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Early history of Urcea: Difference between revisions
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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. | 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. | ||
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, | 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. | ||
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. | 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. | ||
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. | |||
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. | 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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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”. | 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”. | ||
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, creating division within the Archduchy during the medieval period. | 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. | ||
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. | 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. | ||