Zuvland

Zuvland (Zuvish: Zŵvlænd), known formally as the Commonwealth of Zuvland (Zuvish: Mīnebest af Zŵvlænd), is an in Avalon, often grouped into the geopolitical region of Gaullica. It is completely bathed by the Sunrise Ocean, more specifically the Sea of Fjallgard to the north and the Sea of Zuvland to the west. It consists of two main inhabited islands separated by the Pass of Wallica. It does not share a land border with any other country, but shares maritime borders with Eden, Dunterton, Fjallgard and Kopiskur, the latter two thanks to the autonomous territory of Qaliitsoq.

The Zuvish Home Islands constitute a volcanic archipelago of more than 184 islands and islets, of which the largest two, Luswelia and Wallica, make up for around 91% of the country's population. Lesser islands like Belfyck, Borsvik and the Aurcanes make up for the remaining 9%, with the remainder of islands being uninhabitable rocks or small with anecdotic population.

Zuvland is a developed post-industrial country with a stable and diversified economy. Considered by some to be among the most socially liberal nations in Avalon, it boasts a population of around 59,820,484 people, according to 2020 estimates. Approximately one twelfth of the country's population lives in the Swaning Metropolitan Area, one of the largest in the continent. Depsite Swaning being considered a global city, and an important financial centre, the capital is situated in Eikhoorn, in the centre of Luswelia, the largest island and cultural "starting point" of the Zuvish civilization.

Etymology
Zuvland is universally accepted to take its name from the Zuva people, a Germanic tribe that established settlements in southern and central Luswelia. Unverified historical sources trace the origin of the Zuva people to the Suvian Plain, a natural region located on the territories of Eden and another country.

History
The earliest known inhabitants of the Zuvish Home Islands are reported to be Proto-Sunrisian, boat-travelling people originating from modern day Fjallgard, Kopiskur and Qaliitsoq, with the earliest known proof of human presence being recorded on the island of Bilqaq in the Aurcanes, dating back to the Iron Age. Proto-Sunrisian people are generally considered the ancestors of modern-day Aurcanians and Qaliis. The islands were conquered by various Germanic peoples such as the Walligans and most importantly the Zuva in the late Antiquity, with Proto-Sunrisian settlements only surviving in northern Luswelia and the Aurcanes. For a while, the Zuvish Home Islands were scattered with distinct lordships and chiefdoms, with the first true Zuvish state arising in central Luswelia in 891 AD, with tribal chef Armandius founding the Holy Kingdom of Ecornia upon converting to Christianity, and with the blessing of the Pope. Rather than a central united entity, the Holy Kingdom was a loose association of feudal lands. Such a situation will carry on until the King of Ecornia, Lothar IV, married Chantecoqois princess Clotilde de Montanier, member of the very influent Vermandois noble family, ambitious and eager to obtain a hand on a foreign monarchy's throne, in 1473. At Lothar IV's death in March 1475 during the Battle of Vinsburg, decisive conclusion of the Luswelian War resulting in a victory for the Ecornian forces over the Earls of St. Karl and Lygsdal, and with no lawful heir, a succession crisis occured in the already instable Holy Kingdom, with commander-in-chief and Earl of Eikhoorn Hareld Pierems declaring himself King in a controversial manner, right under Philip Luswaal's nose, the latter being Lothar IV's illegitimate cousin and considering himself as the only natural heir. Rivalry between the two men will culminate and start the Zuvish Succession War, a deadly conflict involving lots of civilian deaths, particularly during the St. Catherine Night Slaughter on 25 November 1486, where residents of Mariendal and Jel, two towns loyal to Pierems, were massacred by Luswaalist forces, women and children being burnt alive. Seeing the conflict dragging on with no clear winner, and tired of so many casualties, Queen Clotilde decided to work with a deserting Pieremsist commander, Karl Segurdsted, in order to get foreign assistance and deserting forces from both factions on their side, promising Karl the throne in the case of a victory. The plan would work, and soldiers from both sides, tired of conflict, disease and starvation would join Clotilde and Segurdsted, with the Battle of Perls signing the final blow to both Pierems and Luswaal. Segurdsted was crowned as King of Ecornia on 3 September 1495, but will find himself unable to rule the country due to political incompetence and self-entitlement, which will lead to Clotilde, leading an upset contingent of soldiers, storming the Royal Palace on 12 November of the same year, during the Bloodless Coup. Segurdsted will be sent to exile in Dunterton, while Clotilde took power and crowned herself the Empress of All Zuvland on Christmas Day of the same year, without the Pope's approval, something she will be excommunicated for. She would take on the regnal name of Mathilda I, honouring the first Queen of Ecornia's name.

