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The Kingdom of Ludania

“But I have my Homeland”

Category: Father Knows Best State
Civil Rights:
Average
Economy:
Frightening
Political Freedoms:
Rare

Regional Influence: Instigator

Location: The Confederacy of Free Nations

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6

The Kingdom of Ludania (WIP - Massive Overhaul)

The Kingdom of Ludania


Flag


Motto: "But I have my Homeland"
National Anthem: Link"I Vow To Thee, My Country"
Royal Anthem: Link"The Regal March"
National Hymn: Link”O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”


Map

The Ludanian Home Islands


Population (Global): 17.125 billion (15/04/2020)


Capital: Glanbrenin
Largest City: Glanbrenin


Official Languages: Ludanian



Demonym: Ludanian


State Religion: Roman Catholicism

Government: Absolute Monarchy
- Monarch: King Geraint IV
- Queen Consort: Elena of Spain
- Heir Apparent: Prince Inheritor Ioan
- Royal House: House Talveryn
- Chancellor: Morgan Cadwallon


Unicameral Legislature: House of Lords


Timeline:
Birth of King Talveryn, “King of the Ludanians” 383 A.D.
Independence from Imperial Rome, 410 A.D.
The Miracle on the Voyne, 596 A.D.
Unification of Lonigsle, 867 A.D.
Submission of Westisle, 902 A.D.


Land Area:
122,000 mile²
(316,000 km²)
Water %: 1.5%



GDP (nominal): £5,545,000,000,000,000
Average Income: £323,828
£1 = $1.9523
(As of 16/05/2020)

Human Development Index (NS Version): 95.38


Currency: The Coron (£)


Time Zone: GMT


Drives on the: Left


Date Format: dd-mm-yyyy


Internet TLD: .kol

The Kingdom of Ludania


The Kingdom of Ludania (commonly shortened to Ludania) is a unitary state which was established during the European Dark Ages and consolidated by the assimilation of petty Kingdoms and warring tribes further on into the Middle Ages. The homelands of Ludania make it an island nation covering 122,000-mile² (316,000 km²), just off the coast of Northwestern Europe. The Ludanian Home Islands consist of over 6,000 islands of varying size, the two largest being Longisle and Westisle. The standard way to refer to a citizen of Ludania is as a Ludanian. Metropolitan Ludania is comprised of 16 provinces based on the historic borders of the nation’s Archduchies and the Crownlands of Royal Ludania. These divide further into smaller Dukedoms and Lordships which form the country’s modern administrative divisions.

The capital and largest city of Metropolitan Ludania is Glanbrenin, which also serves as the seat of government and the main residence of the Monarch. The capital itself is located in Western Longisle, and it is the heart of Royal Ludania at the province’s southwestern coast. His Majesty King Geraint IV is the current head of state and reigning Monarch of the Ludanian Empire, and the heir apparent is Prince Inheritor Ioan. The management of day-to-day government is the responsibility of the Chancellor, the incumbent individual appointed by the King being Morgan Cadwallon. The Ludanians are a single people with a single language across both main islands, although minor differing cultures and customs exist within each province across the two main islands.

In addition to the Ludanian Home Islands, the Kingdom also controls a global empire divided into numerous Viceroyalties which are ruled by a Viceroy appointed by the King to rule on behalf of the Ludanian Crown. Combined with the population of the Home Islands, there are an estimated 17.218 billion Ludanian subjects around the world being ruled in some way from Glanbrenin. Furthermore, the Empire covers roughly 25% of the Earth’s total land area. As a result, the Kingdom is sometimes erroneously known as the Ludanian Empire or the Empire of Ludania, however many institutions bear Imperial designations rather than Royal ones.

Etymology

The term "Ludania" comes from the Latin name used by the Romans for the native tribes and peoples living in both Longisle and Westisle. After the end of Roman occupation, the lands continued to be referred to as Ludania by chroniclers in literary works, and the indigenous population of both Longisle and Westisle began referring to themselves as Ludanians. While the title “King of the Ludanians” was originally used by the country’s early monarchs, the term “Kingdom of Ludania” was only born after the submission of the entire Ludanian Isles into a single state.

History

Prehistory and Roman Ludania

Settlement by anatomically modern humans of what was to become the Ludanian Home Islands occurred in waves beginning around 30,000 years ago. By the end of the islands' prehistoric period, the population had developed their own culture entirely independent of that of the continent and its members numbered several millions. Contact between Ludania and its continental neighbours is thought to have been limited at best by the time of first contact with the Romans. The Roman invasion, conquest and subjugation of Longisle began in 43 A.D. and was practically complete by the end of the century. The Romans however failed to conquer what were to become the Northern Lordships or make any significant attempt to conquer Westisle. Roman colonisation and policies of assimilation spread elements of Latin culture into the local population, and a relatively peaceful and stable period accompanied the Roman occupation for three and a half centuries.


King Talveryn 'the Great'
Liberator of Ludania
Prince of Rome

Establishment of Glanbrenin and Royal Ludania

The period of Roman withdrawal from Longisle also gives us the founding legend of the Kingdom. According to legend in the year 370 A.D. Roman Emperor Magnus Maximus dreamt one night of a lovely maiden in a wonderful, far-off land. When his dream ended, he sent his men all over the earth in search of her. Many years passed but the Emperor refused to marry without finding the maiden he had dreamt of. Eventually, while the Emperor was campaigning through what is now Royal Ludania he was introduced to a beautiful Princess, daughter of a local King called Emyr.

Everything the Emperor found was identical to his prophetic dream, and he became enamoured with the fair maiden and the land from which she came. The maiden, Elen, accepted his proposal and married him. As Elen was found to be a virgin, Macsen gave her father sovereignty over the entirety of Roman Ludania south of Hadrian’s Wall as a reward for his daughter’s hand in marriage and ordered three castles built for his bride, also founding some of modern Ludania’s largest cities which sprang up around the fortresses. Macsen and Emyr were unfortunately both killed while attempting to push the border north of Hadrian’s Wall, and Empress Elen gave birth that exact same day to her only son, Talveryn.

Inheriting his grandfather’s lands in Ludania and backed by the military might of the Roman garrisons while under his mother’s regency, Talveryn was granted the title “King of the Ludanians” from birth by the Dowager Empress. As soon as Talveryn was old enough to rule in his own right, he was urged by the Dowager Empress to claim the Imperial Throne his father had once held as his birthright, and began using the title of “Prince of Rome”. Much to the chagrin of the Dowager Empress, the Roman legions in Ludania refused to back his claim or make war on Rome, stating that the title of Emperor was not inherited, and that the Empire would not be ruled by a foreigner and a woman.


King Aeron I ‘Monk-King’
later ‘the Dragon-King’
Defender of Longisle
Embittered by his failure to claim the Imperial throne and angry at the slight against his mother, Talveryn raised the native Ludanian population against the Roman occupation, and decisively defeated the remaining legions at the Battle of Londinium in 410 A.D. While a victory, the complete evacuation or violent destruction of the Roman legions and civil settlements caused a collapse of central government and administration, as well as a sharp decline in population and living standards as the King could not maintain the control he had gained over neighbouring tribes. The deeply shaken society reverted to a tribal system of government with emphasis on clan loyalty and kinship, and war between the remaining populations was widespread and common. The cultural differences on Longisle became more pronounced as the warring tribes affirmed their independence from the control of the Kings of Ludania, and the lands fell into a state of semi-permanent warfare for centuries to come after the death of King Talveryn. Regardless, King Talveryn is known by his epithet ‘the Great’ for gaining the country its independence and founding House Talveryn, Ludania’s ruling dynasty.

