Uttenstetten

Dukedom of Uttenstetten Herzogtum Uttenstetten
Flag Coat of Arms (Banner)
Motto: "Stift & Segel des das Reich!" "Pen & Sail of the Empire!"
Anthem: Kaiserlichlied Royal anthem: Uttenlied
Uttenstetten is a small island nation located in the center of Levanora
Status	Stem-Duchy
Location	Central Levenora
Capital and	Rothenberg
Official languages	German
Recognised national languages	English, German
Ethnic groups (2023)	Caucasian (82%) Other (18%)
Religion	Kirche der Königlich ("Church of the Royal")
Demonym(s)	Utten or Stetten, Commoner
Government	Corporatocratic Feudal Monarchy, Absolute Monarchy
• Emperor	Emperor JC
• Duke	Otto von Adalberht Uttenstetten
• Reichskanzler	Hartmut Mattis Sigimar
Legislature	Uttenstetten Diet
• Upper house	Uttenstetten Executive Board
• Lower house	District Earl Board
Colonial Stem-Duchy of TECT
• Founded 1421	Summer, 1421.
Area
• Total	78,294 km2 (30,229 sq mi)
• Water (%)	0.14
Population
• 2023 census	41,964,294
• Density	662/km2 (1,714.6/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)	2023 estimate
• Total	$21.8 Trillion NSD
• Per capita	$89,098 NSD
Gini (2023)	31 medium
HDI (2020)	0.957 very high
Currency	Imperial Dollar ($)
Time zone	Utten Time
Calling code	+108
Internet TLD	.tct

Rothenberg at the start of the 16th Century.

"Uttenstetten", formally known as the "Dukedom of Uttenstetten," is a Colonial Stem-Duchy within The Empire of Common Territories (TECT) located in the Levanora Vastness Region. It is comprised of a central mainland island (also named Uttenstetten) and orbited by three smaller islands in close proximity. With an area of 78,294km2, Uttenstetten is not only one of the smallest fiefdoms within the Empire but is also the Empire's smallest Stem-Duchy. Uttenstetten Island has a diverse geology which is largely tropical and dominated by three mountain ranges; Uttenstetten's mountain ranges play a pivotal role in the island's climate, often controlling conditions such as temperature and weather patterns. Rothenberg, Uttenstetten's capital and largest city, dominates the southern tip of the island while also stretching across the Rothen Bay shoreline. The remaining northern half of Uttenstetten is largely a mixture of tropical, oceanic, and some arid/temperate zones hosting smaller satellite towns/cities connected to Rothenberg.

Commoners (both native and from the Mainland) make up the vast majority of Uttenstetten's population. Roughly sixty percent of the population is native born while the remaining twenty-two percent are temporary citizens or Mainland tourists. About eighteen percent of the Uttenstetten population are temporary foreign residents or tourists. As a magnet for business and leisure, Uttenstetten is selective yet highly attractive for high-paying temporary residents (persons staying for months on end) or tourists (persons who visit for a few weeks or less). Originally setup as an outpost, Rothenberg steadily developed into a settlement, then a bustling trade port, and is now one of the largest cities within the Empire. Most of the population resides in Rothenberg and its suburbs, which dominate the southern half of Rothen Bay and line the coastline of the bay itself. Major ports towns and even remote settlements make up the rest of the population centers, often lining the island's coastline or its major rivers.

