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Vithinja: Difference between revisions
Finished writing most of the Politics heading. Finished general History up until 1500
(Remade introductory paragraphs to be more in line with the current idea of the nation) |
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The vithinjan population is mainly divided into the [[Peoples of Vithinja|Ruthans]], the former ruling people as well as the [[Peoples of Vithinja|Gergoles]] ([[Languages of Vithinja|Ruþí]]: Gärgöthe, [[Languages of Vithinja|Siarvish]]: Siargogle), who make up the majority of the population. While they once had huge cultural differences the two cultures are pretty well integrated into each other these days, making religion the more common cause of cultural differences than ethnicity in the country. | The vithinjan population is mainly divided into the [[Peoples of Vithinja|Ruthans]], the former ruling people as well as the [[Peoples of Vithinja|Gergoles]] ([[Languages of Vithinja|Ruþí]]: Gärgöthe, [[Languages of Vithinja|Siarvish]]: Siargogle), who make up the majority of the population. While they once had huge cultural differences the two cultures are pretty well integrated into each other these days, making religion the more common cause of cultural differences than ethnicity in the country. | ||
While not being a very populous country, thanks to a combination of large quantities of natural resources with a pretty high security for companies to extract them as well as good shared control of the northern Levantian maritime trade together with Caergwynn the Vithinjan people are quite well of. Maritime is especially secured thanks to the city of Tår Bringär, which holds the largest harbours in northern | While not being a very populous country, thanks to a combination of large quantities of natural resources with a pretty high security for companies to extract them as well as good shared control of the northern Levantian maritime trade together with Caergwynn the Vithinjan people are quite well of. Maritime is especially secured thanks to the city of Tår Bringär, which holds the largest harbours in northern levantian trade. | ||
Vithinja is a part of the League of Nations general assembly and the Kilikas-Boreal Cooperative Zone. | Vithinja is a part of the League of Nations general assembly and the [[Kilikas-Boreal Cooperative Zone]]. | ||
{{Infobox country|native_name = <!--e.g. France--> Viþjinsk | {{Infobox country|native_name = <!--e.g. France--> Viþjinsk | ||
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From the other side of Levantia a group of "old celts" lead by three brothers lead a small group of settlers to cross the ocean towards the Vithinjan isles. The legend goes that the three brothers traveled with a sizable fleet of settlers north of Levantia to find rich unsettled lands. When they found the first large island the first brother settled, stating he would build a great city there. His brothers both decided to continue on, searching for better lands. The remaining two brothers discovered another large island, this one with a large natural harbor. The second brother stated he would build a greater city than his older brother there. The youngest decided again to continue, leaving with only a small remaining group of settlers to find even richer lands. They ended up finding a huge island, even richer than the first two in everything one would need to build a civilization. He settled there, and within his lifetime, he had conquered both of his brothers and built himself a small nation of his own. | From the other side of Levantia a group of "old celts" lead by three brothers lead a small group of settlers to cross the ocean towards the Vithinjan isles. The legend goes that the three brothers traveled with a sizable fleet of settlers north of Levantia to find rich unsettled lands. When they found the first large island the first brother settled, stating he would build a great city there. His brothers both decided to continue on, searching for better lands. The remaining two brothers discovered another large island, this one with a large natural harbor. The second brother stated he would build a greater city than his older brother there. The youngest decided again to continue, leaving with only a small remaining group of settlers to find even richer lands. They ended up finding a huge island, even richer than the first two in everything one would need to build a civilization. He settled there, and within his lifetime, he had conquered both of his brothers and built himself a small nation of his own. | ||
These two original groups of settlers are believed to have arrived in Vithinjan lands as early as 850, but it wasn't until 950 that these tribes made up large enough numbers to really start affecting the other tribes and nations in the region. The few original settler tribes quickly expanded, spread then splintered into numerous smaller tribes. These smaller tribes did some fighting between each other but generally preferred going out to sea to find others worth raiding. The tribes living in the harsher lands of Kiro-Borealis ended up needing the supplies they could bring in from raiding, as they did not have enough to trade back. Despite having substantially different pagan beliefs the | These two original groups of settlers are believed to have arrived in Vithinjan lands as early as 850, but it wasn't until 950 that these tribes made up large enough numbers to really start affecting the other tribes and nations in the region except for small raids. The few original settler tribes quickly expanded, spread then splintered into numerous smaller tribes. These smaller tribes did some fighting between each other but generally preferred going out to sea to find others worth raiding. The tribes living in the harsher lands of Kiro-Borealis ended up needing the supplies they could bring in from raiding, as they did not have enough to trade back. Despite having substantially different pagan beliefs the ruthans and celts both started traveling south to raid coastlines. | ||
A small tribal king whose name has been lost to time was a powerful ruthan ruler in today's Ruthinja, ruling in the early years of the millennium shift. Many before him had tried and failed to unite the ruthan people, but this king had a different idea. Converting to the catholic faith to gain support he waged war on the many celts in eastern Ruthinja and the Vithinjan isles. From the many small celtic tribal rulers he was able to build a powerful kingdom, held together with the new faith he brought with him. Using the more numerous celts as a strong power base and the large kingdom the king built, his son, Rikart I, was the first ruler to ever unite the Ruthan people. By the year 1043 he had control of the entire north, bringing an end to the tribal rule that previously defined the region. | |||
