The Kingdom of Spaña (originally All Hispania) was founded in 772 when Abd ar-Rahman the Raptor of Spain proclaimed the creation of the kingdom after his return from the Maghreb. In the year c. 1100 the kingdom stretches from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean Sea along Garona River watershed in the north. It extends south to the fringes of the Atlas mountains and includes over half of Italy. Allied states range from Cyprus and Damascus in the east, to the Marcas extending to the borders of the Takrur Empire in Africa. Due to First and Second Division Agreements, it is the recognized hegemon of western Europe south of the Alps.

Trust to fulfill and Dominion to find. Order to serve, and Duty to bind.

The named “Spaña” is derived from a shortening of the Roman “Hispania” which itself is disputed. In its earliest days the kingdom was known as All Hispania (rarely All Hispanias) but became shortened during the reign of Ramiro the Wise (r. 812-850) to the more familiar Spaña. While most of its contemporaries know it as such, the H.E.I.N. term is traditionally translated as Spain. One reason for this may be because the inhabitants refer to themselves as Spaniards though other aspects relating to the kingdom are usually termed Spañan.

Spana has an estimated population of 19.6 million spread throughout its territories. Approximately 14% of the population is urban and male-female ratios are at rough parity. The bulk of the population is located on the Iberian Peninsula and in the lands north of the Pyrenees known collectively as Catalonia.

• Iberia and Catalonia: 12.4 million
• the Maghreb: 2.1 million
• Italy: 4.1 million

The largest city in Spana is the capital, Toledo, with a population of 287,000. Other large cities include:

• Sevilla - 181,000
• Lisboa - 164,000
• Barcelona - 70,000
• Zaragoza - 60,000
• Granada - 60,000
• Naples - 53,000
• Porto - 46,000
• Narbona - 44,000
• Iria - 41,000
• Merida - 40,000

There are many more cities with populations between 10,000-40,000 and they can be found in almost every province.

Population density is low by modern estimates but ranges from low to very high across the kingdom for its time. Generally population is concentrated along rivers and coastlines and declines the farther one is from these or from irrigation projects which are extensive. The areas of highest population are green and those of lowest population red.

MAP: Population Density c. 1150

Spana is a land of religious diversity. Officially only Christianity, Islam and Judaism are sanctioned but unofficially the native Berber and pre-Christian Iberian religions are tolerated in secret though this has begun to change in the past century. Christianity itself is broken down into Toledan Catholicism (gold) and Roman Catholicism (blue). Islam (green) is overwhelmingly Sufri with insignificant numbers of Shia and Sunni adherents. Judaism (Brown) is also recognized as a minority religion. Areas with no clear religious majority or with insufficient data are colored pink, all other colored regions represent an area where the religion shown is practiced by a majority of the population.

MAP: Religious Break Down c. 1150

The Government of Spana is technically an absolute monarchy. However during the Consulate War and the reign of Ramiro the Wise extensive bureaucratic systems were put in place. In addition certain customs have acquired the force of law such as the Royal Assembly held to confirm the ascension of a new monarch, the agreement of the Counts and Magistrates for the imposition of new land taxes (as opposed to trade taxes) or the advice and opinion of the Religious Council on the promulgation of laws. A tradition of asking the powerful nobles and notables of the land for assistance in difficult circumstances has also grown up since its use by Alejandro III after 1019. More concrete diminutions of power occurred in the reign of Amina Araman (r. 1122-1125 as co-monarch, 1125-present sole monarch) in order to increase the revenue received by the state.

The General Court is the council of the king and his top officials. Its origins lay in the middle Tenth Century and initially consisted of military officers, bureaucratic officials and nobility that held the state together during the interregnum. The name derives from the title of the General Military Officers that held primacy in original junta (the dukes). The court consists of the Magistrates, the Vizrey and the Grand Duke and executes policy.

History
The earliest administrative structures under Abd ar-Rahman resembled late Umayyad period bureaucracies in the form of Divans. Over time the word divan evolved to mean an administrative space (i.e. the physical location of the bundle of papers) and can be translated to “the desk of.” The original divans were largely confined to governance, military control and economics but were expanded over the years. Major changes occurred under Ramiro the Wise who tied the nobility into the bureaucracy. A second major reorganization into the Agency System was implemented by Ortiz the Great at the end of the 10th century.

Structure
The administrative system of the state is known as the Agency System. The name derives from the concept that the various bureaucracies exercise the delegated power (agency) of the dynasty. The system itself only developed formally during the reign of Ortiz the Great but has a long history of evolution since the earliest days of the state. Each Agency is formally headed by a single official with the exception of the Religious Council.

The Agency of Law: The Law Agency is a recent development but incorporates organizations with a long history. Its headquarters beyond the capital was constructed in the Twelfth Century at Tolosa by Vizrey Guillen. It is headed by a Magistrate of Law who is the highest legal authority in the kingdom under the king. The magistrate advises the General Court on the legality of their actions and functions as the personal jurist for the king and state as well as overseeing state judicial, legislative and enforcement functions. Notable Magistrates of Law include Rodrigo de la Vega (1106-1110).

