Elstock

Free City of Elstock Wòlny Gard Elstók (Elsian) Freie Stadt Elstock (Tyrnican)
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Per lucem et fidem" "By light and faith"
Anthem: O krôjnié rzéki / O Land des Flusses O land of the river
Capital and largest city	Elstock (city-state)
Official languages	Elsian, Tyrnican
Ethnic groups (2020)	55.9% Elsian 27.8% Tyrnican 7.2% Rasmi 5.5% Senian 3.6% Other
Religion (2020)	36.4% Classical 29.9% Apostolic 21.2% Irreligious 10.6% Aulaist 2.0% Other
Demonym(s)	Elstocker
Government	Unitary directorial parliamentary republic
• Consuls	Frederick IV Vsevolod Lebedev
• Mayor-President	Jón Ritter
Legislature	Senate
Independence from Tyrnica and Pelemia
• Elstock founded	c. 900 CE
• Elsian March	17 May 1224
• Annexed by Pelemia	3 September 1677
• Annexed by Tyrnica	1 May 1901
• Elstock Agreement	15 July 1914
• Current constitution	21 March 1999
• Full independence	1 January 2000
Area
• Total	120 km2 (46 sq mi)
• Water (%)	10.5
Population
• 2020 census	241,490
• Density	2,012/km2 (5,211.1/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)	2021 estimate
• Total	$14.55 billion
• Per capita	$60,255
GDP (nominal)	2021 estimate
• Total	$12.81 billion
• Per capita	$53,025
HDI (2020)	0.850 very high
Currency	Commonwealth mark (CMR)
Time zone	UTC+1 (Central Auressian Time)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (Central Auressian Summer Time)
Driving side	left
Calling code	+07 22
ISO 3166 code	EL
Internet TLD	.el

Elstock (Elsian: Elstók), officially the Free City of Elstock (Elsian: Wòlny Gard Elstók; Tyrnican: Freie Stadt Elstock), is a city-state in northern Auressia, on the Bay of Elstock and the river Els.

Etymology

Numerous linguists attest that the native name of Elstock (Elstók in Elsian) derives from the Ludic term Elstoc (*els-tokŭ, or "fork of the Els"), named after the river Els that runs through the city before draining into the Bay of Elstock. Before the Elsian language was standardized in the 19th century, the port previously appeared in documents as alternatively Elstik, Alztyk, Elztuk, and Elczók.

The Tyrnican Elstock is also assumed to be derived from the original Ludic term, and has in the past appeared as Elsstok, Elßtok, Alstock, or Elztock in various historical documents.

History

Early history

• Initially founded around the 10th century as a gord (fortified settlement) by the Ludic Elsians. Emerges as a notable place of trade between the Elsians and Tyrnicans from the west.
• By 11th century, a confederation of Elsian chiefs is attested, also referred to as the Elesi. Little information exists, but is often considered the first Elsian proto-state.
• The region quickly becomes influenced by Tyrnica, and in 1224, the monastic Order of Saint Perende beseige and occupy Elstock and other gords in Elsia in an attempt to Perendize the Ludic peoples to Tyrnica’s east. The monastic Elsian March (Marca elsica, Elsische Mark) is created along the river Els, with the order making Elstock their seat.

Elsian March

• Elstock’s annexation into the Elsian March sees the city boom as a centre of culture and trade during the medieval period, with the city becoming an integral part of north Auressian trade routes, especially in the production and trade of amber. The Monk’s Castle (the primary seat of the Steward, the nominal head of the order) finishes its construction in 1267.
• The University of Elstock is founded in 1298. The university remains an important and prestigious symbol of Elstock and Auressian higher education to the present day.
• Throughout the medieval period, Elstock and Elsia writ large are Perendized and brought under the control of the Order of Saint Perende, and a ruling class of Tyrican monks, knights, and a fledgling merchant class lord over the still-majority Elsian population of the river valley. The Rasmi, a ethno-religious group, begin to migrate towards Elsia as a source of livelihood and to flee persecution, with the Order allowing notable tolerance towards the Rasmi due to their reputation as blacksmiths and horseback riders, skills that could be co-opted for the March.

