Kostrolia

People's Democratic Republic of Kostrolia Demokratska Narodna Republika Kostrolija (Kostrol)
Flag Coat of arms
Motto:  "Sloboda je Snaga" (Kostrol) "Freedom is Strength"
Anthem:  Himna Slobode (Kostrol) "Anthem of Freedom"
A map of Kostrolia showing its 16 constituent counties.
Capital and largest city	Ikhov
Official language	Kostrol
Regional languages	Mavian
Ethnic groups (2020)	90.8% Kostrol 3.3% Mavian 5.9% other
Religion (2020)	53.5% Irreligion 29.8% Markonism 3.2% other 8.1% unanswered
Demonym(s)	Kostrolian
Government	Unitary parliamentary republic
• President	Viktor Marković
• Prime Minister	Monika Pribanić
Legislature	Parliament
Formation
• Unification	9 October 1847
• Monarchy abolished	22 December 1884
• Republic	1 January 1885
• Kostrolian Civil War	9 May 1919
• USSKM	16 March 1921
• 1961 coup d'état	25 October 1961
• Current constitution	27 October 1961
Area
• Total	265,955 km2 (102,686 sq mi)
• Water (%)	1.28
Population
• 2023 estimate	30,417,289
• 2020 census	29,488,967
• Density	114/km2 (295.3/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)	2023 estimate
• Total	$1.023 trillion
• Per capita	$33,632
GDP (nominal)	2023 estimate
• Total	$859 billion
• Per capita	$28,240
Gini (2021)	24.7 low
HDI (2021)	0.930 very high
Currency	Gabro (₲) (KSG)
Time zone	UTC+9
Date format	dd.mm.yyyy (CE)
Driving side	right
Calling code	+63
Internet TLD	.ks

Kostrolia (Kostrol: Kostrolija), officially the People's Democratic Republic of Kostrolia (Kostrol: Demokratska Narodna Republika Kostrolija), is a country in Southeast Euronia. It has a population of 30,417,289 and an area of 265,955 km² (102,686 sq mi). Kostrolia is situated between the river Kara and the Bay of Posana. Its only land border is with Agmeria to the north, but it also shares a maritime border with Torrand. Kostrolia is administratively divided into 16 counties, based around its historic counties that united to form Kostrolia in 1847. Its capital and most populous city is Ikhov. Other major urban areas in Kostrolia include Kanžara, Zamak-na-Kari, and Vuma.

Modern Kostrolia was initially settled by the Kari peoples, a group of several peoples originating from central Euronia. The Kari peoples were conquered by the Kostrols and Mavians in the 2nd century BCE, who settled the land themselves. The Republic of Ikhov ruled the region from 107 to 356. As the Republic of Ikhov collapsed, the 16 historic counties of Kostrolia were established. The counties maintained good relations with each other throughout the centuries, becoming important trade partners and military allies. The Kostrolian Confederation was formed between them in 1759, which paved the way towards unification, which took place on 9 October 1847 with the establishment of the Kingdom of Kostrolia.

The first Kostrolian monarchs were very popular with the people. They expanded the economy and increased cooperation between the constituent counties. However, consecutive monarchs began making more controversial decisions, which eventually led to the December Revolution of 1884, when the people of Kostrolia rose up against the monarchy in an 11-day conflict that led to the creation of the Republic of Kostrolia on 1 January 1885. In the early 20th century, a period of worldwide and local instability triggered the Kostrolian Civil War, a multi-party civil war that lasted from 1919 to 1921. Its resolution established the United Socialist States of Kostrols and Mavians, or USSKM for short, a federation adhering to the views of Siniša Koren. The USSKM was a one-party state throughout its entire history, though it is sometimes classified as a benevolent dictatorship due to its widely-perceived leniency on civil liberties. The USSKM was dissolved on 25 October 1961 following a coup d'état executed by the Kostrolian Front for Freedom and Democracy (KFFD) with assistance from several factions of the armed forces. On 27 October 1961, the current constitution was adopted, officially establishing the People's Democratic Republic of Kostrolia.

Kostrolia is a unitary parliamentary republic, with socialist and liberal ideals referenced in the constitution and seen through many of its policies. Kostrolia has been described as a regional power in Southeast Euronia with a strong economy and military. By PPP, it has the world's 17th-strongest economy and Euronia's 7th-strongest economy. Its economy mainly revolves around the industrial and scientific sectors and is one of the world's fastest growing economies due to numerous factors including petroleum and natural gas reserves, a growing mining industry, and tourism. It is a developed country that offers social security, universal health care, and tuition-free tertiary education. According to the Gini coefficient, Kostrolia has one of the lowest income inequalities in the world. It also has a high Human Development Index rating. Kostrolia is a member of the Coalition of Crown Albatross and the EUEEN.

Etymology

The name Kostrolia derives from the name of the Kostrols combined with the Latin suffix -ia. The Kostrol name is Kostrolija, which has the same root. The term Kostrol likely comes from the Proto-Kostrol prefix kost- ([pertaining to] a field) and the suffix -rol (people), literally meaning "field people", making Kostrolia mean something like "land of the field people".

