Post by cccs on Jun 12, 2008 15:52:05 GMT -5
Ambassador Baldwin du Lac of the Commonwealth of Crusader City States, speaking on behalf of the Council lays claim to the Island of Cyprus and the still unclaimed land in & around Tripoli. The Commonwealth asserts her right to this land based on ancient ties dating to the middle ages where it was successfully won (and recognized) through military effort, and successfully held during the ensuing centuries.
The Ambassador further asserts that the Commonwealth has demonstrated (with friendly diplomatic overtures) that it is a generous and trustworthy nation to this region and to further understanding between nations submits the following information concerning the Commonwealth.
Link - www.nationstates.net/crusader_city_states
NATIONAL STATISTICS
Full name: The Commonwealth of Crusader City States
Short name: The Crusader States
Date of unification/Independence: May 12, 1797 (from Venice)
Government type: Federal Theocracy
Head of state: HH. Pope Benedict XVI (Ceremonial)
Head of government: High Councilor of the College of Grand Masters
Capital: Tripoli
Largest city: Nicosia
Currency: Common Livre
Major industries: Banking, Tourism, Shipping, Pharmaceuticals, Oil Refining
Main imports: petroleum products, cars, clothing, meat and live animals, consumer goods, paper, textile fabrics, tobacco
Main exports: authentic jewelry, inorganic chemicals, miscellaneous consumer goods, fruit, tobacco, construction minerals, electric power machinery and switchgear, textile fibers, paper
Language(s): Latin (official) 12.1%, Standardized Frankish (Common) 78.3%, English 8%, Arabic 1.1 others .5%
National tree/Flower: Olive Tree
National animal: Falcon
National Bio- After the fall of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, and the loss of Jerusalem and Ascelon the royal family evacuated to Cyprus and continued to rule over the crown posessions of Acre and Cyprus, the Principality of Antioch and remaining Crusader counties: Tripoli and Edessa; however the crown's influence over the latter three was nominal and waned with time. Under constant attack and with little support from the Royal family in Cyprus, the county of Edessa and the principality of Antioch fell as did half of the county of Acre (including the city itself). The remaining half of the County of Acre was incorporated into the County of Tripoli which was fortified and withstood attacks independently of the crown for the remaining centuries.
By the early 17th century the royal family ceded the crown to the Kingdom of Spain and all territory to the Republic of Venice. Tripoli by this point functioned as a completely independent duchy.
In the early 18th century, Venice fell to French forces led by Napoleon Bonaparte leading to Cyprus breaking away and forming an independent Duchy. In 1815 Hospitaller and Templar Orders and native aristocracy in Tripoli and Cyprus met and on Nov. 7th 1816 a declaration of Unity was written (and in ceremony signed on Christmas day 1816) establishing a unified Commonwealth between the Crusader counties.
Today power is concentrated into individual cities which act independently of one another and are governed by local aristocracy; except in religious, economic and military matters where a council consisting of the Grand Masters of the dominant Crusader Orders make all decisions.
The Council is unique in that in comprises of unelected, unlanded leaders of religious organizations not formally tied to the landed (mainly Frankish) aristocracy. The Orders act in a unified role as secret police, militia, religious and federal level judiciary (through inquisitions) completely independently from the individual city governments and aristocracy.
Ultimately the Orders claim allegiance to the Catholic Church and the Pope; however they choose their own Grand Masters and determine for themselves who enters their orders. To some degree they exercise a great deal of influence and control over the Church in Crusader lands.
The Commonwealth is a Theocracy and so the Catholic Church is the only recognized religion; though others are tolerated limitedly. The dominant ethnicities are Frankish and Anglo-Saxon however there is a lesser native levantine presence. The country maintains a largely neutral foreign policy and relies heavily on a free enterprise model. Compulsory military service in the national army begins (called 'The National Guard') at age 16 for men and . Admittance to any Crusader Order is based on selection from within and no applications are accepted.
