Constantia

Constantia
Constituent nation of Algaria
Constantian Free State
From top, left to right: Port Alfred CBD as seen from its harbour, Commonwealth's Independence Bell, Kensington Hill National Park, Constantian Legislature in Christiana, Princess Elizabeth Hall of the Benedectines College in Christchurch, lighthouse in New Kingsham, skyline of Christiana
Flag Coat of arms
Constituent nation	Algaria
Capital	Christiana
Government
• Type	Devolved parliamentary constitutional democracy
• President of Algaria	Name Surname
• Premier	Simone Breytenbach
Population  (2020)
• Total	9,084,742
Demonym	Constantian
GDP (PPP)
GDP (nominal)
HDI	0.911
Currency	Thaler (AGT)

Constantia, officially the Constantian Free State (Cutthish: Constantian Free State; Hesurian: Konstantischer Freistaat) is a constituent nation of the Commonwealth of Algaria. It is home to 9,084,742 people, making it the most popoulous portion of the Algarian island. Its population tends to be largely urban and is concentrated in the Chris-Alf Corridor, an urban and suburban expansion between the capital city Christiana, to the largest city, Port Alfred.

The first records of human presence in Constantia evolve to several indigenous tribes who spoke Algonquian languages and were spread along the coastline and on the banks of major rivers. Several records have left mark of long periods of conflicts between these groups and other significant native tribes. The first contact with trans-oceanic communities happened during Wesley Middelton's first voyage to Alvinia and landfall on Algaria in 1505, claiming the "New World" from the perspective of Bereans for the Cuthish Empire. In 1615, the first permanent settlement was founded by Nordic Semitar separatists and other Semitar religious minorities in what was later called Christiana. These groups rapidly enganged in territorial conflicts with indigenous peoples, which became frequent during the initial years of the colony although advanced weapons proved cathastrophic to natives in the long run. The majortiy of these were forced to leave the new colony or become slaves. The success of these colonial settlements drew interest from trans-oceanic powers, most notably the Købmandslaug and Kingdom of Aldia, which increased funds for explorers and colonisers. During the colonial period, the harbours of Christiana and Port Alfred became crucial in the region, being important centres for the spices and slave trade of Native Alvinians.

During the 18th century, the imposition of higher tax quotas started causing local disconfort, forcing the emergence of political and social leaders from Constantia that reclaimed fairer trade conditions. Tensions escalated into numerous turmoils and later open warfare between local, colonial figures and Cuthish regulars, which by 1778 were already expulsed of Constantia, marking the declaration of independence of the colony and the begin of the Algarian Revolutionary War. In the years that followed, the newborn nation became a centre for liberal thought; slavery was abolished entirely 1820 and an advance on social rights was pushed on the base of humanist and Semitar views. At the start of the 20th century, the country rapdily developed a significant industrial capacity, which met a growing quality of life, being the base for an export-based economy and the development of social democratic values under the leadership of Stiaan Van Der Byl. A period of war and extended impoverishment in the old world increased the immigration from these countries, turning Constantia and its urban poles into diverse melting pots, shaping society and recognizing it as one of the most ethnically diverse and multicultural in the world since then. Approaching the 1950s, however, exports decreased drastically, affecting the country's economy and forcing the end of the Liberal-Union Coalition dominance over Constantian politics; a period of conservative governments followed, with National and Conservative parties disputing most elections. Major corruption scandals in 1972 marked the return of the now Liberal Party and Progressive Alliance to power, which consolidated the welfare state in Constantia. Economic downturns during the 1990s propitiated the return of National governments, which implemented neoliberal programs through most of the 90s and early 00s.

Constantia boasts a diverse geography throughout most of its territory; while most of the south is covered in coastal plains covered in forests, northern regions see the proximity of numerous mountain chains and stratovolcanoes, which allow the formation of rolling hills across most of the countryside. Constantia is also rich in water reserves and hydropower, as its topography encompasses numerous aquifers and major rivers. It is described as a developed high-income economy, with its roots in the services and industrial sectors; however, farming and diary production are also crucial for the country's exports, making it a part agrarian-oriented economy.

Politically, Constantia is a devolved parliamentary democracy. It shares its national legislature, head of state, the Prime Minister, and head of government, the President, with Eblania, but has its own Premier, cabinet and legislature with a high level of autonomy. Like Eblania, and Algaria in general, Constantia usually ranks high in social inclusion and democratic performance, as well as government transparency and protection of civil liberties.

Law and government

Christiaan Van Vollenhoven
Premier of Constantia

Simone Breytenbach
President of Constantia

Constantia is, like Eblania, a constituent nation part of the Commonwealth of Algaria, and as such, it has its own political system with boundaries limited by the Constitution of the Constantian Free State. The region is governed by the Constantian Legislature, a unicameral legislature composed by 73 members, elected every four years by the people, and who enact laws in the regional sphere of Constantia and others matters within the responsibilities set out by the Algarian constitution. The legislative branch is in charge of electing a Premier, who then appoints and leads a regional executive. The government is currently lead by Simone Breytenbach, from the Liberal-Reformist Party, sister-party of the national Liberal Union.  

The judiciary of Constantia is below the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth, with jurisdiction over the two constituent nations. However, the Free State, like Eblania, count with its own High Court, which sits in Christiana. The Constantian judiciary is also responsible for Labour, Family and Indigenous Affairs Courts and Appeal Courts. Constantian institutions —legislative, executive and judiciary— are centred in Christiana, which is the capital city of the nation, while Algaria's Parliament is in Windhoek; other state institutions or ministry offices are also in Constantia.

The political union of Eblania and Constantia is rooted in historical ties, however, secession is a persistent political issue that affects internal policy in the two states. Progressive autonomy has been given over the years in different matters, and has been seen as a factor in the decrease of secession interest. The political culture of Constantia is rooted in a heritage of liberalism and Algarian nationalism.