Medimeria

Rectory of Medimeria
Overseas territory of Urcea
Flag
Transferred from Burgundie	2014
Cathedral City	Madix
Population  (2014)
• Total	55,591

The Rectory of Medimeria is an overseas possession of Urcea. It was acquired from Burgundie in 2014 in exchange for Antilles. The island, which was likely unknown to Audonians at the time of its discovery and colonization, was the site of Protestant refugee settlement in the wake of the Great Confessional War in Levantia. The island served as a primarily self-governing Pharisedom and refuge with important but limited trade importance until the rise of steam power, after which time Medimeria became an important coaling station.

Previously, it was a colony of Burgundie and was represented as a member of the Burgoignesc Overseas Representative Assembly (BORA).

Etymology

Medimeria derives its name from the Burgoignesc words med (Eng. middle), mer (Eng. sea), and the Latin suffix ia (Eng. place). The meaning translates approximately to place in the middle of the sea in reference to its central and isolated location in the Levantine Ocean.

Geography

Medimeria is a roughly oval shaped island oriented northwest to southeast in the northern part of the Levantine Ocean, and the island approximately forms the boundary between the Ocean proper and the Sea of Capelan. Its ovular shape is disrupted by the prominent Monro peninsula on the northernmost part of the island, and its position forms the upper part of Madix Harbor, the crescent-shaped indentation which defines the east coast of the island. The island has some topography, with the Monro peninsula having a hillier and more elevated area which looks down on the rest of the island. Medimeria is located roughly halfway between the Tropic of Cancer and the Arctic circle; climatologically, the island has a relatively pleasant Oceanic climate. Temperatures range from about 35 degrees fahrenheit in January to 72 degrees in July, providing a stable environment for human habitation.

Significant parts of Medimeria are urbanized. Prior to human settlement of the island in the 16th century, most of the island was covered by a deciduous forest, but most of the forests were cleared for agricultural purposes by the middle of the 18th century. Madix, established on the island's east coast, is the largest city on the island and it covers approximately ten percent of the island's total landmass.

History

Prior to the arrival of Levantine settlers, Medimeria was primarily unoccupied. Significant scholarly debate has occurred since the early 20th-century about previous human settlement on the island. Due to its significant distance from the Audonian mainland and unfavorable winds to reach the island, many natural scientists are convinced that the Levantines were first to step foot on the island when they did so in 1574. The archaeological evidence is unclear; the presence of pre-discovery Audonian trade goods buried beneath the surface have been proposed, but not proven, to have been imported by the colonial settlers in the 16th century. Additionally, the historical record of Oyashima reports small islands being used occasionally by fishermen to the north and to the west, but a small consensus of historians suggest this account refers to islands immediately to Oyashima's north and west, within around 100 miles, rather than to the small islands far north of Audonia. A plurality of scholars thus believe that the Levantines were first to discover the island, but debate and uncertainty continue.

Initial settlement

The impetus to settle the island came in the aftermath of the Great Confessional War and subsequent Dragonnades in Levantia. During these events, Protestants - both Derian and Ænglish - opted to try and flee the Holy Levantine Empire rather than submit to the Catholic faith, and many others still were not given the choice and simply deported from their homeland. Accordingly, many of these refugees found their way to the Duchy of Bourgondi. A privately-funded refugee society known as the Middle Seas Refuge Company (Burg: Compagnie de refuges en mer moyenne) was established in 1576 for the purposes of settling the Protestant refugees abroad. The Middle Seas Refuge Company purchased the right to the recently discovered island of Medimeria from the Emperor of the Levantines that year and began the process of organizing the refugees. Prior to their departure from Levantia, twelve patroonships were created and sold to twelve refugee noble families. Beyond their number - roughly 30-40 - the initial settlement of Medimeria would include 150-200 or so free persons intended to serve as tenant farmers on the island. The small Company flotilla departed in late 1577 and arrived in 1578, having lost ten persons on the journey. Upon their arrival, the colonists settled Madix. As envisioned by the Company, the twelve patroons established themselves as the governing and economic authority on the island almost immediately, establishing a twelve-person governing Patroon Council (Conseil Patronal) and beginning the work of surveying land to be divided among them. Medimeria became one of the first deliberately established Pharisedoms along with places like Torlen and Alstin.

