History of Czardas

First records

It is unknown exactly when Czardas was first colonized, but there are records of human habitation in the area dating from about 1300 BCE. It is believed that long-term migrations following herds passed over the mountains near the border, entering the coastal plain and building settlements there. Cities existed as early as 1100 BCE, most importantly Jarna (today Czarna), with a population of 40,000, and Gigluk, with a population of 15,000. Originally, the Czardaian people were peaceful. But in the three hundred and fifth year of the Czardaian settlement (believed to be 1026 BCE), there are records of a great war having occurred which led to the wiping out of the Czardaians and the dominance of a new and warlike race, the Cvarkens (who eventually settled in modern day Kharanjul), who enslaved the Czardaians.

For many years the tribes hoped for liberation. In 200 CE, the Cvarkens finally departed Czardas, apparently due to some kind of natural disaster. Just a hundred years later, the Czardaians disappeared from history. Their homes and records still exist, but are cut short at the year they called 1654, which we know as 305 CE. It is still a much-debated topic as to what happened to the Czardaians, and some believe they were driven along the Zaïr canyon into the mountainous eastern half of Czardas.

A rock of strength

Whether or not this story is true, we know that in 470, a Germanic tribe settled in Czardas. This tribe, the Kurtzhaft, was made up of barbarians who ransacked other cities on the coastal plain, then returned to their capital at Dorji (today Doryí). But when Dorji was ransacked by another city-state on the plain, Jarna, the Kurtzhaft fled to the Rock, the lowest point in the Great Dividing Range. Atop that rock they built Adarion, the Sentinel City.

For hundreds of years while city-states fought for power on the plain, the Kurtzhaft held Adarion and conquered much of the interior region. By 726 they numbered nearly 1 million. An armed force estimated at 30,000 eventually left Adarion and conquered much of the city-states along the Zaïr River. Eventually, the Kurtzhaft conquered all of the coastal plain and established Kekulak as their capital. It was a strategic choice; Kekulak straddled the Zaïr and Doran rivers, the two major rivers of the plain, at the point where they met. Peace was established, the "Pax Czardaina", and the High King (who ruled at Kekulak) governed with the aid of a council of lesser kings from each city-state on the plain, each king elected by a council of the people. It was not a true democracy—women, for example, could not vote—but it was close.

Overzealous crusaders

The trouble started anew in 1142. An army of Crusaders from France had lost their way and somehow found Czardas. The Kurtzhaft and their city-states mustered an army of 15,000 to counter the Frenchmen, but the knights conquered Kekulak and enslaved the populace. The native peoples fled to Adarion, where they plotted and awaited their return. The Frenchmen renamed the Zaïr as the Doubre, a name it kept until 1955, and the Doran they renamed the Douranne.

The next hundred and fifty years consisted mainly of civil wars: the natives against the invaders. Allies of the French, including Raskeljians and Surekkians, arrived to counter the native peoples, who fought hard against them. In 1307, though, the invaders finally retreated, allowing Czardas its independence as The Commonwealth of Czardas. The French went on to stumble on Mauvasia.

Democracy

Czardas, the world's second oldest direct democracy, adopted that system in 1332 after the first king declined to rule saying that the people must have a voice. Its history has been long and peaceful, partly due to a realization of the havoc caused by the pre-independence turmoil. Its one war occurred in 1627, when it contributed troops to a civil war in the nearby kingdom of Jeffie. Sadly, however, the royalists defeated the pro-democracy forces.

Czardas surmonted the political milestones much faster than other nations: in 1412 it outlawed slavery; in 1444 it passed an amendment saying that all people, regardless of age, sex, race, or color, are equal under the law. In 1503 it allowed women to vote and in 1505 lowered the voting age to 18. Its only uneasy moment occurred in the years 1816-1820, when, with the threat of war looming, President Gy Samur curtailed the rights to freedom of speech and assembly.

Czardas in the UN

Czardas joined the UN in 1817 and has since played an active voice in determining the affairs of that august body. It has twice served as a non-permanent member on the IDAS council (1901 and 1976) and holds regional status just below Optima Justitia as a UN member. Czardas has been expelled from the UN twice (1924 and 2002) and reapplied to join, each time successfully.