Lugida

Republic of Lugida Frakimara i-Lugida
Flag
Motto: Nem hainum delanum "In unity, a shine"
Capital and largest city		Natlia 32°26′N 1°0′E
Official languages		Lithian
Ethnic groups (2012)		44.2% Lenthirite 29.9% Melune 11.4% Kitrian 14.5% others
Religion		41.2% Avism 30.9% Irreligious 10.8% Orthodox 9.0% Native religions 8.1% others
Demonym		Lugid Lugia Lugidami
Government		Unitary presidential constitutional republic
-	President	Felufre Kirne
-	Vice President	Anithan Bremi
Legislature		Parliament
-	Upper house	Council
-	Lower house	National Assembly
Establishment
-	Early Lugid dynasties	1st millennium BCE
-	Avite Empire	188
-	Melune kingdoms	721
-	Four Swords	1146
-	Kingdom of Melunair	1687
-	First constitution	1868
-	Current constitution	1949
Area
-	Total	431,933 km2 166,770 sq mi
Population
-	2017 estimate	73,860,543 (14th)
-	Density	171/km2 442.9/sq mi
GDP (nominal)		2016 estimate
-	Total	$2,594.1 billion (4th)
-	Per capita	$35,121
Gini (2016)		0.471 low
HDI (2016)		0.905 very high
Time zone		Sahar Coordinated Time (SCT+0)
Date format		yyyy-mm-dd
Drives on the		left
Calling code		+28
Internet TLD		.lg
a.	Coordinates of Lugida: 35°N 0°E

Lugida, officially the Republic of Lugida (Lithian: Frakimara i-Lugida), is a unitary sovereign state located in Southern Soltenna. Located in the western half of the Sharkunen Basin and briefly part of the Amiyant Basin, Lugida is bordered by Kadya and the Rietic Mountains to the west, Yerlan to the northeast, and Xynderland to the south.

Spanning an area of 431,933 km², Lugida is a highly urbanized country with 86% of the population living in cities, out of its population of 74 million which is mostly concentrated on the coastline. Its population is Sahar's 14th largest and Soltenna's 3rd largest. Lugida's capital city Natlia is the world's 10th most populous city and holds the title as one of the leading global cities, being a part of the Nagidan metropolitan area spanning from the capital city Natlia up to Kitlimis. At 25 million people, the area is one of world's largest urban agglomerations.

Earliest permanent settlement in Lugida dates back to 2000 BCE in Mairastra, with civilization starting to flourish with the Tigrate dynasty period from the 7th century BCE. Letsatian Empire conquered most of coastal Lugida from the Altha Dynasty on the 1st century CE introducing more advanced technology and system of government along with Ekuosian influence. Its remains later grew to become the Avite Empire, bringing a Lugid form of Iovism known as Avism and spreading Ekuosian influence to parts of Soltenna. Four Swords is founded in 1146, later to become the dominant naval power of Sahar in the mid 16th to early 18th centuries, before the Lugid portion of the Four Swords was conquered by Melunair in the 1730s, effectively de-establishing the Four Swords and initiated the Forian Exodus. Lugid Revolution ended monarchy and started the first Republic of Lugida in 1868, and the Lugid economy began to rapidly grow as industrialization became widespread throughout the country. Lugida joined the Unity in the Great Ekuosian War during Aten Kate's imperial rule, but was defeated and retaken by the Republican government in 1948. Suffering from extensive war damages, Lugida is one of the largest recipients of the (something plan), marking the beginning of Lugida's rapid post-war economic growth.

Driven by the highly educated and skilled workforce, Lugida is a high-tech developed country with the world's 4th largest economy by nominal GDP, mainly as a result of the country's rapid post-war economic growth combined with a centralized and export-oriented economy. High personal freedoms led to the rise of Lugid popular culture such as L-pop and Mikau. Lugida is a founding member of Fordas and the Soltennan Council.

Etymology

The name "Lugida" comes from the Lithian words, Lugia and gaida, meaning "land of the blue". Lugia refers to the Lugid people in general, which ultimately derives from the word Lugi, meaning "blue".

Lugia includes both the Lenthirites and the Melunes, who are ethnically different but share common cultural traits with each other. The demonym's usage dates back from as early as the mid-18th century during the Melune period, when desire for Lugid unification arose, and became popular among the Lugids through Lugid revolutionist movements on the mid-19th century.

