Aurega

Federation of Aurega Conáidhm na Ayrge (Auregan)
Flag
Motto: Kentoc'h mervel eget bezañ saotret Better Death than Dishonor
Capital	Ker Dunnain
Largest city	Lydnhel
Official languages	Auregan
Recognised regional languages	Armorean in the Lydn State
Ethnic groups (2018)	Auregan (63.8%) Armorean (29.2%) Other (7%)
Demonym(s)	Auregan
Government	Constitutional Monarchy
• High Queen	Gwen I of Aurega
• Arweinydd	Eoghann af Mánus
• Dirprwy	Moira ap Harlaw
Legislature	Taigh Riochdairean
Consolidation  Auregan wars of unification (August 24, 1723)
• The High Kingdom	February 11, 867
• Celtic Crusade	March 28, 1489
• The Auregan Confederation	July 14, 1621
• 2nd Unification War	1719-1723
• Great War of the North	1863-1867
• Continental War	1917-1923
Population
• January 2018 estimate	35,696,598
GDP (PPP)	2018 estimate
• Total	$1,94 trillion
• Per capita	$54,374 USD
GDP (nominal)	2018 estimate
• Total	$1,701 trillion
• Per capita	$47,679 USD
Gini (2018)	27.4 low
HDI (2018)	0.922 very high
Currency	Bres (bs) (ARB)
Time zone	UTC-4 (KDT)
Date format	dd-mm-yyyy
Driving side	right
Calling code	+51
Internet TLD	.au

The Federation of Aurega, (Auregan: Conáidhm na Ayrge), often referred to as Aurega, is a country located in North Nordania with a population of 35,696 million. With 10 States and 1 Federal District, Aurega borders Cradebetia to the west and *NO ONE* to the South. The Five Largest Cities in Aurega are Lydnhel, Ker Dunnain, Morghann, Belderrig and Korraen. Ker Dunnain is the country’s Capital. The port of Belderrig is the largest port in Aurega, followed by the port of Korraen.

Situated just south of the Hyperborean circle, Aurega is not densely populated, with most of its denser settlements located in the south, with the notable exception of Baeloch, the northernmost city with over a million inhabitants. The nation’s economy is notable for its aeronautical and naval industrial production, as well as being a large producer of natural gas and a major player in the fishing industry. Aurega has oil reserves in its exclusive economic zone, located in deep sea sites almost exclusively. Agriculture is limited to the south of the country, producing mostly cold season plants.

The country is federation under a constitutional elective monarchy with a parliamentary democracy. The monarch is High Queen Gwen I, who has reigned since 2013, the first High Queen to be elected by the council of the clans since 1727.

Aurega has a long history of social tolerance and is generally regarded as a liberal country, with legalised abortion and a progressive drug policy. Women’s suffrage was introduced in 1925, in its third and current constitution.

Etymology

The Word Aurega is a latinization of the Auregan word ‘Ayrge’, which evolved from the Auregan matron goddess ‘Ayr’. The name of the nation was traditionally spoken in the long form ‘Tír Ayrge’, but since the 19th century the national name has been shortened to merely Ayrge. Its first known usage was in 462, in a stone carving signed by Chief Alwyn of Cynwrig, situated by a monolith marking the victory over germanic tribes, routing them of 'Tír Ayrge'.

The word 'Ayr' itself comes from the older 'Aer', which in itself evolves from 'Gaer'. The word means both 'noun' but also 'promise', with the second translation being the more adequate for the religious meaning of the word.Both words outside the religious sense are today used as 'Gair'. An acceptable translation for Tír Ayrge is the 'promised land' or the 'land of promise'.

