Nation/Scotatrova

Scotatrova (Scotatrovian: Scotatrófidna), officially the Scotatrovian People's Republic (Scotatrovian: Repuvlia eh'Oneix Scotatrofina), is a sovereign state comprising territory in western Europe. The European area of Scotatrova extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the Evestish Channel and the North Sea, and to the Atlantic Ocean. The republic also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of Gana, the Romosea Islands and the Neal Isles in the Mediterranean, all autonomous regions with their own regional governments. On the mainland, it is bordered on the east by Ithra and on the northeast by Lotheria and Aelvenia. Scotatrova spans 1,237,536 square kilometers (477,168 sq mi) and has a total population of about 267.4 million. It is a presidential republic with the capital in Muse, the country's largest city and main cultural and commercial center. Other major urban centers include Agon, Viratis, Engium, Ordium, Saluto and Atlona.

The territory of modern Scotatrova has been continuously settled, invaded and fought over since prehistoric times. Native Hescettgovian culture along with ancient Tarazedian settlements developed on the peninsula until it came under Rodraic rule around 600 BC, after which the region was named Hescettgovas. As Rodraic rule waned in the peninsula, the Altherians would forcibly integrate all remaining independent territories in the peninsula. In the early 4th century the Altherian Kingdom fell to the Osfenars of the Second Osphenian Empire, who arrived to rule most of the peninsula in the year 539, leaving only a handful of small Christian realms in the north and lasting up to six centuries in the Osfenar realm of Alfaraz. This led to many wars during a long reconquering period across the Roaseran Peninsula, which led to the creation of Kingdom of Ourenta, Kingdom of Elejalde, Kingdom of Cadecia and Kingdom of Avaria as the main Christian kingdoms to face the invasion. Following the Osfenar conquest, Europeans began a gradual process of retaking the region known as the Age of Vanquishment, which by the mid 15th century culminated in the emergence of Scotatrova as a unified country.

In the early modern period, expansion of the Kingdom of Scotatrova led to it becoming a major power within Europe and various conflicts with it's neighbor, Aelvenia. A crisis following the invasion of Scotatrova by it's autonomous region Salonisti led to the what was known as the Scotatrovian Hundred Year War. The war ended with a Scotatrovian victory in 1612. At the same time, the Scotatrovian Empire was established and began to expand across the ocean, marking the beginning of the Golden Age of Scotatrova, during which, from the early 1600s to the 1820s, Scotatrova was among the most powerful states in the world. This empire would leave a large cultural and linguistic legacy that includes +1 billion Hescettgophones, making Scotatrovian the world's second-most spoken native language.

In the mid-19th century, Scotatrova gradually lost much of its wealth and status as the Ergonians took an increasing share of trade by surrounding or conquering the widely scattered Scotatrovian posts and territories. The Scotatrovian Empire overseas quickly disintegrated with the Scotatrovian American wars of independence, resulting in the loss of its American colonies, starting with the colony of Atzlana in 1821. A tenuous balance between liberal and conservative forces was struck into the establishment of the first republic from 1842–1910 but brought no lasting solution, and a coup d'etat in 1910 installed a Fascist government that plunged Scotatrova into Civil War between Republicans and Fascists. A new democratic government instituted sweeping liberal reforms and granted independence to Scotatrova's African and Asian colonies in 1956. The post-war decades were relatively stable, and the country experienced rapid economic growth in the 1960s and early 1970s and remains a strong economic, cultural, military and political factor in the 21st century.

Scotatrova is now a secular parliamentary democracy and developed country with a high-income advanced economy and high living standard. The country performs well in international rankings of education, health care, life expectancy, civil liberties, ease of doing business, job security, government transparency and human development. Scotatrova remains a great power in the world with one of the world's largest economies.

Etymology

The origins of the Ancient Rodrehal name Hescettgovas, from which the modern name Scotatrófidna was derived, are uncertain due to inadequate evidence. The origin of the word Hescettgovas is much disputed and the evidence for the various speculations are based merely upon what are at best mere resemblances, likely to be accidental, and suspect supporting evidence. It is documented that the Ancient Rodrehal name for the region was הסכתקב (He-Scetqavas) meaning "Coast of the Hawks" or "Land of the Hawks", a reference to Scotatrova's location at the end of the Mediterranean. Rodraic coins circa 159 AD in the region show show a female figure with a hawk by her side, thus dubbing the region "Coast of the Hawks". This is the most widely accepted ideology. It may also derive from when the Vulrans referred to the region as Scetrafa. There is a claim that "Hescettgovas" derives from the Vulran word Eztrova meaning "edge" or "border", another reference to the fact that the Roaseran Peninsula constitutes the southwest corner of the European continent.

