Tarsas

Empire of Tarsas Αυτοκρατορία του Ταρσού Aftokratoría tou Tarsoú (Hellenic) Tarsae Imperium (Latin)
Flag Coat of arms
Capital	Aenonesos
Largest city	Marvios
Official languages	Latin, Hellenic,
Ethnic groups (2012)	Hellenic, Georgian, Armianian, Slavic, Bahktric
Demonym(s)	Tarsan
Government	Constitutional Monarchy
• Emperor	Romulus X
Establishment
• Rise of the Haxharkun Sajar	84 BC
• Latin Invasion	284 BC
• Province of Tarsas	532 BC
• Rise of the Hellenic Empire	954 AD
• Yen Wars	986 - 1631
• Tarsan Crusades	1304 - 1543
• Revolt of Talakh	1830
• Revolt of Marad	1835
• Revolt of Bahktar	1904
Population
• 2012 estimate	55,383,492
GDP (nominal)	2012 estimate
• Total	1,795,089,742,704
• Per capita	32,412
Gini	45.3 medium
HDI	0.933 very high (3)
Currency	Harkan (ЖH)
Time zone	TST
Calling code	827
Internet TLD	.tar

The Empire of Tarsas is a semi-constitutional monarchy located on Belisaria Minor bordered by Uluujol to the east and the Periclean Sea to the west. A smaller portion of the country, directly north of Almadis is located in Scipia on the west coast of the Sea of Ozeros, which borders contiguous Tarsas to the south.

History

Main article: History of Tarsas

The Teisped Empire

The first period of unification between the warring city states came with the invasion of Emperor Teispes I, who crossed into Scipia at the Straits of Parma and seized Eubea in 665 after a protracted siege. The Despot of Eubea, Adorinkios IV, called on the Hellenic colonies at Thracina, Helikiors, Spinarikos, and Merkatos to his aid against the Teispes invaders. He took his remaining forces from the fallen city and met up with generals of the cities under General Antiphos Parminides. The two armies met in central Almadis at the Plains of Hesphertes that same year. Hellenic battle tactics proved to be at a significant disadvantage against the light Teispid troops on open ground. Heavy Hellenic phalanx formations proved effective against cavalry but faltered quickly against the massed Teispid archers. The forces of Antiphos Parminides and the five combined city-states were soon overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of the enemy.

Government

Main article: Politics of Tarsas

The Tarsan government is a monarchy, though experts have declined to describe it as constitutional or absolute. There is no actual constitution that governs the nation. Instead, the governing documents are a decree issued by Hadrian I known as the Universal Rights of the Hellenic Citizen and a later decree issued by Hadrian II in 1866 known as the Hadriatic Reforms. Each of these documents radically changed the scope of the Tarsan government, which caused some to throw into question its status as an absolute monarchy. The primary executive office, which is not regulated via a constitution or any other document, is the Emperor of Tarsas. The office still exercises unchecked and unregulated power over the government and nation as it always has. The reforms under Hadrian II, however, permitted the Senate far more internal power over the nation. The Universal Rights of the Hellenic Citizen also allowed citizens certain human rights and rights before the courts, a radical departure from earlier methods of justice where nobility could solely preside over and influence trials. Though not specifically limited by the document, the Universal Rights denote that it is the duty of the monarch as steward of his people to respect the document. It has remained enforced since its issue.

Monarchy and Executive Branch

Main article: Monarchy of Tarsas

The monarchy of Tarsas originated from its days as a province of the Latin Empire. The Magistrate of Tarsas, the highest ranking official appointed by the Latin Emperor, was the primary source of governing authority and power in the province. After Latin Legions abandoned the province in 954, the Magistrate transitioned and became a monarchy after the decree of Arga I, the first emperor.

Today, the Tarsan monarchy is classified as an semi-constitutional monarchy. The emperor still maintains near unchecked executive power over the government and legislature. Though the position permits a ruler to be the legislative body of the empire above all others, in practice the Proedros serves as the practical head of government. This was permitted in the Hadriatic Reforms which better defined the Proedros' powers and permitted him to serve in a legislative capacity. The monarch is capable of proposing and vetoing any legislation as well as casting a vote in favor of anything proposed. In theory, the only way the monarchy's veto may be overridden is via a unanimous vote by the senate. In practice, however, this cannot happen as the ruling family has historically been a peer and thus is able to vote on a measure and prevent an overriding vote. A monarch is the only Tarsan official who may declare war though the senate can petition him to declare war should they so wish.

