User:Brant/Arthedain

Arthedain, officially the Kingdom of Arthedain is a constitutional monarchy, semi autonomous island nation, one of the two constituent countries within the Kingdom of Dragonstone, and is located to the southwest of Dragonstone, between Dragonstone and Candvia. Originally an independent country, Arthedain joined in a political union with the Kingdom of Dragonstone after the marriage between the sole daughter and heir of the King of Arthedain to the king of Dragonstone in the 1700s, a personal union which survives to this day.

History
Arthedain was first discovered by some seafarers from present day Kanowa, who built temporary camps on the coast from time to time and used the island as a resting point on their way to Dragonstone and the Ninja Archipelago. Eventually, some of the seafarers began building permanent settlements on the island, as they found the climate and geography desirable for farming. Some of these settlers went on the found the city of Fornost as a harbor for ships to dock at, which would grow to become the capital and largest city on Arthedain.

From the early days of the island, Arthedain was controlled by many tribes that ruled certain regions of the country, and many of these tribes would later become the noble houses of Arthedain. Although most of the tribes got along well with each other, fighting would occasionally break out, resulting in conflicts between the tribes. However, around the 1000's, the chieftains of the tribes met together and elected one of them from among themselves to lead them, resulting in the crowning of the first king of Arthedain and the foundation of the Kingdom of Arthedain.

The new Kingdom of Arthedain began trading with the newly founded Principality of Kanova in the middle ages, and the two countries got along due to a similar language and culture. Arthedain also began establishing relations with its other neighbors, Candvia, Dragonstone, and the Osloven Empire, alliances which would last until the country joined with Dragonstone. During the middle ages, Arthedain began building hundreds of ships, many of which would trade goods with other countries around Antarctica, and bring goods back home from foreign lands.

In the 1700s, Arthedain began growing closer with the Kingdom of Dragonstone as well, which had been their ally for hundreds of years. The King of Dragonstone at the time was Brandon the Wise, who sought to expand the power and influence of Dragonstone on the Antarctic stage. At the time, the King of Arthedain was beginning to age, and his sole heir was his daughter. To unite the two kingdoms, Brandon arranged for the marriage between him and the King's daughter, and upon the King's death he became King of both Dragonstone and Arthedain.

As part of the Kingdom of Dragostone, Arthedain joined the Khanzem War on the side of the Good Guys, and mostly sent aid and other supplies to them. However, in 1914, after invading the Osloven Empire, Khanzem turned their eyes on Dragonstone, and invaded Arthedain from the south with 400,000 soldiers, catching the 40,000 Arthedainian soldiers off guard and seizing some cities in the south. Despite initial losses, Arthedain introduced drafting for its male population and expanded the army to 400,000 soldiers, which, with the help of Dragonstonian reinforcements, forced back Khanzem.

Government
Arthedain is a semi autonomous kingdom with the head of state being the King of Dragonstone, who is the King of Dragonstone and Arthedain both, while the head of government is the Prime Minister of Arthedain, who is elected by the people in an election every four years. The Kingdom also has a unicameral Parliament with elections for seats on it being held every four years in the same election as the Prime Minister election. Additionally, Arthedain has 40 seats in the Parliament of Dragonstone and Arthedain, elections for which are held every four years as well.

Most of the institutions of Arthedain are separate from that of Dragonstone, except for foreign relations and the monarchy, which Arthedain shares with Dragonstone as part of the Kingdom of Dragonstone and Arthedain. The military is separate from that of Dragonstone's as well, but both military forces fall under the command of the King, who is the commander of both armed forces. Foreign diplomatic positions are also appointed by the Prime Minister of Dragonstone and Arthedain, who is centered in Dragonport, the capital of both Dragonstone and the Kingdom of Dragonstone and Arthedain.

Military
Arthedain has a separate military than that of Dragonstone, the Arthedain Defense Forces, which consists of 90,000 active soldiers as of 2018, and who combines with the Dragonstone Armed Forces during war to form one united military under the Dragonstonian flag, though the Arthedain Defense Forces are always under the command of the King of Dragonstone and Arthedain. Unlike Dragonstone, the draft was abolished in 1940, but thousands of people still continue to enlist in the military, and by law the draft is still reintroduced when Arthedain is invaded.

Economy
Arthedain has a developed economy with a high GDP, GDP per capita, and living standard, slightly above that of Dragonstone's, and a flat tax rate of 10%, along with a low unemployment rate of 4%. The country's economy is based off of oil from its oil platforms in the surrounding sea, shipping, which is based at the part of Fornost, the largest port in the region, and agriculture, with Arthedain producing a large amount of Antarctica's raspberries. Technology is also a major growing sector of the economy, with the capital, Fornost, being a major technological center in Antarctica.

Trivia

 * The country is inspired by Serbia, but isn't a complete parody of it.