Politically, Uttenstetten is unique within the Empire due to its financial standing and government structure. Upon receiving the Charter in 1421, Alwin von Uttenstetten transformed Vinzent Island into the Uttenstetten Merchant Company's latest property investment. While the Empire labeled the island as its latest County, Alwin viewed his latest purchase as the company's first major port infrastructure ever. After successfully fulfilling the terms presented in the initial 1421 Charter, Alwin was promoted from Count to Duke in 1439, giving birth to the Uttenstetten Dukedom. At its core Uttenstetten is a Feudal Monarchy ruled by the Uttenstetten Duke, whom swore loyalty to TECT (an Absolute Monarchy) and its Emperor as a Stem Duchy, but in principle the Duchy and Uttenstetten Merchant Company are one in the same. Instead of initially forming a traditional government in 1421, Alwin von Uttenstetten opted to govern his new lands no differently than his many subsidies, leaving management of the island to a newly created company within his corporation. With significant changes throughout the centuries, Uttenstetten has very rarely ever changed its government structure since 1421. Divided into ten Administrative Districts, or (technically) Earldoms, Uttenstetten's District Earls are upper management of the company/realm who posses little autonomy but exercise higher authority than most within the company. Uttenstetten technically lacks a judicial system and has no laws or courts. Instead the Company has "Policies" which govern the Duchy and "Arbitration" for judicial matters. Uttenstetten Merchant Company's Internal Affairs Department, the Duchy's version of a central judicial authority, is very strict and obsesses over maintaining a safe and crime-free society; described as heavy handed at times, the result is Rothenberg being one of the safest cities in the Empire. Although relatively new, the Uttenstetten Diet came about during the Republican Movement in the late 19th Century. Although unable to actually write or repeal Policies, the lower District Earl Board is an assembly of the District Earls along with their staff whom (similar to most modern companies) meet to propose and discuss company policies within the company. The upper Executive Board is made up of the Uttenstetten executives whom make and repeal policies concerning the company (and realm) as a whole.

History

Discovery & Colonization

Historically, Uttenstetten was said to have been discovered accidentally by the sea faring adventurer Hansjörg Lenz Krüger in 1412 while on his way to the newly settled Luttenried. According to Hansjörg's journal, he was traveling to the recently settled Luttenried in order to deliver colonists and supplies. However is main objective was mapping out the route to Luttenried while also finding ways to shorten the reported travel time. During the lengthy first stage of the voyage towards Kali Yuga, Hansjörg ship sailed further east than intended, leading them into the Levanora Expanse by mistake. Hansjörg's first clue that something was amiss was that his ship arrived supposedly to South Afrika days ahead of schedule, and not only that but the tropical environment and its people did not match the description given to him by the other sailors. Later being identified as merely just an island to Uttenstetten's northwest, Hansjörg decided to continue following the crude directions given to him and proceed east before veering south. Hansjörg's next clue that something wrong had occurred was that while traveling east major islands were supposed to be just north of them - to be avoided due to pirates but followed until they fell out of sight. The issue was that they never came into sight. Fearing they had traveled too far south already, Hansjörg gave the order to begin veering south in an adjusted direction that should lead them to Luttenried. Unlike the description, no minor islands appeared with Hansjörg and his navigators hoping they had merely travelled too far south. Hansjörg, with his crew fearing immenant death and running low on supplies, was a day away from giving the order to sail back when they arrived to present day Uttenstetten. Although they did not sail far enough to estimate the size of the island to confirm their location, they did identify the bay which met the description given to them and sailed into it. However, where a small dock and settlement was supposed to be waiting for them never appeared. Although convinced they were at the incorrect destination, Hansjörg had no choice but to make landfall and setup camp to repleanish his supplies. The colonists traveling with Hansjörg refused to leave once the ship was ready to set sail again a week later. Fearing they may never see land again, the colonists opted to settle the island until further notice.

established in the summer of 1421 after Imperial Authorities quickly realized how strategically important holding a major port city within the region could be for the Empire. The island was not only a perfect midway point between other Imperial Holdings (such as Luttenried and the Mainland, but was also surrounded by neighboring landmasses full of resources. Emperor Whilhelm XII was swift to write-up a Charter for the region, covering then Vinzent Island and its immediate waters for exploration/exploitation and development of "significant" port facilities. Although the Emperor had several nobles and trading entities in mind for various reasons, the decision to hold a public auction was decided upon namely to ensure a swift and profitable transfer of power. After a longwinded battle of budget ledgers, Alwin von Uttenstetten and his "Uttenstetten Merchant Company" successfully purchased the rights to the Vinzent Island Charter for eighteen million Imperial Dollars.