Seven Castles
| |
| Flag of Seven Castles | |
| Motto: Nós estamos livres (Portuguese for "We are free") | |
| National Anthem: Sete Castelos de Todos Nós | |
 Map of Seven Castles | |
| Region | Swilantis |
|---|---|
| Capital | Castelo Alto |
| Official Language(s) | Portuguese, Polish (regional) |
| Leader | Grand Duke Leopoldo VII Prime-Minister Bernardo Antunes |
| Foundation | 413 |
| Area | |
| - Total | 77.035 km² |
| - % water | 17% |
| Population | 5 326 784 (2009 Census) |
| Currency | Castellan |
| Timezone | UTC+2 |
| - Summer (DST) | UTC-2 |
| Internet TLD | .scs |
| Calling code | +68
|
| ISO Code | SC/SCA/SVC
|
| NS NSTracker Sunset XML | |
The Grand Duchy of Seven Castles (in Portuguese: Grão-Ducado dos Sete Castelos; in Polish: Wielkie Księstwo Siedem Zamków) is a tiny country with only 5 million inhabitants, considered the smallest country in the Swilantis continent in population and the second smallest country in area in the same continent (just bigger than Sophia City). However, it is one of the most developed countries in Swilantis, being the most eco-friendly country in the continent, as well as having the largest textile industry in the same continent and the second largest computer manufacturing industry of the region, just behind Swilatia. It's the country of Swilantis with the highest budget in space exploration.
During the early-20th century, Seven Castles was the poorest country in Swilantis and among the poorest in the World. However, it became democratic earlier than the Iglesian Archipelago and, when this one became democratic, cooperated with Seven Castles, catapulting this tiny nation to the 21st century, making Seven Castles part of the developed countries.
This country has a great history and it enjoys a sensible mix of freedoms since 1900, with the Iglo-Hepto-Castlese rendition at the end of the Continental War in Swilatia. Since the early 14th century, this nation is one of the biggest allies of the Iglesian Archipelago.
Contents |
History
The construction of seven castles
Castelo Alto, known today as the capital and the most important city of the country, was founded in 413 by Balthazar I, King of Seven Castles. After then, he built more three cities, with their hill peaked with a tower. Then, he built more two towers, with no city near it. This was completed only about 464, with the Castelo do Sul's tower. Their castles were built first with wood, but during the Middle Age they substituted it into stone to become castles, and now they're some of the most important heritage of Seven Castles.
Prosperous life
After the construction of the castles, Balthazar I developed the country with trade agreements with the then-Iglesian Empire, buying wine and fish. Meat was widely used in Seven Castles. About 1500, Seven Castles started to create several plots of land for agriculture. This contributed for a better life in the country.
Hard competition
In response to the large expansion of the Yakersian Empire, the Seven Castles started its own empire, competing with the Yakersian one. Balthazar II declared even war on the Yakersian Empire, while the Iglesian Empire was on the Hepto-Castlese side as always. This was known as the Imperial Wars (started in 1598), which can be seen as the predecessor of the Great War. However, the big areas that Yakers Mekers occupied made Seven Castles losing many battles against Yakers Mekers due to its small army. However, the Iglesian Empire demanded several troops to fight for Seven Castles, making Seven Castles win the wars. The wars ended in 1600.
A modern empire
In 1619, Seven Castles reached its peak in territory expansion, making Seven Castles the second biggest empire in Swilantis, just behind the Swilatian Empire. Balthazar II modernised then Seven Castles, turning the page that changed the Seven Castles' history forever. This was called the Balthazarism. As one of the most modern countries in the World, Seven Castles became also stronger, more auto-sufficient and more competitive, now with mines such as gold, which enriched the empire.
Absolute monarchy
In 1690, Balthazar II died when controlling a battle. Balthazar II of Seven Castles was known for his interest to change the country and for being the first supercentennary king of the country. However, the absolute monarchy changed the country for a negative way, as Hepto-Castlese historian Jorge Estreu declares. The country involved more and more in wars so that Seven Castles started to lose territory and became weaker. In 1720, there was a tentative to overthrow the absolute monarchy to return to Balthazarism, to return to the time when Seven Castles was a modern country. However, the tentative was unsucessful.
In 1825, liberals attacked Castelo Alto, as a response of unhappiness due to the absolute monarchy. The Seven Castles government made them surrender, which continued the absolute monarchy. Seen as a dictatorial era, but not as dictatorial as with Iglesian dictator Agreste, Seven Castles lived one of the sadiest times of the Hepto-Castlese history. The Imperial Army became weaker and weaker with the time, the country wasn't considered as a modern empire as during the Balthazarism and the population was sad with the authoritarian rule.