=== Kingdoms Era === | === Kingdoms Era === | ||
The new united kingdom of Ruthinja quickly found a perfect rival, the nearby kingdom of Caergwynn held some control over the Vithinjan isles. The many wars fought between the ruthans and caerics over these islands was the only real external matters that the ruthan kingdom took part in. When not fighting the caerics the ruthans either went out raiding (the many who had not converted to Catholicism) or fought internally. While a feudal system existed in the regions mainly populated by the celts, the ruthan regions maintained a more elective tribal order, with a meeting of the various tribal rulers to decide what to do next. The fact that the king was never invited to these tribal meetings was a slight that lead to civil war more than once. In the end however, the kings of Ruthinja were never able to destroy these old tribal systems, mainly because the best warriors for his armies came from these lands as well as the economic boost from their raiding. Because of these raids however it was not rare for the ruthinjan king to find himself excommunicated. | |||
This turbulent state of the nation existed until the early 14th century, when the instability of the nation finally caused it to splinter. The differences in religion, culture and government finally tore the nation apart into a number of smaller nations fighting over what remained. In this period between the early 14th and late 15th century a lot of the Vithinjan isles were lost to the kingdom in Caergwynn, who was more than happy to encourage the current disarray. | |||
In the late 15th century a number of people had started to criticize the catholic church, spreading a new wave of reformist ideas. One of the people who found these ideas fascinating was a young christian duke name Rolv. Despite his christian upbringing he was heavily involved in the old traditions of the ruthan pagan faiths. Because of this he saw an opportunity present itself with this new wave of reformists. Together with a group of christian scholars who held similar beliefs, he created a new set of rules for a branch of christian beliefs, that would be acceptable to those holding on to the old faith of the north. He formed the Church of Rolv, although the name came long after personally naming the faith as the northern church. With this new political tool he was able to garner a lot of support from other small rulers, conquering those who would not bow in quick succession. He chose to name himself the ruler of two separate kingdoms, the kingdom of Ruthinja, claiming all that the old kingdom held, as well as the kingdom of Vithinja, laying claim to all of the islands the caerics had taken. While his home town lay in Ruthinja he would move the capital to the largest city on the Vithinjan isles to further enforce his control over the islands. After accomplishing all of this it is said he gave his crown to his grandson during the winter of 1512 and then walked out into a blizzard, never to be seen again. | |||
The kingdom of Vithinja fought many wars with the many nations surrounding them, mainly in an attempt to gain full control of the northern Levantian trade. | The kingdom of Vithinja fought many wars with the many nations surrounding them, mainly in an attempt to gain full control of the northern Levantian trade. | ||
Second Collapse - After many wars fighting their neighbors and the monarchy being forced to leave the country Vithinja started down the path of collapse again. The only thing that kept the nation together was the declaration of a federal republic ~ | Second Collapse - After many wars fighting their neighbors and the monarchy being forced to leave the country Vithinja started down the path of collapse again. The only thing that kept the nation together was the declaration of a federal republic ~1800-1850 | ||
===The Unforgotten Peace=== | ===The Unforgotten Peace=== | ||
The 100 Year Republic - Country was lead by a republic that attempted to change the nations values to be more multicultural and peaceful. ~1850-1950 | The 100 Year Republic - Country was lead by a republic that attempted to change the nations values to be more multicultural and peaceful. ~1850-1950 | ||
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==Politics== | ==Politics== | ||
===Constitution=== | ===Constitution=== | ||
The Vithinjan constitution is an unorthodox work as it is a product of three origins. The constitution borrows a few things from the constitution of the Vithinjan republic, however this is the smallest component in the text. Secondly and thirdly it is sourced from the compromise between the government of the royal Sortvit family and their supporters as well as the national syndicalists that make up the nations | The Vithinjan constitution is an unorthodox work as it is a product of three origins. The constitution borrows a few things from the constitution of the Vithinjan republic, however this is the smallest component in the text. Secondly and thirdly it is sourced from the compromise between the government of the royal Sortvit family and their supporters as well as the national syndicalists that make up the nations labor unions. This has caused the constitution to have proved over the years to be a convoluted mess that contradicts itself in more than a few places. | ||
The | Because of the constitutions contradictory nature most of the time the high council and the king both simply use the powers that previous rulers have used, avoiding actions that may cause a constitutional crisis. | ||
===Syndicalist Government=== | |||
The Vithinjan way of syndicalism is quite strange mainly because of two reasons: it attempts to distance itself from democratic structures as much as possible and it doesn't maintain full control of the government. | |||
