Meagharia

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The Secular Republic of Meagharia

Flag of Meagharia
Flag
Meagharian coat of Arms
Coat of arms
Motto: Aindiachas Victeoiriach! (Secularism Triumphant!)
StatusAt Peace
CapitalBurnside
LargestSherman
Ethnic groups
Durdneelians
Religion
State Atheist
Demonym(s)Meagharian
GovernmentUnitary Democratic Stratocracy
• Grand Marshal
Nathaniel O'Fahr
• Field Marshal
Aine Caelin
• High Admiral
Jack O'Reddin
Milina O'Gier
LegislatureCenturions Assembly
Nation 
Independent
1982-2019
Area
• 
268,359 km2 (103,614 sq mi)
Population
• 2019 estimate
15,102,456
• 2019 census
15,102,456
• Density
55/km2 (142.4/sq mi)
GDP (nominal)estimate
• Total
75,512,280
• Per capita
5000
CurrencyPiléar (PLR)

Meagharia officially The Secular Republic of Meagharia is a Unitary Stratocratic Democracy in Novaris. The nation is currently working to recover from its long civil war.

History

Pre-Milofite Settlement

There are many Rodokan stories about attempts to settle the island that now contains Meagharia. These stories always say that a group would sail to the eastern coast, and upon another group going to visit the settlement would be gone, with no evidence that anyone had ever settled there. This led to the island being ascribed the name of Vaimsaar, or "The Island of Ghosts".

Theories as to why these early settlers were wiped out come based on a variety of sources. Before the Meagharian Civil War it was assumed that there was some isolationist group of natives related to the Rodokans who were either wiped out, or converted by the Milofites. As Milofia pursued a policy of total isolation these theories were impossible to verify, and were mostly based on guesswork.

In 2019 after the fall of the Milofite Council, Grand Marshal Nathaniel O'Fahr opened up much of the Milofite Records to historical investigation, both by Meagharians and Historians and Archaeologists from Durakia. One set of records known as "The Historie of the Subjugation of the Demon Lands". This book is a largely narrative tale, taking place seemingly several decades after the initial settlement of the modern city of Sherman. It recounts the Milofite settlers once leaving the northern mountains encountered a race of demons known as the Séchos, giant six legged beasts with armored skin and hateful blades for arms. It then tells about how the Armies of Flamebearer burned the demons, and sealed their ashes in one of the Western Mountains, sealed away should they ever return. Initially this story was seen as being primarily propaganda to justify the absolute rule of the Flamebearers, before being hidden in the records of the Council once their rule was ended.

However in 2020, after a new analysis by Durakan Archaeologist Viktor Ulrik, he beleived that there could be some proof in the story. He eventually was able to piece together a possible location for the Tomb of the Séchos. After gaining approval for an archaeological dig, Viktor was able to find it, with an inscription on the entrance warning of entrapped demons, in this tomb a massive amount of ash was found, along with enormous plates of Chitin, similar to those of the Praying Mantis. Subsequent digs in other locations described in the text found old hives, burned out, but with writing, some basic tools, and other artifacts most of them shattered. Dr. Ulrik has theorized that eastern Meagharia was once inhabited by a species of large insects, all linked in one hivemind, who were wiped out upon the Milofite Settlement. Ulrik's findings have been questioned by others in his field, particularly Biologists who point out that the oxygen levels on Urth at the time would not be suffecient to support insects of that size. So far no DNA testing has been undertaken on the Chitin plates discovered, as the Meagharian Department of Excavation was supposedly advised by Dr. Ulrik to keep the plates private. For this reason the disovery has been widely considered discredited, however the Meagharian Government continues to uphold their legitimacy as "Another Example of the Genocidal Evils of Theism".

Milofite Colonization

The landmass that now contains Meagharia was first permanently settled by the followers of a religious movement known as the Milofites that was founded in the Sea Faring Kingdom of Durdneel. They beleived in a Supeme God called Milof, who commanded them to follow strict rules in society, such as forcing Women into a submissive role, and wished to structure society so the so-called voices of Milof, known as the Holy Council, could rule over the people. This attitude became unpopular and fights between milofites and the other Durdneelians, and eventually this led to the High King of Durdneel, by the name of Brual the Hound, gathering some forces and banishing the Milofites, giving them enough boats and supplies for them to leave Durdneel.


