Bloenland

Flag of Bloenland

Kingdom of Great Blönland Königreich Groß-Blönland (Blönnish Kalmish) Capital: Burgenau Population: 17.355.500 (2020) Anthem: Blönlandlied

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Blönland, formally the Kingdom of Great Blönland (Königreich Groß-Blönland) is a country in East Uletha. It borders Remsfalen to the west, Pyokchin and Izaland to the south and Saikyel to the east, as well as the Darcodian Sea to the north. It covers an area of xxx square kilometers and has a population of over xx.x million, resulting in a population density of xxx per square kilometer. It is one of the easternmost culturally and linguistically Kalmish countries. The capital and largest city is Burgenau, located in the south, closely followed by Collenburg near the northern coast. Other major cities are the twin cities Dietfeld and Neustadt an der Lubbe, Papenau, Neustadt auf der Höhe, Daxau and Kronenburg.

A constitutional monarchy ruled by a King, Prime Minister and bicameral parliament, Blönland consists of two Constituent Countries (Länder) - the Kingdom of Blönland proper (Königreich Blönland), with the capital Burgenau and the Grand Duchy of Remsfalen-Lüningen (Großherzogtum Remsfalen-Lüningen), with the capital Collenburg. Historically distinct entities that were gradually unified after they came under a personal union, both have retained large degrees of autonomy and are culturally distinct, speaking different dialects. While Blönland is primarily Catholic, Remsfalen-Lüningen is mostly Protestant, except for areas in its south and east. The forested Central Mountains separate Blönland proper from largely flat Remsfalen-Lüningen, while the southern border is formed by the MOUNTAINRANGENAME.

Overview

Blönland as a consolidated entity came into existence in 1844, when King Friedrich-Alexander II of Blönland inherited, in accordance with the 1733 Treaty of Collenburg, the Grand Duchy of Remsfalen-Lüningen that had split off from Remsfalen in 1678 from his distant cousin, Grand Duke Otto V, prompting the Remsfalian invasion of Remsfalen-Lüningen and Blönland, also called the Six Months' War. The Treaty of Weisburg ended the war, stipulating that Remsfalen-Lüningen would maintain its independence and be ruled by the King of Blönland in a personal union but would form a customs union with Remsfalen and surrender part of its tax income. In a time of political instability in Remsfalen, King Friedrich-Alexander II's successor Georg I began taking measures to change the status quo as he feared that Remsfalen would claim the Grand Duchy again, which resulted in the Crisis of 1862 that almost ended in a second war between Blönland and Remsfalen.

On May 10th, 1863, the Second Treaty of Collenburg was signed, in which Remsfalen consented to a real union between Blönland and Remsfalen-Lüningen in exchange for receiving the territory of Gamsland. Three days later, on May 13th, the parliaments of Blönland and Remsfalen-Lüningen passed an Act of Union, which resulted in the formation of the Kingdom of Blönland-Remsfalen-Lüningen and created the borders known today. On May 17th, King Georg I was crowned Grand Duke of Remsfalen-Lüningen. The date is celebrated as the National Holiday since 1899.

Political integration of the two Blönnish regions lasted well into the 20th century and is often still considered incomplete. The Kingdom of Blönland proper and the Grand Duchy retained their own armies until the Great War forced a modernization of the armed forces in 1932, as well as their own parliamentary lower houses and governments until 1952. During the Great War, Blönland remained officially neutral but provided aid to [SIDE]. It became a haven for war refugees from other Kalmish countries and for businesses who did not want to wait until reconstruction in war-struck regions was complete, which benefitted the rural areas greatly and finalized the formation of the Collenburg Metropolitan Area, the country's largest.

On January 1st, 1952, the Great Reform Act came into effect, unifying the legislatives of Blönland and Remsfalen-Lüningen and giving the country its current name. It implemented many economical, legal and social reforms that helped Blönland to adapt to the postwar world, significantly deregulating the economy and allowing the Kingdom to become a hub for modern technologies without alienating the traditional industries like mining in the south and fishing in the north.

