Florian Free State
- For the current demesne, see Saint Andre.
| Florian Free State (now part of Saint Andre) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Free State (Historical) | |||
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| Motto: In unity and freedom. | |||
| Former location of the Florian Free State | |||
| Country | Natopia | ||
| Demesne | Saint Andre (since 1708 AN) | ||
| Armistice of Blyth | 21.XIV.1654 AN | ||
| Founder |
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| Government | |||
| • President (Historical) | Colonel Georg Gregor Lambert (Last President) (Template:Polparty) | ||
| Population | |||
| • Total | 8.9 million (as of 1,694 AN) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-1 | ||
The Florian Free State, formerly the Community of Shirerithian Municipalities (Florian: Cymuned o Sxiro bailtean), was a self-governing association of municipalities, centred around Blyth with a majority of historically Pro-Shireroth supporters in the southern portion of the Shirerithian protectorate of the Florian Republic during the War of the Lost Brothers. After the war ended, Shireroth ceded the land to Natopia in a peace treaty between the Florian Republic and Natopia. Since then, the Florian Free State, has been a part of Natopia.
The Florian Free State, due to its strategic location and cultural significance, became a focal point of Natopian foreign policy and domestic governance since it joined the Empire.
History
The association came into existence after to end a brutal civil war in the country and to end a brutal chapter in the War of Lost Brothers. Before the establishment, there was tremendous violence between the Florian Government and a Florian faction backed by Shireroth. To end the violence, the governments of the Florian Republic and Shireroth signed a landmark deal which would see Pro-Shireroth Florians in the south gain autonomy. In the community, the treaty signed between Shireroth and the Florian Republic would remain intact whilst the rest of the country would withdraw from the treaty. On 21.XIV.1654 AN, the community was fully established.
The Jingdaoese reacted to this agreement with the Shirerithians with a 'minor' correction in Southgate. The massacre led to calls for the association to be scrapped, balanced by even greater calls for the dead to be avenged, resurrecting the tensions that the Armistice of Blyth had sought to bring to a close.
With a base of operations secured by the Natopian occupation around Blyth the civil war in effect resumed with the Free State opposing the General Government established by Jingdao in the north.
In 1661 AN, the territory of the Florian Free State was bisected and severed from the Florian Republic by a land-corridor ceded to the Jingdaoese Empire by the chronically weak government in Northcliff in exchange for some overseas islands of little strategic or economic relevance to the Florian people. After the Florian Republic committed that act, support for Florian reunification plummeted and remains low to this day.
On 8.I.1694 AN, General John Lambert, a figure more or less forgotten by the outside world, passed away after a long illness. He was democratically succeeded as President by his son, Colonel Georg Gregor Lambert, who reiterated his commitment to the previous policy of the liberation of the Jing occupied land-corridor being the essential prerequisite for reunification.
The Florian Free State remained a demesne of Natopia until 1708 AN, when under the guidance of Maria Meir, Countess of Frenzyville and a prominent member of the House of Meir, a strategic decision was made to merge the Florian Free State and Saint Andre into a single demesne named Saint Andre. This unification was driven by shared cultural and economic interests, as well as the desire to strengthen Natopia's regional influence. The Countess of Frenzyville played a pivotal role in facilitating this merger, leveraging her political acumen and diplomatic skills to navigate the complexities of this integration. The merged demesne of Saint Andre brought together the diverse cultures and resources of both regions, creating a powerful and influential entity within Natopia. This consolidation was seen as a symbol of Natopia's commitment to unity and a demonstration of its ability to adapt and evolve in response to changing geopolitical landscapes.
In 1723 AN Florian President Isabelle Chopin expressed her desire to reunify the Florian Free State with the Florian mainland despite the possibility of the Free State becoming an exclave. The remark triggered a diplomatic crisis between Floria and Natopia.
Municipalities
The former Florian Free State included the following municipalities:
- Blyth
- Gelatoland
- Dragonmoor (Historical)
- Oldhaven (Historical)
Demographics
The Florian Free State, now part of the demesne of Saint Andre, is characterized by a diverse population, blending Florian cultural heritage with broader Natopian, Haifan, and Alexandrian influences.
