Le Très Noble Royaume de SolevallisThe Noble Kingdom of Solevallis
National Flag of Solevalis
Royal Coat of Arms of the d’Argellac Dynasty
HISTORY
In the 10th Century the region of modern day Solevallis was colonised by the ancestors of the modern day inhabitants. The people of Solevallis had arrived not as conquerers but as mercenaries who exchanged military service for land. Over the next 80 years the people of Solevallis realised that rather than serving their native masters they would be able to take control and carve out their own Kingdom. This drew more urgenecy when rumours spread that the Solevallis people would be forced to accept a foreign God or would be pushed off their hard won land. As a result under a war-band chieftan called Arnaud Janvier managed to unite several other warbands and set about carving through their former paymasters. Soon they had established a collective of different kingdoms each led by their war-band chieftan. Between the 11th and 16th Centuries these different Kingdoms were united through war, diplomacy and marriage until in 1603 King Éric Leclercq formally accepted the oaths of loyalty of the remaining Kingdoms. In 1625 King Éric Leclercq named the new larger Kingdom the Noble Kingdom of Solevallis, translating as Valley of the Sun. Over the next 400 years a balancing act between the royal familiy and the art of democracy has occured. Currently the crown rests in the hands of the d’Argellac family for the past 120 or so years.
POLITICS
Assembly Hill Palace
The nation splits power between the crown and an elected government. The way laws are passed in the nation are actually straight forward. Either the monarch or elected consul must present legislation before the Royal Assembly. This body is made up of 75% elected officials from across the Kingdom and 25% appointed by the monarch. To become law the legislation must gain a majority of the votes of those in attendance when the vote is cast. However the monarch does posses the power to veto any legislation. This though can be overcome if 75% of the assembled membership vote in favour of the legislation.
The Consul is elected every four years. They must be born within the Kingdom and have lived there for the past five years. Anyone with any criminal record is banned from holding the office. To stand an individual must have ten signatures of from Mayors, military officers, assembly members, priests or police officers. Once this has been achieved each of the candidates is placed on the ballot. After voting should no individual get 50.1% there is a run off election.
The Royal Assembly is made up of 290 elected members and 96 who are appointed by the monarch. To become an Assembly Member you must be a citizen of Soleville and have lived in the area you wish to represent for five years. Each Assembly member who is elected is selected by a geographical area of around 130,000 people. Elections are held for the Assembly every four years staggered with the elections for consul.
The Assembly Hill Palace is the meeting place for the Assembly and sits high on a hill overlooking the city of Sireval
GEOGRAPHY
The nation is relatively small in geographic terms with the capital of Sireval being a sprawling mass of homes around two large hills. The capital is on a coastal plain where the large Dordanel river meets the sea. The Dordanel Valley is the heart of the nation and from where the name comes. With amazing all year round weather and perfect soil the valley has seen some unique cultivation of terraces so that vineyards dominate. Several smaller tributory rivers flow into the Dordanel meaning the nation is a network of valleys which in the nations early history made it difficult to get around easily.
CULTURE
A great deal of the nation's culture is based around the worship of the Celestine Cycle, an ancient belief system that focuses on natural beauty, celestial harmony, and the divine aspects of the sun, moon, and seasons. Rather than a single god, the Celestine Cycle worships a pantheon of personified natural forces. There are four main Gods, Solenne (the sun, representing life and royalty), Lunara (the moon, guardian of dreams and secrets), Terravine (the earth and vines, goddess of growth and harvest), and Caelus (the sky and winds, spirit of change and destiny).
Temples, known as Sanctuaires, are often built on scenic hilltops or within vineyard terraces, blending architecture with nature. The cycle’s rituals emphasize art, music, and seasonal festivals that reflect the beauty of the land and celestial rhythms. High Priests and Priestesses of the Celestine Order hold cultural and political influence, and their endorsement is one of the traditional qualifications needed to run for high office, including Consul.
The Festival of Solenne, held on the longest day of the year, is the most important national celebration—marked by public art exhibitions, wine feasts, and theatrical performances that retell the mythic founding of Solevallis.
AT A GLANCE
Nations Name: The Noble Kingdom of Solevallis
Population: Approx 38million people
Capital City: Sireval (approx 7.2million)
Langauges: Vallic (French for the nobility), Corvallic (French for the lower classes) While Vallic is spoken widely among the nobility Corvallic is the language of day to day activity for all. The languages are pretty interchangable.
Religion: Celetsine 88% Others 12%
GDP Per Capita: $34,803
Monarch: Queen Lucille II
Consul: Eléonore Tasse
