130th/69th Ethensian Independence Day (23/8/2026)

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Happy 130th / 69th Independence Day Ethensia!
Yagwuan 130th / 69th Nyodomai dwen Ethensiani!

History (lore)
On the 23rd of August, 1896, Ethensian independence was declared from the Radnorian Empire. It aimed to bring power back to the Burodan monarchy, which stirred up some controversy, especially among the Abutakian majority in Eastern Ethensia. During this time, the Ethensian revolution was ongoing, while Radnor was fighting another war with Norland. Originally, Ethensian and Norlandic soldiers fought alongside each other. But Norland did not fight to support independence, but because of the rich minerals and oil in Ethensia. The treaty of New Salverick, signed on the 12th of September, 1896, seized Radnor's control over Ethensia, however the purchase was made with Norland paying $20M to the Radnorian government, as well as taking control over 50% of Obolistan's territory and seizing the strategic port of Brodaston. When Ethensian independence was proclaimed, neither Norland or Radnor recognised Ethensian independence. After the Radnorians left, hostilities broke out between the Ethensian and Norlandic peoples on September 13, 1896, after two Norlandic privates killed three Ethensian soldiers as Norlandic forces launched a major attack in Bridgestown, a Carlton Capitol suburb. This began the Ethenso–Norlandic War, which cost far more money and took far more lives than the Radnorian–Norlandic War. Some 124,100 Norlandic soldiers would be committed to the conflict; 4,523 Norlandics died, as did 12,000–20,000 Ethensian soldiers who were part of a nationwide guerrilla movement of at least 80,000 to 100,000 soldiers.

