Iconia
The Empire of Iconia is extending on the Islands of Aquilia, Batia, Eleusinia, Gessia, Pansa, Pisca, Syllia, Thessolakia, Thuria and Viridia. The Empire is a Federal Constitutional Monarchy. The monarch is Emperor Theodorus III, who has reigned since 2021. The capital of Iconia is The City of Aurelia. The Empire consists of 3 Kingdoms, 12 Principalities and 47 counties. The constituent countries have their devolved governments with varying powers.
The Iconian Empire Imperii Iconii | |
|---|---|
 Flag | |
Motto: "Credere nemo. Non potest prohibere progressum!" "Trust no one." "You cannot stop progress!" | |
Anthem: The Holy Empire under the Blessed Crown March: Iconia Rules the Waves | |
  | |
| Location | Iconia lies in the southern hemisphere as a part of Serthenia. |
| Capital and largest city | City of Aurelia |
| Official languages |
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| Recognised regional languages |
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| Ethnic groups | |
| Religion (2011) |
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| Demonym(s) | Iconian |
| Constituent countries | |
| Government | Constitutional Federal Monarchy |
| Theodorus Vitus III | |
| Claudia Augusta Vita | |
• Consul | Sosicles Superbus |
• Censor | Sergius Electus |
| Accoleia Vita | |
| Legislature | Parliament |
| Imperial Senate | |
| Royal Senate | |
| Establishment History | |
• City-States of Iconia | 34th Century B.C.E |
• County of Alania | 1646 B.C.E |
• Duchy of Arcadia | 1042 B.C.E |
• Kingdom of Alypia | 441 B.C.E |
• Kingdom of Aquilia | 251 B.C.E |
• Empire of Aquilia | 1805 |
• Empire of Iconia | 1826 |
| Area | |
• Total | 705,986.3 km2 (272,582.8 sq mi) (6th) |
• Water (%) | 3.9 |
| Population | |
• March 2023 estimate |  57,032,392 (5th) |
• 2011 census | 51,584,889 |
• Density | 73.07/km2 (189.3/sq mi) (3rd) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2023 estimate |
• Total |  $2.218 trillion (5th) |
• Per capita | $38,890.18 (6th) |
| GDP (nominal) | 2023 estimate |
• Total | $2.032 trillion (5th) |
• Per capita | $35,628.876 (8th) |
| Gini (2021) |  24.0low · 1st |
| HDI (2020) | 0.901 very high · 5th |
| Currency | Imperial Crowns (ICC) |
| Antipodes | Omniabstracta |
| Date format | dd/mm/yyyy |
| Mains electricity | 230V 50Hz |
| Driving side | right |
| Calling code | +44 |
| ISO 3166 code | ICO |
| Internet TLD | .ie[note 1] |
The union between the Kingdom of Aquilia and Lucia, the Kingdom of Thessolakia and the Grand Duchy of Viridia created the Empire of Iconia. Iconian Empire covers 705 986.3 km² and is populated by almost 60 million citizens. The Etanamic ocean borders the Empire on all world sides. The Iconia is a member of the SECT, World Trade Organization and other affiliated Kerbal Assembly organisations.
Etymology and terminology
The name Iconia originates from the names given to the County of Iconia and later the Duchy of Iconia. The Iconian Duchy became dominant within the political and economic spectrum of The Synisterian-Iconian Duchy. It became incorporated as the new centre of the region in the newly established Kingdom of Aquilia, formed by the Iconian Duke in 224 BC.
The City of Aquilia has been the traditional capital city of the Duchy of Iconia and the Aquilian Kingdom throughout the ages. Its fame has spread over the archipelago, resulting in incorporating the name into many different interest subjects. The majority of foreign countries have referred to the Iconian Empire even decades after its establishment as the Aquilian Empire.
Iconian Empire was established by the decree of the First Emperor during the nation's reformation from united kingdoms into a constitutional monarchy when the requirement of a higher tier of peerage titles has originated. The Grand Prince of Iconia and Crown Prince of Aquilia is the traditional title of The Heir Apparent of the Iconian Empire.
The term "Iconia" is synonymous with the Empire of Iconia, Iconian Empire or even the Aquilian Empire. Its usage is mainly limited to informal discussions. The official names are used in legal texts. The adjective "Iconian" is commonly used to refer to matters relating to the Empire of Iconia or the people and citizens of Iconia.
