Mekedesh
Mekedesh
luDominmne aluMekedesh | |
|---|---|
| Province of Mekedesh | |
 Map of Mekedesh | |
| Capital city | Meker |
| Government | |
| • Type | Unitary devolved subdivision |
| • Body | Mekedesh Khanoniyat |
| • Meer | Prince Nakhim |
| • Premier | Khadim Sharjal |
| Area | |
| • Total | 600,000 km2 (200,000 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 2,400 m (7,900 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 139,000,000 |
| Demonym(s) | Mekedi, Mekedeshi, Mekedeshian, Mekedian |
| Time zone | UTC+4 (Central West Packilvanian Time) |
| Area code | 01 |
| GDP | 1.578 trillion KRB |
| GDP per capita | 11,352 |
The Province of Mekedesh (Packilvanian: LuDominimne aluMekedesh) is a high-level subnational administrative division of Packilvania. It borders Ashura to the north, Iganar to the northeast, Rigaryat to the east, Bingol and Packilvanian Ocean to the south, Subakil to the southwest, and Kharyat to the west. It is the origin of the Zubrayn Dynasty which conquered Bingol and spread throughout Packilvania from the 13th to the 17th century.
It is located in the Central East Packilvania Timezone (CEPT) at +4 UTC. Its climate consists of hot desert in the north, semi-arid areas in the north and interior, savanna in the interior and tropical rainforest in the south. Its northern parts experiences severe sandstorms during the Harmattan season and its southern parts are often subjected to cyclones during the monsoon season. The Ufrata, Meked, Abaxahad and Ebron Rivers flow through it. Water usage of the Meked and Abaxahad Rivers are a source of disputes with Iganar and water usage over the Ufrata River is a source of disputes with Ashura. Mekedesh is one of the the "front-line provinces" in the fight against desertification. Unlike many other provinces, the plan is to expand its existing savanna by propagating tree species already found there as opposed to other provinces which must introduce trees from other parts of the country.
Mekedesh has a population of 138,920,500 people, making it the third most populated province in Packilvania and among the top 10 in the world (it has more people than Valeria on Great Morstaybishlia). Its largest city and capital is Meker. With a city-proper population of 10,560,345, it is the 7th most populated city in Packilvania. Other major cities include Tashkar, Mochtar, Belaquis, Zalayad, Ohindawo, Dhustri, Kin, Pishtwan, Etahid, Aliwal, Yabali and Vrahanan.
History
Mekedesh is one of if not the longest inhabited province of Packilvania, with premodern sentient beings having roamed the land as hunter gathered with rudimentary use of primitive tools that was eventually inherited by the modern species namely the Felines who eventually settled in sedentary settlements and developed crop farming and animal husbandry. Nevertheless nomadic was prevalent to the north of the province where the dry weather and harsh landscape required the people to migrate with their animals to seasonal areas of grass and water.
During the Iron and Bronze Ages, Mekedesh had small city states that exerted influence on vassals living in homesteads and villages in the country sides. In this era notable empires auch as the Jyptonite Empire whose various iterations ruled over the southern coasts and the area along the Meked River for centuries developing writing, science, mathematics, literature, and constructing impressive architectural marvels that stand to this day. The Jyptonites were ruled by several dynasties that observed a mix of henotheistic and monotheistic religions centred on a feminine deity reminiscent of Noi, which in part demonstrates the cultural exchange between their civilisation and that of Ashura at the time.
With the spread of Paxism from Ashura via the teachings of Prophet Besmali and his disciples, and conquest by the northern Kingdoms, gradually over many years, the architecture and customs of the Jyptonites was supplanted by the Ashurian kingdoms which spread starting in the first fee centuries CE. Jyptonite culture had all but vanished in the 3rd century CE with many of their ruins being relatively well preserved as remnants of a dead civilisation and many of its people assimilated to the Ashurian way of life. Most notably, when the Kingdom of Bingol spread a different version of Paxism from that inherited from the Kingdom of Yehudah, King Iktan the Devout of Bakil conquered Mekedesh which remained under Iktanite rule until the 11th century when parts of its were ruled by the Magisterium of Paxism based in Adrien and the branches and descendants of the Iktanites.
