History of Fiannria

Most of Fiannan history is referred to the region and peoples that make up Fiannria today. In the past, the region now known as Fiannria was called by many names, most prevalent being Gaullia and Culfra or the Culfras. The history of Fiannria as a unified state goes back to 1571 with the founding of the United Kingdom of the Culfras. However, history of Culfras and by extension Fiannria as a identifiable political entity goes back even further.

Early History

Evidence of the first humans in the region that would make up modern Fiannria go back to around 13000 BC in the Late Paleolithic period. The ending of the last great Ice age and into the Mesolithic saw various proto-Celts small hunter-gatherer-fisher bands travel through the Fiannan lowlands and into the highlands. Semi-permanent fishing settlements, early pottery, and large burial sites are shown to have been established during this time

As the agricultural revolution swept its way across Levantia in the Neolithic period, permanent settlements, farming, animal husbandry, and many megalithic monuments and structures began to dot the Fiannan landscape and stone tools became widely available through the settled region. Notably, however, groups that had traveled deeper into the highlands maintained a pastoral society for quite some time still while those in the lowlands and closer to the coast were agriculturally based.

Around 2500 BC the Copper Age began sweeping through Levantia and metallurgy created an economic revolution for early Fiannan people who had access to a huge field of metal ores including gold. Early metalworking would prove to be a major part of the early Fiannan economy. This would continue by around 1700 BC with the outbreak of more advanced metallurgy of the Bronze age. During the Fiannan Bronze Age, came the sweeping of the Crannog culture, part of the early Feinii Celts who began building crannogs, cairns, and hillforts across settled lands now considered part of Fiannria. Religious practices also majorly revolved around wetlands and bogs at the time.

Before the Adonerii and Great Levantia's arrival to modern Fiannria. From around 700 BC and forward the feuding tribes of the now developed Celts divided into two subcultures, Cúchuliann Celts lived along the lowlands and coast while Feinic Celts lived in the interior and among the highlands. Trade had clearly been a major part of early Celts in Fianria since the Copper Age and this continued to be shown during the pre-Adonerii period. Development of druidic Celtic religion occurred early in this period.

The Latins of the Adonerii Empire called Great Levantia often referred to the land of modern Fiannria as ‘Gaul’, while the earliest Adoneric conquests of Gaul occurred around 200 BC. The Levantine Empire would not conquer Gaul to the Western Mountain ranges and the Vandarch until around 50 BC. Before these conquests, Clan Confederations had spread across much of Fiannriga and was starting to reach Adonerii lands leading to many conflicts. The Adonerii, by allying and promising much wealth to certain clans, subjugated much of modern Fiannria and would remain at least partially in power until 487 AD when the last Adonerii rump state was conquered. During the Adoneric Iron Age, evidence shows a great increase in traded goods from across Levantia and an advancement in infrastructure, Adoneric roads, settlements, and aqueducts set the building blocks for later civilization. Major construction of a series of fortifications and walls along western Fiannria defined Ultmar, the region beyond. Despite major inroads into modern Fiannriga, true Adonericization of the Celtic cultures there was limited to mostly the closer regions to Adoneric states. However, in the late Empire, one major Adonericization tool which would gradually spread across Fiannria was Christianity. However, the conflict between the pagan homeland religion versus Christianity from Adoneria would prove to be complex with the collapse of the old Empire and the arrival of Gothic peoples from across the Vandarch

The Migration Period and the Holy Levantine Empire

During the Migration period, starting around 375 AD, Great Levantia faced many Gothic-Germanic and Slavic invaders from the west. During the decline of the Adonerii, Feinic Christianity flourished, adapting the mythology and traditions of the Celtic peoples of Fiannria. However, as part of the migration, clan confederations of Goths arrived on the southwestern coast of modern Fiannria, along the Vandarch, and at first, began trade along the Alva River, one of the major rivers of northern Levantia. But eventually began invading from this river and onto the northern coast of Fiannria as well. This, along with the collapse of the Adoneric Empire, led to an upheaval of Celts, Gothic, and Latin petty kingdoms ultimately replacing Great Levantian presence in Gaullia (Fiannria) entirely. The decayed institutions of Great Levantia were to varying levels success attempted to become preserved. The most successful places where Adoneric knowledge was preserved were in Feinic Christian Art and monasticism which gained great popularity during this time period. It was during this period that the Gaul region became the frontlines of conversion and pagan warlords between pagan Celts, Christian Latins and Celts, and the largely still pagan Goths or Geats.

Christianization continued to have varying degrees of success in the war embroiled region. By now most Celts had adopted Christianity but they were also being subjugated and driven south and east from expanding pagan kingdoms of Norogothic clans. Given the term of Reavers and Vikings, these Germanic people built Reaver Kingdoms along the entirety of the Fiannrian coast and made use of the coast and rivers and the Vandarch to raid across Levantia. However during this period also, the Kingdom of Gallwa located in the borderlands between the modern Deric States, Fiannria and Urcea had confederated many Celtic tribes under its own protection, expanding itself into an Empire under king Conchobar In the 750s, having conquered Urceopolis, in 761 Conchobar was crowned Emperor of the Levantines. Conchobar’s descendants would rule this Holy Levantine Empire and confront the Reaver Kingdoms until 917 after Emperor Brian III died and split the realm among his sons. Fiannria was considered part of the Eastern Kingdom, ruled by King Culmann (as called by contemporaries). However, for a series of reasons that have yet to be fully understood, King Culmann, the eldest and holder of the most power, was denied the coronation as Emperor of the Levantines by the Pope.

