Sanctum Imperium Catholicum

Sanctum Imperium Catholicum Holy (Salvian) Catholic Empire
Flag
Motto: "Through the Trinity, We Flourish"
Status	Independent State
Capital and largest city	Deopolis
Official languages	Salvian, Aroman
Religion	Salvian Catholicism
Demonym(s)	Salvian
Government	Elective Monarchy
• Pontiff	Vacant
Legislature	Concilio Populi, Concilio Clerici
Establishment
•	1261
Area
• Total	201,509 km2 (77,803 sq mi)
Population
• 2016 census	23,001,900
GDP (nominal)	estimate
• Total	$895,000,000,000
• Per capita	$36,489
HDI (2018)	.857 very high
Currency	Salvian Cross (SCR)
Time zone	UTC -6
Driving side	right
Calling code	+301
Internet TLD	.sic

The Divine Imperium of Sanctum Imperium Catholicum, commonly called Sanctum Imperium Catholicum, is a constitutional republic on Eurth located in Marenesia Major. The Sanctum Imperium Catholicum covers 201,509 square kilometers and has has an estimated population of 23 million. Saliva comprises of 12 provinces and 3 overseas territories. It’s capital and largest city is Deopolis.

Sanctum Imperium Catholicum was a major colonial power and still enjoys many of the economic benefits to this day. With interregional trade deals and strong diplomatic relations abroad, Sacntum Imperium Catholicum enjoys a rich and prosperous time with a strong military and economy. Salvia has started to emerge from their cocoon of isolationism that was a result of the Long War and economic hardships experienced after.

Etymology

The name Sanctum Imperium Catholicum derives from the Aroman words for “Holy Catholic Empire”. This references its imperial form of government in the early history as well as its foundation as a Catholic empire. The name is sometimes shortened to its acronym, “SIC”, or in casual conversation as “Salvia" due to the name of the natives in the era (Salvian). It was first adopted by King Michael I when he christened his newly united kingdom as the Sanctum Imperium Catholicum.

The origins of the name "Salvia" are disputed, however the most popular held theory by historians is that it comes from

History

Bronze Age

Signs of permanent settlement in Salvia dates back to 1200 BC, where agriculture allowed for the foundation of what is now Deopolis. Before then, several tribes inhabited the area during the early Bronze Age, however no notable cities have been found from this time.

While many native tribes were present, the Salvian tribe became the largest and strongest, conquering the others and then outlawing all other cultures, including their customs and items, in 953 BC. This led to the destruction of many cultural artifacts and historical scrolls, leading many historians to have little knowledge of the time before the foundation of the Salvian Empire in 572 BC.

=Classical Era

The First Salvian Empire, also called the First Imperium by historians, was characterized by its frequent aggression and expansion as well as its rare democratic government form for the time. Although rather limited to only free males, the First Imperium had a "Council of the People" that passed laws and treaties as well as advise the monarch.

The Salvian Empire conquered much of the neighboring tribes and nations; the Helkitites to the south, the Alavonians to the west, and the Swaynians along the eastern coast were all subjugated as early as 473 BC. Like the tribes centuries before them, the cultures of the these tribes were outlawed and their customs wiped out. With their neighbors conquered, the Salvian Empire stretched from ocean to the east, north and south to mountains in the west. Thus, a golden age was born, with peace descending upon the empire and trade flourishing over the oceans with other kingdoms. This was not only the economic peak of the empire but also the cultural peak. This golden age lasted until around 354 BC.

The Salvian Golden Age would end a century later as the empire face several external and internal problems. Expansionist emperors would conquer more territory to the south and west. The First Imperium fell after the beginning of a civil war following the introduction of the new Christian religion, which was introduced in the first half of the century by a prophet named Liosous from Tagmatium, and a large drop in population following the arrival of the Tagmatine migrants.

