User:Devink/sandbox13

The League of Free Cities (自市同盟, zì shì tóngméng, Franvils lig), also known as the Huranian Hansa, was an association of Principean colonies and trade posts in Northern Huran to defend their interests in the Hou River and trans-oceanic trading. It began as an alliance of Blaco colonists against the Former Tan state and especially against its monarch: Tan Mingdi who had overturned most of his father' pro-Blaykish policies and began a purge of foreign elements in his country. After the civil war, the League maintained itself and became a founding member of the Grand Covenant alongside the Kingdom of Bian and the Later Tan Dynasty. Despite being officially recognized in treaties as an equal partner, it was never a state nor was it sovereign. The colonists were still Blaykish subjects and under its colonial administration, led by the Resident minister in Condor-Royal. The cities and ports in which they were established were still administered by Tan or Bian Mandarins and part of their respective states. Their establishments existed as free-ports or factories only by Tan or Bian decrees and special status were freely-revocable privileges. But in practice, real power in a colony was held by its Odoquole, an informal council of the factory' wealthiest and most influential colonists. While not recognized by either the Tan, the Bian, nor Blayk, local Mandarins and administrators consulted them before every major decision and followed the policies set by the Odoquole as, because of their influence, its members had the power to make or break careers in their cities.