History
Prior to the formation of the Aquilian Empire
The rulers of the tribes of the Aquilian archipelago have gathered power through millennia, originating from tribes and advancing to City-States, Counties and more extensive state formations. The millennia BC has been filled with warfare, fulfilling the need for advancement and promoting cultural and technological advance for competitiveness. The Aquilian Duchy formed during the Aquilian Civil War in 429 BC and the Aquilian Kingdom further in 222 BC. During the Aquilian Kingdom's height, the Aquilian civilisation span reached the Nuvastian peninsula in Serthenia. This reach quickly ended with the beginning of a civil war that brought the archipelago into state-mandated isolation. The Kingdom experienced cycles of prosperity and warfare until the civil war, enveloping whole islands in 1816, shortly after the first Emperor formed the Empire between 1805 – 1813.
The Empire of Aquilia
The Empire of Aquilia existed in a short inter-period between the Aquilian Kingdom's dissolution and the Iconian Empire's establishment. The whole nation was in a state of civil war, which created the constitution and the Empire of Iconia in 1826.
The Empire of Iconia
The Empire of Iconia continued as a successor to the Aquilian Kingdom and Aquilian Empire in the modern age. The end of Iconian isolation challenged the freshly democratised government with new threats and possibilities. The islands' industrialisation boosted the economic and industrial capacities of the Empire, and the government decided to promote the primary goal of competitiveness with other nations.
21st Century
During the 21st Century, the beginning of the Great War brought the Empire into a recession caused by the restrictions imposed on naval trade. The economy then deteriorated even further as the Empire joined the war and withstood the Invasions of Iconia. In the aftermath of the war, the Empire utilised its newly established connections with the democratic nations of Serthenia and rebuilt their nation and infrastructure. The investment from those and other countries has caused the economy to develop and rise since then. The war's struggle has also enforced the modification of an even more democratic constitution in effect until today.
Geography
The total area of the Iconian Empire is approximately 705 986.3 km² (272,582.8 mi²). The Iconian Empire extends over the islands of Aquilia, Batia, Gessia, Pansa, Pisca, Syllia, Thuria and Viridia. The major islands are the Aquilia and Viridia, with the bulk of the Iconian population. It lies in the Etanamic ocean, situated in the southern hemisphere. Each of the core Iconian countries accounts for around a quarter of the total Iconian area.
Most of the Aquilian island consists of lowland terrain, with more upland and some mountainous terrain in the central part of the Aquilian island. Cethego and Frugi mountains in the eastern part of Aquilia island are the highest peaks, with Mount Ezra 1368m above the sea. The mountains are speculated to be unexploded volcano ranges. The lowest point in the Iconian archipelago is the Chasm Vatia, 126m below the sea, and the actual depth remains undiscovered because of rock formations preventing the diver's deeper descent.
The Islands of Thessolakia and Viridia consist primarily of lowland terrain with no notable peaks.
The biggest river on the islands is Pardus, succeeded by the Sparax river. The island of Aquilia is heavily infested by many natural rivers and lakes, including the rivers Lorarii, Citrio, Parvum, Geminae, Novis, Baebio and Meridionali. On smaller islands, the rivers of Torentes, Gaia and Ieiunium are the biggest and most important ones.
Climate
Most of the Iconian Empire has a temperate climate, with generally moderate stable temperatures all year round. The temperature varies with seasons and could drop below -16°C in winter or rise above 41°C in summer. The archipelago's southernmost parts are experiencing a continental subarctic climate while the temperate climate prevails in its northern part. The prevailing winds are from the east due to the oceanic streams, causing the majority of eastern Viridia to be drier.
Wildlife and conservation
The Iconian Empire forests are mostly made up of evergreen species, and the islands are home to many endangered and unique species developed during the isolation from the Serthenian continent. Many animal and plant varieties became extinct during the iconian era of opening to the outside, during which wealthy foreigners hunted many unique animals for large profits. Although this era provided Iconia with much-needed worldwide excitement in economic investments, it degraded and exploited both Iconian human and animal populations. This threat led the environmentalists and government to establish the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act to provide a legal framework to protect many of the Iconian ecoregions and the species within those regions.
Currently, the Ministry of Energy and Environment is managing and overseeing the Iconian indigenous species' biodiversity and securing national parks. There are three World Heritage sites and twelve national parks throughout the archipelago, with more than two thousand endangered species.
