Warring Islands Special Autonomous Region

The Warring Islands Special Autonomous Region became the name of the administration of the District of the Warring Islands following its transfer from the sovereignty of Hurmu to that of the Benacian Union subsequent to the signing of the Treaty of Chryse. "Transference Day" was accordingly set for 1.I.1710.

History

Pre-transfer

Out of a population of 127,263, 22,492 citizens of the Warring Islands District applied for resettlement on Samholdsøya under the so-called "Mondo Plan". The promises of the Benacian Union to respect local autonomy, on a model similar to the successful transfer of Cimmeria and Raikoth, combined with the retention of a Hurmudan presence on the islands at the Villa Hurmu, had done much to prevent what might otherwise have been a precipitous flight.

Commission for the Integration of the Warring Islands

Shortly after the signing of the Treaty of Chryse the High Presidium of the Benacian Union instructed the College of Civil Legates for Foreign Relations to commence work on establishing a Commission for the Integration of the Warring Islands into the Benacian Union. The Commission would be charged to complete its work by the eve of Transference Day (T-Day) on 01.I.1710 AN. The remit of the commission, reporting to the Commissioner for Foreign Affairs, Ayesha al-Osman, would be defined by not only the Treaty of Chryse but also by the precedent established under previous integration commissions organised by Elluenuueq for the annexations of Normark and the Northern Tellia.

The Commission's purview was to oversee the administrative, diplomatic, military, and political aspects of the transfer of sovereignty. The Commission received the mandate to hold the necessary negotiations for the transfer, including for the emigration of those who wished to depart the isles, the administering of the Union Covenant to the remaining population, the implementation of an autonomous administration, and the introduction of an appropriate garrison into the islands.

Office	Office Holder	Party
President of the Commission	Fredrik Michael Tarjeisson	N&H
Commissioner of Political Integration	Isabella Merrick	N&H
Commissioner of Security Integration	Ulrich Varens	N&H
Commissioner of Industrial & Economic Integration	Fenna Bakker	N&H
High Representative of Hurmu	Davaadembereliin Mönkhbayar	Edasi
High Representative of the Warring Islands	Đorđe Babić	UAT
High Representative of the Raspur Pact	Phakchay Chaupin	n/a (Keltia Command)

The Benacian delegates arrived at Port Esther from Merensk via the Hurmu Gate Network on 23.X.1709 AN. Upon arrival they were greeted by Wolstan Darley of the Maritime Support Group, Hunbald Weller of Hunbald & Son and the Nova English Salvage Company, Waldemar Pentermacht representing the burgesses of Hemptonwic, and Hans Danielsen the former Commissioner of the Peace for East Barrow Island and current resident-representative of the Honourable Company and Köping Tea Company in the islands. After a brief tour of Port Esther, the delegation departed for Elm Station aboard the NESC transport MV Taylor Bay. Whilst aboard, the delegation toured several locations related to the Taylor Bay War, the War of the Casks, and the Warring Islands Conflict.

Under Benacian rule

In addition to those numbered amongst the 22,492 who had departed for Hurmu, 17,354 subjects were arrested by the incoming garrison based upon registers drawn up by the integration committee and local agents during the months preceding the transfer of sovereignty. Those arrested were to be interned on Barrow Island on charges that they were fugitive rebels who had fled the former-Amokolia during the Second Elwynnese Civil War. A magister from the Worshipful Guild of the Sacred Carnifices was duly appointed to head a special Cull Commission to review their cases. Those cleared of complicity in the treacherous rebellion against the Raspur Pact would be transferred to the administration of the special autonomous region in order to serve as bondsmen, whilst those convicted of treason would be returned to Benacia to commence a life term of penal servitude.

Accordingly, as of 7.I.1710 AN the population of the Warring Islands was recorded as being broken down into the following categories:

• Serene subject in the service of the BUDF: 1
• Illustrious subjects in the service of the BUDF: 188
• Illustrious subject serving as resident for the Keltian Directorate of the Honourable Company: 1
• Illustrious subjects serving the Honourable Company in other capacities: 3
• Admirable subjects in the service of the BUDF: 624
• Admirable subjects in the service of the Honourable Company: 3
• Honourable subjects in the service of the BUDF: 2,964
• Honourable subjects in the service of the Honourable Company: 5
• Meritorious subjects in the service of the BUDF: 18,720
• Meritorious subjects in the service of the Honourable Company: 28
• Meritorious subjects with local liberty: 50,994
• Subjects without merit and as yet without liberty (children): 36,423
• Protected Persons: 17,354
• Total population: 127,308

The formal reading of the Union Covenant would take place at the main settlement of each island on 13.XIII.1710 AN. Until that time the former citizens would enjoy their present status as meritorious subjects with local liberty in the period of grace leading up to that date. Any subject appointed or elected to office before that date would of course be obliged to sign the covenant.

The Warring Islands Special Autonomous Region Basic Law Drafting Committee was constituted at Hemptonwic on 18.I.1710 AN, receiving its authority from the Commission for the Integration of the Warring Islands. Each island was required to elect a representative to sit on the committee whilst the commission in turn appointed four representative members from the local business community.

Governance

Upon transfer the district would be administered as an autonomous territory under the body of customary law inherited from Nova England and the local bylaws enacted during the period of Hurmudan administration. The inhabitants of the islands would be obliged to accept the Union Covenant if they wished to remain resident but would otherwise be permitted to maintain a system of self-governance.

Garrison

Commencing from 1.I.1710 AN

BUDF Contingent

• Warring Islands Garrison
  • 14th Inshore Division, Coastguard
    • 76 Command & Control Regiment
    • 6 Port and Maritime Regiment
    • 15 Port and Maritime Regiment
    • 40 Port and Maritime Regiment
    • 15 Commissariat Regiment
    • 34 Commissariat Regiment
    • 102 Inspectorate Regiment
    • 106 Inspectorate Regiment
  • 87 Air Support Regiment, 17th Air Division
  • 6 Maritime Air Support Regiment, 7th Air Division
  • 15 Air Defence Observation Regiment, Aerospace Forces
  • 3rd Cohort, 43 Motorised Infantry Regiment
  • 2nd Squadron, 3 Signalregemente
  • 5th Squadron, 37 Ingenjörregemente
  • 9th Squadron, 4 Trängregemente

Garrison strength (8.I.1710 AN)

Rank	Number
General Officers	10
Staff Officers	80
Regimental Officers	98
Squadron Officers	624
Non-Commissioned Officers	2,964
Other Ranks	18,720
TOTAL	22,496

Local Contracted & Paramilitary Forces

• Maritime Support Group
  • Fire Squadron
• Warring Islands Volunteer Defence Force (ex-HPC)