Matbaa

Zatriarchate of Matbaa
ܦܛܪܝܪܟܐ مܬܒܝܝܗ‎
Patrātiqa Maṭbiyya

Official language	Neo-Aramaic (official), English (administrative)
Capital	Matbaa
Largest cities	Beth Sanaar, Merdin, Bani Yas
Website	MatbaaWiki
Forum	Matbaic Forums
Number of citizens	8
Number of active citizens	0 (Nation Inactive, Kefr Zeh annexed to Babkha)
Date founded	December 2nd 2005
Government	Theocracy
Current leader	His Holiness Sfeir-Mikaelos I
Currency	Matbaic Salar
National animal	unknown
National fruit/food	Fig
National drink	unknown
Map versions	8.0.1 - 11.6

The Zatriarchate of Matbaa was an Assyrian-themed micronation founded by Maximos on December 2nd 2005. Its theme was originally a general satire of theocratic nations hence the name 'Zatriarch' as opposed to 'Patriarch' but later retained these early idiosyncracies as it developed an Assyrian culture throughout its existence. Matbaa was one of the few stable nations throughout the MCS-GSO split and pursued an isolationist foreign policy which made it many enemies, most famously Woodstania and Babkha. The nation occupied land on Cibola and Tapfer after it left the CIS, dying after Matbaa was split into two seperate nations under the reign of Zatriarch Mikaelos-Sfeir in 2007.

Government

The Matbaic National Khanaushia (Aramaic: ܟܟܢܢܐܘܫܝܗ) was the highest legislative body in the entire nation. The Khanaushia comprised of government officials and ministers, and was presided over by the Zatriarch and Grand Vizier. There was no post of speaker, as every minister in the Khanaushia, as well as the Zatriarch and Grand Vizier, could propose legislation which was then debated and voted on. Amendments to legislation were also conducted in the Khanaushia. Because the Zatriarchate was a theocracy, its leader, the Zatriarch, was not appointed by the Khanaushia but by the Ecumenical Synod. This thus gave the Church a strong hold over government in the nation and ensured that the government coincides with the Clergy's interests. Although he was not an absoloute ruler, the Zatriarch could dismiss any minister except the Grand Vizier but only if he had the consent of the Matbaic Orthodox Ecumenical Synod. The Khanaushia members could overrule a decision by a two-thirds majority vote. As leader of the faith and henceforth carrying out the wishes of the Ecumenical Synod, the Zatriarch maintained divine right in ruling the nation and could veto legislation if it was not in keeping with church wishes.

The Grand Vizier was responsible for acting as a mediator between the church element of the Khanaushia, the Zatriarch, and the State Element, the Ministers. The Grand Vizier also had a seat in the synod to ensure that both government bodies (the Khanaushia and Synod) had a say in legislation and the running of the nation.

Culture & Religion

Culture

Matbaa's unusual cultural theme was perhaps its most interesting feature and some micronationalists remarked that they learnt about Assyrian culture through their participation in the Zatriarchate. Even more remarkable was that only one Matbaic citizen was ever actually ethnically Assyrian- the cultural simulation was a learning curve for most Matbaics. Nonetheless Matbaa legally recognised the Assyrian genocide and actively commemorated it, adopted a modified version of the Assyrian national anthem, and required that all its citizens take usernames in Neo-Aramaic.

Matbaic Coat-of-Arms, showing Assur and a map of mainland Matbaa (adopted 22/11/2006)

The implementation of Aramaic culture was overseen by the Aramaic Institute, which also provided documents on Ancient Assyria and ensured that citizens had enough knowledge of Assyrian culture to actively participate in Matbaic cultural life. More specifically, Matbaa's culture was Syriac rather than Assyrian or Chaldean (though all fall under the ethnolinguistic group of 'Neo-Aramaic'), based on the Turoyo speaking Assyrian Christians of Syria and Turkey. In general Matbaic culture, as it was not founded originally as an Assyrian nation and only adopted these cultural traits later, was something of a mix of all Middle-Eastern cultures. Armenian was widely spoken and a programme of Armenian Cultural development was initiated by Grand Vizier Armen Sourenian, and there was also a large Sephardic Jewish population in Matbaa. Interest in Ancient Assyria also rose towards the end of Matbaa's life. Generally, this subject had been avoided as part of a concerted effort to remind people that Assyrians still existed as a macronational ethnic group, but Matbaa later proudly adopted this new ancient Assyrian identity, even going so far as to design a new national flag displaying the ancient Assyrian deity Ashur. Matbaics also began to take an interest in the Aramaic language, with the nation's official motto being Marth Assur D'Mikras (Mother Assyria of Micras). Babkha used this new-found interest in ancient Assyria to mock Matbaa, citing the Battle of Nineveh of 612 BC in which Persia annexed Neo-Assyria, as proof of Babkhan superiority over Matbaa.

In general Matbaa's cultural focus was its strength and also its weakness. Over its history Matbaa's culture made it stand out from other micronations but also put many prospective citizens off, feeling its culture too complex and making them unable to participate.

Military

Despite successful participation in the Lovely War (resulting in Matbaa's Southern Apollonia Colony), Taylor Bay War (resulting in Matbaa's Vichika Colony) and Circum-Reynor War (and less successful participation in the War of the Broken Pottery), the Matbaic Zatriarchal Defence Forces never developed into a professional and well-organised armed force due to a lack of experience on the part of many Matbaics. Thanks to the enterprising work of Intercorp Engineering, however, Matbaa was able to patent two successful aeroplane models, the Dipou and Nemrou series, which were exported en masse to friendly micronations and were still being used by some micronations long after Matbaa's death, such as Ashkenatza in mid-2009. Matbaa's military prowess lay chiefly with small elite units such as the Black Janissaries and the Order of the White Knight Guard, a crusading order with airborne components consisting of twelve divisions each led by a Senechal. The First Senechal of the White Knight Guard was automatically the nation's Minister of Defence. After the Malleus Forge Act of 2007 the White Knight Guard took a much more active role in Matbaa's Internal Affairs, effectively functioning as state security and intelligence.

Matbaic Propaganda Poster from the Circum-Reynor War)

The Matbaic Chief-of-Staff was generally the Zatriarch himself, as most wars carried significant religious overtones, whilst subordinates in the chain of command took Arab and Turkish names for military positions (these modern words not existing in modern Assyrian terminology). These included terms such as 'Pasha' (General), 'Feriq' (Lieutenant General), and 'Arif' (Corporal). The Matbaic Naval Forces were generally the most impressive component of the Matbaic Military, as the Zatriarchate had significant overseas territories to defend as part of the Hazukyeo Doctrine, which saw Matbaa rapidly expand overseas from Cibola starting from October 2006. The navy's flagship was the ZMNS Azozyel II, and by April 2007 Matbaa maintained eleven destroyers and somewhat unrealistically, four aircraft carries, as well as a nuclear submarine, the ZMNS Nemrou. Perhaps Matbaa's biggest military loss was the ZMNS Meryem Ana, a technologically advanced Aircraft Carrier torpedoed by Grand Commonwealth forces in the Circum-Reynor War.

List of Zatriarchs

• Maximillideus I (2005-2007)
• Sfeir VII (2007)
• Ostatheos III (2007)
• Mikaelos-Sfeir I (2007)