Sylvakia

Republic of Sylvakia Sylvenská republika Республика Сильвакия Republik Sylvakei Sylvakia
Flag Emblem
Motto: Síla, Svoboda, Solidarita "Strength, Freedom, Unity"
Anthem: Farewell of Slavianka
Capital and largest city	Kralovice
Ethnic groups (2020)	Sylvan 49.7% Parthonopian 21.1% Karpat 10.7% Vlachavian 9.0% Other 8.7%<
Demonym(s)	Sylvan
Government	Unitary parliamentary republic (1979–2009) Unitary presidential constitutional republic (2009–Present)
• President	Vaclav Cernik
Sovereign State
Area
• Total Land	265,171.42 km2 (102,383.26 sq mi)does not include inland lakes
• Water (%)	13.41%
Population
• 2020 census	14,861,348
• Density
GDP (PPP)	2020 estimate
• Total	$508.465 billion
• Per capita	$40,599
Currency	Koruna (KOR)
Time zone	UTC-1 (Menghean Southwestern Time)
Date format	yyyy-mm-dd; CE(AD)
Driving side	right
Calling code	+25

Sylvakia /sjləvækiə, -ˈvɑːk-/ (listen), officially the Republic of Sylvakia, is a landlocked country situated at the center of Lira near lake Sivash and the central Larovans. It borders Boaga to the north, Vlachavia to the east, Illyntheria to the south, and Grenzaria to the west. The country also claims a border with Ackesia through the disputed territory of Karpatya. Sylvakia's population numbers approximately fourteen point eight million. Its capital, Kralovice, is the largest and oldest city in the Larovans.

Continuously inhabited since the Paleolithic Age, the territory of modern-day Sylvakia faced Slavic migrations to the Larovans in the 6th century, establishing several regional states in the early Middle Ages at times recognised as tributaries to the Ackesian, Grenzarian and Lunder kingdoms. Sylvakia's predecessor state, Sylvenska, arose as an empire at around 830, but was relatively short lived. By the mid-16th century, the Lunder Empire had annexed the entirety of modern-day Sylvakia. In the early 19th century, the Sylvan Revolution established the nation-state as the region's first constitutional monarchy, which subsequently expanded its territory. Following disastrous casualties in the First Olympic War, and the subsequent unification of the former Lunder crownlands of Grenzaria (and other lands) with Sylvakia, the country co-founded Panlarova with other nations, which would exist in various political formations until the Rozpad Wars of the 1990s. During the breakup of Panlarova, Sylvakia formed a union with Karpatya, but this was interrupted by the 2008 Karpat War in which the region was seized by Vlachavia.

Sylvakia has since undergone political upheaval, with its unitary parliamentary constitutional republic being replaced by an authoritarian executive republic. It has been described by some as a quasi-military dictatorship. President Vaclav Cernik took control of the country in 2009, and has since more than doubled the nation's military expenditure, with the help of foreign aid from Boaga and Parthonopia. Despite this, Sylvakia hosted the first Pan-Liran Congress in 2020, which greatly improved the nation's standing internationally.

Eytomology

Sylvakia's name in theory means the "Land of the Sylvans" (Sylvensko in the Sylvan language, stemming from the older form Sylvak). As such, it is a cognate of the words Sylvenska and Sylvania. In medieval Latin, German sources and even some Slavic sources, the same name has often been used for both Sylvans and Larovan Slavs in general.

According to one of the theories, between 13th and 14th century a new form of national name formed for the ancestors of the Sylvans, possibly due to foreign influence – the word Sylvák (in medieval sources from 1291 onward). This form slowly replaced the name for the male members of the community, but the female name (Sylva), reference to the lands inhabited and the name of the language (Sylvan) all remained the same, with their base in the older form. Most foreign translations tends to stem from this newer form (Sylvakia in English, Sylwakei in German, Sylvaquie in French, etc.).

History

Prehistory and antiquity

Present-day Slovenia has been inhabited since prehistoric times. There is evidence of human habitation from around 250,000 years ago. A pierced {{w]|brown bear}} bone, dating from 43100 ± 700 BP, found in 1995 in a cave in the Šentjur province, is considered a kind of flute, and possibly the oldest musical instrument discovered in the world. In the 1920s and 1930s, artifacts belonging to the Cro-Magnon, such as pierced bones, bone points, and a needle were found by archaeologist Srečko Brodar in Potok Cave. The oldest surviving human artifacts from Sylvakia are dated at 270,000 BCE, in the Early Paleolithic era. These ancient tools, made by the Clactonian technique, bear witness to the ancient habitation of Sylvakia.

Other stone tools from the Middle Paleolithic era (200,000–80,000 BCE) come from the Prévôt (Prepoštská) cave in Bojnice and from other nearby sites. The most important discovery from that era is a Neanderthal cranium (c. 200,000 BCE), discovered near the city of Gánovce in northern Sylvakia.

A rendering of an ancient Sylvan oppiva, or hillfort. Settlments such as these were sparsed across the region.

