Mistletoe Coast

The Mistletoe Coast, officially the Federal Republic of the Mistletoe Coast (Abonaqian: Miquliicuit) is a constitutional unitary republic located in Larania. The nation is bordered to the north by Estrie, to the east by the Mithran Ocean, to the south by the Eastern Laranian Republic, and to the west by Nagansett. With a population of 9,281,693 people and a land area of LAND AREA, the Mistletoe Coast is actually the most densely populated nation on Larania due to its smaller size. The capital of the Mistletoe Coast is Jamesport, while the largest city remains Cedarport.

The Mistletoe Coast was originally inhabited by the Abonaqian people in the earliest periods of history, though the exact date of their arrival in the region is unknown to us.

he Abonaqians constructed villages along the sea coasts and in their many rivers, with their connection to water being a vital part of their culture, with the Mistletoe plant, native to the region also being a major cultural aspect to the Abonaqians. Their society was disrupted, however, by the arrival of Gelenian explorers in 1599, who brought back charts of the area and an official colony being authorized by 1605. The settlement of Jamesport was founded, and eventually grew into a trading port. The region was a trading hub, sending supplies from the western world to their colonies in Arganorh, with many families and wealthy individuals moving to the region to gain land and sell goods to Gelenia. Originally living in harmony with the Abonaqians, the 1789 Abonaqian War erupted between colonial forces and the natives, who attempted to rebel against the intrusion on their way of life. Eventually, with the growth of the colony, colonists began calling for more autonomy from the central government, though these were suppressed in events like the Bloody Twins Day Massacre - which saw people calling for representation in the Gelenian parliament be suppressed violently by the Gelenian military in 1801. The colony began to industrialize beginning in the 1820’s, with the region’s rivers and creeks providing perfect opportunities for mill towns and textile factories. The timber industry also took off in this time. With the colony being majority Gelenian by 1855, the colony was granted Dominion status, and became the Dominion of the Mistletoe Coast, with a Legislative Assembly and a Governor-General and Prime Minister, though the Dominion was still under the authority of the Davintharian government. In the Great War, the nation joined Gelenia's war and invaded the Caliantene colony of Auvegrone, fighting numerous battles such as the Battle of Vinris, the Battle of Gressonne, and the Siege of Bénnois. With the end of the war, the nation was granted further independence, and became a member of the Gelenian Association. The Mistletoe Coast adopted its current constitution in 1882, which created a Presidency and the current Legislative Council. The nation went through a period of industrial decline after independence, but eventually transitioned into a thriving developed economy after the North Laranian Boom between 1890 - 1905. The nation joined the North Laranian Economic Community (NLEC) in 1911, and has further become a regional leader with a strong economy and military presence. Cities like Jamesport, Kennsbrook, and Whalesdrake became major ports in North Larania and centres of finance and learning in the western world.

The Mistletoe Coast is a developed major economy in the world, and is a regional power being able to project strength across North Larania. The Mistletoe Coast has a high quality of life as well, providing universal healthcare and free university tuition for two years. The nation has been ranked as one of the healthiest nations on the planet, and has a stellar environment protected by federal legislation. On civil rights, the nation is developed, with the constitution providing extensive rights to its citizens and a judiciary to protect the citizens. With an average income of CA 39’500, the Mistletoe Coast has a high income which props up its thriving finance and retail industries. The nation has a relatively powerful military, participating in the North Laranian Defense Community (ADC), as well as being associated with the Avanoran Defense Organization.

Discovery & Settlement
First contact between the Abonaqian peoples in the region and Avanorans occurred in 1430 BCE, when the Caliantene explorer Estienne Morel arrived in the region on his expedition to westwards. The Abonaqian people initially traded foodstuffs for rifles, food stuffs, and tools, and formed amicable relations with the Avanorans. The Caliantene regarded the Abonaqian people in different lights - on the one hand describing their language as "guttural, ugly, and uncivilized - lacking refinement" as Caliantene writer Nicholaus Brunet wrote of them, but also saw them as intelligent merchants - striking able deals, and possessing farming techniques above what Avanoran settlers could have achieved on their own, as Ancelet Delannoy wrote in 1442.

Gelenian explorers first arrived in Larania at the site of Jamesport in 1451, establishing a minor settlement there. The abundant forests of the Mistletoe Coast drew the interests of numerous companies in the timber and shipbuilding industries to the region. Soon other towns such as Cedarport, Sunderbury, and Cumberly grew into prosperous settlements as well, and in 1483 King Henry II of Gelenia organized the region we into the Royal Colony of the Mistletoe Coast, and appointed Alastair Watson as the first governour of the colony, who declared the new capital of the colony in Jamesport.

Government, Politics, & Law
The modern Mistletoe Coast government is based off of the original Colonial Constitution of Mistletoe Coast, which itself was based on the Gelenian Constitution. The government is split into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial: with the President of the Mistletoe Coast being the largely ceremonial head of state, while the Prime Minister acts as the head of government, and exercises most powers of the executive. The Legislative Branch is vested in a unicameral Legislative Assembly consisting of 235 members elected every three years via proportional representation. The judicial branch, vested in the Federal Constitutional Court, is the final authority on matters of constitutional law, and the highest court in the country.

The last General Election took place in 1923, and saw the election of August Bainbridge of the Labour Party retain his parliamentary majority and secure a second term in office.