New Valentina

New Valentina (Tiplansk:, tr. Nieu Falentyna), officially known as The Commonwealth of New Valentina (Tipsprek: , tr. Myenebest fan Nieu Falentyna), is a  located in central Avalonia. Formerly a colony of Tiperyn, New Valentina was granted sovereignty in 1845 after nearly 195 years of rule. It shares an eastern border with Confederate States of Northern Avalonia and a south-western border with Arbenz. It has a population of 23.4 million, with the most populous city being Praesel, with about 950,000 inhabitants.

New Valentina was officially formed after the inclusion of the Port of Saint Danijela into the New Valentina Territory, creating the Colony of New Valentina. The colony quickly rose in prominence, gaining it's footing after the Secession of Brigantica as a Dominion. After being granted independence in 1845, it has risen to become a regional contender in numerous categories. Following the Valentine Emergency, democratic elections have been held regularly for most public positions, although the legitimacy of these elections have been called into question in recent years.

New Valentina is a member of the North-South Concordant, participating in drills relating to Avalonia and the Iapetus Ocean. It is also a member of the Realm Compact, conducting free trade within the bloc.

Antiquity
The region now known as New Valentina had been occupied by several native tribes for hundreds of years before it’s discovery by Tiperyn. Carbon dating suggests homosapiens have existed in the region since XXBCE. Prior to the Alansloan Expedition, the tribes in the region had largely remained as hunter-gatherers and regional nomads, with only one tribe known to have began agricultural cultivation.

Alansoan Expedition (1593)
The Alansoan Expedition of 1593 was an expedition sponsored by Emperor Fedderik to find what they believed to be a shortcut from the Iapetus to the Coral Sea, splitting Avalonia in two. They had arrived and found, however, that the inlet that maps had reported to be that of a large passage was rather a large bay. Undeterred, Harold Alansoan surveyed the bay, reporting "...astounding shows of botany and ecological wonders." He returned to Tiperyn with his findings, however, was reprimanded for not finding the passage.



According to some accounts, Alansoan had found an abandoned colony supposedly comprised of Agranan settlers. It is believed that this colony was a shipwrecked crew which had been swept into the bay and had perished after some time. Historians dispute the claim, however, an archaeological dig is currently underway where the wreck was written to be.

Port of Saint Danijela (1636)
The Port of Saint Danijela was founded in 1636 after a number of sailors from the Everett had become shipwrecked while shielding themselves from a tropical storm. Although eventually rescued, a group of sailors had returned to the bay with stories of a whimsical land filled of bounty. Situated between the colonies of Koreyo and Brigantica, what was known as "Alansoan's Folly” was exploited to shield ships from inclement weather and as a rest stop between the two. Saint Danijela would become a booming trading post and spot of reprieve, becoming known as a rowdy place for sailors to rest on long journeys.

Merchant Boom (1644)
Following the influx of settlers looking to profit off of the increased merchant traffic, a number of companies became interested in the area. Sponsoring their own expeditions from Saint Danijela into the bush, they were quick to make contact with the native population. Survey teams had found arable land further inland, as well as promising veins of chromium, iron, and coal. Spotting the potential, various companies swept into the market. The period saw a vitalization of the region's economy, leading the city of Saint Danijela to invest in a brick courthouse and paved stone roads.

Realm Viceroyalty (1651-XXXX)
Having not escaped the eye of Tiperyn, an official colonization effort was made to tame the region and establish control over the Ingonian Sea, or as it had become informally known, Bourbon Bay. The first parties had landed in 1651, with Saint Danijela officially becoming the capitol of the freshly christened New Valentina. Under the watchful eye of Governor General Wallace Byrd, policies were enacted in respect to the local tribes. The New Valentine Garrison arrived sometime during April of 1652, completely cementing Byrd's control.

Pirate War (1653-1670)
Despite the warm reception to Realm rule, many were dissuaded by the appearance of the crown. Various ships began to resort to piracy against Realm vessels coming and going through the Strait of New Artemia, sacking any ship flying the flag entering the bay. While first done for subsistence, the act of piracy in the area began to grow into a much larger regional threat.

