Ovezia

Ovezia, officially styled as the Seventh Amalate of Ovezia, is a small country in southwestern Alutra on the Abayadi Sea. It shares a western border with its neighbour Watan, who is also in possession of an exclave within Ovezia proper, and a northern border with Threazari. Despite its size, the country has a strong cultural and economic presence, being one of the richest countries per capita in the region.

Etymology
There are several hypotheses for the etymology of the name "Ovezia". One of these hypotheses is that the name comes from the Old Ventrose word ovem giving the meaning of "land of sheep". This is a popular theory as neighbouring Watan is speculated to take its name from the many goats native to the region and it is speculated that the sheep, which is more common in Ovezia, served to differentiate the region from Watan.

A theory that arose during the 18th century was closely tied to the royal family of Ovezia, house Ováira. The house has a strong association with the olive tree, and so there is speculation that the name Ovezia is derived instead from the Old Ventrose word olīvam, meaning "olive". Olive trees are native to the region and are commonly cultivated in the Ladige valley. This etymology has been commonly used by various entities, including the royal family, to further political agendas. Today, it is common for people to colloquially refer to Ovezia as the Olive Kingdom.

Prehistory
Early history in Ovezia has much in common with other nations on the northern Abayadi, in particular its neighbours Watan and Threazari. The region was settled by many cultures, with the mixture of pre-Tilargi and Tilargi peoples forming the foundation of the Oveze cultural group. Due to pressure from more dominant cultures in the region there was a large degree of mixing with Haksar, Ventoran and Watanese cultures over the centuries. It is purported that the region which now constitutes modern Ovezia receives its name from the abundant olive groves that grew in the fertile valley. Whilst unlikely to have been the true origin of domestic olives, many over-land trade routes passed through the region, bringing olives and other goods deeper into Alutra from the Abayadi. The olive remains a prominent symbol of the country to this day.

Ovezia forms part of the great Abayadi migratory corridor and so there is a great deal of paleo-anthropological evidence for several species of hominids in the area. There is Neolithic evidence of semi-permanent settlement in the region with flint blades in the [STYLE] style - a common blade tool found in Neolithic sites in nearby Watan and Ventora.

The Oveze are often seen as another prominent Watanese tribe like the Cortes and Matanic cultures. References to a “people bathed in oil and wine” from the Kashar chronicles of the region are sometimes attributed to the Oveze, however, this attribution is still debated amongst historians.

Kashar-Manuak period
Much like their presence in Watan, the Kashar culture emanating from Haksarad left a minimal impact on Ovezian soil. The remnants of a small fortification were found during a 2018 archeological survey in downtown Ilena during the planning phase for a new hospital. Dating estimates for the site Indicate it was constructed in around 450 BCE. They also suggest that the fortifications continued to be used after the departure of the Kashar culture from Watan, perhaps indicating that the outpost remained an active resting point along trade routes.

Manuak settlement and interactions in the region are much more thoroughly documented, with a total of 16 colonies being founded along the Olive Coast. The fertile lands proved appealing to Manuak expansions and peaceful interactions between the local Tilagri and Oveze populations and the Manuak colonists made the colonies extremely successful. Proselytisation efforts from Manuak settlements had caused upset amongst Tilagri populations who began to move further inland, however, the Oveze were much more tolerant of the new ideas. The two most prominent colonies in the region were located in modern day Ilena and Reparada. The walls of these ancient settlements still impact the layouts of the modern cities.

Ventoran period
Ventoran influence in Ovezia was a longstanding facet of life. As a part of the Watanese basin the territories of the Oveze were considered no more than another portion of land in Watan. Ventoran presence in the region also has a long history, although Ventoran settlements never pushed as far east as Ovezia, many individuals that sought to avoid Ventoran authorities took refuge in the coastal Ovezian cities which became a hotbed for criminals in the first millennium CE.

In 1038 CE, the disunified region of Watan was incorporated into the Kingdom of Ventora as a tributary state. King wished to solidify his influence over the people to the east, who had close-knit trade relationships with Ventoran merchants from long before the establishment of the Kingdom. From the perspective of the Watanese tribes, including the Oveze, this more centralised organisation under a provincial general was seen as an annexation. In reality, the Duchy of Watan did not exist to the Ventorans who instead saw the territory as a collection of tributary, largely autonomous sattelite states under the sponsorship of Ventoran dukes. This tributary relationship was welcomed by the Oveze in particular due to the region’s history as an important trade hub along the Abayadi. Assurances of support with trade, defence and administration of the region provided massive boons to the local economy. In 1038, the Watanese region of Ovezia was created and awarded to Duke Fabens de Aurelia y Voter of Aurelia, to ease internal political tensions in Ventora.

Initial administration under dukes brought a great deal of prosperity to the region, which grew to become highly urban over the first century. The settlement of Pêlhana, modern day Reparada, became an increasingly important city, having received a great deal of investment to counteract the city’s history as a refuge for Ventoran criminals. The city was famous for having three prisons within its walls, Preziõ d’Óçi still stands today, although it is no longer in use. These prison complexes were innovative and began a spark of ingenuity that would define Ovezia and Watan in the coming centuries.

Aurelian dukes, progressively more tense over Ventoran internal politics, saw Ovezia similarly to how the Ventoran crown viewed the Watanese tributary province in general: an opportunity in increase control over neighbouring regions. This lead to frequent extortions of tribute by the Aurelian custos to fund ventures in the duchy proper. An early problem in the administration of Ovezia was the distance between its borders and Aurelia. Merchants and other emissaries had to cross through other Watanese provinces as well as two other duchies to pass between the two, or pass through foreign powers along the Kanakan Steppe. Duke Ropar Falega Tume successfully appealed the plight of the merchants making this journey to the Ventoran crown and how it complicated efficient administration of Ovezia, something that was ratified by reports from Watan’s provincial general. This was a contributing factor to the establishment of Ventora’s Canon of Obligations in 1282.

The Canon of Obligations was, however, not all encompassing at its inception and Aurelia utilised loopholes in the legislation to continue to extort Ovezian commoners. This became a common theme across Watan, especially in the growing cities where class divisions began to move to the forefront of the minds of the common people. Usually, disputes such as these over trade practices or tribute were handled with the traditional Watanese sabre duel, a tradition which was respected as honourable by Ventorans. The region had grown much more centralised under the Ventoran tributary system and now the region had its own prince, who challenged the provincial general of Watan to a duel in 1328, winning the independence of Watan.

