Difference between revisions of "Excalbia"

Revision as of 08:31, 20 November 2005

Excalbia

Flag of Excalbia
Motto: "A Free People, By the Grace of God"
Map of the Excalbian Isles
Region	Excalbian Isles
Capital	Citadel Excalbia
Official Language(s)	English – state language, Old Excalbian (blend of old Norse and Baltic languages), Celtic.
Leader	The Emperor. The current emperor is David IV.
Population	Over 3 billion
Currency	Imperial excalban (E); 1E = $1.30
NS Sunset XML

Geography and Early History

The Excalbian Isles rise from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in the Northern Atlantic, southwest of Iceland and southeast of Greenland. The location of the island ensures mild summers with long days and cool winters with long, dark nights. The flow of the ocean currents, however, keeps the island far milder than Greenland, located to the northwest.

The Excalbian Isles were first settled by the Celts around the 6th century. By the early 10th century, they formed a number of stable, agrarian tribal groups, located mostly in the Southwestern grasslands and along the rugged Eastern coast.

In the late 10th century, a second wave of settlers – Norsemen – arrived from their colonies in Iceland and Greenland. While the earlier arrivals, now known as the Lowlanders, remained along the coast and in the grasslands, the Norsemen migrated into the highlands.

For more details on the geography and early history of the Excalbian Isles, please refer to the entry on the Excalbian Isles.

Despite relative isolation from Europe, occasional new arrivals continued to land on Excalbia. These included a small group of Scots, who moved into the highlands and submerged into the Norse Highlanders, and some Irish monks, who in the 12th century introduced Christianity among a small tribe of Lowlanders on the Eastern coast. This tribe eventually became the Lowland Grand Duchy of Saxmere.

By the 13th century, the island’s social structure was well established. The Highland clans were warriors, herders and artisans and dominated the Lowland farmers. Clan warfare in the 15th and 16th centuries produced Excalbia’s first monarch, King Alsgood, the Great, who established his capital at Excalbia Castle, also known as Citadel Excalbia.

By the 18th century, a number of English and Colonial merchantmen had visited Excalbia, but finding little worth trading along the coast had ignored it. In 1798, a small group of Virginia Baptist missionaries took an interest in Excalbia and booked passage on a Yankee merchant ship familiar with the islands. A storm, however, crashed the Narwhal against the Western coast. Stranded, but alive and still possessing much of their goods and supplies, the missionaries began working to convert the Lowlanders to Christianity and the crew of the merchant ship began establishing control of the local trade routes and building alliances with the local tribes.

Founding of the Holy Empire of Excalbia

In 1801, the newly assertive Lowlanders, joined by Saxmere and backed by the missionaries and the guns of the ship’s crew, came into conflict with the Highland king, Ragarth. Low-level conflict continued until a truce in 1807, by which time the new American arrivals had reestablished contact with their homeland, bringing in new supplies for themselves and their Lowland allies. Seeing the balance of power tilting to the Lowlanders, Ragarth undertook a diplomatic mission to the Lowlanders’ new capital, Landing – the site of the Narwhal’s wreck. While in Landing, Ragarth’s son converted to Christianity and adopted the Christian name Joshua.

Joshua married the daughter of a missionary in 1808 and became king in 1809. At that point, he engineered a union between the Lowlanders and their allies and the Highland kingdom. On Christmas Day in 1809, Joshua proclaimed the Holy Empire of Excalbia, named the Alvis Miller, former Lowland governor of Landing, his Chancellor and established Christianity as its state religion. Emperor Joshua I also launched an aggressive campaign to bring modern education and knowledge to his kingdom.

In 1817, a mixed group of American settlers and Lowlanders began demanding a republican government. In order to avoid violence, the Emperor extended a land grant to the republicans east of the Borodea Mountains and a patent to establish an autonomous republican government. The republicans accepted the grant and establish New Virginia. In 1829, New Virginia, along with the later colonies of Southland and Deandra, joined with the Lowland settlement of Saxmere and the Highland settlements of Alud and Trondgard, to declare themselves independent states and to form a Confederation of Soveriegn States. The C.S.S. adopted a Constitution based on a modified version of the U.S. Constitution, that created a weak central government with strong guarantees for personal liberty.

