Hispania

Hispania

Flag of Hispania
Motto: "For God and People"
Region	European Continent
Capital	Zaragoza
Official Language(s)	Spanish
Leader	Augusto Aznar
Population	3.3 billion
Currency	Peseta
NS Sunset XML

The Free State of Hispania is a major European power, but world reknowned for its isolationism and the blending of two conflicting ideologies, socialism and catholicism, into a working political process. With a long and rich history, Hispania has a special place among its people's heart, though a lack of formal alliances with any other major power leaves it vulnerable. Positioned along the strategic Gibraltar Straits, Hispania has done well for itself, and profits greatly off of international trade.

History

Modern humans in the form of Cro-Magnons began arriving in the Iberian Peninsula from north of the Pyrenees some 35,000 years ago. The best known artifacts of these prehistoric human settlements are the famous paintings in the Altamira cave of Cantabria in northern Spain, which were likely created about 15,000 BCE.

The historical peoples of the peninsula were the Iberians and the Celts, the former inhabiting the southwest part of the peninsula and along the Mediterranean side through to the northeast, the latter inhabiting the north and northwest part of the peninsula. In the inner part of the peninsula, where both groups were in contact, a mixed, distinctive, culture was present, known as Celtiberian.

The earliest urban culture is believed to be that of the semi-mythical southern city of Tartessos (perhaps pre-1100 BCE). Between about 500 BCE and 300 BCE, the seafaring Phoenicians, and Greeks founded trading colonies along the Mediterranean coast over a period of several centuries. The Carthaginians briefly took control of much of the Mediterranean coast in the course of the Punic Wars until they were eventually defeated and replaced by the Romans.

During the Second Punic War, an expanding Roman Empire captured Carthaginian trading colonies along the Mediterranean coast (from roughly 210 BCE to 205 BCE), leading to eventual Roman control of nearly the entire Iberian Peninsula – a control which lasted over 500 years, bound together by law, language, and the Roman road. The base Celt and Iberian population remained in various stages of romanization, and local leaders were admitted into the Roman aristocratic class.

The Romans improved existing cities, such as Lisbon (Olissipo) and Tarragona (Tarraco), and established Zaragoza (Caesaraugusta), Mérida (Augusta Emerita), and Valencia (Valentia). The peninsula's economy expanded under Roman tutelage. Hispania served as a granary for the Roman market, and its harbors exported gold, wool, olive oil, and wine. Agricultural production increased with the introduction of irrigation projects, some of which remain in use. Emperors Trajan, Hadrian, Marcus Aurelius and Theodosius I, and the philosopher Seneca were born in Hispania. Christianity was introduced into Hispania in the first century CE and it became popular in the cities in the second century CE. Most of Spain's present languages and religion, and the basis of its laws, originate from this period.

The first Barbarians to invade Hispania arrived in the 5th century, as the Roman empire decayed. The tribes of Goths, Visigoths, Swabians (Suebi), Alans, Asdings and Vandals, arrived in Spain by crossing the Pyrenees mountain range. The highly romanized Visigoths entered Hispania in 415, and the Visigothic Kingdom eventually encompassed the entire Iberian Peninsula after the Roman Catholic conversion of the Gothic monarchs. The horseshoe arch was originally an example of Visigothic architecture.

The union of the territories of the County of Barcelona and the Kingdom of Aragon was brought by the 1137 marriage of Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Barcelona and Petronila of Aragon. The resulting new kingdom came to be known as the Crown of Aragon. The son of Ramon Berenguer IV and Petronila, Alfonso II, inherited both the titles of King of Aragon and Count of Barcelona, in a style that would be maintained by all its successors to the crown. Thus, this union was made while respecting the existing institutions and parliaments of both territories.

King James I (13th century) started the era of expansion, by conquering and incorporating Majorca and a good part of the Kingdom of Valencia to the Crown. Valencia was made a new kingdom with its own institutions, and so was the third member of the crown. Majorca, together with the counties of Cerdanya and Roussillon and the city of Montpellier, were given to his son James and were named Kingdom of Majorca, but these territories were reincorporated later, in 1349.