In 135 AD, the warring states were unified in the Treaty of Marusey, which ended the war although religious tensions remained. Led by the Flavian Dynasty, the newfound Second Imperium expanded its borders significantly. With the introduction of better technology in several industries, economic and social reform, a large military, and a recovery of the population after the Tagmatine Immigration the Second Salvian Imperium would recover the strength and power lost by the downfall of the First Imperium.

The Second Imperium followed in the footsteps of the First Imperium, conquering its former territory and restoring power and stability to the country. Another golden age was fostered and came to an end. Warring neighbors as well as domestic issues and a crippling domestic debt ensured the fall of Salvian Empire in 573 AD into numerous feudal states.

The Feudal Era and Refounding of the Imperium

This was then followed by the medieval era, which replaced the organized empire into 4 main warring feudal kingdoms. These kingdoms were the Salvians, Ironous, Velucians, and Vagrians. These nations constantly fought, climaxing in the War of the Imperium from 1257 to 1261, a war fought between the Christian Salvians against the other pagan nations. Beginning in the fall of 1257, the war was largely a stalemate until 1261, when Joseph Murphy, a nobleman, took the position of marshal of the Salvians and brought the collective armies on an exhausting 9 month campaign, in which they conquered the neighboring kingdoms.

Murphy was named king of the Imperium a year later and oversaw the promotion of the sciences as well as the Church. He built the oldest cathedral in Salvia the Spiritu Sancti, and built the foundations of what is today Deopolis. Many historians conclude that Murphy rebuilt the empire and propelled out of the medieval era. He is also credited with the foundation of the Sanctum Imperium Catholicum, with records dating the name being used during is reign. Murphy died at the age of 57 in 1291, and after undergoing the usual process was canonized a saint in the Salvian Catholic Church in 1487.

Magnum Progressum and Discovery of Gunpowder

The Magnum Progressum, or "Great Progression," was a period of great cultural and scientific progression fueled by the patronage of the Salvian Church and kings. Art, literature, architecture, and philosophical thought flourished. The development of humanist thought, in contrast to other countries, would not lead to secular or anti-Church thought as the Church was in a position to filter and control developments in philosophical thinking.

Gunpowder was discovered in the western mountains of Salvia in the 12th century, however was rarely used except in "crepituses," or fireworks. This would change in the late 15th century as innovations in technology allowed the Salvian military to utilize gunpowder in the form of gunpowder weapons. These weapons would enable Salvia to conquer more territory in Marenesia as well as overseas colonies and even enabled the success of the crusades.

Era of Reovlt

The centuries of peace on the mainland was disrupted in the spring of 1707. The monarch, King Peter III, was unpopular due to his aggressive and dismissive manner towards the people and the newly reformed Concilio Populi. After peaceful protests in Trinity were met with a fatal resistance from the army, the people began rioting, soon escalating into The People’s War.

The People’s War was fought between democrats and monarchists on the mainland. The democrats outnumbered the monarchists by around 3 to 1, however the monarchists controlled the national military, with the notable exception of most of the Marine Corps, who joined the side of the democrats. Fighting occurred mainly in the south and west, with fighting largely being absent from the urban northeast.

By the summer of 1708, the democrats had assumed control of the islands as well as the southern coast. Led by a young general Michael Alexis, the People’s Army began a campaign to conquer the northeast, climaxing in the siege of Deopolis from the winter of 1708 to the summer of 1709, when it ended with a monarchist surrender. The Treaty of Trinity established the modern Constituition, laws, and democracy the nation has today and abolished the monarchy.

Economic Troubles of the 19th and 20th Centuries

The Salvian economy had two major crashes: one in 1847 and one in 1928. These crashes were caused for mixed reasons, however all caused the unemployment rate to skyrocket as well as the value of the currency to plunge.

The Era of Bad Feelings, or Crash of 1847, lasted from fall 1847 to fall 1849. The Church still had major control over the land of the Empire. and the Concilio Populi removed the Church ownership of over 90% of the land that they controlled. This allowed for the government to utilize the land that was not fully or efficiently used by the Church, allowing for economic growth and recovery. Afterwards, the government shifted the currency to the greenback Salvian Cross, which would see its value relative to gold recover the value lost during the crash.

