Sudervik: Difference between revisions
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'''Sudervik''', officially the '''Kingdom of Sudervik''' is a sovereign island-state located in what is called the [[Süd Depths | '''Sudervik''', officially the '''Kingdom of Sudervik''' is a sovereign island-state located in what is called the [[Süd Depths]]. Sudervik is the foremost constitutional monarchy in the known world, encompassing the island of Sudervik, the sister islands of [[Larceth]], [[Oldrin]] and [[Walswick]], the dependent islands of [[Cardlow]], [[Lonwell]], [[Tollant]], [[Allerdurn]] and [[Osby]], and a number of smaller islands officially under the jurisdiction of Sudervik. The islands have a total area of about 287,640 square kilometres with a population of 28 million. The Kingdom of Sudervik is not a federation; it is a collection of one sovereign state and many dependent territories and satellite states united under its monarch. However, due to their separate historical and cultural identities, these parts of the realm have always felt disassociated with Sudervik proper. Viceroys and governors have assumed administrative responsibilities in many distant islands, acting as personal representatives of the monarch. | ||
The Kingdom of Sudervik started to consolidate during the [[early feudal age of the island]], when the Lord Protector of the City of [[Vollenhove]], [[Eldert Vollenhoven]], had entered into a dynastic union with the island of Walswick several miles off the coast, with [[Walswick]] being the lesser partner in the personal union. Eldert was the son of the sovereign Grand Princess [[Amira Dumont]] of Walswick and the Lord Protector Kevan Vollenhoven of the city-state of Vollenhove. Upon succession of both titles, Eldert inherited both Vollenhove and Walswick, but it wasn’t until his son [[Nicolaas]] succeeded him that the Kingdom of Sudervik was officially created. Thereafter, Sudervik increasingly became a hegemonic power in its region, exerting influence over smaller island realms nearby and coastal territories. | The Kingdom of Sudervik started to consolidate during the [[early feudal age of the island]], when the Lord Protector of the City of [[Vollenhove]], [[Eldert Vollenhoven]], had entered into a dynastic union with the island of Walswick several miles off the coast, with [[Walswick]] being the lesser partner in the personal union. Eldert was the son of the sovereign Grand Princess [[Amira Dumont]] of Walswick and the Lord Protector Kevan Vollenhoven of the city-state of Vollenhove. Upon succession of both titles, Eldert inherited both Vollenhove and Walswick, but it wasn’t until his son [[Nicolaas]] succeeded him that the Kingdom of Sudervik was officially created. Thereafter, Sudervik increasingly became a hegemonic power in its region, exerting influence over smaller island realms nearby and coastal territories. | ||
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== Etymology == | == Etymology == | ||
The name Sudervik originates from a cryptic and | The name Sudervik originates from a cryptic and extinct language used by the first settlers of the islands, which is now only known as [[Ancient Suderviker]]. The name Sudervik can be roughly translated to "Vines of the Süd", where 'suder' means 'belonging to Süd' and 'vik' roughly menaing 'vines' or 'vegitation'. The most most widely accepted hypothesis for "Vines of the Süd" is the first description of the islands the early settlers had came up with, likely taking note of the lush coastline and vines and moss growing on the fjords and cliffs. | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
Work in Progress | Work in Progress | ||
==Geography== | ==Geography== | ||
[[File:Pine forest in Sweden.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|left|alt=Pine forest|Pine forests dominate the landscape of the | [[File:Pine forest in Sweden.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|left|alt=Pine forest|Pine forests dominate the landscape of the islands.]] | ||
Sudervik | Sudervik and all islands and islets within are located in a body of water called the [[Süd Depths]], where its name is derived. Most of the islands are represented by forested hilly landscapes with jagged and rocky coasts. Almost all of the islands are covered by temperate coniferous rainforests and taiga, the coniferous forests dominated by pine, spruce, fir and larch. Some portions of the islands are wetlands or meadows, especially near the numerous rivers. A number of areas of the kingdom have been designated as Royal Preserves, protected natural areas for use of the royal family only. Along the rock-bound coasts are lighthouses, beaches, fishing villages, and thousands of offshore islands. There are jagged rocks and cliffs and many bays and inlets. Geologists describe this type of landscape as a "drowned coast", where a rising sea level has invaded former land features, creating bays out of valleys and islands out of mountain tops. | ||
There are a large number of wild animals present on the | There are a large number of wild animals present on the islands, with the most common being reindeer, coyotes, foxes, pine squirrels and beavers. Sudervik is home to a great number of birds including Golden Eagles, Cardinals, Bluebirds, and Westland Petrels. Many species of fish live in the ocean waters surrounding the islands, and the fishing industry is a major part of the economy, including commercial whaling. | ||