Settlement in the area called Sylvakia for the last 1,000 years started by the end of the Glacial Stage, some 13,000 years ago. Archeological traces have been found of various cultures during the Stone and Bronze Age, Baltic peoples, Germanic peoples during the Iron Age and, in the Dark Ages, West Slavic tribes and Vikings. Starting in the 10th century, early Sylvan rulers united the region. During the Bronze Age, the geographical territory of modern-day Slovakia went through three stages of development, stretching from 2000 to 800BCE. Major cultural, economic, and political development can be attributed to the significant growth in production and metalwork of copper, especially in northeastern and northwest Sylvakia. Copper became a stable source of prosperity for the local population. During this era the region's peoples expanded building of strong and complex fortifications, with the large permanent buildings and administrative centers. Excavations of oppiva, or as they are more commonly known, hill forts, document the substantial development of trade and agriculture at that period. The richness and diversity of tombs increased considerably. The inhabitants of the area manufactured arms, shields, jewelry, dishes, and statues.

Left: an ancient Biatec coin
Right: five modern Sylvan koruna

In 600 BC, Greeks founded the colony of Kyrcola (modern day Korčula), on the shores of the Mareanguli Sea. Cyracor quickly became the cultural and commercial center of the region, and many of the local tribes assimiliated with Greek culture. At the same time, some nomadic Alanii tribes penetrated parts of the Black Mountains, gradually spreading through the rest of the country between the 5th and 3rd century BC. The concept of Alania emerged during this period, corresponding to the territories of Celtic settlement ranging between the Black Mountains and the Mareanguli Sea. The borders of modern Sylvakia roughly correspond to ancient Alania, which was inhabited by Celts. Alania was then a prosperous country, of which the southernmost part was heavily subject to Greek and Roman cultural and economic influences.

Around 120 BC, the chieftain Caliphus and his troops made their way into Parthonopia and began looting and pillaging the countryside, going so far as to besiege XXX in 125 BC. The invasion left XXX weakened, and the continued to harass the region until 345 BC when they entered into a formal peace treaty with Rome. But the Romans and the Alania would remain adversaries for the next centuries, and the Alanii would continue to be a threat in Parthonopia. In 134 BC, the northern coast of Alania was conquered by the Romans, who called this region Cismareia. XXX conquered the remainder of Alania and overcame a revolt carried out by the Alanii chieftain Caliphus in 52 BC. According to contemporary historians and scholars, the Alanii Wars resulted in 400 conquered cities, 100 subdued tribes, a million people sold into slavery, and another half million dead in battle.

Alania was divided into Imperial province of Cismareia and Langonia. Many cities were founded during the Alanii-Roman period, including Percynia (present-day Ponkvinka). These cities were built in traditional Roman style, with a forum, a theatre, a circus, an amphitheatre and thermal baths. The Alanii mixed with Roman settlers and eventually adopted Roman culture and Roman speech. The Roman polytheism merged with the local paganism into the same syncretism.

Middle Ages

Sylvans, an early Slavic tribe from modern day XXX eventually settled in an area between the Svetlaya river and the Black Mountains during the decline of the Empire. They often clashed with the culturally "imperial" citizens of the region, but both groups gradually assimilated into one another. Sylvenska arose around 830 when Slawoj I unified the Sorlan tribes settled north of the Vlatava river and extended supremacy over them. When Slawoj I endeavored to secede from the supremacy of the king of Grenzaria in 846, he was deposed, and his nephew Rastislav (846–870) acquired the throne. The new monarch founded the Bezovje dynasty (whose legacy is especially cherished) and pursued an independent policy: after stopping a foreign attack in 855, he also sought to expand the influence of Christianity in the principality. Duke Rastislav asked the XXX empire to send teachers who would interpret Christianity in the Slavic vernacular, and his dynasty continued these efforts. Sylvenska was elevated to a kingdom in 1125, with the Orthodox Church was organized as an autocephalous archbishopric. Many monuments of the Bezovje period survive today as heritage sites.

The Bezovje dynsasty died out in 1331, and was succeeded by the Dravanaya dynasty. During this period, frequent wars between Sylvenska and the neighboring XXX over control of the northern coast of the Mareangul Sea saw the gradual pushback of Sylvan control of the region in a constant back-and-forth.

The victory of the Sylvans and Tanayans over the Grenzarians at the Battle of Olgbred in 1424

On 8 September 1400, the Battle of Olgbred between Sylvans, commanded by the King Konstanty of the Sylvans (as well as their Tanayan allies) and the Grenzarians was fought. According to Rerum Commentarii by Sigismund von Herberstein, the primary source for information on the battle, the much smaller army of Sylvans and their Tanayan allies (under 30,000 men) defeated a force of 80,000 Grenzarian soldiers, capturing their camp and commander. The battle cemented a military alliance between Sylvenska and Tanaya, and thousands of Grenzarians were captured as prisoners and taken as slaves. During the battle, however, King Konstanty was mortally wounded, and the Dravanaya dynasty was brought to an end.

Sylvenska left behind a lasting legacy in southeastern Lira. The Glagolitic script and its successor Cyrillic were disseminated to other Larovan countries, charting a new path in their sociocultural development. The administrative system of Sylvenska was also copied by successor states.

