Mero-Curgovina

Mero-Curgovina, officially the Commonwealth of Merandy and Curgovina (Govras: Comingode ie Merandy ond Curgovy), is a in Anterra. Following a sixteen year period of civil unrest under a fascist government, the Commonwealth was founded on the traditional ideals of Mero-Curgov unity and economic and political freedoms. The nation consists of NUMBER provinces and NUMBER territories. These provinces make up mainland Mero-Curgovina and contain both the national capital of Peranthrun and the historic center of Corae. Additional population centers include Durans, Wauthry, Silling, and Ording. The minor territories of Mero-Curgovina are all historical overseas colonies, which operate semi-autonomously under the authority and the protection of the Commonwealth.

The union was originally established as the United Kingdom of the Merands and the Curgovs in 1407 by the unification of the two petty kingdoms under the Casir Olaric of the Merands. Officially recognizing his Curgov ancestry and respecting the Curgov peoples as a kingdom of equal established them as loyal participants in the twin realm and staunch defenders of its' sovereignty. This power was maintained by the line of Olaric for nearly two hundred and seventy years as an absolute monarchy before the rising power of the merchant class lead to the establishment of the the first Mero-Curgov parliament (Govras: Comingodesdag) and the Constitution of the Govs. The historic year of 1671 set the foundations for the modern Commonwealth, and established an official Union of the two peoples that would again last over two hundred and fifty years. Collapse would only arise again with a failed involvement in the Grand Campaigns, opening the door for fascism to uproot the traditional values of the state.

The modern Mero-Curgovina controls only a small portion of Artemia, but remains prominent on the world stage through the its' strong economic position and global links to commerce and political dealings across Antera. The country is known for a historical position as a Eurybian Sea trading power, early colonial figure, and for the emphasis placed by the government on the wealth and high standard of living of its' peoples. Despite its' small area and population, the nation contains a multitude distinct ethnic groups recognized by the government united under the historic banner of Merandy and Curgovina's union.

Etmyology
"Mero-Curgovina" is an abbreviation of the name "Merandy-Curgovina". Although Merandy remains the same in both Anglic and Govras, Curgovina is an Anglic transliteration of the more traditional Curgovy. Both Merandy and Curgovy come from the names of local tribal peoples, these being the Merands and the Curgovs respectively. The word Merand is derived from the Govras word mari meaning "of the sea." The word Curgov derives from two words: the Govras word curns meaning "strange" and the Austrasian Gothic word goth referring to that ancient group of peoples.

The Govras word Comingode is also an Anglic transliteration, literally meaning "common good" but more commonly translated to the familiar political term of "Commonwealth."