Astina

**Astina** (Asbanian: *Ashtinë*; Lorbian: *Аштина, Aština*) is the capital and most-populous city of Notosha. Located in the southeast of the country, on the border with Asbania, Astina is additionally the capital and center of the District of Astina. With a population of 397,810 in the city and 902,550 in the metropolitan area, Astina is the cultural, financial, educational, and political center of Notosha. As of 2020, approximately 59.1% of the Notoshan population resides within the Astina metropolitan area, while 26.0% resides in the city itself.

Beginning as a town inhabited exclusively by Asbanians, following the absorption of the territory of modern-day Notosha into the Kingdom of Lorbia, Astina became part of the incorporated Notoshar Protectorate in the 16th-century. The city subsequently became the capital of the Protectorate and began to diversify, with new Lorbian migrants arriving in the area. Tensions between the Asbanian and Lorbian populations began to intensify in the 19th and 20th-centuries, especially following the establishment of the Federal Republic of Alaslavia in 1937. The dissolution of FR Alaslavia occurred in 1994, when Astina became incorporated into the newly created Republic of Lorbia. After Lorbians elected the right-wing nationalist Lorbian Party of Freedom and Branko Milošević into office in the 1994 presidential election, tensions in Astina between Asbanians and Lorbians began to reach their peak. Keeping with Milošević's promise to expand Lorbian influence, the Lorbian Armed Forces invaded Notosha, beginning the Notosha War (1994–2000). By 1997, Lorbian forces had reached Astina, and fighting between Lorbia and the Notoshan Liberation Army (NLA) broke out in the city.

During the Notosha War, much of the city was damaged, and many residents were killed. In 1994, the city had a population of about 450,000, with more than 20,000 residents being murdered or tortured by Lorbian forces by the war's end in 2000. Additionally, more than 75,000 residents left Astina for other countries as displaced peoples and refugees, some returning to the city after the war had ended. The Notosha War was ended in 2000, amidst international intervention from the Supranational Council (SC). Following the end of the war, Astina became the capital city of SC-administered Notosha, the *de facto* independent state and *de jure* autonomous region of Lorbia. Following the 2010 declaration of Notoshan independence, Astina was made its capital city.

## Education

Astina is home to a number of educational institutions, and is considered to be the educational capital of the country. The largest and most prestigious university in Notosha – the University of Astina – is located in the city; the university is a center for research in Southeastern Eurea, and additionally provides thousands of jobs for residents. The University of Astina is additionally the second-largest university in the Asbanian-speaking world, behind only the University of Liana, and attracts students from several Asbanian-speaking territories.

### Higher education

* Astina Polytechnic Institute
* Astina University of Arts
* Notosha College of Business and Commerce
* University of Astina

### International schools

* Astina International School
* Maldonian School of Astina
* Notosha Lungarian School