The syndicalist government functions as a hierarchy of unions which function as both executive and legislative branches for various issues, generally divided by having the executive branch for an issue be the representatives one step higher in the hierarchy than those who form that issues legislative branch. One of the main purposes of this division of power was to ensure the each part of the government could take care of their issues swiftly and effectively. The higher council refers to the members of the highest point in the hierarchy and they hold executive power to change which issues belong to which branch, while the lower council are all those with the power to determine the next high councilors as well as holding the legislative power behind the high council. | |||
Among the unions the seven highest level unions that all under unions are subdivisions of are all based on the concept of collar colors that was a pretty popular concept as the syndicalization took place. At first there were only four collar-unions that represented the nation, but today that number has risen to seven. They are as follows: the blue-collar union, the white-collar union, the red-collar union, the black-collar union, the green-collar union, the pink-collar union and the new-collar union. | |||
Among these the reds and blacks are considered special. The reds generally represent those who should directly support the syndicalists who created the current nation. Because of this there are many additional rules to high level members of these unions. Similarly the blacks represent the powers and interests of the royal family, having all higher level representatives among the black-collars being determined by the king directly. It is not law but tradition that no member of the royal family should take the position as union representative. | |||
The strangest and probably most important two unions below the high seven is the Union of the Lower Courts and the Higher Justice Union. These both represent the courts, one representing the higher courts and the other the lower courts. Despite their obvious connection they belong to different higher unions. The lower courts belong to the red-collars and the higher courts belong to the black-collars. This is because of one of the compromises in the constitution, where the syndicalists received control of the sub-regional courts while the king remained in control of regional and national courts. | |||
=== National Syndicalism === | |||
Ever since the syndicalization the movement has been splintered into a few main factions. One of the strongest of these factions have always been the national syndicalists. Their beliefs differ from most other syndicalists substantially, with one of the main differences being embracing a lot of the nations traditions, to many members even including the monarchy. Most controversial among their beliefs is the idea of ruthan superiority, causing substantial tensions with the gergole population. | |||
===Citizenship and Residents=== | ===Citizenship and Residents=== | ||
Because of a lack of democratic institutions the idea of citizenship doesn't quite exist in Vithinja. However there is still a way to affect the political makeup of the nations leadership. This comes in one of two ways: members of a union or members of the military. To be an official member of the military a Vithinjan needs to be a full time serviceman. Reservists who want the power to elect need to join a union. The difficulty of joining a union varies greatly by profession and region. All of this effectively means that if only members of the military or members of a union are considered citizens about 82% of all Vithinjans above the age of 16 are citizens, leaving 18% to simply be residents. | Because of a lack of democratic institutions the idea of citizenship doesn't quite exist in Vithinja. However there is still a way to affect the political makeup of the nations leadership. This comes in one of two ways: members of a union or members of the military. To be an official member of the military a Vithinjan needs to be a full time serviceman. Reservists who want the power to elect need to join a union. The difficulty of joining a union varies greatly by profession and region. All of this effectively means that if only members of the military or members of a union are considered citizens about 82% of all Vithinjans above the age of 16 are citizens, leaving 18% to simply be residents. | ||
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Education in Vithinja is completely controlled by the government, as private schools have been made illegal by the union of education. While the government attempts to specifically encourage certain education paths, these efforts have generally lead to educating way more members than needed into a narrow field. Recently new efforts have been made to address these issues. | Education in Vithinja is completely controlled by the government, as private schools have been made illegal by the union of education. While the government attempts to specifically encourage certain education paths, these efforts have generally lead to educating way more members than needed into a narrow field. Recently new efforts have been made to address these issues. | ||
===Health=== | ===Health=== | ||
Vithinja features a very extensive public healthcare system. The union of | Vithinja features a very extensive public healthcare system. The union of healthcare holds a lot of influence and has at numerous occasions pressured other industries towards decisions that would assist public health. One of these choices is a complete ban on smoking and huge efforts toward reducing drinking. Despite these efforts both smoking and drinking are still publicly practiced in many communities. Tobacco smuggling is an extremely profitable black market in Vithinja because of these efforts. | ||
===Crime=== | ===Crime=== | ||
For being a nation in modern times Vithinja features a large indirect punishment for pretty much any crime: increased difficulty to join a union, which makes everything from getting a job to finding a partner more difficult and may lock one out of the political process. Despite this the number of people convicted for a crime has been hovering around 2.5% up until the last two years, where it has slowly increased to 3%. It is often noted that 95% of convictions are against those considered residents. | For being a nation in modern times Vithinja features a large indirect punishment for pretty much any crime: increased difficulty to join a union, which makes everything from getting a job to finding a partner more difficult and may lock one out of the political process. Despite this the number of people convicted for a crime has been hovering around 2.5% up until the last two years, where it has slowly increased to 3%. It is often noted that 95% of convictions are against those considered residents. | ||