History of Cartadania

Prehistory and ancient history
The period of pre-Caphirian Cartadania, stretching from approximately 9000 BC to 370 BC, unveils a significant epoch in the region's historical narrative, centered around the cradle of western civilization. This era signifies the transformation from prehistory to ancient history, marked by the emergence of intricate indigenous cultures, agricultural advancements, and the flourishing of distinct societies.

Cartadania's origins trace back over 11,000 years to the banks of the Mandera River, where early human habitation in the form of the Adonerii left its mark. Their proliferation catalyzed the emergence of numerous coastal communities that persist in the contemporary Cartadanian landscape. The adoption of agriculture, encompassing crops like pineapple, cacão, and cassava, fundamentally altered indigenous lifestyles and ushered in an era of surplus food production. These developments coincided with the emergence of indigenous societies such as the Ettian, Linaca, Lombards, and Veronese, each contributing unique religious, symbolic, and artistic traditions. Although cultural differences occasionally led to conflict, it was during this era that Cartadania's indigenous population began its transformation into a complex and diverse civilization.

The 8th century BC witnessed the zenith of indigenous culture in Cartadania with the ascendancy of the Ettian civilization, considered a partial progenitor to the early Cartadanian population. Thriving along the northern Urlazian coast, the Ettians not only influenced their neighboring societies but also left a lasting legacy of artistic and architectural achievements. These cultural developments expanded beyond the Ettians, shaping the identities of indigenous groups across Alexandria, São Ricardo, Verona, and the Urlazian peninsula states. The Ettian are believed to be directly related to the Fortuna people which inhabited most of São Ricardo throughout its history, and are directly descended from the Adonerii. This era was marked by an unparalleled richness of cultural expression.

Around 370 BC, the arrival of Caphirian settlers marked a pivotal moment in Cartadania's history. It brought together indigenous populations, initiating a cultural intermingling that would forever alter the course of the region's development. Cartadania's indigenous population, numbering approximately 7 million individuals, was comprised of various ethnic groups and their subdivisions. Despite occasional conflicts arising from differences in culture, language, and beliefs, this period also witnessed instances of coexistence and mutual interaction. The stage was set for the blending of cultures and the emergence of a new chapter in Cartadania's history.

Caphirian Colonization
The period of Caphirian colonization in Cartadania represents a momentous transition that bridged the ancient indigenous cultures of the region with the inexorable influence of the Caphirian imperium. This transformative period, which commenced circa 370 BC, stands as a testament to the intrepid spirit of Caphirian explorers, often referred to as "terra quaesitores." Fueled by the allure of uncharted territories, these pioneers embarked on a daring journey through the Urlazian Sea, setting foot on the pristine shores of the eastern Caridon Peninsula. However, their initial foray was considerably restrained by the formidable geographical impediments that characterized the Caridonian landscape.

The untamed wilderness of Cartadania, characterized by dense tropical forests and the imposing grandeur of the Serra Affiada mountain range in Verona, acted as a natural barrier, confining early Caphirian settlers to coastal regions. Furthermore, the fauna of the area proved to be daunting deterrents as well. Overcoming these obstacles demanded resilience and ingenuity, yet it was a task undertaken with unwavering determination.

As time drifted forward, the terra quaesitores expanded their territorial foothold, venturing deeper into the heart of the peninsula. These intrepid settlers established thriving communities, introducing innovative technologies, and initiating a profound transformation of the landscape. It was during these initial encounters that the Caphirian explorers came face to face with the indigenous societies that had flourished on the Caridon Peninsula for millennia, especially the most widespread of the bunch, the Ettian and Caridians (endonymically referred to as the Cartadons). These indigenous populations, which also included the Linaca, Lombards, and Veronese, boasted rich and multifaceted cultures, cultivated through centuries of adaptation to their unique environments. The arrival of Caphirian colonists marked the inception of a dynamic cultural exchange, where customs, traditions, and knowledge intermingled, giving rise to a burgeoning Cartadanian identity that was a tapestry woven from various threads of heritage.

The momentum of colonization surged into the Lombard Valley around 704 AD, ushering in a new chapter in Caridonian history. This expansion, however, was not without its challenges. The rugged terrain, characterized by the especially imposing Turian Ridge, hyperdense tropical forests, and very large rivers, presented formidable obstacles that tested the resolve of Caphirian settlers.

