Government Type/Structure: The Caliphate of Chicago is a government based in the teachings of Islam (or at least the form of Islam that has come into existence in the post-war Americas), as dictated by the restored Qur'an. In addition to the Qur'an, the government has had influences from the traditional divisions of power found among the Tribesmen of Illinois and Lower Michigan. Coming from a people who were largely semi-nomadic, and farmed the many tributaries of the Mississippi, as well as the Great Lakes, they had a very advanced system of law and governance that has contributed much to the Caliphate. Some influence from the Tribal Law includes division of land ownership, traditions of payment by employers to his workers, and the division of power into tripartite tribal courts.

Further north, in Wisconsin, the government is largely autonomous and decided by the native Nordic Tribes. Due to the presence of the native Nordic Religion, and the Caliphate's willingness to accept the Norsemen's faith so long as they make regular payments of Tribute to the Caliph, the way of life is much more rooted in Nord traditions.

Leader(s):

Caliph Yusuf ibn Mikhail ibn Jayrard al-Datroyti
Caliph Yusuf is a descendant of an indigenous tribe native to the Detroit region of Michigan and the 4th Caliph. His people are a fairly recent conquest, however, his tribe, the Bootmen, were willing to convert to Islam to keep their position as rulers over the city of Detroit. Caliph Yusuf is a descendant of the Restorer, 'Alaksandar as-Sayf, on his paternal lineage, which aided in his bid for Caliphate. Yusuf is sometimes known as the "Poet King" due to his fondness for the arts of the word and pen, and has a fairly good reputation among his people, and has strengthened Michigani pride, with one of their own on the Throne.

Culture:
Following the Uniting of Illinois under 'Alaksandar as-Sayf, the national language, and the lingua franca of the Caliphate has been Arabic, as it was reconstructed by associates of 'Aleksandar from books found in the libraries of Mosques that he searched for the pages of the Qur'an in, as well as from the wording of bilingual Qur'ans themselves.

The Nation is largely divided into 3 similar, but distinct groups, the Illinoyi, the Michigani, and the Norsemen. Perhaps the most similar are the Illinoyi and the Michigani. Both were for the most part, semi-nomadic people living in areas controlled by the more powerful city-states,controlled by City-Tribes. Following the establishment of Alexandar's Caliphate, Islam, in its restored form, came to dominate over the territory. The tribes of the Illinoyi converted fairly quickly, while full Islamization of the Michigani is slowly coming, with 70% of Michigani following the religion to some extent.

To the North are the Norsemen, the descendants of the people of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and the Upper Peninsula. They are a much more tribal people, with their own religion, their own much more distinct culture, and their own language, Nordic, a descendant of Midwestern English, though very simplified and with its own grammar and new words. Norsemen are a warrior culture, who have long controlled the Mississippi River and used it to raid the tribes living along it and its tributaries. When they finally came under the control of the Caliphate, they were given the right to continue their raiding, under the condition that they give 5% of their raiding goods to the Caliph as Tribute.

Demographics:
52% Illinoyi
22% Michigani
26% Nordic

70% Islam
20% Tribal Religions
5% Ahl al-Kitab (The various old Christian and Jewish denominations found in the Midwest before the war)

Nation History:
The History of the Caliphate begins with that of the Warheads Tribe, and in particular, the Czupowski clan. Of these people, native to the land of Illinois, were cattle herdsmen who wandered in between the great Lake of Michigan, and the waters of the Mississippi, but found themselves often subject to raids by the more powerful and warlike Nordic Tribes who sailed the Mississipi and it's tributaries. The Warheads were a rather destitute little tribe, and often took refuge in the ruins of old cities and towns. One member of this tribe was a young man named Alexander Czupowski, who liked to explore the ruins of buildings that he liked the sight of. While exploring the ruins of a domed building marked by strange writting and the remains of a tall tower, Alexander fell through the floor and into a room filled with books. Alexander had previously learned to read, as a result of his adventures, but found he could not understand much of the text in these books. However, he found among the books that he could read, remnants of a faith that he found much to admire in. He found in this burnt-out mosque as well, a book detailing the basic tenants of the faith of submission, a half-burned book teaching basic Arabic, and a burnt out Quran with the 3 Juz and a half still legible. Alexander took them with him. And sought to complete the book, as shown by the directory of surahs in the text he had. Later Generations would refer to this discovery as the first revelation.