In 1856, Peter Courtland, commander of the New Virginia State Militia, was tried and convicted for treason for attempting to use the threat of military force to secure the resignation of the Governor and install himself as the new Governor. Escaping with a number of supporters, Courtland fled to the sparsely inhabited plains of the northwest. Following Courtland’s death in 1870, leaders of these new settlements proclaimed the Dominion of Upper Virginia with a Constitution that, while guaranteeing individual rights and liberties, created a powerful central government.

Modern History

The late 19th and early 20th centuries were times of great change and turmoil in Excalbia. The deaths of four emperors in the twelve-year span from 1879 to 1891 destabilised the government and exacerbated tensions between reformers and conservatives and between the barons and the Imperial government. Despite the turmoil, significant reforms took place during this era. Progressives, coming mainly from Landing and New Boston, worked to break up monopolies, protect workers and guarantee that dissenters from the Church of Excalbia could fully participate in the economy and in politics. In Citadel Excalbia, the Imperial Senate, a democratic institution, finally supplanted the Council of Lords, a creation of the aristocracy, as the nation’s legislative authority.

In 1905, following the confusion, suspicion and open conflict that had accompanied the succession of last four emperors, progressives in Senate succeed in convincing Emperor Daniel III to grant the country’s first written Constitution. While the constitution left considerable power in the hands of the Sword, it firmly established Excalbia as constitutional monarchy with a high degree of democracy and political freedom.

While the nations of Excalbia avoided World War I, they did suffer under the Great Depression. Economic collapse in the neighboring Dominion of Upper Virginia led to an attempted revolution in 1932 and its ruthlessly suppression by General Roger Courtland. This led to nearly a century of tension and cross-border conflict between Upper Virginia and the Holy Empire. The Holy Empire joined with the C.S.S. to support the Allies in the World War of the 1940s and sent small forces to join the fight in Europe.

Following the War, Excalbia entered a period of peaceful economic growth, tranquility and great political stability. While the last quarter of the 19th century had seen five emperors wield the Sword of Alsgood, Emperor Joshua II reigned for more than two decades. His rule was marked by both calm and complacency, order and rigidity, economic growth and social retrenchment.

The very stability of the Empire made it vulnerable to the social upheavals of the youth movement of the 1960s. Despite considerable tension and disruptions in society, Joshua II and his government charted a course for the nation that avoid the violent confrontations that marked the youth movement in other nations. The government bent considerably to the demands of the youth and introduced many economic and social reforms. During this period, the voting age was lowered and, for the first time, the Liberal party won a majority in the Senate and formed the nation’s first left-leaning government. However, the Emperor remained a peaceful, but steadfast champion of traditional values. Many historians credit this combination of policies with guiding the Holy Empire through the so-called youth quake period and setting the stage for a tranquil and prosperous end to the 20th century.

Alliance with Pantocratoria

While the last three decades of the 20th century were a time of prosperity and formal peace, they also marked the decline of the Excalbian military and increasing isolation in the international community. Early in the 21st century, new Emperor David IV embarked on a program to correct both deficiencies, driven in part by a desire to counter Upper Virginia’s increasingly belligerent attitude towards the Holy Empire.

As David IV began reaching out for new trade partners and allies, he formed an early and strong bond with the Holy and Most August Empire of Pantocratoria. The alliance began informally with an extensive program of weapons sales to Pantocratoria. After that, Excalbian military forces served with the Pantocratorians in the Esperi Crisis, deepening the alliance. The alliance was cemented when Prince Joseph was selected by Emperor Andreus of Pantocratoria to be the husband of his eldest daughter, Princess Anna. As a wedding present, Emperor David IV presented the couple a patent to establish a new kingdom in the formerly unorganized provinces of the Western peninsula. This new kingdom was named Langeais.

Alliance with The Resurgent Dream

The Holy Empire was one of the first nations to welcome the Danaan High Kingdom of The Resurgent Dream upon its return to the world stage. An early exchange of diplomats, missionaries, students and military officers established close relations between the two constitutional monarchies.

