Introduction
Christemont was founded in 1777 by King Lawrence III. An ordinary Frenchman, he escaped France when he was put on trial for claiming that he was the rightful heir to the French throne. In his quests, he finally came across a deserted island in the East Pacific Ocean, about five hundred miles southwest of La Paz, Mexico. Here he staked out his own nation with his 20,000 followers, and it grew to the size it is now. Christemont has prided itself on being an independent and isolated power in the East Pacific, and it's culture is very traditional, Catholic, and peaceful. Christemont is known for its beautiful sunrises and warm temperatures.
Geography
Map
http://24.42.140.185/phpBB2/album_pic.php?pic_id=51
Location
500 miles southwest of La Paz, Mexico
Land Boundaries
0 miles
Coastal Boundaries
3400 miles
Area-Comparitive
Slightly smaller than Australia
Climate
Warm and wet, drier in the central regions. Breezy in summer.
Terrain
Mostly plains and dedicius forests. Some mountains in central region.
Natural Resources
Fish, timber, and oil.
Land Use
Arable--17%
Permanent Crops--2.5%
Other--80.5%
Natural Hazards
Earthquakes, hurricanes, mudslides, forest fires.
Environmental Issues
Offshore drilling provides harzard to marine wildlife.
People
Population
85,241,062 as of January 3, 2004.
Age Structure
0-15 years: 28% of pop.
16-59 years: 58% of pop.
61 years and over: 14% of pop.
Life Expectancy at Birth
Male: 82.3 years
Female: 87.1 years
Total: 84.7 years
Nationality
Noun: Christenese
Adjective: same
Plural: same
Ethniticity
37% French
21% Hispanic
17% Elven
10% African American
15% Other
Religion
74% Roman Catholic
15% Protestant Christian
4% Jewish
3% Other
4% Atheist
Languages
English (official)
French
Spanish
Quenya
Literacy
Definition: Citizens over the age of 15 can read and write.
Male: 99.7%
Female: 99.9%
Total: 99.8%
Government
Country Name
Conventional Long Form: The Free Land of Christemont
Conventional Short Form: Christemont
Government Type
Democratic Monarchy
Capital
St. Lawrence
Administrative Divisions
Six Parishes: St. Pio-Vernien, Aranel, St. Lawrence, Linwen, Vornetta, and La Tierra de Cristo.
Independence
May 25, 1777
Constitution
February 21, 1779
National Holidays
May, 25 (1777)
Feb. 21 (1779)
Dec. 25
Legal System
Napoleanic Code
Suffrage
17 years of age; universal
Executive Branch
Chief of State: Queen Amira II
Head of State: Queen Amira II
Governors appointed by Queen every 10 years with approval of constituents and the Board of Councillors.
Legislative Branch
Unicameral Legislature: Board of Councillors. All Councillors are elected by constituents, but are at the will of the King or Queen. They are elected every 10 years. The Board of Councillors composes of 12 members, two from each Parish. The Queen acts as a tie-breaker when the Board is undecided upon an issue.
Judicial System
All judges are appointed by the King or Queen. Judges serve for life, and can only be removed by a 2/3 vote of the Board of Councillors.
Royal Court>>Parish Court>>Municipal Court>>Village Court
(^Highest to Lowest^)
Political Parties
Monarchy Support Party = 4 Councillors
Freedom For All Liberation Front = 1 Councillor
Capitalista Party = 5 Councillors
Christian One Party = 2 Councillors
Flag
http://24.42.140.185/phpBB2/album_pic.php?pic_id=50
Economy
Economy Overview
Christemont is an economic powerhouse, and has its place in the world markets. Most Christenese do not have to worry about poverty, and those that do are generally taken care of. Fishing and timber contribute greatly to the Christenese economy, though oil drilling and book publishing companies thrive in Christemont. The SLXE (St. Lawrence Stock Exchange) has been rebuilt, and now the economic management of Christemont has propelled us into the 21st century.
