Paparia

Paparia is a self-governed Royal Scandinavian territory. Though geographically and ethnically an Arctic island nation associated with the continent of North America, politically and historically Greenland is closely tied to Europe.

Pparia is, depending on definition, one of the largest islands in the world, and possibly the largest; it also has the lowest population density.

Etymology
The name "Paparia" is Celtic in origin - the papari were the early medieval Irish monks who introduced Christianity to island.

History
Paparia was home to a number of Palaeo-Eskimo cultures in prehistory, the latest of which (the Early Dorset culture) disappeared around the year 200 AD. Hereafter, the island seems to have been uninhabited for some eight centuries.

Celtic settlers found the land uninhabited when they arrived in 874. Around 876 they established settlements in deep fjords near the very southwestern tip of the island, where they thrived for the next few decades, before being invaded by Vikings in 982.

Due to a decrease in population of the conquered territory, caused by the constant battles and consequent flight of many Celts south to Nanortalik, colonists were brought over to cultivate the land and work the silver mines alongside the Celtic population.

These remote communities thrived and lived off farming, hunting, mining and trading with the motherland, and when the Norwegian kings converted their domains to Christianity, a bishop was installed in Paparia as well, subordinate to the archdiocese of Nidaros. The local population managed to resist the Latin form of Christianity, however, and retained the Orthodox faith, introduced by the early Celtic settlers. The settlements seem to have coexisted relatively peacefully with the Inuit, who had migrated southwards from the Arctic islands of North America around 1200. In 1261, Paparia became formally part of the Kingdom of Royal Scandinavia.

Paparia had been a protected and thereby very isolated society until the 1940s. The Royal Scandinavian government, which governed the Paparia, had been convinced that the society would face exploitation from the outside world or even possible extinction if the country was opened up. During World War II, though, Paparia developed a sense of self-reliance during its period of self-government and independent communication with the outside world.

However, a commission in 1948 (with the highest Paparian council Landsrådet as participant) recommended patience and no radical reformation of the system. Two years later the first step towards an alteration of the governing of Greenland was initiated when a grand commission was founded. In 1952 the report (P-22) was presented. Greenland was to be a modern welfare society with Royal Scandinavia as the sponsor and example. In 1955, Paparia was made an equal part of the Royal Scandinavian Kingdom; home rule was granted in 1979.

Sovereignty
Paparia was one of the Royal Scandinavian Crown colonies from the eleventh century until 1940.

Greenland became an integral part of the Kingdom of Royal Scandinavia in 1261. It was granted home rule by the Folketing (parliament) in 1979. The law went into effect on May 1, 1979. The monarch of Royal Scandinavia, Olaf, remains Paparia's Head of State.

Government
Paparia's Head of State is the Royal Scandinavian monarch, currently Olaf. The King's government in Fagernes appoints a Rigsombudsmand (High commissioner) representing the Royal Scandinavian government and monarchy.

Paparia has an elected parliament of thirty-three members. The head of government is the Prime Minister, who is usually the leader of the majority party in Parliament.

Demographics
Paparia has a population of 4,141, of whom 87% are Paparian, a mixture of Inuit and European races. The majority of the population belong to the True Orthodox Church.

Nearly all Paparians live along the fjords in the south-west of the main island, which has a milder climate. Most Paparian have both Inuit, Celtic and Scandinavian ancestry.

Most of the land in Paparia is owned by the Church, whose monks account for more than half of the population.

Paparia has been enjoying the personal patronage of Patriarch Ioannis IV, who frequented its cloisters when he was a child. Its many monasteries, whose buildings have been meticulously restored, have gained significant legal power over the island, in a push to return to a state of spiritual seclusion.