Stasnov

The Union of Socialist Republics of Stasnov (Stasnovan: Союз Социалистических Республик Стасновии tr. Soyuz Sotsialisticheskikh Respublik Stasnovii), also known as the Stasnovan Union, USRS or simply Stasnov (Stasnovan: Стаснов) is a country in Eastern Vesperea. Stasnov is a single-party socialist state comprising of six republics with each containing several federal subjects, called oblasts (the number varies within the various republics). To the south west, Stasnov borders Gorbatov, Elesar to the south, Zerinfriüm and Astronea to the north.

Stasnov is a founding member and the current leader nation of the Vastava Pact.

Demonym
PENDING RE-WRITE

Tribal Era up to 562BC
The nation's history began with a period called "The Tribal Era" by most Stasnovan historians that lasted from prehistoric times until 882 BCE. That name was given to that period because of the multiple tribes that inhabited Stasnov. Remnants of these civilizations are still being found today, with the most recent one being the burial site near the town of Glubovko, Seldaki Oblast, Belovya Socialist Republic.

Not much is known about this period, other that a large numbers of tribes inhabited what is now Stasnov - collectively referred to as the Stasna. Despite the single term used to describe them, the Stasna tribes were quite different from one another, from the Evganar pastoralist nomads of the south and the seafaring Yuktovachi peoples on the Zentrum coast, to the more warlike, martial society of the Seldaki that dwelled in the Kherzov mountain range near the modern Zerinite border. These tribes were generally located in western Stasnov, as the eastern part of the modern nation was largely uninhabited back then, with only a few peoples dwelling there.

The Seldaki Kingdom 562BC-340AD
At some point in the mid-6th century BC - historians generally agree on 562 or 563 as the most possible dates - the event known as the Seldaki Invasion begun. The Seldaki tribes invade the south and east, subjugating many rival tribes. The invasion culminated in the almost mythical Battle of Polkonets in 551 - assumed to be 50 km north of modern Vastava - where the Seldaki armies defeated their most powerful enemies, the Dinvanar. The Seldaki then formed the Seldaki Kingdom the first organised "state" in Stasnovan history, even though it was far from a centralized government. Historians describe the Seldaki Kingdom as some form of a very early proto-feudal state, with the tribes subjugated by the Seldaki becoming their subjects rather than being integrated into the Seldaki tribe. Evidence suggests that the first Seldaki King was named Borivoi, but was soon succeeded by a chief named Chestislav. The remaining independent tribes that hadn't been incorporated into the Seldaki Kingdom or become its tributaries continued some to resist in some cases, but there exists no historical evidence that any successful campaign against the Seldaki occurred.

The Vyataric migration and the Vyataric Empire 340BC-140BC
The Vyatar, a nomadic tribe originating from what is now the border area between Stasnov and Kazaristan, starts making small-scale incursions into the surrounding territories of the Seldaki Kingdom. Little is known about the reason the Vyatar chose to migrate west, but it is assumed that wars with other tribes and the famines due to droughts forced them to leave their home territory. In 337, massive hordes of the Vyatar begin migrating west, invading Seldaki land directly. Several battles are fought between the Seldaki and the Vyatar, but the horde outnumbers the Seldaki significantly, is more centrally coordinated and its nomadic horse archers make short work of loosely coordinated Seldaki and allied tribal troops. Additionally, some tribes that had become subjects of the Seldaki joined the invaders, helping them defeat their former overlords. By 322 BC, the Seldaki Kingdom had practically collapsed, with tribal warlords scattering across Stasnov, the coastal regions of the Zentrum in particular. Dahal Anar, the Vyataric horde's leader, proclaims the Vyatardan Keran, the Empire of the Vyatar. As the Vyatar establish their control over Stasnov, they begin to transform from a nomadic horde to a settled population. The main camping site of the horde gradually turns into the city of Vyatashar (modern day Vyazinsk), the capital city of the Vyataric Empire. The Vyatar gradually adopt local customs, while also combining elements of their own culture with the local traditions. They gradually expand their territories west, eventually reaching modern-day Elesar and Gorbatov. Their territorial expansion, hegemony of the area and the increased tithes they impose on their vassals gradually alienates the neighboring tribes that had remained independent. This leads to a series of major wars starting from around 206 BC and ending in 176 BC, and while the Vyataric manage to maintain their rule, the constant warfare negatively affects the still loosely organised Empire.

When Dahal Inkar dies in 156 without leaving an heir, several warlords vouch for the throne. The internal divisions slowly start to slowly destroy the empire from within, culminating to a 4-way civil war between Dahal Rinat, Dahal Serik, Dahal Terevok and Dahal Ruslan, starting in 150. The Empire splinters into their four Dahalats, and their vassal tribes, as well as neighboring peoples, take advantage of the chaos and rise up. This period of warfare ends in 140, with all Dahals dead and the Vyataric Empire completely destroyed.

