*Note, the ''Holy Empire'' Part of the name is a patriotic Nickname of the Nation, given both the Monarchical Nature of the Government and the incredibly strong influence of the Roman Catholic Church, it is Officially a Kingdom, and to those die hard republicans who still remain in the Marchlands, it is still ''The Colony of the Marchlands'', refusing to recognise the legitimacy of the government, however this is the minority opinion. It is still commonly referred to simply as the Marchlands.
The Current Flag of the Holy Empire
The Older, Provisional flag of the Holy Empire
Motto: “Honour Thy God, Die with Faith, For Truth”
Anthem: Sacred Queen Bless us
Capitol and largest city: Deadleh
Official Languages: Irish Gaelic, Colonial Gaelic/Gael Fianna,
Government: Absolute Monarchy, (In Name at least)
Royal Family:
Formation: Unclear
Population: 900,000, 000Aprox
Currency: The Harp
Literacy Rate: 98%
Social Statistics
Religion
Christianity-98%
-Roman Catholicism 96%
-Protestantism 1.5%
-Thrinian Catholicism 0.5%
Other including none-2%
Ethnicity
Caucasion-99%
-Irish Gael 90%
-Scottish Gael 6%
-English 1%
-Welsh 2%
Other-1%
Cultures Present
Imperial Irish (High)
Colonial Irish (Low)
This is the current map of the Irish Marchlands (not pictured, border territories and unclaimed islands between the Marchlands the Neighbouring Archipeligo state of Terre De Mars, and an unknown number of living or dead Irish colonies in or around the Archipelagos)
The Holy Empire is still a growing fledgling Nation as it has relatively recently cut off from its parent Nation, the key is as follows.
Green is Marchlands Territory
Red is Territory of the Neighbouring Serene Republic of Terre De Mars
Brown is the Hienrichy (recently destroyed nation)
Brief History:
The Sovereign Republic of Eire had entered an expansionistic era of its existence, having survived several attempted invasions by neighbouring states, and state that were not so close, the people had developed a warlike attitude. The Republic itself had remained intact throughout, and members of its multi-party system had to profess stringent Nationalistic beliefs to find support among the population for their policies or face political extinction at the ballot box, however, the constant wars had a much less kind effect on the more pluralistic societies of europe and elsewhere, and as nations descended into civil strife, Ireland seized its opportunity to steal vital resources. This is where the Marchlands finally come into being, the Irish Navy on patrols through the mid-atlantic had come across massive archipelagos of islands and sub-continents, previously unexplored... and uninhabited. Ireland immediately took advantage of the situation and established many small colonies, with the Largest being settled on the fertile island chain heretofore named the Marchlands, named after Seamus 'Marshall' O'Loughlin, the Admiral who of the fleet who discovered the Lands.
http://files.myfrogbag.com/ukocwq/approx.png
^Artist Sketch of First Landing on the Marchlands
Soon after However, a civil war broke out back home in the Republic, competing Nationalist factions apparently orchestrated by foreign powers competed fiercely for control of the Island and by extension, the Irish Colonies. With the Navy and a large chunk of the Irish Military overseas, managing the colonisation efforts, the State was at a disadvantage to contain the situation, and was soon overthrown, and a succession of violent Dictatorships took its place. Events remain unclear to this day of the ultimate fate of Ireland, as the oceans outside of the archipelagos have recently been stalked by powerful pirates and violent storm fronts.
The society of the Marchlands, was heavily hierarchical and militaristic by the very fact that they only real authority came from military forces present. Keen to stop rogue military groups imposing kleptocracies and would be warlord from running rampant with their new found power, Rorie O'Loughlin, the Son of 'The Old Marshall' Seamus O'Loughlin, who had unfortunately passed away shortly after the beginning of the conflagration in Ireland, stepped in and imposed himself as commander and chief of both the Military and the Navy, effectively establishing himself as the New ruler of the colony, gathered around himself the greater part of the officers and commanders of both remnants of the Irish Military, (these would later turn out to be the wiser, as rogue generals found themselves tried and executed for treason, or shot by their own troops who didn't feel like starting another Irish Civil war. These Troops were in turn pardoned personally by Rorie O'Loughlin.)
This in turn lead to a connundrum, rumour was running about the colonists of the Marchlands, who the new government was only partially in the process of, well, governing, that the colony would becme nothing more then another tin pot dictatorshipsimilar to those in Africa or South America. What was not in question was the fact that the Government would INDEED be a dictatorship, but the problem was the perception of it. While consulting the Chief Chaplain of the Irish Fleet, now re-Christianed the Marchland fleet, Chief Rorie made his worries apparent to his Confident, who in turn suggested becoming a Monarchy, affably amused Rorie asked how such a thing could even be possible, and if so, how to achieve it and seem legitimate in front of the people. After some great debate, it was decided to send an envoy to the Papacy detailing the problem, and asking if, His Holiness, would allow the crowning of a Monarch of a colony who's parent country had fallen into statelessness, the reply was as abrupt as it was simple, His Holiness would only agree to the Crowning of a monarch if both the People and the Army are in support and offer thus the crown. Defeated, Rorie had planned to simply rule as dictator, even though that would sooner or later, ignite the colonist's ire, if not for his Confessor's insistence on holding a referendum of state, asking the people should they instead institute a monarchy. Not thoroughly convinced, Rorie nonetheless held a referendum, asking if the people would like a Monarchy of some sort, or a Republic.