• Judicial: The most developed aspect of the agency is the judiciary which is known as the Bureau of Arbitration responsible for both Arbiters and Jurists. Arbiters settle disputes both civil (against a person) and criminal (against the state) and are analogous to judges. They hear evidence and hand down sentences in accordance with both general law and local dictates. Jurists are those involved in the legal profession who are not arbiters. Versed in the law, they advise and assist in regards to legal matters. Those employed by the state work with the State Guard to keep the peace.
• Legislative: The Commission on Proscription is the state-level body responsible for drafting laws promulgated by the monarchy. It is made up of experienced jurists and arbiters and is advised by the Religious Councilors. Since the reign of Leon Araman the Commission has been working towards harmonizing the laws across the state where possible and modernizing the law codes.
• Enforcement: The State Guard was created by Miguel (r. 1019-1037) as a national police force headed by the Master of the State Guard. It has a checkered history due to its first Master working with the first vizrey to seize the throne. Subordinated to the Magistrate of Law, officers of the state guard assist the nobility to maintain order in the cities and countryside. The State Guard forms the backbone of the militia in time of war and in time of peace is responsible for training and equipping the populace for the common defense.

Once example of state laws can be found in the recent succession law of 1134.

A divan promulgated by Her Royal Highness Amina Alejandriz Araman, the Queen and sovereign of the Royal State of Spana in consultation with the eminent men of the people sitting in a Concillarium, with the consent and support of the Royal Assembly of the high men of the state. Regarding Succession to the throne and the governance of the Royal State of Spana encompassing all the lands and people ruled over by its sovereigns.

I. No person shall be illegible to be a reigning sovereign of the Royal State of Spana unless they shall be descendent in the male line from Araman El-Omeyeta, the Raptor.

II. Preference is given to the eldest legitimate child of either sex of the previous sovereign who is descendent in the male line from Araman El-Omeyeta, the Raptor.

III. If there is no surviving legitimate child of the previous sovereign, preference is tranferred to the eldest surviving legitimate sibling of the pervious sovereign who is descendent in the male line from Araman El-Omeyeta, the Raptor.

V. If no person is found that fits the previous criteria, preference is transfered to the legitimate children of eldest sibling, then the legitimate children of the second eldest sibling following this procedure until that generaiton is exhausted.

V. If no person is found in the generation of the previous sovereign or their descendants, then this procedure should be repeated in the previous generation until a legitimate child is found who is descended in the male line from Araman El-Omeyeta, the Raptor.

VI. If no legitimate candidates are found, preference transfers to illegitimate children in the male line from Araman El-Omeyeta, the Raptor in the order that shall find the support of the people sitting in a Concillarium and the Royal Assembly.

VII. At this time it accepted that the only surviving male line descendants of Araman El-Omeyeta, the Raptor, are the male children of Ortiz Araman the Great and their descendants.

VIII. Any candidate may disavow and abdicate their preference to the throne.

IX. By accepting a title looking to or granted by a foreign sovereign, a candidate announces their decision to abdicate their preference.

This is the law and the whole of the law.

Io, la Reyna.

The Agency of Learning: The Magistrate of Learning is a unique position. The agency was originally created to enhance the prestige of the monarchy by showing their very public support of educational institutions. It was soon used to increase basic literacy throughout the state by placing educated men in towns and even villages who could afford their services as teachers and scribes. As the first great universities were founded, their administration and costs became state functions in conjunction with local features formalizing state endowment of the institutions and ensuring they could be kept under control.

Degrees are granted by the state on the advice and recommendation of the learned faculty of a university. In practice this is a formality but serves as a way to assert authority over intellectuals.

Institutions of higher learning are located throughout the peninsula and the state as a whole including Tolosa, Iria, Sevilla, Zaragoza, Salamanca, Granada, Luz, Tanga and Evora.

The Agency of Trade: The Agency of Trade is one of the most important in the state. First and foremost it has the responsibility of assessing tariffs on imports and exports into the state. It attempts to keep some records of the state's trade but because of the vastness of the undertaking it relies on self-reporting and estimates when it can get information at all. Never the less a general idea of the trade that goes on can be gathered as well as what the state is short of compared to what it has as surplus.

Its second most important task is the facilitation of trade. Because of the importance of trade, the agency will often take the lead in negotiating trade agreements, opening markets and defending native merchants in their dealings with foreign states. This official and regular protection has enabled Spanan merchants to be highly competitive in a number of regions. Recently it has taken an interest in navigation as there is a growing push for expanding sea trade in light of the collapse of the Irish-Breton union and the slowly growing hostility of the Makanid Caliphate.

A task that long languished but has become more important in recent times is the system of Temporary Reign (that is, patents) where an invention or innovation can be registered with the state and a monopoly granted and enforced for a term of years. The most recent example is that of the movable type which was granted a patent by Queen Amina on June 6, 1134.

The Agency of Finance: The Agency of Finance is one of oldest government bureaucracies. Its current head is Andres de Moya. The agency regulates coinage, taxation and the treasury. The agency is in the midst of a massive expansion to increase state tax revenues and is becoming a presence across the kingdom.

The Agency of the Secretariat: The Agency of the Secretariat (commonly the Secretariat) is core of the bureaucracy. It emerged out of the early Divan of Documents modeled after the Umayyad system itself derived from Sassanian and Byzantine models. Its purpose was to provide a repository of state documents. It is composed of 5 branches.

• Examinations: This branch develops and administers the various examinations to determine eligibility for appointment to a particular office. Tests are regularly updated and reformed but obsolescence is a continuing problem.
• Archives: The Archives are responsible for maintaining and cataloging the state's documents, an increasingly difficult task. Currently adopting movable type.
• Administrative Service: The actual bureaucrats themselves the Administrative Service is responsible for keeping government posts staffed and collecting information about the land and its people.
• Correspondence: This office is responsible for providing literate, legible copyists and secretaries to government officials including the nobility. Historical employing a large number of women who are considered to have these trades in abundance, well over a thousand are employed. A number of former employees have become personal secretaries for their husbands such as the historical Tala Salaquena (b.846-d.915).
• Diplomacy: The office of diplomacy was recently transferred from the Trade agency by Guillen de Tolosa. This office provides the personnel for foreign embassies of all types.

