Equatannia

The Federal Republic of Equatannia, commonly referred to as Equatannia, is a unitary constitutional presidential republic known for its stunning environment, compassionate citizens, and stringent health and safety legislation.

The Federal Republic of Equatannia
the eqautatannian flag Flag of Equatannia Coat of Arms
Motto: Blesciins i Peace en Lauv Blessings in Peace and Love
Anthem: "Hard Times Come Again No More"
Capital and largest city	Equaa
Official languages	Codex Staynish
Recognised regional languages	Equatannian Durakan Arkian
Ethnic groups (2019)	60% Human 20% Ursine 10% Dwarf 10% Other
Demonym(s)	Equatannian
Government	Constitutional presidential republic
• President	Melinde Roswuud
• Vice President	Jon Furrbanks
• Speaker of the People	Janice Smitte
Legislature	Congress
• Upper house	The People's Assembly
• Lower house	The Regional
Establishment
• The Great War Migration	1914-1919
• Chiefdom Formed	1920
• Internal Ambition	1927
• Annexation of The Isles	1933
• Government Formed	1936
• Constitution Ratified	1936
• Foreign Affairs Neutrality Resolution	1937
• Federal Reveal Act	2019
Population
• 2019 estimate	50 million
GDP (nominal)	2019 estimate
• Total	1.31 trillion
• Per capita	26,000‬
Currency	Equos (Eq)
Time zone	UTC-10
Date format	MM/DD/YYYY
Driving side	right
Calling code	404
ISO 3166 code	EQU
Internet TLD	.equ

Equatannia's geopolitical borders make up the Starr Peninsula, nearly bordering Durakia to the north, and eight small islands to the south. The capital and most populous city is Equaa, situated on the eastern side of Equity Bay. Equatannia is currently governed by three regional boards under the direct rule of the federal government: Greater Equatannia, The Federal District of Equaa, and The Isles. Equatannia has an area of [] and a population of 500 million. Most Equatannians are Human, while there are communities of various other races.

The two most populous districts that make up the portion of modern Equatannia on the Starr Peninsula, Greater Equatannia and the Federal District, were once separate sovereign entities with the Chiefdom of Equaa to the south and six established independent villages in the north. The nations never exhibited political conflict or hostility with one another and eventually came to the agreement to unite as one sovereign state in 1927. This resolution was forged over the course of several years now known as The Internal Ambition by a committee formed of ambassadors from both nations. After a period of influence throughout the late 1920s and the approval of a referendum passed by the native inhabitants in 1933, the sparsely populated Isles situated south of the Starr Peninsula were annexed into the Chiefdom as the third governmental region. The modern Constitution was ratified by The People's Assembly on December 5, 1936 after being proposed by Cristofer Benyne, the second Speaker of the People.

A majority of Equatannia's recent history was spent in a period of isolation that was brought about through administrative policy by Olympia Starr, the nation's first and longest-serving Head of State (1918-1940). This policy was introduced as The Foreign Affairs Neutrality Resolution (FANR) due to fear of conflict from surrounding nations during the foundational years of the fledgling federal state, and was in place from 1937 until 2019. The Foreign Affairs Neutrality Resolution forbid the Federal Government of Equatannia from directly interacting with any foreign national state, while allowing near-open immigration from all Urth nations. The policy was repealed after The Federal Reveal Act (FERA) was passed by Congress and signed by current President Melinde Roswuud on December 21, 2019.

History

Pre-Migration (?-1914)

Little is known about the inhabitants of the Starr Peninsula and Isles prior to The Great War Migration. Archaeologists have come to the conclusion that the earliest settlements were founded by dwarven nomads whose descendants are still present in modern-day Equatannia located in small communities of dwarves throughout the nation. These settlements traded among each other, proven by tool and accessory fossils, but were ravaged by rival natives on the eastern side of Irnac in the decades leading up to the Migration.

The Great War Migration (1914-1919)

This migration of refugees and defectors arose from the violent beginnings of The Great War and began as a repetitive cycle of settlement and displacement for various groups fleeing from their home countries. These groups would flee invading armies into sovereign states that disallowed immigration, so they would be deported or detained. This cycle eventually led thousands of individuals from primarily the eastern continents of Urth to settle along the the southwestern coast of Irnac. A majority of these groups arrived using simple boats and rafts carved from local lumber, leading to many casualties during the trek.

