Doggerland

Flag of Doggerland

Doggerland, officially the Doggish Socialist Syndicate or Socialist Syndicate of Doggerland (*Doghscesocialistiscesyndicate* or *Socialistiscesyndicate fa Doherland* in Doggish), or The DSS, is a country in Northwestern Europe centred on the Island of Doggerland. It is located on the reclaimed Island of Doggerland occupying much of the former North Sea between Britain, the Netherlands, Jutland, and Scandinavia. Its capital and largest city, Aervigh, is among the largest in the region. While independent since the collapse of the Commonwealth in SD78, its government continues as the sole remnant of the European Union of Socialist Syndicates.

## Geography

The Doggish Socialist Syndicate comprises the entirety of the island of Doggerland, the third largest of the North European Archipelago after Great Britain, as well as the island of Baldey.

The Doggish Socialist Syndicate is divided into three counties (*ambaghten*): County Claddagh (*Kledh-aloag* in Capric), County Saxland (*Saghsland* in Doggish), and County Crovan (*Crofan*), located in the west, centre, and east of the island respectively.

Doggerland is home to two settlements; Pescyng (*Peskh-ynn* in Capric) in the southwest of County Claddagh, and the capital Aervigh along a bay in the east of the island in County Crofan. Canals cut across much of Doggerland, but it is still generally considered one landmass. The DSS does not share any land borders, its claim being coterminous with the island of Doggerland and outlying islands.

A border dispute existed regarding the status of the town of Pescyng as either an integral part of Doggerland's Claddagh County, or as a province of Wales called *Pysgodyn*. This was resolved during the Events of SD78, when Brittany ceased to exist.

## Language

The official language of Doggerland is Doggish (*Doghsce*), a West Germanic language closely related to Low German and English. Doggerland is also home to the Capric language, a Brythonic Celtic language heavily influenced by Welsh, which has dual official status in County Claddagh with Doggish. Due to its history of being a member of the EUSS, German and Dutch are also widely spoken, especially in the capital of Aervigh (also known as Ärwick and Aarwijk in their respective languages). The name of Doggerland in Doggish is 'Doherland'.

## History

The Doggerland Project was first proposed on SD10 as a joint project between the Netherlands and Germany, with work commencing on SD15.

The European Union of Socialist Syndicates, or EUSS, was founded on SD39, with the Doggerland Socialist Syndicate, or DSS, being a founding member, although at this stage still being split between the Dutch and Germans. The first settlement on Doggerland was established on SD44 by Nissin as Pysgodyn (modern Pescyng) as a colony of Wales, although it would be transferred back to the EUSS. On SD52, using soil gathered during the Breton and EUSS occupation of Cherashaw, reclamation of Doggerland accelerated.

On SD68, Crovanian (Camston de Crofanere) was appointed Head of the DSS, establishing its capital of Aervigh, and began populating it with villagers, including some Testificans. During the early Crovanian administration, Doggerland began acting more independently from the rest of the Union, ending German-Dutch joint administration, establishing a national language, among other policies of autonomy.

Doggerland, along with the rest of the EUSS, was annexed into the Atlantine Confederation in SD77, although DSS governance continued as if there was no such change. This slowness to conform to the changing overhead situation would prove slightly beneficial, however, as the Commonwealth would collapse suddenly during the Events of SD78, leaving Doggerland independent, still retaining most of its EUSS-based institutions.

In SD92, the Atlantine Commonwealth was reestablished, and Doggerland joined as an autonomous region on SD96, as such retaining its DSS government. In the only Commonwealth election held during Doggerland's tenure, the DSS won 18 seats in the Commonwealth Senate in Cordoba. Following the SD109 coup d'état overthrowing the Atlantine Commonwealth, Doggerland, along with all other member states bordering the North Sea, left the newly established Atlantine Commissariat.

Today, while the Doggish Socialist Syndicate is a fully independent country, it also remains as the sole remaining member of the European Union of Socialist Syndicates. The flat land of the artificial island is being terraformed into more naturalistic rolling hills, and the population of Doggerland continues to grow steadily.

## Relation to the State of Testifica

Before their arrival in Doggerland in SD68, Crovanian resided in the State of Testifica, the homeland of the villagers, in Africa. While a patron of the Testificate, and being the namesake of the outer territories of Testifica (the Crovanian Testificate; former Egyptian Sudan given personally to Crovanian before being given solely to the Testificate) they possess no governing authority in the villager-led country. Besides Crovanian's involvement and a few Testifican settlers and resources, there are no outstanding relations between the State of Testifica and the Doggish Socialist Syndicate, and the two nations are separate and unrelated.