Unlike many other Occidental colonies of the time, the settlers on Medimeria were greeted by a favorable and mild climate and few diseases, enabling most of the first settlers to survive the first winter. In March 1579, the Patroon Council enacted and the Middle Seas Refuge Company approved the Manor Writ, which formally divided the the island into the twelve patroonships envisioned before settlement. The island was separated largely radially from the center of the island though borders largely were based on natural features. Madix was excluded from the patroonships and instead put under the direct control of the company-appointed governor. The success of the island to date induced significant influx of new Protestant refugees and additional funding and support for the Refuge Company. Between 1579 and 1590, almost 3,000 Protestants were transferred to the island. This influx created a large pool of labor on the island, though many new refugees signed agreements to transition from free laborers to tenant farmers and a small number remained in Madix. In 1585, Company leaders ordered their governors to begin searching for a profitable export as private patronage in Levantia started to dry up due to fading interest in Protestant relocation and a greatly reduced Protestant population by the end of the 1580s. Very few cash crops, at least ones suitable for transport to Levantia, could be grown in the sprawling patroon plantations, who instead grew either food or relatively less valuable cash crops to be sold on the Audonian mainland. Accordingly, whaling soon became the focus of many of the people living in and around Madix. The position of Medimeria allowed for it to become a long-distance base for arctic whaling, giving it a significant advantage over other Levantine possessions. The island's newfound focus on whaling brought in the last major surge of Protestants, this time skilled fishermen and whalers rather than refugees, between 1590 and 1600. By 1605, the island was self-sustaining and profitable in the production and trade of whale oil. The relative profitability of the territory allowed it to remain self-governing as the small, but sustainable, profits allowed the Refuge Company to remain in operation as a business enterprise rather than charitable endeavor.

By 1610, the previously ad hoc Conseil Patronal had taken on a permanent standing basis representing the interests of each of the 12 patroons as a kind of legislative body in conjunction with the executive authority of the company-appointed governor. The 1610s and 20s saw the first great wave of church-building and emergence of local society on the island. Historians have observed that, prior to this, most Medimerians viewed their stay here as temporary until the divinely-appointed restoration of Protestantism in Levantia or, alternatively, the apocalypse. However, as memories of life in Levantia faded, new children were born on the island, and some wealth and comforts became available, a new mindset set in among the Medimerian people during this period. They embraced their new lives and understood its permanence, inaugurating a period of significant interest in building and infrastructure. The large Church of the Divine Redeemer (Église du Divin Rédempteur) was built between 1614 and 1650 in Madix, standing today as the most visual symbol of Medimerian Protestant faith. Several schools were built, and the court of the governor became a minor hub of Protestant artists and musicians fleeing persecution abroad.

The progress of the island precipitated the growth of free laborers in the city of Madix as many Medimerians began to end their tenancy contracts or even abscond from them, causing a shortage of farm labor. The ever-expanding whaling industry also began to have additional labor needs by the 1630s. The stream of Protestants from Levantia was reduced to a trickle by this period, more than a half-century after the end of the Confessional War, and most new arrivals were nobles or prominent burghers imprisoned by the Imperial Inquisition and deported to Medimeria. In 1634, facing continued labor shortages, the Refuge Company approved the importing of Audonian laborers. Attempts were made to launch slave raiding parties into modern day Soirwind and Zaclaria, but these were easily repulsed by local authorities and perpetrators executed by local authorities. Instead, two different solutions were implemented. First, Audonian peasants and poor Audonian city-dwellers were offered relatively decent terms to live and work on patroonships as tenant farmers for a twenty year period of indentured servitude. Second, the Refuge Company began to offer to buy the rights to petty criminals imprisoned by various Audonian realms, who would then serve thirty year periods of indentured servitude. The result of both of these programs were mostly the same; the majority of those voluntarily becoming indentured servants were often absconding from the law or some other obligation, transforming Medimeria's patroonships into de facto penal colonies. These Audonians and their descendants formed the ethnic group now known as the "Ebidi", a Burgoignesc language corruption of the Audonian term abeed, meaning servant. By the end of the 17th century, the original group of the Ebidi had descendants numbering multiple generations. The Ebidi, primarily now tenant farmers rather than indentured servants, faced de facto segregation by the island's Levantine-descended Protestant majority; accordingly, they largely kept to themselves, building small villages within the Patroonships and practicing a number of different religions and indigenous Audonian practices.

Growing strategic relevance

Medimeria grew in importance with the beginning of Canespa-Burgoignesc relations in the early 1700s. The island's location roughly halfway between Cusinaut and eastern Levantia made it a critical Transshipment port in Deric global trade routes. The trade route had the effect of greatly expanding the importance of Madix as a port city with some minor cascading effects for the rest of the island. The need for additional labor in Madix tended to attract Levantine-origin free laborers or indentured servants at the end of their term, leaving the Patroonships to rely more on Ebidi labor.