Blönland is notable for its space program, high-quality transportation network and is touristically important, hosting more than 63 million visitors per year. Its largest exports are automotive and aerospace parts, coal and semiconductors. Agriculture is centered around dairy production on the coastal plains and in the mountains as well as wine and fruit in the rolling hills of the central regions.

The Blönnish people remain culturally and socially conservative, especially in the south. Religion is a major part of life, and 88,5% of all citizens according to the Census of 2022 claim membership in one of the country's two major churches. The King has significant powers unusual for other constitutional monarchies, and the nobility retains legal privileges, not only dominating the upper house of Parliament but also owning more than half of the land.

Etymology

Flowers in a heath near Hartmannsdorf, Alt-Blönland

Blönland originally referred only to the plains northwest of Burgenau, where the Counts of Pyhritz, ancestors of the present Royal House, established themselves in the 12th and 13th centuries. It was first attested as "bluoend lant" in the writings of monk Saint Aribert of Burgenau in 945, which means "flowering land" or "blooming land" and refers to the fertility and aesthetically pleasing landscape of the plains. Over time, it was corrupted to "Blüendland" and eventually to "Blönland".

The origin of the name is reflected in the words of the national anthem, the Blönlandlied, written by famous nationalist poet Franz Adam Sauthner in 1832: Blühe, blühe Blönland, which means "Bloom, bloom, Blönland".

Until 1952, the official name of the country was "Kingdom of Blönland-Remsfalen-Lüningen" in reference to the real union between the Kingdom of Blönland and the Grand Duchy of Remsfalen-Lüningen. The Great Reform Act renamed the state to "Kingdom of Great Blönland", a provision proposed by Blönnish nationalist Prime Minister Count (later Prince) Harald von Neuenhaus in the last minute to "remove feudal connotations" and heavily criticized, to this day, in Remsfalen-Lüningen.

The plains northwest of Burgenau are today referred to as "Alt-Blönland" (Old Blönland).

Climate

Administrative divisions of Kingdom of Great Blönland
First-level	2 Länder (Constituent Countries)
Second-level	8 Bezirke (Districts) in Blönland proper and 4 Landbezirke (Districts) and 2 Harden (Hundreds) in Remsfalen-Lüningen (14 in total)
Third-level	57 Kreise (Counties)
Fourth-level	445 Gemeinden (Communes)

Government

Government of Kingdom of Great Blönland
Federal constitutional parliamentary monarchy
Capital	Burgenau
Head of state
• King	Friedrich-Alexander III
• Prime Minister	Karl Adalbert Ritter von Müller
• Deputy Prime Minister	Dr. Claus Adam von Glückuhn
Legislature	Vereinigter Landtag (United Parliament)
• Upper house	Herrenhaus (House of Lords)
• Lower house	Abgeordnetenhaus (House of Representatives)
Judiciary	Königlicher Oberster Gerichtshof (Royal High Court)

King and Royal Family

• 

  King Friedrich-Alexander III

• 

  Queen Olga, Princess of Remsfalen

Blönland is, according to its constitution, a constitutional hereditary monarchy. The King wields significantly more power than most other constitutional monarchs, being able to veto laws, dissolve parliament and dismiss ministers at will. Until 2015, he could propose any law to the House of Lords directly, skipping the House of Deputies, something that last happened in 1963. Now, it is only possible in fields concerning the Royal Family directly, such as royal estates. The King and members of the Royal Family are exempt from income tax and from import duties for goods intended to be used personally.

The Royal Family descends in the agnatic line from Count Aribert of Pyhritz (1227-1274), who, after breaking free from Remsfalian vassalage, established the Principality of Blönland in 1261. The head of the comital house von Pyhritz-Sandkirchen, a collateral branch, was authorized to use the title "Prince in Blönland and of Pyhritz-Sandkirchen" (Fürst in Blönland und von Pyhritz-Sandkirchen) with the style "Serene Highness" in 1927 personally, and the concession made hereditary by male primogeniture in 1940. The current head of this branch is Bernhard, the 5th Prince in Blönland and of Pyhritz-Sandkirchen. He is not a member of the Royal Family, even though he is to inherit the throne if it goes extinct in the male line. He is married to Olga Katharina, a princess from the main line.

