MotF 126: Nix the Notion of Nation

Theocracy of Paraguay



Link to larger version Paraguay

The Bjarkey League

For the most part, the lands of Men are without rulers or allegiances above the things of the hundreds and lands. Though warmasters and protectors of various stripes periodically arise out of the countryside and attempt to enforce their rule, they are never permitted to get far before they are stopped, whether it's by the war-parties assembled by the steadmen and freeholders of each hundred or by the direct intervention of the Godar themselves. The rule set down after the Fall of Galdar, that none shall ever rule supreme in any world, continues to be followed by all.

Nevertheless, there are some levels of organisation one simply cannot do without. For instance, if the hargar didn't have any oversight there'd be no coordination between the faithful in one town and the next - omens might fail to be invoked when needed most, and the will of the Godi might be interpreted differently in different places. The bands of hunters who prowl the land carrying out the thing's justice, too, might fall into anarchy if not properly watched, and so the twelvemen of the thing employ selected hunters to oversee their brethren and make sure they do not run excessively afoul of the law. Last but not least, the towns, cheapsteads and trading posts around the land need protection from bandits and assorted evildoers if commerce is to be carried out well, and it was with this in mind that the League of the Bjarkeyar should come to exist.

Operating under the protection of the Red Lord of the Southmarch, the League has exclusive control over trade with both Marches. Its six principal cities - Kauwik, Hafnaura, Kvistun, Markauping, Tuna and Bygdvik, span the length of the Eastern Sea coast, from the sunbathed hills of the south to the forested cliffs and river valleys of the north. Its ships carry all manner of goods to the peoples east of the mountains, and by means of the great log-road at Hafnes, its reach extends to the shores of the Western Sea as well. Its member towns and guilds arrange for their own guards, and the Red Lord himself watches over its ships at sea, and all that is required of them in exchange for the protection and trade access is a small annual payment to the coffers of the harg at Thorfeld, close to the volcano on which He resides. It is not known why He provides this, nor is it much desired to be known - the merchants are happy enough to have a lucrative business environment, and the others are happy to have good trading opportunities. Surely though, we will all one day find out...

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The Western Schism was an event that occurred in 1378, in which two men both claimed to be the pope. The Schism in the Western Roman Church resulted from the return of the papacy to Rome under Gregory XI on January 17, 1377, ending the Avignon Papacy, which had developed a reputation for corruption that estranged major parts of Western Christendom. After Gregory’s death in 1378, the Romans rioted to ensure the election of a Roman for pope. Later that year, the cardinals elected a Neapolitan, when no viable Roman candidates presented themselves. Urban VI, born in Bari, was elected. Urban had been a respected administrator in the papal chancery at Avignon, but as pope he proved suspicious, reformist, and prone to violent outbursts of temper. Some of the Cardinals regretted their decision, and moved out of Rome in order to elect Robert of Geneva as a rival pope. Robert took the name Clement VII, and reestablished a papal court in Avignon. There had been antipopes before, but none this influential.

As time went on, the various nations of the world declared their loyalty to either Avignon or Rome. Most parts of France supported Avignon, along with Castile, Aragon, and Scotland. Parts of the HRE, England, and much of the formerly Roman Catholic world still supported the pope in Rome. Over the fifteenth century, the two popes each grew farther apart. Rome grew more conservative, while Avignon became more universal in order to appease its small audience of followers. After the discovery of Zephyria by the Castilians in 1485, it quickly turned into a race to colonize the region based on religion. Avignon Christians were promised all land north of the 10th parallel, while Rome was promised all the land to the south. This turned out to be good for both parties, as España and France quickly colonized Azteca, while Rome and Portugal divided up Elysium. England ended up getting the far south of Elysium, as they weren’t very well liked by either party.

As it stands today, Avignon Christianity is solidly separate from Roman Catholicism. The Republic of Zephyria Occidental is one of the main defenders of the faith, as it stands. The Avignon Pope is commonly called a Doge, if only to separate them from one another. Avignon developed oddly similar to OTL, but their political relations with other nations are much more important.