Bagnallia

Bagnallia, officially the Kingdom of Bagnallia, is a Unitary Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy on the north east coast of Larania. The nation is bordered to the east by the Adriantic Ocean, to the south by Mistletoe Coast, to the west by Nagansett and to the north by Estrie. It spans a land area of 377,973 km² with a population of approximately 18.8 million people. Bagnallia's varied topography is mountainous in the west, levelling out further east to flatlands with much of the west blanketed with dense hardwood forest.

Colonised by Gelenia in 1445, Bagnallia initially thrived under their rule. The growth of tobacco and other cash crops, along with the fur trade, generated profits for monarchs of Gelenia for centuries. However taxation grew over time, and unrest developed. This continued until the Gelenian Revolution when in 1777 when the cousin of the deposed King Robyn II, Prince Henry, evacuated along with the remainder of his family to the colony. Given the instability in Gelenia, the colony took the chance to declare independence crowning the young Henry as King to establish legitimacy as a nation and rightful succession of Gelenian rule.

Bagnallia is an export focused economy, with the steel industry being vital to the nation. Bagnallia's largest cities, especially the capital, are home significant finance centres. Bagnallia is friendly to other nations, being part of the OLS.

Etymology
Bagnallia is named after explorer and politician Richard Bagnall who established the first settlement in what was to become the Colony of Bagnallia. A citizen of Bagnallia is a Bagnallian.

Prehistory
Most archaeologists predict humans first emerged in the region around 12,000 BCE, roughly 14,000 years ago. These first inhabitants were known as the Abonaqian People.

Whilst at first nomadic, the Abonaqian People began to settle in groups along the coasts and rivers of Bagnallia around 2000 BCE similarly to Abonaqians elsewhere in northeastern Larania, building houses from wood and thatch. They inhabited what is now modern day Estrie as well as Bagnallia. They were known for their overall disperse nature, and their disunity as a culture was exemplified by the series of clans and groups that formed along northeastern Larania. These groups lacked any form of unified government or code with regular conflicts taking place over land rights and resources. They were skilled farmers, cultivating produce such as squash, beans and corn, and were also excellent fishers, crafting canoes and other waterborne vessels to traverse the area's rivers and seas.

The Abonaqians were known for their near constant warfare with the Nagansett People to their southeast, who inhabited modern day Nagansett. They fought over hunting grounds, resources, fishing rights and also over religion. Archaeological findings show the Abonaqians to have had a complex system of religious rights and ceremonies, the most central aspect of these being the Mother in the Trees, a spiritual being they believed lived in every tree in their homeland. This entity would watch over them in death, bring calmer weather and grant them shelter and protection through the wood she provided for housing, boats and weaponry.

Discovery and Colonisation
The first contact between the native Abonaqian people and foreign settlers was in 1504 when the Gelenian Royal House solicited Captain Phillip Cooke to embark on an expedition to the area. After landing, the Abonaqian people were very hospitable to the Gelenians greeting them with agricultural goods, arrowheads anc canoes amongst other gifts. However, in his surviving journals he describes the upmost northeastern regions as cold, writing "the air's bitter chill could take the spirit from any stronghearted man", and notes the lands to the south - inhabited by the Nagansett people - had much more potential for trade and colonisation. Cooke reported back to Gelenia and the King granted authorisation for a colonial mission of around 1800 people under the new North Laranian Company to depart for the east-facing coast of the region and establish settlements.

This colonial mission was headed by Sir Richard Bagnall, a member of the Gelenian Royal Court and a fiercely loyal friend of the King. Under his leadership, the first colonists to arrive in what is now modern day Bagnallia arrived on 18th Veilrule 1519, establishing the settlement of Kingston. Later that year on 20th Highsummer 1519, the Colony of Bagnallia was officially established, with the name in honour of Sir Richard at the request of the King. Bagnall became the Colony's first Governor with his first action being the creation of a second settlement further inland, but first he had to establish connections with the local natives. Many sightings of the Abonaqians had been made from Kingston, but no one from neither side had embarked with the intent of beginning relations.

The Monarch
The Monarch is the source of all power in Bagnallia. All authority vests in the crown, with power granted down on its behalf. All bills must be passed with the consent and signature of the Monarch, all Members of Parliament are sworn in under the Monarch's name, the military offers complete loyalty to the Monarch and they act as Bagnallia's head of state. However, this power has been ceremonial since the nation's founding; the new Parliament granted all power to the Monarch in the constitution in an effort to minimise unlawful seizing of power, and King Henry I accepted knowing that if he exercised such power the people would again revolt as they did in his homeland of Gelenia.

The House of Lords
The upper chamber of Parliament, sometimes known as the House of Peers, each Peer is appointed by the Monarch on the advice of the Prime Minister. The chamber consists of 75 Lords and Ladies. Some may be former MPs, retired Judges or former Civil Servicemen although there are no set requirements. The Prime Minister traditionally apppoints former MPs from a variety of parties and political beliefs rather than just their own in an effort to maintain fairness. The leader of the opposition regularly provides the PM with suitable candidates that they may choose from, which they often do. The position is permanent, with Lords however required to step down upon their 80th birthday and they are granted a lifelong Baronetcy in recognition of their service. The Baronetcy grants them a state pension for the remainder of their life.

Due to the permenance of the position, Lords do not fear the scutiny of their party as they do in the Commons and may vote how they see fit, rather than following party lines. This allows the chamber to thoroughly scrutinise bills where needed without party disciplinary action. A peer can be removed from the chamber and be stripped of their peerage with a 3/4s majority vote.

The House of Commons
The lower chamber of Parliament, each MP is elected on a term lasting for a maximum of five years.The Council consists of 250 MPs, each representing a parliamentary constituency of approximately 75,000 people. General elections occur every five years, and have done since 1777 with the first parliament. Early elections can't be called, with elections organised by a non partisan government committee - but in the event of no clear winner the house can vote on a motion to call a new election. The next general election still takes place 5 years after the first. The Prime Minister and cabinet ministers are selected from this house and it functions as the dominant chamber.