{{Icons|Realstrange}}

{{Infobox country
| conventional_long_name = Federal Republic of Sartou
| native_name = République Fédérale de Sartou
| image_flag = [[File:Flag of Sartou Modern.png|120px]]
| alt_flag = The National Flag of Sartou
| image_coat = [[File:CoA of Sartou Modern.png|120px]]
| alt_coat =
| symbol_type = National Emblem
| national_motto = Indivisible and Inseparable
| national_anthem = "Veillons au salut de l'Empire" ("Let's ensure the salvation of the Empire")
| capital = Le Soleil
| largest_city = Lourenbourg
| official_languages = Sartevin
| ethnic_groups = {{plainlist|
{{Tree list}}
*70% Sart
*14% Sarto-Sheharist
*6% Thiognean
*5% Ausonian
*5% Montagnards
}}
| ethnic_groups_year =
| religion =
| demonym = {{flatlist|
* Sartevin
* Sart
}}
| government_type = Federal semi-presidential republic
| leader_title1 = Federal President
| leader_name1 = Peter Vauquelin
| leader_title2 = Prime Minister
| leader_name2 = Victorie Magnier
| leader_title3 = President of the Federal Senate
| leader_name3 = Remco Hinault
| leader_title4 = President of the Federal Assembly
| leader_name4 = Juliette Fournier
| legislature = Federal Diet
| upper_house = Federal Senate
| lower_house = Federal Assembly
| established_event1 = Empire of Sartou
| established_date1 = 1000 - 1196
| established_event2 = Imperial State of Sartou
| established_date2 = 1896
| established_event3 = Federal Republic of Sartou
| established_date3 = 1996
| established_event4 =
| established_date4 =
| established_event5 =
| established_date5 =
| area_km2 = 386,425
| population_estimate = 63,373,700
| population_census =
| population_estimate_year = 2024
| population_census_year =
| GDP_PPP = {{increase}} $2,474.694 billion
| GDP_PPP_per_capita = {{increase}} $39,049
| GDP_nominal_year = 2024
| Gini = 31.9
| Gini_ref =
| Gini_rank =
| Gini_year = 2024
| Gini_change = decrease
| currency = Sartevin Bancor
| currency_code = SBP
}}

'''Sartou''', officially known as the '''Federal Republic of Sartou''' (Standard Sartevin: ''République Fédérale de Sartou''), is a country located in Southern Verdantis. Located on the Sartevin Peninsula, it shares a border with Poiteva to the east, Ollenia-Wellovia to the south, and Daciara and Algheti to the west. The Thiognean Sea lies north and the peninsula is flanked by the Bay of Daciara to the west and the Ausonian Bight to the east. Its six constituent states have a total population of 63 million over an area of 386,425 square kilometers. The national capital and its most populous city is Le Soleil and notable major cities include Lourenebourg and Sebastopolis. The largest urban area and industrial heartland is the Roncevaux Valley.

Settlement in the territory of modern Sartou began in the Lower Palaeolithic, with various tribes inhabiting it from the Neolithic onward, chiefly the Proto-Sartist peoples. Colonies founded by enigmatic sea peoples appeared in the coastal regions since classical antiquity. The First Remani Empire annexed the area by the 5th century CE, leading to the distinct Sarto-Remani culture. In the 10th century CE, Sartou was a large but decentralised and unstable empire which only lasted for a few short generations.

After centuries of political and territorial divisions, Sartou was unified in 1896, following the War of Independence which established the Imperial State of Sartou. The early 20th century saw Sartou rapidly industrialising and modernising. The country saw much civil unrest in the 1960s and 1970s which culminated in the outbreak of the Brothers War in 1980 until 1986. The monarchy was officially abolished in 1996 and was replaced by a federal republic.

Sartou is an upper-middle-income and emerging country. It is the world’s 23rd-largest economy by PPP-adjusted GDP. It is currently one of the largest economies in Southern Verdantis. The country is governed by a federal semi-presidential republic. It enjoys status as a regional centre of arts and philosophy.

== Etymology ==

Some modern accepted theories postulate that the term Sart derives from an unknown term that can be translated or roughly equivalent to merchants, traders and leaders. It is thought that the First Remani Empire supposedly borrowed this term from a nomadic people that referred to the proto-Sartist people as town-dwellers. This family of theories is not without controversies and is but one of many.

== History ==

=== Prehistory and Antiquity ===
[[File:Sofia - Odrysian Wreath from Golyamata Mogila.jpg|left|thumb|225x225px|Arcenecian Culture golden wreath in the National History Museum]]Archaeological evidence of Neanderthal remains dating to around 250,000 years ago, or the Lower Palaeolithic, are some of the earliest traces of human activity in the lands of modern Sartou. Earliest evidence of modern humans are dated to c. 40,000 years ago and archaic humans seem to have disappeared by c. 30,000 BCE. Some evidence include bone flutes, which are some of the oldest musical instruments in the world.

=== Neolithic Period ===
The Neolithic Period in Sartou is generally agreed to begin in around 7000 BCE when farming was introduced in the region by the migration of agriculturalists from the west, and ending around 3000 BCE. Modern archaeologists divide the Neolithic Period in Sartou into several distinct phases.

The first phase of the Neolithic was the Aceramic Period in 7000 BCE, which is characterised by the absence of baked clay pots. Settlements consisted of subterranean huts that were located on the mouths of caverns, under jutting rocks, or partially dug into the ground. The inhabitants practiced an economy revolving around cultivating various crops and engaging in animal husbandry.

Successful development of pottery marked the beginning of the Early Neolithic Period, around 6500 BCE. Ovens and hearths appeared in settlements, constructed in open spaces between independent one-room huts. Each community in Sartou around this time was inhabited by 50 to 100 peoples. The earliest evidence of burial customs consisting of inhumation in relatively rudimentary pits were also found to be dated to this period.

The Middle Neolithic Period beginning in 5500 BCE is characterised by new architectural developments. Houses in the Middle Neolithic Period consisted of a rectangular main hall fronted by an open, two-columned portico. The main hall had a central, open hearth that vented through an oculus on the tall, pitched roof.

