The Grand Duchy Of Cleve-Berg.
This state is ruled by the decendants of family of the wife of Jerome Bonaparte for whom this state was created by Napoleon I. Although he was French and somewhat despostic, by and large Jerome was a popular ruler, allowing many freedoms not given under previous leaders. Consequently, when the creation of this state was ratified at the Congress of Vienna, the Napoleonic Code was used to from the basis of Cleve-Berg's constitution. Strong ties with France remain evident today and the atmosphere of the capital, Dusseldorf, is considered to be much like that of Paris. The Grand Duchy also includes the largest city in the Rhinelands, Koln (Cologne), with a population approaching a half-million souls. The east of the Duchy, towards the Inner Sea has seen much industrial development and is one of the largest coal mining and steel producing areas in New Europa.
Extracts from reports to the Imperial and Royal Foreign Office
from Consul-Extraordinary to the Rhenish Principalities
Ruprecht, Freiherr von Schleissen -
January 1873
.... Whilst passing the town of Dulken in the Grand Duchy of Cleve-Berg, I came across the unusual sight of a large windmill surrounded by a stately array of carriages. On further investigation, this building proved to be an ancient museum of the art of the Jester. Apparently, one of the more whimsical rulers of Cleve-Berg had created an 'Academy of Fools' in this esteemed location back in 1460. Judging by the actions of the incumbent curator, this windmill is one of the less hidden chapterhouses of the Jesters' Guild. The Guild has a flair for upsetting the niceities of society, as I found when upon my return to my carriage I sat upon my cushioned seat to find the cushion stuffed with raw eggs ....
.... If visiting the busy and thriving commerical city of Aachen, I must wholeheartedly recommend the local fashion of wearing a scarf drawn across the maouth and nose. This affectaion is due to the evil atmosphere produced by so many households burning the vile brown coal readily found in this part of the Grand Duchy ....
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