Xliponia
From IBWiki
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| National motto: Nomen Conservandum | |
| Languages: | |
| Official: | Xliponian, English |
| Others: | Greek, Turkish, Albanian, Ladino, Italian, Arabic, German, Bohemian, Dalmatian, Russian, Wenedyk, Brithenig |
| Cities: | |
| Capital: | Bovlai |
| Largest: | Bovlai |
| Other: | Monnalp, Vont, Ançec |
| King: | Rudolf III |
| Prime Minister: | Alan Murdok DeDerrys |
| Population: | 309 thousand (Xliponian) |
| Currency: | Xlipo |
Contents |
About Xliponia
Xliponia is one of the small nations of Europe, a kingdom on the Ionian Sea with a long history and rich culture. For this reason, and for its beautiful landscape, it is well worth a visit.
Administration
Constitution of the Kingdom of Xliponia
- First Chapter – THE STATE AND THE NATIONAL SYMBOLS
§ 1 - Xliponia is a parliamentary monarchy. The official names of the State are Hoimtat Xliponia in Xliponian and the Kingdom of Xliponia in English.
§2 - The national territory is composed of the ten Provinces: Ançec, Atmar, Bovlai, Hastr, Hostreht, Lim, Meirç, Monnalp, Orflain and Vont, whose capitals are the cities of the same names. The Royal Capital is the city of Bovlai.
§3 - The national symbols are:
- a - The Arms of the Kingdom – Or, a griffin passant gules, armed, eyed and langued azure. Supporters: two griffins segreant gules. Mantling azure, doubled or. Crest: on a wreath gules and or, a griffin's head erased gules. On an escroll the motto: Nomen conservandum.
- b - The National Flag – Three vertical stripes of equal width, red, yellow and red. Proportions: 2 by 3.
§4 - The official languages are Xliponian (Serm Xliponia) and English (Serm Anclic).
- Second Chapter –FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE
§5 - All internationally accepted Human Rights are valid, especially the following: life, liberty, equality, safety and property.
§6 - All obligations and prohibitions pertaining to the people arise only as a consequence of law.
§7 - Xliponian citizenship is obtained by either of the following means:
- a - Birth on Xliponian territory;
- b - Birth of Xliponian parents abroad;
- c - Concession through the Royal Chancellery.
- Third Chapter – POWERS OF THE STATE
§8 - The power of the State is exerted ultimately by the people, through its legally elected or appointed representatives and the King.
§9 - The affairs of the State are managed by four distinct and independent entities: the Legislative, Executive, Judiciary and Moderating Powers.
§10 - The Legislative Power, whose function is creating laws, is vested in Parliament, composed of Representatives, or Members of Parliament, elected by the people.
§11 - The Executive Power, whose function is carrying out laws, is vested in the Prime Minister appointed by the King among the Members of Parliament, and by Ministers appointed jointly by the King and the Prime Minister.
§12 - The Judiciary Power, whose function is controlling the adequate operation of laws, is vested in national and provincial Courts of Justice appointed by Parliament.
§13 - The Moderating Power, whose function is safeguarding the fundamental rights of the people, is vested in the King, who exerts it by means of decrees and vetoes.
- Fourth Chapter – THE MONARCHY
§14 - The King is Head of State of the Kingdom of Xliponia. His official title is "First Representative and Defender of the People of Xliponia".
§15 - The Monarchy is hereditary.
§16 - The King is sole representative of the Kingdom of Xliponia abroad. He may appoint ambassadors to specific countries or international institutions.
§17 - Administrative support to the King's functions is provided by the Royal Chancellery, which is part of the Moderating Power and is led by the Lord Chancellor, appointed by the King.
§18 - The Royal Badge – a griffin's head erased gules – represents the King's power.
- Fifth Chapter – LAWS AND DECREES
§19 - Laws of a permanent nature are issued solely by Parliament. They acquire effect upon publication.
§20 - The King may issue orders by decree, which may not contradict existing laws and have force of law only for a period not exceeding one year, after which time they are valid only if confirmed by Parliament as laws.
§21 - The King may veto with good and express reason a law issued by Parliament, whereupon a modified version will be laid before the Representatives for discussion.
§22 - Decisions of a fundamental nature about the formal structure of the State must be subjected to popular decision and approved by a simple majority of votes.
