Scandinavia

HISTORY
First inhabited by Germanic peoples, the land of Scandinavia spans from the North Sea, to the frigid waters of the Arctic. Stretching for more than a million square kilometers, civilizations of great and small rose and fell on this lands. It was said that the Gods of Old chose Scandinavia to be the pinnacle of the world, explaining why it is situated at the northernmost part of the earth.

From Denmark to Greenland, Scandinavia plays a crucial role in the geopolitical sphere of the world, especially in Europe. Scandinavia is a haven of culture, art, traditions, and peoples that have been virtually untouched and unchanged for centuries.

THE CIVILIZATION, REALMS, AND STRUCTURE
Scandinavia is the home of three prominent civilizations; the Swedes, the Norwegians, and the Danes, including hundreds of ethnic tribes that are scattered across the vast, open lands. Three kingdoms dominate the land; Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. A minor kingdom on the land is known as the Kingdom of Arendelle. These kingdoms trace their ancestry from the great vikings of Old, even to the Norse gods themselves. The oldest kingdom to exist in Scandinavia is Denmark, being founded in the year 936 by the Norse king, Gorm, and the Kingdom of Arendelle being the youngest of the fold, founded in 1042 by its namesake king, Arendal the Great.

Swedes, Norwegians, Danes, or Arendellians; all of them are Scandinavians. They share a somewhat-related culture, almost-mirrored traditions, and closely-related languages. A Dane can somehow understand a Norwegian, like a Swede can understand them.

Scandinavia is dominated by valleys, mountains, lakes, island chains, and the ever-majestic fjords. It is said that Scandinavia is the perfect example of a time capsule of an ice age that have occurred thousands of years ago that led to its unique land formations, and odd shape. The capital of the kingdoms in Scandinavia are usually situated near the water as the Scandinavia peoples are native voyagers like their viking ancestors. The kingdoms barely trade by land, so the water is their lifeline, from trade, to movement of people.

The Kingdom of Denmark (Kongeriget Danmark)
The Danish kingdom came into existence during the conquest of a Viking king poetically named, Gorm the Old in 936. The kingdom of Denmark is the second oldest monarchy of all Scandinavian kingdoms, and also the second oldest monarchy in Europe. The Danes are renowned voyagers. In Scandinavia, Denmark might be the smallest of the three, but if all lands under sovereign rule are considered, Denmark will be the second largest nation in Scandinavia. The Kingdom of Denmark is where the famous House of Oldenburg hails. The royal house extended into several royal families of Europe, from England to the Russian Empire.

The Kingdom of Norway (Kongeriket Norge)
The Norwegian kingdom is the oldest kingdom in all of Scandinavia, dating as far back as the year 885 when Harald Fairhair unites the petty kingdoms (with the exception of the petty kingdom that soon became the Kingdom of Arendelle) into a unified, sovereign state. Like its Scandinavian neighbors, Norway shares a similar ancestry with Sweden and Denmark.

The Kingdom of Sweden (Kungariket Sverige)
The Swedish kingdom came into fruition in the year 1000 when Eric the Victorious was crowned King of Svealand and Gothland. The Swedes are historically intertwined with its Danish, and Norwegian neighbors, descending from the line of conquering vikings of Old. It is the largest continuous kingdom (in terms of landmass) in Scandinavia.

The Kingdom of Arendelle (Kongeriket Arendal)
Founded on 1042 by its namesake, High King Arendal the Great; the kingdom of Arendelle was the only petty kingdom of Norway that successfully fought against annexation, and became its own entity. Situated at the southwest fjord lands of Scandinavia, Arendelle owes much of its existence to its excellent rulers. Arendelle's monarchy is the most successful in Scandinavia. One of its defining success is winning a war against the Kalmar Union (Norway-Sweden) that lasted for 456 years, from 1355 until 1811.

Arendelle is a prominent, neutral kingdom, though it is always dragged into conflicts that its monarchy doesn't desire. The first recorded conquest of the kingdom took place under the Ice Queen, Ingrid of Støren when she defeated King Magnus IV of the Kingdom of Norway in the Battle of Northern Oslo, in which Magnus' Norse army of 75,000 men are defeated by Ingrid's 35,000 men. The kingdom would unify with Norway, with Ingrid as its first unified Queen.

Eventually, the Støren-Oslo's hold on Norway gradually declined, and in 1355, with the establishment of the Kalmar Union. Queen Margaret I of Denmark declares war on Queen Audhild of Arendelle, igniting the Queens' War, or most well-known as the Kalmar-Arendellian War that lasted for 456 years.