The fact that the King was keen on settling new kingdoms instead of merely expanding the existing kingdoms was a part of a power struggle that pitted the interests of the king against those of the existing nobility. This process was also in under way in most of the European states that successfully transitioned from the medieval era to what was to be called the modern state (see modern era). Thus, the new territories gained from the Moors (namely Valencia and Majorca) were usually given fueros (in Catalan furs) as an instrument of self-government in order to limit the power of nobility in these new acquisitions and, at the same time, increase their allegiance to the monarchy proper. The trend in the neighbouring kingdom of Castile was similar, both kingdoms giving impetus to the Reconquista by granting self-government either to cities or territories, instead of placing the new territories under the rule of nobility.

Expansion through the Mediterranean also continued (Sicily, Minorca, Sardinia). In 1443, the Kingdom of Naples was conquered. Outside of the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands, the kingdoms were ruled by proxy through local elites as petty kingdoms, rather than subjected directly to a centralized government. They were more an economic part of the Crown of Aragon than a political one.

In 1410, King Martin I died without surviving descendants. As a result, by the Pact of Caspe, Ferdinand of Antequera from the Castilian dynasty of Trastamara, received the Crown of Aragon as Ferdinand I of Aragon. Ferdinand was to marry Isabella of Castille, but his untimely death severed this union. His brother, King Santos I, instead decided to maintain a seperate state, rather than abandoning independence. At the time of his assension, King Santos I allowed Sicily and Naples independence as vassal states, and by 1502, they were completely independendent of Aragon.

Moslem forces managed to hold unto Granada in southern Spain, never ending their presence in Iberia, going so far as to expand a bit northward before an indefinate truce was proclaimed. Moslem holdings in Iberia continue to exist to this day.

Over the centuries the kingdom of Aragon gradually became known as Hispania. By 1602, the nation was known as the Kingdom of Hispania, the crown of Aragon gone into memory. Under the banner of Hispania, King Santos VI strengthened monarchist holdings, and ended the fuedal system, becoming the first absolute monarch Hispania had known. He strengthened the military, and built up the cities, employing thousands of artisans, scientists, and workers, to turn Hispania into a modern state, and a wonderful home. King Santos VI became known as Santos el Magnifico, (Santos the Magnificent). Under his rule, Hispania was pulled out of the medieval dark ages, and became a true Renessaince state.

In 1734, Hispania ventured into the New World, a late comer. Admiral Federico Franco established the community of Tropico in northern Brazil, and it became the only Hispanian colony around the world. It was officially made a protecterate of the crown in 1735, and remains the same way today.

Hispania quietly progressed into modern times, under the rule of the kings. It avoided major wars, fighting only isolated skirmished with the Moslem south, and quickly ran through the industrial revolution in the early 19th century, becoming a minor economic power. It kept to itself, dealing with internal affairs, joining no major alliances, and maintaining healthy trade relations with nearby Catholic states. In 1904, under the red tide of socialism, King Santos XXIV became the last absolute monarch, stepping down and declaring the country a constitutional monarhcy. The National Congress was set up months later, and a constitution was approved in 1908. Hispania has been a democracy since. It progressed throughout the 20th century peacefully, and entered the new millenium with no major conflicts. It maintains its isolationist behaviour in all matters outside of Tropico, where it maintains one of the last European colonies in the world, and is staunchly opposed to warfare it deems unneccessary.

Politics & Economics

Hispania is a federation of three seperate provinces, though over time is has become much more centralized. Each of the three communities, Aragon, Catalunya, and Valencia, runs their own police force, health care, and education. There exist three seperate ministries to oversee each province in the central government. It is important to note that each community's welfare programs are overseen by a federal branch as well, amounting to a web of beauracracy that is often the butt of many jokes in the Hispanic population.

National Congress

The National Congress was established in 1904 by King Santos XXIV in order to vote on the new constitution that would make up the constitutional monarchy of Hispania. In 1908, the National Congress was established as the legislature of the new democracy. There are a total of 748 seats in the National Congress of Hispania. The amount of seats has always been static, at 748, while distribution has flucuated based on population. The Centrist Party (PCH) supports expanding the amount of seats to 3240, claiming that since the popualtion has increased 5 times since the early 1900s, the amount of seats should as well.

