Alsland

United Provinces of Alsland Feriene Provinsjes Aalslân (Dellish) Vereinigte Provinzen von Aalslanden (Weranian)
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Tegearre (Dellish) Zusammen (Weranian) Koos (Kirenian) Together
Anthem:  Alle dingen ljocht en moai (Dellish) All things Bright and Beautiful
Alsland (dark green) in Euclea (light green and dark grey) and in the Euclean Community (light green).
Capital and largest city	Yndyk
Official languages	Dellish Weranian Estmerish
Recognised regional languages	Kirenian
Demonym(s)	Alslandic
Government	Federal Parliamentary Republic
• President	Hepke Veltman
• Premier	Ottila Möller
• Co-Deputy Premiers	Bonne Zijlstra Vivienne Newman
Legislature	Folkssenaat
• Upper house	National Assembly
• Lower house	House of Representatives
Independence from Kirenia
• Declared	1919
• Recognised	1921
Area
•	46,789 km2 (18,065 sq mi)
• Water (%)	TBD
Population
• 2020 estimate	11,501,738
• 2019 census	11,384,499
• Density	243/km2 (629.4/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)	2020 estimate
• Total	€564.5 Billion
• Per capita	€49,583
GDP (nominal)	2020 estimate
• Total	€539.3 Billion
• Per capita	€47,374
Gini (2020)	34 medium
HDI (2020)	0.937 very high
Currency	(€) Euclo (EUC)
Date format	dd-mm-yyyy
Driving side	right
Calling code	+32
Internet TLD	.as

Alsland (Dellish: Aalslân; Weranian: Aalslanden), officially the United Provinces of Alsland is a country in Northern Euclea. It is bordered by Werania to the north, Estmere to the east and Kirenia to the west. It covers an area of TBD km2 (TBD sq mi) and has a population of more than 11.5 million. The capital and largest city is Yndyk; other major cities are Wottested, Werdau, Kirchester, Glauchau, Leens, Hurdegaryp, and Ilfracombe.

Alsland is divided into 8 autonomous provinces. Delland, Garz, Hamptonshire, Yndyk, Wottested, Fawkhamshire, Zittau and Martiland. Wottested is the smallest province and the youngest after voting to secede from Delland in a 1994 referendum. Yndyk is the richest and most densely populated province along with being the capital and largest city.

Alsland is home to four distinct communities. The Dellish speaking community primarily in the centre of the country, the Estmerish speaking community in the east of the country, the Weranian speaking community in the north and the Kirenian communities along the border with Kirenia.

[Fleshed out history goes here]

Following independence, tensions rose within the country, fueled by rising political and economic inequality faced by the Non-Dellish population. The Great War brought a temporary end to the tensions as the country was occupied by Gaullica. Following the end of the Great War, reforms were introduced transitioning Alsland into a federal system and most nationalist support fell off between the 1940s and 1960s. Alsland joined the Euclean Community in 1955

Alsland is a liberal democracy with a mixed market economy; Alsland's welfare state also provides subsidised Education and Healthcare. The country is a member of the Euclean Community and the Community of Nations. The country is considered to have a 'very high' and has a High average income.

History

Prehistory

• TBD

Weranic tribes

• TBD

Early Middle ages

• TBD

Middle ages

• TBD

Kirenian rule

• Annexation following 10 Years war
• TBD
• TBD
• TBD
• TBD
• TBD

The Leens Massacre was a catalyst in Alslandic independence.

