Azores Islands

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Azores Islands
azores5.gif
Flag of Azores Islands
Motto: "Antes morrer livres que em paz sujeitos"
See Europe
Region Europe
Capital Ponta Delgada
Official Language(s) Azorean, Portuguese, Latin
Leader Proconsul Arantes Barbosa
Population 4.5 billion
Currency Azorean Franc 
NS Sunset XML

The República Açoreana (Azorean Republic) is an economically powerful nation, ruled by an authoritarian, meritocratic and devote regime.


Government

The Azorean Republic is a nation devoted to the values of meritocracy and capitalism. Proud of not being a traditional democracy, it is ruled under a one-party system, which assures every citizen that effort and wisdom are rightfully rewarded. Elections for the Senate are held every five years.

Ruling Party: Partido Nacional-Republicano (National Republican Party), only legal political organisation and major corporation, investing in fields such as the pharmaceutical and petrochemical industries

Head of State: Proconsul Daniel de Holstein e Arantes Barbosa

Head of Government: Proconsul Daniel de Holstein e Arantes Barbosa

Executive Branch: Conselho Nacional, composed by the fifteen Rectors and the Proconsul

Legislative Branch: Senado Republicano, composed of two hundred Tribunes

Judicial Branch: Supremo Tribunal, whose Supreme Judge is appointed by the Proconsul

Administrative Divisions: Three Republics: Azores, Nova Angola and Anglovictoria. The Republic of the Azores is further divided into three Províncias - Ponta Delgada, Mercoburg and Vila Franca.

Government Composition

The current cabinet is the following:

  • Rector for External Affairs - Prof. Dr. Miguel ARANTES
  • Rector for International Trade - Dr. Manuel BARBOSA
  • Rector for Economy and Industry - Prof. Amilcar MALHADO
  • Rector for Finance - Prof. Azinheira BALTAZAR
  • Rector for Justice - Dr. Joaquim AMARAL
  • Rector for Internal Affairs - Dra. Marília PAVÃO
  • Rector for Transport and Infrastructure - Prof. Camilo MEDINA
  • Rector for the Senate - SM Augustus BONIFACIUS
  • Rector for War and Defence - Marechal Carlos BRAGANÇA
  • Rector for Education and Science - Dra. Margarida MELO
  • Rector for Culture and Propaganda - Prof. Gisela GUSMÃO
  • Rector for Public Health - Dr. Raimundo NÓBREGA
  • Rector for Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment - Dr. Flávio GALINHA
  • Rector for Tourism - Dra. Susana CARVALHO
  • Rector for Media and Sport - Dr. Mário MAGALHÃES

Administrative Divisions

Formally, the Azorean Republic is composed by three different Republics:

Based on Ponta Delgada, the three Republics are tied together by a Primus Inter Pares system. Each of the Republics has its own Parliament, except the Republic of the Azores, where the Senate of the Azorean Republic assumes that function. The capital of Nova Angola is Nova Lisboa, while Anglovictoria's capital is New Stratford.

For more info, refer to Azorean Administrative Divisions.

International Politics

The Azorean Republic has established itself as a paladin of justice and fairness in Europe. Defying established powers and defending the opressed, the Azores are known for their not so politically correct stances in cases where International Law is ignored.

Formal Allies: Nosterra, Gunnlandia, Kheion, Qantrix, Eiffelland, Wazistan.

International Membership: Free Market States, Pact of Steel, European Union, Organisation for a Nationalist Europe and many other minor organisations.

Other Close Relations: Hugoland, Twente, Medolai.

Economy

The Republic is based on a free-market, capitalist economy where the State assumes the role of a Police State, i.e., only intervenes indirectly, creating laws without which the market would not be able to function correctly. The Azores house some of the largest corporate groups in Europe, notably the Sociedade Faria e Castro, McBonifacius, the PNR and the Commercial Bank of Ponta Delgada. A notable characteristic of the Azorean free-market economy is the excellent public education system, which guarantees that every Azorean gets the same opportunities in life. This is the very basic principle of Azorean meritocracy.

GDP per capita: $52,000

Major Industries: Banking, Insurance, Pharmaceutics, Petrochemistry, Nuclear energy.

Major Trading Partners: Nosterra, Gunnlandia, Kheion, Qantrix, Great Brittania.

The Azorean Church

The Azorean Church is headed by His Eminence Pontifex Maximus Bonifacius XII. It is part of the Twentish Catholic Church and the Pontifex is a loyal servant of His Holiness Patriarch Nicodemus.

There are five Archdioceses in the Azores: Ponta Delgada, Vila Franca, Mercoburg, Anglovictoria and Nova Angola, each ruled by an Archbishop.

Azoreans are widely regarded as one of the most devote peoples in Europe. National church attendance ratings usually hit 70%.