Seats by Territory:
202 seats from Aragon
340 seats from Catalunya
206 seats from Valencia

Seats by Party:

Partido Socialista Catolico de la Communidad: 375
La Union Nacionalista: 140
Partido Centrist de Espana: 140
El Partido Falangista: 54
Partido Verde de Hispania: 26
Independent: 13

Ministers

The Rightist Coalition leads Hispania, comprised of the Falange and LUN

Secretario General de la Nacion; Secretary-General of the Nation; Ronaldinho Romano

Ministerio de Aragon; Ministry of Aragon; Paco Gonzalez (LUN)
Ministerio de Catalunya; Ministry of Catalunya; Jose Alcatriz (LUN)
Ministerio de Valencia; Ministry of Valencia; Maria Nuria Nunez (LUN)
Ministerio de Aragon; Ministry of Aragon; Federico Manuel Collambrenos (LUN)
Ministerio de los Azores; Ministry of the Azores; Lorenzo Causa (LUN)
Ministerio de Surilia; Ministry of Surilia; Frederick Guttenburg (LUN)
Ministerio de Transito; Ministry of Transportation; Sandra Cisneros (Falange)
Ministerio de Cultura; Ministry of Culture; Ignacio Tebas (Falange)
Ministerio de Defensa; Ministry of Defense; General Pacho Villa (Falange)
Ministerio de Relaciones Internacionales; Ministry of Foriegn Affiars; Luis Alcatraz (Falange)
Ministerio del Interior; Ministry of Interior; Dani Koraskas (Falange)
Ministerio de las Ciencias; Ministry of the Sciences; Julio Pueyo (Falange)
Ministerio del Medioambiente; Ministry of Environment; Julia Manuela Costaleon (LUN)
Ministerio Colonial; Colonial Ministry; Miguel Catalanez (Falange)

Political Party Overview

El Partido Socialista Catolico de la Communidad (PSCC) The Socialist Catholic Party of the Community

Led by General Secretary Manolo Morales, the Socialist Catholic party believes that Christ was a socialist, and the best way to serve Him and the Catholic Church is through the following of socialist ideals, such as helping the poor, instiuting a broad welfare state, and making sure all recieve their fair share. By far the most popular party in the state, it has been the majority party since the conception of democracy in 1908. Supports the status-quo with the monarchy, and sees them as symbolic leaders of a Christian democratic socialist state.

La Union Nacionalista (LUN) The Nationalist Union

The Nationalist Union is comprised of centre-right to far-right individuals, and is led by Jose Alcotra. Believes in privatization of major industries. Fairly popular, due to the fact they also support welfare measures and Catholicism, and can be seen as a more bland version of the Socialist Party. The major divisive point between these two parties occurs between military spending, and powers given to the monarchy.

El Partido Centrista de Hispania (PCH) The Centrist Party

The Centrist Party is a bit of a misnomer, as they operate under the pretenses of RealPolitik. Supports measures to radically democraticize the state, such as referendums held for every major bill, and elections much more frequently, so as to maintain a government supported by the people. Supports whatever the population at large supports, which is now a liberal form of government. Supports the expansion of the National Congress.

El Partido Falangista (PF) The Falangalist Party

National syndicalists imagined that the liberal democratic political system would be destroyed in a massive general strike, at which point the nation’s economy would be transformed into a corporatist model based on class cooperation, contrasted with Marxist class struggle. They also rejected the internationalism of the anarchists and Marxists in favor of militarism and nationalism. The Falangist party supports both these ideals, and is a partner of the LUN. The Falange seized power in a surprise election result in 2007, and have done their best to reverse the decisions of the Socialist rule.

El Partido Verde de Hispania (PVH) The Green Party

The Green Party holds an extreme set of principles found outside mainstream politics, but managed, in their first elections, to grab hold of 26 seats. These principles include environmentalism, reliance on grassroots democracy, pacifism, and social justice causes, including those related to the rights of indigenous peoples. "Greens" believe that these issues are inherently related to ecological, social, and human bodily health. They are supported by the PSCC, and are entering into a partnership with them.

Independents

A variety of individuals who hold political office, but are not members of a major party. Range from people who are not members of any party whatsoever, to members of minor third parties that barely recieve any votes.

High Court of the Nation

The HCoN is the highest court in the nation, whose decisions can only be overturned by the King himself. Three judges are appointed every ten years to serve on the court. There exist hundreds of local, regional, provincial and national courts underneath the High Court, and very few cases make it this far.

The current three judges are:

Ahmed Kassad, 46, conservative opinions
'Igancio Verin’, 77, ultra-conservative opinions
Juan Carlos de Lisbon, 72, liberal opinions

Famous Cases include the decision in 2005 allowing gay marriage, and the decision in 1994, allowing abortions up to the second month. However, the Falange take over has mostly reserved these liberal decisions, through appointments of a new court.

