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109

Official Factbook of the Royal Kingdom of Maltropia

The Royal Kingdom of Maltropia
Ríocht Ríoga Maltróípeach




Flag

Motto: "In Ainm Dé"



Motto: "Iomann na Ríochta Ríoga"


Location of Maltropia in northern Paradoxia


Capital: Corcaigh Nua
(and largest city)


Official languages:
Irish ・ English
Recognised regional languages:
Espian ・ Roman ・ Swedish


Ethnic groups:

  • 89% Maltropian

  • 8% Espian

  • 3% other


Demonym: Maltropian


Government: Unitary constitutional monarchy
- MonarchBrendan I Ua Chorcaigh


Legislature
Council of Nobles of the Royal Kingdom
Council of Nobles of the Maltropian Islands


Foundation
- as the colony of Corcaigh Nua1453
- as the Kingdom of Maltropia1601
- as the Royal Kingdom of Maltropia2009


Population
- 2013 census6,781,301,626
- Density:



GDP (nominal)
- Total$664,049 billion
- Per capita$97,923.47

HDI (2013) 0.965 (very high)


CurrencyMaltropian Ducat (MD€)


Drives on theleft


Internet TLD.mtr


Calling code+687

The Royal Kingdom of Maltropia (Irish: Ríocht Ríoga Maltróipeach) is a sovereign state located in northern Paradoxia. Its dominions include the Maltropian islands and West Maltropia. Maltropia is bordered by Northern Bigfootia to the east, various socialist states to the south and Ishgar to the west, and is bound to the north by the Johan Sea, a part of the Oceanus Universalis. It is renowned regionally as an imperialist, capitalist nation, with policies focusing on its powerful navy. Maltropia is a founding member of the Pact of Righteous Vindication. The country is a member of the World Assembly, the Commonwealth of Free and Democratic States, the Ellorea Commercial Union and the Sovereign League, as well as a signatory of the Amistad Declaration on Slavery and the Rights of Man.

Maltropia was founded in 1453 by Irish colonists in exile, at the current site of the nation's capital, Corcaigh Nua Over the next century and a half, colonies were peacefully established along the coasts south of the city. In 1601, independence was declared, followed by a period of rapid expansion. The military saw intense combat during this period, waging war against the Kingdom's neighbours. The army proved capable, though not exceptional, in the Scando-Maltropian War, but the navy distinguished itself as one of the most powerful in Paradoxia. Consequentially, it has received the greatest expenditure from the government ever since and continues to be Paradoxia's leading naval power.

Etymology

The origin of the name Maltropia is a long-considered and debated one. The name first appears in records in its archaic Irish form, Maltróipea, and it is not until the mid 16th century that the form Maltropia came into common use. What exactly the term means is ambiguous, with theories ranging from the Latin-Greek mixture meaning "bad turning", a possible allusion to the fact that the colony never reached its intended destination, to the Irish "Malairt troipeach", meaning "Tropic exchange". Possible origins of the latter are fewer, as Maltropia experiences a cold climate, and had little trade with tropical or oriental cultures.

History

Prehistory

Almost nothing is known of west Maltropian history before colonisation in 1453. However, evidence of previous settlement has been discovered around the cities of Gaillimh and Ardnacrusha. Whether it was colonial habitation or that of a native people is disputed, as few artifacts remain. The peoples encountered (and generally annexed) during the Imperial period are generally assumed to have been other settlers, based on the names they are given in contemporary documents. As such, "Maltropian" history tends to begin with the colonisation of Corcaigh Nua.

In the east, a flourishing Espian civilisation had developed on the southern and western shores of Winter Bay, centred on the cities of Esrium and Argalium, from which the bay derives its Espian and Irish names.

Colonial era (1453-1601)

The colony of Corcaigh Nua was founded by Irish settlers who had been forced into exile by the monarchy. It quickly grew into a thriving town, expanding farther inland and claiming more and more sovereignty from the English crown. This period of Maltropian history is less well documented, but roughly from 1453 to 1600 the colony continued to grow, allying itself with local tribes and intermarrying with them. In 1601 it formally declared sovereignty over the land it had thus far colonised and became the Kingdom of Maltropia.

Maltropian Empire (1601-1890)

After the foundation of the monarchy, a new age began in Maltropian history. The Kingdom's borders were extended in several military campaigns right up to the mountain range in the south, and as far east as the town of Eochaill, which guarded the borders. Around this time the city of Sráid-bhó was founded as a trading post on the eastern Maltropian peninsula, and it quickly grew to rival the nation's capital. The Dukes and mayors of Sráid-bhó frequently disputed the position of Corcaigh Nua as capital of Maltropia, even to the point of open rebellion, particularly in the Great Eastern Revolt of 1642. This tradition continues to the present day, with Sráid-bhó's local government continuing to assert the city as national capital.

