Terrafirma

This article is about the country. For other uses, see Terrafirma (disambiguation).

Republic of Terrafirma Republica de Terrafirma (Valdaurian) République de Terreferme (Hyacinthean)
Flag
Motto: Viure Liure o Morir (Valdaurian) "Live free or die"
Anthem: En Avant (Valdaurian) "Onward"
Location of Terrafirma (dark green) in Elia Australis (dark green) Location of Terrafirma (dark green) in Elia Australis (dark green)
Capital	Pesenàs
Largest city	Fort Banister
Official languages	Valdaurian Hyacinthean
Ethnic groups	X% Whites X% Mixed X% Natives X% Blacks X% Other
Demonym(s)	Terrafirman
Government	Unitary semi-presidential republic
• President	Bastien Tessier
• Chancellor	Rafaèl Fauré
Legislature	National Assembly
Independence  from Hyacinthe
• Terrafirman Revolution	July 10, 1783
• Treaty of Lisieux	November 12, 1789
• Current constitution	January 1, 1989
Population
• 2020 estimate	39,210,000 (10th)
GDP (PPP)	2024 estimate
• Total	$808.118 billion (11th)
• Per capita	$20,610
GDP (nominal)	2024 estimate
• Total	$561.64 billion (10th)
• Per capita	$14,324
Currency	Terrafirman soleu (T$, TES)
Time zone	UTC+7 (Terrafirma Time, TFT)
Date format	dd/mm/yyyy (CE)
Driving side	left
Calling code	+21
Internet TLD	.te

Terrafirma (Hyacinthean: Terreferme), officially the Republic of Terrafirma (Valdaurian: Republica de Terrafirma; Hyacinthean: République de Terreferme), is a sovereign state located in Elia Australis. It is bordered by Nadauro to the east, X to the south, and the Southern Medan Ocean to the west; in addition, it also has maritime borders with X to the north. Terrafirma also includes the island of Kairiha. The country's capital is Pesenàs, while its largest city is Fort Banister, which takes up much of eastern Kairiha, and is the country's busiest economic hub, while other notable cities include Seibal, X, and X. Most of Terrafirma's population is concentrated on Kairiha and cities along the mainland's coast, while much of the mainland itself is rural in nature.

The first signs of human life in Terrafirma were recorded as far back as 7000 BCE, with numerous tribes being formed in the area. However, the effects of the Catabole and the ensuing crisis would lead to multiple of them dying out, while the Kairihans and Huecean Empire remained the dominant civilizations in Kairiha and mainland Terrafirma respectively, as they had been for many years before then. The first appearance of Calesians on what would become Terrafirma would come in 1578, when Frederic Banister, an explorer, was contracted by the Kingdom of Valdaur to search for resources to enrich themselves and their Hyacinthean allies. After coming back and sharing his findings, Valdaur's government was impressed to the point that they authorized efforts to colonize these lands, with the intent to harvest these resources. Notably, most of the people who joined the efforts were Frederican Gregorians, who were seeking a new home after facing heavy persecution in Valdaur lands over their religious beliefs. In 1632, as Hyacinthe annexed Valdaur, Terrafirma also came under the rule of the Hyacintheans.

In the late 18th century, with the spread of !Enlightenment ideals and news spreading of a revolution breaking out in Hyacinthe, the Terrafirmans decided to launch their own revolt, sparking the Terrafirman Revolution, which they won after six years of fighting, and created a liberal constitutional monarchist government not too different from the one that was just installed in Hyacinthe. However, they were then faced with a period of political turmoil that they resolved via taking advantage of local resources. They would also commence industrialization in the late 1880s, albeit not to the extent of their Nadauran neighbors, due to the agrarian government.

In 1934, amidst the Great War, the Second Empire of Nadauro swiftly invaded Terrafirma, overwhelming their unprepared army, and forcing them to Kairiha, where they barely held on thanks to assistance from the Transmedan Powers, before launching a counterattack alongside landings at Yecahual to reclaim the mainland and launch an invasion of the Nadauran mainland. Following the end of the Great War, Terrafirma would turn into a right-wing dictatorship themselves following a coup d'etat by radical elements of the military, who were disgusted by the failure of the Terrafirman government to prepare for the war. Briefly led by aging general Pau Couderc as a military junta, he would be succeeded by Jacques Astruc in 1944, who enacted wide reforms based on his own political views, known as Astrucism, where he transformed the nation into a civilian, albeit highly militaristic, one-party regime led by a charismatic strongman. Astruc would rule for 45 years, until he resigned due to old age in 1985. The assassination of his successor, Jaire Sardou, would spark the short but brutal Half-Year War in 1988, which toppled the regime and installed a new republican government, but also led to the spillover of the Chaibian War from Nadauro.

Terrafirma is a developing middle power with an emerging market, though some have also called it an emerging power in recent times, with major industries and exports including minerals, agriculture, tourism, and petroleum. However, native and black Terrafirmans suffer from economic and social disadvantages compared to their white counterparts, while the nation also suffers from corruption, poor prison conditions, and wealth imbalances. They are present in numerous political organizations, including the UC, the OES, and the CEAS, and often send personnel to participate in peacekeeping missions worldwide.

Politics

Government

Main articles: Politics of Terrafirma, President of Terrafirma, Chancellor of Terrafirma, and National Assembly of Terrafirma

Terrafirma is a unitary semi-presidential republic with a representative democracy, as defined in the 1989 constitution, following a compromise between those favoring a presidential system and those supporting a parliamentary system in the months following the Half-Year War. The President is elected via popular vote for a five-year term, serves as the head of state, and are limited to two terms. They oversee foreign affairs, serve as commander-in-chief of the Terrafirman Protection Forces, are able to dissolve the National Assembly or circumvent it by sending referendums directly to the people, and appoint the Chancellor to serve as the head of government. In turn, the Chancellor, with the approval of the National Assembly, appoints the cabinet. The Chancellor and the cabinet are responsible for the country's domestic affairs. In 2020, Bastien Tessier of the Labor Party was elected president, where he then appointed Rafaèl Fauré of the same party to serve as Chancellor.

The 250-member National Assembly is Terrafirma's unicameral legislature.