Muntab
Muntab | |
Established | |
Motto | |
Neighbours | Brindisi, Klatchistan, Ghat, Tezuman Empire |
Geographical Features | |
Population | hungry |
Size | large |
Capital | Ghat |
Type of government | Theocracy, ruled by the Pash |
Notable Citizens | |
Imports | nearby territories |
Exports | tea, spices, vul nuts, poisons |
National Anthem | |
Books | Thief of Time, The Compleat Discworld Atlas |
The Theocracy of Muntab is a remote country on the continent of Klatch which is neither geographically nor economically situated to cause any great effect in the world at large. Nevertheless, the Muntab Question continues to worry the political élite across the rest of the main continent. In recent years, the Question has become more serious as Muntab has assumed control of the surrounding areas of H'rull, Khanli, Vanglemesh, Rehigreed, Farferee and the Orohai peninsula. These territories together make the largest land area on the rimward continent, and rival Überwald in size. If the region had any non-agrarian industry it might be a threat to the Circle Sea nations.
In the distant past Muntab was conquered by Carelinus as the farthest part of his empire. The greatest conqueror in the history of the world, Carelinus' empire spanned the Disc with the exception of the Counterweight Continent and XXXX. It is said that when he reached the shore of Muntab, "Carelinus wept, for there were no more worlds to conquer".
Very little is known about the secluded society, despite some recent research for The Compleat Discworld Atlas. The capital is Ghat in Khanli province; the ruler is the Pash (one of the adventures of Lu-Tze, the History Monk, involved making sure one of them choked on a fishbone.) Muntab was one of the nations to send representatives to the coronation of the Low King, to compete with Genua, Klatch and Ankh-Morpork for the favour of the king. It is has entered the language as the far-off, poverty-stricken place where "children would be glad to have"...whatever. Among other disincentives to tourism in Muntab is the fact that their calendar counts down. It's probably not wise to be around to find out why. As a hint, The Compleat Discworld Atlas notes that Muntab may be the origin point of reannual plants. The Muntab calendar may have originated among reannual growers for their convenience. After all, agriculture works according to the needs of the plants it grows and the agricultural calendar is dictated by the seasons and the growing cycle.
In The Compleat Discworld Atlas Muntab is known as 'The Muntab Provinces' collectively with the provinces that it has influence over:
Annotation
The "Muntab Question" is reminiscent of the Schleswig-Holstein Question[1], a complex series of political disputes in the 19th century between Denmark and Germany about their respectively southern and northern most duchies. As the other Wiki states: The British statesman Lord Palmerston is reported to have said: "Only three people have ever really understood the Schleswig-Holstein business—the Prince Consort, who is dead—a German professor, who has gone mad—and I, who have forgotten all about it."
There is no record of a Pash being a priest or ruler (or both) but it was the nickname of Avtar Singh Sandhu, an Indian poet.
The word Pasha was one form of a title of high rank in the Ottoman empire.
Hong Kong's martial arts filmstar Jackie Chan had a series of animated adventures in which he starred. In one episode he discovers, in deep jungle, the Hidden Kingdom of the Muntabs.
The Urban Dictionary also has a lovely interpretation of the acronym MUNTAB