Siovanija and Teusland

Siovanija & Teusland, officially the United Republics of Siovanija and Teusland, is a country in southwestern Atlantian Oceania. An island nation, it lies between what are known within the country as the Nordsee, Ostsee, Sudsee and Westsee. To the east, the closest neighbour is Torisakia, while to the north and west, the closest neighbour is Valanora.

For thousands of years, various nomadic tribes have inhabited the island on both ends. In Teusland, various groups eventually formed around urban centres, and during the medieval age these groups developed into various principalities. In Siovanija, a similar situation was seen. The Siovanijan people managed to unite first, however, and conquered the various Teus groups during the 1100s, forming the First Siovanijan Empire. Rebellion in Teusland, however, defeated this Empire and once again freed the Teus lands. Infighting between the various duchies, however, led to the creation of the Kingdom of Teusland, and after conquering the Siovanijan lands in 1417, the declaration of the Teus Empire. The Teus Empire was a colonial power which colonized various states including Sankt Konrad and Prinz-Eugens-Land amongst others. In 1808, the Siovanijan Revolution began in Borograd, where liberal republicans revolted against the imperial government and an independent Siovanijan Republic was declared. Tension between the two independent states built up over the next decades, eventually culminating in the Great War in 1888. The war, which lasted until 1895, cost a total of 3.4 million lives, and led to the collapse of both nation's governments and the creation of the United Republics of Siovanija and Teusland. Despite an attempt at a coup d'etat in the 1940s by a group of Teus ultranationalists, the nation has largely progressed on a united and democratic path since.

Today, the United Republics is a federal parliamentary republic whose head of state is a President, and head of government is the Chancellor. The role of President is mostly ceremonial, while the Chancellor is the day-to-day leader of the state. The country has a population of nearly 75 million, and its capital city is Borograd. The largest urban centre, and financial capital, is in St. Jakob, while the 'cultural capital' is the city of Stelburg. The largest urban area is Neuteussen, the industrial region between Stelburg and St. Jakob.

Siovanija & Teusland is a power with a strong economy, and is known as a leader in industrial and technological fields. A highly developed country with a very high standard of living, it offers universal health care, vast social programs, tuition-free university education and environmental protection regulations. While spending much of the 20th century in isolation on the foreign stage, in recent years the country has looked to expand its ties within the region, including forming a strategic alliance with the Kingdom of Banija. The country is also known for its great deal of cultural history.

Etymology
In the Teus language, the name 'Teusland' (tɔɪz-lænd) comes from the Old High Teus word 'tiuri,' which translates as 'dear' or 'rich'. The world 'tiuri' in modern Teus is the word 'teuer,' which means 'expensive.' The nation name began as 'Teuerste-land,' or 'dearest land,' and eventually was shortened to 'Teusland.' The word 'Teus' eventually came to be seen as separate from its original meaning, and instead the term for the people of Teusland, including in various forms as 'Teussen' or 'Teussische.' The Latin name 'Teussia' was often used to refer to the land in antiquity. In the Siovanijan language, the Teus lands were originally known as simply 'Tuje' or 'Tuci,' meaning 'foreign' or 'foreigners.' Pronunciation difficulties in later years meant many Siovanijans referred to it as 'Tujeland,' however, in standardized modern Siovanijan the country is simply known as 'Teusland,' though some older generations may still use the old name.

In the Siovanijan language, the name 'Siovanija' (siː-əʊ-veɪn-iː-jə) comes from the term 'Land of the Siovanes,' the old demonym of the Siovanijan people. The etymology of Siovanijan is more uncertain. Some have theorized that it comes from the term 'slava,' meaning glory, and others from the term 'slovo', meaning people who speak the same language as each other. The country name has often been standardized as 'Siovania' or, in Teus, 'Siowenien.' The Teus word 'Siowenien' is simply a direct translation of 'Siovania.' Another Teus term that was common in the middle ages was 'Westerreich,' or 'Western Empire,' given Siovanija's location on the western half of the island. The term 'Westler' is still sometimes used in Teusland to refer to Siovanijans, particulary in older generations, and it was most common during the 1800s.

History
Humans have been present in Siovanija & Teusland for hundreds of thousands of years, with fossil records dating back at least that far in both halves of the country. The earliest artifact found in the country is a 43,000-year-old flute, found in the Stelburg area, which is the earliest proof of human existence.

Ancient History
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Siovanijan Empire and Rebellion
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Creation of the Teus Empire
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The Imperial Golden Age
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Siovanijan Revolution and Build-up to War
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The Great War
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Unification
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Modern Era
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Geography
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Politics
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Economy
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Demographics
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