Lariana

The Kingdom of Lariana, officially the Kingdom of Urlazio is a kingdom in Urlazio under a with Urcea. The Kingdom was established at the conclusion of the Veltorine War of Independence in 1782. In the peace negotiations at the end of the war, Urcea came into possession of Caphirian territories it occupied in Urlazio on the basis of. The territories were reorganized as a crownland of Urcea and were envisioned to be governed similar to other crownlands, but the relative distance from Urceopolis and other factors led to its establishment as a distinct entity from Urcea.

Lariana's cultural identity long predates its establishment as a political entity, and Larianans point to the Latin Kingdom as its origin. The majority of people of Lariana can trace their ancestry to the non-Adonerii Latins and other Urlazic peoples of Urlazio's antiquity. As Caphiria expanded, successive waves of migration eastward in the face of increasing colonization changed the cultural complexion of eastern Urlazio, as non-Adonerii descended Urlazics became the majority population.

During the Occidental Cold War and large-scale presence of the Urcean military, Lariana developed a thriving service economy surrounding the bases and urban centers of the Kingdom. Since the end of the Cold War in 1984, the economy has been undergoing rapid changes and partial decline as part of the gradual ending of hostilities between Urcea and Caphiria. As Lariana has been partly demilitarized as of the Assumption Accords, the economy has shifted more towards global trade by the merit of Lariana's geographic position. As part of the Accords, free trade with the Urlazian provinces of Caphiria has begun which has strengthened the changing economy.

Nomenclature
Upon its establishment, the territories taken from Caphiria by Urcea in the Veltorine War of Independence were created as a new crownland, the Kingdom of Urlazio, with a supposed historical antecedent in the Latin Kingdom. As the name would suggest, initial documents envisioned this crownland as eventually incorporating all of the island, and its establishment allowed the Apostolic King of Urcea to claim rulership of the island - and its people - in pretense. These ambitions were quickly abandoned as a result of the Second Caroline War, and the territory of the Kingdom never expanded much beyond its 21st century borders. The Kingdom became increasingly associated with its capital city, Lariana, and in international usage, pressure from the governments of Caphiria and Cartadania led many countries and their citizens to use the term "Kingdom of Lariana" instead. By the dawn of the 20th century, this usage entered increasingly common use in Urcea as well. The public within Lariana also embraced the term as a distinguishing mark, giving themselves a national identity apart from the rest of Urlazio. By the mid-20th century, the "Kingdom of Urlazio" left official use altogether as Urcea sought to avoid offending Cartadania. As of the 21st century "Kingdom of Lariana" is used by the public as well as by public officials, while documents usually refer to the realm as the "Kingdom in Urlazio". Despite this shift, the official name is still occasionally referenced in administrative documents, and the Apostolic King's titles still include it.

Early History
Much of what consists of modern day Lariana was densely populated coastal cities which existed as part of Adonerii League with peripheral agricultural lands inhabited by communities of native Urlazic speakers. Consequently, most of the local Urlazic tribes fell under Adonerii influence and began to speak the Latinic language. As with much of the island, Lariana as a whole was conquered by the Latin Kingdom in approximately 570 BC, ending the Adonerii league and beginning a lengthy period of united Urlazian governance. This period saw the gradual empowerment of the inland Urlazic tribes and peoples, who formed the governing class of the new Kingdom along with the non-Adonerii Latins. The Latin Kingdom briefly contended with Great Levantia over dominance of the Sea of Canete beginning in the 250s AD and then entered a period of rapid decline.

Like Great Levantia, the Latin Kingdom came under increasing pressure from migrating Goths beginning in the late 3rd century. In 315, the Goths began their invasion of Urlazio, a process largely completed by 324. The Goths established the Gothic Urlazian Kingdom that year, centered in Lariana, beginning that city's history as a major political and administrative center. The rump Latin Kingdom was subsequently incorporated into Caphiria in 337, ending the rule of the non-Adonerii Urlazic peoples over the island. The invasions and raids of the Goths largely depopulated the major cities of eastern Urlazio. As the Adonerii-descended cities of eastern third of Urlazio were gradually depopulated, the non-Adonerii Latins and non-Latin Urlazics became a majority in the region, taking over old commercial enterprises and agricultural estates. The new native population was treated moderately by the Goths in contrast to their anti-Caphiric Latin policy.

