Duchy of La Manche

The Duchy of La Manche is a feudal state, a de jure Duchy sworn to the Crown of Gallia, although in reality it maintains a significant amount of legal and actual autonomy, acting as a fully independent state. This relationship is, in part, formalized in the Treaty of Epte, which grants the nobility of La Manche final approval of laws and legal protection from "arbitrary" Royal proclamations.   The nobility holds the majority of political power in the region, easily dwarfing that of civic, mercantile and ecclesiastic authorities. The Comtes and Vicomtes of La Manche hold their power through military might and a strong tradition of tight-knit clans. Generally, the lesser nobles of La Manche provide their lieges with tribute and manpower, but are largely responsible for their own defense, maintenance , economies and governance. The seat of the Duchy is currently held by the Konts of Rotomagus, although in the past, the Konts of Duron have held this position.   The exception to the absolute power of the nobility is in Noviomagus, where the Church of the Four holds direct temporal power as Comtes-Archperfects, administering the region under a mixture of civil and ecclesiastical law.

The Manchais are a proud people, rooted in a strong historical and cultural tradition, stretching back to the clans and things of Orkney and the Lost Peninsula. They draw from traditions and ritual, merging continental sensibilities and political stability with the stubborn independent streak and honor-bound systems of their forefathers.   The Manchais are known for their fighting spirit and military prowess.   In terms of succession, illegitimacy is not a bar, and many ruling nobles have been the children of concubines and mistresses.  

The Three Honors of La Manche

Honor to your family

Honor to your lord

Honor to yourself

The Duchy of La Manche is officially a vassal to the crown of Gallia, but have long kept a strong independent streak, second only to its Western neighbor of Letha. Officially neutral in both Letha and Gallian affairs, it watches the succession crises unfolding in its neighbors, but keeps its options open. Manchais nobles offer their services as diplomats, mercenaries, traders and allies, doling out patronage and alliances as their own goals dictate.   The Duchy maintains strong ties to the sea, remaining culturally, economically, and politically tied to Orkney, and to a lesser extent, the Fortunate Isles. Manchais trade routes cross the seas, while its raiders and mercenaries are renowned from Fjallkonan to Pharos. Trading colonies with ties to the Duchy dot the Mor Kreizdouar.

The Duchy's most prominent asset is its control of the Sena River, commanding trade and movement between the Neustrian capital of Per-Ys and the Mor Breizh. Important port towns, such as Rotomagus, Honfleur and Carusburg help establish La Manche as a powerful force in trade and shipbuilding, and the guilds and nobles of the Duchy command notable fleets of ships and Windships.

The region was held by the Empire of Tarif, heavily supporting its operations on Albia with evidence of a developed network of paved roads and ports. Following the Tear, the region was conquered by Magnus Maximus, Emperor of the West, serving as his main base of operations during the early campaign. Following the defeat of Magnus, his empire collapsed into petty kingdoms and disparate tribes. The region found itself assailed by Sidhe pirates from the Fortunate Isles and the onslaught of the Alfr under the reign of The Erlking.   Around 750 SI, the Fomorian Viking fleet of Hastings Fireforged sacked Jumieges and established a permanent presence on the Saena River, allowing a foothold to harass Anjev and Gallia, threatening even Per-Ys itself. Hastings grew his small empire into a powerful presence, successfully occupying both La Manche and Letha until 842 SI, where he was defeated at the Battle of Trans-la-Forêt by Duke Alan "Al Louarn" II of Letha. Hastings' half-Fomorian son, Rollo I, seeing a shift in the world, pledged fealty to Charles the Simple of Gallia, gaining the territory that Hastings had conquered prior to the Battle of Brissarthe (723 SI) as well as the Contentin Peninsula. This treaty established La Manche as a Duchy North of the River Epte, making it a nominal vassal of Gallia.   In 964 SI, Gwilherm II, Dug of La Manche, launched a successful invasion of Albia against Milliget Prince Harold Godwinson, taking the island kingdom from the Sidhe and forming the Kingdom of Logres. This tied the Duchy to Logres, with Gwilherm retaining sovereignty of both lands, but still ostensibly the vassal of the Gallian King in La Manche. Several events and succession crises lead to significant infighting among the Normans and long periods of anarchy.   Norman power reached its zenith during the reign of Richarzh "Kalon Leon" IV, but fell shortly after his death when King Yann Dizouar took the throne, losing many of his key Norman holdings to Philippe II of Gallia in roughly 1101 SI, but remained disputed for some time afterwards. At this point, the Duchy became an Gallian appenage, but with significant autonomy from the Crown, with the Exchequer of Rotomagus holding final say, unable to be reversed by the authority of Per-Ys, nor was the King able to raise taxes without the consent of the Norman lords. La Manche experienced a crisis in the reign of King Philippe Le Bel, which sees mass riots in the Clockwork City ending with the lynching of the Lord Mayor and the looting of noble houses. Philippe revoked many merchant privileges, but these are taken back in a revolt of the barons with the backing of the Merchantmen and other guilds.

