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| Capital | Tomasdun | ||||||
| Largest city | Cork | ||||||
| Other cities | Kinsale, Ballydrogheda, Tipperary, Waterford, Bell-Fast, Wexford, Galway, Sligo | ||||||
| Language | Irish Gaelic, English | ||||||
| King | |||||||
| Population | About 2,000,000 | ||||||
| Currency | Albionic Pound | ||||||
The Kingdom of Éire, more frequently known simply as Éire is a Hiberno-English kingdom that encompasses the entire island of Ireland, save the city of Dublin and the area directly surrounding it.
History[]
Pre-1400[]
The name Desmond itself means "South Munster", in an Anglicized form. Desmond was created when the Kingdom of Munster fractured into the Kingdoms of Desmond and Thomond, in 1118, meaning South Munster and North Munster, respectively. The leaders of the kingdom were the powerful MacCarty Mor (i.e. Great MacCarthy) clan. During the Norman Invasion of Ireland, the Kingdom of Desmond suffered heavily to the Norman adventurers headed by Maurice FitzGerald in the area. The original Kingdom shrank to the far southwestern corner of the isle, with the rest of their old holdings held by the newly-formed Barony of Desmond under England, with the FitzGeralds at their helm.
In 1329, Desmond graduated from a barony to an earldom. Over time, the Norman FitzGeralds became more and more assimilated into the Irish culture until they were eventually described as "more Irish than the Irish themselves". Over time, Desmond distanced itself from England until it was virtually an independent realm. Eventually this resulted in a realm made up of mostly Irishmen, and several Hiberno-Normans that was administered like a Norman holding. In 1400, Desmond is the largest independent realm in the island of Ireland, and is ruled by the young Thomas FitzGerald, 5th Earl of Desmond, at 14 years of age.
1400-1409[]
On the eve of the year 1400, the new Earl, Thomas FitzGerald. The dream consisted of a disembodied voice telling the Earl: "You will be the one who will make Desmond great, into a great new modern Ireland, for today marks the start of a great new shining era, the beginning of the modern, for this ... is Principia Moderni." The Earl suddenly awoke from the strange dream, and for whatever reason, made it his life's ambition to try to accomplish that goal, despite the message being vague. He then proceeded to begin to construct a castle on the southwestern cliffs of Desmond, but on the coast, so the town below could serve as a focal point for the region, but the castle was high enough to be easily defended. Many other things such as military reforms and plans for a standardized currency followed, but it was clear that Desmond was still a tiny holding on a backwater isle. That all began to change when England offered to open relations. Desmond accepted, citing their past as an English holding, and while some feared another English takeover of Ireland, Earl Thomas pointed out that they were preoccupied heavily with wars in Scotland, France, and Wales, and England was losing holdings fast in Ireland. We however engaged in a nonagression pact with them to calm our fears. The economy also was redone, with grain fields worked on by prisoners were used to feed workers that were deemed "extremely important" by the realm. While the system eventually failed, it helped Desmond build up their military capabilities and economy to the point where they could influence other nearby nations, especially with the help of trade from the modern English that were winding down their wars. During this time, a national flag was flown from ships to differentiate them from English ships that were targetted by French pirates. In the year 1403, England offered Munster an alliance. Munster accepted. We also found common relations with the northern earldom of Ulster, and were interested in fusing Gaelic culture with Anglo-Norman culture to improve the situation of our nations. We became allies. In the mid-1400s decade, modern weapons such as crossbows and warhammers began to see minor use amongst the Earl's bodyguard knights. Due to trade with England and reforms, people began to settle into stable farming communities at this time, further bolstering the urban population of Desmond, although small, especially in the southeast coastal towns such as Cork.
In the Mediterranean however, the Catholic Church suffered a mentally unstable Pope.
Urban Areas and Settlements[]
Unlike most of Britain, Ireland is much more rural, with fewer towns and cities, and more people spread out throughout the countryside. There are, however a few major towns that serve as focal points for the Kingdom. Most of the urban population is on the southeast coast, in towns such as Cork, Kinsale, and Youghal. Other towns include Tipperary, Waterford, and Kinsale. Construction has recently finished on a permanent capital known as Tomasdun on the nation's far southwestern coast, as Desmond (before Munster) originally had no set capital, with the royal family travelling between various small forts around the nation. A joint Venetian-Desmonder port has been established southwest of Cork known as Ballydrogheda, which has done much to revive the trade of the nation.
Economy[]
Munster's economy is primarily agrarian, like the rest of Ireland. The main food crops are oats and barley, which are used to feed people and cattle, which is the nations' major meat/milk source, and are sometimes used as currency. Deer hunts are not uncommon, and many pits are found throughout the nation where deer are cooked. Other than farming, most other economic activities are limited, consisting of mostly fishing, forestry, and trade. Trade, however has dwindled since the era of the Norsemen, and Ireland is now a backwater island of Europe. Recently, however, the Kingdom has established relations with many outside nations and several formal trade pacts. The Venetian-Munster port of Ballydrogheda, and the building into a port of Cork has begun to revive the trade that the island lost with the Norse leaving.
Culture[]
Munster is almost fully Catholic, like the rest of Ireland. Culturally, the majority of the population of Munster is native Irish Gaelic, but however, the FitzGeralds and several other Hiberno-Norman families make up the nobility of the nation. Notwithstanding this, the FitzGeralds, despite their background, behave much like the native Irish, and they have been described as More Irish than the Irish themselves. Irish Gaelic is mostly spoken throughout Munster, but English is occasionally heard from the ruling nobility. Other than this, many poets and even some old-fashioned bards are found within the realm. Folk of Munster generally make do with what they have when it comes to food, with dishes such as black pudding.
Government[]
Munster is a member of the United Kingdoms of Greater Albion, along with Ulster, Wales, and England. The nation was once part of England, but in the 1350's, it broke away. The rulers of Desmond are the FitzGerald dynasty, a Norman-descended family that has become gradually more culturally Irish until they have, as of 1400, become indistinguisable from the native Irish, save their surname. In 1405, Desmond proclaimed itself a kingdom, with the merging of the native Gaelic realms to the south.
Earls of Desmond[]
FitzGerald Dynasty[]
Thomas FitzGerald (1399-1404)
Kings of Desmond[]
FitzGerald Dynasty[]
Thomas FitzGerald (1405-)
Foreign Relations[]
Currently, Desmond is on good-decent relations with most nations.
Ally[]
- England
- Ulster
- Venice
Friendly[]
- Castille
- Scotland
- Portugal
Neutral[]
- UNC
- Papal States
- Aragon
Displeased[]
- France
At War[]
Trade Partners[]
- England
- Ulster
- Portugal
- Venice
- UNC
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