Cities in Ancient Florida
The focus of early Floridian culture was in the city rather than a larger province or nation state. The various cities of ancient Florida had significant wealth and power on their own, though they all paid homage to the kings of Orlando. They fielded their own defense forces and militias, known as the Bodyguard. These soldiers are believed to have descended from the early bodyguard of the king of Orlando who defeated the priests of Tampa. They would serve as the basis for later development of law enforcement and the justice system in Floridian society. The Bodyguard were not attached to regular military and were not considered to have been linked to the King politically anymore, but rather to the various cities in which they served.
The government of the various cities generally rested in the hands of Ducs, who were emplaced in power by the King of Orlando. The position was hereditary though there are recorded cases and stories of Ducs being replaced for extreme incompetence or failure. The actual management of the nation was generally done through the advisors of the Ducs, known as the Lilo. Taxation and military recruitment were done differently on a city by city basis, as the King would rarely set quotas, except in times of need or war, as exemplified by when ships were called to transport Massachusettian forces to fight the Souix War.
A typical Floridian town or city generally was focused upon the marketplace. With the exception of the holy city of Tampa, most settlements were established originally as trading posts and other economic centers. From the center open land cleared for the sale of local goods and services, the town would expand in various directions, with little planning or development. When a Duc was ennobled for a city, a palace would be built near the marketplaces, and government for the community would be administered from there. Unlike settlements in other parts of the world at this time, most Floridian cities lacked town walls or other set defenses. The largest would have a limited wooden barrier around the heart of the community, but a lack of general local resources or engineering knowledge likely prevented sturdy stone walls from being constructed.
The homes of most Floridians were typically squat structures, being made out of a mixture of mud and wood lining. In this early period, elaborate architecture existed only on the token stone temples in Tampa or the various palaces of the Ducs. The temples are known themselves for their pyramid like appearance, consisting of two to four levels of structure and a flat top. Based on a persons stature in society, they would pray or sacrifice upon their caste level. Only the priests and the king himself were allowed on the uppermost levels.
Orlando
By 1300 F.Y., Orlando had changed dramatically since the rise of the King. It proved to be a center for Orlando cultural growth, and hosted elaborate embassies and homes for the kings of Massachusetts and Chicago. These were constructed as winter palaces for those kings, and were occasionally used to escape the harsh climates of the north. Several smaller temples had been build since the establishment of the monarchy, though nothing on the scale of the temple complexes in Tampa. As the center of Floridian government, Orlando was the sole city to have a stone wall to surround the entire community, hauled for nearly three hundred miles from northern quarries.
Despite these advantages, Orlandos importance as an economic center was quickly waning. Surprisingly to the kings, Tampa was beginning to once more emerge to the forefront of Floridian business and trade.
Tampa
The establishment of Floridian communities in the Nole Isles to the east and Auir to the south brought about a surge in overseas commerce. This grew as new trade routes opened with Chicago and Massachusetts, along the oceanic coastline and up the Chicago River. In order for the goods to reach the population centers of Florida, they would have to enter the peninsula through the port of Tampa. From all this international trade, Tampa grew dramatically in prosperity and population, giving a renaissance for the priests of the city. In approximately 1324 F.Y., war almost erupted again when the King attempted to emplace a cousin as Duc of the city. The priests threatened to rally the merchants to their support, and the King caved, instead appointing a prominent priest.
Bayout
Bayout was initially established as a military station to monitor and protect transportation and trade along the Chicago River. From here, raids would also be launched against the southern tribes of the Souix, providing support in that ongoing war. As time went by, a market was also established in the region, proving an intermediary place of sale for traders along the lucrative Tampa-Chicago trading route. In 1314 F.Y., the King appointed a Duc, the third of these positions to be established. Within less than a hundred years, the desirable location and fertile land to the north pushed Bayout to surpass Tampa in population size and to even rival Orlando itself as a cultural center.
Heverr
Tales from ancient Floridian culture seem to place unusual importance upon the island of Auir. It has always been considered a naturally Floridian region, and many believe that the first Floridians came from the island. Auir was quick and willing to pledge allegiance to the King of Orlando, and civilization arrived. Numerous farms and towns already existed under the Floridian culture before it fell under Orlandos government, and the King began a search to find an appropriate city in which to appoint a Duc. In the interior hills of the island, the town of Heverr acted as a mixture between shrine and marketplace. Believed to be the site of a divine manifestation, Heverr was considered important to the Floridian religion. Because of this, the city soon became a center for trade and commerce. Goods would be traded and sold here, and some would be sent overland to a port only 40 miles to the north, where they could be shipped to mainland Florida or internationally.
Roherr
Roherr is unique in that it was not originally established by Floridian settlers. The first people to settle on this land were Mexican barbarians, who hunted game and fished on a annual basis. When the Californians began rallying their armies once again, Mexico began taking on more and more traits of Floridian culture, and eventually their king granted the King of Orlando control of Roherr, a trading post on the Grand River. A Duc was appointed and by this point in Floridas history Roherr became the least of the five greatest cities of the Floridian culture.