History

Main article: History of Aurega

Cydgrynhoi (1769-1867)

(Talk about the intense industrialization and economic development of Aurega, the first constitution, population growth, education reforms)

Aurega's period of consolidation reached its peak in the 1860s. From the beginning of the rule of High King Arthur in 1853, the 7 years Aurega had under him and Arweinydd Leoric ap Kernev saw the most economic growth of the country in the 40 years of industrial growth Aurega was already experiencing. The Auregan economy, with its vast reserves of steel and coal saw cities like Lydnhel, Baeloch, Ker Dunnain and Belderrig grow expressively, with Lydnhel even overtaking Ker Dunnain as Aurega's largest city. Lydnhel had in its favour proximity to Aurega's farmlands, thus making it the natural hub for commerce in the area around the lake. Lydnhel's ascendancy made it known as the 'Blooming flower of the North', due to its expressive growth in both the industrial and cultural sectors. The city's cosmopolitan environment found itself as the background of Aurega's realism literary movement, a school which saw international recognition and success. The nation proved increased influence at the Central Ocean and northeast Nordania, supplying several neighbours and nations all over the world with goods, especially in the heavy machinery, naval, textile and fermented beverages section. This all allowed for significant modernization in the armed forces equipment, which allowed the nation to further exert its sovereignty in Nordania.

This all shaked in 1861, with the beginning of the Great War of the North. With Crovan now marching south on Vasturia and Ambrosian generals invading Wosrac, Aurega, which heavily relied on trade on the Sea of Ice passing through the Wosracan state with both Ambrose and especially Sjealand, saw itself in a complex dillema once Crovan announced it was going to enforce an international blockade on Sjealand. It was not in Aurega's interest to be at war at the given moment - It had no interest in disturbing the growth of the country by mobilizing its youth to war, and many scholars even came to the conclusion that, amidst the chaos between Nordania's two powers at the time, it would be Aurega, not the victor of the war, that would shape the continent, for it would become the continent's dominant economy, unscathed by what looked like would be the greatest war of all time. The Auregan government was wary, however, of possible risks, and ordered a mobilization of its army, adding upon its small professional ranks a roster of several new divisions, and positioned many to the west of the country, to garrisson Cradebetia's border. At first, Aurega attempted to respect the blockade imposed by Ambrose, attempting to reinforce its commerce with Conitian and West borean nations to compensate for the lack of Sjealandic demand. However, Aurega's exports, namely heavy machinery, ships, small arms, textiles and canned food, were in extreme demand in the North, and little sought after in Conitia or Borea.

With Conitian excursions failing to obtain the desired success, the Auregan government did its best to keep the economy going by buying more Auregan supplies and take the opportunity to equip its army even further, reducing some of the nations large gold reserve at the time to prevent an economic collapse while they thought of more options. The auregan government considered making a treaty with the Ambrosians to sell them supplies for the war, but Swastria and other members of the Coalition opposed the idea as they were already supplying the faction with the required goods and the competition would be unecessary. Aurega's economy was at stake, and at that point, the risk of a war starting was just as ominous as Aurega's economy crashing due to a forced lack of demand for its goods. In october 1862, Aurega officially lifted the adherence to the blockade internally and allowed merchant ships to go, at their own risk, to the other side of the Wosracan straits and trade with any nation they so desired, be it part of the Grand Alliance or the Coalition. Additionally, the Government of Aurega publicly declared once again its neutrality at the conflict, and that Auregan attempts at adherence to Ambrose's demands were not responded and any further action without correspondence would lead to a catastrophic result in the Auregan economy. This stance remained, under Ambrosian protest, until March 1863, while the Coalition's campaign at Vasturia was not yet over. With Crovan's eyes shifted to the east and the Wosracan campaign now his personnal focus, already with significant success. In the 2nd of March, 1863, the Auregan steamer Aeronwen was sunk by Ambrosian frigate CSS Beaverbrook, reportedly with no warning shots. Following this action, Aurega ordered the movement of the third and fifth Auregan naval squadrons to patrol the Sea of Ice and escort its trade, which again was intercepted by Ambrosian vessels on the 13th of may. Ambrosian ships ordered the return of the Auregan convoy, and upon the denial of the request, opened fire. This escalated into the first battle of Caolas a Tuath, and the subsequent declaration of war between Ambrose and Aurega in the 15th.