Watanese period
After winning the country its independence, Prince Fábio Gorres Jaoa Linama was crowned the first Amal of the new Amalate of Watan. In the wake of the withdrawal of Aurelian administrators, Ovezia, and other Watanese duchies felt a deep economic shock. Rural areas across the Amalate suffered and smaller villages were oft abandoned in the 14th century. Ovezia was in a more fortunate position than other areas of Watan; lying in the Ladige Valley provided ample fertile soil to continue to support the growing urban populations. Many people migrated into the area due to its growing importance in the trade of the Amalate, both over land and sea. This rapid urbanisation, even more expansive than under Ventoran supervision, saw cities such as Pêlhana rising to prominence alongside Queluz, Telana, and Alhadas. There was also a great deal of cynicism amongst the Oveze during the reign of Amal Fábio, who was perceived as unfit to rule. Particularly, he was seen as a bully and a short tempered; challenging men, and sometimes women, to fatal duels. He did oversee some change in Watan, funding housing developments for the poor that had begun to accumulate in slums around cities, although it is unclear to historians whether this was done with true altruistic intent. Amal Fábio died before actualising any further plans he had for tackling the unjust society over which he ruled. He was succeeded by his firstborn son, Amal Remy the Great in 1349. His reforms and innovations to the Amalate achieved a vision his father had seemingly attempted to push towards. Some historians describe the reign of Remy I as the first example of a modern welfare state, and much of this blue-shade philosophy was taken up by the Oveze, who had readily accepted new ideas over the centuries.

Enlightenment
This march of progress culminated in a period in the 15th century known as the Watanese Enlightenment. The arts, philosophy and the burgeoning field of mathematics amongst other intellectual pursuits expanded greatly during this time. Ovezia saw a great deal of this innovation as a region in Watan’s populous and prosperous southeast. One celebrated Oveze philosopher, Ẽro da Cóta, wrote a now infamous rebuttal to the equally celebrated philosopher Vinícius Rosa Paulino Guimarães’ essays on the nature of rulers. Da Cóta suggested that it was no better to be feared or adored if a ruler was unwise, for unwise rulers struggle to hold power for long.

This time saw the rise of a distinct philosophical tradition amongst the Oveze, who prided themselves on their contrarianism and cynicism, particularly towards the ideas of their southern brothers in Queluz. Their healthy cynicism also pushed for more critical approaches towards sortisism, the most prevalent religion in Watan and Ventora. More nuanced views of creation beyond the limited scope imposed by the Pantheon were explored and venerated by various texts that became denounced as heretical. Where Watan turned its attention outwards, particularly in the fields of astronomy, burgeoning scientific minds in Ovezia turned their focus inwards to the human body, medicine and the lives of animals and plants. The most ground breaking of Ovezian advances during this period were made by Onoro Celênho, a prominent student of anatomy who uprooted the previously established foundations of medicine in the region which had gone unchallenged for over four centuries. His most famous work on the subject, Séte Liúri de Cor Omã (Seven Books on the Human Body), are still important texts used by Alutran medical students in the modern day. His prominence in the medical field eventually lead to his appointment as the royal physician of Amal Teófilo III.

Não Busque Rules
In 1521, Amal Teófilo IV rose to power following the death of his father Teófilo III. The transition of power saw a swift end to the Enlightenment; Teófilo IV was a strict follower of Sortisist tradition and is consistently reported as having disliked the Enlightenment. Those who partook in the advancement of understanding were considered to be infidels by the new Amal and by 1522 a new set of laws called the Do Not Seek Rules (Wataneseː As Regras Não Busque). The purpose of the legislation was to forbid any research that would undermine Sortisist teachings or that might by any means discredit the Sortisist faith. The law was punishable by public hanging and many individuals from across the Amalate were hanged by the neck for their breach of the law. These were usually philosophers, astronomers and writers, although there is some evidence to suggest the rules were used as a liberal penal code particularly in Ovezia, which had begun to forge a new identity within the Amalate.

Onoro Celênho, who had served as Teófilo IV's father's physician, was one of the first to be hanged under the rules. The relationship between the physician and the Amal was frequently noted as complex by courtiers and it is believed that several factors, including Celênho's inability to prevent the death of Teófilo III contributed to his eventual sentencing at the hands of Teófilo IV.

Despite the oppressive regime now in place over the Amalate, and the growing scientific stagnation of the country, many thinkers chose to remain within Watan. Several protests erupted accross the country, particularly in the urban centres of Ovezia. The swift and ruthless reactions of the Watanese crown to these movements helped to cement the sense of "otherness" that had taken hold in Ovezia during the Enlightenment. While the Watanese philosophers critiqued the irony of Teófilo IV using Paulino's Enlightenment theories of rulership, Oveze minds began to sign their illegally published works under the penname of da Cóta, a subtle reference to the instability brought about by unwise rulers.

Morre Trials
Sudden and unexplained illness took Amal Teófilo IV in 1546, and in his place rose Amalha Izabel I Morre of the Barroso. The first Amalha of Watan was not believed to be a pleasant woman, even before her ascension to the Watanese throne. Historians have found evidence that despite her piety she had engaged in adulterous behaviour and possibly showed symptoms of schizophrenia. Her Sortisist belief was also strong and she had been a close follower of the Não Busque Rules, which she continued to enforce with a similar strength and liberal attitude as Teófilo IV. Izabel I became the first monarch in Watanese history to claim divine descent as a messenger of the lord. She used this mandate to enforce a reign of terror, sentencing just under 5,000 citizens to death in trials she oversaw herself during the first two years of her reign alone. She also expanded upon the rules to expulse non-Sortisists from the country on pain of death. The advent of this extension would lead to a period of history called the Morre Trials.

Entrevistadors were hired by by the Sortisist Pantheon to locate and bring non-Sortisists to judgement for their infidelity. These mercenaries or preists-for-hire were bought by the Watanese government from as far afield as Salia, although many came from Watan itself or neighbouring Ventora. Whilst the majority of those brought before the Pantheon and crown for judgement were hanged or beheaded for their heresy, there are some records that show that non-Sortisists were spared in specific cases. Ovezia suffered greatly under the reign of Izabel I. The region had been one of the most supportive of Enlightenment ideas and was the home of many immigrants and native non-Sortisists. Tensions in the duchy's capital of Pêlhana reached a critical point in 1550 when the duke of Ovezia, Duçe Vitúr II Ovária, expulsed all entrevistadors from the city for the public execution of 17 Tilargi orphans without trial. This action was said to have enraged Izabel I who demanded Vitúr II's head for his "treasonous heresy".

Dúçe Vitúr II and his wife were executed in the winter of 1551. The event is considered to be the point of no return for Ovezian separatism in Watan. The youngest son of the Dúçe was spared on counsel from the government to to maintian the stability of the realm, but evidence seems to suggest that Izabel I had intentions of executing all of Vitúr II's infant children. This slight against Ovezian nobility in the face of protecting the ethnic minorities of the region became central to the Ovezian identity.

