Flemish Empire (No More Ascendancy)

Part of timeline No More Ascendancy

The Flemish Empire (Dutch: Vlaamse Keizerrijk), officially the Imperial Commonwealth of the Southern Netherlands (Dutch: Imperiaal Gemenebest der Zuidelijke Nederlanden) and often referred to as the Imperial Commonwealth (Dutch: Imperiaal Gemenebest) or simply Flanders (Dutch: Vlaanderen) in daily life, is a constitutional monarchy in Western Europe, created out of several constituent duchies, counties and other territories of the Spanish Netherlands in 1621.

History
tba

Administrative divisions
The Flemish Empire comprises 8 federations, which act very much like states. The federations are permitted their own nobility and have moderate autonomy and self-governance. Additionally, there are 5 Autonomous Territories (Mostly smaller states) and 1 Self-Governing State (Said state includes its own decrentalized territories), which have greater autonomy. Brussels exists in its own capital district, governed directly by the central government.

The federations are:


 * The County of Flanders (Dutch: Graafschap Vlaanderen) [Modern-day West Flanders and East Flanders]
 * The Duchy of Brabant (Dutch: Hertogdom Brabant) [Modern-day Flemish Brabant, Walloon Brabant and Antwerp]
 * The Duchy of Limbourg (Dutch: Hertogdom Limburg) [Parts of modern-day Limbourg]
 * The County of Loon (Dutch: Graafschap Loon) [Parts of modern-day Limbourg]
 * The County of Artesia (Dutch: Graafschap Artesië) [Modern-day Artois in French Flanders]
 * The County of Hainaut (Dutch: Graafschap Henegouwen) [Most of modern-day Hainaut]
 * The County of Namur (Dutch: Graafschap Namen) [Modern-day Namur]
 * The Union of Picardy (Dutch: Picardische Unie) [Modern-day Picardy, historical counties of Vermandois, Ponthieu and Boulogne]

The autonomous territories are:


 * Tournais and the Tournaisis (Dutch: Doornik en het Doornikse) [Tournai and neighbouring cities]
 * The Lordship of Mechelen (Dutch: Heerlijkheid Mechelen) [Mechelen, neighbouring cities and an exclave comprising Heist-op-den-Berg and Gestel]
 * The Territories of Overmaas (Dutch: Landen van Overmaas) [Parts of modern-day Dutch Limbourg]
 * The Quarter of Upper Guelders (Dutch: Kwartier Opper-Gelre) [Parts of modern-day Dutch Limbourg, Gelderland, and the German state of Nordrhein-Westfalen]
 * Special Generality of Zeelandic Flanders (Dutch: Generaliteitsland Staats-Vlaanderen) [Zeelandic Flanders]

The Self-Governing State is the Prince-Bishopric of Liège (Dutch: Prinsbisdom Luik). This principality was a part of the Southern Netherlands, but never fell to Spain nor Austria. In 1784, following political instability, Liège agreed to incorporation as a highly autonomous member state in the Flemish Empire, alongside several smaller, neighbouring states. These states, which were incorporated as autonomous territories in the Prince-Bishopric of Liège, are:


 * The Principality of Stavelot and Malmedy (Dutch: Prinsdommen Stavelot en Malmedy)
 * The Lordship of Bouillon (Dutch: Hertogdom Bouillon)
 * The County of Horne (Dutch: Graafschap Horn)

Governance
The Flemish Empire has two official heads of state: The Emperor (or Empress), and the Serving President. The Emperor/Empress is the monarch of Flanders with largely ceremonial and limited executive powers. The Serving President is the main executive head of state, who is elected by the Flemings. The Prime Minister, just below the Serving President in power and the head of government, is appointed by the President.

The current Emperor of the Commonwealth is Steven III of the House of Merode, and the heir apparent is Crown Prince Lukas. The Serving President is Daan van IJswege, who has appointed Jonas Boman as Prime Minister.

Steven III and siblings
HM Steven III, Emperor of the Flemings (Steven Arthur Karel Kristoffel Juliaen Lodewijk van Merode-Wesemael)

HM Kristina, Empress Consort of the Flemings


 * HIH Crown Prince Lukas
 * HIH Princess Elise
 * HIH Princess Josephine (Jozefien in Dutch)
 * HIH Princess Zoë

HM Ruben, Duke of Brabant

HM Brigitte, Duchess of Brabant


 * HIH Princess Axelle
 * HIH Prince Tuur
 * HIH Princess Nina

HM Jonathan, Count of Loon

HM Jolyn, Lady of the Tournaisis (Dutch: Jolijn, Dame van het Doornikse)


 * HIH Prince Stefaan
 * HIH Princess Ciara
 * HIH Princess Olivia
 * HIH Prince Diederik