King Sigurd of Hrimfax
and Antonello da Messina.
Original images via Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain.
Due to its geographical separation from the Realmgardian mainland and the historical legacy of the Hrimfaxi as barbarian marauders, Hrimfax is often considered backwards and uncivilised compared to the rest of Realmgard. Its reigning King, Sigurd IV, has been working to combat this reputation and more closely tie his kingdom to the rest of the continent.
Among King Sigurd’s most notable policies is his expansion of maritime time. Hrimfax has historically dominated the northern sea routes between Realmgard and the eastern continents and King Sigurd has been working intently to reassert his kingdom’s status as a major maritime trading power, beginning with the renovation, expansion, and fortification of Hrimfax’s primary port in the harbour of its capital. Hrimfax has recently struck a mutually beneficial commercial treaty with Middelmere, culminating in the marriage of the Middelmerish King Alfstan to Sigurd’s sister Ragnhild.
King Sigurd has also worked closely with the Brotherhood of the Coasts, allowing the pirates of the Brotherhood to sail under his kingdom’s flag both to conduct trade voyages on his behalf and as convoys to defend his own merchant ships. Ships flying the Hrimfaxi flag are an increasingly common sight in Realmgard’s port cities.
Under King Sigurd, Hrimfax controls the largest navy in Realmgard, though the bulk of its ships are devoted to commercial rather than military operations. Similarly, Hrimfax is currently enjoying an era of peace, though, should the need arise, the full might of the largest navy in Realmgard could be brought to bear against any potential adversaries.
Also a result of the expansion of Hrimfaxi trade routes, the Kingdom of Hrimfax has become to some degree, a transcontinental empire, with the establishment of Hrimfax mercantile factories in the coastal regions spanning the Hrimfaxi trade routes. However, Hrimfax maintains a minor colonial presence compared to other Realmgardian kingdoms.
Thus, despite the relatively small population of Hrimfax, the kingdom is becoming one of the wealthiest in Porthaven and the kingdom is becoming an increasingly crucial part of Realmgard’s trade network, as a growing number of materials and goods are entering the continent via Hrimfax.
Hrimfax is becoming one of the pre-eminent powers in northern Realmgard, with both the Kingdom of Aurora and the northern Free City of Hornsburg becoming increasingly connected commercially and diplomatically with Hrimfax. An as-yet primarily informal three-way alliance exists between the three, with King Sigurd’s wife being an Aurorean Princess named Luna and his niece betrothed to a son of Hornsburg’s longtime Consular family.
Further combating his kingdom’s reputation as an ignorant and uncivilised land, King Sigurd has also patronised learning and the arts. Realmgardian scholars note the cultural flowering underway in Hrimfax and the emergence of unique Hrimfax styles and artistic theories. Hrimfaxi artists are beginning to become sought after my wealthy Realmgardian patrons, their reputation spreading into the continent’s hinterlands primarily via the Free Cities.
Although institutes of higher learning have existed in Hrimfax for centuries, King Sigurd’s policy of sponsoring art and culture has led to the rapid expansion of Hrimfax’s universities following generous endowments from the Hrimfaxi royal treasury.
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