It is believed that many of these caravans knew of the unclaimed native lands in the Equatannian area due to word of mouth transmission and ancient regional folk tales. Many groups set off on the journey with no solid evidence that the landmass even existed, yet the endeavor paid off. The first settlers arrived in the area of modern-day Equity Bay and quickly established the city that is the nation's capital today. Equaa quickly grew as hundreds of other transports arrived with those seeking asylum, and the citizens there welcomed them with open arms. Further north, smaller groups of settlers arrived quite later than those that had previously arrived in the southern portion of the peninsula. These groups populated throughout the area known as Freebelsta today, but quickly split off into six separate city-states due to ideological differences.

Equaa flourished from internal trade among spread-out communities as well as exporting olives, grapes, figs, and various other produce that are native to the region's Mediterranean climate. The city's officials quickly established a form of chiefdom government after uniting all surrounding communities under one sovereign. The head's of multiple prominent families living in Equaa voted to appoint Olympia Starr, matriarch of the Starr family, as the first Chief of Equaa in 1918. This boost in stability allowed swift economic progress and assisted in unifying the peninsula as one diverse culture. Equaa's government learned of the villages established to the north during several peace-seeking expeditions in late 1918 and early 1919. Chief Olympia Starr established friendly relations with the communities and began delivering supplies to ease their hardship that was rampant throughout the beginnings of 1919.

The villages to the north all outspokenly agreed to work together and openly trade resources after a famine nearly wiped out the northeastern coast of the peninsula in January of 1919. Before then, the separate communities worked independently as cultural and ideological differences had forced them to separate from the area of Freebelsta originally. However, the area became a much more significant economical and industrial land after receiving funds and supplies from flourishing Equaa to the south. The villages worked in various government systems, but primarily operated in a more anarchy-based form of loose governments that lacked formidable structure and relied on citizen's arrests.

The Internal Ambition (1919-1927)

Map of Equaa, 1927

In 1919, Olympia Starr began contemplating the idea of proposing annexation to the northern villages and brought it to public discussion multiple times before announcing her campaign to do so in November of that same year. She traveled to Freebelsta herself throughout late November and announced her proposition to their citizens on November 26, 1919. The proposal immediately received great, vocal approval and praise from the locals that had gathered in Freebelsta Square. Citizen's spread Chief Starr's proposal through word-of-mouth and written pamphlets. In January and February of 1920, Starr traversed the densely forested north plains visiting all six established communities until she reached the eastern coast in March 1920. She then spent the next three years based in Freebelsta while working to establish an eastern port in the coastal area of previously established Nuuvari Nova, which was a dwarven settlement that endorsed the idea of becoming a much more industrialized city. Before focusing on the new port, she worked to establish a committee made up of representatives from all villages and Equaa that was focused on unification under one sovereign. In May 1923, this committee submitted its finalized proposal entitled The Internal Ambition that proposed guidelines the Chief and other government officials would have to abide by, as well as establishing The People's Assembly as an expanded form of representation aside from heads of families. The proposal also established multiple government agencies the people felt were in need of being established, such as the Department of Finance, Department of Education, and Department of Citizen Welfare. Olympia Starr enthusiastically approved of the thorough proposal and quickened the construction of the new port city. Later that summer, a caravan of over 1,000 Equaa citizens traveled up the eastern coast to officially establish the new integrated port city of Nuuvari as the official Northern Equaan capital, to much praise from local dwarves and humans alike. Chief Starr is quoted that "Nuuvari is a labor of [her] love for all the people of Equaa."

Despite this foundation of new hope, many city government personnel in the north realms felt as if the proposal was a play to blindside them in a hostile takeover by Equaa. The winters of 1923-1926 brought much less suffering than previous years known to the northern inhabitants. This confirmed the hopes of the citizens of the various cities that Equaa would continue their genuine assistance despite not immediately ratifying the annexation proposition. The heads of each city-state voted to approve the annexation on June 1, 1927 after many positive and enthusiastic public rallies.

Annexation of The Isles (1927-1933)

After receiving overwhelming support from the northern citizens of the peninsula, Chief Olympia Starr instructed her newly-formed government to focus on modernization and citizen welfare while she began a five year expedition to the Isles situated off of Equaa's southern coast in March 1928. Diplomatic relations had been previously established with the native inhabitants of the closest two isles as trade and expansion in the region made their presence known in the early 1920s; however, not much communication about the future of the area had been introduced.