Christianity had been brought to Ludania after the Edict of Milan by missionaries from across the Christian world. Some tribes were quick to adapt and convert, while others held on to other indigenous beliefs, and other groups who had been Romanised adhered to Graeco-Roman Paganism. King Talveryn I ‘the Great’ had been born and raised a Christian, and strove to spread Christianity throughout his domains. Upon his death however, the brutal post-Roman world of the Dark Ages meant that administration and basic state functions such as tax collection or a cohesive defence had become arduous and near impossible to carry out. The eastern seaboard of Longisle was invaded by marauding heathens from the continent who settled and established their own petty Kingdoms, and the realm fractured as faraway lords had no choice but to become independent from the Kings in Glanbrenin as they were cut off from central authority. The literacy rate plummeted and vicious wars broke out throughout the Islands. House Talveryn retreated back to its homelands in Royal Ludania and its Kings would only venture out to defend their own; campaigns to reconquer the islands had become seemingly impossible.

Early Middle Ages and the Wars of Unity

Divine Providence and the Miracle on the Voyne

As the bloodbath wore on, the year 560 A.D. saw the accession of Ludania’s great warrior King, Aeron I. Aeron’s accession marked the beginning of the fightback against the invaders and the reabsorption of the lost lands back into the realm. A remarkably pious man, he was said to never drink alcohol except at communion, wore a hairshirt his entire life, never took a mistress, ate only bread, and attended church up to five times a day. Contemporaries regarded him as ‘the Monk-King’ due to his ascetic lifestyle, but Aeron had a remarkable talent for administration, and more importantly, warfare.

In the years after the Romans had left, Germanic invaders from the continent had carved out their own Kingdoms across the eastern coast of the country and had begun to settle in their thousands. A new wave of assaults on the Christian Kingdoms of Longisle had made several of its rulers put aside their differences to focus on defending against the bloodthirsty pagan menace. Pious King Aeron answered the call to arms of his fellow Christians in the province of Lovatouse, and while marching his army through Trentavon he came across a cathedral town which had been razed and its inhabitants put to the sword by the invaders. Stopping to pray and bury the victims, Aeron reportedly received a vision from God of the invaders being swept from the land in a great tidal wave of blood. The King of the Ludanians resolved in that moment not to lay down his arms until the invaders had been expelled or brought into the light of the one true faith.


The Dragon Symbol of King Aeron I
The vicious holy war was fought mainly across the southeastern provinces of Bayfordlea, Lovatouse and Trentavon, and the land was overwhelmed in a sea of blood and fire. The petty Kings of Ludania, Tamaravon, Trentavon and Eshtonaire brought their host to bear against the hordes of invaders in a number of battles. The Miracle on the Voyne in the year 596 A.D. proved to be the decisive engagement of the war; the heathens had pushed into Royal Ludania and were seemingly unstoppable. Supposedly outnumbered five to one at its outset, the Christian Kings set up a defensive position on a large hill next to a ford on the River Voyne, which was surrounded by fields of wheat at the height of summer. The battle raged on for hours, and the Kings of Longisle fell one by one until only the King of the Ludanians remained, the Christian forces retreating further and further up the hill. At that moment, Aeron supposedly received another vision from God detailing exactly to win the battle. Taking advantage of the direction of the wind and the dry and brittle crops surrounding the battle, he ordered a contingent of his men to set fire to the surrounding fields and successfully roasted the heathen army, forcing the fleeing invaders into the River Royne to be cut down in pursuit. The remainder of the Christian forces were left unscathed by the flames, a sign of divine providence to contemporaries. The armies of the slain Kings of Lonisle swore fealty to the King of Ludania, who had “breathed fire as a dragon, and torched the invaders in a great conflagration in a divine miracle,” according to a contemporary chronicler. From that moment, the dragon became a national symbol of Ludania, and the ‘Monk-King’ became the ‘Dragon-King’.

King Aeron, upon reaching the settlements on the east coast built by the invaders, gave their inhabitants a choice to convert to Christianity or suffer the consequences. Men who were willing were required to finance the construction of a local church but were otherwise unmolested, those who refused were burned at the stake. Women who were willing were left alone, while those who were not had their tongues cut out and were sold as wives to indigenous Ludanian men. Naturally, many chose to convert and the country’s language and toponyms have a heavy Germanic influence dating from this period. The capture of these settlements with trading links to the continent, as well as the acceptance of fealty from all of the Lords beneath Hadrian’s Wall encouraged an economic boom throughout the greatly expanded Kingdom.

The ‘Dragon-King’ built a great number of monasteries and churches throughout his lands (including one on the hill he won his victory from) and connected them with a rudimentary road network to facilitate transport and control of the realm, as well as enabling pilgrims to travel more safely to southern Longisle’s holiest shrines. Adopting the dragon as one of the symbols of his dynasty, he passed away adored by his grateful subjects and was subsequently canonised by the church, and his son and successor was granted a fragment of the True Cross by the Pope (which remains in the possession of the Royal Family in Glanbrenin Cathedral) in his honour. Prior to his passing, Aeron also reorganised the country into several provinces each ruled by a Lord Paramount, which form the modern administrative regions of the country to this day.

While this was certainly a period of difficulty and danger for the people of Ludania, it also marks the first codification of laws in the islands. Notable features of early Ludanian law included the collective responsibility of extended families for their members; the gavelkind inheritance of land among all legitimate male descendants; the inability of foreigners to naturalise earlier than the fourth generation; legal protections for divorced women and widows as well other codifications of rights unique to the period. This period also saw Ludania follow the trend of continental Europe towards manorialism and feudalism which became increasingly enshrined in law and practice.


King Daemon III ‘the Brave’
“The Beacon of Longisle”
The Northmen Arrive

The island of Longisle had been divided ever since the arrival of the Romans centuries previously, but the differences had become even more pronounced over the centuries since the construction of Hadrian’s Wall. While the people on both sides of the fortification shared a common language and aspects of their culture, and the people of Northern Longisle had long since been converted to Christianity by missionaries, the lands there remained out of the reach of the authority of the King of the Ludanians. Cross-border raiding was common and the wall itself had fallen into ruin by the 6th century, but there were no concerted efforts by either side to conquer or interfere with the other, until the arrival of the Northmen.

Crossing the sea in their longships, the first Viking invaders of Longisle ravaged the outer islands of the land beyond the wall. Torching villages, towns and churches as they pillaged their way across the northernmost part of Longisle, Christians were slain in their hundreds by the conquering hordes. As the first attacks were sporadic, they were outside the Kingdom of Ludania and the heathens seemed to only seek plunder; the matter was of little consequence to King Daemon III. Refugees in the form of lords, priests, monks, petty Kings and commoners alike, poured into the northern Lordships of the Kingdom, seemingly without end and their pleas seemingly fell upon deaf ears at the court in Glanbrenin.

