History of Pelaxia

The history of Pelaxia dates to the Antiquity when the pre-Caphirian peoples of the Kindred coast of the Pelaxian Valley made contact with the Kosalis and the first writing systems known as Paleopelaxian scripts were developed. In 1685, Jerónimo de Garza, the Grand Duke of Agrila, unified Pelaxia as a dynastic union of disparate predecessor kingdoms ; its modern form of a republic was established in 1852. After the completion of the Union of Termia, the Crown began to explore across the Kindred Sea, expanding into Vallos and marking the beginning of the Golden Age under the Pelaxian Empire. The kingdoms of Pelaxia were brought in personal union under Garza rule in 1516. Until the 1650s, Garza Pelaxia was the one of most powerful states in Sarpedon.

During this period, Pelaxia was involved in all major Sarpedonian Wars, including the Kindred Wars. Pelaxian power declined in the latter part of the 17th century.

In the early part of the 19th century, most of the former Pelaxian Empire overseas disintegrated. A tenuous balance between liberal and conservative forces was struck in the establishment of a republic in Pelaxia; this period began in 1852 and ended in 1922. Then came the dictatorship of General Benedicto Álvaro Camargo (1922-1932). His government inaugurated a period ruled by a militarist party, the Restauración Nacional Party, up until 1957. From 1922 the country experienced rapid economic growth in the 1940s and early 1950s. With the death of Federico Pedro Olmos in November 1956 Pelaxia returned to the Federal Republic. With a fresh Constitution voted in 1958.

Antiquity

Cognatish jaguar statuette, 2nd to 4th centuries BCE

The Cognati (from Latin: Cognatus) were a set of people that Caphirian sources identified with that name in the wester coast of Sarpedon over the Kindred Sea, at least from the 6th century BC. The Caphirian sources also use the term Pelagi to refer to the Cognati. The term Cognatish, as used by the ancient authors, had two distinct meanings. One, more general, referred to all the populations of the cognatish valley without regard to ethnic differences. The other, more restricted ethnic sense, refers to the people living in the western and southern coasts of the Cognatish Valley, which by the 6th century BCE had absorbed cultural influences from the Eshelians and Takattan. This pre-Caphiravian cultural group spoke the Cognatish language from the 7th to the 1st century BCE. Due to their military qualities, as of the 5th century BCE Cognatish soldiers were frequently deployed in battles in Caphiria. Around 4th Century BCE, Caphiria sent Caphirian General Ottiano to conquer Cognatia. General Rusciprio subsequently defeated the Cognatish Ilergetes tribes and conquered Montia. After the Cognaitsh defeat, the valleys were divided into two major provinces, Pelagia Orientis and Pelagia Occidentis. In 197 BCE, the Cognatish tribes revolted once again in the P. Orientis province. After securing these regions, Caphiria invaded and conquered Albalitoria and Cognatilitoria. The Caphirians fought a long and drawn out campaign for the conquest of Albalitoria. Wars and campaigns in the northwest coast of the Cognatish valleys would continue until 16 BCE, when the final rebellions of the Litorian Wars were defeated.

Caphirian Pelaxia

TBD

Caphirian recession and Kosal expansion

In the mid 5th Century CE., the Caphirian Republic would eventually face internal pressure from ambitious leaders such as Luccino Capontinus and Iscallio Maristo, as contention for leadership caused a number of small fights among the ambitious youth and the elder aristocracy. The fighting would culminate with a five year civil war, known now as the War of the Republic, that left 120,000 people dead. The war was in such a frenzy that by the time it had ended, there was no decisive victor and as a consequence, the Republic was on the verge of total collapse.

The undoing of Caphiravian control in the region was the result of four sarpedonian tribes crossing the Cazuano river in 407. After three years of depredation and wandering about southern Pelaxia the Losa, Ladri and Klis moved into Pelaxia in September or October 409. Thus began the history of the end of Caphiravian Pelaxia which came in 472. The Losa established a kingdom in Monti in what is today modern Montia and northern East Pelaxia. The Ladri also established a kingdom in the southern part of the region. The Klis established a kingdom in Albalitore – modern northwest coast. The Caphirian attempt under General Petia to dislodge the Septri from Jojoba failed in 422. Caphiria made attempts to restore control in 446 and 458 with partial success.

