Hamilay
From WikiStates
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Federal Republic of Hamilay
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| Motto: Dulce Et Decorum Est Pro Patria Mori "It is sweet and seemly to die for the fatherland" |
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| Anthem: She Stands Eternal |
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| Capital (and largest city) |
Sayenna | |||||
| Official languages | English | |||||
| Recognised regional languages | Russian, Chinese, assorted others | |||||
| Demonym | Hamilayan | |||||
| Government | Semi-presidential federal republic | |||||
| - | President | Vasily Vladimirovich Novikov | ||||
| - | Chancellor | Edward Barnard | ||||
| Establishment | ||||||
| - | early civilization | c. 300 BC | ||||
| - | as Hamilayan Empire | 1655 | ||||
| - | as Republic of Hamilay | 14 August 1889 | ||||
| Area | ||||||
| - | Total | 11,490,100 km² (?th) 4,436,352 sq mi |
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| - | Water (%) | ? | ||||
| Population | ||||||
| - | 2009 estimate | 7,678,482,104 (?th) | ||||
| - | Density | 668.10/km² 1,730.4/sq mi |
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| GDP (PPP) | 2009 estimate | |||||
| - | Total | $367.8 trillion | ||||
| - | Per capita | $47,900 | ||||
| Gini (2008) | 38 | |||||
| HDI (2009) |  0.980 (high) |
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| Currency | Hamilayan dollar (HMD) |
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| Internet TLD | .hm | |||||
| Calling code | +426 | |||||
Hamilay, officially the Federal Republic of Hamilay, is an island country in Gholgoth. Hamilay consists of the Hamilayan mainland and its surrounding islands, and possesses no significant overseas territories, unusual amongst the international community. Its closest neighbours are Kregaia, Telros, Ekraysia and The Silver Sky. The territory of Hamilay covers 11,490,100 square kilometers (4,436,352 square miles) and is primarily a temperate climate with subarctic and Mediterranean zones in the north and south respectively.
The Hamilayan continent and its home islands have been inhabited for approximately 2,500 years, initially by various groups of Aboriginal peoples who were later displaced by ???ian settlers in the mid-4th century. Hamilay consisted of a loose confederation of city-states and minor nations until Hamilayan unification under the state of Sayenna in 1655. Initially united as the Hamilayan Empire, the nation transitioned to a democratic government in 1889 following the August Revolution. Hamilay remained at peace throughout the modern era until 2006, when the last surviving member of the Imperial dynasty, William VI, spearheaded an unsucessful attempt to return to the throne, leading to a brief but bloody civil war. The democratic reforms made over the 20th century were abruptly reversed in 2008, when the government of President David Starling was overthrown in a military coup.
Hamilay is defined as a semi-presidential federal republic by its constitution. Legislative power rests with the bicameral Parliament. The Federal Republic is made up of forty-two states, ??? municipalities and ??? districts. The capital and largest city is Sayenna. Hamilay is a member of the Gholgoth region and associated alliance. It has also been a member of numerous other now-defunct organisations throughout its modern history. Despite this, its modern foreign policy has been generally non-interventionist.
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Etymology
The name Hamilay is derived from the indigenous word hamalle, roughly translatable as "homeland" in English. ??? settlers in the ??th century who landed on the modern-day Sun Coast region noted the local population's use of the term, and during inland colonisation, that variants of the word were also in use by other native groups. It was Anglicized as Hamilay and used to refer to the continent as early as the 15th century, but was only made official in 1661, five years after Sayennan conquest of the Hamilayan continent. This was done by official decree of the Emperor John I, who envisioned a united pan-continental state rather than a colonial empire ruled from Sayenna. The term is notable for being one of the few words derived from indigenous languages still in mainstream use today.
History
Early human habitation and civilization
Middle Ages
Imperial Hamilay (1655-1890)
The first of the Sayenna-born Imperial rulers styled himself Maxmillian I, a member of the Valentinian (later House of Valentine) dynasty. Under Maxmillian I, closer relations with all European nations were fostered, and the adoption of Western culture accelerated. The Valentines, ruling for 240 years through a period of relative peace and stability, spurred a rapid modernisation of Hamilay until the 19th century. (etc)
With the death of Emperor William III in 1803 the throne passed to his nephew Gregory V. The rule of Gregory V was characterised by increased repression, most notably of the merchant classes, and subsequent economic depression. By 1809 the country was in chaos, with multiple provinces threatening to secede, and Gregory V's son Prince William of Courland led a successful coup against his father, being crowned Emperor William IV on 20 March, 1810.
