Mordvania

Mordvania (Mordvanian: Mordvanija), officially the Republic of Mordvania (Republika Mordvanija), is a country in Eastern Brigidna, bordered by Kaljurand to the west. The total area of Mordvania is 397,660 square kilometres, making it the 30th largest country in the world and the 7th largest in Brigidna. With a population of over 64.7 million people, Mordvania is the 30th most populous country in the world and the 7th most poulous country in Brigidna, as well as the 3rd most populous nation with a Vostic ethnic majority. The Republic of Mordvania is an unitary state divided into 33 administrative departments.

History

Pre-modern history

The territory of today Republic of Mordvania was not organized under an unitary state until recent modern times. At the beginning of the 5th century, most of the territory was divided into five states: the Kingdom of Bunesga, the Pendurasian Commonwealth, the Kingdom of Osrednia, and the republics of Severwojek and Visnja, along many tiny principalities and city-states. The Kingdom of Osrednia and the Pendurasian Commonwealth had been the largest states since the 2nd century, but the later entered in a period of decadence that century. After the Western War (621-632), which would involve the Pendurasian Commonwealth against the Kingdom of Bunesga along Gehinic armies, the Commonwealth would lose more than half of its territory. The Treaty of Ukmaunas (632) would also see the creation of the Grand-Duchy of Nordënland. The Grand-Duchy would be ruled by the Greuthen house, a Geinic noble family, and their lands reinforced with Oslanburgian and Alstarian settlers.

During the 7th century, the Kingdom of Bunesgan tried to expand toward the east, being almost constantly at war with the Mordvanian states, while the Grand-Duchy increased their territories along the northern coast. In 828, the coastal city of Fürstenstadt (today Mestarka), would be founded. The next year, the Kingdom of Osrednia would annex the Republic of Visnja. In 851, Grand-Duke Atharik von Greuthen would proclaim the Principality of Fürstenstadt, which became a sovereign state. Prince Atharik would still rely on the military support of the Arch-Kingdom of Oslanburg and other Geinic monarchies.

In 884, the Pendusarian Commonwealth -the only constitutional government in Bunesgan history- ceased to exist, when its territory was partitioned among the Kingdom of Bunesga, the Kingdom of Osrednia, and the Principality of Fürstenstadt. In 898, the Republic of Severowojek would be broken up into many principalities and city-states, following a nine-year war against the Kingdom of Osrednia. On Marth 902, King Bogdan, the ruler of Osrednia, would proclaim himself "King of all Mordvanians", and renaming his kingdom as "Kingdom of Mordvania". King Bogdan continued to expand his lands toward the north until his death, in early 920.

During the 10th century, the Kingdom of Mordvania and the Kingdom of Bunesgan fought in several long wars which would have a deep financial and social cost, as more than 15 million subjects of both kingdoms died. In late 10th century, the Kingdom of Mordvania suffered another conflict against the Kingdom of Biyra and the Principality of Fürstendstadt during the Northern War (1177-1184). Not prepared for naval warfare, the Kingdom of Mordvania lost most of its possessions in the northern coast and the eastern archipelago between Biyra and Mordvania. The war also resulted in an almost monopoly for the Principality of Fürstenstadt of the commerce in the northern post, strengthening its position.

The creation of the Kingdom of Abdania

The Second Bunesgan-Mordvanian War (1222-1240) left the Kingdom of Bunesgan exhausted and bankrupted. Prince Elvald married an Oslanburgan princess, strengthening the alliance between both states. Prince Elvard followed a policy of cultural unity and assimilation, which resulted in the consolidation of Abdanian language. Although Laurentian had been traditionally used in Fürstendstadt's court, Prince Elvard enforced the use of Abdanian language, promoting the language through education campaigns and banning the use of any other language in official communications. Prince Elvard also supported Kaljurand during the Kaljurand-Bunesgan War, which allowed Fürstendsadt to seize and annex the region around Ukmaunas, which was renamed as Ukmerberg. In 1279, Prince Elvard, with the support of many Geinic states, proclaimed the Kingdom of Abdania, with himself as King.

Peace did not last, though, and the Abdanian-Bunesgan war started in 1289. The war, which ended with the Treaty of Katzberg (1314), resulted in the disintegration of the Kingdom of Bunesga, and the Bunesgan royal family fled into exile to Biyra.

Before the 13th century, the Sentric Church was the official religion in the kingdoms and states of the Mordvanian basin, and the Abdanian monarchy had persecuted the Avalsyanist doctrine in its territory. This, however, changed when Prince Elvard married Princess Josephine Hansen, a member of the Oslan royal family, further strenghtening the alliance between Oslanburg and the Abdanian monarchy. As consequence, religious tolerance was allowed, and most of the Abdanian nobility converted to Daienism. In 1316, King Konrad I proclaimed Daienism as the official religion of the state, and enforced conversion was adopted as state policy. The policy of religious tolerance was ended, and Sentric churches were forced to adopt Daienism or be seized by the local authorities. Historians believe that this was likely motivated by the fact hat King Konrad I feared the Sentric Church as a political threat to his power, and he was looking for religious legitimacy in his war campaings against Mordvanians and eastern Vostic states. In 1324, there was a Sentric revolt in southern Abdania, mostly by Ashkuban and Mordvanian peasants, which was defeated only after a bloodthirsty military campaign.

The Kingdom of Abdania and Mordvania

In 1328, Mordvanian King Bogdan II died, only a few months after naming his son Rajko as his successor. This decision was contrary to the dominant tradition in the Kingdom of Osrednia (later Mordvania) to have the eldest surviving member of the ruling family succeed the incumbent. By ancestral right, Prince Bronislav, Bogdan's brother, should have claimed the throne, but Bogdan II chose his first-born son to be his successor instead, aiming to establish a dinasty. Bronislav did not relinquish his ancestral rights without fight. After Bogdan's death in Quartyr 1328, Bronislav took up arms, and many subjects in the kingdom joined him. The rebels claimed to represent the old political order, feudal rights, and national independence. The conflict between Bogdan and his uncle erupted in a long civil war.

Most of the Mordvanian nobility had took Bronislav's side, fearing that the newly established dinasty would weaken the influence and power of the nobility and further strengthen royal power. Bogdan was forced to flee Slawowo, the capital city of the Kingdom of Mordvania. Bogdan converted to Daienism and found support in the Kingdom of Abdania, starting the Forty-year War (1328-1365). In 1334, Bogdan married Ealdgyda, the youngest daughter of the Abdanian King. Bronislav died in 1337, and ironically he was succeed by his elder son, Miroslav. Miroslav would died in 1348, succeeded by Bozidar Mastek, a military leader and noblemen, who was the first Mordvanian king outside the Kastenek family. Bozidar, however, would be murdered in 1352, and his nephew Rajko succeeded, who proved to be an incompetent ruler controlled by prominent members of the nobility. After a decisive battle nearby Opoblina in 1361, mostly of the Mordvanian army was destroyed. Bogdan, however, would die two years later. Rajko would be betrayed by a group of Mordvanian nobles who were willing to make peace with the Kingdom of Abdania, and he was deposed and executed in 1564. A few months later, the Mordvanian Army officially surrender and was dissolved under the Treaty of Amberg (1365).

Many members of the Mordvanian nobility were either executed or fled to exile, and their lands were granted to Abdanian nobles, mostly members of the Abdanian Army who had fought in the war. Other members of the Mordvanian nobility were allowed to keep their lands and most of their feudal rights, in exchange for a pledge of loyalty to the Abdanian King Atharik the Wise I. The Treaty of Paviemes (1369) established a dual monarchy, which divided the territory into the Kingdoms of Abdania and Mordvania. The Kingdom of Mordvania was granted a parliament, formed by members of the Mordvanian nobility, and a national government which would have autonomy and the right to approve its own laws. The monarch of both kingdoms would be a member of the Abdanian Greuthen-Hansen dinasty. However, in practice Mordvanian autonomy was harshly limited, as the monarch had veto rights and appointed directly the government, and therefore the eastern Kingdom of Mordvanian remained ruled by officials loyals to the Abdanian monarch, and it lacked armed forces of their own. It had been established the Kingdom of Abdania and Mordvania, which would last until 1567.