From the Principality of Tashkar in Mekedesh, King Ishak the Great would reestablish Packilvania, inheriting the systems and traditions of the ancient Bakilians while incorporating those of Mekedesh that propagated to the rest of the realms of the Zubraynite dynasty. Their rule was characterised by a mix of results. There was a massive plague for over 100 years starting in the 14th century that wiped out over 20% of the population and gave rise to a massive cultural shift that enabled vassals and serfs of aristocratic lords to have more leverage over them and led to their demands for better rights and social standing with legal precepts from this era forming part of the modern canon law of Paxism. The area was prone to wild fires and other natural disasters which are estimated to have killed millions.
In the 17th century, the human dynasty of the Demirs invaded after High King Uden II failed to pay debts to the Fidakarian Crown. The nobles of the Mekedesh realms submitted to the Fidakarians and recognised their authority as Sultans as long prophesied by Prophet Sohadek. Although human rule was initially benevolent, it gradually devolved to hostility and oppression of the local Felines resulting in speciestic and segragationist policies that saw many Felines deprived of the same opportunities as humans except for a select few who administered the rule of the humans on their behalf. When the Demirs fell, the Packilvanian Communist Party exacted horrofying pogroms against the vibrant population of humans in Mekedesh with many being killed in concentration camps or shipped to other parts of the country.
Many human communities were destroyed or their property confiscated and given to Felines. The most prominent members of the PCP originated from Mekedesh. The province was among the last to be invaded by the Carriers of Mercy being a stronghold of the Communist Party leadership until the last days of the Second Packilvanian Civil War. Through negotiations with the PCP, many of their members including those in Mekedesh received amnesty for their actions. The Provincial Government was swiftly brought under the control of the Bedonite dynasty with the appointment of Sultan Amhoud I's brother as the first Governor under the new constitution.
Geography
Mekedesh is a middle sized province in terms of surface area among the provinces of Packilvania. It borders other high level administrative subdivisions of Packilvania, namely Rigaryat to the east, Iganar to the northeast, Ashura to the north, and Kharyat to the west. Mekedesh is characterised by tropical rainforest along its southern coast, which bounds the Packilvanian Ocean and is characterised by thick vegetation, year-round rain, humidity and heat. To the north of the tropical coast is a subtropical rainforest and savanna climate with rain year round, but varying in intensity based on the season. Vegetation is thick but not as thickly forested as the north. This is caused by the distance from the warm Packilvanian Ocean and an increase in elevation.
Through the interior of the province is a semi arid region characterised by low and infrequent rainfall and dispersed vegetation mostly in the form of shrubs and small plants. The north is characterised by deserts which are dry, and hot all year round during the day and freezing cold at night. The wetter areas of the province and the drier areas are caused by the distance from the sea, the increase in average elevation and the presence of a mountain range that bisects the province from east to west. The Meked River after which the province is named flowers through the interior of the province and empties through the city of Bingol. It originates in the northern mountains of Packilvania and its tributaries include large rivers in Packilvania such as the Jumhur River.
The banks of the Mekedesh River house fertile ground and its waters provide moisture for vegetation. Every year, the Meked River swells and often breaks its banks causing flooding when the glaciers of its source mountains melt during the northern summer. There are smaller rivers some of them originating from lakes and others from the mountains that bisect Mekedesh, but many of them are disproportionately located on the south of the province. The north has been prone to droughts, thus vast infrastructure has been constructed to provide the northern cities include the large cities of Meker and Tashkar with water. With climate change causing unpredictable weather, the deserts and arid regions are creeping to the south, which is being combatted by one of the largest tree planting and water conservation efforts in history.
