Sydalon

Kingdom of Sydalon Reinu ta'Sydalon (Sydalene)
Flag Coat of Arms
Motto: "Timor Dei et gloriam Regia" (Latin) (Fear God and Honor the Queen)
Anthem: Cancun ta'Sydalon Song of Sydalon Royal anthem: Custodiat Deus Reginam Honor the Queen
Location of Sydalon (dark green) – in Scipia (dark grey)
Capital	Sydalon
Government seat and largest city	Ostracine
Official language and national language	Sydalene
Recognized minority language	Gebali Latin Outremeri
Ethnic groups (2013)	79% Sydalene 18% Belisarian ancestry 3% other
Religion	88.4% Christianity 2.2% Jewish 7.1% Irreligious 2.3% Other
Demonym(s)	Sydalene
Government	Unitary parliamentary absolute monarchy
• Queen	Melisende III
• Lord Speaker	The Lord de Ondini
• Speaker of the National Assembly	Elisabetta de Calvacamp
Legislature	Senate
• Upper house	Chamber of Peers
• Lower house	National Assembly
Formation
• First Crusade	1237
• Third Crusade	1297
• Counter Crusade	1451
• First Constitution	2 September 1919
Area
•	119,820 km2 (46,260 sq mi)
Population
• 2017 estimate	14,695,000 (xth)
• 2013 census	13,230,291
• Density	122.64/km2 (317.6/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)	2017 estimate
• Total	$516.96 billion
• Per capita	$35,179
GDP (nominal)	2017 estimate
• Total	$403.1 billion
• Per capita	$27,425
Currency	Denarius (𐆖) (SDD)
Date format	dd/mm/yyyy (AD)
Driving side	left
Calling code	+51

Sydalon (Sydalene: Reinu ta'Sydalon), officially known as the Kingdom of Sydalon, is a unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy of nearly 15 million people on the continent of Scipia. It shares land borders with Yisrael to the south, and Ascalzar to the east. It is bordered by the Periclean Sea to the northwest and the Thalassan Ocean to the east.

In ancient times, Sydalon was inhabited by Aradians, whom were thought to be native to the area and first rose to prominence around 1500 BC. The ancient Aradians spread Aradian culture and religion throughout the Periclean Sea basin, establishing city-states in modern day Latium, Fakolana, and even as distant as Tarsas. The first among these city-states was Aradia, which was located at or near the modern day city of Sydalon, and rapidly grew to become a mercantile power and one of the dominant forces of the ancient Perliclean basin. The civilization gradually declined as other peoples began to challenge Aradian dominance of trade in the Periclean Sea. By the turn of the 3rd century BC, Aradian dominance was completely eroded, though many of the city-states continued to persist along the Periclean and Thalassan coasts for the next 500 years.

The area known as Sydalon has been home to many cultures and civilizations, falling under the control of the Latin Empire during the 2nd century BC. The collapse and decline of Latin imperial control resulted in the conquest of Sydalon by the first Caliphate. However, the modern Sydalene state has its founding during First Crusade in an effort by Catholic monarchs and the Fabrian Pope to restore the Holy Land to Christian control. Following the 4 year long crusade, the Catholic armies, particularly Jordan Antonius was granted the city of Sydalon as his seat and proclaimed the King of Sydalon by the Pope Alexander IV in 1237. King Jordan I was also made the liege lord of a number of other conquered cities and lands in the surrounding area after subsequent crusaders.

By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Sydalon had seen a rise in an ethnic Sydalene national identity, instead of the disparate ethnic groups seeing themselves as individuals. This was in large part fostered to the ever-growing stature of the Monarch in Sydalene daily life. The highly centralized monarchy saw to the country's rapid industrialization and a surge in economic growth. This growth was stifled following an uprising to overthrow the monarchy led by a number of revolutionary groups led by the common people. The civil war in lasted from 1899 until 1902, ending during the reign of King Desiderius. In this period, Sydalon offered to accept immigrants from predominantly Catholic communities to offset the devastation from the civil war, leading to a higher number of citizens with Belisarian ancestry.