Colonial expansion in Avidna

The first Abdanian colonies were already established in early 14th century, during the reigns of Albrekt I and Elvard II. The Treaty of Trom (1314) granted the Abdanian monarchy a small port in Avidnan territory, and in 1318 and Abdanian settlement known as Südenberg was established (today, Südenberg remains as the second largest town of the sovereign nation of Khibland). In 1328, the Oversea Regional Administration was created, led by a Lieutenant-Governor directly appointed by the Abdanian monarch, in order to control the management of the small Abdanian colony. Five years later, the building of the city of Macharaviaya was started, mostly by slave labour, which would become an important trade town in Southern Avidna. The Treaty of Südenberg (1340) expanded Abdanian territory in southern Avidna several miles, allowing the territory to be more self-suficient and prosperous through its local agriculture. Most of those lands were, however, mostly owned by relatives of the Abdanian royal family.

In 1348, under the reign of Atharik I, a more functional colonial government organizations was established, and it was proclaimed the Principality of Khibland. The Principality of Khibland was ruled by the House of Bruckdorff, and remained loyal to the Kingdom of Abdania and Mordvania until 1454.

The Kingdom of Abdanian and Mordavnia supported the Arch-kingdom of Oslanburg in Eleven Years War, and the Treaty of Wien (1376), granted the Abdanian kingdom with a large territory in Western Avidna, in what today is the Republic of Volta. Once gaining the colony, the Abdanians immediately replaced top positions that were previously occupied by Gehennans with Abdanians, and began a slow but sure implementation of Abdanianization policies. These policies were not well received by the ethnic Gehennan settlers, and there was widespread discontent against the Abdanians throughout their colonial history. Some of the more vocal Voltan elites fled, while others begrudgingly accepted lower ranking positions in colonial administration. A large number of Abdanian settled in the colony, while slaves were imported from Skathia and other regions of Avidna.

An effective government structure in the vast Avidnan colony was not established until the reign of Konrad II the Great (1388-1401). In summary, the new colony proved very efficient economically, increasing the wealth of the Kingdom of Abdania and Mordvania, but costly politically, as the Abdanian government was forced to assign more and more budget and personnel to properly defend its colonial territories. However, revolts and political plots against the Abdanian elite remained constant.

In 1422, it sparkled a violent revolt in Volta, starting the Voltan War for Independence (1424-1427). The Voltan revolutionaries, assisted by Lanlania and the Nylander Republic, defeated the Abdanian forces in several provinces of the colony, and the war became a costly and bloodthirsty conflict. In 1427, the Abdanian government was forced to grant Volta full independence, signing the Treaty of Senevald (1428). Ethnic Abdanians in the colony suddenly found themselves subject to discrimination, both legal and illegal. As a result, many Voltan Abdanians chose to leave Volta and move to the other Abdanian colonies, or rather establishing themselves in mainland Abdania. The war and lost of the largest Abdanian colony had very negative consequences for the Kingdom of Abdania and Mordvania, as the Abdanian government was forced to default three times between 1426 and 1434. In 1434, there was even a political plot to force Atharik II to abdicate, but the conspirators were discovered and executed.

Atharik II died in 1438, and he was succeeded by his son Ekkerhard III. Ekkerhard III's reign was marked by financial problems and political instability, and the Abdanian government was forced to crush a violent peasant revolt in southern Mordvania in 1449-1451. King Ekkerhard III died without descendency in 1453, and he was replaced by his brother Konrad. But the new king was seriously ill and obsessed with religion, and he proved to be an ineffective ruler. Tensions between Fürstenstadt government and the Khiblander local elite had raised in the early 1450s, and there was concern that the Kingdom of Abdania and Mordvania could lose its main remaining colonial territory. Konrad III's reign was not long, however, as he died in 1457, being replaced by his son.

The new monarch, crowned as Konrad IV, crushed internal dissent and sent the Abdanian navy to the Principality of Khibland. Seven members of the House of Bruckdorff were executed, even if it was not proved that all of them were involved in the political conflict with the Abdanian government. The Principality of Khibland was abolished in 1458, and replaced by the Grand-Duchy of Macharaviaya, now directly administered by members of the Greuthen-Hansen dinasty. Sigivald Greuthen-Hansen became the first Grand-Duke of Macharaviaya, being replaced by the king's son Ekkehard in 1476.

Konrad IV was an ultra-conservative and brutal ruler, but he introduced important administrative reforms which improved the efficiency of the Abdanian administration. At the end of his reign, he was involved in a military conflict against Biyra and Karjelinn on the Viska Bay which ended in a stalemate. He married his son Ekkehard with Jelena Koch, from an influencial family of the Oslanburgan nobility, and therefore further strengthening the diplomatic alliance between the Kingdom of Abdania and Mordvania and the Arch-Kingdom of Oslanburg. Konrad IV died in 24 Septem 1499.

Reforms and counterrevolution

Ekkehard III was crowned King in 1499. His father, Konrad IV, had ruled the Kingdom of Abdanian and Mordvania for 42 years, the longest Abdanian ruler back then (only exceeded by King Atharik III, who ruled between 1511 and 1563). Ekkehard, who was already 51 years old when he was proclaimed King, did not lack political experience, as he had been Grand-Duke of Macharaviaya for twenty years, personally involved in the daily governance of the colonial Grand-Duchy. The Avidnan colony was back then considered a more liberal environment than the Fürstenstadt court, mostly due to the increasing commerce with the Nylander Republic, and so was Ekkehard III at least compared with his own father. His short reign -the second shortest after the last Abdanian monarch, Kyvenbrecht I- was marked by some administrative and economic reforms, aimed to increase efficiency and commerce. He also granted freedom of religion and abolished slavery in the Avidnan colony in 1502. However, he fell seriously ill in late 1502, dying in 1503.

The royal couple had not had male children, something that some conservatives circles in Fürstenstadt court blamed on the king's wife, Jelena Koch, trying to convince the monarch to divorce her and marry a younger queen, as they were afraid that Oslanburgan government had too much influence in the new king. However, Ekkehard III opposed it, and the King's daughter were considered too young and therefore his wife Jelena Koch became the first and only sovereign queen of the Kingdom of Abdanian and Mordvania, being crowned as Brynja I.

Brynja I was an even more liberal ruler than Ekkehard III, and he continue her husband's administrative reforms, and abolished serfdom in 1508, with a royal decree that shocked most of the conservative Abdanian nobility. The Abdanian Church became an important source of opposition to Brynja's reforms, with some ultra-conservative writers denouncing her as a "foreigner usurper of the Abdanian throne". Some Abdanian reformers as Count Albrekt Mogenberg, an even Mordvanian liberal philosophers like Bozidar Ostanek rallied for the queen's reforms, which they felt a change for further and more ambitious reforms. Some of them, like Count Albrekt Mogenberg, who was appointed Minister of the Treasury in 1509, served in official positions during Brynja I's term.

Brynja I became isolated, and she was therefore posted to go beyond, even forming a royal committee which would be created with the aim of study the project of a constitution for the Kingdom, and establishing local governments which would be elected by the citizens (although with limited suffrage). These last reforms were going too far for the Abdanian nobility and the military leadership, and soon rumours of a conspiration against the queen became a reality. In 1511, Brynja I was deposed in a military coup d'etat. Atharik Greuthen-Hansen, Ekkehard III's nephew, was crowned as Atharik III.

In the view of the most conservative elites, Brynja's reforms had unchained destructive forces that had to be repressed. Many reformers and supporters of Brynja's constitutional reforms, like Count Albrekt Mogenberg or Bozidar Ostanek were executed. The repression even touched members of the ruling dinasty, and Brynja's two daughters were forced to exile in Oslanburg. Brynja was not allowed to leave the country, however, and she was imprisoned in a castle in southeastern Mordvania, where she would died six years later, in 1517. As consequence, relations with Oslanburg would become strained. However, after the wedding of Atharik III with Sophie Hershel, the daughter of the Gehennan monarch, Abdania would find a more stable ally in the Gehennan monarchy.

Most of Brynja's reforms were revoked or abrogated, and the powerful nobility saw their privileges restored. However, not all the reforms were abolished, and the abolition of the serfdom was kept, although the nobility kept many privileges over the poor peasants, which in practice left their proclamation of emancipation an useless piece of paper. As a result, the Abdanian Church increased its influence on government policy, Abdanian absolute monarchy was strengthened. While the repression became less severe in later decades, any kind of dissent was not allowed. Many, like Mordvanian republican philosopher Bostjan Slak, who was forced to exile in the Grand-Duchy of Macharaviaya following the illegal publication of his famous treaty "On Political Freedom" in 1529, were either politically prosecuted or left to more liberal countries.

