Sydalon

Kingdom of Sydalon Rinu di Sydalon (Sydalene)
Flag Coat of Arms
Motto: "Timor Dei et gloriam Regia" (Latin) (Fear God and Honor the Queen)
Anthem: Kanda di Sydalon Song of Sydalon Royal anthem: Custodiat Deus Reginam Honor the Queen
Royal Badge:
Location of Sydalon (dark green) – in Scipia (dark grey)
Capital	Sydalon
Government seat and largest city	Ostracine
Official language and national language	Sydalene
Recognized minority language	Saydan Latin Montgisene Outremene
Ethnic groups (2021)	81% Sydalene 15% Belisarian ancestry 4% other
Religion	90.4% Christianity 2.2% Jewish 5.1% Irreligious 2.3% Other
Demonym(s)	Sydalene
Government	Asymmetrically devolved unitary absolute monarchy
• Queen	Melisende III
• Chancellor	Aloisio Formica, 14th Kt.
• Lord Speaker	The Lord de Ondini
• Speaker of the National Assembly	Elisabetta de Calvacamp
Legislature	Parliament
• Upper house	Senate
• Lower house	National Assembly
Formation
• First Crusade	1237
• Third Crusade	1297
• Counter Crusade	1451
• First Constitution	2 September 1919
Area
•	119,820 km2 (46,260 sq mi)
Population
• 2017 estimate	14,695,000 (xth)
• 2013 census	13,230,291
• Density	122.64/km2 (317.6/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)	2017 estimate
• Total	$516.96 billion
• Per capita	$35,179
GDP (nominal)	2017 estimate
• Total	$403.1 billion
• Per capita	$27,425
Currency	Denarius (𐆖) (SDD)
Date format	dd/mm/yyyy (AD)
Driving side	left
Calling code	+555
Internet TLD	.sy

Sydalon (Sydalene: Rinu di Sydalon), officially known as the Kingdom of Sydalon, is a asymmetrically devolved unitary absolute monarchy of nearly 15 million people on the continent of Scipia. It share a land borders with Yisrael to the south. It is bordered by the Periclean Sea to the northwest, where it shares a maritime border with Latium, and the Thalassan Ocean to the east.

In ancient times, Sydalon was inhabited by Aradians, whom were thought to be native to the area and first rose to prominence around 1500 BC. The ancient Aradians spread Aradian culture and religion throughout the Periclean Sea basin, establishing city-states throughout the Periclean Sea, and even as distant as Vardana. The first among these city-states was Aradia, which was located at or near the modern day city of Ostracine, and rapidly grew to become a mercantile power and one of the dominant forces of the ancient Perliclean basin. The civilization gradually declined as other peoples began to challenge Aradian dominance of trade in the Periclean Sea. By the turn of the 6th century BC, Aradian dominance was completely eroded in the area, and its center of power shifted east to Tyria.

The area known as Sydalon has been home to many cultures and civilizations, falling under the control of the Latin Empire during the 2nd century BC. The decline and erosion of Latin imperial control in the 6th century saw the settlement of the not!Vandals in eastern Sydalon, centered on Toron, Elysia, and Melfi. While this Germanic kingdom was often times a tributary to the Latins and other nearby states, it remained under !Vandal control until it fell under Hebrew control. The modern Sydalene state was founded out of the First Crusade in an effort by Catholic Belisarian rulers and the Fabrian Pope to restore the wikipedia:Holy Land to Christian control. Following the 4 year crusade, the Catholic armies, particularly Jordan of Garza was granted the city of Sydalon as his seat and proclaimed the King of Sydalon by the Pope Martin I in 1237. King Jordan I was also made the liege lord of a number of other conquered cities and lands in the surrounding area after subsequent crusaders.

By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Sydalon had seen a rise in an ethnic Sydalene national identity, instead of the disparate ethnic groups seeing themselves as individuals. This was in large part fostered to the ever-growing stature of the Monarch in Sydalene daily life. The highly centralized monarchy saw to the country's rapid industrialization and a surge in economic growth. This growth was stifled following an uprising to overthrow the monarchy led by a number of revolutionary groups led by the common people. The civil war in lasted from 1899 until 1902, ending during the reign of King Rainier II. In this period, Sydalon offered to accept immigrants from predominantly Catholic communities to offset the devastation from the civil war, leading to a higher number of citizens with Belisarian ancestry.