As unrest within Kirenia grew, nationalistic sentiment also grew in Delland. Pro-independence figures from Delland met with separatists in Hamptonshire and Zittau in 1916 to discuss any future attempt at independence for the provinces. Although support for independence grew it steadied out. At the same time, worsening economic conditions in the city of Leens led to factory workers walking out over a period of two weeks grinding the cities industries to a halt. On 13 June 1918 as the general strike turned into a protest, Kirenian troops fired upon the workers and 16 people were killed in the shooting and the panic that followed. When news of the massacre spread around Delland there was widespread anger at the Kirenian troops in Leens. Nationalist politicians such as Siemen Hartmann, the leader of the Dellish Independence Movement, a nationalist party in Delland capitalised on the outrage and a large pro-independence demonstration was held in Yndyk which turned into a riot. 4 Rioters were killed and support for Dellish separatism grew. Hartmann and other separatist politicians were arrested on 11 January, 1917 in connection with organising the Yndyk riot. Hartmann was charged with Sedition and sentenced to 14 years in prison. Hartmann's arrest and conviction led to widespread anger and demonstrations broke out across the province. 3 Kirenians and 5 Dellish protesters were killed in the riots and a general strike was called in Delland. In response to the violence the Province was placed under martial law from 20 January to 11 February.

Following Hartmann's arrest his deputy, Rudolf Witteveen, became the leader of the Dellish National Movement. Whilst the party was banned it was still active and organised underground meetings. An arrest warrant was placed on Witteveen in August 1918 and Witteveen was forced to flee the province. With Witteveen gone, the Nationalist movements slowly became inactive and a crackdown on nationalist sentiment was introduced.

On 12 April 1919, Juhan VII, the King of Kirenia was assassinated. His suspected assassin was apprehended near Rahu attempting to flee to Delland. He was executed shortly after his arrest without a trial or a confession leading many to believe he was innocent. Juhan's assassination and the rumoured connections to Dellish separatism led to increased censorship and a further crackdown on Dellish separatist movements. 593 people were arrested during the crackdown and dozens were executed. The crackdown had the opposite effect with many beginning to support the independence movements. Peaceful demonstrations began in Delland on 18 October 1919 although many were arrested. The demonstrations turned violent and the Pro-Kirenian police forces and army were ordered to retreat from Wottested. In response to this, Hartmann and many other prominent nationalists were freed from prisons on 24 October 1919. Various pro-independence Militia's were set up in Delland. On 31 October 1919, Hartmann and other prominent nationalists announced the Declaration of Dellish Independence on the steps of the Wottested courthouse.

Independence

The areas claimed by the Republic of Delland

Following the Declaration of Independence, Hartmann was declared President of the Republic of Delland. Hartmann's first act was to declare that all able bodied young men should join a militia and protect Delland. Due to the geography in the area the Kirenian response was limited although garrisons were established in Yndyk and Leens. The Battle of Rikertsted in December 1919 proved to be a major defeat for the Separatist militias with dozens dying and the city remaining Kirenian. At this point, Dellish civilians outside Delland in Kirenia began returning to the Province to escape being ostracised in Kirenia. Over 300,000 people began entering Delland causing a major problem for the Dellish independence forces and the Kirenian forces. Fighting in the conflict largely subsided as both sides tried to deal with the Refugee problem.

On 27 January 1920, Councilists in Kirenia issued the Creation of the Kirenian Republic. Hartmann and other Pro-independene figures met with Councilist leaders in March 1920 and the Levandi-Hartmann agreement was formalised in which the Councilists would agree to recognise Delland as an independent state and Delland would recognise the councilists as the only legitimate government in Kirenia. Dellish militia's moved to occupy the entire province and establish a proper government.

Following the country's de-facto independence from Kirenia, it was still largely unrecognised by the international community, most notably the Weranian and Estmerish governments did not recognise the state as independent. Over a period of time from the Levandi-Hartmann agreement to July 1920 tensions rose within the Weranian provinces of Garz and Zittau, at the same time tensions also rose in Hamptonshire and Fawkhamshire.

The invasion of Alsland saw fighting primarily in the Kirchester area.

On 7 July 1920, Estmerish troops crossed the border at several locations in Hamptonshire and Fawkhamshire and advanced towards the provincial borders. Initial reports suggested it was a full-scale invasion and the newly formed Federale striidkrêften were organised to defend strategic locations in the country. Small skirmishes broke out in Hamptonshire however the intervention was largely peaceful.

