Falangist State of Almeria

## **Overview**

Almeria is a Militaristic, Authoritarian Falangist autocracy operating under supreme leadership of the Caudillo, Juan Navarro. It takes up the entirety of the Iberian Peninsula, bordering Asmeora. The capital of the state is Castian, with the largest city being Creencia, a city under Ecclesiastical jurisdiction, being the headquarters of the Catholic church. Hosting the headquarters of the church, Almeria is a popular pilgrimage site. However, most visitors are only allowed into the city of Creencia, with other areas being prohibited for tourism.

## **Historical Information**

**Pre-Campanian Peoples**

The largest groups inhabiting Almeria before Campanian conquest were the Almars and the Azoreans. The Almerians inhabited the Mediterranean and inner parts of the peninsula, while the Azoreans inhabited the Atlantic coastal areas. They were mostly animist pagan tribal groups. Not much is documented from this period, however some old Almar castros can still be found in some of the innermost areas.

**Campanian Almoricum and the Founding of the Church**

Around 2 AD, the expanding Campanian Republic captured Almar trading ports along the Meditarranean coast. Although it took the Campanians one and a half centuries to complete the conquest of Almeria, they retained control of it for over six centuries. The cultures of the Almar and Azorean populations were gradually Campanianized at different rates depending on what part of the region, now known as Almoricum, they lived in. Almoricum served as both a granary for Campania, exporting gold, wool, olive oil, and wine, but also as a penal colony for Christians. However, this new Christian population began to spread their influence to the natives, and eventually a clandestine church, the Catholic Church of Almoricum, was established in 115 AD.

Almoricum became a rogue state, with Campanian authorities having to put down Christian rebellions on multiple occassions, until in 158 AD, the Campanian Empire, under the rule of Emperor Aurielus converted to and legalizing Christianity, with the Catholic Church of Almoricum becoming the state church of Campania. But, in 250, Campanian forces left the region to defend the Campanian homeland due to inflation as well as fear of invasion from the East, leaving the Catholic Church of Almoricum as the sole authority.

**Almar-Azor War and Azor Genocide**

With no Campanian authority to challenge the Church, the region became a theocracy under supreme authority of the Pope of Almars, Cristobal. However, Pope Cristobal and the church faced a problem. The Azoreans, the only other group inhabiting the region, never adopted Christianity, and were hostile Pagans. When a mission was sent to the Azorean lands, they sent back the decapitated heads of the priests to Cristobal, who, in a fit of rage, declared the Azoreans to be "Inhuman Heathens, influenced by the most vile Demons." He then declared that they be cleansed from earth, allowing them to directly face god's judgement. Thus, the Almar-Azor war began. The war lasted from 312 AD to 328 AD, due to the Almars having numerical and land advantages, the Azors being a smaller group only inhabiting the Atlantic coast. After the Azors were completed, the Almars fulfilled the order of Cristobal, killing all Azor men, sparing the women and children, who were made to convert, learn the Almar language and adopt the culture. By 370 AD. Azorean culture and identity was all but wiped out.

**Almar-Islamic Wars**

In the 8th century, Moorish Muslim armies from North Africa attempted to invade the Almar region, at this point known as the Kingdom of Almara. The Initial invasions were unsuccessful, but were only the start of the Arab-Almar War (710-822). With the head of the Catholic Church being based in Almara, the Muslim invaders had to fight not only the Almars, but many other Catholic peoples, united to defend the church and the pope from conquest. In 750, the Muslims were pushed out of Almaran lands, however this began 15 years of attempted naval raids. After this, the Almars and their Catholic volunteers had had enough of defense and began a counter-attack into North Africa. The Muslims found themselves now on the defensive as the Almars raided their ports, burned the Mosques and crucified the Imams. The Caliph of Mecca soon called for an end to the bloodshed, and was requested to meet with the Pope of the Almar Church and the King of Almara in Gibraltar. There, the Islamic-Christian treaty was signed, allowing the Muslims to regain all lands captured by the Christians as long as Almara was never attacked again.

**Almara in the Dark Ages**

It was believed that the Church had higher authority in Almara than the king, however in truth, the pope and king shared near equal authority, with the ruling dynasty often endorsed by the Church as having the God-given right to rule Almara. This led to relative stability in Almara, as nobody would dare question the will of God. The Dark Ages were relatively peaceful in Almara due to this, many believing it was a gift from God as Almara were the first Catholic nation in Europe.

