Snæland

Snæland, officially Republic of Snæland is a country in the north of Europe and America. It has a population of 954.333 and an area of 3.471.756 km2. The capital is Akureyri and the largest city Reykjarvík.

Settlement (874 - 930)
1st PoD: Snæland hasn't changed its name to Iceland, that's the reason because it's still named Snæland.

Snæland history dates back to the ninth century, when the Vikings first landed on the island, but there are records that before these, some Irish monks (the Papar) arrived before the island.

The first permanent settler in Snæland is usually considered to have been a Norwegian chieftain named Ingólfr Arnarson and his wife Hallveig Fróðadóttir. According to Landnáma, he threw two carved pillars overboard as he neared land, vowing to settle wherever they landed. He then sailed along the coast until the pillars were found in the southwestern peninsula, now known as Reykjanesskagi. There he settled with his family around 874, in a place he named Reykjarvík (Cove of Smoke) due to the geothermal steam rising from the earth.

Ingólfr was followed by many more Norse chieftains, their families and slaves who settled all the inhabitable areas of the island in the next decades.

Grœnlend
Even though popular history credits Erik as the first person to discover Grœnlend, the Snælandinga sagas suggest that earlier Norsemen discovered and tried to settle it before him. But Erik the Red was the first permanent European settler. In this context, about 982, Erik sailed to a somewhat mysterious and little-known land. He rounded the southern tip of the island and sailed up the western coast. He eventually reached a part of the coast that, for the most part, seemed ice-free and consequently had conditions (similar to those of Snæland ) that promised growth and future prosperity.

When Erik returned to Snæland after his exile had expired, he is said to have brought with him stories of "Grœnlend". Erik deliberately gave the land a more appealing name than "Snæland " in order to lure potential settlers. He explained, "people would be attracted to go there if it had a favorable name". He knew that the success of any settlement in Grœnlend would need the support of as many people as possible. His salesmanship proved successful, as many people (especially "those Vikings living on poor land in Snæland" and those that had suffered a "recent famine") became convinced that Grœnlend held great opportunity.

After spending the winter in Snæland, Erik returned to Grœnlend in 985 with a large number of colonists. Out of 25 ships that left for Grœnlend only 14 arrived, 11 were lost at sea. The Snælander established two colonies on the southwest coast: the Eastern Settlement or Eystribyggð, and the Western Settlement or Vestribyggð. (Eventually, a Middle Settlement grew, but many people suggest it formed part of the Western Settlement.) The Eastern and Western Settlements, both established on the southwest coast, proved the only two areas suitable for farming. During the summers, when the weather favored travel more, each settlement would send an army of men to hunt in Disko Bay above the Arctic Circle for food and other valuable commodities such as seals (used for rope), ivory from walrus tusks, and beached whales.

Vinland, Helluland and Markland
2nd PoD: Vinland (Newfounland), Markland (Labrador) and Helluland (Baffin) were succesfully colonized.

Leif Erikson was an Icelandic explorer and the first known European to have discovered North America (excluding Grœnlend), before Christopher Columbus. Leif and his crew travelled from Grœnlend to Norway in AD 999. Blown off course to the Hebrides and staying for much of the summer, he arrived in Norway and became a hirdman of King Olaf Tryggvason. He also converted to Christianity and was given the mission of introducing the religion to Grœnlend. The Saga of Erik the Red and the Grœnlendinga Saga, both thought to have been written around 1200, contain different accounts of the voyages to Vinland. The two only known strictly historical mentions of Vinland are found in the work of Adam of Bremen c. 1075 and in the Book of Snælanders compiled c. 1122 by Ari the Wise. According to the Saga of Erik the Red, Leif apparently saw Vinland for the first time after being blown off course on his way to introduce Christianity to Grœnlend.

Leif was not really the first European to discover America, nor the first to make landfall there: he had heard the story of merchant Bjarni Herjólfsson who claimed to have sighted land to the west of Grœnlend after having been blown off course. Bjarni reportedly never made landfall there, however. Later, when travelling from Norway to Grœnlend, Leif was also blown off course, to a land that he did not expect to see, where he found "self-sown wheat fields and grapevines". He next rescued two men who were shipwrecked in this country and went back to Grœnlend (and Christianised the people there). Consequently, if this is to be trusted, Bjarni Herjólfsson was the first European to see America beyond Grœnlend, and the two unnamed shipwrecked men were the first people known to Europeans to have made landfall there.