Independence
Izabel I’s reign brought about even deeper unrest in the Oveze region and her extension of the Não Busque Rules saw a further thousand Oveze philosophers and scientists executed or exiled from Watan. The fierce resistance to the crown in a region very near the capital was distressing for Izabel I and as such many of the government-sponsored Entrevistadors were deployed to quell protests. With the outbreak of the Caminhante wars, civil unrest in the region boiled over and Watan was faced with a war on two fronts, one of the fronts being kilometres from Queluz. Whilst the war in Cecia was a major defeat for the Watanese, the situation in Ovezia, although a stalemate, was much more favourable for the crown. At the end of the war, Emila Dumician the countess of [MAJOR CITY] led the peace negotiations. Her father, who was count before her, was a prominent advocate of Enlightenment ideals and had been executed by Queen Izabel I. As part of the peace deal, Countess Emila negotiated the full independence of all the Oveze regions apart from her own, which was at the time the most prosperous county in Ovezia. Despite this, the terms of this peace were accepted as the countess wanted to see as many of those that followed her spared from the blade of Izabel I. The abandonment of her direct subjects to the wrath of the entrevistadors was a point of deep shame for countess Emila and she would write many letters to confidants about this. For her efforts in the war and her sacrifice in peace negotiations, Emila was elected as the queen of the newly independent Kingdom of Ovezia.

Instability and failure by the Watanese government to manage the newly acquired territory of Cecia, lead to the Caminhante wars breaking in 1729. In Ovezia to the south, tensions had not eased and the region had continued to become more outspoken against the Watanese government and particularly the Caminhante wars. There was a strong sentiment in Ovezia that the war was barbaric and that the Jarader populations should be allowed to practice their religion in peace. The conflict saw around three quarters of the Watanese army deployed in the mountainous northern province which left the urban core exposed to the nearby Ovezian forces.

On the 19th July 1730, Dúçesa Emila I Ováira d'Ovêzia, issue of Vitúr II, declared herself Ãla of the Amalate of Ovezia, and an independence war broke with Watan. Ovezian forces made a decisive push through the urban heartlands of Watan towards the capital, Queluz, in order to force Watan's capitulation. The proximity of the new Ovezian front, forced the hand of Frederico XI who split his forces in Cecia in order to manage the war on two fronts. This proved an effective strategy and advances through the urban environment were challenging for both sides. By September, a stalemate had been reached along the borders that had defined the duchy during peacetime.

The Ovezian resistance to the Morre Trials had left their armed forced much more modernised than the Watanese forces, who despite their numbers were still unable to overcome the Ovezian insurrection. The Ovezian military made use of many machines of war, in particular were Mázena mánha, which were a modified type of counter-weight trebuchet which launched burning or explosive projectiles. These weapons proved effective for long-range use in the urban environs where enemy encampments were difficult to visualise. These war machines were eventually adopted by the Watanese for use along the Cecian front.

Frederico XI of Watan, who was terminally ill, faced an unwinnable war split between two fronts and demanded that his troops surrender in Cecia. The resulting negotiations prompted Ãla Emila I to begin her own negotiations. Using the damage brought about by the Morre Trials to her own family as leverage she was able to negotiate independence for all Oveze majority regions of Watan, slightly expanding the borders from the old duchy of Ovezia. In return, Emila I ceded her capital and ancestral home of Pêlhana to the Watanese, who would later rename it Reparada. With the exchanging of hands, many citizens from Pêlhana left to the new capital of the Amalate of Ovezia, Ilena. On the 13th April 1731, Emila I was crowned as the first Ãla of Ovezia. Her coronation was held as a sombre event as the independence of Ovezia had been won at great cost and she mourned for the loss of her ancestral home. The crown fashioned for Emila I was called the Curóna Nígra, Oveze for Black Crown, and it was fashioned with a jet black velvet and lined with black pearls. She would continue to wear black throughout her reign as a symbol of her mourning.

Ovezian Restoration
The first act of Emila I was to forbid the employment of entrevistadors and remove all remnants of the Não Busque Rules from the legislation enforced within Ovezia. While similar repeals took place in Watan, the history of Ovezia as a state that encouraged free-thinkers even in the face of oppression, encouraged a greater influx of immigrants back into Ovezia than Watan. The freedom of religion allowed many families to revoke false conversions that had been in place for generations. Several religious buildings began construction in the urban centres of Ovezia.

The secret schools which had operated from the shadows during the Morres Trials were now free to practice openly and the crown, which had been a patron of many of these societies funded the construction of several new Universities. The following period of rejuvination in the academic minds of Ovezia came to be known as the Ovezian Restoration.

The Uníversidaze da Fiuzovía in Ilena produced several writers, historians, philosophers and theologians. Early in the university's history, Pao d'Urẽça, a professor of theology wrote a scathing essay against the Sortisist faith. d'Urẽça argued within Áo Suvít di Sórdi that the Pantheon had perverted the nature of Aglaia by preventing the growth of human knowledge and directly accused the Patriarchy in Ventora of corruption by enabling the Morre Trials to continue for hundreds of years.

Watan and Ovezia had historically been famous for their knowledge in the field of optics. Within the Restoration Ovezia continued this trend and continued to look inwards. Many amateur scientists began to document microbial life that they had found using the newly invented microscope. The study of plants and animals from across the Abayadi and beyond also became a field of great advancement in Ovezia. In 1758, an Ovezian botanist named Valira Silhã published di Famíli dè Vida, a comprehensive study of over 15,000 species of plants, animals and fungi from around Ovezia, Watan, Threazari and the Abayadi. Whilst a compendium of species being classified and group together was not unprecedented in the literature, Silhã had applied a systematic approach to naming the species, giving them two namesː one for the species and another for the genus, which would be a common "surname" for all species within that family. The scientific approach taken by the text to naming convention caught on quickly as the book spread around the Abayadi through growing ovezian trade networks.

There was a great deal of scoietal upheaval within the Restoration. As the amalate established itself as a sovereign state, its society stratified. A poor peasant class made up a large portion of the population and dominated the demographics of the rural areas. The cities began to host increasing numbers of merchants and intelligentsia who over the course of the Restoration became increasingly wealthy, in some cases more so than the nobility of the country who made up another strata of society.

Century of Discontent
By the 19th century, this class division had grown untenable. In December 1827 massive protests erupted across the country. There had been similar demonstrations taking place in the rural communities of the Amalate for the past decade, however, the December protests had a much more pronounced presence in urban centres, with protests in Ilena turning to violent rioting by January.

On the 2nd January 1828, the royal palace and the chamber of lords were stormed by angry mobs. Amala Aorura I and her family were taken captive and held prisoner by prominent members of the Inteligentsia faction within the Chamber of Commons. Several other members of the aristocracy were also taken prisoner. On the 3rd January, a public notice was placed on both the palace and the Chamber of Lords denoting that the people within were traitors against the state and must answer for their crimes under the Republic of Ovezia. Onoro Manho, the leader of the Intelligentsia was elected as the new Premáiro di Pari of the First Republic of Ovezia.