===Climate=== | ===Climate=== | ||
The climate of Sudervik is humid continental climate and a cool summer subtype. Surface water temperatures around the | The climate of Sudervik is humid continental climate and a cool summer subtype. Surface water temperatures around the islands reach a summer average of 12 °C (54 °F) inshore and 9 °C (48 °F) offshore to winter lows of −1 °C (30 °F) inshore and 2 °C (36 °F) offshore. The sea keeps winter temperatures slightly higher and summer temperatures a little lower on the coast than inland. The maritime climate produces more variable weather, ample precipitation in a variety of forms, greater humidity, lower visibility, more clouds, less sunshine, and higher winds than a continental climate. Light to heavy fog is a common and near daily occurance on the islands | ||
==Politics== | ==Politics== | ||
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===Agriculture=== | ===Agriculture=== | ||
Sudervik has long supported and maintainted a primarilly agrarian economy. Wheat is the single most important arable crop, but oats and barley are also cultivated extensively. In some parts of the | Sudervik has long supported and maintainted a primarilly agrarian economy. Wheat is the single most important arable crop, but oats and barley are also cultivated extensively. In some parts of the kingdom, legumes and beans are also cultivated. On the island of Cardlow, a hybrid tobacco is grown extensively and exported to all parts of the kingdom. Sheep, cattle, oxen and pigs are the most common for animal husbandry. Watermills and windmills are common gristmills in agricultural areas. | ||
===Mining=== | ===Mining=== | ||
Mining does not make up a large part of the economy, but the demand for metals in the country is still high. The main resources extracted from mining are iron, tin, lead, silver and coal. Acquiring ore through strip mining has been supplemented by more advanced techniques, including tunnels, trenches and bell-pits. Iron ore is usually processed locally at | Mining does not make up a large part of the economy, but the demand for metals in the country is still high. The main resources extracted from mining are iron, tin, lead, silver and coal. Acquiring ore through strip mining has been supplemented by more advanced techniques, including tunnels, trenches and bell-pits. Iron ore is usually processed locally at water-powered bloomery. Exploitation of woodlands has provided ample amounts of required charcoal for the smelting process, however in some areas coal is mined commercially produced from bell-pits and strip mining as a bi-product of other mines. | ||
Huge quantities of silver are produced from a semicircle of mines on the island of [placeholder]. Around three to four tonnes of silver are mined each year. Tin mining is centred in [placeholder], exploiting alluvial deposits. Tin is a valuable export good, and shipped to every island in the kingdom. Lead is usually mined as a by-product of mining for silver, with mines in [placeholder] near the silver mines. Economically fragile, the lead mines have survived as a result of being subsidised by silver production. | |||
===Industry=== | ===Industry=== | ||
The dominant form of mechanized power is created from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watermill watermills]. Using water towers as buffers and gears for transmission, water mills have been the primary means of industrial production in Sudervik. Water mills are used for grinding grain, producing flour for bread, malt for beer, or coarse meal for porridge. Hammermills use the wheel to operate hammers. Fulling mills are powered using water wheels for cloth making. The trip hammer is also used for making wrought iron and for working iron into useful shapes, an activity that is otherwise labour-intensive. The water wheel is also used in papermaking, beating material to a pulp. | The dominant form of mechanized power is created from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watermill watermills]. Using water towers as buffers and gears for transmission, water mills have been the primary means of industrial production in Sudervik. Water mills are used for grinding grain, producing flour for bread, malt for beer, or coarse meal for porridge. Hammermills use the wheel to operate hammers. Fulling mills are powered using water wheels for cloth making. The trip hammer is also used for making wrought iron and for working iron into useful shapes, an activity that is otherwise labour-intensive. The water wheel is also used in papermaking, beating material to a pulp. | ||