The Salvian Economic Crash of 1928 was a result of the rapid drop of price in agricultural goods, as well as a drought that devastated much of the harvests of the 20s. While factories were present in Salvia, there were only a few. In response to this, the government focused heavily on factories and creating more manufacturing jobs. This, combined with the recovery of the agricultural market and economic reforms, lifting Salvia out of its second economic crash.

Modern Times

Sanctum Imperium Catholicum progressed regularly into the late 20th and then into the 21st century. Women were granted the right to vote in 1903, and minorities could vote before then. Religion still plays a part in modern politics with the outlawing of abortion and euthanasia, as well as other laws that would be otherwise against the teachings of the Salvian Church.

The nation has been relatively peaceful after since the civil war in the 19th century, however has encountered its fair share of tribulations and problems. SIC has transitioned quietly and peacefully into the modern age.

Geography

Salvia is a relatively flat nation, save for the Agrilian Highlands to the west and the lowlands to the east. The highlands transition into rolling hills going eastward, flattening out to the average elevation of around 150 feet. Leading towards the sea, the elevation gradually decreases, eventually meeting the ocean. This pattern is seen as a band/wave-like pattern on a topographical map.

The nation is also abundant in rivers and has a couple of natural occurring lakes, the most notable being Lake Caperthia to the south.

The country lies in Marenesia Major.

Climate

Sanctum Imperium Catholicum enjoys a temperant climate, with warm summers and chilly winters. The average temperature is around 17 degrees Celcius (62.5 F), however can be as high as 26 degrees Celcius (78.8 F) in the summer and dip down to as low as -2 degrees Celcius (28.4 F) in the winter.

These are all national averages, however the nation can be divided into three categories: the Highland climate, the Coastal climate, and the Midland climate. The Highland climate is categorized with chillier winters, more rainfall and snow. The Coastal climate is recongnized through its modest temperature changes and an average rainfall spread. The Midland climate is seen through its cold winters and hot summers.

Flora and Fauna

The Sanctum Imperium Catholicum is an environmentally diverse nation, with many species of flora and fauna present. The nation has large swaths of territory as national parks and act as a popular tourist destination. Although areas of Salvia has been deforested, much of the nation still contains natural forests. As it is signed to a climate treaty, Salvia limits its carbon footprint to keep its natural beauty. Very strict environment regulation prevents water pollution and deforestation of protected areas.

Large mammals include the Salvian Black Bear, grey wolf, deer, and mountain cats, and each has special legislation guarding their mating season and hunting season. Cows are not plentiful nor native to the nation, and so farmers mainly tend lamb, duck, pigs, geese, and chickens. Fishing is also widespread in Salvia's many pristine rivers and lakes.

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Demographics

Population

The Sanctum Imperium Catholicum has a population of 23,001,900 people, of which an estimated 50,000 are undocumented illegal immigrants. The average fertility rate is 3.8 children, and the average life expectancy is a high 82.4 years: 81.3 for men and 83.5 for women.

Language

The typical dialect of the Imperium is Salvian, with an estimated 99% of the population speaking it. However, a notable chunk of that percentage (37%) is bilingual, typically in Bulgenstazi or another language.

Originally, foreign languages were only taught to merchants and traders that would come into contact with foreigners, and as such they were usually the only ones to speak them. However, by the turn of the 20th century, other languages began to be taught in public schooling.

Salvian

The vernacular of Salvia is Salvian, a mix of the native language of the same name and Aroman.

Religion

Since the foundation of the Second Imperium, the nation has been largely Salvian Catholic. This holds up even in modern times, with around 81% of the population falling under the Catholic faith according to the 2017 national census. The rest of the population is filled with a diverse set of religions.

