Central Prestonia

The Federal Havenic Republic of Central Prestonia

Motto: United We Shall Triumph
Spoken Languages  - De-facto	English, Russian, Volscian
Capital	Hudson
Leader	President Justin M. Gannon
Area  - Total  - % water	km²
Population  - Total (2007)	approximately 600 million
Establishment  - Current Form	June 18th, 2007
Government Type	American System
Constitutional Form	Federal republic
GDP (2005)   - Total (USD)   - GDP/capita (USD)	$33,605
GDP Growth Rate:	4.38%
Unemployment:	3.81%
Currency	1 Prestonian Dollar (P$) = 100 cents (c))
International Abbreviations	FHRCP, FHRP
Naval Craft Classification   - Prestonian Navy   - Prestonian Merchant Marines   - Prestonian Coast Guard	RPS PMMS PCGS
National Anthem	Rise, O Voices of Prestonia
Internet TLD	.cp
Calling Code	+27

The Federal Havenic Republic of Central Prestonia occupies a large peninsule on the south-central continent of Haven. The landmass is comprised of the peninsula, two major islands, and a chain of several smaller ones. It borders the Aralonian Channel and Ambrose Sea on the south and east, and Kashmire on the west. The nation also borders unclaimed land to the northwest, which it once attempted to annex.

History

Ancient Prestonia

The land known as Prestonia first shows up in text circa 500 AD, where it is mentioned in an epic poem of unknown origin. The land was among the last to in Haven to be settled, with the arrival of refugees from The Phoenix War in Vetaka around 1100 AD. It is unknown why the land was never settled prior to this, but the swift currents and imposing mountains may have played a role. From their arrival until the arrival of the British, the Black Phoenix, as they were known, ruled the area, staying relatively isolated from the rest of Haven.

British Rule

In 1703 The King granted an expedition led by Lord Stanley Preston the right to claim as a proprietary colony any land it could find within Haven. After a yearlong journey, the party landed at Cape Leonard on September 25th 1704, and christened it Central Prestonia after it's founder and location within Haven (Haven would not be fully charted for some 100 more years). This did not bode well with the Black Phoenix, and the parties warred off and on from 1704-1710, with the British eventually prevailing. The Black Phoenix, weakened by war and smallpox, were pushed back to the Washington Mountains, where the bulk of their tribe resides today. Prestonia thereafter proved to be a valuable source of precious metals, coal, and later oil. Perhaps it's most important crop, however, was the citrus that grew inland. It had long been known that citric acid was a cure for scurvy, but keeping fresh fruit proved to be a problem. Under the guidance of the Colonial Governor Thomas Windsor-Smythe, large plantations were set up, and the fruit delivered to coastal cities such as Seaside, St. Andrews and Cape Leonard. Ships would stop off in these settlements, which grew into major trade hubs well into the 19th century. However, the relationship with Prestonia and the Crown soured quickly as the United Kingdom began making higher demands for taxes and resources. Revolts occurred in 1785, 1821, and 1900, each time being put down with much bloodshed.

The World Wars

Despite the rebellions, Prestonians remained loyal to their King when needed. In World War One the Hudson Volunteer Regiment saw extensive combat at The Battle of the Marne, earning 30 Victoria Crosses. This was just one example of Prestonian valor, which was played out in all theaters of the war. In World War Two, the area saw less action than before, as the period between the wars had weakened the British economy, causing a withdrawal of the Prestonian Colonial Protection Force. Unguarded and in the midst of a depression, the area was easy prey for Japanese forces, who overran it in May of 1940 and captured Hudson by July. In stark contrast to the treatment of other areas, the Japanese were by all accounts benevolent masters. Nevertheless, there exist records of frequent attacks upon Japanese assets by resistance groups. The peninsula was finally liberated by the Americans in August of 1944, and turned over to British rule postwar. The war left a permanent mark on Central Prestonia, with several Japanese POWs choosing to stay rather than return to the Emperor. This laid the foundation of the large Japanese culture which exists today.

The Revolution

For many years after the war, the Prestonians lived in harmony with their colonial masters. However, by 1973 the British were renewing their subjugation of the colony, exacting crippling taxes and returning almost nothing. This led to a rise in revolutionary action yet again, but it was not until Aaron Preston, a descendant of Lord Stanley Preston, jumped on the bandwagon that The Crown took notice. Preston, a skilled strategist and charismatic leader, assumed control of the Prestonian Revolutionary Party in 1991. This is generally dated as the beginning of The Great Revolution in history, as prior to Preston's assumption of power the revolution consisted of sporadic uprisings. With the leadership of Preston, the war erupted into a true war, lasting sixteen years. On June 18th 2007, trapped in Cape Leonard with their backs to the sea, the Royal Army under General William Windsor-Mountbatten (aka Prince William) surrendered. the Treaty of Hudson was signed at exactly noon that day, and the war was over.

The Preston Era

With the end of the war, many questions were left. What government would replace the British? Who would lead Prestonia? And most importantly, how was the nation to rebuild? The second question was answered immediately, with Aaron Preston being appointed President by an overwhelming majority. Preston's first task was to rebuild the nation from the ruin of 16 years of war, which he did with ease. Setting up a "controlled turnover," he set the economy up as a mixed system with the ultimate goal of privatization when the industry was strong enough to stand on it's own two feet. This worked marvelously, with the transition from 3rd World to powerhouse coming within three years. On the international stage, Preston proved to be a mixed bag. While he secured the nation a spot in UFAN, he also rattled sabers with the much larger British Londinium, leading many to call him a warmonger. In 2011, his term complete, he chose not to run for a second term. While he still could, he has repeatedly said he wishes to enjoy retirement.

Present-Day Prestonia

In the 2011 Elections, Justin M. Gannon, the former Vice President, won in a nailbiter versus Democratic Party candidate Matt Quinlan and Republican Steven Propper. Shortly thereafter, the Prestonian Revolutionary Party merged with the Democrats, and Quinlan was made Vice President. Gannon was seen as a stronger and more levelheaded presence of Prestonia internationally, and has guided Prestonia to normalized relations with former enemies. On the home front, Gannon has slashed income tax rates, stimulating the economy. President Gannon comes up for election in 2015, and looks to win a second term and stay the course on making Prestonia a powerful nation internationally.

Government

Culture

Economy

Military

Prestonian Army

Prestonian Navy

Prestonian Air Force

Prestonian Marines