County of Cenomannie

The County of Cenomannie is a vassal of the Duchy of Anjev, largely of equal size to the Counties of Angeus and Touraine. What sets Cenomannie apart however, is the largely unified control of its territory. While Angeus and Touraine are largely divided into smaller semi-independent sovereignties, Cenomannie is a single unit, administered, but not ruled by a collection of barons, lords and knights.   The County seat, and largest settlement of Cenomannie is the Red City of Ar Mans.

Cenomannie is largely dominated by the powerful House Laval, the current Comtes de Cenomannie. Laval's influence extends throughout Anjev and Eastern Letha. They publicly have thrown their support behind "Sant" Charlez Blaez in his claim for the Ducal throne of Letha, hoping to gain an edge over their rivals, House Tydorel, Comtes d'Angeus and House de Chinon, Comtes de Touraine.

Cenomannie is rich and powerful in its own right, but lags behind Touraine in terms of economy and behind Angeus in military power.

During the Misty Times, Cenomannie was the home to several small clans, frequently battling against hostile Fae and Bediz from Letha, La Manche and Angeus. It became a prime target in the efforts of the Church of the Four, as a stronghold of a "primitive cult". As a result, it is taken over by ecclesiastic authority, the Comte-archperfects of Ar Mans. The region was somewhat unified as a functional theocracy, dedicated towards the improvement and maintenance of the Church's hold on the region and its efforts into Armorica and Cotentin. Despite the strength of the Faith within the walls of Ar Mans, the Path of the Forest and animist cults remain popular in rural Cenomannie.  

The Affair of the Archperfect's Eyes

  Located in a region under frequent Viking raids, the city became a major hub of the slave trade between Akitania, Anjev, and Letha, until a popular revolt against the comte-archperfect leading to his ouster. The King of Gallia intervened, sending an army to install a new archperfect, Herlande. At the same time, the Comte of Rotomagus sought to do the same, dispatching archperfect Gauziolene to fulfill the role. A tenous truce was agrred upon and the two governed as co-leader for a short time, before Gauziolene forced Herlande to put out his eyes during a dinner.   In revenge, Gallia sacked Ar Mans, capturing Gauziolene and bursting his eyes with alchemical magic. The "Affair of the Archperfect's Eyes" prove the last straw for the frustrated populace, who rebelled once more, demanding an end of theocratic rule. A new, secular Comte is put in place and things calm down. The event is memorialized on the Arms of Ar Mans, featuring 4 bloody spikes used to put out the eyes of Bishops Herlande and Gauziolene.  

Tumultuous Times

  A century follows as Cenomannie is thrown into a series of small wars with Gallia, Letha and Angeus, changing sides to protect the power of the Comtes. Ar Mans and Cenomannie generally remains a frequent target of Manchais raids.   This period of chaos culminates in the disastrous Battle of Brissarthe and a civil war. Formorian Lord Baillou the Usuper leads a rebellion against Comte Gauzlin II and Archperftect Gontier of Maine, attacking Ar Mans massacring the citizens and setting Church property afire. He is excommunicated and defeated by Robert I of Gallia, but regroups and takes the city once more, establishing a line of Comtes. Gontier takes power in Ar Mans itself, while Baillou's line rules Cenomanni's rural territory.   What follows is a golden age of craftsmanship as the city becomes a center for wheelwrights, saddle makers, and carpenters, gaining specific reputation for goldsmithing and liturgical furniture. The Belleme family rises to the position of Archperfect, gaining a reputation for cruelty, including the mutilation and murder of wedding guests.   A civil war breaks out between House Belleme (supporting the Archperfects) and House Hugonid (Support the Comtes), leaving the city in chaos, spreading to Angeus, Blaez, Touraine and Vendome. Ar Mans is then captured by Gwilherm II of Normandi, but rebels 5 years later during his invasion of Logres. The leaders of both Houses are hunted down by an angry mob and a new Comte is installed by Gwilherm.   30 years later, the city becomes a launching point of a Crusade against Iram of the Pillars. Through marriage, Cenomannie is joined with Angeus and Touraine, Formally becoming part of the Duchy of Anjev.

Compared to Angeus and Touraine, Cenomannie has the largest population of non-human inhabitants, being home to a long tradition of Formorian occupation, including at one point, the ruling family of the County.

A large county, taking up the northern half of the Duchy of Anjev, marking the border with Letha and La Manche, making it an important border region.   It borders (Clockwise from West) the County of Roazhon in Breizh, the Counties of Mortain and Alencon in Normandi, the Forests of Perche and the Viscounty of Kastelldun in the Gallian Crownlands, and the Viscounty of Vendome and Counties of Touraine and Angers in Anjev

Cenomannie has great ambitions for increased influence in Letha and Anjev, and has directed its attentions that direction, holding important lands and posts within both Counties. It support the claims of Charlez Blaez on the throne.