Mero-Curgovina

Mero-Curgovina (Govic: 𐌼𐌴𐍂𐌰𐌽𐌳𐌹𐌹 𐍉𐌽𐌳 𐌺𐌿𐍂𐌲𐍉𐍆𐌹𐌹, tr. Merandy ond Curgovy), officially the Commonwealth of Merandy and Curgovina (Govic: 𐌺𐍉𐌼𐌹𐌽𐌲𐍉𐌳𐌴 𐌹𐌴 𐌼𐌴𐍂𐌰𐌽𐌳𐌹𐌹 𐍉𐌽𐌳 𐌺𐌿𐍂𐌲𐍉𐍆𐌹𐌹,  tr. Comingode ie Merandy ond Curgovy), is a  in Anterra. The Commonwealth was founded on the traditional ideals of Mero-Curgov ethnic unity and of social, economic and political freedoms for all peoples. The nation consists of nine provinces and two territores. 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 Sathia, Efen, 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 first established in 1536 as the United Kingdom of the Merands and the Curgovs (Govic: Reca ie Merigovaz ond Curgovaz Vuno) when the Merand Prince Ermangairn the Younger conquered the Curnathican provinces to secure his inheritance of Lower Curnathica. Officially recognizing the Sigrician church and rewarding the Curgov and Artemsch peoples as staunch defenders of its' sovereignty ensured a stable twin kingdom, though one racked by communications breakdown. This power was maintained by the line of Ermaingairn as an absolute monarchy for over one hundred years before the rising power of the nopeling class lead to the establishment of the the first Mero-Curgov parliament (Govic: Recydiat.) The Kingdom would later expand in 1771 with the surrender of the Marian church in Besra and the Treaty of Milescia, which brought the Besran islands into a union with the mainland. Collapse would only come about following a Pyrrhic victory in the Grand Campaigns, opening the door for fascism to oust a weakened monarchy.

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 a commercial net stretching across Anterra. The country is known for a historical position as a Eurybian Sea trading power, traditional shipbuilder, 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 Govic, 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 Govic word mari meaning "of the sea." The word Curgov derives from two words: the Govic word curns meaning "strange" and the Austrasian Gothic word goth referring to that ancient group of peoples. Although initially appearing demeaning, the term curns was used historically to refer to foreign territory. Curgov can then be interpreted as meaning "the foreign people".

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

Demographics
With a 2012 estimate population of 51,224,400, Mero-Curgovina is one of the most densely populated countries in Artemia. Like its' neighbour Austrasia the Commonwealth is considered to be bicultural, with Curgovs and Merands making up three quarters of the population. The nation has a liberal policy regarding immigration, but despite this most of the country's minority groups consist of local neighbors or overseas colonial subjects. Although sometimes controversial, the Curgovs and Merands are often considered to be one group of Gov peoples. This is disputed primarily by speakers of the Highland Curgovic dialect, who consider their people to be independent of both the Curgovs and the Merands.

Religion
Although officially promoting a platform of state atheism, the Commonwealth is intrinsically linked to the local religion of Panecorism. A 2006 study reported that while only 33% of the population considered themselves to follow Panecorist teachings, and 68% of the population agreed that Panecorism had an influence in either their lives or that of their immediate family. Throughout the nation's history there have been multiple conversions to Christianity, though many Christian converts continue to participate in Panecorist traditions. Trade with Agrana y Griegro introduced Marianism to the country as early as the 600s, which has spread to dominate Merand society despite no official conversion of the state. Conversely, Curgovs more frequently follow Sigricianism, which arose in rejection of what were considered by the nobleman Sigric and his followers to be Marian and Hermetic vices.

Military
The Royal Armed Forces of Merandy and Curgovina (Govrad: Recamahts ie Merandy ond Curgovy), also known as the Royal Commonwealth Army (Comingode Recamahts) is the combined land, navy, air force, forces of Mero-Curgovina. It additionally contains a military police element, fulfilling the role of the in the Commonwealth. These branches are the Land Army (Landamahts), the Navy (Marina), and the Air Force (Windsmahts), with the Royal Military Police (Reca Mahtspolisa) special police group making up an additional fourth branch of the military, though as a gendarmerie and domestic counter-terrorist unit. There is crossover between the administrative domains of these branches, stemming from the existence of naval and airborne infantry that operate within the Navy and the Air Force rather than as part of the Land Army, but cooperate closely with other infantry groups. As of 2016 manpower is reported at around 370,000 personnel, with 95,000 reservists and 275,000 in active duty.