Arendelle became a subject of controversy in 1808 when King Runeard invaded Ulvefjorden to quell the supposed threat of the Northuldra Tribe. The king was slain in battle, and the prince-turned-King Agnarr withdraw from the contested land in 1811, marking the end of the Kalmar-Arendellian War. More controversy arose when Agnarr married his long-time lover, and commoner, Iduna, whom had a mysterious origin according to the nobility. The pair had two children, both of whom will become the greatest leaders of the kingdom; Elsa, and Anna.

The kingdom found itself shell-shocked when Agnarr and Iduna perished in the Dark Sea. The eighteen year old Elsa was proclaimed Queen of Arendelle. In 1839, the new queen accidentally revealed to the world her most kept secret; her ice powers, and plunged the kingdom in a disaster. A coup was attempted by the duke of Weselton, and Prince Hans of the Southern Isles to control Arendelle's flourishing wealth. The coup failed, and Elsa was accepted back as Queen.

Years passed, and Arendelle found itself haunted by the invasion of Ulvefjorden. The queen, along with her family ventured the mysterious lands of the Enchanted Forest in an attempt to undo whatever was done. After it, Elsa abdicates the throne, marking the first time in Arendelle's history that a monarch "gave up" the Crown in favor of a kin. Things went well for the now-Queen Anna of Arendelle, when the Southern Isles decided to invade. From there, Arendelle's rise as a global superpower came to life. Elsa returns to "legally" usurp the Throne of Arendelle from her sister. Unto there, Elsa started the rapid expansion of the kingdom, which she declared to be an empire in 1845. She revived the old system of the Kalmar Union, and modify it to what is now the Scandinavian Empire.

The Scandinavian Empire (1844 - )
After defeating the Swedish Empire, Elsa marched into Stockholm as a liberator. There, in the Cathedral of Stockholm, on October 21, 1845, Queen Elsa of Arendelle is crowned "Keiserinne av det Skandinaviske" or Empress of the Scandinavians, marking the birth of an empire of the North, the Scandinavian Empire of Arendelle. Today, the Empire that Elsa built is the world's sole global superpower, and is the wealthiest, most feared, and happiest nation in the world. It went through numerous wars to finally consolidate its presence in the region, including winning three wars against the mighty Russian Empire. Today, Keiserinne Elsa remains the only empress to have successfully invade Moscow, shadowing that of the botched attempt of then-emperor Napoleon of France. The empire is ruled with both a feather, and an iron fist. All the citizens are supported by the imperial government, and every aspect of the Scandinavian society is carefully monitored.

The Government under the Keiserdom of Scandinavia (1844 - Present)
As an multinational, autocratic nation, the government under Elsa has changed drastically since she first arrived at the scene back in June 1836. After the events of the Eternal Winter, Elsa quickly immersed herself with the politics of the land, and her surrounding neighbors. Changes have been made in Arendelle's autocratic system that has been around since the time of King Viktor I in the 1600s. Elsa solely dedicated various parts of her absolute power to people she sees fits, as Elsa is a believer of merit than privilege. In 1845, Elsa convenes the Scandinavian Council, an advisory body that will oversee the various aspects of the autocracy.

Decolonization of the Imperial Holdings and Possessions (1861)
On October 18, 1861, Queen Anna of Arendelle ordered the withdrawal of all Scandinavian forces and officials from the colonies, except for Antarctica. This is a result of Queen Elsa's death, and Anna's reluctance to continue running a complex, international empire outside Scandinavian land.

This move greatly upset the colonies held by Queen Elsa, as the colonial peoples wanted to stay under Scandinavia for security and prosperity. Anna has no comment about the matter.

On November 28, 1861, Elsa permanently starts the decolonization of the imperial holdings as her final act as Queen of Arendelle. The Dominion of Iceland was handed over to the Kingdom of Denmark. Some colonies opted to remain in the Scandinavian sphere of influence.

"Hagl, Skandinavia" (Hail, Scandinavia)
In 1861, the Ministry of Culture, along with the consent of the Imperial Government. Scandinavia ratified its official national anthem, as the empire used to have two anthems that are often confused with one another when used in formal events, such as a general ceremony.

The anthem was also proposed to be changed by Queen Elsa, stating that "the anthem should be about the People, and the Nation. Not about me, or what I have done for the people and nation." Calling it unnecessary for the national anthem to be dedicated to her.

During the Franco-Scandinavian War, Catherine pens the national anthem upon suggestion of Jørgen Andersen, a renowned composer from Denmark. Scandinavia's national anthem is called "Hagl, Skandinavia" (Hail, Scandinavia) wherein it signifies the aspects of what it is to be Scandinavian, and what it is like to be in the Scandinavian Empire.

The anthem is first used after the Franco-Scandinavian War when the French surrenders to the larger, more versatile Scandinavian Army at the Battle of Calais Port.