Politics
In step with other provinces in Packilvania, the Provincial Government of Mekedesh is devolved substantial powers to make laws over its internal affairs, giving it substantial autonomy. The head of the province is the Meer who is appoint by the Sultan for as long as he sees fit. He promulgates laws passed by the Khanoniyat (which consists of the Legislative Council which is composed of various officials, representatives of local government, trade unions and other organisations, and the Representative Assembly which is elected by lottery). The Meer is also appoints the Premier and the Provincial Council of Ministers who administers the daily governance of the province. The Provincial Government has no control over the provincial judiciary which is appointed by the Imperial Government and helmed by the High Court of Mekedesh.
Mekedesh has historically been one of the centres of Packilvanian civilisation. Mekedesh has been a part of Packilvania since its was conquered by Iktan the Devout of the Iktanite dynasty since the 7th century CE. Unlike many other provinces which had local rulers and vassals, Mekedesh was directly administered by the ruling dynasty except during the interregnum when various small principalities formed some of which were under the suzerainty of a greater power. The Principality of Tashkar which was centered on the modern day city of Tashkar was the home of the second Packilvanian dynasty, the Zubraynite dynasty which ruled until Mekedesh was conquered by the Demirite dynasty in the 17th century. It was one of the first provinces to fall to human rule and the first to come under the Packilvanian Communist Party when Zerah Demir IV was deposed.
In step with its history under the rule of the Imperial Government, Mekedesh is seen is one of the more archetypal provinces of Packilvania in that it closely mirrors the policy objectives of the Imperial Government in decision making unlike Fidakar and Ashura which have a penchant for resisting. Unlike the Meer of Iganar who has relatively little influence of the running of Iganar, the Mekedesh, the Meer of Mekedesh exercises more authority and is a conduit through which the Sultan exercises his influence. Mekedesh tends to be highly centrist and pragmatist in the political ideals of its political establishment as well as everyday people. Mekedesh is seen as a middle way between the religiosity and conservatism of Ashura and Iganar and the liberalism of Fidakar. Unlike Jumhurikesh which is highly regionalist and tribalist in its political character, Mekedesh is highly unified, with its dialect of Packilvanian also being the official language of Packilvania.
Mekedesh has however shown a willingness to oppose the nation government in some small respects. In 2023, the Mekedesh government joined a rebellion by the governors of other provinces regarding Sultan Thumim V's refusal to appoint Prince Abuyin as Crown Prince of Packilvania and as his removal as member of the Council of State through blocking roads and cutting electricity to Bingol to derail the Coronation and Wedding of Thumim V and Saga of Tynam. Nevertheless, the imperial government was quickly able to take control of the province's electrical utility company and dismiss the entire executive branch and the head of its internal police force. Mekedesh born officials have been disproportionately represented among senior officials in Packilvania, behind only Bingol, such as national finance policy chief, Hudeyna Nakhmoud.
Government
The government of Mekedesh consists of the following branches:
- Legislative: The Khanoniyat (Legislature) consists of the Mijhalis aluKhanonifiya (Legislative Council, the appointed upper house with 150 members) and the Mijhalis ameShabil (Representative Council, the lower houses selected by lottery that consist of 350 members).
- Executive: The Meer (Governor) who appoints the Rayeesgur aluDominimne (Premier) who presides over the Mijhalis aluDominmne ameVazeer (Provincial Council of Ministers).
- Judicial: The Khama luWaloof (High Court) is the highest court as well as other courts.
The Governor is appointed by the Sultan of Packilvania. The incumbent Governor is His Imperial Highness, Prince Nakhim a-Besmali Bedon who was appointed by Thumim V in 2023. The Governor serves until he does, resigns, retires at the age of 65 or is dismissed by the Sultan. Although the Governor is appointed by the Sultan at his discretion, he normally consults with members of the Bedonite dynasty and senior officials in that province to select a province. Usually, Princes with roots in the province will have a meeting with the Sultan where they will nominate candidates and give their opinions on the Sultan's top picks. This can including closed door one on one negotiations to secure the spot for themselves or their preferred candidate. Although Princes are not elected, in practice they do represent constituencies within the government, civic society and business community that can enable more politically popular Princes to be nominated and potentially selected. Loyalty to the Sultan can also play a big role as Governors not only oversee the running of the Province but they also translate the directives of the Sultan and the broader Bedonite dynasty into state policies.
