Watan

Watan, officially the Republic of Watan, is a nation located in southwest Alutra along the Abayadi Sea. Watan is one of the smallest Alutran states, bordered to the south by the Abayadi Sea and to the west by Ventora. Watan's territory also extends to several small islands along its coast, most notably Ilha do Barbito or Ilha do Pedregosa. The official and national language is Watanese. Queluz is the largest city and capital.

One of Alutra's earliest permanently settled regions, Watan holds prehistoric sites such as Ficha Sílex: the oldest evidence of human habitation in west Alutra. Ancient Watan was inhabited by Pre-Tilargi and Tilargi peoples and visited by ancient nomadic Haksar and Ventoran people or other traders. After increased Ventoran activity in Watan, the territory was sold to Ventora under the condition the Ventorans protect the lands and continue their trading. Watan became a tributary of Ventora, which itself was a tributary of Haksarad. This entered Watan into the Haksar tributary system. This continued for several centuries until 1328, when a saber duel spelled Watanese independence. While the independence was peaceful, the struggle for the Watanese throne would spiral into the 11 years war, which resulted in King Selsir I taking the throne.

The killings of the king and princess of the Watanese Monarchy in 1861 resulted in the Queluz Revolution of 1861, which would last for 2 years and result in the abolishment of the monarchy and founding of the Watanese Republic on April 22nd, 1863. The Revolution originally started with the opposing opinions on the monarchy, but the fire continued to rage for several other branching reasons for centuries after. The civil war would come to a close after the deaths of 100,000 and the Treaty of Pedregosa, signed on Ilha do Pedregosa.

In modern times, Watan struggles with instability after several incidents revolving around the president of Watan. In 2004, Cesar Ramos took power after the resignation of Tiago Sousa. Ramos’ policies were unpopular within a large demographic in the nation. His unpopularity in some groups and strong following in others lead to an instability which split the nation in half and eventually resulted in the 2004 Watanese coup d'état. Some viewed the coup as unconstitutional, therefore in 2016, the 2016 Watanese coup d'état was in attempt to take Olavo Maciel out of power, however this failed. The RSP is the leading nationalist party in the nation, and is responsible for the 2016 coup and 2013 Watan capitol attack. Since the 2016 coup, the instability in the nation has settled in extremity, however is still not an uncommon sight.

Today, Olavo Maciel is the president of Watan, alongside Dannel Saraiva as assembly president and Fabricio Martins as prime minister. Watan is an observer state of the H'Ejrad Cooperation, and a full member of the World Forum.

Etymology


The native name of Watan, Vatão, has been speculated for many centuries, however the true origin is unknown. The leading theory is that it originates from ancient Ventoran stories labeling the lands southeast of them as the "Land of many goats", with "vato" meaning big/many, and "chivato", which transformed into "chivatão" and further into "vatão", meaning "great baby goat" or "great goat".

The leading secondary theory for the origin comes from the word "wet'o", meaning "young goat". This was interpreted from ancient Ventorans and Haksar as "Vatus". Following this, an additional -anus was added to Vatus, which made "Vatanus", or "Great young goat". This meaning may have been misinterpreted from explorers not versed in the Watanese language as "Land of the goat" or "Land of the great goat". The word Vatanus would eventually become the modern-day Vatão.

Another theory states that the lands are named after the Ventoran explorer Froitos Vatos, who reportedly travelled through Watan some time between 400 and 450 BCE. Other theories claim that the name derived from its neighboring nation of Ventora.

The name Vatão first appeared in a sea log dated 961 CE, however the lands of Watan themselves have been recorded and mapped as far back as 8th century BCE.

The leading theory for the namesake of Watan, Land of the many goats, has since been the inspiration for the nation's national anthem, "A Terra da Cabra". The anthem tells the story of a goat making the journey from a farm in Haksarad to the flowing plains in Watan. The goat in the song is analogous to Watan, and its journey is reminiscent of the nation's history.

Prehistory and antiquity
The early history of Watan is shared with its region in southwestern Alutra. The name of Watan likely derives from an early Ventoran about the "Land of the many goats". The region was settled by Pre-Tilargi and Tilargi peoples, giving origin to cultures like the Matanic, Vidalic, Saldanese, and Cortes, which was later inhabited and mixed with Ventoran, Manuak, and Kashar from 400 BC to 250 AD. Some evidence also points to Sedic peoples settling in modern-day Watan and intermarrying with people already inhabiting the land.