In the 11th century, under the rule of Imperator Darius, the disparate regions of the eastern Caridon Peninsula coalesced into a single geo-political entity known as Lusia. Lusia, in turn, was partitioned into nine distinctive regions, known as "Regios," spanning across five provinces. These provinces, including Alexandria, Verona, Sacilium, Regio Iordas, and Regio Carina, each carved its unique imprint on Cartadanian society. The intricate blend of Caphirian and indigenous influences in these regions laid the foundation for the vibrant and diverse culture that would define Cartadania for centuries to come.

Notably, the Fortuna Isles, which would come to be São Ricardo, maintained an identity distinct from the other Urlazian basin states. This archipelago, nestled amidst the northern waters of the Urlazian Sea at its confluence with the Odoneru Ocean, had a long history, dating back to indigenous habitation around the 12th century BC. The Fortuna Isles became a pivotal stopover for sea-faring explorers and navigators, acting as a crossroads between Levantia and distant lands. Even in the face of Caphirian colonization, Fortuna's resolute inhabitants clung fiercely to their sovereignty, charting a course of independent self-governance amidst the tides of change.

Struggle for Independence
The movement toward independence in Cartadania, spanning the late 16th to early 17th centuries, represents a pivotal chapter in the nation's history characterized by political upheaval, separatist movements, and the emergence of a new, independent state. During this tumultuous period, the Cartadanian region, previously under Caphirian imperial rule, witnessed a growing discontent with Venceia's distant governance, particularly as the principate era transitioned into the Dominate era.

The roots of this struggle can be traced back to the late 16th century when various regions within Cartadania began to experience a sense of neglect and oppression under Caphirian rule. The focal point of this discontent was Verona, where the provincial government, feeling increasingly marginalized, took a momentous step by passing the Vermilion Act. This act represented a bold assertion of autonomy and a distinct identity for Verona. The legislation realized the imperative to safeguard unique cultural heritage, promote local interests, and secure a future of self-determination. At its core, it embodied the fundamental principle of self-governance, reflecting the resolute desire of not just Verona, but the other provinces as well, to break from the yoke of imperial rule. The act's importance within the broader context of Cartadanian history is underscored by its role as a catalyst for other regions, like Alexandria and Sancti, to contemplate similar actions. Verona's determination to assert its autonomy and preserve its cultural identity would ultimately set in motion a series of events that led to the emergence of Cartadania as a sovereign nation.

Imperator Legarus, ruling from Venceia, attempted to address the growing regional tensions through constitutional changes within Caphiria. His introduction of a new constitution aimed at delineating the national frame of government, establishing a social contract between citizens and the state, and protecting the empire's people. However, the Vermilion Act and similar separatist actions highlighted the disunity within Caphiria, as regions like Verona and Alexandria demanded greater autonomy.

The situation was further complicated by the Great Schism and internal changes within Caphiria. As the imperium grappled with internal pressures and the relocation of one of its high courts from Venceia to Serdica (now New Venceia), the Lusia region saw the emergence of separatist movements that pushed for practical and tangible changes. These revolutionary forces, impatient for independence, gained momentum, as demonstrated by events like the Milanese Revolt in 1623.

In 1626, the situation reached a tipping point when revolutionaries, taking control of Saleria, a small city on the outskirts of Serdica, demanded independence. The Cartadanian Army, known as the Legio Septentrionalis, and Pelaxian forces played a crucial role in preventing the imperial legion's intervention, partly due to the imperium's losses in the Second Termian War. This development led to the creation of the Compactum Caridonis, an agreement between newly-established Vachena and Cartadania, under which the two territories would remain separate for the duration of the imperial occupation of Vachena (approximately 100 years), while Cartadania would be granted independence.

However, enforcing this agreement proved challenging due to Cartadania's territorial borders disjointing Caphiria's influence in Vachena and separating the two by 756 km at their nearest point, leaving many Caphirians in Vachena unable to easily return home over the years. In September 1630, the Compactum Caridonis went into force as Alexandria, Sancti, Verona, and parts of Urlazio officially seceded from Caphiria, prompted by a combination of internal and external factors, including the imperium's withdrawal of military forces from the region.

In the early years of its existence, the nascent republic underwent a series of name changes that reflected its evolving identity. Initially established as the Caridon Federation in September 1630, this name encapsulated the diverse collection of provinces and territories that had come together in the aftermath of the Great Schism to assert their independence from the Caphirian imperium. However, merely a month later, on 30 October 1630, the nation underwent a slight but significant alteration, rebranding itself as the Caridon Federal Republic. This subtle shift in nomenclature was indicative of the republic's commitment to the principles of federalism and self-governance, which would go on to play a pivotal role in shaping its political landscape and identity as it continued to grow and evolve. The ratification of the Caridon Federal Republic's constitution in October 1630 marked the culmination of these efforts, establishing a new, independent nation in northern Sarpedon. This period of struggle for independence paved the way for Cartadania's emergence as a sovereign state, separate from Caphirian rule, and set the stage for its subsequent development as a unique and culturally rich nation.