Sydalon's economy is largely service sector, though still relies on a strong industrial sector, though agriculture is limited. Tourism is also a key aspect of the Sydalene economy, due to its status as the Holy Land, which includes the city of Sydalon and the village of Kerkouane – the birthplace of Jesus Christ. Since 2000, the government has actively sought foreign direct investments, primarily from the christian nations from the Belisarian Community or Sante Reze. Sydalon is occasionally noted for its mistreatment of non-Christian residents, due to harsh segregation laws and limited civil rights for non-Christians, though the government offers incentives for those that convert and prove to participate in the Catholic communion.

Sydalon is the 5th largest economy in Scipia and the 27th largest in the world. Sydalon is a member of AOPN, Forum of Nations, North Scipian Free Trade Association, and participates in the Belisarian Customs Union.

Etymology

Sydalon takes its name from the city of Sydalon, which itself is believed to be named after the nearby Sydon (or Sidon) River. The river's name roughly translates to "fishery" or "fishing town", which was one of the major rivers flowing through the ancient city of Aradia.

History

Classical period

Main article: Aradia

Ancient Aradian ruins near modern-day Ostracine.

The first instance of recorded history in the area of modern Sydalon was in the form of the Aradian civilization. The Aradians were a Semitic speaking people, believed to have migrated to western Scipia from further east near modern-day Akhad or Nursariyah. The culture first formed into various independent city-states in around 1500 BC, which is the accepted date of the founding of the city of Aradia, on which the modern city of Sydalon currently sits. Aradian explorers and colonists would go on to found cities throughout the Periclean basin, including cities in modern-day Akhad, Fakolana and Latium.

The decline of the city of Aradia as the dominant local power came to an abrupt end when the city-state of Alalia worked to form a coalition of nearby city-states, including the Hellene city-state of Megara. The Alalians and their allies quickly defeated the Aradians in a single pitched battle, where classical historians claim that war elephants were cause for the Alalian victory. The Alalian-led confederation was primarily focused on maritime trade and control of the entry to the Periclean and began to found colonies in modern-day southern Latium, including Utica. The Alalian expansion across the western Perilcean was noticed by the Latins to the north, prompting a series of wars between the peoples of Latium and the Alalian confederation.

The earliest of these conflicts were initiated by the Alalia, desiring a greater expansion into Belisaria. The largest battles were concentrated on the southern Belisarian coast, around the cities of Boroea and Orola, however would end in a stalemate, with the first war ending in the 3rd century BC. The second Alalian-Latin War began in `99 BC, and would result in the Latin capture of Utica, Beroea, and Orola, resulting in a major blow for Alalian desires of a Belisarian-based empire. Alalians and the confederation would continue to exist until the region was finally subdued in the final Alalian-Latin War in 3 BC, where the major coastal region would begin to be integrated into the Latin Empire.

Middle ages

Sydalon was first founded as a crusader following theFirst Crusade in the 1230s, following a call by the Pope Alexander IV to enlist the Catholic community to re-establish control over lost or abandoned territories formerly held on the continent of Scipia. Many of the crusader were led by second or third born sons of Belisarian noble families and even those across the Catholic communities of the world after the promise of lands, riches, fame and eternal rewards in heaven.

Geography

Administrative divisions

Main article: Political divisions of Sydalon

The Sydalene government operates under a unitary system with various levels of decentralization due to different powers of local government that result in a de facto asymmetrical federal system in certain instances. The primary level of organization are domains, which are either classified as Principalities, Counties, Lordships or Royal Domains. Domains are further subdivided into diocese, which is the second level of administration, and further into municipalities as the lowest level. All domains feature their own legislative or consultative body, with executive functions nominally held by either the domain's historical monarch or royal appointee in the case of royal domains. Following the 2018 constitution, all domains executive functions continue to be utilized through the domain's lord, however, they are often required to regularly consult with the local legislature to come to consensus. Most domains do not enact their own primary legislation.

Politics

Melisende III Queen

Sydalon is a unitary constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary semi-democracy. Melisende III, is the current Monarch and serves as head of state and government.

Monarch

Main article: Monarchy of Sydalon

The Monarch is the hereditary constitutional monarch of Sydalon. The Monarch's authority and power are defined in the constitution. Executive power is exercised by the Monarch through Her Majesty's Government, which comprises of the Council of Ministers, which is a committee of the Haute Cour.

