The United Socialist States of Sparunica

The United Socialist States of Sparunica is a large desert nation in Eastern Albarkhand, bordering Zulunazia, Iluke, Swaderic, Central Kingdom, Thukutele and Futhekile.

1. History
2. Geography
3. Politics
4. Economy
5. Demographics
6. Culture

### History

Sparunica began as a small British colony in what is now the state of Espa, known as British Espa. The colony was established in June of 1769 by Captain James Cook. The colony remained within the borders of Espa for around 100 years, until growing hostility from native tribes sparked the conflict known as the Anglo-Tribal War (1867-1872 CE).

The Anglo-Tribal War was fought between British Espa, which received much support from the rest of the British Empire, and the Muungano Wa Kikabila, known in English as the Tribal Coalition. The Coalition formed in 1864 in an effort to fight back against the growing British influence in the area. When Coalition forces began raiding British settlements in Espa and trade caravans war was declared. The conflict saw the rise of several esteemed British military leaders, two of which would lead the colony as viceroys after the war. By 1869 British forces had pushed the Coalition into retreat, and began invading native land. After 5 years of war the conflict ended with the creation of British Sparunica and the scattering of the Coalition. Many of the Coalition's forces fled into the lands of Thukutele and Futhekile, where they continued raiding from to this day. Some of the southern tribes were instead pushed into the land now known as Iluke, where they formed their own kingdom. After 50 years relations between the Castilarns and Ilukens began to mend, and a large group of natives built the city of Ilukeston in Castilar. Despite this, many Ilukens still harbour resentment and sometimes hatred towards Sparunicans, in particular Castilarns.

During the First and Second World Wars many Sparunicans joined in the war effort, whether by fighting themselves or providing vital resources. It is estimated that around 500,000 Sparunican troops fought in each of the World Wars. Sparunican oil rigs were essential to the war effort, so many troops were deployed to secure and protect them from attack.

The provisional government of Sparunica began petitioning for independence in 1953, in the hope of joining other ex-colonies as sovereign nations. Ten years later on the 2nd of May 1963 the British crown granted Sparunica independence, and thus the Republic of Sparunica was formed. Within a few months Jaykob Ruggles took power with his fascist party, beginning his reign of terror over the people of Sparunica. Any dissidents were sent directly to concentration camps, that is if they were not executed first. Not only were they sent there, but their families were also taken. This continued for 15 years until the 1978 revolution.

In 1978 a group of revolutionaries led by Hale Yoxell began attacking fascist strongholds, gradually stockpiling their weaponry and contacting other nations they felt might offer them support. Being communists and socialists the only nations they believed would assist them were the Soviet Union, the People's Republic of China, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Republic of Cuba. They were offered some assistance by the Chinese, Vietnamese and Soviets, with Cuba unable to access the nation. The revolutionaries began by liberating various concentration camps in Central Sparunica, gradually gathering a popular following. This caused many towns to revolt against their local governments, declaring them property of the people of the revolution. By September the revolutionaries, who knew themselves as the Sparunican People's Liberation Army (SPLA), were at the suburbs of Sansee, fighting in the streets against the national army. It was at this time that a few native warlords led their tribes to war against Sparunica, in an attempt to regain land that had previously been their's. Namely, the Citlali, Huetzi, Tlahcuih and Acalan tribes formed a temporary alliance in order to fight against their common enemy, the Sparunicans. As native tribesmen began making their way into Sparunica, encountering both revolutionary and national troops, the revolution came to a close as Hale Yoxell, Douglas Bird and their troops led an assault against Ruggles' presidential compound. Many revolutionaries died in the assault, but it was successful. Ruggles was dragged from his office to the docks, where he was executed by use of the "upright jerker" technique. The original intention was that his neck would break, but the crane used did not lift him quickly enough, leading to him being strangled to death instead. Several other high ranking fascists were also executed in the docks, many by mobs of angered ex-prisoners. Whilst Yoxell and Bird attempted to control the situation, many of these fascists were executed in vile manners, such as necklacing.

With the end of the revolution, the new socialist government began fighting back against the native invaders, who had taken the city of Astrin.