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Bastions
Culture Updates
The Romans and Bulgars


The great city of Constantinople has long been a city of majesty. It was the envy of every Empire since its founding and the local saying is that it falls only to Romans (though this is often expanded to include Prussians for historical reasons). The city was devastated after the Second World War, left gutted and smoldering, the royal family forced to flee to Western Europe. During the period of the Roman Socialist Republic Constantinople was often referred to as just "Ople", because its name was constantly being changed to reflect the newest Communist leader. However, many think of it as a blessing that the capital of the RSR had been moved to Thessaloniki in order to detach the new Communist government from the "Imperial and Fascist" past. The people of Romania (the Roman Empire) and the neighboring Republic of Bulgaria have a long and intertwined history dating back hundreds of years. They represent the last few bastions of the Greek language, which was once one of the most widely spoken languages in the world: dominating almost all of the Eastern Mediterranean. Today the Greek tongue is politically split into two languages: Greek and Greco-Bulgar. Culturally the Romans and Bulgarians are similar, but have their own ways about things. Many would consider the two groups farther apart than the Serbo-Croats in Serbia, but closer than the cultures of ex-colonies and their old masters.

Linguists are divided on how to refer to Greek and Greco-Bulgar. In Romania and Bulgaria the division is clear as day: Romans speak Greek, Bulgarians speak Greco-Bulgar. The division occurs sometime after the Balkan War, when Romania and Bulgaria fought (and lost) together against Serbia. Some say that there was a significant backlash against Romania in Bulgaria, because Bulgaria lost so much more than Romania. Others point to the rise of nationalism throughout Europe during the XIX Century saying that it was only a matter of time before Bulgaria developed its own identity. What outside linguists can agree on is that all differences between Greek and Greco-Bulgar fall into one of two categories: trivial differences and those based on Slavic influence. Essentially, Greco-Bulgar has a higher retention rate of Slavic-based words than Greek. This is because of the native population of Bulgarians who speak Slavic Bulgar. Everything else is tit for tat differences based on preferred synonyms and slight changes in spelling.

RomeandBulgaria.png

Romania and Bulgaria shown with neighboring Kwihzihristan. Those three states encompass the core lands of the old Eastern Roman Empire.

Romania has had a tragic history, but it has managed to survive despite the hardships. The Imperial Throne in Constantinople is the oldest throne in all of Europe, the direct heir of the old Roman Empire. Vacant only for a half a century, maintained in exile, many consider the rule of the Roman Emperors unbroken. However, Romania is much smaller than it used to be. The name "Romania" only became popular in the West after the Balkan War, which the defeat of the Romans made many doubt the status of the dwindling state. Constantinople itself prospered on trade, but was perched precariously close to the edge of the Empire. After the fall of the Communist government, many of the government buildings remained in Thessaloniki, while Parliament and the Imperial throne were returned to Constantinople for political and cultural reasons. Culturally the nation is rather diverse for a country with only two main languages. Greeks make up the vast majority of the population (the term "Roman" refers to any citizen of Romania regardless of language or culture). Albanians make up the next largest population. The largest non-native group is the Kwihzihri refugees who remained in Romania after the civil war in neighboring Kwihzihristan. But given the geographical nature of Romania, hundreds of tiny islands scattered about, there are many dialects and cultural differences between even relatively close populations. One travelling from Athens to Constantinople through Thessaloniki might assume that they have, in fact, travelled through three countries. Romans take great pride in their history and their dogged resistance against all aggressors. The mere fact that Romania is still around is a testament to this attitude.

Bulgaria, on the other hand, is a bit more homogeneous: consisting of two main cultural groups that often keep to themselves. Most of the country is inhabited by Greeks, descendents of a time when the Roman Empire controlled great swaths of land in the Balkans. Bulgarian Greeks follow some of the same cultural divisions as their Roman counter parts, with the varied terrain of Bulgaria adding to this diversity. Greco-Bulgar is based on the Varna dialect of Greek, which is closely related to Thracian Greek with a lot more Slavic terms. Unlike Romania, which only has Greek as an official language, Bulgaria is officially bi-lingual. Along the banks of the Danube live the actual Bulgars. Bulgars speak a Slavic tongue and represent the last fringe of Slavic society in a nation that once was filled with them. Within Bulgaria, they have autonomy as the Republic of Dobruja, complete with their own parliament and president. However, they are not an independent state. The economy of Bulgaria as a whole is precarious, but in Sofia and Varna things seem to be picking up. In Dobruja, on the other hand, the economy is slumped and many people are migrating out of the Autonomous Republic and into Bulgaria proper, leaving their language and autonomy behind. The plight of Slavs in Bulgaria and Romania, whether just political propaganda or not, has always been a source of tension between the two Greek states and their Slavic neighbor, Serbia. However, Serbia is just as guilty as any other state in a region of the world where political divisions are more based off of Medieval political divisions than language or cultural ones.
 
So Bulgaria ended up securing its independance :)

Very interesting update as usual, very immersive (right word ?). I love the references to the WWII and the Balkan Wars... i hope we will here more about them in the future. :cool:
 
Can we see a cultural update on Germany or whatever lies therein now?
 
So Bulgaria ended up securing its independance :)

Very interesting update as usual, very immersive (right word ?). I love the references to the WWII and the Balkan Wars... i hope we will here more about them in the future. :cool:
Hint dropping is what I do best.

And what is north of Bulgaria?
Wallachia? Vlachland? Transdanubia? :p
Or Moldovia? Dacia?

What happened to Anatolia? Trapzunt and Smyrna etc?
Above Bulgaria is Carpathia, which is another Prussian state mentioned in the Zilina update.

