Principality of Azure

The Principality of Azure is a coastal princely state bordered on all sides by the Empire of Maastrin. With a population of 13,650,000 it is home to historical port cities, Azure and Port-au-Zaffir, once the imperial metropolis known as Portsmon. Known for its fertile river valley and forested mountain scenery, it is a popular tourist destination. It comprises of the two metropolitan provinces of Azure and Zaffir-Otari, and the regional provinces of Santos, Takasa, and Tokai.

The Principality was formed in 6047, following the Great Western War which dissolved the former short lived Azure Republic who's instability following the collapse of the Azurian Empire, ended in a nationalist fervor throughout the new republic. Azurians were forced to flee back to the home cities, where the new Government engaged in a programme of forced removals for many minority groups, forcing a severe economic collapse, and demographic crisis, with the population of Azure dropping from 38,450,00 at its peak in 6045, to the current population of just over 13,000,000 in 6060.

The nation is a constitutional monarchy, with the Prince being the Head of State, and the Premier General being the Head of Government. The former position currently occupied by the 23 year old Prince Auron the Second of House Montierre, whose father Emperor and later Prince, Sir Bastian the Third, oversaw the collapse of the Azurian Empire and its shortlived republic, before dissolving the state and fleeing to Azure. The Premier General being Francis Cavon of the Conservative Liberals, who has served in his position since the first election. Being a staunch nationalist, he initiated an immense repatriation effort of Azurians and the forced explusion of the Zafir, as well as raising taxes on minority groups to force migration.

The Santos Crisis (6049) was a minor civil war which began when the Santossians rose up against the Premier Minor of the Province of Santos who was appointed by the Premier General in an effort to prevent a Socialist government in the province, ending in a terrorist attack and occupation of the Westport docks in which trade was blocked to the entire nation, causing a snap economic crisis with the Port-au-Zafir Exchange collapsing by over 25% in a day. The crisis was eventually ended after 5 months when an emergency Constitutional Amendment enshrined Santos as a unique region of the nation with its own identity and people. Similar amendments protecting Indigenous Takai people in the provinces of Takasa and Tokai were implemented in 6051.

Demographically, 54% of the population is ethnically Azurian, 24% being Santossian, 16% being Indigenous Takai people, 4% being the creole Zafirriens and the remaining 2% being other minority groups. Previously Zafirriens made up over 40% of the population in the region, primarily being the descendants of traders speaking their own creole language, however many were deported following the Nationalist Government in 6047 as the return of the Azurian expatriates remained the priority of the new government.

Politically the nation has three major parties, the Azurian Conservative Liberals (ACL), a centre right and liberal party, the Conservative and Unionist Party (CUP) usually referred to as just the Unionists, a centre right to far right and hard nationalist party, and the Progressive People's Party (PPP), a centre to centre right, socially progressive party. These three parties have continuously been in Government together in what is known simply as the Governing Coalition since the foundation of democracy in 6047. Previously these parties were united as the Azurian Union League in the Parliament of the Azure Republic, and the Azurian Imperial Defence Union in the Royal Assembly of the Empire of Azure.

Former major party the Socialists, found its support collapse outside of Santos following the Santos crisis in which it played a huge role as the backer of minority rights. To this day, the Socialists have not won a seat outside of the province since the 6051 election.