Silver Imperial Utopia
| Silver Imperial Utopia | |
|---|---|
| Avaris | |
| |
| Flag of Silver Imperial Utopia | |
| Motto: "Pro patria mori!" | |
| ("Die for the fatherland!") | |
| Capital | Hazelwood City |
| Alliances | GNSP LOPN Observer State |
| Official languages | Utopian |
| Recognized languages | Xaviet Ridnezite |
| Demonym(s) | Utopian |
| Government | Constitutional Monarchy |
| Regent | Olivia Reading |
| Legislature | Utopian Senate |
| Population | 500,000,000 (estimated) |
| Currency | Utopian Aureus |
| Driving side | Right |
| Open on NationStates | |
Silver Imperial Utopia (SIU), officially the Regent Republic of Silver Imperial Utopia is a country in Western Noskyavia, on Avaris, controlling the vast majority of the Utopian sub-continent. It's government officially claims rightful ownership over the entire Utopia sub-continent, as it believes itself to be a direct continuation of the Golden Impirial Utopia (GIU) state. SIU shares a long land border with Vytezhevia to it's west, Xiaojin to it's south, Roskaya to it's south-east, Xaviet to it's north-east, and NEI Artkos to it's north-west. SIU is considered an unofficial member of the NTUP as well as an observer-member of the League of Prosperous Nations. SIU's capital and largest city is Hazelwood City; other major cities include Sortio, Trasnia, Oester, New Lanistar and Levarnt.
The history of Utopia goes back to various Utopian peoples. With the spread of Axonity, Levarnt became the seat of the Veridite Church. Numerous attempts were made to unify Utopia throughout the ages, none successful until the arrival of the Hazelwoods on the southern shore, conquering and subjugating city states with the aid of hired mercenaries, adventurers and native collaborators.
Etymology
Silver Imperial Utopia derives each of the three components in its name from three different sources. The "Silver" comes from the Silver Initiative, a contingency plan created by Andrew III Hazelwood of in the days after its GIU's mass migration from their holdings on Avaris. The GIU government created the Silver Initiative as a plan in case the Utopian Isolation experiment failed, which it eventually did. As part of the Silver Initiative, large parts of the government and elite of GIU migrated back to Avaris and took over civilian administration of the Utopia region under Xaviet military occupation. The Utopian Government continues to maintain close diplomatic and military ties to the Xaviet Empire.
The "Imperial" comes from the nation's monarchist roots as an established empire unifying the Utopian sub-continent. "Utopia" is derived from the ancient idea that the region can become a perfect place. Rooted in ancient pantheistic folklore but eventually adopted by Axonite theologians and later philosophers, the people of Utopia have long held the belief that the unified nation of all Utopian peoples would be, a Utopia, lending to the name for the region. Utopian as a descriptor for the population only came into fashion after the unification under the Hazelwoods.
History
Main article: History of Silver Imperial Utopia
Prehistoric Utopia
The earliest archaeological evidence of human presence in the Utopia subcontinent dates back to around 15000 BRE. Cave paintings believed to have been left by nomadic tribes of proto-Utopian people in the Northern Mountain range have been found at multiple locations corresponding to that rough period of time. The earliest settlements can be dated to 13000 BRE, in South-eastern Utopia, established by nomadic tribes from the North who migrated south during a small ice age. These tribes settled in the vast fertile plains of what is today known as "the breadbasket of Utopia", establishing agricultural and pastoral settlements.
Civilisation extended to the rest of the Utopian subcontinent from these original southern settlements, with three distinct cultural groups forming overtime. Southern Utopians had the most contact with foreign cultures through trade with the ancient peoples of modern day Mayakava, Tien-Chi, Xaviet and Roskaya, as well as some lighter and more sporadic contact further afield. Influences from Tien-Chi philosophies particularly shaped Southern Utopian concepts of government and administration. Northern Utopians were more isolated than their southern kin, eventually diverging completely culturally and linguistically. Eastern Utopians assimilated migrant tribes from modern day Xaviet and even some from beyond as warfare and invasions pushed them west into Utopia. Consequently Eastern Utopians have more in common ethnically, linguistically and especially culturally with ancient Xaviets. This is less true today, as the cultures did continue to diverge overtime.