The Late Neolithic Period saw further developments established previously and evidence of organised wars. Low stone walls and ditches appeared around settlements. Some settlements had acropolises consisting of thick walls with narrow gateways encircling granaries and buildings. This period is also characterised by the intensification of the farming economy where forests were burnt and cleared to secure grazing fields and arable lands.

The Final Neolithic Period, or the Early Chalcolithic, entails the transition from the farming and stock-rearing economy that had endured since 7000 BCE. Around the 3rd millennium BCE, production of metal appeared in Sartou, seemingly independently developed but could most likely be imported from civilisations around the Thernern Sea. Pseudo-bronze, an alloy of copper and arsenic, had been found in Sartou.

=== Chalcolithic Period ===
The Chalcolithic Period spanned from 3000 BCE to 2000 BCE, and serves as the transitional period between the preceding Neolithic and followed by the Bronze Age. It was characterised by the construction of megalithic structures, more complex palatial villas, and the appearance of the first significant economic stratification. This period was also probably the earliest presence of the Proto-Sartic peoples, competing with the dominant native culture known as the Arcenecian peoples.

The first half of the 3rd millennium BCE saw the increased development and complexity of fortifications in Arcenecian settlements in response to increased migration of Proto-Sartic peoples. Many urban centres in lowlands were abandoned as the Arcenecians resettled on more defensible heights. These settlements often revolved around acropolises. The Neolithic acropolises were simple fortified granaries but they had evolved into religious and administrative centres by the Chalcolithic, especially as city walls became more common. Archery was also developed during the period, primarily in the coastal plains of Thiogne, which would soon take control over most of the northern peninsula.

The second half of the Chalcolithic Period saw the Arcenecians, which had been dominant just over a few centuries, fell into decline due to a still unknown reason. Their slow disappearance allowed for the Bell people, characterised by their drinking vessels which looked like upside bells, to gain more prominence in the region. They were probably semi-nomadic and mercantile in character due to the appearance of Bell people’s artefact in many settlements that were attributed to other cultures. A major component of the Bell people was their very distinct and almost invariable burial custom, which remained unchanged for decades and would be inherited and developed by the peoples that succeeded them.

=== Bronze Age ===
[[File:Wall painting of cult procession from Knossos (Corridor of Procession) - Heraklion AM - 01.jpg|center|thumb|1056x1056px|Procession fresco in Le Soleil; reconstructed by Émile Gilliéron]]

The Bronze Age began in around 2000 BCE and is agreed to have ended in 1000 BCE. Modern archaeologists divided the Bronze Age in Sartou into multiple periods.

The first period has sometimes been termed the International Period, which is characterised by the appearance of masted ships and their construction in Sartou by the Archaic Thiognean people, which intensified maritime trade. Goods from Sartou had been discovered as far as Magna Latinia and even Deira. No traces of currency had yet come to light, but some had interpreted small axeheads that were found in Sartic trading vessels as a primitive form of currency. The actual use of these axeheads remained disputed with most agreeing that it was probably decorative.

The Palatial Period began in 1700 BCE and was marked with heightened urban development. Palatial villas began to appear during this time, modelled after acropolises that were the centre of many settlements. Some theorised that the similarities between the palaces and the acropolises were not coincidental, and that the inhabitants of these palaces were something akin to a prototypical form of aristocrats known as palatial princes. The palaces did not just have residential spaces but also administrative offices, shrines and workshops.

=== Remani Rule and the Mediaeval Period ===
[[File:Scherrer jeanne enters orlean.jpg|thumb|225x225px|''Jeanne of Gevaudan entering Sebastople'', by Jacques Scherrer|left]]
By the end of the 1st century CE, Remani governance was established over the entire Sartevin Peninsula and Altralism began spreading in the region around the 3rd century. From the 5th century, barbarians attacked the fortified borders. A tribal confederacy known as the Lourens invaded and settled in the western coastlines in the first half of the 7th century, forming the Lourene Commonwealth. Despite their military superiority, the Lourens admired and became heavily influenced by Thiognean and Remani cultures. Altralisation of the Lourens was much slower in comparison to other regions of Sartou and was largely limited to the elite. Only the northern regions of Lourene became majority Altralist while the regions that would become Algheti, Ollenia and Wellovia remained predominantly Sheharist.

The decline of the First Remani Empire in the 7th century saw Sartou reorganised under a viceroyalty and was effectively independent despite nominally under the vassalage of the Remani emperors. Viceroy Leo II embraced Sarto-Remani culture, which was the foundation of modern Sartevin, and used Old Sartevin as the courtly language. A bureaucratic apparatus and a system of examination was formed by Leo II and the aristocratic structure was reformed.

After the fall of the First Remani Empire in the 10th century, Etienne I established the Empire of Sartou. A golden age began during the 39-year rule of Martin the Mighty, who saw the largest territorial expansion of the state. After the death of King Martin II in 1149, internal conflicts enabled the Second Remani Empire to establish suzerainty over Sartou. In 1187, a shepherd known as Jeanne of Gevaudan led a peasant revolt that expelled the Remanis and she was crowned Empress. The feudal landlords overthrew Jeanne in 1196 and factional conflicts caused the disintegration of the Empire of Sartou, allowing it to become conquered by the Pausanian Empire.

===Third Remani Empire===
[[File:363 Schwäbischer Bund Der Brandmeister.jpg|thumb|233x233px|Alleged contemporary portrait of Victor Goux. ]]
The Third Remani Empire was successful in conquering much of the lands that would become Sartou from the waning Kingdom of Pausania. The Remani had reached the Bay of Daciara in 1548 and had occupied most of the Sartevin Peninsula by 1551. Thousands of Sarts consequently fled to other parts of Southern Verdantis and others sought protection beyond the often inaccessible Mountains of Horn, settling the lands that would become Ollenia-Wellovia.