Although religious freedoms have been held up in modern times, national distrust of certain religions, especially those who practice Juddeanism and Islam. The region has a history of attacks on people of both faiths, although none have been encouraged by the Church or government in modern times.

Race & Ethnicity

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Government

Overview

Sanctum Imperium Catholicum is a constitutional theocratic republic divided into provinces each led by a Governor and a Castus, a member of the Catholic Church appointed by the Head of State. This castus is usually a clergy member however does little in regional politics and instead serves as an advisor. Power in terms of politics in SIC is shared almost equally between national, provincial, and local, however the national government does hold a bit more power over the other two.

The government consists of three branches who each hold checks and balances over the other: the executive branch, legislative branch, and judicial branch.

Executive Branch

The nation as a whole is led by the President of the Sanctum Imperium Catholicum, and is elected through popular vote. The position is held for one term lasting 5 years, and can be elected for 3 terms. The powers of the president include:

1. Uphold the laws of the nation, 2. Appoint federal positions, 3. Sign treaties and pieces of legislation, and 4. Be the face of Salvia on the international stage.

The Vice President runs on the same ticket as the president during the election of the president. The vice president is the main advisor to the president, and takes his position in the case of death, removal from office, or retirement. He also presides over the Concilio Populi, can sign executive orders, and can form special sessions of the Houses as well as other powers. Overall, the Vice President is seen as more powerful in terms of power or influence over the legislative branch of the government, however the President acts more as the Head of State. The Vice President was Archbishop Patrick Saulius, however following Thomas Geolia's retirement Saulius took his spot and Sèamus Finley assumed the role of Vice President after being chosen by Saulius and confirmed by the Concilio Populi.

Role of the Pope

The pope of the Salvian Catholic used to have a very influential role in Salvia and thus wielded substantial political power. However, following the end of the People's War, the Church's political power was significantly reduced over time. Today, the pope is the Head of State and has a ceremonial role to the nation. Secretly, though, the pope still has a not insignificant influence of government affairs, especially through the Concilio Clerici and Castus, the latter of which he appoints.

Legislative Branch

The Convention of Houses is made up of the aforementioned Concilio Populi and Concilio Clerici. Both houses have elected representatives, although the qualifications as well as the acutal process is notably different.

The Concilio Populi is the larger and “stronger” branch of the Convention, with 230 representatives each having 6 year terms. However, the House is not all elected at once; half of the representatives are under election every three years. The elections every three years are also not at the same time- they usually span throughout the whole year, however its decided by the regional council. Representatives are proportionally elected provincially, with each representative having to earn a minimum of 100,000 votes to win a seat. Representatives have a 2 term limit. Single transferable vote is used for the candidates that do not make 100,000. The Speaker of the House is Michael Pokorney.

The Concilio Clerici is a somewhat elected, smaller, and more select group of 115 representatives. These representatives are instead approved by a regional council and the regional Castus, instead of being directly elected, and serve for shorter 4 year terms with a 2 term limit. The representatives are members of the clergy, usually priests, nuns, or brothers. All and any bills proposed by the Concilio Clerici must be approved by the Concilio Populi by at least three-fifths majority. The current Speaker of the Clergy is Monsignor Justin Erin.

Levels of Government

The provinical and local governments are complicated, intricate, and very different depending on the region or local town or village, however some clear trends have emerged.

Provincially, a Provencial Council with a certain number of representatives are elected. These councils have power over local governments but are subject to the national government. They use federal tax money given to them and decide what they use to pay for what. The province collects no taxes (except on imports or exports), instead is granted money by the federal government or through donations and the use of land for commercial use (e.g: farming to make money for the province). The provincial government elects their representatives to the Conicllio Clerici, builds regional infrastructure and other civil services, as well as setting its own trade laws with other provinces- this includes taxes, how much of a substance can be imported at once, and many other things.

Locally, a town, village, or hamlet will elect a council of representatives. These representatives vote for the provincial government. This is where it becomes different depending on which place is in question.