The Agency of Agriculture: The Agricultural Agency is built on the works of Fernando Abbas and Alkindus. Most Spanan agriculture is dependent on irrigation and it has been of major importance to all the rulers of the state. Despite its low visibility, the Magistrate of Agriculture is extremely important to state function. The Agency has 4 branches.

• Demarcations: This office is responsible for conducting and maintaining accurate cadastral surveys of lands in the state and their valuations for the purposes of taxation and resolution of property disputes.
• Development: An office responsible for further improvement of plant species by the introduction of new crops, land-use policy, irrigation systems and planet breeding.
• Irrigation: An office dedicated to the maintenance, extension, and continued viability of irrigation techniques. Examples of their techniques include terraces in the Maghreb and the drainage of marshes in Italy.
• Records: Personally established by Alkindus, this office is responsible for compiling weather data, farmers' planting dates and astronomical information to facilitate better planting.

The Religious Council: The Religious Council is made up of the most esteemed and learned religious authorities in the state. It is interfaith and is the main method of keeping religious differences from becoming violent.

The Vizrey: The Vizrey of Spana is a relatively new position, created only in 1034 with the departure of King Miguel to the east. The first Vizrey was Fernan Araman, the second son of Ortiz the Great. Originally, the position of the Vizrey (archaic: Visrey) was as a non-royal executive to fill the place of the king during his absence. While Fernan was manipulated by his son Viron and Lucas Almaghreb who took control of the state, Leon reconstructed the position. Currently the position is seen as being the hand of the king and is used to allow the monarch to be in two places at once for various reasons such as military campaigns.

Vizreys of Spana

1. Fernan Araman (1034-1048)
2. Ramiro Maurez (1050-1070)
3. Alvaro de Lugo (1070-1093)
4. Guillen de Tolosa (1101-1114)
5. Garcia IV Maurez (1125-1132)
6. Marcus de Granada (1132-Present)

There are a number of Spañan titles and nobility that have grown up over the centuries. The nobility did not develop along Frankish lines and has a number of unique features. In the last century Spañan titles and ranks have begun to be adopted by other lands in the region or modified into existing structures. The titles themselves generally correspond to urban or regional locales as of the Twelfth Century.

Count: A County or Countship is attached to an urban location. From the earliest days, they were encouraged to take up residence in a city and control the countryside around it. Historically they are the most powerful nobles in a region and in exchange for considerable autonomy and royal enforcement of their decisions on inheritance, are expected to enforce the orders of the central government regarding taxation, the defense of the realm, and the few state-wide laws. They are administrators whose prestige and influence is a reflection of how prosperous their domains are and skilled counts see this domain expand. Conflicts between counts usually take the form of economic competition or royal favor. Each count is a member of the Royal Assembly. Counts are created when an area reaches a certain level of importance.

Alcadiz: The rank of Alcadiz was created during the Ninth Century and derives from the Arabica Al-Qadi “judge.” Alcadiz are men who have passed the administrative service examination. They rule over smaller areas compared to counts and their appointments are usually the result of a recommendation by a count. Most also look to the local count as an immediate superior but are occasionally subject to central control. A set number of Alcadiz in key areas are appointed by the monarch. An Alcadiz can hand over his domain to an heir of their choice subject to royal approval.

Vali: The word Vali comes from the Arabic “Wali” or governor. Valis are educated men who have taken an administrative service examination and are considered trustworthy. All urban areas except villages have a Vali. They are expected to govern in accord with the local council with most looking to their local Alcadiz. Valis are always appointed from the local area to give the residents an interest in their successful administration. Originally they governed for a term of years but this proved unworkable and current Valis serve for life. The position is not officially hereditary but in practice most Valis can hand their position over to their sons absent some malfeasance.

Marquio: When a count becomes exceedingly powerful over a large area, they can petition the sovereign to name them a Maquio and their domain a Marca (March). Originally created by Abd ar-Rahman, historically marcas were border areas or areas entrusted to vital allies. Marcas come with a degree of military autonomy and are highly sought after. Historical marcas include:

• Marca Vascona (760-802)
• Marca Lisboa (774-906)
• Marca Bordeio (918-1006)
• Marca Grecina (976-1065)
• Marca Toscana (956-1124)
• Marca Militar (1062-1128)
• Marca Iznaga (1058-1135)

See Also: Regions and Provinces of the Kingdom of Spana

History

One of the characteristics of the state is the continuing nature of administrative reorganizations. The earliest methods were done by Abd ar-Rahman himself in his early campaign along the Frankish model but based on urban centers as opposed to simply agricultural divisions. Ramiro the Wise created the first formal divisions as a bureaucratic convenience. Ramiro II added on to this system after the Reclamación. Under Ortiz the Great, central-government bureaucracy was put in place in the major urban centers making them appendages of the capital. Under Miguel and Leon, the State Guard were the first to make extensive use of the provinces for practical jurisdiction. This ad-hoc system reached its height under King Leon and was maintained by his sons Alejandro IV (r.1101-1110) and Saloman II (r.1110-1122). The system began to suffer from the informal nature of the provinces in the Perinthian plague and the reign of Saloman II. This system partially collapsed under Amina (r.1122-11??). As a consequence of the incredible advances in generating revenue under Amina, the entire system was reorganized during and after the War of Spañan Succession.

