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Holy Britannian Empire[]


1740-britannia02

Anthem: All Hail Britannia!

Motto: Semper incedens ad posterum

(Marching Ever Onward To Tomorrow)

Capital

Pendragon

Official Language

Britannian English

Demonym

Britannian

Government

Absolute Monarchy (De Jure)

Head of State

Emperor

Head of Government

Chancellor

Legislature

Imperial Senate

Upper House

House of Lords

Lower House

House of Commons

Population

1,300,000,000 Britannians

100,000,000 Numbers (pre 2010)

Currency

Pound

The Holy Empire of Britannia is a superpower in Juubi-K's Code Geass fanworks. This article is applicable to One and Only Son and The Shattered Mosaic.

History[]

Britannia's history can be found here.

Geography[]

Britannia homeland (Juubi-K)


Home Territories[]

The Empire's home territories, sometimes referred to as 'Britannia Proper' or 'the Homeland', consist of North and Central America, Hawaii, and Greenland, along with the entire Carribean region. All these territories were acquired before the introduction of the Area system. These territories are in turn divided along feudal lines, providing Britannia with a truly vast peerage. The largest of these are the Archduchies, though these are also known as States. As a result of their size and economic importance, they are governed by elected state legislatures in addition to their dukes and duchesses.

Areas[]

The Areas, otherwise known as the 'Colonies', consist of South America, New Zealand, Japan (August 2010 - January 2018 ATB), and portions of Africa. They consist of states conquered by Britannia, for the most part corresponding to their pre-conquest borders, though in some cases small states and other non-state entities are leashed together for bureaucratic convenience. Any land of interest to Britannia is declared a 'Concession' and placed under direct Britannian control, usually for the purposes of Settlement construction. Concessions made directly to the person of the Emperor, or the Imperial Family, are called 'Providences.' Territory not ceded in this fashion is administered by collaborationist governing bodies, though they are answerable to the Imperial Viceroy or Vicereine.

Areas are divided into three categories; Correctional, Developing, and Satellite. An Area gains greater autonomy as it proceeds through these categories, though it may be demoted to Correctional in the case of a serious setback. In Correctional and Developing Areas, the Viceroy acts as the Emperor's proxy, controlling the Area as all but an Absolute Monarch in his or her own right. This is considered necessary for efficient governance, but can also be a legal minefield, as shown in the case of Suzaku Kururugi (see Judiciary). The Areas also attract ill-feeling from other countries, especially the EU, which regards the Numbers as oppressed peoples.

Satellite areas are also known as Protectorates, a leftover of an early version of the area system developed by Emperor Lothar li Britannia. Protectorates either retain their former name or are granted a new one (rather than a number), and are governed by an elected council known as an Imperial Audience (a concept borrowed from the former Spanish Empire). The Protectorates left over from Lothar's time are Hawaii, New Zealand, and Luzon (formerly Neuva Hispania, or the Philippines).


Major Cities and Settlements[]

The Empire's Capital is located at the city of Pendragon. The Imperial Palace is located at the centre of the city, from which extends St Darwin Boulevard, to which the Palaces and Villas of the Imperial Consorts are connected. Pendragon is the Empire's political and administrative hub, as well as being the Capital in the symbolic sense, making control of it vital to the control of Britannia as a whole. The mountains surrounding the city are riddled with underground bunkers manned by combat units of the Imperial Guard.

The original capital and current eastern hub of the empire is the city of Caerleon. This city was first planned by Richard le Bretan (the future Emperor Ricardo) as a central hub for the newly-pacified colonies, with the plans being approved in 1790. His design combined Roman magnificence with Arthurian romanticism, and was intended by Richard not merely as an impressive capital, but as a new Camelot; symbol of his own counter-revolutionary ideals. After the Edinburgh Disgrace of 1813, it became Elizabeth III's temporary capital, and the newly-founded Britannia's formal capital, with Ricardo's own palace at Caerbrennin becoming the Imperial palace. The city was largely destroyed during the Knightslayer War, and although rebuilt afterwards, it never regained its former preeminence. Caerbrennin Palace is still used by the Imperial family as their residence in the city, and the Imperial Military Academy is located there.

