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| {{Template:History of Urcea sidebar}} | | Throughout the {{wpl|Age of Discovery}} and the {{wpl|Age of Sail}} the coastal Duchies of Marialanus, Martilles, and Burgundie, of the [[Kingdom of Dericania]], developed colonial empires of various sizes through trading companies. This was precipitated by the [[Great Confessional War#Expulsion of the Protestants|Expulsion of the Protestants]] from southern [[Levantia]] following their loss in the [[Great Confessional War]]. Many of those protestants were processed off-continent through [[Burgundie]] who turned them into a massive global exploration and {{wpl|settler colonialism|colonizing}} force, known as [[Pharisedom]]s. |
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| The '''Early history of Urcea''', sometimes also called the '''Early Period''', consists of the entire period of time from the beginning of human settlement of [[Levantia]] through the death of [[Saint Julius I]] in 800 AD. Consequently, it includes the sparsely-recorded history of southwestern before the arrival of the [[Adonerum|Adonerii]], the early Adonerii period, the rise and fall of [[Great Levantia]], and the period between the fall of [[Great Levantia]] and rise of the [[Holy Levantine Empire]].
| | There were also some [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] {{wpl|Colonia (Roman)|coloniae}} (e.g. [[Veraise]] and Islevenin) but it was not as common. |
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| During this period, significant upheaval was the norm for more than two thousand years prior to the establishment of [[Great Levantia]]. Arrivals of [[Gaelic people]], Istroyan people and then [[Latinic people]] lead to massive demographic changes in the modern territory of Urcea, as the earliest human societies were displaced by semi-nomadic Gaelic tribes that introduced agriculture to the region. The Gaels were displaced in the millennium BC by [[Latinic people]], while Istroyan people settled the southeastern shore of the country. These groups came together to an extent in the foundation of [[Great Levantia]], which eventually collapsed due to economic failure, social upheavel, and pressure from outside groups, such as the Goths. From the foundations of Great Levantia came the [[Latin League]] and [[Urceopolis (City)|Urceopolis]] alongside the early origins of feudalism. The Latin League was swept away by the new [[Holy Levantine Empire]] in the 8th century, but Urceopolis was spared from destruction due to the leadership of [[Saint Julius I]], who elevated Urceopolis's position within the Empire by cooperation with Emperor Conchobar. By the time of his death, his dynasty ruled more than a third of Urcea's modern territory, creating the foundations for the later establishment of a single country.
| | ==Historiography== |
| | The genesis of [[Burgundie|Burgoignesc]] [[Culture_in_Burgundie#Imperialism_and_Colonization|colonial culture]] was to seek out the kingdoms of the {{wpl|Biblical Magi}} and to unite "all the lands whose kings adored Christ". As such, at least at its genisis, what has been retrospectively termed a ''{{wpl|Mission civilisatrice}}'', was the search for co-equal kingdoms with which to join forces in [[Catholic Church|service of Christ]]. The thesis that Balthazar, Melchior, and Gaspar came from Christian kingdoms was flawed from the start and meant that the Papally ordained/funded explorations of the coastal [[Derian identity|Derians]] never found what they were looking for. It did however, lead to a self-righteous bent of Imperialism and settler colonization that spanned [[Audonia]] and [[Alshar]] in the 17th, 18th, and early 19th centuries. Exploration and colonization in northern [[Audonia]] was justified under the banner of searching for the kingdom of {{wpl|Balthazar (magus)|Balthazar}}, the same for southern [[Audonia]] in search of {{wpl|Melchior (magus)|Melchior}}, and same again in [[Alshar]] in search of the kingdom of {{wpl|Caspar (magus)|Gaspar}}. This earning for oriental connection remains to this day but has been informed by many other factors beyond this initial concept. |
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| == Prehistory ==
| | This is also retrospectively used to describe [[Burgundie]]'s general lack of interest in the colonization of [[Crona]]. |
| Extremely little is known about Urcea prior to the rise of the [[Gaelic people]] within its lands. Before the arrival of the Gaelic peoples in Urcea, the region was inhabited by what was likely a large number of different pre-agricultural groups. These groups were primarily hunter-gatherers, and relied on hunting, gathering, and fishing for their sustenance. They lived in small, mobile groups, and did not have permanent settlements, although the archaeological record suggests that some seasonal locations saw continued use by multiple peoples throughout the prehistoric period.
