Free City of Enzim

The Free City of Enzim (Varaso: Lo Puló Libêr do Enzim [ˈẽðim], Tratian: O Elefθerí Póli d’Énzim [ˈentsim]) was a city-state in western Eussis at the mouth of the Inner Sea. The city was a part of the Tratian Confederacy, a loose alliance of states in Trati founded to oppose Varaso conquest. The city was and is an important place in the history of Furanism, being the place Hair of Tunis and his followers fled to from Tunis, and serving as the nexus from which the religion expanded. This would bring the city into frequent conflict with the other members of the confederacy, particularly over the religion's prohibition of slavery, as much of Trati relied on Saurian slave plantations. The city thus developed a longstanding policy that while slavery was illegal within the city, and any slaves who entered the city would thus be automatically freed, they would not grant asylum, and repatriate any runaways to their prior owners as "freed", whereupon they would return to their previous enslaved status.
The city's politics were run initially by a mercantile oligarchy set up by the other members of the Tratian Congeferacy, but this was removed and replaced in 2130 by a council of 23 judges and clerics, five of whom were high judges whom each had the power of dismissal and whose counsel and opinions were held in high regard by other members of the council. This council, known by its retronym, the Enzimian Sanhedrin, but originally called simply the Sanhedrin (Le Sanhêdres), served as the template for future sanhedrins in other Furanist states.
Its advantageous geographical position and unique political situation made it a nexus of commerce and scholarship, attracting many influential merchants and bright minds, many of whom would convert to Furanism. Enzim was also notable for its complete and explicit prohibition of slavery, a world first. Their political situation surrounded by much larger powers, however, would mean they were not a refuge for any runaways, as they could not defend themselves against an invading army.
The position of Enzim would see Varas attempt multiple sieges of the city in 1920, 1955–1956, 2001, 2090–2092, 2120, 2123–2124, 2186–2187, 2216, and 2290–2306, each unsuccessful. The Siege of 2290 lasted a staggering 16 years, the third longest in history.
The city's invasion of Varas saw them expelled from the confederacy. During their subsequent wars of expansion, the island of Tirivade would join the confederacy against Enzim.

Free City of Enzim
Lo Puló Libêr do Enzim
O Elefθerí Póli d’Énzim

1911-2370

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Government

Mercantile Oligarchy (1911–2130)
Furanist Kritarchy (2130–2369)

Capital

Enzim

Languages

Official: Tratian, Varaso

Preceded by

Varaso Empire

Succeeded by

Holy Enzimian Empire