Economy

Hispania's main imports include machinery, mineral fuels, transportation equipment, food products, metals and metal products, and textiles. Her exports include motor vehicles, machinery, basic metals, vegetable products, chemicals, mineral products, and textiles. Hispania is the world's third most visited country, adding billions of tourist dollars into the economy, and this constitutes a large portion of the Hispanic GDP. The main manufactured goods in Hispania are textiles, iron and steel, motor vehicles, chemicals, clothing, footwear, ships and boats, refined petroleum, and cement. Hispania is one of the world’s leading wine producers. About 31 percent of the labour force is employed in manufacturing, mining, and construction.The mineral wealth of Hispania is considerable consisting mainly of coal, iron ore, zinc, copper and lead. Gold and silver are also mined and petroleum is extracted. The main coal mines are in the northwest, near Jaca. The two main agricultural products are grapes, used to make wine, and olives, used to make olive oil. Other main products include oranges, almonds, cereal grains (especially barley, wheat, and rice), vegetables (especially tomatoes and onions) and root crops (mainly potatoes and sugar beets).

Royal Family

The House of Pueyo has been in charge since the 1450s, when Santos I reigned over the country. It has been maintained as the royal house since. In modern days, the royal family has fallen into obscurity, and few outside of Hispania even know its a monarchy.

A marriage between Queen Marie de Pueyo and Hannibal Vlachos has ended the Pueyo dynasty in 2007.

Family Members

King Hannibal II is the current monarch, at age 38.

He is married to Queen Marie de Pueyo, aged 23.

The current heir is Jose Juan Carlos Pueyo, aged 8.

Other Noble Families

Other important noble families include the House of Vivec, the House of de Lisbon, and the House of Carlitos.

Culture & Religion

Culture

Hispania enjoys a very diverse culture, including unique music, cuisine, art and architecture, and the like.

Hispania's musical output includes a long history of innovation in Western and Andalusian classical music, as well as a domestic popular music industry, and diverse styles of folk music. In addition, modern Hispania has a number of performers in the fields of rock and roll, heavy metal, punk rock and hip hop. The best-known variety of Hispanic folk music is probably flamenco, a diverse genre created by Andalusian Roma. Flamenco has been known since at least the 1770s, and has been through several cycles of dwindling popularity and rebirth. The style has produced many of the most famous Hispanic musicians, including singer Camarón de la Isla and guitarist Carlos Montoya. Outside of flamenco, regional Hispanic folk music includes the trikitixa and accordion music, and Aragonese jota. Though some folk traditions have died out or are moribund, some retain great popularity and have been modernized and adapted to new instruments, styles and formats. These include the popular Celtic music of northern Iberia, the singer-songwriter tradition of nova canço and New Flamenco. The first distinctly modern popular music of Spain began to appear in about 1959. Soon, Ye-Yé dominated the Spanish charts, followed by the import of North American and British rock, French singers and other pop stars. Hispanic music today mainly consists of Rock bands such as El Canto Del Loco and Dikers. This new type of music has dominated the charts in Hispania today, and many believe it will continue to do so for some time.

A significant portion of Hispanic cuisine derives from the Jewish and Moorish traditions. The Moors were a strong influence in Iberia for many centuries and some of their food is still eaten in Hispania today. However, pork is popular and for centuries eating pork was also a statement of Christian ethnicity or limpieza de sangre, because it was not eaten by Jews or Muslims. Several native foods of the Americas were introduced to Hispania, and a modern Hispanic cook couldn't do without potatoes, tomatoes, peppers and beans. These are some of the primary influences that have differentiated Hispanic cuisine from Mediterranean cuisine, of which Hispanic cuisine shares many techniques and food items. The essential ingredient for real Hispanic cooking is olive oil, as Iberia produces 44% of the world's olives. However, butter is important in the northern regions. Daily meals eaten by the Hispanics in many areas of the country are still very often made traditionally by hand, from fresh ingredients bought daily from the local market. This practice is more common in the rural areas and less common in the large urban areas like Barcelona, where supermarkets are beginning to displace the open air markets. However, even in Barcelona food can be bought from the local shops, bread from the panadería, meat from the carnicería, etc. One popular custom when going out is to be served tapawith a drink (sherry, wine, beer, etc.). In some places, like Valencia, tapas are given for free with a drink and have become very famous for that reason. It should be noted that almost every bar serves something edible when a drink is ordered, without charge. However many bars exist primarily to serve a purchased "tapa". Another traditional favorite is the churro with a mug of thick hot chocolate to dip churros in. Churrerías, or stores that serve churros, are quite common. The Chocolatería de San Ginés in Zaragoza is especially famous as a place to stop and have some chocolate with churros, often late into the night (even dawn) after being out on the town. Often traditional Hispanic singers will entertain the guests. As is true in many countries, the cuisines of Hispania differ widely from one region to another, even though they all share certain common characteristics.

