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Clarines (クラリネス王国, Kurarinesu Ōkoku) is a kingdom ruled by Izana Wistaria. It was formerly ruled by Haruto Wistaria, aloongside her consort Kain Wistaria. Haruto Wistaria, abdicated the throne and passed it to her son Izana once he was old enough to become king.
Geography[]
It is located on the continent of Fortissia. In the anime it is situated at the west end of the continent, however, the map used in that medium contradicts the manga where among other things Sereg is between Wistal and Tanbarun and south of Lilias rather than on an island far to the north as it is situated in the anime.
History[]
Not much is known about the history of Clarines other than its peaceful, long-term relationship with Tanbarun, its east neighbor. Kain Wistaria ruled the kingdom until his death, estimated to be about a decade before the start of the series. This is based on his sons' ages at the time. His widowed wife, Haruto Wistaria, ruled as Dowager Queen until their eldest son Izana Wistaria was old enough to be coronated as King.
Government[]
Not much is known about the Government of Clarines. The kingdom of Clarines is ruled and governed under a monarchy with Izana Wistaria serving as its current King. This position was formally held by Queen Haruto. This shows that females can inherit the throne and rule the country.
The throne is inherited through bloodline and birthright.
Other members of the royal family can govern specific areas and territories under the name of the monarch. This is seen when Zen Wistaria becomes the new governor of Wirant, and with Fort Laxdo formally being under his jurisdiction. This was also seen when Haruto Wistaria particularly ruled over the Northern part of the Kingdom, leaving the Southern part to her oldest son, Izana Wistaria.
Despite having full authority over the country, it seems they are somewhat limited. This is evident when Prince Zen couldn't fully meddle in the affairs of Viscount Blaker abusing his powers against the natives on Yuris Island and their birds.
Clarines is more progressive than its neighbors with slavery for instance being outlawed while it seems to be legal if uncommon and frowned upon in Tanbarun. Arranged marriages are fairly common among the nobility, but the actual potential bride and groom have the final word on whether or not they will go through while a runaway bride, and anyone who helped her escape from her unwanted wedding, is considered a criminal in Tanbarun which is why Shirayuki's parents lived in hiding as her father helped her mother escape an arranged marriage. While there is a strict hierarchy among the nobility it is also a flexible and quickly changing hierarchy as losing or gaining favor with the crown can quickly change one's position and knighthood can seemingly be granted by any member of the royal family, not just the reigning regent.
Nobility[]
The kingdom is divided into territories overseen by nobles who inherit lands and titles through bloodlines, though the Lido and Sui territories were taken from their traditional families and given the retainers of the previous heads after those nobles proved themselves wasteful and incompetent by prince Izana with a gambit implemented by asking for a castle on their borderline.
Territories overseen by nobles can also be taken away from them if forcefully needed.
Nobles can be entirely deposed and stripped off of their titles such as Lords of Sui and Lido territories. They can also be demoted. For instance, the Bergatt family were demoted from earldom to viscounty.
Noblewomen are able to become heirs, head of their family and inherit its accompanied properties in their own right.
Foreign Relations[]
Clarines has a friendly relationship to Tanbarun and the two kingdoms have a long history of trading goods and raw resources like lumber. The younger generation of royalty in both kingdoms is working to preserve this beneficial relationship for the future. Their more northern neighboring country(s) has not been named, but given the more militaristic battlements, walled cities and checkpoints to the north there are indications they have historically had more concern of an attack from the north than they ever had from Tanbarun.
Military and Law Enforcement[]
The roads, border crossings and royal residences are overseen by Clarines' Knight Circles, groups of soldiers overseen by knights. City guardsmen enforce the rule of law in cities, but will defer to knights when applicable. Each Knight Circle has its own uniforms which--except the Royal Circle based in Wistal where the knights only wear uniforms for very formal occasions--are worn by the knights and soldiers both with knights usually having a bit more armor and a few embellishing details on their uniforms. While these uniforms usually include armor and helmets this armor is not part of the everyday uniform, and the helmets are only worn consistently by the guard at Wistal and the Knight Circle in Lilias where the coverings help the helmet to double as a winter hat. The Sereg and Oriold Knight Circle uniforms include a breastplate even for daily wear, with a light-weight practice piece for Sereg and a full armor breastplate in Oriold. There is some degree of competitive rivalry between the different Knight Circles, with Obi lamenting the fact that Kiki is engaged to a member of a different Knight Circle. While there is some overlap between the city guard and local knight circles in general city guards have a uniform of cloth with no additional metal armor, which varies from city to city, and unlike the Knight Circles they answer directly to the local lord rather than the crown.
Culture[]
Eating is very much a social activity in Clarines and restaurants, inns and bars strive for a convivial atmosphere. Common foods include shrimp, eggs, potatoes and bell peppers. Hot tea is very popular, especially in the winter months.
Arts and Architecture[]
The architecture of Clarines' fortifications and palaces is inspired by French Renaissance architecture, but Clarine's palaces have more open plans and less ornate carvings and decor than buildings of the historical style. Business and private residences of common people are have more varied European inspirations though half-timbering is common south of Lilias, especially near the border with Tanbarun.
