The Kingdom of Astrium

The Kingdom of Astrium
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Deus, Rex, et Patria God, King, and Country
Anthem: Chariots of Endearment
Capital and largest city	Doldister
Official languages	Astronian
Ethnic groups	Astrian
Demonym(s)	Astrian
Government	Monarchy
• His Majesty the King	King Alster I
• High Minister	Lord Harold Fornson
Legislature	His Majesty's Council of the Kingdom
• Upper house	The Regional Chamber
• Lower house	The Kingdom Chamber
Establishment
• Proclamation of Kingdom	1274
Population
• 2022 estimate	42,000,000
• 2017 census	41,800,000
GDP (nominal)	estimate
• Per capita	$33,510
HDI (2022)	0.79 high
Currency	Astrian Pound
Date format	dd-mm-yyyy
Driving side	left
Calling code	+93
Internet TLD	.as

The Kingdom of Astrium commonly known as simply "Astrium", is a moderately sized group of islands making up the Astrian Isles is located in the South-West of the world map off the coast of continental mainland Chaoyia. Astrium is made up of 2 former independent kingdoms, the Kingdom of Astiley and the Kingdom of Altney, these countries were both the main powerhouses of the Isles and unified or conquered their respective areas, however, joining together in 1274 by King Helwin the Founder of Astrium.

The Kingdom of Astrium has a population of around 42 Million people that live in one of the many cities and towns or in the rural countryside that makes up most of the kingdom. The population is referred to by most as "subjects of the King" as the country is a monarchy under the King Alster I, who has reigned since 1986, the start of the Astrian Civil War where he gained his fame, power, and absolute hegemony in the Astrian Isles.

The Kingdom is industrialised but focuses on agriculture and production, making a lot of money from trade with other nations. Not only is Astrium industralised but it is also well developed, having been on the losing side of the Great War in the 1920s and 30s the kingdom moved into a state of isolationism in an attempt to stop its empire from falling apart. Unfortunately for Astrium in 1943 its last large colony, the Astrian Dominion of Casau Redono, was granted independence after a long and hard fought effort to peacefully cede from the Empire, this marked the end of the Astrian Empire, however, it still holds a small colony and several overseas territories in the present day.

History

Coronation of King Alster I

King Alster I was coronated on the 10th of June 1994, a day of pomp and ceremony to the greatest extreme to celebrate the long coming crowning of the victorious monarch of the Astrian Civil War. Alster I gained his popularity through rallying the loyalist forces at the beginning of the civil war, where he admirably led the armies to victory all over the Astrian Isles. The 10th of June is a date that will be remembered for centuries as the day where the great king Alster I is affirmed as the glorious leader of the Kingdom.

Astrian Civil War 1986-1993

The Astrian Civil War broke out on the 19th April 1986, when the parliament building of Astrium, in Doldister, was stormed by the Revolutionary forces who detonated a bomb that killed the then king Fredrick IV and his High Minister, Lord Adam Falstirm. This act sent shockwaves through the Kingdom that resulted in the organised uprisings of Revolutionary forces all over the Astrian Isles, from here the leaders of Communists, Anarchists, and Republicans joined their manpower and revolts into one organised power that would stand a chance against the government and the Royal Armed Forces.

The conflict lasted until the 15th October 1993 when King Alster I forced the disgraced Adil Charles and Willard Travis to sign the Treaty of Bellington that officially ended the state of war between the two sides. Soon after, King Alster I made a speech on the ending of the war, stating that the kingdom had entered a new age and that with the it has been reborn through fire, but now there can be peace, security, and prosperity for all subjects of the kingdom.

Great War 1928-1939

Astrium's position in the great war, being aligned with Celesterra, led to a unfortunate loss and defeat in the overall war. The war left Astrium in a position of regret and anger, the invasion of the Great Zhi's colonial territory of Guangnan, on the nearby lands in the west and naval battles all over the globe resulted in a heavy reparation toll being racked up, being £3.8 Billion by the end of the war in 1939. The Great War for Astrium saw the development and improvement of the RAAF and the development of organised guerilla tactics that were used in some parts of the war, the Royal Astrian Navy saw the development of ships and submarines that travelled the globe using various tactics such as hit and runs and decisive battles.

War of Astrian Imperialism 1809-1816

Naval Battle in the War of Imperialism

During the late 1700s and early 1800s the Astrian Empire had largely grown to span the areas around the seas of the kingdom almost reaching to the equator. Due to this expansionism many nations on the surrounding continents had become furious at the growing empire in their spheres of influence, having them shattered by Astrium. Tensions boiled up in the years 1809 and 1809 where the Coalition of Opposition against the Astrian Empire was formed with the nations Rimerland, Sestra, and Shallsuize stood against the Imperis Allia that was made up by the Astrian Empire, Falnora, and Sercroi.

