Kingdom of Mapuraray
The Kingdom of Mapuraray is a constitutional monarchy in the Mapuraray Range, a fertile valley region surrounded on both sides by the Yukela Mountains. It is considered part of the Federal Province of Western Sahamptha. It broke from the Hawarami Federation in 68, creating a constitutional monarchy. The Kingdom is ruled directly by His Royal Highness High Prince Feyaneh I of the Kingdom of Mapuraray. The Kingdom has a civilian government in the form of the Mapuraray Parliament, with its head being the Saffavah. Candidates are nominated by the people, though the role is ultimately appointable solely by the High Prince. He has been keen to maintain some form of democracy in this vote, though this has not stopped him using his considerable influence to have his preferred candidates nominated.
High Prince Feyaneh has far reaching executive powers, including directly appointing the Saffavah and ministers, commanding the army, and overseeing the Kingdom's economic reform. The modern Kingdom of Mapuraray is considered only nominally democratic, but extremely socially progressive. It maintains a large tourist industry, with the city of Mapuraray being home to some of the best nightlife on Tersten. The Kingdom is welcoming to everyone, so long as they have money to spend, and don't speak too badly about the High Prince.
However, while the average citizen, and certainly no tourist, has ever faced a truly unfair state charge, the death penalty is still legal for the most serious of charges. The High Prince is immensely powerful, and has the theoretical right to order anyone executed. Though he has never gone through with this act, the mere idea of it has often intimidated his critics into silence. Those that do criticise the Kingdom do so from outside its borders.
Like all independent states on Tersten, the Kingdom pays token service to the Republic of Tersten, both in the form of taxes and adherence to its constitution and federal law. The Republic maintains a consulate in the city of Mapuraray. The Kingdom is part of the Riohacha Pact, with close ties to the Yukela Pradesh and its corporate capitalist beliefs.
History
The region of Mapuraray was initially settled prior to the arrival of the People's Republic of Lordania, however the establishment of the Tersten State meant local leadership was extremely important, and they appointed Asharuni Kassimaro, to serve under the Governor-General of Harmony. Forced into collaboration, Kassimaro oversaw the expansion of Mapuraray city, the founding of Kothi, the establishment of numerous mines, and the expansion of the Mapuraray Railway through tunnels, over valleys, and up as far as Muguli, one of the highest altitude towns in the nation. When the Great Revolution began, Kassimaro proved his loyalty to the Tersten Government-in-Exile by sending Unitarian troops into ambushes, and allowing the Tersten Resistance into the capital. Upon the conclusion of the Great Revolution, the region became the 22nd state of the newly formed Hawarami Federation. In 67 PC, the Hawarami Federation enacted a series of reforms aimed at increasing central authority on behalf of the Republic of Tersten. Concerned with regional politics and his desire to see a progressive, decentralised Mapuraray, Asharuni Kassimaro, who was now the Governor of Mapuraray, began to speak of an independent Mapuraray Republic. His son, the educated Feyaneh Kassimaro, had other ideas, and convinced the Commander of the Mapuraray Army, Anu Sahweli, to support him over his aging father in becoming the leader of any new state. Feyaneh was known for his charisma, having been a minor celebrity, model, and actor within the Yukela Pradesh. His ties to Yukela, suggest that his coup was not simply internal, and many had a vested interest in a pro-Yukelan leadership. When Asharuni launched his attempt at independence, it was swiftly hijacked by the Army and by Feyaneh, going from a pro-independence movement into a pro-monarchy movement, with him as its benevolent, and constitutionally-bound monarch. Asharuni was placed under house arrest by the army, and charged with collaborating with the Unitarian Government during the occupation. These charges were not aimed to sentence or punish him, but simply to delegitimise any further protest from the old man, and to keep him close to his son, the new High Prince. Despite attempts from the Hawarami Federation to declare the breakaway Kingdom illegitimate, Feyaneh was able to convince Sonia Bhattacharya, former President of the Republic of Tersten, and now influential government figure within the Yukela Pradesh to side with the Kingdom's independence, on the condition that it remains subservient to the Republic of