In 484 the Kosal established Agrila as the capital of their kingdom. Successive Kosal kings ruled Agrila as patricians who held imperial commissions to govern in the name of the Caphirian Consul. In 585 the Kosal conquered the Losa Kingdom of Montia, and thus controlled a third of Pelaxia.

Kosal-Caphirian Wars

Kingdom of Agrila

Evaristo, King of the Kosali

The Agrila Kingdom (Latin: Regnum Agrili) was a kingdom that occupied what is now western Pelaxia from the 5th to the 8th centuries. One of the successor states to the Caphiravian presence in the Province, it was originally created by the settlement of the Kosali under King Magda in Agrila.The Kingdom maintained independence from the Caphiravian Empire, whose attempts to re-establish authority in Pelaxia were only partially successful. Under King Evaristo - who eliminated the status of imperial commissions - a triumphal advance of the Kosali began. Alarmed at Kosali expansion from Ficetia after victory over the Caphirian armies at Cakia in 479, the Consul sent a fresh army against Evaristo. The Caphirian army was crushed in battle nearby and Evaristo then captured Barlesia and secured all of Pelaxian Valley.

Kosali Conquest of Albalitor

Columbio, from a 12th-century illustrated manuscript

Kosal monarch Columbio founded the Kingdom of Albalitor in 618, after he expelled the Klis form its capital and harassed Rastri and Rati settlements in the coastal strip over the Kindred Sea. The Albalitorian kings were happy to make peace with the Sarpic when it suited them, particularly if it left them free to pursue their other enemies, the Merquines. Thus Dadario (757–68) killed 40,000 Sarpics but also defeated the Meriquines and Ciro (774–83) made peace with the Sarpics. Under King Radamancio I (791–842), the kingdom was firmly established. The ethnic distinction between the Cognatish-Caphiravian population and the Kosal had largely disappeared by this time (the Kosal language lost its last and probably already declining function as a church language when the Kosali converted to Catholicism in 589).This newfound unity found expression in increasingly severe persecution of outsiders, especially the Jews. The Kosal Code (completed in 654) abolished the old tradition of having different laws for Caphirians and for Kosali. The 7th century saw many civil wars between factions of the aristocracy. The Kosali also developed the highly influential law code known in Western Sarpedon as the Kosali Code , which would become the basis for Pelaxian law throughout the Middle Ages.

Middle Ages

Pelaxia in the Early Middle Ages

Under the Catholic Kosali nobles, the feudal system proliferated, and monasteries and bishoprics were important bases for maintaining the rule. The Kosali were romanized Western Sarpedonians and were to keep the “Caphiravian order” against the hordes of Ladri, Rati, Losa and Rastri. The Treaty of Agrila of 943 assigned the western part of modern Pelaxia to the House of Castro-Brine, ruled by Luciano II, and the eastern part to the eastern Agrilan Duke of Agrila. During the 12th century the counts of Santialche, vassals of Adolfo Duke of Agrila, founded many cities, the most important being Alimoche in 1120, Fatides in 1157, and Barcegas in 1191. The Santialche dynasty ended with the death of Balbino in 1218, and their cities subsequently thus became independent, while the dukes of Kazofort competed with the Albalitorian Warden house of Castro-Brine over control of the rural regions of the former Santialche territory. The rise of the Castro-Brine dynasty gained momentum when their main local competitor, the Kazofort dynasty, died out and they could thus bring much of the territory south of the Rayado River under their control. Subsequently, they managed within only a few generations to extend their influence through Savria in south-eastern regions. Under the Horiz rule, the Picos passes in Montia and the San Alberto Pass gained importance. Especially the latter became an important direct route through the mountains. The construction of the "Devil’s Bridge" (Puente del Diablo) across the Picos Centrales in 1198 led to a marked increase in traffic on the mule track over the pass. While some of the "Free Communities" (Comunidades Libres, i.e. Montia, Cevedo, and Bajofort) were Imperolibertos the Castro-Brine still claimed authority over some villages and much of the surrounding land. While Cevedo was Imperoliberti in 1240, the castle of Nueva Brine was built in 1244 to help control Lake Lucrecia and restrict the neighboring Forest Communities. In 1273 the rights to the Comunidades were sold by a cadet branch of the Habsburgs to the head of the family, Laín II. Laín II was therefore the ruler of all the Imperoliberti communities as well as the lands that he ruled as a Castro-Brine. Laín II instituted a strict rule in his homelands and raised the taxes tremendously to finance wars and further territorial acquisitions. As king, he finally had also become the direct liege lord of the Comunidades Libres, which thus saw their previous independence curtailed. On the April 16, 1291 Laín bought all the rights over the town of Lucrecia and the abbey estates in Bajofort from Abbey. The Comunidades saw their trade route over Lake Lucrecia cut off and feared losing their independence. When Laín died on July 15, 1291 the Comunidades prepared to defend themselves. On August 1, 1291 a League was made between the Comunidades Libres for mutual defense against a common enemy.