First and Second Republics
The First and Second Republic both strived for democratic ideals in the wake of the failures that were attributed to the absolute monarchy. In actuality, it is unclear how successful they were in creating a modern and fair democracy.

The First republic was officially established with a series of laws enacted within the first week after the capture of the royal family. Manho, through control of the Chamber of Lords and the Chamber of Commons was able to force through legislature to create a third chamberː the Chamber of Scholars. This chamber served to fill the roles of the absolute monarch, who was stripped of all titles. Not all power was concentrated in the Chamber of Scholars, however, as the Chamber of Lords and the Chamber of Commons were allowed to maintain their ability to produce legislation much in the same way as when there was an monarch.

The Chamber of Scholars was filled by experts in their respective fields from the many higher education institutions that existed around the country. They were elected to positions based on their academic prowess. The chamber gave the republic a distinctly technocratic modus operandi. Initially, this oligarchic system proved a positive influence for the country. Wealth inequality began to decrease, public infrastructure projects expanded alongside the economy, and innovations in public welfare led to improved standards of living for the average citizen.

The period also saw the expansion of the rights to vote for members of the commons to "all peoples of marriageable age who are gifted with ability to read", which included women and slaves. These voting reformed facilittated the expansion of the power of the commons as the representative branch of the Republic. There were still sentiments of unease towards the Republic, particularly the exclusivity of the Chamber of Scholars. Pressure from the other chambers and the public eventually lead to the repeal of the Chamber of Scholars and the reformation of the Chamber of Commons into the Chamber of Peers. Each constituency elected a representative from a set of candidates chosen for their contributions to Ovezian society to this new chamber. To propagandise this change as an overhaul of the political system to the people, it was decided that the country would take on the mantle of the Second Republic of Ovezia upon election of the next Premier. On the 13th April 1831 the first general election to the Chamber of Peers was held, and once again the Intelligentsia maintained their hold, reinstating Onoro Manho as the Premier. The subsequent Second Republic was therefore a direct continuation fo the first in all but name.

The transition to meritocracy only slightly mollified the still turbulent Ovezian public mood. A series of political scandals within the Intelligentsia faction undermined the legitimacy of the government and eroded a great deal of public support. The lords, who remained landed and in power within their Chamber, were able to provide a sense of stability to the people as their distrust of the Premier deepened. This posed a threat to the Chamber of Peers which feared an insurrection by the Chamber of Lords in order to seize power in the country. To curb this issue, a bill was created within the Chamber of Peers that aimed to allow the destruction of titles, and therefore seats within the Chamber of Lords, in order to reduce the political clout of the aristocracy within the Second Republic.

This bill proved to be the tipping point for tensions between the aristocracy and the Intelligentsia. Civil war broke across the country in 1833 and armed conflicts between aristocratic and republican forces swept through the country side. The war was swift and Premier Manho was executed by Fredheríc Dãlho I, Count of Urẽça for treason against the Crown, aristocracy and people of Ovezia.

Second Amalate
Amala Aorura I was freed from her imprisonment along with her family and she was restored as the absolute monarch of the Second Amalate of Ovezia. Aorura I had become increasingly bitter whilst subjected to the whims of the Intelligentsia and so her first action was to dissolve the Chamber of Peers. As it was considered by law to be equivalent to the Chamber of Commons, even within the constitutional bindings of the First and Second Republic, she was within her royal prerogative to do so.

With the peers dismissed from government, Aorura I was now able to act more freely, and without the support of a second chamber, the Chamber of Lords was also simultaneously rendered powerless to counter actions of the Crown. Aorura I was careful to continue to enforce the laws created by the republicans that benefitted her people, and she appointed ministers directly to positions that oversaw some of these government projects. This privy council was the only functional remnant of the Chamber of Peers still in operation during the Second Amalate. Many of the individuals appointed by Aorura I had served in the same government positions under Premier Manho.

The decisions taken by Aorura I served to alienate the aristocracy, who had provided her with the opportunity to return to power. As the aristocracy had control over the delivery of the Amala's justice through the court system, they began to halt proceedings and topple the efficacy of the Crown's ability to govern. The Chamber also began to formulate and enact its own legislation through the court system, effectively taking control of the country from underneath the Amala. This standoff between the aristocracy and the Crown culminated in a set of demands placed before Aorura I in 1837. These included the reopening of the Chamber of Peers, which was to be stripped of its position as the senior chamber and powers transferred to the Chamber of Lords. Faced with a coup if the demands were refused, Aorura I was forced to accept the demands by royal decree on the 28th June 1837.

Third Republic
With the reopening of the Chamber of Peers and the Chamber of Lords placed as the major partner of the two power now lay firmly in the hands of the aristocracy. This proved to be a fatal miscalculation for Aorura I, who was subsequently sentenced to execution without trial by decree of the Chambers, and was placed under house arrest in November 1837. The remainder of House Ováira fled the country to Watan and Ventora to seek refuge at family estates held abroad. Aorura I was publicly beheaded outside the palace on 12th march 1838.

The Chamber of Lords declared itself the head of the Third Republic of Ovezia and they internally elected one member of the chamber to serve as the Premier. This oligarchic republic sought to rectify the status quo for the aristocracy and many laws were instituted that vested long term power and wealth within the upper echelons of society. The projects continued by Aorura I from the First and Second Republics were halted in all cases where the aristocracy did not stand to directly benefit. This was justified to the Chamber of Peers as a need to reduce spending after a period of extreme civil unrest.

The republic had sour relations with both Ventora and Watan for the execution of Amala Aorura I and struggled to find its footing on the international stage. Trade networks established during the Restoration began to break down and the country was unable to recover from the economic hardship brought about by the previous decade of civil unrest. This only worsened the class divides that had triggered the 1827 protests, and in 1841 a subsequent round of violent rioting broke in Ilena which politically crippled the country. In this period of opportunity, the brother of Aorura I, Emilo Ováira, sought an audience with members of the Chamber of Peers in 1842, where he appealed for aid in restoring the Ováira Amalate. The secret meetings resulted in the drafting of two pieces of legislation that would restore the monarchy while also binding its power and assuring the transfer of powers from the Crown to the Chamber of Peers.

In 1844, the Chamber of Peers published these bills and voted unanimously in their favour. This event coincided with the assassinations of several prominent members of the Chamber of Lords, including Premier Cõte Fredheríc Dãlho II. This allowed for Emilo Ováira to seize power of the country without inciting a further civil war.

