Skara
| Staden Skara | |
|---|---|
| File:Skarapic.jpg View of Skara | |
| File:Skaraflag.png Flag |
File:Skaracoa.png Coat of arms |
| Location | |
| File:Skaralocmap.png | |
| Country |  Vittmark
|
| Region | Mivö o Skara |
| Foundation | 62nd century |
| Government | |
| Type | Democratic |
| Body | City Council |
| Physical | |
| Elevation | 4 m |
| Time zone | UTC-3 |
| Population | |
| Rank | 11th place |
| Demonym | Skaran |
Skara (also spelled Scara) is a historical city in Vittmark, located in the state of Mivö o Skara on a narrow isthmus between Mivö and the Vittmarker mainland. Until 7611 it was a member state on its own and until 7564 an independent city state. Skara is however mostly know as the main trading hub during the Union of Skara from the 67th to 70th century. The city is also the seat of Sunna Stift, the third largest Orkanan denomination on Stoldavia beside Mellanhand and Stellism.
Etymology
The word skara id a short version of skarane meaning "the cuts" in the old Scarch language. It refers to the waterway passages through what today is an isthmus between Liden and Mivö, that were present here. Due to post-glacial rebound and bog formation in this brackish environment.
History
Human settlement in the area dates back way before the Orkanan realm, judging by the many pre-realm archaeological findings. Even during the Realm small fortifications were erected on both sides of the waterway cutting through the lowlying tombolo.
In the 62nd century, the Mivonians upgraded the ring fortress on the stoney Gälaö island on the isthmus, turning it into a civilian settlement as well. Soon the Mivonians gave the settlement city rights in 6332, creating a staple port and thus a steady source of income based on taxation of the coastal trade in the region. Using the waterway past Skara was a much shorter and safer route, which was worth the passage toll imposed by the Mivonians.
The shipbuilder in Skara developed the cog ship, a wider vessel able to sail shallow waters and a loading capacity roughly two to four times larger than that of the knarr, which was the most commonly used trading vessel at the time. As a result, the transportation of goods became dominated by Skaran cogs, and with that the Skaran traders. The town of Skara evolved into a large trading hub, with the merchant class becoming so influential that Mivö effectively became ruled by Skara instead of the other way around. Traders built warehouses in nearby coastal towns, and with the wealth acquired the were able to buy properties in more far away coastal towns and river towns.
This way, Skara became the focal point of a loose alliance of trading cities and towns, which dominated northern and eastern Stoldavia for many centuries. Skara managed to monopolise the trade in certain goods, like trunkbull wool and timber. Skarans prohibited the building of saw mills, for example, so that timber had to be shipped to Skaran mills. Since trading became standardised within the union, the units of measurement have become a common denominator in large areas. Some of the units used during the Union of Skara are still in use today, in everyday language but in some places even as official measuring units.
With the influx of Skaran traders in many coastal cities, Sunna Orkanan communities were founded all over Stoldavia. Up to today, Skara is the center of Sunna Orkanan, seat of the so-called mission Stift, where the main task was to spread the religion and maintain a backbone for the spread-out Sunna communities around Stoldavia.
But just like Skara surpassed Mivö in importance, the upcoming Greater Stoldavic Empire became a larger trading and military force during the 70th century. During that era, Skara and the Second Realm engaged in several trading conflicts, where the new empire took over city after city. Sunna became replaced by Mellanhand Orkanan by nationalising the Skaran structures and institutions. The entire imperial navy besieged Skara for several months in 6983, after which the Skarans surrendered and became a part of the empire. As a part of the agreement, Skaran traders were allowed to continue their businesses along the northern coast of Stoldavia. This is also the mean reason why the empire did not destroy Skara, because they saw added value in taking over the Skaran frameworks as it was. The Sunna religion however became more and more underground, with Skaran clergy continuing its mission work in more clandestine ways.
When the Greater Stoldavic Empire fell apart in 7204, Skara quickly reverted to a status of city state as a mercantile republic led by the seven most influential trading stims. When Liden as a nation state manifested itself on the mainland on both sides of the isthmus in the latter half of the 73rd century, the leadership in Månsta set its eyes on Skara as an important asset. This time, Skara proposed a status as Lidenite dependency itself in 7288, since it saw an opportunity in coastal trade with the Lidenites. The Principality of Mivö benefited from the agreement as well, leading to a stable geopolitical region until the 7520's.
Construction of pathways on earthen dikes parallel to the waterways were started pretty soon afterwards. Skara coordinated the project that was a joint venture between Liden, Mivö and the city. The idea was to create more reliable passages with tug boats instead of sailing through the cuts that were becoming more and more narrow. The dikes helped keeping the waterways open, since vessels now passed through the exact same routes. Passages still had to be coordinated with the tides on both sides, since there was a rather large water replacement taking place four times per day.
Attempts to build sluices that kept the water level steady and took away the water replacement as a factor started around 7450. They were built "from the inside out" since the locks at that time could not stand the pressure of the sea water at both ends yet. As a result, 8 smaller locks were built in two decades time. It added travel time, but passages could now be carried out regardless of the tides. However, due to the lack of water movement, sedimentation made the canal more shallow.
With Skara's position as a trading hub no jeopardised, a large infrastructural project starting in 7510. Instead of keeping dredging the waterway and manoeuvre the 8 narrow sluices, a larger sluice complex was installed on both sides. This also enabled a rise in water levels to just above the high water mark all year around. The waterway was rebuilt as a canal with wider tow paths, in some places bypassing the old sluices.
The Pan-Anarian War at first meant many assignments to build naval vessels for foreign armies. Skara was able to adapt to the transition to steel hull ships thanks to the close relations with Liden. But it made the city a target for foreign navies as well. Since Skara was well protected by sea fortresses on both sides, the navies attacked coastal trade instead. So a railway line needed to be constructed across the boggy isthmus to keep production in Skara going. The city became a base for the Lidenish navy at a large complex just inside the sluices. The Skaran navy was very limited in size and confined its missions to customs and border control.
After the Pan-Anarian War the conflicts in the region continued. The city state of Skara played an important role in gathering the opposing factions on a low diplomatic level to discuss possible ways out of the conflict. At one of these meetings in the early 7560's, the idea of a loose confederation taking care of common interests under the leadership of a more neutral, rotating part like Kulla, Dunsvik or Skara was formulated.
Skara became a member state of Vittmark shortly after the Treaty of Nisipari was signed in 7564. It remained a member state until 7611, when a reform aiming at creating more equally large states led to a fusion between Skara and Mivö. Since the navy of Liden would become a part of the Vittmarker navy and needed large facilities, the naval complex in Skara became available for new development. So as a result of the Treaty of Nisipari, Livaria was offered a port concession here. The compound became overcrowded really quickly, with Livarian enterprises establishing themselves in harbor facilities and industrial estates all over the city. In the 7620's a new free port facility was opened in Romby on the sea side of the city.
This triggered a wave of urban renewal with many of the smaller facilities relocating to Romby or getting closed down due to the lack of economic prospect. The sites were redeveloped to house the service industry, offices, educational facilities and residential areas.