Burgundie

Burgoignesc Thalattocracy

Burgundie
Burgoignesc Thalattocracy; Burgundie
	Flag Royal mantle, pavilion, and Coat of Arms
	Motto: In Fluctus Aigean Mon Bontie Expectat; Upon the Ocean Waves My Bounty Awaits
	Anthem: Rule, Bergendia!
	National Symbol: Marin-Estelle; Personification of Burgundie's destiny at sea;
	Location of Burgundie (dark green); In the Levantine Union (light green); And Bulkh in real union with Burgundie (light green) ; The Burgoignesc Thalattocracy (lime green)
Capital	Vilauristre
Largest	Port Diteaux
Official languages	Burgoignesc, Latin
Recognised national languages	Burgoignesc, Latin
Recognised regional languages	Burgoignesc, Latin, Lebhan, Udunaic, Sinitalian
Demonym(s)	Burgoignac (m); Burgoignix (f)
Government	Great Republican Principality
• Chief Minister	Ermengarde-Cecil Draiselle de Pristoria
• Great Prince of Burgundie	Pasqual I
Area
•	2,943,262.505 km2 (1,136,400.006 sq mi)
Population
• 2035 census	393,741,767
• Density	133.777/km2 (346.5/sq mi)
GDP (nominal)	estimate
• Total	₮19,754,024,450,390 ; ₮19.75 trillion
• Per capita	₮50,170
Gini (2035)	45.8; medium
HDI (2035)	0.867; very high
Currency	Levantine Union Taler (₮)
Time zone	Urceopolitan Mean Time +1
• Summer (DST)	UTC+0
Date format	dd-mm-yy
Driving side	right side
Calling code	+917
ISO 3166 code'	BG

The Grand Thalattocratic Republican Principality of Burgundie and her Commonwealth, commonly known as the Burgoignesc Thalattocracy, the Thalattocracy, or Burgundie, is a nation composed of 5 constituent countries (Ile Burgundie, Notrestran, Faramount, Equatorial Ostiecia, the constituent country equivalent Burgoignesc Overseas Representative Assembly (BORA)), and the uninhabited extra-territorial exclave of Port Extranjero. At just over 2.9 million square kilometers (1.1 million sqmi), Burgundie is moderately sized country. With a population of around 393.7 million people, Burgundie is a highly-density nation with 133.777 people per square kilometer (346.5 people/sqmi). The capital of Burgundie is Vilauristre, located on Ile Burgundie, which is also the capital country, located just off the coast of southeastern Levantia across the L'Estrech Alavarienne. The country of Nostrestran is located along the southeastern coast of Levantia bound by the Sea of Istroya in the east, Lapody in the north and west, and the Burgoignesc country of Faramount to the south. Faramount is adjacent to Nostrestran along the southeastern coast of Levantia. It is bound by the Sea of Istroya in the east and south, Lapody in the north, and Urcea in the west. Equitorial Ostiecia is along the confluence of the Odoneru Ocean, the Tainean Sea,and St. Brendan's Strait. The constituent country equivalent BORA is made up of 10 islands: Alcairet, Antilles, Argaea, Chaukhira, Iles Evangeline, Nauta Normand, Port de Vent, Sudmoll, Torlen, and Wintergen which are located across the globe. Burgundie and its territories stretch across all 24 time zones from Port Extranjero in UTC -12 to Iles Evangeline in UTC +12. The extremely diverse geography, climate, and wildlife of Burgundie and its possessions make it one of the world's megadiverse countries.