The Dark Age and the birth of Tormavkovo 140BC-500AD
The downfall of the Vyataric Empire reverts Stasnov back to an period of independent, warring tribes, dubbed the Second Tribal Era. This period is also known as the Stasnovan Dark Age, mostly because there is little information on it as the record-keeping of the Vyataric Empire is no more. The tribes of that period are mostly split by historians into Vyataro-Stasnovan tribes, Seldako-Stasnovan tribes and Paleo-Stasnovan tribes, with the former being located in today's Korskan Socialist Republic, while the Seldako-Stasnovans are mostly found along the Zentrum coast and the Paleo-Stasnovans in the northern part of modern Belovyan Socialist Republic. Another one of the the few things we know about the era is that a sister-tribe of the Vyatar, the Davarnae, migrates west and makes first contact in 21 AD. The Davarnae are decisively defeated by a tribal coalition - a rare occurrence in the period - of mostly Vyataro-Stasnovan and Paleo-Stasnovan tribes, but splinter groups of their main horde are able to near the modern Dagelian border.

In 145 AD, a confederation of Voronezh traders from modern day Gorbatov and a number of small Seldako-Stasnovan tribes form a confederation and establish the port city of Yedinko, that was originally an outpost of the sea traders. Yedinko gradually expands into a fledgling city state and trade hub for the area. In 370 AD, the tribal council that had led the city state thus far is overthrown by a war chief named Tormav, who annexes several neighboring tribes by force and names the city Tormavkovo, after himself. He establishes what is known as the Principality, or Knyazate, of Tormavkovo, with him as its Prince. The Principality is the first "state" in Stasnov in more than three centuries.

The Principality is described in many surviving scriptures as the crown jewel of the area. It grew rapidly over the next centuries, becoming a local superpower and beating back any invasion against it by neighbouring tribes.

Political System
According to the 1991 Constitution of the United Socialist Republics of Stasnov, the country is a federation and socialist state of the whole people, expressing the will and interests of the workers, peasants, and intelligentsia, the working people, wherein the Premier is the head of state and the General Secretary of the Communist Party is the head of government. The United Socialist States of Stasnov is fundamentally structured as a Parliamentary Socialist State, wherein the Communist Party is the leading force of the Stasnovan society and the nucleus of its political system. The Central (federal) government is composed of three branches:


 * Legislative: The bicameral People's Assembly of Stasnov, made up of the 2000-member Supreme Soviet and the 260-member Union Soviet, adopts federal law, declares war, approves treaties, has the power of the purse and the power of impeachment of the Premier. Members of the Supreme Soviet are all elected by popular vote, and can only be affiliated with the Communist Party, or be independent. The same applies to the Union Soviet, were the people of each State elect 10 candidates to represent them.
 * Executive: The Central Committee of the Communist Party appoints the Government of Stasnov, the General Secretary, the Premier (who is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces)and other officers, who administer and enforce federal laws and policies. The Central Committee can also veto legislative bills before they become law. It is also stated in the 1991 constitution, that referendums are to be held by every major demand by the population, including voting on critical laws and policies. The results of the referendum cannot be vetoed by the government.
 * Judiciary: The Constitutional Court, Supreme Court, Supreme Court of Arbitration and lower federal courts (Provisional and State Courts), whose judges are appointed by the Federation Soviet on the recommendation of the Premier, and/or the Central Committee, interpret laws and can overturn laws they deem unconstitutional.

The Premier is elected by the vote of the Central Committee for a six-year term (eligible for a second term, but not for a third consecutive term). Commissariats (Ministries) of the government are composed of the Premier and his deputies, ministers, and selected other individuals; all are appointed by the Central Committee on the recommendation of the General Secretary.

The Central Committee itself (also known as Tse-ka), is de jure the highest body of the Communist Party of the Stasnov (CPS) between Party Congresses. According to Party rules, the Central Committee directs all Party and government activities between each Party Congress. Members of the Central Committee are elected at the Party Congresses. The Communist Party has held a total of 30 Party Congresses. Membership of the Communist Party is estimated to be around 92 million.

The current Premier of Stasnov, Nikolai Krasnov, was also elected as the General Secretary of the Central Committee when the previous General Secretary, Georgy Antropov, died from heart attack in 2013. An act that was considered unconstitutional at first, but after voting by the Supreme Soviet and a referendum, Krasnov was allowed to act as both the General Secretary and the Premier.