There are multiple types of defined orders that the monarch may introduce. Imperial Edicts are types of orders which directly relate to changes in the law of the nation that the monarch may desire to happen. These are the highest tier of order with regards to law and effect immediate change, superseding any Senate vote. They are specifically used to change the law or introduce a new law rather than operate within an existing one. Imperial Decrees relate specifically to things within the law that the monarch is decreeing. An example may be granting someone citizenship, which doesn't modify a law but simply utilizes the mechanisms of an existing one. Other executive orders include a Declaration of Relations, which relate specifically to matters regarding diplomatic relations with other states. Orders of War are specifically used to declare war against another state. A Legionary Issue is the official executive action relating to the military, whether it be to order the drafting of conscripts or perhaps declare the procurement of a new weapon. The Emperor may also issue a dílosi synkatáthesis, or a Declaration of Assent, where he publicly supports an action. This can relate to any sphere of society but typically relates to senate actions. In other spheres, such a declaration has massive influence. For example, a dílosi synkatáthesis issued with regards to a research project will give the researchers access to significantly more funding from donors who wish to garner favor with the monarch. A dílosi diafonías, or Declaration of Dissent, has the opposite effect and can increase opposition to what it is issued against. A Ministerial Missive is an order directly issued to the ministries that comprise the main bureaucratic arm of government.

The monarch is directly aided by the ministries, which follow his directives and carry out his orders as instruments of government. Many sprang from ancient palace traditions. There are twelve Ministries; the Yporgeio Diplomatía, the Yporgeio Esoterikó, the Yporgeio Dikaiosýni, the Yporgeio Stratiōtikou, the Yporgeio Thisavrofylákio, the Yporgeio Paideía, the Yporgeio Politistikí Diatírisi, the Yporgeio Georgía, the Yporgeio Drastiriótita, the Yporgeio Ygeionomiki Anthropines Ypiresies, the Grafio Thriskeia, and the Smyvoulio Koinonia. The highest office of the ministries is known as the Magistros. This official manages all the ministries with the exception of the Offices of Defense and War. He is allowed to appoint and remove ministers at will provided they do not have the Blessing of the Emperor, which acts as a sort of tenure, removing the Magistros' ability to sack the official that has the Blessing. The office also typically serves as the hand and will of the monarch within the government ministries, keeping them in line with the Orders that the monarch issued. The Magistros position and power over the ministries has historically resulted in this being one of the most powerful offices in the land.

At the same level of power as the Magistros is the Megas domestikos, who is fully responsible for the military and all military related affairs. He serves as the head of the Offices of Defense and War and answers directly to the monarch. This position may remove and appoint military officials at will provided they do not have the Blessing of the Emperor. All military spending and strategy are also approved by the Megas domestikos. Within the Offices of Defense and War, there are numerous lower ranking officials which he resides over and appoints. The office is most active during war but has historically commanded serious influence in politics during times of war and when the military has been involved in regime changes.

Grand Synod

Main article: Grand Synod of Tarsas

The Grand Synod is one of the oldest institutions in Tarsas, dating back to its formation as the Provincial Synod of Tarsas in 589 AD by the Latin magistrate Flavius Agripus. After the independence of Tarsas and the declaration of the Hellenic Empire, Arga I declared that it would be known as the Imperial Hellenic Synod, often shortened to the Hellenic Synod. The office of the Proedros was created in 1021 by Romulus I as the emperor's representative in the Synod. Historically, the Proedros controlled the monarch's vote, giving him enormous power. This system was reformed in 1866 by the Hadriatic Reforms, which removed control of the vote from the Proedros and declared that the office would instead be appointed by the party of the Synod that controlled the most seats.

The Grand Synod consists of 620 seats, 120 of which are occupied by life deputies. Life deputies are considered those who hold a peerage. Other life Synod seats may be appointed by those granted single grant titles or other honors. The Hadriatic Reforms guaranteed that 120 seats were to always be life deputies unless additional peerages were granted, which come with a life seat. The remaining 500 seats are elected and are voted in via the 500 governmental districts of the empire that are single-member electoral districts. Elections are held every two years.

Bandon and Landed Gentry

Though their role as the sole government in their lands was limited in the Hadriatic Reforms, nobility still play a key part in governing their lands. Direct rule ceased under the reforms and instead, lands were subdivided within Themes into Bandon (banner), and governed by a Banner Council. These local councils hold eight seats, four of which are elected and four of which are appointed by the landed noble that is considered head of the peerage of the land in question. The appointed seats are considered representative of the lord and can be instructed by him to vote as he wills. The Banner Councils govern their Bandon by voting on acts and measures and are resided over by a Banarchon, who is elected by the Banner Council. Considered the face of the Council, this position is tasked with dispute resolution and acts in a role that might be considered a mayor in a democracy. Elections for Banner Council seats are held every two years. Appointed seats can serve for life with no requirement for the lord to change his appointments during election season.

