The Merchant Republic of Anhausen [Anhaus: Handelsrepublik Anhausen] is a small island nation located approximately 540 kilomters west-southwest of the Arontorian Islands and over 1,000 kilometers northeast of the Commonwealth of Aquilinia in Northern Sondria. It is a federal parliamentary republic consisting of nine Kantone, or Cantons, each consisting of one of the nine main islands in the Nördlich Archipelago upon which Anhausen rests. At 4,480 square kilometers, it is among the smallest sovereign states in the region, and among the smallest independent nations in the world; with a population of approximately 1,512,790 it is also one of the most densely populated countries in the region, with almost 338 people per square kilometer. The Merchant Republic enjoys relatively mild seasonal temperatures year round due in large part to ocean currents bringing warm, moist air up from the south towards the Alkharanian coast.
Early human habitation of the archipelago can be found as early as the Chalcolithic period. Early migrants from Alkharania likely inhabited the early islands while seeking to escape increasing cold weather during a period of intense regional cooling. The Ureinwohner Civilization, an aboriginal peoples existed on the island between 4500 BCE and the arrival of the Germanic Anhaus peoples—likely escaping increased persecution and wars from Alkharania—in the early 1st Century CE. The introduction of Alkharanian immigrants to the archipelago greatly reduced native populations thanks to war and especially disease. The Kingdom of the Anhaus was proclaimed on June 16th, 115 CE under Byrhtnoth the Ealdorman, whose House would rule the archipelago for almost seven hundred years before the monarchy was finally dissolved and replaced with a parliamentary republic which has largely remained in place since its original formation.
The Anhaus culture is largely descended from components brought with early migrants from Alkharania mixed in with surviving Ureinwohner customs and principles adapted from living on the archipelago. The Merchant Republic is highly progressive, having instituted women's suffrage in the early 19th Century and equal protection laws several decades later. The country embraces a free market economy with a robust social welfare system that includes universal healthcare and free tertiary education. Anhausen's location between Alkharania and the states of Hellas made it an important waypoint for northern trade, both between regional states and for intercontinental commerce. Trade with the islands made the Republic especially rich as sea trade become more prevalent in the region. A significant portion of Anhausen's economic output comes from maritime industries such as large fisheries and cargo shipping industries.
Early human habitation of the archipelago can be found as early as the Chalcolithic period. Early migrants from Alkharania likely inhabited the early islands while seeking to escape increasing cold weather during a period of intense regional cooling. The Ureinwohner Civilization, an aboriginal peoples existed on the island between 4500 BCE and the arrival of the Germanic Anhaus peoples—likely escaping increased persecution and wars from Alkharania—in the early 1st Century CE. The introduction of Alkharanian immigrants to the archipelago greatly reduced native populations thanks to war and especially disease. The Kingdom of the Anhaus was proclaimed on June 16th, 115 CE under Byrhtnoth the Ealdorman, whose House would rule the archipelago for almost seven hundred years before the monarchy was finally dissolved and replaced with a parliamentary republic which has largely remained in place since its original formation.
The Anhaus culture is largely descended from components brought with early migrants from Alkharania mixed in with surviving Ureinwohner customs and principles adapted from living on the archipelago. The Merchant Republic is highly progressive, having instituted women's suffrage in the early 19th Century and equal protection laws several decades later. The country embraces a free market economy with a robust social welfare system that includes universal healthcare and free tertiary education. Anhausen's location between Alkharania and the states of Hellas made it an important waypoint for northern trade, both between regional states and for intercontinental commerce. Trade with the islands made the Republic especially rich as sea trade become more prevalent in the region. A significant portion of Anhausen's economic output comes from maritime industries such as large fisheries and cargo shipping industries.
FACTBOOKDIRECTORY
CULTURE●ECONOMY●GOVERNMENT●HISTORY●MILITARY
ACTIVITY PORTAL|IMPORTANT CHARACTERS|MYTHOS INFLUENCES|ORGANIZATIONS OF THE ANHAUS
THECREATOROFANHAUSEN
The Merchant Republic of Anhausen canon belongs to the nation of Anhausen / New Azura.
The OP would like to personally thank Kyrusia for his help in developing this factbook style,
And also the many nation-states of the Region of Sondria for their brainstorming assistance.
