Jonathia

Jonathia (pronounced /ˈʤəʊ-neɪ-ði-jə/; Jonish: Jonatija; French: Jônatia; German: Jonädia), officially the United Republic of Jonathia (Jonish: Unitio Republik de Jonatija; French: République-Unie de Jônatia; German: Vereinigte Republik Jonädia), and informally known as Crossland, is a sovereign state located in the southern part of the continent of Tapanthia. Its nineteen provinces extend along the Jonathian Channel and parts of the Stalatic Ocean, covering roughly 355 thousand square kilometres, making it the world's fifth-largest country by total area. With a population of 102,468,398 people, it is the fourth-largest nation by population worldwide, behind Blostia, Poland, and Kemet, and the largest nation by population in Tapanthia. It borders Albia, Amberia, Corbaria, Lovaria, and Maideria to the north, Lyvena to the west, Fortland to the southwest, and Canadia to the east. Jonathia's capital is Jetzeburg, while it's largest city is Bellfort. Other large cities in Jonathia are Banner City, Gelta City, Vonderburg, Gothenise, and St. Jacob.
Jonathia was formed in 1920 through the union of twelve states, as an act of self-defense against what they perceived as growing international tensions and the rise of violent superpowers. Due to its isolationist nature early on in it's history, Jonathia was invaded by Canadia over the South Canadia region, and soon ended up as the center of the Tapanthian theater of the Great War, and became one of the major parts of the Allied Powers, alongside Poland and Auritadia. Throughout the Cold War and the 21st century, Jonathia remained a globally influential political power, and is perceived in modern times as the world's sole superpower. Jonathia has intervened in multiple proxy wars across history, most recently the Albian Civil War. In 2020, Jonathia expanded with the addition of seven new provinces.
Jonathia is a parliamentary democracy in the Westwharf tradition, with a prime minister who serves as the chair of the Cabinet and head of government. The country is a Commonwealth realm and is officially quadrilingual at the federal level. It ranks among the highest in international measurements of government transparency, civil liberties, quality of life, economic freedom, and education. It is one of the world's most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, the product of large-scale immigration from many other countries. Jonathia's long and complex relationship with Canadia has had a significant impact on its economy and culture.
As a highly developed country, Jonathia has the highest nominal per-capita income globally as well as the second-highest ranking in the Human Development Index. Its advanced economy is the tenth-largest in the world, relying chiefly upon its abundant natural resources and well-developed international trade networks. Jonathia is part of several major international and intergovernmental institutions or groupings including the GUIS, the Tapanthian Republic, the JLF Agreement, the Commonwealth of Nations, the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, the G7, and the Allo-Tapanthian Economic Cooperation forum.
==Etymology==
Jonathia is derived from the Jonish word "yoneti", meaning "free land". In English, the term "United Republic", or U.R. is sometimes used, whereas the terms "Jonish" and "Jonathian" are used interchangeably as the denonym and adjectival forms.
Historically, the region now composing Jonathia never had an official name. The area was usually referred to as being part of Southaria, a much broader description that included the cultural region of southern Tapanthia. The earliest example of the name Jonathia dates back to 1806, when the first pro-unification groups formed in Jetzeburg. When Jonathia was first formed in 1920, other names were also considered, including Meridia, Southland, Jonland, and the United States of Tapanthia.
Jonathia is sometimes nicknamed "Crossland". The term, which first arose around the late 1920s, refers to the golden cross on Jonathia's flag. The term is still used today in some numbers, and is most commonly used in sports chants and patriotic songs. However, the government of Jonathia itself has never referred to Jonathia as such.
==History==
===Prehistoric Jonathia===
Jonathia is believed by scientists to have been formed largely as a combination of tectonic plate movement and the numerous volcanoes that have in modern times come to define the various landscapes and mountain ranges of Jonathia.
===Early Jonathia (400 - 1506)===
Humanity first began it's expansion into Jonathia in the early years of Tapanthian history, but it would not be until around the 2nd century BCE when the first proper nations in the Jonathian area began propping themselves up. The first nations became warlord states, repeatedly fighting each other for dominance over the nation.
