Ripuaria

Ripuaria (/ri:ˌpʊˈɛri:ɑ:/), officially the Grand Duchy of Ripuaria, is a landlocked country in Western Vestea. It is bordered by Lindenholt to the north and Umbrellya to the south. Its capital, Ripuaria City is the official capital of the Vestean Union. The Ripuarian cultures and people are highly intertwined with its neighbours and is considered a mixture between Lindian and Umbrellyian cultures.

With an area of 5,441.5 square kilometres (2,101.0 sq mi) it is the smallest sovereign nation on Vestea. In 2020, Ripuaria had a population of which made it one of the smallest country on the continent. Although it is minuscule in size, Ripuaria is one of the essential building stones of the Vestean Union and has much influence over the affairs of Vestea.

As a Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy, it is headed by Henri III von Ripuaria and is the world's only sovereign Grand Duchy. Ripuaria is a highly developed country with one of the highest GDP per capita in the world.

Ripuaria is a founding member of the Vestean Union. The city of Ripuaria City is the seat of several Vestean Union Institutes.

Etymology
Ripuaria is derived from Latin Ripuarii meaning "River People". The exact instances by which the word was introduced in Latin is still debatable and no clear answer is present.

The original Latin word, if using proper form would be Riparii. It is suggested by some linguists that a probably cause for the shift to Ripuarii occurred when the Latin word was introduced to a native language spoken at the time in the region.

Politics
Ripuaria is described as a parliamentary democracy headed by a constitutional monarchy. Executive powers are exercised by the Grand Duke and the Governmental Cabinet, consisting of the Prime Minister and several junior ministers which are appointed from the Chamber of Deputies.

Legislative power is vested in the Chamber of Deputies, a unicameral legislature of sixty representatives called deputies who are elected by their respective district's citizens to five-year terms.

Ripuaria has six district tribunals, twenty-two communal tribunals, and a superior court of justice. In addition there is a constitutional court and a administrative court both located in the capital

Administrative Divisions
Ripuaria is divided into six districts which are further divided into a total of twenty-two communes. Ripuaria-City commune holds a special capital-state status.

Geography
Ripuaria is the smallest country on Vestea. It is about 5,441 square kilometres(2,101.0 sq mi).

Ripuaria is located on a region considered a Oceanic climate, with no dry season and warm summers.