Acrea

Kingdom of Acrea Königreich Nordrige Kongariget Nordrige Royaume de Acriénne
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: In Treue Stadigt "In Loyalty Steadfast"
Capital	Trier
Official languages	Nordic German French
Recognised regional languages	Miraiyan Saraiyan
Ethnic groups (2018)	Nordic (38%) German (32%) Acrean Venetian (25%) Ryukan (5%)
Demonym(s)	Acrean
Government	Federal Constitutional Monarchy
• Monarchy	Leopold IX
• Chancellor	Malin Rasmussen
Legislature	Reichstag
• Upper house	Reichshof
• Lower house	Landtag
Area
• Total	3,376,982 km2 (1,303,860 sq mi)
Population
• 2018 census	198,643,836
• Density	58.82/km2 (152.3/sq mi)
GDP (nominal)	2018 estimate
• Total	10,973,045,741,730₤ ($12,846,892,805,628)
• Per capita	55,802₤ ($64,673)
Gini	29.6 low
HDI	.929 very high
Currency	Mark (₤) (ARM)
Date format	dd-mm-yyyy CE
Driving side	right
Calling code	+62
Internet TLD	.ar

Acrea (German and Nordic: Nordrige or Akrien, French: Acriénne), officially the Kingdom of Acrea (German: Königreich Nordrige, Nordic: Kongariget Nordrige, French: Royaume de Acriénne) is a country located Eracura in Tyran. It is a federal constitutional monarchy. It is bordered by land to the west by Svinia, to the north by Alemarr, and to the east by Delkora.

Owing to its size, Acrea has a diverse landscape, spanning from a warm mediterranean coast in its far south blending into a temperate climate inland and north with lush forests, rolling hills, and snowy alpine mountains. Its total territory spans 3.36 million square kilometres, the 3rd largest nation in Tyran by land area, with a population of 190.9 million. Its capital is Trier, located at the foot of the Aarau-Voers mountain range. The city is also Acrea's largest city and one of its major financial capitals. Other major cities include Stavanger, Kongsvingen, Baden, Schönbrunn, Gothenburg, and Norsjö. The English name Acrea comes from the ancient city of Acre, located in the Altstad district of modern-day Trier where many ancient ruins and sites can be found as protected landmarks.

Today, Acrea is a regional leader and a highly developed country. It is the region's largest economy, which is post-industrial with services accounting for the largest percentage of GDP, although it has a massive manufacturing sector that focuses on the manufacture of advanced goods and technology. It is a regional leader in several industries, such as automotives, technology, and energy. The Acrean government's extensive investment in renewable energy technologies has put Acrean energy firms at the forefront of this industry as pioneers in the production and use of renewable energy, shown with 40% of the nation's energy needs met via renewable energy sources in 2017. Oil, natural gas, and energy also account for a large volume of Acrea's exports. The focus on utilising its offshore reserves for export purposes has inversely led to high domestic oil prices since the 1970s compared to other petro-states. Socially, Acrea maintains a robust national universal healthcare system, and invests substantially into social welfare. Education is highly valued; in addition to maintaining universal education, the Acrean government strictly maintains low-cost tuition for secondary and postgraduate education.

History

The city of Acre was founded along the river Varde sometime around 800 BCE, although archaeological evidence shows that the city itself actually existed significantly earlier. However this date given in the Sagas is relatively consistent with other tradition which states that the Kingdom of Acre was founded circa 700 BCE. Not much is known about the Kingdom, as most information regarding it is gleaned either from writings of authors during the later Acrean Empire and collections of oral traditions that were recorded. The Kingdom gradually gained more territory as it was joined by neighbouring villages and small kingdoms, before finally being declared as the Acrean Empire in 300 BCE, at which point it constituted most of the territory of modern-day Acrea. This expansion included a brief conflict with the Sabrian Empire some time in the 6th century BCE, which saw the Sabrians forced from the southern Acrean coast. The empire steadily grew its territory across the Eracuran continent through a combination of diplomatic, military, and mercantile means, and eventually controlled of the continent; Acrean expansion eventually led to further conflict with the Sabrians, which saw Acrean control spread into northeastern Siduri by the 4th century CE.