The exact relationship between each level is foggy. Although the national government usually has final say, the spirit of individual freedom, liberty, and the ideals of small government have held very firmly in the people of the Salvia. While the national government has final authority, it usually allows the local and provincial governments enact their own measures and laws without much intervention.

Foreign Relations and Military

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The Foreign Ministry is one of the larger departments in the government, with around 10,000 people employed in total. It’s upper echelon includes some civilian and military advisers and decision makers, as well as 20 Clerici and 75 Populi representatives. Its main powers are to advise the Convention of Houses as well as the Pontiff, and proposes treaties as well as foreign trade, immigration, and taxes on import and exports.

The Navy and Marines are the largest and strongest branches, and work closely together in operations and basic training. The Imperial Military focuses heavily on these branches, focusing on naval superiority through the Navy and land invasions by the Marines.

The Air Force and Army branches are sometimes mistakenly seen as subdivisions of the Navy and Marines respectively, however they are their own, albeit smaller, branches. Much of the Salvian airpower is operated by the Navy, while the Air Force primarily operates in Marenesia. The Army shares much of its bases with the Marines, however have some of its own, including its headquarters at Fort Leo.

Economy

The economy of Salvia has been a substantial force since the colonial age as a developed capitalist social market economy. Its major components contains tourism, electronic manufacturing, shipbuilding and agriculture, as well in a smaller extent to lumber production. A strong domestic economy, relatively low unemployment, and the fact that the nation is not dependent on a single export has allowed the Salvian economy to expand and grow. The Salvian economy uses the Salvian Cross ($SC) as its currency.

Economic Sectors

Electronics Manufacturing

One of the largest economic sectors in Salvia is electronics manufacturing. Many large companies have stationed their headquarters and factories in the nation, with less strict workers’ pay laws being enforced in the western regions. These companies are a large producer and exporter of computers and mobile devices for civilian use as well as secure technology for both the military and government.

Agriculture

Agriculture is a large sector of the economy, with a vast majority of farms (~85%) being family owned, smaller sized farms. It has seen a decrease in size over the centuries however still remians one of the largest to this day. It is mainly charaterized by its exports of lamb, chicken, pork, fruits and vegetables, wine, and grains such as wheat and barley. Fishing is also a large industry and contributes to the agriculture sector as a whole.

Tourism

The Divine Imperium contains many popular cultural and historical sites, home to millions of tourists each year. Thus, a thriving industry in tourism was born, raking in billions fo Salvian Crosses for both private industry and the government. Some popular religious, cultural, or historical sites might include St. Murphy's Cathedral, Mueseum and Palace (6.2 million annual visitors), Deopolis Theme Park (2.8 million), Chauteu-de-Leo (1.8 million), Gerizim Hill (1.7 million), Spiritu Sancti, the oldest church in the nation(1.5 million), and the famous Sacris MegaMall (1.2 million).

Textiles

Textiles continues to be another notable sector of the economy, originating from the First Imperium. Following the Industrial Revolution, the sector has only grown in size.

Ship Manufacturing

Ship manufacturing has remained a large sector of the economy since the 19th century through modern times. As a coastal nation, the government and merchants have had a constant need of ships. In recent decades, ship manufacturing has seen growth as both military and civilian demand has steadily grown.

External Trade

With many trade deals with other nations, the Sanctum Imperium Catholicum and has been trading goods surplus for a profit for decades. Its main exports are electronics, lumber, and foodstuffs, of which wine and fruit make up most foodstuff exports.

Salvia has extensive trade deals with nations outside of Marenesia, and is currently expanding its reach with deals with Tagmatium and Andalla.

Culture

Almost every aspect of Salvian life is influenced by Salvian Catholicism and Aroman traditions. Salvian culture is marked by strong historic ties to Catholicism, which played a pivotal role in the country's formation and subsequent identity. Its art, literature, and national identity is based off of its ties with its Aroman, Catholic, and native Salvian influences.

