Laqi Free Republic

Laqi Free Republic
Laxija Atjanja Aҳatkөra

Official language	English, Laqi ConLang
Capital	Maksim-Xala (Brookshire Hamlet)
Largest cities	Ereki (Eriksburg), Jel Renөr (Reynor Point)
Website	Laqi/Modan-Lach Subforum
Forum	Laqi/Modan-Lach Subforum
Number of citizens	1
Number of active citizens	1
Date founded	4th August 2010
Government	Democracy (Provisional Government)
Current leader	Ulsә-Ҳan Maksym Hadjimehmetov
Currency	Shirereithan Erb
National animal	White eagle
National fruit/food	unknown
National drink	unknown
Map versions	14.2.3 - 14.2.5 Laqi Republic shown as disputed territory on all maps

The Laqi Free Republic was a short-lived state in southern Shireroth which declared independence simultaneously with Elwynn on August 4th 2010, under the reign of Kaiser B'Caw I. The Laqi seccession itself can be attributed to two factors- the feelings of the former Count of Modan-Lach and developer of the Laqi culture and ConLang, Maksim Hadjimehmetov that his cultural works had been disregarded and the Laqi mistreated due to the unpopular House System of subdivisions in Shireroth at the time, and the high levels of inactivity in the sector in the summer of 2010 and a somewhat less noble desire to 'stir things up a bit'. The Republic's seccession was not without controversy, as it led to a short and thankfully cold war between Ashkenatza and Shireroth. Ashkenatza's recognition of the fledgling state led to accusations that the Laqi Republic was an Ashkenatzi vassal state; the Laqi seccession would also damage relations between Ashkenatza and Antica. Ironically, however, the seccession of the Laqi and Elwynnese led to one of Shireroth's most active periods throughout the summer of 2010. The seccession was in part responsible for the overthrow of Kaiser B'Caw I and rise of Kaiser Ometeotl I in his place.

The Seccession

Upon the return of Maksym Hadjimehmetov to Shireroth, he found the Imperial Republic suffered low activity and an unpopular system of Imperial Houses instead of Baronies and Duchies. Appointed Count of Lywind instead of his ancestral lands of Modan-Lach, Hadjimehmetov felt angered at not being able to develop Modan-Lach and, finding a famine in Laqi lands, declared independence from Shireroth as the Laqi Free Republic. Whether or not Hadjimehmetov had malicious intent towards Shirereithan unity is a matter for debate- the Kaiser of the time argued he did not, whereas important Shirereithan citizens such as Erik Mortis argued he did. Nevertheless, the declaration of Laqi independence on August 4th outlined the exact limits of Laqi sovereignty, citing an ethnolinguistic map of the former Barony of K'Tzuni as its guide for borders to be drawn only around areas where ethnic Laqi were in a clear majority. The Provisional Government with Hadjimehmetov as its leader vouchsafed the safety of Shirereithan nationals in the region but also declared that Laqi no longer swore obedience to the Kaiser of Shireroth. The independence declaration was met with hostility, with Steward van der Sluijs giving Hadjimehmetov and his government just twenty-four hours to vacate Modan-Lach. Van der Sluijs also rejected talks with the Laqi Provisional Government. Despite the protestations of the Laqi Government that the young state wanted to live as a good neighbour to Shireroth, it was now clear that there could be no compromise on either side and war was declared.

The Laqi government took over the old Brookshirereithan Kehl in Brookshire Hamlet as its legislative assembly and, after a Jirga of Laqi Elders from across Modan-Lach was held, suspended democratic privileges to Laqi citizens, stating that 'every Laqi man, woman, and child supports this brave struggle', and that it 'would be an insult to their intelligence were the Emergency Provisional Government to descend into petty squabbling and division as a result of implementing parliamentary democracy so hastily'. The new Emergency Provisional Government geared up for war, renaming the Executive Head of State the 'Ulsә-Ҳan', meaning 'Khan of the People' in the Laqi Language. The old Brookshirereithan capital of Brookshire Hamlet was renamed 'Maksim-Ҳala' (in a homage to a macronational war to which the Laqi seccession was compared). Roadblocks and anti-aircraft batteries were installed in and around the capital city and sensitive border areas were mined by the Laqi irregulars who at this time were the Republic's armed forces.

The Downfall

Anger at the Laqi Republic from Shirereithans increased when Khorze also declared independence and Straylight declared its intention to become a province of Antica. By the end of the 5th of August negotiations between Elwynn and Shireroth had begun and both Elwynn and the Laqi Republic had applied to and been accepted by the MCS, which only made the situation worse. It was by this time that Nohsi Henzelli of Ashkenatza declared Ashkenatza's recognition of the Laqi Free Republic and Elwynn as sovereign states, and extended the right to Ashkenatzi citizenship to both Elwynnese and Laqi citizens. Accusations that the Laqi Republic was an Ashkenatzi puppet state were now widespread, and these rumours were aided by the fact that Ashkenatza finally declared war on Shireroth on August 6th in Nohsibafel (Nohsi Order) XIX. Ashkenatza then offered to host a Laqi government-in-exile and the Laqi declared general mobilisation. Though Nova England, Holzborg, and even Babkha for a short while also supported for the Laqi independence movement it was clear that Shireroth was not interested in a RecWar.

The options for the Laqi were therefore to continue indefinitely in a state of flux- neither recognised nor actively militarily opposed by Shireroth- or to opt for a government-in-exile in Ashkenatza. Neither of these situations seemed palatable, and though a plan for a mass evacuation of the Laqi Republic was drawn up in conjunction with the Ashkenatzi military (and some Laqi settlements- namely Laqizolor, Henzel-Xala, and Tshinkval- modelled on traditional Laqi architecture were even constructed in Merenia, Ashkenatza, to house the new Laqi immigrants), this plan was also not followed through. Hadjimehmetov eventually attempted to renegotiate with Shireroth in more mutually acceptable terms, proposing that Modan-Lach be made a Laqi national territory within Shireroth with the same rights as any other county, with Brookshire Hamlet being made an autonomous city ruled directly from Shirekeep. One of the main problems with negotiations was that Brookshire Hamlet was not only the nominal capital of the Laqi Free Republic but also of the Shirereithan Duchy of Brookshire, one of the oldest and best establishe regions of Shireroth. This, coupled with the fact that Ashkenatza- the Laqi Republic's chief foreign supporter- was now facing diplomatic problems of its own with Antica (angry that they had not been consulted by their military ally before the start of a war which would oblige them to send military support) and with Babkha which used the ensuing political chaos to pressure the Ashkenatzi government to give them the Oriental Mahoz HaSephardim as part of their plan to retake historically Babkhan territories on Eura.

The conflict between the Laqi and Shirereithans tarnished Ashkenatzi-Shirereithan relations for a while afterwards but was mostly eclipsed by the confrontation between Antica and Interland over the isle of Montauk. As of the time of writing, Shirereithan negotiations with the Elwynnese were still ongoing.