Leif then approached Bjarni, purchased his ship, gathered a crew of thirty-five men, and mounted an expedition towards the land Bjarni had described. His father Erik was set to join him but dropped out after he fell from his horse on his way to set sail, an incident he interpreted as a bad omen. Leif followed Bjarni's route in reverse and landed first in a rocky and desolate place he named Helluland. After venturing further by sea, he landed the second time in a forested place he named Markland. Finally, after two more days at sea, he landed in a luscious place with plentiful supplies of salmon. As winter approached, he decided to encamp there for the winter, and broke his party into two groups - one to remain at camp and the other to explore the lands. During one of these explorations, Tyrker discovered that the land was full of vines and grapes. Leif therefore named the land Vinland. There, he and his crew built a small settlement, which was called Leifsbúðir (Leif's Booths) by later visitors from Grœnlend. After having wintered over in Vinland, Leif returned to Grœnlend in the spring with a cargo of grapes and timber.

During the following years, several settlers from Grœnlend (especially from Vestribyggð) and settlers from Snæland traveled to the territories discovered by Leif, making these to join the Snælandinga Commonwealth.

Snælandinga Commonwealth
3rd PoD: The Age of the Sturlungs never happened.

The medieval Snælander state had a unique judicial structure. The first settlers of Iceland were greatly influenced by their Norwegian roots when creating their own form of government. They wanted to avoid the strong centralized authority of Harald Fairhair from which some of them had fled, but they also wanted to replicate the Norwegian tradition of laws and district legal assemblies (Þing). This created a unique structure.

The most powerful and elite leaders in Snæland were the chieftains (sing. goði, pl. goðar). The office of the goði was called the goðorð. The goðorð was not delimited by strict geographical boundaries. Thus, a free man could choose to support any of the goðar of his district. The supporters of the goðar were called Þingmenn ("assembly people"). In exchange for the goði protecting his interests, the Þingmaðr would provide armed support to his goði during feuds or conflicts. The Þingmenn were also required to attend regional and national assemblies.

On a regional level, the goðar of the thirteen district assemblies convened meetings every spring to settle local disputes. The goðar also served as the leaders of the Alþingi, the national assembly of Snæland. Today, the Alþingi is the oldest parliamentary institution in existence. It began with the regional assembly at Kjalarness established by Þorsteinn Ingólfsson, son of the first settler. The leaders of the Kjalarnessþing appointed a man named Úlfljótr to study the laws in Norway. He spent three years in Norway and returned with the foundation of Úlfljótr’s Law, which would form the basis for Snæland's national assembly. The first Alþingi assembly convened around the year 930 at Þingvellir, ("Assembly Plains"). The Alþingi served as a public gathering at which people from all over the country met for two weeks every June. The Alþingi revolved around the Lögrétta, the legislative council of the assembly, which was responsible for reviewing and amending the nation's laws. The Lögrétta comprised the 39 goðar and their advisors. They also appointed a Lawspeaker (lögsögumaður) once every three years. The Lawspeaker recited and clarified laws at Lögberg ("Law Rock"), located at the center of Þingvellir. The descendants of Ingólfr Arnarson, the first settler of Iceland, held the ceremonial position of allsherjargoði and had the role of sanctifying the Alþingi each year.

When Haakon IV of Norway began to exert pressure on his Snælander vassals to bring the country under his rule, but the population of the island refused to accept the king's command. Therefore Snæland sought support in other European countries to fight a War against Norway. The Kingdom of Sweden and the Kingdom of Scotland offered to help at that time, and with this support began the War of Independence.

The War of Independence
The Snæland War of Independence is one of the majors (or the major one) events of the nation during its history. It started in an undefined date during 1220. The Kingdom of Norway was making lot of pressure over the Alþingi for annexation of all of the territories of Snæland and the people, unhappy with this situation pressed the government to do something, and during a Þing, they decided to declare the war on the Kingdom of Norway, with the Scottish and Swedish help.