Atharik III was crowned King of Abdania and Mordvania with only 26 years old, and he would eventually become the longest serving Abdanian monarch. In the 1530s, the country suffered a severe economic depression, and more pragmatic officials were called into government. Although no political reforms were introduced, financial reforms were introduced, allowing a competitive banking system, market reforms, an opening to foreign investment and administrative and labour reforms aimed to modernize the economy. The reforms were succeessful, and Abdania experienced an economic boom already in the early 1540s, although corruption and inequality increased considerably. The size of the state bureucracy and armed forces expanded without control, but inefficiently and mostly dominated by ethnic Abdanians, which increased tensions with the Mordvanian majority.

Atharik III, althoug the absolute ruler of the country, became less personally interested in government as he was aging, and in the practice the government was mostly on the control of senior Abdanian officials such as his younger brother Kyvenbrecht, who became Minister of War and Chief Staff of the Armed Forces for more than twenty years.

Atharik III died in 1563, at the age of 81 years old. Instead than his elder son Konrad Grethen-Hansen, who was considered to ack enough intellectual maturity to be crowned king, the High Council of the Kingdom of Abdania and Mordvania appointed Atharik's brother Kyvenbrecht as King, who was 69 at the time, but considered an experienced and strong politician, which was hoped to give the Kingdom of Abdanian and Mordvania the stability and good governance required in such complicated succession. The Kingdom of Abdania and Mordvania, however, would only survive another three years.

Republican Revolution and civil war

In 1564, the Kingdom of Abdania and Mordvania was hit by an economic crisis. This worsened in early 1565, when bad weather led to bad harvest and a collapse of the agriculture exports. Peasants demanded a compensation and an increase of credit to the state. The government attempted to stabilize the currency but this failed, and the economic entered in depression. By Septem 1565, the protests turned violent.

King Kyvenbrecht had appointed General Burkhard Voltz as Prime Minister. Voltz, 71, proclaimed the state of emergency and the armed forces were mobilized. In Seznica, Prindz, and other cities, the Abdanian Army opened fire against protestors, and more than 57 people were killed only on Septem 1565. Thousands were arrested, tried in military courts, and send to prison. Rumours of torture and summary executions spread, but it did not stop the protests. Soon, they spread to the main cities of the country, including Sladhaven, and they started to include political demands, not only economic ones.

On Ochtyr 21, a sailors' revolt started in Amberg, one of the main ports of the Royal Navy. Some crews refused to obey orders from officials, and sailors on board three ships from the Second Navy Squadron commited outright mutiny and sabotage. They demanded the resignation of Voltz's government and political reform. Soon, the movement spread through most of the Navy. Prime Minister Voltz denounced an "anti-monarchist coup d'etat" that "will be punished without mercy". But the Naval Command was powerless, as the revolt spread in other ports and urban centers of the coast, and local committees formed by sailors and workers were created, joining the movement and asking more political demands, which included the end of the martial and law and constitutional reforms. In the following days, the country witnessed the largest demonstrations in the nation's history in the main cities and town of the Kingdom.

On Ochtyr 28, King Kyvenbrecht I accepted General Voltz resignation as Prime Minister. Count Faramund Guldenlew was announced as Prime Minister the following day. Guldenlew was considered an ultra-conservative but he showed his willingness to accept some limited reforms. Although he didn't accept the demands of the sailors, the martial law was withdraw. This did not end the protests, rather the contrary, and finally Prime Minister Guldenlew promised elections for a Royal Parliament. However, the system proposed -through the three-class system already existing in the Mordvanian parliament, and with limited suffrage for married women over 33 years old- did not satisfy the demands of the opposition.

In any case, the elections took place on Dein 1565, with a rather low turnout, and a clear majority of Conservatives and Traditionalist monarchists was elected. Political parties had not been legalized, although the activity of some of them was started to be unofficially tolerated. Despite the restrictions imposed by the electoral law, a large minority of Liberal and Moderate deputies was elected, along a smaller group of lawyers and intellectuals who demanded more radical changes. Some of them formed the "Radical Union". It was only a loose political group, although it included a few openly Republican deputies. Anti-monarchist ideas were gainig ground quickly, a rumours that Kyvenbrecht could be abdicate in order to be replaced by a younger and more moderate monarch was starting to be discussed on some moderate and conservative circles.

The majority of the parliament declared their loyalty to the monarch and opposed further reforms, including repealing some of the demands already promised by Prime Minister Guldenlew. Guldenlew considered his resignation, but it was rejected by the King. The government started soon to lose control of the situation, with increasing strikes and demonstrations in every town of the country. On late Dein, a majority of the parliament passed a resolution calling the monarch to give special powers to the government and the Armed Forces in order to assure the restoration of the order in the streets. The declaration was understood as an open call for a coup d'etat, and million marched in the Kingdom's main cities opposing the declaration.

On Dein 28, a large demonstration in Fürstendstadt, the Kingdom's capital city, ended in front of the Parliament building. The demonstration was lead by a member of the Radical Union, which demanded the resignation of the government and real democratic elections. The Armed Forces were mobilized and they were given the order to restore the order at any cost. However, Lieutenant-Colonel Bozidar Strnad, who had been sent to restore the order, refused to obey. Instead, he read a declaration, supported by other 14 officers of the Armed Forces, which was addressed to both the monarch and the army, and included several demands, which included the resignation of the current government, the dissolution of the royal parliament, the release of all political prisoners, and the creation of a military-led Provisional government until new elections to a Constituent Assembly were called. As soon as the declaration was made, several garrisons and officers expressed their support to the declaration. Only a few military garrison openly condemned the resolution and announced their loyalty to the monarch, with rest remaining either silent or neutral. Prime Minister Guldenlew announced his resignation the next day, and King Kyvenbrecht I was forced to accept such demands. The next week, a seven-member military council was announced in charge of both the Armed Forces and the state, while elections for a Constituent Assembly were announced.

The military council, officially known as Council of Defense, appointed a technocratic government following negotiations with several political forces. The Council of Defense was led by General Wenzel Kirschmann, who was considerated a moderate, and a majorite of their members were either monarchists or moderates, with only an ethnic Mordvanian, Lieutenant-Colonel Miroslav Pongolak. However, a sudden event changed the situation. On 28 Vintyr 1565, a military plane crashed nearby Amsberg. Admiral Gerulf Hahnberg and General Sigivald Duffhelm, two members of the Council of Defense, died in the accident. Admiral Hahnberg, a staunch monarchist, was one of the most influential military officers in the Abdanian Army. They were replaced by two ethnic-Mordvanian military officers, one of them being Lieutenant-Colonel Bozidar Strnad. Two days after, Admiral Pfeilhoch was forced to renounce, and Admiral Gintaras Baravykas, who was a well-known sympathizer of the Radical Union, was appointed to the Council of Defense. Now, the Liberal and Republican officers had the majority of the Council of Defense, and they started to dismiss or expel reactionary officers, most of them ethnic Abdanians.

On 11 Alvan 1566, the Council of Defense announced that the capital city of the Kingdom was transferred to Fürstendstadt to Sladhaven, nearby the administrative border which separated the Kingdom of Abdania and the Kingdom of Mordvania. This was understood as a move designed to isolate the monarch and strengthen the power of the Council of Defense, and the monarchist forces started to feel that General Wenzel Kirschmann had started to lose control of the situation. On Alvan 20 and 21, there were elections to a Constituent Assembly, this time under universal suffrage and without restrictions for class or nobility status, which gave a majority of constitutional and republican forces.

On Alvan 28, a group of Abdanian officers led by Baron Erdhoch, launched a coup d'etat aimed to establish a military government and crush the revolutionary forces. However, most of the armed forces in Sladhaven remained loyal to the Council of Defense, and the uprising in Fürstendstadt resulted in a failure, being defeated after three hours of fight. A company of the Royal Guard attempted to seize the royal palace, in order to move the king and the royal family to a safer location, but they were forced to surrender, dying Princess Radulfrina during the fighting. King Kyvenbrecht I was then moved to a secret location. Despite the failure, the monarchist forces were able to take over a large number of provinces, mostly in Western Abdania, the south, and a small number of coastal towns in the Kingdom of Mordvania. However, most of the Abdania navy and air force either remained neutral or declared their loyalty to the Council of Defense. The next day, Baron Erdhoch announced a written declaration the dissolution of both the Council of Defense and the parliament, and the liberation of the monarch. The Council of Defense declared martial law. The country was known under an unpredictable civil war.

