The Duchy of Tyraxis

The Duchy of Tyraxis

House: Cadeyrn (a Galathion cadet branch)

Words: "With Artis as our witness, let us be strong."

Reigning Lord: Duke Iudicael IV Cadeyrn

Seat: City of Tyraxis

Nation: Alendron

Dynasty members:

Duke Iudicael IV (35)
Sybille Cadeyrn (cousin of the duke and current heir, 24)

Summary: Tyraxis is an old and powerful duchy, founded to maintain the border with Rjillund. Its Cadeyrn rulers are a Galathion cadet branch, used to playing an influential role in Alendronian politics. It's people, the Tyraxians, are of a more militaristic bent than their Alendronian kinsmen and have an overlapping culture with their Cassian cousins.

Points:

 Army 3 (+2), Navy 1 (-1), Logistics 3 (+1) (+1), Economy 2 (+1), Castle 4 (-2), Loyalty 2 (+1), Espionage 0

Modifiers: 

The Old Guard: +2 Army, +1 Logistics, +1 Economy, +1 Loyalty
Scars of War: -1 Navy, -2 Castle

History:

Tyraxis and its ruling Cadeyrn dukes are vassals by ancient custom to Alendron and its Galathion kings. However, it was first founded as an imperial forward command post under the Cassian emperors, and was staffed largely by Cassian settlers and soldiers. As time went on and the land that would become Alendron was conquered, Tyraxis grew more and more as a permanent community rather than a fortress. However, it was still a fortress when the Galathions took the throne, and as part of establishing their powerbase, the old Cassian commanders were ousted in favor of a loyal courtier and Galathion family member, whose line would become the Cadeyrn branch of the dynasty. The Cadeyrns never forgot their patrons: with the rise and fall of the imperial dynasties, they stayed loyal to the Galathions and ensured Tyraxis’s ties to Avindril.


With the final collapse of the empire, though, Tyraxis declared for the Galathion monarchs and became a border city with the new kingdom of Rjillund. Given their military might, the Cadeyrn dukes worked tirelessly to make their city impregnable, and to keep the border fortified and well-maintained. With Alendron’s centralization, though, this responsibility has largely been taken over by the reigning monarchs of Alendron, but even the modern defenses are built on Cadeyrn foundations.


The modern duchy is both prosperous and well-maintained, but the Cadeyrn dukes have lost the battle for influence and the right to govern directly to the increasingly powerful capital, like the rest of the great vassals of Alendron. Still, given the cultural differences of the people of Tyraxis to the rest of Alendron, the Cadeyrns maintain a social significance among their subjects that their fellow lords have not, and can influence the government of Tyraxis with more reliability.


Culture:

Socially, Tyraxis differs slightly from the Alendron mainstream. Its position on the border has given its people a more militaristic bent, and they disproportionally join the army. There is also a great deal of remaining Cassian social influence from the first settlers, but Alendrian rule has dramatically warped the Tyraxians from their northern cousins. Cassian influence can be heard in the accents and local dialects of Tyraxis, seen in the architecture, and remain important in certain social ceremonies. Still, the Tyraxian people are loyal and enthusiastic subjects of the Alendrian crown, indeed, by the standards of most of the kingdom, too enthusiastic.

Army:

Maximum levy: 37,500 men.

Tyraxis, unlike most other Alendronian fiefs, has the right to maintain men under arms, for the purpose of guarding the border and blunting any potential attack in western Alendron. The Cadeyrns have taken this responsibility seriously for centuries, and despite the Ducal Guard's limited purpose, its soldiers are some of the best Alendron has to offer.

1,000 Tyraxian hussars  
3,000 Heavy cavalry (mounted men-at-arms, not hussars)
6,000 Stradiots (Light horse)
3,000 Horse archers
10,000 Men-at-arms (heavy infantry)
7,000 Pikes
7,500 Archers