As Caphiria began to closely integrate the portions of Urlazio it inherited from the Latin Kingdom, pressure was placed on the non-Adonerii Latins and Urlazics from the central third of Urlazio. These peoples began to migrate east beginning in the 5th century. Several reasons have been provided by historians for this migration, but the primary rationale relates to the expansion of settler colonies from Venceia in the central part of the island, as well as a general displacement of the local populace by mainland Caphirians. This eastern migration strengthened the cultural identity of eastern Urlazio such that contemporary Caphirian travelers found the language and culture there to be altogether alien. The development of a distinct East Urlazic dialect of Latin began in the 7th and 8th centuries as the language was written for the first time.

The Gothic Kingdom was divided in the 7th century and modern Lariana became part of Leofric's Kingdom. This Kingdom began a gradual decline and Urlazio was largely incorporated into the Caphiric Second Imperium by the 10th century. During this period, what would become Lariana was heavily subject to Muslim raids by forces loyal to the Oduniyyad Caliphate. Despite the emergent cultural differences, eastern Urlazio remained a relatively pacified part of the Second Imperium. Towards the end of the Second Imperium, local revolts became more commonplace as the government in Venceia attempted to make manpower and financial taxation more efficient. With the collapse of the Second Imperium in 1172 saw eastern Urlazio divided into several city-states as well as a limited presence by the Venceian Republic. These gradually evolved into mercantile republics by the 13th century, similar to and in competition with the city-states of Crotona of the period. The Urlazian city-states coexisted alongside the Venceian Republic, who often provided subsidies and titles to prominent merchant families of the island's city-states in an effort to establish nominal authority, a method which enhanced the prestige and legitimacy of the new city-states.

Third Imperium
As the Third Imperium was established in the late 13th century, the city-states of eastern Urlazio gradually came under the economic and cultural sway of the reemerged Caphiric state. The Imperium fostered an overlord-type relationship with these cities through around 1330, carefully managing diplomatic and trade relations with them in order to avoid a costly military campaign on Urlazio. By 1350, Caphiria's strong position on Sarpedon allowed it to more aggressively leverage the city-states of eastern Urlazio, reaching formal tributary agreements. By 1370, Caphiria had de facto reestablished territorial control over eastern Urlazio, and the Imperial Legion began to operate freely in the area around that time, but prominent local mercantile families remained powerful within the client cities themselves. This arrangement began to fray by 1400, as local families chafed at the gradual loss of privileges as well as new state controls on their international associations. The city of Lariana revolted against Caphiric control in early 1401 and was crushed in 1402, with the city being directly annexed by the Imperium. From then on, it served as a central point of administration of the client trade cities and the main base of operations for Imperial military and administration. From then on, the cities were gradually integrated directly into Imperial control. The tributary city system continued to exist until around 1501, when Cavosia - the last tributary city - was annexed into the Imperium.

The 1500s were a time of general prosperity throughout Urlazio and eastern Urlazio specifically. The religious strife in Levantia caused by the rise of meant that many prominent, wealthy Catholic families and individuals - as well as gifted artists - fled the advance of Protestantism in their cities, duchies, and polities, and Urlazio was a natural safe harbor. The influx of wealth combined with Urlazio's safe position relative to Caphiria's enemies led to a major economic boom in eastern Urlazio specifically. The new arrivals rejuvenated arts and culture in eastern Urlazio, and during this time the city of Lariana was transformed from a middling mercantile city to one of the great cities of the Imperium, with public buildings and churches built in the latest style. As the religious tension in Levantia eased by 1570, the influx of wealth into the island slowed and some families began to move back, but the area remained a bright spot in the Third Imperium.