The 14th century

With the opening of the Gastian Pass in the 13th century, the territory of Central Pelaxia, primarily the valleys of Montia, had gained great strategical importance and was granted Imperoliberti by the Horiz monarchs of Agrila. This became the nucleus of the Montian Confederacy, which during the 1330s to 1350s grew to incorporate its core of "eleven provinces" The 14th century in the territory of modern Pelaxia was a time of transition from the old feudal order administrated by regional families of lower nobility (such as the houses of Babafort, Estreniche, Fegona, Fatides, Foronafort, Gouganaca, Huega, Tolefe, Terrafort, Rimiranol, Tarabefort, Santialche etc.) and the development of the powers of the late medieval period, primarily the first stage of the meteoric rise of the House of Castro-Brine, which was confronted with rivals in Agrila and Sebardoba. The free imperial cities, prince-bishoprics and monasteries were forced to look for allies in this unstable climate, and entered a series of pacts. Thus, the multi-polar order of the feudalism of the High Middle Ages, while still visible in documents of the first half of the 14th century such as the Codex Manesse or the Montia armorial gradually gave way to the politics of the Late Middle Ages, with the Montian Confederacy wedged between Castro-Brine Pelaxia, the Kingdom of Agrila, the Duchy of Sebardoba and the Duchy of Ficetia. Babafort had taken an unfortunate stand against Castro-Brine in the battle of Scafaleno in 1289, but recovered enough to confront Fatides and then to inflict a decisive defeat on a coalition force of Castro-Brine, Sebardoba and Abubilla in the battle of Lupita in 1339. At the same time, Castro-Brine attempted to gain influence over the cities of Lucrecia and Zaralava, with riots or attempted coups reported for the years 1343 and 1350 respectively. This situation led the cities of Lucrecia, Zaralva and Babafort to attach themselves to the Montian Confederacy in 1332, 1351, and 1353 respectively. The catastrophic 1356 Abubilla earthquake which devastated a wide region, and the city of Abubilla was destroyed almost completely in the ensuing fire. The balance of power remained precarious during the 1350s to 1380s, with Castro-Brine trying to regain lost influence; Alberto II besieged Zaralva unsuccessfully, but imposed an unfavourable peace on the city in the treaty of Reifort. In 1375, Castro-Brine tried to regain control over the Savria with the help of Caphiric mercenaries. After a number of minor clashes, it was with the decisive Confederated victory at the battle of Campes in 1386 that this situation was resolved. Castro-Brine moved its focus westward and lost all possessions in its ancestral territory with the Confederated annexation of Brine in 1416, from which time the Montian Confederacy stood for the first time as a political entity controlling a contiguous territory. Meanwhile, in Abubilla, the citizenry was also divided into a pro-Castro and an anti-Castro faction.