The Levantine throne would remain vacant for almost a generation, however during the reign of Culmann and his descendants, the first feudal establishments and contracts would be made in the clannic and tribal lands of Gaul (Fiannria) as marches to defend from rogue clans and the Reavers. Eventually, in the 960s, Leo, a man of some Latin descent became King of Eastern Levantia, overthrowing the Conine dynasty there and proceeded to depose the Southern Kingdom, reestablishing the Holy Levantine Empire. Emperor Leo was crowned in 972, however, the failure to produce a legitmate heir led to turmoil and revolt and the development of an elective monarchy and the electoral college.

During this period, major gains in pushing back Gothic dominance of the coast occurred, leaving a Norse-Gael ethnic group along coastal Fiannria. To ensure the safety of retaken land, a Gall-Ghael (norse-gael) nobleman named Oulay Mac Agnar was given the title magister millitum per Gallias by the reigning Holy Levantine Emperor often referred to as the Captaincy of the North. Oulay established a fortress near the final resting place of Saint Bridget ‘the Renegade’ and soon a port community developed around the fortress, calling it Bridget’s Haven, or Brídhavn. As Captain of the North, Oulay and his descendants was tasked with the administration of Gaul and the peoples and clans within it as well as the defense of Gaul from beyond the Ultmar, where the Gothic Reavers still prospered along the Alva River from the Vandarch to the Northern coast. However, the Mac Agnar dynasty died early in 1076 in order to prevent outright upheaval in the region. Nobility, Clan leaders, and Elders met in Brídhavn in 1077 in the first Tynoach, often called the great Tynoach of 1077 Gaels, Latin-Gaels, and Gallogaels (norse-gaels) met and determined a new course of action for the people of Gallia. Every year, a Tyn would then be called in Brídhavn of the leaders of the various clans, noble houses, and families as an assembly of laws, to solve disputes and make political decisions. Every three years, the Tyn would elect an Ardrike from among themselves in the Aonach, who would hold a place similar to that of the Captain of the North.

The Realm of Culfra and the Crusades

During this period, the term Gaul and Gallia was falling out of practice in the south where it was often referred to as such with the title referring to the King Culmann of old, calling it Culfra. In 1082 a series of edicts to enforce Holy Levantine Authority over Culfra legally feudalized the clans and created stem ducal titles tied to the land the various Gaelic and Norse-Gael clans lived on. While causing some protest, and chafing of Levantine authority over the Culfran lords, nothing significant came of this while the Tyn continued to meet and the Ardrike represented the affairs of Culfra. However in 1093, at the issuing of the Emperor or those close to the Emperor, the Ardrike was removed from his position, and orders were issued for the direct rule of the Emperor, abolishing the Aonach and Tyn. The Tyn met anyway the following year and openly discussed rebellion. The situation was tense even during the start of the Crusades of Sarpedon which Culfran dukedoms participated in. However, during the Crusade, the situation at home boiled over and Culfran forces marched for Corcra, returning Culfran crusader veterans joined and the situation looked very likely a Culfran victory. However, the Golden Bull of 1098 creating the Imperial Kingdom of Urcea, which joined with the Imperial forces defeated the rebellion near the end of that same year. However, punishments on the rebellion were rather light and many concessions were made for the Culfran princes. Brídhavn was named an electoral seat and most of the Culfran Princes were welcomed back into the Imperial Diet with only moderate monetary reparations and oaths of loyalty. In Brídhavn, Emperor Carles II permitted the princes a new Aonach for the Electorate of Brídhavn and chose a man who and his descendants would be Magister Militum per Culmannia and hold the Archimarcellus High Office for the Empire as well as a Prince Elector. The man chosen was a dark horse candidate by many in the south. A Norse-Gael baron who had gained renown for his time in the Crusades and in the Culfran rebellion, Tormick Mac Iolor. Mac Iolor’s election and the period thereafter saw peace and a population boom in Culfra following the return of the Culfran Crusaders and Rebels leading a resurgence of art, scholasticism, Latinic studies, old Gaelic studies, and adventurism. As well as a growing cultural unity despite ethnic differences. These many factors led to the sprouting of the new Fianna, bands of landless wandering warrior-hunters who traveled by land and sea who would sell their service as mercenaries across Levantia and Sarpedon. As well as the foundation of several Holy Orders with Culfran involvement.

