Spreglen
Spálgleann | |
|---|---|
City and county | |
| City of Spálgleann | |
_1.jpg) .jpg)     Clockwise from top: St Ellen's Palace, Carrowdun Palace in the snow, St Cuchulain's Cathedral on the Míle Ríoga, Clochnoc Fortress, Teach-an-Chultúir, offices in 'Silocon Alley' located in the Leeside Quarter | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
| Nickname: Glimmer of the North | |
| Motto(s): Le chéile againn loinnir (Ghaillish) (meaning: Together We Shine) | |
| Location within Caldia Location within Caldia | |
| Country | Caldia |
| Settled | Prior to 7th Century CE |
| First mention | 9th century |
| Chartered | 13th century |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-council |
| • Body | Spálgleann Council |
| • Laird Mayor | Dorotea Fuertes i Lluís-Malloy (SDs) |
| Population (2012) | 1,372,565 |
| Demonym | Spálgleanner |
| Time zone | Euclean Standard Time |
Spálgleann, officially the City of Spálgleann, is the capital and largest city of the Caldia. 1,372,565 people live in the municipality itself. The population of the Greater Spálgleann Area, as of 2013, was approximately 1.9 million. About 3.2 million people live in the metropolitan area. The city is located on the country's southern close at the mouth of the River Lee. The earliest known settlers of Spálgleann date back to the Stone Age. Spálgleann's first mention dates back to the the 9th century and had its charter issued in the 13th century.
Spálgleann is the cultural, economic, media, and political centre of Caldia. The Spálgleann region accounts for nearly one-third of the national population and over one third of the country's GDP. It is among the wealthiest regions in Euclea for GDP per capita. Starting in the 1980s, the country has become a major corporate centre and is home to a number of corporate headquarters and offices for international companies, drawn to the region by Caldia's low corporate tax rates.
As the seat of the Caldish government, most of its agencies are located in the city. This includes the highest courts of the judiciary along with the official residences of the Caldish monarch and the Taoiseach. The government has its seat in Ráitherialtais, the Tionól (Caldish parliament) is seated in Carrowdun Palace, and the Taoiseach's residence is located at Loveland House. The monarch's official residence is St Ellen's Palace, but historically Spálgleann Palace was the seat of the Caldish monarchs in the city.
Spálgleann is governed under a mayor-council government. The current Laird Mayor is Dorotea Fuertes i Lluís-Malloy of the Social Democrats, who has held the post since 2017. Since the 2019 municipal elections, the Social Democrats have controlled the city council.
History
Based upon archaeological evidence, settlements along the River Lee have existed since the arrival of the earliest Tenic tribes. The first references of Spálgleann are found in 7th century writings regarding the High Chiefdom of Aerach. Historians generally believe the permanent settlement was established as a fishing settlement prior to the 7th century. The city was located near Lumley Castle, which became the seat of the Ghaillish monarchs following its construction by Ailbe I. As a result Spálgleann quickly became the seat of administration for the Kingdom of the Ghailles. Under Ailbe I the city became a hub of Sotirianity on the main island after Saint Bono arrived from Solaris. Several churches, sponsored by the Queen, were constructed and the city became the seat of the Ghaillish diocese. It came under siege by the Varangians in 837 and Morcan III fled to city for Invertwinc, subsequently moving her court there. Lughaidh I restored Ghaillish control to the city in 837 and promptly expelled the Norse invaders from the island completely the following year.
.jpg)
When Ailbe II declared the Kingdom of Glytter in 1017, she formally established Spálgleann as the nation's capital. Spálgleann Palace was constructed at the end of the eleventh century and quickly became the centre for governance. St Cuchulain's Cathedral was built in 1191 and became the official seat of the Church. The city became the hub of Queen Morcan IX's operations during the War of the Two Siblings until her defeat in 1397. While the citizenry was very much in support of her brother, the Prince of Ghaillish, her supporters were quick to take and maintain control over the city.