History

The earliest records of human presence in the Azores date back to the 12th century BC, when the first Celtic settlers arrived from the South, probably of Gunnish origin. After a rather prosperous Iron and Bronze Age, the wonders of civilisation were brought by the Roman Republic. During the Republican and, later, Imperial rule, the Azores quickly assumed a relevant importance as a trade outpost and a beacon of civilisation in the barbaric Northern borders of the Empire. After its fall, the Azores, thanks to geographic factors, managed to remain quite isolated from the collapsing outer world, and thus maintaining most of the Roman culture and traditions. Isolation was broken in the 8th century, when the last Roman Consul, Titus V, fell upon the might of Otto I, a Knight of Franconian origin. Immediately assuming the title of Duke of Mercoburg, the Franconian dynasty would rule for 521 years, until Duke Bonifacius VI succumbed to the peasant revolts in the farmlands, in 1234. For 400 years, the Azores would be composed of a series of city-states, struggling for domination over the outlying islands. They were, however, de facto ruled by the Northern Sea Oligarchy - a League of Merchant Guilds with an enormous political and economical influence.

In 1643, Bonifacius V, a forgotten noble from Ponta Delgada, claimed to be the heir to the Azorean Ducal throne. After a series of wars, which lasted until 1647, Bonifacius V emerged victorious, blessed by the Twentish Cardinal, and thus earning the title of "Holy Emperor of the Azores and the Northern Sea". It was during the Empire that the Azores would acquire a vast and prosperous colonial trade empire. In 1789, HE William II died with no heirs. The Church quickly managed to seize power, starting an era of cultural richness, but industrial and economical stagnation. The Papal rule would be enforced until 1885, when the Glorious Republican Revolution took place.
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The Tricolor Republicana
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Although a period of prosperity, the First Republic marked nonetheless an era of political chaos and turmoil. In 1898, the Second Republic was implemented, hoping to solve many of the First Republic's flaws. In most ways, it did, aiding the Azores to surpass the early 20th century wars and depressions. In 1955, the short-lived Marxist Republic of the Azores would be proclaimed from Vila Franca, being hastily smashed by foreign intervention. The Fourth Republic would be an almost exact copy of the Second.

In 2001, Prime Minister Faria e Castro resigned from his position, handing power to his right arm: the conservative José do Canto. José do Canto cunningly used the Neoliberal majority in the Parliament to alter the Constitution, transforming the Azores in a Benevolent and Liberal Dictatorship - the Fifth Republic.

Refer also to: List of Azorean Leaders

Historical Trivia

  • Although a different, far more glorious version, is taught in Azorean schools, several scholars believe that Otto I (Otão I) was, in fact, nephew of the Consul Titus V, having murdered his uncle and claimed the throne with the help of Franconian knights.
  • Azorean monarchs are known for their temporary insanity moments. The most famous of all is the Ano Sangrento (bloody year) of 1645, when Bonifacius V ordered the execution of every merchant in Mercoburg who did not sell teacups with his face on them. Other relavant case was the one of Duke Henry III, who pillaged the city of Vila Franca, supposedly, under Saint Peter's command.
  • The Azorean Empire reached its greatest extent in 1647, when it ruled over practically all Northern Europe.
  • It is rumoured that the Holy Emperor William II was hommosexual, having been murdered by the Catholic Church.


Culture and Education

Language

Azorean is the primary language for 90% of the population. Even though Portuguese and Latin are also officially recognised by the Government, public signs are only forced to display written data in Azorean, being that presenting data in the other two official languages is purely optional, albeit common.

In the North, mainly in the State of Vila Franca, some Celtic dialects are still alive. Lately, the region has experienced a wave of "Celtic revival", with many Celtic cultural events being organised and promoted.

Education

Azorean students are forced to study until the 12th year, or until they are 17. From the 10th year on, they may choose to follow a General Course, for those who want to continue their studies at Universities, a Technical Course, for those who intend to either continue their studies at a Polytechnic institute or have no intention to go further, or a Professional Course, for those who have no intentions to continue their studies.

Those who desire to follow a General Course may choose three key subjects, which will later influence the Course they wish to study. They are also required to choose three secondary subjects each year, in order to enlarge their general culture and knowledge. It is not uncommon then to see a future economist studying chemistry, or a wannabe doctor writing a thesis on Kheionian history.

The University of Mercoburg stands as one of the most well-known in Europe. Founded in 1245, it quickly attained the status of "cultural centre of the North". It is nowadays a leading researcher in the fields of Genetics and Political Science.

The Public Azorean Educational program requires students to finish their course being fluent in, at least three languages. Although th vast majority opts for the trio Azorean-Latin-English, Portuguese, Spanish, Norwegian and French are common choices as well.

Culture

The Azorean Culture is usually described as an original mix between Latin and Celtic traditions. Firstly colonised by Gunnish celts, the Azores were heavily influenced by the Roman ocuppation, which lasted for five hundred years. Although celtic culture had already been deeply established among the Azorean people, the Roman/Latin influences in politics and language are undeniable. Even though some ancient pagan customs have prevailed to our days, Azoreans are a devoted people, faithful to Twentish Catholicism.