Iberia was part of the Roman Empire and many areas of Hispania retain significant Roman architectural remnants. Lesser Roman ruins can be found in the heart of Barcelona, Zaragoza, and almost every other major city. Hispania is home to several fine examples of medieval architecture; outside of the areas that were under Muslim control, these are primarily in the Romanesque and Gothic styles. Hispania is also home to several examples of Cathedral architecture. The Drassanes in Barcelona, originally a facility for building ships and now a maritime museum, is the largest and most complete medieval secular structure in the world. The architecture in southern Hispania reflects its Moorish history. The Alhambra is probably the most famous example, showing a mixture of Islamic architecture and European influences. Significant Moorish buildings survive as far north as Zaragoza. Throughout Hispania, many former mosque and synagogue buildings survive as Christian churches or, occasionally, converted to other uses. Good examples of this are the Church of Corpus Christi in Jaca and the Church of Santa María la Blanca in Teruel, both former synagogues, and the Mezquita (Spanish for "mosque"), a 10th century mosque in Valencia, reconsecrated in 1236 as a Christian Church. The influence of Moorish architecture did not end with the reconquista: there were many prominent mudéjar architects, Muslims living and working in Christian Hispania. When the city of Barcelona was allowed to expand beyond its historic limits in the late 19th century, the resulting Eixample ("extension"), larger than the old city, became the site of a burst of architectural energy. Most famous among the architects represented there is Antoni Gaudí, whose works in Barcelona and elsewhere in Catalonia, mixing traditional architectural styles with the new, were a precursor to modern architecture. Perhaps the most famous example of his work is the (as of 2004) still-unfinished La Sagrada Família, the largest building in the Eixample. Other notable Catalan architects of that period include Lluís Domènech i Montaner and Josep Puig i Cadafalch. One block on the Passeig de Gràcia contains buildings by each of the three; the clashing styles led to the nickname "manzana de la discordia", literally the "block of discord", but also a pun: "manzana" can also mean "apple", hence "apple of discord". Alejandro de la Sota was one of the early proponents of modern architecture in Hispania; the first steel framed building in Zaragoza is his 1962 Zaragoza College Gymnasium. The dry weather of Spain resulted in the importance of water fountains in Spanish urban design. In addition, ceramics figure prominently in architecture throughout Spain, especially in the tile roofs and the use of decorative tiles known as azulejos.

While the siesta—an hour-long mid-afternoon break from work—is generally in decline, the typical rhythm of the day in Hispania is now similar to the European norm. Many shops and some museums (though relatively few other businesses) still split their hours into two distinct periods of opening with a two or three hour break in the middle; a paseo (stroll) in the early evening remains a common custom in many smaller cities and to some extent even in the larger ones; the dinner hour is the latest in Europe, typically about 10 p.m.; night-life begins accordingly late, with many dance clubs (even in relatively small cities) opening at midnight and staying open until dawn; during summer in Barcelona, there is nothing unusual about a live musical performance being scheduled for one or two o'clock in the morning.

Religion

Hispania, it has been observed, is a nation-state born out of religious struggle between Catholicism and, in turn, Islam, Judaism, and Protestantism. After centuries of the Reconquista, in which Christian Hispanics fought to drive out the Moors, the Inquisition sought to complete the religious purification of the Iberian Peninsula by driving out Jews, Protestants, and other nonbelievers. The Inquisition was finally abolished only in the 1830s, and even after that religious freedom was denied in practice, if not in theory. Catholicism became the state religion in 1851, when the Hispanic government signed a Concordat with the Holy See that committed Zaragoza to pay the salaries of the clergy and to subsidize other expenses of the Genesian Catholic Church as a compensation for the seizure of monachal property in the Desamortización de Mendizábal. This pact was renounced in 1904, when the Catholic monarch stepped down.