Pro-Erdhoch forces were able to reorganize themselves in central Abdania, and threatened to march toward Sladhaven. Thousands of anti-monarchist and republican sympathizers were murdered in summary executions the next weeks after the coup d'etat, and in areas controlled by revolutionary forces, Abdanian officers and members of the nobility were lynched by the mob. Meanwhile, in the western city of Madhen, a so-called "Bunesgan Council of Mazenskai" was formed and demanded the recognition of the "principle of self-determination" for the Bunesgan minority.

On Dosa 4th, Lieutenant-Colonel Bozidar Strnad travelled to Fürstenstadt, where they addressed the Constitutional Assembly. The chamber was almost half-empty, as many monarchist and conservative deputies had decided to leave the capital, fleeing to provinces controlled to the monarchist forces, or simply hidden outside the capital. Strnad met with representatives of all the remaining political forces, and gave an speech to the Constituent Assembly which was surprisingly anti-monarchist. A resolution denouncing the monarch as "guilty of high treason" and abolishing the monarchy was passed by a simple majority of the members of the Constituent Assembly. As a result, King Kyvenbrecht I was stripped of all his titles and powers, and the Council of Defense became the collective head of state of the republic, with both legislative and executive powers. A second decree declared the suspension of the Constituent Assembly until order was restored, and the formation of a transitional government -known as the Republican Council- with representation of as many political parties as possible. The Republican Council was aimed to deal with the economic and domestic policy, although all the military and law enforcement powers were transferred to the Council of Defense. A third resolution, known as the "People's Act" was passed, calling for a new national election as soon as possible in vague terms.

General Engelbeldt Waldbrummer, opossed to the abolition of the monarchy by the Constituent Assembly, resigned from the Council of Defense the following day. While General Wenzel Kirschmann remained a member of the Council of Defense, he resiged as Chairman, being replaced by Colonel-Lieutenant Bozidar Strnad. General Bronislav Grazrod, one of the founders of the "Committee for Republican Order", a secret organization of republican officers, was appointed as the seventh member of the Council of Defense. In barely six months, the Council of Defense had become from a mildly pro-constitutional council to a militantly republican one.

On Dosa 12th, the Council of Defense passed a decree abolishing all nobility titles and privileges, proclaiming "the equality of all Republic's citizens" and declaring the Republic as "united and indivisible". Jerznej Vanik, the leader of the center-right National Republican Party was appointed as President of the Republican Council, and a coalition government of eight political parties was formed. The first decision announced by Vanik as President of the Republican Council was to renamed the cities of Fürstenstadt and Sladhaven as Mestarka and Slovograd respectively, and Mordvanian language was announced as new official language, although Abdanian language was still granted administrative recognition. The Abdanian Church was also deprived of all its privileges, and it was declared a strict separation of church and state. On Dosa 19th, the Council of Defense decreed the abolition of the Abdanian police and armed forces, and a "Republican Army" was created.

At first, the recently proclaimed Republic of Mordvania did not find much international recognition, Severyane and Kubaniza becoming the first states to do so. On the other hand, while most West Brigidnan states rejected to recognize the republic, they did not offer much practical support to General Erdhoch's government. On Marth 28th, the Republican Army obtained its first major victory, after defeating the monarchist forces in the town of Slawowo. General Keidhagen, the monarchist officer, was tried by a military court and executed the next week.

On Fein 4th, Baron Erdhoch proclaimed himself "Supreme Ruler of the Kingdom of Abdania (he claimed being appointed by King Kyvenbrecht I himself). Colonel Von Greuthen was appointed Prime Minister by Erdhoch. Barely a month later, the monarchist were forced to sign a strategic alliance with the Bunesgan nationalists -which caused the left-wing Bunesgan parties to support the revolution- as their forces, isolated from each other, could not offer much resistance to the Republican Army which, at least in Mordvanian-majority areas, had the support of the population.

On Ochtyr 1566, the Republican Army started the siege of Ukmerberg, the second largest city controlled by the Abdanian Army, but they were not able to enter the city until Nueva 26. On Dein 27, local elections were called, which resulted in a landslide victory of the republican parties, which obtained 56% of the vote. On Tolven, a group of Bunesgan nationalists proclaimed the Republic of Bunesga, and the remaining Abdanian forces in the West were split in two. On 20 Treizen 1566, the Abdanian Army was finally defeated by the Republican Army. Prime Minister Ludwag von Greuthen would be executed only four days later. The "Bunesgan Volunteer Army", as the separatist army was known, resisted until Vintyr 21, when they surrender following the suicide of nationalist leader Arvydas Baskautas. The civil war had ended.

Republic of Mordvania

The war had led the country in an economic depression, and political differences arose inside the Republican Council. Liberal and moderate ministers announced their resignation, as they were opposed to the start of the trial of King Kivenbrecht before the end of the constitutional process. The new Mordvanian government was almost a fully Republican-led government. The government passed a more interventionist economic porgram, with the nationalization of the main economic sectors, an agrarian reform, and an ambitious program of economic reconstruction. A Constitutional Committee had been appointed to draft a new constitution, but it was highly divided and discussions advanced very slowly.

On 21 Alvan 1567, Chairman Bozidar Strnad announced a legislative proposal which consisted in extending the existence of the Council of Defense, with renewed powers. The proposal was justified, he argued, in the lack of improvement in the negotiations between the democratic forces. Some political parties opposed such proposal, but the Council of Defense forced the call of a referendum about it. Bozidar Strnad declared that if the proposal was rejected, he would step down as both Chairman and member of the Council of Defense -although the dissolution of the Council of Defense was not guaranteed. On Marth 22, the referendum was organized, and the proposal was approved by 76.8% of the citizens, not entirely surprising as Strnad had become one of the most popular Mordvanian officials during the civil war.

Some members of the Constitutional Committee decided to resigned afterwards, but negotiations continued nevertheless. On Marth 27, King Kyvenbrecht I was tried for high treason and sentenced to death. He would be executed on Fein 8th. A day later, the Council of Defense declared the abolition of the death penalty in the Republic of Mordvania. On 19 Fein 1567, a referendum approved the final draft of the constitution, heavily inspired by Mordvanian republicanism, and establishing an unitary republic, which included and consolidated the existence of the Council of Defense, although with limited powers, was passed by 88.2% of the vote. On Zechyr 12, the Chairman of the Council of Defense announced national legislative elections.

First Bogdan Privsek's administration

The 1567 legislative election gave a majority to moderate republican parties. Then Minister of Foreigh Affairs and leader of the center-right Mordvanian Republican Party Bogdan Privsek became President of the Republican Council replacing Vanik. The Mordvanian Republican Party formed a coalition government with Vanik's National Republican Party. The Council of Defense retain much influence over Privek's government, specially on national security and defense. A military officer, Srecko Pidansek, became Minister of Defense, while the first chairman of the Republican Guard -the military police which responded to the Council of Defense rather than to the Republican Council- Milan Kravanja was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs. Kravanja, unlike Pidansek -who was considered non-partisan- was a well-known sympathizer of left-republican parties such as the Republican Social Radical Party.

The government focused mostly to improve and stabilize the economic situation, although tensions increased with the Kaljuran military dictatorship which, although had remained neutral during the civil war, now seemed to feel threatened by Mordvania's republican government. In 1567, Milan Kravanja resigned as Minister of Foreign Affairs, being replaced by Aljaz Martelj from the Mordvanian Republican Party, as he aimed to contest for the leadership of the Republican Social Radical Party.

The 1570 legislative election resulted in a collapse of the National Republican Democratic Party, but the Mordvanian Republican Party strengthened its position as the most voted political party, defeated the Republican Social Alliance -a left-wing electoral coalition- in more than twelve points. Privsek continued as President of the Republican Council, although under a minority government, for the next three years.

Privsek's government was relatively successful, with constant economic growth already on 1571 and establishing a limited welfare state. However, some minister found involved in mismanagement and corruption cases, which weakened the popularity of the government.

Intervention in Khibland

In 1566, while the country was engulfed in civil war, the Avidnan territory of the Grand-Duchy of Macharaviaya proclaimed its independence, proclaiming the Free State of Khibland. The independence was not recognized by the Republic of Mordvania, but the Mordvanian government was forced to accept the de facto lost of control over the Avidnan province.

The Free State of Khibland was established as a parliamentary republic, but its government was deposed by a military coup d'etat on early 1572, in which Abdanian officials played an important role, and a far-right military dictatorship was established. In 1573, the Mordvanian Armed Forces intervened and invaded Khibland, arguing the constant violation of human rights, the illegal detention and torture of Mordvanian citizens by the Khibland junta, and the risk that the old Abdanian colony was engulfed in a chaotic civil war.

