Yesanland (The Kalmar Union)

The Principality of Yesanland, Yesanland, Yesangy, is a medium sized autocratic monarchy in Eastern Leifia. It is bordered by Aniyunwiya, Susquehanockland, Powhatanland, Tuscaron, Catawbaland and the Tsalagi Republic. The capital is Nahyssa and the population is around 3.4 million.

The Head of State is Prince Nikonha.

The official language is Yesan.

The currency is the Yesan Yandokapui (YSY).

History
The Yesan first enter the historical record as a 'particularly stubborn' tribe encountered by the Álengsk in the the early 1200s as they ventured westwards in an attempt to stem the invasions into Margirhaedeyja. They had although already become a minor headache to the nascent Aniyunwiyan kingdoms. While the Álengsk and Aniyunwiya believed in the absolute power of heavy cavalry the Yesan supported a massive infantry force. Buoyed by a large population and protected by the Oniasont mountain ranges the tribes proved a tough challenge, even to Edoha, the all-conquering emperor of the Aniyunwiya.

Unlike its neighbours Yesanland was not conquered outright by Aniyunwiya and was instead treated as an equal within the empire. While Aniyunwiyan lords snapped up land on the coasts the Yesan ventured southwards extending their rule over the Catawban and Mvskokian tribes almost to the Mexic Gulf. Internally a power struggle fuelled by the discovery of gold in the south turned the previously council-led tribe(s) into a singular monarchical state. Gold bought Álengsk steel and eventually Iberian technical know-how and while their actual territory shrank following the collapse of the 2nd Aniyunwiyan Empire the core lands were soon ringed with cutting-edge fortresses and protected by one of the most well-equipped armies in Leifia. The Black Death left the Yesan lands mostly untouched leaving the nation in a powerful position.

Most of the 15th and 16th centuries were taken up with wars to regain its lost territories. Some, like those against the Tsalagi and Coyaha led it into conflict with Aniyunwiya and were quickly abandoned. Others like those to the south or into civil war stricken Tuscaron were more successful. Much of the developments in the south, especially the later growth of Mvskokia were a result of Yesan military ventures.

The end of the Second Yesan-Cusaban War (1617-1622) was one of the reasons behind the Congress of Cahokia which would in turn precipitate the First Mexic-Leifian War. Despite its formidable army Yesanland stayed out of the wider war having dire relations with the Muscogee League to the south and not much better ones with the Christian Leagues to the north. It lend a 'thousand men' for the Battle of Kahoka after pleading entreaties from the north, and its heavily armoured pikemen were bloodied but not broken even after ten hours of close combat. The bloated and ill-disciplined armies that flooded Eastern Leifia in the aftermath of the war gave Yesanland's neighbours some respite from its interminable wars as they blunted Yesanland's attacks. Yesanland's borders waxed and waned during the 17th century but even so, by the initial stages of the 'Leifian Crisis' it owned half of the area of modern Catawbaland, effectively controlled the Westo River and had on occasion severely challenged Icelandic ownership of Rolgerfolkland, only being pushed back with Portuguese assistance.

The financial crash in 1818 abruptly ended Yesanland's 'glorious age'. Despite its generally terrible relations it was largely reliant on the North-East for exports and once these dried up government collapsed. A republic was declared and the royal family went into exile. In 1821 the government was radicallised by internal conflict and declared war on Susquehanockland, swiftly overrunning the country and occupying Conestoga. The Yesan-Susquehanock War drew in Álengiamark and Powhatanland but dragged on until 1826, sapping the strength and morale of the two. Yesan forces withdrew from Susquehanockland but were for the most part unbeaten by the allies. Public opinion and their own internal problems stopped the war before Álengsk and Powhatan troops could overthrow the republic. This would have to wait until later.

The Yesanland Revolutionary War (1847-1850) was a concerted effort by northern Leifian and Kalmar states to restrain Yesanland and restore the monarchy. Even by the standards of the revolutionary wars of the time this was a horrifically bloody campaign and the treatment of the Yesan people as the armies advanced into the mountains shocked the public back home. The war, although ultimately successful, would severely undermine Vinland's appetite for future ventures (and felling two governments in the process) and many other republics that may have been targeted by the pro-monarchy powers were left to develop peacefully without interference.

Broken and shorn of a large swathe of territory Yesanland recovered slowly. A brief civil war in the 1890s threatened to lapse the country back into radical republicanism but limited support from Aniyunwiya tipped the balance in the monarchy's favour and the rebels were suppressed. It was involved in the Cotton Wars on Mvskokia's side but decades of neglect and short funds had softened the effect of its army and it withdrew from the war without much consequence.

These days Yesanland provides much of the coal fuelling the industrial boom in Aniyunwiya, Erie and Álengiamark.

Government
The government of Yesanland is formed of a tricameral diet. Elections are held every but many observers remark that these change rarely actually change anything. Despite the sheen of democracy Yesanland remains a very centralised autocracy with the monarchy retaining wide executive powers.