Güstrow (The Kalmar Union)

The County of Güstrow, Güstrow, is a small constitutional monarchy in Northern Central Europe. A member of the Holy Roman Empire, it is bordered to the North by the Danish province of Pomerania and to the South by Brandenburg. The population is around 265,000 and the capital is Güstrow.

The Head of State is Count Johan III.

The county has no official language but the most widely spoken languages are German, Sveamål and Pomersk.

Too small to support its own currency it tends to use the Danish Krona (DKK) especially as the capital and most populous town is right on the Danish border.

History
Sparsely inhabited by Wendish Slavs, during the Wendish crusades in the 10th Century Güstrow was captured and settled by German lords. As Denmark slowly gobbled up Pommerania the castle at Güstrow became a highly prized asset for those close to the Imperial throne and it swapped hands repeatedly between various dynasties. This link was broken after the Schmalkaldic victory at Mulberg in 1547. Thereafter the county became a part of the Schmalkaldic Empire and ruled by the Prince of Rugia (the heir to the Danish throne).

Never the most agriculturally productive area of Germany the county was almost completely depopulated during the final stages of the Fifty Years War after the Bavarian army marauded Pomerania. Given to Svealand as part of the Treaty of Copenhagen it was confiscated by Imperial troops during the Great Baltic War. Restored, it was handed independence after the Svealandic possessions were split between the three sons of Queen Louise. To replenish the empty farmland and rebuild the shattered towns numerous calls for settlers were made in Svealand and the Empire. This has led the county to be an odd and wholly artificial mix of peoples. Svealanders in the towns are generally outnumbered by German and Pomersk in the countryside.

Offers for it to join the Kalmar Union have been turned down and despite its links with the North and the fact it fought alongside Denmark in the Imperial-Kalmar Wars it now prefers to follow a path of neutrality.

Government
Güstrow is governed by a single chambered Diet which is often split down ethnic divides. Elections are supposed to be held every four years but the high levels of disagreement in the government means fresh elections are held almost every six months.

Count Johan III is the head of state and his current Landsminister is Hans Rostin.