The Governor appoints the Premier. The Premier is the chair of the Council of Ministers. He presides over and convenes its meetings. The Council of Ministers votes and deliberates on key issues relating to the running of the Province but each member, called a muVazeer aluDominimne (Provincial Minister), runs a Department (luBawaab) that specialises in one area of the government's work. When a vacancy arises in the Premiership, the Governor will consult with caucus leaders in the Legislative Council, receiving recommendations and having them opine on his potential picks. Although the Premier serves as the pleasure of the Governor, the reality is that it is impossible to get anything done without the support of the Legislative Council.
In turn, the Premier will recommend Provincial Ministers to the Governor. The Governor is not obligated to follow his advice but usually the Governor will appoint the Prime Minister's choice. The Council of Ministers handles the daily running of the Province and the implementation of provincial and national laws. Unlike ministers appointed in other countries, Ministers are assessed for their political aptitude, professional experience and academic qualifications, with their personal history being vetted by the government.
The Council of Ministers is as follows:
| Department | Minister | Former Position |
|---|---|---|
| Public Safety and Crisis Management | Sahil Mashad | Director of the Mekedesh Independent Police Inspections Directorate |
| Water and Environmental Conservation | Nekhad Ansawour | Director of the Meker Water and Sanitation Agency |
| Rural Development and Agriculture | Hudeen Yahmoud | Deputy Director of the Agricultural Bank of Packilvania |
| Finance | Duwar Qasim | Provincial Manager of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of Packilvania |
| Transport and Public Works | Uliyad Zabar | Chief Engineer of the Tashkar Transit-Oriented Redevelopment Project |
| Education, Youth and Sport | Lohaad Adim | President of the University of Meker |
| Tourism, Religious and Cultural Affairs | Shabran Vardeek | Chief Overseer of Magisterial Seminaries in Mekedesh |
| Mineral Resources and Energy | Ilam Khanayd | Chairperson of the Mekedesh Climate Action Commission |
| Women, Children and People with Disabilities | Suhayla Bakhmoud | Chairperson of the Mekedesh Gender Equality Action Commission |
| Commerce, Industry and Trade | Luhayda Nakhyar | Director of the Mekedesh Industrial Policy Forum |
| Public Housing and Urban Development | Gibraan Hanad | Chief Engineer of the Pishtwan Planning and Monitoring Authority |
The Legislative Council in Mekedesh consists of the following members: 8 are appointed by the Federation of Mekedesh Trade Unions, 3 by the Mekedesh Bar Association, 3 by the Mekedesh Law Society, 8 by the Mekedesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 4 by the Mekedesh Chamber of Mining, 6 by the Conference of the Magisterium of Paxism in Mekedesh, 4 by the Mekedesh Association of Institutions of Higher Learning, 4 by the Mekedesh Military District Headquarters, 2 by the Mekedesh Police and Correctional Service, 5 by the Meker Municipal Council, 3 for the 7 local government with over 4 million people, 2 for the 9 with three million, 1 for the 12 with between 3 and 1 million, and 1 for the 5 regional boards, 2 members of the Mekedesh Chapter of the Association of the Friends and Veterans of the Carriers of Mercy, 4 by the Princes of the Bedonite dynasty residing in Mekedesh, 3 by the Conference of the Peers of the Realm in Mekedesh, bringing the minimum total to 112 people. The Prime Minister may appoint as many members as is necessary to ensure that at least 30% of the members are women and 30% are younger than 35. Currently the total is 140 members of which 31% are under 35 and 38% are women. 22 members were appointed to meet the diversity requirements and they were actually nominated by the larger local governments and regional boards in relation to population, giving the sub-provincial administrative divisions 78 seats, which is just over half.
