Craitland

From MicrasWiki
Jump to navigationJump to search
Kingdom of Craitland (en)
Kingdóm ó Cräiteland (cr)
Flag of Craitland
Flag
Coat of Arms of Craitland
Coat of Arms
Motto: Vycasio yhn honór
Anthem: Vycasio yhn Honór
Location of Craitland
Map versions 9.0.0–
Capital Cherry Trees
Largest city Osĵätoņ, Hänävissen-ó-Cräiteland
Official language(s) Craitish, English
Official religion(s)
Demonym Crait
 - Adjective Craitish
Government Constitutional monarchy
 - King Craitman H. Pellegrino
 - Legislature Parliament of Craitland
Establishment 12 December 2002
Area
Population 17,000,000
Active population 1–4
Currency Cräite (CCR)
Calendar
Time zone(s)
Mains electricity
Driving side
Track gauge
National website Official website
National forum Official forum
National animal Stag
National food Ploughman's
National drink Malem
National tree Hjoberry
Abbreviation CRA

Craitland (Craitish: Cräiteland) is a micronation located on The Fifth Isle, off the north-westerly coast of the continent of Apollonia.

History

Main article: History of Craitland

Craitland's history can be observed as having two separate periods, being distinguished as time before and time following the nation's claiming on Micras. During the former period, the nation's history and development primarily revolved around real-world activities, whilst since joining Micras, Craitland has further embraced a more fantastic culture set within in-character story lines and simulation.

Foundation and early years

The history of Craitland can be traced back to 2002, when the nation was established by King Craitman. That year, albeit at an unknown time, a concept map was created by Craitman for an island named Cräiteland. Following developments, the concept was broadened into its own nation before being declared independent on December 12, with Craitman establishing his parental home as the nation's embassy on Earth. Following its independence declaration, Craitland spent its earlier years being utilised primarily as a means of generating sports results and for Craitman's personal interactions with acquaintances.

Craitland's first ties to online micronationalism came through the discussion forums for the nation of Lovely in 2005, following the television series How to Start Your Own Country. Having watched the series, Craitman gained Lovelian citizenship and also attempted unsuccessfully to garner relations between Craitland and Lovely. Shortly afterwards, Craitman's involvement in Lovely halted and so did Craitland's online presence as a result. A year later, in the summer of 2006, Craitman revisited Lovely's forums on impulse and, whilst perusing, discovered mentions of and links to the Micronational Cartography Society. After subsequently visiting the MCS and learning of its purpose and practices, a claim was submitted for Craitland to join Micras in August 2006.

Micras claim and expansion

Craitland's Micrasian claim was accepted by the MCS the same day it was submitted and the nation was established on the Hóm Islands off the eastern coast of Corum; appearing on the organisation's official claimsmap for the first time on version 9.0.0, dated September 6, 2006. In the months following its successful claim on Micras, Craitland's online presence expanded to include an official government website, citizen discussion boards and a website for the CrFA; its national football association. Craitland's first major involvement in the international community came in December 2006, with its national football team's participation in the inaugural FMF World Cup.

In early 2007, Craitland's development focused on publicising most of its details which were previously inaccessible and creating diplomacy with other Micrasian nations, with a number of new citizens also joining the nation. Having joined Micras around the same time, Craitland aligned itself with Passas, Novatainia and Tokidoki and formed the Micro Illuminati; an organisation based around mutual trading and sharing expertise. During this time, Craitland also annexed the nation of Incontinentia, which had been founded a number of years prior by a personal friend of Craitman's. Incontinentia was reëstablished as a trading base on Micras, at the south-western tip of Keltia, and was accepted as Craitland's first expansion on claimsmap version 10.2.0 on March 9. During a period of notable activity and development, Craitland expanded its claims on Micras once again in May 2007, following the demise of the prospective nation of Amoria, of which Craitman was a citizen. The autonomous territory of Zandarijn, which took its name from one of the Amorian states, was established in south-eastern Cibola, and first appeared on claimsmap version 11.0.0a on May 20.

