Weisserstein (Pacifica)

Weissersteiner Empire Weißersteiner Kaiserreich
Flag Coat of Arms
Motto: Das Schönste, das Einzige The most beautiful, the one and only
Anthem: Heil dir im Siegerkranz "Hail to Thee in the Victor's Crown" Royal anthem: Wilhelm und Elizabeth "Wilhelm and Elizabeth"
Imperial Hymn Gott erhalte, Gott beschütze "God preserve, God protect
Capital and largest city	Kaiserslicht
Official languages	Alman
Recognised national languages	Arabic
Recognised regional languages	Sugovian, Wyndic, Indavral, Denvari
Ethnic groups (2024)	82% Alman 14% Arab 4% others
Religion (2024)	Christianity 70.3%, Islam 29.6%, Others 0.1%
Demonym(s)	Weissersteiner
Government	Unitary parliamentary semi-constitutional monarchy
• Kaiser	Wilhelm II Lichtenburg-Hohenzollern
• Imperial Chancellor	Friedrich Müller
Legislature	Reichsparlament
• Upper house	Reichsrat
• Lower house	Reichstag
Establishment
• Alemannia province	1542
• Peace of Wuppertal	1738
• Unification	October 25, 1815
Area
•	492,308 km2 (190,081 sq mi)
Population
• 2024 estimate	105,846,220
GDP (nominal)	estimate
• Total	$6,013,335,450,640
• Per capita	$56812
Currency	Kronemark (Kr)
Time zone	UTC-1 (CET)
Driving side	left

Weisserstein, officially the Weissersteiner Empire (Alman: Weißersteiner Kaiserreich), is a nation located in North-Central and Central Cordilia, bordered by Sugovia in the north, UPRAN in the west, Valkyria and Croaktia in the south, Sa-Jik to the southeast, the White Sea, the Bay of Lileanen, and the Gulf of Almannia to the east. The nation runs mostly along several major rivers, including the Wald, the Kolmar, the Kawien, the Weser, the Inn, the Salzach, and the Nassau, and is surrounded by several mountain chains, including the Kaisersstolzer Alps, the Sunlandic Highlands, and the Kleinhart Jura.

Early settlement of Almannic groups from Frastinia, namely from modern Gianatla, following the banishment of several Almannic tribes by Nero the Strongman. The tribes settled in the lands around and beyond the Sugo during the Great Banishment, establishing many different polities and states between the 8th and 14th centuries. These states entered into feuds and wars with each other and larger empires around them, namely the Triangular and Wyndic empires. As part of the larger Wyndic Crusades, Almannic culture would spread into the rest of the Waldland and beyond.

In 1520, contact between the Almannic states of central Cordilia and the rising Gianlucian Empire was reestablished. After Queen Sophia's conversion to Christianity in 1542, she sought to consolidate the local Almannic-speaking polities, a goal that had been Sophia's late husband, Emperor Friedrich II, since the reestablishment of contact between the two regions. These efforts began with Sophia's marriage to Conrad, the Grand Prince of Lichtenburg, which brought the crowns of Gianlucaland and Lichtenburg under one monarch, and eventually led to the establishment of Alemannia province in 1548, encompassing all of modern-day Weisserstein and Sa-Jik, alongside parts of southern Sugovia.

By the 1600s, the Gianlucian Empire's grip on Weisserstein was beginning to wane, and following the Peace of Wuppertal, Weisserstein was almost entirely autonomous from Gianlucaland. The 1600s also saw the rise of a Weissersteiner identity amongst the populace, heralding the beginning of the Wiedererwachen. Weissersteiner art, literature, and architecture, among others, became widespread and Weissersteiner culture flourished massively.

The late 1600s and early 1700s saw the rise of two powerful kingdoms within Alemannia, the Kingdom of Lichtenburg and the Kingdom of Prussia. In 1796, Wilhelm, the Crown Prince of Lichtenburg, and Elizabeth, the Crown Princess of Prussia, entered into a marriage, sealing the two kingdoms into an eventual personal, and later political, union. In 1804 the Kingdom of Lichtenburg-Prussia would officially be established, becoming the most powerful player in Gianlucian Weisserstein. The Kingdom secured a security alliance alongside other member states of Gianlucian Weisserstein, establishing the Zollverein. The alliance would be thrusted into a war when the Elbonian Empire, with support from the Triangular Empire, invaded Weisserstein.