It achieved stability through decentralised rule; it managed its vast territory through the appointment of Statthaltern, who were the locally-appointed governors of provinces throughout imperial territories. Several provinces would be combined into a region, frequently named for its most predominant local group, who would be overseen by an Acrean-born regnant. Though the empire maintained a standing army, security would be handled by local guard troops, similarly raised and paid for by the province. Taxation was oft-decided by a province's Statthalter, which rates related to the wealth of a given province. Though there were several attempts by Emperors to enforce a more rigid, centralised scheme to tax imperial territories, they were nearly always prevented by the senate. Perhaps the longest-lasting and most prominent feature of the empire, which would go on to be its most important legacy, was the vast network of trade and infrastructure that flourished within imperial borders. Large construction projects saw roads be built to connect far-flung corners of lands under Acrean control, and along with it the ability for merchants to move large stocks with no concern for extra taxes or legal complications.

Issues with local nationalist and ethnic movements shook Acrean control over much of its western territory throughout the latter half of the 8th century, and into the first half of the 9th. With future prospects for unity of the Empire looking grim, the decision was made to grant independence to Acrea's vast western territories, which took place gradually from 850 to 856. Acrean fears very quickly proved to be true, as the former territory fractured into various groups, and order rapidly broke down.

The loss of so much territory, although considered by Imperial leadership to have been not only a necessity but a benefit to Acrea's overall prosperity and unity, was nonetheless a blow to the Empire's pride. The final end to the Acrean Empire came gradually, with close territories such as Nordkrusen and Delkora being granted their independence by mutual agreement. The latter finally separated from Acrea in 982, marking the end of direct Acrean control over any foreign territories. In 1010, Emperor Alaric von Gotha II declared the Kingdom of Acrea, harkening back to the original Kingdom of Acre, and formally ending the Acrean Empire and beginning the next era of Acrean history.

Despite no longer having direct control over much of its former imperial territory, the new greater Acrean Kingdom could not afford to turn totally inward. In the decades after his declaration, Alaric II established a precedent for Acrean kings to make the maintenance of relationships with former territories an important duty of the king. Many former territories, including Shalum, parts of Svinia, and Delkora sought a close relationship with Acrea still. The relationships were mutually beneficial, providing Acrea not only with political allies along its borders and across the continent, but supporting their merchant class through expanded trade.

Ivorian Era

The ascension of Ivar I Wilhelm von Dansk as king in 1335 would prove to be a pivotal moment in Acrean history. Considered as an "enlightened" king, Ivar I was educated from his youth; literate, and well-read in authors of all kinds from philosophers to historians, both foreign and Acrean. His understanding of the hierarchy of Acrean society led him to the conclusion that it was doomed to failure for the Crown, as the numerous estates and lands spread across Acrea's nobility were, in his view, fuel for personal gain over that of the Kingdom. Jarldoms, baronies, and counties existed independent of each other, each separated primarily by the amount of land which they occupied. Rather than the size of one's lands necessarily dictating their status, it was rather the wealth and power such land could bring them, and legal conflicts over resources and ownership was plentiful. Consequently, Ivar I instituted a series of major reforms beginning in 1358 to reconsolidate Acrean territory and reorganise noble society, creating the modern noble hierarchy which persists to modern Acrea. Initially a means of land ownership and hierarchical reform, his changes to the structure of Acrean territory proved to be useful for positively reforming governance.

