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	<updated>2026-08-12T16:41:28Z</updated>
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		<id>https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Daryan_Pro_League&amp;diff=45571</id>
		<title>Daryan Pro League</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Daryan_Pro_League&amp;diff=45571"/>
		<updated>2026-08-11T18:20:12Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Laeral: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;The '''Daryan Pro League''' is the top flight of [[Darya|Daryan]] association football, founded in 1988 and held continuously since then. The league includes 20 franchise clubs from across Darya. Unlike in most nations' football leagues and the [[National Conference (Darya)|National Conference]] for lacrosse, the Daryan Pro League does not feature promotion or relegation. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==History==&lt;br /&gt;
Football first became prominent in Darya in the mid-20th century. Increased international commerce and immigration led to the first football clubs in port cities such as Dhanora by 1909. The sport took off in earnest as a result of the colonial experience, when Daryan colonial administrators in colonies such as [[Mallacaland]] became partial to the game.{{efn|In fact, one of the first Daryan football teams, Emirs of Dhanora FC, was founded as a club of former colonial officers in Mallacaland and also included a small number of Mallacan expatriates as players.}} In the short term, the [[Daryan Civil War]] (1910-1915) contributed to the rise of Daryan football, as soldiers found football easier to play while on the march, while the war devastated Darya's lacrosse clubs and infrastructure. The growth of mass media contributed to the sport's rise, and many lacrosse teams founded football affiliates which competed in the Conference of Daryan Football (CDF, 1919-1955). &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The initial surge in football in Darya subsided, particularly as an economic slowdown in the 1940s spelled the death of many football teams, and nationalistic fervor promoted by the Daryan Imperial household led to football being criticized as an effeminate foreign sport. In 1955, the Conference of Daryan Football collapsed, leading to a drought in Daryan football which would last until after the Great War. Interestingly, perceptions of football as a more gentle, sedate sport meant that women's participation in football continued even during the drought; women were excluded from lacrosse, but women's colleges and secondary schools during the mid-20th century typically featured football as the sole team athletic event. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The end of the Great War offered opportunities for a resurgence in Daryan football. During the occupation of Darya, many soldiers on occupation duty formed football teams which competed against upstart local clubs. The wartime experiences of Daryan soldiers abroad also helped promote the game's growth—one of the game's first post-war Daryan stars, Rajesh Bai, had first begun playing during years spent in a prisoner of war camp in Laeral. Many Daryan settlers in [[Andhrapur]] also emigrated following the country's independence, some of whom had played football in Andhrapur's colonial league. In 1973, the All-Darya Football Championship was founded, consisting of 10 teams, with the number growing to 18 by 1978. This league faced financial and legal difficulties, including widespread corruption and legal scrutiny by authorities, and folded in 1984. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Over the next several years, individual football clubs operated under league arrangements conducted on a season-by-season basis. In 1988, the Daryan Pro League was formed to unite eight of the largest and most popular clubs. Shrewd television deals allowed the Pro League to outdo its competitors and become Darya's dominant football league by 1994 when it absorbed its largest rival. Television and online viewership has continued to grow through the 21st century, although the game has yet to become widespread at a lower level, with only minimal football infrastructure outside of Pro League play. Today, the Daryan Pro League's membership has grown to 20 clubs, and it is recognized as the preeminent Daryan football league, second only to the National Conference in lacrosse for revenue. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Clubs==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{| class=&amp;quot;wikitable&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
|+Daryan Pro League Member Clubs&lt;br /&gt;
!Club&lt;br /&gt;
!City&lt;br /&gt;
!Founding Year&lt;br /&gt;
!Notes&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Amroha FC&lt;br /&gt;
|Kurwai, Kurwai State&lt;br /&gt;
|1928&lt;br /&gt;
|Along with Vidisha FC, the sole pre-Great War club in the league&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Vidisha FC&lt;br /&gt;
|Vidisha, Ujjain&lt;br /&gt;
|1937&lt;br /&gt;
|See above&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Begusarai SC&lt;br /&gt;
|Kurwai, Kurwai State&lt;br /&gt;
|1969&lt;br /&gt;
|Also known as Sporting Club of Begusarai. Formed as lacrosse club in 1905.&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Solapur FC&lt;br /&gt;
|Dhanora, Panagar&lt;br /&gt;
|1970&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Gulana FC&lt;br /&gt;
|Gulana, Rhandistan&lt;br /&gt;
|1970&lt;br /&gt;
|Nicknamed the &amp;quot;Rhandi national team&amp;quot; by Rhandi nationalists&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Metro Dhanora FC&lt;br /&gt;
|Dhanora, Panagar&lt;br /&gt;
|1971&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Indergarh Union&lt;br /&gt;
|Indergarh, Gormi&lt;br /&gt;
|1973&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Bijawar AFC&lt;br /&gt;
|Bijawar, Semaria&lt;br /&gt;
|1976&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|RC Sambhal&lt;br /&gt;
|Sambhal, Bhavra&lt;br /&gt;
|1977&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Sagar Sporting Union&lt;br /&gt;
|Sagar, Anuppur&lt;br /&gt;
|1983&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Harrai Sporting FC&lt;br /&gt;
|Reethi, Harrai&lt;br /&gt;
|1992&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Ladnu FC&lt;br /&gt;
|Ladnu, Behin&lt;br /&gt;
|2000&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Surguja FC&lt;br /&gt;
|Surguja, Piparai&lt;br /&gt;
|2001&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
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|&lt;br /&gt;
|}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Notes==&lt;br /&gt;
{{notelist}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category: Sports]][[Category: Darya]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Laeral</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Daryan_Pro_League&amp;diff=45570</id>
		<title>Daryan Pro League</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Daryan_Pro_League&amp;diff=45570"/>
		<updated>2026-08-11T03:35:16Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Laeral: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;The '''Daryan Pro League''' is the top flight of [[Darya|Daryan]] association football, founded in 1988 and held continuously since then. The league includes 20 franchise clubs from across Darya. Unlike in most nations' football leagues and the [[National Conference (Darya)|National Conference]] for lacrosse, the Daryan Pro League does not feature promotion or relegation. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==History==&lt;br /&gt;
Football first became prominent in Darya in the mid-20th century. Increased international commerce and immigration led to the first football clubs in port cities such as Dhanora by 1909. The sport took off in earnest as a result of the colonial experience, when Daryan colonial administrators in colonies such as [[Mallacaland]] became partial to the game.{{efn|In fact, one of the first Daryan football teams, Emirs of Dhanora FC, was founded as a club of former colonial officers in Mallacaland and also included a small number of Mallacan expatriates as players.}} In the short term, the [[Daryan Civil War]] (1910-1915) contributed to the rise of Daryan football, as soldiers found football easier to play while on the march, while the war devastated Darya's lacrosse clubs and infrastructure. The growth of mass media contributed to the sport's rise, and many lacrosse teams founded football affiliates which competed in the Conference of Daryan Football (CDF, 1919-1955). &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The initial surge in football in Darya subsided, particularly as an economic slowdown in the 1940s spelled the death of many football teams, and nationalistic fervor promoted by the Daryan Imperial household led to football being criticized as an effeminate foreign sport. In 1955, the Conference of Daryan Football collapsed, leading to a drought in Daryan football which would last until after the Great War. Interestingly, perceptions of football as a more gentle, sedate sport meant that women's participation in football continued even during the drought; women were excluded from lacrosse, but women's colleges and secondary schools during the mid-20th century typically featured football as the sole team athletic event. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The end of the Great War offered opportunities for a resurgence in Daryan football. During the occupation of Darya, many soldiers on occupation duty formed football teams which competed against upstart local clubs. The wartime experiences of Daryan soldiers abroad also helped promote the game's growth—one of the game's first post-war Daryan stars, Rajesh Bai, had first begun playing during years spent in a prisoner of war camp in Laeral. Many Daryan settlers in [[Andhrapur]] also emigrated following the country's independence, some of whom had played football in Andhrapur's colonial league. In 1973, the All-Darya Football Championship was founded, consisting of 10 teams, with the number growing to 18 by 1978. This league faced financial and legal difficulties, including widespread corruption and legal scrutiny by authorities, and folded in 1984. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Over the next several years, individual football clubs operated under league arrangements conducted on a season-by-season basis. In 1988, the Daryan Pro League was formed to unite eight of the largest and most popular clubs. Shrewd television deals allowed the Pro League to outdo its competitors and become Darya's dominant football league by 1994 when it absorbed its largest rival. Television and online viewership has continued to grow through the 21st century, although the game has yet to become widespread at a lower level, with only minimal football infrastructure outside of Pro League play. Today, the Daryan Pro League's membership has grown to 20 clubs, and it is recognized as the preeminent Daryan football league, second only to the National Conference in lacrosse for revenue. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Clubs==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{| class=&amp;quot;wikitable&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
|+Daryan Pro League Member Clubs&lt;br /&gt;
!Club&lt;br /&gt;
!City&lt;br /&gt;
!Founding Year&lt;br /&gt;
!Notes&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Amroha FC&lt;br /&gt;
|Kurwai, Kurwai State&lt;br /&gt;
|1928&lt;br /&gt;
|Along with Vidisha FC, the sole pre-Great War club in the league&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Vidisha FC&lt;br /&gt;
|Vidisha, Ujjain&lt;br /&gt;
|1937&lt;br /&gt;
|See above&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Begusarai SC&lt;br /&gt;
|Kurwai, Kurwai State&lt;br /&gt;
|1969&lt;br /&gt;
|Also known as Sporting Club of Begusarai. Formed as lacrosse club in 1905.&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Solapur FC&lt;br /&gt;
|Dhanora, Panagar&lt;br /&gt;
|1970&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Gulana FC&lt;br /&gt;
|Gulana, Rhandistan&lt;br /&gt;
|1970&lt;br /&gt;
|Nicknamed the &amp;quot;Rhandi national team&amp;quot; by Rhandi nationalists&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Metro Dhanora FC&lt;br /&gt;
|Dhanora, Panagar&lt;br /&gt;
|1971&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|FC Indergarh&lt;br /&gt;
|Indergarh, Gormi&lt;br /&gt;
|1973&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Bijawar AFC&lt;br /&gt;
|Bijawar, Semaria&lt;br /&gt;
|1976&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|RC Sambhal&lt;br /&gt;
|Sambhal, Bhavra&lt;br /&gt;
|1977&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Sagar Sporting Union&lt;br /&gt;
|Sagar, Anuppur&lt;br /&gt;
|1983&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Harrai Sporting FC&lt;br /&gt;
|Reethi, Harrai&lt;br /&gt;
|1992&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Ladnu FC&lt;br /&gt;
|Ladnu, Behin&lt;br /&gt;
|2000&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Surguja FC&lt;br /&gt;
|Surguja, Piparai&lt;br /&gt;
|2001&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
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|}&lt;br /&gt;
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==Notes==&lt;br /&gt;
{{notelist}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category: Sports]][[Category: Darya]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Laeral</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Daryan_Pro_League&amp;diff=45567</id>
		<title>Daryan Pro League</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Daryan_Pro_League&amp;diff=45567"/>
		<updated>2026-08-10T14:42:56Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Laeral: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;The '''Daryan Pro League''' is the top flight of [[Darya|Daryan]] association football, founded in 1988 and held continuously since then. The league includes 20 franchise clubs from across Darya. Unlike in most nations' football leagues and the [[National Conference (Darya)|National Conference]] for lacrosse, the Daryan Pro League does not feature promotion or relegation. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==History==&lt;br /&gt;
Football first became prominent in Darya in the mid-20th century. Increased international commerce and immigration led to the first football clubs in port cities such as Dhanora by 1909. The sport took off in earnest as a result of the colonial experience, when Daryan colonial administrators in colonies such as [[Mallacaland]] became partial to the game.{{efn|In fact, one of the first Daryan football teams, Emirs of Dhanora FC, was founded as a club of former colonial officers in Mallacaland and also included a small number of Mallacan expatriates as players.}} In the short term, the [[Daryan Civil War]] (1910-1915) contributed to the rise of Daryan football, as soldiers found football easier to play while on the march, while the war devastated Darya's lacrosse clubs and infrastructure. The growth of mass media contributed to the sport's rise, and many lacrosse teams founded football affiliates which competed in the Conference of Daryan Football (CDF, 1919-1955). &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The initial surge in football in Darya subsided, particularly as an economic slowdown in the 1940s spelled the death of many football teams, and nationalistic fervor promoted by the Daryan Imperial household led to football being criticized as an effeminate foreign sport. In 1955, the Conference of Daryan Football collapsed, leading to a drought in Daryan football which would last until after the Great War. Interestingly, perceptions of football as a more gentle, sedate sport meant that women's participation in football continued even during the drought; women were excluded from lacrosse, but women's colleges and secondary schools during the mid-20th century typically featured football as the sole team athletic event. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The end of the Great War offered opportunities for a resurgence in Daryan football. During the occupation of Darya, many soldiers on occupation duty formed football teams which competed against upstart local clubs. The wartime experiences of Daryan soldiers abroad also helped promote the game's growth—one of the game's first post-war Daryan stars, Rajesh Bai, had first begun playing during years spent in a prisoner of war camp in Laeral. Many Daryan settlers in [[Andhrapur]] also emigrated following the country's independence, some of whom had played football in Andhrapur's colonial league. In 1973, the All-Darya Football Championship was founded, consisting of 10 teams, with the number growing to 18 by 1978. This league faced financial and legal difficulties, including widespread corruption and legal scrutiny by authorities, and folded in 1984. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Over the next several years, individual football clubs operated under league arrangements conducted on a season-by-season basis. In 1988, the Daryan Pro League was formed to unite eight of the largest and most popular clubs. Shrewd television deals allowed the Pro League to outdo its competitors and become Darya's dominant football league by 1994 when it absorbed its largest rival. Today, the Daryan Pro League's membership has grown to 20 clubs, and it is recognized as the preeminent Daryan football league, second only to the National Conference in lacrosse for revenue. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Clubs==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{| class=&amp;quot;wikitable&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
|+Daryan Pro League Member Clubs&lt;br /&gt;
!Club&lt;br /&gt;
!City&lt;br /&gt;
!Founding Year&lt;br /&gt;
!Notes&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Amroha FC&lt;br /&gt;
|Kurwai, Kurwai State&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Gulana FC&lt;br /&gt;
|Gulana, Rhandistan&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
|Nicknamed the &amp;quot;Rhandi national team&amp;quot; by Rhandi nationalists&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|RC Sambhal&lt;br /&gt;
|Sambhal, Bhavra&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Vidisha FC&lt;br /&gt;
|Vidisha, Ujjain&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Begusarai SC&lt;br /&gt;
|Kurwai, Kurwai State&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
|Also known as Sporting Club of Begusarai&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
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|}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Notes==&lt;br /&gt;
{{notelist}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category: Sports]][[Category: Darya]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Laeral</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Daryan_Pro_League&amp;diff=45566</id>
		<title>Daryan Pro League</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Daryan_Pro_League&amp;diff=45566"/>
		<updated>2026-08-10T14:39:33Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Laeral: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;The '''Daryan Pro League''' is the top flight of [[Darya|Daryan]] association football, founded in 1988 and held continuously since then. The league includes 20 franchise clubs from across Darya. Unlike in most nations' football leagues and the [[National Conference (Darya)|National Conference]] for lacrosse, the Daryan Pro League does not feature promotion or relegation. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==History==&lt;br /&gt;
Football first became prominent in Darya in the mid-20th century. Increased international commerce and immigration led to the first football clubs in port cities such as Dhanora by 1909. The sport took off in earnest as a result of the colonial experience, when Daryan colonial administrators in colonies such as [[Mallacaland]] became partial to the game.{{efn|In fact, one of the first Daryan football teams, Emirs of Dhanora FC, was founded as a club of former colonial officers in Mallacaland and also included a small number of Mallacan expatriates as players.}} In the short term, the [[Daryan Civil War]] (1910-1915) contributed to the rise of Daryan football, as soldiers found football easier to play while on the march, while the war devastated Darya's lacrosse clubs and infrastructure. The growth of mass media contributed to the sport's rise, and many lacrosse teams founded football affiliates which competed in the Conference of Daryan Football (CDF, 1919-1955). &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The initial surge in football in Darya subsided, particularly as an economic slowdown in the 1940s spelled the death of many football teams, and nationalistic fervor promoted by the Daryan Imperial household led to football being criticized as an effeminate foreign sport. In 1955, the Conference of Daryan Football collapsed, leading to a drought in Daryan football which would last until after the Great War. Interestingly, perceptions of football as a more gentle, sedate sport meant that women's participation in football continued even during the drought; women were excluded from lacrosse, but women's colleges and secondary schools during the mid-20th century typically featured football as the sole team athletic event. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The end of the Great War offered opportunities for a resurgence in Daryan football. During the occupation of Darya, many soldiers on occupation duty formed football teams which competed against upstart local clubs. The wartime experiences of Daryan soldiers abroad also helped promote the game's growth—one of the game's first post-war Daryan stars, Rajesh Bai, had first begun playing during years spent in a prisoner of war camp in Laeral. Many Daryan settlers in [[Andhrapur]] also emigrated following the country's independence, some of whom had played football in Andhrapur's colonial league. In 1973, the All-Darya Football Championship was founded, consisting of 10 teams, with the number growing to 18 by 1978. This league faced financial and legal difficulties, including widespread corruption and legal scrutiny by authorities, and folded in 1984. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Over the next several years, individual football clubs operated under league arrangements conducted on a season-by-season basis. In 1988, the Daryan Pro League was formed to unite eight of the largest and most popular clubs. Shrewd television deals allowed the Pro League to outdo its competitors and become Darya's dominant football league by 1994 when it absorbed its largest rival. Today, the Daryan Pro League's membership has grown to 20 clubs, and it is recognized as the preeminent Daryan football league, second only to the National Conference in lacrosse for revenue. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Clubs==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Amroha FC (in Kurwai)&lt;br /&gt;
Gulana FC &lt;br /&gt;
RC Sambhal&lt;br /&gt;
Vidisha FC&lt;br /&gt;
Begusarai SC (Sporting Club)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Notes==&lt;br /&gt;
{{notelist}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category: Sports]][[Category: Darya]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Laeral</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Daryan_Pro_League&amp;diff=45563</id>
		<title>Daryan Pro League</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Daryan_Pro_League&amp;diff=45563"/>
		<updated>2026-08-08T15:05:36Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Laeral: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;The '''Daryan Pro League''' is the top flight of [[Darya|Daryan]] association football, founded in 1988 and held continuously since then. The league includes 20 franchise clubs from across Darya. Unlike in most nations' football leagues and the [[National Conference (Darya)|National Conference]] for lacrosse, the Daryan Pro League does not feature promotion or relegation. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==History==&lt;br /&gt;
Football first became prominent in Darya in the mid-20th century. Increased international commerce and immigration led to the first football clubs in port cities such as Dhanora by 1909. The sport took off in earnest as a result of the colonial experience, when Daryan colonial administrators in colonies such as [[Mallacaland]] became partial to the game.{{efn|In fact, one of the first Daryan football teams, Emirs of Dhanora FC, was founded as a club of former colonial officers in Mallacaland and also included a small number of Mallacan expatriates as players.}} In the short term, the [[Daryan Civil War]] (1910-1915) contributed to the rise of Daryan football, as soldiers found football easier to play while on the march, while the war devastated Darya's lacrosse clubs and infrastructure. The growth of mass media contributed to the sport's rise, and many lacrosse teams founded football affiliates which competed in the Conference of Daryan Football (CDF, 1919-1955). &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The initial surge in football in Darya subsided, particularly as an economic slowdown in the 1940s spelled the death of many football teams, and nationalistic fervor promoted by the Daryan Imperial household led to football being criticized as an effeminate foreign sport. In 1955, the Conference of Daryan Football collapsed, leading to a drought in Daryan football which would last until after the Great War. Interestingly, perceptions of football as a more gentle, sedate sport meant that women's participation in football continued even during the drought; women were excluded from lacrosse, but women's colleges and secondary schools during the mid-20th century typically featured football as the sole team athletic event. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The end of the Great War offered opportunities for a resurgence in Daryan football. During the occupation of Darya, many soldiers on occupation duty formed football teams which competed against upstart local clubs. The wartime experiences of Daryan soldiers abroad also helped promote the game's growth—one of the game's first post-war Daryan stars, Rajesh Bai, had first begun playing during years spent in a prisoner of war camp in Laeral. Many Daryan settlers in [[Andhrapur]] also emigrated following the country's independence, some of whom had played football in Andhrapur's colonial league. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Clubs==&lt;br /&gt;
Amroha FC (in Kurwai)&lt;br /&gt;
Gulana FC &lt;br /&gt;
RC Sambhal&lt;br /&gt;
Vidisha FC&lt;br /&gt;
Begusarai SC (Sporting Club)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Notes==&lt;br /&gt;
{{notelist}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category: Sports]][[Category: Darya]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Laeral</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Daryan_Pro_League&amp;diff=45555</id>
		<title>Daryan Pro League</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Daryan_Pro_League&amp;diff=45555"/>
		<updated>2026-08-07T17:49:27Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Laeral: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;The '''Daryan Pro League''' is the top flight of [[Darya|Daryan]] association football, founded in 1988 and held continuously since then. The league includes 20 franchise clubs from across Darya. Unlike in most nations' football leagues and the [[National Conference (Darya)|National Conference]] for lacrosse, the Daryan Pro League does not feature promotion or relegation. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==History==&lt;br /&gt;
Football first became prominent in Darya in the mid-20th century. Increased international commerce and immigration led to the first football clubs in port cities such as Dhanora by 1909. The sport took off in earnest as a result of the colonial experience, when Daryan colonial administrators in colonies such as [[Mallacaland]] became partial to the game. In the short term, the [[Daryan Civil War]] (1910-1915) contributed to the rise of Daryan football, as soldiers found football easier to play while on the march, while the war devastated Darya's lacrosse clubs and infrastructure. The growth of mass media contributed to the sport's rise, and many lacrosse teams founded football affiliates which competed in the Conference of Daryan Football (CDF, 1919-1955). &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The initial surge in football in Darya subsided, particularly as an economic slowdown in the 1940s spelled the death of many football teams, and nationalistic fervor promoted by the Daryan Imperial household led to football being criticized as an effeminate foreign sport. In 1955, the Conference of Daryan Football collapsed, leading to a drought in Daryan football which would last until after the Great War. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Clubs==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category: Sports]][[Category: Darya]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Laeral</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Daryan_Pro_League&amp;diff=45554</id>
		<title>Daryan Pro League</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Daryan_Pro_League&amp;diff=45554"/>
		<updated>2026-08-07T17:44:00Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Laeral: Created page with &amp;quot;The '''Daryan Pro League''' is the top flight of Daryan association football, founded in 1988 and held continuously since then. The league includes 20 franchise clubs from across Darya. Unlike in most nations' football leagues and the National Conference for lacrosse, the Daryan Pro League does not feature promotion or relegation.   ==History== Football first became prominent in Darya in the mid-20th century. Increased internatio...&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;The '''Daryan Pro League''' is the top flight of [[Darya|Daryan]] association football, founded in 1988 and held continuously since then. The league includes 20 franchise clubs from across Darya. Unlike in most nations' football leagues and the [[National Conference (Darya)|National Conference]] for lacrosse, the Daryan Pro League does not feature promotion or relegation. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==History==&lt;br /&gt;
Football first became prominent in Darya in the mid-20th century. Increased international commerce and immigration led to the first football clubs in port cities such as Dhanora by 1918. The sport took off in earnest as a result of the colonial experience, when Daryan colonial administrators in colonies such as [[Mallacaland]] became partial to the game. The rise of mass media contributed to the sport's rise, and many lacrosse teams founded football affiliates which competed in the Conference of Daryan Football (CDF, 1926-1955). &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The initial surge in football in Darya subsided, particularly as an economic slowdown in the 1940s spelled the death of many football teams, and nationalistic fervor promoted by the Daryan Imperial household led to football being criticized as an effeminate foreign sport. In 1955, the Conference of Daryan Football collapsed, leading to a drought in Daryan football which would last until after the Great War. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Clubs==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category: Sports]][[Category: Darya]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Laeral</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Slokaisian_Premier_League&amp;diff=45553</id>
		<title>Slokaisian Premier League</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Slokaisian_Premier_League&amp;diff=45553"/>
		<updated>2026-08-07T17:30:08Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Laeral: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;{{Infobox organization&lt;br /&gt;
| name                = Slokaisian Premier League&lt;br /&gt;
| pronounce           = &lt;br /&gt;
| native_name         = '''&amp;lt;big&amp;gt;Liga Premier Slokaisian&amp;lt;/big&amp;gt;'''&lt;br /&gt;
| native_name_lang    = Spainsh&lt;br /&gt;
| named_after         = &lt;br /&gt;
| image               = SPL.png&lt;br /&gt;
| image_size          = 250px&lt;br /&gt;
| alt                 = &lt;br /&gt;
| caption             = &lt;br /&gt;
| logo                = &lt;br /&gt;
| logo_size           = &lt;br /&gt;
| logo_alt            = &lt;br /&gt;
| logo_caption        = &lt;br /&gt;
| map                 = &lt;br /&gt;
| map_size            = &lt;br /&gt;
| map_alt             = &lt;br /&gt;
| map_caption         = &lt;br /&gt;
| map2                = &lt;br /&gt;
| map2_size           = &lt;br /&gt;
| map2_alt            = &lt;br /&gt;
| map2_caption        = &lt;br /&gt;
| abbreviation        = SPL&lt;br /&gt;
| predecessor         = &lt;br /&gt;
| merged              = &lt;br /&gt;
| successor           = &lt;br /&gt;
| formation           = &amp;lt;!-- use {{start date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} --&amp;gt; 2001&lt;br /&gt;
| founder             = &lt;br /&gt;
| founding_location   = [[San Fernando]], [[Slokais Islands]]&lt;br /&gt;
| extinction          = &amp;lt;!-- use {{end date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| merger              = &lt;br /&gt;
| type                = Association Football League&lt;br /&gt;
| tax_id              = &amp;lt;!-- or | vat_id = (for European organizations) --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| registration_id     = &amp;lt;!-- for non-profit org --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| status              = &lt;br /&gt;
| purpose             = &lt;br /&gt;
| headquarters        = [[San Fernando]], [[Slokais Islands]]&lt;br /&gt;
| location            = &lt;br /&gt;
| coords              = &amp;lt;!-- {{coord|LAT|LON|display=inline, title}} --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| region              = &lt;br /&gt;
| services            = &lt;br /&gt;
| products            = &lt;br /&gt;
| methods             = &lt;br /&gt;
| fields              = &lt;br /&gt;
| membership          = &lt;br /&gt;
| membership_year     = &lt;br /&gt;
| language            = &lt;br /&gt;
| owner               = &amp;lt;!-- or | owners = --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| sec_gen             = &lt;br /&gt;
| leader_title        = &lt;br /&gt;
| leader_name         = &lt;br /&gt;
| leader_title2       = &lt;br /&gt;
| leader_name2        = &lt;br /&gt;
| leader_title3       = &lt;br /&gt;
| leader_name3        = &lt;br /&gt;
| leader_title4       = &lt;br /&gt;
| leader_name4        = &lt;br /&gt;
| board_of_directors  = &lt;br /&gt;
| key_people          = &lt;br /&gt;
| main_organ          = &lt;br /&gt;
| parent_organization = &lt;br /&gt;
| subsidiaries        = &lt;br /&gt;
| secessions          = &lt;br /&gt;
| affiliations        = &lt;br /&gt;
| budget              = &lt;br /&gt;
| budget_year         = &lt;br /&gt;
| revenue             = &lt;br /&gt;
| revenue_year        = &lt;br /&gt;
| disbursements       = &lt;br /&gt;
| expenses            = &lt;br /&gt;
| expenses_year       = &lt;br /&gt;
| endowment           = &lt;br /&gt;
| endowment_year      = &lt;br /&gt;
| staff               = &lt;br /&gt;
| staff_year          = &lt;br /&gt;
| volunteers          = &lt;br /&gt;
| volunteers_year     = &lt;br /&gt;
| website             = SPL.si&lt;br /&gt;
| remarks             = &lt;br /&gt;
| formerly            = &lt;br /&gt;
| footnotes           = &lt;br /&gt;
}}&lt;br /&gt;
The [[Slokaisian Premier League|'''Slokaisian Premier League''']] (Spanish: '''Liga Premier Slokaisian)''' is the top flight of association football in [[Slokais Islands]], created in 2001 as a level above the [[Liga 1]]. &lt;br /&gt;
==History==&lt;br /&gt;
In 1999, the '''Slokais Islands Football Association''' began discussing creating a more elite version of the first division. In previous seasons, a few clubs had dominated, leading to smaller clubs having little to no chance of winning the league. In 2000, the Slokasian Premier League was created by the league's first commissioner, Henry Montez. Montez designed an 8-team league system, with the top 8 teams from the 2000-2001 season being the league's first members. During the league's first seasons, Northrock and New Liverpool United dominated often finishing first and second every season. After 2008, the league was expanded to 12 team system leading to more competitive seasons. 2010 saw the introduction of 2 teams being relegated every season instead of just one, this meant more teams from lower leagues were making it to the Premier League. In 2022-2023, the Weston Road Wolves narrowly edged out New Liverpool FC to win the league.&lt;br /&gt;
==Structure==&lt;br /&gt;
The SPL is made of 12 teams, with 2 teams being relegated and two teams being promoted every season. The season is divided into two main phases, the League phase consists of 33 games, with each team playing each other 3 times. From there the top-6 teams enter the Leaders Phase while the bottom 6 enter the Playoff Phase. The top 3 teams make the UHFA Elite Championship and the 4th and 5th placed teams make the UHFA Competitors League. Meanwhile the 12th placed team is relegated to Division 1, with the 11th-placed team paying against the 2nd-placed team in Division 1.  Additionally, every team makes the Gatling's Cup, consisting of every team in the SPL and the First Division as well as entering the Association Cup in the 4th Round. Every team receives 3 points for a win, 1 for a tie, and 0 for a loss. Tiebreaks between teams are first calculated by goal difference, then goals scored, then fair play points (Yellow Cards + Red Cards). If two teams remain tied before tiebreakers at the end of a season with either the title or relegation on the line, a single match is played between the two teams, if the match remains tied after extra time, penalties are taken. The season occurs yearly from September to May with breaks for international club or national team competitions.  &lt;br /&gt;
==Teams==&lt;br /&gt;
{| class=&amp;quot;wikitable&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
|+Teams in Slokaisian Premier League&lt;br /&gt;
!Team&lt;br /&gt;
!City&lt;br /&gt;
!Stadium&lt;br /&gt;
!Founded&lt;br /&gt;
!Joined League&lt;br /&gt;
!Titles&lt;br /&gt;
!Last Season&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|[[New Liverpool FC]]&lt;br /&gt;
|[[New Liverpool]]&lt;br /&gt;
|New Liverpool Stadium&lt;br /&gt;
|1905&lt;br /&gt;
|2001&lt;br /&gt;
|6&lt;br /&gt;
|3rd: UHFA Elite Championship&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|[[San Fernando FC]]&lt;br /&gt;
|[[San Fernando]]&lt;br /&gt;
|Promenade Stadium&lt;br /&gt;
|1905&lt;br /&gt;
|2001&lt;br /&gt;
|3&lt;br /&gt;
|7th&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Southland Athletics]]&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Southland]]&lt;br /&gt;
|Crawford Road&lt;br /&gt;
|1941&lt;br /&gt;
|2001&lt;br /&gt;
|0&lt;br /&gt;
|4th: UHFA Competitors League&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Kaijan City Dragons]]&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Kaijan City]]&lt;br /&gt;
|Kaijan National Stadium&lt;br /&gt;
|1975&lt;br /&gt;
|2001&lt;br /&gt;
|1&lt;br /&gt;
|5th: UHFA Competitors League&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Northrock United]]&lt;br /&gt;
|[[New Liverpool]]&lt;br /&gt;
|SunTech Stadium&lt;br /&gt;
|1938&lt;br /&gt;
|2001&lt;br /&gt;
|8&lt;br /&gt;
|2nd: UHFA Elite Championship&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Ambonar United]]&lt;br /&gt;
|Xulin&lt;br /&gt;
|Dah Garai Stadium &lt;br /&gt;
|1945&lt;br /&gt;
|2002&lt;br /&gt;
|0&lt;br /&gt;
|'''Champions: UHFA Elite Championship'''&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Weston Road Wolves]]&lt;br /&gt;
|Weston&lt;br /&gt;
|XI Park&lt;br /&gt;
|1927&lt;br /&gt;
|2001&lt;br /&gt;
|1&lt;br /&gt;
|4th: UHFA Competitors League&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Atlético Ciudad Victoria]] &lt;br /&gt;
|[[Victoria City]]&lt;br /&gt;
|Estadio Municipal &lt;br /&gt;
|1952&lt;br /&gt;
|2008&lt;br /&gt;
|2&lt;br /&gt;
|6th&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|[[San Jose Titans FC]]&lt;br /&gt;
|[[San Jose]]&lt;br /&gt;
|HMG Park&lt;br /&gt;
|1990&lt;br /&gt;
|2001&lt;br /&gt;
|1&lt;br /&gt;
|10th&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Docklands FC]]&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Kaijan City]]&lt;br /&gt;
|D2 Arena&lt;br /&gt;
|2008&lt;br /&gt;
|2015&lt;br /&gt;
|0&lt;br /&gt;
|11th&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Acadia Oaks United]]&lt;br /&gt;
|San Lucas&lt;br /&gt;
|Talk Social Stadium&lt;br /&gt;
|1974&lt;br /&gt;
|2014&lt;br /&gt;
|0&lt;br /&gt;
|9th&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Salvador City Pythons]]&lt;br /&gt;
|[[San Fernando]]&lt;br /&gt;
|Midway Road Park&lt;br /&gt;
|1980&lt;br /&gt;
|2019&lt;br /&gt;
|0&lt;br /&gt;
|8th&lt;br /&gt;
|}&lt;br /&gt;
==Seasons==&lt;br /&gt;
{| class=&amp;quot;wikitable&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
|+&lt;br /&gt;
!Season&lt;br /&gt;
!Champions&lt;br /&gt;
!League Cup Champion&lt;br /&gt;
!Top Scorer&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|'''17-18'''&lt;br /&gt;
|[[New Liverpool FC]] (4)&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Northrock United]] (8)&lt;br /&gt;
|Theodore Zavala (22) [[New Liverpool FC]]&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|'''18-19'''&lt;br /&gt;
|San Jose Titans FC (1)&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Weston Road Wolves]] (1)&lt;br /&gt;
|Paulo Fedak (18) Docklands FC&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|'''19-20'''&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Northrock United]] (5)&lt;br /&gt;
|[[San Fernando FC]] (3)&lt;br /&gt;
|Quentin Henderson (20) [[San Fernando FC]]&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|'''20-21'''&lt;br /&gt;
|[[New Liverpool FC]] (5)&lt;br /&gt;
|Docklands FC (1)&lt;br /&gt;
|Theodore Zavala (19) [[New Liverpool FC]]&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|'''21-22'''&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Northrock United]] (6)&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Northrock United]] (9)&lt;br /&gt;
|Johnthan Kai-Yuen (27) Acadia Oaks United&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|'''22-23'''&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Weston Road Wolves]] (1)&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Northrock United]] (10)&lt;br /&gt;
|Quentin Henderson (21) [[Northrock United]]&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|'''23-24'''&lt;br /&gt;
|[[New Liverpool FC]] (6)&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Southland Athletics]] (2)&lt;br /&gt;
|Theodore Zavala (25) [[New Liverpool FC]]&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|'''24-25'''&lt;br /&gt;
|Ambon United (1)&lt;br /&gt;
|Ambon United (1)&lt;br /&gt;
|Theodore Zavala (20) [[New Liverpool FC]]&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|'''25-26'''&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
|}&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Sports]][[Category:Culture]][[Category: Slokais Islands]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Laeral</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Darya&amp;diff=45552</id>
		<title>Darya</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Darya&amp;diff=45552"/>
		<updated>2026-08-07T17:10:38Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Laeral: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;{{Infobox country&lt;br /&gt;
|micronation =        &amp;lt;!--yes if a micronation--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|conventional_long_name = United Republic of Darya&lt;br /&gt;
|native_name =        &amp;lt;!--Country's name (usually full name) in its official/defacto language(s), hence in italics (double quotemarks)--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|common_name =       Darya&lt;br /&gt;
|status =             &amp;lt;!--Status of country, especially useful for micronations--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|image_flag =        [[File:Darya Flag.png|250px]] &amp;lt;!--e.g. Flag of country.svg--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|alt_flag =           &amp;lt;!--alt text for flag (text shown when pointer hovers over flag)--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|flag_border =        &amp;lt;!--set to no to disable border around the flag--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|image_flag2 =        &amp;lt;!--e.g. Second-flag of country.svg--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|alt_flag2 =          &amp;lt;!--alt text for second flag--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|flag2_border =       &amp;lt;!--set to no to disable border around the flag--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|image_coat =         &amp;lt;!--e.g. Coat of arms of country.svg--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|alt_coat =           &amp;lt;!--alt text for coat of arms--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|symbol_type =        &amp;lt;!--emblem, seal, etc (if not a coat of arms)--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|national_motto =     &amp;lt;!--in inverted commas and wikilinked if link exists--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|englishmotto =       &amp;lt;!--English language version of motto--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|national_anthem =    &amp;lt;!--in inverted commas and wikilinked if link exists--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|royal_anthem =       &amp;lt;!--in inverted commas and wikilinked if link exists--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|other_symbol_type =  &amp;lt;!--Use if a further symbol exists, e.g. hymn--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|other_symbol =&lt;br /&gt;
|image_map =          &amp;lt;!--e.g. LocationCountry.svg--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|loctext =            &amp;lt;!--text description of location of country--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|alt_map =            &amp;lt;!--alt text for map--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|map_caption =        &amp;lt;!--Caption to place below map--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|image_map_size =     &amp;lt;!--Map size in number of pixels--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|image_map2 =         &amp;lt;!--Another map, if required--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|alt_map2 =           &amp;lt;!--alt text for second map--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|map_caption2 =       &amp;lt;!--Caption to place below second map--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|image_map2_size =    &amp;lt;!--Map size in number of pixels--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|capital =            Kurwai&lt;br /&gt;
|coordinates =        &amp;lt;!-- Coordinates for capital, using {{tl|coord}} --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|largest_city =       Kurwai&lt;br /&gt;
|largest_settlement_type = &amp;lt;!--Type of settlement if largest settlement not a city--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|largest_settlement = &amp;lt;!--Name of largest settlement--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|official_languages = Daryan, others&lt;br /&gt;
|national_languages = &amp;lt;!--Country/territory-wide languages recognised but not necessarily in country/territory-wide law, etc--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|regional_languages = &amp;lt;!--Languages recognised or associated with particular regions within the country/territory--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|languages_type =     &amp;lt;!--Use to specify a further type of language, if not official, national or regional--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|languages =          &amp;lt;!--Languages of the further type--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|languages_sub =      &amp;lt;!--Is this further type of language a sub-item of the previous non-sub type? (&amp;quot;yes&amp;quot; or &amp;quot;no&amp;quot;)--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|languages2_type =    &amp;lt;!--Another further type of language--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|languages2 =         &amp;lt;!--Languages of this second further type--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|languages2_sub =     &amp;lt;!--Is the second alternative type of languages a sub-item of the previous non-sub type? (&amp;quot;yes&amp;quot; or &amp;quot;no&amp;quot;)--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|ethnic_groups =      Daryan, others&lt;br /&gt;
|ethnic_groups_year = &amp;lt;!--Year of ethnic groups data (if provided)--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|ethnic_groups_ref =  &amp;lt;!--(for any ref/s to associate with ethnic groups data)--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|religion =           &amp;lt;!--Religion--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|religion_year =      &amp;lt;!--Year of religion data (if provided)--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|religion_ref =       &amp;lt;!--(for any ref/s to associate with religion data)--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|demonym =            Daryan&lt;br /&gt;
|government_type =    Federal presidential republic&lt;br /&gt;
|leader_title1 =      President&lt;br /&gt;
|leader_name1 =  &lt;br /&gt;
|leader_title2 =     Vice-President&lt;br /&gt;
|leader_name2 =&lt;br /&gt;
|leader_title3 =    Speaker of Parliament&lt;br /&gt;
|leader_name3 = &lt;br /&gt;
|legislature =      Parliament&lt;br /&gt;
|upper_house =        First Chamber&lt;br /&gt;
|lower_house =        Second Chamber&lt;br /&gt;
|sovereignty_type =   &amp;lt;!--Brief description of country/territory's status (&amp;quot;Independence [from...]&amp;quot;, &amp;quot;Autonomous province [of...]&amp;quot;, etc)--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|sovereignty_note = &lt;br /&gt;
|established_event1 = Formation of the Daryan Empire&lt;br /&gt;
|established_date1 =  April 2nd, 1209&lt;br /&gt;
|established_event2 = Ramachandran reforms&lt;br /&gt;
|established_date2 =  1431-1439&lt;br /&gt;
|established_event3 = Daryan surrender in the [[Great War]]&lt;br /&gt;
|established_date3 = September 8, 1967&lt;br /&gt;
|established_event4 = Occupation of Darya ends&lt;br /&gt;
|established_date4 = November 30, 1976&lt;br /&gt;
|established_event13 = &amp;lt;!--(up to 13 distinct events may be included)--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|established_date13 =&lt;br /&gt;
|area_rank = &lt;br /&gt;
|area =               &amp;lt;!--Major area size (in [[Template:convert]] either km2 or sqmi first)--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|area_km2 =           &amp;lt;!--Major area size (in square km)--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|area_sq_mi =         &amp;lt;!--Area in square mi (requires area_km2)--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|area_footnote =      &amp;lt;!--Optional footnote for area--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|percent_water = &lt;br /&gt;
|area_label =         &amp;lt;!--Label under &amp;quot;Area&amp;quot; (default is &amp;quot;Total&amp;quot;)--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|area_label2 =        &amp;lt;!--Label below area_label (optional)--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|area_data2 =         &amp;lt;!--Text after area_label2 (optional)--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|population_estimate = &lt;br /&gt;
|population_estimate_rank = &lt;br /&gt;
|population_estimate_year = &lt;br /&gt;
|population_census = 240,823,209&lt;br /&gt;
|population_census_year = 2021&lt;br /&gt;
|population_density_km2 = &lt;br /&gt;
|population_density_sq_mi = &lt;br /&gt;
|population_density_rank = &lt;br /&gt;
|nummembers =         &amp;lt;!--An alternative to population for micronation--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|GDP_PPP =            &amp;lt;!--(Gross Domestic Product from Purchasing Power Parity)--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|GDP_PPP_rank = &lt;br /&gt;
|GDP_PPP_year = &lt;br /&gt;
|GDP_PPP_per_capita = &lt;br /&gt;
|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = &lt;br /&gt;
|GDP_nominal = &lt;br /&gt;
|GDP_nominal_rank = &lt;br /&gt;
|GDP_nominal_year = &lt;br /&gt;
|GDP_nominal_per_capita = SCN 5,381 &lt;br /&gt;
|GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = &lt;br /&gt;
|Gini =               51.1&lt;br /&gt;
|Gini_ref =           &amp;lt;!--(for any ref/s to associate with Gini number)--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|Gini_rank = &lt;br /&gt;
|Gini_year = &lt;br /&gt;
|HDI_year =          &lt;br /&gt;
|HDI =              0.731&lt;br /&gt;
|HDI_change =         &amp;lt;!--increase/decrease/steady; rank change from previous year--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|HDI_rank = &lt;br /&gt;
|HDI_ref =            &amp;lt;!--(for any ref/s to associate with HDI number)--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|currency =           Daryan takah&lt;br /&gt;
|currency_code =      DTK&lt;br /&gt;
|time_zone =          &amp;lt;!--e.g. GMT, PST, AST, etc, etc (wikilinked if possible)--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|utc_offset =         &amp;lt;!--in the form &amp;quot;+N&amp;quot;, where N is number of hours offset--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|time_zone_DST =      &amp;lt;!--Link to DST (Daylight Saving Time) used, otherwise leave empty--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|utc_offset_DST =     &amp;lt;!--in the form &amp;quot;+N&amp;quot;, where N is number of hours offset--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|DST_note =           &amp;lt;!--Optional note regarding DST use--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|antipodes =          &amp;lt;!--Place/s exactly on the opposite side of the world to country/territory--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|date_format =        &amp;lt;!--all-numeric date format and era, such as [[Common Era|CE]], [[Anno Domini|AD]], [[Hijri year|AH]], etc.; e.g. {{abbr|yyyy|year}}-{{abbr|mm|month}}-{{abbr|dd|day}} ([[Anno Domini|AD]]) --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|drives_on =          &amp;lt;!--&amp;quot;right&amp;quot; or &amp;quot;left&amp;quot; (side of road)--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|cctld =              &amp;lt;!--Internet country code top-level domain identifier (e.g. [[.br]], [[.de]], etc)--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|iso3166code =        &amp;lt;!--ISO code only; no extra text. Use to override default from common_name parameter above; omit using &amp;quot;omit&amp;quot;.--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|calling_code =       &amp;lt;!--e.g. [[+1]], [[+531]], [[+44]], etc--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|patron_saint =       &amp;lt;!--Use patron_saints for multiple--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|image_map3 =         &amp;lt;!--Optional third map position, e.g. for use with reference to footnotes below it--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|alt_map3 =           &amp;lt;!--alt text for third map position--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|footnote_a =         &amp;lt;!--For any footnote &amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;a&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt; used above--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|footnote_b =         &amp;lt;!--For any footnote &amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;b&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt; used above--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|footnote_h =         &amp;lt;!--For any footnote &amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;h&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt; used above--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|footnotes =          &amp;lt;!--For any generic non-numbered footnotes--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
}}&lt;br /&gt;
The '''United Republic of Darya''' is a federal presidential republic located in northern [[Caxcana]]. Daryan civilization dates back over three millennia, with the [[Daryan Empire]] (1209-1968) unifying much of modern-day Darya in the 13th century. Initially a feudal state, Darya soon expanded through territorial conquest to unite disparate ethnic groups of northern Caxcana, developing a powerful centralized state apparatus and standing military. A center of scientific and cultural innovation and an early industrialized state, Darya fought wars with neighbors such as [[Legionas]] and [[Andhrapur]] in the early modern era, and by the early 20th century had developed into a seagoing colonial empire, employing a mercantilist economic system in which raw materials from colonies such as [[Andhrapur]], [[Mallacaland]], [[Kabo Geshaan]], and [[Doi Nam]] fed the factories of the metropole. In 1877, the [[Daryan-Costenan War]] was fought between Darya and the [[Costenan Empire]]. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The [[Daryan Empire]], a leading world power in the early 20th century (including taking an early lead in the [[Space Race]]) would be brought low through its involvement in the [[Great War]], which was fueled by Daryan ambitions of conquest alongside its allies in the [[Pact of the Three Emperors]]. Invaded by [[Coalition of Democratic Forces|Coalition]] troops at the close of the war and held under occupation for nearly a decade, Darya established the Constitution of 1969, which proclaimed the United Republic of Darya, with minority rights and a democratic and republican system of government enshrined in law. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In the decades since the Great War, Darya has experienced economic stagnation and political instability.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==History==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Geography==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Major Cities===&lt;br /&gt;
{| class=&amp;quot;wikitable&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
|+Major Cities of Darya by Population&lt;br /&gt;
!Rank&lt;br /&gt;
!City&lt;br /&gt;
!State&lt;br /&gt;
!Notes&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|1&lt;br /&gt;
|Kurwai&lt;br /&gt;
|Kurwai&lt;br /&gt;
|Also federal capital, home of Amroha FC&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|2&lt;br /&gt;
|Dhanora&lt;br /&gt;
|Panagar&lt;br /&gt;
|Major port city&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|3&lt;br /&gt;
|Indergarh&lt;br /&gt;
|Gormi&lt;br /&gt;
|Port city and wealthiest large city nationwide&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|4&lt;br /&gt;
|Vidisha&lt;br /&gt;
|Ujjain&lt;br /&gt;
|Major archeological site&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|5&lt;br /&gt;
|Bijawar&lt;br /&gt;
|Semaria&lt;br /&gt;
|Southernmost major city&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|6&lt;br /&gt;
|Sambhal&lt;br /&gt;
|Bhavra&lt;br /&gt;
|Largest growing city &lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|7&lt;br /&gt;
|Gulana&lt;br /&gt;
|Rhandistan&lt;br /&gt;
|Home to the minority Rhandi people&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|8&lt;br /&gt;
|Reethi&lt;br /&gt;
|Harrai&lt;br /&gt;
|Industrial center&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|9&lt;br /&gt;
|Narayanpur&lt;br /&gt;
|Gormi&lt;br /&gt;
|Historic capital of Darya, home to an influential noble house&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|10&lt;br /&gt;
|Ladnu&lt;br /&gt;
|Behin&lt;br /&gt;
|Known for its carpets and textiles&lt;br /&gt;
|}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=== States ===&lt;br /&gt;
Darya's 16 states were reorganized from 11 historic provinces under the Daryan Empire in 1961, largely with the goal of granting statehood demands to restive minority groups and breaking up the province of Kaithal, seen as the dominant and most militaristic portion of the former Daryan Empire. Darya's 16 states are Kurwai, Behin, Ichawar, Rhandistan, Khultu, Gormi, Murar, Piparai, Bhavra, Jhirniya, Harrai, Panagar, Semaria, Kesli, Anuppur, and Ujjain. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Government==&lt;br /&gt;
Under the Constitution of 1969, Darya is a democratic federal presidential republic. Darya's 16 states enjoy autonomy under elected state governments, while the national chief executive is the nation's president and vice-president, elected via an electoral college for five-year terms. The president is limited to two consecutive terms. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Daryan Parliament is the chief legislative institution, and has existed in some form in Darya since 1840. In its current form, it is a bicameral legislature with a First Chamber (Senate) and a Second Chamber (House of Representatives), with both houses roughly equal in power. The First Chamber holds the sole power to confirm members of the Supreme Court and cabinet ministers when nominated by the president, while the Second Chamber holds sole authority over the budget. Members of the Second Chamber are elected via plurality voting from single-member districts for four year terms, with representatives limited to three consecutive terms. Senators in the First Chamber are elected by plurality at-large voting: the entire nation is treated as a single constituency, and all voters receive 12 votes which they may cast for any combination of candidates. Of the First Chamber's 36 members, 12 are elected every two years for six-year terms, renewable once. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Demographics==&lt;br /&gt;
Darya's population is ethnically heterogenous yet linguistically homogenous, thanks to successful imperial-era Daryanization programs mandating the use of the Daryan language. At a population of over 240 million and a fertility rate of around three children per women, Darya is among the most populous nations in the IDU.  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Ethnicity===&lt;br /&gt;
Darya officially recognizes 14 ethnic groups, many of which have been granted statehood. Ethnic Daryans make up a majority (61%) of Darya's population, with the largest minority groups being Khultuns (16%) and Gouris (11%); other minority ethnicities include Rhandis (7%) and Andhrans (4%). &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Religion===&lt;br /&gt;
The majority religion of Darya is [[Zindism]], a monotheistic religion which originated in Gormi in the 6th century AD. Zindism was the state religion of Darya until 1969.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Economy==&lt;br /&gt;
Darya is a major exporter of petrochemicals, particularly oil, with the most significant deposits located in the Khultiba region. Manufacturing and agriculture are also important contributors to the Daryan economy. Agricultural products in Darya include rice, cotton, hemp, citrus, and [[Coffee production in the International Democratic Union|coffee]]. Although wide-scale deindustrialization during and following the Great War has limited Darya's capacity to produce advanced goods, the pharmaceutical and aerospace industries remain powerful.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Culture==&lt;br /&gt;
Darya is traditionally known for its many different styles of homespun cotton fabric; traditionally, individual Daryan villages have unique styles and colorful designs. The national sport of Darya is lacrosse, which was invented in northern Darya as early as the 14th century before becoming prominent worldwide.  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category: Countries]] [[Category: Darya]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Laeral</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Darya&amp;diff=45551</id>
		<title>Darya</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Darya&amp;diff=45551"/>
		<updated>2026-08-07T16:59:26Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Laeral: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;{{Infobox country&lt;br /&gt;
|micronation =        &amp;lt;!--yes if a micronation--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|conventional_long_name = United Republic of Darya&lt;br /&gt;
|native_name =        &amp;lt;!--Country's name (usually full name) in its official/defacto language(s), hence in italics (double quotemarks)--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|common_name =       Darya&lt;br /&gt;
|status =             &amp;lt;!--Status of country, especially useful for micronations--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|image_flag =        [[File:Darya Flag.png|250px]] &amp;lt;!--e.g. Flag of country.svg--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|alt_flag =           &amp;lt;!--alt text for flag (text shown when pointer hovers over flag)--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|flag_border =        &amp;lt;!--set to no to disable border around the flag--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|image_flag2 =        &amp;lt;!--e.g. Second-flag of country.svg--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|alt_flag2 =          &amp;lt;!--alt text for second flag--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|flag2_border =       &amp;lt;!--set to no to disable border around the flag--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|image_coat =         &amp;lt;!--e.g. Coat of arms of country.svg--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|alt_coat =           &amp;lt;!--alt text for coat of arms--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|symbol_type =        &amp;lt;!--emblem, seal, etc (if not a coat of arms)--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|national_motto =     &amp;lt;!--in inverted commas and wikilinked if link exists--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|englishmotto =       &amp;lt;!--English language version of motto--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|national_anthem =    &amp;lt;!--in inverted commas and wikilinked if link exists--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|royal_anthem =       &amp;lt;!--in inverted commas and wikilinked if link exists--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|other_symbol_type =  &amp;lt;!--Use if a further symbol exists, e.g. hymn--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|other_symbol =&lt;br /&gt;
|image_map =          &amp;lt;!--e.g. LocationCountry.svg--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|loctext =            &amp;lt;!--text description of location of country--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|alt_map =            &amp;lt;!--alt text for map--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|map_caption =        &amp;lt;!--Caption to place below map--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|image_map_size =     &amp;lt;!--Map size in number of pixels--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|image_map2 =         &amp;lt;!--Another map, if required--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|alt_map2 =           &amp;lt;!--alt text for second map--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|map_caption2 =       &amp;lt;!--Caption to place below second map--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|image_map2_size =    &amp;lt;!--Map size in number of pixels--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|capital =            Kurwai&lt;br /&gt;
|coordinates =        &amp;lt;!-- Coordinates for capital, using {{tl|coord}} --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|largest_city =       Kurwai&lt;br /&gt;
|largest_settlement_type = &amp;lt;!--Type of settlement if largest settlement not a city--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|largest_settlement = &amp;lt;!--Name of largest settlement--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|official_languages = Daryan, others&lt;br /&gt;
|national_languages = &amp;lt;!--Country/territory-wide languages recognised but not necessarily in country/territory-wide law, etc--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|regional_languages = &amp;lt;!--Languages recognised or associated with particular regions within the country/territory--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|languages_type =     &amp;lt;!--Use to specify a further type of language, if not official, national or regional--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|languages =          &amp;lt;!--Languages of the further type--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|languages_sub =      &amp;lt;!--Is this further type of language a sub-item of the previous non-sub type? (&amp;quot;yes&amp;quot; or &amp;quot;no&amp;quot;)--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|languages2_type =    &amp;lt;!--Another further type of language--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|languages2 =         &amp;lt;!--Languages of this second further type--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|languages2_sub =     &amp;lt;!--Is the second alternative type of languages a sub-item of the previous non-sub type? (&amp;quot;yes&amp;quot; or &amp;quot;no&amp;quot;)--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|ethnic_groups =      Daryan, others&lt;br /&gt;
|ethnic_groups_year = &amp;lt;!--Year of ethnic groups data (if provided)--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|ethnic_groups_ref =  &amp;lt;!--(for any ref/s to associate with ethnic groups data)--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|religion =           &amp;lt;!--Religion--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|religion_year =      &amp;lt;!--Year of religion data (if provided)--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|religion_ref =       &amp;lt;!--(for any ref/s to associate with religion data)--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|demonym =            Daryan&lt;br /&gt;
|government_type =    Federal presidential republic&lt;br /&gt;
|leader_title1 =      President&lt;br /&gt;
|leader_name1 =  &lt;br /&gt;
|leader_title2 =     Vice-President&lt;br /&gt;
|leader_name2 =&lt;br /&gt;
|leader_title3 =    Speaker of Parliament&lt;br /&gt;
|leader_name3 = &lt;br /&gt;
|legislature =      Parliament&lt;br /&gt;
|upper_house =        First Chamber&lt;br /&gt;
|lower_house =        Second Chamber&lt;br /&gt;
|sovereignty_type =   &amp;lt;!--Brief description of country/territory's status (&amp;quot;Independence [from...]&amp;quot;, &amp;quot;Autonomous province [of...]&amp;quot;, etc)--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|sovereignty_note = &lt;br /&gt;
|established_event1 = Formation of the Daryan Empire&lt;br /&gt;
|established_date1 =  April 2nd, 1209&lt;br /&gt;
|established_event2 = Ramachandran reforms&lt;br /&gt;
|established_date2 =  1431-1439&lt;br /&gt;
|established_event3 = Daryan surrender in the [[Great War]]&lt;br /&gt;
|established_date3 = September 8, 1967&lt;br /&gt;
|established_event4 = Occupation of Darya ends&lt;br /&gt;
|established_date4 = November 30, 1976&lt;br /&gt;
|established_event13 = &amp;lt;!--(up to 13 distinct events may be included)--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|established_date13 =&lt;br /&gt;
|area_rank = &lt;br /&gt;
|area =               &amp;lt;!--Major area size (in [[Template:convert]] either km2 or sqmi first)--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|area_km2 =           &amp;lt;!--Major area size (in square km)--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|area_sq_mi =         &amp;lt;!--Area in square mi (requires area_km2)--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|area_footnote =      &amp;lt;!--Optional footnote for area--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|percent_water = &lt;br /&gt;
|area_label =         &amp;lt;!--Label under &amp;quot;Area&amp;quot; (default is &amp;quot;Total&amp;quot;)--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|area_label2 =        &amp;lt;!--Label below area_label (optional)--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|area_data2 =         &amp;lt;!--Text after area_label2 (optional)--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|population_estimate = &lt;br /&gt;
|population_estimate_rank = &lt;br /&gt;
|population_estimate_year = &lt;br /&gt;
|population_census = 240,823,209&lt;br /&gt;
|population_census_year = 2021&lt;br /&gt;
|population_density_km2 = &lt;br /&gt;
|population_density_sq_mi = &lt;br /&gt;
|population_density_rank = &lt;br /&gt;
|nummembers =         &amp;lt;!--An alternative to population for micronation--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|GDP_PPP =            &amp;lt;!--(Gross Domestic Product from Purchasing Power Parity)--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|GDP_PPP_rank = &lt;br /&gt;
|GDP_PPP_year = &lt;br /&gt;
|GDP_PPP_per_capita = &lt;br /&gt;
|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = &lt;br /&gt;
|GDP_nominal = &lt;br /&gt;
|GDP_nominal_rank = &lt;br /&gt;
|GDP_nominal_year = &lt;br /&gt;
|GDP_nominal_per_capita = SCN 5,381 &lt;br /&gt;
|GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = &lt;br /&gt;
|Gini =               51.1&lt;br /&gt;
|Gini_ref =           &amp;lt;!--(for any ref/s to associate with Gini number)--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|Gini_rank = &lt;br /&gt;
|Gini_year = &lt;br /&gt;
|HDI_year =          &lt;br /&gt;
|HDI =              0.731&lt;br /&gt;
|HDI_change =         &amp;lt;!--increase/decrease/steady; rank change from previous year--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|HDI_rank = &lt;br /&gt;
|HDI_ref =            &amp;lt;!--(for any ref/s to associate with HDI number)--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|currency =           Daryan takah&lt;br /&gt;
|currency_code =      DTK&lt;br /&gt;
|time_zone =          &amp;lt;!--e.g. GMT, PST, AST, etc, etc (wikilinked if possible)--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|utc_offset =         &amp;lt;!--in the form &amp;quot;+N&amp;quot;, where N is number of hours offset--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|time_zone_DST =      &amp;lt;!--Link to DST (Daylight Saving Time) used, otherwise leave empty--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|utc_offset_DST =     &amp;lt;!--in the form &amp;quot;+N&amp;quot;, where N is number of hours offset--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|DST_note =           &amp;lt;!--Optional note regarding DST use--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|antipodes =          &amp;lt;!--Place/s exactly on the opposite side of the world to country/territory--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|date_format =        &amp;lt;!--all-numeric date format and era, such as [[Common Era|CE]], [[Anno Domini|AD]], [[Hijri year|AH]], etc.; e.g. {{abbr|yyyy|year}}-{{abbr|mm|month}}-{{abbr|dd|day}} ([[Anno Domini|AD]]) --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|drives_on =          &amp;lt;!--&amp;quot;right&amp;quot; or &amp;quot;left&amp;quot; (side of road)--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|cctld =              &amp;lt;!--Internet country code top-level domain identifier (e.g. [[.br]], [[.de]], etc)--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|iso3166code =        &amp;lt;!--ISO code only; no extra text. Use to override default from common_name parameter above; omit using &amp;quot;omit&amp;quot;.--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|calling_code =       &amp;lt;!--e.g. [[+1]], [[+531]], [[+44]], etc--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|patron_saint =       &amp;lt;!--Use patron_saints for multiple--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|image_map3 =         &amp;lt;!--Optional third map position, e.g. for use with reference to footnotes below it--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|alt_map3 =           &amp;lt;!--alt text for third map position--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|footnote_a =         &amp;lt;!--For any footnote &amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;a&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt; used above--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|footnote_b =         &amp;lt;!--For any footnote &amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;b&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt; used above--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|footnote_h =         &amp;lt;!--For any footnote &amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;h&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt; used above--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|footnotes =          &amp;lt;!--For any generic non-numbered footnotes--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
}}&lt;br /&gt;
The '''United Republic of Darya''' is a federal presidential republic located in northern [[Caxcana]]. Daryan civilization dates back over three millennia, with the [[Daryan Empire]] (1209-1968) unifying much of modern-day Darya in the 13th century. Initially a feudal state, Darya soon expanded through territorial conquest to unite disparate ethnic groups of northern Caxcana, developing a powerful centralized state apparatus and standing military. A center of scientific and cultural innovation and an early industrialized state, Darya fought wars with neighbors such as [[Legionas]] and [[Andhrapur]] in the early modern era, and by the early 20th century had developed into a seagoing colonial empire, employing a mercantilist economic system in which raw materials from colonies such as [[Andhrapur]], [[Mallacaland]], and [[Doi Nam]] fed the factories of the metropole. In 1877, the [[Daryan-Costenan War]] was fought between Darya and the [[Costenan Empire]]. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The [[Daryan Empire]], a leading world power in the early 20th century (including taking an early lead in the [[Space Race]]) would be brought low through its involvement in the [[Great War]], which was fueled by Daryan ambitions of conquest alongside its allies in the [[Pact of the Three Emperors]]. Invaded by [[Coalition of Democratic Forces|Coalition]] troops at the close of the war and held under occupation for nearly a decade, Darya established the Constitution of 1969, which proclaimed the United Republic of Darya, with minority rights and a democratic and republican system of government enshrined in law. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In the decades since the Great War, Darya has experienced economic stagnation and political instability.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==History==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Geography==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Major Cities===&lt;br /&gt;
{| class=&amp;quot;wikitable&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
|+Major Cities of Darya by Population&lt;br /&gt;
!Rank&lt;br /&gt;
!City&lt;br /&gt;
!State&lt;br /&gt;
!Notes&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|1&lt;br /&gt;
|Kurwai&lt;br /&gt;
|Kurwai&lt;br /&gt;
|Also federal capital, home of Amroha FC&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|2&lt;br /&gt;
|Dhanora&lt;br /&gt;
|Panagar&lt;br /&gt;
|Major port city&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|3&lt;br /&gt;
|Indergarh&lt;br /&gt;
|Gormi&lt;br /&gt;
|Port city and wealthiest large city nationwide&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|4&lt;br /&gt;
|Vidisha&lt;br /&gt;
|Ujjain&lt;br /&gt;
|Major archeological site&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|5&lt;br /&gt;
|Bijawar&lt;br /&gt;
|Semaria&lt;br /&gt;
|Southernmost major city&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|6&lt;br /&gt;
|Sambhal&lt;br /&gt;
|Bhavra&lt;br /&gt;
|Largest growing city &lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|7&lt;br /&gt;
|Gulana&lt;br /&gt;
|Rhandistan&lt;br /&gt;
|Home to the minority Rhandi people&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|8&lt;br /&gt;
|Reethi&lt;br /&gt;
|Harrai&lt;br /&gt;
|Industrial center&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|9&lt;br /&gt;
|Narayanpur&lt;br /&gt;
|Gormi&lt;br /&gt;
|Historic capital of Darya, home to an influential noble house&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|10&lt;br /&gt;
|Ladnu&lt;br /&gt;
|Behin&lt;br /&gt;
|Known for its carpets and textiles&lt;br /&gt;
|}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=== States ===&lt;br /&gt;
Darya's 16 states were reorganized from 11 historic provinces under the Daryan Empire in 1961, largely with the goal of granting statehood demands to restive minority groups and breaking up the province of Kaithal, seen as the dominant and most militaristic portion of the former Daryan Empire. Darya's 16 states are Kurwai, Behin, Ichawar, Rhandistan, Khultu, Gormi, Murar, Piparai, Bhavra, Jhirniya, Harrai, Panagar, Semaria, Kesli, Anuppur, and Ujjain. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Government==&lt;br /&gt;
Under the Constitution of 1969, Darya is a democratic federal presidential republic. Darya's 16 states enjoy autonomy under elected state governments, while the national chief executive is the nation's president and vice-president, elected via an electoral college for five-year terms. The president is limited to two consecutive terms. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Daryan Parliament is the chief legislative institution, and has existed in some form in Darya since 1840. In its current form, it is a bicameral legislature with a First Chamber (Senate) and a Second Chamber (House of Representatives), with both houses roughly equal in power. The First Chamber holds the sole power to confirm members of the Supreme Court and cabinet ministers when nominated by the president, while the Second Chamber holds sole authority over the budget. Members of the Second Chamber are elected via plurality voting from single-member districts for four year terms, with representatives limited to three consecutive terms. Senators in the First Chamber are elected by plurality at-large voting: the entire nation is treated as a single constituency, and all voters receive 12 votes which they may cast for any combination of candidates. Of the First Chamber's 36 members, 12 are elected every two years for six-year terms, renewable once. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Demographics==&lt;br /&gt;
Darya's population is ethnically heterogenous yet linguistically homogenous, thanks to successful imperial-era Daryanization programs mandating the use of the Daryan language. At a population of over 240 million and a fertility rate of around three children per women, Darya is among the most populous nations in the IDU.  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Ethnicity===&lt;br /&gt;
Darya officially recognizes 14 ethnic groups, many of which have been granted statehood. Ethnic Daryans make up a majority (61%) of Darya's population, with the largest minority groups being Khultuns (16%) and Gouris (11%); other minority ethnicities include Rhandis (7%) and Andhrans (4%). &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Religion===&lt;br /&gt;
The majority religion of Darya is [[Zindism]], a monotheistic religion which originated in Gormi in the 6th century AD. Zindism was the state religion of Darya until 1969.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Economy==&lt;br /&gt;
Darya is a major exporter of petrochemicals, particularly oil, with the most significant deposits located in the Khultiba region. Manufacturing and agriculture are also important contributors to the Daryan economy. Agricultural products in Darya include rice, cotton, hemp, citrus, and [[Coffee production in the International Democratic Union|coffee]]. Although wide-scale deindustrialization during and following the Great War has limited Darya's capacity to produce advanced goods, the pharmaceutical and aerospace industries remain powerful.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Culture==&lt;br /&gt;
Darya is traditionally known for its many different styles of homespun cotton fabric; traditionally, individual Daryan villages have unique styles and colorful designs. The national sport of Darya is lacrosse, which was invented in northern Darya as early as the 14th century before becoming prominent worldwide.  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category: Countries]] [[Category: Darya]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Laeral</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=San_Jose_Titans&amp;diff=45537</id>
		<title>San Jose Titans</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=San_Jose_Titans&amp;diff=45537"/>
		<updated>2026-08-05T15:08:48Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Laeral: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;{{Infobox football club&lt;br /&gt;
| clubname      = San Jose Titans&lt;br /&gt;
| image         = SanJoseFC2026.png&lt;br /&gt;
| image_size    = 200&lt;br /&gt;
| upright       = &lt;br /&gt;
| alt           = &lt;br /&gt;
| caption       = &lt;br /&gt;
| fullname      = &lt;br /&gt;
| nickname      = The Titans&lt;br /&gt;
| short name    = &lt;br /&gt;
| founded       = {{start date and age|1990|01|01}}&lt;br /&gt;
| dissolved     = &lt;br /&gt;
| American      = &lt;br /&gt;
| stadium       = HMG Park&lt;br /&gt;
| capacity      = 30,200&lt;br /&gt;
| coordinates   = &lt;br /&gt;
| owntitle      = &amp;lt;!--optional, default: Owner --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| owner         = David Chen-Kou&lt;br /&gt;
| chrtitle      = &amp;lt;!--optional, default: Chairman --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| chairman      = &lt;br /&gt;
| mgrtitle      = &amp;lt;!--optional, default: Manager --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| manager       = Will Bowman&lt;br /&gt;
| coach         = Anderson Parez&lt;br /&gt;
| league        = &lt;br /&gt;
| season        = 2024-25&lt;br /&gt;
| position      = &lt;br /&gt;
| website       = &lt;br /&gt;
| kit_alt1      = &lt;br /&gt;
| pattern_la1   = &lt;br /&gt;
| pattern_b1    = &lt;br /&gt;
| pattern_ra1   = &lt;br /&gt;
| pattern_sh1   = &lt;br /&gt;
| pattern_so1   = &lt;br /&gt;
| leftarm1      = 000000&lt;br /&gt;
| body1         = 1CDC2B&lt;br /&gt;
| rightarm1     = 000000&lt;br /&gt;
| shorts1       = 1CDC2B&lt;br /&gt;
| socks1        = 1CDC2B&lt;br /&gt;
| pattern_name1 = Home&lt;br /&gt;
| kit_alt2      = &lt;br /&gt;
| pattern_la2   = &lt;br /&gt;
| pattern_b2    = &lt;br /&gt;
| pattern_ra2   = &lt;br /&gt;
| pattern_sh2   = &lt;br /&gt;
| pattern_so2   = &lt;br /&gt;
| leftarm2      = FFFFFF&lt;br /&gt;
| body2         = 1CDC2B&lt;br /&gt;
| rightarm2     = FFFFFF&lt;br /&gt;
| shorts2       = 1CDC2B&lt;br /&gt;
| socks2        = 1CDC2B&lt;br /&gt;
| pattern_name2 = Away&lt;br /&gt;
| kit_alt3      = &lt;br /&gt;
| pattern_la3   = &lt;br /&gt;
| pattern_b3    = &lt;br /&gt;
| pattern_ra3   = &lt;br /&gt;
| pattern_sh3   = &lt;br /&gt;
| pattern_so3   = &lt;br /&gt;
| leftarm3      = &lt;br /&gt;
| body3         = &lt;br /&gt;
| rightarm3     = &lt;br /&gt;
| shorts3       = &lt;br /&gt;
| socks3        = &lt;br /&gt;
| pattern_name3 = &amp;lt;!--optional, default: Third colours --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| current       = &lt;br /&gt;
}}&lt;br /&gt;
The San Jose Titans are a professional sports organization with both an association football team and a drywall ball team, playing in the SPL and the Grand Drywall Ball League, respectively. Founded in 1990 by David Chen-Kou and a group of investors, the organization built a joint sports facility known as HMG Park, which hosts training grounds, a football stadium, a wallyball arena, and a concert venue. San Jose Titans FC have won one SPL title in 2013 and two association cups in 1996 and 2013, respectively.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category: Slokais Islands]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Laeral</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Great_Game&amp;diff=45475</id>
		<title>Great Game</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Great_Game&amp;diff=45475"/>
		<updated>2026-06-23T16:01:26Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Laeral: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;The '''Great Game''' was the period in international relations from 1967 to approximately 2000, a period shaped by the aftermath of the [[Great War]] where states sought to shape the post-war order largely through diplomacy, aid, and covert intervention, rather than military force. This period began with unity between the victorious [[Coalition]] powers of the Great War, which gradually gave way to international competition and a multipolar world order. The Great Game is generally considered to have ended around the turn of the 21st century, when a thawing in international relations and increased multilateral cooperation were believed to have unlocked a new era in international affairs, while post-Great War alliances and rivalries showed signs of fading away. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==History==&lt;br /&gt;
With the end of the [[Great War]], the victorious Coalition powers (notably [[Eiria]], [[Greater Acadia]], [[Laeral]], [[Lauchenoiria]], [[Libertas Omnium Maximus]], and the [[Novella Islands]]) were united in their desire to prevent future conflict and reconstruct the former Imperial Pact states as peaceful members of the international community. During the war, Coalition heads of state had affirmed their desire to jointly construct a more just post-war order through the [[Galinios Charter]], a document signed by the leaders of leading Coalition states committing its signatories to pursuing self-determination and peaceful cooperation among nations following the war. With the end of the Great War in 1967, the Coalition powers jointly occupied [[Darya]], while Coalition states individually occupied nations such as [[Haesan]] and [[Kabo Geshaan]]. The Coalition states also sought to promote international cooperation in order to prevent future world conflicts. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Characteristics==&lt;br /&gt;
===Decolonization===&lt;br /&gt;
See full article: [[Decolonization]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The dissolution of the Daryan Empire saw [[Andhrapur]] and [[Kabo Geshaan]] become independent nations, while the [[Nuiqsut Confederation]] had won its independence from the Opthelian Empire during the war. Rival world powers soguth to influence the trajectory of nations which had newly become independent via this Third Wave of decolonization.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Reconstruction===&lt;br /&gt;
In states under Coalition occupation, referred to as Reconstruction, occupation forces worked to rebuild nations devastated by war as stable and democratic nations integrated into the international community. This goal was largely successful: Haesan and Darya were integrated as stable members of the international community. In [[Slokais Islands]], Coalition occupation was only partial and limited in duration, with the Slokaisian opposition taking charge of the nation's post-war rebuilding.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===International Institutions===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Nuclear Rivalry===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Soft Power===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Isolation of Pact States===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category: History]] [[Category: Diplomacy]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Laeral</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Great_Game&amp;diff=45474</id>
		<title>Great Game</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Great_Game&amp;diff=45474"/>
		<updated>2026-06-23T15:59:50Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Laeral: Created page with &amp;quot;The '''Great Game''' was the period in international relations from 1967 to approximately 2000, a period shaped by the aftermath of the Great War where states sought to shape the post-war order largely through diplomacy, aid, and covert intervention, rather than military force. This period began with unity between the victorious Coalition powers of the Great War, which gradually gave way to international competition and a multipolar world order. The Great Game is...&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;The '''Great Game''' was the period in international relations from 1967 to approximately 2000, a period shaped by the aftermath of the [[Great War]] where states sought to shape the post-war order largely through diplomacy, aid, and covert intervention, rather than military force. This period began with unity between the victorious [[Coalition]] powers of the Great War, which gradually gave way to international competition and a multipolar world order. The Great Game is generally considered to have ended around the turn of the 21st century, when a thawing in international relations and increased multilateral cooperation were believed to have unlocked a new era in international affairs, while post-Great War alliances and rivalries showed signs of fading away. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==History==&lt;br /&gt;
With the end of the [[Great War]], the victorious Coalition powers (notably [[Eiria]], [[Greater Acadia]], [[Laeral]], [[Lauchenoiria]], [[Libertas Omnium Maximus]], and the [[Novella Islands]]) were united in their desire to prevent future conflict and reconstruct the former Imperial Pact states as peaceful members of the international community. During the war, Coalition heads of state had affirmed their desire to jointly construct a more just post-war order through the [[Galinios Charter]], a document signed by the leaders of leading Coalition states committing its signatories to pursuing self-determination and peaceful cooperation among nations following the war. With the end of the Great War in 1967, the Coalition powers jointly occupied [[Darya]], while Coalition states individually occupied nations such as [[Haesan]] and [[Kabo Geshaan]]. The Coalition states also sought to promote international cooperation in order to prevent future world conflicts. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Characteristics==&lt;br /&gt;
===Decolonization===&lt;br /&gt;
See full article: [[Decolonization]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The dissolution of the Daryan Empire saw [[Andhrapur]] and [[Kabo Geshaan]] become independent nations, while the [[Nuiqsut Confederation]] had won its independence from the Opthelian Empire during the war. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Reconstruction===&lt;br /&gt;
In states under Coalition occupation, referred to as Reconstruction, occupation forces worked to rebuild nations devastated by war as stable and democratic nations integrated into the international community. This goal was largely successful: Haesan and Darya were integrated as stable members of the international community. In [[Slokais Islands]], Coalition occupation was only partial and limited in duration, with the Slokaisian opposition taking charge of the nation's post-war rebuilding.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===International Institutions===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Nuclear Rivalry===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Soft Power===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Isolation of Pact States===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category: History]] [[Category: Diplomacy]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Laeral</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Septa%C5%A1&amp;diff=45429</id>
		<title>Septaš</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Septa%C5%A1&amp;diff=45429"/>
		<updated>2026-05-28T23:56:05Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Laeral: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;{{Infobox organization&lt;br /&gt;
| name                = Septaš&lt;br /&gt;
| pronounce           = &lt;br /&gt;
| native_name         = &lt;br /&gt;
| native_name_lang    = &lt;br /&gt;
| named_after         = &lt;br /&gt;
| image               = Sena Logo.png&lt;br /&gt;
| image_size          = 250px&lt;br /&gt;
| alt                 = &lt;br /&gt;
| caption             = Logo of Sena/Septaš (2019-present)&lt;br /&gt;
| logo                = &lt;br /&gt;
| logo_size           = &lt;br /&gt;
| logo_alt            = &lt;br /&gt;
| logo_caption        = &lt;br /&gt;
| map                 = &lt;br /&gt;
| map_size            = &lt;br /&gt;
| map_alt             = &lt;br /&gt;
| map_caption         = &lt;br /&gt;
| map2                = &lt;br /&gt;
| map2_size           = &lt;br /&gt;
| map2_alt            = &lt;br /&gt;
| map2_caption        = &lt;br /&gt;
| abbreviation        = &lt;br /&gt;
| predecessor         = &lt;br /&gt;
| merged              = &lt;br /&gt;
| successor           = &lt;br /&gt;
| formation           = {{start date and age|2002|09|08}}&lt;br /&gt;
| founder             = Gaks Klevej and others&lt;br /&gt;
| founding_location   = [[Merēta]], [[Eiria]]&lt;br /&gt;
| extinction          = &amp;lt;!-- use {{end date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| merger              = &lt;br /&gt;
| type                = Private corporation&lt;br /&gt;
| tax_id              = &amp;lt;!-- or | vat_id = (for European organizations) --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| registration_id     = &amp;lt;!-- for non-profit org --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| status              = &lt;br /&gt;
| purpose             = &lt;br /&gt;
| headquarters        = New Riga, Eiria&lt;br /&gt;
| location            = &lt;br /&gt;
| coords              = &amp;lt;!-- {{coord|LAT|LON|display=inline, title}} --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| region              = &lt;br /&gt;
| services            = Social networking, news, video hosting (formerly), dating&lt;br /&gt;
| products            = &lt;br /&gt;
| methods             = &lt;br /&gt;
| fields              = &lt;br /&gt;
| membership          = Approximately 200 million monthly users&lt;br /&gt;
| membership_year     = 2026&lt;br /&gt;
| language            = &lt;br /&gt;
| owner               = &amp;lt;!-- or | owners = --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| sec_gen             = &lt;br /&gt;
| leader_title        = CEO&lt;br /&gt;
| leader_name         = &lt;br /&gt;
| leader_title2       = &lt;br /&gt;
| leader_name2        = &lt;br /&gt;
| leader_title3       = &lt;br /&gt;
| leader_name3        = &lt;br /&gt;
| leader_title4       = &lt;br /&gt;
| leader_name4        = &lt;br /&gt;
| board_of_directors  = &lt;br /&gt;
| key_people          = &lt;br /&gt;
| main_organ          = &lt;br /&gt;
| parent_organization = &lt;br /&gt;
| subsidiaries        = &lt;br /&gt;
| secessions          = &lt;br /&gt;
| affiliations        = &lt;br /&gt;
| budget              = &lt;br /&gt;
| budget_year         = &lt;br /&gt;
| revenue             =&lt;br /&gt;
| revenue_year        = &lt;br /&gt;
| disbursements       = &lt;br /&gt;
| expenses            = &lt;br /&gt;
| expenses_year       = &lt;br /&gt;
| endowment           = &lt;br /&gt;
| endowment_year      = &lt;br /&gt;
| staff               = 480&lt;br /&gt;
| staff_year          = 2022&lt;br /&gt;
| volunteers          = &lt;br /&gt;
| volunteers_year     = &lt;br /&gt;
| website             = septas.com, sena.com&lt;br /&gt;
| remarks             = &lt;br /&gt;
| formerly            = &lt;br /&gt;
| footnotes           = &lt;br /&gt;
}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
'''Septaš''' is an [[Eiria|Eirian]] social media corporation, known for its flagship social media platform known as '''Septaš''' in Eiriphone nations and '''Sena''' internationally. Founded in Eiria in 2002, Sena offers short-form text posts to users, which other users can comment, reshare, and like. The company was banned in Eiria between 2009 and 2011, yet remained in operation abroad and rebranded its platform as Sena. Since being legalized in Eiria, Septaš/Sena has become among the world's most popular social media platforms, with over 200 million monthly users on its website and app. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==History==&lt;br /&gt;
Septaš was founded in 2002 by a collective of seven computer science graduate students at Eiria's Krastalen Provincial University led by Gaks Klevej. The name is derived from the Eirian phrase &amp;quot;Sarjit den salkisei ut sept tašei&amp;quot; (&amp;quot;Say ten hellos and seven goodbyes&amp;quot;), a saying that emphasizes living life in a carefree, sociable manner. Upon its founding, Septaš was a website intended for socialization and professional networking, and became rapidly very popular among university students. The emerging casual culture of the website (posts were originally capped at 300 characters) led the socialization features to become predominant. Septaš was incorporated as a corporation in 2003, with Gaks Klevej as CEO. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 2009, under the Darrin dictatorship in Eiria, Septaš was seized by the government and the Septaš website brought down, allegedly as a risk to national security but in fact to further consolidate the regime's power and quash dissent. Although Klevej and other leaders and lead programmers of the company were placed under state surveillance and subjected to legal harassment, original founder Ana Depras fled overseas to [[Laeral]], which at the time had the primary infrastructure for Septaš's operations abroad. Depras and other Septaš staff who had emigrated from Eiria founded Sena, a clone of the Septaš website which would operate abroad. Sena became popular internationally, particularly in Eastern Hesperida, and upon the fall of the Darrin regime, Sena was brought under the ownership of the Septaš corporation. Sena and Septaš have subsequently been fully merged, with users of either site or app able to view and interact with users of the other; the Septaš branding is used in Eirian-speaking nations, while the website is known as Sena abroad. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Sena grew in popularity internationally during the late 2010s. Its user base rapidly expanded, and it acquired mainstream popularity; elected officials, governments, and celebrities became active on the platform. As Sena expanded, it faced growing divisions over commercial and technical issues among the company's original founders. The issues came to a head in a 2017 controversy where it was revealed that Sena had employed minimal safeguards around user data and had shared user data with government intelligence agencies. Septaš faced numerous lawsuits around user privacy, the majority of which were settled. Founding CEO Gaks Klevej resigned as a result of the controversy, and the company became publicly traded in 2018. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Services==&lt;br /&gt;
Registration for Sena is free, although users can pay a monthly subscription fee (Sena Plus) to unlock premium features such as video downloading, larger file size for video uploads, more detailed post analytics, monetization through Sena's Creators Program, the removal of the character cap for posts, and additional profile customization, including music. Although Sena is a text-forward platform, users can post text, images, and videos; posts are capped at 400 characters for free users. By default, all Sena posts are viewable by all users, although users can choose to limit views on their posts to only friends. Users can like, reshare, and comment on posts. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Sena users can customize their profile pages with a wide variety of colors and backgrounds, and profile page layouts and designs, known as &amp;quot;palettes.&amp;quot; Sena also has a dedicated news feed which allows users to browse news articles from international and local outlets. Sena Dating is a dating service run through the app, with algorithmic matchmaking. Septaš also offered video hosting from 2006 to 2009, but discontinued the service due to its competitors. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category: Technology]] [[Category: Corporations]] [[Category: Eiria]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Laeral</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=File:Sena_Logo.png&amp;diff=45428</id>
		<title>File:Sena Logo.png</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=File:Sena_Logo.png&amp;diff=45428"/>
		<updated>2026-05-28T23:55:10Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Laeral: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Laeral</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Septa%C5%A1&amp;diff=45427</id>
		<title>Septaš</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Septa%C5%A1&amp;diff=45427"/>