The coalition eventually defeated both the Elbonians and the Triangulars, and on October 25, 1815, the now-independent Weissersteiner Empire would be officially established.

Weisserstein is a unitary semi-constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy. The country is divided into 12 Imperial States, the largest of which being the Kingdom of Lichtenburg and Prussia, which itself is divided further into 8 Crown Lands, including the capital and largest city, Kaiserslicht. Other major centers of populations includes the cities of Lichtenburg, Kaisersbrücke, Erzengelshafen, Waldbrücken, Luxemburg, and Qadr Nacht.

Etymology

Weisserstein (Weißerstein, Alman for "white stone") was first used by the early Almannic peoples who settled in parts of modern day Lichtenburg, in reference to the white sands on the beach, though it is unclear how this name for the region originated. The earliest documented form of the name was in 878 (Old High Sunlandic: Wittesteen), at which time it was used to refer to the two states beyond the Sunlandic Highlands that were part of the New Pegathian Confederation, that being the Grand Duchy of Weibnen and the small Principality of Bitgau. The term would also be used to refer to the Almannic kingdoms that sprang up in the Areas beyond the Wald and Lowenia following the Grand Crusades.

The name Weisserstein was used once again during the Nobles' War, when the name Almannia became associated with pro-Gianlucian forces within the region. The use of the name Weisserstein was to resurrect the name of the region which was used by the Almannic tribes who were displaced by Imperator Nero.

History

Main article: History of Weisserstein (Pacifica)

Medieval period and the Wyndic Crusades

Main article: Wyndic Crusades (Pacifica)

Gianlucian consolidation over Weisserstein

Contact between the Gianlucian Empire and the Almans of Central Cordilia was reestablished in 1520 as a result of exploration by Gianlucian voyagers. News of Almannic peoples this far south excited then-Gianlucian emperor Friedrich II, who sought to place the Almans of Central Cordilia under his protection and suzerainty. However, these efforts did not bore fruit due to religious barriers between the two Almannic groups, and advances into the region was only achieved after Friedrich's wife and successor, Sophia, converted to Christianity in 1542. Sophia continued her late-husband's endeavor to consolidate Gianlucian power in the region, eventually marrying Conrad, the Grand Prince of Lichtenburg and securing a personal union between the two states. Her endeavors culminated with the creation of the province of Alemannia within the Gianlucian court. The province included all of modern-day Weisserstein and Sa-Jik, as well as parts of southern Sugovia (Sunland, Esharia, and the Steid principalities).

Through colonization by Alemannic merchants and Eroberers, the province also established the Viceroyalty of Western Bareland, a territory partially ran by the West Bareland Trading Company and managed by a Viceroy. For a time, the Viceroyalty was an autonomous unit within Alemannia before it was detached in 1XXX.

The Wiedererwachen

Main article: Wiedererwachen (Pacifica)

Union of Lichtenburg and Prussia, and the War of Unification

Main articles: Union Act of 1796 (Pacifica) and Weissersteiner-Elbonian War (Pacifica)

Weissersteiner Civil War

Main article: Weissersteiner Civil War (Pacifica)

Post-Civil War and Direct Imperial Democracy

Main article: Direct Imperial Democracy (Pacifica)

Politics

Weisserstein is a semi-constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy operating under the Kaiserspalast system, a system which combines aspects of a parliamentary democracy with certain powers given to the head of state. It is a centralised, unitary state. The Reichstag, the legislative branch of the Weissersteiner government, is made up of the elected Unterhaus (officially the House of Commons of the Imperial Diet), the appointed Oberhaus (officially the House of Lords of the Imperial Diet), and the Crown (as personified by the monarch). While the legislature is run by the two Houses independently from the monarchy, any acts made by the Reichstag must be approved by the monarch for it to become law. The monarch also has wide powers with regards to the Reichstag, such as the ability to veto an act. The monarch also has the ability to disband the Reichstag during times of crisis. One such case was the disbandment of the Reichstag in 1939, during the outbreak of the Weissersteiner Civil War.

