Kingsport
Kingsport Pulau Hujung | |
|---|---|
 Flag  Seal | |
| Etymology: Named for Henry King | |
| Motto(s): Ing pungkasan jagad At the end of the world | |
 Location of Kingsport (dark green) in Coius (grey), with Estmere (pale green) | |
| Sovereign state | Template:Country data Estmere |
| Kabuese initial settlement | 1100s |
| Agudan control | 1558 |
| Leased to Estmere | 1713 |
| Purchased by Estmere | 1778 |
| Founded by | Henry King |
| Capital and largest settlement | Kingston |
| Official languages | |
| Ethnic groups | |
| Demonym(s) | Kingsportian |
| Government | Devolved representative democratic parliamentary dependency under a federal constitutional republic |
| Alice Roberts (Ind) | |
| Joseph Bambang (Ind) | |
| Adi Harjo (KSCP) | |
| Legislature | Kingsport Assembly |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,129 km2 (436 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• 2021 estimate | 59,206 |
• 2015 census | 54,581 |
| Currency | Euclo (€) (EUC) |
| Time zone | Western Vehemens Time (UTC+5) |
| Date format | dd-mm-yy |
| Driving side | right |
| Calling code | +55 |
| Internet TLD | .es .ksp .ph |
Kingsport (Kabuese: Pulau Hujung) is an Estmerish Overseas Territory located in the mid-western Vehemens Ocean. Geographically, the island is closest to the North Kabuese island of Lembeh, and is considered part of the wider Kabuese archipelago. The territory contains the island of Kingsport proper, as well as a number of smaller islands and atolls. The territory spans an area of 1,129 km2, and is home to a population of 54,581. Kingston functions as the capital city.
Prior to settlement, a number of Sublustrian peoples had arrived onto the islands intermittently, but there was no attempt to permanently settle. The island was first properly settled in the 1100s, by Kabuese Badi migrants attempting to escape persecution for their belief in obscure elemental cults. Independent local leaders were subsumed into the growing Aguda Empire in 1558, and the island became the furthest outpost of the empire.
Admiral Henry King came across the island in 1710, and organised the leasing of the island from the Agudans in 1713. The Estmerish constructed a major port on the island, which quickly became an important stopping point for ships travelling to between Coius and the Asterias. The island was purchased outright in 1778, preceding the Estmerish consolidation of wider Kabu into the Colony of the Carolinian Islands. As a major port of call, the island was subjected to a small degree of Estmerish settler colonialism, largely centred in the port city of Kingston. The colony was briefly occupied by Gaullica in the Great War.
After the war, rising Kabuese nationalism saw the independence of the wider Carolinian Islands colony. Nationalists pressed for Kingsport to be included in wider Kabu, but pressure from the local Estmerish-speaking population and belief in the importance of the port's location resulted in the island remaining Estmerish. Power was gradually transfered to the islands through devolution beginning in 1986, with eventual statehood seen as an ultimate goal for the islands. The importance of the port has waned over time, but a large Estmerish Navy presence persists on the island through its naval base.
Modern day Kingsport is largely self-governing, with a devolved representative democratic parliamentary dependency under the federal constitutional republic of Estmere. President Alice Roberts is the official head of state, but is represented on the island by High Commissioner Joseph Bambang. Devolved power is placed in the Kingsport Assembly and Chief Executive Adi Harjo. Kingsport's modern economy is based primarily on tourism, bunkering and fishing.
Etymology and name
The island is, in Estmerish, named for Henry King, an 18th century Estmerish admiral who organised the lease and later purchase of the island from the Aguda Empire. The colony established was named King's Port in his honour, which over time was reduced to the current name. The native Kabuese name for the island is Pulau Hujung, which roughly translates to "island at the end" in reference to the island's position at the periphery of the Kabuese archipelago.
The status of the name for the island has been a point of dispute and controversy, both internationally and within the island's local politics. South and North Kabu both refer to the island by the name Pulau Hujung in official correspondence. Locally, Kabuese nationalists refuse to use the Estmerish name for the island, and historically Estmerish unionists had refused to use the native name; although this has changed in recent years. The Estmerish federal government recognises the names Kingsport and Pulau Hujung as equally valid names for the territory, and the local government uses both in most official manners.
History
Prior to settlement
Kabuese settlement
Agudan province
Estmerish acquisition
Colonial period
Contemporary history
Geography
Governance
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Kingsport is a self-governing dependency, with power devolved to the territory from the Estmerish federal government. Kingsport is therefore a representative democracy with a parliamentary system, operating under a federal constitutional republic.
The President of Estmere is the official head of state, but is represented in the territory by the High Commissioner, who carries out most of the legal and ceremonial functions of the presidency. Joseph Bambang, a prominent Kingsportian businessman, has been High Commissioner since 2012.
