Difference between revisions of "Nation/Astograth"

Revision as of 18:19, 2 February 2020

The Grand Duchy of Astograth Dukerria Astograthiko Atzira
Motto: Gartza batuen isango dira inoiz garaitu "The people, united, shall never be defeated"
Anthem: Yaso Astogratharrak "Heed, Astograthians"
Map of Astograth, with major cities and first-level divisions marked
Capital and largest city		Rumiatzi
Official languages		Astograthian, English
Demonym		Astograthian
Government		Unitary absolute monarchy
-	Grand Duke	Gaxan I
-	Heir Presumptive	Nerea of Rumiatzi
Establishment
-	Dynastic	513 B.A.
-	De facto	424 B.A.
-	Fragmentation	1
-	Reunification	18 March 611
Area
-		358,778 km2 138,525 sq mi
Population
-	682 estimate	89,490,000
-	680 census	89,132,138
-	Density	249/km2 646/sq mi
GDP (PPP)		682 estimate
-	Total	$3.9 trillion
-	Per capita	$43,662
Gini (682)		26.8 low
HDI (682)		0.914 very high
Currency		Diru (Đ)
Time zone		Branta Time
Date format		dd-mm-yy
Drives on the		right
Calling code		+566
Internet TLD		.asg

Astograth, officially the Grand Duchy of Astograth (Astograthian: Dukerria Astograthiko Atzira) is a unitary absolute monarchy in the northeastern Goose Coast of Rushmore, covering an area of 358,778 square kilometres (138,525 sq miles). The Grand Duchy borders Civil Citizenry to the west, Vermark to the northeast, Kernansquillec to the southeast, and the Modraine Sea to the north, and also includes the Bakartirla archipelago east of Princess Béatrice Island in the Modraine Sea. With 89.5 million inhabitants, Astograth is a major economic and political power in Rushmore.

The territory of modern Astograth has been continuously settled since prehistoric times. Early civilisations centred around Astograth's interior valleys and Lake Basabe were succeeded by a unified Kingdom of Astograth over one thousand years ago, in year 413 Before Aratzalbarra (B.A.). Four centuries later, after the Battle of Aratzalbarra, it was divided into a multitude of independent states. Astograth once again became a unified nation when these states were brought together by the Duchy of Rumiatzi in the late 6th and early 7th centuries, as the modern Grand Duchy of Astograth. Founded as an absolute monarchy, its current ruler is Grand Duke Gaxan I, though de facto power resides with Lord Protector Gaskon Ugarte.

During the reigns of Aitor IV and Lastur I, which stretched from 615 to 661, Astograth came to the fore of the Rushmori stage, becoming renowned for its civil rights, economic development, low income inequality and high standards of living; this despite the violent independence of the Free Republic of Iturributa, achieved after the death of Aitor IV in 646. In the aftermath following the 661 assassination of Lastur I by Iturributan agents, Minister of the Interior Gaskon Ugarte seized de facto power as head of government, establishing a fascist dictatorship after being named Lord Protector and Regent to the underaged Gaxan I. Ugarte's first measures were to order the annexation of Iturributa, which was concluded within the week, and a temporary suspension of civil rights, which in practice became permanent. In 662 all Astograthians abroad were ordered to return to the country, their passports becoming null for any other purpose, while at the same time all non-Astograthians in the country were expelled.

Widely condemned for ongoing human rights abuses, the Grand Duchy remained largely closed off to outside influences since 662 before gradually opening up since 674. Heavy industry, mineral extraction, forestry and basket weaving make up the majority of the country's economic output, which remains among the highest in Rushmore, and although international trade is subject to high tariffs, the Diru (Đ) continues to be one of the stronger currencies in the region.

Etymology

The English word Astograth is the Romanisation of native pronunciation [ˈastogɾað], subsequently adopted by Astograthian itself as the Latin script was officialised as the Astograthian alphabet. Astograth derives from Old Astograthian astugrað, which comes from the Gesterlaki astukrað. This in turn descends from Proto-Gesterlaki *æsdu "large", and *kraþ "carnation fields". Carnations grow abundantly across Astograth and are considered the national flower.

