Clashonia (Pacifica)

Kingdom of Clashonia Känigstûm Klyšoniê
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Êninge ar Mäakté Unity creates strength
Anthem: "Hytté öbyr Klyšoniê" "Today over Clashonia"
Capital and	Käarlsbode
Official languages	Clashonian
Demonym(s)	Clashonian
Government	Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy
• King of the Clashonians	Eckehäart III
• President-Minister	Pankrâtz Bûš
• Upper house	Férsäamlyn
• Lower house	Läanttâg
Area
•	188,519 km2 (72,788 sq mi)
Currency	Grošën

Clashonia, officially the Kingdom of Clashonia, is an independent state located in eastern Cordilia. It borders Weisserstein to the north and west, Valkyria to the southwest, and Stoinia to the south. Its capital and most populous city is Carlsbad (Clashonian: Käarlsbode), with other major cities including Öostfurt, Néstaad, Freybûrge, Guldinhäaben, and Williemsbode. The country has a territory of 188,519 square kilometers.

History

Arrival of the Kalashonis

The Kalashonis ("Kalash" meaning "All" and "Ni(ke)" meaning "people", both coming from the old Kalashoni language) first arrived sometime in the year 4000 BCE. While their origins remain unclear and shrouded in mistery, what is known is that they were distantly related to the Sugovics and the Weldics.

The Kalashonis most likely inhabited the areas around the Clarve river sometime in 3900 BCE. The Kalashonis were hunter-gatherers and nomadic, moving up and down the Clarve river. They were divided into no less than 32 different clans according to the Némannsbode Inscription, discovered in 1992.

Merik Confederation

Sometime in 2000 BCE, 28 clans of the Kalashonis united under the leadership of an Aspar known as Voivo and created a loose, semi-nomadic confederation, known as the Merik Confederation. This loose confederation is designed to stop the bloodshed between the clans and promote peace amongst the Kalashonis. Many clans that were not a part of the Merik Confederation formed an alliance to defeat and overthrow Voivo. This started the Merik Wars, which were a series of military campaigns led by Voivo and other subsequent Aspars of the Confederation, expanding Kalashoni culture to modern-day Rhineland, Lowenia, Past, and southern Sugovia.

The Confederation flourished under the leadership of Raika the Great, which saw it reach its peak borders under his reign in the year 1200 BCE. But subsequent Aspars lost many of the territory the Confederation has gained during these periods of relatively swift expansions, and by 800 BCE, the Merik Confederation had lost large swathes of land and was thrown into the Merik Civil War, where 12 of the original 28 clans decided to rebel against Raika II. The death of Raika II in 782 BCE saw the Merik Confederation dissolved and the clans entered into a state of total anarchy. Many clans began attacking other clans, and any agreements and alliances formed were quickly terminated as the clans reenter a period of infighting and instability, which was used by the peoples in their conquered lands to rebel and liberate themselves from the Merik Confederation and its clans.

Great Anarchy

The collapse of the Merik Confederation brought the region to a period of constant warfare, battles, and instability, known to Clashonia as the Great Anarchy. Each Kalashoni clan fought only for themselves, and many non-Kalashoni people's in the region fought against the Kalashonis to reestablish themselves as independent clans and fiefs.

Lasting for nearly 160 years, the period was considered among the most turbulent in Clashonian history. The period also saw the rise of several prominent pre-Hitsaati figures  such as Kaira the Conqueror and Aari the Bold, as well as the rise of prominent clans and fiefs such as the Luuno, the Hitsaati, the Rika, and the Ponicians.

Hitsaati Empire

The untannable situation saw one of the clans, the Hitsaati, rise into becoming a powerful player. Using cunning tactics and clever diplomacy, the Hitsaati would rose to become one of the most powerful clans of the Kalashoni under the leadership of Voika the Bravehearted in 623 BCE. Voika would unite the different clans through diplomatic and military means, uniting the clans under his leadership.

Hitsaatis plundering Ponicia

The Hitsaati would soon unite nearly the entirety of modern day Clashonia, and it would set its eyes on the breakaway states to its north. It conquered through the Celtig, Luuzo, and Nuro peoples. Following their conquest, the Hitsaatis would wage war against the Kingdom of Ponicia (modern day Waldland), turning the kingdom into a tributary state sometime in 598 BCE. The Sugovic peoples, namely the Pegathians and the Ozahians, as well as the Alan clan of the Kalashonis, viewed the Hitsaati as a threat and formed a military alliance to defend against its expansions. They would succeed in halting their advance during the Battle of Terit (in Terit, modern day Schellenburg) in 582 BCE.