Hopping from colony to colony the Milofites eventually found their way to Novaris where the non-milofite hired captain made first landfall. Upon arrival the Milofite leaders formed a religious council and established a practically feudal system where different religious authorities would control different parts of the occupied territory. In the south of the island there were several native city states. Using their superior technology the Milofites managed to convince the city states to accept the new nation of Holy Milofia. The nation is estimated to have been founded in 1634.

Rodokan War

WIP

Meagharite Revolt

In 1727 the Abbot-General of Gier, the ruler most densely populated agricultural region of Milofia died and was replaced with a young priest by the name of Niall Meaghar. From that day forward he would be known as Father Meaghar. For the first 20 years of his reign Father Meaghar was a standard priest running the affairs of the province competently and balancing the religious and secular affairs of the province. However Father Meaghar spent a large amount of his time thinking about theology and theorizing on the way that the machinations of Milof functioned. Eventually while comparing lines in the Milofite Holy Text he realized that it was full of contradictions that seemingly were only there to benefit the priestly caste. This alone tested his faith but he managed to justify it to himself at least. This all changed when he was forced to take his group of Warrior Monks to put down a peasant revolt. He was inspired by their tenaciousness in fighting but he did finish off those peasants that were revolting. This moment would still change the priests life forever.

Father Meaghar began writing philosophy divorced from the Milofite religious principles. He came to theorize that society had been artificially been divided into two groups, Civilians and Soldiers. In his philosophy, The Soldier was naturally the group of people who collectively were most suited to run society as they had attained the discipline to be able to ascertain the best way society should run. Civilians on the other hand while they have the potential for discipline from the labor that they have to undergo they have not gained the proper wisdom to lead. He also theorized that this artificial divide is created by a priestly caste to allow them to provide their own answers for how society should be run independent of the human mind,and ideally the Soldier Caste and the Civilian Caste would be combined into the Veterans, people made wise through discipline to be able to rule themselves successfully.

Over the course of several years he managed to spread his philosophy throughout first his Order of Warrior Monks and then to the local priesthood he was in charge of. Eventually the peasantry had begun to embrace this ideology and Father Meaghar began training them into an army under his command. After this was prepared Father Meaghar declared war on the Council in charge of the kingdom. Father Meaghar's army began advancing on the Holy City of Milof (Now Burnside). The first several armies that Father Meaghars grand army faced were destroyed by the discipline of his peasant levies much to their shock. But when the army arrived at the Grand Walls of the Holy City they began to falter. While the city was under siege more Milofite armies attacked them slowly wearing down their numbers until eventually the Army within the walls of the Holy city sallied forth and finished off their army. Father Meaghar himself was captured, with the three highest members of the priestly council personally executing him with three knives piercing the Heresiarch's heart and burning his body to leave nothing for any of his surviving followers to potentially revere.

Meagharian Civil War

Main Article: Meagharian Civil War

While the Milofite orthodoxy had made every attempt to erase Father Meaghar's entire philosophy they were not able to erase everything. Father Meaghar had sent copies of his writings to many of the other priests in the realm and some had agreed with his ideas. This led to the creation of the Army of Letters, a communications network that kept Meagharite philosophy alive in Milofia. In the 1970s the theocracy began loosening and and modernizing to reform the feudal system in preparation for opening up to the outside world, beginning to build up what limited industry there was already. Unbeknownst to them this allowed for Meagharite philosophy to spread more widely. After a bombing upon the Palace killed the leading members of the council in 1975, the newly instated councilors began to reverse that decision, but this only led to more people joining the Meagharite cause. They were planning a revolution.

