Ransenar

Kingdom of Ransenar
Flag Coat of Arms
Motto: Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine. Under the shelter of each other, people survive.
Anthem:
Map versions	Update 16.5.5, and later updates.
Capital	Goldfield
Largest city	Goldshire Hamlet, Teldrin
Official language(s)	Præta (official) Istvanistani (administrative) (Several other local and regional languages protected and given official status by Ransenari law.)
Official religion(s)	Cedrism Folk Mysticism Suthra Zurvanism Nazarene
Demonym	Ransenari
- Adjective	Ransenari
Government	Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy
- King of Ransenar	Ruadh I
- Lord Chief Steward	Robert O'Toole
- Legislature	Ransenari Congress
Establishment	1673 AN
Area
Population	91,254,111 (1722 AN)
Active population	List of active participants
Currency	Benacian sovereign Ransenari Erb
Calendar
Time zone(s)
Mains electricity
Driving side	right
Track gauge
National website
National forum
National animal
National food
National drink
National tree
Abbreviation	RAN

The Kingdom of Ransenar is a country with a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy located in eastern Benacia. It consists of 7 counties that border the Shireroth to the west and the south, Elwynn to the northwest, and the Halberd Strait to the north and east. The River Elwynn forms a border between Elwynn and Ransenar from south of the Holwinn up and to Cabbagefall. These are the counties of Ran, Elsenar, Syrelwynn, Holwinn, North Lunaris, Monty Crisco, and East Caverden. The official languages are Istvanistani and Praeta. In the city of Belmuliet, where a large population of Alexandrians and Caputians have settled, Alexandrian and Martino have official language status at a local level. The population of Ransenar is 75,190,911 (1694 AN).

The five largest cities in Ransenar are Goldshire Hamlet, Teldrin, Syrelwynn, Goldfield, and Airle. Goldfield serves as the country's capital, while the judiciary, many of the government's administrative agencies, and the Bank of Ransenar are based in Goldshire Hamlet. The country is a member of the Raspur Pact. Ransenar is among the world's largest exporters of agricultural products, owing to its fertile soil and intensive agriculture.

Although its history stretches back hundreds of years into Benacian (Shirerithian) history, modern Ransenar was founded in 1673 AN, when it declared independence from Shireroth during the Kalirion Fracture. Before its independence, many of Ransenar's current counties formed the core of the Duchy of Goldshire. Goldshire, along with Brookshire, was one of the two original Duchies of Shireroth. When the greater Shirerithian state began to disintegrate in the early 1670's, the area now comprising Ransenar remained loyal to the Kaiser. As control and order began to wane, the Imperial Democratic Party, an imperial political party whose ideology is Aldricism and led several imperial governments, seized power in many areas across the country and assumed their governance in the name of the child Kaiseress Salome. This eventually led to the Proclamation of Goldshire Hamlet, where the Kingdom of Ransenar was proclaimed with vast popular support.

Ransenar has been a parliamentary constitutional monarchy with a unitary structure since it declared its independence from Shireroth during the Kalirion Fracture in 1673 AN. Its system of government is called by its Constitution as a "Royal Republic", where the monarchy's role is almost entirely ceremonial and where nearly all of the royal prerogatives are exercised in such a way that the monarch personally has little discretion over any actual executive and constitutional issues. The country is deeply shaped by the philosophies and policies of the old Imperial Democratic Party, colloquially known as Aldricism. The Kaiseress of Shireroth, Salome, is in her own right, Queen of Ransenar.

Etymology

The name of "Ransenar" comes from the Rannish and Elsenari peoples, the native tribes of Ransenar at the time of the arrival of the Treesians to the continent of Benacia. These settlers established the counties of Ran and Elsenar. They became the territorial core of the state of Goldshire in Shireroth, the second of the original duchies of the Imperial Republic of Shireroth.

History

Pre-Independence History

Main articles: Ran, Elsenar, Ransenar, Elsyran.

Kalirion Fracture

Main article: Kalirion Fracture

As the hold of Shirekeep deteriorated throughout the lands of Shireroth, the political network and establishment of the Imperial Democratic Party started to take control of the county of Ran, along with parts of Ynnraile and Lunaris. Their political control corresponded with their electoral support, they often took control of areas in Goldshire and in Brookshire where the IDP maintained strong electoral support and a strong local party organization that lent them legitimacy. The IDP political machine was led by Sean O'Callaghan and a cabal of several Goldshirians that included Ruadh Aldric, the brother of the late Steward Hartmut Aldric. The IDP came to command the support of a plethora of political interest groups, corps of supporters, and businesses. During the collapse of central authority across Goldshire, the political machinery and the societal institutions dominated by the IDP became the primary means of organization outside of roving criminal bands that began to ravage Goldshire.

