Princely Garden of Highbloom

Princely Garden of Highbloom
Flag Coat of Arms
Motto: Hortus manet sed caput meum mortuum est (The garden remains but my head is dead)
Anthem: none
Map versions	XX.X.X-present
Capital	Ermingander Village
Largest city	Katarsis
Official language(s)	Istvanistani (official) Laqi
Official religion(s)	Mondo Personality Cult, Minarborealism, Ketherism
Demonym	Highbloomer
- Adjective	Highbloomian
Government	Principality
- Prince	Mondo Etzeterra
- Co-chairs of the Princely Council	Gerard Spooner Petra Skuryova-Spooner
- Legislature	Princely Council of Highbloom
Establishment	1741 AN
Area	306,432 sq.km
Population	4,446,534
Active population	-
Currency	Mondomark, Kalgarrand
Calendar
Time zone(s)	CMT -10
Mains electricity
Driving side	left
Track gauge
National website	-
National forum	-
National animal	-
National food	-
National drink	Blooming Gin
National tree	Pinus Zaprogica (Zaprogian Pine)
Abbreviation	HBM

The Princely Garden of Highbloom is a sovereign state in the interior of western Benacia. A restoration of the Minarborian Principality of Highbloom, the Princely Garden was established in 1741 AN by the Treaty of Abrek, which united Northbloom with the former Kalgachi lieutenancies of Abrek and Katarsis. The demesne of Mondo Etzeterra, Highbloom is a member of the Mondosphere.

Geography

Highbloom is located on the northern edge of the Octavian Mountains in western Benacia. The south and west are predominantly mountainous, with the country's highest mountain, the Splatterhorn, in the west. A series of river valleys, running southwest to northeast, transect the uplands; the highly-variable seasonal flow rates of these rivers render them practically unnavigable. To the northeast, the topography becomes progressively flatter, with rolling foothills eventually giving way to lowlands drained by wide and shallow gravel-banked rivers.

Climate

Situated in the rain shadow of the Octavian Mountains, which act as a barrier to warm moist air from the Southern Benacian coast, Highbloom has a boreal climate. Summers are dry and brief; winters cold and protracted. Vegetation consists primarily of coniferous forest, with arid prairie and scrubland in the north-eastern lowlands.

History

	1539-1605	1606-1631	1632-1651	1652	1653-1659	1660-1717	1718-1729	1730-1740	1741-
Northbloom
Southbloom (Abrek)							/
Westbloom (Katarsis)								/

Government and politics

Mondo Etzeterra is Highbloom's head of state with the official title of Prince of Highbloom. As a lichgrave, his power is absolute, although the lich rarely intervenes directly in governance. Day-to-day political authority is instead exercised by the Princely Council, a continuation of the Domestic Integration Council for Tribloom and Toastytop. The Princely Council is modelled upon Kalagachia's Council of Perfecti, albeit without the obfuscating veil of secrecy surrounding the latter, and is currently comprised of:

• The three Lords Lieutenants:
  • The Mayor of Ermingander Village, as ex officio Lord Lieutenant of Northbloom
  • The Lord Lieutenant of Southbloom (formerly Abrek)
  • The Lord Lieutenant of Westbloom (formerly Katarsis)
• The Chief of the Combined Staff of the Highbloom Defence Force
• The Vice-chancellor of Ermingander Village University
• The co-leaders of the Ketherist Church of Highbloom:
  • The Resector of Abrek
  • The Resector of Katarsis
• The heads of the five Directorates:
  • Public Works
  • Labour and Economic Planning
  • Health and Public Welfare
  • Education and Outreach
  • Friendship and the Mondosphere

The council is co-chaired by the Mayor of Ermingander Village, Sir Gerard Spooner, and the Lord Lieutenant of Southbloom, Baroness Skuryova.

Administrative divisions

Highbloom is divided into three administrative regions, termed ridings or lieutenancies: Northbloom, Southbloom (corresponding to the Kalgachi lieutenancy of Abrek, minus the district of Xaschbam), and Westbloom (corresponding to the lieutenancy of Katarsis). Each riding is administered by a Lord Lieutenant appointed by the prince, with the mayor of Ermingander Village traditionally doubling as Lord Lieutenant of Northbloom. Southbloom and Westbloom are further subdivided into marches and parishes, administered by abbots and credents respectively in the traditional Kalgachi fashion.

Demographics

Principle Language Spoken at Home

  Istvanistani (80.2%)

  Laqi (18.9%)

  Other (0.9%)

The territory of the Princely Garden had a population of 4,446,534 at the time of the last census. In marked contrast to the policy under Kalgachia, ethnicity is no longer officially recognised; all citizens are therefore considered Highbloomers, irrespective of their heritage. Principle Language Spoken at Home is recorded instead, with 80.2% speaking Istvanistani and 18.9% Laqi.