Decline and the early modern period

• In the early 1500s, the Elsian March, already on the decline for decades from external forces, erupts into civil war as the local Apostolic Church faces splintering and the political clout of monastic rule falters. Although Elstiock itself stays within the order’s control, the rest of Elsia either forms their own entities or are subsumed by larger neighbours. Attempts to secular the March fail as Elstock enters a period of decline, albeit remaining an important tradeport.
• In 1677, Elstock, now the final holdout of the Order of Saint Perende, is quickly and quietly annexed by Pelemia after a short blockade. Initially, the city is granted high autonomy, with much of the power remaining in the former monastic class, leading to tension with a now substantial merchant class consisting of both Elsians and Tyrnicans.
• In the 17th and 18th centuries, with nation-building and the formation of proto-nationalism occurring in Pelemia and elsewhere in the region, pressure is placed on Elsians to integrate and assimilate to larger Tyrnican and Severny populations, often with harsh reprisals. These efforts of “Trynicanization” and “Severnization” would become more severe in the 19th century.

19th century

• The Tyrnican Century affects and influences Elstock immensely, with the city increasing trade with the influential neighbour. The construction of the Elstock-Ardarschweig railway line in 1836 (and the neoclassical Amber Square Station) precedes both an economic boom and the rise of tourism to the city from the rest of Pelemia and abroad, especially from Tyrnica. The Elstocker Casino is opened in 1859, beginning the city’s long relationship with the gambling industry, alongside a number of luxury hotels catering to the Auressian nobility and elite as Elstock gains notoriety as “the playground of the rich and famous” of Auressia.
• As Elstock itself sees a revival, the Elsians within Pelemia and Tyrnica are further burdened by restrictive policies and forced resettlement. In Elstock itself, Pelemian authorities favour the local Tyrnican-speaking ruling class, and the Elsian language is de facto banned in 1850. The situation worsens in Elsia proper with even more invasive policies around banning permanent housing and land ownership, in an attempt to settle Severny in the Els river valley. In response, a fervent (and often violent) Elsian nationalist movement forms. A famine in 1871 leads to mass death and migration to Marceunia, and a failed minor uprising by Elsian farmers protesting land seizures.
• In Elstock, Pelemian authorities crack down on Elsian nationalists through stripping the city’s autonomy. The position of Mayor is established in 1868 as a governor appointed by the Prince in order to keep order in the city. This fails, and tensions explode into numerous riots in the 1870s to the 1890s. In retaliation, Pelemia engages in a deliberate attempt to “starve out the dissidents” through government seizure of land and materials throughout Elsia. Estimates are vague, but roughly a quarter (250,000) of Elsians are either killed or flee the region during these events, although land seizures and language policies has more of an effect on the countryside than urban centres, leaving Elstock still-majority Elsian by the 20th century.

First Great War and the 20th century

• In [Tyrno-Pelemian War, ends 1901], Elsia forms the frontline of the war, with the Tyrnicans adopting harsh tactics of land and crop seizures as they push through the region. This, plus a occupying regime of torture and mass executions by the military make up the Rzëcniô ("Slaughter", more officially referred to as the Elsian Massacre), possibly the harshest period of persecution against the Elsians in the 19th and 20th century. Estimates as high as 400,000 (almost half of the population) are killed via these methods, and more displaced from their communities, sometimes collectively. The events of the Elsian Massacre are still a controversial subject today, and opinions are heavily debated if Tyrnica's actions constitute just war crimes or genocide, as well as the intent of Tyrnican officials. At the war's conclusion in 1901, Tyrnica annexes Elstock, alongside a swath of western Pelemia. The Elsian population of Elstock are quickly displeased as Tyrnican officials retain many of the Pelemian policies on language rights and an open favoritism towards the majority-Tyrnican elite of the city.
• The First Great War (1908-1914) devastates Elstock economically, as the city is placed in the crosshairs of both Galene League and Coalition armies via sea. The Battle of Elstock Bay becomes notable as one of the most destructivet naval battles of the war. In 1914, with an official end to the First Great War, Elstock is granted the status of a condominium, jointly ruled by Tyrnica and Pelemia initially under military rule, in an attempt to keep balance in the region while side-stepping the Elsian independence movement as a whole.
• Under the condominium agreement, Elstock begins to rebuild under the command of the two Mayors (a Tyrnican and Pelemian diplomat jointly serving as the city-state’s executive). A move to introduce an elected legislature is dropped in the 1930s with the outbreak of the Second Great War, in which Elstock became a noted drydock and hub for spies searching for intelligence in an officially neutral territory.
• With the end of the Second Great War in 1943, Elstock’s status as a condominium is questioned as de-colonization around the world begins. Some powers are given to an appointed local Senate in 1970, but most legislative power remains in the hands of the Mayors, and Elstock is used as a pawn between Tyrnica and Pelemia as tension remained from the early 20th century. In response to a lack of reform and local power, the Elsian People’s Army begins a bombing campaign around Elstock from the late 1950s until the early 1990s, hoping to liberate Elstock and Elsia as a whole from Tyrnican and Pelemian influence. In 1992, Tyrnica and Pelemia agree to ending the condominium, signing the Elstock accord. This leads to the election of a Constituent Assembly in 1998, and the independence of the Free City of Elstock on 1 January, 2000.