In 1713, the Middle Seas Refuge Company was nationalized by the Duchy of Bourgondi in light of its growing trade importance with Crona. The Duke issued an edict of toleration and Patent of Governance, which recognized and retained the traditional rights and privileges of the Patroons and codified the existing Patroon Council into law. The 1713 acts also entrenched Protestantism as official, rather than predominant, religion on the island, and guaranteed certain rights only to Protestants. This had the practical effect of beginning the conversion of the Ebidi; the guarantee of rights to Protestants began a process by which Protestant rights would be exploited by the most forward thinking and best educated Ebidi, beginning the slow process of ethnic integration.

By 1750, Medimeria's status as a Pharisedom haven for Protestants had largely faded. The idea of Medimeria as a beacon of religious liberty for Protestants remained and remains important culturally, but it had been more than a century since the last arrival of Levantine Protestant deportees. Additionally, its status as a colony of the Duchy of Bourgondi rather than a self-governing company island reduced its relative uniqueness compared to other Burgoignesc-speaking territories. Despite these changes, the Patroons still retained a dominating position on the island both politically and economically. This led to a generally bitter relationship between the free burghers of Madix and the Patroons, as well as a generally negative relationship between the tenants and indentured servants living on Patroonships with their manorial masters. Several petitions asking for a reduction in Patroon power were sent to Bourgondi beginning in 1754 that were left unanswered.

The advent of the steam engine revolutionized the Medimerian economy and made the island relevant in a military and global trade context.

Medimeria's position later served as an important fueling station and naval base for the Burgoignesc thalattocracy given its strategic position near both Levantia and Audonia.

Decline of Burgoignesc interest

Following the Second Great War, the importance of Medimeria began to fade as the Jet Age largely made it redundant as a strategic military base. Ships also began to have increased efficiency in their internal combustion engines and they eventually were able to bypass Medimeria all together on their journeys with the Prevailing Winds from Crona and eastern Audonia. By the end of Operation Kipling, in which it played only an ancillary reserve force staging area role for elements of the Urcean XII Corps, military and shipping technology had progressed to the point that Medimeria's position, alone, in the middle of a pacified sea, made it more of a burden than a boon. With the rapid increase of consumerism, that accompanied the rise of living standards, Medimeria's self-sufficiency waned, and it eventually became a massive importer of foreign goods, running a large trade deficit. The increased demand for electricity, telecommunications, and eventually internet, placed more and more financial burden on the government to develop and maintain the infrastructure, without any compelling exports or strategic significance.

Cession to Urcea

In the 21st century, the military applications of the island declined, and the tourist industry grew rapidly. In 2014, Urcea acquired the island in exchange for Antilles as part of a mutual strategic interest realignment on Urcea and Burgundie's parts. Urcea's ownership of the island lead to a renewal of military and fueling efforts on the island given its position nearly halfway between Levantia and New Harren.

Government

Medimeria is a Urcean civil rectory governed in accord with the provisions of the Rectory and Overseas Territory Law. Accordingly, it is governed by a Rector appointed by the Apostolic King of Urcea by the non-binding advice of the Government of Urcea. It incorporates many of the pre-Urcean institutions of government, however, as provided by exceptions under the Rectory and Overseas Territory Law. It has among the weakest Rectors among all Urcean territories, with the rectory's legislature - the Patroon Council (Conseil Patronal) - functioning as the primary governing body of the island, in effect making Medimeria a parliamentary democracy. The Rector is largely responsible for serving as liaison between the Council and the Government of Urcea, and the Rector's direct authority is limited to control of island militias as well as limited civil authority over Urcean military forces on the island. Nominally, the Rector is responsible for signing Council proposals into law and inviting political leaders within the Council to form a government, but these are largely ceremonial responsibilities. It has been observed that Medimeria is the most autonomous and self-governing of Urcea's foreign dependencies and territories, including even the nominally sovereign states of New Harren and Talionia.

Much of the island's governing tradition is established by precedent, and the island has no formal agreement or charter of local government. The Patroon Council and the traditions around it date back to the earliest settlement of Medimeria, predating the unification of Burgundie or even its incorporation as a colony of the Duchy of Bourgondi. Accordingly, much of the governance of the island pre-dates the typical form and function of a Burgoignesc overseas territory.

In 2030, the Conseil Patronal consisted of seventeen members, elected from election districts ("patronships") apportioned on the island on an equal population basis. The election districts descend from the original land tenure system of the island, patroonships, but have no continuity of those manorial systems beyond the inherited name. The Conseil is led by the Premier, who forms an administrative government with ministers for post public administrative areas. The Rector confirms the Premier and nominally appoints the various ministers on the binding advice of the Premier. Ministers are generally not members of the Conseil but serve at the pleasure of that body.

