Holy Columbian Empire (Days After Chaos)

**Holy Columbian Empire**
Timeline: Days After Chaos
OTL equivalent: American Southeast
Holy Columbian EmpireTimeline: Days After Chaos ; OTL equivalent: American Southeast
	← 1931 - Present
	Motto: ; Out of Chaos, Order
	Anthem: ; Ode to Columbia;
	The Holy Columbian Empire and the borders of its member states.
Capital	Columbus (Legislative); Executive capital varies between elections
Official languages	Dixie English
Regional languages	Cherokee, Tuskegee
Ethnic groups	White (71%); African (20%); Native American (8%); Hispanic (1%)
Demonym	Columnian
Religion	Columbianism(before); Unionism(after 1963)
Government	Elective Monarchy
Establishment
Currency	Columbian Dollar (local currencies remain common)

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The Holy Columbian Empire is a vast elective monarchy stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great River. It was formed in 1930, when the Kings of Rome, Atlantia, and Georgia signed the Treaty of Columbus at the end of the Columbian Wars.

Pre-Chaos[]

Very little is known of the region before the Chaos, but the general belief, based on the very few surviving documents, is the area was part of a "Greater Columbia" that fought for its freedom from a more powerful and tyrannical nation, but the name of which is not known. Records lead many to believe the region was prosperous following it winning its freedom, but was devastated in the early years of the Chaos.

Chaos[]

The region was hit by a series of natural disasters during the Chaos. Although what is now the Holy Columbian Empire escaped the worst of the Great Hurricane, famine and plague killed millions on their own. What is now the Kingdom of Yamasee experienced massive flooding, and Atlanta, capital of the later Kingdom of Atlantia, suffered the loss of up to 60% of its buildings to the Great Atlanta Fire.

Post-Chaos[]

Around 1904 several years after the Chaos ended, the region held no resemblance to its former self. In Augusta, George Carmichael founded the Kingdom of Georgia, naming it after himself. Henry Mableson gave the people of Atlanta hope when he declared himself King of Atlantia. And less than forty miles away, William Oswell gave rise to the Kingdom of Rome. Those three and their successors would clash with each other and other republics and kingdoms, like Elijah and Yamasee, over resources and territory for over thirty five years in what would be called the Columbian Wars, none of them getting an upper hand.

In 1926, scholars looking for the lost history found the documents that are now the basis of the Holy Columbian Empire. Notes and papers referencing the Goddess Columbia, and Greater Columbia's war for independence gave rise to a new religion: Columbianism. Columbianism is based on the few historical documents mentioning the region from before the Chaos, believing the Goddess Columbia blessed the land herself, wishing for it to be forever prosperous. The Chaos is believed to have occurred as a result of Vengeance taken upon the land by the deity of the land Greater Columbia fought for its freedom from. The subsequent wars were began to be seen as humanity being lead astray from the path laid forth by Columbia.

Almost immediately, the people and nobility of the land, looking for some explanation to the Chaos and their position, grabbed a hold of Columbianism and saw what they believed the errors and sins in their ways. The Kingdoms of Rome, Atlantia, and Georgia were the first to convert en masse, and later signed a treaty of peace in the city of Columbus, believed to be named after Columbia herself.

The treaty laid the groundwork for the Holy Columbian Empire: the members retain sovereignty from each other, but all obey the commands of the King of the Columbians, whom the elect from among them. Representatives from the member nations meet in Columbus and establish a common policy. Finally, the monarch elected to be King of the Columbians swears to reclaim land in the name of the Goddess Columbia.

The organization was tenuous at first, but as the Columbianist faith spread, more monarchs joined, with its most significant expansion being the admittance of the Kingdom of Yamasee in 1941.

Expansion westward has been steady, usually priests have preceded the armies by up to five years. Those that don't convert and join, are conquered, and an inquisition cracks down on non-believers. Columbia reached the Great River in 1965, after failing to expand into New Orleans by force and subsequently expanding northwest. The northern border has slowed in expansion in recent years, due to focus being diverted onto the gulf republics.

Arrival of Unionism[]

Territory[]

The Holy Columbian Empire stretches across the borders of six former states of the United States of America. From the Empires inception, a steady growth, first south and east, then west, constantly growing in size The member states of the Empire vary in size themselves: from the Kingdom of Atlantia, the largest, to the Presidency of Macon, the smallest.

Only two member states, Yamasee and Cumberland, have direct access to the ocean. This advantage, much more Yamasees than Cumberland, makes them some of the wealthier members of the Holy Columbian Empire thanks to trade with the Gulf states up to Annapolis.

Georgia, Statesboro, Memphis, and Transylvania own ports on the Empire chief trade rivers, the Savannah and Great River.

