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, Luxemburgish, Indavral (Waldavran dialect)
Ethnic groups (2022)	92% Alman 14% Arab 4% others
Religion (2022)	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	Reichstag
• Upper house	Oberhaus
• Lower house	Unterhaus
Establishment
• Peace of Wuppertal	1738
• The Wiedererwachen	18th century
• Unification	October 25, 1815
Area
•	492,308 km2 (190,081 sq mi)
Population
• 2022 estimate	84,000,000
GDP (nominal)	estimate
• Total	$5,998,557,993,452
• Per capita	$71,441
Currency	Kronemark (KRM)
Time zone	UTC-1 (CET)
Driving side	left

Weisserstein, officially the Weissersteiner Empire (Alman: Weißersteiner Kaiserreich), is an Alman nation located in North-Central and Central Cordilia, bordered by Sugovia in the north, Past and UPRAN in the west, Valkyria and Clashonia in the south, and the Weissersteiner Sea, the Bay of Lileanen, and the Gulf of Brave Lions to the east. The nation runs mostly along several major rivers, including the Wald, the Rhine, the Kiel, the Weser-Inn, the Saar, the Salzach, and the Oder-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 the Ten Tribes by Nero the Strongman following the tribes' attempt to conspire against him. 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 Hitsaati Empire. As part of the larger Hitsaati Crusades, Alman culture would spread into the Rhineland and beyond the Wald river into modern-day Lowenia.

Following the crusades, contact between the Alman states of Central Cordilia and the Gianlucian Empire was reestablished, and soon after Gianlucaland would place the small Alman states under its protection. (to be discussed)

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 Gianlucian Weisserstein, 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 8 Imperial States, the largest of which being the United Kingdom of Lichtenburg and Prussia, which itself is divided further into 7 Crown Lands, including the capital and largest city, Kaiserslicht. Other major centers of populations includes the cities of Lichtenburg, Wien, Wuppertal, 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: Wittsteen), at which time it was used to refer to the two states beyond the Sunlandic Highlands that were part of the First Sunlandic 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 Rhineland and Lowenia following the Grand Crusades.

The name Weisserstein would be used officially for the first time during the period of Gianlucian rule, when it was known as the Commonwealth of Weisserstein.

History

Main article: History of Weisserstein (Pacifica)

Medieval period and the Hitsaati Crusades

Main article: Hitsaati Crusades (Pacifica)

The Wiedererwachen and waning Gianlucian rule

Main article: Wiedererwachen (Pacifica)

The Zollverein, Union of Lichtenburg and Prussia, and the War of Unification

Main articles: Zollverein (Pacifica), Union Act of 1796 (Pacifica), and Weissersteiner War of Unification (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.

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 Waldavrans, who have inhabited the western portions of Waldland since the arrival of 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.