[@shylarah] [@ayzrules] I finally finished the information for the Empire of Veredun and I finally learned how to post it here too lol. Anyway, I'll get started on my OC after this, but yeah just wanted your feedback. Hope this is alright :)

[hider=Empire of Veredun][center][h2][color=skyblue]Empire of Veredun[/color][/h2]

[img]https://www.wien.info/media/images/schloss-schoenbrunn-neu-19to1.jpeg[/img]

[color=skyblue][i]Schloss Schönbrunn, the Imperial Palace in Vienna, Veredun. The Imperial Palace is the seat of power and the formal residence of Empress Catherine. [/i][/color][/center]

[color=skyblue][b]💎Empire of Veredun[/b] 
――――――――――[/color] [INDENT] Also known as: Veredun, Báthorian Empire. (Pronunciation: V-iri-dan) [/INDENT]

[color=skyblue][b]💎Date of Establishment:[/b] 
――――――――――[/color] [INDENT] 1918 [/INDENT] 

[color=skyblue][b]💎Capital City:[/b] 
――――――――――[/color] [INDENT] Vienna[/INDENT]

[color=skyblue][b]💎Ruling Dynasty:[/b] 
――――――――――[/color] [INDENT] Báthory[/INDENT] 
 
[color=skyblue][b]💎Official Language:[/b] 
――――――――――[/color] [INDENT] Veredunian. (essentially German) 
Veredunian is the language used in all official capacities. It is the language of instruction in all academic institutions. Having said this, spoken vernaculars do exist and are widely encouraged to promote cultural diversity.[/INDENT] 

[color=skyblue][b]💎Royal Anthem:[/b] 
――――――――――[/color] [INDENT] Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser
[url]https://youtu.be/3p39ulIfnzc[/url][/INDENT]

[color=skyblue][b]💎𝓚𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓠𝓾𝓮𝓮𝓷[/b] 
――――――――――[/color] [INDENT] [img]https://data.whicdn.com/images/476743/large.jpg[/img]
[quote]Empress Catherine Maria Erzbert Báthory, [i]Her Royal Majesty.[/i](FC: Meryl Streep)[/quote] [/INDENT]

[color=skyblue][b]💎𝓚𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓭𝓸𝓶 𝓒𝓸𝓵𝓸𝓻𝓼[/b] 
――――――――――[/color] [INDENT] Red, White, Gold, Black[/INDENT]

[color=skyblue][b]💎Coat of Arms:[/b] 
――――――――――[/color] [INDENT] [img]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e3/Wappen_%C3%96sterreichische_L%C3%A4nder_1915_%28Mittel%29.png[/img]
[quote]Coat of Arms of the Empire of Veredun[/quote][/INDENT]

[color=skyblue][b]💎Motto[/b] 
――――――――――[/color] [INDENT][i]Imperii Caesosque.[/i] Bleed for your empire [/INDENT] 

[color=skyblue][b]💎𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓚𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓭𝓸𝓶 𝓲𝓼 𝓚𝓷𝓸𝔀𝓷 𝓕𝓸𝓻[/b] 
――――――――――[/color] [INDENT] Culture, Cultural Diversity, Languages, Cultural Institutions, High Art, Classical Music, High Fashion, Films, Culinary Advancements & Trends, Gender Equality, Advanced Health Care, Genetic Medicine, Academics & Research, Technology, Military Strength & Superiority, Human Rights Abuse, Being a "Quasi-Dictatorship," Hostile towards anyone against the Crown, Extreme Censorship, Authoritarianism, Despotism, Police State. [/INDENT]

[hider=Things Veredun is known for]
Since the establishment of the Veredunian Empire in 1918, every aspect of culture, medicine and pericardial thought has greatly flourished. This is especially true under the reign of the Holy Roman Empress, Catherine Maria Erzbert Báthory. After the death of her husband, Fryderik XI at the young age of 37. After his death, Empress Catherine became the head of the state and ushered in a period of growth, stability and revival which is commonly refereed to as "the revival" period. She is most notable for the advancement of medicine in Veredun. Under her reign, Veredun became a global leader in genetic medicine. She is also renowned for the period of cultural growth and revival, during which Veredun became the foremost authority on classical music, art, fashion and food. This is also became some of the world's highest ranked universities and educational institutions reside in Veredun, churning out leaders in the fields of music, art, dance, medicine, humanities, linguistics, and culinary fields. As a result of this, Veredun is also home to some of the largest libraries and best museums, both of which contain artifacts dating back to Veredun's ancient history. 

However, Empress Catherine Báthory's reign has not been all good either. Her reign is also marked with increased press censorship, propaganda and state-sponsored violence. In 2018 alone, over 5,000 journalists and activists were brutally assassinated, leading many to speculate about the nature of free speech within Veredun. Additional scandals include the increased authority of the police and military- while the military have traditionally played an important role in the political structure of Dacia, the police have not. However, under Empress Catherine's reign, the authority of the police has also increased greatly. In particular, the police have been accused of violating individual privacy on many accounts- surveillance has increased exponentially. Records suggest that cameras and mikes are strategically placed across the Empire, constantly recording the thoughts of citizens. It is speculated that anyone who appears to oppose Empress Catherine is "removed"- their entire life is simply erased, right from their birth records. Children are also increasingly encouraged to spy on their family members, and are especially encouraged to turn any "potential threats" into the nearest police official.

In addition to this, Empress Catherine's reign is also has been heavily criticized for its medical advancements. Recent reports suggest that the genetic medical advancements were only possible due to the fact that researchers and doctors experimented on human subject to test their hypothesis. These subjects are widely believed to be prisoners, political opponents, activist, and really anyone who appears to be opposing the Crown in any manner. As a result of this, it is speculated that the experimentation took place without consent.

Furthermore, Empress Catherine's regime has also alarmed the international community due to their "rehabilitation programs." It is widely believed that prisoners are subject to intense physical and psychological trauma in order to force them into compliance and subjugation.

