Balakia

Balak Federation
Balak Federation; Balāk Cankoroc (Balak); Balâk Şankoroş; Baraha Yânxaroc (Koman); Baraha Yânkharoş ;
Flag	Emblem
	Motto: Balâçik yuşazamşar; Balakia is forever
	Anthem: Şeğ-e Hasağa, Balâk Movat; God's Own Child, the Balak Nation
	Balakia in dark green, disputed areas in light green.
Capital; and largest city	Qersheven
Official languages	Balak
Recognised; national languages	Koman; Amaian-Zwazwan; Ziimen languages
Recognised; minority languages	Kaatian
Demonym	Balak
Government	Federal representative semi-presidential republic
Legislature	Federal Assembly
Establishment
Area
Population
GDP (nominal)	2016 estimate
Time zone	Balak Standard Time (SCT+3)
Drives on the	right
Calling code	+76
Internet TLD	.bl

Balakia (Balak: Balāçik Balâçik [bɑˈla:t͡ʃɪk]), officially the Balak Federation, is a country in Vaniua. With around 67 million inhabitants, Balakia is the 2nd most populous country in Vaniua, behind Vosan. Balakia is bordered to the west by Komania and Gushlia, to the north by Torosha, and to the east by Amaia and Zwazwamia. Additionally the small exclave of Ayalshemir, located on the West Parshitan coast, is bordered to the east by Kunjut. It is the homeland of the Balak people, a Vaniuan ethnic group, among other groups. The country's capital is Qersheven, a major economic hub in Eastern Vaniua and the second largest city in Balakia. The country's economy is predominantly centred around its manufacturing and agricultural sectors, although a new tertiary sector is also developing. Balakia is classed as a transition economy, benefitting from a nominal GDP of around $962.6 billion and a GDP per capita of $14,312. Balakia is a member of the Eastern Vaniuan Association, an economic and cultural union also consisting of its neighbours Komania, Kaatkukia, and Amaia, among other member states.

The Kothlen Horde was the first major Balak power, spanning a large portion of eastern Vaniua. The Kothlen Horde ultimately disintegrated in 1066, after an uprising by the Bashteze clan and subsequent civil war, heralding the Warring Qakates period. The power vacuum left by the collapse of the Kothlen Horde was filled in the 14th and 15th Centuries, as the expanding Great Horde annexed swathes of Balak territory. Under Asharid rule, Balak culture flourished and the region amassed considerable amounts of wealth through trade, as Kothlenic merchants operated within and beyond the empire's borders.

In the wake of the Great Horde's collapse, the Maram Qakate emerged as the dominant Kothlenic military power, and would engage in conflicts with the Ashar Mizarate and Rashtun as it amassed influence in the region and unsuccessfully attempted to prevent Koman unification. After a victory by a coalition of Balak states in the Balak-Zwazwan War, Qak Kamat I became the first emperor of a united Balak Empire in 1866. Following Jimashim I's coronation in 1872, Balakia would assert itself as a global colonial empire, with holdings in Puzimm, Lahan, and Atsiq, and would directly challenge Asharid leadership in Komania. These challenges culminated in the outbreak of the White War, which Balakia lost following intervention from Vosan. The assassination of Emperor Hazdamli in 1921 by Balkist insurgents prompted the outbreak of the Balak Revolution, which ended in 1925 with the defeat of the Balak People's Republic and the restoration of the monarchy. In the immediate aftermath of the revolution, Sannist politician Tayan Vaşnabaş pressured Emperor Jimashim II into appointing him to the post of Prime Minister.

The Balak Empire under Vaşnabaş aligned itself with Veridia and its Unity faction in the Great Ekuosian War, committing sizeable forces to fight on the Ebo front against Barradiwa and blockading the Parshita Sea. Towards the end of the war, the Helsonian Union had begun supporting Kúúlist insurgents, and shortly after the conclusion of the war the Union of Shomosvan was established. This Balak Golden Revolution forced the Imperial government into exile in Sonka, later to be officially dissolved in the wake of the Kunjut Crisis. In 1996 Zinsha-Vogia was absorbed into Shomosvan, greatly increasing its land area. This overextension weakened the country's defensive and administrative capabilities and its overall stability, allowing independence movements to gain more traction following the Keşkamân Revolt. The helsonias of Gushlia were the first republic to declare independence, followed shortly by the Balak helsonias.