Third Amalate
Emilo Ováira I was crowned Amao of the Third Amalate of Ovezia on the 27th September 1844. This reign marked the first time in Ovezian history where a monarch could not propose their own legislation. Instead the power of the Chamber of Peers was now greatly increased. It had sole dominion over the creation of bills and the Premier had the ability to act on behalf of the sovereign to create regulations, although the sovereign also retained the rights to do this independently. The Sovereign also was required to sign all bills into law and had the prerogative to refuse to do so and even prevent the peers from discussing the law any further. The aristocracy were punished harshly but also fairly according to the established laws of the state. The role of the Chamber of Lords in the management of the Amalate's legal system was reduced in the name of fair attribution of the Amao's justice. Instead of the requirement for Lord Justices to be selected from the Chamber of Lords, there were new seats created for individuals to be appointed as Lord Justices to take a seat within the Chamber of Lords. These appointments were considered to be lordships and so only the monarch could award them. This power was constrained by the Chamber of Peers, or more specifically the government, which was required to approve the appointment of any new lords to the Chamber. The Chamber of Lords was able to provide amendments to legislation from the Chamber of Peers, before it was viewed by the monarch, although if the peers rejected these amendments twice, the Chamber of Lords would be unable to comment further on the bill. The system showed promise and the Amalate began to recover. The death of Emilo I in 1855 lead to a period of regency for his eldest male heir Emilo II, who was only 15 years old and thus unable to take the crown himself. The regency caused the constitutional system to become unstable. Emilo II's uncle, Varã Ãtónho du Mar, was appointed as regent. Sources say that du Mar immediately began manipulating the young Amao and slowly shifting the balance of power in his favour. The Chamber of Peers was increasingly wary of the influence that this aristocrat was beginning to have over the Crown and began making motions to remove him from a position of influence.

As a prominent general in the armed forces of Ovezia, the situation surrounding du Mar was delicate. The Chamber of Peers worried that he might be able to rally the military to his cause and if he felt challenged. The deepening tensions between the factions at court and in government came to a head when several members of the peers were overheard discussing the corruption of du Mar by some palace guards. The exact nature of the conversation is not known to historians, however, du Mar would present it in his memoires as a plot to usurp the natural order of the monarchy and found a republic. This claim provided du Mar with the justification he needed to cause a military insurrection. On the 13th October 1856, he stormed the Chambers of Lords and Peers with a coalition of military leaders. The palace was also surrounded and the young Amao placed under house arrest.

Fourth Republic and Amalate
The coalition of military leaders, including du Mar, declared in a manifesto to the people that the previous governments had failed to provide stability. They also condemned the Chamber of Peers for seeking to usurp the Amao and establish a permanent republic through the Amao's execution. While obvious fabrications, they were needed to help provide legitimacy to the regime in the eyes of the populous. The military then established a council in place of the government to rule the country until the Amao came of age, they declared this institution the Chamber of Might. They also dissolved the constitution and other chambers rendering the Chamber of Might as the unicameral legislature of the Fourth Republic of Ovezia.

Whilst maintaining pretences that the Republic was to be a transient period to ensure the stability of the succession, the leaders of the junta exchanged letters discussing future plans for the development of a permanent republic. The levels of corruption within the republic grew increasingly worse and many in the mercantile class of society began to greatly benefit, especially those who were able to fund the military regime. Between 1858 and 1861 the country became rapidly militarised, with a great deal of industry being dedicated to the growing Ovezian military-industrial complex. The importation demands that these growing industries had on the economy pushed the government to turn to expansionist endeavours. Plans were drawn up to launch invasions of the recently declared Republic of Watan who the junta perceived to be in a state of weakness having just merged from a civil war. The Ovezian navy also tripled in size during this period of military investment and the power projection of the republic in the Abayadi increased significantly.

The bellicose approach of the Republic was concerning to du Mar who thought the junta was acting in an uncoordinated manner. He feared without a single individual to rally behind, the Republic would lose focus and undermine itself. He spent much of his political career garnering fiercely loyal support from within the Chamber of Might. In 1863, having gained absolute support within the Republic du Mar declared himself Premier for life, and took the title Premier Amao and organised a coronation. The Republic began to style itself as the Fourth Amalate of Ovezia.

Premier Amao Ãtónho I died before he could realise his invasion plans of Watan and in 1864 the dictatorship collapsed into infighting between the military leaders of the Chamber of Might. This infighting provided Amao Emilo II, who had remained a prisoner in Ovezia since the rise of the Fourth Republic, with an opportunity to reclaim his crown. With the support of his two older sisters who had been living in exile in Ventora, the various splintered military groups were able to be brought to heel and a Fifth Amalate was once again established under house Ováira.

Fifth Amalate
Despite having been castrated at the hands of the Fourth Amalate, Emilo II's coronation took place on the 17th August 1867. His rule marked the creation of the Fifth Amalate of Ovezia, which restored the constitutional constrictions of the Third Amalate. The constant upheaval in the country had made those on all levels of society weary and severely impoverished compared to during the Restoration. During his imprisonment, Emilo II had been educated by his uncle on a great many topics. A particular favourite philosopher was the early Ovezian thinker Ẽro da Cóta, which is said to have inspired the ethos of Emilo II's reign.

The constitutions of the Third Amalate were restored, alongside the Chambers of Peers and Lords who had their obligations and powers modified once more. The peers was expanded as an increasingly democratic institution, the process by which candidates were nominated to run for election in constituencies were expanded, now an individual simply needed to prove their contribution to society through the support of the public, this was achieved through a letter of nomination signed by 500 citizens. This marked a significant shift in the demographics of the peers which became much more accessible to people of the lower classes of Ovezian society. The 1867 election produced the first chamber of peers to not be dominated by the Intelligentsia in nearly 150 years. The first Premier that the Chamber selected was Marc du Voc, who was an idealist. Under his premiership, a series of societal reforms were enacted that finally abolished slavery in Ovezia, secured the rights of women in the workplace and in government and created modern social welfare programs including government housing, foodbanks and state healthcare.

The newly reinstated Chamber of Lords also underwent changes. The Intelligentsia were awarded with lordships within the chamber as various lordship titles were granted to certain positions within the higher education institutions across the country. This was done so that the lords could be better positioned to comment upon and amend bills brought before them by the peers.

Emilo II also took measures to ensure his succession. Due to his castration under his uncle's military regime he was unable to sire children of his own, his older sisters, however, did have children. Amalas had been common within the Ováira dynasty and so it was decided that his sisters and their children were to be reinstated as members of house Ováira, and take on the stylings of the royal house.

After a fire devastated the royal palace in 1974, Emilo II became gravely ill. He suffered from a debilitating bronchitis from smoke inhalation and deep melancholy following the loss of his sister Emila in the blaze. In his failing health, the Amao appointed special powers to the Premier, Oríu Ferúr, to act entirely in his stead. This lead to the Chamber of Peers making a series of changes to the constitution that allowed the Premier to retain the powers of the monarch in perpetuity, including after a succession. The governments continued to operate under the mantle of the Fifth Amalate, although the monarchy had now been replaced by a parliamentary republic once more.