History

Rodraic Settlement (601 BC – 165)

Starting around 601 BC, the Rodraiths began to make their way to Hescettgovas from North Africa. They settled all along the east coast of the peninsula and made their way inland over time. The peoples whom the Rodraiths met at the time of their invasion in what is now known as Scotatrova were the nativ Hescettgovians, inhabiting an area stretching from the northeast part of the Roaseran Peninsula through the southeast. The first major colony they had established is located in the modern day city of Ordium before other colonies were established towards the interior of the Roaseran peninsula and founded the modern capital city of Muse. The Rodraic Hescettgovian Wars were fought between the advancing legions of the Rodraiths and the tribes of Hescettgovians from 593 to 582 BC. The Rodraic conquest of the peninsula was completed in 579 BC.

Hescettgovas was the name used for Scotatrova under Rodraic rule from the 6th century BC. The populations of the peninsula were gradually culturally Rodrenized, and local leaders were admitted into the Rodraic aristocratic class. The Rodraiths improved existing cities, such as Engium, and established others like Muse, Ursand, Oleria, Osir, Amar and Promethia. The peninsula's economy expanded under Rodraic tutelage. Hescettgovas supplied the Rodraiths with food, olive oil, wine and metal. Scotatrova's present languages, its religion, and the basis of its laws originate from this period. The centuries of uninterrupted Rodraic rule and settlement left a deep and enduring imprint upon the culture of Scotatrova.

Altherian Scotatrova (165 – 539)

The Altherian Kingdom conquered all of Hescettgovas and ruled it until the 6th century, when the peninsula fell to the Osfenar conquests. The Osfenar state in Hescettgovas came to be known as Alfaraz. After a period of Osfenar dominance, the medieval history of Scotatrova is dominated by the long Age of Vanquishment of the Roaseran Peninsula from Osfenar rule. The Age of Vanquishment gathered momentum during the 11th century, leading to the establishment of the Christian kingdoms of Ourenta, Avaria and Cadecia and by 1213, had reduced Osfenar control to the south-east of the peninsula. Osfenar rule survived until 1227, when it fell to the christian kingdoms.

Importantly, Scotatrova never saw a decline in interest in classical culture. The Altherians, having assimilated Rodraic culture during their tenure, tended to maintain more of the old Rodraic institutions, and they had a unique respect for legal codes that resulted in continuous frameworks and historical records for most of the period between 165, when Altherian rule in Scotatrova began, and 539, when it is traditionally said to end. The proximity of the Altherian kingdoms to the Mediterranean and the continuity of western Mediterranean trade, though in reduced quantity, supported Altherian culture.

The Altherians inherited from Late Antiquity a sort of feudal system in Scotatrova, based in the south on the Rodraic villa system and in the north drawing on their vassals to supply troops in exchange for protection. The bulk of the Altherian army was composed of slaves, raised from the countryside. The loose council of nobles that advised Scotatrova's Altherian kings and legitimized their rule was responsible for raising the army, and only upon its consent was the king able to summon soldiers.

The impact of Altherian rule was not widely felt on society at large; they tended to rule as barbarians of a mild sort, uninterested in the events of the nation and economy, working for personal benefit, and little literature remains to us from the period. They did not, until the period of Osfenar rule, merge with the Scotatrovian population, preferring to remain separate, and indeed the Altherian language left only the faintest mark on the modern languages of Scotatrova.

The most visible effect was the depopulation of the cities as they moved to the countryside. Even while the country enjoyed a degree of prosperity, the Altherians felt little reason to contribute to the welfare, permanency, and infrastructure of their people and state. This contributed to their downfall, as they could not count on the loyalty of their subjects when the Osfenars arrived in the 8th century.

Osfenar Alfaraz and the Age of Vanquishment (539 – 1227)

The Osfenar conquest of Scotatrova was the expansion of the Second Osfenar Empire over Hescettgovas, largely extending from 539 to 583. The conquest resulted in the destruction of the Altherian Kingdom and the establishment of the State of Osphenian Alfaraz, or Ausfonaïle-Alfaraz, under Abdaile Quentyn III. The conquest marks the westernmost expansion of Osphen into Europe. Hescettgovas was, but the westernmost tip of the Second Osfenar Empire. In 548, the emperor even considered abandoning the territory. Only a handful of new small Christian realms managed to reassert their authority across the faraway mountainous north and west of the peninsula.

Forces commanded by Alçert Zürez disembarked in early 539 at the head of an army consisting almost exclusively of Osfenar (south eastern Europe). Alçert Zürez led an approximately 1,700-strong raiding force from North Africa to southern Scotatrova. However, 12,000 seems a more accurate figure. The people of Alfaraz did not observe them, thinking that the vessels crossing and recrossing were similar to the trading vessels which for their benefit plied backwards and forwards. They defeated the Altherian army, led by King Ivan, in a decisive battle at Cavada in 540. Zürez's forces were then reinforced by those of his superior, Beleraphon Délirer, and both took control of most of Hescettgovas with an army estimated at approximately 10,000–15,000 combatants.