Secession of Brigantica & Nyland (1681-1704)
During the summer of 1680, concerns aired over the control of Brigantica led to the Governor General issuing an order to raise a force of 500 volunteers to assist Tiperyn forces. By the spring of 1681, the force had landed and completed a two-month training period to become acclimated to the environment. While involved in Owens' Offensive during 1694, the Valentisk Regiment suffered an estimated 73% attrition rate, and was believed to have been wiped out following a charge to seize an enemy artillery fortification. It wasn't until the standard of Queen Valentina II was flown over the fortification did Tiperyn forces realize that the Regiment hadn't been annhilated. Following the action, the Valentisk Regiment was awarded the title of Realm by declaration of Queen Yda I for heroism in the face of certain death and awarded Regiment Commander Snijder the highest available medal for meritorious service.

During New Valentina's 21-year commitment to the conflict, over 7,000 men volunteered and an estimated 604 lost their lives. Commerce and industry picked up afterwards, predominantly coal & shipbuilding.

Banditry Wars (1832-1901)
Also known as the Second Pirate War, stemmed from an economic depression in the region. Many turned to banditry to sustain themselves, starting a constant fight against would-be bank robbers, stage coach robbers, and other criminal acts.

Commonwealth of New Valentina (1845-Present)
Granted independence in 1845 after nearly 195 years as a Tiperyn realm, the newly minted Commonwealth of New Valentina continued on it's various improvement plans. Being unshackled from military restrictions led to the formation of two more regiments and the commissioning of a fleet.

Involvement in the Kesh War (1953)
The NVS Virtue and Accolade came under fire by a shore battery whilst returning from maneuvers in the Eurybian Sea. Both ships promptly returned fire, collapsing four buildings and destroying a local well. It was later revealed that they had not come under fire, and rather, mistook thunder as incoming fire. Both Captains were pulled from service upon returning home, and reparations totaling to 204,000V₡ were paid to the recipient.

Valentine Emergency (1955-1967)
Throughout 1954 and 1955, demonstrations between pro-Republican protestors, pro-Syndicalist protestors, and pro-Royalist counter protestors began to ravage the country, predominantly in Praesel. The violent suppression of these riots by provincial police & military units caused radical elements of the Syndicalists to lash out in a series of unprecedented terrorist attacks, ranging from carbombings to the attempted assassination of Chief Magistrate Alef Jongbloed in late 1953. On July 26th, 1955, following a series of strikes regarding workplace safety and blue collar representation, elements of the First Realm Valentisk Regiment opened fire on a crowd of rioters after the strike coordinator had been apprehended. This would act as a call to arms for left wing militants, which promptly took up arms against the government. In the haste of the Security Forces, Republican demonstrators were frequently misidentified as members of leftist factions and apprehended, which brought elements of the normally peaceful Republicans into conflict with the government.

The First International Syndicalist Fighting Brigade of the Praesel Metropolitan in the Name & Image of Émile Pouget (ISFB) was formed in 1954 and proved to be the most unpredictable militant faction, which promptly declared the independence of the People's Republic of Valentina in 1957. Arming what they deemed to be the "liberators of the people," they led a violent campaign against provincial police and the Security Forces. Predominantly carrying out their attacks in urban environments, it has been claimed that at their peak in 1963 that the ISFB had over 7,500 combatants in their ranks. Systematic raids and attacks by provincial police and Security Forces throughout 1964 & 1965 led to the ISFB's main cadre being killed in a daisy cutter strike which leveled an entire apartment complex. Internal strife after the cadre's terrestrial departure led to conflicts with the 26th of July Movement, and following the First Convention of Avalonian Socialists, active conflict and firefights between the two factions.



Formed after the Tuesday of Tears, rural elements aligning themselves with the ISFB created a splinter faction known as the 26th of July Movement which, although not Syndicalist, was more in keeping with Teutonian Communism. Operating out of rural, indigenous villages and often kidnapping military aged males. Throughout 1958, the 26th of July movement led a campaign of sabotage against various mines, oil wells, and rail lines. This includes collapsing New Valentina's second largest iron mine, causing significant damage to the region's largest steel mill, and setting ablaze to 4 oil wells. Although less coordinated than the ISFB, the 26th of July Movement was far more capable, inflicting much higher casualties and damage on the Security Forces. In an attempt to dissuade people from joining the ranks of the 26th of July Movement, a number of black-flag operations and smear campaigns were undertaken by the Special Action Division which severely undermined the movement's legitimacy.