The new emperor managed to temporarily halt the worsening economic situation but continued the repressive policies of his predecessor. Multiple atrocities culminated in the Red July incident of 1812, where over 250,000 citizens of the rebellious province of Archangel were massacred on William IV's orders. No Hamilayan emperor of the 19th century held power for more than eight years, due to a combination of personal failings and infighting within the Hamilayan nobility. The only ruler judged favourably by modern historians was Empress Alexandra II, whose reign saw the emancipation of the serfs in 1844. She was deposed in December 1846 by her brother Prince Frederick with the backing of the nobility and armed forces.
Republic of Hamilay (1890-)
The end of the Empire began in July 1889, when the disillusionment of the populace escalated to nationwide rioting, including the famous 22nd July Fire where a large portion of the city of Georgia was destroyed by arson. On 13 August a group of governors and military officials stormed the Imperial Palace in Sayenna (now the modern Presidential Palace). The revolutionaries successfully captured Emperor William V and his family, declaring the formation of the Republic of Hamilay the next day on 14 August (now the modern National Day of the Republic). William V and all surviving members of the Valentine dynasty were executed on 21 August by firing squad.
Whilst the newborn Republic had a democratic constitution, it was beset by problems, with President James Holland constantly exercising rule by decree as provided for under Article 4 of the constitution in an attempt to combat anti-democratic elements of the Hamilayan military, whose prestige and importance had increased further with their central role in the overthrow of the Imperial government. However, drastic changes were made to modernise the nation, such as the deregulation of the economy, increased support for technological development and the reformation of the largely corrupt and inefficient civil service and bureaucracy. Advances in the area of civil and political liberties also occurred. The newly adopted constitution, guaranteeing the rights and liberties of the individual was already a significant step forward from the Imperial absolute monarchy.
However, the government only selectively adhered to the constitution. The right to free elections was not upheld with the democratic process effectively controlled by the military, especially after President Holland's death in office in 1902. With the death of Holland the main force opposing military rule was lost. The armed forces rapidly seized control of the political system, installing a rubber-stamp Parliament and a series of Presidents either figureheads or effectively military dictators.
Democratic reforms began in 1950 with the election of Colonel-General John Rawlinson as the 7th President of Hamilay. Initially selected for Presidential candidacy by the Army old guard for being sufficiently forward-thinking and liberal to appease the populace whilst being malleable enough to control, Rawlinson proved to be a tougher personality than the military had envisioned. On 10 November, 1953, the military attempted to remove Rawlinson from power. The military coup was defeated by Rawlinson loyalists with popular backing; these events are today known as the Sayenna Spring. The first free elections since the death of the first President James Holland were held in February 1956, which Rawlinson won by the largest margin to date.
The nation was shaken in 1961 as President Rawlinson, whilst nearing the end of his second term as President, was assassinated by two gunmen while dining at a Sayenna restaurant. The attackers represented a far-right terrorist group named the Movement for National Solidarity, whose central aim was the return of authoritarian military governance. The MNS was subsequently found to have close ties to the National Conservative Party, an influential minor party with seats in the House of Representatives, which directly led to the NCP's banning. In 1999 documents were released which revealed several prominent figures in the military and intelligence communities had lent financial and material support to the MNS, causing widespread controversy.
Under Rawlinson and subsequent administrations the process of economic deregulation and reforms in the areas of civil and political rights continued. The military retained a considerable amount of influence in the political process but no longer held the same power over the executive branch as previously. By the 1980s Hamilay was rated favourably on international assessments of political, civil and economic freedoms and the pace of reform subsequently slowed.
Government and politics
The Constitution of Hamilay states that Hamilay is a federal, parliamentary, democratic republic. However, the democratic process has been indefinitely suspended under the Novikov administration. The political framework of Hamilay is based around the Constitution of the Republic, adopted in 1889 upon the Republic's founding. The constitution defines the Hamilayan political system as representative, democratic and secular, and declares the rights of both the Hamilayan people and the states.
