Natchezland (The Kalmar Union)

The Principality of Natchezland, Natchezland, is a small authoritarian monarchy in southern Leifia. It is bordered by Houmaland to the north and Chahtaland to the south. The population is around 97,000 and the capital is Jenzenaque.

The Head of State is Prince Uwahsil V.

The language is Natchezan.

It is in the Tunican Currency Union so uses the Tunican Palise (TCP).

History
The Natchez (prounounced Nochi) people once formed one of the most populous tribes of southern Leifia. The early Vinlandic and Álengsk explorers of the area found an organised people with a well-delinated class system and a vibrant religious culture manifesting in some of the largest temple structures outside of Meso-Leifia.

As trade up and down the Mississippi between the Norse and Aniyunwiyan kingdoms and those of the south and Mexic Gulf began in earnest, the Natchez, situated near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Bahhatteno Rivers, could boast a fine network of trading towns. This led into a unified state, one of the first in the area, probably a reaction to the jealous behaviour of their neighbours. When the Moroccan traveller Ibn Rasid journeyed down the Mississippi in x he reported that the Natchez, though welcoming and friendly, were at war with the Tunica almost constantly and were suspicious of his hodge-podge entourage.

Eventually the kingdom's location would prove its undoing as it was targeted early on during the First Mexic-Leifian War. It had frequently repulsed small Mexic raids during the 16th century but now, facing a full-scale invasion by the vast Mexic army, its small but well-provisioned army was completely overwhelmed. Scholars estimate that over the next few years 8 out of every 10 Natchez were enslaved and relocated to other parts of Mexica's empire where they were part of a massive labour force building roads or employed in farming. Most Natchez towns were levelled by the intense fighting around the Mississippi. At the war's end a reduced 'Natchezland' reformed around the still extant city of Jenzenaque on the Bahhatteno River but much of their former territory had to be abandoned.

This rump state eagerly accepted membership of Mvskokia's alliance; 'the Muskogee League' in part to protect what land it still retained. Mvskokia would help it transform Jenzenaque into one of the finest fortresses in southern Leifia but somewhat opportunistically made the citadel too big for the Natchez to man on their own, meaning they were now forced to depend on the League and the increasingly dominant Mvskokians to defend it properly. The new defenses held well during the Second Mexic-Leifian War and after the bloody Battle of Tacony three miles to the west in June 1775, Mexic armies studiously avoided the area.

Natchezland would remain a vassal state of Mvskokia with limited autonomy, including an almost powerless council and toothless monarchy, until the Cotton Wars which destroyed the wider Mvskokian kingdom. In 1911 it was transferred to the newly independent state of Chahtaland and in 1915 occupied by Svealandic and Finnish troops fighting for Chitimacha independence. Under their governance the Natchez were allowed to run their own affairs once more and a reversion to the old system of government after peace in 1917 became unthinkable.

Jenzenaque would revolt in 1918 after a series of events made the citizens intolerant of Chahtan presence. This was the beginning of series of wider revolts all around Chahtaland which the weakened and bankrupt state could not resist. In 1920 at the Treaty of Kristiansted Natchezland was finally recognised as a free state once more.

Largely agricultural (though incidentally crucial to the development of hydro-electric power in Leifia) in 1965 it entered a economic union with Tunica alongside several states in the region which has helped improve the state of the economy. It is now working with its neighbours to improve the regions defenses, abandoning the over-reliance on the out-dated fortifications around Jenzenaque in favour of smaller, more modern forts.

Government
Natchezland is governed by a single-chambered. It is highly centralised with almost all laws requiring the approval of the ruling Prince to be passed, however the current Prince, Uwahsil V, has made it clear he wants to modernise the principality's government and laws and requested a constitution be drafted for debate.