Arona: Difference between revisions

{{Infobox country

|conventional_long_name = Republic of Arona

|government_type =    {{wp|Unitary republic|Unitary}} [[Julian republic]]

|leader_title1 =      President

|leader_title2 =      National Administrator

|leader_title3 =      Chair of the Proprietary Assembly

|legislature =        Proprietary Assembly

|upper_house =         

{{Main|Odurian War}}

In [[1858]], the Kingdom of Oustec was suddenly invaded by [[Caphiria]] in reaction to a number of events relating to the unification of [[Burgundie]], with Caphirian forces entering the country on the morning of 18 March. Caphirian forces scored a number of early victories, putting in doubt the longterm viability of Oustec as an independent Kingdom. Burgundie launched a counterinvasion of the Kingdom later in the spring in order to prevent the remaining territory from falling entirely to Caphiria. Both Occidental countries made significant progress into the remaining territory of the Kingdom. Despite extant tensions with the royal government, Harounan forces fought alongside other Oustec regional troops throughout the early phase of the conflict, proving to be competent but unable to resist the overwhelming force presented by Caphiria and Burgundie. It became apparent by July that Oustec would not be able to maintain its independence for long, leading Akule Cornelio to seek alternative options. He met with local political and economic leaders who implored him to pursue independence and neutrality in the ongoing conflict. Cornelio recalled all Harounan-affiliated forces to the province on 28 July, obstensibly to protect against a claimed Burgoignesc attack. On 8 August, he issued a unilateral declaration of independence from Oustec, proclaiming himself King of the new Kingdom of Arona. When it became evident that neither Oustec nor the Occidentals would recognize Arona's independence, he sent a request to the government of [[Urcea]], who had forces relatively nearby in [[New Archduchy]]. [[Riordan VIII]] seized the opportunity to gain a foothold in [[Vallos]] and induced the [[Concilium Daoni]] to formally recognize the Kingdom of Arona on 11 August; forces in New Archduchy were subsequently deployed to Toucari to defend Arona's capital city. On 22 August, Urcea and Arona concluded a treaty recognizing the latter as a loose protectorate of the former. Despite the diplomatic efforts of Urcea, neither Caphiria nor Burgundie would recognize the new state and made no guarantee to steer clear of its territory. Fortunately for Arona, in September the Oustec forces abandoned most of its positions and instead fortified itself in the capital city of Oduria, requiring most Occidental forces to be positioned into a siege. Despite this, skirmishing between Harounan forces with Caphirian and Burgoignesc forces at the periphery continued throughout the war, skirmishing which started to include Urcean forces in mid-1859. The situation approached the possibility of a general war between the three powers before [[Kiravia]] mediated a peace agreement. Arona was eventually recognized as an independent protectorate of Urcea and Oustec was partitioned. King Akule I was recognized as sovereign lord of Arona.

Throughout the 1860s and 1870s, Akule spent significant time and effort trying to build the political and social institutions of a newly independent realm while trying to leverage Urcean economic development. In [[1860]], the [[Royal Navy (Urcea)|Royal Navy]] built its first permanent naval base in Toucari and organized the new Brenedine Squadron to garrison the base. In the 1870s, Arona built a rudimentary railway system linking Toucari and the eastern border, a system that would gradually be improved with some Urcean input through about [[1920]], when it reached Occidental standards.

===First Great War===

Arona's position of separation from Urcea put it in an extremely precarious position with the beginning of the [[First Great War]]. Protected only by its small army and the outdated Brenedine Squadron and bordered by [[Caphiria]] and [[Burgundie]], it appeared likely that either or both would take advantage of Urcea's weakness and invade the small Kingdom. Fortunately for Arona, [[Burgundie]] announced its recognition of the claims of [[Patrick III of Urcea|Patrick III]] and [[Caphiria]] that of the authority of the regent FitzRex. As both of these nations feared weakening the authority of their chosen faction within Urcea by seizing one of the nation's overseas territories, both respected the neutrality of Arona and Urcea's nominal claims of protection. Regardless, from [[1897]] through [[1902]], the protectorate was largely defunct, but Urcean influence remained with the presence of the Brenedine Squadron.

In [[1914]], the King solicited Urcea to send educated workers to Arona that could serve as managers and technical experts in the early stages of industrialization. He suggested sending Protestants, which served as the genesis for a broader idea developed over the course of that year and [[1915]]. Urcea's [[Cisionian people]] - a self-proclaimed national group of ethnically Urcean Protestants - had long sought [[Cisionian offer|settlement abroad]], and the government of King Patrick III approached Akule with a proposition: 3,500 Cisionians would be resettled in Arona over the course of the next five years. Those being resettled would have to be educated, which both parties agreed to. Beginning in February 1916, batches of Cisionians would arrive in Arona. The first several hundred of these individuals arrived and began to form neighborhoods in Toucari and elsewhere. They faced significant discrimination, but did successfully take roles as industrial supervisors and technical advisors to new industrial firms and the government. The latter groups of Cisionians who arrived instead established New Ionia, a settlement in the Aronese interior close to the border with [[Vespera]]. The program would continue after Akule's death through 1920, when the final group arrived. In all, 3,628 Cisionians were transported to Arona. The Cisionians that arrived then make up the vast majority of ancestors of Arona's modern Protestant population, and in [[2030]] about 20,000 people in Arona identify as ethnically Cisionian.

===Republic established===

Arona utilizes a {{wp|common law}} system, and accordingly the nation's top appellate court - the Republican Tribunal - is an important institution for the upholding and interpretation of the law and constitution.

The Aronese government generally has poor relations with most other nations in [[Vallos]]. The Aronese people were surveyed in [[2031]], with the poll indicating that only 11% of Aronans have a favorable view of [[Almadaria]] and only 15% having a favorable view of [[Takatta Loa]]. Accordingly, the government generally treats those nations with suspicion, especially given their stance against the Aronese protectorate. The Aronan government and people have positive views of [[Urcea]] and mixed views on [[Burgundie]], with more decidedly negative views on the people of [[Equatorial Ostiecia]] than the Burgoignesc metropole. Besides Urcea, Arona enjoys its best foreign relationship with [[Rumahoki]], and most Aronese government leaders believe Rumahoki sees Arona as a peer.

===Executive===

Due to its establishment as a military frontier, the Aronese people strongly identify with the notion of "citizen soldiers" and militia defense of one's homeland. For this reason, the arm of a man with an axe serves as the national flag of Arona. As part of this tradition, firearms ownership in Arona is extremely high, at a rate of 43.2 guns per 100 residents as of [[2030]]. Firearms are a major part of the life and culture of rural Aronese especially, with shooting competitions and gunshows being part of most major festivals and fairs.

== Demographics ==

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[[Category:2023 Award winning pages]]