GDP
$2,275,000,000,000
GDP per capita
$26,215
Population below poverty line
7%
Labor Force by Occupation
Services--53%
Industries--40%
Other--7%
Unemployment Rate
5.3%
National Budget
$699,718,000,000
Industries
Information Technology, Book Publishing, Pizza Delivery, Tourism
Agriculture Products
Vegetables, poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs, and fish.
Export Commodities
Fish, Petroleum, Natural Gas, Timber
Import Commodities
Electronics, cars, communications equipment, steel
Currency
Christemont Credit
Code: CCR
1 CCR = 1 USD
Military
Army
10 Divisions composed of:
20,000 troops armed with M4 machine and guns and M40 frag grenades
300 M1A2 Abrams tanks
300 T-90 tanks
500 Humvees
500 AAAVs
Air Force
10 Fighter Divisions composed of:
50 F-22 Raptors
50 F/A 18 Hornets
50 MiG-33s
and 10 Bomber Divisions composed of:
50 B-52 bombers
50 B2 bomberes
Navy
5 Fleets composed of:
1 Nimitz Class Carrier (50 F/A-18s, 50 Su-34s)
5 Arleigh Burke Class Destroyers
10 Ticonderoga Guided Missle Cruisers
10 Oliver Hazard Perry Class Frigates
10 Los Angeles Class Attack Submarines
5 Ohio Class SSGNs
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More to come. :wink: History, Leader Timeline, Culture, etc. :) Post your thoughts as well. :D
HISTORY
http://24.42.140.185/phpBB2/album_pic.php?pic_id=53
Historical Timeline
King Lawrence III -- 1777-1814
King Lawrence IV -- 1815-1831
King Charles XI -- 1832-1871
King Richard I -- 1872-1900
King Richard II -- 1901-1912 (end of LeGaud rule)
CIVIL WAR -- 1912-1919
President Jacques Renauld -- 1921-1930
2ND CIVIL WAR -- 1930-1932
King Daniel I -- 1933-1958 (start of Lafeux rule)
King Daniel II -- 1959-1971
King Daniel III -- 1971-1998
Queen Amira I -- 1999-present
The Founding
In 1777, Lawrence LeGaud III escaped France to find freedom and to search for an army to defeat the French. He claimed that he was the rightful heir to the throne, and was immediately exiled. He searched far and high for followers, and dared to return to France to gain a footing. He failed, but 20,000 people followed him. He assembled a large fleet, and set sail for a new land. He went around Africa and India, and finally reached a large island in the East Pacific. He had discovered Christemont.
According to the writings of Lawrence III, Christemont was much like it is today. Crystaline beaches, beautiful white sand, and breezy air. He set foot upon the rocky coast near St. Pio-Vernien, and founded the town of Nouvens. The town flourished, and became a hub of trade and fishing. Lawrence III then proclaimed himself King, and drew up a constitution and named his new country 'Christemont.' For many years under his rule, Christemont grew and continued to flourish. His leadership was met with peace and prosperity.
The Pax Christacana
In 1814, Lawrence III died, passing the throne to his grandson, Lawrence IV. Lawrence IV continued the peace that his grandfather began. Under his reign, the Christenese came into contact with the Spanish and Portugese, who were natural rivals of the French. Lawrence IV set up close connections with both the Spanish and Portugese, and gave them aid to defeat the French when the situation would arise. Lawrence IV also cut taxes for Christemont's citizens, and the population had grown to five million by 1831. The period of time in which Lawrence III and IV ruled is called the 'Pax Christacana' because of the prosperity and peace experienced in that time. But war soon ended the Pax.
The Franco-Christenese War 1835-1837
In 1831, Lawrence IV died, passing the throne to his son, Charles the XI. By this time, the French had grown angry, not only with the Spanish and Portugese, but mostly at Christemont. They were furious that the people had founded a nation of their own, and the French monarchy was jealous and greedy. They wanted the abundant resources that Christemont had, not to mention the great economic boost.