Kaiser Wilhelm II is the current monarch and head of state of Weisserstein. The monarch is formally vested with all executive authority as the personal embodiment of the Crown and is “...fundamental to the law and working of government in the Weissersteiner Empire." The disposition of such powers however, including those belonging to the royal prerogative, is generally exercised only on the advice of ministers of the Crown responsible to the Reichstag and thence to the electorate. Nevertheless, in the performance of official duties, the monarch has "the right to be consulted, the right to encourage, and the right to warn". In addition, the monarch has a number of reserve powers at his disposal, albeit rarely used, in order to uphold responsible government and prevent constitutional crises. The Crown also occupies a unique cultural role, serving as an unofficial brand ambassador for Weissersteiner interests and values abroad, increasing tourism at home, and promoting charities throughout civil society.

The Chancellor is the head of government in Weisserstein. Acting under the direction and supervision of a Cabinet of ministers selected and led by the chancellor, the Government serves as the principal instrument for public policymaking, administers public services and, through the Imperial Council, promulgates statutory instruments and tenders advice to the monarch. The current Chancellor, as of August 2020, is Friedrich Thomas Müller, the leader of the Christian-Muslim Democratic Union.

Imperial States

Weisserstein is organized in a similar fashion to a federation and is comprised of 12 constituent imperial states, collectively referred to as the Reichstaaten. Each imperial state has its own ruling nobility, constitution, and is largely autonomous over their internal affairs and organizations. These states vary greatly in sizes, with the largest being Lichtenburg-Prussia, accounting for 60% of Weisserstein's territory and two-thirds of its population, and the smallest being Grandsau. Some states also have several enclaves and exclaves, and some (such as Mäls-Renburg and Bedeln) having two main territories with two different capitals. These complex borders are a legacy of the old Princely system which was in use before, during, and after the Gianlucian period.

State	Capital
Al-Khatab	Qadr Nacht
Bellenstein	Bellenstein
Eppeln-Salzeck	Eppelnsburg
Gnessenau	Gnessenau
Grandschau	Ruggell
Heiligenkreuz	Oberkirche
Kurland	Allenstein
Lichtenburg-Prussia	Kaiserslicht
Lowenia	Erzengelshafen
Luxemburg	Luxemburg-Stadt
Mälz-Renburg-Bedeln	Renburg (northern half)
	Bedeln (southern half)
Sallenberg-Gëln	Gëln
Sallenberg-Wellenhausen	Wellenhausen
Schaumburg	Lippe
Schlauen	Schlauen
Stauffenberg-Sigmaringen	Sigmaringen
Wöllan and Pettau	Pettau
Zwingenbach - Elder Line	Zwingenbach
Zwingenbach - Junior Line	Schaarn

Military

Main article: Reichswehr (Pacifica)

Demographics

With a population of 84 million according to the 2022 Weissersteiner census, Weisserstein is among the most populous country in Cordilia and the xth-most populous country in the world. Its population density stands at 171 inhabitants per square kilometre (442 inhabitants/sq mi). The fertility rate of 1.9 children born per woman (2022 estimates). During the tumultuous periods around the 1930s and 1940s, Weisserstein experienced low birth rates and saw its death rate exceed its birth rate. However, Weisserstein is witnessing increased birth rates and migration rates since the beginning of the 2010s. The Weissersteiner population has an average age of 28 years.

There are two sizeable minority groups that have lived in Weisserstein for centuries. The most prominent of these is the Arab minority in Weisserstein, mostly located in the areas around Al-Khatab, and make up about 14% of the population (though, people of mixed Arab-Alman descent are much higher, estimated at between 23%-34%). The second group are the Indavrals. Their number has steadily decreased and are at threat of dissapearing. Recent efforts have been made to save their culture, identity, religion, and language.

Weisserstein has a number of large cities. There are 12 officially recognized metropolitan regions. The country's largest city is Kaiserslicht, while its largest urban area is the X.