Atitlan
Kingdom of Atitlan Reino de Atitlán (Almagrian) Tlajtokayotl in Atitlan/Atitlalpan (Atlacatle) | |
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 Flag
 Coat of arms
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| 'Motto: 'El pueblo unido jamás será vencido The united people will never be defeated | |
| Anthem: "Atitlán, tierra de dioses" | |
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| Capital | Chalatenango |
| Official languages | Almagrian de facto |
| Recognized languages | Atlacatle and other indigenous languages |
| Ethnic groups | Atlacatle, Apanese, and other diverse groups. |
| Religion |
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| Demonym(s) | Atitlanese |
| Government | Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy |
• Tlatoani | Macuilxochitzin |
• Prime Minister | Juan Diego Ortiz |
| Legislature | Corte Imperial |
| Senate | |
| Chamber of Deputies | |
| Independence | |
• Independence from: Almagrian Empire | 6 September 1791 |
• Consumation | 12 February 1799 |
• Dynastic Union | 20 February 1813 |
• Formation of the Empire | 31 June 1833 |
• Nationalist coup | 21 November 1946 |
• Current constitution | 19 September 1972 |
| Population | |
• 2020 census | 89,970,412 |
• Density | 47/km2 (121.7/sq mi) |
| GDP (nominal) | 2020 estimate |
• Total | $1.274 trillion |
• Per capita | $20,567 |
| Gini (2016) | 33.0 medium |
| HDI (2019) | 0.805 very high |
| Currency | Atitlanese peso (ATP) |
| Date format | dd-mm-yyyy |
| Driving side | right |
| Internet TLD | .at |
Atitlan, officially the Kingdom of Atitlan (Almagrian: Reino de Atitlán) is a country in the southern portion of Triania. It is bordered to the east by Sainuco and Maregua; to the southeast by Bergenaria; and to the south by the Barnesian Sea. Atitlan is organized as a federation comprising 42 states, one unincorporated territorial area and Chalatenango, its capital and largest metropolis. Other major urban areas include Atitalaquiac, Atlixco, Santa Rosalía, Techalxtepec, Tlapanco, Yehualtepec and Canatlán. Atitlan is home to 89,970,412 people and one of the largest nations in Triania.
Atitlan has been home to many indigenous peoples and cultures since at least the first human migrations to Triania. The first complex civilizations would form around the 700 AD, culminating with the rise of the Atlacatle Empire on 1200 AD. The first Almagrians landed on 1532, and by the mid-18th century they had colonized much of present-day Atitlan, and established the Principality of New Almagria. Independence from the Almagrians was consumed in 1799, with what is now Atitlan emerging as the Trianian Confederation. The dynastic union of the rulers of the city states of Chalatenango, Atitalaquiac and Atlixco in 1813, often considered the formation of Atitlan as a modern empire, was followed by the colonization of Mava and the new colonial ambitions of the empire.
During the late-19th century to the early years of the 20th century, the Crown saw the independence of most of its colonies and territories as a result of cumulative crises and political divisions. Political instability reached its peak in the mid-20th century with the Atitlanese Civil War, giving rise to the Nationalist dictatorship that lasted until 1972. Under the reconstruction period, Atitlan experienced an economic boom that profoundly transformed it socially and politically.
On the present day, Atitlan is is classified as a developed country; it's economy and relatively large population, global cultural influence, and steady democratization makes Atitlan a regional power in Triania, albeit this claim is heavily disputed; as many identify the country as an emerging power, while other considered it a newly industrialized state by several analysts.
Etymology
Traditionally, the name Atitlan comes from the atlacatle word atitlan which means "the place between the water". The name itself makes a reference to the former Atlacatle inhabitants on the foundation of Chalatenango, as the city was built surrounded by walls of sand and the waters of the Barnesian Sea. Another origin explains that "Atitlan" is the name of the ancestral home of the Atlacatle peoples. The myth details that Atitlan sunk beneath the waves in a fit of rage of Nonohualco, the main god of the Atlacatle. As an apology, Nonohualco guided his children into a new place where they would settle their city.
History
Early history
The first complex civilizations in Atitlan can be traced in the Kriol culture, which flourished on the southermost part around 680 AD. Kriol cultural traits diffused through Atitlan into other formative-era cultures. Other civilizations that followed during the formative period of the nation were the Lepi and the Ha' people. In the subsequent classical period, the Ha' and Lepi civilizations developed complex centers at Xelhá and Ajacuba, respectively. The decline of these complex civilizations is calculated to have occured around the 1100 AD. However, the Lepi civilziation continued to survive until the Almagrian conquest.