In late 2007, Craitland successfully expanded once more with the foundation of the autonomous New Vaduz in central Keltia. New Vaduz's first appearance on the MCS claimsmap came on November 21 that year, with version 12.5.0.

The dissolution of one of Craitland's allied nations New Brittania led to more land coming under Craitish sovreignty in early 2008. New Brittania's death resulted in a dispersal of its colonial possessions, with the island of New South Vietnam off the south-eastern coast of Keltia being bequeathed to Craitland. New South Vietnam appeared as an autonomous territory of Craitland on claimsmap version 13.2.1 on February 29 for the first time and remained under Craitish administration until August 30 the same year, when it was gifted back to a newly-revived Britannic Empire as featured on claimsmap version 13.5.5. The following week, Craitland's largest expansion of territory was accepted by the MCS, with the nation's entire mainland being relocated from the Hóm Islands to The Fifth Isle in the very north of Micras, north-west of Apollonia.

The Fifth Isle and recent history

Craitland successfully claimed The Fifth Isle in September 2008, initiating a new period of the nation's history. The nation's capital was relocated from the Hóm Islands to The Fifth Isle in the relocation, with the former Cherry Trees being renamed to Hóm City. The Fifth Isle first appeared under Craitish control on claimsmap version 13.6.0 on September 6. Craitland's territory remained relatively stable in the months following the relocation of its mainland up until mid-2009, when long-term allies Passas were annexed as a means of denying its demise. Situated in western Keltia, Passas became an autonomous territory in June that year, appearing on the June 6-dated 13.8.9 version of the claimsmap, and remained administered by Craitland for approximately six weeks before being dissolved prior to version 13.9.4 on July 18.

Early 2010 witnessed Craitland's first reduction of land, with the agreement of the secession of Enthdover in the north of the nation. Founded by a combination of former citizens of Treesia and Greenuk, both of which had claimed The Fifth Isle before Craitland, residing in the forests in the region, Enthdover's independence was recognised by the MCS on January 24, 2010's claimsmap version 14.0.7. Enthdover's nationhood existed for half a year before being declared dead and its land being ceded back to Craitish control, as appeared on version 14.2.2 on August 1 the same year.

Despite Enthdover's dissolution, a percentage of its former populace maintained its religious community and, after notable international pilgrimages, another independent state was founded on its former lands; Castrum Nazarene. This new nation agreed amicable secession from Craitland in early 2011, being accepted by the MCS for claimsmap version 14.4.0, dated February 13, and established itself as the authority over its religion's church across Micras. At the same time that Craitland ceded the land administered by Castrum Nazarene, the nation also reduced some of its territorial claims elsewhere, with the Hóm Islands being vacated and the most southerly portion of Zandarijn being unclaimed.

Castrum Nazarene existed as an enclave within Craitland for over a year, before being dissolved in April 2012, with its land once again being returned to Craitland, as recognised by the MCS on April 8, 2012 with claimsmap version 14.7.9. Either side of this restoration of land to Craitland, the nation underwent significant periods of consistency in regard to claims and development, with King Craitman's marriage to Victoria's Princess Anika in June 2011 - which took place in Castrum Nazarene's Cathedral of our Lady of the Fifth Isle - being its most noteworthy activity.

Craitland's most substantial change since Castrum Nazarene's expiration came in late 2013 when the nation of Hurmu, with which Craitland held cultural affinity, was declared dead. Craitland soon established the territory of Lakkvia in the region of the Holy Lakes in Lyrica to allow refuge for any displaced Hurmudans, with the Craitish claims on the land being acknowledged by the MCS in November 24's 15.2.8 version of the claimsmap.

