Caphiria: Difference between revisions

The region of Caphiria has been inhabited by many ancient civilizations, most notable being the Adonerii civilization, an ancient thalassocratic civilization that controlled the partial coastlines of what is now [[Urcea]], Caphiria, [[Cartadania]], and [[Burgundie]]. Caphiria has existed as a state since the 4th century BC and experienced several evolutions throughout its two-millennia-long existence. The first recognizable start of Caphirian history began in 480 BC, marking a period known as the First Imperium. This is a roughly one-millennium long period that covers the formation of the city-state of Venceia by the Caraspi people in 480 BC, through the establishment of the Imperium of Caphiria in the 300s BC. The First Imperium experienced vigorous expansion of its territory, regional dominance, and would eventually have control over the entire Ecinis Sea and parts of the Kindreds Sea and Great Lakes. However, due to decades of political conflict from the younger generation of citizens who wanted a more populist government and the aristocracy who wanted to preserve the centuries-old institutions like the Senate, the First Imperium would collapse onto itself in 890. After a 10-year interregnum, Augustus Rahla took control and attempted to mitigate the political turmoil by forming a hybrid government that could please both the ambitious younger generation and the elder aristocracy, and established the Second Imperium. However, the government was plagued with issues from the start and quickly reignited more conflict. As a result, the Second Imperium suffered sociopolitical collapse amid contention for leadership and political groups vied for control over the future of the state. This eventually climaxed into a massive and brutal 45-year-long civil war from 1127 to 1172 known as the Great Civil War, which marked the end of the 272-year-long Second Imperium.  

In 1172, the stresses and strains of the Great Civil War (chronic usurpations, military insurrections, simultaneous military conflicts across multiple frontiers) exposed the weaknesses in the Caphirian Republic and the Principate, forcing a radically different approach to governance. As barbarians began attacking the weakened empire, the Senate agreed to let most of its provinces become pseudo-independent states controlled by local Sarpic warlords while it usurped control over Venceia and effectively reverted back to being a Republican city-state. This period, from about 1172 to 1283, is known as the Dark Period and represents Caphiria's most weakened state. In the mid-late 13th century, one of the Sarpic warlord states, Truřov, began to emerge as one of the major players in the region. In 1274, the chieftan of Truřov was Șerossaccir Odobricci, born of a Latin father and Sarpic mother. Șerossaccir began a successful military campaign of conquering his neighbors and reuniting the lost provinces of the empire. Șerossaccir would eventually march on Venceia and conquer the republic, becoming the legal heir and successor of Caphiria. In 1283, Șerossaccir established the Third Imperium, which marked by the reunification of the state, the creation of the Constitution of Caphiria, and the establishment of dozens of Latino-Slavic dynasties and cultural/political institutions. During this period, Caphiria went through cultural and political achievement, becoming a symbol of artistic and cultural influence. Due to the Latino-Slavic cultural blend and the rediscovery of classical Latin philosophy, a new way of thinking emerged that became manifested in art, architecture, politics, science and literature . Additionally, the rise of Christianity and what role it should play occured during this period as well, leading to a series of theological and political differences. The Third Imperium had vast territorial holdings, hegemony over most of Sarpedon, and was among the most powerful economic, cultural, political and military forces in the world of its time. At the same time however, this period features the [[Great Schism of 1615]], where a break of communion between what are now the [[Levantine Catholic Church]] and the [[Imperial Church|Imperial Church of Caphiria]] occurred. A critical consequence of this schism was the combination of the secular and religious authorities in Caphiria, which created a caesaropapist form of government. As a result, the Third Imperium shifted from its historically traditional aggressive expansionism, irredentism and interventionism policies and focused on its domestic policies, to avoid another Dark Period. This shift in idelogies combined with the Great Schism lead to the start of the end of Caphiria's massive continential empire; the dissolution of the Western Provinces began in the earth 17th century, followed by the independence of several countries in Sarpedon such as Cartadania in 1615, Pelaxia in 1618, and Aciria in 1625. Towards the end of the 18th century, the last major blow to the Third Imperium's vast empire was the [[Veltorine War of Independence]], in which Caphiria ceded most of its eastern provinces. The Third Imperium ended in 1782 and marks the transition into the present era.