History

Prehistory

The 37,000-year-old Lavlji čovjek sculpture, made out of mammoth ivory, on display at the Vrabec Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology in Ikhov.

Archaic humans first inhabited Kostrolia around 1.9 million years ago, in Southern Kostrolia, especially the county of Dobrija. Flint tools from as old as 1.5 million years ago have been discovered across the country. Multiple caves in southern Kostrolia have provided large amounts of prehistoric information. Radiocarbon dating methods have revealed that somewhat earlier species of archaic humans lived in Kostrolia some hundreds of thousands of years ago.

The first early modern humans in Kostrolia are speculated to have inhabited the area back to around 42,000 years ago. A 38,000-year-old mammoth ivory sculpture, known as the Lavlji čovjek ("lion man" or "lion person"), was discovered in a cave in Pankarina county. The sculpture is the oldest confirmed statue in human history. Additional objects were also found in the same cave system, all dating back to around the same time.

Classical history

The origins of the Kari peoples date back to as late as 700 BCE, though recent estimates have placed their ethnogenesis at around 500 BCE. They originated from south-central Euronia and eventually settled along the river which now bears their name, and from there the coast of the Bay of Posana. The numerous Kari tribes inhabited the region for a few centuries, eventually reaching up into the territory of modern-day Agmeria. Starting in the second century BCE, the Kostrols and Mavians, two related central Euronian nomadic ethnic groups, invaded Kostrolia and conquered the Kari territories. The Kari peoples became extinct soon after the invasion as the Kostrols and Mavians replaced them as the primary peoples of the region.

In 107 CE, the Republic of Ikhov was established. An early democracy, it was originally centred around the city of Ikhov, an important ancient port city. After its establishment, it quickly conquered several other Kostrol states around the Bay of Posana, and, at its highest extent in 328 CE, possessed around 91% of modern Kostrolia. It collapsed in 356 CE following turmoil in its government into the 16 historic counties of Kostrolia.

Middle Ages

Tensions between the counties quickly erupted into a full war in 588 CE, which started over territorial disputes between Posana and Kišazem and a subsequent naval skirmish. The Posana War lasted until 594 CE and was fought between a majority of the 16 counties. The resolution of the Posana War, following Posana's victory, saw Kišazem and its allies lose land and gold, but it had a heavy toll on human lives for both sides. This swayed public opinion towards a more peaceful coexistence between the counties for the sake of trade and mutual protection.

The Middle Ages proved to be a challenge for the Kostrolian counties. Population decline was the main issue that faced Kostrolian society, but several counties also collapsed multiple times throughout the period, leaving them in a state of anarchy for some time. Invasions by the central Euronian Kambyks weakened the Kostrolian authorities further. A war broke out between Kalovitica and some of its neighbours in 1234, causing further devastation. However, the 14th and 15th centuries, known as the "Time of Restoration", proved to be calmer and allowed for reparation. During this period, the religion of Markonism spread to Kostrolia from the west and south, quickly replacing traditional Kostrol and Mavian beliefs and becoming the dominant religion of Kostrolia. In the late 1400s, the counties of Pokarina and Dobrija launched an invasion south to disperse the Kambyks there who were raiding across the river into their territory.

Early modern history

The early modern period gave way to numerous innovations in Kostrolia, as well as some brought over from other civilisations. Mercantilism became the dominant economic theory in nearly every county and trade started with farther regions. Coastal counties, especially Posana and Kišazem, the two strongest Kostrol powers and staunch rivals, launched massive programs of exploration, making some of the first and most detailed maps of Eastern Euronia for the time. Contact was made with several civilisations previously unknown to the Kostrols and Mavians, and they traded exotic goods native to their respective lands. Posana developed a strong relationship with Egilanak, which was undergoing a period of change and development.

Relations between the counties substantially improved during the early modern period as the counties focused more on trade and development instead of conflict between them. However, in what is now regarded as the last major conflict between the Kostrolian counties, Posana attacked Zelekost Harbor, the main shipyard of the Kišazemite Navy. The attack and subsequent battle left the Kišazemite Navy crippled, though the flagship of the Posanan Navy, the Bullshark (Morski pas bik in Kostrol), sustained heavy damage. The conflict was primarily fought at sea, with few land confrontations, and took place in 1694.

The war put a dent in relations between some of the counties, but this dent was quickly repaired by the beginning of the 18th century as potential unification started to become a popular idea. In 1722, the Mavian Confederation was formed between the Mavian counties of Kalovitica, Koprešić, Mivno, and Omista. The Mavian Confederation's law and premise were used as an inspiration for supporters of a full Kostrolian confederation. In July of 1758, the monarchs of all 16 counties met in Armin, Đobić to discuss a possible confederation. After some deliberation, all 16 counties agreed to the terms and signed the Treaty of Armin, establishing the Kostrolian Confederation.

Politics

Kostrolia is a unitary, parliamentary, representative democratic republic. The president, currently Viktor Marković, is a mostly representative role, though the president has the right to act politically and also has some reserve powers. The head of government is the prime minister, currently Monika Pribanić. Legislative power is vested in Parliament, which is a unicameral legislature elected with a panachage electoral system.