Burgundie is a thalattocracy meaning that it considers itself primarily a maritime empire whose land holdings are secondary in importance to its maritime claims. This posture leads Burgundie to take enforcement of open and fair trade across the waterways (Freedom of the seas) very seriously and personally. The nation’s head of state, and its executive branch, the Court of St. Alphador, is a Great Prince, a term that recognizes that the Prince of Burgundie is superior in authority all other provincial leaders, including the princes of Equitorial Ostiecia, Faramount, and the Duke of Marialianus who nominally serves as the prince of Nostrestran, the constituent principalities within the Burgoignesc Thalattocracy. Because it is a Crowned republic its hosts a parliament called the Citizens Court of the National Assembly (|Burg: La Assemblee de Ciutadans de l'Assemblee Nacional, ACAN). The Assembly is the unicameral legislative body of the nation with representatives from the citizenry, the Church, the nobility, and the Royal Family. Each member of the council is afforded one vote and the great prince is legally bound to represent the decisions of the National Assembly. The country's third branch of government, the judicial branch, is called the Lazarine Court, and serves as the nation's supreme court, however, unique to Burgundie is the Maritime Prefecture which serves as a co-equal supreme court for maritime matters.

Burgundie is a founding member of the League of Nations, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, World Health Organization, World Trade Organization, International Maritime Organization, World Food Program, International Red Cross, and other international organizations. Burgundie is a highly developed country, with a GDP of $19.75 trillion and a GDPPC of $50,170. It accounts for approximately a 47% of the world’s maritime shipping traffic which has made the country rich. However, since it lacks a diverse native manufacturing base it is susceptible to fluctuations in the global markets. Burgundie is an information economy, characterized by the dominance of services and knowledge-based activities, although the nation's shipyards keep the manufacturing sector world class. Burgundie is the world's largest importer operating on a massive trade deficit that it offsets with its taxes on the shipping industry as well an aggressive international loan policy. Burgundie ranks among the highest nations in several measures of socioeconomic performance, including average wage, human development, per capita GDP, and productivity per person. Burgundie is a sizable military power in the world and is a preeminent political, cultural, and scientific force giving it significant power projection both in real and soft terms.

Being formally recognized in its current form in 1875, Burgundie, as a unified nation, is relatively new. The Burgoignesc Metropole was inhabited by proto-Levantines Celtic and Basque peoples known as the Impaxi starting around 2800 BC. In the 500s BC the seafaring Adonerii civilization arrived along the southern coast of Levantia. In 158 AD the Latinic commander Julian Marcilius Corvus crushed native resistance on the Ile Burgundie, then called ~~Ipar~~, and established the Bergenddium, a state that lasted until it was broken up in the 1090s. Following the Great Confessional War the Burgoignesc, Estienne, and Martillian trading companies created massive overseas empires, free from the confines of Imperial rule. The greatest of these empires, the Burgoignesc South Levantive Trading Company started to collapse in on itself from overextension in the 1780s. Around the same time, the enlightenment and scientific revolution and then later the industrial revolution led to a series of anti-monarchist and pro-democratic/social revolts across the southern coast of the Kingdom of Dericania. The reactionary powers attempted to crush these revolts and led to the First Fratricide, which mediatized much of the Kingdom of Dericania and formed Burgundie from a number of the southern coastal principalities. The new nation set about a course of standardization, driven by scientists, industrialists, and new governments wanted to be considered a modern nation. By the early 20th century Burgundie was becoming as powerful in continental politics as the whole of the Kingdom of Dericania, in its own right. During the Second Great War Burgundie fought on the side of the Western Coalition, bringing it into the global spotlight. It was one of the powers, along with its ally Urcea that fought on all fronts of the Second Great War. After the end of the Second Great War Burgundie helped to establish many of the new globalist institutions that cropped up in that era. Burgundie did this as part of its self determined new mission and duty, as it sought ot find a place for itself in the post-Great War world. Burgundie set out to protect the liberties and freedoms it held dear, for all peoples around the world. This Occidental view of what the basic human rights were and its role in upholding them led to a series of anti-communist wars in Audonia. This cotributed to and coincided with an urban and cultural revolution across the Thalattocracy that changed the country from a moderately authoritarian and reactionary holdover from the Holy Levantine Empire to a modern liberal Crowned republic and the advent of Containerization both of which brought Burgundie into the 21st century at full tilt.

Etymology

Burgundie derives its name from the brugan (Eng. spring heather), a calcifuge that thrives in the andisol of the Belrac Caldera's higher elevations on the Ile Burgundie. In the classical era the heather was considered the "lighthouse at the end of Istroyan civilization" while there were additional settlements by the Ancient Istroyan civilization further north in eastern Levantia they never achieved the status of the principal core city-states that dotted northeastern Sarpedon and southern Levantia.

