Difference between revisions of "Wingarde"

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The Wingardian Constitution, completed in 1947, establishes a democratic, federal and representative government, and mandates a separation of powers between executive, legistlative and judicial branches at the national and state levels. Both the president and vice-president are elected for office every six years. They are not allowed two consecutive terms, but it's possible for them to be elected for a third term or more after the interval of at least one term.
 
The Wingardian Constitution, completed in 1947, establishes a democratic, federal and representative government, and mandates a separation of powers between executive, legistlative and judicial branches at the national and state levels. Both the president and vice-president are elected for office every six years. They are not allowed two consecutive terms, but it's possible for them to be elected for a third term or more after the interval of at least one term.
  
The parliament of Wingarde is the unicameral National Congress, which contains 36 seats, distributed equally among the senators of each Wingardian state. Senators serve 4-year terms.
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The parliament of Wingarde is the unicameral Federal Congress, which contains 36 seats, distributed equally among the senators of each Wingardian state. Senators serve 4-year terms.
  
  
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Before the constitution was finished in February, 1947, the newborn nation was ruled by what was later called [[The Triumvirate of the Generals]], given the fact it was a temporary shared government between Wingarde's first three generals, formerly loyal to the British Crown: [[Alphonse Hoffmann]], [[Edward Stanley]] and [[Thomas Dennett]]. The triumvirate was dissolved once the constitution became effective, and the commanders returned to the armed forces and continued their careers there.
 
Before the constitution was finished in February, 1947, the newborn nation was ruled by what was later called [[The Triumvirate of the Generals]], given the fact it was a temporary shared government between Wingarde's first three generals, formerly loyal to the British Crown: [[Alphonse Hoffmann]], [[Edward Stanley]] and [[Thomas Dennett]]. The triumvirate was dissolved once the constitution became effective, and the commanders returned to the armed forces and continued their careers there.
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=== Foreign Relations ===
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<i>Coming soon...</i>
  
 
=== Armed Forces ===
 
=== Armed Forces ===

Revision as of 12:56, 30 August 2005

Wingarde
wingarde-md.png
Flag of Wingarde
Motto: "Acta non verba."
No Map Available Yet
Region Wingarde Archipelago
Capital Stromburg
Official Language(s) German, English
Leader Hermann Jakob
Population Under 50 million (August 2005)
Currency Talon 
NS Sunset XML

Wingarde (or The Democratic States of Wingarde, German: Wingarde or Demokratische Staaten Wingarde) is a small, economically powerful country located on the West Pacific.

Wingarde is a democratic federal representative nation with a division of powers between executive, legislative and judiciary branches. It's made up of six states, which represent the six inhabited islands of Wingarde Archipelago. The other three isles are currently unoccupied, and are protected as natural monuments.

As of now, Wingarde is not a member of any international alliance or pact.

History

Early History (~1000 BC - 1879)

Archaelogical research on the islands suggests that a primitive, chieftain-based society settled Wingarde Archipelago over 3,000 years ago. The early natives excelled in agricultural and fishing activities. The tribes gradually developed a religious system, which primarily worshipped the sun and the hawk as its messenger, and stable economy. They prospered peacefully and isolated from the rest of the world for over 2,500 years.

Diverse European explorers discovered the archipelago around the 16th century. The Spanish eventually claimed sovereignty over the islands, but disregarded settling it given the fact that natives showed hostility against foreigners, and Spain currently couldn't afford taking them by force.

A major revolution took place not long after the encounter with the Europeans, apparently for religious purposes. The religion, and society with it, crumbled because one of its main pillars was that there was supposedly nothing beyond the islands. The arrival of foreigners inevitably destroyed that belief. The prosperous native empire shattered and every settlement became independent, reluctant to trust each other.

German Period (1879 - 1914)

Around the middle of their colonial expansion, the Germans arrived at the archipealgo in 1879. The explorers found the weak natives to be not much of a threat. Even though they offered resistance, their wooden spears were no match for modern rifles. The descendants of the ancient native empire were quickly defeated, the scarce survivors integrated to the islands' new population, which settled them in 1881. The lands were deemed Wingarde by their new inhabitants.

The Germans thoroughly developed the islands, harvesting the land, exploiting its resources and building most of Wingarde's current major cities. Stromburg, the current capital, was the first settlement built by the pilgrims. Governed by the German Empire, the archipelago successfully prospered until World War I broke out in Europe.

British Period (1914 - 1946)

In 1914, all of the German colonies in the Pacific were taken by Germany's enemies. British forces seized control of Wingarde Archipelago after defeating the puny garrison defending it, and claimed sovereignty over the islands in the name of the King, George V.

