Great Morstaybishlia: Difference between revisions

| membership = [[Staynes]] <br /> [[Caltharus]] <br /> [[Valeria]] <br/> [[Justelvard]]

The '''Imperial Kingdom of Great Morstaybishlia''', commonly known as '''Great Morstaybishlia''' ('''MBE''', sometimes '''IKM''') is a [[wikipedia:unitary state|unitary]] [[wikipedia:sovereign state|sovereign state]] and [[wikipedia:transcontinental country|transcontinental country]] in [[Aurora]] and southeast [[Yasteria]]. Great Morstaybishlia includes [[Staynes]], [[Caltharus]], [[Valeria]] and [[Justelvard]], as well as other islands. Great Morstaybishlia shares land borders with seven countries (from left to right); [[Axdel]], [[Qayam]], [[Durentria]], [[North Ethalria]], [[Blueacia]], [[Tivot]] and [[Marislia]]. Justelvard shares no land borders except on one island with the [[Free Pax States]] and a district of Tivot, whilst neighbouring the [[The Oan Isles|Kohatu Isles]] by sea. The [[Morstaybishlian Sea]] lies between the north coasts of Staynes and Caltharus and the south coast of Justelvard. The [[Caven Sea]] sits north of Justelvard, and the [[Azure Sea]] sits south of Valeria. The [http://nswiki.org/index.php?title=Packilvanian_Ocean| Packilvanian Ocean] starts at the left coastline of [[Staynes]] and the north-westernmost island in Justelvard.

The relationships among the countries of the Great Morstaybishlia have changed over time. In 1515, [[Lambertus III]] [[Battle for Caltharus 1515|united the thrones of Staynes and Caltharus]] which formed the United Kingdom of Staynes and Caltharus, which went on to become the sovereign state of the [[Morstaybishlian Empire]]. Justelvard was annexed by the Morstaybishlian Empire after the [[Great Morstaybishlia#Morsto-Justelvardic War|Morsto-Justelvardic War]] in 1604. Justelvard declared independence from the Empire in 1967, but was not recognised until 1975. Valeria seceded from Staynes in 1975 which saw it obtain status within Great Morstaybishlia two years later under the Acts of Union, and in 2016 Justelvard entered a political union with Great Morstaybishlia under the Acts of Union of Great Morstaybishlia and Justelvard leaving the present formulation of the Imperial Kingdom of Great Morstaybishlia. The Morstaybishlian Empire transitioned from an [[Wikipedia:Absolute monarchy|absolute monarchy]] to a [[Wikipedia:Constitutional monarchy|constitutional monarchy]] in 1917 by the end of the [[Great War]], establishing a democratically elected [[Wikipedia:Parliament|parliament]] which ended slavery the same year. The MBE is one of the last reminders of colonial times with nineteen [[Morstaybishlian Empire|Overseas Territories of Great Morstaybishlia]]; remnants of the Morstaybishlian Empire which, at its height in the 1800s, encompassed almost a tenth of the world's land mass and was the largest empire in history. Today, they collectively comprise of 106.144 million people over 828,243 sq km; whilst Great Morstaybishlia exists over 5,940,250 sq km and recorded 515.88 million people in its 2021 census, the first year the country recorded over half a billion people. Morstaybishlian influence can be observed in the language, culture and legal systems of many of its former colonies.

Although Great Morstaybishlia as a sovereign state is a country; Staynes, Caltharus, Valeria and Justelvard are also regarded as countries, though they are not sovereign states. The Prime Minister's website has used the phrase "countries within a country" to describe Great Morstaybishlia.

After the Union of the Thrones in 1515, the two kingdoms were briefly known as the "United Kingdom of Staynes and Caltharus" and subsequently their empire was known as the "Staynish-Caltharus Empire" until it was formally dubbed the "Imperial Kingdom of Morstaybishlia" in early 1517.

[[File:Neolithic megalith in Horkalo.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Grengan dolmen, a neolithic megalith 3.8 miles from Horilan, Horkalo Province.]] ''Main articles: [[Staynes#History|History of Staynes]], [[Caltharus#History|History of Caltharus]], [[Valeria#History|History of Valeria]], [[Justelvard#History|History of Justelvard]]''

The earliest traces of [[wikipedia:Homo|human life]] in what is now any part of Aurora began in what today consists of areas in Staynes and Caltharus approximately 1.7 million years ago. During this period, the Strathepolic Ridge connected the continents of [[Aurora]] to [[Yasteria]] across the [[Morstaybishlian Sea]]. Over the ensuing millennia, Humans were confronted by a harsh and variable climates. Early hominids led a [[wikipedia:Nomad|nomadic]] [[wikipedia:hunter-gatherer|hunter-gatherer]] life. Caltharus has a large number of decorated caves from the [[wikipedia:Upper Palaeolithic|upper Palaeolithic era]]. At the end of the last glacial period (10,000 BCE), the climate became milder; from approximately 8,000 BCE, this part of North Aurora entered the [[wikipedia:Neolithic|Neolithic]] era and its inhabitants became [[wikipedia:Sedentism|sedentary]]. By the end of the region's prehistoric period, the earliest known Auroran culture had developed and is thought to belonged, in the main, to a culture termed Strathepolic.