Therefore, in 1835, the French Navy sailed into Christenese waters. They bombarded the beaches of Nouvens, and completely destroyed the city. Christenese forces had prepared themselves around the city, and the crude Christenese Navy attempted to flank the French. It seemed that defeat was imminent, and the French would soon take Nouvens, until the Portugese Navy aided by the British attacked the French from behind. This battle--The Battle of Nouvens--is considered the most important battle in the history of Christemont. The British and Portugese destroyed the French Navy, and both nations are still revered by Christenese.
British ships preparing for battle
http://collections.ic.gc.ca/potato/photo/large/armada.jpg
The Age of Modernization
After the Franco-Christenese War, Nouvens had been decimated. To this day, it is simply a small fishing village, with a large statue of King Lawrence III to remind residents of the town's historical past.
In 1840, the city of St. Lawrence was completed. It had begun construction in 1837 after the war was over, and was completed in 1839. St. Lawrence was constructed using mostly Spanish and Italian architecture. Most buildings are stucco, with red Spanish tiles. The style was to build homes with small courtyards with ponds and flowers, and that style still thrives in the historical district of St. Lawrence.
Also during this time, King Charles XI modernized the nation extensively. Steamboats were constructed to allow speedy travel from Lake Vostani to the Bay of St. Lawrence. In the 1860s, King Charles XI ordered the construction of railroads across Christemont, and travel increased. Now that it was easier to travel, trade and growth skyrocketed. By the end of King Charles' rule in 1871, Christemont had 20 million people.
The Closing of a Century
In 1872, Richard I, grandson of Charles XI, took power. He continued the modernization started under Charles XI, but also hosted great diplomatic conventions. The relations with the British increased, though Portugese contact had been lost. The Spanish continued contact with Christemont.
By 1878, Richard I had ensured that the Christenese Navy was armed with state-of-the-art guns. The Navy had grown very powerful, and piracy was completely halted under Richard I. By the turn of the 20th century, Christemont had 40 million people.
The Rise of A New Era
With the death of Richard I in 1900, the nation mourned. He was considered the best king since Lawrence III, and his parting was taken hard by most Christenese. His son, Richard II was weak and ineffecient. He led Christemont to a time of great instability and vulnerability. Finally, a man named Jacques Renauld started a rebellion in 1912. He was a young guy in his 20s when he finally became fed up with Richard II's inefficiency. He gathered many followers, and stormed the LeGaud Palace in St. Lawrence and killed Richard II in 1918. He assumed power weeks later, and held the first elections in Christenese history. He was voted President, and began a new age of democracy for Christemont.
However, Renauld did a worse job at securing the country. During his rule, taxes continued to rise in order to rebuild what was destroyed in the First Civil War. Christenese became very angry, and the cousin of Richard I led a revolt to regain the throne. The 2nd Civil War lasted two years, and was won by Daniel Lafeux, the new king.
The Next Beginning
Daniel Lafeux I began a new reign in 1933. Though the depression had set in worldwide, Christemont was largely unaffected. King Daniel I modernized the country and made the Christenese Navy extremely powerful. King Daniel was shocked when WW2 began, and decided to aid the Allies with much of the Navy. When a German fleet passed near Christemont in 1940, King Daniel I ordered that it be completely destroyed.
The Christenese Navy followed the German fleet for a week before opening fire. On the day of the battle, June 24, 1940, Christemont was well prepared to fight the Germans. They surrounded the German fleet with an immense number of ships that greatly outnumbered them. The German fleet was completely destroyed, and the Germans did not bother to cross paths with Christemont again.
After WW2, Christemont grew and flourished. They had amended relations with the French, after a century of high tensions. Christemont became a very popular tourist destination in the 1940s, and also started building its Air Force.
In the 1950s, Christemont grew and flourished even more. It's economy was robust and large, and the industrialization of the nation grew. However, by 1958 the country was facing serious problems with overcrowding and pollution. The population had now reached 60 million people.
The Space Age
King Daniel II entered power in 1959, and sought to set the wrongs and bads of Christemont. He started the construction of seven new cities to handle with overcrowding, and many volunteers showed up. He also began enforcing limits on the number of hours plants could operate to cut down on electricity use and pollution production.