Structure

In the later part of her reign, Amina Araman instigated a massive reorganization and strengthening of the provincial system. Amina divided Spaña into 30 Provinces (Provincias) and 2 Marches (Marcas). For the first time direct Provincial Administration has been set up in each province in a designated city. Often such as in the case of Zaragoza, it is located in the greatest city in each province. Other times it was placed in a different city to avoid provoking powerful nobility or business groups such as Evóra in Lusitania or because of sea access such as Málaga in Granada. In some cases a new city was constructed or reconstructed such as Alnumaza in the province of Iberia.

Provincial administration consists of the headquarters of the local State Guard, buildings housing records for land ownership and business transactions, and serves as the home of the provincial level judiciary and tax collection office. The administration is headed by a newly created post, a Director General. The powers of the Director General are a privilege granted by the queen for a fixed term unlike a Vali (see the entry for Vali) non-hereditary nobility such as an Alcadiz or hereditary nobles such as counts. Currently they are attempting to further subdivide the provinces into districts for administrative and recording purposes along already existing lines.

The military history of Spana begins with Abd ar-Rahman who welded the Asturian and Basque armies to quick and powerful Berber cavalry in the initial conquest of the peninsula. The early military was composed around strong cavalry forces in the Berber style supplemented by spearmen and Frankish style cavalry provided by the northern nobility. Melding the Frankish model of sieges and plunder with the Islamic model of cavalry raids and quick assaults, the early army thrived on conquest and land redistribution. As stability returned after the Consulate War and soldiers turned to farming, a more professional military was envisioned by Ramiro the Wise.

Ramiro levied a war tax from his nobles and combined that with trade money to fund a small professional army. To assuage the nobility, its officers and heavy cavalry were drawn from the surplus nobility and allowed to refuse an order harming a family member. In the meantime a small core of infantry soldiers was created, the Almoghavars. Both units were set as garrison forces primarily on the royal lands to provide both defense and training militia companies for time of war. Combined with the administrative reforms of Ramiro the Wise, by the time of the Reclamacion a semi-professional and reliable army had emerged. With the income from the Reclamacion and African trade, Alfonso II created the first Banner System whose military organization was of a level closer to that of the Byzantine Empire than the Roman successor states around him. The development of crossbowmen in the last years of the Ninth Century added a strong missile component to the army.

The Roman Wars (950-976) saw a huge expansion of the army. Funded by an alliance with the Makanids, African gold, taxation, northern European alliances and Italian plunder, more part-time soldiers became full time mercenaries. Advances in metallurgy and mechanics led to the development of light crossbows for horseback, better armor and the return of the pikes. The highpoint came at the Second Battle of Cannae where the state fielded 36,000 men against Byzantium. Many soldiers returned home or settled on land in Italy but others remained and took part in the Bulgarian Expedition.

The War of Breton Succession (1002-1026) saw the development of the Royal Cavalesos super-heavy cavalry and evidence a need for permanent large formations along the borders. While a number of soldiers departed on the Ecumenical Reconquista, those remaining were reorganized into the Legion System by Sancho de Mallorca. The flaws in the organization were revealed during the civil war of 1042-1048 when Legions took sides until they were modified into the Reformed Legion System by Arias Rolandez de Iria. This system envisioned 4 Legions on the borders and a much larger core army in the capital. The core would be sent to reinforce the legions or conduct military operations. Provinces were required to furnish several hundred troops to augment the army. In this way an army of about 10,000-14,000 could be fielded anywhere along the borders. Since 1060 the army core was composed primarily of pikemen who were cheaper to maintain and Royal Cavalesos.

Absolute command of the military lies with the sovereign who is also responsible for outlining the political strategy. Because of the importance of the sovereign to the state, the de-facto head of the military has usually been the Grand Duke who is a member of the General Court. Military officers generally have significant autonomy and initiative is encouraged when it is in line with the goals of the sovereign.

Officers

• Grand Duke: The post of Grand Duke was created in 925 by Alfonso II. Historically the position was filled by a political ally who was also an experienced military officer. In peace time the post may be vacant or as with Saloman II the sovereign may take on the rank himself. The Grand Duke resides in the Alcazar Misufa northeast of Toledo but has a residence in the capital to advise the sovereign on military matters.

List of Grand Dukes

1. Ordono Najera (925-930)
2. Eliseo the Grenadine (930-943)
3. Velasco Halcona (948-954)
4. Bersi Olavez (955-963)
5. Almas Halcona (963-970)
6. Rolando de Iria “El Espanda Opportuno” (976-1002, 1011-1012)
7. Adam Almaghreb (1012-1016) only Grand Duke killed in battle
8. Sancho de Mallorca (1026-1038) developed Legion System
9. Arias Rolandez de Iria (1050-1086) grandson of 6; developed Second Banner System
10. Juda de Lorca (1086-1095) first Jewish Grand Duke
11. Saloman II Leonesa Araman (1101-1122) first Grand Duke and king
12. Mejed de Terita (1126-1132) posthumous appointment
13. Giovan de Brecanta (1135-Present)

• Duke: The rank comes from the Latin dux or leader. They command a legion and occasionally engage in combat personally.
• Marhsal: Derived from a Fracian word, Marshals are subordinates to a duke. They command a banner of either cavalry or infantry.
• Commander: Subordinates to Marshals, a commander of a battleguard. Commanders are usually made up of second sons of the nobility or upper class persons.
• Captain: Captains are the lowest rank of trained officer. They command companies of infantry or cavalry. They are generally made up of the middle or upper classes of society.
• Mayor/Senor: Executive officer of a company of foot and horse respectively. They mean Major (File Leader) and Senior (Lancer) and are chosen from those ranks. Some may receive officer training.
• File Leader/Lancer: Head of a squad of foot and horse respectively and chosen based on authority among the squad.

