[IC] History of Selene

05-25-2016, 11:12 PM

Initial Expansion and Development

Excerpt from 'On the Founding, Independence and Growth of Selenia'
Nerisus Pileus

Little is known about the early Selenid period, besides their declaration of independence from the crumbling Artemian Empire soon after the Battle of Tedimidge, along with most other western provinces between 370 and 406, when Byzantium finally fell to its foes.

What happened after that point is mere speculation, until the 6th century, when several outside sources mention trade and relations with Selenius, although their usefulness beyond proving that Selenia still existed is minimal. Records greatly increased by the end of the century, when historians like Palineus, Paternius and Gerimagnus of Thracta began to record various tales in the vernacular of the time, presumably for the common folk rather than public officials. In addition, they often recorded government actions, as in the following excerpt written by Gerimagnus in 584:

Let it be known on this day that Governor Selecus pardoned the execution of threescore rebels who had plotted to kill him before, on the excuse that their actions to kill him were pathetic at best and they could not have killed him even if he was asleep in bed, and so was the whole Prefecture. Gibaldus son of Kyklos was tried on the same day for stealing seven hundred and twoscore measures of grain over 3 years from Lord Lycanos of Similine. He was committed to a yoke of an ox, and was made to plow grain with the ox until he fall of exhaustion. The ox trampled on him, and he passed of bad humours from the trampling soon after the sun had gone down.

It is at this point during the 6th century that Selenius began to expand into its former neighbouring provinces, most notably into the lands of Oriental Syrenia and Lithynia. This expansion was led by Hathas, a general from the region of Iothilus in south Selenius, where it is likely he spent his youth personally fighting off the southern barbarians. He was recorded by Gerimagnus and Paternius to be a ruthless man, bent on the idea that the Selenid were the strongest peoples. He considered the Syrenians as essentially equal, and thus Oriental Syrenia was incorporated into Selenius. There is little knowledge on what happened to the original Lithynians, but genetic tracing suggests that the vast majority was wiped out around the year 615. Once this was attributed to a genocide result of the Iothilean expansion, but contemporary theory points to a plague brought about by foreign incursions.

Excerpt from 'Records of Selecus IV'
Selecus IV

Let this be a day remembered by all. A day when our great province honoured the memories of Selecus Second and Selecus Third by achieving the unachievable. Today we reclaimed the lost land of Byzantium, cradle of our civilisation and home of the ancient Artemians, to whom we owe not only our past but also the course upon which we are set.

This conquest is the result of six score years wherein my predecessors expanded our lands and incorporated them into our province with fearless settles, enabling our army to reclaim the city that had been forcefully taken so many years ago. Surely this success will anger our foes, but this is cause for celebration among our people. This ancient city must become our capital, a sign of the power and plenty in Selenius.

Our province has expanded not only in lands, but also in people. What once was three hundred and fifty thousand score has become seven hundred and fifty thousand score. We shall build cities and roads and buildings so our people will enjoy as much success in Byzantium as they do in Cyron and all through our lands. With our sea jewel back where it belongs, all is possible.

Excerpt from 'On the Founding, Independence and Growth of Selenia'
Nerisus Pileus

A second period of expansion started under Tephipater II in 762, with the conquest of the remainder of Syrenia, Porniniria and incursions into the northern province of Magdalus. However, most of Magdalus had been invaded by Malara, an eastern province of which little was known until then.

What is now called the Malaran Wars was in reality a series of brief but brutal battles that lasted for the next hundred years, mostly in Magdalus or its border with Malara. By 879 neither side was able to gain a permanent foothold beyond the Gates of Linus, which surrounded the capital of Magdalus, though at this point the city was little more than rubble.

Considering the prospect of another hundred years of endless war, Governor Leonides proposed an act of personal union between himself and Governess Domitiana of Malara. She promptly agreed, likewise fearing the continuation of the war. It is thus that Selenius and Malara became on in October 891.

