Ancelstierre
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Ancelstierre is a fictional country in Garth Nix's Old Kingdom series.
[edit] Geography in Relation to Surroundings
Ancelstierre lies south of the Old Kingdom. It is protected on it's northern border by the Wall and the Northern Perimeter Zone, patrolled by the 'Border Scouts' of the Ancelstierrian army. Ancelstierre is an island, seperated from the four nations of Iskeria, Kalarime, Iznenia and Korrovia by the Sunder Sea.
[edit] Politics
Ancelstierre is a constitutional monarchy with a democatically elected government. The legistlature is split between the Moot, and an Upper House of peers. Both houses are located in the capital of Ancelstierre, the southern-central city of Corvere. Ancelstierre maintains diplomatic relations with the Old Kingdom and has ambassadorial representatives at the court of Belisaere. The Old Kingdom has an embassy in a walled park in Corvere. Ancelstierre maintains a conscripted national army, flying corps and navy as well as a postal service and police force. Ancelstierre holds dominion over a commonwealth.
[edit] Relation to Historical Setting
Many elements of Ancelstierre take inspiration from historical images of the United Kingdom during the early twentieth century. The name Ancelstierre evokes the French name for England, Angleterre, while the geography given in the fictional maps loosely conforms to the shape of northern England and Scotland (Belisaere replacing Edinburgh, for example). In an article on his personal site Garth Nix recalls that inspiration for Sabriel and the concept of the Old Kingdom came from a view of Hadrian's wall from the English side. Iconic British artifacts such as red telephone boxes, blue police helmets and the newspaper The Times are mentioned at the beginning of Lirael and in the prologue to Abhorsen. Later in Lirael, descriptions of the government of Ancelstierre, given in conversation between Sameth and King Touchstone, match the bicameral system of the British parliament. Throughout the second and third books of the trilogy, the threat of Corolini's 'Our Country' party draws parallels to the rhetoric and uniforms of Facist Parties across 1930s Europe, such as Oswald Mosley's British Union of Fascists.
| Garth Nix's Old Kingdom series | |
|---|---|
| Novels | Sabriel • Lirael • Abhorsen • Across the Wall: A Tale of the Abhorsen and Other Stories |
| Characters | Chlorr of the Mask • Disreputable Dog • Kerrigor • Lirael • Mogget • Orannis • Sabriel • Terciel • Touchstone |
| Magic | The Charter • Five Great Charters • Free Magic • Nine Bright Shiners |
| Places | Ancelstierre • Death • Old Kingdom |
| Magical objects | Necromantic bells • Nehima • Paperwing |
