Palmaria-Stormwrath

Palmaro-Stormwrathian Realm Palmaro-Stormwrathian Monarchy Royaume de Palmaria et Tempêterra
Flag
Motto: "Nolite futuris timere, nolite praeteritis lacrimare" (Latin) "Fear not for the future, weep not for the past" (English)
Anthem: "Hymne de la Solidarité"
Capital and largest city	Vildemaree
Official languages	English, Palmarian
Recognised regional languages	Cliffordian, Nornmarker, Tracillian, Kiranan
Demonym(s)	Palmaro-Stormwrathian
Government	Federal parliamentary constitutional dual monarchy
• Archemperor	Percival
• Palmarian Prime Minister	Osmont Blaise
• Stormwrathian Prime Minister	Alexander Portier
Legislature	two national legislatures Palmarian Diet House of Lords House of Representatives Stormwrathian Parliament Senate House of Representatives
Establishment History
• Principality of Palmaria	916
• Duchy of Stormwrath	1017
• Kingdom of Palmaria	1144
• Kingdom of Stormwrath	1276
• Personal Union	1665
• Vildemaree Compromise	1928
Area
• Total Area	2,110,937.33 km2 (815,037.46 sq mi)
Population
• 2019 estimate	172,784,000
• 2016 census	171,652,197
GDP (nominal)	2016 estimate
• Total	$5,483,460,330,560
• Per capita	$31,945.18
Gini (2017)	33 medium
Currency	Ducat (Ð)
Time zone	UTC±0 (Palmaro-Stormwrathian Standard Time (PST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC+1 (Palmaro-Stormwrathian Daylight Time (PDT))
Date format	dd-mm-yyyy
Driving side	right
Calling code	+76
Internet TLD	.ps

Palmaria-Stormwrath is a constitutional union located in Helsa. It is officially called as the Lands Represented by the Palmarian and Stormwrathian Crowns, the Palmaro-Stormwrathian Realm, or the Palmaro-Stormwrathian Monarchy, while it's commonly referred to simply as Palmaria. It is bordered on land by Kirana to the southeast and by Steir to the east, and it is bounded by water by the Northern Sea to the north, the Palmarian Sea and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and the Sea of Valaran to the southeast. It also shares maritime borders with Linnea and Valaran to its southeast.

Palmaria-Stormwrath is comprised mainly of two nations within its borders: the Empire of Palmaria and the Kingdom of Stormwrath. They together have a total population of about 172 million people, making it one of the most populous nations in Helsa. Its de jure capital and the residence of the imperial family is the city of Vildemaree, located at the mouth of the Meandrine River on the border between Palmaria and Stormwrath. However, both nations assemble their legislative and judiciary bodies in their respective seats of government.

Palmaria-Stormwrath is a major economic and military power in Helsa and one of the most powerful nations currently not belonging to any supranational blocs. It is a developed country that boasts a robust service-based economy, decent social welfare programs, and a high standard of living.

Etymology

The name "Palmaria" was a Pyrrhic term that means "land of the Palmars". The first recorded use of the name Palmaria was from the Merignac Document of 1034. A common theory made by historians is that the name "Palmar" referred to the appearance of the tips of their pikes, which resembled human hands, though that is disputed.

"Stormwrath" was a diminutive of the name "Land of the Storm's Wrath", referring to the coastal plains west of the Olaria Mountains. The region was known for harsh storms that originated from the Atlantic Ocean.

History

Background

The Western Helsan lands that are now part of Palmaria-Stormwrath were first settled in ancient times by various Cheranian tribes, most prominently the Mirassans. In the 1st century CE, the Pyrrhic Empire began to settle the coasts of Palmaria and founded colonies, including the oldest city in the Realm, Marigna. By this time the concept of Mirassa emerged, which corresponded to the territory of Cheranian settlement between the Northern Sea, the Palmarian Plateau, the Olarian Mountains, and the Sea of Valaran.

The north of Mirassa was conquered by the Pyrrhics in 264 CE, and they called this new territory Iraelia (modern-day Irelle province). The remainder of Mirassa was eventually conquered over the next few decades, and it was divided into Pyrrhic provinces in 347 CE. Many cities were founded around this time, including Corcellia (present-day Courcelles), the capital of the Mirassans at the time. These new cities were built in the traditional Pyrrhic style, and the Mirassans assimilated with the Pyrrhic settlers and adopted Pyrrhic culture.

Pyrrhic Mirassa was constantly invaded by barbarians from the east in the 8th and 9th centuries. Germanian groups such as the Palmars, Siradians, and Grelavians came down from the Plateau and swept through the West Helsan Plain, driving the Pyrrhics out in 891. The barbarian tribes established several kingdoms in their newly conquered territories. In 915, the Palmars were the first to embrace Christianity, and the portions of Mirassa that they owned were renamed as Palmaria. Patrice of Arcons was named as first Prince of Palmaria in 916.

