Belkaland

*Großfürstentum Belkaland*
Grand Principality of Belkaland
Großfürstentum Belkaland Grand Principality of Belkaland
Flag	Coat of arms
	Motto: "In Days Past's Darkest Hour, Peace Is In The Fatherland"
	Anthem: Belkania;
	National Animal; Kaiser Eagle
	Political map of Belkaland
	Map of Belkaland in Rostil
Located in	Rostil
Capital	Political: Dinsmark; Royal: Stier
Largest city	Port Waldreich
Official languages	Belkan, Birkainian, German, English
Recognised regional languages	Sloma, Waldia
Ethnic groups (2010)	78% Belkan, 15% Birkainian, 5% German, & 2% Other
Demonym	Belkan
Government	Constitutionally Assisted Monarchy
Formation
Area
Population
GDP (PPP)	2015 estimate
GDP (nominal)	2015 estimate
HDI (2009)	0.945 (High) (24th)
Currency	Slaba (SLA)
Time zone	SMT
Drives on the	Right
Internet TLD	.bkl
Calling code	+221
	1Land Area includes the area of the disputed Schanye Plains

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Belkaland, officially the Grand Principality of Belkaland (Belkan: Großfürstentum Belkaland) is a country ruled by Grand Duke Razgriz von Demon, dominated by rolling plains and divided nearly in half by the Gulf of Waldreich. It is bordered in the north by Beusuandille; to the east it is by the centerpiece of Belkaland's largest religion, the Sea of Ceres; . To the west, Belkaland is bordered by ???, and to the south it is bordered by the long time rival Birkaine. A modern nation utilizing ultra-clean power sources such as Nuclear Reactors & Hydro-electric dams, Belkaland is a sharp contrast to its eastern ally, Birkaine.

Etymology

History

Main article: History of Belkaland

The history of Belkaland is long and racked with warfare, against both itself and its neighbors. Made up of 12 old Belkan states in which each state fought each other for domination. During the early 1200s, two of these rival nations, the Queendom of Rheinberg and the Principality of Stier, formed an alliance and began to invade its neighbors. In the late 1200s, the two states finished what they had start nearly a hundred years before and successfully for the first time united the Belkan Homeland. To solidify the unification, the two states arranged a marriage between their respective heirs. Stier put forth Prince Otto von Dämon XXIIV while Rheinberg sent Princess Ludwika Karolina Radziwiłł, the resulting marriage is considered by most historians to be the start of the modern House of Dämon and the beginning of the Kingdom of Belkaland.

Politics

Executive branch

The Monarch holds the position of Chief Executive and appoints members to the Cabinet

•Secretary of State Detlef Fleisher
•Secretary of Defense Maj. Gen. Lorenz Bleher
•Secretary of Foreign Relations Lorenz Riedel
•Secretary of Homeland Security Jurgen Maier
•Secretary of Media Lord Helmut Schnellinger
•Secretary of Education Bruno Watt
•Secretary of Environment, Rural Sectors, and Agriculture Meinrad Grimm
•Secretary of Health Lord Karl-Heinz Sammer
•Secretary of Trade Egon Strauss
•Secretary of Transportation Franz Speidel
•Secretary of Labor Griswold Veiser
•Secretary of Cultural Preservation Katarine von Tennhardt

Senate

Main article: Belkan Senate

With exactly 114 representatives, 5 for each of Belkaland’s 22 districts and 1 for each Colony, the Senate is responsible for the day-to-day running of Belkaland. The senators are elected every 5 years with a 4 term limit by the people of Belkaland. While it does act as the legislative branch of the government, at no time can it overrule the Grand Duke. It is for that reason that Belkaland is not a Constitutional Monarchy, but a Constitutionally-Assisted Monarchy. Currently lead by Lars Gründer, heir to Gründer Industries.

High Court

The High Courts of Belkaland is the Judiciary Branch of Belkaland. It possesses 7 members, 6 High Judges & 1 Grand Judge. The Court’s duty is to counter the Senate when they step out of bounds, and like the Senate, they can not overrule the Grand Duke.

