Ispanestan

Ispanestan (Qöşpeli: Aspandiiston [æzpæniː'stɒn]), officially the Republic of Ispanestan (Qöşpeli: Aspandiiston Vispubliq) is a transcontinental landlocked country located mainly in Ladinotia and partly in Dondia. It borders Fabiana to the north, Serica to the east, Beblatiya to the south, and The Ridlemarch to the west. Its capital is Elbuglia. Bötetöb, Ispanestan's largest city, was the country's capital until 1999. It has a population of around 6.3 million people. Ethnic Ispanis constitute a majority of the population, while ethnic Fabians and Sericans form significant minorities. Officially an Islamic country, with a Muslim majority population, Ispanestan nonetheless has a large non-religious population, and paganism is common in some rural areas. Ethnic Sericans form a noticeable Songjo community.

The territory of Ispanestan has historically been inhabited by nomadic groups and empires. For much of history, parts of the country were under the control of the Imperium Basilissa, with Elbuglia standing on the site of a Basilissan colony. However, Qöşpeli nomads have always lived in and around Ispanestan, and after the collapse of the Imperium Basilissa, large numbers of Qöşpeli entered the region. In the 14th century, Ispanestan was the core territory of the Qwiliqic Horde, under Bizdin Bassi. In the 15th century, as a result of the disintegration Qwiliqic Horde, the Ispani Khanate was established on much of the lands that would later form the territory of modern Ispanestan.

By the 18th century, Ispani Khanate disintegrated into three jüz, which were the focus on much competition between the United Kingdoms of Fabiana, and the Empire of Serica. Fabian and Sericese merchants and settlers held immense economic and political power over each jüz, up until the Fabian Civil War, when the jüz united to form the short lived Ispani Autonomy. The Ispani Autonomy was invaded by Serica in the Totality War, and while Serica lost the war, Ispanestan was incorporated into Serica as the Council Republic of Ispanestan. Ispanestan was the first of the Serican Council Republics to declare independence in 1999. Despite struggling with authoritarianism in the aftermath of the re-establishment of independence, Ispanestan is now a functioning presidential democracy.

Ispanestan is a rising power, and alongside The Ridlemarch is one of the regional leaders of Ladinotia. The country's wealth comes from a mix of a strong financial industry, vast natural resources, and a increasingly effective free market economy. It is a presidential, unitary, constitutional republic, however, it still has issues around human rights and authoritarianism. Ispanestan is a member state of the World Council, the World Trade Organisation, the Organisation of Ladinotian States, the Trans-Dondia Economic Commission, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Hergensia, the Committee of Islamic Co-operation, and the Organisation of Qöşpeli Peoples.