Gelonia
Kingdom of Gelonia | |
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 Flag
 Coat of Arms
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| Motto: Frankiz pe Marv ("Freedom or Death") | |
| Anthem: Kanaouenn e Hon Tadoù Song of Our Fathers  | |
 Location of Gelonia (dark green) – in Belisaria (dark grey) | |
 Political Map of Gelonia | |
| Capital | Oxonia |
| Largest city | Durnovaria |
| Official languages | |
Recognized languages | |
| Ethnic groups (2018) |
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| Religion |
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| Demonym(s) | Gelonian |
| Government | Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy |
• King | Arthur XI |
| Adiuni Kloarec | |
| Belado Seznec | |
| Klara Jezequel | |
| Legislature | |
| Vodan | |
| Bodadeg | |
| Formation | |
| 100 BCE | |
• First Kingdom | 1050 |
• Prince-Electorate | 1583 |
• Second Latin conquest | 1632 |
| 17 May 1945 | |
• Second Kingdom | 2 January 1950 |
| Area | |
• Total | 77,696 km2 (29,999 sq mi) (nth) |
| Population | |
• 2020 estimate | 10,431,981 |
• 2018 census | 10,001,981 |
• Density | 134.26/km2 (347.7/sq mi) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2018 estimate |
• Total | $365.3 billion |
• Per capita | $35,022 |
| GDP (nominal) | 2018 estimate |
• Total | $343.1 billion |
• Per capita | $32,891 |
| HDI | 0.873 very high |
| Currency | Rou (£) (GLK) |
| Date format | dd/mm/yyyy (CE) |
| Driving side | left |
| Calling code | +421 |
| ISO 3166 code | GE |
| Internet TLD | .ge |
Gelonia, officially the Kingdom of Gelonia (Gelonian: Rigaida Geloni; Latigen: Rigino Gelonie), is a sovereign state located in western Belisaria, covering an area previously inhabited by Celtic tribes before the period of the Latin occupation. During the Crisis of the 11th Century, it became an independent kingdom, and then a prince-electorate within the Holy Audonian Empire until it was reabsorbed into Latium in 1632, and achieved independence in 1945. It is bordered by Lyncanestria to the north, to the south and east by Latium, and a maritime border with Arthurista. The official languages are Latigen and Gelonian.
In the late 1st century AD, the first kingdom of Gelonia was established by Celtic tribes in what is now northwestern Latium and southwestern Lyncanestria due to the encroachments of the advancing Latin Empire. It was absorbed into the Latin Empire by the 3rd century, and remained a Latin province until the Crisis of the 11th Century, when it reasserted its independence. The second kingdom faced threats from many forces, including the Latin pretenders in Adrianople, Caliphate of Alba, Imperial remnants in Ascanium, and the growing Audonian Empire. Eventually, Gelonia entered into the Holy Audonian Empire, and held the status as a prince-elector from 1583 until 1632. Gelonia once again fell under Latin control during the Belisarian Wars of Religion where the Gelonian crown was abolished and the province reorganized into various counties. Various attempts were made in the 19th and early 20th centuries to established an autonomous Gelonian community within Latium, however all fell short.
The modern Gelonian state was created in 1945, upon its declaration of independence from Latium during the Gelonian War of Independence. The Kingdom was officially proclaimed in 1947, with the country receiving widespread recognition in 1950 following the Treaty of San Gianpiero. The Constitution of Gelonia similarly came into effect in 1950, with the country's first general election following soon after. Despite independence, tensions between Gelonia and its immediate neighbors remained high until the 1980s and the Brennia Accords.
The sovereign state of Gelonia is a constitutional monarchy under a unitary parliamentary system. It is a developed country with a reasonably high standard of living. It's capital is Oxonia, while it's largest city is Durnovaria, formerly Durnovaria until the Gelonian renaming policies of the 1950s. Gelonia is the Xth largest economy in the world, which is dominated by service and industrial sectors. It is a member of the Forum of Nations.
