Syrvania

The Syrvanian flag (post monarchy)

Parliamentary Republic

→ from 509 to 524

Military Dictatorship

→ 524-537

Puppet Republic

→ after 537

Minister Bartoniy Kruvik (after 524)

The Republic of Syrvania was a small nation in the south of the continent of Altirus. Syrvania is by no means a major military power, and never really has been. Nevertheless, circumstances have driven this small country to build for war, a venture that has been supported by the nations of the Lusivakian Commonwealth.

## Geography

Syrvania is delimited by Lusivakia in the North-west, Ethosera in the North-east, Hetland in the South-east and the Kartasian sea in the South-west.

The country is divided in two parts by the Pordski mountains. Almost all the infrastructures are located east of it, in the capital, Pansk, and in its surroundings. This region is also a important production era for the agriculture, thanks to the river which crosses it from the Lusivakian border to the Kartasian sea.

The rest of the population lives in small tows scattered throughout the country, mainly in its eastern region, and not to far from the Vozst river, that allow agriculture, the biggest sector in the Syrvanian small economy.

 History

### **The Unification of the Kingdom**

The first outburst of Syrvania in the Altirus history was during the Craenate period, arround -200. At this time, the tribes who lived in the western region of the present country decided to form an alliance against the Craenate Empire, which occupied the most important part of the lands east of the Pordski mountains. This coalition succeeded in conquering and holding all regions up to the Vozst river, marking the border of the futur Syrvanian Kingdom. Craenate incursions over the Vozst persisted for the better part of a century, until the Empire's adoption of a non-expansionist doctrine with The Decree of Vanterhaal.

The Kingdom of Syrvania drew inspiration from the feudalist system that existed in the region under Craenate rule. However, in keeping with traditionnal Syrvanian social structure, control of lands was given to families rather than individuals.

Near the end of the last century before the collapse of the Craenate Empire, rekindled expansionism under Emperor Kragen the Sunderer combined with waning influence of the Empire allowed Syrvania to expand further outward. The Kingdom of Syrvania was proclamed almost two centuries later, in 211. This scheme will hold the government during the next 400 years and stay neutral in most of the foreign conflicts (such as the Third Spat).

### **The formation of the Republic and its fall**

At the middle of the 5th century, Syrvania's largest neighbor, Akrovia, proclaimed a "democratic" regime known as the Akrovian Republic after a revolution that spilled the old monarchy. During the following decades, almost all the nations in the western part of Altirus had switch their way of governing and adopted similar regimes or republics. Notably Elandris, a new Bueracratic Republic, became the great counterpart to Bressia's in a rivalry control over the sea's of the world. (mostly the Kartasian sea)

The Syrvanian king, Fredorik II, seeing the things moving arround him, decided to abdicate and to make himself Head Chancellor of the newly formed Syrvanian Republic. The crown on the flag, a strong symbol, is removed. Of course, most nobles do not appreciate this turnaround and a resistance front is formed under the leadership of Duchess Arynna Urczek. However, the aristocracy is hated by the Syrvanian people and their only support is Chergaria, far to the East, who secretly sent supplies to help with a possible revolution, which never happened.

Thus, the years passed and the assembly carried out many reforms, most of them focused on infrastructures. The country was modernized and new firms, like BN Motros and Aerodomy, appeared. However, the impact of this change of government remained imperceptible in the most isolated regions (that is to say, the whole country with the exception of the capital, Pansk). However, the democratic system was quite slow and began to bore the Syrian people.

But the newly formed government was very close to the Commonweatlh. It was the straw that broke the camel's back for the Chergarian Empire, already annoyed by the fall of the Monarchy. In addition, the Syrvanian border with Lusivakia is of strategic interest. For the Sovereigns League, this is an opportunity to set foot in the western part of Altirus.

### **The Chergarian Invasion**

The following year, in 524, Chergaria sent an expeditionary force to Hetland, an ally of the League, to prepare the invasion of Syrvania. War was declared a few months later, during the summer. Naturally this invasion doesn't go over well for the small Republic, the ennemy is pretty slow but it's also unstoppable.

During the war, poor decision-making in the Assembly paved the way for the Nationalist Party. .The Head Chancellor Fredorik (the old king) decided to give full powers to Bartoniy Kruvik, the Minister of Defense, a member of the Nationalist Party. Kruvik has finished entering the alliance with the Commonwealth and has appointed General Andri Larmos as head of the army. During the winter, Elandris, Akrovia and other Allied republics sent supplies, weapons and volunteers to the Syrvanian Army. Moreover, the winter complicates the crossing of the Pordski mountains for the Chergarian armored divisions. The small and ill-equipped forces of Syrvania succeeded in repelling the invaders, thanks to the hybrid guerrilla and blitzkreig tactics developed by Larmos.

It is not a total victory (some plots of land near the Hettic border remained under the control of the enemy) but Chergaria is forced to sign the Treaty of Pansk, in the summer 525. To avoid a new continental war, it has been declared that, in the future, the members of both alliances will have to remain neutral in all conflicts involving the Westenlands countries.