The region of present-day Watan was inhabited by pre-Homo sapiens and then by Homo sapiens, who roamed the border-less Abayadi Sea region. These were subsistence societies and although they did not establish prosperous settlements, they did form organized societies. Neolithic Watan experimented with the domestication of herding animals, the raising of some cereal crops and fluvial or marine fishing. The earliest evidence of humans in west Alutra comes during this time with Ficha Sílex, translating to "Flint token", signifying the finding of a flint token at the site. There were approximately 8 buildings - 3 of which being identified as living spaces, and the remaining being sheds or outhouses. Only one building remains - the Aqiḍun - which may have been a fire pit used for cooking meat.

It is believed by some scholars that early in the first millennium BC, several waves of Pre-Tilargi invaded Watan from Central Alutra and intermarried with the local populations, forming different tribes. Another theory suggests that Pre-Tilargi inhabited southwestern Alutra well before any large Pre-Tilargi migrations from Central Alutra. In addition, a number of linguists expert in ancient Tilargi have presented compelling evidence that the Meskin language, once spoken in parts of northern Ventora and Watan, is at least proto-Tilargi in structure. This signifies the entrance of the Tilargi culture and peoples into present-day Watan.

Modern archaeology and research shows a Watanese root to the Sedic culture in Watan and elsewhere. During that period and until the Kashar invasions, the Cortes culture (a variation of the Matanic culture along the Abayadi coast) was prolific in Watan and eastern Ventora. This culture, together with the surviving elements of the Abayadi megalithic culture and the contributions that come from the more Western Abayadi cultures, ended up in what has been called the Cultura Cortesja or Cortes Culture.

Based on the Kashar chronicles about the coastal Watanese peoples, along with the narrations and the interpretation of the abundant archaeological remains throughout the western half of Watan and Ventora, it is possible to infer that there was a matriarchal society, with a military and religious aristocracy of the feudal type. The figures of maximum authority were the chieftain (chefe tribal), of military type and with authority in his clan, and the druid, mainly referring to medical and religious functions that could be common to several clans. The Sedic cosmogony remained homogeneous due to the ability of the druids to meet in councils with the druids of other areas, which ensured the transmission of knowledge and the most significant events. The first documentary references to Cortes society are provided by chroniclers of Kashar and Ventoran military campaigns about the social organization, and describing the inhabitants of these territories, Cortes of western Watan as: "A group of barbarians who spend the day fighting and the night eating, drinking and singing under the moon."

There were other similar tribes, and chief among them were the Matanic; the core area of these people lay in inland central Watan, while numerous other related tribes existed such as the Valici of Intreval, and the Cadavid or Cava of the Reparad. Among the tribes or sub-divisions were the Rasal, Cilan, Lemos, Bayona, Morquecho, Junco, Noia, Patino, Zea, Barela, Cora, Chacón, Agudelo, Marcelin, Tapoli, Batallo, Rego, Fajarda, Agron, and Azay. A few small, semi-permanent, commercial coastal settlements were also founded in the Reparad/Ladige region.

Kashar-Manuak period
There are two known preserved outposts from the Kashar culture from Haksarad in Watan from before 403 BC, however it is suspected that there could have been up to 6 littering the Watanese coasts. These outposts were likely set up in Watan during the Kashar's search for more arable land, although it has also been theorized that the forts were placed in Watan simply as resting points for passing Kashar ships. The Kashar left the region some decades after their original landing, however remnants of Kashar long boats have been located along the Watanese coast following their supposed abandonment. It is likely that the Kashar culture remained lightly in the Watanese territory, although no permanent settlements were ever founded. It is unknown why the Kashar did not settle Watan, but it can be inferred that they faced resistance from native coastal cultures of Watan.

