Gallambria

Kingdom of Gallambria Kouratearoa
Flag of Gallambria Flag Royal Coat of Arms
Motto: "Tini Whetu, e Iti Te Poleao" The stars are many, but a little black cloud hides them
Anthem: "God Defend our Gracious King"
Location of Gallambria including the Gallambrian Adlantic Ocean Territory
Location	Marenesia
Capital	Browmich
Official languages	Anglish, Mārenai, GSL
Religion (2018)	61.5% Christianity 24.6% No Religion 7.5% Other 1.6% Salam 1.2% Yehudim 3.6% No Answer
Demonym(s)	Gallambrian
Government	Unitary Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy
• Monarch	King Albert II
• Prime Minister	Nadia Burnett
Legislature	Parliament
• Upper house	House of Lords
• Lower house	House of Commons
Area
• Total	506,052 km2 (195,388 sq mi) Including islands
• Water (%)	85.8%
Population
• 2018 census	57,990,940
• Density	114.6/km2 (296.8/sq mi)
GDP (nominal)	2018 estimate
• Total	£2,985 Billion (0)
• Per capita	£49,927
Currency	Gallambrian Pound (GLP)
Time zone	UTC+1 (GST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (GDST)
Date format	dd/mm/yyyy
Driving side	left
Calling code	+463
ISO 3166 code	GL
Internet TLD	.gl

The United Kingdom of Gallambria, commonly known as Gallambria or Kouratearoa in te reo Mārenai, is a sovereign country in Marenesia. With an area of 506,052 square kilometres (195,388 sq mi), Gallambria is the largest country by area in Marenesia, and the wurld's twelfth-largest country.

Indigenous Gallambrians have inhabited the island for approximately 1,700 years. The Europan exploration of Gallambria commenced in the mid-15th century with the arrival of Europan explorers during the !{Age of Discovery}. In 1492, Gallambria's eastern coast was claimed by Great Anglia and initially settled through a mix of voluntary migration and gifted land agreements. Over the following century, the Anglo-Europan population grew steadily and most of the island had been explored and additional colonies were established. During the first half of the 17th Century, a number of wars were fought between the separatist North and the Anglian-backed loyalist South. Following the defeat of the loyalists at the Battle of Brecknock during the Second Union War, Great Anglia officially recognised terms of secession and independence of the North. Following the passing of the Acts of Union on 12 April 1646, which put into effect the Terms of Union, the former colonies and duchies were united as the United Kingdom of Gallambria. Gallambria has since maintained a stable liberal democratic political system and wealthy market economy.

Politically, Gallambria is a unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy. Gallambria's population of nearly 58 million, is highly urbanised and heavily concentrated in the north-east and central south-west. Bromwich is the nation's capital, while the largest cities, are Aberdeen, Thirlmere, Newport and Sutherland. Gallambria's demography has been shaped by centuries of immigration, with immigrants accounting for 11% of the country's population. Gallambria's abundant natural resources and well-developed international trade relations are crucial to the country's economy, which generates its income from various sources including services, banking, maufacturing, agriculture and research.

Gallambria is a highly developed country with a high-income economy; it has the worlds [x]-largest economy, [x]-highest per capita income and [x]-highest Human Development Index. Gallambria is a regional power, and has the world's [x]-highest military expenditure. Gallambria ranks highly in quality of life, democracy, health, education, economic freedom, civil liberties, safety and political rights. It is a member of international groups including TRIDENT, ATARA, GIN, G7 and the Marenesian Forum.

Etymology

The name Gallambria (pronounced /ɡɔːl.eɪm.bri.ə/ in Gallambrian-Anglish) is derived from the !Latin Galla ("Oak Apple"), from when early Europan explorers noticed that oak trees native to the island, were abundant with gallnuts, which they used in early medicine and also in leather tanning.

{Add history of historical recorded use}

History

Indigenous peoples

Main articles: Prehistory of Gallambria and Indigenous Gallambrians

Human habitation of Gallambrian is known to have ben at least 1,700 years ago, with the migration of people by sea crossings from what is now Marenesia Minor. The oldest human remains found are located at the Te Aroha Burial Grounds, which have been dated to around 450 CE. Researchers suggest that these remains are those of the original Marenesian settlers. At the time of first Europan contact, most Mārenai were hunter-gathers with complex economies and socieites. Mārenai Gallambrians have a oral culture with spiritual values based on reverence for the sea.

From Colonisation to the Treaty of Union

The first recorded Europan sighting of the Gallambrian mainland, and the first recorded Europan landfall on Gallambria, are attributed to the Anglians. Early in 1492 Gallambria's eastern coast was charted by Henry Brownlow and in February 1492 he claimed Gallambria for Great Anglia. Over the following five years, Gallambria was settled by Anglians through voluntary migration, gifted land agreements and forced penal transportation. Over the following century, the Anglo-Europan population grew steadily and most of the island had been explored and additional colonies were established.

