Lourenne, officially the United Kingdom of Lourenne (Canrillaise: Royaume Uni de Lourenne) is a sovereign state located in western Dovani. Lourenne is bordered by Seko to the east, Statrica to the south and by the Anantonese Ocean to the north and west. The national capital and largest city is Eroncourt.
Historically Lourenne was a Rildanorien colony but since achieving independence, it has had a history of republican and monarchist regimes of its own. Prior to colonisation, the region compromised large parts of the Orinco Empire and was inhabited primarily by the Orinco, Nadavi and Taxteco people.
In modern times, Lourenne has been one of the most important cultural and economic centres in Dovani and has taken a leading role in various international organisations such as the World Congress and the Northern Council. Domestically, Lourennais politics was often characterised as being dominated by consensus and grand coalitions have been a common feature of government in recent decades.
The origin of the name Lourenne is not known for certain but, according to national folklore, it was decided when Rildanorien colonist Mathieu Dessaigne was asked what the native peoples of the region called their land.
Prior to colonisation by Selucia in the late 15th century, Lourenne was inhabited primarily by the Orinco people and the Orinco Empire. Additionally, modern Lourennais territory formed part of the regions controlled of the Nadavis and Taxtecos in prehistory.
1496-1873: Rildanorien colonisation[]
For over three and a half centuries, Lourenne was colonised by the Selucian government and by private trading companies based in Selucia. Colonisation first began in 1496, before Selucian unification, under the leadership of the Dutchy of Nabal. By 1600 most of the territory in Lourenne has been sold to private companies. After Selucian unification Lourenne was reorganized as a Proconsular Province. In the late 19th century, rebellion against colonial rule led many of these companies to seek support from the Selucian government and eventually to nationalisation of the territories, once again. During Selucian rule the Canrillaise language emerged as a creole language, spoken in Lourenne and the South Seleyan colonies of Kanjor, Alduria, and Rildanor.
1873-3698: Middle period[]
Lourenne achieved independence following a long conflict known as the Slow Revolution. Significant tension remained between Canrillaise-speaking people and indigenous groups for much of the country's early history, though. The most devastating impact of this was the Nojoch Matanza, a series of genocides against the native peoples of the region carried out by the Canrillaise-majority government. In the following centuries, Lourenne began to develop and modernise, alternating between monarchist and republican governance.
3698-present: Contemporary period[]
Since 3698, there has been relatively stability in Lourenne. The country has generally been governed as a parliamentary constitutional monarchy with brief republican periods in between. The current political system has existed since for over a century and enabled Lourenne to achieve cultural and economic development.
Within the Lourennais political system, the Monarch is the head of state while the High Chancellor is the head of government and chairs the cabinet. Executive power is exercised collectively by the cabinet but it is the unicameral Royal Assembly which has supreme legislative power, according to the Constitution of Lourenne.
Lourenne is described as a "consensus democracy" in which an emphasis is placed on cooperation between political parties but a multi-party system exists, with For Justice! and the National Royalist Party as the two dominant parties over the last two decades.
Lourenne is divided into five principalities, each with its own regional legislature. Though the Royal Assembly holds supreme legislative power in the country, it has devolved control of certain policy issues to the principalities to administer. Education is the primary area in which the principalities hold significant power. In addition, Lourenne is composed of one hundred arrondissement, which deliver two representatives to the national legislature in general elections.
Foreign relations[]
The chamber of the World Congress General Assembly
Over the past century, Lourenne has emerged as an important regional power in Dovani. Alongside Kazulia, Dorvik and Hutori, it was influential in achieving a period of "unipolarity" or "hegemony" under the Northern Council (NOCTO). Since the dissolution of NOCTO, Lourenne has strengthened bilateral relations with Indrala and Kalistan in an attempt to further aid its economic development and pursue security priorities in Dovani.
As a member of the World Congress, Lourenne has been a vocal critic of nations like Temania which "seek to undermine international organisations" as well as the so-called "Axis of Dovani" of Utari Mosir, Suyu Llaqta and Liore. In addition, Lourenne has always enjoyed a "special relationship" with the Canrillaise-speaking nations: Alduria, Kanjor and Rildanor. At times they have even been united under a single monarch or as a loose confederation of independent states, referred to as Canrille.
