Danish Commonwealth

Background

Once the seat of Viking raiders and later a major northern European power, the Commonwealth of Denmark has evolved into a modern, prosperous nation. From the Viking days to today, the Kingdom’s lands are still intact and have added more. To date, the Commonwealth now has in possession Greenland, Iceland, Denmark, the Faeroe Islands, Svalbard, Jan Mayen, and Åland. The Commonwealth used to operate under a constitutional monarchy, however with the invocation and passage of laws that eliminated the Monarchy in 2006, the Commonwealth's government no longer recognises the need for a monarchy or a king.

The Narsusian government and the former Kingdom of Bjarnesfjørden have reached an agreement pending their new Nordic Reunification Policy handing over the commonwealths of Sweden, Norway and Finland into Danish control as of 28 June 2006 per the completion of the Conference of Stockholm.

History

The earliest Danish archaeological findings date back to 130,000-110,000 BC in the Eem interglacial period. People have continually lived in Denmark since about 12,500 BC, and agriculture made inroads about 3,900 BC. The Nordic Bronze Age (1,800-600 BC) in Denmark was marked by burial mounds, which left an abundance of findings, including lurs and the Sun Chariot.

During the Pre-Roman Iron Age (500 BC-AD 1), native groups began migrating south into Germania. The Roman provinces maintained trade routes and relations with native tribes in Denmark, attested by finds of Roman coins. Evidence of strong Celtic cultural influence dates from this period in Denmark and much of northwest Europe, and is among other things reflected in the finding of the Gundestrup cauldron. The first Danish people came to Denmark between the Pre-Roman and Germanic Iron Age, in the Roman Iron Age (AD 1-400).

Before the arrival of Danish settlers, who came from Scandinavia and spoke an early form of north Germanic, most of Jutland and part of the islands had been vacated or partly vacated by the earlier Jutes, the descendants of populations known to be there from sources in ancient history (such as Tacitus and Ptolemy). A large part of the Jutes were known as the Angles and the Saxons. They vacated Jutland en masse to take up residence in the land now named after them, England.

The exact origin of Denmark has been lost in history, but a short note about the Dani in "The Origin and Deeds of the Goths" from 551 CE by historian Jordanes is thought to be an early mention of a Danish people. The Danevirke defence structures were built in several phases from the 3rd century forth, and the sheer size of the construction efforts in 737 are contributed to the emergence of a Danish king. The new runic alphabet was first used at the same time, and Ribe, the oldest town of Denmark, was founded about 700.

From the 8th to the 10th century, the Danes were known as Vikings. Together with Norwegians and Swedes, they colonised, raided and traded in all parts of Europe. Viking explorers first discovered Iceland by accident in the 9th century, en route to the Faroe Islands. The Vikings temporarily conquered parts of England, known as the Danelaw, Ireland and France, giving name to the French region of Normandy. As attested by the Jelling stones, the Danes were united and Christianized about 965 by Harald Bluetooth, the second recognized king of Denmark.

Up through the High and Late Middle Ages, the king of Denmark ruled Skåneland (Skåne, Halland and Blekinge), Danish Estonia, as well as the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein in northern Germany. In 1397, Denmark entered the Kalmar Union with Norway and Sweden-Finland. It was a united Scandinavian state which kept the individual interests of the countries, and lasted until Sweden broke out in 1523. The Protestant Reformation came to Scandinavia in 1530s, and following the Count's Feud civil war, Denmark converted to Lutheranism in 1536. Later that year, Denmark entered a union with Norway and its colonies.

Two and a half centuries of wars with Sweden followed. Skåneland was lost to Sweden in the Treaty of Roskilde in 1658 and the Denmark-Norway union was dissolved by the Treaty of Kiel in 1814, when Norway entered a new union with Sweden, which lasted until 1905. Denmark kept the colonies of Iceland, Faroe Islands and Greenland. Apart from the Nordic colonies, Denmark ruled over Danish India (Tranquebar in India) from 1620 to 1869, the Danish Gold Coast (Ghana) from 1658 to 1850, and the Danish West Indies (the United States Virgin Islands) from 1671 to 1917.