Chief among these revolutionaries was Colonel Burnside. An officer in the new Milofian army he had a lot of influence. He would build up his power with the center of his influence being in the city of Sherman named after the captain who had originally shepherded the Milofites to Milofia. With the industry being built up in the city Sherman was beginning to eclipse the Holy City in population. Burnside would make his move in 1982 taking over the city of Sherman quickly. This initial revolt began a series of successive revolts throughout the country everywhere except the Holy City itself where the blood of Father Meaghar still stained the city center. Churches and Cathedrals were torn down and burned throughout the nation. Eventually Colonel Burnside, now calling himself the Grand Marshal of the Meagharite Cause was forced out of the city of Sherman to continue a Guerrilla fight in the countryside. It was here that one of the most horrifying policies of the Meagharites during the civil war began, the enlistment of children as soldiers. An entire generation of Meagharite children were raised to be soldiers leaving scars upon the nation that would never heal.

Meanwhile the Meagharites were beginning to gain ground from being a mere countryside insurrection to a fully proper fighting force. As the Grand Marshal began turning more of the smaller towns to his side he began planning to take back Sherman. Assembling a new army from across the country he planned his assault. Managing to get through the fortifications and open them up to the Meagharite forces they still faced fierce resistance from the theist soldiers. The Grand Marshal Himself was killed in the struggle but the zeal of his army was such that the city had fallen by the time that it was realized. Burnside's body was preserved and would later be displayed in the Hall of the Centurions Assembly.

With the death of the Grand Marshal the Meagharites needed a new leader, the General Nathaniel O'Fahr stepped up to be the new Grand Marshal in 2010 with the death of the Grand Marshal. The capture of Sherman would signal the point when every advancement of the war's front would be one of Meagharite progress and Milofite retreat. However it would still take time for the now majority supportive population to be organized from just being a Guerilla mob to being a proper Army. Over the course of the next 8 years the Meagharites would consolidate their hold over the country finishing off the final Theist strongholds before finally attacking the Holy City of Milof. After a year of siege the city was finally breached. The Meagharites began wreaking destruction on the old city destroying the many churches and cathedrals in the enormous urban environment. The Theist Councils Palace, was breached, with the first solder to breach the complex famously being the 11 year old Mary McKinley who would later go into politics when the first elections were held. Upon the storming of the palace the leaders of the Council were captured and would be executed three months later in The Burnside Triumph. With this the Civil War was finally over and the new Nation of Meagharia could begin to rebuild. The Holy City of Milof would be renamed after the first Grand Marshal to Burnside.

Government

Meagharia's Government is organized as a democratic Military Hiearchy, with Martial procedure being used as the basis for Meagharian Governance. This is in the belief that military structure will lead to governance that is the most effecient, when combined with the democratic will of the Disciplined Population, which is defined as those who have served for at least 5 years in the Meagharian Armed Forces.

The Government itself is divided into two main branches. The General Staff and the Centurion's Assembly.

The General Staff

The General Staff is composed of four officers in the Meagharian Military. The Grand Marshal, who is selected by the Centurion's Assembly, and also serves as Commander in Chief and Head of State. The Grand Marshal also has the power to take command of the Meagharian government either in the absence of the Centurion's Assembly or in the Case of a National Emergency. The Grand Marshal also has the ability pass executive orders, which can be overturned by the Centurion's Assembly.

The Three Other Members of the General Staff are the Field Marshal, High Admiral, and Air Marshal. Along with being in command of the individual branches of the Meagharian military, they are also in charge of the various government departments of Meagharia, running them with a military chain of command on a day to day basis. Despite this, for many departments, such as the Department of Foreign Affairs, which despite being officially subservient to the Air Marshal, usually deals directly with the Grand Marshal himself rather than the Air Marshal.

The Centurion's Assembly

The Makeup of the Centurion's Assembly as of 2020, Left To Right, Unity Party (Green), Innocence Party (Blue), Radical Party (Red)

The Centurion's Assembly is the Legislative Body of Meagharia. It consists of 250 Centurions, elected proportionally, with the Centurions themselves being appointed by their Party, with the number allowed to be appointed determined by the percentage of the vote earned by the Party in a General Election. In order to be given a vote in an election, one must both not be a theist, and have served their military service in the Meagharian Military.