The following year, Craitland experienced a considerable loss with the deletion of its online discussion forums, which it had used continuously for almost eight years. Many documents, details, conversations and news reports were lost during this event, unable to be retrieved. Prior to the forums' eradication, Craitland had passed a landmark measure to establish the nation's first military forces. The loss prompted King Craitman to establish an occupancy on the Bastion Union, a preëxisting forum shared by a number of closely-aligned independent nations, to act as Craitland's primary online presence, which occurred on October 16, 2014. Despite such a detrimental happening, 2014 also saw Craitland bid successfully to host the tenth edition of the FMF World Cup the following summer, giving the nation the opportunity to showcase itself via one of Micras' most popular events.

In its attachment to the Bastion Union forum, Craitland established closer diplomatic ties with the nation of Talenore, a small city-state based on an island near south-west Keltia, bordering the Captive Sea. Talenore was annexed by Craitland after announcing its death, and was reëstablished as a protectorate shortly afterwards. Talenore's first appearance on Micras as such was with the MCS's claimsmap version 15.7.4, dated March 27, 2016. Since Talenore's annexation, no further major developments have occurred in Craitland.

Geography

Craitland's terrain.
  Lowland areas
  Highland areas
  Mountain ranges
Craitland's climate.
  Subpolar oceanic climate
  Subarctic climate

Being situated on The Fifth Isle and its surrounding islands, Craitland's mainland borders no other independent nations on Micras. The land is situated in the northern hemisphere of the planet, to the north-west of the continent of Apollonia. Bordering Craitland to the east and north is the Northern Sea, with the island nation of Réunion to the east, to the west the Halberd Strait separating it from Shireroth, and to the south Bruges Bay, which creates a channel to Gotzborg's mainland and the Natopian autonomous territory of Arboria. Further north still is the polar ice cap. Craitland lies approximately between latitudes 52° and 70°N, and longitudes 70° and 90°W.

The majority of Craitland's coastal zones and further inland are low-lying, while highlands dominate the centre of the island with a mountain range to the north-east. The highest point in Craitland, Hänävissen, is situated in this range.

Due to its northerly location, and surrounding by ocean, Craitland's climate is overall a cool and wet one. The Köppen classification of climate considers most of the nation to have a subpolar oceanic climate, while some regions along the nation's eastern coast have been classified under a subarctic climate.

Administrative divisions

For administrative purposes, Craitland is organised into two tiers of subdivisions; provinces and counties. There are other informal regions within the nation but these are either traditional and serve no modern purpose, or are utilised for non-governmental organisations and services.

Provinces

Provinces are the principal subdivisions in Craitland. While the provinces' primary role is for sub-national legislature, they are also an indication of demarcation of cultural differences between the people of Craitland. There are six in total:

Counties

Main article: Counties of Craitland

The provinces are further divided into counties, of which there are 32 in total. Despite having no separate administrative jurisdictions, the counties' chief purpose is for the election of 33 of the 233 members of the Craitish parliament via constituencies. However, these subdivisions are utilised most frequently for postal service designation, local sports organisation and civil registration.

Territories

Craitland currently holds sovereignty over five autonomous territories across Micras, and previously claimed two others at different times in its history.

Flag Territory Capital Location Craitish sovereignty
Incontinentia Incontinentia Incontinentia City South-west Keltia March 2007
Lakkvia Lakkvia Vesüha Northern Lyrica November 2013
New Vaduz New Vaduz New Vaduz Central Keltia November 2007
Talenore Talenore Talenore City Captive Sea, Keltia March 2016
Zandarijn Zandarijn Hamstadt South-east Cibola May 2007

Former territories

Flag Territory Capital Location Craitish sovereignty
New South Vietnam New South Vietnam New Saigon South-east Keltia February–August 2008
Passas Passas South City South-west Keltia June–July 2009

Government and politics

Main article: Politics of Craitland

King

Main article: King of Craitland

Government

Parliament

Political parties

Foreign relations

Military

Economy

Demographics

Ethnic groups

Language

Religion

Education

Culture

Sport

Football

Ólbescból

Cuisine