Commonwealth of Nyasaland

The Archduchy of Nya~saland is the current incarnation of the historical territory of Nyasaland. Nyasaland was first settled in mid 2017, and soon proclaimed a Republic under the Nyasan Constitution. Nyasaland prospered for a time under the Republic, building the city of Palgrave, developing surrounding areas and holding cordial relationships with all neighbours.

Nyasaland eventually grew inactive however, with the island falling under the protection of a number of states during this period; eventually Nyasaland was revived under the state of Annwyn in November 2018, a country existing in the former southern territory of the Nyasan Republic. Nyasaland today is an autonomous Archduchy under Annwyn, having absorbed a monarchical system from their new overlord.

Etymology
The use of 'Nya~saland' vs 'Nyasaland' with or without the tilde are both valid - official forms will tend towards inclusion of the tilde, however. The only pronunciation difference is a slight kawaii accent.

Early History
Nyasaland was first settled in mid 2017 by Syurii, AveAwan and Phantasm_agaric, and soon proclaimed a Republic under the Nyasan Constitution. The young Republic quickly established cordial relations with its two major neighbours, Persia and Nevada. With Persia, a treaty was signed partitioning the lands to the south which both powers had interest in, to head off any future conflicts.

Economic Expansion
The nascent Republic soon began to rapidly expand its economy and political projection; undergoing extensive mining ventures to fund the construction of factories such as an Ore Smelter, and the colonisation of a Nether Island to the east. A rail line was constructed between the capital and the island,

bringing in a steady flow of Netherwart with the idea of developing an XP industry. Complimenting this, southern territory of Yorick Fields was linked to

Nyasaland with a large bridge, and the territory developed with potato and carrot farms.

Decline
Slowly however, interest began to wane, and despite the founding of the borough of Chantilly Hollow, the Nyasan Republic drew to a quiet close. The land was claimed by a number of ephemeral states, and the city of Palgrave especially was visited by many travellers. While spared any large-scale raiding, the Nyasan government stockpiles were ransacked leaving the country penniless, and the bridge to the mainland was destroyed. A small village of unknown origin was built on the west coast, largely hidden under thick tree cover.

Revival
On the 26th November 2018, Nyasaland was revived as a political entity, as an autonomous region under the Kingdom of Annwyn under the name of the 'Nyasaland Free State' - forfeiting its overseas possessions in Yorick Fields and Nether Colonies. Annwyn had temporarily renamed Nyasaland to Tyr, but this was quickly reversed with the return of the indigenous inhabitants. The Free State period saw extensive extensive development of the capital city Palgrave, and steps towards economic recovery following a long period of abandonment.

During the Free State period, Syurii ruled as Governor with the provisional national flag being a plain magenta, white and cyan tricolour without any emblem of coat of arms.

Archduchy
Following an influx of migrants both new and old to the country, a period of heated internal political deliberation began, and the 4th December 2018 saw the promulgation of the official terms of Nyasaland's new status - the Archduchy of Nyasaland Charter. It had been decided to reform the country into a hereditary Archduchy, following the monarchical example of the country's new overlord, Annwyn.

Politics
The bedrock of modern Nyasan politics is the Charter, which defines the country's aristocracy, government, relationship to Annwyn, and formalities such as the new national symbols. The two main organs of state in the Archduchy are the Archduchess herself, who represents the centralisation of the country's power and executive leadership, and the Civil Administration organised under a Governor, which she appoints, effectively serving as executor of the Archduchess' will. Under the Governor serve a number of committees and ministers, which fall under their responsibility. Some of these currently in function include;


 * Nyasaland Immigrations and Customs Board; overviews the granting of Nyasan citizenship to individuals
 * Nyasaland Boundary Commission; overviews the management and revision of Nyasaland's internal administrative borders.

In a fully appointee-based system with Democracy at no level, parties have no official place. However, political movements often calling themselves 'parties' do frequently lobby the government and sometimes their representatives attain positions in the civil administration; an example would be the current Governor, cat_alunya, also leading the country's Nyasaland Fascist Party. Some have argued this effectively makes them Nyasaland's de-facto ruling party, but it remains that the Governor serves at the leisure of the Archduchess who has no such association, and continues to take an active part in politics.



Under the Republic
Under the old Nyasan Constitution, the Republic was composed of numerous unique features, with a Westminsteresque elected Assembly staffed by elected representatives, and a President to handle military & foreign affairs, who in turn would select a 'Castellan' and 'Seneschal' to jointly govern the nation. 'Party' electoral behaviour was strictly forbidden and authority was heavily delegated to several minor governmental bodies based around Palgrave.

Geography
Nyasaland is a small, hilly and thickly forested island, mostly raised on a sharp plateau, with the exception of Typha - the main defined geographic features on the plateau are the heavily-foliaged Mount Nyangani which dominates the largely untouched southwest of the island, as well as the great gorge scoring the land near it. The east of the plateau has seen heavy development with the City of Palgrave and borough of Chantilly Hollow. To the north, Nyasaland's oldest structures can be seen existing in a state of a greater concordat with nature, with the exception of the grand walls criss-crossing the territory.

Culture
Most of Nyasaland's culture centres on the capital, Palgrave; the city's aesthetic splendour has been noted by many, with a clearly defined style inspired by Edwardian, Victorian and in some places towards the city's outskirts, Colonial architecture. The city boasts two cafes and a monumental classical theatre.

Outside of Palgrave, to the north, the quaint borough of Chantilly Hollow is noted for its unique organic architecture and rustic theme.

Nyasaland's national holidays include the 21st February, Archduchess Palgrave's birthday. Croquet is Nyasaland's unofficial national sport, with the second-oldest building in Palgrave being the headquarters of the country's National Croquet Association.