The north's annexation brought improvements in the industry, education, and overall economy of the area due to benefits of shared tax revenue and use. Equaa's first representative elections for The People's Assembly were held on December 1, 1928 with a voter turnout of nearly 92%. The first People's Inauguration occurred on January 1, 1929 with fifty delegates being split among four political affiliate parties. These newly elected representatives were quickly put to work with writing some of the country's earliest legislation, such as the passing of The Citizen's Rights Resolution and The Tax Revenue Distribution Resolution, which became much of the foundation for Equatannia's modern Constitution.

Once situated on the most populous Isle, Canora, Chief Starr began her campaign to annex the Isles in May of 1928. From then until the official referendum in July 1933, Olympia Starr traversed between the Isles expressing her humanitarian reasons for annexation with much approval from the citizens of the anarchy-ridden region. She received criticism from the lower portion of the Isles, who felt as if the nation's ideologies went against their primarily-capitalistic way of life. After much deliberation that lasted from 1930 until 1932, the lower portion of the Isles were removed from all discussions of annexation. Chief Starr never returned to that portion of the Isles herself.

In the midst of the annexation campaign, Equaa faced their second vote for Representatives on December 2, 1932. This vote saw little change among the Assembly, except the electing of the second Speaker of the People, Representative Cristofer Benyne. Speaker Benyne endorsed several pieces of legislation during Chief Starr's continued absence, which continued to improve the livelihood of Equaa's citizens.

In July of 1933, Chief Starr formally proposed a referendum to the citizens of the Isles that would be managed by a reformed committee modeled after The Internal Ambition. On July 28 the referendum was passed with an 89% approval rating. Olympia Starr gave a speech the following morning declaring The Isles as the third governmental region, with Canora being named the region's capital. Following the referendum, Chief Starr remained in Corona to supervise the modernization of the new region. She closely worked with the new Equaan citizens to establish modern schools, hospitals, roads, and other infrastructure. Many of the citizens that originally criticized the annexation had a change of mind due to Starr's welcoming attitude and overall humanitarian personality after witnessing the great improvements with her assistance.

Modern Government Formation (1933-1936)

Olympia Starr, 1935

The Chief returned to Equaa in December of 1933 and began familiarizing herself with the agencies that had been primarily established during her absence. She then appointed the heads of each department from various representatives in The People's Assembly, thus creating the government's first Cabinet of Ministers. After endorsing several new pieces of legislation, Chief Starr was faced with the first legislation that had many citizens were weary of her reaction in April 1934. Representative Kayreen Jaran from Nothern Equaa proposed legislation that would fundamentally change the executive branch of government to an elected Presidency instead of an appointed Chiefdom. This proposal was based on the original constitution that had established the Chiefdom in 1920, but put the power of executive election in the hands of the citizens instead of the Representatives. Facing original backlash from many of his colleagues, Representative Jaran received Chief Olympia Starr's endorsement during a speech given in Equaa Center Square on May 3, 1934. Chief Starr, in her speech, endorsed the idea of greater political freedom for all citizens of Equaa and promised to help establish a committee that would work toward a more democratic form of government.

Jaran's legislation was defeated on May 6 with 68% of Representatives voting not in favor of the resolution. The Representatives voted on new legislation that established the Constitutional Reform Committee on May 12, proposed by Chief Starr. This committee was formed of sixteen Representatives, four from each party, and was headed by the second Speaker of the People, Cristofer Benyne. Chief Starr was the eighteenth member of the committee, representing the current executive administration. This committee met over 100 times over the course of two years before finalizing the new Constitution on May 24, 1936. The modern Constitution was read aloud multiple times in public speeches and over radio stations to Equaa's residents before the Representative elections later that year, with many campaigners focusing on their approval or rejection of the new Constitution. Elections on December 1, 1936 cemented Equaa's citizens belief in the new Constitution, and The People's Assembly convened on December 5 to ratify the new framework.

During the two years of committee sessions, Chief Starr's administrative government focused on increasing Equatannian exports with the advancement of refrigeration and transportation. This increase in GDP lead to a flourishing economy during the late 1930s.

The passing of the Constitution changed The Sovereign of Equaa into The Federal Republic of Equatannia, "The Land of Equals," as well as expanded the regional governments into having a separate congressional assembly, The Regional. The framework listed in the Constitution calls for Representative, Regional, and Presidential elections every four years, with direct representation from percentage of voters approving a political party or independent candidate. There are no term limits, as direct representation and separation of government branches disallows for the evolving of a dictator. It instates Olympia Starr as the nation's first President, with the first Presidential election planned to be held along with the regularly scheduled elections on December 5, 1940. This legislation also officially established the governments of the three regions that make up Equatannia today, declared the city of Equaa as the nation's federal capital and December 5 as Equatannia's Federal Holiday, as well as consolidated the nation's anthem, motto, flag, and coat of arms.