In the mid 12th century, Tormick Mac Iolor’s son and the new Magister Militum per Culmannia, Harla Mac Iolor saw an opportunity. It was a period of antebellum in the crusades in Sarpedon and Audonia and backed Freadrikr O’Boen in the establishment of a new Holy Order, the Order of the Blood and Shield of Saint Bridget or Order of the Martyr’s Shield. A saint who, along with Saint Alsandr were patrons of Culfra. While initially sponsored and established in Sarpedon. The Holy Order, with backing from Mac Iolor and the Papacy, began the Great Ultmaric Crusade. Crossing the mountains and wall that once guarded Great Levantia, young Culfrans, glory and wealth seekers, and Crusader veterans joined the Order of the Martyrs Shield in droves to challenge the Norsgeats and other Gothic Reaver kingdoms. The fighting against the northern pagans continued along the northern Vandarch well into the territory of the Slavs. Through the Ultmaric Crusade, the Order of the Martyr’s Shield became known by another name, the Ultmaric Order, which by papal orders established a temporal regime over the lands of the Reavers. In the aftermath of this Crusade, settling Gaels in lands of the Norse found the places they left being settled by Norse refugees. Meanwhile, the first Gothic Christian aristocrats began to arise in the Ultmaric Order’s realm, proving to the Levantine Catholics that these pagans could be brought to the light. Setting the foundation for future Crusades in Gothica and Ultmar.

The peace and adventurism of the mid 12th to the early 13th centuries gave way to the crisis in the north called the Gallowglass Wars. While working to build constructive and peaceful synergy between the Latins, Gaels, Goths, and Slavs now under the Mac Iolor administration, arguments over cultural sentiments, ancestral lands, and wealth often led to descension to chaos and fistfights in the annual Tyn, now called the Altyn. Attempts to institute smaller Tyns across regions of Culfra failed after the assassination of Gregair Mac Iolor by Culfran Princes opposed to the Prince-Electors political maneuvering to gain more control over the Culfran Princes. Gregair’s death sparked the first in a series of conflicts called the Gallowglass Wars or the Foreign Gael Wars. The collapse of the central authority of the Prince-Elector of Bridhavn with Gregair’s heir, Wualderic, a boy of five led to absolute chaos and warfare between Norse-Gaels, Goths, Slavs, Gaels, and Latins fighting amongst one another for any which reason from land to pride. The Sack of Bridhavn in 1222 drove the main line of the Mac Iolor dynasty to extinction. With the Prince-Elector seat now up for grabs, the years of conflict were called to a sudden and uneasy truce for the first Altyn consisting of all Culfran princes since before the death of Gregair over a decade beforehand. The debates for the next Prince-Elector and Magister Militum nearly broke into open bloodshed several times over the course of two and half months which led to the support of two different heirs, Raemon af Derrickhalle and Alsandr Mac Magen. On the day the final vote was to be cast, Alsandr was stabbed by a Prince whose name was lost to the history books, and the riot of fighting that broke out killed Raemon. The camps of the two dead heirs retreated from Bridhavn and met over a series of pitched battles across Culfra in the name of the two dead heir’s sons. During these battles, the fame of Culfran soldiers such as the Galllowglass, Kerns, Huskarls, and Landschnekt met popularity alike to Deric Knights among the Empire. However, it was a sea battle of Culfran birlinn longships that in truth ended the conflict when the Derrickhalle faction attempted to strike Bridhavn by sea to cut a decisive blow from behind the Mac Magen forces. However, a force of longships and birlinn made a desperate defense in the Shalla Firth which saw an irrecoverable number of Derrickhalle supporters killed spelling victory for the mac Magens.

Princedoms of Culfra in the Great Plague

With the Gallowglass Wars at an end in 1234, Sinclair mac Magen was named the new Prince Elector of Bridhavn. Notably, however, he was not named Magister Militum per Culmannia, signifying a decentralization forced by the Culfran Princes that brought mac Magen to power. This decentralization of authority allowed Culfran princes to have more autonomy in affairs and reign more independently which would eventually lead to different cultural backgrounds and dialects spread across Culfra as the unifying bonds the Magister Militum held were broken. However, the Altyn continued every year and it was during this period of relative peace that lots of modern Fiannan culture developed from the popularization of Tyns and other assemblies among freemen, festivals and holiday gaining popularity, as well as Fianna mercenaries, became of great demand across Levantia and beyond afterword of the renown of Culfra warriors were spread following the Gallowglass Wars. During this period also did the first Culfran Universities develop and Culfran traders and explorers traveled further than ever before.

The fourteenth century saw both great triumphs and disasters for modern-day Fiannria. Culfran princes had gained more autonomy during the previous century and were restabilizing following the Gallowglass Wars and other smaller conflicts. The strengthening Culfran princes saw opportunities for grabs of power and new lands. Extending its reach further into Slavica and Gothica and also making gains into Dericania. However, the powers gained by the Culfran Princes during the early fourteenth century did little to prepare Culfra and Levantia as a whole for the arrival of the Great Plague in 1347. The plague swept through Culfran lands without mercy like a wildfire and the crisis saw not only people turn to faith in hordes, but also turn to heresy during the period. Free Spirit heretics in the west within the Ultmaric Order’s territory and Fraticelli movements in southern Culfra caused heated strife in the lethal climate. The Great Plague heavily afflicted Culfra killing millions and upwards of half of the Culfran population at the time. It would take centuries for Culfra to regain its population numbers before the Plague. The devastation of the Plague after it faded away in 1351 left the survivors reeling and seeking recovery, turned inward for the rest of the century.

