Constantia

Constantian Free State Constantian Vrystaat (Afrikaans)
Flag Coat of arms
Anthem: "The Homeland"
Capital	Christiana
Largest largest city	Port Alfred
Official languages	Afrikaans English Dutch
Religion	See Religion in Constantia
Demonym(s)	Constantian
Government	Unitary parliamentary constitutional republic
• President	Simone Breytenbach
• Premier	Christiaan Van Vollenhoven
• Speaker of Parliament	Tanitha Wessels
Legislature	Constantian Parliament
Area
•	186,447.0 km2 (71,987.6 sq mi)
Population
• Estimate	15,116,205
• 2017 census	15,005,316
• Density	209/km2 (541.3/sq mi)
Gini (2020)	29.7 low
HDI (2020)	0.892 very high
Currency	Rand (R) (RAN)
Date format	dd/mm/yyyy
Driving side	left
Calling code	+112
Internet TLD	.co

Constantia, officially the Constantian Free State (Afrikaans: Constantian Vrystaat; Dutch: Constantiaanse Vrijstaat) is a coastal sovereign state. It is home to 15,116,205 people, making it one of the most populous countries in its region. Its population tends to be largely urban and is concentrated in the Chris-Alf Corridor, which spans between the capital city Christiana to the largest city, Port Alfred.

The first records of human presence in Constantia evolve to several indigenous tribes who spoke Algonquian languages and were spread along the coastline and on the banks of major rivers. Several records have left mark of long periods of conflicts between these groups and other significant native tribes. The first contact with trans-oceanic communities happened during the last decades of the 16th century, and were increased during the first ones of the following century. In 1615, the first settlement was founded by Christian separatists in what was later called Christiana. These groups rapidly enganged in territorial conflicts with indigenous peoples, although sicknesses and advanced weapons proved cathastrophic to natives, whose majority was forced to leave the new colony. The success of these colonial settlements drew interest in trans-oceanic powers, which increased funds for explorers and colonisers. During the colonial period, the harbours of Christiana and Port Alfred became crucial in the region, being important centres for spicies and slaves trade.

During the 18th century, the imposition of higher tax quotas started causing local disconfort, forcing the emergence of political and social leaders from Constantia that reclaimed fairer trade conditions. Tensions escalted to numerous turmoils and later wars between locals and colonial figures, which by 1778 were already expulsed of Constantia, marking the declaration of independence of the colony. In the years that followed, the newborn nation became a centre for liberal thought; slavery was entirely abolished during 1820 and an advance on social rights was pushed on the base of humanist and Christian views. At the start of the 20th century, the country rapdily developed an important industrial capacity, which met a growing quality of life, being the base for an export based economy and the development of social democratic values under the leadership of Stiaan Van Der Byl.

Government and politics

Simone Breytenbach
President of Constantia

Christiaan Van Vollenhoven
Prime Minister of Constantia