Boschland

Boschland
Republic of Boschland
Boschlandt
Location of Boschland
Capital	Voorhaven
Largest City	Sint Jozef-Carmen
Government Type	Parliamentary republic
Languages	Amerikaens (official) Spanish (official) Boschaens (lingua franca) Genoese Others

Boschland, also spelled Botsland and officially the Republic of Boschland (Amerikaens: Republiek van Boschlandt, Spanish: República de Botslandia), is a Batavian country in Central America. The isthmus nation is sandwiched by the Latin superpowers of Mexico to the north and Colombia to the south. Modern Boschland was formed as a result of Voortrekker expeditions and Amerikaener settlement in Costa Rica.

Etymology

The name Boschlandt means 'forested land' in Amerikaens, coming from the word bosch (forest) and landt (land). Bosch is often corrupted to bots in Spanish and English.

Costa Rica is still used in literary and geographical contexts. A poetic name for the country is Nicoja, coming from the Nahuatl term necoc yáotl (lit. with enemies on both sides).

History

Premodern history

Prior to the arrival of the Spanish Empire, Boschland was home to indigenous Hootar states such as Packaka and the elective monarchy of Nicoja. These states were conquered by the Spaniards in the 1520s, and were eventually incorporated into the colonial administrative division called the Kingdom of Guatemala. This led to the formation of a mixed-race Spanish-speaking society in the region.

The Redemptionists (1803-1815)

In 1803, a Venerationist priest, Pastor Jeb Teuling, claimed to receive a vision from God to fathom a New Zion far from the excesses and sin of modern New Netherland society. He began to preach a version of Christianity that dramatically broke from mainstream Protestant tradition, In 1805 he founded the Church of Christ the Redeemer, which faced intense repression from the state. In 1814, Teuling claimed to receive another direct vision from God that he and his followers should leave New Netherland. After sending out dozens of scouts, the Church decided to establish themselves in Costa Rica.

Voortrekker period (1815-1865)

During the period of Voortrekker settlement in western North-America, a series of Amerikaner colonies were founded in Costa Rica, both legally and illegally. Four waves of settlement from New Netherland and other Amerikaener states occurred, mostly spurred by religious persecution and economic hardship. These settlers founded the future captial of Voorhaven in 1818.

Oprichting (1865-1871)

Over the next few decades, more Amerikaeners emigrated to Costa Rica under the protection of the Redemptionist movement. After Colombian independence, the King of Spain separated Boschland from New Spain at the behest of local settlers in 1871, creating the royal Kingdom of Costa Rica.

Government and Politics

Administrative divisions

Boschland contains 19 provinces, each with limited administrative autonomy. These are;

• Meerzijde, San Jose, Los Volcanes, Coronado, Huevelland, De Heiligen, Voorhaven, Niew Wiltwyck, Spaanse Vallei, Nicoja, Barqueta, Leiden, Niew Oudelandt, Rivas, Stierenmond, Zuid Chiriqui, Chiriqui, Puntarenas, Noorden Boschland

Demographics

Ethnicity

Batavian Boschlanders

In the 19th century, around 100,000 Amerikaeners emigrated to Boschland and now make up around a fourth of the population. They almost exclusively adhere to the Church of Christ the Redeemer. Most Batavian Boschlanders speak Amerikaens and Boschaens, with a significant minority understanding Spanish.

Mestizos and mulattoes

Mestizo Boschlanders make up the majority and are of predominately Iberian, Dutch, and indigenous origin. 1 in 20 Boschlanders are mulattoes, who are descendants of freed African slaves who married white and mestizo settlers. Most speak Spanish, Boschaens, and are Roman Catholics.

Indigenous peoples

Making up one percent of the country, the most prominent indigenous ethnicities are the Hootar of the north, the Djoroteck of Nicoja, and the Bri-bri of the southern Talamanca region. Indigenous languages and Spanish prevail in their communities.

Immigrants from Asia and Europe

Thousands of Cantonese-speaking Chinese immigrants began arriving in Costa Rica after the Canton War, looking for work. With the construction of the Panama Canal shortly after, the Chinese population reached its peak of 10,000 in 1890. A migration wave from Soenda spanned the 1920s and 1930s. Mainly consisting of Javanese and Minhasa people, 1 in 7 Boschlanders have some form of Southeast Asian heritage.

Similarly, many Genoese and Tuscan businessmen and workers settled in the country. Counting 31,000 people (including descendants) by 1922, they are collectively known as the Italliaenvollk.

Language

Boschaens Creole

Also known as Boschlander Creole, it developed as a vernacular language between Spanish and Amerikaner speakers in the 19th century. It formed into a proper Spanish-based Dutch creole language by 1900. It is spoken by the majority of the Boschlander population as a lingua franca.

Religion

Redemptionism

At the turn of the 19th century the Amerikaener religious revival movement kicked off amongst religiously disillusioned Amerikaeners. Amerikaeners started to resent the Reformed Church that pandered to plutocrats and dynasts. Thousands began to gather in rural revivalist meetings, slowly forming a new religious movement. These beliefs eventually started to consolidate into new churches and faith-based associations. One of the earliest of these churches were the Venerationists, a sect which believed in a Christocentric form of Christianity popular amongst the Boertrekkers.

See also

• Jeb Teuling
• Church of Christ the Redeemer