Sylvan-Tanayan Commonwealth

The Sylvan-Tanayan Commonwealth was created in 1444 after the death of King Konstanty of Sylvenska. As a member of the Commonwealth, Sylvenska retained its institutions, including a separate army, currency, and statutory laws – the Statute of Kralovice. Eventually, Tanayanization affected all aspects of Sylvan life: politics, language, culture, and national identity. From the mid-16th to the mid-17th centuries, culture, arts, and education flourished, fueled by the Renaissance and the Reformation.

In 1655, after the Battle of Kralovice, a XXX army looted the city, churches, and manors. Between 10,000 and 20,000 citizens were killed; the city burned for 14 days. Those who returned after the catastrophe could not recognise the city, and the occupation lasted up to 1661. Many artefacts and cultural heritage were either lost or looted, significant parts of the state archive – the Sylvan Metrica, collected since the 13th century, were lost and the rest was moved out of the country. During this period, Sylvan territory was devastated by the invading armies. Almost all territory of Sylvenska was occupied by enemy armies. This period is known as The Deluge.

Before it could fully recover, Sylvenska was ravaged again by the Plague. This and a concurrent famine caused the deaths of approximately 40% of the country's population.

Grenzarian Empire

Eventually, the Commonwealth was partitioned in 1772, 1792, and 1795 by the XXX, XXX, and XXX.

The largest area of Sylvan territory became part of the Grenzar Empire. After the unsuccessful uprisings in 1789 and 1799, the Tsarist authorities implemented a number of Germanification policies. They banned the Sylvan press, closed cultural and educational institutions, and attempted to destroy Sylvanism as a cultural identity. The Germanization failed, owing to an extensive network of Sylvan book smugglers and secret Sylvan homeschooling. The period did lead, however, to the influx of a large minority of German settlers and a disruption of the traditional ethnic makeup of the region.

Miroslav Pogaèar promoted a return to Sylvakia's pre-Commonwealth traditions, which he depicted as a Golden Age of Sylvakia and a renewal of the native culture, based on the Sylvan language and customs. With those ideas in mind, he wrote already in 1822 a history of Sylvakia in Sylvan, though it was not published at that time. A colleague of Pogaèar, Dan Ravnjak wrote in Tanayan a voluminous Ancient History of the Sylvan Nation, where he likewise expounded and expanded further on the concept of historic Sylvakia, whose days of glory had ended in 1400. A Sylvan National Revival, inspired by the ancient Lithuanian history, language and culture, laid the foundations of the modern Sylvan nation and independent Sylvakia.

Sylvan Revolution

Countess Monika Koštoma leading peasant scythemen during the November Revolution against Grenzaria.

The Battle of Zagorje ob Svet, where Sylvan revolutionaries defeated a Grenzarian army twice their size.

The Cadet Revolution, also known as the November Revolution, was an armed rebellion in the heartland of partitioned Sylvakia against the Grenzarian Empire. The uprising began on 29 November 1831 in Kralovice when the young Sylvan officers from the local military academy revolted. The armed struggle began when a group of conspirators led by a young cadet, Vladislav Šiljan, took arms from their garrison and attacked the Blue Palace, the main seat of the Grand Duke and Grenzarian authority. The rebels managed to enter the palace, but Grand Duke Fredrick had escaped in women's clothing. The rebels then turned to the main city arsenal, capturing it after a brief struggle.

Four days later, the Grenzarian army attempted a poorly-organized and piecemeal assault of Kralovice to retake the city, but they were defeated when elements of the local police force, citizens organized by the Countess Monika Koštoma and elements of Congress Sylvakia's army held their ground. Taken by surprise by the rapid unfolding of events during the night of 29 November, the local Sylvan government (Administrative Council) assembled immediately to take control and to decide on a course of action. Unpopular ministers were removed and liberal nationalists took their places. Initially, the uprising was only to secure more political freedoms for Sylvans under Grenzarian authority.

On 4 February, a 115,000 strong Grenzarian army under Field Marshal Karl von Diebitsch crossed the Sylvan borders. The first major battle took place on 14 February 1831, close to the village of Belticni near Podvelka. In the Battle of Belticni, Sylvan cavalry defeated a Grenzarian division and captured a considerable number of cannon. However, the victory had mostly psychological value and could not stop the Grenzarian advance towards the capitol. The subsequent battles of Dobre, Naklo and Vojnik were inconclusive.

The Polish forces then assembled on the right bank of the Svetlaya River to defend the capital. On 25 February, the Sylvan army of approximately 40,000 met a Grenzarian force of almost twice their number east of Kralovice, in the Battle of Zagorje ob Svet. Both armies withdrew after almost two days of heavy fighting and with considerable losses on both sides. Over 7,000 Sylvans fell on the field, and the number of killed in the Grenzarian army was slightly larger. The Grenzarians were forced to retreat and Kralovice was saved.

