tonnage sent out of the port of Augustin. For the most part, trade overland consists of items from other areas being purchased for distribution by the fleets of Augustin.
Education
Education in Augustin is available for those who can pay for it. The Colegio de Banderas in Augustin offers a number of courses in all fields by some of the finest mages, scholars, and artists available, but at prices meant for the wealthy. Furthermore, education at a younger level is offered by a collection of privately owned schools and childcare facilities, teaching young ones how to read and grow, for a price. Education is as much of a commodity in Augustin as any other product available in its market.
Infrastructure
The Free City has invested very little into infrastructure, allowing the old Jakonian roadways to mostly fall into disrepair. The bridges of the nation have been taken over by private interests, which charge tolls for passage and maintenance costs. The waterfronts of the towns and Augustin have all been financed by the taxpayer, however, due to the great importance of ongoing trade. The docks, dredging of canals, and regulation of imports have all had great amounts of funding and construction poured into them.
The Eldest City
Founding Date
Newfeast 9, 1000
Type
Geopolitical, Free City
Capital
Demonym
Augustinian
Head of State
Head of Government
Government System
Oligarchy
Power Structure
Unitary state
Economic System
Market economy
Currency
Copper/silver/gold
Major Exports
Ships, pitch, tar, liquor, cattle
Major Imports
Iron ores, minerals, gold, luxury items, exotic foodstuffs
Legislative Body
Free City Council
Judicial Body
Drakan Incorporated Court System
Official State Religion
Official Languages
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
Notable Members
Related Ethnicities
Comments