Etymology

The name Balakia comes from the ethnonym for the Balak people, Balâk, itself being derived from the name of Balâhak. It is ultimately descended from Old Kothlenic Balâhak-kik "river of Balâhak."

History

Prehistory

Classical Antiquity

Kothlen Horde

The Kothlen Horde emerged as a state in the 9th Century AD. Founded by Balâhak in 811, it spanned a large portion of eastern Vaniua and became a bastion of Zarasaism in 835 AD, having adopted it from the newly conquered Kaatian Empire (annexed in 823 AD). The Kothlen Horde ultimately disintegrated in 1066, after an uprising by the Bashteze clan and subsequent civil war, into a number of smaller tribal states and qakates in the Warring Qakates period.

Warring Qakates

...

Great Horde

Under the rule of the Great Horde the wealth of the region that would later become Balakia and Gushlia grew immensely as trade passing through the region increased, and Balak culture would flourish under Asharid rule. Middle Jazaghan, from which the modern Balak and Gushli languages descend, became the language of military and trade dignitaries.

The Blackvest Revolt instigated by the Aneer Daxalaa clan in the early 15th Century prompted the Great Horde to consolidate control of its southern Balak client kingdoms, culminating in the seizure of Covaya from Terminian control in 1413(?).

During the Sunset Rebellion, many Balak nobles rose up against the ruling Oshar dynasty. The revolutionaries were swiftly crushed by the Great Horde's army, and the offending nobility was replaced with loyal Zwazwan nobles in the aftermath of the conflict.

Balak Qakates

Following the collapse of the Great Horde the qakates of Kadhan and Hamawan remained under the rule of Komanised Zwazwan dynasties, although the ruling X dynasty of Kadhan later fully embraced Koman culture. This, along with Hamawan's later embracing of republicanism, sowed the seeds of a rivalry between the two states. The two most influential Balak royal houses in the post-GH era were the Zonkamâ and Seğâren dynasties, who at this point ruled over the qakates of Maram and Boğşuy respectively. The Maram Qakate in particular emerged as the dominant Kothlenic military power, and would engage in conflicts with the Ashar Mizarate and Rashtun as it amassed influence in the region and attempted to prevent Koman unification.

...

In [year] the assasination of Khamv president [name] by the government of Kadhan in a failed attempt to seize the leadership of Hamawan led to the Presidential War, following which Kadhan was placed firmly in the Zwazwan Empire's sphere of influence.

...

As Pan-Balakism grew in popularity in the 1840s, and the Zwazwan Empire continued to exert influence on Kadhan and Hamawan, pressure was placed on the ruling dynasties of the Balak qakates outside of the Zwazan sphere of influence, culminating in the signing of the Yerec Pact in 1852, which established military, economic, and political co-operation between the qakates. The Torosh and Vaghan qakates also ratified the treaty, in part due to the threat of expansion from neighbouring Komania. As the most powerful and culturally influential state that signed the pact, Maram was regarded as the de facto leader of the alliance.

Colonisation of Sonka

Balak-Zwazwan War

...

After a decisive victory by a coalition of Balak states in the Balak-Zwazwan War, Qak Kamat I proclaimed himself the first emperor of a united Balak Empire on July 12th 1866.

Balak Empire

...

Following Jimashim I's coronation in 1872, Balakia would assert itself as a global empire, with holdings in Puzimm, Lahan, and Atsiq, and would directly challenge Asharid leadership in Komania, proclaiming the Empire to be the true successor to the Great Horde in 1874 through the Shozasan Proclamation, with the approval of the Hoja of Shozasan. The Kingdom of Sonka officially entered a personal union under the Balak crown following the ascension of Jimashim to the throne.

