Menako Islands

The Menako Islands Menskarojarna (Menkupan) De Menskoeren (Hellonian) Die Menskuren (South German)
Flag Emblem
Motto: "Lite ensama, grot tesama"
Anthem: Tu sesältna län min Thou sea salted land of mine
Capital	Norstätt
Recognised national languages	Hellonian, Svallandian languages, German
Ethnic groups (1990)	64.3% indigenous population 18.7% Hellonian 18.5% German 7.5% Others
Demonym(s)	Menakan
Government	Constitutional monarchy
• King	Kristoffer of Hellona
• Governor	Gilbert den Strassburg
Legislature	Lageding
Establishment
• Formation of the Menako kingdoms	500
• Joined Hellona or USGS	1786
• Unification	1886-now
Population
• 1888 estimate	1.055.900
Currency	Hellonian krona (HEK)
Date format	dd/mm/yyyy (CE)
Driving side	right
ISO 3166 code	HLO
Internet TLD	.he, .tri

The Menako Islands (Hellonian: De Menskoepen, German: Die Menskupen, Menakan: Menskarojarna) is constituent country of the Hellonian Realm. It is located in the middle of the Danonian Sea. It is a country that was made into one when the kingdom of Hellona and the USGS joined together. When the Vismar split it was given to Hellona as one.

Etymology

The Menako islands come from the local name for the Islands: Menskarojarna. It itself comes from the Menakan words Menskar meaning "People" and ojarna meaning "the islands". The name refers to what the indigenous people thought and lived, they saw themselves as the only humans on this earth and called their land "the people's land". Most Vismaric languages use the native name as a base, Hellonian (oe reflects the pronunciation in Menakan) and South German included.

History

Prehistory and kingdoms

Evidence of life on the Menako islands has been seen since around 100 A.D. Tribes living on these islands we're hunter-gatherers, but quickly joined together to make small kingdoms. Many sculptures have been found which proof that these kingdoms started around 500.

Menakans are decendants of the first Vismarics sailing across the Danonian Sea, some of which ended up in Norsund, including the ethno-linguistic similar Vejorda people.

Menakan wars (620-750)

At around 600, there were three known kingdoms on the 6 isles, these include: The Bokumena, the Seevada and the Luchi. Scriptures have been found at around 589, in a script now called the Boselu alphabet. These tell of the great Menakan wars that happened at 620 to 750. The wars were between the three kingdoms, which fought for dominance in the region. The Luchi were ill prepared and lost major battles at Makupaku and the gulf of Vulas, which all resulted in the conquest of the Luchi kingdom by the Seevada around 680. However both the Bokumena and the Seevada kingdoms had a hard time against each other, and fighting continued till around 750, when both kingdoms declared peace. The islands were split up equally by the two kingdoms and peace returned.

Germano-Hellonian trade

As early as 679, traces of Hellonian and German presence have been found on the isles. Most were there for trade, and the Hellonian government asked the Bokumena for a trade monopoly with them, and they accepted. Hellonian immigrant came to the isles and began to set up trade posts. The Germans began to do the same in the Seevada kingdom. The Menakan people enjoyed these new groups of people, and on 1786 a treaty was sent their way. The kingdoms of Bokumena and Seevada were asked by both the USGS and Hellona to join their countries as special constituent countries, and they accepted. The Seevada and Bokumena kingdoms became special dominions on Feburary 6th, 1786.

unification (1886-now)

When Hellona and the USGS combined to make Germano-Hellona, the Menakan people asked for a unification as one constituent country. This was fulfilled and the Menako islands became one state on April 6th, 18886. Both kingdoms still have a presence, as they're now the head of the Seevada and Bokumena provinces. The Menako island system works similar to Belgium's now.

Geography

The Menako Islands occupy a position of strategic importance, as they lay in the middle of the Danonian sea. Hellona uses the islands as a stop for traveling to Norsund and is used as a trade point between the two countries.

The Menako archipelago consists of six habitable islands, of which two are inhabited. the remainder are merely some 200 desolate rocks. The archipelago is the only island chain in the Danonian sea and makes a strategic point for both travel to Novallonda and the Arctos ocean.

The surface of the islands is generally rocky and the soil thin. There are several harbours.

Bio diversity

Animals include about a 1000 types of insects, and several kinds of mammals. There is no known population of reptiles. Mammals include the Menakan sheep and the Menakan horse. The islands is also home to many sea-birds.

The mildness of the climate and the richness of the soil made the island chain hospitable for many species of vegetation. Pines and firs, birch, aspen, elm, ash, and lime grow, and oaks occur in small woods all over the chain. Traditionally, timber was exported for shipbuilding and houses, while clay was only used for castles for the kings.

• 

  Rocky Menakan coast

• 

  Ferry pont from Volland to Mennern

• 

  Grassy coast in the south

• 

  Nordstad

• 

  Even though the islands are small, each have an extensive road system

Government

Administrative regions

The Menako Islands are divided in provinces, one for each island. The biggest islands and thus provinces being Volland and Mennern. The islands are further divided into muncipalities (Menakan: Gemenar, Hellonian: Gemeentes, South German: Gemeinden)

Flag Province Capital Largest city Seelän Norstätt Norstätt Menneren Mennerndorp Mennerndorp Jortlän Jorthus Jorthus Essel Tenbö Tenbö Littnoja Littnahav Littnahav

Demographics

Ethnicity and language

Most people speak Menakan as their first language: 85,5%, while 12,5% speak Hellonian and 12,5% speak German. The language of instruction in publicly financed schools is Menakan, but some schools feature bilingual instructions, in either German or Hellonian.

Even though the country is now unified, most people still identify under the old kingdoms. About 40% identify as Bokumenan, 45% as Seevadian, and 15% are foreigners. Culturally, the Seevadians and Bokumena only have small differences, in language and etiquette, but they mostly have the same culture.

Religion

The majority of the Menakans find that religion is a very personal matter which is not supposed to be propagated in public. People usually only practice religion at home and try to keep it out of their outside life.

Culture

The Menakan culture is similar to the Norsundish Vejorda people and other Vismaro-Novallondan cultures, and has its roots in the Grønheim culture. The Menakan language was long written in its own alphabet, and only has recently changed to the Hellonian system. This is why lately there has been a resurgent of traditional culture, as old stories are being translated.

Literature

Menakan literature has only recently really developed, as the nation changed from the Boselu alphabet to the Hellonian system, many old stories are put in the spotlight again. Old saga's include the die legend ku Hinguldr on Berguldr and die strie ku Vestukupa. These were the bedrocks for modern Menkupan literature, and these classic mythological creatures and gods are still included in daily life and many books.