		<updated>2026-05-28T23:33:01Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Laeral: Created page with &amp;quot;{{Infobox organization | name                = Septaš | pronounce           =  | native_name         =  | native_name_lang    =  | named_after         =  | image               =  | image_size          =  | alt                 =  | caption             =  | logo                =  | logo_size           =  | logo_alt            =  | logo_caption        =  | map                 =  | map_size            =  | map_alt             =  | map_caption         =  | map2...&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;{{Infobox organization&lt;br /&gt;
| name                = Septaš&lt;br /&gt;
| pronounce           = &lt;br /&gt;
| native_name         = &lt;br /&gt;
| native_name_lang    = &lt;br /&gt;
| named_after         = &lt;br /&gt;
| image               = &lt;br /&gt;
| image_size          = &lt;br /&gt;
| alt                 = &lt;br /&gt;
| caption             = &lt;br /&gt;
| logo                = &lt;br /&gt;
| logo_size           = &lt;br /&gt;
| logo_alt            = &lt;br /&gt;
| logo_caption        = &lt;br /&gt;
| map                 = &lt;br /&gt;
| map_size            = &lt;br /&gt;
| map_alt             = &lt;br /&gt;
| map_caption         = &lt;br /&gt;
| map2                = &lt;br /&gt;
| map2_size           = &lt;br /&gt;
| map2_alt            = &lt;br /&gt;
| map2_caption        = &lt;br /&gt;
| abbreviation        = &lt;br /&gt;
| predecessor         = &lt;br /&gt;
| merged              = &lt;br /&gt;
| successor           = &lt;br /&gt;
| formation           = {{start date and age|2002|09|08}}&lt;br /&gt;
| founder             = Gaks Klevej and others&lt;br /&gt;
| founding_location   = [[Merēta]], [[Eiria]]&lt;br /&gt;
| extinction          = &amp;lt;!-- use {{end date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| merger              = &lt;br /&gt;
| type                = Private corporation&lt;br /&gt;
| tax_id              = &amp;lt;!-- or | vat_id = (for European organizations) --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| registration_id     = &amp;lt;!-- for non-profit org --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| status              = &lt;br /&gt;
| purpose             = &lt;br /&gt;
| headquarters        = New Riga, Eiria&lt;br /&gt;
| location            = &lt;br /&gt;
| coords              = &amp;lt;!-- {{coord|LAT|LON|display=inline, title}} --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| region              = &lt;br /&gt;
| services            = Social networking, news, video hosting (formerly), dating&lt;br /&gt;
| products            = &lt;br /&gt;
| methods             = &lt;br /&gt;
| fields              = &lt;br /&gt;
| membership          = Approximately 200 million monthly users&lt;br /&gt;
| membership_year     = 2026&lt;br /&gt;
| language            = &lt;br /&gt;
| owner               = &amp;lt;!-- or | owners = --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| sec_gen             = &lt;br /&gt;
| leader_title        = CEO&lt;br /&gt;
| leader_name         = &lt;br /&gt;
| leader_title2       = &lt;br /&gt;
| leader_name2        = &lt;br /&gt;
| leader_title3       = &lt;br /&gt;
| leader_name3        = &lt;br /&gt;
| leader_title4       = &lt;br /&gt;
| leader_name4        = &lt;br /&gt;
| board_of_directors  = &lt;br /&gt;
| key_people          = &lt;br /&gt;
| main_organ          = &lt;br /&gt;
| parent_organization = &lt;br /&gt;
| subsidiaries        = &lt;br /&gt;
| secessions          = &lt;br /&gt;
| affiliations        = &lt;br /&gt;
| budget              = &lt;br /&gt;
| budget_year         = &lt;br /&gt;
| revenue             =&lt;br /&gt;
| revenue_year        = &lt;br /&gt;
| disbursements       = &lt;br /&gt;
| expenses            = &lt;br /&gt;
| expenses_year       = &lt;br /&gt;
| endowment           = &lt;br /&gt;
| endowment_year      = &lt;br /&gt;
| staff               = 480&lt;br /&gt;
| staff_year          = 2022&lt;br /&gt;
| volunteers          = &lt;br /&gt;
| volunteers_year     = &lt;br /&gt;
| website             = septas.com, sena.com&lt;br /&gt;
| remarks             = &lt;br /&gt;
| formerly            = &lt;br /&gt;
| footnotes           = &lt;br /&gt;
}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
'''Septaš''' is an [[Eiria|Eirian]] social media corporation, known for its flagship social media platform known as '''Septaš''' in Eiriphone nations and '''Sena''' internationally. Founded in Eiria in 2002, Sena offers short-form text posts to users, which other users can comment, reshare, and like. The company was banned in Eiria between 2009 and 2011, yet remained in operation abroad and rebranded its platform as Sena. Since being legalized in Eiria, Septaš/Sena has become among the world's most popular social media platforms, with over 200 million monthly users on its website and app. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==History==&lt;br /&gt;
Septaš was founded in 2002 by a collective of seven computer science graduate students at Eiria's Krastalen Provincial University led by Gaks Klevej. The name is derived from the Eirian phrase &amp;quot;Sarjit den salkisei ut sept tašei&amp;quot; (&amp;quot;Say ten hellos and seven goodbyes&amp;quot;), a saying that emphasizes living life in a carefree, sociable manner. Upon its founding, Septaš was a website intended for socialization and professional networking, and became rapidly very popular among university students. The emerging casual culture of the website (posts were originally capped at 300 characters) led the socialization features to become predominant. Septaš was incorporated as a corporation in 2003, with Gaks Klevej as CEO. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 2009, under the Darrin dictatorship in Eiria, Septaš was seized by the government and the Septaš website brought down, allegedly as a risk to national security but in fact to further consolidate the regime's power and quash dissent. Although Klevej and other leaders and lead programmers of the company were placed under state surveillance and subjected to legal harassment, original founder Ana Depras fled overseas to [[Laeral]], which at the time had the primary infrastructure for Septaš's operations abroad. Depras and other Septaš staff who had emigrated from Eiria founded Sena, a clone of the Septaš website which would operate abroad. Sena became popular internationally, particularly in Eastern Hesperida, and upon the fall of the Darrin regime, Sena was brought under the ownership of the Septaš corporation. Sena and Septaš have subsequently been fully merged, with users of either site or app able to view and interact with users of the other; the Septaš branding is used in Eirian-speaking nations, while the website is known as Sena abroad. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Sena grew in popularity internationally during the late 2010s. Its user base rapidly expanded, and it acquired mainstream popularity; elected officials, governments, and celebrities became active on the platform. As Sena expanded, it faced growing divisions over commercial and technical issues among the company's original founders. The issues came to a head in a 2017 controversy where it was revealed that Sena had employed minimal safeguards around user data and had shared user data with government intelligence agencies. Septaš faced numerous lawsuits around user privacy, the majority of which were settled. Founding CEO Gaks Klevej resigned as a result of the controversy, and the company became publicly traded in 2018. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Services==&lt;br /&gt;
Registration for Sena is free, although users can pay a monthly subscription fee (Sena Plus) to unlock premium features such as video downloading, larger file size for video uploads, more detailed post analytics, monetization through Sena's Creators Program, the removal of the character cap for posts, and additional profile customization, including music. Although Sena is a text-forward platform, users can post text, images, and videos; posts are capped at 400 characters for free users. By default, all Sena posts are viewable by all users, although users can choose to limit views on their posts to only friends. Users can like, reshare, and comment on posts. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Sena users can customize their profile pages with a wide variety of colors and backgrounds, and profile page layouts and designs, known as &amp;quot;palettes.&amp;quot; Sena also has a dedicated news feed which allows users to browse news articles from international and local outlets. Sena Dating is a dating service run through the app, with algorithmic matchmaking. Septaš also offered video hosting from 2006 to 2009, but discontinued the service due to its competitors. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category: Technology]] [[Category: Corporations]] [[Category: Eiria]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Laeral</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Land_use_in_Laeral&amp;diff=45399</id>
		<title>Land use in Laeral</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Land_use_in_Laeral&amp;diff=45399"/>
		<updated>2026-05-16T01:58:45Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Laeral: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;'''Land use in Laeral''' refers to the history and practices of the use of land by humans in [[Laeral]]. This encompasses periods of [[Rén]] Laeralite land tenure, land appropriation by [[Arrivée]] settlers during the colonial and First Allied Provinces periods, land reform during Laeral's [[Republican Era]], and increased urbanization and agricultural consolidation from the mid-20th century to the modern day. Land use has impacts on economic outcomes and social and political development, and scholars have used the history of land use in Laeral to explore topics ranging from political affiliation to race relations. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==History==&lt;br /&gt;
This section is excerpted from Noël Lavoie-Zhao's chapter &amp;quot;Land Use in Laeral: An Introduction&amp;quot;, in the academic anthology ''Pure Earth, Dirty Hands: Contrasting Narratives of Dispossession, Reclamation, and Stewardship in Laeralian Land Tenure'' (Salaun University Press, 2014). Since 2010, Dr. Lavoie-Zhao has been the Anatole Marchand Professor of History at [[National Open University (Laeral)|Althea City University]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Colonial Era===&lt;br /&gt;
{{box|margin=40px|&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:SlaveryinLaeral.jpg|200px|thumb|right|An anti-slavery engraving depicting dozens of enslaved people being forcibly brought to a plantation in Laeral's Riverlands region, circa 1830. The central figure, being manhandled by an overseer, recalls his family's farewell.]]&lt;br /&gt;
During the colonial era, determining possession of agricultural land, particularly in the fertile Eastern Riverlands, Althea, and the Beuvron River Valley, was a central function of government. After the 1807 DeBarre Line was created, marking off the initial bounds of [[Arrivée]] settlement, land west of the line was declared property of the ducal government to apportion as it saw fit. Mass land auctions throughout the early 1800s saw gentlemen speculators as the chief beneficiaries. The most fertile land, often irrigated by centuries-old channels and the site of continuous farming for millennia, was parceled into large plantation domains owned by individual highborn households, operated for profit through the production of wheat, tobacco, rice, indigo, tea, or other crops. Laws against &amp;quot;squatting&amp;quot; and &amp;quot;vagrancy,&amp;quot; leveled against Rén families who sought to remain on their land, carried the sentence of compulsory service as agricultural laborers on the local plantation. The penalty for taking up arms against the state was also often serfdom, often for entire villages or regions, and so by 1845, the dawn of the Laeralian War of Independence, an estimated 900,000 [[Rén]] and [[Metice]] people were enslaved on plantations. Slavery in the colonial Laeralian context, however, was not an inherited status, although it was a racialized one: those born to enslaved laborers were born free, but Arrivée were never enslaved.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Perhaps 60% of land area—primarily that which had been cleared and was suitable for large-scale agriculture—was parcelled out between plantations. Much of the remaining land, particularly that which was less hospitable for farming, was owned by small farmers, Rén, Arrivée, and Metice alike. Villages served as a site for cross-racial social interactions: marketplaces, smiths, inns, and the like fostered growing linguistic and cultural exchange. This included the emergence of Laeralian Creole, a polyglot mixture of French and Mandarin which would persist among the largely illiterate population until the standardization of language in the Republican era. The taboo against miscegenation was also transgressed more often at the village level, particularly between transient laborers who had migrated away from the growing expanse of plantation land. It was these villages which were rightfully called, if not the cradle of the war of independence, at least its nursery. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Corveeroads.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Corvée forced laborers in the Xianhai peninsula clearing a road in the aftermath of a landslide.]]&lt;br /&gt;
For free and enslaved Rén alike, the chief interaction with the colonial state was through corvée, forced state labor for a period of one month each year. Instituted as a means of conducting labor-intensive infrastructure upkeep and construction, corvée occurred on a rotating basis based on birth month, so as to minimize disruption to the harvest; for this reason, the colonial state's register of births are a treasure trove for modern historians and genealogists. The construction of roads was a constant preoccupation of the colonial state, seeing as they were essential for transport of goods and movement of soldiers outside of the navigable waterways (the few railroads built in Laeral during the colonial era, totaling less than 120 kilometers, were built exclusively with Arrivée labor). Typical corvée duties included excavating roads after flooding and mudslides, paving roads, and breaking ground for new roads, although in certain locales corvée labor also built government buildings and waystations. Corvée labor was widely despised: it was backbreaking, all-day work for which any rural Rén man between the ages of 15 and 35 would typically be relocated to a work camp and separated from their families for a four week period annually. Payment was nominal and conditions at work camps poor, with strict discipline enforced at the end of a whip or truncheon. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Cities, chief among them [[Althea]], St. Clair, Marist, and [[Bethune|Lyrene]], offered the greatest opportunities for social mobility. Going to sea or joining a fisherman's crew was one avenue of escape: on the open seas, few cared the complexion of a man's skin as long as his arms were suited for hauling nets or whaling. The cities saw the emergence of the Laeralian middle class, typically merchants or artisans producing goods for consumption by the nobility. The ducal court was well known for its patronage of the arts and its fondness for fine cuisine, while the seasonal migration between Althea and Marist established by Duke Armand meant that thriving artisan communities sprung up in both cities. Factories were established in limited numbers in urban centers (with the exception of Althea, where strict urban beautification regulations forestalled the erection of smokestacks), including textile mills and brick and steel foundries, typically with the patronage of an interested consortium or individual member of the nobility. Migrants from surrounding rural areas were often the only ones willing to accept factories' beastly conditions; the phenomenon of rural migration to the city spurred the creation of Rén fraternal organizations and women's support circles as well as the first labor unions, inspired by examples from abroad. Regardless, by 1848 industrialization had touched the lives of only a bare amount of the Laeralian people. The majority of the population would remain rural and impoverished, as peasant freeholders, sharecroppers, slaves, or migrant workers, until well after the War of Independence.}} &lt;br /&gt;
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===First Allied Provinces===&lt;br /&gt;
{{box|margin=40px|The [[Laeralian War of Independence]] would upset patterns of land use in the ruralities. The plantation estates had been the sight of great bloodshed during the war, as the formerly enslaved took vengeance on their captors, and the vast majority of the Arrivée nobility had fled northward to what would become the rump state of [[High Fells]]. On some plantations, the Rén enslaved workforce had taken up subsistence farming, while other estates lay fallow for lack of hands to cultivate them. Military pronouncements during the war, such as General G. E. Lematre's Field Order 18, had established a precedent that land tenants and the formerly enslaved were to be permitted to stay on this land. &lt;br /&gt;
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This precedent, however, was not followed by the revolutionary government following the war. Faced with an inability to print enough money to provide back pay to soldiers of the Free Army, many of whom had withstood months of delayed pay, the provisional government's Act No. 14 (&amp;quot;A law on landholdings and tenancy&amp;quot;) ordered plantation land seized, appraised, and turned over to Free Army veterans in lieu of cash payments. For most veterans, the choice was simple: between cash payments in the rapidly-depreciating [[Laeralian mark]] or a tract of land of proven productivity, most Free Army men took the opportunity to achieve land ownership. Based on name analysis, an estimated 30% of the roughly 28,000 Free Army veterans who received land were Rén. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:ArriveeSharecroppers.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Arrivée sharecroppers harvesting wheat under supervision, in an 1857 painting by Auguste de Lemartine, famed for his depictions of agrarian life.]]&lt;br /&gt;
This act of land redistribution transformed Laeralian society by massively enlarging the class of economically self-sufficient peasantry. The newly created landed peasantry, nearly all eligible to vote under franchise restrictions of the time, were a powerful interest group lauded in popular culture and political writings as the backbone of the nation. The rosy image of a nation of salt-of-the-earth independent farmers, however, was deeply flawed. The landed farmer class was never more than a large minority of Laeralites; the majority of peasants remained sharecroppers for these landed farmers or squatters on undesirable land, farming continually for survival. &lt;br /&gt;
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As immigration and natural population growth swelled the population to over 10 million Laeralites, competition for land pushed Laeral's boundaries westward. At this juncture, it's appropriate to consider the nature of the Laeralian frontier during the 1860s and 70s. &lt;br /&gt;
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During the colonial era, the DeBarre Line, seen on maps at slightly west of the Beuvron River, had defined the theoretical westward borders of government control. The line had been proclaimed during the reign of Duke Armand, and shaped patterns of population settlement despite existing only on paper. Through a series of treaties with the squabbling Minjian kingdoms and satrapies west of the line, the colonial government in Althea maintained relative peace on the frontier. However, following independence, Laeralian public opinion massively favored the legalization of westward expansion, rooted in mythicized and [[Anti-Minjian sentiment|anti-Minjian]] conceptions of the frontier as a land of rich agricultural land suffering under weak and brutish rule. &lt;br /&gt;
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Provincial militias hoping to secure territory advanced westward, carrying out a mission termed by historians as &amp;quot;subnational colonialism&amp;quot; — provincial militias, backed by the provincial government and the backing of provincial elites, seized territory by force of arms in brief campaigns often lasting only weeks, only to subsequently seek their fait accompli recognized by the national government. These feats of territorial acquisition sparked a lucrative industry in adventurers, both Laeralian and foreign-born, traveling from province to province offering their services to provincial governments in lucrative territorial-acquisition operations. By and large, these expeditions were successful in sparking short and victorious conflicts, with rare exceptions where canny Rén leaders took advantage of Laeralian overconfidence to defeat provincial militia forces and secure the status quo ante bellum.}} &lt;br /&gt;
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===The Vespasienate===&lt;br /&gt;
{{box|margin=40px|These frontier wars or ''petites guerres,'' and accompanying westward expansion, were a central factor in national politics during the late 19th century. Politics increasingly took on a sectional character, as eastern mercantile interests favored frontier stability so as to foster lucrative trade with the Rén kingdoms, while westerners and the working class largely favored continued expansion so as to secure land ownership on the frontier. The relative stalemate between the two factions, with neither side able to achieve national ascendancy due to the weakness of the national government, would end with the War of the Seven Provinces (1875-1877), where the provincial militias accomplished in colonial warfare with the benefits of organizational and technological superiority floundered against a unified, well-disciplined, and modern foe in Libertas Omnium Maximus. &lt;br /&gt;
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Defeat in the war led to the ascension of [[Vespasien Jamet]], central figure in the politics of the First Allied Provinces. During his nearly thirty-year (1880-1909) tenure in politics, known to historians as the Vespasienate, Jamet as prime minister oversaw a strengthening of the central government, including an expansion of taxation authority and the nation's first standing army; his opponents fruitlessly branded him &amp;quot;Emperor Vespasien I&amp;quot;. A strongman who emerged from and represented the rural wealthy landowning class, Jamet's military and administrative reforms were in large part dedicated to carrying out westward Arrivée settlement and the broader settler-colonial project. In an audacious war against the Zhao kingdom in 1885, Laeralian troops seized the ancient Minjian capital of Miaoshi and annexed the kingdom's territory in its entirety, the largest-yet acquisition of land. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LandSurveyors.jpg|200px|thumb|right|The first step in carving up land was surveying it, a process which relied in part on translating and updating Zhao kingdom taxation maps and in part on the efforts of surveying crews like this one pictured here in Nanhai province.]]&lt;br /&gt;
The status of these new conquests were addressed under the landmark Land Tenure Act of 1888, enacted under Jamet's premiership. This law would, in one swift maneuver, increase the territory of the Laeralian state by nearly one-third while laying the groundwork for the wealthy Arrivée farmer class to expand its dominance across the eastern Riverlands. The Riverlands provinces of Neidong, Enara, Nanhai, Meilun, and Jinhua were created as the first Rén-majority provinces since Laeralian independence; Neidong and Enara had languished for years as nonvoting territories, while the other three new provinces were newly seized from the defunct Zhao kingdom. Agricultural land in these colonies was slated for Arrivée settlement through a new schema by which all rural land would be classified as either &amp;quot;settler&amp;quot; or &amp;quot;reserve&amp;quot; territory. Settler territory, encompassing over 70% of land in these five provinces and drawn to include the richest agricultural land, was reserved for Arrivée commercial farming through land auctions run by the government. The remainder, &amp;quot;reserve&amp;quot; territory for the region's Rén inhabitants, was undesirable, either through distance from road or river arteries, steep slopes, or swampland. Through this formula, which would be replicated in other territories coming under Laeralsford's sway, the dominion of the Arrivée landowner class was preserved and expanded. Other portions of Zhao territory, meanwhile, were left entirely for their Rén inhabitants, yet had no realistic path to provincehood and were instead governed by appointed territorial officials. &lt;br /&gt;
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Some voices within Laeralian society, such as the growing quasi-socialist cooperative movement, called for the newly-acquired land to be governed in collective fashion, approximating the collective farms which were widely understood to have been predominant among the Zhao kingdom. (Collective farming was in actuality a method of land tenure which the Zhao kingdom was transitioning away from at the time of the Laeral-Zhao War; the Laeralian cooperative movement somewhat-inaccurately perceived collective farming as the sole method of Rén land tenure since time immemorial, which was false). For the cooperativists, collective farming was a method of ensuring social harmony and economic resiliency for Laeral's poor, and they decried Prime Minister Jamet's choice to split the conquered territories into tracts of land for individual farmers. The cooperativist movement endured throughout the early 20th century, with its proponents establishing several communes during the late First Allied Provinces era, to varying degrees of success. Nouvelle-Concorde in Jinhua province, which attracted several thousand residents and experimented with collective marriage and child-rearing before its collapse following the Laeralian Revolution, is the most well-known of these. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LandLottery.jpg|200px|thumb|left|The land lottery in Meilun takes place at the provincial capitol, with a crowd of onlookers awaiting the results.]]&lt;br /&gt;
How did land allocation play out on the ground during the Vespasienate? In settler land, newly-constituted provincial governments carried out lotteries for small tracts of land in a populist maneuver; entrance to the lotteries was open to all men regardless of race, with separate lotteries carried out for single and married men. Ticket-holders were guaranteed to be deeded a tract of land, albeit one that could vary in size from as little as 8 hectares to nearly 30 hectares in area, for a registration fee equivalent to roughly two months' wages for a typical workman—in other words, on the very edge of affordability for Laeral's working class. The opportunity for sharecroppers and the urban poor to obtain title to land, and thus, the promise of economic self-sufficiency, was rightfully viewed as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. In fact, marriage rates rose sharply in the months before the land lotteries, suggesting that the opportunity to enter in the married men's lottery for larger plots of land was sufficiently enticing to shift personal behavior. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:PeasantLunch.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Even as more and more family farmers were forced to sell their land to larger landowners, romanticized depictions of Arrivée peasant life, such as this painting by Auguste de Lemartine imitator Rudolphe Just, were continually popular.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Arrivée and Metice people were the greatest beneficiaries of the land lottery, although some Rén were able to afford the registration fee and benefit as well. All those who registered for the lottery received land, although it varied widely in productivity and suitability for farming; common crops included wheat, barley, and rice, as well as various vegetables. Although some small farmers were able to become well-established, particularly those who benefited from agricultural experience and received fertile agricultural land, many would-be farmers found themselves unable to make these tracts of land economically viable, particularly the urban poor with limited experience in farming. By 1898, ten years after the passage of the Land Tenure Act, it was estimated that over half of settler farmers who had benefitted from the land lottery had been forced to sell their property to larger farmers, particularly after poor growing conditions in 1893 forced many small farmers to abandon their lands. These tracts of land were largely absorbed by larger landowners who reestablished sharecropping, often harvesting profitable cash crops instead. Thus, despite the populist promise of the Land Tenure Act that it would expand the class of independent small farmers, it largely instead produced the expansion of the wealthy plantation-farmer class, which held tremendous political influence under Vespasian Jamet's corrupt political order.&lt;br /&gt;
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The impact of the Land Tenure Act's legalized land theft within the provinces subjected to it is difficult to overstate. In the five Riverlands provinces established under the act (sometimes known as the MENNJ provinces in the parlance of civil servants, from the abbreviations of the provinces involved), virtually all Arrivée settlers were made complicit in land theft and the expulsion of Rén inhabitants from their homes. In some cases, these settlers lived in the houses and cottages of the natives they had evicted, with children at play and farmers at work routinely unearthing trinkets, grave sites, or even hastily-abandoned foodstuffs buried in shallow earth in preparation for consumption, such as preserved eggs. Soldiers of the Laeralian Army—recently reorganized and dramatically expanded under the Vespasianate to largely supplant the provincial militias—were used to evict Rén inhabitants and quell the scattered outbreaks of resistance. The consequent forced migration of Rén to &amp;quot;reserve&amp;quot; territory led to widespread poverty, as many were left destitute by being forced from their land. These reserve territories were among the poorest areas of the country, jump-starting Rén migration to Riverlands cities such as Hanshui, Lushui, Gaolan, and Laeralsford in a process known as the [[First Great Migration]]. These cities grew rapidly in size during the last decades of the 19th century, seeing the birth of the initial incarnation of the paramilitary [[Rén Self-Defense League]]. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:ReserveTerritory.jpg|200px|thumb|left|The endemic overcrowding in Rén reserve areas is illustrated by this gathering in Enara province, as onlookers arrive to see an itinerant [[Minjian]] priest at the local temple. Note the mix of traditional garments and Arrivée-style headwear.]]&lt;br /&gt;
During the Laeralian Revolution three decades hence, the Rén reserve areas in Riverlands provinces, overcrowded and full of young people with few economic prospects, would be among the earliest to flock to the banner of [[René Gramont]] and the Army for Democracy and Progress. Land expropriation left scars in the provinces' social fabrics as well: provinces that were the site of forced relocation saw correspondingly greater racial tensions throughout the 20th century, including greater violence during and after the Revolution and other periods of social unrest, as well as economic consequences such as greater poverty and wealth inequality. To this day, the decennial census reveals that the rural areas of the MENNJ provinces are among the most racially-segregated in Laeral. In the last days of the Vespasienate, subsequent Land Tenure Acts in 1907 and 1909 brought the regime of land expropriation and Rén reserve territories to Minsheng, Minzu, and Jianguo as well.}}&lt;br /&gt;
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===Revolutionaries and Republicans===&lt;br /&gt;
{{box|margin=40px|Every modern history textbook from primary school onwards centers land distribution at the heart of the Laeralian Revolution. This is a fact which was well understood at the time as well, with the Republican movement harnessing land-based grievances to fill the ranks of the revolutionary armies. Those who took up arms motivated by land—primarily, but not exclusively, Rén in the Laeralian West—would in turn make demands for land reform on the post-revolution regime. &lt;br /&gt;
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The death of Vespasien Jamet and the ascendancy of his successor Augustin Brienne as head of what historian Christophe Millet calls the &amp;quot;landowner's regime&amp;quot; in 1909 saw no change to the ongoing process of land expropriation in the west, as Brienne—himself Choisel province's largest landowner—signaled his intention to continue favoring plantation interests as the glue which held his coalition together. The First Fellsian War, which erupted in 1911 and raged until 1916, was in fact a reprieve for Laeral's peasantry. The needs of the nation's war machine spurred the rapid growth of industry, primarily in the Riverlands, which accelerated the existing trend of Rén migration from overcrowded &amp;quot;reserve territories&amp;quot; to cities. The plantation-owning class suffered a rare rebuke at the hands of the national government during the war, as landowners' protests that conscription and the growth of factories were depriving their farms of necessary laborers were disregarded; even the Laeralian Parliament, traditionally the domain of the landowning class, voted down an attempt backed by agrarian interests to exempt farm laborers from the draft. With such a labor shortage, women in some cases took on farming duties, particularly in families whose patriarchs had been dispatched to the front or had moved to the city for work. &lt;br /&gt;
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The end of the war in 1916, however, meant intensified pressures on Laeral's agrarian workers, tenant farmers and smallholders alike. Not only did the postwar economic crisis raise the costs of agricultural inputs and nearly all consumer goods, but peasants renting their land found their rents raised by large landowners seeking to recoup their wartime losses. To add insult to injury, biased laws on farmland deemed &amp;quot;abandoned&amp;quot; meant that the families of men who had been killed during the war soon found themselves challenged to prove their legal title to the land they farmed or find it confiscated and sold at auction. Even prior to the outbreak of the Revolution in 1918, standoffs and shootouts between veterans and provincial constables over the confiscation of &amp;quot;abandoned&amp;quot; farmland signaled the increased violence around land affairs. &lt;br /&gt;
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Although the Laeralian Revolution began with an urban uprising in the city of Gaolan, where laborers who were largely migrants from the countryside went on strike over rising food prices, rural demands for land distribution quickly took center stage. At the onset of the widespread uprising, the Committee for Democracy and Progress, led by René Gramont, drafted the Renfeng Platform as its statement of principles. The Committee's plans for land reform were spelled out in detail in the Renfeng Platform, including the return of confiscated property since the war, an end to labor abuses on plantations, and land redistribution accompanied by a legal limit on the size of one landowner's holdings. The National Revolutionary Directorate, another revolutionary organization prominent in eastern Laeral, similarly pledged to support land reform and a cap on landholding acreage, albeit in less detail than the Renfeng Platform. The Republicans' widely-publicized pledges for land reform were the driving factor for many Laeralites to join the revolutionary forces, and featured prominently in propaganda messaging. &lt;br /&gt;
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Amidst the bloodshed and disruption of the conflict, experiments in land reform were widely carried out at the local level. In many Rén-majority villages in western Laeral, the flight of Arrivée landowners meant that their lands were farmed collectively. Land was in many cases the driving spark of revolutionary violence—as word of the uprising spread, many villagers drove away or executed hated local landlords and divided their lands or farmed them collectively.{{efn|This violence would continue in reprisal killings after the Revolution, with an estimated 6,000 landowners killed extrajudicially nationwide from 1920-22.}} In the Xianhai peninsula, the agrarian-socialist Xianhai Peasants' Front embraced the collectivization of agrarian land, while even in Loyalist strongholds such as the territory governed by the Loiraine Clique, the newly-impoverished refugees fleeing the advance of Republican forces were granted some amounts of agrarian land redistributed from the wealthy by government order. &lt;br /&gt;
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With the Republican victory in the Revolution, newly-appointed President Gramont chose to accept the facts on the ground and give government endorsement to the transfers in land ownership which had already taken place during the Revolution, against the wishes of liberals in the Committee for Democracy and Progress. The landmark Land Reform Act of 1923 signaled acceptance of forced transfers in land ownership which had taken place during the war, while declaring that all property belonging to landowners who had fled abroad or served as army officers in Loyalist forces as of the end of hostilities would be seized by the government. The new National Rural Reconstruction Administration (NRRA) was given immense power to administer and divide government-owned land, issue titles formalizing ownership of new lands, and arbitrate land disputes, of which there were many.&lt;br /&gt;
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In western Laeral, where vicious guerrilla fighting had driven out virtually all Arrivée settlers, Arrivée-held land had largely been already redistributed by the end of the war in 1921. This redistribution was legitimized by the Land Reform Act, which also benefitted traditional methods of collective land ownership prominent in Zhao Country by giving traditional collective land ownership legal weight without formal documentation. The picture in the rest of the country was comparatively much more challenging, as many Arrivée families had remained on their land rather then fleeing, necessitating a thornier process of forced expropriation. The MENNJ provinces presented particular challenges, as the scale of inequity in landholdings was the greatest: the largest decile of landholdings in the MENNJ provinces comprised 71% of agrarian land, compared to only 47% in the eastern Riverlands, 61% in Xianhai, and 39% in southeastern Laeral. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:NRRAofficials.jpg|thumb|right|Officials of the National Rural Reconstruction Administration during a fact-finding mission to Gaolan in 1938]]&lt;br /&gt;
As it was charged with under law, the National Rural Reconstruction Administration opened avenues for petitioners to request redress for land stolen within 60 years of the law's enactment: January 1, 1863. Examiners fanned out across the country to hear these claims, with broad authority to redistribute land at their will belonging to any property of over 100 hectares.{{efn|At many times, the traditional mu (亩) measurement unit, equivalent to one-fifteenth of a hectare, was used: ie, 1500 mu.}} Initially, formal, legal-style hearings were used to determine the validity of a claim, but the immense number of claims to be adjudicated meant that examiners soon resorted to traditional methods of dispute reconciliation, in large part driven by local elders. &lt;br /&gt;
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Cases of land redistribution were often complex. The acclaimed 1957 Laeralian play ''The Judgment of Fontenay'', although fictional, depicts one of these cases: a 180-hectare plantation in rural Therese province, owned by an elderly widow, is faced with demands for redistribution by sharecroppers, who allege deception and land theft by the widow's now-deceased father over 50 years before. The widow proclaims that the plantation was purchased legitimately, and the deed of sale was destroyed by fire during the Revolution. The politics of the situation are unclear: petitioner and defendant alike are Metice, while the widow's son fought bravely for Republican forces during the Revolution and the sharecroppers include those who joined the militia fighting against the Revolution. Who gains land, and how much? These were the sort of dilemmas assailing NRRA examiners on a daily basis. Open-and-shut cases of wealthy landowners who had fled the country or become officers for the Loyalists and thus forfeited their land were decidedly the minority.&lt;br /&gt;
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With the potential for vast financial gain hinging on examiners' decisions, it's remarkable that the process was, by and large, carried our fairly. Attempts at intimidation and bribery of examiners were frequent, but examiners, many of whom had been civil servants prior to the Revolution, by and large were more respectful of the status quo than many had expected, often siding with defendants when theft could not be clearly proven. As a result of examiners' respect for due process and the backlog of cases, the land redistribution process proceeded slowly during the 1920s, particularly in the MENNJ provinces and Xianhai where land inequities were most severe. &lt;br /&gt;
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Land reform, of course, did not solely consist of shifts in ownership. The 1924 Agrarian Rent Reduction Act gave protections to tenant farmers, primarily by capping rent for agrarian land at 30% of annual yield and strictly limiting year-to-year rises. Prior to this reform, landowners often charged tenant farmers high rents of 40 or 50% of crops harvested, exacerbating rural poverty. The government was also granted the power to void all agrarian rent in the event of natural disaster, and tenant farmers were granted legal protections from eviction. &lt;br /&gt;
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The slower-than-expected pace of land redistribution under the Land Reform Act of 1923 led to the third and final major land law of Gramont's tenure: the 1928 Land to the Tiller Act. This was the long-promised land cap of the Renfeng Platform, intended to finally transition the Laeralian rural public from tenant farming to land ownership. It ordered the expropriation of all private landholdings of over 40 hectares, which were then administered by the NRRA to be redistributed to the landless or land-deprived.{{efn|The exact hectarage varied based on land quality, although 40 hectares was standard.}} The 40 hectare cap was the subject of great controversy—radicals lobbied for a cap of only 6 to 8 hectares, but concerns over food shortages and the fear of eliminating economies of scale led the government to decide on its 40 hectare limit.&lt;br /&gt;
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These three reforms jointly set the stage for a transformation of rural Laeralian society. The proportion of rural tenant farmers fell sharply, from perhaps three-quarters of peasants prior to the Revolution to only around 30% by 1935. With rural land ownership came decreased rural poverty, with minimal corresponding drops in output, although here the effects of land redistribution are difficult to extricate from the effects of agrarian innovations promoted by the government through organizations such as the Rural Agricultural Service. Land redistribution was only the first of a series of transformations impacting rural life during the Republican era, as the rural aspect of the social revolution branded as the Rose Revolution. The typical peasant living through the 1920s and 30s would have witnessed concerted changes instituted from above in every field from women's rights to education and literacy to the creation of a race-blind national identity, but by far the most impactful in his or her everyday life would have been land ownership. It is for this reason that, on visits to rural regions of the country, both President Gramont and Hong Kuo-shu, Director of the National Rural Reconstruction Administration, regularly found themselves greeted by genuine, cheering crowds.&lt;br /&gt;
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[Agricultural collectivization section to come]&lt;br /&gt;
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During the Zhou and Sun presidencies (1942-54), land use and rural development initiatives gained a powerful new direction. The National Rural Reconstruction Administration continued its work to reorganize Laeral's rural areas in accordance with the in-vogue agricultural collectivization policies, seeking to transform from small farms into large agricultural collectives seen as more economically productive and as more conducive to Gramontist ideals of social life. However, the new Frontier Development Bureau, created 1944, began a new, ambitious task of bringing rural frontier areas previously beyond state control under state oversight. &lt;br /&gt;
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Even prior to colonial rule, the Laeralian state had never exerted control over innumerable communities and peoples near the frontiers of Laeral's borders. In mountainous western Laeral, particular near the Fellsian border, numerous nomadic and sedentary pre-industrial communities lived largely beyond state authority. Mountainous regions of Minzu and Minsheng provinces in the northwest, as well as Shaoxing and Lijiang provinces in the southeast, were predominantly inhabited by culturally-distinct mountain communities belonging to the Busai (Minzu Haemin) and Tuwen ethnic groups, respectively. Swampy regions of Celeste province, inhabited by the Henai (Celeste Rén), were similarly culturally-distinct and preindustrial. Classified as &amp;quot;underdeveloped frontier regions&amp;quot; dominated by &amp;quot;disorderly agriculture&amp;quot; in bureaucratic parlance, these regions held economic potential, in terms of agriculture, mining resources, and hydropower, which central planners in Laeralsford hoped to harness. &lt;br /&gt;
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During the 1920s and 30s, many settlers from Laeral's coastal plains had independently begun settling in these frontier regions: sometimes due to ideological disdain for the Republican regime, but more often for independent economic gain. Although mindful of the potential threat of the underdeveloped frontier regions as sanctuaries for rebel activity, Laeralsford's interest in bringing these areas under state control was primarily ideological (providing further rural development) and with an eye to exploiting natural resources. The new bureau, known popularly as Develfront (a contraction of its French name, ''Bureau de Développement Frontalier''), was meant to direct settlement and economic development in these regions. Develfront activities centered on large-scale agricultural collectives dedicated to production of cash crops such as sugar beet, tobacco, and cotton, to which local indigenous people were often forcibly resettled. Although these collectives were known even at the time to be less productive than smallholder farming in these regions, they were preferred for political reasons as both more in line with the Republican state's ideals and easier to regulate and control. As with agricultural collectives elsewhere in Laeral, during election time, frontier agricultural collectives could be counted on to deliver votes for the ruling party. Following the Great War, Develfront's remit would be expanded to include Xueyan, where much the same playbook was followed. &lt;br /&gt;
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===Green Revolution===&lt;br /&gt;
The small family farm remained the building block of agrarian society in Laeral throughout the Republican era. [[Great War]] and [[Green Revolution]] to come.&lt;br /&gt;
[Droughts, urbanization due to Green Revolution, decollectivization]&lt;br /&gt;
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==Modern Day==&lt;br /&gt;
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===Agriculture===&lt;br /&gt;
A majority of Laeralian land remains devoted to agriculture, primarily through large-scale commercial farming following the shift to capital-intensive agricultural production, although a small number of small commercial farms exist for hobby or specialty farming. Small commercial farms in Laeral are largely organized into agricultural cooperatives, an evolution of the collective farm system which allow for the pooling of resources to acquire land and farm technology and facilitate the sale of farm goods to national and international markets. &lt;br /&gt;
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Rice and wheat are widely-produced staple grains, while a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and legumes are produced as well. Cotton production in Laeral is now nearly non-existent, yet was once a predominant crop during the heyday of Laeralian textile production in the mid-20th century. Hogs and poultry are the most commonly raised meat animals. &lt;br /&gt;
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===Forestry===&lt;br /&gt;
Old-growth forests are exceedingly rare in Laeral due to centuries of human forest cultivation, including pre-colonial and colonial-era forest management. During the colonial era, &amp;quot;scientific forestry&amp;quot; was introduced according to the Daryan model. Intended to produce more reliable and easily-managed timber yields, this process included the replacement of diverse forest landscapes with monocultures of foreign timber trees, with negative consequences for ecosystem diversity and resilience to pests and natural disasters. Subsequent forest management efforts dating to the 1950s and onwards have sought to restore diverse forest environments, yet forest cover remains a small portion of land area in continental Laeral. Xueyan, by contrast, has extensive old-growth forests, many of which are protected from development by the National Wilderness system. The Xianhai Peninsula also holds old-growth forests due to differing development patterns. &lt;br /&gt;
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===National Parks===&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral's national park system preserves lands in a semi-wild state for tourism and recreation. The national parks were established in 1930 as bourgeois desires for natural conservation aligned with the revolutionary government's desire to promote recreational travel and hunting for the industrial working class. During the mid-20th century, national parks were frequently subject to development for state-run tourism resorts and rest homes (the ''Loisirs nationaux'' system), clashing with the conception of national parks as intended for preservation of undeveloped wilderness. In 1977, many national parks which had experienced extensive recreational development were redesignated as National Recreation Areas, while the remainder retained their designation as National Parks and were kept in an state of nature. National Monuments, smaller preservation areas centered on particular natural features, were established subsequently, as were National Wildernesses, nature preserves in Xueyan Special Administrative Region designated for preservation with some administration authorities delegated to indigenous authorities. National Maritime Parks, preserving marine areas, were first created in 1991 as the most recent addition to the national park system. The national park system is administered by the National Park Directorate, at the Interior Ministry.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Urbanization===&lt;br /&gt;
With the growth of cities, an increasing proportion of Laeralian land is in urban use. Although green belts have been frequently proposed for use in various Laeralian cities, efforts to set aside green belts have been stymied. The expansion of urban sprawl remains relatively unchecked by law, and power and transportation infrastructure is allowed a generally free hand in expansion. Nuclear power plants are required by law to be surrounded by a radius of undeveloped area; as a result, the green belts surrounding many nuclear power plants are thriving natural habitats, and are frequently used as parks and natural getaways. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Urban agriculture in Laeral dates to the mid-20th century. During the Great War, city dwellers were encouraged to produce food in communal gardens to alleviate food shortages. However, practices of household food cultivation among rural-to-urban migrants (colloquially referred to as ''cherbos'') had existed prior to the Great War through rooftop gardens and the practice of raising rabbits for meat indoors; these practices persist at a minor scale to this day. Community gardens continue to exist in Laeralian cities, although their role in Laeralian food production is marginal. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{notelist}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category: Agriculture]][[Category: History]][[Category: Laeral]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Laeral</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Laeral&amp;diff=45398</id>
		<title>Laeral</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Laeral&amp;diff=45398"/>
		<updated>2026-05-16T01:54:40Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Laeral: /* Demographics */&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;{{Infobox country&lt;br /&gt;
| native_name            = 絲綢國 (Sīchóuguó)&lt;br /&gt;
| conventional_long_name = Allied Provinces of Laeral&lt;br /&gt;
| common_name            = Laeral&lt;br /&gt;
| image_flag             = LaeralFlag.jpg&lt;br /&gt;
| alt_flag               = Flag of Laeral&lt;br /&gt;
| image_coat             = LaeralSealBronze.png&lt;br /&gt;
| alt_coat               = Laeralian Seal&lt;br /&gt;
| symbol_type            = Seal&lt;br /&gt;
| national_motto         = 通過智慧，平等和榮譽而繁榮&lt;br /&gt;
| national_anthem        = [[The Laeralite's Song]]&lt;br /&gt;
| royal_anthem           = &amp;lt;!--''[[name of/link to anthem]]''--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| other_symbol_type      = &amp;lt;!--Another symbol, e.g. Hymn--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| other_symbol           = &amp;lt;!--another symbol text--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| image_map              = LaeralinHespia.png&lt;br /&gt;
| alt_map                = Laeral&lt;br /&gt;
| map_caption            = Laeral (in light blue) in the Eastern portion of Hesperida, in the IDU&lt;br /&gt;
| image_map2             = &amp;lt;!--Another map, if required--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| alt_map2               = &amp;lt;!--alt text for second map--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| map_caption2           = &amp;lt;!--Caption to place below second map--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| capital                = [[Laeralsford]]&lt;br /&gt;
| largest_city           = Laeralsford&lt;br /&gt;
| official_languages     = French, Mandarin Chinese&lt;br /&gt;
| national_languages     = English&lt;br /&gt;
| regional_languages     = &amp;lt;!--Regional Languages--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| languages_type         = &amp;lt;!--Other type of languages --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| languages              = &amp;lt;!--Other languages list--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| ethnic_groups          = 34% Metice (Mixed-Race)&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;29% Rén&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;25% [[Arrivée]]&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;12% Other (Tuwen, Busai, Henai, Haemin, Andhran, etc)&lt;br /&gt;
| ethnic_groups_year     = 2020&lt;br /&gt;
| demonym                = Laeralian&lt;br /&gt;
| government_type        = Federal Semi-presidential Republic&lt;br /&gt;
| leader_title1          = President&lt;br /&gt;
| leader_name1           = [[Liu Mei-han]]&lt;br /&gt;
| leader_title2          = Prime Minister&lt;br /&gt;
| leader_name2           = [[Nicolas Martin]]&lt;br /&gt;
| leader_title3          = &amp;lt;!--Leader 3--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| leader_name3           = &amp;lt;!--Leader3--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| leader_title4          = &amp;lt;!--Leader 4--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| leader_name4           = &amp;lt;!--Leader4--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| sovereignty_type       = &lt;br /&gt;
| sovereignty_note       = &lt;br /&gt;
| established_event1     = First Allied Provinces of Laeral&lt;br /&gt;
| established_date1      = 1858&lt;br /&gt;
| established_event2     = Republic of Laeral&lt;br /&gt;
| established_date2      = 1922&lt;br /&gt;
| established_event3     = Second Allied Provinces of Laeral&lt;br /&gt;
| established_date3      = 1954&lt;br /&gt;
| area_rank              = &lt;br /&gt;
| area_magnitude         = &lt;br /&gt;
| area                   = &lt;br /&gt;
| area_km2               = 490,499&lt;br /&gt;
| area_sq_mi             = 304,782&lt;br /&gt;
| area_footnote          = &amp;lt;!-- optional footnote for area --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| percent_water          = &lt;br /&gt;
| area_label             = Total&lt;br /&gt;
| area_label2            = &amp;lt;!-- label below area_label (optional) --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| area_dabodyalign       = &amp;lt;!-- text after area_label2 (optional) --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| population_estimate    = 89,200,000&lt;br /&gt;
| population_estimate_rank = &lt;br /&gt;
| population_estimate_year = 2023&lt;br /&gt;
| population_census      = 87,446,385&lt;br /&gt;
| population_census_year = 2021&lt;br /&gt;
| population_density_km2 = 161.5&lt;br /&gt;
| population_density_sq_mi = 259.6&lt;br /&gt;
| population_density_rank = &lt;br /&gt;
| GDP_PPP                = &lt;br /&gt;
| GDP_PPP_rank           = &lt;br /&gt;
| GDP_PPP_year           = &lt;br /&gt;
| GDP_PPP_per_capita     = &lt;br /&gt;
| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = &lt;br /&gt;
| GDP_nominal            = NSD1,850,000,000,000&lt;br /&gt;
| GDP_nominal_rank       = &lt;br /&gt;
| GDP_nominal_year       = &lt;br /&gt;
| GDP_nominal_per_capita = &lt;br /&gt;
| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = &lt;br /&gt;
| Gini                   = 34.80&lt;br /&gt;
| Gini_rank              = &lt;br /&gt;
| Gini_year              = &lt;br /&gt;
| Gini_category          = &lt;br /&gt;
| HDI                    = 0.895&lt;br /&gt;
| HDI_rank               = &lt;br /&gt;
| HDI_year               = 2016&lt;br /&gt;
| HDI_category           = &lt;br /&gt;
| currency               = Laeralian Mark&lt;br /&gt;
| currency_code          = LRM&lt;br /&gt;
| time_zone              = GT +2&lt;br /&gt;
| utc_offset             = &lt;br /&gt;
| time_zone_DST          = &lt;br /&gt;
| antipodes              = &amp;lt;!-- countries or islands antipodal to this one --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| date_format            = mm-dd-yyyy&lt;br /&gt;
| DST_note               = &lt;br /&gt;
| utc_offset_DST         = &amp;lt;!-- +N, where N is number of hours--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| drives_on              = right&lt;br /&gt;
| cctld                  = .lr&lt;br /&gt;
| iso3166code            = &amp;lt;!-- optional to override the default determined using the&lt;br /&gt;
                               ''common_name'' parameter; set to ''omit'' to omit. --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| calling_code           = +118&lt;br /&gt;
| image_map3             = &lt;br /&gt;
| alt_map3               = &lt;br /&gt;
| footnotes              = &amp;lt;!--for any generic non-numbered footnotes--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| footnote1              = &lt;br /&gt;
| footnote2              = &lt;br /&gt;
| footnote3              = &lt;br /&gt;
}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The '''Allied Provinces of Laeral''', commonly called '''Laeral''', is a federal semi-presidential democracy in the continent of [[Hesperida]] on [[Earth (IDU)|Earth]] in the [[International Democratic Union]]. It is bordered by [[High Fells]] to the north, by [[Libertas Omnium Maximus]] to the south, and by [[Haesan]], [[Lao Sansong]], and the [[Albarine Sea]] to the east. Laeral covers 1.71 million square kilometers in area, and is subdivided into [[Provinces of Laeral|33 provinces]], with a total population of nearly 100 million. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Human civilization in Laeral dates back over three millennia to the establishment of the [[Danxing Empire]] around 1200 BCE, followed by successive dynastic empires. [[Minjian]] originated in Laeral in the 3rd century CE, and through conflict and peaceful conversion became the dominant religion in Laeral. The Tian Dynasty, established in 641 CE, was the first kingdom to unify much of modern-day Laeralian core territory, and was a significant sponsor of exploration and the arts, noted as well for its use of gunpowder and paper to create a powerful and stable society. Relative instability and technological stagnation during the succeeding Jiang Dynasty and the Falling Leaves Period of rule by the Gao Empire ended with the 1528 conquest by Sun Liang, at the head of the Sun Dynasty. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 1703, the arrival of French settlers led to conflict with the crumbling Sun Dynasty, which was ultimately toppled by the army of the Duke d'Tesse in 1723, who unified modern eastern Laeral and southern High Fells into a single kingdom of Felle-Haute. Ducal rule continued until the [[Laeralian War of Independence]] from 1848 to 1855, which established an independent government, the Allied Provinces of Laeral, consisting of a weak confederation of independent provinces. This confederation had become more centralized under the authoritarian rule of [[Vespasien Jamet]] (known as the &amp;quot;Vespasienate&amp;quot;) from 1880 to 1909, when longstanding racial unrest and the [[First Fellsian War]] resulted in authoritarian socialist modernizer [[René Gramont]] coming to power in the [[Laeralian Revolution]] in 1922. The subsequent [[Republican Era|Republic of Laeral]] saw substantial progress towards racial equality, the empowerment of women, and improvement of living standards, as well as the emergence of [[Gramontism]] as a prominent ideology internationally. Following a coup attempt in 1952 known as the [[Bloody Summer]], liberalizers in Gramont's [[Social Democratic Party (Laeral)|Social Democratic Party]] oversaw a transition to democratic rule as the renewed Allied Provinces of Laeral in 1954. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Initial prosperity and development during the early years of the Allied Provinces coexisted with intense political conflict, culminating in the [[Emergency Period]] of martial law in 1964 during the [[Great War]]. In that conflict, Laeral was a leading military and industrial power of the [[Coalition of Democratic Forces]], facing invasion from the fascist regimes of [[Darya]] and [[Slokais Islands]]. In the 1970s and 80s, Laeral underwent economic liberalization as the state-led economy of the Republican Era was gradually dismantled in favor of an export-oriented manufacturing economy, as well as increased racial strife as the [[Juexing Movement]] agitated for greater economic and social equality for Laeral's [[Rén]] and [[Metice]] ethnic majority. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In the 21st century, Laeral has transitioned into a service-based high-income economy, as well as coming to further international prominence as a leader among the democratic bloc and in international development via the [[Global Development Investment Bank]]. Its economy is largely service-based, but Laeral is also a major [[Land use in Laeral|agricultural producer]], as well as exporting oil and some manufactured goods. Laeral is also a prominent destination for international tourism and higher education, and a popular exporter of film and television. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Etymology==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral is pronounced Lay-ruhl, and likely comes from the Old Laeralian word laer, likely meaning 'silk'. It is combined with the suffix 'al', meaning 'land of' or 'territory of'. An alternate etymology posits that the term comes from &amp;quot;lehwal&amp;quot;, or 'river-dweller'. The term is first recorded in the 1500s. The former etymology is used for Laeral's name in Chinese, 絲綢之鄉, meaning 'silk country'.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The standard way to refer to a citizen of Laeral is as a &amp;quot;Laeralite.&amp;quot; The term 'Laeralian' is archaic and now rarely used. Two terms often used to refer to people in Laeral are [[Rén]] and '[[Arrivée]]'. These are racial terms used in Laeral. The former refers to the native Laeralites. The latter refers to those descended from the French and other white settlers who arrived from the Colonial Period onward. A person of mixed Rén and Arrivée descent is referred to as &amp;quot;Metice&amp;quot;. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==History==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Ancient Laeral (Pre-1000 CE)===&lt;br /&gt;
Humans likely arrived in modern-day Laeral in the paleolithic period, as evidence has been found of cave dwellings with artifacts dating back to that time. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral was inhabited by scattered nomadic tribes of Rén descent until around the 7th century BCE, when the first permanent agricultural settlements were developed. Cultivated grains have been found dating to that time. Around 1200 BCE, settlers from the [[Danxing Empire]] arrived in Laeral, conquering and intermarrying with the local population and founding Laeral's first cities. These coastal cities were the places where writing and toolmaking first developed, and are the birthplaces of Laeralian civilization. It was around the year 400 BCE when Laeral was first unified, under the Nan Dynasty, which in fact only controlled the coastal areas of Laeral. They were succeeded by the Lu dynasty around 100 BCE. They were followed by several other dynasties, including the Liu Dynasty (100 BCE-300 CE), which was known for its artistic ability, the Jin Dynasty (300 CE-500 CE), known for its relative stability and promotion of culture, the Bei Dynasty (500-640 CE), which was unstable and chaotic, and the Tian Dynasty (640-1000 CE). &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Minjian]], a religion originating in modern-day Peichen around 260 CE, was adopted as the national faith in 370, under the Jin Dynasty. In the early centuries of the religion, religious conflicts were common, notably in the [[War of the Three Lanterns]], a religious conflict between followers of opposing Minjian sects around 575 CE. Notably, the Bei Dynasty fell due to the chaos caused by the Tang Uprising of 635 CE, when the peasant leader Tang Guohui declared himself to be a Minjian Luminary and led an uprising against the Bei Emperor. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Examination.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Bureaucrats of the Tian Dynasty at the imperial palace of Guangzhihua.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Gunpowder and paper were both discovered around the same time in the 10th century CE, ushering in a new era in both warfare and culture. The stable and prosperous Tian Dynasty ruled the nation. At this time, the city of Guangzihua, considered the birthplace of technology in Laeral, became a center of learning and knowledge, and home of many wonders such as the Great Library of Guangzihua. Arts and culture were sponsored by the ruling Bei dynasty. Around 980, the city of Guangzihua was devastated by a fire and never rebuilt, capping off a long period of Tian decline; the dynasty itself fell soon after in 1003. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Falling Leaves Period and the Sun Dynasty===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
During the Falling Leaves period beginning around 1003, the chaos of the fall of the Tian Dynasty led to city-states being forced to expand and take over weaker rivals. Many warlords created pocket empires during this time, only to see them fall apart within years. At this time, both gunpowder weapons and bladed weapons proliferated, resulting in a land in chaos as warlords and their followers battled for territory. Warriors wandered the countryside, looking for plunder and a lord to serve under. In the late 13th century, one warlord, the famous Jiang Hui, united Laeral through military might, diplomatic skill, and strategic marriages. The epic saga of his dynasty, the Jiang Dynasty, is told in the classic Laeralian work of literature, ''The Cycle of Ascendancy''. Those kings had many wars with the Gao Empire, in modern-day High Fells, who had become similarly unified around the same time. However, the Jiang Dynasty fell apart sometime around 1430, when Emperor Xiaowen's incompetent leadership and backstabbing advisors led to a disastrous war with the Gao Empire, a militaristic kingdom ruling over modern-day High Fells. Another work of Laeralian classic literature, ''The Years of Woe'', tells of loyal Jiang Dynasty military commander Han Guiying's attempt to resist the Gao invasion and defend Laeralian sovereignty. However, while he was able to repel the invaders successfully, Laeral enjoyed only a decade or so of freedom, as the Gao underwent a period of political turmoil, which eventually resulted in a new Gao dynasty establishing itself and taking over Laeral.&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:HanGuiying.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Han Guiying]]&lt;br /&gt;
At one point, all of Laeral was under the control of the Gao, imposing unpopular cultural policies, such as mandating the celebration of Gao festivals and Gao clothing, while the city of Anjian, the Jiang capital, was razed. This period of time, known is Laeral as the 'Time of Sacrifice' still impacts the Laeralian national consciousness today. The leader of the resistance to Gao rule was [[Sun Liang]], a former warlord who assembled a group of secret societies to oppose the Gao occupation.&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Shei Wu's Forces.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Sun Liang's forces charge into battle against the Gao.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral ultimately threw off Gao rule in 1528 and enjoyed freedom for several centuries. Sun Liang established himself as an Emperor, and created the imperial capital at Lanxiu, in modern day Neidong. He and his descendants embarked upon a series of reforms, ultimately establishing a powerful central government, a bureaucracy, and allowing many innovations to spread quickly throughout Laeral. The Sun Dynasty cracked down on the power of warlords, and brought stability to Laeral. This time is often thought of as the 'golden age' of Laeral, when Laeral's internal organization, stability, and technological advancement were far ahead of those of its neighbors. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Colonial Era===&lt;br /&gt;
In 1689, [[Opthelia|Opthelian]] ships arrived in the Xianhai Gulf, establishing trading post where they traded muskets, beads, and advanced equipment such as spyglasses for textiles, beads, and pottery. This marked Laeral's first contact with non-Hesperidans. In 1700, the French explorer Gabriel Nicolas de Albarine (second son of the Comte de Albarine, who later settled in Laeral) led an expedition which mapped the coast of Laeral; the [[Albarine Sea]] is today named for him. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
As a modern nation, Laeral was founded in 1703 as the French personal colony of the Duc d'Tesse, who arrived that year with a small fleet of warships to settle the coastal region near modern-day Corday province. The French colony soon came into conflict with the local population; many died in the ensuing conflict, and many abuses and massacres were committed. This was a time of great change in Laeral, as ruling elements of Laeralian society were violently forced into submission before foreign conquerors. The Duc d'Tesse set himself up as Duc Jean-Baptiste I and ruled the land as the Duchy of Felle-Haute.&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:FrenchConquest.jpg|300px|thumb|right|A battle between French and Pei Dynasty forces.]]&lt;br /&gt;
After razing the imperial capital, he ordered the creation of the city of [[Laeralsford]] to serve as the new capital, as well as establishing four immense palaces around the country, each of which his court would spend one season a year at. These remain major historical sites, although the construction of these palaces was accomplished by forced labor and crippling taxation. He introduced European technology, but also treated the natives poorly, instituting forced agricultural labor, the hated ''corvée'', and high tithes. Following Duke Jean-Baptiste's assassination in 1732, his successors ruled as Dukes until the Laeralian War of Independence. Their reign was characterized by a tiny minority presiding over the subjugation of the Laeralian people and the theft of Laeralian heritage; the establishment of a fairly rigid racial hierarchy meant that Rén had little hope of advancement in society and were treated as second-class citizens. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Laeralian War of Independence===&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LaeralianWarofIndependence.png|300px|thumb|right|A battle during the [[Laeralian War of Independence]].]]&lt;br /&gt;
The ascension of Duchess Louise, a hard-line conservative, in 1836 prompted tremendous discontent among [[Rén]] and the middle-class for her rigid monarchism, traditionalism, and her anti-Enlightenment views. The years of her reign were characterized by harsh repression: the 1841 Vanoît Massacre, the 1843 An Heng Rebellion, and 1844's Blue Cockade Uprising were all brutally suppressed. As Duchesse Louise became gravely ill in 1848, a Provisional Assembly of liberal revolutionaries convened in Althea to plan an uprising, with G.E. Lematre chosen as leader of the new Free Laeralian Army. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The [[Laeralian War of Independence]] began with mass uprisings on March 4th, 1849. With the support of the [[Zhao kingdom]], the rebels triumphing after a protracted struggle in 1855, establishing Laeral as an independent nation.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===First Allied Provinces of Laeral===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral was founded in 1855 as a sovereign nation practically cutting High Fells off from the ocean, leaving High Fells with a grudge against Laeral and a continued period of absolute monarchy. Laeral's capital was established at Althea.&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LaeralianPeasants.jpg|250px|thumb|left|This 1870 print of a wealthy urban woman visiting rural Arrivée peasants demonstrates the class divides present during the early years of the Allied Provinces.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral's first major test came during the Outbreak of 1861, as cholera spread throughout Laeral. Although thousands died, the new nation largely avoided chaos through the government's skillful handling of the crisis. Georges Lematre also implemented nationwide paper currency in 1865. Prior to this, individual provinces issued their own currency. In 1866, Georges Lematre's term came to an end and he peacefully stepped down in favor of Jean-Paul Gauvain, the third Prime Minister. Famine in 1872, which led to many farmers moving to Laeralian cities in search of jobs and food. Although the government tried to reduce the problem, starvation was a constant problem in Laeral for decades. In 1881, the Bank of Laeral was established in order to unify the production of paper money, which had been established on a nationwide basis in 1865. The new government's efforts were often hamstrung by the weak nature of the federal government, however, and efforts to repeal the racist policies of the royalist era, such as the ''corvée'', were largely unsuccessful.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 1875, Laeralian settlers who had migrated southward from the province of Bethune came into conflict with settlers from [[Libertas Omnium Maximus]]. After Bethune provincial militia fired upon the Maximusian settlers, the [[War of the Seven Provinces]] broke out. As Laeral possessed only a limited national military at the time, and many of Laeral's wealthier northern provinces opposed the war, only the forces of seven provinces ended up declaring war on the Maximusians. Laeralian forces were defeated, and the areas comprising modern Lematre and Brissac provinces were ceded to Libertas Omnium Maximus in the 1877 Treaty of Legrange.&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LaeralianCannon.jpg|250px|thumb|right|A major portion of the New Laeral Movement involved developing Laeral's military strength.]]&lt;br /&gt;
From 1880 to 1909, the Laeralian government was dominated by strongman [[Vespasien Jamet]], who served as prime minister nearly continuously for almost three decades. During this period, referred to as the ''Vespasienate'', Prime Minister Jamet oversaw the centralization of the Laeralian state as well as westward expansion at the expense of the various Rén kingdoms to the Laeralian nation's western borders. Notable achievements of Prime Minister Jamet included the expansion of central government taxation, the creation of a larger standing army, the relocation of the capital from [[Althea]] to [[Laeralsford]] in 1894, and the defeat of the Zhao kingdom in 1885 during the [[Laeral-Zhao War]] and the annexation of its territory, the largest single land acquisition in Laeralian history. The Vespasienate was also characterized by immense corruption at the hands of Jamet and government insiders, largely from the plantation-owner class: for instance, the audacious New Laeral Movement, a ten-year program intended to modernize Laeral's industries, was generally a failure due to endemic corruption. The press and public protests faced heavy-handed censorship during the Vespasienate, prompting Jamet's opponents to brand him &amp;quot;Emperor Vespasien I.&amp;quot; Following the acquisition of Zhao land, Jamet oversaw the [[Land use in Laeral|Land Tenure Act of 1888]], which paved the way for the expropriation of land in five [[Riverlands]] provinces from its Rén inhabitants, who were subsequently confined to small territorial reserves, while the most productive agricultural land was distributed to Arrivée settlers via lottery. This land seizure paved the way for continuation of the racial wealth gap in Laeral, as well as the [[First Great Migration]], which saw Rén people from overcrowded and impoverished reserve territories relocate to Riverlands cities, fostering cultural diffusion. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 1903, Laeral also participated in the [[Golden Flag Rebellion]], sending a large force of soldiers under General Albert de Saivigné to defend Laeralian commercial interests in northern [[Caxcana]]. This marked Laeral's first major foreign conflict, and was met with protests by Rén who sympathized with the Golden Flag cause. The conflict became a primary source of political division in Laeralian society; many intellectuals and the majority of Rén opposed the government's decision to intervene, and the ensuing occupation. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 1911, [[High Fells]] declared war on Laeral over territorial disputes as Vespasien Jamet's successor Augustin Brienne struggled to consolidate the nation. While High Fellsian forces had been hoping for a quick victory, advancements in weapons technology meant that battle lines stagnated into trench warfare. Heavy fighting took place in the mountains of southern High Fells; inadequate winter supplies meant that many soldiers on both sides froze to death. This war, known in Laeral as the [[First Fellsian War]] or ''la catastrophe'', ended after five years in bloody stalemate, with nearly one million dying on the Laeralian side. Notably, airplanes, artillery, machine guns, and poison gas all saw use in the conflict. This war contributed to the unpopularity of the Laeralian government at the time, notably due to the army's use of forced conscription.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Republican Era===&lt;br /&gt;
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Following the chaos of the First Fellsian War, many were dissatisfied with the current structure of government. Many of the reforms expressed in the Progressive Movement had not been met. Women were still denied the right to vote, the central government was weak, and labor conditions were appalling. Many lived in abject poverty. Ultimately, unionists, left-wing activists, and dissatisfied veterans staged a revolt, known as the [[Laeralian Revolution]]. It began in 1919, and led to the rise of several progressive leaders, including [[Réne Gramont]], [[Jean-Philippe Salaun]], and [[Sun Jia-wei]], known as the Committee for Democracy and Progress, and later the Social Democratic party. Their revolution was supported by a majority of the populace, and ultimately succeeded following several years of fighting. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:SalaunAtUniversity.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Jean-Philippe Salaun and supporters of the ''Committee for Democracy and Progress'' at the drafting of the Republic's Constitution.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Leaders of the revolt assembled in Gaolan, Neidong, to write a new Constitution. While Laeral had been governed as a relatively loose confederation under the Binding Charter, they were determined to reshape Laeralian government. Their work, the Laeralian Constitution, established the new '''Republic of Laeral'''. This Republic would have a stronger central government. Suffrage was expanded to all men and women over 22. The National Assembly, or the national legislature, would use both proportional representation and regional constituencies, rather than the previous first past the post system. The leader of the Assembly of Commons would become the Prime Minister, while there would also be a directly elected President. In 1922, Réne Gramont declared the establishment of the Republic of Laeral.&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Réne_Gramont.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Réne Gramont, leader of the [[Gang of Five]] and first President of the Republic of Laeral]]&lt;br /&gt;
During the [[Republican Era]], Laeral was dominated by the so-called [[Gang of Five]], a group of Social Democratic leaders who promoted republicanism, reformism, socialism, secularism, and anti-imperialism through their modernization programs. While somewhat free and fair elections were held, the Social Democrats kept their hold on power through vote-buying and other dubious practices. The Gang of Five's wide-ranging battery of reforms, known as the [[Rose Revolution]] for the symbol of the ruling Social Democrats, had significant impacts across all areas of Laeralian society. The period also saw the first large-scale immigration to Laeral following the country's independence; this &amp;quot;Second Wave&amp;quot; of immigration consisted primarily of immigrants from the [[Dual Monarchy of Vertansk and Solavan]], with Solavanian expatriate communities arising in many port cities and Vertanskan immigrants migrating to state-backed agricultural settlements, particularly in the [[Xueyan Special Administrative Region|Northeastern Frontier]].&lt;br /&gt;
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In 1925, a popular revolt by people of Laeralian descent in the Brissac region, controlled by [[Libertas Omnium Maximus]] since the [[War of the Seven Provinces]] from 1875-1877, led to Laeral declaring war on [[Libertas Omnium Maximus]]. Due to superior Laeralian leadership under President [[Réne Gramont]] and widespread public support for the conflict, the Laeralites triumphed, with the 1927 Treaty of Galline granting modern Lematre and Brissac provinces to Laeral. The unity created within Laeral by the war, and the Laeralian victory, contributed greatly to the stability of the Republic of Laeral and the popularity of Gramont. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:SoldiersinLienne.jpg|300px|thumb|left|Laeralian Army soldiers in Lienne during the province's Accession.]]&lt;br /&gt;
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Following the Brissac War, the Social Democrats were free to concentrate fully on the [[Rose Revolution]], their ambitious program to reform Laeral along the lines of their 'Five Pillars': Republicanism, Reformism, Socialism, Secularism, and Anti-Imperialism. [[Réne Gramont]], a hero of the [[First Fellsian War]] who served as President from 1922-1932, established a republic with universal suffrage regardless of gender, race, or class, while simultaneously ensuring that his own Social Democratic party would be the dominant force in Laeralian politics. &lt;br /&gt;
During his ten years in office, Gramont promoted racial and gender equality, removing many of the most hated racial laws of the Allied Provinces era. Gramont also worked towards development and industrialization, promoting western-style higher education and industrialization of the nation. Gramont was succeeded in office by [[Jean-Philippe Salaun]], who served two terms from 1932-1942, and added further secularist reforms to the Rose Revolution's reforms. Presidents [[Zhou Wei-lin]] (1942-1947) and [[Sun Jia-wei]] (1947-1954) continued the Rose Revolution's programs, in particular continuing to promote racial equality and socialist principles.&lt;br /&gt;
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In 1947, the marquisate of Lienne, a state which had broken away from Park Yeong-gi's dictatorial regime in High Fells and become independent, petitioned for annexation by the Republic of Laeral in a bid for security from the Fellsian regime. In the [[Accession of Lienne]], also known as the Second Fellsian War, Laeralian forces clashed with Fellsian-backed Gao militias in the province over nine months of outright warfare and around a decade of ensuing guerrilla warfare. Although the Park regime continued to claim Lienne until its overthrow, Lienne was functionally under Laeralian control, and became a full province in 1954.&lt;br /&gt;
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===Second Allied Provinces of Laeral===&lt;br /&gt;
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[[File:Alain_Mette.jpg|250px|thumb|right|General [[Alain Mette]] led coup-aligned forces during the [[Bloody Summer]] in 1952]]&lt;br /&gt;
During the later years of the [[Republican Era]], the Rose Revolution project faced division between reform-minded, pro-democracy members of the Social Democratic elite, such as [[Zhou Wei-lin]], and the &amp;quot;vermilion&amp;quot; faction led by [[Hong Kuo-shu]] which favored continued autocratic rule. In May 1952, reformist president [[Sun Jia-wei]]'s re-nomination as the Social Democratic candidate for president at the [[Social Democratic Party (Laeral)|Seventh Social Democratic Party Congress]] empowered the reformist faction to seek the removal of [[Hong Kuo-shu]] as Party Secretary, leading to violence when Hong's supporters in the Laeralian military, led by General Alain Mette, attempted a coup against President Sun. The coup was defeated in August of that year with the capture and widely-publicized treason trial of Party Secretary Hong; Mette himself was killed in a plane crash while seeking to flee the country.  &lt;br /&gt;
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Following the coup attempt, remembered as the [[Bloody Summer]], the reformist &amp;quot;scarlet&amp;quot; faction was empowered to achieve a transition to full democracy, reforming the Laeralian Army into the Laeralian National Security Force and inviting both Social Democrats and opposition members to draft a new constitution in 1954, which established Laeralian government as it is today—the Second Allied Provinces of Laeral, so named as to distinguish it from the first. François Guiraud, a member of the opposition [[Laeralian National Congress]] party, was elected as the Second Allied Provinces' first President in 1954's free elections, while [[Sun Jia-wei]] soon became Prime Minister, remaining at the head of the Social Democratic party.  &lt;br /&gt;
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Political competition was intense during the early years of the Second Allied Provinces, conducted amongst a backdrop of economic and political liberalization. The &amp;quot;Decade of High Spirits&amp;quot; of the 1950s, including the &amp;quot;Riverlands Renaissance&amp;quot; and a boom in the Laeralian film industry, was fondly remembered also for its economic growth, including the Green Revolution spurring growth in agriculture and a boom in consumer industry. The &amp;quot;Decade of High Spirits&amp;quot; was brought to a swift close with the [[Great War]], which Laeral joined in 1961 as a leader of the Allied Coalition. Amidst mass mobilization, aerial bombing raids, and bloody amphibious and naval battles off the shores of Hesperida and Caxcana, the nation had its closest brush with dictatorship when President [[Réne Gramont|René Gramont]] declared a [[Emergency Period|state of national emergency]] in 1964 following a Daryan attempt on the life of Defense Minister Julien Cheng and leading military officers. Gramont would rule by decree for months, suspending the National Assembly and detaining political opponents without trial, yet was ultimately brought low by a fatal heart attack later that year. Following the resumption of constitutional order, Laeral would continue to prosecute the Great War to its victorious conclusion. &lt;br /&gt;
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In the early 1980s, a growing social and artistic movement known as the Juexing (Awakening) Movement, rejected the notion that Laeral's racial issues had been resolved during the Republican period, and agitated for further measures towards racial equality. Supporting the pride and self-betterment of Laeralian Rén, the Juexing Movement eventually succeeded in creating government measures to promote racial equality, notably the system of government quotas for racial minorities. Immigration to Laeral also increased throughout the 1970s and 80s, including large-scale immigration from [[Andhrapur]], creating Desi communities within many urban areas. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:ThirdFellsianWar.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Laeralian soldiers patrolling the border with High Fells during the Third Fellsian War.]]&lt;br /&gt;
In 1983, an undeclared &amp;quot;Third Fellsian War&amp;quot; between Laeral and High Fells began, in which both sides launched raids and bombings across their border, particular in Laeral's disputed Lienne province. Terrorist bombings in Lienne became a fixture on the Laeralian nightly news, but &lt;br /&gt;
the conflict was brought to a close after High Fellsian dictator Alger Hansen was overthrown in the June Revolution.&lt;br /&gt;
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In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Laeral's economy entered a protracted period of growth under a series of right-wing governments which had come to power capitalizing on sluggish growth and a backlash towards the Juexing Movement. A new export-based economic model, centered on exports of electronic equipment and textiles, produced economic prosperity which was well-distributed among the population. The government repaid its debts in full due to massive GDP growth, which reached at its height 12% annually. Economic growth continued until the late 1990s, while the government chose to invest the increased tax revenues into a new national education system, as well as a large fund for future shortfalls. &lt;br /&gt;
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However, the end of the economic boom in the late 1990s led to agitation and societal discontent, particularly as manufacturing entered a decline and inflation combined with stagnant economic growth and rising unemployment. The ensuing People Power protests of 1994-1995 led to constitutional reforms, including a reduction in the powers of the General Assembly. A left-leaning government took power in the early 2000s, enacting social reforms including legalizing same-sex civil unions in 2005. Around this time, a civil war erupted along religious lines in neighboring [[High Fells]], leading the Laeralian government to deploy soldiers, known as the Laeralian Peacekeeping Force (LPKF), to prop up the central government in 2001 and prevent the spillover of fighting and drug trafficking into Laeral. Following the signing of the Jindong Agreement in 2004, Laeralian troops began to withdraw in a slow process lasting until 2008, when the final Laeralian troops departed. &lt;br /&gt;
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The nation was shaken by the impeachment of President Maurice Fesnau in 2006 following the investigation of a far-reaching corruption scandal, which resulted in the trial and imprisonment of several Socialist Party politicians. President Ganard, of the [[Laeralian People's Party]], took power after a 2006 special election, only to preside over an economic recession in 2007, which damaged the national economy and brought the Progressives, under President [[Nicholas Brennan]] into power. Laeral acceded to the [[World Assembly]] in 2016 following extensive legal reforms meant to bring the nation into line with WA standards. Laeral's growing involvement in foreign conflicts grew, as Brennan authorized the deployment of troops to aid pro-democracy forces in the [[Second Lauchenoirian Civil War]], while his successor [[Liu Mei-han]] brokered the [[Jinyu Peace Agreement]] in 2021 to negotiate an end to the [[Xiomeran Civil War]].&lt;br /&gt;
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==Geography==&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LaeralProvincesNamed.jpg|200px|thumb|right|A map of the 33 provinces of Laeral.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral is divided into [[Provinces of Laeral|33 provinces]] and two Special Administrative Regions, which are self-governing and share authority with the federal government. &lt;br /&gt;
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The primary river in Laeral is the Zhongshui, which runs west to east through central Laeral and cities such as [[Hanshui]], [[Laeralsford]], and Auvergne. It forms the core of the Riverlands region. Tributaries of the Zhongshui include the Beuvron River, flowing northward through Jinyu, and the Gaoming River, flowing southward through Songshan and Lushui to merge with the Zhongshui River near Hanshui. The Guilin River, meanwhile, sets continental Laeral's southwestern border. The Vierge River (flowing into the Beuvron) and the Espoir River (flowing inland from the Albarine Sea) are other tributaries which have also aided river commerce for centuries. River flooding is historically an impactful aspect of Laeral's plentiful rivers, which have largely been managed with the advent of dams. &lt;br /&gt;
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===Geographic Regions===&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral possesses various historical and cultural regions. Most prominent of these is the Riverlands region, stretching east to west across Laeral and generally considered to contain the provinces surrounding the Zhongshui River. This area is historically fertile and heavily populated, and since the early 20th century has been the most developed region of Laeral. The Iron Belt contains the manufacturing regions of northeast Laeral, and is generally considered to include [[Lienne]], a province with a distinctive cultural identity based on its period under High Fellsian rule. The territory of the former [[Zhao Kingdom]] in southwestern Laeral is the nation's Minjian heartland and is today known as Zhao country. The area of the Beuvron River valley, particularly the provinces of Sendrasi, Therese, and Sarene, is also known as the Catholic Belt for its high proportion of adherents to that faith. Finally, the Xianhai Peninsula is another region distinctive from continental Laeral, characterized by its relative underdevelopment and economy based on plantation agriculture and later oil extraction. Lematre and Brissac provinces feature oil deposits both on land and offshore, part of a larger field shared with the neighboring Maximusian province of [[Winfield Province|Winfield.]] These oil deposits, along with smaller fields in Felliere and the Xianhai Gulf, have been extracted by various state and private corporations since the [[Republican Era]].&lt;br /&gt;
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The Xueyan Special Administrative Region (Xueyan SAR) is a large, sparsely-populated and underdeveloped region, separated from the main portion of Laeral by Lake Xueyan, an immense body of water. Following its seizure during the [[Great War]], Laeral currently claims sovereignty over the Xueyan SAR, although this claim remains contested by [[Haesan]] and has not been fully recognized by the international community. The region is believed to have extensive natural gas reserves. Laeral also administers the [[Allied Cities|Xianjiapo Special Administrative Region]], an urban region in northern [[Caxcana]]. &lt;br /&gt;
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[[File:GoldenLarch.jpg|200px|thumb|left|The Golden Larch tree turns golden in autumn.]]Laeral's climate features cold winters and temperate summers. Northern provinces generally have a cool-temperate climate, while southern provinces are warmer. Coniferous and mixed forests exist in much of continental Laeral, while there are broad-leafed forests in southern Laeral. The Golden Larch, Maidenhair (Gingko), Umbrella Pine, and Chinese Plum are all major tree species in Laeral, with the plum blossom (meihua) of the latter being an important Laeralian national symbol. Bamboo also grows in southern portions of Laeral, where it is used as an important manufacturing and construction material.&lt;br /&gt;
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Laeral's rivers support a thriving fishing industry, as well as habitat for spawning carp and salmon. Laeral's climate is very agriculturally productive: primary agricultural products include rice, barley, and wheat as staple grains. Silk is also grown by way of mulberry trees.&lt;br /&gt;
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==Environment==&lt;br /&gt;
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Large wild animals in Laeral include the brown bear, lynx, 'snow cat' (snow leopard), Chinese mountain cat, and grey wolf, although these are widely hunted and now have a severely curtailed frequency and range. Other wild mammals include the Summer Dog (raccoon dog), the Iduvian red and water deer, the marsh deer (Pere David's Deer), and the marmot. Birds common in Laeral include various cranes, the snowcock, the heron, various swans, and various pigeons.&lt;br /&gt;
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Laeralian meat raised for cultivation generally lacks large pasture animals such as cows. Farmers instead focus on keeping geese, rabbits, ducks, chickens, grouse, pheasant, and pigs, as well as sheep and goats in mountainous areas. Carp are farmed in the Riverlands, and water buffalo and oxen are kept as plow animals. Notable foods grown in Laeral include rice, grains, tea, and many types of fruits and vegetables, including lychees, almonds, citrus fruits, and other products. Flowers are also grown. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:RiceFarmLaeral.jpg|300px|thumb|left|Rice is an important staple crop in Laeral.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Notable environmental attractions can be found in some of the more rural provinces, as well as in some coastal provinces such as Althea. Environmental legislation protects environmentally sensitive areas such as wetlands and old growth forests, and tourism and development are severely restricted into some areas. Soil pollution remains an issue in many areas of Laeral's old industrial belt, although government action against pollutants means that rates of particulate matter in the air due to air pollution have decreased from their high in the late 1970s.&lt;br /&gt;
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==Demographics==&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:ChinaStreet.jpg|400px|thumb|right|A street in the western Riverlands.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral has a population of over 90 million people. The fertility rate is 2.34, with a high life expectancy. Ethnic groups present in Laeral include the [[Arrivée]], the [[Rén]], and various minority groups, including the Tuwen, Busai, and Henai. Laeral's ethnic makeup has also been shifted by immigration, and those of immigrant (particularly [[High Fells|Fellsian]] and [[Andhrapur|Andhran]] descent) make up a growing percentage of the population. A large percentage of Laeral's population is mixed-race (Metice), largely the result of marriages between [[Arrivée]] and Rén people. &lt;br /&gt;
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The overall obesity rate is around 15%, although around 30% of Laeralites overall are overweight. Laeral's population is increasingly aging, as the average life expectancy has increased. This has begun to place a burden upon senior care services, although the majority of elderly Laeralites are cared for by their family rather than by retirement facilities.&lt;br /&gt;
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===Education===&lt;br /&gt;
Laeralian culture is known for adhering to the Moralist paradigm of valuing education as a means to improve one's socioeconomic position in society. Heavy investment and a cultural valuing of education has consistently brought the nation to the top of global education rankings; Laeral is one of the top-performing countries in standardized tests of reading literacy, mathematics and sciences. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LIUniversity.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Althea City University, a member of the National Open University system.]]&lt;br /&gt;
The Laeralian education system has been praised for various reasons, including its comparatively high test scores and its major role in promoting Laeral's economic development while creating one of the IDU’s most highly educated workforces, with 67.1% of Laeralites going on to attend university. K-12 education is generally administered by the provincial governments, although the federal Ministry of Education has general authority over curricula and may apply regulations to oversee school practices. Higher education, which lies within the purview of the national government, is divided between public universities and the prestigious and selective [[National Open University (Laeral)|National Open Universities]] (NOUs). The NOUs have been criticized for alleged elitism; they have produced a majority of Laeral's high-ranking civil servants, CEOs, and politicians. &lt;br /&gt;
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===Language===&lt;br /&gt;
Mandarin was historically the primary language of Laeral. Following the period of French colonization, the use of French acquired greater social status and was taught in schools. Under the [[Rose Revolution]], Mandarin and French achieved equal prominence in the education system. The majority of Laeralites are multilingual, and diplomats and civil servants often learn another language. English is widely taught in schools. Linguistic diversity is a major political focus in Laeral, with all government documents required to be in Chinese, French, and English. The Académie Linguistique is a government agency responsible for regulating the practice and expression of language in Laeral; notably, Laeral switched from the older Wade-Giles system of romanization to the modern pinyin system in the 1980s.&lt;br /&gt;
