United Kingdom (The Dragon Splits)

The United Kingdom, officially known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, is sovereign monarchy located in the British Isles northwest of mainland Europe. It is one of the oldest monarchies in the world and once possessed the largest empire in history. The country has 15 overseas territories, which are the only ones that remain of the British Empire.

Early Modern History
The United Kingdom was formed in 1801 by the union of the island of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Industrial Revolution led Britain to transform, political power shifting from the Tory and Whig landowning classes towards the industrialists, alliances leading to the creation of the Liberal Party. The Great Reform Act transferred power from the aristocracy to the middle classes, as enclosure of land and urbanization began.

With the defeat of France at the end of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars the UK was left as the largest naval and imperial power, London being the largest city around 1830, leading to Pax Britannica, as the British Empire adopted the role of Global Policeman.

Over the remainder of the century and beginning of the 20th century, social change continued, including home rule for Ireland and Universal Male Suffrage, with the foundation of the Labour Party in 1900.

Early 20th Century (WWI, Great Depression, and WWII)
This century brought conflict again, first with France, Russia and the US against Germany and the Central Powers of World War I (1914-18), engaging throughout the Empire and Europe. After the war the League of Nations was formed and the UK received LoN mandate over a number of former German and Ottoman colonies, the Empire reaching its greatest extent of one-fifth of the world's land surface and quarter of its population, despite a huge national debt and 2.5 million casualties.

Nationalism lead to the partition of Ireland in 1921, as the Great Depression hit Britain and much of the world, with a coalition government formed in 1931. The rise of the German Reich and occupation of Czechoslovakia lead to the Second World War, with Winston Churchill becoming Prime Minister in 1940 after the fall of Norway. In December 1941, the UK lost Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaya to the Empire of Japan. The UK gained hard-fought victories in the Atlantic, North Africa and Burma campaigns and played a major role in the Normandy Landings alongside the U.S. in June 1944.

Cold War (1945-1991)
The United Kingdom became one of the founding nations of the United Nations along with the United States, France, USSR, and the Republic of China. The five members became the permanent countries to be in the United Nations Security Council. After the war, the UK was economically drained and relied on American aid. In 1949, the country became a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to counter the massive troops of the Soviet Union amassed in Eastern Europe.

The economic state and rise of nationalism also lead to an unavoidable decolonization, with independence granted to India and Pakistan in 1947, with most other colonies of the empire leaving within the next three decades, many becoming members of the Commonwealth. Britain's global status, despite becoming the third country to develop nuclear weapons, was further diminished with the Suez Crisis of 1956, with the UK and France forced to retreat from the Sinai and Suez.

Further illustrating the changing nation, the UK government encouraged immigration from Commonwealth countries in the 1950's to stop shortages of workers, and the UK became a far more multi-ethnic society, with rising living standards and economic performance. Despite this, European integration was on the way, founding the EU in 1992.

From the later 1960's Northern Ireland suffered communal and paramilitary violence, occasionally affecting the mainland UK, known as The Troubles. Despite some occasional unrest, the Troubles are considered to have ended with the Belfast "Good Friday" Agreement of 1998.

The 1970's saw wide economic and industrial slowdown, leading to the election of the Thatcherite Conservative Government of the 1980's, in which Thatcher initiated many radical policies, including regularization of the financial sector and sale of state-owned companies. While resulting in high unemployment and social unrest, economic growth was ultimately achieved.

21st Century
The end of the 20th century saw major changes to UK Governance including devolution to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and rising roles in the EU, NATO and UN, though overseas military involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq were, and remain to be, controversial. London was attacked by Al-Qaeda on July 7, 2005, killing 56 people. The 2008 global financial crisis severely affected the UK economy, with the coalition government of 2010 introducing austerity.

London hosted the 2012 Summer Olympics. Following the 2013 Chemical Attacks in Syria, the UK weighed on military intervention against Bashar-al Assad's forces, along the U.S. and France. This did not occur when majority of the British parliament voted against intervention. In September 2014, Scotland held an independence referendum though majority voted to remain. The same year, the UK was drawn into Syria and Iraq to fight against Islamic State (ISIS) forces. In June 2016, the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union, causing much shock to the world and some slight unrest within the country. This was finalized in March 2017.

The United Kingdom is currently urging China and the opposing forces for a peaceful settlement to end the Chinese insurgency. The country has recently deployed some of its forces in the Asia-Pacific region, seen as to counter China's military growth.

Countries
The UK is divided into four countries
 * England - capital in London. Includes the Isle of Wight.
 * Wales - capital in Cardiff.
 * Scotland - capital in Edinburgh. Includes the Outer Hebrides and the Northern Isles which comprise Orkney and Shetland Islands.
 * Northern Ireland - capital in Belfast. The only country within the isle of Ireland and borders the Republic of Ireland to the south.

Overseas Territories
The 15 British overseas territories are the remnants of the British Empire, spanning from Europe, the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean, and the Pacific.

Military
The British Armed Forces is primarily responsible for the defense of the UK, its crown dependencies, and its overseas territories. It is divided into the Naval Service (the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines), the British Army, and Royal Air Force. The military is under the administration of the Ministry of Defence.

Internationally, Britain has contributed to operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, and Africa. Various military bases are located on its overseas territories which are often shared with its allies. Being a member of NATO, the UK has deployed tank battalions to Latvia to counter Russian aggression. It is obliged to come to the defense of NATO members if one member state is attacked.

The Royal Navy, despite losing most of its anti-ship missile capability, still operates at a blue-water navy status. It is currently constructing its aircraft carrier, the HMS Queen Elizabeth II, which would greatly project its naval power abroad. The RN and RAF have purchased the American F-35 Lightning to augment their existing fleet of Eurofighter Typhoons, Panarvia Tornados, and Sea Harriers.

Because of the Chinese insurgency, China's aggressive claims in the South China Sea, and North Korea's missile tests, the UK has increased its presence in the Asia-Pacific region. RAF Typhoons were recently deployed to Korea, Japan, and Alaska to take part in exercises. In addition, the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines recently held an exercise in the Northern Mariana Islands with forces from the United States, France, and Japan.

The United Kingdom is the third nuclear power in the world, testing its first nuclear weapon in 1952. While it does not have land-based nuclear silos, its nuclear arsenal is submarine-launched and bomber-launched.

Foreign Relations
The United Kingdom maintains relations with much of the international community. It is the founding member of the Commonwealth of Nations, an intergovernmental organization of members which were former colonies of the British Empire. Embassies in Commonwealth nations are known as High Commissions.

Being part of the Anglosphere, the UK has close ties with the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand; all which were previously colonies of Britain. The U.S.-UK alliance is considered to be the strongest in the world.

The UK is a member of the United Nations Security Council. It has recently left the European Union but maintains close ties with EU states nonetheless.