| | ==Tenents of Burgoignesc Colonial Rule== |
| [[File:Middle Paleolithic stone tool known as Mousterian point discovered in the Darai Rockshelter in the Sirwan valley of Hawraman, Zagros.jpg|thumb|left|200px|A stone tool associated with the Felandri culture.]] | | ===Early/Establishment Period Trends=== |
| The earliest known material culture in the region of Urcea is the Felandri culture, which is associated with Neanderthal peoples. This culture is characterized by the use of stone tools, and is believed to have existed in the region from around 100,000 BC to 40,000 BC. After the Felandri culture, the region was inhabited by a number of other pre-agricultural cultures. The Murdla culture, which is associated with anatomically modern humans, is thought to have existed in the region from around 40,000 BC to 28,000 BC. This culture is known for its sophisticated stone tools and cave art. Later, the region was inhabited by the Pamattan culture, which is thought to have existed from around 28,000 BC to 21,000 BC. This culture is known for its advanced hunting techniques, including the use of the atlatl, a spear-throwing device.
| | *[[1598]]-[[1635]] |
| | *Emporia, minor ports and forts |
| | *[[Kiravia]] has made first contact in lots of places so Burg is vying for local access, gets ahead because they re-empower local magistrates from the [[Oduniyyad Caliphate]] with whom they had trading contacts before the Caliphate collapsed. |
| | *Burgs more open and accepting of foreign cultures and hierarchies as a way to curry favor |
| | *The colonies are still reliant on the metropole for sustainability |
| | ===Self Sufficiency Period Trends=== |
| | *[[1635]]-[[1693]] |
| | *As the generation of ex-[[Oduniyyad Caliphate]] magistrates age out/die Burgs take more direct control of politics, land management, and resource extraction |
| | *{{wpl|Patroon}}ships, {{wpl|Latifundia}}/{{wpl|Plantation}}s |
| | *Slavery becomes the primary financial function of the colonies |
| | *Massive influx of Levantine Protestants sees rabid expansion of the initial coastal colonies to accommodate promises of land grants |
| | ==Dominance Period Trends== |
| | *[[1693]]-[[1785]] |
| | ===Late Period/Colonial Loss Trends=== |
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| == Gaelic ascendancy == | | ==See also== |
| The early history of the [[Gaelic people]]s in Urcea is not well-documented, as much of the written record from this period has been lost and very few parts of the Gaelic world at this period exhibited use of writing. However, it is believed that the Gaelic peoples first began to settle in the region that would later become Urcea in the Neolithic period, around 4000 BC. Most scholars believe that Gaelic people were foreign to [[the Valley (Urcea)|the Valley]] and other outlying parts of Urcea based on differences in "early" and "late" {{wp|material culture}}s in the area. The early settlers were likely drawn to the region by its abundant natural resources, including fertile lands for and access to fresh water from rivers and lakes which crossed the countryside.
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| As the Gaelic peoples began to settle in the region, they developed a distinctive culture and way of life. They built small, semi-nomadic communities, and relied on hunting and gathering for their sustenance until the {{wp|Neolithic Revolution}} which occurred among the Gaels. Historians believe they may have brought semi-agricultural practices and seeds from elsewhere and that early wheat may not have been native to [[the Valley (Urcea)|the Valley]].
| | For settlements established by the [[Bergendii corsairs]] or [[Burgundie|Burgoignesc]] [[Crusades|crusaders]] please see those separate pages as they predate the concept of "colony" as it it is meant in this article. |
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| The Gaels also developed a rich oral tradition, passing down stories, legends, and other cultural traditions through the generations. During this period, the Gaelic peoples of Urcea also came into contact with other cultures and civilizations, and the first interactions between [[Gothic people]] and Gaels likely occurred at this time. They traded with neighboring peoples, and were greatly influenced by the cultures and technologies of these neighboring groups. For example, they may have adopted metalworking techniques from the [[Ancient Istroya]]n people who began to explore and lightly settle in the region at some point after 1500 BC. Gaelic metalworking would develop to be relatively on par with that of the nearby [[Latinic people]]s of [[Urlazio]], and most historians believe that the earliest conflicts between Gaels and Latins were largely fought on comparable technological terms.