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=== Religion ===&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:MinjianPalace.jpg|250px|thumb|right|The Minjian High Conclave in Miaoshi.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral is a religiously-diverse nation. Although [[Minjian]] is the majority religion, a substantial Christian (almost entirely Catholic) majority exists as well. Minjian is a dualistic religion of Laeralian origin; the Minjian High Conclave, the central organ of the faith, is located in the Laeralian city of Miaoshi, which is a pilgrimage site for devout Minjian from around the world. Roughly one-fifth of Laeralites identify as non-religious, while secularism is a governing principle of Laeral under the Laeralian constitution. &lt;br /&gt;
{| class=&amp;quot;wikitable&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
|+Religion in Laeral (2022)&lt;br /&gt;
!Religion&lt;br /&gt;
!Proportion&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Minjian]]&lt;br /&gt;
|50.7%&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Christian&lt;br /&gt;
|21.3%&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Non-Religious&lt;br /&gt;
|18.6%&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Other&lt;br /&gt;
|6.4%&lt;br /&gt;
|}&lt;br /&gt;
Laeralian customs and superstitions, largely originating from Laeral's [[Rén]] population, are also broadly adopted by Laeralites of all ethnic backgrounds, particularly around the Lunar New Year.&lt;br /&gt;
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==Government==&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LiuMei-han.png|200px|thumb|right|[[Liu Mei-han]] has been the President of Laeral since 2018.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral has a federal system of government. Each province is headed by a Governor or First Minister, as well as a provincial legislature, to conduct self-governance. The head of state of Laeral is the [[President of Laeral]], who is currently [[Liu Mei-han]]. The President is elected by popular vote, with a runoff if no candidate attains a majority of the vote, and serves for four-year terms, renewable once. The President serves as Laeral's head of state and does not have a legislative veto, although the president can sign a bill into law bypassing the General Assembly if the bill has passed the Assembly of Commons by a supermajority. The President also names a Prime Minister and assist in government formation, and may dissolve the Assembly of Commons for snap elections.&lt;br /&gt;
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The [[Prime Minister of Laeral|Prime Minister]] is required to be officially appointed by the President, yet must command the confidence of the Assembly of Commons. The current Prime Minister is [[Nicolas Martin]].&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:AssemblyofCommons.jpg|300px|thumb|left|The Assembly of Commons]]&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral has a bicameral legislature known as the [[National Assembly (Laeral)|National Assembly]], consisting of the Assembly of Commons and the General Assembly. The Assembly of Commons and General Assembly must vote with a majority in order to pass a bill on to the other Assembly. The bill needs a simple majority to pass, with the president breaking ties. Additionally, a bill passed by a 2/3 majority of the Assembly of Commons does not need to pass the General Assembly if the President chooses to sign the bill. The Commons, currently consisting of 386 Representatives, is elected nationwide by party-list proportional representation, with elections being called at maximum four years apart . Two Delegates from each province are elected to the General Assembly according to a staggered six-year schedule, using single-transferable vote.&lt;br /&gt;
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Laeral has historically had a multi-party system, with a left-wing &amp;quot;red bloc&amp;quot; consisting of the [[Progressive Party of Laeral|Progressives]] and Socialist Party competing for power with a &amp;quot;blue bloc&amp;quot; comprised of the [[Laeralian People's Party]] and [[Conservative Party (Laeral)|Conservatives]], although the rise of the [[New Democratic Alliance (Laeral)|New Democrats]] and their &amp;quot;yellow bloc&amp;quot; and the right-wing, Rén-nationalist [[Laeral Unbowed!]] party have altered this paradigm. Many smaller parties also contest elections, and often win representation in the Assembly of Commons. Governments are almost always formed via coalition. &lt;br /&gt;
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Laeral's judicial branch consists of a large network of local courts, a Provincial Court for each province, and a National High Court which tries criminal and civil cases appealed from lower courts, following a majority vote of its 7 Magistrates, including a Chief Magistrate. The [[Laeralian Constitutional Court]] is the highest court in Laeral, responsible for ensuring that the constitution is upheld, and capable of nullifying laws and impeaching politicians. Its twelve justices serve for 12-year terms. &lt;br /&gt;
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Laeral is a consolidated democracy and is ranked as a &amp;quot;full democracy&amp;quot; by the [[Howard Prince-Gonzalez Institution]], and among the most democratic nations in [[Hesperida]]. Freedom of the press, freedom of speech, and freedom of assembly are generally respected, while elections are considered free and fair. The judiciary is generally considered free and fair. Human rights observers have criticized that the death penalty remains legal in Laeral in cases of treason, rebellion, and sedition.  &lt;br /&gt;
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==Foreign Relations and Military==&lt;br /&gt;
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Laeral is an active member of the [[World Assembly]] and the [[League of IDU Nations]], and has among the most embassies and consulates of any IDU nation. Laeralian foreign policy, historically influenced by [[Gramontism]] and Laeralian nationalism, has traditionally focused on opposing imperialism and supporting ideologically-aligned partners abroad. This is exemplified through the [[Forward Operations Doctrine (Laeral)|Forward Operations Doctrine]], a series of operations undertaken prior to the [[Great War]], as well as through the role of the quasi-state [[International Republican Institute]] during the latter half of the 20th century. Laeralian foreign policy also traditionally focused on regional neighbors, as the nation has traditionally aspired to hegemony in southeastern Hesperida—leading to confrontations with regional rivals [[High Fells]] (during the early 20th century) and [[Haesan]] (during the late 20th century), often benefiting from the support of traditional regional allies [[Libertas Omnium Maximus]] and [[Slokais Islands]] during the latter half of the 20th century. Following the [[Great War]], Laeralian foreign policy has increasingly taken in events further afield, particularly in a newfound alignment itself in defense of the rules-based liberal democratic world order.  &lt;br /&gt;
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Laeral's military is the Laeralian Defense Forces. It consists of four branches: the Laeralian National Security Force (ground forces), the Laeralian Navy, the Laeralian Air Force, and the Gendarmerie. Laeral's [[Nuclear weapons in the International Democratic Union|nuclear weapons program]] is managed directly by the president's National Security Council, with warheads dispersed across the Navy and Air Force, which operate the ballistic missile submarines and heavy bombers responsible for nuclear strike delivery.&lt;br /&gt;
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During the early decades of the Laeralian state, the military was funded on a provincial level, leading to internal instability and poor military outcomes—demonstrated most acutely during the [[War of the Seven Provinces]] in 1875-77. Reforms during the waning days of the First Allied Provinces were insufficient to produce victory against a less populous foe during the [[First Fellsian War]], and military strengthening was a priority during the Republican Era, which saw Laeral avoid large-scale conflicts apart from the [[Brissac War]], as well as brief conventional clashes with Fellsian forces during the [[Accession of Lienne]]. The 1954 Laeralian Constitution, drafted in the wake of a failed military coup, saw the Laeralian military firmly subordinated to the civilian government and reconstituted as the Laeralian Defense Forces. Despite the reorganization of the military, which proved to be largely cosmetic, the Laeralian Defense Forces proved capable of performing well in high-intensity, kinetic combat during the [[Great War]], which saw Laeralian forces take part in operations alongside Coalition allies in Haesan, Slokais Islands, and Darya, alongside the Albarine Sea. Since the Great War, Laeralian military operations have largely been of a counter-insurgency nature in Lienne, High Fells, and Xueyan.  &lt;br /&gt;
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The Laeralian National Security Force, restructured from the Laeralian Army following the [[Bloody Summer]] coup attempt of 1952, totals around 180,000 combat personnel. During the [[Second Lauchenoirian Civil War]], LNSF forces saw direct combat in an extended operation in [[Lauchenoiria]], bolstering confidence in the LNSF's continued capacity to conduct rapid-response conventional warfare operations abroad. The elite [[Republican Guard (Laeral)|Republican Guard]] units are also grouped with the LNSF, which also includes special forces, cavalry, parachute, and marine units. Unlike the Navy and Air Force, which typically produce indigenous aircraft, ships, and submarines, the battle tanks and armored vehicles are largely manufactured based on foreign designs.   &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LiuWithNavy.jpg|300px|thumb|right|President Liu Mei-han has promoted a naval buildup during her administration.]]&lt;br /&gt;
The Laeralian Navy is Laeral's largest military branch be expenditure, given Laeral's large coastline and the country's role in the protection of free commerce and freedom of navigation since the turn of the century. During the [[Great War]], the navy saw more combat than any other branch. Laeral spearheaded the development of nuclear submarines in the late 1960s, and Laeralian attack and ballistic missile submarines have traditionally made up a substantial portion of the navy and number among the world's most effective submarine arms. Since the Great War, Laeral has operated at least one fixed-wing aircraft carrier near-continuously for force projection. The Navy also formerly operated the Littoral Assault Regiment of marines, which has been defunct since 1970.  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Laeralian Air Force includes roughly 600 operational aircraft and is responsible for supporting the operations of other branches of the military and protecting Laeralian airspace. In addition to carrier-based units, the air force also operates from airbases in Xueyan, continental and peninsular Laeral, and various bases abroad.  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Gendarmes, or military police, are responsible for protecting Laeralian government buildings and embassies abroad, supplementing ordinary Laeralian police forces, and conducting operations against domestic terror threats and criminal organizations.  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Economy==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral's economy is dynamic and export-based, constructed within the framework of a modern social-democratic capitalist economy. The Laeralian economy is dominated by the services sector, although agriculture is also a major portion of the Laeralian economy. In the services sector, Laeral is a world leader in film and television production, and Laeralian films have historically won acclaim at the [[IDU Film Festival]]. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Despite a high level of industrialization, future economic growth is threatened by rising structural unemployment and an aging population. Laeral's export-based economy has traditionally led to an emphasis on free-trade agreements with foreign nations, following economic liberalization under President Michel Baudry during the 1980s. Organized labor has historically been quite influential in the Laeralian economy since the Republican Era, as have worker cooperatives, and rates of unionization in Laeral, at roughly 45%, are quite high compared peer economies. This can be seen in the phenomenon of &amp;quot;workplace democracy&amp;quot;, in which under national law, all businesses of over 60 employees are required to include elected worker representation on the company board equal to 30% of seats, with few exceptions. The [[FLT-OIU]] is Laeral's dominant labor union federation, with roughly three-fourths of Laeral's unionized workers affiliated with an FLT-OIU union. The remaining quarter largely belongs to the communist-aligned [[Assemblée Syndicale de Toute la Laeral]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Agriculture===&lt;br /&gt;
''See [[Land use in Laeral]]'' &amp;lt;br /&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Agriculture is a major portion of the Laeralian economy, albeit employing only a small portion of the workforce. Rice, barley, and wheat are major staple crops, while cash crops in Laeral include sugar beet, tobacco, soybeans, cotton, tea, and specialty fruits and vegetables.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Culture==&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral is a generally secular, socially-liberal nation with a growing population. The education system is considered among the foremost in the IDU, featuring an extensive network of public universities, capped by the prestigious [[National Open University (Laeral)|National Open University]] system. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Elisabeth_Verene_Le_Bonnaire.jpg|300px|thumb|left|''Self-Portrait With Students'' by Élisabeth Vérène le Bonnaire.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral's film industry plays a significant role in the nation's culture and economy, with Jinhua province being a center of the industry. The 'Five Giants' are a quintet of film studios dominating the Laeralian film scene; Marion-Guichard Productions is known for favoring artsy fare, while Silver Harvest favors big-budget action movie reboots, spin-offs, and sequels. Laeralian television dramas, meanwhile, have become an important cultural export, and are aired in numerous markets abroad. Laeralian pop music, encompassing works from vintage crooners to modern stars such as Jane Tao, has also exhibited similar foreign appeal.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Laeralian literature, meanwhile, dates back to at least the year 1200, which is roughly the date of the oldest written work ever found in Laeral, a manual of farming practices. Famous Laeralian novels include ''The Cycle of Ascendancy'', a Laeralian patriotic tale; ''Drawn Curtains in the Silver Chamber'', the story of a noble family in decline; ''Letters of a Lady's Hand'', an intrigue/romance taking place around 1790; and ''The Chens of Hanshui'', a novel dealing with themes of race in the modern era. In fine art, the work of [[Élisabeth Vérène le Bonnaire]] is highly prized among artists of the colonial era, while Laeral has also historically been home to numerous influential artists, musicians, and playwrights. Modernist architect Maurice Ho and composed Germain Deschamps are among the most highly-esteemed Laeralian artists internationally. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
During the Colonial period, the noted Laeralian astronomer Alexandre-Galliot de Crussol produced one of the first catalogs of astronomical phenomena. During the First Allied Provinces period, scientific development lagged; during the Rose Revolution of the Republican period, the government aggressively sought to improve Laeralian scientific education. In the modern day, Laeral has become a regional center for scientific innovation, notably in the fields of medicine, psychology, and materials science.  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral is also a world leader in nuclear energy, producing reactors and material for export, and maintains a nuclear weapons program. One area of improvement for Laeralian scientific development is in the aerospace field; while Laeral was a player in the global [[Space Race]] of the 1960s and 70s, the Laeralian space agency ALORS (Agence Laeralien de Opérations et Recherche Spatiale) has had a contrained budget since. Laeralian expertise in programming and computing is widely-sought internationally, but Laeralian software engineers have had difficulties with expanding websites and apps to customers outside Laeral, partially due to linguistic barriers. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LaeralianWedding.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Interracial weddings have become increasingly accepted in Laeralian society.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Race remains a significant dividing line in Laeralian society, with the historical weight of imperialism and subsequent systemic racism weighing upon the nation. With linguistic, religious, and cultural differences between Rén and Arrivée Laeralites, racial tensions remain to this day. From the mid-20th century onward, immigration by ethnic Haemin and Andhrapuri migrants, alongside numerous other smaller groups, has led to greater cultural diversity while also at times leading to racist backlash. Interracial marriages have been fairly common throughout Laeralian history, leading to a large mixed-race population known as ''Metice''. For decades, government action has worked to reduce racial disparities; with the result of reducing disparities in average household income, although residential segregation stubbornly remains. The civil service and higher education systems are mandated to match the nation's demographics as a whole due to decades-old affirmative action programs. The work of Rén and other disadvantaged racial groups' social activists over the course of decades, most notably Hua Mingrui during the 1970s and 80s, has been crucial to this government action.  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral is highly ranked on measures of female workforce participation and in other measures of societal equity, and Laeralian feminist thinkers and activists have historically played a major role in the global feminist movement.  &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LaeralianGymnast.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Laeralian gymnast Rose Yaling won a gold medal at the 13th Olympic Games.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Handball, a traditional Laeralian sport, is the most popular team sport in Laeral, with stadiums and fields found in nearly every town or city. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Football is also popular; Laeral notably hosted the 2018 IDU Football Championship. Organized play is dominated by Ligue 1, which consists of the 20 best teams in Laeral. Play in that league is dominated by two dueling teams, Laeralsford AC and Ville Laeralsford, as well as teams such as Hanshui and Althea FC. There is also the Ligue Provincial, which is below Ligue 1 and consists of the teams relegated from that league, which make up the 24 second-tier football teams in Laeral. A third popular sports include basketball, which is played professionally through the [[Laeralian Basketball Association]]. Laeral has experienced success at recent Olympics, notably in speed-skating, fencing, gymnastics, figure skating, and basketball.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Infrastructure==&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral generally has highly developed infrastructure, although some rural areas do not have the same level of high-tech infrastructure as in urban areas. For example, 97% of Laeralites have internet access, practically every Laeralite has a phone connection, and the vast majority of Laeralian households have a television. The state-run radio and television broadcaster is RTL (Radio et Télévision Laéralien).&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The primary method of transportation is through Laeralian Railways, Laeral's state-run high-speed rail system. Laeral has over 29,000 kilometers of track in total, although not all of this is high-speed. International airports exist in numerous large cities. Laeral also has eight deepwater seaports, which manage much of Laeral's import-export trade. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:HighSpeedRail.jpg|300px|thumb|right|A Laeralian Railways high-speed train in Rilos.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral generates roughly 278 million KwH (Kilowatt-hours) of electricity per year, mostly for domestic consumption, although a small fraction of this is exported. Nuclear power generates close to 30% of Laeral's electricity, although the system is gradually being phased out as part of a transition to renewables. Fossil fuels continue to make up around 40% of Laeral's electricity mix; natural gas is extracted in the Xueyan Special Administrative Region while substantial oil deposits exist in the peninsular provinces and the Xianhai Gulf. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Countries]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category: Laeral]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Laeral</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Laeral&amp;diff=45397</id>
		<title>Laeral</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Laeral&amp;diff=45397"/>
		<updated>2026-05-16T01:53:11Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Laeral: &lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;div&gt;{{Infobox country&lt;br /&gt;
| native_name            = 絲綢國 (Sīchóuguó)&lt;br /&gt;
| conventional_long_name = Allied Provinces of Laeral&lt;br /&gt;
| common_name            = Laeral&lt;br /&gt;
| image_flag             = LaeralFlag.jpg&lt;br /&gt;
| alt_flag               = Flag of Laeral&lt;br /&gt;
| image_coat             = LaeralSealBronze.png&lt;br /&gt;
| alt_coat               = Laeralian Seal&lt;br /&gt;
| symbol_type            = Seal&lt;br /&gt;
| national_motto         = 通過智慧，平等和榮譽而繁榮&lt;br /&gt;
| national_anthem        = [[The Laeralite's Song]]&lt;br /&gt;
| royal_anthem           = &amp;lt;!--''[[name of/link to anthem]]''--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| other_symbol_type      = &amp;lt;!--Another symbol, e.g. Hymn--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| other_symbol           = &amp;lt;!--another symbol text--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| image_map              = LaeralinHespia.png&lt;br /&gt;
| alt_map                = Laeral&lt;br /&gt;
| map_caption            = Laeral (in light blue) in the Eastern portion of Hesperida, in the IDU&lt;br /&gt;
| image_map2             = &amp;lt;!--Another map, if required--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| alt_map2               = &amp;lt;!--alt text for second map--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| map_caption2           = &amp;lt;!--Caption to place below second map--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| capital                = [[Laeralsford]]&lt;br /&gt;
| largest_city           = Laeralsford&lt;br /&gt;
| official_languages     = French, Mandarin Chinese&lt;br /&gt;
| national_languages     = English&lt;br /&gt;
| regional_languages     = &amp;lt;!--Regional Languages--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| languages_type         = &amp;lt;!--Other type of languages --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| languages              = &amp;lt;!--Other languages list--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| ethnic_groups          = 34% Metice (Mixed-Race)&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;29% Rén&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;25% [[Arrivée]]&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;12% Other (Tuwen, Busai, Henai, Haemin, Andhran, etc)&lt;br /&gt;
| ethnic_groups_year     = 2020&lt;br /&gt;
| demonym                = Laeralian&lt;br /&gt;
| government_type        = Federal Semi-presidential Republic&lt;br /&gt;
| leader_title1          = President&lt;br /&gt;
| leader_name1           = [[Liu Mei-han]]&lt;br /&gt;
| leader_title2          = Prime Minister&lt;br /&gt;
| leader_name2           = [[Nicolas Martin]]&lt;br /&gt;
| leader_title3          = &amp;lt;!--Leader 3--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| leader_name3           = &amp;lt;!--Leader3--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| leader_title4          = &amp;lt;!--Leader 4--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| leader_name4           = &amp;lt;!--Leader4--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| sovereignty_type       = &lt;br /&gt;
| sovereignty_note       = &lt;br /&gt;
| established_event1     = First Allied Provinces of Laeral&lt;br /&gt;
| established_date1      = 1858&lt;br /&gt;
| established_event2     = Republic of Laeral&lt;br /&gt;
| established_date2      = 1922&lt;br /&gt;
| established_event3     = Second Allied Provinces of Laeral&lt;br /&gt;
| established_date3      = 1954&lt;br /&gt;
| area_rank              = &lt;br /&gt;
| area_magnitude         = &lt;br /&gt;
| area                   = &lt;br /&gt;
| area_km2               = 490,499&lt;br /&gt;
| area_sq_mi             = 304,782&lt;br /&gt;
| area_footnote          = &amp;lt;!-- optional footnote for area --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| percent_water          = &lt;br /&gt;
| area_label             = Total&lt;br /&gt;
| area_label2            = &amp;lt;!-- label below area_label (optional) --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| area_dabodyalign       = &amp;lt;!-- text after area_label2 (optional) --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| population_estimate    = 89,200,000&lt;br /&gt;
| population_estimate_rank = &lt;br /&gt;
| population_estimate_year = 2023&lt;br /&gt;
| population_census      = 87,446,385&lt;br /&gt;
| population_census_year = 2021&lt;br /&gt;
| population_density_km2 = 161.5&lt;br /&gt;
| population_density_sq_mi = 259.6&lt;br /&gt;
| population_density_rank = &lt;br /&gt;
| GDP_PPP                = &lt;br /&gt;
| GDP_PPP_rank           = &lt;br /&gt;
| GDP_PPP_year           = &lt;br /&gt;
| GDP_PPP_per_capita     = &lt;br /&gt;
| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = &lt;br /&gt;
| GDP_nominal            = NSD1,850,000,000,000&lt;br /&gt;
| GDP_nominal_rank       = &lt;br /&gt;
| GDP_nominal_year       = &lt;br /&gt;
| GDP_nominal_per_capita = &lt;br /&gt;
| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = &lt;br /&gt;
| Gini                   = 34.80&lt;br /&gt;
| Gini_rank              = &lt;br /&gt;
| Gini_year              = &lt;br /&gt;
| Gini_category          = &lt;br /&gt;
| HDI                    = 0.895&lt;br /&gt;
| HDI_rank               = &lt;br /&gt;
| HDI_year               = 2016&lt;br /&gt;
| HDI_category           = &lt;br /&gt;
| currency               = Laeralian Mark&lt;br /&gt;
| currency_code          = LRM&lt;br /&gt;
| time_zone              = GT +2&lt;br /&gt;
| utc_offset             = &lt;br /&gt;
| time_zone_DST          = &lt;br /&gt;
| antipodes              = &amp;lt;!-- countries or islands antipodal to this one --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| date_format            = mm-dd-yyyy&lt;br /&gt;
| DST_note               = &lt;br /&gt;
| utc_offset_DST         = &amp;lt;!-- +N, where N is number of hours--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| drives_on              = right&lt;br /&gt;
| cctld                  = .lr&lt;br /&gt;
| iso3166code            = &amp;lt;!-- optional to override the default determined using the&lt;br /&gt;
                               ''common_name'' parameter; set to ''omit'' to omit. --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| calling_code           = +118&lt;br /&gt;
| image_map3             = &lt;br /&gt;
| alt_map3               = &lt;br /&gt;
| footnotes              = &amp;lt;!--for any generic non-numbered footnotes--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| footnote1              = &lt;br /&gt;
| footnote2              = &lt;br /&gt;
| footnote3              = &lt;br /&gt;
}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The '''Allied Provinces of Laeral''', commonly called '''Laeral''', is a federal semi-presidential democracy in the continent of [[Hesperida]] on [[Earth (IDU)|Earth]] in the [[International Democratic Union]]. It is bordered by [[High Fells]] to the north, by [[Libertas Omnium Maximus]] to the south, and by [[Haesan]], [[Lao Sansong]], and the [[Albarine Sea]] to the east. Laeral covers 1.71 million square kilometers in area, and is subdivided into [[Provinces of Laeral|33 provinces]], with a total population of nearly 100 million. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Human civilization in Laeral dates back over three millennia to the establishment of the [[Danxing Empire]] around 1200 BCE, followed by successive dynastic empires. [[Minjian]] originated in Laeral in the 3rd century CE, and through conflict and peaceful conversion became the dominant religion in Laeral. The Tian Dynasty, established in 641 CE, was the first kingdom to unify much of modern-day Laeralian core territory, and was a significant sponsor of exploration and the arts, noted as well for its use of gunpowder and paper to create a powerful and stable society. Relative instability and technological stagnation during the succeeding Jiang Dynasty and the Falling Leaves Period of rule by the Gao Empire ended with the 1528 conquest by Sun Liang, at the head of the Sun Dynasty. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 1703, the arrival of French settlers led to conflict with the crumbling Sun Dynasty, which was ultimately toppled by the army of the Duke d'Tesse in 1723, who unified modern eastern Laeral and southern High Fells into a single kingdom of Felle-Haute. Ducal rule continued until the [[Laeralian War of Independence]] from 1848 to 1855, which established an independent government, the Allied Provinces of Laeral, consisting of a weak confederation of independent provinces. This confederation had become more centralized under the authoritarian rule of [[Vespasien Jamet]] (known as the &amp;quot;Vespasienate&amp;quot;) from 1880 to 1909, when longstanding racial unrest and the [[First Fellsian War]] resulted in authoritarian socialist modernizer [[René Gramont]] coming to power in the [[Laeralian Revolution]] in 1922. The subsequent [[Republican Era|Republic of Laeral]] saw substantial progress towards racial equality, the empowerment of women, and improvement of living standards, as well as the emergence of [[Gramontism]] as a prominent ideology internationally. Following a coup attempt in 1952 known as the [[Bloody Summer]], liberalizers in Gramont's [[Social Democratic Party (Laeral)|Social Democratic Party]] oversaw a transition to democratic rule as the renewed Allied Provinces of Laeral in 1954. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Initial prosperity and development during the early years of the Allied Provinces coexisted with intense political conflict, culminating in the [[Emergency Period]] of martial law in 1964 during the [[Great War]]. In that conflict, Laeral was a leading military and industrial power of the [[Coalition of Democratic Forces]], facing invasion from the fascist regimes of [[Darya]] and [[Slokais Islands]]. In the 1970s and 80s, Laeral underwent economic liberalization as the state-led economy of the Republican Era was gradually dismantled in favor of an export-oriented manufacturing economy, as well as increased racial strife as the [[Juexing Movement]] agitated for greater economic and social equality for Laeral's [[Rén]] and [[Metice]] ethnic majority. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In the 21st century, Laeral has transitioned into a service-based high-income economy, as well as coming to further international prominence as a leader among the democratic bloc and in international development via the [[Global Development Investment Bank]]. Its economy is largely service-based, but Laeral is also a major [[Land use in Laeral|agricultural producer]], as well as exporting oil and some manufactured goods. Laeral is also a prominent destination for international tourism and higher education, and a popular exporter of film and television. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Etymology==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral is pronounced Lay-ruhl, and likely comes from the Old Laeralian word laer, likely meaning 'silk'. It is combined with the suffix 'al', meaning 'land of' or 'territory of'. An alternate etymology posits that the term comes from &amp;quot;lehwal&amp;quot;, or 'river-dweller'. The term is first recorded in the 1500s. The former etymology is used for Laeral's name in Chinese, 絲綢之鄉, meaning 'silk country'.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The standard way to refer to a citizen of Laeral is as a &amp;quot;Laeralite.&amp;quot; The term 'Laeralian' is archaic and now rarely used. Two terms often used to refer to people in Laeral are [[Rén]] and '[[Arrivée]]'. These are racial terms used in Laeral. The former refers to the native Laeralites. The latter refers to those descended from the French and other white settlers who arrived from the Colonial Period onward. A person of mixed Rén and Arrivée descent is referred to as &amp;quot;Metice&amp;quot;. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==History==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Ancient Laeral (Pre-1000 CE)===&lt;br /&gt;
Humans likely arrived in modern-day Laeral in the paleolithic period, as evidence has been found of cave dwellings with artifacts dating back to that time. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral was inhabited by scattered nomadic tribes of Rén descent until around the 7th century BCE, when the first permanent agricultural settlements were developed. Cultivated grains have been found dating to that time. Around 1200 BCE, settlers from the [[Danxing Empire]] arrived in Laeral, conquering and intermarrying with the local population and founding Laeral's first cities. These coastal cities were the places where writing and toolmaking first developed, and are the birthplaces of Laeralian civilization. It was around the year 400 BCE when Laeral was first unified, under the Nan Dynasty, which in fact only controlled the coastal areas of Laeral. They were succeeded by the Lu dynasty around 100 BCE. They were followed by several other dynasties, including the Liu Dynasty (100 BCE-300 CE), which was known for its artistic ability, the Jin Dynasty (300 CE-500 CE), known for its relative stability and promotion of culture, the Bei Dynasty (500-640 CE), which was unstable and chaotic, and the Tian Dynasty (640-1000 CE). &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Minjian]], a religion originating in modern-day Peichen around 260 CE, was adopted as the national faith in 370, under the Jin Dynasty. In the early centuries of the religion, religious conflicts were common, notably in the [[War of the Three Lanterns]], a religious conflict between followers of opposing Minjian sects around 575 CE. Notably, the Bei Dynasty fell due to the chaos caused by the Tang Uprising of 635 CE, when the peasant leader Tang Guohui declared himself to be a Minjian Luminary and led an uprising against the Bei Emperor. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Examination.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Bureaucrats of the Tian Dynasty at the imperial palace of Guangzhihua.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Gunpowder and paper were both discovered around the same time in the 10th century CE, ushering in a new era in both warfare and culture. The stable and prosperous Tian Dynasty ruled the nation. At this time, the city of Guangzihua, considered the birthplace of technology in Laeral, became a center of learning and knowledge, and home of many wonders such as the Great Library of Guangzihua. Arts and culture were sponsored by the ruling Bei dynasty. Around 980, the city of Guangzihua was devastated by a fire and never rebuilt, capping off a long period of Tian decline; the dynasty itself fell soon after in 1003. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Falling Leaves Period and the Sun Dynasty===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
During the Falling Leaves period beginning around 1003, the chaos of the fall of the Tian Dynasty led to city-states being forced to expand and take over weaker rivals. Many warlords created pocket empires during this time, only to see them fall apart within years. At this time, both gunpowder weapons and bladed weapons proliferated, resulting in a land in chaos as warlords and their followers battled for territory. Warriors wandered the countryside, looking for plunder and a lord to serve under. In the late 13th century, one warlord, the famous Jiang Hui, united Laeral through military might, diplomatic skill, and strategic marriages. The epic saga of his dynasty, the Jiang Dynasty, is told in the classic Laeralian work of literature, ''The Cycle of Ascendancy''. Those kings had many wars with the Gao Empire, in modern-day High Fells, who had become similarly unified around the same time. However, the Jiang Dynasty fell apart sometime around 1430, when Emperor Xiaowen's incompetent leadership and backstabbing advisors led to a disastrous war with the Gao Empire, a militaristic kingdom ruling over modern-day High Fells. Another work of Laeralian classic literature, ''The Years of Woe'', tells of loyal Jiang Dynasty military commander Han Guiying's attempt to resist the Gao invasion and defend Laeralian sovereignty. However, while he was able to repel the invaders successfully, Laeral enjoyed only a decade or so of freedom, as the Gao underwent a period of political turmoil, which eventually resulted in a new Gao dynasty establishing itself and taking over Laeral.&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:HanGuiying.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Han Guiying]]&lt;br /&gt;
At one point, all of Laeral was under the control of the Gao, imposing unpopular cultural policies, such as mandating the celebration of Gao festivals and Gao clothing, while the city of Anjian, the Jiang capital, was razed. This period of time, known is Laeral as the 'Time of Sacrifice' still impacts the Laeralian national consciousness today. The leader of the resistance to Gao rule was [[Sun Liang]], a former warlord who assembled a group of secret societies to oppose the Gao occupation.&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Shei Wu's Forces.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Sun Liang's forces charge into battle against the Gao.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral ultimately threw off Gao rule in 1528 and enjoyed freedom for several centuries. Sun Liang established himself as an Emperor, and created the imperial capital at Lanxiu, in modern day Neidong. He and his descendants embarked upon a series of reforms, ultimately establishing a powerful central government, a bureaucracy, and allowing many innovations to spread quickly throughout Laeral. The Sun Dynasty cracked down on the power of warlords, and brought stability to Laeral. This time is often thought of as the 'golden age' of Laeral, when Laeral's internal organization, stability, and technological advancement were far ahead of those of its neighbors. &lt;br /&gt;
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===Colonial Era===&lt;br /&gt;
In 1689, [[Opthelia|Opthelian]] ships arrived in the Xianhai Gulf, establishing trading post where they traded muskets, beads, and advanced equipment such as spyglasses for textiles, beads, and pottery. This marked Laeral's first contact with non-Hesperidans. In 1700, the French explorer Gabriel Nicolas de Albarine (second son of the Comte de Albarine, who later settled in Laeral) led an expedition which mapped the coast of Laeral; the [[Albarine Sea]] is today named for him. &lt;br /&gt;
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As a modern nation, Laeral was founded in 1703 as the French personal colony of the Duc d'Tesse, who arrived that year with a small fleet of warships to settle the coastal region near modern-day Corday province. The French colony soon came into conflict with the local population; many died in the ensuing conflict, and many abuses and massacres were committed. This was a time of great change in Laeral, as ruling elements of Laeralian society were violently forced into submission before foreign conquerors. The Duc d'Tesse set himself up as Duc Jean-Baptiste I and ruled the land as the Duchy of Felle-Haute.&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:FrenchConquest.jpg|300px|thumb|right|A battle between French and Pei Dynasty forces.]]&lt;br /&gt;
After razing the imperial capital, he ordered the creation of the city of [[Laeralsford]] to serve as the new capital, as well as establishing four immense palaces around the country, each of which his court would spend one season a year at. These remain major historical sites, although the construction of these palaces was accomplished by forced labor and crippling taxation. He introduced European technology, but also treated the natives poorly, instituting forced agricultural labor, the hated ''corvée'', and high tithes. Following Duke Jean-Baptiste's assassination in 1732, his successors ruled as Dukes until the Laeralian War of Independence. Their reign was characterized by a tiny minority presiding over the subjugation of the Laeralian people and the theft of Laeralian heritage; the establishment of a fairly rigid racial hierarchy meant that Rén had little hope of advancement in society and were treated as second-class citizens. &lt;br /&gt;
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===Laeralian War of Independence===&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LaeralianWarofIndependence.png|300px|thumb|right|A battle during the [[Laeralian War of Independence]].]]&lt;br /&gt;
The ascension of Duchess Louise, a hard-line conservative, in 1836 prompted tremendous discontent among [[Rén]] and the middle-class for her rigid monarchism, traditionalism, and her anti-Enlightenment views. The years of her reign were characterized by harsh repression: the 1841 Vanoît Massacre, the 1843 An Heng Rebellion, and 1844's Blue Cockade Uprising were all brutally suppressed. As Duchesse Louise became gravely ill in 1848, a Provisional Assembly of liberal revolutionaries convened in Althea to plan an uprising, with G.E. Lematre chosen as leader of the new Free Laeralian Army. &lt;br /&gt;
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The [[Laeralian War of Independence]] began with mass uprisings on March 4th, 1849. With the support of the [[Zhao kingdom]], the rebels triumphing after a protracted struggle in 1855, establishing Laeral as an independent nation.&lt;br /&gt;
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===First Allied Provinces of Laeral===&lt;br /&gt;
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Laeral was founded in 1855 as a sovereign nation practically cutting High Fells off from the ocean, leaving High Fells with a grudge against Laeral and a continued period of absolute monarchy. Laeral's capital was established at Althea.&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LaeralianPeasants.jpg|250px|thumb|left|This 1870 print of a wealthy urban woman visiting rural Arrivée peasants demonstrates the class divides present during the early years of the Allied Provinces.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral's first major test came during the Outbreak of 1861, as cholera spread throughout Laeral. Although thousands died, the new nation largely avoided chaos through the government's skillful handling of the crisis. Georges Lematre also implemented nationwide paper currency in 1865. Prior to this, individual provinces issued their own currency. In 1866, Georges Lematre's term came to an end and he peacefully stepped down in favor of Jean-Paul Gauvain, the third Prime Minister. Famine in 1872, which led to many farmers moving to Laeralian cities in search of jobs and food. Although the government tried to reduce the problem, starvation was a constant problem in Laeral for decades. In 1881, the Bank of Laeral was established in order to unify the production of paper money, which had been established on a nationwide basis in 1865. The new government's efforts were often hamstrung by the weak nature of the federal government, however, and efforts to repeal the racist policies of the royalist era, such as the ''corvée'', were largely unsuccessful.&lt;br /&gt;
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In 1875, Laeralian settlers who had migrated southward from the province of Bethune came into conflict with settlers from [[Libertas Omnium Maximus]]. After Bethune provincial militia fired upon the Maximusian settlers, the [[War of the Seven Provinces]] broke out. As Laeral possessed only a limited national military at the time, and many of Laeral's wealthier northern provinces opposed the war, only the forces of seven provinces ended up declaring war on the Maximusians. Laeralian forces were defeated, and the areas comprising modern Lematre and Brissac provinces were ceded to Libertas Omnium Maximus in the 1877 Treaty of Legrange.&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LaeralianCannon.jpg|250px|thumb|right|A major portion of the New Laeral Movement involved developing Laeral's military strength.]]&lt;br /&gt;
From 1880 to 1909, the Laeralian government was dominated by strongman [[Vespasien Jamet]], who served as prime minister nearly continuously for almost three decades. During this period, referred to as the ''Vespasienate'', Prime Minister Jamet oversaw the centralization of the Laeralian state as well as westward expansion at the expense of the various Rén kingdoms to the Laeralian nation's western borders. Notable achievements of Prime Minister Jamet included the expansion of central government taxation, the creation of a larger standing army, the relocation of the capital from [[Althea]] to [[Laeralsford]] in 1894, and the defeat of the Zhao kingdom in 1885 during the [[Laeral-Zhao War]] and the annexation of its territory, the largest single land acquisition in Laeralian history. The Vespasienate was also characterized by immense corruption at the hands of Jamet and government insiders, largely from the plantation-owner class: for instance, the audacious New Laeral Movement, a ten-year program intended to modernize Laeral's industries, was generally a failure due to endemic corruption. The press and public protests faced heavy-handed censorship during the Vespasienate, prompting Jamet's opponents to brand him &amp;quot;Emperor Vespasien I.&amp;quot; Following the acquisition of Zhao land, Jamet oversaw the [[Land use in Laeral|Land Tenure Act of 1888]], which paved the way for the expropriation of land in five [[Riverlands]] provinces from its Rén inhabitants, who were subsequently confined to small territorial reserves, while the most productive agricultural land was distributed to Arrivée settlers via lottery. This land seizure paved the way for continuation of the racial wealth gap in Laeral, as well as the [[First Great Migration]], which saw Rén people from overcrowded and impoverished reserve territories relocate to Riverlands cities, fostering cultural diffusion. &lt;br /&gt;
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In 1903, Laeral also participated in the [[Golden Flag Rebellion]], sending a large force of soldiers under General Albert de Saivigné to defend Laeralian commercial interests in northern [[Caxcana]]. This marked Laeral's first major foreign conflict, and was met with protests by Rén who sympathized with the Golden Flag cause. The conflict became a primary source of political division in Laeralian society; many intellectuals and the majority of Rén opposed the government's decision to intervene, and the ensuing occupation. &lt;br /&gt;
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In 1911, [[High Fells]] declared war on Laeral over territorial disputes as Vespasien Jamet's successor Augustin Brienne struggled to consolidate the nation. While High Fellsian forces had been hoping for a quick victory, advancements in weapons technology meant that battle lines stagnated into trench warfare. Heavy fighting took place in the mountains of southern High Fells; inadequate winter supplies meant that many soldiers on both sides froze to death. This war, known in Laeral as the [[First Fellsian War]] or ''la catastrophe'', ended after five years in bloody stalemate, with nearly one million dying on the Laeralian side. Notably, airplanes, artillery, machine guns, and poison gas all saw use in the conflict. This war contributed to the unpopularity of the Laeralian government at the time, notably due to the army's use of forced conscription.&lt;br /&gt;
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===Republican Era===&lt;br /&gt;
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Following the chaos of the First Fellsian War, many were dissatisfied with the current structure of government. Many of the reforms expressed in the Progressive Movement had not been met. Women were still denied the right to vote, the central government was weak, and labor conditions were appalling. Many lived in abject poverty. Ultimately, unionists, left-wing activists, and dissatisfied veterans staged a revolt, known as the [[Laeralian Revolution]]. It began in 1919, and led to the rise of several progressive leaders, including [[Réne Gramont]], [[Jean-Philippe Salaun]], and [[Sun Jia-wei]], known as the Committee for Democracy and Progress, and later the Social Democratic party. Their revolution was supported by a majority of the populace, and ultimately succeeded following several years of fighting. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:SalaunAtUniversity.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Jean-Philippe Salaun and supporters of the ''Committee for Democracy and Progress'' at the drafting of the Republic's Constitution.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Leaders of the revolt assembled in Gaolan, Neidong, to write a new Constitution. While Laeral had been governed as a relatively loose confederation under the Binding Charter, they were determined to reshape Laeralian government. Their work, the Laeralian Constitution, established the new '''Republic of Laeral'''. This Republic would have a stronger central government. Suffrage was expanded to all men and women over 22. The National Assembly, or the national legislature, would use both proportional representation and regional constituencies, rather than the previous first past the post system. The leader of the Assembly of Commons would become the Prime Minister, while there would also be a directly elected President. In 1922, Réne Gramont declared the establishment of the Republic of Laeral.&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Réne_Gramont.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Réne Gramont, leader of the [[Gang of Five]] and first President of the Republic of Laeral]]&lt;br /&gt;
During the [[Republican Era]], Laeral was dominated by the so-called [[Gang of Five]], a group of Social Democratic leaders who promoted republicanism, reformism, socialism, secularism, and anti-imperialism through their modernization programs. While somewhat free and fair elections were held, the Social Democrats kept their hold on power through vote-buying and other dubious practices. The Gang of Five's wide-ranging battery of reforms, known as the [[Rose Revolution]] for the symbol of the ruling Social Democrats, had significant impacts across all areas of Laeralian society. The period also saw the first large-scale immigration to Laeral following the country's independence; this &amp;quot;Second Wave&amp;quot; of immigration consisted primarily of immigrants from the [[Dual Monarchy of Vertansk and Solavan]], with Solavanian expatriate communities arising in many port cities and Vertanskan immigrants migrating to state-backed agricultural settlements, particularly in the [[Xueyan Special Administrative Region|Northeastern Frontier]].&lt;br /&gt;
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In 1925, a popular revolt by people of Laeralian descent in the Brissac region, controlled by [[Libertas Omnium Maximus]] since the [[War of the Seven Provinces]] from 1875-1877, led to Laeral declaring war on [[Libertas Omnium Maximus]]. Due to superior Laeralian leadership under President [[Réne Gramont]] and widespread public support for the conflict, the Laeralites triumphed, with the 1927 Treaty of Galline granting modern Lematre and Brissac provinces to Laeral. The unity created within Laeral by the war, and the Laeralian victory, contributed greatly to the stability of the Republic of Laeral and the popularity of Gramont. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:SoldiersinLienne.jpg|300px|thumb|left|Laeralian Army soldiers in Lienne during the province's Accession.]]&lt;br /&gt;
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Following the Brissac War, the Social Democrats were free to concentrate fully on the [[Rose Revolution]], their ambitious program to reform Laeral along the lines of their 'Five Pillars': Republicanism, Reformism, Socialism, Secularism, and Anti-Imperialism. [[Réne Gramont]], a hero of the [[First Fellsian War]] who served as President from 1922-1932, established a republic with universal suffrage regardless of gender, race, or class, while simultaneously ensuring that his own Social Democratic party would be the dominant force in Laeralian politics. &lt;br /&gt;
During his ten years in office, Gramont promoted racial and gender equality, removing many of the most hated racial laws of the Allied Provinces era. Gramont also worked towards development and industrialization, promoting western-style higher education and industrialization of the nation. Gramont was succeeded in office by [[Jean-Philippe Salaun]], who served two terms from 1932-1942, and added further secularist reforms to the Rose Revolution's reforms. Presidents [[Zhou Wei-lin]] (1942-1947) and [[Sun Jia-wei]] (1947-1954) continued the Rose Revolution's programs, in particular continuing to promote racial equality and socialist principles.&lt;br /&gt;
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In 1947, the marquisate of Lienne, a state which had broken away from Park Yeong-gi's dictatorial regime in High Fells and become independent, petitioned for annexation by the Republic of Laeral in a bid for security from the Fellsian regime. In the [[Accession of Lienne]], also known as the Second Fellsian War, Laeralian forces clashed with Fellsian-backed Gao militias in the province over nine months of outright warfare and around a decade of ensuing guerrilla warfare. Although the Park regime continued to claim Lienne until its overthrow, Lienne was functionally under Laeralian control, and became a full province in 1954.&lt;br /&gt;
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===Second Allied Provinces of Laeral===&lt;br /&gt;
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[[File:Alain_Mette.jpg|250px|thumb|right|General [[Alain Mette]] led coup-aligned forces during the [[Bloody Summer]] in 1952]]&lt;br /&gt;
During the later years of the [[Republican Era]], the Rose Revolution project faced division between reform-minded, pro-democracy members of the Social Democratic elite, such as [[Zhou Wei-lin]], and the &amp;quot;vermilion&amp;quot; faction led by [[Hong Kuo-shu]] which favored continued autocratic rule. In May 1952, reformist president [[Sun Jia-wei]]'s re-nomination as the Social Democratic candidate for president at the [[Social Democratic Party (Laeral)|Seventh Social Democratic Party Congress]] empowered the reformist faction to seek the removal of [[Hong Kuo-shu]] as Party Secretary, leading to violence when Hong's supporters in the Laeralian military, led by General Alain Mette, attempted a coup against President Sun. The coup was defeated in August of that year with the capture and widely-publicized treason trial of Party Secretary Hong; Mette himself was killed in a plane crash while seeking to flee the country.  &lt;br /&gt;
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Following the coup attempt, remembered as the [[Bloody Summer]], the reformist &amp;quot;scarlet&amp;quot; faction was empowered to achieve a transition to full democracy, reforming the Laeralian Army into the Laeralian National Security Force and inviting both Social Democrats and opposition members to draft a new constitution in 1954, which established Laeralian government as it is today—the Second Allied Provinces of Laeral, so named as to distinguish it from the first. François Guiraud, a member of the opposition [[Laeralian National Congress]] party, was elected as the Second Allied Provinces' first President in 1954's free elections, while [[Sun Jia-wei]] soon became Prime Minister, remaining at the head of the Social Democratic party.  &lt;br /&gt;
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Political competition was intense during the early years of the Second Allied Provinces, conducted amongst a backdrop of economic and political liberalization. The &amp;quot;Decade of High Spirits&amp;quot; of the 1950s, including the &amp;quot;Riverlands Renaissance&amp;quot; and a boom in the Laeralian film industry, was fondly remembered also for its economic growth, including the Green Revolution spurring growth in agriculture and a boom in consumer industry. The &amp;quot;Decade of High Spirits&amp;quot; was brought to a swift close with the [[Great War]], which Laeral joined in 1961 as a leader of the Allied Coalition. Amidst mass mobilization, aerial bombing raids, and bloody amphibious and naval battles off the shores of Hesperida and Caxcana, the nation had its closest brush with dictatorship when President [[Réne Gramont|René Gramont]] declared a [[Emergency Period|state of national emergency]] in 1964 following a Daryan attempt on the life of Defense Minister Julien Cheng and leading military officers. Gramont would rule by decree for months, suspending the National Assembly and detaining political opponents without trial, yet was ultimately brought low by a fatal heart attack later that year. Following the resumption of constitutional order, Laeral would continue to prosecute the Great War to its victorious conclusion. &lt;br /&gt;
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In the early 1980s, a growing social and artistic movement known as the Juexing (Awakening) Movement, rejected the notion that Laeral's racial issues had been resolved during the Republican period, and agitated for further measures towards racial equality. Supporting the pride and self-betterment of Laeralian Rén, the Juexing Movement eventually succeeded in creating government measures to promote racial equality, notably the system of government quotas for racial minorities. Immigration to Laeral also increased throughout the 1970s and 80s, including large-scale immigration from [[Andhrapur]], creating Desi communities within many urban areas. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:ThirdFellsianWar.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Laeralian soldiers patrolling the border with High Fells during the Third Fellsian War.]]&lt;br /&gt;
In 1983, an undeclared &amp;quot;Third Fellsian War&amp;quot; between Laeral and High Fells began, in which both sides launched raids and bombings across their border, particular in Laeral's disputed Lienne province. Terrorist bombings in Lienne became a fixture on the Laeralian nightly news, but &lt;br /&gt;
the conflict was brought to a close after High Fellsian dictator Alger Hansen was overthrown in the June Revolution.&lt;br /&gt;
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In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Laeral's economy entered a protracted period of growth under a series of right-wing governments which had come to power capitalizing on sluggish growth and a backlash towards the Juexing Movement. A new export-based economic model, centered on exports of electronic equipment and textiles, produced economic prosperity which was well-distributed among the population. The government repaid its debts in full due to massive GDP growth, which reached at its height 12% annually. Economic growth continued until the late 1990s, while the government chose to invest the increased tax revenues into a new national education system, as well as a large fund for future shortfalls. &lt;br /&gt;
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However, the end of the economic boom in the late 1990s led to agitation and societal discontent, particularly as manufacturing entered a decline and inflation combined with stagnant economic growth and rising unemployment. The ensuing People Power protests of 1994-1995 led to constitutional reforms, including a reduction in the powers of the General Assembly. A left-leaning government took power in the early 2000s, enacting social reforms including legalizing same-sex civil unions in 2005. Around this time, a civil war erupted along religious lines in neighboring [[High Fells]], leading the Laeralian government to deploy soldiers, known as the Laeralian Peacekeeping Force (LPKF), to prop up the central government in 2001 and prevent the spillover of fighting and drug trafficking into Laeral. Following the signing of the Jindong Agreement in 2004, Laeralian troops began to withdraw in a slow process lasting until 2008, when the final Laeralian troops departed. &lt;br /&gt;
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The nation was shaken by the impeachment of President Maurice Fesnau in 2006 following the investigation of a far-reaching corruption scandal, which resulted in the trial and imprisonment of several Socialist Party politicians. President Ganard, of the [[Laeralian People's Party]], took power after a 2006 special election, only to preside over an economic recession in 2007, which damaged the national economy and brought the Progressives, under President [[Nicholas Brennan]] into power. Laeral acceded to the [[World Assembly]] in 2016 following extensive legal reforms meant to bring the nation into line with WA standards. Laeral's growing involvement in foreign conflicts grew, as Brennan authorized the deployment of troops to aid pro-democracy forces in the [[Second Lauchenoirian Civil War]], while his successor [[Liu Mei-han]] brokered the [[Jinyu Peace Agreement]] in 2021 to negotiate an end to the [[Xiomeran Civil War]].&lt;br /&gt;
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==Geography==&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LaeralProvincesNamed.jpg|200px|thumb|right|A map of the 33 provinces of Laeral.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral is divided into [[Provinces of Laeral|33 provinces]] and two Special Administrative Regions, which are self-governing and share authority with the federal government. &lt;br /&gt;
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The primary river in Laeral is the Zhongshui, which runs west to east through central Laeral and cities such as [[Hanshui]], [[Laeralsford]], and Auvergne. It forms the core of the Riverlands region. Tributaries of the Zhongshui include the Beuvron River, flowing northward through Jinyu, and the Gaoming River, flowing southward through Songshan and Lushui to merge with the Zhongshui River near Hanshui. The Guilin River, meanwhile, sets continental Laeral's southwestern border. The Vierge River (flowing into the Beuvron) and the Espoir River (flowing inland from the Albarine Sea) are other tributaries which have also aided river commerce for centuries. River flooding is historically an impactful aspect of Laeral's plentiful rivers, which have largely been managed with the advent of dams. &lt;br /&gt;
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===Geographic Regions===&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral possesses various historical and cultural regions. Most prominent of these is the Riverlands region, stretching east to west across Laeral and generally considered to contain the provinces surrounding the Zhongshui River. This area is historically fertile and heavily populated, and since the early 20th century has been the most developed region of Laeral. The Iron Belt contains the manufacturing regions of northeast Laeral, and is generally considered to include [[Lienne]], a province with a distinctive cultural identity based on its period under High Fellsian rule. The territory of the former [[Zhao Kingdom]] in southwestern Laeral is the nation's Minjian heartland and is today known as Zhao country. The area of the Beuvron River valley, particularly the provinces of Sendrasi, Therese, and Sarene, is also known as the Catholic Belt for its high proportion of adherents to that faith. Finally, the Xianhai Peninsula is another region distinctive from continental Laeral, characterized by its relative underdevelopment and economy based on plantation agriculture and later oil extraction. Lematre and Brissac provinces feature oil deposits both on land and offshore, part of a larger field shared with the neighboring Maximusian province of [[Winfield Province|Winfield.]] These oil deposits, along with smaller fields in Felliere and the Xianhai Gulf, have been extracted by various state and private corporations since the [[Republican Era]].&lt;br /&gt;
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The Xueyan Special Administrative Region (Xueyan SAR) is a large, sparsely-populated and underdeveloped region, separated from the main portion of Laeral by Lake Xueyan, an immense body of water. Following its seizure during the [[Great War]], Laeral currently claims sovereignty over the Xueyan SAR, although this claim remains contested by [[Haesan]] and has not been fully recognized by the international community. The region is believed to have extensive natural gas reserves. Laeral also administers the [[Allied Cities|Xianjiapo Special Administrative Region]], an urban region in northern [[Caxcana]]. &lt;br /&gt;
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[[File:GoldenLarch.jpg|200px|thumb|left|The Golden Larch tree turns golden in autumn.]]Laeral's climate features cold winters and temperate summers. Northern provinces generally have a cool-temperate climate, while southern provinces are warmer. Coniferous and mixed forests exist in much of continental Laeral, while there are broad-leafed forests in southern Laeral. The Golden Larch, Maidenhair (Gingko), Umbrella Pine, and Chinese Plum are all major tree species in Laeral, with the plum blossom (meihua) of the latter being an important Laeralian national symbol. Bamboo also grows in southern portions of Laeral, where it is used as an important manufacturing and construction material.&lt;br /&gt;
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Laeral's rivers support a thriving fishing industry, as well as habitat for spawning carp and salmon. Laeral's climate is very agriculturally productive: primary agricultural products include rice, barley, and wheat as staple grains. Silk is also grown by way of mulberry trees.&lt;br /&gt;
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==Environment==&lt;br /&gt;
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Large wild animals in Laeral include the brown bear, lynx, 'snow cat' (snow leopard), Chinese mountain cat, and grey wolf, although these are widely hunted and now have a severely curtailed frequency and range. Other wild mammals include the Summer Dog (raccoon dog), the Iduvian red and water deer, the marsh deer (Pere David's Deer), and the marmot. Birds common in Laeral include various cranes, the snowcock, the heron, various swans, and various pigeons.&lt;br /&gt;
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Laeralian meat raised for cultivation generally lacks large pasture animals such as cows. Farmers instead focus on keeping geese, rabbits, ducks, chickens, grouse, pheasant, and pigs, as well as sheep and goats in mountainous areas. Carp are farmed in the Riverlands, and water buffalo and oxen are kept as plow animals. Notable foods grown in Laeral include rice, grains, tea, and many types of fruits and vegetables, including lychees, almonds, citrus fruits, and other products. Flowers are also grown. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:RiceFarmLaeral.jpg|300px|thumb|left|Rice is an important staple crop in Laeral.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Notable environmental attractions can be found in some of the more rural provinces, as well as in some coastal provinces such as Althea. Environmental legislation protects environmentally sensitive areas such as wetlands and old growth forests, and tourism and development are severely restricted into some areas. Soil pollution remains an issue in many areas of Laeral's old industrial belt, although government action against pollutants means that rates of particulate matter in the air due to air pollution have decreased from their high in the late 1970s.&lt;br /&gt;
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==Demographics==&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:ChinaStreet.jpg|400px|thumb|right|A street in the western Riverlands.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral has a population of over 89 million people. The fertility rate is 2.34, with a high life expectancy. Ethnic groups present in Laeral include the [[Arrivée]], the Rén, the Gao, and various minority groups. Laeral's ethnic makeup has also been shifted by immigration of minority groups such as Desi, who make up a growing percentage of the population. A large percentage of Laeral's population is mixed-race, largely the result of marriages between [[Arrivée]] and Rén people. &lt;br /&gt;
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The overall obesity rate is around 15%, although around 30% of Laeralites overall are overweight. Laeral's population is increasingly aging, as the average life expectancy has increased. This has begun to place a burden upon senior care services, although the majority of elderly Laeralites are cared for by their family rather than by retirement facilities.&lt;br /&gt;
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===Education===&lt;br /&gt;
Laeralian culture is known for adhering to the Moralist paradigm of valuing education as a means to improve one's socioeconomic position in society. Heavy investment and a cultural valuing of education has consistently brought the nation to the top of global education rankings; Laeral is one of the top-performing countries in standardized tests of reading literacy, mathematics and sciences. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LIUniversity.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Althea City University, a member of the National Open University system.]]&lt;br /&gt;
The Laeralian education system has been praised for various reasons, including its comparatively high test scores and its major role in promoting Laeral's economic development while creating one of the IDU’s most highly educated workforces, with 67.1% of Laeralites going on to attend university. K-12 education is generally administered by the provincial governments, although the federal Ministry of Education has general authority over curricula and may apply regulations to oversee school practices. Higher education, which lies within the purview of the national government, is divided between public universities and the prestigious and selective [[National Open University (Laeral)|National Open Universities]] (NOUs). The NOUs have been criticized for alleged elitism; they have produced a majority of Laeral's high-ranking civil servants, CEOs, and politicians. &lt;br /&gt;
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===Language===&lt;br /&gt;
Mandarin was historically the primary language of Laeral. Following the period of French colonization, the use of French acquired greater social status and was taught in schools. Under the [[Rose Revolution]], Mandarin and French achieved equal prominence in the education system. The majority of Laeralites are multilingual, and diplomats and civil servants often learn another language. English is widely taught in schools. Linguistic diversity is a major political focus in Laeral, with all government documents required to be in Chinese, French, and English. The Académie Linguistique is a government agency responsible for regulating the practice and expression of language in Laeral; notably, Laeral switched from the older Wade-Giles system of romanization to the modern pinyin system in the 1980s.&lt;br /&gt;
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=== Religion ===&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:MinjianPalace.jpg|250px|thumb|right|The Minjian High Conclave in Miaoshi.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral is a religiously-diverse nation. Although [[Minjian]] is the majority religion, a substantial Christian (almost entirely Catholic) majority exists as well. Minjian is a dualistic religion of Laeralian origin; the Minjian High Conclave, the central organ of the faith, is located in the Laeralian city of Miaoshi, which is a pilgrimage site for devout Minjian from around the world. Roughly one-fifth of Laeralites identify as non-religious, while secularism is a governing principle of Laeral under the Laeralian constitution. &lt;br /&gt;
{| class=&amp;quot;wikitable&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
|+Religion in Laeral (2022)&lt;br /&gt;
!Religion&lt;br /&gt;
!Proportion&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Minjian]]&lt;br /&gt;
|50.7%&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Christian&lt;br /&gt;
|21.3%&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Non-Religious&lt;br /&gt;
|18.6%&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Other&lt;br /&gt;
|6.4%&lt;br /&gt;
|}&lt;br /&gt;
Laeralian customs and superstitions, largely originating from Laeral's [[Rén]] population, are also broadly adopted by Laeralites of all ethnic backgrounds, particularly around the Lunar New Year.  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Government==&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LiuMei-han.png|200px|thumb|right|[[Liu Mei-han]] has been the President of Laeral since 2018.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral has a federal system of government. Each province is headed by a Governor or First Minister, as well as a provincial legislature, to conduct self-governance. The head of state of Laeral is the [[President of Laeral]], who is currently [[Liu Mei-han]]. The President is elected by popular vote, with a runoff if no candidate attains a majority of the vote, and serves for four-year terms, renewable once. The President serves as Laeral's head of state and does not have a legislative veto, although the president can sign a bill into law bypassing the General Assembly if the bill has passed the Assembly of Commons by a supermajority. The President also names a Prime Minister and assist in government formation, and may dissolve the Assembly of Commons for snap elections.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The [[Prime Minister of Laeral|Prime Minister]] is required to be officially appointed by the President, yet must command the confidence of the Assembly of Commons. The current Prime Minister is [[Nicolas Martin]].&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:AssemblyofCommons.jpg|300px|thumb|left|The Assembly of Commons]]&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral has a bicameral legislature known as the [[National Assembly (Laeral)|National Assembly]], consisting of the Assembly of Commons and the General Assembly. The Assembly of Commons and General Assembly must vote with a majority in order to pass a bill on to the other Assembly. The bill needs a simple majority to pass, with the president breaking ties. Additionally, a bill passed by a 2/3 majority of the Assembly of Commons does not need to pass the General Assembly if the President chooses to sign the bill. The Commons, currently consisting of 386 Representatives, is elected nationwide by party-list proportional representation, with elections being called at maximum four years apart . Two Delegates from each province are elected to the General Assembly according to a staggered six-year schedule, using single-transferable vote.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral has historically had a multi-party system, with a left-wing &amp;quot;red bloc&amp;quot; consisting of the [[Progressive Party of Laeral|Progressives]] and Socialist Party competing for power with a &amp;quot;blue bloc&amp;quot; comprised of the [[Laeralian People's Party]] and [[Conservative Party (Laeral)|Conservatives]], although the rise of the [[New Democratic Alliance (Laeral)|New Democrats]] and their &amp;quot;yellow bloc&amp;quot; and the right-wing, Rén-nationalist [[Laeral Unbowed!]] party have altered this paradigm. Many smaller parties also contest elections, and often win representation in the Assembly of Commons. Governments are almost always formed via coalition. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral's judicial branch consists of a large network of local courts, a Provincial Court for each province, and a National High Court which tries criminal and civil cases appealed from lower courts, following a majority vote of its 7 Magistrates, including a Chief Magistrate. The [[Laeralian Constitutional Court]] is the highest court in Laeral, responsible for ensuring that the constitution is upheld, and capable of nullifying laws and impeaching politicians. Its twelve justices serve for 12-year terms. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral is a consolidated democracy and is ranked as a &amp;quot;full democracy&amp;quot; by the [[Howard Prince-Gonzalez Institution]], and among the most democratic nations in [[Hesperida]]. Freedom of the press, freedom of speech, and freedom of assembly are generally respected, while elections are considered free and fair. The judiciary is generally considered free and fair. Human rights observers have criticized that the death penalty remains legal in Laeral in cases of treason, rebellion, and sedition.  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Foreign Relations and Military==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral is an active member of the [[World Assembly]] and the [[League of IDU Nations]], and has among the most embassies and consulates of any IDU nation. Laeralian foreign policy, historically influenced by [[Gramontism]] and Laeralian nationalism, has traditionally focused on opposing imperialism and supporting ideologically-aligned partners abroad. This is exemplified through the [[Forward Operations Doctrine (Laeral)|Forward Operations Doctrine]], a series of operations undertaken prior to the [[Great War]], as well as through the role of the quasi-state [[International Republican Institute]] during the latter half of the 20th century. Laeralian foreign policy also traditionally focused on regional neighbors, as the nation has traditionally aspired to hegemony in southeastern Hesperida—leading to confrontations with regional rivals [[High Fells]] (during the early 20th century) and [[Haesan]] (during the late 20th century), often benefiting from the support of traditional regional allies [[Libertas Omnium Maximus]] and [[Slokais Islands]] during the latter half of the 20th century. Following the [[Great War]], Laeralian foreign policy has increasingly taken in events further afield, particularly in a newfound alignment itself in defense of the rules-based liberal democratic world order.  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral's military is the Laeralian Defense Forces. It consists of four branches: the Laeralian National Security Force (ground forces), the Laeralian Navy, the Laeralian Air Force, and the Gendarmerie. Laeral's [[Nuclear weapons in the International Democratic Union|nuclear weapons program]] is managed directly by the president's National Security Council, with warheads dispersed across the Navy and Air Force, which operate the ballistic missile submarines and heavy bombers responsible for nuclear strike delivery.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
During the early decades of the Laeralian state, the military was funded on a provincial level, leading to internal instability and poor military outcomes—demonstrated most acutely during the [[War of the Seven Provinces]] in 1875-77. Reforms during the waning days of the First Allied Provinces were insufficient to produce victory against a less populous foe during the [[First Fellsian War]], and military strengthening was a priority during the Republican Era, which saw Laeral avoid large-scale conflicts apart from the [[Brissac War]], as well as brief conventional clashes with Fellsian forces during the [[Accession of Lienne]]. The 1954 Laeralian Constitution, drafted in the wake of a failed military coup, saw the Laeralian military firmly subordinated to the civilian government and reconstituted as the Laeralian Defense Forces. Despite the reorganization of the military, which proved to be largely cosmetic, the Laeralian Defense Forces proved capable of performing well in high-intensity, kinetic combat during the [[Great War]], which saw Laeralian forces take part in operations alongside Coalition allies in Haesan, Slokais Islands, and Darya, alongside the Albarine Sea. Since the Great War, Laeralian military operations have largely been of a counter-insurgency nature in Lienne, High Fells, and Xueyan.  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Laeralian National Security Force, restructured from the Laeralian Army following the [[Bloody Summer]] coup attempt of 1952, totals around 180,000 combat personnel. During the [[Second Lauchenoirian Civil War]], LNSF forces saw direct combat in an extended operation in [[Lauchenoiria]], bolstering confidence in the LNSF's continued capacity to conduct rapid-response conventional warfare operations abroad. The elite [[Republican Guard (Laeral)|Republican Guard]] units are also grouped with the LNSF, which also includes special forces, cavalry, parachute, and marine units. Unlike the Navy and Air Force, which typically produce indigenous aircraft, ships, and submarines, the battle tanks and armored vehicles are largely manufactured based on foreign designs.   &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LiuWithNavy.jpg|300px|thumb|right|President Liu Mei-han has promoted a naval buildup during her administration.]]&lt;br /&gt;
The Laeralian Navy is Laeral's largest military branch be expenditure, given Laeral's large coastline and the country's role in the protection of free commerce and freedom of navigation since the turn of the century. During the [[Great War]], the navy saw more combat than any other branch. Laeral spearheaded the development of nuclear submarines in the late 1960s, and Laeralian attack and ballistic missile submarines have traditionally made up a substantial portion of the navy and number among the world's most effective submarine arms. Since the Great War, Laeral has operated at least one fixed-wing aircraft carrier near-continuously for force projection. The Navy also formerly operated the Littoral Assault Regiment of marines, which has been defunct since 1970.  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Laeralian Air Force includes roughly 600 operational aircraft and is responsible for supporting the operations of other branches of the military and protecting Laeralian airspace. In addition to carrier-based units, the air force also operates from airbases in Xueyan, continental and peninsular Laeral, and various bases abroad.  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Gendarmes, or military police, are responsible for protecting Laeralian government buildings and embassies abroad, supplementing ordinary Laeralian police forces, and conducting operations against domestic terror threats and criminal organizations.  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Economy==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral's economy is dynamic and export-based, constructed within the framework of a modern social-democratic capitalist economy. The Laeralian economy is dominated by the services sector, although agriculture is also a major portion of the Laeralian economy. In the services sector, Laeral is a world leader in film and television production, and Laeralian films have historically won acclaim at the [[IDU Film Festival]]. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Despite a high level of industrialization, future economic growth is threatened by rising structural unemployment and an aging population. Laeral's export-based economy has traditionally led to an emphasis on free-trade agreements with foreign nations, following economic liberalization under President Michel Baudry during the 1980s. Organized labor has historically been quite influential in the Laeralian economy since the Republican Era, as have worker cooperatives, and rates of unionization in Laeral, at roughly 45%, are quite high compared peer economies. This can be seen in the phenomenon of &amp;quot;workplace democracy&amp;quot;, in which under national law, all businesses of over 60 employees are required to include elected worker representation on the company board equal to 30% of seats, with few exceptions. The [[FLT-OIU]] is Laeral's dominant labor union federation, with roughly three-fourths of Laeral's unionized workers affiliated with an FLT-OIU union. The remaining quarter largely belongs to the communist-aligned [[Assemblée Syndicale de Toute la Laeral]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Agriculture===&lt;br /&gt;
''See [[Land use in Laeral]]'' &amp;lt;br /&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Agriculture is a major portion of the Laeralian economy, albeit employing only a small portion of the workforce. Rice, barley, and wheat are major staple crops, while cash crops in Laeral include sugar beet, tobacco, soybeans, cotton, tea, and specialty fruits and vegetables.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Culture==&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral is a generally secular, socially-liberal nation with a growing population. The education system is considered among the foremost in the IDU, featuring an extensive network of public universities, capped by the prestigious [[National Open University (Laeral)|National Open University]] system. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Elisabeth_Verene_Le_Bonnaire.jpg|300px|thumb|left|''Self-Portrait With Students'' by Élisabeth Vérène le Bonnaire.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral's film industry plays a significant role in the nation's culture and economy, with Jinhua province being a center of the industry. The 'Five Giants' are a quintet of film studios dominating the Laeralian film scene; Marion-Guichard Productions is known for favoring artsy fare, while Silver Harvest favors big-budget action movie reboots, spin-offs, and sequels. Laeralian television dramas, meanwhile, have become an important cultural export, and are aired in numerous markets abroad. Laeralian pop music, encompassing works from vintage crooners to modern stars such as Jane Tao, has also exhibited similar foreign appeal.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Laeralian literature, meanwhile, dates back to at least the year 1200, which is roughly the date of the oldest written work ever found in Laeral, a manual of farming practices. Famous Laeralian novels include ''The Cycle of Ascendancy'', a Laeralian patriotic tale; ''Drawn Curtains in the Silver Chamber'', the story of a noble family in decline; ''Letters of a Lady's Hand'', an intrigue/romance taking place around 1790; and ''The Chens of Hanshui'', a novel dealing with themes of race in the modern era. In fine art, the work of [[Élisabeth Vérène le Bonnaire]] is highly prized among artists of the colonial era, while Laeral has also historically been home to numerous influential artists, musicians, and playwrights. Modernist architect Maurice Ho and composed Germain Deschamps are among the most highly-esteemed Laeralian artists internationally. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
During the Colonial period, the noted Laeralian astronomer Alexandre-Galliot de Crussol produced one of the first catalogs of astronomical phenomena. During the First Allied Provinces period, scientific development lagged; during the Rose Revolution of the Republican period, the government aggressively sought to improve Laeralian scientific education. In the modern day, Laeral has become a regional center for scientific innovation, notably in the fields of medicine, psychology, and materials science.  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral is also a world leader in nuclear energy, producing reactors and material for export, and maintains a nuclear weapons program. One area of improvement for Laeralian scientific development is in the aerospace field; while Laeral was a player in the global [[Space Race]] of the 1960s and 70s, the Laeralian space agency ALORS (Agence Laeralien de Opérations et Recherche Spatiale) has had a contrained budget since. Laeralian expertise in programming and computing is widely-sought internationally, but Laeralian software engineers have had difficulties with expanding websites and apps to customers outside Laeral, partially due to linguistic barriers. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LaeralianWedding.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Interracial weddings have become increasingly accepted in Laeralian society.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Race remains a significant dividing line in Laeralian society, with the historical weight of imperialism and subsequent systemic racism weighing upon the nation. With linguistic, religious, and cultural differences between Rén and Arrivée Laeralites, racial tensions remain to this day. From the mid-20th century onward, immigration by ethnic Haemin and Andhrapuri migrants, alongside numerous other smaller groups, has led to greater cultural diversity while also at times leading to racist backlash. Interracial marriages have been fairly common throughout Laeralian history, leading to a large mixed-race population known as ''Metice''. For decades, government action has worked to reduce racial disparities; with the result of reducing disparities in average household income, although residential segregation stubbornly remains. The civil service and higher education systems are mandated to match the nation's demographics as a whole due to decades-old affirmative action programs. The work of Rén and other disadvantaged racial groups' social activists over the course of decades, most notably Hua Mingrui during the 1970s and 80s, has been crucial to this government action.  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral is highly ranked on measures of female workforce participation and in other measures of societal equity, and Laeralian feminist thinkers and activists have historically played a major role in the global feminist movement.  &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LaeralianGymnast.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Laeralian gymnast Rose Yaling won a gold medal at the 13th Olympic Games.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Handball, a traditional Laeralian sport, is the most popular team sport in Laeral, with stadiums and fields found in nearly every town or city. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Football is also popular; Laeral notably hosted the 2018 IDU Football Championship. Organized play is dominated by Ligue 1, which consists of the 20 best teams in Laeral. Play in that league is dominated by two dueling teams, Laeralsford AC and Ville Laeralsford, as well as teams such as Hanshui and Althea FC. There is also the Ligue Provincial, which is below Ligue 1 and consists of the teams relegated from that league, which make up the 24 second-tier football teams in Laeral. A third popular sports include basketball, which is played professionally through the [[Laeralian Basketball Association]]. Laeral has experienced success at recent Olympics, notably in speed-skating, fencing, gymnastics, figure skating, and basketball.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Infrastructure==&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral generally has highly developed infrastructure, although some rural areas do not have the same level of high-tech infrastructure as in urban areas. For example, 97% of Laeralites have internet access, practically every Laeralite has a phone connection, and the vast majority of Laeralian households have a television. The state-run radio and television broadcaster is RTL (Radio et Télévision Laéralien).&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The primary method of transportation is through Laeralian Railways, Laeral's state-run high-speed rail system. Laeral has over 29,000 kilometers of track in total, although not all of this is high-speed. International airports exist in numerous large cities. Laeral also has eight deepwater seaports, which manage much of Laeral's import-export trade. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:HighSpeedRail.jpg|300px|thumb|right|A Laeralian Railways high-speed train in Rilos.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral generates roughly 278 million KwH (Kilowatt-hours) of electricity per year, mostly for domestic consumption, although a small fraction of this is exported. Nuclear power generates close to 30% of Laeral's electricity, although the system is gradually being phased out as part of a transition to renewables. Fossil fuels continue to make up around 40% of Laeral's electricity mix; natural gas is extracted in the Xueyan Special Administrative Region while substantial oil deposits exist in the peninsular provinces and the Xianhai Gulf. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Countries]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category: Laeral]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Laeral</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Laeral&amp;diff=45396</id>
		<title>Laeral</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Laeral&amp;diff=45396"/>
		<updated>2026-05-16T01:36:36Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Laeral: /* Economy */&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;{{Infobox country&lt;br /&gt;
| native_name            = 絲綢國 (Sīchóuguó)&lt;br /&gt;
| conventional_long_name = Allied Provinces of Laeral&lt;br /&gt;
| common_name            = Laeral&lt;br /&gt;
| image_flag             = LaeralFlag.jpg&lt;br /&gt;
| alt_flag               = Flag of Laeral&lt;br /&gt;
| image_coat             = LaeralSealBronze.png&lt;br /&gt;
| alt_coat               = Laeralian Seal&lt;br /&gt;
| symbol_type            = Seal&lt;br /&gt;
| national_motto         = 通過智慧，平等和榮譽而繁榮&lt;br /&gt;
| national_anthem        = [[The Laeralite's Song]]&lt;br /&gt;
| royal_anthem           = &amp;lt;!--''[[name of/link to anthem]]''--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| other_symbol_type      = &amp;lt;!--Another symbol, e.g. Hymn--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| other_symbol           = &amp;lt;!--another symbol text--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| image_map              = LaeralinHespia.png&lt;br /&gt;
| alt_map                = Laeral&lt;br /&gt;
| map_caption            = Laeral (in light blue) in the Eastern portion of Hesperida, in the IDU&lt;br /&gt;
| image_map2             = &amp;lt;!--Another map, if required--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| alt_map2               = &amp;lt;!--alt text for second map--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| map_caption2           = &amp;lt;!--Caption to place below second map--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| capital                = [[Laeralsford]]&lt;br /&gt;
| largest_city           = Laeralsford&lt;br /&gt;
| official_languages     = French, Mandarin Chinese&lt;br /&gt;
| national_languages     = English&lt;br /&gt;
| regional_languages     = &amp;lt;!--Regional Languages--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| languages_type         = &amp;lt;!--Other type of languages --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| languages              = &amp;lt;!--Other languages list--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| ethnic_groups          = 34% Metice (Mixed-Race)&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;29% Rén&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;25% [[Arrivée]]&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;12% Other (Haemin, Desi, etc)&lt;br /&gt;
| ethnic_groups_year     = 2010&lt;br /&gt;
| demonym                = Laeralite&lt;br /&gt;
| government_type        = Federal Semi-presidential Republic&lt;br /&gt;
| leader_title1          = President&lt;br /&gt;
| leader_name1           = [[Liu Mei-han]]&lt;br /&gt;
| leader_title2          = Prime Minister&lt;br /&gt;
| leader_name2           = [[Nicolas Martin]]&lt;br /&gt;
| leader_title3          = &amp;lt;!--Leader 3--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| leader_name3           = &amp;lt;!--Leader3--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| leader_title4          = &amp;lt;!--Leader 4--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| leader_name4           = &amp;lt;!--Leader4--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| sovereignty_type       = &lt;br /&gt;
| sovereignty_note       = &lt;br /&gt;
| established_event1     = First Allied Provinces of Laeral&lt;br /&gt;
| established_date1      = 1858&lt;br /&gt;
| established_event2     = Republic of Laeral&lt;br /&gt;
| established_date2      = 1922&lt;br /&gt;
| established_event3     = Second Allied Provinces of Laeral&lt;br /&gt;
| established_date3      = 1954&lt;br /&gt;
| area_rank              = &lt;br /&gt;
| area_magnitude         = &lt;br /&gt;
| area                   = &lt;br /&gt;
| area_km2               = 490,499&lt;br /&gt;
| area_sq_mi             = 304,782&lt;br /&gt;
| area_footnote          = &amp;lt;!-- optional footnote for area --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| percent_water          = &lt;br /&gt;
| area_label             = Total&lt;br /&gt;
| area_label2            = &amp;lt;!-- label below area_label (optional) --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| area_dabodyalign       = &amp;lt;!-- text after area_label2 (optional) --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| population_estimate    = 89,200,000&lt;br /&gt;
| population_estimate_rank = &lt;br /&gt;
| population_estimate_year = 2023&lt;br /&gt;
| population_census      = 87,446,385&lt;br /&gt;
| population_census_year = 2021&lt;br /&gt;
| population_density_km2 = 161.5&lt;br /&gt;
| population_density_sq_mi = 259.6&lt;br /&gt;
| population_density_rank = &lt;br /&gt;
| GDP_PPP                = &lt;br /&gt;
| GDP_PPP_rank           = &lt;br /&gt;
| GDP_PPP_year           = &lt;br /&gt;
| GDP_PPP_per_capita     = &lt;br /&gt;
| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = &lt;br /&gt;
| GDP_nominal            = NSD1,850,000,000,000&lt;br /&gt;
| GDP_nominal_rank       = &lt;br /&gt;
| GDP_nominal_year       = &lt;br /&gt;
| GDP_nominal_per_capita = &lt;br /&gt;
| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = &lt;br /&gt;
| Gini                   = 34.80&lt;br /&gt;
| Gini_rank              = &lt;br /&gt;
| Gini_year              = &lt;br /&gt;
| Gini_category          = &lt;br /&gt;
| HDI                    = 0.895&lt;br /&gt;
| HDI_rank               = &lt;br /&gt;
| HDI_year               = 2016&lt;br /&gt;
| HDI_category           = &lt;br /&gt;
| currency               = Laeralian Mark&lt;br /&gt;
| currency_code          = LRM&lt;br /&gt;
| time_zone              = GT +2&lt;br /&gt;
| utc_offset             = &lt;br /&gt;
| time_zone_DST          = &lt;br /&gt;
| antipodes              = &amp;lt;!-- countries or islands antipodal to this one --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| date_format            = mm-dd-yyyy&lt;br /&gt;
| DST_note               = &lt;br /&gt;
| utc_offset_DST         = &amp;lt;!-- +N, where N is number of hours--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| drives_on              = right&lt;br /&gt;
| cctld                  = .lr&lt;br /&gt;
| iso3166code            = &amp;lt;!-- optional to override the default determined using the&lt;br /&gt;
                               ''common_name'' parameter; set to ''omit'' to omit. --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| calling_code           = +118&lt;br /&gt;
| image_map3             = &lt;br /&gt;
| alt_map3               = &lt;br /&gt;
| footnotes              = &amp;lt;!--for any generic non-numbered footnotes--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| footnote1              = &lt;br /&gt;
| footnote2              = &lt;br /&gt;
| footnote3              = &lt;br /&gt;
}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The '''Allied Provinces of Laeral''', commonly called '''Laeral''', is a federal semi-presidential democracy in the continent of [[Hesperida]] on [[Earth (IDU)|Earth]] in the [[International Democratic Union]]. It is bordered by [[High Fells]] to the north, by [[Libertas Omnium Maximus]] to the south, and by [[Haesan]], [[Lao Sansong]], and the [[Albarine Sea]] to the east. Laeral covers 1.71 million square kilometers in area, and is subdivided into [[Provinces of Laeral|33 provinces]], with a total population of nearly 100 million. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Human civilization in Laeral dates back over three millennia to the establishment of the [[Danxing Empire]] around 1200 BCE, followed by successive dynastic empires. [[Minjian]] originated in Laeral in the 3rd century CE, and through conflict and peaceful conversion became the dominant religion in Laeral. The Tian Dynasty, established in 641 CE, was the first kingdom to unify much of modern-day Laeralian core territory, and was a significant sponsor of exploration and the arts, noted as well for its use of gunpowder and paper to create a powerful and stable society. Relative instability and technological stagnation during the succeeding Jiang Dynasty and the Falling Leaves Period of rule by the Gao Empire ended with the 1528 conquest by Sun Liang, at the head of the Sun Dynasty. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 1703, the arrival of French settlers led to conflict with the crumbling Sun Dynasty, which was ultimately toppled by the army of the Duke d'Tesse in 1723, who unified modern eastern Laeral and southern High Fells into a single kingdom of Felle-Haute. Ducal rule continued until the [[Laeralian War of Independence]] from 1848 to 1855, which established an independent government, the Allied Provinces of Laeral, consisting of a weak confederation of independent provinces. This confederation had become more centralized under the authoritarian rule of [[Vespasien Jamet]] (known as the &amp;quot;Vespasienate&amp;quot;) from 1880 to 1909, when longstanding racial unrest and the [[First Fellsian War]] resulted in authoritarian socialist modernizer [[René Gramont]] coming to power in the [[Laeralian Revolution]] in 1922. The subsequent [[Republican Era|Republic of Laeral]] saw substantial progress towards racial equality, the empowerment of women, and improvement of living standards, as well as the emergence of [[Gramontism]] as a prominent ideology internationally. Following a coup attempt in 1952 known as the [[Bloody Summer]], liberalizers in Gramont's [[Social Democratic Party (Laeral)|Social Democratic Party]] oversaw a transition to democratic rule as the renewed Allied Provinces of Laeral in 1954. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Initial prosperity and development during the early years of the Allied Provinces coexisted with intense political conflict, culminating in the [[Emergency Period]] of martial law in 1964 during the [[Great War]]. In that conflict, Laeral was a leading military and industrial power of the [[Coalition of Democratic Forces]], facing invasion from the fascist regimes of [[Darya]] and [[Slokais Islands]]. In the 1970s and 80s, Laeral underwent economic liberalization as the state-led economy of the Republican Era was gradually dismantled in favor of an export-oriented manufacturing economy, as well as increased racial strife as the [[Juexing Movement]] agitated for greater economic and social equality for Laeral's [[Rén]] and [[Metice]] ethnic majority. &lt;br /&gt;
