Syldavia

Syldavia is a fictional Balkan country in the adventures of Tintin. It probably occupies what is currently the western half of Slovenia.

Syldavia is a monarchy, ruled at the time of the King Ottokar's Sceptre story by Muskar XII. The capital is Klow, formerly Zileheroum, at the confluence of the Moltus and Wladir Rivers. Other cities are Niedzdrow, Istow, Dbrnouk, and Zlip. The population of Syldavia is 642,000 with 122,000 living in Klow. The country's flag is similar to that of Albania.

The country's national airline is Syldair.

Syldavia is also called The Realm of the Black Pelican. (It has also been described as "Belgium disguised as a Slavic country"). Syldavians seem to be fond of mineral water, which does not go down well with the whisky-drinking Captain Haddock, one of Tintin's travelling companions.

The origin of the people of Syldavia is obscure. The modern Syldavia was formed in 1127 when a tribal chief Hveghi drove away Turkish conquerors and took the name Muskar. Borduria conquered the country 1195 until Ottokar I drove them away in 1275. King Ottokar IV decreed that the ruler of Syldavia must have hold on the sceptre of power or he loses his authority. This custom had a power of law as late as 1939.

1939 Syldavia had a border incursion with its neighbor Borduria when a plot tried to oust king Muskar XII. The situation was very similar that of Anschluss in Austria in 1938 (though the conclusion was not the same). Tintin had a hand in defusing the situation.

In the 1950s Syldavia also had a secret but successful space program in the area of Sbrojd.

Tintin stories with Syldavia:

• Le Sceptre d’Ottokar (King Ottokar's Sceptre, 1939)
• Objectic Lune (Destination Moon, 1953)
• On a Marche sur la Lune (Explorers on the Moon, 1954, for earth scenes only)
• L'Affaire Tournesol (The Calculus Affair, 1956)

See also Fictional European countries

External links

• On the Syldavian language

Referenced By