Kingdom of Suilley

The Kingdom of Suilley is an independent kingdom located in the southeastern region of Akados.

History

Nearly 300 years ago in the year 3222, Ghienvais Pas, the lord-governor of Suilley, had himself crowned as His Independent Majesty Ghienvais I, King of Suilley, Marquis of the Lorremach Highhills, and Warden of the Plains of Suilley. This event is still often called the “Theft of the Kingdom” in Foere, and Suilley the “Stolen Kingdom,” although three centuries have turned the Suilleyn secession into an accomplished fact of history, legitimated by the passage of time.
The Suilleyn nobles came to see themselves as a distinct branch of the Foerdewaith and to this day insist on using the old tongue of Gasquen. the class united around the lord-governor and sent a letter to the court wishing to negotiate their taxes and privlidges. Despite the peacefulness of their intentions, a civil war broke out in eastern Suilley between those who wished succession and those who wished to remain loyal to the Foere Crown.
The overking had watched his empire slip through his fingers as numerous other provinces declared independence, and immediately branded the king of Suilley an usurper and traitor to the crown, and stripped the nobles of their lands. By doing so, it united the Suilleyn's against the Overking and the war began. Even those who had opposed the succession found themselves in a fight for their lives. The new kingdom mustered every able-bodied peasant and knight who could straddle a horse and prepared for an all-out war. Fortifications were constructed and armies trained.
Near Bullocks Bale a decisive battle was struck, the Foere being unfamiliar with the muddy season in Suilley vastly underestimated their foe. The invading army of the Rampart was dealt a decisive blow, and the Kingdom of Suilley was born.

The Formation of the Senate

The largest problem facing Suilley at this time is actually the result of its own past successes in war and diplomacy. It has inherited the realms of Keston and Toullen with all their problems, which means the king of Suilley now possesses, largely by default, a wide-ranging and disorganized feudal empire. The Suilleyn monarchy is being entreated from all sides to shoulder the burden of solving vast regional problems caused by the retreat of Foere.
To prevent another civil war from beginning, Ghienvais allowed some concessions to the nobles who had sacrificed so much to . While the thoughts of a pure democracy was unheard of, the Nobles were granted seats on the senate. A certain percentage of the nations taxes would go to the newly formed senate who would be given rights. They would be allowed to pass laws, levy additional taxes, and handle the bureaucracy of the nation. The king would retain ultimate power, but through Suilley's history would not overstep his bounds or risk the united nobles turning on him. The king would have enough funds to handle many personal projects, but would have to request funds from the Senate in order to muster an army.
This delegation of duties has kept the fledgling kingdom in check for centuries. The nobles having a direct say, and direct power, over the kingdom and its future has kept them from attempting to overthrow the king and has cemented the unity of the country.

Government

While much of the continent has hereditary lines of the eldest child taking power, in the realm of Suilley they practice primogeniture. This antiquated practice has come into question in recent years, but in Suilley the eldest born male still retains the rights to their fathers titles, lands and other affairs.
The Senate and King both follow this rule. The Senate has the right to promote or demote other noble families as they vote fit, but this must still be ratified by the king. The exception to this is Day of Exaltation, in which a commoner is raised to the status of Nobility by the King himself.

Expansion

Two major provinces of Foere, the County of Toullen and Province of Keston, ultimately renounced their fealty to the overking of Foere in the year 3336 I.R. and pledged themselves to the king of Suilley as vassal states.

Wilderness

As with most of the Borderland Provinces, Suilley is far more settled, law-abiding, and prosperous in the regions surrounding its patrolled roads than in the rural areas beyond. Much of the interior resembles a thick scattering of villages and castles merging into an equally thick scattering of wilderness. Thus, there are always opportunities to find adventure, even in the country’s heartlands. The Lorremach Highhills and the Wilderland Hills are large wilderness regions with virtually no protection whatsoever and can be very dangerous to those without armed escorts.

The Lion Blades

Formed by King Florentin I, The Lion Blades of Suilley are a small but powerful organization committed to protecting the interests of Suilley and its ruler, the King.
The organization guards the palace of the King, and they alone have the power to confirm the King's Successor. Traditionally, this is the firstborn son of the king, but in the event of an heirless death, the Senate will vote in the best candidate during their next session. Once decided, it is still up to the leader of the Lion Blades to agree with the Senates decision, though it is nearly unthinkable that they would go against the senates wishes.
When the Senate votes for the King, it is assumed that it would be the closest relative to the former king, but in extreme circumstances it could be possible they declare a new line of succession.
Once The Lion Blades place the Crown of Suilley on the new Kings Head, it becomes official and the King, and the Kings successors, will rule until the end of Suilley.
Lion Blades are usually recruited out of the famous bardic colleges of Manas. They are trained at the Shadow Schools for at least a year before taking on missions. Although most Lion Blades work for the government, some hire themselves out to non-governmental organizations, or simply work for themselves.
The leader of the Lion Blades is Draguta Rell. She is the master of the Shadow Schools, while in her public life, she is an advisor to the King. Rell's official duties consist entirely of training new Lion Blades, but she has won the personal loyalty of most of the members. It is supposed that most of the decisions of the faction are made by debate and consensus among the most senior members, but Rell often gives a completely different set of personal orders and these orders always turn to be beneficial to the Lion Blades.

Ranks of Nobility

Grand Duke: Ruler of a prefecture. This title is limited to a maximum of 6 grand dukes; though more could be awarded should the borders of Suilley expand, such as if the County of Toullen is fully integrated into the Empire.
Duke: Dukes administer a duchy within a prefecture and report to the grand duke thereof. There is one duke per region of Suilley, leading to 25 Dukes. Most Dukes are Senators, though this is not automatic.
Senator: All senators must bear another noble title in order to be installed in the Senate. All senators may vote in the Senate. It is rare for a Lord or Knight to be granted the rank of Senator. A Senator is voted upon by the Senate to a maximum of 4 Senators per region, with a total of 100 Senators.
Marquess: Serves as the guard of a wilderness or border region and typically has a standing army to defend this region.
Count/Countess/Earl/Baron/Baroness: Within Suilley these titles are interchangeable, each administer a county within a duchy.
Landgrave: Similar in function to the role of Marquess, the landgrave administers an unsettled, but important, tract of land. Landgraves do not typically command an army to defend their region, and thus are seen as lesser than a marquess.
Lord: A ruler of a specific land. Lords often report to barons, though occasionally they report to a viscount. To be a mayor, one must be a lord, and the full title is often Lord Mayor. Most lords have a small plot of land, a small village, or a small city they administer.
Knight: The lowest rank among Taldan nobles. Typically children of nobles are conferred this title first, especially those with military service.

Current Affairs

King Florentin III is the current King of Suilley. He was formerly married to Etroffe and had two children shortly before her death. The eldest is his daughter, Princess Camelia, and his son was born two years later. His sole son and heir, Carrius II, was accidentally killed in a horseback riding accident.

Crest

Regional Information

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Capital: Manas
Notable Settlements: Alembretia, Cluin, Pfefferain, Stronghold Hjerrin
Ruler: His Most Regal Majesty King Florentin III of Suilley, Sovereign of Keston and Toullen, Protector-Regent of the Lorremach.
Government: Monarchy
Languages: Common, Gasquen
Religion: Ceres, Sefagreth, Freya, Vanitthu, Mitra, Thyr, Muir, Archeillus, Mick O’Delving, Belon the Wise, Solanus, Darach Albith, Yenomesh, Bowbe, The Father, Mathrigaunt the Mad Suilly Customs

Portraits

King Florentin III

Princess Camelia Vasile

Draguta Rell