The East PacificBoard

First, though, we must dive in to the rich history of Setubalde. Around the year 1143, the area nowadays known as Setubalde was inhabited by Estander tribes that had migrated from their homeland. These tribes often fought to establish a second united Kingdom that would bear the namesake of their fathers. One tribe, the Sao Setubal, under the king Miguel the First, slowly absorbed their neighbors through diplomacy, alliances, and war. Finally, after conquering the last tribe, Setubalde was united under one flag. The original capital, Coimbra, was the center of trade and the large ship making industry. Located on the coast, it was a primal location, with large strategic importance. For a long time, the political landscape remained the same (consistently) throughout the ensuing centuries. In 1375, however, a fleet of Setubalder galleons discovered three size-able islands on their way to explore Yatreovakia. Naming them the Amalgo Islands, they consisted of three separate strips of land: Amalgo Minor, Amalgo Major, and Grand Amalgo. The largest, being Gran Amalgo, was a great trading hub for future powers trying to colonize the nations of Belekria and Sminishia. In the future age of colonization, these islands were a large source of income for the monarchy, which was spent on building a strong naval tradition in order to further the Kingdom’s interests.

Moving on, there was the Endurance years, otherwise known as the anos de resistência. This was a period of relative instability that lasted from 1515 to 1534. The Amalgo islands had revolted, and the powerful Setubalder navy was sent to reclaim the islands. The serfs in old Setubalde incited rebellion against their landlords, forcing the King into a corner. He launched a quick invasion of Gran Amalgo, and seized the island within months. The King turned his attention to the east, and crushed the serf revolt with his private, yet well trained, army. After quelling the peasant revolt, the fleet captured the remaining Amalgo Islands. This was lasted nineteen years, however, and drained the Setubalder economy. The Knkgdom didn’t truly recover for decades.

Now the Kingdom had entered a decline, in terms of foreign influence and power. The trade around the Amalgo Islands became less prosperous as more routes were discovered, even though it remained the most popular by far. The birth rate also dropped, and underground political parties were established under the nose of the ruling house. In the year 1700, the first republic was established after a short month long revolution. This republic was marked with brutal executions for any dissent towards it, and the former king was decaptitated in front of his countrymen. Counterrevolution spread across the Republic in the wake of the Bloody Reign (Estander: reinado sangrento). These counterrevolutionaries wanted to restore the Kingdom, believing that it had brought more prosperous times to Setubalde. The uprising was successful, and the second kingdom was founded after a brief seven weeks of Republican interruption.

The history of the Second Kingdom has been not as up and down as that of the First Kingdom. Formed in 1701, the Second Kingdom sought to revitalize the flow of income into the port cities of the coastal regions. The capital was relocated from Coimbra to Corsa Real in an effort to attract more international companies, and acquiring trade from the said companies. The colonial trade picked up pace under the revitalized regime, and trading posts were established in present day Karcovshkie, in what is now their capital city of Ceskantie. Another, just south of the Emirate of Savarastan, was less prosperous but generated revenue nonetheless. It was abandoned in 1836 because of the lack of fresh water. The Ceskantie Colony, however, would survive until the revolution of 1910. But that is for later. After trade routes were reopened, the Second Kingdom revamped the wealth of the state, and pooled it into building popular tourist attractions and further increasing the size of the navy. The navy, which had been neglected ever since the Reinado Sagrento, was once more a force to be reckoned with in the North Central Extoiriem Ocean.

Once more, Setubalde was on top of their region. The colonial trade was profiting, the shipbuilding industry was enormous- many customers had bought extravagant gingerbread work ships- and the treasury was overflowing. Yet, many thought that the government didn’t represent the people. So despite the gargantuan amount of money that the rich nation possessed, the people grew unsatisfied. And so, the discontent would mount all the way to the year 1910, when a communist revolution gripped the Second Kingdom. It was a long and drawn out war, as the large treasury of the establishment held them aloft, but after seven years of bloody and brutal fighting, the Social Republic of Setubalde was proclaimed in the city of Lagos.

Lead by Joao Parregrippe, the riches of the Kingdom were abused by the Parregrippist Regime early on, with large purchases of modern technology from foreign powers. This ultimately cost more to maintain than previous home built war tech, so the government had to raise tariffs on imported goods. Not to mention that the old colonial trades collapsed with the fall of the overseas empire of the Second Kingdom. This also resulted in the loss of millions from the national banks of the nation. Popular support of the communist regime dropped, and in 1943 the Orange Revolution cumulated into the founding of the third Kingdom.

Naturally, the new King had to make slight reforms to make sure that revolt never happened again. Reforming the kingdom into a constitutional monarchy, and loosing the large amount of power yielded by the state, was quite the task. Nevertheless, it was accomplished, and the people were satisfied. The Thrid Kingdom of Setubalde did take advantage of the massive military left behind by the Parregrippist regime, although the army was downsized substantially. The navy became the prime focus once more, and after reclaiming the Amalgo Islands, they patrolled the EEZ around the coastal areas for some time. Often going to fleet maneuvers, it rapidly became one of the more experienced navies in Nonscio. The tourism industry also boomed under the Thrid Kingdom. The monarchy snatched up foreign propaganda and bent it to exaggerate the beauty of the national coastlines, forests, and rivers. Above all, the Amalgo islands were portrayed as heaven on earth, with their pink sand beaches, lovely climate, and exotic animals. This new revenue was even further increased by the fact that the cost of trips to the islands skyrocketed as more people came. After enjoying this long period of peace and stability- which lasts to this day- Setubalde is one of the richest nations in the northern Fureans Ocean.