14,075
edits
Early history of Urcea: Difference between revisions
m
→Post-collapse Urce River valley societies
m (Text replacement - "lead to" to "led to") |
|||
| Line 42: | Line 42: | ||
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. | 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 southern portion of 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. The Pope's authority extended far beyond those regions he directly controlled; in most cases, the office of the Papacy became the central arbitrator and authority of appeal in the valley, giving him significant soft power and making the office easily the most powerful and influential in the Valley. | ||
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]], which occupied the [[Ionian Plateau]] by the 7th century. Beginning ca. 690, Gallawa united the other petty Gael kingdoms into one sprawling empire. It was in this geopolitical context that [[Gaius Julius Cicurinus|Saint Julius of the Caeline]] 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]], which occupied the [[Ionian Plateau]] by the 7th century. Beginning ca. 690, Gallawa united the other petty Gael kingdoms into one sprawling empire. It was in this geopolitical context that [[Gaius Julius Cicurinus|Saint Julius of the Caeline]] was elected Dux of Urceopolis. | ||