The Republican-Socialist coalition

Unexpectedly, the far-left United Progressive Socialist Party, led by Zvezdana Serebryak, defeated the Mordvanian Republican Party in the 1573 legislative elections. A United Progressive Socialist Party-Republican Social Radical Party coalition government was established, with Milan Kravanja as President of the Republican Council, and Serebryak as Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Kaljuran civil war

Second Bogdan Privsek's administration

1582 constitutional reform

1584 presidential election

Geography

Mordvania's territory extends across several geographical regions, between latitudes 44º and 52º N, and longitudes 67º and 78º E. In the north-east is the Viska Bay, which extend from Wojek to Dodzyn. In the south-east is the Biyran Sea. This coast, the second largest of the country, is marked by several spits, coastal lakes (former bays that have been cut off from the sea), and dunes. On the north-west, there is the colder Laural Sea coast. Mordvania has three large islands: Nardensk and Severna in the Laural Sea, and the island of Utrbdak, which harbours a military base and a notorious prison, in the Biyran Sea.

The west and parts of the central regions of the country lie within the North Brigidnan Plain. Rising above these lowlands is a geographical region comprising several hilly districts of moraines and moraine-dammed lakee. This southern lakes, along the regions of Seznica, Prindz, and Paviemes, covers much of south-western Mordvania. East of the Northern Brigidnan Plain are the north-eastern region of Hbribovnat, which are marked by broad ice-age river valleys. Farther east is a mountainous region, between Opoblina and Brezedina, known as the Pristenled Mountains. In the south-east, there are the Visnjek, Svetloba, and Zelena valleys, a highly fertile region which is crossed by the Dolga river, one of the longest of Brigidna. The Dolga river ends in the Vodena estuary, on the Biyran Sea.

Geology

The moraine landscape of central Mordvania contains soils made up mostly of sand and loam, while the ice age river valleys of the east often contain loess. The north-east region consist of limestone, while the Pristen region and most of the south-east are made up mainly of granite and basalts. The Pristenmord Chain has one of the oldest rock formation on the continent of Brigidna.

Mordvania has 67 mountains over 2,000 metres (6,600 feet) in elevation, all in the Pristen region. The Mordvanian Pristen, which consist of the Pristenled Mountains and Western Pristen, is the highest mountain group of Mordvania and of the entire Northern Brigidna. In the Pristenled Mountains lies Mordvania's highest point, the north-eastern summit of Vzhod, 2,4999 metres (8,199 ft) in elevation. At its foot lies the mountain lakes of Moder and Nebo.

The second highest mountain is the Pristenmord Chain in central Mordvania, who higuest peak is Mati Kamen, at 1,725 metres (5,659 ft). The next highest mountain group is the Jugan Mountains in the south-west, the highest point of which are Akmuas at 1,603 metres (5,259 ft) and Trdan at 1,425 metres (4,675 ft). The Jugan Mountains are well-known for its interesting rock formations and the Svetland National Park, the largest of the country.

The lowest point in Mordvania, at 1.8 metres (5.9 ft) below sea level, is at the Prozoren Plain, near Chlyb on the Dolgan Delta.

Nearby Snogen region in the southwestern Mordvania is an area of sparsely vegetated sand known as the Gnilna Desert. It covers an area of 32 square kilometres (12 sq mi). It is not a natural desert but results from human activity from the Middle Ages onward.

The Laural Sea activity in Lepovika National Park, in the north-west between the Sever and Visak rivers, created sand dunes which in the course of time separated the bay from the sea creating two lakes. As waves and wind carry sand inland the dunes slowly move, at a rate of 3 to 10 metres (9.8 to 32.8 ft) meters per year. Some dunes reach the height of up to 30 metres (98 ft). The highest peak of the park is Peščen (155 metres or 377 feet above sea level).

Waters

The Dolga river is one of the longest of the continent, flowing through Central Brigidna; its tributary, the Chlyba, is the fourth longest rivers of the country. The Dolga river has been used since early times for navigation. The longest rivers on Mordvanian territory are the Visak and Sever rivers, on the north-west region, which flow into the Laural Sea.

In the valley of Moder river in central Mordvania there is an unique natural karst spring of water containing calcium salts, that is an object of protection in the Serebrna Zemlija Natural Park. The origin of the name of the area, known as Modern Vzmet, that means Blue Springs, comes from the fact that red waves are absorbed by water and only blue and green are reflected from the bottom of the spring, giving that atypical colour.

Central Mordvania contains more than 2,000 lakes, being one the regions with the highest numbers of lakes in Brigidna. The largest lakes, covering more than 100 square kilometres (39 sq mi), are Lake Polkja, Lake Slovo, and Lake Luknja. Lakes have always played an important role in Mordvanian history and continue to be of great importance to today's modern Mordvanian society. The ancestors of today's Mordvanians, the Mordvanes, built their first fortresses on islands nearby the Zadna river, in north-east Mordvania. The legendary Prince Bogdanek ruled from Nebesa tower erected on the Lake Crna. The first historically documented ruler of the Kingdom of Osrednia, King Srecko I, had his palace on an island in the Visak river as well. Nowadays the Mordvanian lakes provide a location for the pursuit of water sports such as yachting and wind-surfing.

About half of Mordvania's coastline extends along the Laural Sea, while the other half extends along the eastern coastline of the Biyran Sea. For the most part, the Laural Sea has a smooth coastline, which has been shaped by the continental movement of sand by currents and winds. On the Biyran coast, continual erosion and deposition has formed cliffs and spits, many of which have migrated landwards to clsoe off former lagoons, such as Novak Lake in Redko National Park.

Land use

Mordvania is the second most forested country in Northern Brigidna. Forests cover about 29.8% of Mordvania's land are based on international standards. Its overall percentage has slightly and constantly increased since 1574. Forests of Mordvania are managed by the republican program of reforestation (Prorepog), aiming at an increase of forest-cover to 32% in 1600. The richness of Mordvanian forest (according to 1580 government statistics) is more than twice as high as West Brigidnan average. The largest forest complex in Mordvania is Upper Moder Wilderness.

More than 1% of Mordvania's territory is proctected within 24 Mordvanian national parks. In addition, wetlands along lakes and rivers in southern and central Mordvania are legally protected, as are coastal areas in the north-west. There are over 130 areas designated as landscape parks, along with numerous nature reserves and other protected areas.

Since the agrarian reforms of 1567-1568 and the economic reforms in the early 1570s, Mordvanian agriculture has performed extremely well and the country has over five million private farms. It is the leading producer in Brigidna of potatoes and rye, Siora's second largest producer of wheat, and one of the more important producers of barley, oats, sugar beets, flax, dill, and fruits. Mordvania is also fourth largest supplier of beef and goat cheese in the region.

Biodiversity

Phytogeographically, Mordvania belongs to the Central European province of the Western Boreal Region within the Boreal Kingdom.

Many animals that have died out in other parts of Brigidna still survive in Mordvania, such as the Brigidnan bison in the ancient woodland of the Preckala Forest, in southern Mordvania. Other such species include the brown bear in the Western Pristen, the gray wolf in the Jogan Mountains and the crimson lynx in various forests, the wild beaver in the Severdno and Visnja regions, and the northern moose in the northeastern forests.

In the forests, one also encounters game animals, such as red deer, black deer and wild boars, In southern Mordvania there are a number of ancient woodlands, like Preckala forest, that have never been cleared or have been disturbed much by people. There are also large forested areas in the southwestern and central mountainous regions.

Mordvania is also an important breeding ground for a variety of Brigidnan migratory birds, which often cross Marzanna toward West and South Brigidna. Out of all the migratory birds who come to West Brigidna for the summer, one quarter of the Brigidnan population of grey storks live in Mordvania, particularly in the lake districts and the wetlands along the Dolga river, which are part of nature reserves or national parks.

Climate

The climate is mostly temperate throughout the country. The climate is oceanic in the north and west and becomes gradually warmer and continental towards the south and west. Summers are generally warm, with average temperatures between 18°C and 30°C depending on a region. Winters are rather cold, with average temperatures around 3°C in the northwest and −10°C in the northeast. Precipitation falls throughout the year, although, especially in the east; winter is drier than summer.