Real devolved power lays with the elected Kingsport Assembly, formerly known as the Kingsport Territorial Council. The 55 elected members of the Assembly have the sole ability to draft, suggest and pass local legislation, and the head of government is a member of the Assembly; the Chief Executive, who heads the executive branch. The Chief Executive is appointed by the High Commissioner on the basis of being able to command a majority in the Assembly. Adi Harjo has been Chief Executive since 2017, and leads a government comprising the KSCP, the KAC and TKA.
| Party | Affiliation | Members of the Assembly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingsport Socialist Co-operative Party Partai Koperasi Sosialis Pulau Hujung |
SDCP | 17 | |
| Kingsport United Manunggal Pulau Hujung |
13 | ||
| Kingsport Alliance for Change Aliansi Pulau Hujung Kanggo Pangowahan |
9 | ||
| Kingsport Sotirian Democratic Union Uni Demokrat Sotren Pulau Hujung |
SDU | 8 | |
| The Kingsport Alternative Alternatif Pulau Hujung |
Reform | 6 | |
| Kabuese Section of the Workers' International Bagéan Wong Kabu Saka Magang Internasional |
ESWI | 2 | |
| Total | 55 | ||
Sovereignty dispute
Sovereignty over Kingsport is disputed, with Estmere and South Kabu both asserting a territorial claim over the islands. Estmere's claim is based on its continuous administration of the islands since 1713, the presence of Estmerish speakers and the islanders' continued support for union with Estmere. South Kabu asserts that Kingsport is part of the Kabuese nation, and that the continued Estmerish presence is a result of unresolved imperialism and colonialism; additionally, South Kabu claims that Henry King's purchase of the island was not legal, and that the Aguda Empire was coerced into signing the agreement.
Internationally, most countries recognise Estmerish sovereignty over Kingsport. The Community of Nations includes Kingsport on its list of Non-Self-Governing Territories, but the Estmerish government has routinely disputed this. The two other members of the Brown Sea Community, Dezevau and Lavana, and many members of the Association for International Socialism support South Kabu's claim.
Previously, North Kabu also claimed the island, stemming from its view that it is the sole legitimate government of the Kabuese nation, which it defined as the entirity of the Kabuese archipelago, including both Kingsport and the Gaullican island of Nouvel Anglet. The claim was formally relinquished in 1997, following the referendum of the same year which saw 89.2% support continued Estmerish sovereignty.
Administrative divisions
Kingsport has nine subdivisions; these are eight civilian parishes and one military district comprising Kingsport EN Base. The parishes have a few local powers, and generally have small parish councils.
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Economy
Demographics
Ethnic groups
The ethnic composition of Kingsport reflects the unique history of the island, starting with the initial Kabuese settlement in the 1100s, continuing with the seizure of the islands by the Aguda Empire in 1558, and with the start of Estmerish settlement in 1713, which brought economic migrants in the form of Estmerish settlers, Bahian peoples and Gowsa port workers. By heritage, ethnic Kabuese make up a plurality of the population at 72.8%, with the island also home to large numbers of those of Estmerish (12.2%), Bahian (5.6%) and Dezevauni (4.9%) descent. There is also an increasing number of mixed race residents on the islands.
The majority (88.9%) of islanders identity as Kingsportian; most of these islanders (64.2%) report an ethnically Kabuese background, with 10.3% having an ethnically white background, 5.2% having a Bahian background, 4.1% having a Gowsa or other Dezevauni background, and 2.1% belonging to other ethnic backgrounds. Of those who do not identify as Kingsportian (11.1%), the majority identify as Kabuese (8.6%), with 1.9% identifying as only Estmerish, and 0.6% reporting another nationality primarily comprising their identity. Given this diversity, Kingsport is considered ethnically heterogeneous.
Language
Kingsport has two official languages, with both Estmerish and Kabuese considered equal languages of government and instruction. Most islanders are billingual in Estmerish and Kabuese, and the majority of signage on the island uses both languages. Due to the large Gowsa population, there is also a significant minority who speak Ziba, though Ziba does not have any official recongition on the island. Estmerish speakers on the island have a unique vernacular known as Kingsport Estmerish, which has a number of Kabuese-derived words.
Religion
Badi has been the dominant religion in Kingsport since its introduction by the Kabuese in the 1100s. The style of Badi practiced was predominantly heterodox until the arrival of the Aguda Empire in 1558, wherein the form of Badi became far more orthodox. Sotirianity was primarily introduced to the islands under Estmerish rule, with the state-sponsored Embrian Communion making its presence known on the island through conversion efforts.
According to the 2015 census, 60.4% of the population identify as Badist, and 25.3% identify as Sotirian. While the Embrian Communion is the largest Sotirian denominiation, there is also a notable Solarian Catholic, Church of the Orient and non-Embrian Amendist presence.
Outside of Sotirianity and Badi, 1.9% of the population are Irfanic, and 1.7% are Tulyatan. These people tend to be immigrants from Estmere proper or from other former Estmerish colonies. Just under 1 in 10 of the population consider themselves to be irreligious.
Important religious buildings on the island include the Cathedral of Saint Thomas and the Temple of Holy Metal.