Holy Roman Empire (of the German nation)

Well, the map reference image is just there: [spoiler=The Holy Roman Empire at its territorial peak in the 12th century][img]https://brilliantmaps.com/wp-content/uploads/Holly-Roman-Empire-Max.png[/img][/spoiler] A much larger version can be downloaded here for free: https://brilliantmaps.com/peak-holy-roman-empire/ It's a large SVG image: around 8,000 x 11,000 pixels. We can read on their web page: [quote]Map created by Wikimedia user Alphathon, click for larger version The map above is written in German and shows the Holy Roman Empire during the reign of the Hohenstaufen Emperors, a period which spanned from the mid-12th century to the late 13th century.[/quote] [quote][b]Historical Context[/b] Hohenstaufen Dynasty: The Hohenstaufen dynasty, also known as the Staufer dynasty, ruled the Holy Roman Empire from 1138 to 1254. Notable emperors from this dynasty include Frederick I (Barbarossa) and Frederick II. Territorial Complexity: The Holy Roman Empire was a complex and fragmented collection of semi-independent states, including duchies, counties, free imperial cities, and bishoprics. Political Structure: The Empire had a decentralized political structure where local rulers held significant autonomy, although they were nominally under the authority of the Emperor. [b]Features of the Map[/b] States and Principalities: The map highlights the multitude of small states and territories within the Empire. Each color represents a different political entity. Neighboring Kingdoms: The map shows the neighboring kingdoms such as the Kingdom of France (Königreich Frankreich), Kingdom of Poland (Königreich Polen), Kingdom of Hungary (Königreich Ungarn), and Kingdom of Sicily (Königreich Sizilien). Geographical Features: Major rivers, seas, and mountain ranges are depicted, providing a sense of the geographical context of the era. [b]Notable Regions and Entities[/b] Kingdom of Bohemia (Königreich Böhmen): A significant part of the Empire, it often had a special status and its rulers held the title of King. Duchy of Bavaria (Herzogtum Bayern): One of the largest and most powerful duchies within the Empire. Duchy of Saxony (Herzogtum Sachsen): Another major duchy, influential in the politics of the Empire. Republic of Venice (Republik Venedig): While not part of the Holy Roman Empire, it was an important neighbor and a key player in Mediterranean and European politics. Kingdom of Sicily (Königreich Sizilien): At times under the control of the Hohenstaufen Emperors, it played a significant role in the politics of Southern Europe. [b]Political and Military Context[/b] Conflicts and Crusades: The period saw numerous conflicts both within the Empire and with external entities, including the Crusades in the Holy Land and wars with neighboring kingdoms. Frederick Barbarossa: Noted for his attempts to consolidate imperial power and his conflicts with the Papacy and the Lombard League. Frederick II: Renowned for his cultural patronage, administrative reforms, and conflicts with the Papacy. [b]Cultural and Economic Aspects[/b] Cultural Flourishing: The Hohenstaufen period was marked by a flourishing of culture and learning, with notable contributions to architecture, literature, and law. Economic Activity: The Empire was a center of trade and economic activity, with significant commercial cities and trade routes.[/quote] And also: [quote][b]Largest Cities[/b] Aachen (Aix-la-Chapelle): Often regarded as the capital of the Holy Roman Empire, especially during the reign of Charlemagne and subsequent emperors, Aachen was a significant political and religious center. Cologne (Köln): One of the largest and most important cities in the Empire, Cologne was a major trade hub and the seat of a powerful archbishopric. Mainz: Another significant archbishopric and political center, Mainz played a crucial role in the imperial elections and held considerable influence. Regensburg: A major city in the Duchy of Bavaria, Regensburg was an important political, economic, and cultural center. Nuremberg (Nürnberg): Known for its strategic location and economic importance, Nuremberg was a key trading city. Frankfurt: An important commercial and financial hub, Frankfurt also became a significant site for imperial elections. Bamberg: A prominent bishopric and cultural center, Bamberg was known for its impressive architecture and contributions to learning. [b]Largest States[/b] Duchy of Saxony: One of the most powerful duchies in the Empire, Saxony was a key player in imperial politics and had significant military strength. Duchy of Bavaria: Another major duchy, Bavaria was influential both politically and militarily, with a strong cultural identity. Duchy of Swabia: Ruled by the Hohenstaufen dynasty during this period, Swabia was a central power base for the Emperors and a major military and political force. Duchy of Franconia: Although it had been partitioned into smaller entities, Franconia remained an important region, with key cities like Würzburg and Bamberg. Duchy of Lorraine: Situated along the western edge of the Empire, Lorraine was strategically important and frequently involved in conflicts with neighboring France. Duchy of Austria: Initially a margraviate, Austria was elevated to a duchy in 1156 and would later become one of the most powerful states in the Empire. Margraviate of Brandenburg: An important northeastern territory, Brandenburg would later grow in significance and become a leading state within the Empire.[/quote] ... I think we should exploit this and create a huge map with a great historical accuracy and possibly a nice gameplay too.

hmmmm the map will have a lot of +1 and +2 regions. will it not be a problem? also the idea is cool and i obviously like big maps. theoreticaly one could add some additional bonuses based on political unification patterns

I'm unsure about the bonuses of this map. I'm not a huge fan of small-regions-everywhere gameplay true, but if that is historically and geographically accurate then I like it. However the many States represented here in this map are so small that I consider them to be territories, not regions... As a first step I would like to define the geographical cut, because I think most of the Southern part should be excluded, and perhaps we may include a bit more of East and West. Then the second step will be to define the impassables: rivers and mountains.

yes, the southern part can be a topic of a sepate map, kind of a southern "expansion".

I think a cut like this: [spoiler=Southern Italy excluded][img]https://i.ibb.co/nNp6X50F/Holly-Roman-Empire-Cut04.jpg[/img][/spoiler] I highlighted Italy and Burgundy borders inside the Empire (maybe 2 possible super-bonuses) Or even like this: [spoiler=Burgundy and entire Italy excluded][img]https://i.ibb.co/p6WTKcbw/Holly-Roman-Empire-Cut02.jpg[/img][/spoiler] German part only.