The situation changed however when the Vikings took the inaction of the Kingdom as a weakness to be exploited. Reports of raids along the Eastern coast of the Kingdom, as well as those creeping down the Western coast towards Glanbrenin galvanised the King into action. Promptly raising a host but marching fruitlessly up and down the coast and criss-crossing the countryside without finding any trace of the enemy except the ruins of towns and villages, the King seemed to lose all hope of putting a stop to the incursions, and at the end of the campaign season of 869 A.D. decided to return to Glanbrenin. After crossing into the Crownlands, Daemon stopped at the city of Dragonhill which had sprung up around the church built on the site of the Miracle on the Voyne. Praying for guidance for three days and nights without answer, Daemon resolved to return to Glanbrenin and ignore the Viking threat. According to legend, as the King finally made his way to leave the church and return to the capital, the statues of the church began to weep tears of blood; in his mind, his prayers had been answered.

The King immediately turning his own host north to conquer the rest of Longisle and sent his son and heir Prince Osron to the capital in his stead, with a command for the Lords Paramount of Ludania to focus their efforts on constructing a fleet.

During the Great East-West Schism of 1054, Ludania remained loyal to Rome and remained a Catholic country. The differences between the Insular or Celtic Church and the ever-expanding influence of the Papacy in Rome however led to disagreements between the Crown and the Pope which would take until the middle of the 12th century to hammer out. Church powers extended massively during the 10th and 11th centuries and became an essential part of the governance of Wales; taxation, education and the maintenance of order developed under the guidance of the Church hand in hand with that of the nobility as it became a pillar on which the monarchy rested as well as occasionally a thorn in its side.

The matter came to a head in 1141 with the accession of King Anarawd I ‘the Blessed’ of Wales. Inheriting a dysfunctional relationship with Rome (his father had died excommunicated) and amid an investiture controversy over the appointment of the next Archbishops in the most senior positions in the Welsh church, the fiercely diligent King Anarawd sought to resolve matters by appeasing the Pope. The King initiated a revolutionary change in the Welsh Church, bringing it in line with the wishes of Rome by establishing a clear hierarchy, banning non-canonical divorce and forbidding simony. Anarawd further brought the Kingdom in line with Rome by fully implementing the Gregorian reforms and building an extensive network of monasteries and churches to better serve the needs of his administration and Kingdom. Anarawd also appointed clergymen to several important roles in his government and commissioned a great survey of all property in the Kingdom to be created.


The Kingdom of Ireland

The ambitious reformer’s zeal and deference to the Papacy did not go unnoticed in Rome. As a reward, the Pope granted the Laudabiliter to Anarawd I in 1155 and regularly referred to the King as ‘Blessed’, an informal moniker which continues to be in use when referring to him to this day. The Laudabiliter was a Papal Bull that granted the right to the King of Wales to invade and govern Ludania Minor – more commonly referred to as Ireland or Eire – in order to enforce the Gregorian Reforms on the semi-autonomous Christian Church in Ireland. Wasting little time in carrying out the Papal Bull, King Anarawd launched a series of campaigns in Ireland but was met with little resistance; respecting the customs of the Irish and aiming solely to bring its church in line. Despite the fact that the Laudabiliter had granted Anarawd the right to dispossess the lords of Ireland, he instead sought their fealty. In 1170, much of Ireland had been pacified and Anarawd travelled to the Hill of Tara as a symbolic gesture of his conquest. According to legend, the Lia Fáil at the site accepted Anarawd as the rightful High King of Ireland by roaring with joy, and inspired by this message from God, Anarawd I of Wales was crowned High King Anarawd I of Ireland on New Year’s Day 1171 in Dublin, accepting the allegiance of the native Irish lords.

A feature of the new administration in Ireland was the non-interference of the new King; appointing a native Lord Lieutenant ensured the maintenance of Irish customs, laws and traditions (which were regardless similar to those of their new King). Furthermore, the appointment of deputies from minor or obscure Irish families enabled the King to keep their power in check. Wales and Ireland have been ruled in personal union with separate traditions, culture, customs and laws ever since, but united together in religion and by the person of the monarch.


A Typical Court Scene in Medieval Wales

High Middle Ages

Religion and Peace

The High Middle Ages in Ludania were a period of tremendous expansion of the population throughout the Ludanian Isles, and up to 90% of the population remained rural peasants. Catholic monasticism flourished, as did trade between Wales, Ireland and the continent, particularly France for its wine and the industries of the Low Countries. The conquest of Ireland had brought a further benefit to all nations; owing to Ireland and Wales’ large sizes the need to overcome the language barrier between both Kingdoms necessitated that they find a common method of communication as one could not simply ignore the other as subjects of the King and High King. The extensive networks of monasteries built by King Anarawd I in both Kingdoms enabled the clergy to educate the nobility of both realms in Latin and encouraged literacy. This created a universal language understood by the nobility and aristocracy of Ludania, and greatly increased the country’s literacy rate well before the trend in contemporary Europe, even among the ladies of the nobility. A flourishing of letter writing and other great works of Welsh and Irish literature stem from this period, in both Latin and the native languages of both lands. This process was essential in the creation of a Pan-Ludanian identity while still enabling contemporaries to identify with their respective Kingdoms.


The Establishment of the Welsh Parliament

The High Middle Ages also saw the creation of many institutions which have evolved into those Ludania retains today. In the latter half of the 12th century, King Anarawd I established the first University in Ludania in Glanbrenin and under royal patronage further established 4 more in Wales and the University of Dublin in Ireland. The age was also marked by an increasing deference for the person of the monarch. As opposed to being a “first among equals” as in earlier periods, the position of the King and by extension Royal Family was enshrined in a new age of courtly behaviour. The notion that the King was the fount of honour also appeared during this period, with the establishment of a number of chivalric orders.
The increasing demands of running such an extensive realm forced the King to empower the nobility, leading to the creation of the first true Parliaments in the Ludanian Isles. Long before the concepts of a standing army or a police force to administer the law, Ludanian Kings had to rely on the cooperation of their most powerful vassals, and as the centuries progressed on lesser nobles and an emerging merchant class to administer the country. The Parliaments of Wales and Ireland were both established in 1215 under the decree of the King to resolve disputes in his absence so that the people of the realm could be judged by their social equals. The Parliaments established were created with two chambers; the House of the People comprised of elected burgesses and the middling sort while the House of Lords contained the nobility and highest clergymen of the realm.

Margaret, Maid of Norway and the Kingdom of Scotland


The Royal Arms of the Kingdom of Scotland

Events in the Kingdom of Scotland would forever change the Kingdoms that would become Ludania in the next chapter of the state's history. In 1286, Alexander III of Scotland died without any surviving offspring, save for his granddaughter, Margaret, Maid of Norway, daughter of his own child Margaret, Queen of Norway. Margaret was recognised as Queen of Norway at the tender age of 3 and while still living in Norway as a daughter of its own King, Eric II. The situation in Scotland remained tenuous as a number of rival factions vied for influence and power with some even claiming the Crown while their infant monarch was abroad and most importantly, the first ever female to claim the throne of Scotland. The self-proclaimed Guardians of Scotland had sworn an oath to protect the Kingdom for Margaret but were far from eager to have her even come to Scotland, never mind take up her rightful position as its Queen.