The President is the head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces and is elected by popular vote through a plurality two-round system for a six-year term. There are no term limits. The current President is Vasily Vladimirovich Novikov; however, President Novikov is styled "President-for-Life" and achieved power through a military coup on November 12, 2008 rather than the traditional electoral system. Only the President has the authority to appoint Cabinet Ministers, although they must be approved by Parliament and may be removed by Parliament through a successful vote of no confidence.
The bicameral legislature comprises a 132-member Senate and a 500-member National Assembly. The Chancellor is usually the leader of the largest party in the National Assembly. Members of both houses of Parliament are elected through direct elections with proportional representation. Assembly seats are apportioned amongst the Hamilayan states every twelve years according to population. Representatives in the National Assembly are titled "Members of Parliament" and are elected for four-year terms. Each state is entitled to representation by three senators, whereas each Special Administrative Region has two senators. Senators are elected for three-year terms. In the case of cohabitation it is expected that the Chancellor will handle domestic affairs and the President will handle foreign policy through political convention. However, this situation has only occured once in Hamilayan history.
Politics in Hamilay is characterised by four major parties divided into three major coalitions: the centre-right Liberal coalition, centred around the Market Progressive Party and the Liberal-Republican Party, the centre-left Social-Democrat Party, and the right-wing Conservative Party. There are also numerous minor parties, the Green Party, Christian-Democrat Party and National Party being the only minor parties represented in the National Assembly. No minor parties currently hold Senate seats. The Liberals have been the dominant force in Hamilayan politics since the founding of the Republic, with the Market Progressives alone often holding a majority in both houses of Parliament.
Administrative divisions
Hamilay consists of 42 states and 3 Special Administrative Regions. These are further subdivided into municipalities and metropolitan districts.
| State | Capital | Area (km2) | Population |
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| Alban | Portland | ||
| Alexander Island | Alexandria | ||
| Anconia | Lysander | ||
| Bastion (Special Administrative Region) | Bastion | ||
| Belgrave | Rochester | ||
| Capital District | Sayenna (de facto) | ||
| Castellon | Castell | ||
| Chernaskaya | Chernaya | ||
| Christiansand | Saint Helena | ||
| Courland | Beferen | ||
| Eastheart | Laurestein | ||
| Elizabeta | New Belgrade | ||
| Markland | Ashfield | ||
| New Albion | Georgia | ||
| Sandringham | Petersburg | ||
| Sayenna | Auburn | ||
| Serinya | Serrinha | ||
| Westheart | Baltimore |
Foreign relations
Hamilay has been an isolationist nation for much of its history but its involvement in the international sphere has been steadily increasing since the late 20th century. Hamilay was a former UFAN member and the founder of the now-defunct AEFN and generally maintains cordial relations with former members of both organisations. Its free-trade policies have also brought Hamilay closer to large economic powers such as Praetonia and Questers through trading relations.
Hamilayan policy is to maintain a neutral stance to most nations and international conflicts. The primary exception is the Imperial State of North Hamilay, the successor state to the Hamilayan Empire formed in the aftermath of the Hamilayan Civil War and initially designated as an unrecognised rogue state by the Sayenna government. The Continuation War (known as the War of Independence in North Hamilay) resulted in the recognition of North Hamilay by the Hamilayan mainland and the signing of a treaty of non-aggression but tensions remain high. Relations with the nations of New Manth and Olmedreca are also poor due to their support for Imperialist forces in the civil war and subsequently for North Hamilay. However, under the Novikov administration relations have begun to thaw.
Whilst generally non-interventionist, in the past Hamilay has attempted to cultivate good relations with its fellow liberal democracies and taken a stance against authoritarian regimes. President Novikov has altered this policy significantly, with a shift towards political realism and most notably securing Hamilayan membership in the Gholgoth alliance, aligning Hamilay with several nations notorious for totalitarianism and abuse of human rights. The Hamilayan alignment towards Gholgoth is thought to represent an important foreign policy shift towards a consistently interventionist stance.
Human rights
Military
The Hamilayan military consists of four branches; Army, Navy, Air Force and the Federal Security Force, together commonly known as the Federal Armed Forces. There are also three independent arms of service, the Strategic Defence Force, Medical Corps and Military Intelligence Forces. The commander-in-chief of the military is the President, and it is subordinate to the Ministry of Defence. In 2009, the total military budget was $14.7 trillion, approximately 4% of the nation's GDP.
