Lorence

Lorence Vrisdad Lohreces Free City of Lorence
Municipality and Independent City
Neferlohrec and Lorence Castle Neferlohrec and Lorence Castle
Country	Vyvland
Province	File:Flag-plains.png Plains
Municipal Collective	Greater Lorence
Parliament constituency	8 seats
Government
• Mayor	Marcel Manger (S)
Population
• Total	751,520
Demonym(s)	Lohrecwer Lohrecwoiv
Time zone	UTC-6
Postcode	N0000-N1599
Phone code	150 (LO)
Area Population density	262km2 2,868/km2
Elevation	72m
Website	www.stad-lohrec.rg.vy

Lorence, also known as Lohrec (especially in Vyvlander) (pronounced /'lɔ.ɹəns/, Vyvlander: /'lo.ɾəts/, locally /'lɔː.rəʔ/) is the capital city of Vyvland, with approximately 750,000 inhabitants. It is situated on the side of the Fijral Volcano in the Plains province, of which it is also the capital. Lorence was officially made the capital of Vyvland in 2006, in an effort to shift the balance of power away from the North. It replaced Vlud. The city is also known for the Collegium Lorencis, one of the most prestigious universities in Vyvland.

Etymology

Lorence was sited on the site of an old monastery dedicated to St. Lawrence. Monasteries were some of the few permanent settlements in ancient Vyvland, and often controlled a wide and defined area of the country, and as such, many major towns of today were situated next to or near them.

History

Lorence was set up as a new town in roughly 1030 AD, to replace the nearby city of Pegerms, which had been inundated by lava from the Fijral Volcano, as the meeting-place for various tribal leaders in Vyvland. However, these meetings were never as successful as they had been in Pegerms, and thus Lorence was never able to obtain the same size, grandeur or reputation.

During the Middle Ages, Lorence was on a major trade route from southern cities such as Jesel to the north of the island, and it prospered from this situation. Many elaborate buildings were constructed during this period, including the hilltop Lorence Castle, which remained Vyvland's royal palace for some years, and the Swesdermeerikapel (Sister Mary Chapel) which, despite its name, is Lorence's largest church.

After the conclusion of the Wars of the Banners between Stanmer and Vlud in 1728, Lorence lost the status of royal capital to Vlud, although the Royal Chamber, Vyvland's weak parliament at the time, chose to remain for most of the time in Lorence. This marked a geographical separation of monarchy and parliament by over 60 kilometres which lasted for just over two centuries, and caused much tension throughout the period. Through this, Lorence gained status as a centre for anti-establishment activity and as an informal capital for the traditionally culturally distinct southern parts of Vyvland. However, the monarchy's distaste for Lorence resulted in the imposition of high taxes on the city's populace, shifting economic growth to Jesel to the south, which had overtaken Lorence in population size by the early nineteenth century. Lorence began to recuperate these losses when various laws were passed ridding the city of its special tax burdens, after the superiority of parliament was achieved in the late nineteenth century.

After the Vyvlander Civil War, Lorence became the capital of South Vyvland, and was thus the centre of control for the country. However, the resistance movement in Lorence was consistently especially strong during the period, with multiple protests in the mid-1960s (at the same time as protests in Lyksdal in the North) and a series of bombings in 1981 at the city's Vlut Station, the Ministry of Communications headquarters on Freyndzepweg and Prumenaas, seat of the South Vyvlander General Court and today's Parliament. In 2006, after a decade of preparations, the status of capital was conferred on Lorence from Vlud. Since then, the city has begun to prosper, aided in part by an influx of foreign businesses.

Geography

Lorence is set on two levels, known as Overlohrec (Upper Lorence) and Neferlohrec (Nether Lorence) respectively. Much of the old town is set at the bottom of the escarpment between the two levels, while the castle is situated at the escarpment's top. Parliament House, where the Parliament of Vyvland sits, is set further back into Over Lorence. Nether Lorence contains the Lorence Meer, a long, thin lake surrounded by narrow streets. Both levels are also set in a short yet steep valley, bounded on both sides by ancient lava flows from the Fijral Volcano, which lies to the city's southwest. The steep landscape and abrupt end of Lorence's valley are due to its formation as a cirque after the last Ice Age.

File:Volcanodome.jpg

Volcano Dome, Vyvland's national stadium

Lorence also has suburbs which reach down to the flanks of the River Ryzer in the north and the Bukros hill in the east; the valley between the two hills is known as the Lohrecklev (Lorence Gap). This area is home to the Volcano Dome, Vyvland's national stadium. In addition, the city has exurbs to the south known as the Syfdyr. These lie along the Fijralbaan railway line towards Jesel and are mostly populated by commuters into Lorence.

Economy

Lorence contains large numbers of people employed by central government, in administrative roles especially. Tourism is also important to the economy, while high-tech manufacturing and retail are also significant sectors. Lorence is a focal point for the central plains, and thus is able to sustain large numbers of shops and commercial premises, especially banks.

Governance

Lorence is the smallest independent city in Vyvland; its status entitles it to a degree of autonomy from provincial control; the Lorence City Council, currently run by a Socialist-Liberal coalition, has more independent powers than most municipalities. The city is twinned with Alburgh in Geadland.