Caithia

County of Caithia Tir Ynys Cyth (Caithian) Mormaerdha na Cait (Ghaillish)
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Ein Ynysoedd, Diogelu" "Our Islands, Defend"
Royal anthem: An Rí Márta "The King's March"
Location of Caithia (dark green) – in Euclea (green & dark grey) – in the Euclean Community (green)
Capital and largest settlement	Lloidas
Official languages	Ghaillish Caithian
Ethnic groups	72.7% Caithian 22.4% Ghaillish 4.9% other
Religion	Church of Caldia
Demonym(s)	Caithian
Government	Devolved government within a parliamentary constitutional monarchy
• Count	Kenneth IV
• Governor	Órla Ní Fhlannagáin
• Chief Minister	Aoife Nic Dhiarmaid
Legislature	Cynulliad
Autonomy  within the Kingdom of Caldia
• First Tenic settlement	600s BCE
• Arrival of the Verique	1200s CE
• Autonomy granted	11 June 1978
Area
• Total	490.44 km2 (189.36 sq mi)
Population
• 2018 estimate	46,128
GDP (PPP)	2017 estimate
• Total	$0.9 billion
• Per capita	$20,192
Currency	Euclo (EUC (€))
Time zone	Euclean Standard Time
Date format	dd-mm-yy
Driving side	right
Calling code	+66
Internet TLD	.gl

Caithia (Caithian: Ynys Cyth, Ghaillish: Cait), officially the County of Caithia (Caithian: Tir Ynys Cyth, Ghaillish: Mormaerdha na Cait) is an autonomous county within the Kingdom of Caldia, located in northern Euclea. The islands host 46,128 residents, the majority of whom are Caithian. Ghaillish and the native Caithian hold the status of co-official languages on the islands.

Evidence of human activity on the islands dates back to the 7000s BCE, with Tenic influence beginning in the 600s BCE. The Caithians diverged from the Ghailles, becoming the sole members of the Caithian branch of Insular Tenic. The islands were feared by ancient Euclean navigators, known for their screaming woad-wearing tribesmen. Starting in the 1200s CE, the Verique who had established themselves as the lords of Caldia sent expeditions to claim the islands for the Crown. It was subsumed into the Ghaillish realm, and operated largely as a normal lordship.

In 1678, the Verique dynasty of the islands died out, and Queen Fiona VII came into possession of the islands, turning it into royal domain. A summer-and-lake-house was constructed on the islands as an additional royal residence. Throughout the late 1800s, as nationalism arose across Euclea, a Caithian national identity emerged. In 1978, after pro-independence protests erupted across the island, Caithia was granted limited autonomy from the Ghaillish Crown in the Caithian Home Rule Bill. The level of autonomy experienced by Caithia has been gradually increasing over the years, but a stark divide exists between unionist and separatist factions on the islands.

The fishing and oil industries are major employers on the islands, together providing 21% of GNP, while the Ghaillish Ministry of Defence contributes a further 11%. Caithia exists under the same administration as Caldia, and is considered an autonomous county. The head of state is Count Kenneth IV, represented by Governor Órla Ní Fhlannagáin, while Chief Minister Aoife Nic Dhiarmaid acts as the head of government, commanding a majority in the Cynulliad.

History

Early and pre-Ghaillish history

A medieval Caithian illustration, showing a giant help to create the stone circles at Hogam.

Caithia is believed to have been inhabited continuously for close to nine millennia, with evidence of human activity dating back to the 7000s BCE on Great Cyth and the early 6000s on Lesser Cyth. These neolithic and bronze age cultures are largely lost to history. The islands took on a distinctly Tenic character from the 600s BCE onward. Much like the Caldish Isles, the Tenic influence is thought to have been derived from a number of continental Tenic peoples who migrated to the islands. From among these, a subgroup of the Ghailles became dominant, diverging from other Ghailles and emerging as the Caithian people, the sole members of the Caithian branch of Insular Tenic.

Although the islands were charted by Solarian navigators, they never came under the control of the Solarian Empire. Exaggerated tales of screaming tribesmen painted in woad, and the relative insignificance of the islands, caused most ancient explorers and conquers the simply let them be. During this time, the islands were in a state of low-level conflict between rivaling petty lords and druids. Following the fall of Solaria, little changed on the islands, though by 830 CE they had been united under the first King-in-Woad, Morcant I. Under this new leadership, the Caithians began extensively raiding their neighbours, earning their ire. By the end of the 10th century, the islanders were held in contempt across the North Sea, derided as pagan barbarians.