Sydalon's economy is largely service sector, though still relies on a strong industrial sector, though agriculture is limited. It is one of the largest oil exporters in the world. Tourism is also a key aspect of the Sydalene economy, due to its status as the Holy Land, which includes the city of Sydalon and the village of Sarpeta – the birthplace of Jesus Christ. Since 2000, the government has actively sought foreign direct investments, primarily from the christian nations. Sydalon is occasionally noted for its mistreatment of non-Christian residents, due to harsh segregation laws and limited civil rights for non-Christians.

Sydalon is the 5th largest economy in Scipia and the 27th largest in the world. Sydalon is a member of AOPN, Forum of Nations, North Scipian Free Trade Association, and the Organization of Latin States.

Etymology

Sydalon takes its name from the city of Sydalon, which itself is believed to be named after the nearby Sayda River. The river's name roughly translates to "fishery" or "fishing town", which was one of the major rivers flowing through ancient of Aradia. Initially area near the city of Sydalon was referred to as Colonia Marcia Fabria Saida, later as Colonia Claudia Fabria Saida, by the Latins, for which the etymology is unknown but in the 2nd century first was referred to as Sayda. During the barbarian kingdom era, the area was known as Sidlun.

History

Classical period

Main article: Aradia

Ancient Aradian ruins near modern-day Ostracine.

The first instance of recorded history in the area of modern Sydalon was in the form of the Aradian civilization. The Aradians were a Semitic speaking people, believed to have migrated to western Scipia from further east near modern-day TBD and TBD. The culture first formed into various independent city-states in around 1500 BC, which is the accepted date of the founding of the city of Aradia, on which the modern city of Sydalon currently sits. Aradian explorers and colonists would go on to found cities throughout the Periclean basin, including cities in modern-day Fakolana and Latium.

The decline of the city of Aradia as the dominant local power came to an abrupt end when the city-state of Alalia worked to form a coalition of nearby city-states, including the Hellene city-state of Megara. The Alalians and their allies quickly defeated the Aradians in a single pitched battle, where classical historians claim that war elephants were cause for the Alalian victory. The Alalian-led confederation was primarily focused on maritime trade and control of the entry to the Periclean and began to found colonies in modern-day southern Latium, including Utica. The Alalian expansion across the western Perilcean was noticed by the Latins to the north, prompting a series of wars between the peoples of Latium and the Alalian confederation.

The earliest of these conflicts were initiated by the Alalia, desiring a greater expansion into Belisaria. The largest battles were concentrated on the southern Belisarian coast, around the cities of Boroea and Orola, however would end in a stalemate, with the first war ending in the 4th century BC. The second Aradian-Latin War began in 299 BC, and would result in the Latin capture of Utica, Beroea, and Orola, resulting in a major defeat for Alalian desires of a Belisarian-based empire. Alalians and the confederation would continue to exist until the region was finally subdued in the final Alalian-Latin War in 3 BC, where the major coastal region would begin to be integrated into the Latin Empire.

Middle ages

Sydalon was first founded as a crusader following theFirst Crusade in the 1230s, following a call by the Pope Alexander IV to enlist the Catholic community to re-establish control over lost or abandoned territories formerly held on the continent of Scipia, including the Christian Holy Land centered around Sydalon. Many of the crusader were led by second or third born sons of Belisarian noble families and even those across the Catholic communities of the world after the promise of lands, riches and fame.

Geography

Administrative divisions

Main article: Political divisions of Sydalon

Sydalon operates under a de jure unitary system of government with various levels of devolution due to different powers of local government that result in a de facto asymmetrical federal system. The primary level of organization are domains, which are either classified as Principalities, Duchies, Counties. The Royal Domain consists of the remaining territory in Sydalon, which includes the Crown Lands. Unlike other first level domains, the Royal Domain is not represented by its own government and is under the direct control of the Monarch and the central royal government. Domains are further subdivided into provinces, which are the second level of administration, and further into municipalities as the lowest level. All domains feature their own legislative or consultative assemblies, with executive functions held by either the domain's monarch, or appointed viceroy in the case of royal lands.

Politics

Melisende III Queen

Sydalon is an asymmetrically devolved unitary constitutional absolute monarchy, with limited representative democracy at different levels of government. Melisende III, is the current Monarch and serves as head of state and government.

Monarch

Main article: Monarchy of Sydalon

The Monarch is the hereditary constitutional absolute monarch of Sydalon. The Monarch's authority and power are defined in the constitution. Executive power is exercised by the Monarch through Her Majesty's Government, which comprises of the Council of Ministers, which is a committee of the Haute Cour. The Chancellor leads the Council of Ministers in the Monarch's absence, and is often regarded as the de facto head of government.