Administrative divisions
The organisation of the Local Government of the Empire is complex. The modern organisational parts of the Empire have been forming themselves through the ages and remained implanted in these traditional patterns until this day. The highest organisational division is the Imperial Government, followed by Royal governments and Regional assemblies. Each county has its representatives in its Ducal assembly. The Chamber of Deputies, which is constituted of Ducal representatives, votes on Kingdom-wide regulations, and finally, the Kingdom-wide representatives belong to the Federal Imperial government and maintain the Imperial Government.
The local governments of the Kingdom of Aquilia and Lucia are both split between four Duchies, which are created from 21 counties in Aquilia and 11 in Lucia. Two duchies form the Thessolakian Kingdom on the eponymous island, with six counties total. Two Duchies and eight counties divide the Grand Duchy of Viridia, and finally, the Isles of Pansa formed from three island counties and the isle of Eleusinia being a singular county. The major cities, such as the City of Lucia and Nola, have their own administrative regions counted as ceremonial counties. The Capital city of Aurelia is scattered among five counties and two duchies.
Map of Iconian Counties
Map of Iconian Duchies
Dependencies
The Iconian Empire had sovereignty over the Isles of Pansa, which did not join the Empire during its formation and was associated as an autonomously administered territory much later. Throughout history, the Isles of Pansa converted themselves into an integral part of the Empire. Their government attained the right to have its representatives in the Imperial Senate, and its citizens were additionally granted legitimate citizenship of the Empire.
Politics
The Iconian Empire is a federal state under a constitutional monarchy. His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor of the Iconian Empire, is the monarch and Head of State of the Iconian Empire and traditionally of the Aquilian Kingdom. The Iconian Empire's Constitution is uncodified and consists mainly of a collection of written statutes and constitutional conventions. The constitution establishes the Parliament and Imperial Government which perform the management of the state. The Parliament of the Iconian Empire can modify the constitution only with a supermajority vote.
Government
| Imperial Titles Tituli Imperiales |
Royal Titles Tituli Regii |
Democratic Titles Tituli Electi |
Titular tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emperor Grand Prince Imperator Magnus Princeps |
Imperial | ||
| Archduke Arciducis |
King Crown Prince Prince Rex Principes Heredis Principes |
President Praefecti Praetorio |
Royal |
| Viceroy Interrex |
Grand Duke Magnus Ducis |
Grand Ducal | |
| Duke Dux |
Governor Vicar |
Ducal | |
| Count Comes Regis |
Count Comes |
County | |
| Baron Baro |
Mayor Praeses |
Municipality | |
| Imperial Knight Eques Imperialis |
Royal Knight Eques Regis |
Knight Eques |
Lower Official |
The Iconian Empire's parliament has two houses, an elected Chamber of Deputies and a partly elected Imperial Senate. All enacted laws are given Imperial and Praefectus Assent before becoming law. The position of Praefectus Praetorii as the Head of Government belongs to the person who is appointed by the party or coalition with the highest number of seats in the Imperial Senate. The Praefectus chooses his cabinet Ministers and appoints Judges of the Imperial Supreme Court and Praetors of Courts of Appeal. The Praefectus and his Praetors from the Imperial Government are exercising the executive power of the Iconian Empire.
The legislative branch is the Parliament of the Iconian Empire, divided between the Imperial Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.
The Chamber of Deputies is divided into 121 constituencies electing three parliament members with four-year mandates each. The general elections are held every four years. The Imperial Senate is divided into 121 constituencies electing a single senator with a six-year mandate each. The Chairman of the Imperial Senate is Princeps Senatus. The traditions of the culture have established the usage of former aristocratic titles for elected governmental officials. Only a few titles remain entirely inherited.
Political Parties
The main political parties of the Iconian Empire are the Central Development Party, Constitutional Democratic Party and Green Party. The opposition is formed from Labour Party, Imperii Iconii, Social Democratic Party and Iconian Communist Party.
Devolved governments
Regional assemblies of several duchies have their own limited legislature and administration and hold separate elections into these legislative bodies. The local law is regulated by the Federal imperial law and therefore limits the autonomy of these regions.
