Borfusa
Republic of Borfusa | |
|---|---|
| Country | Farokand |
| Capital | Bainamel |
| Largest city | Milarek |
| Official languages | |
| Demonym(s) | Borfusan |
| Government | Federated state |
| Artumyk Ha'polbeg | |
• Premier | Go'laihar Nimvi |
| Population | |
• 2024 estimate |  1,542,109 · 13th |
| HDI (2020) | 0.922 very high |
| Currency | Kabit (₭) (FKK) |
| Driving side | right |
Borfusa or Borfusisa (Farokandi: Borfusanzikaz or Ilrek; Borfusan: ayur or bor'fuzisan; also known by other names), officially the Republic of Borfusa (Farokandi: Rézpublika Borfusanzi; Borfusan: reis'publiav bor'fuzisanykor), is a federal republic of Farokand. It entirely encompasses the island of Borfusa as well as a few small islands off its coast. With a population of 1,542,109, Borfusa is the 2nd-least populous federal republic. It has no land borders, but it is close to the island of Ülsomm Fara. Borfusa is the current homeland of the Borfusans, the native people of the Farokandi Archipelago. The capital city of Borfusa is Bainamel, but the cities of Milarek and Kelgarmot are both more populous.
Borfusa was one of the last major islands of the Farokandi Archipelago to be settled. It was also one of the only places in the archipelago to not be settled by the Malthasvars following the Malthasvarian migration, becoming the last main stronghold of the Borfusans and their culture. There, the Borfusans were mostly isolated for several centuries, although contact with the Kingdom of Kandi and Kingdom of Kilaristan was quite frequent. The surviving tribes retained a hold over the island and were peaceful with each other, eventually uniting into the Confederacy of the Four Waves. However, starting in the late 15th century and early 16th century, Kandi (and Farokand after the unification of Kandi with Faroi) began sending Köbulami monks and Kandu settlers to the island, who established the town of Lusan Méröl there. Tensions between the Borfusans and Farokandis eventually led to the Borfusan Skirmishes, a series of sporadic battles resulting in a significant loss of Borfusan land. Further skirmishes culminating in the War of Ilrek resulted in the complete annexation of Borfusa by Farokand in 1566.
For nearly 300 years, the Borfusans lacked autonomy, and were not officially recognised by the Farokandi government. This, among other things, triggered many protests in different times. The most notable of these protests was part of the precursor to the April Revolution, in which many Borfusans marched for their freedom. However, they were fired upon by the forces of Colonel Armaz Kelikü in what is known as the Borfusan Massacre. This event led to the April Revolution and the subsequent installation of the First Republic of Farokand. As part of his reforms, Karil Umokorvi, the first Farokandi Zolar, established the Free Confederation of Borfusan Tribes as an autonomous zone on the island of Borfusa. However, this zone was later abolished by Žalnyak Yurotdzé, triggering the Borfusan Revolution. Although Yurotdzé was deposed, the autonomous zone was not reinstated until 1894, when Geloryu Emúli established the Republic of Borfusa as a constituent country of Farokand alongside Faroi, Kandi, and Pundann. This form of Borfusa persisted until the Federal Proclamation of 2014 when the system of federal republics was instated, though fundamentally very little changed for the republic.
Etymology
The island of Borfusa has been known by many things over the course of history by many different peoples. The first recorded name of the island comes from Kandu texts from the 3rd century CE. It was known as Letsigolkas, literally translating to "Lightning Island". It is speculated that this refers to the stormy weather frequently experienced on the island and likely the weather conditions of Borfusa when Kandu fishermen discovered it. The Kilaris referred to the island as Morkézilrek, or "Farther Ilrek", in reference to the mythical island of Ilrek. The name for the island in most other Malthasvarian languages usually derived from either the Kandu or Kilari names, though names deriving from Morkézilrek gradually became shortened to variations on Ilrek. Today, the island is known in most Malthasvarian languages as Borfusanzikaz, literally "Borfusan Island". Eastern Dulmaran languages specifically still use Ilrek colloquially as well.
The first recorded Borfusan name for the island is from the 5th century CE: ayur, literally meaning "(the) island". Later on, the term ar'yumig was developed as well. This translates roughly to "ocean home" or "home surrounded by (the) ocean". ayur remained and still remains the most prevalent name of Borfusa in Borfusan. In the 1800s, during the birth of the Borfusan nationalist movement, another Borfusan name for Borfusa was conceived, deriving from Farokandi and the term bor'fuzisanyk: bor'fuzisan. This remains widely in use today, particularly in official circumstances.