The Constitution grants the Monarch extensive executive powers over government. The Monarch presides over the Council of Ministers and appoints it's ministers who serve at the Monarch's pleasure. The Monarch may terminate the tenure of any minister, and after consultation with the heads of the Parliament, to dissolve the assembly, suspend the constitution, call for new elections, or rule by decree. The Monarch retains is veto power over legislation, which may be overturned by a two-thirds super-majority vote in the Parliament. The Monarch holds the power to declare war and peace, and does not require approval from Parliament, though may be limited by budgetary restrictions controlled by Parliament. The Monarch may also submit constitutional amendments to Parliament.

Parliament

Seat of Parliament, in Ostracine.

Main article: Parliament of Sydalon

Sydalon operates with a bicameral legislature, collectively referred to as Parliament. The Senate acts as the upper house in Parliament, and has the honor of being the oldest, and original house of Parliament. The Senate is an appointed body, with all members appointed by the Monarch or holding hereditary seats.

The National Assembly is the lower house in the Parliament, featuring 256 members elected every three years by single-member districts and party-list proportional representation. The National Assembly's powers have recently been expanded to include budgetary matters, approving bills, questioning ministers, and establishing ad hoc commissions of inquiry to investigate the government's actions. The National Assembly was established following the New Year's Revolt, with its first election held in 2018. Of the two houses of Parliament, the Senate is the house with the most power and influence over legislation.

Law and criminal justice

Main articles: Law of Sydalon and Judiciary of Sydalon

Sydalon utilizes a civil law system whereby law arises from statute. Law in Sydalon is primarily influenced by Latin law, Garzan law, and canonical law,. Under this system, judges cannot make law and simply interpret it. Sydalon's code of law is primarily based on Latin law, Aulian law, and in some instances ecclesiastical law. Law is divided into private law and public law. Private law includes civil and criminal law; while public law includes administrative, constitutional, and religious law.

The judiciary is consists of two components: the royal court system and the domain court system. Royal courts constitute the national-level court system and includes Royal District Courts, the Court of Cassation, and the Court of the Queen's Bench (or King's Bench if the Monarch is male). The Court of the Queen's Bench is the court of last resort in Sydalon, holding appellate jurisdiction over all ordinary and extraordinary matters. The Court of Cassation acts as an intermediate court of appeal in the royal court system, while the District Courts hold original jurisdiction for violations of national criminal law and civil matters over 𐆖90,000 and serve as the national general trial court. Royal courts may remove matters to lesser domain courts at their sound discretion. Domain judiciaries mirror the national system in organization. There is no separate judiciary for the Royal Domain, and all matters arising out of the Royal Domain fall within the jurisdiction of the District Courts.

Domain courts vary across the nation in terms of court rules, but broadly follow the same general-appellate-last resort system. The exception is the special administrative area of Petra, which lacks a court of last resort, where instead appeals from the intermediate appellate court are heard by the Prince of Petra or removed to the Court of the Queen's Bench.

Foreign relations

Main article: Foreign relations of Sydalon

Sydalon maintains diplomatic missions with nearly all nations of the world. Sydalon is a member of the Forum of Nations, Society of Latin States and Peoples, North Scipian Free Trade Association. It also holds observer membership in the Joint Space Agency. Prior to the 1970s, Sydalon's chief geopolitical adversary was Yisrael, which borders Sydalon to the south. Tensions began to normalize following the signing of the Yarden Accords. Sydalon is party to a quasi-political union with nearby Ascalzar, as the Monarch of Sydalon is Co-Prince of Ascalzar. Sydalon maintains amicable relations with nearly all Catholic nations, and maintains strong ties to Garima. However, relations with culturally linked Garza remain tense following the Elysian plot and 1973 succession crisis.

Military

Main articles: Sydalene Defense Forces and Order of the Holy Lance

Economy

Sydalon has the Xth largest economy among states on the continent of Scipia with a gross domestic product of $403.1 billion as of 2017. The Sydalene currency is the denarius (𐆖), and its central bank is the Bancu Sydalonae. Most major, non-oil production, industries, businesses and financial institutions are located in the Philippopolis, Ostracine or Sydalon metropolitan areas; however, the largest financial institutions are located in Petra due to the primacy of the Order of the Holy Lance within the area. One of Sydalon's largest exports is in petroleum and natural gas, which recently has seen a downward trend in demand. Since the 1960s, the Sydalene government has made plans to diversify its economy in recent years by placing a greater focus on other areas of industry, particularly infrastructure, tourism, and technology. These plans focus on exports, private investment and the development of the high-tech sector. Sydalon is a member of the AOPN.

