Aunesia

The Federation of Aunesia

Flag of Aunesia
National motto: Virtus, Unita, Fortior
Region	Haven
Capital	Strando
Largest City	Griza
Population	29,854,475
Suffrage	Universal (16+)
Official Language(s)	English, Esperanto
Government - President - Prime Minister	Federal Republic Elizabeth Rolands Roger Stretson
Establishment - First Colonisation - Decolonisation - Independent States - Commonwealth - Federation	21st May 1764 11th April 1805 12th April 1805 1st January 1937 1st January 2007
ISO Nation Code	AUNA
Currency	Aureus (AUR)
Internet TLD	.aun
Calling Code	+286
UN Status	Non-Member
Info: NationStates NSEconomy NS Tracker XML

The Federation of Aunesia or Aunesia, Esperanto: la Federacio de Aunesia, Français: La Fédération Aunesia, Deutsch: Bundesrepublik Aunesia, is a small but stable fully democratic republic in Haven. The country lies on the Ananaso Peninsula and the numerous islands that surround it, the islands of Arbo and Ĉefurbo of particular importance. Aunesia currently shares no international land borders, the territory to the north being unexplored and unclaimed. The federation's nearest neighbours are Juumanistra and Hattia, to the east and north-east respectively. The federation is comprised of five states and one capital territory.

Aunesians, as the population are known, have a history of free commerce and democracy ever since the islands were first colonised by pioneers from other, more established nations across Haven. Universal suffrage is enshrined in the constitution, but had been in operation in nearly all the previously-independent states well before the establishment of the federation; similarly there has always been a noticeable lack of taxation on the islands. Citizens generally enjoy high social and economic freedom, although the country is infamous for its lack of social welfare or state-funded healthcare. They are known for their tolerance and interest in foreigners and foreign culture, although they take a dim view of any group that would seek to limit the rights of others, including religious groups. Secular government is enshrined in the constitution.

Aunesia has little, if any, international influence or power, although this is changing slowly, as international ties are made. To aid this, the government recently legislated to make the learning of second languages compulsory, although a very high percentage of Aunesians already speak the international language Esperanto and have for decades, this having been one of the two official languages of Aunesia since the first central government was introduced to the archipelago.

History

Initial Colonisation

The first colonists landed on what is now known as the Federation of Aunesia on the 21st May 1764, making landfall on the largest island of the archipelago, Arbo. Previously the archipelago had been ignored, it being of little interest to the larger powers in the region - its landscape was barren and there was little to draw their attention, no rare metals or potential slaves. Instead, these colonists were merchants wanting to escape the taxation of their homelands and set up their own trading base.

Their initial attempts at nation-building were a success, and two decades of growth and prosperity followed. Other groups of individuals then began to colonise the other islands surrounding Arbo, and the Ananaso peninsula. Whilst their intentions were broadly the same - they wanted to live out their own lives independently and prosperously, there was inevitably friction between the sets of colonists that occasionally led to violent skirmishes.

Then, Gold was discovered in the hills at the centre of the island of Arbo. A massive gold rush ensued - for the first time, outside entities began to take an interest in the archipelago, sending their various militaries to forcefully take control of the colonies of their citizens which, until that time, they had given little attention to. This, more than any other factor, was to cause later splits between the islanders.

Decolonisation and Independence

After the initial Gold Rush of Arbo, settlers on other islands began to probe their own lands in an attempt to echo the fortunes of their larger neighbours, mainly to pay the taxes they now found themselves having to pay to their foreign overlords. For three years they searched the islands looking for gold. Just as their masters were beginning to lose patience, Gold was discovered in the northern islands of the archipelago.

Anticipating another gold rush, the foreign states fought fiercely to secure their claim on the islands of what is now known as the state of Lago. Dragging the native colonists into the fighting, eventually one state defeated the opposition, and began mining the gold deposits. However, unlike Arbo's reserves, which were still to be completely explored, their hopes proved false.

Commonwealth of Aunesia

Federation of Aunesia

The individual states

Geography

Politics & Government

Economy

Foreign Relations