§23 - The Constitution or paragraphs thereof may be changed only by means of legislation, which in turn must be subjected to popular vote to be in effect.
- Sixth Chapter –FINAL DETERMINATIONS
§24 - Legal issues arising from the Constitution will be resolved by means of appropriate legislation.
§25 - This Constitution is in effect from the 7th day of December 2000.
Given at the Royal Capital of Bovlai by King Rudolf III, First Representative and Defender of the People of Xliponia.
Ministries of the Kingdom of Xliponia and their Departments
| Ministry | Ministeri a... | Department(s) of... | |
| Prime Minister | Hanhelaur | the Interior | |
| Social Ministries: | Culture | Cultura | Education, Science |
| Labour | Lapoir | Social Welfare | |
| Health | Saul | the Environment | |
| Information | Informaçie | Communications | |
| Economic Ministries: | Finance | Finança | Planning |
| Tourism | Turism | Transportation | |
| Agriculture | Acri | Nutrition | |
| Industry & Trade | Maunivaqura ac Homerhi | Mining, Energy | |
| Political Ministries: | Justice | Iuçiça | Security |
| Foreign Relations | Relaçii Eqerni | International Organisations | |
| Military Ministry: | Defence | Tevensa | Army, Navy, Air Force |
A Brief Outline of Xliponian History
During the 5th century BCE, Kerkyra and Epeiros were part of the Attic Naval Alliance. In the next century, the two allied regions were not included in the Philippian and Alexandrian empires, even though neighbouring provinces were.
Roman domination began in 146 BCE during the Third Punic War. In the year 40 BCE, with the division of the Roman Empire, the region now known as Xliponia fell under the rule of Antonius as part of the province of Macedonia. The principal settlement there was called Colonia Argentea Plebeia on account of the plentiful silver mines in the region. From Plebeia comes the root Xlip- of the country's modern name. The region was also well-known for its lead mines, its wool and its excellent wine.
In 30 BCE the decisive Battle of Actium, where Agrippa defeated Cleopatra, was fought very close to the southern border of CAP.
The Slavic expansion of the late 9th-early 10th centuries did not reach Xliponian territory, neither did the Mongols in the 13th century.
The Byzantine Empire dominated the region until its dissolution in 1453, but before that several small monarchies sprang up, which were unified in 1132 under Odo I. In 1190, on the way to Jerusalem, the English Earl Edward of Mersdon became king when a series of mishaps left no living heir to the throne. Due to this fact the Earl's coat of arms became that of the realm – without a crown, to symbolise the loss of the dynasty.
In the 13th century, when Genoese trade became intense in the region, Xliponia came under the protection of Venice due to its strategic position at the mouth of the Adriatic Sea, whence it was possible to control ingoing and outgoing traffic.
All through the existence of the Byzantine Empire, and later the Ottoman, Xliponia – a small state surrounded by powerful neighbours – enjoyed protection and guarantee of independence by various European powers, especially the Venetians and England, later the Federated Kingdoms. Due to this fact Xliponia has maintained its political neutrality through a series of conflicts, most notably – in recent times – the two Great Wars.
During the centuries following unification Xliponian culture kept pace with that of the European countries. A notable work of this period is the linguistic-astronomic tract Stella Linguarum by Karol of Vont (1384-1442), which was extensively copied, commented and expanded upon all over Europe.
Xliponia did not suffer from the Turkish blockade in 1450; Venetian protection guaranteed Levantine trade. From the 15th century on Xliponia constituted a coastal strip surrounded by Ottoman territories.
Starting in 1492, small contingents of Jews expelled from the Iberian Peninsula reached the shores of Xliponia; they settled in the province of Atmar and became known as Atmaranos.
Among Xliponian contributions to the Age of Explorations is a comprehensive map of the eastern South American coast drawn in 1502 by Artus Motinus, then at the service of the Portuguese crown. Several Xliponians took part in exploratory voyages to the Americas and the Far East.
In the early 19th century Xliponia became a region under the special protection of the Federated Kingdoms, constituting – in loose and temporary alliance with the Ionian Islands – a base against Napoleonic power in the Mediterranean.