Termian Wars

Initially in 1469, Lord Warden Emigdio of Castro-Brine of Albalitor assigned his possessions in the Termia as a fiefdom to the Duke of Barakaldo, Tristán, to have them protected better against the expansion of the Montian Confederacy. Tristán's involvement west of the Confederacy gave him no reason to attack the confederates as Emigdio had wanted, but his embargo politics against several confederate communes, directed by his reeve Pedro de Goito, prompted these to turn to Agrila for help. Tristán's expansionist strategy suffered a first setback in his politics when his attack on the Archbishopric of Cuenca failed after the unsuccessful Siege of Gandía (1474–75). In a second phase, Emigdio sought to achieve a peace agreement with the Montian confederates, which eventually was concluded in Agrila in 1474. He wanted to buy back his Termia possessions from Tristán, which the latter refused. Shortly afterwards, de Goito was captured and executed by decapitation in Termia, and the Monts, united with the Termia cities and Emigdio of Castro-Brine in an "anti-Barakaldo league", conquered part of the Barakaldian land when they won the Battle of Alcoy in November 1474. The next year, Agrilan forces conquered and ravaged Vadia, which belonged to the Duchy of Savria, who was allied with Tristán. In 1476 Tristán retaliated and marched to Jumilla, which belonged to Didac of Savria, but which had recently been taken by the Confederates, where he had the garrison hanged or drowned in the lake despite their capitulation. When the Montian confederate forces arrived a few days later, he was defeated in the Battle of Jumilla, and he was forced to flee the battlefield, leaving behind his artillery and many provisions and valuables. Having rallied his army, he was dealt a devastating blow by the confederates in the Battle of Monforte. Tristán raised a new army, but fell in the Battle of Funes in 1477, where the Confederates fought alongside an army of Prince Reginaldo of Baja Litoria.

Early Modern History

Great Kingdom of Pelaxia

Jerónimo I of Pelaxia "the Edifier"

In 1685, the Union of Termia was signed between Reginaldo Castro-Brine of Alabalitoria and Jerónimo de Garza, the Grand Duke of Agrila, the Head Chancellor of the Montian Confederacy. The act arranged for Reignaldo's daughter Josefina to marry Jerónimo, which established the beginning of the Pelaxian Kingdom. The union strengthened both regions in their shared opposition to the newly formed Kingdom of Savria under King Didac l, self-appointed protector of the south, and the Dominate of Caphiria. The intention of the union was to create a common state under Albalitorian law, with the support of the ruling oligarchy in the Montian Confederacy. Castro-Brine would gain access to the trade passes through the Picos into the Dominate of Caphiria, while the Confederates would gain access to Albalitorian ports and sea routes. Thus, in the Jeronimian period, Pelaxia developed as a feudal state with a predominantly agricultural economy and an increasingly dominant mercantile nobility. The Cortes Regium act adopted by Jerónimo established the Corte General in 1686 and in 1705 transferred most of the legislative power in the state from the monarch to the Corte. This event marked the beginning of the period known as "Golden Liberty", when the state was ruled by the "free and equal" members of the Pelaxian aristocracy and nobility. Between 1686 and 1772, Pelaxia was ruled by a succession of constitutional monarchs of the Jeronimian dynasty. The political influence of the Jeronimian kings gradually diminished during this period, while the landed nobility took over an ever-increasing role in central government and national affairs. The royal dynasty, however, had a stabilizing effect on Pelaxia’s politics. The Jeronimian Era is often regarded as a period of maximum political power, great prosperity, and in its later stage, a Golden Age of Pelaxian culture.

Agriculture-based economic expansion

A large-scale system of agricultural production based on serfdom, was a dominant feature on Pelaxia’'s economic landscape beginning in the late 15th century and for the next 300 years. This dependence on nobility-controlled agriculture in Pelaxia diverged from Levantia, where elements of capitalism and industrialization were developing to a much greater extent, with the attendant growth of a bourgeoisie class and its political influence. The 16th-century agricultural trade boom combined with free or very cheap peasant labor made the folwark economy very profitable. Mining and metallurgy developed further during the 16th century, and technical progress took place in various commercial applications. Great quantities of exported agricultural and forest products floated down the rivers to be transported through ports and land routes. This resulted in a positive trade balance for Pelaxia throughout the 16th century. Imports from the East included industrial products, luxury products and fabrics. Most of the exported grain left Pelaxia through Albalitor, which quickly became the wealthiest, most highly developed, and most autonomous of the Pelaxian cities because of its location at the mouth of the Elodia River and access to the Kindred Sea. It was also by far the largest center for manufacturing. Other towns were negatively affected by Albalitor's near-monopoly in foreign trade, but profitably participated in transit and export activities. The largest of those were Agrila,Montia,Fegona, Fatides, Foronafort, Gouganaca, Huega, Tolefe, Terrafort, Rimiranol, Tarabefort, Santialche.