History
Ancient history
Middle ages
Holy Audonian Empire
Independence to present
Geography
Gelonia shares borders with Latium and Lyncanestria, and a maritime border with Arthurista. Gelonia has 2 geographic regions: coastal plains and an eastern plateau near the border with Latium. Its coastal plains are smooth and slow rising into the interior, and feature numerous valleys and waterways. A large forest is featured in the central valleys, giving way to a more rocky and rugged terrain. This area extends eastward into Latium, locally known as the Brennian plateau; it is country's highest point at 702 m.
Climate
The climate is broadly characterized as oceanic climate, though the area around Meud is more typical of a dry summer climate. Its oceanic climate features significant precipitation in all seasons. On average, the lowest temperatures are in January, falling to 5°C and reaching summer high averages of 19 to 20°C. Rain is not uncommon in any season, while snow occurs most often in December and January.
Politics and government
Gelonia is a unitary constitutional monarchy with a democratic parliamentary political system. The Monarch is the head of state and appoints the Prime Minister, who in turn nominates members of government. The political framework is laid out in the 1950 constitution, which includes a separation of powers and delineates civil liberties and rights. The constitution can be amended by a three step process including, two-thirds vote of the Bodadeg, Royal Assent, and popular referendum.
The king, Arthur XI, is the head of state and invested primarily with representative responsibilities and powers. The Monarch is the head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces. He can declare war and peace, negotiate and assent to treaties once passed by the Bodadeg, convene and close legislative sessions, call and postpone elections, and dismiss government and dissolve the Bodadeg. Any dismissal and dissolution of the Bodadeg must then receive a vote of no confidence from a majority of the Bodadeg. The Monarch holds veto power by the prerogative of withholding Royal Assent to a bill passed by the Bodadeg, but any denial of assent can be overturned by a two-thirds vote of the Bodadeg.
The Prime Minister is Adiuni Kloarec, is the head of government and executes daily government functions through the government. The Monarch appoints the Prime Minister, who in turn chooses ministers to serve in government. The constitution requires that the Prime Minister, and government ministers be sitting members of the Bodadeg. Unlike some constitutional monarchies, government is accountable to both the Bodadeg and the Monarchy of Gelonia, and the Bodadeg can force a government minister to resign by interpellation.
Legislative power is invested in the parliament, consisting of the Bodadeg and the Vodan. The legislature holds oversight authority. The Bodadeg is the lower house and consists of 167 members elected from single member constituencies by instant-runoff voting with elections every four years, while the Vodan is an un-elected, appointed upper house. Legislative powers in Gelonia are considered robust, as both houses can conduct inquiries into government action, and pass motions of no confidence. The Bodadeg may issue motions of no confidence in a government, but the two step process requires Royal Assent in order for the government to be dismissed. The Constitution lays out the circumstances where the Bodadeg may be dissolved; only the Monarch retains the ability to dissolve the Bodadeg. While the monarch has the power to declare war and peace, no declaration is binding without a majority vote of both the Bodadeg and the Vodan. A chief power of the Vodan is to confirm the succession of the Monarch.
Law and criminal justice
The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. There is no single supreme court, but instead two. The Supreme Court of Cassation is the court of last resort for all civil or criminal matters. The Constitutional Bench is the court of last resort for all administrative cases, and constitutional challenges of statutory law, which can include national or local laws. The Constitutional Court is empowered to ensure conformity with the constitution, and may invalidate royal decrees and legislation if deemed unconstitutional.
Law enforcement is provided by the national police force, Archerien, which operates under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Interior. The Archerien is the largest police force in Gelonia, and partakes in general policing duties. The leader of the Archerien is the High Constable, who is appointed by the Monarch upon the advice of the Vodan. Archerien departments are located in each county and major cities. The Archerien differs from the Royal Guard, which is a militarized police, or gendarmerie. The Royal Guard primarily deals with reinforcing both the police and the Royal Defense Forces, as well as acts of terrorism. Gelonia also has two primary intelligence agencies: the Agency for Internal Intelligence and Security, which handles domestic intelligence, and the Agency for External Security, which handles foreign intelligence.
Administrative divisions
Since 1950, Gelonia has been divided into 27 council areas, commonly referred to as provinces (proviñs). Council areas vary in size, some classified as cities, others as counties or simply provinces, though all council areas have equal powers within its jurisdiction over education, infrastructure such as roads and highways, safety, and social services. The second level administrative division consists of 432 municipalities. From 1950 until 2003, the second level administrative division consisted of 48 districts throughout the 27 council areas.
