Easwegian Commonwealth

The Easwegian Commonwealth, officially the Grand Commonwealth of Lord Biarmia; Ez: Elecskezaarye vi Biaamya; Nr: Det Store Samfunnet til Hans Majestet Herre Bjarmeland; Ru: Господинъ Борея Великiй Биармия; also historically referred to as Great Pomoria, was the legendary medieval Easwegian polity which existed in the Barents Region of Northern Europe from 1478 to 1821. The Commonwealth was an alliance of Ezaari, Pomors, Norwegian sailors and other tundra natives and initially comprised the hold-out territories of the 12th-15th century Iron Commonwealth, outpost of the Novgorod Republic. It served as a polyethnic feudal republic and opposed the expansion of Muscovy, claiming Byzantine-tradition and successorship of the Novgorod Republic.

Grand Commonwealth of Lord Biarmia Elecskezaarye vi Boriobaailagh
Banner of the Commonwealth
The Commonwealth in the mid 16th century
Capital	Arkhangelsk (1478-1570) Kola (1570-1580) Vardø (1580-1621) Vadsø (1621-1821) Bear Island (1821)
Religion	Eastern Catholicism Old Believers Lutheranism Folk religions
Demonym(s)	Easwegians (contemporary) Boriopans (traditional)
Government	Feudal polyethnic clerical republic
• Zaarich	Martha of Boriopa (first)
Legislature	Council of Elders (Rauddo vi Baailagh)

It is recognised as the predecessor of the current day Easwegian Common Union.

Traditional Accounts

The Easwegian Commonwealth found itself independent following the invasion and subjugation of the Novgorod Republic by the expanding Muscovy, previously a less than significant backwater state. The Easwegian Commonwealth, previously a constituent member of Novgorod, was determined to maintaining independence from what it considered barbarians. The Easwegian Guard or Boriopan Guard rescued Martha of Boriopa from being sent back to Moscow and fled north towards the White Sea. There, she declared herself the leader of the Grand Commonwealth of Lord Biarmia.

To ensure independence from Muscovy, the the Easwegian Commonwealth received heavy support from the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, which was in conflict with Muscovy. As a major northern constituency of Novgorod, the Commonwealth declared itself its rightful successor. Furthermore, the Commonwealth which was heavily influenced by Roman Byzantium which had recently fallen to the Ottomans declared itself its rightful successor, although this claim was not outwardly recognised. This claim dated back to support the Ezaari had received by the Western Roman Empire, before later helping form the Khazar Khaganate which ruled the Pontic-Caspian Steppe.

Following a series of losses to Muscovy, the Commonwealth within modern-day Russian finally succumb to greater numbers in 1580 and was forced to retreat to areas surrounding Vardø in modern day northeastern Norway. The Commonwealth rebranded from the Grand Commonwealth of Lord Biarmia to the Free Commonwealth of Pomoria. As part of the defeat, Muscovy completed blocked the travel and trade for the Commonwealth, Pomors included, into Siberia. The Commonwealth was successful in deals with Danish King Frederick II and entered into suzerainty under the protection of Denmark-Norway.

Administrative Divisions

The administrative divisions of the Easwegian Commonwealth were not fixed, as they were constantly at small scale war with the expanding Muscovy. The Commonwealth divided its territory, which stretched from the Kola peninsula to the Pechenga sea, into regional authorities 'volosts' and common land 'obschinas.' The independent Easwegian Commonwealth adopted many of the administrative divisions of the Iron Commonwealth when they were a constituency of the Novgorod Republic.

Pomoria

The core territory of the Easwegian Commonwealth from 1478 to 1580 was centred around the White Sea, known historically as Pomoria. The capital was either in Arkangelsk (which it called Bjarma Town), or Mezen to its east.