Esmena

**Esmena**, officially the **Co-operative Government of Esmena** (Esmen: ᜐᜒᜅ᜔ᜑᜓᜅ᜔ ᜆ᜔ᜐᜒᜈᜋ᜔ᜊᜅᜌ᜔ ᜐᜁ ᜁᜐ᜔ᜋᜒᜈ; *Singhung Tsinambangay sai Ismena*) was an archipelagic nation located south of the Dåglialänder island group. It was recorded to have existed during the First World, and its territory consisted of 18 islands, collectively known as the Esmen Archipelago. Preserved documents suggest that the nation's government was established by Eng'an, an organization that discovered the archipelago in AD 2481. Its capital was called Tagpil, which was known for being an entrepot of trade between the Core Worlds and Eternia during the First World.

## Esmena

*ᜁᜐ᜔ᜋᜒᜈ*

Flag

### Leader(s)

Sima Angthikong (AD 2492-2508)
Ieremaia Hasadpana (AD 2508-2520)
Beniamin Magadan (AD 2520-2526)
Iohamarko Serak (AD 2526-2532)
Allen Hasadpana (AD 2532-?)

### Motto

"ᜁᜐ᜔ᜋᜒᜈ᜵ ᜄᜒᜈᜓᜃᜓ ᜐᜁ ᜑᜐᜇ᜔ᜉᜈᜈ᜔᜶"; *"Ismena, Ginuko sai Hasadpanan."*
"Esmena, Gentleman of the West."

### Language(s)

Esmen
Bănhan
English

### Ethnic groups

Subulanan
Dåglialänder Aborginal
Bănhan

### Religion

Eng'anite Christianity
Esmen Folk Religion
Teism

### Demonym(s)

Esmen
Esmenan
Isminang

### Predecessor

Subulanan Confederacy
Independent State of Buul

It was mainly populated by the Subulanan peoples, who migrated and settled in the archipelago around 80 APF. Majority of the nation's population followed Christianity, which was spread to the archipelago through Eng'anite missionaries. The nation's main exports were its abundant raw materials, such as iron, copper, various rare earth metals, and pétamines, as well as agricultural products, which were highly sought-after in foreign markets due to their exotic features. The Esmenan economy was highly agriculture-based, although it had already begun to develop a sizeable industry prior to the outbreak of the AD 2539 nuclear war, which caused the collapse of the First World and obscured any further historical records of the country. It is largely agreed by scholars that Esmena, like many of the nations of the First World, was ultimately destroyed by the environmental disaster following the nuclear war.

# Etymology

Subulanan settlers arrived and named the archipelago *Jatu Nei* *Ishmin*, translating to "Land of Ismin" in Old Subulanan. Ismin referred to a figure in Esmen folklore who reconciled the rivalry between the tribes of Subu and Buul, who continued to quarrel despite the threat of the invading *Tajup* (Hybrid) tribes. The term *Ismina* as a name for the islands developed as the Subulanan society began to develop into a state. The arrival of the Eng'anites into the region in the 25th century AD led to the development of the Bănhan name for the archipelago, *Isuména*. The name was then Anglicised as *Esmena*, which became the basis of other languages' terms for the nation and archipelago.

# History

## Early settlements

Prior to Subulanan settlement in the islands, the Esmen archipelago was home to various groups of aborginal Dåglialänder hunter-gatherer and fishing settlements. Findings of carved stone tablets also suggest that these settlements interacted with each other often, sometimes trading and sometimes having war.

Subulanan migration began in AD 2291, with Subulanan peoples migrating from the Southernlands across the Ocean of Prokleto Prazno. Reasons for this extremely risky wave of migration are still unknown, but most records suggest that Subulanan settlements in the Southernlands were being annihilated by hostile hybrid tribes, which pressured the Subulanans to desperately escape their demise. The earliest Subulanan settlements date back to AD 2302, with the discovery of several tombs inscribed with Subulanan writing.

## Emergence of states

As the mid-24th century approached, the Subulanan settlements began rapid development, and eventually, organized governments began to be established. In 2368, the archipelago consisted of two major states: the Subulanan Confederacy and the Independent State of Buul. The relations between the states were notably hostile, and wars between the nations were frequent, until the signing of the Tawis Armistice in 2470, which temporarily ended a century of nearly constant warfare. Although espionage and attempts to destabilize one another were still common, full-scale conflict would be effectively stopped until the outbreak of the Esmen War in AD 2492.

## Esmen War & unification

Contact with people across the Vikatre would be unheard of after the end of the Subulanan migrations, until AD 2481, when an Eng'anite vessel grounded on the island of Nalan Malu in the northeastern coast of the Esmen archipelago. Assisted by the locals, the ship and crew would safely return to Aigun island in northeastern Europa. A month later, the Eng'anites would come back to the island, establishing trade with both the nations of Subul and Buul. The island would also become a trading post and dock for Eng'anite shipping after it was purchased from the Subulanan government in exchange for $10M's worth in industrial investments.

The influx of advanced technology and weapons from the established trade would begin to embolden far-right wing movements in both nations, and nationalism began to alarmingly expand in the mid-2480s. This would result in many radical factions gaining considerable influence in the governments of Subul and Buul by the end of the decade, and eventually, simultaneous coups of both nations' governments in February 6, AD 2492 would lead to the breaking of the Tawis Armistice, as well as civil war within both nations.

Forces loyal to the government were largely outnumbered and unpopular, suffering tremendous losses within the first days of the war. Only scattered pockets remained, mostly concentrated in the city of Tagpil. In February 8th, the sinking of an Eng'anite cargo vessel off the Sea of Ishmin would see Eng'anite intervention into the war, responding with airstrikes on the capital cities Makadan and Anta. In Tagpil, the exiled governments of the Subulanan and Bulanan states would hold the Kilakanpandaian Convention in February 9th, establishing the Co-operative Government of Esmena. However, due to the disarray and lack of organization, the Esmen Congress asked the Eng'anites to take over the government. Although reluctant, Eng'an would accept the offer, establishing a provisional administration under Eng'anite Council Elder Sima Angthikong, who was appointed as Governor-General of Esmena.

The coalition of loyalist forces in Tagpil were reorganized into the Esmen Federal Armed Forces, and advanced equipment began to be supplied into the Esmenan military. This resulted in the successful repulsion of Bulanan assaults on the city in the summer of AD 2492, and ending the siege laid on the city by September. Tagpil would then become a staging point for Operation Hahua in November 4, AD 2492 , a joint offensive between the Eng'an Defense Organization and the Esmen Federal Army which would reverse the situation of the war, ending in the seizure of both Makadan in January 7, AD 2493 and Anta in January 30, respective capitals of Subul and Buul.

This victory, would however not end the war, and it would take another two years to force the capitulation of the Subulanan government and another ten years to pacify several Bulanan insurrections, even after the Buul State's formal surrender in July 8, AD 2495. Virtually the entire archipelago would be controlled by Esmena by AD 2495, but due to a highly unpopular government, high presence of rebel groups and continued ethnic tensions, Esmena continued to be an unstable country, forcing Governor-General Angthikong to extend his term for 13 more years.

## Restoration & independence

After the end of the Esmen War, Eng'an continued to rebuild and reform the government institutions of Esmena, and as a result, Eng'anite Bănhan influence would begin to be seen in Esmenan culture during the early 26th century AD. By the late 2500s, when violence began to subside and radical ideology began to dwindle among the population, Eng'an would end military rule in AD 2508, with Angthikong's resignation from his position in May 21. The day after, the first general election would be held in the newly-unified Esmena, electing Ieremaia Hasadpana of the Esmen Unity League as Grand Governor.