Wesland

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Wesland (/ˈwɛslənd/; Weslandic: Wesland /ˈwɛslɑnt/) is an archipelago in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean to the northeast of Bermuda.

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Wesland
country in America
Official name: Ydwaldunj fram Weslaend
(Republic of (the) Wesland(s))

Capital: Helbion

Area: t.b.d.

Population: 471.332

Population density: t.b.d.

Form of government: presidential republic

Demonym: Weslandic

Official languages: Weslandic, English

National holiday: 2 May

Currency: Pund (Weslaindysku)

News:

Flag:

Flagwesmall.png

Name

Before the arrival of the European explorers, the Weslandic islands had names, but Wesland didn't have a name as a whole, as there was no real necessity for it without neighbouring countries from which Wesland had to distinguish itself. The English called it the Westlands and in the 19th century Weslandic nationalists altered this name to Weslaend or the Weslands, dropping the -t, as they considered Wes- etymologically more correct, as Wesi was used to refer to the Visigoths, who, in turn, had been wrongly translated as West-Goths by some scholars already once before.

The name Wesland was made official when the country became independent. It may be used in its singular or plural (Weslaend /ˈwɛsløi̯nt/) form. The official name is Ydwaldunj fram Weslaend /ˈøtwɑldɯɲ frɑm ˈwɛsløi̯nt/.

History

Discovered (by accident) and colonised in the sixth century by Arian Christian Visigoths who had fled Europe from the growing influence of Nicene (Catholic) Christianity (the renunciation of Arian Christianity by the Visigothic king Reccared I in favour of Nicene Christianity in 587 may have been the direct reason why this group of Arians set sail to the west), the islands remained isolated until the early 16th century, when they were rediscovered by European (English) explorers, who named the archipelago the Westlands.

Until the rediscovery by the Europeans, the population of Wesland had been small, as the islands were too small to sustain a larger population, and too remote to make trade with the outside world possible. Initialy most of the islands' woods were cut down for housing purposes and to create harbours and churches; in order to prevent an environmental disaster however, the Weslandic people's way of living (including the Church) became more focused on nature. The first stone buildings were built in the 17th century: an Anglican church for British immigrants, as well as the local office of the Somers Isles Company.

Upon discovering that the islands were inhabited by a people that obviously spoke a language related to English and other Germanic languages, the islands were visited by several European companies and the Dutch, the French and the English established trading posts on the islands. From 1625 to 1684 the islands enjoyed protection of the Somers Isles Company, which also administered Bermuda at the time. In 1684 the Company's charter was revoked and the English crown took over administration. Until that time, the indigenous people had been involved in the administration of their territories, but Weslanders were now banned from it. In 1707 the Westlands became a British colony after the creation of the Kingdom of Great Britain.

In the 19th century, nationalist movements emerged in the Westlands and the British sovereignty over the islands was first questioned in 1858 by Sierk Wydigg (1819 - 1864). Although Westlanders had been admitted to serve in public offices again since 1877, there was an increasing demand for home rule and, inspired by the Easter Rising in Ireland in 1916, an armed resistance movement successfully attacked several key military installations. Upon a threat however by the United States to reestablish order for the British, a deal was struck according to which the Westlands became a self-governing British dominion called the Wesland Dominion under the British monarch as head of state. It had a governor-general, a unicameral parliament and an executive council headed by a prime minister.

In 1949 Wesland gained full independence and became a presidential republic.

Demographics

The original inhabitants of Wesland were of European origin. Under British rule, slaves were imported from Africa and after the abolition of slavery the immigration of different ethnic groups from other parts of the British empire continued. The 2008 census stated that 52% of the population is of European origin (mainly descendants of Visigoths and British), 24% is of African origin, 17% is multiracial, 4% is of Asian origin and 3% other.

The official language is Weslandic, but English is widespread as well and understood by a larger part of the population. The mother tongue of 42% of the Weslanders is English, of 37% it is Weslandic, 10% is raised bilingual, 7% has an Asian or African language as their native language.

Most Weslanders are Christians (84%; 42% Anglican, 33% Arian, 17% Roman Catholic, 5% Lutheran, 3% other), 6% is Jewish, 4% Hinduist, 3% Muslim, 3% other.

Politics

Since 1949, Wesland has been a multi-party democratic republic. The President of Wesland (Faurstaiss fram Weslaend) is both head of state and head of government. Executive power is exercised by the government, while legislative power is vested in both the government and the National Congress of Wesland (Landgaqum fram Weslaend). The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. The capital is Helbion. Wesland adopted its first own consitution in 1917. The current republican constitution dates from 1949.