Fifth Republic
It wasn't until the death of Emilo II in 1895 that the Premier assumed their position as the head of state and government of the new Fifth Republic of Ovezia. The monarchy was allowed to continue to exist, and the royal family were awarded with seats within the Chamber of Lords. The heir to the throne was also permitted a coronation by the state as Vitúr II of Ovezia, despite remaining powerless beyond his sway in the Chamber of Lords. These actions caused a split in the operation of the republic. The Chamber of Peers continued to push for idealist interpretations of democracy and set about creating a system of demarchy within the republic. The system of random lottery for the positions of cabinet including the Premier from amongst the Chamber of Peers was proposed as a method to reduce factionalism and corruption within the republic. For the average citizen, this did not make much of a change as they still voted for their representatives within the Chamber of Peers as before under the monarchy.

The Chamber of Lords, however, began to stray wildly from a democratic system. House Ováira held the majority of influence after the appointment of the royal family to the chamber, and the king held a position of prestige over all the lords, who were still bound to be loyal to him although this was no longer a matter of legality, just a mere formality. The lords quickly became an oligarchic system of power with the various aristocratic houses vying for power amongst each other, alongside the appointed lords such as the Intelligentsia and the High justices.

Dayashafirate and Sixth Republic
In 1900, Husrak h’Assar Ha-Qayyet became the Dayashafir of a Restored Dayashafirate, positioning himself as the head of a new order over all Jaraders. Recognising the old tributary systems of the previous Dayashafirates as unfeasible in the modern world, his Dayashafirate functioned as more of an international military and political organisation. Many nations around the Abayadi have a significant Jarader population and countries such as Agarad, Esharat, Ventora and Watan all joined under Haksarad authority. The Ovezian government took a stance of fierce opposition to the organisation, mostly due to a national sentiment against religiously motivated rule provoked by the Não Busque Rules. This defiance in the face of overwhelming odds was initially respected by h'Assar, having himself risen to greatness from a humble position. Additionally, the Republic posed no threat to the Dayashafirate and so it was largely overlooked in favour of strengthening the bonds between the nations that conformed under Haksarad.

The expansion of the Dayashafirate was not limited to expelling Alutran influences from the member states, but also from all of the Abayadi. In May 1900, Caio Demétrio Andrade, the First Consul of Watan appealed to the Jarader alliance for aid in the reconquest of Porto Azul. Officially joining the Dayashafirate in June of that year Watan received military support from Haksarad in a swift strike against Porto Azul. This was a devastating blow against Salia and Alutran traders on the Abayadi. The Fifth Republic had benefited greatly from the presence of Alutran traders after the coffee wars and so provided refuge for many of those displaced by the conflict. The situation would develop into a complex naval campaign in the Covales alongside the campaign in Esharat.

The number of Alutran refugees that poured into Ovezia following the annexation of the Covales by Watan and Haksarad in August 1900 caused internal tensions to become increasingly strained. The Sailhísta Party, whihc had recently risen to prominence in the state due to ethnic tensions between the native Oveze and Tilarg populations and the East Alutran immigrants. the influx of refugees bolstered the claims of the party and allowed them to build a vocal powerbase, particularly amongst the common class. The Sailhísta Party saw the Dayashafirate as an opportunity for Ovezian expansion and imperialism, something the nation had been unable to achieve independently.

The position of Ovezia as an Alutran sympathiser was also cemented in the Dayashafir's mind, although the Eshar War was a more pressing issue. This would come to an end in January 1902 when h'Assar was proclaimed the co-ruler and Lord Protector of Esharat. Ovezia was a thorn in the Dayashafirate's side that would continue to bleed and compromise the alliance if it was not brought into the fold. The Sailhísta Party presented h'Assar with an opportunity to install a government loyal to him. This was important to h'Assar who was aware that Ovezian pride would not allow the country to comfortably tolerate foreign rule and the state would continue to be problematic, albeit as a rebellious region than an autonomous entity.

In May 1902, the Dayashafirate declared war upon Ovezia under the justification of uniting all Jaraders.

[HELP I CANNOT WRITE WARFARE SMILEYFACE] The campaign came to a close in September 1902 with the capture of the Chambers of Governance by Haksar forces. Snap elections were called to install a new government, whilst still under occupation. The Sailhísta Party was elected to office in the Chamber of Peers with 100% of vote. There was no effort made by h'Assar or his forces to claim this election was free or fair, it was simply a formality to allow the new government to claim legitimacy. The Sailhísta Party promptly joined the Dayashafirate under the name of the Sixth Republic of the Jarader Peoples of Ovezia.

Sixth Amalate
The Republican system was deeply unstable, especially under the complete control of the Sailhísta Party. Extreme anti-Alutran policies came into force within weeks, including the use of labour camps for East Alutran citizens and refugees that could not be deported back to their countries of origin. The government also became much more religious and mandated a renewed set of laws based on the Não Busque Rules and Morre Trials. This gave the government the ability to round up non-Jarader citizens and subject them to deportations or relocation to labour camps.

The growing authority of Mardĩ di Córi, the Premier of the Sixth Republic, saw a shift in the political structures by which he attained his authority. Primarily his government produced a series of laws that enabled emergency powers to be permanently enshrined in the Premier. The Chambers still functioned nominally in a democratic way and so these changes were gradual over the course two years and were justified by growing internal and external tensions that posed security risks to the state. These growing expansions to the power of the Premier culminated in the Throne of Ovezia being usurped by di Córi on the 14th August 1904.

The nobles of house Ováira remained in their seats within the Chamber of Lords and their titles were not revoked. Instead the roles of Premier and Amao were unified under di Córi who assumed absolute authority over a newly formed Sixth Amalate of Ovezia.

Modern period
In the First World War, Ovezia aimed to stay neutral on the world stage. It was largely able to do this by co-operating and improving relations with Watan, another neutral party in the war. The population of the country was quite small and largely under militarised, having made efforts in the 19th century to reduce militarisation after the massacres by incumbent powers during the Thirteen Revolutions.

The Second World War threatened to involve Ovezia through aiding efforts to prevent Velorenkan interference in the politics on the Abayadi Sea. However, severe pressure from the Merchant and Artisan commissions (largely due to the rise of fascism in Watan prior to the war) disrupted efforts to arm the country and direct arms towards the war effort. This resulted in the state having to take an officially neutral stance, although the Prime Minister of the country did manage to occasionally provide support to alliance powers, through “accidentally not detaining vessels that entered Oveze waters” and state sponsored smuggling of supplies across the border into Watan.

In modern times the Kingdom has been working to improve the living standards of nations across the Abayadi, using its strong, post-industrial economy. It also faces internal unrest as the already largely progressive society has begun to reassess the strict caste system.