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In the 21st century, Laeral has transitioned into a service-based high-income economy, as well as coming to further international prominence as a leader among the democratic bloc and in international development via the [[Global Development Investment Bank]]. Its economy is largely service-based, but Laeral is also a major [[Land use in Laeral|agricultural producer]], as well as exporting oil and some manufactured goods. Laeral is also a prominent destination for international tourism and higher education, and a popular exporter of film and television. &lt;br /&gt;
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==Etymology==&lt;br /&gt;
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Laeral is pronounced Lay-ruhl, and likely comes from the Old Laeralian word laer, likely meaning 'silk'. It is combined with the suffix 'al', meaning 'land of' or 'territory of'. An alternate etymology posits that the term comes from &amp;quot;lehwal&amp;quot;, or 'river-dweller'. The term is first recorded in the 1500s. The former etymology is used for Laeral's name in Chinese, 絲綢之鄉, meaning 'silk country'.&lt;br /&gt;
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The standard way to refer to a citizen of Laeral is as a &amp;quot;Laeralite.&amp;quot; The term 'Laeralian' is archaic and now rarely used. Two terms often used to refer to people in Laeral are [[Rén]] and '[[Arrivée]]'. These are racial terms used in Laeral. The former refers to the native Laeralites. The latter refers to those descended from the French and other white settlers who arrived from the Colonial Period onward. A person of mixed Rén and Arrivée descent is referred to as &amp;quot;Metice&amp;quot;. &lt;br /&gt;
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==History==&lt;br /&gt;
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===Ancient Laeral (Pre-1000 CE)===&lt;br /&gt;
Humans likely arrived in modern-day Laeral in the paleolithic period, as evidence has been found of cave dwellings with artifacts dating back to that time. &lt;br /&gt;
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Laeral was inhabited by scattered nomadic tribes of Rén descent until around the 7th century BCE, when the first permanent agricultural settlements were developed. Cultivated grains have been found dating to that time. Around 1200 BCE, settlers from the [[Danxing Empire]] arrived in Laeral, conquering and intermarrying with the local population and founding Laeral's first cities. These coastal cities were the places where writing and toolmaking first developed, and are the birthplaces of Laeralian civilization. It was around the year 400 BCE when Laeral was first unified, under the Nan Dynasty, which in fact only controlled the coastal areas of Laeral. They were succeeded by the Lu dynasty around 100 BCE. They were followed by several other dynasties, including the Liu Dynasty (100 BCE-300 CE), which was known for its artistic ability, the Jin Dynasty (300 CE-500 CE), known for its relative stability and promotion of culture, the Bei Dynasty (500-640 CE), which was unstable and chaotic, and the Tian Dynasty (640-1000 CE). &lt;br /&gt;
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[[Minjian]], a religion originating in modern-day Peichen around 260 CE, was adopted as the national faith in 370, under the Jin Dynasty. In the early centuries of the religion, religious conflicts were common, notably in the [[War of the Three Lanterns]], a religious conflict between followers of opposing Minjian sects around 575 CE. Notably, the Bei Dynasty fell due to the chaos caused by the Tang Uprising of 635 CE, when the peasant leader Tang Guohui declared himself to be a Minjian Luminary and led an uprising against the Bei Emperor. &lt;br /&gt;
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[[File:Examination.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Bureaucrats of the Tian Dynasty at the imperial palace of Guangzhihua.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Gunpowder and paper were both discovered around the same time in the 10th century CE, ushering in a new era in both warfare and culture. The stable and prosperous Tian Dynasty ruled the nation. At this time, the city of Guangzihua, considered the birthplace of technology in Laeral, became a center of learning and knowledge, and home of many wonders such as the Great Library of Guangzihua. Arts and culture were sponsored by the ruling Bei dynasty. Around 980, the city of Guangzihua was devastated by a fire and never rebuilt, capping off a long period of Tian decline; the dynasty itself fell soon after in 1003. &lt;br /&gt;
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===Falling Leaves Period and the Sun Dynasty===&lt;br /&gt;
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During the Falling Leaves period beginning around 1003, the chaos of the fall of the Tian Dynasty led to city-states being forced to expand and take over weaker rivals. Many warlords created pocket empires during this time, only to see them fall apart within years. At this time, both gunpowder weapons and bladed weapons proliferated, resulting in a land in chaos as warlords and their followers battled for territory. Warriors wandered the countryside, looking for plunder and a lord to serve under. In the late 13th century, one warlord, the famous Jiang Hui, united Laeral through military might, diplomatic skill, and strategic marriages. The epic saga of his dynasty, the Jiang Dynasty, is told in the classic Laeralian work of literature, ''The Cycle of Ascendancy''. Those kings had many wars with the Gao Empire, in modern-day High Fells, who had become similarly unified around the same time. However, the Jiang Dynasty fell apart sometime around 1430, when Emperor Xiaowen's incompetent leadership and backstabbing advisors led to a disastrous war with the Gao Empire, a militaristic kingdom ruling over modern-day High Fells. Another work of Laeralian classic literature, ''The Years of Woe'', tells of loyal Jiang Dynasty military commander Han Guiying's attempt to resist the Gao invasion and defend Laeralian sovereignty. However, while he was able to repel the invaders successfully, Laeral enjoyed only a decade or so of freedom, as the Gao underwent a period of political turmoil, which eventually resulted in a new Gao dynasty establishing itself and taking over Laeral.&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:HanGuiying.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Han Guiying]]&lt;br /&gt;
At one point, all of Laeral was under the control of the Gao, imposing unpopular cultural policies, such as mandating the celebration of Gao festivals and Gao clothing, while the city of Anjian, the Jiang capital, was razed. This period of time, known is Laeral as the 'Time of Sacrifice' still impacts the Laeralian national consciousness today. The leader of the resistance to Gao rule was [[Sun Liang]], a former warlord who assembled a group of secret societies to oppose the Gao occupation.&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Shei Wu's Forces.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Sun Liang's forces charge into battle against the Gao.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral ultimately threw off Gao rule in 1528 and enjoyed freedom for several centuries. Sun Liang established himself as an Emperor, and created the imperial capital at Lanxiu, in modern day Neidong. He and his descendants embarked upon a series of reforms, ultimately establishing a powerful central government, a bureaucracy, and allowing many innovations to spread quickly throughout Laeral. The Sun Dynasty cracked down on the power of warlords, and brought stability to Laeral. This time is often thought of as the 'golden age' of Laeral, when Laeral's internal organization, stability, and technological advancement were far ahead of those of its neighbors. &lt;br /&gt;
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===Colonial Era===&lt;br /&gt;
In 1689, [[Opthelia|Opthelian]] ships arrived in the Xianhai Gulf, establishing trading post where they traded muskets, beads, and advanced equipment such as spyglasses for textiles, beads, and pottery. This marked Laeral's first contact with non-Hesperidans. In 1700, the French explorer Gabriel Nicolas de Albarine (second son of the Comte de Albarine, who later settled in Laeral) led an expedition which mapped the coast of Laeral; the [[Albarine Sea]] is today named for him. &lt;br /&gt;
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As a modern nation, Laeral was founded in 1703 as the French personal colony of the Duc d'Tesse, who arrived that year with a small fleet of warships to settle the coastal region near modern-day Corday province. The French colony soon came into conflict with the local population; many died in the ensuing conflict, and many abuses and massacres were committed. This was a time of great change in Laeral, as ruling elements of Laeralian society were violently forced into submission before foreign conquerors. The Duc d'Tesse set himself up as Duc Jean-Baptiste I and ruled the land as the Duchy of Felle-Haute.&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:FrenchConquest.jpg|300px|thumb|right|A battle between French and Pei Dynasty forces.]]&lt;br /&gt;
After razing the imperial capital, he ordered the creation of the city of [[Laeralsford]] to serve as the new capital, as well as establishing four immense palaces around the country, each of which his court would spend one season a year at. These remain major historical sites, although the construction of these palaces was accomplished by forced labor and crippling taxation. He introduced European technology, but also treated the natives poorly, instituting forced agricultural labor, the hated ''corvée'', and high tithes. Following Duke Jean-Baptiste's assassination in 1732, his successors ruled as Dukes until the Laeralian War of Independence. Their reign was characterized by a tiny minority presiding over the subjugation of the Laeralian people and the theft of Laeralian heritage; the establishment of a fairly rigid racial hierarchy meant that Rén had little hope of advancement in society and were treated as second-class citizens. &lt;br /&gt;
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===Laeralian War of Independence===&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LaeralianWarofIndependence.png|300px|thumb|right|A battle during the [[Laeralian War of Independence]].]]&lt;br /&gt;
The ascension of Duchess Louise, a hard-line conservative, in 1836 prompted tremendous discontent among [[Rén]] and the middle-class for her rigid monarchism, traditionalism, and her anti-Enlightenment views. The years of her reign were characterized by harsh repression: the 1841 Vanoît Massacre, the 1843 An Heng Rebellion, and 1844's Blue Cockade Uprising were all brutally suppressed. As Duchesse Louise became gravely ill in 1848, a Provisional Assembly of liberal revolutionaries convened in Althea to plan an uprising, with G.E. Lematre chosen as leader of the new Free Laeralian Army. &lt;br /&gt;
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The [[Laeralian War of Independence]] began with mass uprisings on March 4th, 1849. With the support of the [[Zhao kingdom]], the rebels triumphing after a protracted struggle in 1855, establishing Laeral as an independent nation.&lt;br /&gt;
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===First Allied Provinces of Laeral===&lt;br /&gt;
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Laeral was founded in 1855 as a sovereign nation practically cutting High Fells off from the ocean, leaving High Fells with a grudge against Laeral and a continued period of absolute monarchy. Laeral's capital was established at Althea.&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LaeralianPeasants.jpg|250px|thumb|left|This 1870 print of a wealthy urban woman visiting rural Arrivée peasants demonstrates the class divides present during the early years of the Allied Provinces.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral's first major test came during the Outbreak of 1861, as cholera spread throughout Laeral. Although thousands died, the new nation largely avoided chaos through the government's skillful handling of the crisis. Georges Lematre also implemented nationwide paper currency in 1865. Prior to this, individual provinces issued their own currency. In 1866, Georges Lematre's term came to an end and he peacefully stepped down in favor of Jean-Paul Gauvain, the third Prime Minister. Famine in 1872, which led to many farmers moving to Laeralian cities in search of jobs and food. Although the government tried to reduce the problem, starvation was a constant problem in Laeral for decades. In 1881, the Bank of Laeral was established in order to unify the production of paper money, which had been established on a nationwide basis in 1865. The new government's efforts were often hamstrung by the weak nature of the federal government, however, and efforts to repeal the racist policies of the royalist era, such as the ''corvée'', were largely unsuccessful.&lt;br /&gt;
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In 1875, Laeralian settlers who had migrated southward from the province of Bethune came into conflict with settlers from [[Libertas Omnium Maximus]]. After Bethune provincial militia fired upon the Maximusian settlers, the [[War of the Seven Provinces]] broke out. As Laeral possessed only a limited national military at the time, and many of Laeral's wealthier northern provinces opposed the war, only the forces of seven provinces ended up declaring war on the Maximusians. Laeralian forces were defeated, and the areas comprising modern Lematre and Brissac provinces were ceded to Libertas Omnium Maximus in the 1877 Treaty of Legrange.&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LaeralianCannon.jpg|250px|thumb|right|A major portion of the New Laeral Movement involved developing Laeral's military strength.]]&lt;br /&gt;
From 1880 to 1909, the Laeralian government was dominated by strongman [[Vespasien Jamet]], who served as prime minister nearly continuously for almost three decades. During this period, referred to as the ''Vespasienate'', Prime Minister Jamet oversaw the centralization of the Laeralian state as well as westward expansion at the expense of the various Rén kingdoms to the Laeralian nation's western borders. Notable achievements of Prime Minister Jamet included the expansion of central government taxation, the creation of a larger standing army, the relocation of the capital from [[Althea]] to [[Laeralsford]] in 1894, and the defeat of the Zhao kingdom in 1885 during the [[Laeral-Zhao War]] and the annexation of its territory, the largest single land acquisition in Laeralian history. The Vespasienate was also characterized by immense corruption at the hands of Jamet and government insiders, largely from the plantation-owner class: for instance, the audacious New Laeral Movement, a ten-year program intended to modernize Laeral's industries, was generally a failure due to endemic corruption. The press and public protests faced heavy-handed censorship during the Vespasienate, prompting Jamet's opponents to brand him &amp;quot;Emperor Vespasien I.&amp;quot; Following the acquisition of Zhao land, Jamet oversaw the [[Land use in Laeral|Land Tenure Act of 1888]], which paved the way for the expropriation of land in five [[Riverlands]] provinces from its Rén inhabitants, who were subsequently confined to small territorial reserves, while the most productive agricultural land was distributed to Arrivée settlers via lottery. This land seizure paved the way for continuation of the racial wealth gap in Laeral, as well as the [[First Great Migration]], which saw Rén people from overcrowded and impoverished reserve territories relocate to Riverlands cities, fostering cultural diffusion. &lt;br /&gt;
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In 1903, Laeral also participated in the [[Golden Flag Rebellion]], sending a large force of soldiers under General Albert de Saivigné to defend Laeralian commercial interests in northern [[Caxcana]]. This marked Laeral's first major foreign conflict, and was met with protests by Rén who sympathized with the Golden Flag cause. The conflict became a primary source of political division in Laeralian society; many intellectuals and the majority of Rén opposed the government's decision to intervene, and the ensuing occupation. &lt;br /&gt;
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In 1911, [[High Fells]] declared war on Laeral over territorial disputes as Vespasien Jamet's successor Augustin Brienne struggled to consolidate the nation. While High Fellsian forces had been hoping for a quick victory, advancements in weapons technology meant that battle lines stagnated into trench warfare. Heavy fighting took place in the mountains of southern High Fells; inadequate winter supplies meant that many soldiers on both sides froze to death. This war, known in Laeral as the [[First Fellsian War]] or ''la catastrophe'', ended after five years in bloody stalemate, with nearly one million dying on the Laeralian side. Notably, airplanes, artillery, machine guns, and poison gas all saw use in the conflict. This war contributed to the unpopularity of the Laeralian government at the time, notably due to the army's use of forced conscription.&lt;br /&gt;
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===Republican Era===&lt;br /&gt;
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Following the chaos of the First Fellsian War, many were dissatisfied with the current structure of government. Many of the reforms expressed in the Progressive Movement had not been met. Women were still denied the right to vote, the central government was weak, and labor conditions were appalling. Many lived in abject poverty. Ultimately, unionists, left-wing activists, and dissatisfied veterans staged a revolt, known as the [[Laeralian Revolution]]. It began in 1919, and led to the rise of several progressive leaders, including [[Réne Gramont]], [[Jean-Philippe Salaun]], and [[Sun Jia-wei]], known as the Committee for Democracy and Progress, and later the Social Democratic party. Their revolution was supported by a majority of the populace, and ultimately succeeded following several years of fighting. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:SalaunAtUniversity.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Jean-Philippe Salaun and supporters of the ''Committee for Democracy and Progress'' at the drafting of the Republic's Constitution.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Leaders of the revolt assembled in Gaolan, Neidong, to write a new Constitution. While Laeral had been governed as a relatively loose confederation under the Binding Charter, they were determined to reshape Laeralian government. Their work, the Laeralian Constitution, established the new '''Republic of Laeral'''. This Republic would have a stronger central government. Suffrage was expanded to all men and women over 22. The National Assembly, or the national legislature, would use both proportional representation and regional constituencies, rather than the previous first past the post system. The leader of the Assembly of Commons would become the Prime Minister, while there would also be a directly elected President. In 1922, Réne Gramont declared the establishment of the Republic of Laeral.&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Réne_Gramont.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Réne Gramont, leader of the [[Gang of Five]] and first President of the Republic of Laeral]]&lt;br /&gt;
During the [[Republican Era]], Laeral was dominated by the so-called [[Gang of Five]], a group of Social Democratic leaders who promoted republicanism, reformism, socialism, secularism, and anti-imperialism through their modernization programs. While somewhat free and fair elections were held, the Social Democrats kept their hold on power through vote-buying and other dubious practices. The Gang of Five's wide-ranging battery of reforms, known as the [[Rose Revolution]] for the symbol of the ruling Social Democrats, had significant impacts across all areas of Laeralian society. The period also saw the first large-scale immigration to Laeral following the country's independence; this &amp;quot;Second Wave&amp;quot; of immigration consisted primarily of immigrants from the [[Dual Monarchy of Vertansk and Solavan]], with Solavanian expatriate communities arising in many port cities and Vertanskan immigrants migrating to state-backed agricultural settlements, particularly in the [[Xueyan Special Administrative Region|Northeastern Frontier]].&lt;br /&gt;
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In 1925, a popular revolt by people of Laeralian descent in the Brissac region, controlled by [[Libertas Omnium Maximus]] since the [[War of the Seven Provinces]] from 1875-1877, led to Laeral declaring war on [[Libertas Omnium Maximus]]. Due to superior Laeralian leadership under President [[Réne Gramont]] and widespread public support for the conflict, the Laeralites triumphed, with the 1927 Treaty of Galline granting modern Lematre and Brissac provinces to Laeral. The unity created within Laeral by the war, and the Laeralian victory, contributed greatly to the stability of the Republic of Laeral and the popularity of Gramont. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:SoldiersinLienne.jpg|300px|thumb|left|Laeralian Army soldiers in Lienne during the province's Accession.]]&lt;br /&gt;
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Following the Brissac War, the Social Democrats were free to concentrate fully on the [[Rose Revolution]], their ambitious program to reform Laeral along the lines of their 'Five Pillars': Republicanism, Reformism, Socialism, Secularism, and Anti-Imperialism. [[Réne Gramont]], a hero of the [[First Fellsian War]] who served as President from 1922-1932, established a republic with universal suffrage regardless of gender, race, or class, while simultaneously ensuring that his own Social Democratic party would be the dominant force in Laeralian politics. &lt;br /&gt;
During his ten years in office, Gramont promoted racial and gender equality, removing many of the most hated racial laws of the Allied Provinces era. Gramont also worked towards development and industrialization, promoting western-style higher education and industrialization of the nation. Gramont was succeeded in office by [[Jean-Philippe Salaun]], who served two terms from 1932-1942, and added further secularist reforms to the Rose Revolution's reforms. Presidents [[Zhou Wei-lin]] (1942-1947) and [[Sun Jia-wei]] (1947-1954) continued the Rose Revolution's programs, in particular continuing to promote racial equality and socialist principles.&lt;br /&gt;
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In 1947, the marquisate of Lienne, a state which had broken away from Park Yeong-gi's dictatorial regime in High Fells and become independent, petitioned for annexation by the Republic of Laeral in a bid for security from the Fellsian regime. In the [[Accession of Lienne]], also known as the Second Fellsian War, Laeralian forces clashed with Fellsian-backed Gao militias in the province over nine months of outright warfare and around a decade of ensuing guerrilla warfare. Although the Park regime continued to claim Lienne until its overthrow, Lienne was functionally under Laeralian control, and became a full province in 1954.&lt;br /&gt;
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===Second Allied Provinces of Laeral===&lt;br /&gt;
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[[File:Alain_Mette.jpg|250px|thumb|right|General [[Alain Mette]] led coup-aligned forces during the [[Bloody Summer]] in 1952]]&lt;br /&gt;
During the later years of the [[Republican Era]], the Rose Revolution project faced division between reform-minded, pro-democracy members of the Social Democratic elite, such as [[Zhou Wei-lin]], and the &amp;quot;vermilion&amp;quot; faction led by [[Hong Kuo-shu]] which favored continued autocratic rule. In May 1952, reformist president [[Sun Jia-wei]]'s re-nomination as the Social Democratic candidate for president at the [[Social Democratic Party (Laeral)|Seventh Social Democratic Party Congress]] empowered the reformist faction to seek the removal of [[Hong Kuo-shu]] as Party Secretary, leading to violence when Hong's supporters in the Laeralian military, led by General Alain Mette, attempted a coup against President Sun. The coup was defeated in August of that year with the capture and widely-publicized treason trial of Party Secretary Hong; Mette himself was killed in a plane crash while seeking to flee the country.  &lt;br /&gt;
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Following the coup attempt, remembered as the [[Bloody Summer]], the reformist &amp;quot;scarlet&amp;quot; faction was empowered to achieve a transition to full democracy, reforming the Laeralian Army into the Laeralian National Security Force and inviting both Social Democrats and opposition members to draft a new constitution in 1954, which established Laeralian government as it is today—the Second Allied Provinces of Laeral, so named as to distinguish it from the first. François Guiraud, a member of the opposition [[Laeralian National Congress]] party, was elected as the Second Allied Provinces' first President in 1954's free elections, while [[Sun Jia-wei]] soon became Prime Minister, remaining at the head of the Social Democratic party.  &lt;br /&gt;
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Political competition was intense during the early years of the Second Allied Provinces, conducted amongst a backdrop of economic and political liberalization. The &amp;quot;Decade of High Spirits&amp;quot; of the 1950s, including the &amp;quot;Riverlands Renaissance&amp;quot; and a boom in the Laeralian film industry, was fondly remembered also for its economic growth, including the Green Revolution spurring growth in agriculture and a boom in consumer industry. The &amp;quot;Decade of High Spirits&amp;quot; was brought to a swift close with the [[Great War]], which Laeral joined in 1961 as a leader of the Allied Coalition. Amidst mass mobilization, aerial bombing raids, and bloody amphibious and naval battles off the shores of Hesperida and Caxcana, the nation had its closest brush with dictatorship when President [[Réne Gramont|René Gramont]] declared a [[Emergency Period|state of national emergency]] in 1964 following a Daryan attempt on the life of Defense Minister Julien Cheng and leading military officers. Gramont would rule by decree for months, suspending the National Assembly and detaining political opponents without trial, yet was ultimately brought low by a fatal heart attack later that year. Following the resumption of constitutional order, Laeral would continue to prosecute the Great War to its victorious conclusion. &lt;br /&gt;
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In the early 1980s, a growing social and artistic movement known as the Juexing (Awakening) Movement, rejected the notion that Laeral's racial issues had been resolved during the Republican period, and agitated for further measures towards racial equality. Supporting the pride and self-betterment of Laeralian Rén, the Juexing Movement eventually succeeded in creating government measures to promote racial equality, notably the system of government quotas for racial minorities. Immigration to Laeral also increased throughout the 1970s and 80s, including large-scale immigration from [[Andhrapur]], creating Desi communities within many urban areas. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:ThirdFellsianWar.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Laeralian soldiers patrolling the border with High Fells during the Third Fellsian War.]]&lt;br /&gt;
In 1983, an undeclared &amp;quot;Third Fellsian War&amp;quot; between Laeral and High Fells began, in which both sides launched raids and bombings across their border, particular in Laeral's disputed Lienne province. Terrorist bombings in Lienne became a fixture on the Laeralian nightly news, but &lt;br /&gt;
the conflict was brought to a close after High Fellsian dictator Alger Hansen was overthrown in the June Revolution.&lt;br /&gt;
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In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Laeral's economy entered a protracted period of growth under a series of right-wing governments which had come to power capitalizing on sluggish growth and a backlash towards the Juexing Movement. A new export-based economic model, centered on exports of electronic equipment and textiles, produced economic prosperity which was well-distributed among the population. The government repaid its debts in full due to massive GDP growth, which reached at its height 12% annually. Economic growth continued until the late 1990s, while the government chose to invest the increased tax revenues into a new national education system, as well as a large fund for future shortfalls. &lt;br /&gt;
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However, the end of the economic boom in the late 1990s led to agitation and societal discontent, particularly as manufacturing entered a decline and inflation combined with stagnant economic growth and rising unemployment. The ensuing People Power protests of 1994-1995 led to constitutional reforms, including a reduction in the powers of the General Assembly. A left-leaning government took power in the early 2000s, enacting social reforms including legalizing same-sex civil unions in 2005. Around this time, a civil war erupted along religious lines in neighboring [[High Fells]], leading the Laeralian government to deploy soldiers, known as the Laeralian Peacekeeping Force (LPKF), to prop up the central government in 2001 and prevent the spillover of fighting and drug trafficking into Laeral. Following the signing of the Jindong Agreement in 2004, Laeralian troops began to withdraw in a slow process lasting until 2008, when the final Laeralian troops departed. &lt;br /&gt;
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The nation was shaken by the impeachment of President Maurice Fesnau in 2006 following the investigation of a far-reaching corruption scandal, which resulted in the trial and imprisonment of several Socialist Party politicians. President Ganard, of the [[Laeralian People's Party]], took power after a 2006 special election, only to preside over an economic recession in 2007, which damaged the national economy and brought the Progressives, under President [[Nicholas Brennan]] into power. Laeral acceded to the [[World Assembly]] in 2016 following extensive legal reforms meant to bring the nation into line with WA standards. Laeral's growing involvement in foreign conflicts grew, as Brennan authorized the deployment of troops to aid pro-democracy forces in the [[Second Lauchenoirian Civil War]], while his successor [[Liu Mei-han]] brokered the [[Jinyu Peace Agreement]] in 2021 to negotiate an end to the [[Xiomeran Civil War]].&lt;br /&gt;
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==Geography==&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LaeralProvincesNamed.jpg|200px|thumb|right|A map of the 33 provinces of Laeral.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral is divided into [[Provinces of Laeral|33 provinces]] and two Special Administrative Regions, which are self-governing and share authority with the federal government. &lt;br /&gt;
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The primary river in Laeral is the Zhongshui, which runs west to east through central Laeral and cities such as [[Hanshui]], [[Laeralsford]], and Auvergne. It forms the core of the Riverlands region. Tributaries of the Zhongshui include the Beuvron River, flowing northward through Jinyu, and the Gaoming River, flowing southward through Songshan and Lushui to merge with the Zhongshui River near Hanshui. The Guilin River, meanwhile, sets continental Laeral's southwestern border. The Vierge River (flowing into the Beuvron) and the Espoir River (flowing inland from the Albarine Sea) are other tributaries which have also aided river commerce for centuries. River flooding is historically an impactful aspect of Laeral's plentiful rivers, which have largely been managed with the advent of dams. &lt;br /&gt;
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===Geographic Regions===&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral possesses various historical and cultural regions. Most prominent of these is the Riverlands region, stretching east to west across Laeral and generally considered to contain the provinces surrounding the Zhongshui River. This area is historically fertile and heavily populated, and since the early 20th century has been the most developed region of Laeral. The Iron Belt contains the manufacturing regions of northeast Laeral, and is generally considered to include [[Lienne]], a province with a distinctive cultural identity based on its period under High Fellsian rule. The territory of the former [[Zhao Kingdom]] in southwestern Laeral is the nation's Minjian heartland and is today known as Zhao country. The area of the Beuvron River valley, particularly the provinces of Sendrasi, Therese, and Sarene, is also known as the Catholic Belt for its high proportion of adherents to that faith. Finally, the Xianhai Peninsula is another region distinctive from continental Laeral, characterized by its relative underdevelopment and economy based on plantation agriculture and later oil extraction. Lematre and Brissac provinces feature oil deposits both on land and offshore, part of a larger field shared with the neighboring Maximusian province of [[Winfield Province|Winfield.]] These oil deposits, along with smaller fields in Felliere and the Xianhai Gulf, have been extracted by various state and private corporations since the [[Republican Era]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Xueyan Special Administrative Region (Xueyan SAR) is a large, sparsely-populated and underdeveloped region, separated from the main portion of Laeral by Lake Xueyan, an immense body of water. Following its seizure during the [[Great War]], Laeral currently claims sovereignty over the Xueyan SAR, although this claim remains contested by [[Haesan]] and has not been fully recognized by the international community. The region is believed to have extensive natural gas reserves. Laeral also administers the [[Allied Cities|Xianjiapo Special Administrative Region]], an urban region in northern [[Caxcana]]. &lt;br /&gt;
 &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:GoldenLarch.jpg|200px|thumb|left|The Golden Larch tree turns golden in autumn.]]Laeral's climate features cold winters and temperate summers. Northern provinces generally have a cool-temperate climate, while southern provinces are warmer. Coniferous and mixed forests exist in much of continental Laeral, while there are broad-leafed forests in southern Laeral. The Golden Larch, Maidenhair (Gingko), Umbrella Pine, and Chinese Plum are all major tree species in Laeral, with the plum blossom (meihua) of the latter being an important Laeralian national symbol. Bamboo also grows in southern portions of Laeral, where it is used as an important manufacturing and construction material.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral's rivers support a thriving fishing industry, as well as habitat for spawning carp and salmon. Laeral's climate is very agriculturally productive: primary agricultural products include rice, barley, and wheat as staple grains. Silk is also grown by way of mulberry trees.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Environment==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Large wild animals in Laeral include the brown bear, lynx, 'snow cat' (snow leopard), Chinese mountain cat, and grey wolf, although these are widely hunted and now have a severely curtailed frequency and range. Other wild mammals include the Summer Dog (raccoon dog), the Iduvian red and water deer, the marsh deer (Pere David's Deer), and the marmot. Birds common in Laeral include various cranes, the snowcock, the heron, various swans, and various pigeons.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Laeralian meat raised for cultivation generally lacks large pasture animals such as cows. Farmers instead focus on keeping geese, rabbits, ducks, chickens, grouse, pheasant, and pigs, as well as sheep and goats in mountainous areas. Carp are farmed in the Riverlands, and water buffalo and oxen are kept as plow animals. Notable foods grown in Laeral include rice, grains, tea, and many types of fruits and vegetables, including lychees, almonds, citrus fruits, and other products. Flowers are also grown. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:RiceFarmLaeral.jpg|300px|thumb|left|Rice is an important staple crop in Laeral.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Notable environmental attractions can be found in some of the more rural provinces, as well as in some coastal provinces such as Althea. Environmental legislation protects environmentally sensitive areas such as wetlands and old growth forests, and tourism and development are severely restricted into some areas. Soil pollution remains an issue in many areas of Laeral's old industrial belt, although government action against pollutants means that rates of particulate matter in the air due to air pollution have decreased from their high in the late 1970s.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Demographics==&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:ChinaStreet.jpg|400px|thumb|right|A street in the western Riverlands.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral has a population of over 89 million people. The fertility rate is 2.34, with a high life expectancy. Ethnic groups present in Laeral include the [[Arrivée]], the Rén, the Gao, and various minority groups. Laeral's ethnic makeup has also been shifted by immigration of minority groups such as Desi, who make up a growing percentage of the population. A large percentage of Laeral's population is mixed-race, largely the result of marriages between [[Arrivée]] and Rén people. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The overall obesity rate is around 15%, although around 30% of Laeralites overall are overweight. Laeral's population is increasingly aging, as the average life expectancy has increased. This has begun to place a burden upon senior care services, although the majority of elderly Laeralites are cared for by their family rather than by retirement facilities.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Education===&lt;br /&gt;
Laeralian culture is known for adhering to the Moralist paradigm of valuing education as a means to improve one's socioeconomic position in society. Heavy investment and a cultural valuing of education has consistently brought the nation to the top of global education rankings; Laeral is one of the top-performing countries in standardized tests of reading literacy, mathematics and sciences. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LIUniversity.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Althea City University, a member of the National Open University system.]]&lt;br /&gt;
The Laeralian education system has been praised for various reasons, including its comparatively high test scores and its major role in promoting Laeral's economic development while creating one of the IDU’s most highly educated workforces, with 67.1% of Laeralites going on to attend university. K-12 education is generally administered by the provincial governments, although the federal Ministry of Education has general authority over curricula and may apply regulations to oversee school practices. Higher education, which lies within the purview of the national government, is divided between public universities and the prestigious and selective [[National Open University (Laeral)|National Open Universities]] (NOUs). The NOUs have been criticized for alleged elitism; they have produced a majority of Laeral's high-ranking civil servants, CEOs, and politicians. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Language===&lt;br /&gt;
Mandarin was historically the primary language of Laeral. Following the period of French colonization, the use of French acquired greater social status and was taught in schools. Under the [[Rose Revolution]], Mandarin and French achieved equal prominence in the education system. The majority of Laeralites are multilingual, and diplomats and civil servants often learn another language. English is widely taught in schools. Linguistic diversity is a major political focus in Laeral, with all government documents required to be in Chinese, French, and English. The Académie Linguistique is a government agency responsible for regulating the practice and expression of language in Laeral; notably, Laeral switched from the older Wade-Giles system of romanization to the modern pinyin system in the 1980s.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=== Religion ===&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:MinjianPalace.jpg|250px|thumb|right|The Minjian High Conclave in Miaoshi.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral is a religiously-diverse nation. Although [[Minjian]] is the majority religion, a substantial Christian (almost entirely Catholic) majority exists as well. Minjian is a dualistic religion of Laeralian origin; the Minjian High Conclave, the central organ of the faith, is located in the Laeralian city of Miaoshi, which is a pilgrimage site for devout Minjian from around the world. Roughly one-fifth of Laeralites identify as non-religious, while secularism is a governing principle of Laeral under the Laeralian constitution. &lt;br /&gt;
{| class=&amp;quot;wikitable&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
|+Religion in Laeral (2022)&lt;br /&gt;
!Religion&lt;br /&gt;
!Proportion&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Minjian]]&lt;br /&gt;
|50.7%&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Christian&lt;br /&gt;
|21.3%&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Non-Religious&lt;br /&gt;
|18.6%&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Other&lt;br /&gt;
|6.4%&lt;br /&gt;
|}&lt;br /&gt;
Laeralian customs and superstitions, largely originating from Laeral's [[Rén]] population, are also broadly adopted by Laeralites of all ethnic backgrounds, particularly around the Lunar New Year.  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Government==&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LiuMei-han.png|200px|thumb|right|[[Liu Mei-han]] has been the President of Laeral since 2018.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral has a federal system of government. Each province is headed by a Governor or First Minister, as well as a provincial legislature, to conduct self-governance. The head of state of Laeral is the [[President of Laeral]], who is currently [[Liu Mei-han]]. The President is elected by popular vote, with a runoff if no candidate attains a majority of the vote, and serves for four-year terms, renewable once. The President serves as Laeral's head of state and does not have a legislative veto, although the president can sign a bill into law bypassing the General Assembly if the bill has passed the Assembly of Commons by a supermajority. The President also names a Prime Minister and assist in government formation, and may dissolve the Assembly of Commons for snap elections.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The [[Prime Minister of Laeral|Prime Minister]] is required to be officially appointed by the President, yet must command the confidence of the Assembly of Commons. The current Prime Minister is [[Nicolas Martin]].&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:AssemblyofCommons.jpg|300px|thumb|left|The Assembly of Commons]]&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral has a bicameral legislature known as the [[National Assembly (Laeral)|National Assembly]], consisting of the Assembly of Commons and the General Assembly. The Assembly of Commons and General Assembly must vote with a majority in order to pass a bill on to the other Assembly. The bill needs a simple majority to pass, with the president breaking ties. Additionally, a bill passed by a 2/3 majority of the Assembly of Commons does not need to pass the General Assembly if the President chooses to sign the bill. The Commons, currently consisting of 386 Representatives, is elected nationwide by party-list proportional representation, with elections being called at maximum four years apart . Two Delegates from each province are elected to the General Assembly according to a staggered six-year schedule, using single-transferable vote.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral has historically had a multi-party system, with a left-wing &amp;quot;red bloc&amp;quot; consisting of the [[Progressive Party of Laeral|Progressives]] and Socialist Party competing for power with a &amp;quot;blue bloc&amp;quot; comprised of the [[Laeralian People's Party]] and [[Conservative Party (Laeral)|Conservatives]], although the rise of the [[New Democratic Alliance (Laeral)|New Democrats]] and their &amp;quot;yellow bloc&amp;quot; and the right-wing, Rén-nationalist [[Laeral Unbowed!]] party have altered this paradigm. Many smaller parties also contest elections, and often win representation in the Assembly of Commons. Governments are almost always formed via coalition. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral's judicial branch consists of a large network of local courts, a Provincial Court for each province, and a National High Court which tries criminal and civil cases appealed from lower courts, following a majority vote of its 7 Magistrates, including a Chief Magistrate. The [[Laeralian Constitutional Court]] is the highest court in Laeral, responsible for ensuring that the constitution is upheld, and capable of nullifying laws and impeaching politicians. Its twelve justices serve for 12-year terms. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral is a consolidated democracy and is ranked as a &amp;quot;full democracy&amp;quot; by the [[Howard Prince-Gonzalez Institution]], and among the most democratic nations in [[Hesperida]]. Freedom of the press, freedom of speech, and freedom of assembly are generally respected, while elections are considered free and fair. The judiciary is generally considered free and fair. Human rights observers have criticized that the death penalty remains legal in Laeral in cases of treason, rebellion, and sedition.  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Foreign Relations and Military==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral is an active member of the [[World Assembly]] and the [[League of IDU Nations]], and has among the most embassies and consulates of any IDU nation. Laeralian foreign policy, historically influenced by [[Gramontism]] and Laeralian nationalism, has traditionally focused on opposing imperialism and supporting ideologically-aligned partners abroad. This is exemplified through the [[Forward Operations Doctrine (Laeral)|Forward Operations Doctrine]], a series of operations undertaken prior to the [[Great War]], as well as through the role of the quasi-state [[International Republican Institute]] during the latter half of the 20th century. Laeralian foreign policy also traditionally focused on regional neighbors, as the nation has traditionally aspired to hegemony in southeastern Hesperida—leading to confrontations with regional rivals [[High Fells]] (during the early 20th century) and [[Haesan]] (during the late 20th century), often benefiting from the support of traditional regional allies [[Libertas Omnium Maximus]] and [[Slokais Islands]] during the latter half of the 20th century. Following the [[Great War]], Laeralian foreign policy has increasingly taken in events further afield, particularly in a newfound alignment itself in defense of the rules-based liberal democratic world order.  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral's military is the Laeralian Defense Forces. It consists of four branches: the Laeralian National Security Force (ground forces), the Laeralian Navy, the Laeralian Air Force, and the Gendarmerie. Laeral's [[Nuclear weapons in the International Democratic Union|nuclear weapons program]] is managed directly by the president's National Security Council, with warheads dispersed across the Navy and Air Force, which operate the ballistic missile submarines and heavy bombers responsible for nuclear strike delivery.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
During the early decades of the Laeralian state, the military was funded on a provincial level, leading to internal instability and poor military outcomes—demonstrated most acutely during the [[War of the Seven Provinces]] in 1875-77. Reforms during the waning days of the First Allied Provinces were insufficient to produce victory against a less populous foe during the [[First Fellsian War]], and military strengthening was a priority during the Republican Era, which saw Laeral avoid large-scale conflicts apart from the [[Brissac War]], as well as brief conventional clashes with Fellsian forces during the [[Accession of Lienne]]. The 1954 Laeralian Constitution, drafted in the wake of a failed military coup, saw the Laeralian military firmly subordinated to the civilian government and reconstituted as the Laeralian Defense Forces. Despite the reorganization of the military, which proved to be largely cosmetic, the Laeralian Defense Forces proved capable of performing well in high-intensity, kinetic combat during the [[Great War]], which saw Laeralian forces take part in operations alongside Coalition allies in Haesan, Slokais Islands, and Darya, alongside the Albarine Sea. Since the Great War, Laeralian military operations have largely been of a counter-insurgency nature in Lienne, High Fells, and Xueyan.  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Laeralian National Security Force, restructured from the Laeralian Army following the [[Bloody Summer]] coup attempt of 1952, totals around 180,000 combat personnel. During the [[Second Lauchenoirian Civil War]], LNSF forces saw direct combat in an extended operation in [[Lauchenoiria]], bolstering confidence in the LNSF's continued capacity to conduct rapid-response conventional warfare operations abroad. The elite [[Republican Guard (Laeral)|Republican Guard]] units are also grouped with the LNSF, which also includes special forces, cavalry, parachute, and marine units. Unlike the Navy and Air Force, which typically produce indigenous aircraft, ships, and submarines, the battle tanks and armored vehicles are largely manufactured based on foreign designs.   &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LiuWithNavy.jpg|300px|thumb|right|President Liu Mei-han has promoted a naval buildup during her administration.]]&lt;br /&gt;
The Laeralian Navy is Laeral's largest military branch be expenditure, given Laeral's large coastline and the country's role in the protection of free commerce and freedom of navigation since the turn of the century. During the [[Great War]], the navy saw more combat than any other branch. Laeral spearheaded the development of nuclear submarines in the late 1960s, and Laeralian attack and ballistic missile submarines have traditionally made up a substantial portion of the navy and number among the world's most effective submarine arms. Since the Great War, Laeral has operated at least one fixed-wing aircraft carrier near-continuously for force projection. The Navy also formerly operated the Littoral Assault Regiment of marines, which has been defunct since 1970.  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Laeralian Air Force includes roughly 600 operational aircraft and is responsible for supporting the operations of other branches of the military and protecting Laeralian airspace. In addition to carrier-based units, the air force also operates from airbases in Xueyan, continental and peninsular Laeral, and various bases abroad.  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Gendarmes, or military police, are responsible for protecting Laeralian government buildings and embassies abroad, supplementing ordinary Laeralian police forces, and conducting operations against domestic terror threats and criminal organizations.  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Economy==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral's economy is dynamic and export-based, constructed within the framework of a modern social-democratic capitalist economy. The Laeralian economy is dominated by the services sector, although agriculture is also a major portion of the Laeralian economy. In the services sector, Laeral is a world leader in film and television production, and Laeralian films have historically won acclaim at the [[IDU Film Festival]]. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Despite a high level of industrialization, future economic growth is threatened by rising structural unemployment and an aging population. Laeral's export-based economy has traditionally led to an emphasis on free-trade agreements with foreign nations, following economic liberalization under President Michel Baudry during the 1980s. Organized labor has historically been quite influential in the Laeralian economy since the Republican Era, as have worker cooperatives, and rates of unionization in Laeral, at roughly 45%, are quite high compared peer economies. This can be seen in the phenomenon of &amp;quot;workplace democracy&amp;quot;, in which under national law, all businesses of over 60 employees are required to include elected worker representation on the company board equal to 30% of seats, with few exceptions. The [[FLT-OIU]] is Laeral's dominant labor union federation, with roughly three-fourths of Laeral's unionized workers affiliated with an FLT-OIU union. The remaining quarter largely belongs to the communist-aligned [[Assemblée Syndicale de Toute la Laeral]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Agriculture===&lt;br /&gt;
''See [[Land use in Laeral]]'' &amp;lt;br /&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Agriculture is a major portion of the Laeralian economy, albeit employing only a small portion of the workforce. Rice, barley, and wheat are major staple crops, while cash crops in Laeral include sugar beet, tobacco, soybeans, cotton, tea, and specialty fruits and vegetables.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Culture==&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral is a generally secular, socially-liberal nation with a growing population. The education system is considered among the foremost in the IDU, featuring an extensive network of public universities, capped by the prestigious [[National Open University (Laeral)|National Open University]] system. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Elisabeth_Verene_Le_Bonnaire.jpg|300px|thumb|left|''Self-Portrait With Students'' by Élisabeth Vérène le Bonnaire.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral's film industry plays a significant role in the nation's culture and economy, with Jinhua province being a center of the industry. The 'Five Giants' are a quintet of film studios dominating the Laeralian film scene; Marion-Guichard Productions is known for favoring artsy fare, while Silver Harvest favors big-budget action movie reboots, spin-offs, and sequels. Laeralian television dramas, meanwhile, have become an important cultural export, and are aired in numerous markets abroad. Laeralian pop music, encompassing works from vintage crooners to modern stars such as Jane Tao, has also exhibited similar foreign appeal.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Laeralian literature, meanwhile, dates back to at least the year 1200, which is roughly the date of the oldest written work ever found in Laeral, a manual of farming practices. Famous Laeralian novels include ''The Cycle of Ascendancy'', a Laeralian patriotic tale; ''Drawn Curtains in the Silver Chamber'', the story of a noble family in decline; ''Letters of a Lady's Hand'', an intrigue/romance taking place around 1790; and ''The Chens of Hanshui'', a novel dealing with themes of race in the modern era. In fine art, the work of [[Élisabeth Vérène le Bonnaire]] is highly prized among artists of the colonial era, while Laeral has also historically been home to numerous influential artists, musicians, and playwrights. Modernist architect Maurice Ho and composed Germain Deschamps are among the most highly-esteemed Laeralian artists internationally. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
During the Colonial period, the noted Laeralian astronomer Alexandre-Galliot de Crussol produced one of the first catalogs of astronomical phenomena. During the First Allied Provinces period, scientific development lagged; during the Rose Revolution of the Republican period, the government aggressively sought to improve Laeralian scientific education. In the modern day, Laeral has become a regional center for scientific innovation, notably in the fields of medicine, psychology, and materials science.  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral is also a world leader in nuclear energy, producing reactors and material for export, and maintains a nuclear weapons program. One area of improvement for Laeralian scientific development is in the aerospace field; while Laeral was a player in the global [[Space Race]] of the 1960s and 70s, the Laeralian space agency ALORS (Agence Laeralien de Opérations et Recherche Spatiale) has had a contrained budget since. Laeralian expertise in programming and computing is widely-sought internationally, but Laeralian software engineers have had difficulties with expanding websites and apps to customers outside Laeral, partially due to linguistic barriers. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LaeralianWedding.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Interracial weddings have become increasingly accepted in Laeralian society.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Race remains a significant dividing line in Laeralian society, with the historical weight of imperialism and subsequent systemic racism weighing upon the nation. With linguistic, religious, and cultural differences between Rén and Arrivée Laeralites, racial tensions remain to this day. From the mid-20th century onward, immigration by ethnic Haemin and Andhrapuri migrants, alongside numerous other smaller groups, has led to greater cultural diversity while also at times leading to racist backlash. Interracial marriages have been fairly common throughout Laeralian history, leading to a large mixed-race population known as ''Metice''. For decades, government action has worked to reduce racial disparities; with the result of reducing disparities in average household income, although residential segregation stubbornly remains. The civil service and higher education systems are mandated to match the nation's demographics as a whole due to decades-old affirmative action programs. The work of Rén and other disadvantaged racial groups' social activists over the course of decades, most notably Hua Mingrui during the 1970s and 80s, has been crucial to this government action.  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral is highly ranked on measures of female workforce participation and in other measures of societal equity, and Laeralian feminist thinkers and activists have historically played a major role in the global feminist movement.  &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LaeralianGymnast.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Laeralian gymnast Rose Yaling won a gold medal at the 13th Olympic Games.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Handball, a traditional Laeralian sport, is the most popular team sport in Laeral, with stadiums and fields found in nearly every town or city. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Football is also popular; Laeral notably hosted the 2018 IDU Football Championship. Organized play is dominated by Ligue 1, which consists of the 20 best teams in Laeral. Play in that league is dominated by two dueling teams, Laeralsford AC and Ville Laeralsford, as well as teams such as Hanshui and Althea FC. There is also the Ligue Provincial, which is below Ligue 1 and consists of the teams relegated from that league, which make up the 24 second-tier football teams in Laeral. A third popular sports include basketball, which is played professionally through the [[Laeralian Basketball Association]]. Laeral has experienced success at recent Olympics, notably in speed-skating, fencing, gymnastics, figure skating, and basketball.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Infrastructure==&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral generally has highly developed infrastructure, although some rural areas do not have the same level of high-tech infrastructure as in urban areas. For example, 97% of Laeralites have internet access, practically every Laeralite has a phone connection, and the vast majority of Laeralian households have a television. The state-run radio and television broadcaster is RTL (Radio et Télévision Laéralien).&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The primary method of transportation is through Laeralian Railways, Laeral's state-run high-speed rail system. Laeral has over 29,000 kilometers of track in total, although not all of this is high-speed. International airports exist in numerous large cities. Laeral also has eight deepwater seaports, which manage much of Laeral's import-export trade. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:HighSpeedRail.jpg|300px|thumb|right|A Laeralian Railways high-speed train in Rilos.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral generates roughly 278 million KwH (Kilowatt-hours) of electricity per year, mostly for domestic consumption, although a small fraction of this is exported. Nuclear power generates close to 30% of Laeral's electricity, although the system is gradually being phased out as part of a transition to renewables. Fossil fuels continue to make up around 40% of Laeral's electricity mix; natural gas is extracted in the Xueyan Special Administrative Region while substantial oil deposits exist in the peninsular provinces and the Xianhai Gulf. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Countries]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category: Laeral]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Laeral</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Laeral&amp;diff=45395</id>
		<title>Laeral</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Laeral&amp;diff=45395"/>
		<updated>2026-05-16T01:35:57Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Laeral: /* Economy */&lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;div&gt;{{Infobox country&lt;br /&gt;
| native_name            = 絲綢國 (Sīchóuguó)&lt;br /&gt;
| conventional_long_name = Allied Provinces of Laeral&lt;br /&gt;
| common_name            = Laeral&lt;br /&gt;
| image_flag             = LaeralFlag.jpg&lt;br /&gt;
| alt_flag               = Flag of Laeral&lt;br /&gt;
| image_coat             = LaeralSealBronze.png&lt;br /&gt;
| alt_coat               = Laeralian Seal&lt;br /&gt;
| symbol_type            = Seal&lt;br /&gt;
| national_motto         = 通過智慧，平等和榮譽而繁榮&lt;br /&gt;
| national_anthem        = [[The Laeralite's Song]]&lt;br /&gt;
| royal_anthem           = &amp;lt;!--''[[name of/link to anthem]]''--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| other_symbol_type      = &amp;lt;!--Another symbol, e.g. Hymn--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| other_symbol           = &amp;lt;!--another symbol text--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| image_map              = LaeralinHespia.png&lt;br /&gt;
| alt_map                = Laeral&lt;br /&gt;
| map_caption            = Laeral (in light blue) in the Eastern portion of Hesperida, in the IDU&lt;br /&gt;
| image_map2             = &amp;lt;!--Another map, if required--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| alt_map2               = &amp;lt;!--alt text for second map--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| map_caption2           = &amp;lt;!--Caption to place below second map--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| capital                = [[Laeralsford]]&lt;br /&gt;
| largest_city           = Laeralsford&lt;br /&gt;
| official_languages     = French, Mandarin Chinese&lt;br /&gt;
| national_languages     = English&lt;br /&gt;
| regional_languages     = &amp;lt;!--Regional Languages--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| languages_type         = &amp;lt;!--Other type of languages --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| languages              = &amp;lt;!--Other languages list--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| ethnic_groups          = 34% Metice (Mixed-Race)&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;29% Rén&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;25% [[Arrivée]]&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;12% Other (Haemin, Desi, etc)&lt;br /&gt;
| ethnic_groups_year     = 2010&lt;br /&gt;
| demonym                = Laeralite&lt;br /&gt;
| government_type        = Federal Semi-presidential Republic&lt;br /&gt;
| leader_title1          = President&lt;br /&gt;
| leader_name1           = [[Liu Mei-han]]&lt;br /&gt;
| leader_title2          = Prime Minister&lt;br /&gt;
| leader_name2           = [[Nicolas Martin]]&lt;br /&gt;
| leader_title3          = &amp;lt;!--Leader 3--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| leader_name3           = &amp;lt;!--Leader3--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| leader_title4          = &amp;lt;!--Leader 4--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| leader_name4           = &amp;lt;!--Leader4--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| sovereignty_type       = &lt;br /&gt;
| sovereignty_note       = &lt;br /&gt;
| established_event1     = First Allied Provinces of Laeral&lt;br /&gt;
| established_date1      = 1858&lt;br /&gt;
| established_event2     = Republic of Laeral&lt;br /&gt;
| established_date2      = 1922&lt;br /&gt;
| established_event3     = Second Allied Provinces of Laeral&lt;br /&gt;
| established_date3      = 1954&lt;br /&gt;
| area_rank              = &lt;br /&gt;
| area_magnitude         = &lt;br /&gt;
| area                   = &lt;br /&gt;
| area_km2               = 490,499&lt;br /&gt;
| area_sq_mi             = 304,782&lt;br /&gt;
| area_footnote          = &amp;lt;!-- optional footnote for area --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| percent_water          = &lt;br /&gt;
| area_label             = Total&lt;br /&gt;
| area_label2            = &amp;lt;!-- label below area_label (optional) --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| area_dabodyalign       = &amp;lt;!-- text after area_label2 (optional) --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| population_estimate    = 89,200,000&lt;br /&gt;
| population_estimate_rank = &lt;br /&gt;
| population_estimate_year = 2023&lt;br /&gt;
| population_census      = 87,446,385&lt;br /&gt;
| population_census_year = 2021&lt;br /&gt;
| population_density_km2 = 161.5&lt;br /&gt;
| population_density_sq_mi = 259.6&lt;br /&gt;
| population_density_rank = &lt;br /&gt;
| GDP_PPP                = &lt;br /&gt;
| GDP_PPP_rank           = &lt;br /&gt;
| GDP_PPP_year           = &lt;br /&gt;
| GDP_PPP_per_capita     = &lt;br /&gt;
| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = &lt;br /&gt;
| GDP_nominal            = NSD1,850,000,000,000&lt;br /&gt;
| GDP_nominal_rank       = &lt;br /&gt;
| GDP_nominal_year       = &lt;br /&gt;
| GDP_nominal_per_capita = &lt;br /&gt;
| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = &lt;br /&gt;
| Gini                   = 34.80&lt;br /&gt;
| Gini_rank              = &lt;br /&gt;
| Gini_year              = &lt;br /&gt;
| Gini_category          = &lt;br /&gt;
| HDI                    = 0.895&lt;br /&gt;
| HDI_rank               = &lt;br /&gt;
| HDI_year               = 2016&lt;br /&gt;
| HDI_category           = &lt;br /&gt;
| currency               = Laeralian Mark&lt;br /&gt;
| currency_code          = LRM&lt;br /&gt;
| time_zone              = GT +2&lt;br /&gt;
| utc_offset             = &lt;br /&gt;
| time_zone_DST          = &lt;br /&gt;
| antipodes              = &amp;lt;!-- countries or islands antipodal to this one --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| date_format            = mm-dd-yyyy&lt;br /&gt;
| DST_note               = &lt;br /&gt;
| utc_offset_DST         = &amp;lt;!-- +N, where N is number of hours--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| drives_on              = right&lt;br /&gt;
| cctld                  = .lr&lt;br /&gt;
| iso3166code            = &amp;lt;!-- optional to override the default determined using the&lt;br /&gt;
                               ''common_name'' parameter; set to ''omit'' to omit. --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| calling_code           = +118&lt;br /&gt;
| image_map3             = &lt;br /&gt;
| alt_map3               = &lt;br /&gt;
| footnotes              = &amp;lt;!--for any generic non-numbered footnotes--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| footnote1              = &lt;br /&gt;
| footnote2              = &lt;br /&gt;
| footnote3              = &lt;br /&gt;
}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The '''Allied Provinces of Laeral''', commonly called '''Laeral''', is a federal semi-presidential democracy in the continent of [[Hesperida]] on [[Earth (IDU)|Earth]] in the [[International Democratic Union]]. It is bordered by [[High Fells]] to the north, by [[Libertas Omnium Maximus]] to the south, and by [[Haesan]], [[Lao Sansong]], and the [[Albarine Sea]] to the east. Laeral covers 1.71 million square kilometers in area, and is subdivided into [[Provinces of Laeral|33 provinces]], with a total population of nearly 100 million. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Human civilization in Laeral dates back over three millennia to the establishment of the [[Danxing Empire]] around 1200 BCE, followed by successive dynastic empires. [[Minjian]] originated in Laeral in the 3rd century CE, and through conflict and peaceful conversion became the dominant religion in Laeral. The Tian Dynasty, established in 641 CE, was the first kingdom to unify much of modern-day Laeralian core territory, and was a significant sponsor of exploration and the arts, noted as well for its use of gunpowder and paper to create a powerful and stable society. Relative instability and technological stagnation during the succeeding Jiang Dynasty and the Falling Leaves Period of rule by the Gao Empire ended with the 1528 conquest by Sun Liang, at the head of the Sun Dynasty. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 1703, the arrival of French settlers led to conflict with the crumbling Sun Dynasty, which was ultimately toppled by the army of the Duke d'Tesse in 1723, who unified modern eastern Laeral and southern High Fells into a single kingdom of Felle-Haute. Ducal rule continued until the [[Laeralian War of Independence]] from 1848 to 1855, which established an independent government, the Allied Provinces of Laeral, consisting of a weak confederation of independent provinces. This confederation had become more centralized under the authoritarian rule of [[Vespasien Jamet]] (known as the &amp;quot;Vespasienate&amp;quot;) from 1880 to 1909, when longstanding racial unrest and the [[First Fellsian War]] resulted in authoritarian socialist modernizer [[René Gramont]] coming to power in the [[Laeralian Revolution]] in 1922. The subsequent [[Republican Era|Republic of Laeral]] saw substantial progress towards racial equality, the empowerment of women, and improvement of living standards, as well as the emergence of [[Gramontism]] as a prominent ideology internationally. Following a coup attempt in 1952 known as the [[Bloody Summer]], liberalizers in Gramont's [[Social Democratic Party (Laeral)|Social Democratic Party]] oversaw a transition to democratic rule as the renewed Allied Provinces of Laeral in 1954. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Initial prosperity and development during the early years of the Allied Provinces coexisted with intense political conflict, culminating in the [[Emergency Period]] of martial law in 1964 during the [[Great War]]. In that conflict, Laeral was a leading military and industrial power of the [[Coalition of Democratic Forces]], facing invasion from the fascist regimes of [[Darya]] and [[Slokais Islands]]. In the 1970s and 80s, Laeral underwent economic liberalization as the state-led economy of the Republican Era was gradually dismantled in favor of an export-oriented manufacturing economy, as well as increased racial strife as the [[Juexing Movement]] agitated for greater economic and social equality for Laeral's [[Rén]] and [[Metice]] ethnic majority. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In the 21st century, Laeral has transitioned into a service-based high-income economy, as well as coming to further international prominence as a leader among the democratic bloc and in international development via the [[Global Development Investment Bank]]. Its economy is largely service-based, but Laeral is also a major [[Land use in Laeral|agricultural producer]], as well as exporting oil and some manufactured goods. Laeral is also a prominent destination for international tourism and higher education, and a popular exporter of film and television. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Etymology==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral is pronounced Lay-ruhl, and likely comes from the Old Laeralian word laer, likely meaning 'silk'. It is combined with the suffix 'al', meaning 'land of' or 'territory of'. An alternate etymology posits that the term comes from &amp;quot;lehwal&amp;quot;, or 'river-dweller'. The term is first recorded in the 1500s. The former etymology is used for Laeral's name in Chinese, 絲綢之鄉, meaning 'silk country'.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The standard way to refer to a citizen of Laeral is as a &amp;quot;Laeralite.&amp;quot; The term 'Laeralian' is archaic and now rarely used. Two terms often used to refer to people in Laeral are [[Rén]] and '[[Arrivée]]'. These are racial terms used in Laeral. The former refers to the native Laeralites. The latter refers to those descended from the French and other white settlers who arrived from the Colonial Period onward. A person of mixed Rén and Arrivée descent is referred to as &amp;quot;Metice&amp;quot;. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==History==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Ancient Laeral (Pre-1000 CE)===&lt;br /&gt;
Humans likely arrived in modern-day Laeral in the paleolithic period, as evidence has been found of cave dwellings with artifacts dating back to that time. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral was inhabited by scattered nomadic tribes of Rén descent until around the 7th century BCE, when the first permanent agricultural settlements were developed. Cultivated grains have been found dating to that time. Around 1200 BCE, settlers from the [[Danxing Empire]] arrived in Laeral, conquering and intermarrying with the local population and founding Laeral's first cities. These coastal cities were the places where writing and toolmaking first developed, and are the birthplaces of Laeralian civilization. It was around the year 400 BCE when Laeral was first unified, under the Nan Dynasty, which in fact only controlled the coastal areas of Laeral. They were succeeded by the Lu dynasty around 100 BCE. They were followed by several other dynasties, including the Liu Dynasty (100 BCE-300 CE), which was known for its artistic ability, the Jin Dynasty (300 CE-500 CE), known for its relative stability and promotion of culture, the Bei Dynasty (500-640 CE), which was unstable and chaotic, and the Tian Dynasty (640-1000 CE). &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Minjian]], a religion originating in modern-day Peichen around 260 CE, was adopted as the national faith in 370, under the Jin Dynasty. In the early centuries of the religion, religious conflicts were common, notably in the [[War of the Three Lanterns]], a religious conflict between followers of opposing Minjian sects around 575 CE. Notably, the Bei Dynasty fell due to the chaos caused by the Tang Uprising of 635 CE, when the peasant leader Tang Guohui declared himself to be a Minjian Luminary and led an uprising against the Bei Emperor. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Examination.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Bureaucrats of the Tian Dynasty at the imperial palace of Guangzhihua.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Gunpowder and paper were both discovered around the same time in the 10th century CE, ushering in a new era in both warfare and culture. The stable and prosperous Tian Dynasty ruled the nation. At this time, the city of Guangzihua, considered the birthplace of technology in Laeral, became a center of learning and knowledge, and home of many wonders such as the Great Library of Guangzihua. Arts and culture were sponsored by the ruling Bei dynasty. Around 980, the city of Guangzihua was devastated by a fire and never rebuilt, capping off a long period of Tian decline; the dynasty itself fell soon after in 1003. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Falling Leaves Period and the Sun Dynasty===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
During the Falling Leaves period beginning around 1003, the chaos of the fall of the Tian Dynasty led to city-states being forced to expand and take over weaker rivals. Many warlords created pocket empires during this time, only to see them fall apart within years. At this time, both gunpowder weapons and bladed weapons proliferated, resulting in a land in chaos as warlords and their followers battled for territory. Warriors wandered the countryside, looking for plunder and a lord to serve under. In the late 13th century, one warlord, the famous Jiang Hui, united Laeral through military might, diplomatic skill, and strategic marriages. The epic saga of his dynasty, the Jiang Dynasty, is told in the classic Laeralian work of literature, ''The Cycle of Ascendancy''. Those kings had many wars with the Gao Empire, in modern-day High Fells, who had become similarly unified around the same time. However, the Jiang Dynasty fell apart sometime around 1430, when Emperor Xiaowen's incompetent leadership and backstabbing advisors led to a disastrous war with the Gao Empire, a militaristic kingdom ruling over modern-day High Fells. Another work of Laeralian classic literature, ''The Years of Woe'', tells of loyal Jiang Dynasty military commander Han Guiying's attempt to resist the Gao invasion and defend Laeralian sovereignty. However, while he was able to repel the invaders successfully, Laeral enjoyed only a decade or so of freedom, as the Gao underwent a period of political turmoil, which eventually resulted in a new Gao dynasty establishing itself and taking over Laeral.&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:HanGuiying.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Han Guiying]]&lt;br /&gt;
At one point, all of Laeral was under the control of the Gao, imposing unpopular cultural policies, such as mandating the celebration of Gao festivals and Gao clothing, while the city of Anjian, the Jiang capital, was razed. This period of time, known is Laeral as the 'Time of Sacrifice' still impacts the Laeralian national consciousness today. The leader of the resistance to Gao rule was [[Sun Liang]], a former warlord who assembled a group of secret societies to oppose the Gao occupation.&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Shei Wu's Forces.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Sun Liang's forces charge into battle against the Gao.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral ultimately threw off Gao rule in 1528 and enjoyed freedom for several centuries. Sun Liang established himself as an Emperor, and created the imperial capital at Lanxiu, in modern day Neidong. He and his descendants embarked upon a series of reforms, ultimately establishing a powerful central government, a bureaucracy, and allowing many innovations to spread quickly throughout Laeral. The Sun Dynasty cracked down on the power of warlords, and brought stability to Laeral. This time is often thought of as the 'golden age' of Laeral, when Laeral's internal organization, stability, and technological advancement were far ahead of those of its neighbors. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Colonial Era===&lt;br /&gt;
In 1689, [[Opthelia|Opthelian]] ships arrived in the Xianhai Gulf, establishing trading post where they traded muskets, beads, and advanced equipment such as spyglasses for textiles, beads, and pottery. This marked Laeral's first contact with non-Hesperidans. In 1700, the French explorer Gabriel Nicolas de Albarine (second son of the Comte de Albarine, who later settled in Laeral) led an expedition which mapped the coast of Laeral; the [[Albarine Sea]] is today named for him. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
As a modern nation, Laeral was founded in 1703 as the French personal colony of the Duc d'Tesse, who arrived that year with a small fleet of warships to settle the coastal region near modern-day Corday province. The French colony soon came into conflict with the local population; many died in the ensuing conflict, and many abuses and massacres were committed. This was a time of great change in Laeral, as ruling elements of Laeralian society were violently forced into submission before foreign conquerors. The Duc d'Tesse set himself up as Duc Jean-Baptiste I and ruled the land as the Duchy of Felle-Haute.&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:FrenchConquest.jpg|300px|thumb|right|A battle between French and Pei Dynasty forces.]]&lt;br /&gt;
After razing the imperial capital, he ordered the creation of the city of [[Laeralsford]] to serve as the new capital, as well as establishing four immense palaces around the country, each of which his court would spend one season a year at. These remain major historical sites, although the construction of these palaces was accomplished by forced labor and crippling taxation. He introduced European technology, but also treated the natives poorly, instituting forced agricultural labor, the hated ''corvée'', and high tithes. Following Duke Jean-Baptiste's assassination in 1732, his successors ruled as Dukes until the Laeralian War of Independence. Their reign was characterized by a tiny minority presiding over the subjugation of the Laeralian people and the theft of Laeralian heritage; the establishment of a fairly rigid racial hierarchy meant that Rén had little hope of advancement in society and were treated as second-class citizens. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Laeralian War of Independence===&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LaeralianWarofIndependence.png|300px|thumb|right|A battle during the [[Laeralian War of Independence]].]]&lt;br /&gt;
The ascension of Duchess Louise, a hard-line conservative, in 1836 prompted tremendous discontent among [[Rén]] and the middle-class for her rigid monarchism, traditionalism, and her anti-Enlightenment views. The years of her reign were characterized by harsh repression: the 1841 Vanoît Massacre, the 1843 An Heng Rebellion, and 1844's Blue Cockade Uprising were all brutally suppressed. As Duchesse Louise became gravely ill in 1848, a Provisional Assembly of liberal revolutionaries convened in Althea to plan an uprising, with G.E. Lematre chosen as leader of the new Free Laeralian Army. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The [[Laeralian War of Independence]] began with mass uprisings on March 4th, 1849. With the support of the [[Zhao kingdom]], the rebels triumphing after a protracted struggle in 1855, establishing Laeral as an independent nation.&lt;br /&gt;
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===First Allied Provinces of Laeral===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral was founded in 1855 as a sovereign nation practically cutting High Fells off from the ocean, leaving High Fells with a grudge against Laeral and a continued period of absolute monarchy. Laeral's capital was established at Althea.&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LaeralianPeasants.jpg|250px|thumb|left|This 1870 print of a wealthy urban woman visiting rural Arrivée peasants demonstrates the class divides present during the early years of the Allied Provinces.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral's first major test came during the Outbreak of 1861, as cholera spread throughout Laeral. Although thousands died, the new nation largely avoided chaos through the government's skillful handling of the crisis. Georges Lematre also implemented nationwide paper currency in 1865. Prior to this, individual provinces issued their own currency. In 1866, Georges Lematre's term came to an end and he peacefully stepped down in favor of Jean-Paul Gauvain, the third Prime Minister. Famine in 1872, which led to many farmers moving to Laeralian cities in search of jobs and food. Although the government tried to reduce the problem, starvation was a constant problem in Laeral for decades. In 1881, the Bank of Laeral was established in order to unify the production of paper money, which had been established on a nationwide basis in 1865. The new government's efforts were often hamstrung by the weak nature of the federal government, however, and efforts to repeal the racist policies of the royalist era, such as the ''corvée'', were largely unsuccessful.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 1875, Laeralian settlers who had migrated southward from the province of Bethune came into conflict with settlers from [[Libertas Omnium Maximus]]. After Bethune provincial militia fired upon the Maximusian settlers, the [[War of the Seven Provinces]] broke out. As Laeral possessed only a limited national military at the time, and many of Laeral's wealthier northern provinces opposed the war, only the forces of seven provinces ended up declaring war on the Maximusians. Laeralian forces were defeated, and the areas comprising modern Lematre and Brissac provinces were ceded to Libertas Omnium Maximus in the 1877 Treaty of Legrange.&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LaeralianCannon.jpg|250px|thumb|right|A major portion of the New Laeral Movement involved developing Laeral's military strength.]]&lt;br /&gt;
From 1880 to 1909, the Laeralian government was dominated by strongman [[Vespasien Jamet]], who served as prime minister nearly continuously for almost three decades. During this period, referred to as the ''Vespasienate'', Prime Minister Jamet oversaw the centralization of the Laeralian state as well as westward expansion at the expense of the various Rén kingdoms to the Laeralian nation's western borders. Notable achievements of Prime Minister Jamet included the expansion of central government taxation, the creation of a larger standing army, the relocation of the capital from [[Althea]] to [[Laeralsford]] in 1894, and the defeat of the Zhao kingdom in 1885 during the [[Laeral-Zhao War]] and the annexation of its territory, the largest single land acquisition in Laeralian history. The Vespasienate was also characterized by immense corruption at the hands of Jamet and government insiders, largely from the plantation-owner class: for instance, the audacious New Laeral Movement, a ten-year program intended to modernize Laeral's industries, was generally a failure due to endemic corruption. The press and public protests faced heavy-handed censorship during the Vespasienate, prompting Jamet's opponents to brand him &amp;quot;Emperor Vespasien I.&amp;quot; Following the acquisition of Zhao land, Jamet oversaw the [[Land use in Laeral|Land Tenure Act of 1888]], which paved the way for the expropriation of land in five [[Riverlands]] provinces from its Rén inhabitants, who were subsequently confined to small territorial reserves, while the most productive agricultural land was distributed to Arrivée settlers via lottery. This land seizure paved the way for continuation of the racial wealth gap in Laeral, as well as the [[First Great Migration]], which saw Rén people from overcrowded and impoverished reserve territories relocate to Riverlands cities, fostering cultural diffusion. &lt;br /&gt;
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In 1903, Laeral also participated in the [[Golden Flag Rebellion]], sending a large force of soldiers under General Albert de Saivigné to defend Laeralian commercial interests in northern [[Caxcana]]. This marked Laeral's first major foreign conflict, and was met with protests by Rén who sympathized with the Golden Flag cause. The conflict became a primary source of political division in Laeralian society; many intellectuals and the majority of Rén opposed the government's decision to intervene, and the ensuing occupation. &lt;br /&gt;
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In 1911, [[High Fells]] declared war on Laeral over territorial disputes as Vespasien Jamet's successor Augustin Brienne struggled to consolidate the nation. While High Fellsian forces had been hoping for a quick victory, advancements in weapons technology meant that battle lines stagnated into trench warfare. Heavy fighting took place in the mountains of southern High Fells; inadequate winter supplies meant that many soldiers on both sides froze to death. This war, known in Laeral as the [[First Fellsian War]] or ''la catastrophe'', ended after five years in bloody stalemate, with nearly one million dying on the Laeralian side. Notably, airplanes, artillery, machine guns, and poison gas all saw use in the conflict. This war contributed to the unpopularity of the Laeralian government at the time, notably due to the army's use of forced conscription.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Republican Era===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Following the chaos of the First Fellsian War, many were dissatisfied with the current structure of government. Many of the reforms expressed in the Progressive Movement had not been met. Women were still denied the right to vote, the central government was weak, and labor conditions were appalling. Many lived in abject poverty. Ultimately, unionists, left-wing activists, and dissatisfied veterans staged a revolt, known as the [[Laeralian Revolution]]. It began in 1919, and led to the rise of several progressive leaders, including [[Réne Gramont]], [[Jean-Philippe Salaun]], and [[Sun Jia-wei]], known as the Committee for Democracy and Progress, and later the Social Democratic party. Their revolution was supported by a majority of the populace, and ultimately succeeded following several years of fighting. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:SalaunAtUniversity.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Jean-Philippe Salaun and supporters of the ''Committee for Democracy and Progress'' at the drafting of the Republic's Constitution.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Leaders of the revolt assembled in Gaolan, Neidong, to write a new Constitution. While Laeral had been governed as a relatively loose confederation under the Binding Charter, they were determined to reshape Laeralian government. Their work, the Laeralian Constitution, established the new '''Republic of Laeral'''. This Republic would have a stronger central government. Suffrage was expanded to all men and women over 22. The National Assembly, or the national legislature, would use both proportional representation and regional constituencies, rather than the previous first past the post system. The leader of the Assembly of Commons would become the Prime Minister, while there would also be a directly elected President. In 1922, Réne Gramont declared the establishment of the Republic of Laeral.&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Réne_Gramont.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Réne Gramont, leader of the [[Gang of Five]] and first President of the Republic of Laeral]]&lt;br /&gt;
During the [[Republican Era]], Laeral was dominated by the so-called [[Gang of Five]], a group of Social Democratic leaders who promoted republicanism, reformism, socialism, secularism, and anti-imperialism through their modernization programs. While somewhat free and fair elections were held, the Social Democrats kept their hold on power through vote-buying and other dubious practices. The Gang of Five's wide-ranging battery of reforms, known as the [[Rose Revolution]] for the symbol of the ruling Social Democrats, had significant impacts across all areas of Laeralian society. The period also saw the first large-scale immigration to Laeral following the country's independence; this &amp;quot;Second Wave&amp;quot; of immigration consisted primarily of immigrants from the [[Dual Monarchy of Vertansk and Solavan]], with Solavanian expatriate communities arising in many port cities and Vertanskan immigrants migrating to state-backed agricultural settlements, particularly in the [[Xueyan Special Administrative Region|Northeastern Frontier]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 1925, a popular revolt by people of Laeralian descent in the Brissac region, controlled by [[Libertas Omnium Maximus]] since the [[War of the Seven Provinces]] from 1875-1877, led to Laeral declaring war on [[Libertas Omnium Maximus]]. Due to superior Laeralian leadership under President [[Réne Gramont]] and widespread public support for the conflict, the Laeralites triumphed, with the 1927 Treaty of Galline granting modern Lematre and Brissac provinces to Laeral. The unity created within Laeral by the war, and the Laeralian victory, contributed greatly to the stability of the Republic of Laeral and the popularity of Gramont. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:SoldiersinLienne.jpg|300px|thumb|left|Laeralian Army soldiers in Lienne during the province's Accession.]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Following the Brissac War, the Social Democrats were free to concentrate fully on the [[Rose Revolution]], their ambitious program to reform Laeral along the lines of their 'Five Pillars': Republicanism, Reformism, Socialism, Secularism, and Anti-Imperialism. [[Réne Gramont]], a hero of the [[First Fellsian War]] who served as President from 1922-1932, established a republic with universal suffrage regardless of gender, race, or class, while simultaneously ensuring that his own Social Democratic party would be the dominant force in Laeralian politics. &lt;br /&gt;
During his ten years in office, Gramont promoted racial and gender equality, removing many of the most hated racial laws of the Allied Provinces era. Gramont also worked towards development and industrialization, promoting western-style higher education and industrialization of the nation. Gramont was succeeded in office by [[Jean-Philippe Salaun]], who served two terms from 1932-1942, and added further secularist reforms to the Rose Revolution's reforms. Presidents [[Zhou Wei-lin]] (1942-1947) and [[Sun Jia-wei]] (1947-1954) continued the Rose Revolution's programs, in particular continuing to promote racial equality and socialist principles.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 1947, the marquisate of Lienne, a state which had broken away from Park Yeong-gi's dictatorial regime in High Fells and become independent, petitioned for annexation by the Republic of Laeral in a bid for security from the Fellsian regime. In the [[Accession of Lienne]], also known as the Second Fellsian War, Laeralian forces clashed with Fellsian-backed Gao militias in the province over nine months of outright warfare and around a decade of ensuing guerrilla warfare. Although the Park regime continued to claim Lienne until its overthrow, Lienne was functionally under Laeralian control, and became a full province in 1954.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Second Allied Provinces of Laeral===&lt;br /&gt;
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[[File:Alain_Mette.jpg|250px|thumb|right|General [[Alain Mette]] led coup-aligned forces during the [[Bloody Summer]] in 1952]]&lt;br /&gt;
During the later years of the [[Republican Era]], the Rose Revolution project faced division between reform-minded, pro-democracy members of the Social Democratic elite, such as [[Zhou Wei-lin]], and the &amp;quot;vermilion&amp;quot; faction led by [[Hong Kuo-shu]] which favored continued autocratic rule. In May 1952, reformist president [[Sun Jia-wei]]'s re-nomination as the Social Democratic candidate for president at the [[Social Democratic Party (Laeral)|Seventh Social Democratic Party Congress]] empowered the reformist faction to seek the removal of [[Hong Kuo-shu]] as Party Secretary, leading to violence when Hong's supporters in the Laeralian military, led by General Alain Mette, attempted a coup against President Sun. The coup was defeated in August of that year with the capture and widely-publicized treason trial of Party Secretary Hong; Mette himself was killed in a plane crash while seeking to flee the country.  &lt;br /&gt;
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Following the coup attempt, remembered as the [[Bloody Summer]], the reformist &amp;quot;scarlet&amp;quot; faction was empowered to achieve a transition to full democracy, reforming the Laeralian Army into the Laeralian National Security Force and inviting both Social Democrats and opposition members to draft a new constitution in 1954, which established Laeralian government as it is today—the Second Allied Provinces of Laeral, so named as to distinguish it from the first. François Guiraud, a member of the opposition [[Laeralian National Congress]] party, was elected as the Second Allied Provinces' first President in 1954's free elections, while [[Sun Jia-wei]] soon became Prime Minister, remaining at the head of the Social Democratic party.  &lt;br /&gt;
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Political competition was intense during the early years of the Second Allied Provinces, conducted amongst a backdrop of economic and political liberalization. The &amp;quot;Decade of High Spirits&amp;quot; of the 1950s, including the &amp;quot;Riverlands Renaissance&amp;quot; and a boom in the Laeralian film industry, was fondly remembered also for its economic growth, including the Green Revolution spurring growth in agriculture and a boom in consumer industry. The &amp;quot;Decade of High Spirits&amp;quot; was brought to a swift close with the [[Great War]], which Laeral joined in 1961 as a leader of the Allied Coalition. Amidst mass mobilization, aerial bombing raids, and bloody amphibious and naval battles off the shores of Hesperida and Caxcana, the nation had its closest brush with dictatorship when President [[Réne Gramont|René Gramont]] declared a [[Emergency Period|state of national emergency]] in 1964 following a Daryan attempt on the life of Defense Minister Julien Cheng and leading military officers. Gramont would rule by decree for months, suspending the National Assembly and detaining political opponents without trial, yet was ultimately brought low by a fatal heart attack later that year. Following the resumption of constitutional order, Laeral would continue to prosecute the Great War to its victorious conclusion. &lt;br /&gt;
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In the early 1980s, a growing social and artistic movement known as the Juexing (Awakening) Movement, rejected the notion that Laeral's racial issues had been resolved during the Republican period, and agitated for further measures towards racial equality. Supporting the pride and self-betterment of Laeralian Rén, the Juexing Movement eventually succeeded in creating government measures to promote racial equality, notably the system of government quotas for racial minorities. Immigration to Laeral also increased throughout the 1970s and 80s, including large-scale immigration from [[Andhrapur]], creating Desi communities within many urban areas. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:ThirdFellsianWar.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Laeralian soldiers patrolling the border with High Fells during the Third Fellsian War.]]&lt;br /&gt;
In 1983, an undeclared &amp;quot;Third Fellsian War&amp;quot; between Laeral and High Fells began, in which both sides launched raids and bombings across their border, particular in Laeral's disputed Lienne province. Terrorist bombings in Lienne became a fixture on the Laeralian nightly news, but &lt;br /&gt;
the conflict was brought to a close after High Fellsian dictator Alger Hansen was overthrown in the June Revolution.&lt;br /&gt;
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In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Laeral's economy entered a protracted period of growth under a series of right-wing governments which had come to power capitalizing on sluggish growth and a backlash towards the Juexing Movement. A new export-based economic model, centered on exports of electronic equipment and textiles, produced economic prosperity which was well-distributed among the population. The government repaid its debts in full due to massive GDP growth, which reached at its height 12% annually. Economic growth continued until the late 1990s, while the government chose to invest the increased tax revenues into a new national education system, as well as a large fund for future shortfalls. &lt;br /&gt;
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However, the end of the economic boom in the late 1990s led to agitation and societal discontent, particularly as manufacturing entered a decline and inflation combined with stagnant economic growth and rising unemployment. The ensuing People Power protests of 1994-1995 led to constitutional reforms, including a reduction in the powers of the General Assembly. A left-leaning government took power in the early 2000s, enacting social reforms including legalizing same-sex civil unions in 2005. Around this time, a civil war erupted along religious lines in neighboring [[High Fells]], leading the Laeralian government to deploy soldiers, known as the Laeralian Peacekeeping Force (LPKF), to prop up the central government in 2001 and prevent the spillover of fighting and drug trafficking into Laeral. Following the signing of the Jindong Agreement in 2004, Laeralian troops began to withdraw in a slow process lasting until 2008, when the final Laeralian troops departed. &lt;br /&gt;
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The nation was shaken by the impeachment of President Maurice Fesnau in 2006 following the investigation of a far-reaching corruption scandal, which resulted in the trial and imprisonment of several Socialist Party politicians. President Ganard, of the [[Laeralian People's Party]], took power after a 2006 special election, only to preside over an economic recession in 2007, which damaged the national economy and brought the Progressives, under President [[Nicholas Brennan]] into power. Laeral acceded to the [[World Assembly]] in 2016 following extensive legal reforms meant to bring the nation into line with WA standards. Laeral's growing involvement in foreign conflicts grew, as Brennan authorized the deployment of troops to aid pro-democracy forces in the [[Second Lauchenoirian Civil War]], while his successor [[Liu Mei-han]] brokered the [[Jinyu Peace Agreement]] in 2021 to negotiate an end to the [[Xiomeran Civil War]].&lt;br /&gt;
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==Geography==&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LaeralProvincesNamed.jpg|200px|thumb|right|A map of the 33 provinces of Laeral.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral is divided into [[Provinces of Laeral|33 provinces]] and two Special Administrative Regions, which are self-governing and share authority with the federal government. &lt;br /&gt;
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The primary river in Laeral is the Zhongshui, which runs west to east through central Laeral and cities such as [[Hanshui]], [[Laeralsford]], and Auvergne. It forms the core of the Riverlands region. Tributaries of the Zhongshui include the Beuvron River, flowing northward through Jinyu, and the Gaoming River, flowing southward through Songshan and Lushui to merge with the Zhongshui River near Hanshui. The Guilin River, meanwhile, sets continental Laeral's southwestern border. The Vierge River (flowing into the Beuvron) and the Espoir River (flowing inland from the Albarine Sea) are other tributaries which have also aided river commerce for centuries. River flooding is historically an impactful aspect of Laeral's plentiful rivers, which have largely been managed with the advent of dams. &lt;br /&gt;
