Archive:Holy Xhovian Empire

From CWS Planet
Revision as of 10:18, 13 February 2019 by MrMarly (talk | contribs) (More History yum yum yum)
Jump to navigation Jump to search
The Most Holy and Sovereign Xhovian Empire of Alcia
Зъоӆакэ Ҳхсэцхэкх Зъоӆоҭго
Zjоľake Xhsechekh Zjоľoťgo
The Imperial Flag.
Flag
Official languages
Recognised national languages
  • Azovian
  • Alsimmi
  • Settian
  • Niofean
  • Jugian
  • Oszetet
Ethnic groups (2015) 96% Xhovian
2% Neviran
2% "Other"
Demonym Xhovian/Imperial
Government Federal parliamentary semi-constitutional monarchy
 -  Emperor Matja I Arsil
 -  President (Senate) Suči Raisani
 -  Lord Chancellor (Diet) Xali Icghaf
Legislature Imperial Parliament
 -  Upper house Noble Diet
 -  Lower house Senate
Independent Nation-State
 -  Official formation 1134 
 -  Decree of Unity (Yhael) 1387 
 -  Northern expeditions 1652 
 -  Pacification of the Xong 1659 
 -  Submission of the East 1702 
 -  Szezk acquisition 1821 
 -  The Retribution 1839 
 -  Xhovian Civil War 1856 
 -  Talisian reforms 1868 
Drives on the left
Internet TLD .hx

The Holy Xhovian Empire (Xhorial: Зъоӆакэ Ҳхсэцхэкх Зъоӆоҭго, tr. Zjоľake Xhsechekh Zjоľoťgo [IPA]), officially the Most Holy and Sovereign Xhovian Empire of Alcia, is a country located in South Baredina. Stretching from the Gulf of Ishenar to the Saru Sea, the Empire borders Norjihan, Nevira, Settia, Ittohar and Xhodiar. The result of medieval conquests and diplomacy, the Empire has retained an archaic form of government, still prominently featuring nobility, royalty, and a highly decentralised administrative structure. Reforms since the 19th century have gradually introduced elements of democracy.

Throughout history, the empire's size, wealth, and military history has made it a regional and at times global power. In the 20th century, its participation in the Great Ekuosian War against Norjihan led to it being a founding member of the International Congress.

Etymology

The name Holy Xhovian Empire (Зъоӆакэ Ҳхсэцхэкх Зъоӆоҭго) was bestowed in 1387 upon the empire by the Hykiri of Xhodiar after the union with Yhael, as a form of official church endorsement.

History

Pre-Imperial Period

Main Article: Pre Imperial Alcia

Prior to the formation of the empire, in 1134, Alcia was heavily divided, amongst many disparate feudal nobles. In the North, the Lhivralan Sky Kings still reigned, effectively bottlenecking movement northwards. The old Xhorial Empire was one of the dominant cultural forces in the region, by merit of its transmitting the Xhiuist faith throughout Alcia. Amidst the fractured duchies, principalities and other regions, a few powers became notable, those being: Yhael, Szezkia, Kelor and Yaixong. Though constantly marred by feudal infighting and small wars, those four exerted their influence politically, economically and militarily.

Formation

By the early 1130s, the system of (NAME) had been established, where, via social and familial ties, as well as "gifts" and ceremony, lesser duchies would guarantee both protection by, Kelor, while maintaining autonomy and nominal independence. This close-tied alliance network only served to strengthen Kelor in relation to the other powers, and in the summer of 1134 (traditionally remembered as on the solstice, the date that has become the holiday, Day of Unity), then King of Kelor, and First Holy Xhovian Emperor, Jalén I Xhélà gathered the nobles of all those lesser duchies surrounding it (that currently mostly fall into the regions of Greater Kelor and The South, to sign the Imperial Covenant, the treaty that officially formed the Empire as one entity. By the end of the year, Emperor Jalén achieved official recognition from the Hykiri of Xhodiar, under the name of The Imperial Covenance of Kelor.

