Wazheganon

Federated Commonwealth of Walzenia 4 other official names a Waltch: Federéierte Communbeschte Valzenja Oniegamé: Mikinaak-minising Mishkodewinan Masenatau: Machkacnāh-menaes Nātamatowak Hitena: K’ečáñgara Hižąkirakį Onacheno: Hahnunah Rotinonshóni
Flag of Walzenia Flag Coat of Arms of Walzenia Coat of Arms
Motto: "Ënnert de Trëttoir, d'Strand." "Beneath the pavement, the beach."
Anthem: Dëst Land Es Äert Land "This Land Is Your Land"
Political Map of Walzenia Political Map of Walzenia
Capital	Moienrout
Largest city	Lenzneuve
Official languages	none at the federal level
Recognised national languages	Waltch Oniegamé Masenatau Hitena Onacheno
Recognised regional languages	Commune level b Ajimon English Enyaman Enuchitet Gariman Gharbaic Template:Sorrentian Latin language Meschwach Mutli Neschnan Niedawon Onjocha Onodoe Ostro-Ludzic Tamashek Wabayan Wobenach
Ethnic groups	List of ethnicities 49% Belisarian c 26% Indigenous 8% Oxidentalese 8% Ochranese 7% Scipian 1% Malaioan
Religion	List of religions 41% Irreligious 24% Christianity 18.2% Anami'aad 12% Other 5% Akiwewin
Demonym(s)	Walzer (noun) Waltch (adjective)
Government	Libertarian socialist federated semi-direct democracy
• Secretary-General	Aaa
• Presiding Speaker	Aaa
Legislature	Commonwealth Congress
• Upper house	General Committee
• Lower house	Federal Assembly
Independence  from Ottonia
• Declaration	July 8th, 1639
• First constitution	August 18th, 1651
• Second constitution	July 8th, 1848
• Current constitution	June 18th, 1924
Area
• Total area	1,854,816 km2 (716,148 sq mi)
• Water (%)	11
Population
• 2020 census	47,703,216
• Density	25.71/km2 (66.6/sq mi)
GDP (nominal)	2020 estimate
• Total	$1,403,905,646,880
• Per capita	$29,430
Gini (2015)	12.7 low
HDI (2015)	0.816 very high
Currency	Waltch guilder (Wƒ) (WZG)
Time zone	UTC -4 to -5
Date format	dd/mm/yyyy
Driving side	right
Calling code	+48
Internet TLD	.wz
a: Languages that hold official status at state level. b: Languages that hold official status in at least one commune. c: Mixed Belisarian-Indigenous individuals historically report themselves as Belisarian, potentially over-representing those of solely Belisarian ancestry.

Walzenia (/wɔːlˈzɛnˌiə/ wal-ZEN-ee-ə, -⁠ZEN-yuh) , officially the Federated Commonwealth of Walzenia, is a country in northeastern Norumbia. Its 27 states, consisting of over 1200 communes, cover an area of approximately 1,854,816 square kilometers (716,148 square miles), situated between the Sea of Dakmoor in the north and northeast, North Thalassian Ocean in the southeast, Habbakuk Bay in the west, and bordering Placeholderland in the south. The capital of Walzenia is Moienrout, and its population of 47,703,216 people live mostly in the region surrounding the lake Kitchigami and the Saint Anne River, with its largest city, Lenzenueve, forming the core of a megalopolis whose other notable cities include Zurin, Jubeugon, Moienrout, Hannes, and Minouche. Walzenia is a highly multicultural country, with approximately 30% of Walzenia's population being of indigenous ancestry and another 20% being of non-Belisarian descent.