Ancient Utopia
Written records in Utopia begin with the Mistrian people of south-western Utopia. Adopting a writing system from Tien-Chi, the Mistrians quickly abandoned the overly complicated symbols in favour of an alphabet system, which spread with only minor variation across Utopia in the centuries that follow. At this stage, roughly 1900 BRE, Utopia was dotted by small tribes that began forming larger settlements and coalitions of settlements.
The first major civilisation in Utopian history is the Three-Crowns Kingdom, forming in northern Utopia out of three mountain tribes, the Toritians, Sorinians and Trasinians. The Three-Crowns Kingdom, founded around 1800 BRE, was the dominant military power of the time. It was ruled by a co-monarchy of three kings. When one king died, the remaining two engaged in a duel over the right to decide on the replacement. The three kings each ruled from a different city. The Three-Crowns Kingdom was notable for the construction of large pyramid structures and stone cities within the far reaches of mountains. Each of the three kings commanded a separate army in times of war. As the Three-Crowns Kingdom expanded, additional armies under the command of appointed generals arose.
By 1700 BRE the Three-Crowns Kingdom had subjugated most of the Northern Utopian tribes, with the notable exception of the Urtkans in the most inhospitable northern reaches. The Three-Crowns Kingdom then embarked on a campaign of conquest against tribes in eastern and southern Utopia, peaking in size in 1350 BRE. In 1350 BRE, the Xutiet and Sut tribes united into the Xut kingdom under a charismatic and competent monarch. 1300 BRE saw a minor military defeat for the Three-Crowns Kingdom at the hands of the Magistrans, as well as the Xut consolidating the last "free" Eastern Utopians under their banner. By 1250 BRE the Xut had made gains against both the Three-Crown Kingdom and the Magistrans. In 1200 BRE the Xut gathered three mighty armies, and marched them against each of the three kings of the Three-Crown Kingdom. The Three-Crown Kingdom, suffering from internal instability, infighting, rogue administrators and slave revolts; was unable to send more armies to reinforce their kings. Records indicate that each king nonetheless commanded imposing hosts of veteran soldiers. Xut records, which may be exaggerating, claimed that each king commanded fifty-thousand soldier. This seems unlikely, especially with the knowledge that the Three-Crowns Kingdom operated more armies than just those three.
In summer of summer of 1200 BRE the three assembled Xut armies met their Three-Crown Kingdom opponents in battle, and decidedly defeated them, chasing the routing armies deep into the mountains. The deaths of two of the three kings in battle spelled the end of the Three-Crowns Kingdom. This is the first recorded instance of more than one king dying at once, and the only instance, as by 1150 BRE the Three-Crowns Kingdom was officially dissolved. In it's place the Xut High Kingdom was declared. The former heartlands of the Three-Crown Kingdom were converted into the Tortian, Sortian, and Trasnian tributary kingdoms. The last loyalists of the Three-Crowns Kingdom had fled west to found Soritian under the surviving king.
A large part of the Xut success is attributed to their innovative phalanx formations, packing pike-wielding soldiers into tight and disciplines blocks. the Xut were not the first to use phalanx formations, but they did innovate on it by doubling the length of the pikes. This proved highly effective against the bronze-armoured infantry of the Three-Crowns Kingdom.
Magistran Period
While Magistran history extends to the founding of the city in 1800 BRE, the Magistrans only really become a dominant power in 1050 BRE. The Xut High Kingdom was in decline, decadence in the upper class had weakened leadership, with the formerly tributary kingdoms of the north having ceased paying tribute altogether. The Magistran Republic, established 100 years prior with the overthrowing of their monarchy, was building up military, and began campaigns against their northern neighbours and the southern Trade League. By 900 BRE most of the northern states were subjugated, and the Trade League's land had been greatly diminished. 800 BRE saw major gains against the Xut, which continued until 150 BRE, where, finally, after over half a century of fighting, the Xut High Kingdom was ended for good. The Magistran Maniple is often credited historically for the defeat of the Xut, as the more manoeuvrable Magistran armies had no problems flanking the Xut in combat. Modern historians argue that this played less of a role, and that the victory was more due to internal problems in the Xut High Kingdom. The Magistran Republic shifted to an Empire as a monarchy was re-established. These borders would persist until the year 99 RE when the Magistran Empire would be ravaged by civil war.