A rebellion erupted in 1572 under the leadership of Victor Goux, who consistently defeated major Remani armies. Goux managed to unite several Sartevin principalities and established a central authority in territories that had yet been conquered. Despite his brilliance as a military leader, he was unable to overcome the Remani invasions. The constant wars caused enormous destruction to Sartou, greatly reducing its fighting population and destroying its economy. With insufficient manpower and resources, Sartou fell completely to the Third Remani Empire in a few short years after his death. When the Third Remani Empire gained a firm foothold in the region, the many principalities, states and kingdoms were reorganised into a dozen principal regions, which laid the groundwork for the modern Brotherly States.

As a confluence between the eastern and western regions of Southern Verdantis, many religions and peoples arrived and settled in Sartou. Remani rule saw a significant increase of Valorist Altralists due to a mixture of both conversions and immigrations. Previously, a majority of Sarts were either Orthodox Altralists or Sheharists with relatively modest population of indigenous esoteric religions in the Sartevin highlands. Motives for conversion into Valorist Altralism were diverse but most recorded evidence generally pointed to opportunities and advancement within Remani society.

===The Modern Era===
[[File:Afrikaner Commandos2.JPG|left|thumb|248x248px|Sartevin soldiers during the War of Independence, c. 1895]]
Increasing policies of Remanisation and centralisation adopted by the Third Remani Empire in the mid-19th century had disenchanted the Sarts, which had been experiencing a flourishing in their culture. Sartevin literature and poetry was especially popular during this time despite or perhaps because of their suppression by the Remani authorities. A key figure that emerged and would lay the intellectual foundation of Sartevin nationalism and Pan-Sartism was Yves Rosier. He had been credited with the creation of Modern Standard Sartevin and the drive for its acceptance as the universal written and official language throughout the Sartevin peninsula.

Throughout the 19th century, unpopular Remani policies such as its Remanisation, conscription and heavy taxation saw several revolts breaking out in Sartou, which were all brutally suppressed. An estimated 30,000 people were massacred in the so-called April Horrors. It was only with the beginning of the Little Ice Age that a Sartevin rebellion was finally successful. The Resurgence as it became known was the result of efforts of figures such as Maurice Trintignant, who was instrumental in unifying the Sarts, and Guy Sommer, arguably one of the greatest Sartevin commanders. The revolt was led by King Etienne Dieudonne IV of Thiogne, who was then crowned as Emperor after Sartou gained complete independence from Remania in 1896.

The nascent Imperial State of Sartou entered the 20th century as a relatively poor and divided nation, where much of its wealth remained concentrated throughout the coastal, mercantile cities. Although there was significant support for Emperor Etienne Dieudonne I due to his status as a war hero, the injuries he had sustained during the War of Independence made him effectively a rubber stamp for the liberal government. Prime Minister Marcel Grignard successfully laid the foundation for industrialisation. However, it was the death of the Emperor in 1923 and the subsequent succession crisis that open the way for further immense socio-economic change. Prime Minister Yannick Ligier, Grignard’s successor and protégé, had gained enough political capital and allies to implement a far-reaching series of reforms to aggressively modernise Sartou.

The Ligier Reforms, as they became known as, saw Sartou experiencing explosive economic expansion between 1920s and the 1950s. There was a substantial rise in the Sartevin middle class and rapid urbanisation. The production of cash crops was greatly increased and large areas that were diverted from wheat production, which was hoped to be offset through increased productivity using modern machineries, methods and fertilisers. There were also social reforms as well such as the deconstruction of old feudal customs, spread of literacy and enfranchisement of women.

While the Ligier Reforms were successful economically, it also saw increased centralisation of power and suppression of “dangerous elements which endanger unity” such as religiosity and ethno-nationalism. Many religious institutions were angered at the reforms as they remove much of their traditional powers in the realms of education and family laws. The Sheharist clergy was especially affected as many of its upper echelons came from landowning families. Land reforms saw huge areas that were previously owned by members of the clergy being bought by the government and then sold in smaller plots at lower prices.

In 1964, increasing discontent among the Sheharist population due to centralisation of power and perceived informal policies to exclude Sheharists from high-ranking governmental positions. A member of the clergy known only as Father Pascal began to openly protest not only the reforms but now also rallying Sheharists throughout the country. Unlike his predecessors which worked within official channels, Pascal encouraged a violent revolution.

===The Brothers War===
{{Main|Alghetien Civil War|Ollenia-Wellovian War of Independence}}

=== Martial Law Era and Transition into the Federal Republic ===

Following the Brothers War, martial law continued to be in effect and was used to both suppress political oppositions and to enact sweeping political reforms. The Imperial State officially abolished the monarchy in 1988 and the military government promised a return to democracy. However, they maintained an authoritarian, de facto single-party government under the Reconstruction Party while it facilitated economic recovery and reconstruction. Infrastructure projects such as the King Horn Tunnel and the Leo II International Airport were launched. The Sartevin economy was not greatly affected by the Oil Shock but it did encourage a shift toward technology-oriented industries.

From the 1990s, Sartou underwent political and social reforms that transformed it into a democracy. The monarchy was abolished in 1996 and the Imperial State officially transitioned into a Federal Republic. The Temporary Provisions against the Separatist Rebellion, which allowed the government to nullify the constitution and establish martial law, was abolished in 1997. Representation in government was de facto allocated to only Sartou with seats reserved for Algheti and Ollenia-Wellovia kept empty. The first election since the beginning of the Brothers War was held in 2000.

The 2000s were characterised by democratisation, economic growth and social reforms. The government remained highly centralised and had been criticised to be inefficient and has the mechanisms to enable a return to authoritarianism. Jingoism and revanchism remained a major feature of Sartevin politics with all mainstream parties in one way or another featuring policies that included unification with the separatist states.

== Geography ==
[[File:ARG-2016-Aerial-Tierra del Fuego (Ushuaia)–Valle Carbajal 01.jpg|thumb|260x260px|The Périgord Valley, Valland]]
Sartou is situated in Southern Verdantis. It encompasses most of the Sartevin Peninsula, which extends northward into the Thiognean Sea and is flanked by the Bay of Daciara to the east and the Ausonian Bight to the west. The territory covers an area of 386,425 square kilometers.