History

Main article: History of Lugida

Geography

Lugida is located in the south-central portion of Soltenna, by the Amiyant Sea to the south and the Gulf of Sharkunen to the east. It borders Yerlan at the northeast, Xynderland at the south separated by the Amiyant, and Kadya to the west and to the north. Also bordering the northern part of Lugida is part of the Rietic Mountains.

Geology

Lugida is situated near the border of Soltennan and Akulanen tectonic plates. The Rietic Mountains was formed from the former Rietic plate, which may have collided and eventually merged with the Soltennan plate around 32 million years ago.

Being near two tectonic plate borders, the Rietic Mountains is a volcanic zone. Among around 16 active volcanoes in Lugida, Mount Nidarum is both the most active and the most notable, famed through its series of eruptions including the 1860 eruption that eventually contributed to the later Lugid Revolution. Much of Mount Lenthir was formed through its volcanic activity but lacks any historical records of major eruptions. Available geological evidence suggests Mount Lenthir's last major eruption taking place on around 3,000 BCE, predating the earliest of Qonklese civilizations.

Earthquakes in Lugida are a common sight, but are often low and harmless in magnitude and its epicenter often takes place off the Lugid coastline. Some notable historical earthquakes in Lugida include the 872 Kitlimis earthquake and the 1730 Lumine earthquake and tsunami, the latter of which is estimated as a magnitude 7.2 earthquake and may have been one of the driving factors of the Forian Exodus.

Climate

Lugid climate is predominantly humid subtropical, with variations from north to south. The northern part of Lugida which includes the cities of Melunebet and Nizen experiences a continental climate. A patch of Mediterranean climate is present on the Lugid Amiyant Sea coastline, extending from Dalshabet to the coastal Lugi-Kadic border.

Lugida has an annual average precipitation of around 1100 mm, with higher values observed on the eastern portion of Natika near Mairastra. Conversely, the topmost parts of Mount Nidarum is the least precipitated region. 36 percent of Lugid lands are arable, most of which are located in the Mairune Plains and Lenthiri highlands which hold around 44 percent and 21 percent of the arable lands, respectively.

Economy

Lugida's mixed economy ranks 4th in world nominal GDP, identifying it as a high-tech developed country with an overall high-income economy. Its large economy is primarily attributed to the rapid economic recovery from the 1960s following the Great Ekuosian War, which saw significantly increased investment in education, trade, and industrialization partly through funding with the (something Plan), in conjunction with imposition of favorable policies. These conditions made Lugida one of the fastest growing economies in the world at the time, ultimately leading to its large modern-day economy.

Service sector contributes to the largest portion of Lugida's economy, followed by tourism and manufacturing. Adoption of new technology in Lugida goes at a rapid pace, placing Lugida as home to some of the largest and most technologically advanced producers of electronics, steel and nonferrous metals, and machinery, benefiting from the country's highly skilled and educated workforce. Industrialization superseded agricultural industry in coastal Lugida where economic growth is primarily centralized. Floral industry in Lugida is Soltenna's largest, driven by high domestic demand for use in Lugid gardens, Hvoirs, and religious ceremonies, with Mairastra and Melunebet hosting the country's largest flower markets.

Economic growth of Lugida is challenged by high centralization of growth to the highly densely populated capital city Natlia and its neighboring regions, alongside economic crises in 1990s and 2005 which severed the country's economic growth. Growth centralization is dissented by few presidential administrations, most notably by current president Felufre Kirne. He described centralization as promoting capitalism and neglecting infrastructural and economic development of cities located inland. In response, Felufre launched the Equalization Program to encourage decentralization of economy and "increase overall prosperity of the Lugids". This brought attention and concern from within the Lugid government whose majority party is mostly composed of right-wing socioeconomic elites.

Economic history

Lugida's economic prowess dates back to the 17th century during the Four Swords period. Amidst fierce economic competition by Veridia, the Bavkir Empire, and the Algazi League, the Four Swords secured its position as a global thalassocracy, dominating naval trade throughout Soltenna. Forian wealth is driven primarily through the kingdom's rich deposits of natural resources and control over some of the former Terminian trade routes.

