Benacia

Benacia
Total Area:	24,198,903.63 km²
Area of major landmass:	{{{area_landmass}}} km²
Population:	493,454,076 inhabitants
Date founded:	2000
Countries:	Benacian Union  Kalgachia  Mondosphere  Sanama  Shireroth  Tellia
Dependencies:	0
Languages:	Common Language, Dutch, Germanian, Yiddish
Largest Cities:	Shirekeep 's Koningenwaarde Anun Kolmenitzkiy

Benacia is a continent on Micras. It is considered to include the Benacian mainland, the Benacian Archipelago of Naudia'Diva, Benacia Island, and Florencia, the Yardistani Archipelago of Khaz Modan, Mirioth, Amity, Yardistan, and Istvanistan, and the northern islands of Lesser Automatica and Hyperborea.

Origins and Etymology

East Benacia was on the first MCS maps (pre-numbering system and 1.0.0), while West Benacia was added at the same time as the Eastern Hemisphere. Benacia was named after the town of Benicia, California, near where MCS Founder Erik Mortis lived. Use of the name did not become widespread until the formation of the Benacian Commonwealth. Even then, the continent was most often associated with Shireroth until the schism of that state led to the creation of the Benacian Union.

History

The Benacian Commonwealth (June 2001 - November 2001) was an alliance of Shireroth, Machiavellia, and Hyperborea, and between the three countries controlled the entire continent. It eventually became the Hegemony of Alexandros and later Tymaria, but dissolved with the fall of that nation. Since then, the eastern half of the continent has been dominated by Shireroth until the present day. The eastern half became unoccupied after the fall of Machiavellia, but has since hosted nations such as Puritania (Series 5), Numenor (Series 11), and currently Batavie. Eastern Benacia has historically been one of the least popular areas for claims, maybe because of the constant dominating presence of Shireroth. Since the fall of the CIS western Benacia had remained unoccupied for many months before the appearance of Batavia, then the nearly simultaneous appearances of Ashkenatza,Amokolia, and Tellia. Amokolia was annexed by Ocia and is currently a protectorate of Victoria, whilst Ashkenatzi consolidation of power on Benacia led to an annexation of Tellia and expansions to the northern coast. Shireroth, meanwhile, lost a number of territories along the northern coast whilst retaining Absentia, and Batavia also expanded northwards after the Gascony War. In recent months the most significant territorial change has been the independence of the Republic of Elwynn, which has changed the political balance of power in northern Benacia drastically.

Geography

West Benacia is a fairly mountainous region, culminating in two peninsulae jutting out into the sea. The mountain ranges come together to form the spine of the continent, the Concordian Mountains, in south-central Benacia. These feature the tallest peak in the world, Mt. Medivh in the Unoccupied Territories, just a little shorter than Everest at 8089 meters tall. South of the mountains is a mild desert; north are the cold wastes of Elwynn. Eastern Benacia is the drainage basin of the great River Elwynn and its many tributaries, most notably the North Elwynn and the South Elwynn. The Elwynn area of Shireroth has a second, smaller mountain range and is heavily forested. In the far west of the continent are the mountains of Goldshire, the marshy Elwynn Delta near Musica, and hundreds of little tidal islands.

Benacian Identity

Among the organizations fostering a Benacian sense of identity are the old Benacian Commonwealth and Eastern Benacia Radio.

Demographics

State or jurisdiction	Benacian Pop	Date	Note
Elwynn	87,552,127	1672
Sanama	85,056,296	1674
Shireroth	67,744,134	1674
Sathrati	64,932,048	1669
Drak-Modan	35,895,671	1669
Crisco	23,739,000	1674
Sovereign Confederation	22,000,000	1674 (estimated)
Unified Governorates	18,927,070	1672
Kalgachia	18,500,000	Unknown
Francia	17,899,021	1679	Successor of West Amokolia
Ransenar	16,000,000	1674 (estimated)
Batavia	14,668,254	1670
Stormark (Benacian territories)	7,900,000	est	Gascony, Ravaria, Snæland
Tellia	5,000,000	1674 (estimated)
Florencia	1,509,506	1669	Disputed sovereign
Inner Benacia	445,921	1668
Naudia'Diva	320,000	1669 (estimated)	Disputed sovereign
Iridia	150,200	1669 (estimated)	Disputed sovereign