Economy
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It has a nominal GDP of 1.578 trillion KRB, which is the third largest in Packilvania. It has a nominal GDP per capita of 11,352 KRB, the third highest of any province in Packilvania. The people of Mekedesh enjoy some of the highest standards of living in the country due to the abundance of low cost and efficient public transport including one of the longest networks of high speed rail in the world, the relative abundance of clean piped water and indoor toilets, and the fact that most of the population is housed in formal housing. The employment rate among adults is high. People in Mekedesh are among the most productive and hard working in the country, known to work an average of 50 hours a week.
The agriculture, forestry and fisheries sector of Mekedesh produces pver 100 billion KRB of output including fertilizers, seeds, fresh produce, fish, beverages, processed food, animal feed and animal derivative products. The manufacturing sector produces about 600 billion KRB of value, of which a third is exported oversees, a third to the rest of the province and the remaining third is consumed locally. The Port of Bingol, which is one of the largest ports in the world by container volume acts as the main oceanic port for the export of goods from Mekedesh. Mekedesh conducts shipbuilding and repair, manufacture of construction and mining vehicles and equipment, freight and passenger rail cars, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods and electronics, textiles, military equipment, and textiles and garments. Mekedesh has a massive property development and construction sector and is one of the biggest producers of cement, steel and construction sand, and benefits with the abundance of land.
The real estate sector is a major part of the economy, however there are fears that property prices in developed urban areas are becoming too high for most people due to the large demand and the fact that middle and upper class people tend to invest substantially in second and third homes for rent to urban immigrants. The province is home to large and medium sized regional banks and a couple national banks, as well as insurance and investment management companies giving rise to a substantial financial services sector.
The province is also home to retail especially high end shopping for luxury goods, tourism especially to the natural vistas, bustling cities and historic buildings and ruins, and telecommunications. The province is a net energy importer from the other neighbouring provinces and despite holding deposits of fuels and metals, imports most of its mineral resource requirements from other provinces. Nevertheless, the province also has some of the largest solar power, wind power and hydroelectric power projects in the world and is a major user of the extreme voltage pylons that carry electric power across incredible distances.
Culture
The culture of Mekedesh is very archetypal of Packilvanian culture more broadly. Mekedesh had been under the control of the Ashurian kingdom of Bakil, then its own native Kingdom of Tashkar expanded and exported its culture to other province and reinstated the successor kingdom to the first Packilvania founded by Iktan the Devout. Many of its scholars, prophets and priests attended the Council of Bingol summoned by High King Melkezedek the Great in the 10th century whereby the Bas Magdamar was made the scripture of Melkezedekism (practically the only permissible denomination of Paxism in Packilvania).
It was also one of the first to fall to the rule of the Fidakarian Demirite dynasty. Along with Ashura and Iganar, it is considered part of the civilisational core of Packilvania. Before Bingol was made into its own self governing entity, Mekedesh was by some distance the richest and most culturally influential province of Packilvania. Nevertheless, its cuisine, food, customs, laws, fashion, language and religion have been exported to all the other provinces including surrounding nations in Pax-Draconica, with remnants of its influence still visible in nations such as Free Pax States. Especially before Mekedesh gained autonomy from the Central Government, it was functionally indistinguishable from it, with previous regimes exerting direct control over Mekedesh.
Mekedesh cuisine is characterised by the use of rice and Pax Fruites as the core staple, with abundant use of spices, fruits and vegetables, and meat. Pork and alcohol consumption is heavily restricted in Mekedesh. Many Mekedesh dishes tend to be dominated by plants with philosophers of the Pacifist Movement in the 17th century having discouraged people from consuming meat. Mekedesh is home to highly acclaimed Packilvanian restaurants and the abundance and freshness of ingredients typifies the apex of Packilvanian food. Couples with the fact that the north and south have vastly different geographies, the cuisine within Mekedesh varies with more meat, eggs and dairy dominant meals in the north and vegetable oriented meals in the south.