Regular Army

• Army: A temporary combination of 2 or more legions with a designated commander.
  
• Legion: A legion is made up of 3 banners (2 foot, 1 horse) numbering about 3,000 men.
  
• Banner: A banner is made up of about a dozen companies numbering between 1,000-1,200 men. It can be of foot or horse.
  
• Battleguard: A temporary creation, battleguards (commonly battles) are detachments of a legion dedicated to a certain task such as reconnaissance or raids. Usually 300-400 men.
  
• Company: The basic military unit is of a certain troop type numbering between 100-200 men.

As of 1125, the Spanan military is composed of 4 Legions stationed in Italy, the Maghreb, Catalonia scattered across the provinces. A core army is present in the capital made up of elite cavalry and infantry units including the Sandstorm, the Royal Cavalesos numbering about 8,000 men. In contrast to the armies of the 11th century, 12th century armies rely more on militia troops but also generally have larger numbers of effectives.

State Guard

In addition to the regular military forces, a body known as the State Guard exists. It is divided into provincial commands under a Director-General. It functions as a police force for the province. In time of war it is often called upon to supplement the regular army and divided into the Urban and Rural divisions based on its area of jurisdiction. An important function of the State Guard is to provide for the seasonal training, equipage of provincial militia reserve forces for use in time of war. It also commands the militia in time of war.

Cavalry Units

• Royal Cavalesos: Heavily armed and armored close fighting cavalry. They are chosen from orphans or the lowest classes with appropriate physical traits. Trained in tactics, strategy and combat, they are indoctrinated and the elite unite of the crown. They were created by Ortiz the Great in 980, disbanded by Saloman II in 1111 and reconstituted by Amina in 1125. They number about 1,000.
• Sandstorm Cavalry: Berber cavalry hired from the Saharan tribes. Created by Saloman II to replace the Royal Cavalesos, they are lightly armored but extremely mobile. They have a rivalry with the Royal Cavalesos and number about the same.
• Jinetes: Lit. “horseman” armed with sword, shield and javelins or a light crossbow. Militia light cavalry used to harass and disperse enemy units and reconnaissance. Despite being militia they are trained well enough to perform a feigned retreat and are the most numerous type of cavalry.
• Squires: Lit. Escutero. Medium cavalry with scale armor and standard weapons on contract with the state. They are stationed in the provinces under the command and supported by the Director-Generals. They can double as heavy infantry and number around 2,500.

Infantry Units

• Almoghavars: Footmen armed with a heavy knife or hammer, small shield, and javelins. They are armored in leather with small metal plates strapped over vital areas like the heart. Used for skirmishing, anti-cavalry, or flanking infantry.
• Pikemen: Aggressive infantry force based on Italian methods of the early Eleventh Century. Armed with light armor, helmets, a short sword and a long pike to resist cavalry they are the mainstay of western armies. Since 1134 a quarter are armed with halberds. Most pikemen are professional but a few come from the militia.
• Crossbowmen: Made up of militia or mercenaries and the main Spanan missile unit they are trained in every corner of the state. Lately some have adopted the use of large shields for defense. Lightly armored.
• Melee Infantry: Made up of militia or mercenaries armed with shields and spears or swords, they are the most numerous and lowest quality troops. They are lightly armored, but occasionally supplemented with higher quality mercenary forces.

Current Events

With the ongoing War of Spanan Succession, military organization is currently at a low point. Mass recruitment of troops is creating larger and more unwieldy armies necessitating the system outlined above. As such current military formations are heavier on banners and battleguards compared to a peacetime army. The peacetime army itself numbers about 16,000-18,000 but is dispersed throughout the state.

Spaña has historically had a strong economy. In the early days this was derived from plunder but by the Ninth Century a long term understanding with the Abbasid Caliphate had been formed that led to a rapid development of trade. The crown encouraged the development of crafts and entrepreneurship while restricting the power of large landowners via taxation and engaged in significant territorial expansion to support itself. Late in the Tenth Century, high-value commodities such as sugar and silk were obtained and shipbuilding advances made trade routes more lucrative and less expensive. In the Eleventh Century, a strong agricultural sector saw a general economic boom. An ongoing overhaul of the tax system is generating significantly increased wealth for the government.

Trade is the lifeblood of the state. In contrast with Spain, becoming a successful merchant is seen as a desirable path in Spaña and powerful merchants have long been excepted into the upper class.

Spañan trade goods include salt, sugar, silk, iron, olive oil, citrus, wheat, wine, wool, wax, cosmetics, dyes. Trade commodities include metal-work of various ores, art objects such as ivory, leathwork, weapons, ships and textiles. Trade is managed by the Agency of Trade. Imports are generally wood, horses, rare furs and gold.

The most important trade routes for Spaña are those located in the Maghreb that cross the Sahara. These supply an enormous amount of gold and ivory and slaves though that trade is minor. The friendship of the Takrur Empire and the Kahanid Kingdom facilitate these trading ventures. Other routes from cities on the coast such as Narbona, Valencia and Barcelona link the peninsula to Spañan possessions in Italy and the riches of the east. Major ports on the Adriatic include Pescara and Siponto. Routes to northern Europe including Brittany, Albaney and Ireland are centered in Lisboa, Santander. The recent loss of Bordeio and Balyon has been a significant blow.

