Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Neo Westphalian Europe Part 25: Kingdom of Astur – Leon


This nation is made up of several neighbouring independence movements. It is hypothesised here that they will eventually form a united push, which will see a larger unified nation in the region. The Leonese have historically had a push for independence, based around their language grouping. However the history of Leon actually begins in the neighbouring Principality of Asturias. This region also has an independence movement currently active in it. Lastly the history of Asturias shows that it was founded with the help of Cantabrian lords and has a similar linguistic root. 

Therefore it seems likely that a unified front of the Cantabrian, Asturian and Leonese movements would be the most successful. This will leave the new Leonese nation with ample coastline as well, so it does not become a landlocked domain.  The Asturian region is currently known as the Principality of Asturias. This shows that Monarchist sentiment is still very strong in this region. Therefore it is hypothesised here that this particular region may remain a Monarchy. The current House of Bourbon, which currently rules over the whole of the Spanish part of the Iberian Peninsula, will thus still have a dominion. This should ease the tensions and help prevent a new outbreak of civil war in Spain, between the Monarchists and the Republicans. With many new Republics springing up across the region, in the aftermath of the EU’s collapse, this will be an important fail safe to consider in the system. 

This would leave a new Kingdom of Astur-Leon, based along the territorial claims of the three neighbouring independence movements, minus the parts that would go to greater Galicia. These include the Cantabrian Autonomous Community, currently part of Spain. The Oriente, Gijon, Nalon, Oviedo, Caudal, Aviles and Narcea Comarcas’, of the Asturias Autonomous Community, also currently in Spain, would form part of this nation as well. Added to this are the Valdes, Navia and Villayon municipalities, of the Eonavia Comarcas in the Asturias Autonomous Community. Also everything east of the river Navia, in the Boal, Illano and Grandas de Salime municiaplities, in Eonavia Comarcas, would be territories in the new country.

To the south would be added the Salamanca, Valladolid and Palencia provinces, of the Castile-Leon Autonomous Community also currently a part of Spain. The La Cabrera, La Montana de Luna, Astorga, La Banezar, La Montana de Riano, Tierras de Leon, El Paramo, Esla Campos and Sahagun Comarcas’, of the Leon province in the Castile-Leon Autonomous Community, will also form part of this nation. The Alfoz de Toro, Aliste, La Carballeda, La Guarena, Tabara, Tierra de Campos, Tierra de Alba, Sayago, Tierra del Vino, Tierra del Pan and Benavente Los Valles Comarcas’, of the neighbouring Zamora province of Castile-Leon Autonomous Community, will also be added. 

The final parts of the Castile-Leon region to be added will be the Asturianos, Cobreros, Galende, Palacios de Sanabria, Pedralba de la Pradería, Puebla de Sanabria, Requejo de Sanabria, Robleda-Cervantes, Rosinos de la Requejada, San Justo and Trefacio municipalities, of the Sanabria Comarcas in Zamora province. The regions of Leonese speakers in Portugal would also join this nation. This includes the Casstelo Rodrgio Municipality, in Guarda District currently in the Portuguese state. Half of the Almedia and Sabugal municipalities, which lie east of the Coa River in Guarda district, would also be a part of this country. Finally a small corner of the Villa Nova de Foz Coa municipality, east of the Coa River in Guarda district, would make up the final territory.

Lastly it is presumed here that no independent Extremaduran nation would exist. Although there are some who contemplate such a state, made out of the Extremadura Autonomous Community in Spain, the current economic situation in this region makes it unlikely such a state could exist as a landlocked entity. It is therefore hypothesised that Extremadura would split along linguistic lines and join neighbouring states with access to coastline. The northern parts of Extremadura have historic ties to the old Kingdom of Leon. So the final territory to join this new nation would be the Caceres Province, of the Extremadura Autonomous Community.


The flag of this new Kingdom is a creation of my own for this exercise. It is created by taking the Dixebriega flag, of the Leon republican movement, as its base. Although I am using the republican flag as the base, it is postulated that this region will be left a Monarchy, in order to ease tensions on the peninsula. With this flag as the start point I have then removed the Republican star of the original and replaced it with the Cantabrian Labarum. Finally in the canton of the flag is the current flag of the Principality of Asturias, with its Victory Cross on it. This amalgamated flag represents all three of the secession movements united in this Kingdom.

Go To Part 26

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