Growing Up

It is generally a time of great celebration when a child is born. The average household has 3.5 children, and when a child is born, the parents will likely host a party to celebrate the birth. Children in the SIC are given a birth certificate at birth, which contains their official name. Traditionally, children are baptized according to the Catholic faith. The parents are given 90 days of paid parental leave, to be divided up as they see fit. Following that, they will have the option of enrolling their child in one of the provincial child care services, or in a religious or private child care service.

Children start a schooling at age 6, and are in public, private, religious, or collective home schools until the end of high school at age 18. After receiving their high school diploma, they are given the option of university or not. Each province has their own public college, however there are many more both public, private, and religious universities.

Young adults and teens are encouraged to seek out people to marry and have kids with as soon as possible, although premarital sex and “casual” dating is frowned upon. Marriages draw both pagan and Catholic roots, with a typically Catholic Mass presided by a priest that weds the couple followed by an after party with some pagan roots.

Adults typically enter the workforce at the age of 23 and work until the age of 65. A party involving their family, coworkers, and bosses are usually held to celebrate their service. After retirement, older adults are eligible to receive benefits from the Elderly Care Fund, or ECF, a government program to support the elderly. Both euthanasia and abortion are illegal.

Arts and Literature

After the Magnum Progressum, the arts and literature flourished, which brought upon much of the works that modern Salvians admire today. Film and literature are the most popular among the masses, although other arts, such as paintings, dances, and operas, remain popular.

The country as a small but active film industry, and book publishing is at an all time high. Many works of art and literature contain religious underlying themes. The Church, under Popes during the Magnum Progressum, heavily promoted the arts and literature through funding and contract work.

Food

Food is very diverse in the SIC, with the cuisine stressing the importance of taste. This results in a large number of dishes that are delicious and very much not mundane. The cuisine is usually a mix of pasta , a meat or fish, and some vegetable, as well as bread.

Fruit is served as dessert due to its sweet nature and Salvia's extensive production of it. Wine is also very popular during meals and dessert, and the southeastern region is the nation’s leading producer of wine.

Some popular dishes include:

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Sports and Hobbies

The most popular sports in the SIC are rugby and football. Both sports each have their own leagues (RSA and FA, respectively) and both sports have their own national team that competes internationally. Other popular sports includes basketball, boxing, and wrestling.

The typical Salvian will play a sport throughout their schooling career. Many people also have other hobbies, which can be as mundane as reading and watching films to the extremes of skydiving and everything in between. Typical hobbies include reading, astronomy, and athletics such as sports, although it is hard to pin down a definite answer due to the sheer amount of them.

Although uncommon, it is not very rare to see Salvians spend much of their free time with religion, especially through prayer or religious education at home and abroad. Salvian culture contains the Church in many things, and this extends to hobbies and activities.

Infrastructure

The Sanctum Imperium Catholicum is a very highly developed nation, even in the rural regions. The nation is connected through both the Murphy National Highway System as well as by trains and other public transport. Public transport in the nation is both privately and nationally funded, making it one of the best in the region.

Many citizens have access to the internet, and cell phone ownership is high. Internet speeds vary although the nation is very technologically developed.

Railroads and highways connect major cities, with each city containing a hub where both railroads and highways span out of. Major hubs are located in the nation’s largest 5 cities, and the system as a whole contains a network of both short-distance and long-distance rail lines and roads running from it to nearby urban areas and other hubs.

Around 23 airports exist in Salvia, most of them local airfields in rural and suburban areas. There are 2 major international airports that connect the SIC with the outside world, and are used for both the movement of people and goods. Privately owned airlines dominant the scene, and the nationally owned Salvian Ways is small and usually only used for government officials.

The SIC has 5 deep water seaports, which are home to the majority of the nation’s exports and imports. These economic hubs are also the sites of much of the shipbuilding industry.This template may be deleted.