Political parties

Rald Party

An Ultra-Nationalistic party with the aims of expanding Belkaland’s influence, this party is smaller of the two major parties in the Belkan Government. Notable members include the SecLabor Griswold Veiser & Senate member Waldemarr Rald, founder of the party.

The Grey Party

A corporate party with the purpose of expanding the influence of corporations, the Grey Party is ruled by a group of men which the party takes its name from, the Grey Men. The Grey Party is the larger of the two major parties in Belkaland. Notable members include the SedMedia Lord Helmut Schnellinger, SecTrade Egon Strauss, and Senate leader Lars Gründer.

The United Liaoist Party of Belkaland

A Socialist Party with ties to the Stoklomolvi Liaoist Federation, the ULPB's goal is to create a Communistic Government with them as the only party and turn the nation into a massive Gulag. Because of this, none of the other parties within the Belkan Political System have relations with the ULPB. Surprisingly, the ULPB in the last elections, gained 5 seats on the Senate.

The Union Party

A Liberal Party who seeks to maximize individual liberty, they desire to see the Principality of Belkaland change to a democracy and the Grand Duke thrown out of power. However, due to the popularity of the Grand Duke, such a change is not likely and they hold only 2 seats on the Senate.

The Black Sun Party

An Ultra-Nationalist Socialist party with extreme religious views, they worship a deity with Naacalian origins and desire to turn Belkaland into a haven for religous fanatics and convert everyone to their religion. It is the Political Wing of the militant Order of the Black Sun cult.

Foreign Relations

Main article: Foreign Relations of Belkaland

Alliances

Currently, Belklaland is a member of 2 regional alliances; the Triumvirate Pact with Birkaine(the third member nation having fallen to internal disputes) and the Tri-Crown Alliance, formally called the Alliance of the Three Crowns, with West Estainia & Xin Han.

Foreign Military Presence

Birkainian Presence

As a Level 1 Ally, the Commonwealth of Birkaine is allowed near-free access to Belkan bases when provided prior warning of arrival. However, Birkainain troops are held to stricter laws and are prosecuted to the full extent of the law if they break a law.

Military

Main article: Belkan Streitkräfte

Belkan Luftwaffe

Main article: Belkan Luftwaffe

The Belkaland Luftwaffe is the Aviation branch of the Belkan Military and holds control over many of Belkaland's defensive duties & programs, including the Belkan Nuclear Program. It's history is rich with legendary pilots and battles, many of which are against the Union of Birkaine. Currently the Luftwaffe is in the process of reorganization due to the rooting out of several corrupt officials that held many high offices.

Luftwächter

The Luftwächter(Air Guard) is a relatively new branch to enter service. Under the command of the Luftwaffe, it's creation has caused a major stir in the upper echolons of the Belkan Military as many consider the Luftwächter to be redundant compared to the Luftwaffe. It's duty to keep the skies within the borders of Belkaland and it's territories secure for safe usage by friendly forces and civilian aircraft.

Belkan Heer

Main article: Belkan Heer

Belkan Kaiserliche Marine

Main article: Belkan Kaiserliche Marine

The Naval Branch of the Belkan Military, the Kaiserliche Marine is the oldest of the 3 military branches and to some is considered a national treasure due to the amount of funds that has been channeled into it. It's primary duties is to safeguard the waters under Belkan control, in particular the Sea of Ceres; and to provide Force Projection for foreign Belkan interests.

Luftmarine

The Aviation Arm of the Kaiserliche Marine.

Küstenwache

Main article: Belkan Küstenwache

Translated simply as the Coast Guard, the Küstenwache is the force that protects the ports & coastal areas of Belkaland and it's territory.

Administrative divisions

Districts

Belkaland is divided into 22 separate Districts, many of which are close to the old City-State borders from before Belkaland as a nation formed. Each District is further divided into 5 sections called Counties, whose borders are redrawn every 10 years shortly after the Censes is completed. This is done as to keep the population representation in each County equal. On the national scale, these Counties are responsible for the election of each District's 5 Senators, 1 Senator for each County.

