Francia (The Kalmar Union)

Much like its neighbour the Holy Roman Empire Francia is technically a sovereign state though it rarely, if ever, forges a common policy. A 'Parlement' of Francia sits in Tours and acts as a arbiter of disputes between the different states. It is also in charge of the railway network that is slowly spreading across the region - a rare instance of cross country co-operation.

There is a small degree of military co-operation between the purely French states but there is no signed treaty of alliance as in the Kalmar Union

Most of the countries use the French Livre (FLV) unless otherwise stated, though only France, Auvergne and Britanny-Maine are legally allowed to print currency.

The Unitary Flag of Francia was adopted after several states objected to the use of the Royal flag of France. It is flown on all governmental buildings within the territorial limits of Francia.

Wessex-Normandy
Wessex-Normandy holds the Duchy of Normandy and Counties of Eu and Picardy. These regions have a population of around 3.5 million. The regional parliament is at Rouen, however government is mostly run from Winchester. It uses the Wessex Pound (WXP)

Brittany-Maine
A hereditary agglomeration of the Duchies of Brittany and Anjou and the Counties of Maine and Retz.

Its capital is Nantes. It has a population of around 3.3 million.

Its official languages are Breton and French.

The currency is the Breton Ecu (BRE)

Kingdom of France
The population of France is about 21.4 million. Its capital is Paris.

Though the largest of the French states, the Kingdom of France has rarely been able to exert its will over the historical area known as Francia.

By the 987 the French Kingdom had fallen to its lowest ebb as most territory outside of the the central royal domain exercised complete autonomy. Subsequent attempts by the French kings to project their power in their wider theoretical domain foundered in the face of hostility from Normandy, Maine and Anglia. The Treaty of Compiegne (1184) saw the French kings restricted to Ile de Paris and the Orleanais. Berry, which had originally been purchased in 1101 was returned not long after the treaty. Sustained war with Wessex over Normandy achieved little and damaged its ambitions in the south. Defeated by Aragon during the Albigensian War (1209-1218) it was effectively locked out of the South for several centuries. Later French kings would abandon their aggressive policy and swapped for a more diplomatic one. This led to the annexing of Pitou and Lyonnais in the 1400s.

However since the 15th century any attempts at territorial consolidation have been generally resisted, often through war. Small territories were gained after several minor wars with Burgundy and Auvergne, but larger gains were usually reversed in the subsequent peace treaties. However, its vital role in resisting the Spanish Revolution was widely acknowledged in the final peace treaty and it was given Garronne and Albret, as well as various islands in the Carib and South Seas as compensation for absorbing the brunt of the war and its casualties.

At the same time France renounced any territorial ambitions on its fellow French states which allowed a much more co-operative Francia to emerge.

Burgundy
The population of Burgundy is around 1.8 million. Its capital is Dijon.

The Duchy of Burgundy broke away from the Kingdom of Arles in 1263. Thereafter it was the focus of many French and Imperial war as it and Arles fought for control of the Swiss and Swabian provinces of the Empire.

Aragon
Aragon holds the County of Langedoc and governs it from Barcelona. This area had always largely been under Aragonese influence, and they defied Papal excommunication to go to war against France during the Albigenisian War for their heretical subjects. Fealty to France would finally be broken in 1258.

There are about 1.7 million people in Languedoc.

It uses the Aragonese Crown (AGC).

Luxembourg
The United Kingdoms of the Netherlands (Luxembourg) holds the County of Champagne but completely rejects any French sovereignty over it. It sends representatives to Frankfurt rather than Tours.

Confederation of the Pyrenees
A group of seven states: Navarre, Bearn, Bigorre, Comminges, Foix, Soule and Andorra, reconstituted after the upheaval of the Iberian Revolution. The federation is loose unlike the Swiss or Ladish Confederations and is mainly an economic federation. Each county retains its own legislation and government.

Basque is the official language in Navarre and Soule. Catalan in Andorra. The others use Occitan.

Orange
The smallest of the independent French states. It has a population of around 35,000 people in two detached portions (one enclaved within the Kingdom of Arles). Although on the right bank of the Rhone and therefore nominally part of the Holy Roman Empire it has always preferred to deal with Francia, mainly due to historical hostility between the ruling House of Nassau and the Houses of Luxembourg and Hapsburg.

Auvergne
The second largest French state. Historically the Dukes of Bourbon were often a rival to the French kings.

Its capital is Clermont. It has a population of about 1.5 million.