The spelling has been corrupted over three major linguistic shifts, suffering degradation in each of these transliterative phono-semantic matching occurrences. While the heather itself is still spelled and pronounced brug- (Burg: le brugose), the nation itself lost its direct connection to the heather and was no longer linguistically tied to it when Latin became the lingua franca of the area around 100 BC.

Geography

Flora and Fauna

The Burgoignesc Metropole's vegetation ranges from the dense tropical rainforests and savannas of Faramount, characterized by high canopy density, diverse tree families (including, though less diverse than in Audonia, Dipterocarpaceae, Fabaceae, and Moraceae), epiphytes, lianas, drought-resistant trees like Acacia and Baobab, to the mixed broadleaf and coniferous forests of Nostrestran and Ile Burgundie, featuring oaks, beeches, maples, and pines. Coastal regions throughout the Metropole exhibit diverse ecosystems, including mangrove forests, coastal scrub, dunes, and salt marshes adapted to saline conditions.

The fauna mirrors this botanical diversity. Faramount's tropical ecosystems harbor a rich assemblage of primates (monkeys, lemurs), birds (parrots, toucans, birds of paradise), reptiles (snakes, lizards, crocodiles), amphibians, and insects, alongside grazing mammals and predators in the savanna areas. Nostrestran's transitional climate supports a mix of species, with southern regions sharing affinities with Faramount's tropical fauna and northern regions exhibiting temperate forest inhabitants like deer, wild boar, various bird species, and smaller mammals. Ile Burgundie, due to its insular nature, hosts a less diverse but unique fauna, including smaller mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians, with instances of endemism, particularly among birds and invertebrates. Marine life, including diverse fish, marine mammals (dolphins, seals), and seabirds, thrives along the Metropole's extensive coastline.

Climate and environment

Burgoignesc Metropole's climate

The Burgoignesc Metropole is situated on the southeastern coast of Levantia. The region’s latitudinal position, influenced by the easterly Tradewinds just north of the equator, and its susceptibility to the Levantine hurricane season (June-November), are key determinants of its weather patterns. The Burgoignesc Metropole lies within the zone of the Tradewinds, specifically the Northeast Tradewinds in the Northern Hemisphere. These persistent easterly winds are generated by the pressure gradient between the subtropical high-pressure belt and the equatorial low-pressure trough (Intertropical Convergence Zone or ITCZ). The Tradewinds' consistent flow influences temperature moderation, particularly in coastal areas, and plays a significant role in moisture transport. The convergence of these winds near the ITCZ contributes to convective activity and rainfall, particularly during the wet season.

Faramount

Faramount experiences a predominantly Tropical Wet (Af) climate. This classification denotes consistently high temperatures throughout the year, with monthly averages typically exceeding 18°C (64°F), and abundant rainfall, with no distinct dry season. The northern interior of Faramount transitions into a Tropical Savanna (Aw) climate. Here, while temperatures remain consistently high, a distinct dry season occurs, typically during the winter months, when the ITCZ migrates southward. The influence of the Tradewinds is particularly pronounced in Faramount, contributing to high humidity levels and frequent convective rainfall. Characterized by minimal annual temperature variation. Diurnal temperature ranges are generally larger than annual ranges. High annual rainfall, often exceeding 2000 mm (79 in), is distributed relatively evenly throughout the year in the Af zone. The Aw zone experiences a marked dry season. Dominated by the easterly Tradewinds, which can reach significant velocities, especially during storm events.

Nostrestran

The southern coastal third of Nostrestran falls within the Tropical Wet (Af) classification, mirroring the conditions in adjacent Faramount. The northern coastal two-thirds, however, transition into a Subtropical Humid (Cfa) climate. This zone is characterized by hot, humid summers and mild winters. While rainfall is distributed throughout the year, there is often a slight peak during the summer months. Higher annual temperature variation compared to Faramount. Summers are hot and humid, while winters are mild with occasional cool spells. Abundant rainfall, generally exceeding 1000 mm (39 in) annually, with a slight summer maximum. Influenced by the Tradewinds, though their impact is somewhat moderated by the country's latitudinal position and the presence of topographic features.

