Kulla Crown Domain

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Kulla

Country Vittmark
Capital Kronsta
Area km2
Population
Density
Demonym Kullan
Time zone UTC-3
GDP
GDP per capita

Kulla Crown Domain, formally called Kulla Kronområde, or shortly Kulla, is a state within the Federal Kingdom of Vittmark. It gained statehood in 7567 after having been a federal territory (7564-7567), a dependency of the Kingdom of Liden (7524-7564) and an independent nation state (7214-7524).

History

Kulla's history dates back to the latter days of the Greater Stoldavic Empire, when Prince XX retreated from Östervallen towards the crown domains in the Blue Mountains of Stoldavia in 7214. XX continued the imperial line marriage under the Av Kulla name, named after the mountainous crown domain.

The area was the private domain of the royal family, being managed through 15 different houses all named Kulla (except for Sneslinge). The landlords of these mansions, usually family members, managed the land for the Av Kulla family. Back then, this was mainly agriculture, forestry and hunting. The mansions played an important role in Mellanhand Orkanan as the registry for exemplars. It also became a refuge for people fleeing from Mellanhand stifts north of the mountains, as well as Stellist stifts to the south.

The Av Kulla family had custody over this remote mountain region for over three centuries, until the Wolgos occupation of neighboring Mörenburg got the region involved in the Pan-Anarian War. In order to be able to withstand the foreign occupation it allied itself with the House of Månsta, the royal family of Liden in the 7520's. Even Anarian nations like Aedeland, Anisora and Auresia got involved in defending the Orkanan heartland from Wolgos occupation.

In 7554, when the Pan-Anarian War ended, the conflicts in Kulla were mainly with northern states like Hagen and Ådalen. The Three Ways conflict between these kingdoms was a direct effect of the Pan-Anarian War, where the three nations had developed different alliances. All three states tried to gain positions in the south, as well as in the territories of Nelvesdalia and Bachus Antaea, where rich findings in iron, copper and coal were reported.

In 7564, Karl av Kulla managed to unite the fighting factions into a new federative alliance called Vittmark, with the support of Anarian powers. Given his role as ambassador, gatekeeper of the Orkanan registries and his direct link to the Greater Stoldavic Empire, Karl av Kulla was appointed as monarch for the new nation. In return, he had to abandon the line marriage.

Kulla gained statehood in 7567, but still was managed mainly as private property by the Av Kulla mansions as a part of the royal court. This had the advantage that local communities were not tempted to sell forest lands or possible mining locations to companies from Hagen, Liden and Ådalen. So compared to the other regions in the south, there was a stable agricultural tradition, enabling a transition towards a more mechanized and industrialized future.

In 7611, when Queen Tovemor reformed Vittmark, the state of Kulla got a similar status as the other member states. The region of Friställen moved from Sörmark to Kulla, since it was only accessible through Kulla's capital Kronsta anyway. Land ownership in Kulla still largely resides with the Av Kulla family, while the Friställen valley mainly is the property of five related noble families. Land management is done by local communities instead of the Kulla and Friställen mansions alone, based on long term lease agreements. Outside Kulla, the Av Kulla royal family has other crown domains, like the Oak Domains in Kopparland and the Eastern Domain on Carls Island in Sokoku.

Government

Up until 7610, Kulla was governed as private property of the royal family through the Royal Court of Vittmark. In 7570 residents got voting rights for federal parliament, but it took until 7612 until that right was extended to the state level. Even today, many government services are still carried out by the crown as the institution safeguarding the interests of the royal family, like real estate ordinance, cartography and civilian records.

Economy

Today, Kulla is still the least populated and most traditional of the member states. It has transformed into a modern service economy, skipping the industrial phase largely. Agriculture and forestry are still important economic sectors. Main branches of manufacturing include furniture, building modules and food products.

Culture

The flag of Kulla is the only remaining flag from the completion of the foundation of Vittmark as a nation state. The orange-black-orange bands with a large white field had been in use for Kulla since the 7200's, the embroidered pattern on the right hand side was added in 7564. In 7567 all Vittmarker states received this flag, except for the federal territories. New member states could enter new flags and after the reform of 7610 many former independent nations were allowed to carry their old flags again. But Kulla kept its 7564 flag up to today.

Mansions

Of the 17 Kulla mansions, 16 remain today. Some of them have their own noble family, like Blåkulla, Rumskulla and Åtvidskulla. Grönkulla is managed by Orkanan clergy to safeguard access to the Exemplar registry. At this moment, the royal family manages both Knutskulla and the much older Herrkulla.

  • Blåkulla - managed by the descendants of Queen Tovemor, including the overnight accommodation on Moa's Trail.
  • Grönkulla - one of the three main Orkanan registries for all denominations, including Stellism and Peratolianism, managed by the freestanding Grönkulla stift
  • Hederskulla - one of the three main Orkanan registries, managed by the Royal Court of Vittmark, also residence of Sofia Södersten av Kulla, widow of the late King Eilert
  • Herrkulla - summer residence of the royal family managed by the Royal Court, also in use as one of the three main Orkanan registries
  • Knutskulla - mansion built between 7572 and 7601, private residence of the royal family managed by the Royal Court
  • Rumskulla - mansion under the management of the extended family of the former Crown Princess Annika, sister of the late King Eilert
  • Sneslinge - TBA
  • Åtvidakulla - by the descendants of Crown Prince Kolgard, brother of the late Queen Iduna