Difference between revisions of "Tisopea"

Revision as of 20:02, 6 March 2005

Tisopea

Flag of Tisopea
Motto: "God Save the King"
No Map Available Yet
Region	Greater Prussia
Capital	Crysana
Official Language(s)	English
Leader	HM The King Karl II
Population	1.52 Billion
Currency	The Shilling
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The Most Holy and Royal Kingdom of Tisopea is a large, wealthy, nation within the region of Greater Prussia. Tisopea is known for its long and colorful history, which serves as a mark of pride for a populace that willingly calls itself nationalist.

History

Tisopean time is divided into Common Era time and Before the Common Era time.

The earliest recorded finds of a people inhabiting Tisopea dated back to the year 3600 BC. During this time, explorers from the area now known as People's Republic of Tharra discovered native peoples on the rocky shores of eastern Tisopea. It is believed that these natives were the decendants of an aborigional people dubbed "The Raenads" who were believed to have constructed the various monolithes and mounds that abound in the Kingdom's countryside.

During this time, the Tharran revolution had not yet taken place, and an emperor still ruled there. Thus, an imperial colony was established in Tisopea around 1000 BC. Several other countries did likewise. The new peoples brought many deseases to which the remaining native tribes had no immunity. This, combined with the fact that after several skirmishes, the native peoples either intermarried with the invaders or fled, meant that by 860 BC the last native Raenad had died.

It was around this time that the Empire of Tharra purchased the remaining territories of the several other nations that held colonies in Tisopea. The Imperial Viceroyalty of Tisopea was born. By the first centuary CE a feudal system had been instituted, and serfdom soon appeared.

Tisopea would prosper for the next six centuries. It would even be given special status as a territory and Viceroyalty and not a common colony.

Then, in 682 CE revolution broke out in Tharra. The militant stalinists soon seized power and set about tearing down the feudal system and all vestiges of the past government. Millions of refuegies fled to Tisopea and a government in exile was established. Among these people were thousands of nobles, and the dowager empress, whose husband had been executed by the revolutionaries.

The Empire of the Scandinvans soon sent support to the titular Emperor Karl III (whose mother was a Scandinvan princess). Finally, in 703, an agreement was reached and the Treaty of the Volga signed. The Scandinvans withdrew, the Emperor renounced all claim to the throne of Tharra, and the new Kingdom of Tisopea was established and recognized.

Karl thus became "HM King Karl I of Tisopea, By Grace of God, King of all Tisopea and its colonies, Supreme Head of the Church of Tisopea." A new age had dawned.

Karl I would end up reigning over twenty-five years, and his rule would be very prosperous, save for a few serf rebellions against the Crown (which were harshly dealt with). The building blocks for the modern state would be layed.

The next centuary would see a succession of Kings and triumphs. New alliances were established with other nations, and new colonies set up. Then, in 852 CE, tragedy would strike the Royal House. A typhoid fever epidemic would kill off many of its members, generating a succession crises, when only two male children of the Prince Royal (equivilant to the rank of 'Crown Prince') survived, along with their royal grandfather.

The current monarch is His Majesty King Karl II, who succeeded in 859 aged sixteen. Major developments in his reign have been the dissolution of the land owning gentry, by act of parliament in 861.

Geography

Tisopea is a beautiful land, located within the region of Greater Prussia.

It has a mild climate, most of the year. Winters are always cold and cloudy. However, they are never overtly freezing or bitterly cold, though snow is common. Summers are always warm and mild, with rare showers. As for spring and autumn, thunderstorms and rains are very common, and the climate is almost always mild.

Tisopea is very lush in its eastern coastal regions. Thick oak forests cover the northern lands and mountains protect its western borders. Here, old stone fortresses can be seen in ruins, were natural defenses failed. Land is always rich and very productive, though it tends to be rockier towards the north.

Natural resources abound in this kingdom. Tisopea is rich in timber, coal, natural gas, uranium, gold, lead, iron, zinc, tin, and silver.

Natural hazards include floods in the east, which are now mercifully rarer than they once were, due to the intense flood protection programs instituted by the government, and thunderstorms in the spring.

Demographics

Tisopea has a large and varied population. It should be noted, however, that immigration and emigration are highly regulated due to the highly centralized nature of the state. Life expectancy is placed at 70.2 years, though this is purely for the commoners; serfs generally have a life expectancy of about 41.2 years, and nobles about 80.3 years.

About 22 percent of the population is below fifteen, 68 percent is between fifteen and sixty-six, and only 10 percent is over sixty-six. Thirty-five years of age is about the average.

Religiously, about 96 percent of the population belongs to the Anglican (Episcopalian) faith, under the Church of Tisopea which is headed by the King; below him exists a Holy Synod (advisory council on Church affairs) and various bishops. This is the State Religion. Other religions are allowed, but highly frowned upon. Heretics are not openly persecuted, but heavy fines are extracted for not attending a church service at least once a month. Minority religions include Roman Catholicism and Islam.

Most of the population speaks English (about 98 percent). A few linguistic minorities speak a variety of languages, including Danish and Latin.

About 78 percent of the population is literate.

Tisopean society is divided into several classifications, all of which are enforced by the Subject Act, passed by the deceased HM King Karl I. Social class is divided into Royalty, which includes all of the male-line descendants of HM King Karl I; Nobility, which is made up of all the Peers of the Realm and their male line decendants and relatives; Commoners, including all freemen, and mostly consisting of merchants, workers, and other laborers; and lastly, Serfs, which make up about nineteen percent of the population, and who are tied to the land as agricultural workers. According to law, each of the above has certain rights and priviliges.

