Neo Westphalian Europe Part 27: Basque Republic

The Basque Republic, or Euskadi, is a nation made up of the various Basque speaking regions and regions that were traditionally under Basque control. The Basque are one of a tiny remnant of populations, left over from those that existed in Europe before the Roman invasions. Because of their ancient history as a nation the Basque nationalist movement is one of the strongest in the region, after Catalonia.

The Basque region has very clearly defined territorial claims, due to the ancient inhabitation of the area. The final nation is made up of the Basque Autonomous Community, currently in Spain. Added to this is the Navarre Chartered Community, also a part of Spain at the moment. As well as this there are several enclaves of neighbouring regions, which will be absorbed into the new nation. In the Basque Autonomous Community is an enclave of the neighbouring Castile-Leon Autonomous community called Trevino, which will cede to the Basque nation. An enclave of the Cantabria Autonomous Community, called Valle de Villaverde, also exists in Basque country and will merge with the new nation.

Finally the French regions of northern Basque country will join the new country. This includes half of the Pyrenees-Atlantiques Department, divided along the historical border with Bearn.

The Basque flag is the Ikurrina banner, which was created by Sabino Arana, the founder of modern Basque nationalism and adopted in 1894. It began only as a representation of the Biscay region but by the Spanish Civil War, in the 1930’s, all Basque regions had adopted it as their national flag.

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Neo Westphalian Europe Part 26: Republic of Castile

The Castilian Republic is the republic made up of the core of former Spain. The Castilians give their name to the main language group spoken on the peninsula, Castilian. The modern independence movement largely makes its territorial claims based on the traditional borders of the Kingdom of Castile. It is hypothesised for this model however that the Cantabrian claims will not be recognised, as that territory goes to the neighbouring Kingdom of Astur-Leon. There are also some regions under a competing claim by the neighbouring Cartagena nation, which will go to them.

The long history of rebellions against monarchy in this region also makes it highly likely that this new nation will form itself as a Republic. This would finally see the dreams long held by Spanish Republicans realised, with an independent Castilian Republic.

It is also a consideration that a state used to a long history as a sea faring nation will not easily be convinced at becoming a land locked nation. To solve this problem and prevent any potential conflict erupting over access to ports, a possible solution is to cede historically Castilian parts of Valencia, south of the Treaty of Almizra line, back to this new nation. A small amount of traditionally Catalonian land would then need to be ceded to this new nation, to allow for a contiguous land area between this port region and the rest of the country. An idea for such a solution is offered in the final territories included in this model of a Castilian Republic.

The final borders of this nation would thus be made up of the La Rioja and Madrid Autonomous Communities, currently part of Spain. Added to this are the Avila, Segovia, Soria and Burgos provinces (minus the Trevino Exclave), of the Castile-Leon Autonomous Community formerly in Spain. The Ciudad Real, Guadalajara, Toledo and Cuenca provinces, of the Castile – La Mancha Autonomous Community, also form a part of this country. 

The former Castilian Comarca of Requena-Utiel, in the Valencia province of the Valencia Autonomous Community, will also be a part of the final borders of this nation. The former Castilian Comarcas, of the Alicante province in the Valencia Autonomous Community, will form the port region of the country. These include the Alto Vinalopo, Vinalopo Medio, Bajo Vinalopo and Bajo del Segura Comarcas. The portions of the Hoya de Alcoy and Campo de Alicante Comarca, which lie south of the historic Treaty of Almizra line, would also make up this territory. 

Finally a small portion of Catalonian lands, in the Valencia Province, could be ceded to this new nation in order to allow for contiguous land transport from the port region to the centre. Using the mountain rages, which border the Ayora valley, could serve as a natural barrier for determining these new borders. This would leave the parts of the Valle de Ayora Comarca, which lie west of the Cortes De Pallas Municipality borders, in this bridging zone. 

This borderline, following the spine of the mountains, cuts across between the borders of the neighbouring Comarca leaving a square of the Canal de Navarres Comarca, west of this line, in the bridge zone. Finally a line cut straight from the border of the Costera Comarca towards the Fontanars dels Alforins municipality, cutting west of the Moixent municipality, delineates the last part of this bridging region. All territory west of this line marks the last part of the land bridge.