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===Geographic Regions===&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral possesses various historical and cultural regions. Most prominent of these is the Riverlands region, stretching east to west across Laeral and generally considered to contain the provinces surrounding the Zhongshui River. This area is historically fertile and heavily populated, and since the early 20th century has been the most developed region of Laeral. The Iron Belt contains the manufacturing regions of northeast Laeral, and is generally considered to include [[Lienne]], a province with a distinctive cultural identity based on its period under High Fellsian rule. The territory of the former [[Zhao Kingdom]] in southwestern Laeral is the nation's Minjian heartland and is today known as Zhao country. The area of the Beuvron River valley, particularly the provinces of Sendrasi, Therese, and Sarene, is also known as the Catholic Belt for its high proportion of adherents to that faith. Finally, the Xianhai Peninsula is another region distinctive from continental Laeral, characterized by its relative underdevelopment and economy based on plantation agriculture and later oil extraction. Lematre and Brissac provinces feature oil deposits both on land and offshore, part of a larger field shared with the neighboring Maximusian province of [[Winfield Province|Winfield.]] These oil deposits, along with smaller fields in Felliere and the Xianhai Gulf, have been extracted by various state and private corporations since the [[Republican Era]].&lt;br /&gt;
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The Xueyan Special Administrative Region (Xueyan SAR) is a large, sparsely-populated and underdeveloped region, separated from the main portion of Laeral by Lake Xueyan, an immense body of water. Following its seizure during the [[Great War]], Laeral currently claims sovereignty over the Xueyan SAR, although this claim remains contested by [[Haesan]] and has not been fully recognized by the international community. The region is believed to have extensive natural gas reserves. Laeral also administers the [[Allied Cities|Xianjiapo Special Administrative Region]], an urban region in northern [[Caxcana]]. &lt;br /&gt;
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[[File:GoldenLarch.jpg|200px|thumb|left|The Golden Larch tree turns golden in autumn.]]Laeral's climate features cold winters and temperate summers. Northern provinces generally have a cool-temperate climate, while southern provinces are warmer. Coniferous and mixed forests exist in much of continental Laeral, while there are broad-leafed forests in southern Laeral. The Golden Larch, Maidenhair (Gingko), Umbrella Pine, and Chinese Plum are all major tree species in Laeral, with the plum blossom (meihua) of the latter being an important Laeralian national symbol. Bamboo also grows in southern portions of Laeral, where it is used as an important manufacturing and construction material.&lt;br /&gt;
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Laeral's rivers support a thriving fishing industry, as well as habitat for spawning carp and salmon. Laeral's climate is very agriculturally productive: primary agricultural products include rice, barley, and wheat as staple grains. Silk is also grown by way of mulberry trees.&lt;br /&gt;
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==Environment==&lt;br /&gt;
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Large wild animals in Laeral include the brown bear, lynx, 'snow cat' (snow leopard), Chinese mountain cat, and grey wolf, although these are widely hunted and now have a severely curtailed frequency and range. Other wild mammals include the Summer Dog (raccoon dog), the Iduvian red and water deer, the marsh deer (Pere David's Deer), and the marmot. Birds common in Laeral include various cranes, the snowcock, the heron, various swans, and various pigeons.&lt;br /&gt;
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Laeralian meat raised for cultivation generally lacks large pasture animals such as cows. Farmers instead focus on keeping geese, rabbits, ducks, chickens, grouse, pheasant, and pigs, as well as sheep and goats in mountainous areas. Carp are farmed in the Riverlands, and water buffalo and oxen are kept as plow animals. Notable foods grown in Laeral include rice, grains, tea, and many types of fruits and vegetables, including lychees, almonds, citrus fruits, and other products. Flowers are also grown. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:RiceFarmLaeral.jpg|300px|thumb|left|Rice is an important staple crop in Laeral.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Notable environmental attractions can be found in some of the more rural provinces, as well as in some coastal provinces such as Althea. Environmental legislation protects environmentally sensitive areas such as wetlands and old growth forests, and tourism and development are severely restricted into some areas. Soil pollution remains an issue in many areas of Laeral's old industrial belt, although government action against pollutants means that rates of particulate matter in the air due to air pollution have decreased from their high in the late 1970s.&lt;br /&gt;
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==Demographics==&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:ChinaStreet.jpg|400px|thumb|right|A street in the western Riverlands.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral has a population of over 89 million people. The fertility rate is 2.34, with a high life expectancy. Ethnic groups present in Laeral include the [[Arrivée]], the Rén, the Gao, and various minority groups. Laeral's ethnic makeup has also been shifted by immigration of minority groups such as Desi, who make up a growing percentage of the population. A large percentage of Laeral's population is mixed-race, largely the result of marriages between [[Arrivée]] and Rén people. &lt;br /&gt;
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The overall obesity rate is around 15%, although around 30% of Laeralites overall are overweight. Laeral's population is increasingly aging, as the average life expectancy has increased. This has begun to place a burden upon senior care services, although the majority of elderly Laeralites are cared for by their family rather than by retirement facilities.&lt;br /&gt;
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===Education===&lt;br /&gt;
Laeralian culture is known for adhering to the Moralist paradigm of valuing education as a means to improve one's socioeconomic position in society. Heavy investment and a cultural valuing of education has consistently brought the nation to the top of global education rankings; Laeral is one of the top-performing countries in standardized tests of reading literacy, mathematics and sciences. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LIUniversity.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Althea City University, a member of the National Open University system.]]&lt;br /&gt;
The Laeralian education system has been praised for various reasons, including its comparatively high test scores and its major role in promoting Laeral's economic development while creating one of the IDU’s most highly educated workforces, with 67.1% of Laeralites going on to attend university. K-12 education is generally administered by the provincial governments, although the federal Ministry of Education has general authority over curricula and may apply regulations to oversee school practices. Higher education, which lies within the purview of the national government, is divided between public universities and the prestigious and selective [[National Open University (Laeral)|National Open Universities]] (NOUs). The NOUs have been criticized for alleged elitism; they have produced a majority of Laeral's high-ranking civil servants, CEOs, and politicians. &lt;br /&gt;
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===Language===&lt;br /&gt;
Mandarin was historically the primary language of Laeral. Following the period of French colonization, the use of French acquired greater social status and was taught in schools. Under the [[Rose Revolution]], Mandarin and French achieved equal prominence in the education system. The majority of Laeralites are multilingual, and diplomats and civil servants often learn another language. English is widely taught in schools. Linguistic diversity is a major political focus in Laeral, with all government documents required to be in Chinese, French, and English. The Académie Linguistique is a government agency responsible for regulating the practice and expression of language in Laeral; notably, Laeral switched from the older Wade-Giles system of romanization to the modern pinyin system in the 1980s.&lt;br /&gt;
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=== Religion ===&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:MinjianPalace.jpg|250px|thumb|right|The Minjian High Conclave in Miaoshi.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral is a religiously-diverse nation. Although [[Minjian]] is the majority religion, a substantial Christian (almost entirely Catholic) majority exists as well. Minjian is a dualistic religion of Laeralian origin; the Minjian High Conclave, the central organ of the faith, is located in the Laeralian city of Miaoshi, which is a pilgrimage site for devout Minjian from around the world. Roughly one-fifth of Laeralites identify as non-religious, while secularism is a governing principle of Laeral under the Laeralian constitution. &lt;br /&gt;
{| class=&amp;quot;wikitable&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
|+Religion in Laeral (2022)&lt;br /&gt;
!Religion&lt;br /&gt;
!Proportion&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Minjian]]&lt;br /&gt;
|50.7%&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Christian&lt;br /&gt;
|21.3%&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Non-Religious&lt;br /&gt;
|18.6%&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Other&lt;br /&gt;
|6.4%&lt;br /&gt;
|}&lt;br /&gt;
Laeralian customs and superstitions, largely originating from Laeral's [[Rén]] population, are also broadly adopted by Laeralites of all ethnic backgrounds, particularly around the Lunar New Year.  &lt;br /&gt;
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==Government==&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LiuMei-han.png|200px|thumb|right|[[Liu Mei-han]] has been the President of Laeral since 2018.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral has a federal system of government. Each province is headed by a Governor or First Minister, as well as a provincial legislature, to conduct self-governance. The head of state of Laeral is the [[President of Laeral]], who is currently [[Liu Mei-han]]. The President is elected by popular vote, with a runoff if no candidate attains a majority of the vote, and serves for four-year terms, renewable once. The President serves as Laeral's head of state and does not have a legislative veto, although the president can sign a bill into law bypassing the General Assembly if the bill has passed the Assembly of Commons by a supermajority. The President also names a Prime Minister and assist in government formation, and may dissolve the Assembly of Commons for snap elections.&lt;br /&gt;
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The [[Prime Minister of Laeral|Prime Minister]] is required to be officially appointed by the President, yet must command the confidence of the Assembly of Commons. The current Prime Minister is [[Nicolas Martin]].&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:AssemblyofCommons.jpg|300px|thumb|left|The Assembly of Commons]]&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral has a bicameral legislature known as the [[National Assembly (Laeral)|National Assembly]], consisting of the Assembly of Commons and the General Assembly. The Assembly of Commons and General Assembly must vote with a majority in order to pass a bill on to the other Assembly. The bill needs a simple majority to pass, with the president breaking ties. Additionally, a bill passed by a 2/3 majority of the Assembly of Commons does not need to pass the General Assembly if the President chooses to sign the bill. The Commons, currently consisting of 386 Representatives, is elected nationwide by party-list proportional representation, with elections being called at maximum four years apart . Two Delegates from each province are elected to the General Assembly according to a staggered six-year schedule, using single-transferable vote.&lt;br /&gt;
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Laeral has historically had a multi-party system, with a left-wing &amp;quot;red bloc&amp;quot; consisting of the [[Progressive Party of Laeral|Progressives]] and Socialist Party competing for power with a &amp;quot;blue bloc&amp;quot; comprised of the [[Laeralian People's Party]] and [[Conservative Party (Laeral)|Conservatives]], although the rise of the [[New Democratic Alliance (Laeral)|New Democrats]] and their &amp;quot;yellow bloc&amp;quot; and the right-wing, Rén-nationalist [[Laeral Unbowed!]] party have altered this paradigm. Many smaller parties also contest elections, and often win representation in the Assembly of Commons. Governments are almost always formed via coalition. &lt;br /&gt;
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Laeral's judicial branch consists of a large network of local courts, a Provincial Court for each province, and a National High Court which tries criminal and civil cases appealed from lower courts, following a majority vote of its 7 Magistrates, including a Chief Magistrate. The [[Laeralian Constitutional Court]] is the highest court in Laeral, responsible for ensuring that the constitution is upheld, and capable of nullifying laws and impeaching politicians. Its twelve justices serve for 12-year terms. &lt;br /&gt;
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Laeral is a consolidated democracy and is ranked as a &amp;quot;full democracy&amp;quot; by the [[Howard Prince-Gonzalez Institution]], and among the most democratic nations in [[Hesperida]]. Freedom of the press, freedom of speech, and freedom of assembly are generally respected, while elections are considered free and fair. The judiciary is generally considered free and fair. Human rights observers have criticized that the death penalty remains legal in Laeral in cases of treason, rebellion, and sedition.  &lt;br /&gt;
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==Foreign Relations and Military==&lt;br /&gt;
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Laeral is an active member of the [[World Assembly]] and the [[League of IDU Nations]], and has among the most embassies and consulates of any IDU nation. Laeralian foreign policy, historically influenced by [[Gramontism]] and Laeralian nationalism, has traditionally focused on opposing imperialism and supporting ideologically-aligned partners abroad. This is exemplified through the [[Forward Operations Doctrine (Laeral)|Forward Operations Doctrine]], a series of operations undertaken prior to the [[Great War]], as well as through the role of the quasi-state [[International Republican Institute]] during the latter half of the 20th century. Laeralian foreign policy also traditionally focused on regional neighbors, as the nation has traditionally aspired to hegemony in southeastern Hesperida—leading to confrontations with regional rivals [[High Fells]] (during the early 20th century) and [[Haesan]] (during the late 20th century), often benefiting from the support of traditional regional allies [[Libertas Omnium Maximus]] and [[Slokais Islands]] during the latter half of the 20th century. Following the [[Great War]], Laeralian foreign policy has increasingly taken in events further afield, particularly in a newfound alignment itself in defense of the rules-based liberal democratic world order.  &lt;br /&gt;
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Laeral's military is the Laeralian Defense Forces. It consists of four branches: the Laeralian National Security Force (ground forces), the Laeralian Navy, the Laeralian Air Force, and the Gendarmerie. Laeral's [[Nuclear weapons in the International Democratic Union|nuclear weapons program]] is managed directly by the president's National Security Council, with warheads dispersed across the Navy and Air Force, which operate the ballistic missile submarines and heavy bombers responsible for nuclear strike delivery.&lt;br /&gt;
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During the early decades of the Laeralian state, the military was funded on a provincial level, leading to internal instability and poor military outcomes—demonstrated most acutely during the [[War of the Seven Provinces]] in 1875-77. Reforms during the waning days of the First Allied Provinces were insufficient to produce victory against a less populous foe during the [[First Fellsian War]], and military strengthening was a priority during the Republican Era, which saw Laeral avoid large-scale conflicts apart from the [[Brissac War]], as well as brief conventional clashes with Fellsian forces during the [[Accession of Lienne]]. The 1954 Laeralian Constitution, drafted in the wake of a failed military coup, saw the Laeralian military firmly subordinated to the civilian government and reconstituted as the Laeralian Defense Forces. Despite the reorganization of the military, which proved to be largely cosmetic, the Laeralian Defense Forces proved capable of performing well in high-intensity, kinetic combat during the [[Great War]], which saw Laeralian forces take part in operations alongside Coalition allies in Haesan, Slokais Islands, and Darya, alongside the Albarine Sea. Since the Great War, Laeralian military operations have largely been of a counter-insurgency nature in Lienne, High Fells, and Xueyan.  &lt;br /&gt;
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The Laeralian National Security Force, restructured from the Laeralian Army following the [[Bloody Summer]] coup attempt of 1952, totals around 180,000 combat personnel. During the [[Second Lauchenoirian Civil War]], LNSF forces saw direct combat in an extended operation in [[Lauchenoiria]], bolstering confidence in the LNSF's continued capacity to conduct rapid-response conventional warfare operations abroad. The elite [[Republican Guard (Laeral)|Republican Guard]] units are also grouped with the LNSF, which also includes special forces, cavalry, parachute, and marine units. Unlike the Navy and Air Force, which typically produce indigenous aircraft, ships, and submarines, the battle tanks and armored vehicles are largely manufactured based on foreign designs.   &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LiuWithNavy.jpg|300px|thumb|right|President Liu Mei-han has promoted a naval buildup during her administration.]]&lt;br /&gt;
The Laeralian Navy is Laeral's largest military branch be expenditure, given Laeral's large coastline and the country's role in the protection of free commerce and freedom of navigation since the turn of the century. During the [[Great War]], the navy saw more combat than any other branch. Laeral spearheaded the development of nuclear submarines in the late 1960s, and Laeralian attack and ballistic missile submarines have traditionally made up a substantial portion of the navy and number among the world's most effective submarine arms. Since the Great War, Laeral has operated at least one fixed-wing aircraft carrier near-continuously for force projection. The Navy also formerly operated the Littoral Assault Regiment of marines, which has been defunct since 1970.  &lt;br /&gt;
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The Laeralian Air Force includes roughly 600 operational aircraft and is responsible for supporting the operations of other branches of the military and protecting Laeralian airspace. In addition to carrier-based units, the air force also operates from airbases in Xueyan, continental and peninsular Laeral, and various bases abroad.  &lt;br /&gt;
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The Gendarmes, or military police, are responsible for protecting Laeralian government buildings and embassies abroad, supplementing ordinary Laeralian police forces, and conducting operations against domestic terror threats and criminal organizations.  &lt;br /&gt;
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==Economy==&lt;br /&gt;
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Laeral's economy is dynamic and export-based, constructed within the framework of a modern social-democratic capitalist economy. The Laeralian economy is dominated by the services sector, although agriculture is also a major portion of the Laeralian economy. In the services sector, Laeral is a world leader in film and television production, and Laeralian films have historically won acclaim at the [[IDU Film Festival]]. &lt;br /&gt;
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===Agriculture===&lt;br /&gt;
''See [[Land use in Laeral]]''&lt;br /&gt;
Agriculture is a major portion of the Laeralian economy, albeit employing only a small portion of the workforce. Rice, barley, and wheat are major staple crops, while cash crops in Laeral include sugar beet, tobacco, soybeans, cotton, tea, and specialty fruits and vegetables. &lt;br /&gt;
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Despite a high level of industrialization, future economic growth is threatened by rising structural unemployment and an aging population. Laeral's export-based economy has traditionally led to an emphasis on free-trade agreements with foreign nations, following economic liberalization under President Michel Baudry during the 1980s. Organized labor has historically been quite influential in the Laeralian economy since the Republican Era, as have worker cooperatives, and rates of unionization in Laeral, at roughly 45%, are quite high compared peer economies. This can be seen in the phenomenon of &amp;quot;workplace democracy&amp;quot;, in which under national law, all businesses of over 60 employees are required to include elected worker representation on the company board equal to 30% of seats, with few exceptions. The [[FLT-OIU]] is Laeral's dominant labor union federation, with roughly three-fourths of Laeral's unionized workers affiliated with an FLT-OIU union. The remaining quarter largely belongs to the communist-aligned [[Assemblée Syndicale de Toute la Laeral]].&lt;br /&gt;
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==Culture==&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral is a generally secular, socially-liberal nation with a growing population. The education system is considered among the foremost in the IDU, featuring an extensive network of public universities, capped by the prestigious [[National Open University (Laeral)|National Open University]] system. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Elisabeth_Verene_Le_Bonnaire.jpg|300px|thumb|left|''Self-Portrait With Students'' by Élisabeth Vérène le Bonnaire.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral's film industry plays a significant role in the nation's culture and economy, with Jinhua province being a center of the industry. The 'Five Giants' are a quintet of film studios dominating the Laeralian film scene; Marion-Guichard Productions is known for favoring artsy fare, while Silver Harvest favors big-budget action movie reboots, spin-offs, and sequels. Laeralian television dramas, meanwhile, have become an important cultural export, and are aired in numerous markets abroad. Laeralian pop music, encompassing works from vintage crooners to modern stars such as Jane Tao, has also exhibited similar foreign appeal.&lt;br /&gt;
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Laeralian literature, meanwhile, dates back to at least the year 1200, which is roughly the date of the oldest written work ever found in Laeral, a manual of farming practices. Famous Laeralian novels include ''The Cycle of Ascendancy'', a Laeralian patriotic tale; ''Drawn Curtains in the Silver Chamber'', the story of a noble family in decline; ''Letters of a Lady's Hand'', an intrigue/romance taking place around 1790; and ''The Chens of Hanshui'', a novel dealing with themes of race in the modern era. In fine art, the work of [[Élisabeth Vérène le Bonnaire]] is highly prized among artists of the colonial era, while Laeral has also historically been home to numerous influential artists, musicians, and playwrights. Modernist architect Maurice Ho and composed Germain Deschamps are among the most highly-esteemed Laeralian artists internationally. &lt;br /&gt;
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During the Colonial period, the noted Laeralian astronomer Alexandre-Galliot de Crussol produced one of the first catalogs of astronomical phenomena. During the First Allied Provinces period, scientific development lagged; during the Rose Revolution of the Republican period, the government aggressively sought to improve Laeralian scientific education. In the modern day, Laeral has become a regional center for scientific innovation, notably in the fields of medicine, psychology, and materials science.  &lt;br /&gt;
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Laeral is also a world leader in nuclear energy, producing reactors and material for export, and maintains a nuclear weapons program. One area of improvement for Laeralian scientific development is in the aerospace field; while Laeral was a player in the global [[Space Race]] of the 1960s and 70s, the Laeralian space agency ALORS (Agence Laeralien de Opérations et Recherche Spatiale) has had a contrained budget since. Laeralian expertise in programming and computing is widely-sought internationally, but Laeralian software engineers have had difficulties with expanding websites and apps to customers outside Laeral, partially due to linguistic barriers. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LaeralianWedding.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Interracial weddings have become increasingly accepted in Laeralian society.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Race remains a significant dividing line in Laeralian society, with the historical weight of imperialism and subsequent systemic racism weighing upon the nation. With linguistic, religious, and cultural differences between Rén and Arrivée Laeralites, racial tensions remain to this day. From the mid-20th century onward, immigration by ethnic Haemin and Andhrapuri migrants, alongside numerous other smaller groups, has led to greater cultural diversity while also at times leading to racist backlash. Interracial marriages have been fairly common throughout Laeralian history, leading to a large mixed-race population known as ''Metice''. For decades, government action has worked to reduce racial disparities; with the result of reducing disparities in average household income, although residential segregation stubbornly remains. The civil service and higher education systems are mandated to match the nation's demographics as a whole due to decades-old affirmative action programs. The work of Rén and other disadvantaged racial groups' social activists over the course of decades, most notably Hua Mingrui during the 1970s and 80s, has been crucial to this government action.  &lt;br /&gt;
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Laeral is highly ranked on measures of female workforce participation and in other measures of societal equity, and Laeralian feminist thinkers and activists have historically played a major role in the global feminist movement.  &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LaeralianGymnast.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Laeralian gymnast Rose Yaling won a gold medal at the 13th Olympic Games.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Handball, a traditional Laeralian sport, is the most popular team sport in Laeral, with stadiums and fields found in nearly every town or city. &lt;br /&gt;
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Football is also popular; Laeral notably hosted the 2018 IDU Football Championship. Organized play is dominated by Ligue 1, which consists of the 20 best teams in Laeral. Play in that league is dominated by two dueling teams, Laeralsford AC and Ville Laeralsford, as well as teams such as Hanshui and Althea FC. There is also the Ligue Provincial, which is below Ligue 1 and consists of the teams relegated from that league, which make up the 24 second-tier football teams in Laeral. A third popular sports include basketball, which is played professionally through the [[Laeralian Basketball Association]]. Laeral has experienced success at recent Olympics, notably in speed-skating, fencing, gymnastics, figure skating, and basketball.&lt;br /&gt;
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==Infrastructure==&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral generally has highly developed infrastructure, although some rural areas do not have the same level of high-tech infrastructure as in urban areas. For example, 97% of Laeralites have internet access, practically every Laeralite has a phone connection, and the vast majority of Laeralian households have a television. The state-run radio and television broadcaster is RTL (Radio et Télévision Laéralien).&lt;br /&gt;
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The primary method of transportation is through Laeralian Railways, Laeral's state-run high-speed rail system. Laeral has over 29,000 kilometers of track in total, although not all of this is high-speed. International airports exist in numerous large cities. Laeral also has eight deepwater seaports, which manage much of Laeral's import-export trade. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:HighSpeedRail.jpg|300px|thumb|right|A Laeralian Railways high-speed train in Rilos.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral generates roughly 278 million KwH (Kilowatt-hours) of electricity per year, mostly for domestic consumption, although a small fraction of this is exported. Nuclear power generates close to 30% of Laeral's electricity, although the system is gradually being phased out as part of a transition to renewables. Fossil fuels continue to make up around 40% of Laeral's electricity mix; natural gas is extracted in the Xueyan Special Administrative Region while substantial oil deposits exist in the peninsular provinces and the Xianhai Gulf. &lt;br /&gt;
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[[Category:Countries]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category: Laeral]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Laeral</name></author>
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		<id>https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Land_use_in_Laeral&amp;diff=45394</id>
		<title>Land use in Laeral</title>
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		<updated>2026-05-07T04:20:55Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Laeral: &lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;div&gt;'''Land use in Laeral''' refers to the history and practices of the use of land by humans in [[Laeral]]. This encompasses periods of [[Rén]] Laeralite land tenure, land appropriation by [[Arrivée]] settlers during the colonial and First Allied Provinces periods, land reform during Laeral's [[Republican Era]], and increased urbanization and agricultural consolidation from the mid-20th century to the modern day. Land use has impacts on economic outcomes and social and political development, and scholars have used the history of land use in Laeral to explore topics ranging from political affiliation to race relations. &lt;br /&gt;
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==History==&lt;br /&gt;
This section is excerpted from Noël Lavoie-Zhao's chapter &amp;quot;Land Use in Laeral: An Introduction&amp;quot;, in the academic anthology ''Pure Earth, Dirty Hands: Contrasting Narratives of Dispossession, Reclamation, and Stewardship in Laeralian Land Tenure'' (Salaun University Press, 2014). Since 2010, Dr. Lavoie-Zhao has been the Anatole Marchand Professor of History at [[National Open University (Laeral)|Althea City University]].&lt;br /&gt;
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===Colonial Era===&lt;br /&gt;
{{box|margin=40px|&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:SlaveryinLaeral.jpg|200px|thumb|right|An anti-slavery engraving depicting dozens of enslaved people being forcibly brought to a plantation in Laeral's Riverlands region, circa 1830. The central figure, being manhandled by an overseer, recalls his family's farewell.]]&lt;br /&gt;
During the colonial era, determining possession of agricultural land, particularly in the fertile Eastern Riverlands, Althea, and the Beuvron River Valley, was a central function of government. After the 1807 DeBarre Line was created, marking off the initial bounds of [[Arrivée]] settlement, land west of the line was declared property of the ducal government to apportion as it saw fit. Mass land auctions throughout the early 1800s saw gentlemen speculators as the chief beneficiaries. The most fertile land, often irrigated by centuries-old channels and the site of continuous farming for millennia, was parceled into large plantation domains owned by individual highborn households, operated for profit through the production of wheat, tobacco, rice, indigo, tea, or other crops. Laws against &amp;quot;squatting&amp;quot; and &amp;quot;vagrancy,&amp;quot; leveled against Rén families who sought to remain on their land, carried the sentence of compulsory service as agricultural laborers on the local plantation. The penalty for taking up arms against the state was also often serfdom, often for entire villages or regions, and so by 1845, the dawn of the Laeralian War of Independence, an estimated 900,000 [[Rén]] and [[Metice]] people were enslaved on plantations. Slavery in the colonial Laeralian context, however, was not an inherited status, although it was a racialized one: those born to enslaved laborers were born free, but Arrivée were never enslaved.&lt;br /&gt;
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Perhaps 60% of land area—primarily that which had been cleared and was suitable for large-scale agriculture—was parcelled out between plantations. Much of the remaining land, particularly that which was less hospitable for farming, was owned by small farmers, Rén, Arrivée, and Metice alike. Villages served as a site for cross-racial social interactions: marketplaces, smiths, inns, and the like fostered growing linguistic and cultural exchange. This included the emergence of Laeralian Creole, a polyglot mixture of French and Mandarin which would persist among the largely illiterate population until the standardization of language in the Republican era. The taboo against miscegenation was also transgressed more often at the village level, particularly between transient laborers who had migrated away from the growing expanse of plantation land. It was these villages which were rightfully called, if not the cradle of the war of independence, at least its nursery. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Corveeroads.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Corvée forced laborers in the Xianhai peninsula clearing a road in the aftermath of a landslide.]]&lt;br /&gt;
For free and enslaved Rén alike, the chief interaction with the colonial state was through corvée, forced state labor for a period of one month each year. Instituted as a means of conducting labor-intensive infrastructure upkeep and construction, corvée occurred on a rotating basis based on birth month, so as to minimize disruption to the harvest; for this reason, the colonial state's register of births are a treasure trove for modern historians and genealogists. The construction of roads was a constant preoccupation of the colonial state, seeing as they were essential for transport of goods and movement of soldiers outside of the navigable waterways (the few railroads built in Laeral during the colonial era, totaling less than 120 kilometers, were built exclusively with Arrivée labor). Typical corvée duties included excavating roads after flooding and mudslides, paving roads, and breaking ground for new roads, although in certain locales corvée labor also built government buildings and waystations. Corvée labor was widely despised: it was backbreaking, all-day work for which any rural Rén man between the ages of 15 and 35 would typically be relocated to a work camp and separated from their families for a four week period annually. Payment was nominal and conditions at work camps poor, with strict discipline enforced at the end of a whip or truncheon. &lt;br /&gt;
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Cities, chief among them [[Althea]], St. Clair, Marist, and [[Bethune|Lyrene]], offered the greatest opportunities for social mobility. Going to sea or joining a fisherman's crew was one avenue of escape: on the open seas, few cared the complexion of a man's skin as long as his arms were suited for hauling nets or whaling. The cities saw the emergence of the Laeralian middle class, typically merchants or artisans producing goods for consumption by the nobility. The ducal court was well known for its patronage of the arts and its fondness for fine cuisine, while the seasonal migration between Althea and Marist established by Duke Armand meant that thriving artisan communities sprung up in both cities. Factories were established in limited numbers in urban centers (with the exception of Althea, where strict urban beautification regulations forestalled the erection of smokestacks), including textile mills and brick and steel foundries, typically with the patronage of an interested consortium or individual member of the nobility. Migrants from surrounding rural areas were often the only ones willing to accept factories' beastly conditions; the phenomenon of rural migration to the city spurred the creation of Rén fraternal organizations and women's support circles as well as the first labor unions, inspired by examples from abroad. Regardless, by 1848 industrialization had touched the lives of only a bare amount of the Laeralian people. The majority of the population would remain rural and impoverished, as peasant freeholders, sharecroppers, slaves, or migrant workers, until well after the War of Independence.}} &lt;br /&gt;
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===First Allied Provinces===&lt;br /&gt;
{{box|margin=40px|The [[Laeralian War of Independence]] would upset patterns of land use in the ruralities. The plantation estates had been the sight of great bloodshed during the war, as the formerly enslaved took vengeance on their captors, and the vast majority of the Arrivée nobility had fled northward to what would become the rump state of [[High Fells]]. On some plantations, the Rén enslaved workforce had taken up subsistence farming, while other estates lay fallow for lack of hands to cultivate them. Military pronouncements during the war, such as General G. E. Lematre's Field Order 18, had established a precedent that land tenants and the formerly enslaved were to be permitted to stay on this land. &lt;br /&gt;
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This precedent, however, was not followed by the revolutionary government following the war. Faced with an inability to print enough money to provide back pay to soldiers of the Free Army, many of whom had withstood months of delayed pay, the provisional government's Act No. 14 (&amp;quot;A law on landholdings and tenancy&amp;quot;) ordered plantation land seized, appraised, and turned over to Free Army veterans in lieu of cash payments. For most veterans, the choice was simple: between cash payments in the rapidly-depreciating [[Laeralian mark]] or a tract of land of proven productivity, most Free Army men took the opportunity to achieve land ownership. Based on name analysis, an estimated 30% of the roughly 28,000 Free Army veterans who received land were Rén. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:ArriveeSharecroppers.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Arrivée sharecroppers harvesting wheat under supervision, in an 1857 painting by Auguste de Lemartine, famed for his depictions of agrarian life.]]&lt;br /&gt;
This act of land redistribution transformed Laeralian society by massively enlarging the class of economically self-sufficient peasantry. The newly created landed peasantry, nearly all eligible to vote under franchise restrictions of the time, were a powerful interest group lauded in popular culture and political writings as the backbone of the nation. The rosy image of a nation of salt-of-the-earth independent farmers, however, was deeply flawed. The landed farmer class was never more than a large minority of Laeralites; the majority of peasants remained sharecroppers for these landed farmers or squatters on undesirable land, farming continually for survival. &lt;br /&gt;
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As immigration and natural population growth swelled the population to over 10 million Laeralites, competition for land pushed Laeral's boundaries westward. At this juncture, it's appropriate to consider the nature of the Laeralian frontier during the 1860s and 70s. &lt;br /&gt;
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During the colonial era, the DeBarre Line, seen on maps at slightly west of the Beuvron River, had defined the theoretical westward borders of government control. The line had been proclaimed during the reign of Duke Armand, and shaped patterns of population settlement despite existing only on paper. Through a series of treaties with the squabbling Minjian kingdoms and satrapies west of the line, the colonial government in Althea maintained relative peace on the frontier. However, following independence, Laeralian public opinion massively favored the legalization of westward expansion, rooted in mythicized and [[Anti-Minjian sentiment|anti-Minjian]] conceptions of the frontier as a land of rich agricultural land suffering under weak and brutish rule. &lt;br /&gt;
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Provincial militias hoping to secure territory advanced westward, carrying out a mission termed by historians as &amp;quot;subnational colonialism&amp;quot; — provincial militias, backed by the provincial government and the backing of provincial elites, seized territory by force of arms in brief campaigns often lasting only weeks, only to subsequently seek their fait accompli recognized by the national government. These feats of territorial acquisition sparked a lucrative industry in adventurers, both Laeralian and foreign-born, traveling from province to province offering their services to provincial governments in lucrative territorial-acquisition operations. By and large, these expeditions were successful in sparking short and victorious conflicts, with rare exceptions where canny Rén leaders took advantage of Laeralian overconfidence to defeat provincial militia forces and secure the status quo ante bellum.}} &lt;br /&gt;
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===The Vespasienate===&lt;br /&gt;
{{box|margin=40px|These frontier wars or ''petites guerres,'' and accompanying westward expansion, were a central factor in national politics during the late 19th century. Politics increasingly took on a sectional character, as eastern mercantile interests favored frontier stability so as to foster lucrative trade with the Rén kingdoms, while westerners and the working class largely favored continued expansion so as to secure land ownership on the frontier. The relative stalemate between the two factions, with neither side able to achieve national ascendancy due to the weakness of the national government, would end with the War of the Seven Provinces (1875-1877), where the provincial militias accomplished in colonial warfare with the benefits of organizational and technological superiority floundered against a unified, well-disciplined, and modern foe in Libertas Omnium Maximus. &lt;br /&gt;
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Defeat in the war led to the ascension of [[Vespasien Jamet]], central figure in the politics of the First Allied Provinces. During his nearly thirty-year (1880-1909) tenure in politics, known to historians as the Vespasienate, Jamet as prime minister oversaw a strengthening of the central government, including an expansion of taxation authority and the nation's first standing army; his opponents fruitlessly branded him &amp;quot;Emperor Vespasien I&amp;quot;. A strongman who emerged from and represented the rural wealthy landowning class, Jamet's military and administrative reforms were in large part dedicated to carrying out westward Arrivée settlement and the broader settler-colonial project. In an audacious war against the Zhao kingdom in 1885, Laeralian troops seized the ancient Minjian capital of Miaoshi and annexed the kingdom's territory in its entirety, the largest-yet acquisition of land. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LandSurveyors.jpg|200px|thumb|right|The first step in carving up land was surveying it, a process which relied in part on translating and updating Zhao kingdom taxation maps and in part on the efforts of surveying crews like this one pictured here in Nanhai province.]]&lt;br /&gt;
The status of these new conquests were addressed under the landmark Land Tenure Act of 1888, enacted under Jamet's premiership. This law would, in one swift maneuver, increase the territory of the Laeralian state by nearly one-third while laying the groundwork for the wealthy Arrivée farmer class to expand its dominance across the eastern Riverlands. The Riverlands provinces of Neidong, Enara, Nanhai, Meilun, and Jinhua were created as the first Rén-majority provinces since Laeralian independence; Neidong and Enara had languished for years as nonvoting territories, while the other three new provinces were newly seized from the defunct Zhao kingdom. Agricultural land in these colonies was slated for Arrivée settlement through a new schema by which all rural land would be classified as either &amp;quot;settler&amp;quot; or &amp;quot;reserve&amp;quot; territory. Settler territory, encompassing over 70% of land in these five provinces and drawn to include the richest agricultural land, was reserved for Arrivée commercial farming through land auctions run by the government. The remainder, &amp;quot;reserve&amp;quot; territory for the region's Rén inhabitants, was undesirable, either through distance from road or river arteries, steep slopes, or swampland. Through this formula, which would be replicated in other territories coming under Laeralsford's sway, the dominion of the Arrivée landowner class was preserved and expanded. Other portions of Zhao territory, meanwhile, were left entirely for their Rén inhabitants, yet had no realistic path to provincehood and were instead governed by appointed territorial officials. &lt;br /&gt;
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Some voices within Laeralian society, such as the growing quasi-socialist cooperative movement, called for the newly-acquired land to be governed in collective fashion, approximating the collective farms which were widely understood to have been predominant among the Zhao kingdom. (Collective farming was in actuality a method of land tenure which the Zhao kingdom was transitioning away from at the time of the Laeral-Zhao War; the Laeralian cooperative movement somewhat-inaccurately perceived collective farming as the sole method of Rén land tenure since time immemorial, which was false). For the cooperativists, collective farming was a method of ensuring social harmony and economic resiliency for Laeral's poor, and they decried Prime Minister Jamet's choice to split the conquered territories into tracts of land for individual farmers. The cooperativist movement endured throughout the early 20th century, with its proponents establishing several communes during the late First Allied Provinces era, to varying degrees of success. Nouvelle-Concorde in Jinhua province, which attracted several thousand residents and experimented with collective marriage and child-rearing before its collapse following the Laeralian Revolution, is the most well-known of these. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LandLottery.jpg|200px|thumb|left|The land lottery in Meilun takes place at the provincial capitol, with a crowd of onlookers awaiting the results.]]&lt;br /&gt;
How did land allocation play out on the ground during the Vespasienate? In settler land, newly-constituted provincial governments carried out lotteries for small tracts of land in a populist maneuver; entrance to the lotteries was open to all men regardless of race, with separate lotteries carried out for single and married men. Ticket-holders were guaranteed to be deeded a tract of land, albeit one that could vary in size from as little as 8 hectares to nearly 30 hectares in area, for a registration fee equivalent to roughly two months' wages for a typical workman—in other words, on the very edge of affordability for Laeral's working class. The opportunity for sharecroppers and the urban poor to obtain title to land, and thus, the promise of economic self-sufficiency, was rightfully viewed as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. In fact, marriage rates rose sharply in the months before the land lotteries, suggesting that the opportunity to enter in the married men's lottery for larger plots of land was sufficiently enticing to shift personal behavior. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:PeasantLunch.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Even as more and more family farmers were forced to sell their land to larger landowners, romanticized depictions of Arrivée peasant life, such as this painting by Auguste de Lemartine imitator Rudolphe Just, were continually popular.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Arrivée and Metice people were the greatest beneficiaries of the land lottery, although some Rén were able to afford the registration fee and benefit as well. All those who registered for the lottery received land, although it varied widely in productivity and suitability for farming; common crops included wheat, barley, and rice, as well as various vegetables. Although some small farmers were able to become well-established, particularly those who benefited from agricultural experience and received fertile agricultural land, many would-be farmers found themselves unable to make these tracts of land economically viable, particularly the urban poor with limited experience in farming. By 1898, ten years after the passage of the Land Tenure Act, it was estimated that over half of settler farmers who had benefitted from the land lottery had been forced to sell their property to larger farmers, particularly after poor growing conditions in 1893 forced many small farmers to abandon their lands. These tracts of land were largely absorbed by larger landowners who reestablished sharecropping, often harvesting profitable cash crops instead. Thus, despite the populist promise of the Land Tenure Act that it would expand the class of independent small farmers, it largely instead produced the expansion of the wealthy plantation-farmer class, which held tremendous political influence under Vespasian Jamet's corrupt political order.&lt;br /&gt;
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The impact of the Land Tenure Act's legalized land theft within the provinces subjected to it is difficult to overstate. In the five Riverlands provinces established under the act (sometimes known as the MENNJ provinces in the parlance of civil servants, from the abbreviations of the provinces involved), virtually all Arrivée settlers were made complicit in land theft and the expulsion of Rén inhabitants from their homes. In some cases, these settlers lived in the houses and cottages of the natives they had evicted, with children at play and farmers at work routinely unearthing trinkets, grave sites, or even hastily-abandoned foodstuffs buried in shallow earth in preparation for consumption, such as preserved eggs. Soldiers of the Laeralian Army—recently reorganized and dramatically expanded under the Vespasianate to largely supplant the provincial militias—were used to evict Rén inhabitants and quell the scattered outbreaks of resistance. The consequent forced migration of Rén to &amp;quot;reserve&amp;quot; territory led to widespread poverty, as many were left destitute by being forced from their land. These reserve territories were among the poorest areas of the country, jump-starting Rén migration to Riverlands cities such as Hanshui, Lushui, Gaolan, and Laeralsford in a process known as the [[First Great Migration]]. These cities grew rapidly in size during the last decades of the 19th century, seeing the birth of the initial incarnation of the paramilitary [[Rén Self-Defense League]]. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:ReserveTerritory.jpg|200px|thumb|left|The endemic overcrowding in Rén reserve areas is illustrated by this gathering in Enara province, as onlookers arrive to see an itinerant [[Minjian]] priest at the local temple. Note the mix of traditional garments and Arrivée-style headwear.]]&lt;br /&gt;
During the Laeralian Revolution three decades hence, the Rén reserve areas in Riverlands provinces, overcrowded and full of young people with few economic prospects, would be among the earliest to flock to the banner of [[René Gramont]] and the Army for Democracy and Progress. Land expropriation left scars in the provinces' social fabrics as well: provinces that were the site of forced relocation saw correspondingly greater racial tensions throughout the 20th century, including greater violence during and after the Revolution and other periods of social unrest, as well as economic consequences such as greater poverty and wealth inequality. To this day, the decennial census reveals that the rural areas of the MENNJ provinces are among the most racially-segregated in Laeral. In the last days of the Vespasienate, subsequent Land Tenure Acts in 1907 and 1909 brought the regime of land expropriation and Rén reserve territories to Minsheng, Minzu, and Jianguo as well.}}&lt;br /&gt;
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===Revolutionaries and Republicans===&lt;br /&gt;
{{box|margin=40px|Every modern history textbook from primary school onwards centers land distribution at the heart of the Laeralian Revolution. This is a fact which was well understood at the time as well, with the Republican movement harnessing land-based grievances to fill the ranks of the revolutionary armies. Those who took up arms motivated by land—primarily, but not exclusively, Rén in the Laeralian West—would in turn make demands for land reform on the post-revolution regime. &lt;br /&gt;
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The death of Vespasien Jamet and the ascendancy of his successor Augustin Brienne as head of what historian Christophe Millet calls the &amp;quot;landowner's regime&amp;quot; in 1909 saw no change to the ongoing process of land expropriation in the west, as Brienne—himself Choisel province's largest landowner—signaled his intention to continue favoring plantation interests as the glue which held his coalition together. The First Fellsian War, which erupted in 1911 and raged until 1916, was in fact a reprieve for Laeral's peasantry. The needs of the nation's war machine spurred the rapid growth of industry, primarily in the Riverlands, which accelerated the existing trend of Rén migration from overcrowded &amp;quot;reserve territories&amp;quot; to cities. The plantation-owning class suffered a rare rebuke at the hands of the national government during the war, as landowners' protests that conscription and the growth of factories were depriving their farms of necessary laborers were disregarded; even the Laeralian Parliament, traditionally the domain of the landowning class, voted down an attempt backed by agrarian interests to exempt farm laborers from the draft. With such a labor shortage, women in some cases took on farming duties, particularly in families whose patriarchs had been dispatched to the front or had moved to the city for work. &lt;br /&gt;
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The end of the war in 1916, however, meant intensified pressures on Laeral's agrarian workers, tenant farmers and smallholders alike. Not only did the postwar economic crisis raise the costs of agricultural inputs and nearly all consumer goods, but peasants renting their land found their rents raised by large landowners seeking to recoup their wartime losses. To add insult to injury, biased laws on farmland deemed &amp;quot;abandoned&amp;quot; meant that the families of men who had been killed during the war soon found themselves challenged to prove their legal title to the land they farmed or find it confiscated and sold at auction. Even prior to the outbreak of the Revolution in 1918, standoffs and shootouts between veterans and provincial constables over the confiscation of &amp;quot;abandoned&amp;quot; farmland signaled the increased violence around land affairs. &lt;br /&gt;
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Although the Laeralian Revolution began with an urban uprising in the city of Gaolan, where laborers who were largely migrants from the countryside went on strike over rising food prices, rural demands for land distribution quickly took center stage. At the onset of the widespread uprising, the Committee for Democracy and Progress, led by René Gramont, drafted the Renfeng Platform as its statement of principles. The Committee's plans for land reform were spelled out in detail in the Renfeng Platform, including the return of confiscated property since the war, an end to labor abuses on plantations, and land redistribution accompanied by a legal limit on the size of one landowner's holdings. The National Revolutionary Directorate, another revolutionary organization prominent in eastern Laeral, similarly pledged to support land reform and a cap on landholding acreage, albeit in less detail than the Renfeng Platform. The Republicans' widely-publicized pledges for land reform were the driving factor for many Laeralites to join the revolutionary forces, and featured prominently in propaganda messaging. &lt;br /&gt;
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Amidst the bloodshed and disruption of the conflict, experiments in land reform were widely carried out at the local level. In many Rén-majority villages in western Laeral, the flight of Arrivée landowners meant that their lands were farmed collectively. Land was in many cases the driving spark of revolutionary violence—as word of the uprising spread, many villagers drove away or executed hated local landlords and divided their lands or farmed them collectively.{{efn|This violence would continue in reprisal killings after the Revolution, with an estimated 6,000 landowners killed extrajudicially nationwide from 1920-22.}} In the Xianhai peninsula, the agrarian-socialist Xianhai Peasants' Front embraced the collectivization of agrarian land, while even in Loyalist strongholds such as the territory governed by the Loiraine Clique, the newly-impoverished refugees fleeing the advance of Republican forces were granted some amounts of agrarian land redistributed from the wealthy by government order. &lt;br /&gt;
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With the Republican victory in the Revolution, newly-appointed President Gramont chose to accept the facts on the ground and give government endorsement to the transfers in land ownership which had already taken place during the Revolution, against the wishes of liberals in the Committee for Democracy and Progress. The landmark Land Reform Act of 1923 signaled acceptance of forced transfers in land ownership which had taken place during the war, while declaring that all property belonging to landowners who had fled abroad or served as army officers in Loyalist forces as of the end of hostilities would be seized by the government. The new National Rural Reconstruction Administration (NRRA) was given immense power to administer and divide government-owned land, issue titles formalizing ownership of new lands, and arbitrate land disputes, of which there were many.&lt;br /&gt;
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In western Laeral, where vicious guerrilla fighting had driven out virtually all Arrivée settlers, Arrivée-held land had largely been already redistributed by the end of the war in 1921. This redistribution was legitimized by the Land Reform Act, which also benefitted traditional methods of collective land ownership prominent in Zhao Country by giving traditional collective land ownership legal weight without formal documentation. The picture in the rest of the country was comparatively much more challenging, as many Arrivée families had remained on their land rather then fleeing, necessitating a thornier process of forced expropriation. The MENNJ provinces presented particular challenges, as the scale of inequity in landholdings was the greatest: the largest decile of landholdings in the MENNJ provinces comprised 71% of agrarian land, compared to only 47% in the eastern Riverlands, 61% in Xianhai, and 39% in southeastern Laeral. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:NRRAofficials.jpg|thumb|right|Officials of the National Rural Reconstruction Administration during a fact-finding mission to Gaolan in 1938]]&lt;br /&gt;
As it was charged with under law, the National Rural Reconstruction Administration opened avenues for petitioners to request redress for land stolen within 60 years of the law's enactment: January 1, 1863. Examiners fanned out across the country to hear these claims, with broad authority to redistribute land at their will belonging to any property of over 100 hectares.{{efn|At many times, the traditional mu (亩) measurement unit, equivalent to one-fifteenth of a hectare, was used: ie, 1500 mu.}} Initially, formal, legal-style hearings were used to determine the validity of a claim, but the immense number of claims to be adjudicated meant that examiners soon resorted to traditional methods of dispute reconciliation, in large part driven by local elders. &lt;br /&gt;
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Cases of land redistribution were often complex. The acclaimed 1957 Laeralian play ''The Judgment of Fontenay'', although fictional, depicts one of these cases: a 180-hectare plantation in rural Therese province, owned by an elderly widow, is faced with demands for redistribution by sharecroppers, who allege deception and land theft by the widow's now-deceased father over 50 years before. The widow proclaims that the plantation was purchased legitimately, and the deed of sale was destroyed by fire during the Revolution. The politics of the situation are unclear: petitioner and defendant alike are Metice, while the widow's son fought bravely for Republican forces during the Revolution and the sharecroppers include those who joined the militia fighting against the Revolution. Who gains land, and how much? These were the sort of dilemmas assailing NRRA examiners on a daily basis. Open-and-shut cases of wealthy landowners who had fled the country or become officers for the Loyalists and thus forfeited their land were decidedly the minority.&lt;br /&gt;
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With the potential for vast financial gain hinging on examiners' decisions, it's remarkable that the process was, by and large, carried our fairly. Attempts at intimidation and bribery of examiners were frequent, but examiners, many of whom had been civil servants prior to the Revolution, by and large were more respectful of the status quo than many had expected, often siding with defendants when theft could not be clearly proven. As a result of examiners' respect for due process and the backlog of cases, the land redistribution process proceeded slowly during the 1920s, particularly in the MENNJ provinces and Xianhai where land inequities were most severe. &lt;br /&gt;
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Land reform, of course, did not solely consist of shifts in ownership. The 1924 Agrarian Rent Reduction Act gave protections to tenant farmers, primarily by capping rent for agrarian land at 30% of annual yield and strictly limiting year-to-year rises. Prior to this reform, landowners often charged tenant farmers high rents of 40 or 50% of crops harvested, exacerbating rural poverty. The government was also granted the power to void all agrarian rent in the event of natural disaster, and tenant farmers were granted legal protections from eviction. &lt;br /&gt;
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The slower-than-expected pace of land redistribution under the Land Reform Act of 1923 led to the third and final major land law of Gramont's tenure: the 1928 Land to the Tiller Act. This was the long-promised land cap of the Renfeng Platform, intended to finally transition the Laeralian rural public from tenant farming to land ownership. It ordered the expropriation of all private landholdings of over 40 hectares, which were then administered by the NRRA to be redistributed to the landless or land-deprived.{{efn|The exact hectarage varied based on land quality, although 40 hectares was standard.}} The 40 hectare cap was the subject of great controversy—radicals lobbied for a cap of only 6 to 8 hectares, but concerns over food shortages and the fear of eliminating economies of scale led the government to decide on its 40 hectare limit.&lt;br /&gt;
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These three reforms jointly set the stage for a transformation of rural Laeralian society. The proportion of rural tenant farmers fell sharply, from perhaps three-quarters of peasants prior to the Revolution to only around 30% by 1935. With rural land ownership came decreased rural poverty, with minimal corresponding drops in output, although here the effects of land redistribution are difficult to extricate from the effects of agrarian innovations promoted by the government through organizations such as the Rural Agricultural Service. Land redistribution was only the first of a series of transformations impacting rural life during the Republican era, as the rural aspect of the social revolution branded as the Rose Revolution. The typical peasant living through the 1920s and 30s would have witnessed concerted changes instituted from above in every field from women's rights to education and literacy to the creation of a race-blind national identity, but by far the most impactful in his or her everyday life would have been land ownership. It is for this reason that, on visits to rural regions of the country, both President Gramont and Hong Kuo-shu, Director of the National Rural Reconstruction Administration, regularly found themselves greeted by genuine, cheering crowds.&lt;br /&gt;
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[Agricultural collectivization section to come]}}&lt;br /&gt;
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===Green Revolution===&lt;br /&gt;
The small family farm remained the building block of agrarian society in Laeral throughout the Republican era. [[Great War]] and [[Green Revolution]] to come.&lt;br /&gt;
[Droughts, urbanization due to Green Revolution, decollectivization]&lt;br /&gt;
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==Modern Day==&lt;br /&gt;
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===Agriculture===&lt;br /&gt;
A majority of Laeralian land remains devoted to agriculture, primarily through large-scale commercial farming following the shift to capital-intensive agricultural production, although a small number of small commercial farms exist for hobby or specialty farming. Small commercial farms in Laeral are largely organized into agricultural cooperatives, an evolution of the collective farm system which allow for the pooling of resources to acquire land and farm technology and facilitate the sale of farm goods to national and international markets. &lt;br /&gt;
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Rice and wheat are widely-produced staple grains, while a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and legumes are produced as well. Cotton production in Laeral is now nearly non-existent, yet was once a predominant crop during the heyday of Laeralian textile production in the mid-20th century. Hogs and poultry are the most commonly raised meat animals. &lt;br /&gt;
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===Forestry===&lt;br /&gt;
Old-growth forests are exceedingly rare in Laeral due to centuries of human forest cultivation, including pre-colonial and colonial-era forest management. During the colonial era, &amp;quot;scientific forestry&amp;quot; was introduced according to the Daryan model. Intended to produce more reliable and easily-managed timber yields, this process included the replacement of diverse forest landscapes with monocultures of foreign timber trees, with negative consequences for ecosystem diversity and resilience to pests and natural disasters. Subsequent forest management efforts dating to the 1950s and onwards have sought to restore diverse forest environments, yet forest cover remains a small portion of land area in continental Laeral. Xueyan, by contrast, has extensive old-growth forests, many of which are protected from development by the National Wilderness system. The Xianhai Peninsula also holds old-growth forests due to differing development patterns. &lt;br /&gt;
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===National Parks===&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral's national park system preserves lands in a semi-wild state for tourism and recreation. The national parks were established in 1930 as bourgeois desires for natural conservation aligned with the revolutionary government's desire to promote recreational travel and hunting for the industrial working class. During the mid-20th century, national parks were frequently subject to development for state-run tourism resorts and rest homes (the ''Loisirs nationaux'' system), clashing with the conception of national parks as intended for preservation of undeveloped wilderness. In 1977, many national parks which had experienced extensive recreational development were redesignated as National Recreation Areas, while the remainder retained their designation as National Parks and were kept in an state of nature. National Monuments, smaller preservation areas centered on particular natural features, were established subsequently, as were National Wildernesses, nature preserves in Xueyan Special Administrative Region designated for preservation with some administration authorities delegated to indigenous authorities. National Maritime Parks, preserving marine areas, were first created in 1991 as the most recent addition to the national park system. The national park system is administered by the National Park Directorate, at the Interior Ministry.&lt;br /&gt;
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===Urbanization===&lt;br /&gt;
With the growth of cities, an increasing proportion of Laeralian land is in urban use. Although green belts have been frequently proposed for use in various Laeralian cities, efforts to set aside green belts have been stymied. The expansion of urban sprawl remains relatively unchecked by law, and power and transportation infrastructure is allowed a generally free hand in expansion. Nuclear power plants are required by law to be surrounded by a radius of undeveloped area; as a result, the green belts surrounding many nuclear power plants are thriving natural habitats, and are frequently used as parks and natural getaways. &lt;br /&gt;
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Urban agriculture in Laeral dates to the mid-20th century. During the Great War, city dwellers were encouraged to produce food in communal gardens to alleviate food shortages. However, practices of household food cultivation among rural-to-urban migrants (colloquially referred to as ''cherbos'') had existed prior to the Great War through rooftop gardens and the practice of raising rabbits for meat indoors; these practices persist at a minor scale to this day. Community gardens continue to exist in Laeralian cities, although their role in Laeralian food production is marginal. &lt;br /&gt;
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{{notelist}}&lt;br /&gt;
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[[Category: Agriculture]][[Category: History]][[Category: Laeral]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Laeral</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Land_use_in_Laeral&amp;diff=45393</id>
		<title>Land use in Laeral</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Land_use_in_Laeral&amp;diff=45393"/>
		<updated>2026-05-07T03:52:57Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Laeral: &lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;div&gt;'''Land use in Laeral''' refers to the history and practices of the use of land by humans in [[Laeral]]. This encompasses periods of [[Rén]] Laeralite land tenure, land appropriation by [[Arrivée]] settlers during the colonial and First Allied Provinces periods, land reform during Laeral's [[Republican Era]], and increased urbanization and agricultural consolidation from the mid-20th century to the modern day. Land use has impacts on economic outcomes and social and political development, and scholars have used the history of land use in Laeral to explore topics ranging from political affiliation to race relations. &lt;br /&gt;
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==History==&lt;br /&gt;
This section is excerpted from Noël Lavoie-Zhao's chapter &amp;quot;Land Use in Laeral: An Introduction&amp;quot;, in the academic anthology ''Pure Earth, Dirty Hands: Contrasting Narratives of Dispossession, Reclamation, and Stewardship in Laeralian Land Tenure'' (Salaun University Press, 2014). Since 2010, Dr. Lavoie-Zhao has been the Anatole Marchand Professor of History at [[National Open University (Laeral)|Althea City University]].&lt;br /&gt;
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===Colonial Era===&lt;br /&gt;
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[[File:SlaveryinLaeral.jpg|200px|thumb|right|An anti-slavery engraving depicting dozens of enslaved people being forcibly brought to a plantation in Laeral's Riverlands region, circa 1830. The central figure, being manhandled by an overseer, recalls his family's farewell.]]&lt;br /&gt;
During the colonial era, determining possession of agricultural land, particularly in the fertile Eastern Riverlands, Althea, and the Beuvron River Valley, was a central function of government. After the 1807 DeBarre Line was created, marking off the initial bounds of [[Arrivée]] settlement, land west of the line was declared property of the ducal government to apportion as it saw fit. Mass land auctions throughout the early 1800s saw gentlemen speculators as the chief beneficiaries. The most fertile land, often irrigated by centuries-old channels and the site of continuous farming for millennia, was parceled into large plantation domains owned by individual highborn households, operated for profit through the production of wheat, tobacco, rice, indigo, tea, or other crops. Laws against &amp;quot;squatting&amp;quot; and &amp;quot;vagrancy,&amp;quot; leveled against Rén families who sought to remain on their land, carried the sentence of compulsory service as agricultural laborers on the local plantation. The penalty for taking up arms against the state was also often serfdom, often for entire villages or regions, and so by 1845, the dawn of the Laeralian War of Independence, an estimated 900,000 [[Rén]] and [[Metice]] people were enslaved on plantations. Slavery in the colonial Laeralian context, however, was not an inherited status, although it was a racialized one: those born to enslaved laborers were born free, but Arrivée were never enslaved.&lt;br /&gt;
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Perhaps 60% of land area—primarily that which had been cleared and was suitable for large-scale agriculture—was parcelled out between plantations. Much of the remaining land, particularly that which was less hospitable for farming, was owned by small farmers, Rén, Arrivée, and Metice alike. Villages served as a site for cross-racial social interactions: marketplaces, smiths, inns, and the like fostered growing linguistic and cultural exchange. This included the emergence of Laeralian Creole, a polyglot mixture of French and Mandarin which would persist among the largely illiterate population until the standardization of language in the Republican era. The taboo against miscegenation was also transgressed more often at the village level, particularly between transient laborers who had migrated away from the growing expanse of plantation land. It was these villages which were rightfully called, if not the cradle of the war of independence, at least its nursery. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Corveeroads.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Corvée forced laborers in the Xianhai peninsula clearing a road in the aftermath of a landslide.]]&lt;br /&gt;
For free and enslaved Rén alike, the chief interaction with the colonial state was through corvée, forced state labor for a period of one month each year. Instituted as a means of conducting labor-intensive infrastructure upkeep and construction, corvée occurred on a rotating basis based on birth month, so as to minimize disruption to the harvest; for this reason, the colonial state's register of births are a treasure trove for modern historians and genealogists. The construction of roads was a constant preoccupation of the colonial state, seeing as they were essential for transport of goods and movement of soldiers outside of the navigable waterways (the few railroads built in Laeral during the colonial era, totaling less than 120 kilometers, were built exclusively with Arrivée labor). Typical corvée duties included excavating roads after flooding and mudslides, paving roads, and breaking ground for new roads, although in certain locales corvée labor also built government buildings and waystations. Corvée labor was widely despised: it was backbreaking, all-day work for which any rural Rén man between the ages of 15 and 35 would typically be relocated to a work camp and separated from their families for a four week period annually. Payment was nominal and conditions at work camps poor, with strict discipline enforced at the end of a whip or truncheon. &lt;br /&gt;
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Cities, chief among them [[Althea]], St. Clair, Marist, and [[Bethune|Lyrene]], offered the greatest opportunities for social mobility. Going to sea or joining a fisherman's crew was one avenue of escape: on the open seas, few cared the complexion of a man's skin as long as his arms were suited for hauling nets or whaling. The cities saw the emergence of the Laeralian middle class, typically merchants or artisans producing goods for consumption by the nobility. The ducal court was well known for its patronage of the arts and its fondness for fine cuisine, while the seasonal migration between Althea and Marist established by Duke Armand meant that thriving artisan communities sprung up in both cities. Factories were established in limited numbers in urban centers (with the exception of Althea, where strict urban beautification regulations forestalled the erection of smokestacks), including textile mills and brick and steel foundries, typically with the patronage of an interested consortium or individual member of the nobility. Migrants from surrounding rural areas were often the only ones willing to accept factories' beastly conditions; the phenomenon of rural migration to the city spurred the creation of Rén fraternal organizations and women's support circles as well as the first labor unions, inspired by examples from abroad. Regardless, by 1848 industrialization had touched the lives of only a bare amount of the Laeralian people. The majority of the population would remain rural and impoverished, as peasant freeholders, sharecroppers, slaves, or migrant workers, until well after the War of Independence.}} &lt;br /&gt;
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===First Allied Provinces===&lt;br /&gt;
{{box|margin=40px|The [[Laeralian War of Independence]] would upset patterns of land use in the ruralities. The plantation estates had been the sight of great bloodshed during the war, as the formerly enslaved took vengeance on their captors, and the vast majority of the Arrivée nobility had fled northward to what would become the rump state of [[High Fells]]. On some plantations, the Rén enslaved workforce had taken up subsistence farming, while other estates lay fallow for lack of hands to cultivate them. Military pronouncements during the war, such as General G. E. Lematre's Field Order 18, had established a precedent that land tenants and the formerly enslaved were to be permitted to stay on this land. &lt;br /&gt;
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This precedent, however, was not followed by the revolutionary government following the war. Faced with an inability to print enough money to provide back pay to soldiers of the Free Army, many of whom had withstood months of delayed pay, the provisional government's Act No. 14 (&amp;quot;A law on landholdings and tenancy&amp;quot;) ordered plantation land seized, appraised, and turned over to Free Army veterans in lieu of cash payments. For most veterans, the choice was simple: between cash payments in the rapidly-depreciating [[Laeralian mark]] or a tract of land of proven productivity, most Free Army men took the opportunity to achieve land ownership. Based on name analysis, an estimated 30% of the roughly 28,000 Free Army veterans who received land were Rén. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:ArriveeSharecroppers.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Arrivée sharecroppers harvesting wheat under supervision, in an 1857 painting by Auguste de Lemartine, famed for his depictions of agrarian life.]]&lt;br /&gt;
This act of land redistribution transformed Laeralian society by massively enlarging the class of economically self-sufficient peasantry. The newly created landed peasantry, nearly all eligible to vote under franchise restrictions of the time, were a powerful interest group lauded in popular culture and political writings as the backbone of the nation. The rosy image of a nation of salt-of-the-earth independent farmers, however, was deeply flawed. The landed farmer class was never more than a large minority of Laeralites; the majority of peasants remained sharecroppers for these landed farmers or squatters on undesirable land, farming continually for survival. &lt;br /&gt;
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As immigration and natural population growth swelled the population to over 10 million Laeralites, competition for land pushed Laeral's boundaries westward. At this juncture, it's appropriate to consider the nature of the Laeralian frontier during the 1860s and 70s. &lt;br /&gt;
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During the colonial era, the DeBarre Line, seen on maps at slightly west of the Beuvron River, had defined the theoretical westward borders of government control. The line had been proclaimed during the reign of Duke Armand, and shaped patterns of population settlement despite existing only on paper. Through a series of treaties with the squabbling Minjian kingdoms and satrapies west of the line, the colonial government in Althea maintained relative peace on the frontier. However, following independence, Laeralian public opinion massively favored the legalization of westward expansion, rooted in mythicized and [[Anti-Minjian sentiment|anti-Minjian]] conceptions of the frontier as a land of rich agricultural land suffering under weak and brutish rule. &lt;br /&gt;
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Provincial militias hoping to secure territory advanced westward, carrying out a mission termed by historians as &amp;quot;subnational colonialism&amp;quot; — provincial militias, backed by the provincial government and the backing of provincial elites, seized territory by force of arms in brief campaigns often lasting only weeks, only to subsequently seek their fait accompli recognized by the national government. These feats of territorial acquisition sparked a lucrative industry in adventurers, both Laeralian and foreign-born, traveling from province to province offering their services to provincial governments in lucrative territorial-acquisition operations. By and large, these expeditions were successful in sparking short and victorious conflicts, with rare exceptions where canny Rén leaders took advantage of Laeralian overconfidence to defeat provincial militia forces and secure the status quo ante bellum.}} &lt;br /&gt;
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===The Vespasienate===&lt;br /&gt;
{{box|margin=40px|These frontier wars or ''petites guerres,'' and accompanying westward expansion, were a central factor in national politics during the late 19th century. Politics increasingly took on a sectional character, as eastern mercantile interests favored frontier stability so as to foster lucrative trade with the Rén kingdoms, while westerners and the working class largely favored continued expansion so as to secure land ownership on the frontier. The relative stalemate between the two factions, with neither side able to achieve national ascendancy due to the weakness of the national government, would end with the War of the Seven Provinces (1875-1877), where the provincial militias accomplished in colonial warfare with the benefits of organizational and technological superiority floundered against a unified, well-disciplined, and modern foe in Libertas Omnium Maximus. &lt;br /&gt;
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Defeat in the war led to the ascension of [[Vespasien Jamet]], central figure in the politics of the First Allied Provinces. During his nearly thirty-year (1880-1909) tenure in politics, known to historians as the Vespasienate, Jamet as prime minister oversaw a strengthening of the central government, including an expansion of taxation authority and the nation's first standing army; his opponents fruitlessly branded him &amp;quot;Emperor Vespasien I&amp;quot;. A strongman who emerged from and represented the rural wealthy landowning class, Jamet's military and administrative reforms were in large part dedicated to carrying out westward Arrivée settlement and the broader settler-colonial project. In an audacious war against the Zhao kingdom in 1885, Laeralian troops seized the ancient Minjian capital of Miaoshi and annexed the kingdom's territory in its entirety, the largest-yet acquisition of land. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LandSurveyors.jpg|200px|thumb|right|The first step in carving up land was surveying it, a process which relied in part on translating and updating Zhao kingdom taxation maps and in part on the efforts of surveying crews like this one pictured here in Nanhai province.]]&lt;br /&gt;
The status of these new conquests were addressed under the landmark Land Tenure Act of 1888, enacted under Jamet's premiership. This law would, in one swift maneuver, increase the territory of the Laeralian state by nearly one-third while laying the groundwork for the wealthy Arrivée farmer class to expand its dominance across the eastern Riverlands. The Riverlands provinces of Neidong, Enara, Nanhai, Meilun, and Jinhua were created as the first Rén-majority provinces since Laeralian independence; Neidong and Enara had languished for years as nonvoting territories, while the other three new provinces were newly seized from the defunct Zhao kingdom. Agricultural land in these colonies was slated for Arrivée settlement through a new schema by which all rural land would be classified as either &amp;quot;settler&amp;quot; or &amp;quot;reserve&amp;quot; territory. Settler territory, encompassing over 70% of land in these five provinces and drawn to include the richest agricultural land, was reserved for Arrivée commercial farming through land auctions run by the government. The remainder, &amp;quot;reserve&amp;quot; territory for the region's Rén inhabitants, was undesirable, either through distance from road or river arteries, steep slopes, or swampland. Through this formula, which would be replicated in other territories coming under Laeralsford's sway, the dominion of the Arrivée landowner class was preserved and expanded. Other portions of Zhao territory, meanwhile, were left entirely for their Rén inhabitants, yet had no realistic path to provincehood and were instead governed by appointed territorial officials. &lt;br /&gt;
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Some voices within Laeralian society, such as the growing quasi-socialist cooperative movement, called for the newly-acquired land to be governed in collective fashion, approximating the collective farms which were widely understood to have been predominant among the Zhao kingdom. (Collective farming was in actuality a method of land tenure which the Zhao kingdom was transitioning away from at the time of the Laeral-Zhao War; the Laeralian cooperative movement somewhat-inaccurately perceived collective farming as the sole method of Rén land tenure since time immemorial, which was false). For the cooperativists, collective farming was a method of ensuring social harmony and economic resiliency for Laeral's poor, and they decried Prime Minister Jamet's choice to split the conquered territories into tracts of land for individual farmers. The cooperativist movement endured throughout the early 20th century, with its proponents establishing several communes during the late First Allied Provinces era, to varying degrees of success. Nouvelle-Concorde in Jinhua province, which attracted several thousand residents and experimented with collective marriage and child-rearing before its collapse following the Laeralian Revolution, is the most well-known of these. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LandLottery.jpg|200px|thumb|left|The land lottery in Meilun takes place at the provincial capitol, with a crowd of onlookers awaiting the results.]]&lt;br /&gt;
How did land allocation play out on the ground during the Vespasienate? In settler land, newly-constituted provincial governments carried out lotteries for small tracts of land in a populist maneuver; entrance to the lotteries was open to all men regardless of race, with separate lotteries carried out for single and married men. Ticket-holders were guaranteed to be deeded a tract of land, albeit one that could vary in size from as little as 8 hectares to nearly 30 hectares in area, for a registration fee equivalent to roughly two months' wages for a typical workman—in other words, on the very edge of affordability for Laeral's working class. The opportunity for sharecroppers and the urban poor to obtain title to land, and thus, the promise of economic self-sufficiency, was rightfully viewed as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. In fact, marriage rates rose sharply in the months before the land lotteries, suggesting that the opportunity to enter in the married men's lottery for larger plots of land was sufficiently enticing to shift personal behavior. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:PeasantLunch.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Even as more and more family farmers were forced to sell their land to larger landowners, romanticized depictions of Arrivée peasant life, such as this painting by Auguste de Lemartine imitator Rudolphe Just, were continually popular.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Arrivée and Metice people were the greatest beneficiaries of the land lottery, although some Rén were able to afford the registration fee and benefit as well. All those who registered for the lottery received land, although it varied widely in productivity and suitability for farming; common crops included wheat, barley, and rice, as well as various vegetables. Although some small farmers were able to become well-established, particularly those who benefited from agricultural experience and received fertile agricultural land, many would-be farmers found themselves unable to make these tracts of land economically viable, particularly the urban poor with limited experience in farming. By 1898, ten years after the passage of the Land Tenure Act, it was estimated that over half of settler farmers who had benefitted from the land lottery had been forced to sell their property to larger farmers, particularly after poor growing conditions in 1893 forced many small farmers to abandon their lands. These tracts of land were largely absorbed by larger landowners who reestablished sharecropping, often harvesting profitable cash crops instead. Thus, despite the populist promise of the Land Tenure Act that it would expand the class of independent small farmers, it largely instead produced the expansion of the wealthy plantation-farmer class, which held tremendous political influence under Vespasian Jamet's corrupt political order.&lt;br /&gt;
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The impact of the Land Tenure Act's legalized land theft within the provinces subjected to it is difficult to overstate. In the five Riverlands provinces established under the act (sometimes known as the MENNJ provinces in the parlance of civil servants, from the abbreviations of the provinces involved), virtually all Arrivée settlers were made complicit in land theft and the expulsion of Rén inhabitants from their homes. In some cases, these settlers lived in the houses and cottages of the natives they had evicted, with children at play and farmers at work routinely unearthing trinkets, grave sites, or even hastily-abandoned foodstuffs buried in shallow earth in preparation for consumption, such as preserved eggs. Soldiers of the Laeralian Army—recently reorganized and dramatically expanded under the Vespasianate to largely supplant the provincial militias—were used to evict Rén inhabitants and quell the scattered outbreaks of resistance. The consequent forced migration of Rén to &amp;quot;reserve&amp;quot; territory led to widespread poverty, as many were left destitute by being forced from their land. These reserve territories were among the poorest areas of the country, jump-starting Rén migration to Riverlands cities such as Hanshui, Lushui, Gaolan, and Laeralsford in a process known as the [[First Great Migration]]. These cities grew rapidly in size during the last decades of the 19th century, seeing the birth of the initial incarnation of the paramilitary [[Rén Self-Defense League]]. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:ReserveTerritory.jpg|200px|thumb|left|The endemic overcrowding in Rén reserve areas is illustrated by this gathering in Enara province, as onlookers arrive to see an itinerant [[Minjian]] priest at the local temple. Note the mix of traditional garments and Arrivée-style headwear.]]&lt;br /&gt;
During the Laeralian Revolution three decades hence, the Rén reserve areas in Riverlands provinces, overcrowded and full of young people with few economic prospects, would be among the earliest to flock to the banner of [[René Gramont]] and the Army for Democracy and Progress. Land expropriation left scars in the provinces' social fabrics as well: provinces that were the site of forced relocation saw correspondingly greater racial tensions throughout the 20th century, including greater violence during and after the Revolution and other periods of social unrest, as well as economic consequences such as greater poverty and wealth inequality. To this day, the decennial census reveals that the rural areas of the MENNJ provinces are among the most racially-segregated in Laeral. In the last days of the Vespasienate, subsequent Land Tenure Acts in 1907 and 1909 brought the regime of land expropriation and Rén reserve territories to Minsheng, Minzu, and Jianguo as well.}}&lt;br /&gt;
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===Revolutionaries and Republicans===&lt;br /&gt;
{{box|margin=40px|Every modern history textbook from primary school onwards centers land distribution at the heart of the Laeralian Revolution. This is a fact which was well understood at the time as well, with the Republican movement harnessing land-based grievances to fill the ranks of the revolutionary armies. Those who took up arms motivated by land—primarily, but not exclusively, Rén in the Laeralian West—would in turn make demands for land reform on the post-revolution regime. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The death of Vespasien Jamet and the ascendancy of his successor Augustin Brienne as head of what historian Christophe Millet calls the &amp;quot;landowner's regime&amp;quot; in 1909 saw no change to the ongoing process of land expropriation in the west, as Brienne—himself Choisel province's largest landowner—signaled his intention to continue favoring plantation interests as the glue which held his coalition together. The First Fellsian War, which erupted in 1911 and raged until 1916, was in fact a reprieve for Laeral's peasantry. The needs of the nation's war machine spurred the rapid growth of industry, primarily in the Riverlands, which accelerated the existing trend of Rén migration from overcrowded &amp;quot;reserve territories&amp;quot; to cities. The plantation-owning class suffered a rare rebuke at the hands of the national government during the war, as landowners' protests that conscription and the growth of factories were depriving their farms of necessary laborers were disregarded; even the Laeralian Parliament, traditionally the domain of the landowning class, voted down an attempt backed by agrarian interests to exempt farm laborers from the draft. With such a labor shortage, women in some cases took on farming duties, particularly in families whose patriarchs had been dispatched to the front or had moved to the city for work. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The end of the war in 1916, however, meant intensified pressures on Laeral's agrarian workers, tenant farmers and smallholders alike. Not only did the postwar economic crisis raise the costs of agricultural inputs and nearly all consumer goods, but peasants renting their land found their rents raised by large landowners seeking to recoup their wartime losses. To add insult to injury, biased laws on farmland deemed &amp;quot;abandoned&amp;quot; meant that the families of men who had been killed during the war soon found themselves challenged to prove their legal title to the land they farmed or find it confiscated and sold at auction. Even prior to the outbreak of the Revolution in 1918, standoffs and shootouts between veterans and provincial constables over the confiscation of &amp;quot;abandoned&amp;quot; farmland signaled the increased violence around land affairs. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Although the Laeralian Revolution began with an urban uprising in the city of Gaolan, where laborers who were largely migrants from the countryside went on strike over rising food prices, rural demands for land distribution quickly took center stage. At the onset of the widespread uprising, the Committee for Democracy and Progress, led by René Gramont, drafted the Renfeng Platform as its statement of principles. The Committee's plans for land reform were spelled out in detail in the Renfeng Platform, including the return of confiscated property since the war, an end to labor abuses on plantations, and land redistribution accompanied by a legal limit on the size of one landowner's holdings. The National Revolutionary Directorate, another revolutionary organization prominent in eastern Laeral, similarly pledged to support land reform and a cap on landholding acreage, albeit in less detail than the Renfeng Platform. The Republicans' widely-publicized pledges for land reform were the driving factor for many Laeralites to join the revolutionary forces, and featured prominently in propaganda messaging. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Amidst the bloodshed and disruption of the conflict, experiments in land reform were widely carried out at the local level. In many Rén-majority villages in western Laeral, the flight of Arrivée landowners meant that their lands were farmed collectively. Land was in many cases the driving spark of revolutionary violence—as word of the uprising spread, many villagers drove away or executed hated local landlords and divided their lands or farmed them collectively.{{efn|This violence would continue in reprisal killings after the Revolution, with an estimated 6,000 landowners killed extrajudicially nationwide from 1920-22.}} In the Xianhai peninsula, the agrarian-socialist Xianhai Peasants' Front embraced the collectivization of agrarian land, while even in Loyalist strongholds such as the territory governed by the Loiraine Clique, the newly-impoverished refugees fleeing the advance of Republican forces were granted some amounts of agrarian land redistributed from the wealthy by government order. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
With the Republican victory in the Revolution, newly-appointed President Gramont chose to accept the facts on the ground and give government endorsement to the transfers in land ownership which had already taken place during the Revolution, against the wishes of liberals in the Committee for Democracy and Progress. The landmark Land Reform Act of 1923 signaled acceptance of forced transfers in land ownership which had taken place during the war, while declaring that all property belonging to landowners who had fled abroad or served as army officers in Loyalist forces as of the end of hostilities would be seized by the government. The new National Rural Reconstruction Administration (NRRA) was given immense power to administer and divide government-owned land, issue titles formalizing ownership of new lands, and arbitrate land disputes, of which there were many.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In western Laeral, where vicious guerrilla fighting had driven out virtually all Arrivée settlers, Arrivée-held land had largely been already redistributed by the end of the war in 1921. This redistribution was legitimized by the Land Reform Act, which also benefitted traditional methods of collective land ownership prominent in Zhao Country by giving traditional collective land ownership legal weight without formal documentation. The picture in the rest of the country was comparatively much more challenging, as many Arrivée families had remained on their land rather then fleeing, necessitating a thornier process of forced expropriation. The MENNJ provinces presented particular challenges, as the scale of inequity in landholdings was the greatest: the largest decile of landholdings in the MENNJ provinces comprised 71% of agrarian land, compared to only 47% in the eastern Riverlands, 61% in Xianhai, and 39% in southeastern Laeral. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:NRRAofficials.jpg|thumb|right|Officials of the National Rural Reconstruction Administration during a fact-finding mission to Gaolan in 1938]]&lt;br /&gt;
As it was charged with under law, the National Rural Reconstruction Administration opened avenues for petitioners to request redress for land stolen within 60 years of the law's enactment: January 1, 1863. Examiners fanned out across the country to hear these claims, with broad authority to redistribute land at their will belonging to any property of over 100 hectares.{{efn|At many times, the traditional mu (亩) measurement unit, equivalent to one-fifteenth of a hectare, was used: ie, 1500 mu.}} Initially, formal, legal-style hearings were used to determine the validity of a claim, but the immense number of claims to be adjudicated meant that examiners soon resorted to traditional methods of dispute reconciliation, in large part driven by local elders. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Cases of land redistribution were often complex. The acclaimed 1957 Laeralian play ''The Judgment of Fontenay'', although fictional, depicts one of these cases: a 180-hectare plantation in rural Therese province, owned by an elderly widow, is faced with demands for redistribution by sharecroppers, who allege deception and land theft by the widow's now-deceased father over 50 years before. The widow proclaims that the plantation was purchased legitimately, and the deed of sale was destroyed by fire during the Revolution. The politics of the situation are unclear: petitioner and defendant alike are Metice, while the widow's son fought bravely for Republican forces during the Revolution and the sharecroppers include those who joined the militia fighting against the Revolution. Who gains land, and how much? These were the sort of dilemmas assailing NRRA examiners on a daily basis. Open-and-shut cases of wealthy landowners who had fled the country or become officers for the Loyalists and thus forfeited their land were decidedly the minority.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