The warmest region in Mordvania are Bunesgan Plain located in south-western Mordvania where temperatures in the summer average between 24 and 32°C but can go as high as 35 to 38°C on some days in the warmest month of Zechyr and Septem. The warmest cities in Mordvania are Snogen, which is situated in south-west Mordvania, and Paviemes, which is located in southern Mordvania. The average temperatures in Paviemes are 20°C in the summer and 0°C in the winter, but Snogen has the longest summer in all of Mordvania, which lasts for 120 days, from mid-Fein to early-Nueva.

The coldest region of Mordvania is in the northeast in the Wojek voyvodeship on the Viska Bay. The climate is affected by cold fronts which come from Karjelinn and Marzanna. The average temperature in the winter in Wojek ranges from −10 to −42°C. The biggest impact of the oceanic climate is observed in the Laural Sea seashore area from Amsberg to Wojek

Governance and Politics

The Republic of Mordvania was established in 1566, during the Republican revolution of 1565-1567. The constitution of the Republic of Mordvania was approved by referendum on 19 Fein 1567. Drafted and approved only a few months after the end of the Mordvanian Civil War (1566-1567), the constitution established an unitary republic and the first democratic government in Mordvanian history, granted the Armed Forces with an important but limited influence, and it was heavily influenced by Mordvanian republicanism. The Mordvanian constitution would be considerably amended in the 1582 constitutional reform, which reduced and removed the influence of the Armed Forces in the political process, strengthen the power of the national parliament, and effectively establishing a semi-presidential system.

Political System

The Republic of Mordvania is an unitary semi-presidential representative democratic republic. The government is regulated by a system of checks and balances defined by the Mordvanian constitution, which serves as the country's supreme legal document. In the Mordvanian republican system, citizens are usually subject to two levels of government: national and local. The local government's duties are commonly split between departments and voyvodeships. The constitution establishes that the Assembly of Representatives (Lower House of the parliament) must be elected under a proportional system, while local's government executive and legislative officials are elected by a plurality vote of citizens by districts, and there is no proportional representation at the local level, with the exception of department's councils.

The national government is composed of three branches:

• Legislative: The bicameral parliament, made up of the Assembly of Representaties (Lower House) and the Chamber of Deputies (Upper House), makes federal law, declares war, approves treaties and the annual budget, and has the power of impeachment, by which it can remove sitting members of the government.
• Executive: The President is the commander-in-chief of the military, can veto legislative bills before they become law (subjet to parliamentary override), and nominate and appoints the President of the Republican Council (with the approval of the Assembly of Representatives) the national cabinet, and other officers, who administer and enforce national laws and policies.
• Judicial: The Constitutional Court, whose judges are appointed by the President with parliamentary approval, and the national and local courts, interpret laws and overturn those they find unconstitutional.

The Assembly of Representatives has 599 voting members, elected by national proportional representation for a three-year term.

The Chamber of Deputies has 444 members. Unlike the Assembly of Representatives, the members of the Chamber of Deputies are not elected by suffrage, by they are allocated by lot for a one-year term. This process, known as sortition, selects the deputies of the Upper House of the parliament from a larger pool of local representatives. The logic behind this sortition process originates from the idea that sortition strengthens political participation and local governance. The competences of the Chamber of Deputies, however, are limited to approve the national budget, to review and propose laws to the Assembly of Representatives, and to pass or block constitutional amends. The Chairman of the Chamber of Deputies is directly appointed by the President, but the Chairman only votes when it is necessary to break a tie. As consequence of the sortition process, the composition of the Chamber of Deputies changes every year.

The executive branch itself has two leaders: the President of the Republic, currently Zvezdana Serebryak, who is head of state and is elected directly by universal adult suffrage for a 6-year term, and the Republican Council, led by the president-appointed President of the Republican Council (head of the government). The President of the Republic can not be reelected.

The local governments have an important number of competences on taxation, education, healthcare, and welfare. The members of the voyvodeship (local government) are elected by a plurality vote of citizens by districts, while the voyvode (head of the local government) is directly elected in a two-round system, similarly as the president is elected. Departments (regional government) elect their own lawmakers as well, although they have very limited competences and powers compared to the voyvodeships. The head of a department, known as governor, is directly appointed by the President, but they have a rather symbolical role.

The Constitutional Court, led by the President of the Constitutional Court, has nine members, who serve until retirement at 70-year old.

Judicial System

The judiciary of Mordvania is the system of courts that interprets and applies the law in the Republic of Mordvania. The judiciary of Mordvania is considered independent from the executive, as the constitution establishes a clear separation of powers.

The Mordvanian legal system is a civil law mostly based on a comprehensive compendium of legal codes. In criminal and administrative law, Mordvania uses an inquisitorial system where the judges are actively involved in investigating the facts of the case, as compared to an adversarial system where the role of the judge is primarily that of an impartial referee between the prosecutor or plaintiff and the defendant. Rather than allowing cross-examination between the defense and prosecutors, the judges conduct the majority of the trial. During a trial, the parties are expected to give all their evidence to the judges, who will then call forward and question the witnesses, after which the defense counsel and prosecutor may question the witnesses.

In Mordvania, judges follow a distinct career path. At the end of their legal education at university, all law students must pass a state examination before they can continue on to an apprenticeship that provides them with broad training in the legal profession over two years. They then must pass a second state examination that qualifies them to practice law. At that point, the individual can choose either to be a lawyer or to enter the judiciary. Judicial candidates start working at courts immediately. However, they are subjected to a probationary period of up to five years before being appointed as judges for life.

The judicial system is established and governed by article 27 of the Mordvanian constitution, that states that "the judicial power shall be vested in the judges; it shall be exercised by the Constitutional Court, by the National Courts of Justice, and the regional and local courts". Unlike other countries, Mordvania's judiciary is not subordinated to the legislature, the constitution directly invests supreme judicial power in the Constitutional Court as well as other national, regional, and local courts, decisional law has greater importance, though not to the extent of common law systems.

There are five basic types of courts, plus the Constitutional Court and the National Courts of Justice:

• Ordinary courts, dealing with criminal and most civil cases
• Administrative law courts
• Tax law courts
• Labour law courts
• Social law courts

In Mordvania, there is no de jure single supreme court. Instead, cases are handled by numerous national courts, depending on their nature. When it comes to civil and criminal cases, the National Court of Justice is at the top of the hieararchy of courts. The other branches of the Mordvanian judiciary system each have their own appellate systems, each topped by a national high court; these are the National Social Court for matters of social security, the National Labour Court for employment and labour, the National Finance Court for taxation and financial issues, and the National Administrative Court for administrative law. The so-called Joint Senate of the National Courts of Justice -formed by the National Court of Justice and the other National Courts- is not a surpreme court in itself, but an ad-hoc body that is convened in only when one high court intends to diverge from another high court's legal opinion or when a certain case exceeds the authority of one court. As the courts have well-defined areas of responsibility, situations like these are rather rare and so, the Joint Senate gathers very infrequently, and only to consider matters which are mostly definitory.

The main difference between the Constitutional Court and the National Courts of Justice is that the Constitutional Court may only be called if a constitutional matter within a case is in question (e.g., a possible violation of human rights in a criminal trial), while the National Courts of Justice may be called in any case. Only the Constitutional Court can declare an Act of Parliament invalid.

The Constitutional Court is the supreme constitutional court of the Republic of Mordvania, estabished by the constitution. Since 1567, the Constitutional Court has been located in the city of Brezedina -intentionally distanced from the other national institutions in Slavograd and other cities.

The main task of the Constitutional Court is judicial review, and it may declare legislation unconstitutional, thus rendering them ineffective. The main task of the court is judicial review, and it may declare legislation unconstitutional, thus rendering them ineffective. In this respect, it is similar to other supreme courts with judicial review powers, yet the court possesses a number of additional powers, and is regarded as among the most interventionist and powerful national courts in the region. Unlike other supreme courts, the constitutional court is not an integral stage of the judicial or appeals process (aside from cases concerning constitutional or public international law), and does not serve as a regular appellate court from lower courts or the National Courts of Justice.

The Constitutional Court's jurisdiction is focused on constitutional issues and the compliance of all governmental institutions with the constitution. Constitutional amendments or changes passed by the Parliament are subject to its judicial review, since they have to be compatible with the most basic principles of the Constitution defined by the constitution preamble's and first ten articles. For example, in 1582 the Constitutional Court declared that a constitutional amend aimed to introduce a mixed electoral system in which half of the Assembly of Representatives' seats were to be elected by first-past-the-post system was unconstitutional.