While there seem to be excessive amounts of negative factors concerning Empress Catherine's reign, she has never been formally reprimanded for them by the international community. This is primarily because often times, the non-governmental organizations making these claims have no real proof to back them up with- governmental records are often sealed off, curtailing all access to them. Furthermore, the empire is under heavy surveillance and censorship- even if the international community were to formally condemn Empress Catherine, it would not be displayed on the Verdunian media, which is closely monitored by the state.
[/hider]

[hider=Popular Veredunian Stereotypes]
1. [i]Coldness.[/i] Veredunains are renowned for their asocial nature. Brisk and inhospitable at first, this can be a bit jarring to many people and often leaves a bad impression about Veredunians. In fact, Veredunians are some of the warmest and most hospitable people you will ever meet. Its just that it is not customary for Veredunians to interact expressively with strangers and thus, they appear to be very reserved and stoic until they trust their guests. Moreover, Veredunians value and respect privacy greatly and do not like to impose on other people's personal spaces (ironically enough- see the function of the Veredunian Police Forces). 
2. [i]Efficency.[/i] Renowned for their efficiency, Veredunians are believed to be efficient to the fault. This is reflected in every aspect of their empire- from the governmental structure and functions, to the nature of Veredunians itself. This generates Veredunians are stereotyped to be exceedingly good at empirical and scientific subjects- math, science, that kind of thing. This is also why most technological advancements from Veredun are held in such high regard within the international community: Veredunians are renowned for their precision and efficiency. However, this obviously does not apply to all Veredunians. There are plenty of Veredunians who are just not good with math, science or their related subjects as well. 
3. [i]Punctuality.[/i] Technically a tangent of the efficiency trope, Veredunians are also renowned for their punctuality. Every single mode of public transport in Veredun runs approximately 5 minutes early. The reason for this is due to a common Veredunian saying: "the early bird gets the best worms." Being early to anything, be it casual or professional, is far better than being late. In fact, in Veredun, being early is considered to be on time, and being on time is considered to be late. It's the principle on which the entire empire runs- a very useful thing to know. 
4. [i]Straightforwardness.[/i] Some people think that the Veredunians are all straightforward and undiplomatic. The perceived inability of the Veredunians to engage in small talk and their unromantic nature are discussed by foreigners. As far as a Veredunian is concerned, "A yes is a yes and a no is a no." 
5. [i]Coldness of Veredunian Women. [/i]There are assumptions that Veredunian women are cold and unromantic. Some people even assume that German women are unable to cook. 
6. [i]Overly Assertive Veredunian Women.[/i] Veredunian women are regarded to be overly assertive and strong. Rather self-reliant, they are renowned for being "overbearing" in their ways: overly ambitious, demanding, and inhospitable towards men. This honestly just goes to show that Veredunian women know their rights and aren't afraid to stand up for themselves regardless of the situation. 
7. [i]Veredunians Love Rules.[/i] Veredunian society is governed by strictly enforced laws- there is a rule for pretty much everything in Veredun, and people observe it very closely. This really does explain the role and prestige of the Veredunian military and police forces within the empire. 
8. [i]Veredunians love beer.[/i] Veredun has over 13000 breweries and more than 5,000 different brands of beer. The empire even has a law about which ingredients may be used in the production of the beverage which dates back centuries. In fact, Veredun ranked first place for beer consumption per capita in the world. Beer after all is an integral part of Veredunian culture. After work, Veredunians often frequent their closest beirgartens for an evening drink. Moreover, beer is also served at certain fast-food chains as a part of a children's meal. Of course, those beers do not have as high of alcohol contents. Having said this, beer is not considered to be an "alcohol" by Veredunians at all- its entirely appropriate to see Veredunians walking around with beer mid-day. 
9. [i]Veredunians are military loving.[/i] The fact that the military is so culturally and politically important within the empire of Veredun appears to be a little strange for most people outside Veredun. As a result of this, Veredunians are considered to be extremely military-loving. And they're not wrong about it. The military is considered to be a source of national pride for many Veredunians. Veredunian history also tends to emphasize military battles and victories a lot more than other historical aspects such as culture. 
10.[i] Football-loving.[/i] By a wide margin, football is the number one most attended and practiced sport in Veredun. It is so popular that it could be considered a national pastime. The Veredunian Football Association consists of more than 260,000 clubs and 1,780,000 teams. There are more football fan clubs in Veredun than any other country in the world. In addition, the Veredunian football league, attracts international superstars and is followed by many players and interest outside of the Veredun. The country’s national team is strong in international contests and has won many international competitions and honors. 
11. [i]Veredunian food is bland.[/i] Veredunian food is widely considered to be only sausage, potatoes and sauerkraut. It is considered to be exceedingly bland, void of all spices and flavoring. This is obviously not true. Veredun in fact has one of the most vibrant culinary industries in the world and is renowned for their culinary diversity- each village in Veredun has its own specialty.
[/hider]


[color=skyblue][b]💎𝓡𝓮𝓬𝓮𝓷𝓽/𝓡𝓮𝓵𝓮𝓿𝓪𝓷𝓽 𝓚𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓭𝓸𝓶 𝓗𝓲𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓻𝔂[/b] 
――――――――――[/color] [INDENT]

[hider=Veredunian Historiography]
Since the territory understood by the term 'Veredun' underwent drastic changes over time, dealing with a History of Veredun raises a number of questions: whether it is confined to the current or former Empire of Veredun, or extends also to all lands formerly ruled by the rulers of Veredun and the three Kingdoms of Dacia, Leisdig and Cornouaille.
[/hider]

[hider=Ancient History]
The Empire of Veredun's origins lie with a group of nomadic tribes comprising of gauls, slavs and celts. Prior to the invasion of the Roman Empire,region was overrun by various different nomadic tribes who were often in conflict and war with one another. After the Roman invasions however, Roman cities were established, displacing the gauls. However, from about 376 BCE, the Roman Empire began to decline in power and authority. During this time, the nomadic tribes began to attack the Roman cities, and after 476 BCE, formally ousted the Romans from the cities. In the fall of the Roman Empire, the gauls began to adopt a sedentary lifestyle and occupied the cities themselves.
[/hider]

[hider=Medieval Era]
For much of the medieval era, Veredun existed as 3 separate, neighboring kingdoms: the Kingdom of Leisdig ruled by the Rothschild dynasty, the Kingdom of Cornouaille ruled by the Valois dynasty, and finally the Kingdom of Dacia ruled by the Báthory Dynasty. Much of their early medieval history was defined by constant war and conflict between the three neighboring kingdoms. But during the High Middle Ages, the three kingdoms began to enter a series of diplomatic cooperation upheld by strategic marriage alliances. However, this would be short-lived. In 1333, the Holy Roman Emperor Ferdiannd II died heiress, resulting in the century-long war which broke out across the three kingdoms in order to claim the throne of Leisdig. The wife of the Cornouaillian King, Maria Catherina claimed the throne for her son, Louis III on account of being the sister of Ferdinand II, making Louis III his closest male relative, and thus, his rightful heir. However, the Dacian King, Harald I claimed the throne of Leidsig on account of being the second cousin of Emperor Ferdinand II as well. And within Leidsig, Ferdinand II's daughter, Erzherzogin Maria Elisabeth claimed the throne for herself. These conflicting claims resulted in a century-long war between the 3 kingdoms, This war would be known as the "War of the Golden Throne," and was resolved only in 1433, when Archduke Sigsigmund of Fürstentum ascended the throne as the next Rothschild Emperor as the King of Leidsig.