Elections

Parliamentary and presidential elections take place every four years on a regular basis, but not at the same time: presidential elections take place two years after the parliamentary elections. The election date is fixed on the first Sunday after the National Holiday (2 May), with the possibility of a second round for the presidential elections two weeks after the first round. The inauguration of both parliament and president normally takes place on the first Friday of July.

In the last eight days before the (first round of the) elections, campaigning and polling is forbidden.

Presidents

The president is elected for a four year term which is twice renewable. If the president is unable to complete his term, the vice-president replaces him until the next regular elections. From the independence until the first presidential elections in 1951 the chairman of parliament was acting president.

Presidents of Wesland have been:

# president vice-president took office left office party
Davit Gaelmann interim - 14 October 1949 6 July 1951 Republican Party
1 Yrk Skonigg Lyf Maoil 6 July 1951 1 July 1955 Republican Party
2 Lyf Maoil Amal Liers 1 July 1955 5 July 1963 Republican Party
3 Luk Frieigg Arnold Halliday 5 July 1963 7 July 1967 Labour
4 Steve Thompson Hintiel Niewmann 7 July 1967 16 May 1968 Republican Party
5 Hintiel Niewmann Ionn Pe 16 May 1968 11 December 1969 Republican Party
Montgomery Montgomery 11 December 1969 2 July 1971
6 Haulf Stammann Uesel Gors 2 July 1971 6 July 1979 Libertarian Union
7 Haulf Fiesk Ial Taelmann 6 July 1979 1 July 1983 Republican Party
Erwi Burghley 1 July 1983 3 July 1987
8 Maties Hojigg Erwi Burghley 3 July 1987 5 July 1991 Republican Party
9 Paul Elliot first time Duncan McDougall 5 July 1991 7 July 1995 Labour
10 Djordj Lielligg Waem Lasys 7 July 1995 2 July 1999 Republican Party
(9) Paul Elliot second time Mark Ydiel 2 July 1999 4 July 2003 Labour
11 Mark Ydiel Ioaen Russell-Qairwigg (f) 4 July 2003 1 July 2011 Labour
Froi Scott 1 July 2011 3 July 2015
12 Ues Tierj Ardo Johnson 3 July 2015 incumbent Republican Party

Administrative division

Wesland is divided in nine municipalities.

name capital inhabitants mayor since
Austarhelland Foiland
Austarwesland Sialft
Brae Brae
Helbion Helbion
Naurwargrasland Frirfia
Odalaend Lielland
Rie Hulmus Gaelf
Sunwargrasland Graswald
Wistarhelland Mikloi

Economy

The two main sectors of Weslandic economy are the technological/electronics industry and tourism.

The GDP of Wesland lies around $9.669 billion (2013 estimate; $20,515 per capita).

The currency of Wesland is the Weslandic Pound (Pund Weslaindysku).

Culture

Weslandic culture consisted mainly of local traditional forms of art until the 19th century, when art, literature and music became increasingly influenced by European (mostly British) culture.

Architecture

Churches

Since the rediscovery of Wesland by European explorers, trade between the old and the new world enabled the import of other materials. The first stone buildings were erected and gradually, the wooden Arian churches were replaced by more solid structures. Lielland still has the largest wooden church, and although most of the current building is less than 100 years old (a large fire destroyed a large part of it in 1922), the oldest parts of the church can be dated back several centuries. The newer stone churches include the two large churches of Helbion, as well as the Anglican Church of Helbion, and the church of Foiland. The beautiful Dune Chapel of Wrikstae attracts numerous admirers every year.

The Presidential Palace

The Presidential Palace, a large red brick building, was built in 1803 and served as the residence of the British magistrates until 1917, when it was expanded and became the palace of the Governor-General of the Wesland Dominion. After Wesland gained full independence in 1949, the building was completely renovated in order to become the residence of the president. In 1984, part of the palace was transformed in the Museum of Weslandic History.

Lighthouses

Wesland has several lighthouses, several of which were built in the '60s after a collective design by the Weslandic architect Haulf Grey-Haskett (*1936). Guided boat trips are organised along some or all of the lighthouses during the summer.

Music

Traditional Weslandic music is mostly vocal with the accompaniment of woodwinds and percussion (drums, woodblocks etc.). European classical music was introduced in Wesland in the 19th century, with noted composers like Haulf Lows (1793 - 1867), Wiggierk Goiig (1811 - 1889) and Luk Sprot (1814 - 1902) paving the way to an active musical scene in Helbion. It was Jaek Hiavigg (1844 - 1913) who wrote the first Weslandic opera in 1876: Afdrugkjan Ievylus (The Evil Drunkards). (to be expanded)