Commonwealth Era
In July of 1632, the various entities that constituted the Caridon Federal Republic, and at a greater realization, the entirety of the eastern Caridon Peninsula, as well as its constituencies, joined with the major lords in Albalitor to establish a commonwealth between the standing governments of the C.F.R. and Pelaxia. The Grand Royal Army of Pelaxia's role in the independence of the C.F.R. had greatly impacted the social perception of the southern kingdom in a positive manner, and by way of the Union of Alahuela, united the two countries as a single kingdom, known as the United Kingdom of Cartadania and Pelaxia. One of the world's first federations, it was ruled by a common monarch in a real union. The monarch served as king of both former Caphirian provinces and as the titular head of both for its entire 161-year history. At almost 1000000 km2 and with a sustained multi-ethnic population of approximately 22 million, it was one of the largest countries of 16th- through 18th-century Sarpedon.

While the monarch served as the head of the union state, that is, the United Kingdom of Cartadania and Pelaxia, Cartadania maintained its own autonomous internal government of sorts. While Albalitor served as the de jure capital of the union due to its strategic importance, the city was a great distance from the major areas of Cartadania, which lay on more urbanized coast of the Urlazian Sea. New Venceia, Cartadania's largest city at the time, was 2602.4 km away from Albalitor at its closest point, and Valorica, which became part of Cartadania in 1737 and, consequently, its largest city at the time, is 3143.1 km away. As a consequence of those great distances, Cartadania had a de facto capital in Meridia, Alexandria from the inception of the commonwealth until 1710 when it was transferred to its present-day location at Alahuela.

Between 1632 and 1633, the Cartadanian government, still at this time known as the Caridon Federal Republic, renamed itself to the Republic of Cartadania, reflecting a endonymic etymology based on its indigenous groups that first came in contact with the Caphirians in 370 BC. From 1633 to 1640, the Caridon Peninsula was still relatively quiet, with most of the movement and activity ocurring in or around Albalitor as well as the major urban areas of the Urlazian basin (i.e., New Venceia, Sierra, and Valorica). In the latter portion of 1641, Cartadania's eastern government annexed three major islands and thirty-seven minor islands in the Taínean Sea, collectively naming them the Suyara Territory from the indigenous name, 'Yunisuyara', meaning 'white water place'. In September of 1650, the Suyara Territory became the Commonwealth of Porta Bianca, a state that represented the westernmost reach of Cartadania as a self-composed entity. Porta Bianca also served as a major point of interest union-wide, with many Pelaxians choosing to visit or relocate to the island and tend to its rapidly growing pineapple fields. Most Cartadanians traveling to the island departed from Alexandria or Calexia in the south, which has reflected in the main island's modern-day composition, as it trends more agrarian in the south and more service-based in the north.

From 1650 to 1673, Meridia began accelerating towards a rapid expansion and colonial era. Domestic development of merchant and other maritime vessels, in collaboration with some other separatist regions, such as those in Burgundie, gave Cartadania a reach far greater than it previously held. Exploration of regions that lie outside of the greater Sarpedonian region became especially commonplace, especially those areas proximal to Porta Bianca and Vallos as a whole. With 1673 marking the union's entry into its golden era, the union, and consequently Cartadania, experienced prolonged periods of cultural exchange, advancements in technology, and overall political stability, which further lead to a sustained period of economic growth from collective resource management efforts, improved connectivity between the two regions, and the expansion of diplomatic ties abroad. Universities, like the University of Albalitor and Erudite greatly expanded on their roles across the union and provided abundant opportunities to citizens.

While the late 17th century sparked great prosperity for the union as a whole, the degree of economic growth in Cartadania spiked so sharply, it lead to economic disparities amongst the population. Opportunistic corporatists began seizing as many opportunities as they could, creating a major wealth gap in communities across the country and spurring the development of classism on the basis of economic power.

Revolutionary Cartadania and the Ano Vermelho
In the 1690s, the economic disparities that had begun to spring up across Cartadania had reached a critical point in the nation's urban heart, centered around the capital and Alexandria's urban centers. Though the Albalitor Confederation Act of 1673 guaranteed relative religious tolerance and promoted high levels of ethnic diversity, it served no purpose in the guarantees of economic equality across the union. Cartadania itself was still riddled with the descendants of individuals who, prior to its independence, were very wealthy in Caphirian-held Cartadania, and though the countries had long since separated, the habits of those families had not been flushed from the social structure of the nation.