During the second half of the 16th Century, separationist sentiment grew amongst the Colonial Governors and Dukes of the north. This lead to a number of small skirmishes between the separationist north and the loyalist south. In 1598, war broke out between the north and south. The northern colonies, under the Duke of Caledon, Thomas de Ashkam, sought to secede from Anglia to form an independent nation. The First Union War lasted till November of 1599, with the North taking control of loyalist colonies in the Midlands and Central-West regions. Between 1599 and 1605, a number of smaller skirmishes broke out between the north and south, resulting in further colonies falling to the control of the Separationsts.

Following the death of Thomas de Ashkam in 1609, the Governors and Dukes of the north, held a series of meetings to determine the terms of secession from Great Anglia which were delivered to King [?] by Edward de Ashkam. During his absence, the conference has met and elected the Duke of Caledon as the first elected monarch of the Kingdom of North Gallambria. His reign as King of North Gallambria lasted forty years, during which, he established Fenworth as the capital and commercial centre of North Gallambria. While the King of Great Anglia and the Governors of the South, did not recognise the secession of the North, efforts were made by each side to united the North and the South. This resulted in 1642, war being declared by Anglian-backed loyalist forces against North Gallambria.

Following the defeat of the loyalists at the Battle of Brecknock on 9 July 1643, the loyalists surrendered to North Gallambrian forces, and Great Anglia recognised the terms of secession and independence of North Gallambria. Over the next few years, Great Anglian support, both economic and political, dwindled and the Governors of the South sought union with North Gallambria.

From the Acts of Union to the Bashan War

Main articles: Acts of Union and Bashan War

On 23 July 1645, members of the King's Council along with Governors and Dukes of the South met in Fenworth to draft the terms of Union, which on 12 April 1646 was ratified by both the legislatures of the North as the Act of Union with South Gallambria and the South as the Act of Union with North Gallambria, thus forming the United Kingdom of Gallambria. In the Acts of Union, King Edward of the North, was declared King of the United Kingdom of Gallambria.

In an effort to ensure that royal absolutism would not prevail, the new unified council began its efforts to develop the Constitution. Following its passing into legislation, the Constitution came into force on 2 May 1649. As a result, the Constitution guided the nations development of a constitutional monarcy and parliamentary system.

With the founding of the Royal Gallambrian Society, science, research and technological advancement was highly encouraged. As a result, over the following 150 years, Gallambria developed as a naval power and it's interest in voyages of discovery. This led to the acquisition and settlement of overseas colonies around the South Adlantic Ocean.

From 1832 onwards, Gallambria's focus of exploration shifted to the Near East in order to develop economic and trade ties with Europan nations. On 25 March 1868, during a naval expedition of the East Adlantic Ocean, HMGS King George I was at anchor in the port city of Aroer on the Bashan peninsula. The crew of the King George I were on shore leave when they were captured and massacred by the local Shomrim. When news of the massacre reached other naval vessels in the region, the Royal Gallambrian Navy launched an offensive on Aroer, resulting in conflict with the local militas. The war in the Bashan capitulated with the Seige of En Gannim and the surrender of the Yehudim militias on 14 September 1868. The Treaty of Mahanaim resulted in the Gallambrian annexation of the Bashan Peninsula and establishment of the Trucial States of the Bashan under Gallambrian control.

Interwar years and the Great Alharun War

Main article: Great Alharun War

Government and politics

Main articles: Government of Gallambria and Politics of Gallambria

Gallambria is a unitary state under a constitutional monarcy. King Albert II is the monarch and head of state of Gallambria. The country has maintained a stabled liberal democratic political system under its constitution, which is one of the wurld's oldest.

Gallambria is a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy. The Parliament of Gallambria is sovereign. It is made up of the House of Commons, House of Lords and the Crown. The main business of Parliament takes places in the two houses, but royal assent is required for a bill to become an Act of Parliament.

For general elections (elections to the House of Commons), Gallambria is divided into 342 constitutencies, each of which is represented by a member of Parliament (MP). MPs hold office for upto 4 years and are always up for re-election in general elections. The Liberal Party, Labor Party and the National Party are, respectively, the current first, second and third largest parties (by number of MPs) in the House of Commons.

The prime minister is the head of government in Gallambria. The prime minister is appointed by the monarch and their appointment is governed by constitutional conventions. However, they are normally the leader of the political party with the most seats in the House of Commons and hold office by virtue of their ability to command the confidence of the House of Commons.

The prime minister not only has statutory functions, as other ministers, but is the monarch's principal advisor and it is for them to advise the monarch on the exercise of the royal perogrative in relation to government. In particular, the prime minister recommends the appointment of ministers and chairs the cabinet.