| | ==Table of colonies== |
| | {| class="wikitable sortable" |
| | |- |
| | ! Name |
| | ! Continental location |
| | ! Administration dates |
| | ! Trading Company |
| | ! Modern status |
| | ! Notes/Highlights |
| | |- |
| | | [[Cheun#Early_Modern_Period|Ayermer colony]] |
| | | [[Alshar]] |
| | | [[1616]]-[[1936]] |
| | | {{flagicon|BTC|Burgoignesc Kandahar-Kandara Trading Company}} [[Burgoignesc Kandahar-Kandara Trading Company|MUTC]] |
| | | {{flag|Corumm}} / [[Rusana]] |
| | |Lost in the [[Battle of Ayermer (1936)]] |
| | |- |
| | | [[Kandara#"Western"_contact_(16th_century)|Kandoora colony]] |
| | | [[Alshar]] |
| | | [[1600]]-[[1795]] |
| | | {{flagicon|BTC|Burgoignesc Kandahar-Kandara Trading Company}} [[Burgoignesc Kandahar-Kandara Trading Company|MUTC]] |
| | | [[Kandara]] |
| | | |
| | *[[1600]], the BWPTC captured the castle at Bisoor from the Kiravians, and the port of Kandoor in [[1603]]. In [[1604]] Burgundie commissioned Kandoor Castle, which was completed in three years. |
| | *Protectorate of the Kingdom of Kandoora established [[1611]]-[[1684]], until dissolved into [[Kandara#Kandoori-Fana_wars_and_slaving|Slavers Coast colony]] |
| | *[[Kandara#Kandoori-Fana_wars_and_slaving|Slavers Coast colony]] [[1684]]-[[1795]] |
| | *Colony of Santasi [[1646]]-[[1721]] after which it was joined to Kandoora colony |
| | *Lost in the [[Kandara#Great_Rebellion_of_Slavery_Bay|Great Rebellion of Slavery Bay]] [[1767]]-[[1795]] |
| | |- |
| | | [[Kandara#"Western"_contact_(16th_century)|Colony of Santasi]] |
| | | [[Alshar]] |
| | | [[1646]]-[[1721]] |
| | | {{flagicon|BTC|Burgoignesc South Levantine Trading Company}} [[Burgoignesc South Levantine Trading Company|BRTC]] |
| | | [[Kandara]] |
| | | |
| | *[[1646]]-[[1721]] after which it was joined to Kandoora colony |
| | *Lost in the [[Kandara#Great_Rebellion_of_Slavery_Bay|Great Rebellion of Slavery Bay]] [[1767]]-[[1795]] |
| | |- |
| | | [[Pukhgundi#Colonization|Pukhgundi colony]] |
| | | [[Alshar]] |
| | | [[1635]]-[[1811]] |
| | | {{flagicon|BTC|Burgoignesc South Levantine Trading Company}} [[Burgoignesc South Levantine Trading Company|BRTC]] |
| | | [[Tapakdore]], [[Peshabiwar]], and [[Pukhgundi]] |
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| | |- |
| | | [[Eloillette]] |
| | | [[Alshar]] |
| | | [[1611]]-[[1795]] |
| | | {{flagicon|BTC|Burgoignesc North Levantine Trading Company}} [[Burgoignesc North Levantine Trading Company|MNLC]] |
| | | [[Pursat]] |
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| | |- |
| | | [[Oyashima#Colonization|Far East Colony]] |
| | | [[Alshar]] |
| | | [[1638]]-[[1817]] |
| | | {{flagicon|BTC|Burgoignesc Kandahar-Kandara Trading Company}} [[Burgoignesc Kandahar-Kandara Trading Company|MUTC]] |
| | | [[Oyashima]] and [[Iles Evangeline]] {{flagicon|Burgundie}} |
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| | |- |
| | | [[Battganuur#Colonization|Barbary Straits colony]] |
| | | [[Audonia]] |
| | | [[1635]]-[[1836]] |
| | | {{flagicon|BTC|Burgoignesc Kandahar-Kandara Trading Company}} [[Burgoignesc Kandahar-Kandara Trading Company|MUTC]] |
| | | northern half of [[Battganuur]], [[Yanuban]], and [[Isle des Coulettes]] {{flagicon|Burgundie}} |
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| | |- |
| | | [[Istroya Oriental colony]] |
| | | [[Audonia]] |
| | | [[1577]]-[[1842]] |
| | | {{flagicon|BTC|Burgoignesc South Levantine Trading Company}} [[Burgoignesc South Levantine Trading Company|BRTC]] |
| | | southern half of [[Battganuur]] and [[U.A.E]] |
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| | |- |
| | | [[Kandahari-Pukhtun colony]] |
| | | [[Audonia]] |
| | | [[1615]]-1830s |
| | | {{flagicon|BTC|Burgoignesc South Levantine Trading Company}} [[Burgoignesc South Levantine Trading Company|BRTC]] |
| | | [[Umardwal]], [[Bulkh]], and [[Salarive]] {{flagicon|Burgundie}} |
| | | |
| | |- |
| | | [[Chaukhira|Chaukhira colony]] |
| | | [[Audonia]] |
| | | tbd |
| | | {{flagicon|BTC|Burgoignesc North Levantine Trading Company}} [[Burgoignesc North Levantine Trading Company|MNLC]] |
| | | {{flag|Burgundie}} |
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| | |- |
| | | [[Argaea|Argaea colony]] |
| | | [[Australis]] |
| | | tbd |
| | | {{flagicon|BTC|Burgoignesc North Levantine Trading Company}} [[Burgoignesc North Levantine Trading Company|MNLC]] |