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The Rennaissance and The Anarchy

After near a century of relative peace and restabilization from the Great Plague, trade had started to resume and spike abroad and scholarship and study of the ancients began to become popular, starting in Dericania lands and moving north into Culfra where scholarship of the humanities grew extremely popular leading to what contemporaries called the Dual Monarchy of Science and Scholarship, referring to Theology and Humanities. The study of ancient classics and artistry grew very popular while also strides into science and reason were delved into with great fervor. During the fifteenth century a major change was occurring through deft marriages, political alliances, and inheritances which made Culfra a shifting climate of political and dynastic ties, de jure united within the HLE but nonetheless competing with one another for dominance of Culfra. Competition in Culfra and abroad saw Culfran adventurist princedoms establish trading companies and new territories in Alshar and Audonia. During this period, Culfra came to be dominated by several major political dynasties. It was during this period also another name began being coined in the developing native tongues of the region, variations of the word Finnrik, Fiannri, and various other terms as a popularized northern name for the region instead of the Latinic Culfra and the older Gaullia.

As the popularization of inventions such as the printing press allowed for mass access to books, The Anarchy in the Holy Levantine Empire with the Protestant Reformation sparked as well caused great upheaval in Culfra. The Anarchy was a period of great political and social upheaval. While conflicts in the Jazonid Wars and the Sedicimal Plague would define the period along with the economic depression and famine, a major part of the period in the northern Holy Levantine Empire was the Wars for the Cross, the northern theatre of the Great Confessional War.

The early stages of the Protestant Reformation saw the sweeping conversion of Culfran princes and their citizens to the Protestant faith and Reformed christian faiths, tense internal conflicts would spread like wildfire as Catholic princes sought to rid their lands of Protestants, Protestants attempted to do the same, all the while Princes who attempted to tolerate both saw conflicts break out anyways. The early popular internal conflicts led to more radical forms of Protestantism taking root as well.

Midway through the century following the defeat of Angla in the Nordmontaine War, the internalized strife of Christian sects through the Catholic world turned into an open conflict between the Princedoms with the formation of the Evangelic Union and the Holy League. The patchwork of alliances and nations in Culfra disintegrated overnight as new lines were drawn and armies were gathered to battle across the Levantine conflict. This was largely due to the aggressive nature following the beginning of Counter-Reformation in the south leading to a breakdown of diplomacy between negotiations and compromises attempted to be made to return northern Protestants back into the fold. The aggressive, military action taken against Protestants in the south led to their militarization and union with Protestants across Levantia and the inflammation of rhetoric and hate between the sects, ultimately collapsing into the Wars for the Cross.

The Wars of the Cross spanned several decades following its breakout in the 1540s and saw the rise of several prominent families to positions of power during the conflict for religious dominance. Among those families were the O'Rourke dynasty, McCall dynasty, and the Hessian dynasty. These families became leaders of the different factions fighting through the period but by the mid-1550s, members of the O'Rourke dynasty had ascended to the position of the Prince-Elector of Brídhavn and undisputed leaders of the northern faction of the Holy League. Great atrocities were committed during this time amongst the pitched battles between Catholic and Protestant lords were the raiding and killings of Culfran peasantry and free men. Including the onset of the Dragonnades.

Eventually, in 1571, as seen in many other parts of Levantia, the Holy League came out on top and the Prince-Elector of Brídhavn held a vast majority of the seized lands of the Protestant lords, a network and vassals and loyal, weaker, and allied Culfran princedoms and bisophrics. Through popular and political will, the Holy Levantine Emperor was recognized and the Pope crowned Alexander O'Rourke I as King of the Culfras and Captain of the North. For the first time in her history, uniting Culfras under a Culfran and what would later be called Fiannria.

The United Kingdom of the Culfras and her Golden Age

Following Alexander O'Rourke I's coronation and establishment of the United Kingdom of the Culfras, historians account for the one hundred and thirty years as a period of peace, prosperity, and success for the new Kingdom. Often called a Northern Golden Age from 1571-1705. The O’Rourkian dynasty ruled a pacified Culfras during a period where the dragonnades and mass expulsions of Protestants had come to an end and those that were left had been granted religious freedom to practice in certain regions of Culfra and also in Soirwind (Sheer-Vind). Which was a consolidated colonial area of Culfran trade companies in Alshar, given a royal monopoly.  Creating a base of operations for the future Culfran(Fiannria) Alshar Trade Company versus the Burgundian Alshar Trade Company conflict of economies.  Culfras was at peace at home and the Kings of Culfras were praised rulers for the people. Starting from the Dragonnades, and into the O’Rourke rule, centralization and a decline in noble autonomy were carried out, adopting absolutionism. Notable agreements and marital ties were formed amongst other Levantine states, within the Empire and beyond, but also abroad in the Occidental world. The cultural differences amongst Culfras were mitigated through common religion and common writing, as well as lords and administrators being of their own culture. Culfran kingdom, its colonial empire, and ties it built across the Vandarch are still romanticized in Fiannria to this day.

