Cambrecia
| Cambrecia |
| The Holy See of Cambrecia |
 |
| Geographic Info |
| Continent: Duria |
| Location: Along the shores of the Maroshan Sea |
| Government |
| Government Type: Theocracy (Potentate, Episcopus, Sacerdos, Flamen, Urbis Praefectus) |
| Ruler: The Pontifex of Zelos, Potentate Horatius IV (Clr 18 / Ftr 6 / Hie 5) |
| Arms: Potent, a book argent bordered by two altars argent with flames gules, to chief a crown or. |
| Coinage: 10 siliquae = 1 denarius (1 sp), 2 denari = 1 double denarius, 25 denari = 1 aureus, 4 aurei = 1 solidus |
| Capital: Zelosia City (pop 23,450) |
| Alliances: Allied state to the Empire, trading partners with Enesia and the Freecity of Neptaris |
| Hostilities: Koramia, Marosh, Tamerynd, the dwarves of the Cambrecian Mountains |
| Society |
| Population: 3,500,000 (93% humans, 5% hobbits, 2% other) |
| Languages: Zetian |
| Important Persons: Various Episocopi of great influence and power, the Praetor of Cambrecia and some handful of powerful Quaesitors. |
| Religious Info |
| Pantheon: Imperial |
| Patron: Zelos |
History
The See of Cambrecia was founded in 87 B.I. by Septimius Varros, a praetor of the Zetian Republic seeking new lands to conquer. He found easy prey amongst the Cambrecians, Enesians, and the Melvartans. The Cambrecians seemed to assimilate themselves into the Zetian culture the easiest, so the newly-founded territory soon became a retirement community for old Zetian soldiers. When the Empire was founded by Octavius of House Zetar, Cambrecia, as it had become known, was one of the last of the outer territories of the Old Republic to swear allegiance to the Empire. Over the next two centuries, Cambrecia saw many rebellions as its citizens tried to found a new Senate in the capital city of Septarium. The Imperial response was heavy-handed at first, but in 149, the Emperor Metius the Elder decided on a more surreptitious approach to quelling the Cambrecians. In his role as Pontifex Maximus of the Imperial pantheon, he sent the Pontifex of Zelos, god of the State, to Septarium to build a great cathedral and begin the conversion of the populous to Zelos. The Pontifex of the time, Ionnanes II, was a persuasive man, and was able to quickly convert most of the local leadership to his banner. Over the next few centuries, as the power of the Empire waned in its northern territories, the Pontifex of Zelos was able to secure greater and greater power within Cambrecia, often without the Emperor's knowledge or consent. By 534, Cambrecia had become a monarchy, independent in most of its internal affairs.
Finally, in 724, the Empire informed Cambrecia that it would have to see to its own affairs of defense. The Cambrecian nobility, so reliant on the Emperor's support and guidance, immediately began to fall to internal bickering and strife, as civil war broke out across the land. For the next thirty years, war was the mainstay as monarch after monarch fell. Eventually, no heirs became apparent to the throne excepting a three year old child and the nobility, not trusting one another with the regency, elected to place the Pontifex of Zelos as regent to the crown. The Pontifex moved quickly and relentlessly in destroying the economic power of the local nobility, particularly the economies of those who opposed the Empire, Zelos, or him personally. By the time that the King came of age, it was apparent that the monarchy had power only so long as it was supported by the clergy of Zelos. That King's son, Jeremiah Tovex, abdicated his power of rulership to the Pontifex, making Geraldus the first Potentate of Cambrecia in 762. Civil war again erupted over the rulership of the Potentate, but, unfortunately, the power of those rebellious nobles had already been waning over the last few decades, and they proved no match for Geraldus. However, instead of replacing the defeated nobles with more nobility, they were replaced by priests of Zelos. By 800 I.C., the rebellions had ended, with nearly sixty percent of the nobility having been replaced by the church hierarchy. In 834, the Potentate declared the laws of inheritance by primogeniture anathema, and by 887, the entire noble hierarchy of Cambrecia had been replaced by the priesthood of Zelos. In 900 I.C., the Emperor Metaurus of House Drusus recognized Cambrecia officially as the Holy See of Cambrecia, and the noble class was irrevocably and completely removed from its position of rulership in the nation. It was at this time that the name of the Cambrecian capital was changed from Septarium to Zelosia City. Only the lowest position of secular rulership, that of Urbis Praefectus, remained, and even they were chosen by the religious hierarchy and not permitted position by heredity.
Since that time, the Holy See has been a stalwart supporter of Imperial interests in the north, assisting in the defense of Imperial naval interests in the Maroshian Sea and in the petty kingdoms of Koramia. When, in 1201, the self-styled King of Koramia placed his own Prelate of Vortumnus in the holy seat of Paeldain, the Pontifex of Zelos handed that king and Prelate a stronger denunciation than even the Pontifex Maximus himself. The See broke off all trade relations with the Kingdom of Koramia, refusing to recognize its sovereignty. This harsh treatment sparked off a minor war between the two nations in 1204 and, though no fighting has occurred between Koramian and Cambrecian troops in the last thirty years, no official treaty exists between the two nations, either. Many priests within Cambrecia are beginning to recognize Koramia as an independent state, and have begun putting what little political pressure they can on the Potentate to relax his opposition to the Kingdom. By 1250, however, the Potentate is still strong in his opposition to the concept of an independent Koramian Kingdom, though he has not yet anathematized those followers of Zelos willing to assist and/or trade with the Koramians on an individual basis.
Recently, the See has begun to eye the old Calmerian Marchlands, and has begun investigating routes through which its armies can advance on those savage lands. Unfortunately, Danas and Malvetia to the south have opposed the presence of Cambrecian troops, and the dwarves of the Cambrecian mountains are stalwart in their refusal of any human troops traveling through their passes. The Potentate has taken a martial approach to the dwarves, and fighting continues still as Cambrecian troops attempt to open the passes through those mountains and attack the barbarians of Calmeria.
Economy
Cambrecia is a fairly fertile land, enjoying a long, temperate planting season and a short winter. Grapes and olives are the crops of choice in its southern regions, while corns and bean crops are prevalent in the north. While its agricultural class has no real political power, its merchant class has begun to gain more and more economic power over the last few decades, particularly since trade restrictions with the Freecity of Neptaris were lifted in 1198.
Religion
The worship of Zelos is absolutely predominant in Cambrecia, to the point where only the worship of the other Ptarian deities, Tempus, Paelemona, Majestas, Galea, Terpsichore, Aridnus and, of course, the Triad of Lord Ptharos, Betshaba and Baelthor are permitted by edict. Betshaba has gained a strong following along the coastal cities of Cambrecia, and along the outlying territories, particularly those bordering Enesia, the secret worship of Podalirius has strong roots. Those individuals found worshipping Triadic deities not recognized by the state are fined, while those found worshipping the Dagonian deities are executed by the many Inquisitors of Zelos as enemies to the state.
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