Crests, Symbology and Ornamentation[]
Crests and symbols are used frequently throughout Clarines to quickly communicate loyalties, positions, jobs and other things. Several crests have known meanings, like the simplified three leaves in a rounded diamond crest indicating loyalty and ties to the Royal Pharmacy which is seen on the buttons of the Royal Pharmacy uniform, on the collars of coats assigned to Royal Pharmacists, and etched and carved repeatedly throughout the Pharmacy Institute in Lilias. Others, such as the simplified dagger seen on brooches worn by Prince Zen, Shirayuki and Obi have no known meaning despite appearing on multiple occasions being worn by a select group of individuals. Each Knight Circle also has a crest which is incorporated into their uniforms, and their crests are displayed on a shield while other crests in Clarines have more varied shapes. Individual families and knights are not known to be granted crests, and heraldry traditions and guidelines within the kingdom are unknown. Sakai recognizes Zen by his crest being on his belongings, but this individual crest is not shown to the reader and only implies that the Royal Family has their own crests, with there being no evidence that other nobles do as well.
Common ornamentation includes floral motifs and connected diamonds, especially diamonds with concave sides also referred to as four point or natal stars (⟡) and the narrow diamonds referred to as fusils in heraldry. Variations of the fleur-de-lis, especially focusing on the center petal as a spear head, are common in ornamentation related to the royal family and the simplified three leaves of the Royal Pharmacy are just one example of a modified fleur-de-lis connected to Wistal.
Known Crests[]
Knight Circle, City and Fortress Coats of Arms[]
Repeated Symbols (crests or simple decoration)[]
Common Decorative Elements[]
Education[]
Learning a trade is usually done through an apprenticeship to a master in that trade. Certain arenas of study, especially those relating to medicine and the sciences, can be pursued at the scholar's district in Lilias, though anyone attempting to apply there is expected to already have at least a general knowledge and experience in the field they wish to study. Children hoping to work as guards, soldiers or to become knights in adulthood can apply to become messengers for the various Knight Circles which helps prepare them for entry into the field. This position as "Ririmasu" or Royal Messengers is analogues to historical child pages, and the ties to the military make it seem a combination of the two types of historical pages, those assigned to knights as servants in exchange for basic knowledge on fighting and court etiquette in hopes of becoming a squire and those which act as messengers within government buildings.
Locations[]
Map of Clarines (Anime)
Wistal Palace[]
Wistal is the capital palace of Clarines. It is a large complex overlooking the capitol city which houses the main living quarters of the royal family and their retinues in addition to sprawling gardens, courtyards, a large library and many administrative offices. While it is not a proper castle it does have fortifications including a curtain wall.
Residents include Izana Wistaria, Haki Arleon, Zakura Shidnote and Marquis Haruka. Former residents include Kain Wistaria, Haruto Wistaria, and Zen Wistaria and his retinue of Mitsuhide Rouen, Kiki Seiran, Obi and Shirayuki.
In the anime it is located in the southern part of Clarines, and though its location is vaguer in the manga it is definitely not in the northern part of the kingdom.
Sereg/Selig[]
Selig is the castle at the core of Clarines' knights circles and at which Mitsuhide Rouen, Kiki Seiran, and both of the kingdom's princes learned swordsmanship and other fighting skills. It is near the Seiran estate, and while the fortress itself is overseen by the crown the surrounding lands belong to Earl Seiran. The current vice-captain is Hisame Lugis.
In the anime, it is situated on an island in the remote north of the country while in the manga it is along the route from the border with Tanbarun to Wistal and implied to be in the southern part of the kingdom.
Fort Laxd/Fortress Raxd[]
A countryside fort overseen by Zen Wistaria which houses a number of the kingdom's soldiers including some in training like Shuka.
Fort at Kokoku[]
A fort where Kihal Toghrul's bird, Popo, was tested as a possible messenger bird in the kingdom. It is also the place Viscount Blaker is seen interfering with the test.
Koto Town[]
Koto is a small seaside town on an island in the harbor near the capitol named for the mountain it lies at the base of. Mount Koto is a mountain on an island just offshore where medicinally important plants grow and an old estate lies in ruins being overtaken by the forest around it.
Yuris Island[]
Yuris Island is the island where Kihal Toghrul and the birds used as the kingdom's messengers like Popo are from. It is located in the south of Clarines and is part of the lands recently inherited by the arrogant Viscount Blaker.
Jeridan[]
A place Prince Zen escorted Sakaki and Mihaya to after their special visit to Clarines.
Wilant[]
Wiliant is in the northern part of the country and is host to the royal castle from which Haruto Wistaria once ruled Clarines. It is the administrative core of northern Clarines and is the place from which the royal family oversees the nobles like the Arleons, Rugilias and Bergatts whose traditional lands include Lilias, Oriold, Codolulu, Harunova, and Liyiru.
Lilias[]
Lilias is a heavily fortified mountain city that sprung up around one of the two major checkpoints on Clarines' northern border. It is overseen by Makiri Arleon and the Academy District was previously overseen by his sister Haki Arleon before she moved to Wistal to prepare for her marriage to Izana Wistaria.
The potentially deadly and obscure plant Olin Maris sprouted in a difficult to access cave in an avalanche chute on the outskirts of the Academy District and a team of botanical researchers overseen by Shidan developed the non-toxic strain Phostyrias in the city. Ryuu, Shirayuki and Obi were transferred to Lilias for the two-year duration of the Olin Maris research where they befriended Lata Forzeno, Shidan, Yuzuri, Suzu, Kirito, Izuru, Kazaha, and Kirori.
Oriold[]
Oriold is the other major checkpoint along Clarines's northern border. The commander of the Knights Circle there is Kamiragi Kadif and the noble whose lands Oriold resides on is Eisetsu Rugilia.
Trivia[]
- Clarines is described as a rich and well-developed country.
- Clarines is known for having "deep pockets," meaning it has the financial resources to support and assist skillful and talented people.
Gallery[]
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