Demiria

= The Catholic Christian Principality of Demiria =

= Government =

The Nation is a Monarchy and its ruler is titled the Prince of Demiria. The honorific prenomial "His Royal Highness" or "His Supreme Highness" is used when speaking of the Prince. A Royal Council is established to advise the Prince on important matters of state. There is no parliamentary system, with all authority resting with the Prince or delegated to Royal functionaries or to local high noblemen appointed by the Prince.

Prince Riva
The second and current Prince of Demiria is His Royal Highness, Riva Arutha Christoper Roderick Lyam Nathaniel Avelyn Lancelot Nicholas Erland Gregory James, of the Royal Family Harkinian-Deschain. At twenty-four years old, he is one of the youngest heads of state in the world, and the youngest to ever wear the Crown of Demiria. Nevertheless, the people overwhelmingly revere him as a fair ruler, wise and just.

The Prince's Council
While final authority rests with the Prince, A Royal Council is set up as an advisory body. Composed of the Nation's foremost leaders, the Council advises the Prince on everything from major decisions of state to

 Archbishops of the Ecclesial Provinces:  Archbishop of Midenhall Archbishop of Cameron Archbishop of Lyonsgard Archbishop of Aliahan  

Duke of Lyonsgard Duke of Cameron</li> Duke of Aliahan</li> Protonotary of the Royal Court</li> Field Marshal of His Highness' Army and Marines</li> Grand Admiral of His Highness' Navy</li> Knight-Paladin of the Chivalric Orders</li> Master of the Court of Justice</li> Speaker for the People</li> </ul>

In addition, the heir apparent to the Throne, if any, is also entitled to sit in Council, as are nobles specifically invited by the Prince.

Foreign Affairs
The Nation of Demiria is aligned with the Christian Coalition of Countries (CCC) and is a member of the Red trading team. A recently discovered Uranium deposit has been a great benefit to the Nation's economy as well as trading prospects. Demiria is also becoming known for its production of elegant Furs.

Recently trade agreements were confirmed which will result in the importation of Alumnium, Wheat, Fish, and Sugar. Sources close to Duke Conor of Aliahan report that other agreements are in the works.

Demiria has never been involved in any major Wars. One war scare turned out to be a simple communication error. Demiria's policy is not to attack unless attacked first, or in defense of an ally.

= Religion =

Demiria is a fiercely Catholic Christian nation. As such, the bishops of Demiria's 21 dioceses are some of the Nation's most powerful men. Law provides that no action may be taken by the Government which conflicts with Catholic Church teaching. The religious capital of Demiria is the city of Midenhall, which is centered around the enormous and ornate Basilica of Mary Coredemptrix. Through a special decree of the Prince, the city of Midenhall itself is considered joint property of the Catholic Church and Demiria, and is civilly governed by the Archbishop of Midenhall.

The bishops of Demiria are very orthodox, and liturgical abuses in the Mass are punishable by the civil government. The Episcopal Conference of Demiria has called upon His Holiness to reverse many of the liturgical deforms of the Second Vatican Council. Demiria leads the world in the number of young men entering seminaries.

Demiria does not require that all citizens or even all noblemen be Catholic, but those who are Catholic must obey the teachings of the Church. Excommunication can be the death knell of a person's ambitions of status or power. While maintaining true to the teachings of the Church, the nation has not crossed the line into Puritanism; many of the larger cities and college towns such as Cameron and Aliahan boast an impressive selection of bars and entertainment establishments.

= Culture and Traditions =

Nobility
The system of nobility is patterned after the British nobility system. The order of rank in the nobility is: Duke, Count, Viscount, Baron, Baronet.

A Duke is a nobleman who is a relative or close friend of the Prince (typically a cousin, brother, or nephew). In addition, three of the four major cities in Demiria (Lyonsgard, Cameron, and Aliahan) are governed by noblemen who are granted the extraordinary title of Duke. These extraordinary Dukes are the Prince's closest advisers in addition to being the governors of their respective cities. Often, the Duke of Lyonsgard is seen as the most powerful man in the Kingdom simply because of his position as the Prince's chief adviser.

The rank of Count is granted to the governors appointed by the Prince to manage the operations of other cities and non-urban provinces (called Counties). Viscounts are the experts in the various arts and sciences and professions. The rank of Baron is given primarily as an honor. Baronets are the children of the nobility and generally shed that title upon their adulthood.

Youth and Popular Activities
The culture of Demiria is very active and youth-oriented. "Boys will be boys" has been frequently quoted in the issuance of Royal pardons, and many Marshals of the Peace will no longer arrest people for crimes such as public intoxication and noise making. Speeding is legal on Demiria roads, unless the speed is grossly unsafe for driving. The drinking age in Demiria is 18. In the month of his eighteenth birthday, each youth of Demiria receives an invitation to the Palace at Lyonsgard for an audience with the Prince and a shot of Rumple Minze.

Sports are a deeply ingrained part of the Demiria culture. The Prince himself was in his school days a football player and wrestler, and strongly encourages the youth of Demiria to participate in athletics. There are athletic competitions in all sports, which are usually attended by the Prince personally.

Education is mandatory until the Twelfth Level of schooling, at which point the student may decide to pursue higher education, private tutoring, military service, or enter a trade.

The nation is strongly nationalistic and fiercely supports the military. Elaborate parades are held to honor military heroes and veterans, and the Prince often sends personal letters of thanks to those deployed in the service of the Crown. Burning the flag of Demiria is a crime immediately punishable by death (the highest ranking Church official in the Nation, the Archbishop of Midenhall, has ruled that this policy does not violate the Catholic Church's laws.)

Landmarks and Highlights
The Royal Palace at Lyonsgard, home of the Prince, is an elaborate and elegant castle and not to be missed by any tourist. Thousands visit Demiria each year to worship at the Basilica of Mary Coredemptrix, which is the seat of His Eminence Lawrence Cardinal Niese, Archbishop of Midenhall. The city of Aliahan boasts an impressive athletic Stadium, and visitors are sure not to miss the bustling commercial center of Cameron's Harbor.

National Things
The National Food is chateaubriand. The National Snack is chips and salsa. The National Animal is the arctic wolf. The National Bird is the biddy. The National Dessert is cherry dip-top vanilla ice cream cones. The National Alcoholic Beverage (NAB) is Rumple Minze.