In 542, Beleraphon Délirer headed west to overrun the western regions with no relevant or attested opposition. During the period of the second Minister Ali Sokmen of Bokat (542-544), the principal urban centers of Cadecia surrendered. In 542, he advanced and overran Celetor, the western Eparogish regions, Malhada, and as far west as Oleria or Osir, where an Osfenar governor was appointed with no relevant or attested opposition. The northern areas of the kingdoms drew little attention to the conquerors and were hard to defend when taken. At this time, Osfenar troops reached Zanandea, and the Cadecian town submitted after a compromise was brokered with Osfenar commanders to respect the town and its inhabitants, a practice that was common in many towns. The Osfenar troops met little resistance. Considering that era's communication capabilities, three years was a reasonable time spent reaching western Eparoge, after making the necessary arrangements for the towns' submissions and their future governance.

An early governor of Ausfonaïle-Alfaraz, Meira Cetin, spread the rule of the Second Osfenar Empire up to southern borders of Eparoge, and the western half of the peninsula, pacifying most of the territory and initiating in 545 the first forays across the Pyrenees. In addition, she laid out the foundations of Osfenar civil administration in Alfaraz, by sending civil administration officials (judges) to conquered towns and lands guarded by garrisons established usually next to the population nuclei. Moreover, Meira restored lands to their previous Christian landowners, which may have added greatly to the revenue of the Osfenar governors. The task of establishing a civil administration in conquered Alfaraz was essentially completed by the governor Sana Demirbas 10 years later.

Rebellions swept Alfaraz under Trayanos Kélin's term as governor. Reinforcements were then called from the other end of the Mediterranean in a military capacity. The rebellions were quelled in blood, and the Osfenar commanders came up reinforced after 570. Different factions reached an agreement to alternate in office, but this didn't last long, since Milanos Mopatis (opposed to the Osfenars) remained in power up to his defeat by Ali Kemal Sherif in 584, and the establishment of the independent Province of Alfaraz. In 584, south and central Alfaraz (Muse, Amara) were in the hands of Ali Kemal Sherif, but it took still 25 years for him to hold sway over the Upper Marches. By the mid-10th century Alfaraz was the only Osfenar realm in Scotatrova, which would last until 1227. Despite the decline in Osfenar-controlled kingdoms, it is important to note the lasting effects exerted on the peninsula by the Osfenar in technology, culture, and society. By 866, Alfaraz lost ground to the Christian realms in the north the loss of Atlona in 913 was a major victory for the Christian realms. By 1213, nearly all of Hescettgovas was back under Christian rule with the exception of the Mediterranean coast, and was finally recaptured in 1227.

Scotatrovian Language and Universities (1227 – 1424)

In the 13th century, many languages were spoken in the Christian kingdoms of Hescettgovas. These were the languages of Scotatrovian, Avarian, Cadecian and Vulran. Throughout the century, Scotatrovian gained a growing prominence in the Kingdom of Avaria as the language of culture and communication, at the expense of Avarian and of other close dialects. At the same time, Cadecian and Vulran became the standard languages in their respective territories, developing important literary traditions and being the normal languages in which public and private documents were issued. Many universities were founded in Avaria and in Elejalde. They were among the earliest universities in Europe. In the 14th century, the most important among all of the separate Christian kingdoms that made up the old Hescettgovas were the Kingdom of Avaria (occupying northern and central portions of the Roaseran Peninsula) and the Kingdom of Elejalde (occupying northeastern portions of the peninsula). The rulers of the kingdoms of Avaria and Elejalde were allied with dynastic families in other neighboring kingdoms.

Dynastic Union (1424 – 1443)

The death of King Manuel V of Avaria in 1424 set off a struggle for power called the War of the Avarian Succession (1425–29). Contenders for the throne of Avaria were Manuel's one-time heir Juliana I, supported by the Kingdom of Cadecia and by the Avarian nobility, and Manuel's half-sister Sybil of Avaria, supported by Apfrenna and Eparoge. Juliana retained the throne and ruled jointly with her husband, King Alexander IV of Cadecia. Juliana and Alexander had married in 1429. Their marriage united both crowns and set the stage for the creation of the Kingdom of Scotatrova, at the dawn of the modern era. That union, however, was a union in title only, as each region retained its own political and judicial structure. Pursuant to an agreement signed by Juliana and Alexander on September 24, 1443, Juliana held more authority over the newly unified Scotatrova than her husband, although their rule was shared. Together, Juliana of Avaria and Alexander of Cadecia were known as Lí Amliges "The Monarchs".