The Magistran civil war would never officially end, though the last loyalists of the Magistran Senate were defeated in 400 RE, and many historians consider that the end point of the conflict. Others argue the Magistran Empire ceased to exist as an entity in 150 RE, when two of the claimants formed their own kingdoms. Others still pin the date at 230 RE with the sack of Magistra by the Urtkans. In any case, the Magistran civil war started officially started in 100 RE, but the events that led to it began a century earlier. In 0 RE a coup plot by over fifty members of the Magistran Senate took place, intended to reinstate the Magistran Republic. The plot was foiled however, as the emperor saw a comet in the sky and took it as a sign that he was in danger, becoming paranoid and heading to a military base where his loyal army was instead of a planned dinner event at his private estate. The dinner was a trap, and the Emperor's entire family were captured there by the plotters and cooperators. The senators however, seeing the same comet in the sky, took it as a sign that they were in danger, and in a panicked and confused series of events, ended up killing the hostages. The senators, knowing they faced execution if captured, fled to all corners of the Magistran Empire. Eventually all were caught and killed, but the emperor died with no heirs. And worse, no clear claimants. Dozens of claimants rose across the empire, many had seen the writing on the wall and been preparing. By 100 RE only four claimants still had armies to their names, as well as the Senate, who had attempted to transition back to a Republic with the death of the emperor.
The weakest of the five major factions of the civil war was the Magistran Senate, attempting to bring the Republic back. This is widely considered to be the weakest faction of the civil war by far, only making gains when their enemies were distracted with other foes and folding instantly under any focused pressure from the claimants. Systemic issues enabling and encouraging generals to buy loyalty from their soldiers are blamed for why the Magistran Senate could not muster as many men under their banner.
The smallest faction, in terms of territory, was Rogierum. Rogierum, founded by Rogier, was unique, in that it did not lay claim to the Magistran Empire, instead attempting to secede from it. Rogierum made almost no territorial gains during the civil war, instead spending most of the time slowly receding as other powers fought each other. Rogierum lasted until 230 RE where it agreed to merge into Saturnium.
The largest faction, both military and territory wise, was Deumonius' Legions. Deumonius was the nephew of the late emperor, popular and considered widely to be a competent general. He fought for his claim to the Magistran Empire until 130 RE when he died, splitting his legions loyalty between his two sons. Had Deumonius not died, it is possible he could have won the civil war.
Lauronius was another nephew of the emperor, but rather than a general he was a politician. He bought the loyalty of various Magistran generals, and with them, their legions. Lauronius was expecting to hold the entire northern half of the empire at the start of the civil war, and simply advance south towards Magistra, crushing rivals and crowning himself triumphantly in the capital. Instead, some of the legions under him rebelled against their generals to side with Saturnius, who they had previously served under.
The last claimant, Saturnius, was a seasoned and charismatic general with only a thin claim to the Magistran Empire. The Senate had assigned him to guard the Urtkan border with no legions, only a garrison, as a result of political infighting. As the civil war broke, Saturnius simply rode south, encountering legions he had previously commanded, and persuading them to his side, giving him a small contingent of veteran soldiers, and splitting Lauronius' territory in two. Additionally, one distant legion stationed in the east declared for Saturnius, but they were quickly defeated by the Magistran Senate loyalists.
In 135 RE Deumonius died, and his legions split loyalties in two between his sons Deremius and Terius. Additionally, a peasant revolt had broken out in the chaos and formed an independent republic known as the City Alliance, where instead of a senate, city councils ruled the nation in a unique system that is poorly documented.
In 141 RE Terius swore fealty to the now elderly Saturnius. In 143 the Magistran Senate conquered the City Alliance. By 150 RE, Saturnius and his now bolstered legions had defeated Deremius in battle. In 155 Saturnius, fearing his death would split his legions again, formed a new nation, Saturnium, as a monarchy. Shortly after, Lauronius would follow suit. Fighting between the newly established nations and the Senate loyalists would continue until 200 RE with the Urtkan inasion.