Already warm relations between the Holy Empire and the High Kingdom were cemented when Prince Peter, nephew of the Emperor, married Grand Duchess Gwendolyn, sister of the High King and ruler of Shieldcrest. The marriage was shortly followed by the signing of a formal alliance between the two nations.

Politics and Government

Official Name: Holy Empire of Excalbia

Founded: Christmas Day, 1809 by Emperor Joshua I. The Holy Empire of Excalbia is the successor state of the Highland Kingdom of Excalbia, which was founded by King Alsgood, the Great in 1594.

Type of Government: Constitutional Monarchy

Symbols of Power: Unlike most monarchies, the Excalbian national symbol of power is not the crown, but the sword. The sovereign is invested when he or she receives the sword of King Alsgood. The reigning monarch and his or her government is often referred to as the Sword, in much the way other monarchical governments would be referred to as the Crown. The national emblems are the crossed swords and shield and the golden cross of Joshua on a field of blue.

Constitution: Written constitution adopted in 1905 under the reign of Daniel III

Head of State: The Emperor. The current emperor is David IV.

Imperial Family:

Empress Elizabeth, consort

Prince Joseph, eldest son, designated heir and co-sovereign of Langeais

Princess Anna of Pantocratoria, daughter-in-law and co-sovereign of Langeais

Princess Rebecca

Prince James

Princess Christiana, sister of the Emperor

Prince Peter, son of Emperor’s late brother, Prince Paul

Head of Government: Shared between the Emperor and the Imperial Chancellor. The current Imperial Chancellor is Lady Jessica Tagaarth of the Liberal Party (LP). Lady Jessica heads a coalition that includes the Christian Union Party (CU) and the Reform Party (RP). Lady Jessica's predecessor, Lady Christina Freedman, though she resigned her seat in the new Senate, remains a prominent public figure.

Cabinet:

Minister of State: Sir Albert Cummings (CU)

Minister of Defense: Davis Robb (LP)

Minister of Justice: Jamie Yoth (LP)

Minister of Treasury: Marcella Gambino (RP)

Minister of Home Affairs: Talbot Lauskis (CU)

Minister of Agriculture: Sir Thomas Roulis (CU)

Minister of Commerce and Trade: Baroness Vivian Bodniece (RP)

Minister of Education: Sterling Wentworth (LP)

Minister of Labour and Welfare: Alexandra Baker (LP)

Minister of Technology: Stephen Ogabe (LP)

Legislature: A unicameral body known as the Imperial Senate. In the current Imperial Senate, the Liberal Party (LP) hold 35 seats, the Christian Union 10 and the Reform Party (RP) 9 seats. The divided opposition consists of the Progressive Conservatives (PC) with 24 seats, the Freedom Party (FP) with 19 seats and the Social Welfare Party (SWP) with 3 seats. The presiding officer of the Imperial Senate is the Speaker of the Senate, a position held by Sir Harrison Grasis (FP), as the longest serving member of the Senate.

Political Parties:

Progressive Conservative Party (PC): largest opposition party; generally supports non-interventionist economic policies, free international trade, a strong national defense and loyalty to the Sword.

Christian Union Party (CU): the only member of the current coalition government and of the former; generally agrees conservative, but tends to favor somewhat higher levels of public assistance for the poor.

Freedom Party (FP): generally supports fiscally conservative policies; opposes deficit spending, supports free trade and somewhat libertarian social policies.

Reform Party (RP): member of the current coalition government; favors maintaining fiscally responsible economic policies while increasing spending on social programs; favors a slower military build-up than the current government and has called for revising the Constitution to grant more power to the Imperial Senate and to reduce the power of the Emperor and the Imperial Chancellor.

Liberal Party (LP): leader of the current coalition government; favors additional social programmes, moderately interventionist economic policies, greater civil rights and a less interventionist foreign policy.

Social Welfare Party (SWP): favors creation of expansive social welfare guarantees, reducing the military and Constitutional reform.