The only exceptions to this set is Stier District & Rheinberg District. The reason for these exceptions is due to the presence of the nation's two Capitals; the Royal City of Stier and the Capital City of Dinsmark. These two cities, due to their political power, are considered Special Political Zones(SPZ), with which the inhabitants do not vote for a Senate Representative. Also, these SPZs borders are never redrawn, so the other 5 counties in the District must redraw their borders when they do around the SPZs.

Colonies

At this time, the Grand Principality possesses four colonies, the Belkan Colony of Afganistani, The Grand Belkan Colony of the Barbary Islands in Tyrrhenia, The Belkan Colony of The Wishing Well, and the Belkan Colony of Nolm.

Geography

Belkaland covers a total of 7,437,375 km² of territory on the continent of Sotia, centering around the Gulf of Waldreich & Lake Schwester. While not a very large nation on the world scale, Belkaland does command a sizeable presence on the Sotian continent.

The River Avalon on the outskirts of Dinsmark

Nearly split in two by the Gulf of Waldreich, Belkaland is divided into two regions; Nord Belkaland & South Belkaland. The larger Nord Belkaland is mainly flatlands with a minor mountain range in the eastern half and is home to the majority of the citizens of the nation. Running through Nord Belkaland are two major rivers, the River Belka and the River Avalon. The River Belka starts at Lake Edelwasser, where the Royal City of Stier is located, and the surrounding mountains. Flowing north, it runs through the Stier mountains via a series of large caves before spilling out and flowing on the surface towards port city of Wehr on the shore of the Ibach Bay.

The River Avalon is the larger of the two rivers and it starts in the Rachade Mountains, though in modern times the main source is Lake Avalon, formed by the Avalon Dam Military Facility. The river then flows south to Lake Schwester, a lake formed by an extinct Supervolcano. On the other side of the lake, another river is formed which flows on, running through political capital of Dinsmark, to end at the Gulf of Waldreich

The River Rot and the town of Bogen in 2000AD

A third large river in Nord Belkaland is called the River Rot, Rot being Belkan for Red, however the name of this river has not always been Rot. During to the 1700s Bogen War in the Final Battle of Bogen, the river on which the city-state of Bogen laid ran red with the blood of the warriors of Bogen, to which the river's name was changed to Rot. However, the River Rot is part of the River Avalon basin as it flows into Lake Schwester, and thus does not count as a major river.

Topographic Map of Belkaland

In the smaller South Belkaland, like in the North, the terrain is for the most part temperate grasslands with the Reichberg Highlands running through the middle of South Belkaland in an East-West direction. The landscape of South Belkaland is dotted with farms and farmland. Also cutting through the land are a single major river, the River Aurick, which forms part of the border with Birkaine. As the River Aurick is also Birkainian, it is very polluted with petrochemical waste from factories in Birkaine. Thankfully the branches of the River Aurick flow fast enough to prevent the pollution from backing up into the heart of South Belkaland. The source of the River Aurick is the glaciers in the XXX Mts in Birkaine. While South Belkaland is mainly grasslands, it is dotted sporadically with small mountains formed tens of thousands of years ago by volcanic magma plumes. The most famous of these is Mount Schirm, which up until 1998, was the primary source of uranium ore for Belkaland's many nuclear power plants until the mine ran dry.

In the area separating Nord & South Belkaland, an eroded rift valley formed when the Sotian Continent broke away from the Irkalla Continent and Sotia fractured as the southern half encountered resistance before finally breaking off of Irkalla. This rift valley for the most part is at or below sea level, and the risk of flooding is high.

Climate

The climate in Belkaland is rather temperate during most of the year due to ocean currents off shore to the west.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Belkaland

The economy of Belkaland is a regional powerhouse and is generally symbolized with 3 Pillars; Defense, Agriculture, & Mining. Those three industries together employ approximately 67% of all working age citizens within Belkaland, and provide Belkaland with income from the international community.

The Logo of the Hypersphere Technologies Ltd. Corporation

The primary force behind the defense industry is the Hypersphere Technologies Ltd. Corporation, a joint venture between Belkan & Birkainian military industrial complexe companies. Most of the factories in the Belkan partners of Hypersphere is in Nord Belkaland with a sizable amount on the shore of Lake Schwester in the cities of Sudentor & Hoffnung.