Spálgleann found itself at the center of the Protestant Reformation in Glytter. Relations between the Solarian Catholic Church and the Glytteronian monarchs had been tarnished for centuries and following Seán Knolls' famous speech on the steps of St Cuchulain's Cathedral Queen Ellen I met with the reformer and established the Church of Glytter, whose seat quickly became the Archdiocese of Spálgleann. In 1570 St Ellen's Palace was constructed to act as her main residence in the capital. It was built on the site of the royal residence of Fuiscesunda and was first known as Fuiscesunda Palace, but was renamed following the canonisation of the Queen as a saint within the Church of Glytter. The University of Spálgleann was established in 1582 and is one of the oldest universities in Northern Euclea. This marked the beginning of the city's role in higher education. Princess Street's earliest roots stem back to the end of the sixteenth century and the start of the seventeenth century.
The city once again found itself embroiled in war once more with the outbreak of the War of MacIconic Restoration. Spálgleann was the epicenter of John I's supporters due to his firm grip on the city, bolstered by troops sent by the Gaullican King Francois II. Following Caltari intervention and the inability for Gaullican reinforcements to arrive, the capital was laid siege to by supporters of the Earl of Coragh in late December of 1629 and the city capitulated on on 25 January. John I was imprisoned and subsequently executed on 30 January 1630 at Clochnoc Fortress. As a result, King Rory I established the Seanad Glítteann as a body to represent the nobility and the various bishops within the Church of Glytter. The Seanad found its home at Daireannrood Palace. Spálgleann officially gained city status in 1691.
Democracy arrived in 1810 with Queen Mary III's decree "In Liberty" through which the Seanad was democratised. The Comhthionól Náisiúnta was established in 1857 by King Elton I, further expanding democracy and creating the principal house of the Royal Congress. The city did not see heavy industrialisation during the first wave of the Industrial Revolution. Instead, Bulfawst saw rapid industrial growth as it become the shipbuilding and textile capital of Glytter. The Spálgleann & Snarksburgh Railway was the first railroad to be built in the country and its terminal station was in the capital. It was consolidated into the Royal Glytteronian Railway in 1887, connecting the main island. Between 1870 and 1914, Spálgleann began developing a industrialised economy. This came about largely due to the cheaper cost of coal imports and the profits the nation had enjoyed from its iron exports. The original Carrowdun Palace, the seat of the Royal Congress, was demolished in 1889 and a new was built in its place. The new palace was finished in 1906. During the construction, the legislature moved temporarily to Clare House for its sessions.
Following the Estmerish occupation of Glytter during the Great War Spálgleann became to the Estmerish base of commands for the forces involved in the occupation. Protests and riots often broke out in opposition to the Ua Buachalla government and the occupation. Occupation was transferred to the Federation of Asteria in late 1928. The Battle of Glytter took place following the Nantucket Incident and the naval base of Caipitilbonn, of which was being leased to the United States, was attacked by Gaullica. Resistance throughout the war continued to grow following the attack and the entry of the United States into the conflict, resulting in a quasi-civil war between the complacent Ua Buachalla government and the Glytteronian Resistance. Following the end of the Great War and the subsequent, all occupying forces withdrew. As a result, Spálgleann became the epicenter of opposition to the Glytter Democrats and following the formation of the Liberty Party the city quickly became one of Liberty's strongest enclaves in the country.
Throughout the duration of the Na Blianta Dorcha and the Thistle Insurrection, the city was struck by a series of deadly terrorist attacks. Car bombings and shootings were not uncommon and nearly 100 people were killed as a result. Assassinations of prominent members of Glytter's political, business, and military elite were carried out by members of the Socialist Revolutionary Front in the city. The most prominent was the assassination of Wallace P. Fitzgerald, Jr. on 6 June 1968. With the end of the insurgencies, Spálgleann returned to a sense of normalcy after over a decade of terror attacks.
During the Phoney War Spálgleann, along with Gayneva, saw the arrival heavy international diplomacy due to Glytter's status as a neutral country. A massive revitalisation attempt was launched in the 1980s and since then the city has been constantly transforming. Since then, much of western half of the city has seen gentrification. Government policies under Taoiseach Morgan Leneghan prevented the largely immigrant population being forced out. The result of this was the concrete establishment of the city's most diverse quarter, the Cultural Quarter. Many businesses have moved their Euclean offices to Spálgleann as a result of Glytter's status as a tax haven.