Post-independence

• Elstock’s constitution is based on the concept of consensus government, as an attempt to reign in external influence and keep peace with the divided city-state.
• Since independence in 2000, Tyrnican and Pelemian influence remain on Elstock, and the city-state remains a geopolitical battleground between the two powers, if now less violent than in the 20th century.

Geography

The Els river is Elstock's namesake and its most defining natural feature

Elstock is situated on the mouth of the river Els, on the southern coast of the Bay of Elstock. The river bisects the city-state and forms part of the border between it and Tyrnica and Pelemia, as well as draining into the Ełwa, the only river solely with Elstock's borders. The city originally lay on wetlands formed by the convergence of the river into the bay, but urbanization has dredged the original environment since the 12th century. Elstock also lies on a floodplain hewed in by the mountains and hills bisected by the Els, and has at times faced flooding of the river's banks during the spring and summer. Part of the coastline, mainly around the mouth of the bay, has been significantly altered by reclamation, especially in the district of Nowògard. As a urban environment, Elstock lacks any agricultural industry, with fishing being the country's only natural resource.

Climate

Elstock
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     31     −4 −11     29     0 −9     31     4 −3     44     7 −1     60     11 6     79     15 7     83     22 13     77     21 12     64     13 8     43     9 1     38     4 −4     34     −1 −6 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation totals in mm
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     1.2     25 12     1.1     31 17     1.2     40 26     1.7     44 31     2.4     52 43     3.1     58 45     3.3     71 56     3     69 53     2.5     56 47     1.7     48 34     1.5     38 24     1.3     30 20 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation totals in inches

Elstock is located in a humid continental climate, more specifically within a hemiboreal climate, usually seeing warm summers and cold winters. As the city-state is located close to the transition between humid continental and subarctic climates, the region is known for typically longer and colder winters ranging from late October to April, but features also relatively warm summers between June and August, reaching temperatures in the low 20 degrees Celsius. The Els river valley is known for high precipitation during the spring and summer, which is often considered the rainy season, and was historically the period where the Els risked flooding.

• 

  Elstock Harbour in January

• 

  Ełwa River in Fiszerstëk in March

• 

  Bòber Park in early May

• 

  Elstock Harbour in July

• 

  Bòber Park in early October

Government

The Rôtësz (tyr. Rathaus) is Elstock's seat of government, housing the Senate and Council

Frederick IV
Co-Consul

Vsevolod Lebedev
Co-Consul

Jón Ritter
Mayor-President

Elstock is a unitary parliamentary republic governed under a directorial system, with the King of Tyrnica and Prince-Elect of Pelemia acting as joint ceremonial heads of state under their role as Consuls, a particular institution originating from Elstock's previous history as a condominium between Tyrnica and Pelemia. Constitutionally, the Consuls have little power, and retain purely ceremonial roles within the city-state.

Administrative power is held by the Council, the main executive body and government of the city-state. The Council is represented by the Mayor-President, who is elected from the cabinet and serves as the country's de jure government during their tenure, although they are legally first among equals within the Council. Elstock's constitution, passed in 1999 and in effect since independence, emphasizes consensus government and a non-partisan formation of a governing majority. Despite this, political parties do exist within the country, and positions in the Council are divided up by political affiliation by an informal formula used since the first election in 2000.

Legislative power is held by the 30-seat unicameral Senate, who are elected every three years via single transferable vote in six constituencies. All citizens of Elstock aged 18 or above have the right to vote and run for office, while all citizens of Tyrnica and Pelemia permanently residing in Elstock for over five years can vote in general elections, although are barred from running for office. The Senate's duties include debating and passing legislation, maintaining the country's budget, and nominating and appointing the members of the Council. With one seat in the Senate representing an average of 8,050 constituents, Elstock's political culture is characterized by a strong focus on local issues and personal affinities for and against individual candidates, as well as intense political fragmentation.

The country's court of final appeal is the Court of Justice (Elsian: Krótczi Sprawiedlëwòtczi; Tyrnican: Gerichtshof), which handles matters related to the constitution and governance through five judges appointed by an independent citizen's committee when a seat is vacated. Elstock's judiciary is built on civil law, and heavily influenced by the Pelemian legal system and its conventions.

