Lyvena

For Lyvena's predecessors nicknamed "The old Lyvenas", see either the Duchy of Laurencia, or the United Commonwealth of Starmania.
Lyvena (pronounced internationally as /ˈlaɪ viː nɑː/, and by Lyvenans as /ˈlɪv ɪn ɑː/), officially the Republic of Lyvena (Lyvenan: Republiquan d'Lyvena), is a democratic state in western Tapanthia. It borders Fortland to the southwest, Jonathia to the east, and Maideria and Victoria to the north. It's coastline extends across the Alexandrian and Southern oceans. It is the world's fourth-largest country by total area. Lyvena has a population of 25,092,154, making it the 30th-largest country in the world by population worldwide, and the 12th-largest country when counting the countries of Tapanthia only. The national capital is Newranthia, which is also it's most populous city. Other major cities include Dublin, Strench, Maybell, Dorsathwaite, Newark, and Elleore.
Sat atop the eponymous tectonic plate, Lyvena was formed through the unification of the United Commonwealth of Starmania with the Duchy of Laurencia, in protest against an alliance between St. Gelta and Lolland, who had caused War of the Channel in order to assert their political dominance. Lyvena is considered one of the first modern republics, preceding the republican movements in other countries by nearly a century. The first few years of the nation's existence were riddled with controversy and chaos that saw it's first prime minister resign after two years in office. However, order was later restored, and Lyvena began to flourish into a dominant power in the Tapanthian area. Remaining content to itself prior to the Great War, it became a nation of art and literature around the 19th century. This era in Lyvena's history is also known as the Lyvenan Renaissance. In 1940, a dispute broke out between Lyvena and neighbouring Jonathia. In reaction, Lyvena joined the United Front and subsequently the Great War. Conflict between the two nations remained until 1943, when worries rose following Poland's entry to the war on the Allied side, leading to Lyvena leaving the war and agreeing to a treaty with Jonathia. Lyvena was later a signatory to the Treaty of Wollings in 1947.
Post-war, Lyvena benefitted rapidly from economic growth, and trade with a now internationally friendly Jonathia, making Lyvena one of the most globally renowned nations in terms of it's economy. As of modern times, Lyvena is a developed nation. It is currently a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the Tapanthian Republic, the GUIS, and the JLF Agreement. The country constantly tops world freedom indexes, and has praised for being one of the most liberal countries in the world.
Lyvena is a classical republic, the only remaining modern country of it's kind, which means it has a parliamentary system modelled after a constitutional monarchy. This has created some confusion over whether the head of state is either the prime minister or governor-general, with both positions holding equal power. However, in recent years, the role of governor-general has begun to shift to a more ceremonial role, with it's modern purpose comparable to the role of deputy prime minister in Jonathia.
==Etymology==
There are multiple theories of where the name Lyvena came from. The generally accepted idea is that the name derives from the prehistoric Lijv peoples, who inhabited the area in the early years of humanity's presence on the Tapanthian continent.
Another idea, proposed by linguist Adam Gudgel, is that the name had originated from two words, each in different languages, namely Lqen (Old Laurencian; lee-ken) and Venio (Lollese; vee-nee-yoa), the latter of which evolved to create the name Lyvena.
==History==
===Prehistoric Lyvena===
The location of what is now Lyvena broke off from what today is known as the Lostlands some 89.43 million years ago, and crashed into what was then the Tapallang super-continent (now Tapanthia and Allangria, respectively.
===First peoples===
The first peoples to settle in Lyvena arrived roughly 76,000 years ago.
===Medieval Lyvena===
===Union Agreement and Early Lyvena===
On February 24th, 1601, government members from the UCS and Laurencia gathered in Newranthia, and agreed to form the Republic of Lyvena, in order to unite the Lyvenan peoples.
=== Lyvenan Renaissance ===
===Early 20th century Lyvena===
===Great War===
===Post-Great War===
===21st century Lyvena===
== Government ==
Lyvena has a parliamentary government based on the Westwharf system that has been emulated around the world. The parliament of Lyvena meets in the Pinetree Palace, a named obtained for the vast number of pine that Newranthia, Lyvena's capital, possesses. All bills passed are given State Assent by the Governor-General and then the prime minister before becoming law.
The position of prime minister, Lyvena's head of state, belongs to the person most likely to command the confidence of the Parliament; this individual is typically the leader of the political party or coalition of parties that holds the largest number of seats in that chamber. The prime minister chooses a cabinet and its members are formally appointed by the state to form the Republic's Government. By convention, the prime minister respects the parliament's decisions of government.