The defeat in Terit marked the pint where the Hitsaatis entered a period of a slow, relative decline. It lost its territories in Pastrala to the Triangulars during the Aldrana Wars and saw the Ponicians declare their independence in 190 BCE. They would also slowly loose their border realms of the Luuzo and Nuro by the dawn of the millenium.

Hitsaati civil war and collapse

The failures of the Hitsaati leadership during the Battle of Terit convinced some of the clans that the Hitsaatis have lost their mandate to lead the Kalashoni and are to be removed from power. The largest and most powerful voice in this movement were the Rikans, who were rivals to the Hitsaati before the latter's rise to power, and were suppressed by Hitsaati leadership.

The Rikans led a new coalition of clans against the Hitsaati and in 82 AD, the Hitsaati forces were ambushed by the new coalition in the areas of the Rhine. This started the Hitsaati Civil War. The war would devastate the Hitsaati Empire and leave it in tatters while the Rikans, led by its charismatic Aspar Kuivo the Conqueror, became the new force of power in the region. The Hitsaatis were defeated in 89 AD, and it's leaders agree to transfer leadership to the new coalition. This marked the end of the Hitsaati Empire.

Rikan Empire

Kuivo's successes have brought the Rikan clan as the new force of power in the region. However, the Rikans were forced to share power with its minor coalition partners, who have began to plot against Kuivo and the Rikans. In order to prevent a similar plot they themselves did, the Rikans cracked down on the other clans, forcing them to swear allegiance to Kuivo and subsequent Rikan Aspars.

This started another war in the year 91, in which the smaller clans were beaten down heavily by the Rikan forces. Kuivo would dictate the peace negotiations in 94, demanding all the tribes to fully submit to the Rikan Asparate and swear an oath of allegiance. Tribes that did not comply were massacred.

After securing domestic issues, the Rikan Empire set it's sight on the small fiefdoms that exists to its North and West. Many of the non-Kalashoni people's secured their sovereignty from Kalashoni control during the Hitsaati Civil War. Kuivo would attempt to wrestle control against these states, which forced these fiefdoms to form an alliance against the Rikan Empire. The Luuzo Confederacy would raid a Rikan caravan in 98, beginning the Great Rikan War. Rikan and coalition forces would go back-and-forth against one another for 112 years.

The Rikans successfully defeated the coalition in 210 and expanded beyond modern day Clashonia, becoming one of the regions largest and most powerful empires.

Almannic migrations and the Bannarsi Confederacy

In the 9th century, 10 Almannic tribes would migrate South from Frastinia to Pegathia, Alania, Ozahia, Ponicia, and the Rikan Empire, settling in the region.

The Rikans were considerably hostile to the Almannic tribes, considering them to be brutes and barbarians. Nevertheless, two of the ten tribes did live near and in the Rikan frontier, that being the Lacveci, which settled mainly near the river Rhein, and the Bannarsi, who settled in the Kleinhart Jura. The Bannarsis in particular were subjected to constant raiding and looting, as they settled in core Rikan territory.

Bannarsi fighters in the Kleinhart Jura during one of Gerbold's campaigns against the Rikan Empire

In 892, the Bannarsis would gather in today's Élmslöh to elect a leader, Gerbold the Brave, to lead their tribe against the Rikan's campaign of raiding and looting. Gerbold would later successfully lead the defense of Bannarsi settlements against raiders from Rika. His successes gained recognition from the Rikans, who gave him the title "Aspar of the Bannarsi" in 914. Gerbold's impressive leadership and military skills led to him successfully uniting the Bannarsi tribes into a loose confederation, whose goals are to defend their people from Rikan raids and looting. This confederacy would be first recognized by the Rikans, who called it the "Bannarsi Asparate".

After 914, the Bannarsi Confederacy and the Rikan Empire would enter a constant state of fighting. The Rikans would attempt to extract tribute, raid, and loot Bannarsi settlements as the Confederacy continued to attempt to ward them off. This conflict lasted until the sudden collapse of the Rikan Empire in 1104.

Rikan collapse and the Asparate period

In 1104, Aspar Gumo the Weak led an expedition to the Bannarsi Confederacy with an army of at least 17,000 men. His forces however, were ambushed in the Kleinhart Jura, and Gumo the Weak was killed in the ensuing battle. The news of the death of Gumo the Weak would be used as justification for many of the clans to split from the Rikan Empire. Many smaller clans formed their own Asparates and the frontiers declared their independence.

