New Colcha

Empire of New Colcha Niekolchen (Darden) Nova Colcha (Old Baatenian)
Flag Coat of arms
Location of  New Colcha  (dark green) – in Esermia  (green & dark grey) – in the Esermian Strategic Treaty  (green)
Capital	Manstedten
Largest city	Badthal
Official languages	Darden Esermian Old Baatenian (ceremonial)
Demonym(s)	Colchan
Government	Federal absolute monarchy
• Emperor	Werner V
Legislature	Gradekammer
History
• Imperial declaration	1657
• Unification Wars	1658-1664
• First Esermian War	1888–1893
• Anti-Socialist League	1924
• Civil War	1961
• Colchan split	1968
• Sicgarous Revolts	1998
Population
• 2018 census	81,080,928
• Density	85.02/km2 (220.2/sq mi)
Currency	Basilica (β)

New Colcha (Darden: Niekolchen), officially the Empire of New Colcha is a federal absolute monarchy located in central Esermia. New Colcha lies between the Augustine Channel to the south, the Prennians to the northwest and the Kaulitz Marshes to the northeast. It shares borders with Bronheim to the north, Colcha, Vadenia, and Bavmark to the east, and Normanfara to the west.

Formed from a coalition of Dardenic principalities and microstates in the mid-17th century, Imperial Colcha rose quickly to become one of the dominant powers of Esermia. Claiming the mantle of successor to the Baatenian Empire, Colcha came into rivalry with the Tlusevian Empire; leading to the Blackpowder Wars and subsequent global Colchan empire. Colonial unrest and competition from other Esermian nations during the 18th century saw Colcha decline as a power, denigrated by its rivals as the hollow shell and the Pauper Empire. This image persisted until Colcha's surprise victory against the Tlusevian Empire during the First Esermian War and favourable clauses from the consequent Konstanz Treaties. The rise of socialism within Esermia and the Red Wave of the 1920s saw Colcha adopt a hardline anti-socialist diplomatic stance and formation of the Anti-Socialist League in 1924.

In 1959 Colcha became the last country in Esermia to form a parliament and hold its first election after mounting public and international pressure. The resulting 1960 election saw the defeat of both government sanctioned parties by the Socialist Party, which had been unofficially banned. As the government was sworn into office the Gradekammer was stormed by the military, declaring the election results void and restoring imperial rule. This resulted in the civil war in 1961; lasting until 1968 with the division of the nation into western New Colcha and the eastern Colchan republic. Following the formation of the United Socialist Coalition (UNISOC) in the same year and admittance of the eastern Colchan state, New Colcha became a founding member of the Esermian Strategic Treaty in 1969, marking the official start of the Esermian Cold War. With the pending admittance of Sicgarous as a member of UNISOC, New Colcha and members of the Dardencorps led a pre-emptive invasion and occupation of the nation in 1996. To the present day relations with Ostroci and UNISOC have remained cold, and New Colcha, like its eastern counterpart, both claim to be the legitimate government of the former imperial territory.

The current emperor and head-of-state since 2019 is Werner V, brother of late Leopold III. With over 81 million inhabitants, it is the 3rd most populous country in Esermia. The capital city of Manstedten is a centre for Darden culture, with Badthal in Ardeniche province being the largest city and main industrial hub. New Colcha maintains a strong economy and large military, and exerts great diplomatic power within both the Darden and greater Esermian spheres. As a historical defender of Doxological faith and Darden culture New Colcha is home to various heritage sites, and is naturally diverse with forests, plains, alpine mountains and swamps.