Since humans migrated into Aurora some fifty thousand years ago, they displaced the already established presence of [http://nswiki.org/index.php?title=Uspria#Usprian_Elves| Usprian elves]. In fact, this displacement can be seen so clearly when the term "Aurora" came from a human language and "Uspria" comes from ancient elvish language. Anatomically modern humans began settlements in northern Aurora, where Staynes, Caltharus and Tivot exist today. Later, humans would spread across the continent, co-existing with elven civilisation but occasionally wiping them out through war or plague. These factors, coupled with a much higher birth rate among humans, led to the demise of the old high Usprian civilisations, though many civilisations lived on into the 2nd millennium CE, in pockets of the [[Zycannes]] and other highlands, such as the [[Altfers]], but mainly through [[Valeria|ancient Valeria]] - which is regarded by historians as the elves' final stand as a nation state in Aurora, where they held the reigns of socio, economic and political power over their human counterparts.

|conflict = Caltharus Throne War

|partof = Caltharus Conflicts

|place = [[Staynes]], [[Caltharus]]

* Unification of [[Staynes]] and [[Caltharus]] to form the United Kingdom of Staynes and Caltharus (later Imperial Kingdom of Morstaybishlia)

* Deaths of many significant Caltharusian figures

|combatant1 = [[File:Staynes flag.png|20px]] [[Staynes]] <br/> [[File:Caltharus flag 4.8.png|20px]] Caltharusian loyalists

|combatant2 = [[File:Republic of Caltharus (1513-1515).png|20px]] [[Caltharus|Republic of Caltharus]]

The Caltharus Throne War was the war which saw the United Kingdom of Staynes and Caltharus come into being after the surrender of the Republic of Caltharus to the Kingdom of Staynes and the Bishlan kingdoms of Dovia, Calthia and Laulia which made up the monarchist faction of Caltharus, as well the resurrection of the Caltharusian throne, which was incorporated with the Staynish to form the Morstaybishlian throne on the 29th of December 1515.

In March 1513, the Kingdom of Caltharus was overthrown by a military coup which established the Republic of Caltharus. Haligar II, the King of Caltharus and father of Princess Katerina was executed. Princess Katerina was married to [[Lambertus III]] and was the second in line to the Caltharusian throne but was exiled to Staynes as the risk of capture and execution was too great. She lost contact with her younger siblings and cousins and they were presumed dead. The Republic caused conflict and fractured the nation into two factions. The Republic and loyalists to the King and Kingdom. Katerina returned to Caltharus to lead the war between the Republic and Kingdom loyalists but the loyalists continued to loose ground until they were confined to north-west and west Caltharus.

From the 12th of January 1515 to the 29th of December the same year, Lambertus III led Staynes and the Caltharusian loyalists into battle against the new Republic of Caltharus for control over the rights to rule. The conflict lasted through many strategically implemented episodes during 1515, however there was fighting between Caltharusian loyalists and the Republic before and after this period between the belligerents.

With the initial execution of Halligar II's two children and another one child, Lambertus amassed an army of 140,000 Staynish and 240,000 Caltharusian loyalist soldiers that stormed the major cities until Lambertupol, pushing the Republic's forces back where they held their ground for two months days until the 29th of December when they fell.

Their victory in Lambertupol concluded the end of the war. The monarchy was re-established and Lambertus III was crowned King of the United Kingdom of Staynes and Caltharus, later the Imperial Kingdom of Morstaybishlia, on the 29th December. The remaining four siblings and cousins of Katerina who had fled to the both the Ethalrian Empire and Molgov Dynasty returned from exile. A feast on the 11th January began in Lambertupol to mark the victories. This day is celebrated annually around the world as Unity Day.

Lambertus did not return back to Bursil until 1519, establishing order and peace in Caltharus. He faced some challenges from both the Ethalrian Empire and the Molgov Dynasty, both looking to expand their territory. He defended the border for a year and a half until a mutual agreement was held. The conflict led to heavy bloodshed on both sides. It remains the most gruesome conflict in pre-modern Auroran history.

News reached [[Lambertus IV]] on the 5th of January, in which he immediately ascended the throne. He was officially crowned King of the Morstaybishlian Empire on the 6th of April at Syllester Abbey, Redrugus. During the next few months, Lambertus and his council thought of ways to take control of Fort Montekaan. During early September, Lambertus sent his cousin Amet to important cities and towns in Caltharus to amass a large army for the upcoming war. Amet returned to Fort Redrugus a month and a half later with a strength of 70,000 men with a promise of another fifty to seventy thousand in the next five to ten years.