| | | {{flag|Burgundie}} |
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| | |- |
| | | [[Sudmoll#Colonial_Period|Sud Moll colony]] |
| | | [[Australis]] |
| | | [[1702]]-[[1876]] |
| | | {{flagicon|BTC|Burgoignesc South Levantine Trading Company}} [[Burgoignesc South Levantine Trading Company|BRTC]] |
| | | {{flag|Burgundie}} |
| | | [[Farmandie]] ([[1712]]-[[1745]] and [[1789]]-[[1824]]) |
| | |- |
| | | [[Veraise colony]] |
| | | [[Crona]] |
| | | [[1593]] - [[1812]] |
| | | {{flagicon|BTC|Burgoignesc North Levantine Trading Company}} [[Burgoignesc North Levantine Trading Company|MNLC]] |
| | | {{flag|Alstin}} |
| | | |
| | |- |
| | | [[Islevenin colony]] |
| | | [[Crona]] |
| | | ???? - [[1899]] |
| | | {{flagicon|BTC|Burgoignesc South Levantine Trading Company}} [[Burgoignesc South Levantine Trading Company|BRTC]] |
| | | {{flag|Alstin}} |
| | | |
| | |- |
| | | [[Nauta Normand|Nauta Normand colony]] |
| | | [[Kiro-Borealis]] |
| | | tbd |
| | | {{flagicon|BTC|Burgoignesc North Levantine Trading Company}} [[Burgoignesc North Levantine Trading Company|MNLC]] |
| | | {{flag|Burgundie}} |
| | | |
| | |- |
| | | [[Torlen|Torlen colony]] |
| | | [[Levantia]] |
| | | ???? - [[1875]] |
| | | {{flagicon|BTC|Burgoignesc Kandahar-Kandara Trading Company}} [[Burgoignesc Kandahar-Kandara Trading Company|MUTC]] |
| | | {{flag|Burgundie}} |
| | | |
| | *formed as colony of the [[History_of_Burgundie#Duchy_of_Marialanus|Duchy of Marialanus]] |
| | *Formalized into a state in [[1875]] following the [[First Fratricide]] and the Unification of [[Burgundie]]. |
| | |- |
| | | [[Wintergen|Wintergen colony]] |
| | | [[Levantia]] |
| | | [[1823]]-[[1869]] |
| | | {{flagicon|BTC|Burgoignesc North Levantine Trading Company}} [[Burgoignesc North Levantine Trading Company|MNLC]] |
| | | {{flag|Burgundie}} |
| | | |
| | *[[1836]] Act of Economic Union, claiming that [[Wintergen]] was forevermore an integral part of [[Burgundie]]. |
| | *[[1869]] [[Kiravia]] and [[Burgundie]] stop fighting about it without settling the island's legal status. [[Wintergen]] is recognized as a state of [[Burgundie]]. |
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| | | [[Medimeria|Medimeria colony]] |
| | | [[Levantia]] |
| | | [[1578]]-[[2014]] |
| | | {{flagicon|BTC|Burgoignesc South Levantine Trading Company}} [[Burgoignesc South Levantine Trading Company|BRTC]] |
| | | {{flag|Burgundie}} |
| | | |
| | *Transferred to [[Urcea]] as the [[Medimeria|Rectory of Medimeria]] in [[2014]] as part of a mutual strategic interest realignment. |
| | |- |
| | | [[Aumiers#Burgoignac_colony|Aumiers colony]] |
| | | [[Sarpedon]] |
| | | [[1315]]-[[1573]] |
| | | tbd |
| | | {{flag|Cartadania}} |
| | | |
| | *Settled in [[1315]] |
| | *Joined the [[History_of_Burgundie#Vilauristre_Conference|Vilauristre Conference]] in [[1540]] |
| | *Ceded to Milan Regio in [[1573]] |
| | |- |
| | | [[Equitorial Ostiecia|Equitorial Ostiecia colony]] |
| | | [[Sarpedon]] |
| | | tbd |
| | | {{flagicon|BTC|Burgoignesc South Levantine Trading Company}} [[Burgoignesc South Levantine Trading Company|BRTC]] |
| | | {{flag|Burgundie}} |
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| | |- |
| | | [[Eileada]] |
| | | [[Sarpedon]] |
| | | [[1913]]-[[1968]] |
| | | {{flagicon|BTC|Burgoignesc South Levantine Trading Company}} [[Burgoignesc South Levantine Trading Company|BRTC]] |
| | | {{flag|Faneria}} |
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| | | [[Vonein]] |
| | | [[Levantia]] |
| | | [[1940]]-[[1942]] |
| | | {{flagicon|BTC|Burgoignesc North Levantine Trading Company}} [[Burgoignesc North Levantine Trading Company|BNLTC]] |
| | | {{flag|Vithinja}} |
| | |Occupied and administered as a militarized colony during the [[Second Great War]] and turned a forward operating base against [[Faneria]]. |
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| | |} |
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| == Adonerii early period ==
| | {{Colonies of Burgundie}} |
| {{Main|History of the Ancient Latinic civilization}} | | [[Category: Conflicts]] |