The northern and western parts of the peninsula have well-developed plains, while the eastern and southern parts are mountainous. The highest mountain in Sartou is Mount Saint-Auberon, which is part of the Horn Alps near the border with Ollenia-Wellovia in the south. Insular Sartou consists of a thousand islands and islets, though less than a hundred of which are permanently inhabited. Over the centuries, forests have been cut down and replaced with bush, especially in the more populated coastal regions. Some of the last primaeval forests in Southern Verdantis are located in the highlands and mountainous regions of Valland and Horn.

The soils in Sartou are generally poor, except on the coastal plains, where areas with natural grass, fertile soils and warm summers provide an opportunity for tillage. Elsewhere, land cultivation is mostly unsuccessful because of poor terrain and soils. There is a relatively large deposit of coal in the Roncevaux Valley. Petroleum and natural gas reserves are very small and are uneconomical to exploit.
=== Climate ===
[[File:Waterfalls at Plitvica stream in Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia (48607294088).jpg|thumb|260x260px|Waterfalls near Aix-le-Havre, Ausonia]]
Most of Sartou has a moderately warm and rainy continental climate. Along the northern coastal parts of the peninsula, winters are snowy and frosty while summers are warm and rainy. The sunniest parts of Sartou are along the Thiognean and the Lourens coast and its immediate hinterlands, which have a dry summer climate. Historically, the northern region was known for its wetlands but urbanisation saw much of it drained.
In the highlands and along the eastern coastlines, the climate is defined as humid continental, with warm and often humid summers and cold winters. Severe storms are common in the Ausonian Bight but are rarer inland. Most of the lands here are dominated by primaeval temperate rainforests except for the highly urbanised and industrialised Roncevaux Valley.

Parts of the highlands and all of the mountainous regions are defined by its harsh winter. Snow can cover the ground for almost six months of the year, while in areas of very high elevation snow can persist year-round. These areas also experienced the least precipitation and sunlight. These highlands are characterised for their boreal forests and high quality wood. Despite large scale overharvesting historically, Sartou has made steps in protecting its forests.

== Politics ==

Sartou is a representative democracy organised as a federal semi-presidential republic. Following the fall of the Imperial State in 1996, sweeping amendments collectively known as the Additional Articles restructured the state’s executive, legislative and judicial branches while maintaining a balance between its federal framework and greater centralisation. The Additional Articles also formalised the Advisory Council and the Examination Committee as official branches of the government.

The head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces is the Federal President, who is elected by popular vote for a renewable four-year term. Requirements for this position are extremely stringent, such that only a handful of people qualify for the candidacy. Most offices in the government are appointed by the Federal President rather than elected, including the Prime Minister who served as the head of government. All appointments must satisfy the requirements of the Examination Committee and any member can be investigated by the Constitutional Committee.

The main legislative body is the tricameral Federal Diet, which is divided into an upper house, the Federal Senate; the lower house, the Federal Assembly; and the Federal Council. Senators are indirectly elected and are appointed by the State Diet of the constituent that they represent. Members of the Federal Assembly, known as Deputies, are elected by popular vote from their constituencies. Senators and Deputies serve four-year terms, with half the seats submitted for election every two years. Members of the Federal Council are appointed by the Federal Senate, the Federal Assembly, the Federal President and the Advisory Council with approval from the Examination Committee.

The Constitutional Committee is a judiciary organ that interprets the constitution and other laws and decrees, judges administrative suits, and disciplines public functionaries. Its members are the supreme director of the Examination Committee, the president and vice president of the Ministry of Justice, and additional twelve justices. The Constitutional Committee also regulates the activities of political parties and ensures the health of Sartevin democracy. Members are nominated by the Federal President and then approved by the Federal Diet.

The Advisory Council is a technocratic group comprising experts in specific domains that provide the government with advice and guidance during policy-making. All of its members are provided by private groups such as universities, think tanks and non-profit institutions. They must be then approved by the Examination Committee. A third of the members are chosen by the legislature, a third by the government, and a third by the Examination Committee.

The Examination Committee is responsible for validating the qualification of civil servants and selecting staff to work for governmental institutions and agencies. The Federal President and each institution are able to recruit staff from among the pool of candidates selected by the Examination Committee.

=== Administrative Division ===
Sartou is a federation comprising six constituent states known as Brotherly States. Although each Brotherly State has its own constitution and legally has considerable autonomy in regards to its internal organisation, ever since the Brothers War the country has been highly centralised for increased unity, stability and efficiency.

The Brotherly State is further subdivided into departments. The postal code uses the departmental name and it is also shown on vehicle registration plates in some Brotherly States. The departments are further subdivided into districts, which are, in turn, subdivided into cantons.

== Military ==
[[File:Croatian detachment Bastille Day 2013 Paris t105101.jpg|thumb|Sartevin soldiers during the Imperial Proclamation Parade, 2013]]
The Sartevin Self-Defence Forces (Sartevin: Forces Sartevin d'Autodéfense, or FSA) is the primary military wing of the Sartevin security forces and is headed by the Chief of the General Staff, subordinate to the government. It is organised into the Ground Self-Defence Force (FTSA), the Aerospace Self-Defence Force (FASA), and the Maritime Self-Defence Force (FMSA). Since the Brothers War, military expenditure constituted a significant portion of the country’s gross domestic product, with a peak of 32.1% of its GDP in 1984. In 2021, Sartou spent 4.9% of its GDP on its military. The majority of Sartou’s arms exports are unreported for security reasons.

=== Mission ===

The FSA is organised to perform a dual mission: to counter possible insurgency and terrorism in all forms, and to maintain a conventional military arm which could defend the nation’s borders. To this end, the purpose of the FSA is to prepare, plan and execute the total defence of Sartou, allowing for all methods to be used and does not preclude preemptive actions or actions limited to the national territory.