Law and criminal justice
The Empire of Iconia's established law is a hybrid system based on both common-law and civil-law principles. The Imperial Supreme Court is the highest court of appeal for civil, criminal and military appeal cases under the law.
Law enforcement in the state is the responsibility of the local (Municipal Police, State Police) and federal police (Iconian Federal Agency) offices. The rate of incarceration in the Empire is believed to be currently around 24 per 100 000. Although the rate and the prison population of the Empire are on the decrease, it never transpired to reach any maximal height as the capital punishment established by the law is working as a deterrent. The Ministry of Internal Affairs manages law enforcement.
The Juridical Branch of the Iconian Empire consists of the Imperial Supreme Court, the Courts of Appeal, the High Courts and the County Courts. The head jury of the Imperial Supreme Court is Quaestor Sacri Palatii. The Head jury of the Court of Appeal is Praetor, and Praetor Peregrinus head the High Court.
Foreign relations
The Empire of Iconia is a member of the Kerbal Assembly, which it helped establish after the Second Barko-Kolonian War and the Heruland War in 2021. The Iconian Empire is a member of the IST and SECT international economic organisations, has a close partnership with Kolonia and a growing economic alignment with Serthenian and Meridan nations. Iconia is also a signatory nation of many foreign trading relation treaties and investments. The Iconian Government seem to be open to foreign relations and proposals from any sovereign country.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the primary directive force behind Iconian diplomacy overseeing Iconian embassies and foreign relations.
Military
The Imperial Defence Force (IDF) consists of four professional service branches: the Imperial Navy (IN), Imperial Air Force (IAF), Iconian Army (IA) and Iconian Coast Guard (ICG) incorporated in the Imperial Navy. The armed forces are managed by The Ministry of Defence and controlled by the Defence Council. The Supreme Commander of the armed forces is the current Head of the State, to whom members of the forces swear an oath of allegiance.
After the end of the Great War, the armed forces were reformed into a primarily defensive garrison with specialised expeditionary capability in amphibious operations and deployment abroad to protect the Iconian archipelago and sea lines of communication and fulfil commitments to allied states. Each service branch is composed of active professional personnel, active reserves and passive reserves. The military maintains roughly 88 000 active personnel and 6 000 active reservists.
The Conscription law gives the active reservists salary for attending a few types of training or war games per year. The passive reserves have finished basic military service training (one-week-long training teaching basic rules of engagement, battlefield movement, tactics, weapons service, first aid, operating equipment, radios, and various other tools). During an emergency, the government can enact their powers and mobilise all available human resources allowing the conscripted army to reach up to 25 million. The law mandates the training week to be undertaken by all adults ending their High school stadium over 18 years of age in the same year as the training occurs.
Total defence spending amounts to 3.0% of the national GDP, resulting in a budget of 59,8 billion for IDF and CFA (Commission for Acquisitions).
Economy
Overview
The Iconian Empire had a partially regulated market economy. The Ministry of Finance, headed by Comes Largitionum, is responsible for economic and public finance policies. The National Bank of Iconia is responsible for setting interest rates and issuing notes of the national currency, the Iconian Crows (IC).
The islands are composed chiefly of flat terrain, and due to their temperate weather, the agricultural and other industries are located primarily in the central parts of the islands. On the shorelines are major cities with the majority of the population and services. The most significant percentage of jobs are in services, officer or naval industries. A considerable portion of the Iconian economy depends on the internal trade between the Iconian islands, and the second-biggest source of income is the exports overseas. One of the leading trade partners of Aquilia is the Kingdom of Thessolakia due to its proximity, and is also a famous summer vacation destination. The Iconian service sector makes up around 62 % of GDP. Tourism is a significant part of seasonal income. While attractions on the main islands are interesting for historical reasons, the Thessolakian island, the Isles of Pansa and the Isle of Eleusinia provide a perfect solution for the summer holidays for all social classes.
The second-largest percentage of the national production is naval, shipbuilding and electronic industries. Iconia has been building its naval and industrial capacities and capabilities for thousands of years. The coming of modern technologies enabled further improvements in those areas. Iconia produces leading-edge naval ship designs and their components. Iconian shipyards and docks also have capacities for the largest supertankers on Kerbin. The Iconian naval industry designers excel at propulsion systems and hull design, providing unconventional and conventional ship designs for individual purposes.