Morstaybishlian colonialism began as early as the 11th century with Caltharusian territories in [[Arcturia]]. Arcturia saw a surge of Staynish and Caltharusian early settlements in eastern Arcturia from 1001 to 1515; these trading outposts were generally not unified into one territory until the Morstaybishlian Empire formed after the Union of the Thrones and trading outposts were led by Viceroys.

After success in Justelvard, [[Lambertus V]] asserted himself as a more confident leader among his privy council. He set his sights westwards to [[Arcturia]], an already known and landed continent by both Staynes and Caltharus as well as other kingdoms [[Kormistazm]] and [[Ethalria (Grand Matriarchy)|Ethalria]]. After finding out the Ethalrian Empire had united a nearly 200 kilometer coastal colony a decade prior and with a flair to compete, he sent a ship to send a letter to the Viceroys of each trade outpost for the provisions to form a unified colony southwards of New Calth, but the ship never returned. He later found out the Ethalrian soldiers had seized the ships and executed the soldiers. Frustrated by this, he amassed a fleet of warships and sent them to defeat the Ethalrian Armada. The fleet came back victorious, but the Ethalrian Empire sent their own fleet and reclaimed the small Gronmund Port.

Over the next four years, merchant ships leaving Aeternum and other ports in north Caltharus and Staynes were going missing and businesses in these ports were closing down from a loss of income. It was explored by the Morstaybishlian navy but there was no explanation until by chance MBS Queen Aprille was mistaken as a merchant vessel and attacked by a Caven warship but survived. Morstaybishlia later declared war on the Caven Empire.

[[File:The Fort York Guard (1412019939).jpg|left|thumb|275px|Reenactors at Barkenmouth dressed like the 5th Caltharusian Regiment of Fencible Infantry.]]

Ethalria and Baykalia believed that striking at Aeternum and other large cities in Caltharus, could end Morstaybishlia's industrial capacity and end its era of dominance. Morstaybishlia's mastery of the seas allowed it to build up considerable economic strength through trade to its possessions from its rapidly expanding new Empire. Morstaybishlia's naval supremacy meant that Ethalria could never enjoy the peace necessary to consolidate its control over Aurora, and it could threaten neither the industrial capacity in Caltharus nor the main Morstaybishlian colonies. Despite this, an Ethalrian and Baykalian fleet under Admiral Maria Valtruda to invade Aeternum was defeated by a smaller fleet helmed by [[Redmund V|Admiral Prince Redmund]] off the coast of Cape Mortagra. Admiral Valtruda was uncertain about engaging, and the Ethalro-Baykalian fleet failed to fully organize. In contrast, Redmund was decisive, organizing the Morstaybishlian fleet into two columns sailing straight into the enemy to pierce its wavering lines. The outnumbered Morstaybishlian fleet defeated their opponents, loosing only two ships to the coalition's forty two. The Battle of Mortagra was a decisive victory for the Morstaybishlians. The victory confirmed the naval supremacy Morstaybishlia had established during the course of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and it was achieved in part through Redmunds’ departure from the prevailing naval tactical orthodoxy of the day.

Despite these changes, Morstaybishlia lacked behind in its democratic index. It was still an absolute monarchy, and even though there was movements to change, an elected parliament would not happen until 1917. However, the Privy Council of Staynes and Privy Council of Caltharus which were appointed by the Crown and served at the Crown's pleasure became more autonomous, including consolidating the two devolved administrations of Staynes and Caltharus into one, based at Kalmington Palace, Sani Bursil, and helmed by a Chief Minister, equivalent of a [[Prime Ministers of Great Morstaybishlia|prime minister]] today. This became the House of Peers in 1831, and were the first example of a unified chamber of Peerage from across the homeland. They drafted legislation in the name of the King, or Queen, at their pleasure, and the monarch was perfectly in their right to stop legislation from passing. In fact, this was common practice. The monarch remained untouchable and unaccountable to the House of Peers, and had a large sway among leading figures to bend them into submission.

[[File:Ethalrian bombing of a Calth village.jpg|right|thumb|275px|Ethalrian bombing of a Caltharusian town.]]

Terrorists co-ordinated two attacks that took place on 24 July 2020 in Barbarus and Jomsgord Provinces, Caltharus, Great Morstaybishlia. Beginning at 08:36, one Khadgar tank operated by terrorists alongside 37 terrorists shot and blew up the side of the Barbarus police headquarters building before committing a mass shooting. At 9:06 another tank and gunmen committed a second mass shooting on the Khauser police headquarters. Both mass shootings resulted in a standoff with police. 67 civilians were killed and another 71 injured. 67 of the suspected 81 attackers were killed. Since the attacks, nobody has taken responsibility. Prime Minister Franklin Barvata initiated a state of emergency which was declared across Great Morstaybishlia to help fight terrorism, involving the banning of public demonstrations, and allowing the police to carry out searches without a warrant, put anyone under house arrest without trial and block websites that encouraged acts of terrorism. Calthia, Laulia, Aurus, Barbarus, Jomsgord provinces of Caltharus were put on Black Alert with a curfew of 21:00, football matches and pubs were also closed and non-essential travel became prohibited. The [[July 2020 Caltharus attacks]] were the deadliest in Great Morstaybishlia since the Auroran Imperial War.