Ile Burgundie

Ile Burgundie is classified as Subtropical Humid (Cfa). This climate is characterized by hot, humid summers and mild, wet winters. The island’s maritime location moderates temperature extremes, resulting in smaller diurnal and annual temperature ranges compared to inland areas at similar latitudes. Moderate annual temperature variation. Summers are warm and humid, while winters are mild with occasional cool periods. Well-distributed rainfall throughout the year, typically ranging from 1000-1500 mm (39-59 in). Subject to the influence of the Tradewinds, which can contribute to onshore breezes and moderate temperature fluctuations.

Levantine Hurricane Season

From June to November, the Burgoignesc Metropole is susceptible to tropical cyclones forming in the Levantine basin. These storms, known regionally as Levantine hurricanes, are most frequent and intense during August and September. The warm sea surface temperatures and low vertical wind shear during this period provide favorable conditions for hurricane development. The Metropole's coastal regions are particularly vulnerable to storm surge, high winds, and heavy rainfall associated with these systems. The frequency and intensity of these storms can vary significantly from year to year, influenced by larger-scale atmospheric patterns such as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO).

History

Main article: History of Burgundie

Historical development of Burgoignesc culture.

Contemporary period

21st century Burgundie

Late Modern History in Burgundie

Burgundie emerged from the First Fratricide, unifying many of the coastal states of the Kingdom of Dericania and sought its own future, leaving the kingdom altogether. It became a moderate player in global politics but continued the trend of its predecessor states of being a major global shipping and trade partner. It was a primary belligerent in the First and Second Great Wars as well as a co-founding member of many of the global aid organizations that were convened as a result.

Early Modern History in Burgundie

During the early modern period the lands that make up the Burgoignesc Metropole were still controlled by princelings of the Kingdom of Dericania. They had very little in common, but they began to express common themes that began to differentiate them from the remainder of Dericania. This is especially true of the Burgoignesc colonial empire, a neolog applied to the colonial enterprises of the Duchies of Martilles, Marialianus, and Burgundie.

Medieval History in Burgundie

During the medieval period the lands that make up the Burgoignesc Metropole were controlled by princelings of the Kingdom of Dericania. They had very little in common, and each pursued their own destiny.

Classical History in Burgundie

In the classical period, the lands that make up the Burgoignesc Metropole were predominantly controlled by city-states of the Ancient Istroyan civilization or as a province of Great Levantia.

Pre-history

The earliest evidence of hominin presence in the region dates back to the late Pleistocene, approximately 50,000-40,000 BCE. These early inhabitants were nomadic or semi-nomadic, following migrating herds of megafauna such as mammoths, woolly rhinoceroses, and giant deer. Evidence of their presence is primarily limited to scattered stone tools, predominantly crude choppers and handaxes, discovered in geological strata across Nostrestran and Faramount. These artifacts suggest a reliance on scavenging and opportunistic hunting, with little evidence of sophisticated hunting techniques. The fluctuating climate of the Pleistocene, marked by glacial advances and retreats, significantly influenced human habitation patterns. During glacial periods, lower sea levels exposed land bridges connecting Ile Burgundie to the Levantine mainland, facilitating migration. Conversely, interglacial periods, with rising sea levels, isolated the island and potentially fragmented mainland populations. This climatic variability likely contributed to genetic drift and the development of distinct regional cultural variations. Around 20,000-15,000 BCE, a shift in tool technology is observed. The appearance of more refined blade tools, including scrapers, burins, and projectile points, indicates an advancement in hunting and processing techniques. This technological shift coincides with the decline of megafauna, suggesting a greater reliance on smaller game and a more diversified subsistence strategy. Evidence from cave sites in northern Nostrestran reveals the use of fire for cooking and warmth, along with rudimentary cave paintings depicting animals and abstract symbols. These findings suggest the development of symbolic thought and potentially early forms of ritualistic practice. The period between 15,000-10,000 BCE, spanning the late Pleistocene and early Holocene transition, saw further adaptation to changing environmental conditions. As the climate warmed and glaciers retreated, forests expanded, and sea levels rose, creating the L'Estrech Alavarienne and isolating Ile Burgundie once more. Coastal populations began to exploit marine resources, as evidenced by shell middens and fishhooks discovered along the coastlines. Inland populations adapted to the expanding forests, developing new hunting techniques and utilizing forest resources for tools, shelter, and fuel.