Realising that Eric II would be able to educate Scotland's Queen and arrange Margaret's hand in marriage without their interference, the Guardians of Scotland negotiated her journey to Scotland at the age of 7. After an arduous journey during which it was feared she might have perished, Margaret arrived in Scotland in the closing months of the year 1290. Despite her survival, Margaret's life was now in as much peril as it had ever been. The death of Scotland's minor Queen without any clear successor could be an advantage to the Guardians who sought to perpetuate their own powers, Margaret's own father who could claim her inheritance, or the myriad of rebelling noblemen common to Scottish history at this period. Powerful families such as the Bruce, the Stewarts, the Balliols and others each had a claim to the throne and would benefit from a state of chaos in the realm.

Margaret's own position as Queen during her minority was largely secured by the presence of her father's Norwegian troops, as well as the waning loyalty of the Guardians. This situation created resentment between Margaret's Norwegian Faction and the Guardians as the Scots had spent centuries trying to drive out Scandinavian influence and invaders. Margaret reached the age of 16 in 1299 and began to take control of the government herself. A major blow to her authority came a few months later however with the death of her father and the accession of her uncle Haakon V of Norway. Without sons to marry Margaret and being unable to directly influence her himself, Haakon withdrew Norwegian troops from Scotland and left his niece to fend for herself in the dangerous game of Scottish politics. Shortly afterwards, the Guardians switched their allegiance to John Balliol, sparking the Scottish Civil War 1299-1309. Perhaps fortunately for Margaret, her power had waned to such an extent that the war was largely waged between Balliol and Robert de Brus, 5th Lord of Annandale with Margaret regarded largely as an afterthought by the other sides in the conflict despite Papal recognition of her position.

Margaret retained control of Edinburgh and Stirling Castles throughout the beginning of the conflict, but in 1303 the former Guardians of Scotland had been massacred on the orders of the Bruces at the Black Dinner and their forces were ready to lay siege to Margaret's power base in the capital. Recognising her slim odds of survival never mind victory, Margaret chose to spare Edinburgh a lengthy siege by escaping with a small, trusted retinue through the castle's sewer system. Riding through the night to reach Stirling, she waited there throughout the winter with little news of events in her Kingdom while writing to the great Kings of Europe to come to her aid.


The Siege of Edinburgh, 1303

The Kingdoms of Wales and Ireland had watched the events unfolding in Scotland with curiosity but with little cause for alarm until the Bruce family massacred the Guardians of Scotland, who had enjoyed good relations with the contemporary King, Cadfael I. Unwilling to directly interfere in the matters of its northern neighbour, the Welsh-Irish Kingdoms preferred to keep it unstable and therefore incapable of waging war against them or causing trouble along the border or raiding the Irish coast. Cadfael I offered a guarantee of safe passage and a position at court in Glanbrenin to the Scots Queen should Margaret wish to flee her Kingdom for safety. Recognising that her cause was hopeless and without pledges of support from any major European players, Margaret abandoned Stirling and rode south to the Welsh border. Not realising the extent of her enemies' grip on the country, Margaret narrowly evaded capture on the route from Dumfries to the border and was instead forced to board a vessel bound for Ireland.

Prince Inheritor Iago Leading
the Exiled Scots Queen
Margaret, Maid of Norway
to the Safety of Glanbrenin

Travelling through Ireland, Margaret's tales of her tribulations shocked the nobles sent to receive her, as did her appearance which was described as that of a "beggar woman" upon her initial arrival. King Cadfael sent his eldest son Prince Inheritor Iago to Dublin to receive the rightful Queen of Scotland at the Bhaile Átha Cliath. By the time of Iago's meeting in Dublin, Margaret had grown into a beautiful 19-year-old woman of regal bearing, and the pair are said to have fallen madly in love at first sight. Iago is traditionally said to have described her as the "Fair Maid of Norway", an epithet which has remained to this day. Whether or not the tale of them falling passionately in love at first sight is true, a marriage to the future King of Wales and Ireland would have been extremely beneficial to the exiled Margaret's cause, as well as convenient for Prince Inheritor Ioan to gain another Kingdom peacefully and unite Ludania under his dynasty.

By 1305, Margaret, Maid of Norway, Queen of Scots had finally reached the safety of Glanbrenin in the Kingdom of Wales. King Cadwgan I was so beguiled by this beautiful foreign Queen that with Margaret's consent Prince Inheritor Iago and his new bride were married in the capital on St. Andrew's Day 1305. The news of the marriage of the rightful Scots Queen and the heir to the throne of Wales and Ireland outraged the pretender King of Scots John Balliol who had by now emerged victorious against the Bruce Family. An ultimatum to deliver Margaret to Scotland or force her into a convent was delivered during Christmastide and went ignored by King Cadwgan as an empty threat. The brash Scots pretender however sent two armies across the Welsh border to pillage towns and harry fortifications there and sent ships to raid the Isle of Mann and the Irish coast at the beginning of the campaign season of 1306. Tantamount to a declaration of war, this action spurred the nobility of Wales and Ireland to demand retaliation against the Scots, going so far as to demand a restoration of Margaret to the throne to secure the lands of the northern landowners forever and unite the Ludanian Isles.


The Arrival of the Exiled Queen
May Day, 1307

Promptly raising an army, Margaret, Queen of Scots and the Prince Inheritor of Wales and Ireland headed north to regain a Kingdom. A series of skirmishes along the border preceded the great Battle of Galashiels were the treacherous pretender Balliol King was slain by his own guard once they sensed a change in the tide of the battle on March 25th, 1306. Queen Margaret offered a blanket pardon to those who lay down their arms and returned to their fields and restored property and titles to those who had been stripped of it by the butcher-pretender Balliol. Riding into Edinburgh by Mayday, the Queen and King of Scots spent the rest of the campaign season quashing any resistance to their joint rule in Scotland. By the next year, Iago had acceded to the thrones of Wales and Ireland in addition to jointly ruling with his wife in Scotland and the couple welcomed their first child, the future sole King of all Ludania, King Arlin.

The Kingdoms of Wales, Ireland and Scotland experienced a period of relative peace, growth and stability in the aftermath of the establishment of their unification under a single crown. Furthermore, the Parliament of Scotland was established during the reign of King Arlin, and all significant classes in the period found a way to voice their grievances without resorting to rebellion. The unification of all the Ludanian Isles also served as a further guarantee of security without a risk of war breaking out in the homeland of the Celtic people, and at this point historians begin to use the term Kingdoms of Ludania when referring to the whole islands. As was the case with the unification of Wales and Ireland, Scotland’s nobility also flourished culturally under the new union with education in Latin and the native Scots languages being encouraged by the monarch through the church. The Kings of Ludania guaranteed the same rights to each of their subjects irrespective of their native Kingdoms and sought to preserve the traditions of each.

