Parthia

Parthia

Flag of Parthia
Motto: Eat the Poor
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Region	Imperial Armies
Capital	Persepolis
Official Language(s)	Persian
Leader	Shah Khosru III
Population	~4.5 Billion
Currency	Parthi
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Background

The Shahdom of Parthia has, since its entry onto the global stage, been a major power player from one part of the world to another. Parthia prides itself on a proud tradition of empires, and over 2500 years of monarchial rule. This pride, combined with actual reality of the extreme lassez-faire economics which benefit the economy, allows for a healthy nation with a powerful military. Imperialistic grabs are quite common, and virtually the entire Achaemenid empire has been recently added by the Shah in the past years in lightning campaigns which seized vast amouns of natural resources and strategic areas. With an empire stretching from Greece to the Indus, Parthia is poised to strike into both India and Europe.

History

In 224, Ardeshir, minor king of the Arsacid client kingdom of Persis led a revolt which utterly destroyed the Arsacid dynasty and allowed for the house of Sassani to take control of all Persia. For years, the Romans and Persians fought wars with each other, and many victories were scored by both sides. Shapur I captured the Roman Emperor Valerian in 260 and made him his slave while later, Khosru I Anoushirvan sacked the city of Antioch and carried the inhabitants off into slavery. From 602-624 the Byzantines and Persians fought a war where after intial victories by Persian armies, including the capture of Jerusalem, the Romans gained the upper hand and defeated the Persian Empire. Khosru II, the Shah who led the offensives, was murdered and the kingdom fell into anarchy. Much of Syria and Mesopotamia broke off into seprate kingdoms, and by the time Yezdegird III could restore order in 637, the Arabs were rapidly invading. Yazdegird ordered Ctesiphon, the old capital, to be evacuated and for all Persians to flee into the Zagros mountains. There, the Persians halted the Arab invasion by a clever ambush and sent their armies fleeing. For the next 200 years, the Persians maintained a peace, until invasions by Turks in the year 799 managed to kill Shah Balash II and gave them the ability to seize the Indus valley and much of Bactria. Under the guidance of Islamic agents, they were converted en masse and were set upon the Persian empire. Though they were defeated, the damage was severe. Persia had lost nearly all territories outside of modern Iran. Mongol invasions in the 1200s nearly destroyed the House of Sassani, but members of the royal family fled into the mountains of Mazandaran on the Caspian, where they hid until they could reestablish their authority. In the late 1300s, the fragmentation of Iran into over one hundred petty kingdoms, including one ruled by the Sassanis in Mazandaran and invasion of Tamerlane destroyed Iran utterly. and when Piruz Sassani reunited Iran and destroyed the sucessor to Tamerlane's fragmenting empire, he found a nation in ruins. Persia slowly fell from the heights acheived, although westernizing military reforms by Shah Shapur VIII in 1657 allowed for success against the Ottomans, however, wars against them usually ended as stalemates and bloody slaughters on both sides. In 1720, the Parthians and Ottoman Empire agreed to an alliance which ended over two centuries of slaughter, and lasts until this day. The sack of Delhi by Kavad VII in 1747 was the highwater mark of early modern Parthia, by 1760 corruption was rampant, and the cracks in the feudalistic systems permeating the nation since the time of the first rulers were expanding. Throught the 1800s, Russia and Britain plundered Iran, with the weak Kavad VIII losing control of Azerbaijan to Russia and selling off many commercial privleges to the British. In 1882, the last Shah of the old era, Ardeshir X, died and with him, so did the medieval systems. His energetic heir, Rostam II, began the next phase in Parthian history by abolishing the commercial priveleges sold to foreign companies and creating a new plan for the economy. Now, state aid was to be furnished on native manufacturing companies turning a profit in Parthia. Several new factories opened up in Persepolis and Tehran while the Shah planned his next move, that of reforming the backward feudal system. In 1891, the Shah declared serfdom to be abolished. In addition, estates considered too large were ordered to be paid to the owner and broken up so that the old owners could reinvest into the economy. When the Shah died unexpectedly in 1905, people genuinley mourned him. Over the next hundred years, Parthia continued to grow. With the army reforms of Shah Ardeshir XI after World War II and the successful test of nuclear weapons in 1964, the Parthians paved the way for the current reign of Shah Khosru, hegemon of the Middle East.

Government and Politics

Parthia is an absolute monarchy, with the Shah controlling all things and everything he wants. People often advise him, and with weak rulers, factions play each other off regularly. Corporations also hold some sway. The government on average, is libertarian socially, but extremely intolerant of politically dissent, which is mostly nonexistent thanks to significant brainwashing and a rather large personality cult that the Shah encourages.

Defense is the main priority of Parthian spending, with over 45% of the budget going to it. No social entitlement programs exist whatsoever. Taxes vary considerably, but a 0% income tax is usually the norm, but other taxes, such as the Shooban tax on Shooban owners helps ensure a healthy budget.