Government[]

Britannia is in theory a Constitutional Monarchy, with power divided between the throne and a bicameral legislature; with the aristocracy represented by the House of Lords and the commoners (everyone else) represented by the House of Commons. The Emperor's powers are in practice extensive, including the right to sign and veto legislation, appoint Ministers and Judges, command the armed forces,but not convene and dismiss Parliament, grant pardons, and receive ambassadors.

Society[]

Imperial Family[]

The Imperial family is headed by the reigning Emperor or Empress. The Emperor's consorts, whether singular or multiple, are generally granted the title of Queen Consort, whereas an Empress' consort is is referred to as King Consort. A reigning sovereign may chose to grant his or her consort the Crown Matrimonial, and thus promote them to Emperor or Empress Consort (as appropriate), becoming the sovereign's co-ruler.

Thanks to a reform by Emperor Theseus, any consorts not promoted to Emperor or Empress Consort occupy the level of the chain of precedence directly below the Sovereign regardless of gender; thus removing a built-in disadvantage to Sovereign's daughters, who previously were subordinate to female consorts, who were equal to the Sovereign's sons. Thus the order of precedence runs from Emperor or Empress to King or Queen Consorts, then the Sovereign's children, and the children of the Sovereign's children.

Royal children are granted the title of Prince or Princess, and numbered according to their standing within the Imperial family, and perceived likelihood of taking the throne. The eldest child is considered Heir Apparent regardless, as they cannot be displaced merely by the birth of another child; and as such receives the title of Crown Prince or Princess. In practice, however, the throne goes to whomsoever is able to take and hold it.

Under Emperor Maximilian, the Imperial residence was established along the humorously-named Saint Darwin Boulevard, located some way outside Pendragon. Individual consorts received their own residences, though their neighbours include powerful and wealthy nobles with whom they socialize.

Family life amid the Imperial court is invariably a fraught affair. Emperor Lothar is noteworthy not only for having resurrected the custom of having multiple consorts, but also for managing to maintain a degree of amity and peace between them; this he achieved by showing none of them any particular favor. This had the unfortunate side effect of causing most of his children to deeply resent him; Maximilian most of all.

In practice, as seen in Maximilian and Charles' reigns, relations between consorts are all too often very bad. Good relations sometimes occurred, based on mutual respect or shared interest, but the need to secure their children's futures, not to mention the throne, hangs over everything. These complexities can be seen among Charles zi Britannia's consorts. Gabriella la Britannia was by far the most overtly villainous, openly bullying the children of other consorts, notably those of Marianne vi Britannia; though at the same time she allowed her beloved son Clovis to socialize with them. Victoria li Britannia, mother of Cornelia and Euphemia, was one of the most respected consorts, but had a mutually respectful relationship with the controversial Marianne, and allowed her daughters to socialize with Marianne's children.

Aristocracy[]

The aristocracy, by its broadest definition, makes up a significant minority of the Britannian population, and controls much of its wealth. It is organised by system originally devised by Emperor Ricardo early in his reign, but has since undergone a series of reforms and reorganisations to keep up with the changing needs of the aristocracy and the empire. As in the British peerage, from which it was originally derived, the Britannian aristocracy generally practices strict primogeniture; with titles and estates going to the eldest son, or the eldest daughter if there are no sons. Spare children of aristocrats end up in the Gentry or Chivalric classes, unless they otherwise acquire titles of their own. Titled aristocrats, also called Peers, number only in the thousands at any one time. Titles with gubernatorial responsibilities are called Titles of Territory, while those that do not are referred-to as Titles of Honour.

