Yurgenschmidt

Yurgenschmidt (ユルゲンシュミット, yurugenshumitto) is the country in which Ascendance of a Bookworm takes place.

Located at the center of Yurgenschmidt is the Sovereignty, the seat of royal power and the home of the Zent, or ruler. The rest of the land is divided into duchies, each governed by a ruling Aub, or archduke.

The country is shaped like a circle and bordered by a magical wall, which can only be passed through using specified gates. Likewise, each duchy is defined by a magical border around its territory. The barriers between duchies allows free passage to animals and people, but will block most forms of magic and instantly inform the archduke of a duchy if a person above a certain mana-threshold passes through in any place other than a border gate.

Spoiler for Part 4 Volume 6 The country of Yurgenschmidt does not count their years in a single continuous system like Anno Domini on most parts of Earth, but instead uses a system that splits time into eras based on the rule of the kings, similar to how Japan measures their time in the eras of their Emperors.

Before the recent civil war, Yurgenschmidt was comprised of 25 duchies. However, those on the losing side of the political conflict became defunct, and the land was redivided into 21 duchies.

Each duchy has a ranking relative to the others, determined by its population, economy, political influence, scientific and magical research, new trends or fashions, and the performance of students at the Royal Academy. In addition to its numerical rank, duchies are classified as "greater," "middle" or "lesser" depending on where they fall in the rankings. Although the Sovereignty is technically a duchy, it always ranks above all other duchies.

The higher the rank a duchy holds, the more power and influence it wields. Lesser duchies must show deference to those above them, and all must defer to the Sovereignty and the royal family.


 * Sovereignty


 * Ahrensbach
 * Drewanchel
 * Dunkelfelger
 * Klassenberg


 * Ehrenfest
 * Frenbeltag


 * Berschmann
 * Gaussbuttel
 * Gilessenmeyer
 * Hauchlerzte
 * Immerdink
 * Jossbrenner
 * Kirschnereit
 * Lehmbruck
 * Losrenger
 * Lindenthal
 * Lortzing
 * Neuehausen
 * Quandtreeb
 * Ossvault


 * Scharlet
 * Trostwerk
 * Werkestock
 * Zausengas


 * Eisenreich


 * Sovereignty - The middle of the country where the royal family lives and also were the Royal Academy is. The sovereignty stands above the duchies and therefore does not have a rank.

Religion in Yurgenschmidt is based on worship and prayer to a pantheon of gods and goddesses.


 * Gods and Subordinate Gods are the deities worshipped by the people of Yurgenschmidt.
 * The Temple is the primary religious institution.
 * Priests and Shrine Maidens comprise the hierarchical clergy.
 * Religious Ceremonies form the cornerstone of Yurgenschmidt's calendar and mark milestones of life such as baptism and marriage.
 * Blessings are a form of prayer and magic used by nobles.
 * The Bible is the central religious text, and the original bible traditionally held by the king or queen is called Grutrissheit.

Despite the faith's many mythological and fantastical elements, the gods and goddesses of Yurgenschmidt have a concrete, measurable impact on everyday life and the natural world. Prayer and blessings are shown to influence not only magic, but also agriculture, governance, and strength in combat. As a result, while some are more or less devout, the people of Yurgenschmidt do not generally question the existence of the gods.

Religion is closely associated with the practice of magic by the nobility, since gods are invoked in magic circles, blessings and spells. Mana also plays a key role in many religious ceremonies, such as Spring Prayer and the Dedication Ritual.