Constituent Countries
THE CROWN OF RUSSIA
Russia: 1. Muskovy 2. Novgorod 3. Nizhny Novgorod 4. Pskov 5. Smolensk 6. Kiev 7. New Russia 8. The Don 9. Kuban 10. Stavropol 11. Kalmykia 12. Astrakhan 13. Saratov 14. Samarra 15. Kazan 16. Ufa 17. Perm 18. Siberia 19. Irkutia 20. Yakutia 21. Russian Far East 22. Polar Island Territories Alaska: 23. Inner Alaska 24. Aleutia 25. Yupikia 26. Nunakput 27. Haida Islands 28. Yukon and Klondike Turkestan: 29. Seven Rivers 30. Kazakh Steppes 31. Syrdarya 32. Samarkand 33. Khiva 34. Bokhara 35. Ashgabat Georgia: 36. Kartlia and Kakhetia 37. Imereti 38. Suanetia 39. Megrelia 40. Guria Circassia: 41. Adygea 42. Abkhazia 43. Karachai and Cherkessi 44. Kabardia 45. Ossetia 46. Ingushetia 47. Khevsuria 48. Chechnya 49. Dagestan 50. Sochi |
Thrace:
51. Thrace 52. Thracian Sporades 53. The Holy Mountain (non-voting) Hawaii: 54. Hawaii 55. Polynesian Sporades Other realms of the Russian Crown: 56. Russian California 57. Mazandaran 58. Shirvan 59. Armenia 60. Crimea 61. Pontus 62. Assab 63. Cyprus THE CROWN OF POLAND Poland: 64. Poland 65. Lithuania 66. Prussia 67. Danzig 68. Belarus 69. Chervonarus 70. Volhynia 71. Podolia Other realms of the Polish Crown: 72. Transylvania THE CROWN OF SWEDEN Sweden: 73. Sweden 74. Finland 75. Scanian Lands 76. Lapmark 77. Aaland German Coast: 78. Pomerania 79. Mecklenburg 80. Holstein 81. Bremen Other realms of the Swedish Crown: 82. Erfurt 83. New Sweden 84. Saint Barts |
JIAN 堅 (CROWN OF THE EAST) Manchuria: 85. Heliongjiang 86. Jilin 87. Liaodong 88. Port Arthur 89. Maritime Province Korea: 90. Korea 91. Jeju Ezochi: 92. Ezochi 93. Sahalin REALMS SHARED BY THE CROWNS Baltic Realms (Swe/Pol/Rus): 94. Livonia 95. Estonia 96. Courland 97. Gambia 98. Tobago (New Courland) 99. Ingria Romania (Pol/Rus): 100. Moldavia 101. Wallachia Karelia (Swe/Rus): 102. Kexholm 103. Karelia 104. Kola Outer Mongolia (Rus/Jian): 105. Buryatia 106. Tannu-Tuva 107. Altai 108. Kobdo 109. Uliastai 110. Khangaia 111. Urga INDEPENDENT CROWNS 112. Bulgaria 113. Serbia 114. Oregon Coasts 115. Bactria 116. Chitral 117. Zweibrücken 118. Heptanese (Corfu, Zante, Cephalonia, Lefkas, Cythera, Ithaca, Paxi) 119. Order of St. John (non-geographic, non-voting) 120. Cossack Grand Hetmanate (non-geographic, non-voting) The Alpine States: 121. Werdenberg 122. Tettnang 123. Hohenschwangau The Imperial Settlements: 124. Tianjin Settlement 125. Shanghai Settlement 126. Hankou Settlement (non-voting) 127. Canton Settlement (non-voting) |
The Imperial Commonwealth's primary divisions are the Realms, which act as basically independent countries on the world stage, all of which are united by the monarchy, the Commonwealth, and a network of other, bilateral ties. Most of the Realms are organized into four Crowns which stand for historical imperial powers. The European Crowns of Russia, Poland, and Sweden are the original nucleus of the empire. The "Crown of the East," or in formal terms the Jian Dynasty, was formed as a conceptual northern Chinese dynasty created after the Manchu banners rebelled against Chinese rule with Russian support. Manchuria, and later Korea and Ezo, have never been under direct Russian control but have been instead linked to Russia through the Jian Emperor, who is the same person as the Tsar.
The larger Realms are all composites of smaller, traditional lands. These are collectively called Constituent Countries. The Countries form the basis of representation in the United Parliament in St. Petersburg. They are also the source of much civic pride and identity throughout the Commonwealth. Their actual status varies. Finland and the Lappmark (constituents of Sweden) are almost totally self-governing. Many of Russia's constituents, such as Kazan and Kiev, are states with moderate autonomy; while others, like Nizhny Novgorod, are little more than large administrative units. Most Constituent Countries come from traditional lands and divisions, such as the "Kingdoms" within Georgia. Some, however, are modern subdivisions, such as the "Republics" of Circassia.
