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The Great Concordat of Thesia

 Government
 Basic Statistics
 Military
 Foreign Affairs
 History
 Economy
 Religion

Government
The Queen-Empress, as God's viceroy on earth, rules absolutely, and has power over all aspects of Thesian government and economy. However, as the Queen-Empress is exceedingly busy, he is advised by the Larintine Council, a body of Church officials headed by the Patriarch himself. The Councillors perform many of the routine tasks involved in running the Thesian government.

The Duchy of Neepon is ruled by a duke appointed by the Queen-Empress. The Duke's position is mostly administrative, and his powers are sharply limited. Every month or so, the Civil Service in Thesia City sets goals and priorities for the Duke and his ministers to follow. The Duke is only permitted to act as long as he stays in line with Imperial policy. The current Duke is Count von Witt.

The Prince of Kantu is a different case entirely. The Prince is allowed broad latitude in all of his dealings within Kantu. He is even given a Principal Guard of roughly 16,000 men to insure peace in Kantu. The only condition to this power is that every single decision he makes is reviewed by the Larintine Council, which has the power to remove him from office. The current Prince is John Hepwitch.
 

Basic Statistics
Population: 234 million, 22 million men of military age
GNP: 2.7 trillion Christania crowns
Currency: Thesian otnam (3 otnams to the crown)
Breakdown of Employment:
Services: 60%
Industry: 30%
Agriculture and Forestry: 8%
Other:2%
[N.B. Due to advanced robotics technology, Thesia produces far more manufactured goods in proportion to its industrial workforce than most other nations.]
Government type: Theocratic Monarchy
Per capita income: #46,000 (improvised symbol for crowns)
Unemployment: 3%
Head of Government: Thomas Apenfelder, Patriarch of the Thesian Orthodox Church
Head of State: Anna I, Queen of the Sorbald Confederation, Empress of Thesia, Consul-General of Larinti, Duchess of Rathenau, Countess of Marconte, Empress of Neepon, Princess of Kantu

Military
The Concordat of Thesia views its military as a representation of the power of the Lord. Thus, the military is always well-funded, to the tune of #50 billion per annum. A anti-ballistic missle system has been created by Thesian scientists and has already been set up around the nation. For more info, click here.
 

Foreign Affairs
The Queen-Empress is willing to establish diplomatic relations with any nation that has not fallen under the sway of the Communist scourge. We maintain an ambassador to the International Forum in Hakarnu, and are currently negotiating the treaty establishing an Anti-Communist League with the Viceroyalty of Elmira.

The history of Thesia
  Concordat and Republic
  The Second Republic
  Communist Threat
  Succession and Annexation
 Trouble in Kantu
 
 

Concordat and Republic

    Until 43 PC, when the Thesian Federal Republic was established, Thesia was ruled by the Great Concordat, a complex and byzantine system of semi-autonomous republics, duchies, free cities, and other medieval jurisdictions. This union had been forged initially by King Otnam II, otherwise known as the Magnificent, in the 2670's, as a strong federation held together by his personal magnetism. Unfortunately, after Otnam's death, the Concordat gradually declined in power, until by the 150's it was nearly powerless. In 124 PC, a civil war broke out over the sucession of the King-Emperor. The houses of Rathenau and Marconte and their allies fought for nearly 10 years, with foreign powers intervening on both sides. Eventually, both sides stopped from sheer exhaustion, and an uneasy peace followed. The next 60 years were known as the Golden Age of Thesia. Arts and literature prospered, and minimal government interference led to rampant economic growth. However, in 45 PC, the assassination of the King-Emperor led to the Concordat Council's momentous decision - to call a convention and write a new constitution for Thesia.

    Thus was the Federal Republic of Thesia established. The Republic expanded the military and forged Thesia into a coherent nation state. Unfortunately, massive deficit spending led to escalating government debt. Demands from foreign investors prevented the Republic from cancelling its debts, and it was forced to turn to a group of buisnesses for a massive loan. A year later, Thesian Enterprises bought all of the government debt, and assumed control of Thesia.

The Second Republic

    Company opression alienated the masses, and led to resistance against company rule. Thus was the United Thesian Patriots formed, to fight company tyranny. After an abortive uprising, which was crushed by troops from the Emirate of Fix, Genral Mannerheist and a group of loyal patriots fled to Sylvansk. Then, General Mannerheist managed to overthrow the fascist company, and formed a provisional government. After the National Convention wrote a new constitution, he was overwhelmingly elected the first President of the Second Thesian Federal Republic.

    However, when the communists took control in New Ingalland, and the once proud Valanian Empire was brought to its knees, Mannerheist realized that Thesia was in danger from the scourge of international communism. Thus, he formed an alliance with Holy Mother Church in an effort to save his beloved country. He and Marconi, the Patriarch, determined that the best way to preseve Thesia was to revive the Concordat and restore the King-Emperor.