Over time, the cultures of Jonathia grew increasingly sophisticated, and some, such as the Leaflese, Lollese, Arizaian, and Jetzeburgian cultures, developed advanced agriculture, architecture, and complex societies. Many societies grew along the various rivers within Jonathia's borders. This gave access to rivers, and in turn major bodies of water, a heavily favoured commodity amongst the nation states, and various conflicts were fought over such locations.
===Divided nation states (1506 - 1800)===
Following the War of the Channel in 1506, St. Gelta, Arizaia, and the Lollipop Kingdom (today known as Lolland) divided up the Tapanthian states into several nations that would divide the Tapanthian populace. Deciding to strengthen their arguements, the Swalunidico, a military pact between the three nations, made a plan to use fear as a component to divide the states. This would involve political and social manipulation of the countries, as well as the stationing of military barracks in the areas. This plan, however, was defied by the Duchy of Laurencia and the United Commonwealth of Starmania, who, in 1601, merged to form the Republic of Lyvena, despite the wishes of the pact. Lyvena quickly became a dominant power, and before long began to influence political, economic, and social movements across the Tapanthian continent. This placed the pact's status in jeopardy.
=== 19th and early 20th centuries (1800 - 1920) ===
In 1914, various nation states in the region participated in the Blue Blood War against Cyani.
===Unification into Jonathia (1920 - 1936)===
thumb|179x179px|Graham Follings was elected the first Jonathian prime minister in 1920, albeit with votes only from the Interstate Council, then Jonathia's governing body.
In 1920, with rising tensions with it's neighbours Lyvena and Canadia escalating, as well as an unfriendly populace of Fortlese people rising up in south-western Missouri, many people in the region began to feel that it was right to unite into a single unified state in order to protect themselves from impending danger. Soon, various different countries began to consider the idea. Following the resolution of conflicts and debates between other countries, twelve states finally came to an agreement. Originally, Bellfort was the agreed-upon capital, but this was changed to Jetzeburg after the proximity of Bellfort to nearby Canadia was discovered.
Fearful for a loss of power, the monarchies of the states complained to the de-facto Jonathian government, requesting a way to keep the monarchs in some form of power or influence over the running of the state. After several debates, an agreement was made to let the monarchies keep their power ceremonially, albeit in their own provinces. This agreement remains in effect to this day, though it is not as significant to modern politics.
===Great War (1936 - 1947)===
thumb|A poster from the Great War, circa 1940.|183x183px
In July of 1936, Rosstria went through a military coup in reaction to the former kingdom's agreement with Blostia over a Polish defense line. Rosstria, knowing that it could not take on such a large country, requested Jonathia as well as Auritadia for help. Later agreements with other nations pulled in more countries, starting the Great War.
Conflict in Tapanthia remained minimal, sometimes even tenuous until 1940, when Canadia invaded and annexed eastern Lolland, in reaction to a rude response following the First Request. Together with Lyvena and the newly-independent Fortland, the Jonathian forces were crushed by the United Forces. However, in 1943, a tipping point in the war occurred, when Poland, believing the Allied Powers to be helpless, declared war on the UF. This date is assumed to be the starting date of the GUIS, or the Global Union of Independent States.
Canadia, angered by this move, decided to erect a large wooden wall in 1945 in order to make their claim official. After an arson attack by Allied troops, another wall made of concrete and metal was built as a replacement. After Jonathia's surrender to Canadia in 1946, the latter requested a removal of the wall. Canadia denied the request. Interestingly, at the end of the war, the UF refused to withdraw their armies from Jonathia, starting a period of occupation. Fearing Jonathia becoming a puppet, Poland landed troops in Jonathia in 1947, and swiftly kicked Canadia's troops out of Jonathia. Victory in Tapanthia Day was observed in Jonathia, though no official celebrations occurred until later when the Great War finally ended. Jonathia was a major signatory to the Treaty of Wollings.