After the Second War of Schleswig (Danish: Slesvig) in 1864, Denmark was forced to cede Schleswig-Holstein to Prussia, in a defeat that left deep marks on the Danish national identity. After this point Denmark adopted a policy of neutrality, as a result of which Denmark stayed neutral in World War I. After the defeat of Germany, the Versailles powers offered to return the then-German region of Schleswig-Holstein to Denmark. Fearing German irredentism, Denmark refused to consider the return of the area and insisted on a plebiscite concerning the return of Schleswig. The two Schleswig Plebiscites took place on February 10 and March 14, respectively. On July 10, 1920, after the plebiscite and the King´s signature July 9 on the reunion document, Northern Schleswig was recovered by Denmark, thereby adding 163,600 inhabitants and 3,984 km². The reunion day (Genforeningsdag) is celebrated every year June 15 on Valdemarsdag.

Despite its neutrality, Denmark was invaded by Germany (Operation Weserübung), on April 9, 1940. Though accorded self-rule (which ended in 1943, due to a mounting resistance movement), Denmark remained militarily occupied throughout World War II. The Danish sympathy for the Allied cause was strong; 1,900 Danish police officers were arrested by the Gestapo and sent, under guard, to be interned in Buchenwald. During the war, Iceland claimed independence and in 1948 the Faroe Islands gained home rule. In 1979, Greenland gained home rule. Later on, the Fjørdansk Landkongress purchased The Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands from the Government of Narsus and established their home rule in 2005. After a brief period of time, the Kingdom then became interested in the Finnish autonomy of Åland in 2006 and purchased it from the Government of Narsus. Åland was granted home rule under the Kingdom's autonomy overseeing board, Det Udenriksministeriet (or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs).

Now, after the Conference of Stockholm, the Government of Narsus gave control of Sweden, Norway, and Finland over to the Kingdom as part of the Nordic Reunification Policy was fulfilled. This policy was to ensure that no Scandinavian country ever fell under the hands of Communism, which the current Narsusian government practised. The Government of Narsus asked the Kingdom to take on the responsibilities and duties of these nations as it is pertinent to the fulfillment of the Nordic Reunification Policy. In 2006, Sweden, Norway, and Finland became part of the Kingdom of Bjarnesfjørden. Each were granted autonomous home rule.

In September 2006, the State of Sweden and the Territory of the Åland Islands signed a mutual cultural treaty that made the islands part of the State of Sweden. This measure was approved by former High Chancellor Johann Per Stig and reaffirmed by the Landkongress. Also, the State of Denmark regained control of Skåneland, the southernmost region of Sweden as the Swedes and the Danes reached a mutual agreement on the returning of this cultural heritage.

Current Government

The current government of the Commonwealth of Denmark consists of the Commonwealth's Central Government based in Copenhagen, Denmark. Denmark controls all of the autonomous bodies through Det Udenriksministeriet (The Ministry of Foreign Affairs). The country was completely switched to a Social Democracy in Late August 2006.

The Landkongress is a unicameral parliament comprised of the elected lawmakers of each county in Denmark and the home rule autonomies. The Landkongress is comprised of 150 seats and has spots for representatives from Greenland, Iceland, Åland, The Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands, The Faroe Islands, Sweden, Norway, and Finland. There is a special administrative seat in Landkongress reserved for the Island of Flatholmen, which was granted autonomous home rule under the Nordic Reunification Policy.

The current Statsminister (Prime Minister) of Denmark is His Right Honourable, Pår Dexe. He has been a member of Landkongress for nearly 15 years and is a veteran of political affairs in the nation. Under him, the country has quadrupled its size and has become involved in international politics as a mainstay. His cabinet, a fierce and strong-handed cabinet of individuals based on the Danish principle ideal of freedom, has led the Commonwealth into prosperity.