Geography
Ovezia is a small country with a land territory spanning 9,471km² in West Alutra, along the northern coast of the Abayadi sea. The country is split in two by the Muínê mountains and bordered to the west by the Cuellón range of the Tilarg mountains and to the northeast by the [NORTH MOUNTAINS]. Most of the population live within the two valleys that straddle the Muínê. The Ladige valley to the west is extremely fertile due to volcanic ash deposited in the basin, and the regular flooding of the !Po. The majority of the country's olive groves and vineyards are situated within the Ladige valley. The eastern Ivé valley, carved by the passage of the Ivé river is the cultural and economic heartland of Ovezia. The Ivé is navigable to the Ovezian lakes and beyond into Threazari. The capital city of Ovezia, Ilena, sits at the mouth to the Ivé. Rising along the coast within the Ivé valley are the twin peaks of Mõte Nix and Mõte Róio. To the far north lies the Ruz valley, which stretches past the border into Threazari.

Located on the boundary of the subducted Abayadi plate, earthquakes are common in Ovezia and its neighbour Watan. The most violent earthquake recorded by Ovezian equipment was the 1989 quake, which reached a magnitude of 8.0 in Ovezia, radiating from its epicentre located south of Selaga, Watan.

Climate
Owing to its small size, the climate of Ovezia is largely uniform across its territories. The country experiences a temperate climate with hot summers and no dry season, although higher altitudes in the mountains may experience dryness during the winter months. This humid subtropical climate provides an annual precipitation between 450mm and 900mm and in the mountains snow is not uncommon throughout the winter months.

Biodiversity
Ovezia has a high level of faunal biodiversity for its size and climate homogeneity, with over 12,000 species of fauna recorded within its borders. As one of the few lower lying regions that pass between the Ventoran subcontinent and the rest of Alutra, many animals pass through the country in migrations. As such, species found within Ovezia are highly representative of both Ventrose and Kanakan fauna. Of these fauna, Ovezia has approximately 500 endemic species which include the [SNAKE], [DEER], [WOLF], [WALL LIZARD] and [TURTLE].

Ovezian flora comprise around 3,000 species of vascular plant and of these, 987 are endemic to Ovezia. The national tree of the country is the olive tree, famously associated with the Ovezian royal family and speculated to be the origin of the nation's name. The national animal of Ovezia is the [ANIMAL], due to [REASON].

Politics
The Seventh Amalate of Ovezia is a unitary, bicameral, parliamentary democracy under a semi-oligarchic, electoral, constitutional monarchy. The head of state is the Monarch of Ovezia who takes the title of Amao or Amala. Whilst power is nominally vested in the Monarch, it is the head of government, the Premier of Ovezia, who performs the majority of functions in the state. They serve for 5-year terms based on the support of both chambers of government and at the pleasure of the Monarch. The state has a semi-codified constitution, which is formed from several excerpts taken from constitutions that were written during the Century of discontent. There are three primary branches of government: the Crown, the Peers and the Lords. The judiciary is not legally considered as distinct branch of government.

Executive
The executive branch of government is often referred to as the Crown. Under the crown serves both the head of state in the Monarch, and the head of government in the Premier.

The Monarch of Ovezia is a hereditary title under a system of elective succession known as Ovezian succession. The Heir Elected is chosen through an election held in the Chamber of Lords from amongst the sovereign's issue. These elections can be held at any point during a Monarch's reign at the sovereign's request without limit. The issue who receives the vote of the sovereign is known as the Heir Selected, and the eldest issue of the sovereign is known as the Heir Apparent. It is customary that the Heir Elected be either the Heir Selected or the Heir Apparent. Before any heir may ascend the throne, a further election of confirmation must be carried out by the Chamber of Lords. In many respects, the Chamber of Lords holds the Monarch accountable and heirs are often pressured by other landed nobles to ensure their claims are supported. When an heir is under the age of 21 at the time of their ascension to the throne, a Lord Regent must be appointed by election from the Chamber of Lords to oversee the function of monarch until the true Monarch comes of age.

Unlike in many constitutional monarchies in Alutra, the Ovezian Monarch retains many reserved powers. They are responsible of the creation of newly elected governments, the dissolution of the Chamber of Peers and the use of the armed forces alongside possessing an absolute veto on all potential laws brought before them for signature. Declarations of war are the sole prerogative of the Monarch. The current Monarch is Amala Aorura II, who was crowned on 13th June 2013, becoming the Xth Monarch of the Seventh Amalate.

Many of the powers that were historically vested in the Monarch now belong to the cabinet, or government. These are a group of ministers lead by the Premier who directly run the country, as such the Premier rules in the place and at the pleasure of the monarch on most affairs of state. The governments oversees ministries that serve to provide state provision for various sectors, primarily through the production of regulations and the enforcement of legislation.

Legislature
The Legislature of Ovezia, known as the Chambers of Parliament, is a imperfect bicameral parliamentary system. The lower house, the Chamber of Peers, holds the true legislative function of the state, whereas the upper house, the Chamber of Lords, is unable to produce legislation. The Prime Minister, officially the First of the Peers (Premáiro/Premáira di Pari), is a member of the Chamber of Peers and is appointed to their position, along with their government at the sole discretion of the Monarch. They alongside their government must, however, be supported by votes of confidence from both Chambers of Parliament. There are 58 constituencies within Ovezia, each holding a seat within the Chamber of Lords and the Chamber of Peers. There are a further four seats within the chamber of Peers to represent Ovezian citizens that live outside of Ovezian territory, an unusual feature of the Ovezian parliament. The Chamber of Lords has an additional 25 seats for the Ovezian Dukes alongside a further 56 seats which are given to previous Prime Ministers, Lord Justices, the Chancellors of Universities and other Landless Lords (Senhuri sim Tera). The positions within the Chamber of Lords are held for life, whereas the seats within the Chamber of Peers are elected to serve 5-year terms.

Both Chambers of Parliament meet within the Palaço d'Emila, which also serves as the offices of the Crown and as the official residence of the Monarch and their family. It is the oldest palatial building in Alutra to continually serve as residence for a Monarchy. To serve as a Member of the Peers (MP) for a constituency an individual must have held Ovezian citizen ship for a period of 5 years and be over the age of 21. Candidates are then elected using a system of instant run-off voting, where constituents rank the candidates in order of preference and the first candidate to achieve a majority of the votes (through the process of eliminating the candidate with the fewest votes and redistributing their votes amongst the remaining candidates) a single winner is selected. This slightly more flexible voting system, when compared to first-past-the-post systems, has allowed for the third position political parties in Ovezia to be an active force in the politics of the country. Ovezia's main five political parties are the Civic League, the Lijá Ázulista, Padra Ovêzìa, Tilargi Voices and the Golden Palm Party.