Manuak interference in Watan is significantly better reported than the Kashar era, most likely because of the Manuak's heightened technology and interconnectedness between Watan and their mainland. Settlements along the Watanese coast by Manuaks came soon after their conquering of the Kashar in mainland Haksarad, and unlike earlier Kashar outposts, most Manuak establishments resulted in permanent populations. Trade and were the Manuak's primary goals, although the benefits of the arable land in southern Watan also became a dividend for stable habitation. While more successful than Kashar colonies, there have only been a recorded 27 colonies or attempted colonies, with only 3 originally Manuak settlements surviving to modern-day. While Cortesian cultures remained unassimilated by the Manuak colonization due to the Cortesian cliffs - a series of high ridges lining the coasts of southwestern Watan, the Tilargi cultures were forced to either assimilate into the Manuak culture or migrate further north through the Matanic territory and into the unsettled highlights of Cecia. This would become known as the Great Tilarg Migration, as it was the largest and most significant migration of any people group in Watanese history. Not only would this affect Tilarg populations in Watan, but communities in Ventora would also move north with their Watanese siblings.

Similar to the Cortesian culture, the Vidalic peoples were generally untouched by the Manuaks, coming to an early agreement to keep away from each other's settlements while also maintaining trade to benefit both parties. Saldanese and Matanic cultures were also untouched by Manuak colonization given their inland location. As time went on, permanent Manuak settlements in Watan decreased due to the large distance in between Watan and Haksarad.

Some ancient urban ruins of Manuak settlement in Watan are quite large, such as Arvoredo and Aldeia do Velejar, the latter of which is by far the largest Manuak settlement in Watan and is also a recognized National Monument. Aldeia do Velejar lies 16 kilometres (10 miles) from Ferragudo. The site also has a museum that displays objects found by archaeologists during their excavations. Several works of engineering, such as baths, temples, bridges, roads, circuses, theatres and laymen's homes are preserved throughout the country. Coins, some coined on Watanese land, as well as numerous pieces of ceramics, were also found.

This era would also bring about the Vidal river system, which was a large-scale trade network branching from the source of the Vidalic River to the mouth. It is believed that manned caravans of rafts would frequently be sent down the river in order to supply communities with resources such as food or building materials. Items could be "purchased" by supplying items equal in value to the objects purchased. This system would bring large amounts of people to the mouth of the Vidalic River, and would bring the foundation of the city of Foz do Vidal.

Ventoran period
Ventoran influence in Watan has existed for as long as the concept of Watan has itself, although segments of the Tilarg Mountains prevented a large diaspora of Ventorans to enter the border-less Watan. Instead, nomadic traders or explorers from Ventora would trade with the nearby Cortesians or Matanic, and later on the Tilargi. Permanent settlements in Watan from Ventora have also had a long history, especially in regions close to the modern-day border.

Prior to its foundation as a duchy of Ventora, small Ventoran settlements scattering the coast of modern-day Praiazinha and Chegadia already existed, a large number of settlers being Ventorans seeking to escape from their nation. This meant a large number of Ventoran criminals lived in Watan, wishing to hide from Ventoran laws. The Cortesian cliffs would prevent hamlets from being formed by sea from Ventorans, which continued to keep the Cortesian culture safe from foreign assimilation.

Although already recognized as a region under heavy Ventoran influence, Watan was never formally recognized as a part of Ventora until 1038 AD. Having stable and prosperous trade relations with the Ventorans, Ventora - who was already a tributary state of Haksarad - sought to bring Watan into the Haksar tributary system. The king of Ventora, King César, took advantage of the situation by spreading his prestige and land by awarding various regions of Watan to numerous duchies of Ventora as an agreement for a quid pro quo for trade, administration, defense, and military. At this time, the state of Watan remained a semi-autonomous entity, the duchy status lasted for nearly 300 years. The system was largely beneficial for both people groups, and a large majority of the Watanese population was in favor of the agreement. As a Watanese tradition, minor disputes between Ventoran and Watanese land-owners would be sorted via saber duel, which was a long-lasting Watanese tradition which both parties viewed as honorable.

In the early days of the arrangement, a large diaspora from Ventora to Watan would begin with the foundation of several large cities, including Neves, Altamira, Ferragudo, Telana, Porto Azul, Macadin, and even parts of Queluz. In addition to the colonization of cities, and in apparent solution to the Ventoran convicts issue, several hundred prisons were built strategically along the Watanese coast. The prisons were state-of-the-art and contained technology unrivaled in the region, including security measures which ensured that no prisoners could possibly escape without being caught or killed. The Ventoran prison system was introduced to the Watanese, which was taken in stride by Watanese nobles who continued to construct Ventoran-style prisons for centuries after. Two of Watan's largest cities - Parné and Ilha do Neves - were the former two largest prisons on Watanese soil. Prisão de Parné collapsed at the dissolution of the Duchy of Watan, while Prisão de Neves remained in service until the late 19th century. Some Ventoran prisons, such as Prisão de Carracosa, are still in use until this day - although it has been under heavy reconstruction and redesign.