The general population, caught between Norlandics and rebels, suffered significantly. At least 200,000 Ethensian civilians died as an indirect result of the war mostly as a result of the cholera epidemic at the war's end that took between 150,000 and 200,000 lives. Atrocities were committed by both sides. The poorly equipped Ethensian troops were easily overpowered by Norlandic troops in open combat, but they were formidable opponents in guerrilla warfare. The monarch was captured and sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole after the Norlandic victory, capturing Samigbayo and officially ending the war on the 14th of February, 1911, while some guerilla fighters were said to continue to open fire against their enemy until 1915. While in prison, Bigraya (known as Bigraya I) showed little to no opinion on the war whatsoever. He died in 1921 following a heart attack. The Norlandic people humiliated the Ethensians, with the complete ban of Ethensian flags, banners, and the national anthem. This was repealed in 1921 after Bigraya I's death, and in 1925, Ethensians were granted complete Norlandic citizenship. This led to the persuasion for independence by Ethensian politician Kyi Tam Hu'nh, who gained enough trust and support by both the government and the populace and the belief that Ethensia could be ready for future independence.
In 1929, the Commonwealth of Ethensia was founded, granting an autonomous government while still being part of Norland, with Hu'nh being the president. It was decided that in 1951, Ethensia will be granted full independence. This was halted by the Great Coyphusian War. The Norlandic people humiliated the Ethensians, with the complete ban of Ethensian flags, banners, and the national anthem. This was repealed in 1921 after Bigraya I's death, and in 1925, Ethensians were granted complete Norlandic citizenship. This led to the persuasion for independence by Ethensian politician Kyi Tam Hu'nh, who gained enough trust and support by both the government and the populace and the belief that Ethensia could be ready for future independence.
In 1929, the Commonwealth of Ethensia was founded, granting an autonomous government while still being part of Norland, with Hu'nh being the president. It was decided that in 1951, Ethensia will be granted full independence. This was halted by the Great Coyphusian War. In August 1951, Ethensia was invaded by the Razhdah Empire, effectively declaring war on Norland. Razhdah's goal was to seize Carlton Capitol to use as a launch point to reach other smaller islands in order to pressure Norland to end it's support for Warpona's allies. Razhdah was also short in natural resources such as oil, gas, and rubber, so it aimed to expand it's territories to acquire resources and make living space for it's population. They first launched a surprise attack on Centirisa Air Base in Tunouth, followed by landing of ground troops on Centirisa's coast. The defending Ethensian and Norlandic troops were under the command of General Thomas Bush. Under the pressure of superior numbers, the defending forces withdrew to Darcarthur and other surrounding cities. On January 17, 1952, General Bush declared the capital city, Carlton Capitol, an open city to prevent its destruction. The Ethensian defense continued until the final surrender of Norlandic-Ethensian forces on the Tunouth-Northern Ethensia border in April 1953 and on Pansy in May of the same year. In June 1952, the entirety of the Ethensian Island was under Razhdah control. President Hu'nh had accompanied the troops to Pansy and later left for the Norland, where they set up a government in exile. Bush was ordered to Radnor, where he started to plan for a return to Ethensia.
The Razhdahni military authorities immediately began organizing a new government structure in Ethensia and established the Ethensian Executive Commission. They initially organized a Council of State, through which they directed civil affairs until October 1953, when Razhdah declared Ethensia an independent kingdom under the Burodan Monarch since the Norlandic government had promised independence of Ethensia in 1951. The Razhdahni-sponsored kingdom headed by King Mabela I proved to be unpopular. From mid-1954 through early-1955, Razhdahni occupation of Ethensia was opposed by large-scale underground and guerrilla activity. The Ethensian Army, as well as remnants of the Norlandic Army Forces, continued to fight the Razhdahni in a guerrilla war and was considered an auxiliary unit of the Norlandic Army. Supplies and encouragement were provided by Norlandic Navy submarines and a few parachute drops. For the invading empire, Ethensia was the bloodiest theatre in the war with close to 500,000 Razhdahni troops killed in fighting during the defense and guerilla activities of Ethensian forces.
The return of the Norlandics in Late June 1955 was welcomed by nearly all the Ethensians. The collaborationist "Kingdom of Ethensia" set up by the Razhdahni under Mabela I, was highly unpopular, and the extreme destructiveness of the Razhdahni Army in Carlton Capitol in its last days solidified Razhdah's image as a permanent target of hate. The pre-war Commonwealth system was reestablished under Kyi Tam Hu'nh, who became president until his assassination in 1959. On the 23rd of August, 1957, Ethensia was recognised as an independent country as the Federal Republic of Ethensia.
As of 2026, it will be the 130th anniversary of the proclamation of independence, and the 69th anniversary of officially recognised independence, though some would say that the proclamation of independence in 1896 was the true birth of the Ethensian nation.

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History (irl)
I joined NationStates as Ethensia on the 23rd of August 2022, two days before my irl birthday. At first I put my flag as the flag of Christmas Island, and I planned to make my own flag when I got home (I was at a restaurant). The colours of the Ethensian flag are mostly based on the colours of Christmas Island (blue, green, yellow), while the purple spikes (in lore representing the mountains) were inspired by one of those minecraft banner patterns. I soon founded the region of Coyphus, originally a neutral roleplay region but after I made some friends on the site I got into defending and trying to be a hero. Messed up a lot of times during that period and was quite immature (still am now), but I had fun on this site. Eventually Coyphus moved to anti-fascist raiding with The Great Storm and Ocala (now DEAT), until I started to go in it less because of school, and decided to give up Coyphus, which is now in the hands of The Great Storm for safekeeping. I made the region of Ethensia soon after as somewhere to stay, this time actually being a neutral region (well, trying to). Still, I maintained relations with some old friends from the Union of Conlang Nations and started to "collect" embassies at first before stopping. Over time, I moved towards the forums (specifically F7) and started to rework Ethensian lore as a whole, from factbooks to editing old forum posts that now were completely inaccurate. I am very proud of where Ethensia has come. Sure, things could've gone better, but if it weren't for that day where I joined a country simulator, I wouldn't be typing this. NationStates and Ethensia are some of the best things to ever happen to me and I don't want to let go. While I still have a lot to work on, I wish my beloved Ethensia a happy 4th birthday in real life!!

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Mei Banti Ethensiani