Spotlight on:
 |
“Une immense espérance a traversée la terre”
| Category: Iron Fist Consumerists | ||
| Civil Rights: Rare |
Economy: Frightening |
Political Freedoms: Unheard Of |
Regional Influence: Superpower
Location: Bluecrown Keep
1
The Rossi People
Federation of Ros flag, with Rossi Eye of God
Size: 2,345,678 (estimated)
Distribution:
Ros: 70%
Ukraine: 13%
Poland: 10%
Romania: 4%
Rest of Europe: 2%
Other: 1%
Languages:
Rossi: 62%
English: 21%
Ukranian: 10%
Polish: 5%
Other: 2%
Rossi People
The Rossi People are a Slavo-Germanic ethnic group in Eastern Europe. It encompasses a population of over 2 million people, spread across most of Europe and concentrated in the Federation of Ros, an ethno state founded during the fall of the Soviet Union. Historically the Rossi people have faced discrimination as a minority group since kingdoms dominated Europe. They were not recognized as a legitimate ethnic group until the late 80s. Ukrainian, Pole, and Russian forces often dominated the Rossi Homeland at different points of time. Under the socialist regime of the Soviet Union, the tiny Kingdom of Rauis was taken over by the Ukrainian SSR in a further effort to diminish the unity among the group. During the fall of the Soviets though, when Ukraine left the Union, they ceded small amounts of territory to the Rossi groups in an effort to promote Slavic unity among post-socialism Eastern Europe.
The name "Rossi" comes from the word "Rossu" in the Rossi language, meaning "people." This word has been used sporadically to refer to the group throughout the years, but despite their distinct religious, cultural, and traditional practices, they have often gone by other demeaning names. Frequently referred to by Soviet leadership as "Northern Ukrainians" or "Ukrainian Poles," this name stuck in many former nations of the Eastern Bloc. The Polish translation of "Federation of Ros" actually means "Federation of Northern Ukraine" in English. Thus many efforts have been undertaken in promoting Rossi culture abroad and dispelling old stereotypes, including the old European ideas of Romani people that were also laid upon the Rossi as well.
The origins of the Rossi peoples are unknown, but the first theorized mentions of them come from a catalogue of Germanic and Slavic tribes in Eastern Europe written by Roman Commander Cassius Exaltus in 123 AD. In it, the "West Ressin" Tribe, a mixture of "Mediterranean's, Germanics, and Veneti (Slavs)" was split into multiple small villages between the San and Dnester Rivers. The book describes them as a civilized and peaceful tribe who made trade with far-travelling Roman troops that they came across with. Cassius describes them of being "of pale, marble toned skin. They are short, stout, and honorable. Their woman are not much to speak of however. Although they speak a crude language compared to their Veneti (Slav) counterparts to the East and Germanic counterparts to the West, they are more civilized than their neighbors. They keep many slaves of the Afric variety, obtained from trade with us Romans."
Continued Roman accounts of the Rossi exist up until the late 200's AD. Most historians believe that by then, the Rossi were under feudal control of Eastern Slavic tribes. During that time, their culture was remarkably similar to the one today though. Most notably, a form of Paganism similar to modern day Traditional Ros Worship existed according to Roman commander Serverus II. He describes a ritual that coincided with ancient Winter Solstice festivals known as "Geheinesful." In his accounts, he mentions how "the natives practice similar traditions as we do as home. I have observed them slitting the throat of a boar, with all the elder men drinking it from silver goblets at midnight to honor a moon god they call Gangenheit." But after these accounts dried up, as Romans withdrew from the area, very little information is known about the happenings to the Rossi for a few centuries until the rise of the Kievan Rus in the 900s.
Records began to emerge around that time of efforts by the Russian East Slavs to conquer the homeland of the Rossi during that time. Liutrad, a noted Rus warrior, described his efforts in raiding their settlements between the two rivers. He describes the state of the Rossi at the time as "quite a sorry situation. Pagans, not knowing the light of Jesus. They are barbarians, the lot. They eat their own children, as the sexual nature of the men leads to massive overpopulation in their small square of land." Historians dispute this, many believe it to paint the Rossi in a bad light in a form of bias. Regardless, by the early 1000s, the Rossi were mostly subjugated. Official records from the capital begin mentioning the recent conquest of lands "betwixt the Sarn and Dnaister," which many think are the San and Dnester.
The Baptism of Lubbok
(Unknown Artist)
By the late 11th century, heading into the early 1100s, the thin grip of the Rus had collapsed. The Rossi stopped appearing in any mentions of the Kievan Rus territory. But by then, the existence of the first Rossi kingdom was known. The Duchy of Hur, a lord on the west coast of the Dnester, began appearing on maps after their capture of the City of Hurmburd, a small state in modern day Ukraine. This short lived state soon fell to Cossack raids and East Slavic alliances razing the capital, but the nationalistic nature of the Rossi people was first seen in effect. By the late 1200s, Christianization had begun as well. Saint Koten is widely regarded as the patriarch of the Rossi Christian movement, similar to Saint Patrick in Ireland. He first baptized Stan Lubbok III in 1293, and his Lordship of Lubbok soon became a regional power. By conquering other local kingdoms and fiefdoms, Christianity rapidly spread. By 1378, when Lubbok VI slayed Lord Farkhir II outside of the gates of Heissur, all officially pagan kingdoms in the Rossi homeland were demolished.