Tourism

Tourism, including religious tourism, is one of the major industries of the Sydalene economy due to its climate, beaches, historical sites, and religious and biblical sites. Along with its biblical sites, such as Sydalon, Sarpeta, and Tiberias, Sydalon's religious tourism is spurred on by Fabria and the Papacy being located within its borders. Sydalon's tourism industry has significantly risen since the signing of the Yarden Accords.

Demographics

Ethnic groups

While Sydalene is considered its own ethnic group, traditionally, Sydalon is considered to have three chief Sydalene ethnic groups: Petran, Outremene, and Sayadan. Of these groups, Sayadan refers to those that primarily descend from ancient Aradian peoples, Outremene Sydalene peoples are those that descend from crusaders or those that trace their origins to the crusades or Belisarian origin, and Gebalan are peoples descended from a mix of Sayadan or Outremene peoples with groups from northern Belisaria, such as Ghant or Ottonia. Government statistics no longer consider these groups to be separate ethnic groups and are instead considered as subgroups of a single Sydalene ethnic group.

The most recent census places Sydalene as the most populous ethnic group, with roughly 79% of all citizens identifying as this group. For government purposes, Sydalene encompasses the three traditional groups, as well as Montgisene people; however, this remains a disputed point of contention among residents of Montgisard, due to differences in language. Individuals of Belisarian descent consist of the second largest ethnic group, while Yisraelis have consistently composed a sizable minority group throughout history, though the Yisraeli population in Sydalon as continued to drop since the 20th century.

Languages

Sydalon is a multi-lingual country, however the constitution enshrines Sydalene as the official and national language of the entire country. The constitution also protects a group of languages considered "Sydalene languages", which are regional languages in Sydalon. These regional languages are often the official language of first-level domains, such as Montgisene language in Montgisard or Petran in Petra. The regional languages marked as official in domains are:

• Montgisene (moinngisehe) in Montgisard
• Outremene (outre-mer) in Melfi, Philippopolis, Tanas, Toron.
• Sayadan (saydene) in Hayan, Gadir, Petra, Tanas

Religion

The dominant religion in Sydalon is Catholicism, with over 92% of the population adhering to a the church. The Constitution of Sydalon enshrines that Fabrian Church as the state religion, a status it has held since the kingdom's founding in the First Crusade. Sydalon is an Apostolic See, and home to the Patriarch of Sydalon. The country is home many Christian holy sites, including Sarpeta, the birthplace of Jesus; Sydalon's old city, where Jesus often preached; Koponia which was where the crucifixion took place; Mount Gerizim Sanctuary; Mount Ebal’ Sepulchre, and various major religious sites throughout other areas of the country. Sydalon is also home to a number of other religions, most notably Judaism, and Azdarin. Judaism has a long history in Sydalon, first appearing in first millennium BC as the major religion of a number of Aradian city-states.

As the state religion, Fabrian Catholicism receives protections and guarantees from the government that other faiths and their adherents do not. Citizens that are not Christian are prohibited from entering the city of Sarpeta, and in some cases may be prohibited from public service. The government has held a policy of offering further state and social benefits for citizens that seek conversion, and has been accused by human rights groups of forcing conversion to Catholicism under threat of imprisonment or death. It is illegal for non-Catholic missionaries to evangelize in Sydalon, with those found guilty facing severe criminal and financial penalties. The central royal government regulates recognition of religions within its borders, and recognized religions are afforded limited privileges.

Education

Education in Sydalon is free and compulsory for primary school and secondary school, or ages 5 through 18. Education is regulated at the national level, though domains are afforded devolved powers to control key curriculum within their jurisdictions. Primary and secondary schools fall into one of two categories: public and private. For government purposes, private schools that receive any government funding are considered public, or semi-private, and come with greater government oversight. Anywhere from 10 to 20% of private schools in Sydalon are secular schools, who primarily cater to religious minorities; however, religious non-Catholic private schools are prohibited with limited exceptions. Public schools in Sydalon receive Catholic religious instruction.

In domains where a recognized language is spoken in concert with Sydalene, education may be entirely provided in that recognized language so long as Sydalene instruction is also provided to all students. Montgisard and Petra remain the only domains where education is handled in both Sydalene and their respective regional languages.

Students that wish to attend university must complete a Level 3 education before passing college entrance exams.