The status quo remained peaceful until the outbreak of the Black Death in the mid-14th century. Modern scholars have estimated that somewhere between 40-60% of the population was killed between 1347 and 1351. The 15th century in the Kingdoms of Ludania with decimated populations experienced periods of increased religious activity owing to the apocalyptic events of the preceding plague outbreaks. New churches, monasteries and cathedrals sprang up and the quality of life of the surviving lower classes greatly increased as wages rose, and restrictions were loosened to make up for the shortfall in labour, leading to the end of official serfdom in each of the three Kingdoms. The latter half of the 15th century also saw the introduction of the European Renaissance to the Ludanian Isles. Whereas previously art had been constrained by the rigidity of religious topics, the first secular works of art began to be created for the first time in centuries.

Early Modern Period


King Geraint II and His Wife,
Mary of Castile
King Geraint II (1509-1558)

The 16th century is widely regarded as the beginning of Ludania’s modern age. The death of the last truly feudal King in 1509 led to the establishment of many of its national institutions which coincided with the centralisation of authority in the hands of the King. Rather than being a first among equals as had been the case in the early years of the Middle Ages, Ludania’s Kings were increasingly seen as being inseparable from the state and owed far greater respect. Widely influenced by contemporary humanist teachings originating on the continent, the long reign of King Geraint II (1509-1558) kept Ludania stable during a time of religious havoc in its neighbours.
For its size, Ludania had long been underpopulated as a result of the wars and epidemics of the previous century, and an open-door policy towards refugees of all faiths fleeing conflict in their homelands was actively encouraged by the King who sought out the most eminent philosophers of his day. Fields that had lain barren for centuries were revitalised and the economy entered a period of growth unprecedented in Ludanian history. Much to the chagrin of the Papacy and other Catholic powers on the continent, Geraint II passed the Acts of Toleration in 1536 which allowed settlement by Protestant communities provided they swore loyalty to the King and caused no trouble; later amendments to the Act in this period extended the right to European Jews who returned to Ludania after centuries of exile. The pluralistic policies of the King and the gratitude of those he saved encouraged the quick assimilation of the population with native Ludanian culture and even conversions to Catholicism.

The early 16th century in Ludania also set the stage for future advancements in the arts and education as Geraint II abhorred war and focused on founding new networks of schools for the less advantaged people of the realm as well as mandating a new code of behaviour for the nobility in their conduct. The ever-increasing international trade between Ludania, its continental neighbours and places as far afield as Egypt via the Italian states also created an economic boom which led to Glanbrenin becoming one of the largest cities in Northern Europe.


King Geraint III
King Geraint III (1558 - 1603)

After Geraint II's death in 1558, his policies were largely continued and built upon by his son and successor, King Geraint III who would rule until 1603. The major challenge of Geraint III's reign would be to reform the administration to sufficiently control the economy which had outgrown the feudal taxation structures he inherited from his father. The continuing patronage of the arts by the monarchy and wealthy nobility continued the progress of the Renaissance and secured its legacy in secular and religious art. The population of Ludania boomed during this period owing to the integration of communities from the continent and favourable weather conditions, combined with agricultural reforms and an increasing understanding of farming practices. The urbanisation of Ludania had begun, albeit very slowly. King Geraint III was also the first Ludanian monarch to finance explorations of the New World, establishing colonies and trading outposts which began to fill the coffers of the state with riches from exotic goods seen for the first time in Europe.


Aeron Meylor
Duke of Monmouth
Lord Regent of All Ludania

The successes of Geraint III's reign however were set against a background of personal tragedies; throughout his time on the throne he had 4 wives, all of whom would die in childbirth in his quest for a male heir. In the year 1600, his fourth and final wife Margaret of Austria gave birth to his only son and heir to survive past infancy, Prince Trahaearn. The near extinction of the only dynasty to ever rule all of Ludania caused massive anxiety throughout the realm as there was no possible answer to the crisis save the birth of a legitimate Prince or Princess as an outbreak of plague in Glanbrenin had managed to lay low all but the most obscure of claimants with competing interests. The advanced age of the King at the time of his son’s birth meant that the final 3 years of the King’s reign were taken up solely by his need to design an effective regency for his infant son. King Geraint III passed away on March 24th 1603, beloved by his people and sorely missed for decades due to the trouble leaving the throne to an infant would create.

The Duke of Monmouth’s Regency (1603 - 1615)

The aged King had settled on one of his most trusted and powerful advisers, Aeron Meylor, Duke of Monmouth, as sole regent with full control and veto over the Regency Council’s decisions. Having grown up inside the close circle of the Royal Family, Monmouth had been treated almost as a family member by the Talfryn Dynasty. The Meylor family itself had origins almost as ancient as those of the Talfryn dynasty. Wealthy landowners across the Kingdom of Wales throughout history, the family’s daughters had often provided brides for members of the Royal Family and their network of connections throughout the Old Nobility of Ludania were extensive and powerful. The famously fecund family had also had ample sons to place in the hierarchy of the Catholic Church, with a number becoming Cardinals throughout the Middle Ages. The infamously zealous family were devout Catholics and had opposed the introduction of the Acts of Toleration, and resented Parliament for allowing non-Catholic communities back into Ludania for the first time.

The will and testament of King Geraint III had set out explicit but complex instructions for the governance of the three Kingdoms of Ludania. Four of the most senior noblemen and the single highest ranking clergyman of each Kingdom were to form the Councils of Wales, Ireland and Scotland which together would form a Realm-Wide Regency Council, while the Duke of Monmouth would serve as an extra member of each Council and as Lord Regent of All Ludania. The entire Council was to vote on matters pertaining to all of Ludania, while the Councils of each Kingdoms would debate matters only pertaining to their own Kingdoms. In the event of a deadlock, the Lord Regent would be able to veto a decision or break the deadlock by voting in favour of a decision.

In the latter half of the 16th century after recovering from the internal disruption, Ludania began investing in a navy and tiny overseas colonies and trading posts, predominantly in the Caribbean. These new trading assets and global connections further afield brought spices, tea, sugar and tobacco to Ludania for the first time. Ludania became a trade-orientated nation and economy in the following centuries remained domestically peaceful and relatively socially liberal despite the absolute authority of the Crown remaining in place. In the 17th and 18th centuries, Ludania established herself as the pre-eminent naval power in the region, jealously guarding her trade, resources and colonies with one of the world's largest fleets. Numerous wars were fought with foreign powers over Ludania's colonial ambitions across the globe and wars against trading republics brought enormous wealth and prestige to Ludania. One of the most notable conflicts of this period was the

Kingdom and Industry

By the beginning of the 19th century, the Kingdom of Ludania extended its control over Canada, the Caribbean, Australasia, vast parts of India directly or indirectly, coastal regions of Africa and maintained a presence in virtually every global region. Fuelled by its colonial wealth, the Industrial Revolution swept Ludania and urbanized around 1/3rd of the population, greatly increasing her wealth, power and status as well as introducing technological innovation, modern practices and conveniences previously unthinkable. Industrial production in the century quadrupled with the Metropole becoming an enormous net exporter of iron, coal, steel, chemicals and luxury goods. The Kingdom continued to expand, with its last territorial acquisition, Egypt, coming under Ludanian control in 1905.