Period of Isolation (1937-2019)

The End of the Starr Presidency

January 1, 1937 marked the Third People's Inauguration as the third People's Assembly and first Regional were sworn in by President Olympia Starr. In the early months of 1937 that followed, regional tensions rose as natives from the eastern portion of Irnac attacked the northern capital Nuuvari from the shore using canoes and simple weapons on several occasions. These attacks, along with separate rising tensions from nearby nations, lead President Starr to propose The Foreign Affairs Neutrality Resolution (FANR) to Congress on April 29, 1937. This proposed resolution would forbid Equatannia's federal government from directly contacting any foreign national state, making any declarations of war, and conducting federalized trade. With strict guidelines for the President, Cabinet members, and Congresspeople to abide by, the resolution gave much more power to the Regional governments when it came to foreign trade, but still forbade the regional governments from initiating any trade deals with foreign nations.

The FANR was approved by both branches of Congress on May 10 and was signed the following day by President Starr and the second Speaker of the People, Cristofer Benyne, who won his reelection bid. As no foreign embassies had been established by the federal government by this time, the only relocation of government officials after the resolution was passed was the retreat of ambassadors that had been traveling between the Meagharian capital and the southern capital Canora. The FANR contained legislation that redirected foreign affairs funds toward urbanization of infrastructure, education, and welfare. The resolution also contained guidelines on how the Head of State needs to respond when contacted by a foreign government, which includes thanking them for making contact while also explaining that Equatannia is currently focusing on internal development. The federal government began working on initiating the legislation of the new resolution while distributing funds to different departments, especially expanding the Citizen Welfare Department, over the course of the next three years leading up to the first presidential elections in Equatannia.

The Benyne Presidency

President Olympia Starr announced that she would not be seeking a reelection campaign on January 3, 1940. She explained in a public speech in downtown Equaa that she felt she has accomplished everything she has set out to do for the people of Equatannia, and that she knows it is time for new leadership to begin leading the country forward with "effects of unimaginable progression." The general election came down between former Speaker of the People, Cristofer Benyne, Representative Sulan Guraun from Nuuvari, and Equaan Chancellor Pamela Krit. The election was held on the Federal Holiday December 5, 1940 and Speaker Benyne was announced as the victor the following morning across national news outlets. President-elect Benyne received open endorsements from many Representatives during his campaign, and won with 78% of the vote. Madame Starr spoke of her disfavor of endorsing any candidate, as she stated she entrusted the people of Equatannia to "vote with their mind and heart." President Benyne was sworn in as the second President of Equatannia on January 1, 1941, with Sulan Guraun being sworn in as the nation's first Vice President.

Over the next few decades, Equatannia's four major metropolitan areas went under intense urbanization and modernization under President Benyne's leadership. Roadways were expanded and paved, railroads were connected to various communities, and skylines began to grow year by year. The national economy initially shrunk, but eventually stabilized to where it has remained since around 1964. Internal trade among regions, cities, and villages was at an all-time high as separate regions imported and exported various goods that were unique to the region. The Equatannian culture encountered a renaissance that brought new light and internal appreciation to Equatannian arts. Museums and education centers containing various Equatannian artifacts, art, and performance venues were funded by the regional and federal governments while enrollment in primary school, secondary school, and higher education became the national norm by 1949. The University of Equaa was established in 1949 by President Benyne, with multiple smaller colleges being founded in Equatannia's other major urban cities; Nuuvari, Freebelsta, and Canora. The Equatannian Armed Forces surprisingly continued to grow during the next few decades as career benefits and competitive salary allowed for many young Equatannians to enlist after attending higher education.

The Jamaal Presidency

President Benyne won his reelection campaigns in 1944 and 1948 before deciding to not run in the 1952 election cycle at the age of 88. January 1, 1953 brought the inauguration of the third President of Equatannia, Derek Jamaal. President Jamaal was a Representative of the southern isle of Olepaut and was the first President not from the original party in power, The Federal Party. Jamaal was a member of The Free Party, which primarily dominated among the southern Isles and along the eastern coast of Starr Peninsula. President Jamaal quickly directed funds from the budget of the national armed forces toward small-business support that began to greatly stimulate the economy over the next six years. His plans to combine socialist and capitalist ideals became increasingly popular during his first term, which lead to his reelections in 1956, 1960, and 1964. During the '60s, many pieces of legislation were barely passed to expand the powers of the federal government over the regional governments due to corruption in Greater Equatannia and dissenting views from opposing parties. The elected Regional official of Greater Equatannia, Gabrii Haj, resigned after being arrested on domestic violence and racketeering charges. Chancellor Haj was sentenced to six years in rehabilitation confinement and was also subjected to thousands of equos in fines. The legislation expanded multiple departments in an effort to further the federal government support for citizen welfare and internal trade, despite not having any foreign trade to oversee themselves. After announcing his impending resignation on June 18, 1968, President Derek Jamaal endorsed legislation that would create a National Park Department with the founding of Equatannia's first National Park in the area of Mount Friedenliebe that is located just north of Equaa.

