Herciana

Rectory of Herciana
Overseas territory of Urcea
Flag
Ceded from Caphiria	1943
Cathedral City	Messisoria
Government
• Rector	Maurice Alfinno
Population  (2020)
• Total	290,501
Demonym(s)	Herci

Herciana is an island east of Sarpedon in the Sea of Canete that is part of Urcea.

History

Herciana was one of the earliest hubs of Ancient Istroyan civilization in Sarpedon, with major colonies being established around 1650 BC and the island becoming a major hub and port for further colonization efforts heading west. The makeup of the pre-Istroyan population of the island is not clearly understood, as no written language exists prior to the spread of colonies to the island and material artifacts provide inconclusive evidence. A wide range of theories exist, but the most accepted theory suggests an Istroyan-adjacent peoples living on the island before the arrival of foreign colonies and quickly adapting to the new urban lifestyle. Unlike most other places in the Istroyan world, decentralization was a temporary phenomenon and evidence suggests that the colony of Messisoria quickly established itself as the preeminent political and economic city on the island beginning in ca. 1200 BC, building an informal hierarchy that was increasingly centralized in the centuries to come. Messisorian hegemony was challenged several times by other cities on the island; most prominently, one conflict in the 1140s BC lead to the other cities forging alliances with Istroyan colonies on the mainland. Messisoria won the war and directly annexed the mainland cities while continuing the subordination of its neighbors on the island.

The conquest of mainland territories transformed Messisoria from an insular hegemon to a regional power, becoming preeminent Istroyan power in the region. The island of Herciana underwent significant growth as a result, as the wealth conquest began to flow directly to the island. Most of the cities of Herciana appear to have been either directly incorporated by Messisoria by around 970 BC, although it appears extension of Messisorian citizenship was used as the primary method of centralization. As the island grew, appetite for additional foreign conquest appears to have taken place. The Messisorian Kingdom began to prosecute offensive wars in the 9th century BC. After decades of continued fighting - both against Istroyan city-states and Sarpic tribes in the interior as well as against newly encroaching settlers from Adonerum - the Kingdom of Messisoria encompassed not only Herciana but most of modern Thessia. The informal historiographical "Messisorian Empire" - a network of directly administered territories and clients - brought significant benefits to Herciana, becoming one of the best developed places in all of ancient Istroya. The Empire reached its peak in 850 BC with the conquest of Halfway. Coins and goods from Herciana from this period have been found as far afield as western Audonia and Vallos, indicating its signficiant economic presence within the ancient Occidental world

While the Messisorian Empire would continue to exist until its gradual conquest by Caphiria in the 200s BC, the Empire's priorities and focus would increasingly shift away from Herciana as the Messisorian Kings sought to increase their hold in the more populous, richer mainland portions of the Kingdom. Investments and riches began to flow increasingly to Royal magnates who ruled the mainland on the King's behalf, and many began to leave the crowded island for opportunities in the Sarpedonian interior, displacing local Sarpic people and establishing new Istroyan colonies. The major blow came in 500 BC as the court of the King of Messisoria moved from Messisoria to the mainland, moving the center of political and economic power away from Hericana; the island entered a period of significant decline. With Caphiria encroaching upon its mainland possessions gradually throughout the 200s BC, the court relocated back to Messisoria in around 225 BC, but the Messisorian Kingdom was in a period of terminal decline and the island itself was conquered by Caphiria in 198 BC. The island was sacked of its wealth with most of its major cultural and architectural achievements destroyed during the sack. Much of the island's population was deported by Caphiria into the modern province of Sennium in order to establish a "civilized" urban population in otherwise Sarpic tribal lands. The majority of those deported did not survive the journey, but colonization efforts were generally successful.

Herciana became a relative backwater under the First Imperium, with most of its population turning to subsistence fishing for survival. Many of the buildings of Messisoria and the island's other great cities and structures were pillaged for their building material. Most historians believe the island's population was reduced to around 15,000 from a high of over 200,000 during its peak. Christianity was introduced to the island in around 110 AD with most of the residents of the island being adherents by 280 AD. The island remained an insignificant fishing outpost when it was conquered by the Oduniyyad Caliphate in 676 AD.