Paulastra: Difference between revisions

===National League of Crona and independence===

Within the context of increased company control over the South Cronan colonies, several new ideas began to proliferate throughout the Cronan colonies in the 1760s. Historians cite two sources for these: concepts and thinkers related to the [[Kilikas Enlightenment]] from [[Kiravia]] began to spread, but the recently incorporated [[Urcean people|Urcean]] settlers of the [[Julian Belt]] continued to adhere to their [[Culture_of_Urcea#Attitudes_and_worldview|traditional worldview on society and government]], viewpoints that spread to the Coscivian heritage settlers as well. Together, these ideas became prominent in the three Cronan colonies of Farpoint, Songun Coast, and North Cape, many began to question both the pragmatic effect and philosophical basis for rule from [[Kartika]]. The first group to organize around these ideas was the ''Farpoint Correspondence Society'', which was briefly suppressed by colonial authorities but later allowed as a conciliatory measure. Similar societies sprung up among the educated elite of the major cities of the colonies, and in 1784 the various societies formed the National League of Crona, an organization that not only intended to lobby for greater political autonomy in Crona but also conducted research and debate about their own national identity. In time, the National League would come to be a pseudo-political party and even a geopolitical organizing entity. Efforts to reach out to [[The Cape|the Cape colonies]] for inclusion in the National League met with only limited interest.

====The departure====

Between the 1780s and 1810s, the National League of Crona grew in both size and sophistication. Far from being just a correspondence committee, the National League not only kept up agitation with local colonial governors but also had a fully formed lobbying presence in [[Kartika]]. Amidst the backdrop of agitation by the settlers, native tribes also began to organize. Their methods, beginning in 1796, oscillated between violent raiding and political pressure, with the specific approach varying by tribe. As of the 1810s, tribal peoples still occupied a vast majority of the land area in what would become Paulastra, with colonial authorities governing relatively narrow strips between settlements. In 1817, these efforts reached a head as much of the attention of the government in [[Kiravia]] was consumed with pacifying colonial settlers and keeping tribes peaceful. The pressure exerted combined with [[XXX]], a near-catastrophe that shook the core of the Kiravian people and government. In the wake of this trauma, and in order to better marshal their resources, the Kiravian government secretly decided in March 1817 to unilaterally withdraw from its northernmost three colonies along the [[Songun]], instead focusing its limited attention on keeping the southern [[the Cape|Cape]] provinces peaceful and prosperous. A decision was made that, as part of the withdrawal, the [[Imperial_Cola#Foundation_and_expansion|Imperial Cronan Plantation Company]] would remain in place within the new ''de facto'' independent states, ensuring that profit would continue to flow back to Kiravia independent of the political or military situation on the ground. This decision was largely kept secret, though various leaks and rumors found their way back to National League leadership. These rumors reached a fever pitch when it became evident in mid-December that military assets were being steadily concentrated in the Cape colonies and withdrawn from the Songun. Regardless, "the departure", as it became known, as a shock to nearly every colonial and tribal alike, as the Kiravian flag was quietly lowered and the colonial government apparatuses boarded ships and sailed away on 31 December 1817. Authority was handed over to prominent locals or National League chapters that night, often with mere hours or minutes notice. These locals and chapters struggled to form provisional governments in the ensuing years.

===Civil war===

Following the sudden withdrawal of Kiravian forces, the National League of Crona found itself suddenly free of foreign rule. The sudden nature of independence meant that the National League, which remained a political organization only loosely tying the officially separate three states together, had little preparation for the establishment of a permanent political order. Native peoples and colonial settlers in three different states suddenly found themselves no longer unified by a common identity and government. Besides the three states, many tribal nations existed within the National League's territorial sovereignty, and many of these argued that their agreements remained with [[Kartika]] rather than any new local government. Both the states and tribal nations sent representatives to Farpoint to discuss the formation of a new government. Theses talks failed as tribal leaders each claimed ownership of the lands of what would become Paulastra with each tribal leader wanting complete control over the lands at the expense of the other tribes and settlers. The country side soon found itself in total chaos as the tribes fought for dominance. The ensuing civil war would last from 1818 to 1823, causing significant economic hardship, humanitarian devestation, and permanently altering relations between the colonial and native peoples.