| The earliest arrivals from [[Adonerum]] are not recorded by history, but most scholars estimate they arrived in the 900s BC. In place of recorded history, significant myth and legend surround the earliest Latinic arrivals in [[Levantia]]. The most commonly accepted myth in the ancient world was that of the [[Latin_Heroic_Age#Journey_of_the_Fifty|Journey of the Fifty]]. In the "Journey", fifty demigods - mortal descendants of the gods of Istroya - were gathered from across Istroya and sent to [[Urlazio]] in order to lead a group of Adonerii into the eastern wilderness. In the story, the gods are both envious of the influence the demigods have over the Istroyans but are also fearful that their power may be abused by mortal kings. Leader among the demigods was "Levas", who was the child of two demigods and considered more divine than human. The fifty demigods travel to [[Urlazio]] and, after five years of pleading, are given an army of Adonerii to accompany them. At the conclusion of the story, they defeat a variety of mythical creatures such as a fifty foot tall lion and settle on the harbor of what would become [[Urceopolis (City)|Urceopolis]], the first Latinic city in [[Levantia]]. Levas is given the entire land by the gods and disappears in most versions of the tale, though he continues to rule the entire land from a "divine estate" in Urceopolis. This story was likely invented by later Urceopolitans to account for the Istroyan name of the city, but further evolved into the founding myth of [[Great Levantia]] and the foundation of the [[Religion in Great Levantia|Cult of the State God]].
| | [[Category:Military History of Burgundie]] |
| [[File:TempleofCapitoliumRome.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Speculative model of the first Temple of [[Religion_in_Great_Levantia#Cult_of_the_State_God|Levas]] in [[Urceopolis (City)|Urceopolis]], ca 500 BC.]]
| | [[Category:History of Burgundie]] |
| Archaeological findings have suggested that the first Adonerii city in modern mainland Urcea was almost certainly a coastal city and was likely close to modern Ordep on the Urcean mainland across from [[Crotona]], which was settled far earlier. Most of the early Adonerii settlements were likely fishing villages or trade outposts on the periphery of [[Adonerum]] but later grew in stature and significance as the population of [[Urlazio]] grew further beyond the agricultural capability of the island. Small pieces of evidence suggest the Adonerii and wandering Gaelic tribes likely lived in peaceful coexistence in the first century after the arrival of the Adonerii, but demand for more agricultural land pushed the Adonerii further inland which put them in conflict with the Gaels. The Latinic settlers were better armed and had stronger, bronze and early iron weaponry which the Gaels could not match. In the context of Adonerii expansion it is posited that [[Urceopolis (City)|Urceopolis]] was founded, approximately in 887 BC. The site of Gaelic fishing villages at the intersection of the [[Urce River]] with the Esquiline River, the new city - originally ''Colonia Urceania'' based on the name of the river - had a commanding position in the Urce River allowing for further exploration and growth into the Levantine interior, and also possessed a natural harbor. Historians surmise that a significant portion of the early population of the city was made up of Istroyan guides and traders, leading to the later adoption of the name ''Urceopolis''.
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| Upon the arrival of Latinic settlers from [[Adonerum]] in the millennium BC, many native Gaelic tribes fled eastward into the modern day [[Deric States]] or southward into modern day [[Gassavelia]], leaving [[The Valley (Urcea)|the Valley]] open for settlement by Latinics. Historians estimate that the first few groups of Latinic settlers - those that settled more precisely in modern day [[Urcea]] - were almost exclusively men, leading to a necessary intermarriage with local Gaels. By the 300s BC the people of [[Great Levantia]] had taken on a clearly divergent set of cultural mores and practices compared to other Latinic states such as [[Caphiria]], though they attributed these differences to the "pioneer spirit" rather than to adopting Gaelic practices. Despite having Gaelic influences from the very beginning of Latinic settlement, a clear prejudice began to form against Gaels, with the Latinic population creating the dichotomy of themselves as civilized and the Gaels as barbarians.