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War of Culfran Succession and the League of Culfras

In 1705, King Alexander III and his heir apparent  Princess Diana O’Rourke passed away early from a sudden and vicious battle with pneumonia. The question of succession grew violent rather quickly due to foreign interests in the cadet dynasties tied to other nations in Levantia. This vicious war by some was considered the first Civil War of Fiannria/Culfra as Princes, Prince-Archbishops, and Free Cities took sides of various backed powers among the other states of the Holy Levantine Empire and beyond it. The Crisis devolved into a further crisis as neighboring Fhainerian fell into a succession crisis as well. This led to a trans-Gaeldom war and propositions of forming a union state of the two nations. This conflict became known as the 1st Kin War. By Late 1717 the crisis in Faneria was resolving and the war exhaustion in Fiannria led to the  1718 Convention of Bridhavn.

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In the 1718 Convention of Bridhavn, Princes, Imperial Representatives, Prince Archbishops, and Aristocrats convened to find a new agreement for governance. Many foundational documents that would set the foundation for the future Commonwealth were made at this convention. Among those was the O’Rourkian Disinheritance. Concluding that the main dynastic line of the reigning dynasty was extinguished and the cadet and dynastic relatives too numerous and distant from the main line, the remains of the O’Rourkian Dynasty do not represent the Culfran interests and will therefore not be recognized as potential inheritors. Among the other verdicts from the convention was the formation of the Culfran League. A biannual assembly at the Tyn of Bridhavn with members being from every member princedom, bisophric, and the free city would oversee the business of the member Princedoms with an annually elected Magister of the Tyn who would oversee the governing body and could call for emergency Tynmoots. Along with agreeing to meet as they did under the Kingdom of Culfra to pass laws regarding the Culfran League and promises of mutual defense of foriegn incursion. Ratifying the declaration of the League and recieving recogniton from the rest of the Holy Levantine Empire.

Following the establishment of this confederation infighting certainly decreased and prosperity returned to the country after what was a decade of war. This period is popularly known for a period of the Kilikas Enlightenment, thoughts on governance and the prusuit of happiness that dominated the intellectual scene of Fiannria among other states. It was widely embraced enlightenment principles among the aristocracy and middle class but conservative elements remained that worried against what they called radical enlightenment anti-governmentalism and anti-clericalism. However these ideas were promoted and prospered during this time and the popularization of Lanntyns as local democratic instutions spread from rural cantons and free cities into more regions of Culfras

As time went on popular movements for a united Culfras or as nationalist thinkers began to call for a united nation, not of the Kingdoms of the Culfras but one state called a land of the free warriors as a national myth of the past, Fiannria. However, while democratization, nationalism, and enlightenment principles spread through the growing middle class, the ruling class of nobility and aristocracy continued to drift apart and seek independence from the disparate lands of the League. This infighting, still only in the Tyn grew tenser leading to an almost inoperative League. By 1781 this was clear not just to members of the Holy Levantine Empire but beyond as well. In 1784 the Second Kin War broke out between Faneria and the Culfran League. The bloody war spelled out the ineptitude and failures of the League and its military as states of the League began operating independently and trying to make peace deals individually with Faneria rather than as a League, betraying and shattering its unity.

Collapse of the League and the Crisis at the Turn of the Century

As the conflict ended in Fanerian victory while the armies of the League were largely decimated and demoralized, the League began facing crisis after crisis as marches in the streets by lower and middle class protesters sought anything and everything from government reform, revolution, to even as simple as bread. Protests took place across the states of the League and noble leaders called on their fellow League members to support suppressing their revolts but to no avail. With now even the very basic tenets agreed upon of the League being outrightly ignored in 1794 for the first time since the founding of the League, no members arrived at Bridhavn setting into stone the failure of the Confederation. What followed was 6 years of infighting. Either states against states or states against revolutionaries looking to overthrow the regimes that had lost Culfran lands and betrayed the League. The fighting eventually however cooled to where a new Congress of Birdhavn in 1799 was held, however, the makeup of this Congress was very different from the one decades before. Among nobles, aristocrats, and clergymen were also democratically elected leaders, or at the very least revolutionary leaders who claimed to want democratic reform among them. While the Congress began in 1799 there were many points that the Congress came to a near breaking point and points where it was a stagnant Congress however eventually a new government was made.

The Commonwealth of Fiannria and the Fiannan Brothers War

In 1801 a copy of a Charter was sent out and shared in every town square and every city of the Culfras, declaring the foundation of the Commonwealth of Fiannria. Enumerating rights and ideas of governance born from the Kilikas Enlightenment and Rights of Man within a new Republican government based on Democratic principles, consisting of the Lands of Culfras. The Commonwealth would hold its first Election the following year under this new government but for the time the Congress of Bridhavn would serve as the legislative body and in place of the first elected President, Marshal of the Commonwealth, a temporary executive until the first election was named. The Marshalship was given to Count Otto Chrichton. The peace was still an uneasy one as the Great Levantine Experiment began.