Administrative divisions

Elstock is divided into six districts (Elsian: dzélnicô; Tyrnican: Bezirk), with certain rights and responsibilities on the local level. The modern-day districts are based on the original four divisions of the city in the 18th century. Szmëlermark was incorporated into Elstock in 1884, and Tónkowò in 1914.

1. Stôrògard (lit. 'Old Town'; Altstadt)
2. Nowògard (lit. 'New Town'; Neustadt)
3. Fiszerstëk (Fischersteg)
4. Ełwa (Elwa)
5. Szmëlermark (Schmalermarkt)
6. Tónkowò (Antonkow)

Foreign relations

The embassy of Elstock in Vedayen-Königspfalz, Tyrnica

Elstock maintains close relations to numerous states in Auressia, most notably with neighbouring Tyrnica and Pelemia. Freedom of movement between Elstock and its neighbours has been guaranteed since the creation of the condominium in 1914, and the city-state remains closely integrated with both countries economically and politically, with a de facto customs union and Tyrnican and Pelemian authorities having limited jurisdiction in the country. This unique situation has led to Elstock being considered an example of a modern protected state.

Elstock has been an official observer of the Commonwealth of Northern Auressia since 2001, and maintains close relations with its member states. Elstock is considered heavily integrated within the economy of the Commonwealth through its use of the Commonwealth mark as its official currency, and participates within the organization's common market through supplementary treaties and agreements. Elstocker politics often revolves around questioning further integration into the Commonwealth, with some organizations such as the Socialist People's Party arguing for full membership, while others, such as the Democratic Union, argue for continuing Elstock's present relationship.

As the only Elsian-majority state, Elstock's foreign policy is heavily influenced by the larger Elsian community living in Tyrnica, Pelemia, and Senia. Since independence, debate has occurred over Elstock's role as a "defender for Elsian rights", as defined by former Mayor-President Erik Górka, or if such a line constitutes unfair influence on sovereign states and the marginalization of Elstock's large Tyrnican population. The circumstances of Elsians outside Elstock has prompted controversy with how the city-state conducts foreign policy, namely around relations with Senia, which have been characterized as strained since the mid-2000s.

Elstock maintains individual embassies in Vedayen-Königspfalz, Tyrnica and Melnagrad, Pelemia. In most other countries, the diplomatic missions of the country are conducted through the embassies and consulates of Tyrnica and Pelemia, who are granted the right to represent Elstock diplomatically if the city-state cannot individually represent itself in a country.

Military

Officers of the Municipal Police on patrol on Bùrsztinowô Street

Elstock does not have a standing military, and is constitutionally barred from forming one "unless in acts of grave danger to the state". The protection of Elstock is instead guaranteed by the armed forces of Tyrnica and Pelemia, who are obligated to comes to the city-state's aid in times of distress. On the international stage, Elstock has proclaimed a stance of neutrality since its independence, declining to join in any military alliances or organizations primarily engaged with military action. A ceremonial guard originally founded in 1611, the Merchant Company (Elsian: Kòmpanijô Kùpca; Tyrnican: Handelsgesellschaft), remains the primary protection force of the Consuls, Mayor-President, and other officials, and perform ceremonies such as the daily charging of the guard at the Rôtësz.

Police force

Elstock maintains a police force, the Municipal Police (Elsian: Straż Gardzkô; Tyrnican: Stadtpolizei), numbering 1,500 officers and affiliated persons. The Municipal Police are in charge of maintaining order in the city-state, including conducting arrest and dispelling unlawful activity. The country's police also has two special divisions, a coast guard focused on maintaining naval order and rescue operations in the Bay of Elstock, and a customs divisions aimed at monitoring trade coming in and out of the city. Elstock's police forces maintain close ties with their Tyrnican and Pelemian counterparts, and cooperate heavily with the larger national forces.

Population

Demographics

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1700	20,000	—
1780	51,303	+156.5%
1800	44,349	−13.6%
1830	55,490	+25.1%
1850	69,893	+26.0%
1885	80,308	+14.9%
1900	85,281	+6.2%
1910	98,803	+15.9%
1920	140,172	+41.9%
1930	192,381	+37.2%
1940	200,277	+4.1%
1950	241,386	+20.5%
1960	282,295	+16.9%
1970	262,530	−7.0%
1980	253,013	−3.6%
1990	249,281	−1.5%
2000	245,120	−1.7%
2010	242,638	−1.0%
2020	241,490	−0.5%