1696 marked the beginning of what would become known as the Lusian Rebellion, where civilian groups sought to dismantle the organizations and people who placed them in precarious economic standing, but it was far from the height of the period. The government in Meridia, as a consequence of its colonial and exploratory habits in conjunction with Albalitor, had long since established outposts in southern Crona, dotted along the Songun peninsula and various island groups nearby. Many companies headquartered back in Cartadania proper had opened operations in those various outposts for exploitation of resources to be sent back to Sarpedon. Many of them employed low-income individuals from the mainland to work in various industries, but most paid very poorly and also exported goods back to mainland Cartadania at a greater cost to citizens than when exporting abroad. This further exacerbated the worsening conditions in the Lusia region until the nascent of the Ano Vermelho a year after the rebellion began.

Commencing in September of 1697, the unrest of the Ano Vermelho unfolded as a series of events that transpired across major cities in Cartadania's Lusia region, including Meridia, as well as those in coastal Verona, Milan, and throughout Santiago. The catalyst for this upheaval was the profound discontent among the lower class regarding conditions for basic necessities in the country, leading to drastic measures such as the abduction and execution of corporate magnates.

The epicenter of the conflict was south-central Alexandria, where the discontent manifested most prominently, especially around Meridia. This grassroots movement escalated into widespread violence, resulting in the murder and forced exile of over two thousand upper-class citizens from their homes and communities. The upper echelons of society, in control of the government, faced a formidable challenge as the economy and various sectors succumbed to the weight of the unrest. The period became so granular that violence became prevalent, even amongst family members of varying economic standing, leading to a lot of distrust amongst the upper middle and upper class. The Ano Vermelho represented an aggressive shift in ideals from dismantling the ability to create the problems to eliminating the perpetuators of the issue itself.

The Cartadanian military, specifically the Armada Cartadaniana, intervening in late August 1698, marked a turning point by quelling the violence and restoring a small semblance of order. Faced with danger, the exodus of upper-class citizens to southern Crona, specifically the territories of Ceylonia and Galicia, signaled a transformative moment nationwide. The violent upheaval and radical shift in power dynamics, had far-reaching consequences for Cartadania as a country, influencing various aspects of the nation's trajectory.

Many felt that the events of the Lusian Rebellion necessitated a comprehensive restructuring of the government. The displacement of many in the upper class lead to the establishment of a more inclusive and representative political system, transitioning from what had essentially become an oligarchy to a more democratic form of governance. It also altered the dynamics between social classes. Efforts were made to bridge the gap between the lower and upper classes, leading to the emergence of policies aimed at reducing socioeconomic disparities, though some persist even today. Many policies were adopted to undertake the economic shifts, societal reorganization, legal and judicial changes, and other reforms underway in Cartadania. In 1707, the government in Meridia was officially dissolved and in 1709, was relocated to the planned city of Alahuela, itself also formed from a portion of Alexandria, though it sat on the Urlazian coast and sat between only Alexandria and Verona.

By 1710, Cartadania had stabilized itself and was once again on an upward trend for economic growth and identity, albeit in a more stabilized format. The federal government nationalized certain industries, adopting a mixed economy with state-ownership in strategic areas to avoid a repeat of the 17th century. Alahuela's government pressed that concerns of the society as a whole were a priority over the concerns of the priveleged, thus the legal and judicial systems underwent one of the most major revisions in history.

Prior to 1710, the president of Cartadania wielded judicial authority, a configuration that underwent significant reconsideration as questions about power were called into question. Acknowledging the need for a clear separation of powers, the revised constitution of 1710 stripped the president of all judicial functions, marking a departure from prior practices. The heart of this constitutional reform lay in the elevation of the Supreme Court to an unprecedented position of prominence. The Court, once relatively restrained in its involvement in lower court cases, became the paramount arbiter of legal matters within the nation. Its jurisdiction expanded, encompassing a broader range of cases and issues. Simultaneously, the number of Justices on the Supreme Court increased from five to nine, a configuration designed to enhance the diversity of perspectives and ensure a more comprehensive adjudication of legal matters. This structural expansion has endured over the centuries, shaping the Court's role in Cartadanian governance. With these changes, the Supreme Court emerged as the guardian of Cartadania's constitutional principles. Its decisions became central to the interpretation and application of the law, setting important precedents that would guide the nation through subsequent challenges and transformations, and in thought, preventing another fallout like that of the Lusian Rebellion.