Talamh Chaonaigh

{About|the country in Tiandi}}

Talamh Chaonaigh (: ᚛ᚈᚐᚂᚐᚋᚆ ᚉᚆᚐᚑᚅᚐᚔᚌᚆ᚜ pronounced: ) or Hauxxin (: 浩蘚), officially the Holy Empire of Talamh Chaonaigh (᚛ᚔᚋᚚᚔᚏᚓᚐᚉᚆᚈ ᚅᚐᚑᚃᚐ ᚑ ᚈᚆᚐᚂᚒᚔᚅ ᚉᚆᚐᚑᚅᚐᚔᚌᚆ᚜ Impireacht Naofa ó Thalúin Chaonaigh; 浩蘚聖帝國 Hauxxin Sentikoh) is a   in West Yoju. Talamh Chaonaigh borders Ealdheim to the east, Sora to the southeast, Bakusai to the southwest, the Lower Laai Republic to the south, and the Northern Ocean to the north and west.

Name
The name Talamh Chaonaigh ( lit. 'land of moss') is in fact a of the colonial name Hauxxin (浩蘚 'vast '). In ancient times, the country was known as Éicenrad ('collective necessity') from the eponymous empire ( c. 800-1797). To this day, the country is still poetically referred to as Éigeanra, the modern derivative. In the official name, Impireacht Naofa ó Thalúin Chaonaigh ('Holy Empire of Talamh Chaonaigh'), the word impireacht is either  or  (Pacheol) emprar "to ordain". Between the Scarlet Revolution (1898) and Talamh Chaonaigh's independence (1953), the country was a  under the name Hauxxin Zenmin Gonhhukoh (浩蘚人民共和國; People's Republic of Hauxxin).

Prehistoric Talamh Chaonaigh
What is now Talamh Chaonaigh was originally settled as early as 10,500 BC, after glaciers receded north at the end of an Ice Age. By 4000 BC, agriculture became common in Ancient Talamh Chaonaigh. Several varieties of grain were grown, livestock was kept, and buildings were built out of stone. Phyto-archaeologists believe barley was probably the most common crop due to its cold tolerance. One large farm, in particular, which dates to about 3500 BC, shows evidence of organized agriculture, with several fields divided by low stone walls, which may have kept animals in or thieves out.

By 2500 BC, the Bronze Age had begun in Ancient Talamh Chaonaigh. New inventions made life easier and longer. The wheel came to Talamh Chaonaigh from Central Yoju (modern-day Seogwan) during this time and alcohol became the preferred drink because it seemed to prevent some sicknesses. Early oxen-driven ploughs were constructed and metalworking spread throughout Talamh Chaonaigh, allowing for the development of weapons and tools. Finer jewellery also came into fashion during this time as gold was popularized.

Early imperial era
By the Late Bronze Age, Celtic Gwaela languages were emerging in Talamh Chaonaigh and the surrounding areas, and trade was common between Talamh Chaonaigh and its neighbours, including Ealdheim, Sora, and Bakusai. It is unclear whether a large-scale migration or invasion took place which led to the prevalence of Celtic culture in Talamh Chaonaigh. A large-scale genetic replacement has been found among human remains dating back to the third millennium BCE. Either Celtic migrants outnumbered early Chaonaigh farmers 9-to-1 or the Chaonaigh farmers mostly died out when the Celts arrived, perhaps due to invasion or disease. These Celts either brought the Ogham script with them or invented it once in Talamh Chaonaigh. The earliest known written alphabet in West Yoju, stones inscribed with have been dated to the 4th century. The invention of Ogham was followed by the first publications of legal decisions, which, when all combined, constitute the first Gwaela Canon of Laws.

By the 7th and 8th centuries, rival kingdoms in Talamh Chaonaigh began to merge and by about 800 CE, the Empire of Eirenn was formed, with High Emperors and High Empresses as its leaders. The various kingdoms in Eirenn became provinces that answered to the High Emperor or Empress. In the 10th century CE, several waves of Viking raiders from Övlanda attempted to colonize Eirenn but the Empire managed to fight them off, thanks in large part to the pre-existing cultural unity that had formed over the previous centuries. It was also during this era that the first, comprised of more than ten legal texts concerning everything from marriage to legal theory, was written and a was established in many parts of the Empire.

Late imperial era
First Contact with Hokanese peoples occurred in the late 18th century and trade was well-established by 1790. Hokanese texts described Talamh Cahonaigh as a Land Of Moss, which is where it got its modern name. Eventually, Hokan established an outpost in eastern Talamh Chaonaigh. This outpost was called An Céad Cathair, "The Hundredth City," not to be confused with An Chéad Chathair, "The First City." It was probably initially called "The First City," but a misspelling changed the meaning. Later interpreters of the city's name posited that the Hokanese named the city "City of Hundreds" to emphasize its importance. This is no longer the widely accepted interpretation since earlier records have been found which spelt the city's name as An Chéad Chathair in Ogham and Hokanese.

By the 1820s, it was clear that the Hokanese were no longer satisfied with their one outpost city. The Gwaela Chaonaigh allowed them more land to encourage them to stay since their presence facilitated trade. By 1830, Hokan controlled so much of Talamh Chaonaigh's valuable land that the Gwaela Chaonaigh had no recourse when Hokan declared that all of Talamh Chaonaigh was under Hokanese jurisdiction. It would take nearly a century for the Gwaela Liberation Movement (GLM) to gain enough momentum to declare liberation from the Hokanese and even longer to be free of their rule.