As settlement in Watan's west coast became more common, the Cortesian culture saw its downfall. Assimilation with Ventorans and Matanic was likely the leading factor in the disappearance of a large part of the culture. Even though the Cortesian culture survives to the modern-day, their numbers are few and far between, and most identify instead as Matanic, seeing as both cultures are very similar.

As time continued, satisfaction with Watan's tributary and duchy status decreased. This likely arose due to trade laws between the nations, which lower-class citizens thought were unfair. This included several laws which poorer residents could not uphold, but noblemen and high-class citizens could. This resulted in an unequal benefit towards the already wealthy Watanese, and staggered trade with the unwealthy. These laws came to the point of trade being nearly impossible between the more impoverished commoners and outside Ventoran entities. Uproar in the lower class resulted in large protests in the city centers of Queluz and Alhadas, and it was concluded that a dissatisfaction this large could not be solved via saber duel, a commonplace act for issues such as these. Even with the large protests, Ventora refused to budge the trade laws which favored the noblemen, most likely because they received more money from them than the poorer class.

Pirates of Watan


Pirates, known as Baleias colloquially, formed under Ventoran rule due to displeasure with Watan's tributary status and the way it benefited the noblemen more than the peasants of Watan due to unfair trade laws, in particular, the Fish Law, which only allowed fish of a certain high standard to be traded between Watan and Ventora, of which the poorer fisherman of Watan could not uphold. In turn, several bands of former soldiers would form "gangs" with several ships - sometimes stolen - which they would sail through the Abayadi Sea raiding certain Ventoran, Haksar, and even Watanese coastal settlements. In particular, raids on noblemen's fortresses or mansions were frequent, including in Ventora and Haksarad.

One of Watan's most infamous Baleia was Barbito de Vermelho, known more commonly as Barbito. Barbito, nicknamed for his red beard - an uncommon sight on the Abayadi Sea - was renowned for his unmerciful antics against several hundreds of settlements in Ventora and Watan. It was also written that Barbito  married 100 women and had 300 children"'', although this claim is disputed in modern-day. He also owned the largest fleet of ships in Baleia history, and was a notorious folk legend within the Haksar tributary system. Barbito's real name was never known, although there have been conspiracies about such. Between 1180 and 1190 was Barbito's theorized death date, and he was buried at a still unknown location on Ilha do Barbito, the island soon named after him. The baleia is still a common household name, and his legendary status is still prevalent in media even outside of Watan. Barbito is recognized by some as the most infamous pirate in history.

Geography
The territory of Watan lies against the Abayadi Sea in western Alutra, nestled between the sea and the Tilarg Mountain Range (referred to simply as "the mountains" by most Watanese). Watan also possesses several islands lining its coast, most prominently Ilha do Pedregosa and Ilha do Barbito.

Mainland Watan is split nearly in two by the Vidalic River, which flows from the Tilarg Mountains just two kilometers from the border, before escaping into the Abayadi. The central and northern regions of Watan are characterized by mountainous and rugged terrain, whereas the southern and eastern regions, such as the Ladige Valley, Cortesia, and the Borosso regions, are plateaued or have rolling plains.

The highest peak in Watan is Mount Reza, located in the western border region with Ventora. The ancient ridge reaches a height of 2,351 m (7,713 ft) and is an iconic symbol of Watan, while the smaller and more centrally located Mount Farinha is the second tallest mountain at 2,012 m (6602 ft), and is also a popular skiing and winter sports destination during the winter due to its easily accessible slopes and central location close to population centers like Ferragudo and Altamira.

The nation has a coastline of 886.39km (550.7mi). In maritime terms, the country claims a contiguous zone of 24 nautical miles (44.4 km; 27.6 mi), and a territorial sea of 12 nautical miles (22.2 km; 13.8 mi). The capital city of Queluz lies against the Maraso Menor as well as its respective estuary and salt flats, gifting the city a reasonably sized salt market.