Under the Mathildan era, the country will enter into its Renaissance period, with the pre-Succession War feudalism ending in favour of absolutism, Mathilda I being an omnipotent and ruthless ruler. Under her long reign for this epoch's standards (1495-1529), she successfully defeated the Kingdom of Wallica and achieved her goal of uniting the Zuvish Home Islands under the same state with the Edict of Kirrck on 24 February 1512, putting an end to the Eight Years War. In the latter part of her reign, she gave coastal merchants economic and financial freedom, conscious of the wealth it could bring to the Empire. As a part of this strategy, she would move the capital from Eikhoorn to Vinsburg, closer to the big ports, most notably developing Swaning in 1518. The latter will be the first and only town to ever be given the status of Imperial Free City in the country, governing its own finances and economical policy, independently from the imperial government. Finally, she will also embark in Zuvland's first colonial campaigns, successfully funding expeditions and taking control of various islands in the Sunrise Ocean. At Mathilda I's death on 8 April 1529, Zuvland has the most powerful economy of Avalon, and is gaining more and more political influence.

Her eldest son, Humbert I, will eventually succeed her, and continue to apply his mother's vision for the Empire. The Vermandois-Vinsburg family will rule over the land for three centuries without interruption, until growing unrest, Wallican nationalism, financial difficulties and general progress of civil rights in the rest of Avalon will force Emperor Nicholas to abandon absolutism for a constitutional monarchy following the Edict of Eikhoorn on 19 August 1880. The Constitution of the Imperial Commonwealth gives Nicholas a limited role in the country's affairs, with a position of Chancellor being created and two houses of Parliament being founded.

While the transition eased the pressure, they didn't completely erase it. Respect for the Imperial power was at an all-time low among burghers, merchants and soldiers, worrying for the degrading economy and living conditions. In 1901, the abolition of Swaning's Imperial Free City status sparked a revolt in the port town, which was quickly mastered by Imperial authorities. But the situation galvanized Eikhoorn intellectuals and ideologues, promoting the idea of a Zuvish republic, most of them adhering to socialist ideals.

In May 1918, after a call for a general, unlimited strike by various trade unions, the country was completely paralyzed, with the monarchist government eventually allowing the Imperial Guard to open fire on demonstrators during the Blood March of Eikhoorn on June 14. The event will crystallize all the tensions, and start a year-long revolution led by journalist Martin Beecknebts. The ruling Emperor, Humbert V, will be assassinated along with his family during the final days of the unrest, on 28 February 1919. On March 8, the government would fall and be replaced with a provisional authority, declaring the Zuvish Social Republic, led by a college of revolutionary leaders, including Beecknebts. Despite the final victory, the ZSR would struggle to generate popular enthusiasm and support, and the leadership would soon be worried of a military coup or a takeover by the most radical revolutionaries, wishing to establish a fully communist Zuvish state. Localized revolts would be shut down thanks to the armed forces once again, most notably the Vantstad Uprising in July 1927, a ten-days-long blockade of the most important port of Zuvland by radicals, brutally dispersed by an unilateral attack ordered by army general Alfred af Bleckinge. This action will lead him to be congratulated by the government and public opinion, both growing increasingly wary of anarchist and communist movements. af Bleckinge, not void of political ambition, would explot this angst in order to make his smashing entrance into politics: he founded the Zuvish Workers' Social Party (SPADZA) in October 1930 at the Congress of Rykstrand, with assistance from ideologue Anthonis Berthellinck, considered to be the father of Zuvish fascism. Anti-communism, strong central state, effective fighting against unemployment and isolationism will be the main arguments the SPADZA will use to win the 1936 general election, with af Bleckinge being named as Chancellor by President Lothar Bourgoin. In October 1939, after other waves of anarchist, communist and Wallican nationalist vandalism, af Bleckinge would make the martial law pass through Parliament, effectively granting him full powers, with every "disturbance" being thoroughly repressed and their authors sent to prison or later, labour camps without trials, if not executed on the spot. This period, known as the Brown Fall, would last until af Bleckinge forces the Parliament to abolish the Constitution, declaring himself the Forder (chief) of a new authoritarian regime plainly called the Niewstat (New State), which would last thorughout the middle of the 20th century up to 1969, where the ill, dementia-stricken and limited leader would be overthrown by several army leaders progressively radicalised by opposition to colonial wars caused by Zuvland and intense disagreements with af Bleckinge. This coup, massively supported by the Zuvish population, resulted in a revolution lasting two years, and centered around deep divisions on how to refound Zuvland, which thoroughly impacted the nation.