Agricultural revolution in Burgundie

Burgundie's agricultural revolution is based on the cultivation of Sorghum bicolor as the major staple. Archaeological evidence unearthed in the valleys of what is now central Nostrestran points to the earliest known domestication of sorghum within the Burgoignesc Metropole, dating back to approximately 10,000 BCE. These proto-Burgoigniacs, hunter-gatherer bands inhabiting the fertile floodplains adjacent to the nascent Sea of Istroya, observed the prolific growth of wild sorghum. Unlike other grains that demanded extensive processing, sorghum’s resilience in arid conditions and relatively simple threshing process made it an ideal candidate for early cultivation. Initially, the relationship was likely opportunistic. Wild sorghum was harvested seasonally, supplementing a diet of hunted game and foraged plants. However, as populations increased and predictable food sources became essential, these early inhabitants began to actively manage sorghum stands. They cleared competing vegetation, scattered seeds in favorable locations, and observed the effects of different growing conditions. This marked the nascent stages of agriculture, a shift from passive consumption to active production. The shift to sorghum cultivation had profound implications. Sedentism began to take root as communities established semi-permanent settlements near their cultivated fields. This, in turn, fostered the development of more complex social structures. The need to coordinate planting, harvesting, and storage led to the emergence of rudimentary forms of social organization, with individuals specializing in different tasks. Surplus sorghum grain allowed for the support of non-agricultural specialists, such as craftspeople and religious figures, further accelerating social differentiation. The domestication of sorghum in Burgundie wasn't a singular event but a protracted process spanning centuries. Early domesticated varieties were likely less productive than their wild progenitors. However, through generations of selective breeding, early Burgoigniacs gradually improved the grain’s yield, size, and palatability. This process was driven by a keen understanding of plant genetics, albeit an empirical one. Farmers saved seeds from the most desirable plants, ensuring that these traits were passed on to subsequent generations. The spread of sorghum cultivation beyond Nostrestran was gradual. As populations grew, groups migrated to adjacent regions, carrying their cultivated grain with them. By 8,000 BCE, sorghum agriculture had spread to what is now Faramount and the southern portions of Ile Burgundie. The differing climates of these regions necessitated further adaptation of sorghum varieties. In Faramount's tropical wet climate, varieties resistant to fungal diseases were favored, while in the subtropical humid climate of Ile Burgundie, emphasis was placed on varieties that could tolerate higher humidity levels. This early period of agricultural development laid the foundation for the subsequent rise of complex societies in Burgundie. The reliable food source provided by sorghum cultivation allowed for population growth, the development of specialized labor, and the emergence of hierarchical social structures. This agricultural foundation would prove crucial for the development of the Burgoignesc thalattocracy millennia later.

Government

Burgundie is a parliamentary representative democracy. A constitutional monarchy, the country is organised as a decentralised unitary state. Burgundie can be described as a consociational state. Burgoignesc politics and governance are characterised by a common striving for broad consensus on important issues, within both of the political community and society as a whole. The nation is under the sovereignty of a Great Prince, who in turn, serves the Pacta conventa of The Burgundies. The Government of Burgundie is a Representative democracy, served by congresses at local, provincial, and constituent country level. At the national level the Citizens Court of the National Assembly (Burg. La Assemblee de Ciutadans de l'Assemblee Nacional, ACAN) serves as the highest congress of the land.

All political entities in Burgundie are governed through the concept that all government is local. The layered approach is an important part of Burgoignesc political culture. The sense of civic engagement in government is high.