Other Key Officials:

Chief of General Staff and Imperial Naval Operations: Lord Admiral Derek Kunle

Director of Imperial Intelligence: Rev. Jacob Donnelly.

Director of Imperial Space Agency: Dr. Olivia Sandingham

Imperial Chamberlain and Head of the Imperial Household: Lord Johannes Corman

Director of Imperial Humanitarian Assistance and Development Fund: Baron Janis Tagaarth

Chief Representative to the Cardinal Duras Memorial Fund: Princess Christiana

Presiding Bishop of the Church of Excalbia: Bishop Donald Slesers

Secretary of the Synod of the Church of Excalbia: Bishop Blaine Repse

Chief Bishop of Citadel Excalbia: Bishop Graham Spelve

Chief Bishop of Landing: Bishop Dainis Nilson

Catholic Archbishop of Citadel Excalbia: John Cardinal Friesz

Catholic Archbishop of Landing: Miguel Cardinal Rizo

Former Archbishop of Landing: Matthew Cardinal Walsh, President of the Pontifical Council on Christian Unity

Chief Rabbi of Excalbia: Rabbi Daniel Lippmann

Ambassador to the Imperial Court of Christ Pantocrator (Pantocratoria): vacant

Pantocratorian Ambassador to the Holy Empire: The Marquis de Nouvelle Thessalonique

Ambassador to the Commonwealth of Varessa: Sir Gareth Vikis

Ambassador to the Danaan High Kingdom of The Resurgent Dream: Sir Adam Taurins

Danaan Ambassador to the Holy Empire: Lady Stoiries ni Dougal

Ambassador to the Teutonic Empire of Lavenrunz: Lady Allison Bluger

Papal Legate to the Holy Empire: Archbishop Peter Tsarong

Ambassador to the Dutch Democratic Republic of Knootoss: Alexandra Maculane

Knootian Ambassador to the Holy Empire: Ronald Bloodgood

Ambassador to the Republic of Syskeyia: Baron Ruslan Peteris

Syskeyian Ambassador to the Holy Empire: Stephen Trieu

Legal Advisors to Princess Christiana: Ainars Bastiks, Senior Partner, Bastiks, Murniece and Derks and Bernard Le Roux, Senior Partner, Lhuillier, Bakchos and Damours

Official Auditors for the Imperial Household: Julian Porter and Vivian Ashe, Senior Auditors, KPMG&L

People

Main Ethnic Groups: Nordic, Celtic, Anglo-American, Hispanic, African.

Religions: Church of Excalbia (Protestant Christian) – state religion, 45%; Roman Catholic, 17%; Excalbian Baptist, 14%; Anglican, 5%; Jewish, 4%; Orthodox, 2%, Other, 10%.

Languages: English – state language, Old Excalbian (blend of old Norse and Baltic languages), Celtic. A few words in Old Excalbian:

sovens = sword

sveiki = hello

karalis, imperijars = emperor

Svetu Ekskalbias Imperija = Holy Empire of Excalbia

Economy and Technology

The Imperial economy is dominated by the computer, data processing and information technology sector. The largest companies are Exsoft Data Systems, NADS and AzIntel. AzIntel, working with an Imperial grant, has developed a powerful decentralized artificial intelligence network utilizing bioneural processors known as DAIN.

Currency: Imperial excalban (E)

Exchange Rate: 1E = $1.30

Gross Domestic Product: 61,142,737,391,558.11 E

Per Capita GDP: 21,054.66 E

Tax Rate – Value Added Tax (VAT): 18 %

Government Expenditures: 14,582,853,634,200.63 E

Defense Expenditures: 1,522,704,546,748.26 E

Total Exports: 7,065,015,897,440.56 E

Leading Exports:

Advanced information technology services (access to the Decentralized Artificial Intelligence Network {D.A.I.N.}, a network of biotech-based supercomputers that have collected achieved true artificial intelligence and, perhaps, sentience; D.A.I.N. is used as a powerful tool in many areas of scientific research, but is not licensed or sold, rather its time is sold in blocks, placing its income in the service sector, somewhat akin to the payment of consultancy fees); Supercomputers, biotech processing chips and hardware; Computer software; Military sales (especially sales of advanced naval vessels, employing trimaran and catamaran-design hulls, stealth technologies, foamed alloy construction and advanced modular integrated electric drives).

