Beloslavia

The Principality of Beloslavia or Arcyknažtvo Beloslaviji, is a Korolian realm within the Empire of Ischanor, and the Kingdom of Lōrenis . It was founded by refugees primarily from the United Crowns of Czervoslavia-Veldion, Nebskoslavia, Csardom of Korolia and the Duchy of Gdanyc.
== Symbols ==
=== Name Etymology ===
The name "Beloslavia" comes from two Korolian words: Bel (meaning white) and Slava (meaning glory/fame). When the Korolian migrants from Rathnir arrived on the new land, they named the land Beloslavia for a few reasons. The colour white was chosen because of the plain Korolian flag. The Korolian flag is a blue-white-red tri-colour. Nebskoslavia comes from its founder, whose name comes from the word Nebeski, meaning blue. Czervoslavia comes from the word Červen meaning red. So the last colour on the Korolian flag was white. The ending "Slavia" was used because that's the ending that the two first Korolian countries had - Nebskoslavia and Czervoslavia.
=== Flag ===
The flag carries as much meaning as the name. The five red strips represent the five major Korolian nations: Czervoslavia, Nebskoslavia, Veldion, Gdanyc and Nova Žemja. The four white strips symbolise the four major and ancestral Korolian cities: Nebskogrod, Ignatava, Slouttawa and Zlatoport. The eagle on the coat of arms is the Nebskoslav eagle, symbolising the first Korolian nation, but it is also the crest of House Korol, the almost ancient ruling and founding family of all Korolians. The crown on top is the Korolian Crown, it has previously been used in the flags of Czervoslavia, Veldion or the II United Commonwealth.
== History ==
=== Migration from Rathnir ===
==== The dream ====
In 1126 ACA, the King of Czervoslavia, Zofia Svletanna Korola had a dream where Ehway visited her and warned her of the upcoming world's ending. But, he also told her that he would guide her and her people to a new place, a new world where the Korolians would start again. He told her to gather as many people and as many ships and sail westwards until they saw a huge sea storm. To swim into the sea storm and wait, for on the other side, a mighty, but good and just Emperor will greet her and her people. 
Some doubt that the dream has happened, it's mainly a religious thing. Nevertheless, the King was a very religious person, so she took it seriously. She sent word to the entire Korolian world that they needed to leave and gather all ships in Ignatava, the capital of Czervoslavia. Surprisingly, a lot of people were showing up. In a couple of weeks, thousands of ships were gathered, the absolute majority of them being civilian and private ships. 
==== The ships ====
Most of the private ship owners would force others to pay for spots on their ships. Some would let in anyone they could. But the Crown Ships, owned directly by the King were reserved only for the government, for as much of the Korolian intelligentsia as possible and all the cultural items that could fit onto the ships. Shortly after, the huge navy sailed out. 
==== The voyage ====
They sailed westwards, as the King was told, and they passed the New Nebskoslav Archipelago, which was considered to be the furthest known land to Korolians. And they indeed saw a huge sea storm. It was terrifying, but they, especially the King trusted in Ehway, so they swam into it. It was a horror. Waves raging, lightning everywhere, unbearable rain and strong wind everywhere. A couple of smaller ships were sunk. A couple of ships tried to back away but with no success. The people were struggling to see what was going on. Eventually, they would all black out. Due to the chaos, it isn't known if everyone blacked out at the same time or not, but nobody remembered what happened a few minutes after they sailed into the sea storm. 
=== Arrival on the "New World" ===
The people woke up. All the ships were clean and tidy and they were swimming towards some shore. It could be visible from the moment they woke up. They only barely managed to stop the ships before they entered shallow waters. As they set foot on the new land, they founded their first settlement, which they called Možestava, from the Korolian word "može" meaning "sea". At first, it was a very temporary settlement, but the scouts have composed maps of the nearby regions which did not match any of the existing maps at all. This is when they realised that there would be no coming back for a very long time. After hearing this, the King and her government hailed the new land "Beloslavia", a name which the region still carries. 
The scouts have also discovered nearby lands. Most notably, they realised that the region their settlement was in was surrounded by the Empire of Ischanor. The King was considering making contact, but she realised that since it was an entirely new world, the languages would be completely alien, and nobody would speak each other's language. The scouts have also found other interesting information. One of the neighbouring regions was called "Volkore". The name was very familiar, as Volkore also came from Rathnir and the Volkorites, actually shared a lot of history with Korolians. So, the King has decided to make the first contact with them. 