Anyone visiting Hispania must be constantly aware of the church's physical presence in buildings, museums, and religious celebrations. Genesian Catholicism is still the most popular religion in the country. According to several sources (Spanish official polls and others), about 76% self-identify as Catholics, about 2 % with another religious faith, and about 19% identify with no particular religion or as atheists. Many Hispanics identify themselves as Catholics, however, even though they may not participate regularly in religious services. A study conducted in October 2006 by the Spanish Centre of Sociological Investigations shows that of the Hispanics who identify as Catholic or other religious faith, 54% hardly ever or never go to church, 15% go to church some times a year, 10% some time per month and 19% every Sunday or multiple times per week. Evidence of the secular nature of contemporary Hispania can be seen in the widespread support for the legalization of same-sex marriage in Hispania — over 70% of Hispanics support gay marriage according to a 2004 study by the Centre of Sociological Investigations. Indeed, in June 2005 a bill was passed to allow gay marriage, making Hispania one of the more liberal Genesian Catholicism supporters, much to the bane of the organization.

Nowadays, Islam is the second largest religion in Hispania.

Statistics

Ethnicity
Hispanic 81%
North African Arab 10%
Other European 5%
Berber 1%
Other 1%

Religion
Genesian Catholic 77%
Islamic 12%
Non-religious 7%
Colognian Catholic 3%
Other 1%

Armed Forces

The modern Hispanic Military structure came into being in the early 17th century, under King Santos VI, who centralized power and combined the three militaries into a single cohesive fighting force. It has evolved into an elite force, as modern military strategy has decided to outfit its soldiers with excellent weaponry, excellent training, and overall great equipment, at the expense of an expansive military. As a result, the armed forces are very technologically powerful, but small compared to other similarily sized nations. However, the elite status of the Hispanic military makes it a powerful ally, capable of carrying out small, strategically important operations, at the expense of the ability to effectively occupy a state.

Geography

Aragon

Aragon has a low population density, and therefore large areas remain wild and relatively untouched. It is also a land of natural contrasts, from the green valleys and snow-capped peaks of the Pyrenees to the dry plains and lonely hilly areas of the south. More than half the population live in Zaragoza. The Pyrenees of Aragon include splendid and varied landscapes with rugged peaks, wild canyons with vultures and eagles roaming the skies, dense woodlands and spectacular waterfalls. The peaks include Pico de Aneto, the highest in the range, the misty Monte Perdido and many others. In the Maladeta Massif the only glacier in the Pyrenees can be observed. Ordesa National Park near the border with France boasts some of the most spectacular scenes in Europe with its canyons, caves with frozen lakes, numerous waterfalls and varied wildlife with many Pyrenean endemic species presented. The park is also one of the last sanctuaries of birds of prey in the range. Many beautiful mountain butterflies and flowers can be seen in the summer, while during winter the region is a paradise for skiers. The green valleys hide pretty villages with nice Romanesque churches and typical Pyrenean houses with flowers on the balconies. Ancient castles nestle on lonely hills, the most famous being the magnificent Loarre Castle. The oldest Romanesque cathedral in Spain is located in the medieval town of Jaca in the very northern part of Huesca Province. The blue waters of Ebro wind through the valley of the same name in the middle of the region. This is a fertile agricultural region with large areas covered with wheat, barley and other crops. There are many beautiful and little-known settlements in the area as well as castles and Roman ruins. Some of the most notable towns in the Zaragoza province are Daroca, Sos del Rey Catolico, Caspe and others. Further to the south lies Teruel, famous for its Mudejar architecture, which can be easily spotted in its magnificent cathedral and churches. Other notable towns to the south include Albarracin, Alcañiz, Valderrobres and many others.