A Very Ludanian Reform: 1898 - 1958

Some historians place the beginning of the Modern Age of Ludania as far back as 1898, upon the death of King Idris and the accession of his modernising son, King Idris II "the Reformer". Rather than introducing democracy to Ludania, King Idris II is known to history as a reformer due to his introduction of modern bureaucratic administration to the country. Locally appointed town councils were created to better administer the more remote and rural parts of the country, and life in urban Ludania was dramatically improved by the devolution of power from the central Ministries. Idris II embarked on a major modernisation program for Ludanian industry, and by the 1920s had nationalised key sectors of the economy including mining, energy, the railways, shipping companies, telegrams, the postal service and many others. A unified economic policy across the Kingdom combined with the state’s resources led to a reign of unprecedented stability, job growth and a constant increase in living standards. King Idris II passed away after a 60-year reign in 1958, and his loss was much lamented the world over.


King Idris II
‘The Reformer’

Kings Idris III and Iowerth VIII

King Idris III acceded to the throne in 1958 and his reign can be seen as a continuation of that of his father. While not introducing many further reforms, King Idris III was preoccupied with the increasingly important role of the Cold War in global politics and Ludania’s place therein. While steadfastly opposed to international communism and the USSR, the Kingdom was equally mistrustful of NATO and its democratic worldview which was alien to Ludania’s political system, culture and traditions. The suppression of independence movements throughout the Ludanian Kingdom also alienated the country from any particular international bloc.

The country’s fortunes soured when King Idris III died in 1981, passing the throne to his sickly son King Iowerth VIII. Extended periods of regency and disagreements within the Regency Council caused a weakening in the authority of the Crown and the Kingdom struggled to remain united in the face of independence movements and a clamour for domestic reform. Ludania was also internationally condemned for its decision to invade and destabilise Angola in 1986, despite the country being guilty of harbouring terrorists carrying out campaigns throughout Ludania’s African territories. These events directly led to the establishment of major and modern pro-democracy movements in Ludania itself for the first time. King Iowerth VIII died in 1994 and passed the throne to his much more capable son, King Geraint IV.

Accession of King Geraint IV

His Majesty King Geraint IV inherited the throne at a critical point in Ludania’s history. The people of Ludania openly protested in the streets for the first time and republican sentiment in opposition to the monarchy was truly a threat for the new reign. In order to soothe public and international opinion, as well as to keep the Kingdom united, the new King announced a plan for sweeping democratic reform. For the first time there was to be an elected legislature with cabinet government responsible not just to the King but also to the electorate. Freedoms of speech, assembly, association, religion and so forth were written into a brief constitution (the country’s first) which was implemented on January 1st, 2000 to mark the new millennium and a new age for the country. In addition to this, the Kingdom was to become increasingly federal in stages with each Viceroyalty inevitably handling its own affairs, save for a few reserve powers held by the government in Glanbrenin.

The Democratic Experiment 2000 - 2017

The period of the Democratic Experiment (as it is now known) was a mixed blessing for the Kingdom of Ludania. The new openness of society and a turn away from traditionalist aristocratic culture ushered in a new age in Ludanian arts, and deference for nobility was replaced by the new cults of celebrity. The freedoms allowed by the new constitution also established tourism as a major industry in Ludania itself for the first time as a visit to the country became a more enticing option for foreign travellers and investors. Furthermore, the democratisation of colonial rule also gained Ludania international praise, albeit somewhat limited by the fact the country was still an Kingdom.

Despite these successes, the country also suffered greatly during the Democratic Experiment. Traditional crafts lost their patrons and the new avantgarde alienated the still conservative population who were still weary of foreigners. Foreign investment in Ludania also bred resentment among the population from the highest Archduke to the humblest worker as perceived foreign domination of Ludanian industries were viewed as theft by the people. The so-called advancements in colonial government also bred new problems; having abated initial colonial dissent the new methods instead bred a new kind of independence movement.


The Duke of Lancaster
Head of the Decembrist League
The Decembrist League Coup

Politically, the Democratic Experiment was an unmitigated disaster for the Kingdom. From the outset, the sudden and overnight relinquishment of power from an educated aristocracy into the hands of a completely unexperienced and elected government was doomed to fail. The government bungled from one crisis to another and maladministration was the rule. Corruption exploded as did crime, drug use, smuggling and other black-market activities to an unprecedented scale in the country. The imposition of the alien system of democracy on the still conservative and traditionalist Ludania divided the country and political apathy allowed a new class of career politicians to act as they pleased with public expenditure without being truly accountable to the largely ignorant and apathetic electorate.

Needless to say, the reforms horrified the entrenched aristocratic elite of Ludania who had ruled the land for over a millennium. The increasingly frustrated King and Queen Dowager covertly established the secretive Un-Ludanian Activities Committee in December of 2015 to investigate alleged disloyalty and subversive activities (including corruption) on the part of private citizens, public employees, politicians, educators and those organizations suspected of having republican or communist ties, including some elements of the Royal Army. The King appointed to the committee several members of the Royal Family, members of ardent Monarchist political parties, loyalist clergymen and perhaps most importantly heads of the security forces and the head of the Royal Army, His Royal Highness The Duke of Lancaster (a cousin of His Majesty King Geraint IV).

The Committee anonymously disclosed evidence of widespread misuse of allowances and expenses permitted to Members of Parliament, arousing widespread anger among the public resulting in a large number of resignations, sackings, de-selections and retirement announcements together with public apologies and the repayment of expenses. Several former MPs were prosecuted and sentenced to terms of imprisonment, but the reports had little effect on the corruption that was by now widespread in every government institution.


The Royal Army On Patrol
Parliament Square, Glanbrenin
Meanwhile, the covert Un-Ludanian Activities Committee’s leaders had organised themselves into the Decembrist League with the tacit approval of the King. The situation in Ludania became critical in December 2016 when more government failings were brought to light. The King recalled the Chancellor who was forced to resign, and snap elections were called to try and stabilise the country while the small clique of those who were politically active became increasingly radicalised. The elections resulted in a marginal victory for the Ludanian Socialist Party, alarming the upper echelons of society and the Decembrist League in particular, who sought to revert Ludania to the personal rule of the King. The ineffectuality of the new socialist government to push through reforms in the face of staunch opposition from pressure groups, including the Royal Army, caused the administration to stagnate again.

It was not until November 5th, 2017 however that the years of chaos came to their climax. While the King and Queen were travelling onboard the Royal Train in the underwater Stranraer Tunnel between Iwerddon and Alban, a bomb exploded on the Alban side and began to flood the tunnel. Fortunately, the Royal Train had been delayed and was able to successfully reverse out of the tunnel before it was too late. Outraged, the King entrusted the Decembrist League to head the investigation and it was duly reported back that the explosives used were military-grade and had to have had some degree of government collusion. Immediately declaring martial law throughout the Kingdom before even alighting from the train, the King realised the need to reverse all reforms to keep himself, his family and the country safe.


An King's Youth Memeber
Roseiron Palace Celebration Parade
His Royal Highness The Duke of Lancaster is 3rd in line to the Ludanian throne and head of the Royal Army. On November 6th and acting on the advice of the King, the Duke began to purge the Royal Army of members of leftist parties and those affiliated with them. The purge included extralegal arrests, trials and executions which were protested by the civilian government. Encouraged by the Royal Army soldiers on the streets, citizens began to riot against the government and destroy political party headquarters across the country. On the morning of December 1st, 2017, the Heads of the Decembrist League and the Un-Ludanian Activities Committee arrived at the Roseiron Palace in Glanbrenin to petition the King to dissolve Parliament and return the country to absolutist rule.