The first Fiannan National Election however did not play out as what idealists hoped. Quickly, factions developed across the first Tyn and the Cuilann elections quickly they devolved into a standoff of two groups Comhþháil Náisjúnta Fiannan the National Congress of Fiannria and Comhdalag Culfras, the Alliance of Culfras. The National Congress was aligned with a wide alliance of Republicans, Constitutionalists, Revolutionaries, and Radicals while the Alliance of Culfras was primarily made of traditionalists, monarchists and nobles, and clergy at the threat of Radicalism within the National Congress. What later evidence made clear is that both sides exploited this initial election and committed fraud in an effort to win. On the night of the election, both sides that claimed victory denounced the opposing side, and established their own separate All Tyn and elected President of the Commonwealth. A standoff for three months of 1802 broke out into war. A lament to the veterans of the last Kin War to watch their sons march out to fight their brothers of this new Commonwealth. Vicious fighting of militias and newly formed standing Commonwealth armies clashed. What made this a controversy was that previously Imperial armies would march forth and fight with the Culfrans, but atleast at this time, the Holy Levantine Empire did not recognize the Commonwealth. Over the next year and a half villages, towns, and cities were split in half and fought over. In mid-1804, secret talks began between moderate Republicans and moderates in the Alliance of Culfras to obtain peace, establish a national discussion, and right the wrongs both sides committed through the conflict. From mediatsation and reworking boundaries, along with harsh suppression of individuals and suspension of habeas corpus many wrongs were committed. When an agreement was made by this secret accord and joint coup occurred to put down the more radical leadership of both sides and met in Bridhavn to hold a peace settlement and prepare for a new election.

The Early Commonwealth

As part of the peace settlements, the nobility was promised continued stipend and promise of estate while they were removed from required positions of government, the reduction of power was placed on ecclesiatical estates as a new government bureaucracy was being formed to direct the immediacy and local issues. However, noble, ecclesiastic, and free city privileges were given and respected in the Empire along with the Commonwealth’s membership in the Empire.

These were all reforms under the new Provisional Government of the Commonwealth until 1807 were the second National Elections took place, and many placed their hope that this National Elections would be successful and the Commonwealth could be saved.

The Second Election of the Commonwealth of Fiannria went with few issues. The pacification effort of the Provisional Government proved successful in taming the tensions of the various factions. During this election even, the political clubs and factions started to develop into political parties within the new country, following the rule of law to advocate for ideals of the democratic and republican system.

While the Second election was a success in the sense it was a peaceful election, that didn’t mean that there was a stable power in control of the government. The first six years and two elections saw a series of minority coalition governments that collapsed and reformed multiple times in just the term of the first President.

These early years the development of a new federal army, navy, maintaining the colonies and trade companies in Alshar as well as reconstruction and rehabilitation to the new government all vied for a place as the most important mission of the government, all the while trying to figure out the role and place of the nobles, clergy and the nation of Fiannria within the Holy Levantine Empire.

The Third Kin War and the Age of Industry

This work to build the new nation faced a major crisis early on still. The neighbor Faneria which caused or escalated the collapse of the League struck the young Republic again in the Third Kin War. This war struck deep in the hearts of the young nation after it was soundly defeated and much of the Fiannria Vandarch taken and the still developing army and navy crippled by the Fanerian advance. This shame however turned to rage and revanchism. Infuriated Fiannrians were angry at everyone, from the lack of support from the Empire to the perceived government failures to the theft of Fiannan lands. With the war over in 1823, this anger poured over into the polls the followed year.

In the election of 1823, the Fiann Party would soundly win the election and develop a majority coalition, establishing a strong government for the first time in the Commonwealth’s history. Fiann party was a very national party, with revanchist and reconstruction platforms. By this time the terrors and anger of the Brother War has almost faded away and dispersed towards the outward focus of defending this new nation from outside threat and building it up strong again. During this period controversies of authoritarianism and sale of territory were pushed to the side as necessary in the name of national polity and strength. This period was known for a famous quote by a President in his inauguration calling this was the era of the nation’s “Great March” it was time for the nation to march forward and stand at the same level as the other great nations of the world. Companies, factories and railways seemed to pop up overnight as the young business elite took to building a business empire at home and abroad.

The relationship between the Holy Levantine Empire and this new Republic had faced a tense and difficult relationship over the past two decades following the Kin War, there were difficulties before that but the relationship was strained following the non-intervention of the Empire in the Third Kin War. Finally, in the 1840s a rapprochement between the members of the Empire and the Commonwealth began. A treaty was drafted which renegotiated the relationship of Culfra as it applied to Fiannria. This Feullian system allowed mutual respect of the Empire and Emperor and the role and respect of the President of the Commonwealth.

During this period as a resumption of friendly relations among the empire, trade and industrial power flourished in the Commonwealth. Questions of hereditary nobility in the Commonwealth continued to plague the nation along with questions of autonomy of the States of within the Commonwealth. For a long time, the legal status of the nobility sat in limbo, especially with the issue of the Electors of Culfra and their status in the Empire. While the Elector of Bridhavn became a title of the early Presidents, the ducal electors remained in the hands of the nobles whose titles and territory was in question, despite the initial settlements following the Fiann Civil War, Republicans continued to press for equal representation and diminishment of any former noble titles. It became almost a cyclical event of Republicans of the Fian Party increasing taxation on estates and challenging nobles in litigation and saw a restoration of some of those losses by the Concord Party this back and forth would carry on through this period as nobles sought to tie themselves to the growing capitalist wealthy and too noble families of other nations to survive.