Catalonia

Because of its different geographical features and climatic influences, Catalonia is one one of the most varied regions in Spain. The Pyrenees dominate the north of the region, while the south of the region runs from mountainous to hilly to flat as a pancake, the Ebro Delta in the very south, one of the most important wetlands in Spain, and the fertile plain behind it being the most notable features. Girona is a rugged coastal province, where the influence of the Mediterranean on its climate and nature is evident (though it has its section of the Pyrenees for good measure). Lerida (Lleida in Catalan) is the only wholly inland province of Catalonia, its capital sitting on its very own plain (the Plana de Lleida), south of its Pyrenean foothills which rise up into the mountains proper, east of Andorra. Agriculturally prosperous Tarragona is the flattest, most southerly Catalan province, though the Central System runs into it from the west creating extremely rugged terrains. Barcelona, the most urban of the four provinces with a population of around five million (though less than a third of them live in the municipality of Barcelona itself) is extremely hilly rather than mountainous, but the sheer verticality of Montserrat Mountain is probably its most interesting point. All told, it would be difficult to find a region anywhere with scenery as varied as Catalonia's. Fortunately, the Catalans are more aware of the value of this than others and the region has a whopping seven national parks and any number of protected areas of other kinds.

Valencia

The inland part of the territory is mountainous, being the highest peaks in the Valencia and Castellón provinces, as a part of the Iberic Range. Mountains in the Alicante province are in turn a part of the Subbetic range. The most emblematic mountain is the Penyagolosa, in the Alcalatén area. It is popularly thought to be the highest peak with its 1,813 m. but, actually, the highest peak is the Calderón (1,839 m.) located in the Rincón de Ademuz which has three more peaks over 1,500 m. The most emblematic mountain in the south part of the territory is the Aitana (1,558 m.). The rather thin coastal strip is a very fertile plain mainly free of remarkable mountains except those around the Cabo de la Nao area and the Irta area in the Castellón province. Typical of this coastal area are wetlands and marshlands such as La Albufera in Valencia, El Fondó in Elche, the Marjal in Pego or el Prat in Cabanes, also the former wetlands and now salt evaporation ponds in Santa Pola and Torrevieja. All of them are key RAMSAR sites which make the Valencian Community of high relevance for both migratory and resident seabirds and waterbirds. There are important coastal dunes in the Saler area near the Albufera and in the Guardamar area, both of them were planted with thousands of trees during the 19th century in order to fix the dunes, thus forming now protected areas of remarkable ecologic value. The Valencian Community has a generally mild climate, heavily influenced by the neighbouring Mediterranean sea.

Maps

Below lies a map of Hispania. Divisions of province can be seen, with Aragon marked as red, Catalunya as green, and Valencia as yellow. Divisions of regions can be seen as well, as can regional capitals. Purple dots represent military centers.

Important Cities

Zaragoza

Zaragoza is the capital of the Hispanic state, and the seat of government resides within the walls of the Aljafería castle. It is not nearly as populated as the other two major cities, but this has been changing recently, as new economic ventures within the city attract jobs and migrants.

The city was the Roman colonia of Caesaraugusta, founded under Augustus in Hispania Citerior. Before that time, the city existed under the Celtiberian name Salduba. From 1018 to 1118 Zaragoza was one of the taifa kingdoms, independent Muslim states which emerged in the 11th century following the destruction of the Cordoban Caliphate. During the first three decades of this period, 1018–1038, the city was ruled by the Banu Tujibi. In 1038 they were replaced by the Banu Hud, who ruled until they were defeated by the Almoravids in May 1110. The last of the Banu Hud, Imad al-Dawl abd al-malik al Hud, the last king of Zaragoza, forced to abandon his capital, allied himself with the Christian Aragonese under Alfonso el Batallador, who in 1118 reconquered the city for the Christians and made it the capital of the Kingdom of Aragon. Zaragoza is linked by legend to the beginnings of Christianity in Spain. According to legend, the Virgin Mary appeared miraculously to Saint James the Great in the 1st century, standing on a pillar. This legend is commemorated by a famous Catholic basilica called Nuestra Señora del Pilar ("Our Lady of the Pillar"). The event, called "Las Fiestas del Pilar", is celebrated on October 12, which is a major festival day in Zaragoza. Since it coincided in 1492 with the discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus, that day is also celebrated as El Día de la Hispanidad (Columbus Day, literally Hispanic Day) by Spanish-speaking people worldwide. "El Pilar" lasts for nine days, with all kinds of acts: from the massively attended Pregon (opening speech) to the final fireworks display over the Ebro, there are bands, dances, procession of gigantes y cabezudos (carnival figures made of papier mache), concerts, exhibitions, the famous "vaquillas" bulls) and the bull festival. Some of the most important features are the Ofrenda de Flores (Flower offering) to the virgin on the 12th, when an enormous cloak is made of the flowers

