Skiperia

Skiperian Federation Федерата ШЌиптарие (Federata Skqitarie) - Skiperian Шкиртарска Федерације (Skiptarska Federachije) - Malizian
Flag Seal
Motto: Вӗллаи ҙе Башким нӗ Луфтӗ (Skiperian) Братство и јединство у борби (Malizian) Brother and Unity in Struggle
Anthem:  Ќӗндроjмӗ си малет We Stand Like the Mountains Интернационале The Internationale
Rajonet Map of Skiperia
Capital and largest city	Kështjellë
Official languages	Skiperian
Recognised national languages	Malizian
Recognised regional languages	Datian Kodrenish
Ethnic groups	Skiperian Malizian Datian Kodrenish
Demonym(s)	English: Skiperian Skiperian: Shqiptarie Malizian/Kodrenish: Skipernac
Government	Federal Parliamentary Mauryist Republic
• President	Veror Shkelyim
• Premier	Liliana Cumani
Legislature	Skiperian People's Assembly
Establishment
• Independence	1047 CE
• First Assembly	1456 CE
• Midhan Skedos Dictatorship	1963 CE
• People's Republic	2013 CE
Population
• 2020 estimate	24,300,000
• 2022 census	24,334,971
GDP (PPP)	2022 estimate
• Total	940 Billion $
• Per capita	37,645 $
GDP (nominal)	2022 estimate
• Total	470 Billion $
• Per capita	19,362
Gini (2022 estimate)	35 medium
HDI (2022 estimate)	0.743 high
Currency	Lek (SKL)
Date format	dd.mm.yyyy
Driving side	right
ISO 3166 code	SK
Internet TLD	.sk

Skiperia (Skiperian: ШЌиптарие, Malizian: Скипериа, officially known as the Skiperian Federation) is a socialist state in southern Maris, emerging after the success of the socialist revolution in the country in 2013. It is situated along a peninsula in between the Jadranskian Sea to the East and the Karavastaskan Gulf to the West, separated from the rest of Maris by the Bjekët Mountains. Much of the population lies along the eastern coast, including its capital and largest city, Kështjellë. The country has historically played a major role in the region, being an important hub for trade and commerce along the sea towards Chora. The end of the golden era led the country into economic ruin and decay, Although it has for the past hundred years pursued a policy of isolation and neutrality, the beginning of the 20th Century has led the country to open up once again to the outside world. It has begun to forge ties with much of the socialist world, developing close ties with its neighbor of Chora. The country continues attempt to modernize and develop, a process greatly harmed by ultranationalist and royalist terrorist forces in the North, including the LRM.

Etymology

The 5 Headed Eagle, a Symbol of Skiperian Culture and Identity

The region has gone by numerous names throughout its history. The Ancient Chorans called the land "προβάτων", meaning "Land of Sheep", due to the large herds of sheep that roamed the hillside. Under the Lancian Empire, the territory name was lancinized as Provatonia. The Name "Skiperia" has been in use in some form since the country's original independence in 1047, referencing the symbol of the first Sudimtar Gjegj Osekuti's tribe - the Osekut. Ancient Skiperian legend tells of the guidance of God, in the form of an eagle, descending from the heavens to instruct Gjegj to paint a five-headed eagle (Скипонjе/Skqiponje, as it is called in their language) on his shield. It was Osekuti's soldiers that led to the eventual victory of the 5 tribes in the Battle of the Vojsa. After this, Osekuti converted his people to Lumenism and led them eventually gain complete independence from Lancia in 1047. The Modern name "ШЌиптарие" means "Land of the Eagles".

History

Ancient Times

Settlements have existed in the region now known as Skiperia for thousands of years. Several tribal fiefdoms controlled the interior of the country, including the ancestors of the 5 tribes that led the wars of independence. Ancient artifacts found along the Karavastaskan Gulf point to trading settlements as far back as 4000 BCE. Several Choran colonies were also found along the southern coast, including the settlement of Vounopolis (which would later become the capital of Кӗштйеллӗ (Kështjellë)), as well as Díavlos (later becoming the strategic port city of Севлорӗс (Sevlorës)). These colonies and trading centers would form an important economic hub for the continent.