Suderviker engineers have developed a unique style of watermill station. If a location does not have a dedicated source of flowing water, a water tower will be constructed and filled. The process of filling a water tower is time consuming, as the water must be transported by land, and lifted in large buckets using a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treadwheel_crane treadwheel crane]. After the water tower is filled, the tower will be connected via a system of aqueducts to the water wheel. Once used, the water is channeled into a small drainage area where it is then pumped back into the water tower using a [[windpumphttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windpump|windpump]], or muscle-power via a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse_mill horsemill] where horses, oxen or slaves are used. This system requires periodic refilling of water due to evaporation and general water spillage. | Suderviker engineers have developed a unique style of watermill station. If a location does not have a dedicated source of flowing water, a water tower will be constructed and filled. The process of filling a water tower is time consuming, as the water must be transported by land, and lifted in large buckets using a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treadwheel_crane treadwheel crane]. After the water tower is filled, the tower will be connected via a system of aqueducts to the water wheel. Once used, the water is channeled into a small drainage area where it is then pumped back into the water tower using a [[windpumphttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windpump|windpump]], or muscle-power via a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse_mill horsemill] where horses, oxen or slaves are used. This system is more expensive, requires constant maintenance and periodic refilling of water due to evaporation and general water spillage. As a result of this, watermills are generally constructed along the abundant river systems found on the islands. | ||
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windmill Windmills] are also used in competition to water wheels. Certain areas of the kingdom have advantages to using windmills or watermills and vice versa. | [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windmill Windmills] are also used in competition to water wheels. Certain areas of the kingdom have advantages to using windmills or watermills and vice versa. Windmills are also used to power many other industrial processes, including papermills, threshing mills, and to process oil seeds, wool, paints and stone products. There are more than 30,000 watermill stations and 18,000 windmills spread across the kingdom, making up a majority of it's industrial capacity. | ||
===Infrastructure=== | ===Infrastructure=== | ||
Sudervik maintains an extentive network of brick roads, | Sudervik maintains an extentive network of brick roads and bridges, and maintains a large public works labour force for upkeeping the vast network. | ||
===Transport=== | ===Transport=== | ||
Revision as of 12:50, 15 December 2021
 | This article is incomplete because it is pending further input from participants, or it is a work-in-progress by one author. Please comment on this article's talk page to share your input, comments and questions. Note: To contribute to this article, you may need to seek help from the author(s) of this page. |
Kingdom of Sudervik Koninkrijk Sudervik | |
|---|---|
.png) Flag
 Coat of arms
| |
| Motto: Kracht uit de zee! | |
| Anthem: "Our Island" | |
| Capital and largest city | Vollenhove |
| Official languages | Dutch |
| Recognised regional languages | Danish, Low Saxon, Frisian |
| Ethnic groups | Dutch, Dane, Frisian, Saxon |
| Demonym(s) | Suderviker |
| Government | Semi-Constitutional Monarchy |
• King | Adalbert IX |
• Prime Minister | Rikkert Fleer |
| Legislature | Parliament of Sudervik |
| Establishment | |
• Early Feudal Age | Vollenhove-Walswick Union |
| Population | |
• Estimate | 28,822,000 |
| Currency | Sudervik Florin |
Sudervik, officially the Kingdom of Sudervik is a sovereign island-state located in what is called the Süd Depths. Sudervik is the foremost constitutional monarchy in the known world, encompassing the island of Sudervik, the sister islands of Larceth, Oldrin and Walswick, the dependent islands of Cardlow, Lonwell, Tollant, Allerdurn and Osby, and a number of smaller islands officially under the jurisdiction of Sudervik. The islands have a total area of about 287,640 square kilometres with a population of 28 million. The Kingdom of Sudervik is not a federation; it is a collection of one sovereign state and many dependent territories and satellite states united under its monarch. However, due to their separate historical and cultural identities, these parts of the realm have always felt disassociated with Sudervik proper. Viceroys and governors have assumed administrative responsibilities in many distant islands, acting as personal representatives of the monarch.
The Kingdom of Sudervik started to consolidate during the early feudal age of the island, when the Lord Protector of the City of Vollenhove, Eldert Vollenhoven, had entered into a dynastic union with the island of Walswick several miles off the coast, with Walswick being the lesser partner in the personal union. Eldert was the son of the sovereign Grand Princess Amira Dumont of Walswick and the Lord Protector Kevan Vollenhoven of the city-state of Vollenhove. Upon succession of both titles, Eldert inherited both Vollenhove and Walswick, but it wasn’t until his son Nicolaas succeeded him that the Kingdom of Sudervik was officially created. Thereafter, Sudervik increasingly became a hegemonic power in its region, exerting influence over smaller island realms nearby and coastal territories.