Following this battle, and the promise of foreign support from the XXX, the Sylvans declared their independence as the Kingdom of Sylvakia. The spring and early summer months proved a vital lull for the Sylvan war effort, as their forces had been severely depleted during the Battle of Zagorje ob Svet. Foreign arms, drill instructors, and modern artillery made its way into the Sylvan army as the Grenzarians mobilized two additional armies to crush the nascent revolutionaries. Foreign volunteers, most notably XXX of XXX, also swelled the Sylvan's ranks. The Grenzarians crossed the frontier once more in late July 1831, and initially defeated the Sylvans at the Battle of Kumalaya Pass. The Grenzarian advance was halted during the ten-day Veržej Campaign, which culminated with the Battle of Cvijet. After this defeat, and with the threat of war between Grenzaria and Ackesia looming, Grenzaria accepted a Great Power mediation in the Conference of XXX, in which Sylva's borders were set at the Zacheta River, notably leaving out the large Sylvan enclave in Karpatya.

Kingdom of Sylvakia

Work in Progress

The Olympic War

Main article: Olympic War

Kashubian LT vz. 29 tanks on maneuvers shortly before Sylvakia's entrance into the Great War.

When the Olympic War sparked on Feburary 2nd, 1913 Sylvakia was invaded by the Lunder Imperial Army. While the Lunder Army outnumbered the Sylvans, and had a much larger industrial base to draw from, unfamiliarity with modern strategy crippled Lunderfrau's early offensives. The Sylvans successfully held the border regions against the Lunders until 1914, when Vlachavia joined the war on the side of Lunderfrau. The Sylvans found themselves unable to defeat their enemies on two fronts, and with the fall of Karlovice in October of that year, nearly all of Sylvakia was occupied.

However, Sylvakia fought on. Its main field army escaped destruction. Refusing to capitulate, the Sylvan army, with hundreds of thousands of civilians in tow, retreated across the mountains into neighboring Boaga in a harrowing event known as the Great Retreat.

Sylvan troops march across the frozen Boagan mountains into safety The Great Retreat. Nearly 150,000 soldiers and civilians would die during the journey.

Upon reaching Boaga, the Sylvan Army (renamed the Sylvan Liberation Corps fought on the Boagan front against Lunderfrau. In the 1924 offensive that ended the war, the Sylvan Corps played a decisive role, forcing back and Lunder counterattack that could have stopped the offensive.

Sylvakia's casulties in the Great War amounted to a staggering 800,000, almost 15% of Sylvakia's pre-war size. 52% of its male population perished in the conflict, a casualty rate per capita matched by no other Entente belligerent in The Olympic War.

In the subsequent treaty, the Sylvans were granted massive territorial concessions for their contribution to the war effort. Vlachavia was fully annexed by Sylvakia, the Grenzarian provinces of Lunderfrau were annexed; and massive war reparations were paid to Sylvakia to aid its postwar recovery.

Larovan unification

As part of the Olympic War's peace accords, Sylvakia's territory nearly doubled. With this came rule over nearly twenty million new citizens, most of which were hostile to Sylvan rule. This, coupled with the staggering losses taken by the Sylvans during the war and the harsh depopulation measures taken by Lunderfrau during its occupation, meant that the Sylvans represented only thirty percent of the Kingdom's population.

To combat this, the Sylvan King Stefan II retitled his nation as the Kingdom of Sylvans, Vlachavians, and Grenzarians, known colloqiualy as Panlarova. King Stefan was succeeded by his son, Alexander, in August 1931. Sylvan centralists and Vlachavian autonomists clashed in the parliament, and most governments were fragile and short-lived. King Alexander established a number of reforms in 1939 with the aim of establishing the Panlarovan ideology and single Panlarovan nation, and changed the internal divisions from the 33 oblasts to nine new banovinas. The effect of Alexander's reforms, however, was to further alienate the non-Sylvans living in the region from the idea of unity.

Alexander sufferred a heart attack and died before most of his reforms could pass through. He was succeeded by his eleven-year-old son Petyr III and a regency council was headed by his cousin, Prince Wencelasas. In August 1946, an autonomous Duchy of Grenzaria was established as a solution to minority concerns.

When Petyr III succeding to the thone, the political situation in Panlarova changed drastically. Petyr was not the reformer his father was, and decided instead to enact a royal dictatorship. All opposition was suppressed and people deemed to be promoting opposition or promoting separatism were imprisoned or executed for sedition. Petyr attempted to assuage fears by marrying a Grenzarian noblewoman in 1958, Elizabeta of Grenzaria.

Upon her ascension to royal station, Elizabeta and her husband pushed through a number of reforms, which elevated Grenzaria's position in Panlarova to that equal of the Sylvans. This, of course, was highly unpopular with the Sylvans. A punlic narrative of the "Lunder deep state" pervased among much of the public, and conspiracy theroies ran abound. Petyr did not help matters by insiting he be called "Peter" in the Lunder fashion, and by warming up to Lunderfrau diplomatically at the cost of ties with Boaga.

In 1969, Petyr was assassinated by Sylvan far-right extremists. A crisis of government ensued, with Sylvakia claiming authority rested in the hands of Chancellor Vadislav Jankovič, and Queen Elizabeta claiming authority as queen regent through an extension of her deceased husband's absolutist powers. This ignited nationalist ideas that would lead to the collapse of Panlarova.

The Rozpad Wars

Bodies of Vlachavian prisoners-of-war executed en-masse by SPG troops during the First Rozpad War.