Religion[]

Government[]

The government is heavily decentralized, and tensions between members often increase drastically. However, all members respect the final word of the Columbus government, which often intervenes to prevent conflict.

Imperial Elections[]

As the Holy Columbian Empire is an elective monarchy, upon the death of the previous Emperor, the Electoral College assembles in the Empires legislative capital, Columbus, to elect a successor. However, due to the distance the news of the Emperors death has to cross to reach the farther out electors (the President of Memphis is the farthest), the Imperial Throne often remains vacant for up to three months before a successor is chosen. (Note: the Imperial Throne is an expression for the ruler of the Holy Columbian Empire, not a physical throne.) As a result, a favorite to succeed rises in the event of illness or aging in the Emperor.

Since the election of the first Unionist emperor, Henry II of Atlantia in 1963, the Emperorship has remained in Atlanta, much to the disdain of the remaining Columbianist electors: The Kingdoms of Dixieland and Tupelo, and the Presidency of Memphis. Because of this, the three of them typically form a coalition in favor of one their rulers.

Eligibility of Women[]

The Holy Columbian Empire does not follow Salic-like law, women are not barred from being elected Empress, but no woman has succeeded in doing so. However, Mary II, then-Queen of Yamasee, nearly won the 1988 election to succeed George I of Atlantia. Queen Mary, then age 52, remained a holdout on converting to Unionism, and tallied four votes out of nine votes. It has been speculated that had the Presidency of Chattanooga sent its incumbent President, Columbianist Marcus Richardson, and not waited until after the end of its own election (where Richardson was ousted by Unionist Herman Scott) Mary would've been elected.

In light of the death of Emperor George of Atlantia at the Battle of Jacksonville in July 2014, and the grossly unpopular, Atlantian-sponsored Columbia-Tampanian War, many states have left Atlantias caucus, and it can no longer rely on old electoral allies in Romagna, Georgia and Elijah. Instead, many states have flocked to the banners of either Isabella V, the current Queen of Yamasee, or Sabrina I, the Queen of Dixieland. States such as Corinithia, Transylvania, and Hazurd have (albeit unsurprisingly) embraced their Columbianist sister for the throne, while Isabella has recently been courting Statesboro, Macon, and Sylvester, all longtime Atlantian allies. A shift in caucuses has the possibility of influencing the still undecided Electoral College members, but with Atlantia seemingly only pulling one vote (itself), there is a strong possibility Isabella and Sabrina would end up courting for Atlantias tie-breaking vote following the initial vote, either scenario results in Columbias first Empress.

Electoral College[]

George IV, King of Atlantia
William V, King of Georgia
Margaret Haywood, President of Elijah
Robert II, King of Rome
Henry Perdue, President of Chattanooga
Isabella V, King of Yamasee
Sabrina I, Queen of Dixieland
Robert V, King of Tupelo
Mary Cotton, President of Memphis

Caucus[]

Caucuses are a manner in which the lesser states of the Holy Columbian Empire express their views towards the imperial elections. Typically, the states caucus with the nation they would preferably be seen given the imperial title, however, if that state does not wish to be granted it, then it's caucus either supports their imperial vote, or attempt to find a different state to support.

The electors are not legally bound to vote based on their caucus, but they are often influenced by it anyway.

In light of the death of Emperor George of Atlantia at the Battle of Jacksonville in July 2014, and the grossly unpopular, Atlantian-sponsored Columbia-Tampanian War, many states have left Atlantias caucus, and it can no longer rely on old electoral allies in Romagna, Georgia and Elijah. Instead, many states have flocked to the banners of either Isabella V, the current Queen of Yamasee, or Sabrina I, the Queen of Dixieland. States such as Corinithia, Transylvania, and Hazurd have (albeit unsurprisingly) embraced their Columbianist sister for the throne, while Isabella has recently been courting Statesboro, Macon, and Sylvester, all longtime Atlantian allies. A shift in caucuses has the possibility of influencing the still undecided Electoral College members, but with Atlantia seemingly only pulling one vote (itself), there is a strong possibility Isabella and Sabrina would end up courting for Atlantias tie-breaking vote following the initial vote, either scenario results in Columbias first Empress.

Symbols[]

Banner[]

The flag of the Holy Columbian Empire bears three horizontal stripes in a red-white-red, each representing the three founding kings of the Empire. A blue field is placed in a canton fashion, itself bearing a double-headed black eagle, the two heads representing truth and knowledge, around each head is a yellow halo, representing the Empires religious foundation.

The eagle was chosen after the artist, James Woodall, claims a black double-headed eagle visited him in a dream. He said the eagle itself had a gold hue around it, explaining the gold trim around the eagle on the flag.

The flag is often referred to as the "Bird and Bars".