Estrella

A small principality in the Marcian region, Estrella has long been the weakest of the Marcian nations. Since the end of the Marcian Wars in 550, the nation has been allied with the Seldrinar Supremacy and been its primary extenstion into the region. This has seen the principality shunned by its neighbours, giving it the weakest economy and standard of living in Marcia, with society almost regressing to a pre-awakening state.
Like most of its Marcian neighbours, Estrella is in a steep post-war decline. The principality is beleived to have lost around half of its adult population, with many others fleeing to neighbouring states leaving the current economy devesated and many abandoned towns and villages throughout the country. The scars of the war can be seen everywhere, as the Estrellans have not had the resources or support to help rebuild their war torn country.

Structure

Estrella is a fuedal nation led by a prince. Most of the countryside is ruled by by barons, viscounts and what few Estrellan knights still remain. These minor nobles pay taxes to counts in Malfi, Estrella, or Tarmora, with those counts then paying the prince of the country. Estrella follows the ancient Marcian tradition of male-only inheritance, an archaic policy that none of its neighbours follow.
A few freemen families can be found in larger towns and the three cities of the principality, but most of the population live as indentured servants of the peasant class. The 40 year was has seen some class movement as many former peasants were appointed as knights following devestating losses to their enemies.

Culture

In West Marcia, Altruscia is seen as the cultured state, Irrano as the rich state, the Holy Goose State as the holy state, and Estrella as the militaristic state. Estrellans are considered loud and combative with a fierce conservatism and pride of tradition. Manners and respect are expected, with layers of langauge on how to address people dependent on their titles. The region is incredibly suspicious of outsiders, lacking the friendly laid back nature of its neighbours.

History

Ancient History

Current human settlement of what is now Estrella began in the first as the Netalii people migrated across the Sun Elf empire and settled in the Marcian region. Legends and some scant historical records talk of the prexisting Rolish people who inhabited the region before the Netalli or Sun Elves, but no artefacts or clear evidence has ever been found of this tribe.
The Netalii, from the city of Neapia in the contemporary Holy Goose States, would go onto found the Marcian Empire in the mid-second age. Estrella became a core part of the empire, housing impressive cities, public projects, and economic development of its rolling plains for vinyards and orchards. During the empire, a legionairre named Estrellus is claimed to have slain a black dragon who tormented the sun mounts of Marcia Major. Estrellus brought the dragon's remains to his estate, and as a reward from the emperor was allowed to found his own city, Estrellicum, modern Estrella city. The region still bares the black dragon sigil of Estrellus on its flag.
When the Marcian Empire fell, the Estrellan region was devestated by Aedrinarian raiders who would go onto absorb it as part of the Kingdom of Norvjold. The estrellan legion was heavily looted and plundered, with the black dragon remains supposidly stolen by the raiders. Since the Norvjold chronicles would go on to be destroyed by successive Marcian kingdoms, there is no evidence if the remains actually existed or where they were placed.

Origins

The Estrellan region was divided into one of the holds of Norvjold during the Aedrinarian kingdom's existence. The native estrellan population, unlike many of the other Marcian kingdoms, still refered to themsevles and Marcinii, citizens of the Marcian Empire. This pride in their ancient hertiage saw the Estrellans revolt multiple times, and it is likely their constant instability would contribute to Norvjold's eventual collapse. When the kingdom fell, Estrella was amongst the last of the new nations to gain its independence.
A new principality was led from Estrella - the title of king or emperor was not chosen as the dark age estrellans beleived there could only be one emperor, and that was in Neapia. Estrella would go onto have small conflicts throughout the middle ages with its neighbours in Altruscia, Iranno, and the Holy Goose States and occasionally into the Heptarchy across the river axe, frequently battling with the axian kingdom of Southaxe.

Late Second Age and Awakening

Estrella had kept much of its ancient Marcian knowledge on weapon crafting, and fielded some of the best knights and weapons of the dark and late second ages. Estrellan Steel became its most important export, but outside of this legacy the kingdom was largely second fiddle to all of its neighbours. It did not have the land or resources of Altruscia, the influence of the goose sates, or the mercantile power of Iranno.
Estrella's decline from proud former province of a long dead empire to the 'sick man of Marcia' was a slow and gradual process. The stubborness to stick by tradition meant the region was always at least a century behind the rest of the human world, and was slow to adopt to new tactics or technology. The first windmill in Estrella wasn't installed till year 0 of the third age, for instance.
The principality still produced plenty of food, wine, and olive oil, but it's production of weapons was entirely dependent on a few key mines and as other nation's grew in power and influence and new technology became more prevelant, Estrellan steel became less and less valuable, until it was basically regarded as entirely outdated. Irranoese ore extraction was more advanced, East Marcian smithing was in greater numbers, and the Axian kingdoms had begun importing from the dwarves.
Some glory could be found by Estrellans in the crusades, with many minor nobles going on to own relams in the crusader kingdoms and scores of Estrellans becoming members of the Knights of Gosca.
By the end of the second age, Estrella was economically and socially weak, constantly facing internal baron revolts and peasant uprisings. The other Marcian Kingdoms, growing in strength and prestige, looked upon the princiaplity with disgust and pity, the Rigordian duke of Altruscia being the first to call them the, "Sick man of Marcia."

