South America (c.2022)
South America: A Basic Introduction
Covering an area of 17,840,000 square km., or approximately 12% of the Earth's landmass, South America is the fourth largest continent on the globe. Forming the lower half of the New World, and straddling the Southern Hemisphere, it is also home to two of the leading "Free Nations" and remains largely free from Collectivist control in spite of the Terror. While some may dispute how "free" they are, few would deny how they stay defiant and firm.
In contrast to North America, the history of much of the South after the 16th Century is tied with Spain and Portugal. With the loss of what would become New Austria to the Habsburgs of the Holy Roman Empire, the Spanish Crown focused more on its reduced resources into settling and developing their remaining lands. Following the defeat of the last Incan holdouts in 1590, these burgeoning territories consolidated into the Viceroyalties of Nueva Granada, Peru and (by 1685) Rio de la Plata. While Madrid's hold over these vast lands seemed ironclad for a time, this gradually unraveled. Beginning with the Patagonian Rebellion in 1797, however, these colonies waged their own wars of independence, which by the 1820s coalesced around Gran Patagonia (following the 1806 Unity Accord endorsed by Francisco de San Martín) and the republics of the Latin Alliance led by Colombia (forged as a compromise by Simon Bolivar and Camilo Tenorio).
Since the Terror, however, Gran Patagonia has emerged as not only the self-proclaimed successor to fallen Spain's heritage and a dominant power in its own right, but alongside the American Federation has become (as its people claim) a powerful bastion of republicanism and democracy. While it managed to consolidate the fractured remnants of Peru and Spain's island territories, however, the Latin Alliance crumbled. All that remains of it is the Reactionary-controlled Republic of Colombia further north. Though nominally a member of the "League of Neutral Defiance", the ruling "Bolivaristas" remain adamant in restoring their country's power by any means, even in the face of growing tensions and militias backed by the Collectivist Internationale.
Meanwhile, much of the continent's remainder is dominated by the Legitimate Union of Brazil, more commonly known as Portuguese Brazil. Compared to the surrounding Spanish territories, a blend of substantial colonial ventures and hard-earned compromises had led to the realm's rise as a "Co-Kingdom" to Portugal by 1825, with plans to form an equal union if not for the Terror. While nominally host to the House of Braganza much like New Austria's Habsburg Throne-in-Exile, the Lusitanian Brigantine Throne has remained "vacant" since the Belem Incident of 1992, with elements of the Brazilian military (said to be backed alongside republican parties by Gran Patagonia) maintaining a regency in what has been coined a "Military Interregnum."
Whatever their issues, these nations and the remainder of the "Free World" have undeniably done much to hold back the Internationale and its so-called "Will of the Workers." Represented by the likes of the People's Equatorial Union, the Collectivists are known to have remade their corner of South America in their distorted image over generations. Testimonies from refugees and so-called "unpersons" speaking of centuries of history being destroyed forever, while the frontiers even in the Amazon are among the most heavily armed on the globe.
Even with such ever-present issues, there remains much for anyone willing to take the risk. Though to truly understand South America, one may find it wise to visit Portuguese Brazil, or perhaps Gran Patagonia, while he or she still could.
- “The Knowledgeable Traveller’s Guide to the New World.” Royal Dominion of New Austria. 2023 Edition. English Edition.
As a bit of trivia, while the flag for Gran Patagonia is the same as from back in 2010, the one for the Legitimate Union of Brazil was considerably tweaked to look much more professional and befitting its culture. Meanwhile, the Colombian flag uses a coat of arms that combines elements from various aspects of its real-world history, particularly the insignia for Gran Colombia.
Some of the placenames, such as "Colonia Dresde" and "Novo Milão" are not only hints as to where certain "Lost Nation" refugees fled to after the Terror, but also mirrors how German and Italian settlers also established themselves in South America.
Gran Patagonia's position and standing as the other leading republican power is meant to be a mirror of the Americans in-universe in more ways than one, albeit more aggressive and less idealistic.