Much of the annexed territories in the east were simply referred to as An Deasóir, derived from the Irish for "the Southeast", prior to large-scale colonisation and incorporation. The Deasóir was the last actual county to be incorporated, officially becoming the Deasóir Territories in 1821.

Scando-Maltropian War (1658-1661)

The south-westernmost Paradoxian nation, the Swedish dominions, was also a monarchist empire, and as it exerted its influence over its northern neighbour, Flutzpah, Maltropia claimed that the Swedish Dominions had been attempting to subvert Maltropian authority in the region. A trade embargo was placed on their coastline, and the Swedes retaliated with what Maltropian historians record as a "mortal insult" and Swedes as a "sincere apology". More neutral sources tend to disagree with both.

Regardless of the casus belli, war erupted violently less than a month later when fifty Maltropian galleons landed on the Swedish coast. Several large battles ensued, in which the Maltropians were pursued north in a "strategic withdrawal", until the invaders were forced to return to their fleet and Maltropia. Maltropian naval power ensured that the western coastline, as well as the Islands, remained firmly in her hands, but a Swedish armada coming from the east soon laid waste to the ports of Sráid-bhó and Aghabullogue. After the burning of the eastern provinces, a Maltropian force quickly moved to cut off the Swedish invaders, while the two fleets battled in the bays of the Bigfootian coast. Eventually the Swedish fleet was cornered and destroyed, at great loss to the Maltropians, but it established Maltropia as one of the region's emerging powers.

Following this great success, a Maltropian army marched southwards through Flutzpah, destroyed much of the north of the Swedish Dominions, and forced a peace treaty. For some decades after trade disputes continually reemerged, but open warfare was not resumed by either side.

Modern history (1890-present)

Geography

The Royal Kingdom of Maltropia is the most northerly nation on the continent of Paradoxia. Its continental possessions encompass two of the large peninsulæ of the so-called "Paradoxian platypus" and a large stretch of land southwards, while among its overseas territories are the colony of West Maltropia and the Paradoxian Overseas Dominion of the Maltropian Islands. The latter of these is a major constituent part of the Maltropian Crown lands, located northwest of the Paradoxian continent and separated by the Johan Sea.

As a whole, the Royal Kingdom's population totals some 6.4 billion people, of whom slightly over half live on the mainland. Much of the populace resides in major urban centres, such as Corcaigh Nua (also the nation's capital), with a population of 186 million, Sráid-bhó and Eochaill in mainland Maltropia; and Argensborough and Sturnetown-on-Railte in the Maltropian Islands. The highest population densities are found in the Islands, and in the north and west of the country. In contrast, the southeast consists largely of uninhabited bogs and moorlands, grouped into one large territorial division called An Deasóir. The "Militarised Buffer Region", or MBR, is virtually devoid of civilians, due to its proximity to both New Freedomstan and Ishgar, though the government is investigating the possibility of reopening the region's borders to development.

Topographically, most of the country is mountainous or hilly, the steepest mountains being those straddling the Nefreedian border in the south. However, the region of Eochaill consists of low plains about the River Dúisc, and as such it is considered Maltropia's breadbasket. The MBR consists of a number of plateaux and plains, marked by rivers flowing down from the mountains in the north and east. Flatlands are generally present on the coasts, rising to the high mountains in the nation's interior. The land between the mountains and the sea, however, is quite expansive, and provides ample room for a high-quality motorway and rail network and much urban development. A wide plateau on the border between Tír Luain and Tránaconnachta (two of the western counties) is the location of one of the nation's larger conurbations, that of Terestown-Westfort. These two cities both have major airports within a number of miles from their respective centres, as do most Maltropian cities. Given the high percentage of mountainous land in the nation, government policy has encouraged the construction of numerous airports and several airlines in order to avoid the difficulty of land-based travel.

The Maltropian Islands are a seismically active archipelago northwest of Paradoxia. Formed by volcanic activity on a now ancient plate margin, the Islands still experience small tremors with relative frequency. The Leerock Isles were formed within the last 3,000 years, however, as a result of a hotspot which briefly existed under the plate. This activity has not yet had any major impact on the Islands or their economy, though local building regulations require the use of earthquake-resistant designs. Due to the position of the Islands, they have served a key historical role as the main international base of the Maltropian Royal Navy, which operates out of the city of Farranree. Like all coastal Maltropian cities, Farranree boasts a wide and deep port, sheltered from most storms and capable of accommodating several thousand vessels.

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