In 230 RE the Urtkans would reach, and sack, Magistra, before being beaten back by Saturnium and Lauronium.
Medieval Utopia
The medieval period of Utopian history runs from the 6th century RE to the 16th century RE; beginning with the splintering of Saturnium and Lauronium into smaller kingdoms along feudal lines after the dissolution of their monarchies.
The ancient tribe of Urtkan would finally meet their end 550 RE at the hands of militant orders from Norest, known at the time as "the kingdom without kings". Knights were the highest tier of lord, and could elevate new knights themselves. Norest's armies consisted of each knight levying their own troops and then marching them into battle side by side at roughly the same enemy. This strategy proved ineffective against contemporaries, but the Urtkans proved no match for the technologically superior Norest. Norest possessed more advanced metallurgy and fielded heavy cavalry; their Urtkan opponents were little more than scattered tribesmen militias, never really having recovered from prior conflicts with Laronius. Historians also credit widespread emigration of Urtkan men south to become bodyguards and champions for nobles as a contributing factor to the lack of skilled manpower to defend the Urtkans against Norest.
The city of Magistra attempted an experiment in what is considered one of the earliest well documented representative democracies; called "the Senate of the People". It lost territory to its neighbours and by 600 RE was reduced to just an island. In 689 RE a similar state popped up in central southern Utopia, the Free League but by 750 RE it too had been carved up by neighbours.
The 9th century RE contains one of the most monumental events in Utopian history, the arrival of Axonity. In 850 RE, Norest officially formed the "Covenant of Axon's Veridite Blades", often referred to by historians and contemporaries alike as "Veridite Crusaders". The crusader state became more militant and belligerent, invading it's southern neighbour, Trasnia in 900 RE.
At the height of the Utopian medieval period, in 1000 RE, Dorian, Sortio and Tortio formed the Northern League, a complex collection of loosely aligned feudal states. By 1050 RE the Northern League had assimilated the Covenant of Axon's Veridite Blades and become the Holy League, which would go on to be the dominant political entity in medieval Utopia until the 13th century RE when it fractured.
The 1400 RE fracture of the Holy League resulted in the formation of the Veridite Inquisition, which now led the Covenant of Axon's Veridite Blades, and answered nominally to the Veridite State, at the time located on the island formerly held by the Senate of the People. The Veridite Inquisition began to decline in the 16th century RE, and by 1600 RE no longer controlled any significant amounts of land.
Democratic Period
The 17th century RE saw the democratic nations of West-Federation and North-Federation form, as well as the continued shattering of southern Utopia into more and more city states. The twin democracies would be bitter rivals, constantly skirmishing with small border changes but no significant conflicts. Most infamously the town of Verist changed hands between the two powers dozens of times. Sometimes multiple times within the same year.
In eastern Utopia the Republic of Sterian formed, named after its founder. The Republic of Sterian would see initial territorial losses before recovering and even extending past its original borders. The Republic of Sterian tied the franchise to land ownership, entrenching the military-aristocratic class as the political elite. Life in the Republic of Sterian was nonetheless of a relatively high quality.
Bucking the trend, Restise remained a kingdom during this period, later being romanticised by writers and poets as a continuation of the chivalrous medieval age into the modern era. In reality Restise was technologically behind, lacked an industrial base, was shackle by continued use of feudalism and suffered from extensive corruption; with the country's ruling caste often being described as hedonistic and out of touch.
On the southern coast, the city-states of Metrolis, Sorent, Tirs, Col, Niel, Tvr, Torast, and Sevins; engaged in overseas trade, importing a lot of money. Collectively called "the slaver coast", also, as the nickname suggested, engaged in slave trading.
GIU Era
Main article: Golden Impirial Utopia
SIU Era
Geography
Silver Imperial Utopia, who's territory largely coincides with the Utopian sub-continent, is located in western Noskyavia. SIU shares a long land border with Vytezhevia to it's west, Xiaojin to it's south, Roskaya to it's south-east, Xaviet to it's north-east, and NEI Artkos to it's north-west.