Fueled by ethnic tensions, the Rozpad Wars erupted when the Dowager Queen ordered troops to restore order in Karlovice in Feburary of 1970. In what became known as the Feburary Days, units of the military defected to the Sylvan Provisional Government (SPG) which declared its independence following the military's large scale defections and desertions. The Panlarovan Army, which was still largely staffed by Sylvan officers, defected en-masse to the SPG. With the fracturing of the Panlarovan army by ethnic lines, both the Grenzerians and the Sylvans began a policy of en-masse conscription.

The Dowager Queen, however, remained the legal head of the Panlarovan nation, and troops under her direction clashed with those who had joined the SPG. Large partisan militias began forming along nationalist lines as the war escalated into a protracted conflict, in which the laws of war and the lines between civilian and combatant became increasingly blurred.

In alliance with the SPG, the Vlachavian Freedom Front seceded from the Panlarovan Kingdom, and declared indepdence in 1971. Originally, the VFF and SPG were allies against Grenzarian authority, but this soon collapsed as the VFF claimed authority over the region of Karpatya, which was ruled by Sylvakia. Small-scale skirmishes erupted between the two until at 1972 offensive annexed the territory to Vlachavian control.

The Rozpad Wars were the sight of many instances of culturization, ethnic cleansing, and genocide. In particular, the Grenzarian treatment of ethnic Sylvans and the Sylvan treatment of ethnic Lunders and the Vlachavian cleansing of Karpats stained the struggle with the blood of many civilian casulties. In addition, various paramilitary units operated during the Rozpad War: the Sylvan "White Eagles" (bílí orli brigada) and "Sylvan Volunteer Guard" (sylvenská dobrovolnická stráž); the Lunder "Patriotic Front" (Patriotenfront) and "Green Berets" (Grüne Baskenmütze). The war attracted foreign fighters and mercenaries from various countries. Volunteers came to fight for a variety of reasons, including religious or ethnic loyalties and in some cases for money. As a general rule, Grenzerians received support from Baoist countries, Sylvans from Orthodox countries, and Vlachavians from XXX countries. The presence of foreign fighters is well documented, however none of these groups comprised more than 5 percent of any of the respective armies' total manpower strength.

In 1972, Lunderfrau, Ackesia, and Boaga dictated terms in the XXX Accords and forced a resolution to the first conflict. Sylvakia and Vlachavia were recognized as independent, but Panlarova was able to keep the largely-Sylvan populated regions of eastern Grenzaria known as Viery.

Though official peace had been signed, border skirmishes and small scale attacks became a common feature of living in the region. Sylva underwent a period of economic growth and national revitilization throughout the 1970s, and covertly smuggled arms, equipment, and fighters to the Sylva Republika partisan movement in Panlarova. In 1984, the Second Rozpad War, also known as the Grenzarian Civil War, erupted in Panlarova. Though the newly-throned King Ludwig of Panlarova was able to defeat the Sylvan insurgency that caused the war, he abandoned the nomenclature of Panlarova, becoming King of Grenzaria instead.

In 1988, tensions between Vlachavia and Sylvakia erupted into open war, and Sylvan troops were able to occupy Karpatya, siezing it from Vlachavia in the 1988 Karpat Border Conflict.

Post Rozpad Sylvakia

Following the Rozpad Wars and renewed Sylvan independence, Sylvakia adopted a liberal and democratic constitution in 1995. International investment, especially by democratic Liran states such as Illynetheria and Winst were a major boom to Sylvakia's economy, ranking it as the #1 post-Panlarovan economic growth state.

Sylvakia enjoyed a period of economic growth and stable internal politics until the 2008 Recession. Relying heavily on foreign capital and investment, the sudden freeze of investment forced Sylvakia to default on loan payments; without economic bailout, the nation was thrown into economic chaos.

Capitlizing on the chaos, Vlachavia and Grenzaria launched a joint invasion of Sylvakia in September 2008. The surprise attack caught the Sylvan army unprepared, and the invaders were able to make significant headway into the country. Though the Vlachavian offensive was stopped by a Sylvan counterattack, they were unable to drive the invaders out.

One week into the invasion, the government fell to a vote of no confidence. Allied intervention failed to materialize, and served to only ratify Grenzarian and Vlachavian claims as fait accompli.

The invasion, economic recession, and failure on behalf of her allies led to major political upheavel inside of Sylvakia. Obrana Naroda, a centrist neo-nationalist party, gained immense popularity.

2009 Referendum and Special Election

Brigadier General Vaclav Cernik, the current President of Sylvakia.

Brigadier General Vaclav Cernik, Sylvakia's only successful military commander during the conflict, spoke out publicly against the incumbent Social Republican Party and President Antonin Jaskowski. He stated government incompetence and poor leadership as the cause for both the recession and the military disaster.

Cernik was immediately dismissed as an officer by the Minister of Defense; as a result, a day later on October 15 men of his brigade mutinied, demanding his reinstatement. Public support for Cernik turned into riots and protests all over the country, and some military forces refused to leave barracks.

The standoff was resolved by President Jaskowski, who stepped down and agreed to a special election. Cernik announced his candidacy at the head of the Obrana Naroda Party, a namesake from the original Sylvan Revolution.

