Cȧrq́ax

Cȧrq́ax (pronounced /'käɻca^ts/; English: Cartyas) is a country on the continent of Borealia. It borders Carthamia in the west, Tholenia in the north, Schellingen in the east, and Dumeria in the south. In the southwest Cȧrq́ax 'breaks' out of the mountain range that encloses the larger part of the country, and it even reaches the sea, where it has a short coastline.

Cȧrq́ax

country on Borealia

Official name: Cȧrq́ax

Capital: Curśa, governmental residence in
Hov́an, Constitutional Court in Xėlurq́ȧ

Inhabitants: 6,088,704 (1-1-2015)

Form of government: federative republic with
bottom-up democracy

Demonym: Cartian

Official language: Caru̇h́ (Cartian)

National holiday: 24 idox́ȧli = 12 October
(Peace of Hov́an, 1607 NT = 1922 CE)

Currency: 1 Velurq́i = 16 Markexe

Flag:

Name

Cȧrq́ax is most certainly related to the present day word cȧrq́ila, which simply means 'land'. The Cartians were already referred to by some as the 'People of the Land', perhaps because of the fact that they were already living in Borealia when other peoples arrived, or, more pejoratively, as 'uncivilised people'. The name was formalised with the Unification of 1712.

History

Main Article: History of Cȧrq́ax

Cȧrq́ax was populated by pre-Indo-European tribes that probably originated from the Iberian peninsula or the French west coast (Aquitania). Originally they settled in present-day Dumeria, but the later arriving Dumerians pushed them into their current realm in the fourth century CE. During the Middle Ages, the Cartian people were mostly left alone and these centuries were marked by internal rivalry and even civil wars, until the country was united by the x́ahalȧ (governor) of Xėlurq́ȧ, V́ohuq́. A heriditary rule was established, but in the 19th century, the ruling family was deposed in favour of a (seemingly) more democratic system that took all the opportunities of the industrial revolution, boosting the Cartian economy.

When this system, too, was overthrown in 1913, nine years of civil war followed, after which the present form of government, a bottom-up democracy, was put in place. Cȧrq́ax got its current shape on the map at the end of the Second World War, when parts of the National Republic of Rudenz-Fugesen, an ally of Nazi Germany, were annexed. Cȧrq́ax was subsequently actively involved in the First Hilgar War, when neighbouring Tholenia tried to reconquer these areas, which it considered as part of Tholenia. The attempt failed however and the areas were fully integrated in Cȧrq́ax, the current governor, Lȯtar Hėriberteme (in office since January 2014), even being of Rudenz-German origin.

Politics

(Note that the English translations of the Cartian titles below are approximate.)

Cȧrq́ax is a loose federation of Cėv́ixe (Cities) and Remixe (Fields) which are internally highly autonomous. Each Cėv́i and each Remi are allowed to join other Cėv́ixe and Remixe into Ȧshulėxe (some kind of provinces) which aren't always a logically formed entity and may contain numerous enclaves. Not all Cėv́ixe and Remixe are part of an Ȧshulė.

Cėv́ixe and Remixe are lead by a Xėneźahėsćeni Ocalgi ('Council of Aldermen') which is chaired by a Cȧrq́ėtq́aǵo ('Mayor') in Cėv́ixe and by a Gizeuhė ('Bailiff') in Remixe. The adult citizens of Cėv́ixe and Remixe (or, when there are more than approximately 500 inhabitants, their elected representatives) convene annually for a period of five days to discuss the ways they were ruled during the past year, and possibly to depose their leaders and appoint new ones. This is done on national level as well, but in that case the (Ȧshulėsćeni) Ocalgixe represent their citizens and together form the national 'parliament' (Źu̇x́o, the Thing), which controls the Ministeresćeni Ocalgi (Council of Ministers).

The Ministeresćeni Ocalgi was first appointed in 1922 and normally organises its own members' appointments and dismissals. This, too, is anually checked upon by the Źu̇x́o. When the latter finds that appointments or dismissals are not in the interest of the country, it may give a binding advice for the appointment or dismissal of one or more ministers. A minister dismissed by the Źu̇x́o may not be reappointed to the Ministeresćeni Ocalgi. The members of the Ministeresćeni Ocalgi determine among themselves who will have which portfolio, and therefore who will be V́iv́isćeni Minister (Prime Minister).

There is a ceremonial head of state, the X́ahalȧ (Governor), who is elected by the Źu̇x́o after the death of the previous one. Although the X́ahalȧ wasn't always appointed for life, one person could never be appointed for more than one term.