The situation became bleaker as the Rikans were only able to hold central Clashonia as their last remaining territory while the other regions, such as the Transclarve, seceded. The Bannarsi Confederacy would expand southwards, exploiting the sudden collapse of Rikan dominance. By 1138, the Rikan Empire was only left with its core regions in central and western Clashonia, while the Bannarsis controlled the north; the Asparates of the Southern Coast controlling the south and east; the Luuzo, Celtig, and Kod controlling the Rhineland; and the Hitsaatis, Temiks, Melaniks, and Bekadiks controlling parts of the west, central, and northeast. The period would also see the rise of realms led by charismatic warlords such as Prince Laka and his realm.

These new realms fought for control and dominance from one another in an endless state of constant conflict. Wars would continue to ravage deep into the carcass of the old empire.

Grand Duchy of Bannarsia and Transclarve Republic

In 1459, the Bannarsi Confederacy would elect Godehard as the new leader of the Confederacy. Godehard was a warrior and wanted to avenge his ancestors suffering under the hands of the Rikans by expanding the Confederacy south and eventually pillaging any Kalashoni villages, towns, and realms that existed under the Confederacy. This began the Great Kalashoni Purge, where Bannarsis would flood the old realms of the Rikans and plunder the population, eventually colonizing it by forcibly removing all Kalashonis in said realm. He would be succeeded following his untimely death in 1478 by Hartwin, under who the Bannarsi realm would eventually be reorganized into the powerful Grand Duchy of Bannarsia in 1482.

As this was happening, the powerful Asparates of the Southern Coast, itself an alliance of multiple smaller asparates, unified with some of the other smaller clans that controlled the adjacent region. They would form a balanced power structure and eventually formed the Transclarve Republic in 1529.

By 1644, most of the former territories of the Rikan Empire were either controlled by Bannarsia or the Transclarve Republic. This would lead to bitter rivalry and constant wars between the two.

Williem I's War and the creation of the Kingdom of Clashonia

Williem I would be crowned Grand Duke of Bannarsia in 1687 and he had ambitions to unite the old lands of the Kalashoni under the rule of Bannarsia. He would constantly harass his southern Transclarve neighbor, who in turn cuts of Bannarsia from access to the Brevero Sea. This was used as justification for war and Bannarsia would launch an invasion into the Transclarve Republic in 1695. The war would end in 1702 with the annexation of the Transclarve Republic, and the last remaining Kalashonis assimilated into Bannarsi-Almannic culture. In 22 February 1702, Williem I would be crowned King of Clashonia.

Regional prominence and decline

The Kingdom of Clashonia was, at the time, one of the most powerful kingdoms in the region. However, as time progressed, it suffered critical challenges. Clashonia would become involved in the Elbonian Wars and Pirate Wars, which also marked the beginning of its decline. Technological advancements were slow and the kingdom was left behind in terms of technology and knowledge. Limited democratic reforms were enacted throughout 1862 onwards with the rise of liberal King Iosef II. Under him, a unicameral parliament was created, the Landtag, which became the precursor to the lower house of modern Clashonia's legislature. It also saw the rise of the first major political party, the Christian Democratic Party, which still exists today, as well as the democratic socialist Labor Party.

However, efforts to liberalize and democratize the Clashonian monarchy was slow, as many prominent conservative figures within the King's own inner circle tried to slow the speed of reforms made to the country, such as the King's wife, Katerina and the Chancellor, Johann vén Géllt.

The slow speed of reforms, as well as the later hardships in Clashonia frustrated many reformists and gave rise to radical, anti-monarchist organizations, with the most prominent being the Fäalke Movement, which sprang from anti-monarchist members of the Christian Democratic Party, and the Redshirts, which sprang from anti-monarchist memebr of the Labor Party. Both would later set aside their differences and merged alongside many smaller groups to form the National Republican Party in 1868. This political party would also have an armed paramilitary wing, which was formed one month later, known as the Republican Guard. However, the Republicans could not agree on a form of government. Some called for a parliamentary democracy, others a unitary state, and some advocated for a federalized state.

Things became heated when, in 1872, members who supported the federal Union State split from its mainstream Republican counterpart. This caused bitter strife between the two groups. By the 1900s, the Unionists have significantly more influence than the traditional Republicans, emboldening them to take action against the monarchy.