=== Joining Ischanor ===
Volkore was already a part of the Empire. Its people, or rather its elite are made of the Valkyries. The Valkyries are gifted with a very long life, to the point where most of them would remember leaving Rathnir a century ago and would remember the languages they used there. Fortunately, there was someone who knew Korolian and was able to translate it to other languages. He was also able to start teaching Korolians the Ischanic language, as well as assist in negotiations between newly founded Beloslavia and the Empire of Ischanor. 
As the Beloslav delegation assisted by a Valkyrian translator met the Emperor of Ischanor, after long negotiations, they have agreed to join the Empire with the rank of a Duchy. Beloslavia was able to keep all of its settlements and would keep the freedom to practice its faiths freely. However, initially this was met with some scepticism by some of the population, especially the ones who came from Nebskoslavia due to their very bad history with Ryzan (see Nebskoslav Crisis). Nevertheless, the Empire has kept its promise and now nobody is sceptic towards it. 
=== The First Lōrenis Reforms ===
After the dissapearance of the former Ischanori Emperor and King of Lōrenis in 1147 ACA, the kingdom went into a very long period of depression. Many projects went down the drain and Lōrenin turned into a ghost city. This led to the rise of former Loreni Viceroy, Luna Loren, who ascended to the throne. Initially she was a host of a few very-minor political reforms and the re-planning of the kingdom's capital. 
Many of those projects (especially thouse around the kingdom's capital) never came to be. The city itself declined greatly during the reign of Luna Loren. The government reforms consisted of restoring the authority of the "Vassal Council", which was a big gathering of all Lōreni land owners. It was chaotic and it did not work very well. 
This, along with strong secessionist movements in Bachengart at the time led to a great decline of the central authority of the Kingdom. All this, connected with the Beloslav economic boom led to a huge rise of importance of Beloslavia within Lōrenis. This eventually would culminate in the ascension of Princess-Elector Zofia Svletanna Korola to the Lōreni throne in 1175 ACA and establishment of a new Beloslav dynasty on the Lōreni throne. 
=== The Beloslav Golden Age ===
The 1140s and the latter half of 1100s ACA are considered to be the "Golden Age" for the development of the entire Beloslavia. 
==== The Cathedral of Možestava and the "Architectural Boom" of the city ====
In 1152 ACA the Saint Ignati's Cathedral in Možestava ("Katedra Svetego Ignatego" in Korolian) was finally finished. It is the largest Ehwaist Cathedral in the world and it serves as the centre of the entire faith. The Cathedral was the biggest and most ambitious single project at the time in Beloslavia. It was constructed on the foundations of an old Rugundian church. The Cathedral is one of the largest buildings within the Ischanori Empire and even today serves as the hub of the followers of the Church of Ehway. 
The Cathedral was only one of many projects that have been completed in the Principality throughout that period. Another notable example is the Harbour District of Možestava being completed in 1166 ACA. During that period, the city has grown massively, doubling itself in size. 
The colorful city quickly became one of the tourist pearls of the Golden Coast, and Ischanor at large, attracting thousands of tourists every year. 
==== Industrialization ====
While Mozestava was quickly becoming a tourist hub, down in Maribor and Tarnogrod a different boom happened. The two cities became one of the largest industrial metropolies in the entirety of Ischanor. Maribor became especially famous for manufacturing, spearheaded by armament manufacture of Blockheed Martin, one of the big three of Ischanori armament industry, and Tarnogrod became famous for their resource extraction. This has led to the massive jumps in population in both cities, as workers from across Ischanor moved in, in order to work in the booming industries. By the turn of 1180s, all three of the coast metropolies within Beloslavia have surpassed the 1 million population mark. The GDP has also grown exponentially, leading Beloslavia to become one of the strongest realms within Ischanor.
== Governance ==
=== Prince-Elector ===
The Prince-Elector, or at this moment, the Princess-Elector, is the head of state and the head of government of Beloslavia. She represents the interests of Beloslavia in the Imperial Diet of Ischanor. The Duchess is tasked with managing the functioning and governance of the entire realm. The succession is carried out per the traditions of Korolians - the oldest child inherits every title.