The [[August 2020 Caltharus police attack]] saw a drone bomb attack into a meeting of chief constables in Kola House, Nocturne provincial police headquarters, eastern Caltharus, Great Morstaybishlia; that happened at 14:05 and claimed the lives of six chief constables, one deputy chief constable and one site engineer. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, although in a nation addressed Prime Minister Franklin Barvata insisted that the same group responsible for the July 2020 Caltharus attacks are to blame.

Great Morstaybishlia has an area of 5,940,250km² (or 2,293,542 square miles). The mainland part of Great Morstaybishlia is made up of Staynes, Caltharus and Valeria which are collectively referred to as Morstaybishlia. Justelvard is an archipelago located in the Caven Sea that forms the metropolitan part of the Great Morstaybishlia along with Morstaybishlia. This article will refer to the metropolitan part of the MBE unless it specifically refers to one, some or all of its numerous overseas territories.

The average elevation is 845 m (or 2772 ft). The highest elevation is the summit of [[Zycannes#Mount Kersivius|Mount Kersivius]] which is 7,405 m (or 24,294 ft). The lowest elevation is the Nepiditras Depression in Caltharus (at 79 m below sea level). The longest river is Stayn River with a length of 5,216 km (or 3241 miles). The largest lake by surface area is Morsa Lake with an area of 129,850 km² (or 50,135 square miles). It is the second largest lake by surface area on [[Urth]].

Great Morstaybishlia as a whole comprises largely varying [[wikipedia:Ecosystem|ecosystems]]. Justelvard has an entirely [[wikipedia:tropical climate|tropical climate]] and over 65% of the land is made up by the Flizon rainforest. The Flizon is recognised as being one of the greatest biological diversity sites in the world and is a lot more species rich than the Jubrione evergreen rainforest despite its higher level of biodiversity to other evergreen rainforests, caused by large annual rainfall from Morsa Lake which extends all the way to the Agners mountains and the Staynes-Caltharus border.

Small regions of [[Wikipedia:Moorland|Moorlands]] and the [[Wikipedia:Gran Sabana|Great Savanna]] form a natural barrier around the Jubrione evergreen rainforest to the temperate deciduous forests in Staynes. The Great Savanna offers one of the most unusual landscapes in the world, with rivers, waterfalls and gorges, deep and vast valleys, impenetrable jungles and savannahs that host large numbers and varieties of plant species, a diverse fauna and the isolated table-top [[Wikipedia:Mesa|mesas]]. The Great Savanna extends all the way from the western Staynish coast to the centre-north Caltharusian coast, though it is split into western and eastern regions. Much of it has been turned into agriculture or settlement by humans over millennia, though considerable amounts have been protected as national parks today.

In part of being split by two mountain ranges, the Zycannes and the Kalivian mountains; Caltharus is split into three different regions. The north of the Zycannes is windward and hosts a mixture of temperate climates, present in the north and north west is an oceanic climate and closer to the Zycannes is a typical continental climate. Immediately below the Zycannes is a narrow belt of cold desert called the Waron Desert and the Versuben mountains which connects to the Zycannes in two places and forms a segregated low area of hot arid land known as the Versubish Desert. Between the Waron Desert and the Kalivian mountains there are areas of large precipitation and thus forms a large wet temperate forest region. North of the Kalivian mountains is windward and south of the mountains is leeward, giving the provinces of Nocturne and some of Barbarus and Jomsgord a mixture of steppe and a semi-arid deserts.

In the seas surrounding Great Morstaybishlia, Justelvard is host to some 25 [[Wikipedia:Deep-water coral|deep-water corals]] primarily in the Western Outliers Province but also in the Dorghold Islands chain between Sinerus Island and Varness. The largest deep-water corals are Pannagar corals which extends over a length of about 43 kilometers (27 mi), and has a width of up to 6.9 kilometers (4.3 mi) and Kenure corals which extends over a length of about 31 kilometers (19.2 mi), and has a width of up to 5 kilometers (3.1 mi). The deep-water corals belong to the [[Wikipedia:Cnidaria|Phylum Cnidaria]] and are mostly [[Wikipedia:Scleractinia|stony corals]], but also include [[Wikipedia:Antipatharians|black and horny corals]]. The black and horny corals aren't present in the 4 deep-water corals off the coast Caltharus and Staynes respectively. Off the coast of Valeria and encompassing most of the continental waters in the Azure Sea lies a [[wikipedia:Kelp forest|kelp forest]].

