Gelonia

Kingdom of Gelonia Rouantelezh Gaelonia (Gelonian)
Flag Coat of Arms
Motto: Frankiz pe Marv ("Freedom or Death")
Anthem: Kanaouenn e Hon Tadoù Song of Our Fathers Royal anthem: Ourgouilh Gaeloniaelezh Gelonia's Pride
Location of Gelonia (dark green) – in Belisaria (dark grey)
Political Map of Gelonia
Capital	Oxonia
Largest city	Dournfawr
Official language and national language	Gelonian
Recognized	Aulian Brennian Latin
Ethnic groups (2018)	79% Gelonian 12% Latin 4% other
Religion	59% Christianity 36% Irreligion 5% other
Demonym(s)	Gelonian
Government	Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy
• King	Arthur XI
• Prime Minister	Adiuni Kloarec
• Speaker of the Vodan	Belado Seznec
• Speaker of the Bodadeg	Klara Jezequel
Legislature
• Upper house	Vodan
• Lower house	Bodadeg
Formation
• Latin conquest	100 BCE
• First Kingdom	1050
• Prince-Electorate	1583
• Second Latin conquest	1632
• Declaration	17 May 1945
• Second Kingdom	2 January 1950
Area
•	77,696 km2 (29,999 sq mi) (nth)
Population
• 2018 estimate	10,431,981
• 2017 census	10,001,981
• Density	134.26/km2 (347.7/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)	2018 estimate
• Total	$365.3 billion
• Per capita	$35,022
GDP (nominal)	2018 estimate
• Total	$343.1 billion
• Per capita	$32,891
HDI	0.873 very high
Currency	Korora (£) (GLK)
Date format	dd/mm/yyyy (CE)
Driving side	left
Calling code	+421
ISO 3166 code	GE
Internet TLD	.ge

Gelonia (Gelonian: Gaelona) is a sovereign state located in western Belisaria, covering an area previously inhabited by Celtic tribes before the period of the Latin occupation. During the Crisis of the 11th Century, it became an independent kingdom, and then a prince-electorate within the Holy Aulian Empire until it was reabsorbed into Latium in 1632, and achieved independence in 1945. It is bordered by Lyncanestria to the north, to the south and east by Latium, and a maritime border with Arthurista. The official and national language is Gelonian.

In the late 1st century AD, the first kingdom of Gelonia was established by Celtic tribes in what is now northwestern Latium and southwestern Lyncanestria due to the encroachments of the advancing Latin Empire. It was absorbed into the Latin Empire by the 3rd century, and remained a Latin province until the Crisis of the 11th Century, when it reasserted its independence. The second kingdom faced threats from many forces, including the Latin pretenders in Adrianople, Caliphate of Alba, Imperial remnants in Ascanium, and the growing Aulian Empire. Eventually, Gelonia entered into the Holy Aulian Empire, and held the status as a prince-elector from 1583 until 1632. Gelonia once again fell under Latin control during the Belisarian Wars of Religion where the Gelonian crown was abolished and the province reorganized into various counties. Various attempts were made in the 19th and early 20th centuries to established a Gelonian community within Latium. In 1945, the Gelonia declared it's independence from Latium in the Gelonian War of Independence, which concluded in an independent Gelonia in 1950.

The sovereign state of Gelonia is a constitutional monarchy under a unitary parliamentary system. It is a developed country with a reasonably high standard of living. It's capital is Oxonia, while it's largest city is Dournfawr, formerly Durnovaria until the Gelonian renaming policies of the 1950s. Gelonia is the Xth largest economy in the world, which is dominated by service and industrial sectors. It is a member of the Forum of Nations.

Geography

Gelonia shares borders with Latium and Lyncanestria, and a maritime border with Arthurista. Gelonia has 2 geographic regions: coastal plains and an eastern plateau near the border with Latium. Its coastal plains are smooth and slow rising into the interior, and feature numerous valleys and waterways. A large forest is featured in the central valleys, giving way to a more rocky and rugged terrain. This area extends eastward into Latium, locally known as the Brennian plateau; it is country's highest point at 702 m.

Climate

The climate is broadly characterized as oceanic climate, though the area around Meud is more typical of a dry summer climate. Its oceanic climate features significant precipitation in all seasons. On average, the lowest temperatures are in January, falling to 5°C and reaching summer high averages of 19 to 20°C. Rain is not uncommon in any season, while snow occurs most often in December and January.

