[CNPC Request] The Kingdom of Ocraly

[Florentia]

Heya. This is a CNPC that I will slowly integrate in two threads which will come after the end of “The Pelican and the Raven”. It is parliamentary monarchy and a liberal modern democracy. Its culture is mostly Mandellan (Italian) with several minorities like Gaellicians (in the former Gaellician colony of Fasàil), but also Lysians (French) and Amerindians. Its economy is mostly based on the chemical and metallurgical industry, sulphur and magnesium mining, and agriculture (wine, coffee, cotton).

 

Full name : Kingdom of Ocraly (Regno di Ácralia)

Common name : Ocraly (Ácralia), Oriential Transborria (Transborrie Orientale) by Florentia

Demonym : Ocralian (Ácraliano)

Capital city : Fangosa (Fangosa)

Flag :

Map :

Stats : 

- Population [0] : 9 300 000 inhabitant

- GDP per capita [4] : 26 000 ESU

- Land [1] : around 120k-150k km2

History :

In the 1500s century, Mandellan settlers installed themselves on the coast of the Cashari Island, at the location of the actual capital city Fangosa. The name means “muddy” in Mandellan and refers to the wet lands in the area.

Like the Lysians in the West, the settlers enslaved the local populations (Agali (Caddoans), Aniyunya (Cherokee) and Udyevdi (Creeks) tribes) in order to exploit the local agricultural resources (tobacco, cotton) but especially the local vines, a species endemic to the island and known to produce unusually sweet wine and juice. The cultivation of vines made Ocraly famous, and its unique wines found their way onto European tables as an exotic delicacy.
When the country declared its independence in 1824, it asked for help from Florentia, then a rising power in the region. The Emperor agreed to supply arms to the independence fighters on condition that Ocraly was under his influence. The war was quickly won and the newly founded Kingdom of Ocraly gradually fell into the Florentian clutches, starved by a growing imperialism. By the mid-1830s, the country was a shadow of its former self and neither the government nor the king could make any decisions without the watchful eye of Florentia hanging over them. This quasi-status of colony was definitively affirmed when, in 1838, the new King of Ocraly, Lorenzo II, was deposed by the Florentian imperial army for having tried to tax Florentian tobacco, the green gold of the Empire. The new King, Amadeo I, was forced to sign an agreement whereby the Kingdom of Ocraly was henceforth called the "Grand Duchy of Oriental Transborria" and became part of the Florentian Empire with only slight autonomy. During its rule, the Florentian government tried to erase the Mandellan culture little by little, violently repressing the nationalists. However, it was also during this period that coffee was established in the region, now one of the country's main agricultural exports.
When the Florentian civil war broke out, the local Ocralian government took the opportunity to declare their independence, which both sides were forced to accept. Once again, the Kingdom of Ocraly tasted independence.
In 1875, several years after the civil war, taking advantage of the weakness of the young kingdom, Florentia put pressure on the Ocralian government to obtain the Pietlac region, where magnesium deposits had been discovered, as well as compensation of 80 million Imperial Francs.

The Pietlac region, actually part of the Federal Republic of Saint-Isidore, a Florentian state.

Paradoxically, instead of crippling the economy, the heavy indemnities forced the country to industrialise at a very high speed, relying first on a mining industry (magnesium, sulphur), then a chemical and metallurgical industry based largely on these materials. This allowed the abolition of slavery in 1881. In addition, the growing demand for labour attracted workers from neighbouring countries.
In the 1930s, thanks to innovations in fertilisers, Ocralian wine production reached record levels. However, by the end of the 1930s, production exceeded demand, so that the wine became worthless and farmers were forced to dump their stocks into the sea. This led to the phenomenon of 'red tides', with wine staining the island's shores, and caused a nationwide economic crisis from which the country would not fully recover for over a decade.

Since the 2010s, the country has experienced a period of stagnation. Ocralian irredentism, which had been forgotten thanks to the economic miracle, is coming back into focus. Since then, relations between Florentia and Ocraly have rarely been so tense, the latter demanding the retrocession of Pietlac. One could compare the situation with Italy and Austria-Hungary: a 'young' country with a part of its population living in a reactionary country that is gradually falling into ruin.

Role-play :

First thread :
- Ocralia declares war on Florentia to recover Pietlac. Although the Imperial army is numerically superior, the Kingdom has a technological superiority, but not as great as hoped. However, the surprise effect works and the Ocralian advance is rapid.
- The Lysian alliance (which would have been in place by then) sends arms to Florentia (and perhaps some troops, it remains to be seen), which allows the Empire to take control of the situation and to put the Ocralian government under the risk of a major intervention from the Lysian alliance.
- After several months of war, the situation has stabilised and the Kingdom controls a third of Florentia, blocked at the gates of Montcharmin. While the Ocralian government wants the total surrender of Florentia, their troops are getting tired and a growing part of the population is asking for peace. Several demonstrations take place in the capital. One of them turned into a riot, requiring the intervention of the police: many shops were ransacked and several people were seriously injured. As a result, the democratic government is portrayed by several media as authoritarian, and a strong political opposition is formed. Finally, a coalition is formed in the parliament and succeeds in ejecting the Prime Minister. A political crisis ensues, as the new coalition is too heterogeneous to agree.
- Taking advantage of the growing political disorder in Ocraly and the gradual demoralisation of the troops, Florentia finally manages to advance and retake its territories. The imperial troops penetrate the enemy.
- Faced with imminent defeat, the coalition finally manages to elect a government, but it is too late. This only delays the Florentine army, which finally enters Fangosa.
- The Kingdom of Ocraly is placed under Florentian tutelage, falling once again under its influence (without becoming a puppet). However, the region of Pietlac is returned to Ocraly, under the name of County of Pietlac, on the condition that a local parliament is established, that Lysian remains a recognised regional language, and that the Emperor of Florentia is crowned Count of Pietlac.

Second thread (it is not very detailed because I want to leave myself some freedom when writing, and not plan everything) :
- the republican parties, made popular because of the weakness of the monarchy, succeed in obtaining a fragile majority in the assembly.
- in order to save the monarchy, the King of Ocraly dissolves the assembly, which makes him looks like a tyrant and worsens the situation, as the republicans gain a solid majority.
- in desperation, the King contacts Florentia to put pressure on the government. Unfortunately, the exchange is intercepted by the Ocralian secret service, and the King is accused of high treason, now being imprisoned pending trial. Florentia intervenes militarily to save the monarchy, aided by royalist supporters. This is the beginning of the Ocralian civil war, with the republicans on one side and the royalists on the other, helped by Florentia.

Edited February 2 by Florentia
Added the stats. (see edit history)