Shortly after the Estmerish invasion, Weranian troops also crossed the border. The Weranian invasion was more peaceful than the Estmerish invasion. Werdau was occupied within a week. Alslandic law enforcement in the occupied areas were told to cooperate with the Weranians and Estmerish to not provoke a conflict. The Alslandic government agreed to open talks with both sides to resolve the occupation.

The X conference began in TBD to resolve the issue with Weranian and Estmerish representatives demanding the annexation of majority Weranian and majority Estmerish provinces into their respective countries. The conference ended with no resolution due to a disagreement over what would be annexed. The occupation continued until October 1920 when the Second X conference called for the establishment of Alsland as a buffer state between Werania and Kirenia and no territory would be annexed. The 1920 Constitution formally renamed Delland into Alsland to appease the various minorities in the country. The agreement also established Alsland's federal system.

Following the Second X conference, Estmere and Werania both recognised Alsland as an independent nation with other nations following suit shortly after this. Alsland became one of the smallest countries in Euclea and was geographically isolated from it's neighbours.

In 1922, Siemen Hartmann was implicated in a major corruption allegation and resigned. Hartmann's resignation was also fuelled by his worsening health and increasing tensions between the country's communities. Hartmann's resignation caused the Folkssenaat to dissolve itself and call new elections. Hartmann died from a blood infection in 1924 and was given a state funeral and a state of mourning for 5 days.

Upon the outbreak of hostilities in Euclea. Premier Viktor Funke declared that Alsland would remain a neutral country and refused to join either side. Funke later announced his resignation and he was replaced by Tsjaable Wouda in a landslide victory. Wouda clarified he sought to keep Alsland neutral although measures were taken against the People's Party of Alsland, a functionalist party which had been active in Alsland and had won seats in the 1928 election. On XX, XX 19XX at 17:58 Gaullican troops crossed the border from occupied Estmere into Fawkhamshire. Initial reports suggested that a small number of Gaullican forces had accidentally crossed the border into Alsland. Shortly after this it became clear that Gaullica had invaded the country as an air raid was conducted over Yndyk and Wottested. The Premier's residence was hit in the air raid but Funke was in Leens at the time. In an emergency meeting the Alslandic Parliament agreed to surrender to the Gaullican army to prevent further losses of life. Alsland surrendered on XX, less than 24 hours after the invasion began. Wouda was allowed to serve as the head of a civilian government in Yndyk.

20 days after the invasion, members of the DFK, took Wouda hostage and forced him to resign and appoint Sarbe Hoeksma as Premier. Wouda agreed and went into hiding with his family. Following the coup many members of Folkssenaat resigned, Hoeksma replaced them with members of the People's Party. The People's Party controlled Folkssenaat granted Hoeksma emergency powers which he used to suspend the constitution.

On December 20 1931, Hoeksma was assassinated and Anton Attema succeeded him as Prime Minister. Attema announced a crackdown on resistance to the government and over 1000 suspected Resistance members were arrested and executed in the following months. This had the opposite effect as support for the resistance skyrocketed.

Kirenian and Alslandic resistance fighters preparing to enter Wottested in 1934

On XX XX 1934, Kirenian forces crossed the Kirenia-Alsland border and began moving through Alsland with the Government in-exile's permission. The Alsland campaign was bloody and the city of Wottested suffered heavy damage in the Battle of Wottested. Following the Battle of Wottested which ended in a Kirenian victory, the Alslandic resistance with Grand Alliance support, began several large scale uprisings, most notably the Kirchester Uprising when the city and surrounding areas surrendered to resistance forces. The city was then subject to shelling by Entente forces in Alsland. The Alslandic Government led by Attema surrendered shortly after the Battle of Yndyk. Attema attempted suicide in captivity but failed and was put on trial and executed in Alsland's post-war trials.

After the end of the Great War, much of Alsland was in ruins and 28,374 Alslanders had been killed during the occupation and liberation of Alsland. After the Great War, the 1936 Constitution of Alsland was adopted via referendum which led to the reforming of the Federal system and the adoption of Estmerish and Weranian as co-official languages of Alsland. Kirenian did not gain any official status until 1951 when Martiland became a Province.