Early Years

Initially, the formation of the empire served to worry the other great powers of Alcia, most notably Yhael, who now had no buffer between itself and the nascent empire. However, interior matters rocked Emperor Jalén with countless troubles. Throughout his reign, the foundations of many Imperial institutions were laid, mostly through revisions to the Covenant. Such revisions created the first Noble Diet, originally a small council of the heads of all regions, including Jalén's oath-brother Kabril, serving as representative for Kelor itself. It also saw to the unification of the disparate armies, at least in name, as in 1154, Jalén began the establishment of the Golden Road, where by sending large military escorts (with royal payment, and promise of nobility to the leaders upon their return), with merchants and traders, the Lhivralan bottleneck could be effectively bypassed. The process was still lengthy and dangerous, but trade with Ekuosia now became possible. The motivation for this move came from the Szezks. They had been growing into a strong trade and economic power, and since the formation of the empire, they had been doing all they could to limit Imperial influence, wealth and power, keen to maintain their own.

With the death of Jalén in 1163, the Covenance faced a crisis. Jalén had no direct heir, and had not nominated his brother as such. This led to the Diet meeting, to discuss how to proceed. Here, we see the birth of the Imperial election system, as the agreement that was reached, was to revise the Covenant. This revision rendered the office of Emperor uninheritable, instead to be decided by collective vote of the Noble Diet. Intriguingly, for reasons unapparent, Kabril, Jalén's brother, declined the opportunity to run for Emperor in the first Imperial election, Instead, the second Emperor was Satro III Zolakka, the then Duke of Zyolta, a southern duchy.

Emperor Satro's reign was characterised by greater hostility towards the other great powers, especially Yhael, culminating in the War of Brothers in 1185. Whilst the Covenance won the war, and did gain three new members, Satro died shortly after, from wounds incurred in battle. After the war had nearly drained Covenantal coffers, the Nobles met, both to officially initiate the new members to the Diet, but also to elect the new Emperor. Here, Baril IV Xhélà, Grandson of Kabril, and thereby able to claim descent from Jalén, was elected into the office. Moreover, another revision to the Covenant occurred, ensuring that prior to any large scale military action (i.e. declarations of war), the Noble Diet had to be consulted by the crown.

Union With Yhael

By the late 1300s, the Covenance had become a true major power in Alcia in its own right, and had expanded to the point of a border with Norjihan, then the Mahirazan Empire, at its peak. This, as one might anticipate, led to frequent small scale conflicts between the two, neither really wanting to commit economically to an all-out war, and the Mahirazan Empire having more concerns with the Szezks.

Now having a mutual enemy threatening them both, the previously on-off rivalry between the Kingdom of Yhael and the Covenance turned into a blossoming alliance, under the leadership of Emperor Azril "The Unifier" I Azrili, and King Ghabro III of Yhael, who were related via their maternal grandmother, Saljine M'Xhinia. Trade between the two blossomed, and cultural transmission followed suit, the more puritanical Yhaellan culture slowly taking on the ceremonies and festivals of the central Alcian region, incorporating it into their more orthodox Xhiuism.

In 1383, the rulers sent Imperial and Yhaellan swords, armour and mercenaries to Lhivrala, to aid the resistance by the Lhivralan tribesmen, specifically sending "100 of the finest longswords" to Lhatvol, father of Garev, the man who would later expel the Baredans from Lhivrala.

In late 1386, Azril and Ghabro led an army together against a Mahirazan raiding party, famously capturing the force in a pincer manoeuvre, as captured in the painting "Brothers in Blood" by Saixhi. This act spurred the Mahirazan Emperor to declare war on the Empire. Yhael aided in fighting against them, in a war that lasted less than a year. Xhovian forces initially went on the offensive, but were repulsed. However, upon mounting a border defence, they proved successful in halting the Mahirazan army. A peace was achieved after the battle of Ghafga, where Mahirazan forces were fully encircled by a larger Yhaeelo-Imperial army.

In 1387, after the war had ended, the friendship between Yhael and the empire was high, and Emperor Azril put to the diet the idea of requesting Yhael to join the Covenance. Yhaellan sources give the impression that Azril and Ghabro had come to agree on a primitive version of the decree of unity before Azril even mentioned the idea to the Diet. After a month of debate amongst the nobles, a draft version of the Decree of Unity was handed to the Emperor, to send to Yhael. It stipulated:

  • Yhael was not to have excessive overrepresentation in the Diet
  • It would be retained as one entity, not split up, to again prevent overrepresentation
  • The Yhaellan King was not to join the Diet, and instead must send representative nobles.

