Agnolia

Flag of the Republic of Agnolia

**Agnolia**, officially the **Republic of Agnolia** (Agnolian: *Republik des Agnolja*), is a country located in Eastern Merkopa. It is bounded by the Valgos Channel to the east and the Markian Sea to the south. The country shares land borders with Rumburg to its north and Sordland to the southwest, as well as maritime borders with Valgsland to the east. It has an estimated population of 11 million. Its capital and largest city is Staalport and is currently led by Prime Minister Maartin Van Hoorten.

Despite the fact that Agnolia is considered a minor power within Eastern Merkopa, it is at the heart of a geopolitical dispute with Valgsland regarding Heljiland, which has intensified over the years since 1920. Historically a neutral power, Agnolia has currently grown closer with the Arcasian bloc, though it remains diplomatically close to Sordland.

The country is famous for its steel, coal and fish. It arguably has one of the weakest economies in Eastern Merkopa and an average civil rights record with very good political freedoms. Despite being a capitalist country, a large group of their population are believed to be sympathetic to Malenyevism and Valgslandian Socialism. It is the 18th largest economy by nominal GDP. It is a member of the OMEC and the Alliance of Nations.

## History

### Early History

The name of the land was given to it by the Agno tribes when they first settled in the region in the early 7th century following a mass famine caused by extreme weather in Northern Merkopa. The Agno were joined by the Sords, Marks, and Valgs in their migration southwards.

The Agno people lived under the reign of the Markian tribe, and later under the Markian Empire, only achieving statehood in the year 1600 with the independence of the Kingdom of Agnolia. The kingdom only lasted 75 years when the Agnolian Queen Lenna married the ruler of the Renan Aristocracy, Erik Renan, and established a union between the two countries. This union is sometimes called the “*Agnolian-Sordish Commonwealth*,” and it lasted until 1740.

### Republican era

Following the death of Queen Lenna in 1740, the country fell into a civil war between three rival families fighting for dominance. The Duke of West Agnolia, however, did not join the conflict, instead opting to remain in the Renan Aristocracy as the region of Agnland. The Republic of Agnolia was established later that year as a merchant republic with a rector at its head. During the Century of Revolutions, the republic transformed into a parliamentary republic. In the 19th century, the country relied heavily on the protection of Sordland against the rising pressure of Rumburg and Valgsland.

Agnolia saw an economic boom in the late 1910’s and expanded their navy throughout the decade. In 1920, Agnolia invaded Heljiland when the island briefly broke free from Valgsland after the Malenyevist revolution. However in the following year, the oil- rich region of Dome was invaded by the Rumburgian army and subsuquently annexed by the kingdom.

Agnolia’s economy started to recede in the late 1930’s and lived through two of the worst economic crises of its history in 1940 and 1951, when Agnolia accepted financial aid from both United Contana and Arcasia to rebuild its economy. During the late 1940’s, more than a million Agnolians emigrated to Sordland, escaping poverty and hunger.

In 1952, Maartin Van Hoorten was elected Prime Minister.

## Foreign Relations

### Sordland

Sordland and Agnolia share a long and cordial history with one another, at one point becoming part of a union with one another in the Renan Aristocracy. However, over the years, that is being questioned. Firstly, Sordland currently has an advantageous trade deal which hurts Agnolia, which is one of the reasons why Maartin Van Hoorten was elected. Second, due to Agnolia's recent economic recessions, Sordland has seen waves of Agnolian immigrants heading to Agnland, which Agnolia will deem as an issue if Sordland decides to block the flow of immigrants. Thirdly, due to Agnolia's isolated position (being sandwiched an expansionist power and a communist power), it has recently pursued closer ties with Arcasia.

### Valgsland

To say that the two nations have a tense relationship is a gross understatement. In the past, non-stop Valgish raids terrorized the kingdom, which only stopped due to Agnolia's union with Sordland. In 1920, Agnolia invaded Heljiland (under the pretense of protecting the Agnolians still present in the island), which had recently gained independence in the chaos of the 1920 Valgish Revolution. The Valgish revolutionaries chose not to intervene in the invasion, instead choosing to consolidate their power in Valgos. After consolidating power, however, the Malenyevist government on Valgsland swiftly condemned the Agnolian invasion and claimed the island as rightful Valgish territory. Additionally, the Valgish navy has been accused of terrorizing Agnolian civilian ships in the Markian Sea. Likewise, Agnolia has received criticism for its treatment of the Heljiland Valgish.

### Rumburg

The expansionist, rogue northern kingdom has always been an existential threat to Agnolia. This pressure is one factor in the country's overdependence on Sordland in military, economic and diplomatic affairs. In 1921, after the death of Alfred II of Rumburg and the ascension of his daughter, Beatrice, the Rumburgian army invaded the Agnolian region of Dome in a single night. The region of Dome was an important oil-producing region. This audacious act crippled the Agnolian economy and likely contributed to the country's decreasing living standards.

## Trivia

* The Heljiland conflict between Agnolia and Valgsland mirrors the Cyprus dispute between Turkey and Cyprus in certain aspects.
* The city of Staalport is inspired by descriptions of Dutch cities. In fact, Staalport is Agnolian for 'canal- port'.

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