Borogravia

Borogravia
Established	n/a
Motto
Neighbours	Überwald, Zlobenia, Mouldavia
Geographical Features	River Kneck, beet farms
Population	limited by wars
Size	medium-large
Capital	Prince Marmaduke Piotre Albert-Hans Joseph Bernhardt Wilhelmsberg
Type of government	Monarchy, current ruler: "The Dutchess" de facto ruler: General Froc
Notable Citizens	Polly Perks, Sergeant Jackrum, The Minstrel
Imports	War
Exports	War
National Anthem	Borogravian National Anthem
Books	Monstrous Regiment

Borogravia is a small, backward country, engaged in near-constant war with its neighbours, especially recently with Zlobenia. Formerly part of the Dark Empire, it is located next to Uberwald. It was first (and last) seen in the book Monstrous Regiment, though it has been mentioned as far back as The Colour of Magic.

It is (theoretically) ruled by a monarch known as "The Duchess", who is worshipped almost as a god. The country's main deity is Nuggan, whose propensity for declaring almost everything an "Abomination" has driven the small country to poverty and starvation.

For instance, Nuggan declared chocolate to be an Abomination. This is despite the fact that Borogravia was, and in some quarters still is, regarded across the Disc as a centre of chocolate-making excellence. This may explain why Wienrich and Boettcher ended up in Ankh-Morpork - as refugees from Nugganitic persecution, much to Borogravia's detriment and Susan Sto Helit's advantage. If fact between the numerous abominations and constant war much of the population are now left with little to eat but Horse Bread.

All this, however, seems set to change, following the events of Monstrous Regiment and the interference of Ankh-Morpork.

In Monstrous Regiment we learn that Borogravia has been the aggressor in many wars with the neighbouring countries and the military seems to control the country in The Duchess's name.

Its National Anthem is a particularly aggressive and warlike anthem.

The language spoken is Borogravian, though The Colour of Magic mentions a language called "High Borogravian", which may indicate a second language. And everyone seems to understand Morporkian just fine, c.f. the fragment of the Times that Polly finds.

Annotations

The name itself seems to be derived from "Borogove", a nonsense word invented by Lewis Carroll that appeared in the poem Jabberwocky, but it resembles also Burgenland, the easternmost province of Austria, bordering (among other countries) Slovenia (see Zlobenia); the particle -gravia (replacing the -land) resembles the Latinized form of German Grafschaft, meaning a territory ruled by a Graf, i.e. Count or Earl. The name could also be a reference to Borgravia, an Austria analogue which appeared in the 1972 science-fiction novel The Iron Dream. It might also be a reference to Belgravia, a district of central London, more or less owned by the Duke of Westminster.

The country appears to have been influenced by a number of nations on Roundworld. Most obviously, its wars with its neighbours suggest a Balkans or middle-eastern nation. This impression is enforced by the names of some of its neighbours, Zlobenia (cf. Slovenia), and Mouldavia (cf. Moldova, formerly Moldavia). The constant creation of Abominations could mean many things. Afghanistan under the Taliban, Early fundamentalist Iran and perhaps even Cromwellian England in the 1600's. The army resembles the British army of the late 18th/early 19th centuries in its dress (although Swiss mercenaries in French service wore a very similar uniform).