Current and former members of the Royal Family

The Royal Family of Blönland consists of all patrilineal, legitimate descendants of King Friedrich-Alexander I (1773-1850), and the women marrying into the family. Princes who enter a marriage without permission from the King are excluded from the order of succession and their children are not members of the Royal Family. Children and grandchildren of the King and of the Crown Prince are styled "Royal Highness", all other members of the Royal Family are styled "Highness".

The order of succession is strictly agnatic, meaning that women are excluded and nobody may claim through a woman. This is frequently criticized, however the conservative Parliament rejeceted a motion to implement absolute primogeniture in 2018. The King has stated that he does not wish to change the order of succession or allow children of Princesses to be members of the Royal Family as it is "contrary to tradition".

In the past, Princesses by birth would lose their title and leave the Royal Family upon marriage. In 1998, a law was passed that allows Princesses to retain their title for their lifetime, however, it only affects Princesses born after the law came into effect.

Until recently, Princes and Princesses were expected to marry Catholics belonging to higher nobility, and marriages to commoners and untitled nobles were considered morganatic. The marriage of Prince Wilhelm, the brother of the King, to commoner Henriette Ruedt was considered scandalous in 1981. Wives and children of morganatic marriages typically receive the title "Count/Countess of Burgenau". In 2005, the King decided to retroactively approve the marriage of Prince Wilhelm and, by royal decree, made his wife Countess Henriette von Burgenau, and their daughter Olga Princesses.

Notable current members

• HM King Friedrich-Alexander III (*1945)
• HM Queen Olga, Princess of Remsfalen (*1952), married then-Crown Prince Friedrich Alexander in 1973
• HRH Crown Prince Georg (*1974), current heir to the throne
• HRH Crown Princess Leopoldine (*1977), née Princess von Behrenstein-Steinkirchen, married Crown Prince Georg in 1999
• HRH Prince Michael (*1975), entrepreneur and philanthropist
• HRH Princess Adelaide (*1980), née Countess von Stöckelen, married Prince Michael in 2008
• HRH Prince Wilhelm (*1947), General (Blönnish Army), brother of the King
• HRH Princess Henriette (*1955), née Ruedt, married Prince Wilhelm in 1981 morganatically, held the title Countess von Burgenau until 2005 before being upgraded to Princess
• HRH Prince Friedrich-Alexander (*2000), son of Crown Prince Georg, second in line to the throne
• HRH Princess Amalie (*2001), daughter of Crown Prince Georg
• HRH Princess Olga (*2003), daughter of Crown Prince Georg
• HRH Princess Olga (*1983), daughter of Prince Wilhelm, held the title Countess von Burgenau until 2005 before being upgraded to Princess
• HRH Prince Carl (*1957), entrepreneur and philantropist, cousin of the King
• HH Prince Georg-Eduard (*2007), son of Prince Carl and then-Princess Arabella (*1980)
• HRH Prince Paul Dietrich (*1968), molecular geneticist and professor at the Albert Schneider Institute for Molecular Genetics at the University of Burgenau, cousin of the King
• HH Prince Friedrich (*2009), son of Prince Paul Dietrich
• HRH Princess Pauline (*1972), Mrs. von Glückuhn, wife of Martin von Glückuhn, brother of the current Deputy Prime Minister, first Princess to retain her title after marriage (cousin of the King and sister of Prince Paul Dietrich)
• HRH Princess Olga Katharina (*1974), Princess in Blönland and of Pyhritz-Sandkirchen, wife of HSH Prince (Fürst) Bernhard, 5th Prince in Blönland and of Pyhritz-Sandkirchen (*1962), current Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Environmental Protection