The Remains of a Choran Temple outside of Keshtjelle

The Rise of Lancia

The various separate tribes of Skiperia found themselves united under foreign rule when the Lancian Empire occupied the entire region in 107 BCE, following a swift military campaign against the tribes. The tribes had been raiding Lancian shipping and trade, and it was thought that the defeat of the tribes would pacify the region. Thus began over a thousand years Lancian rule over their province of Provatonia. Under Lancian rule, road networks would be vastly expanded, and Sevlorës would become a bustling trade hub. It would also see large migrations of Skiperians to the other side of the Strait of Datia, and the settlement of Datium (later, Datiku). The Lumenites entered the Skiperian peninsula in 103 CE from Chora, and with them, came the first writing system. St. Pagoniadis adapted the Choran alphabet to fit the Skiperian language, leading to the development of the first Skiperian script. This would greatly increase literacy in the towns and cities along the coast, although few converted to the religion and instead prefered the traditional Skiperian faith. The Lancian Empire cracked down on these missionaries too, leading to the martyrdom of St. Pagoniadis in 142. Upon the adoption of Lumenism by the country in 1039, St. Pagoniadis would be declared the patron saint of the Skiperians. Around the beginning of the 800s, numerous nomadic tribes migrated across the Bjekët Mountains, crossing around Lake Škopad. Fleeing the Mađazar invasions, they would rapidly enter into Lancian territory. They would gradually begin to spread along much of the northern highlands of the Skiperian peninsula. These tribes would eventually settle down, and would develop into the Malizians. They would also bring with them their traditional Jatrebianist faith, which would largely last with them into the 21st century. Several Skiperian tribes in the north would also adopt many aspects of the faith, blurring the line between traditional Skiperianist religion and Jatrebianism.

The First Kingdom

A Portrait of the First King, Gjegj Osekuti (Painting dating from the 15th Century)

As the Lancian Empire declined in influence in the region, the various Skiperians began to desire further and further national autonomy. It was under this climate that Gjegj Osekuti, leader of the Osekut tribe, would enter the scene. He would, after several rounds of negotiations, bring the various tribes together at the Council of Trançë in 1024. There, the various chiefs elected Gjegj "Sudimtar", or leader. The council also voted then to declare independence from the Lancian Empire, beginning the war of independence. Legend states the Gjegj was given a vision from God in 1047, instructing him to paint a Five-Headed Eagle on his shields before battle. His tribe would be instrumental at the Skiperian victory at the Battle of the Vojsa, which would drive the Lancian forces into the northern half of the peninsula, into the areas primarily inhabited by more loyal Malizians. The Osekut tribe would, as a result, be the first of the Skiperian tribes to convert to Lumenism. The coronation of Gjegj Osekuti as "King of the Eagle-men" (Мбрети и ШЌипонjӗс in Skiperian) would mark the beginning the Skiperian state, and the adoption of their identity as Skiperians (Children of the Eagles). The Five-headed eagle was adopted as the national symbol of the young state, with it continuing to hold almost mythical significance to the Skiperian people to this day. Gjegj Osekuti would also make the pivotal decision of adopting Lumenism as the official state religion, and his subsequent enforcement of the tribal conversions to the faith. The Osekuti dynasty would lead the nation into its first age of expansion and militarism. This would begin with the establishment of the Royal Court at Kështjellë, and the fortified city. The kings would wage numerous wars against the Lancian Empire to the north, eventually unifying the entirety of the Skiperian peninsula under the kingdom by the end of the 1200s. This would also bring hundreds of thousands of Malizians under their rule, who had continued to practice their traditional faith since their migration. Local missionaries developed a version of the Skiperian alphabet for the Malizian language, in hopes of converting. Those who converted were given numerous privileges and rights, and tax exemptions. The majority however did not convert, leading to their persecution and discrimination.

The Old City Walls of Kështjellë