Nóatúna (Merveilles des Morte)

Nóatúna
11th Century – 1560
Flag Coat of arms
Capital	Nóatúna
Common languages	Vinlandic, Old Norse, Tvennufolkish, Beothuk
Religion	Catholicism (Official) Norse Paganism, Beothuk Animism
Government	Vinlandic goðorð Oligarchic republic (1251-1284; 1394-1492) Feudal monarchy (1492-1560)
Goði/king
• f. 1040s	Óttvanuar
• 1390-1392	Hugleikr Hathemayr
• 1492-1520	Ímgerad Giantslayer
Historical era	Early modern period
• Established	11th Century
• Founding of Nóatúna	c. 1040s
• Fall of the Óttvanings	c. 1204
• First Republic	1251-1284
• Second Republic	1394-1492
• Ascension of Nálvarods	1492
• Disestablished	1560

Nóatúna was a Vinlandic goðorð and sovereign state centered around the eponymous city, which existed from approximately the 11th century to the year 1560, when it was fully incorporated into the nation of Vinland. Nóatúna is unique compared to other states in Vinland in that for much of its history it was organized as a republic – the first republic lasting from 1251 to 1284 and the second from 1394 to 1492 – with a government system not unlike a European merchant republic.

According to the city's founding myth, the nation was created by legendary Vinlander hero Óttvanuar Eeshang, who landed in Nóatúna following the events of the Kjalarnes Feud as told by the Skagisaga. The House of Óttvanuar, or the Óttvanings, were said to have ruled the city into the early 13th century, when the First Republic was formed by the city's most influential families. After a brief return to monarchy in the 14th century, during which time Hugleikr Hathemayr, the city's first widely agreed historically attested monarch reigned, the Second Republic was established in 1394. After about a century, the republic was overthrown by Ímgerad Giantslayer of the Nálvarod dynasty, the last native dynasty to rule Nóatúna before its eventual incorporation into Vinland. It was during this time that many of the city's historical records and sagas were recorded that survive to this day—the 1460 Sacking of Nóatúna is sited as responsible for the destruction of many older works.

During the 15th century Nóatúna emerged as one of the foremost states in Vinland, as the island was rapidly consolidating into a handful of larger states. Under Ímgerad Giantslayer and his brief dynasty the rulers of Nóatúna began to style themselves "king" (konungr in Vinlandic), and Nóatúna expanded to include most of eastern Vinland, with the exception of the easternmost peninsula, which became the Kingdom of Austskag. The fall of the Nálvarod dynasty and rapid upheaval brought on by greater European contact led to the fall of Nóatúna.