The Republican Front of New Valentina operated in far lesser capacities than it's left wing counterparts. Wishing to force concessions from the government as to make sweeping reform to the constitution and shift from an aristocracy to a democracy, they sought a more peaceful resolution. In only taking action deemed necessary by the party's cadre, and with what the Special Action Division assumed to be League interference, a number close to 100 combatants stormed the Parliament House in Praesel while the Senate was in session. In attempting to force a coup d'état, two Senators were shot when they attempted to flee the chamber. Military forces were alerted and tried to storm the Parliament House, wherein they were met with improvised barricades and precise sniper fire. The Republican defense of the Parliament House stood against military incursion for a week until elements of the Lightfoot Battalion conducted a successful air assault operation and forced the Republicans out of the building.

Immediately following the Republican's expulsion from the Parliament House, demonstrators took to the streets and barricaded Fedderik's Square, taking up positions in adjacent buildings. Attempts by the provisional police were fruitless in attempting to push the rioters from the square. After a failed attempt by the Sapper Corps to push through the barricades with armored bulldozers, mediators came to the demonstrators on behalf of the government. A month later, on October 14th, 1966, the Bill of Accountability was passed which quelled Republican dissent through amendments to the constitution to allow for elected officials to the Senate and House of Assembly, as well as Chief Magistrate.

In recent years, questions have been raised regarding the methods used to root out the insurgents. Many question the use of, , and. Others question the use of and, as well as reconnaissance-in-force and reconnaissance-by-fire, which they claim endangered innocent civilians. Regardless of these detractors, many of these elements worked their way into the military's standard doctrine and revolutionized how counterinsurgency was conducted in Avalonia.

Sorland War (1975)
Following the KNA's invasion of Sorland, New Valentina immediately denounced the move and called for international sanctions to be placed on the offending countries. Although only tangentially associated with the fighting, the military and reserves were mobilized and a battlegroup was sent to sea. In the end of the conflict New Valentina became involved in screening the evacuation of refugees and assets, assisting Ringeriker supply ships in taking on cargo safely.

Geography and Climate
New Valentina is situated on Ingonian Sea, a rather calm bay in Central Avalonia. The climate is regarded as subtropical, gathering an annual rainfall which averages 1577mm (62.1in). Most of this comes during the monsoon season, which commonly comes during spring. Winter is typically dryer and cooler, although, this has been subject to change in recent years. Temperatures run high, as does humidity and precipitation. The average summer temperature is about 30°C (86°F) with humidity averaging to 76% at noon.

The coastline is notably lush with fauna, featuring large rain forests and mangrove swamps hiding intricate cave systems and unique wild life. Further inland, the fertile ground makes ideal conditions for tobacco and cotton farming, although, the growing season is fairly short. In the far north, the Kaesami Desert sweeps from the Northern Steppe to Lake Van Dyke. Housed within the dunes of the Kaesami lies the Enno Petrified Forest.

Conservation Efforts
Due to Governor General Byrd being struck by the natural beauty of New Valentina, and his interest in botany and biology, edicts were quickly placed to preserve certain regions of particular scientific interest. To ensure that no poachers would tread on areas of interest, Governor General Byrd found use in gifting land of interest to the ruling monarch. This soon became tradition, with subsequent Governor Generals gifting areas of beauty or interest to the Crown, either as a form of protection or patronage. Since, six of the seven regions gifted to the Crown have become natural reserves and serve to provide insight to unique biomes within New Valentina.

Since becoming a Vice Royalty of Tiperyn, the Governor-General of New Valentina has traditionally given the gift of land as a coronation present to new monarchs. To date, there are seven Monarch's Claims in New Valentina; Emperor Fedderik's Reserve, Empress(es) Yda I, II, III's Estates, Empress Ingel Provincial Reserve, Empress Fedde Provincial Reserve, Empress Anthea Reserve, Empress Aletta I's Estate.

Wildlife
Due to it's unique position, New Valentina is home to a number of species not regularly found outside of it's borders. Some of these species include, , and the. A number of rare insects inhabit the mangroves, with estimates placing the species inhabiting the coastal swamps at over 8,000. Recent studies by the Realm Academy of Exotic Research have only begun to scratch the surface in regards to the many, many species of New Valentina.

Politics
Following the renegotiation of the Declaration of Severance and ratification of the Bill of Accountability after the Valentine Emergency concluded, a democratic two-house parliamentary system was erected. The two houses established were the Senate and House of Assembly, with the Senate handling executive duties and the House of Assembly focusing on lawmaking.

New Valentina enjoys a large degree of political freedom, with very few regulations in regards to campaigns, donations, advertisements, and term limits.

The conservative Valentine Solidarity Party has been in control of both chambers of government since 1982, only ever being challenged in 1997. Due to the lengthy reign of the VSP, and large donations provided to the party by large businesses and foreign investors, questions have been raised regarding the legitimacy of New Valentina's elections.