Various indigenous peoples inhabited what is now Walzenia for thousands of years before Belisarian colonization. Four major indigenous polities, the Odachiimin, ruled the region and repelled Ottonian incursions as early as the 12th century, with records of their formation dating back to at least the 9th century. Following the Great Lake War in the 16th century, the Odachiimin's weakened state allowed the Ottonians to gain a foothold along the eastern coast and populate it with persecuted minorities from Staalmark. Walzenia was formed when this colony gained its independence in 1639, at which point it began gradually absorbing the remaining indigenous polities in the region through both diplomacy and warfare, reaching its modern borders by 1782. Beginning in 1848 the country saw a series of successive socialist reforms and revolutions, galvanizing into the contemporary political structure by 1924.

Walzenia is a libertarian socialist federation in the communalist tendency, with a unicameral legislature which elects a steering committee to carry out executive functions, as part of a system of council democracy. It possesses an advanced manufacturing-service economy revolving around foodstuffs, wood and paper products, telecommunications, and tourism. Walzenia ranks highly international measurements of civil liberties, government transparency, economic freedom, education, and quality of life. It is a regional power and a member of several international organizations and alliances, including the Forum of Nations, Joint Space Agency, Kiso Pact, and <<NorumbiaOrg>>.

Etymology

The origins of the name Walzenia are historically obscure. Its Waltch translation, Valzenjia, entered into common usage as an informal name for the eastern coast of the modern country in the early 17th century and was adopted as the official name of the of the country upon independence in 1639.

One prominent origin theory, arising in the 19th century but now not typically accepted among historians, is that the name is derived from 16th century Ottonian noble Mitchelet Avaler, who is often regarded by Walzers of Belisarian-descent as a founding father. However, evidence of a highly similar name, Valzia, also used in reference to the east coast, can be found as early as 1512, nearly fifty years before Avaler was born, and was used in the maps of Armand Weber as early as 1543.

As a result, the theory most agreed upon by historians is that the name comes from that of 15th century explorer Dietrich Valza, who was notable for his northerly and inland expeditions in Norumbia. The name entered into common usage among Ottonian colonists in the decades following Valza's voyages, eventually evolving into Valzenjia, which was then first anglicized into Walzenia in the appendix of Weber's popular 1551 atlas.

The demonym of "Waltch" is thus believed to derive from the word Valzisch, which was used by Staalish settlers to differentiate themselves from Ottonians as early as 1589.

This demonym is historically contentious but remains in both official and colloquial use in most places. Some groups claim that the word Waltch as a nationwide demonym marginalizes some minority groups, especially the indigenous First Nations, who did not willingly adopt the Waltch language, or who feel that the name Waltch describes historical white Belisarian colonizers and not other minority groups.

Geography

File:Relief map of Walzenia.png

Relief map of Walzenia.

File:Satellite map of Walzenia.png

Satellite view of a weather system moving across central and eastern Walzenia.

Walzenia comprises the northeastern corner of Norumbia, occupying approximately 1,854,816 square kilometers (716,148 square miles) lying approximately between latitudes 48° and 72°N and longitudes 76° and 103°W. Despite its position and cool climate, no part of mainland Walzenia lies above the Arctic Circle - the only part Waltch territory extending so far north are the islands of St. Joseph Land and Kuuganajuk in the state of Zanirach. Although Walzenia is a peninsular country, surrounded by Habbakuk Bay in the west, the Sea of Dakmoor in the north, and the North Thalassan Ocean in the east, it is rarely conceived of as such in economic and political contexts. It shares a border with Placeholderland in the south, and a maritime border with Ghant in the northeast.

The geography of Walzenia is dominated by the Kitchigami basin. Kitchigami, also called Lake Sovereign, is the fourth largest freshwater lake in the world and one of the deepest, with a surface area of approximately 64,352 square kilometers (24,846 square miles) and a maximum depth of 706 meters (2,316 feet). Its watershed encompasses the majority of mainland Walzenia, with thousands of rivers feeding into the lake; the longest of these is the Mineschoosch River, which flows over 1,133 kilometers (704 miles) from northern Zanirach to the Opal Bay of southern Kitchigami, near the city of Endijon. The basin is a breadbasket and home to over 30 million people. Kitchigami flows out to the east into the Saint Anne River, which, standing 40 kilometers (25 miles) at its widest point, is one of the widest rivers in the world. The Saint Anne flows in a northeasterly direction out into the Annesienne Gulf, which is the largest estuary in the world; not including the estuary, it is approximately 252 kilometers (157 miles) long.