Former members

• Countess Anna Katharina von Neuenhaus (*1942), née Princess of Blönland, married Count Casimir von Neuenhaus in 1985 (sister of the King)
• Baroness Marie Victoria von Schneyder (*1943), née Princess of Blönland, married Admiral Albrecht von Schneyder in 1989 (sister of the King)
• Maria Siebenhammer (*1947), née Princess of Blönland, married photographer Martin Siebenhammer in 1978 (sister of the King), her daughter Olga von Gnädig (*1984) is a former model and actress and married to shipbuilder Herbert-Wilhelm von Gnädig (*1963), who was ennobled in 2022.
• Baroness Theresia von Müller (*1972), née Princess of Blönland, married industrialist Alfred von Müller, brother of the current Prime Minister, in 1998 (daughter of the King)
• Helene Hidgpatrick (*1978), née Princess of Blönland, married Ingerish industrialist John Hidgpatrick in 2001 (daughter of the King)
• Arabella Diedrichsen (*1980), née von Purgstall-Pumpenrode, married Prince Carl in 2005, divorced in 2019, married opera singer Walther Diedrichsen in 2021

So far, all commoners who married Princesses by blood of Blönland have been ennobled, except for Martin Siebenhammer (who declined the title of Baron) and John Hidgpatrick (who didn't get permission from the Ingerish government to be ennobled). It has been stated that if Princesses Amalie and Olga choose to marry commoners, they will be ennobled unless they explicitly opt out.

Parliament

The Vereinigter Landtag (United Diet) is the bicameral parliament of the Kingdom of Great Blönland. Until its creation in 1952, the Kingdom of Blönland and the Grand Duchy of Remsfalen-Lüningen had their own separate lower houses (Landtage) but shared an upper house. It has its seat in the twin Palaces of Parliament (Landtagspaläste) at the Platz des Vereinigten Landtages (United Diet Square) in Burgenau.

Platz des Vereinigten Landtages, Burgenau in 1876

House of Lords

The upper house of the United Diet is the Herrenhaus (House of Lords), sometimes colloquially referred to as "Senate". It scrutinizes laws that have been approved by the House of Deputies and presents them to the King for signature. Members of the House of Lords may propose laws to the House of Deputies themselves. It was established in its current form in 1863 when the personal union between Blönland and Remsfalen-Lüningen became a real union.

Composition

The House of Lords consists of currently 114 Pairs (Peers) who must legally be members of the hereditary nobility and, unless they belong to the Royal Family or have a hereditary seat, older than 35. All Princes of the Royal Family who are entitled to the style "Royal Highness" have the right to be inducted into the House of Lords upon reaching the age of 21. Right now, there are 28 eligible Princes, but only 14 are members of the House of Lords. There are 28 hereditary seats, which are inherited by male primogeniture, of which 17 are currently occupied, 4 are vacant because the entitled holder is under the age of 21 and 7 have holders who have not chosen to be inducted into the House of Lords yet, one of which, Prince Ludwig von Schützendorff, is currently a member of the House of Deputies. It has become extremely uncommon for new hereditary to be created as there can legally be no more than 30 at a time since 1952. The last new one was given to Prince Rupprecht von Eitelstedt-Sackenburg in 2008, who is married to the eldest daughter of Aribert, the last Prince von Sackenburg. Her father had a hereditary seat himself and petitioned for the King to give it to his son-in-law upon his death. Before that, the last new hereditary seat was given to Count Harald von Neuenhaus upon his retirement as Prime Minister in 1960 together with the title of Prince.

Along with the royal and hereditary seats, the King can appoint noble citizens to the House of Lords for life. Currently, there are 83 Life Peers (Pairs auf Lebenszeit), mostly retired politicians, officers and distinguished citizens.

As any member of the House of Lords must be noble, seats are granted to non-nobles only together with hereditary nobility (or personal nobility for women). Of the 83 Life Peers, 45 were not born noble.

Out of the 114 Peers, only 18 are women, and no hereditary seat can be occupied by a woman.

House of Representatives

The Abgeordnetenhaus (House of Representatives) is the elected lower house of the United Diet. It is here that most new laws are proposed and parliamentary debate takes place.

