Marchenia

Marchenian Republic República Marcheniana
Flag Coat of arms
Motto:  Plus ultra (Solarian) "Further Beyond"
Anthem:  Esta Tierra que Defendemos (Esmeiran) "This Land We Defend"
Capital and largest city	Gualencia
Official languages	Esmeiran
Recognised national languages	Estmerish, Gaullican
Recognised regional languages	Séí-shikʼéí, Gegokim, Úuchmáa, Yajä'i, Zapoyan, Vespasian
Ethnic groups (2018)	50.9% Mestís 14.0% Bahian 13.6% Euclean 13.5% Indígenes 8.0% Other
Demonym(s)	Marchenian
Government	Federal parliamentary republic under an executive presidency
• President	Emiliano Fernandino
• Vice President	Mauricio Palau-Sáez
• Speaker of the Senate	Juan Esteban Molina
• Speaker of the Assembly	Orlando Pinto
Legislature	Parliament
• Upper house	Senate
• Lower house	National Assembly
Establishment
• Colonization and settlement by SPANIARDS	1490
• Writ of Union	1615
• Interior War	17XX
• Independence declared	1764
• Independence recognized	1771
• Los Tres Sangrientos	1935-1938
• La Dictablanda	1938-1989
• Current constitution	1989
Population
• 2015 census	77,895,231
GDP (nominal)	2018 estimate
• Total	$2.37 trillion
• Per capita	$30,425.48
HDI (2018)	0.79 high
Currency	Marchenian peso
Date format	dd-mm-yyyy CE
Driving side	right
Internet TLD	.ma

Marchenia, known officially as the Marchenian Republic (Marchenian: República Marcheniana), the Republic of Marchenia, or the Marchenian Fourth Republic is a sovereign nation located in Asteria Superior. It borders Rizealand and Chistovodia to the north, Vinalia to the east, and Eldmark and XXXX to the south. The country is subdivided into TBD states, with a further TBD associated states with limited autonomy, taking up an overall land area of XXXX km2 (XXXX sqmi) Marchenia is the XXth largest country in the Asterias and the XXth largest in the world. Its population of 77,895,231 makes it the XXth largest in the world by population. A federal parliamentary republic under an executive presidency, the country's political, social, and economic center resides in the city of Gualencia, while other cities such as Ávigona, Andasca, and Pohuela make up other major economic and population centers in the country. The nation is ethnically diverse, being split between ethnic Eucleans--predominantly SPAINIARDS, Estmerish, Gaullicans, and Vespasians--indigenous, Bahian, and mestizo ancestry.

Native Asterians inhabited the region for thousands of years prior to Euclean colonization, migrating south from modern-day Cassier, Rizealand, and Chistovodia sometime around 10,000 BCE with the first permanent settlements being established around 5,000 BCE. This time period was dominated less by unified indigenous empires, as seen elsewhere in the world, and more by tribal confederacies supported by a web of alliances with various tribes and clans subordinate to the primary groups. Assim Asteris, as part of the Caldish expedition to the New World, first discovered the region and charted its coast in 1488. SPANIARD explorers, led by Audres de Marchena established the first colonial settlements shortly thereafter. Colonization occurred unevenly with many colonies being under the control of private companies, SPANIARD nobility, and rich merchant guilds. This would lead to occasional inter-colonial conflict between various factions. These low-intensity conflicts would come to an end in 1615 when the SPANISH monarchy, seeking to assert greater control over its colonial holdings, would promulgate the Writ of Union and unify the region into a cohesive entity for the first time. This territory, the Viceroyalty of New !SPAIN, would ultimately be ceded to Gaullica in the aftermath of the Gilded Wars in 1721. Gaullica's policies of Gaullicanization, taxation, and authoritarian administration would sow the seeds of significant unrest. This unrest would ultimately see the region declare unilateral independence as part of the United Colonies in the wider Asterian War of Secession. The region would gain full independence and sovereignty following the Treaty of Vicalvi, initially seeking union with modern-day Halland. These efforts would fail, and the two regions would ultimately choose to go their separate ways that same year.

