Anthegalia

Anthegalia is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, nations on Polemos. It is one of very few nations that can provide substantial proof of its existence within pre-history. It has remained a primarily neutral power within the world, primarily because of the country's location, the islands of Anthia, Amen'val, and Lorin'val, and because of their isolationist culture.

Geography

Anthia

Amen'val

Lorin'val

Valan

History

Origin

Anthegalia has its origins in pre-history. An abundant amount of historical references can be found dated many centuries before the beginning of the AE timeline. Because of this, the Anthegalian government seized all relevant documents to the nature of the Anthegalian nation in pre-history. However, most noble families still retain detailed documents about their own genealogy, some even claiming to go as far back as the origin of the Anthegalian race.

Government

Anthegalia, if claims are to be believed, has the longest running government in the world. Details on the inner working are sparse to outsiders, but it is known that there is a King, a Council of Elders, and at least several individuals who hold the office of Judge. To add to the mystery the government claims 1) that no written constitution exists, and would be impossible to produce and 2) that their government strictly adheres to the constitution, and flatly rejects suggestions that they operate as a classic (or in their words, “human”) monarchy.

The Monarchy

The King acts as the head of state for the government, and by tradition the title is always capitalized. Only males may hold the office, and they must either be married, or soon-to-be-married. According to one diplomatic report when a King dies the Queen acts as regent but soon re-marries. She essentially acts as the ultimate selector for the new King, who ends her regency upon their union.

Anthegalians are emphatic that the Kingship does not behave “like a human absolute monarchy”, but the limits on his authority are not well understood. The King is able to perform most any action, but is supposed to act within certain (constitutional?) norms and can be called to account if he breaks from them. By all accounts the monarchy is a popular institution, and attempts by human residents to “democratize” have curiously allowed to go on unmolested, but have nevertheless not favor with even an estimated 1% of the Anthegal population. True numbers are hard to come by, however, since anthegals as a rule do not respond to anonymous pollsters.

The King also acts as High Priest for the state, and performs many religious functions for his people.

The Elder Council

Thought to be an advisory body for the King, the council is split into the Enma'chus an the Ebrich'chus. The former body is a representative parliament of sorts, but is broken out by societal category instead of geography. The latter is a for nobility, filled with the cream of Anthegalian society. How these bodies deliberate, and how they interact with the King is considered a national secret (and thus officially off limits to any outsider), but leaks from defectors has indicated that the council acts mainly to run the bureaucracy and recommend new laws, but that the process is byzantine and at times cut-throat.

The Judiciary

Anthegalia apparently runs a court structure, but instead of having courthouses Judges (the title is always capitalized), who are appointed by the King, seek out and resolve disputes among the populace. In essence, the legal system makes house calls. Judges have wide-ranging authority on investigating cases, finding witnesses, appointing Counselors (another capital title) for parties in a dispute, and of course the verdict itself. There is no well-understood court hierarchy, though an appeals process does exist. It is known that the King may vacate, amend, or otherwise act as the final appeal for any Judge.

Judges have also been known to perform law enforcement and even military functions, however. The office is sometimes compared to the rangers of ancient Agothos, who acted more as civil champions and general leaders-of-the-people, though the powers of a Judge appear far more broad than the rangers, excepting the power of emancipation. The Anthegalian is emphatic that Judges, or any other government official for that matter, can legally remove the King from power.

Parties, Ideology, and Politics

Political Divisions

Foreign Relations

Military

Economy

basic economy info

Income and Human Development

Science and Technology

Transportation

Energy

Demographics

general ethnicities

Language

Religion

The King heads the official state church - the Anthegalian Orthodoxy. The church is on friendly terms with the Universal Orthodoxy, and on the vast majority theological matters they are of the same opinion, but organizationally it is quite separate. Anthegal orthodox customs vary greatly from universal ones.

Other minor religions exist and freedom of worship is a constitutional right, but the state does maintain a list of unacceptable religious practices and certain specific religions are outright banned. How that apparent contradiction is resolved, or how the laws are enforced is not entirely clear. Orthodox rituals and holy days are publicly celebrated, but other religions' holidays can found in the foreign quarters and are run without government interference.

Education

Outline of Ideas

Ground School (years 1-4)
General School I (years 5-8, poor/middle class)
General School II (years 8-12, poor/middle class, continued general education)
Trade School (years 8-12, poor/middle, class focuses on a trade + an apprenticeship)
High School (years 5-12, upper class, basically private school)

Everyone takes Ground school, richer “buy” into High School. Everyone else goes to General School I, and then afterwords either takes an exam to get into Trade School, to learn a trade. or continues in General School II.

Health

Crime and Law Enforcement

Culture

Popular Culture

High Culture

Food

Sports