Total Imports: 7,638,096,256,231.29 E

Leading Imports:

Agricultural goods; Automobiles and low-tech consumer electronics; Minerals; Textiles.

Largest Companies:

AzIntel – creator of D.A.I.N. ExSoft Data Systems – software giant NADS – computer hardware giant and processor producer New Boston Shipbuilding, Ltd – lead contractor on the Mark V ship project ExAero – leading defense contractor Bank of Landing – largest commercial bank

Military

Supreme Commander: The supreme commander of Excalbia’s armed forces is the Emperor. Routinely, the Emperor will exercise this authority through the Imperial Chancellor and the Minister of Defense. In the event of that the Emperor is indisposed or unable to communicate with military command, the Imperial Chancellor may act in his behalf.

Command Structure: The Minister of Defense sits atop the civilian command structure of the military. Under the Constitution, the military is strictly subordinate to civilian authority. The Chief of the Imperial General Staff is the Empire’s senior military officer. Below the Chief of Staff, are the Chief of Imperial Naval Operations, the Chief of the Imperial Army Staff and the Chief of the Imperial Air Force Staff. Traditionally, the Chief of Imperial Naval Operations has also served as the Chief of the Imperial General Staff.

Modernisation: Over the last several years, the Excalbian Imperial Navy has implemented an aggressive expansion and modernisation programme. Excalbia's Mark V Shipbuilding Programme has put the Imperial Navy on the forefront of naval technology and the key to Excalbia's national defence.

The Imperial General Staff :

Chief of the Imperial General Staff (CGS) – Lord Admiral Derek Kunle

Vice Chief of the General Staff – 4 stars

Chief of Military Intelligence – 2 stars

Chief of Logistics – 3 stars

Chief of Sea and Air Lift – 3 stars

Chief of Information – 2 stars

Chief of Personnel – 3 stars

Inspector General – 3 stars

Judge Advocate General – 3 stars

Quartermaster General – 3 stars

Surgeon General – 3 stars

The Imperial Navy: Chief of Imperial Naval Operations (CINO) – Admiral Sir Derek Kunle

Chief of Engineering – Vice Admiral Harold Alsgood

Sea Systems Command – Vice Admiral/Rear Admiral

Air Systems Command “ “

Space Systems Command “ “

Chief of Weapons and Warfare – Vice Admiral

Weapon Systems Command – Vice Admiral/Rear Admiral

Training Command “ “

Chief of Policy, Planning and Tactics – Vice Admiral

Commander of the Home Fleet – Admiral Stephen Virities

INV Majestic Carrier Battle Group – Vice Admiral Ricards Turlais

INV Excalbia Strike Group – Rear Admiral

INV Glorious Carrier Battle Group – Vice Admrial Ephraim Allen

INV Citadel Strike Group

INV Courageous Carrier Battle Group

INV Landing Strike Group - Rear Admiral Jeter Taliefero

INV Sovereign Carrier Battle Group

INV Samuel II Strike Group

INV Fearless Carrier Battle Group

INV Daniel III Strike Group

INV Narwhal Sea Mobility Group – Rear Admiral

INV Mercy Rescue Group – Commodore

INV Atlas Support Group – Rear Admiral

INV Excalbian Empire Battle Group - Commodore Felix Bulvitis

Submarine Forces – Vice Admiral

Commander of the Expeditionary Fleet – Admiral

INV Invincible Carrier Battle Group – Vice Admiral

INV New Boston Strike Group – Rear Admiral

INV Reliant Carrier Battle Group - Vice Admiral Tucker Norland

INV Southport Strike Group

INV Valiant Carrier Battle Group

INV Samuel I Strike Group

INV Dauntless Carrier Battle Group

INV Prince Paul Strike Group

INV Defiant Carrier Battle Group

INV David II Strike Group

INV Valmiera Strike Group – Rear Admiral

INV Aldheim Strike Group - Commodore

INV Nautilus Sea Mobility Group – Rear Admiral Beatrice Liene

INV Compassion Rescue Group – Commodore

INV Hercules Support Group – Rear Admiral

Submarine Forces – Vice Admiral

Commander of the Coast Guard and Reserve Fleet – Vice Admiral

ICGV Defender Patrol Group – Rear Admiral

ICGV Protector Interdiction Group – Commodore

INRV Excalbia’s Pride Sea Mobility Group – Commodore

INRV Olympic Support Group – Commodore

Commandant of the Imperial Marine Corps (CIMC) – Lieutenant General Abel Stockmann

