Arenkau (Arenoran City)
Arenkau | |
|---|---|
Capital City | |
 Clockwise from top: Arenkau Federal Business Park, Wintersgiving Market at Karnshenk Plaza, Anheashstad Building at night, Port of Arenkau, one of the largest ports in Nortua. | |
| Country | Arenoran Isles |
| Federal Subject | Province of Arenland |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 4.6 million |
| Demonym | Arenkaunite |
Arenkau is the capital and second largest city of the Commonwealth of Arenor. The city is situated within the crescent of the Arenkau Gulf, sheltering the city from the often fierce currents and swells of Sturmkren Bay. With a metropolitan distict comprising roughly 4.6 million people, Arenkau is the second largest city within the Commonwealth. It is one of Iearth's largest, northernmost cities.
The city was built atop the original settlements of the Arakuntu clans, which had selected the area due to its sheltered beaches, making for easy building and launching of raiding ships, and the fertile plains that lined the coast of Arenkau Gulf. The settlements were destroyed and rebuilt over several centuries until 987 when the city of Arenkau was formally established by the First Ishlantor Hansa Arrentau, during the Rebirth Trial, to serve as his seat. Arenkau became the Island's first and only Neutral Zone, allowing for all clans and war bands to enter the city without fear of prosecution, arrest or murder, a custom that would be strictly obeyed. During this period, the city's population greatly expanded as many migrants sought refuge from the escalating wars throughout the rest of the islands.
The city hosted a number of key conferences, treaties and events during the Great Arenoran Seesaw period. It was the only Arenoran capital city to never come under direct siege, the closest time occuring during the Fifth Arenland-Oritanth War when the Oritanthan army of Dietmar Federene advanced just 100 kilometres from its city center before being repelled. The conclusion of the War left the island's economies in ruin, its military resources depleted and much of its population in relative poverty. Desperate to recover the situation, the five contemporary political powers of Arenor signed the Arenkau Pact as a means to deter conflict within the Islands, establishing a framework of mutual co-ordination, trade, economy and communication. This system would lead to great improvements in Arenoran quality of life and in 1934, the five nations formally federated, establishing the Commonwealth of Arenor with Arenkau as its capital city.
As the historic political, cultural and economic core of the Islands, the city is home to a multitude of ancient heritage sites, buildings and monuments.