The Lordship of Lubbok fell into disarray near the end of the 1300s, with outside raids from the remnants of the Kievan Rus and southern invasions from other tribes. Most Rossi states for the next few hundred years were all incredibly small city states, with the only noteworthy nation being the Confederation of Rossi States. This alliance of over twenty Rossi city-states temporarily formed to fight back invading Poles and Lithuanians, but dissolved afterwards in 1545. During the rein of the Polish-Lithuanian Commenwealth, the Rossi states fell to their far superior opponents, one again falling under another nations dominion. The rein was especially bloody, as the Protestant Reformation had struck a chord with Rossi Christians. This made them protestants in a region surrounded by the far larger Catholic and Orthodox churches, with events such as the Burning of Lubbok Church highlighting the tension. During those centuries of oppression, Polish attempts to exterminate the culture of the Rossi failed. Without the traditional small-state structure, facing a larger foe, many of the tiny subdivisions of Rossi people faded away as Rossi nationalism became a more coherent idea.
But this sense of nationalism was crushed as the years passed, with different empires and nations trading hands of the homeland of the Rossi. Their culture still managed to remain strong, with multiple revolts and attempted independence movements throughout the years trying and failing to secure Rossi independence. Eventually, the Rossi ended up under the control of the Russian Empire. But, due to being on the far borders of the massive nation, the Rossi people were left effectively to self govern. This period from the 1800s-1900s was a boon to Rossi nationalists. During World War One, the now much larger area of Rossi dominance was home to infrequent fighting, since the general disinterest in Russian interests among the Rossi lead them to be spared by both sides. But as the Russian state grew more divided, with socialist tendencies rising, the Rossi wanted no part. A few years before the Russian Revolution, the Rossi declared independence, forming the Kingdom of Rauis. But it was not to last.
During the Russian Revolution, the socialist Red Russians quickly conquered the small kingdom. Under the Soviet Union, Rossi culture was suppressed and discriminated against. Russians, viewing the Rossi as nothing but an offshoot of Russian people (similar to how they viewed Ukrainians), payed little mind to historical sites and grounds in their rapid efforts to industrialize. During World War Two, Rossi homeland faced significant damage from Nazi forces. Throughout the Cold War, the Rossi faced the same cultural death as other ethnic groups in the nation. But as the Union slowly collapsed, Rossi nationalists seized their chance and, when Ukraine left the Comintern, they gifted the Rossi their traditional land as their own nation, which they govern to this day.
The culture of the Rossi has remained distinct from their Slavic neighbors since the beginning. Being Protestant Christians, they are a small minority in a very Catholic/Orthodox area. This isolation from other protestant organizations has lead to a distinct tradition of the Rossi National Church being instilled among them, with their practices in worship and daily life differing from their local and denominational counterparts. Religious influence is not the only part of their culture though, as their position as close to different groups of Slavs has also differentiated them from their peers. Eastern ideals, Balkan ideals, and Western ideals all combined in the area the Rossi inhabit, also making them distinct. The Rossi have often faced backlash against their traditions from more Western, liberal countries though. Most notably, the apparent rampant racism in the country against Muslims and discrimination against sexual minorities has often caused clashes between "modern" ideas and traditional Rossi practices.
Prominent holidays include Christmas, All Hallows Eve, and the Feast of Saint Koten. Traditional foods include Krush, a cornmeal grits-like porrige, Paska pastries, Goursh meat pasta stew, and Koupa, a massive piece of meat hung over a fire and cooked, with strips sliced off and put between bread. Dances such as polka, adopted from the Polish community, are popular. The common good, and serving a greater purpose are common ideas held in high regard by traditional Rossi. Families tend to be large, with multi generational homes being common. Most women have around three children. Divorce rates are incredibly low, being condemned by the powerful Rossi Church. But domestic abuse and child abuse are also overwhelmingly high, most likely due to inability to escape abusive relationships. The Rossi belief in order and control also has resulted in a strong policing tradition in many Rossi families abroad.
An All Hallows Eve Bonfire in Kurr
The Rossi National Church dominates the Rossi population, localized and diaspora alike. Almost 94% of those who claim "close Rossi ancestry" are members of the Church, although many immigrants to other local nations who are only part Rossi have left it. The Churches practices are ancient, the Rossi holiday of Huren dating back to before the Lordship of Lubbok. Most holidays are religious, with All Hallows Eve and Saint Koten being two of the big ones. Christmas, dominant in much of the West, takes a backseat in the Rossi Church. The Rossi National Church holds the position that no one knows when Christ was born, making Christmas simply a Solstice festival. Conservatism from religious ideals also dominates many Rossi, although it is fading among the youth. It is also known for its strange customs to many other denominations, including supposedly pagan rituals such as fortune telling from entrails, and sacrifice of goats being very common on popular holidays. The symbolism of the Eye of God is more common than cross imagery among many churches as well, featuring prominently on the flag of Ros. Rossi parades for the Feast of Saint Koten are often held abroad as well.
Most Rossi speak Rossi, including over thirty percent of the Rossi diaspora. Ukrainian, Polish, and English as always are the main minority languages.
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