When the war had begun in mid 1809 the Astrian Empire and its allies immediately invaded the opposing nations with the attempt to end the war as fast as it had begun, this was met with furious fighting and powerful defiance. Disastrous campaigns were halted and the leaders were removed and replaced as fast as possible to see if there could be a fix to the situation. After the changing of tactics and targets was made there was more success in the war, it had evenly been fought all over the region, with offensives on both sides leading to the inevitable victory of the Imperis Allia after 7 long years of constant fighting.

At the end of the war in 1816 the Astrian Empire gained lands and reparations from the various countries that had stood against it while Falnora and Sercroi gained lands of the defeated countries. Astrian Hegemony in the region was not guaranteed as the Empires of Celesterra and the Great Zhi had by then gotten involved in with their respective colonies of Guangnan and Nevrova. For the next 100 years Astrium would be one of the most powerful countries in the region and would be only brought down after the Great War in the mid 1900s with the victory of the Great Zhi and her allies.

Proclamation of Kingdom 1274

On the 28th of August 1274 King Helwin the Founder declared the creation of the Kingdom of Astrium after the unification of the Kingdom of Astiley and the Kingdom of Altney. Preceding this event was the campaign against the smaller powers in their respective parts of the Astrian Isles by both Astiley and Altney. A formal government was set up soon after the proclamation that administered the kingdom for the entirety of King Helwin the Founder's reign.

Politics and Government

Government Organisation

The Monarch

King Alster I is the Head of State of the Kingdom of Astrium and controls the entire government. The king is not attached to any part of the government but has the power to be involved in any section that he sees fit, this is rare but regardless, it's a power that he has. To alow for the king to be involved with other actvities, he appointes a few ministers, most importantly, the High Minister of the Council of the Kingdom.

The Monarch Council

The Monarch has a council that is personally picked by his majesty, they are there to serve the monarch when and wherever able. One of the main roles for the Monarch Council is to advise the king in the kingdom's everyday running, this can be up to the point of deciding what laws to order to be changed or made. Another role is of a great importance, to inform of international or national events that effect the kingdom or the government, for example, in 2005 a gang of people threatened to bomb the parliament and kill the king, however upon learning of this, King Alster I ordered the police to investigate and charge the group for treason. The final part to the council is the fact that each head of each branch of the armed forces is a part of the council, this allows for them to inform the King on military matters, such as the most recent events of the Guangnan Airspace Provocation.

His Majesty's Council of the Kingdom

The Kingdom Chamber

The Kingdom chamber is made up of 500 seats for elected officials of County Councils and Advisors to the Chamber. The Advisors to the Chamber are fill ins to make up the full 500 seats, they are also elected by each region that they may have a bigger influence in. The County Councilors are elected to represent the council in the chamber as the leader of the county, they serve as the voice of the people in the chamber and one of the main legislators in their respective councils. The chamber is led by a Lords Chamber Speaker of whom is appointed by the monarch, they control the chamber in its discipline, organisation, and the operation of what is discussed, debated, or voted on.

The role of the Kingdom Chamber is to discuss business around the kingdom's day to day operation, whether it be on the transport systems or the companies running in the areas. They also get to have a say in what happens in the regions and the kingdom as a whole as they are the only representatives of the people in Parliament, no-one else is elected. In particular one of the important powers of the chamber is the fact they can scrutinise the Ministers of Departments who are required to be present in the sittings of the Kingdom Chamber, along with the High Minister, who cannot be scrutinised under the King's Discipline Act 1652.

The Regional Chamber

The Council of Departments

Foreign Relations

Astrian (left) and Celesterran (right) diplomats meeting

The Foreign Relations with other nations are on some levels very extreme but there tends to be have full involvement with a country or very little. Astrium is very prolific in the region it resides in, while having only recently come out of civil war there is still the aim of King Alster I to return Astrium to power and glory on the world stage.

Celesterra

Celesstarra is seen as an ally of Astrium due to the stance it took on the side of the loyalists during the civil war. Even in the modern day, Celesterra supports Astrium in the selling of arms and diplomatic support. Astrium took the side of Celesterra in the Great War but however then didnt support the government as the leader of Celesterra was seen as insane, regardless, Astrium took it's side, particularly against the Great Zhi and its colony Guangnan on the nearby continent where most of Astrium's forces were fighting.

Great Zhi

Relations with the Great Zhi are seen as very volatile, while there are efforts to amend damaged relations from the past, there are reasons why Astrium and the Great Zhi have poor relations, for example, recent incident involving the RAAF and Guangnan, this event damaged relations between Astrium and the Great Zhi, but there are efforts to return the relations to friendly terms. With the current government of Astrium there is a reluctance to work with the Great Zhi due to it's involvement in the civil war against the Loyalist faction, this unwillingness to support had only recently faded, with the formal recognition of the Astrian government in 2020.