During the Kirenian-Weranian War, the provinces of Garz, Zittau and Martiland were all put under martial law to prevent any violent spillovers into Alsland. Several violent clashes in Northern Martiland between the police, ethnic Kirenians and ethnic Weranians caused a further crackdown on civil liberties in the area. After the treaty of Rayenne, many of the restrictions were ended however much of Martiland remained under military occupation by Alsland. The Folkssenaat agreed to suspend Alslandic neutrality after the Rayenne Treaty which eventually led to Alsland joined the Euclean Community in 1955 alongside several other North Euclean states.

The 1975-76 Martiland strikes were put down by police leaving 8 dead.

Stability in Martiland decreased throughout the 1960s and several protests broke out in the province, all of which suffered a harsh crackdown by Alslandic authorities. The Martish economy entered a major recession in 1974 and the Folkssennat revoked the Martish Assembly's legislative power and implemented several reforms which cut the minimum wage in the province and increased work hours in an attempt to stimulate the economy. A general strike was called in Martiland in late 1975. On April 22, 1976 the Definsjemacht was authorised to quell demonstrations in Rahu which led to 8 demonstrators being killed. 28 demonstrators and 3 soldiers being injured. In the following weeks it was confirmed that Premier Urseltsje Van Der Hoek had ordered the crackdown. The subsequent backlash led to her resignation.

A reconciliation effort was launched to end the violence in Martiland, violence from Martish separatists quelled during the reconciliation effort and Martiland was granted increased autonomy from Alsland.

The great recession in 2005 led to the worst recession in Alsland since the end of the Great War, a wave of demonstrations broke out and led to the election of the far-left Worker's Party in 2005. Following 2005, Alsland's neoliberal economic system was reformed and replaced gradually with a stronger welfare state along with a higher level of taxation.

Politics and Government

Government

President Hepke Veltman

Premier Ottila Möller

Alsland is a federal, parliamentary, republic. Legislative power is vested in the Folkssenaat (People's senate) which consists of the National Assembly and the House of Representatives. The House of Representatives is elected via the Single transferable vote system. Members of the National Assembly are elected via the First past the post system.

Alsland's political system operated under the framework laid out in the 1920 Alslandic constitution. Amendments to the constitution require a 2/3rds majority in both houses to become law. The constitutions articles enshrining Human rights, the federal system, the rule of law and the separation of powers cannot be changed at all.

Alsland's President, is currently Hepke Veltman who is the head of state and has representative responsibilities. The role of President is largely ceremonial since the 2010 Amendment after Onne Monsma removed Jabik Nieuwenhuis as Premier in a move largely seen as illegal and under pressure from the leader of the opposition Jochen Schünemann. Both were forced to leave office following the scandal.

The Premier of Alsland, currently Otilla Möller is the head of government and is appointed by the President and the Folkssenaat. The Premier is usually the leader of the largest party in the House of Representatives or a Bloc's candidate for Premier. The Premier exercises executive power through their Cabinet.

Since 1962, Alslandic politics have been dominated by the National Bloc and the Progressive Alliance which are the two political blocs within Alsland. So far every Premier since their creation excluding Jabik Nieuwenhuis has been a member of the blocs. Outside of the Blocs the Left Miscellaneous, Centrist Miscellaneous, Nationalist Miscellaneous and Right Miscellaneous parties exist. These are political parties that are not members of either bloc.

Provinces

Alsland is comprised of 8 autonomous provinces which all but Yndyk, Wottested and Martiland having been provinces since the country's creation. Martiland became a province in 1925 and Yndyk and Wottested both separated from Delland and Garz in 1994 via two referendums in each city.

