Symphonia

The Asian Federation of Nations
Flag of Symphonia Flag Coat of arms of Symphonia Coat of arms
Motto: Ab ordo: Aeternae libertatis "From order: Eternal Liberty"
Anthem: Stride as One
- Light green resembles the Constitutional Monarchy of Aquitayne, a United Kingdom member. - Light green resembles the Constitutional Monarchy of Aquitayne, a United Kingdom member.
Capital	West Genevira
Largest city	Symphony
Official languages	Imperial Common, Chinese, Japanese, Korean,
Recognized regional languages	Malay, Viet,
Ethnic groups	68.9% Symphonian 27.9% Nordic 3.2% other
Demonym(s)	Symphonian, Hienese, Huanese, Cheonsan
Government	Constitutional Monarchy Parliamentary
• Emperor	Emperor Jacob von Reich-Kiramashi
• Empress	Empress Seondeok vi Kiramashi-Reich
• Prime Minister	Adaminghir Singh
Legislature	AFN Congress, Imperial Senate
Formation
• Ascension Throne Symphonica	January 1st, 1032
• United States	August 27th, 2013
• Asian Federation	September 19th, 2013
Area
• Total	1,484,900 km2 (573,300 sq mi)
• Water (%)	32.3%
Population
• 2008 estimate	1,283,860,487
• 2012 census	1,389,352,823
GDP (PPP)	2012 estimate
• Total	I$6.798 Trillion
• Per capita	I$34,534.06
GDP (nominal)	2009 estimate
• Total	I$8.799 Trillion
• Per capita	I$39,250.03
HDI (2012)	0.901 very high
Currency	Aero, Imperial Koku (AER, IKU)
Date format	dd/mm/yyyy
Driving side	right
Calling code	+374
Internet TLD	.afn

Symphonia, officially known as the Asian Federation of Nations is a Constitutional Monarchy, which encompasses the Caelestis Insulae archipelago northwest of the Blackhelm Confederacy, which is located in the region of Astyria. The nation's territory is centered on the central island of Symphonia Propera, with the extensions on the nearby islands of Hien to the north, Huan to the southwest, Cheonsa to the southeast, and the Xinhai island chain. The country's largest island is Symphonia Propera, where large industrial and urban centers are located. Consequently, the majority of the population inhabits the central island as well, straining local resources.

The Asian Federation of Nations is a federal state under the governance of a bicameral legislature which rules under the Emperor. The federal seat of government is located in West Genevira, though the de facto Imperial Capital is located in the traditional capital of Symphony. The nation's borders have remained static for the majority of its existence, though internal divisions and patriotic sentiments have often drawn national borders otherwise. Its traditional sphere of influence remains squarely in East Asian affairs, leading to clashes with other large Asian states. Symphonia was a major state participant of the Great Asian War against the Greater Imperial Japanese Dystopia, a conflict from which the nation has never fully recovered from.

As a junior member of the United Kingdom, Symphonia benefits from excellent trade and diplomatic relations with the Constitutional Monarchy of Aquitayne. Symphonian foreign policy is closely aligned with Aquitayne's and both militaries are granted full use of each other's facilities. Symphonia has been categorized as a potential expansionist nation and remains fairly isolated from Astryian affairs.

History

Prehistory

See also: Asian Colonial Period.

The first inhabitants to the Caelestis Insulae arrived as refugees from war-torn regions in eastern Astryia about 20,000 years ago. Early legend from the Liu Dynasty centered around preset-day Dasuling tells of an overbearing lord that terrorized his lords to where Heaven cast fire from the sky to show its displeasure. From this legend, as well as several other similar stories from the old State of Nara in Hienkoku and the Myung Kingdom in Cheonsa, arose the predecessor of the current system of the Mandate of Heaven. About 5,000 years ago, historical record shows that an unknown dynasty united the entire Insulae under its leadership. However, discrepancies between the Huanese, Hienese, and Cheonsan records show different dates for the collapse of this empire. What is certainly however is that the last king, Knossos II, angered the nobility to such extent that the First Empire fragmented within ten years of his inauguration.

Nèizhàn Shídài

See also: The Spring and Autumn Period.

