Post by The Minister on Apr 30, 2019 0:12:19 GMT
Atlantis
The Kingdom of Atlantis is a realm located on the continent of Atlantis, ruled by the Queen of Atlantis from the City of Atlas. The borders of the Kingom have remained largely unchanged throughout its long history and the realm consists of most of the continent, save for the Principality of Eumelus to the East of the continent.
Origin
Legend has it that the Kingdom was founded by the God Poseidon when his first sons were born and he made his first born son, Atlas, the first King. The legend tells us that Poseidon had ten sons from a local lowborn woman named Cleito and so founded ten Kingdoms for them to rule over, including Atlantis and Eumelus.
Of the ten Kingdoms, only Atlantis and Eumelus survive to this day, with the other eight Kingdoms having slowly been replaced due to conflict, migration, natural disasters, seccession and merging. There are many nations in the vicinity of Atlantis which claim to be descended from these eight Kingdoms. While recognising the independence and sovereignty of the many Atlantian Nations, Atlantis claims the right of supremacy over all of them, though rarely enforces her rights in modern times.
While many theories circulate, noone truly knows the age of the Kingdom or precisely how many Kings it has had. What is clear is that House Atlas ruled the Kingdom for its entire history until the sole remaining Member of the House, Kostakis Atlas, abdicated the throne in NS 210, triggering a palace power struggle from which Lady Marcella of House Forstern emerged Queen.
Government
Due to its vast size, the Kingdom of Atlantis is divided into thirteen administrative districts, each with large degrees of auonomy and authority over the local lords and lowborn. The rulers of districts are the Lords Paramount, with the exception of the Great Plain district which is directly governed by the Monarch.
The highest Office in the Kingdom is that of the Monarch, which is a hereditary position that has always been passed down to the oldest male son of the King, until the abdication of Kostakis Atlas. The Monarch theoretically hs absolute power over the Kingdom, though there are limits to the Monarchs power based on the influence of other main players.
The Monarch usually enlists a Minister to handle the day to day affairs of the Kingdom and is advised by various courtiers. While not having any official power, the Captain of the Kingsguard is often a powerful man and the position is well sought after, not just for the influence that comes from closeness to the Monarch, but for the ultimate power over the Monarch's defences. Several Kings have been murdered by the their own Kingsguard and even more have found their guards withdrawing protection when it is needed most.
Religion
The dominant and official religion in Atlantis is a local form of Hellenism, which worships many deities, but places the importance of Poseidon highly. Despite the strength of the official religion, there are many foreign deities worshipped in the Kingdom which have migrated to the continent over its history. The Crown protects all religions but has been known to interfere with religious dogma with a view to encourage minority religions to accept their deities as inferior to Poseidon.
The religious authorities weild considerable influence in the Kingdom, though have actively worked against militant and conservative factions within the temples. The High-Priest in the City of Atlas is widely considered one of the most powerful people in the Kingdom and the Office has often come into conflict with the Crown.
Commerce
Atlantis has a strong trading and supply infrastructure, with major rivers feeding into a network of canals in the Great Plain that connect the capital to the various town and cities across the Kingdom. There are several major ports dotted around the continent which foster trade across the region. Trade is vigorous, with considerable different products created in different districts. The official currency is the drachma, though some other currencies are accepted in some areas.
The Atlas Bank, the dominant banking organisation in the Kingdom, is fiercely independant from the Crown and wields enormous power over the financial system of the Kingdom. The Atlas Bank lends money to the Crown and is not afraid to bankroll rivals of the Monarch should the Crown be unable to pay its debts.
Origin
Legend has it that the Kingdom was founded by the God Poseidon when his first sons were born and he made his first born son, Atlas, the first King. The legend tells us that Poseidon had ten sons from a local lowborn woman named Cleito and so founded ten Kingdoms for them to rule over, including Atlantis and Eumelus.
Of the ten Kingdoms, only Atlantis and Eumelus survive to this day, with the other eight Kingdoms having slowly been replaced due to conflict, migration, natural disasters, seccession and merging. There are many nations in the vicinity of Atlantis which claim to be descended from these eight Kingdoms. While recognising the independence and sovereignty of the many Atlantian Nations, Atlantis claims the right of supremacy over all of them, though rarely enforces her rights in modern times.
While many theories circulate, noone truly knows the age of the Kingdom or precisely how many Kings it has had. What is clear is that House Atlas ruled the Kingdom for its entire history until the sole remaining Member of the House, Kostakis Atlas, abdicated the throne in NS 210, triggering a palace power struggle from which Lady Marcella of House Forstern emerged Queen.
Government
Due to its vast size, the Kingdom of Atlantis is divided into thirteen administrative districts, each with large degrees of auonomy and authority over the local lords and lowborn. The rulers of districts are the Lords Paramount, with the exception of the Great Plain district which is directly governed by the Monarch.
The highest Office in the Kingdom is that of the Monarch, which is a hereditary position that has always been passed down to the oldest male son of the King, until the abdication of Kostakis Atlas. The Monarch theoretically hs absolute power over the Kingdom, though there are limits to the Monarchs power based on the influence of other main players.
The Monarch usually enlists a Minister to handle the day to day affairs of the Kingdom and is advised by various courtiers. While not having any official power, the Captain of the Kingsguard is often a powerful man and the position is well sought after, not just for the influence that comes from closeness to the Monarch, but for the ultimate power over the Monarch's defences. Several Kings have been murdered by the their own Kingsguard and even more have found their guards withdrawing protection when it is needed most.
Religion
The dominant and official religion in Atlantis is a local form of Hellenism, which worships many deities, but places the importance of Poseidon highly. Despite the strength of the official religion, there are many foreign deities worshipped in the Kingdom which have migrated to the continent over its history. The Crown protects all religions but has been known to interfere with religious dogma with a view to encourage minority religions to accept their deities as inferior to Poseidon.
The religious authorities weild considerable influence in the Kingdom, though have actively worked against militant and conservative factions within the temples. The High-Priest in the City of Atlas is widely considered one of the most powerful people in the Kingdom and the Office has often come into conflict with the Crown.
Commerce
Atlantis has a strong trading and supply infrastructure, with major rivers feeding into a network of canals in the Great Plain that connect the capital to the various town and cities across the Kingdom. There are several major ports dotted around the continent which foster trade across the region. Trade is vigorous, with considerable different products created in different districts. The official currency is the drachma, though some other currencies are accepted in some areas.
The Atlas Bank, the dominant banking organisation in the Kingdom, is fiercely independant from the Crown and wields enormous power over the financial system of the Kingdom. The Atlas Bank lends money to the Crown and is not afraid to bankroll rivals of the Monarch should the Crown be unable to pay its debts.