The response was surprising, while Republicans from the old country did indeed begin public debates, an even greater number of monarchists, began challenging them, and convincing the people in their favour. Eventually the vote was decided and in both army and the public, the vote sided in favour of establishing a monarchy, with representatives of what would become the Irish Royal Parliament and the Army came and in an official address, offered Rorie the Crown. Rorie, for his reluctant part, in response decided to ''consider this enormous offer'', and in another Envoy to the Papacy asking for His Holiness permission. After the Pope was assured that no foul play occurred in the referendum, the Pope officially gave his permission for the crowning to commence, appointing the Newly promoted Bishop of the Marchlands, former Head Chaplain of the fleet, to perform the crowning ceremony, and thus was Rorie O'Loughlin crowned Rorie I, High King of the Irish marchlands
**Special note, canonically speaking the Marchlands is a very new country, with a relatively small population of 50 million given its availible landmass.
Social Hierarchy of the Holy Empire
High King and Princess Consort, (Princess Regent if no male is fit to inherit the throne, there is never a 'Queen' of the Irish Marchlands for Religious reasons)
The High King is the Head of State and the Head of Government in the Holy Empire, he rules absolutely in the name of God but not Arbitrarily, delegating alot of rule to lower nobles. He does however, pass national legislation and issue Imperial decrees on certain matters, and has the power to propose new Legislation in the Dail. The Imperial standing army is drawn from regiments raised in various provinces or territories claimed by the High King and is commanded directly by the High King. The Imperial Marines and by extension the Air-Force and Navy is subject only to the High King and no Duke or Leas Ri has the power to command these forces without express permission from the High King, or Princess Regent. Given the highly Religious Nature of the Empire and the Devotion of the Royal Family, the Virgin Mary's title of Heavenly Queen of Ireland is taken as literal in the Holy Empire, as such it is considered impossible for their ever to be a mortal 'Queen' of the Empire, as this would be considered disrespectful and nigh blasphemous. Nonetheless in the absence of a male heir, a Princess Regent may rule with the powers of the High King, until she is either married or the next legitimise heir to the throne comes of age.
Leasri & Dukes (synonymous)
Leasris (Vice-royals or Vice-Kings) and Dukes are the absolute rulers of entire territories or colonies containing several provinces or more. In their territories they rule relatively autonomously, with a system of counts, barons, knights, etc beneath them. They have the power to form newly created regiments and even raise new regiments to form Armies, can grant Muire-ships, knighthoods and Honours, pass domesticate legislation in their given premise, (so long as it does not violate Imperial decrees, such as the contraceptive ban),and settle border disputes without the need to involve the entire Empire.
Counts
Counts act as political rulers of entire provinces. This position is hereditary. And often are the CEOs of parent corporations. Counts have the power to raise new regiments within Provinces.
Barons
Barons are often the political rulers of small districts within provinces and CEOs or major shareholders of Marchlander corporations. Due to the fact that land is no longer a viable way to legitimise and fund the aristocracy, the newly formed Empire remedied this by creating a system whereby nobles commanded powerful companies and corporations, ensuring that the major shareholders were drawn from the branches of that Noble's family or other nobles altogether. Keeping the entire company in the hands of the Noble family, and by extension, in the interests of the Empire as a whole while simultaneously allowing for free enterprise between these corporations.
Muires
Household Knighthoods, Elite regiments farmed from lower Knighthoods to become permanent Knights and private bodygaurds of Counts, Dukes, Barons and the High King himself. Imperial Knights are the High King's hand and above reproach, to countermand this possible abuse, Imperial Household Knights have the strictest discipline and policing. Each regiment is unique in character, specialisation and culture as each knight's position is hereditary.
Knights of the Order
Knights of the order refer to both military Knighthood orders in the Marchland, (IE Imperial Special forces Knighthoods), hereditary Order positions, (Such as the Serene Knighthood of the Stag and Axe, who's nobles engage in philanthropy, noblesse oblige in forms of social services in communion with the Church, and patronage of the arts.), and Religious Knightly Orders. All knights of the Order are afforded great respect in Irish Society and it is not uncommon for Military Knights to become Knights of the Lay upon finishing of their military term. Religious Knightly orders the Empire has no control over and remains strictly the purview of the Holy Roman Catholic Church, These Knights however, don't have political power precisely for this reason.
Knights of the lay
Knights of the lay are noblemen who literally can come from any class of origin. Lay Knighthoods are awarded by higher nobles, usually by barons, counts or dukes, upon men who have distinguished themselves. Inventors, philosophers, war heroes and the like are distinguished by this rank, they gain a ceremonial claymore and, if they did not have one previously, heraldic arms and a ceremonial shield, along with a state pension and an area of land. It is not uncommon for lay Knights to become Knight Farmers, capitalising on their status, as it does not lend itself to political power.
Farmers
Considered the Lowest form of Nobility, farmers are large land owners capable of hiring a great many subjects as farmhands and are afforded great respect in Marchlander culture. Often nicknamed 'lords of the countryside' despite their primarily working class attitudes. Primarily Colonial Irish Culture
Free Men (commoners, catch all term for classes beneath the nobility)
These are the normal people of the Irish Marchlands, professionals and plebeians alike. Considered freemen as they are free to buy and sell, to work as they choose.
-Judges and Barristers
-Solicitors
-Doctors
-Law Enforcement officers
-Small Business owners
-Working men
Military Engagments:
