Auvernia

The Federation of Auvernia Fédération d'Auvernia
Flag Auvernais Cross
Motto: Auveria avant tout
Anthem: 'La Restauration'
Capital and largest city	Nanterre
Official languages	Auvernian
Ethnic groups	Auvernian (94%) Frankiz (2%) Altenish (1.5%) Gianese (1.1%) !Basque (0.6%) Other (0.8%)
Demonym(s)	Auvernian
Government	National Syndicalist Federation
• President	Clément Sartre
• Prime Minister	Charles Maçay
Legislature	National Congress
• Upper house	The Senate
• Lower house	The Assembly
History
• An Independent Kingdom	???
• The First Revolution	March 15th, 1791
• The Ascension of Emperor Pierre Clement	June 18th, 1799
• The Monarchist Restoration	March 10th, 1822
• The Nanterrian Commune	March 15th, 1891 - June 2nd, 1892
• The Great War Begins	1912
• The Second Revolution	May 8th, 1925
Population
• 1931 estimate	56,550,000
Currency	Auvernat (AVT)
Driving side	right
Calling code	33

Auvernia, officially the Federation of Auvernia (Auvernian; Fédération d'Auvernia), is a sovereign nation located in northern Cybella. Auvernia is bordered by the United Provinces to her north, the !Netherlands to her North-east, Altenland, Hercynia and the Holy Aventine Empire to her East and !Iberian States to her south. The population of the country is largely suburban and distributed throughout its vast lands. The most populous areas are the Centre-Auvernie followed by Maritimie and Sud-Ouest, the center of Auvernia is less densely populated with a few industrial centers scattered throughout the various mountainous, forested and plains regions. Aside from these industrial centers, much of central and eastern Auvernia is rural and marked by large national parks and historic sites. Auvernia is a constitutional federal republic with Nanterre serving as its capital and largest city. Nanterre doubles as the nation's economic hub and cultural and commercial centre. Roeselle has a separation of powers between its Executive, Judicial and Legislative branches, and is a Catholic state based upon the principles of popular sovereignty, republicanism, and national unionism.

Auvernia exists in what had been several Aventine provinces prior to the age of Migration and the arrival of the Auvernian tribesmen in the 700s AD. Administered as an imperial province of the Aventine Empire, Auvernia remained an integral province until the Auvernian tribes settled the region overrunning the Aventine armies and over the centuries carving out an independent dominion. The nation formally was founded by King of the Auvernes Conrad Savian in 737 AD. Over the centuries after its founding, the Auvernian Kingdom expanded many times in size, growing to become one of the largest Cybellan and world powers. Later, in 1791, the First Auvernian Revolution would begin ending in the execution of the royal family and proclamation of the First Auvernian Republic. However, the first republic was highly unstable and eventually saw the rise of famed general and lawyer Pierre Clement who in 1799 declared himself emperor of Auvernia in the Senate in a famous event known as the Ascension of Pierre Clement. As Emperor Pierre would transform the legal and military system for Auvernia and lead the nation into the Clementine Wars, most notably culminating in the Auvernian-Aventine wars which would see the decline of Aventine dominance in Western Cybella. After Pierre's death, his son Charles Clement reigned as a pragmatic administrator until his untimely death in 1822. Facing a disputed succession, the country fell into turmoil and saw foreign interventions in political affairs leading to the restoration of the old royal family. Through the 19th century, the Kingdom of Auvernia struggled to suppress several Republican, Clementist and, later, Communist revolts in the country. Despite this, the Kingdom remained one of the foremost geo-political forces with the largest standing navy in the world. This ended after the disastrous Great War which ended in an effective stalemate. The social and economic turmoil which followed in the early 1920s led to the Second Auvernian Revolution in 1925. The Revolution was composed of a united front of workers militias and veterans who no longer recognized the legitimacy of the monarchy nor the ability of the current government to care for the people. The Revolution was swift, but the Provisional government was extremely divided, appointing a member of the Socialist International Front as its head of state despite broad right wing opposition. The result was the Red Terror which saw a second purge of the Royal Family and of nobility and as a result, the Auvernian Civil War in which several formerly Royalist and Revolutionary forces merge into the United National Front which was a Conservative Syndicalist militiant organization. Mass defections from the military and the rise of conservative workers militias in the South and West allowed led to a protracted nearly three year civil war. In the last few months, the Socialist forces lines began to collapse under stress as the state had become a pariah in Cybella facing embargoes and enforced isolation, the United National Front took Nanterre and Marshal Anton Rousseau who declared a new provisional government known as the Auvernian State. For nearly a year he effectively served as Head of State and Government before announcing elections on March 15th of 1930. In the first election the National Republican party won making Charles Maçay President. In the aftermath of his election he transformed the government into a Constituent Assembly and for two years the government has worked on drafting a National Constitution to finalize the creation of an Auvernian Federation. Upon its ratification, Charles Maçay has vowed to allow snap elections which he does not wish to participate in. Therefore the direction of Auvernia is considered very open to change as the nation enters the 1930s.