Nèizhàn Shídài (literally Age of Civil War) was a three hundred year period of intermittent conflict between the hundreds of aristocratic states following the collapse of the First Empire. The conflicts began relatively benign, with codes of honor between the nobility respecting each others position. This ended when Vikings traveling south seized control of the State of Nara. Renaming their country as Britannia, their state became the most powerful entity in the entire Insulae and began systematic conquest. This in turn spurred other foreign people to seize control of land in the Insulae. Sandroranians from Insula Fera invaded Huanqiu in 506 B.C., followed by the Dedangoans invading Cheonsa in 509 B.C. Indigenous reactions were violent, ushering wholesale slaughter of entire cities and the annihilation of hundreds of noble houses.

Unification and the Arrival of Christianity

See also: Ascension Throne Symphonica.

The Ascension Throne Symphonica (ATS) would occur in 1032 A.D, when the State of Genevir centered on West Genevira - under the leadership of Mioko vi Kiramashi I - would unite Symphonia Propera under the Symphonian Republic by subduing and inviting the remaining nobility into joining. By this time, Britannia, Sandroran, and Dedango had exhausted themselves from years of warfare and rebellion. The Republic sent large armies to each and eliminated the major states shortly after ATS. Remaining aristocratic strongholds in the Xinhai island chain were ignored until the arrival of Roman Catholicism in 1524 A.D. Under the leadership of Holy Emperor Ryushu vi Kiramashi-Sveltz, the Tianan Crusade eliminated these strongholds and placed them firmly in the hands of the bureaucracy.

Seltz-Britannia Era

The Imperial House of Kiramashi intermarried with the royal families of the Kingdom of Great Britain and Sveltz and the Imperial Federation of Reformed Britannia. This formed two major, but now extinct branches of Kiramashi-Sveltz and Kiramashi-Britannia, which competed with each other for control of the throne of Symphonia. Under their leadership, Symphonia changed from an absolute monarchy into a semi-constitutional monarchy with expansionist aims. Symphonia fought the majority of its conflicts during this time period, stretching from ATS to 2009 A.D. Two notable conflicts were fought during this era: the Quendisphere War against the Quendi and Hayaba and the Castigonian Conflict against Griffencrest Corporation and the Corporate Alliance. The former resulted in the collapse of the Quendisphere and latter ended in Symphonian defeat.

Political crisis also was a hallmark of this era. Attempted secession was quelled by military force during the Constitutional Crisis and the Seltz-Britannia Succession War was fought between Emperor Aidan vi Britannia-Kiramashi and the Twin Princes Lelouch and Sora vi Kiramashi-Sveltz. The succession war ended with the future division of Symphonia into the Empire of East under Lelouch, the Empire of the West under Sora, and with the AFN nominally uniting them under Chairman Kohaku vi Kiramashi-Britannia.

Formation of the United Kingdom

The creation of the modern United Kingdom began during the last great war fought against the Greater Imperial Japanese Dystopia. A coup by Crown Prince Lelouch vi Kiramashi-Sveltz effectively forced Aidan to abdicate from power, disrupting war operations and drawing the ire of the aristocracy and Imperial Senate. The subsequent Japanese invasion of the West Coast of Symphonia Propera, though technically a Symphonian victory, was the final straw for the nobility tired of constant war under the Seltz-Britannia Era.

Hostilities between the Imperial House of Kiramashi and the nobility, led by the House of Seong and Mun Clan of the House of Numenor, erupted abruptly with the military execution of leading members of the imperial house in public execution in West Genevira. Eastern Emperor Lelouch, Western Emperor Sora, AFN Chairman Kohaku, former emperor Aidan, dowager empress Euphemia, and International Relations minister Chung Hyung-suk were executed, to the horror of the populace. Violent crackdowns of the resultant rioting by the newly-proclaimed Seong Shogunate ended with civil war and foreign intervention in favor of the Kiramashi and the Shogun.

Following the assassination of the infant Emperor Ryuku vi Kiramashi-Seong by shogunate agents, 7th Princess Seondeok was proclaimed Empress of Symphonia and the first President of a democratic United States. The war between the United States and the Shogunate ended with nuclear detonations over Numenoria and Celestar, killing several million people and the former wiping out the shogunate leadership.