One of the most important tasks of the Centurion's Assembly is selecting the Grand Marshal, usually the Commissar of the Party with the Majority share of the legislature is the one selected. Their other main task is to propose and pass legislation regarding the governance of Meagharia. This includes the Budget of the Military, and all Policy that does not infringe directly on the functioning of the military.

One other power of the Assembly is that the Military Police of Meagharia are under the command of the Centurion's Assemvly, with the Assembly having full control over the functioning of the force, with no direct interference from the Executive Branch.

Military

The Meagharian Military, officially known as The Grand Army of the Secular Republic, are viewed by both the government and the population as being the top priority, with every Meagharian serving 5 years in the Military for a period between the ages of 17 and 22. This training includes higher education, including medical training as a Combat Medic. It is viewed as being the final coming of age, as it is when the final discipline in the individual is established, thus entitling them to voting rights, and social services. Avoiding one's military service means that the individual will both not gain the right to vote or receive any social services. For those physically unable to serve alternative service is available, such as medical training.

The Grand Army is overall commanded by the Grand Marshal of Meagharia, who is the commander in chief of the whole service.

Army

The Meagharian Army is the largest of the proper armed forces, with 2,156,128 active personnel, and is directly descended from the Meagharite Army during the civil war. It is directly commanded by the Field Marshal of the General Staff on a day to day basis. A majority of member of the Meagharian Military are infantry troops. The Army follows a doctrine of self sufficient infantry units, able to function should they become trapped behind enemy lines. Mobile Artillery is also prized, allowing said units to capture enemy fortifications, while remaining mobile. The Army is currently working to construct Armored Divisions, in order to counter a foreign invasion.

Due to the Army's doctrine of Self Sufficient and effective units, Meagharian units are often peeled off to volunteer in various conflicts that Meagharia finds itself in. While at home in peace time, Meagharian soldiers tend to farms that are managed by their Army Base, they also work in construction, constructing much of the infrastructure that is built in Meagharia.

Navy

The Meagharian Navy is the second largest segment of the armed forces, with 524,354 active personnel, and was formed after the civil war to protect the coastlines of Meagharia. It is directly commanded by the Grand Admiral of the General staff. The Navy is mostly comprised of Patrol Boats, with its primary peace time function being to protect Meagharian waters and enforce Meagharian fishing and naval regulations. One of the most strongly advertised, and most recent duties, is preventing Rodokan Whalers fromsch operating in Meagharian waters. The Meagharian Navy also operates many transport and landing craft to transport members of the Meagharian Army to areas of combat throughout the world.

Air Force

The Meagharian Airforce is by far the smallest of the armed forces, with only 136,689 active personnel, a majority of these being non-pilots. It is directly commanded by the Air Marsal on a day to day basis. A majority of the aircraft commanded by Air Force are Durakan craft left in the country after the civil war. It is known to be the most underdeveloped of the armed forces, with large sums being spent to purchase equipment and aircraft.

Military Police

The Military Police, while technically not a part of the Armed Forces, are generally included when listed. The Military Police are comprised of 1,326,987 personnel. They are commanded by the Constable-General, who serves at the pleasure of the Centurions Assembly. The Military Police are separated into two main groups, colloqially known as the Street Men and the Capital Men. Each of these groups serve different but related functions in the Meagharian State.

The Street Men, known as the Fir Sráide in Durdneelian, are charge with enforcing the everyday laws of Meagharia. Most of these officers are Meagharians serving their conscription, but a large proportion are those who have chosen to stay in the job. Their purpose is to secure order among the Meagharian population, as well as investigating normal criminal behavior within Meagharia. Street Men, while still part of the Military Police are usually commanded by the Governor-General of their Military Administrative District. However they are ultimately under the command of the Meagharian Centurions Assembly and the Constable-General.

The Capital Men, known as the Fir Chaipitil in Durdneelian, are the National Investigatory Body in charge of investigating National Criminal organizations, as well as breaking up "Theistic Infiltrators". They are also charged with guarding the Containment Zones of Milofites undergoing reeducation.

Culture

Economy