The highest aristocratic title in the empire is that of Archduke or Archduchess, though this is reserved for members of the Imperial family who do not warrant the title of Prince or Princess. This is usually the case with surviving siblings and other relatives of a reigning Emperor. For example, if any of Charles zi Britannia's siblings were to survive his seizure of power, they would have held the title of archduke or archduchess. Similarly, if Lelouch were to become Emperor, any of his surviving siblings would be similarly titled. It is also granted to members of the Imperial family who accept demotion for virtuous reasons, or to serve particular functions. Thus, had Euphemia's demotion in order to establish the Special Autonomous Region of Japan been ratified, she would likely have been entitled as the Archduchess Euphemia, and perhaps granted the whole of Japan as her archduchy for appearances sake.

Directly below is the title of Grand Duke. This is a title of honour rather than a territorial title, granted to an aristocrat granted responsibility over a territory consisting of many Duchies, or who must have command over multiple Dukes. The only living Grand Duke in the narrative time period is August Henry Velaines, who recieved his title in order to command the Euro-Britannian movement in the Emperor's name.

The title of Duke was established in its current form by Emperor Henry, to serve as territorial governors for States (also called Duchies). Dukes in effect controlled the state administration and militia, and maintained private 'retinues' that at times looked suspiciously like private armies. These powers were restricted by Empress Claire and further by Emperor Lothar, along the establishment of the Senate and the State Legislatures. Dukes nevertheless retain considerable influence and prestige, presiding over State Legislatures in much the same way as the Emperor presides over the Senate. The title of Duke can also be granted as a title of honour.

Directly below Dukes are Margraves or Marquesses. In modern Britannia this is a title of honour, but in the past it was granted to nobles responsible for governing and defending frontier regions of the empire; notably in the 'Indian Marches', the 'Mexican Marches,' and the 'Wild West.' Emperor Lothar's reforms removed this particular responsibility, as well as its troublesome power to raise troops.

Next in line are Earls, who in the Territorial form have control of Counties. The subordinates of Earls are Viscounts and Barons in turn.

Knights and Gentry[]

The Knights and Gentry are sub-classes of the aristocracy, and make up the bulk of the broader aristocracy's numbers. Knights are the lowest formal rank of the aristocracy, but their titles are non-hereditary. To reconcile the desire of the aristocracy to make knights as they pleased, and his own wish to have control of the Honours system, Emperor Henry divided knighthood into two grades; the senior Imperial Knights and the junior Knights of Honour. Imperial Knights are knighted by the Emperor's authority - whether by the Emperor personally or by a proxy - and hold their titles for life. Imperial Knighthood can only be withdrawn for the crime of Treason, which carries the Death Penalty in any case. Knights of Honour can be created by any titled peer (Baron or higher), and said peer may have as many Knights of Honour as he or she can support financially. Knights of Honour are distinct in that they hold their title only for the lifetime of the one who granted it.

The Gentry are a loose sub-class of the aristocracy, acting as a social cushion of sorts between the aristocracy and the citizenry. They tend in practice to be the spare children of aristocrats, who under strict primogeniture inherit neither titles or lands. They are identifiable by the courtesy prefix of 'the Honourable Mr' or 'The Honourable Miss' before their names, used only in the third person (not when speaking to them). Gentry are technically commoners, and while being a 'Gentleman' is in no way dishonourable, many will try to escape this state by attaining knighthood; a feat somewhat easier than acquiring a title. Thus, there has long been a close connection between the Gentry and the Chivalric class.

Also part of the Gentry, though not using the aforesaid prefix, are upper middle-class commoners; usually on the basis of considerable wealth. To call oneself a 'Gentleman' is a matter of refinement and education as much as anything else. Gentry of noble birth have a certain tendency to look down on their aspirational counterparts, but intermarriage remains common.


Politics[]

Purism[]

Nativism[]

Euro-Britannia[]

Economy[]

The Britannian economy is essentially capitalist, with a distinctly laissez-faire tendency. It is one of the world's largest, counting for an estimated 30% of global GDP. Like the empire, the economy has historically been a closed system, with relatively little external interaction or trade taking place. This isolation was cemented by the conquest of South America, which provided Britannia with all the raw materials and capital it could possibly need; with the sole exception of sakuradite. Attempts to expand international trade in the early 21st century were ended by the Indochina crisis, when the EU managed to enforce a global trade embargo of unprecedented scale and scope against Britannia.

