Blancos
Blancos | |
|---|---|
| Total population | |
| 5,800,000 (2025, est.) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Slokais Islands | 5,683,230 |
| Elsewhere | c. 100,000 |
| Religion | |
| Church of Sanctaria (Primarily), Revivalist Christianity, Protestant | |
Blancos are an ethnic group in Slokais Islands of those with primarily Sanctarian ancestry. However, for census purposes and culturally speaking, the term has come to encompass those from Western Hesperidan countries as well. Per the 2025 Census, 5,683,230 people primarily identified as Blancos.
History[edit | edit source]
The term Blancos emerged in the 1600s to describe non-Costenoian settlers who were arriving in the San Fernando Colony. This included those from Valahandia and its colonies, as well as those from Sanctaria and its colonies who arrived to claim farmland. Initially, having the same rights as ethnic Costenos, later policy removed their status as full citizens. This led to specific migration and settlement of the island of Acadia as well as the Northern Isles, as these areas were until the 1790s's not part of the San Fernando Colony. The Blancos population grew massively upon full Sanctarian control of the islands, with cities such as New Liverpool initially being almost entirely ethnic Sanctarians brought to work in administrative roles or to work as teachers. In fact, an outsized percentage of teachers during and after the period of Santacian control were ethnically Blancos. This along with a large number of clergy, was a policy choice to encourage long-term linguistic fusion and for the large Catholic population to return to a more traditional Sanctarian form of the faith.
In 1900, the first census ever taken under the Republic of Slokais saw those of Sanctarian ancestry being labeled as "Blancos" due to its prevalence as a cultural term and to be distinguished from Costenos. Several politicians attempted to claim throughout the Census process and in several census periods that the term "Sanctarian" or "Populus" would be more appropriate. Regardless, the term remains in usage. Blancos primarily settled in isolated communities and neighborhoods in urban and suburban areas with separate private schools teaching in both English and Latin. The exception was and still is Halls Province which saw large population growth in the 1920s and 30s through economic and modernization projects largely in industrial sectors. By the 1940s, the Blancos population had reached its peak of 12.5%. The National Reformist Era saw several prominent Blancos and initially Blancos as a whole support Juan Costa. However, when he began to favor the SICC over the Church of Sanctaria there was a rapid radicalization with groups such as "Frons Populus" being formed in the 1960s.
In the post-war period, Blancos who remained in rural communities largely moved to urban areas, joining the general trend of population growth. Politically becoming involved in the Conservative Party with Brooke Weasley and George Oliver being notable examples. Additionally, a growing cultural awareness of non-Sanctarian Blancos groups such as the Iustitians and the Northern Islanders especially with the introduction of ancestry groups to the 2000 Census.
Language[edit | edit source]
English is the common language of Blancos, with Latin also being used mostly as a second ceremonial language, although small communities do exist in rural Halls Province of L1 speakers of Latin. Blancos also have a lower percentage of Slokasian comprehension due to it being relegated to secondary language status in many schools. Dialects have also developed such as Northern Isles English which uses some indigenous terminology.