The focus of early Floridian culture was in the city rather than a larger province or nation state. The various cities of ancient Florida had significant wealth and power on their own, though they all paid homage to the kings of Orlando. They fielded their own defense forces and militias, known as the Bodyguard. These soldiers are believed to have descended from the early bodyguard of the king of Orlando who defeated the priests of Tampa. They would serve as the basis for later development of law enforcement and the justice system in Floridian society. The Bodyguard were not attached to regular military and were not considered to have been linked to the King politically anymore, but rather to the various cities in which they served.
The government of the various cities generally rested in the hands of Ducs, who were emplaced in power by the King of Orlando. The position was hereditary though there are recorded cases and stories of Ducs being replaced for extreme incompetence or failure. The actual management of the nation was generally done through the advisors of the Ducs, known as the Lilo. Taxation and military recruitment were done differently on a city by city basis, as the King would rarely set quotas, except in times of need or war, as exemplified by when ships were called to transport Massachusettian forces to fight the Souix War.
A typical Floridian town or city generally was focused upon the marketplace. With the exception of the holy city of Tampa, most settlements were established originally as trading posts and other economic centers. From the center open land cleared for the sale of local goods and services, the town would expand in various directions, with little planning or development. When a Duc was ennobled for a city, a palace would be built near the marketplaces, and government for the community would be administered from there. Unlike settlements in other parts of the world at this time, most Floridian cities lacked town walls or other set defenses. The largest would have a limited wooden barrier around the heart of the community, but a lack of general local resources or engineering knowledge likely prevented sturdy stone walls from being constructed.
The homes of most Floridians were typically squat structures, being made out of a mixture of mud and wood lining. In this early period, elaborate architecture existed only on the token stone temples in Tampa or the various palaces of the Ducs. The temples are known themselves for their pyramid like appearance, consisting of two to four levels of structure and a flat top. Based on a persons stature in society, they would pray or sacrifice upon their caste level. Only the priests and the king himself were allowed on the uppermost levels.
Orlando
By 1300 F.Y., Orlando had changed dramatically since the rise of the King. It proved to be a center for Orlando cultural growth, and hosted elaborate embassies and homes for the kings of Massachusetts and Chicago. These were constructed as winter palaces for those kings, and were occasionally used to escape the harsh climates of the north. Several smaller temples had been build since the establishment of the monarchy, though nothing on the scale of the temple complexes in Tampa. As the center of Floridian government, Orlando was the sole city to have a stone wall to surround the entire community, hauled for nearly three hundred miles from northern quarries.
Despite these advantages, Orlandos importance as an economic center was quickly waning. Surprisingly to the kings, Tampa was beginning to once more emerge to the forefront of Floridian business and trade.
Tampa
The establishment of Floridian communities in the Nole Isles to the east and Auir to the south brought about a surge in overseas commerce. This grew as new trade routes opened with Chicago and Massachusetts, along the oceanic coastline and up the Chicago River. In order for the goods to reach the population centers of Florida, they would have to enter the peninsula through the port of Tampa. From all this international trade, Tampa grew dramatically in prosperity and population, giving a renaissance for the priests of the city. In approximately 1324 F.Y., war almost erupted again when the King attempted to emplace a cousin as Duc of the city. The priests threatened to rally the merchants to their support, and the King caved, instead appointing a prominent priest.
Bayout
Bayout was initially established as a military station to monitor and protect transportation and trade along the Chicago River. From here, raids would also be launched against the southern tribes of the Souix, providing support in that ongoing war. As time went by, a market was also established in the region, proving an intermediary place of sale for traders along the lucrative Tampa-Chicago trading route. In 1314 F.Y., the King appointed a Duc, the third of these positions to be established. Within less than a hundred years, the desirable location and fertile land to the north pushed Bayout to surpass Tampa in population size and to even rival Orlando itself as a cultural center.
Heverr
Tales from ancient Floridian culture seem to place unusual importance upon the island of Auir. It has always been considered a naturally Floridian region, and many believe that the first Floridians came from the island. Auir was quick and willing to pledge allegiance to the King of Orlando, and civilization arrived. Numerous farms and towns already existed under the Floridian culture before it fell under Orlandos government, and the King began a search to find an appropriate city in which to appoint a Duc. In the interior hills of the island, the town of Heverr acted as a mixture between shrine and marketplace. Believed to be the site of a divine manifestation, Heverr was considered important to the Floridian religion. Because of this, the city soon became a center for trade and commerce. Goods would be traded and sold here, and some would be sent overland to a port only 40 miles to the north, where they could be shipped to mainland Florida or internationally.
Roherr
Roherr is unique in that it was not originally established by Floridian settlers. The first people to settle on this land were Mexican barbarians, who hunted game and fished on a annual basis. When the Californians began rallying their armies once again, Mexico began taking on more and more traits of Floridian culture, and eventually their king granted the King of Orlando control of Roherr, a trading post on the Grand River. A Duc was appointed and by this point in Floridas history Roherr became the least of the five greatest cities of the Floridian culture.
