Karkol
Free and United Republic of Karkol Répūblia Lìbertikā i Xantováx Karxólī (Ombulani) | |
|---|---|
 Flag | |
| Motto: "Tšarxo i Vélyarzū" (Ombulani) "Integrity and Power" | |
| Anthem: Yardzńìk Lankotžī Karxólī (Ombulani) "National Anthem of Karkol" | |
| Capital and largest city | Kamago |
| Official language | Ombulani |
| Regional languages | See Languages of Karkol § Official languages |
| Ethnic groups (2020) | |
| Demonym(s) | Karkolian |
| Government | Federal presidential republic under an authoritarian dictatorship |
| Ra Kokenbul | |
| Zeli Kokenbul | |
| Legislature | People's Assembly |
| National Council | |
| Federal Chamber | |
| Formation | |
| 13 June 1044 | |
| 6 March 1301 | |
| 15 August 1532 | |
| 22 November 1630 | |
| 3 June 1925 | |
| 19 October 1946 | |
| Population | |
• 2024 estimate | 274,917,558 |
• 2020 census |  271,187,905 |
| GDP (PPP) | 2024 estimate |
• Total |  $5.462 trillion |
• Per capita | $19,868 |
| GDP (nominal) | 2024 estimate |
• Total | $3.228 trillion |
• Per capita | $11,742 |
| Gini (2018) |  36.9medium |
| HDI (2022) | 0.789 high |
| Currency | Kamara (K) (KRK) |
| Time zone | IST+? (ZMT) |
| DST is not observed. | |
| Date format | dd.mm.yyyy (CE) |
| Driving side | right |
| Calling code | +48 |
| Internet TLD | .kr |
Karkol (Ombulani: Karxól), officially the Free and United Republic of Karkol (Ombulani: Répūblia Lìbertikā i Xantováx Karxólī), is a country in Northwestern Armaghan, also known as Zerumor. It has a population of 274,917,558, making it the fourth-most populous country in the world and the third-most populous in Armaghan. Karkol borders Padambla and Morotakh to the south; Chelzeriv, Tajirika, and Vhugan to the east; and Navui to the north. To the west, it borders the Dulmara Ocean. The capital and largest city of Karkol is Kamago. Other major urban areas include Bapra, Gunagar, Kumala, Bandula, and Pandur.
Karkol was first settled by the Kiyars and the Ertulani. These groups eventually split into the main ethnic groups of Karkol today, and spread out across the region. Warring was frequent between the groups, leading to the creation of major empires such as the Ombulani Empire, the Yolkuta Empire, and the Ertu Empire. These empires ruled the eastern part of Karkol for centuries, until internal problems broke them apart. Western Karkol saw some development during the collapse of the eastern powers. The most notable empires to emerge out of the western region include the Empire of Gagiltor and the Pandurian Empire. The Sogan Empire was also established, by the nomadic Sogan people who recurrently raided the far western Karkolian tribes. The 11th century brought the rise of the Ulmara Empire, based out of Gunagar, led by Kiritiul the Magnificent, a masterful tactician and military commander who conquered nearly all of modern-day Karkol, and brought about the Karkolian Golden Age. The Karkolian Golden Age was a period of rapid scientific and cultural advancement in Ulmara society. The Golden Age also spurred the return and spread of the Yanu religion, an ancient Ombulani religion. Marking the end of the Karkolian Golden Age, the Ulmara Empire collapsed in 1301 into four distinct kingdoms: Ombulan, Yolkuta, Ulmar, and Panduria. This began the Four Kingdoms period. The kingdoms began an early age of exploration, establishing trade routes with other Armaghani nations, Kobuo in Southern Darana and the Farokandi Archipelago.
The four kingdoms were relatively peaceful with each other until the War of Burning Towns, when Ombulan was defeated by Yolkuta and Panduria. This led to widespread resentment in Ombulani society, eventually triggering the Ombulani Revolution, in which the Ombulani monarchy was replaced with a military dictatorship led by General Argos Tomibil. Tomibil started the Great Karkolian War, which pitted Yolkuta and Panduria against Ombulan, Ulmar, and the Sogan Empire. The war was an overwhelming Ombulani victory, but it killed over 1 million people and caused immense devastation across the belligerents. After this, Ombulan began a quest to unify Karkol by force. After conquering Ulmar and Sogana, Ombulan formed the Empire of Karkol in 1630, led by Rotala the Unifier. In 1764, the empire had reached its highest extent under Emperor Loki II, who had taken over much of Zerumor, emerging as a great power. The mid-to-late 1800s saw the decline of the Empire of Karkol, as many conquered territories broke off, gaining independence. By 1878, Karkol's borders had reached their modern state. The public opinion of the monarchy plummetted, triggering multiple failed revolutions. Emperor Kostuka, who took the position in 1909, transformed the country into a police state, brutally oppressing his political opposition and any protests. Eventually, the finally successful June Revolution of 1925 brought an end to the monarchy. The Republic of Karkol was created, but its constitution was widely perceived as flawed, and led to the rise of Arko Kokenbul in 1946. Kokenbul was trusted by the people and promised a free and fair democracy. Instead, he assumed total control of the country. Kokenbul's totalitarian dictatorship, unlike the previous monarchy, withstood all attempts to replace it. In 1944, Padambla, led by Devander Khalsa, invaded Karkol, beginning the Great War. Karkol was entirely conquered, but eventually liberated by the Kambapur Coalition. Arko Kokenbul died suddenly of a stroke in 1961. He passed the position of General Secretary of the People's League (as well as President of Karkol) onto his son, Sukir Kokenbul. Sukir, 27 years old at the time, assumed the position, but the political vacuum created by Arko Kokenbul's death did not go unnoticed by resistance groups. Several coalitions of resistance groups rose up together in the 1961 Revolution of Solidarity against the Kokenbul regime, starting a year-long civil war. However, the revolution failed in its goal and the resistance movement returned to the shadows as Sukir solidified his rule. In 2003, Sukir resigned from his positions, passing them on to his son, Ra Kokenbul, who rules to this day.