History

Origins

Since the Astograthian language is seemingly unrelated to any other language family, it has long been thought that the ancestors of the Astograthian people and culture have occupied the northeastern Goose Coast since before the arrival of agriculture to the area, making them one of the region's indigenous peoples. Comprehensive analysis of Astograthian genetic patterns have further supported this theory. Speakers of what seems to be Proto-Gesterlaki, the most ancient hypothesised variety of what is now the Astograthian language, were mentioned in the writings of other peoples as inhabiting all the lands from the north coast to the perimeter of Lake Anzar, roughly corresponding to modern-day Astograth. During the 12th century BA, a number of permanent settlements were established along the Araxes river, most notably the cities of Gesterlake and Arexa; in 513 BA the legendary warrior-king Berlasko the Bold rose to power in Gesterlake, subjugated the rival Arexa and further expanded his domain to the east, south and west. His dynasty was continued by Otsoko the Silent and then by Aitor the Magnificent, who extended Gesterlaki conquests to the entirety of Lake Anzar and beyond the Blue Mountains, founding Iturributa and Ituraitz on the coast. Aitor called himself king of what had been already known for centuries as Astograth, the "large carnation fields", and the flag of a silver castle on green dates from his time as well.

The Kingdom of Astograth

Aitor I of Astograth, the Magnificent, parcelled out his conquered lands to his trusted generals and the Gesterlaki nobility, establishing them as lords under a system of vassalage and fealty; these lords in turn established their own vassals and so on. The lords immediately under the king eventually consolidated into powerful dukes reigning over counts; after four centuries, the powerful dukes had grown restless and the king complacent, confident he still maintained control while his nobility developed complex systems of heraldry and luxurious pageantry. War and rebellions became frequent on the poorer fringes of the kingdom, until an alliance of the two most powerful dukes of Astograth, those of Ituraitz and Iturributa, refused to pay homage and taxes to a king they perceived as no longer relevant. Cut off from the Modraine Sea, King Errolan II went to war with a small army that was ambushed and slain in the Battle of Aratzalbarra. His heir, Errolan III, surrendered and was allowed to remain lord of Gesterlake upon declaring that "until the end of time" no further kings must reign in Astograth.

The Kingless Years

The early Kingless Years, from where the current Astograthian calendar is counted, were chaotic, as the more powerful dukes wove a tangled web of alliances, wars, treaties and betrayals. The Duchies of Ituraitz, Iturributa, Basabe and Rumiatzi consolidated themselves during this time as the richest and strongest of Astograth, each controlling key lands and resources that made breaking the deadlock between the four very difficult. In the six subsequent centuries, cities flourished and there was a great development of the arts, sciences and trade. The rivalry between Iturributa and the new Republic of Ituraitz, which had overthrown its feudal rulers, became particularly entrenched, as they were direct competitors in profitting from the trade of the Modraine Sea; they frequently went to war over control of the city of Olarria, more commonly in the hands of Ituraitz, and the strategic island of Bakartirla, near Mytannion, usually held by Iturributa. Industrialisation arrived to Astograth at the turn of the 6th century.

By 593, the Duchy of Rumiatzi had expanded its territory to cover most of central Astograth, with allies and vassal states ensuring the Rumiatzi influence stretched from east to west. In that year, Aitor of Rumiatzi began what is generally considered by historians to be the first of the Astograthian wars of unification, wresting the southern Mendebal from Basabe, before turning his eyes north and subjugating the Duke of Echegoyan in 597, who controlled the vital passes crossing the Blue Mountains. The relations between Ituraitz and Iturributa were strained since the burning of an Iturributan ship in the harbour of Olarria six months prior; by the time they intervened together to keep Rumiatzi from taking Basabe and the rest of Lake Anzar in 602 their forces were kept from advancing south over the mountains. In 606 the Rumiatzi forces completed the conquest of Ituraitz, the Republic's fleet scuttling itself to avoid capture. This effectively prolonged the campaign on Iturributa, as their powerful fleet and anti-aircraft defenses held strong for another four years. After eight months of direct siege, Rumiatzi occupied the city of Iturributa on the 14th of March, 611. Once finished, the lord of Rumiatzi proclaimed himself Aitor III, Grand Duke of Astograth, and brought the old Kingdom's banner as the national flag.

The Grand Duchy of Astograth

On the 18th of March 611, Aitor Duke of Rumiatzi proclaimed himself Grand Duke Aitor III of Astograth, picking up the monarchical numbering of the old kingdom, and adopted its symbol as the national flag. All power was concentrated upon the monarch, dissolving all positions of nobility and representation that could threaten him. The High Lords' Council, effectively a hereditary cabinet of ministers, was established by Aitor III to serve him directly, while the country was divided into fourteen provinces and their administration entrusted to fourteen Captains General chosen by the Grand Duke. Industry was nationalised and dissidents repressed, especially in Iturributa and Ituraitz, as the Grand Duchy closed itself off to the outside world. In the year 615, Aitor III was killed in the Disaster of Martiola, drowning in an incident involving an ostrich and crates of bowling balls; his son Aitor IV inherited and quickly sought to distance himself from his father's policies. Though kept in check by the High Lords' Council, he effectively managed to open up Astograth to immigration, highly profitable tourism, a gradual liberalisation of the economy and diplomatic integration into the world stage. During his reign, Astograth rose to have one of Rushmore's highest standards of development, happiness, safety, education, health and sustainability.

Iturributan Independence & Grand Duke Lastur

In the year 646, 31 after being crowned Grand Duke, Aitor IV died of myocardial infarction in his sleep, setting in motion a series of events that would result in the independence of the fiercely patriotic Iturributa region.

Prince Lastur the heir apparent, heralded as Aitor IV's successor since his birth, was set to take over after his father's death when the High Lords' Council informed him that according to the succession law set down by Aitor III it was not him but the infant son of his older sister who was the legitimate Grand Duke. Considering the oversight an injustice, Lastur fled and rallied a guerilla movement in the hills of the Mendebal to recover his crown, disrupting valuable land trade to and from Civil Citizenry; at the same time, spontaneous independence movements arose throughout the regions conquered by Aitor III, most fiercely in Ituraitz and Iturributa.

The High Lords, as regents of the infant Grand Duke Gaxan I, struggled to pacify these; Iturributa in particular displayed a great level of organisation and was able to hold out even when the city proper was occupied by modern Euran tanks. The High Lords feared that unless negotiations were successful, international condemnation would mount and the country as a whole would be vulnerable to outside intervention, making them agree to a ceasefire and relent to Lastur's demands, on the condition that his successor would be his nephew Gaxan.

In practice, this gave Iturributa free rein to formally declare its independence and found the Free Republic of Iturributa; to date, the Astograthian government does not recognise it, considers the territory as part of its own and all Iturributans as Astograthian citizens, due to the disposition that they must obtain a second nationality in orden to renounce Astograthian citizenship.

Major Cities

• Rumiatzi (8 million): The nation's capital and most interconnected city, a major hub of Rushmori finance and commerce.
• Ituraitz (4 million): A port city with a strong sense of regional independentism. Vital to Astograth as its primary centre of maritime trade.
• Echegoyan (2 million): At the feet of the Blue Mountains, Echegoyan was originally a mining town that has grown to prominence in the past two centuries, now profitting largely from the tourism industry.
• Basabe (1.5 million): A hot and humid lakeside city, Basabe is a major centre for manufacture and lumber, given the plentiful forests surrounding it.
• Gesterlake (800 thousand): The historic capital of the Kingdom of Astograth, it still flourishes as the largest city on the Araxes river and is a major tourist attraction.

Language

Astograthian is a language isolate and the most widely spoken across the country. Its unusual syntax makes it particularly difficult to master, and it can be hard to pronounce for most English speakers. The Latin alphabet and Arabic numerals have been adopted by Astograthian, putting it in line with most other nations.

English, although an official language and widely known thanks to bilingual education, is used mainly as a lingua franca when dealing with foreigners.

Sport

Association football is by far the most popular sport in Astograth, enjoyed by all sectors of society and regulated by the Futbol Astograthiko Federazioa (FAF). The best teams in the country play in the Astograthian First Division, while the national team represents Astograth in international football competitions. Major tournaments have also been held in Astograth, including the 48th Cup of Harmony (together with neighbours Civil Citizenry), the 45th and 53rd Baptisms of Fire (together with Kagdazka & Pazhujebu and United Gordonopia, respectively), Copa Rushmori VIII and, most importantly, World Cup 62 (together with Carpathia and Ruthenia). International club competition finals to take place in Astograth include the UICA Champions' Cup, the Series B Champions' Cup and the Rushmori Copa de Campeones.

Astograth has sent large delegations to both the Sixth and Seventh Summer Olympics, with moderate success. Petri Narbarte won the gold medal in men's mountain biking at both of these events, making him the most renowned Astograthian sportsperson outside of football.