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| == Great Levantia ==
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| {{Main|Great Levantia}}
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| [[Latinic people|Latin]] cities spread throughout [[The Valley (Urcea)|the Valley]] and other parts of modern [[Urcea]]. They gradually began to come under the aegis of [[Great Levantia]], a Latin stated based in the city of [[Urceopolis (City)|Urceopolis]]. Growing from a small city-state in the 570s BC, Great Levantia would come to conquer more than half of [[Levantia]] as a whole and would spread Latin culture throughout the continent. During this period, the Valley became the heartland of a continental empire. New cities were constructed throughout the country based on the military successes and failures of the Levantine legions, and new systems of roads began to radiate outward from Urceopolis. This level of development was relatively uneven throughout what would become Urcea, however; the [[Ionian Plateau]] remained relatively free of Latins throughout Great Levantia's existence, and the [[Urcean frontier]] remained lightly populated the harsh conditions there. In the height of [[Great Levantia]], approximately around 200 AD, the propagation of the Latinic identity and destruction of local Gaelic identity was largely complete in the area of the modern day [[Urceopolis (Archduchy)|Archduchy of Urceopolis]] and to a lesser degree in the other parts of the Empire, especially not in Gaul. It was during this time that most historians pinpoint the foundations of a distinct [[Urcean people]] emerging as a regional subculture of the [[Levantine identity]] in the "suburban" cities and villages surrounding Urceopolis, which retained a "High Levantine" culture and identity well into the 6th century.
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| The decline of the Empire, though, brought a reversal of fortunes for the Latinic people. Waves of Gaels who had been pushed aside nearly a millennia prior began to variously pillage, raid, invade, and settle in the Empire, bringing a resurgence of Gaelic culture - and people - into Levantine society. Additionally, [[Gaelic people]] began to stream out of northwestern [[Great Levantia]] fleeing the advance of the Gothic people in the 4th and 5th centuries, bringing large numbers of Gaelic people seeking shelter in the [[Urce River]] valley. Intermarriage between Latinics and Gaels became very common following Amadeus Agrippa's Christianization of the Empire. The sack of Urceopolis by [[Caenish people|Caens]] and Picts in 434 sent huge numbers of Latinic refugees eastward into the modern [[Deric States]], further weakening the presence of so-called "High Levantines" in Urcea.
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| == Post-collapse Urce River valley socieities ==
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| The river valley embracing the [[Urce River]] was almost entirely populated by peoples speaking a mixture of Latin and Gaelic by the middle of the 7th century. Particularly, following the protracted collapse of the central authority in the region with the decline of Great Levantia and its successors, a band of competing clans dominated the river valley. These valley clans were primarily Gaelic in nature and eventually constructed series of fortified mansions that would later become castles, creating a chaotic political situation that prevented coalescence of power by any one individual or family in the Urce Valley region. By the 7th century, the cultural and ethnic divide of the former heartland of [[Great Levantia]] included three primary groups; [[Latinic people]], [[Urcean people|Latino-Gaelic people]], and [[Gaelic people]], accounting for approximately a quarter, half, and a quarter, respectively. The oft-cited demographic described above - a quarter Latinic, half Latino-Gael, and a quarter Gaelic - was largely brought about by the chaos of the last days of the Empire. It would play a critical role in the politics and society of the areas of the [[Latin League]] just prior to the formation of the [[Holy Levantine Empire|Levantine Empire]] in 760.
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| The City of Urceopolis had been the seat of power in [[Great Levantia]], and with the deposition of the last ruler, the City became the seat of the [[Duchy of Urceopolis]], consisting of the City, its hinterlands, and a sizable portion of the Urce river valley. The City itself had a strong concentration of population in the Pale and along the Urce River due to the cessation of aqueduct functions, but large portions of the city lay abandoned and crumbling from the former heights of the city's glory as center of Great Levantia. Disease and poor sanitation was also particularly widespread in the city throughout the period as the running water had ceased. Powerful families and local magnates seized some of these areas and established, using the stone of ruins, fortified mansions of their own, creating pseudo-fiefdoms within the city walls themselves. These magnates would often impose tolls on travelers and pilgrims entering the city.
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| Unlike later offices, this Duchy was initially elective between several of the most powerful families and clans within the city, particularly the clans Neronii and Brutii, whose pedigree extended back far enough to have been able to boast of Consuls of [[Great Levantia]] among their number. The ''Dux'' of Urceopolis was elected by the tribal assembly, an institution dating back to the early days of Great Levantia. The Dux would very rarely take a stand against the magnates unless they were rivals; the lawlessness of the Dux's allies usually continued unabated. The most successful Duke of this proto-Urcean state was perhaps Tiberius II Neronii, who had managed to subdue many of the local magnates both in the city and the country, consolidating his power. His childless death in 690, however, meant that his newfound patrimony was again split among several relatives, though this consolidation of power in the Duchy for the Neronii family and the practical elimination of the Brutonii in this period paved the way for a later ruler to consolidate the Duchy.
