[ She scoffs while listening, but when she replies her tone takes a turn for the gentle and polite. ]
I am not sure where you have come by your information, sir, but I am afraid you build your argument on quicksand. Val Royeaux and Montsimmard are more alike than they are different. They share a common government, societal structure, culture, currency, people, and history, as well as a constant awareness that they are part of the same empire and the conscious desire to remain so. In short, all the marks of an actual country.
Your city-states share none of these, and nothing else. Indeed the only thing in your favor is that it is more common to say "Marcher" than "Tantervaler" or "Kaitener" and I cannot help but think that is more likely caused by the awkwardness of the other terms than any claim to nationhood.
Were we to accept your definition of a country all of Thedas could be deemed one, even Tevinter, simply because we have occasionally all fought Blights together when it mattered and all would call ourselves Thedosians. While Serah Luther has advanced some interesting suggestions as to a future in which this might be possible, it would be patently absurd to claim it to be the present, and so it is with your assertions, which you will find disputed not only by scholars but by every individual ruler of each of your Free Marcher states. There are several texts on this subject you might consult that I believe would assist, and I would be happy to dig up a list of them I prepared for several of my students last term if you would like.
no subject
I am not sure where you have come by your information, sir, but I am afraid you build your argument on quicksand. Val Royeaux and Montsimmard are more alike than they are different. They share a common government, societal structure, culture, currency, people, and history, as well as a constant awareness that they are part of the same empire and the conscious desire to remain so. In short, all the marks of an actual country.
Your city-states share none of these, and nothing else. Indeed the only thing in your favor is that it is more common to say "Marcher" than "Tantervaler" or "Kaitener" and I cannot help but think that is more likely caused by the awkwardness of the other terms than any claim to nationhood.
Were we to accept your definition of a country all of Thedas could be deemed one, even Tevinter, simply because we have occasionally all fought Blights together when it mattered and all would call ourselves Thedosians. While Serah Luther has advanced some interesting suggestions as to a future in which this might be possible, it would be patently absurd to claim it to be the present, and so it is with your assertions, which you will find disputed not only by scholars but by every individual ruler of each of your Free Marcher states. There are several texts on this subject you might consult that I believe would assist, and I would be happy to dig up a list of them I prepared for several of my students last term if you would like.