Vestkyst (KdM)

Vestkyst, officially the Sovereign Realm of Vestkyst (Vestkyster: Herskeriket Vestkyst) is a Nordic country in Northern Europe whose mainland territory comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula.

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The Gothic Jarldoms (~500-841)
Archaeological evidence has suggested that an ancient kingdom existed on the western coast of Scandinavia since at least the Roman times, tentatively named Nordicia. Although writings on this period was few and far between, the general consensus is that this kingdom was overrun by several waves of Gothic migration during the sixth century, from which six jarldoms were formed. This divisive state of affairs would remain relatively unchanged for the next two centuries, as rivalling jarls wage war against one another, and though one may occasionally overtake another, it was not until late eighth century when the Jarldom of Västermark conquered Bergen, the historical capital of Nordicia, and established the Kingdom of Vestkyst, becoming the pre-eminent polity among the Gothic states. For the remainder of the century, Vestkyst would go on to conquer Oslo and integrate Trondheim into their realms, ending the Gothic Jarldoms era.

The Raven Empery (841-1057)
Under Astrid Vespersdotter, Vestkyst underwent a shift in policy. Starting with the discovery and plundering of Lindisfarne, raids began to be conducted along the Brittanian coastline, with the goal to strip the lands of its riches and benefit Vestkyst, with Caledonia being the first affected area. Askr of Bergen's regency would see the extent Viking involvement in this region turned to a full invasion. At the same time, Frankish lands became ripe targets for raiding operations, with cities like Rouen and Paris affected as the Seine was exploited.

It was during the mid-800s when Sigrid, the esteemed warrior queen, began her reign. A commanding presence in the battlefield, she would personally lead men to battle in Inbhiri and later in Francia, inflicting horror on those who faced her. During her reign, she would see the Norse Kingdom of Jorvik and the vassal Kingdom of Alba carved out from Inbhiri land. Though a prominent figure in Vestkyster history, her death would be shrouded in mystery - it was said that she either died in battle in Francia, or passed away from natural causes in Kristiansand - but such an event would not halt the Viking momentum. The reign of Sigrid, and Astrid before her, led to the increasing importance of women in Vestkyster society, which would result in matrillineal succession in the realm being established.

Later queens of the Kaeva Dynasty, as they are now called, continue the expansionist policy set out by their predecessors. The vassal Duchy of Sørstatt was established in northern France, while Vestkyst continued its involvement in the region, culminating in a second war in France, in which the Ile-de-France and Holland area was conquered, including the major cities of Paris and Amsterdam. By the turn of the millennium, Vestkyst has established herself as a dominant force in the region, and proclaimed herself "The Raven Empery" (Ravnekeiseri), after the prominent Norse raven banner. Although this title was only in use for some sixty years, the name is sometimes used by historians to refer to the nation's Viking era as a whole. During this time, westward colonisation was also conducted, with the settlement of Kaevashafen in Vinland and a failed attempt to inhabit Greenland. However, the prosperous era was coming to an end.

Macbeth, who has taken over Alba, launched an invasion of Vestkyst and Danemark in the 1040s. The sudden state of war took the nation by surprise, and the ruling class fled to Holland and Sørstatt, where they would be safe from Alban terror. The turbulent times would soon be over, as within ten years the heartlands of Vestkyst would be returned, but the devastation from the occupation proved to be too much. With an economic crisis on the horizon, and a separatist movement brewing in Sørstatt, the Kaeva Dynasty opted to sell the title to the King of England, whom they had an alliance with, marking the end of the Raven Empery.

Vestkyst in the High Middle Ages (1057-1397)
During the High Middle Ages, Vestkyster history is marked with a notable lack of information, as it is commonly believed that Kaeva rulers of this era tended to establish relationships with regional powers rather than aggressively expanding like during the Raven Empery. The latter half of the eleventh century would see the end of expansionist policies, with a violent revolt enforcing the conversion to Catholic. Holland would break away in the 1170s, joining the Holy Roman Empire, while contact with Kaevashafen was lost. The Queendom of Vestkyst continued gradual inland expansion, which included integrating Sámi tribes in the more northerly regions, which was helped by their ongoing struggle against neighbouring Svearike. The Sámi was granted great autonomy and benefits for being part of Vestkyst, and their integration would solidify Vestkyst's presence north of the Arctic Circle.

In around 1250, Vestkyst would establish a personal union over Danemark, partially due to the Danish nobility's request after their king passed away unexpectedly without a heir. Due to their alliance with Frangleterre, the successor kingdom to England, Vestkyst was occasionally involved in the Two Hundred Years' War; the queendom would also be involved in the defense against the Daevite horde. During the Black Death, Vestkyst, along with fellow Scandinavian nations, were among the least affected, though the economy was severely impacted due to isolationist policies and the cessation of trade. The realm's close relationship with the British Isles would bring many to Albion during the war against the Gaels, including one Fiete Kjær, who served with distinction as a knight under Artoria II before returning to Vestkyst.