===Cold War and tensions with Canadia (1948 - 1999)===
During the Cold War, division mounted once more between Jonathia and Canadia on the status of East Lolland, known to Canadia as South Canadia. In 1958, amid rising tensions, Canadia attempted to deport all Jonathian residents of South Canadia to Jonathia, sparking tensions between the two nations, as well as an overpopulation crisis in Lolland, Leafland, and St. Gelta. Canadia and Jonathia would become competing superpowers during the Cold War. In the 1960s, the Space Race sparked between the two nations, where Jonathia's space agency, the NJSA, would eventually land a man on the moon.
At home, Jonathia experienced sustained economic expansion, urbanisation, and a rapid growth of its population and middle class following the Great War. Construction of a National Motorway System transformed the nation's transportation infrastructure in decades to come. Jonathian nationalism also began to spark, leading to a growth in the arts, science, and literature.
Jonathia would intervene in multiple international conflicts over the Cold War in efforts to keep it's trade routes open. The Corvish Civil War, though a victory for Jonathia, would mount a major burden on Jonathia as global opinions on the government worsened. As well as this, a major peace movement had begun sparking across Jonathia, and the government began to seem more and more outdated. The election of Karen Lyvon in 1983 changed Jonathia's direction drastically, moving from a defensive country to a more open country. These actions, as well as further acts down the line, later allowed Canadia and Jonathia began moving towards a more peaceful relationship, nearing the end of the 20th century. In 1991, Jonathia finally withdrew all opposition to Canadia, allowing them to join the GUIS. In 1995, Jonathia sponsored Hebreland during it's civil war, leading to nationwide protests.
===21st century Jonathia (2000 - present)===
The start of the 2000s in Jonathia was marred by the March 30 attacks in Vonderburg, caused by Centrallia in reaction to Jonathian support for Klamossen. This caused Jonathia, along with the other members of the Commonwealth of Nations, to join the Centrallian War.
Government policy designed to promote affordable housing, widespread failures in corporate and regulatory governance, and historically low interest rates set by the Reserve Bank of Jonathia led to a housing bubble in 2006. This culminated in the financial crisis of 2007–2008 and the Great Recession, the nation's largest economic contraction since the Great Depression. In 2009, then prime minister Caron Bush, visited her Lyvenan counterpart, George Heiben, to help establish stronger relations in the area. These meetings later led to the creation of the JLF Agreement.
Same-sex marriage became legal in Jonathia in 2014 after years of debate. Abortion was also legalised two years later. The election of Jonas Albert and Lily Danyon in 2017 as prime minister and deputy prime minister respectfully proved helpful for pan-Tapanthian relations. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic sparked. Jonathia was one of the first countries hit, but the country initially had low cases, and in response did not implement a lockdown before a spike in cases forced one to be placed into effect. In the same year, Jonathia admitted seven new provinces to the Union. In accordance with an agreement with Canadia, and it's prime minister, Mark Gänston, the wall between Lolland and South Canadia was removed, ending 75 years of separation. The later discovery of the Delta variant of COVID-19 in 2021 caused an isolated epidemic.
==Geography==
Jonathia is composed of 19 provinces, as well as various overseas territories.
The land area of Jonathia is around 355 thousand km2. Miller is the largest province, while Palta is the smallest.
Jonathia has an extremely diverse geography. The Northwest houses a large alpine region that surrounds numerous towns and cities. Southward from there, in the West, lies a more hilly terrain, containing vast swaths of forests. The territory east of there is primarily grassland, low hills, and fertile land, where the majority of Jonathia's population resides.
===Climate===
Jonathia has a temperate climate. The nation experiences warm summers and lengthy winters. Snow is also common, particularly in the Northwest, as are blizzards and snowstorms. Extreme weather is not unusual—the provinces along the Channel are prone to cyclones and other tropical storms.