At midday, the Royal Army sounded warning sirens while troops marched on Parliament. Those MPs attempting to flee were shot on sight while the remainder were arrested and put on trial. In the city centre, there was minimal opposition to the Royal Army who were greeted by cheering crowds singing the praises of the King. The entire cabinet had been successfully arrested and await trial for treason. Across the Kingdom, Viceroys were granted their orders to shut down civilian government and impose martial law, stripping away the rights of the Ludanian colonies and returning them to direct rule by the Viceroy on behalf of the King.

While the coup itself was largely bloodless, its aftermath was not. The Duke of Lancaster was appointed by the King as head of the King’s Youth organisation, and rapidly turned it into a paramilitary movement aimed at crushing the remnants of democracy in the country and restoring traditional Ludanian culture to prominence. Groups of loyalist students attacked and murdered those belonging to leftist movements and their families, and destroyed any art and political works created in the last 18 years. Casualties in Ludania are in the area of 20,000 dead, while disturbances in the colonies are continuing to be suppressed by the Royal Army. Martial law in Ludania will expire on January 1st, 2018, and the country will face a very different future under the autocratic rule of the King.

Flag

The Ludanian Flag was formally adopted as the national flag in 1655 despite being used in some varying form for centuries. In the center of the flag is the heraldic Coat of Arms of the first Ludanian King Talfryn and the current Royal Family, surrounded by the national motto and ancient rallying call, "Pleidiol wyf i'm gwlad". Further surrounding the National Coat of Arms are the traditional symbols of Ludania's five Archduchies; the shamrock, the leek, the white and red roses and the thistle. Sitting atop the Royal Badge is a depiction of the Royal Crown of Ludania. The Royal Badge rests upon a combination of the flags of the Patron Saints of Ludania's Archduchies.

Geography

The country occupies the entire Ludanian Isles archipelago and includes the island of Magna Ludania, Ludania Minor and the smaller surrounding islands. It lies between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea with the south-east coast coming within 22 miles (35 km) of the coast of northern France, from which it is separated by the Ludanian Channel. 10% of the Metropole is forested, 46% used for pastures and 25% cultivated for agriculture.

Most of the country is lowland terrain, however there are a numerous amount of mountain ranges such as the Pusaln Slopes, the Brefus Tops, Stalls Highlands, Brint Peaks and the Tuparb Bluff. The main estuaries and rivers are the Wolt, Huwth, Sanguine and Afort. The largest lake in the isles is Loch Dysh in Ludania Minor.

The Metropole has a temperate climate, with plentiful rainfall all year round. The temperature varies with the seasons seldom dropping below −11 °C (12 °F) or rising above 35 °C (95 °F). The prevailing wind is from the south-west and bears frequent spells of mild and wet weather from the Atlantic Ocean, although the eastern parts are mostly sheltered from this wind since the majority of the rain falls over the western regions the eastern parts are therefore the driest. Atlantic currents, warmed by the Gulf Stream, bring mild winters; especially in the west where winters are wet and even more so over high ground. Summers are warmest in the south-west near Wattingham, being closest to the European mainland, and coolest in the north. Heavy snowfall can occur in winter and early spring on high ground, and occasionally settles to great depth away from the hills.

Administrative Regions

Viceroyalties: Each of Ludania’s colonies is referred to as a Viceroyalty. These are macroregions which are ethnically and culturally diverse, ruled by a Viceroy acting on behalf of the King and implementing Ludanian laws and control there. The Viceroy is essentially an King in his own domain and is appointed based on loyalty to the Crown, as well as breeding and station.
Archduchies: The regions of Ludania itself are divided along historical lines into its 5 Archduchies and 70 Duchies. The citizens of each Duchy vote for their own regional councils to administer day to day affairs. The largest cities in the Kingdom have Mayors who are appointed by Royal Decree. The largest divisions are the Archduchies as described below:

Rank

Archduchy

Archduke/Archduchess

Symbol

Share of National Population

1

Cambria

HIH Prince Siarl

Leek or Daffodil

26.3%

2

Anglia

HIH Prince Ionawr

Red Rose

23.7%

3

Rheged

HIH Prince Macsen

White Rose

20%

4

Iwerddon

HIH Prince Owen

Shamrock

16%

5

Alban

HIH Prince Taliesin

Thistle

14%

Duchies/Provinces:The third largest divisions, Ludania’s ancient established Duchies, also serve as its modern administrative regions. They are further divided into 10 counties.

Demographics

Interior of a Ludanian church

Population

The population of Ludania is recorded constantly and updated electronically via a mandatory census, complimented by birth and death records. The global population of Ludania as of 19/12/2017 is 12.028 billion citizens. Approximately 15% of people in Metropolitan Ludania live in or around or work in the capital city of Glanbrenin.

Language

Ludania speaks Welsh, the indigenous language of its peoples and islands that pre-dates contact with foreigners. It has been heavily influenced by its European neighbours, however. It is one of two official languages of Ludania, the other being Latin. Government decrees, business contracts and other legal documents can be written in either language, necessitating a bilingual education to flourish in the country.

Religion

Roman Catholicism is the indisputable state religion of Ludania, and it is guaranteed by law as the national religion. Liberalising reform of the church by the current King began in 1994, with the church in Ludania being forced by the national government to take a more modern standpoint on several contemporary issue than it would in other countries. This largely derives from the fact that the King’s brother HIH Prince Taliesin is married to another man. Almost all of the Ludanian population adheres to the faith and religious participation is nearly universal, with up to 90% of the Metropolitan Ludanian population attending at least one service a month. Those who do not attend are even regarded with suspicion by the secret police.

His Majesty The King

His Majesty’s Government

The King

His Majesty the King is the Head of State of Ludania, as the Monarch always is, as well as technically being the Head of Government though this position is now held by the Royal Chancellor. The King’s power is unlimited as the government is merely ruling on his behalf. All decisions are taken at least formally in the name of the King using what is called the Royal Prerogative. Royal Prerogatives are the powers granted by the King to the Ministers of the Royal Council, enabling the government to make decisions such as going to war or making treaties. The King is responsible only to God.

The Royal Council

The Royal Council is the cabinet government of the Ludanian Kingdom, yet it serves legally only an advisory role; the King rules by Royal Decree and his word is law. Delegation however has played an enormous part in the administration of modern Kings, and they have granted Royal Prerogatives to their handpicked Minister to deliver results within their portfolio. The Royal Council is restricted to the nobility, and there are currently 13 Ministers with portfolios.

The Judiciary

The judiciary is the part of HM's Government that is responsible for the legal system, primarily concerned with the administration of His Majesty’s justice. Members of the judiciary are appointed by the King and act upon his orders, delivering verdicts within the confines of the King’s laws. The King is the supreme head of the judiciary and his word is final on all matters.


