Erie (The Kalmar Union)

The Kingdom of the Erielhonan, Erie, Erieland, is a large constitutional monarchy in northern Leifia. It has borders with Neshabek, Vinland, Álengiamark, Six Nations, Aniyunwiya and the Inokian Federation. The capital is Ashtabula and the population is just over 5 million.

The official language is Erielhonan but Myaamiaki is making a come-back in western Erie.

The Head of State is Queen Kenraeks Maria.

The currency is the Erie Natawe (ERN).

History
The Erie, or Erielhonan, were first mentioned as a tribe by the Abernaki in around 1100. According to the chronicles and sagas from the period the Abernaki were much troubled by their western neighbours and these included the Seneca, Tuscaron and Erie. By the time Álengiamark was looking beyond the Kanien'gehaga River for expansion the Erie were one of their main adversaries. The tribe had readily accepted Norse agriculture and weaponry and were adept at using the terrain.

In 1211 the Erie chiefs took the unprecedented step of accepting baptism. This was probably an act of self-preservation as the Álengsk had just secured what would become Onatario Fylke in part to defend its inhabitants against raiding from the western tribes but the subsequent religious fevour that swept the Erie territories was well celebrated within the Álengsk church, and indeed back in Europe. Pope Honorius III was to canonise the priests Bjarki and Halldór, though not the Erie king, which perhaps felt like a step too far at the time. He did however send a crown to the newly Christian king and he would be crowned by the Álengsk bishop of Ashtabula, Davíð.

The peace did not last long however and as Álengiamark fell into ever-increasing anarchy after the death of Queen Eydis so Erie took advantage. In 1225 with Kanien'gehaga allies they conquered and split Ontario between themselves. For another decade Erie cavalry reigned supreme over the Unami lands whilst their longships began to appear on the Fraeburt Votnum challenging Vinlandic domination of the lakes. This would be broken by the rising Aniyunwiyan Empire whose leader Edoha defeated the combined forces of Erie and Unami at the Battle of Seven Kings in April 1238. Conquered, Erie would be split between Aniyunwiya proper and its new vassal state Álengiamark. Despite being divided (or perhaps as a result of being divided) the tribe did not suffer the fate of being dispersed throughout the Aniyunwiyan territories to curb revolts. The Erie on the Aniyunwiyan side did indeed revolt, urged on by Vinland but the severe reprisal they suffered detered Vinlandic action and the Erie would ahve to wait until the collapse of their overlords before regaining independence.

Even as Aniyunwiya began to fall apart it kept a tight hold on the lakefront territories which the Erie saw as their homelands. In Álengiamark however the situation was loosening. The Great Unami Revolt of 1385-1388 caused such unstability that almost the entire western half of the country fell apart. In 1386 the Eastern Erie refounded the kingdom and alongside other rapidly reappearing states launched devastating raids across the Unami lands and deep into Álengsk territory. At the Congress of Fjallasay in 1387 the Erie were recognised as a separate independent country. Its bishopric, lapsed throughout its occupation, was refounded.

Using Aniyunwiya's and Vinland's deep civil wars as cover it slowly reclaimed the lakefront territories offering its army for service to different parties. By 1405 they were dividing up Ohio lands with Vinland and by 1468, now far outside their traditional lands, they were dismembering the formidable Myaamiaki tribe. Alongside its conquests came the church spreading the word via enforced baptism. It would be Eriac priests who would succeed in the conversion of the Eastern Illini where countless missions from Áengiamark failed. Lutheranism was rigorously stamped out and during the Leifian Wars of Religion (1565-1574) Erie was firmly on the Catholic side. Invading Vinland in 1567 it was defeated at the Battle of Vesteranní but still for the remainder of the war Vinland was continually confounded and was unable to capture any major Erie town.

Involvement in the First Mexic-Leifian War stopped Erie's expansion at the expense of the Illini and Inokian Federations (indeed it was the Cahokian Congress in April 1622 which was meant to fix Erie's borders where Mexica delivered its 'complaints', starting the war). Erie forces were distinguished in the war and held the central forces together, mopping up flanking attacks while Vinland, Álengiamark and Aniyunwiya slowly pounded (and were pounded by) the main Mexic armies. After the war the kings chafed against their imposed borders and local wars against Inokia, Ochangaramark and Aniyunwiya in brazen attempts to alter them were not successful. Working in concert with Vinland against the Lakota however the Erie were given an outlet for their energies and again during the 2nd Mexic-Leifian War they proved themselves well trained, well led and eminently capable.

During the late 18th and early 19th centuries its autocracy monarchy came under increasing fire. The famines that formed part of the 'Leifian Crisis' hit Erie hard and in an attempt to defuse the situation King Sipayik II Abraham liberated the vast bulk of the lower classes, toiling under serfdom. Praised by the newly freed peasants he promptly died leaving his son Walastokiy John, to reap the problems associated. In the farmland in the Erie core around Ashtabula the peasants were required to work for their old landlords for a mere 5 years. But further away to the west they had longer terms to work off their dues and the Myaamiaki peasants effectively would never see their freedom. Once this fact was brought to wider attention there was outrage and the country seethed with revolt. It briefly became a republic in 1835 but the shortlived assembly was broken up by mutinying troops. A military dictatorship was imposed and John narrowly avoided being executed and escaped across Lake Erie. Eventually Vinland, worried how the events over the border were affecting its holdings in Hafsvaedaland, invaded and restored a much more open and humbled monarchy after six months of often difficult battles.

This new regime fully embraced the industrial revolution as it picked up speed in Leifia. It is the largest exporter of iron and steel in Leifia and has more miles of railway per capita than any other Leifian nation. Oil and aluminium reserves are beginning to be exploited is several areas. However oil extraction has been at the root of several diplomatic incidents with Aniyunwiyan, especially as many of the oil fields straddle the border.

Government
Erie is a constitutional monarchy. Elections are held every four years for the bicameral Diet.

The restoration of the monarchy in 1835, though powers would continue to wax and wane, has effectively left the role of kign or queen as a mere figurehead. The current Head of State is Queen Kenraeks Maria. The Prime Minister is Kandrouc F. Peter.

Naming Conventions
Most Eriac have two personal names: a native Eriac name given at birth and a Christian name (usually biblical) given at baptism. Family names are placed first in order. Often when dealing with Europeans the Eriac will reduce their native name to an initial.