Archduke Sigsigmund was the illegitimate son of Archduchess Maria Carolina, the daughter of Erzherzogin Maria Elisabeth and was raised in Dacia as a noble. In Dacia, Archduke Sigsigmund became involved in many aspects of the Dacian military and nobility and was one of the founding members of the Order of the Dragon, a Christian chivalric order which comprised of many high-ranking members of various nobility across the continent. With their support, Archduke Sigsigmund was able to ascend the throne of Leidsig. When Archduke Signsigmnund ascended the throne as the next, undisputed king of Leidsig, the Order of the Dragon was legitimized and after centuries, the three kingdoms were at peace once more.

Known as the "golden era," the era of peace between the three kingdoms prompted significant cultural and scientific progress- artists, musicians and intellectuals were hosted at the three royal courts, allowing various forms of culture to flourish between the three kingdoms. Known as the "baroque" period, grand, Gothic-inspired architecture and religious art forms were painted across the three kingdoms. It was also around this time that scientific thought advanced greatly. Inspired by a thirst of knowledge, the human body was explored in greater detail. This not only led to the development of early modern medicine, but the human form also became a fixed motif in art and sculpture across the three kingdoms. During this period, increased diplomatic exchanges also prompted a period of extended stability across the three kingdoms, allowing them to develop close-knit and strong alliances with one another.
[/hider]

[hider=Early Modern Era]
In 1789, a revolution tore the Kingdom of Cornouaille apart. The revolution was primarily prompted by increased taxation. The lower classes of Cornouaille had grown increasingly frustrated by their rigid social hierarchy over the course of the 17th century. And what began as a series of peaceful protests soon turned increasingly violent- the lavish castles and palaces of the nobility were seized. All those who appeared to support the Crown were either assassinated or escaped to the neighboring kingdoms of Leisdig and Dacia. King Louis VI and his wife Maria Aurore were brutally executed by rebels who demanded the formation of a classless, democratic state. And in this state of instability, the army eventually took over, leading to a decade-long military dictatorship, under which the "golden era" of peace and stability was broken. Under the leadership of General Renior de Arenberg, Cornouaille invaded Leidsig, resulting in Dacia attacking Cornouaille in an attempt to free Leisdig. This resulted in a series of wars over the course of 5 year war between the three kingdoms, called the Aremberg Wars.

The Aremberg Wars were resolved formally in 1811, in imperial capital of Vienna in Leisdig. The results of the war were the formation of a democratic state in Cornouaille. This meant that a significant amount of territory that was previously under the Kingdom of Cornouaille was awarded to Leisig and Dacia in order to pay the reparations. However, this democratic state proved to be more problematic for Leidsig than the previous Kingdom of Cornouaille. Inspired by the democratic freedom of Cornouaille, citizens of Leidsig began to protest against increasing taxation and a poor economy which was caused by poor harvests due to bad rainfall. Over the course of a year (1848), almost every city in Leisdig was ravished by violent protests. These protests formally came to an end only a year later, when the imperial family finally agreed to lower the taxes. In light of the protests in Leidsig, the ousted Valois heir, Philip XI, returned to Cornouaille at the age of 34 and formally dissolved the democratic state, establishing the Kingdom of Cornouaille once again in 1849.

Following 1848, the prestige and authority of the Rothschild dynasty in Leisdig diminished greatly. This was primarily because of the 3 Cornouaillan Wars during which, King Charles II of Cornouaille attacked Leidsig in order to win back the north-eastern provinces, which he argued were traditionally "Cornouaillan" and were stolen from Cornouaille during the Vienna Convention of 1811. In the third Cornouaillan War, Leidsig formally turned to Dacia for military aid and intervention. With the support of Dacia, Leidsig retained its north-eastern provinces and Cornouaille was defeated. However, this only made things worse for Leidsig. Internally, the people had grown increasingly frustrated by the backwardness of the military of Leisdsig. This, along with increased taxation, a poor economy, and lack of food resources resulted in increased protests across Leidsig, resulting in the formal dissolution of the Kingdom of Leidsig in 1899. From 1899 onward, the Kingdom of Lesidsig formed a dual monarchy with the Kingdom of Dacia, resulting in the Leisdig-Dacian Empire.

The Leisdig-Dacian Empire allowed Leidsig and its former provinces to maintain their cultural and administrative autonomy. The only difference was that the ruling dynasty would no longer be the Rothschild, but now would be the Báthory. But this would be short-lived. Under the Leisdig-Dacian Empire, the Dacian state-model of authoritarian and military dictatorship was slowly implemented across the Empire. Hereditary noble titles were removed, conscription were enforced uniformally across gender for all those above the age of 18. While the former Kingdom of Leidsig was allowed to retain it's administrative districts, the Dacian Emperors and Empresses began to impose their own language and administrative policies on the districts- noble families were given entire districts to govern, where they would be the absolute authority on day-to-day administration. The Leisdigian languages were replaced with Veredunian as well in order to create a cohesive, national identity.

In 1918, the Leisdig-Dacian Empire formally annexed Cornouaille, resulting in the establishment of the Empire of Veredun.
[/hider]

The empire of Veredun was officially established in 1918 and thus, is a comparatively new one on the world state. The ruling dynasty was established to be the Báthory bloodline. After Dacia became a dual monarchy with Leidsig in 1899, the Rothschild bloodline was forced to forgo their claims to the throne in exchange for Dacian military aid. When the Leisdig-Dacian Empire conquered Cornouaille in 1917, the Valois were forced to forfeit their claims to the throne as well, establishing the Báthory bloodline as the Veredinian empire's ruling dynasty. Thus, Maximilian I became the first Báthory monarch of the Empire of Verdun in 1918.

Since its inception in 1918, the empire has been relatively stable with the exception of a few revolts and protests here and there. Much of this is atributed to the unique, decentralized governmental structure of the empire that allows its citizens to express and practice their cultural traditions freely (with the exception of language as Veredunian is the official language). This structure allowed for the preservation of various forms of regional and folk culture, making the empire of Veredun one of the most culturally diverse regions in the world. However, the same decentralized structure also has its drawbacks. Governing over a large population size and area, the empire of Veredun was slow to modernize uniformly. This contrast was most notable between the former provinces of Dacia and those of the other two kingdoms. The latter were significantly more developed and progressive. However, in recent years the gap has started to close. This is attributed to Empress Catherine's reign during which technological innovation and modernization was highly encouraged.