There are two coins in Spana both known as the dar. These coins serve as the standard weight of coinage for much of the Mediterranean and roughly analogous coins circulate in Byzantium. A bimetallic standard is in effect with 1 gold dar for every 15 silver dars. The dars are struck at once of nine mints with the main mint being in the Badajoz at Merida. The other major mints are sited at Girona, Luz, Nicora, Tahert, Toledo, Vallalida, Sevilla and Ponteramia.

• Silver Dar: Weighing 3.25g, the silver dar originated under the reign of Alejandro the Relcaimer in 860. They have the Iberian Cross (flag symbol) on the reverse with the name of the mint and year they were struck. The obverse has a stylized picture of a raptor with the name of the king in whose reign they were struck.
• Gold Dar: The gold dar weighs 4.21g and proliferated under the reign of Ramiro II. By 956 it was the standard for gold coins in the western Mediterranean and was adopted by the Makanids.

Spana is a cosmopolitan state that thrives on agriculture and trade. A number of languages are spoken in the country of which the majority fall under some stratum of the Romance Languages. The major Romance Language families are the Catalonian Romance family, the Hespanic Romance family, and the Mozarabic Romance family. Each of these is further subdivided into major dialects with a number of minor dialects.

The Catalonian group emerged out of the Germanic languages of its new inhabitants and those of its old. The region fell under Spanan influence just as it began the transition to a literary language which began the shift toward a strong Latin base and widespread resettlement after the Breton War led to an accelerated unity with Upper Hespanic Romance.

Mediterranean Catalonian: Evolved from the Gothic language with Frankish influences until the late 9th Century when Spanan influences predominate. Massive resettlement of the Upper Hespanic Romance speakers in the early 11th century accelerated drift toward a Latin base and birthed the modern dialect. Guillen of Tolosa and Azalais of Narbona are the most prominent speakers of this language in the timeline.

Atlantic Catalonian: Evolved from Old Frankish with Basque influences until the middle 9th Century when the region experience massive viking migrations with accompanying linguistic effects. Political and economic dominance by the Spaniards since 920 saw Frankish influences decline in favor of Spanan.

The Hespanic Romance family is the largest group of languages in Spana. It evolved from the Vulgar Latin of the Roman period with a number of influences, including Basque in the north and Berber in the south. In addition there are a number of words of Germanic origin included in the language as a legacy of the political hegemony achieved north of the Pyrnees and political and cultural cooperation with the Kingdom of Francia.

Upper Hespanic Romance: The most widespread dialect, the name derives from its total dominance of the great raised Meseta both north and south. It's prominence emerges from its dominance of the capital region which makes it useful to know for all Spaniards. It is heavily influenced by the Berber languages of the Zeneta Berbers. The Zeneta tied themselves most closely to the Spaniards of all the Berber confederations and Ramiro the Wise induced huge numbers to to move across the strait. After centuries of mixing with the evolving Vulgar Latin, the language was born. Because of the links to the Berbers, it became thoroughly adopted by the Spananized populations of the North African coast and the Rif. Its presence along the Mediterranean coast led to exports to the Baliares Islands, Serdena and Corsega. Thanks to long-term cross-migration and two centuries of Spanan hegemony, it became adopted in parts of southern Italy while picking up some features of local languages. Never the less it remains closest to the Old Castilian of OTL with fewer French words and more Berber.

The most prominent speaker of this language is Amina Alejandriz Araman.

North-Asturian Romance: Very close to the earliest Upper Hispanic Romance, North-Asturian Romance significant divergence with the arrival and conquest of the vikings in 870. Separated geographically from the southern lands, North-Asturian Romance shows prominent influence from Scandinavian languages. Enrigo of Lejon learned this language as a second tongue.

Berber Romance: Berber (Hespanic) Romance is a widespread language of commerce, literature and government from Tanga to Tunis. With the arrival of Orthodoxy and Arabic with the Idrisids and the departure of most of the Zeneta, the dominant Berber languages in the Maghreb became those of the Masmuda confederation. Allies of the Spaniards, this close association led to the swift development and heavy borrowing of Romance elements. A standardized literary and political language began to emerge at the end of the 9th Century, usually written with the Latin Alphabet and became the language of political opposition to the Idrisids. Under Makanid rule Berber Romance became the only acceptable local language under the administrative language of Arabic. Under the current Kahanids kingdom, Berber Romance become the language of government and spread rapidly. The center for the development of this language are Tahert and Sigilmasa. The late Duke Mejed de Terita was a native speaker of the this language as was King Tajer. Saloman II learned this language as a young man.

Serdenin Hespanic Romance: A minor dialect, Serdenin is influenced by Greek as well as Latin.

Corsegan Hespanic (Romance): A minor dialect, Corsegan Hspanic is influenced by Tuscan dialects and its own obscure indigenous language.

The Mozarabic Romance languages are characterized by heavy influence from Arabic, and is analogous to the the dialects collectively called Mozarabic in OTL.

Lisboan Romance: Spoken along the coasts near Lisboa, this language was influenced by Yemeni Arabic and the Porto-Galician language of the north. It also has a few Greek influences.

South Andalusian Romance: South Andalusian Romance is a Mozarabic language derived from Vulgar Latin and classical Arabic almost exclusively. This region saw the heaviest Arab settlement prior to the rise of the Omeyata dynasty and once its resistance was crushed, provided many administrators to the central government. As such its language was favored by the early government ministers so that it became the primary literary language. It also formed the basis of Court Hespanic. A number of unique Mozarbic elements survive in it today such as the use of -vin as a genderless patronymic suffix. Notable speakers of this language include Sol Gonsalvin, a female poet of the early 11th Century and Fernando Abbas a polymath of the 9th Century. This language is the native language of Garcia IV Maurez and his family.