Composition

The House of Representatives consists of 337 Abgeordnete (Representatives) who are elected in the General Election every 4 years with no term limits by and among all citizens of Blönland who are over 21 years old.

There are two types of Representatives:

• 167 Wahlkreisabgeordnete (Electoral District Representatives), who are elected by the 167 Electoral Districts through a first-past-the-post system
• 170 Listenabgeordnete (List Representatives), who are elected proportionally from party lists within Blönland proper and Remsfalen-Lüningen. The seats are regularly divided between Blönland and Remsfalen-Lüningen by the Royal Electoral Commission according to their populations after every Census, which usually occurs in the middle of the electoral term. 100.000 persons equal one seat. In accordance with the 2020 census, there are currently 170 list seats, of which 76 belong to Blönland proper and 94 belong to Remsfalen-Lüningen.

2022 is the first year in which the number of List Representatives surpassed the number of List Representatives.

Until 2006, seats that fell vacant due to death or resignation were filled from the list even if they were electoral district seats. Since then, electoral district seats that fall vacant are filled in a by-election if more than 12 months remain until the next General Election.

To pass a motion, the group of representatives belonging to each of the two constituent countries must vote in favor with absolute majority. However, a 2/3 majority in the House of Lords can break this so-called "group veto", to prevent deadlocks resulting from conflicts between Blönland proper and Remsfalen-Lüningen.

Parties and ruling coalitions

The percentage of votes required to get a List Seat is defined as 200% divided by the number of list seats, or the double of 100% divided by the number of list seats, which is currently 200%/170 = 1.176%. This threshold is lower than in most other countries, meaning that smaller parties have a higher chance to enter parliament.

Blönnish politics are highly divisive, with most widespread ideologies being represented by more than one party, mostly due to historical reasons. Before 1952, most parties were practically restricted to either Blönland proper or Remsfalen-Lüningen, a notable exception being the Liberal-Democratic Party. The center-right camp is dominated by the Christian Democratic Party in Remsfalen-Lüningen and split between the CDP, the Blönnish Peoples' Party (Blönnische Volkspartei) and the Farmers' Party in Blönland proper. The latter two parties did not nominate candidates in Remsfalen-Lüningen until the late 1990s. The Social Democratic Party is is the product of the 1928 merger between the Blönnish Socialist Party and the Social Democratic Party of Remsfalen-Lüningen.

No coalition since 1964 had less than three parties.

Cabinet

Schloss Bührenfeld in Burgenau, the residence of the Prime Minister

The Prime Minister (Premierminister) is the head of government. He is appointed by the King, usually when a new government is forms after every General Election, and he is usually (but not always) the head of the largest party in the coalition. It is common for larger parties to offer the post of Prime Minister to the leader of a smaller party they wish to enter a coalition with. The cabinet of Blönland is usually large. It consists of the Prime Minister and the ministers appointed by the King on his recommendation, one of which becomes the Deputy Prime Minister, Special Ministers appointed temporarily or for unusual, newly-created ministries, Ministers without Portfolio and Ministers by Right, governmental and religious officials who are automatically members of cabinet by law.

Composition of the current Müller II cabinet

Karl Adalbert Ritter von Müller (*1958) is the second son of industrialist Manfred Ignatius Ritter von Müller (born Manfred Ignatius Müller in 1934), who was ennobled in 1971 and is currently the CEO of Müller-Stahl AG. Unlike his elder brother, he did not enter the family business but instead pursued a military career. As the leader of the conservative Christian Democratic Party, he was appointed Prime Minister in 2018 after successfully negotiating a coalition with the Liberal Democratic Party and right-wing populist National Conservative Party. The coalition could be maintained after the May 2022 elections by admitting the monarchist Fatherland Movement, resulting in Müller's second tenure as Prime Minister, which is to last until the next ordinary election in 2026.