Staynes and Caltharus make up the Morstia region as their climates, flora and fauna are very dissimilar. The Morstia region hosts the most plant species in metropolitan Morstaybishlia. The Jubrione evergreen rainforest is a deciduous [[Wikipedia:Broad-leaved tree|broadleaf]], wet, high diversity rainforest; and as such contains over 50 percent of all plant species in metropolitan Morstaybishlia. The [[Wikipedia:Maple|Maple]] is found in the Jubrione and is Morstaybishlia's national tree; it has since been exported around the world through the [[Morstaybishlian Empire]]. Although a broad leaf forest, [[Wikipedia:Coniferous|coniferous]] trees make up over ten percent and are invasive, non-native species introduced from Gondwana in the 16th and 17th centuries.

The rest of Morstia is typically inhabited by deciduous forest, plains and moorland with a diverse pattern of vegetation. As with most of Aurora, prehistoric Morstaybishlia was covered with forest and swamp. Clearing began around 5,000 BCE and accelerated in medieval times. Despite this, Morstaybishlia retained its primeval forests and evergreen rainforest longer than most of Aurora due to its size, and wood shortages were not a problem until the 17th century. By the 18th century, around 50 percent of Morstaybishlian forests were consumed for shipbuilding or manufacturing charcoal and the nation was forced to import lumber from Arcturia. Today, most forest land in Morstaybishlia is maintained by state forestation programmes. Almost all land outside urban areas is farmland. However, relatively large areas of forest remain in north and south-west Staynes, north Caltharus and south-eastern Valeria. The most common trees in Morstaybishlia are beech, silver birch, elm and pedunculate oak. Natural forests in Morstaybishlia consist mainly of Maple or Oak. Farmland hosts a variety of semi-natural vegetation of grasses and flowering plants. Woods, hedgerows, mountain slopes and marshes host heather, wild grasses, gorse and bracken. Morstaybishlia has several national flowers, including the Hydrangea, Daffodil and the Morst Rose.

[[File:Auroran Jaguar 1.jpg|right|thumb|275px|The [[Wikipedia:North American jaguar|Auroran jaguar]] is the [[Wikipedia:National animal|national animal]] of Great Morstaybishlia. The Auroran jaguar's range includes all of the Jubrione National Park and several national parks in northern Caltharus.]]

The ecoregions and ecology found in the Morstia region is extremely varied as it extends from the [[Molvian Corridor]] in the south-west to the border with Tivot and Blueacia in the north-east. The region has a diverse climate that influences the inhabiting fauna; a [[Wikipedia:Humid continental climate|humid continental climate]] in the southern provinces, a [[Wikipedia:Humid subtropical climate|humid subtropical climate]] in the middle provinces of mainly Staynes but also a small area of Caltharus, and [[Wikipedia:Tropical wet and dry climate|tropical wet and dry climate]] in the north of Staynes and over 90 percent of the Morstia region in Caltharus. There are densely forested areas found in southern and central Staynes which have mostly species adapted to living in [[Wikipedia:Temperate climate|temperate climates]], while northern Staynes excluding the Jubrione region and all of Caltharus in this region have a fauna resembling its position in the subtropic and tropics.

Many species of mega fauna and large carnivorous mammals that lived in the Morstian savanna have been hunted for their meats, skins and ivory, and many have been pushed to extinction as a result. The [[Wikipedia:Brown bear|brown bear]] once spanned all of northern Aurora but was hunted for its fur and because it was a dangerous predator; today it lives in pockets of the Morstian region across northern Staynes and Caltharus. Some common species in the savanna include the [[Wikipedia:Myrmecophaga tridactyla|giant anteater]], [[Wikipedia:Priodontes maximus|giant armadillo]], [[Wikipedia:Leopardus pardalis|ocelot]], [[Wikipedia:Agouti paca|spotted paca]], [[Wikipedia:Pithecia pithecia|widow monkey]], [[Wikipedia:Rupicola rupicola|cock-of-the-rock]] and [[Wikipedia:Lachesis muta muta|tango pitviper]]. Many amphibians live in wet areas, including the [[Wikipedia:Bokermannohyla saxicola|golden belly frog]] and [[Wikipedia:Oreophrynella quelchii|black bumped toad]]. [[Wikipedia:Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris|Capybara]] are also found in the savanna and is the provincial animal of Horkalo and Jubliak.

In 1917, Morstaybishlia converted from absolutism to parliamentary democracy and the first mention of constituencies were made. After the Great War, Morstaybishlia's territory looked very different; [[Axdel]], and [[Emberwood Coast]] were apart of the Empire as dominions, whilst the lands east of the Ider River in Caltharus weren't. The Constituency Administration Committee were established to draw up the first constituency maps. The first iteration in 1917 had 1,214 constituencies and gave the Dominion of Axdel representation for the first time under the Morstaybishlian Empire with 170 seats. During the interwar period the constituencies remained unchanged until 1975 when [[Noroist Axdel]] gained independence and the land east of the Ider River came back under control of Morstaybishlia. The Constituency Administration Committee was re-established and produced a second map that overhauled most of the work from the first, producing 1,742 constituencies. This remained until the Acts of Union of Great Morstaybishlia and Justelvard which saw 52 new constituencies added to make the final iteration of 1,794.