The Constitutional Court is able to actively administer the law and ensure that political and bureaucratic decisions comply with the rights of the individual enshrined in the constitution. Specifically, it can vet the democratic and constitutional legitimacy of bills proposed by federal or state government, scrutinise decisions (such as those relating to taxation) by the administration, arbitrate disputes over the implementation of law between local governments and the national government, and (most controversially) ban non-democratic political parties. The Constitutional Court's practice of enormous constitutional control frequency on the one hand, and the continuity in judicial restraint and political revision on the other hand, have created a unique defender of the Constitution and given it a significant role in Mordvania's modern democracy.

The Constitutional Court's are nominated by the President of the Republic, and elected by the Assembly of Representatives and the Chamber of Deputies. According to the Constitution of the Republic of Mordvania. The selection of a judge requires a two-thirds vote. The judges are elected until retirement, as the Mordvanian constitution established they must retire upon reaching the age of 70. Most judges previously served as an academic jurist at a university, as a public servant or as a lawyer. After ending their term, most judges withdraw themselves from public life.

Ordinary courts are the most numerous by far. Currently there are 799 ordinary courts (644 local, 114 regional, 40 appellate, one national), 101 labour courts (85 local, 15 appellate, one national), 55 administrative courts (33 local, 21 regional, one national), 11 tax courts (10 local, one national), and 74 social courts (59 local, 14 regional, one national).

Economy

Mordvania's economy is considered to be one of the Brigidnan economies with the fasted growing in the last two decades. Since the fall of the Abdanian monarchy, Mordvania has pursued a policy of mixed economy, with important state investment, a strong domestic market, a flexible currency, and not being dependent on a sigle export sector. Except in the years 1575-1578, the country has experienced constant economic growth. The country's most successful exports include machinery, cars, weaponry, pharma products, furniture, food products, clothing, shoes and cosmetics. Mordvania's largest trading partners are Biyra and Florinthus.

The first but specially the second Bogdan Privsek's administrations have pursued a policy of market liberatization and labour market reform, only partially reduced during the left-wing coalition governments of 1573-1579. Restructuring and privatisation of "sensitive sectors" such as coal, steel, rail transport and energy has been continuing since 1580. The biggest privatizations have been the sale of the national telecoms firm Mordtelekom to Kacije Corporation in 1582, and an issue of 35% of the shares in Morvania's largest bank, Mordbank, on the Mordvanian stockmarket in 1583.

Mordvania is recognized as having an economy with development potential, overtaking Biyra and Kazemura in the early-1580s to become Brigidna's ninth largest economy, and 20th worldwide. The Mordvanian banking sector is the largest in North Brigidnan region, with 41.2 branches per 100,000 adults. The banks are the largest and most developed sector of the country's financial markets. They are regulated by the Mordvanian Financial Authority. Mordvania's bankingsector approxiamately 6 national banks, a network of nearly 900 cooperative banks and 10 branches of foreign-owned banks. In addition, foreign investors have controlling stakes in nearly 20 commercial banks, which make up 40% of the banking capital. Since the early-1580s, Mordvanian banks have heavily expanded in East Kaljurand, adquiring many Kaljuran banks and companies.

Mordvania has a large number of private farms in its agricultural sector, with the potential to become a leading producer of food in the Brigidnan market. The biggest money-makers abroad include smoked and fresh fish, fine chocolate, and dairy products, meats and specialty breads, with the exchange rate conducive to export growth. Structural reforms in health care, education, the pension system, and state administration have resulted in larger-than-expected fiscal pressures. Mestarka leads North Brigidna in foreign investment. GDP growth had been strong and steady from 1572 with only a short slowdown from 1575 to 1578.

Average salaries in the enterprise sector in Vintyr 1583 were 4,000 kovens ($1,801) and growing sharply. Salaries vary between the regions: the median wage in the capital city Slovograd was 4,637 kovens, while in Brezedina it was 3,971 kovens, and up to 4,801 kovens in Mestarka. There is a wide distribution of salaries among the various voyvodeships of Mordvania. They range from 2,891 kovens in Paviemes to 4,697 in the Mestarka voyvodeship.

During and after the 1566-1567 civil war, Mordvanian experienced a mass emigration of over 4 million abroad, most of them ethnic Abdanians and Bunesgans. The out migration, while it sank the country on economic depression until 1572, has increased the average wages for the workers who remained in Mordvania, in particular for those with intermediate and high level skills.

Products and goods manufactured in Mordvania include: electronics, buses and trams, helicopters and planes, trains, ships, military weaponry and equipment, medicines, food, clothes, glass, pottery , chemical products and others. Mordvania is also one of the world's biggest producers of copper, silver and coal, as well as potatoes, wheat, rye, rape seed, cabbage, dill, apples, strawberries and ribes.

Corporations

Mestarka Stock Exchange is one of North Brigidna largest exchanges by market capitalization. Mordvania is recognized as a regional economic leader within North Brigidna, with nearly 48 percent of the 500 biggest companies in the region (by revenues) as well as a high globalisation rate. The country's largest firm comprise the MORD30 index, which is traded on the Mestarka Stock Exchange.

Well known Mordvanian brands include, among others...

The list includes the largest companies by turnover in 1584 (excluding banks and insurance companies):

Rank 2011	Corporation	Sector	Headquarters	Revenue (thousand kovens)	Profit (thousand kovens)	Employees
1.	Name	oil and gas	Mestarka	79 037 121	2 396 447	4,445

Tourism

Mordvania experienced an increase in the number of tourists after organizing the football Brigidnan Cup in 1569. Tourism contributes significantly to Mordvania's overall economy and makes up to a relatively large proportion of the country's service market.

Tourist attractions in Mordvania vary, from the mountains in the south and central Mrodvania to the beaches in the north and east, with a trail of nearly every architectural style, which combined West Brigidnan with Marzannan influences. The most visited city is Mestarka, which was the formed capital of the Kingdom of Abdania and Mordvania (officially named as Fürstendstadt until 1566). Mestarka once held royal coronations of every Abdanian monarch since the 12th century. Among other notable sites in the country is the capital city of the republic, Slovograd; the cities of Slawowo and Brezedina, and the southeastern town of Visnja, one of the oldest cities in Mordvania. The twons of Slawowo, Seznica, Prindz, and Mazenskai were extensively reconstructed after wartime destruction during the 1566-1567 civil war. Other cities attracting tourists include Opoblina, Wojek, Amsberg, Chlyb, Snogen, Dodzyn, and Paviemes.

Mordvania is the 14th most visited country in the world by foreign tourists, as ranked by Sioran Tourism Organization (STO). Biyra, Saratov, and Florinthus were the top three countries of origin for visitors in 1582. Moreover, according to the Republican Statistical Office, tourism in Mordvania increases at an annual rate of 11%.

Mordvania's main tourist offerings include outdoor activities such as skiing, sailing, mountain hiking and climbing, as well as agrotourism, sightseeing historical monuments. Tourist destinations include the Laural Sea coast in the north and Biyran Sea coast in the east; the 1 Lake District and 2 Forest in the east; on the south 3, the 4 Mountains and the 5 Mountains, where 6, the highest peak of Mordvania, and the famous 7 mountain trail are located. The 8 and 9 Mountains lie in the extreme south-east. There are over 220 castles in the country, many in the 10 Voivodeship and along the popular 11.

Energy

The electricity generation sector in Mordvania is largely fossil-fuel–based. The three largest Mordvanian coal mining firms extract around 300 million tonnes of coal annually. All three of these companies are key constituents of the Mestarka Stock Exchange's lead economic indexes.

Renewable forms of energy account for a smaller but increasing proportion of Mordvania's full energy generation capacity. However, the Republican Council has set targets for the development of renewable energy sources in Mordvania which should see the portion of power produced by renewable resources climb to 15% by 1590 and 40% by 1600. This is to be achieved mainly through the construction of wind farms and a number of hydroelectric stations.

Mordvania has around 200,000,000,000 m3 of proven natural gas reserves and around 200,000,000 barrels of proven oil reserves. These reserves are exploited by energy supply companies such as MKG. However, the small amounts of fossil fuels naturally occurring in Mordvania is insufficient to satisfy the full energy consumption needs of the population. Therefore, the country is a net importer of oil and natural gas.

Transport

Transport in Mordvania is provided by means of rail, road, marine shipping and air travel. Since the early-1570s, Mordvania has invested large amounts of public funds into modernization projects of its transport networks. The country now has a developing highways network composed of motorways. At the end of 1583, Mordvania had 9701,2 km of highways. In addition to these newly built roads, many local and regional roads are being fixed as part of a national programme to rebuild all roads in Mordvania.

