| Duchy of Pennsylvania - Duchy of the German Empire - |
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|---|---|---|
| Motto: "Tugend, Adel und Ruhm" (Standard German) "Goot, Endisch un Rewwer" (Pennsylvania German) ("Virtue, Nobility and Glory") |
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| Capital | Harrisburg | |
| Official languages | Pennsylvania German Standard German English (de facto) |
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| Demonym | Pennsylvanian | |
| Government | Local constitutional monarchy | |
| - | Duke | Joachim Troyer |
| - | Minister | Elizabeth Yoder |
OT equivalent: U.S. State of Pennsylvania
The Duchy of Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania German: Herzechreich Pennsilfaanisch; Standard German: Herzogtum Pennsylvania) is one of the Duchies that comprise of the larger American Lesser Reich, one of the constituent territories of the German Empire.
On the territories of the former U.S. state of Pennsylvania, the Duchy was created via the Pennsylvania Agreement, that installed the Amish-originated House of Troyer as the ruling dukes of Pennsylvania and promoted a uniquely Pennsylvania German culture, although an agreement did come with harsh opposition from the Amish, Old and New Order alike, who regarded the Troyers a traitors and sell-outs.
History[]
In 2009, the American Civil War effected Pennsylvania, and caused much devastation to its infrastructure. Ultraconservatives opposed Kaiserdom Germany and Russia's offer to aid Pennsylvania, causing even more civil war and devastation.
In the latter parts of 2009, German forces had already began to settle into Pennsylvania, and because any resistance had been practically eliminated by the brunt of civil war, there was little resistance against German forces, who also offered much humanitarian aid. This led to the successful occupation of Pittsburgh, in which the denizens cheered on German troops.
The German flag was placed atop the former Pennsylvania State Capitol, which would now serve as local capital city. Many German officers who had stumbled across Amish and Mennonite communities grew increasingly interested, and decided to base what would become of the former U.S. state on the Swiss German-originated culture of the Amish and Mennonite.
However, General Eduard von Jäger ultimately knew that the Amish and Mennonites would never support the Imperial German state, and therefore, looked towards former Amish and former Mennonites. The Germans began to recruit former Amish and Mennonites, to form the local Army Group Pennsylvania (Heeresgruppe Pennsylvania), and using the paramilitary-based culture of the United States to enforce German rule.
In February of 2010, General von Jäger encountered former U.S. Navy lieutenant Joachim Troyer, who spoke both Pennsylvania Dutch and German natively. Troyer played an essential role in helping enforce German rule over Pennsylvania. Thus, Troyer was summoned to Berlin, where he became trained to be a general, and was crowned by the Kaiser, as the Duke of Pennsylvania.
...In 2010, a constitution was adopted in which the citizens of the Duchy of Pennsylvania would enjoy much of the Rights and Freedoms in the United States before it. Much of the Pennsylvania and local Constitution of the Lesser American Reich was adopted from the United States Constitution, Pennsylvania State Constitution and the United States Bill of Rights before it. The obvious changes being that the Kaiser is recognized as the supreme Head of State.
Over the years, the Grand Duchy would deal with sporadic resistance groups, stemming from U.S. remnant, to anti-monarchist groups. In spite of this, the Grand Duchy made an economic recovery, and actually became a progressive duchy, that inherited the traditions of multi-culturalism, from the U.S. before it.
Language[]
Per the Pennsylvania Agreement, the two official languages are Pennsylvania German and Standard German. One of the most unique twists in history, Pennsylvania German, a High German language, is a descendent of Swiss German, originated from the Amish, Anabaptist and ultra-conservative Swiss German migrants. Thanks to the Joachim I, Duke of Pennsylvania, in spite of being a liberal and a democrat during the days of the United States, always embraced his German-speaking background.
Now Pennsylvania German, along with Standard German, has become the compulsory languages in public schools. However, per the agreement, the Amish and Mennonites retained the usage of Pennsylvania Dutch, and in spite of the two having a common origin, German linguists purposefully differentiated Standard Pennsylvania German in order to appease the Amish and Mennonites who wanted to preserve their distinct community.
In addition, many churches have begun using Old High German as their liturgical language, another influence taken from the Amish.
English is still widely spoke, among middle-aged through senior class citizens. While it is no longer official recognized, Imperial German and local Pennsylvanian authorities have still allowed its wide-spread use for a smooth transition into an exclusively German-speaking population. For the most part, the masses speak a codeswitch known as Pennslyvania Anglisch, or "Pennsylvania English", codeswitching between English and German, both Pennsylvania and Standard dialects.