The Müller II cabinet is notable for being unusually diverse (for Blönland), including less noble-born members than past Cabinets (of the nobles in Cabinet, several have been ennobled during their lifetimes), five women and one ethnically Izaki man who is also the first person under the age of 30 to be appointed a minister in Blönland. Still, most Ministers are men above the age of 45 and considered either part of the traditional Blönnish upper class or successful businessmen.

Usually, most Ordinary Ministers have deputies who are members of Parliament. Special Ministers and Ministers without Portfolio usually have no deputies.

Premier and Vice-Premier

• 

  Karl Adalbert Ritter von Müller
  Prime Minister

• 

  Dr. Claus Adam von Glückuhn
  Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs

Ordinary Ministers

• 

  Major General
  Kai Ritter von Brenkenmeier
  Minister of Defence

• 

  Dr. Horst von Oberbauer
  Minister of Finances

• 

  Prof. Dr. Paul Anselm Weidner-Türschnig
  Minister of the Economy, Business, Investment and Sustainable Development

• 

  Count Magnus von Neuhaus-Tiefenbrunn
  Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs

• 

  Wilhelm Oberlaender-Sakamura, MBA
  Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation

• 

  Alexander von Bergmann
  Minister of Technology and Digitalization

• 

  Paul Claus Straelmann
  Minister of Energy

• 

  Prince Bernhard, 5th Prince in Blönland and of Pyhritz-Sandkirchen, MBA
  Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Environmental Protection

• 

  Alexander Dovanius
  Minister of Labor

• 

  Maximilian Felix Hinterberger
  Minister of Education and Research

• 

  Gerhard von Campenau, LLM
  Minister of Justice

• 

  Baroness Dr. Marie von Theuernfeldt
  Minister of Families and Youth

• 

  Dr. Walter Knockenbrink
  Minister of Culture and the Arts

• 

  Felicitas von Steinigt
  Minister of the Post and Telecommunications

• 

  Dr. Wigerich Remsphal
  Minister of Political Integration

• 

  Dr. Carl Anton Stedelstedt
  Minister of Health

Special Ministers

• 

  Marie Zollweger-Brekels
  Special Minister for the Demographic Crisis, Deputy Minister of Health

• 

  Michael Zastermann von Zasternfeld
  Special Minister for Urban Affairs and Planning

• 

  Dr. Annelies Behrens
  Special Minister for Inter-Kalmish Affairs and Ulethan Cooperation, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs

Ministers without Portfolio

• 

  Count Peter von Woldemar und Gübenau
  Minister without Portfolio

• 

  Reinhard Pape
  Minister without Portfolio

• 

  Hans-Wilhelm Baer
  Minister without Portfolio

Ministers by Right

• 

  Dr. Anton von Troeselmeier, DBA
  Director of the National Bank of Blönland

• 

  Anna von Grünstein-Bohrwaldt
  Director of the National Heritage Foundation of Blönland

• 

  Arnulf Kofler, MBA
  Director of the Royal Purse

• 

  Cardinal Marquis Dr. Reinhold de Blazance
  National Catholic Council President

• 

  Bishop Baron Martin von Neuwangk
  Deputy National Catholic Council President, Representative of the Catholic Church of Remsfalen-Lüningen

• 

  National Bishop Friedrich von Stahlbergen
  Leader of the Protestant Church in Blönland and Remsfalen-Lüningen

• 

  Count Dr. Arthur von Pyhritz-Sandkirchen
  Chief Herald

• 

  Norbert von Neumann
  National Commissioner for the Kingdom of Blönland

• 

  Baron Rupprecht Radonek von Zeilberg
  National Commissioner for the Grand Duchy of Remsfalen-Lüningen

