The Kingdom of Quebec was the first major power in Atlantic America, and for the longest time the most powerful. Originally among the first to oppose the Imperial Commonwealth, it eventually became the first nation in Atlantic America to join.

History

In the dying days of Canada, Captain Jean-Paul Chevalier, of the Canadian military, deserted his post with a group of followers and struck out into the chaos to find a place to survive. Arriving at Alma in Quebec, he found an ally in a local politician named Marie-Clare Rienne. The two of them, capable and competent but also arrogant and narcissistic, began building the formation of the future government as the world fell apart around them. The pair was crowned King and Queen of Alma on New Year’s Day, 2093.

Alma slowly grew, adding territory through conquest or accepting requests for annexation from neighbors, drawing on latent Quebecois nationalism to build a shared culture when most places were still facing famine and chaos. In 2143, King Jean-Luc I, grandson of King Jean-Paul, captured the city of Quebec and renamed his kingdom Quebec.

As the first new nation of Atlantic America, Quebec enjoyed the fruits of its power to expand in all directions, eventually taking over much of eastern Canada as far west as Lake Superior, into the northern regions of former US states, and deep into the Arctic waters. New city-states and fledgling nations grew along her borders, which prompted Quebec to court them as allies instead of wasting resourced to conquer them. Quebecois and Bostonian ships swept pirates from the Atlantic ocean; Quebec funded the Iron Republican Navy that cleared Lake Superior.

The first major opponent Quebec faces was the People’s Republic of Michigan and the Archduchy of Sault Sainte Marie. Michigan won a war against Quebec to control the remains of Detroit, and Sainte Marie refused to bend to the Quebecois will, winning their own skirmishes against Quebecois troops.

During the War of the Three Fools, Quebec attempted to annex territory from Michigan, among the Ohio valley cities, and from New England city-states. None of the Quebecois campaigns bore fruit, and Quebecois pride took a hit.

When the Imperial Commonwealth first crossed the ocean, Quebec was one of the first to oppose them, and bring their diplomatic pressure to form an alliance among Atlantic American nations. Though the alliance, known as the Lexington Organization, fought throughout the war, Quebec suffered a number of accidents among their royal family, including the death of King Jean-Marc III. The new king, King Jean-Constance, withdrew from the Lexington Organization and joined the Commonwealth.

Quebec picked fights with her neighbors, which precipitated the War of the Commonwealth. Quebec managed some initial gains, but soon fell afoul of fighting half a continent of nations. Imperial Commonwealth troops crossed the Atlantic and turned the tide, along with the sudden defection of the Mississippi Empire. Quebec gained territory from all of its neighbors, reclaiming the title as the most powerful nation in Atlantic America.

Government

Quebecois government is a very autocratic form. The King has absolute authority to appoint nobility or highly regarded commoners to positions with little or no input from anyone else.

Quebec is divided into administrations, from small but important cities to large swaths of farmlands. Each administration is overseen by a governor who has tremendous authority over their land. Unless specifically forbidden by royal law or frowned upon by tradition, the governor can do what he wants.

The national government itself is made up of a dozen ministries, each headed by a nobleman and staffed by long-service professionals.

Quebecois Nobility

The Quebecois nobility is unique, in that entire families are ennobled instead of one individual and his descendants. This grew from early Alma, when the best officers and leaders came from a handful of loyal families.

Each adult member of an ennobled family carries the title of Viscomte or Viscomtesse. If that individual has made a name for themselves, they may be promoted to Comte or Comtesse. The eldest or most accomplished of any family earn the title of Duc or Ducesse.

True ennoblement has been rare since before the War of the Three Fools, but minor, non-hereditary ennoblement is commonly practiced. Military Personnel may become Chevaliers of one Royal Order or another, while civilians and government personnel may become Ecuyer.

The Royal Family

The Royal Name

Starting with the first king, the Chevalier family adopted a tradition regarding the names of the ruling monarchs. Each king and queen must chose a royal name. The rules, as established by precedent, are as follows.

• The king’s name must be a hyphenated name starting with Jean-; the queen’s name must begin with Marie-.
• Royal names cannot be in a sequence; no two kings or queens may have the same name in a row.
• The name chosen cannot be the name they were born with.

The current rulers of Quebec are King Jean-Constance and Queen Marie-Isabelle.

Military

Descended from the military company that accompanied the first Chevalier, Quebec has always had a very strong tradition of military service. Every noble of any importance has at least a nominal military background, from military classes in school to ranks in gentlemen’s’ regiments.

Quebecois Army

The Quebecois Army was the strongest army in Atlantic America before the Commonwealth War, and is second only to the Commonwealth afterwards. Their officer corps is extremely well trained and capable, leading some of the best infantry in the world.

Quebecois Regiments

The building block of the Quebecois Army is the Regiment, many of which have histories going back centuries. Maps may show divisions and corps and armies moving across the battlefield, but it is the regiment that soldiers claim membership in.

Quebecois Navy

The Quebecois Navy is prideful, but never considered as fine a service as the Boston or Caribbean fleets. Divided into several squadrons with different areas of responsibility, the Quebecois Navy was always considered a service meant to keep the enemy fleets from acting with impunity, instead of a service meant to wipe the enemy from the seas.

Quebecois Air Fleet

The QAF is a small but elite force, held in a similar esteem by the popular imagination as knights once were. Much like the navy, the Air Fleet was never an office strategic weapon, but a force to disrupt the enemy’s air operations and protect their own.

Society

Quebecois society is an almost caste system largely influenced by the ideals of noblesse oblige; that entitlement comes with responsibility. As important as it is for an individual of lesser station to give appropriate deference, likewise it is important for those of higher station to act appropriately. The system is stable but not particularly fair. Abuses by higher status people is commonplace, though outright crimes such as murder or rape are still punishable under the law.

The reigning monarch of Quebec has a huge influence on how this plays out in society, as he can replace any governor or minister on a whim. Some monarchs let such abuses continue, watching only those he considers his political enemies. Others take the obligations seriously, launching campaigns against corruption and punishing abusers.

Moving between stations is easier the lower you are, getting harder the higher you try to rise. Entry into the actual nobility has become rare the last few generations, but it is still possible for a commoner to obtain, if not rank, at least position and wealth.