There are several flags that are used by independence movements in this region. The political left often uses a purple flag, with the socialist star on it and a smaller castle. The conservatives and monarchists use the historic and traditional flag of the region, which is a red flag with a large castle on it. The final flag is one that combines the two. To show that this will be a Republic and the Monarchy will no longer be in charge of the executive branch, I have settled on this final one. It is purple in colour, which is traditionally the commoner’s antimonarchist colour. Yet it maintains the historical pattern of the flag, to show that the new republic is for all Castilians, whether conservative or left wing.

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Neo Westphalian Europe Part 25: Kingdom of Astur – Leon

This nation is made up of several neighbouring independence movements. It is hypothesised here that they will eventually form a united push, which will see a larger unified nation in the region. The Leonese have historically had a push for independence, based around their language grouping. However the history of Leon actually begins in the neighbouring Principality of Asturias. This region also has an independence movement currently active in it. Lastly the history of Asturias shows that it was founded with the help of Cantabrian lords and has a similar linguistic root. 

Therefore it seems likely that a unified front of the Cantabrian, Asturian and Leonese movements would be the most successful. This will leave the new Leonese nation with ample coastline as well, so it does not become a landlocked domain.  The Asturian region is currently known as the Principality of Asturias. This shows that Monarchist sentiment is still very strong in this region. Therefore it is hypothesised here that this particular region may remain a Monarchy. The current House of Bourbon, which currently rules over the whole of the Spanish part of the Iberian Peninsula, will thus still have a dominion. This should ease the tensions and help prevent a new outbreak of civil war in Spain, between the Monarchists and the Republicans. With many new Republics springing up across the region, in the aftermath of the EU’s collapse, this will be an important fail safe to consider in the system. 

This would leave a new Kingdom of Astur-Leon, based along the territorial claims of the three neighbouring independence movements, minus the parts that would go to greater Galicia. These include the Cantabrian Autonomous Community, currently part of Spain. The Oriente, Gijon, Nalon, Oviedo, Caudal, Aviles and Narcea Comarcas’, of the Asturias Autonomous Community, also currently in Spain, would form part of this nation as well. Added to this are the Valdes, Navia and Villayon municipalities, of the Eonavia Comarcas in the Asturias Autonomous Community. Also everything east of the river Navia, in the Boal, Illano and Grandas de Salime municiaplities, in Eonavia Comarcas, would be territories in the new country.

To the south would be added the Salamanca, Valladolid and Palencia provinces, of the Castile-Leon Autonomous Community also currently a part of Spain. The La Cabrera, La Montana de Luna, Astorga, La Banezar, La Montana de Riano, Tierras de Leon, El Paramo, Esla Campos and Sahagun Comarcas’, of the Leon province in the Castile-Leon Autonomous Community, will also form part of this nation. The Alfoz de Toro, Aliste, La Carballeda, La Guarena, Tabara, Tierra de Campos, Tierra de Alba, Sayago, Tierra del Vino, Tierra del Pan and Benavente Los Valles Comarcas’, of the neighbouring Zamora province of Castile-Leon Autonomous Community, will also be added. 

The final parts of the Castile-Leon region to be added will be the Asturianos, Cobreros, Galende, Palacios de Sanabria, Pedralba de la Pradería, Puebla de Sanabria, Requejo de Sanabria, Robleda-Cervantes, Rosinos de la Requejada, San Justo and Trefacio municipalities, of the Sanabria Comarcas in Zamora province. The regions of Leonese speakers in Portugal would also join this nation. This includes the Casstelo Rodrgio Municipality, in Guarda District currently in the Portuguese state. Half of the Almedia and Sabugal municipalities, which lie east of the Coa River in Guarda district, would also be a part of this country. Finally a small corner of the Villa Nova de Foz Coa municipality, east of the Coa River in Guarda district, would make up the final territory.

Lastly it is presumed here that no independent Extremaduran nation would exist. Although there are some who contemplate such a state, made out of the Extremadura Autonomous Community in Spain, the current economic situation in this region makes it unlikely such a state could exist as a landlocked entity. It is therefore hypothesised that Extremadura would split along linguistic lines and join neighbouring states with access to coastline. The northern parts of Extremadura have historic ties to the old Kingdom of Leon. So the final territory to join this new nation would be the Caceres Province, of the Extremadura Autonomous Community.