This revolution was unusual in the sense where army generals and soldiers, adhering to democratic ideals (giving power to a civilian government, organization of free elections and decolonisation), overthrew an authoritarian regime without replacing it with another. Since the declaration of the Second Commonwealth in 1972, and the moving of the capital back to Eikhoorn, the country has wonderfully recovered from fascism, and found its place in an ever-changing world.

Politics
Zuvland is a , as outlined in the Fundamental Law approved in 1971. This law is considered to be the state's legal document, and it being amended is an extremely rare occurence that is difficult for any leader to achieve. The Fundamental Law defines Zuvland as a commonwealth of three different home nations : Luswelia, Wallica and Aurcania, with special self-governing rights being devolved to a regional government in the case of the latter two. Nevertheless, the central government retains power to define the economic policies of the country, as well as finance, foreign affairs and the military. It also outlines the prerogatives of the three different branches of government, the executive, the legislative and the judiciary powers, which are considered independent from each other, but cooperative.

Executive
The highest position in the hierachy is the function of President. Elected by an electoral college gathering members of both houses of Parliament and "great electors" from all counties of the Home Islands every 7 years, the President, officially the head of state, holds in fact a very anecdotic role as an unifying figure, with a duty of representation of the Commonwealth in international affairs. The President is charged with appointing the Chancellor, the head of government and leader of the largest party in the National Assembly, as well as the Vice-Chancellor, often the leader of the second-largest government party in the case of a coalition or a lesser figure of the ruling party in the case of a majority government. The President is also able to dissolve the National Assembly and call new elections as well as nominating senators-for-life, though both of these are at the proposal of the Chancellor. In the case of grave misconduct, the Supreme Court holds the power to remove the President from office. The Chancellor is, thus, de facto the most powerful figure in Zuvish politics.

Legislative
(let me do the parliament diagrams first okay)

Judiciary
(let me do a bit of research first okay)

Geography
The Zuvish Home Islands are a volcanic archipelago of more than 184 islands and islets, of which the largest two, Luswelia and Wallica, make up for around 91% of the country's population. Lesser islands like Belfyck, Borsvik and the Aurcanes make up for the remaining 9%, with the remainder of islands mostly being scattered uninhabitable rocks. Located on a, the country is prone to frequent volcanic and seismic activity, especially in Luswelia, the largest and most populous island. Zuvland is divided into 3 home nations : Luswelia, Wallica and Aurcania, as well as 5 self-governing territories : Belfyck and Borsvik in the Home Islands, Qaliitsoq in the Sea of Fjallgard, the Stephenides in the central Sunrise Ocean and Prince Philbert in Eleuthea. Zuvland also lays an internationally unrecognized claim on New Aurcania and the Mathildan Islands, an uninhabited territory on the continent of Antiborea.

Prefectures, shires and free city
The three home nations, Luswelia, Wallica and Aurcania, are further divided up into 46 smaller entities named prefectures in Luswelia and Aurcania, and shires in Wallica. Each prefecture or shire is governed by a unicameral general council whose name can vary, and is generally led in co-operation by a government-appointed prefect (called "lieutenant-governor" in Wallica) and the President of the general council. Moreover, the largest city of the country, Swaning, holds a particular status as a free city, where municipal and prefectoral powers are executed by the same legislative body (the Swaning Metropolitan Council).

Every prefecture and shire is represented by two senators, one man and one woman, regardless of population. Swaning Metro, however, is only represented by one.