Caithia

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Template:Region icon Kylaris

County Caithia
Sir Ynys Cyth (Caithian)
Contae Cait (Ghaillish)
Flag of Caithia
Flag
Coat of arms of Caithia
Coat of arms
Motto: "Ein Ynysoedd, Diogelu"
"Our Islands, Defend"
Royal anthem: An Rí Márta
"The King's March"
Caithia EC.png
Location of Caithia (dark green)
– in Euclea (green & dark grey)

– in the Euclean Community (green)
Capital
and largest settlement
Lloidas
Official languages
Ethnic groups
72.7% Caithian
22.4% Ghaillish
4.9% other
Religion
Church of Caldia
Demonym(s)Caithian
GovernmentDevolved autonomous county within a parliamentary constitutional monarchy
• Monarch
Kenneth IV
• Governor
Órla Ní Fhlannagáin
Aoife Nic Dhiarmaid
LegislatureCynulliad
Autonomy 
• First Tenic settlement
600s BCE
• Arrival of the Verique
1200s CE
• Autonomy granted
11 June 1978
Area
• Total
490.44 km2 (189.36 sq mi)
Population
• 2018 estimate
46,128
GDP (PPP)2017 estimate
• Total
$0.9 billion
• Per capita
$20,192
CurrencyEuclo (EUC (€))
Time zoneEuclean Standard Time
Date formatdd-mm-yy
Driving sideright
Calling code+66
Internet TLD.gl

Caithia (Caithian: Ynys Cyth, Ghaillish: Cait), officially County Caithia (Caithian: Sir Ynys Cyth, Ghaillish: Contae Cait) is an autonomous county within the Kingdom of Caldia, located in northern Euclea. The islands host 46,128 residents, the majority of whom identify as Caithian. Ghaillish and Caithian, both Tenic languages, hold the status of co-official languages on the islands.

Evidence of human activity on the islands dates back to the 7000s BCE, with Tenic influence beginning in the 600s BCE. The Caithians emerged from a migratory group related to the Albans who inhabited Estmere. The islands were feared by ancient Euclean navigators, known for their screaming woad-wearing tribesmen. Starting in the 1200s CE, the Verique who had established themselves as the lords of Caldia sent expeditions to claim the islands for the Crown. It was subsumed into the Ghaillish realm, and operated largely as a normal lordship.

In 1678, the Verique dynasty of the islands died out, and Queen Fiona VII came into possession of the islands, turning it into royal domain. A summer-and-lake-house was constructed on the islands as an additional royal residence. Throughout the late 1800s, as nationalism arose across Euclea, a Caithian national identity emerged. In 1978, after pro-independence protests erupted across the island, Caithia was granted limited autonomy from the Ghaillish Crown in the Caithian Home Rule Bill. The level of autonomy experienced by Caithia has increased over the years, but a divide remains between unionists and nationalists on the island.

The fishing and oil industries are major employers on the islands, together providing 21% of GNP, while the Ghaillish Ministry of Defence contributes a further 11%. Caithia exists under the same administration as Caldia, and is considered an autonomous county. The head of state is King Kenneth IV, represented by Governor Órla Ní Fhlannagáin, while Chief Minister Aoife Nic Dhiarmaid acts as the head of government.

History

Early and pre-Ghaillish history

A medieval Caithian illustration, showing a giant help to create the stone circles at Hogam.

Caithia is believed to have been inhabited continuously for close to 9 millennia, with evidence of human activity dating back to the 7000s BCE on Great Cyth and the early 6000s on Lesser Cyth. The islands took on a distinctly Tenic character from the 600s BCE onward, and similarly to the Caldish Isles, the Tenic influence is thought to have been derived from a number of continental Tenic peoples who migrated to the islands. It is believed that one of these groups was related to the Albans who inhabited Estmere, and it was this group that eventually became dominant on the islands and emerged as the early Caithian people.

The islands were charted by Solarian navigators, but remained at the edge of the Solarian world and never came under the control of the Solarian Empire, in part due to the strategic insignificance of the islands to an empire which was focused on the Aurean Straits. The Caithian people on the islands at this time, and following the fall of Solaria, are generally accepted to have been pagan, adhering to some form of druidism similarly to other Tenic peoples during the period. Rivaling lords controlled small, clan-centric petty kingdoms on the islands, and there was no unified government. A number of lords proclaimed themselves as Kings-in-Woad, but few commanded complete control over the islands. The islanders engaged in small-scale raiding, but during the Marauder Age contact with marauding Ghailles increased the scale of this. In 801, Ghaillish marauders arrived in Caithia to settle, and intermarried with local Caithians. This new marauder state came to control the islands in their entirity. The marauder age in Caithia wound up in the 10th century, similarly to in the rest of Caldia, with the local marauders having largely integrated into Caithian culture.