With the advent of the Banner Council system, the number of influential peerages shrunk drastically. Many lesser lords ended up as appointed members of some of the more influential councils and swore allegiance to the more powerful lords. As populations centralized in urban areas, the amount of revenue that rural nobility received from the reforms to the taxation system decreased significantly. In order to counteract this, many families became vassals of more powerful ones and were appointed to roles within businesses, holdings, and local governments. This ushered in a new era of the "middle class peer", where many houses lacked wealth and power they previously had. As a result, major peers began to lose importance. Certain peers no longer had the power they once did and many of the powerful houses paid large sums of money to lesser houses for the rights to their titles and lands. Due to the lack of available income, many consented and sold off their rights to their lands and titles to the larger houses. Many were revoked by Hadrian's successors, leaving once great families without a title and reduced to middle class bureaucrats.

Foreign Relations

Main article: Foreign relations of Tarsas

Economy

The economy of Tarsas is a highly developed social market economy. It is one of the most developed economies in Ochran.

In 2016, Tarsas recorded a high trade surplus worth $120 billion. Tarsas is one of the largest exporters in the world with 820 billion in goods and services exported in 2016. The service sector contributes around 70% of the total GDP, industry 21%, and agriculture 8%. Exports account for 41% of national output. The top 10 exports of Tarsas are copper, cobalt, wine and grapes, petroleum products, chemical goods, electronic products, electrical equipment, pharmaceuticals, transport equipment, basic metals, food products, and rubber and plastics.

Tarsas is rich in timber, rubber, salt, uranium, copper, oil, and cobalt. Energy in Tarsas is sourced predominantly by nuclear power (90%), followed fossil fuels (5%), and renewable energy (5%). Always traditionally a leader in nuclear power, Tarsas possesses one of the largest grids of nuclear power in Ajax. Originally a pioneer of the lead-bismuth fast reactor, it was one of the first states to adopt nuclear power widespread. Renewable energy is on the rise after the Supplementary Energy Subsidies Act in 2014 where the Hellenic Senate passed a bill that introduced subsidies for the introduction of renewable energy.

70 percent of all Tarsan companies belong to the Tarsan middle class, small and medium-sized enterprises, which are mostly family-owned. The other 30 percent belong to the nobility or aristocracy, with a large number of peers owning and maintaining high profit and high revenue enterprises.

Infrastructure

Tarsas is one of the world's largest consumers of energy with 567.3 terrawatt-hours consumed in 2017. The primary method of energy generation in the country is nuclear power. There are twenty-five nuclear facilities in Tarsas that operate two to four reactors each. Many of these were constructed and brought online under Diocetus II and Marcus II. An additional two plants have come online since 2010 under Romulus X. These were funded under the Hadraxion Plan that was voted and passed in the Senate in 1965.

Oil and coal accounts for an additional 5% of power generation, though the final fossil fuel reliant facilities will be closed by mid 2019 when the Michael Caligula Nuclear Power Plant opens.

Renewable energy has been on the rise in the country with the passage of the Supplementary Energy Subsidies Act in 2014. The Periclean Tidal Generation Facility was opened in 2015 and contributes a small amount of energy to the electric grid of Marvius. Wind power and solar power are on the rise after subsidies were offered to large land owners for adding limited solar generation abilities to new buildings and introduced wind turbines on large farms and expanses of empty land. Wind energy has been slow to adopt due to the national requirement for turbines that do not post a threat to birds.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Tarsas

According to the official statistical body of the Hellenic Empire, the Imperial Statistics Authority, the country's total population in 2017 was 47,383,492. The birth rate in 2017 stood at 20.3 per 1,000 inhabitants, which was consistent with similar data from 2012. The mortality rate held steadily at 8.7 per 1000 inhabitants. Estimates from 2018 show this trend so far holding steadily with previous years.

Hellenic society has changed rapidly over the last several decades, showing a decrease in birth rates from the last statistical year of the 20th century (1998). The fertility rate of 4.56 is above replacement levels, with the median age remaining around 25.2 years. In 2012, 8.71 percent of the population were 65 years old and older, 60.12 percent between the ages of 15 and 64 years old, and 31.17 percent were 14 years old and younger. By 2017, the proportion of the population age 15-64 rose while 14 years and younger and 65 years and older decreased by 4% each respectively.

