Lariana

The Kingdom of Talionia is a kingdom in Sarpedon under a with Urcea. A densely populated country, Talionia has often been described as a cultural crossroads between Levantia and Sarpedon, but also between the social heritages of both Istroya and Adonerum given its proximity to the center of these continents and civilizations. Talionia's history as a semi-independent entity began in 1782 following the conclusion of the Veltorine Independence War with Caphiria, when it was given to Urcea as compensation for its participation on the side of Veltorina. Since that period, the Kingdom has seen intermittent waves of migration, including Levantine settlers but also various outcasts and refugees from Caphiria, especially Levantine Catholics fleeing Caphiria due to the schism and formation of Imperial Catholicism approximately a century earlier. During the Occidental Cold War and large-scale presence of the Urcean military, Talionia developed a thriving service economy surrounding the bases and urban centers of the Kingdom. During the Occidental Cold War, in addition to the military, Talionia housed the Veltorine government-in-exile from 1953 to 2034 and was home to a large community of Veltorine emigres. Since the end of the Cold War, the economy has been undergoing rapid changes and partial decline as part of the gradual ending of hostilities between Urcea and Caphiria. As Talionia has been totally demilitarized as of the Assumption Accords, the economy has shifted more towards global trade by the merit of Talionia's geographic position. As part of the Accords, free trade with eastern Caphiria has begun which has strengthened the changing economy.

Etymology
The original Sarpic term for the region was "Tor Hayn", a term of undetermined meaning, though some scholars have posited that it meant something resembling "trade lands" due to its proximity to the cores of the ancient Istroyan and Adonerii civilizations. The area had very little Latinic settlement following its conquest by Caphiria and the native terminology continued until bands of raiders and adventurers from the Oduniyyad Caliphate conquered the region, when linguistic corruption took place. Following the Caphirian reconquest a few decades later, the area became known as "Talionum". Following the Urcean conquest, the name of the Kingdom became "Talionia", after the common Aenglish naming convention.

From the 19th century to the period immediately preceding the Great War, the Kingdom of Talionia was referred to as "the Kingdom beyond the Sea" in some official and colloquial senses in Urcea.

Early History
Much of what consists of modern day Talionia was sparsely populated tribal and, later, agricultural lands inhabited by communities of native Sarpics, with a few major Istroyan and Adonerii cities established in Antiquity. Consequently, most of the local Sarpic tribes fell under Latinic influence and began to speak the Latinic language. Caphiria conquered the region during its Republic period, though during the initial period of Caphirian control most local customs were respected and the area operated with considerable autonomy. Within the context of Caphirian control, the Latin-speaking city of Malavia began to exert a major influence over the local tribes and other cities in the third century and became a major center of trade for the next several centuries, and as a consequence the city spawned a major cultural exchange that resulted in a divergent and unique culture growing in Talionia, mixing Levantine, Sarpedonian, Istroyan, and Adonerii influences into a unique Latinic subculture.

The first period of Caphirian rule came to an end with the arrival of the Oduniyyad Caliphate in the 7th Century. While the Caliphate did not directly threaten Caphiria in the north, groups of adventurers from Oduniyyad-controlled southern Sarpedon came north and conquered the largely autonomous region in 690 AD. In the process, Malavia was sacked and largely destroyed as trade into the area ground to a halt. Caphirian forces finally overcame the invaders in 763 AD and reestablished control, albeit more directly as was the case elsewhere during Caphiria's Principate period. In the reorganized province of Talioniaum, the Caphirians established the city of New Malavia not far from the ruins of the old city, and trade resumed into the region, bringing goods from Audonia and Levantia into Sarpedon. Far overshadowed by the power of Venceia, New Malavia nonetheless managed to prosper during this period, and many traders going to Venceia would make a stop at New Malavia.

Early Modern and Industrial Era
Talioniaum, a culturally divergent part of Caphiria, remained firmly in Venceia's hold until the middle of the 18th century, when it joined the other eastern provinces in the Veltorine War of Independence. New Malavia was sacked by Caphirian forces in 1779 and the province was largely pacified, but the Urcean intervention in 1782 overcame Caphirian defenders in Talioniaum. As trade and aid filtered through Talioniaum's ports to the rebelling forces, and as the Royal and Imperial Army advanced in from the coast, the Veltorine rebels were gaining an upper hand and ultimately secured their independence. Largely occupied by Levantine troops and controlled by Levantine merchants during the occupation, Talioniaum was ceded to Urcea as compensation for their intervention. Controversially, it was not joined to the Holy Levantine Empire, but rather kept as a separate Kingdom in personal union with the Urcean Crown, a move which alienated the Collegial Electorate. Acquisition of the renamed-Talionia was a key part of Urcea's strategy to secure overall control of the Sea of Canete, and the so-called Canetian Cessions started the phenomenon of Levantine Creep among Caphirian intellectuals.