See also: Great War of the North

Geography

Aurega is located on the Hyperborean ocean coast, with most of its territory marked by old geological formations. The region sees little to no modern tectonic activity, and its northern formations are already particularly eroded. The south is mainly sedimentary, with few orogenic phenomenons remaining atop of the crystalline shield. The land is mainly composed of Gneiss, Limestone and Granite. The whole northern landmass of northern Aurega was covered by large ice sheets in the past, which has defined most of the northern orogeny. Aurega has over four hundred thousand lakes and more than a hundred and forty thousand islands, most located on this area. South of the Brigiau Dwyfol range, the sedimentary characteristics in the area become more and more dominant. The Great Plateau (Llwyfandir mawr) is the main characteristic in the area, encompassing most of the south and southwest up until the southern border. To the west, a relative depression around lake Lydn dominates. The southern border is marked by the Eowyn Arfod, a more modern formation, one of the many parallel structures caused by the shock of the Nordanian plate with the Conitian plate. The two largest lakes are lake Lydn, in the west, and lake Bae, at the north of the country. Aurega’s largest island is Eilean Tenew.

Climate in Aurega is oceanic and mostly temperate, with the exception of the far north. It is rather changeable, with mild summers and cold winters, especially north of Brigiau Dwyfol, whose winters can see a temperature of -38C. Weather is often grey and gloomy, especially in the north. Precipitation varies between regions, with an average rainfall of 2533 mm per year, and is mostly orographic in nature, with the wet currents hitting the mountainsides. Aurega sees an average of 182 days of rain a year, with 42 to 87 days of snow a year in most of the country. The north sees an average of 125 days of snow a year.

Average annual sunshine hours on the territory are 1426 hours, meaning the sun shines roughly only 25% of the time. It is also one of the windiest countries in Esquarium, with winds of 312km/h reported near Dunquin in december 1994.

Politics

Aurega is a Federation that is governed within the framework of a parliamentary democracy under a constitutional elective monarchy, under High Queen Gwen I. While it operates under a de jure bicameral system, it is de facto unicameral. The Taigh Riochdairean (House of Representatives) is the sole body with the capacity to legislate, with the Comhairle (Council) limited only to deliberating over succession laws and other monarchy related affairs. Though the Head of State is the council elected monarch, it is a largely ceremonial, with power vested in the indirectly chosen Arweinydd (Prime Minister).

Executive power is held by the government, with 10 ministers, including the Arweinydd (Leader of government), and the Dirprwy, the deputy minister. The Arweinydd is the leader of the party or coalition that can form a majority. The prime minister then forms a cabinet, whose members are formally appointed by the monarch. The cabinet is traditionally drawn from party or coalition members. Government is formed by the Arweinydd, the Dirprwy, the Minister of Defence, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Finance, Minister of Education, Minister of Health, Minister of the Environment, Minister of Agriculture and Fishing and Minister of Culture.

The cabinet is a collegial body with collective responsibility, operating under the confidence of the Taigh Riochdairean. A group of 35 or more representatives may call for a motion of no confidence against a specific minister of the cabinet or the Arweinydd. If the motion reaches a qualified majority, the minister must resign. In case of the Arweinydd, new elections must take place.

For elections in the Taigh Riochdairean, each state in Aurega is assigned one representative for every 100,000 inhabitants, up to a minimum of 5 representatives per state. The nation follows an open list {{wp|Party-list_proportional_representation|party list proportional representation} method, with various other methods used for state and province elections depending on region.

Aurega has a-multi party system, with four significant parties: The LTU / TTU, the PDS, the CL and more recently, the GP. No single party has held an absolute majority since the draft of the third constitution, in 1925.

Local Government

The third constitution moved away from the traditional duchy and county borders for the nation’s internal administrative division. Under this framework, it has 11 states and one Federal District subdivided into 324 provinces in total. Each federal state has its own state constitution and is largely autonomous in regard to internal organization. Due to differences in population, subdivisions may vary, with more populous states such as Alun and Lydn having regions as their immediate subdivision, which then contain provinces.

