Sprotavia

Sprotavian Republic
Flag
Motto: "Freedom, Honor, Homeland"
Anthem: "Partisan Spirit"
Capital and largest city	Lyakvia
Official languages	Novoprotavian, Sprotavian
Ethnic groups	Novosprotavian 61% Sprotavian 23% Other 16%
Demonym(s)	Sprotavian
Government	Parlimentary Republic-Dictatorship Hybrid
• Marshal of Sprotavia	Konstanty Sosnowski
• Prime Minister	Taras Naumenko
Legislature	Parliment
• Upper house	Senat
• Lower house	Sejm
Establishment
• Proclamation of Sprotavian Republic	25 August 1807
Population
• Estimate	24 362 769
Currency	Szostak (SVS)

Sprotavia, formally Sprotavian Republic is a Republic/Dictatorship hybrid situated in Northern Nortua in the Coalition of Crown Albatross. Sprotavia has estimated population of 24 000 000, one of the largest in Nortua. Lyakvia is the nation's capital and the largest metropolis. Other major cities include Bliskobrzeg, Vitovt, Caunas and Olgapol. Sprotavia's occupies Sprotavia Proper, as well as all of the islands surrounding it (Vojim, Kurir, Ostriv Vedmidny, Rokas) and continental Sprotavia Exterior. Sprotavia's neighbors are Great Alescoll in the west, Greater Normark in the east and Baffanland in the south. It shares martime boundaries with it's eastern and western neighbours.

Beginnings of the Sprotavian statehood can be traced back to Sterliyevka Katorga, one of multiple katorga labour camps established in this region of Nortua in the late 18th century by an empire that no longer exists. It's purpose was twofold: containment of enemies of the state and exploitation of large mineral reserves discovered in this area. Prisoners of this camps were all kinds of people, ranging from freedom fighters and revolutionaries to simple thugs and cutthroats. They would spend the rest of their lives there, labouring until dying of illnesses and malnourishment. This would continue until the beginning of the 19th century when their captors came into conflict with the indigenous people, Sprotavians. Aggressive expansion into tribal lands and attempts to use Sprotavians as additional slave labour resulted in a fierce resistance of the natives. Initially unable to contend with better equipped and organized invaders, Sprotavians gained the advantage thanks to expertise provided by the escapees who joined their ranks. Dubbed Novosprotavians, they forged an alliance with the natives and launched a partisan campaign that ended with expulsion of the imperial army from Sprotavia on the 3rd of August 1807 and proclamation of Sprotavian Republic 22 days later. An effort to regain control of penal colony 2 years later resulted in a devastating loss for the expeditionary force and there were no further attempts to retake Sprotavia. Despite the harsh Sprotavian climate, Sprotavian Republic's population steadily grew, increased by natives and new arrivals from other corners of the world, usually the persecuted and unwanted. Sprotavia expanded in the south direction, towards less unforgiving lands. This brought it into conflict with some of the tribes inhabiting this areas which did not look kindly to Sprotavian presence and protection offered to their rivals. This resulted in several small scale wars, most of which resulted in Sprotavian victory. Fledgling Sprotavian state avoided contact with other nations, be it Nortuan or otherwise due to it's distrust of Empires. It developed mostly peacefully until Sprotavian Gold Rush began in 1845. It was highly important to the development of Sprotavia, greatly enriching and increasing it's populace. It continued until 1891.

In the early 20th century, Sprotavian Republic begun to interact with other nations more by increasing trade. Nevertheless, it strayed from the great game played by major powers and remained in isolation unless Sprotavian interests were at stake. That being said, it did not prevent it's citizens from venturing out and fighting for what they thought was right. When the World War begun in 1949, many Sprotavians left their homeland and fought as volunteers in many armies that allowed foreigners to fight on their behalf. Sprotavia remained neutral through the war and it's military did not fight any battles during this period, save for the 9th of September 1953 when a foreign battleship intruded on Sprotavian waters and opened fire on a merchant ship "Trader Balthazar". Sprotavian Navy engaged the hostile ship, but was unable to identify it due to harsh weather conditions. The battle lasted 4 hours and resulted in hard won Sprotavian victory. Battleship was sunk at the cost of loss of light cruiser SRS Partisan and two torpedo boats SRS Capelin and SRS Navaga, several other ships participating in the battle were damaged. It was the first battle of the Sprotavian Navy. Barring this incident, World War was beneficial for Sprotavia as refugees further increased it's population.

In 1962, the First Tribal War begun. Although Sprotavian Republic fought hostile tribes previously, the scale of those engagements was much smaller and could be considered a minor skirmishes. Southern tribes realized that they cannot contend with Sprotavian Army on their own and in 1962 they banded together under Chief Allahkoliken. Shortly afterwards Tribal Confederation launched an attack, pillaging and burning frontier settlements. Sprotavian response was immediate, but the perceived threat was grossly underestimated and Sprotavian units deployed to safeguard the settlements fought losing battles until the news reached High Command and proper measures were taken. Chief Allahkoliken was slain during the battle of the Tahpo Canyon which took place on the first day of 1964 and the war ended six months later, after the last of belligerent chiefs was captured. In 1971 Sprotavian Republic reached it's modern borders and stopped expanding.

TBC

Etymology

The meaning of the word Sprotavia is derived from Sprotavians, it's indigenous people who inhabited the land long before the existance of Sprotavian state. The meaning of the word is unclear as it belongs to proto-Sprotavian language, but it is believed to be an allusion e to the beauty of the wilderness which is well preserved to this day and is considered to be the pride of Sprotavia.

Other name which is rarely used outside Sprotavia is Laesija, which is the name used by another native tribe, the Sakhans. The name refers to the sacred land of the Sakhan people which is mentioned in their religous texts.