Unlike the previous monarchs, Empress Catherine's reign has seen a significant rise in centralization- institutions such as the senate, supreme courts and the Veredunian police force have gained significant authority under her reign. This is also considered to be one of the reasons for a much more uniformed growth across the empire. However, not all aspects of Empress Catherine's reign have been this impressive. Married at a young age to her second cousin, Fryrik XI, Empress Catherine became the sovereign upon her husband's death at the age of 39. In addition to being the sovereign, she also was tasked with raising her 3 children- Theodora, Mattias and Serafina. It was often speculated that Serafina was the most favored out of Empress Catherine's children. Compared to her other two children, Empress Catherine made sure that Serafina was a lot more sheltered- Serafina did not enter the public sphere until the age of 18. Her older siblings in comparison entered the public sphere at the age of 14, when they began to attend training camps with the Veredunian military.

It was widely speculated that Empress Catherine and Serafina enjoyed a rather close relationship. This eventually changed as Serafina grew older. At the age of 18, Serafina met her future husband, Nicholas von Rothschild during their mandatory military service. it was here that both of them began their illicit romance. When Empress Catherine learned of this, she was furious. At the time, she highly disapproved of Nicholas, citing him to be unreliable and frivolous du to his lifestyle of constant partying and general excesses. This marked the decline of their relationship. As soon as their military conscription was complete, Serafina eloped with Nicholas and married him despite her mother's objections. This only made the relationship between Empress Catherine and her youngest daughter worse.

Over the course of the next few years, Serafina had 5 children with Nicholas and had stopped speaking to her mother entirely. Only her oldest son, Alexander ever met his grandmother in person at all. Instead, Empress Catherine and Serafina only communicated through formal and indirect channels- often either through her siblings, or through formal letters. They did not have a conversation in person for approximately 10 years. During this period, great heights were achieved in terms of technological innovation, genetic research and advanced health care. Along with her sister Theodora, Serafina was involved in the development of advanced health care and contributed greatly to the improvement of public health across the empire. It was also around this period that the empire began to offer greater academic and research opportunities in order to attract students and intellectuals from across the world. As a result of this, this period was characterized by a general increase in cultural exchange and technological innovation.

Empress Catherine and Serafina only began to speak after the birth of Serafina's youngest child, Erik. It was believed that they began to speak after Serafina learned that her youngest daughter, Juliet's failing health was due to an diagnosed genetic condition. After disclosing this to her mother, Empress Catherine increased the resources allocated to genetic research and genetic medicine. And when Juliet was 6, Serafina was finally able to develop medication in order to manage her daughter's symptoms, allowing her to live a normal life there onward. Once they started speaking, Serafina quickly regained her favor with her mother. Unfortunately, this would be short-lived as Nicholas and Serafina both died in a plane crash in 2004. Mp> The news of the death of her daughter devastated Empress Catherine. And to make things worse, a few months after Nicholas and Serafina's death, rumors began to circulate about the possibility of foul-play in the plane crash. It is believed that Serafina regaining favor with Empress Catherine might have motivated one of her siblings to have orchestrated the plane crash. However, this was never proven. Instead, in the wake of Seraina's death, Empress Catherine made the controversial choice of not naming her heir apparent at all. This has led many to speculate that Serafina would have been Empress Catherine's heir apparent and in the wake of her death, the Empress needed more time to find a suitable candidate. However, she has denied this repeatedly and has asserted that she would like the heir apparent to be the most suitable for the role, as opposed to the oldest.

In the wake of Serafina's death, Empress Catherine reached out to her grandchildren. Alexander at this point was an adult, having turned 19 recently. Evangeline was 16, Ferdinand was 12, Juliet was 11, and Erik was 6. Empress Catherine chose to allow Juliet to live with her, breaking the siblings up for the first time. Erik and Ferdinand were both sent to be raised by a trusted friend of Serafina's at a covert military base, while Evangeline was emancipated and began her mandatory military service 2 years earlier. The indirect adoption of Juliet was treated with suspicion and intrigue across the empire- Juliet was the only one of her siblings who received both titles pertaining to her Rothschild and Báthory bloodlines. This has also led many to speculate that Juliet was Empress Catherine's new favorite and thus, a strong contender for the position of the heir apparent.

Having not formally declared a heir apparent, Empress Catherine adopted a new practice of assigning certain individuals provinces to govern. She firmly believes that efficient administration is only possible if all voices are represented. Thus, she began the practice of assigning civil servants and ministers remote, rural provinces to govern and represent. This allowed for a much more cohesive development of the empire, and encouraged the creation of a much more unified national identity. Along with this, Empress Catherine was instrumental in establishing a modern police force which was distinctly separate from the military. This police force would be highly efficient and would be an integral part in the over all reduction of criminal activity across the empire.

In 2016, Juliet defied her grandmother. Unlike her other grandchildren, Empress Catherine was generally a lot more tolerant with Juliet, allowing her granddaughter to openly criticize her. This favoritism had already upset the delicate balance of power within the empire- Empress Catherine's oldest grandson, Konrad was often antagonized by this and would often take out his anger on Juliet in regular duels. Empress Catherine's granddaughter, Anastasia was often held in high regard by her grandmother for keeping constant tabs on Juliet's activity. Consequently, Anastasia would be one of the key figures in developing the controversial, surveillance branch of the Verdunian police force. But when Juliet went out of her way to elope and marry Antonio de Medici, Empress Catherine was furious. Though the Medici bloodline was technically a part of the lower nobility, they were just as prosperous as any of the higher noble bloodlines. Furthermore, the Medici bloodline had always been a traditional rival of the Rothschild, Valois and Báthory bloodlines, having been accused of contributing to political instability within the kingdoms of Leisdig and Cornouaille through instigating a series of violent protests and riots. Under Empress Catherine's reign, the power and influence of the Medici bloodline had been severely curtailed. However, they still remained a vocal critic of the Empress, and Juliet's marriage to Antonio was a personal betrayal to the Empress. This once more shifted the balance of power within the empire.

In 2016, Empress Catherine's grandson Ferdinand was killed during active duty. His death devastated Juliet and her siblings. A few months after his death, details began to emerge that Ferdinand's death was not accidental but instead, was an assassination. It was speculated that he might have bee assassinated for threatening to expose the exploitative nature of Veredun's genetic research. However, this was just speculation as absolutely no proof suggesting this was ever found. But this led to the greater conversation about the Veredunian Intelligence Police and their role in what seemed to be an increasing trend of political assassinations and "disappearances."