Azril sent it back to the Diet, with the compromise of 5 seats in the Diet, and the heightened independence, which they accepted. King Ghabro signed on within a week, and thus, the Empire was truly born. After an appeal to the Hykiri to recognise the union, she redubbed the Covenance as its current name. The Holy Xhovian Empire.

The Child Emperor

Northern Expeditions

Pacification of the Xong

Submission of The East

The 4th Szezko-Norjihani War

The Szezk Acquisition

Emperor Yuszil I Seczki-Lahnstruzich

The Retribution

The Xhovian Civil War

Talis Iesin

Colonial History

Great Ekuosian War

Neutrality

Unprovoked Attack

The Impenetrable Wall

The Gulf War

Ishenar Burns

The Eastern Uprising

Battle of Niofe

The Return of the Marquis

V.E. Day

V.A. Day

Geography

Geology

Climate

Biodiversity

Politics

Government

Administrative divisions

The Imperial system of Administrative Subdivision is one of the most archaic and confusing to follow for outsiders. In effect, there are 7 types of division, each with different degrees of autonomy, rights, privileges and restrictions. The divisions are as thus:

Kingdom

Kingdoms are the largest, and most independent of the Imperial territories. Currently, there are only three territories granted this title: Kelor, Szezkia and Yhael. The Kingdoms have more representation in both the Senate and Diet than other types of division (Each being entitled to 5 seats in the Noble Diet, and 5 in the Senate). They are permitted the greatest degree of legal freedom as well. Whilst like all other subdivisions, Imperial Law takes supremacy, the Kingdoms are allowed to legislate independently on all matters except for foreign affairs. This thereby makes them quite a different landscape from the rest of the Empire. (Notably the Yhaellan faith laws, as an example of extra laws, or the Szezk birth registry). Whilst not required by law, the noble leaders in Kingdoms all style themselves as King, as the name may imply.

Principality

The five Principalities making up the region of Lhivrala are granted special status in terms of administration. In terms of representation, they get 3 in the Diet and 3 in the Senate. For their legislation, they are allowed to pass laws similarly to the Kingdoms, but their caveats are foreign affairs, religious affairs and Baredan matters.

Duchy

The most numerous of the divisions, the duchies receive 1 and 1 on the Senate and Diet each, and their governance privileges are some of the most restrictive. They are not allowed to legislate on: Foreign Affairs or Trade, and in practice, they tend to only really vary massively in terms of taxes, military contribution and welfare programs.

Northern Duchy

The Northern Duchies are an oddity, effectively operating under the normal duchy rules for legal freedoms, but also being forbidden from Religious or Baredan matters. However, they are much larger than the duchies, and since the Talisian Reforms, they have been allowed 2 and 2 on the Diet and Senate respectively.

Eastern Marches

All of the lands acquired in the Submission of the East were given this title. They, despite being very large territories, are only allowed 2 and 2, in Diet and Senate. Legally, they operate with relative freedom. Forbidden from foreign affairs and international trade legislation independently, but, they are unique in two regards. One, they are subject to a much lower rate of contribution to the Imperial Armed Forces, and two, their law enforcement agencies have absolute supremacy in their land. Without Imperial Warrant, even the UIPF cannot overrule them. These rules stem from when they were acquired, and subjugating the locals was of utmost importance. The noble leaders here style themselves Marquis, and are granted rank in the Imperial Army equivalent to (RANKHERE).

Imperial Republic

A title unique to Niofe, but theoretically grantable to others, should they desire it. The Imperial Republic is a territory without, or that has abolished, its nobility. This poses some unique difficulties given the Xhovian system, as they cannot have representation in both houses in this case. In exchange for having no nobles and thus no Diet presence, Niofe has been granted 5 senatorial seats, as much as the Kingdoms. In addition it is given a great deal of legal Freedom, only forbidden from International Affairs.

Free Imperial City

The Free Imperial Cities (FICs), are few and far between in the Empire, but have unique function. Theoretically governed directly by the Emperor, the FICs have no direct representation in Senate nor Diet. They are however, completely exempt from massive areas of Imperial Law. They tend to be specialised, and very wealthy. For example, FIC (NAME), is where the Court of Noble Justice, and Supreme Imperial Court are located, and is rendered exempt from all military contribution, as well as paying barely any Imperial Taxation. Conversely, FIC Ossetia, the largest FIC, is where some of the largest Imperial Navy bases are, as well as being a key position for control of the Gulf of Ishenar. It is utterly tax exempt, but is bound by its military contributions.