Savrian Wars(1508–1516)

Carlos II became pope upon the death of Jerónimo l on 18 October 1706. He was extremely concerned about the territorial expansion of the Kingdom of Savria in southern Pelaxia and its control over the Cazuano River which irrigated much of the central agricultural areas. In 1708 the circumstances were set for Charles l to invade Savria. Although the Great Pelaxian Army destroyed much of the Savrian forces at the Battle of Sogas on May 14, 1709, it failed to capture Sarua. Carlos l mounted another in 1710 but was defeated at the Battle of Casadevall on June 6, 1713. The Battle of Casadevall would be the last in which the traditional Pelaxian tactic of charging in three columns would be used. On January 1, 1715 Carlos died and was succeeded to the throne of Pelaxia by his nephew, Francisco I. Francisco I continued Carlos' war against the Savrian’s by leading an army against them at Sarua on September 13–14, 1715. This victory decisively broke the string of victories that the Savrians had enjoyed against the Pelaxians. Following the Battle of Sarua, Savrian crown collapsed. By the treaties of Nollola on August 13, 1716, and Albalitor, the entirety of southern Pelaxia was surrendered to the House of Castro-Brine.

19th Century

Revolution of 1852: the Republican Wars

The fall of the monarchy and the birth of the republic were due to the unpopularity of King Luciano II of the House of Girojon, from his irresponsible behavior and absolutist tendency during the government of the Liberal Party. The monarch's inoperative attitude towards parliamentary government would seem to go against his constitutional role, by not designating the lords recommended by Prime Minister Botello for his House. Luciano ll would come to name a group of ultra-loyal lords that would form the group known as Casta Luciano.

The king was in open rebellion against the Law of Lords of 1846, sanctioned during the reign of his father, the late Enzo V. The legislation eliminated the hereditary designation of the lords to his camera, being an emblem of republican dye of the prevailing one Liberal Party. The law marked the "official" beginning of the political split between monarchists and republicans, a fracture that would be both social and military. The resistances and inoperacies of Luciano II would provoke such a level of irritation into the military class that a large group of high-ranking, Republican-line officers aligned with the Liberal government would begin to plan his deposition.

Prime Minister Botello would try to reform the Law of Lords, seeking to establish the obligation of the monarch to appoint the lords recommended by head of Government. This proposed amendment was rejected in the House of Lords. Subsequently, Luciano ll would request his resignation to his Chancellor and later the Prime Minister. This action would initiate the military uprising in Agrila in 1852, led by General Solorio Torres. The victory of Solorio Torres, who was beginning to stalk the capital, along with the following uprisings in Monte, Villa Gigonza and Terrero would seal the Republican triumph. Without military or political support, the monarchy had seen its last days. The liberal government eliminated the nobility titles and the House of Lords, and forced Luciano ll into exile. In addition, the administration of Botello would allow the local election of provincial governors through their respective parliaments, from which would benefit the military leaders who participated in the uprising.

Consolidation of Federalism (1876)

Although the deposition of the monarchy in 1852 culminated in the granting of greater provincial autonomy, the House of Lords, although eliminated, was not replaced. Towards the end of 1875, after the military defeat in the Palmo-Cartadania War, the government of the liberal Gamboa Galarza would seek to form a national military force, unlike the different provincial military forces, which at the time made Pelaxian military.