Peace negotiations occurred in the neutral state of Shanix, in which Seondeok replaced all members of the old aristocracy with her appointees and exiled the former. In thanks for Aquitaynian support throughout the war, Seondeok married Jacob von Reich, creating the current ruling branch of Kiramashi-Reich and placing Symphonia as a junior member of a personal union between Aquitayne and Symphonia.

The Present Time

Modern-day Symphonia has ceased to be a powerful entity and has remained politically dormant since the end of the Seong-Kiramashi War. However, it still holds considerable political and economic power. Symphonia sits squarely in the strategic sea lanes and zones connecting the eastern and western halves of Astryia, making it a notable trading and transshipment center. The nation's large population serves as a large domestic market for goods as well as a major contributor to the Astryian consumer economy, which is also partly the reason why for the country's continuous trade deficits.

The country's small size and large population make it also one of the most densely populated countries in the region. As a result, pollution, a growing population, and a strain on public services have forced Symphonia to become a leading technology developer as well as a potential expansionist nation.

Militarily, Symphonian military power has shrunk since the Seong-Kiramashi War. The cost of the civil war and the cost of rebuilding the West Coast following the Japanese invasion have forced successive governments to cut back on military spending. As an oceanic nation, the navy has shrunk the least, though the air force and the army have shrunk considerably. Power projection has been cut back in favor of defensive posture. Current objectives are to maintain dominance of the oceans around the Caelestis Insulae, with immediate dominance of air space near and over the archipelago and denial of entry for land invasions.

Government

Symphonia is a federal state under a constitutional monarchy and a bicameral legislature. Emperor Jacob von Reich-Kiramashi and Empress Seondeok vi Kiramashi-Riech are the heads of state of the AFN. The monarch has supreme power over the armed forces and can invoke executive orders and imperial edicts without consent of the legislature, though by tradition all such actions have been done with the consent of the either the AFN Congress or the Imperial Senate. The Constitution of the AFN consists mostly of laws governing the internal administration of the AFN member states and the use of its government/military powers. Because thus there is no strong difference between ordinary statutes and "constitutional law", the AFN Congress and the Imperial Senate can perform "constitutional reform" simply by passing Common Acts, and thus has the political power to change or abolish almost any written or unwritten element of the constitution. However, no legislature can pass laws that future governments cannot change.

Legislature

The legislature of Symphonia consists of the Congress of the Asian Federation and the Imperial Senate. The Congress consists of elected representatives, who can serve an unlimited number of 2 year terms, and represent one of the 200 provinces and municipalities. The Imperial Senate consists of the hereditary nobility and the clergy from the 100 former Fiefdoms and current Cultural Regions. The Monarch or the Prime Minister can remove any member of the Imperial Senate from his or her seat given proper pretext, for example times of high treason or an event rendering a Senator incapacitated. Only members of the Imperial Senate can be removed from office and appointed to office, though traditionally this has been done by the Monarch.

The Prime Minister is the head of the Congress and is selected by a vote of confidence by members of the Congress. The Monarch functions as the head of the Imperial Senate. Traditionally, the monarch can bypass the legislature and act unilaterally, as the AFN constitution does not prohibit such an action. However in recent years, the monarchy has relegated itself into a more limited role, preferring to allow the Prime Minister or the legislature take control of day to day affairs of the AFN. This has allowed the monarchy focus almost exclusively on foreign affairs and overall national policy.

Imperial Family

The Imperial House of Kiramashi has been the one and only ruling family of Symphonia in all its forms since Ascension Throne Symphonica, otherwise known as Symphonian unification. The power of the imperial family has changed over the decades that it has ruled, beginning with absolute power and devolving to its present, semi-constitutional form. The Celestial Throne's control over the affairs of government is theoretically unlimited, as the AFN constitution does not make mention of an explicit limit on the Throne's powers. The imperial family's current limited role in government is entirely voluntary, though this shift has been in recognition of democratic leanings of the AFN's citizenry.