In 1961, King Daniel ordered the Space Program of Christemont to be launched. He created the Christinese Aviation Institution of Space Exploration (CAISE) in order to build a rocket that could orbit the Earth for at least ten days.
The project took seven years, and in 1968, Christemont launched its first human into orbit. The Space Program started by King Daniel II continues to this day, and is hurtling into the future.
By the end of King Daniel's rule in 1971, Christemont's environmental problems had mostly been solved, as well as overcrowding. Christemont was now dotted with tiny villages and towns, and the larger cities had been eased of much management. The population had reached 70 million.
The End of the Millenium
King Daniel III is considered to be the most culturally rich king that Christemont has ever had. He inspired traditional arts, and created many theaters throughout the country. He also established two state-run television stations that displayed art and plays, and began a renaissance of the arts under his reign.
In 1981, Pope John Paul II visited Christemont in order to begin a rebirth of the Catholic church, which had all but collapsed in Christemont. The Pope was greeted with cheers on the streets of St. Pio-Vernien, and a cathedral in preparation of his arrival had been constructed. The Church of St. Paul is heralded as a masterpiece achievement of the modern world. Before the Pope left Christemont, he told the people that it was "the most rewarding experience in my entire life. I am greatly inspired by the cultural integrity of the people of Christemont, as well as their devotion to Christian morals and peace for all."
In the late 1980s, King Daniel cut the size, but not the efficiency, of the Christenese military nearly in half. He kept the navy the same size, and even updated it. King Daniel III created a very strong peace.
However, in 1991, a terrorist attack in St. Lawrence nearly cost the king his life. The perpretrators were found to be anti-monarchist radicals, and Daniel III proceeded to hunt down every member of the organization simply named "Anti-Monarchist Liberation Front." By 1997, the organization had been completely erradicated, and all members are still in prison.
King Daniel III died in 1998, with his daughter as his only heir. King Daniel's reign is seen as a time of great stability and growth, and the population at grown to 80 million by the Queen Amira II entered power in 1999.
The Present Day
Queen Amira II is heralded as a great leader and strategist, and seen as a peacekeeper devoted to the promotion of human rights. She has been accepted by the people as the most powerful leader Christemont has ever had, and her rule is met with great anticipation. At the young age of 24, it is expected her reign will last a very long time by most. She has inhabited the LeGaud Palace, which is a very controversial move. She claims that she loves the view that it offers to St. Lawrence Bay, but many have scrutinized her.
She has gained most recent praise for her aid of Sialus in donating $40 million to help with the reconstruction of their capital city St. Hansburg. It is hoped that Queen Amira II will create many allies under her rule.
The LeGaud Palace
A drawing of the Legaud Palace in 1810
http://www.angus.gov.uk/history/features/images/LawsMansion.jpg
A view from the balcony looking upon the hills from the Legaud Palace
http://www.italianvillas.com/campania/images/oliviero1.jpg
A cottage on the LeGaud Palace grounds
http://freespace.virgin.net/stella.mann1/itvilla.jpg
A serene spot along the walls of LeGaud Palace painted by an artist.
http://24.42.140.185/phpBB2/album_pic.php?pic_id=54
CABINET AND GOVERNORS
Queen Amira II -24 years old-
Queen Amira II is the leader of Christemont. She holds the highest Cabinet position, as well as the tie-breaker vote in the Board of Councillors. Queen Amira II is very popular, and she has led the Free Land of Christemont since 1999, without incident. The economy and wealth of the FLC have grown steadily under her rule. Her brother and cousin are her closest companions, and both are also very popular.
http://209.115.180.152/images/AMANDAING/AmandaIng3.jpg
Prince Alandor -22 years old-
Prince Alandor is the brother of Queen Amira II. He is the heir to the throne in the event of her death or surrender of the throne. Alandor has a different mother than Amira II. His mother was elven, and Alandor was born a half-elf, hence his elven name. Prince Alandor is widely loved and respected, and he is also the Minister of Defense.