Law Enforcement and Crime
Law enforcement in New Valentina is primarily the responsibility of local sheriff's offices & regional constabularies, with the national police providing border security. The largest police entity in New Valentina is the Praesel Metropolitan Sheriff's Office. Agencies such as the Revenue Investigation Bureau (RIB) and National Bureau of Special Investigations and Enforcement (NBSIE) are tasked with handling more treacherous organized crime and international policing affairs.



Since becoming a Vice Royalty, the region has been plagued with criminal enterprises working against the state (see Pirate Wars). Since the end of the Valentine Emergency, a wave of criminal activity stemming from former military personnel have rocked the country, namely,. A recent study from the Saint Danijela Institute of Criminology states that outlaw motorcycle clubs contribute about 40% of crime. A 2008 police raid found that the Blood Brothers Motorcycle Club, despite being in a brutal war with the Specters Motorcycle Club and it's support clubs, had managed to pull in close to 5,450,000V₡ a month by smuggling illegal substances in and out of the ports in Saint Danijela.

Armed Forces
The Governor-General holds the position of Commandant and oversees the Armed Forces. He, through the Valentine Forces Command, appoints personnel to the Committee of Defense and Cooperation. The CDC oversees the Armed Forces and it's three branches, the Security Forces, the Maritime Services, and the Air Forces and all sub-components, barring the Geological Survey Element and Disaster Relief Element. In total, the Armed Forces employs 313,800 personnel across it's three branches and command a budget of $14.57 billion dollars, or 2.5% of New Valentina's GDP.



Service in the Armed Forces is voluntary, however, able bodied men and women between 18 and 30 years of age can be brought into the service should war erupt.

The Armed Forces operate predominantly by themselves, however, regularly participate in bilateral drills with the Tiperyn Realm Guard, the Marine Nationale, and various other military forces throughout the region and NSC.

Foreign Affairs
New Valentina maintains embassies in every current NSC country. It frequently participates in regional exercises and peacekeeping measures

Economy
As of 2020, New Valentina had a of $583.19 billion, XXth largest in Avalonia. The country's median household income is $20,112.56. New Valentina's largest exports are refined & unrefined crude oil, propane, plastics, natural gas, steel, heavy industrial equipment, and precision machinery for manufacturing electronics. It predominantly exports within it's own bloc, however, strides have been made in recent years to increase trade among foreign countries - mostly to the Pan-Artemian Coalition and it's member states.

New Valentina has accrued a reputation for being a "low taxes, low services" economy. It's tax burdens are some of the lowest in Avalonia, averaging 7.75% to 8%. This is predominantly collected through property tax, as the country lacks an income tax. Sales tax averages 8.25%, but this can be raised to 9.5% in some circumstances based on province.

New Valentina has also been listed as one of the most business friendly countries in Avalonia, in part due to it's low corporate tax rates and hefty multi-billion Valentine Enterprise Fund. It has become a popular landing site for large international companies looking to enter the Avalonian market, sporting multiple headquarters from Artemian and Kesh firms.

Due to relaxed worker rights laws and low taxes, New Valentina has been described as a "civil flag of convenience," where the process of flagging a ship is streamlined it must be routinely inspected (once every 1.5~ years) and must maintain a clean operating record abroad. Several countries have increased their inspections of ships flagged under New Valentina due to this reputation, however, this has not stopped the practice.

Transportation
Historically, Valentinians have had issues traversing the country due to the various climates and rough terrain. To compensate, vast networks of highways and railways have been constructed - some of which boasting Central Avalonia's highest speed limits. The regulatory authority Valentine Bureau of Transportation (VBT), maintains these roads and railways, regulates aviation, and maintains public transportation in major metropolitan centers.

Highways
The first highway, the Danijela-Praesel Expressway or VH-1, was constructed in 1947. To date, New Valentina has an estimated 76,000 miles (122,310km) of paved public roadways. This number also includes 13 tollways with more proposed to facilitate growth. The average speed limit is 85 miles per hour outside of metropolitan areas, and an average of 65 miles per hour inside of metropolitan areas. The tollway VHT-8, for a 50 mile stretch, has no recognized speed limit.

Airports
New Valentina has 415 airports, the vast majority being small municipal airports for in-country flights only. Servicing international and trans-national flights are the Praesel International Airport (PIA), the Boot Hill Memorial Airport (SDIA) located in Saint Danijela, and the Princess Valentina Airport (PVIA) in Firentyn.