Commander of 1st Marine Division (Home Fleet) – Major General

Commander of 2nd Marine Division (Expeditionary Fleet)

Commander of 3rd Marine Division (Expeditionary Fleet) Major General Harlan Knox

Imperial Army

Chief of the Imperial Army Staff (CIAS) – General Viktor Erglis

Chief of Strategy, Tactics and Planning – Lieutenant General

Training Command – Lieutenant General/Major General

Chief of Ordinance and Warfare – Lieutenant General

Armaments Command – Lieutenant General/Major General

Missile Command

Ground Systems Command

Air Support Command

Chief of Technology – Lieutenant General

Corps of Engineers – Lieutenant General/Major General

Design and Development Command – Brigadier General

Commander of the Home Army – General

Commander I Corps – Lieutenant General

21st Division – Infantry – Major General

41st Division – Infantry

61st Division – Mobile Infantry

Commander II Corps

22nd Division – Mechanized Infantry

72nd Division – Armor

92nd Division – Mechanized Cavalry

Commander III Corps

33rd Division – Armor

53rd Division – Mechanized Infantry

63rd Division – Mechanized Infantry

Commander of the Expeditionary Army – General

Commander V Corps – Lieutenant General

105th Division – Airborne (Mobile) Infantry – Major General

85th Division – Special Environment (Mobile) Infantry

45th Division – Armor

Commander VI Corps

66th Division – Mechanized Cavalry

76th Division – Armor

Commander VII Corps

77th Division – Armor

107th Division – Mechanized Cavalry

Commander X Corps

10th Division – Special Operations

110th Division – Airborne (Mobile) Infantry

80th Division – Light Armor

90th Division – Armor

Commander of Home Guard and Reserves [VIII Corps] – Major General

Commander 182nd Division (Home Guard) – Infantry – Brigadier General

Commander 195th Division (Reserves) – Specialized – Brigadier General

Commander 198th Division (Reserves) – Specialized – Brigadier General

Imperial Air Force

Chief of the Imperial Air Force Staff (CIAFS) – General Inese Miele

Chief of Policy, Planning and Tactics – Lieutenant General

Air Combat Command – Lieutenant General/Major General

Training Command

Special Operations Command

Chief of Engineering and Technology – Lieutenant General

Air Systems Command – Lieutenant General/Major General

Space Systems Command

Chief of Strategic Forces – Lieutenant General

Commander of the Home Air Force – General

Commander 1st Wing – Lieutenant General

11th Squadron – Fighter – Major General

21st Squadron – Fighter

41st Squadron – Interceptor

Commander 2nd Wing

22nd Squadron – Fighter

32nd Squadron – Bomber

42nd Squadron – Interceptor

Commander 3rd Wing

33rd Squadron – Advanced

63rd Squadron – Training

Commander of the Expeditionary Air Force – General

Commander 5th Wing – Lieutenant General

Commander 55th Squadron – Refueling – Major General

Commander 65th Squadron – Mobility

Commander 75th Squadron – Mobility

Commander 85th Squadron – Rescue

Commander 6th Wing

Commander 46th Squadron – Fighter

Commander 76th Squadron – Bomber

Commander 106th Squadron – Bomber

Commander 9th Wing

Commander 19th Squadron – Fighter

Commander 99th Squadron – Fighter

Commander 109th Squadron – Bomber

Commander of the Reserves [4th Wing] – Major General

Commander 104th Squadron – Mobility – Brigadier General

Commander 108th Squadron – Rescue

Commander 107th Squadron – Fighter