Early Modern and Industrial Era
Though a culturally divergent part of Caphiria, eastern Urlazio remained firmly in Venceia's hold until the middle of the 18th century, when it was invaded by Urcea as part of its intervention during the Veltorine War of Independence. The city of Lariana was sacked by Caphirian forces in 1781 after being taken by the Urceans in 1780 and the province was largely pacified, but continued advanced of the Royal and Imperial Army in 1782 overcame Caphirian defenders in Lariana. As trade and aid filtered through the occupied territory's ports to the rebelling forces in Veltorina, control of the island ultimately proved essential to aiding the Veltorines secure their independence. At the end of the war, the territories occupied by the Royal and Imperial Army were ceded to Urcea, including and especially the city of Lariana. 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 newly established "Kingdom of Urlazio" 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.

The Kingdom of Urlazio was governed and assumed to be, at its inception, another normal crownland of Urcea, similar to the Kingdom of Crotona. This status implied normal governance of the country by the apparatus of the Government of Urcea with the Apostolic King of Urcea nominally at its head as its King. However, several cultural and administrative changes that occurred over the course of the late 18th and 19th century separated Lariana from the other crownlands. The nobility of the Kingdom extracted many different concessions from the ailing Urcean crown during the Second Caroline War, including the exclusion of the Urcean Concilium Daoni from affairs of the realm. This established the local nobility and urban councils as governing the crownland in conjunction with the King. As a more symbolic milestone, the actual creation of a physical crown of Lariana in 1852 by Aedanicus VIII would lead the crownland to stand out further. Acts of the Concilium Daoni would confirm the status of Lariana as a separate entity from the rest of the Kingdom as part of an overall effort to prevent popular resistance to Urcean rule. This was also requested by the King, as the decision made the Kingdom of Lariana effectively under direct and total control of the Apostolic King, a move that Aedanicus argued was a military necessity in order to keep the area properly protected against Caphiria.

Lariana initially operated with some autonomous function. Local 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 the Kingdom of Urlazio in 1870, which remains in force. During the Regency, Lariana 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. During the conflict and in part due to their perceived disloyalty, FitzRex promised to cede Lariana to Caphiria in exchange for its support during the Interregnum, bringing Urcea into the First Great War. Consequently, local groups decided remaining with House de Weluta was the better option to remain separate from Caphiria. The unfulfilled promise of a cession of Lariana to Caphiria was a major for the later Second Great War.

Second Great War and Today
During the Second Great War, Lariana was a primary battleground between the Levantia and Odoneru Treaty Association (LOTA) and Caphiria and its acquisition was the primary war goal of Caphiria. The early war period was largely inconclusive, but following the allied naval victory at the Battle of the Adonáire Strait Caphiria's ability to resupply Urlazio became significantly limited. The Royal and Imperial Army made significant gains against Caphiria, occupying most of the island along with Cartadanian offensives from the west.

Lariana was the site of the first detonation in history, as Caphiria dropped a weapon on Cavosia, a major city and logistical hub that was occupied by Urcean forces but still within Caphirian nominal territory. The nuclear detonation precipitated peace talks which ended the war. Large parts of Urlazio were returned, but a major piece of territory - the Ecinis Peninsula - was ceded to Lariana at the end of the war, including the destroyed city of Cavosia and its environs. Ecinis's position adjacent to Estro and in the vicinity of Venceia made it a major strategic focus of both sides in what would become the Occidental Cold War. The ad-hoc military bases dotting Lariana 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 Lariana, and a cornerstone of the economy. As bases began to dot the countryside, agricultural developments gave way to a service-based economy aimed at accommodating the millions of soldiers stationed in Lariana throughout the Cold War.

Upon the signing of the Assumption Accords in 1984, cession of the Ecinis peninsula and demilitarization of the southern half of Lariana and eastern portions of Caphirian Urlazio meant an end to the more than eighty years of military presence in Lariana, 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 Lariana since the time the Accords were signed, and analysts have speculated that Lariana 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 Lariana and the Caphirian provinces of Urlazio.

Demographics
The 2025 Kingdom Census counted a population of 34,902,694. Lariana's population is predominantly middle age, with the Kingdom having a lower natural population growth rate than Urcea with 3 live births per female in 2027 Lariana enjoys significant levels of immigration from both Urcea and Caphiria, ensuring robust overall population growth and relatively high numbers of educational attainment and health.