There have been two noteworthy innovations to the Conseil following Medimeria's transfer to Urcea. First, terms were lengthened from three years to five years to match the election cycle throughout Urcea's other possessions and Urcea itself. Secondly, and in stark contrast to Burgoignesc-based systems, the transferrence to Urcea introduced the use of political parties to Medimerian political life. Previously, non-partisan voting blocs and factions within the Conseil were enough to support and sustain a Premier, but the introduction of Urcean influence and election law made the formation of political parties a foregone conclusion. The two largest parties on the island are descended from the predominant two factions within the Conseil at the time of the transference. They are, in Ænglish, the Progressive Party, a center-left, internationalist, and largely secularist party, and the Shining City Movement, a conservative, primarily Protestant party. As of 2030, the Progressive Party possessed a majority government in the Conseil, holding 10 seats to the Movement's 7.

Demographics

In 2014, the population of Medimeria was 55,591.

The vast majority of Medimerians are some variety of Protestant. Denominationally, about a fifth of all Protestants belong to the non-denominational movement, while both the Mercantile Reform Protestantism and College of Levantine Churches both claim about 40% of Protestants. Catholicism was not present on the island in any significant way until about 1800, but remained a very small minority until about 2020; since then, it makes up about 8% of the population. A very small remaining portion of the population practice Islam, almost all of whom are Ebidi.

Medimerians consider themselves to be part of two ethnic groups. The first, called Refuges, are predominantly Levantine-ethnic origin individuals who arrived to Medimeria as Protestant religious refugees. The second, called Ebidi, are descended from Audonian laborers brought to the island in the 17th century as indentured servants.

Culture

Ethnicity

Medimerians are divided among two ethnic groups; the predominant Refuges who make up about 80% of the island and the Ebidi who make up about 20% of the island's population. In the 21st century, these groups are heavily integrated, with ethnic-based prejudice being both uncommon and illegal on the island. Small wealth disparities exist between the more prosperous Refuges people, but significant strides were made in the 20th century to alleviate the differences. The degree of integration is such that Medimerian, rather than one's ethnicity, is the primary identity of island residents. It is considered impolite to comment on someone's ethnic background without them initially discussing it.

Ethnic relations were, for a long time, largely negative and colored by the origin of both ethnic groups. The Refuges are descendants of the Levantine Protestant refugees who settled the island in the 16th and 17th centuries, predominantly coming to the island as free laborers, tenant farmers, or patroons. The Ebidi, meanwhile, were Audonian laborers (of various modern national descents) who were brought to the island on long terms of indentured servitude to work on large farm estates. The Ebidi, as they were never enslaved, had some legal standing from their arrival, but civil rights and true integration came after the process of Ebidi conversion began in the 1700s. The Ebidi were initially culturally segregated from the Refuges, developing a distinctive culture that incorporated their own Audonian traditions with those held by the Refuges. Conversion led to the gradual end of de facto cultural segregation, and Ebidi culture is best preserved in some vocabulary of Medimeria as well as in its cuisine, with cevapi being one of the best known local dishes from this tradition.

Religion

Protestantism is the predominant unifying feature of Medimerian cultural life and forms the bedrock on which Medimerian cultural history is founded.

Prior to the 19th century, Medimerians eschewed the idea of denominations in favor of individual church congregations. Pre-19th century Medimeria, accordingly, was home to a wide variety of religious views. The lack of Protestant leaders in Levantia or abroad led to a focus on hyper-local belief, allowing congregants to freely join and leave local congregations. The pre-19th century religious establishment more or less treated each Protestant congregation as equally legitimate. This settlement ended with the formation of a cohesive set of Mercantile Reform Protestantism doctrines in Equatorial Ostiecia in the 19th century as well as the formation of a unified polity of Burgundie, bringing Medimeria into a broader Burgoignesc cultural world. The issue of Mercantile Reform Protestantism sharply divided local believers as those with a more high church view of Church polity and sacraments (such as those who considered themselves Old Believers) were functionally excluded from their belief system. Between about 1850 and 1880, the approximately third of Protestants who held high church beliefs were socially ostracized as "Crypto-Papists" until action from the new government in Burgundie worked to enforce civil rights. In the meantime, the high church believers were forced to coalesce socially and politically, and in 1854 their congregations joined together as the Canonate of Medimeria and formally associated themselves with the Chantry of Alstin. In 1858, the Canonate of Medimeria was merged into the Chantric Province of Dericania and the Vandarch. The Province was incorporated into the College of Levantine Churches in 1954 and approximately 40% of Protestants in Medimeria are adherents of the Collegiate Church as of 2030.