The Communist Threat

    Soon after Mannerheist was coronated, the communist nations conspired to crush God's chosen nation. The NIFSR, the PDFV, the Union Republic of Sylvansk, and the Emirate of Fixatia launched a dastardly attack on Thesia. However, due to the inspired leadership of the King-Emperor and his right-hand man, Lorenzo Garibaldi, the Communists were repulsed and the Fixatians humiliated. It will always be remembered as Thesia's finest hour.

    Just before the dissolution of the National Assembly, the Thesian government made a massive loan to Neepon to prevent an economic collapse. The total sum came to several billion crowns. However, the Neeponese government defaulted on the payment schedule. When the newly crowned King-Emperor demanded that Neepon repay the loan, they refused. The Communist War forced the King-Emperor to ignore the impudence of Neepon.

    However, when Sylvansk-backed rebels rose up against the Neeponese government and threatened to bring the country under Unionist rule, the King-Emperor was forced to act. The Neepon Expeditionary Force, led by Field Marshall Lorenzo Garibaldi himself, landed in Neepon and quickly secured roughly 1/4th of Neepon. The King-Emperor declared the annexation of that region, and created the Duchy of Neepon from the territory.

Succession and Annexation

    In 1501 AE, King-Emperor Firnal I died unexpectedly. The news came at the worst possible time. Thesia had just begun to annex what would become the Duchy of Neepon, and several nations were threatening war over the province. The Crown Princess, Anna, acted quickly. Summoning her chief rivals to the succession to a conference in the Turkenhammer Palace, she arranged for her opponent's supporters in the military to be dismissed. She surrounded the Palace with loyal troops, and then ordered her Palace guard to eliminate her rivals. The Patriarch Luigi Marconi, Baron von Rathenau, and their bodyguards were slain by Anna's men. With all of her opponents dead, Anna was coronated without opposition.

    The Queen-Empress freed the government from clerical domination by holding a Synod to choose a new Patriarch. While the Church is the true path to salvation, worldly matters should be left to the Queen-Empress and her advisors. To this end, she secured the appointment of Thomas Apenfelder as Patriarch of Larinti.  She has pursued her father's agressive stance in Neepon and world affairs in general. Finally, she decided to take the role of Foreign Councillor herself, so as best to shape Thesia's policy heading into a new and dangerous world.

Trouble in Kantu

    Shortly after the creation of the Duchy of Neepon, internal strife racked Thesia's neighbor, Kantu. Yoshi Kakamuri, Shogun of Yakuna and the de facto head of government was deposed. A group of dissidents led by Akira Shinji overthrew his successor and forced the Emperor to declare the Kantuvian Federation. Following the breakdown of order, the soldiers and sailors of the Hakarnu Naval Base formed the "People's Republic of Kantu." It was this communist threat that led the Queen-Empress to send troops into Kantu.

At first, Thesian intervention was limited to a garrison in Antelun to protect the Thesian community. But after the International Forum was attacked by PRK troops, Thesia was forced to act. Allied with the Shogunate, Thesia invaded Kantu, and crushed the communists and the federals. Following the surrender of the Emperor, Thesian troops arrested the Shogun and many of the top officers of the Shogunate's armies.

With all opposition neutralized, the Queen-Empress announced the creation of the Principality of Kantu. Kantu was once again part of Greater Thesia.

Economy

    The Thesian economy is generally free-market, but the government does regulate it somewhat. Prices in the transportation and health-care industries are rigidly controlled. Farming and food imports are heavily subsidised, as are certain industries vital to national security and well-being. There is a government-controlled central bank, and major stock exchanges in Larinti and Marconte.

    Thesia's economy is based on its incredible manufacturing output. The robots that aid workers make Thesia one of the premier economies on Scandia. However, the Thesian economy has expanded rapidly enough that unemployment is at the natural rate, about 3%.

    Thesia is a major trading nation on Scandia. Wherever you go on Scandia, you will find a Thesian company selling something. Armortech (tm), a wholly owned subsidiary of Thesian Enterprises, makes weapons which are the standard for militaries worldwide. To survive, Thesia must trade, and this is why Thesia's rulers have been obsessed with naval superiority.

    Another reason is food. Thesia's soil is not particularly good for growing crops in. Thus, Thesia has always had to import food since time immemorial. The Concordat would wither away and die if God choose to stop the grain ships from Kantu and other nations. The government subsidises grain, keeping it at an artificially low price so that the people may live without spending most of their money on food.

Religion and Culture

    All Thesian citizens are required to either become members of the Thesian Orthodox Church, or pay a special tax to the Church. This is how it was intended by God, and how it shall remain. Other religions are permitted in Thesia but frowned upon by the government and the Church.

Click here for more information on the Thesian military and government, click here

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