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The Elateians wasted no time in subjugating the small hamlets in the island, places such as Thebypes and Salussae were quickly inducted into the enlightened orbit of the new polis willingly or otherwise. The exiles set up a system of governance very similar to that which existed in Tylossos before its domination by Messisoria, that is to say they instituted a form of participative democracy. Each citizen theoretically had an equal voice and vote on the assembly of the city and decisions were taken by majority vote. Mecistes by virtue of being their original leader was awarded the title of First Speaker, a position that enabled him to be the first to speak in any debate. In this early period Mecistes was unchallenged and could always sway the majority to his view, thus basically dictating the city's policies. He advocated for Elateia to remain aloof from the troubles of neighboring cities, reasoning that Elateia was neither strong or wealthy enough to affect political events. | The Elateians wasted no time in subjugating the small hamlets in the island, places such as Thebypes and Salussae were quickly inducted into the enlightened orbit of the new polis willingly or otherwise. The exiles set up a system of governance very similar to that which existed in Tylossos before its domination by Messisoria, that is to say they instituted a form of participative democracy. Each citizen theoretically had an equal voice and vote on the assembly of the city and decisions were taken by majority vote. Mecistes by virtue of being their original leader was awarded the title of First Speaker, a position that enabled him to be the first to speak in any debate. In this early period Mecistes was unchallenged and could always sway the majority to his view, thus basically dictating the city's policies. He advocated for Elateia to remain aloof from the troubles of neighboring cities, reasoning that Elateia was neither strong or wealthy enough to affect political events. | ||
There was however some discontent with the leadership and arrogant manner of Mecistes, and the perception that he had given up too easily and too quickly back on Tylossos. Chief among these malcontents was a man named Timasion, who became a fierce rival of Mecistes and a critic of all his positions. After a debate on the navy that descended into with personal attacks, Mecistes was set upon with knives on the street by Timasion's allies and killed. With the death of Mecistes, his isolationist faction fragmented and Timasion's militarist faction took over power until 732 BC. Under Timasion and his allies, Elateia built a large fleet and became a significant naval power. Elateian policy during this period favored always placing itself in the anti-Messisorian camp and lending the power of its ships to those that opposed it such as the city of [[Athiva]] during the [[Pikralic War]]. The combined fleets of Elateia and Athiva under admiral Posides defeated a large Messisorian fleet during that conflict. | There was however some discontent with the leadership and arrogant manner of Mecistes, and the perception that he had given up too easily and too quickly back on Tylossos. Chief among these malcontents was a man named Timasion, who became a fierce rival of Mecistes and a critic of all his positions. After a debate on the navy that descended into with personal attacks, Mecistes was set upon with knives on the street by Timasion's allies and killed. With the death of Mecistes, his isolationist faction fragmented and Timasion's militarist faction took over power until 732 BC. Under Timasion and his allies, Elateia built a large fleet and became a significant naval power. Elateian policy during this period favored always placing itself in the anti-Messisorian camp and lending the power of its ships to those that opposed it such as the city of [[Athiva]] during the [[Pikralic War]]. The combined fleets of Elateia and Athiva under admiral Posides defeated a large Messisorian fleet during that conflict, cementing the city's reputation for sea power. | ||
===Early Islam=== | ===Early Islam=== | ||
Elateia managed to maintain its independence from other istroyan states well into the 8th century. The unexpected arrival of a new threat from the east caught the leaders of the city flat footed. Crossing the [[Sea of Istroya]], [[Oduniyyad Caliphate|Oduniyyad]] invaders espousing a new faith bore down on the island. The Elateians mustered their fleet to see off the invasion of their shores without realizing the size of the enemy fleets. Winning an engagement against an Oduniyyad scouting force, the emboldened Elateian fleet sailed further east pursuing the survivors only to find themselves enveloped by the enemy. At the Battle of Katerion, the Elateian fleet was decisively smashed by the Oduniyyads. Of three hundred ships that had sailed mere weeks before, only fifteen escaped the disaster to limp back home with the news. | Elateia managed to maintain its independence from other istroyan states well into the 8th century. The unexpected arrival of a new threat from the east caught the leaders of the city flat footed. Crossing the [[Sea of Istroya]], [[Oduniyyad Caliphate|Oduniyyad]] invaders espousing a new faith bore down on the island. The Elateians mustered their fleet to see off the invasion of their shores without realizing the size of the enemy fleets. Winning an engagement against an Oduniyyad scouting force, the emboldened Elateian fleet sailed further east pursuing the survivors only to find themselves enveloped by the enemy. At the Battle of Katerion, the Elateian fleet was decisively smashed by the Oduniyyads. Of three hundred ships that had sailed mere weeks before, only fifteen escaped the disaster to limp back home with the news. | ||
News of the defeat at sea sent shockwaves through the Elateian political and military establishment. At a single stroke the city had lost thousands of experienced sailors and navigators and the bulk of its expensive fleet. A debate in the assembly ensued on whether to surrender or fight on, with the surrender party being decisively outvoted. An officer named Hipponax was placed in charge of organizing the defense of the city. Hipponax levied every available men for the defense, teenagers and old men included, had the city walls repaired and ordered all the crops secreted inside to deny food to the enemy. | |||
====Patriarchate of Elateia==== | ====Patriarchate of Elateia==== | ||
====Emergence of Qustantism==== | ====Emergence of Qustantism==== | ||