The history of local government in Great Morstaybishlia differs between Staynes, Caltharus, Valeria (Valeria before the 13th century) and Justelvard, and the subnational divisions within these which have been called provinces have varied over time and by purpose. The province has formed the upper tier of local government over much of Great Morstaybishlia at one time or another, and has been used for a variety of other purposes, such as for Lord Lieutenants, land registration and postal delivery.

All of the 10 provinces in Staynes are based off of historic countries during the [[Staynes#Interregnum period|First Interregnum Period]]. Over Staynes' history these provinces saw major reforms in 1621, 1784 and 1897, but were reverted back to the ten provinces in 1955. The provinces in Valeria were established in 1977 based on the historic divides during the administration of the Kingdom of Valeria prior to 1256; Valeria has the most provinces of any constituent country at 27 but since 1989 there have been calls to simplify these provinces down to 22. Caltharus has 22 provinces which are based off of the smaller kingdoms that existed before the unification of Caltharus in the 8th century.

Great Morstaybishlia does not have a single legal system as the 1515 Treaty of Union provided for the continuation of Caltharus's separate legal system. Today the MBE has three distinct systems of law: Staynish law, Caltharus law and Valerian law. The Supreme Court of Great Morstaybishlia came into being in 1917 to replace the Royal Courts, which had been previously used since 1036. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, including the same members as the Supreme Court, is the highest court of appeal for several independent Commonwealth countries, the [[Morstaybishlian Empire|Morstaybishlian Overseas Territories]] and the Crown Dependencies.

Caltharusian law is a hybrid system based on both common-law and civil-law principles. The chief courts are the Conclave, for civil cases, and the Jurat High Court, for criminal cases. The Supreme Court of Great Morstaybishlia serves as the highest court of appeal for civil cases under Caltharusian law. Sheriff courts deal with most civil and criminal cases including conducting criminal trials with a jury, known as sheriff solemn court, or with a sheriff and no jury, known as sheriff summary Court. The Caltharusian legal system is unique in having three possible verdicts for a criminal trial: "guilty", "not guilty" and "not proven". Both "not guilty" and "not proven" result in an acquittal.

The average population density of Great Morstaybishlia is 81 people per square kilometer. On average, Justelvard and Valeria are the densest constituent countries with 102.99 and 98.13 people per square kilometer respectively. On the other end of the spectrum Caltharus and Staynes are less dense with 80.61 and 69.12 people per square kilometer. The Sani Bursil metropolitan area is the densest region of the MBE with 9,859.37 people per square kilometer and the province of Jubrionas is the sparsest with 6.87 people per square kilometer. Six of the top ten largest provinces by population density are from Valeria, including Kladnes, which has a population density of 655.77 people per square kilometer and Kalidest, which has a population density of 645.46 people per square kilometer; the latter is where the capital Kirdintayos of Valeria is. Justelvard observes the most even spread of population density by province, the densest province is Isekaiou with 534.51 people per square kilometer and the sparsest is the Western Outliers with 73.36 people per square kilometer.

[[File:A Morst bride and groom.jpeg|right|thumb|250px|A bride and groom from Morstaybishlia who have the most common skin colour, found native to north Staynes and Caltharus.]]

Justelvard sits on the remaining land area of the Strathepolic archipelago and it is believed that over 90% of Auroran's ancestry originate here. A large land bridge extending from west-Justelvard to Bai Lung and then to the Staynish-Caltharusian border became the premier travelway of the two continents after the early submerging of a land bridge from Peregrinia through the Morstaybishlian West Pacific Territories and the Oan Isles connecting to the easternmost Auroran coastline. The Strathepolic people mainly lived in and around the northern Strathepolic ridge but migrated southwards during its erosion to strong Pacific currents. A study found that Jussie genes are closely comparable of those genes thought to be pure-Morstaybishlian.

Ethnic diversity varies significantly across Great Morstaybishlia. Just over 26% (11 million) of Sani Bursil's population and 25% of Aternum's was estimated to be non-white in 2017, whereas less than 5% of the populations of western-Caltharus, north Valeria and central Staynes were from ethnic minorities, according to the 2017 census. In 2016, 28.8% of primary and 26.4% of secondary pupils at state schools in Staynes were members of an ethnic minority. The 1997 census was the first MBE census to have a question on ethnic group. In the 1997 MBE census 92.8% of people reported themselves as being White Morstaybishlian or White Other with 7.2% of people reporting themselves as coming from other minority groups.