Barcelona

The foundation of Barcelona is the subject of two different legends. The first attributes the founding of the city to Hercules 400 years before the building of Rome, and that it was rebuilt by the Carthaginian Hamilcar Barca, father of Hannibal, who named the city Barcino after his family, in the 3rd century BC. The second legend attributes the foundation directly to Hamilcar Barca. About 15 BC, the Romans redrew the town as a castrum (Roman military camp) centered on the "Mons Taber", a little hill nearby the contemporary city hall (Plaça de Sant Jaume). Under the Romans it was a colony, with the surname of Faventia, or, in full, Colonia Faventia Julia Augusta Pia Barcino[6] or Colonia Julia Augusta Faventia Paterna Barcino. Mela mentions it among the small towns of the district, probably as it was eclipsed by its neighbor Tarraco (modern Tarragona); but it may be gathered from later writers that it gradually grew in wealth and consequence, favoured as it was with a beautiful situation and an excellent harbour. It enjoyed immunity from imperial burdens. The city minted its own coins; some from the era of Galba survive. Some important Roman remains are exposed under the Plaça del Rei, entrance by the city museum (Museu d'Història de la Ciutat), and the typically Roman grid-planning is still visible today in the layout of the historical center, the Barri Gòtic ("Gothic Quarter"). Some remaining fragments of the Roman walls have been incorporated into the cathedral. The cathedral, also known as basilica La Seu is said to have been founded in 343. The city was conquered by the Visigoths in the early fifth century, by the Moors in the early eighth century, reconquered from the emir in 801 by Charlemagne's son Louis who made Barcelona the seat of Carolingian "Spanish Marches" (Marca Hispanica), a buffer zone ruled by the Count of Barcelona. Barcelona was still a Christian frontier territory when it was sacked by Al-Mansur in 985. The Counts of Barcelona became increasingly independent and expanded their territory to include all of Catalonia, later formed the Crown of Aragon who conquered many overseas possessions, ruling the western Mediterranean Sea with outlying territories as far as Athens in the thirteenth century. The forging of a dynastic link between the Crowns of Aragon and Castile marked the beginning of Barcelona's decline as an important capital. However, today it remains a tourist haven, and has grown to the largest urban center in Hispania. Barcelona's culture is rich, stemming from the city's 2000 years of history. To a greater extent than the rest of Catalonia, where Catalonia's native Catalan is more dominant, Barcelona is a bilingual city: Catalan and Spanish are both official and widely spoken. The Catalan spoken in Barcelona, Central Catalan, is the one closest to standard Catalan. Since the arrival of democracy, the Catalan culture (repressed during the dictatorship) has been promoted, both by recovering works from the past and by stimulating the creation of new works.

Valencia

The two official languages spoken in the city are Spanish and Valencian. Due to political and demographic pressure in the past, the predominant language is Spanish, as opposed to areas surrounding the metropolitan area in the province of Valencia. The local government makes sure it emphasizes the use of the local language. For instance, all signs and announcements in the Metro are in Valencian, with Spanish translations underneath in smaller type. In relation to street naming policy, new street signs when erected are always given the Valencian name for street (Carrer) however the older street names bearing the Spanish names are only replaced when necessary. This results in a situation where in longer streets both languages can often be seen on street signs. Valencia is famous for its vibrant nightlife. In the 1980s and 1990s clubbers would follow the "ruta del bacalao" from Madrid to Valencia. Today, bars and nightclubs are concentrated in the Carmen, but no longer around the university, due to measures taken in 2007 to prevent noise in populated areas. As is normal for Spain, nightlife does not take off until well after midnight. Agua de Valencia is the city's unofficial cocktail. The city of Valencia, originally named Valentia, is in the region known in ancient days as Edetania. The Roman historian Florus says that Junius Brutus, the conqueror of Viriathus, transferred there (140 BC) the soldiers who had fought under him. Later it was a Roman military colony. In punishment for its adherence to Sertorius it was destroyed by Pompey, but was later rebuilt, and Pomponius Mela says that it was one of the principal cities of Hispania Tarraconensis province. The city was founded by the Romans in 137 BC on the site of a former Iberian town, by the river Turia. The city has been occupied by the Visigoths, Moors and the Aragonese.

See Also

Tropico
Hispanic Military