With the potential for vast financial gain hinging on examiners' decisions, it's remarkable that the process was, by and large, carried our fairly. Attempts at intimidation and bribery of examiners were frequent, but examiners, many of whom had been civil servants prior to the Revolution, by and large were more respectful of the status quo than many had expected, often siding with defendants when theft could not be clearly proven. As a result of examiners' respect for due process and the backlog of cases, the land redistribution process proceeded slowly during the 1920s, particularly in the MENNJ provinces and Xianhai where land inequities were most severe. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Land reform, of course, did not solely consist of shifts in ownership. The 1924 Agrarian Rent Reduction Act gave protections to tenant farmers, primarily by capping rent for agrarian land at 30% of annual yield and strictly limiting year-to-year rises. Prior to this reform, landowners often charged tenant farmers high rents of 40 or 50% of crops harvested, exacerbating rural poverty. The government was also granted the power to void all agrarian rent in the event of natural disaster, and tenant farmers were granted legal protections from eviction. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The slower-than-expected pace of land redistribution under the Land Reform Act of 1923 led to the third and final major land law of Gramont's tenure: the 1928 Land to the Tiller Act. This was the long-promised land cap of the Renfeng Platform, intended to finally transition the Laeralian rural public from tenant farming to land ownership. It ordered the expropriation of all private landholdings of over 40 hectares, which were then administered by the NRRA to be redistributed to the landless or land-deprived.{{efn|The exact hectarage varied based on land quality, although 40 hectares was standard.}} The 40 hectare cap was the subject of great controversy—radicals lobbied for a cap of only 6 to 8 hectares, but concerns over food shortages and the fear of eliminating economies of scale led the government to decide on its 40 hectare limit.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
These three reforms jointly set the stage for a transformation of rural Laeralian society. The proportion of rural tenant farmers fell sharply, from perhaps three-quarters of peasants prior to the Revolution to only around 30% by 1935. With rural land ownership came decreased rural poverty, with minimal corresponding drops in output, although here the effects of land redistribution are difficult to extricate from the effects of agrarian innovations promoted by the government through organizations such as the Rural Agricultural Service. Land redistribution was only the first of a series of transformations impacting rural life during the Republican era, as the rural aspect of the social revolution branded as the Rose Revolution. The typical peasant living through the 1920s and 30s would have witnessed concerted changes instituted from above in every field from women's rights to education and literacy to the creation of a race-blind national identity, but by far the most impactful in his or her everyday life would have been land ownership. It is for this reason that, on visits to rural regions of the country, both President Gramont and Hong Kuo-shu, Director of the National Rural Reconstruction Administration, regularly found themselves greeted by genuine, cheering crowds.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[Agricultural collectivization section to come]}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Green Revolution===&lt;br /&gt;
The small family farm remained the building block of agrarian society in Laeral throughout the Republican era. [[Great War]] and [[Green Revolution]] to come.&lt;br /&gt;
[Droughts, urbanization due to Green Revolution, decollectivization]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Modern Day==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Agriculture===&lt;br /&gt;
A majority of Laeralian land remains devoted to agriculture, primarily through large-scale commercial farming, although a small number of small commercial farms exist for hobby or specialty farming. Small commercial farms in Laeral are largely organized into agricultural cooperatives, an evolution of the collective farm system, which allow for farm goods to be sold at scale to national and international markets. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Rice and wheat are widely-produced staple grains, while a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and legumes are produced as well. Cotton production in Laeral is now nearly non-existent, yet was once a predominant crop during the heyday of Laeralian textile production in the mid-20th century. Hogs and poultry are the most commonly raised meat animals. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Forestry===&lt;br /&gt;
Old-growth forests are exceedingly rare in Laeral due to centuries of human forest cultivation, including pre-colonial and colonial-era forest management. During the colonial era, &amp;quot;scientific forestry&amp;quot; was introduced according to the Daryan model. Intended to produce more reliable and easily-managed timber yields, this process included the replacement of diverse forest landscapes with monocultures of foreign timber trees, with negative consequences for ecosystem diversity and resilience to pests and natural disasters. Subsequent forest management efforts dating to the 1950s and onwards have sought to restore diverse forest environments, yet forest cover remains a small portion of land area in continental Laeral. Xueyan, by contrast, has extensive old-growth forests, many of which are protected from development by the National Wilderness system. The Xianhai Peninsula also holds old-growth forests due to differing development patterns. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===National Parks===&lt;br /&gt;
Laeral's national park system, established in 1930, preserves lands in a semi-wild state for tourism and recreation. During the mid-20th century, national parks were frequently subject to development for state-run tourism resorts and rest homes (the ''Loisirs nationaux'' system), clashing with the conception of national parks as intended for preservation of undeveloped wilderness. In 1977, many national parks which had experienced extensive recreational development were redesignated as National Recreation Areas, while the remainder retained their designation as National Parks and were kept in an state of nature. National Monuments, smaller preservation areas centered on particular natural features, were established subsequently, as were National Wildernesses, nature preserves in Xueyan Special Administrative Region designated for preservation with some administration authorities delegated to indigenous authorities. National Maritime Parks, preserving marine areas, were first created in 1991 as the most recent addition to the national park system. The national park system is administered by the National Park Directorate, at the Interior Ministry.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Urbanization===&lt;br /&gt;
With the growth of cities, an increasing proportion of Laeralian land is in urban use. Although green belts have been frequently proposed for use in various Laeralian cities, efforts to set aside green belts have been stymied. The expansion of urban sprawl remains relatively unchecked by law, and power and transportation infrastructure is allowed a generally free hand in expansion. Nuclear power plants are required by law to be surrounded by a radius of undeveloped area; as a result, the green belts surrounding many nuclear power plants are thriving natural habitats, and are frequently used as parks and natural getaways. &lt;br /&gt;
{{notelist}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category: Agriculture]][[Category: History]][[Category: Laeral]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Laeral</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Hong_Kuo-shu&amp;diff=45391</id>
		<title>Hong Kuo-shu</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Hong_Kuo-shu&amp;diff=45391"/>
		<updated>2026-04-23T14:49:04Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Laeral: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[File:HongKuo-shu.PNG|200px|thumb|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
'''Hong Kuo-shu''' was a politician and political theorist active during the [[Republican Era]] in [[Laeral]]. A member of the [[Republic of Laeral]]'s ruling clique known as the [[Gang of Five]], Hong held numerous government positions from 1923 to 1952, including serving as Prime Minister, Vice-President, and Party Secretary of the [[Social Democratic Party (Laeral)|Social Democratic Party]]. A highly-effective guerrilla leader, Hong led the Rose Army in Western Laeral during the [[Laeralian Revolution]], and later drew on this experience to write ''On People's War'', a foundational manual on guerrilla warfare which became widely read by insurgents and revolutionaries worldwide.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
He was appointed as Director of the National Rural Reconstruction Administration, responsible for [[Land use in Laeral|land reform]], following the Laeralian Revolution. A leading light in the Republican government's rural programs and as Interior Minister, Hong was named as the leading Social Democratic Party candidate in the [[1932 Laeralian legislative election]]. Serving as prime minister for five years, Hong next became vice-president of Laeral during [[Jean-Philippe Salaun|President J.P. Salaun's]] second term. A [[Gramontism|Gramontist]] theorist as well as a public official, Hong authored the ''Scientific Program for Virtue and Self-Strengthening'' during his tenure as Vice President, his crowning contribution to the Gramontist literature.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
As a skilled political actor who had gained influence within the party and respect for his service as Vice-President, Hong became the leader of a powerful &amp;quot;vermilion&amp;quot; or &amp;quot;countryside&amp;quot; faction within the SDP, which opposed the liberalization programs of President [[Zhou Wei-lin]]. After the party's liberal &amp;quot;scarlet&amp;quot; faction triumphed in the power struggles of 1951-2, Hong and his supporters in the military attempted a coup in summer 1952, known as the [[Bloody Summer]]. When rebel forces were defeated, Hong was brought to trial in 1953, where he was sentenced to death. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Early Life==&lt;br /&gt;
Hong was born in rural [[Sendrasi]] in 1885, the second-eldest of five children. His father was a low-level civil servant, allowing Hong to pursue an education. With the financial assistance of a sympathetic provincial minister, Hong attended high school and pursued college study equivalent to an associate's degree. Briefly appointed as a railroad stationmaster in 1908, Hong subsequently taught history at a lycée in Jinyu, where he was known for his fascination with military affairs. In this time, Hong joined the [[6th of May Society]], a secret society dedicated to liberal values, before leaving the organization due to its early endorsement of [[Augustin Brienne]]'s policies as prime minister. In addition to his work as a teacher, Hong served as editor and chief copywriter at an underground newspaper, ''Current of Today'', where he criticized government policies and endorsed socialism, land reform, and racial equality. He was briefly imprisoned in 1912 after criticizing the [[First Fellsian War]], and was later conscripted into the army as a private, serving from 1914 to 1916. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Laeralian Revolution==&lt;br /&gt;
With the outbreak of street violence in 1918 at the start of the [[Laeralian Revolution]], Hong was immediately arrested only to be freed from prison in Jinyu during a riot. Assuming leadership of rioters in Jinyu due to his role at ''Current of Today'', Hong attended the Renfeng Convention, where he became a member of the Committee for Democracy and Progress, signed the Renfeng Platform as the delegate for [[Therese]], and first met fellow members of the [[Gang of Five]], including [[René Gramont]]. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Hong's return to Jinyu was prevented due to the defeat of the uprising there. Returning home to Sendrasi in winter 1918, Hong assumed command of local forces using his status as a Renfeng Platform signatory. Alongside his brothers, Hong led the Rose Army's forces in the &amp;quot;Peichen Triangle&amp;quot; of Sendrasi, Meilun, and Fuxing provinces. Hong proved an exceptional guerrilla commander and overran government outposts in many cases without a fight, occasionally clashing with rival revolutionary groups such as Chang &amp;quot;the Cripple&amp;quot; Shuo-bin's Zhao nationalists. In the Peichen Triangle as in much of Western Laeral, fighting during the Revolution was chaotic with few fixed battle lines and frequent violence against civilians on all sides. Hong's forces were responsible for torching [[Arrivée]] villages and executing Arrivée captives and Loyalist collaborators. Most infamous was the Shougouang Massacre in Jianguo, where guerrillas under Hong's authority executed over 100 civilians in the village of Shougouang. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Hong Kuo-shu Uniform.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Hong Kuo-shu in uniform as a general in the Rose Army, circa 1921.]]&lt;br /&gt;
The effectiveness of Hong's military leadership is widely respected, as Hong built up Rose Army forces in the region and pushed Loyalist forces out of the Peichen Triangle entirely by late 1919. In September 1919, the Committee for Democracy and Progress named Hong as commander of the Western Front with the rank of Major General, on an equal footing with Yang Ching-tsan and J.P. Salaun and subordinate only to Gramont himself. Operating largely autonomously, Hong successfully subdued or subordinated all rival military forces in western Laeral over the course of 1919 and 1920. Under Hong's orders, soldiers in western Laeral carried out land reform, redistributing agricultural land from Arrivée settlers to Rén farmers. During his period as commander of the Western Front, Hong also wrote ''The Struggle in Western Laeral'', which was later expanded into the 1925 book ''On People's War'', a defining text on guerrilla warfare.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Republican Politics==&lt;br /&gt;
In 1923, Hong was appointed as Director of the National Rural Reconstruction Administration, responsible for rural development and [[Land use in Laeral|land reform]]. Although perhaps the position was intended to marginalize him, particularly at the behest of his rival General Yang Ching-tsan, the land reform program was wildly popular and Hong made himself a household name nationwide through his skill at self-promotion. In 1927, Hong's reputation as an efficient administrator led him to be named Interior Minister, responsible for rural development, public lands, and internal security. From this position, Hong began to develop a network of followers within the military and state apparatus; for instance, his brother Hong Shou-hsun was appointed as governor of [[Jianguo]]. After suppressing an uprising in [[Cenefort]], Hong assumed military leadership in 1929 as Chief of the General Staff, the military's highest ranking officer, replacing his rival Yang Ching-tsan. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 1932, Hong was appointed as the Social Democratic Party's leading candidate in the 1932 legislative election and assumed the role of Prime Minister. In this role, he sought to expand the SDP into a mass party and pursue collectivization of economic enterprises, as well as carrying out President J.P. Salaun's anti-clerical measures. He disliked the prime ministership's distance from his rural base of support and felt marginalized by Salaun and Vice-President Sun Jia-wei, and by 1937 at the Fourth SDP Congress, he engineered his own selection as Vice-President. By 1937, Hong had become a full member of the informal clique of SDP leaders which became known as the [[Gang of Five]], which made collective decisions on the nation's course during the 1930s and 40s.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
By 1942, having served five years as vice-president, Hong anticipated that he would be selected as Salaun's successor at the Fifth SDP Congress. However, his rivals in the party's moderate wing began a rumor campaign that Hong was morally dissolute and aimed to concentrate power among his own followers, successfully ensuring the selection of Zhou Wei-lin as president and Alban Hamel as vice-president. Hong was forced to accept a relative demotion as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense in Tsai Ming-yan's government, although true power in that cabinet was generally considered to rest with Hong. With influential followers such as [[Fai Chao-ming]], whom Hong engineered as leader of the powerful Social Democratic Internal Investigations Office, Hong's power grew to rival that of President Zhou.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
1923-1927: Director of the National Rural Reconstruction Administration&lt;br /&gt;
1927-1929: Interior Minister&lt;br /&gt;
1929-1932: Chief of the General Staff&lt;br /&gt;
1932-1937: Prime Minister&lt;br /&gt;
1937-1942: Vice-President&lt;br /&gt;
1942: defeated in bid for presidency by Zhou Wei-lin&lt;br /&gt;
1942-1947: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense&lt;br /&gt;
1947: defeated in bid for presidency by Sun Jia-wei&lt;br /&gt;
1947-1952: Deputy Prime Minister and SDP Party Secretary&lt;br /&gt;
1952: defeated in bid for presidency by Sun Jia-wei; Bloody Summer coup attempt&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Former president [[René Gramont]], meanwhile, had at this time distanced himself from internal party politics, instead concerning himself with cultural endeavors and his theoretical texts. In 1947, at the Sixth Social Democratic Party Congress, Hong's influence in the party meant that Zhou's renomination as president was blocked, yet, unable to engineer his own elevation to the presidency, Hong instead secured the position of Party Secretary. Coining the maxim &amp;quot;the conductor is the train's helmsman and the wheels only its base,&amp;quot; Hong argued for the Party's reassertion of control over Laeralian public life.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Bloody Summer==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category: Laeral]] [[Category: People]] [[Category: Politics]] [[Category: History]] [[Category: Gramontism]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Laeral</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Hong_Kuo-shu&amp;diff=45389</id>
		<title>Hong Kuo-shu</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Hong_Kuo-shu&amp;diff=45389"/>
		<updated>2026-04-21T19:01:50Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Laeral: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[File:HongKuo-shu.PNG|200px|thumb|right]]&lt;br /&gt;
'''Hong Kuo-shu''' was a politician and political theorist active during the [[Republican Era]] in [[Laeral]]. A member of the [[Gang of Five]], Hong held numerous government positions from 1923 to 1952, including serving as Prime Minister, Vice-President, and Party Secretary of the [[Social Democratic Party (Laeral)|Social Democratic Party]]. A [[Gramontism|Gramontist]] theorist known for his theoretical work, Hong led the Rose Army in Western Laeral during the [[Laeralian Revolution]] and was appointed as Director of the National Rural Reconstruction Administration, responsible for land reform, following the war. A leading light in the Republican government's rural programs and as Interior Minister, Hong was named as the leading Social Democratic Party candidate in the [[1932 Laeralian legislative election]]. Serving as prime minister for five years, Hong next became vice-president of Laeral during [[Jean-Philippe Salaun|President J.P. Salaun's]] second term. It was during this period that Hong authored the ''Scientific Program for Virtue and Self-Strengthening'', his crowning contribution to the Gramontist literature.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
As a skilled political actor who had gained influence within the party and respect for his service as Vice-President, Hong became the leader of a powerful &amp;quot;vermilion&amp;quot; or &amp;quot;countryside&amp;quot; faction within the SDP, which opposed the liberalization programs of President [[Zhou Wei-lin]]. After the party's liberal &amp;quot;scarlet&amp;quot; faction triumphed in the power struggles of 1951-2, Hong and his supporters in the military attempted a coup in summer 1952, known as the [[Bloody Summer]]. When rebel forces were defeated, Hong was brought to trial in 1953, where he was sentenced to death. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Early Life==&lt;br /&gt;
Hong was born in rural [[Sendrasi]] in 1885, the second-eldest of five children. His father was a low-level civil servant, allowing Hong to pursue an education. With the financial assistance of a sympathetic provincial minister, Hong attended high school and pursued college study equivalent to an associate's degree. Briefly appointed as a railroad stationmaster in 1908, Hong subsequently taught history at a lycée in Jinyu, where he was known for his fascination with military affairs. In this time, Hong joined the [[6th of May Society]], a secret society dedicated to liberal values, before leaving the organization due to its early endorsement of [[Augustin Brienne]]'s policies as prime minister. In addition to his work as a teacher, Hong served as editor and chief copywriter at an underground newspaper, ''Current of Today'', where he criticized government policies and endorsed socialism, land reform, and racial equality. He was briefly imprisoned in 1912 after criticizing the [[First Fellsian War]], and was later conscripted into the army as a private, serving from 1914 to 1916. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Laeralian Revolution==&lt;br /&gt;
With the outbreak of street violence in 1918 at the start of the [[Laeralian Revolution]], Hong was immediately arrested only to be freed from prison in Jinyu during a riot. Assuming leadership of rioters in Jinyu due to his role at ''Current of Today'', Hong attended the Renfeng Convention, where he became a member of the Committee for Democracy and Progress, signed the Renfeng Platform as the delegate for [[Therese]], and met fellow members of the [[Gang of Five]], including [[René Gramont]]. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Hong's return to Jinyu was prevented due to the destruction of the uprising there. Returning home to Sendrasi in winter 1918, Hong assumed command of local forces using his status as a Renfeng Platform signatory. Alongside his brothers, Hong led the Rose Army's forces in the &amp;quot;Peichen Triangle&amp;quot; of Sendrasi, Meilun, and Fuxing provinces. Hong proved an exceptional guerrilla commander and overran government outposts in many cases without a fight, occasionally clashing with rival revolutionary groups such as Chang &amp;quot;the Cripple&amp;quot; Shuo-bin's Zhao nationalists. In the Peichen Triangle as in much of Western Laeral, fighting during the Revolution was chaotic with few fixed battle lines and frequent violence against civilians on all sides. Hong's forces were responsible for torching [[Arrivée]] villages and executing Arrivée captives and Loyalist collaborators. Most infamous was the Shougouang Massacre in Jianguo, where guerrillas under Hong's authority executed over 100 civilians in the village of Shougouang. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Hong Kuo-shu Uniform.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Hong Kuo-shu in uniform as a general in the Rose Army, circa 1921.]]&lt;br /&gt;
The effectiveness of Hong's military leadership is widely respected, as Hong built up Rose Army forces in the region and pushed Loyalist forces out of the Peichen Triangle entirely by late 1919. In September 1919, the Committee for Democracy and Progress named Hong as commander of the Western Front with the rank of Major General, on an equal footing with Yang Ching-tsan and J.P. Salaun and subordinate only to Gramont himself. Operating largely autonomously, Hong successfully subdued or subordinated all rival military forces in western Laeral over the course of 1919 and 1920. Under Hong's orders, soldiers in western Laeral carried out land reform, redistributing agricultural land from Arrivée settlers to Rén farmers. During his period as commander of the Western Front, Hong also wrote ''The Struggle in Western Laeral'', which was later expanded into the 1925 book ''On People's War'', a defining text on guerrilla warfare.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Republican Politics==&lt;br /&gt;
In 1923, Hong was appointed as Director of the National Rural Reconstruction Administration, responsible for rural development and [[Land use in Laeral|land reform]]. Although perhaps the position was intended to marginalize him, particularly at the behest of his rival General Yang Ching-tsan, the land reform program was wildly popular and Hong skillfully made himself a household name nationwide. In 1927, Hong's reputation as an efficient administrator led him to be named Interior Minister, responsible for rural development, public lands, and internal security. From this position, Hong began to develop a network of followers within the military and state apparatus; for instance, his brother Hong Shou-hsun was appointed as governor of [[Jianguo]]. After suppressing an uprising in [[Cenefort]], Hong assumed military leadership in 1929 as Chief of the General Staff, the military's highest ranking officer, replacing his rival Yang Ching-tsan. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 1932, Hong was appointed as the Social Democratic Party's leading candidate in the 1932 legislative election and assumed the role of Prime Minister. In this role, he sought to expand the SDP into a mass party and pursue collectivization of economic enterprises, as well as carrying out President J.P. Salaun's anti-clerical measures. He disliked the prime ministership's distance from his rural base of support and felt marginalized by Salaun and Vice-President Sun Jia-wei, and by 1937 at the Fourth SDP Congress, he engineered his own selection as Vice-President. By 1937, Hong had become a full member of the informal clique of SDP leaders which became known as the [[Gang of Five]], which made collective decisions on the nation's course during the 1930s and 40s.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
By 1942, having served five years as vice-president, Hong anticipated that he would be selected as Salaun's successor at the Fifth SDP Congress. However, his rivals in the party's moderate wing began a rumor campaign that Hong was morally dissolute and aimed to concentrate power among his own followers, successfully ensuring the selection of Zhou Wei-lin as president and Alban Hamel as vice-president. Hong was forced to accept a relative demotion as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense in Tsai Ming-yan's government, although true power in that cabinet was generally considered to rest with Hong. With influential followers such as [[Fai Chao-ming]], whom Hong engineered as leader of the powerful Social Democratic Internal Investigations Office, Hong's power grew to rival that of President Zhou.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
1923-1927: Director of the National Rural Reconstruction Administration&lt;br /&gt;
1927-1929: Interior Minister&lt;br /&gt;
1929-1932: Chief of the General Staff&lt;br /&gt;
1932-1937: Prime Minister&lt;br /&gt;
1937-1942: Vice-President&lt;br /&gt;
1942: defeated in bid for presidency by Zhou Wei-lin&lt;br /&gt;
1942-1947: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense&lt;br /&gt;
1947: defeated in bid for presidency by Sun Jia-wei&lt;br /&gt;
1947-1952: Deputy Prime Minister and SDP Party Secretary&lt;br /&gt;
1952: defeated in bid for presidency by Sun Jia-wei; Bloody Summer coup attempt&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Former president [[René Gramont]], meanwhile, had at this time distanced himself from internal party politics, instead concerning himself with cultural endeavors and his theoretical texts. In 1947, at the Sixth Social Democratic Party Congress, Hong's influence in the party meant that Zhou's renomination as president was blocked, yet, unable to engineer his own elevation to the presidency, Hong instead secured the position of Party Secretary. Coining the maxim &amp;quot;the conductor is the train's helmsman and the wheels only its base,&amp;quot; Hong argued for the Party's reassertion of control over Laeralian public life.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Bloody Summer==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category: Laeral]] [[Category: People]] [[Category: Politics]] [[Category: History]] [[Category: Gramontism]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Laeral</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Civic_volition&amp;diff=45385</id>
		<title>Civic volition</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Civic_volition&amp;diff=45385"/>
		<updated>2026-04-21T17:48:25Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Laeral: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[File:Civicvolition.jpg|thumb|right|In 1935, six University of Loiraine women students were applauded in the newspaper &amp;quot;Republique&amp;quot; for their initiative in caring for invalid veterans, in an example of everyday civic volition.]]&lt;br /&gt;
'''Civic volition''' (Fr: ''volonté civique'') is a [[Gramontism|Gramontist]] concept of spontaneous, self-directed communal efforts which result from political and social education among the public. In Gramontist thought, emancipatory policies which permit all of society to work to their fullest potential, coupled with political education to shape a unified political vision, lead communities or work groups to achieve spontaneous feats of communal self-betterment through civic volition. Civic volition was in frequent use in state and private discourse during the [[Republican Era]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The term &amp;quot;civic volition&amp;quot; was first used by [[René Gramont]] in a 1932 speech at an agricultural cooperative in Meilinis. It was adopted into state propaganda throughout the 1930s, with the state newspaper ''Republique'' frequently featuring stories on villages or factory work shifts producing spontaneous community projects, such as digging irrigation canals, erecting billboards, or engaging in spontaneous land redistribution. These acts of civic volition were valorized as demonstrating exemplary socialist civic spirit. In Gramontist thought, revolution itself is a form of civic volition, and thus civic volition is the practice of carrying out the revolution on a day-to-day basis. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In contrast with communist propaganda in other nations which typically valorized individual workers, Gramontist discourse, with its focus on collective effort, almost entirely valorized the collective efforts of small groups, work shifts, or entire towns or collectives. Decorations for exemplary achievements in civic volition included the Order of Heroic Labor, typically awarded to collectives or work groups, and the Hero of Civic Production medal.  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The cult of personality surrounding René Gramont and other leaders of the Laeralian Republic was often attributed in regime discourse to spontaneous acts of civic volition, rather than as state-directed activities. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Some post-republican Gramontist thinkers have sought to reimagine civic volition as civic or public-spiritedness. The term &amp;quot;civic volition&amp;quot; remains in public discourse decades following the end of the Laeralian Republic; for instance, civic efforts to clean up pollution and plant trees as part of the Laeralian environmental movement of the 1980s and 90s were described as acts of civic volition.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category: Laeral]][[Category: Gramontism]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Laeral</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Land_use_in_Laeral&amp;diff=45384</id>
		<title>Land use in Laeral</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Land_use_in_Laeral&amp;diff=45384"/>
		<updated>2026-04-20T22:56:24Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Laeral: /* Revolutionaries and Republicans */&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;'''Land use in Laeral''' refers to the history and practices of the use of land by humans in [[Laeral]]. This encompasses periods of [[Rén]] Laeralite land tenure, land appropriation by [[Arrivée]] settlers during the colonial and First Allied Provinces periods, land reform during Laeral's [[Republican Era]], and increased urbanization and agricultural consolidation from the mid-20th century to the modern day. Land use has impacts on economic outcomes and social and political development, and scholars have used the history of land use in Laeral to explore topics ranging from political affiliation to race relations. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==History==&lt;br /&gt;
This section is excerpted from Noël Lavoie-Zhao's chapter &amp;quot;Land Use in Laeral: An Introduction&amp;quot;, in the academic anthology ''Pure Earth, Dirty Hands: Contrasting Narratives of Dispossession, Reclamation, and Stewardship in Laeralian Land Tenure'' (Salaun University Press, 2014). Since 2010, Dr. Lavoie-Zhao has been the Anatole Marchand Professor of History at [[National Open University (Laeral)|Althea City University]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Colonial Era===&lt;br /&gt;
{{box|margin=40px|&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:SlaveryinLaeral.jpg|200px|thumb|right|An anti-slavery engraving depicting dozens of enslaved people being forcibly brought to a plantation in Laeral's Riverlands region, circa 1830. The central figure, being manhandled by an overseer, recalls his family's farewell.]]&lt;br /&gt;
During the colonial era, determining possession of agricultural land, particularly in the fertile Eastern Riverlands, Althea, and the Beuvron River Valley, was a central function of government. After the 1807 DeBarre Line was created, marking off the initial bounds of [[Arrivée]] settlement, land west of the line was declared property of the ducal government to apportion as it saw fit. Mass land auctions throughout the early 1800s saw gentlemen speculators as the chief beneficiaries. The most fertile land, often irrigated by centuries-old channels and the site of continuous farming for millennia, was parceled into large plantation domains owned by individual highborn households, operated for profit through the production of wheat, tobacco, rice, indigo, tea, or other crops. Laws against &amp;quot;squatting&amp;quot; and &amp;quot;vagrancy,&amp;quot; leveled against Rén families who sought to remain on their land, carried the sentence of compulsory service as agricultural laborers on the local plantation. The penalty for taking up arms against the state was also often serfdom, often for entire villages or regions, and so by 1845, the dawn of the Laeralian War of Independence, an estimated 900,000 [[Rén]] and [[Metice]] people were enslaved on plantations. Slavery in the colonial Laeralian context, however, was not an inherited status, although it was a racialized one: those born to enslaved laborers were born free, but Arrivée were never enslaved.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Perhaps 60% of land area—primarily that which had been cleared and was suitable for large-scale agriculture—was parcelled out between plantations. Much of the remaining land, particularly that which was less hospitable for farming, was owned by small farmers, Rén, Arrivée, and Metice alike. Villages served as a site for cross-racial social interactions: marketplaces, smiths, inns, and the like fostered growing linguistic and cultural exchange. This included the emergence of Laeralian Creole, a polyglot mixture of French and Mandarin which would persist among the largely illiterate population until the standardization of language in the Republican era. The taboo against miscegenation was also transgressed more often at the village level, particularly between transient laborers who had migrated away from the growing expanse of plantation land. It was these villages which were rightfully called, if not the cradle of the war of independence, at least its nursery. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Corveeroads.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Corvée forced laborers in the Xianhai peninsula clearing a road in the aftermath of a landslide.]]&lt;br /&gt;
For free and enslaved Rén alike, the chief interaction with the colonial state was through corvée, forced state labor for a period of one month each year. Instituted as a means of conducting labor-intensive infrastructure upkeep and construction, corvée occurred on a rotating basis based on birth month, so as to minimize disruption to the harvest; for this reason, the colonial state's register of births are a treasure trove for modern historians and genealogists. The construction of roads was a constant preoccupation of the colonial state, seeing as they were essential for transport of goods and movement of soldiers outside of the navigable waterways (the few railroads built in Laeral during the colonial era, totaling less than 120 kilometers, were built exclusively with Arrivée labor). Typical corvée duties included excavating roads after flooding and mudslides, paving roads, and breaking ground for new roads, although in certain locales corvée labor also built government buildings and waystations. Corvée labor was widely despised: it was backbreaking, all-day work for which any rural Rén man between the ages of 15 and 35 would typically be relocated to a work camp and separated from their families for a four week period annually. Payment was nominal and conditions at work camps poor, with strict discipline enforced at the end of a whip or truncheon. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Cities, chief among them [[Althea]], St. Clair, Marist, and [[Bethune|Lyrene]], offered the greatest opportunities for social mobility. Going to sea or joining a fisherman's crew was one avenue of escape: on the open seas, few cared the complexion of a man's skin as long as his arms were suited for hauling nets or whaling. The cities saw the emergence of the Laeralian middle class, typically merchants or artisans producing goods for consumption by the nobility. The ducal court was well known for its patronage of the arts and its fondness for fine cuisine, while the seasonal migration between Althea and Marist established by Duke Armand meant that thriving artisan communities sprung up in both cities. Factories were established in limited numbers in urban centers (with the exception of Althea, where strict urban beautification regulations forestalled the erection of smokestacks), including textile mills and brick and steel foundries, typically with the patronage of an interested consortium or individual member of the nobility. Migrants from surrounding rural areas were often the only ones willing to accept factories' beastly conditions; the phenomenon of rural migration to the city spurred the creation of Rén fraternal organizations and women's support circles as well as the first labor unions, inspired by examples from abroad. Regardless, by 1848 industrialization had touched the lives of only a bare amount of the Laeralian people. The majority of the population would remain rural and impoverished, as peasant freeholders, sharecroppers, slaves, or migrant workers, until well after the War of Independence.}} &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===First Allied Provinces===&lt;br /&gt;
{{box|margin=40px|The [[Laeralian War of Independence]] would upset patterns of land use in the ruralities. The plantation estates had been the sight of great bloodshed during the war, as the formerly enslaved took vengeance on their captors, and the vast majority of the Arrivée nobility had fled northward to what would become the rump state of [[High Fells]]. On some plantations, the Rén enslaved workforce had taken up subsistence farming, while other estates lay fallow for lack of hands to cultivate them. Military pronouncements during the war, such as General G. E. Lematre's Field Order 18, had established a precedent that land tenants and the formerly enslaved were to be permitted to stay on this land. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This precedent, however, was not followed by the revolutionary government following the war. Faced with an inability to print enough money to provide back pay to soldiers of the Free Army, many of whom had withstood months of delayed pay, the provisional government's Act No. 14 (&amp;quot;A law on landholdings and tenancy&amp;quot;) ordered plantation land seized, appraised, and turned over to Free Army veterans in lieu of cash payments. For most veterans, the choice was simple: between cash payments in the rapidly-depreciating [[Laeralian mark]] or a tract of land of proven productivity, most Free Army men took the opportunity to achieve land ownership. Based on name analysis, an estimated 30% of the roughly 28,000 Free Army veterans who received land were Rén. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:ArriveeSharecroppers.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Arrivée sharecroppers harvesting wheat under supervision, in an 1857 painting by Auguste de Lemartine, famed for his depictions of agrarian life.]]&lt;br /&gt;
This act of land redistribution transformed Laeralian society by massively enlarging the class of economically self-sufficient peasantry. The newly created landed peasantry, nearly all eligible to vote under franchise restrictions of the time, were a powerful interest group lauded in popular culture and political writings as the backbone of the nation. The rosy image of a nation of salt-of-the-earth independent farmers, however, was deeply flawed. The landed farmer class was never more than a large minority of Laeralites; the majority of peasants remained sharecroppers for these landed farmers or squatters on undesirable land, farming continually for survival. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
As immigration and natural population growth swelled the population to over 10 million Laeralites, competition for land pushed Laeral's boundaries westward. At this juncture, it's appropriate to consider the nature of the Laeralian frontier during the 1860s and 70s. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
During the colonial era, the DeBarre Line, seen on maps at slightly west of the Beuvron River, had defined the theoretical westward borders of government control. The line had been proclaimed during the reign of Duke Armand, and shaped patterns of population settlement despite existing only on paper. Through a series of treaties with the squabbling Minjian kingdoms and satrapies west of the line, the colonial government in Althea maintained relative peace on the frontier. However, following independence, Laeralian public opinion massively favored the legalization of westward expansion, rooted in mythicized and [[Anti-Minjian sentiment|anti-Minjian]] conceptions of the frontier as a land of rich agricultural land suffering under weak and brutish rule. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Provincial militias hoping to secure territory advanced westward, carrying out a mission termed by historians as &amp;quot;subnational colonialism&amp;quot; — provincial militias, backed by the provincial government and the backing of provincial elites, seized territory by force of arms in brief campaigns often lasting only weeks, only to subsequently seek their fait accompli recognized by the national government. These feats of territorial acquisition sparked a lucrative industry in adventurers, both Laeralian and foreign-born, traveling from province to province offering their services to provincial governments in lucrative territorial-acquisition operations. By and large, these expeditions were successful in sparking short and victorious conflicts, with rare exceptions where canny Rén leaders took advantage of Laeralian overconfidence to defeat provincial militia forces and secure the status quo ante bellum.}} &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===The Vespasienate===&lt;br /&gt;
{{box|margin=40px|These frontier wars or ''petites guerres,'' and accompanying westward expansion, were a central factor in national politics during the late 19th century. Politics increasingly took on a sectional character, as eastern mercantile interests favored frontier stability so as to foster lucrative trade with the Rén kingdoms, while westerners and the working class largely favored continued expansion so as to secure land ownership on the frontier. The relative stalemate between the two factions, with neither side able to achieve national ascendancy due to the weakness of the national government, would end with the War of the Seven Provinces (1875-1877), where the provincial militias accomplished in colonial warfare with the benefits of organizational and technological superiority floundered against a unified, well-disciplined, and modern foe in Libertas Omnium Maximus. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Defeat in the war led to the ascension of [[Vespasien Jamet]], central figure in the politics of the First Allied Provinces. During his nearly thirty-year (1880-1909) tenure in politics, known to historians as the Vespasienate, Jamet as prime minister oversaw a strengthening of the central government, including an expansion of taxation authority and the nation's first standing army; his opponents fruitlessly branded him &amp;quot;Emperor Vespasien I&amp;quot;. A strongman who emerged from and represented the rural wealthy landowning class, Jamet's military and administrative reforms were in large part dedicated to carrying out westward Arrivée settlement and the broader settler-colonial project. In an audacious war against the Zhao kingdom in 1885, Laeralian troops seized the ancient Minjian capital of Miaoshi and annexed the kingdom's territory in its entirety, the largest-yet acquisition of land. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LandSurveyors.jpg|200px|thumb|right|The first step in carving up land was surveying it, a process which relied in part on translating and updating Zhao kingdom taxation maps and in part on the efforts of surveying crews like this one pictured here in Nanhai province.]]&lt;br /&gt;
The status of these new conquests were addressed under the landmark Land Tenure Act of 1888, enacted under Jamet's premiership. This law would, in one swift maneuver, increase the territory of the Laeralian state by nearly one-third while laying the groundwork for the wealthy Arrivée farmer class to expand its dominance across the eastern Riverlands. The Riverlands provinces of Neidong, Enara, Nanhai, Meilun, and Jinhua were created as the first Rén-majority provinces since Laeralian independence; Neidong and Enara had languished for years as nonvoting territories, while the other three new provinces were newly seized from the defunct Zhao kingdom. Agricultural land in these colonies was slated for Arrivée settlement through a new schema by which all rural land would be classified as either &amp;quot;settler&amp;quot; or &amp;quot;reserve&amp;quot; territory. Settler territory, encompassing over 70% of land in these five provinces and drawn to include the richest agricultural land, was reserved for Arrivée commercial farming through land auctions run by the government. The remainder, &amp;quot;reserve&amp;quot; territory for the region's Rén inhabitants, was undesirable, either through distance from road or river arteries, steep slopes, or swampland. Through this formula, which would be replicated in other territories coming under Laeralsford's sway, the dominion of the Arrivée landowner class was preserved and expanded. Other portions of Zhao territory, meanwhile, were left entirely for their Rén inhabitants, yet had no realistic path to provincehood and were instead governed by appointed territorial officials. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Some voices within Laeralian society, such as the growing quasi-socialist cooperative movement, called for the newly-acquired land to be governed in collective fashion, approximating the collective farms which were widely understood to have been predominant among the Zhao kingdom. (Collective farming was in actuality a method of land tenure which the Zhao kingdom was transitioning away from at the time of the Laeral-Zhao War; the Laeralian cooperative movement somewhat-inaccurately perceived collective farming as the sole method of Rén land tenure since time immemorial, which was false). For the cooperativists, collective farming was a method of ensuring social harmony and economic resiliency for Laeral's poor, and they decried Prime Minister Jamet's choice to split the conquered territories into tracts of land for individual farmers. The cooperativist movement endured throughout the early 20th century, with its proponents establishing several communes during the late First Allied Provinces era, to varying degrees of success. Nouvelle-Concorde in Jinhua province, which attracted several thousand residents and experimented with collective marriage and child-rearing before its collapse following the Laeralian Revolution, is the most well-known of these. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LandLottery.jpg|200px|thumb|left|The land lottery in Meilun takes place at the provincial capitol, with a crowd of onlookers awaiting the results.]]&lt;br /&gt;
How did land allocation play out on the ground during the Vespasienate? In settler land, newly-constituted provincial governments carried out lotteries for small tracts of land in a populist maneuver; entrance to the lotteries was open to all men regardless of race, with separate lotteries carried out for single and married men. Ticket-holders were guaranteed to be deeded a tract of land, albeit one that could vary in size from as little as 8 hectares to nearly 30 hectares in area, for a registration fee equivalent to roughly two months' wages for a typical workman—in other words, on the very edge of affordability for Laeral's working class. The opportunity for sharecroppers and the urban poor to obtain title to land, and thus, the promise of economic self-sufficiency, was rightfully viewed as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. In fact, marriage rates rose sharply in the months before the land lotteries, suggesting that the opportunity to enter in the married men's lottery for larger plots of land was sufficiently enticing to shift personal behavior. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:PeasantLunch.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Even as more and more family farmers were forced to sell their land to larger landowners, romanticized depictions of Arrivée peasant life, such as this painting by Auguste de Lemartine imitator Rudolphe Just, were continually popular.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Arrivée and Metice people were the greatest beneficiaries of the land lottery, although some Rén were able to afford the registration fee and benefit as well. All those who registered for the lottery received land, although it varied widely in productivity and suitability for farming; common crops included wheat, barley, and rice, as well as various vegetables. Although some small farmers were able to become well-established, particularly those who benefited from agricultural experience and received fertile agricultural land, many would-be farmers found themselves unable to make these tracts of land economically viable, particularly the urban poor with limited experience in farming. By 1898, ten years after the passage of the Land Tenure Act, it was estimated that over half of settler farmers who had benefitted from the land lottery had been forced to sell their property to larger farmers, particularly after poor growing conditions in 1893 forced many small farmers to abandon their lands. These tracts of land were largely absorbed by larger landowners who reestablished sharecropping, often harvesting profitable cash crops instead. Thus, despite the populist promise of the Land Tenure Act that it would expand the class of independent small farmers, it largely instead produced the expansion of the wealthy plantation-farmer class, which held tremendous political influence under Vespasian Jamet's corrupt political order.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The impact of the Land Tenure Act's legalized land theft within the provinces subjected to it is difficult to overstate. In the five Riverlands provinces established under the act (sometimes known as the MENNJ provinces in the parlance of civil servants, from the abbreviations of the provinces involved), virtually all Arrivée settlers were made complicit in land theft and the expulsion of Rén inhabitants from their homes. In some cases, these settlers lived in the houses and cottages of the natives they had evicted, with children at play and farmers at work routinely unearthing trinkets, grave sites, or even hastily-abandoned foodstuffs buried in shallow earth in preparation for consumption, such as preserved eggs. Soldiers of the Laeralian Army—recently reorganized and dramatically expanded under the Vespasianate to largely supplant the provincial militias—were used to evict Rén inhabitants and quell the scattered outbreaks of resistance. The consequent forced migration of Rén to &amp;quot;reserve&amp;quot; territory led to widespread poverty, as many were left destitute by being forced from their land. These reserve territories were among the poorest areas of the country, jump-starting Rén migration to Riverlands cities such as Hanshui, Lushui, Gaolan, and Laeralsford in a process known as the [[First Great Migration]]. These cities grew rapidly in size during the last decades of the 19th century, seeing the birth of the initial incarnation of the paramilitary [[Rén Self-Defense League]]. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:ReserveTerritory.jpg|200px|thumb|left|The endemic overcrowding in Rén reserve areas is illustrated by this gathering in Enara province, as onlookers arrive to see an itinerant [[Minjian]] priest at the local temple. Note the mix of traditional garments and Arrivée-style headwear.]]&lt;br /&gt;
During the Laeralian Revolution three decades hence, the Rén reserve areas in Riverlands provinces, overcrowded and full of young people with few economic prospects, would be among the earliest to flock to the banner of [[René Gramont]] and the Army for Democracy and Progress. Land expropriation left scars in the provinces' social fabrics as well: provinces that were the site of forced relocation saw correspondingly greater racial tensions throughout the 20th century, including greater violence during and after the Revolution and other periods of social unrest, as well as economic consequences such as greater poverty and wealth inequality. To this day, the decennial census reveals that the rural areas of the MENNJ provinces are among the most racially-segregated in Laeral. In the last days of the Vespasienate, subsequent Land Tenure Acts in 1907 and 1909 brought the regime of land expropriation and Rén reserve territories to Minsheng, Minzu, and Jianguo as well.}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Revolutionaries and Republicans==&lt;br /&gt;
{{box|margin=40px|Every modern history textbook from primary school onwards centers land distribution at the heart of the Laeralian Revolution. This is a fact which was well understood at the time as well, with the Republican movement harnessing land-based grievances to fill the ranks of the revolutionary armies. Those who took up arms motivated by land—primarily, but not exclusively, Rén in the Laeralian West—would in turn make demands for land reform on the post-revolution regime. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The death of Vespasien Jamet and the ascendancy of his successor Augustin Brienne as head of what historian Christophe Millet calls the &amp;quot;landowner's regime&amp;quot; in 1909 saw no change to the ongoing process of land expropriation in the west, as Brienne—himself Choisel province's largest landowner—signaled his intention to continue favoring plantation interests as the glue which held his coalition together. The First Fellsian War, which erupted in 1911 and raged until 1916, was in fact a reprieve for Laeral's peasantry. The needs of the nation's war machine spurred the rapid growth of industry, primarily in the Riverlands, which accelerated the existing trend of Rén migration from overcrowded &amp;quot;reserve territories&amp;quot; to cities. The plantation-owning class suffered a rare rebuke at the hands of the national government during the war, as landowners' protests that conscription and the growth of factories were depriving their farms of necessary laborers were disregarded; even the Laeralian Parliament, traditionally the domain of the landowning class, voted down an attempt backed by agrarian interests to exempt farm laborers from the draft. With such a labor shortage, women in some cases took on farming duties, particularly in families whose patriarchs had been dispatched to the front or had moved to the city for work. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The end of the war in 1916, however, meant intensified pressures on Laeral's agrarian workers, tenant farmers and smallholders alike. Not only did the postwar economic crisis raise the costs of agricultural inputs and nearly all consumer goods, but peasants renting their land found their rents raised by large landowners seeking to recoup their wartime losses. To add insult to injury, biased laws on farmland deemed &amp;quot;abandoned&amp;quot; meant that the families of men who had been killed during the war soon found themselves challenged to prove their legal title to the land they farmed or find it confiscated and sold at auction. Even prior to the outbreak of the Revolution in 1918, standoffs and shootouts between veterans and provincial constables over the confiscation of &amp;quot;abandoned&amp;quot; farmland signaled the increased violence around land affairs. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Although the Laeralian Revolution began with an urban uprising in the city of Gaolan, where laborers who were largely migrants from the countryside went on strike over rising food prices, rural demands for land distribution quickly took center stage. At the onset of the widespread uprising, the Committee for Democracy and Progress, led by René Gramont, drafted the Renfeng Platform as its statement of principles. The Committee's plans for land reform were spelled out in detail in the Renfeng Platform, including the return of confiscated property since the war, an end to labor abuses on plantations, and land redistribution accompanied by a legal limit on the size of one landowner's holdings. The National Revolutionary Directorate, another revolutionary organization prominent in eastern Laeral, similarly pledged to support land reform and a cap on landholding acreage, albeit in less detail than the Renfeng Platform. The Republicans' widely-publicized pledges for land reform were the driving factor for many Laeralites to join the revolutionary forces, and featured prominently in propaganda messaging. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Amidst the bloodshed and disruption of the conflict, experiments in land reform were widely carried out at the local level. In many Rén-majority villages in western Laeral, the flight of Arrivée landowners meant that their lands were farmed collectively. Land was in many cases the driving spark of revolutionary violence—as word of the uprising spread, many villagers drove away or executed hated local landlords and divided their lands or farmed them collectively.{{efn|This violence would continue in reprisal killings after the Revolution, with an estimated 6,000 landowners killed extrajudicially nationwide from 1920-22.}} In the Xianhai peninsula, the agrarian-socialist Xianhai Peasants' Front embraced the collectivization of agrarian land, while even in Loyalist strongholds such as the territory governed by the Loiraine Clique, the newly-impoverished refugees fleeing the advance of Republican forces were granted some amounts of agrarian land redistributed from the wealthy by government order. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
With the Republican victory in the Revolution, newly-appointed President Gramont chose to accept the facts on the ground and give government endorsement to the transfers in land ownership which had already taken place during the Revolution, against the wishes of liberals in the Committee for Democracy and Progress. The landmark Land Reform Act of 1923 signaled acceptance of forced transfers in land ownership which had taken place during the war, while declaring that all property belonging to landowners who had fled abroad or served as army officers in Loyalist forces as of the end of hostilities would be seized by the government. The new National Rural Reconstruction Administration (NRRA) was given immense power to administer and divide government-owned land, issue titles formalizing ownership of new lands, and arbitrate land disputes, of which there were many.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In western Laeral, where vicious guerrilla fighting had driven out virtually all Arrivée settlers, Arrivée-held land had largely been already redistributed by the end of the war in 1921. This redistribution was legitimized by the Land Reform Act, which also benefitted traditional methods of collective land ownership prominent in Zhao Country by giving traditional collective land ownership legal weight without formal documentation. The picture in the rest of the country was comparatively much more challenging, as many Arrivée families had remained on their land rather then fleeing, necessitating a thornier process of forced expropriation. The MENNJ provinces presented particular challenges, as the scale of inequity in landholdings was the greatest: the largest decile of landholdings in the MENNJ provinces comprised 71% of agrarian land, compared to only 47% in the eastern Riverlands, 61% in Xianhai, and 39% in southeastern Laeral. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:NRRAofficials.jpg|thumb|right|Officials of the National Rural Reconstruction Administration during a fact-finding mission to Gaolan in 1938]]&lt;br /&gt;
As it was charged with under law, the National Rural Reconstruction Administration opened avenues for petitioners to request redress for land stolen within 60 years of the law's enactment: January 1, 1863. Examiners fanned out across the country to hear these claims, with broad authority to redistribute land at their will belonging to any property of over 100 hectares.{{efn|At many times, the traditional mu (亩) measurement unit, equivalent to one-fifteenth of a hectare, was used: ie, 1500 mu.}} Initially, formal, legal-style hearings were used to determine the validity of a claim, but the immense number of claims to be adjudicated meant that examiners soon resorted to traditional methods of dispute reconciliation, in large part driven by local elders. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Cases of land redistribution were often complex. The acclaimed 1957 Laeralian play ''The Judgment of Fontenay'', although fictional, depicts one of these cases: a 180-hectare plantation in rural Therese province, owned by an elderly widow, is faced with demands for redistribution by sharecroppers, who allege deception and land theft by the widow's now-deceased father over 50 years before. The widow proclaims that the plantation was purchased legitimately, and the deed of sale was destroyed by fire during the Revolution. The politics of the situation are unclear: petitioner and defendant alike are Metice, while the widow's son fought bravely for Republican forces during the Revolution and the sharecroppers include those who joined the militia fighting against the Revolution. Who gains land, and how much? These were the sort of dilemmas assailing NRRA examiners on a daily basis. Open-and-shut cases of wealthy landowners who had fled the country or become officers for the Loyalists and thus forfeited their land were decidedly the minority.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
With the potential for vast financial gain hinging on examiners' decisions, it's remarkable that the process was, by and large, carried our fairly. Attempts at intimidation and bribery of examiners were frequent, but examiners, many of whom had been civil servants prior to the Revolution, by and large were more respectful of the status quo than many had expected, often siding with defendants when theft could not be clearly proven. As a result of examiners' respect for due process and the backlog of cases, the land redistribution process proceeded slowly during the 1920s, particularly in the MENNJ provinces and Xianhai where land inequities were most severe. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Land reform, of course, did not solely consist of shifts in ownership. The 1924 Agrarian Rent Reduction Act gave protections to tenant farmers, primarily by capping rent for agrarian land at 30% of annual yield and strictly limiting year-to-year rises. Prior to this reform, landowners often charged tenant farmers high rents of 40 or 50% of crops harvested, exacerbating rural poverty. The government was also granted the power to void all agrarian rent in the event of natural disaster, and tenant farmers were granted legal protections from eviction. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The slower-than-expected pace of land redistribution under the Land Reform Act of 1923 led to the third and final major land law of Gramont's tenure: the 1928 Land to the Tiller Act. This was the long-promised land cap of the Renfeng Platform, intended to finally transition the Laeralian rural public from tenant farming to land ownership. It ordered the expropriation of all private landholdings of over 40 hectares, which were then administered by the NRRA to be redistributed to the landless or land-deprived.{{efn|The exact hectarage varied based on land quality, although 40 hectares was standard.}} The 40 hectare cap was the subject of great controversy—radicals lobbied for a cap of only 6 to 8 hectares, but concerns over food shortages and the fear of eliminating economies of scale led the government to decide on its 40 hectare limit.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
These three reforms jointly set the stage for a transformation of rural Laeralian society. The proportion of rural tenant farmers fell sharply, from perhaps three-quarters of peasants prior to the Revolution to only around 30% by 1935. With rural land ownership came decreased rural poverty, with minimal corresponding drops in output, although here the effects of land redistribution are difficult to extricate from the effects of agrarian innovations promoted by the government through organizations such as the Rural Agricultural Service. Land redistribution was only the first of a series of transformations impacting rural life during the Republican era, as the rural aspect of the social revolution branded as the Rose Revolution. The typical peasant living through the 1920s and 30s would have witnessed concerted changes instituted from above in every field from women's rights to education and literacy to the creation of a race-blind national identity, but by far the most impactful in his or her everyday life would have been land ownership. It is for this reason that, on visits to rural regions of the country, both President Gramont and Hong Kuo-shu, Director of the National Rural Reconstruction Administration, regularly found themselves greeted by genuine, cheering crowds.}}&lt;br /&gt;
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{{notelist}}&lt;br /&gt;
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[[Category: Agriculture]][[Category: History]][[Category: Laeral]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Laeral</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Civic_volition&amp;diff=45383</id>
		<title>Civic volition</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Civic_volition&amp;diff=45383"/>
		<updated>2026-04-20T18:05:46Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Laeral: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[File:Civicvolition.jpg|thumb|right|In 1935, six University of Loiraine women students were applauded in the newspaper &amp;quot;Republique&amp;quot; for their initiative in caring for invalid veterans, in an example of everyday civic volition.]]&lt;br /&gt;
'''Civic volition''' (Fr: ''volonté civique'') is a [[Gramontism|Gramontist]] concept of spontaneous, self-directed communal efforts which result from political and social education among the public. In Gramontist thought, emancipatory policies which permit all of society to work to their fullest potential, coupled with political education to shape a unified political vision, lead communities or work groups to achieve spontaneous feats of communal self-betterment through civic volition. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The term &amp;quot;civic volition&amp;quot; was first used by [[René Gramont]] in a 1932 speech at an agricultural cooperative in Meilinis. It was adopted into state propaganda throughout the 1930s, with the state newspaper ''Republique'' frequently featuring stories on villages or factory work shifts producing spontaneous community projects, such as digging irrigation canals, erecting billboards, or engaging in spontaneous land redistribution. These acts of civic volition were valorized as demonstrating exemplary socialist civic spirit. In Gramontist thought, revolution itself is a form of civic volition, and thus civic volition is the practice of carrying out the revolution on a day-to-day basis. &lt;br /&gt;
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In contrast with communist propaganda in other nations which typically valorized individual workers, Gramontist discourse, with its focus on collective effort, almost entirely valorized the collective efforts of small groups, work shifts, or entire towns or collectives. Decorations for exemplary achievements in civic volition included the Order of Heroic Labor, typically awarded to collectives or work groups, and the Hero of Civic Production medal.  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The cult of personality surrounding René Gramont and other leaders of the Laeralian Republic was often attributed in regime discourse to spontaneous acts of civic volition, rather than as state-directed activities. Some post-republican Gramontist thinkers have sought to reimagine civic volition as civic or public-spiritedness. &lt;br /&gt;
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[[Category: Laeral]][[Category: Gramontism]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Laeral</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Land_use_in_Laeral&amp;diff=45382</id>
		<title>Land use in Laeral</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Land_use_in_Laeral&amp;diff=45382"/>
		<updated>2026-04-20T17:00:38Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Laeral: /* Revolutionaries and Republicans */&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;'''Land use in Laeral''' refers to the history and practices of the use of land by humans in [[Laeral]]. This encompasses periods of [[Rén]] Laeralite land tenure, land appropriation by [[Arrivée]] settlers during the colonial and First Allied Provinces periods, land reform during Laeral's [[Republican Era]], and increased urbanization and agricultural consolidation from the mid-20th century to the modern day. Land use has impacts on economic outcomes and social and political development, and scholars have used the history of land use in Laeral to explore topics ranging from political affiliation to race relations. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==History==&lt;br /&gt;
This section is excerpted from Noël Lavoie-Zhao's chapter &amp;quot;Land Use in Laeral: An Introduction&amp;quot;, in the academic anthology ''Pure Earth, Dirty Hands: Contrasting Narratives of Dispossession, Reclamation, and Stewardship in Laeralian Land Tenure'' (Salaun University Press, 2014). Since 2010, Dr. Lavoie-Zhao has been the Anatole Marchand Professor of History at [[National Open University (Laeral)|Althea City University]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Colonial Era===&lt;br /&gt;
{{box|margin=40px|&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:SlaveryinLaeral.jpg|200px|thumb|right|An anti-slavery engraving depicting dozens of enslaved people being forcibly brought to a plantation in Laeral's Riverlands region, circa 1830. The central figure, being manhandled by an overseer, recalls his family's farewell.]]&lt;br /&gt;
During the colonial era, determining possession of agricultural land, particularly in the fertile Eastern Riverlands, Althea, and the Beuvron River Valley, was a central function of government. After the 1807 DeBarre Line was created, marking off the initial bounds of [[Arrivée]] settlement, land west of the line was declared property of the ducal government to apportion as it saw fit. Mass land auctions throughout the early 1800s saw gentlemen speculators as the chief beneficiaries. The most fertile land, often irrigated by centuries-old channels and the site of continuous farming for millennia, was parceled into large plantation domains owned by individual highborn households, operated for profit through the production of wheat, tobacco, rice, indigo, tea, or other crops. Laws against &amp;quot;squatting&amp;quot; and &amp;quot;vagrancy,&amp;quot; leveled against Rén families who sought to remain on their land, carried the sentence of compulsory service as agricultural laborers on the local plantation. The penalty for taking up arms against the state was also often serfdom, often for entire villages or regions, and so by 1845, the dawn of the Laeralian War of Independence, an estimated 900,000 [[Rén]] and [[Metice]] people were enslaved on plantations. Slavery in the colonial Laeralian context, however, was not an inherited status, although it was a racialized one: those born to enslaved laborers were born free, but Arrivée were never enslaved.&lt;br /&gt;
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Perhaps 60% of land area—primarily that which had been cleared and was suitable for large-scale agriculture—was parcelled out between plantations. Much of the remaining land, particularly that which was less hospitable for farming, was owned by small farmers, Rén, Arrivée, and Metice alike. Villages served as a site for cross-racial social interactions: marketplaces, smiths, inns, and the like fostered growing linguistic and cultural exchange. This included the emergence of Laeralian Creole, a polyglot mixture of French and Mandarin which would persist among the largely illiterate population until the standardization of language in the Republican era. The taboo against miscegenation was also transgressed more often at the village level, particularly between transient laborers who had migrated away from the growing expanse of plantation land. It was these villages which were rightfully called, if not the cradle of the war of independence, at least its nursery. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Corveeroads.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Corvée forced laborers in the Xianhai peninsula clearing a road in the aftermath of a landslide.]]&lt;br /&gt;
For free and enslaved Rén alike, the chief interaction with the colonial state was through corvée, forced state labor for a period of one month each year. Instituted as a means of conducting labor-intensive infrastructure upkeep and construction, corvée occurred on a rotating basis based on birth month, so as to minimize disruption to the harvest; for this reason, the colonial state's register of births are a treasure trove for modern historians and genealogists. The construction of roads was a constant preoccupation of the colonial state, seeing as they were essential for transport of goods and movement of soldiers outside of the navigable waterways (the few railroads built in Laeral during the colonial era, totaling less than 120 kilometers, were built exclusively with Arrivée labor). Typical corvée duties included excavating roads after flooding and mudslides, paving roads, and breaking ground for new roads, although in certain locales corvée labor also built government buildings and waystations. Corvée labor was widely despised: it was backbreaking, all-day work for which any rural Rén man between the ages of 15 and 35 would typically be relocated to a work camp and separated from their families for a four week period annually. Payment was nominal and conditions at work camps poor, with strict discipline enforced at the end of a whip or truncheon. &lt;br /&gt;
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Cities, chief among them [[Althea]], St. Clair, Marist, and [[Bethune|Lyrene]], offered the greatest opportunities for social mobility. Going to sea or joining a fisherman's crew was one avenue of escape: on the open seas, few cared the complexion of a man's skin as long as his arms were suited for hauling nets or whaling. The cities saw the emergence of the Laeralian middle class, typically merchants or artisans producing goods for consumption by the nobility. The ducal court was well known for its patronage of the arts and its fondness for fine cuisine, while the seasonal migration between Althea and Marist established by Duke Armand meant that thriving artisan communities sprung up in both cities. Factories were established in limited numbers in urban centers (with the exception of Althea, where strict urban beautification regulations forestalled the erection of smokestacks), including textile mills and brick and steel foundries, typically with the patronage of an interested consortium or individual member of the nobility. Migrants from surrounding rural areas were often the only ones willing to accept factories' beastly conditions; the phenomenon of rural migration to the city spurred the creation of Rén fraternal organizations and women's support circles as well as the first labor unions, inspired by examples from abroad. Regardless, by 1848 industrialization had touched the lives of only a bare amount of the Laeralian people. The majority of the population would remain rural and impoverished, as peasant freeholders, sharecroppers, slaves, or migrant workers, until well after the War of Independence.}} &lt;br /&gt;
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===First Allied Provinces===&lt;br /&gt;
{{box|margin=40px|The [[Laeralian War of Independence]] would upset patterns of land use in the ruralities. The plantation estates had been the sight of great bloodshed during the war, as the formerly enslaved took vengeance on their captors, and the vast majority of the Arrivée nobility had fled northward to what would become the rump state of [[High Fells]]. On some plantations, the Rén enslaved workforce had taken up subsistence farming, while other estates lay fallow for lack of hands to cultivate them. Military pronouncements during the war, such as General G. E. Lematre's Field Order 18, had established a precedent that land tenants and the formerly enslaved were to be permitted to stay on this land. &lt;br /&gt;
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This precedent, however, was not followed by the revolutionary government following the war. Faced with an inability to print enough money to provide back pay to soldiers of the Free Army, many of whom had withstood months of delayed pay, the provisional government's Act No. 14 (&amp;quot;A law on landholdings and tenancy&amp;quot;) ordered plantation land seized, appraised, and turned over to Free Army veterans in lieu of cash payments. For most veterans, the choice was simple: between cash payments in the rapidly-depreciating [[Laeralian mark]] or a tract of land of proven productivity, most Free Army men took the opportunity to achieve land ownership. Based on name analysis, an estimated 30% of the roughly 28,000 Free Army veterans who received land were Rén. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:ArriveeSharecroppers.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Arrivée sharecroppers harvesting wheat under supervision, in an 1857 painting by Auguste de Lemartine, famed for his depictions of agrarian life.]]&lt;br /&gt;
This act of land redistribution transformed Laeralian society by massively enlarging the class of economically self-sufficient peasantry. The newly created landed peasantry, nearly all eligible to vote under franchise restrictions of the time, were a powerful interest group lauded in popular culture and political writings as the backbone of the nation. The rosy image of a nation of salt-of-the-earth independent farmers, however, was deeply flawed. The landed farmer class was never more than a large minority of Laeralites; the majority of peasants remained sharecroppers for these landed farmers or squatters on undesirable land, farming continually for survival. &lt;br /&gt;
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As immigration and natural population growth swelled the population to over 10 million Laeralites, competition for land pushed Laeral's boundaries westward. At this juncture, it's appropriate to consider the nature of the Laeralian frontier during the 1860s and 70s. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
During the colonial era, the DeBarre Line, seen on maps at slightly west of the Beuvron River, had defined the theoretical westward borders of government control. The line had been proclaimed during the reign of Duke Armand, and shaped patterns of population settlement despite existing only on paper. Through a series of treaties with the squabbling Minjian kingdoms and satrapies west of the line, the colonial government in Althea maintained relative peace on the frontier. However, following independence, Laeralian public opinion massively favored the legalization of westward expansion, rooted in mythicized and [[Anti-Minjian sentiment|anti-Minjian]] conceptions of the frontier as a land of rich agricultural land suffering under weak and brutish rule. &lt;br /&gt;
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Provincial militias hoping to secure territory advanced westward, carrying out a mission termed by historians as &amp;quot;subnational colonialism&amp;quot; — provincial militias, backed by the provincial government and the backing of provincial elites, seized territory by force of arms in brief campaigns often lasting only weeks, only to subsequently seek their fait accompli recognized by the national government. These feats of territorial acquisition sparked a lucrative industry in adventurers, both Laeralian and foreign-born, traveling from province to province offering their services to provincial governments in lucrative territorial-acquisition operations. By and large, these expeditions were successful in sparking short and victorious conflicts, with rare exceptions where canny Rén leaders took advantage of Laeralian overconfidence to defeat provincial militia forces and secure the status quo ante bellum.}} &lt;br /&gt;
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===The Vespasienate===&lt;br /&gt;
{{box|margin=40px|These frontier wars or ''petites guerres,'' and accompanying westward expansion, were a central factor in national politics during the late 19th century. Politics increasingly took on a sectional character, as eastern mercantile interests favored frontier stability so as to foster lucrative trade with the Rén kingdoms, while westerners and the working class largely favored continued expansion so as to secure land ownership on the frontier. The relative stalemate between the two factions, with neither side able to achieve national ascendancy due to the weakness of the national government, would end with the War of the Seven Provinces (1875-1877), where the provincial militias accomplished in colonial warfare with the benefits of organizational and technological superiority floundered against a unified, well-disciplined, and modern foe in Libertas Omnium Maximus. &lt;br /&gt;
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Defeat in the war led to the ascension of [[Vespasien Jamet]], central figure in the politics of the First Allied Provinces. During his nearly thirty-year (1880-1909) tenure in politics, known to historians as the Vespasienate, Jamet as prime minister oversaw a strengthening of the central government, including an expansion of taxation authority and the nation's first standing army; his opponents fruitlessly branded him &amp;quot;Emperor Vespasien I&amp;quot;. A strongman who emerged from and represented the rural wealthy landowning class, Jamet's military and administrative reforms were in large part dedicated to carrying out westward Arrivée settlement and the broader settler-colonial project. In an audacious war against the Zhao kingdom in 1885, Laeralian troops seized the ancient Minjian capital of Miaoshi and annexed the kingdom's territory in its entirety, the largest-yet acquisition of land. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LandSurveyors.jpg|200px|thumb|right|The first step in carving up land was surveying it, a process which relied in part on translating and updating Zhao kingdom taxation maps and in part on the efforts of surveying crews like this one pictured here in Nanhai province.]]&lt;br /&gt;
The status of these new conquests were addressed under the landmark Land Tenure Act of 1888, enacted under Jamet's premiership. This law would, in one swift maneuver, increase the territory of the Laeralian state by nearly one-third while laying the groundwork for the wealthy Arrivée farmer class to expand its dominance across the eastern Riverlands. The Riverlands provinces of Neidong, Enara, Nanhai, Meilun, and Jinhua were created as the first Rén-majority provinces since Laeralian independence; Neidong and Enara had languished for years as nonvoting territories, while the other three new provinces were newly seized from the defunct Zhao kingdom. Agricultural land in these colonies was slated for Arrivée settlement through a new schema by which all rural land would be classified as either &amp;quot;settler&amp;quot; or &amp;quot;reserve&amp;quot; territory. Settler territory, encompassing over 70% of land in these five provinces and drawn to include the richest agricultural land, was reserved for Arrivée commercial farming through land auctions run by the government. The remainder, &amp;quot;reserve&amp;quot; territory for the region's Rén inhabitants, was undesirable, either through distance from road or river arteries, steep slopes, or swampland. Through this formula, which would be replicated in other territories coming under Laeralsford's sway, the dominion of the Arrivée landowner class was preserved and expanded. Other portions of Zhao territory, meanwhile, were left entirely for their Rén inhabitants, yet had no realistic path to provincehood and were instead governed by appointed territorial officials. &lt;br /&gt;
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Some voices within Laeralian society, such as the growing quasi-socialist cooperative movement, called for the newly-acquired land to be governed in collective fashion, approximating the collective farms which were widely understood to have been predominant among the Zhao kingdom. (Collective farming was in actuality a method of land tenure which the Zhao kingdom was transitioning away from at the time of the Laeral-Zhao War; the Laeralian cooperative movement somewhat-inaccurately perceived collective farming as the sole method of Rén land tenure since time immemorial, which was false). For the cooperativists, collective farming was a method of ensuring social harmony and economic resiliency for Laeral's poor, and they decried Prime Minister Jamet's choice to split the conquered territories into tracts of land for individual farmers. The cooperativist movement endured throughout the early 20th century, with its proponents establishing several communes during the late First Allied Provinces era, to varying degrees of success. Nouvelle-Concorde in Jinhua province, which attracted several thousand residents and experimented with collective marriage and child-rearing before its collapse following the Laeralian Revolution, is the most well-known of these. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LandLottery.jpg|200px|thumb|left|The land lottery in Meilun takes place at the provincial capitol, with a crowd of onlookers awaiting the results.]]&lt;br /&gt;
How did land allocation play out on the ground during the Vespasienate? In settler land, newly-constituted provincial governments carried out lotteries for small tracts of land in a populist maneuver; entrance to the lotteries was open to all men regardless of race, with separate lotteries carried out for single and married men. Ticket-holders were guaranteed to be deeded a tract of land, albeit one that could vary in size from as little as 8 hectares to nearly 30 hectares in area, for a registration fee equivalent to roughly two months' wages for a typical workman—in other words, on the very edge of affordability for Laeral's working class. The opportunity for sharecroppers and the urban poor to obtain title to land, and thus, the promise of economic self-sufficiency, was rightfully viewed as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. In fact, marriage rates rose sharply in the months before the land lotteries, suggesting that the opportunity to enter in the married men's lottery for larger plots of land was sufficiently enticing to shift personal behavior. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:PeasantLunch.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Even as more and more family farmers were forced to sell their land to larger landowners, romanticized depictions of Arrivée peasant life, such as this painting by Auguste de Lemartine imitator Rudolphe Just, were continually popular.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Arrivée and Metice people were the greatest beneficiaries of the land lottery, although some Rén were able to afford the registration fee and benefit as well. All those who registered for the lottery received land, although it varied widely in productivity and suitability for farming; common crops included wheat, barley, and rice, as well as various vegetables. Although some small farmers were able to become well-established, particularly those who benefited from agricultural experience and received fertile agricultural land, many would-be farmers found themselves unable to make these tracts of land economically viable, particularly the urban poor with limited experience in farming. By 1898, ten years after the passage of the Land Tenure Act, it was estimated that over half of settler farmers who had benefitted from the land lottery had been forced to sell their property to larger farmers, particularly after poor growing conditions in 1893 forced many small farmers to abandon their lands. These tracts of land were largely absorbed by larger landowners who reestablished sharecropping, often harvesting profitable cash crops instead. Thus, despite the populist promise of the Land Tenure Act that it would expand the class of independent small farmers, it largely instead produced the expansion of the wealthy plantation-farmer class, which held tremendous political influence under Vespasian Jamet's corrupt political order.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The impact of the Land Tenure Act's legalized land theft within the provinces subjected to it is difficult to overstate. In the five Riverlands provinces established under the act (sometimes known as the MENNJ provinces in the parlance of civil servants, from the abbreviations of the provinces involved), virtually all Arrivée settlers were made complicit in land theft and the expulsion of Rén inhabitants from their homes. In some cases, these settlers lived in the houses and cottages of the natives they had evicted, with children at play and farmers at work routinely unearthing trinkets, grave sites, or even hastily-abandoned foodstuffs buried in shallow earth in preparation for consumption, such as preserved eggs. Soldiers of the Laeralian Army—recently reorganized and dramatically expanded under the Vespasianate to largely supplant the provincial militias—were used to evict Rén inhabitants and quell the scattered outbreaks of resistance. The consequent forced migration of Rén to &amp;quot;reserve&amp;quot; territory led to widespread poverty, as many were left destitute by being forced from their land. These reserve territories were among the poorest areas of the country, jump-starting Rén migration to Riverlands cities such as Hanshui, Lushui, Gaolan, and Laeralsford in a process known as the [[First Great Migration]]. These cities grew rapidly in size during the last decades of the 19th century, seeing the birth of the initial incarnation of the paramilitary [[Rén Self-Defense League]]. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:ReserveTerritory.jpg|200px|thumb|left|The endemic overcrowding in Rén reserve areas is illustrated by this gathering in Enara province, as onlookers arrive to see an itinerant [[Minjian]] priest at the local temple. Note the mix of traditional garments and Arrivée-style headwear.]]&lt;br /&gt;
During the Laeralian Revolution three decades hence, the Rén reserve areas in Riverlands provinces, overcrowded and full of young people with few economic prospects, would be among the earliest to flock to the banner of [[René Gramont]] and the Army for Democracy and Progress. Land expropriation left scars in the provinces' social fabrics as well: provinces that were the site of forced relocation saw correspondingly greater racial tensions throughout the 20th century, including greater violence during and after the Revolution and other periods of social unrest, as well as economic consequences such as greater poverty and wealth inequality. To this day, the decennial census reveals that the rural areas of the MENNJ provinces are among the most racially-segregated in Laeral. In the last days of the Vespasienate, subsequent Land Tenure Acts in 1907 and 1909 brought the regime of land expropriation and Rén reserve territories to Minsheng, Minzu, and Jianguo as well.}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Revolutionaries and Republicans==&lt;br /&gt;
{{box|margin=40px|Every modern history textbook from primary school onwards centers land distribution at the heart of the Laeralian Revolution. This is a fact which was well understood at the time as well, with the Republican movement harnessing land-based grievances to fill the ranks of the revolutionary armies. Those who took up arms motivated by land—primarily, but not exclusively, Rén in the Laeralian West—would in turn make demands for land reform on the post-revolution regime. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The death of Vespasien Jamet and the ascendancy of his successor Augustin Brienne as head of what historian Christophe Millet calls the &amp;quot;landowner's regime&amp;quot; in 1909 saw no change to the ongoing process of land expropriation in the west, as Brienne—himself Choisel province's largest landowner—signaled his intention to continue favoring plantation interests as the glue which held his coalition together. The First Fellsian War, which erupted in 1911 and raged until 1916, was in fact a reprieve for Laeral's peasantry. The needs of the nation's war machine spurred the rapid growth of industry, primarily in the Riverlands, which accelerated the existing trend of Rén migration from overcrowded &amp;quot;reserve territories&amp;quot; to cities. The plantation-owning class suffered a rare rebuke at the hands of the national government during the war, as landowners' protests that conscription and the growth of factories were depriving their farms of necessary laborers were disregarded; even the Laeralian Parliament, traditionally the domain of the landowning class, voted down an attempt backed by agrarian interests to exempt farm laborers from the draft. With such a labor shortage, women in some cases took on farming duties, particularly in families whose patriarchs had been dispatched to the front or had moved to the city for work. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The end of the war in 1916, however, meant intensified pressures on Laeral's agrarian workers, tenant farmers and smallholders alike. Not only did the postwar economic crisis raise the costs of agricultural inputs and nearly all consumer goods, but peasants renting their land found their rents raised by large landowners seeking to recoup their wartime losses. To add insult to injury, biased laws on farmland deemed &amp;quot;abandoned&amp;quot; meant that the families of men who had been killed during the war soon found themselves challenged to prove their legal title to the land they farmed or find it confiscated and sold at auction. Even prior to the outbreak of the Revolution in 1918, standoffs and shootouts between veterans and provincial constables over the confiscation of &amp;quot;abandoned&amp;quot; farmland signaled the increased violence around land affairs. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Although the Laeralian Revolution began with an urban uprising in the city of Gaolan, where laborers who were largely migrants from the countryside went on strike over rising food prices, rural demands for land distribution quickly took center stage. At the onset of the widespread uprising, the Committee for Democracy and Progress, led by René Gramont, drafted the Renfeng Platform as its statement of principles. The Committee's plans for land reform were spelled out in detail in the Renfeng Platform, including the return of confiscated property since the war, an end to labor abuses on plantations, and land redistribution accompanied by a legal limit on the size of one landowner's holdings. The National Revolutionary Directorate, another revolutionary organization prominent in eastern Laeral, similarly pledged to support land reform and a cap on landholding acreage, albeit in less detail than the Renfeng Platform. The Republicans' widely-publicized pledges for land reform were the driving factor for many Laeralites to join the revolutionary forces, and featured prominently in propaganda messaging. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Amidst the bloodshed and disruption of the conflict, experiments in land reform were widely carried out at the local level. In many Rén-majority villages in western Laeral, the flight of Arrivée landowners meant that their lands were farmed collectively. Land was in many cases the driving spark of revolutionary violence—as word of the uprising spread, many villagers drove away or executed hated local landlords and divided their lands or farmed them collectively.{{efn|This violence would continue in reprisal killings after the Revolution, with an estimated 6,000 landowners killed extrajudicially nationwide from 1920-22.}} In the Xianhai peninsula, the agrarian-socialist Xianhai Peasants' Front embraced the collectivization of agrarian land, while even in Loyalist strongholds such as the territory governed by the Loiraine Clique, the newly-impoverished refugees fleeing the advance of Republican forces were granted some amounts of agrarian land redistributed from the wealthy by government order. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
With the Republican victory in the Revolution, newly-appointed President Gramont chose to accept the facts on the ground and give government endorsement to the transfers in land ownership which had already taken place during the Revolution, against the wishes of liberals in the Committee for Democracy and Progress. The landmark Land Reform Act of 1923 signaled acceptance of forced transfers in land ownership which had taken place during the war, while declaring that all property belonging to landowners who had fled abroad or served as army officers in Loyalist forces as of the end of hostilities would be seized by the government. The new National Rural Reconstruction Administration (NRRA) was given immense power to administer and divide government-owned land, issue titles formalizing ownership of new lands, and arbitrate land disputes, of which there were many.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In western Laeral, where vicious guerrilla fighting had driven out virtually all Arrivée settlers, Arrivée-held land had largely been already redistributed by the end of the war in 1921. This redistribution was legitimized by the Land Reform Act, which also benefitted traditional methods of collective land ownership prominent in Zhao Country by giving traditional collective land ownership legal weight without formal documentation. The picture in the rest of the country was comparatively much more challenging, as many Arrivée families had remained on their land rather then fleeing, necessitating a thornier process of forced expropriation. The MENNJ provinces presented particular challenges, as the scale of inequity in landholdings was the greatest: the largest decile of landholdings in the MENNJ provinces comprised 71% of agrarian land, compared to only 47% in the eastern Riverlands, 61% in Xianhai, and 39% in southeastern Laeral. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:NRRAofficials.jpg|thumb|right|Examiners of the National Rural Reconstruction Administration during a fact-finding mission to Gaolan in 1938]]&lt;br /&gt;
As it was charged with under law, the National Rural Reconstruction Administration opened avenues for petitioners to request redress for land stolen within 60 years of the law's enactment: January 1, 1863. Examiners fanned out across the country to hear these claims, with broad authority to redistribute land at their will belonging to any property of over 100 hectares.{{efn|At many times, the traditional mu (亩) measurement unit, equivalent to one-fifteenth of a hectare, was used: ie, 1500 mu.}} Initially, formal, legal-style hearings were used to determine the validity of a claim, but the immense number of claims to be adjudicated meant that examiners soon resorted to traditional methods of dispute reconciliation, in large part driven by local elders. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Cases of land redistribution were often complex. The acclaimed 1957 Laeralian play ''The Judgment of Fontenay'', although fictional, depicts one of these cases: a 180-hectare plantation in rural Therese province, owned by an elderly widow, is faced with demands for redistribution by sharecroppers, who allege deception and land theft by the widow's now-deceased father over 50 years before. The widow proclaims that the plantation was purchased legitimately, and the deed of sale was destroyed by fire during the Revolution. The politics of the situation are unclear: petitioner and defendant alike are Metice, while the widow's son fought bravely for Republican forces during the Revolution and the sharecroppers include those who joined the militia fighting against the Revolution. Who gains land, and how much? These were the sort of dilemmas assailing NRRA examiners on a daily basis. Open-and-shut cases of wealthy landowners who had fled the country or become officers for the Loyalists and thus forfeited their land were decidedly the minority.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
With the potential for vast financial gain hinging on examiners' decisions, it's remarkable that the process was, by and large, carried our fairly. Attempts at intimidation and bribery of examiners were frequent, but examiners, many of whom had been civil servants prior to the Revolution, by and large were more respectful of the status quo than many had expected, often siding with defendants when theft could not be clearly proven. As a result of examiners' respect for due process and the backlog of cases, the land redistribution process proceeded slowly during the 1920s, particularly in the MENNJ provinces and Xianhai where land inequities were most severe. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Land reform, of course, did not solely consist of shifts in ownership. The 1924 Agrarian Rent Reduction Act gave protections to tenant farmers, primarily by capping rent for agrarian land at 30% of annual yield and strictly limiting year-to-year rises. Prior to this reform, landowners often charged tenant farmers high rents of 40 or 50% of crops harvested, exacerbating rural poverty. The government was also granted the power to void all agrarian rent in the event of natural disaster, and tenant farmers were granted legal protections from eviction. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The slower-than-expected pace of land redistribution under the Land Reform Act of 1923 led to the third and final major land law of Gramont's tenure: the 1928 Land to the Tiller Act. This was the long-promised land cap of the Renfeng Platform, intended to finally transition the Laeralian rural public from tenant farming to land ownership. It ordered the expropriation of all private landholdings of over 40 hectares, which were then administered by the NRRA to be redistributed to the landless or land-deprived.{{efn|The exact hectarage varied based on land quality, although 40 hectares was standard.}} The 40 hectare cap was the subject of great controversy—radicals lobbied for a cap of only 6 to 8 hectares, but concerns over food shortages and the fear of eliminating economies of scale led the government to decide on its 40 hectare limit.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