Marriage rates rose slightly from 75 per 1,000 inhabitants in 2012 to 77 per 1,000 in 2017. Moreover, divorce rates have seen an increase from 79.8 per 1,000 marriages in 2012 to 85.3 per 1,000 marriages in 2017.

Migration

Throughout the 20th century, several million Hellenic citizens migrated from Bahktar in the wake of the revolt. This significantly shrank the Tarsan Diaspora though sizable populations remain in Bahktar, Talakh, and Yisrael. Through Hellenic Citizenship, smaller numbers of people from former conquered lands have applied for and emigrated to Tarsas. It is estimated that 510,238 people remain in Tarsas without Hellenic Citizenship. Most of these are on various Permits. Because of the long waiting list and difficult financial and monetary requirements for Hellenic citizenship, there are families living within the borders of the empire who have stayed for years but been unable to become citizens.

The largest concentration of non citizens currently reside in Sidon in the Sojourner Quarter, a portion of the city constructed by Marcus II in 1985 to house arrivals from other nations who wish to apply for asylum or other permits. It is believed there are roughly 420,000 legal and illegal migrants in Sidon, comprising 20% of the total population. Other migrant population concentrations are the Bahktar community in Castra Legionis, which has roughly 30,000 individuals. These are comprised of illegal immigrants and legal asylum seekers that are applying for citizenship based on historical grounds.

There are roughly 50,000 Maradi in Kios, who remain from the time of the Emirate of Kios and comprise 8% of the local population. Roughly 40% of them have received citizenship, though many have not. They have been tolerated historically via decree by various monarchs.

The path to citizenship for migrants who haven't left remain a major Senate issue with various parties proposing legislation to tackle the issue, either via deportations or naturalization.

Cities

Two-thirds of the population live in urban areas. The largest and most influential metropolitan centres are those of Marvius and Salona with metropolitan populations of approximately 7 million and 4 million inhabitants respectively. Other prominent cities with urban populations above 100,000 inhabitants include those of Neapolis, Pylos, Sidon, Civitas Tarsae, and Zakros.

The table below lists the largest cities in Tarsas, by population contained in their respective contiguous built up urban areas, which are either made up of many municipalities or are contained within a larger single municipalitThe results come from the preliminary figures of the population census that took place in 2017. Template:Largest Cities of Tarsas

Religion

Religiosity in the Hellenic Empire

  Tarsan Orthodox Church (85%)

  Tarsan Paganism (5%)

  Zoroastrianism (4%)

  Azdarin (1%)

  Judaism (1%)

  Other (4%)

The Decree On Matters of Religion denotes the Tarsan Orthodox Church as the primary religion of Tarsas. However, it does not mandate any sort of religious adherence among the nobility or the general population. Church adherents makes up roughly 85% of the population, or 40,275,968 people. Roughly two thirds of this number identified themselves as practicing Christians who regularly attended church. According to census information, 40.5% of this number described themselves as "very religious", keeping Christian laws and practices and citing them as a primary influence for their worldview and decisions. Other Christian groups present in the nation are Fabrian Catholicism (993,210) and Alban Christianity (1,375,965). The largest Catholic community is based in Pylos at the National Shrine to the Immaculate Conception where the Archbishop of Pylos serves as the highest ranking Tarsan Catholic clergyman. Adherents to Alban Christianity are concentrated in the city of Ithaca and presided over by the Patriarchate of Ithaca. Alban Christianity has seen a slight increase in adherents since Romulus X married Florentia Belliena, a practicing Alban.

According to a national religious poll, 81% of Tarsan citizens responded that they "believe in a God". According to other sources, 50.6% of Tarsans describe themselves as "very religious". The survey also found that just 2.5% never attend a church or temple.

The second most significant religious group are Tarsan Pagans with 5% of the population professing. The census found that 2,369,175 people claimed to be apart of a Pagan group. Pagans are concentrated in Vasilki where the Grand Acropolis serves as the primary worshiping place of the Pagan gods.

The third largest religious group is Zoroastrianism with 1,895,340 adherents. It is most present among the Indo-Iranian tribesmen that reside in the Haderac Desert since their migration to Scipia. The vast majority of Zoroastrians live among the Grand Fire Temple in the city of Himera. The Priest of the Fire Temple, Arash Ormaz, is considered the face of the Tarsan Zoroastrian community.

Azdarin is the smallest religious group in the empire with only 473,835 adherents. Azdarin was heavily suppressed within Hellenic borders outside of the former Emirate of Kios, where it was tolerated after the conquest. It has almost been entirely contained in that city due to various historical conflicts with Yen states and historical hostility towards Azdarin. A prominent Mufti, Zakalos Heraclan, is the most senior Yen cleric in Tarsas at the Mosque of Kios.

