Thrace

Map of the Commonwealth of Thrace, showing the eleven cantons

Thrace is an inland commonwealth located on the high plains and foothills east of the Jaggudorns and the Amandal Plateau. Thrace is bounded on the east and the south by the Jaggudorn Mountains and extends over a gradually lowering plateau to the Shadew River. Thrace has very cold winters and mild summers. The historic capital is Dzan Kahisa which is located in the foothills of the Jaggudorns. The highest point is Mount Thwarren (41.48 DF or 6676m or 21903 ft) which is considered sacred to the god Thwar. The name Thrace is derived from the Thracian word, Tuvarshekha or 'land of the god Thwar.'

In ancient times, Thrace became the homeland of the nomadic Thwarrish Gwenyan Tribes and is regarded as the ancestral homeland of all the first Gwenyan skyfaring tribes. Historically, Thrace was the core territory of the First Kalikán Empire in the early middle ages and later the New Kalikán Empire in the early modern period. Thrace underwent great changes in the twenty sixth century as she changed into a world power and then was reduced in power by the events of the Great Sky War and subsequent revolution. Since the construction of the Grand Shadew Canal, Thrace's economy has undergone several booms, especially its agriculture. Thrace along with other High Shadevan Plateau nations provides much of the grain consumed in the Greater Pallathantic.

Demography

Most inhabitants of Thrace are of Gwenyan Thracian stock and speak the Thracian Language. Minority humans include remnants of the Jamyá of the High Shadevan Tribes. Children of Thracian aristocrats claim descent from the ancient Kalikán tribe which formerly was held in great esteem. The population of Thrace is about half as populous as the nations of the eastern Pallathantic.

Commonwealth of Thrace

Main article: Commonwealth of Thrace

Thrace today is a commonwealth, but before the past roughly century and a half, Thrace was frequently ruled by one or more monarchies since the advent of the Gwenyan Tribes for the past nearly four thousand years. The Commonwealth of Thrace today is comprised of eleven great cantons represented in the Thracian Chamber of Deputies. Thrace borders Dakkal, Gantvia, Thworgania, and the Jaffgorn Giant Tribes.

Flag of the Commonwealth of Thrace

Civil Flag of the Commonwealth of Thrace

Military Flag of the Commonwealth of Thrace

The flag of the commonwealth was adopted shortly after its creation. The 'x' symbol on the flag represents two elements of Thrace: the red stripe is the blood of the land and the blue stripe represents the blood of the fathers, suggesting the mythical Kalikán forebears. The red stripe is over the blue flag to show that the common people hold the power in the commonwealth.

Politics

Thrace holds important economic and political ties with the Aurician Empire and the Empire of Magdala. During the twenty seventh century, Thrace reverted to a monarchy contrary to treaty, but the monarchy was eventually toppled and the commonwealth restored. Today a small minority wishes to restore the monarchy, but their influence is very small and the power of the commonwealth well established.

Economy

Thrace is largely agricultural and a very important producer of wheat and gontha beef and exports its surplus food, particularly grain, to the nations of the eastern Pallathantic by means of the Grand Shadew Canal which has enabled Thrace to undergo an economic revival in the beginning of the present century. Thrace is also an important center of producing traditional skycraft for gontha herding which command high prices by collectors abroad. Thrace is one of the primary destinations for leisure mountain climbers.

Religion

The national divinity of Thrace is the god Thwar who was regarded as the Sky Father. The Old Religion is well represented in Thrace and there are very few Arathracians and Incarnandists compared to other nations of the Pallathantic. The remnants of the High Shadevan Tribes practice shamanistic cults which preceded the Gwenyan period.

Minorities

• High Shadevan Tribes
• Tubbakese (Jaggudornish Halflings)

Chronology of Thrace

ca early first millennium before Salmakhamer: settlement of Thrace by Gwenyan tribes from the east

986 Väduskal of Thrace leads chieftains of Thrace and neighboring lands to fire-bomb the capital of the Yophenthean Empire, Yophénthë and sack it.

ca 1300's: First Kalikán Empire

2487 to 2503: growth and ascendancy of the United Kingdom of Greater Thrace

2537 to 2576 New Kalikán Empire

2576 Reduction of Thrace, Abolition of Thracian Monarchy, Royal Family sent into exile, establishment of Confederation of Thrace

2613 Royalist Faction has coup and installs grandnephew of last king as monarch; attempts at union with other nations (Gantvia, Jamenth, Shaddego, etc.) are unsuccessful.

2619 Civil War, Republicans overthrow royal faction in power

2623 Establishment of the Commonwealth of Thrace

See Also

• Dzan Kahisa
• Thracian Empire
• Thracian Language
• List of the Rulers of Thrace
• Mount Thwarren
• Reduction of Thrace
• United Kingdom of Greater Thrace