Railways
A substantial part the tradition of cowboys and cattle drives from the edge of the Kaesami Desert to the coastal ports came to a head when the provisional government authorized the Blue & Gold Rail Company to begin construction of a line from Helte to the cow town of Lovenburg in August of 1853. This line later connected New Valentina to Tilenno and Arroyo-Abeille in 1878, bridging northern Avalonia and allowing goods and passengers to be exchanged between the countries.

Demographics
In 2010, New Valentina had a population of 25,145,561. The Census Bureau of New Valentina reported that the country had a population of 28,996,461 in 2020, an XX.XX% increase since the previous census. An independent survey by the Valentine Heritage Foundation determined the population to be 27,469,114 in 2015. New Valentina is the XXth rated country in Avalonia by population, XXth by population in Central Avalonia.

In 2015, New Valentina had an estimated XX.X foreign born immigrants, about XX% of the population. The main countries of origin for Valentine immigration were XXXX, XXXX, and XXXX.

New Valentina's population density is 124.1 people per square mile (47.9/km2) which is slightly lower than the average in Central Avalonia as a whole.

Languages
The most common dialect of Tipsprek in New Valentina has come to be referred to as Valentine Tipsprek, which itself is a sub-catagory of Avalonian Tipsprek. In the more urban areas of New Valentina, High Tipsprek and Common Tipsprek are more frequently spoken. A variety known as Gutterslang has been noted as existing in the Praesel Metroplex.

The Valentine Heritage Foundation conducted a study in 2018 which determined only XX% spoke Tipsprek. A further XX% spoke more than one language. Roughly 29% of the population spoke Arganian, due in large part to influences from neighboring Arbenz.

Healthcare
Healthcare in New Valentina has been criticized internationally due to privatization. Although sophisticated and effective, the healthcare system has been panned as being difficult to access with a high barrier of entry. Many people attribute the lack of accessibility to politics, while defendants state that it is not the government's role to become involved in personal affairs such as healthcare.

Despite the lack of public healthcare, New Valentina has been regarded as "remarkably fit," with upwards of 47% of inhabitants stating that they routinely visit a gym in a study conducted by the Public Health Institute in 2018.

Education
Remarkably, optional kindergarten is offered by the government through stipends to the various states until the age of six. After the age of six, primary schooling is compulsory for at least another ten years. Secondary schooling is divided into multiple tracks depending on whether the student opts to pursue academic of vocational education. Further education is available, with both private and government funding available to those who wish to pursue it.

A robust apprenticeship program is subsidized by the government which provides education comparable to an academic degree. This provides an excellent degree of both formal and informal education, leading many to hail New Valentina as upholding a progressive and well-rounded education policy.

Culture
Culturally, New Valentina has been a mix of Central Avalonian, Tiperyn, and Artemian influences varying from one section of the nation to the next. Due to New Valentina's position and climate, it has become a melting pot for a number of cultures across the world.

Notably, Praesel houses significant populations of Arbenzan, Modrovian, and Ringeriker cultures formed largely of refugees and immigrants following the Valentine Emergency and Sorland War respectively.

Cuisine


Since before New Valentina's induction as a Viceroyalty, traders had been blending local flavors with their own stocks before setting sail. A common practice was to smoke various meats to preserve them on the long and treacherous journey across the Iapetus. This process was later replicated by Bushrangers escorting cattle to the coast, typically infusing spices from Tilennan traders and Arganian Vaqueros from Arbenz. This culminated in the process now known as.

The process was accelerated by a preference for beef, as the vast majority of the countryside was dominated by large ranches specializing in cattle. It was later refined to a long process of slow cooking meat taken from the local Cayuga tribesmen, wherein indirect heat is used to cook in an enclosed pit. This style became tremendously popular, and now dominates the perception of Valentine cuisine.

Arts
Saint Danijela is the only city in New Valentina to house permanent residential companies for all major performing art disciplines; the Valentine Grand Opera, the St. Danijela Symphony Orchestra, the St. Danijela Ballet, and the Avalonian Theater. Known for it's vibrancy, the Saint Danijela Theater District composes ten block area in the heart of the city.

Praesel was awarded the "Music Capitol of New Valentina" in 1994 after it surpassed Firentyn for the largest concentration of music venues in the country. Although predominantly being folk and rock oriented, the city does boast the annual Avalonian Electronica Convention and National Symphony Hall.