Athlon
Pentheral State of Athlon | |||
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Motto: Ευχομαί η Οσίος Βους Euchomai he Osios Bous Pray to the Holy Cow | |||
Anthem: Land of Juice and Bagels | |||
Map versions | 11.4 - Present | ||
Capital | Doza | ||
Largest city | Doza | ||
Official language(s) | English, Ancient Greek | ||
Official religion(s) | Bovinism | ||
Demonym | Athlonian, Αθλονίος | ||
- Adjective | Athlonian, Αθλονίκος (Athlonic) | ||
Government | Theocracy | ||
- Pentheros of the Church | Aldin Ayreon-Kalirion of Waffel-Paine | ||
- Ruler of the State | Aldin Ayreon-Kalirion of Waffel-Paine | ||
- Legislature | Council of Metrobosarchs | ||
Establishment | 4 July 2007 | ||
Area | |||
Population | 2 | ||
Active population | 1 | ||
Currency | Natopo, ₦ | ||
Calendar | |||
Time zone(s) | |||
Mains electricity | |||
Driving side | |||
Track gauge | |||
National website | |||
National forum | Athlonian forum | ||
National animal | Domestic cow | ||
National food | Fish | ||
National drink | Wine | ||
National tree | Olive tree | ||
Abbreviation | ATH |
Athlon, officially the Pentheral State of Athlon is a protected sovereign nation of Natopia. It occupies the two easternmost islands in the Pacarian Archipelago, which is traditionally associated with Eura, which it shares with the Florian Republic, Vyktory, and Stormark. It's capital, Doza, is the universal seat of the Dozan Bovic Church.
The islands were originally a crown dependency of Lovely, named Psycotia. However, during the War of Matbaic Liberation Natopia invaded the dependency with a squadron of the Emperor's personal army, the Holy Order of the Armored Goats. Following the war, Natopia gained the islands as war spoils. The Emperor allowed the Armored Goats to remain on the island. They established a crusader state based on their roles as knight-defenders of the Emperor, who at the time was also Pentheros of the Bovic Church.
Origin of the name Athlon
The former islands of Psycotia came to be known as Athlon by way of their status as war spoils. Athlon is the Greek word for prize, or gift. The capital of Doza is derived from the Greek word for royalty, or jewels as it is the city of the monarchy.
History
While a dependency of Lovely, the two islands were invaded by Natopia during the War of Matbaic Liberation. The Order of the Armored Goats, was originally the personal army of the Sovereign Natopian Emperor. The Order remained on the islands throughout a republican revolution in Natopia, subsequent anarchy in Lindstrom, and the Natopian Dark Ages. The Natopian Emperor retreated to Athlon, which was proclaimed as a new Kingdom and continued on as a bastion of Natopian tradition. The Armored Goats thus became the military of Athlon.
Athlon enjoyed a special status in Natopia, being so far from the mainland and also being the only land Natopia claimed by way of war. As the natives and Natopian immigrants began to inter-marry, a culture resembling Greece developed. The Bovic Church soon moved to Doza, to become the Dozan Bovic Church embraced Athlonic culture.
During the Natopian Dark Ages, Athlon seceded from the collapsing Natopian state and joined the Confederacy of Gralus for several months as a protectorate. When Natopia was reformed, Athlon became a satellite state of Natopia to retain the Bovic Church's autonomy. This was in response to the culture of independence that took hold during the Natopian interregnum.
Athlon, along with South Mehlville, preserved the Natopian culture when mainland Natopia collapsed. However, when South Mehlville itself began to waiver, Athlon exercised its considerable degree of autonomy and annexed it, thereby granting Athlon territory on Eura. This created an interesting interaction between new Greek Athlonian settlers and the Persian Babkhans on Eura. However, the difficulty of administering a land composed of Athlonians, South Mehlvillians, and Babkhans soon became too great for Athlon. The Euran land was reduced and eventually ceded directly to Babkha. In exchange, Athlon gifted the land to Natopia proper to be fully integrated in the Dominion.
Politics
Athlon is a protected sovereign nation of Natopia. It may maintain a defense force and conduct limited foreign affairs by itself, however due to it's small size it must rely on Natopia and uses Natopia's currency. The government of Athlon has evolved over the years until it settled onto its current form as an elected absolute theocratic monarchy.
Military
The Holy Order of the Armored Goats is the primary defensive force of Athlon. It consists of a naval phalanx and specialized ground troops. Extraordinary defense is supplemented by the Natopian Defense Force.
Geography
Athlon consists of two islands. Doza and Eupragia share the large island with Hergon on the smaller. The islands are topographically uninteresting. The climate is tropical in the north an subarctic in the south with the extreme southern border touching the permanent ice of the antarctic.