Sudervik has been in a period of technological and cultural stagnation, appearing to be stuck in the late 17th to mid 18th century. There is no explanation as to why such a phenomenon has occured, and the population of Sudervik is unaware of the stagnation.
Etymology
The name Sudervik originates from a cryptic and extinct language used by the first settlers of the islands, which is now only known as Ancient Suderviker. The name Sudervik can be roughly translated to "Vines of the Süd", where 'suder' means 'belonging to Süd' and 'vik' roughly menaing 'vines' or 'vegitation'. The most most widely accepted hypothesis for "Vines of the Süd" is the first description of the islands the early settlers had came up with, likely taking note of the lush coastline and vines and moss growing on the fjords and cliffs.
History
Work in Progress
Geography
Sudervik and all islands and islets within are located in a body of water called the Süd Depths, where its name is derived. Most of the islands are represented by forested hilly landscapes with jagged and rocky coasts. Almost all of the islands are covered by temperate coniferous rainforests and taiga, the coniferous forests dominated by pine, spruce, fir and larch. Some portions of the islands are wetlands or meadows, especially near the numerous rivers. A number of areas of the kingdom have been designated as Royal Preserves, protected natural areas for use of the royal family only. Along the rock-bound coasts are lighthouses, beaches, fishing villages, and thousands of offshore islands. There are jagged rocks and cliffs and many bays and inlets. Geologists describe this type of landscape as a "drowned coast", where a rising sea level has invaded former land features, creating bays out of valleys and islands out of mountain tops.
There are a large number of wild animals present on the islands, with the most common being reindeer, coyotes, foxes, pine squirrels and beavers. Sudervik is home to a great number of birds including Golden Eagles, Cardinals, Bluebirds, and Westland Petrels. Many species of fish live in the ocean waters surrounding the islands, and the fishing industry is a major part of the economy, including commercial whaling.
Climate
The climate of Sudervik is humid continental climate and a cool summer subtype. Surface water temperatures around the islands reach a summer average of 12 °C (54 °F) inshore and 9 °C (48 °F) offshore to winter lows of −1 °C (30 °F) inshore and 2 °C (36 °F) offshore. The sea keeps winter temperatures slightly higher and summer temperatures a little lower on the coast than inland. The maritime climate produces more variable weather, ample precipitation in a variety of forms, greater humidity, lower visibility, more clouds, less sunshine, and higher winds than a continental climate. Light to heavy fog is a common and near daily occurance on the islands
Politics
The Kingdom of Sudervik is a semi-constitutional monarchy. The reigning monarch is the head of state, the incumbent being King Adalbert IX. The monarch is the ultimate head of state and is, at least nominally or symbolically, advised by parliament.
The King is the Head of State and the Commander-in-Chief of the kingdom and all dependent territories, and has near absolute authority over the Royal Armed Forces, the bureaucracy, and the entire kingdom and regions itself. The King has sole power to appoint, dismiss, approve, and supervise the regional governors and Viceroys. The King also has the power to organize and declare the budget, economy, taxes, and trade, order the Parliament into session, dismiss it from meeting at will, declare its agenda, and propose, reject, and initiate all Parliamentary bills. The King also controls, supervises, and disbands the Courts and has the final judicial say. As such, the Kings mere word is enough for the Royal hierarchy to enact his will. Despite all this, the monarch usually goes through the proper channels and conducts the necessary formalities to enact his will.
The Parliament of Sudervik, formally known as the His Majesty's Royal Parliament, has its powers limited by the monarchy. The parliament is comprised of several political parties, with dominant party being the Nationale Volkspartij. The monarch holds the ability to veto bills and appoint officials. Most day-to-day administrative duties lie in the hands of the Council of State, headed by the Prime Minister. In practice the monarch wields a large amount of influence over government policies and national opinion, due to general widespread popularity. No major conflict has ever arisen between parliament and the monarch, due to the dominance of the Nationale Volkspartij. As a result, the monarch effectively controls government policies. The other largest political parties include the Liberale Partij (Liberal Party) and Vaderlandpartij (Fatherland Party).
The republican movement has existed since the foundation of the commonwealth, and is generally associated with the Liberale Partij, the largest opposition in Parliament. However, it has gained little influence and traction, due to the monarchy's widespread popularity and the stability many citizens feel it gives the country. Three citizen-sponsored referenda on the issue have been held, in 1949, 1955 and 1959; all failed, although the republican vote in 1955 exceeded 30%. It was only after the immense cost of a power shift in the government following the death of Stephen IV that the republican movement grew in popularity.