Linguistic Demographics
Lariana's linguistic demography is relatively diverse, with three languages being spoken on a regular basis depending on area and circumstance. The Larianic language - a language related to Latin and somewhat similar to the languages spoken in Rhotia and Lapody with many key differences - is the plurality everyday language of Larianan people, with 55.7% reporting using it as their primary language. Julian Ænglish is the second most common primary language and the most spoken language in Lariana overall, with 33.1% of Larianans reporting it as their primary language and 90.2% of Larianans overall reporting being fluid in Julian Ænglish. Caphiric Latin and Veltorine dialects make up the remaining 12% percent of primary languages spoken.

Use of language differs by application. In most commercial transactions and business settings, Julian Ænglish is used frequently and is also typically used as the main language of the workplace due to the country's economic ties with Urcea. Larianan government typically issues public statements in both Larianic and Julian Ænglish, and legislation is adopted primarily in Larianic. Caphiric Latin is often used in diplomacy, as is the expectation of countries within the Continental Diplomatic Arrangement Organization.

Religious Demographics
Catholics are the vast majority of the Larianan population.

Government
The Kingdom of Lariana is a constitutional monarchy employing an organic democratic Constitution similar to, but not the same as, the Government of Urcea. Lariana 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 Lariana, 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, Lariana's government retains a degree of independence from Urcea and is answerable - to an extent - to the King of Lariana alone. The Governor-General is typically a Larianan 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 General Curia; 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 Lariana is invested in the General Curia, a 155-member legislature based on 150 equal population districts elected nationwide, referred to as the Curiates Temporal and the designees of 5 Catholic bishops, referred to as the Curiates Spiritual. Curiates 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 General Curia holds the title of "Curiate-President of the Kingdom of Lariana". The Curiate-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 Curiate-President chooses which legislation comes to the floor of the Curia and is responsible for choosing committee chairs within the Curia.

From the time of the implementation of the Constitution in 1870 to the Second 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 Lariana as a standalone country and those who sought union with Veltorina. These divides were sufficient to allow the Unionists to maintain power. Since the Second 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 on Urlazio.

Foreign relations
Lariana's foreign relations are largely the same as Urcea's, and Lariana's presence abroad mostly takes the form of in nations which have a specific Larianan interest. Much of the Kingdom's relationship with Caphiria is advised and overseen by the Urcean Department for Historic Continental Concerns, which ensures Urcea and its dependencies do not give offense to Caphiria within the context of Imperial Diplomacy.

Culture
Modern Larianan culture (referred to as Larianic) is largely homogenous and formed from several different competing groups in antiquity and the medieval period, but it is primarily descended from non-Adonerii Latins with some non-Latin indigineous Urlazic influence included. Adoerii-descended Latins - most prominently Caphirians - have also significantly influenced Larianan culture over time.

Besides the Larianic majority, large ethnic and cultural minorities are also present in Lariana. Urceans, Caphirians, and Veltorines are present in the country in significant numbers.

Sports
Larianic culture enjoys many of the same sports as Urcean culture due to its long participation in the Urcean cultural sphere. Accordingly,, , and horse racing are extremely popular. Most people in Lariana root for professional teams or athletes in these sports in Urcea's professional leagues, such as the Continental Baseball Conference, and Lariana does not host any teams in these leagues. Smaller semi-professional leagues of baseball and football do exist in Lariana but only receive local popularity. In horse racing, Lariana does host several major track meets per year, and it is often viewed with a higher level of prestige and affinity in Lariana than the other sports due to the country's ability to participate. In baseball, the ten-team minor league of the Tarrin Thunder - the Lariana National League - is based entirely in Lariana, and is the most popular in-Kingdom spectator sport league beyond horse racing.

Some Sarpedonic sports also draw fans as a second-tier of professional sports in popular culture. Specifically, the popular Caphiric combat sports of Pugură and martial art of Tepiù pugna enjoy some popularity, particularly within cities and places where Caphirians live and work.