Following Ferdinand's death, it became apparent that the role of Empress Catherine's heir apparent had 3 candidates: Konrad, Anastasia and Juliet. Each one of them have their strengths and weaknesses, and each is greatly suited for the role. However, only one will be chosen and that will seemingly be revealed only after Empress Catherine's death. Thus, recent years have been marked with the growth of factions between the three potential successors- the debate has divided the entire empire. Despite this, Empress Catherine's control over the empire is as strong as ever. If anything, because of the progressive centralization, it's only growing stronger by the day. ⠀️
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[color=skyblue][b]💎𝓞𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻[/b] 
――――――――――[/color] [INDENT] 
[hider=Government Structure]
Government Structure: Autocracy, Dynastic Monarchy, Decentralized
Administrative Districts: 120

Veredun's governmental structure is very unique, and confusing to be honest. Unlike other empires and kingdoms, Veredun is decentralized. This means that its administrative districts have a considerable amount of autonomy and power of their own. As each district is under the dominion of a specific noble family who oversees their day-to-day administration, the noble family also has a significant amount of influence in dictating cultural expressions- music, theater, art, dance, and language. The only thing that is pre-determined is the use of Veredunian in all official capacities (educational institutions, hospitals, governmental offices, military, etc.), and taxation, which is standard across the Empire. Of late, a standardized historical timeline of Veredun is also being imposed across the Empire by the center in order to foster a cohesive national identity.

[b]Senate & Supreme Courts[/b] 
Because of it's decentralized structure, Veredun's central institutions exist in a curious space. With little say over the day-to-day administration of the districts, the central institutions of the senate and supreme court handle problems and legislation affecting the entire empire as a whole. These include exceedingly controversial and high-profile cases, and mostly foreign affairs. When involved in domestic affairs, the supreme courts and legislation oversee the interpretation of Veredunian laws by different districts. Despite this, the supreme courts and the senate are exceedingly prestigious institutions whose judgement is treated with a considerable amount of respect from the citizens of Veredun. Having said this, the supreme courts and the senate are primarily advisory bodies to the Empress. The Senate President occupies the second highest administrative position within the Empire, after the Empress herself. Additionally, most members of the senate come from noble backgrounds, particularly the Higher Nobility. While there are a few notable members of the senate from the Lower nobility, or without noble background at all, these are very rare circumstances. Such members are usually elected into the senate upon their exceptional merit.

[b]Military[/b]

The one centralized institution that does have a significant influence across the empire is the military. Broken down into four distinctive branches: air force, army, navy, and intelligence; the military is perhaps the most powerful institution that exists in Veredun. Almost autonomous, the military has its own courts of justice which it uses to uphold its values and rules. Furthermore, the military is also one of the largest employers in Veredun- it is estimated that approximately 45% of all Veredunian citizens are affiliated with their military in some way or the other. That is an exorbitantly high percentage and can be attributed to many reasons, the two most prevalent ones being the Veredunian constitution and the cultural legacies of Dacia.

At the age of 18, every Veredunian citizen is conscripted into the military to serve for at least 4 years. This rule is applied to all citizens regardless of their gender. As a result of this, the Veredunian military is constantly supplied with an influx of young citizens who are then trained rigorously over the course of the next 4 years. It is estimated that nearly half of these new recruits end up working with the army in various capacities ranging from active duty to military intelligence (spies, surveillance and technological developments). This trend is especially true for Empress Catherine's reign under which the centralized institutions of the military, police, senate, and supreme courts have gained a considerable amount of influence as compared to earlier monarchs. This is attributed to the increased nationalistic sentiment under her regime.

Having said this, the military has always wielded considerable influence over the politics of the state. This is especially true of Dacia, where the Kingdom itself functioned on the basis of a dynastic, military dictatorship. These legacies are extremely prominent within Veredun, where high-ranking members of the military are regarded with a significant amount of prestige and honor. In many cases, high-ranking military officials have often seen to wield more influence than Veredunian politicians and members of the senate, which makes it hard to gauge the true extent of the senate's powers. However, it is important to note that high-ranking positions of the Veredunian military are often awarded by the Empress herself. These positions are mostly reserved for her immediate family or other members of the higher nobility.

[b]Veredunian Police Force[/b]

The Veredunian Police Force is a relatively new institution as compared to the other centralized institutions. Many speculate that the emergence of a modern police force is what defines modern Veredunian history. This is primarily because there was no institution similar to the police force that existed in the entirety of Veredunian history, including that of the three Kingdoms. The closest institution to police force that did exist in Veredunian history is the military. However, the military has always been focused on external affairs as compared to internal. When required to monitor internal affairs, it was usually in the capacity of breaking up protests and riots, and to maintain peace and stability. Thus, even the military did not perform the same functions of the police force historically.

The existence of the Veredunian police force goes back decades to approximately 1930. However, it was no where nearly as strong and centralized as it is today. This can be attributed entirely to Empress Catherine, who believed that the police force needed to be modernized and centralized in order to provide maximum protection to Veredunian citizens. As a result of this, the police force is divided into three rough categories: judiciary, executive, and the intelligence. The executive branch of the police force comprises of officers on active duty- these range from narcotics to traffic control officers. It is estimated that a police officer serves approximately every 30 Veredunian citizens. Significantly lower crime rates are attributed to this high response ratio.

The judiciary branch of the police force comprises of local courts, judges and state-appointed lawyers. These courts are charged with overseeing the interpretation of the Veredunian constitution on a day-to-day basis. What this means is that most problems are resolved within these local courts. The highest court under the police force is the high courts. Each district has a high court in its capital city. These high courts pass judgement on cases that could not be resolved successfully by the local or primary courts of justice. If these high courts fail to do so as well, the case is sent over to the supreme court. However, this is a fairly rare occurrence. Approximately 1 case is sent to the supreme court by the high courts a year.

The third and final branch of the police force is perhaps the most controversial one- the intelligence. No one really knows how this branch is defined, making their actions often questionable. The intelligence branch is further broken up into two rough branches again- the VIP (Veredunian Intelligence Police) and the intelligence officers. The intelligence officers have multiple duties and functions. They monitor media and propaganda in the districts, making sure that all content is allied with the values of the Empress. In addition to this, the intelligence officers also are involved in keeping an eye on Veredunian citizens, making sure that they comply to the values of the Empress. Now this is the ambiguous part. The way the intelligence officers seem to achieve this is through surveillance, often infringing on individual rights to privacy. Cameras and mikes exist in every public area, constantly picking up the thoughts and actions of individual citizens. What is more alarming however, is that in recent years this surveillance has also branched into the private sphere of individuals- telephone lines and networks are often tapped into, television screens are used to monitor individuals inside their homes, and the list really does go on. Based on the assessment of the intelligence officers, the VIP is dispatched to "minimize risks." Problematic individuals, that is individuals who are suspected of being threats to the state of Veredun and the Empress in any capacity at all are instantly arrested. However, it is important to note that the arrests of the VIP and the regular Veredunian police officers differ in many ways. Arrests made by the VIP do not do not require to be tried in front of the judges in the primary courts. Instead, arrested citizens instantly "disappear"- entire existences are erased, right from their birth records. This makes the Veredunian Police Force one of the most controversial aspects of the Empire of Veredun.