Politics and government

Main articles: Monarchy of Gelonia, Vodan, and Bodadeg

Gelonia is a unitary constitutional monarchy with a democratic parliamentary political system. The Monarch is the head of state and appoints the Prime Minister, who in turn nominates members of government. The political framework is laid out in the 1950 constitution, which includes a separation of powers and delineates civil liberties and rights. The constitution can be amended by a three step process including, two-thirds vote of the Bodadeg, Royal Assent, and popular referendum.

The king, Arthur XI, is the head of state and invested primarily with representative responsibilities and powers. The Monarch is the head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces. He can declare war and peace, negotiate and assent to treaties once passed by the Bodadeg, convene and close legislative sessions, call and postpone elections, and dismiss government and dissolve the Bodadeg. Any dismissal and dissolution of the Bodadeg must then receive a vote of no confidence from a majority of the Bodadeg. The Monarch holds veto power by the prerogative of withholding Royal Assent to a bill passed by the Bodadeg, but any denial of assent can be overturned by a two-thirds vote of the Bodadeg.

The Prime Minister is Adiuni Kloarec, is the head of government and executes daily government functions through the government. The Monarch appoints the Prime Minister, who in turn chooses ministers to serve in government. The constitution requires that the Prime Minister, and government ministers be sitting members of the Bodadeg. Unlike some constitutional monarchies, government is accountable to both the Bodadeg and the Monarchy of Gelonia, and the Bodadeg can force a government minister to resign by interpellation.

Legislative power is invested in the parliament, consisting of the Bodadeg and the Vodan. The legislature holds oversight authority. The Bodadeg is the lower house and consists of 167 members elected from single member constituencies by instant-runoff voting with elections every four years, while the Vodan is an un-elected, appointed upper house. Legislative powers in Gelonia are considered robust, as both houses can conduct inquiries into government action, and pass motions of no confidence. The Bodadeg may issue motions of no confidence in a government, but the two step process requires Royal Assent in order for the government to be dismissed. The Constitution lays out the circumstances where the Bodadeg may be dissolved; only the Monarch retains the ability to dissolve the Bodadeg. While the monarch has the power to declare war and peace, no declaration is binding without a majority vote of both the Bodadeg and the Vodan. A chief power of the Vodan is to confirm the succession of the Monarch.

Law and criminal justice

Main article: Judiciary of Gelonia

The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. There is no single supreme court, but instead two. The Supreme Court of Cassation is the court of last resort for all civil or criminal matters. The Constitutional Bench is the court of last resort for all administrative cases, and constitutional challenges of statutory law, which can include national or local laws. The Constitutional Court is empowered to ensure conformity with the constitution, and may invalidate royal decrees and legislation if deemed unconstitutional.

Administrative divisions

Main article: Administrative divisions of Gelonia

Since 1950, Gelonia has been divided into 27 council areas, commonly referred to as provinces (proviñs). Council areas vary in size, some classified as cities, others as counties or simply provinces, though all council areas have equal powers within its jurisdiction over education, infrastructure such as roads and highways, safety, and social services. The second level administrative division consists of 432 municipalities. From 1950 until 2003, the second level administrative division consisted of 48 districts throughout the 27 council areas.

The King appoints a Commissioner to each of the seven historical duchies of Gelonia, which may encompass more than one council area. Historical duchies are only considered administrative divisions for census and statistical purposes.

Foreign relations

Main article: Foreign relations of Gelonia

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for maintaining Gelonian foreign relations and managing its international missions. The Ministry oversees bilateral relations with foreign nations the nation's representation in international organizations. The incumbent Minister of Foreign Affairs is Brianne Traha.

Gelonia is a member of the Forum of Nations, Belisarian Group, Joint Space Agency, and the Latin-Gelonian Council.

Military

Main article: Royal Gelonian Defense Force

The Royal Defense Force is the armed forces of Gelonia. It is comprised of three branches, the Royal Gelonian Army, the Royal Gelonian Navy and the Royal Gelonian Air Force. The total strength of the Gelonian military, including active and reserve elements, is roughly 51,000 personnel.

The country maintains membership in the Belisarian Group defense pact, along with strong historical military ties to Ghant. The Defense Force was established during the Gelonian War of Independenc against Latium, and most recently was involved in the Polnitsan Civil War.

The Monarch is the commander-in-chief of the Defense Force.