The current Princess-Elector is Zofia Svletanna Korola, with her full list of titles being:
"The Queen of Lōrenis, King of Czervoslavia and Veldion, Csarina of Nebskoslavia and the United Commonwealth, Princess-Elector of Beloslavia, Duchess of Možestava, Durania and Ignatava-Ludova, Countess of Ignatava, Ludova and Svedurian, Lady of Slouttawa and Krasni Zamek."
Most of these titles belong to Rathnir or Eldham, with only the one of Beloslavia still being relevant. Nevertheless, they are still being used in all official ceremonies. 
=== Princely Court ===
The Archducal Court is composed of all the nobles and advisors of Beloslavia. The nobility carries out all of the day-to-day management of their lands, so usually their advice and input is always appreciated. The nobility titles are also inherited per the Korolian tradition of the eldest heir inheriting every title. The other advisors are people who are considered to be experts in their field. They are hand-picked by the Princess-Elector and their composition may vary. There is no requirement for the number of advisors. The nobility and the advisors together give their counsel, should the Princess-Elector ask for it. This way, more people can be a part of the decision-making of the Principality.
== Culture ==
=== Language ===
Beloslav culture is simply Korolian. Back in Rathnir, Korolians could be divided based on where they lived. The most visible division was in language - Nebskoslavs and the people of the United Commonwealth spoke the Standard Korolian, Czervoslavs and Veldians spoke Czervoslav-Korolian and Gdanycians would speak Gdanycian-Korolian. But ever since all of those groups migrated from Rathnir together, all of the dialects got mixed and now, the vast majority of Beloslavs speak the Standard Korolian. 
=== Faith ===
The Korolians could always be divided by faith. There are two main Korolian churches - The Church of Ehway and Vjara Nebska. Both of these operate on similar ideals and beliefs, with the major difference being the existence of Ehway. Ehwaists believe that Ehway has created the entire world, that he is the creator and that he created all the other gods to help him guide the people. They believe that in the end, everything in the universe answers to Ehway. Vjarans deny the existence of Ehway at all. They do not believe that such a being has ever existed. Instead, they worship all the other gods, which in Ehwaism are considered only secondary to Ehway. Besides that, they both believe that all the other religions are just different interpretations of the same story, but theirs is the correct one. This division, unlike the language division, has not died. The two churches still operate in Beloslavia and they both have a large amount of followers. This is the reason why they both are accepted as the official religion of Beloslavia.
=== Traditions ===
Korolians, owing to their history of constantly defending their lands from foreign occupation, are very fond of traditions and their cultural heritage. During the migration from Rathnir, a large effort was made to collect and preserve all the cultural items such as books, arts or other items of significance. Zofia Svletanna Korola, the Duchess, made sure to bring over everything that was in the Korolian library. This is why now, we can still enjoy storybooks made by the Kovals or Dr. Pavlik's historical documents. Items such as the legendary Crown of Nebsk were also preserved. 
The people themselves still want to stay true to the traditions started by their ancestors. Most of them are followers of either Vjara Nebska or Ehwaism, they go to church whenever needed, and they don't challenge the social structure that has been in place for generations. Unfortunately, many local traditions were lost, because of the mixing of all the Korolians.
== Notable Cities ==
=== Možestava ===
Možestava is the capital and the largest city of Beloslavia. Founded on 1127 ACA, it is the seat of the Princess-Elector and her court. It was the first settlement of Korolians in the New World. It is a coastal city that was built on the foundations of an old, long-destroyed Rugundian city called Venillión. Možestava is the centre of trade, commerce and politics of Beloslavia. As a city, it is known throughout Ischanor for its architectural beauty. It isn't big when compared to other cities, but it most definitely has its own charm. The city is built on hills, which can be clearly seen by the clear altitude differences on the streets. As for the architecture, the buildings are very colourful with tall roofs, usually only two or three floors high. Možestava could easily be one of the most colourful cities in Ischanor, if not the most colourful city. The city is governed by the Princess-Elector Zofia Svletanna herself, along with all of the lands that belong to the Beloslav Crownlands. 