La Manche is flush with Sidhe and Fomorians who have assimilated into wider society, creating one of the most cosmopolitan regions on the continent, drawing in immigrants from other locations along the massive trade routes of the Duchy.

La Manche is located on the Northern Coast of Kornôgel, along the Painted Channel separating the continent from Albia, the largest of the Fortunate Isles. The Duchy begins at its most prominent landmass, the Cotentin Peninsula. The Western side of the Peninsula is the treacherous Shipwreck Crossing, a dangerous strait between the Peninsula and the Channel Islands. High winds, sharp rocks and dramatically shifting tides make this area exceptionally dangerous. Rounding the peninsula, the coast dips Southwards to create Sena Bay, also known as the Pearlcoast. At the mouth of the Sena River, at the Eastern side of its eponymous bay, the coastline heads North once more, forming the Alabaster Coast.  

Vassal States and Political Subdivisions

 

The County of Rotomagus

Borders: Located in Northeast La Manche, Rotomagus is the Ducal Seat of the region. It controls the mouth of the Sena River, and much of its flow in the Duchy. The County of Caux controls the Northern bank at the Estuary, Lisieux the South, but Rotomagus controls the river itself. The County of Eu and the Lordship of Aumale make up its Northern border, while Vexin and Evreux make up the South.   The Sena River bisects Rotomagus, winding back and forth as it meanders through high hills and rolling bocage. Vexin Manchais is also known as "Rollo's Prize".  

The County of Vexin Manchais

Borders: Vexin Manchais is located in the Southeast of the Duchy, South of Rotomagus and East of Evreux, with the Sena River continuing from Gallia into Rotomagus through its territory. A border region, its Southern border is taken up by the Gallian Counties of Mantes, Vexin Gallia and the Viscounty of Chaumont.   The Sena River cuts through the region, forming steep cliffs in the limestone plateau, while the valleys are dominated by beech forests.   Notable Locations Vexin Manchais boasts two powerful fortresses to defend the Sena River valley Kastell Gaillard (V) and Kastell Gisors. The town of Pîtres is built around a fortified bridge, built to defend Per-Ys from attacks from the Sea.   -----------------------------------------------------------  

Borders

  Despite its strong rivalry and cultural affinity for the Duchy of Letha, La Manche only shares a small land border with its Western neighbor, where the County of Avranches meets the Biskonti Dol and the March of Coglais.   More prominent is its shared border with the County of Cenomannie in the Duchy of Anjev, which shares a boundary with Mortain and Alecon.   Alencon and borders the Gallian  

Borders

Although without Northern neighbors, the Duchy still shares its border with several other Sovereignties. Starting from the East, it borders the Duchy of Letha (The Viscounty of Dinan and the County of Roazhon ), Duchy of Anjev (the County of Cenomannie ), Gallia (the County of Perche, the counties of Dreux, Mantes, Vexin Gallia and the Viscounty of Chaumont . Its Western border is made up of the Gallian occupied Cloth Cities of Beauvais, Samarobriva and Ponthieu.  

Vassal States

  Starting in the West, the Contentin Pensinula is dominated by the Viscounty of Coutances and its smaller Southern neighbor, the County of Avranches, each bordered to the East, almost respectively by the counties of Bayeux and Mortain. This continues with the coastal County-Bishopric of Lisieux and the inland County of Alencon until the Saena River, which marks the relative borders of, from North to South, the Counties of Caux, Rouan and Vexin. The Northern coastline continues past Caux to the Counties of Arques and Eure. The tiny County of Aumale, dominated by Eure and Rouan, juts out like a small point on the Eastern edge of the Duchy.  