Administrative Divisions

Burgundie composed of 5 constituent countries (Ile Burgundie, Notrestran, Faramount, Equatorial Ostiecia, the constituent country equivalent Burgoignesc Overseas Representative Assembly (BORA)), and the uninhabited extra-territorial exclave of Port Extranjero. These constituent countries are further divided into 30 provinces.

Ile Burgundie

Ile Burgundie is a large island off of southeast Levantia, separated from Levantia by L'Estrech Alavarienne along the northwestern coast of the Sea of Istroya. It is home to 21,377,130 Burgoigniacs and emcompasses and area of 62,936.711 km2. Its capital is Vilauristre, its head of state is Great Prince of Burgundie, Pasqual I, and its head of government is President Eithne-Isabelle Pasquier Sardou. It is further divided into three provinces.

Nostrestran

The local administrative body of Nostrestran are its 7 provinces. They are:

Name	Capital	Population	Area in km²	Population density in km²	Constituent country	Geographic designation
Agiocles	Reimont Gillete	18,441,850	91,685.579	201.14	Nostrestran	N/A
Estia	TBD	34,235,367	118,181.16	289.69	Nostrestran	N/A
Marialanus	Stearlinge Arch	37,358,130	129,085	289.41	Nostrestran	N/A
Martilles	Maloria	16,274,370	69,074.983	235.60	Nostrestran	N/A
Marves	TBD	12,758,960	44,496	286.74	Nostrestran	N/A
Panomes	Ierames	22,926,020	129,136.81	177.53	Nostrestran	N/A
Pumbria	Coryna	38,356,020	131,545.5	291.58	Nostrestran	N/A

Faramount

The local administrative body of Faramount are its 8 provinces. They are:

Name	Capital	Population	Area in km²	Population density in km²	Constituent country	Geographic designation
Alexarmes	Galantinie	4,558,310	58,430.132	78.01	Faramount	N/A
Drusla	TBD	3,737,346	27,868.272	134.11	Faramount	N/A
Esquinia	Ieraclienne	5,053,140	177,414.19	28.48	Faramount	N/A
Iliouvalia	Rhorres	18,441,850	76,171.55	242.11	Faramount	N/A
Montverd	Liothea	17,940,040	151,358.91	118.53	Faramount	N/A
Orostile	Ellisina	3,740,630	23,413.49	159.76	Faramount	N/A
Province of Faramount	Gameroun	47,346,345	308,907.882	153.27	Faramount	N/A
Lacliona	Albonne	3,324,869	60,191.324	55.24	Faramount	N/A

Equatorial Ostiecia

The local administrative body of Equatorial Ostiecia are its 5 provinces. They are:

Name	Capital	Population	Area in km²	Population density in km²	Constituent country	Geographic designation
Catavis	TBD	915,936	6164.171	148.59	Equatorial Ostiecia	N/A
Flordeterra	Drovan	35,088,050	224526.069	156.28	Equatorial Ostiecia	N/A
Ile Plaiteaux	TBD	2,346,457	21755.900	107.85	Equatorial Ostiecia	N/A
Pescanice	TBD	15,546,680	173736.402	89.48	Equatorial Ostiecia	N/A
Port de Vanse	TBD	4,858,164	34679.940	140.09	Equatorial Ostiecia	N/A

Burgoignesc Overseas Representative Assembly

The Burgoignesc Overseas Representative Assembly (BORA) is the Constituent Country Equivalent that includes the provinces of Alcairet, Antilles, Argaea, Chaukhira, Nauta Normand, Port de Vent, Sudmoll, Torlen, Wintergen, and the candidate jurisdiction Iles Evangeline. BORA functions just like all of the other constituent countries of Burgundie and the islands it oversees have the same relationship to it that the provinces of the other constituent countries have to the country-level government. It is held separate from the other constituent countries because they share the common issues held living on islands far from the Burgoignesc Metropole. So, while it is culturally and geographically the most disparate constituent country in Burgundie it is one of the most unified political bodies due to the shared experiences of the constituents. The local administrative body of BORA are its 10 provinces. They are:

Name	Capital	Population	Area in km²	Population density in km²	Constituent country	Geographic designation
Alcairet	Port Genjareb	12,400,550	87,204.9	142.2	BORA	Burgoignesc Audonia
Antilles	Cruxendale	1,207,204	24,682.59	48.91	BORA	Burgoignesc Audonia
Argaea	Le Havre	214,390	604,762.224	.35	BORA	Polar Burgundies
Chaukhira	Abu-Ouncanobi	1,254,493	9,090.858	138.00	BORA	Burgoignesc Audonia
Iles Evangeline	Port Capelan	1,485,556	25,666.78	57.88	BORA	Burgoignesc Audonia
Nauta Normand	TBD	142,960	854.696	167.26	BORA	Polar Burgundies
Sudmoll	Oparo Nui	218,510	1,554	140.61	BORA	Polar Burgundies
Torlen	New Torleans	170,220	543.898	312.96	BORA	Burgoignesc metropole
Wintergen	Hivernille	719,990	5,775.673	124.66	BORA	Polar Burgundies
Port de Vent	Ville Port de Vent	11,302,230	62,366.913	180	BORA	Polar Burgundies

Military

Main article: Burgoignesc Security Forces

Foreign Relations

Main article: Foreign Relations of Burgundie

Burgundie has been seen as a historical aggressor with a long history of colonialism, purveyor of chattel slavery, military and economic interventionist paternalism, and Christian proselytization. This has led to a number of global conspiracies regarding Burgundie from Global Burgieman to Levantine Creep, and unflattering characterizations like Brother Auggie. This attitude colors both Burgundie's relations with the world and the world's perception of Burgoignesc intent. In this post-Operation Kipling era, specifically under the Palacin Dynasty (Pasqual I and his heir apparent Crown Princess Amelia) the country has taken a much softer tone with recognition of its role in the aforementioned grievances. Since the 1990s the country, spearheaded by the Palacin family has sought to focus on the role Burgundie has played in the modernization of the world since the end of the Second Great War (containerization), the minimalization of death and suffering across the globe, the multi-lateral approach the country now takes with its participation in transnational organizations like the League of Nations and the Levantine Union, the efforts to not suppress economic growth in its post-colonial countries, but to develop healthy, wealthy, global markets. These efforts are recognized as just the beginning of a long period of global healing that Burgundie needs to lead. They have proven to be fruitful in the short term as the opening and expanding of markets, both economic and of academic, have given Burgundie access to incredible human and financial capital the world over.

Burgundie has historically sided with the southern Levantine powerhouse Urcea in global politics. However, Burgundie is the first to extend the olive branch in the name of open commerce and global stabilization which it has done with both Caphiria and Kiravia. Burgundie currently maintains good relations with all three countries nations and is sometimes used as an intermediary between the three superpowers when tension is on the verge of breaking out into violence, or when tensions are coming down and a de-escalation is sought. However, Burgundie is attached at the hip to Urcea through history, culture, and institutions like the Levantine Union and Caphiria and Kiravia see Burgundie through that lens.

With the remainder of the Occidental world and the regional powers of Daxia and Stenza, Burgundie maintains good and open relationships. Burgundie serves with many of these nations on global institutions like the League of Nations but not in permanent seat status, as well as organizations like the Red Cross, the World Bank, etc. Burgundie is particularly close/allied to the nations of Arcerion, Cartadania, Pelaxia, Paulastra, and Yonderre.

Territory disputes

Burgundie has two low-intensity but open territory disputes. They are over ownership of Sudmoll and Wintergen.

Sudmoll controversy

Main article: Sudmoll Island Conflicts

Following its independence in 1921, Stenza laid claim to the Burgoignesc island of Sudmoll. On a number of politically advantageous occasions, the Stenzan Armed Forces have been dispatched to occupy the island often leading to an escalation of tension between Stenza and Burgundie. There have also been a number of flashpoints between Stenzan and Sudmollese fishing and merchant fleets that have had to be broken up by the coast guards of both countries. To this day the matter remains unsettled with both nations claiming the island, but Stenza's last concerted effort to exert control over the island was in 1984.