Etymology

Auvernia takes its name from the Ancient Auvernian Tribes which settled the region in the 8th Century AD. The tribes, which had migrated into the region from what is now the South-Western portion of Altenland, were named the Auvernians by the Aventine Empire after their legendary warrior-king Auvernac.

History

Foundation

(For further reading, see articles: Auvernac, Auvernian Invasion, and Auvernian Confederacy)

The modern Auvernian State can claim continuity dating back to Auvernia's independence from the Holy Aventine Empire in the year 719 AD when a massive invasion of Altic and !Celtic tribesmen led by the legendary warrior-king Auvernac crossed the Coult river and captured the city of Nanterre later that year. In the months following Auvernac rallied rebellious tribes in the north of the region and forced others in the south into submission. With his combined forces of Alts, !Celts, and !Gauls Auvernac defeated the Aventine Armies in several major battles throughout the northern and central regions of what now is Auvernia between the years of 719 and 722 before reaching a peace settlement. In the years after his victory he established a tribal confederacy and settled more his tribesmen around the city of Nanterre which he declared the capital on July 10th, 724.

In the spring of 725 hostilities resumed as a large Aventine force was sent to recover the lost territories, and Auvernac's younger brother Aurelac was defeated and died in the mid-summer battle of Fourcès. Despite this loss, the Auvernian confederacy mustered a massive army, this time led by Auvernac himself, and utilizing hit and run tactics gradually weakened the Aventine forces before decisively defeating them in the battle of Verdon-sur-Mer in 726. In the year 727 a final peace settlement was agreed upon between representatives of the Aventine regency and King Auvernac leading to a century of peace between the two parties. With this agreement, said to have been made on the 19th of October, Auvernia had gained its independence.

King Auvernac reigned for twelve years after this victory, in his last year of life in declining health he formally converted to Epiphianity before, later that year dying peacefully in his sleep. He was succeeded by his son Alburix who shortly thereafter took the regal name Auvernius, establishing the Auvernian Kingdom in his coronation ceremony which was held at Frontignan in 739 AD. The ceremony featured an oathbinding ceremony in which his vassals swore their loyalty to King Auvernius and to defense of his realm.

The Auvernian Kingdom

(For further reading, see main article: Kingdom of Auvernia)

The Old Auvernian Dynasty

The Old Auvernian Dynasty reigned from the year of Auvernius until the reign of Charles I when the line became extinct in the year 991. The Old Auvernian Dynasty is characterized by its high support for the Aventine Church, conversion of heathenry, and the total transition from early manorialism towards feudalism. Notable monarchs include Stephen II, Geoffroi 'the Venerable', Stephen V 'the  Lion of Epiphanes', and Guiscard 'The Great'. After the reign of Charles I who fathered no sons, the main line became extinct and a cadet branch adopted the name of the parent branch, though it is distinguished as the New Auvernian Dynasty.

The New Auvernian Dynasty

The New Auvernian Dynasty reigned from the year 981 until its reign was usurped by the House of Verdon in 1652. It is characterized by its expansionism and support for the early crusades, and later for its division with the Aventine Church. Its notable rulers are its first king, Stephen VI, as well as the Crusader Kings Philippe I and Albert I, King Laurent II, responsible for the Auvernist controversy in which the Kingdom ceased to acknowledge the authority of the Pope while maintaining doctrinal cohesion, King Albert II who restored ties with the Papacy in 1487 and King Étienne I who in 1561 adopted !Calvinism as the new state religion. The House was deposed by the Aventine supporting Duke Guillaume of Verdon in 1652 who re-established the Aventine Church as the official church of Auvernia.