Commonwealth Gilded Age and Imperial Ambition

The late 1800s saw a resurgent Fiannria on the world stage, looking to cast itself in the great affairs of the world and resume its affairs in earnest in Alshar and Audonia. Through mercantile expeditions, gunboat diplomacy, and military adventurism Fiannria ensured the continued status of Soirwind and the expansion of Fiannan influence through the region via treaties and concession cities- administered by the General Board of Commonwealth Concessions (GBCC).

But while the rewards of Imperialism were reaped abroad, this did not reflect the issues back in Levantia, the wealth of the business elite and the poor conditions of the working class became a point of growing division, tension, strikes, protests, and even battles in the street. Fiannria at first struggled to confront this growing class conciousness, education, and organization however before this problem truly reared its head; A War with Faneria broke out once again, but Faneria was not prepared or equipped for Fiannria this time around and soundly lost territories Fiannria facing many defeats on land and sea. (TBExpanded)

But even with the laurels of this victory, the workers and now come home soldiers felt betrayed and unheard by the government, and that frustration poured out in the polls but not entirely in the workers' favor, however. The Fiannan Socialist Party candidate for President won the highest office in the land in 1891, however the FSP did not have the absolute majority nor the cooperation of the other parties in the Tyn to win control of government- forcing, not without struggle for the Socialist President to select a Fiann Party Chancellor. This forced an essentially hung government and for Socialist President to achieve any sort of legislative or political action, it was moderated, diluted, and compromised by the mainstream parties. This problem did not resolve itself in the midterms and at the end of their Presidency, the writings of Distributism had popularized itself enough following the writings of Rerum novarum the the Catholic Theocrats, Agrarians, Socialists, and Republicans formed a Solidarity Party which challenged and overtook the FSP and won control of the Tyn on some occasions over the two terms of the Solidarity President but faced a a crisis of party identity in the first decade of the 20th century. The next two decades however would lead to other third parties winning the Presidency and it appeared the main parties of the old Commonwealth would never regain their seat in charge of the Commonwealth. This period saw popular, if not also controversial policies become mainstream for periods of times as the ebb and flow of instability accosted the Commonwealth political system. Socialists, Populists, Nationalists, Georgists, Distributists, and even Monarchists filled the Tyn Hall among the Republicans and historic political parties.

Levantine Civil War

In the early 1930's agitation because the general economic depression felt across Levantia and the world was turning into political extremes and agitation in the Deric states where nationalists and republicans began to mobilize. In both an effort to support democratization, nationalism, and republicanism, and also a realpolitik maneuver to weaken what the Fiannan government felt were the domineering powers of southern Levantia, began to tacitly and eventually secretly support with materials and volunteers. This all came to a head with the outbreak of war in the Derics in 1934. Throughout this period, while reports were given of potential Caphiric interference leading to the Derian uprising, the Fiannan government dismissed it as an impossibility. As Urcea and Burgundie allied to put down the uprising, Fiannria promised to maintain its border integrity from the nationalists, but still provided support to the uprising. Alarms began to ring for the upper military staff both in Alshar when Kloistani and Daxian declared war on Burgundie and irregular military movements across the Fanerian border were warning signs of something more was occuring than an uprising. However, the government remained dismissive until in October 1934, when Faneria declared war in a surprise invasion of Fiannria. Supplies to the Derian nationalists ceased and diplomatic overtures were made to the Urceans and Burgundians as evidence became clear of the Caphrian influence in the outbreak of conflict in the Derics, Alshar, and the attack from Faneria.

The Second Great War- the Fifth Kin War

With the October 1934 invasion by Faneria and the revelation of the orchestration of Caphirians from the uprisings in Alshar, the invasion of Faneria and the uprising in the Derics. There came a large loss of prestige and respect of the current government as Fiannans, now under attack and public knowledge of the behind the scenes scheme that led to such a situation felt a common identity of Great Levantia under attack at all sides. This shift in public opinion would destabilize the Fiannan government in the early months of the war as as death tolls rose and lines fell back, already some politicians and public figures called for peace and to come to the table with Faneria. While others called for victory or death. But one organization that faced the brunt of blame and anger was the Commonwealth military, especially its high command that had been so caught unaware that the build up and manuevers leading up to the assault were dismissed as the typical border spats in Costaban instead of something larger.

With the cohesion of both the government and military in disarray it fell to individual members of the government and state who acted beyond their jurisdiction to rally any sort of response. With the beginning of the Great War between Caphiria and Urcea, diplomats acting without permission of the Secretary of State met with Urcean diplomats for rapprochement following the Dericania fiasco. Among the agreements made is the ending of support of the Deric rebellion and deploying Fianna colonial military forces to support Burgundic colonial possessions in uproar in Alshar.