1904 coup d'etat and the creation of the Union State of Bannarsia and Transclarvia

The hardships of Clashonia brewed discontent among the populous regarding the monarchy, which was, though democratizing, was still heavily autocratic. The Party of the Union State, a radical political party formed on the ideas of federalism and abolishing the monarchy, would launch a coup d'etat against King Williem II on 23 November 1904, supported by sympathetic members of the Royal Clashonian Army. After the ousting of Williem II, many prominent monarchists and other members of nobility were purged and ousted from government, with most forming a government-in-exile in Weisserstein. The next day, Emil Šryber, leader of the Party of the Union State, declared the formation of the Union State of Bannarsia and Transclarvia.

Government reforms would be enacted, and two new federal states, Bannarsia and Transclarvia, would be formed alongside x federal territories. The Party of the Union State continued to be the dominant party in the legislature, now known as the Union Diet, which replaced the previous Landtag. The National Republican Party, the Christian Democratic Party, and the Labor Party, would all hold seats in the Diet, and often formed the opposition to the Union government.

War of 1919 and the creation of the First Clashonian Republic

On 29 June 1919, the Union State would declare war on Weisserstein over the latter's occupation of Blubach and Bischofgen, two territories which were previously disputed between Weisserstein and Clashonia, as well as for hosting the royalist government-in-exile. The war went poorly for the Union State as Weisserstein and the FARK pushed Union State forces out of the border regions. The Weissersteiner and the royalist forces continued to push deeper, this time supported by new innovations such as airplanes and tanks, which devastated the woefully unprepared Army of the Union State.

Army of the Union State mobilizing against Weisserstein during the War of 1919

On 25 June, 1922, members of the National Republican Party would launch a bloodless coup d'etat against the ruling Party of the Union State. As this was ongoing, the Union State government surrendered to the Weissersteiner government, and peace talks would be held by Weisserstein and Union State officials from June 23-26. The peace agreement would be ratified also by the new ruling Republicans, as they believe dragging the war further would only damage their reputation and turn the people against them. The Republicans would later proclaim the First Clashonian Republic on 28 June 1922.

Interim peace

In the periods between the end of the War of 1919 and the Clashonian Civil War, Clashonia experienced tremendous growth, though still lacking compared to its neighbors. Its economy began to recover from the deadly War of 1919, and unemployment and poverty was slowly being tackled.

The First Clashonian Republic would become involved in the Weissersteiner Civil War by diplomatically supporting the Weissersteiner Council Republic, while its Republican Guard under Major General Valentyn Fäalk allegedly supported the efforts of the Straßerists.

Major General Fäalk's coup d'etat and civil war

The Republican Guard had, in its history, became prone to radicalization. And under Major General Valentyn Fäalk, the Republican Guard leaned further towards extremist ideology, partly based off Gianlucian Frankism.

As the Weissersteiner Civil War came to an end in 1945, Fäalk began gathering support within the military for a possible coup d'etat against the current Republic, which he viewed as "inadequate" for the Clashonian people. Prominent military commanders, with most coming from the Republican Guard, would secretly gather in Fäalk's estate throughout 1945-1949, planning the eventual coup against the government.

As the Great War broke out in 1949, Fäalk and his inner circle began plotting the coup, setting the end date to be 1951. Fäalk also informed sympathetic military generals of the impending coup d'etat. However, the coup plot was discovered when one of the military generals accidentally leaked the information while being intoxicated. This caused the Republican Guard to rush the coup plot. On 7 May 1950, a battalion of Republican Guards went to the Presidential Palace to arrest then-president Anton Kräamer. This caused a clash between the Republican Guard and the Presidential Guard, and it kicked off the Clashonian Civil War.

General Šummaker's coup and the creation of the Second Clashonian Republic

Baldéwin Šummaker

Politics

Clashonia is a constitutional, popular monarchy and a unitary parliamentary democracy. The bicameral federal parliament is composed of the Assembly and the Landtag. The former is made up of 105 assemblymen appointed by the parliaments of the provinces. Prior to reforms in 2008, most of the Assembly's members were directly elected. The Landtag's 322 representatives are elected under a proportional voting system from multiple electoral districts. Clashonia has compulsory voting.

The King (currently Eckehäart) is the head of state, though with limited prerogatives. He appoints ministers, including the President-Minister, who has the confidence of the Landtag to form the federal government. The Council of Ministers is composed of no more than fifteen members. The judicial system is based on civil law and originates from the Klein era of the Second Republic, which was seen as the most judicially progressive period of Clashonia's judicial history.