Administrative divisions

Main article: Administrative geography of Gallambria

The geographical division of Gallambria into counties and shires began when the Acts of Union where introduced, when colonies and duchies were reorganised into counties. Administrative arragements were developed separately in each county, with some originating from colonisation.

Dependencies

Main articles: Gallambrian Adlantic Overseas Territory and Bashan Protectorate

Gallambria has sovereignty over 2 territories which do not form part of the Kingdom of Gallambria itself: Gallambrian Adlantic Overseas Territory and the Bashan Protectorate.

The Gallambrian Adlantic Overseas Territory is a collective of 16 constituent Islands: they are Ara'rua, Kārewa, Ma'erepu, Makei, Mar'raru, Motutapu, Oruwairua, Pukenui, Rakuira, Rangitoto, Raratoka, Takepourewa, Takutea, Taukihepa, Te Puka-Hereka, Whakaari, Wharekauri.

Foreign relations

Main article: Foreign relations of Gallambria

Military

Main article: Gallambrian Armed Forces

His Majesty's Armed Forces consist of three profession service braches: The Royal Gallambrian Naval Service, consisting of the Royal Gallambrian Navy and the Royal Gallambrian Marines, the Gallambrian Army, and the Royal Gallambrian Air Force. The armed forces of Gallambria are managed by the Ministry of Defence and controlled by the Defence Council, chaired by the Secretary of State for Defence. The Commander-in-Chief is the Gallambrian monarch, to whom members of the armed forces swear an oath of allegiance. The Armed Forces are charges with protecting Gallambria and its overseas territories, promoting Gallambrian interests overseas and supporting regional and international stability efforts. They are active and regular participants in TRIDENT, including the Allied Rapid Reaction Force, the (TBD Defence Arrangement), RIMAD, and other worldwide coalition operations. Overseas garrisons and facilities are maintained in Iverica, Seylos, and Bashan.

The Gallambrian armed forces played a key role in establishing Gallambria as a dominant regional power in the mid-20th century. By emerging victorious from conflicts, Gallambria has often been able to decisively influence world events. Since the beginning of the 21st century, Gallambria has remained a major military power. Following the end of the Great Alharun War, defence policy has a stated assumption that "the most demanding operations" will happen within Gallambria's sphere of influence and will require the cooperation of established alliances.

Demographics

Gallambria has an average population density of 114.6 persons per square kilometre of total land area. The population is heavily concentrated on the east coast.

A census is taken in Gallambria every 5 years. in the 2018 census the total population was 57,990,940. It is the largest in Marenesia, and the 18th-largest in the wurld. Between 2009 and 2019 the population increased by an average annual rate of 0.9 per cent. This compares to 0.5 per cent per year in the period 1999 to 2009 and 0.19 per cent in the decade 1989 to 1999.

Language

Anglish is the predominant language in Gallambria, spoken by 96.2% of the population. Gallambrian Anglish is similar to Standard Anglish.

After the Great Alharun War, Mārenai were discouraged from speaking their own language (te reo Mārenai) in schools and workplaces, and it existed as a community language only in a few remote areas. It has recently undergone a process of revitalisation, being declared one of Gallambria's official languages in 2019, and is spoken by 6.8% of the population. There are now Mārenai language-immersion schools and various media outlets that broadcast predominantly in Mārenai.

Religion

Forms of Christianity have dominated religous life in Gallambria for over 400 years. Although the majority of citizens still identify with Christianity in many surveys, regular church attendance has fallen dramatically since the middle of the 20th century, while immigration and demographic change have contributed to the growth of other faiths, most notably Salam. This has led some commentators to variously describe Gallambria as a multi-faith, secularised, or post-Christian society.

In the 2018 census, 51.9% of respondent identified with one or more religions, including 58.4% identifying as Christians. Another 36.3% indicated that they had no religion. Of those who affiliate with a particular Christian denomination, the main responses were Anglianism (25.7%), Catholicism (12.6%), and other Protestant denominations (19.9%). The Mārenai-based Wirangi religion (1.2%) is also Christian in origin. Immigration and demographic change in recent decades have contributed to the growth of minority relgions, such as Salam (1.2%) and Yehudah (0.9%). The Greater Bromwich Region exhibited the greatest cultural diversity.

Education

Primary and Secondary schooling is compulsory for children aged 6 to 16, with the majority attending from the age of 5. There are 13 school years and attending state (public) schools is free to Gallambrian citizens and permanent residents from a person's 5th birthday to the end of the calendar year following their 19th birthday.

Gallambria has an adult literacy rate of 98%, and over half of the population aged 15 to 29 hold a tertiary education. There are four types of government-owned tertiary institutions: universities, colleges of education, polytechnics, and specialists colleges.