Hagenau (The Kalmar Union)

The Imperial City of Hagenau, Hagenau, Haguenau is a small republican city-state in Western Europe. It is a member of the Holy Roman Empire. It is bordered by the Palatinate, Swiss Confederation and Burgundy. The population is around 98,000.

The Head of state is Director Philipp Lowenfink.

The official language is German, specifically the Alsatian dialect.

It uses the Imperial Mark (HRM)

History
Founded in the early 12th century the city of Hagenau was developed by the Swabian dukes and later adopted by Emperor Frederick I as his preferred residence. It was made a free Imperial City by William of Holland in 1273 and would become the chief Imperial city of Alsace.

From 1358 Hagenau was the 'capital' of the Decapole, an alliance of ten Alsatian Imperial cities formed to protect their rights from the encroaching French. In 1654 during the midst of the Fifty Years War one of the Decapole cities, Selesat, was sacked and burnt by the Luxembougois army. As a result the Decapole voted to join the Swiss Confederation, however at the last minute Hagenau changed its mind, possibly after concerted diplomatic efforts from Auvergne and France. At the close of the war the other nine cities were granted extensive land in the Ostrassburg and merged into a single new Swiss canton.

Henceforth Hagenau has retained its independence. It fought briefly in the War of Bohemian Succession and joined Luxembourg in its various wars of expansion toward the Rhineland. This association with Luxembourg would backfire in 1804 when it was occupied and severely damaged by the French army during the War of Bavarian Succession. During the Iberian Revolution the city's governing council was roundly criticised for opening the city gates to the Hispanic army without a shot being fired, but the action probably saved the city from once again being occupied and damaged.

Since the Peace of Milan (1835) Hagenau has been officially neutral. Thanks to its proximity to the large forest bearing its name to the north it is a favoured holiday resort for hunting parties. It also is the home of Stühlen Airships, one of the Empire's largest supplier of military airships and one of several companies competing to try and build ships big enough to carry passengers.

Government
Hagenau is governed by a single-chambered council which is elected every four years. Separate elections for the office of Director, effectively Hagenau's Head of State, are held every seven years.

The currenct Director is Philipp Lowenfink and the council's chairman is Mayor Eduard Boddecker.