Talionia initially operated with some autonomous function. Local Veltorine nobility and several military commands of the Armed Forces of the Apostolic Kingdom of Urcea comprised the government of the Kingdom, though communal and county-based governance was viewed as the norm. As the 19th century continued, reforms to the Urcean government brought its periphery vassals into a tighter orbit of Urceopolis. In order to placate local concerns with the tightening grip, Aedanicus VIII issued a Constitution for Talionia in 1870, which remains in force. During the Regency, Talionia did not recognize the Regency of Gréagóir FitzRex and intended to remain neutral. Several local groups attempted to agitate for independence from Urcea, but with the beginning of the Red Interregnum, the Government declared its loyalty to the Legitimist faction. Many historians have noted that the support of Caphiria for the Regency was view that FitzRex intended to cede Talionia to Caphiria as a prize for its support as a first step towards the latter's reconquest of Veltorina. Consequently, local groups decided remaining with House de Weluta was the better option to remain separate from Caphiria.

Great War and Today
During the Great War, Talionia saw increased attention as the Levantia and Odoneru Treaty Association (LOTA) began to stage forces for assaults on Caphiria within the Kingdom. Talionia was the critical artery of support flowing from Levantia to Veltorina. Despite successes by Caphiria, the Royal and Imperial Army derived pride that the Imperial Legion never once managed to step foot in Talionia owing to the ferocity of defense the Royal and Imperial Army put up in the war in Veltorina. These ad-hoc military bases were later rebuilt for permanent LOTA use during the Occidental Cold War, as the military and military families from Levantia and Cartadania became an important part of life in Talionia, and a cornerstone of the economy. Talionia's importance rose dramatically as Caphiria annexed Veltorina, creating yet another land border As bases began to dot the countryside, agricultural developments gave way to a service-based economy aimed at accomodating the millions of soldiers stationed in Talionia throughout the Cold War.

Upon the signing of the Assumption Accords, demilitarization in Talionia and Veltorina meant an end to the more than eighty years of military presence in Talionia, leading to dramatic changes in the economy. Despite this, many investors have expressed interest in the potential of the rapidly changing economy. Caphirian investors and visitors have become commonplace in Talionia since the time the Accords were signed, and analysts have speculated that Talionia may once again become a primary port of entry into Sarpedon and crossroads of the Occident. As part of the Accords, a free-trade area was created between Talionia and the Caphirian province of Thessia.

Government
The Kingdom of Talionia is a constitutional monarchy employing an organic democratic Constitution similar to, but not the same as, the Government of Urcea. Talionia is bound to Urcea by its King, who is also the Apostolic King of Urcea. The executive authority within the Kingdom is wielded by the Governor-General of the Kingdom of Talionia, an official appointed by the Apostolic King of Urcea with the advice and consent of the Concilium Daoni of Urcea. This official is directly nominated by the King rather than by the binding advice of any officials in Urcea; by this method, Talionia's government retains a degree of independence from Urcea and is answerable - to an extent - to the King of Talionia alone. The Governor-General is typically a Talioniaer who has had political and administrative experience within the Government of Urcea, especially diplomatic experience. The Governor-Generals serve five year terms and by precedent are not reappointed by the King except during times of war. The Governor-General has the authority to, subject to the legislature, organize the government of the Kingdom, direct its ministers, veto legislation, and organize the Kingdom's armies. The Governor-General serves as Commander-in-Chief (rather than the Urcean title of Magister Militum) of the Kingdom's armed forces, though in practice the armed forces are typically used for local defense and emergency response due to the protection the nation receives from the Armed Forces of the Apostolic Kingdom of Urcea. The Governor-General is considered the head of government of the Kingdom, and he nominates ministers to be approved by the National Landsmeet; due to his non-partisan nature, he is bound by precedent to nominate members of the majority party in the legislature, although not always the members selected by the Majority Leader.

Legislative authority in Talionia is invested in the National Landsmeet, a 155-member legislature based on 150 equal population districts elected nationwide, referred to as the Electors Temporal and the designees of 5 Catholic bishops, referred to as the Electors Spiritual. Electors serve five year terms on the same schedule as elections for Urcea's Concilium Daoni, and its reapportionment system is extremely similar. The legislature is partisan, and the leader of the majority party of the National Landsmeet holds the title of "Elector-President of the Kingdom of Talionia". The Elector-President is exclusively a legislative and partisan leader, serving as Majority Leader, and does not have significant authority over the ministry or its members. The Elector-President chooses which legislation comes to the floor of the Landsmeet and is responsible for choosing committee chairs within the Landsmeet.

From the time of the implementation of the Constitution in 1870 to the Great War, the primary political divides in the Kingdom were between pro-de Weluta Crown Liberal parties ("Unionist") and pro-independence liberal and socialist political parties ("Nationalist"). The independence movement within the Kingdom was divided between those who viewed Talionia as a standalone country and those who sought union with Veltorina. These divides were sufficient to allow the Unionists to maintain power. Since the Great War, nationalism has significantly been on the decline due to solidarity with the Urcean people and the annexation of Veltorina by Caphiria. Since the Assumption Accords, there has been a significant interest in renewed ties with Caphiria and other nations in Sarpedon without a national independence component, a political point of view that has been increasingly embraced with the adoption of free trade and easy travel with the Caphirian province of Thessia.