The Imperial Family, better known as the Kiramashi Dynasty, formerly consisted of several different branches, listed in order of formation: Kiramashi, Kiramashi-Sveltz, Kiramashi-Britannia, and more recently, Kiramashi-Reich. The main family branch does not take in the main business of government, and plays a ceremonial role in the historical imperial capital of West Genevira. The Kiramashi-Sveltz (KS) and Kiramashi-Britannia (KB) existed as a result of dynastic marriages with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Sveltz, and the Imperial Federation of Reformed Britannia. The KS and KB lineages contested each other for control of the throne, which ended in the Seong-Kiramashi Conflict and saw both lineages extinguished. The rise of the current ruling Kiramashi-Reich (KR)is largely linked with the formation of the United Kingdom of Aquitayne and Symphonia.

Internal Divisions

The Asian Federation of Nations is divided into six member states: Symphonia, Hienkoku, Huanqiu, Cheonsa, Singapore, and Xinhai. Each are independently administered by local governments, best known of which is the Empire of Symphonia. The Imperial Family is in direct control of Symphonia, while the heads of state and government of the member states only recognize Kiramashi position as Head of State of the AFN and the UK. Because of Symphonia's enormous influence over the AFN as a whole, due to its relative economic and political clout, the other member states usually do not dispute Symphonian arguments and generally prefer to allow Symphonia to represent the AFN as a whole.

However, this does not mean that Symphonian control over the central government allows Symphonians to interfere in the internal affairs of the other AFN states. Much like the set up of the RL United States, the AFN constitution sets limits on the central government's power to influence events between the states as well as its own power to compel states to follow its legislation. This is considered one of the chief balances between Symphonia and the other states, as Symphonian control over the Congress and the Senate by default justifies the additional need for the governments of the member states to accept AFN legislation before being accepted as lawful.

In addition political autonomy, the member states of the AFN have separate militaries, judicial systems, types of government, police, postal systems, and education systems, with the AFN government as an advisory body except for commerce, foreign policy, and defense.

Foreign Relations

See Foreign Policy of the AFN

The Asian Federation of Nations, represented by Symphonia, is both a member of the World Assembly and the Security Council, and it votes only on legislation that fall in line with its ideological rule. In large part, the AFN treats both bodies as the rubber stamps of autocrats and aggressor nations, and often will support acts that contravene official WA legislation. The AFN is also a council member of the E10 Council of Nations and a member of the International Coalition for Expansion. Historically, AFN foreign policy was determined by the willingness of the Government to involve itself in foreign affairs. Involvement was usually low, unless it was related to East Asian crisis's or significantly impacted treaty allies. In such cases, foreign policy main consisted of attempting to promote peacekeeping, and in lieu of that, coordinating allied and coalition based military campaigns. Symphonia's militant stance in the past made it a significant state in regional, and briefly global, affairs.

On the whole, present AFN diplomatic activity is limited to regional states in Astyria. The United Kingdom of Aquitayne and Symphonia, formed in the aftermath of the Seong-Kiramashi Conflict, is the main forum in which the AFN uses its regional powers. Since the formation of the UK, the AFN's economy and wealth have grown tremendously, and has had a positive impact on reducing the resource stress in the Caelestis Insulae. In context of the United Kingdom, Empress Seondeok and Emperor Jacob have been content on allowing Aquitayne, led by its King Samuel Reich and current UK Prime Minister, to decide the direction of the Union. This course is entirely voluntary, as the AFN government has matched many of its military, political, and economic goals with Aquitayne such that it would be unthinkable to cause friction. The AFN Senate, which acts as the de facto legislature of the United Kingdom, is controlled by conservatives who back Aquitayne unconditionally.

Aside Aquitayne, the AFN maintains close, but sometimes tense relations with its neighbors. The Blackhelm Confederacy, which historically defeated Symphonia in the Castigonian Oil War, is kept at an arms distance, due to the security threat that its forces present. Cultural enmity, stemming from that defeat, as well as recent Blackhelm incursions on AFN-Cheonsa airspace have only made sure that relations are icy. The Dangish Empire, on the other hand is viewed with mixed feelings, as they were a former ally during the Sveltz-Britannia Era, but recently threatened war over the UK expedition to Insula Fera. The AFN seeks to maintain neutral relations otherwise.