Judiciary
Ovezia has no separation of the judiciary from the other branches of government. The powers Ovezian political system are subsequently viewed as some of the least separated in the world. In efforts to combat corruption that may develop from the fusion of powers, multiple checks and balances are in place to ensure the bodies which are separate may hold the others accountable. The judiciary is still considered an office of the Crown, and as the justice it provides is the Monarch's justice, the Monarch of Ovezia is it's head. The Monarch, however, is not permitted to exercise any powers in dispensing judicial rulings. The judiciary is overseen by five Lord Justices, who may only be appointed by the Monarch and are subsequently awarded with their position in the judiciary and within the Chamber of Lords for life. The appointment of individual to the Chamber of Lords must be approved by the Chamber of Peers in a vote of confidence in the Monarch's decision.

The constitution of the Third Amalate is still used to define the court system and is ratified through the Courts of the Crown Act 1985. The judiciary is thus defined as a hierarchy of courts, the highest being the five-member Crown Court. The Crown Court appoints the judges of the lower courts. The courts immediately beneath the Crown Court are the four Courts of Appeal, each of which specialises in one domain of appeals: civil appeals, criminal appeals, employment law appeals and familial appeals. Below the courts of appeal are the Ducal Courts which serve as the first court of appeal for cases in each of the 25 Duchies of Ovezia. The lowest tier of the courts are the courts of first instance which handle the proceedings of administrative, civil, criminal, customs, juvenile, and employment law cases.

Demographics
As of mid 2022, Ovezia was estimated to have 1,733,193 inhabitants. The subsequent population density of 183/km2 makes Ovezia one of the most densely populated countries in Alutra, although still less densely populated than its western neighbour, Watan. The population is mostly distributed between the the Ladige and Ivé valleys, with the mountains creating three distinct bands of lower population density through Ovezia.

The population of Ovezia experienced a near 60% decline over the course of the Century of Discontent. The 19th century saw a initial period of growth that was spurred on by the liberal, growing economy of the country and the rise of industrialisation. This growth was quickly halted by the immense bloodshed wrought over the unstable period. The country did not begin to recover from this until after the conclusion of WWI and the creation of the modern state. During the global turmoil of the subsequent two world wars, Ovezia prospered greatly. This period is known as the Ovezian Miracle. It saw the populations in the Ovezian urban centres double in the span of 50 years, with the high fertility and birth rates in the country continuing well into the 1970s before begining to decline to the current rates. The population of Ovezia is an ageing one, with 1 in 7 Ovezians being over the age of 65 in 2015, although the falling birth rates have begun to climb once again since their lowest recorded value in 2017.

Religion
Ovezia was one of the first secular states to exist in the world. It has maintained a legal tradition of protecting the right of freedom of religion. During the Sixth Republic and Amalate, this tradition was broken and replaced by oppressive religious rule that had not been exercised within Ovezian territory since its independence in the 18th century. The Seventh Amalate has a stricter implementation of religious policy in which not only is the state removed from religious interference, but all of public life is completely secular.

In 2020, the number of Ovezians who self identified as Sortisist formed 38.92% of the population. 31.39% identified as Jarader and a further 28.21% identified as having no religion, the remaining 1.48% of respondents identified with other faiths.

Both Sortisism and h'Ejrad have been the major religions of Ovezia over the past two millennia which has resulted in many religious buildings in Ovezia having served as sites of worship for both faiths. In the modern day, it is very common for religious sites in Ovezia to cater to people of many faiths. Both religious groups have also used opportunities to oppress the other in times of power. Prior to Ovezian independence, its population was subjected to harsh rules enforced by the death penalty and forced conversions during the Morre Trials. In the Sixth Republic and Amalate, non-Jarader populations, particularly those not of Ovezian descent were sent to labour camps or executed en masse. These two periods of harsh religious oppression have shaped the modern state and there is a growing trend of irreligion, particularly amongst the younger generations.

Education
Education in Ovezia is free and mandatory for all children between the ages of 4 and 18, consisting of four stagesː primary school (ecóla premáira), secondary school (ecóla segõdáira), tertiary school (ecóla terjáira), and university (universidá). During eight years of primary education, students are given a broad education in Oveze, Watanese, Interspeech, mathematics, the natural sciences, history, social studies, physical education and the arts. Secondary education lasts for five years, during which, students focus on 12 subjects in greater depth. The subjects are selected at the discretion of the students and secondary teaching institutions, however, all students must be educated in Oveze, mathematics, one foreign language and the natural sciences. Students further specialise at tertiary schools which they enter to study subjects to prepare them for vocational or academic degree programs. Students must work to achieve qualifications in at least three subjects, however, may select up to five.

True tertiary education in Ovezia is delivered through a combination of public and private universities. 12 Ovezian universities ranked amongst the top 500 world universities in 2020. The oldest university in the country, the University of Ilena, has been continually in operation since its founding in 1596, having persisted as a secret society during the Morre Trials. After gaining independence the institution was granted the Paláço di Sórdi, which had served as an administrative centre for the deployment of entrevistadors in Ovezia. The palace was subsequently renamed as the Palaço di Liúri and has been occupied by the University of Ilena since Ovezian independence in 1730.

Healthcare
Life expectancy for those born in the country sits at an average of 81 years for males and 87 years for females. This is one of the highest life expectancies globally. Compared to similarly advanced countries, Ovezia has a much lower rate of adult and childhood obesity. This has been attributed to the Abayadi diet. The largest public health issue facing the country is the prevalence of smoking. According to data from 2010, 26% of the population smokes daily.

Ovezia operates a mixed public-private healthcare system, although the Ovezian government has provided a universal public healthcare service since 1982. The public sector of the health service is organised under the ministry of health as an extremely interconnected and centralised system where local councils have little power to influence their healthcare service provision directly. In 2015, spending on public health accounted for 11.2% of the Ovezian GDP.

Fashion
Ovezia has a long tradition of fashion. Ilena, Õvíjo, and Éuga are considered the country's fashion capitals. In a ranking of global fashion capitals by Fashion Magazine in 2017, Õvíjo was ranked eighth, with Ilena in fifteenth position. Major fashion brands from Ovezia such as Marílenha, Vuqui, Peráiri, Rézeni, Dúje, Nalhi, and Maxeni, are considered some of the finest fashion houses in the world. The Ovezian fashion magazine Rema Ovezia is one of the most prestigious fashion magazines in the world.

Õvíjo fashion week is one of the most important events in the global fashion industry. It is held semiannually with spring/summer and autumn/winter events held each year and consists of a series of designer presentations. The dates for the events are set by the Ovezian Fashion Association which are hosted at several venues through the city. Shows of ready-to-wear, men's and haute couture fashion are typically presented in famous historical locations through the city. Õvíjo fashion week is considered one of the "Big 7" fashion weeks, the others being [LIST]. These events are scheduled in order, with Õvíjo fashion week closing the schedule for each season.