These three reforms jointly set the stage for a transformation of rural Laeralian society. The proportion of rural tenant farmers fell sharply, from perhaps three-quarters of peasants prior to the Revolution to only around 30% by 1935. With rural land ownership came decreased rural poverty, with minimal corresponding drops in output, although here the effects of land redistribution are difficult to extricate from the effects of agrarian innovations promoted by the government through organizations such as the Rural Agricultural Service. Land redistribution was only the first of a series of transformations impacting rural life during the Republican era, as the rural aspect of the social revolution branded as the Rose Revolution. The typical peasant living through the 1920s and 30s would have witnessed concerted changes instituted from above in every field from women's rights to education and literacy to the creation of a race-blind national identity, but by far the most impactful in his or her everyday life would have been land ownership. It is for this reason that, on visits to rural regions of the country, both President Gramont and Hong Kuo-shu, Director of the National Rural Reconstruction Administration, regularly found themselves greeted by genuine, cheering crowds.}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{notelist}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category: Agriculture]][[Category: History]][[Category: Laeral]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
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		<title>File:NRRAofficials.jpg</title>
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		<title>René Gramont</title>
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{{Infobox officeholder&lt;br /&gt;
| honorific_prefix = &lt;br /&gt;
| name = René Gramont&lt;br /&gt;
| native_name = &amp;lt;!--The person's name in their own language, if different.--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| native_name_lang = &amp;lt;!--ISO 639-1 code, e.g., &amp;quot;fr&amp;quot; for French. If more than one, use {{lang}} in |native_name= instead.--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| honorific_suffix = &lt;br /&gt;
| image = Réne_Gramont.jpg&lt;br /&gt;
| image_size = &lt;br /&gt;
| image_upright = &lt;br /&gt;
| smallimage = &lt;br /&gt;
| alt = &lt;br /&gt;
| caption = &lt;br /&gt;
| order = 2nd&lt;br /&gt;
| office = President of Laeral|President of the Second Allied Provinces of Laeral&lt;br /&gt;
| term_start = 1962&lt;br /&gt;
| term_end = 1966&lt;br /&gt;
| alongside = &lt;br /&gt;
| monarch = &lt;br /&gt;
| president = &lt;br /&gt;
| governor_general = &lt;br /&gt;
| primeminister = [[Tsai Ming-yan]] &amp;lt;br /&amp;gt; [[Georges Auriol]] &amp;lt;br /&amp;gt; [[Moïse Sellem]]&lt;br /&gt;
| taoiseach = &lt;br /&gt;
| chancellor = &lt;br /&gt;
| governor = &lt;br /&gt;
| vicepresident = &lt;br /&gt;
| viceprimeminister = &lt;br /&gt;
| deputy = &lt;br /&gt;
| lieutenant = &lt;br /&gt;
| succeeding = &lt;br /&gt;
| parliamentarygroup = &lt;br /&gt;
| constituency = &lt;br /&gt;
| majority = &lt;br /&gt;
| predecessor = [[François Guirard]]&lt;br /&gt;
| successor = [[Georges Auriol]]&lt;br /&gt;
| prior_term = &lt;br /&gt;
| order3 = 1st&lt;br /&gt;
| office3 = Foreign Minister of Laeral&lt;br /&gt;
| term_start3 = 1954&lt;br /&gt;
| term_end3 = 1958&lt;br /&gt;
| alongside3 = &amp;lt;!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| monarch3 = &amp;lt;!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| president3 = [[François Guirard]]&lt;br /&gt;
| governor_general3 = &amp;lt;!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| primeminister3 = [[Sun Jia-wei]]&lt;br /&gt;
| chancellor3 = &amp;lt;!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| taoiseach3 = &amp;lt;!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| governor3 = &amp;lt;!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| vicepresident3 = &amp;lt;!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| viceprimeminister3 = &amp;lt;!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| deputy3 = &amp;lt;!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| lieutenant3 = &amp;lt;!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| succeeding3 = &amp;lt;!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| predecessor3 = ''Position established''&lt;br /&gt;
| successor3 = &amp;lt;!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| parliamentarygroup3 = &amp;lt;!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| constituency3 = &amp;lt;!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| majority3 = &amp;lt;!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| prior_term3 = &amp;lt;!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| order4 = 1st&lt;br /&gt;
| office4 = President of the Republic of Laeral&lt;br /&gt;
| term_start4 = 1922&lt;br /&gt;
| term_end4 = 1932&lt;br /&gt;
| alongside4 = &amp;lt;!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| monarch4 = &amp;lt;!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| president4 = &lt;br /&gt;
| governor_general4 = &amp;lt;!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| primeminister4 = [[Jean-Philippe Salaun]]&lt;br /&gt;
| chancellor4 = &amp;lt;!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| taoiseach4 = &amp;lt;!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| governor4 = &amp;lt;!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| vicepresident4 = Edmond Yeoh&lt;br /&gt;
| viceprimeminister4 = &amp;lt;!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| deputy4 = &amp;lt;!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| lieutenant4 = &amp;lt;!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| succeeding4 = &amp;lt;!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| predecessor4 = ''Position established''&lt;br /&gt;
| successor4 = [[Jean-Philippe Salaun]]&lt;br /&gt;
| parliamentarygroup4 = &amp;lt;!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| constituency4 = &amp;lt;!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| majority4 = &amp;lt;!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| prior_term4 = &amp;lt;!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| order5 = 1st&lt;br /&gt;
| office5 = Party Secretary of the Social Democratic Party&lt;br /&gt;
| term_start5 = 1922&lt;br /&gt;
| term_end5 = 1932&lt;br /&gt;
| alongside5 = &amp;lt;!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| monarch5 = &amp;lt;!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| president5 = &lt;br /&gt;
| governor_general5 = &amp;lt;!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| primeminister5 = &lt;br /&gt;
| chancellor5 = &amp;lt;!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| taoiseach5 = &amp;lt;!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| governor5 = &amp;lt;!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| vicepresident5 = &lt;br /&gt;
| viceprimeminister5 = &amp;lt;!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| deputy5 = [[Sun Jia-wei]]&lt;br /&gt;
| lieutenant5 = &amp;lt;!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| succeeding5 = &amp;lt;!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| predecessor5 = ''Position established''&lt;br /&gt;
| successor5 = [[Sun Jia-wei]]&lt;br /&gt;
| parliamentarygroup5 = &amp;lt;!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| constituency5 = &amp;lt;!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| majority5 = &amp;lt;!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| prior_term5 = &amp;lt;!--Can be repeated up to 16 times by changing the number--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| pronunciation = &lt;br /&gt;
| birth_name = &lt;br /&gt;
| birth_date = August 18, 1884&lt;br /&gt;
| birth_place = Maissis, Harcour, Laeral&lt;br /&gt;
| death_date = November 12, 1964&lt;br /&gt;
| death_place = Meilinis, Laeral&lt;br /&gt;
| death_cause = Heart attack&lt;br /&gt;
| resting_place = Gramont Mausoleum, Maissis, Harcour, Laeral&lt;br /&gt;
| resting_place_coordinates = &lt;br /&gt;
| citizenship = Laeralian&lt;br /&gt;
| nationality = &lt;br /&gt;
| party = [[Social Democratic Party (Laeral)|Social Democratic]]&lt;br /&gt;
| otherparty = [[Committee for Democracy and Progress]] &amp;lt;br /&amp;gt; [[Labor Party]]&lt;br /&gt;
| height = &lt;br /&gt;
| spouse = [[Thérèse Gramont]] (1905-1928)&lt;br /&gt;
| partner = Elnara Harim, Gabrielle Travers, Sabine Bellerose&lt;br /&gt;
| relations = &lt;br /&gt;
| children = Alexine Gramont, Liliane Gramont, Stephan Gramont, Annette Gramont, Pei-shan Gramont&lt;br /&gt;
| parents = &lt;br /&gt;
| mother = Marie-Ange Gramont&lt;br /&gt;
| father = Emile Gramont&lt;br /&gt;
| relatives = &lt;br /&gt;
| residence = &lt;br /&gt;
| education = &lt;br /&gt;
| alma_mater = &lt;br /&gt;
| occupation = &lt;br /&gt;
| profession = &lt;br /&gt;
| known_for = &lt;br /&gt;
| salary = &lt;br /&gt;
| net_worth = &lt;br /&gt;
| cabinet = &lt;br /&gt;
| committees = &lt;br /&gt;
| portfolio = &lt;br /&gt;
| awards = &amp;lt;!-- For civilian awards - appears as &amp;quot;Awards&amp;quot; if |mawards= is not set --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| blank1 = &lt;br /&gt;
| data1 = &lt;br /&gt;
| blank2 = &lt;br /&gt;
| data2 = &lt;br /&gt;
| blank3 = &lt;br /&gt;
| data3 = &lt;br /&gt;
| blank4 = &lt;br /&gt;
| data4 = &lt;br /&gt;
| blank5 = &lt;br /&gt;
| data5 = &lt;br /&gt;
| signature = &lt;br /&gt;
| signature_alt = &lt;br /&gt;
| website = &amp;lt;!--Military service--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| nickname = &lt;br /&gt;
| allegiance = [[First Allied Provinces of Laeral]] (1904-1916) &amp;lt;br /&amp;gt; [[Committee for Democracy and Progress]] (1919-1922)&lt;br /&gt;
| branch = Army&lt;br /&gt;
| serviceyears = 1904-1916; 1919-1922&lt;br /&gt;
| rank = Major (First Allied Provinces of Laeral) &amp;lt;br /&amp;gt; Field Marshal (Committee for Democracy and Progress)&lt;br /&gt;
| unit = &lt;br /&gt;
| commands = Second Harcour Infantry Regiment (First Allied Provinces of Laeral) &amp;lt;br /&amp;gt;Army of the Committee for Democracy and Progress&lt;br /&gt;
| battles = &lt;br /&gt;
| mawards = Order of National Merit, Medal of Valor (Second Class) (First Allied Provinces of Laeral) &amp;lt;br /&amp;gt; Order of Han Guiying (First Class), Laeralian Medal of the Civil War (Gold) (Republic of Laeral)&lt;br /&gt;
| military_blank1 = &lt;br /&gt;
| military_data1 = &lt;br /&gt;
| military_blank2 = &lt;br /&gt;
| military_data2 = &lt;br /&gt;
| military_blank3 = &lt;br /&gt;
| military_data3 = &lt;br /&gt;
| military_blank4 = &lt;br /&gt;
| military_data4 = &lt;br /&gt;
| military_blank5 = &lt;br /&gt;
| military_data5 = &amp;lt;!--Embedded templates / Footnotes--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| module = &lt;br /&gt;
| module2 = &lt;br /&gt;
| module3 = &lt;br /&gt;
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}}&lt;br /&gt;
'''René Corentin Gramont''' was a [[Laeral|Laeralian]] soldier, revolutionary statesman, and politician who led the [[Committee for Democracy and Progress]] in the [[Laeralian Revolution]] and twice served as [[President of Laeral]], for ten years under the [[Republican Era]] and a further four under the Second Allied Provinces of Laeral. As the leader of the clique known as the [[Gang of Five]] during Laeral's Republican period, he enacted wide-ranging reforms to the Laeralian state and Laeralian society known as the [[Rose Revolution]], under the core principles of republicanism, reformism, socialism, secularism, and anti-imperialism. Gramont later became a major political force in the early years of the Second Allied Provinces of Laeral, serving as President from 1962 until his death in office in 1964. He is widely considered among the greatest figures in Laeralian history and an architect of modern Laeral; he often appears on lists of the greatest leaders of the 20th century. &lt;br /&gt;
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Gramont initially came to prominence as a soldier in the army of the First Allied Provinces of Laeral, rising to the rank of Major in the [[First Fellsian War]] and becoming a decorated war hero following victories at the battles of Poimur, Corentin, and Valengny. After his resignation from the Laeralian Army, he joined an underground group pushing for societal and governmental reform, known as the [[Committee for Democracy and Progress]] (CDP). When the [[Laeralian Revolution]] broke out in 1919, Gramont assumed command of the forces of the CDP, ultimately using his tactical acumen to defeat government forces and overthrow the Allied Provinces regime. He subsequently established the Republic of Laeral. &lt;br /&gt;
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He was elected as the Republic's first President in 1922, and subsequently reelected in 1927 for a second five-year term. His government enacted socialist and modernization programs with the ultimate goal of reforming Laeral into a modern, progressive, and tolerant nation. He created free nationwide public education, abolishing religious schooling and instituting a new nationwide curriculum. He reversed laws which promoted racial discrimination, and adopted redistributive policies meant to promote Rén empowerment. Under his rule, Laeralian women were emancipated under liberalized laws, and received social and civil rights similar to those of men. He also defeated [[Libertas Omnium Maximus]] in the [[Brissac War]] (1925-1928), bringing modern-day Brissac and Lematre provinces under Laeralian rule. &lt;br /&gt;
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As the leader of Laeral's Social Democratic Party, he remained an influential figure in the development of the Laeralian state as his close allies [[Jean-Philippe Salaun]], [[Zhou Wei-lin]], and [[Sun Jia-wei]] went on to lead the Republic. During the [[Bloody Summer]], he led government forces against [[Alain Mette]]'s Laeralian Front; his tacit support for the drafting of a new constitution allowed for the transition to the Second Allied Provinces of Laeral. Gramont re-emerged from retirement to run for president in 1962, and was elected. &lt;br /&gt;
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As president, he led the country during the early years of the [[Great War]], including suspending civil liberties to rule by decree during the [[Emergency Period]]. He died of a heart attack under opaque circumstances while in office in 1964, bringing the Emergency to an end, and received a state funeral before being buried in the immense Gramont Mausoleum near his birthplace in Harcour. &lt;br /&gt;
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René Gramont is widely considered the most important figure in Laeralian history, and is the subject of numerous biographies, films, and other forms of historical media. His visage features prominently in Laeralian nationalist imagery. His socialist political ideology, known as [[Gramontism]], is the official ideology of the [[Progressive Party of Laeral]] and has remained an influential current in Laeralian and international politics through the present day.&lt;br /&gt;
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==Early Life==&lt;br /&gt;
Réne Corentin Gramont was born in the rural town of Maissis, in Harcour province, [[Laeral]], to Emile Gramont, a local merchant and trader, and Marie-Ange Gramont. It is believed that one of his grandparents on his mother's side, as well as at least one of his great-grandparents on his father's side, were Rén; Gramont himself identified as Arrivée throughout his life. A middle name does not appear on his birth certificate; he adopted the name Corentin following his near-death experience at that battle during the [[First Fellsian War]]. His younger brother died at a young age, and as a result Gramont grew up as an only child; Emile and Marie-Ange Gramont found it difficult to conceive children. Gramont attended a local parochial school for his early education, and a secular private school for further education. In 1900, Gramont applied and was accepted to the Laeralian Military Academy in [[Althea]], Loiraine. &lt;br /&gt;
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Gramont had initially hoped to join the cavalry, then seen as the surest path to social advancement, but was denied by his instructors, instead becoming an infantry officer. Gramont had become involved in politics in Althea; he was notably sympathetic to the city's labor unions, and joined a club of young officer cadets dedicated to discussing reforms to the existing political system. He also opposed the Laeralian expeditionary force sent abroad to to quell the [[Golden Flag Rebellion]], sympathizing with the plight of the Rén rebels. He graduated from the academy near the top of his class, but was not offered a position with a serving regiment, possibly because of his political views or his unrefined, rural manners. During his time at the Laeralian Military Academy, he met Thérèse Perray, the eldest daughter of a wealthy merchant supplying the Laeralian army. The two became infatuated with one another, and ultimately married in 1905. &lt;br /&gt;
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==Military Career==&lt;br /&gt;
===Early Years===&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:AltheaArmory.jpg|300px|thumb|left|The outbuilding of the Althea Armory where Gramont worked from 1904-1906.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Upon graduating, Gramont was not offered a position with a serving regiment, but instead placed on half-pay and given a secretarial position at the Althea Armory. He was reportedly a mediocre secretary, and his half-pay salary meant that he lived in a small apartment. One of his neighbors was [[Zhou Wei-lin]], then unsuccessfully seeking a mercantile career. The two men became friends; Zhou would eventually become Gramont's aide-de-camp during the First Fellsian War. Around this time, Gramont also met the union leader [[Julien Cheng]], who would eventually become Economy Minister under Gramont's presidency.&lt;br /&gt;
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In 1905, Gramont married Thérèse Perray, and the two honeymooned in northern Meilinis; Gramont would later be involved in fierce battles of the First Fellsian War near the very same countryside landscapes he and his newlywed wife had admired. Thanks to the influence of his father-in-law Jacques Perray, Gramont was taken off of half-pay in 1906. Instead of being assigned to a military unit, however, Second Lieutenant Gramont was assigned to a military delegation sent to [[Serriel]], where Sultan [[Mansur Hazinedar]] was relying on Laeralian assistance to defeat a tribal uprising of the nomadic Suhar people. &lt;br /&gt;
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Gramont left his pregnant wife in Althea in March 1906, accompanying around two dozen Laeralian Army officers on a trip by sea to Serriel. Gramont proved a quick study at languages, quickly mastering the Serrin language and thus becoming a trusted aide to the leader of the delegation, Colonel Sabin de Montreuil. Gramont accompanied the Sultan's forces on expeditions into the interior to fight the Suhar rebels, observing firsthand the value of good logistics, the dangers posed by the stealth and camouflage of the Suhar, and the deadly potential of the Narbonne machine guns provided by the Laeralian delegation. Gramont escaped his first battles unharmed, noting in a letter to a friend that &amp;quot;adventure, once sampled, is a hard meal to resist.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Sultan's_Army_Suhar_Revolt.jpg|350px|thumb|left|A Laeralian military adviser (left) accompanies Sultan Mansur's forces, 1907.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Gramont spent nearly two years in Serriel, at one point contracting a serious case of tuberculosis. He was treated by a Serrielan nurse, Elnara Hanim, with whom he developed romantic feelings for; it is believed that they may have consummated an affair. In March 1908, the Laeralian delegation was sent to the city of [[Allied Cities|Xianjiapo]], a [[Caxcana|Caxcanan]] city which was administered by Laeral following the [[Golden Flag Rebellion]]. The international occupation of the region was violent and destructive; promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and assigned to the headquarters of the Laeralian Expeditionary Force, he saw firsthand the impact of the Laeralian occupation. In a letter to his wife Thérèse, he wrote that: &amp;quot;the cruelties perpetrated upon the people of the foreign land we have come to occupy is difficult to convey with words. The men view us with defiance like a cold flame in their eyes, while the women flinch away and keep close their children. The rhetoric and justification of the men in our halls of government in distant Laeral is flimsy when viewed alongside the barbaric nature of the international occupation in Xianjiapo and the surrounding lands.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
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In late 1909, Gramont was granted permission to return to Laeral by ship. Upon returning to [[Althea]], he rejoined his wife and saw his infant daughter, Alexine Gramont, for the first time. He was granted a post at the headquarters of the Second Army, comprising the Loiraine provincial forces which had been absorbed into the national army by the 1888 Gagneux Reforms. A May 1910 evaluation by Captain Adolphe Reyer of the Second Army described Gramont as &amp;quot;a committed soldier, most intelligent and quick of wit, yet finds it difficult to grasp his position with regards to his brother officers.&amp;quot; It appeared as if Lieutenant Gramont may have been held in an advisory position forever, yet he was soon to be given opportunities for advancement by the outbreak of hostilities in 1911. &lt;br /&gt;
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===First Fellsian War===&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:GramontLieutenant.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Gramont in uniform prior to being deployed to the front lines.]]&lt;br /&gt;
On the March 18th Incident in 1911, a [[High Fells|High Fellsian]] railroad bridge in the volatile High Fellsian border region of Valenne was blown up by saboteurs. One of those saboteurs was shot and killed by Fellsian soldiers; the attack was used as an excuse by the High Fellsian Parliament to declare war on Laeral. The Laeralian standing army was quickly called up to the northern frontier; soldiers in Gramont's regiment were given only one day to prepare for immediate deployment to the front. As a native Harcouran, Lieutenant Gramont was assigned to the Second Harcour Infantry Regiment, part of the Second Army. As the regiment deployed and was sent northwards, High Fellsian troops advanced southwards through Cenefort and Minzu provinces, forcing Laeralian troops back before them. &lt;br /&gt;
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Gramont's unit arrived at the front lines in time to join Field Marshal Duval's counteroffensive, which forced back overextended Fellsian forces. Upon reaching the front in early May 1911, the Second Harcour Infantry found themselves in fluid fighting in northern Meilinis, where Fellsian cavalry were spearheading the drive southwards. In fighting around Dumont's Farm, the farm horse Gramont had commandeered was shot to death underneath him, but Gramont was unharmed, making him a celebrated figure among the regiment. &lt;br /&gt;
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In July 1911, as the Fellsian advance stalled in their drive southwards, the front lines settled into the trench warfare which would become synonymous with the war itself. Artillery and machine guns meant that advance was difficult, while soldiers frequently came under attack. Gramont's regiment was located on the front lines in northwestern Meilinis, only around fifteen kilometers north of the village where Gramont and his wife had honeymooned. &amp;quot;All around us is desolation,&amp;quot; wrote Gramont in a letter to Thérèse. &amp;quot;Even amid the mud and grime of the trenches I am sheltering in, I recall the beauty of the land we visited after our marriage.&amp;quot; With the Fellsian trenches only around 50 meters away, the Laeralian soldiers were constantly on guard for enemy soldiers, while the trench came under frequent shelling. Bolstered by reinforcements from the Third Army (comprising forces of the southeastern provinces), the Laeralian commander Field Marshal Duval called for an attack in March 1912, near the town of Poimur, where the Fellsians had occupied the fortress of Fort de Poimur. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:WartornLaeral.jpg|250px|thumb|left|The war-torn countryside in northwestern Meilinis.]]&lt;br /&gt;
====Poimur Campaign====&lt;br /&gt;
The attack on Poimur was preceded by a buildup of around 135,000 Laeralian troops and an artillery barrage of three days in length. At 9:00 on the morning of March 19th, roughly 30,000 Laeralian soldiers charged towards Fellsian positions. Gramont's Second Harcour Infantry was among the regiments advancing towards the town of Poimur; although the regiment sustained some casualties to enemy fire, Gramont's platoon took only a single casualty according to battlefield records. &lt;br /&gt;
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Laeralian forces attacking the fort, however, faced heavy casualties from enemy machine gun fire, failing to breach the fort on the day of the attack. The forces in the valley below halted their advance to wait for the fort's capitulation, which would take six days of siege and artillery fire. Gramont's Second Harcour Infantry repulsed a Fellsian counterattack on March 23rd, and soon settled in for months of further attritional warfare. The regiment had gained around 4 kilometers of territory. &lt;br /&gt;
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From April 1912 to July 1913, Gramont remained in the Poimur salient with his unit. The focus of combat by this time had turned to the Minzu region, where brutal mountain fighting was taking a toll on both sides. Gramont described this as a time of comparative tranquility during his wartime service, as he read tracts on politics and philosophy, as well as taking the opportunity to learn Mandarin from an orderly in his regiment. &lt;br /&gt;
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====Siege of Corentin====&lt;br /&gt;
In July 1913, Fellsian forces began an assault on the Laeralian-held fortress of Corentin outside the city of Rilos, believed to be impregnable at the time of its design in 1890. However, advanced Fellsian artillery and mortars proved effective against the fortress's walls, leading to a protracted Fellsian assault on the fortress. Hoping to prevent the loss of Rilos, the largest city in the north of Laeral, reinforcements including Gramont's regiment were rushed to defend Corentin. &amp;quot;The enemy shall not breach Corentin's gates!&amp;quot; declared Laeralian Prime Minister Auguste Brienne. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Corentin.jpg|300px|thumb|right|The defenders of Corentin.]]&lt;br /&gt;
At the fortress of Corentin, Gramont entered among the bloodiest and most vicious fighting of his military career. Fellsian commanders, while initially intending to seize Rilos, eventually chose to use the siege of Corentin as a means of destroying the Laeralian Army's troop strength by inflicting maximum casualties on the defenders. The continuing Fellsian artillery bombardment was estimated as consuming around 6,000 artillery shells daily, while Laeralian artillery batteries fired around 2,000 artillery shells a day at Fellsian lines. With tens of thousands of troops committed at Corentin, the Laeralites suffered staggering losses. &lt;br /&gt;
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In late September 1912, the company's senior-most lieutenant and captain were killed by an artillery shell which hit a command post, leaving Gramont as a captain, commanding a force that on paper numbered around 140 men but in practice had only around 90 soldiers able to fight. Captain Gramont quickly established himself as a fearless fighter as the bloody siege continued with the Second Harcour Infantry at the front lines. Even the Fellsian use of poison gas against the fortress in November 1912 failed to dislodge the Laeralian defenders, although casualties were immense. Fighting slowed as winter came; Gramont was granted two weeks' leave to visit his wife at Christmas, which he did. &lt;br /&gt;
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In April 1913, after around nine months of continuous siege, Gramont was involved in the first of several Laeralian counterattacks against the Fellsian forces besieging Corentin. Although this counterattack was a costly failure, a subsequent attack in June 1913, which was prefaced by a &amp;quot;creeping barrage&amp;quot; of artillery shells preceding the advancing Laeralian troops, succeeded at overrunning the front line of Fellsian positions. Gramont's company was the first Laeralian force to breach the Fellsian line, at Artillery Battery B, where Gramont's company captured a Fellsian soldier who led the attacking force into the battery, taking around 60 Fellsians prisoner. In the assault the next morning, Gramont was struck by a bullet in his chest, and was rushed behind the lines to a field hospital.&lt;br /&gt;
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Gramont had sustained tremendous blood loss due to delays in bringing him to medical care, and spent three weeks in a field hospital. His wound became infected, possibly with gangrene, and it was believed that he might die. He was sent to the new home in Garnier, Harcour, which he and Thérèse shared, and ultimately pulled through the infection. During his recovery, he chose to take on the middle name Corentin, in recognition of his brush with death and of the fellow soldiers lost at that battle. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Salaun_in_Uniform.png|250px|thumb|left|General [[Jean-Philippe Salaun]], who would become Gramont's mentor and political ally.]]&lt;br /&gt;
He was awarded the Medal of Valor, Second Class, for his actions during the siege of Corentin. Hoping to boost public support for the increasingly bloody conflict, the Laeralian government sent Gramont alongside other veterans of the front line on a nationwide tour to promote enlistment in the Laeralian Army. As one of the &amp;quot;Heroes of Corentin,&amp;quot; Gramont received media attention bringing him into the nationwide spotlight, including a profile featured on the cover of the major weekly periodical ''Le Laeralien''. &lt;br /&gt;
====Transfer to Salaun's Staff====&lt;br /&gt;
In March 1914, Gramont was invited to meet with Lieutenant General [[Jean-Philippe Salaun]], who commanded the 17th Army Corps. A younger officer respected for his strategic skill, Salaun recognized the military potential of the younger man, inviting Gramont to join his General Staff. Gramont was officially transferred to Salaun's staff on March 25th, 1914, with the rank of Major. &lt;br /&gt;
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Salaun commanded the 17th Army Corps, comprising around 40,000 soldiers (the Laeralian Army at this point consisted of around 2,100,000 men). In Spring 1914, the 17th Corps was withdrawn from the mountainous fighting in northern Minzu and brought to [[Hanshui]] for regrouping and training. In conjunction with Salaun and other members of the Corps's staff, the Corps leadership developed a new method of &amp;quot;rapid, scientific&amp;quot; warfare meant to crack the stalemate on the front lines. This would involve rapid artillery barrages or other shock attacks meant to startle opposing forces, followed by rapid attacks spearheaded by elite troops and a rapid follow-up, with mobile troops prepared to penetrate any gap in the enemy line. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:17thCorpsOfficers.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Officer trainees of Salaun's 17th Corps.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Gramont himself suggested a focus on empowering junior officers to take initiative, finding promising young officers and training them personally in the new style of warfare. Among these officers was [[Zhou Wei-lin]], a lieutenant whom Gramont was impressed by and named his aide-de-camp. The training regimen was completed in October 1914, by which time fighting had largely ceased for the winter. Over the winter of 1914, Gramont and Salaun planned a campaign to break through the Fellsian line, surveying possible sites and marshaling resources.&lt;br /&gt;
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====Valegny Campaign====&lt;br /&gt;
Through January and February 1915, Salaun's planned Valegny offensive began taking shape, as Laeralian sappers began to dig tunnels beneath the Fellsian lines near the town of Valegny. Valegny, in Cenefort province, was a Fellsian stronghold; breaking through the Fellsian lines there would open the way to a pass leading into High Fells itself. Once the Laeralian sappers had tunneled beneath the Fellsian lines, the tunnels- 14 in all- were filled with 240 tons of explosives. On March 7th, 1915, the explosives were simultaneously detonated, killing an estimated 4,000 Fellsian soldiers instantly and producing a blast which could be heard from Laeralsford. Fellsian forces were stunned and paralyzed by the force of the blast, which was immediately followed by an advance of the 17th Corps. Resistance was slim near the front lines; some units reported reaching Fellsian lines, and the tremendous craters there, unopposed. &lt;br /&gt;
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In the days following the attack, the 17th Corps advanced swiftly through the four-kilometer gap in the Fellsian lines, advancing as far as six kilometers in a single day- territory gained at a rate unequalled since the start of the war. Their advance was aided by the Fellsian's slowness in responding to the attack, due to damaged communication lines and the capture of Fellsian officers near the salient. It was not until March 13th, nearly a week after the first advance, that a substantial Fellsian counterattack occurred. This was skillfully repulsed by Gramont at the Battle of Qumen, giving the Laeralian forces further time to advance. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:FFWAdvance.jpeg|250px|thumb|right|Advancing Laeralian forces during the Valegny Campaign.]]&lt;br /&gt;
Exhausted by years of war and stunned by the speed of the Laeralian advance, the Fellsian Army was largely unable to rally and repulse the Laeralian advance. At Pingshui and Saridong, Laeralian forces defeated Fellsian attempts at a counterattack, and the 17th Corps' advance units crossed the pre-war frontier into High Fells on March 30th. Reinforcements from other Laeralian units were thrown in through the Valegny breach to follow up on the advances Salaun's troops had made. The first sustained Laeralian advance during the war, the coverage of the Valegny Campaign made Lt. General Salaun and Major Gramont into war heroes. &lt;br /&gt;
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By June, the Laeralian advance had slowed due to Fellsian opposition and insurgent activity. Gramont was detached from Salaun's staff and given a field position in late June, commanding front-line troops near Manyeong. The July 10th Chungjin offensive, planned and led by General Lafon of the 11th Corps, was a dismal failure, and the fighting in eastern High Fells slowed as the front line stabilized during fall and winter 1915. &lt;br /&gt;
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Gramont did lead a notable action in January 1916, the famed Hyesong Raid. The town of Hyesong, located along the Manchaek River, was a regional Fellsian railroad and waterway hub, responsible for supplying troops along much of the nearby portion of the Fellsian front line. As fighting along this section of the front had calmed by mid-winter, Gramont planned a sudden raid on the Hyesong supply depot. During a [[Minjian Faith|Minjian]] religious festival, Zhou Wei-lin, Gramont's aide-de-camp, led a small force of trained Laeralian infiltrators, known as Zhou's Raiders, up the Manchaek River, disguised as a supply barge. The infiltrators reached Hyesong a day later, on January 27th, and set explosives and set fire to an immense supply depot. On their rapid escape down the river back to Laeralian lines, however, they were harried by Fellsian troops, and came under heavy fire. &lt;br /&gt;
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In the darkness, less than a kilometer from Laeralian lines, the barge ran aground in the shallows. Roused from his sleep to see the evidence of a skirmish northward on the river, Gramont led a force of troops to rescue Zhou's raiders. Catching the Fellsians by surprise in the dark, many of the raiders were rescued from the barge. This skirmish was once again featured heavily in the Laeralian popular press, once again bringing Gramont into the national consciousness. &lt;br /&gt;
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In April 1916, an armistice was called between Laeral and High Fells, drawing the First Fellsian War to a close. Despite the estimated 800,000 Laeralian soldiers, and countless civilians, who had died during the conflict, Laeral saw little gains from the war, besides some minor territorial readjustments. Along with many other veterans of the conflict, Gramont felt betrayed by the peace agreement, seeing it as minor compared to the sacrifices he and others had made. Gramont and his troops were forced to withdraw from their hard-fought positions and move southward to the border established by the armistice. The 17th Corps was largely kept in Cenefort, responsible for arming local civilians in preparation for future hostilities with High Fells. In October 1916, the 17th Corps was officially dissolved by order of the Ministry of War, in order to reduce costs post-war. Jean-Philippe Salaun himself was the only officer of the Corps kept on active duty; the remaining officers and troops were discharged. Gramont, now unemployed, reached home in November 1916.&lt;br /&gt;
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-During FFW, Laeral had population 25 million, max soldiers 2.7 million&lt;br /&gt;
-High Fells had population 18 million, max soldiers 2.2 million&lt;br /&gt;
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===Pension Corps===&lt;br /&gt;
Gramont joined an estimated 2.2 million First Fellsian War veterans who were released from service into an employment market with few jobs. Returning to his wife Thérèse and his daughter Alexine, now eight years old, at the house in Garnier, he began work on a book, ''The Returning Soldier'', which would share his own account of the war as well as explore the plight of veterans returning from the conflict, who faced large-scale unemployment and poverty. This book was published in September 1917, and became an instant bestseller, being serialized in the pages of many newspapers and magazines for those unable to afford the complete book. &lt;br /&gt;
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Beginning in March 1918, Gramont embarked upon a nationwide book tour, where he traveled to towns and cities across Laeral to promote his book, address assembled crowds, and often dedicate new memorials to the fallen of the First Fellsian War. His tour was widely covered by the media, in particular his &amp;quot;Oration at the Memorial to the Fallen of Corentin&amp;quot;, which was reprinted in ''Aujourd'hui'' and other leading periodicals. Gramont was rapidly becoming a household name and a popular figure; various individuals urged him to run for office. &lt;br /&gt;
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[[File:CommitteeSupporters.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Supporters of the Committee for Democracy and Progress assemble in Rilos.]]&lt;br /&gt;
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===Laeralian Revolution===&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LRLCivilWarRecruits.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Rose Army recruits during the Laeralian Civil War.]]&lt;br /&gt;
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==Republican Period==&lt;br /&gt;
===Constitution and Election as President===&lt;br /&gt;
In fall and winter 1921, Gramont worked to unify the disparate factions who had fought to overthrow the Allied Provinces regime, consolidating the ideologically-compatible leaders of the Committee for Democracy and Progress behind his leadership while working to marginalize those he viewed as obstacles to his reformist agenda, such as those espousing ethnic or regionalist interests. During the course of the war, Gramont had been gradually accepted as the overall political leader of Republican forces: his former mentor J.P. Salaun, the figure most capable of making a bid for national leadership, understood Gramont to be the sole figure with sufficient credibility among both Rén and Arrivée Laeralites to lead, and threw his support behind Gramont wholeheartedly with the understanding that he would occupy an important role in government (ultimately Prime Minister and Chairman of the General Staff, as well as Gramont's successor as president in 1932). &lt;br /&gt;
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In Laeralsford, Gramont chaired the Committee on the Drafting of the Laeralian Constitution alongside vice-chairs [[Edmond Yeoh]] and [[Alban Hamel]], which promulgated the new document in September 1922. The document radically expanded the powers of the central government, in particular through the creation of a strong executive presidency. Full equality before the law, regardless of race, was enshrined in the document, which also committed the state to progressively secure a socialist economy and economic security for all. Feminists and gynarchists were pleased by the constitution's provisions guaranteeing the vote to women, while criticizing its refusal to grant women equal property rights. Gramont and his newly-formed [[Social Democratic Party (Laeral)|Social Democratic Party]] easily won the ensuing elections, in which no opposition parties were permitted to compete. &lt;br /&gt;
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Gramont was elected unanimously by the National Assembly, composed of supporters from the Committee for Democracy and Progress, as the Republic of Laeral's first president on September 20, 1922. His first action as president, governing from Laeralsford's mayoral palace, was a proclamation abolishing in full the corvée, or system of forced labor, deeply unpopular among the peasantry for centuries. As the new Constitution was being drafted, Gramont proceeded only cautiously with his reform agenda in hopes of winning over those loyal to the Allied Provinces: in particular, those loyal to the previous regime were largely left unpunished. &lt;br /&gt;
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===Tenure as President===&lt;br /&gt;
====Domestic Policy====&lt;br /&gt;
Gramont's first term, bolstered by complete control of the National Assembly, was characterized by rapid legislative action in the economic field and towards that of racial equality. Gramont's legislative initiatives, and those of his successors as president during the Republican Era, were titled the [[Rose Revolution]], a term origination in 1923 by Gramont's &amp;quot;Rose Revolution Address&amp;quot;, delivered over Radio Laeralsford. &lt;br /&gt;
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Notable legislation signed into law by Gramont included:&lt;br /&gt;
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* the Land Reform Act of 1923, which established redistribution of land from landowners who had fled abroad or taken up arms against the Army for Democracy and Progress. This law also established the National Rural Reconstruction Administration to oversee rural development.&lt;br /&gt;
* the State Resources Act of 1923, which established state monopolies in various fields including mines, railroads, and steel production. &lt;br /&gt;
* the Postal and Telecommunications Act of 1923, which set the goal of funding at least one radio for every village in Laeral.&lt;br /&gt;
* the Automotive Act of 1924, which established the [[AMCA Automotive Corporation]].&lt;br /&gt;
* the Laeralian Legal Code of 1924, which established the first Laeralian national court system and provided for equal justice under the law regardless of race and racially-integrated juries, as well as fully legalizing interracial marriage. &lt;br /&gt;
* the Rights of Women Act of 1925, which banned arranged marriage, abolished laws barring women from most professional careers, and established the first explicit right of women to obtain a divorce. &lt;br /&gt;
* the Popular Education Act of 1925, which provided for free bilingual primary school education with a unified national curriculum for all.&lt;br /&gt;
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These sweeping state programs were funded in part by the extraction of oil, discovered first in Felliere province in 1919, yet was first extracted at large scale under the state-run Laeralian Oil Corporation in 1923.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Political Control====&lt;br /&gt;
The Gramont administration saw the suppression of the political opposition. Independent labor unions, particularly those with communist ties, as well as Laeral's fledgling [[Gynarchism|Gynarchist]] and anarchist movements, faced government suppression, as did various conservative opposition groups. By the [[1927 Laeralian legislative election]], the Liberal Democratic Party was allowed to form as a center-right opposition party. Political opposition would be permitted to a limited degree, such as the victories of National Cooperative Party and various independent elected governors in certain provinces.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
With limited exceptions, political power in Laeral was dominated by the [[Social Democratic Party (Laeral)|Social Democratic Party (SDP)]], founded around the principles of Gramontist socialism. The SDP was founded in 1922 upon victory in the [[Laeralian Revolution]], with Gramont as its first Party Secretary. Gramont envisioned the SDP as a locus of influence in Laeralian society, where party members across the nation and all strata of society would adopt progressive ideas and drive their wider adoption across society.{{efn|Following Gramont's presidency, the vision of a broad-based mass party would be disregarded and SDP party membership became more exclusive.|}} The Rose Banner Brigades were a paramilitary organization which had emerged within the Rose Army during the Laeralian Revolution as a means of bringing irregular troops under the National Revolutionary Council's control. Following the war, the Rose Banner Brigades were retained as an internal policing force and source of surplus labor under the SDP's command before the creation of the Laeralian Gendarmerie and other police forces as a means of keeping these often unruly fighters employed. The Rose Banner Brigades were also used to crush unauthorized labor action and as scabs. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In contrast to the public image of him as a sole visionary leader, Gramont relied heavily on the counsel of his chief advisors, particularly those known as the [[Gang of Five]]. On certain key decisions, Gramont even submitted to a majority vote of the Gang of Five and apparently accepted his defeat when outvoted. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Foreign Policy====&lt;br /&gt;
In 1925, a popular revolt by pro-Laeral separatist forces in the territories of Brissac and Lematre, governed by [[Libertas Omnium Maximus]] despite their large ethnically [[Arrivée]] populations since the end of the [[War of the Seven Provinces]] in 1877, was seized upon by Gramont as an opportunity to avenge the defeat of two generations prior. The brief [[Brissac War]] (1925-1926) saw a decisive Laeralian victory and the return of Brissac and Lematre to Laeral, confirmed by the Treaty of Galline in 1927.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Generally speaking, Gramont pursued a neutralist foreign policy, often declaring that &amp;quot;Laeral needs no foreign enemies. Our favored bedfellow is peace.&amp;quot; Although defensive of Laeral's territory following foreign incursions during the [[Laeralian Revolution]], relations were gradually normalized with High Fells during Gramont's tenure, and his administration sought to secure diplomatic recognition from other Hesperidan powers. Gramont's decision to prematurely cancel many foreign trade concessions and retain high import duties was popular domestically and laid the groundwork for future policies of [[import substitution industrialization]] during the Republican era, but were often unpopular with foreign powers.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Post-Presidency===&lt;br /&gt;
Gramont separated from Thérèse, his wife of 20 years, in 1925 under circumstances which remain occluded. Although speculation at the time centered on infidelity or Thérèse's perceived inability to become pregnant, both spouses insisted throughout their life that the parting was amicable and due to the changing pressures of married life as during Gramont's presidency. The role of First Lady remained vacant throughout the remainder of Gramont's tenure as president; both spouses never remarried.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In 1932, following the end of the constitutionally-permitted second five-year term, Gramont transferred power to his longtime friend J.P. Salaun as successor, declining to take up another position in public office. Similarly, he divested his position as Party Secretary of the SDP to [[Sun Jia-wei]], setting the precedent that the presidency and leadership of the SDP would not be concentrated in a single individual in future. Retiring to the newly-constructed Montcléra estate in Harcour, Gramont remained active in public life through regular conferrals with Salaun and other members of the Gang of Five, and he refrained from public criticism of government policy. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
At Montcléra, Gramont devoted himself to family life and academic pursuits. He adopted two daughters in 1933, Alexine and Liliane; Alexine, who was 16 at the time, acted as hostess at the estate and assisted in raising the six year-old Liliane. Gramont developed an interest in agriculture and used the nearby village and Montcléra's fields to experiment with animal husbandry and crop cultivation, particularly pears, and attempted to raise foreign fruit trees successfully in Laeral's climate. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
He also became active in writing and linguistics: he took on a leading role in developing the Laeralian State Dictionary, Laeral's first official bilingual dictionary, which was used to shape the educational curriculum. Through the dictionary, Gramont attempted to modernize the Mandarin language for ease of learning by simplifying lengthy words and incorporating loanwords from French. He also developed the Montcléra system of Mandarin romanization, an update and standardization of previous romanization systems which remained in common use until the development of pinyin.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In the late 1930s and 40s, Gramont was involved in international diplomacy on several occasions, embarking on goodwill tours abroad and serving as special representative of the Laeralian president abroad.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Notes==&lt;br /&gt;
{{notelist}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category: People]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category: History]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category: Laeral]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category: Gramontism]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Laeral</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Republic_Party_(Laeral)&amp;diff=45379</id>
		<title>Republic Party (Laeral)</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Republic_Party_(Laeral)&amp;diff=45379"/>
		<updated>2026-04-20T16:43:05Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Laeral: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;{{Infobox political party&lt;br /&gt;
| name = Republic Party&lt;br /&gt;
| native_name = Parti de la République&lt;br /&gt;
| native_name_lang = French&lt;br /&gt;
| lang1 = Mandarin&lt;br /&gt;
| name_lang1 = 共和黨&lt;br /&gt;
| lang2 = &lt;br /&gt;
| name_lang2 = &lt;br /&gt;
| lang3 = &lt;br /&gt;
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| logo = &lt;br /&gt;
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| colorcode = #8B0000&lt;br /&gt;
| abbreviation = PR&lt;br /&gt;
| leader = &lt;br /&gt;
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| chairperson = &lt;br /&gt;
| general_secretary =&lt;br /&gt;
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| secretary_general = &lt;br /&gt;
| presidium =&lt;br /&gt;
| secretary =&lt;br /&gt;
| spokesperson = &lt;br /&gt;
| founder = [[Ren Jian-kuan]]&lt;br /&gt;
| leader1_title = &lt;br /&gt;
| leader1_name = &lt;br /&gt;
| leader2_title = &lt;br /&gt;
| leader2_name = &lt;br /&gt;
| leader3_title = &lt;br /&gt;
| leader3_name = &lt;br /&gt;
| leader4_title = &lt;br /&gt;
| leader4_name = &lt;br /&gt;
| leader5_title = &lt;br /&gt;
| leader5_name = &lt;br /&gt;
| founded =  {{start date|1968|06|29}}       &amp;lt;!-- {{start date|YYYY|MM|DD}} --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| legalised =  &lt;br /&gt;
| dissolved =      {{end date|1986|09|01}}&lt;br /&gt;
| banned = &lt;br /&gt;
| merger = &lt;br /&gt;
| split = &lt;br /&gt;
| predecessor = [[Social Democratic Party (Laeral)]]&lt;br /&gt;
| merged = &lt;br /&gt;
| successor = &lt;br /&gt;
| headquarters = [[Laeralsford]]&lt;br /&gt;
| newspaper = &lt;br /&gt;
| think_tank = &lt;br /&gt;
| student_wing =&lt;br /&gt;
| youth_wing = &lt;br /&gt;
| womens_wing = &lt;br /&gt;
| wing1_title =&lt;br /&gt;
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| wing3_title = &lt;br /&gt;
| wing3 = &lt;br /&gt;
| wing4_title = &lt;br /&gt;
| wing4 = &lt;br /&gt;
| membership_year = 1982&lt;br /&gt;
| membership = 2,200,000&lt;br /&gt;
| ideology = [[Gramontism]], Social Democracy, Democratic Socialism&lt;br /&gt;
| position = Center-left to Left-wing&lt;br /&gt;
| religion = &lt;br /&gt;
| national = &lt;br /&gt;
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| colors = {{Color box|#8B0000|border=darkgray}} Dark Red      &amp;lt;!-- or: | colours = --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| slogan = &lt;br /&gt;
| anthem = &lt;br /&gt;
| blank1_title = &lt;br /&gt;
| blank1 = &lt;br /&gt;
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| seats1 =          &lt;br /&gt;
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| seats3_title = &lt;br /&gt;
| seats3 = &lt;br /&gt;
| seats4_title = &lt;br /&gt;
| seats4 =          &amp;lt;!-- up to |seats15= --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| symbol = &lt;br /&gt;
| flag = &lt;br /&gt;
| website = &lt;br /&gt;
| state =           &amp;lt;!-- or country --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| country = [[Laeral]]       &amp;lt;!-- or state --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| country_dab1 = &lt;br /&gt;
| parties_dab1 = &lt;br /&gt;
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| parties_dab2 = &lt;br /&gt;
| elections_dab2 = &lt;br /&gt;
| footnotes = &lt;br /&gt;
}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The '''Republic Party''' (French: Parti de la République; Mandarin: 共和黨/Gònghé dǎng) was a [[Laeral|Laeralian]] [[Gramontism|Gramontist]] political party active from 1965 until 1986. The legal successor to the [[Social Democratic Party (Laeral)|Social Democratic Party]], the Republic Party was an attempt by the Hong, or &amp;quot;vermilion&amp;quot; faction of the Social Democrats to reform the party following its 1968 constitutional ban. The reformists of [[Zhou Wei-lin]]'s &amp;quot;scarlet&amp;quot; faction had previously left the party to form the [[Progressive Party of Laeral|Progressives]]. Despite facing increasing competition from the Progressives for the demographics who had long supported the Social Democrats, the Republic Party experienced consistent electoral success throughout the 1960s and 1970s, with Republic Party leader [[Ren Jian-kuan]] becoming [[Prime Minister of Laeral|Prime Minister]] from 1971 to 1973 under the &amp;quot;Twin Roses&amp;quot; coalition agreement of 1969. Alongside the [[Progressive Party of Laeral|Progressive Party]] and Laeralian Communist Party, the Republic Party took part in one of Laeral's most left-leaning coalition governments from 1976 to 1980. The Republic Party largely died out following a poor showing at the 1984 parliamentary election, with its officeholders defecting to the [[Progressive Party of Laeral|Progressives]], the Rén nationalist [[Justice and Advancement Party (Laeral)|Justice and Advancement Party]], and the [[Progressive Democratic Party (Laeral)|Progressive Democrats]]. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A separate &amp;quot;Republic Party&amp;quot; list which received ownership of the party name and identity contested the 2004 parliamentary election yet failed to gain representation in the Assembly of Commons.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category: Laeral]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category: Politics]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category: Gramontism]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Laeral</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Gang_of_Five&amp;diff=45378</id>
		<title>Gang of Five</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Gang_of_Five&amp;diff=45378"/>
		<updated>2026-04-20T16:42:49Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Laeral: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[File:Réne_Gramont.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Réne Gramont]]&lt;br /&gt;
The '''Gang of Five''' is a historiographical term applied to refer to five political leaders who led the ''Committee for Democracy and Progress'' during the Laeralian Civil War, and later the [[Social Democratic Party (Laeral)|Social Democratic party]] (and by extension, all of [[Laeral]]) during the ensuing [[Republican Era]]. The Gang of Five consisted of [[René Gramont]], Jean-Philippe Salaun, Sun Jia-wei, [[Hong Kuo-shu]], and Zhou Wei-lin, although figures such as Julien Cheng and Edmond Yeoh also served important roles in the formation of the . The Gang of Five was largely successful at reshaping and modernizing Laeralian national character and politics via the [[Rose Revolution]], although they have been criticized for their authoritarian hold on power. Ultimately, the Republic of Laeral which the Gang had shaped and ruled was overturned following the Bloody Summer uprising. While the Gang of Five played a role in shaping the new Allied Provinces constitution which followed, they faced renewed conservative opposition. Nevertheless, members of the Gang went on to play a role in Laeralian politics under the new constitution. The term was coined by the historian Zhang Qingwei in his 1977 history of the Republican Era. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Membership==&lt;br /&gt;
[[René Gramont]], an Army major and statesman, was the central figure of the Gang of Five. He was elected as the first President of the Republic of Laeral, being elected for two five-year terms. He later became the first Foreign Minister, second President, and a Prime Minister of the subsequent Allied Provinces government. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
'''Jean-Philippe Salaun''', a former general in the Laeralian Army, later became the first Prime Minister of the Republic of Laeral, Minister of Education, and the second President of the Republic. He was killed during the [[Bloody Summer]], an attempted coup by [[Hong Kuo-shuo]] and General [[Alain Mette]]. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Zhou_Wei-lin.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Zhou Wei-lin]]&lt;br /&gt;
'''Sun Jia-wei''', a former soldier who had been educated abroad, became the Foreign Minister under President Gramont, and later served in various capacities throughout the Republic of Laeral's existence, including as Vice-President and President. Following the establishment of the Second Allied Provinces, Sun became Prime Minister.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
'''Zhou Wei-lin''', Gramont's former aide-de-camp, was the Chief of Staff for President Gramont, and later the third President of the Republic of Laeral. He split with the Social Democrats following the establishment of the Second Allied Provinces, founding the [[Progressive Party of Laeral]]. He was briefly Prime Minister of Laeral.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Hong Kuo-shu]], another soldier who had served in the [[Laeralian Civil War]], led the SDP's rural reconstruction and development efforts during the 1920s before serving as prime minister, vice-president, and ultimately Party Secretary of the SDP. Splitting from his fellows in opposition to Zhou's policies of political liberalization, Hong coined the maxim &amp;quot;the conductor is the train's helmsman and the wheels only its base&amp;quot; and staunchly opposed liberalization. Engaging in a power struggle with his party rivals, Hong and his &amp;quot;vermilion&amp;quot; faction of the SDP attempted to purge his opposition in the Bloody Summer coup.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Affiliated Members==&lt;br /&gt;
'''Edmond Yeoh''', an academic previously affiliated with the liberal 6th of May Society and its successor, the [[National Revolutionary Directorate]], was appointed as the first Vice-President of the Republic of Laeral. His conciliation with the [[Social Democratic Party (Laeral)|Social Democratic Party]] never complete, he later broke with the group following the fall of the Republic to co-found the [[Progressive Party of Laeral]].  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
'''Julien Cheng''', a trade union leader, was an Economy Minister under the Republic of Laeral, developing much of the Gang of Five's economic policy. He later served as prime minister under President Salaun, and was the standard-bearer for the Social Democratic Party in the 1954 Laeralian presidential election.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
'''Élisabeth-Charlotte Cordé''', a union leader, was a major figure in the development of the Republic of Laeral's ideology. She became the first woman to be elected to the Assembly of Commons under the Republic of Laeral, and later Labor Minister under President Réne Gramont. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Additionally, the wives of several members of the Gang have been centered in recent histories of the Republican era, most notably Thérèse Gramont and Marianne Zhou.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Ideology==&lt;br /&gt;
The Gang of Five articulated the 'Five Pillars' ideology, stating five goals intended to be the foundations of the new Laeral they hoped to create. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Republicanism===&lt;br /&gt;
Republicanism was seen as the goal of creating a truly representative national government. Under the Constitution of the Republic, all men and women, regardless of race or income, were eligible to vote, expanding the franchise massively. The first-past-the-post system was replaced, as was the indirectly-elected upper house of the previous government. Critics note, however, that voter fraud and vote-buying did occur under the Republic, and were sometimes practices by the ruling Social Democrats. Additionally, the Gang of Five frequently shut down newspapers criticizing Social Democratic policies. The Social Democrats also worked to promote republicanism abroad, sending military support to rebels in [[Legionas]] and later playing a key role in the negotiations leading to the end of the House of Verdesia's autocratic reign. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Reformism===&lt;br /&gt;
The Gang of Five possessed a strong modernizing tendency, with Gramont himself decrying the &amp;quot;outdated superstitions&amp;quot; which &amp;quot;cluttered and befouled&amp;quot; Laeralian government and society. Under the Social Democrats, the practice of patronage was abolished, science and technical education were promoted, and the Laeralian calendar was standardized. The Social Democrats similarly invested greatly in infrastructure such as railways, telegraphs, and later radio. To some extent, the Gang of Five opposed 'outdated' cultural traditions, shunning practices such as foot-binding and the topknot. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Socialism===&lt;br /&gt;
The Social Democrats were socialist in orientation, with deep ties to the labor movement. Although the Gang of Five largely spurned affiliations with international socialist and Marxist movements and suppressed the Laeralian Communist Party, the SDP's leadership uniformly declared themselves as socialists. The Social Democrats promoted workers' rights, as well as nationalizing the radio, steel, railway, and telegraph industries during the extended economic downturn of the 1930s. The Social Democrats also expropriated land from Arrivée landowners to a limited scale and pursued extensive state-led development initiatives.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Secularism===&lt;br /&gt;
Of the Gang, Salaun was Catholic, Sun was Protestant, and Zhou and Hong were [[Minjian Faith|Minjian]], while Gramont himself is considered by most to have been an atheist. However, they shared a commitment to reducing the power of the Catholic church in Laeral. Clergy were barred from discussing political subjects, and religious institutions were taxed. The Social Democrats briefly banned religious education in Laeral, before relenting. The Catholic church later emerged as a leading opponent of the Social Democrats' social agenda, leading to increased legislation restricting the church's power. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Anti-Imperialism===&lt;br /&gt;
Domestically, the Gang of Five worked to reverse many of the effects of colonialism. Many of the most restrictive racial laws, such as the law requiring a permit for interracial marriage, were reversed. Racist militia groups were banned from operating, and their leaders were tried in court. President Gramont passed legislation creating a complex and wide-ranging racial quota system, guaranteeing positions in government and the judiciary to Rén and mixed-race individuals. In foreign policy, the Republic of Laeral opposed the prevailing international power structure, seeking to promote racial equality and oppose imperialism.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category: Laeral]] [[Category: Politics]] [[Category: History]] [[Category: People]] [[Category: Gramontism]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Laeral</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Laeralian_deep_state&amp;diff=45377</id>
		<title>Laeralian deep state</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Laeralian_deep_state&amp;diff=45377"/>
		<updated>2026-04-20T16:42:11Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Laeral: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;The '''Laeralian deep state''' is a term used by conspiracy theorists as well as some journalists and academics to describe [[Laeral|Laeralian]] government agencies and non-governmental organizations which purportedly manipulate elections and civil society in order to achieve and cement [[Gramontism|Gramontist]] control of the country through underhanded means. A purported &amp;quot;Project Fidelis&amp;quot; and a &amp;quot;Secret Order No. 18&amp;quot; are believed to be key aspects in this deep state, which is typically believed to include government bureaucrats and members of the national security apparatus as well as the [[FLT-OIU]]'s International Solidarity Center and the [[International Republican Institute]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Although government employees in certain segments of the Laeralian civil service and military have historically exhibited an affinity towards Gramontist ideals, the concept of a Laeralian deep state is almost universally scoffed at by academics and historians. A 2022 poll suggested that approximately 34% of Laeralites believed that a deep state was currently wielding influence in Laeralian government.   &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==History and Use== &lt;br /&gt;
Belief in shadowy Gramontist forces operating within the government and is believed to have originated in the late 1950s, immediately following the establishment of the Second Allied Provinces of Laeral. The term came into prominence during the 1990s and became substantially more popular with the rise of the internet. Believers in the Laeralian deep state assert that shadowy forces within the Laeralian intelligence community, federal government, as well as ideologically-aligned civil society organizations, either secretly direct or seek to overthrow Laeral's elected government. The 1976 Laeralian parliamentary election, as well as the 2004, 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018 Laeralian presidential elections, are variously believed to have been manipulated by the deep state. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Notable Tenets==&lt;br /&gt;
Proponents of the Laeralian deep state conspiracy theory typically claim that the Laeralian deep state includes career bureaucrats in government agencies such as the Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs, the Central Electoral Commission, and the [[List of intelligence agencies|Federal Security Bureau]], as well as the [[FLT-OIU]]'s International Solidarity Center, the [[International Republican Institute]], and various criminal triads. The deep state conspiracy theory also often overlaps with other Laeralian conspiracy theories, including the [[Anti-Minjian sentiment|Peichen necromancers]], Gynarchist abduction theories, anti-vaccine sentiment, and Xueyan-related conspiracy theories. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The term &amp;quot;Project Fidelis&amp;quot; is often used to describe the plan of the deep state to cement its control over the Laeralian government. &amp;quot;Secret Order No. 18,&amp;quot; supposedly signed by [[René Gramont]] in 1964 shortly before his death, is believed to guide the operations of the Laeralian deep state. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===2022 René Gramont resurrection hoax===&lt;br /&gt;
In 2022, internet and social media conspiracy theories emerged that advanced technology would be used to resurrect or clone former Laeralian president [[René Gramont]] in order to allow him to assume dictatorial control of a &amp;quot;Second Republic of Laeral&amp;quot;, which would be founded 100 years after the founding of the original Republic of Laeral. This did not occur.&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;[citation needed]&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category: Laeral]] [[Category: Gramontism]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Laeral</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Social_Democratic_Party_(Laeral)&amp;diff=45376</id>
		<title>Social Democratic Party (Laeral)</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Social_Democratic_Party_(Laeral)&amp;diff=45376"/>
		<updated>2026-04-20T16:41:43Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Laeral: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;{{Infobox political party&lt;br /&gt;
| name = Social Democratic Party&lt;br /&gt;
| native_name = Parti Social-Démocrate&lt;br /&gt;
| native_name_lang = French&lt;br /&gt;
| lang1 = Mandarin&lt;br /&gt;
| name_lang1 =  社会民主党&lt;br /&gt;
| lang2 = &lt;br /&gt;
| name_lang2 = &lt;br /&gt;
| lang3 = &lt;br /&gt;
| name_lang3 = &lt;br /&gt;
| lang4 = &lt;br /&gt;
| name_lang4 = &lt;br /&gt;
| logo = SDPBadge.PNG&lt;br /&gt;
| logo_size = 200px&lt;br /&gt;
| caption = SDP Logo (1954-1968)&lt;br /&gt;
| colorcode = #D40000&lt;br /&gt;
| abbreviation = SDP&lt;br /&gt;
| leader = &lt;br /&gt;
| president = &lt;br /&gt;
| chairperson = &lt;br /&gt;
| general_secretary =&lt;br /&gt;
| first_secretary = &lt;br /&gt;
| secretary_general = &lt;br /&gt;
| presidium =&lt;br /&gt;
| secretary =&lt;br /&gt;
| spokesperson = &lt;br /&gt;
| founder = [[Réne Gramont]], [[Jean-Philippe Salaun]], [[Sun Jia-wei]], [[Julien Cheng]], [[Zhou Wei-lin]]&lt;br /&gt;
| leader1_title = &lt;br /&gt;
| leader1_name = &lt;br /&gt;
| leader2_title = &lt;br /&gt;
| leader2_name = &lt;br /&gt;
| leader3_title = &lt;br /&gt;
| leader3_name = &lt;br /&gt;
| leader4_title = &lt;br /&gt;
| leader4_name = &lt;br /&gt;
| leader5_title = &lt;br /&gt;
| leader5_name = &lt;br /&gt;
| founded =  {{start date|1922|02|07}}       &amp;lt;!-- {{start date|YYYY|MM|DD}} --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| legalised =  &lt;br /&gt;
| dissolved =      &lt;br /&gt;
| banned = {{end date|1968|06|29}}&lt;br /&gt;
| merger = &lt;br /&gt;
| split = &lt;br /&gt;
| predecessor = &lt;br /&gt;
| merged = &lt;br /&gt;
| successor = [[Republic Party (Laeral)|Republic Party]]&lt;br /&gt;
| headquarters = [[Hanshui]] (1922-1924) &amp;lt;br /&amp;gt;[[Laeralsford]] (1924-1965)&lt;br /&gt;
| newspaper = Social Democratic Appeal&lt;br /&gt;
| think_tank = Five Pillars Policy Office&lt;br /&gt;
| student_wing = National Students' Union of Laeral&lt;br /&gt;
| youth_wing = Social Democratic Youth Congress&lt;br /&gt;
| womens_wing = All-Laeral Women's Congress&lt;br /&gt;
| wing1_title = Oversight wing&lt;br /&gt;
| wing1 = Social Democratic Internal Investigations Office&lt;br /&gt;
| wing2_title = Labor wing&lt;br /&gt;
| wing2 = Congress of Laeralian Trade Unions&lt;br /&gt;
| wing3_title = Paramilitary wing&lt;br /&gt;
| wing3 = Rose Banner Brigades (1922-1929)&lt;br /&gt;
| wing4_title = &lt;br /&gt;
| wing4 = &lt;br /&gt;
| membership_year = 1951&lt;br /&gt;
| membership = 18,550,000&lt;br /&gt;
| ideology = [[Gramontism]], Social Democracy, Democratic Socialism&lt;br /&gt;
| position = Left-wing&lt;br /&gt;
| religion = &lt;br /&gt;
| national = &lt;br /&gt;
| regional = &lt;br /&gt;
| european = &lt;br /&gt;
| continental = &lt;br /&gt;
| international = &lt;br /&gt;
| europarl = &lt;br /&gt;
| affiliation1_title = &lt;br /&gt;
| affiliation1 = &lt;br /&gt;
| colors = {{Color box|#D40000|border=darkgray}} Red      &amp;lt;!-- or: | colours = --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| slogan = &lt;br /&gt;
| anthem = &amp;quot;Banner of the Eight-Pointed Star&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
| blank1_title = &lt;br /&gt;
| blank1 = &lt;br /&gt;
| blank2_title = &lt;br /&gt;
| blank2 = &lt;br /&gt;
| blank3_title = &lt;br /&gt;
| blank3 = &lt;br /&gt;
| blank4_title = &lt;br /&gt;
| blank4 = &lt;br /&gt;
| seats1_title = &lt;br /&gt;
| seats1 =          &lt;br /&gt;
| seats2_title = &lt;br /&gt;
| seats2 = &lt;br /&gt;
| seats3_title = &lt;br /&gt;
| seats3 = &lt;br /&gt;
| seats4_title = &lt;br /&gt;
| seats4 =          &amp;lt;!-- up to |seats15= --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| symbol = &lt;br /&gt;
| flag = &lt;br /&gt;
| website = &lt;br /&gt;
| state =           &amp;lt;!-- or country --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| country = [[Laeral]]       &amp;lt;!-- or state --&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| country_dab1 = &lt;br /&gt;
| parties_dab1 = &lt;br /&gt;
| elections_dab1 = &lt;br /&gt;
| country2 = &lt;br /&gt;
| country_dab2 = &lt;br /&gt;
| parties_dab2 = &lt;br /&gt;
| elections_dab2 = &lt;br /&gt;
| footnotes = &lt;br /&gt;
}}&lt;br /&gt;
The '''Social Democratic Party''' (French: Parti Social-Démocrate; Mandarin: 社会民主党/Shèhuì mínzhǔdǎng) was a [[Gramontism|Gramontist]], socialist [[Laeral|Laeralian]] political party which was the dominant party in the autocratic [[Republican Era]]. Established in 1922 by the former ''Committee for Democracy and Progress'' upon their victory in the [[Laeralian Civil War]], the party used vote-buying, the suppression of political opponents, and control of the media to remain the dominant party in Laeral until the party's schism at the ''Seventh Social Democratic Party Congress'' in 1952 and the ensuing [[Bloody Summer]], which led to the writing of the 1954 Laeralian Constitution and the transition to full democracy. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The SDP was a center-left to left-wing political party based upon [[Gramontism]] and the [[Gang of Five|Five Pillars]] espoused by the party's founding elite, the [[Gang of Five]]. These principles of republicanism, reformism, socialism, secularism, and anti-imperialism were enacted through the [[Rose Revolution]], a series of social reforms taking place throughout Laeral's Republican Era. A schism in the party between pro-democracy and hardliner factions led to the decisive victory of [[Sun Jia-wei]]'s reformist &amp;quot;scarlet&amp;quot; faction following the [[Bloody Summer]], leading to the first fully-free elections in 1954. The party initially received electoral success even once free elections had been instituted, forming majority governments in the [[National Assembly (Laeral)|National Assembly]] until 1964. However, the excesses of the [[Emergency Period]], when [[Réne Gramont|Social Democratic President Réne Gramont]] suspended civil liberties, led the [[Laeralian Constitutional Court]] to officially ban the party in 1968. Today, the Social Democratic legacy remains a matter of contention in Laeral, routinely condemned as autocratic or hailed for its social and economic achievements, while the [[Progressive Party of Laeral|Progressive Party]] identifies itself as the spiritual successor to the SDP.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==History==&lt;br /&gt;
===Founding and Early Republican Era===&lt;br /&gt;
The SDP was founded by the [[Gang of Five]] in [[Hanshui]] during the fading days of the [[Laeralian Civil War]] as an instrument of control over the forthcoming [[Republican Era|Republic of Laeral]]. Party membership was extended to all who had fought under the banner of the Committee for Democracy and Progress. [[Réne Gramont]] was the founding Party Secretary, and the only figure to hold the position of President of Laeral alongside Party Secretary of the Social Democratic Party, as the positions were formally made separate at the 1932 ''Third Social Democratic Party Congress''. During the early years of the Republican Era, the Army of the Committee for Democracy and Progress remained under arms as the ''Rose Banner Brigades'', paramilitary troops of the SDP, but were dissolved in 1929 after the end of the [[Brissac War]] and the defeat of various uprisings against the Republic. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Gramont's 1922 to 1932 tenure as Party Secretary saw the party developed into a robust organization encompassing youth, women's and organized labor wings, with the intent of embedding Social Democratic Party institutions into the daily life of Laeralites. Party membership became a swift ticket to social advancement, with the ranks of state-run corporation leaders, the military officer corps, and political office being drawn almost entirely from SDP members. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Salaun and Zhou Eras===&lt;br /&gt;
At the 1932 Third Social Democratic Party Congress, party procedures were revamped to meet the needs of the party's growing membership. Rather than aspiring to count &amp;quot;two in three Laeralites&amp;quot; as party members, as [[Sun Jia-wei]] had previously advocated, membership was made contingent upon a thorough background check, a probationary period, and proven understanding of the [[Five Pillars]] and other tenets of [[Gramontism]]. The creation of an elite rather than mass party and the ideological guardrails placed on party membership was an important branch in the road for the SDP: [[Hong Kuo-shu]], a rising star in the party, had been among the leaders strongly advocating for the SDP to absorb and co-opt opponents of the party, with J.P. Salaun sympathetic to the tactic as he saw local power players as necessary partners to pursue his anti-clerical agenda, yet with René Gramont firmly opposed to the idea of compromising the party's revolutionary ideals, the SDP's membership was made exclusive so as to ensure relative ideological homogeneity.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
J.P. Salaun's tenure as president, from 1932 to 1942, saw the expansion of [[Rose Revolution]] programs, an increased focus on secularist ideology, and the further development of the planned economy, while organized political opposition was legalized via the [[Liberal Democratic Party (Laeral)|Liberal Democratic Party]], [[Laeralian National Congress]], and [[National Cooperative Party (Laeral)|National Cooperative Party]]. Salaun also presided over the ''May 21st Affair'', in which eight leading members of the National Assembly, public companies, and provincial governments were arrested and imprisoned on corruption charges by the Social Democratic Internal Investigations Office. This incident temporarily quelled, yet did not suppress, incidents of corruption and self-enrichment among party officials.&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Zhou Wei-lin.jpg|150 px|thumb|right|Zhou Wei-lin, third president of the Republic of Laeral, was seen as a leading reformist member of the SDP.]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Zhou Wei-lin]]'s nomination as president at the 1942 ''Fifth Social Democratic Party Congress'' was seen as a victory for liberalizers within the party, as restrictions on the press were lifted, broader criticism of party programs was tolerated, and political participation was further expanded, although opposition parties never held a realistic chance of winning control of the National Assembly. Zhou set his personally modest lifestyle as a counter-example to the lavish lifestyles of some party elites, and launched new anti-corruption measures and the confiscation of excessive assets, alienating many influential Party members. A growing party backlash to Zhou's reforms, as well as Zhou's outreach to [[Libertas Omnium Maximus]] and other &amp;quot;imperialist&amp;quot; foreign nations, led to a hotly-contested nomination race at the ''Sixth Social Democratic Party Congress'' in 1947. As it became clear that Zhou lacked support from delegates to pursue another term as president, [[Sun Jia-wei]], the favored choice of moderates, narrowly defeated hardliner [[Hong Kuo-shu]], who was forced to accept the position of Party Secretary. Sun's first term as president was largely consumed by the [[Accession of Lienne]], known also as the Second Fellsian War, when Laeral intervened militarily to support the border region of [[Lienne]]'s bid for independence from [[High Fells]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Seventh Social Democratic Party Congress and Bloody Summer===&lt;br /&gt;
By 1952, the date of the ''Seventh Social Democratic Party Congress'', tensions within the party between President Sun's &amp;quot;scarlet&amp;quot; or &amp;quot;presidential&amp;quot; faction, seen as favoring reform, and [[Hong Kuo-shu]]'s &amp;quot;vermilion&amp;quot; or &amp;quot;countryside&amp;quot; faction, which opposed reform, had risen. In an extraordinary session of the ''Central Working Committee'' in November 1951, [[Fai Chao-ming]], leader of the powerful Social Democratic Internal Investigations Office, was forcibly removed by scarlet faction members after he had moved to arrest several SDP grandees on charges seen as politically-motivated. However, the Central Working Committee did not muster the votes to remove Fai from party leadership. The incident stoked tensions between the party's two factions, leading Fai to call for Party Secretary Hong Kuo-shu, the leader of the vermilion faction, to replace Sun Jia-wei as the party's presidential nominee for the 1952 election. Fai and other vermilion Social Democrats sought to win a majority on the Executive Central Committee during the elections at the Seventh SDP Congress, yet over a marathon four-day session, were defeated, with Sun narrowly winning renomination. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Emboldened by this victory, the reformist wing of the SDP moved to purge the vermilion faction from leadership entirely, leading to violence when Hong's supporters in the Laeralian Army, led by General Alain Mette, attempted a coup against President Sun. This [[Bloody Summer]] resulted in immense street violence and the supposedly-accidental death of former SDP President [[Jean-Philippe Salaun]] at the hands of vermilion faction members of the Laeralian Army. The defeat and treason trial of the conspirators of the Bloody Summer coup attempt emboldened Sun, Zhou Wei-lin, and other SDP reformists to call a new constitutional convention at which the ''Second Allied Provinces of Laeral'' was founded.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Post-Republic Activities===&lt;br /&gt;
The SDP faced political headwinds during the nation's first fully-free elections in 1954, at which [[François Guirard]], of the [[Laeralian National Congress]], was elected president with 54% of the vote. The SDP retained its grip on power in the [[National Assembly (Laeral)|National Assembly]], however, winning 154 of 300 seats and electing [[Sun Jia-wei]] as [[Prime Minister of Laeral|prime minister]]. Although Sun Jia-wei was defeated in his bid for president against Gramont in 1958, the party retained its grip on the Assembly of Commons in coalition with the [[Laeralian Communist Party]]. The 1962 presidential election, in which former president [[Réne Gramont]]'s political comeback resulted in a narrow victory, saw the fortunes of the SDP rise, yet a sluggish economy would lead a [[Laeralian National Congress]]-led coalition to take power in the National Assembly following 1964 snap elections. In response, Gramont declared a [[Emergency Period|state of national emergency]], purportedly due to the [[Great War]], resulting in the suspension of the constitution and ended only by Gramont's death of a stroke in 1964. This hugely discredited the party among intellectuals and the middle class by upsetting the party's image as a technocratic steward of the nation. Many influential members of the party opposed to the Emergency, including [[Zhou Wei-lin]], [[Edmond Yeoh]], and [[Matthieu Dallaire]], left the SDP to form the [[Progressive Party of Laeral]], a center-left, Gramontist party, in December 1964. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Following the Emergency, forces in the Laeralian National Congress party sought to have the Social Democratic Party banned for anti-democratic activity, as permitted by the Laeralian Constitution. The case and repeated appeals before the [[Laeralian Constitutional Court]] persisted for several years, before the court officially voted to ban the SDP in 1968 in a controversial decision. Due to the ban, the SDP's final Party Secretary, [[Ren Jian-kuan]], reformed the party into the [[Republic Party (Laeral)|Republic Party]], its legal successor, which persisted until a poor showing at the 1984 parliamentary election spelled its demise. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Platform==&lt;br /&gt;
The SDP was a [[Gramontism|Gramontist]], social-democratic party which espoused the ''Five Pillars'' as coined by [[Réne Gramont]] and [[Jean-Philippe Salaun|J.P. Salaun]]: republicanism, reformism, socialism, secularism, and anti-imperialism. Under SDP leadership, women were empowered in many areas of public life, free public education and healthcare were established, social reforms such as the ban of the topknot and the  affirmative action policies were enacted, and the power of Arrivée-supremacist militias and the Catholic Church were curbed. The ideology of the SDP underwent evolution throughout the [[Republican Era]], but core pamphlets and texts, such as Gramont's ''Five Pillars for National Progress'', Hong Kuo-shu's ''Scientific Programme for Virtue and National Self-Strengthening'', and Sun Jia-wei's ''Aphorisms of the Rose Revolution'' all retained their place in the development of SDP doctrine.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Organization==&lt;br /&gt;
Under the Social Democratic Party's 1932 amendments to the party constitution, the party structure operated as follows. The lowest organs of the party were township and municipal committees, who organized local party members to carry out various elements of government programs and mobilized the public for elections. Alongside the various trade unions and professional organizations within the Congress of Laeralian Trade Unions, the township and municipal committees elected delegates to the Social Democratic Party Congresses, which occurred every five years and elected the party's nominees for office and the members of the party's various decision-making organs, which were as follows:&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:GramontandSalaun.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Incumbent president [[Réne Gramont]] and his soon-to-be successor, [[Jean-Philippe Salaun|J.P. Salaun]], at the retreat of the Executive Central Committee in 1932.]]&lt;br /&gt;
* The ''Executive Central Committee'', comprised initially of eight but ultimately 14 party grandees, was the chief-decision making apparatus for the party, meeting annually for two weeks, typically in a remote location such as the beach town of Marilly-sur-Mer to discuss the overall course of the party. &lt;br /&gt;
* Day-to-day party business was managed by the ''Central Working Committee'', a council of eight party members with largely-overlapping membership to the Executive Central Committee. Their influence waxed and waned during the Republican Era, achieving its greatest prominence during the Zhou and Sun administrations, where they often were a bulwark of SDP orthodoxy against Zhou and Sun's reformist tendencies.  &lt;br /&gt;
* The drafting of party platforms and oversight over government functions such as the five-year plans was conducted by the ''Central Policy Affairs Committee'', comprising both technocrats and influential party officials. President Salaun in particular relied greatly on this &amp;quot;brain trust,&amp;quot; yet it ultimately lost influence to its frequent competitor, the Five Pillars Policy Office.&lt;br /&gt;
* Beginning in 1932 with its creation at the Third SDP Congress, the ''Central Internal Affairs Committee'' had rein over disciplinary matters and party membership. The Social Democratic Internal Investigations Office was later granted authority over high-level corruption and disciplinary matters, becoming a chief tool in the factional fights that characterized the later years of Party rule. &lt;br /&gt;
* In 1952, faced with increasingly-competitive democratic elections, the ''Central Campaign Committee'' was established to coordinate nationwide campaigning efforts.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Party Secretary, elected for five-year terms at the Social Democratic Party Congress, was the head of the party and chaired the Executive Central Committee and Central Working Committee. Notable party secretaries included René Gramont (1922-32), Léonel Margaine (1942-1947), Hong Kuo-shu (1947-52), and Ren Jian-kuan (1962-68).&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Social Democratic Party apparatus also including subsidiary organs:&lt;br /&gt;
* The ''All-Laeral Women's Congress'' was the first subsidiary organization, founded in 1924 and responsible for mobilizing women to support the reform programme of the [[Rose Revolution]], as well as encouraging women's participation in Party activities, sending delegates to the [[International Women's Congress]], and advancing Gramontist views on women's role in society, including through its weekly magazine ''Women of Laeral''. Not merely an organ for mobilization, the All-Laeral Women's Congress produced several Chairwomen who wielded great influence within the party, particularly during the Gramont and Salaun periods. &lt;br /&gt;
* The majority of labor unions in Laeral during the Republican Era were members of the ''Congress of Laeralian Trade Unions'', which aimed to bring organized labor in line with SDP desires and to counter the appeal of communist ideals. Detached from the SDP in 1954, the Congress remains a major organization within the Laeralian labor movement. &lt;br /&gt;
* The ''National Students' Union of Laeral'' comprised the majority of university students nationwide, active on all university campuses. With the slogan &amp;quot;Education is the Avenue for the People's Advancement!&amp;quot;, the National Students' Union led thought sessions aimed to inculcate the Five Pillars among students and mobilized students to teach at community classrooms. &lt;br /&gt;
* Established in 1932, the ''Social Democratic Youth Congress'' aimed to provide opportunities for young people interested in Party and civil service work, as well as convey the wishes of young people to SDP leadership. Unlike youth organizations in other dominant-party states, the Youth Congress served as a socialization mechanism for youth in support of the Party, rather than an all-encompassing youth mass organization; at its height, the Youth Congress counted around 20% of Laeralian young adults as members.&lt;br /&gt;
* The ''Five Pillars Policy Office'' was the official think tank of the Social Democratic Party, established at the behest of longtime party elites in 1942 wary that President Zhou would seek to depart from Gramontist orthodoxy. At the height of its influence a major influence on the development of the Fifth and Sixth Five-Year Plans, the office was largely neutered by the scarlet faction following the Bloody Summer, although never abolished entirely. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
From 1922 to 1929, many former members of the Army of the Committee for Democracy and Progress (known as the Rose Army) who were not reformed into the Laeralian Army were deputized as members of the Rose Banner Brigades, a paramilitary group involved in clashes with communist, nationalist, and [[Gynarchy|gynarchist]] militias during the tumultuous early years of the Republic. They were abolished by order of President Gramont in 1929, following the [[Brissac War]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Election Results==&lt;br /&gt;
{| class=&amp;quot;wikitable&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
|+Presidential (Republic of Laeral) &lt;br /&gt;
!Election&lt;br /&gt;
!Presidential Candidate&lt;br /&gt;
!Vice-Presidential Candidate&lt;br /&gt;
!Votes&lt;br /&gt;
!Result&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|1922&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Réne Gramont]]&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Edmond Yeoh]]&lt;br /&gt;
|100%&lt;br /&gt;
|Elected&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|1927&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Réne Gramont]]&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Edmond Yeoh]]&lt;br /&gt;
|72.4%&lt;br /&gt;
|Elected&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|1932&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Jean-Philippe Salaun]]&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Sun Jia-wei]]&lt;br /&gt;
|68.1%&lt;br /&gt;
|Elected&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|1937&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Jean-Philippe Salaun]]&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Hong Kuo-shu]]&lt;br /&gt;
|57.6%&lt;br /&gt;
|Elected&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|1942&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Zhou Wei-lin]]&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Alban Hamel]]&lt;br /&gt;
|62.7%&lt;br /&gt;
|Elected&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|1947&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Sun Jia-wei]]&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Tsai Ming-yan]]&lt;br /&gt;
|54.1%&lt;br /&gt;
|Elected&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|1952&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Sun Jia-wei]]&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Zhou Wei-lin]]&lt;br /&gt;
|60.9%&lt;br /&gt;
|Elected&lt;br /&gt;
|}&lt;br /&gt;
{| class=&amp;quot;wikitable&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
|+Parliamentary (Republic of Laeral)&lt;br /&gt;
!Election&lt;br /&gt;
!Lead Candidate&lt;br /&gt;
!Seats&lt;br /&gt;
!+/-&lt;br /&gt;
!Result&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|1922&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Jean-Philippe Salaun]]&lt;br /&gt;
|{{composition bar|194|200|hex=#D40000}}&lt;br /&gt;
|—&lt;br /&gt;
|Majority Government&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|[[1927 Laeralian legislative election|1927]]&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Jean-Philippe Salaun]]&lt;br /&gt;
|{{composition bar|170|200|hex=#D40000}}&lt;br /&gt;
| -24&lt;br /&gt;
|Majority Government&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|[[1932 Laeralian legislative election|1932]]&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Hong Kuo-shu]]&lt;br /&gt;
|{{composition bar|166|200|hex=#D40000}}&lt;br /&gt;
| -4&lt;br /&gt;
| Majority Government&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|1937&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Julien Cheng]]&lt;br /&gt;
|{{composition bar|146|200|hex=#D40000}}&lt;br /&gt;
| -20&lt;br /&gt;
| Majority Government&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|1942&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Tsai Ming-yan]]&lt;br /&gt;
|{{composition bar|179|300|hex=#D40000}}&lt;br /&gt;
| +33&lt;br /&gt;
| Majority Government&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|1947&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Rolland Hsu]]&lt;br /&gt;
|{{composition bar|174|300|hex=#D40000}}&lt;br /&gt;
| -5&lt;br /&gt;
| Majority Government&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|1952&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Tsai Ming-yan]]&lt;br /&gt;
|{{composition bar|164|300|hex=#D40000}}&lt;br /&gt;
| -10&lt;br /&gt;
| Majority Government&lt;br /&gt;
|}&lt;br /&gt;
{| class=&amp;quot;wikitable&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
|+Presidential (Second Allied Provinces of Laeral)&lt;br /&gt;
!Election&lt;br /&gt;
!Candidate&lt;br /&gt;
!First-Round Votes&lt;br /&gt;
!Second-Round Votes&lt;br /&gt;
!Result&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|1954&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Tsai Ming-yan]]&lt;br /&gt;
|46.7% (2nd of two)&lt;br /&gt;
|N/A&lt;br /&gt;
|Not elected &lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|1958&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Sun Jia-wei]]&lt;br /&gt;
|42.8% (2nd of three)&lt;br /&gt;
|N/A&lt;br /&gt;
|Not elected &lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|1962&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Réne Gramont]]&lt;br /&gt;
|44.6% (2nd of three)&lt;br /&gt;
|53.0%&lt;br /&gt;
|Elected&lt;br /&gt;
|}&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category: Laeral]] [[Category: Politics]] [[Category: History]] [[Category: Gramontism]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Laeral</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Gramontism&amp;diff=45375</id>
		<title>Gramontism</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Gramontism&amp;diff=45375"/>
		<updated>2026-04-20T16:41:24Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Laeral: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[File:GramontFrontispiece.jpg|thumb|right|[[René Gramont]], as depicted in the frontispiece to a 1941 edition of his collected speeches]]&lt;br /&gt;
'''Gramontism''' (French: ''Gramontisme'') is a [[Laeral|Laeralian]] political ideology which was the official ideology of the [[Social Democratic Party (Laeral)|Social Democratic Party]], and by extension the state ideology of Laeral during the [[Republican Era]]. Gramontism, as first laid down by [[Réne Gramont|President René Gramont]] during his 1922-1932 tenure as [[President of Laeral]], was defined by sweeping social, cultural, and legal change meant to modernize the country and promote the unity of Laeral's [[Arrivée]] and [[Rén]] populations. Many of these changes were implemented in Laeral during the [[Rose Revolution]], the term for the Social Democratic Party (SDP) regime's reformist program. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Gramontism was first set down in the writings and speeches of Réne Gramont, in particular his books ''Five Pillars for National Progress'' and ''Civic Knowledge and the Challenges of Today'' as well as his &amp;quot;Address to the Laeralian People&amp;quot; on Republic Day, 1923. Later thinkers affiliated with the SDP's founders, the [[Gang of Five]], and with the SDP regime would later elaborate on these ideas, most notably Gramont's successor [[Jean-Philippe Salaun]]. Notable Gramontist texts include [[Hong Kuo-shu]]'s ''Scientific Programme for Virtue and National Self-Strengthening'', and [[Sun Jia-wei]]'s ''Aphorisms of the Rose Revolution''. Following the abolition of the Republic of Laeral in 1954, Gramontism continued to be advocated for by the [[Social Democratic Party (Laeral)|Social Democratic Party]] and its successors; the modern-day [[Progressive Party of Laeral]] identifies as a Gramontist party, despite great ideological evolution from the ideals of the Republican Era. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Gramontism has further found adherents abroad, most prominently during the pre-war period. Modern institutions dedicated to Gramontism include the [[Five Pillars Institute]], a think tank which emerged from the Republican-era Five Pillars Policy Office; its subsidiary, Five Pillars Press, and the [[International Republican Institute]], a [[Laeralsford]]-based institution which provides technical support to socialist parties and governments abroad. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The core principles of Gramontism are the ''Five Pillars'', spelled out as follows:&lt;br /&gt;
*''Republicanism'', the goal of creating a truly representative national government. Under the Constitution of the Republic, all men and women, regardless of race or income, were eligible to vote, expanding the franchise massively. The first-past-the-post system was replaced, as was the indirectly-elected upper house of the previous government. A Gramontist government, in its ideal form, is a semi-presidential, unicameral republic, although Gramontist theorists have differed on the proper role of local or provincial authorities in a Gramontist government. &lt;br /&gt;
*''Reformism'', the modernizing tendency at the heart of the [[Rose Revolution]]. Gramont frequently decried the &amp;quot;outdated superstitions&amp;quot; which &amp;quot;cluttered and befouled&amp;quot; Laeralian government and society, and Gramont promoted scientific and technical education and development projects, while prohibiting traditional practices such as foot-binding, arranged marriage, and the topknot. The principle of reformism thus possesses economic, social, and cultural components meant to advance reason, education, scientific progress, and self-actualization.&lt;br /&gt;
*''Socialism'', the empowerment of the working class through the growth of labor unions and the public ownership of key industries such as the railroads, the steel industry, and heavy manufacturing (ie, the [[AMCA Automotive Corporation]]), as well as limited land redistribution. Gramontism acknowledges the importance of class identity while promoting inter-class solidarity, although some of Gramont's followers—notably [[Hong Kuo-shu]] and [[Ren Jian-kuan]]—embraced the notion of class struggle. &lt;br /&gt;
*''Secularism'', a commitment to decreasing the power of religion in Laeralian society, including a ban on the political involvement of clergy, the taxing of religious institutions, and the ban on religious education, which was ultimately reversed before being passed into law in 1979. &lt;br /&gt;
*''Anti-Imperialism'', the reversal of the legacies of French colonial rule through the full legalization of interracial marriage, a crackdown on Arrivée-supremacist militias, and the establishment of racial quotas in the education system and the civil service. In foreign policy, this  pillar resulted in [[Forward Operations Doctrine (Laeral)|staunch support]] for liberation movements abroad. Following the [[Great War]], Gramontists grew to embrace multilateralism and opposition to a unipolar world order.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category: Laeral]] [[Category: Politics]] [[Category: Gramontism]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Laeral</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Civic_volition&amp;diff=45374</id>