Though mixed and highly diverse, the economy is dominated by two primary forces; the Imperial Bank of Britannia, and the Megacorporations. The former is the empire's central bank and lender of last resort, with the sole and unique right to issue currency. The post of Chief Governor is always held by the reigning Emperor, though the role may be carried out by a designated proxy; Emperor Charles' proxy was his son and Chancellor, Schneizel el Britannia. As a result, the Emperor in effect has the power to set monetary policy and control the amount of cash money in circulation. This in theory allows the Emperor to prevent the economy from running out of control, but in turn places a crucial and overwhelming responsibility on the shoulders of a single person.

The Megacorporations are the many dozens of major corporations and conglomerates that between them dominate most economic activity outside the direct purview of the Throne and the Imperial Family. Some are over a century old, and most are under the effective control of aristocratic families. Denied outright monopolies by anti-trust laws, megacorporations tend to make up for it with highly diverse portfolios, with the largest encompassing dozens of different industries. Their wealth and economic importance gives them enormous political influence, to the point where they effectively control the empire's accountancy bodies. As a result, effective oversight of their accounting practices, and wider operations, is nigh-on impossible short of outright espionage.

Military[]

Uniforms[]

The Britannian armed forces are organized into three primary branches; army, navy, and air force.  Each has its own knightmare branch; the Royal Panzer Infantry, the Royal Marine Infantry, and the Royal Aerial Infantry respectively. There is also the Imperial Guard, and its own sub-units.

Uniforms are designed in accordance with a complex system of colour-coding; representing both the wearer's military and social status. This is represented in turn by the system of 'Divine Colours', ascending from blue to purple to white, with red and gold as the most divine. The colour crimson is generally used to indicate that the wearer is in direct service to the Imperial family. A necktie alone indicates membership in the Imperial forces, while members of Imperial or Royal Guard units wear additional crimson features - such as cap bands and short capes.  

Commoner personnel of enlisted rank wear dark grey uniforms. The formal uniform is distinguished by a high-collared tunic and German-style field cap, under which a white shirt and crimson necktie are worn. NCOs wear long coats in the same style as the tunic, and flat caps. The service uniform is a grey bodysuit, over which a jacket or body armour is worn.  

Officers from Warrant Officer up to the rank of Major wear blue uniforms with white shirts and crimson neckties, and blue flat caps. These make up the majority of officers, and are generally of gentry or knightly status.  

Officers of Field Rank - up to the rank of Colonel - wear uniforms in a distinctive 'grey-white' colour, similar to Cadet Grey or Hechtgrau. They are often nobles, whether by birth or appointment.  

Officers of Flag Rank - Generals or higher - are permitted to dress themselves as they see fit. They are almost always nobles, by birth or appointment.  

Imperial Guards wear a formal uniform in grey-white, with red sashes, short red capes, and tall black helmets with feather plumes. Their uniform is based on a style adopted by Prince Lothar li Britannia for his personal retinue, and later his Imperial Guard. The colour is similar to that favoured by the Austrian Imperial and Royal army in the 19th century. Guardsmen of all social classes wear the same uniform - a reminder of their high status.  

A noteworthy sub-unit of the Imperial Guard is the Gendarmes of the Guard; a unit that serves primarily as the armed wing of the Office of Secret Intelligence. They wear distinctive dark grey uniforms, and helmets in the same style as the Imperial Guard, though without plumes.  

Royal Guards - those tasked with serving Princes or Princesses - wear the standard army uniforms, with the difference that colour refers strictly to social status rather than military rank. Thus, commoners wear dark grey with crimson cap bands and short capes, with officers wearing long coats and flat caps. Nobles wear red versions of the standard uniforms.  