The occupation of Snæland
Norway, with its large military strength sample prepared an offensive fleet strong enough to block all the Snæland ports and using transport ships landed its troops in the east of the island, near Höfn. No one had expected them to attack there, so the area was not defended and was occupied quickly. Then, more troops arrived at the occupied zone and when an army of four thousand men was on the island, they started to march through the non-occupied territory. Snæland, seeing the number superiority of Norway, retired to the north between some mountains and there they resist the norwegian attacks.

At 1230 the Snæland defence in Akureyri was too weak, the goðar were near to surrender when the scottish reinforcement arrived. Scotland was fighting in the Hebrides Islands to capture them, and after a long time they captured it. After that, the scottish fleet wasn't able to fight the norwegian one, but with some swedish ships they were able to break the naval block of Snæland. At the same time, Sweden was fighting in the Scandinavian Peninsula to occupy the continental territory of Norway. Thanks to the scottish help, the Snælandinga Army was able to recapture the lost territory in his own island. As well they occupied the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Jan Mayen.

When most of Norway was occupied, their army reduced to ashes and his king Haakon was captured by Sweden, Norway accept to sign the Treaty of Akureyri (the capital of Snæland during the occupation of the island).

Treaty of Akureyri

 * Norway stopped the vassalage of Snæland.
 * Norway gives the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Jan Mayen.
 * Norway gives the Hebrides, the Orkney and the Shetland to Scotland.
 * Norway pays war reparations.
 * One hundred years truce.

Colonization of the New World and the Kalmar Union
Some years before the Independence War, Snæland focuses on expanding their colonies (Helluland, Markland and Vinland.). During one century they were able to expand their country in América, but in 1397 the Kalmar Union was formed and Snæland, worried about its independent status uses all their money into making a strong army and into "buy" some allies such as Scotland, Hanse and the Teutonic Order. A kind of Cold War started between the Kalmar Union and Snæland (with his allies). In 1448 Christopher of Bavaria dies and Sweden elected Charles VIII king with the intent to reestablish the union under a Swedish king. Charles was elected king of Norway in the following year, but the counts of Holstein were more influential than the Swedes and the Norwegians together, and made the Danish Privy Council appoint Christian I of Oldenburg as king.

Taking advantage of this conflict, Snæland offers help to Sweden to gain independence from Denmark and also Scotland and Hansa supported the idea of the swedish independence. Then, in 1454 Charles VIII of Sweden declared their independence and it started a war between this country and his allies against the Kalmar Union.

Swedish Independence War
To return the favor that Sweden made to Snæland during its war (Independence War, 1220 - 1234), the island decided to help, starting a new conflict against Norway, Denmark, Schleswig and Holstein. Snæland work during this war was focused on blocking maritime the Kalmar Union and fighting alongside the scots in Norway. After a lustrum of war, the danish island of zealand was occupied and Christian I gave Sweden their independence. Many wars occurred with Denmark-Norway during the following centuries, but nothing really relevant.

New France and the Thirteen Colonies
During the 16th and the 17th, France and England started to colonize north America, there began the problems and colonial disputes because when the French arrived to what is now Canada, they claimed the territories colonized by Snæland. France was more powerful than the nordic country and the Republic sold Markland to the French instead of entering into a war that they will lose. The same happened with the british in Vinland, when the arrived there, they forced Snæland to sold them the island.

During those centuries, Snæland maintained itself neutral in most of the international conflicts, working on developing the country, which was really a mess because of its little alimentary production. This made the demographic growt really slow.

The Republic started colonizing Baffin in the late 18th century with some settlements near the actual capital of the island, Iqaluit. At first, the United Kingdom saw that as a provocation to his sovereignty over Canada, and a war between Snæland and the UK was near, but they solved it diplomatically.

The Laki's 1783 eruption
On 8 June 1783, a 25 km long fissure with 130 craters opened with phreatomagmatic explosions because of the groundwater interacting with the rising basalt magma. Over a few days the eruptions became less explosive, Strombolian, and later Hawaiian in character, with high rates of lava effusion. This event is rated as 6 on the Volcanic Explosivity Index, but the eight-month emission of sulfuric aerosols resulted in one of the most important climatic and socially repercussive events of the last millennium.