The Commonwealth also maintains a very old and rigid class structure. The echelon are members of the Orders; the next highest echelon are members of the nobility (mostly Frankish and Anglo Saxon) account for less than 3% of the population and control nearly 70% of local govenments. There are 5 levels of nobility:
Duke: (Highest and rarest, usually only four - corresponding to the heads of the oldest and most respected houses).
Count: (Next highest, exceedingly rare in modern times - usually used by non Aristocrats that enter the Orders (a rare occurence))
Baron: (Very common, used by ranking members of noble families as well as an inherited title for heads of lesser noble families)
Knight: (Most common, used by new or recent nobility and former members of the citizen class)
Freeman: (Rare: almost never used. Functions, styles and honors have merged with the Knight class)
Aside from the Nobility, there are the wealthy Aristocratic class (who often intermarry with the Nobility). They are mostly Anglo Saxon wealthy merchants and their privileges are the result of time honored practice rather than codified law.
The citizen class is the middle class - mostly anglo-saxon but also some Franks and very few arab christians.
The lowest class are the Saracen - mostly arab muslims and the children of local traders. They are viewed suspiciously and as a matter of social practice as well as law are prevented from full participation in society. Their maltreatment has become a 'cause celebre' in foreign countries.
POPULATION STATISTICS
5 Million (Est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.9%
15-64 years: 67.1%
65 years and over: 16%
Median age:
total: 39.9 years
male: 41 years
female: 38.8 years (2007 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2007 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Crusseur
adjective: Crusseuric
Ethnic groups:
Frankish, Anglo-Saxon, various semitic groups (dominant minority)
Religions:
Christianity (Roman Catholic) 97%, other 3%
Languages:
Latin (official) 12.1%, Standardized Frankish (Common) 78.3%, English 8%, Arabic 1.1 others .5%
The Ambassador further asserts that the Commonwealth has demonstrated (with friendly diplomatic overtures) that it is a generous and trustworthy nation to this region and to further understanding between nations submits the following information concerning the Commonwealth.
Claim: Cyprus (6) and the unclaimed land in & around Tripoli (5).
(Please see the White & Red striped areas on the attached Map.)
Link - www.nationstates.net/crusader_city_states
NATIONAL STATISTICS
Full name: The Commonwealth of Crusader City States
Short name: The Crusader States
Date of unification/Independence: May 12, 1797 (from Venice)
Government type: Federal Theocracy
Head of state: HH. Pope Benedict XVI (Ceremonial)
Head of government: High Councilor of the College of Grand Masters
Capital: Tripoli
Largest city: Nicosia
Currency: Common Livre
Major industries: Banking, Tourism, Shipping, Pharmaceuticals, Oil Refining
Main imports: petroleum products, cars, clothing, meat and live animals, consumer goods, paper, textile fabrics, tobacco
Main exports: authentic jewelry, inorganic chemicals, miscellaneous consumer goods, fruit, tobacco, construction minerals, electric power machinery and switchgear, textile fibers, paper
Language(s): Latin (official) 12.1%, Standardized Frankish (Common) 78.3%, English 8%, Arabic 1.1 others .5%
National tree/Flower: Olive Tree
National animal: Falcon
National Bio- After the fall of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, and the loss of Jerusalem and Ascelon the royal family evacuated to Cyprus and continued to rule over the crown posessions of Acre and Cyprus, the Principality of Antioch and remaining Crusader counties: Tripoli and Edessa; however the crown's influence over the latter three was nominal and waned with time. Under constant attack and with little support from the Royal family in Cyprus, the county of Edessa and the principality of Antioch fell as did half of the county of Acre (including the city itself). The remaining half of the County of Acre was incorporated into the County of Tripoli which was fortified and withstood attacks independently of the crown for the remaining centuries.
By the early 17th century the royal family ceded the crown to the Kingdom of Spain and all territory to the Republic of Venice. Tripoli by this point functioned as a completely independent duchy.