The Constitution grants the Monarch extensive executive powers over government. The Monarch presides over the Council of Ministers and appoints it's ministers who serve at the Monarch's pleasure. The Monarch may terminate the tenure of any minister, and after consultation with the heads of the higher and lower Assemblies, to dissolve the Parliament, suspend the constitution, call for new elections, or rule by decree. The Monarch retains is veto power over legislation, which may be overturned by a two-thirds supermajority vote in the Senate. The Monarch holds the power to declare war and peace, and does not require approval from the National Assembly, though may be limited by budgetary restrictions controlled by the Assembly.

Senate

Main article: Senate of Sydalon

Sydalon operates with a bicameral legislature within in a parliamentary system. The Chamber of Peers acts as the upper house in senate, and has the honor of being the oldest, and original house of senate. The Chamber of Peers is an appointed body, with all members appointed by the Monarch. Traditionally these seats were held by titled or landed nobility and archbishops, but following the 2018 constitution, the Chamber of Peers was limited to 178 seats and with membership drawn from among peers or clergy. The Chamber of Peers holds few powers today, though retains the ability to delay or reject legislation in some cases. Members are elected to the Chamber of Peers by a form of election-by-peer, which sees all eligible peers vote to fill any vacancies from within their respective rank.

The National Assembly is the lower house in the senate, featuring 256 members elected every three years by single-member districts and party-list proportional representation. The National Assembly's powers have recently been expanded to include budgetary matters, approving bills, questioning ministers, and establishing ad hoc commissions of inquiry to investigate the government's actions.

Law and criminal justice

Main articles: Law of Sydalon and Judiciary of Sydalon

Foreign relations

Main article: Foreign relations of Sydalon

Military

Main articles: Sydalene Defense Forces and Order of the Holy Lance

Economy

Sydalon has the Xth largest economy among states on the continent of Scipia with a gross domestic product of $403.1 billion as of 2017. The Sydalene currency is the denarius (𐆖), and its central bank is the Banco Sydalonae. Most major, non-oil production, industries, businesses and financial institutions are located in the Philippopolis, Ostracine or Sydalon metropolitan areas; however, the largest financial institutions are located in Petra due to the primacy of the Order of the Holy Lance within the area. One of Sydalon's largest exports is in petroleum and natural gas, which recently has seen a downward trend in demand. Since the 1960s, the Sydalene government has made plans to diversify its economy in recent years by placing a greater focus on other areas of industry, particularly infrastructure, tourism, and technology. These plans focus on exports, private investment and the development of the high-tech sector.

In 2014, Sydalon joined the Belisarian Customs Union.

Demographics

Religion

Cathedral of the Holy Resurrection.

The dominant religion in Sydalon is Christianity, with over 93% of the population adhering to a Christian faith; in turn, nearly 90% of those adhere to Fabrian Catholicism. Fabrian Catholicism has been the state religion since the founding of the Kingdom of Sydalon as a Crusader state in the 11th century AD. Sydalon also hosts a sizable Alban Christian population, at 11.7%. Sydalon is home many Christian holy sites, including Kerkouane, the birthplace of Jesus; Sydalon's old city, where Jesus often preached; and X, where Jesus was crucified. Sydalon is also home to a number of other religions, most notably Judaism, and Islam. Judaism has a long history in Sydalon, first appearing in first millennium BC as the major religion of a number of Aradian city-states.

As the state religion, Fabrian Catholicism receives protections and guarantees from the government that other faiths and their adherents do not. Citizens that are not Christian are prohibited from entering the city of Sydalon, and in some cases may be prohibited from public service. The government has held a policy of offering further state, social benefits for citizens that seek conversion, and has been accused by human rights groups of forcing conversion to Catholicism under threat of imprisonment or death. It is illegal for non-Catholic missionaries to evangelize to Catholics, with those found guilty facing severe criminal and financial penalties. The Sydalene government holds the right to recognize any religion that it chooses, and has refused to recognize Behdinism since the 19th century. Officially there are no members of the Behdinism or Islam in Sydalon, though it is expected that some X% follow the two faiths. Followers of the Jewish faith are often given favorable treatment compared to Muslims or Behdinism, with the government's policy of forced conversions of Jews halted since the 1970s after the Yarden Accords. Only Catholics are allowed to establish schools within Sydalon, though other Christian communities are allowed to establish places of worship or cemeteries with royal assent.