Under the reforms, the traditional subordinate kingdoms of Acrea were formally restored as Archduchies (Acrean: Aartsherzogvärdighet): Daneland, Gothaland, Bayern, and Venetia (also known as Venedig). Steiermark was established as the Crown's archduchy, under royal governance as opposed to the archdukes and archduchesses which were to govern the others. Existing counties and baronies were consolidated into larger duchies, which replaced jarldoms. Definitions and importance likewise changed. Historically, all noble families of knightly rank were granted the title of Baron in a practice stretching back to the Acrean Empire. Under Ivorian reforms, this was changed. The rank of Baron and Baroness (Acrean: Freiherr and Freiin) were separated from their association with military service though retained their connection to allodial governance of baronies (which were additionally abolished as a legal definition), and the ranks of Reiter and Kavalier formally created, with the latter in the same class as a Baron. The new hierarchical structure of the nobility not only established clear ranking by title among Acrean nobility where it had not existed previously, but also a formally defined system of governance for the nobility to follow alongside that which existed for non-nobility. Due to their closeness and familiarity with localities, Barons became the predominant nobles within the Reichshof, whilst Counts and Dukes remained more concerned with regional matters. The reforms additionally created ranks outside of this hierarchy- those of Royal Princes and Princesses, and Royal Counts and Countesses. These titles did not officially correspond to any distinct land holdings, and were instead indicators of status and favour as they answered directly to the monarch.

Among the most important of Ivar I's reforms was increasing the status of the Electors. Directly elected by the Landtag from the nobility, Electors are the only members of the nobility permitted to cast votes for the affirmation of a new Chancellor. With the Ivorian reforms increasing the closeness by which noble and non-noble governance worked together, the importance and prestige of being an Elector drastically increased, and is today still considered an immense honour.

Aside from immense reforms to the nobility, Ivar I oversaw substantial changes to other aspects of Acrean society with particular attention to education. His educational reforms focused on two aspects he considered key; first was increasing the standard of literary, academic, and religious education across the kingdom, establishing rural schoolhouses for the children of agricultural workers to allow them education opportunities equal to those in cities and towns. Much like public schoolhouses in urban areas, these schools were opened and operated in close cooperation with the Storaasurshof, as the Temple not only was able to devote the necessary funding to their maintenance but provide highly literate priests and priestesses as educators. Access to such highly literate educators was what enabled the introduction of classical curriculums for pupils in these schools. The second aspect which Ivar I succeeded in achieving was the creation of centralised trade schools, funded by the state. These trade schools allowed the formalisation of teaching methods and the creation of networks of tradesmen and apprenticeships, not only enhancing the education of aspiring trades workers but enabling other reforms in the areas of working and product standards.

Ivar I's reforms were coupled with investment in industry and agriculture, and an increased awareness of the noble court to prominent inventors and tradesmen. The social and economic impact brought by Ivar I's reforms persisted well after his death in 1374 was compounded by key inventions, such as the movable-type printing press in 1381.

Der Aterlsyning

The period referred to as the Aterlsyning is considered by historians to have begun sometime during the late Ivorian Era, in the late 14th century. Loosely translating as "The Illumination" and more commonly referred to as "The Enlightenment", this period is considered to mark the beginning of the modern era in Acrea. It persisted until the early 17th century.

Government

Military

Main article: Acrean Armed Forces

Economy

Energy

The Acrean government, since 2000, has invested heavily in nationalising renewable energy methods, with the eventual goal of making at least 80% of the nation's needs met through the use of renewable energy sources by 2030. Approximately 40% of the nation's energy requirements were met using renewable energy in 2017, of which the most efficient have been wind farms in the North Sea. The Acrean Government has also done extensive work to begin utilising ever greater amounts of hydroenergy, employing extensive development programmes in order to implement newer and more efficient technology.

Acrea is a strong oil producing economy. Expansive offshore drilling in the sea and in the arctic has yielded large reserves not found in continental Acrea. One of the chief goals of the Acrean Navy is the protection of Acrean economic assets at sea. However, the majority of the oil is exported which results in comparatively high domestic gas prices.