Maintaining order and stability with the support of the decrepit and powerless Imperial institutions in Goldshire, it began collecting Imperial taxes and emphasized loyalty to the rightful Kaiseress Salome, which meant remaining in the Imperial Republic. This was also reflected in the IDP's networks in Elwynn, which later became the Democratic Party of Elwynn. As Shireroth unraveled and the Guttuli Protectorate and the Iron Company expanded, the IDP called a series of Ransenari Congresses to organize a new Goldshirian state called Ransenar. These Congresses prepared legislation and regulations to organize what many began to call a "new Goldshirian order". The first Ransenari Congress met in Goldfield, where a Constitution was drafted and debated for several months. The Congress became gridlocked as competing visions of the future within the IDP and from other political parties represented in the Congress could not be easily reconciled. The next two Congresses met in Goldshire Hamlet and were not able to come to any conclusive determinations, except that they still wished to remain part of Shireroth.

Concerned about its vulnerability to the growing threats from the Guttuli Protectorate, the Iron Company, and the Revolutionary Army of Crisco, the 3rd session of the Ransenari Congress voted to proclaim the Kingdom of Ransenar. To reassure the vast majority of those who supported staying in Shireroth, the infant Kaiseress Salome was proclaimed Queen, but established as a powerless figurehead. A Lord High Steward would serve as the central figure and head of government, selected by a popularly elected Ransenari Congress as its legislature from the party that commands the most seats in the Chamber. In 1673 AN, the long session of the 3rd Congress finally ratified a Constitution, inaugurated a Provisional Government, and established the Ransenari Armed Forces as well as local militias and defense committees. The Congress also established that Ransenar would join the Raspur Pact, which secured strong financial, military, and material support and recognition from the then-independent Sovereign Confederation, the Elwynnese Realm, and the Black Legions. Ransenar entered an agreement with the Black Legions to guarantee the security of Ransenar and provide a garrison for the kingdom in return for 20% of the harvest for the next twelve years. The right to establish anchorages and aerodromes for its maritime and aerospace forces within the territory of Ransenar was also included.

• 3rd Ransenari Congress meets in Goldshire Hamlet again, establishes the Kingdom of Ransenar, Proclamation of Goldshire Hamlet.
• Ransenari Congress begins to draft a Constitution, invites the Kaiseress and the Regent to take possession of the Ransenari Throne (Canada-like arrangement).
• Ransenari Congress passes Constitution, requests that the Kaiseress visit Goldfield to swear Oath to Constitution, Congress appoints the Lord High Steward, who then makes a big speech basically "founding" the country and setting out his vision for an independent Ransenari state, Union of Ransenar (the pursuit of reunification of all of Ransenar by taking Iron-Company held lands).

Chryste and the Amokolian War

After the Verionist evacuation of Chryste, the Verionists had the city ceded to Batavia. When the Batavian king, Arkadius, assumed all powers of the Batavian state under a little-known clause in the Batavian constitution, he immediately ceded the city of Chryse to West Amokolia (which then changed its name to the Frankish Empire). At the very same time, the Franks were threatening war with the Raspur Pact, of which Ransenar is a member. The Ransenar government did not take this cession lightly, calling it incredibly provocative. [Add something about the blockade and how it adds to the war]

Geography

Borders

Ransenar borders Elwynn's Sovereign Confederation in the north, and along the White River Elwynn down to Cabbagefall (controlled by Shireroth). However, Ransenar then crosses the Red Elwynn into Brookshire, having annexed parts of Monty Crisco and Caverden a few years after the Kalirion Fracture. Monty Crisco's southern border aligns with the northern of Shireroth's Duchy of the Guttuli. Ransenar borders the same duchy across the eastern bank of the Red Elwynn.

Ransenar's borders with Shireroth are open as required by the Raspur Pact. The same should apply to the border with Elwynn, but since the outbreak of the Second Elwynnese Civil War, this border has been closed, with restricted access allowed across it on both sides.

Fauna and flora

Along the White Elwynn, Ransenar is home to the unique animals of the fishing cat and the kalitoskolon. It was formerly also home to the hovercat, which is now extinct, the traditional animal of Goldshire.

Politics

Ransenar is a unitary state under a constitutional monarchy. Queen Salome I is its monarch and head of state, as well as Shireroth and several other independent countries that were once part of Shireroth before the Kalirion Fracture. In Ransenar, these countries are often referred to as "the Shirerithian realms". Despite being monarch, the Queen of Ransenar does not have very many powers and serves only as a unifying figurehead and a link to the Shirerithian mother country. The monarch does retain some special powers, but these cannot be exercised by the monarch without consultation and approval of the Lord Protector and the Lord High Steward.