Recent military overhaul and expansion has increased the size of the standing armed forces to approximately 36.4 million personnel, of which 68% are male and 32% female. Women have been able to serve in all branches without restriction since 1980, and have been subject to conscription until it was abolished in 2006. Prior to this, all able-bodied citizens were obligated to serve for six months in the military or aid and relief services between the ages of 18 and 25.
In addition to its standing army, Hamilay also maintains significant second-line forces in the form of both reservists and National Guard militia. Reserve forces supporting the regular army include the Federal Home Army, Federal Naval Reserve and Federal Air Force Reserve. Reservists number approximately 13 million across all branches of service. The National Guard are a volunteer citizen militia force subordinate to state governments, a remnant of conscription. Over 250 million Hamilayans are members of the National Guard. It is not intended to participate in combat, but to provide a pool of semi-trained personnel which may be rapidly drafted into the regular defence forces in times of crisis, as well as foster national unity and solidarity.
Increasing influence in the nation during the Imperial decline of the 19th century and subsequent military rule in the early 20th century has led to the military continuing to occupy an important place in Hamilayan culture, government and daily life. The role of the military has met with frequent criticism from outside commentators, which has steadily increased since the civilian government was deposed with military backing in 2008.
Weapons of mass destruction
Hamilayan weapons of mass destruction fall under the jurisdiction of the Strategic Defence Forces, which are subordinate to the Ministry of Defence and are also responsible for space-based military assets and operations. The first Hamilayan nuclear weapon was developed in 1954 and Hamilay now possesses roughly 62,000 nuclear warheads across silo, submarine and space-based launch platforms enabled by large natural deposits of nuclear materials. In addition to its nuclear arsenal it also possesses significant stockpiles of biological and chemical weapons with active research and development programs in both areas. Hamilay is not party to any international treaties regulating the production or use of weapons of mass destruction.
Geography
Hamilay is located in the south-east of Gholgoth and consists of the Hamilayan central continent, commonly known as Mainland Hamilay or simply Hamilay, and its surrounding islands. It has a land area of 11,490,100 km², of which the mainland makes up approximately 90%. It is the ???th largest country in the world and the ???th largest in Gholgoth. Four Gothic nations sit to its north, south, east and west at similar distances; these are Telros, Kregaia, The Silver Sky and Atlantis respectively. Telros is Hamilay's closest internationally recognised neighbour. The independent territory of North Hamilay encompasses Valencia Island to the north across the Valencia Strait, but its legitimacy is currently disputed by the Hamilayan central government.
Topography
Climate
Flora and fauna
Economy
The Hamilayan economy is a developed, liberal capitalist economy driven by abundant natural resources, dense infrastructure and a highly educated and motivated work force. Hamilay has a GDP per capita of $47,900 USD and total GDP of approximately $367.8 trillion USD, the ???th largest in Gholgoth. For much of its history Hamilay has been a partial autarky due to its natural resources, especially arable land, and isolation, both geographical and cultural. This continued despite a lack of official government protectionist policies until opening to international markets in the 1980s, when the Hamilayan economy experienced rapid growth. Hamilay's role in a globalised economy especially in the Gothic region continues to grow.
By sector breakdown primary industries contribute to around 3.6% of the total GDP, secondary industries 34.1% and tertiary and quarternary industry the remaining 62.2%. The major primary resources of Hamilay include natural gas, agriculture, bauxite, iron ore, fishing, precious metals and uranium. Major products include industrial machinery and chemicals, pharmaceuticals, aerospace technology, automobiles, munitions and electronics.
Small, medium and large businesses all make significant contributions to the Hamilayan economy, accounting for ???%, ???% and ???% of total GDP respectively. Hamilay has two major stock exchanges; the Sayenna Central Stock Exchange in the capital of Sayenna and the Beferen Stock Exchange in Beferen. In 2009 the ten largest stock market listed companies by revenue were Castell Industrial, FzKa, Koch Biotechnological, RepubliBank, Electranational, ACIPI, Eastern Star, Hamilcom, Michaelis-Martin and Horizons.
Hamilay's currency, the Hamilayan dollar, has been in use since the foundation of the Hamilayan republic, when it replaced the Imperial mark. Each dollar is divided into 100 cents. The Hamilayan dollar has been a floating currency since 1966 and has a stable value at about $2 USD per dollar.