In the early 18th century, Venice fell to French forces led by Napoleon Bonaparte leading to Cyprus breaking away and forming an independent Duchy. In 1815 Hospitaller and Templar Orders and native aristocracy in Tripoli and Cyprus met and on Nov. 7th 1816 a declaration of Unity was written (and in ceremony signed on Christmas day 1816) establishing a unified Commonwealth between the Crusader counties.
Today power is concentrated into individual cities which act independently of one another and are governed by local aristocracy; except in religious, economic and military matters where a council consisting of the Grand Masters of the dominant Crusader Orders make all decisions.
The Council is unique in that in comprises of unelected, unlanded leaders of religious organizations not formally tied to the landed (mainly Frankish) aristocracy. The Orders act in a unified role as secret police, militia, religious and federal level judiciary (through inquisitions) completely independently from the individual city governments and aristocracy.
Ultimately the Orders claim allegiance to the Catholic Church and the Pope; however they choose their own Grand Masters and determine for themselves who enters their orders. To some degree they exercise a great deal of influence and control over the Church in Crusader lands.
The Commonwealth is a Theocracy and so the Catholic Church is the only recognized religion; though others are tolerated limitedly. The dominant ethnicities are Frankish and Anglo-Saxon however there is a lesser native levantine presence. The country maintains a largely neutral foreign policy and relies heavily on a free enterprise model. Compulsory military service in the national army begins (called 'The National Guard') at age 16 for men and . Admittance to any Crusader Order is based on selection from within and no applications are accepted.
The Commonwealth also maintains a very old and rigid class structure. The echelon are members of the Orders; the next highest echelon are members of the nobility (mostly Frankish and Anglo Saxon) account for less than 3% of the population and control nearly 70% of local govenments. There are 5 levels of nobility:
Duke: (Highest and rarest, usually only four - corresponding to the heads of the oldest and most respected houses).
Count: (Next highest, exceedingly rare in modern times - usually used by non Aristocrats that enter the Orders (a rare occurence))
Baron: (Very common, used by ranking members of noble families as well as an inherited title for heads of lesser noble families)
Knight: (Most common, used by new or recent nobility and former members of the citizen class)
Freeman: (Rare: almost never used. Functions, styles and honors have merged with the Knight class)
Aside from the Nobility, there are the wealthy Aristocratic class (who often intermarry with the Nobility). They are mostly Anglo Saxon wealthy merchants and their privileges are the result of time honored practice rather than codified law.
The citizen class is the middle class - mostly anglo-saxon but also some Franks and very few arab christians.
The lowest class are the Saracen - mostly arab muslims and the children of local traders. They are viewed suspiciously and as a matter of social practice as well as law are prevented from full participation in society. Their maltreatment has become a 'cause celebre' in foreign countries.
POPULATION STATISTICS
5 Million (Est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.9%
15-64 years: 67.1%
65 years and over: 16%
Median age:
total: 39.9 years
male: 41 years
female: 38.8 years (2007 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2007 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Crusseur
adjective: Crusseuric
Ethnic groups:
Frankish, Anglo-Saxon, various semitic groups (dominant minority)
Religions:
Christianity (Roman Catholic) 97%, other 3%
Languages:
Latin (official) 12.1%, Standardized Frankish (Common) 78.3%, English 8%, Arabic 1.1 others .5%
FLAG DESCRIPTION
Description:
A red cross dividing a white background into four even quadrants, with a red cross in each quadrant.
History and Meaning:
The crusader cross (also called the Jerusalem Cross) was the official symbol of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. Following the fall of the kingdom it was used by various Crusader states. While not used in Cyprus (which became subject to the Republic of Venice) it continued to remain the symbol of the state in Tripoli and was chosen as the national symbol following reunification of the Crusader states in 1816.
Description:
A red cross dividing a white background into four even quadrants, with a red cross in each quadrant.
History and Meaning:
The crusader cross (also called the Jerusalem Cross) was the official symbol of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. Following the fall of the kingdom it was used by various Crusader states. While not used in Cyprus (which became subject to the Republic of Venice) it continued to remain the symbol of the state in Tripoli and was chosen as the national symbol following reunification of the Crusader states in 1816.