Castile (The Kalmar Union)

The Kingdom of Castile, Castile, Castille, Castilla, is a large constitutional monarchy on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwest Europe. It borders Portugal, Leon, France, Confederation of the Pyrenees, Aragon and Granada. The capital is Madrid and the population is around x.

The Head of State is King Philip VIII.

The official language is Castilian, which is mutually intelligible with the various Leonese dialects.

The currency is the Castilian Peso (CSP).

History
Like Portugal, Castile was once a county within the Leonese realm clinging to the North Iberian coast following the near complete wipeout of the Christian kingdom of the Visigoths in 718. Occasionally rising in revolt against its masters, its rulers slowly increased their own power in the county and played the Leonese off against the Navarrese to the east. It would receive independence in 1065 when the Leonese kingdom was divided between the sons of Ferdinand I however this lasted only until 1072. Split once more from Leon in 1157 Castile would direct its energies southwards into the slowly faltering Islamic states. By 1270 it had cut all its neighbours off from the main thrust of this Reconquista and seized the lion's share of central Iberia. Diplomatic and dynastic failures ensured it would remain fierce rivals with its neighbours however and many of the Islamic armies, or at least their Christian mercenary commanders, would be bankrolled by Leonese or Aragonese gold. Meanwhile the only effective Islamic state left in Iberia; Granada, was all-but a Castilian vassal and the kingdom engorged itself on African gold. Castile's rivals constantly looked for ways to undermine its control and finally in 1402 Castilian ambitions would be permanently dashed by the Portuguese. At the Battle of Zafra Castilian commanders awaited Granadan allies to bolster their armies however sustained secret diplomacy had convinced the Emir to delay, hence Portugal gained the upper hand and Granada obtained its freedom.

This of course did not end Castile's wars with Granada, in fact it intensified them however its neighbours were more brazen in opposing the Reconquista and between 1402 and 1534 the peninsula crackled with near constant warfare, impoverishing all participants and hardening attitudes within Castile. The Castilian royal family and its loyal clergy were described as 'fanatical', routing out heresy real or supposed, as well as repeatedly purging the kingdom of Jews, Muslims, 'untrustworthy' Catholic converts and later on, Protestants. It was almost a relief therefore when Portugal opened the 'Southern Route' across the Atlantic and energies could be directed somewhere other than the increasingly fortified borders of Iberia.

National rivalries remained however and following the 'Battle' in the Portuguese Azores between Castilian and Granadan sailors both countries were banned from using the islands as staging points. Granada quickly occupied Coabana as a result, Castile would seize the smaller island of Boriken 1552 in response. While trade rebuilt the damaged economy successful against Aquitaine provided a salve to damaged national pride. War against a reinvigorated Aragon between 1597-1599 was an utter failure and the 17th century was miserable for the country by any standards.

Succession crises repeatedly paralysed the functions of state and for many years it looked as though the country would simply cease to exist. The insular nature of the country saved it however as few foreign monarchies had any claim to the throne, or the wherewithal to do anything about it, so it limped on until Philip, Duke of Feria could oust the ineffectual Ferdinand V and crown himself Philip V. His and his successor's reigns would put the country back on track and it more or less concentrated on improving its trading position, following trends to set up trading forts in Africa, India and even into the Roasjoinn. War against Aragon (the War of ,1762-1767) put Castile firmly in its place as well ruining its ally Aquitaine.

x

Government
The current head of state is King Philip VIII and his Prime Minister is x.