Uppmanland

Community of Uppmanland Uppmanlands edssamfund (Uppmanlandic)
Flag [[|85px|Coat of Arms of Uppmanland|frameless]] Coat of Arms
Motto:
Anthem:
Map versions
Capital	Vansta
Official language(s)	Uppmanlandic
Recognised language(s)	Common Tongue, Lakkvian, Amalandic
Official religion(s)	Church of Uppmanland
Demonym	Uppmanlander
- Adjective	Uppmanlandic
Government	Confederation
- Lagman	Erik Åstad
- Legislature	Stortinget
Establishment	1757
Area	299,268 km2
Population	12,500,000
Currency	Skilling (ULS)
Calendar	Norton (AN)
Time zone(s)	CMT+3
Mains electricity
Driving side	left
Track gauge
National website
National forum
National animal
National food
National drink
National tree
Abbreviation	UL

Uppmanland is a country in western Keltia. It borders Amaland to the north, the Hexarchy to the southeast and the Pearl Sea to the south and west. With a population of 12.5 million, it is a mostly rural country, with a few larger cities including the capital Vansta.

Etymology

The name "Uppmanland" has the literal meaning "land of the uppman". "Uppman" (singular; plural "uppmän") is a term for people living above or uphill from somewhere, in this case the capital. While each landskap has its own demonyn, the "uppman" term is common for all residents of the country.

Geography

The mainland part of Uppmanland mainly consists of rolling fields of crops, with relatively narrow bands of forest delimiting regions and landskap. A few areas, especially in the west and northeast, have denser forests. There are several larger rivers cutting through the landscape, often having their source in the east and northeast. On the western peninsula there is a partly forested plateau reaching around 300 meters over sea level. From the western part of the mainland, the elevation slowly rises moving east, with another plateau, also largely covered in forest, in the northeast, rising to above 500 meters. Here is also the highest point on the mainland, the flat ridge Himsås (548 meters above sea level).

The islands on the other hand have a much more varied elevation profile. The northern island, Askö (Common Tongue: Ash Island), is dominated by the foothills and peaks of the highest mountain in the country, Askeberg (Common Tongue: Ash Mountain), rising up to 986 meters above sea level. The northeastern and southern parts are lower, covered in dense brushland. The southern island, Surö (Common Tongue: South Island) more closely matches the character of the lower parts of the northern island, but with the southern half consisting of a flat meadowland. In between the two large islands is Ellö (Common Tongue: Fyre Isle), dominated by the caldera and caldera lake of a dormant volcano.

Government

A socken (plural: socknar) is the fundamental territorial, political, and communal unit of society. Originally centered on a parish church, the socken functions as both the primary unit of local government and the basis of collective popular sovereignty. Socknar in coastal areas are called skeppslag, while socknar where the main economic activity is some form of mining are called bergslag. The main activity in a skeppslag is usually fishing.

The institution traces its origins to the ancient parish (socken), which historically served as both an ecclesiastical and civil community. In the modern interpretation, the historical concept has been retained and expanded into the foundation of the constitutional order. New socknar may be established through the construction of a new parish church and the recognition of a new local community.

Sovereignty is held collectively by the people of each socken rather than by the state itself. Membership in the political community is established through the Socken Oath, sworn by every adult citizen upon reaching the age of majority or acquiring citizenship. The oath is made to the other sworn members of the socken, creating a mutual bond of loyalty, solidarity and obligation. Sovereignty therefore exists as a network of mutual oaths rather than descending from a central authority.

Individual socknar enter into sworn alliances with neighboring socknar. Neighboring communities, often delimited by various geographic features, developed a common identity. These areas constituted the ancient provinces (landskap), areas with a common identity and culture, but no common political or administrative structure. In 1757, the socknar within each traditional province entered into sworn relationships, finally formally forming the provinces. Unlike the socknar, the provinces are not the original holders of sovereignty. Instead, they derive their authority from the voluntary association of constituent socknar. Uppmanland was formed as a sworn alliance between the provinces.

Admission into a socken marks both political adulthood and inclusion within the local community. The ceremony traditionally combines civic and religious elements. Historically it took place at the local church, but in modern times most communities conduct the public oath at the local ting (assembly), allowing all residents to participate. Nazarenes usually take the oath in front of the parish priest and the ting as a whole. The exact form of the ceremony varies between socknar, reflecting local traditions. The socknar hold an annual public gathering during the summer, immediately before the harvest season. New members are formally admitted, communal affairs are discussed, and preparations are made for the agricultural harvest. The timing symbolizes that every full member of the community shares in both its rights and its obligations.

The socken remains the principal source of local identity. While provinces preserve historical and cultural identities, everyday political life is centered on the socken and its assembly. The oath of membership is regarded as the defining rite of passage into adulthood and citizenship.

Cities constitute a historical anomaly within the constitutional structure. Since sovereignty resides with the people rather than with rural communities specifically, cities likewise form through collective oath relationships. The cities elect a representative city council, unlike the socknar where public power is exercised at the sockensting, the annual meeting of all sworn residents.