Military
Sudervik's military, officially His Majesty's Royal Defence Forces, Sudervik Defence Forces or SDF, is organised into the Royal Ground Security Service, Royal Naval Security Service, Royal Peacekeepers and Joint Support Service branches. As of the last census, the SDF has a strength of 200,000 active soldiers and 60,000 civilians. Reservists are available to the armed forces and participate in defence exercises and deployments abroad. Military service is compulsory for men at age 18 and are required to servce one year. The Royal Peacekeepers have around 90,000 active members. They serve as a gendarmerie tasked with maintaining order throughout the nation. During peacetime, each constituency has it's own Head Peacekeeper who is the commander of the district's respective garrison. Their duties consist of arresting political dissidents, rebels, and other lawbreakers. Peacekeepers form the bulk of both law enforcement and the military of Sudervik as they serve as foot soldiers and police.
Foreign relations
Economy
Agriculture
Sudervik has long supported and maintainted a primarilly agrarian economy. Wheat is the single most important arable crop, but oats and barley are also cultivated extensively. In some parts of the kingdom, legumes and beans are also cultivated. On the island of Cardlow, a hybrid tobacco is grown extensively and exported to all parts of the kingdom. Sheep, cattle, oxen and pigs are the most common for animal husbandry. Watermills and windmills are common gristmills in agricultural areas.
Mining
Mining does not make up a large part of the economy, but the demand for metals in the country is still high. The main resources extracted from mining are iron, tin, lead, silver and coal. Acquiring ore through strip mining has been supplemented by more advanced techniques, including tunnels, trenches and bell-pits. Iron ore is usually processed locally at water-powered bloomery. Exploitation of woodlands has provided ample amounts of required charcoal for the smelting process, however in some areas coal is mined commercially produced from bell-pits and strip mining as a bi-product of other mines.
Huge quantities of silver are produced from a semicircle of mines on the island of [placeholder]. Around three to four tonnes of silver are mined each year. Tin mining is centred in [placeholder], exploiting alluvial deposits. Tin is a valuable export good, and shipped to every island in the kingdom. Lead is usually mined as a by-product of mining for silver, with mines in [placeholder] near the silver mines. Economically fragile, the lead mines have survived as a result of being subsidised by silver production.
Industry
The dominant form of mechanized power is created from watermills. Using water towers as buffers and gears for transmission, water mills have been the primary means of industrial production in Sudervik. Water mills are used for grinding grain, producing flour for bread, malt for beer, or coarse meal for porridge. Hammermills use the wheel to operate hammers. Fulling mills are powered using water wheels for cloth making. The trip hammer is also used for making wrought iron and for working iron into useful shapes, an activity that is otherwise labour-intensive. The water wheel is also used in papermaking, beating material to a pulp.
Suderviker engineers have developed a unique style of watermill station. If a location does not have a dedicated source of flowing water, a water tower will be constructed and filled. The process of filling a water tower is time consuming, as the water must be transported by land, and lifted in large buckets using a treadwheel crane. After the water tower is filled, the tower will be connected via a system of aqueducts to the water wheel. Once used, the water is channeled into a small drainage area where it is then pumped back into the water tower using a windpump, or muscle-power via a horsemill where horses, oxen or slaves are used. This system is more expensive, requires constant maintenance and periodic refilling of water due to evaporation and general water spillage. As a result of this, watermills are generally constructed along the abundant river systems found on the islands.
Windmills are also used in competition to water wheels. Certain areas of the kingdom have advantages to using windmills or watermills and vice versa. Windmills are also used to power many other industrial processes, including papermills, threshing mills, and to process oil seeds, wool, paints and stone products. There are more than 30,000 watermill stations and 18,000 windmills spread across the kingdom, making up a majority of it's industrial capacity.
Infrastructure
Sudervik maintains an extentive network of brick roads and bridges, and maintains a large public works labour force for upkeeping the vast network.
Transport
Sudervik's extensive and connected systems of navigable rivers and coastal access allows for cheap and easy transportation of agricultural products. Land transport is a suppliment to the navigable rivers to enhance the all-weather shipment of cash crops to market. Roads tie farms and plantations areas to the nearest river or seaport for easier and more cost-effective shipping.