Kingdom of Collonia

Name: The Kingdom of Collonia

Ruler: King Aleyn Rigelson, Margrave of the North, Prince of the Free Province of Venotia, Earl of Anscane and Lord of the Greenwood.

Government: A hereditary monarchy -- autocratic rule by a leader with blood ties to the ruling family.

Population:

Description: Collonia is one of the traditional Northern Kingdoms, but it is one with a considerable admixture of Northrun traditions and approaches to the monarchy. It remains a vassal kingdom of the High King, though it has never enjoyed the same level of comity afforded the other vassal realms. Collonia has a system of feudalism, but its nobility exercise much more autonomy than is commonly seen in the other seven kingdoms of man.

The kingdom is served by a very powerful nobility (barons, counts, and dukes) who create wealth and provide tribute to support the crown. Beneath the nobles are free Gentlemen, Ladies and Knights. Beneath them are the freeholders, tradesmen, tenant farmers and artisans who make up the yeomanry. Beneath them are serfs who are tied to the land of a given baron. Slavery has never been practiced in Collonia, but there remains a form of indentured servitude, a vestige of the old Jarls, which is very much in practice.

In addition to the political structures in place, some power in the kingdom is vested in a multitude of organized guilds, the church and the various colleges of mages within its borders.

Collonia sprawls from the Silverlode Mountains West toward the so-called Outlands and North into Northrun. It is considered the Northern Marches and has for many years been protected by the last remnant of the legendary Fraternity, as well as by its crown. The light sandy soil of Collonia is host to great forests of evergreen trees which are prized as sturdy and lightweight building timbers, plus large fields of maize and beets, but also for the high quality blown glass and lead glass (crystal) works.