Axum

Axum is a kingdom located in. Encompassing the entirety of the vast island for which it derives its name, Axum is a powerful and wealthy nation whose name resounds beyond its home ocean. The kingdom makes up part of the Golden Triangle, the leading powers of West Blue, whose ranks include Kano Country. It is a nation whose peoples' histories stretch back to times before the formation of the World Government. Across its lands are ancient, mysterious ruins of temples, cities, and palaces from eras long forgotten—leading to its status as major hub for historical and anthropological research. Prestigious and ancient, Axum is often heralded as the Sun Kingdom, its territory as the Land of the Golden Sun, and its monarchs as the Sun Kings. Contrary to some other seasoned powers, current and past, Axum has followed a foreign policy that is sways between the most primal isolationism and non-interventionism. At that same time, Axumans has always done the bear minimum to remain within the obligations set by the World Government—with whom Axum has had numerous periods of tense relations.

Unlike most nations outside the Grand Line, Axum's security forces boast considerable power and skill with high-ranking members of its navy often boasting competence in at least one form of haki. This has led to Axum, and its surrounding waters, being known as No Man's Land by active pirates and other high-level criminals such as members of West Blue's notorious underworld of mafia-related deviance. Ironically, this has made it a haven for retired veterans of the criminal world, including skilled veterans of the Grand Line itself. This has led to Axum being the homeland of a mix of strange and extraordinary people: marines, pirates, bounty hunters, statesmen, mobsters, artists, explorers, dreamers, writers, and many more. At this moment, numerous, noteworthy figures of the Marines, pirates, revolutionaries, and their fellow travelers call Axum home including: pirate Highlander D. Van, marine Zahra Mendela, and the Revolutionary Kwame.

Trivia

 * This nation's name comes from the Kingdom of Aksum, an ancient, African civilization that existed in what is now modern day Ethiopia and Eritrea