The FTSA is tasked with the defence of the nation from all ground invasions and threats to internal security. They must be able to readily mobilise and deploy to any part of Sartou and her allies rapidly. The FTSA can be assigned in any internal security tasks and be used for police actions, especially during the Martial Law Era. The FMSA is to meet any invasion by sea, sweep mines, patrol surrounding waters, and secure any maritime interests. The FMSA actively works in conjunction with the Sartevin Coast Guards to protect maritime borders. The FASA is to provide aerial support for maritime and ground operations, interception of enemy aircrafts and missiles, aerial reconnaissance and intelligence, and strategic airlifting capability.

The FSA plays an active role in disaster relief, requiring units to respond to calls for assistance from state prefects to aid in fire suppression, search and rescue, and flood fighting.

During the Brothers War and the Martial Law Era, the military was used in countering terror attacks, often directly supporting the Federal Gendarmerie and the state police forces. Sartevin military units were involved, either directly participating or supporting key allies, in various insurgencies in Algheti and Ollenia-Wellovia.

=== Organisation and Structure ===

All branches of the SSDF answer to the Unified General Staff. The Chief of the General Staff is also awarded the title Marshal of Sartou, which contrary to popular belief is a military distinction rather than a rank. They report directly to the Director of Defence and indirectly to the Federal President and the Supreme Director. Chiefs of Staff are formally appointed by the government and with the recommendation of the SSDF.

The SGSDF is by far the largest military branch of the SSDF, with an estimated 500,000 active personnel as of 2020. Nearly two-thirds of the military is permanently garrisoned in or around the Ollenian-Wellovian demilitarised zone and the Alghetien Green Lines.

Under a series of reforms and restructuring plans, collectively known as the Dossche Reforms, the SGSDF saw a significant reduction in personnel to account for lower recruitment and conscription rate. To compensate for the smaller force and maintain equal capability, the military will procure more equipment and systems, especially unmanned vehicles and drones.

=== Personnel and Conscription ===

The basis for military conscription in Sartou can be found in the Constitution of the Imperial State of Sartou in Article 39. The article had largely remained unchanged since 1899 when it was first promulgated even as Sartou reformed into the Federal Republic and the military became the Self-Defence Forces (FSA). Additionally, conscription is defined and acted by the Military Service Act, which states that “Every citizen of the Federal Republic of Sartou shall faithfully perform mandatory military service, as prescribed by the New Constitution of the Federal State of Sartou and this Act”. All genders are eligible for draft and must serve for the same minimum period.

By law, when a Sartevin citizen regardless of gender turns 18, they are required to undergo an evaluation to determine whether they are suitable for military service and are given a grade. However, although they are liable for military duty, they are free to report for duty in an enlistment centre any time before they turn 28 years old. Citizens who failed to enlist will either be imprisoned up to 5 years, be fined, or both.

If the citizen is deemed to be healthy both physically and psychologically, they are given a Grade 1 to 3, where they are then subject to active service in one of the branches of the FSA or part of the civil defence. If they have a minor disability, they will be assigned a Grade 4 and will serve in another government institution. Those with disability will be assigned a Grade 5 and will have the choice of serving in a government institution but are not mandatory. However, a person that is a Grade 5 is still eligible to be drafted by the FSA during times of war or national emergency. A person with severe disability is a Grade 6 and is exempted from military service even in times of war or national emergency. A citizen must be evaluated but if they cannot due to temporary physical or psychological disabilities, such as broken bones, must be evaluated again 6 months after they are deemed to be fit by the medical institution that admitted them.

Once they are graded, they are then assigned to a branch of the FSA or the civil defence, where according to their grading and their qualifications, will be given a role that is deemed to be beneficial to their current qualifications. All conscripts at a minimum must serve for a minimum of 20 months but the actual amount of time they will spend as part of the military depends on their employment. A conscript on average will serve 22 months, including training and leave, but can see a maximum of 40 months. They are also provided regular physical and mental evaluation every 10 months to prevent any lifelong medical complications.

After finishing their military service, they are automatically placed on the Ready Reserves and usually do up to several weeks of reserve duty every year for 10 years. Citizens with higher education, certain qualifications and in specific fields of work are allowed to leave the Ready Reserves after 5 years. Citizens that failed to report for reserve duty will be fined. It is not uncommon for wealthy citizens to pay the fine for the entire duration.

Contrary to popular belief, conscripts are paid a regular salary above the national minimum wage. They are also given additional privileges during the conscription period such as additional benefits to support any dependents and discounted tuition for university or any higher educational institution. Any qualifications gained during conscription, such as a driving license, are valid for use when they leave the military.

Conscription is a contentious topic in Sartou. Many calls for it to be shortened if not outright abolished. There is also constant criticism that conscripts in the FSA are often victims of hazing or bullying from the regular soldiers, which resulted in fragging and suicides. It is estimated that 80% of conscript deaths can be traced back to hazing and bullying. Investigations into suicide cases are common and the FSA had taken steps into addressing the issue, which include providing further support for victim, handing out harsher punishments for those taking part in hazing, and tightening their conscription standards.

== Demography ==
[[File:Historical peninsula and modern skyline of Istanbul.jpg|thumb|Sebastople is one of the biggest cities in Sartou and is a confluence of many cultures due to its maritime traditions. ]]
As of the 2024 census, Sartou has a total population of 63,373,700 and a population density of 164 people per square kilometre. Although the census was held in both Horn and East Algheti, the two states conducted their own additional independent censuses in conjunction with international watchdog groups. It is estimated that more than 2 million people left Sartou during the 1980s and 1990s, approximately 20% of whom had a higher education. Nevertheless, the population had remained steadily growing since the 1996 census after the formation of the Federal Republic. Based on the 2024 census, around 72% of the Sartevin population live in urban areas and is predicted to continue growing.

There are 5 ethnic groups that are officially represented in the Sartevin federal government and the country is also home to many various minor ethnic groups that are represented on a regional level. The 5 main ethnic groups are: Sarts, Thiogneans, Ausonians, Sarto-Sheharists, and Montagnards.