Arrival of the Verique and Caldish Caithia

-conquest by verique -integration into caldia -inheritance and royal domain -national revival

Modern history and devolution

-pro-independence protests -devolution -modern day

Geography

Climate

Fauna and flora

Politics and government

Following the introduction of home rule through devolution, the Caithian government has gained limited executive power over local affairs. Kenneth IV, King of Caldia, acts as head of state through his role as the Monarch of Caldia. In the islands themselves, he is represented by Órla Ní Fhlannagáin, the Governor of Caithia. The role of head of government and most executive power resides with the Chief Minister, who alongside the 32-member Cynulliad can exercise limited legislative power.

Political parties

Logo Party Leader Seats in the Cynulliad Ideology Affiliation
Homeland logo.png Homeland
Mamwlad
Tír Dhúchais
Gerry Adams (official portrait) (cropped).jpg Einion ap Calder
7 / 32
Democratic socialism
Left nationalism
Caithian separatism
Glytter Social Democrats Logo.png Social Democrats in Caithia
Democratiaid Cymdeithasol
Daonlathaithe Sóisialta
Official portrait of Carolyn Harris MP crop 2.jpg Aoife Nic Dhiarmaid
7 / 32
Social democracy
Caldish unionism
Social Democrats
Forward logo.png Forward
Ymlaen
Ar Aghaidh
Owen Smith 2013 (cropped).jpg Duane ap Drummond
6 / 32
Social democracy
Caithian autonomy
Trawlers Interest logo.png Trawlers' Interest
Diddordeb Dreillong
Ús Trawlaí
Dafydd Elis-Thomas 2011 (cropped, 3x4).jpg Ieuan ap Dafyd
5 / 32
Centrism
Agrarianism
Caldish unionism
Centre
26 movement logo.png National Party
Plaid Genedlaethol
Páirtí Náisiúnta
Neil Hamilton AM (28136586146).jpg Mícheál Ó Faoláin
3 / 32
Conservatism
Caldish unionism
National Party
The Wave party logo.png The Wave
Y Don
An Tonn
Caroline Jones AM (cropped).jpg Rhoswen ferch Drystan
3 / 32
Liberalism
Caldish unionism
Liberty & Justice logo.png Liberty and Justice
Rhyddid a Chyfiawnder
Saoirse agus Ceartas
Ken Skates - National Assembly for Wales (cropped).jpg Carwyn ap Gruffudd
1 / 32
Libertarianism
Caldish unionism
Liberty

Administrative divisions

Caithia is comprised of two main inhabited islands and a number of smaller islets, which have no legal recognition. They are officially divided into 16 parishes (Caithian: plwyf; Ghaillish: paróiste). Parishes are defined as either town, village or rural parishes, though the distinction is solely in name. Despite their existence, the parishes exercise and experience few legal rights or responsibilities, and are primarily utilised for census-taking and electoral purposes. The parish is the only level of recognized administrative division in Caithia.

Map showing the 16 parishes.
Island Class Parish Area km2 Population
Great Cyth Town Lloidas 9.10 13,275
Town Port Teduin 2.45 7,890
Village Arianaid 3.42 2,409
Village Caerhen 4.16 1,680
Village Bláthnaidville 9.30 1,396
Rural Dubras 50.19 1,138
Rural Elfed 77.69 1,045
Rural Avon 42.71 1,006
Rural Arden 59.98 990
Rural Merthyr 46.52 787
Rural Rhos 78.72 676
Lesser Cyth Town Sinodun 7.97 9,141
Village Fionnbaile 4.45 1,719
Rural Bryn 27.15 1,071
Rural Penrhyn 38.50 997
Rural Llannerch 28.13 908

Relationship with Caldia

Relationship with the Euclean Community

Demographics

Ethnicity in Caithia
Ethnicity Percentage
Caithian
72.7%
Ghaille
22.4%
Other
4.9%

According to a 2018 estimate, the population of Caithia is 46,128. Roughly 70% of the population resides on Great Cyth, the remaining 30% belonging to Lesser Cyth. Loidas, the capital and largest parish, has a population of 13,275, hosting almost 29% of the total population.

The islands are home to two main ethnic groups; the majority Caithian people comprise 72.7% of the population, while the Ghailles comprise only 22.4%, but hold political and economic influence far outweighing their smaller numbers. There have been examples of ethnic tension between these two groups, particularly prior to home rule in 1978. The non-Tenic population is minimal, comprising less than 5% of the total population. Roughly half of these are estimated to be other Euclean groups, with the remainder expected to be a diverse ethnic mix. A significant proportion of the non-Tenic population is thought to be active in the oil industry and the significant military presence on the islands.

Language

Caithian is the sole surviving member of the Albano-Caithian languages.

Religion

Economy

Fishing and whaling

Oil and natural gas

Culture

Music

Sport

Cuisine

Public holidays and festivals