The early years of the republic would be dominated by land-owning, agricultural, and mercantile interests, including those of slave-owners. This would see the country come under the control of an aristo-oligarchic political class which would come to dominate the government. Bouyed by agricultural and mineral exports, largely procured via enslavement, this period would be known as the time of the First Republic. Liberalizing reforms around the turn of the 19th-century, including the abolition of slavery, would see expanded access to politics by a significant portion of the population. This sudden upsurge in political activity, in addition to societal changes due to industrialization, would lead to a great deal of political chaos throughout the country. This chaos would result in the military exercising governing control over the country at numerous periods, though liberal democracy was always ultimately maintained. This period would come to be known as the period of the Second Republic. The Second Republican period would end with Marchenia's sudden involvement in the Great War, which would also briefly pause the country's political uncertainty. An emergency national unity government would see ultimate victory in the conflict before ultimately beginning to break down shortly thereafter. The failure of politicians to reach a political solution, with civil war seemingly on the horizon, would see the military overthrow the civilian government and install a civic-military dictatorship that would lead the country throughout the Great Game. Known as the Third Republic, this period would be marked by martial rule, repression against perceived opponents of the regime, and a foreign policy geared towards securing the continued stability of the government. The military would cede political authority back to civilian control in 1989 following a series of student protests that would ultimately spark the Marigold Revolution.

The economy is largely post-industrial, though there is still significant industrial capacity within the country. It's primary industries are financial services, energy production, agriculture, logging, and mining. Marchenia is a member of the Community of Nations, the North Vehemens Organization, International Trade Organization and Global Institute for Fiscal Affairs.

History

War of Secession and First Republic

• United Colonies of the Asterias gain independence as a result of the Treaty of Vicalvi, ending the Asterian War of Secession.
• Abortive attempt at uniting modern-day Marchenia and Rizealand is attempted^{check to confirm}, but fails due to cultural, linguistic, and administrative differences.
• Marchenia is initially rocked by turmoil as administration is expanded. The north is dominated by agriculture, while the west coast and south are primarily dominated by trade and industry. Northern/interior goods flow through eastern and southern ports.
• Two major rebellions, and many smaller ones, between 1780-1799 cement the importance of the military and lead to its centralization and expanded powers.
• North-South divide, or the First Schism begins around this point.
• Political parties emerge in 1782, with the primary divide being between federalism and unitarianism. The military remains a pillar of the government and support is sought from both sides. Unitarians coalesce around the Constitutionalist Party, Federalists around the Liberal Party.
• The PC dominate the government for a significant period, though the PL make significant inroads around the turn of the century.
• Political violence begins in 1809 as local governments are swap between parties. Assassinations and riots are frequent as political rhetoric turns heated, largely aimed at the North-South divide.
• Marchenian territorial expansion eastward also increases political temperature, as each annexation adds to legislative
• The military, kept largely apolitical by its leader Jose Angel Durán, becomes increasingly wary of the authoritarian tactics of the PC and begins distancing itself.
• The elections of 18YEAR are highly contentious, with the PL widely accusing the PC of fraud. Fraud definitely happened, but on both sides. Both sides also intimidated supporters of the opposition.
• PC, under Hector Esparraguera attempts to use prior centralization of military to exercise more control over the country and transitions the the country into a de-facto dictatorship. The PC dominated legislature obliges. The PL (led by Francisco Hernández Soria denounces the PC government as "a man-made object of wholly illegitimate and nefarious construction, unfit and unable to govern in any capacity." The speech is widely publicized and a general rebellion occurs.
• The Marchenian military is mobilized to quash the rebellion, though Duran convinces Esparraguera to attempt negotiations with the rebels to form a powersharing government of national unity.^{(Note for later.)}
• President Esparraguera is assassinated, leading to PC hardliner Antonio Valquero assuming power somewhat questionably. Chaos erupts in many cities as PL supporters protest what they see as the second illegitimate government by the PC.
• Valquero attempts to massacre the PL.
• Duran breaks with Valquero, deposing him in a coup. 10-15% of the military back the PL.
• PC supporters fall back to strongholds but are quickly overwhelmed, signing a peace agreement returning the country to democratic politics. The military is seen as the saviors of the nation and republican politics.
• PC is dissolved and is reformed as the Agrarian Party.
• PL wins democratic elections, narrowly passing a new constitution liberalizing the country.
• First Republic end; Second Republic begin.