The House of Verdon

After usurping the throne in 1652, the capital was moved to Verdon, and the House of Verdon reigned until the Revolution of 1791. The House re-aligned itself with the Holy Aventine Empire and accelerated the colonization of Hibernia and the !Caribbean. Notable rulers include its founder Guillaume 'the Reighteous' as well as Henri III 'The Great', Auvernius II 'The Grand' and Philippe II 'The Feeble'. The latter of the four's economic program, poor statesmanship and military failures are widely considered to be greatly responsible for the Revolution of 1791.

History of Auvernian Colonialism

(For further reading, see main article: History of Auvernian Colonialism)

The Revolution of 1791

(For further reading, see main article: Auvernian Revolution of 1791)

After two winters of famine, military losses and diplomatic debacles making Auvernia appear to be the sick man of Cybella, philosophers had begun calling for a new government modelled after the old Aventine Republic. Soon military support, and even lower nobility began to emerge for reform, and the masses, exhausted from years of economic recession and hardship rose up in open rebellion. With the support of veteran military units and even defectors from the royal guard, on June 12th of 1791 Nanterre was quickly overrun and became the center of the revolution. Soon other major cities fell and a Constituent Assembly was organized and with only minor skirmishes, on October 10th later that year, the King surrendered to the Constituent Assembly and on November 2nd a Constitutional Monarchy was proclaimed. Elections were set for the day before Noël and with a mild winter setting in, turnout was considerably high. A Liberal government was elected to the dismay of both radicals and reactionaries and it quickly became deeply unpopular for its lack of action.

In early May that year, a plot by the supporters of the King's authority to restore his absolute power was made public and radicals marched out into the streets across the nation. In a fit of rage, they stormed the Royal Quarters and seized the King and his adult children, holding a mob trial and lynching them in the streets of Verdon. The ringleader of the Mob, Guillaume Roux organized a new government known as the Social Committee, inviting radicals from across Auvernia to join. Divided on how to respond, the Constituent Assembly quickly lost its legitimacy as revolutionary militias began to defect to the side of the Social Committee. The Social Committee banished all Liberal and Reactionary members of the Constituent Assembly and arrested many notable royalists.

A Constitution, known as the Charter of the Rights of Mankind was signed on the 1st of June and WIP

The Republic of Auvernia

(For further reading, see main article: Republic of Auvernia)

The Auvernian Empire

(For further reading, see main article: Auvernian Empire)

The Royal Restoration

(For further reading, see main article: Kingdom of Auvernia)

The Great War

(For further reading, see main article: The Great War (Verthandi))

The Revolution of 1925

(For further reading, see main article: Auvernian Revolution of 1925)

The Auvernian Civil War

(For further reading, see main article: Auvernian Civil War)

The Auvernian Federation

(For further reading, see main article: Auvernian Federation)

Geography

(For further reading, see main article: Geography of Auvernia)

Provinces, Departments, and Territories of Auvernia

(For further reading, see main article: Provinces, Departments, and Territories of Auvernia)

Politics

The Politics of Auvernia have been considerably shaped by the Great War and its aftermath, the Auvernian Revolution and the Auvernian Civil War. The Great War itself had considerably weakened Auvernia's geopolitical position, and resulted in the loss of many Auvernian colonies to revolutions and wars of independence. This position of weakness was only further exacerbated by the Auvernian Revolution, which led to the collapse of the Auvernian Commonwealth as many overseas affiliates no longer recognized the Auvernian government. The Revolution's evisceration of the House of Verdon permanently has stifled any monarchist sentiments in the country, though the brutality of the Revolutionaries also inspired the Nanterre Rebellion which eventually led to the Auvernian Civil War. The consequences of these conflicts has been a nation which now is intensely opposed to Communalism and skeptical of Liberalism and Monarchism.