States of Aurega Capital Area (km2) Population (2018) Nominal GDP billions (2018) Nominal GDP per capita(2018) Alun Korraen Arawn Clifden Deri Laois Dewydd Baeloch Dimàirt Tyrell Gleann Kyrk Ker Dunnain Ker Dunnain Lydn Lydnhel Morghann Ker Morghann Taighad Lyness Tenew Elyan Tireann Culoch Aurega Ker Dunnain 993,968 35,696,598 1701 47,679

Law

Aurega has a civil law system, with the Àrd-Chùirt being the supreme court for constitutional matters, with power of judicial review. Below the Àrd-Chùirt are the Drech Chùirtean, Superior courts that are also decide in collegiate and function as second instance of appeals. Additionally, the Drech Chùirtean function as the supreme authority regarding the constitution of their respective state. Except in exceptional circumstances, court hearings occur in public.

Criminal laws are codified on the federal level, with the Auregan penal system seeking rehabilitation of the criminal and protection of the public. Crimes are first judged by a single judge, under an adversarial court system. If the decision of the first instance is appealed, it goes to the second instance, where another trial on the matter is taken by a group of judges from the Drech Chùirtean of the respective state, which may alter the sentence. If appealed yet again, the trial goes to the Àrd-Chùirt.

The Crown

The Auregan monarch, currently High Queen Gwen I, is the head of state of Aurega. With little direct part in the government other than ceremonial affairs, the elective monarchy still holds ultimate executive power over the government, with prerogative to dismiss and appoint the prime minister or any other minister, to summon parliament, and to declare war, among other powers. The monarchy in Aurega is also non-hereditary. Rather, a Council of Chiefs, known as the Comhairle, gathers together to elect the new monarch among themselves or their Tanists. The Comhairle occasionally gathers in other occasions, such as in 1947 when the council agreed on making females eligible for succession.

The Comhairle is composed of 21 permanent members and 21 observers. The position of permanent member is hereditary, being given to the tanist of a Clan following the former head’s death. The observers are the Tanists themselves, which are appointed by their respective head and may partake in the sessions, but have no vote. The council decides the new monarch by a simple majority, with 11 votes needed for a new monarch to rise. While the election takes place, the former monarch’s tanist reigns as interrex. When the council fails to achieve a simple majority, the former monarch’s tanist also has precedence.

Foreign Relations

Foreign relations are influenced by membership of the Nordanian League, though bilateral relations with non Nordanian states such as Ainin, Luziyca, Aucuria and Nameria are also important.

Aurega tends towards a policy of independence in foreign policy. As a consequence, it is not a member of NOSDO and has a longstanding mediating stance between Ambrose and Sjealand. As one of the founders of the Nordanian League, it is one of the states that champions further regional cooperation and integration within the League.

Its most relevant issue is with Cradebetia, with tensions between the countries having regrown in the last decade. This is caused mainly by an authoritarian revival in Cradebetia, followed by increased state-sponsored ethnic discrimination of minorities, as well as non-compliance to treaty limitations imposed on Cradebetia after the Continental War.

Aurega is allied with Wosrac and Aucuria formally, but has many cooperation treaties all over Nordania and has participated in many international peacekeeping missions abroad.

Military

See also: Armed Forces of Aurega

The Feachdan Armachd na Ayrge, also known as Her Majesty's Armed Forces, are the military arms responsible for the national defence of the Federation of Aurega. They also promote Aurega's interests, partake in international coalitions and provide humanitarian aid.

Today, the armed forces are composed of the Ilynges Ayrgean, a green water navy with a fleet of 177 comissioned vessels, the Fyddin Ayrgenig, Aurega's main land force, the Grym Awyr Ayrgenig, a modern air force with both fixed wing and rotary aircraft. The Forces are managed by the Ministry of Defence and the Defence Council, chaired by the Secretary of Defence and the Chiefs of Staff. The Coast Guard is managed by the Secretary of Home Security, under the Ministry of Defence, and not a part of the Armed Forces. The Auregan Armed Forces are a relevant regional military power, with participations in the Great War of the North, the Continental War and several other conflicts. Victorious from the Continental war, it has been able to decisively influence nordanian events.

Military Service is mandatory for males and females at the age of 18, with service lasting a year. Army conscripts receive basic training on winter warfare and mountain warfare. Once service ends, former conscripts remain in reserve for 6 years, where they must participate on a week of military training in their reserve branch per year. It is common for former conscripts to volunteer back into the army as a professional soldier.

