Matkha

Matkha (Amafjk: Matxa, pronunciation: [ṽætˣx̪͆æ], Ngyo: Vmatxa, pronunciation: [vmatχ͢xa],), officially the Republic of Matkha, is an archipelago nation in the northern Bellic Ocean consisting of five major islands and various smaller islets and atolls. It shares no land-based or maritime borders, but the closest states are Kasten and Haobora. With the exception of Tantj Mafjx · Kaksj'x-Itisjx and Tantj Mafjx · Kaksj'x-Fimnj, the five inhabited islands of Matkha are separated by large spans of water and have thus developed vastly different languages and cultures.

The country is divided into four provinces each centered on one of the primary islands, all of which except for Tantj Mafjx include many outlying islands. In addition to this, there is a region known as the Scattered Islands Census Area, consisting of 131 islands that are de jure not a part of any province, but whose citizens are subject to the laws of Tantj Mafjx, able to vote in Tantj Mafjx local elections, and able to join the Tantj Mafjx Provincial Guard. In total, there are 267 islands larger than 1 km², of which 168 are inhabited. The inhabited islands vary in size from 22 km² (Vpñuwvlyahwp) to 25,428 km².

History

Matkha migrations

Reconstruction of the Saskjmis Njtte boat.

It is thought that the first island of Matkha to be settled was Kaksj'x-Itisjx, being encountered circa 3500 BCE by explorers who departed from modern-day Xjetjeŋ, with Kaksj'x-Fimnj being settled shortly after. One of the oldest known boats, a driftwood-based sewn boat known as the Saskjmis Njtte boat which has been carbon dated to roughly 3430 BCE, was discovered off the coast of Kaksj'x-Itisjx by a fisher in 1994.

The second island to be settled was Vpñuwpaw around 2800 BCE, by common ancestors of the Wla and Kjareliq originating from the island of Aqcjam. Around this time, the early (PLACEHOLDER) began to make forays into the nearest outlying islands, and during this process eventually set foot on (PLACEHOLDER) around 1900 BCE.

The Matkha migrations began to slow down in 740 BCE, with the first permanent settlement of (PLACEHOLDER) by sailors from Vpñuwpaw. This island was already previously known to the Wla, with records of castaways being marooned there dating back to 980 BCE written in the interior Ngyo script.

Monarchic era

In 418 BCE, the various small chiefdoms of Vpñuwpaw were united under the Vpñuwpaw Kingdom by King Zknri I, the first monarch of the Ðatvlyu dynasty. He was descended from the line of Zltah chiefs, who under the new system were retroactively and posthumously considered as monarchs part of the Wmlukvlyu dynasty, meaning that the first ruler in traditional lineages is not Zknri I but rather the semi-legendary Queen Vñluhmrwiy I.

Circa 320 BCE, the Tantj Mafjx Duumvirate was established. Under this system, two co-sovereigns represented the two islands of the nation, each having veto power over the other. In addition, their declarations could be vetoed by a supermajority vote from the Assembly of Chiefs and High Priests, a council formed from all local chiefs, with areas not under a chief system being represented by the local fasan, often translated as 'priest' or 'high priest', referring to a religiously learned elder with informal authority comparable to that found in a big man system.