===Provinces===
Jonathia consists of nineteen provinces. These provinces all have a provincial government, democratically elected in tandem with the general election, which decides the prime minister. The first province to be added was Lolland, on the 30th of November, 1920, at 5:00am JST. The last province so far to be added was Italona, on the 17th of November, 2020, at 12:00pm JST.
Province	Abbrev.	Capital 	Largest city	Population	Official language(s)
 	AR 	Gothenise 	Gothenise 	6,701,576 	English
 	DR 	New Denda 	New Denda 	1,409,202 	EnglishGerman
 	ER 	Liberland 	Anglosand 	1,189,998 	English
 	IT 	Romania 	Romania 	5,678,901 	Jonish
 	JE 	Tridefield 	Jerseytown 	2,461,758 	English
 	JR 	Jetzeburg 	Jetzeburg 	6,149,204 	EnglishJonish
 	LE 	Aridillo 	Aridillo 	6,429,959 	FrenchEnglish
 	LL 	Bellfort 	Bellfort 	11,461,208	EnglishFrenchJonish
 	LY 	Roskilliton 	Novalynn 	908,416 	EnglishJonish
 	MI 	Banner City 	St. Jacob 	10,203,195	EnglishGerman
 	ML 	Majonia 	Majonia 	4,102,659 	English
 	MS 	Sanc-Liet 	Sanc-Liet 	7,642,159 	English
 	NP 	Vonderburg 	Vonderburg 	13,095,120	EnglishJonishFrenchGerman
 	NT 	Russland 	Slavton 	5,678,901 	EnglishFrench
 	PA 	Marida 	Marida 	991,085 	EnglishJonish
 	SH 	New Rosstria	New Rosstria	6,479,218 	English
 	SG 	Gelta City 	Wilbird 	7,463,995 	EnglishFrench
 	UN 	Voureg 	Voureg 	3,417,215 	EnglishGerman
 	WE 	Auckland 	Auckland 	1,004,629 	English
==Government and politics==
Jonathia has a parliamentary government based on the Westwharf system that has been emulated around the world. The parliament of Jonathia meets in the Palace of Westwharf at the Parliament. All bills passed are given State Assent before becoming law.
The position of prime minister, Jonathia'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.
==Culture and society ==
Though popularly claimed by many, Jonathia does not actually have a unified traditional culture in any form. In reality, all the provinces have their own respective cultures, each predating Jonathia itself. There has however been examples of a shared Jonathian identity, which includes the similarities shown between the various cultures of Jonathia.
===Literature===
===Mass media===
Media is broadly uncensored, with the Constitution providing significant protections.
====Television====
There are nine national broadcasters in Jonathia; the government-funded JBC with their two channels, the NBCUniversal-owned NBC, the 4NET Corporation and their aptly named 4NET station, the Fox Film-owned FOX Television, BCom's TV7, the independent C11 network, and the public broadcasters RBA and YSH.
=== Theather ===
=== Visual arts ===
=== Music ===
Music genres popular in the 80s still tend to be quite popular in Jonathia. 80s pop, New Romantic, Italo disco, and Minimal Wave all tend to be popular, alongside modern pop songs and a genre called "Jonadance", a variant of Tapapop with more string instruments used. However, this has led to a common stereotype among the international community that Jonathians are "trapped in the 80s".
=== Fashion ===
=== Cinema ===
=== Cuisine ===
===Sports===
Football, cricket, Jonasball, tennis, and grid iron are among the most popular sports in Jonathia.
==Wildlife, flora, and fauna==
Jonathia has a lot of variety in plants and animals. There are over 350 bird species, 330 freshwater and marine fish and 80 mammal species. Jonathia has no national animal, though the ring ouzel, a passerine bird native to the Tapanthian region, is recognised as the national bird. Jonathia has many native animals, including the mauve goose and the temmie.
Jonathia also has a large variety of flora. Several plants are native to Jonathia, including yoyleberries, and the Plevell tree.
==See also==
Category:Jonathia
Category:Countries
Category:Countries in Tapanthia
Category:Tapanthia