21. The Frankish Union¶
21.1 History¶
21.1.1 Early Formation¶
The pivotal moment in Western European history came with the Fourth Crusade's diversion from Constantinople to Egypt. As the Byzantine Empire maintained its power in the East, the balance of European politics shifted dramatically. The Plantagenet dynasty, recognizing these changing dynamics, initiated a series of diplomatic ventures with the French crown that would reshape the continent.
Henry III of England Henry III (1268-1322) was King of England and Lord of Ireland from 1305 to 1322. Born in 1272 as the second son of Edward I and Eleanor of Castile, Henry was not initially expected to inherit the throne. A severe illness in 1284 nearly claimed his life, but he recovered under the care of Jacob of Oxford, a Jewish physician. The same outbreak claimed his elder brother, making Henry the heir apparent.
Henry's education, overseen primarily by his grandmother Eleanor of Provence, focused heavily on administrative and diplomatic training rather than military matters. He became fluent in French, Latin, and Greek, and regularly participated in diplomatic missions to continental courts by his teenage years.
His reign marked a significant shift in English governance and continental politics, culminating in the establishment of the Frankish Union in 1341. Through diplomatic maneuvering and strategic marriages, he successfully positioned his son Edward to inherit both the English and French crowns, creating the first Anglo-French personal union.
Henry's marriage to Isabella of Aragon in 1306 marked a departure from traditional Anglo-French marriage alliances. The union produced five children:
- Eleanor (1308) - married Philippe of Valois
- Edward (1310) - later Edward II of England and Edward I of France
- Joan (1311) - married John IV, Duke of Brittany
- Margaret (1313) - married Louis I, Count of Flanders
- Catherine (1316) - married Charles II of Navarre
The marriages of Henry's children created a network of relationships within the French nobility. Eleanor's marriage secured influence with the Valois branch. Joan's marriage provided access to Breton politics and north-western trade-ports. Margaret's marriage established strong economic ties with Flanders. Catherine's marriage strengthened relations with Navarre and the French Pyrenean frontier, and ultimately led to a strong alliance between he two crowns.
21.1.2 Mediterranean Integration (1300-1400)¶
The Mediterranean policy crystallized with the Granada Accord of 1348. Rather than pursuing conquest, the Union established a network of collaborative centers and trading posts along the North African coast. These foundations integrated Islamic scholarly traditions with European empirical methods, particularly in medicine, astronomy, and mathematics. The famous Houses of Wisdom in Córdoba and Marseille became symbols of this cultural synthesis, where scholars from three continents freely exchanged ideas and knowledge.
21.1.3 Institutional Development (1350-1500)¶
The Black Death proved a crucial turning point. While devastating, it spurred the development of the Frankish Union's biological research focus. The newly established Royal Society of Natural Knowledge, combining English empiricism with French systematic thought, began studying disease and human biology with unprecedented rigor.
Rather than competing, the great universities formed a unified network advancing human knowledge. Oxford brought its tradition of empirical methodology, Paris contributed systematic classification systems, Montpellier offered its medical expertise, and Córdoba provided its botanical knowledge. The famed "Garden Monasteries" emerged during this period - experimental agricultural centers that merged monastic traditions with systematic research methods. The Abbey of Saint-Denis, in particular, pioneered early agricultural techniques that would lay the groundwork for modern bio-engineering.
21.1.4 The Northern Question (1350-1450)¶
While the Hanseatic League maintained its independence through technological innovation and trade dominance, smaller German states gradually aligned with either the Frankish Union or the emerging Hanseatic sphere. The Rhine Valley became a vibrant corridor of cultural and technological exchange between these power blocs, giving rise to unique hybrid institutions that would later prove crucial to European development.
21.1.5 Scientific Revolution (1450-1600)¶
This period saw the emergence of what scholars called "Living Systems Theory" - the revolutionary idea that natural principles could guide everything from architecture to governance. The great cathedrals of this era embodied these principles, with their structures incorporating sophisticated environmental adaptations that would influence architecture for centuries to come.
21.1.6 Colonial Era Divergence (1500-1800)¶
The Frankish approach to expansion differed markedly from the other powers. Where others sought territorial conquest, the Union established a network of research stations and scholarly outposts. The New England Territory became a center for studying biological diversity, while the Louisiana Zone pioneered climate studies. In the Caribbean, the Union constructed a series of marine research stations that would revolutionize the human understanding of ocean systems, and lead to the eventual creation of the [Mer-Guard], the precursor to the Maritime Directorate
The Australian endeavor also proved particularly significant. The Great Southern Laboratory, established in 1688 under the direction of naturalist Jean-François Moreau, began the first systematic study of unique island evolution. By 1750, the Australian Research Territory had developed into a extended network of environmental stations.
21.1.7 The Mediterranean Synthesis (1800-1950)¶
The Union's relationship with North Africa deepened through the 19th century. The Alexandria Institute of Egypt, co-founded in 1821 by the Frankish Union and the New Roman Empire, merged Islamic astronomical traditions with Frankish and Roman research. Morocco's Royal Academy of Environmental Sciences pioneered new approaches to desert agriculture, while the Tunis Center for Maritime Studies revolutionized our understanding of Mediterranean ecosystems.