Demographics

Ethnicity

Acrea is composed of two main ethnic groups: Germans and Danes. They are largely delineated by Acrea's four historical regions of Daneland, Gothaland, Bayer, and Venetia. In practice, Acrean anthropologists consider both groups to be of the same ethnic group, and instead divide the two as being incredibly similar but not-identical cultures, with both belonging to a distinct Acrean ethnic group. Even in this definition, there is some controversy as to the distinction of Acreans as an ethnic group, particularly in respect to other Nordic Eracuran states.

Settlement of much of the continent by Acreans has led to several states in Eracura tracing their lineage back to Acrean settlement of their current territory. This is especially prevalent in the cases of Nordkrusen, Æþurheim, and Delkora, both of whom attribute settlement by Dane settlers as significant parts of their national formation. The prevalence of what could be considered Acrean ethnic groups in states other than Acrea has challenged the current mainstream definition of Acrean ethnicity, especially as centuries of efforts sponsored by Acrean rulers has led to the creation of a very strong Acrean national identity which would oppose the inclusion of foreign nordic groups into the Acrean identity- there are, however, notable exceptions to this rule. The children or descendants of foreign-origin families are greatly included in the Acrean national identity, with the most notable being the Mirai and Sarai people, often referred to in combination as Ryukan people. The Ryukans are one of the largest minority groups in Acrea comprising about 5% of the population. The Ryukans originated from the Ryuku archipelago and are named according to their respective home islands; Mirakaedo and Sarushima.

Moravians, a slavic group originating from eastern Svinia, are another significant minority in Acrea. Shalumite and Quenminese constitute the largest immigrant groups within Acrea. Following the economic devastation of Shalum during the Eracuran Great War, large numbers of refugees and job-seekers migrated to Acrea in search of work and economic well-being. Significant numbers of Shalumite women also immigrated to Acrea after marrying Acrean soldiers who had fought in and occupied Shalum after the war. Extramarital relations between Acrean soldiers and Shalumite women proved substantial enough that the Acrean government instituted a birthright policy in 1965 which allowed migration of children born as a result of these affairs to migrate to Acrea, and which still exists currently. Quenminese immigration has always continued at a high rate, but was especially significant in the late 19th and early 20th century where many migrated to Acrea in search of better economic opportunity.

Language

Owing to its unique national makeup, Acrea has one of the highest rates of multilingualism in Tyran. The Acrean government recognises three official languages: Nordic, German, and French. Nordic is further distinguished into three major dialects; Northern (Nordnorsk), Western (Västranorsk), and Eastern (Østnorsk), all of which have considerable differences in pronunciation, spelling, and in some cases lexicon. Miraiyan and Saraiyan are additionally considered official languages in the Ryukan islands, but are considered only regional languages in continental Acrea.

The Acrean government is required to communicate written documents in Nordic, German, and French. The regional distinctiveness of the three Nordic languages can be seen in the Nordic-speaking countries that were formerly a part of Acrea; Nordkrusen speaks a variety of Western Nordic, while Æþurheim speaks a dialect of Northern Nordic where its settlers originated from, and Delkora its own dialect that is incredibly similar to Eastern Nordic.

There is an incredibly high rate of multilingualism among the Acrean population. A 2018 survey showed that about 76% of Acreans used more than one language on a weekly basis, 82% on a monthly basis, and nearly 100% responding that they used more than one language to communicate extensively at least once a year. Beyond being a practical necessity of daily life in Acrea, multilingualism is also psuedo-legally mandated. Language education is compulsory for all Acrean pupils beginning in kindergarten, and often by the secondary school level full classes are taught in a non-primary regional language of the region. In addition to extensive linguistic education, Acreans are also heavily exposed to all Acrean languages in their daily life through media, advertisements, and so forth. The Acrean government also recognises 'Acrean', a native mixed language, as its official language. It is incredibly common throughout Acrea due to the high rates of multilingualism among the population.

Religion

Main article: Asuryan