=== Ethnicity ===
According to Sartou’s constitution, a Sart is defined as someone who is a citizen of Sartou or whose parents or grandparents are of Sartevin origin. Based on the 2024 census, around 70% of the country’s adult citizens self-identify their ethnic background as Sart.

Sarto-Sheharists are the largest ethnic minority in Sarou but their exact numbers remain disputed, with estimates ranging from 12 to 18% of the population. Sarto-Sheharists make up a majority in Eastern Algheti and Horn, and internal migration has resulted in significant Sarto-Sheharist diaspora communities in all of the major cities, especially in Lourene. According to the 2024 census, around 14% of the adult citizens identify themselves as ethnic Sarto-Sheharists. Some people, especially in urban areas, have multiple ethnic identities. Interethnic marriages between Sarto-Sheharists and other groups have been rising over the years.

Non-Sarto-Sheharist ethnic minorities account for 12% to 18% of the population. Citizens that identify themselves as Thiogneans or Ausonians are around 10% to 15% and are steadily decreasing over the years. Montagnards make up only a very small minority and many often identify themselves as Sarts but follow their own esoteric indigenous religions.

== Economy ==
[[File:Twilight in La Défense, Paris 2014.jpg|thumb|Le Soleil's central business district, Centrale. ]]
Sartou is an upper-middle-income country and an emerging market. It is a relatively open state-oriented and newly industrialised market economy. It has the 23rd-largest economy by PPP-adjusted GDP in the world. The service sector accounts for nearly 59% of the economy, whereas industry accounts for 38% and agriculture contributes about only 3%. Sartou has an official unemployment rate of 5.1% but this number does not take the informal sector into account.

Sartou has a diversified economy. Main industries include automobiles, electronics, textiles, shipbuilding, and steel. It is a major regional producer of steel, motor vehicles, ships, and industrial robotic and machine tools. Some major consumer electronics manufacturers in Sartou include KD IEM, known for its personal communication devices; ManuSartou, one of the largest conglomerates in Sartou; and Deceuninck, one of the largest producers of household goods in the world.

The Sartevin economy has been dominated by massive conglomerates known as financial cliques since the 1920s. Financial cliques have become so integral to the flow of the economy and so influential in politics that they have come to be known as state-sponsored monopolies. A financial clique is organised so that each member company of the clique owns a portion of shares in each partner company and centred on a core bank. As such, every company in a financial clique can insulate each other from stock market fluctuation and resist takeovers, enabling long-term planning in projects. Financial cliques come to dominate the large manufacturing sector in Sartou. The largest financial clique currently is the ManuSartou Group, which included SocGen, the largest bank in Sartou; ManuMarché, one of the largest retailers in Southern Verdantis; and ManuSartou, a diversified manufacturing company.

Despite continued economic growth at a modest rate, the country suffers damage to its credit rating in the stock market because of military crises with its neighbours, which has an adverse effect on its financial markets. The economy is relatively resilient against various economic crises and has high fiscal reserves that can quickly be mobilised to address financial emergencies.

=== Infrastructure ===
[[File:Gare de l'Est Paris 2007 a5.jpg|thumb|Two high-speed TGV trains at Roncevaux. ]]
A significant proportion of the electricity produced in Sartou is from burning coal, of which around 70% are sourced locally. However, electricity generated from renewable sources tripled in the past decade, rising to around 45% by 2024. Sartou is one of the biggest producers of geothermal power in the world. Despite steps to decrease greenhouse gas emissions, the amount of electricity produced by coal did not reduce in significant quantities, and fossil fuel accounts for more than 70% of the nation’s total final consumption.
Based on the experience gained during the Brothers War and the Oil Shock, energy security remains top priority, given its reliance on oil and gas imports. Coal’s importance in electrical generation is simply due to its availability and Sartou currently has no plans to decrease it until more nuclear power plants become operational. Although there are no oil or gas reserves in Sartou, there is a relatively large petrochemical processing industry.

Sartou has two types of highways (autoroute): a regional motorway and a federal expressway. The federal expressway is one of the densest networks in the world and notably has no general speed limit for some classes of vehicle. However, the Directorate-General of Transportation recommends drivers to not exceed 140 km/h. Federal expressways are tolled and are maintained by the federal government. Regional motorways are administered by regional governments, are not tolled and usually have a speed limit of 120 km/h or lower, depending on location or local laws.

Sartou’s railway network is one of the most extensive in Southern Verdantis and is operated jointly by the Directorate-General of Transportation and the SNCS, a state-owned corporation. Sartou’s high-speed trains were initially powered by gas turbines but converted to electric before and during the Oil Shock. By 2024, nearly 90% of the railway network is electrified. Intra-urban connections are well developed, with most major cities having underground or tramway services.

There are around 400 airports in Sartou. The Exarch Leo II Airport, located around Le Soleil, is the largest and busiest airport in the country, handling the vast majority of commercial traffic. La Ligne is the national carrier airline but there are numerous private airline companies providing domestic and international travel services. The largest ports in Sartou include in Sebastople and Lourenebourg. Sartou has a modest canal network, mostly concentrated in Lourene.

=== Convenience Stores ===
Convenience stores first appeared in 1974, when Groupe Leclerc opened a store in Le Soleil. In an effort to remove slums and replace them with social housing, the government of Valland partnered with Groupe Leclerc to open a series of convenience stores and supermarkets to replace the various street markets and informal vendors that had become a common fixture for many residential areas near industrial parks. Other cities followed suit, partnering with either Groupe Leclerc or ManuSartou.

In 2020, Sartou has three major convenience store chains in Sartou: ManuMarché, owned by ManuSartou; Leclerc, owned by Group Leclerc; and Nicole, owned by Deceuninck. In addition to selling everyday items, convenience stores also provide services on behalf of financial institutions, government agencies and utility companies. People can pay their utility bills, traffic fines, and credit card payments. Stores located in rural communities also often feature other services such as petrol stations, laundry services, and food.