The Constantinople Exchange Program, established in 1930, facilitated unprecedented cooperation between Frankish and Byzantine scholars. This partnership proved particularly fruitful in developing natural science theories that would later evolve both societies.
21.1.8 Modern Governmental Structure¶
Today's Frankish Union operates under the Frankish Constitutional System of 1950, a sophisticated framework that balances traditional authority with scientific advancement. The Sovereign, heir to both Plantagenet and Capetian legacies, serves as constitutional monarch and patron of the sciences.
The Frankish Parliament, housed in the Grand Cathedral of Reims, combines democratic representation and a deep focus on human-centric research. The High Council coordinates the development of the Union, while the Scientific Senate provides expert oversight of technological advancement. The Environmental Directorate manages the complex interactions between human civilization and natural systems.
Regional autonomy remains strong, with each territory maintaining its distinct cultural character. The Northern Provinces excel in atmospheric studies and climate control, while the Mediterranean territories focus on agricultural optimization. The Atlantic regions lead in marine science and oceanic engineering, maintaining the Union's historic maritime traditions.
Regional autonomy remains strong, with each territory maintaining its distinct research focus and cultural character. The Northern Provinces excel in atmospheric studies and climate control, while the Mediterranean territories pioneer integration of ancient wisdom with modern advancement. The Atlantic regions lead in marine science and oceanic engineering, maintaining the Union's historic maritime traditions.
22. The Cultural Sphere (2050-2088)¶
Modern Frankish culture represents a unique synthesis of tradition and innovation. The great universities continue their specialized roles while maintaining constant collaboration. Oxford's empirical rigor combines with the Sorbonne's theoretical brilliance and Montpellier's practical expertise to drive continuous advancement, focusing on environmental and natural sciences.
Most significantly, the Frankish Union has maintained its foundational commitment to working with natural systems rather than attempting to dominate them. This philosophy manifests in everything from city design to governance structures, creating a society that advances through imperfect harmony rather than conquest.
23. Governmental Structure¶
23.1 The Constitutional Reality¶
While officially styled as the Sovereign Constitutional Union of the Franks, the actual power structure reflects centuries of tension between aristocratic traditions, scientific meritocracy, and regional autonomy. The much-touted "biological harmony" of governance masks a complex web of competing interests.
23.2 The Crown¶
The current sovereign, Eleanor IV, holds more real power than her carefully cultivated public image suggests. While officially serving as a "symbol of national evolution," she actively mediates between the old nobility, corporate research interests, and regional powers. Her influence stems not just from constitutional authority but from her family's centuries-old network of alliances and the crown's substantial research holdings.
23.3 The Parliament¶
The Frankish Parliament bears little resemblance to its medieval origins. Three major blocs dominate:
23.3.1 The Noble Houses¶
Based primarily in the northern territories (former British Isles), they represent the conservative faction within the noble houses. While publicly embracing scientific progress, they work to maintain aristocratic control over research direction and funding. Their influence stems from hereditary university chairs, major research facility ownership, and traditional land holdings.
23.3.2 The Research Corporations¶
Centered in Paris and its satellite research cities, this faction pushes for merit-based governance and increased corporate autonomy. Their power stems from control over key technologies and research facilities. Their patent holdings and corporate influence often pit them against both traditional nobility and regional interests.
23.3.3 The Meridionals¶
The southern regions, particularly the Spanish territories, maintain distinct cultural and political traditions. Their cooperation is secured through significant autonomy and control over Mediterranean research initiatives. They represent a crucial counterweight to northern dominance in Union politics.
23.3.4 Military Reality¶
While officially focused on "defensive research," the Union maintains significant capabilities through biological containment systems, environmental control weapons, enhanced troops (though officially denied), and extensive surveillance networks.
24. Current Challenges (2088)¶
24.1 Internal Tensions¶
Growing wealth disparity despite official "harmony" rhetoric has led to increasing social strain. Regional independence movements simmer in several territories, while disputes between corporate and state control of key technologies remain unresolved. The question of access to enhancement technologies particularly divides the population.
Most pressingly, Eleanor IV's lack of heir threatens centuries of careful dynastic breeding. The debate over succession reveals deeper tensions between traditional inheritance, merit selection, regional representation, and scientific qualification requirements.
24.1.1 Real Politik¶
The Union's power rests on three pillars:
- Agricultural technology, spearheading gene sequencing and optimization.
- Environmental control systems, spearheading terraforming
- Medical research, spearheading bio-design and
The New Roman Empire's quantum advances and the Hanseatic League's robotics programs challenge Union technological supremacy in key areas. The Rising Sun Collective's neural technology threatens traditional Union control over consciousness enhancement research.
The real challenge, however, may be more fundamental - can a system built on careful balance between tradition and progress, between central authority and regional autonomy, between corporate power and state control, survive in an age of accelerating change?