Areas of Walzenia that are not part of the Kitchigami basin are typically separated from it by highlands and mountains, which form the bowl which allows the basin to exist. The Adéron Mountains, whose highest peak is Martinshéich at 1533 meters (5029 feet), run all along the east coast from Versiere in the north to Starmera in the south. They are separated from the larger and more rugged Osawanon Mountains by the Matagamon Valley. The Osawanons, whose highest peak is Mont Nacheu at 2,037 meters (6683 feet), run south to southwest, primarily along the southern border, from Jenasie in the north to Wireia in the southwest. The third major mountain range in the country, and the tallest, are the Chiboschan Mountains, whose highest peak is the Donnerbierg at 2,694 meters (8,839 feet); this is also the highest point in Walzenia. The Chiboschans run all along the west coast, from the north coast to the southern border.

The northern half of the country is mostly comprised of prairies, tundra, and bogs.

Climate and ecology

Köppen climate types of Walzenia.

Walzenia is dominated by a humid continental climate, of the warm-summer variety on the east coast and the hot-summer variety in much of the interior. Cold air flows in from the Habbakuk Bay and the Arctic while warm air arrives from the warm Kayamuca stream in the Thalassan Ocean, producing dynamic and frequently extreme weather patterns. Kitchigami produces a strong moderating effect on much of its watershed, but heavy and frequent lake-effect snow is common in the winters, where snow can remain on the ground for as long as six months. Summers are typically warm and mild, although heatwaves are not uncommon. This zone is home to the famous Annesienne Northwoods and Lotharian forests, and features exceptional agricultural conditions. The west coast has a primarily mild, rainy oceanic climate that sees little variation throughout the year, and is dominated by temperate rainforests and montane forests.

The rest of the country experiences much harsher conditions:

The northern half of the country, north of Kitchigami, almost exclusively has a boreal climate, with a tundra zone along the north coast and arctic islands. Taiga forests and cold swamps host Walzenia's most iconic megafauna, the pygmy forest mastodon and greater hodag.

The Prairies occupy much of the area between Kitchigami and the Chiboschan Mountains. This region is exceedingly flat, frequently arid, and features very cold and harsh winters and very hot and humid summers. Wind speeds are often very high, especially in winter. The coldest temperature in Waltch history was recorded on the Prairie in Reding, Hachiwara on February 9th, 1991, at -63°C (-81.4°F), and the record hottest temperature was recorded 200 kilometers away in Gieltgras, Wattland, measuring 45°C (113 °F) on August 22nd, 2015.

The last major climate zone is the Chiboschan mountain range, which consists primarily of montane conifer forests, and cold desert and boreal/hemiboreal microclimates.

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  The Donnerbierg, seen from a distance, is the highest peak in the Chiboschan mountain range and highest point in Walzenia, standing at 2,694 m (8,839 ft).

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  The lakeshore of Kitchigami, also called Lake Sovereign, is a popular domestic and international tourist destination and an important economic hub.

• Pygmy forest mastodon.png

  The pygmy forest mastodon, once critically endangered, has recovered in the past century and is an iconic mascot of northern Walzenia.

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  In many places in Walzenia, architecture attempts to conform to the landscape or create a new, organic one in a sustainable fashion.

History

Main article: History of Walzenia

Indigenous peoples

Two Masenatau youths in traditional dress, one with his war-club in hand, the other blowing on his ​‘courting flute.’