The current government consists of the High Chancellor, the Statsminister (the Prime Minister), the Udenriksminister (Minister of Foreign Affairs), the Forvarsminister (Minister of Defence), the Finansminister (Minister of Finance), the Utdannelseminister (Minister of Education), and the Kulturminister (Minister of Culture).

The Landkongress

The Landkongress holds elections every 7 years for the position of representative. These representatives are responsible for representing the requests of their autonomies or counties.

The last election results boasted 100 seats for the popular Socialdemokraternapartiet (The Social Democracy Party), 49 seats for the Demokraternapartiet (The Democracy Party) and 1 seat for the Feminisk Intiativ (The Feminism Initiative).

The next election date is 01 January 2013.

Judicial Branch

The Fjørdansk court system consists of two main sources of the judicial system. One is the High Court system and the other is the Supreme Court system.

Land Courts (Landstretten)

The Land Court functions both as a civil and criminal court of first instance and a civil and criminal appellate court for cases from the subordinate courts. A County Court decision can always be appealed to a High Court. First instance civil cases may only be brought before the High Court if the disputed claim exceeds FJP 1.000.000.

Bjarnesfjørden has two Land Courts. The High Court of Western Fjørdland (Vestre Landsret) sits in Viborg but has chambers in larger western cities. It has jurisdiction over all County Courts in Fjørdland. It has one President and 38 judges. The High Court of Eastern Fjørdland (Østre Landsret) sits in Copenhagen but has chambers in larger eastern cities. It has jurisdiction over all County Courts outside the Fjørdland peninsula as well as the Landsret for the Faroe Islands and the High Court of Greenland. It has one President and 63 judges.

The Land Courts are split into chambers, each consisting of three Land Court judges. Though the President of the Land Court appoints a presiding judge for each chamber, all decision are reached by a simple majority, in all types of cases.

As a criminal appellant court in cases where lay judges took part in the landsret trial, the Land Court is composed of three Land Court judges and three lay judges. Land Court judges also sit with lay judges in case of general public interest. In cases where special knowledge is needed, i.e. cases regarding removal of children from their parents, specialists may appear as lay judges.

If the defendant pleads "not guilty" and when he or she may be sentenced to 4 years or more in prison, the three Land Court judges sit with a 12 member jury. It is the jurors duty only to vote on the question of guilt and this decision may be overturned by the judges.

High Court (Højesteret)

The High Court functions as a civil and criminal appellate court for cases from the subordinate courts. Since a desision cannot normally be appealed more than once, County Court cases rarerly reach High Court-level, though this may be the case if the independent Board of Appeals grants a leave of appeal.

Founded in 1661 the High Court is the highest Court in the Commonwealth of Denmark. It is split into two chambers which both hear all types of cases. A case is heard by at least five judges. In all the court consists of normally 15 judges and a President.

Unlike criminal cases in the lower courts, the High Court does not deal with the issue of guilt. However, the basis on which the lower court reached its verdict may be brought into consideration and edited. In jury trails in the first instance, the defence may appeal on grounds of error in the judges direction to the jury (his summing-up of the theoretical foundations, which should be taken into consideration when the jurors deliberate.

States of the Commonwealth

The Commonwealth of Denmark is comprised of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, The Faroe Islands, The Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands, and Åland. These areas of the Commonwealth are all separate from Denmark and have their own forms of government, however, they operate under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and are subject to the High Chancellory. Legislation that is passed in Landkongress also effects the autonomies.

Åland, Landskapet av (Åland)

The Åland Islands are an autonomous part of the Commonwealth of Denmark under the Autonomy Act of Åland of 2006. Under the Autonomy Act of Åland of 2006, the Commonwealth recognizes Ålanders as a completely different nationality. Ålanders share a same sense of autonomy as Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Greenland, The Faroe Islands, and The Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands. On 2 September 2006, the Home Minister of Sweden and the Landskapetsminister of Åland signed a mutual treaty returning Åland to Sweden.