The Knightmare branches, notably the RPI, include some affectations of their own. These include a high-collared dark blue tunic for field rank officers, and a distinctive purple uniform for female officers.  

Doctrine and Strategy[]

The Imperial Britannian armed forces serve two primary purposes; to defend the Empire's territory and people, and to destroy and conquer its external enemies. Before Emperor Charles zi Britannia's accession in 1997, a lot of the armed forces had endured decades of stagnation, with a good portion having little combat experience aside from counter-insurgency work in South America. Charles' response was the so-called Millennium Plan; under which the armed forces were to be revamped and re-equipped; ostensibly to ensure the Empire's security, but in reality to prepare for a war of global conquest.  

It was agreed that Britannia could not afford to fight a modern war of attrition. Even with its massive industrial capacity and the mass unemployment inflicted by an increasingly automated economy, the maximum realistic strength of the Imperial forces was around twenty million; of which a substantial portion would be needed to hold down newly-conquered territories. In response, the General Staff divided their doctrine into two distinct aspects. Conquests would be wars of machines and mobility, overwhelming the enemy both physically and psychologically with extreme firepower and fast-moving elite forces. Large units of lesser-quality troops would then move in to occupy the conquered territories, holding them down long enough to acclimatize the population to Britannian rule.  

The Knightmare frame was a crucial tool in this strategy. Despite the chivalric pretensions surrounding them, their tactics owed a great deal to the Mongol armies of Genghis Khan and his successors. Their initial role in a campaign was in combat recon, seeking out the enemy while destroying or suppressing their counterparts. Larger units would then outflank the enemy, isolating enemy formations and attacking the rear echelons. With the enemy divided and demoralized, reserve knightmare formations would join the battle and strike the killing blow. The knightmares would be supported in their efforts by the air force, and also by fire support from the newly-designed Caliburn assault gun.  

This strategy was first attempted in the campaigns of late 2010, the first being the invasion of Japan, followed by the Siberia offensive. In Japan this strategy was superficially effective, with Japanese forces overwhelmed and annihilated in almost all encounters; but Britannia's inexperienced Devicers suffered around fifty per cent casualties; largely due to Japanese artillery or missile attacks by concealed infantry. In Siberia, the Britannians relied heavily on their airpower to overwhelm Russian forces sufficiently to let the knightmares finish them off. On more than one occasion, large Russian formations were able to stand their ground and fight their way clear of Britannian encirclements. Britannia responded by using its Caliburn assault guns more aggressively, deploying them to provide fire support to the knightmares; but despite their agility and firepower they suffered heavy losses against Russian tanks.  

By 2012, it was clear that the original strategy was not working. Britannia's response was threefold; to increase the firepower of its knightmares, to provide more powerful land-based artillery, and to increase the firepower and resilience of its direct engagement formations. In the first case, the response was the long-barrelled G-cannon. In the second case, the answer was the Balor superheavy gun, though it would not appear in numbers until 2017. In the third case, Britannia chose to reactivate the supposedly obsolete Clarent MBTs; though not before subjecting them to an extensive upgrade package.    

Vehicles[]

MB-2A Clarent Main Battle Tank[]

First appearing in 1990, the Clarent was Britanna's second Main Battle Tank, brought in to replace the ageing MB1D Fenrir. It was designed in response to the advanced tanks of the EU and RFR, which proved so deadly in the EU-Russian War, and which were obviously superior to the Fenrir. The Clarent was not originally intended to be part of the Millennium Plan, but was brought back into service in 2012 to fill capability gaps. For this purpose, existing Clarents were upgraded to the MB-2A variant.  

The original Clarent was armed with a 105mm coilgun and autoloader, replaced on the 2A with a 120mm coilgun. The original turret-mounted machine gun was replaced with a 20mm autocannon, which could be fired from inside the tank by the gunner or linked to the Factsphere to act as a CIWS.  

The Clarent's armour is a steel-ceramic composite known as Covington, revolutionary for its time. The 2A upgrade saw the outer and inner layers replaced with Schrotter Steel for even greater protection.  