The significant focus on electronics originally started after the Great War of a need for modern sensors and radar systems for the Imperial navy. During that time, the industry grew into the civil sector and is the second most prominent part of national production. The electronics industry of the Iconian organizations is mainly fueled by the semiconductor supply from the Nuntic Union. However, the processor and PCB assembly may be processed in Iconia, the appliances and production are important for the world's electronic market consumption and vital to the concurrent industries of Iconia using these embedded and general-purpose computation units and chips.
The third-largest, but with 4th largest share of GDP, is agriculture and fisheries. Iconian fisheries are taking one of the most significant market shares on Kerbin. The majority of the agricultural industry produces its products on the extensive farmlands in central Iconia's flatlands. More special treats are wine and olive products. A majority portion of the exports is headed for states of the Nuntic Union which are partially dependent on them.
The Iconian pharmaceutical industry is quite advanced. It is supported by the academic environment of Iconian universities. Although its research is not always Nobel-prize winning, its research efforts in some areas are reaching world-leading levels.
While having a large car industry during the war, globalisation of the nation either acquired the companies or they bankrupted. Only the competitive and unique design of Trania chassis allowed the utility vehicle industry to prosper and have a sufficient market share in the world market. There is also a limited automotive industry in Iconia owned by foreign investors producing cars domestically and reducing transaction costs. Altogether the automotive industry forms the sixth-largest share of the GDP.
The Iconian nuclear sector is producing and servicing fission power plants around the whole world. Due to the exclusivity of this service, the world market share is quite high, keeping the industry as the seventh largest in Iconia.
Several mines in the Cethego and Frugi mountains are mining Skarn deposits there. Skarn deposits are rich in ores, including Cuprum, Aurum, Argentum, Ferrum, Molybdaneum, Plumbum, Tungsten and Zinc. Iconia scientists are prospecting for a volcano range under the island and the mountain range, but no fissure vents have been found.
The iconian aerospace industry is on the scale of things insignificant. It was producing light to medium civilian planes and light jet military aircraft. However, most of those capabilities were outsourced to Kolonian subsidies during the cold war. Nonetheless, these mostly subsonic products were the basis for still active engine research divisions based in Iconia, designing advanced jet, ramjet and scram jet designs for the IKZ and other organisations.
In the southern sea are six semi-submersible oil platforms extracting oil and petroleum from deposits found there. The coastline also has two experimental shore facilities of Bradua and Loreia, extracting Lithium from seawater, producing 120 tonnes per year.
Economic inequality in the Iconian Empire is one of the lowest on Kerbin due to the fast inflation growth in the post-Great-War period granting increases to income between companies equally. The poverty line of Iconian households is held at 60 % of the median income. In 2011, only 6.7 million people were at risk of poverty. The external national debt of the Iconian Empire is $943.7 billion.
Science and technology
The Iconian Empire has been utilising the spillover effect after ending its isolationism policies to match the rest of the developed world. The scientific and industrial revolutions started during the 18th Century in Iconia, from which the majority of famous engineers and Iconian figures originated. During the 18th Century, the Iconian archipelago underwent a series of changes needed for its transformation into an industrial society, and with the beginning of the 19th Century, it could rival the large empires of the east. The most considerable advancement came shortly before and during the Great War, which mobilised state resources and truly started the modern industrial revolution in Iconia. The scientific and engineering advancements in manufacturing and other areas benefited society, and the reform of patent laws in 1882 made the Iconians more competitive.
The most noticeable scientific discoveries of Iconians were in hydrodynamics and fluid dynamics. Engineering discoveries include the world's first steamship co-developed following steam engines' adoption from the Dolfik Royal Academy of Science.
The official scientific research and development remain the Iconian universities and Science institutes' academic society's primary objective, among which the Imperial Research Agency (IRA) is the most prominent. The universities of the islands are housing many international students due to their lower tuition. Furthermore, the universities managed to produce around 6% of the world's scientific research papers in its 218 universities and colleges.
Transportation & Infrastructure
Transportation infrastructure in Iconia connects all population centres on the islands via a high-speed railroad network and motorway network. The radial road network is currently in modernisation, urged by the noticeable increase in car usage. The modernisation program aims to construct up to 250 kilometres of new motorways or railways to new standards. The obsolete standard of two-lane motorways without breakdown lanes is replaced by wider two or three-lane highways with breakdown lanes and rest stops. Local cities are aiding this project by funding new city bypasses, reliving their centre traffic.