		<title>Civic volition</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Civic_volition&amp;diff=45374"/>
		<updated>2026-04-20T16:41:08Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Laeral: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[File:Civicvolition.jpg|thumb|right|In 1935, six University of Loiraine women students were applauded in the newspaper &amp;quot;Republique&amp;quot; for their initiative in caring for invalid veterans, in an example of everyday civic volition.]]&lt;br /&gt;
'''Civic volition''' (Fr: ''volonté civique'') is a [[Gramontism|Gramontist]] concept of spontaneous, self-directed communal efforts which result from political and social education among the public. In Gramontist thought, emancipatory policies which permit all of society to work to their fullest potential, coupled with political education to shape a unified political vision, lead communities or work groups to achieve spontaneous feats of communal self-betterment through civic volition. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The term &amp;quot;civic volition&amp;quot; was first used by [[René Gramont]] in a 1932 speech at an agricultural cooperative in Meilinis. It was adopted into state propaganda throughout the 1930s, with the state newspaper ''Republique'' frequently featuring stories on villages or factory work shifts producing spontaneous community projects, such as digging irrigation canals, erecting billboards, or engaging in spontaneous land redistribution. These acts of civic volition were valorized as demonstrating exemplary socialist civic spirit. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In contrast with communist propaganda in other nations which typically valorized individual workers, Gramontist discourse, with its focus on collective effort, almost entirely valorized the collective efforts of small groups, work shifts, or entire towns or collectives. Decorations for exemplary achievements in civic volition included the Order of Heroic Labor, typically awarded to collectives or work groups, and the Hero of Civic Production medal.  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The cult of personality surrounding René Gramont and other leaders of the Laeralian Republic was often attributed in regime discourse to spontaneous acts of civic volition, rather than as state-directed activities. Some post-republican Gramontist thinkers have sought to reimagine civic volition as civic or public-spiritedness. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category: Laeral]][[Category: Gramontism]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Laeral</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Civic_volition&amp;diff=45373</id>
		<title>Civic volition</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Civic_volition&amp;diff=45373"/>
		<updated>2026-04-20T16:40:36Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Laeral: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;[[File:Civicvolition.jpg|thumb|right|In 1935, six University of Loiraine women students were applauded in the newspaper &amp;quot;Republique&amp;quot; for their initiative in caring for invalid veterans, in an example of everyday civic volition.]]&lt;br /&gt;
'''Civic volition''' (Fr: ''volonté civique'') is a [[Gramontism|Gramontist]] concept of spontaneous, self-directed communal efforts which result from political and social education among the public. In Gramontist thought, emancipatory policies which permit all of society to work to their fullest potential, coupled with political education to shape a unified political vision, lead communities or work groups to achieve spontaneous feats of communal self-betterment through civic volition. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The term &amp;quot;civic volition&amp;quot; was first used by [[René Gramont]] in a 1932 speech at an agricultural cooperative in Meilinis. It was adopted into state propaganda throughout the 1930s, with the state newspaper ''Republique'' frequently featuring stories on villages or factory work shifts producing spontaneous community projects, such as digging irrigation canals, erecting billboards, or engaging in spontaneous land redistribution. These acts of civic volition were valorized as demonstrating exemplary socialist civic spirit. In contrast with communist propaganda in other nations which typically valorized individual workers, Gramontist discourse, with its focus on collective effort, almost entirely valorized the collective efforts of small groups, work shifts, or entire towns or collectives.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Decorations for exemplary achievements in civic volition included the Order of Heroic Labor, typically awarded to collectives or work groups, and the Hero of Civic Production medal.  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The cult of personality surrounding René Gramont and other leaders of the Laeralian Republic was often attributed in regime discourse to spontaneous acts of civic volition, rather than as state-directed activities. Some post-republican Gramontist thinkers have sought to reimagine civic volition as civic or public-spiritedness. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category: Laeral]][[Category: Gramontism]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Laeral</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=File:Civicvolition.jpg&amp;diff=45372</id>
		<title>File:Civicvolition.jpg</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=File:Civicvolition.jpg&amp;diff=45372"/>
		<updated>2026-04-20T16:33:17Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Laeral: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Laeral</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Category:Gramontism&amp;diff=45371</id>
		<title>Category:Gramontism</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Category:Gramontism&amp;diff=45371"/>
		<updated>2026-04-20T16:32:37Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Laeral: Created blank page&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Laeral</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Civic_volition&amp;diff=45370</id>
		<title>Civic volition</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Civic_volition&amp;diff=45370"/>
		<updated>2026-04-20T16:32:26Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Laeral: Created page with &amp;quot;'''Civic volition''' (Fr: ''volonté civique'') is a Gramontist concept of spontaneous, self-directed communal efforts which result from political and social education among the public. In Gramontist thought, emancipatory policies which permit all of society to work to their fullest potential, coupled with political education to shape a unified political vision, lead communities or work groups to achieve spontaneous feats of communal self-betterment throug...&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;'''Civic volition''' (Fr: ''volonté civique'') is a [[Gramontism|Gramontist]] concept of spontaneous, self-directed communal efforts which result from political and social education among the public. In Gramontist thought, emancipatory policies which permit all of society to work to their fullest potential, coupled with political education to shape a unified political vision, lead communities or work groups to achieve spontaneous feats of communal self-betterment through civic volition. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The term &amp;quot;civic volition&amp;quot; was first used by [[René Gramont]] in a 1932 speech at an agricultural cooperative in Meilinis. It was adopted into state propaganda throughout the 1930s, with the state newspaper ''Republique'' frequently featuring stories on villages or factory work shifts producing spontaneous community projects, such as digging irrigation canals, erecting billboards, or engaging in spontaneous land redistribution. These acts of civic volition were valorized as demonstrating exemplary socialist civic spirit. In contrast with communist propaganda in other nations which typically valorized individual workers, Gramontist discourse, with its focus on collective effort, almost entirely valorized the collective efforts of small groups, work shifts, or entire towns or collectives.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Decorations for exemplary achievements in civic volition included the Order of Heroic Labor, typically awarded to collectives or work groups, and the Hero of Civic Production medal.  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The cult of personality surrounding René Gramont and other leaders of the Laeralian Republic was often attributed in regime discourse to spontaneous acts of civic volition, rather than as state-directed activities.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category: Laeral]][[Category: Gramontism]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Laeral</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Technomancer:_Millennium&amp;diff=45329</id>
		<title>Technomancer: Millennium</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Technomancer:_Millennium&amp;diff=45329"/>
		<updated>2026-03-27T05:21:16Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Laeral: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;''Technomancer: Millennium'', commonly known as ''Technomancer'' or ''TNM'', is a trading card game produced by Deep Dive Collective, previously by Vantage Enterprises. Typically played between two players, it is set in the dystopian Technomancer universe, which also includes fiction and animation. Players take on the role of rival hackers seeking to penetrate each other's computer systems and battle for domination in cyberspace and the real world, in a universe set in the 22nd century. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Technomancer is played by enthusiasts worldwide, with a global tournament circuit managed by Deep Dive. The game has a worldwide reach, and is currently printed in nine languages.{{efn|In order of release: French, English, Mandarin, Haean, Daryan, Spanish, Eirian, Huenyan, and Serrin.}} &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==History==&lt;br /&gt;
Technomancer was created in 2001 by Blaise Lin, a [[Laeral|Laeralian]] tabletop game designer who had previously worked on the Laeralian localization team for the [[Darya|Daryan]] trading card game ''Midnight Heroes''. Lin was inspired by the cyberpunk genre and his own left-wing politics: as an anarchist, Lin envisioned the game as a cooperative endeavor in which players would work together to fight corporate and government forces run by the game. When the game was acquired for publication by Vantage Enterprises, the firm insisted on centering on the head-to-head competitive version of the game, which was seen as more marketable. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The game grew rapidly in popularity following its release on the strength of its mechanics, which compared favorably to rival trading card games of the time. Initially published in Laeral, in 2003 it was released in [[Haesan]] and by 2008 had an international presence. The game's head-to-head format was more popular than the cooperative version, leading Vantage to settle on a ratio of around 2:1 head-to-head versus cooperative product releases. The company also released accompanying fiction and other media; a 2016 feature film was a critical and commercial disappointment and is today largely shunned by fans. The 2014-2016 animated series ''The Technomancer Diaries'', developed by the Daryan animation studio Studio Blaster, was conversely well-received and remains popular. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Transition to Deep Dive===&lt;br /&gt;
In 2016, Vantage Enterprises announced plans to end the production of Technomancer due to declining sales, creative clashes with creator Blaise Lin, and the failure of the Technomancer film. Following the end of Vantage's production, Blaise Lin (with the support of the fan base through a crowdfunding campaign which raised over M22 million over the course of two months), announced that he would buy out the rights to produce Technomancer: Millennium and continue production of the game through a collective, not-for-profit model. This effort became Deep Dive Collective, a collective chaired by Blaise Lin which has produced the game since 2018. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Under Deep Dive Collective, Technomancer: Millennium is available in stores and through a subscription service, in which subscribers receive a certain quantity of Technomancer cards and other products in exchange for an annual subscription, as well as the right to vote in elections for officers of the organization. Under the organization's not-for-profit model, profits are passed on to the consumer through lower prices for game products whenever possible. The transition to the Deep Dive Collective model has resulted in high satisfaction among the player base, although distribution expansion to new markets has slowed due to the collective's focus on serving existing players.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Setting==&lt;br /&gt;
Technomancer: Millennium takes place in the early 22nd century in a dystopian future IDU, where corporate power has eclipsed that of governments and exploits the public. Players take on the role of technomancers—gifted hackers working on behalf of rebel collectives, powerful corporations, or criminal interests. Technomancers regularly clash with one another in battles which play out in cyberspace and in the real world. Since 2010, players in the game's competitive scene have been able to upload the results of their battles to an online portal, with the aggregated results of battles helping to shape the game's ongoing plot.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Gameplay==&lt;br /&gt;
Players in Technomancer: Millennium assemble decks of a designated minimum size (usually 60 cards in most formats). &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The game's board is divided into two realms: Realspace and Cyberspace. All units (cards representing characters, terrain, vehicles, or computer programs) exist in one of the two realms, and can usually only interact with units sharing their realm. Each player begins play with a base, which represents that player's starting health and may have special effects for the character's deckbuilding, as well as a Technomancer, a leader unit with a unique special ability. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Players draw cards from their decks and play them as units in one of the two realms, or deploy one-time use &amp;quot;event&amp;quot; cards to impact the board state. Units are played by expending one of two types of Resources: RAM, to pay for Cyberspace units or events, and Qi, to pay for Realspace units or events. Different types of RAM and Qi allow for the play of different types of cards. Players take turns playing cards or attacking with units one at a time; attacks may target either enemy units or the enemy's base. Terrain and Firewall cards, some of which are played face-down and revealed only as a trap, allow players to defend their bases.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A successful Cyberspace attack on a base may disrupt an opponent's hand of cards, exert their Resources, or interfere with their deck, while successful Realspace attacks drain an enemy's health. The player who inflicted the most Cyberspace damage each round becomes the first player on the next turn and may add more RAM or Qi Resources. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In cooperative play, players face off against an Enemy deck, typically representing a powerful corporation. These corporations ignore resource costs and play cards by pulling powerful units and firewalls directly from their deck. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Products ==&lt;br /&gt;
Cards can be acquired through opening expansion packs or purchasing pre-assembled decks from the manufacturer. Unlike in many trading card games, cards in expansion packs are not randomized, with each pack's contents publicly available. This has resulted in a much smaller secondhand market compared to other trading card games.{{efn|The sole randomized packs are Art Packs available primarily from the manufacturer, which are aimed at collectors and include randomized alternate-art versions of various cards.}} &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
New cards are released in Cycles, a series of packs around a common theme. Under the current release schedule, a new Cycle is released every four months, consisting of five packs each released on a successive week. Cycles are typically themed around a geographic location in the world of Technomancer: Millennium, and contain story cards detailing events unfolding in the game's setting.  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Notable Cycles===&lt;br /&gt;
{| class=&amp;quot;wikitable&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
|+ Caption text&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
! Cycle Name &lt;br /&gt;
!Release Year!! In-Universe Location !! Notes&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| Technomancer Core Set &lt;br /&gt;
|2001|| Zhongshui City, Laeral{{efn|Fictional city extending from Laeralsford to Hanshui.}}|| First release in Technomancer&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| Technomancer: Millennium Gateway &lt;br /&gt;
|2003|| The Moon || New entry point set aimed at new players&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| Corporate Lockdown &lt;br /&gt;
|2004|| [[New Liverpool|Nueva Liverpool, Slokais Islands]] || First cycle distributed under the modern release model&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| The Regents' Hour &lt;br /&gt;
|2006|| New Eddington, The Commonwealth || Introduced Terrain cards&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| Blood and Steel &lt;br /&gt;
|2012|| [[Sinju|Sinju, Haesan]] || First set to sell over 10 million packs&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| The Sixteen-Minute War &lt;br /&gt;
|2017|| Indervidisha, Darya || Final set produced under Vantage&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Seeds of Revolution&lt;br /&gt;
|2018&lt;br /&gt;
|Zapotlán, New Huenya{{efn|As this cycle predated the [[Second Xiomeran Civil War]], the existence of a nation named &amp;quot;New Huenya&amp;quot; can be considered to have correctly predicted the 2020-2021 conflict.}}&lt;br /&gt;
|First set produced under Deep Dive Collective&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| Millennium Purgatory &lt;br /&gt;
| 2020|| Aeluria Island || &amp;quot;Mystery set&amp;quot; tied to ARG game&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| The Murder of Aster Saldaña &lt;br /&gt;
|2022|| Valerion City, Iustitia Federation || Best-selling set produced under Deep Dive&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Technomancer Rivals Pack&lt;br /&gt;
|2022&lt;br /&gt;
|Albarine City&lt;br /&gt;
|Intended as entry point for new players&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Automata Protocol&lt;br /&gt;
|2026&lt;br /&gt;
|Geminus, Eiria&lt;br /&gt;
|Introduced hybrid co-op/competitive &amp;quot;Safekeeper&amp;quot; mode&lt;br /&gt;
|}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Notes==&lt;br /&gt;
{{notelist}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category: Culture]][[Category: Laeral]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Laeral</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Technomancer:_Millennium&amp;diff=45328</id>
		<title>Technomancer: Millennium</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Technomancer:_Millennium&amp;diff=45328"/>
		<updated>2026-03-27T05:14:30Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Laeral: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;''Technomancer: Millennium'', commonly known as ''Technomancer'' or ''TNM'', is a trading card game produced by Deep Dive Collective, previously by Vantage Enterprises. Typically played between two players, it is set in the dystopian Technomancer universe, which also includes fiction and animation. Players take on the role of rival hackers seeking to penetrate each other's computer systems and battle for domination in cyberspace and the real world, in a universe set in the 22nd century. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Technomancer is played by enthusiasts worldwide, with a global tournament circuit managed by Deep Dive. The game has a worldwide reach, and is currently printed in nine languages.{{efn|In order of release: French, English, Mandarin, Haean, Daryan, Spanish, Eirian, Huenyan, and Serrin.}} &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==History==&lt;br /&gt;
Technomancer was created in 2001 by Blaise Lin, a [[Laeral|Laeralian]] tabletop game designer who had previously worked on the Laeralian localization team for the [[Darya|Daryan]] trading card game ''Midnight Heroes''. Lin was inspired by the cyberpunk genre and his own left-wing politics: as an anarchist, Lin envisioned the game as a cooperative endeavor in which players would work together to fight corporate and government forces run by the game. When the game was acquired for publication by Vantage Enterprises, the firm insisted on centering on the head-to-head competitive version of the game, which was seen as more marketable. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The game grew rapidly in popularity following its release on the strength of its mechanics, which compared favorably to rival trading card games of the time. Initially published in Laeral, in 2003 it was released in [[Haesan]] and by 2008 had an international presence. The game's head-to-head format was more popular than the cooperative version, leading Vantage to settle on a ratio of around 2:1 head-to-head versus cooperative product releases. The company also released accompanying fiction and other media; a 2016 feature film was a critical and commercial disappointment and is today largely shunned by fans. The 2014-2016 animated series ''The Technomancer Diaries'', developed by the Daryan animation studio Studio Blaster, was conversely well-received and remains popular. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Transition to Deep Dive===&lt;br /&gt;
In 2016, Vantage Enterprises announced plans to end the production of Technomancer due to declining sales, creative clashes with creator Blaise Lin, and the failure of the Technomancer film. Following the end of Vantage's production, Blaise Lin (with the support of the fan base through a crowdfunding campaign which raised over M22 million over the course of two months), announced that he would buy out the rights to produce Technomancer: Millennium and continue production of the game through a collective, not-for-profit model. This effort became Deep Dive Collective, a collective chaired by Blaise Lin which has produced the game since 2018. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Under Deep Dive Collective, Technomancer: Millennium is available in stores and through a subscription service, in which subscribers receive a certain quantity of Technomancer cards and other products in exchange for an annual subscription, as well as the right to vote in elections for officers of the organization. Under the organization's not-for-profit model, profits are passed on to the consumer through lower prices for game products whenever possible. The transition to the Deep Dive Collective model has resulted in high satisfaction among the player base, although distribution expansion to new markets has slowed due to the collective's focus on serving existing players.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Setting==&lt;br /&gt;
Technomancer: Millennium takes place in the early 22nd century in a dystopian future IDU, where corporate power has eclipsed that of governments and exploits the public. Players take on the role of technomancers—gifted hackers working on behalf of rebel collectives, powerful corporations, or criminal interests. Technomancers regularly clash with one another in battles which play out in cyberspace and in the real world. Since 2010, players in the game's competitive scene have been able to upload the results of their battles to an online portal, with the aggregated results of battles helping to shape the game's ongoing plot.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Gameplay==&lt;br /&gt;
Players in Technomancer: Millennium assemble decks of a designated minimum size (usually 60 cards in most formats). &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The game's board is divided into two realms: Realspace and Cyberspace. All units (cards representing characters, terrain, vehicles, or computer programs) exist in one of the two realms, and can usually only interact with units sharing their realm. Each player begins play with a base, which represents that player's starting health and may have special effects for the character's deckbuilding, as well as a Technomancer, a leader unit with a unique special ability. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Players draw cards from their decks and play them as units in one of the two realms, or deploy one-time use &amp;quot;event&amp;quot; cards to impact the board state. Units are played by expending one of two types of Resources: RAM, to pay for Cyberspace units or events, and Qi, to pay for Realspace units or events. Different types of RAM and Qi allow for the play of different types of cards. Players take turns playing cards or attacking with units one at a time; attacks may target either enemy units or the enemy's base. Terrain and Firewall cards, some of which are played face-down and revealed only as a trap, allow players to defend their bases.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A successful Cyberspace attack on a base may disrupt an opponent's hand of cards, exert their Resources, or interfere with their deck, while successful Realspace attacks drain an enemy's health. The player who inflicted the most Cyberspace damage each round becomes the first player on the next turn and may add more RAM or Qi Resources. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In cooperative play, players face off against an Enemy deck, typically representing a powerful corporation. These corporations ignore resource costs and play cards by pulling powerful units and firewalls directly from their deck. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Products ==&lt;br /&gt;
Cards can be acquired through opening expansion packs or purchasing pre-assembled decks from the manufacturer. Unlike in many trading card games, cards in expansion packs are not randomized, with each pack's contents publicly available. This has resulted in a much smaller secondhand market compared to other trading card games.{{efn|The sole randomized packs are Art Packs available primarily from the manufacturer, which are aimed at collectors and include randomized alternate-art versions of various cards.}} &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
New cards are released in Cycles, a series of packs around a common theme. Under the current release schedule, a new Cycle is released every four months, consisting of five packs each released on a successive week. Cycles are typically themed around a geographic location in the world of Technomancer: Millennium, and contain story cards detailing events unfolding in the game's setting.  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Notable Cycles===&lt;br /&gt;
{| class=&amp;quot;wikitable&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
|+ Caption text&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
! Cycle Name &lt;br /&gt;
!Release Year!! In-Universe Location !! Notes&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| Technomancer Core Set &lt;br /&gt;
|2001|| Zhongshui City, Laeral{{efn|Fictional city extending from Laeralsford to Hanshui.}}|| First release in Technomancer&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| Technomancer: Millennium Gateway &lt;br /&gt;
|2003|| The Moon || New entry point set aimed at new players&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| Corporate Lockdown &lt;br /&gt;
|2004|| [[New Liverpool|Nueva Liverpool, Slokais Islands]] || First cycle distributed under the modern release model&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| The Regents' Hour &lt;br /&gt;
|2006|| New Eddington, The Commonwealth || Introduced Terrain cards&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| Blood and Steel &lt;br /&gt;
|2012|| [[Sinju|Sinju, Haesan]] || First set to sell over 10 million packs&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| The Sixteen-Minute War &lt;br /&gt;
|2017|| Indervidisha, Darya || Final set produced under Vantage&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Seeds of Revolution&lt;br /&gt;
|2018&lt;br /&gt;
|Zapotlán, New Huenya{{efn|As this cycle predated the [[Second Xiomeran Civil War]], the existence of a nation named &amp;quot;New Huenya&amp;quot; can be considered to have correctly predicted the 2020-2021 conflict.}}&lt;br /&gt;
|First set produced under Deep Dive Collective&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| Millennium Purgatory &lt;br /&gt;
| || Aeluria Island || Example&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| The Murder of Aster Saldaña &lt;br /&gt;
|2022|| Valerion City, Iustitia Federation || Example&lt;br /&gt;
|}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Notes==&lt;br /&gt;
{{notelist}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category: Culture]][[Category: Laeral]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Laeral</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Technomancer:_Millennium&amp;diff=45327</id>
		<title>Technomancer: Millennium</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Technomancer:_Millennium&amp;diff=45327"/>
		<updated>2026-03-27T05:12:51Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Laeral: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;''Technomancer: Millennium'', commonly known as ''Technomancer'' or ''TNM'', is a trading card game produced by Deep Dive Collective, previously by Vantage Enterprises. Typically played between two players, it is set in the dystopian Technomancer universe, which also includes fiction and animation. Players take on the role of rival hackers seeking to penetrate each other's computer systems and battle for domination in cyberspace and the real world, in a universe set in the 22nd century. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Technomancer is played by enthusiasts worldwide, with a global tournament circuit managed by Deep Dive. The game has a worldwide reach, and is currently printed in nine languages.{{efn|In order of release: French, English, Mandarin, Haean, Daryan, Spanish, Eirian, Huenyan, and Serrin.}} &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==History==&lt;br /&gt;
Technomancer was created in 2001 by Blaise Lin, a [[Laeral|Laeralian]] tabletop game designer who had previously worked on the Laeralian localization team for the [[Darya|Daryan]] trading card game ''Midnight Heroes''. Lin was inspired by the cyberpunk genre and his own left-wing politics: as an anarchist, Lin envisioned the game as a cooperative endeavor in which players would work together to fight corporate and government forces run by the game. When the game was acquired for publication by Vantage Enterprises, the firm insisted on centering on the head-to-head competitive version of the game, which was seen as more marketable. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The game grew rapidly in popularity following its release on the strength of its mechanics, which compared favorably to rival trading card games of the time. Initially published in Laeral, in 2003 it was released in [[Haesan]] and by 2008 had an international presence. The game's head-to-head format was more popular than the cooperative version, leading Vantage to settle on a ratio of around 2:1 head-to-head versus cooperative product releases. The company also released accompanying fiction and other media; a 2016 feature film was a critical and commercial disappointment and is today largely shunned by fans. The 2014-2016 animated series ''The Technomancer Diaries'', developed by the Daryan animation studio Studio Blaster, was conversely well-received and remains popular. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Transition to Deep Dive===&lt;br /&gt;
In 2016, Vantage Enterprises announced plans to end the production of Technomancer due to declining sales, creative clashes with creator Blaise Lin, and the failure of the Technomancer film. Following the end of Vantage's production, Blaise Lin (with the support of the fan base through a crowdfunding campaign which raised over M22 million over the course of two months), announced that he would buy out the rights to produce Technomancer: Millennium and continue production of the game through a collective, not-for-profit model. This effort became Deep Dive Collective, a collective chaired by Blaise Lin which has produced the game since 2018. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Under Deep Dive Collective, Technomancer: Millennium is available in stores and through a subscription service, in which subscribers receive a certain quantity of Technomancer cards and other products in exchange for an annual subscription, as well as the right to vote in elections for officers of the organization. Under the organization's not-for-profit model, profits are passed on to the consumer through lower prices for game products whenever possible. The transition to the Deep Dive Collective model has resulted in high satisfaction among the player base, although distribution expansion to new markets has slowed due to the collective's focus on serving existing players.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Setting==&lt;br /&gt;
Technomancer: Millennium takes place in the early 22nd century in a dystopian future IDU, where corporate power has eclipsed that of governments and exploits the public. Players take on the role of technomancers—gifted hackers working on behalf of rebel collectives, powerful corporations, or criminal interests. Technomancers regularly clash with one another in battles which play out in cyberspace and in the real world. Since 2010, players in the game's competitive scene have been able to upload the results of their battles to an online portal, with the aggregated results of battles helping to shape the game's ongoing plot.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Gameplay==&lt;br /&gt;
Players in Technomancer: Millennium assemble decks of a designated minimum size (usually 60 cards in most formats). &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The game's board is divided into two realms: Realspace and Cyberspace. All units (cards representing characters, terrain, vehicles, or computer programs) exist in one of the two realms, and can usually only interact with units sharing their realm. Each player begins play with a base, which represents that player's starting health and may have special effects for the character's deckbuilding, as well as a Technomancer, a leader unit with a unique special ability. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Players draw cards from their decks and play them as units in one of the two realms, or deploy one-time use &amp;quot;event&amp;quot; cards to impact the board state. Units are played by expending one of two types of Resources: RAM, to pay for Cyberspace units or events, and Qi, to pay for Realspace units or events. Different types of RAM and Qi allow for the play of different types of cards. Players take turns playing cards or attacking with units one at a time; attacks may target either enemy units or the enemy's base. Terrain and Firewall cards, some of which are played face-down and revealed only as a trap, allow players to defend their bases.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A successful Cyberspace attack on a base may disrupt an opponent's hand of cards, exert their Resources, or interfere with their deck, while successful Realspace attacks drain an enemy's health. The player who inflicted the most Cyberspace damage each round becomes the first player on the next turn and may add more RAM or Qi Resources. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In cooperative play, players face off against an Enemy deck, typically representing a powerful corporation. These corporations ignore resource costs and play cards by pulling powerful units and firewalls directly from their deck. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Products ==&lt;br /&gt;
Cards can be acquired through opening expansion packs or purchasing pre-assembled decks from the manufacturer. Unlike in many trading card games, cards in expansion packs are not randomized, with each pack's contents publicly available. This has resulted in a much smaller secondhand market compared to other trading card games.{{efn|The sole randomized packs are Art Packs available primarily from the manufacturer, which are aimed at collectors and include randomized alternate-art versions of various cards.}} &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
New cards are released in Cycles, a series of packs around a common theme. Under the current release schedule, a new Cycle is released every four months, consisting of five packs each released on a successive week. Cycles are typically themed around a geographic location in the world of Technomancer: Millennium, and contain story cards detailing events unfolding in the game's setting.  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Notable Cycles===&lt;br /&gt;
{| class=&amp;quot;wikitable&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
|+ Caption text&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
! Cycle Name &lt;br /&gt;
!Release Year!! In-Universe Location !! Notes&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| Technomancer Core Set &lt;br /&gt;
|2001|| Zhongshui City, Laeral || First release in Technomancer&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| Technomancer: Millennium Gateway &lt;br /&gt;
|2003|| The Moon || New entry point set aimed at new players&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| Corporate Lockdown &lt;br /&gt;
|2004|| [[New Liverpool|Nueva Liverpool, Slokais Islands]] || First cycle distributed under the modern release model&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| The Regents' Hour &lt;br /&gt;
|2006|| New Eddington, The Commonwealth || Introduced Terrain cards&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| Blood and Steel &lt;br /&gt;
|2012|| [[Sinju|Sinju, Haesan]] || First set to sell over 10 million packs&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| The Sixteen-Minute War &lt;br /&gt;
|2017|| Indervidisha, Darya || Final set produced under Vantage&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Seeds of Revolution&lt;br /&gt;
|2018&lt;br /&gt;
|Zapotlán, New Huenya&lt;br /&gt;
|First set produced under Deep Dive Collective&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| Millennium Purgatory &lt;br /&gt;
| || Aeluria Island || Example&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| The Murder of Aster Saldaña &lt;br /&gt;
|2022|| Valerion City, Iustitia Federation || Example&lt;br /&gt;
|}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Notes==&lt;br /&gt;
{{notelist}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category: Culture]][[Category: Laeral]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Laeral</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Technomancer:_Millennium&amp;diff=45326</id>
		<title>Technomancer: Millennium</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Technomancer:_Millennium&amp;diff=45326"/>
		<updated>2026-03-27T04:49:03Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Laeral: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;''Technomancer: Millennium'', commonly known as ''Technomancer'' or ''TNM'', is a trading card game produced by Deep Dive Collective, previously by Vantage Enterprises. Typically played between two players, it is set in the dystopian Technomancer universe, which also includes fiction and animation. Players take on the role of rival hackers seeking to penetrate each other's computer systems and battle for domination in cyberspace and the real world, in a universe set in the 22nd century. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Technomancer is played by enthusiasts worldwide, with a global tournament circuit managed by Deep Dive. The game has a worldwide reach, and is currently printed in nine languages.{{efn|In order of release: French, English, Mandarin, Haean, Daryan, Spanish, Eirian, Huenyan, and Serrin.}} &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==History==&lt;br /&gt;
Technomancer was created in 2001 by Blaise Lin, a [[Laeral|Laeralian]] tabletop game designer who had previously worked on the Laeralian localization team for the [[Darya|Daryan]] trading card game ''Midnight Heroes''. Lin was inspired by the cyberpunk genre and his own left-wing politics: as an anarchist, Lin envisioned the game as a cooperative endeavor in which players would work together to fight corporate and government forces run by the game. When the game was acquired for publication by Vantage Enterprises, the firm insisted on centering on the head-to-head competitive version of the game, which was seen as more marketable. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The game grew rapidly in popularity following its release on the strength of its mechanics, which compared favorably to rival trading card games of the time. Initially published in Laeral, in 2003 it was released in [[Haesan]] and by 2008 had an international presence. The game's head-to-head format was more popular than the cooperative version, leading Vantage to settle on a ratio of around 2:1 head-to-head versus cooperative product releases. The company also released accompanying fiction and other media; a 2016 feature film was a critical and commercial disappointment and is today largely shunned by fans. The 2014-2016 animated series ''The Technomancer Diaries'', developed by the Daryan animation studio Studio Blaster, was conversely well-received and remains popular. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Transition in Ownership===&lt;br /&gt;
In 2016, Vantage Enterprises announced plans to end the production of Technomancer due to declining sales, creative clashes with creator Blaise Lin, and the failure of the Technomancer film. Following the end of Vantage's production, Blaise Lin (with the support of the fan base through a crowdfunding campaign which raised over M22 million over the course of two months), announced that he would buy out the rights to produce Technomancer: Millennium and continue production of the game through a collective, not-for-profit model. This effort became Deep Dive Collective, a collective chaired by Blaise Lin which has produced the game since 2018. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Under Deep Dive Collective, Technomancer: Millennium is available in stores and through a subscription service, in which subscribers receive a certain quantity of Technomancer cards and other products in exchange for an annual subscription, as well as the right to vote in elections for officers of the organization. Under the organization's not-for-profit model, profits are passed on to the consumer through lower prices for game products whenever possible. The transition to the Deep Dive Collective model has resulted in high satisfaction among the player base, although distribution expansion to new markets has slowed due to the collective's focus on serving existing players.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Gameplay==&lt;br /&gt;
Players in Technomancer: Millennium assemble decks of a designated minimum size (usually 60 cards in most formats). Cards can be acquired through opening expansion packs or purchasing pre-assembled decks from the manufacturer. Unlike in many trading card games, cards in expansion packs are not randomized, with each pack's contents publicly available. This has resulted in a much smaller secondhand market compared to other trading card games.{{efn|The sole randomized packs are Art Packs available primarily from the manufacturer, which are aimed at collectors and include randomized alternate-art versions of various cards.}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The game's board is divided into two realms: Realspace and Cyberspace. All units (cards representing characters, terrain, vehicles, or computer programs) exist in one of the two realms, and can usually only interact with units sharing their realm. Each player begins play with a base, which represents that player's starting health and may have special effects for the character's deckbuilding, as well as a Technomancer, a leader unit with a unique special ability. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Players draw cards from their decks and play them as units in one of the two realms, or deploy one-time use &amp;quot;event&amp;quot; cards to impact the board state. Units are played by expending one of two types of Resources: RAM, to pay for Cyberspace units or events, and Qi, to pay for Realspace units or events. Different types of RAM and Qi allow for the play of different types of cards. Players take turns playing cards or attacking with units one at a time; attacks may target either enemy units or the enemy's base. Terrain and Firewall cards, some of which are played face-down and revealed only as a trap, allow players to defend their bases.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A successful Cyberspace attack on a base may disrupt an opponent's hand of cards, exert their Resources, or interfere with their deck, while successful Realspace attacks drain an enemy's health. The player who inflicted the most Cyberspace damage each round becomes the first player on the next turn and may add more RAM or Qi Resources. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In cooperative play, players face off against an Enemy deck, typically representing a powerful corporation. These corporations ignore resource costs and play cards by pulling powerful units and firewalls directly from their deck. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Setting and World==&lt;br /&gt;
Technomancer: Millennium takes place in the early 22nd century in a dystopian future IDU, where corporate power has eclipsed that of governments and exploits the public. Players take on the role of technomancers—gifted hackers working on behalf of rebel collectives, powerful corporations, or criminal interests. Technomancers regularly clash with one another in battles which play out in cyberspace and in the real world. Since 2010, players in the game's competitive scene have been able to upload the results of their battles to an online portal, with the aggregated results of battles helping to shape the game's ongoing plot.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
New cards are released in Cycles, a series of packs around a common theme. Under the current release schedule, a new Cycle is released every four months, consisting of five packs each released on a successive week. Cycles are typically themed around a geographic location in the world of Technomancer: Millennium, and contain story cards detailing events unfolding in the game's setting. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Notable Cycles===&lt;br /&gt;
{| class=&amp;quot;wikitable&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
|+ Caption text&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
! Header text !! Header text !! Header text&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| Example || Example || Example&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| Example || Example || Example&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| Example || Example || Example&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| Example || Example || Example&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| Example || Example || Example&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| Example || Example || Example&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| Example || Example || Example&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| Example || Example || Example&lt;br /&gt;
|}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Notes==&lt;br /&gt;
{{notelist}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category: Culture]][[Category: Laeral]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Laeral</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Technomancer:_Millennium&amp;diff=45325</id>
		<title>Technomancer: Millennium</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Technomancer:_Millennium&amp;diff=45325"/>
		<updated>2026-03-27T04:33:28Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Laeral: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;''Technomancer: Millennium'', commonly known as ''Technomancer'' or ''TNM'', is a trading card game produced by Deep Dive Collective, previously by Vantage Enterprises. Typically played between two players, it is set in the dystopian Technomancer universe, which also includes fiction and animation. Players take on the role of rival hackers seeking to penetrate each other's computer systems and battle for domination in cyberspace and the real world, in a universe set in the 22nd century. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Technomancer is played by enthusiasts worldwide, with a global tournament circuit managed by Deep Dive. The game has a worldwide reach, and is currently printed in nine languages.{{efn|In order of release: French, English, Mandarin, Haean, Daryan, Spanish, Eirian, Huenyan, and Serrin.}} &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==History==&lt;br /&gt;
Technomancer was created in 2001 by Blaise Lin, a [[Laeral|Laeralian]] tabletop game designer who had previously worked on the Laeralian localization team for the [[Darya|Daryan]] trading card game ''Midnight Heroes''. Lin was inspired by the cyberpunk genre and his own left-wing politics: as an anarchist, Lin envisioned the game as a cooperative endeavor in which players would work together to fight corporate and government forces run by the game. When the game was acquired for publication by Vantage Enterprises, the firm insisted on centering on the head-to-head competitive version of the game, which was seen as more marketable. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The game grew rapidly in popularity following its release on the strength of its mechanics, which compared favorably to rival trading card games of the time. Initially published in Laeral, in 2003 it was released in [[Haesan]] and by 2008 had an international presence. The game's head-to-head format was more popular than the cooperative version, leading Vantage to settle on a ratio of around 2:1 head-to-head versus cooperative product releases. The company also released accompanying fiction and other media; a 2016 feature film was a critical and commercial disappointment and is today largely shunned by fans. The 2014-2016 animated series ''The Technomancer Diaries'', developed by the Daryan animation studio Studio Blaster, was conversely well-received and remains popular. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Transition in Ownership===&lt;br /&gt;
In 2016, Vantage Enterprises announced plans to end the production of Technomancer due to declining sales, creative clashes with creator Blaise Lin, and the failure of the Technomancer film. Following the end of Vantage's production, Blaise Lin (with the support of the fan base through a crowdfunding campaign which raised over M22 million over the course of two months), announced that he would buy out the rights to produce Technomancer: Millennium and continue production of the game through a collective, not-for-profit model. This effort became Deep Dive Collective, a collective chaired by Blaise Lin which has produced the game since 2018. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Under Deep Dive Collective, Technomancer: Millennium is available in stores and through a subscription service, in which subscribers receive a certain quantity of Technomancer cards and other products in exchange for an annual subscription, as well as the right to vote in elections for officers of the organization. Under the organization's not-for-profit model, profits are passed on to the consumer through lower prices for game products whenever possible. The transition to the Deep Dive Collective model has resulted in high satisfaction among the player base, although distribution expansion to new markets has slowed due to the collective's focus on serving existing players.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Gameplay==&lt;br /&gt;
Players in Technomancer: Millennium assemble decks of a designated minimum size (usually 60 cards in most formats). Cards can be acquired through opening expansion packs or purchasing pre-assembled decks from the manufacturer. Unlike in many trading card games, cards in expansion packs are not randomized, with each pack's contents publicly available. This has resulted in a much smaller secondhand market compared to other trading card games.{{efn|The sole randomized packs are Art Packs available primarily from the manufacturer, which are aimed at collectors and include randomized alternate-art versions of various cards.}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Two bases, two arenas&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Setting and World==&lt;br /&gt;
Technomancer: Millennium takes place in the early 22nd century in a dystopian future IDU, where corporate power has eclipsed that of governments and exploits the public. Players take on the role of technomancers—gifted hackers working on behalf of rebel collectives, powerful corporations, or criminal interests. Technomancers regularly clash with one another in battles which play out in cyberspace and in the real world. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Notes==&lt;br /&gt;
{{notelist}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category: Culture]][[Category: Laeral]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Laeral</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Technomancer:_Millennium&amp;diff=45324</id>
		<title>Technomancer: Millennium</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Technomancer:_Millennium&amp;diff=45324"/>
		<updated>2026-03-26T23:56:17Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Laeral: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;''Technomancer: Millennium'', commonly known as ''Technomancer'' or ''TNM'', is a trading card game produced by Deep Dive Collective, previously by Vantage Enterprises. Typically played between two players, it is set in the dystopian Technomancer universe, which also includes fiction and animation. Players take on the role of rival hackers seeking to penetrate each other's computer systems and battle for domination in cyberspace and the real world, in a universe set in the 22nd century. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Technomancer is played by enthusiasts worldwide, with a global tournament circuit managed by Deep Dive. The game has a worldwide reach, and is currently printed in nine languages: French, English, Mandarin, Daryan, Spanish, Huenyan, Eirian, Haean, and Serrin. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==History==&lt;br /&gt;
Technomancer was created in 2001 by Blaise Lin, a [[Laeral|Laeralian]] tabletop game designer who had previously worked on the Laeralian localization team for the [[Darya|Daryan]] trading card game ''Midnight Heroes''. Lin was inspired by the cyberpunk genre and his own left-wing politics: as an anarchist, Lin envisioned the game as a cooperative endeavor in which players would work together to fight corporate and government forces run by the game. When the game was acquired for publication by Vantage Enterprises, the firm insisted on centering on the head-to-head competitive version of the game, which was seen as more marketable. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The game grew rapidly in popularity following its release on the strength of its mechanics, which compared favorably to rival trading card games of the time. Initially published in Laeral, in 2003 it was released in [[Haesan]] and by 2008 had an international presence. The game's head-to-head format was more popular than the cooperative version, leading Vantage to settle on a ratio of around 2:1 head-to-head versus cooperative product releases. The company also released accompanying fiction and other media; a 2016 feature film was a critical and commercial disappointment and is today largely shunned by fans. The 2014-2016 animated series ''The Technomancer Diaries'', developed by the Daryan animation studio Studio Blaster, was conversely well-received and remains popular. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Transition in Ownership===&lt;br /&gt;
In 2016, Vantage Enterprises announced plans to end the production of Technomancer due to declining sales, creative clashes with creator Blaise Lin, and the failure of the Technomancer film. Following the end of Vantage's production, Blaise Lin (with the support of the fan base through a crowdfunding campaign which raised over M22 million over the course of two months), announced that he would buy out the rights to produce Technomancer: Millennium and continue production of the game through a collective, not-for-profit model. This effort became Deep Dive Collective, a collective chaired by Blaise Lin which has produced the game since 2018. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Gameplay==&lt;br /&gt;
Two bases, two arenas&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Setting and World==&lt;br /&gt;
Technomancer: Millennium takes place in the early 22nd century in a dystopian future IDU, where corporate power has eclipsed that of governments and exploits the public. Players take on the role of technomancers—gifted hackers working on behalf of rebel collectives, powerful corporations, or criminal interests. Technomancers regularly clash with one another in battles which play out in cyberspace and in the real world. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category: Culture]][[Category: Laeral]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Laeral</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Technomancer:_Millennium&amp;diff=45323</id>
		<title>Technomancer: Millennium</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Technomancer:_Millennium&amp;diff=45323"/>
		<updated>2026-03-26T23:49:27Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Laeral: Created page with &amp;quot;''Technomancer: Millennium'', commonly known as ''Technomancer'' or ''TNM'', is a trading card game produced by Deep Dive Collective, previously by Vantage Enterprises. Typically played between two players, it is set in the dystopian Technomancer universe, which also includes fiction and animation. Players take on the role of rival hackers seeking to penetrate each other's computer systems and battle for domination in cyberspace and the real world, in a universe set in t...&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;''Technomancer: Millennium'', commonly known as ''Technomancer'' or ''TNM'', is a trading card game produced by Deep Dive Collective, previously by Vantage Enterprises. Typically played between two players, it is set in the dystopian Technomancer universe, which also includes fiction and animation. Players take on the role of rival hackers seeking to penetrate each other's computer systems and battle for domination in cyberspace and the real world, in a universe set in the 22nd century. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Technomancer is played by enthusiasts worldwide, with a global tournament circuit managed by Deep Dive. The game has a worldwide reach, and is currently printed in nine languages: French, English, Mandarin, Daryan, Spanish, Huenyan, Eirian, Haean, and Serrin. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==History==&lt;br /&gt;
Technomancer was created in 2001 by Blaise Lin, a [[Laeral|Laeralian]] tabletop game designer who had previously worked on the Laeralian localization team for the [[Darya|Daryan]] trading card game ''Midnight Heroes''. Lin was inspired by the cyberpunk genre and his own left-wing politics: as an anarchist, Lin envisioned the game as a cooperative endeavor in which players would work together to fight corporate and government forces run by the game. When the game was acquired for publication by Vantage Enterprises, the firm insisted on centering on the head-to-head competitive version of the game, which was seen as more marketable. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The game grew rapidly in popularity following its release on the strength of its mechanics, which compared favorably to rival trading card games of the time. Initially published in Laeral, in 2003 it was released in [[Haesan]] and by 2008 had an international presence. The game's head-to-head format was more popular than the cooperative version, leading Vantage to settle on a ratio of around 2:1 head-to-head versus cooperative product releases. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Gameplay==&lt;br /&gt;
Two bases, two arenas&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Setting and World==&lt;br /&gt;
Technomancer: Millennium takes place in the early 22nd century in a dystopian future IDU, where corporate power has eclipsed that of governments and exploits the public. Players take on the role of technomancers—gifted hackers working on behalf of rebel collectives, powerful corporations, or criminal interests. Technomancers regularly clash with one another in battles which play out in cyberspace and in the real world. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category: Culture]][[Category: Laeral]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Laeral</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Laeralian_Revolution&amp;diff=45322</id>
		<title>Laeralian Revolution</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=Laeralian_Revolution&amp;diff=45322"/>
		<updated>2026-03-26T22:59:14Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Laeral: &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;div&gt;{{Infobox military conflict&lt;br /&gt;
| conflict    = Laeralian Revolution&lt;br /&gt;
| width       = &lt;br /&gt;
| partof      = &lt;br /&gt;
| image       = [[File:LaeralianRevolutionSoldiers.png|300px]]&lt;br /&gt;
| image_size  =&lt;br /&gt;
| alt         =&lt;br /&gt;
| caption     = Soldiers of the Rose Army in Laeralsford, 1920&lt;br /&gt;
| date        = October 28, 1918 - March 7, 1921&lt;br /&gt;
| place       = Laeral&lt;br /&gt;
| map_type    = &lt;br /&gt;
| map_relief  = &lt;br /&gt;
| map_size    = &lt;br /&gt;
| map_marksize = &lt;br /&gt;
| map_caption = &lt;br /&gt;
| map_label   = &lt;br /&gt;
| territory   = &lt;br /&gt;
| result      = Republican victory&lt;br /&gt;
| status      = &lt;br /&gt;
| combatants_header = Belligerents&lt;br /&gt;
| combatant1  = [[Allied Provinces of Laeral]] &lt;br /&gt;
*Laeralian Army&lt;br /&gt;
*Chevaliers of the Veil&lt;br /&gt;
*Xianhai Constabulary&lt;br /&gt;
| combatant2  = [[Republic of Laeral|Laeralian Republicans]]&lt;br /&gt;
*{{flagicon|Laeral|1922}} Committee for Democracy and Progress&lt;br /&gt;
**Rose Army&lt;br /&gt;
*National Revolutionary Directorate{{efn|Also known as the 6th of May Society}} &lt;br /&gt;
*Assorted local militias, including the Xianhai Peasants' Front {{efn|Many later absorbed into the Rose Banner Brigades}}&lt;br /&gt;
| combatant3  = Foreign Powers&lt;br /&gt;
*{{flag|Opthelia}}&lt;br /&gt;
*{{flag|High Fells}}&lt;br /&gt;
*{{flag|Libertas Omnium Maximus}}&lt;br /&gt;
| commander1  = &lt;br /&gt;
*Prime Minister Augustin Brienne&lt;br /&gt;
*General Hugo Maurice&lt;br /&gt;
*General Isidore Grandjean&lt;br /&gt;
*General Fernand Duval&lt;br /&gt;
| commander2  = &lt;br /&gt;
*{{flagicon|Laeral|1922}} Field Marshal [[René Gramont]]&lt;br /&gt;
*{{flagicon|Laeral|1922}} General [[J.P. Salaun]]&lt;br /&gt;
*{{flagicon|Laeral|1922}} General [[Hong Kuo-shu]]&lt;br /&gt;
*{{flagicon|Laeral|1922}} General [[Yang Ching-tsan]]&lt;br /&gt;
*Chairman Dr. [[Edmond Yeoh]]&lt;br /&gt;
| commander3  = &lt;br /&gt;
*{{flagicon|High Fells}} Prime Minister Frances M. Sulloway&lt;br /&gt;
*{{flagicon|High Fells}} General William Cockrell&lt;br /&gt;
*{{flagicon|Opthelia}} Emperor Robert III&lt;br /&gt;
*{{flagicon|Libertas Omnium Maximus}} President Richard Dalton&lt;br /&gt;
*{{flagicon|Libertas Omnium Maximus}} General William Montgomery Hughes&lt;br /&gt;
| units1      =&lt;br /&gt;
| units2      =&lt;br /&gt;
| units3      = &lt;br /&gt;
| strength1   = 100,000-150,000 (1920)&lt;br /&gt;
| strength2   = 130,000-180,000 (1920)&lt;br /&gt;
| strength3   = {{flagicon|High Fells}}4,500 &amp;lt;br /&amp;gt;{{flagicon|Opthelia}}3,800 &amp;lt;br /&amp;gt;{{flagicon|Libertas Omnium Maximus}} 2,000&lt;br /&gt;
| casualties1 = ~21,000 killed, ~43,000 wounded, ~5,000 missing&lt;br /&gt;
| casualties2 = {{flagicon|Laeral|1922}} ~12,000 killed, ~27,000 wounded, ~4,000 missing{{efn|Including Rose Army and National Revolutionary Directorate combined}}&lt;br /&gt;
| casualties3 = {{flagicon|Opthelia}} 31 killed, 53 wounded &amp;lt;br /&amp;gt; {{flagicon|Libertas Omnium Maximus}} 47 killed, 59 wounded&lt;br /&gt;
| notes       = An estimated 115,000 Laeralian civilians were killed during or as a result of the conflict&lt;br /&gt;
| campaignbox = &lt;br /&gt;
}}&lt;br /&gt;
The '''Laeralian Revolution''' (Fr: Révolution Laeralien) was an armed conflict in [[Laeral]] between 1918 and 1921 between revolutionary Republican forces, led by [[René Gramont]] and the [[Committee for Democracy and Progress]], and Loyalist forces of the [[Allied Provinces of Laeral]]. The war resulted in a Republican victory, leading to the establishment of the socialist [[Republic of Laeral]] regime in 1922 and the subsequent [[Rose Revolution]] reforms. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Triggered in the long term by racial and economic inequality in Laeral and the failures of the First Allied Provinces of Laeral to address economic and agrarian grievances, the conflict began due to the aftermath of the devastating [[First Fellsian War]] and the government's refusal to provide economically for veterans of that conflict. Beginning as an urban uprising, many of whose participants were Fellsian War veterans, the revolutionary Republican forces soon included the socialist Rose Army under [[René Gramont]] and the [[Committee for Democracy and Progress]], as well as various other revolutionary groups. They faced off against Loyalist government troops supporting the Laeralsford government of [[Prime Minister Augustin Brienne]]. The conflict saw wide-scale devastation of the Riverlands region where the greatest amount of conventional fighting took place, as well as guerrilla conflict in western Laeral and the [[Xianhai Peninsula]]. The conflict also saw limited foreign intervention by [[Opthelia]] and [[High Fells]], which seized strategic portions of Laeralian territory before withdrawing in 1921. The Laeralian Revolution was pivotal in Laeralian history by ushering in the [[Republic of Laeral]] and its ensuing social and political consequences in Laeralian and world history. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Causes==&lt;br /&gt;
In the long term, the Laeralian Revolution was propelled by the corruption and inefficiency of the [[Vespasienate]] and the system of social and racial stratification it had put in place. From 1890 to 1909, the First Allied Provinces of Laeral's government was dominated by Prime Minister [[Vespasien Jamet]], an autocrat whose tenure in office (the &amp;quot;Vespasienate&amp;quot;) saw a strengthened federal government and Laeralian westward expansion, as well as substantial enrichment for the plantation-owning class which principally backed Jamet's grip on power. The policies of racial segregation, including the expulsion of millions of [[Rén]] peasants in the [[Riverlands]] from their homes to designated &amp;quot;reserve territories&amp;quot;, had resulted in persistent poverty and social exclusion for Laeral's Rén population. Meanwhile, the civil service and the educated middle-class were increasingly dissatisfied with restrictions on political expression; this dissent was formalized with the formation of the 6th of May Society in 1910, which would later become the liberal revolutionary group known as the National Revolutionary Directorate. The creation of the Committee for Democracy and Progress, which brought together left-wing military officers in criticism of the regime, resulted from both economic and political grievances during and after the Laeralian Revolution. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Historiography===&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Réne Gramont.jpg|200px|thumb|right|René Gramont, a central figure in the Laeralian Revolution.]]The causes of the Laeralian Revolution is among the most heavily-debated subjects in Laeralian historiography. During the [[Republican Era]], a leading school of thought adopted traditional great-man theories, and centered on the growth of ideological radicalism among the First Fellsian War officer corps, as seen by leading officers such as [[René Gramont]] and [[J.P. Salaun]]'s affiliation with the [[Committee for Democracy and Progress]], as well as the relative weakness of Vespasien Jamet's successor as Prime Minister, [[Augustin Brienne]]. In this school of thought, poor decisions by Brienne's government coupled with the decisiveness of the Committee for Democracy and Progress and the charisma of its members (notably René Gramont) produced optimal conditions for the revolution's success. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
This school of thought faced off against the orthodox [[Gramontist]] perspective on the Revolution, which emphasized the failings of the First Allied Provinces to provide for citizens and the consequent widespread outrage and dissatisfaction with government corruption and economic conditions, which led to a spontaneous popular uprising guided by René Gramont and the Committee for the Democracy and Progress. Another ideological explanation for the Revolution was communist historiography, which sought to bring the Gramontist narrative into harmony with communist theories of class struggle to portray the Revolution as a working-class uprising in accordance with communist theory. Accordingly, the Republic of Laeral was understood to represent a transitional regime on the road to communism. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LaeralianRevolutionPoster.jpg|250px|thumb|left|For much of the 20th century, depictions of the Revolution emphasized it as primarily a struggle of the urban working class, as seen in this 1951 poster depicting the uprising in Hanshui in 1919.]]&lt;br /&gt;
From the 1960s onwards, these traditional interpretations have both been challenged. Greater focus on race in Laeralian history and society emerged as a political current in the 1960s and 70s as racial unrest challenged the Gramontist ideal of race-blindness, which had viewed race as a dividing factor to be minimized in the construction of Laeralianness. The notion of &amp;quot;one country, two nations,&amp;quot; or in other words Laeral as a biracial society, emerged following the [[Great War]] as a portion of the Juexing Movement, a wider struggle for racial justice. Academics molded by the Juexing Movement criticized earlier interpretations of the Revolution as overly class-centric, and instead emphasized the Laeralian Revolution as a backlash to racial discrimination under the First Allied Provinces. For these historians, the roots of the Laeralian Revolution were to be found in the emergence of Rén identity groups such as the [[Rén Self-Defense League]] during the [[First Great Migration]], the [[Peichen Secession Crisis|Jingtu Movement]], and the revival of [[Minjian]] (including the reestablishment of the [[Minjian|Minjian High Conclave]]) immediately prior to the war. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Other schools of thought during the late 20th and 21st centuries have sought to highlight other factors in the Revolution. The role of [[Gynarchism|gynarchism]] and the women's movement has come into greater focus through the work of scholars such as Hiranur Aksoy, while peasants' economic woes as a result of poor weather conditions, the First Fellsian War, and environmental degradation resulting from poor land use in the Western Riverlands has been highlighted as a principal cause of peasants' eagerness to embrace the Revolution, notably in Noël Lavoie-Zhao and Li Cunrong's scholarship. Another, more fringe, historical explanation has centered on a supposed Laeralian collective psychological desire for strongmen during the early 20th century, which, per, Jean-Louis Kuster in the 1995 book ''The Authoritarian Mindset:  Culture and Leadership in Laeral, 1854-1954'', explains the success of Vespasien Jamet, while the weakness of Augustin Brienne as prime minister left Laeralites particularly eager to embrace strongman René Gramont and explains the authoritarianism of the Republic of Laeral. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
One influential work, 2014's ''The Laeralian Revolutions: A New History'', used regionalism as a lens to explore the Laeralian Revolution, arguing that the revolution took on profoundly different forms in Eastern Laeral, Western Laeral, and the Xianhai Peninsula, as the methods and motivations of the revolutionary movement differed completely based on differences in regional development. It is likely that scholarship on the Revolution will continue to add and develop interpretations of the conflict's causes. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Revolution==&lt;br /&gt;
===First Phase (October 1918-July 1919)===&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:AugustinBrienne.jpg|150px|thumb|right|Augustin Brienne, Prime Minister of Laeral, in a 1916 portrait.]]Following the [[First Fellsian War]], Laeral's economy struggled to recover as many veterans found themselves unemployed. Prime Minister Augustin Brienne, the successor to longtime strongman Vespasien Jamet as leader of Laeral, found it difficult to maintain the coalition of wealthy landowners, urban commercial leaders, and local elites which had formed the bedrock of the Vespasienate, and had faced a competitive election in 1917, where dissident Jamet regime insiders had launched an electoral challenge which was only narrowly beaten back. Meanwhile, a financial crisis and poor harvest led to rapidly rising prices, causing misery for urban and rural Laeralites alike. When labor unrest began in Gaolan, the capital of heavily-populated Neidong province, Brienne deployed the army to put down the strike and riots. At the riot's head was First Fellsian War hero and veteran's association head [[René Gramont]], who met with the soldiers' commanding officer and convinced him to disobey his orders to use force. When Brienne ordered Gramont and other opposition figures arrested, many soldiers rallied to Gramont's banner, triggering the start of the Laeralian Revolution in earnest. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Although Gramont no longer held military rank, other officers in the Laeralian military, notably J.P. Salaun, deferred to him in joining the nationwide uprising demanding food, the return of veteran's pensions, and land reform. Leaders of the growing uprising, including those who would later be known as the [[Gang of Five]], assembled in the city of Renfeng, where they declared themselves the Committee for Democracy and Progress and issued a list of policy proposals, the Renfeng Platform. These included a return to republican governance, food for all, and land redistribution. Supporters were instructed to seize arms and remove appointed government officials from office before electing representatives to the Committee for Democracy and Progress. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:RenfengDemonstration.jpg|thumb|left|Demonstrators take to the streets at the beginning of the Laeralian Revolution, as depicted in the Revolution Memorial in Laeralsford]]&lt;br /&gt;
This Renfeng Convention occurred in parallel to political organizing in Laeralsford, the national capital, where in the outlying town of Brévonnes, elements of the liberal opposition 6th of May Society under firebrand Dr. Edmond Yeoh assembled to plan a national uprising aimed at forcing Brienne to resign and call fresh elections. The 6th of May Society had been under surveillance by regime agents for years; upon the outbreak of violence in Gaolan, the Society's leaders had been arrested en masse, with Yeoh narrowly escaping after being tipped off. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Following the issuing of the Renfeng Platform and the 6th of May Society's declaration of uprising, soldiers mutinied, union workers seized control of their workplaces, and sharecroppers took revenge on wealthy landowners. In western Laeral, the conflict immediately took on a racialized nature as Rén nationalists, Minjian hardliners, and countless disenfranchised peasants seized control of their lands in a series of scattered uprisings, largely inspired by their divergent understandings of the Renfeng Platform. In eastern Laeral, labor unions formed the backbone of the urban uprisings, in some places joined by mutinous soldiers, and largely recognized Gramont and the Committee for Democracy and Progress as their leaders. Others in eastern Laeral, particularly in the cities, took direction from the 6th of May Society, whose revolutionary element under Dr. Edmond Yeoh declared itself the National Revolutionary Directorate. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The situation in the cities was chaotic, as soldiers fired upon and forcibly dispersed demonstrations in Laeralsford and other areas where local officials and governors held kinship or patronage ties to Brienne, such as in the nation's northeast. Revolutionary sentiment was also comparatively weaker in the Catholic Belt of Therese, Sarene, and Sendrasi, where uprisings were easily put down. Conversely, the MENNJ provinces{{Efn|The Riverlands provinces of Meilun, Enara, Nanhai, Neidong, and Jinhua|name=a}} in the Riverlands, where state-backed land theft and subsequent poverty under the Vespasienate had embittered the provinces' Rén majority, had been hotbeds of agitation and quickly deposed the authorities, falling in line with Gramont and the Committee for Democracy and Progress. Laeral's eastern seaboard was the center of the Revolutionary Directorate's activities, where rebels in Althea bearing allegiance to the Directorate took control of the city briefly before being put down by government troops. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:LoyalistRecruits.jpg|thumb|right|Conscripts to the Loyalist Army are assembled in Laeralsford, 1919.]]&lt;br /&gt;
As news of the fighting reached the territories of western Laeral, a wide array of local rebel movements mobilized and clashed with government troops. These movements were largely nonideological, mobilized by local grievances such as land theft, and at some times scarcely indistinguishable from banditry. Some rebel bands, such as that led by Chang Shuo-bin &amp;quot;the Cripple,&amp;quot; aimed to restore the [[Zhao Kingdom]], while others adhered to the CDP and the promises of the Renfeng Platform. Chief among these was [[Hong Kuo-shu]] and his brothers. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Battle lines stabilized over the winter of 1918, while the Committee for Democracy and Progress declared the formation of the Rose Army and its auxiliary Rose Banner Brigades to unify rebel forces under the CDP's leadership. In April, Loyalist forces' routed the Rose Army's Southern Front under General Yang Ching-tsan at the Battle of Bertignolles in Harcour and, under General Hugo Maurice, mounted a counter-offensive directed at Gaolan and the central Riverlands. This threat led the Committee for Democracy and Progress to evacuate to Songshan as the wartime capital. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The end of the first phase of the Laeralian Revolution is widely accepted as the Battle of Prades, a pitched battle in Neidong province where ragtag forces of the Rose Army under René Gramont repelled Maurice's forces and briefly turned back the offensive. With this battle and its propaganda value for the Republican cause, it became clear that the war was certain to be protracted. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Second Phase (July 1919-December 1920)===&lt;br /&gt;
The second phase of the war saw the mobilization of the largest forces and pitched field battles in central and eastern Laeral. Outnumbered and possessing shortages of aircraft and artillery compared to the Laeralsford government's forces, the Rose Army traded space for time, gradually falling back westward and northward in order to rearm and draw out the Loyalist supply lines. Although repeatedly forced to give ground before Loyalist forces' advance, the Rose Army remained intact and continued to build its numbers. By winter of 1919, the strategy was showing signs of success as the Rose Army professionalized. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:GramontFays.jpg|200px|thumb|right|René Gramont in a press photograph during a break from negotiations on the Republican Pact, 1919.]]&lt;br /&gt;
At the same time, on the diplomatic front, Republican forces became increasingly unified. Most notably, Edmond Yeoh and the National Revolutionary Directorate met with René Gramont and the Committee for Democracy and Progress in Fays-la-Chapelle, Carellon, where the two sides agreed to the Republican Pact, an alliance between the two parties. Although vague on some factors, such as the extent of land redistribution and the fate of private industry post-revolution, the Pact firmly called for the drafting of a new constitution which would safeguard individual liberties and carry out free elections. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
As uniformed government forces were pushed out of territorial western Laeral, the conflict there saw the fiercest instances of violence against civilians and the most frequent flouting of the laws of war. Skirmishes between rival rebel forces saw Hong Kuo-shu, newly named as Western Front commander by the Committee for Democracy and Progress, lead his Rose Army forces against Zhao nationalists and against Arrivée settlers. After the collapse of the Laeralsford government's authority in Western Laeral, Arrivée settlers there largely turned to the Arrivée-supremacist militia group the Chevaliers of the Veil to organize resistance to the revolution. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
1919 also saw the emergence of fighting in the Xianhai Peninsula. The de facto leader of [[Arquien]] and [[Bethune]] provinces, Léon Charrier, was a political chameleon of only nominal loyalty to Laeralsford, who had struck up an uneasy alliance with the communist Xianhai Peasants' Front. After a secret meeting between Charrier and Edmond Yeoh became public, fears that Charrier would declare his allegiance to the National Revolutionary Directorate led to an attempt to seize power by the Xianhai Constabulary, the feared police force widely seen as under the thumb of Xianhai's powerful landowner class. The Constabulary's withdrawal from the countryside to march on Lyrene, Charrier's stronghold, led to a general uprising by the Xianhai Peasants' Front, a quasi-socialist agrarian revolutionary organization.  &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:JianguoPrisoners.jpg|200px|thumb|left|A common scene during the Revolution in Western Laeral, as suspected Zhao guerrillas are held prisoner by Hong Kuo-shu's Rose Army soldiers.]]&lt;br /&gt;
By early 1920, Loyalist forces under General Isidore Grandjean were continuing to advance northwards towards the CDP capital of Songshan, yet faced stubborn resistance from the Rose Army's Northern Front under J.P. Salaun, particularly in the barren hill country of northern Neidong.  The Committee for Democracy and Progress had already fled westward to Lushui. Meanwhile, General Hugo Maurice led the Loyalists' Third Army forces westward through the Riverlands, facing off against Marshal René Gramont's Central Front of the Rose Army. The city of Shiyan, the last major town on the road to Hanshui, was the sight of such intense fighting in March that the city earned the sobriquet of the &amp;quot;Martyr City of the Revolution.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In these advances, Loyalist forces often pillaged villages as they went, both to vent their fury at rebel forces and to alleviate supply shortages aggravated by attacks from Republican guerrillas. Predictably, this alienated inhabitants of these communities, who often took up arms against Loyalist forces.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In May 1920, soldiers in Laeralsford loyal to Vespasien Jamet's nephew Saturnin attempted to stage a coup against Prime Minister Brienne. Although unsuccessful, the abortive attempt prompted Prime Minister Brienne to dismiss Hugo Maurice from his position commanding the Third Army for suspected disloyalty and replaced him with the elderly Fernand Duval, a less capable commander. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:RilosFellsians.jpg|thumb|right|Fellsian troops man a barricade in Rilos as curious residents look on.]]&lt;br /&gt;
====Foreign Intervention====&lt;br /&gt;
By summer 1920, the obvious weakness of the Laeralsford government and the domestic chaos in Laeral led foreign governments to eye opportunities for territorial gain. In June, High Fellsian forces advanced beyond the treaty boundaries from the 1916 armistice agreement to seize Rilos, a city frequently disputed between Laeral and High Fells. Meeting little resistance, Queensgrace claimed that this maneuver would  safeguard Fellsian commercial interests. In a coordinated, subsequent action, [[Opthelia|Opthelian]] landed colonial troops from [[Haesan]] to seize the Strait of Aumont, the strategically-vital entrance allowing passage to Lake Xueyan and the High Fellsian port of Montgeron. 105 Laeralites were killed when Opthelian warships shelled the city of St. Clair, provoking outrage. Republican propagandists insisted that Prime Minister Brienne's government was complicit in these attacks, which was later proven untrue.{{efn|However, Aumont Chief Minister André Favre, it was later discovered, was working with the Opthelians to carry out their seizure of the straits.}} This was widely believed and contributed greatly to the Laeralsford government's sinking popularity, as the Committee for Democracy and Progress appealed to nationalist sentiment and portrayed itself as the true defender of Laeral's territorial integrity.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
====Changyu Offensive====&lt;br /&gt;
Under Gramont's direction, the Rose Army had concentrated its forces in the Riverlands with the aim of striking a decisive blow against the Loyalist forces. Bringing together the mass of the Rose Army's artillery and assembling forces from the Revolutionary Directorate and the Rose Army's Southern Front, the Rose Army launched a major attack on the Minjian Luminary Changyu's feast day—August 29, 1920—north of Shiyan near the town of Tengzhou. Showing unexpected determination, Loyalist forces charged Rose Army artillery positions on the heights three times, each time narrowly repulsed, while Rose Army cadres similarly repelled Loyalist counterattacks by fortifying the farm buildings at the center of Tengzhou. As Loyalist forces fell back, the Republicans pressed the advantage—the Rose Army, aided by Zhao cavalry, pursued and harried the retreating forces.&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:RoseArmyLine.jpg|thumb|left|Rose Army forces prepare to board a train during the Changyu Offensive, 1920. Note the Minjian blessing cloths (white armbands).]]&lt;br /&gt;
Overextended, low on supplies, and facing a concentrated Republican force, General Duval's Third Army fell apart in the face of the Rose Army's Changyu Offensive. During the month of September, Republicans rapidly pushed the Loyalists from the gates of Hanshui into Neidong, retaking Gaolan, where the revolution had begun, with little resistance on September 21st. The collapse of the Third Army forced Loyalist forces attacking Lushui in the north to retreat towards Laeralsford, with General Salaun's Northern Front in hot pursuit. With this change in fortunes, many Loyalist forces deserted or joined the Republican ranks; this was the case in Avrainville, in Harcour, where Chief Minister and longtime political boss Rigobert Laroche brought over himself and his followers to the Republican side in October. Another coup plot in Laeralsford, this one led by powerful industrial baron and army quartermaster-general Jean-Gatien Lefont, was discovered and rounded up by Brienne's secret police, but this did nothing to quiet the disunity in the Loyalist ranks. &lt;br /&gt;
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Advancing at the head of the Rose Army's Central and Northern Fronts, Gramont and Salaun linked up their forces in Neidong in November and began the final drive on Laeralsford. Seeing the writing on the wall, the Loyalist enclaves along the Xueyan coast in Carellon, Meridoc, and Choisel declared that they would not resist Rose Army forces and pledged their cooperation in turning back the Fellsian incursion into Rilos. &lt;br /&gt;
With Republican forces approaching, Prime Minister Brienne fled Laeralsford to Aumont in hopes of receiving sanctuary from the Opthelians, and was captured and executed by Aumont's local strongman, Lucien Soulier, who hoped to curry favor with the Republicans. Laeralsford fell with little resistance on November 18th, 1920, as Rose Army forces paraded into the city. &lt;br /&gt;
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By winter of 1920, Hong Kuo-shu had ably quelled resistance in the West, bringing agrarian rebels and Zhao nationalists under the Rose Army's banner or destroying them and defeating the Chevaliers of the Veil. The devoutly Catholic and conservative areas of the Beuvron River valley remained fiercely opposed to the Republicans, but resistance was clearly softening in the coastal south and in Althea, where Edmond Yeoh brokered an agreement with local warlords (the &amp;quot;Loiraine Clique&amp;quot;) to turn over the city to the Republicans. &lt;br /&gt;
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In Xianhai, power broker Léon Charrier had largely put down the Xianhai Constabulary's conservative coup attempt and settled an alliance with the socialist and anarchist Xianhai Peasants' Front, although the relationship was strained as Charrier used every ounce of his influence to minimize the Peasants' Front's reprisals against landowners. In August 1920, [[Libertas Omnium Maximus]] had sent an expeditionary force of 2,000 regulars northward across the border to seize a forty-kilometer buffer zone in [[Bethune]], with the stated casus belli being marauding bandits and rebellious peasants fleeing across the border and preying on Maximusian border towns. In fact, this was an attempt to seize the entirety of the Xianhai oil fields, at the time scarcely exploited and divided roughly evenly between the two nations following the [[War of the Seven Provinces]]. All parties in Xianhai's burgeoning civil war were unable to contest this incursion, apart from local guerrillas who harassed the Maximusian expeditionary force's supply lines. &lt;br /&gt;
[[File:BethuneGuerrillas.jpg|thumb|right|Guerrilla fighters in rural Bethune.]]&lt;br /&gt;
The winter also provided time for the Committee for Democracy and Progress to negotiate for the withdrawal of foreign troops. Fortuitously for the Republicans, the Haesanese independence movement was severely stretching Opthelian resources, and Opthelian leaders proved ready to withdraw their troops from their misadventure in the Straits of Xueyan to instead aid in the quixotic task of preserving Opthelian colonial rule in Haesan. With the Opthelian withdrawal in December, the Fellsians found their occupation of Rilos difficult to justify as international pressure mounted; following negotiations with J.P. Salaun, the Fellsians withdrew in January. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===End of Hostilities (January-March 1921)===&lt;br /&gt;
With the fall of Laeralsford and the death of Prime Minister Brienne, it became apparent that the Republicans were on the verge of victory in continental Laeral, although the Xianhai Peninsula remained an open question. On his New Year's Day public address in Laeralsford, René Gramont—as Chairman of the Committee for Democracy and Progress and commander-in-chief of the Rose Army—set forth three principles for the conclusion of the war: firstly, that every centimeter of Laeral's prewar territory would be restored, with all foreign incursions turned back; secondly, that the promises of the Renfeng Platform and the Republican Pact would be carried out in full; thirdly, that there would be no acts of reprisal against those who had fought for the Laeralsford government. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Remaining campaigns in continental Laeral saw only limited resistance. Loyalists in northeastern Laeral surrendered to J.P. Salaun's Northern Front forces after a brief campaign, while the surrender of the Loiraine Clique in December had disheartened resistance in the Albarine seaboard, particularly as the remaining Loyalists there were willing to surrender to Revolutionary Directorate forces over those of the Rose Army. Sporadic guerrilla fighting in western Laeral was put down by forcefully by Hong Kuo-shu's forces, while invitations to sit as delegates in the Committee for Democracy and Progress to local notables successfully won over local Arrivée and Zhao nationalist elites. The last major fighting of the Revolution in the Laeralian mainland took place in the Beuvron River valley, which ended when Rose Army forces triumphantly advanced through Jinyu on February 14th. &lt;br /&gt;
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Instability continued in the Xianhai Peninsula, where Léon Charrier and the mainline of the Xianhai Peasants' Front controlled only the area around Lyrene, with the broader countryside controlled by various guerrilla bands, including remnants of the Xianhai Constabulary. Meanwhile, Maximusian forces continued to occupy a strip of territory 40 kilometers north of the border. Following Gramont's 1921 New Year's speech, Charrier positioned himself as a trustworthy ally of the new regime, and in February Republican troops began to arrive by boat in Lyrene and traveled southward, establishing a front line facing off against the Maximusians. &lt;br /&gt;
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Simultaneously, the Republicans opened negotiations with the Maximusian government to avoid a war which neither side wanted; in Litudinem, the new administration of President Walter Halifax had replaced that of Richard Dalton, who had ordered the incursion the previous year, and Halifax's government was eager to disengage from a conflict it saw as an expensive sideshow. With [[Sun Jia-wei]] as the chief Laeralian negotiator, the Perra Declaration was signed on March 7th, 1921, in which Libertas Omnium Maximus agreed to withdraw its troops in exchange for Laeral placing a monitoring force on the border to prevent further guerrilla incursions into Maximusian territory. With the signing of the face-saving agreement and the subsequent withdrawal of Maximusian forces, victory was declared for the Republican cause.&lt;br /&gt;
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==Aftermath==&lt;br /&gt;
With the war finished, the Committee for Democracy and Progress declared itself the government of Laeral and began preparations for the drafting of the constitution for the new Republic of Laeral, which would be proclaimed the following year. Over the course of 1921, political maneuvering by Gramont and his associates ensured the subordination of the National Revolutionary Directorate within the new [[Social Democratic Party (Laeral)|Social Democratic Party]], which counted all members of the Committee for Democracy and Progress as members. The new SDP contained a wide variety of political traditions, including liberals, reformed Zhao nationalists, and agrarian revolutionaries alongside the urban socialists which formed the core of the party under Gramont. Over the coming years, these other political currents within the SDP would be suppressed or subordinated.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Laeralian Revolution resulted in the founding of the [[Republic of Laeral]], a socialist, [[Gramontism|Gramontist]] regime which lasted from 1922 to 1954. The subsequent [[Rose Revolution]] reforms, including women's and Rén emancipation, the creation of stronger federal institutions, infrastructure development, secularism, and land reform, were carried out primarily during the 1920s and 30s. Some of these reforms had been preordained in the Renfeng Platform, while others, such as the secularism reforms of the 1930s, had not. &lt;br /&gt;
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Reprisals against loyalists took place, but were limited in number and typically not condoned by Republican leadership. The Shougouang Massacre, where the village of Shougouang in Jianguo was torched and its inhabitants executed, is only the most well-known of the attacks against civilians carried out by Hong Kuo-shu's Rose Army forces in the west during and after the revolution. Wealthy landowners were the most frequent target of reprisals, typically lynchings carried out by sharecroppers and tenant farmers who had been personally impacted by their abuses. A 2005 study concluded that an estimated 6,000 landowners and their families were killed in reprisal attacks by revolutionary-aligned forces from 1920 to 1922. In western Laeral, racial violence which took place during the war led an estimated 30,000 Arrivée settlers to migrate eastward, most setting in the Beuvron River valley. &lt;br /&gt;
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Although the CDP instituted amnesty for rank-and-file soldiers who had fought for the Loyalists, Loyalist leaders were largely removed from office and subject to house arrest pending trial. Regional tribunals headquartered in Hanshui, Laeralsford, Lyrene, and Mermont oversaw trials of military commanders and political figures accused of particular cruelty against civilians, ultimately sentencing 46 to death. Many Loyalist generals and political leaders, however, were able to reinvent themselves as military officers and administrators under the Republic, although the ban on former Loyalist supporters from running for office was not lifted until 1934. &lt;br /&gt;
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Laeral's economy and society had been devastated by the war, which had left over 100,000 civilians dead and numerous villages razed, particularly in the Riverlands, site of the most intense fighting, and in Western Laeral and Xianhai, during the guerrilla warfare there. Rebuilding from this devastation was a central focus of the 1920s. Rural areas saw the most immediate social and economic change, as land reform was among the first priorities of the SDP regime—large landholders saw their holdings distributed to sharecroppers, with the exception of a few landholders with ties to the new regime. &lt;br /&gt;
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==Legacy==&lt;br /&gt;
Many historians consider the Laeralian Revolution the defining episode in modern Laeralian history. By ushering in the Republican regime, the Laeralian Revolution significantly altered the social, political, and economic trajectory of Laeral. It is commemorated extensively in Laeralian public life through annual memorials and through public statuary in Laeralian cities and towns, and is a major subject of Laeralian history education at all levels. &lt;br /&gt;
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==Notes==&lt;br /&gt;
{{notelist}}&lt;br /&gt;
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[[Category: History]][[Category: Conflicts]] [[Category: Laeral]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Laeral</name></author>
	</entry>
	<entry>
		<id>https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=MENNJ_princess&amp;diff=45235</id>
		<title>MENNJ princess</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://idugov.com/w/index.php?title=MENNJ_princess&amp;diff=45235"/>
		<updated>2026-01-24T02:43:48Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;Laeral: &lt;/p&gt;
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&lt;div&gt;A '''MENNJ princess''' is a term used in [[Laeral]] referring to a stereotypical young woman of the MENNJ region of the [[Riverlands|Laeralian Riverlands]]. Stereotypically headstrong, emotional, ambitious, and independent, the MENNJ princess is an archetype common in representations of women from this region. &lt;br /&gt;
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==History==&lt;br /&gt;
The Riverlands region of Laeral, comprising the broad central plains around the Zhongshui River, has historically been the wealthiest and most populous region of the country. The MENNJ region consists of five provinces (Meilun, Enara, Nanhai, Neidong, and Jinhua) of the central and western Riverlands; the term originated with the [[Land use in Laeral|Land Tenure Act of 1888]], which opened up these five provinces for widespread [[Arrivée]] settlement, but the term MENNJ did not enter mainstream use beyond academic and government circles until the late 20th century. &lt;br /&gt;
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During the 1970s, the MENNJ region, which had benefitted from proximity to transportation networks and had avoided widespread destruction during the [[Great War]], blossomed economically to become the fastest-growing region in Laeral. Emerging as a manufacturing hub, the MENNJ provinces grew dramatically in population and in cultural import, leading to the emergence of a MENNJ culture in opposition to the established cultural hubs of [[Laeralsford]] and the [[Albarine Sea|Albarine]] provinces. The MENNJ region, particularly its unofficial capital of [[Hanshui]], developed a thriving nightclub scene; the first uses of the term MENNJ princess in print and television refer to the MENNJ princess as a fixture of nightlife at the region's dance clubs and karaoke parlors. The term gained wide currency through its use in television and film during the 1980s and 90s, particularly as many prominent Laeralian film studios (the &amp;quot;Five Giants&amp;quot;) are located in the MENNJ region. The &amp;quot;MENNJ princess&amp;quot; has continued to remain in wide use through the emergence of the fashion/personal beauty aesthetic, &lt;br /&gt;
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==Characteristics==&lt;br /&gt;
The stereotypical MENNJ princess is most defined by her independence and strong will, in contrast to traditional notions of femininity. Seen as world-wise and outgoing, the MENNJ princess is comfortable around men as well as women, and fond of parties and dancing. Fondness for handball and equestrian pursuits, particularly at the family's village of origin in a neighboring province, is also a component of the stereotype. The MENNJ princess is seen as rejecting of domestic life and professional employment alike and disinterested in politics, preferring to live for the moment. The stereotypical MENNJ princess can also be seen pejoratively, as frivolous and difficult to get along with.&lt;br /&gt;
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The MENNJ princeling, a male equivalent to the MENNJ princess, is less common. Sometimes pejoratively used to imply irresponsibility or hot-headedness, the MENNJ princeling is seen as similarly willful and talkative, and enamored of fast cars (while his female counterpart prefers horseback riding). &lt;br /&gt;
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==Impact==&lt;br /&gt;
The MENNJ princess aesthetic is popular in the fashion world and on social media. Its defining characteristics are the prominent use of eyeshadow, glitter, and bold lipstick as attention-catching cosmetics, as well as the use of traditionally masculine and feminine clothing together, particularly materials such as denim, faux fur, and synthetic fabrics. &lt;br /&gt;
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The MENNJ princess has been noted by scholars of race and gender as among the first non-racialized Laeralian stereotypes; representations of the MENNJ princess as [[Rén]], Arrivée, and Metice are common since the archetype first emerged. &lt;br /&gt;
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[[Category: Society]][[Category: Gender]][[Category: Laeral]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Laeral</name></author>
	</entry>
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