Incumbent Chancellor
Morgan Cadwallaon
Chancellor

The Royal Chancellor The Kingdom of Ludania is the head of His Majesty's Government throughout the Kingdom. The Chancellor and Royal Council (consisting of all senior ministers, who are government department heads) are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the King alone, as Ludania is an absolute monarchy. The current Chancellor is His Excellency the Count of Worcester, whose legal name is Morgan Cadwallon. Worcester was appointed based on his vast experience and loyalty to the Crown in the aftermath of the Decembrist League Coup. The Chancellor acts on the King's behalf in all matters.

Ministry of the Interior

Perhaps the most important Ministry within the Royal Council other than that of the Chancellor is that of the Minister of the Interior. The Minister of the Interior is tasked with keeping the King's Peace and quelling dissent. The current incumbent is His Royal Highness the Duke of York, brother-in-law to the King. The Minister of the Interior is head of the Secret Police, the regular police force, local militias, censorship and many other aspects necessitating a loyal servant of the Crown to occupy the post.

The Nobility

The Nobility is the social class in Ludania ranked immediately under those who are full members of the Royal Family. Since ancient times, this class has provided Ludania with its leadership. After the Decembrist League Coup in 2017, the class again became the only source for trusted individuals who were suitable for appointment to government roles, or leadership roles in other institutions. The King's Youth movement also ensures that deference to the aristocracy is always adhered to. Members of the judiciary and Royal Council are subject to membership of this class, which is inheritable or can be gained through ennoblement by the King alone.

Elections

All Ludanian citizens over the age of 21, except those in jail, are eligible to vote in most elections as long as they live in the constituencies concerned. The only electable offices in Ludania are those for local council positions, and the candidates are restricted to members of the local nobility. Political parties are outlawed in the Kingdom.

Foreign Relations

The current Minister Foreign Minister of Ludania is His Grace the Duke of Dulyn. The policy of the current government is to establish better relations with its neighbours in the Confederacy of Free Nations after a relatively isolationist period at the end of the 20th century. Despite the practically complete autonomy given to Ludania's colonies, Glanbrenin still handles all matters of foreign diplomacy and national defence on their behalf. The King of Ludania had previously Lord Delegate to the World Assembly for the Crown Confederation of Recon. The eldest daughter of the King, Her Royal Highness Princess Royal Charlotte is currently Ludania's delegate to the World Assembly, which Ludania is an active member of. Ludania's relations with some of its neighbours have soured since the Decembrist League Coup.

Military

HMS Harlech
Ludania's largest Aircraft Carrier

The Ludanian Armed Forces are divided into 3 separate branches, the Royal Navy, the Royal Air Force and the Royal Army. All members of the Forces must swear allegiance to the King personally, rather than to the state and all vessels of the Royal Navy are technically owned by him, hence the designation 'His Majesty's Ship'. Spending on the Forces is 11.8% of the Kingdom's GDP and constitutes a large part of the nation's spending. The primary objectives of the Ludanian military are to keep the peace in any troubled colonies and to defend the nation's borders from attack, which includes active engagement in anti-piracy actions at sea and eliminating any internal or external threats to stability.

Historically, His Majesty's Royal Army has been the smallest branch of the armed forces and are highly trained with multiple special ops units as opposed to being a force of overwhelming numbers. The main deployment areas for the army are in the Viceroyalties across the globe as a peacekeeping force and as a garrison against any insurgency, as foreign country is believed to be a valid enough threat to Ludania at this time.

His Majesty's Royal Air Force is the second largest branch of the armed forces, largely due to the great size of Ludania's overseas territories. Maintaining garrisons in all of these regions is simply impractical due to the cost and manpower involved, and so the IAF is greatly provided for in order to make up the shortfall of troops on the ground, as Ludania's aircraft are more than capable of handling the job.

Finally, the largest branch of the Armed Forces is the Royal Navy. Historically a trading nation, as well as being an island nation, Ludania prides itself in its navy and relies on it for its protection and maintenance of the country's prosperity. Ludania's navies is among the largest in the world, capable of fending off the combined fleets of several neighbouring countries. As there is currently no threat of international conflict however, the navy is primarily engaged in anti-piracy activities, although the fleet maintains at least one carrier group in every major ocean at any given time, in case of emergencies. Ludania also possesses nuclear capabilities, based entirely on its nuclear submarine fleet. As there is no particular country which poses a nuclear threat, large missile silo facilities on land are unnecessary and the capability is purely defensive.

Economy

Ludania has a partially regulated market economy. HM's Treasury, led by the Minister of Finance (a member of the Royal Council), is responsible for developing and executing public finance policy and economic policy. The Royal Bank of Ludania is the Kingdom's central bank and is responsible for issuing notes and coins in the nation's currency. Ludania's GDP is £2,928 trillion with an average income of £243,504. Private industry is accountable for 87.3%, the government for 10.2% and state-owned industry for 1.8%. Wealth is evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.3 times as much as the poorest. The frighteningly efficient Ludanian economy is fairly diversified and led by the Information Technology industry, with major contributions from Tourism, Arms Manufacturing, and Book Publishing. State-owned companies are reasonably common.

Infrastructure

A radial road network totals 40,000 miles of main roads, 5,000 miles of motorways and 350,000 miles of paved roads. 75% of the adult population owns or drives a car, and the vast majority of vehicles are electric as all other types are in the process of being phased out by the government. Ludania has a rich history of rail travel and a rail network of 15,000 miles including high-speed rail links from Glanbrenin between all major cities using Maglevs. All major cities and some large towns have their own underground metro systems, and Ludania has the longest network of metros in the region. Ludania has 10 major international airports with some of the busiest air traffic in the region, although domestic flights in the Metropolitan Ludania are not a popular method of transport as rail tends to be cheaper and more reliable.

Energy


The World's First
Tidal Lagoon Power Plant,
Abertawe

Ludania has a modern and clean energy industry, dominated by largely by tidal and wind power. Ludania constructed the first ever tidal lagoon power plant in the city of Abertawe and the technology has received massive investment form the central government in recent years. A tidal lagoon is a ‘U’ shaped breakwater, built out from the coast which has a bank of hydro turbines in it. Water fills up and empties the man-made lagoon as the tides rise and fall. Electricity is generated on both the incoming and outgoing tides, four times a day, every day. Due to the incredible tides on the West Coast of Ludania, by keeping the turbine gates shut for just three hours, there is already a 14ft height difference in water between the inside and the outside of the lagoon. Power is then generated as the water rushes through 200ft long draft tubes, rotating the 23ft diameter hydro turbines.

Another prevalent clean energy source for Ludania are the country's many wind farms, both on and offshore. The largest by area are off the coast of the Archduchy of Rheged, with the largest itself undergoing a massive expansion to increase its capacity to 900MW. Metropolitan Ludania lacks many sites appropriate for geothermal energy, and due to the country not being as sunny as others, solar power is not often exploited to its fullest extent. Most new homes however are built with solar panels, driving down costs for consumers.

State owned Ludanian oil companies also operate large drilling operations offshore of Rheged in the North Sea, but these are in the process of being phased out and dismantled despite an abundance of resources, in line with the government's environmentalist stance. The country has phased out coal entirely as a source of energy in recent years but operates several nuclear power plants to make up the shortfall in energy production before more renewable sources are exploited.

The Kingdom of Ludania

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