Great Confederacy of Commonwealth States wrote:NationStates Name: Great Confederacy of Commonwealth States
Nation Name: Kingdom of England
Capital: London
Government Type: Feudal kingdom, Danelaw
Head of Government: Cnut ‘the Great’ of Denmark
Dynasty/Family Name: House of Denmark
Population: 1.5 million
Eligible Military Population: 250.000 males eligible for service
Territorial Claims: Denmark, Norway, Ireland, Normandy
State Religion: Christianity
Dominant Religion: Christianity, of various sects
Minority religions: Old Nordic Paganism, Celtic faiths
Religious Information: King Cnut is a devout Christian, as are many of the nobles and the people of England. There is some lingering paganism on the frontiers, but generally, the majority of the population follows Christianity. The form of Christianity differs, however. There are problems in the Church, as always, regarding some of the finer points of the trinity. Also, the question of whether to follow the Pope in Rome or the Patriarch of Constantinople is on the minds of many bishops. Most pressingly, the Danish Christians practice a more pagan form of Christianity, one which still incorporates many of the old Nordic traditions. As such, many Danes are Christian in name but closeted pagans, although their king keeps a heavy hand in matters of faith.
Economy Information: The Danes are excellent traders, commanding many longships that sail all over the world. This trade has vitalized the economy of the coastal cities, where many forms of labour and artisanship are practiced. The Danes are excellent smiths and stonemasons, after all, as well as proper shipbuilders. The days of raiding and plundering are over, and Danish settlers are content with bartering and trading for goods. The Anglo-Saxon majority, however, favours farming in the vast fields of England, herding many herds of sheep and cattle. There is a sharp divide between the more rural Anglo-Saxons, who own much of the land, and the urban Danes, who practice most of the trade and have large sums of gold at their disposal.
Military Information: The military of the kingdom exists from two sources: Anglo-Saxon levies raised from feudal obligations, and Danish retinue raised from loyal retainers in the cities and towns. While the Danes are higher in quality as fighters, and are very accustomed to ship-borne combat, the Anglo-Saxon bands are far more numerous, and can live easily off the land, where Danish troops are too expensive for prolonged campaigns. The king of England can also call upon Danish mercenaries, although those are even more expensive than his own Danish retinue, and he will need large sums of money if he is going to pay off those troops. For small conflicts and dealing with rebellions, the Danish retinue suffices, but for longer conflicts a call has to be made upon the Anglo-Saxon levies.
History: The history of current England begins rather oddly, rather recently. Before the year 1015, but three years ago, England was ruled by Anglo-Saxon kings, who ruled over a partly Danish and a partly Anglo-Saxon population. However, the Danes were ill-treated by their king Aethelstan, and the Danes of the Denmark took it upon themselves to save their brethren. Cnut’s father Sweyn first took up arms in 1003, when he attacked the city of Norwich. Then, in 1012, he took up arms again, conquering England for himself. His rule was shaken off, however, and in 1015, Cnut returned with a mighty army of Danes, Norse, Swedes and Poles, with whom he conquered the English throne from the Anglo-Saxons. With the money thus gained he paid off his troops, and prepared to make his kingdom into a great Danish powerhouse, where the Danelaw held sway.
However, the king himself is in a dilemma, about which I will explain more down below.
Ruler's Name: Cnut ‘the Great’ son of Sweyn, of the Royal House of Denmark
Ruler's Age: 23
Ruler's Personality: Cnut is a hard-working, almost workaholic lad. He is solemn and religious, not one to get head-long into a fight. His physical stature is imposing, but his manners are kind and inviting, and he is thoughtful rather than brutish. He has a taste for poetry and history, and surrounds himself with learned priests who advise him in all manner of issues. He is also a law-giver, and wants to implement the Danelaw over the whole of England. However, in this, he often underestimates the opposition of the Anglo-Saxon land owners and barons, who would be happy to see their Danish king removed in favour of one of their own. Cnut has no mind for intrigue, and rather deals with his enemies in the open, while his enemies don’t have similar qualms.
Physical Appearance: From the Knytlinga saga:
“Knut was exceptionally tall and strong, and the handsomest of men, all except for his nose, that was thin, high-set, and rather hooked. He had a fair complexion none-the-less, and a fine, thick head of hair. His eyes were better than those of other men, both the handsomer and the keener of their sight.”
Ruler's Family Information:
Ælfgifu of Northampton, 28, Knut’s wife
Emma of Normandy, 33, Knut’s wife, former wife of Aethelred the Unready
Svein Knutsson, 2 years old, Knut’s infant son and heir apparent, son of Aefgifu
Harold Knutsson, 2 years old, son of Emma
Ruler's History: See the country’s history. As of now, Cnut is wondering how to improve his kingdom in marked ways. He has dreams of creating a grand Danish empire, from Ireland to the Denmark and Norway, incorporating all the lands connected by the North Sea. However, he has also read about the Roman Empire, and wants his kingdom to become prosperous as Italy. For that, he would need to focus inward. On this depends the future not only of England, but of Denmark and Norway as well, as Cnut is currently heir apparent to the Danish crown as well.
Accepted
Just having a problem with reading the map.
He has a relatively youthful appearance, he does not have a beard or any facial hair (for some reason), and he's generally attractive.