It is compulsory for Staynish and Caltharusian pupils to study the Staynish and Calth languages up to the age of 16 in their respective countries, whilst only Staynish is taught in Valeria and Justelvardic is taught with Staynish in Justelvard. During Sixth Form is it optional to learn a foreign language, Kostuvian and Axdelian are the two most commonly taught foreign languages in Staynes and Caltharus.

In the 2019 census 65.2 per cent of all respondents indicated that they were Thaerists, with the next largest faiths being Paxism (4 per cent), [[Akronism]] (3.2 per cent), Varism (0.6 per cent), Ulvriktru (0.3 per cent), Ademarism (0.2 per cent) and all other religions (0.3 per cent). 20.8 per cent of respondents stated that they had no religion, with a further 5.4 per cent not stating a religious preference. Vaerism holds a religious stronghold in the Nocturne province of Caltharus with over 87% of Morstaybishlians practicing Vaerism living there.

In Staynes, Caltharus and Valeria, it is compulsory for all primary and secondary schools to have a uniform, whilst in Justelvard most schools do not have a compulsory uniform policy in place. A school uniform typically consists of a blazer in the school colours or a white shirt or blouse; a tie, trousers or skirt in a black, grey, or blue and black shoes. It could also be a shirt, sweater, and tie or a polo shirt and a sweatshirt.

Regulatory bodies are organised on a MBE-wide basis such as the General Medical Council, the Nursing and Midwifery Council and non-governmental-based, such as the Royal Colleges. However, political and operational responsibility for healthcare lies with four national executives; healthcare in Staynes and Caltharus is the responsibility of the Morstaybishlian Government; healthcare in Valeria is the responsibility of the South Staynish Assembly, and healthcare in Justelvard is the responsibility of the Justelvardic Assembly.

Much medieval Staynish poetry and literature were inspired by the legends of [[Pip the Gallant]] and his predecessors in the [[Staynnica|Kingdom of Staynnica]]. Other medieval poetry and literature hailing from Caltharus depicts the legendary Colonarius and other historical military figures.

After the printing press was introduced in Caltharus and later Staynes in 1475, [[wikipedia:Vernacular literature|vernacular literature]] flourished. During this period, theatrical playwrights portrayed romances, tragedies, comedies and histories became very common. Morstaybishlian literature and poetry flourished even more in the 18th and 19th centuries where things like arts, sciences, languages and philosophy were very popular as well as children's fairy tales becoming widespread. The age of reason bought with it a rational and scientific approach to religious, social, political and economic issues that promoted a secular view of the world and a general sense of progress and perfectibility. Led by the philosophers who were inspired by the discoveries of the previous century they sought to discover and to act upon universally valid principles governing humanity, nature, and society. They variously attacked spiritual and scientific authority, dogmatism, intolerance, censorship, and economic and social restraints. They considered the state the proper and rational instrument of progress. The extreme rationalism and skepticism of the age led naturally to deism and also played a part in bringing the later reaction of romanticism.

The Romantic period was one of major social change in Staynes (at the time included Valeria) and Caltharus, because of the depopulation of the countryside and the rapid development of overcrowded industrial cities, that took place in the period roughly between 1750 and 1850. The movement of so many people in Staynes and Caltharus was the result of two forces: the Agricultural Revolution, that involved the Enclosure of the land, drove workers off the land, and the Industrial Revolution which provided them employment. Romanticism may be seen in part as a reaction to the Industrial Revolution, though it was also a revolt against aristocratic social and political norms of the Age of Enlightenment, as well a reaction against the scientific rationalization of nature.

During the period of time loosely referred to as the Middle Ages, Staynes and Caltharus developed their own traditions of integrating musical influence from other regions. The first record of this type of influence is in 401 CE, when Staynes (then the second Maltervenian Empire) established an orchestra in its royal court after a conquest in the Kingdom of Corstania. Influences from other Auroran cultures, as well as Yasterian, Arcturian, and other regions followed. In fact, early northern Auroran musical tradition attributes many musical instruments from this period to those regions. [[Wikipedia:Piano|Pianos]] became widely popular after its invention in Ethalria, along with more advanced trumpets, clarinets, flutes, drums, lutes, oboes and cymbals.

[[File:Morst folk band.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Caltharusian folk band.]]

Morstaybishlian art refers to all forms of visual art in or associated with the country, and encompasses Staynish art, Caltharusian art, South Staynish art and Justelvardic art. During the 18th century Morstaybishlia began to reclaim the leading place it had played in Auroran art during the Middle Ages, being especially strong in portraiture and landscape art. Increasing Morstaybishlian prosperity led to a greatly increased production of both fine art and the decorative arts, the latter often being exported. The Romantic period resulted from very diverse talents. The 20th century saw a great diversity of art, and a far bigger quantity created than before.