Convenience stores are very popular in Sartou, especially in large and dense urban areas such as Le Soleil, Lourenebourg and Sebastople. These stores can be found almost anywhere in these three cities and with such a high density per person that it is not unusual for two stores to be found within hundreds of metres from one another. An estimated 80% of the adult population visit a convenience store every week.

= Culture =
Although the term Sart could be used to refer to the peoples living in Sartou, historically, it was a lingua franca used by the elites of the many myriads of peoples and cultures inhabiting the Peninsula. Until the 19th century, there was no unifying, dominant culture as hegemons appeared and disappeared through the centuries. However, few can deny that the First Remani Empire, which occupied Sartou for more than half a millennia, had a long lasting effect on the region’s cultural traditions and practices.

The modern Sartevin identity was only formed in the 19th century, in part to combat Remanisation. After the succession crisis in 1923, Prime Minister Ligier emphasised Sartevin culture, attempted to make religion a matter of personal conviction, and pursued modernisation. The Ligier Reforms were aimed at creating an identity that can be shared throughout the country and limits the influence of the then powerful religious institutions. Most cultural traditions and practices can be traced back to the Ligier Reforms, where some aspects were encouraged while others discouraged if not banned.

=== Literature ===
Sartic literature dates back over a thousand years. Ancient Ausonia, popular among the Remani elite due to its favourable climate, was home to numerous works of literature, philosophy and poetry. Thiognean folk tales and poetry survived to the modern age, albeit heavily modified as many were transmitted orally rather than written down. It was only until the 15th century that many Thiognean stories were finally written down by poet and monk Benoît of Lourene in the Pilgrims’ Tales. Vallandian poetry was defined by its complex vocabulary, and used elements of mysticism based on their folk esoteric beliefs. Vallandian esoteric mysticism, as understood by non-Vallandians, would become an aspect of modern Sartevin literature throughout the 20th century.

Beginning in the 19th century, Sartic literature was beginning to be influenced by foreign cultures, and many literary devices, styles and genres were introduced. Yves Rosier, a poet and academician, is credited with the creation of Modern Standard Sartevin and the drive for its acceptance as the universal written and official language throughout the Sartevin peninsula. He had combined modern foreign styles that were popular at the time with folk tales and literary traditions. Much of his works were printed overseas and then smuggled back into Sartou due to Remani censorship.

A new dictionary was published by the University of Le Soleil Society for Encyclopaedias during the Ligier Reforms, which partially simplified spellings and standardised loanwords. Although initially did not see widespread acceptance, most spellings had become in common public use by the 1980s, in part due to a series of fiction novels aimed at younger audiences written by celebrated female novelist, Hanna Levegh.

During the 1940s and 1950s, several fictional works known as degenerate masculinity appeared, which criticised the hypocrisy of the government perpetuating a near homoerotic hyper-masculine military culture while at the same time suppressing expression of sexuality and femininity. Degenerate masculinity books were popular in urban areas, where they were popular among the futurist movement which advocated for the glorification of youth, violence and sexuality.

The Brothers War had a profound and long-lasting effect on the literary scene. While most worldwide know of the grand war stories and memoirs made by commandos and fiction writers alike, the most popular in Sartou were sobering reflections of the difficulties and brutalities of war and its aftermath. These memoirs were censored as they were deemed to be defeatist and anti-war but were published following the end of martial law in 1996.

=== Calendar ===
The Sartou Imperial Calendar is the official calendar used in Sartou since 1900 and also adopted by the overseas communities. Its first year is the assumed year of creation based on the Matter of the Kings of Sartou, which was 5509 BCE. This means that the current year (2025 CE) is 7533.

During the Imperial era between 1896 and 1996, the calendar uses the sovereign’s era name and year of reign. Months and days are numbered based on the Republic Calendar Reforms in 1876, which does not follow the Altralist calendar.

Following the formation of the Federal Republic, both the Sartou Imperial Calendar and the international calendar are used concurrently in official government documentations and announcements. Most of the population continue to use the Sartou Imperial Calendar, especially in rural communities. The urban youth generally prefers international timekeeping standards but are still versed in the Sartou Imperial Calendar.

=== Art ===
The origin of Sartevin art could trace its origins to the Late First Remani Empire between the 8th century and the 10th century. The most salient feature of this new aesthetic was the development of abstract, or anti-naturalistic character. Sarto-Remani art during this time favoured a more symbolic approach, concentrating on icons and hagiographies. Much of the artwork during the Sarto-Remani period often depicted religious icons and figures, and its flourishing coincided with the spreading of Altralism in Sartou.

Modern Sartevin art began to be developed around the Sartevin Tulip period in the late 18th century and the early 19th century. Many Sart artists during this period studied abroad due to increased connections with the outside world. Romanticism appeared during this time and became especially popular. They would often depict an idealisation of the past as a nobler era. By the end of the Sartevin Tulip period, Sart Romanticists increasingly integrated revolutionary and nationalistic themes, celebrating the beauty of their nation and the achievements of their folk heroes while equating the Third Remani Empire as monsters or forces of nature.

At the end of the Sartevin Tulip period, a new art movement emerged, one that was predominantly defined by Ferdinand Bertrand, whose works featured the use of radical brush strokes and very bold colours. Many have commented on the dream-like qualities of his works, where distinct features could be distinguished but certain details had been blurred or omitted. Most of the artworks depicted a combination of the mundane everyday setting with subtle surrealist elements, only adding to the dream-like qualities.

Another school of thought during the same time was developed by Bernard Franchi, who rejected Bertrand’s bold techniques. Franchi would instead depict objects with the least amount of distortion as possible. However, much of his artworks portrayed his subject-matter with Romanticist ideals, characterised by dream-like escapism, idealisation of sensuality, and the heavy use of symbolism. Franchi was also a notable nationalist, often using his art to elevate Sartou above their contemporaries.

