Bangalla

Bangalla is the country where the Phantom lives, formerly known as Bengali.

According to the Newspaper strip

Government and politics

Bangalla is a former British Commonwealth country that became independent in the 1960s.

After the independence, general elections were held and dr. Lamanda Luaga was elected the first president of Bangalla. His opponent, General Bababu, opposed the election results and a civil war broke out. Bababu seized power briefly until the civil war was over and president Luaga was reinstated. Ambassador

The judicial system is based on the British, since the judges are wearing wigs and hanging is used as a capital punishment. The Tarashima Terrorists

Death penalty has been put on crimes, such as taking drugs into the country Drug Busters and may also be imposed on possesion of drugs. The Drug Cartel Attempts to kill the president has also been made a crime that may result in death penalty. Ambassador

The president is the supreme commander of all the army forces Ambassador and has the power to momentarily suspend at least some laws. The Doorman

Geography

Map of Bangalla.

Map of Bangalla's border to democratic Ivory-Lana and dictatoric Tarashima.

Bangalla is an African country, and some of its neighbors are Ivory-Lana, Tarashima, Ughland, Floradona, and Rhodia.

Map of Bangalla's border to the dictatorship Ughland.

Even though several neighbor countries are known by name, it is not entirely clearly where they are located in relation to each other.

The capital is Mawitaan, formerly known as Morristown. Other cities include Bengalitown, Sanloi, and Spyglass.

Behind the scenes

The Phantom's home country was originally the island of Luntok in Asia. Later on, Lee Falk introduced the name Bengali, and inserted more and more African influences. In the 1960s, the location of Bengali was establised to be in Africa, but the exact location is uncertain. Maps appearing in the strip has shown the country to be near Zanzibar, Ethiopia, Kenya and Cameroon. In the 1970s, Lee Falk changed the name of the country to Bangalla.

According to Team Fantomen

Government and politics

Bangalla is a former British Commonwealth country that became independent in the 1960s.

After the independence, general elections were held and dr. Lamanda Luaga was elected the first president of Bangalla. His opponent, General Bababu, opposed the election results and a civil war broke out. Bababu seized power briefly until the civil war was over and president Luaga was reinstated.

Later presidents include Kigali Lubanga and Sandal Singh, a female Singh pirate.

History

At least parts of todays Bangalla seems to have been part of the Swahili culture during the time of the first Phantom, with Moribar being a Swahili city. The Avenger

In the 17th century, most of todays Bangalla seemed to have been part of Emperor Joonkar's empire Nyahpura, and some cities like Spyglass belonging to a sultan, others were independent or belonging to western powers. At the beginning of the 18th century, even Spyglass belonged to Nyahpura. After the assasination of emperor Joonkar and the defeat of the Singh pirate Abba Singh, Nyahpura had a few years of democracy before a famine ruined the country. Black Glove, Part 1 Pirate Hunt The Last Emperor

In 1717, the Sanloi was an independent city. The Avenger from the Sea

In 1735, the rich Bengalitown was sacked by pirates and never recovered. The treasure reemerged first in modern times, giving back some of the former glory to the town. The Treasure of the Barracuda

During the (most probably) 1780s, there was a British governor in Bangalla by the name of Percy. The 12th Phantom payed him a visit. Mystery of the Golden Rune, Part 4: Cagliostro Mystery

After the turn to the 19th century, Moribar was a fast growing place in the British kingdom. Revenge of the Pirate Queen

During the time of the 14th Phantom (1811-1831), the British governor Sir William G. Loder turned out to be playing along with pirates, calling himself "the Scarecrow". Kingdom of the Pirates

By 1826, the British governor sir Cedric had made all Bangalla a British colony. Unfortunately, he was involved in the opium trade and was arrested and sent back to England for trial. Pirates of the Yellow Snake

In 1827, the British governor, Lord Flimsey, cooperated with a slave catcher, realizing too late that slave trade was illegal, with punishment of death. The Phantom informed him about this and he repented, also growing a beard to cover a skull mark. This possibly took place before the time of William G. Loder. The Mysterious Cave, Part Two: Ch'Gaan's Curse

In 1831, the Jungle Patrol ws reformed with an unknown commander after some tragic events. The Unknown Commander Part 2

Also sometimes after 1826 was Moribar renamed Morristown. Pirates of the Yellow Snake

In 1868, the British governor sir Stamford Bridges had a railroad built with slave labor, when found out, he accidentally killed his own son, Lieutenant Nicholas Bridges. The Slave's Railway

Towards the end of the 1880s, the British governor, Lord Hawkwood, cooperated with pirates for a couple of years until finally exposed by the 17th Phantom and Richard Fernwhistle, the son of former governor sir Lionel Fernwistle who had been murdered by Hawkwood's associates. The Governor and Scarface

By the end of the 1920's the British governor fruitlessly tried repeatedly to merge the Jungle Patrol with the ordinary British forces. The Triads, Part 1: Deadly Cargo

Geography

Map of Bengali

Bengali is an East African country, and some of its neighbors are Ivory-Lana, Tarashima, and Rhodia. The Capital is Morristown. Other cities include Bengalitown, Sanloi, and Spyglass.

According to Moonstone

Geography

Bangalla is located on the west coast of Africa, roughly where the Democratic Republic of the Congo is located in reality. Bangalla borders among others Angola, Zambia, Uganda, Ivory-Lana and Tarakimo.