Third Age Rennaissance

After a century and half of internal disruption and embarassment on the world stage, the start of the third age and spreading of the Awkening philosphy from Falzeno did see a small boost for the country. In 109 3e, Prince Benedicto IV would be coronated. Benedicto's father had been the duke before his uncle usurped him, killing him and forcing Benedicto and his sister on the run. Benedicto had fled to Falzeno where he experienced the effects of the awakening first hand, and realised what it could do for a country.
When the boy turned 19, he mounted mercanaries, Altruscian volunteers, and loyal houses back in Estrella and took the throne back by force. Benedicto clamped down on any competition and became massive reforms to install new social systems and adopt new technology. Benedicto would ban serfdom by the end of his reign, lifting thousands out of poverty.
The Principality then enjoyed a century and half of peace and propserity. It was still weak and far behind it's fellow Marcian nations, but for the first time in centuries the region was enjoying growth and positive change. Much of the now ruined Marcian infastructure was also rebuilt, with aqueducts, collesiums, and sewers being reconsturcted with new modern piazzas, palaces, and mills built in the main cities as well.

Marcian Wars and Seldrinar Alliance

The golden age was cut short with the arrival of the Marcian Wars in 495. Estrella remained the ally of the Eldrians for most of the wars, with only one prince briefly siding with the Seldrinar for a brief period. The Nation was facing constant battles and attacks from all of its neighbours until the treaty of Saunton united the Marcian states as a single league. Estrella exited the war exhausted and economically drained. There was also loud discontent within the ranks of the nobility for the bribes paid to the Seldrinar allied nations to make peace, as the principality had largely remained loyal for the entire war period and was recieving no help or support from the empire or its allies. 
A famine caused by a lack of field workers devestated the principality in 551, a year after they had exited the Marcian Wars. They tried begging the Eldrians and Papacy for help, but recieved nothing. A Seldrinar Ambassador would arrive later in the year with crates of food and gold - beginning the principalities new relationship with the elven state.
Since 552, the Estrellans and Seldrinar have been consistent allies. This has distanced the nation from its fellow Marcians, who were all alligned with the Eldrian Empire. This isolation has embittered the Estrellans and other Marcians against each other. Before the 40 year war began, Iranno used the threat and distrust of the principality to form an alliance of the other Marcian states against them and their Seldrinar beneficaries, leaving the principality completely alone.
This isolation also caused the principality to socially backslide. A return to serfdom had been unoffical for at least a century as the unemployed and criminals were 'life long' contracted to work for substiance only on the estates of the nobility. The ban on serfdom was officially lifed in 735.
It was no surprise that with the beginning of the 40 year, Estrella would side with the Seldrinar. The principality was essentially a pawn to the supremacy, being there to absorb attention from the other Marcian nations whilst the supremacy swallowed up the holy land and East Marcia. Estrella faced brutal attacks from all angles, but did gain some land in Iranno and Altruscia and raided the holy goose states.
The beginning of the Commonwealth phase saw a few Estrellan veterans shipped to the new frontline, but most stayed in their homeland. The beginning of a new phase of the war also allowed the Estrellans some breathing room as the Marcian League collapsed with Altruscia joining the Commonwealth faction. Estrella would not last for much longer, being invaded by Southaxe in the late 1020s and then a turncoat Iranno in the 1030s.

Post-War

Estrella lost the most per-capita population during the war and the second-most territory. Between military deaths, civilian casualties, and disease around half the population died with thousands more fleeing the country. The nation is in a death spiral as its economic system has completly collapsed and its once beautiful and ancient cities still lie in disrepair or ruin. Crime is rampant and food scracity is commonplace, if the principality survives for another decade it will be a surprise to everyone.

Demography and Population

Estrella is a very human state, with around 95% of the population being Estrellan cultured humans. The nation's diplomatic isolation means other cultures are hestiant to locate themselves in the principality's territory.
Since the end of the war, at least 2/3s of the population are under 30, the higest rate in the region. Birth rates have been slow to recover and infant mortality remains high due to famine and disease. The population are amongst the poorest in the civilized world, with the average Southaxian commoner technically being worth more than a member of the Estrellan nobility.

Territories

The nation is largely flat, with highlands to its south and the bordering Sun Mounts to its east. The River Albion forms a natural and wide border with Southaxe to the north and forested lands form its western border with the Holy Goose States. The River Severus runs through the middle of the country and helps provide additional irrigation and water, with some winterbourne streams forming in the latter half of the year, originating from the mountains.
Temperature and weather wise, Estrella experiences plentiful sunshine and enjoys long, warm summers. The lack of access to direct sea air means summer temperatures can reach 39 degress celcius, and only cools to around 14 degrees on average in the winter. Rainfall comes most often in spring and autumn, with seasonal storms providing neccesary water for the ground.
The region is primarily a medeterranean climate, with some montane forests along the sun mounts and tree savannah to its south. A temperate broadleaf environment exists along the border and Iranno.

Land of the black dragon

  Estrella (red) on the continent of Prima Terra

Founding Date

2202

Type

Geopolitical, Country

Demonym

Estrellan

Government System

Monarchy, Absolute

Power Structure

Feudal state

Economic System

Traditional

Neighboring Nations

• Altruscia
• Holy Goose States
• Iranno
• Southaxe