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 seven provinces and one territory. 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."

Demographics
With a 2002 estimate population of 27,050,400, 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 a total 84% 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 Merand speakers of the Merandgovras dialect, who consider their people to be independent of both the Curgovs and the overarching Gothic family entirely.

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 53% of the population considered themselves Panecorist, and 68% of the population agreed that Panecorism was influential 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 continuted to participate in Panecorist traditions. Mero-Curgovinan Christianity is widely disregarded by the government as being inessential to the national identity of Mero-Curgovina. Despite this, the country has a long-standing tradition of Christian esotericism. Particularly, the Ancestral Order of the Sword and Cross along with several Rumantsch esoteric groups are considered by historians to have a notable impact upon the religious history of the Commonwealth.

Although the Constitution of the Govs reportedly guarantees freedom of religion, it is argued by Panecorist hardliners that specific wording in the Constitution refers only to Panecorism and Christianity. The argument is used in favour of a ban on Muslim, Jewish, and Artemian Pagan practices. Though all three of these groups represent reportedly less than 3% of the population, internet journalism has brought global criticism regarding religious conservatism in Mero-Curgovina. As of 2015 it was reported that the Comingodesdag had considered a Constitutional Amendment to clarify the language used regarding religious freedoms.

Military
The Royal Armed Forces of Merandy and Curgovina (Govras: 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 (Mahtsmarina), and the Air Force (Windsmahts), with the Royal Military Police (Reca Mahtspolisa) special police group making up an additional fourth branch of the military, despite acting 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 270,000 personnel, with 95,000 reservists and 175,000 in active duty.