The city was attacked by members of the Mohrist Revolutionary Front, a communist paramilitary group that claimed to be the successor of both the SRF and the UGF. The 23 August Attacks began at 10:49 Euclean Standard Time and left 87 people dead and 432 injured. Among the dead were the Gaullican Ambassador, Anna Granger, and the Senoulliac Ambassador, Urbain Saint-Simmon. The districts of Ráitherialtais and Ambasáidúiche were targeted by the MRF in a hope to destablise the government. Many of the government ministries in Ráitherialtais were severely damaged while the Gaullican and Senoulliac also saw heavy damage. Car bombs placed inside trucks were driven into the T-Block and the Gaullican embassy while a car bomb exploded outside the Senoulliac embassy. A car bomb was also detonated outside the headquarters of the Póilíní Ríoga. Vigils were held across the city to mourn the attacks, with the largest taking place at St Cuchulain's Cathedral. Spálgleann was attacked for a second time after the city saw riots over the government's decision to raid the offices of the Communist Party of Glytter. This was done in order to gather potential information on MRF members. At 17:38 EST on 7 October, a bomb was detonated in one of the carriages of the Meitreo Spálgleann's Líne Glas between the Boyles and Keníos stations. 13 people were killed and 41 wounded in the MRF's third and final attack.
Government
Local
From 1842, the boundaries of the city were comprehended by the Duchy of Spálgleann. In 1930, the boundaries were extended by the Local Government (Spálgleann) Act. Later, in 1953, the boundaries were again extended by the Local Government Provisional Order Confirmation Act.
Spálgleann City Council is a unicameral assembly of 65 members elected every five years from Local Election Areas. It is presided over by the Laird Mayor, who is elected by a popular vote for a term of four years and resides in Manor Home. Council meetings occur at Spálgleann City Hall, while most of its administrative activities are based in the Civil Offices on Stone Quay. The party or coalition of parties with the majority of seats adjudicates committee members and introduces policies. The Council passes an annual budget for spending on areas such as housing, traffic management, refuse, drainage, and planning. The Spálgleann City Manager is responsible for implementing City Council decisions.
National
For over a thousand years, Spálgleann has served as the capital of both Glytter and its predecessor, the Kingdom of Ghailles. The majority of the national institutions are located in the city, including the monarchy, government, and the legislature.
Spálgleann is divided into seven constituencies, each represented by a varied number of TCs. In total, the city sends 43 TCs to the Comhthionól Náisiúnta.
The seven constituencies are Spálgleann Bay North (7), Spálgleann North (7), Spálgleann West (7), Spálgleann Bay South (6), Spálgleann South Central (6), Spálgleann East (5), and Spálgleann Leeside (5). Their boundaries were last adjusted following the 2011 census and TCs were elected under the new borders for the first time during the 2012 Comhthionól election.
Politics
Spálgleann city is a traditional stronghold for the Social Democrats, but a transition to a post-industrial economy, increasing gentrification, and the revival of a wealthier urban middle class has seen support for the Liberty Party rise in recent decades. In the 2017 general election the Spálgleann constituencies elected
Geography
Quarters
Spálgleann city is divided into several quarters or districts.
Medieval Quarter
This is the oldest part of the city, which includes Clochnoc Fortress, Spálgleann Palace, and St Cuchulain's Cathedral along with the old city walls.
Saint's Quarter
This quarter was first established with the construction of St Ellen's Palace. Following the establishment of the new palace, the city quickly spread to the surrounding areas. It is home to places such as Carrowdun Palace and the famous Princess Street.
Leeside Quarter
This area is Leeside Docklands which includes “Silicon Docks”, Spálgleann’s Tech Quarter located in the Grand Canal Dock area. Global giants such as Google, Facebook and Twitter based there. It used to be derelict part of the city, it has undergone massive revitalisation with the development of offices and apartments.
Ráitherialtais
Ráitherialtais, which translates to "government quarter", is home to the offices of all of the government ministries bar the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It was first established in 1905 with the construction of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of the Interior. Over the next century the rest of the various ministries would come to call Ráitherialtais home. The office of the Taoiseach also moved to the complex in 1976.
Ambasáidúiche
Ambasáidúiche, which translates to "embassy district",
Cultural Quarter
Stonewall Bar is at the heart of Spálgleann's social and cultural life. It was once derelict but was then revitalized in the 1990s.
Innovative Quarter
It is the newest district, created in 2011. It covers the area from South Roberts Street to Thomas Street, and from Lower Shannon’s Street to Chancellor Street. Its a hub of design, creativity and innovation.