In 1582, the nation had 20,000 miles of railway track. Trains can operate up to 160 kilometres per hour on 10% of the track. Most trains operate between 80 and 125 kms per hour. Part of the system operates at 40 km/hour. Mordvanian authorities maintain a program of improving operating speeds across the entire Mordvanian rail network. Additionally, in Dein 1582, Mordvania began to implement high–speed rail routes connecting major Mordvanian cities. The Mordvanian government has revealed that it intends to connect all major cities to a future high-speed rail network by 1586.

The air and maritime transport markets in Mordvania are largely well developed. Mordvania has a number of international airports, the largest of which is Slovograd Republican Airport, the primary global hub for Mordvanian Airlines.

Seaports exist all along Mordvania's coast, with most freight operations using Mestarka, Amsberg, Wojek as well as Dodzyn and Ryban as their base. Passenger ferries link Mordvania with the northern archipelago and Biyra all year around; these services are provided from Ryban, Wojek, and Dodzyn.

Science and technology

Mordvania's tertiary education institutions; traditional universities, as well as technical, medical, and economic institutions, employ around 120,000 researchers and members of staff. There are around 700 research and development institutes, with about 25,000 researchers. In total, there are around 200,000 scientists in Mordvania today.

Over 100 research and development centers and 10,000 researchers make Mordvania the biggest research and development hub in North Brigidna. Many multinational companies have set up research and development centers in Mordvania. Companies chose Mordvania because of the availability of highly qualified labour force, presence of universities, support of authorities, and the largest market in North Brigidna. According to a 1582 report 88% of Mordvania's current investors are content with their choice and willing to reinvest.

Communications

The share of the telecom sector in the GDP was 5% (1582), compared to 2% in 1560. The coverage increased from 78 users per 1,000 inhabitants in 1565 to 400 in 1580. The value of the telecommunication grew by 30% in 1578. The coverage mobile cellular was over 1000 users per 1000 people (1584). Telephones—mobile cellular: 68 million (1580), telephones—main lines in use: 30 million (1579).

The public postal service in Mordvania is operated by Mordpostni (the Mordvania Post). It was created on 4 Vintyr 1570, and it is state-owned. Until 1569, communication was provided mainly through the military authorities. At present, the service is a modern state-owned company that provides a number of standard and express delivery as well as home-delivery services. With an estimated number of around 170,000 employees (1580), Mordpostni also has a personal tracking system for parcels. In 1584 the company adopted a strategy that assumes increasing revenues to 10 billion kovens by 1588; the aim is to double revenues from courier and parcel services and a five-fold growth in logistics services.

Demographics

Language

According to the Mordvanian constitution, the state language of the Republic of Mordvania is Mordvanian language. Bunesgan, Ashkuban, Kaljuran, and Abdanian are recognized as regional languages. According to the 1575 census, 68% percent of the population declared Mordvanian as their native language, while 13% and 11% declared Ashkuban and Bunesgan, respectively. Abdanian was de facto official language of the Kingdom of Abdania and Mordvania -although Mordvanian was recognized as official language in the Kingdom of Mordvania, which roughly comprised one third of the Abdanian monarchy. Effective in Vintyr 1569, a new law on regional languages entitles any local language spoken by at least a 20 percent minority be declared official within that area, and accepted in administrative office work and documents, and be offered as elective course in schools.

Mordvanian is widely spoken in all the country, even if a large minority has not Mordvanian as native language. Only in the Western regions Mordvanian language is second on number of native speakers, being Bunesgan the most spoken language in many western towns. Ashkuban language, although it has more native speakers than Bunesgan, is more evenly distributed, going from 14% in Central Mordvania to 6% in the western regions.

In the western regions, Mordvanian and Bunesgan are both equally used in cities, in some cases Mordvanian being more common in some cities, while Bunesgan is the dominant language in rural communities. Abdanian language, once the dominant language in government, administration, and education system, is clearly on decline nationwide, specially as consequence of Abdanian immigration toward West Brigidna. However, this trend has decreased in recent years, with a few thousand of Abdanian-speaking migrants returning to the Republic of Mordvania.

Kaljuran is mostly spoken in regions along the Kaljuran border. However, the civil war in that country increased the number of Kaljuran speakers up to 6% of the population in 1579, as the Republic of Mordvania received about 1-2 million of Kaljuran refugees. Some of them came back to East Kaljurand. Before the Kaljuran civil war, the number of Kaljuran native speakers in Central Mordvania was as low as 0.2%, and only about 3-4% in the northern and eastern regions.

The languages of Mordvania, according to the 1582 census, are as follow:

• Mordvanian: 66,011,000
• Ashkuban: 8,144,500
• Bunesgan: 7,429,500
• Kaljuran: 4,984,600
• Abdanian: 1,902,000
• Nentsian: 144,000
• Others: 798,000

Religion

A 1584 survey conducted by the Strazek Center found that 60% of Mordvanians declared themselves believers in any religion, while 8% were uncertain whether they believe or not, 4% were uninterested in beliefs, 3% were unbelievers, 23% were atheists, and a further 2% found it difficult to answer the question. The level of religiosity in Mordvania is greatest in Western Mordvania (92%), and lowest in Southeastern Mordvania (48%) and Central Mordvania (59%).

Of those who declared themselves believers, most of them belong to any of the branches of Messanism: 59% Abdanian Reformed Church, 18% Sentric Church, 8% the Messanic Church of Abdania, 14% Dainism, 2% Muliners. The largest non-Messanic religion in Mordvania is Akhadism with only 1% of those who declare themselves believers. Most of Akhadic believers in Mordvania are ethnic Lipka-Nentsians.

Education

Education in Mordvania consists of daycare programmes (for babies and toddlers) and a one-year "pre-school" (or kindergarten for six-year-olds); a nine-year compulsory basic comprehensive school (starting at age seven and ending at the age of sixteen); post-compulsory secondary general academic and vocational education; higher education (University and Colleges); and adult (lifelong, continuing) education. The Mordvanian model for achieving equality and excellence in education has been based on constructing a pubicly funded comprehensive school system without selecting, tracking, or streaming students during their common basic education. Part of the strategy has been to spread the school network so that pupils have a school near their homes whenever possible or, if it is not feasible, to provide free transportation to more widely dispersed schools.

After their nine-year basic education in a comprehensive school, students at the age of 16 may choose to continue their secondary education in either an academic school or a trade school, both of which usually take three years and give a qualification to continue to tertiary education. There are 51 universities and 79 polytechnic colleges in the country.

Daycare centers and schools up to the university level are almost exclusively funded and administered by the voyvodeships (local government) of the Republic of Mordvania. There are few private schools. The founding of a new private comprehensive schools requires the approval of the General Committee of the Social and Economic Council. When founded, private schools are given a state grant comparable to that given to a municipal school of the same size. However, even in private schools, the use of tuition fees is strictly prohibited, and selective is prohibited as well: private schools must admit all its pupils on the same basis as the corresponding municipal school, and no discrimination for faith, gender, nationality, or race is allowed by Mordvanian law. Gender segregation is prohibited as well, therefore mixed education is compulsory. In addition, private schools are required to give their students all the education and social benefits that are offered to the students of municipal schools. Because of this, existing private schools are mostly faith-based, such as the schools owned by the Abdanian Church.

So far, there are no tuition fees on universities and terciary level of education. However, in 1584 there were plans at national level to introduce tuition fees to students from foreign countries. The students' organizations opposed such plans. In universities, membership in the students' union is compulsory. Students' union in high school are similarly recognized in the legislation, but membership is voluntary and does not include union health care (which is organized and partly financed by the students' unions). Mordvanian students are entitled to a student benefit welfare, which may be revoked if there is a persistent lack of progress in the studies.

Religious instruction is not given by public and state schools. In a 1575 ruling, the Mordvanian government banned all "conspicuous religious symbols" from schools and other public institutions with the intent of preventing proselytisation and to foster a sense of tolerance among ethnic groups. Some religious groups showed their opposition, but the law passed mostly unopposed in the Mordvanian parliament.

Health

The Republic of Mordvania has a nationwide publicly funded healthcare system, stablished in 1574, together with smaller private sector and voluntary provision. The total expenditure on healthcare as a proportion of GDP in 1586 was 9.9%. The percentage of healthcare provided directly by the state is higher than most Brigidnan countries, which have often an insurance-based healthcare with the state providing for those who cannot afford insurance, instead of the single-payer system established in Mordvania.