http://24.42.140.185/phpBB2/album_pic.php?pic_id=46
Princess Nikita -20 years old-
Princess Nikita is the cousin of Amira and Alandor. She is loved by many and hated by few. Her stunning beauty has helped her create good relations with many before, and her skills have carried her to the position of Minister of Heatlh and Education. Her leadership is highly unlikely, as the youngest child of Daniel III will take rule after the others have died.
http://www.millennium-models.com/images/moran.jpg
Prince Joshua I -16 years old-
While Joshua is a normal teen, he is the future king of Christemont. He is the youngest brother of Amira and Alandor. 'Josh', as he prefers to be called, has already begun getting involved with the political hierarchy of Christemont. In fact, he has been appointed the Mayor of St. Lawrence.
http://onramp.hwy16.com/vads/images/cool_guy.jpg
John Vinetta -27 years old-
John is the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and has known Queen Amira II since he was a child. He was her boyfriend for a brief time during their teen years, and have been best friends since. John is quite popular, though some question his judgement on a few issues. Overall, he is a great Minister of Foreign Affairs, and has been accepted by the Christenese population.
http://www.getingo.com/images/bio-ngo.jpg
Jarmina Washington -25 years old-
Jarmina is John's cousin, and the two have had a close relationship all their lives. She is very educated and quiet, and has a very serious outlook on the things she is passionate about. Jarmina is very patient, though she has been known to lose her temper. Jarmina is the Minister of Environmental Protection and is also the Governor of Aranel Parish.
http://www.stocktonhairprofessionals.com/teen.JPG
Gianno Sennetti -28 years old-
Gianno is well-known across Christemont as a devoted Governor and teacher. He quit teaching when Queen Amira II requested that he be Governor of St. Lawrence Parish. He is the most important of the governors in that he must maintain the security of the capital.
http://www.girltech.com/Girl_Views/Girl_Views_Graphix/JELMAN.jpg
MORE TO BE POSTED SOON. :)
Jeruselem
04-01-2004, 09:03
We welcome a fellow Catholic government to NS.
Queen of Jeruselem
Keeper of the Holy Lands
http://www.whoosh.org/issue28/direct/penelope.jpg
Alliances
Defenders of The Faith
http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=101677
We thank the nation of Jerusalem for its warm welcome. We will definately look into The Defenders of The Faith, provided it is a peaceful organization.
http://24.42.140.185/phpBB2/album_pic.php?pic_id=31
GOVERNORS (cont.)
Jennifer Barton -29 years old-
Jennifer Barton is a very kind woman, and her power is limited. She was very shocked when Queen Amira II asked her to be governor of Vornetta Parish. However, she took the job gladly, and is now one of the most respected officials in the Christenese government.
http://home.att.net/~robin.dawn/jenna.jpg
Matt Svengoord -28 years old-
Matt is considered the most casual of all government officials. However, Queen Amira II appointed him Governor of St. Pio-Vernien Parish because of his dedication to achieve goals set by himself and others. Matt is widely liked by the masses, because he is one of them.
http://web.grinnell.edu/art/gexp/about/matt.jpg
Lisa del Rosa -34 years old-
Lisa del Rosa is the most experienced Govenor in Christemont. She has served as Minister of Health and Education, and also mayor of Puerto Cristo, a city south of Linwen on the coast. She is the Governor of La Tierra de Cristo Parish, which is filled with many of Hispanic origin. Lisa del Rosa is the second-highest on the Board of Councillors because of her position. Queen Amira II has known Lisa since she was a child, and carried her over into her administration.
http://www.theticket.com/girlontv/rudi_bakhtiar.jpg
Blake Richardson -27 years old-
Blake is a former model that has always been highly involved in government. He is well-qualified and revered as one of the brightest men in many years. He is the Governor of Linwen Parish, and has ensured that Christemont is well prepared for attack by introducing his "Military Initiative Plan", which defines that only 10% of the military may be away from Christemont at any time.
http://www.angelfire.com/or/angelhugs/a/briana.jpg