The Scandinavian Union (1397-1523)
Having taken part in the Gaelic War, Fiete Kjær came back to a country at war. Backed by Svearike, Danemark had elected their own king in 1386 and declared independence from Vestkyst, and in the years to come, would increasingly gain ground. Though for personal reasons, she would offer her services to the Crown three years into the war, an event which most historians agree marked the turning point of the war. The Siege of København in 1392 would mark the end of Danish participation, and five years later, a swift campaign would see Svearike exit the war, ending the War of Danish Independence.

Around the same time, a succession crisis within Vestkyst led to Fiete being elected as heiress to the Crown, and eventually Queen, officially marking the end of the Kaeva Dynasty and the start of the Sólskjær. With the conclusion of the Lighting Campaign and the untimely death of the Svean ruler, pro-Vestkyst elements in Svearike made a point to elect her to the throne, leading to the formation of the Scandinavian Union in 1397. It was under Fiete that the title "Hersker", meaning "sovereign" was first used to refer to the monarch of Vestkyst, as well as the official title "Herskeriket Vestkyst".

For the next century or so, the Scandinavian Union maintained relative peace in Northern Europe, although the rule of Svearike had always been tenuous at best. This resulted in Svean nobles electing Nicklas I (also known as Claes Kjær) to the throne in 1523, effectively ending the union. Consequently, the personal union between Vestkyst and Danemark was consolidated into a real union, further integrating the latter into the former. In the following years, the relationship between Vestkyst and Svearike could be described as "ambivalent" at best, though neither side showed any overt hostility against one another.

Odinist Era (1523-1659)
Coinciding with the start of the Protestant Reformation in Germany, the proselytising work of a supposed Vinlander by the name of Kvasir would bring about a wave of religious upheaval in Vestkyst, culminating in Odinism, a syncretic faith between the old Norse faith (which was still practiced in Vinland) and Christianity. The religion would quickly become popular, encompassing the entirety of Scandinavia in a few decades, in part driven by a desire to distance themselves from the Catholic Church. The spread would also convert some peripheral polities with close ties to Vestkyst, most notably the Duchy of Holstein and the Free Cities of Lübeck and Hamburg, all part of the Holy Roman Empire. This development culminated in Vestkyst gaining control of these territories de jure by way of a series of pro-Odinist elections, though without military involvement.

Though seen as pagan by some, Odinism and other Protestant denominations remain mixed at worst, as some still consider Vestkyst's official faith to be a further extension of the Reformation. This relationship led to Vestkyst's involvement in the Thirty Years' War on the side of the Protestant League in the first phase of the conflict, which they won, although certain collusion between rivalling Protestant and Catholic forces led to the second phase becoming something akin to a crusade against Vestkyst and Svearike. The sudden betrayal originated an anti-Christianity ripple throughout Nordic society, especially along the rank and fire, whose lives were in direct danger of Christian attacks. This sentiment would give birth to another religious revolution, this time seeing many Christian aspects of Odinism stripped from the faith in favour of a return to the ancestral Norse beliefs and rites. The new faith is called Nynorrøn ('new Norse'), but as its popularity grew, it gained the appellation "Ásatrú", meaning "Æsir belief". The official conversion of the Vestkyster royal family would see the realm completely detaching itself from Christendom.

The Four Claimants (1659-1668)
Certain underlying causes combined by the untimely death of the monarch in 1659 sparked the War of the Four Claimants, a succession war which saw Vestkyst embroiled in the deadliest internal struggle in its history. Anastasia, Duchess of Akershus and the designated heiress to the throne, was chased off Bergen by her uncle, Gunnar, who seized the title, prompting the outbreak of the conflict. Hilmar, Duke of København was slain by a Svean peasant in Karlskrona who had mistaken him for a thief in 1664, and two years later, with Svean military support, the Archbishop of Nidaros' forces were defeated at Trondheim. The decisive conflict would come in 1667, as the Akershus army attacked Bergen in an assault that saw both Anastasia and Gunnar perishing. The war ended with all four claimants dead, leading to Anastasia's former retinue quickly consolidating control over Vestkyst, further integrating Danemark into the realm.

Constitutional Monarchy (1668-)
The end of the War of the Four Claimants did not mean the end of the war, as Svearike, expecting a repayment of a favour which saw them militarily assisting in the Siege of Trondheim, declared war on Vestkyst. At this point, the Storforsamling ('Grand Assembly') has already been re-founded, but instead of serving more of an advisory body as they have in the past, the lack of a monarch necessitates the reformation of the Assembly into a parliamentary body, with the introduction of the Constitution of Vestkyst in early 1668, officially transforming the realm into a constitutional monarchy. Despite the state of war, Henrietta Karlsdotter, Princess of Svearike was invited to become Hersker of Vestkyst, a move that proved controversial within the Storforsamling. With Vestkyst still reeling from the effect of the internal strife, Henrietta made the decision to cede occupied Trøndelag and Scania to Svearike, with a view to rebuilding the nation and regain said territories later - a settlement so divisive it almost costed her the throne. For the first time in six centuries, Vestkyst would admit defeat in a conflict, if only out of circumstance.