The King appoints a Commissioner to each of the seven historical duchies of Gelonia, which may encompass more than one council area. Historical duchies are only considered administrative divisions for census and statistical purposes.
Foreign relations
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for maintaining Gelonian foreign relations and managing its international missions. The Ministry oversees bilateral relations with foreign nations the nation's representation in international organizations. The incumbent Minister of Foreign Affairs is Brianne Traha.
Gelonia is a member of the Forum of Nations, Belisarian Group, Joint Space Agency, and the Latin-Gelonian Council.
Military
The Royal Defense Force is the armed forces of Gelonia. It is comprised of three branches, the Royal Gelonian Army, the Royal Gelonian Navy and the Royal Gelonian Air Force. The total strength of the Gelonian military, including active and reserve elements, is roughly 51,000 personnel.
The country maintains membership in the Belisarian Group defense pact, along with strong historical military ties to Ghant. The Defense Force was established during the Gelonian War of Independenc against Latium, and most recently was involved in the Polnitsan Civil War.
The Monarch is the commander-in-chief of the Defense Force.
Economy
Demographics
Celtic populations were first noted in what is now Gelonia as early as the 14th century BCE. Modern Gelonians claim descent from these ancient groups, and a large percentage of the country's population share a genetic history with early Celtic inhabitants of the region, though there has been considerable mixing with Latinic, Germanic and Audonian groups since the 4th century BCE. Gelonians make up 79% of the population, with Latins forming the largest single minority group.
Language
Gelonian is considered the national language of Gelonia and has seen a significant resurgence since 1950 due to widespread government support. Latigen is a co-official language, alongside Gelonian, and is the most widely spoken first language in Gelonia. While Latigen is a Gaelicaen-Latinic language, Gelonian also features significant influence from Latin, Audonian and Arthuristan. The study of Gelonian is compulsory at primary and secondary levels of education.
Latin is the most widely spoken first language after Latigen and Gelonian, as most residents hold varying degrees of fluency.
Religion
Christianity has been the dominant religion in Gelonia since the 4th century CE. Alban Emendatic became the most prominent Christian faith in early Gelonia. Early Gelonian kings soon accepted the primacy of the Pope and Catholicism, but Alban Emendatic remained one of the largest Christian faiths in medieval Gelonia. Catholicism became more popular in Gelonia in the 12th century, becoming the largest Christian faith until the reformation and the creation of the Church of Gelonia.
Today, over 60% of Gelonians are Christians, however, Gelonia features are large percentage of irreligious individuals.
Education
Education in Gelonia is compulsory from ages 6 to 17. Education is centralized and regulated by the Ministry of Education, and is broken down into three stages: primary education, secondary education, and tertiary education. Nearly 90% of primary and secondary schools are public schools, meaning schools created and funded by the government. Private schools exist in lower numbers and receive no public funding. Schools include very minimal religious instruction in primary school, and in secondary schools, students may take elective religious courses but are not required to do so.
Nursery schools exist for children under the age of six, but is not compulsory despite recent government discussions to include it in compulsory education. Upon completion of nursery school, six year olds enter primary school and study topics such as writing, mathematics, language, and sciences. Secondary schools has two components. First and second year students follow a single track and upon their third year are split into two groups: students that will receive a baccalaureate degree and those that will receive a certificate or professional certification. Only students that receive a baccalaureate typically attend university.
Healthcare
Gelonian healthcare is primarily funded and offered through the Gelonian Royal Health System and the Ministry of Health. The first iteration of the Royal Health System was established in 1972 and citizens were only eligible for coverage if they were low-income earners, veterans, or receiving emergency care. The system was entirely de-funded by conservative governments in 1976. The Royal Health System was re-established as a single-payer healthcare service in 1984, providing healthcare coverage to all citizens and permanent residents of Gelonia. As a result of this system, private health insurance in Gelonia is limited and largely concentrated in elective services, such as cosmetic surgeries.
The Royal Health Service is compulsory for all citizens, and guarantees equal access to healthcare to all citizens and residents. As of 2010, the healthcare budget accounted for nearly 4.3% of national GDP and 78% of funding came through public funds.