The most historically significant project of the Ministry of Transportation was the finalisation of the motorway-railway bridge between the Aquilian and Viridian islands. The first phase of the project expanded the motorway networks of both islands to the shoreline, after which the second phase consisted of excavation works terraforming the areas for the beginning of the bridge ends. The third phase utilised iconian naval assets to build the seabed pillars for starting the bridge construction in the fourth phase.
Iconian railroads essentially copy the motorway network. The infrastructure is owned and operated by Iconian railways. Several private companies have lately competed for railway passenger transportation domination. The railroads have shown an increase in their usage as high-speed connections have become more available, cheaper and faster than car transportation.
The Iconian Airlines are a state-funded company that operates the majority of civilian air assets. The international airports of Aurelia, Aquilia, Lucia, and Nola have handled 198 million passengers. The lucrative trans-arctic route created an important transition hub from the islands.
Energy
Iconian electrical power transmission and the national power grid are composed mainly of electrical power from nuclear and coal sources. The island's primary power source is nuclear power plants supplied by water from dams around the islands. Each dam is built to produce an equivalent of one core in a national emergency or emergency at one of the nuclear plants. Coal, gas, and other fuel power plants were partially shut down for environmental concerns and are only for emergency use. Each nuclear power plant uses 4x 1500MW reactors, except for the Varian power plant having four blocks of 2x 1500MW reactors. All 13 power plants produce 81 GW of power, covering 48.2% of the energy production in Iconia and 58% of its consumption.
Brown coal thermal power plants have a capacity of 62,5 GW, and due to a new national strategy for renewable energies are being reduced each year and replaced by renewable sources. The 62,5 GW makes 35% of production in Iconia and is effectively the second-largest power source. In case of emergency, all deactivated power plants would supply another 20 GW of power.
The iconian government started supporting renewable energy sources with donations in recent years. Renewable energy plants have a growing tendency and produced 12 GW in 2018, making it 8% of the total production. The state supports its citizens with donations of solar or other renewable energy sources, and the Ministry of Energy and Environment expects an additional 5 GW increase by the end of 2020.
In 2020, renewable energy sources produced 21 % of the total power production, but the total power production dropped from 168 GW in 2018 to 151 GW in 2020. The main factor lies in the reduction of additional coal plants and non-sufficient renewable production. Seeing the significant increase in renewables, the government decided to speed up the coal power plants' deactivation with the harmful prediction consequences.
The water energy from hydroelectric dams, reservoirs and hydroelectric energy storages currently supplies up to 6 GW of power, 3% of total production. The project on the islands of Aquilia and Viridia to build new reservoirs and dam systems started in 1955 and ended in 1975. Five dams were created and connected into one system. In the subsequent years, another 16 reservoirs were constructed through the islands supplying water to the national nuclear power plants and serving as emergency water sources for the population.
In 2018, scientists proposed to utilise geothermal energy. However, volcanic or geologic activity in the area of the Cethego mountains has not been confirmed. The project is currently halted, waiting for exploratory scientific probe drilling to prospect for this source's viability.
In 2019, the Iconian Empire produced 261 000 barrels per day of oil and consumed around 1 151 000 barrels per day. Its reserves are proven to be 4.5 billion barrels established to protect the islands in case of interdicted trade routes. Natural gas is not being produced for economic reasons, although several gas locations have been confirmed.
Coal production has constantly been falling in recent decades and is currently around 5 million tonnes annually. Although the removal of coal power plants, coal has not lost its potential in other industries. Nonetheless, its values are rapidly deteriorating, and mining is not profitable or sustainable anymore.
Water supply and sanitation
Access to improved water supply and sanitation in the Iconian Empire is universal. Individual city council's decisions manage Iconian water and sewerage services. The majority of them chose Iconian Waters as their primary contractor. Being the largest metropolis in Iconia, the capital city of Aurelia has a city-owned enterprise managing these and various other maintenance tasks.
