Chapter X: The Empire
generation, Sigmar was being hailed as a patron God of the Empire and in the many centuries that followed, the cult of Sigmar rose to become one of the most powerful organizations across the Empire. Rather than a being a single country, the Empire is a coalition of these many separate states, bound together by tradition, culture and politics. Since its founding, it has been built upon a strength borne of unity, though throughout its history this unity has been sorely tested and often broken, and yet it has endured these times of tribulation and emerged ever stronger. T he people of the Empire speak a common tongue and share the same heritage, yet they are also diverse and independent. In particular, the rise of mercantile power in recent centuries has seen the Empire divided between the rural peasants and the urban people of the towns and cities, and significantly between the richer states to the west and the poorer states to the east. As well as this, the emergence of rich and powerful burgomeisters, as well as the growth of the cult of Sigmar, has seen significant changes to the political map since the time of Sigmar and the early Emperors. T he l ands of The e leCTor C ounTs Originally there were twelve Counts, but the province of Solland was all but destroyed by the invasion of the Orc warlord Gorbad Ironclaw and is now part of Wissenland, while the old state of Drakwald was overrun by Beastmen and other foul creatures. The lands of the slain Count were divided between Nordland and Middenland, though precisely which state possesses which parts of Drakwald is still oft- argued over to the point of waging war. More recently the greedy Emperor Dieter IV, in return for a large donation to his personal coffers, granted the city of Marienburg secession from the Empire. For the last hundred years the massive seaport has fiercely defended its independence. So it is that there are currently ten provinces—Averland, Hochland, Middenland, Nordland, Ostland, Ostermark, Reikland, Stirland, Talabecland and Wissenland. Of these, Reikland is currently the most powerful by far. For the last hundred years it has been the seat of the Emperor and it is the Reikland that gave rise to the city-state of Altdorf—capital of the Empire, and location of the Colleges of Magic and Church of Sigmar. The power and influence of the other provinces rise and fall in accordance with the skill and designs of their Counts, and the uncertain fortunes of war and politics. Amongst them, Middenland and Talabecland are usually prominent. Middenland is one of the most dangerous and wild provinces, but its capital, Middenheim, is the centre of the cult of the ancient God Ulric, and so wields power disproportionate to its wealth and resources. Talabecland is bordered by the Rivers Talabec and Stir, both tributaries to the mighty Reik itself, and so has grown rich on trade and taxation of merchants travelling between the eastern provinces and Nuln, Altdorf and Marienburg. The more southerly states of Stirland, Wissenland and Averland are not swathed in the deep forests of the rest of the Empire and much of their wealth is derived from fertile farmlands and the mines within the foothills of the World’s Edge Mountains. Wool, horses, and grain from these provinces fetch a high price in the markets to the north and west, though in recent centuries the power of these rural provinces has waned as the fortunes of the merchants of the cities have strengthened.
Throughout much of its history, the Counts and other nobles of the Empire have quarrelled amongst themselves, and even marched to war against one another. The descendants of the first tribal leaders constantly vie for power, make and break alliances or have been usurped by those under their rule, and even against a great and common threat it takes a firm and capable leader to forge unity amongst the infighting. The current Emperor, Karl Franz, the Prince of Altdorf and Elector of Reikland, is said to be such a man, though like all men of power he still has many enemies. The other provinces have little resource with which to control the play of power. Ostland, Nordland, Hochland and Ostermark retain their influence through alliance with the stronger states. In times when the other Counts are divided, the backing of these provinces is eagerly sought. A Count, or more fully, an Elector Count rules each province. Centuries of intermarriages and alliances between the ruling families have created a maze of relationships, treaties, and trade agreements, which often give rise to rival claimants for rulership and discord with each other. Many of the Counts are also the bearers of other titles, some of them from the Empire’s military, others hereditary or honorary. Karl Franz, as well as being Emperor and Count of Reikland, is also the Prince of Altdorf, while the Count of Middenland, Boris Todbringer, also holds the title of Graf of Middenheim. The Count of Talabecland is also known as the Ottilia in memory of the self-proclaimed Empress Ottilia, while the Prince of Marienburg, the Count of Nordland, has been barred from the city on pain of death since its secession. The Count of Ostermark also has the duty of Warden of the Marches and is given a valuable grant from the Emperor, though how much of this money is spent on military forces protecting the Empire’s eastern border has varied widely depending on the inclination of the ruling Count. T he r Ise of The C ITIes Under the Counts is a bewildering mess of nobility including diverse Crown Princes, Grafs and Barons. Some of these still retain some measure of influence from the Empire’s feudal past, while others rule little more than their own castles, their power having been stripped away by the merchants and Burgomeisters over successive generations. It is the rise of the mercantile classes that has wrought the greatest changes in the Empire in recent centuries, most significantly giving rise to the city-states of Altdorf, Nuln, Talabheim and Middenheim. Though the Counts may still bear titles that accord with these cities, they have much less political influence on the cities than in times of old. Instead the city-states are ruled by cartels of burgomeisters, in concord with other organisations such as trades guilds and religious communities. a lTdorf Each city claims to be great, but the accolade of greatest city of the Empire must be given to Altdorf. Not only is it here that Karl Franz holds his court, it is also in Altdorf that one will find the Colleges of Magic, the School of Engineers and the centre of the Church of Sigmar, as well as many forward-thinking universities and the Imperial Menagerie. Built across several islands and mud flats where the Reik and Talabec meet, Altdorf is home to the Reikport, the last stretch of the Reik navigable by ocean-going ships. Merchants wishing to move their wares further up the Talabec or Stir must first unload their cargoes here, paying the attendant taxes and duties to do so.
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