Lebeštadas Province

Flag Of Lebeštadas Island

Typical Lebeštadas Island Houses

Map of Lebeštadas Island

Lebeštadas Province, Otherwise known as Lebeštadas Island, Lebeštado Proninca or Lebeštado Ilsi, Is an Island Province located in the Baltic sea, apart of Lifannia and is apart of the Prussian Region. The Population of the Island is 1,144,897 People. It is one of the most dense provinces in Lifannia. The name and flag are based of the country of Liebestadt.

## History

### Early History

Lebeštadas Island's history is very different from the rest of the Prussian Region. It was first settled around 550 by Lifannians in Liekas, mostly as a stop for Ships going to other ports, mostly Lotra, Klaipėda and Nomsterdamas. Liekas is also the first city in the island, Granted city rights in 632, and the whole island was starting to be inhabitated. Lebeštadas itself was Established quite late, in 1105, the last out of the county capitals, with Baltija being Established in 911. Lebeštadas was established by Liebestadians, who promoted Lebeštadas port over Liekas, and some Traders switched due to financial benefits (Liekas was more expensive to stop at).

None of the plagues and diseases of the 13-16th centuries really effected the population of Lebeštadas, and Thpalitics never even came close to the island, which is partially why the population of the island is so high for the area nowadays. The plagues only effected trade, which effected the economy. In 1427, The Brother of the king, was made Duke of the Island, who he himself named the Duke of Lebeštadas and lived there, making the city the *De Facto* capital of the duchy. Due to Royalty living there, the city gained notoriety and also large investment, and became a destination to also party for the royals, as in 1435 the palace of Lebeštadas was built.

Due to the rise of Lebeštadas city, Liekas was almost abandoned, and Baltija overtook Liekas in population.

Over the next 400 years, the Island remained relatively stable and was growing economically and population wise. An airport was built in Lebeštadas in 1856, and the first factories also arrived not so long before.

### Post 1944

The war of Destruction heavily affected the economy, as trade went down to almost 0. The population also shrank a bit, as a lot of the food supplies were imported before from the tradesmen, and the people now had to grow and ration a lot of food to survive. Lebeštadas island was left unannexed for a while, as Lifannia was concentrating on expanding east to control old Thpalitic lands and colonizing Africa. The island was reannexed in 1960, Making it the newest province in the Region of Prussia.

The annexation came with an immediate construction boom, as the population started to finally grow after years of stagnation, and the fact the land and cities were in mass disrepair, and no connecting highway. Baltija Airport was constructed while the Lebeštadas city one was being reconstructed. Eventually, Life became normal on the island once again.

#### GGDL Unification

After Lifannia united with Yare Yare, forming GGDL, Czelesia occupied the Island in 1986. This caused the island to become unstable, as Czelesians were a very, very small minority, and Lifannians started resisting the occupation. It was easier to resist as it was an Island, and The ports were not military grade. The island also seemed to be largely ignored by the Czelesian government even after the First ultimatum to Czelesia by GGDL in 1988, even though it could of served as a crucial naval base for Czelesia.

### Liebeštadas Island Crisis

#### Background

Lebeštadas Island crisis started after the 2nd Ultimatum to Czelesia in 1991, in which the Island of Lebeštadas was not regained by Lifannia. The government of Lifannia laid claims to it due to its Majority Lifannian Population, Historically being Lifannian Land and the fact it is a strategic Island in the Baltic sea. Lifannia reached out to buy the island a day before the blockade, but Czelesians refused without discussion.

#### Blockade

On October 27th, 1991, Antanas Smetona, who had just become the Leader of Lifannia again 1 day before, ordered 50 Cruisers and 200 Destroyers to Surround the island, and announced no ship would be allowed to enter or leave the Island. Lifannia also sent messages to Lifannians on the island to generate resistance.

As the Lifannian navy promised, no ship would be allowed to enter or leave the island. The Lifannian navy sunk 4 ships, resulting in 16 dead and 127 arrested. A few hours after the confirmed sinkings, Lifannia would declare an Exclusion zone around the island, which no ship or plane could enter.

Czelesia during all of this did not intervene much, only discussing the situation a bit in the EU.

Shortly after the Exclusion zone announcement, Lifannia would regain the Island, for the trade of San Francisco, and on 5th of November, just after midnight, the Lifannian flag flew over the island once again. In total, the blockade lasted 10 days.

### Modern Day

After the Crisis, Lebeštadas Island Czelesian Population, which settled during the occupation, was deported. Baltija was made into a semi-military city and entrance into the city was limited, and in some cases entirely prohibited, especially to EU citizens, up until 2008. The Population continued growing, achieving massive density in the process. The Island of Lebeštadas recovered, and nowadays is a tourist destination for Prussian Region citizens, who enjoy what the island has to offer historically and culturally. The Island does not have a big industrial base. In 2046, The port of Lebeštadas was built.

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## Province

The Island is entirely surrounded by the Baltic sea. It had no official port, but there were plans of building one in Lebeštadas, which were realized in 2046. A single highway runs through the island, connecting the majority of the biggest cities on the island, and it has 2 Airports- 1 in Lebeštadas and 1 in Baltija, which is more of a military airport nowadays.

## Demographics

The Island has a 95% Lifannian Majority and a 4.5% Lebestadtian minority, mostly concentrated in Lebeštadas city. 0.5% are others.