The referendum's results were 45% in favor of Jaskowki, 37% in favor of Cernik and 18% in favor of the opposition leader, Jan Kyzumen. With no clear majority achieved, Kyzumen agreed to back Cernik in the runoff, which he won handidly.

Following Cernik's ascension to power, the new president refused to annull the state of emergency issued by his predecessor. Instead, Cernik used the declaration to make massive changes to the constitution and government structure of Sylvakia, most notably the abolishment of the role of Prime Minister and its duties being absorbed by his own office.

In addition, Cernik doubled military expenditure and began the rearming effort of Sylvakia in earnest.

Geography

Relief map of Sylvakia with terrain and major cities.

Viery Highlands

The Viery Highlands

Zelenayan Plain

The coastal highlands of Lake Sivash in the background and the town of Gdinya in the foreground.

Black Mountains

Panorama of the Black Mountains on Sylvakia's northern border with Boaga.

The Black Mountains dominate Sylvakia's northern frontiers. The mountains, named for the slate and obsidian that dominate their slopes, are both naturally hazardous and resource rich. The primary range forms an arc throughout northern Lira. The highest range within the range is known as the Black Mountains in northern Sylvakia, where the highest peaks exceed 2,600 m (8,530 ft).

Climate

The Sylvan climate lies between the temperate and continental climate zones with relatively warm summers and cold, cloudy and humid winters. Temperature extremes are between −41 to 40.3 °C (−41.8 to 104.5 °F) although temperatures below −30 °C (−22 °F) are rare. The weather differs from the mountainous north to the plains in the south.

The warmest region is Kralovice and Southern Sylvakia where the temperatures may reach 30 °C (86 °F) in summer, occasionally to 39 °C (102 °F) in certain areas. During night, the temperatures drop to 20 °C (68 °F). The daily temperatures in winter average in the range of −5 °C (23 °F) to 10 °C (50 °F). During night it may be freezing, but usually not below −10 °C (14 °F).

In Sylvakia, there are four seasons, each season (spring, summer, autumn and winter) lasts three months. The dry continental air brings in the summer heat and winter frosts. In contrast, oceanic air brings rainfalls and reduces summer temperatures. In the lowlands and valleys, there is often fog, especially in winter.

The average yearly rainfall is approximately 600 mm (23.6 in).

National Parks

Main article: List of national parks of Slovakia

Muránska Dubovo National Park in the Viery Highlands.

There are 9 national parks in Sylvakia, covering 6.5% of the land area.

Name	Established	Area (km2)
Orlovets National Park	1949	738
Kumyrna National Park	1978	728
Veľká Fatra National Park	2002	404
Staroye National Park	2002	346
Kamyshovo National Park	1997	298
Prigorodki National Park	1988	226
Muránska Dubovo National Park	1998	203
Nizhnoye Polana National Park	1988	197
Msta National Park	1967	38

Politics

Between 1995 and 2010, Kashubia was a parliamentary representative democracy. A presidential system was adopted by referendum in 2013; the new system came into effect with the special presidential election in 2009 and gives the President complete control of the executive, including the power to issue decrees, appoint his own cabinet, draw up the budget, dissolve parliament by calling early elections, and make appointments to the bureaucracy and the courts. The office of Prime Minister has been abolished and its powers (together with those of the Cabinet) have been transferred to the President, who is the head of state and is elected for a five-year term by direct elections. Vaclav Cernik is the first president elected by direct voting. Sylvakia's constitution governs the legal framework of the country and sets out the main principles of government and establishes Sylvakia as a unitary centralized state.

Executive power is exercised by the President, while the legislative power is vested in the unicameral parliament, called the National Assembly. The judiciary is nominally independent from the executive and the legislature, but the constitutional changes that came into effect with the referendums in 2009 gave larger powers to the President and the ruling party for appointing or dismissing judges and prosecutors. The Constitutional Court is charged with ruling on the conformity of laws and decrees with the constitution. The Council of State is the tribunal of last resort for administrative cases, and the High Court of Appeals for all others.

Law and Enforcement

According to Article XXX of the Sylvakian Constitution, the organisation, duties and jurisdiction of the courts, their functions and the trial procedures are regulated by law. In line with the aforementioned article of the Constitution and related laws, the court system in Sylvakia can be classified under three main categories; which are the Judicial Courts, Administrative Courts and Military Courts. Each category includes first instance courts and high courts. In addition, the Court of Jurisdictional Disputes rules on cases that cannot be classified readily as falling within the purview of one court system.

Law enforcement in Sylvaki is carried out by General Directorate of Internal Security (commonly abbreviated as InSec) and other agencies, all acting under the command of the President of Kashubia or mostly the Minister of Internal Affairs. According to figures released by the Justice Ministry, there are 62,000 people in Sylvan prisons as of November 2020, a doubling since 2014.

In the years of government by Obrana Naroda and Cernik, particularly since 2013, the independence and integrity of the Sylvan judiciary has increasingly been said to be in doubt by institutions, parliamentarians and journalists both within and outside of Sylvakia; due to political interference in the promotion of judges and prosecutors, and in their pursuit of public duty.

