Castaris

Castaris
City
The Skyline of Castaris The Skyline of Castaris
Nickname:  "The Capital's Little Sister"
Founded	8th century
Achieved city status	1930
Government
• Governing body	Council of Castaris
• Mayoress	Sophie Sheringham
• Baroness	Lily Powell
Population  (2014)
• Urban	153,500
Website	castaris.gov.acs visitcastaris.acs baronyofcastaris.acs

Castaris is a small city in the Allied Castarcian States, located slightly to the south-west of the centre of the country, and home to the Barony of Castaris.

Etymology

Castaris is the main settlement in the small county of Castarcia, from where Empress Jane the Conqueror, the first Empress of the Empire of Castarcia, originated. Whilst it is known that the whole country takes it name from this county, historians remain unclear and continue to disagree whether Castaris is named after the county, or whether the county is named after Castaris.

History

In the Empire of Castarcia

Castaris served as the first place an Empress of Castarcia ever called home. It was the position of the head of the first government. However, later Empresses resided in different settlements, the old Palace of Castarcia having been constructed in Baile Banríona, a lovely small purpose built town in an area of natural beauty.

Once the Imperial Line of Empresses had moved out of Castaris, a Barony was created and the general area was handed over to another House. At first, this was House Soanes. When that noble house became extinct in the fourteenth century, it was passed on to House Kavanagh. In the late sixteenth century House Kavanagh fell out of favour with the Empress after constant disagreements between the Houses led to competence and loyalty being called into question. The Barony was hence handed over to the young yet ambitious and fiercely devoted House Powell.

Recent history

When Castarcia split into several self-governing states following the fall of the first Empire, Castaris became a de-facto city-state ruled by either a Baron or a Baroness from House Powell.

After the formation of the Allied Castarcian States, Emperor Jeremy I considered making Castaris his capital for its history and culture. Whilst he ended up selecting Pearsonville for its larger size and strategic position, he nonetheless granted Castaris city status, although this is slightly controversial in some crowds, who would rather regard the small city as a large town. For this, locals affectionately joke and call Castaris 'the little sister' of the capital city.