M-115 Morddure Armoured Personnel Carrier[]

The Morddure is Britannia's front-line APC, used by both regular and colonial formations.  It is built on the same six-wheel chassis as the Caliburn, but with a different superstructure to match its role.  Its armament is a pair of 20mm autocannons set into a forward turret, providing effective firepower against aircraft, knightmares, and light vehicles.  Its laminate armour is proof against small arms, but vulnerable to anti-vehicle and knightmare weaponry.  The crew consists of a driver, gunner, and commander, with space for eight passengers.  

MA-55 Caliburn Assault Gun[]

The Caliburn is a six-wheeled AFV, based on the same chassis as the Morddure and the same turret as the Clarent. It carries a 240mm railgun, with its mechanism and targeting systems configured for both direct and indirect fire. Like the Morddure, it is light enough to be used by rapid-deployment formations. Though its armour is somewhat heavier than that of the Morddure, it is still vulnerable to anti-vehicle and knightmare weaponry.

SHA-4 Balor Superheavy Artillery Gun[]

The Balor is the ultimate in mobile superheavy artillery. Essentially a gigantic railgun mounted on a chassis the size of a G-1 MCV, the Balor can achieve ranges of up to 500 kilometres.

MS-2 Lugh mobile SAM system[]

The Lugh is a mobile SAM system similar in concept to late Soviet and current EU systems, such as the Hydra; though not as sophisticated or capable as the latter. It has a detection range of 250 km, and its LM-2 missiles have a range of 200 km. Its C4C system can track and engage up to fifty targets, and can be linked into a network with other systems for increased capability.

G-1 MCV[]

One of the Britannian army's most iconic vehicles, the G-1 is an HQ bunker on tracks. Though only lightly armed, with a single railgun and two CIWS turrets, its C4C capabilities are sufficient to control an entire combined-arms division. It also carries up to twelve knightmares, either to provide protection for the MCV or to allow the commander to take to the field in person.

Kestrel VTOL gunship

The Kestrel is a single-seat VTOL gunship, similar in appearance and role to the helicopter gunships of previous decades. It carries a ventral 80mm railgun as standard, and two wing-mounted hard points; usually carrying rocket pods. The Kestrel's primary role is to support ground operations, but they can also be deployed from floatships for air-to-air combat.

Rhiannon multirole VTOL[]

The Rhiannon is a small transport VTOL. Its usual roles are Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR), Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC), troop and supply transport, and airborne command. They can also carry weapons, such as door-mounted heavy coilguns, to support ground troops. A naval variant, whose purpose includes Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) is used by the Navy.

Morrigan transport VTOL[]

The Morrigan is a transport VTOL, similar in concept and role to the Rhiannon but larger; thus possessing a greater passenger and cargo capacity. It is generally unarmed, but a gunship variant with heavy coilguns and a 100mm railgun was improvised in southern Africa, and later accepted for production.

Hawk multirole heavy fighter[]

The Hawk is Britannia's standard multirole fighter, capable of air-to-air and air-to-ground combat; though favoring air-to-air. It is a fifth-generation fighter, inspired by the 'stealth shock' of European and Soviet experiments in the 1980s, and is considered one of the finest - and last - examples of first generation stealth technology. Though a heavy fighter, its VTOL system allows it to take off and land from a carrier. Its standard armament is two 20mm coilguns, while its internal bays can carry up to eight air-to-air missiles, or the equivalent tonnage in bombs and air-to-ground missiles. Though powerful, the Hawk is also expensive, to the point where it is used only by elite squadrons; primarily for homeland defence.

Falcon multirole light fighter

The Falcon is an older and more versatile fighter, designed originally as a carrier-based ground attack aircraft. Though it lacks the stealth features of its newer cousin, it carries considerably more and heavier weaponry, and regular upgrades have kept its electronics suite competitive. The latest models are VTOL capable, making for easier turnarounds on carriers.

Albatross heavy transport[]

Logres class floatship[]

Caerleon class floatship[]

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