Foreign relations

Military

Main Article: Imperial Xhovian Army

Militarily, in terms of foreign policy, the Empire's official stance is that of "Consensual Interventionism". That is to say, that they will send the armed forces on duty abroad to intervene in other nations, but only in support of, or at the request of what the Imperial Government believes to be the "Legitimate State".

On the Home Front however, the border with Norjihan is almost always heavily militarised, and in recent years, since the election of Govegz Rona II, the armed presence there has only increased.

Economy

Transport

Energy

Science and technology

Tourism

The empire enjoys a reasonably high rate of tourism, [NUMBERS], apropos of its rich history, number of historical monuments, bustling cities and natural beauty. Some of the more famous tourist attraction centers are Jorzrá, in Niofe, [OTHER TOURISTY PLACES AS I MAKE THEM].

Tourist visas are relatively easy to acquire, only imposing restrictions upon Norjihanis, other Baredans, and unstable nations (those currently in a war, or experiencing great civil unrest).

Demographics

Ethnic groups

Citizenship

Imperial Citizenship is rather unique, insofar as it is of two parts. From birth, by jus soli (with exception of landed noble families owning titles in a region different to the place the child is born) applies for one's local citizenship. An official document, but only recognised within the empire, it ties the individual to their place of birth, and serves the purpose of both rendering them subject to their regional laws of permanence (for example, if a Szezk couple were to go to Arimani (Lhivrala Region) to have a child without government notification prior to the birth, an act illegal in Szezkia, but legal in Arimani, they could still be made to face charges upon returning to Szezkia), but also to be used as a piece considered in proceedings for violations of local law. (Here, if a pregnant Arimani woman went into labour in Szezkia, she likely would not face charges for unlicensed childbirth, as her Arimani citizenship would be considered, and given the effectively victimless nature of the crime, and its legal nature in her home, she would be excused, or let off with a warning if she was a long-term resident of Szezkia). One's local citizenship can be changed, but requirements vary based on location.

Secondly, there is the Imperial Citizenship. This operates by jus sanguinis and jus soli. Any child born to at least one Imperial Citizen is eligible for Imperial Citizenship, and equally, any child born in Imperial territory to non-Imperial parents is eligible. Whilst it is granted from birth, and certificates proving it can be granted, passports are only claimable after one year's residency, as per the law On The Transport and Nationality of Infants (1996). (In special circumstances, infant passports can be issued, but they are only valuable for a short duration, specified by their need, and must be approved on a case-by-case basis). Imperial CItizenship is the important factor considered abroad.

Should a foreigner wish to apply for Imperial Citizenship, they also acquire a local citizenship, of the region in which they reside or intend to reside. Imperial Citizenship is mostly non-exclusionary, allowing multiple citizenships. However, holding citizenship of a few select countries can void an Imperial Citizenship. Specifically, citizenships of:

The requirements for gaining Imperial Citizenship are:

  1. Proficiency in one of the official languages of the Empire (Xhorial L3 Qualification, SKPT (Keloran), YFL2 (Yoesal), CSF (Szezk), LLLA3 (Lhivralan), CAT (Torrjeli))
  2. Renounce citizenship of any excluded country, if they have it (usually the same as the voiding countries mentioned above, but the exclusion list changes much more frequently, usually based on war, or global unrest)
  3. Renounce Gennism, or convert to Lhivralan Gennism, should they have stated themselves as a believer. (Currently undergoing debate in the Imperial Parliament, but in effect at time of writing)
  4. Have resided in the Empire or Imperial Territory for a period of at least 3 years.
  5. Pass the Imperial Citizenship Test; a test constituting mainly broad questions about Imperial History, Culture, and knowledge of the Empire. (A pass mark counts as at least 50%)
  6. Also fill out requirements for your preferred local citizenship (usually linguistic and residential. Some have tests, like Szezkia)

Once one acquires their citizenship, they are granted audience with a member of local nobility (the specifics of who exactly varies by region, as with the nobility system. In the Republic of Niofe, they are simply sent documents by post), where they are officially bestowed with their citizenship, and the documents therein entailed. From that point they can do as they wish, as an Imperial Citizen.

Urbanisation

Language

Education

Healthcare

Religion

Culture

Heritage

Architecture

Literature

Art

Music

Theatre

Film

Cuisine

Sport

Symbols

See also