The Principality became a Kingdom in 1144 upon the signing of the Courcelles Document. Between the 11th and 16th centuries, Palmaria embarked on numerous campaigns to annex the kingdoms of the Palmarian Plateau, with limited success. Despite the vast amounts of territory they gained, the royal court struggled to consolidate their power due to defiant nobles who wielded more power than the state. The struggle between the king and the nobles culminated in the Oliverian Reforms of 1548, which greatly centralized power in the hands of Oliver I. He went on to conduct wars against his neighbors, establishing Palmaria as a major power in Helsa.

The lands south of the Meandrine River were divided into many petty kingdoms that fought for dominance in the West Helsan Plain. One of these kingdoms was the Duchy of the Land of the Storm's Wrath, which soon gained prominence over its neighbors over the course of decades. This Duchy soon became the Kingdom of Stormwrath in 1276. Richard of Olaria was crowned as king.

An alliance was sealed between Stormwrath and the newly-unified Valaran Isles through the marriage of Philip I and <insert Valaran heir here>. One of their descendants, William II, inherited the thrones of Stormwrath, Tracillia, and Valaran in 1412–creating the Vallencourt Empire. Despite his highest rank coming from Stormwrath, his court was held primarily in the Valaran city of Lauran. The Vallencourts remained in Lauran until they were forced to retreat to Stormwrath at the onset of the Valaran Rebellions in 1548. From that point on, relations between Stormwrath and Valaran were tense, paving the way for future conflict.

In 1553, Stormwrath and Valaran went to war in the Seven Wars, a century-long conflict that ravaged southern and eastern Stormwrath. Many contested territories were frequently swapped back and forth between the two sides, but Valaran holdings on the West Helsan Plain remained extensive for decades. However, thanks to charismatic leaders such as Gregory VII, as well as increasing Palmarian support for the Stormwrathian monarchy, Stormwrath was able to launch major counterattacks that reclaimed all of their territories on the West Helsan Plain.

During the Renaissance that swept through Helsa, both kingdoms experienced unprecedented development in arts, culture, science, and exploration. Palmaria became the dominant land power on the West Helsan Plain, while Stormwrath slowly developed into a naval power, acquiring and settling overseas colonies in Ophir and Sishai.

Personal Union

Queen Constance of Stormwrath, who saw an end to the Seven Wars, died in 1665. Because of his marriage with Joanna, the Stormwrathian queen's daughter, Robert III of Palmaria came to inherit the crown of Stormwrath, uniting the kingdoms in a personal union. He moved his royal court from Courcelles to Vildemaree, which lay at the border between the two kingdoms. Nevertheless, each country was still its own political entity, and they retained their respective political, legal, and religious institutions.

The creation and settlement of Stormwrathian and Palmarian colonies around the world began to intensify throughout the late 17th century. Stormwrathian colonizers came in droves to the colony of New Stormwrath, on the continent of Luscios. On the other hand, the Palmarians established trading posts in northern Sishai and became increasingly involved in the politics of the Ennosian kingdoms.

During this period, both countries were considering a political union. Initial attempts made in 1668, 1705, and 1709 proved unsuccessful. A successful attempt was initiated in 1729 under the aegis of Oliver IV and his ministers in both kingdoms. The Treaty of Union was signed in 1731 and ratified by the governments of both nations the following year.

Imperial Era

The Palmarian Empire was proclaimed on 31 July 1732, with Vildemaree declared as the capital. Upon unification, the Palmarian Empire was immediately recognized as a major power.

The overthrow of the monarchy in Valaran in 1740 inspired republican elements within Palmaria to start an uprising. An attempt to storm the Lilac Palace ended in failure, and hundreds of revolutionaries were massacred. An additional 6,500 revolutionaries were arrested and executed by the authorities between 1741 and 1744.

However, the Jacobite Uprisings as they came to be called spurred a movement of the Empire towards reform. The Great Charter of 1749 was ratified by the Palmarian Diet, turning the Palmarian absolute monarchy into a constitutional monarchy. Many of the Emperor's powers were transferred to the Prime Minister, and the Diet was given greater powers.

The following decades marked a period of massive colonial expansion. The Palmarian colonial empire grew to include Ysi, portions of Luscios, and certain cities in northern Ennos. Goods from the colonies such as spices and exotic textiles were shipped back to Palmaria and distributed across Helsa. Despite Palmaria's loss of Ysi to the Valaran Empire in the <insert war here>, it still remained a major colonial power.

At the start of the 19th century, the Industrial Revolution arrived in the Palmarian Empire and transformed the country. The aristocratic elite began to lose their power and influence to the up-and-coming industrialists. New parties such as the Liberal Party emerged to promote free trade and laissez-faire policies. People from the countryside came in droves to towns and cities to work in factories, forming the basis for an urban working class. Population and urbanization were increasing at dramatic rates, placing social and economic stress on the state. Because of Palmaria's growing need for resources and new markets, the Empire launched its greatest period of colonial expansion, acquiring large parts of Sishai and Ophir.