• 

  Prince Adalbert von Herrnstein
  Master of the Royal Household

• 

  Justice Dr. Jacob von Riedersdorf
  President of the Supreme Court

• 

  Michael Pottschlager
  Director of the National Civilian Protection Agency

• 

  Klaus Thielekamp
  Director of the National Agricultural Union

• 

  Anton Eduard Ritter von Schenkenstein
  Director of the Royal Mint

• 

  Karl Lambrechtsen
  Director of the Royal Small and Medium Business Association

• 

  Dr. Lukas König
  Director of the National Insurance Association

• 

  Leopold Schneider
  Director of the National Scientific Association

• 

  Martin Umkirch
  Director of the National Archive

• 

  Marcus von Schmitz
  Director of the National Road Administration

• 

  General
  Conrad Ritter von Groenemeyer
  Director of the Royal Police

Administrative divisions and devolution

Constituent Countries

Owing to its history that began as a personal union, the Kingdom of Great Blönland consists of two nominally semi-autonomous Constituent Countries (Länder), the Kingdom of Blönland (proper) and the Grand Duchy of Remsfalen-Lüningen. The King holds the title "Grand Duke of Remsfalen-Lüningen" as a subsidiary title. Before 1952, a Governor-General represented the King in Remsfalen-Lüningen but not in Blönland proper, and along with separate lower houses, the constituent countries had separate legal systems, that of Remsfalen-Lüningen based on that of its parent state Remsfalen. Remsfalen-Lüningen was a privileged autonomous entity "held under the Crown of Blönland".

National Assembly of Remsfalen-Lüningen in the Parliament House of Collenburg

Since 1952, both entities have become legally equal and two National Commissioners (Landeskommissare) represent the King in them. Most old Remsfalian laws have been superseded by an unified Federal Code (Bundesrecht) based on the Laws of the Kingdom of Blönland, but some laws are not in force in Remsfalen-Lüningen.

The Ständehaus, seat of the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Blönland in Neustadt auf der Höhe

As a replacement for the two separate parliaments, there are two National Assemblies (Landesversammlungen) in Blönland proper and Remsfalen-Lüningen which are entitled to make laws valid only in the respective countries. These laws may not supersede federal law. The National Assemblies may also request the House of Representatives to draft or amend federal laws concerning their constituent country.

The National Assembly of the Kingdom of Blönland meets in Neustadt auf der Höhe near the western border and a major part of regional agencies have moved there while Burgenau remains the nominal capital. The National Assembly of the Grand Duchy of Remsfalen-Lüningen meets in the house of the former Diet of Remsfalen-Lüningen in Collenburg.

Districts

The second administrative level is that of the 12 Districts (Bezirke). Each of the two constituent ccountries has two Districts. The heads of Districts are directly elected in Blönland and the head of the district of Collenburg is elected by and from among the mayors of the cities forming the metropolitan area, other heads of Districts in Remsfalen-Lüningen are appointed by the National Commissioner on the recommendation of the council of county heads.

Blönland consists of the following Districts:

• Stadt Burgenau (district-level city)
• Bezirk Oberland (capital Zell im Oberland)
• Bezirk Unterland-Lessgau (capital Pülckau)
• Bezirk Altblönland (capital Hartmannsdorf)
• Bezirk Plessgau (capital Daxau)
• Bezirk Hellgau (capital Neustadt auf der Höhe)

Remsfalen-Lüningen consists of the following Districts:

• Metropolregion Collenburg (amalgamation of cities forming a district together)
• Stadt Brüxhaven (district-level city)
• Bezirk Kronenburger Land (capital Kronenburg)
• Bezirk Remsfälisch Lessgau (capital Neustadt im Lessgau)
• Bezirk Bodauland (capital Schultenberg)
• Bezirk Lüningen (capital Neustadt an der Bodau)

Counties

The Kingdom of Great Blönland is split into 57 Kreise (Counties). Some counties in Remsfalen-Lüningen are named Amt instead. Every county belongs to one district, and all districts except for Burgenau-Stadt contain multiple counties. Every County is headed by a directly elected Landrat (County Head), who is called Amtmann in counties bearing the designation Amt.

Municipalities

Municipalities are the lowest normal level of territorial administration. They consist of one or multiple settlements and can be of multiple types.