Aerial View of Farmland in the Schayne Plains

Agriculture in Belkaland is almost exclusively practiced in South Belkaland due to the warmer weather in South Belkaland. The main crops grown are grains such as Rye, Barley, & Triticale in the northern half of South Belkaland and Wheat & Maize with the southern half of South Belkaland. Due to the Waldreich Mountains, rain clouds are forced to dump large amounts of water at the base of the mountain chain, providing the many farms & fields with a steady supply of water. Because of this rich farmland, many wars have been waged for control of them, the last being the Schayne Plains Conflict with the Union of Birkaine in 1944. A notable fact on the agriculture in Belkaland is that the largest religion in Belkaland, the Temple of Ceres, worships the Goddess Ceres, the Goddess of Harvest and Agriculture.

Mining in Belkaland is an old industry in Belkaland which had at one point been the most powerful industry in Belkaland. But with the formation of major military industrial complexes, the mining industry took a hit and fell behind. However, it still has a good portion of its influence as without mining, the defense industry would collapse. Much of the mining in Belkaland is located in the Waldreichs where vast iron & copper deposits lie. And in the mountains surrounding Lake Schwester, many precious & semi-precious stone deposits are mined, formed by the supervolcano that is Lake Schwester.

Currency

Main article: Slaba

The currency use by Belkaland is currently the Slaba, replacing the Zollar in 2009. Created to ease minting in both Belkaland & Birkaine due to the two nation's linked economy, the Slaba is currently being lobbied to become the common currency for the Rostilian Economical Plan. Slaba's are backed by a Tri-Standard of Jade, Ruby, & Gold, this allows for security & flexiblity in the dynamic world economy.

Exports & Imports

The primary export from Belkaland is grain & manufactured goods, with other things such as electrical power & Super-Grade Plutonium also being exported. Imports into Belkaland include iron, copper, and uranium ore.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Belkaland

Ethnic composition (2010)
Belkan	78%
Birkainian	12%
Estainian	6%
Ukrainian	2.8%
TBD	0.8%
TBD	0.4%
French	-100%

As of 2015, approximately 879,873,750 people living within Belkaland, 5.4%(47,513,182) of them are illegal immigrants from Birkaine. In the 2015 Census, it found that 58%(510,326,775) Belkans are male, 41.99%(369,458,987) being female, and 0.01%(87,987) being neutral. 35%(307,955,812) of Belkans are under the age of 18, 42%(369,546,975) of Belkans are between the age of 19 and 64, and 23%(202,370,962) are above the age of 65.

Belkans, on average, earn roughly 69,241.90 a year according to the 2015 Census. The average cost of living in Belkaland has been calculated to be 18% of a person's income, so in truth, the average Belkan earns only 56,778.36 a year.

Language

Within Belkaland, there are 4 major languages that is recognized as 'Official Languages'; Belkan, Birkainian, German, and English. These languages being given official recognition by the Belkan Government is due to majority of people in Belkaland who speak it and it's international impact.

Religion

Religion composition (2010)
Ceresian	42%
Atheist	41%
Christian	8%
Mechanicum	5%
Muslim	3%
Other	1%

Religion in Belkaland is for some a heated issue, roughly half of Belkaland, including much of the government and the Royal Family, are members of the Temple of Ceres, known as Ceresians. The other half are atheist, with much of the scientific community falling under this group. Following behind Ceresians & Atheists are Christians, mainly from German & Spanish immigrants.

After those three are followers of the Birkainian religion of Cult Mechanicus. Due to the majority of Birkainian being of this religion, it has naturally spread into Belkaland with a few Scientists & Industrialists converting to it. Also coming from Birkaine is Islam, due to Birkaine's many Middle Eastern colonies.

Cults

There are many small radical cults within Belkaland, usually only with a few dozen followers. However, there is one group known as the Black Sun Cult, who worships the Naacalian mythological entity known as Lord Midnight. This group numbers in the thousands and is classified as a possible threat due to many of the cult's founding members being ex-leaders of the National Union Party.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Belkaland

External links