Wintergen controversy

Main article: Stewardship of Wintergen (government-in-exile)

Society

Culturally, Burgundie is one of the least vernacular and most mechanical nations in the world. This means that there is a level of homongony across the diverse and vast thalattocracy. This is an accidental side effect of the centralized, planned mechanization put forward by the various royal institutions since the First Fratricide, but especially since the Second Great War. These mechanization efforts, namely in the wide spread use of air conditioning, mass transit, and subsidized domestic migration have allowed the Burgoigniacs to live anywhere in the world under the same conditions as they would on the Ile Burgundie. Many international sociologists term this Laissez-faire Vilauristrification in reference to the fact that the phenomenon was accidental and that the Burgoignesc cultural experience is becoming more like that of the capital in Vilauristre. This has been more noticeable in the Burgoignesc territories outside of the Burgoignesc Metropole, as Levantine Burgoignesc culture is the core that many other vernacular cultures within the thalattocracy are being pulled towards. Outside of Burgundie, this has been observed across southern Audonia and Vallos. Many in these areas see Burgundie as the paragon of modernization and progress and thus have adopted many of the mechanizations that have led to this shift in Burgundie.

However, over the last 50 years Equatorial Ostiecia has come be the cultural and economic center of Burgundie, in essence, creating a foil to the Burgoignesc Metropole.

Traditions and national ethos

Burgundie is a thalassocracy, a tradition it attributes and claims continuity with the ancient Adonerum. It is also a Latino-Istroyan cultural hybrid and as such claims foundational continuity with the origins of Occidental culture. It furthermore played a key role in the rule and maintenance of the middle and late Holy Levantine Empire which Burgoigniacs believe give their nation cache earned in the political affairs of Levantia. Lastly, Burgundie spent much of the Age of Navigation in search of the Three Magi and their cultural analogues. As such, it sought and became enmeshed with the affairs of Audonia and Vallos via the Burgoignesc colonial empire.

It is only recently that Burgundie has taken a softer, more diplomatic and aide-focused approach to global politics. It has often resorted to interventionism, paternalism, and colonialism to maintain its standing and achieve its national objectives. As such its: military is enormous, has more political cache, and maintains more direct agreements (treaties, pacts, trade agreements) than is necessary for its size and position in the world. Additionally, its culture and language is endemic in many parts of the world as a vestige of its colonial past.

Economy and infrastructure

Burgundie is a founding member of a number of global the League of Nations, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, World Health Organization, World Trade Organization, International Maritime Organization, World Food Program, International Red Cross, and other international organizations. Burgundie is a highly developed country, with a GDP of $19.1 trillion and a GDPPC of $50,170. It accounts for approximately a 47% of the world’s maritime shipping traffic which has made the country rich. However, since it lacks a diverse native manufacturing base it is susceptible to fluctuations in the global markets.

Burgundie is the world's largest importer operating on a massive trade deficit that it offsets with its taxes on the shipping industry as well an aggressive international loan policy. Burgundie ranks among the highest nations in several measures of socioeconomic performance, including average wage, human development, per capita GDP, and productivity per person.

Burgundie is a highly developed, post-industrial, agro-services economy. Services, particularly maritime logistics, medical, and education make us the largest sector of financial activity. However, Agribusiness constitute the largest sector by number of employee. Based in the Latinic concept of latifundium, and later colonial patroonships, large-scale, commercial agriculture is cornerstone of the Burgoignesc economic engine both in the Burgoignesc Metropole and its overseas territories.

Econonmic history

During the 17th and 18th century, due to the technological explosion of the Late Renaissance, later Enlightenment, and its resulting colonial empire, Burgundie had a preeminent role in the global economy, accounting for 5.1% of the world's GDP in 1770. The loss of much of its colonial empire, lagging behind in the adoption of industrialization in the 19th century, and the cost of fighting both the First and Second Great Wars as well as Operation Kipling further weakened Burgundie's relative position in the 20th century. Despite a relative decline in its global dominance, in the 21st century Burgundie retains the ability to project significant power and influence around the world.

In the 18th century, Burgundie was among the first nations to industrialise.

Burgundie

Contents

Etymology