### **The Domination era of Syrvania under the Dictatorship**

After this unexpected and dazzling victory, the newly formed military dictatorship is assured (the last monarchist partisans had left the country for the East after the mysterious death of their leader, the Duchess Arynna Urczek). In addition, Chief Chancellor Fredorik died a few months before the end of the war, allowing Bartoniy Kruvik to remain at the head of the government as the savior of Syrvania. With the help of the Assembly, mainly the National Party, Kruvik adopted various laws which gave him more power. Most Syrvanians agreed with these reforms, considering the old Republic as too ineffective.

The main way the Nationalist Party maintained control was a tight grip on information through the office of civil interest.

But Kruvik wanted more than just rebuilding the country, he wanted to expand it. The perfect candidate for an invasion was Hetland, the kingdom that helped Chergaria during the past war. This neighbor was a long-standing enemy, since the first Leersog war of 416, where Syrvania lost part of its lands and its honor. But this country was also ill-prepared for an armed conflict and the annexation of Leersog (a rich hettic region) was very interesting. Thus, Kruvik urged General Andri Larmos to draw up an invasion plan for the summer of 526, just a year after the signing of the Pansk treaty. Of course, most of the Syrvanian forces were unprepared and the Hettic defensive positions (known as the Perlechkin line) were already quite impressive. However, Kruvik insisted and the invasion was launched in the early fall of 526.

It was the beginning of the Second Leersog War. The Syrvanian blitzkreig doctrine combined with the incapacity of the Hettic officers led to a quick victory. After a year, the Kingdom of Hetland was defeated, despite the help of the other members of the League. The Leersog is annexed to Syrvania and the old monarchy was replaced by a puppet state known as the Hettic Republic. Kruvik was at the height of his glory at the time, and no one in Syrvania dared to criticize his policy. In fact, almost all Syrvanians agreed with him.

After the capitulation of Hetland, Syrvania turned it's attention to her northeastern neighbor Ethosera quickly overrunning the kingdoms defences. After discovering Hettic Resistance cells operating from Lavinia, Syrvania Justified the invasion of another country, quickly bringing the kingdom to a crushing defeat.

Syvanias last major invasion would be Marazheivo, which although another progressivist nation the want for a greater sphere of influence brought these 2 nations to war, although much to the anger of Elandris and Akrovia, Syvania's main backers.

### The Fall of Syrvania

By 540 Syrvania had become a regional power while under the Kruvik regime, but Syrvania was infringing on Elandric interests after their defensive expansionist policy had proceeded for a decade or so, plus was sparking some infighting among Commonwealth nations. Things came to a head when Strynovich died and Kruvik took full authority and had something of a prolonged mental breakdown, refused to give in to Commonwealth demands, and now that Akrovia was no longer backing them up, Elandris decided to intervene and bring them under control, taking down the National Party's regime in the process.

The Invasion of Syvania was launched from Lusivakia in a invasion similar in strategy to the Chergarian invasion. within weeks Pansk had fallen, and with it Party Chairman Bartoniy Kruvik hung himself in his office. Syrvanian resistance continued for several months but this quickly became futile. After the fall of Syrvania Heltand became a proper republic that was free of Syrvanian control. General Larmos had disappeared in the invasion and was believed that he was leading Syrvanian partisans, but this was found to not be true when Larmos's body turned up in his parent's old house, where he had died of dehydration after he had a mental breakdown brought on by a mental disorder he had.

## Army

In 523, when the National Party obtained a majority in the Assembly, the Syrvanian army was ill-equipped. The only motorized vehicles in service were the Civjetsitraktor and a small tankette based on its chassis, the TkCz.1. To overcome this problem, the design of the CzL.1 and CzS.1 was launched, two new tanks designed by BN Motors. The situation of the Air Corps was better, it was equipped with a fairly modern bomber: the SbL.22, and with a large number of reconnaissance planes converted into dive bombers: the SbP.19. But the absence of a real dedicated fighter was a problem during the Chergarian invasion.

After the signing of the Pansk Treaty in 525, Kruvik devoted a lot of resources to the army. Many new vehicles and weapons were developed during this small period of peace. In 526, at the start of the Second Leersog War, the Syrvanian army was one of the most powerful in the Westenlands.

## Navy

At the beginning of the 6th century Syrvania had an aging fleet of sail-steamers and early iron-clads putting her behind her neibors in terms of naval power. throught the 510s and 520s she rebuilt her fleet but never really to any real strength

Fleet strength at the outbreak of the Second Leersog War (Cannon)

2 Zaristom Class Destroyers (NS *Grzegor Dawicz* and NS *Ilo Konstiyv)*, 2 Oslan Class Escort Ships, 1 Sazys class minesweeper, 4 Dzvora Class Corvettes, 12 ZB-4 class torpedo boats, ~28 Z.10/27 class river support boats, several armed trawlers, barges, and Ferries