While Fiannan forces, including Fiannan Air forces, make significant headway in the fight overseas. The land war at Fiannria continues to degenerate, at a slower rate but nonetheless, Fiannan forces and industry is continuing to be bled dry by Fanerian offensives. With an upcoming election and the need of a stronger government given the desperate situation, many parties agreed in a secret conference at the start of March to run a joint ticket as what they called the National Unity Party, which campaigned on the all-out push into the war effort and defending the nation. Even prior to their victory in the upcoming election later that month, the party was already acting in control of the government with major parties joining the ticket.

As part of the changes brought by the National Unity government, Burgundy and Urcea were approached for further cooperation and support in the northern conflict, citing the difficulties Fiannria’s Alshar forces would have if the situation in Fiannria became untenable. It also but full economic power into military industrialization and war bonds to support the effort, initiated conscription, and oversaw the trial and sacking of the military high command. Replacing the higher ups of the officer corps would see more issues in the short term but the Unity government gambled that these younger and new officers would breathe new life into the officer corps, its overall strategy, and the war effort.

As part of the changes was the Derics offensive which saw Fiannria put albeit limited military efforts to putting down the Derian rebellion in collaboration with Urcean forces.

Over the course of the next few years, Fiannria would continue to a battle of give and take in the river valley and into the highlands of Fiannria. Including deep offensives into the Fiannria coast. However, those would continue to remain bloody and ultimately inconclusive Fanerian offensives that were pushed back, by reorganized and well equipped Fiannrian and Urcean forces. At sea, Faneria had gained dominance of the northern seas in collaboration with Burgundie, helping to ensure secure lines to and from Alshar and Audonia, meanwhile the Vandarch forces had moslty been defeated by the superior Fanerian forces. And the air war was one of great offensives to provide ground support and hold superiority over the battle lines and cripple enemy industry. The 5th Kin War’s Air theatre is one that would soon be studied in military textbooks. I am sure there is another way I can write this, but can't think of it now.

The next things I will write about is the turning of the tide and pushing the Fanerian backs in the 39-40 area. Will need to think about that and what else Fiannria is doing at this point.

The Soirwind Intervention

In 1994, a political outsider, Yul Ma won the Marshal's election in Soirwind. The populist, revolutionary, and anti-occidental platforms he won on reflected the economic frustration and slowdown Soirwind experienced in the 1990's and turned popular opinions against western nations, in particular Fiannria as exploitative states, using marxist and neocolonial messages. His position outside the political norms rallied together a political maelstrom in the 1996 election which saw a wave of his political allies win in the Senate and the Tyn. Friends and allies of Ma quickly filled up many positions of power in the entirety of the government as Ma, in the laurels of success called upon total freedom from Fiannria and economic autarky as part of a 'true Alshari revolution'. In the following weeks of incitement led to a general strike on Fiannan associated businesses, a drafted bill that would seize Fiannan businesses in make them owned by the state, as well as one that would oust Fiannan military bases from Soirwind. However before the bills were passed an armed group, later analysis concluded they were members of Ma's paramilitary group in training who incited by fervor of their training took their own initiative to assault a Fiannan base.

Casualties were minimal on Fiannan's soldiers, but the total elimination or capture paramilitary members were martyred by the Soirwindic people in the aftermath of the event. This led to further attacks, protests, and riots against the Commonwealth and Fiannan nationals.

In response to the intensifying situation, the President of the Commonwealth issued an order calling all Fiannan nationals to leave the country of Soirwind, and also stated that he would be deploying more forces to Soirwind to help keep the peace and ensure stability in the region. The move, intended to have the effect of calming tensions and concern over the Soirwind issue in the Commonwealth, had the opposite effect in Soirwind, incensing the supporters of Ma to take more actions against the Fiannan military installations int he country and more attacks against Fiannan citizens. Mere days after the announcement of more soldiers to support the peace, a phone call between Marshal Ma and the President ended frostily as both issued ultimatums by the end of the week.

A week later, on April 13th, 1996 at 10:16 PM, operation Safe Haven was underway. This military operation, under the original guise of further forces to protect Fiannan interest was a full military invasion consisting contingents of the Commonwealth Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines. The morning of the 14th as news started to circulate in Fiannria, the President came on air and confirmed a military operation to safeguard the peace and stability of our partner country was underway, he urged the people of Fiannria to 'support the efforts to protect our Alshari brothers and sisters across the sea' and for 'the people of Soirwind, to stand down and trust that the Commonwealth can right these wrongs'.

Three weeks and four days saw the invasion of Soirwind, seizure of most major urban centers and the ousture of Marshal Ma, the early days of combat saw the Soirwindic military's serious underpreparedness for naval invasion, especially from Fiannria even at that point. Also the ousture and replcement of Soirwindic military staff with Ma loyalists would prove critical. Usage of light infantry and light mobile vehicles across the terrain of Soirwind proved essential to Fiannria's success. On May 7th, 1996, Ma and supporting military staff announced their surrender and would meet to negotiate with Fiannria. In the aftermath, Yul Ma and many of his supporters were removed from power and exiled from the country. Fiannria would oversee reconstruction, redevelopment, and government reestablishment for the next five years, they would also maintain a much more significant presence and begin new programs in Soirwind and further Alshar in years to come following the Intervention.