The now British colony kept thriving despite having lost its first fatherland. A strong, intensive program to establish English as the archipelago's main language was carried out. The teaching of English was made compulsory in schools. The new government also attempted to remove German as a subject from the educational institutions, but this measure faced severe opposition by part of the population, and was ultimately abandoned to avoid civil unrest. Despite the educational measures, German remained the main language of the islands, with English as the secondary one.

The British government further industrialized the Wingardian territories, introducing extensive railroads, building large ports and improving the mines established to exploit the recently-discovered iron deposits in the mountains of the island of Wernover.

During World War II, Wingarde proved to be a strategic point in the Pacific. The Japanese repeatedly tried to take over the islands, but were repelled by their stout defenders and elements of the Royal Navy in every single attempt made. Japan eventually refrained from launching further assaults on the archipelago as the war went on and the balance tilted in favour of the Allies, and concentrated its military efforts to fighting the Americans, who were advancing dangerously into Japanese territory.

Independence and Constitution (1946 - 1947)

Secret talks about independence had been taking place since the early 1940s between some of Wingarde's officials, but with the coming of WWII to the Pacific, the idea was put on indefinite hold. Should've the archipelago declared independence in the middle of the war, the Japanese would've easily taken control of the islands, which would've not been able to defend themselves without British aid. Instead, the government decided to wait to a better opportunity.

The next opportunity presented itself by the end of 1946. The war was over, but the United Kingdom's strength and economy was left deteriorated, the latter facing a potential crisis. Taking advantage of the situation, the government of Wingarde declared the independence of the whole archipelago on December 11th, 1946. The British administration was shocked when the news came, but the current state of the country wouldn't allow any kind of military retaliation. Great Britain sent several diplomatic proposals to avoid losing its colony, but it was eventually forced to acknowledged Wingarde as a full-fledged independent state, and gave up all sovereignty over the islands to the Wingardian government.

The Democratic States of Wingarde adopted a democratic, federal and representative form of centralizedgovernment, dividing powers in the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary branches. The nation's constitution was completed on February 5th, 1947, and became effective immediately.


To be continued...

National Emblems

Flag

The main national emblem, the hawk on the center of the flag, symbolizes the light and Heavens, below whom the nation was founded, and the power and watchfullness of the Wingardian people. The central green pale describes the evergreen plains and forests of the nation's islands. The blue pales stand for the sapphire waters of Wingarde, the rivers and the sea that surrounds the nine islands. Finally, the six stars represent the six island-states of Wingarde.

Animal

The hawk is Wingarde's national animal. Standing for the light and the Heavens, it represents the people's firm belief in God Almighty. It symbolizes visionary power and guardianship, as the hawk is very protective of the young in its nest. It represents providing for family and self. The bird inspires Wingardians to be observant and to pay attention to details that might be overlooked. The hawk has keen eyesight, and indicates the inquisitiveness of the people of Wingarde, who tend to see beyond first appearances.

Tree

Coming soon...

Politics

National Government

The Wingardian Constitution, completed in 1947, establishes a democratic, federal and representative government, and mandates a separation of powers between executive, legistlative and judicial branches at the national and state levels. Both the president and vice-president are elected for office every six years. They are not allowed two consecutive terms, but it's possible for them to be elected for a third term or more after the interval of at least one term.

The parliament of Wingarde is the unicameral Federal Congress, which contains 36 seats, distributed equally among the senators of each Wingardian state. Senators serve 4-year terms.


Current Head of State: Hermann Jakob (elected in 2001)

Previous presidents:

Before the constitution was finished in February, 1947, the newborn nation was ruled by what was later called The Triumvirate of the Generals, given the fact it was a temporary shared government between Wingarde's first three generals, formerly loyal to the British Crown: Alphonse Hoffmann, Edward Stanley and Thomas Dennett. The triumvirate was dissolved once the constitution became effective, and the commanders returned to the armed forces and continued their careers there.

Foreign Relations

Coming soon...

Armed Forces

Coming soon...

Geography

States

Wingarde is divided into six states, which represent each of the populated islands of the archipelago: Stromburg, Ravenholm, Wernover, Ostbaden, Seestadt and Hilmentz. It is further subdivided into nineteen districts within the states. Each state capital bears the same name as their corresponding territory.

Territory

Coming soon...

Climate

Coming soon...

Society

Demographics

Coming soon...

Religion

Coming soon...

Education

Coming soon...