Nuln
From Lexicanum
Nuln is one of the three great City States of the Empire, situated at the focus of four provinces: Reikland, Wissenland, Averland and Stirland, and two great rivers: the Reik and the Aver.
It is home to the Imperial Gunnery School where most of the Empire's powder weapons are forged. It also has some of the oldest and most esteemed universities in the Empire. They may even surpass Altdorf in this regard, although it is hard to tell.
Due to its location, Nuln is a centre of trade. Trade goods enter the city from the north and the south, from Wissenland, the Dwarf-holds in the mountains and especially from Tilea.
As a result of its proximity to the mountains, it has been the centre of Orcish invasions for centuries.
There is no Elector Count of Nuln, although the Countess Emmanuelle von Liebewitz of the County of Wissenland is based in the city. She is Chancellor of the University and is known for her extravagant parties, desiring to surpass the Imperial Court in Altdorf through sheer decadence.
Nuln is also the base of one of the two Arch-Lectors of the Cult of Sigmar. The temple to Sigmar is large and ornate, and attracts thousands of pilgrims due to its connections with Magnus the Pious. The second most important temple in Nuln is that of Verena.
Though it is a spiritual centre, it is also a technological centre. Nuln is one of the greatest factories for black powder weapons. The Gunnery School takes in the metal ores from the hills and transforms them into precision weaponry such as handguns, pistols and cannons. They then sell them off to other provinces for a hefty profit. The school also trains the finest artillery crews. Many expatriate Dwarfs work in the school and work to create new weapon designs.
As a natural consequence of the creation of black powder weapons en-mass, the armies of Nuln use many of these weapons themselves. They are also famous for using the pike and half-pike heavily.
History
Nuln was once a renowned university city, the city's first colleges having been established by the Empress Agnetha. The city's reputation still draws students from far and wide.
For a time, Nuln was the Imperial Capital. It was from Nuln during the darkest periods of the Empire that Magnus the Pious issued his first great rallying calls for unity against the forces of Chaos, whose growing power threatened to finally overcome the disintegrating Empire.
A century ago, the Emperor Wilhelm II, the Prince of Altdorf and ancestor of the current Emperor Karl Franz, moved the capital back to Altdorf.
Heraldry
References
- Warhammer Fantasy Role-play (1st edition), 1986 and 1995, pp. 285-286
