Blayk

Grand Kingdom of Blayk Rouoyaume Grand de Blayc (Blaykish)
Flag Coat of Arms
Motto:  "Audeamus" "May we dare"
Anthem: Trais Couronnes Unies "Three Crowns United"
Location of Blayk
Capital and largest city	Montigné
Official languages	Blaykish Vervillian
Recognised regional languages	Litavin Sarbeliard Tyrnican
Demonym(s)	Blaykish
Government	Unitary Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy
• Monarch	Leopold III
• Prime Minister	Pierre Édouardais
Legislature	Parlement (Chambres des Députés)
Establishment
• Treaty of Breun	15th January 920
• First Constitution	October 6th 1802
• Chaudoir Restoration	3rd February 1822
Area
•	542,093 km2 (209,303 sq mi)
• Water (%)	1.34
Population
• 2017 census	79,310,821
• Density	146/km2 (378.1/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)	2018 estimate
• Total	$3.570 trillion (4th)
• Per capita	$45,023
GDP (nominal)	2018 estimate
• Total	$3.877 trillion (4th)
• Per capita	$48,893
Gini (2017)	29.1 low
HDI (2018)	0.934 very high (6th)
Currency	Commonwealth mark (CMR)
Time zone	UTC+1 (Western Auhr Standard Time)
Date format	dd-mm-yyyy
Driving side	left
Calling code	+06
ISO 3166 code	BLC
Internet TLD	.blc

Blayk (Blaykish: Blayc, pronounced: /ˈbleɪk/), officially the Grand Kingdom of Blayk (Blaykish: Rouoyaume Grand de Blayc) is a sovereign state and constitutional monarchy located in Western Auressia. The country extends from the Western Ocean to the Khovaar strait and borders Rythene to the north west, Vervillia and the Imperial Confederacy to the south and the city state of Avilême to the east. Blayk consists of fifteen provinces further spilt into three hundred and nineteen electorates, covering a total of 542,093 square kilometres. It has the second highest population within Auressia with 79.31 million inhabitants as of 2018. Blayk's capital is Montigné, the country's largest city and main commercial and cultural hub. Other important urban centres include Elberné, Marbonne, Fluery, Alberrai and Arden.

During the iron age the area that now makes up Blayk was inhabited by a collection of Rubic tribes. The Sabarine Empire annexed the region in 60 BC forming the province of Vervillia, holding onto it until the arrival of the Isaric Blakes who created the Kingdom of Blacia in 470 and later the Second Sabarine Empire. The Treaty of Breun in 920 spilt the Kingdom into the Cuscaire dominated, independent, Kingdom of Blayk and the Sabarine Kingdoms of Vervillia. Blayk became one of the leading powers in Auressia during the late middle ages, and secured it's self a foremost naval power after the War of the Khovaarian League. The early modern period saw the nation enter union with Vervillia and the creation of one of the first overseas empires.

The beginning of the 19th century saw a period of great unrest after the death of Phillip III, culminating in the Blaykish Civil War and the establishment of a Blaykish Republic. The War of the Commons saw Blayk, Rythene and other republican forces band together against invading coalition forces intent on establishing Autocratic rule in Western Auressia. The end of the war in 1816 at the Congress of Essarien saw the restoration of the monarchy under the rule of Gilbert II and the loss of Blayk's colonial possessions. Gilbert II proved to be an unpopular King, leading to him being forced to abdicate in 1822. The interregnum following this abdication allowed the nation to develop into the constitutional popular monarchy it is today. Blayk was a major combatant in the Great War, during which it was allied with Rythene.

In the 21st century Blayk is recognised as a great power. The country has the 4th largest economy in the world by nominal GDP and is ranked highly in many international quality of life ratings such as civil liberties, education, life expectancy and human development. The nation was the first in the world to industrialise and remains an important exporter in steel, machinery and motor vehicles. Blayk also has a sizeable agricultural sector being one of the world's largest producers of many varieties of wines and cheeses.

Etymology

Originally applying to whole northern region of the Holy Sabarine Empire, Blayk derives from the Sabarine Blacia or "country of the Blakes". The Tyrnican name Blachland and Litavin Bro Blaeg share the same meaning.

There are a few theories on the origins of the name Blake. Many have linked the word Blake to Rythenean black or bleak. The name Blake thus may have been adopted from proto-isaric *blakaz meaning dark or black haired, a trait noted by Sabarine writers or *blaikaz meaning pale perhaps meaning in contrast to the nomadic people who inhabited Central Auressia before the Isaric tribes.

History

Blaykish Civil War (1799 - 1822)

With the outbreak of the War of the Commons in early 1799 and the subsequent death of Phillip III later that year, tensions were high in Blayk. Phillip III's only son had succumbed to dysentery in 1795, leaving the succession of the throne to Gilbert of Sarbeliard, his cousin twice removed, and a de facto vassal of the Tyrnican King. Gilbert ruled in stark contrast to Phillip, creating unrest by vetoing a constitutional draft proposed by Parliament and attempting to remove the large degree of autonomy granted to the Blaykish colonies.

Mathys de Garlande leading the 300 demonstrators out of Alberrai towards Elberné

The change of power and ongoing involvement in the war against Rythene saw riots and general protest from the Blaykish population culminating in the massacre at Ymonville in January of 1801. Demonstrators marching from Alberrai to Elberné, led by the Marquis of Garlande, a popular liberal leader, were shot down by the Royal Guards upon entering the town of Ymonville north of Elberné. The massacre marks the beginning of the Blaykish Civil War, as shortly after news of the massacre spread through the nation, the royal residence in Montigné was ransacked, mimicking the beginning of the Rythenean Revolution ten years prior.

The Liberals, generally referred to as 'Phillipeans' based themselves around the highly developed industrial cities and ports of the south and west, while the Absolutist 'Gilbertines' held power in the less developed north and east of the country. From the beginning the Phillipeans had the upper hand, the early months of civil war saw mass desertions from the Gilbertine forces, forcing them to desert Breun in October of 1801 and leaving a clear march to the capital. Gilbertine forces were only further demoralised when, fearing the approaching liberal army, the King fled Blayk for his native Tyrnica in the December of 1801.