At this time, Alexander shared not his discovery of the text but continued to meditate on the words he found in the ancient tome and study the writings that would help to teach him the Arabic language and alphabet. Within 2 months of the first revelation, Alexander had a decent knowledge of the Arabic language. He continued his plundering of former Mosques, though while he was collecting the lost pieces of his text, the tribes of the Illinoyi were falling under the control of a powerful tribal confederation, the Miracles.

The Miracles were a collection of several powerful tribes in the area of Illinois and some tribes from the North Way. They had established power over other tribes through religious means, taking control of sacred sites to the Illinoyi to gain power through profit of pilgrimage and the social status controlling these sites held. In the time of the rise of The Miracles, and their solidification of control, Alexander had reached the age of 33 and had found half of the total Quran. In this timespan, Alexander had begun to preach the message of this ancient book, speaking of one god, and a complete way of life that he had created for the people. Men from all over Illinois flocked to see this strange preacher.

Madman, Blasphemer, Prophet, Restorer; all words that those who came to see Alexander used to describe him. However Alexander only described himself as "a servant of the one god"

Needless to say, the sudden rise in a foreign religion, spread by a scavenger from an unremarkable clan in a worthless tribe caught the attention of the Miracles, who came to the Warheads and demanded that they take care of the rogue preacher and his followers, or face consequences.

Thus began the Night of Sorrow, wherein, the leaders of the Warheads came upon the gathering of Muslims and attacked, killing many and taking others to be executed by the Miracles. The prisoners were taken back, where they were skinned alive, and placed, nailed into wooden poles around the holy shrine of the Mirror Dome in Holy Chicago. Alexander and his surviving followers were horrified, and realized that they could not live in Illinois any longer, and thus, decied to take upon them a migration, to the land of Michigan.

Michigan was sufficiently far from the long arm of the Miracles, a different people of a different culture, but similar enough to relate to. Thus began the migration, as the Muslims left and traveled east to Michigan. Therein, they found a land of machines and gears, a people less agricultural than themselves, living in tribes centered around the City, each fighting and decorating themselves in cogs, steel, rust, and Gears. The Muslims found themselves attacked and dispersed by the powerful Mod Tribe, who drove them further north, to a city taboo among the Michigani tribes. The City had no name, though it was informally known as the Dwelling of the Deer. In this place, the Muslims would find an unlikely ally. Alexander found himself connecting with a people known as the Hanifs, a group of semi-monastic monotheists, who were found to be practicing from the same text that Alexander himself. With the aid of the Hanifs, Alexander completed the Quran, and united his followers and the ancient people, establishing a state based out of the city of Deer. The Deer Caliphate fought hard, first wrestling control of the territory of the Mods, the same people who attacked and dispersed the migrants. They were met with a similar fate, being decimated and dispersed. Conquering tribe and city one after the other. Soon, all of Michigan had come under their control, and Alexander turned his attention towards Illinois.

With little organization, the armies of the caliphate swept over, taking tribe by tribe under their control, and making their way back to Chicago, where Alexander himself approached the holy shrine, and purified it, destroying all traces of the Miracles' cult of personality, and officially disbanding and outlawing the tribe. The Cloud Gate was designated as the New Kaaba, as the previous was unknown, and would be the new center of Hajj. The people rejoiced, and Alexander earned the title of As-Sayf.

There came agan, a problem with the north.

Although they had been a problem for all known time, the River raiders of the North were increasing their ferocity with the newfound wealth, power, and security that the unified caliphate brought to the Midwest.

Description of Economy:
Territory and Description of Environment:
Description of Military: (Remember, current technology has been reduced to early middle ages, guns and machines are a rarity)
Other:

Name of Nation: The Outer Banks Republic

Flag: N/A

Map:



Government Structure:

The Outer Banks government is a very loose republic made up of three branches.