Granadine Romance:A variant of South Andalusian Romance, Granadine Romance is spoken in and around the province of Grenada. Because of the mountains surrounding the province, its development took a different path from the other Mozarabic dialects and retains more Gothic influence and less Arabic. Notably it is the language of the Jews in Spana. Vizrey Marcus de Grenada is a native speaker of this language.

A number of minor languages also are spoke in the peninsula.

Euskara: Is the Basque language.
Galician: Is very similar to OTL's Galician and is also known as Porto-Galician.
Tuscan: Is spoken from Denia to Narbona and across the islands in the western Mediterranean.
Senhaja: Is spoken in Sigilmas and along the border. Written in revived Tifangh or Latin, it is the language of trade and commerce in the western Sahara.

Because of the variety of languages and dialects in Spana, a language of government was required to efficiently tie together the state. Because of the number of early officials it supplied, South Andalusian Romance was chosen as a grammar base and certain words inserted from both classical Latin and Arabic. It is a political creation meant as a universal language for the state itself and utilizes a Semitic VSONGA word order to avoid borrowing too heavily from South Andalusian Romance. State records are primarily kept in this language. It was considered a language of high culture and it was a mark of prestige to learn it. Government officials, the nobility and the wealthy are expected to learn it to differentiate themselves from the masses. Amina Alejandriz Araman detests this language and since her ascension, it is no longer the language of the court though records are still kept in it.

Court Hespanic: Deber Comencenos a jamar alona
Literal Translation: Must Begin-we the attack now
English Translation: We should begin the attack now
OTL Spanish: Debemos comenzar el ataque ahora

Note how verb conjugation is altered and the prevalence of Arabic roots in the words attack 'jamar' and now 'alona.'

Gender Roles in Spana are significantly more liberal than elsewhere.

Gender Roles: Men

Men tend to have typical gender roles in Spana. Social mobility is not common but is also socially acceptable when it happens because it is so often tied to the favor of the monarch. This however does not mean that political jealousy does not occur only that social class not as bound up in birthright because of the history of commerce. Major non-farm roles for men are in state service, the military, academia, merchants, or craftsmen. In most professions (save that of scribe or clerk) a man earns more than a woman and some professions (e.g. metalwork) are the domain of men. Notably, a major symbol of male power is the “unveiling” of his wife upon their marriage signifying that viewing her face will cause no distress because of his protection and power.

Upper-class males who do not engage in these professions can turn to either the arts (sculpture, poetry etc.) or more eccentric pursuits such as funding inventors or academics or in rare cases, joining the Navigation Guild and seeking adventure.

Gender Roles: Women

Women are usually educated in segregated class rooms but can be in mixed classes. Their teachers can be men or women and they have a level of literacy comparative to the men. While country women generally engage in traditional female farm work, women are allowed by law to own and dispense property, engage in business, learn a trade or pursue an education. There are two obstacles to this however. The first is that some men simply do not want to teach women or do not want to do business with them in that way. The second is that women who do these things become open to the charge of “neglecting the family” and while the courts are generally fair the expenses and social stigma of dealing with this charge acts as a dampener on advancement of women generally.

The most common non-farm employment for women is as clerks. There is a long history of female clerks in the state, dating back to the initial administrative institutions of Ramiro the Wise and to a smaller extent Abd ar-Rahman. Female scribes are stereotyped as more honest, with better handwriting and make comparable wages–the only profession they do so.

In general, “lettered” professions are open to women including academia or in recent years, the law. In places such as Tolosa nearly a third of the lawyers are women and it is not unusual for a woman to advocate in court as profession. Recently medicine has become more routinely practiced by women, but there are still many restrictions (e.g. women may advise but not actually perform medical services during menses). Another acceptable profession is that which we would call an entertainer. While acting is frowned upon, the composition of poetry or other works (fictional and factual) and the public performance of music are marks of high prestige and have been since the life of Azalais (b.949-d.999).

High and upper middle-class women are also expected to engage in charitable or private-public works actions in a city or endow religious houses. They are expected to involve themselves directly instead of simply funding them which is seen as artifice. Lower-middle class women generally assist their husbands in whatever their trade is, but if they die routinely take over the business in their own right instead of in trust for their sons.

The major duty of women is still considered motherhood. However once the children are grown and their instruction is seen to, a woman is expected to put those talents to work in caring for the larger community in an expansion of the “mother” role. There is no prestige attached to keeping women idle, prestige comes when she is seen as having the time and money to spend improving the community in some way.

Entertainment in Spana is generally divided into two major categories: literary and outdoor Literary activities have a long tradition and strong support thanks to the higher levels of education and literacy relative to other lands. It is not uncommon at social gatherings to discuss books or essays and poetry readings are a long-time fixture in all walks of life even in the countryside thought customs generally differ there. Songs are another common source of entertainment. Gambling is sometimes done, but rarely in mixed-gendered company. Increasingly, games involving cards and a more classically Indian variant of Chess are becoming popular.

Outdoor activities are generally the same as in other lands.

