Matoranesia

Matoranesia is a sovereign state in North America in northwest Aritonesia. Situated on multiple major islands, Matoranesia shares maritime borders with Azuria to the west, Aquaria to the northwest, and Raland to the northeast.

Etymology
The name of Matoranesia is derived from the Matoran ethnicity and the Latin word "nesos" meaning islands. It was often referred to as the West Kipariki Islands prior to the 1880s.

The original name for Matoranesia, first used around 915 AD, was Matōrowahi, was derived from Matōro wahi, respectively meaning "land of the Matoran peoples" in the old Matoran language. The "Matoranesia" name was derived from the name Matoroneziyskiy following Russian settlement, which soon became Matoranesia.

Pre-colonial era (Prehistory - 1832)
The first indigenous people to inhabit the Matoranesian archipelago were closely related to the indigenous people of Aquaria who entered the region via Engotu. The Matoran Kingdom, a kingdom that existed in modern-day Fir, was exiled by their home following Vicnora taking over the region in 765 AD. Most of them fled towards the northern section of the Arito subcontinent and made it to a land bridge which was occupied by the Khaltajazecs, which welcomed them to an archipelago west of their landmass. These new outcasted Matoran settlers formed the Shinxaltakh Empire in 795 AD. With contact from the Khaltajazec Empire, the Shinxaltakhns grew in size and became one of the larger powers of the northern Arito subcontinent.

The late 1600s saw the Shinxaltakh nation at its highest capacity, owning territory in most of modern-day Aquaria. Contact was also made with Luciferia and multiple expeditions to Jazila in the 13th century led to a prominent Muslim minority. Following the fall of the allied Khaltajazecs, the Shinxaltakhs surrendered to various European and Asian powers.

Colonial era (1832 - 1905)
In 1832, the British Empire, Russian Empire, Imperial Japan, France, and Spain split up the archipelago into multiple individual states. Most of the colonies were ceded to Russia in the 1890s. Most territories were lost in the Russo-Japanese War. Similar to Korea in the Treaty of Portsmouth, Matoranesia gained independence as the Shinxaltakh Matoran Empire, but not as a Japanese client state.

Shinxaltakh Matoran Empire (1905 - 1950)
The Shinxaltakh Matoran Empire was officially formed on November 16, 1905, under the rulership of King Keiji I of the Shinxaltakh Empire. Matoran nationalism was established and equality was created between the colonists and natives. The empire existed as an absolute monarchy between 1905 and 1915 before forming a complete constitutional system. The SME was invaded by Imperial Japan in World War II, and collapsed sometime in 1944, the monarchy hiding in exile in Novaustria.

First Matoranesian Republic (1950 - 1963)
After one year of control under Japanese forces in modern-day Akirala, the Matoranesian archipelago was occupied by Ralander forces. Michi Ouji was declared the first Prime Minister of Matoranesia. The nation experienced a period of industrialization, economic growth, and democratization. Ouji was re-elected in 1954 and ran for another term. Matoranesia became less affiliated with the British colonial empire and its allies during this time and fixated on the USA.

Ouji also introduced a new currency to replace the former Matoranesian dollar in 1951, this currency would later become the poko used today.

Matoranesian People's Republic (1963 - 1969)
On July 11, 1963, Noriko Tokavik overthrew the First Matoranesian Republic, forming a one-party socialist state. He had put in many socialist and authoritarian policies. Tokavik silenced religious minorities and devalued the use of the Matoranesian poko, which resulted in the 1966 Matoranesian economic crisis.

Matoranesian Imperial State (1969 - 1975)
Sakarik Taroyihan overthrew and assassinated Noriko Tokavik on October 10, 1969, replacing his communist regime with a semi-constitutional monarchy.