Military

RAA Ceremonial Parade outside the Royal Academy of Officer Training Tudebourne

3 Aircraft fly over the Royal College Castlestone of the RAAF

Helicopter delivering supplies to RAS Homage whilst at sea

His Majesty's Royal Armed Forces consist of three professional service branches: the Royal Astrian Navy, the Royal Astrian Army and the Royal Astrian Air Force. The armed forces of the Astrium are managed by the Defence Ministry of Astrium and controlled by the Kingdom Defence Council, chaired by the Secretary of Defence. The Armed Forces are charged with protecting the Kingdom of Astrium and its overseas interests, and supporting allied nations. contain roughly around 866,000 personnel in the main three branches of the military. The Defense Ministry of Astrium holds its Headquarters on the Island of Caprusia where from there it controls all operations at home and abroad. The Armed Forces are under direct control of the monarch, whom they pledge further allegiance to when they are inducted into the military.

Recent Operations

As of November 2023 one of the most recent events that the military has undertaken is Exercise Harsh Winds, started on 1st November 2023. Harsh Winds is a joint operation between the three different branches of the Armed Forces to train in Harsh-weather-combat and develop skills for fighting in regions that can have poor weather.

November 8th 2023, the Guangnan Airspace Incident, this was a show of power made by Astrium, showing that RAAF bombers could reach the enemy territory almost undetected while carrying weaponry. The Visteria bombers were challenged by Guangnanese aircraft but it displayed the message that Astrium was displeased with the Great Zhi's imperial ambitions in the region.

Royal Astrian Army

The Royal Astrian Army is made up of many different battalions formed at various times throughout the history, the earliest of which being the King's Spears formed in 1683. An Astrian army has existed for hundreds of years but the official recognition of its founding as one consolidated army was with the introduction of the Lord General of the Royal Astrian Army in 1767. As of 2023 has 450,000 active and 125,000 reserve personnel. Its aims are to protect the Kingdom of Astrium, assist the allies of Astrium, and protect Astrium's interests globally.

Royal Astrian Air Force

The Royal Astrian Air Force was founded on the 20th July 1926 and is tasked with defending the skies of Astrium. The RAAF actively patrols the air around the Astrian Isles and RAAF bombers and surveillance aircraft often move around the skies in the region to practice long range missions. Overall the RAAF has 85,000 serving airmen and 28,000 reservist personnel.

Royal Astrian Navy

The Royal Astrian Navy, first formed on the 7th January 1754, the RAN protects Astrium naval commerce and the homeland from foreign threats. As of 2023 it fields 130,000 active personnel and 48,000 reserve forces. The RAS Homage, the most modern and powerful ship in the Astrian fleet serves as a memento to Astrium's naval power and commitment to its defence.

Economy

Astrium's economy is of a decent size and power, key focuses are placed on technology and agriculture, made with strong nationalism in mind the sectors were made to push the power and strength of Astrium in every way. Holding up a GDP of 1.407 Trillion (USD) the kingdom is developed and has a small influence on the world stage in economics, however, tends to keep to an isolationist stance when it comes to international finances.

Industry

Transport Industry

WVT Spearhead landing at Marsham International Airport

The transport industry in Astrium mostly consists of Rail, Air, and Sea due to the vast distances needed to be crossed when doing national transit overseas from one island to another. For this the government focuses on nationalised companies such as the Royal Astrian Rail, serving its people with consistent and efficient travel from one location to the next.

Its not the government who make the vehicles however, they are designed, produced, and sold to the government through private companies, each one competing with one another to create the best vehicle that would make the government wish to buy them. As per the previous example of the Royal Astrian Rail, companies such as Robinson Rail Incorporated and Astanti Works build and maintain trains purchased and operated by the country.

In particular, a main achievement in aviation was the creation of the supersonic jet, Wing Voyage Technologies, Spearhead. The invention of this aircraft revolutionised aviation in speed and airline industries, it cut down travel times overseas by half. For now it serves as one of Astrium's greatest technological achievements and show of power and capability.

Monarchs of Astrium

Era	Monarch	Reign
Alsterian1986 - Present	King Alster I	1986 - Present
Fredrician1921 - 1986	King Fredrick IV	1967 - 1986
	King Fredrick III	1921 - 1967
Alpinian1771 - 1921	King Malcolm VI	1855 - 1921
	Queen Adelaide I	1822 - 1855
	King George II	1793 - 1822
	King Helwin III	1771 - 1793
Armskeskian		1727 - 1771
		1688 - 1727
		1623 - 1688
		1589 - 1623
		1546 - 1589
		1512 - 1546
		1498 - 1512
Elothian		1491 - 1498
		1482 - 1491
Charlian	Queen Helena	1476 - 1482
Weybachian		1431 - 1476
		1416 - 1431
	King Helwin I (The Founder)	1274