Potiguaraland (The Kalmar Union)

The Kingdom of Potiguaraland, Potiguaraland, Potyguaraland, Potiguaria is a constiututional monarchy in North-Eastern Tawantinland. It is bordered by Tremembeland, Tijucoland and Nac-Nanukland. The population is around 18.4 million and the capital is Ceará.

The Head of State is King Aimberê VII.

The official language is Potiguaran.

The currency is the Potiguaran Anguaipe (PGG)

History
The Potiguaran tribe first consolidated its hold over the modern Potiguaraland following contact with Vinlandic explorers in the late 14th century. Haphazard visits from the Vinlanders, then slowly, Álengsk traders too, brought weapons and domesticated animals in return for copious amounts of Brazilwood which was a much-prized commodity in Leifia and Europe beyond. Disease was introduced too unfortunately but the tribe rebounded and by the time European naval powers such as Leon and Portugal were reaching its coasts in the late 1400s the small tribe had conquered a considerable part of north-eastern Tawantinland. Sugar was introduced in about 1530 and this soon defined the state as the lords effectively adopted feudalism to fully exploit the new crop. Much of the population was reduced to servitude to work in the plantations. Foreign influence over controlling the trade routes destabilised the kingdom however and it was in the midst of civil war (either side nominally supported by Leifian or Iberian powers) when the all-conquering Tawantinsuyu vassilised the kingdom.

The Tawantinsuyu regime was light, a probable necessity considering the kingdom's distance from Cuzco and was maintained more through marriage to the local royal family than any coherant military presence. However it did ban European missionaries from operating within Potiguaraland's borders as well as preventing any foreign power from planting trade stations along the coast. The brazilwood trade, then sugar and cotton trades were tightly controlled by the Potiguaran crown, who used the profits to build defensive works, a small but respectable navy (built with Leonese know-how) and fund public works. Hence when the rest of the Tawantin Empire fell into civil war in the late 1500s Potiguaraland remained internally peaceful and was able to conquer several tribes further inland as well as feud with its direct neighbours to the west and south.

As trade links reduced during the First Mexic-Leifian War and the Fifty Years War Potiguaran merchants took the reins themselves, exporting their wares as far as Coabana in the North and Genoa in Europe. Tawantinsuyu's absence following its Civil War would also allow missionaries to resume their activities in the country resulting in a large Catholic minority. The country remained an exporter and little was done to build any industry of its own. Dependence on the sugar trade throughout the 18th and 19th centuries exposed the country to the whims of the European stock markets and crashes in Antwerp or Copenhagen would spark uprisings in Potiguaraland. It would only be after the succession of the enlighted King Aimberê V in 1896 that an attempt to wean the country off exporting began.

A revolt in 1956 by the lords, vainly trying to resist change and safeguard their rapidly evaporating power was easily defeated. However growing political feeling in the middle classes was potential harder to eradicate and in response the crown introduced an electable government and limits on its own powers.

Potiguaraland is part of Tawantinsuyu's grand alliance which covers the majority of the continent.

Potiguaraland regards the islands of Achthuizen (which it calls Quixaba) about 300km off the north-eastern coast as an integral part of its territory. They were unilaterally seized by Luxembourg (having supported a tiny Zeelandic colony for several decades) during the Tawantin Civil War and are governed as part of the Kingdom of Guyana.

Government
Potiguaraland is governed by a bicameral diet. Elections are not set but usually occur every other year as party coalitions break-down and swap sides.

The Head of State is King Aimberê VII and his Prime Minister is A'ukre Mawé