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| It was during this period that the [[Pope|Papacy]] began to emerge as a truly independent political actor, though the Pontifical office had been influential throughout late Great Levantia. The Duchy of Urceopolis's authority remained within the city itself, and did not extend across the [[Urceopolis_(City)#Geography|Esquiline River]] which divides modern Urceopolis into northern and southern segments. Accordingly, the Pope began to emerge as the primary political leader in the land to the south of the Esquiline given the location of the Vatican and [[St. Peter's Archbasilica]] in that part of what was the city of Urceopolis. By the early 7th century, the Pope had emerged as the {{wp|de facto}} ruler of the lands east of the Urce River and south of the Esquiline River for dozens of miles, although his "rule" was tenuous, taking the form of allegiance of various fortified manor lords.
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| During the Duchy period, Urceopolis constantly feuded with [[Harren]] and [[Gallawa]], two of the other large polities on its border, though the lands of Urceopolis and Harren formed the backbone of the [[Latin League]], a coalition of several polities and city-states aimed at mutual defense against both [[Hištanšahr]] and [[Gallawa]]. Beginning ca. 690, Gallawa united the other petty Gael kingdoms into one sprawling empire. It was in this geopolitical context that [[St. Julius I]] was elected Dux of Urceopolis.
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| == Beginning of the Julian dynasty ==
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| [[File:StefanIHongarije.jpeg|thumb|left|150px|A traditional anachronistic depiction of [[St. Julius I]] in the garb and [[Julian_Throne_and_Crown_Jewels_of_Urcea#Crown_of_St._Julius|crown]] of the [[Apostolic King of Urcea]], ca. 1175.]]
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| [[Saint Julius I|Gaius Julius Cicurinus]] was, in 749, elected from the marginal Julii family following an impasse in the tribal assembly between the Neronii and the Scipii families. Julius's ascendant career was based on his steady command and fighting prowess against Hištanšahr as well as other eastern non-Christian raiders as part of a Latin League army. Many major victories in a lesser command of [[Latin League]] armies over Hištanšahr earned him the agnomen "''Usdenicus''". Through his early reign, the two polities cooperated in wars against Levantine pagans and the various victories brought the new Dux not only prestige but loot recovered from the raiders as well, which allowed the Dux to fund further campaigns and rebuilding efforts in Urceopolis. Besides his military commands, the Julii were well known supporters of the full integration of [[Gaelic people]] into Urceopolitan society. Though most of the residents of the Duchy by this time were [[Urcean people|Latino-Gaels]] as described previously, the nobility of the city retained the typical proud [[Latinic people|Latinic heritage]] despite being part ethnically Gael themselves, as Julius was. Consequently, people of patrilineal Gaelic descent were excluded from membership in the tribal assembly. Julius spent much of the first four years of his reign reforming the Duchy by fighting rebellious river magnates as well as disgruntled nobles in the city who opposed his so-called "Gaelicization" project. Forming a strong relationship with the Pope and marrying the daughter of the most powerful Neronii magnate in the city, Duke Julius ultimately outmaneuvered his rivals and assumed near-total control over the city by 753 AD and had subdued most of the river magnates by 755 despite being on campaign elsewhere for much of the preceding years. During these critical years of his early reign, Julius successfully integrated twenty five tribes of [[Gaelic people|Gaels]] into what is now known as the [[Estates of Urcea]], establishing the Estate rolls that are still in place today. While the Estates had assumed something resembling their familiar feudal form by this point, they were still an important source of client-patron power for the Dux, and this move guaranteed the victory of the Julii in potential future elections for Dux in the tribal assembly. It was additionally during this period that the future Saint established several monasteries in the city but especially in the Urce Valley that would later form the basis for great monastic estates that would become the nucleus of the suburban cities of Urceopolis. His Neronii wife died in 756 AD, leaving the Dux in mourning; historians tend to see the politically savvy marriage as a generally happy one.
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| [[Gallawa]] began its campaign in 750 against the former heartland of [[Great Levantia]] with the ascension of [[Conchobar I, Emperor of the Levantines|Conchobar]] as its King. Swiftly conquering outlying Latin areas, the [[Latin League]] began to assemble and elected [[Saint Julius I|Julius]] its head given his military successes. With the Gaelic tribes integrated, Julius began to raise huge levies of Latino-Gaelic tribal soldiers to accompany the armies of the Latin League. Julius won several major victories against [[Conchobar I, Emperor of the Levantines|Conchobar]], culminating with the Battle of Beldra in 755, where the well-disciplined Latino-Gael army of more than 45,000 defeated an army of Gallawa of about 125,000, although modern scholars believe these numbers to be greatly inflated. Realizing that Levantia could not be overcome without first unseating Julius, Conchobar ultimately set his eyes on the “crown jewel of Levantia”, [[Urceopolis (City)|Urceopolis]], beginning their march against it in 756 AD. The cities and nobles of the Latin League, however, had long been disgruntled with having to accommodate Gaels, whom they regarded as their enemy in the war. They unceremoniously voted to replace Julius in 757 and sent him home.