The Banjohn Presidency

The Green Party's presidential nominee Cristol Banjohn, an education system superintendent from Equaa, was elected as Equatannia's fourth president on December 5, 1968. Banjohn ran on the ideas of the approval of many social issues plaguing the nation that President Jamaal had ignored during his last term. In her first year as President, Banjohn endorsed legislation that legalized same-sex marriages, same-sex adoptions, and gender reassignment surgery, as well as enacting workplace protections, housing protections, and equal pay protections for LGBT citizens as well as other social minorities, with all of this legislation being passed and signed by the end of 1969. President Banjohn's administration went on to greatly expand the green energy and national park sectors while further increasing tax rates on Equatannia's wealthiest citizens to fund the various newly established programs. The administration worked diligently to erase Equatannia's poverty, illiteracy, and crime rates, which greatly improved the well-being of the nation's citizens. The legalization of marijuana and various other natural substances occurred in 1973 after Cristol Banjohn primarily ran her reelection campaign on the issue with great success. She then backed legislation establishing a federal buyback program of all assault-style firearms after banning their ownership through an executive order in response to the only mass shooting Equatannia has faced, the shooting at Freebelsta Primary School in 1974. Sixteen students and five teachers were murdered by a man running from the police after being pursued for a domestic violence incident that left his wife deceased. The buyback program started with great success after much of the nation was horrified at the massacre, and President Banjohn declared Equatannia's citizens free of all assault-style weapons in 1976.

The Gulland Presidency and Assassination

President Banjohn was the first President to lose a reelection campaign after conceding to her Federal Party opponent Jermine Gulland in the 1976 elections. Fifth President Gulland riddled his campaign with brutal attacks on Banjohn regarding her lack of immediate response to the Feebelsta Primary School shooting and her lack of action toward various far-left extremist groups that had begun recruiting in Equatannia's poorer neighborhoods. Banjohn was alloted the Vice President slot regardless of Gulland's attacks due to her second-place finish in the general election. President Gulland launched campaigns of non-violent attacks on the extremist groups throughout the late 1970s, which greatly affected their recruitment efforts and political influence. He then halted the federal buyback program of assault weapons after pressure from various Cabinet members that were "personal-defense advocates."

On December 9, 1980, a man claiming to be a member of the nationalist group Freetania used an illegal sniper rifle to assassinate President Gulland during a public appearance in Nuuvari. Gulland was rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared dead shortly after arrival. An immediate outpouring of anger and distress erupted from Equatannia's citizens, who had greatly confided in President Gulland and his ideals. The man was on the run for two weeks until he was apprehended by citizens at a diner in Gangruuse, a village in north-central Equatannia, after officials publicized his image on television and print. The assassin admitted that he was angry with Gulland for promoting such far-left policies while also attempting to suppress various organizations, and was ordered to carry out the assassination by Freetania's leadership. Despite this information, some theorists claimed that Vice President Cristol Banjohn had hired the man due to her disagreements with President Gulland, but she vehemently denied these claims and no evidence ever appeared. Banjohn assumed the role as President until the elections later that year, when she announced she would be resigning after the coming election.

The Tengrin Presidency

The people of Equatannia voted Representative Judy Tengerin, an attorney from Canora, to be the sixth President of Equaa in 1980, with her primary opponent Mikael Johns being selected as Vice President. President Tengrin's four terms as President were filled with years of increased industrialization and urbanization, as well as the decline and extermination of a majority of Equatannia's extremist groups. Tengrin did not publicly endorse a piece of legislation until her third term in 1989 when then Speaker of the People Karine Roswuud proposed a bill that would create the foundation for a Federal Supreme Court and a district system of federal courts to better implement and enforce laws. President Tengrin helped write the legislation considering her past experience as an attorney and signed the bill into law in March 1990. The first judges on the Supreme Court were appointed by Speaker Roswuud after being approved by both chambers of Congress later that year.