Government

The Most Holy and Royal Kingdom of Tisopea is an absolute monarchy, where the Crown relies on other political bodies for certain tasks, such as taxation.

Executive Branch

The King is head of state and government, and has absolute power and authority, according to the Divine Right of Kings. This is because even though a prime minister exists, there are also several other positions that equal his, and also because, as stated, the King is absolute, and by law the above positions hold little power other than that of an advisor or overseer of the civil service.

Below him is the Privy Council. There are sixty Privy Councilors, all of which are appointed by the King, to serve at his pleasure. All of the Lords Spiritual serve on the Council, not to mention many Peers of the Realm, and most of the dynasts in the Royal House over the age of seventeen. The council advises the King on most matters, and is led by an appointed lord secretary. Royal decrees, warrants, charters, and writs can be issued through the council and carry the weight of a law. Since the council is so large, it only meets once a month and its main duties are delegated to its standing body, the Royal Council. The Royal Council is made up of six members, all appointed from the Privy Council, and meets nearly every day. The Royal Council advises the King on all matters, and holds most of the powers of the Privy Council, even that of passing decrees. The Cabinet of Ministers is another committee of the Privy Council. It is made up of each of the secretaries of state and the Great Officers of State, and it is supported by a grand apparatus of departments and civil servants, which have branches in every city and carry out the cabinet’s will. In total, sixteen secretaries and officers sit upon the cabinet.

Legeslative Branch

The legislative system consists of the Parliament of Tisopea. Officially, the King is the head of Parliament, and it may only pass bills that have been introduced by the King. Parliament has very limited powers, and its main duty is to grant funds and pass major reforms. There are two houses: The House of Peers (upper house) and the House of Commons (lower house). The House of Peers is made up of every Peer of the Realm (over 1000) and holds most of the body’s power. The House of Commons is elected by the wealthy landowners and other leading citizens of each province (one must be over age seventeen, male, own land, and earn over 60,000 shillings a year to vote), and has 600 seats, which can only be held by commoners. The entire House has limited powers (such as not being able to delay a bill for more than two sessions) and usually peers have some say as to which candidates can run for election. While parliamentary elections are held every nine years, it is only an empty formality, because parliament can only be summoned and dissolved at the King’s will, and this is very infrequent, happening only a few times for each monarch. If parliament refuses to pass a bill, the King can issue a decree, call for new elections, or issue a proclamation that orders Parliament to reconsider.

Judicial Branch

The judicial system is also headed by the Crown. Nobles may only be tried by the House of Peers alone, and thus it acts as a sort of Supreme Court, with the Lord High Chancellor presiding. However, commoners, cannot be tried by such, and instead there is a Grand Curia, which is made up of sixteen justices and also headed by the Lord High Chancellor, to act as a supreme court. The king can also use the Crown Court as a sort of personal tribunal (made up of four Privy Councilors, and headed by the King), and pass any sentence other than death with it. Lesser, District Courts are headed by an official appointed by the town mayor (a judge), and there is also a three member tribunal that deals with heraldry cases and interpretation of patents of nobility (The Court of Chivalry, headed by the Lord High Marshal). Tisopean law does not make a distinction between civil and criminal cases.

Clergy and church matters are dealt with by the Holy Synod alone. This body is made up of all twenty Lords Spiritual, three priests, two laymen, and is headed by the King. The body is the highest authority in religious matters, and passes decrees known as dealing solely with religion and church governance.

Other Information

Laws come in the form of Acts of Parliament, which must be ratified by both houses (this isn’t usually a problem, as Peers will usually work with the King, and the House of Commons is limited in its powers of rejection); Royal Warrants and Writs are issued by the King alone, and also carry the weight of laws. Royal Decrees do likewise, and are issued by the King via the Privy Council. All of the above must be approved by the King, via signature and stamping with the Great Seal amidst the assembled Privy Council.

Tisopea does not have a constitution, and instead relies on past Parliamentary Acts and the authority of the Crown.

Economy

The Tisopean economy is very strong and wealthy. While not a superpower, Tisopea still maintains a stable and powerful economy, which brings in trillions of shillings each year. The nation boasts a free market and stock exchange, which is dominated mostly by the wealthy landowners and nobles, though merchants play a strong part as well.

The nation is an agricultural power, though industry is in no way lacking. Thanks to the efforts of millions of serfs and commoners, the economy is at an all time high, as the work force includes over 88 percent of the adult population.

Chief exports include agricultural products and processing, timber, nuclear power, weaponry, minerals, technology, iron, uranium, manufacturing, and natural gas.

Armed Forces

The armed forces are divided into several groups. All are under the control of the King, who is commander and chief, but are administered by the Department of Defense, under the Lord High Marshal. The Royal Guard is the elite bodyguard unit of the military. The most elite of its branches guard the royal family and palaces, and are known as the “King’s Guard.” The rest of the Royal Guard serves as an elite military unit. The National Guard of Tisopea serves to protect and defend the kingdom’s inner borders. Then there is the Grand Army of the Kingdom, which serves as the main military force, and is sent out to war. The Royal Navy and Air Force are under the control of the Admiralty, a sub department of the Defense Department, under the Lord High Admiral. Each are equally prestigious and well known.