=== Tarnogrod ===
Tarnogrod is the third-largest city in Beloslavia. Located in the north-western exclave of Beloslavia and founded in 1130 ACA, the city also has a rich history. Its people were originally the residents of Možestava, but Švietyslav Bžeñcyšcykiyvič of the Bžeñcyšcykiyvič family gathered a group of people and after some troubles with the local native mountain tribes, he finally settled the city. Tarnogrod is an important economic hub of its region. It is the capital of the Archduchy of Vyslavija, but it has an interesting political structure. It has its own Sejm (Parliament) headed by the Vojevode, who also serves as the right hand of the Archduke. It is very likely that this system is inspired by the political system of the Second United Commonwealth, where the Bžeñcyšcykiyvičs can trace their origins.
=== Maribor ===
Maribor is the second-largest city in Beloslavia. It is located to the south-east of Beloslavia and was founded in 1130 ACA. Its residents can trace their origins primarily to Nova Žemja. When the city was being founded, its leader, (now Count) Andžej Tatovski, wanted to make a city composed of other people that also are from the region of Nova Žemja, rather than Czervoslavs, who make up roughly 50% of Beloslavia. A lot of the elders of Maribor are also veterans of the Korolian Civil War. The city is built primarily from various woods, making it different from the colourful Možestava or Tarnogrod. Maribor also has a unique system of government, with the General Council, composed of people who contribute a lot to the city, dealing with day-to-day city affairs.
=== Želazogrod ===
Želazogrod is a small town focused on mining and farming. It was founded in 1136 ACA by (now Baron) Bartyš Korol, younger brother of the Duchess. Želazogrod started as a small village centered around iron mines. The name "Želazogrod" comes from the Korolian word "želazo" meaning "iron". Despite the small size of the settlement, it quickly became very wealthy due to the iron mines. With the new, ever-increasing wealth, Bartyš Korol has constructed a magnificent castle for himself, which is now the icon of the whole Barony of Želazogrod. The village now serves not only as an iron mining and iron-works centre of Beloslavia, but also as a huge defensive bastion of the Principality. 
=== Borslovo ===
Borslovo is a small town in the north of Beloslavia. It was founded in 1137 ACA by Edvard Borslov. It is situated on a river and it was started as a fishing and a transportation centre. The town still serves that function well. The town's growth was relatively slow, especially when compared to other cities in Beloslavia, but it was never in decline. After the sudden death of its founder (who was never married and didn't have any family members), the settlement has gone through many leadership changes which has definitely halted the progress there. In 1188 ACA, due to economic struggles, Borslovo has become a vassal of Vyslavija, rather than Beloslavia directly. 
== Demographics ==
The population of Beloslavia stands at 7 537 102.
=== Ethnicity ===
Korolians - 4 977 303 - 66%
Korolians are the majority ethnic group in Beloslavia, the founders of the state. Korolians are the colonists that founded the Duchy. They used to hold a 91% majority in the fairly monoethnic Beloslavia, though since the days of the Beloslav Golden Age and the massive amounts of immigrants flooding the country's metropolies, they're still the majority, however Beloslavia is far from monoethnic nowadays. 
Lōrenish - 443 031 - 17%
Loreni are the biggest minority within Beloslavia. They are either: the majority in the city of Maridon, which seceded from Lōrenis proper to Beloslavia, Imperial bureaucrats, concentrated in the capital city of Možestava, and in much smaller groups in other major towns, or for the more fresh wave of Loreni immigrants, related to the economic stagnation in Lorenis compared to Beloslavia, in the small northern towns.
Rugundian - 341 030 - 4,5%
Rugundians are the group that once formed the fallen empire of Rugundy. Nowadays they're mainly concentrated in Možestava, which was built on top of their old ruined capital - Venillion, or in the only predominantly rural area in Beloslavia left, the villages directly north to Mozestava.
Other - 1 775 738 - 23,5%
Other minorities within Beloslavia include but are not limited to: Kassylians, Selidoarians, other Ischanori ethnic groups and more. These minorities are typically economic, or in sparse cases like Kassylians, political immigrants, spread out across major cities. They used to form a very small fraction of Beloslav society, but since the Beloslav Golden Age, this has drastically changed. 
=== Top 5 Cities: ===
# Maribor - 1 340 713
# Možestava - 1 157 103
# Tarnogrod - 1 101 737
# Maridon - 417 317
# Kalenburg - 57 102
== Economy ==
WIP
Category:Abexilas
Category:Korolian
Category:Ischanor
Category:Kejafros