**The Legend of Ojoblica**

In the late 15th century, Almeria was stagnant economically, and people wanted a solution. The Almerian crown sent several expedition westward in an attempt to find lands with resources Almeria could use. They were expecting small islands, but what they found was the vast land of what was known as Ojoblica, the land of slanted eyes. Obviously it was stated that the land's inhabitants had slanted eyes, along with yellow-tinted skin and dark hair, and were nearly as advanced as the Almerians themselves. One explorer stated: "The country is an odd paradox - they are pagan but nowhere near as barbaric or savage as other pagan lands." Almeria and this mysterious country conducted trade for a brief period, but eventually lost contact due to the Almerians shifting their focus to the rebellions against the Catholic Church. To this day it is still speculated whether the country was reality or myth.

**The Protestant Reformation**

Martin Muller, an Augustinian monk in Deinstechia, sent his Ninety-Five Theses to several bishops in 1517. His theses protested key points of Catholic doctrine as well as the sale of indulgences. This led to his excommunication in 1521. Several other Protestant Reformers further criticized Catholic teachings. These challenges developed into the Reformation, which gave birth to the great majority of Protestant denominations. In Almara, now known by its modern name, Almeria, however, the Catholic faith was still dominant due to the locality of the Church.

## **Recent History**

**Rising Tensions**

In the late 19th century, Almeria was still an absolute monarchy. Industrialization, the development of railways and incipient capitalism developed in several areas of the country, as well as labor movements, socialist and anarchist ideals. In 1881, the Almerian Socialist Worker's Party is founded. In the anarcho-syndicalist trend of the labor movement, the Almerian Confederation of Labor was founded in 1890. Repression of these movements as well as general incompetency of the hereditary monarchy rose caused tensions to reach their boiling point in the Castian Uprising of 1901. In 1902, Juan Navarro founded the Almerian Falange. From 1902-1903, members of the Falange had been killed, primarily by socialists but also with an anarchist contribution. The socialists had no intention of allowing a fascist movement to develop while they planned their revolution, fearing such a movement would crush them. This would be known as the Red Aggressions.

**The Civil War**

In 1904, the left factions, after months of planning, attacked the royal palace, killing the king. This began the Almerian civil war. The Anarchist and Socialist factions formed the Revolutionary Bloc while the Falangists and other rightists formed the Counter-Revolutionary Bloc. The Revolutionary Bloc had many of the urban areas as well as the capital, however the Counter-Revolutionary Bloc controlled the rural and agricultural areas, giving them the advantage of sustenance. Influenced by the Asmeorans, the Revolutionary Bloc formed the Almerian People's Commune.

This commune wouldn't last however as the Counter-Revolutionary Bloc still controlled the rural areas, leading to extreme rationing of food as well as starvation. The Famine of 1905 managed to kill around a third of the population of the commune as the Counter Bloc held their land.

**The Capture of Castian and the White Terror**

In 1906, the Counter-Revolutionary Bloc began an offensive, quickly overwhelming the famished soldiers of the commune. By may, they had captured the capital and began mass killings of the leftists. Juan Navarro did not give direct orders for these killings or orders against them, however did give the order not to persecute workers who had "supported the left out of hunger or despair. We know that in the monarchy there was much incompetency." These mass killings became known to the rest of the world as the Almerian White Terror. The final executions were of the leaders of the Anarchist and Socialist factions. Their hands were bound and were made to walk through Castian Square, getting pelted with stones by onlookers until the barriers were broken, and they had been lynched by the crowd, fueled by the anger and resentment following the 1905 famines.

**Establishment of the Falangist State**

After the White Terror, the Falange began to develop the new government. The Falangist State of Almeria was established with Juan Navarro made Caudillo, or Supreme Leader. This was announced to the people in a grand ceremony, comprising of the Caudillo's speech founding the Falangist State, following by a parade and a mass burning of all Socialist and Anarchist paraphernalia. Nothing was spared, from flags, portraits, posters, all the way to sheet music of The Internationale. As the black and red flags burned, a new flag was raised, the current flag of Almeria, with the yoke and arrows.

## **International Relations**

**Asmeoran People's Commune**

Status: **Uneasy**

Almeria's state ideology, Falangism, is inherently Anti-Communist, Anti-Democratic and Anti-Liberal, and to them, Asmeora is all three. They are very distrustful and suspicious of Asmeora, and even the slightest bit of aggression by them may very well lead to heightened tensions.

The Holy Scovijan State

Status: **Sworn Enemies**

Almeria, while not being run by the church, is still run by extremist followers of the Catholic faith, both the Caudillo and the party. Because of this, they view the Scovijans as schismatics, heretics, and in some cases, many believe them to be followers of a false denomination of Christianity influenced by Satan himself. Because of this, they will take any opportunity given to them to hinder Scovija.