Towards the end of the post-classic period, the Atlacatle people eventually estalished themselves as the sole civilization to have full political power in the region, giving rise to a political and economic empire based in the city of Chalatenango. In the preceding years of the Almagrian conquest, the Atlacatle were waging war against Lepi and Ha' remnants and the Pinome people, whom would ally with the Almagrians later in the Conquest,
Almagrian colony
TBA
Independence
Main Article: Atitlanese Revolution
TBA
19th century
Main Article: Atitlanese Empire See also: List of emperors of Atitlan
After it gained independence from the Almagrian Empire, there were many attempts to form a federalized union amongst the greater territories of Atitlan. These efforts were hindered by outbreaks of violence and disagreements between the several separatist groups.[1] In 1800, just a year after the consumation of independence, Atitlan would enter a major conflict known as the Sucession War (Almagrian: Guerra de Sucesión). After 12 years of unrest and disorder, a monarchist faction under the guidance of General José Luis Motelchiuh emerged as the official victors of the conflict.[2]
On February 19, 1813, Motelchiuh proclaimed himself Huey Tlatoani Xochiquentzin II and hold his coronation on the Palace of the Nation. The following day, he proclaimed the Great Empire of Atitlan (Almagrian: Gran Imperio de Atitlán)[3] alongside a new constitution [4] and legislature, akin to a modern-day constitutional monarchy. The newly established monarchs were to be chosen by the Council of Elders[5], which also decided the next monarch, albeit this only happened on extraordinary circumstances, as most tlatoanis proclaimed their descendants as heirs.
The formation and colonial ambitions of the empire prompted the so-called "Atitlanese Golden Era" (Almagrian: Era Dorada de Atitlán)[1], which lasted until circa the 1850s. During this golden era, Atitlan became one of the fastest growing empires in Triania. Internal political and territorial divisions led to the independence of Abala and Bergenaria, in the called Divorcio Nacional, a five year conflict that ended in a rebel victory. After losing both territories, Imperial forces set out to suppress the rest of the rebellions. Adding to this, internal divisions remained between monarchist and liberal political forces, occasionally igniting very bloody civil wars, the most significant being the Five Hundred Days' War (1863-1864).[6]
After the brief turmoil, the 32-year rule of Huey Cihuatlatoani Ixtaccíhuatl (r.1865-1897), allowed Atitlan to rapidly modernize and recover in a period characterized as one of "order and progress".[7] The Renacimiento Atitlanés was characterized by economic stability and growth, significant foreign investment and influence, an expansion of the railroad network, naval industry and telecommunications, and investments in the arts and sciences. This renaissance of Atitlanese economy, culture and identity would have major consecuences in the society that are still felt to this very day.[1]
In 1882, Atitlan went to war with the former colony of Abala and Bergenaria in the Barnesian War and as a result, managed to secure influence in Lake Ajacuba, eliminating Abala's naval power, and acquired valuable nitrate deposits, the exploitation of which led to an era of national affluence.[6] Soon after, the country engaged in a vastly expensive naval arms race with Bergenaria that culminated in war.
20th century
During the final days of World War I, Bergenaria and Atitlan would have their first major conflict in the First Bergenarian-Atitlanese War. Both nations would have another major clash during World War II, both occasions ending with an Atitlanese victory, and the capital of Bergenaria being relocated in the latter conflict. Even before said conflicts, signs of the empire's decline were felt and seen abroad.
Atitlanese culture and economy stagnated and colonial ambitions began to fade away in favor of internal issues. Under the Huey Tlatoani Atotoztli V, the remaining provinces of Mava and Sainuco were granted independence and self-governing rights peacefully, virtually ending the empire. Officially however, the Great Empire of Aititlan ended on 1946, after the death of Atotztli V. Given that there was no clear line of succesion, a republic was declared in the aftermath of his death. After 133 years, the Great Empire of Atitlan ceased to exist.
In 1951, a military coup led by General Salvador Da Silva set off a period of political instability that lasted until 1957. This peroid is known as the Lustro Trágico and is coloquially described as a civil war.
By the late 1970s, largely as a result of events such as a economic collapse in 1962, the government gradually permitted greater freedom of assembly, speech, and association, to include trade union and political activity. The government also launched market-oriented reforms. Atitlan moved toward a free market economy that saw an increase in domestic and foreign private investment, although the copper industry and other important mineral resources were not opened to competition.
Beginning in the mid-1970s Atitlanese drug cartels became major producers, processors and exporters of illegal drugs, primarily marijuana and cocaine in the Trianian continent.
21st century
In 1993, Atitlan and Bergenaria would face again for a third time, this time as an asymmetric low-intensity armed conflict along the border of both countries and the Barnesian Sea. This conflict lasted until 2001, when the countries called for mutual agreements that ended the violence.