Colonial period
During the Colonial Period, the Hokanese attempted to subject Talamh Chaonaigh to a wide range of oppressive measures designed to replace the native Celtic culture with Hokanese culture. Several cities near the original outpost city were established as majority-Hokanese cities. The Hokanese did not allow the Gwaela Chaonaigh to reside there, instead, restricting them to sub-standard living conditions and infertile land. Gwaela children were sometimes taken from their parents and placed with Hokanese parents or sent to Hokanese boarding schools. This rare but brutal practice led to the existence of the Gwaela Cultural Orphans, a generation of stolen children. Children who were not taken from their parents were mandated to go to schools that taught revisionist Hokanese history, Hokanese language, and Hokanese culture. The schools did not teach Gwaela Chaonaigh history, language, culture, or Ogham script. Many Gwaela Chaonaigh parents taught their children themselves and others preserved their history and culture by storing secret texts or hosting secret gatherings of Gwaela. Gwaela Chaonaigh were officially forbidden from practising any aspects of their culture or religion but these laws were seldom enforced outside of the majority-Hokanese areas after 1860. By that time, there was already a strong underground resistance movement building and cultural unity had been catalyzed among all Gwaela in Talamh Chaonaigh. Scattered instances of occurred between 1840 and 1870 but the GLM did not gain enough traction to declare liberation until the late 19th century when Hokan began to withdraw as it was facing troubles at home (See: Scarlet Revolution). Liberation was formally declared on 4 Samwol 1899 and the War of Liberation was fought until Hokan succeeded in suppressing the GLM on 10 Irwol 1904 after Hokan's Revolution ended in the formation of the People's Union of Hokan in 1902. The Hokanese considered colonialism to be imperialist and therefore offered to liberate Talamh Chaonaigh by making it a semi-autonomous region that could develop under socialist paternalism. As a result of colonial oppression during this time period, cultural damage to the Gwaela Chaonaigh may never be repaired.

People's republic
The Hokanese proposed a means of liberation for the Gwaela Chaonaigh. Talamh Chaonaigh would become a semi-independent territory of Hokan and, in exchange, the Hokanese would provide education, health care, and other social services. However, the administration of the semi-autonomous region of Talamh Chaonaigh was rather corrupt, and, as a result, the supposedly "liberating" effects of this agreement were not felt by the Gwaela. GLM Resistance to the Hokanese-Gwaela administration was satisfied at first but slowly increased during the Socialist Paternalistic Period until reaching a tipping point in the late 1940s.

The People's Republic of Hauxxin lasted from Socialist Liberation Day on 10 Irwol 1904 to Gwaela Independence Day on 29 Yuwol 1953, when the GLM declared independence following the recognition of several other former Hokanese colonies as sovereign nations. Due to long-term corruption, the Hokanese-Gwaela administration was no longer strong enough to suppress the GLM. The independence fight lasted for just 14 days before the Hokanese-Gwaela administration was expelled to Hokan and the Holy Empire of Talamh Chaonaigh was formed.

Demographics
Surnames of descent are not uncommon; these are signified with 'Ó' "of; from" and the  of a former landlord or earl.

Languages
and are understood at a fundamental level. As a result, Heosilge, a from the colonial era, is  and declining in use.

Foreign aid
Talamh Chaonaigh does not generally accept much foreign aid. After the formation of the People's Union of Hokan in 1902, Hokan made Talamh Chaonaigh into a puppet state called the People's Republic of Hauxxin. Hokan provided protection from would-be colonizers, as well as education, health care, and other social structures that allowed Talamh Chaonaigh to develop over the following 4 decades under Hokanese socialist paternalism. Talamh Chaonaigh has not officially accepted any foreign aid since its independence in 1953.

Currency
Talamh Chaonaigh's currency is known as the Cláirseach, meaning "harp." It is generally believed that this name originated as a nickname for coins with harps on them and that the original name of the currency was either never distinct from the metal it was made of or was forgotten during the Colonial Period.

Commerce
Talamh Chaonaigh has had established trade with most of West Yoju since the late. This includes Ealdheim, Bakusai, Sora, and Lower Laai. Trade with Hokan and its former colonies is a remnant of the Colonial Period. Today, Talamh Chaonaigh is working to establish trade relations with many nations in Tiandi, including most recently Ambemarivo and Qichwallanqa. Talamh Chaonaigh is a major consumer of and  from Qichwallanqa.

Talamh Chaonaigh's main exports include, which has been farmed there for thousands of years, , and. Recently, Talamh Chaonaigh has been expanding its sector.

Structure
Talamh Chaonaigh is a. It has fourteen heads of state, including a High Imperial Druid and 13 Imperial Druids. The designation of "Imperial" Druid distinguishes them from regional or local Druids who administer smaller portions of land. Most cities and towns have a Druid for a leader but participate in or. Local Druids are elected by public popular vote. Regional Druids are elected by the Local Druids and Imperial Druids are elected by the Regional Druids. The High Imperial Druid is chosen out of the Imperial Druids.

The High Imperial Druid and the 13 Imperial Druids are the leaders of the Holy Empire of Talamh Chaonaigh. The 13 Imperial Druids are essentially ministers with different areas of expertise. All Druids, no matter the level of government they serve, must have completed a Religious Education and a Practical Education. However, the standards for these Educations vary widely by locality. In some localities, Religious Education entails the study of the, while in others it entails specifically. In some localities, this might mean sending the Druid candidate to a formal Religious University and in others, it might mean studying the sacred texts with the Local Druid in an apprenticeship fashion. Practical Education varies even more because there are more options for study. Druids may choose to study law, history, science, medicine, or engineering, among other fields. Local Druids have also been known to have been elected without having completed either Education but that is very rare and Local Druids without Education qualifications are not eligible to become Regional or Imperial Druids.