The seven islands of the Heptanese are sometimes considered separate constituent countries. The island nation once had a much looser federal structure, and each island still has a degree of self-government. The seven are not formally considered "countries" according to the Parliament's official list, but an internal agreement guarantees that each island shall send at least one representative, so they effectively function as constituent countries. The seven islands, in order of population, are: Corfu, Zante, Cephalonia, Lefkas, Cythera, Ithaca, and Paxi. Except for Corfu, all have less than 50,000 people.
The Commonwealth also maintains four "settlements," or enclaves, in various Chinese ports. Begun as joint Russian-Manchurian projects, they are now considered to belong to the Imperial Commonwealth as a whole. All are quite cosmopolitan, but definitely small. The two larger settlements, in Tianjin and Shanghai, have substantial populations and have obtained votes in Parliament. The two smaller ones have not, and their residents look to the Shanghai settlement to represent their interests in St. Petersburg. Port Arthur, an autonomous city in Manchuria, started as a settlement like these four but today is fully under Manchurian sovereignty.
Finally, three entities on this list have a special status. The Holy Mountain is part of the territory of the Empire of Thrace, but it is largely run by the communities of monks that live there. It has a distinct law code and set of institutions, more than qualifying it for Constituent Country status. But for a variety of reasons it has been considered inappropriate to give the monks a vote in the United Parliament, so its MP is a non-voting member. The Order of St. John is a medical aid institution throughout the Commonwealth descending from the Knights Hospitaller. It has enjoyed a deep connection with the Tsars but has always remained independent of any one state. Today its main headquarters are in Cyprus, St. Petersburg, and St. Barts. It has been represented in the United Parliament since that body's creation but has neither a vote nor territory. Finally, the Cossack Grand Hetmanate is an umbrella organization for the many Cossack groupings throughout the commonwealth. At one point the Grand Hetmanate actually controlled territory, typically as a vassal of Russia. Today it is strictly an ethnic organization. Its member bodies are based mostly in Russia, but there are some in such places as Romania, Crimea, Circassia, Manchuria, and Alaska. The Cossacks no longer have a vote, but out of tradition continue to send a representative to the United Parliament.
The larger Realms are all composites of smaller, traditional lands. These are collectively called Constituent Countries. The Countries form the basis of representation in the United Parliament in St. Petersburg. They are also the source of much civic pride and identity throughout the Commonwealth. Their actual status varies. Finland and the Lappmark (constituents of Sweden) are almost totally self-governing. Many of Russia's constituents, such as Kazan and Kiev, are states with moderate autonomy; while others, like Nizhny Novgorod, are little more than large administrative units. Most Constituent Countries come from traditional lands and divisions, such as the "Kingdoms" within Georgia. Some, however, are modern subdivisions, such as the "Republics" of Circassia.
The seven islands of the Heptanese are sometimes considered separate constituent countries. The island nation once had a much looser federal structure, and each island still has a degree of self-government. The seven are not formally considered "countries" according to the Parliament's official list, but an internal agreement guarantees that each island shall send at least one representative, so they effectively function as constituent countries. The seven islands, in order of population, are: Corfu, Zante, Cephalonia, Lefkas, Cythera, Ithaca, and Paxi. Except for Corfu, all have less than 50,000 people.
The Commonwealth also maintains four "settlements," or enclaves, in various Chinese ports. Begun as joint Russian-Manchurian projects, they are now considered to belong to the Imperial Commonwealth as a whole. All are quite cosmopolitan, but definitely small. The two larger settlements, in Tianjin and Shanghai, have substantial populations and have obtained votes in Parliament. The two smaller ones have not, and their residents look to the Shanghai settlement to represent their interests in St. Petersburg. Port Arthur, an autonomous city in Manchuria, started as a settlement like these four but today is fully under Manchurian sovereignty.
Finally, three entities on this list have a special status. The Holy Mountain is part of the territory of the Empire of Thrace, but it is largely run by the communities of monks that live there. It has a distinct law code and set of institutions, more than qualifying it for Constituent Country status. But for a variety of reasons it has been considered inappropriate to give the monks a vote in the United Parliament, so its MP is a non-voting member. The Order of St. John is a medical aid institution throughout the Commonwealth descending from the Knights Hospitaller. It has enjoyed a deep connection with the Tsars but has always remained independent of any one state. Today its main headquarters are in Cyprus, St. Petersburg, and St. Barts. It has been represented in the United Parliament since that body's creation but has neither a vote nor territory. Finally, the Cossack Grand Hetmanate is an umbrella organization for the many Cossack groupings throughout the commonwealth. At one point the Grand Hetmanate actually controlled territory, typically as a vassal of Russia. Today it is strictly an ethnic organization. Its member bodies are based mostly in Russia, but there are some in such places as Romania, Crimea, Circassia, Manchuria, and Alaska. The Cossacks no longer have a vote, but out of tradition continue to send a representative to the United Parliament.