The most popular activity in Spana is hunting, which is a mixed gendered activity though it is rare and generally frowned upon for a woman to take part as more than a bystander if there is no danger present. The second most popular activity among the upper classes is the playing of polo that arrived in the state between 894-920. This is a true mixed gendered activity and it is not uncommon for mixed gender teams to compete against each other. This however tends to be a sport restricted in participation to the upper-classes (who are more likely to own multiple horse) with a rare exception. Notably the field has changed to one that is circular, reminiscent of certain roman amphitheaters and is about 185x185m, much smaller than Persian fields. This makes the game more fast paced and also provides an experience more closely resembling the quick changes in direction utilized by Spanan missile cavalry in warfare.

Recently, wealthy patrons or even cities have begun to sponsor polo teams as recreational activity beyond the festivals.

Non-military dress generally relies on overlapping layers despite the generally warm climates. Common fabrics are wool, linen and to a smaller extent cotton. Silk is worn by men and women but in vastly smaller quantities by men. The foundational garment for both sexes is a kind of loose white under-shirt that reaches about mid-thigh on both sexes. Of note is that while it is customary for women to sleep wearing this garment, men never do.

Males

The male undershirt is generally short-sleeved and made of cotton or linen, never silk. Underneath is a pair of drawers that generally are about knee length. Owing to the greater prominence of the military and the constant campaigning of recent years, trousers are beginning to be accepted as a part of daily life worn over the drawers for all classes. A long tunic is worn above this that reaches to mid-calf with short sleeves and is usually belted with leather which can be of varied thickness and plain or ornamented. The tunic is generally of one piece and buttoned near the collar. Recently stiff high collars have been observed. In practice compared to the kaftan-evolved clothing of the women it is far lighter and simpler with shorter sleeves. For special occasions or travel, various over-coats are worn that contain a variety of decoration or thickness with those made for travel generally made of more durable or thicker materials than those for ornamentation. It is on these coats that silk can be used to enhance the visual appeal of the garment but not as the foundation.

Outside of certain professions such as the church or the military there is little headgear worn. Lower-class men who must spend a lot of time outdoors wear straw hat. Occasionally a hat resembled the Muslim Taqiyah can be worn but this is not common.

Females

For women the white or gray undershirt is long or middle-sleeved and made of either linen or cotton, never wool and rarely silk. Over the shirt is a long tunic that can be any color that generally reaches the feet. Among the lower classes the tunic is relatively voluminous to allow movement and servants as a general purpose garment. Among the upper classes the tunic is divided along the outer thigh and generally laced shut beginning at the knee. Ornamentation on either of these garments are considered rare. Historically a sash was worn around the waist generally of bright colors with a handful of strips of the same material hanging from it along the length of the tunic but current fashion instead favors a form fitting tunic among the upper classes.

The upper classes or lower classes on special occasions, wear an over-garment that traces its origin to the Maghrebi kaftans initially worn for weddings. It consists of a loose robe with very long sleeves and held in place by a wide (~35 cm) thick sash. Both the sash and robe are heavily decorated in a variety of styles and are made out of a variety of styles and colors. Recently brocade has become the fabric of choice for the sash.

Female headgear has evolved over the centuries. It currently consists of a loosely wrapped scarf and loose falling veil that resembles a combination of a loose fitting turban and a Jewish tichel. Veils are worn by unmarried (including divorced) women in public while no veil is required for married women or widows. The veil itself is a slightly sheer frabic that covers the tip of the nose to the base of the throat. It is often held in place by some sort of ornament. Hair is generally rolled and pinned at the nap of the neck to accommodate the headgear. Among adventurous upper class women it is worn loose or in several braids.

Pre-Romanesque

Arabesque

Mediterranean Neo-Romanesque

Essentially a simplified revival of the Roman style born from Spañan interactions in Italy over the 9th and 10th centuries. It evolved from Iberian Pre-Romanesque architecture by blending in styles observed in Italy and to a lesser extend from the Byzantine Empire of the 10th century as well as incorporating some traditions from other Spañan styles. It is characterized by rectangular geometry, the use of domes as ornamentation, and application of plaster over the stone construction. Features shared by this style with other styles include tiled roofs and plain columns. With Spañan hegemony over the western Mediterranean in the later 10th century and influence felt in Cyprus, the Peloponnese and parts of the Levant, the basic style with local embellishments became common throughout the Mediterranean in the 11th and 12th centuries.

Villa of Ramiro II, built c. 910

House of Abd ar-Rahman (House Omeyata)
1. Abd ar-Rahman (Araman) (r. 771-791) previously King of Asturias
2. Salamon the Roman (r. 791-812)
3. Ramiro the Wise (r. 812-850)
4. Rolando (r. 850-860)
5. Alejandro the Reclaimer (r. 860-886)
6. Enrique the Sot (r. 886-888) brother of 7, 8
7. Alfonso I (r. 888-892) brother of 6, 8
8. Ramiro II (r. 892-913) brother of 6, 7
9. Alfonso II the Conqueror (r. 913-943)
10. Alejandro II (r. 943-945)
11. Sigrissa (r. 945-948) first Queen Regnant, recognized 1132

House Araman
12. Ortiz the Great (r. 950-1002) great-grandson of 6
13. Armando the Fearsome (r. 1002-1019) murdered by 14
14. Alejandro III (r. 1019-1023, 1048-1050) co-monarch with 15, 16
15. Miguel (r. 1019-1037) co-monarch with 14, 1019-1023
16. Leon (r. 1048-1101) co-monarch with 14, 1048-1050
17. Alejandro IV (r. 1101-1110)
18. Saloman II (r. 1110-1122) brother of 17
19. Tajer (r. 1122-1125)
20. Amina (r. 1122-Present) daughter of 17, married 19, second Queen Regnant