A prominent historical group in Tarsas have always been Tarsan Jews. The Hellenic Empire historically was a major center for Jews fleeing persecution during the Latin Empire. There are 402,304 Jews in Tarsas which are centered around the city of Marvius and many are members of the upper class in the city. Tarsan Jews are a distinct ethnic as well as religious group and have a significant shul in Marvius, which was funded by Aristophanes IV in 1700 as a gift to the Jewish community for their loyalty. The Jewish community of Tarsas is one of the oldest in the world.

Languages

The first textual evidence of the Hellenic language dates back to 15th century BC and the arrival of Hellenic colonists, which brought with them language and learning. Hellenic was a widely spoken lingua franca in the Perclean world, and would eventually become the official parlance of the Hellenic Empire along with Latin.

Tarsas is today relatively homogeneous in linguistic terms, with a large majority of the native population using Hellenic as the official academic and business language and Latin as another common language. Almost every Hellenic Citizen is bilingual and it is a requirement to learn both languages in schools. There are three distinct dialects spoken throughout the Hellenic Empire. the first, known as Argan Hellenic, is the main academic and national dialect. It was installed such by Arga I, first Hellenic Emperor. In the Haderac Desert, Haderac Hellenic is spoken by many of the local citizens and tribesmen and differs from Argan Hellenic. In Thrakios, Thrakian Hellenic is the main dialect. Each language group is understandable by speakers of the other dialects but has regional distinctions.

The other main spoken language is Latin. It is nearly as widely spoken as the various dialects of Hellenic with every student required to have a grasp on the language prior to graduation. Mainly kept alive by the old Latin noble families, the language is spoken more in casual settings and conversations with fewer businesses and institutions conducting business in the language over Hellenic. Significant numbers of Latin speakers who mostly speak the language remain in the Latin founded coastal cities along the Periclean Sea.

Near the western borders there are also some Arabic–speaking groups, locally known as Heloarabioc-speaking, most of whose members identify ethnically as Hellenes. The Jewish community in Tarsas has traditionally spoke Yisraeli Hebrew, today maintained by a few thousand speakers. In certain small communities where the large majority or all of the population are Tarsan Jews, they have been allowed to place street signs and other important information in their own language.

Education

Tarsans have a long tradition of valuing and investing in paideia (education), which was upheld as one of the highest societal values in the Hellenistic world. The first Scipian institution described as a university was founded in fifth-century Sidon and has operated in various forms ever since.

Compulsory education in Tarsas comprises primary schools (Δημοτικό Σχολείο, Dimotikó Scholeio) and gymnasium (Γυμνάσιο). Nursery schools (Παιδικός σταθμός, Paidikós Stathmós) are popular but not compulsory. Kindergartens (Νηπιαγωγείο, Nipiagogeío) are now compulsory for any child above four years of age. Children start primary school aged six and remain there for six years. Attendance at gymnasia starts at age 12 and lasts for three years. After gymnasia, students attend predatory schools for three years where they are prepared for either university or a vocational program. These schools teach life skills as well as educational skills.

Alternatives to state education are generally privately funded boarding schools. These schools are equipped and prepared to offer all levels of education throughout the student's school career from primary school to university and are generally attended by the nation's elite. The most famous is the Gilded Academy though numerous others also exist. The Hellenic Empire is renowned for its various boarding schools and students from across the world are known to attend.

The education system also provides special kindergartens, primary, and secondary schools for people with special needs or difficulties in learning. There are also specialist gymnasia and high schools offering musical, theological, and physical education.

The Hellenic Empire has a high literacy rate of 99.1%, it is one of the more literate countries in the world. This is considered to be because of the mandatory educational policy which has been in place since 1875.

Healthcare

Tarsas' system of hospices, called Therapef̱tí̱rio, dates from medieval times. These are funded via a combination of state funding and private religious charities. Since the 1880s, reforms and provisions have ensured a balanced health care system. Health insurance coverage is provided by a wide variety of private corporations and a limited state program for veterans and orphan children. According to the World Health Committee, the Hellenic Empire's health care system was 45% government-funded and 55% privately funded as of 2017. In 2016, Tarsas spent 6.3% of its GDP on health care. Life expectancy is roughly 81 years for men and 87 years for women, and the infant mortality rate has remained very low. (4 per 1,000 live births).

In 2010, the principal cause of death was cardiovascular disease, at 41%, followed by malignant tumours, at 26%. In 2008, about 56,000 had been infected with HIV/AIDS. According to a 2005 survey, 12% of Tarsan adults are regular smokers.