On 4 July 2001, a new Constitution was promulgated. The changes generated by the new constitution are viewed as positive by Atitlanese society. On 2002, the administration of President Dana Tovar (2000-2008), adopted a program called El Gran Salto Adelante, a economical-societal plan that aimed at all elements of society. Primarily, the economic plan promoted confidence in foreign investors, while the societal plan helped Atitlan to be fairly equal to most Elezian nations.
In 2020, a leftist candidate, the 42-year-old former student protest leader Jesús Juaréz Hurtado, won Atitlan's presidential election to become the country's youngest ever leader. On 11 March 2021, Juaréz was sworn in as president to succeed outgoing President Augusto Ruz, becoming the country's first leftist president.
Geography
Politics & Government
Government
Atitlan is a constitutional monarchy, with a hereditary monarch and a bicameral parliament, according to the Constitution. The constitution establishes three levels of government: the imperial union, the state governments and the municipal governments. According to the constitution, all states must have their own elected parliaments, governments, public administrations, budgets, and resources. Each state is composed of three branches: the executive, represented by a governor and an appointed cabinet, the legislative branch constituted by a unicameral congress and the judiciary, which will include a state Supreme Court of Justice. They also have their own civil and judicial codes.
Legislatively, Atitlan has a bicameral Congress of the Federation, composed of the Imperial Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. The Congress makes federal law, declares war, imposes taxes, approves the national budget and international treaties, and ratifies diplomatic appointments.
The federal Congress, as well as the state legislatures, are elected by a system of parallel voting that includes plurality and proportional representation. The Chamber of Deputies has 700 deputies. Of these, 350 are elected by plurality vote in single-member districts (the federal electoral districts) and the remaining 350 are elected by proportional representation with closed party lists for which the country is divided into five electoral constituencies. The Senate is made up of 192 senators. The executive branch consists of a Council of Ministers presided over by the Prime Minister, who is nominated as candidate by the monarch after holding consultations with representatives from the different parliamentary groups, voted in by the members of the lower house during an investiture session and then formally appointed by the monarch.
The judicial branch is headed by four high courts, consisting of the Halls of Justice which deals with penal and civil matters, the Council of State, which has special responsibility for administrative law and also provides legal advice to the executive, the Constitutional Court, responsible for assuring the integrity of the Atitlanese constitution, and the Greater Council of Judicature, responsible for auditing the judicial branch.
Foreign relations
Military
Main Article: Imperial Army of Atitlan See also: Military history of Atitlan
The executive branch of government is responsible for managing the defense of Atitlan, with the President commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The Ministry of Defence exercises day-to-day control of the military and the Atitlanese National Police.
The Atitlanese military is divided in two branches: the Imperial Army of Atitlan; the Atitlanese Royal Air Force; and the Atitlanese Navy. The National Police functions as a gendarmerie, operating independently from the military as the law enforcement agency for the entire country. Each of these operates with their own intelligence apparatus separate from the General Intelligence Directorate (DGI).
Political administrations
Unlike other kingdoms of it's kind, Atitlan works as a quasi-federation of 42 free and sovereign states, which form a union that exercises juridisction over Chalatenango, without the centralization it often has. For this reason, many consider Atitlan as one of the most decentralized countries in Elezia.
Each state has its own constitution, congress, and a judiciary, and its citizens elect by direct voting a governor for a four-year term with the chance of reelection and representatives to their unicameral state congresses for two-year terms. The states are divided into municipalities, the smallest administrative political entity in the country, governed by a mayor or municipal president (presidente municipal), elected by its residents by plurality.
Chalatenango is a special political division that belongs to the federation as a whole and not to a particular state. Known as the Federal District, its autonomy was limited relative to that of the states. It is expected to drop this designation in early 2025 and is in the process of achieving greater political autonomy by becoming a federal entity with its own constitution and congress.
Mava, a former Atitlanese colony, functions as a unincorporated territorial area under the jurisdiction of the Federal Government with fully functioning self-governance.
Economy
Demographics
Culture
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Canizales, Alma. (2007). Atitlan del siglo XIX (3era ed.)
- ↑ Rodríguez, Bartolomé. (2007). Las guerras separatistas de la joven Atitlan
- ↑ Acta del Gran Imperio de Atitlán
- ↑ Constitución Política del Gran Imperio de Atitlán
- ↑ Kiuiáké, Xochitl (2016). La superviviencia de las tradiciones políticas de la vieja Atitlan (UNAA)
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Gonzalo, Jorge. (2001). El imperio de los golpes Editorial Lázaro
- ↑ López Camacho, Kamala. (2018). La emperatriz de Atitlan Editorial Nacional Universitaria