Tersten and its Constitution, and subservient to the people that it represents. Conceding to both these points, Feyaneh was able to secure both independence and favourable relations with Yukela, allowing the small mountain Kingdom to profit from trade deals. Under Feyaneh, the Mapuraray Kingdom has gone from a backwater, rural community of farmers and laborers to a popular, tourism-based economy, focused on parties and excess. Many people, both within the Kingdom and beyond its borders, have criticised the High Prince's focus on hedonism. Unlike his father, Feyaneh harbours some pro-Sol sentiments, and has sought greater economic ties with both the Republic of Tersten, and the greater Sol community. With closer ties to Sol comes protection from instability, making it much harder for those who criticise the state to be heard on interstellar news. Though considered a playboy, High Prince Feyaneh has become known as a shrewd and manipulative leader.Agriculture & Industry
Prior to the ascension of High Prince Feyaneh, most of the Mapuraray Range was considered a backwater, mountainous land, with much of its industry being focused around mining and agriculture. The construction of the Mapuraray Railway under the Tersten State was primarily a business venture, bypassing most of the towns and villages in favour of transporting raw resources outside of the region. Its people were largely uneducated, and lacking in vital infrastructure.
Under Feyaneh I, the Kingdom has undergone a drastic and radical economic reform. It has pursued greater ties towards larger states around Tersten, attracting their wealthy and shifting towards a tourism-based economy. The capital city has seen a rapid expansion, with the construction of subways, highways, and a needed airport. Beyond the city, towns and villages are now connected via roads, and are undergoing an economic resurgence in the process, often pushing away local workers, forcing them into the city in search of jobs. There are many stories of young rural adults moving to Mapuraray in search of a better life, and instead finding work in its seedy nightlife.
Trade & Transport
The Mapuraray Railway runs direct from the town of Muguli, high in the Yukela Mountains, down to the mainline network that runs between the city of Mapuraray, and towards Riohacha and Port John. In addition, a direct rail line runs from Mapuraray, up through the region into its northern highlands, where the town of Gorkhem, situated on the Amamar River, provides a natural border between Hawarami and Mapuraray. The rail and road network across the river here is heavily fortified, and trains travelling across the border are often required to wait hours for their paperwork to process.
Founding Date
68
Type
Geopolitical, Kingdom
Capital
Predecessor Organization
Demonym
Mapuraya
Head of State
Government System
Monarchy, Constitutional
Power Structure
Unitary state
Currency
Payansk Dollar
Location
Official Languages
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
Notable Members
Related Ethnicities
Cities and Major Locations
The largest city in the region is Mapuraray, spreading out along the banks of the Narhat River. Mapuraray is an internationally recognised city, well-known for its nightlife and entertainment districts.The town of Kothi lies further down, on the southern shores of the Narhat Lake. Kothi is the most western settlement in the whole Kingdom, with its border to the Yukela Pradesh connected by road and rail through the town. The town has thus grown wealthy and prosperous, thanks to the vital Kothi Rail Depot, where all goods arriving into the Kingdom by rail are inspected, taxed, and sent on their way.
Muguli is a small town in the eastern mountain peaks of the Kingdom, high up in the mountains. It is a vital mining town, responsible for much of the construction material needed in the Kingdom. It is wealthy, and overseen directly by the Royal Mining Corporation of Mapuraray, a state-ran company.
Gorkhem is a market town on the banks of the Amamar River, the northernmost part of the Kingdom. Gorkhem is located in the Hawar Valley, and is a vital trading port slightly downstream from the source of the Ammar, thus awarding it a significant amount of influence further downriver. It is contested by the Hawarami Federation, and strongly garrisoned by the Kingdom.
Sungowa is situated on the southern shores of the Kistima Lake, and is largely a fishing and logging down, with connections to Kothi via the Samhi River, which flows into the Narhat Lake.
Maihara is a border town, up in the Mapara Highlands. It lies on the rail network between Mapuraray and Harmony, and is close to the border between the Kingdom and the Hawarami Federation.
Comments