Excerpt from 'Records of the Royal Court'
Tetrus

And the Governor descended the stairs with the Governess Domitiana, and the archbishop solemnly said the rhythmic vows in the old language and proceeded to forever bind the two nations in the union declared by heaven. At the blessed moment that the Governor kissed the hand of the lady Domitiana, there erupted a beam, breaking through the clouds on the kissed hand, as if it was always to be by decision of fate. There was a great cheer in that palace in Byzantium on that day, and great feasting as well, with various and divers lambs, calves, pigs, and multitudes of birds were served to all guests.

Excerpt from 'On the Founding, Independence and Growth of Selenia'
Nerisus Pileus

Despite the initial joy surrounding the occasion, there was an air of jadedness that could not be ignored. These two peoples spoke different languages, displayed completely different traditions and overall had little in common, making integration incredibly difficult.

Malara was populated by the Katratic people, foreigners who had occupied the land after the collapse of the Artemian Empire. Selenius was overwhelmingly Artemian, populated by the descendants of those who had previously ruled the land. Malarans were farmers, Selenians were fishers. Malarans favoured a simple life on the field, Selenians favoured grand halls and sophisticated societies. It took decades to overcome those differences and avoid a collapse of the initially unstable union.

By 924 the situation stabilised, under the leadership of Governor Erasthenes. It was clear that Artemian culture would become dominant, albeit with notable Katratic influences, including holidays and attire. Most notable, senatorial white robes slowly ceased to be the sole attire of the higher classes, with darker clothes becoming more acceptable.

Erasthenes took advantage from his parents’ legacies. He used the geographical dominance left by Leonides to fortify the trans-continental strait and nearby islands. He enhanced the ports and granaries from Domitiana, rebuilding the fortified city of Tedimidge and constructing what became Selenius’ second largest city, the southern port of Salbar. Strategically located on an island off the mainland, Salbar held important defence capabilities, including narrow passages and guard towers that can fire at invading ships. In addition, Erasthenes also fortified and developed the port cities of Ianos, Likos and Limesios, slowly but surely consolidating Selenius as the sole empire on the Malaran Peninsula.

Introduction to 'A Study of the Dynamics of Change'
Justin Kalominos

Many predict that Selene and Kalos will merge at some point in the next twenty years. As we witness the final years of a decades long process that led the once enemies to become allies, it stands to reason that we should examine the dynamics that drive change in Selene and make its leaders change previous policies and transform the way their nation views itself. To accomplish this, there is no better case than the transition from the Province of Selenius to the Principality of Selene, a two-centuries process that did away with the last vestiges of loyalty to the Artemian Empire and fully established the Selenian identity, a concept that had struggled to take hold in the centuries after the Artemid collapse.

There are those who disagree with the above suggestion. Andros Manikolos from the University of Tedimidge still claims that the transition from Selenius to Selene was swift and largely inconsequential to its society. I strongly disagree with that view. Letting go of the Artemid legacy was immensely consequential for Selenius, not only in the immediate aftermath, but also for the centuries to come. At the onset of the 11th century, Selenius was ruled by a governor who still swore loyalty to ‘the eternal glory of Artemis’ and its people still spoke Artemian. By the 13th century, Selene was now ruled by a prince who swore loyalty to the ‘stature and beauty of Selene’ and its people spoke different languages, most prominently one resulting from the fusion of Artemian and Katratic.

When Theodosius IX crowned himself Prince instead of Governor in 1189, the outcry was such that he was forced to publish his famous 10 Excuses, an extensive explanation for his attempt to break away from the Artemid tradition. This is why he remained a prince and Artemian lost its official status by 1200. His successors dutifully followed in his steps, and so change was afoot. This goes beyond a change of rulers and languages. This signifies a break from the Artemid tradition, the moment Selene stopped thinking itself an extension of its predecessor and instead started making its own history, and acknowledged it as such. What Manikolos calls a cultural shift, I call the defining moment when Selene adopted its own identity.

How did this change come to happen? What forces were at work when this happened? What were their effects? Identifying and analysing these dynamics is the purpose of this study.

Extract from the Notes of Geriatrus
Geriatrus

Article from the Byzantium Reporter
Archelaus