Energy
The Hamilayan energy market is about 620,000 terawatt hours per year, or 8,074 kilowatt hours per person. The three largest sources of electricity generation are natural gas, nuclear energy and hydroelectric power. In 2009 30% of electricity was produced from natural gas, 27% from nuclear power, 20% from hydroelectricity, 17% from coal and 7% from other sources including petroleum, solar and wind power. Hamilay has benefited from energy security in the form of natural gas reserves, the largest being the Chernaya-Valencia gas field with over 1413 m³ in deposits, large economically viable uranium deposits and numerous rivers suitable for the generation of hydroelectric power. The electricity generation market in Hamilay is privatised and generally separated from the resource extraction and refining sectors. The largest corporations involved in the energy market are Castell Industrial, Electranational, Eastern Star and HAPE.
Transportation
Demographics
According to the 2008 census, the population of Hamilay is 7,678,482,104 people. This makes Hamilay the the ???th most populous nation in Gholgoth and the ???th most populous worldwide. Hamilay has a population density of approximately 668.10 inhabitants per km². The most densely populated areas are in the central regions, especially along the Sayen river basin, and the industrialised north. The most populous states are Sayenna, Courland and Castellon. 86% of the population lives in urban areas. The majority of the population are Hamilayan, who comprise 87% of the population. Significant ethnic minorities include Germans (5.3%), Russians (4.6%) and Han Chinese (4.4%). After experiencing a baby boom in the 1980s coinciding with rapid economic growth the total fertility rate levelled off and is steady at 1.85 births per woman. Combined with immigration, especially from ??? and ???, the population growth rate is 1.3% per annum.
Cities and metropolitan areas
- See also: List of cities in Hamilay
| Largest cities of Hamilay | ||||||||
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| City | State | Population |  Sayenna  Beferen |
City | State | Population | ||
| 1 | Sayenna | Capital District | 142,941,286 | 11 | Chernaya | Chernaskaya | ||
| 2 | Beferen | Courland | 12 | Auburn | Sayenna | |||
| 3 | Castell | Castellon | 13 | Serrinha | Serinya | |||
| 4 | Rochester | Belgrave | 14 | Alexandria | Alexander Island | |||
| 5 | Baltimore | wat | 15 | Ashfield | Markland | |||
| 6 | Saint Helena | Christiansand | 16 | Petersburg | Sandringham | |||
| 7 | Greyfall | Eastheart | 17 | Vereya | wat | |||
| 8 | Portland | Alban | 18 | New Belgrade | Elizabeta | |||
| 9 | Bakersfield | wat | 19 | Bastion | Bastion | |||
| 10 | Essex Harbour | wat | 20 | Portsmouth | wat | |||
Religion
In the 2008 census a slim majority (52%) of Hamilayans identified as atheist, agnostic or non-religious. The largest religion in Hamilay is Christianity, which was listed by 38% of the population, including 19% as Protestant and 16% as Anglican. The next largest religions are Buddhism (3.6%) and Judaism (3.4%). The religious composition of Hamilay has remained fairly static over the past century but East Asian religions, including Buddhism, Shintoism and Daoism are the fastest growing religious groups. Secularism is enshrined in the constitution and religion plays a relatively minor role in the lives of the population. In 2004, 4.5% of the population (about 345 million people) were attending religious services regularly, or 9.4% of all people identifying as religious.
Languages
Healthcare
Education
Culture
Art and literature
Popular media
Cuisine
Sports
National holidays
Holidays officially recognised by the federal government are as follows;
| Date | Official Name | Remarks |
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| January 1 | New Year's Day | Celebrates the beginning of the Gregorian calendar year. |
| April 12 | Armed Forces Day | Recognises the accomplishments of past and present members of the Hamilayan military. |
| August 14 | National Day of the Republic | The Hamilayan national day. Commemorates the signing of the Constitution of the Republic of Hamilay. |
| November 11 | Remembrance Day | Commemorates the sacrifices of all soldiers and civilians in wartime and celebrates the cause of peace. |
| December 25 | Christmas Day | Celebrates the nativity of Jesus, but a secular cultural celebration for the majority of Hamilayans. |
State governments have also recognised a much larger number of dates as holidays, including most religious celebrations such as Easter, Ramadan and Hannukah as well as days honouring important figures and events in Hamilayan history. Due to various post-Imperial governments shying from officially commemorating the history of the Hamilayan Empire, there is only a relatively short period of historical events to draw on.
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