Government

Ransenar has a parliamentary system within the context of a constitutional monarchy. A Regency was in place during the minority of the Queen, with Ruadh Aldric serving as Regent and Lord Protector. This Regency ended in 1680 AN. Aldric kept his title of Lord Protector as the Queen is mainly residing in Shirekeep, acting as the representative of the monarch in Ransenar.

The direct participation of the monarch in areas of governance is limited. In practice, the use of the executive powers is directed by the Cabinet, a committee of Ministers and Secretaries. The Cabinet is responsible to the popularly elected Ransenari Congress and chosen and headed by the Lord High Steward, who serves as the head of government and has the capacity to act on behalf of the monarch in all Ransenari matters.

Ransenari monarchy

The Ransenari monarch, currently Ruadh I of the House of Aldric who succeded Queen Salome of the House of Ayreon-Kalirion in 1711 AN, is the chief of state and Szodan of the Realm within the Benacian Union. The King of Ransenar, as Szodan, is the ostensible president of the civil executive but takes virtually no part in government, only taking on a ceremonial role intended to represent the history of Goldshire as a core part of the old Imperial Republic of Shireroth. The monarch and its appointed representatives in Ransenar occasionally may undertake various official, ceremonial, and representational duties. These, however, are largely limited to non-partisan functions as Ransenar retained its democratic character under the terms of its accession to the Benacian Union.

Civil Executive

The Lord High Steward will usually be the individual who is the current leader of the political party that can obtain the confidence of a majority in the Ransenari Congress. The leader of the party with the second-most seats usually becomes the leader of the Loyal Opposition. The Loyal Opposition is expected to keep the government in power in check.

Ransenar is dominated by a political party called the Imperial Democratic Party (IDP), which had been among the largest parties in the Folksraad and the Adelsraad in the Imperial Republic of Shireroth. The IDP considers itself the heir of Aldricism, a pragmatic political ideology that comes from the beliefs and policy positions that Hartmut Aldric took while he served as Steward of Shireroth and held different noble titles in Goldshire and Brookshire.

In 1714 AN the government was reorganised into a Civil Executive comprised of a presidency and four commissions (Internal Affairs, Logistics, Treasury, and Public Instruction and Safety) so as to better align with the Charter of the Benacian Union. In spite of this change the majority of ministerial portfolios remained unaltered.

Office	Office Holder	Political Party	Since
Presidency of the Civil Executive
King of Ransenar, Szodan of the Realm & President of the Civil Executive	Ruadh I	Imperial Democratic Party	1711
Lord Chief Steward, President of the Realm’s General Staff & Vice President of the Civil Executive	Robert O'Toole	Imperial Democratic Party	1693
Commission for Internal Affairs
Commissioner for Internal Affairs & Minister of State	Charles Carney	Imperial Democratic Party	1685
Deputy Commissioner for Internal Affairs & Minister of Benacian Affairs	Azad Teagan	Imperial Democratic Party	1673
Commission for Logistics
Minister of Public Works and Construction	Shahrokh Darzi	Imperial Democratic Party	1673
Minister of Transportation and Communications	Leon O'Duggan	Agrarian Party of Ransenar	1688
Minister of Social Solidarity and National Welfare	Rowan MacManus	Agrarian Party of Ransenar	1688
Minister of Health and Sanitation	Sadeq Kersey	Imperial Democratic Party	1673
Minister of Breweries and Tourism	Oadhán Mulrooney	Agrarian Party of Ransenar	1688
Commission of the Treasury
Commissioner of the Treasury & Minister of Finance	Soroush Karimi	Imperial Democratic Party	1673
Deputy Commissioner of the Treasury & Minister of Trade	Leon O'Hennessy	Imperial Democratic Party	1688
Commission for Public Instruction and Safety
Commissioner for Public Instruction and Safety & Minister of Security	Troy Lyon	Imperial Democratic Party	1673
Deputy Commissioner for Public Instruction and Safety & Minister of Justice	Eloise O'Dorcey	Agrarian Party of Ransenar	1688
Minister of Education and Technology	Jean Dumariel	Imperial Democratic Party	1673
Minister of Culture and Religion	Helmut Lennon	Imperial Democratic Party	1673

Legislative

The Ransenari Congress is a unicameral legislature composed of 317 representatives, elected by simple plurality in a designated electoral district. General elections are called by the Queen, at least every 5 AN years. Elections can also be triggered by the Queen on the advice of the Lord High Steward or when the government loses a confidence vote in Congress. The electoral districts are drawn by an independent and impartial Constituency Design Commission, which employs technology and performs research to ensure fair representation and redistricting in every county, city, village, or local authority.