Population: 26,711

Capital: Mariehamn

GDP Per Capita: 19 293,00 fjørdpenge

Major Exports: Fish

Major Cities: Brändö, Eckerö, Finström, Föglö, Geta, Hammarlan, Jomala, Kumlinge, Kökar, Lemland, Lumparland, Mariehamn, Saltvik, Sottunga, Sund, and Vårdö

Dänmark, Land av (Denmark)

Denmark is comprised of Jutland, the Danish Minor Islands and the former Swedish State of Skåneland. The Land of Denmark is the central government area where Copenhagen is located. This area is also home to many embassies and consulates of various African nations including the Escasnia and Hey Dude.

Population: 5,450,661

Capital: Copenhagen (Københavns Kommune)

GDP Per Capita: 70 392,00 fjørdpenge

Major Exports: Fish, Agriculture, & Services

Major Cities: Aalborg, Århus, Horsens, København (Copenhagen), Kolding, Odense, Randers, Roskilde and Vejle

Suomi, Väittääta (Finland)

Finland is the fourth largest autonomy in the Danish Commonwealth boasting a great economic bearing and a highly intelligent labour force. The Ministry of Culture has 170 offices in Finland in order to protect the national culture of Finland. The State of Finland is the only state in the Kingdom with the full autonomous power to close and open the border with Borisgrad, a known Communist state in Africa.

Population: 5,231,372

Capital: Helsinki

GDP Per Capita: 32 392,00 fjørdpenge

Major Exports: Fish, Agriculture, & Services

Major Cities: Espoo, Helsinki, Tampere, Turku, and Vantaa

Føroyar, Landskapet av (The Faroe Islands)

Føroyar, or the Faroe Islands, have been granted Home Rule under the Home Rule doctrine of the Commonwealth since 1948. This small island archipelago is currently ran by the Løgting (The Faroese Parliament) under special representation by members of the five islands of Vagar, Nordurstreymoy, Esyturoy, Nordoyar, Sudurstreymoy, Sandoy, and Sudoroy.

Population: 48,219

Capital: Tórshavn

GDP Per Capita: 39 281,00 fjørdpenge

Major Exports: Oil, Fish

Major Cities: Tórshavn, Klaksvik, Runavikar

Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland)

Kalaallit Nunaat, or the Land of Greenland in Inuit, was granted Home Rule under Landkongress when the Landtinget requested independence. Independence was not granted, but the Commonwealth did allow for the Greenlandic population to establish a home rule government that would oversee the issues of the island. Greenlanders now partake in other affairs and have established a permanent representation in the Danish Landkongress.

Population: 56,361

Capital: Nuuk (Godthab)

GDP Per Capita: 12 384,00 fjørdpenge

Major Exports: Fish

Major Cities: Godthab, Sisimiut, Ilulissat, Aasiaat, Qaqortoq, Maniitsoq, Paamiut, Tasiilaq, Narsaw, Nanortalik, Qasigiannguit, Uummannaq, Upernavik, Qeqertarsuaq, Kangaatsiaq, Qaanaaq, Illoqqortoormiut, Kangerlussuaq, Kangaamiut

Norge, Land av (Norway)

Norway is one of the newest autonomies of the Commonwealth brought about in 2006 as part of the Nordic Reunification Policy. At present time it is enduring hardships from the present "independence movement" from the Communist separatists from the Island of Flatholmen. The State of Norway is currently undergoing the methods to squelch this issue. The State of Norway consists of 13 districts and its largest export is fishing and its largest industry is the services industry. It prides itself on its oil fields which are hidden in the Trondheim Bay. The Commonwealth prides itself in Norwegian oil and the Norwegians know this. There have been several disputes with the Akhtendumnese government over the oil rigs in the North Sea.

Population: 4,610,820

Capital: Oslo

GDP Per Capita: 39 928,00 fjørdpenge

Major Exports: Oil, Fish, Services

Major Cities: Oslo, Stavanger, Trondheim