Demographics
Population
Iconian Empire is a medium-sized country with (est. 2018) 56 million citizens. The bulk of the population lives in the northeastern part of the Aquilia in the cities Aurelia and Nola accumulating over 8 million citizens together. The third-largest city is Alania on the west coast, with 5 086 538 citizens making it the main centre of the western part of Iconia. The central part of the island is less densely populated than the occupied coastlines. A census is taken simultaneously in all parts of the Empire every ten years. In the 2011 census, the total population was 51 584 889. In the succeeding years, the islands' population increased significantly by international migration and state-supported child policy. The population increased on average by 1.4% every year. The average total fertility rate (TFR) across the Empire was 2.95 children born per woman. It is estimated that in 2015 the TFR decreased to 2.1 children per woman, and the population growth has slowed. The mean age of the population is around 38.6 years.
| City | Population | County |
|---|---|---|
| Aurelia | 5,526,548 | Duchy of Iconia |
| Lucia | 5,086,538 | County of Lucia |
| Alania | 3,659,205 | County of Thessolakia |
| Nola | 3,591,112 | County of Nola |
| Aquilia | 3,304,997 | County of Iconia |
| Arvinia | 3,278,026 | County of Arvinia |
| Varia | 3,118,486 | County of Felixia |
| Messalia | 3,097,445 | County of Messalia |
| Tiberia | 2,814,545 | County of Gellasia |
| Firmia | 2,563,453 | County of Otacilia |
| Ulpia | 2,017,156 | County of Piscara |
| Olympia | 1,875,764 | County of Verulia |
| Pontia | 1,234,987 | County of Pontia |
Capital City of Aurelia
City of Lucia
City of Alania
City of Nola
Languages and ethnic groups
The population of Iconia is almost homogenous due to the extended isolationist policy period of the government. The Iconians originally came from the Serthenian continent in prehistoric times, and after the end of the ice ages, the corridor to Serthenia was unavailable until the invention of seafaring. Nonetheless, during ancient times, the Ithakan civilisation at least once visited the islands and merged into its population. During the Golden Age of Aquilia, the contact established with Edusans and people of Nusqua has increased Iconian immunity and disease protection. Nevertheless, foreign ethnic groups have never stayed on Aquilian islands. After a prolonged isolationism period, the Iconia finally opened, and its immigrant policy remained closed for another decade.
The ethnic categories were first introduced in the census of 1981. 58 % of the population described themselves as having Iconian nationality and white race, while 21 % were of Aquilian nationality and white race, 13 % Lucian, 5 % Thessolakian and even 1 % Viridian. The has identified 2 % as ethnic minority groups.
The modern census of 2011 showed an increase in foreign ethnicities and ended with 72 % Iconian, Aquilian or Lucian ethnicities, 12 % Serthenian, 5 % Meridian and 11 % other ethnicities. The official language on the Iconian archipelago is Iconian which originated from Ithakan languages and was influenced in late medieval times by Serrian and further in modern times by Dolfik serthenian languages.
Religion
The Iconian archipelago is dominated by Christianity which Serria introduced in late medieval times. Indigenous Iconian religious systems preceded it and both systems resonated with each other for several centuries. The new declining trends show that the Iconians have become a post-Christian society in recent years.
The Religious Protection Act of 1870 determines that there can be no official state religion in Iconia, and everyone has the right to choose his beliefs for themselves. The Act was established to protect certain groups from prosecution during the Industrial Revolution's height when a significant portion of the population became progressive thinkers rejecting religion. The Act bans enforcement of any form of forceful religious persuasion.
The 2001 census showed that 62 % of all respondents indicated that they were Christians, with the next largest group being Atheists and Agnostics (29.1 %), Islamists (0.5 %) and Hinduists (0.5 %), with a further 7.9 % not stating their religious preference. The 2011 census has shown a decrease of Christians by 9 % to 53.2 %, Atheists and Agnostics to 37.6 %, Islam to 1 %, Hinduists to 0.7 %, Buddhists to 0.4 %, Judaists to 0.3 %, Sikhism to 0.2 % and other 6.6 % of unanswered.
Education
Education in the Iconian Empire is united in one central system used in all subsequent Kingdoms. The Ministry of Education, Sports, Science and Technology is responsible for the schooling system of Iconia. Education in Iconia is compulsory for nine years, and citizens have access to a tuition-free university education resulting in an average number of education years of 13.3. The schooling system has the primary school level, which is mandatory for everyone, followed by three high school years and the College or University Bachelor, Master and Doctor levels.
Historically, the Education system started near the end of the 15th Century, when the first universities were established. Although the standard population had no access to them, the benefits persuaded the government to educate the general population by creating a state schooling system through the following centuries.