Second Republic and the Great War

• PL nominate Duran as "the people's candidate", largey over his objections. He eventually comes around after promising to govern as a "liberal independent actor." A popular wave of support sees the Duran and the PL elected with a supermajority in the legislature.
• The PC, already weakened by the split between the Agrarians and the aftermath of the civil war collapses entirely. A myriad of nascent, disjointed right-wing political movements results.
• Duran is largely powerless at the hands of the legislature, which pushes through a liberal constitution that grants large political concessions to poorer citizens at the expense of the wealthy aristocrats and the church.
• The constitution also paves the way for social and economic reforms, welfare, childcare, the first health insurance, the beginnings of industrialization, etc. This is known as the First Reformation.
• Conservative resistance to liberalization culminates in the Second Interior War. The war never escalates into a full blown conflict, but does result in scandal and the collapse of a few governments.
• Duran doesn't seek a second term and largely retires from politics, serving as an advisor during the Interior War.
• Industrialization, urbanization, and territorial expansion once again results in political radicalism, this time over the advancing reforms of the PL.
• Elections go back and forth with violence becoming more frequent; the military frequently steps in to act as a political moderator.
• Liberalization eventually expands to economics; economic glut begins but it's horribly unequal.
• Left-wing politics gains a foothold around the turn of the century, and surge in popularity after the Great Collapse. This sends the right-wing into a frenzy.
• Cue street battles. Militias spring up on both sides, with the civilian government (PL) largely opposed to the right-wing militias. The military is once again in the middle, and its upper echelons grows increasingly disillusioned with democratic politics constantly overheating.
• Business interests under the Commerce and Infustry Association begin feeling the negative impacts of the political situation, and likewise seek to do away with democratic politics.
• Elections (sometime) prior to the Great War are contentious and once again political violence breaks out.
• The military doesn't really step in to defend the government in a coordinated way (largely because of waning Duranist influence). This leads to significantly more violence than the norm. Some parts of the country fall into chaos.
• Civil war is averted by the Great War, which forces all sides into the Marchenian Government of National Emergency (GENM).
• The GENM functionally is a stratocracy, though political leaders have say via a directoral advisory council.
• The "Great War" incident
• During the Great War government forces grow increasingly intertwined with politica militias, particularly right-wing nationalist and functionalist organizations. They eventually gain governing power in the directorate.
• The Great War ends with Marchenia somehow not dying and occupying PLACES. Things stabilize for a bit until the various factions of GENM realize that there is no emergency for their government to govern against.
• Infighting occurs pretty quickly, with leftist militias refusing to disarm, far-right militias vowing disarmament only after the left is disarmed, and liberal/civil defense militias refusing to disarm out of fear of impending chaos.
• Right-wing militias, the military, business interests, and some liberal factions all agree to mutually govern within a constrained framework at the expense of the far-left. This agreement is informally known as the Cigar Accords.
• In keeping with the Cigar Accords the Marchenian Army turns on the leftist members of the directorate.
• Leftists attempt to hold the line in urban centers but are eventually forced into insurgency.
• Cue the White Terror.
• The military junta promulgates a new constitution establishing a civil-military dictatorship under their oversight.
• Second Republic end; Third Republic begin.

Third Republic and La Dictablanda

• The Cigar Accords also dictated the political situation, with the right wing being "allotted" the party of the Conservative Party, the liberals the People's Action Party, and the syncretic Party of Republican Institutions (Marchenia). These umbrella parties, as well as their various "subsidiaries" share power in an illiberal democracy.
• The military keeps firm control via various edicts enabling the junta to clamp down on the political system at will; real political power lies in the Joint Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces. De-jure political actors retain independence, but this is obviously not the case de-facto.
• Various "civilian" governments come and go, each quietly approved by the junta via the national elections committee.
• The economy is liberalized further (but within a quasi-functionalist/Integralist framework) as business interests align with nationalists and neo-functionalists in both domestic and foreign policy.
• Lots of spy shenanigans; assassinations, death squad training, "military advising", and coup d'etat backing, oh my.
• Domestically the regime backs "traditional values" and leans heavily towards the Catholic Church.
• Marchenia becomes embroiled in various foreign conflicts in the Asterias, frequently positioning itself as an anti-syndicalist bulwark. This leads to tensions with Chistovodia which eventually results in war.
• Marchenia wins the war, which convinces the upper echelons of the regime that reforms towards democracy are unnecessary.
• The regime eventually stagnates over time, becoming more and more diplomatically isolated due to its own rigidity.
• Following a series of revolutions in client states in the late-1970s and throughout the 1980s the regime attempts reform, but eventually rolls them back when the public begin to openly question the regime.
• The Interior War begins to deteriorate as the rebels begin to recieve more public sympathy. Calls for talks with rebels are rebuffed by the regime a la "we do not negotiate with terrorists."
• In 1989 student protests over the curriculum morph into wider political protests. These protests culinate in the Marigold Revolution.
• The revolution sees the civil-military government overthrown and a transitional authority assumes power to transition the country to democracy.
• Third Republic end; current Republic begin.