While the Veredunian Police Force does have significant drawbacks, it is also exceedingly efficient. A complete lack of protests and riots is attributed entirely to the Veredunan Police Force, along with an overall reduction in criminal activity across the empire.
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[hider=Culture]
While Veredun is an empire, the three kingdoms of Leidsig, Dacia and Cornouaille are very much present. While all three have similar cultural and historical trajectories, all three kingdoms still maintained their autonomy and were distinctly different from one another. Till date, the imperial palaces of all three kingdoms do exist within the empire.

[b]Cornouaille[/b]

[img]https://pmcvariety.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/vue-du-chateau_copyright-p_crapet.jpg?w=1000&h=563&crop=1[/img]
[quote]The former Cornouaillan imperial palace, Château de Fontainebleau is now used as the central residence of the Valois bloodline.[/quote]

Veredun's western most provinces were one the kingdom of Cornouaille. The Cornouaillan imperial palace, Château de Fontainebleau still stands in Cornouaille's former capital city. While no longer an imperial palace, the Chateau still remains one of Veredun's most beautiful and extravagant buildings and is used as the capital residence of the Valois bloodline.

The Kingdom of Cornouaille was renowned for it's extravagant culture- expressions of these still exist in Veredun's eastern provinces. Cornouaille was renowned for its extravagant architecture, art, literature, music and dance traditions. Some of the world's greatest artists were from Cornouaille and their work has been well preserved in museums and galleries across the region. In terms of architecture, Cornouaillan architecture has been influenced by a number of different styles: Early Gothic, High Gothic, Rayonnant, Late Gothic or Flamboyant, Romanesque, Pre-Romanesque, Gallo-Roman, Baroque,Rococo, Neoclassicial, Beaux Arts, Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles. Architectureal structures in these styles complete with extravagant carvings both internally and externally still do exist and have been preserved exceptionally. The most notable of these structures of course are the Cornouaillan Châteaux. Similar influences can also be seen in Cornouaillan art and music. Especially in the early modern and modern era, Cornouaillan art and music emerged as "high culture" and defined artistic expressions across the region there after.

In addition to this, Cornouaille also emerged as an early leader in cinema. Many regard Cornouaille to be the birthplace of modern cinema. The region has also produced many notable cinematic trends that have helped define modern movies and movie-going culture. The region is renowned for it's "small" cinemas and has the highest density of cinemas per capita in the world. The region also holds the world's largest film archive. Many prestigious film awards take place in Cornouaillan cities even today.

Cornouaillan wine was considered to be some of the finest in the world- till date, wine and champagne from the region is highly valued both within the empire and the international community. In addition to alcohol, Cornouaille was also renowned for its food: clean flavors, simple ingredients, impeccable presentation. Considered one of more extravagant cuisines across the world, Cornouaillan food established the idea of "haute cuisine." The region is especially famous for its abundant varieties of cheeses, and deserts.

Cornouaille also has is renowned for its fashion industry. From the early modern era onward, Cornouaille was regarded to be the arbiter of taste and style across the world. Catering to the world's wealthiest members, Cornouaille was renowned for its booming luxury industry. In the modern era, Cornouaille was accredited with creating the culture of "high fashion" also known as couture or haute couture. Some of the world's largest luxury brands, designers and magazines are Cornouaillan. Every season, Cornouaille hosts some of the largest fashion shows during which designers and models from across the world attend and participate. These shows are believed to "make or break" the careers of designers and models in the fashion industry. Furthermore, these shows also influence global fashion trends from season to season. A common belief is that Cornouaillan women are the most extravagant and fashionable in the world.

In addition to this, Cornouaille also produced some of the world's foremost intellectuals and thinkers. Cornouaillan thinkers have historically made ground-breaking contributions to the fields of math, science and humanities. This trend continues to persist today as well- the Valois bloodline is heavily involved in the Veredunian medical industry and have emerged as world leaders for their research on genetic medicine and advanced healthcare. It is also widely believed that the idea of the mdoern nation-state developed from Cornouaille and its revolutions.

[b]Leidsig[/b]

[img]http://www.pstours.cz/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/vienna.jpg[/img]
[quote]The former imperial palace of Leisdig in Vienna. Now, it is used as a central residence for the Medici bloodline.[/quote]

The Kingdom of Leidsig comprised of Veredun's central provinces. As with Cornouaille, Leidsig's imperial palace, Shloss Hofburg still stands in its former capital city- Vienna. While the imperial palace no longer houses the monarchy of Leidsig, it is used as a central residence for the members of the Rothschild bloodline and is regarded to be one of the most beautiful structures in Veredun today.

The Kingdom of Leidsig was renowned for their extravagant culture. In particular, Leidsig has been credited with making significant contributions to classical music. Some of the world's most important composers were from Leidsig. Additionally, Vienna has long been an important centre of musical innovation. Composers of the 18th and 19th centuries were drawn to the city by the patronage of the Rothschilds, and made Vienna the capital of classical music. The Musikverein in Vienna is considered to be one of the three finest concert halls in the world and since 1939, the famous Vienna New Year's Concert of the Vienna Philharmonic is broadcast from its Golden Hall to an audience of one billion across the world. The members of the Vienna Philharmonic, which is regularly considered one of the finest orchestras in the world, are chosen from the orchestra of the Vienna State Opera.The Vienna State Opera, in Veredunian called Staatsoper, is one of the most important opera companies in the world today and has one of the largest operating budgets. The Staatsoper is also venue for the Vienna Opera Ball, an event that takes place on the Thursday preceding Ash Wednesday. The tradition of the Opera Ball goes back decades and regularly receives thousands of attendees.

The Vienna Boys' Choir is also one of the best known boys' choirs in the world. Known for its exceedingly high vocal standard, the choir has worked with some of the world's greatest composers and musicians. The choir is also one of the oldest in the world, established by Maximilian I in 1498.