The Captain's Quorum

The electorate and legislative body of the Outer Banks, the Captain's Quorum is made up of every citizen who owns and operates their own ship. Every man is captain of his own boat and every man has one vote. The current Quorum is made up of roughly two hundred captains. The Quorum meets once a year for a three week period. During that time they elect the Sealords and any other officers they need, as well as pass any laws that are needed.

The Sealords

The Sealords act as executives for the Republic. They all must be members of the Quorum for at least six years before they can be elected. They are elected by the Quorum to two-year terms, no Sealord serving more than two consecutive terms. They enforce the laws of the islands and conduct the day to day business of the government. Any executive decision must be passed unanimously by all three lords.

First Sealord

The chief executive of enforcing laws, the First Sealord acts as head of the Republic's provincial law enforcement service as well commander-in-chief of the Republican Navy. The First Sealord serves as the president and chairman of the Captain's Quorum whenever it is called. He is considered as first among equals with the other Sealords, acting as chairman in executive committees.

Second Sealord

The Second Sealord's duties rely more on foreign relations. As the chief diplomat the Second Sealord is responsible for maintaining strong diplomatic, cultural, and economic ties with the Outer Banks' trading partners.

Third Sealord

The Third Sealord regulates commerce and collects the few taxes the Republic levies. The Third Sealord is also empowered to levy any taxes as they see fit, but only with a unanimous decision from the executive committee. He works with the Second and First Sealords to help balance the cost of government and keeping the Republic's governmental expenses as small as possible.

The Chief

The top arbitrator in the Outer Banks, the Chief is responsible for upholding laws passing judgement on all civil and criminal cases. The post is elected by the Captain's Quorum for a five-year term. No man can serve consecutive terms as Chief.

Leader(s):

Jock Munroe - First Sealord
Earl Wallace - Second Sealord
Peter Herring - Third Sealord
William Meyers - Chief

Culture:

The Outer Banks culture is one of Republican ideals, a mostly agrarian society that sprung up in the years since the collapse of the world. In the Outer Banks a man is free to be left alone and live in peace from interference from outside forces. An ideal Jeffersonian Democracy where the power is invested in the people of the countryside. Although a now growing class of wealthy merchants are attempting to change the shape and form of the Republic. As wealth floods into the nation, there are those who are prepared to fight for the very soul of the Republic.

The great divide does not lie in race, religion, or sex, but in seagoing and land lovers. Those that have no taste for the waters are looked down upon by the sailors who earn their living in the ocean. The merchants are viewed with contempt by the fisherman due to their large accumulation of wealth and ownership of many ships, giving them a seemingly unfair advantage in the Captain's Quorum.

Demographics:

White: 70%
Black: 25%
Other: 5%

Nation History:

The Outer Banks formed hundreds of years ago through a loose confederation of inhabitants on the islands and lands around the North Carolina coast. As raiders and pirates preyed on the ships and farmers on the islands, the communities united together to put down a threat. At a meeting on Roanoke Island, a quorum of ship captains met to form a posse. This makeshift fleet of fishing vessels set sail and laid waste to the predators in the area. It was known as the First Quorum and broke up soon after the threat passed.

Forty years later, more threats required the meeting of the Second Quorum. This time, after the pirate menace was put down the ship captains returned to Roanoke and set up a government. With each island represented by its ship captains, the charter for the Outer Banks Republic was created. Very little has changed since then. Life goes on, the navy repels threats of pirates, and the people of Outer Banks do their best to live in harmony.

Description of Economy:

The Outer Banks economy is one based on fishing and ship building. The islands and towns are mostly agricultural, but the few not involved in farming and fishing are craftsman who build and repair the ships In addition, Roanoke Island is the home of a growing merchant class that trades with settlements up and down the Eastern Seaboard.

Description of Military:

There is no such thing as a standing army in the Outer Banks, and the Republican Navy is compromised of just a half dozen ships. Times of crisis will result in an emergency draft. Reserve soldiers will be called to duty, and ships in the reserve navy will be drafted into service. All told, the Republican military forces number maybe a thousand men.