The Armed Forces count with a budget of 44.23 Billion, 2.6% of the country's GDP. It is well equipped and trained, oriented towards a defensive doctrine. The Armed forces have limited capabilities for international projection, focusing instead in increased regional availability.

Demographics

Religion

Aurega is a secular state since its foundation, with Iarmháid and Trinitarianism coexisting as major religions. Atheism is also a common thing in Aurega, with 46% of the population identifying as agnostic or atheist in the 2016 census. Trinitarianism arrived in Aurega in the 16th century, with the Crusader Armorean Order, funded by Lothican nobles, conquering the southwest of Aurega and establishing the fortress city of Lydnhel as their main stronghold. The Armorean Order benefited from foreign support and the instability amongst Auregan nobles, whose realms were also deeply affected by plague at their time. As a result, trinitarianism spread with considerable success, and remains the major religion in the Southwest of Aurega. In the nation, its main symbol is the Triquetra, or Celtic Knot, which represents the three main entities of Trinitarianism.

In the East and north of the nation, Iarmháid dominates as the native religion. Iarmháid is a monotheistic religion, based on the oral tradition of the Celtic people. Its adherents, known as Leantoiri, believe in the Goddess Ayr, and its two conflicting aspects: Ordu and Tuathail. Ayris the primary representation of the universe and life in its entirety, where Ordu and Tuathail, inner aspects of Ayr which represent incompatible natures, constantly fight between each other. Ayr, as the primary being of existence, remains strong due to her capacity of balancing them out, locking the two in a constant cycle where neither dominates her entirely. Tuathail is the entity of Entropy, while Ordu, the entity of Extropy. While Ordu seeks to force organization, its creations are naturally unstable, and Tuathail seeks to return Ordu's creations to their true chaotic, yet stable nature. Neither force is objectively considered bad to Iarmháid, with both being considered natural and neutral aspects of life. Its morality principles are centered towards universal values built upon the control of both, with dilligence and temperance being what makes us closer to Ayr.

Iarmháid believes humanity to be the construct of Tuathail, along with all other life. Tuathail wanted to destabilize the stale order of Ordu's creation, Earth, a barren object. Therefore, humanity is not the creation of Ayr, rather an offspring of chaos. However, in order to seek true stability in life, one must be like Ayr, and therefore, lean to Ordu, without leaving behind the true nature of Tuathail. Through a constant path of self moderation and connection with the universe, it is believed that one may then rejoin Ayr as part of her whole self, and, eventually, later be reborn as an aspect of Ordu or Tuathail yet again, in an endless cycle. Its main religious symbol is the Circle.

Syncretism has been a common practice in Aurega since the missionary efforts of the Armorean Order, with even the national flag containing elements of both Trinitarianism and Iarmháid, with the Triquetra united with the Circle. Many trinitarians share Iarmháid beliefs and festivities, and many Leantoiri have absorbed trinitarian customs with time. Religious tolerance is part of the nation's cultural identity, and no conflicts have happened since the late 18th century.

Culture

National Holidays

In Aurega, most Holidays, especially religious holidays, are decided not by the Federation, but by the States and Counties. However, five holidays have the status of National Holidays, due to their cultural importance.

Gwanwynau

Gwanwynau, or the Spring Celebrations, is a traditional Auregan holiday which lasts through the first week of Spring. Formerly a pagan festivity, it has transcended religious boundaries and is now celebrated even among Trinitarians. It is considered the New Year of Aurega.

In Gwanwynau, the year's cycle is over and the concepts of prosperity, family and love are celebrated, with many large parties, music festivals, and city celebrations organized to allow the community to gather and bond with one another. Gwanwynau is considered traditionally the ideal period to bear offspring in Aurega, and old superstitions considered the children born between march 19th and march 21st were blessed.

Gwanwynau is associated with many local customs, and has distinct differences depending on the year. A cycle in Iarmháid lasts 8 years, and for each year within a cycle exists a different celebration for Gwanwynau.