In addition to classical music, Leidsig is also home to various unique folk musical and dance traditions as well. These are also highly encouraged and preserved with Leidsig's classical music traditions.

Like Cornouaille, Leidsig was also famous for its architecture. Often regarded to be the "kingdom of fairy-tales," Leidsig was famous for its abundance of palaces, castles, and other dramatic buildings. However, as compared to Cornouaille, many of the structures are relatively new, the earliest of which was constructed only in the 13-14th centuries. As a result of this, these structures were influenced primarily by the Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassical and Art Nouveau styles. Art Nouveau however, pertains only to the newer structures, built in the 20th century. Almost all these structures have been preserved and excellently. And while some are still used as private residences for noble families, others are open to the public.

Leidsig also made significant contributions to silent films. Many of the world's finest directors, actors, authors and cinematographers were from Leidsig. Today, many important film festivals are held in Leidsigian cities.

Like with Cornouaille, Leidsig also has a long tradition of wine-making and beer production that dates back centuries. As compared to Cornouaille, the cuisine of Leidsig is heavily meat based. However, the deserts of Leidsig were regarded to be some of the most indulgent in the world. This trend continues today as well. chocolatiers and bakeries established in the 17th and 18th century still operate today, serving some of the most delicious deserts and pastries in the world. These were a hot favorite with the Rothschild monarchs of Leidsig, and still continue to be with citizens across Veredun and the world.

While Leidsigan wine is excellent, Leidsig is primarily renowned for its beer. In medieval Leidsig, it was often safer to consume beer than it was to consume water. In 1516, Rothschild monarchs passed the "Purity Law" establishing that beer should only be brewed from barley, hops and water. Today, this is considered to be the oldest food regulation in the world and still exists today unchanged from the original. Today, Veredun has over 13000 breweries and more than 5,000 different brands of beer. A large majority of these breweries and brands of beer operate from the former lands of the Kingdom of Leidsig. Leidisg was also known as the "Kingdom of Festivals." People in Leidsig were almost always celebrating one thing or the other. Exceedingly proud of their culinary trends, many festivals showcase regional cuisines and beer and wine from local producers.

Leidsig was also famous for inventing the "coffee house" culture. However, Leidsigian coffee houses differ greatly from the commercial coffee-selling brands like Starbucks. This tradition remains strong in the region even today. Leidsigian coffee houses are defined by their marble tabletops, Thonet chairs, newspaper tables and interior design details in the style of Historicism. In many classic cafés piano music is played in the evening and social events like literary readings are held. In warmer months, customers can often sit outside in a Schanigarten. Almost all coffee houses provide small food dishes like sausages as well as Leidsigian desserts, cakes and tarts. Unlike some other café traditions around the world, it is completely normal for a customer to linger alone for hours and study the omnipresent newspaper. This specific coffee-house culture and atmosphere attracted leading writers of the late 19th and early 20th century. Writers would often meet at coffee houses to exchange ideas. Some would even write at coffee houses giving rise to the literary genre of "coffee house literature" and the idea of "coffee house poets" (in reference of poets who would read their work out loud to an audience at these coffee houses).

Leidsig was also home to some of the finest educational institutions in the world and continues to do so. Universities and educational institutions in the region are among the best in the world due to their large archives and excellent facilities. Despite not ruling over Leidsig anymore, the Rothschild bloodline still oversees many of the cultural, academic and research programs in the region.

[b]Dacia[/b]

[img]http://www.orangesmile.com/extreme/img/main/castelul-peles_1.jpg[/img]
[quote]Peleș Castle, the former imperial Dacian castle. Former residence of the Báthory Bloodline.[/quote]

The Kingdom of Dacia comprised of Veredun's eastern most provinces. Like with the other two kingdoms, Dacia's former imperial palace, the Peleș Castle, still remains standing. While no longer housing the Báthory bloodline, it is still one of the most impressive buildings in Veredun.

Of the three kingdoms, Dacian culture would most likely be the most distinctive. Unlike Cornouaille and Leidsig, Dacia was founded by military factions. Many of Dacia's former provinces rose to prominence because they were located on trading routes. This is one of the main reasons as to why Dacian culture is so distinct compared to that of the other two kingdoms. Quickly rising to prominence as independent states, the Transylvanian Báthorians defeated their neighboring states and established the Kingdom of Dacia. Much of Dacia's history consists of war and excessive violence. This is reflected in every aspect of Dacian culture, but primarily in its architecture.

Dacia has a large number of churches, castles and fortresses. Unlike Leisdig and Cornouaille, Dacia has an abundance of wooden churches. The earliest dating back to medieval Dacia, these churces are abundant in the Dacaian countryside and have been preserved till today. In addition to this, Dacia also had an abundance of monastries and princely seats or boyar mansions. Especially in the early modern and modern era, Dacian monastries were often elaborate and beautiful structures that blended various different architectural styles together, most notably the Gothic style. In the 17th century, baroque nad oriental features were blended together to create large, elaborate boyar mansions and monastries. These structures were usually carved in geometric motifs, coloured in lapis lazuli and golden foil, all over the facades. Furthermore, the interiors were also often lavishly decorated, with beautiful stone carvings, stucco work and paintings. From the 19th century onward, elements of neoclassical and romanticism began to influence Dacian architectural styles. In the 20th and 21st centuries, this Dacian architecture was influenced by symbolism, and the art deco and art nouveau styles as well.

A kingdom shaped by war, Dacian towns are also distinctly different from those of the other two kingdoms. Extensively fortified, the towns usually feature a central market place with a church, narrow streets with sides linked here and there by archways. This design was constructed to protect the towns from sieges in times of war. Despite this, many Dacian towns were destroyed and were required to be constructed over and over. In a modern context, many of the Dacian towns keep this organizational structure. However, this pattern has its drawbacks as it restricts urban growth. As a result of this, Dacian towns tend to be significantly smaller than those of Leisdig and Cornouaille.

Dacia also has a rich variety of regional and folk traditions pertaining to music, dance, folklore, wood carving, ceramics, weaving and embroidery of costumes, household decorations, and cuisine. Like Leidsig, Dacian cuisine is heavily meat-based given the severity and length of the Dacian winters.

In terms of the Dacian language, it varies significantly from Veredunian. Unlike Veredunian, the Dacian language is based on the Cyrillic script. This further emphasizes the cultural differences between Dacia and Leisdig and Cornouaille.

