Poland (Principia Moderni III Map Game)

The Kingdom of Poland (Polish: Królestwo Polskie) is a medium-sized nation in Eastern Europe, with a number of affiliated states, including Lithuania, Mazovia, and Moldova. Poland, which rules over the affiliated states leniently, has a great economic control over Eastern Europe, and exerts some pressure over the Holy Roman Empire.

Pre-1400
The Kingdom of Poland was founded by the coronation of King Bolesław I the Brave in 1025. Bolesław was a member of the Piast dynasty, and was the son of Mieszko I, who was the first Duke of Poland to convert to Christianity. Bolesław was the fifth Piast ruler of Poland, and his dynasty ruled the Kingdom until Casimir the Great died without a son.

The Kingdom passed to Casimir's nephew, the Angevin King of Hungary Louis I. Louis' daughter, Jadwiga, became the Queen at a young age, and then was to be married to Jogaila, Grand Duke of Lithuania, under the terms of the Union of Krewo.

After the negotiations that took place in 1385, Jogaila converted to Christianity, married Jadwiga, and was crowned King of Poland in 1386. Jadwiga died in 1399, after bearing a daughter who would also die within a month of her birth.

Production
The primary goods produced in Poland are agricultural. The plantation system of using serf labor is dominant, but slavery is very uncommon. Grains, such as rye, wheat, barley, and other cereals, are very common to be grown in Poland. Very few people live in cities, with most living in town-like plantations that provide most needs internally.

Poland, combined with Lithuania and the other affiliated states, is the largest grain producer in Europe. Most grain is consumed internally, but a large quanitity is still exported to the rest of Europe, especially during years of famines.

Trade
Polish trade is centered around the export of three basic products: grain, cattle, and furs. Most trade is taken north, and out of Poland, to Gdańsk, where it is shipped through the Baltic Sea to cities like Antwerp and Amsterdam.

The Amber Road, a powerful trade route stretching from Venice to Novgorod passes through the Kingdom. Another overland trade route brings goods from Persia to Europe via Poland, bringing wealth with the traders.

Military
The Polish military is headed by the King, who is the highest ranking military official in the nation. Following traditional Slavic organization of the military, the King is responsible for directly leading his troops.

Army
The Polish Army is led by the King, but the second-in-command is the Hetman. The Hetman, who is appointed by the King at the suggestion of the Marshal of the Sejm, is in charge of tactical strategy.

As with most medieval warfare, the Polish military is divided into three primary division - Archery, Cavalry, and Infantry. The infantry division is the largest, with about 20,000 men. There are an additional 10,000 archers, with about 5,000 cavalry members.

Navy
See: Navy of Moldova Poland proper does not have a sea-port, and so there is no "Polish Navy." However, the Polish vassal state of Moldova maintains a navy in the Black Sea. The navy, while controlled by the Prince of Moldova, is often used at the disposal of the King of Poland.

Ethnic Groups
There are three primary ethnic groups in Poland and its affiliated states. These are: Polish, Lithuanian, and Ruthenian. In Poland, the Polish ethnic group is by far the largest, while in Lithuania the Ruthenian and Lithuanian groups are larger.

Poles are part of the Western Slavic group, and associate with Silesian, Bohemian, Pomeranian, Polabian, and Sorbian cultures.

Art and Architecture
Polish architecture is generally considered to be the eastern-most extent of Western architecture. Architectural influences in the west generally reflect Germanic forms, such as Gothic structures, while architectural influences in the east can sometimes reflect Eastern European forms.

Polish art follows Western art very closely. Tapestries and woven rugs are both common forms of expression. Tapestries, while originally imported from Europe, have recently become produced witha greater frequency in Poland. Woven rugs, which had been shipped through Poland on their way to Europe from Persia have recently become extremely popular with Polish artisans.

Entertainment
Music in Poland is relatively advanced for its location. This is attributed to more patronage than the smaller Germanic states. Polish music is polyphonic, and is similar to the Notre Dame School. Mikołaj z Radomski is the most notable composer of Polish music, and often incorporates religious themes and motifs in his work.

As for literature, Christianity introduced Latin to the Poles, and therefore introduced literature. Gallus Anonymous, from the 1100s, is the most notable historian of ancient Poland, known for his Deeds of the Princes of the Poles. Wincenty Kadłubek is another historian and political commentator, who wrote Chronicles of the Kings and Princes of Poland.