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Magnusstat is one of the seventeen states, two autonomous cities and two overseas territories that conform the Republic of Ostland. Landlocked in the Styroe Island, it borders with Guldbrand and Jernland to the north, Syroststoy and Asghenia to the south, Himmsmark to the east, and Perlstrand to the west. It is the most-populated subdivision of the country that is not a city-state, with over 5,4 million, and the second-largest in territory.
Magnusstat is oftenly considered the 'core of Ostland', as it has been the strongest region in terms of population, indutrial development, and cultural influence. It was first confederated in 1827 by unificating the former provinces of Dagfinnmark, Grjotland, Höylandet, Norresholm, Lagermark and Richenfelt, which have, since then, served as subdivisions of the state. The mind behind this unification was Ernest I, who had took an important role in the Ostlandic Civil War and restored country's stability. With the reunification, he created a powerful entity to counter Northern Federation's economic advantage.
The state has 5 of the 20 most-populated areas in the country, including the fourth most-populous Hanso (1.152 million), Haffenrich (786 thousand), Bergstrøm (402 thousand), Vinterdahl, Iselund and Starkwald (over 100 thousand each).
Etymology[]
The name Magnusstat was coined by Hans I. It derives from the name of one of the Independence Heroes of the country, Magnus Engelmann, a marine who fought in the War of Independence against Norway from 1798 to 1812. He was born in nowaday's Haffenrich. He was a very important leader and defender of the Ostlandic sovereignty, and his figure has inspired many army members and politicians to serve their country.
The name, besides of honouring the aforementioned hero, was purposefully created to mean strong country, as the name Magnus, which comes from Latin, means 'great'. This was meant to symbolize the region's importance and influence it would have in the country from that moment on.
History[]
Early history[]
Before the country's independence, the region developed around Hanso since old times, it being the third-most influential city during the first years of the Kingdom. Settled in the early 10th century as Fjornrikka, the city was an important spot for the country's commerce, being a common stopping place for trade routes from North to Southern Styroe.
Country's independence[]
In 1796, Hanso became the country's capital as the historical one, Nordostat, was located on the Far East, bordering with the Norwegian Sea, which, in the context of the Independence War, made it a hot spot for sieges. Then Commander-in-chief and later first King, Hans I ordered moving the government to a furthest place inside of the Styroe Island to protect the institutions of the recently-created state.
After the defeat of the Norwegians by the Ostlandic Marine Forces in the Battle of Bjorvinsund, the country's independence was recognized and the capital was moved back to Nordostat. By that time, Hanso had developed cultural and economic importance due to its strategic location and remained one of the 'motors' of the country's growth even not being in the spotlight of being the capital. A popular Ostlandic saying goes "All the roads lead to Hanso", which is a local variation of the millenary Roman saying, was coined during the period where the city was the capital.
Establishment[]
Origin[]
- Main article: Ernogston Program
The unified Magnusstat was devised by King Ernest I as a way to improve the country's economy, society and culture, as a way to compete with Northern Federation. This would result in a feeling of preference spread among the population for the monarchy rather than the liberalist, non-religious system established in the Federate states, and will eventually mean the end of them. This was known as the Ernogston Program, which comprised from urban planning, demography and population growth plans to espionage and terrorism against the Federation. It is categorized as a propaganda and economic war and cited as one of the earliest cases of Unconventional warfare in history. Magnustat was officially declared province (kungligfylkere) on 1 February 1827; The same day, the rest of administrative subjects were modified and other were created. The new subject fulfilled one of the main goals: to be the largest populated region in the island. However, this decision also received backlash among the former region's governors and oligarchs who now found themselves taken out from their power position. King Ernest ordered search and capture for all of them fearing possible insurgency.
The monarchy not only disestablished six region's goverment bodies, expropriated lands and properties from oligarchs who, in most cases, invested on the country's independence less than three decades before. Edvard Ostrem was one of them, who had lost all of his properties and was left homeless. Ernest excused himself claiming that the bill was a "territorial change" and that neither money or assets were expropiated.
Due to this, Ostrem, along with some other detractors of the bill, scheduled small, nonviolent demostrations in front of the newly inaugurated Magnusstathus in Fjornrikka. He was arrested in the following days, and severely tortured until being left away in the middle of nowhere, barely alive. This was a key event in his life, and led him to escape to the Northern Federation and eventually become one of the greatest detractors of the monarchy.
On a social level, the shift toward a unified government had little impact in the Grjotland region, as the provincial capital was located there. It was initially poorly received in the other counties. Nevertheless, this feeling quickly dissipated after a nationalist sentiment began to be promoted at the national and regional level, which was also part of the aforementioned program.
Culture[]
The concept of Magnusstat as a unified entity is relatively new; However, the region has developed a very strong culture and nationalism, as a feeling of fraternity raised in the state. The state was conceived as the union of some provinces located in the central region of the Styroe Island: Dagfinnmark, Grjotland, Höylandet, Lagermark, Norresholm and Richenfelt. The current state of Asghenia, declared a state in 1973, was then part of the Lagermark province, hence not considered as a separate entity at the time.
Magnusstat culture was built in the different traditions which were present in the regions it was formed from. However, since its establishment, it has shaped an unique type of patrimony. Considered as the 'core of Ostlandic culture', Magnusstat culture comprises perfectly the native, indigenous traditions from the people present before of the Viking conquest, as well as the one brought by these last.
Administrative divisions[]
Magnusstat is subdivided into 6 counties, which are equivalent to the former provinces existent before the Administrative reorganization of 1827.
| Flag | County | Capital | Population | Districts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | % | ||||
| Dagfinnmark | Sonnefjeld | 423 511 | 7,74 | 4 | |
|
Grjotland | Hanso | 1 846 588 | 33,78 | 14 |
| Höyland | Iselund | 534 789 | 9,78 | 4 | |
| Lagermark | Bergstrom | 750 428 | 13,72 | 8 | |
| Norresholm | Vinterdahl | 687 429 | 12,57 | 6 | |
| Richenfelt | Haffenrich | 1 223 631 | 22,38 | 10 | |