After the start of the Continental War, Seven Castles joined the then-Iglesian Empire again, but Swilatians attacked Castelo Alto and Seven Castles lost the war in 1895, making Seven Castles the poorest and weakest nation in Swilantis. As the Hepto-Castlese population was sadier with the time, in 1900, the king of Seven Castles of the time, Leopoldo V, surrended over the people, and he emmigrated to Cortazur. He never came back to Seven Castles.
Seven Castles as Grand Duchy
The last King of Seven Castles, one of the reponsible for poverty and misery around the country, was overthrown, but there was still rests of poverty and crime, and the people wanted to select the next successor, and there were many protests, until a Grand Duke was select to represent Seven Castles.
The new Grand Duke, Henrique XI, was the responsible for the progress of Seven Castles, even if that meant financial difficulties due to international pressure. The Grand Duke didn't want to have power alone, and he started to lose power, and most of those powers were offerred to a new cabinet (for the country), the Prime Minister. In 1900, the Grand Duke declared freedom of speech, assembly and the press to all. He legalised the formation of political parties, and legislative elections were held. The Parliament was formed.
The people of Seven Castles were becoming happy and most of the sanctions against Seven Castles ended, giving them to the Iglesian Archipelago, at the time still under totalitarian regime.
In 1917, when Iglesians murdered Agreste, Seven Castles immediately recognised the Iglesian Archipelago as a democratic state, and diplomatic relations were restored. Several free countries also made the same, and the two countries became again huge allies each other.
For many years, Seven Castles was modernising, and the Grand Duke (since 1921 Leopoldo VI) invited the best World's architects to build houses and he demanded the demolition of slums, moving people into new, modern-looking and excellent houses to live.
In 1967, Seven Castles reached the World when the SCSA, founded in 1965, successfully sent a man into space, starting to make big investments in space exploration, leading Seven Castles to be the leader in space exploration in all Swilantis.
In 1983, the Seven Castles Government recognised Polish as an official regional language, for regions bordering Swilatia (to the East). The Government aims to recognise it as a national official language in 2012.
(post-1983 TBA)
Economy
Seven Castles has a mixed economy, with sparkling private business mixed with the State's budget.
Seven Castles is economically developed and it's a very wealthy nation by small country standards.
The country's currency is the Castellan, which is ranked on the top five largest currencies in Swilantis, but definitely not the first. Some people, such as the members of the Descentralist Party, defend that Seven Castles should introduce the Swilla as the national currency. However, two referendums (one in 2004 and another in 2008) resulted in a "no" for its introduction (only 21% and 18% in the 2004 and 2008 referendums, respectively, voted "yes").,
Transportation
Seven Castles has an efficient road and rail transportation network.
Railway
CHC is the main railway transportation in the country and it's public.
Geography
Seven Castles has a small part of an ocean (the North Swilantis Ocean). At west, there is an Hepto-Castlese territory which is a small archipelago, with another tiny near Porto do Farol.
It has seven districts, with headquarters in Castelo Alto, Castelo do Sul, Porto do Farol, Vila Nova das Favas, Castelo Velho, Porto do Norte and Vila Velha do Leste.
This country is highly mountainous, and motorways and railways have today tunnels and viaducts, possibling high-speeds, specially on trains, instead of bypass them.
It borders at East by Swilatia, at South by Valeneska and at North by Wijaska Island.
Climate
Seven Castles' climate is continental, contrasting with the subtropical climate from Swilatia. Average temperatures are 20ºC in the Summer and -15ºC in the Winter.
Media
The main (and public) national broadcaster is Seven Castles Broadcasting Corporation, and it owns ten channels, along with four radio channels. Televisão Nova dos Sete Castelos, Associação Televisiva Privada and AETV are the private freeview channels in the country. Many other channels are either cable or satellite. Seven Castles receives broadcasts from RTI Internacional (from the Iglesian Archipelago) and SBC International (from Swilatia).
Culture
- Main article: Culture of Seven Castles
Military
Military service in Seven Castles is voluntary to all. There are about ten thousand men and women training for Seven Castles defense from terrorism and organised crime, but not war, since Seven Castles is a pacific country, like its ally Iglesian Archipelago.
Security
Security levels are very high, with an intelligent police force, based on the Iglesian security intelligence.
Crime
Crime rates are ranked the lowest in Swilantis, due to an adequate police force.
| Nations in Swilantis with NSwiki pages |
|---|
| Buosono | East Longfort | Frinistia | Kalasion | Khenas | Longfort | Mijlinka | Qi Land | Sarleneska | Seven Castles | Sophia City | Sun Field | Swilatia | Valeneska | Wavispa | Wijaska Island |