Politics and government

Kenneth IV,
Count since 2010

Órla Ní Fhlannagáin,
Governor since 1997

Aoife Nic Dhiarmaid,
Chief Minister since 2020

Following the introduction of home rule through devolution, the Caithian government has gained limited executive power over local affairs. Kenneth IV, King of Caldia, acts as head of state through his role as the Count of Caithia. In the islands themselves, he is represented by Órla Ní Fhlannagáin, the Governor of Caithia. The role of head of government and most executive power resides with the Chief Minister, who alongside the 32-member Cynulliad can exercise limited legislative power.

Political parties

Logo	Party		Leader		Seats in the Cynulliad	Ideology	Affiliation
		Homeland Mamwlad Tír Dhúchais		Einion ap Calder	7 / 32	Democratic socialism Left nationalism Caithian separatism
		Social Democrats in Caithia Democratiaid Cymdeithasol Daonlathaithe Sóisialta		Aoife Nic Dhiarmaid	7 / 32	Social democracy Caldish unionism	Social Democrats
		Forward Ymlaen Ar Aghaidh		Duane ap Drummond	6 / 32	Social democracy Caithian autonomy
		Trawlers' Interest Diddordeb Dreillong Ús Trawlaí		Ieuan ap Dafyd	5 / 32	Centrism Agrarianism Caldish unionism	Centre
		National Party Plaid Genedlaethol Páirtí Náisiúnta		Mícheál Ó Faoláin	3 / 32	Conservatism Caldish unionism	National Party
		The Wave Y Don An Tonn		Rhoswen ferch Drystan	3 / 32	Liberalism Caldish unionism
		Liberty and Justice Rhyddid a Chyfiawnder Saoirse agus Ceartas		Carwyn ap Gruffudd	1 / 32	Libertarianism Caldish unionism	Liberty

Administrative divisions

Caithia is comprised of two main inhabited islands and a number of smaller islets, which have no legal recognition. They are officially divided into 16 parishes (Caithian: plwyf; Ghaillish: paróiste). Parishes are defined as either town, village or rural parishes, though the distinction is solely in name. Despite their existence, the parishes exercise and experience few legal rights or responsibilities, and are primarily utilised for census-taking and electoral purposes. The parish is the only level of recognized administrative division in Caithia.

Map showing the 16 parishes.

Island	Class	Parish	Area km2	Population
Great Cyth	Town	Lloidas	9.10	13,275
	Town	Port Teduin	2.45	7,890
	Village	Arianaid	3.42	2,409
	Village	Caerhen	4.16	1,680
	Village	Bláthnaidville	9.30	1,396
	Rural	Dubras	50.19	1,138
	Rural	Elfed	77.69	1,045
	Rural	Avon	42.71	1,006
	Rural	Arden	59.98	990
	Rural	Merthyr	46.52	787
	Rural	Rhos	78.72	676
Lesser Cyth	Town	Sinodun	7.97	9,141
	Village	Fionnbaile	4.45	1,719
	Rural	Bryn	27.15	1,071
	Rural	Penrhyn	38.50	997
	Rural	Llannerch	28.13	908

Demographics

Ethnicity in Caithia
Ethnicity			Percentage
Caithian			72.7%
Ghaille			22.4%
Other			4.9%

According to a 2018 estimate, the population of Caithia is 46,128. Roughly 70% of the population resides on Great Cyth, the remaining 30% belonging to Lesser Cyth. Loidas, the capital and largest parish, has a population of 13,275, hosting almost 29% of the total population.

The islands are home to two main ethnic groups; the majority Caithian people comprise 72.7% of the population, while the Ghailles comprise only 22.4%, but hold political and economic influence far outweighing their smaller numbers. There have been examples of ethnic tension between these two groups, particularly prior to home rule in 1978. The non-Tenic population is minimal, comprising less than 5% of the total population. Roughly half of these are estimated to be other Euclean groups, with the remainder expected to be a diverse ethnic mix. A significant proportion of the non-Tenic population is thought to be active in the oil industry and the significant military presence on the islands.