Covering an area of 17,840,000 square km., or approximately 12% of the Earth's landmass, South America is the fourth largest continent on the globe. Forming the lower half of the New World, and straddling the Southern Hemisphere, it is also home to two of the leading "Free Nations" and remains largely free from Collectivist control in spite of the Terror. While some may dispute how "free" they are, few would deny how they stay defiant and firm.
In contrast to North America, the history of much of the South after the 16th Century is tied with Spain and Portugal. With the loss of what would become New Austria to the Habsburgs of the Holy Roman Empire, the Spanish Crown focused more on its reduced resources into settling and developing their remaining lands. Following the defeat of the last Incan holdouts in 1590, these burgeoning territories consolidated into the Viceroyalties of Nueva Granada, Peru and (by 1685) Rio de la Plata. While Madrid's hold over these vast lands seemed ironclad for a time, this gradually unraveled. Beginning with the Patagonian Rebellion in 1797, however, these colonies waged their own wars of independence, which by the 1820s coalesced around Gran Patagonia (following the 1806 Unity Accord endorsed by Francisco de San Martín) and the republics of the Latin Alliance led by Colombia (forged as a compromise by Simon Bolivar and Camilo Tenorio).
Since the Terror, however, Gran Patagonia has emerged as not only the self-proclaimed successor to fallen Spain's heritage and a dominant power in its own right, but alongside the American Federation has become (as its people claim) a powerful bastion of republicanism and democracy. While it managed to consolidate the fractured remnants of Peru and Spain's island territories, however, the Latin Alliance crumbled. All that remains of it is the Reactionary-controlled Republic of Colombia further north. Though nominally a member of the "League of Neutral Defiance", the ruling "Bolivaristas" remain adamant in restoring their country's power by any means, even in the face of growing tensions and militias backed by the Collectivist Internationale.
Meanwhile, much of the continent's remainder is dominated by the Legitimate Union of Brazil, more commonly known as Portuguese Brazil. Compared to the surrounding Spanish territories, a blend of substantial colonial ventures and hard-earned compromises had led to the realm's rise as a "Co-Kingdom" to Portugal by 1825, with plans to form an equal union if not for the Terror. While nominally host to the House of Braganza much like New Austria's Habsburg Throne-in-Exile, the Lusitanian Brigantine Throne has remained "vacant" since the Belem Incident of 1992, with elements of the Brazilian military (said to be backed alongside republican parties by Gran Patagonia) maintaining a regency in what has been coined a "Military Interregnum."
Whatever their issues, these nations and the remainder of the "Free World" have undeniably done much to hold back the Internationale and its so-called "Will of the Workers." Represented by the likes of the People's Equatorial Union, the Collectivists are known to have remade their corner of South America in their distorted image over generations. Testimonies from refugees and so-called "unpersons" speaking of centuries of history being destroyed forever, while the frontiers even in the Amazon are among the most heavily armed on the globe.
Even with such ever-present issues, there remains much for anyone willing to take the risk. Though to truly understand South America, one may find it wise to visit Portuguese Brazil, or perhaps Gran Patagonia, while he or she still could.
- “The Knowledgeable Traveller’s Guide to the New World.” Royal Dominion of New Austria. 2023 Edition. English Edition.
----
As a bit of trivia, while the flag for Gran Patagonia is the same as from back in 2010, the one for the Legitimate Union of Brazil was considerably tweaked to look much more professional and befitting its culture. Meanwhile, the Colombian flag uses a coat of arms that combines elements from various aspects of its real-world history, particularly the insignia for Gran Colombia.
Some of the placenames, such as "Colonia Dresde" and "Novo Milão" are not only hints as to where certain "Lost Nation" refugees fled to after the Terror, but also mirrors how German and Italian settlers also established themselves in South America.
Gran Patagonia's position and standing as the other leading republican power is meant to be a mirror of the Americans in-universe in more ways than one, albeit more aggressive and less idealistic.
----