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Kingdom of Mvskokia
Timeline: The Kalmar Union
Flag Coat of Arms
Flag Coat of Arms
Capital
(and largest city)
Mabila
Language Mvskokian
King Tenskwatawa II
Prime Minister Estajoca Hutke
Population 4,230,650 
Currency MKP

The Kingdom of Mvskokia, Mvskokia, Muskogia is a medium-sized constitutional monarchy in south-east Leifia. It is bordered by Aniyunwiya, Coyaha Republic, Tsalagi Republic, Catawbaland, Cusabo, Miccosukeeland, Apalacheeland, Chahtaland, Albaamahaland and Koasati Republic. The capital is Mabila and the population around 4.2 million.

The official language is Mvskokian.

The head of state is King Tenskwatawa II

The currency is the Mvskokian Pą (MKP)

History[]

The Mvskokia and related tribal nations lived over a large swathe of south-eastern Leifian when Vinlanders began to explore their surroundings in the 12-13th centuries. The early accounts said that they were sedentary, farmed maize, built small temple complexes and eagerly traded deerskins to the northerners. Disease unfortunately followed in the wake of these early contacts and much of the south-east became easy pickings for the slightly more robust and centralised states to the north.

During the period of the 1st Aniyunwiyan Empire the various chiefdoms were conquered and held by Yesanland, as a fief of Aniyunwiya. As Aniyunwiyan Empire disintegrated after Edoha's death the Mvskokian chiefdoms banded together to drive the militaristic Yesan out, a hard-fought war which left the chiefs of Mabila in control of a new Mvskokian kingdom.

The region frequently received attacks Yesanland, and from marauding Mexic armies (so-called 'Flower Wars'), and several kingdoms of the south-east banded together to form a mutual protection league. Dubbed the 'Muskogee League' by their nominal allies in the north-east the Mvskokian kingdom formed the largest part, and as the Second Aniyunwiyan empire collapsed it successfully took its place as the major power in the region, desperately fending off Yesanland and the occasional Mexic incursion.

Following the war First Mexic-Leifian War the Leifian south-east fell into anarchy. Large numbers of warbands roamed the area free-booting, sacking towns, and generally doing more damage than the occasional Mexic war had done. The Mvskokian kings used this anarchy to turn their former league partners into a vassal states; still technically with their own governments and armies, but very much subservient to Mabila. As the economy shifted towards cash-crops, especially cotton, a thin sheen of Mvskokian landowners soon spread across 'Greater Mvskokia' whilst much of the farming majority was reduced to serfdom. The Mvskokian army was vital during the Second Mexic-Leifian War, helping to prevent the Mexic crossing the Mississippi.

The state weathered the Leifian Crisis mostly by doubling-down on cash crops at the expense of foodstuffs and industry and to the detriment of its booming enserfed population. The invention of the 'Cotton Engine' to automatically remove seeds from cotton by inventor Ssiquoya Utiyu was meant to liberate the serfs but actually it just meant the cotton industry just became the linchpin of the entire economy and serfdom became even more entrenched. The other powers of Leifia, and Europe, largely turned a blind eye to the perceived injustices as they preferred a large strong nation in the south as a balance to Mexica, and enjoyed the flow of cheap raw materials to fuel their own industrial wealth.

The 'Cotton Wars'[]

Mvskokia 1885 (The Kalmar Union)

The extent of Mvskokia in 1885

The rights of its constituent parts and how the authorities dealt with dissent prestaged the disintegration of Greater Mvskokia during the conflicts usually collected under the 'Cotton Wars'. The abuses inflicted upon a mostly enserfed non-Mvskokian population by small Mvskokian minorities had provoked larger and larger rebellions eventually provoking a Civil War between a Reformist party and King Hollata III who had rejected any proposals to reform the cotton industry and its magnates' hold over their 'employees'.

Despite confident victories such as at Tunstunuggee in July 1889 the Reformist generals were at loggerheads over to true aims of the revolt and the war was increasingly run by Chikashshans looking, not for reform, but for independence. With a frebrile atmosphere growing in nominally loyal cities Mvskokia granted Chikashsha its independence in 1892, only to return to war in 1894-1896. Neighbouring states soon seized on Chikashsha's weakness, which drew in Mvskokia, thanks to clause in the 1896 treaty promising to uphold Chikashsha's borders. The Mississippi War (1896-1901) was badly run on the Mvskokian side and perceived failures fuelled dissent and plotting amongst several of Mvskokia's minorities.

Treaty of Kristiansted 1920 (The Kalmar Union)

Mvskokia and the successor states after the Treaty of Kristiansted, 1920

In 1903 the Chahtans declared independence starting a 17-year war which would consume the whole Mvskokian kingdom and draw in several European powers. By 1920 Mvskokia was reduced to 1/6th of its old territory and numerous fragile states had won their independence.

The whole era was extremely traumatic for the Mvskokian state but, reduced to a smaller core, it flourished. Its newly liberated workforce proved just as productive as they had been whilst indentured. It embraced industrialisation, especially in the field of textiles, no longer relying totally on the export of cash crops. The city of Pakanahuili became a vital railway hub between the Myrland peninsula, the Lower Mississippi and the eastern Leifian seaboard, leading to its exponential growth in the later 20th century. It is now the 5th largest city in non-Mexic Leifia. This rapid growth has led to its own problems regarding corruption, crime and disease in substandard housing areas. The government is much pressed with the growth of Syndicalism and experiments with a welfare state.

Government[]

Mvskokia is governed by a bicameral Parliament, the lower house made up of directly elected deputies and the upper house made up of landed nobles. The monarch retains a large amount of executive power though King Tenskwatawa II has allowed some of his prime ministers considerable leeway in terms of reforming the country.

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