White War

The annexation of the Gushli state of Qabashan into the Empire in late 1897 directly provoked the Koman government, culminating in the outbreak of the White War, which Balakia lost following intervention from Vosan. Although their colonial possessions were unaffected, Balakia had to cede not insignificant portions of its western homeland holdings, most of which were ceded to a newly established First Gushli Qakate, and experienced an economic downturn after the war.

Balak Revolution

The assassination of Emperor Hazdamli in 1921 by Balkist insurgents prompted the outbreak of the Balak Revolution, which ended in 1925 with the defeat of the Balak People's Republic and the restoration of the monarchy.

...

In the immediate aftermath of the revolution, Sannist politician Tayan Vaşnabaş pressured Emperor Jimashim II into appointing him to the post of Prime Minister.

Sannist Balakia

Great Ekuosian War

Upon the outbreak of the Great Ekuosian War, the Balak Empire under Vashnabash aligned itself with Veridia and its Unity faction, committing sizeable forces to fight on the Ebo front against Barradiwa. Although Balakia had committed the greatest number of troops to the front, they faced significant defeats following the withdrawal of their allies, in particular Letzia. The Balak navy additionally blockaded the Parshita Sea and prevented Helsonian ships from accessing Kaisen-Czisilia, with the situation more easily allowing Pashaist insurgents to organise. The war concluded in 1952, although Balakia was not subject to a peace treaty, having not officially declared war.

Balak Golden Revolution

Towards the end of the Great Ekuosian War, the Helsonian Union had begun supporting Kúúlist insurgents, and shortly after the conclusion of the war a puppet government under the Helsonian Union, the Union of Shomosvan, was established. Upon this development, Vashnabash being killed by a crowd trying to escape to Tuyo, and the Imperial government was forced in exile, temporarily operating from Sonka. In the wake of the Kunjut Crisis, the Balak Empire was officially dissolved on 2 October 1963.

Union of Shomosvan

...

In 1996 Zinsha-Vogia was absorbed into Shomosvan, greatly increasing its land area. This however created issues with communication and control, as well as unity within the government, reducing the country's defensive and administrative capabilities and its overall stability. As the Kúúlist regime's grip on the country weakened, independence movements began to gain more traction following the Keşkamân Revolt, with Gushlia being the first republic to declare independence. By 2001 only the Union was a rump state consisting only of the newly reorganised Union of Zinshans and Vogians, which became the modern state of Zinsha-Vogia in 2006 following a civil war.

Collapse of Shomosvan

Kadanaşim regime

The Provisional Government was abolished in 2002 with the creation of a new constitution and the Balak Republic. In the country's first free elections, the nationalist New Balakia Party won with ease, and Çinden Kadanaşim was voted in as the first President of Balakia. Kadanaşim began acting on a policy of "Dekúúlification", which saw the beginning of a slow process of democratisation and privatisation under the influence of Vosan.

The process of Dekúúlification was temporarily halted after the outbreak of the Balak-Gushli War, though as the conflict slowed down the process resumed progress, albeit slowly.

...

The Kadanaşim regime came to an end in 2008, following the 2008 Balak political crisis and subsequent election of Vin Svêjen to the presidency.

Balak Federation

Geography

Geology

Climate

Biodiversity

Politics

Governance

According to the Constitution of Balakia, the country is a federation and semi-presidential republic, with the President serving as head of state and the Prime Minister serving as head of government. The country is fundamentally structured as a multi-party representative democracy, with legislative power vested in the bicameral Federal Assembly.

In modern Balakia, the legislature consists of two chambers: the Common Council (lower house) and the Council of Elders (upper house). Both houses have the power of legislative initiative.

Foreign relations

The Balak Federation is recognized in international law as a successor state of the former Union of Shomosvan. Balakia has assumed Shomosvan's membership in the International Congress(?).

The country is a member of the Eastern Vaniuan Association, and maintains strong and positive relations with its neighbours, in particular Amaia and Komania.