With the success of the National Syndicalists in the first election after the Civil War and the one year presidency of retired Great War General Laurent Perrier, the nation was fundamentally transformed, abandoning a strict adherence towards a unitary government towards federalism and further turning away from strict assimilationism and instead persuing a new policy known as patrimonialism which recognizes regional dialects and cultures while maintaining a national standard for Auvernian language and encouraging common trends which make the different constituent regions of Auvernia similar. (For further reading, see main article: Politics of Auvernia)

Auvernian Senate

Government

The Auvernian Government is federal in structure, with moderately powerful regional authorities, but an established principle of federal supremacy. Within the federal government, there is a division of powers between the Legislative, Executive and Judicial branches of government. Within the Legislative branch, there is division between the Senate, which is a delegation of regional representatives selected by regional legislatures, and the Federal Assembly, which is based proportionally on population. The Executive branch is centered around the President who wields power over the military and diplomatic affairs. There are fifteen high judges on the federal Judiciary who are selected by the Senate and approved by the President. The electorate is intentionally restricted and only citizens who are active soldiers, or veterans or those who have passed a political literacy test are granted voting privileges. These privileges can further be revoked should citizens commit serious felonious criminal acts, though they may be restored by an election court if the citizen has completed his sentence and demonstrated remorse to the court. (For further reading, see main article: Auvernian Federation)

Auvernian Federal Assembly

Political Parties in the Auvernian Federation, 1930

There are large notable political parties in the Auvernian Federation, the dominant Parti Syndical Fédératif (PSF), the Union Social-Nationaliste (USN) and the Mouvement Royaliste (MR). There are in addition two smaller parties represented federally, the Fédération Nationale de Conservation (FSC) and the Parti National Républicain (PNR). In addition to these there exist parties with limited regional representation.

(For further reading, see main article: Politics of Auvernia)

Foreign Relations

(For further reading, see main article: Foreign Relations of the Auvernian Federation)

Auvernian Armed Forces

(For further reading, see main article: Armed Forces of the Auvernian Federation)

Army

(For further reading, see main article: Auvernian Federal Army)

Navy

(For further reading, see main article: Auvernian Federal Navy)

Air Force

(For further reading, see main article: Auvernian Federal Air Corps)

Demographics

(For further reading, see main article: Demographics of Auvernia)

Ethnic Groups

The Auvernian Federation classifies ethnic groups along two lines "Ethnic Groups" and "Ethno-Cultural Groups". Ethnic groups are seen to be racial in nature, and to represent a distinct ethnic polity, whereas ethno-cultural groups are seen to be further divided based upon historic cultural and linguistic distinctions. In Auvernia, the field of Generative Anthropology has driven this move, and has led to an understanding of Auvernians as having diverged in part due to discrete differences in the ethno-cultural heritage of Auvernians in different areas of the country. For example, the Maritimois retain a greater degree of linguistic and cultural connection to Aventine cultural roots that have disappeared in other regions and Ouest-Auvernes lack some Altic cultural influences present among the average Auverne.

Ethnic Demographics of Auvernia

Ethno-Cultural Groups in Auvernia

Languages

Within ethno-cultural groups, there exist regional dialects. In the past such dialects were actively discouraged by the state and even persecuted. However, since the foundation of the Federation, a transition from aggressive assimilationism towards patrimonialism has led to a largely bilingual Auvernia in which standard Auvernia is coupled with local dialects. Such dialects have begun the process of standardization and the Académie Nationale des Langues Auverniennes (ANLA) has worked to catalog and formulate a method for formally teaching dialects in schools. However, with the exception of Fankiz and Ostian, foreign languages are not promoted by the Auvernian state, though they are not actively persecuted either.

Migration

Immigration to Auvernia is highly controlled and strict quotas are set annually to limit immigration based upon economic and social indicators. Those wishing to immigrate to Auvernia face a rigorous background check, are required to speak Standard Auvernian, and are not granted citizenship unless they serve in the military during wartime or pass a citizenship test after ten years of residency in the country. This high standard is set in part to control the labor pool supply in Auvernia, as high levels of immigration are seen by Auvernian labor syndicates as threatening to sustainable wage increases due to labor competition.

Immigration to the colonies is promoted to working class Auvernians, especially those working in agriculture. Land grants, colonial farming subsidies and corporate partnerships are organized annually to encourage such immigration, and as such a large portion of the Auvernian colonies are ethnic Auvernians. Immigration from the colonies back to Auvernia is generally restricted to only those who are Auvernian as the colonies have lower standards for immigration than metropolitan Auvernia. Such standards allow for Cybellans and even Tellurans to immigrate to the colonies, and for colonials to immigrate between colonies, with relative ease.

Emigration from Auvernia is relatively low, though most emigration aside from emigration to the colonies is seen in emigration to former colonies, such as Duquesne, or to stable Hibernian and Aestian countries.

