Povaschia

Povaschia Považie (Zubrowkan) Poyern (German) Pováží (Czech)
Region
Clockwise from the top: Trentschin Castle, Freedom monument in Vsetin, and the rolling hills of Povaschian Wallachia
Seal Coat of arms
Nickname(s): Pova, Arch to Europe
Location of Povaschia within Zubrowka
Traditional region	Zubrowkan Heartlands
Named for	The River Váh
Capital	Trentschin
Government
• Type	Council
• Body	Povaschia Regional Council
Area
• Total	2,550 km2 (980 sq mi)
Elevation	217 m (712 ft)
Population
• Total	240,000
• Density	Bad rounding here94/km2 (Bad rounding here240/sq mi)
Regional number	11
Website	pova.zb

Povaschia (Zubrowkan: ns. Povazhie, os. Považie) is a region and historical duchy in western Zubrowka. It is bordered by Brauen and the Lutz region to the east, along with Nitra to the south. The majority of the Povaschia's border is an international boundary, as it faces Czechia to the northwest and Slovakia to the southwest. Most of the modern territory of Povaschia was under the domain of Matthew I, and has largely remained under Zubrowkan control since. It was successively expanded, first during the Hussite Wars, and later during Thirty Years' War, where the territory was expanded as far as Zlín, Slovakia. However, Moravian forces gradually reduced the Povaschian border to the White Carpathian mountain range during the 18th century. In 1806, following the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, Zubrowka and Moravia negotiated to the current border of Povaschia. The region was highly valued by the Zubrowkan Crown, as it held important trade routes along the Váh through Trenčín, whilst also serving as an important natural buffer to Moravia.

In modern times, Povaschia is known for its rich and distinct culture, with Slovak, Czech, and Romanian influences. It is the largest region by area, and its capital of Trentschin is the second largest city in Zubrowka. Due to its geographical position along the Czech and Slovak border, Povaschia has developed into an economic hub in close proximity to both Bratislava and Brno of Slovakia and Czechia, respectively. It is domestically regarded as the "Arch to Europe", with many international corporations and organizations being based in the region. Povaschia is famed for its striking nature and historic heritage, including the Trentschin castle, where Matthew I resided. The region is also part of the Lutz-Trentschin-super-metropolitan area, encompassing over half of the population of Zubrowka.

The region is often informally divided into two distinct areas, High Povaschia and Lower Povaschia. These are based on ethnic, economic, and geographic borders; since the southern parts of the region is primarily composed of the Váh Valley, they are characterized by valleys and rolling flatlands traditionally inhabited by Slovaks. In contrast, the northern parts of Povaschia have traditionally been inhabited by Czechs and Romanians, and feature mountainous and hilly terrain. Although Lower Povaschia comprises of less than 20% of the area of the region, it is responsible for more than half of its economic output and roughly three quarters of the population. High Povaschia remains largely rural, with forestry and tourism serving as the economic backbone of the region. Trentschin is considered the capital of Lower Povaschia, whilst Äugenzburg is the capital of High Povaschia.

Etymology

Povaschia is an anglicization of the Zubrowkan name Považie which first appeared in English contexts around 1809. Považie in turn, is a hypernym used to describe several sections of valleys along the Váh valley, and literally translates to "along the Váh". The name was extensively used by the Zubrowkan Crown as early as the 16th century, as a method to increase cultural cohesion between several regions within Povaschia, such as Moravian Wallachia, the Váh Valley, and the White Carpathian foothills; this was intended to disrupt any possible attempts by Moravia to foster ethnic tensions within the area for their own advantage, something the Empire of Zubrowka often used against its own enemies to effectively conquer new territories.

Symbols

The shield of Povaschia is famous for its inclusion of the Moravian Eagle, which is shown slain in the mouth of a rampant lion wearing the Imperial Crown of Zubrowka. The customary colors of Povaschia, blue and white, are featured in the shield; they represent the inverse of the Moravian checkered red and white. The symbolism of the escutcheon echoes the Zubrowkan conquest of Moravian Wallachia, and serves as an emblem of defiance against the Margraviate of Moravia, which the Zubrowkan Crown was frequently at odds with throughout the late Middle Ages and Renaissance.