Geographic Features

  La Manche is heavily developed with Bocage taking up the majority of the populated area. While primeval forests still remain, these are fewer and smaller than those found in neighboring Letha. Settlements are found largely along the coast or rivers.   The coastline of the region along the Mor Breizh is filled with indented valleys for ports and magnificent stone arches and columns, most notably the spectacular Ar Mor Alabaster within the County of Caux, where high cliffs of white chalk and flint dominating long stretches of pebble beaches below. In the west, the coastline is marked with low sandy beaches. This region, North of the Saena is marked by rich clay, favourable to cattle grazing.   South of the Saena is a region of plateaus and agrarian fields used for cereal production, occasionally broken by small stretches of forests.   Deep gorges have been cut by rivers through the chalky landscape, featuring the largest waterfalls in the North of the continent. The Saena, Orne, Eure and their tributaries dominate the region's hydrography,   Several small islands in the Mor Briezh, West of the Contentin Peninsula, also fall under the territory of La Manche.     Avranches = Pink cliffs, dragons blood

Norman military is very much in line with the norms of neighboring feudal states, with a reputation as good fighters. There are two noteworthy excpetions that stand out.   Hird - A holdover from Northern tradition, a personal retinue of armed companions that follow a noble as a sort of honor guard. These are made up of the Candlemen, squires who hold candles at ceremonial events, men-at-arms and knights, as well as low-born Gestir, who serve as an intelligence network, but are forbidden from sitting at the same table as their liege except at specific special occasions. Technically, the upper levels of the hird are equals, the leader being the first among equals. These units are often the source of highly-placed officials within a noble's court and elite warriors on the battlefield.   Leidang - A form of conscription to organize and mobilize coastal fleets for seasonal excursions or the defense of the realm. All freemen are required to serve in these fleets or contribute to a fund instead. This has led to the Normans holding one of the most formidable levied armies in Bedouar, especially in naval combat, although not always the best equipped.

Following the fall of the Empire, the missionaries of the Southern Church settled the region heavily, establishing monasteries and abbeys along the navigable rivers of the region.   Originally followers of the Norse religion of the Fomorii, Normans were early converts to the Southern Church during the reign of Rollo I, as part of the treaty with Gallia to establish the region as a Duchy and head off the losses of Trans-la-Forêt and a resurgent Letha. Despite this, Norse revivalism, spurred on by a constant flow of people and trade with the Orkney Isles is not uncommon. Similarly, the influence of Letha and the Fortunate Isles has led to a sizeable population practicing Druidism. Both of these religions are in the minority compared to the much more established Faith.   The Church holds a good deal of temporal power in the Duchy, directly controlling the County-Bishopric of Lisieux and the County of Bayeux, as well as smaller sub-regions. Norman Dukes impose heavy feudal burdens to ecclesiastical fiefs, which provide many of the duchies soldiers and knights. This in turn keeps the lay lords of the region in check. These regions are the only within the Duchy which bastards cannot inherit, a point of some contention.

Logres and Orkney

Norman politics exerts little direct control or obligations between the levels of feudal vassalage compared to its Southern neighbors. However, it still maintains a high level of production as a result of its long history of development and trade, as well as its beneficial geographic location.   The primary industry within Norman territory is agriculture, with most arable land given to the production of wheat, oats and barley, typically in the form of pasture or bocage. Flax is also a common crop, supplying much of Northern Kornôgel. Apple orchards are the pride of the region, specializing in the fabrication of Cidre and Calvados, a heavily distilled apple brandy.   Animal husbandry, especially dairy cattle, is common in the region, which is well known for both its meat and its milk production. La Manche is known for its wide range of domesticated animals, which includes regional breeds of cows, donkeys, sheep, pigs and poultry, as well as the Cathusian Cat and Basset Hound.

La Manche has become a powerful trading state in the Northern Trades, maintaining a large presence in Logres, Fjallkonan and the Cloth-Cities, where Norman merchants are known for their wine sales. The slave trade is very active in many ports, despite an official ban from the Church, largely consisting of Viking slavers from Fjallkonan against inhabitants of the Lost Peninsula.   The Merchantmen have established their power base in the Clockwork city of Rouan, from which they control a vast network of local craftsmen's guilds and Merchant fleets, a rising middle class possessing wealth equal to the nobility as well as significant civil power in urban centres.

Windmills dot the landscape of La Manche and watermills lines its rivers, powering the grist and lumbermills of the region.