The beginning of the 20th century saw the rejection of 19th century Realism in the popular consciousness. Romanticism had at this point, although considered obsolete, achieved a certain form of apotheosis or reached its penultimate conclusion in Sartou. Art historian Victor Verlaine argued that Sartevin Modernism was the result of the fascination and interests of dream-like subject-matters which glorified imagination and irreality above all else, combined with the ideas that it should be elevated with sensation of dynamism and movement even in a still piece of art. This focus on speed would give way to Sartevin Futurism, which fetishised technology, speed and youths, where symbolism of aviation and industry worked hand in hand to convey the want of a brighter tomorrow.

Futurism would fall out of fashion, alongside art nouveau and art deco, as the booming industrialisation during the Ligier Reforms gradually slowed down. The economy slowed down and so did patronage of arts. Sartou was also suffering from democratic backsliding and suppression of artistic expressions as radicalisation and political extremism had caused the Imperial State to adopt more authoritarian measures. Modernism continued to be popular among the population but increased scrutiny from the authorities meant that the age of bold and revolutionary subject-matters went underground. For many, the Martial Law era was defined by its heavy use of Heroic Realism, which served as a counter against futurism, modernism and surrealism which had been dominant in the Sartevin art ecosystem for nearly half a century.

Heroic Realism fell out of favour practically immediately after the downfall of the military government and most contemporary usage are often ironic or sarcastic. Postmodernism became the most prominent art movement of the 21st century, one that is heavily influenced by the techno-fetishism of futurism and the dream-like qualities of surrealism.

=== Architecture ===
[[File:Istanbul (34223582516) (cropped).jpg|thumb|225x225px|The Blue Church, one of the Altralist churches built during the Classical Sartevin period.]]
Traces of First Remani Empire architectural heritage can be found in many royal cities and palaces in Sartou, especially in Ausonia where it was a major province of the empire and an important retreat for Remani officials. Few survived in its original forms but they dictated the architectural style of the region for centuries. Indeed, a major aspect of Sarto-Remani culture was the admiration and importation of Late First Remani Empire’s artists and architects.

The arrival of the Pausanians played a factor in the development of Sartevin arts. Although Remani artistic styles and traditions continued to be in fashion far longer in Sartou than anywhere else, they would gradually be complemented by other additions, most notably frescoes. Many Altralist churches even until today use a combination of frescoes and mosaics, which are unique to Sartou.

Although few palaces were built in accordance with Pausanian architectural traditions and aesthetic tastes, many castles used military engineering knowledge brought over by the Pausanians. Few would survive as they were destroyed over the centuries of wars and conflicts, especially during the conquests of the Third Remani Empire. Pausanian architecture fell out of fashion comparatively quickly throughout Sartou and only remained popular far longer in Ollenia and Wellovia.

The start of true indigenous Sartevin architecture has been argued to begin in the late 16th century and early 17th century, a few years after the Goux Rebellion which ruined many cities. During this period, which is later known as the Classical Sartevin period, Sartevin lords were keen to not only rebuild their realms but also to showcase their relevance under Remani rule. Architects experimented with different combinations of conventional elements such as domes, semi-domes and arcaded porticos for churches and palaces. During this period, several architects demonstrated their skill through their meticulous attempts to combine harmony, space and proportions.

The 1750s marked the end of what was the Classical Sartevin period as new foreign influences appeared. The Sartevin Tulip period, characterised by newfound interests in foreign cultures and especially goods, saw the introduction of foreign architectural ideas and has been defined by the appearance of waterside mansions and palaces. Those away from the seas were instead enamoured by gardens and greeneries, whose order and careful mathematical planning served as a contrast for the wild mountains and forests. Properties became much larger simply due to the fondness of gardens and fountains even if the houses themselves remained relatively the same size.
[[File:Niagara Mohawk Bldg (Syracuse, NY).jpg|thumb|299x299px|The Spirit of Electricity, metal sculpture on the façade of the Lourenebourg Electricity Building. ]]
The greatest symbol of the Sartevin Tulip period was the Grand Palace of Le Soleil, which was where the modern capital city derived its name from. It was as big as a town and indeed featured a working village for the workers and servants to live in and make additional money. Its landscape was meticulously planned with geometric canals, gardens and pavilions. The massive expense to construct the Grand Palace almost bankrupted Thiogne and had sometimes been associated with the brief peasant revolt in the 1790s.

The 19th century was defined by a general lack of progress in the fields of architecture. Increasingly heavy taxation had stopped most grandiose projects and Remanisation had disenchanted many from pursuing new ones. Most buildings during this time were known for a lack of traditional Sartevin features and borrowed foreign elements heavily.

The beginning of the 20th century saw the start of the Belle Époque, coinciding with the explosive economic growth and extensive patronage of the arts of the Ligier Reforms. Art Nouveau and later Art Deco architecture was massively popular throughout the Imperial State, especially in the coastal cities where much of the wealth was concentrated. Bold colours and dynamic lines were very popular in contrast to the subdued styles of the 19th century.

Skyscrapers were uncommon even in Sartou as there was a preference to build outwards rather than upwards. Gardens remained highly coveted, especially in the increasingly dense cities, and many chose to show wealth through their meticulous gardens rather than impressively tall skyscrapers. Nevertheless, many were built in the beginning of the 20th century, especially in Lourenebourg. These cathedrals of commerce as they were known were defined by their cavernous lobbies, with motifs and features that celebrated the values of industry and capitalism.

The Belle Époque ended in the 1950s and many of its styles were largely exhausted. Between the 1960s and the 1970s, modernism and postmodernism styles were popular and supplanted what were deemed to be decadent and bourgeois art and architecture. Minimalism and brutalism emerged in the mainstream due to the economic downturn and difficulties of the Brothers War and the Oil Shock. Many art historians viewed the latter half of the 20th century to be the so-called Lost Generations.

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[[Category:Sartou]]
[[Category:Countries of Realstrange]]
[[Category:Countries in Verdantis]]
[[Category:Republics]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1000]]

Sartou

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Sartou

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