The Twelve Nations
| Twelve Nations Federation | |
| First appearance: | "The Meeting of Mandrake and Lothar" |
|---|---|
| Created by: | Lee Falk |
The Twelve Nations Federation is Lothar's homeland. It is an African country, located in central Africa. The capital is Lotharton.
The country has emerged as a federation of several different nations, first known as the "Riombi Federation". The federation have been in periods somewhat unstable, and on some occasions have been named "Seven Nations". The individual nation appears to be autonomous, ruled by a King or a Chieftain. Previously, it was automatic that the ruler of the greatest nation also had the role as King of the federation.
According to the newspaper strip
In the daily story "Mandrake in North Africa" it appears that Lothar was born Prince of the Wambesi, the biggest tribe in central Africa. Lothar's father was probably Oogubay, the now deceased great king of Wambesi. During a visit to his old homeland Lothar discovered that there was a power struggle to take over the role as new king and Lothar led the Wambesi warriors against Besa (, the sorcerer). After defeating Besa, Lothar became crowned king of the great Wambesi tribes. But after only a short period as king he appointed an older unnamed man as king and said he abdicated and then left the country.
In the Sunday story "The Singing Devils" Lothar visits his old country again, this time aboard S.S.Argus sailing up a tropical river that empties into the desert kingdom of Sandan. It is said that Lothar's father ruled a village of the Riombi Federation as a great chieftan. Prince Lothar is the son and heir of the dead king.
In the daily story "Queen Ebony" Mandrake said that Lothar is chief of a great federation of tribes. To get to Lothar's homeland, Mandrake, Lothar and Narda take a flight to Rhodesia and then head into the jungle. When they arrive at Rhodar, the capital of the kingdom, Lothar refers to himself as King Lothar. They discover that in Lothar's absence chief Zark of the Zarba village has enslaved and terrified the inhabitants of the federation.
Even if Lothar after a brief period as King of Wambesi gave up the throne, the people and rulers of the nationes in the federation never accept that. When the federation held its first democratic elections the monarchists nominate Lothar for President. He served as the first President of the Twelwe Nations for a year before he resigned.
Behind the scenes
Notable appearances
| Year | Daily/Sunday | Title | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | Daily | "Mandrake in North Africa" | King of Wambesi |
| 1946 | Sunday | "The Singing Devils" | Prince of the Riombi federation |
| 1948 | Daily | "Queen Ebony" | King of a great federation |
| 1952 | Daily | "The Impostor" | King of the great tribal federation |
| 1952 | Daily | "The Jungle Witch" | King of the great tribal federation |
| 1956 | Sunday | "Witchmen's Peak" | |
| 1967 | Sunday | "The Meeting of Mandrake and Lothar" | King of the Twelve Nations |
| 1977 | Phantom Daily | "The Wedding of the Phantom" | Prince of the Seven Nations |
| 1977 | Phantom Sunday | "The Wedding of the Phantom" | Prince of the Seven Nations |
| 1983 | Daily | "The Cruise Ship Mystery" | Prince of the Federated Nations |
| 1995 | Sunday | "Revolution in Lotharton" | King of the Twelve Nations Federation |
| 1997 | Sunday | "Mandrake Marries Narda" | King of the Seven Nations |
| 2003 | Daily | "Lights! Camera! Danger!" | Walumba River, flows through the 12 Nations |
| 2015 | Phantom Sunday | "Trouble in the Twelve Nations" | King of the Twelve Nations |