Vaubelzka Commonwealth

Status: **Friendly**

The enemy of my enemy is my friend, as the old saying goes, not to mention they are fellow Catholics. Almeria would likely aid them as much as they could.

Imperial Confederation Of Deinstechia

Status: **Neutral**

They may be protestants, but they aren't nearly as despised as the dirty Scovijan satan-run heretics. Almeria also sees Deinstechia as a possible bulwark against communist expansion, which is a plus.

The Fifth Doctrina

Status: **Despised**

Almeria hates those who would attempt to play God. They would view the Doctrina as nothing more than idealistic, blasphemeous thugs who wish to remake the world in their image, rather than God's image. Upon discovery, Almeria would likely do all they could to purge the Fifth Doctrina's influence from their country, including outright massacres of Doctrina associates.

The Republic of Väusland

Status: **Disliked**

Falangist Almeria resents Väusland's libertarian and democratic ideals, seeing them as sacrificing a nation's unity, strength and stability on the altar of the Individual, Juan Navarro himself stating: "Such systems do nothing for the individual but allow him to indulge in vice and hedonism, and poison his head with bad ideas. Communism sees such societies as a wolf sees a wounded deer." On the other hand, The Holy Settish Order of the Reformed Church, despite being somewhat protestant, has Almeria's full support due to their ideological similarities

## **Political Information**

Almeria is ruled by the Caudillo, or Supreme Leader, who is also head of the Falange party. Some believe Falangism to be directly Fascistic, while others see it as more Authoritarian Conservative. The Falange is the sole political party in Almeria, so this section will mainly focus on its ideology.

Falangism places a strong emphasis on Catholic religious identity. While it believes the State should have supreme authority over the nation, the vast majority of its members, including the Caudillo himself, are extremist Catholics. Falangism emphasizes the need for total authority, hierarchy, and order in society, and is anti-communist, anti-democratic, and anti-liberal.

The Falange's manifesto, the *"Book of the Third Path"*, declares Falangism to support the unity of Almeria and the elimination of regional seperatism, the establishment of an Autocracy led by the Falange, utilizing violence to "regenerate" Almeria, and promoting the revival and development of the Almerian Empire. The manifesto also calls for a National Syndicalist economy, and advocated agrarian reform, industrial expansion, and respect for private property, with the exception of nationalizing credit facilities to prevent usury.

The Falange's male membership is accompanied by a female auxiliary, the *Sección Femenina,* led by Caudillo Juan Navarro's sister, Amaris Navarro, which currently has half a million members. The Falange also has youth organizations, with members known as *Flechas* and *Pelayos,* under the umbrella of the Almerian Youth Organization. Most of these young members wear red berets and black shirts, and are taught firearms and survival training.

The Falange supports conservative ideas about women and supports rigid gender roles that stipulated that women's main duties in life are to be a loving mother and a submissive wife. This policy is set against that of most republican societies that provided universal suffrage to women. The *Sección Femenina* instructs women to be good wives and mothers, teaching domestic economy and cultivating the folk dances of Almeria in its *Coros y Danzas* troupes. Paradoxically, the SF enables its leaders, women such as Amaris Navarro, who never married, to achieve prominent public roles while promoting family life.

During the White Terror of 1910, members of political parties opposed to the Falange were slaughtered. After this, as well as the economic success Almeria has found under the rule of the Falange, opposing political groups have been formed since, or, at least, known to the rest of the world.

## **Economic Information**

The Falange regime supports a national, trans-class society while opposing individual-class-based societies such as bourgeois or proletarian societies. Falangism opposes class conflict, stating in the manifesto: "The state is founded on two principles— service to the united nation and the cooperation of classes."

Almeria under the rule of the Falange has a National Syndicalist economy that rejects both capitalism and communism. Juan Navarro denounced capitalism for being an individualist economy at the hands of the bourgeoisie that turned workers "Into a dehumanized cog in the machinery of bourgeois production," and denounced socialism for "enslaving the individual by handing control of production to a select few."

The Falange officially states that their economy is "an economic middle way equidistant from liberal capitalism and communist materialism." It is said to create national syndicates of both employees and employers to mutually organize and control the economic activity, however supports criminalization of strikes by employees and lockouts by employers as illegal acts, while mirroring social-democratic policies in supporting state jurisdiction over the setting of wages.

## **Religious Information**

-wip but they're really strict catholics-