Delland

Garz

Zittau

Hamptonshire

Fawkhamshire

Martiland

Middewald

Yndyk

Province Capital Area (km2) Population (2018) Nominal GDP billions EUC (2015) Nominal GDP per capita EUC (2015) Delland Hurdegaryp TBD 2,020,872 TBD TBD Fawkhamshire Ilfracombe TBD 1,250,773 TBD TBD Garz Werdau TBD 1,897,382 TBD TBD Hamptonshire Kirchester TBD 1,748,225 TBD TBD Martiland Rahu TBD 993,228 TBD TBD Wottested Wottested TBD 833,271 TBD TBD Yndyk Yndyk TBD 1,200,227 TBD TBD Zittau Glauchau TBD 1,522,770 TBD TBD Alsland Yndyk 46,789 11,384,499 539 47,374

Foreign relations

Armed Forces

Economy

Agriculture

Tourism

Energy

Transport

Science and technology

Demographics

Ethnic Groups

Largest cities

Language

Languages in Alsland by native speakers as of 2020.

  Dellish (34%)

  Weranian (28.3%)

  Estmerish (23.4%)

  Kirenian (8.9%)

  Other (5.4%)

Alsland has three official languages and one regional language: Dellish, Weranian and Estmerish. Kirenian is mainly spoke in Martiland. At the last census the Dellish language was the largest with 34% of Alslanders speaking it as their first language. 28% said they spoke Weranian as their first language and 23% said they spoke Estmerish as their first language.

The number of Dellish speakers is about 3,870,729 mainly in the provinces of Delland, Yndyk and Wottested. The number of Weranian speakers is about 3,221,813 mainly in the Garz and Zittau provinces. The province of Wottested has a large number of Weranian speakers in the north. The number of Estmerish speakers was 2,663,972 at the last census. The Estmerish language is mainly spoken in the Fawkhamshire and Hamptonshire provinces along the border with Estmere. Kirenian speakers numbered 1,013,220 at the last census. Almost all of them residing in Martiland or small areas of Delland and Yndyk. Kirenian was widely spoken during Kirenia's rule of Alsland although it's usage has declined following independence.

Both Alslandic Weranian and Alslandic Estmerish have minor vocabulary differences from the languages spoken in their respective countries.

Religion

Alsland is a secular state although most of the country identify with various forms of Sotirianity. Other religions in Alsland include TBD, TBD, TBD, TBD, TBD, TBD and TBD.

At the last census approximately 48% of Alslanders were irreligious including Atheism and Agnostic. 46% identified as some form of Sotirianity and 6% identified as a different religion. According to a recent poll conducted in 2018, 39% of Alslanders said "they believe there is a God", 18% said "they believe there is some sort of spirit or life force" and 43% said "they do not believe there is a god or spiritual life form."

Health

The Siemen Hartmann Memorial Hospital is the largest in Alsland.

Alslanders on average enjoy a good quality of health. Most estimates have the country's life expectancy at 82 years. Death in Alsland is mainly due to Heart conditions and other natural causes however Non-Natural causes of death are the primary cause of deaths between Alslanders from ages 18 to 32.

Alsland has a Universal health care system which has been running since the end of the Great War. Private Hospitals however exist and sometimes receive government subsidies.

Euthanasia is legal in Alsland following a referendum in 2013. The first person to be Euthanised in Alsland took place in early 2014. The topic is highly controversial within the country due to concerns about assisted suicide with major federal politicians calling for an end to Euthanasia including former Premier, Lilliana Elliott.  

Education

An example of the 2017 FUE exam paper in Yndyk.

Education is compulsory from ages 6-18 for Alslanders.

Primary education is from ages 6-12 and is split into 6 grades. Children in 6th grade are required to take the NUW exam at age 12 to determine whether they can progress to Secondary education. Based on their results in the NUW exams, children are given a selection of several secondary schools in their area.

Secondary education in Alsland is mandatory from ages 12-18 and is split into 6 grades from 7th grade to 12th grade. Some secondary schools are divided into Junior schools and Senior schools. Junior schools are open to children aged 12-15 and senior schools are open to ages 15-18. In 12th grade all Students are required to take the FUE examinations. The FUE examinations are used to decide if a student can enrol in Post-Secondary education.

Alsland has a high level of enrolment in Post-Secondary education, about 45% of all students progress onto Post-Secondary education making Alsland the Xth in the world for highest post-secondary enrolment.

Culture

Art

Music

Film and television

Sport

Cuisine