Dacians also tend to be a lot more religious as compared to the other two kingdoms and practice Eastern Orthodox Christianity. Their strict observance and the largely rural nature of Dacian society makes Dacia one of the less economically developed and technologically advanced regions of Veredun. Having said this, Dacians tend to be a lot more athletic and strictly disciplined than most Veredunians, making them the largest group in the Veredunian military and police forces.
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[hider=Titles & Ranks]
[u][b]HEAD OF STATE [/b][/u]
As a dynastic empire, the ruling monarch is almost always from the Báthory bloodline. Furthermore, Veredun practices absolute primogeniture (for the most part), according to which the first-born inherits the main estate, regardless of their sex and gender. However, in recent years this is becoming more and more of a suggestion as opposed to an enforced law or principle. Empress Catherine in particular is also notable for not declaring an heir at all (not openly anyway). Not wanting her successor to be the first-born, she wishes her successor to be the right fit for the office of the head of state. As a result of this, she has chosen not to disclose her choice for the heir apparent, wanting her grandchildren to impress her instead. Each day is assessment where they are closely watched. One false move, and the further they are from the Crown.

[i]Titles[/i]
Holy Roman Emperor/Empress 
Empress and Autocrat of Veredun 
Queen of Leisdig, Cornouaille and Dacia 
Commander-in-chief of the Veredunian Armed Forces 
Grand Master of the Order of the Dragon 
Grand Master of the Order of the Golden Fleece

[i]Styles[/i]
Her Royal Majesty (HRM) 
Her Divine Majesty (HDM) 
Her Royal Highness (HRH)

[i]Epithet[/i]
"The Great" 
"The Wise"

[b][u]THE HIGHER NOBILITY [/u][/b]
As an dynastic empire and autocracy, only one bloodline has the privilage of inheriting the throne. Other bloodlines are demoted to occupy other governmental structures and posts such as those of the army, senate, courts of justice, and other administrative posts across the empire. In order to show the heirarchy of bloodlines, certain noble titles are awarded to specific bloodlines, further emphasizing their status within the empire.

[b]Báthory Bloodline [/b]
[i]Grand Duke/Duchess, Grand Prince/Princess[/i] styled as Royal Highness (HRH). The titles are hereditary but do not reward land or castles. Instead, the Empress distributes territories and administrative regions to their subjects.

[b]Rothschild Bloodline [/b]
[i]Archduke/ Archduchess, Erzherzog/Erzherzogin[/i] styled as Imperial Highness (HIH). The titles are hereditary but do not reward land or castles. Instead, the Empress distributes territories and administrative regions to her subjects.

Valois Bloodline 
Duc/Duchesse styled as Imperial Highness (HIH).The titles are hereditary but do not reward land or castles. Instead, the Empress distributes territories and administrative regions to her subjects.

[u][b]THE LOWER NOBILITY [/b][/u]
Comprised of several Veredunian noble families, each bloodline is given one administrative region and is overseen by members of the Higher Nobility and the Royal Family. The following hereditary titles are applicable, and are styled as Serene Highness (HSH):

[i]Count/Countess 
Baron/Baroness 
Marquis/Marquessa 
Comte/Comtesse 
Fürst/Fürstin, Graf/Gräfin 
Freiherr/Freifrau and Freiin 
Reichsfürst/Reichsfürstin[/i]

The titles are hereditary but do not reward land or castles.

The Medici Bloodline is involved in the daily administration of Magna Graecia. 
The Catargiu Family is involved in the daily administration of Wallachia . 
The Vacarescu Family is involved in the daily administration of Transylvania 
The Lahovary Family is involved in the daily administration of the Valcea county 
The Cantacuzino Family is involved in the daily administration of Caliacra 
The Badeni Family is involved in the daily administrations of Greater Polskya. 
The Bobrowski Family is involved in the daily administration of Kuyavia-Pomerania. 
The Cieszkowski Family is involved in the daily administration of Lesser Polyskia 
The Chodkiewicz de Młynów Family is involved in the daily administration of Łódź 
The Dąmbski Family is involved in the daily administration of Lublin. 
The Dzieduszycki Family is involved in the daily administration of Lubusz. 
The Flemming Family is involved in the daily administration of Masovia. 
The Fredro Family is involved in the daily administration of Opole. 
The Grabowski Family is involved in the daily administration of Podlaskie. 
The Jezierski Family is involved in the daily administration of Pomerania. 
The Moszyński Family is involved in the daily administration of Subcarpathia. 
The Sobolewski Family is involved in the daily administration of Warmia-Masuria.
[/hider]

[hider=Imperial Orders]
[b]Order of the Dragon [/b]
The Order of the Dragon (Societas Draconistarum in High Veredunian, literally translating “Society of the Dragonists”) was a monarchical chivalric order for selected nobility, founded in 1408 by Sigismund who was the Archduke of Fürstentum (r. 1387–1437) at the time and later became the Leisdigian Emperor (r. 1433–1437). It was fashioned after the military orders of the the middle ages, requiring its initiates to defend the cross and fight the enemies of Christianity, in particular the Ottoman Empire.

[b]Order of the Golden Fleece [/b]
Historically, the Order of the Golden Fleece was a Roman Catholic order of chivalry founded in Bruges by Philip III, Duke of Burgundy in 1430, to celebrate his marriage to the Portuguese princess Infanta Isabella of Portugal, daughter of King John I of Portugal. It received further privileges unusual to any order of knighthood: the sovereign undertook to consult the order before going to war; all disputes between the knights were to be settled by the order; at each chapter the deeds of each knight were held in review, and punishments and admonitions were dealt out to offenders, and to this the sovereign was expressly subject; the knights could claim as of right to be tried by their fellows on charges of rebellion, heresy and treason, and Charles V conferred on the order exclusive jurisdiction over all crimes committed by the knights; the arrest of the offender had to be by warrant signed by at least six knights, and during the process of charge and trial he remained not in prison but in the gentle custody of his fellow knights. The order, conceived in an ecclesiastical spirit in which mass and obsequies were prominent and the knights were seated in choirstalls like canons, was explicitly denied to heretics, and so became an exclusively Catholic award during the Reformation. The officers of the order were the chancellor, the treasurer, the registrar, and the King of Arms, or herald, “Toison d'Or”.

[b]Ordre des Arts et des Lettres [/b]
The Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Letters) is an Order of Veredun. Its purpose is the recognition of significant contributions to the arts, literature, or the propagation of these fields. Previously known to be the Order of Saint Michel, the Order has 3 grades: Commandeur, Officier and Chevalier.
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I also have links to more information regarding the Empire of Veredun if you're interested:
History: [url]https://empireofgoldentears.tumblr.com/history[/url]
Notable Members: [url]https://empireofgoldentears.tumblr.com/members[/url]
General Page & Aesthetic: [url]https://empireofgoldentears.tumblr.com/[/url]

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