• Landgemeinde, a municipality consisting of village or a group of villages
• Marktgemeinde, a municipality consisting of a large village or a small town and sometimes also the adjacent settlements
• Stadtgemeinde, a municipality consisting of a town or a city and sometimes also the adjacent settlements

The heads of Landgemeinden are usually called Gemeindevorsteher (Municipality Head), the heads of Marktgemeinden and Stadtgemeinden and of some Landgemeinden are Bürgermeister (mayors).

Manors

In the past, Blönnish society was highly feudal. Even after the abolition of serfdom in Remsfalen-Lüningen in 1812 and in the Kingdom of Blönland in 1856, noble landowners who possessed certain manors retained significant privileges, such as being allowed to appoint municipality mayors, teachers and priests, taxation of residents, the right to veto the sale of land in their municipalities and even to mete out fines. These privileges were abolished in 1952 by the Great Reform Act, but manorial rights were retained as dignities that can be bought and sold together with county houses and lands which cannot be separated without Royal Assent. Manorial lords retain certain rights over the residents of the areas "traditionally attached" to it, which usually consists of one or multiple municipalities, such as being entitled to a cut whenever land is bought and sold, to issue hunting licenses and an ex officio seat in the municipal council.

Culture

Cuisine

Food and drink play an important part in the Blönnish culture, especially in the South.

The cuisine of Blönland varies between Blönland proper and Remsfalen-Lüningen and is characterized as Kalmish but heavily influenced by its non-Kalmish neighbors. Meat and potatoes play an important role throughout the country, and fish is very popular in the coastal areas and along major rivers. Generally, Southern cuisine is considered "heavier" and relies more on thick sauces and red meat but also incorporates Izaki elements, especially in remote mountain valleys, where dairy products are also very prominent. Northern cuisine is almost identical to that of the Kingdom of Remsfalen and emphasizes simplicity and modesty. Both Burgenau, the capital, and the northern metropolis Collenburg are famous for its coffee and tea culture and are home to many rivaling coffeeshops.

Blönland is famous for many renowned foods and drinks exported worldwide, especially sausages, cheeses, potatoes, sweets and beers. The government awards the label "Königliches Markenzeichen" (Royal Trademark) and the title "Königlicher Hoflieferant" (Royal Supplier) to farmers and artisans with a proven track record of high-quality, traditional production.

On weekdays, the day typically begins with a light Continental breakfast consisting of bread, butter, various spreads, cold cuts, eggs, cheese and sometimes porridge. Warm lunch, usually a soup, a meat dish and a small desert such as a pudding, is provided by most employers at the workplace, and businesses that don't have their own refectory tend to make agreements with local restaurants to provide free or discounted food to employees. However, in the north and among the urban working classes, packed cold lunch or eating at a snack or sausage shop is becoming increasingly common. The educated classes converge for tea and coffee between 4 and 5 PM, office workers usually drinking a cup and eating a piece of cake in front of their computers. Dinner is taken between 6 and 7 PM in the North and between 7 and 8 PM in the South, consisting either of a similar arrangement to breakfast or one simple warm dish such as a soup, a bowl of noodles or sausages. It is accompanied by a glass of beer or, where it is grown, wine.

On weekends, eating schedules are distinct. A middle-class summer tradition is the Freitagsgrillen, or Friday BBQ - employees bring meat and sausages to the workplace and either stay there or go to the residence of their boss to decompress, discuss the work week and enjoy some beer, often with families present. Saturday breakfast is usually replaced by a Brunch with scrambled eggs and sausages, and those who can afford it go out in the evening. Breakfast on Sundays is usually very sparse, allowing families to go to church in the morning, after which a hearty lunch that usually includes sunday roast (Sonntagsbraten) is ingested. On sunday afternoons, especially older and upper-class people tend to invite friends and relatives to coffee and some cake. Sunday dinner is identical to weekday dinners.

As Blönland is very religious, fasts but also religious feast days, especially Christmas and Easter, play a major role in the cuisine and have special dishes that are not eaten during the rest of the year. The historical ban on meat during Lent has led to the creation of a variety of fish dishes, but also of dumplings and breads used to "hide" meat and strong, nourishing beer.