Blaoria
Federation of Blaoria Blaoria | |
|---|---|
 Flag | |
| File:Blaoria.png | |
| Capital | Winterstein |
| Official languages | Laorian, Drambenburgian, Avergnonian |
| Recognised national languages | Blaorian |
| Government | |
| Alwin Edelstein | |
| Population | |
• 2020 estimate | 1,423,000 |
| Currency | Avergnonian dollar |
| Date format | mm-dd-yyyy |
The Federation of Blaoria, most commonly known as Blaoria, is a small nation located on the continent of Euronia, bordered by Avergnon, Chaesia, and Shoassau, with maritime lake borders with Drambenburg and Zamastan. It is a federal republic helmed by Prime Minister Alwin Edelstein, who was reelected to a third term in 2022 but whose authority was challenged by Johannes Schnabel. The population of roughly 1.5 million people are largely confined in the capital of Winterstein, with the rest living in smaller villages. The nation is a member of the Coalition of Crown Albatross, the Coalition Trade Organization, and an observer of the C21.
On September 3rd, 2022, Drambenburg invaded and occupied Blaoria at the invitation of Schnabel.
History
Early history
The history of Blaoria properly began with the construction of Blaoria Castle in the High Middle Ages. It was Aned I, count of Anden who traded some of his ancestral lands with monks in 963 for an ancient, supposedly Drambenburgian, fort named Blaolinburhuc, commonly translated as "grand castle". Modern historians link the etymology of the Laorian word Blaor, meaning fortification, which may have referred to either the remains of a watchtower or to a primitive refuge of the early Middle Ages.
Although its recorded history can be traced back to ancient times, the history of Blaoria proper is considered to begin in 963. Over the following five centuries, the powerful House of Blaoria emerged, but its extinction put an end to the country's independence. After a brief period of Drambenburgian rule, the country passed to the Avergnonians in 1477.
After the Avergnon-Indiginous War, Blaoria became a part of Drambenburg. After occupation by Revolutionary Avergnon, the 1801 Treaty of Vessalia transformed Blaoria into a federation in personal union with the Cheasians. The treaty also resulted in the second partitioning of Blaoria, the first being in 1658 and a third in 1839. Although these treaties greatly reduced Blaoria's territory, the latter established its formal independence, which was confirmed after the Blaoria Crisis of 1867.
In the following decades, Blaoria fell further into Drambenburg's sphere of influence, particularly after the creation of a separate ruling legislature in 1899.
World War and Modern Era
In 1949, after the outbreak of the World War, Blaoria was utilized as a key staging point for Drambenburgian forces invading Avergnon and preparing for advances into East Chanchajilla. In contrast to the Avergonese Border Conflicts, under the Drambenburgian occupation of Blaoria during the World War, the country was treated as Drambenburgian territory and informally annexed to the adjacent province of Chaesia. However, a government in exile based in Titania supported multiple resistance groups formed inside the occupied country. With 2.45% of its prewar population killed, and a third of all buildings in Blaoria being destroyed or heavily damaged (mainly due to the Battle of Winterschede), the resistance backed by the Allies liberated the country and gained Blaoria's independence after the Treaty of Antirault. Around 1,000-2,500 of Blaoria's Wacee were murdered in the Aveirs Genocide.
In the post-War era, Blaoria adopted a neutral status under the constitution established in 1958. Between 1955 and 2005, the economic structure of Blaoria changed significantly. The crisis of the metallurgy sector, which began in the mid-1970s and lasted till the late 1980s, nearly pushed the country into economic recession, given the monolithic dominance of that sector. The Tripartite Coordination Committee, consisting of members of the government, management representatives, and trade union leaders, succeeded in preventing major social unrest during those years, thus creating the myth of a “Blaoria model” characterised by social peace. Although in the early years of the 21st century Blaoria enjoyed one of the highest GNR per capita in the world, this was mainly due to the strength of its financial sector, which gained importance at the end of the 1960s. Thirty-five years later, one-third of the tax proceeds originated from that sector.
Encouraged by the contacts established with governments in exile during the World War, Blaoria pursued a policy of neutral presence in international organisations. In 1978, Blaoria joined the Coalition of Crown Albatross. Despite its small proportions, Blaoria often played an intermediary role between larger countries. This role of mediator, especially between the two large and often bellicose nations of Drambenburg and Avergnon, was considered one of the main characteristics of its national identity, allowing the Blaoria not to have to choose between one of these two neighbours.
In 1995, the country became victim to a mysterious bombing spree, which was targeted mostly at electrical masts and other installations.
On July 18th 2022, the general election between incumbent Prime Minister Alwin Edelstein of the majority Resterbaan Progressive Party (RPP) and Johannes Schnabel of the pro-Drambenburg Behalten Party became mired in delays and irregularities. After four recounts, Edelstein was eventually declared the winner on August 17th, but Schnabel opposed the results. Schnabel, who had run a campaign based on ceding Blaoria to Drambenburg, called on his supporters to deny the election results and protest the government. For weeks, massive demonstrations occupied the capital of Winterstein and 6 people were killed, along with hundreds injured in the clashes between pro-RPP and pro-Drambenburg protestors.