Healthcare

Healthcare in Auvernia is universally ensured by the Service de Santé National (SSN) which was established in 1931. In its first years of operation, the SSN has already exceeded initial expectations for expenditure cost, however, a dividend on oil produced in colonies coupled with excise taxes on alcohol and tobacco have been implemented to help offset the high price of healthcare. However, signs of notable progress have been seen in the aftermath of this massive reform, and with high wages for doctors in the country, Auvernia has begun to set a global standard for healthcare. In particular investments in mass-vaccination schemes have reduced deaths from smallpox and other similar diseases. The SSN ensures all Auvernian citizens and legally authorized long term residents, while highly regulated private healthcare companies exist to supplement the SSN and to provide healthcare for temporary workers in the country.

Economy

(For further reading, see main article: Economics of Auvernia)

The Auvernian economy is a mixed market economy in which there exists a corporatist system involving a tripartite arrangement where representatives of labor syndicates and private enterprises negotiate wages. Labor market policy is mediated by the government and with a large percentage of the workforce unionized, serves to control the value of labor to ensure a high quality of life for working class citizens. This state economic intervention is paired with high tariffs on foreign goods, subsidies for domestic enterprises and investment in infrastructure, particularly agricultural and industrial infrastructure. Furthermore, the Auvernian economy is composed with the intention of tying Auvernia to its remaining colonies and creating a state of co-dependence. Through colonial investments in infrastructure and education, the Auvernian Federation aims to increase standards of living throughout its global holdings and to ensure stability within its sphere of influence.

In the aftermath of the election of President Clément Sartre, emphasis was put on creating new 'Communes Centralisées', or cluster communities. These have manifested in several massive projects to create cities based upon traditional Auvernian architecture in which clustered villages come together to create sprawling sub-urban cities. These have been touted by the Auvernian administration as being far more in line with the cultural heritage of the Auvernian landscape and a move away from the "garish" modern cities that have emerged. To couple this new movement in urban planning, the government has further announced massive plans aimed at urban renewal in industrial areas of the country that are aimed at reducing pollution and increasing the number of urban parks and tree coverage. The Organisation de Conservation Civile (OCC) has been tasked with these projects in addition to hydroelectric power projects, and expanding rail lines, intercity roads and the electrification of rural communities.

Furthermore, while maintaining the protectionism of his predecessor, President Clément Sartre has begun working on creating an economic partnership with Nørräland, Baranda and Luistia, and has engaged in economic normalization of relations with Altenland and Duquesne. However, these are widely seen as geo-political maneuvers rather than a transition towards free-trade and President Sartre has indicated that such moves will be taken carefully with the Auvernian worker in mind first and foremost.

Transport

(For further reading, see main article: Transportation in Auvernia)

Culture

(For further reading, see main article: Auvernian Culture)

Literature

(For further reading, see main article: Auvernian Literature)

Public holidays

Date	Name	Holiday	Notes
1 January	Feast of the Circumcision of Christ		New Year's Day
2 January	Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus
6 January	Epiphany
2 February	Candlemas
22 February	Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter
19 March	Saint Joseph's Day
25 March	Feast of the Annunciation
movable Thursday	Maundy Thursday		The Thursday Easter Sunday
movable Friday	Good Friday		The Friday before Easter Sunday
movable Saturday	Holy Saturday		The Saturday Easter Sunday
movable Sunday	Easter Sunday		First Sunday after the Ecclesiastical full moon that occurs on or soonest after 21 March
movable Monday-Saturday	Ebdomada Alba		Week following Easter
movable Sunday	Quasimodo Sunday		Sunday After Easter
movable Thursday	Feast of the Ascension		40 days after Easter
movable Sunday	Pentecost		50 Days after Easter
moveable Friday	Feast of the Sacred Heart		19 Days after Pentecost
29 May	Corpus Christi
31 May	Visitation
24 June	Nativity of John the Baptist
29 June	Feast of Saints Peter and Paul
15 August	Assumption of Mary
22 August	Immaculate Heart of Mary
8 September	Nativity of Mary
14 September	Feast of the Cross
1 November	All Saints' Day
2 November	All Souls' Day
21 November	Presentation of Mary
Movable Sunday	Feast of Christ the King		Last Sunday of October
21 November	Immaculate Conception
24 December	Nativity's Eve
25 December	Nativity
26 December	St. Stephen's Day
27 December	Feast of St. John

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