The flag of this new Kingdom is a creation of my own for this exercise. It is created by taking the Dixebriega flag, of the Leon republican movement, as its base. Although I am using the republican flag as the base, it is postulated that this region will be left a Monarchy, in order to ease tensions on the peninsula. With this flag as the start point I have then removed the Republican star of the original and replaced it with the Cantabrian Labarum. Finally in the canton of the flag is the current flag of the Principality of Asturias, with its Victory Cross on it. This amalgamated flag represents all three of the secession movements united in this Kingdom.

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Neo Westphalian Europe Part 24: Republic of Galicia

Galicia is the last of the Celtic republics that we will see restored in the new Europe. Galicia has some historic ties to neighbouring Portugal. Indeed it was speakers of the Galician language, who migrated south, which created the unique Portuguese language. Some have advocated for a reunification of the regions because of this shared heritage. However Portugal itself has had such a long history, of being a unique region in its own right, that I do not envision this happening. Indeed to date Portugal is the only region of the Iberian Peninsula that has managed to secure and maintain, for a long period of time, complete independence from the Spanish Monarchs.

There are however some areas that are of historical importance to Galicia, along the border between these two territories, which would make sense to return to a greater Galicia. There are also some Galician speaking regions in the neighbouring Spanish communities, which will likely decide to join a newly independent Galician republic.

This will leave a final Galician nation made up of the Galicia Autonomous Community currently a part of Spain. Also in Spain the El Bierzo Comarca, of the Castile-Leon Autonomous Community, is a Galician outpost separated from the neighbouring Spanish regions by its mountainous terrain. This leaves it as an addition to the independent Galicia. Also in the Castile-Leon Autonomous Community is a small strip of Galician speaking municipalities, along the border in Sanabria Comarcas, which are additions to a greater Galicia. These include the Porto de Sanabria, Pias, Hermisende and Lubian municipalities.

Finally for Spain in the Eonavia Comarcas, in the Asturias Autonomous Community, the river Navia acts as a boundary between a Galician speaking region and its neighbouring nation. This leaves the Taramundi, Santiso d’Abres, Veiga d’Eo, Castropol, Vilanova d’Ozcos, Santalla d’Ozcos, Samartin d’Ozcos, Tapia, El Franco, Pezos and Coana municipalities, of the Eonavia Comarcas, as a further addition to this nation. The Eonavian municipalities of Boal, Illano and Grandas de Salime are divided, with everything west of the river Navia belonging to Galicia.

Lastly, added to this new country will be the Viana do Castelo and Braga districts, currently a part of Portugal.

The flag of the Galician republic is the socialist Estreleira flag. Because many of the independence movements in Spain grew out of the conflict between fascist centralists and their socialist or anarchist opponents, many of the independence movements on the Iberian Peninsula are lead by left wing parties. This flag adopts the traditional Galician flag and adds a socialist star to it. The flag was adopted by the Communist UPG party in the 1960’s but has since widened in its use across the broader nationalist movement.

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Neo Westphalian Europe Part 23: Iberian Peninsula

The Iberian Peninsula is another region that is similar to the United Kingdom, with regards to its devolutionary process. It has a longer history of this process however. When the revolutionary waves of the 19^th Century swept the region there were numerous peasant movements, in various parts of the peninsula, which periodically threw off the yoke of the Monarchy. This is one of the reasons that Spain ended up as one of the great ideological heartlands of global Anarchism. 

This tension culminated in the Spanish Civil War on the eve of the Second World War. The Monarchists were able to win the day in that conflict and seized the region once again. In the late 1970’s the heavily centralised, Fascist version of this structure was eased, following the death of Franco.  A program of devolution once again began in this territory. 

This left a number of highly autonomous states under the unifying Crown of Spain. It seems that now these states will seek full independence, as the forces of decentralisation reach their peak. The Catalonian independence movement is the strongest one in the region currently. Indeed it is likely the Catalonians successful declaration of independence that will set off the other secessions in this region.

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