Seven governors of the East openly opposed to the proposition of the Prime Minister and, as exponents of the new federalist movement, demanded the establishment of a second parliamentary chamber representing the provinces whose members were directly elected by each governor. The refusal of Gamboa Galarza would instigate the uprising of three provinces in open secession (Montia, Mirlia and Cafir). Faced with the threat of a general uprising and the suspected support of the likely "Eastern Confederation" by Caphiria, Parliament deposed Prime Minister Gamboa Galarza. His successor, the Democrat Raúl Solís, would reach an agreement with the provincial governments, embodied in the constitutional reform of 1876, from which would establish the Senate and the federal character of the republic in legal and tributary terms. In return, the provinces yielded to the elimination of their militas.

Raúl Arsenio Solís Vélez: the modern Pelaxian state (1876 - 1896)

"Raúl Solís" in 1898

Once the Parliament elected him, in the following months federal courts were organized in all the provinces. It also sanctioned a new commercial code. Solís educational policy was oriented to the extension and unification of secondary education, with the idea of ​​extending liberal ideas among young people who could access it; national schools were founded in 30 provinces. The construction of the Federal Pelaxian Railroad network began in 1880. During his regime it was founded, on November 15, 1887, the Central Railroad. It allowed to connect the provinces of Agrila, and Cafir through Monte.

The 1880 to 1900 period saw the development of Pelaxia's industrial capacity. Rapid urban growth also enlarged Albalitor, which incorporated its industrial suburb Costilla Blanca into the municipality in 1891. Oil emerged as a significant factor in Pelaxia's economy with the foundation of the CoPeN (Corporación Petrolera Nacional, later PetroPel), the Pelaxian Oil Corporation in 1879.

Domestic Affairs

In domestic policy Solís pursued a conservative state-building strategy designed to make ordinary Pelaxians—not just his own elite—more loyal to the Republic, implementing the modern welfare state in Pelaxian in the 1880s.

Solis' efforts also initiated the levelling of the enormous differences between the provinces, which had been independent in their evolution for centuries, especially with legislation. The completely different legal histories and judicial systems posed enormous complications, especially for national trade. In 1871, a common Criminal Code was introduced; in 1877, common court procedures were established in the court system , civil procedures and criminal procedures.

Solia worked closely with large industry and aimed to stimulate Pelaxian economic growth by giving workers greater security. A secondary concern was trumping the Socialists, who had no welfare proposals of their own and opposed Solis'.

Solis' idea was to implement welfare programs that were acceptable to conservatives without any heavy socialistic aspects. He was dubious about laws protecting workers at the workplace, such as safe working conditions, and the regulation of women's and child labor. He believed that such regulation would force workers and employers to reduce work and production and thus harm the economy. Solis opened debate on the subject in November 1881 in the using the term practical Christianity to describe his program. Solis' program centred squarely on insurance programs designed to increase productivity, and focus the political attentions of Pelaxian workers on supporting the Federal government. The program included, limitation of work hours, sickness insurance, accident insurance, disability insurance, and a retirement pension, none of which were then in existence to any great degree.

Pelaxerization

Federal and provincial government bureaucracies attempted to Pelaxize the provincial national minorities situated near the borders: the Cartadanias at the North, the Savrians in the South and Caphirians in the East. As PM, Solís "sorted people into their linguistic and religious 'tribes'"; he pursued a policy of hostility in particular toward the Caphirians. "He never had a Caphirian among his peasants" working the Solisian provinces. It was the educated Caphirian born bourgeoisie and Savrian revolutionaries he denounced from personal experience.

Industry

Industrialisation progressed dynamically in Pelaxia, and Pelaxian manufacturers began to capture domestic markets from Levantine imports. The Pelaxian textile and metal industries had by 1890 superseded Cartadania and Caphirian manufacturers in the domestic market. Technological progress during Pelaxian industrialisation occurred in four waves: the dye wave (1877–1886), the railroad wave (1887–1896), the chemical wave (1897–1902), and the wave of electrical engineering (1903–1918). Since Pelaxia industrialised later than the rest of Western Ixnay, it was able to model its factories after those of Caphiria, thus making more efficient use of its capital and avoiding legacy methods in its leap to the envelope of technology. Pelaxia invested more heavily in research, especially in chemistry, motors and electricity. The Pelaxian cartel system , being significantly concentrated, was able to make more efficient use of capital. Pelaxia was not weighted down with an expensive worldwide empire that needed defense.