Overall economy of Lugida was severed after Forian decline in 1731 after its conquest by the Kingdom of Melunair, in which a mass group of Forian economic elites fled the kingdom along with their wealth, draining local treasury and breaking down Forian trade routes. This stagnated Lugida's economic and technological progress until Shohuan assumed control over part of the Lugid coastline through conquest in (sometime near 1800s), initiating industrialization in Lugida. Economy of Lugida began to recover during this period.

Industrialization in Lugida remains mostly confined to the modern-day Nagidan region where Shohuan assumes control due to resistance by Melunair. Lugid Revolution and the formation of the first Republic of Lugida allowed easier and faster spread of industrialization along with market economy across the whole country. Enterprises and other organizations began to be founded in this period. Lugida's economy at this time grew at a steady rate before it slowed down in the 1930s and was heavily severed during imperial rule and the succeeding Great Ekuosian War. The war also severed Lugid infrastructure and part of Natlia and Kitlimis, opting Shohuanese funding for the country's rebuilding.

The rebuilding program came to be known as the (something) Plan, incorporated along with the Lugid government's massive reforms over government funding, education, and certain policies in order to rebuild the country's economy and overall infrastructure. Lugida recovered its economy rapidly and started a period of economic boom in the 1960s.

Demographics

Population

Lugida's population of 74 million is the world's 14th largest, concentrated along the Nagidan metropolitan area which spans along the coastline from the capital city Natlia to Kitlimis. Consisting the majority of Lugida's population are the three indigenous ethnic groups – Melunes, Kitrians, and Lenthirites, the latter being politically and culturally dominant. Riyans, Xynden, Yerlanis, and indigenous minorities such as ()s and ()s are among the significant minority groups of Lugida.

Religion

Main article: Religion in Lugida

Lugida is a secular country with Avism as the de facto state religion, being adhered by around 40 percent of the population according to a 2012 survey. The survey also mentioned that a third of Lugid population identify themselves as not belonging to any religion. Out of (some number) religious buildings in Lugida, 68 percent are Avic temples known as sermets, and 19 percent are (something) temples. Other significant religions include Pashaism and Pauegism, both of which are Iovic religions.

(something) was the dominant religion in Lugida before Iovism was introduced through Letsatian rule. Iovism later developed and assimilated with the local religion to form Avism and it has been the predominant religion in Lugida for more than a millennium.

Language

Main articles: Languages of Lugida and Lithian

Lugid society is overall linguistically homogeneous with Lithian being the dominant language spoken as the first language by around 91% of the population. A part of the Rietic language family, significant sister languages of Lithian include Kadic, Melune, and (some language). Lithian writing primarily uses (something) syllabary, derived from the Qonklese script. Forian alphabet is also widely used and is prevalent in international contexts.

Eight indigenous languages are listed by the Lugid Academy of Languages as endangered. In response, the institution instated a program known as (something), directed primarily to schools to increase awareness and to universities for scientific studies.

Foreign languages Riyan and Xynder are widely spoken as the second language, with Riyan proficiency reaching as high as 16% according to a 2015 report. Other spoken foreign languages include Shohuanese and Terminian, both of which were historically prevalent as trade languages.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Lugida

The culture of Lugida developed from the mix of native Lugid culture and various foreign influences. Historically, Lugid culture is heavily influenced by Qonklese culture through the (something) Dynasty, and later by Ekuosian culture through Letsatia and its succeeding states.

Lugida's rapid industrialization and urbanization in recent years brought significant changes on the lifestyle of the Lugids, leading to a concentration of the populace to major cities, particularly to the capital Natlia, with multi-generational households typically living as a nuclear family.

Art

Much of traditional Lugid art draws elements from Iovism, as seen in many traditional paintings, sculptures, and notably mosaics. These flourished especially during the Four Swords period, in which it began to draw numerous foreign influences acquired through trade. Interaction between foreign and local Lugid art has been significant, and Lugid art remains to flourish even after Melune conquests which severely hurt the economy of Lugida and other parts of the Four Swords at the time.

Late 19th century saw the earliest coining of the term (), which refers to an art style associated to and popular in Lugida. This would later establish the foundation to later, modern forms of Lugid art. Hana Futikata pioneered the Lugid animation industry on 1926, popularizing the term Mikau.

See also

• List of cities in Lugida
• List of countries in Miraria