Economy

The economy of Parthia is absolutley massive and very powerful. Buisnesses of all sizes exist in the Shahdom, and the population of wealthy entrepreneurs is large. Corporations are virtually unrestricted, and many happily support the Shahs who are happy to support them with providing them in a profit friendly extremley capitalist surrounding in which to do buisness. Minimum wage is nonexistent, and neither are requirements for job benefits. Noble familes often own large companies on the side, The Sardarizadehs, Teymorians, Baharis, and even the royal family are large corporate owners. Slave labour is very common, and benefits Parthia's economy considerably

Religion

The official religion of Parthia is Zoroastrianism and has been since 224. 65% of Parthia is Zoroastrian. Following them, are the Mithraists, who make up 5% of the population, the Armenian Orthodox, 3%, and the Atheists and Agnostics, 2.4%. The remainder are usually Islamic. The government sponsors the Zoroastrian faith of Parthia almost constantly, and have even managed to convince most buisnesses to do the same. With a nation united in faith which discourages proseletyzing and is still battling over conversion, missionaries in Parthia have been occasionally attacked by militants, but otherwise, nearly all faiths are tolerated.

Justice and Law

In an otherwise socially libertarian country which permits such things as prostitution and soft drugs, Parthian justice and law is extraordinarily harsh. By 'democratic' standards, it is referenced as: "Something from the Middle Ages." It is not inaccurate, but is seen as justified by the people for maintaining order and supressing crime.

Parthian death sentences are ranked in order of precedence from 'most forceful' to 'least forceful'

• 1. Scaphism
• 2. Impaling
• 3. Burning or roasting
• 4. Other Deaths not falling into aforemented categories (such as mauling by animals)
• 5. Hanging by crane
• 6. Beheading
• 7. Long drop hanging
• 8. Firing squad

Scaphism is by far considered the most forceful punishment that can be given, it has not been applied in Parthia since the 16th century, though it was used in Roach Busters on General Eastmoreland by Parthian forces when he was captured.

Below are some punishments for selected offenses:

• Treason (Or attacking Royal Family): minimum- Death by crane hanging, maximum- death by scaphism
• First-degree murder: minimum- death by firing squad, maximum- death by impaling
• Manslaughter: Not a criminal charge, civil suits can be filed however.
• Tax Evasion: minimum- 1 year imprisonment and 10 lashes, maximum- 350 lashes and 25 years hard labour
• Mugging using a weapon: minimum- 150 lashes, hard labour for life. maximum- death by beheading
• Shoplifting over $1000 in goods: 25 lashes, Death by hanging
• Breaking and Entering: If Residential- Death by hanging, All else- hard labour for life
• Pickpocketing: Amputation of left hand, repeat offenders are impaled.
• Possessing, transporting, selling, or advocating media considered Leftist: Execution, method chosen at discretion of court
• Insulting Royal Family: No law on the books, though people who do are almost always fatally attacked by citizens carrying concealed weapons, who are never charged for doing so.
• Advocating Democracy: Execution by method chosen by court
• Vandalizing Private Property: 25 lashes and required restitution to the vandalized property owner
• Assault: Death by hanging
• Rape: Death by beheading
• Leading a Strike: Death by hanging
• Participating in a Strike: 25 Lashes with 35 years hard labor or Life enslavement to the group they were striking against, depending on the decision of the corporation they were employed to.
• Rioting: Death by roasting
• Insulting a Parthian Ally: 10 Lashes and 10 years imprisonment
• Insulting Roach-Busters or Imperator J.L.: Death by hanging
• Wearing a Che Guevara T-Shirt: Special Death- Arms and Legs are removed and the person is left to die

In addition, victims can file for a civil suit, winning sometimes, the people who harmed them as slaves if they cannot make restitution.

Culture

Parthia today is an interesting mixture of Iranian and western influences. Kabob houses sit next to Coca Cola vending carts while many cities have a sort of Times Square advertising zone of Western and Parthian products in Western style with Persian text. Ethnic food of foreign nations is increasingly popular, and many different restauraunts are popping up in the urban zones. Traditionally, Parthians eat hearty fare of good meals utilizing flavored rice and meats or stews known as koresh. Kebabs, marinated meat cooked over a grill, are extremley popular in Parthia. People usually dress in a western style, with the wealthy favoring Italian designer brands. Pop music is increasingly common, with native pop incorporating music of western style with native insturments and Persian lyrics. Traditional Persian classical performances however, are generally more well liked. Similarly, the classical Persian tradition of poetry recitation lives on in special poetry halls, while these often double to show Western plays. One extraordinarily popular tradition in Parthia is that of a tea house, where Persian tea is served with some halva or other sweets and if a client so desires, a waterpipe called a qalyoun can be smoked with flavorful tobaccos. Such concepts are spreading to other nations where Parthians migrate, and are considered by Westerners to be trendy and entertaining, especially when live Persian music is performed.