Administrative divisions

Map	Province	Capitol	Population	Region
Karlovice Zagoria Jálháva Eposz Lábatlan Viery Człuchów Mezdev Liberec Amathia Tengaria Vedmed Slirnia Radushia West Miersa Lake Min	Viery Province	Visegrád	4,456,867	Central
	Karlovice Capital Region	Karlovice	2,758,314	Central
	Mezdev Province	Prigorodki	1,358,901	Central
	Liberec Province	Litomyšl	812,571	North
	Człuchów Province	Chomutov	658,978	North
	Zagoria Province	Vybor	1,558,978	North
	Lábatlan Province	Berezino	1,458,555	East
	Eposz Province	Svetlográd	1,058,978	East
	Jálháva Province	Karvina	1,101,321	East

Foreign Relations

Sylvakia's relations with its direct neighbors are strained; the disputed borders with Vlachavia and Grenzaria lead to tensions both diplomatically and militarily. Conversely, however, Sylvakia enjoys cordial relations with nearly every other nation on the continent, and has recently been asserting itself as a regional power through soft power diplomacy.

In 2020, Sylvakia hosted the Pan-Liran Congress in Kralovice to address, among other things, nuclear proliferation.

Military

Sylvan soldiers preforming the high step military march in a parade.

Main article: Equipment_of_the_Sylvan_Defense_Forces

The Vojenská služba (meaning literally: [the] Military Service), known colloquially as the Vojenska, are broken up into three branches: Land Forces, Maritime Forces, and Air Forces. There are also two independent arms of service: the Cyber Forces and Aerospace Defense Forces. As of 2020, the Vojenska numbers 159,638 active-duty personnel, with an annual spending of 20.423 billion koruna, or 5% of its GDP. Sylvakia’s 2020 expenditure is more than double what Sylvakia spent prior to the elevation of Valcav Cernik as President of the Republic. The Vojenska have been involved in several major wars and border conflicts in its short history, making it one of the most battle-trained armed forces in the world.

In 2011, Sylvakia re-introduced limited conscription for all citizens at age 18. Men serve two years and eight months and women two years. Following mandatory service, Sylvan men join the reserve forces and usually do up to several weeks of reserve duty every year until their forties. Most women are exempt from reserve duty. An alternative for those who receive exemptions on various grounds is the Civil Service, which involves a program of service in hospitals, schools and other social welfare frameworks. As a result of its conscription program, the Vojenska maintains approximately 160,000 active troops and an additional 450,000 reservists, giving Sylvakia one of the world's highest percentage of citizens with military training.

The mission of the armed forces is the defense of Sylvakia's territorial integrity and Sylvan interests abroad. After the 2008 war with Grenzaria and Vlachavia, Sylvan military maneuvers and posturing has been increasingly offensive, drawing ire from the international community abroad and special-interest groups at home. In 2010, Sylvakia signed an arms deal with Parthanopia. The scope of the two nations' bilateral military cooperation has since grown exponentially: From 2012 onward, Sylvakia began receiving military aid, which accounted for 3.9 billion koruna in 2021; in addition, Parthanopia has made loan gurantees for up to 9 billion koruna. In 2014, Parthanopia established military liaisons through its embassy, and in 2018, Parthanopian troops participated in Sylvakia's annual Remembrance Day military parade.

One of the most visible traditions of the modern Sylvan military is the Servisní tetování; this is a form of military tattoo that has its origins in the medieval era. The Vojenska has honored the tradition since its founding in 1833, during the Sylvan Revolution. Today it is performed by a military band with 4 fanfare trumpeters and timpani, a corps of drums, up to two escort companies of the Vojenska's Pochodeňhlídat (Torch Guards). The Servisní tetování is only performed during national celebrations or solemn public commemorations. It can honor distinguished persons present such as the Sylvan president or provide the conclusion to large military exercises.

Economy

The Sylvan economy is a developed, high income economy, with the GDP per capita equalling 78% of the average in 2020. The country has difficulties addressing regional imbalances in wealth and employment. GDP per capita ranges from 188% of EC average in Kralovice to 54% in the north. Although regional income inequality is high, 90% of citizens own their own homes.

The Sylvan economy is one of the fastest-growing economies in Lira, achieving a GDP growth of more than 3% consecutively for the last decade. Unemployment, peaking at 19% at the end of 1999, decreased to 4.9% in 2019, lowest recorded rate in modern Sylvan history.

Foreign investment flow grew more than 600% from 2000 and cumulatively reached an all-time high of $17.3 billion in 2006, or around $22,000 per capita by the end of 2007.

The Sylvan government encourages foreign investment since it is one of the driving forces of the economy. Some regions, mostly in the east of the country, have failed to attract major investment, which has aggravated regional disparities in many economic and social areas.

However, due to the regime change in 2009, foreign investment has dropped to 10.6 billion, or just $9,800 per capita.

2008 Recession and recovery

In the second decade of the 21st century, the Sylvan economy suffered its most severe recession since the 1970s. No bailout from the Liran community came, and neighboring nations capitilized on the instability to seize disputed territory. At the time of the recession, the economy had contracted by 12.7% in the second quarter of 2013 and 16.4% in total, though much of this is attributed to territory lost in the 2008 Sylvan Conflict.