The [[MBC]], founded in 1917, is Great Morstaybishlia's publicly funded radio, television and Internet broadcasting corporation, and is the oldest and largest broadcaster in the world. It operates numerous television and radio stations in the MBE and abroad and its domestic services are funded by the television licence. Other major players in the MBE media include STV- a media conglomerate of national broadcasters and newspapers, and the CTV, who themselves dominate the media scene in Caltharus since the 1930s. Sani Bursil dominates the media sector in the MBE: national newspapers and television and radio are largely based there, although Aeternum is also a significant national media centre. Kirdintayos and Valeron, and Port Makuh, are important centres of newspaper and broadcasting production in Valeria and Justelvard respectively. The MBE publishing sector, including books, directories and databases, journals, magazines and business media, newspapers and news agencies, has a combined turnover of around £141 billion and employs around 1.1 million people.

[[wikipedia:Football|Association football]] is the most popular sport in Morstaybishlia, varieties of which have been played in Morstaybishlia as far back as Maltervenic times. It has dominated the sport scene since the late 19th century. The Staynish national football team, whose home venue is currently Camp Venna, played and beat Caltharus in the first ever international tournament in 1869. Through its constituent countries, Great Morstaybishlia has hosted the Men's World Cup four times; Staynes hosted it in 1952, 1968 and 1992 and Caltharus hosted it in 1960 and will also host the 2024 World Cup. Staynes has had the most success, winning the world cup three times in 1960, 1964 and 1992, a record that is tied with Asendavia, New Leganes and [[Masceola]]. [[File:Fitzroy Lanbard.jpg|left|thumb|230px|Fitzroy Lanbard is the head coach and manager of the Staynish national football team, since 2010.]] Caltharus has also won a world cup in 1968. Combined, the constituent countries of Great Morstaybishlia has placed either second or third nine times. Valeria has had limited success, placing third place twice in 1984 and 1996. Staynes, Caltharus, Valeria and Justelvard usually compete as separate countries in international competitions.

At club level, Caltharus is recognised by the international football association as the birthplace of club football, due to Whitequeens F.C. being founded in 1852 and thus the world's oldest club. The Football Federation is the oldest governing body in the sport, where it drafted the first recognised football rules in the world in 1860. The FF Cup and The Football League were the first cup and league competitions respectively. In the modern day, the Morstaybishlian Premier League is the world's most-watched football league, most lucrative, and amongst the elite, attracting the highest average attendance of all professional sports leagues in the world.

As is the case throughout the MBE, football in Staynes and Caltharus are notable for the rivalries between clubs and the passion of the supporters, which includes a tradition of football chants. The most successful Morstaybishlian football team in the Auroran Cup is [[Celidizia F.C.]] who have won the competition a total of eight times. They are closely followed by Redrugus F.C., who together, alongside Soutbury F.C., Koyden F.C., Abingdon F.C. and Aurus F.C., make up the most decorated clubs across the MBE.

The Oglota Wine Festival is a summer festival primarily in the Oglota Province of Caltharus, though it has since spread to many towns and communities in western and central Caltharus.

These such wine festivals across Caltharusian communities takes place on 21 December, also [[Wikipedia:Summer solstice|Summer Celebration Day]] in Morstaybishlia. The day begins at various times in the mid to late morning, with a parade of people of all ages carrying jugs, bottles, leather wine bottles and other types of containers filled with red wine. Led by the community leader such as a mayor on horseback, the parade usually goes through the market streets of these communities, symbolising riches and good health. A mass is then celebrated at the town centre or community park, or equivalent.

On 28 April every year, many towns across Caltharus and Staynes observe a Tea Drinking Championship. An opponent is chosen to out drink the champion of the previous year in each town, from a large jug or from multiple tea cups. If they win, they become the champion. There are many under-card one versus one face offs that take place on a more casual setting at the same event to promote the tradition, whose origins are lost in history. The event doesn't usually last longer than half an hour.

The flag of Great Morstaybishlia is the Empire Flag. It was created in 1517 by culminating the design features from both the Flag of Staynes and the Flag of Caltharus. Being former colonies, Valeria and Justelvard have no unique flag designs and have any option of redesigning the flag to represent the two other nations has been ruled out.

The [[wikipedia:Lion_(heraldry)|heraldic lion]] is quite common around the world, and several countries incorporate it into their national coats of arms. In Calthian heraldry, the lion is first found in the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Caltharus in the later part of the 11th century.

Public holidays celebrated in Great Morstaybishlia include a mix of religious (Thaerism), national and regional observances. Each country is allowed to declare a maximum of 13 public holidays per year; up to 11 of these are chosen by the national government and at least two are chosen locally. Morstaybishlia's national day (Unity Day) is 11 January, the anniversary of the Union of the Thrones between Staynes and Caltharus and celebrate [[Lambertus III|Lambertus the Great]]'s feast.

| This national holiday was established to celebrate the Union of Staynes and Caltharus and to hold a great feast