Political divisions

Balakia is divided into 15 federal states, including 4 city-states.

List of states

Code	Name	Capital/Administrative center	Official languages	Area (km²)	Population
States
01	Balachik	Jazasur	Balak	TBD	9,194,768
02	Boghshuy	Baran	Balak	TBD	5,019,476
03	Chindush	Hajar	Balak	TBD	3,108,642
04	Covaya	Yehadar	Balak; Covaya creole	TBD	1,812,045
05	Hamavan	Sasosak (de jure) TBD (de facto)	Balak; Zwazwan	TBD	7,987,194
06	Kazan	Zumağdar	Balak	TBD	2,569,139
07	Lower Maram	Eşemîrke	Balak	TBD	5,108,567
08	Mechin	Meçinan	Balak	TBD	1,035,875
09	Manatak Autonomous Territory (M.A.T.)	Şarandah	Balak; Various Ziimen languages	TBD	2,757,613
10	Tarashik	Shozasan	Balak; Koman	TBD	6,294,764
11	Upper Maram	Sâkzemân	Balak	TBD	7,895,727
City-states
12	Ayalshemir	—	Balak	TBD	401,477
13	Chindensven	—	Balak	TBD	4,139,560
14	Kojara	—	Balak	TBD	2,684,675
15	Qersheven	—	Balak	TBD	7,248,604

Military

Economy

Transport

Balakia has a railway network of X kilometres. Railways are operated by X, a state-owned company, which owns and manages most of the fixed assets (tracks, signals etc.).

...

Energy and infrastructure

Science and technology

Tourism

Demographics

Ethnic groups

Balakia is the native home of three main ethnic groups: Balaks, Komans, and Zwazwanok.

Balaks

Balaks make up the biggest portion of Balakia's ethnic groups. Roughly X% of the country's population identifies as Balak.

Komans

Komans are Balakia's second-largest ethnic group, making up around X% of the population.

Zwazwanok

Urbanisation

Language

Education

Healthcare

Religion

Front courtyard of the Ayrahbar Shrine

Balaks have practised Zarasaism since the 9th Century, when Balâhak converted the Kothlen Horde's Iovist population and established the realm as a bastion of Zarasaism. The majority of Balak citizens are a member of the Zekalemist sect of Zarasaism, although a significant majority, primarily in the state of Taraşik, identify with the Shabadist sect.

Balakia hosts the Ayrahbar Shrine in the city of Şozasan, one of the holiest gharams of Zarasaism, overseen by the Hoja of Şozasan. The site enjoys protection from both the Torosh state government and the federal government.

The states of Côvayâ and Hamavân are also home to sizeable Pashaist minorities.

Culture

Heritage

Architecture

Literature

Art

Music

Theatre

Film

Cuisine

Balak cuisine varies from region to region, primarily thanks to diverse ethnic communities. International Vaniuan varieties such as X and X are also relatively widely available.

X is an significant part of Balak cuisine and X.

Sport

X.

Balakia is a member of the International Clubball Federation, having assumed the Union of Shomosvan's membership, which began in 1964, following its collapse. The Shomosvan clubball team made its debut in the 1967 World Cup, and won its first title in the 1982 World Cup hosted in Quaycain, beating Karduv 6-4 after extra time. This victory was inherited by Balakia, although this decision has been disputed by the Royal Gushli Clubball Federation due to major contributions from Gushli players, including the winning goals, and has been a source of controversy and tension.

Sports featuring archery are popular among Balaks; Leupoba in particular has seen a rise in popularity in Balakia in recent years, in part due to increased connections between Balakia and Liosol. The Balakia national leupoba team was established in 2014, X.

Symbols

National colours

The national colours of Balakia are red, gold, and white X.

Yerec

The yerec is a mythological creature in both Balak and wider Eastern Vaniuan folklore.

Balâhak's tamga

X.

Balâhak's tamga is featured on the flags of the states of Balâçik and Çinduş, as well as the flag of Gushlia.