The eruption, also known as the Skaftáreldar ("Skaftá fires") or Síðueldur, produced an estimated 14 km3of basalt lava, and the total volume of tephra emitted was 0.91 km3. Lava fountains were estimated to have reached heights of 800 to 1,400 m. The gases were carried by the convective eruption column to altitudes of about 15 km. The eruption continued until 7 February 1784, but most of the lava was ejected in the first five months. Grímsvötn volcano, from which the Laki fissure extends, was also erupting at the time, from 1783 until 1785. The outpouring of gases, including an estimated 8 million tons of hydrogen fluoride and an estimated 120 million tons of sulfur dioxide, gave rise to what has since become known as the "Laki haze" across Europe.

The consequences for Snæland, known as the Móðuharðindin "Mist Hardships", were disastrous. An estimated 20–25% of the population died in the famine and fluoride poisoning after the fissure eruptions ensued. Around 80% of sheep, 50% of cattle and 50% of horses died because of dental fluorosis and skeletal fluorosis from the 8 million tons of hydrogen fluoride that were released.

The parish priest and dean of Vestur-Skaftafellssýsla, Jón Steingrímsson, grew famous because of the eldmessa ("fire sermon") that he delivered on 20 July 1783. The people of the small settlement of Kirkjubæjarklaustur were worshipping while the village was endangered by a lava stream, which ceased to flow not far from town, with the townsfolk still in church.

[In construction]

Geography
[In construction]

Military (Snælandvörn)
Despite having had a lot of wars with Norway and some other conflict with Britain and Denmark, its military is so poor, having only 47.500 person in service between active and reserve personnel.

Its primary purpose is to prevent conflicts and war, preserve the sovereignty of Snæland, secure the continuing existence and integrity of the independent Republic of Snæland and further a peaceful development in the world with respect to human rights.

Flugherinn
[In construction]

Economy
[In construction]

Religion
[In construction]

Mappervision Song Contest
The USS (Útvarp og Sjónvarp af Snæland; literally: Radio and Television of Snæland) decided that the country had to participate in Mappervision to improve relations with other countries and make international publicity of our country.

The USS make a little contest to select the song that was going to represent Snæland in Glasgow. Dmitry Nesterov, in collaboration with Buranovskiye Babushki were the winners of the national selection with the song "I'm Again 18".

Linguavision Song Contest
When the Kingdom of Adianterras decided to make a new contest similar to Mappervision, the USS sent its participation, and using the same national selection as in Mappervision, Eyþór Ingi Gunnlaugsson was the chosen one to represent Snæland, with the song Ég á Líf (I have a Life).

Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins I
After the first edition of the Linguavision Song Contest and the victory of Snæland, the government decided to make an official national selection, where the Official Nations and Fun Nations can vote. The Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins is the name given to the contest, and it literally means The Television's Singing Contest.

Songs:

Flag
The flag is the most representative symbol of Snæland, a blue background crossed by a white line, which have a white circle near the right side. Inside the white line, there is another red line.

The meanings of the colors are: the blue for the sea, white for the snow and the red for the Snælander volcanoes.

Snæland in different Languages
Afrikaans: Sneeuland

Albanian: Borëtokë

Arabic: ثلجا أرض (Thalaja 'ard)

Armenian: ձյուն երկիր (D'yown erkir)

Azerbaijani: Qar Torpaq

Basque: Elur Lur

Belarusian: Снег Зямлі (Snieh Ziamli)

Bengali: বরফ ঢাকা জমি (Barapha ḍhākā jami)

Bosnian: Snijeg Zemljište

Bulgarian: Сняг Земя (Snyag Zemya)

Catalan: Neuterra

Cebuano: Niebe yuta

Chinese: 雪域 (Xuě yù)

Corsican: Neve Paese

Croatian: Snijeg Zemljište

Czech: Sněžení přistát

Danish: Snejord

Dutch: Sneeuw land

English: Snæland

Esperanto: Neĝlando

Estonian: Lumi Maa

German: Snäland

Georgian: სნაილანდი (Snailandi)

Greek: Σναιλανδία (Snailandía)

Korean: 스낼란드 (Seunaellandeu), Sino-Korean: 설역 (Seoryeok)

Latin: Snaelandia

Polish: Snilandia

Russian: Снег Земля (Snyeg Zyemlya)

Serbian: Снијег Земљиште (Snijeg Zemljište)