The age of industrialisation saw the rise of an initially rural-based, later urban rebellious organisation, called the Mapukra in the dialect of Meirç, whose avowed aim was overthrow of the monarchy and establishment of independent provincial governments. This organisation went underground in the last quarter of the 19th century and was not significantly suppressed until the late 1960s under King Luc VII.
During the Great Wars Xliponia maintained a resolute – some say fierce – neutrality, accepting refugees from all sides, most of which returned to their home countries after the wars ended. Some fighting along the border and at sea was inevitable; a few thousands were lost in GWI and GWII.
Xliponia collaborates in the space effort of the Federated Kingdoms by supplying basic research and offering the infrastructure-rich region north of the city of Hostreht as a launching base for spacecraft.
Today Xliponia (pronounced ShlipoNIa in the national language) is a parliamentary monarchy. The reigning King is H. M. Rudolf III. The structure of the State is set out in the Constitution. The seat of the Monarchy and Parliament is the city of Bovlai, also capital of the province of the same name. The other nine provinces also share the names of their respective capitals: Ançec, Atmar, Hastr, Hostreht, Lim, Meirç, Monnalp, Orflain and Vont.
Two main parties, besides almost a dozen minor ones, share the contemporary Xliponian political scene: the Loyalists and the Liberals. Xliponia maintains diplomatic relations with most nations and international institutions.
Statistics
Demographics
- Population: 309 thousand
- Population Density: 99.6 persons per SI square mile
- Urban-Rural Distribution: 88% urban; 12% rural
- Gender Distribution: 49.3% male; 50.7% female
- Age Breakdown: 19% under 15; 20% 15 to 29; 25% 30 to 44; 18% 45 to 59; 14% 60 to 74; 4% 75 and above
- Life Expectancy at Birth: Male 73.3 years; female 79.8 years
Economy
- Currency: Xlipo [symbol XL]
- Budget: Revenue XL78,837 million; expenditures XL65,441 million
- Gross National Product: £14,286 million
- Land Use: 35% forested; 23% meadows and pastures; 21% agricultural and permanently cultivated; 21% other
- Foreign Trade: Imports XL140,937 million; exports XL110,996 million
Some Important Companies
| Artic Beer is exported from Xliponia to many European countries |
| Bovair is the national airline headquartered at Bovlai |
| Bernard & Croll Publishers are renowned for books on arts and science, as well as works by J.R.R. Tolkien and on Tintin and Henry Portman |
| Fost Hoimçal Xliponia - Xliponian Royal Mail - is the state-owned company responsible for all communications services |
| Xlipetrol is the Xliponian corporation responsible for prospecting, refining and distributing fossil-fuel products |
Transportation
- Railroads: 489 SI miles
- Roads: 6,874 SI miles
Education, Culture, Health
- Literacy: Virtually 100%
- Infant Mortality Rate: 4.8 per 1,000 live births
Notable Cultural Institutions
| Institut Lingistic Bovlai - Bovlai Institute of Linguistics is world-renowned for research of living and extinct languages; it is also the organ of authority for the Xliponian language |
| The University of Atmar is the oldest educational institution still operating in Xliponia |
| The Hostreht Philharmonic gives concerts in Xliponia and abroad around the year |
| Radio Lim broadcasts news and music from Xliponia to the whole world |
| Institut Cultural Xliponia-Paraná is dedicated to scientific and artistic exchange between Xliponia and the Republic of Paraná |
Xliponian National Symbols
- Arms of the Kingdom of Xliponia
Or a griffin passant gules armed, eyed and langued azure. Supporters: two griffins segreant gules. Mantling azure doubled or. Crest: on a wreath gules and or a griffin's head erased gules. On an escroll the motto: Nomen conservandum.
The Arms bear no crown to indicate the lack of a rightful heir in 1190.
- Xliponian National Flag
Proportions: 2 by 3
Secondary Symbols
- Xliponial Royal Flag
Similar to the National Flag, with the addition of the Royal Badge: a griffin's head erased
- Xliponian National Anthem
The words are by Iogain Suçor (1705):
| FAÇIRA NOSSER Hoimtat a lipri, | . |
OUR FATHERLAND |
After the adoption of the anthem the same melody was arranged by Kremer for the Wassermusik.
Further Information
- Xliponian Religious Figures: Alhastri, Isaac Padovano, Saint Anira