Her Majesty's Government makes payments to less wealthy or developed Ransenari counties to equalize their tax revenues and fund regional development. From 1675 to 1678, Elsenar, Monty Crisco, Holwinn, and East Caverden received R€15 billion. To date, Ran, the city of Goldfield, and Syrelwynn are the only counties to have never received equalization payments as they are net contributors to the national budget since the founding of the country.

Defence and security

Following the accession of Ransenar to the Benacian Union the military of Ransenar was incorporated into the Benacian Union Defence Force as the Ransenari Grouping of Forces, with the Benacian Union becoming ultimately responsible for the defence of the realm. These would be supported by the Public Forces of Ransenar, a militia raised for the defence of the realm.

Domestic security for the realm remained within the purview of Ransenar after 1711 AN and the Ransenari Security Service comtinued in operation accordingly.

Foreign relations

• Raspur Pact partnerships
• Relationship with Alduria, particularly driven by agricultural exports as well as energy and manufacturing imports, carried over into bilateral engagement with Nouvelle Alexandrie, resulting in periodic explorations of closer economic and political integration.
• An Imperial Constancian Embassy was established at Goldfield in 1676 [1]. This was nothing more than the diplomatic upgrading of the former Royal Constancian Consulate-General to the former Imperial Republic of Shireroth. In 1695, a Consulate-General was opened in Teldrin, at the premises of the Sanatorium, but a nearby building was purchased and utilized for this purpose.

Ransenar is additionally an observer of the Benacian Union and the Euran Economic Union, whilst maintaining a significant balance of bilateral trade with the Natopian demesnal unions of Arboria and the Most Serene Union.

Economy

Sectors

Banking and Financial Services

Ransenar Royal Decree II bearing date at the Palace of Termarth in Goldfield, Ransenar, on 24.IX.1673, recognized The Bank of Ransenar, The Ransenari Development Bank, The Ransenari Import-Export Bank, and The Ransenari Infrastructure Bank.

Ransenar Royal Decree IV bearing date at the Palace of Termarth in Goldfield, Ransenar, on 25.IX.1673, further delineated the powers and duties of the Bank of Ransenar, and, among others, also established the Royal Postal Savings Bank.

In 1699, a branch of Entrepreneurship Services Bank was opened in Sintan, to engage in lending and commercial services targeted to small and medium enterprises as well as refugees escaping the Scouring.

Shipbuilding

In 1695, the Benacian Directorate of the ESB Group began exploratory studies on the establishment of a shipbuilding industry in Ransenar, noting the increased demand in light of the Second Elwynnese Civil War, as well as the lack of commercial port areas to sufficiently accomodate increased imports of goods from overseas, specifically vehicles. Zolt was considered, in light of its natural harbor and relative location.

Tourism

Tourism in Ransenar began after the establishment of formal government and the recognition of Salome as sovereign.

Its coastal location, easy access to numerous seaside towns and cities with varying local fare and flair, compounded with stable government, fairly accessible transport, and a burgeoning economy, made Ransenar an easy layover destination and weekend getaway for many Benacian residents bored with their inland, landlocked views.

Further encouragement by the newly-established Ministry of Breweries and Tourism put the Kingdom on the tourist map, especially with the support in establishment of so-called "thirst-traps", where many a foreigner could easily cool their heels, have a local brew, and discuss the merits of the local view, news and developments, or such gustatory delights, was a success, and later replicated. Its successful replication of the Carillo healthcare system ideal also led to a new line of tourism business, the so-called health tourist, where foreigners noted the relative comparison in cost for healthcare in Ransenar compared to their home nations, with equal or better quality. Its strategic location in northeastern Benacia as well as relative proximity to western Apollonia made Ransenar a regional leader in this regard.

Transport

• Lune Road, in accordance with Treaty

Demographics

Urbanization

• Highly urbanized country, vast rural areas;
• Core urban areas - Goldfield-GoldshireHamlet; Elwynnopolis (the cities along the Elwynn river - Tyrelwynn, Teldrin, etc); Demonsfall;
• Goldfield - a planned capital, under construction still, fastest growing city in the country.

Immigration

Increased immigration pressure due to the "Scouring" led to the establishment of refugee camps in the Syrelwynn and Holwinn border counties, which were initially supported by private individuals, donations, and initiative, as well as a few international humanitarian organizations. The concern for this became so great that it led to the establishment in 1695 of the Ransenar Refugee Council, which itself was patterned after the Caputian Humanitarian Council.

See also

• Kalirion Fracture
• Timeline of Modern Benacia
• Shireroth
• Vulture States

List of Participants

• User:Edgard (Founder)
• User:Continuator
  
• User:Primo de aguilar
  
• User:Ryker.