Evidence of human habitation in what is now Walzenia dates back to at least 11,000 BCE. Archaeological records suggest that trade networks spanning the Kitchigami basin and coast of Habbakuk Bay were common as early as 1000 BCE, with evidence of copper mined from northern Maschoda being found as far away as the Enyaman coast in artifacts dated to approximately that period. Historically, these groups lived in complex, settled societies which utilized both agriculture and hunting-gathering. The first organized polities to rose to prominence in the region in the early 9th century, organically growing and shrinking as part of a system of patronage and ritualism. Their status and power was solidified by the 12th century as they proved successful in defending against Ottonian and Mutulese incursions. The introduction of firearms by Mutulese and Belisarian traders led to an increased period of centralization and ritual warfare.

This period resulted in the rise of the Niiwo-odachiimikaan (singular: odachiimikaa). This is an Oniegamé term invented in the 17th century, vaguely translating to "the Four Big Lands/Countries"; their contemporaneous names varied considerably from source to source, but typically espoused the concept of an alliance or confederation more so than the kingdoms that Belisarian colonizers thought of them as. The Odachiimikaan were powerful quasi-states organized mostly along linguistic lines, and were dominated by what are today the most numerous indigenous peoples in Walzenia: the Masenatau, Oniegamé, Onachen, and Hitena. These stateoids were typically formed towards the ends of monopolizing the trade of furs, gold, and metals, which were used to purchase firearms and other manufactured goods from Belisarians.

This culminated in the Great Lake War, also called the Great Kitchigami War, from 1568 to 1581, which saw unprecedented mobilization and bloodshed between a coalition of the Oniegamé and Masenatau and a coalition of the Onachen and Hitena. Although the conflict began over beaver-hunting grounds in modern Sangwenae, it quickly escalated into a coordinated campaign throughout the Kitchigami basin. The Onachen were defeated and forced to vacate all territory east of the Osawanon Mountains and south of the Saint Anne River, while the Hitena were largely absorbed by the Masenatau or else driven westward into the prairies, marking the beginning of the Hitena Gokekjaneną and dissolving their odachiimikaa.

Ottonian colonization

The Great Lake War vastly weakened all parties, even the victors. High-end estimates indicate that as much as 20% of the total population of the Kitchigami basin may have perished in this period due to fighting, ethnic cleansing, and famine. The resulting economic downturn allowed Ottonian merchants and prospectors, who had until now been limited to small trading outposts along the coast, namely in the cities of Ottonia and Viktoria in Lotharia and Maagdeland, to seize territory from the drastically weakened Onachen in the Aderon Wars, ensuring a powerful, permanent position in the region. The colonies introduced a policy of resettlement, in which Onachen and other indigenous peoples in the region were forcibly relocated away from arable land and navigable rivers, making room for settlement by prisoners and exiles from mainland Ottonia. These settlers were primarily of Staalish origin, sent abroad in order to remove rebellious elements from Staalmark and make it easier to assimilate into Ottonian culture. These Staalish colonists formed the basis of what would develop into the Belisarian Walzers, and the modern Waltch language is primarily descended from several Middle Niederaulish dialects spoken by them.

From 1605-9, the Ottonian colonies waged the Annesienne War against a coalition of the Onachen and Oniegamé, securing both sides of the Saint Anne River and signing the Treaty of Moienrout, which guaranteed the rights of Ottonian traders throughout the Kitchigami basin and opened up most of the Osawanon Mountains east of Kitchigami to Ottonian settlement.

1642 portrait of Chief Auschaiew.

1629 portrait of Mitchelet Avaler.

Following this defeat for the indigenous peoples, the Masenatau Odachiimikaa, which had been neutral during the conflict, began a process of internal reforms, spearheaded by Chief Auschaiew of the Machnachwa band. Auschaiew had become knowledgeable of Ottonian culture early in life, even traveling to both Ottonias - in northeast Norumbia and in Belisarian Ottonia - where he was exposed to the literature, politics, and history of the colonizers. He used this experience to ingratiate himself to colonial officials and adapt Masenatau culture to changing conditions. Auschaiew convinced the odachiimikaa's council to formalize their structure into a written constitution .... [wip]