Hezikian Isles

Hezikian Islands

Heziqqiyah
Geography
Area	1,180 km2 (3,056 sq mi)
Administration
Fiannria
Demographics
Population	1,218,476
Pop. density	1,033/km2 (399/sq mi)

The Hezikian Isles is a volcanic island archipelago located in the southern Levantine Ocean owned by the Commonwealth of Fiannria. The islands are named after Hezekiah, a biblical king of Judah. Historically the islands have been a crusader kingdom, a trading post to Audonia, a smuggling and pirate den, an island prison for exiles, a naval base, and more tourism hub. It has also been the inspiration for the fictional island location for IxCount of Monte Cristo. Consisting of 37 islands, 15 of which are settled, with the largest three being Perassa, Seko, and Malona. It has recently seen immense new development projects by the Fiannria government.

Demonym

Insulae Ezechiae, as the islands were first referred to, were the names given by sailing Crusaders heading south, first to Sarpedon, and later further east into Audonia. The islands were given their name in honor of the biblical king of Judah, Hezekiah. The archipelago historically was named by Punic settlers as Hizziqilhu to refer to the strength of the gods which gave them the lands to settle. This name was converted to the Istroyan Ezekele and later by the Adonerii Ezechiae which leads to the modern name, now associated with the Judean King rather than its polytheist origin. It would come to be known as the Principality of Ezechia prior to its incorporation into the modern Fiannan state.

History

Early History

Around 700 BC is the estimated time that Punic settlers first came to the islands from among the Semitic tribes, taking the settlement from the bronze age residents that lived among some of the islands prior. This colony would become a major site for early iron age trade through Audonia and would be an outpost for trade with Istroyan city-states. However, amidst political infighting prone to the trade empires of the Punics, Istroyan settlers invaded and founded their own colony in the peninsula. Leading to centuries of intermittent warfare between the settlements that would be key outposts for trade access to goods across Audonia and beyond. This persisted until the mid 200s AD, where the Istroyan’s amongst the islands became tributaries to the Adonerii. Interestingly, records seem to show mention of both the Caphiric Adoneric Empire and also the Great Levantia Adoneric Empire as the target of tribute. The influence of the Adonerics on the Istroyan colonies gave an edge to the Istroyan colonies that would lead to most of the Punic settlements captured or burned.

Caliphate and Crusades

However, with the rise of the Oduniyyads, the Punics sought their support that eventually led to the conquest of the islands completely by the Caliphate in the late 600s. Caliphate control over the islands was generally lax, maintaining Jizyah taxes over the isles large non-islamic populations as it promoted slow islamization and arabization of the islands. Control over the islands would be unopposed until 1084 when a contingent of Culfran and Deric crusaders, seeking resupply and a place to further fund their armies in its mission south to Istroya invaded the archipelago. Under the leadership of William Baran, a Culfran lord, led an invasion of the Hezikian islands in order to support the resupply and funding of the northern Levantine forces in its expedition to fight in the Crusade for Istroya.  The island-hopping and naval campaign seriously delayed and weakened the northern contingent in the Crusade in the south. Finally capturing the archipelago, William Baran and some allied lords declared rulership over the islands, Baran being named the Prince of Ezechia, those forces now tied up in control over the islands, only a portion of the remaining northern Crusaders arrived in the Istroyan islands in 1085 to support the first Crusade.

The Hezekiah Islands would become an outpost for Crusaders in the south and the frontlines for jihads and the alleged epicenter of muslim and christian piracy wars. As conflict intensified, holy orders would seize their own islands among the archipelago, still at least nominally under the leadership of the Prince of Ezechia. As Crusades shifted away from the south and towards Audonia proper, Ezechia would be the staging grounds for many of the invasions and conflicts into the region. Popularly, Ezechia would be a site of many Expeditions to find the Holy lands, largely associating the semitic ties and settlements on the islands to the ancient Kings of Israel and Judah.  

While control of Ezechia was solidified, the seas remained both a battleground and also among the golden seeds planted in Levantia for the future of global trade. Ezechia providing a port of call for Levantine and Audonian merchants as they made early journeys between the two.

Integration into Culfras

In 1529, the Prince-Elector of Bridhavn, having been among the most influential northern Princes of the Holy Levantine Empire, amongst the network of marriage and military alliances the family of O’Rourke had developed, the Princedom of Ezechia was inherited by the Prince-Elector. The O’Rourke’s would consolidate control of the islands and became a lifeline of needed funds, soldiers, and supplies to support the Northern Holy League’s war during the Reformation.

With the creation of the United Kingdom of the Culfras founded in 1571, the O’Rourke’s brought with them the title of Prince of Ezechia. Ezechia would become a rest point for Protestants seeking Pharisedoms in Audonia. Some remaining on the islands, but most sailing further away from Levantia. It would become a major port of call also for early colonial expeditions, especially towards the future state of Soirwind.

• During the waning years of the Kingdom and creation of the League, Islands left to operate autonomously, falling under occasional sway and protection of other monarchs and becoming a hub for pirates and smugglers operating between the east and west.
• Following the Brothers War and founding of the Commonwealth, the Commonwealth retook control of the islands, and used it as a port to exile nobility which joined the uprising. Many settling on the islands or going further east.
• Hezikian Islands would return to prominence and economic importance with the rise of the independent states of Audonia as Fiannria sought to build ties with them and build new trade routes. The Islands would become a popular resort for the wealthy.
• Prior to great war military investments made on the island to support military expeditions east.
• Military Development continued during the Great War and Cold War periods, however expansion of commercial flights and tourist sailing in the peace following the great war led to the Hezikian Islands becoming also a new hub for tourists and resort-seekers.
• Hezikian Islands necessity as a trade link between Levantia and Audonia led to it being cushioned from many economic downturns, but also led to much less regular investment until the recent new spike of development and investment carried out by the current Fiannan government

Recently with increasing Fiannan activity in the region, Fiannria has established refurbished and expanded military infrastructure on the island, those being Rossa Naval Base and Gotz Air Base.

Politics and Governance

The Hezikian Islands, while a territory of theCommonwealth share structure similar to Fiannanmainland states with a tripartiate seperation of powers in government with a Governor of the Territory, a Tyn, and a High Court under itsconstitution. However, one unique feature of the Hezikian Islands owing to the many noble-born exiles which settled on the islands is the existence of a House of Lords which serves as a bicameral legislative body unique to the archipelago which consists of a body of the leaders of the exiled noble families must vote to approve legislation passed by the Tyn prior to being sent to the Governor. Settled islands are divided into their own subdivisions, with nearby islands to settled ones tending to be under the settled island's jurisdiction, however some exceptions exist.

Economy

Foreign trade has long been a vital aspect of the Hezikian Islands. However, the local economy also makes use of its fishing industry, wine and olive industry, as well as a biological sciences and research that complement the large tourism sector of the Hezikian economy.

Due to its historical cultural significance and continuing major archeological operations, as well as natural features and climate, the Hezikian islands are a major stop for tourists, with several resorts and many Levantine cruises to and stopping at the destination along with several direct flights to various Levantine states.

Climate and Geography

The climate of the Hezikian Isles is subtropical-dry climate with mild winters and hot summers, consisting of low hills, numerous bays and inlets, the geography of the Hezikian Isles features few major inland water features, however a dam and dike project from the 20th century has created a large inland lake on one of the islands.