The changes to Anatolia are actually a major part of Bastions, so I don't want to give too many details away.

Can we see a cultural update on Germany or whatever lies therein now?
Germany is on the list of culture updates. I am going to get a few real updates out before I do any more of those.
 
Lack of Transylvania. :(

And although at first it's funny to look at Greece and call it Romania, after a while you realise it could very well be so if it wasn't for the Ottomans.

Carpathia is essentially Transylvania (the flag is the same), and it is labeled as such in my notes a few times. I just expanded the name because the nation exceeds Transylvania, plus the nation started off as a principality in the Carpathians.
 
The Roman Empire - surviving until modern day - I wholly approve! :p The way you described it was incredible: it was exactly how I pictured the Romans making it to modern day.

Good work, man. I love this AAR.
 
The Roman Empire - surviving until modern day - I wholly approve! :p The way you described it was incredible: it was exactly how I pictured the Romans making it to modern day.

Good work, man. I love this AAR.

Thank you. Currently working on our next update. I am open to requests for more information. I can do any sort of things, show you what flag flies over your hometown, languages, religions or even give map glimpses of locals. ;)
 
Well, then I'll take you up on that. What does Oklahoma look like in America, and how does the Eastern seaboard of America look? How about Johannesburg in South Africa? : )
 
Mazovia please! Is it just a backwater of mighty Prussia or does it have some importance?

Also, Borgo Pass. :cool:
Mazovia as a political entity does not exist, it is split between two Prussian states (Pozan and Warsaw). It is actually rather important to Prussia, as it is part of the industrialized and wealthy ring that surrounds the capital. Until Communist rule it was mostly part of the same state as Prussia's core Baltic territories. Warsaw and Plock are both large-ish cities, nothing compared to the Triplet Cities (Mariengrad, Sambigrad, and Memelgrad). The largest former Polish city is still Krakow.

There was never really a Dracula the way we think of him as there was little need. Non-Christians never really made it into Europe from the East, mostly due to a slightly more organized and centralized Roman Empire, but also from a Prussian intervention that we get to see in Bastions. ;) The region is controlled by Carpathia, which is a former Communist state and currently a republic. It starts off as a rather minor power in Bastions and eventually grows rather large and eventually becomes a dominating player in Eastern Europe.

Well, then I'll take you up on that. What does Oklahoma look like in America, and how does the Eastern seaboard of America look? How about Johannesburg in South Africa? : )
Most of Oklahoma is Istimari and Frandist, under a nation called Grand New Iberia. GNI is a Federal Republic made up of three Constitutional units: New Aragon in the South, New Biscay in the North, and the Native Republic in the West. It used to only be the first two, but Native rights was a big deal during the sixties and lasting through the nineties in some places. GNI was only of the more liberal states when it came to this issue (as compared to California, which fought against it until after the end of Communist rule in Europe).

The East is interesting to say the least. Where we have just the original 13 colonies, there exist three countries: Lawrencia, GNI and Carolina. Lawrencia is the vestigial remains of the French Monarchy, exiled to the New World (it is also the only monarchy in North America). Carolina is also a former French colony.

Oklahoma.png


Long story short: there is no Johannesburg. Long story long: there is no Johannesburg because there was never a major European attempt to colonize the region. The most that happened was Frandist preachers entered the region and converted the area that would have been Jo'burg. The largest city in the region is Polokwane, which is the capital of Limpopo, the Sotho state exists there (under the green flag with a white star). The French controlled the region until between 1955 and 1960 when South Africa was created (under French rule). South Africa stated to dissolve in the 1980s and Limpopo was the second state to secede.

Joburg.png
 
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French Canada <3 Too bad Lawrencia and New Foundland decided not to be part of the awesome uber Canada. Do they control Alaska too? The only thing that disturbs me in some way is that there are muslim colonies in the New World. It's just so... different! ;)

Even if there was no Dracula yet, there should be one in the future! :D I'm rooting for Transylvania in disguise from now on.
 
French Canada <3 Too bad Lawrencia and New Foundland decided not to be part of the awesome uber Canada. Do they control Alaska too? The only thing that disturbs me in some way is that there are muslim colonies in the New World. It's just so... different! ;)

Even if there was no Dracula yet, there should be one in the future! :D I'm rooting for Transylvania in disguise from now on.
No, Alaska was a Dutch colony. Newfoundland is Iberian, like GNI. Lawrencia, Quebec (Canada), and Carolina all used to be united, but they separated after the end of the French Monarchy in Europe. In 1845 all of the French colonies in North America and the Caribbean get their independence as a Dominion of France, known as Quebec. Between 1950 and 1955 Lawrencia leaves so that it can continue to be a monarchy. Between 1960 and 1965 the southern parts of Quebec leave as "Carolina and the Isles". But within five years the Caribbean Islands (with the exception of the Bahamas) leave Carolina as two independent states. There are some unresolved conflicts between the French states and their Iberian neighbors, mostly because there are large numbers of Iberians living inside the French states. Meanwhile, Carolina deals with the fact that the Bahamas are not fond of being part of Carolina.

Carpathia is Transylvania, it changed its name when Transylvania and Moldavia united.


At least it Isn't Quebec.

I love your maps by the way.
It is Quebec. ;) Speak French and everything. Except for the parts that speak Breton (centered on our Montreal and Quebec City for the extra lulz).

Thank you, I have several including one that shows the entire world's political situation at roughly 5 year intervals between 1815 and 1995.
 
What happened to Britain in the end?
In particular, my proud city of Birmingham?