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| The Dux began to prepare the defenses of the city and army as several of the noble families fled or fought the Gaels in losing pitched battles along the river, and many local magnates were brought to heel while many others saw their castles destroyed and their patrimony shattered. Inversely, the fortunes of the [[Latin League]] were reversed almost immediately as Julius was sent away, and streams of Latinic refugees began to flood into [[Urceopolis (City)|Urceopolis]], bringing about a major surge in population that brought the city back to demographic prominence after it was depopulated as a result of the sack in 434. As Gallawa drew closer in 759, the Duke was approached by the [[Pope]], who advised that, rather than fight, the Duke should submit. Julius would later write that he found himself “greatly troubled, but St. Joseph appeared in a dream”, stating that Duke Julius should “neither fight nor flee like the Holy Family to Egypt, but rather submit to the men before you, for they are good Christian men; Our Divine Savior will not permit suffering to befall you or your city”.
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| The next day, Julius told the [[Pope]] of this then departed the city towards the siege camp of the King of Gallawa, [[Conchobar I, Emperor of the Levantines|Conchobar]]. Julius met Conchobar in the field between the camp and the city, and to the latter’s surprise, Julius bent the knee and submitted himself to Conchobar as his subject. The King of Gallawa embraced Julius and, according to legend, told Julius of a vision of St. Joseph he had received that Urceopolis would be part of a great Christian Empire without so much as a drop of blood being shed. King Conchobar entered the city then asked Julius to marshal his forces and march on Harren, which fell to the combined armies in the span of a month. Following the conquest of south [[Levantia]], King Conchobar reorganized the political landscape by establishing new duchies and political units which would aid in his future administration of the area. The [[Urceopolis (Duchy)|Duchy of Urceopolis]] was reorganized into the [[Urceopolis (Archduchy)|Archduchy of Urceopolis]] embracing most of the land of the [[Urce River]] inland, whereas a new extensive [[Harren|Duchy of Harren]] was created to the southeast. A number of counties were established in the [[Ionian Plateau]] and former mercantile cities which were members of the [[Latin League]] on the coast were consolidated into a few powerful republics under Gallawa overlordship known as the [[Creagmer republics]]. Later, following the subjugation of [[Greater Canaery]] in 767, a new [[Canaery|Duchy of Cana]], later elevated to Electoral status in the [[Holy Levantine Empire]], was created to the far south to help contain [[Hištanšahr]] in addition to several {{wp|march|marches}} in the [[Urcean frontier|Southern Wilderness]]. Conchobar establishes other so-called "original duchies" in the region as well, particularly the Duchy of [[Callan]]. While most of the traditional social hierarchy was left alone, a number of Gael nobles were settled on the southeastern side of the [[Urce River]] in what would eventually become the [[Duchy of Transurciana]]. These settled nobles would prove to be later more loyal to the [[Pope]] than the Archduke as had been the custom dating back to the 6th century, creating division within the Archduchy during the medieval period.
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| In exchange for his loyalty, [[Conchobar I, Emperor of the Levantines|Conchobar]] granted Julius the title of [[Archduchy of Urceopolis|Archduke of Urceopolis]] and also granted the new [[Grand Duchy of Harren|Duchy of Harren]] to Julius’s brother, Aedanicus. Later, in 761, Conchobar was crowned [[Emperor of the Levantines]] in [[Urceopolis (City)|Urceopolis]] by the Pope, forming the [[Holy Levantine Empire|Levantine Empire]]. St. Julius I remained a loyal vassal of the Emperor and continued to defend the Imperial frontier against non-Christians, eventually working to convert large groups later in life. Julius died in 800 AD and was canonized by the Church in 1097, forming an important basis for the arguments that eventually lead to the issuance of the [[Golden Bull of 1098]], in favor of the Saint’s descendants.
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| As Archduke, Julius introduced multiple reforms, most notably further integrations of Gaelic and several forms of the bastardized hybrids of Gaelic and Latin as government languages of the Archduchy, changes that eventually lead to the official adoption of [[Lebhan language|Lebhan]] as the official language of state and commerce by the Kingdom of Urcea several hundred years later. His project of elevating the Latino-Gaels - the [[Urcean people]] - into full integrated status within the Archduchy gave him the legacy of being the "founding father of [[Urcea]]."
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| [[Category: History of Urcea]] | |
| [[Category: Urcea]]
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| [[Category:IXWB]]
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