Health
Healthcare in the Iconian Empire is publicly funded and provided by general taxation. Extensive, complex and unnecessary procedures are still non-donated. Healthcare is ranked among the best on Kerbin, with federal spending of 9 % of GDP on healthcare. The Ministry of Health provides the general governance of healthcare.
Culture
The Iconian Empire's culture has been influenced by many factors, including the nation's island status, history and traditions, struggle against the continental powers, and monarchies' betrayal in the Great War. Furthermore, the culture is influenced by the fact that the Empire can be divided into five separate cultures of each Kingdom. Traditions, customs, and symbolism are very present even in modern-day Iconia. The Iconian population is highly hierarchical, disciplined and conscious.
Literature
Literature of the Iconian Empire is very accessible, compromising a variety of themes and topics. Without any censorship, freedom of speech allowed many writers to create philosophical works that were very prominent. Among other topics, the
Music
Various styles of music are popular in the Iconian Empire. The most famous composers from the archipelago focused on classical music, although there are some examples of modern composers. The Empire is also home to a few of the world's most renowned symphonic orchestras and choruses. According to the statistics, as of 2018, pop remains the most famous music genre in Iconia, followed by rock, hip-hop and swing.
Visual art
The sovereigns and nobility of the Iconian Empire often collected various artistic masterpieces thorough history now present in the Imperial Academy of Aurelia with public access. A few of the most notable art pieces follow:
Cinema
The domestic cinema of the Iconia is insignificant. National movies and tv series directed by iconian directors are typical, although international projects are mainly restricted to utilising unique Iconian nature, animals or national waters. Few iconian actors have achieved success on the international stage and won internationally recognised awards.
Cuisine
Iconian cuisine is famous mainly for its usage of various spices imported from foreign countries. The majority of iconians consider fishery products as a national meal, and locally-produced pasta is also widely used as a side dish.
Rare iconian animal species provide speciality meals for tourists, and wine grown in vineyards of the Isles of Pansa are our favourite on the archipelago.
Mass Media
The Iconian Herald, founded in 1871, is a publicly funded newspaper, radio, television and internet broadcasting corporation. It operates two television and several radio stations domestically and abroad. The majority of privately owned broadcasters are based in Aurelia and Lucia, the most important centres of the Empire.
In 2011, 91 % of the Iconian population were internet users, and 52 % reported reading a daily national newspaper.
Philosophy
The traditional philosophical works of iconian philosophers focused on utilitarianism, in which the utilisation of everything is questioned and researched, allowing for further, more effective utilisation. This branch of philosophy also affected the Iconian economy by focusing on economic utilitarianism.
Sport
A 2018 poll found that the most popular sport in Iconia is football, followed by water polo and surfing. Tennis is also widespread in Iconia, and its champions are regularly contesting in international tournaments. Water-based sports such as water polo or yachting are also widely enjoyed but are limited by the seasonal weather. In the winter season, iconian hockey teams are pretty popular among the younger generation. The islands' flatlands support the creation of many golf courses with lakes and water obstacles due to the all present water around the island. The most famous club is the Pelben Golf Course, built by the Marquess family of Laenea Lyconides Tullius right next to Isantis lake in 1916.
Motorsport in the Iconian Empire is limited mainly to formulas and Supersports, as there is no favourable terrain for the rally. There are several motorsport circuits built in Viridia, but none on Thessolakia.
Iconians have achieved varying success in the international summer Olympics and won 32 golden medals before 2019. The most successful sports were water-based ones.
Symbols
The Iconian Empire's flag is the Iconian Cross, representing the four essential parts of the Empire. Although the diversified parts are not directly represented in the Iconian flag, the Iconian Coat of Arms contains heraldic symbols of each part. The Iconian Cross is widely used in popular culture and exempted from its protected status as a national symbol.
The national anthem of the Iconian Empire is The Holy Empire under the Blessed Crown, while the national anthem, Joy of the Plebeians, is more widely used.
Besides the Iconian Cross, the iconian heraldry is widely using birds, blue whales and fish as iconic iconian animals.
Traditions
Traditional Iconian weddings and birthdays are featuring preserved distinct Iconian features passed from parents for centuries. The expected decrease in the actual usage of those traditions is being accounted to modern values accepted by the current population as many of those traditions were rooted in Christianity.
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