The government meets on the third level of the Newranthia Central Hall, which was originally built as an opera house, and has since been converted into premises for the cabinet to meet. The prime minister's official residence is Banjo Estate, which is located in Crossonlaw, a small town that lies just outside of Newranthia.
== Economy ==
Lyvena has a highly developed mixed-market economy, with the world's ninth-largest economy at last count in 2022. It is one of the least corrupt countries in the world and is one of the world's largest trading nations, with a highly globalized economy. Lyvena's economy ranks above Jonathia and most Southarian nations on The Heritage Foundation's Index of Economic Freedom and experiences a relatively low level of income disparity. The country's average household disposable income per capita is "well above" the OECD average. The Newranthia Stock Exchange is the ninth-largest stock exchange in the world by market capitalization, listing over 1,500 companies with a combined market capitalization of over LY$2 trillion.
== Demographics ==
==Geography==
===States===
See also: Regions in Lyvena
Lyvena is composed of fifty-three separate regions known as "states".
=== Terrain ===
In the north, Lyvena's terrain is snowy and mountainous. Many of Lyvena's tallest mountains, for example Mt. Seaforth and Mt. Rijnman, are located in the north parts of the country. In the south, Lyvena's terrain is hilly and is composed of fertile grassland. Lyvena's most common tree type, the pine tree, originates around this part of the country. Around the southern parts of the state, Lyvena becomes a flat grassland, with few naturally-planted trees standing due to deforestation in the 18th and 19th centuries. The majority of Lyvenans reside in this part of the country.
==Culture==
Lyvena's culture draws significantly from the surrounding countries, and is a branch of the various Amacan cultures that populate the Tapanthian continent, with some elements of Slavic, Germanic, and Chyatak cultures present. Lyvena's culture also draws influences from its broad range of constituent nationalities, and policies that promote a "just society" are constitutionally protected. Lyvena has placed emphasis on equality and inclusiveness for all its people. The official state policy of multiculturalism is often cited as one of Lyvena's significant accomplishments, and a key distinguishing element of Lyvenan identity. As a whole, Lyvena is in theory a cultural mosaic of regional ethnic subcultures.
Lyvena's approach to governance emphasizing multiculturalism, which is based on selective immigration, social integration, and suppression of far-right politics, has wide public support. Government policies such as publicly funded health care, higher taxation to redistribute wealth, the outlawing of capital punishment, strong efforts to eliminate poverty, strict gun control, a social liberal attitude toward women's rights (like pregnancy termination) and LGBTQ rights, legalized euthanasia and cannabis use are indicators of Lyvena's political and cultural values. Lyvenans also identify with the country's foreign aid policies, peacekeeping roles, the National park system and the Lyvenan Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
=== Symbols ===
=== Literature ===
=== Media ===
Lyvena's media is highly autonomous, uncensored, diverse and very regionalized. The Broadcasting Act declares "the system should serve to safeguard, enrich and strengthen the cultural, political, social and economic fabric of Lyvena". Lyvena has a well-developed media sector, but its cultural output—particularly in films, television shows, and magazines—is often overshadowed by imports from Jonathia and Canadia. As a result, the preservation of a distinctly Lyvenan culture is supported by federal government programs, laws, and institutions such as Lyvena Radiotelevision (LRT), Screen Lyvena (SL), and the Lyvenan Commission of Broadcasting (LCB).
Lyvenan mass media, both print and digital and in both official languages, is largely dominated by a "handful of corporations". The largest of these corporations is the country's national public broadcaster, Lyvenan Radiotelevision, which also plays a significant role in producing domestic cultural content. LRT is composed of two different companies, Lyvena Radio and Lyvena Television, who carry out this task. In addition to the LRT, some commercial broadcasters exist; these include ABC, TV5, Channel 8, Elvenmedia, and the various assets of UnitedMedia.
Non-news media content in Lyvena, including film and television, is influenced both by local creators as well as by imports from Jonathia and Canadia. In an effort to reduce the amount of foreign-made media, government interventions in television broadcasting can include both regulation of content and public financing. Lyvenan tax laws limit foreign competition in magazine advertising.
=== Visual arts ===
=== Music ===
=== Sports ===
==See also==
* Lyvena's name in other languages
Category:Countries
Category:Countries in Tapanthia
Category:Tapanthia
Category:Lyvena