Rohst

Empire of Rohst Roster Rijk
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Ons bloed, Ons land, Onze trots" "Our Blood, Our Land, Our Pride"
Anthem: "Samen Staan We" "Together We Stand"
Capital	Opijnen
Largest	Batavia
Official languages	Rohstian
Recognised regional languages	Vlaamish Low Vanderic
Ethnic groups	Rohstian
Demonym(s)	Rohstian
Government	Dominant-party authoritarian Fascist dictatorship
• Stadholder Stadhouder	Gysbert Crom
Population
• Estimate	65,019, 511
GDP (PPP)	estimate
• Total	TBD
• Per capita	TBD
GDP (nominal)	estimate
• Total	TBD
• Per capita	TBD
Gini	30.1 medium
HDI	.925 very high
Currency	Rohstian Guilder (ƒ) (ROG)

Rohst (Rohstian: Roste), officially the Rijk of Rohst (Rohstian: Roster Rijk), is a sovereign state and authoritarian fascist dictatorship in northeastern Estere and parts of western Alai, located within Eordus. The national language of Rohst is Rohstian, however Low Vanderic is a recognized regional language that is also taught within the national education system. Vlaamish is also spoken in western parts of the nation as well.

With a population of 65.01 million people, Rohst is the largest nation in eastern Estere populationwise and in territory. While Batavia is the largest city in Rohst,Opijnen, its second largest, is the capital of the nation and the largest port in Estere. Opijnen holds holds many official government offices, such as the States General, Supreme Court and Cabinet. The city is also the location of numerous intergovernmental organizations and international courts. Rohst also possesses the world's largest food and agricultural product exporter, owing to the nation's fertile soil, mild climate, and intensive agriculture.

Rohst has been a fascist dictatorship since 1924, following the creation of the Rohstian Fascist Party (RFP) by its founder Lorenzo van Noye. Due to its extremely powerful mixed-market economy, Rohst has one of the highest incomes per capita in Eordus, and ranks highly in indexes of human development, quality of life, and happiness. Notably the nation is renowned for its military power, boasting of of the most technologically advanced armed forces in the world, largely owing to the nation's longtime army and maritime legacy.

Etymology

Rohst, or Rost, is the name historically applied to the nation since its formal conception. Today, Rohst is referred to as Rostrijk in Rohstian, Rostreich in Vanderic, and Rostia in Callacian, all translating directly to "realm of the Rohstians." It is believed the name Rost itself originated in the name of the people who inhabited the modern-day area around Batavia in Rohst, called the Rostmen (or Rostii in Tiburian.) Many of their settlements form the foundation of key cities in Rohst today.

History

Early Modern Period

Main articles: Rohstian Empire

Rohstian imperialism had its roots in the desire of King William I to secure a secure and steady line of trade with Western Alai. Prompted by Callacian bouts of exploration, he commissioned the explorer Florentijn van Buuren to find and secure a trade route to Alai through the Grand Sea and Emericia, which was discovered by Esterians only six years prior. Successful colonization attempts in Emericia were made, and the colony of Loeswijk was established as a stopping point on the way to Alai. Van Buuren would make multiple trips to Alai using the route he pioneered, solidifying Rohstian ambitions of trade in the far West. Later attempts at colonization in Emericia, Alai, and Arcola proved successful until the end of the reign of William I. With its successful colony in the fledgling Brevierland and trade route to Alai through the Grand Sea established, the Kingdom of Rohst was formally declared an empire and recognized in Estere as such.

Post-war Period

Lorenzo van Noye following his military service in 1915.

Despite being the victor in the First Patriotic War, Rohst experienced an extremely sharp economic decline affecting all public sectors of the nation. The Rohstian monarchy was largely ineffective in its measures and as a result domestic turmoil occurred. Radical left elements quickly organized and formed armed militias, seizing key population and industrial centres on the east coast. This would lead to the Rohstian Communist Party (RCP) quickly sending forces around the nation and quelling other political unrest and remnants of the Royal Army, formally seizing control of the Rohstian government in 1916 just a year following the conclusion of the War.The ruling family members were arrested publicly executed on film as a stark message for the red wave sweeping Estere.

The RCP's economic and social doctrine were largely based on similar movements occurring in the Temuric Confederacy at the time, but proved was unsuccessful in reforming the guild-based market system. This led to further economic disruption within Rohstian society, and as such mass protests began occurring around the nation which were violently quelled. This would incite RFP founder and Great Patriotic War veteran Lorenzo van Noye to lead his own armed revolutionary forces, nicknamed "Vrijkorpsen" to battle RCP forces in bloody street fighting and eventually win popular support of the nation. Seizing key industrial sectors of national production meant hyperinflation of the economy occured, causing further RCP efforts to restructure the nation to become a largely fruitless affair. After two years of tumultuous fighting, van Noye and his men ousted the interim government and he was declared Stadhouder of the Rohstian Rijk in 1918.

Large scale efforts to restabilize the nation were enacted and proved to largely be successful under the van Noye administration. The RFP's policy of fiscal austerity and efforts at deflation found the Rohstian Guilder regaining its strength in the markets, and helped usher in a period known as the "Golden Twenties." During this period, arts, education and and industry flourished once again under the watchful eye of van Noye and the RFP. When the Second Patriotic War occured, the nation was back on its feet and ready to increase industrial production to meet military demands.

Politics

Military

Main article: Rohstian Armed Forces