Variadia

The Empire of Variadia (variadian: Empèr de Variadia) is a constitutional federal monarchy located in central Artemia. It borders to the west with Velselexo, and to the north with Samotkhe; the Amomosean Sea separates it from Lusjki and Mursland, while the Eurybian Sea separates it from Kesh.

Anciently home of the Arvean civilisation, based along the Thala river, the Variadian region was first settled by the TBD(Greeks) who founded the ancient cities of Garea and Platea, and then conquered and massively Helticised by the Heltic Empire. Shattered into multiple city states after the collapse of the Heltic Empire and the barbaric invasions, during the Middle Ages the country was progressively unified by the Grand Duchy of Gaenora ruled by the Prevan dynasty, which prides itself in being one of the longest continuous reigning families in the world. The Renaissance Era sees the proclamation of the Empire of Variadia in 1496 and the foundation of Remoria, current capital and marvelous example of a Renaissance planned city built under the reign of Remis II the Great and his son Sevas IV the Magnificent. The golden age of Variadia however is widely acknowledged to have been under empress Candia during the XVII century; the first and only female ruler that ever ruled Variadia conceded in fact the Charta Augustalis which for the first time separated the legislative, judiciary and executive powers and put an end to absolutism in the country. Candia is also known for the great impulse she gave to the Variadian industry and commerce thanks to mercantilism, which granted the country enough revenues to invest in a massive artistic and cultural production as well as laying the bases for the industrialisation of the country in the XIX-XX centuries.

Nowadays known for her picturesque maritime and mountain landscapes, trains, classical music and luxury products (mostly wine, furniture and silk), Variadia is a well developed country and a popular destination for students thanks to the high reputation of the Treval University in Gaenora and the Damanosta College in Arion.

Etymology
According to linguists, the name Variadia may have multiple origins; it could either come from Latin “viridis” meaning “green”, hence “the green land”, or from proto-Variadian “valada” meaning “valley” as referred to the valley of the Thala river. The name however appears as it is already under the Heltic Empire which divided the land between the provinces of Variadia Gareathis and Variadia Placentina. The Middle Ages saw the name being progressively abandoned as the multiple states in which the country was divided chose to occasionally unite under the name of “League of the Two Seas” to fight against Velselexo during the Highlands War and against the Samot during the Izvor Valley War. The name was still used however to indicate the language and the populations that spoke it as opposed to any other population that didn’t. Finally during the Renaissance, when the empire was eventually unified, the rediscovery of the classical literature and the need to find a name for the new country brought the ancient term Variadia back in use.

Economy
Variadia's economy is nowadays heavily tertiarised, with 70.1% of the total productivity made of services, finances, banking activities, hi-tech and tourism. About 25.8% of the total productivity is then covered by industrial activities, mostly pharmaceuticals, textile, mechanical and food processing (especially confectionery) industries; clocks and watches specifically make out Variadia's most prided industry. Finally, 4,1% is dedicated to agriculture, with the main cultivations being olives, vines, wheat and fruits in the plains and along the rivers, and to farming on the mountains. In the past fishing was well developed particularly in the gulfs, but nowadays it is rapidly being replaced by pisciculture.

Variadia's currency is the dama, whose value is determined through an autonomous monetary policy and a state fixed exchange rate.