The bailout, which came after President Vaclav Cernik's ascension to power, provided Sylvakia with a liquidity influx of 108 billion koruna. In May 2015, the country exited the bailout and reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining its economic reformist momentum.

Energy

The electricity generation sector in Sylvakia is largely fossil-fuel based. Many power plants nationwide use Sylvakia’s position as a major exporter of coal to their advantage by continuing to use coal as the primary raw material in the production of their energy. The three largest Sylvan coal mining firms extract around 100 million tonnes of coal annually.

Renewable energy production accounts for a smaller proportion of Sylvakia’s full energy generation capacity (12%). However, a joint tidal energy project with Illynetherian engineers led to the construction of the world's first artifical tidal lagoon and adjoining turbine complex. Opened in 2012, the Lake Syrov Tidal Power Complex generates 119 MW of electricity.

Sylvakia has around 164,800,000,000 m3 of proven natural gas reserves and around 96,380,000 barrels of proven oil reserves, though most of these lie offshore in Lake Syrov. However, the amount of fossil fuels naturally occurring in Sylvakia are insufficient to satisfy the full energy consumption needs of the population. Consequently the country is a net importer of oil and natural gas.

Culture

The culture of Sylvakia is closely connected with its intricate 1,000-year history forms an important constituent in Liran and Slavic civilization. The Sylvan take great pride their national identity which is often associated with the colours black and gold, and exuded by the expression černé zlato ("Blackgolds"). National symbols, chiefly the crowned lion, are often visible on clothing, insignia and emblems. The appreciation of Sylvakia’s traditions, history, and cultural heritage is commonly known as Sylvaphilia and shared by a number of enclaves around the world.

Folk tradition

Folk tradition has rooted strongly in Sylvakia and is reflected in literature, music, dance and architecture. The prime example is a Sylvan national motto, **Sila, Svoboda, Solidarita** which is based on a children’s folk story that has been passed down for generations.

The manifestation of Sylvan folklore culture is the Východná Folklore Festival. It is the oldest and largest nationwide festival with international participation, which takes place in Vychodna annually. Kashubia is usually represented by many groups but mainly by SĽUK (Sylvaka ľudový umelecký kolektív—Kashubian folk art collective). SĽUK is the largest Sylvan folk art group, trying to preserve the folklore tradition.

Music

The wealth of musical culture lies in the classical music tradition during all historical periods, especially in the Baroque, Classicism, Romantic, modern classical music and in the traditional folk music of the nation. Since the early era of artificial music, Sylvan musicians and composers have been influenced by the folk music of the region.

Sylvan music can be considered to have been a cornerstone in both the Euclean and Slavic spheres, several times co-determined or even determined a newly arriving era in musical art, above all of Classical as well as by original attitudes in Baroque and Romanticism.

A famous music festival, Sylvan Spring, is hosted every year for classical music, a permanent showcase for performing artists, symphony orchestras and chamber music ensembles of the world.

Art

As of 2016, the refurbished National Gallery manages the largest collection of art in the Kashubia. It displays 20th century avant-garde revolutionary art, expressionist, realist and cubist styles. The Gallery also displays Art photography, which has become a new field, especially following the founding of the Second Republic. Though the Gallery is undoubtedly a collection of some of the nation’s finest art, many commentators have expressed concerns over the nationalist undertones that the display portfolios present.

Architecture

History has not been kind to Kashubia’s architectural monuments. Nonetheless, a number of ancient structures have survived: castles, churches, and stately homes, often unique in the Larovan context. Some of them have been painstakingly restored, like Pagtruh Castle, or completely reconstructed, including the Old Town and Royal Castle of Kralovice, which were destroyed during the Olympic War.

Public holidays

There are 13 government-approved annual public holidays – New Years Day on 1 January, Nation (Kashubia) Day on 29 January, Easter on the first Sunday and Monday of April, Labor Day on 1 May, Rememberance Day on 5 July, Chrristmastide on 25 and 26 December.

Particular traditions and superstitious customs observed in Poland are not found elsewhere in Europe. Though Christmas Eve is not a public holiday, it remains the most memorable day in the entire year. An empty plate and seat are symbolically left at the table for an unexpected guest. On occasion, carolers parade around smaller towns until the Lent period.

Rememberance Day is the most solemn non-religious holiday in Kashubia. Signed into law by President Valcav Cernik, it is observed annually on the day of Kashubian capitulation against Tengaria and XXX in the 2013 War, which coincided with the Soravian capture of the capitol during the Great War (Kylaris). The holiday calls for civilians to dress in mourning, flags to be flown upside down (the signal for distress), and is accompanied by a veteran’s march through urban streets.

A widely-popular kolache and sweet pastry feast occurs on Easter. The week following Easter is celebrated with pagan festivities, where the youth engage in water fights and some girls are gently spanked by colleagues with pussy willows to stimulate fertility.

Cemeteries and graves of the deceased are annually visited by family members on All Saints' Day; tombstones are cleaned as a sign of respect and candles are lit to honour the dead on an unprecedented scale.