History of Romagna

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The Romagna Heartland is a region which contains the nations of Kicaeria, Juliaena, and Leninakana. For most of its history the Heartland was unified under the Romagna Empire, but in recent times it has split apart into various nations, each with its own problems. This is a cronicle of its history until the fall of the Empire. For more recent events see History of Kicaeria, History of Leninakana, and History of Juliaena.

The Early Days

(pre 873)

Modern historians do not know much about pre-Empire Romagna. The few surviving accounts come from heavily biased Empire historians; the picture they paint is unappetizing to say the least. According to the average Imperial snob there was enough sinful practices in the region to damn the entire world to hell. Examples citied as "reliable" or "proven" include: witchcraft, beastiality, cannibalism, heresy and worship of sticks, ritual murder, human sacrifice, homosexuality, and of course baby rape and murder. Regardless of whether or not the preceding is true, what is known is that the native people were called the Halemen. The Halemen -still a distinct ethnicity in The Heartland today- lived in tribal communities, centered around the hill fort. Inter-tribal warfare raged often and over trivial causes. This disorganized state of events did not last for long. About 100 years before the establishment of the Romagna Empire, these tribes began to assemble into ten different warring states, for their own security. Even so, this start at unification did not suffice to weather the coming storm.

The Romagna Empire

(873-1876)

Aeneas Romagnon
Romagnon.jpg
Title
Romagna Emperor
Lifetime
825-891
Renowned for
Founding the Empire and Romagnus, bringing law and order to the Heartland, first system for recording history, military genius
Political leaning
Fascist Dictator

The Unification

In 597 refugees fleeing the sack of the nearby (121 km) city-state of Illium arrived by ship at the site of modern-day Ceazaria in Juliaena. These expatriates, numbering some 20,000 were far more advanced than the local Halemen, socially and technologically. They brought with them Quirites, still one of the Heartland's official lanuages. Once some self-sufficency and organization could be attained it took a mere 20 years to conquer the southern tip of the Juliaen peninsula. By 850 the former refugees had conquered the entire Juliaen peninsula, 3/4 of modern Juliaena. However, around 852 the last King of the old Illium line died, leaving no heir and no regent. Novo Illium, as it was called, and its Halemen allies were plunged into chaos. Inumerable factions struggled for the throne in the War of the Hundred Kings, leaving the land desolate. Farms fell fallow, young men were almost an extinct species, and the city of Novo Illium (Ceazaria) had been besieged twenty times; when a young prince round down out of the north, systematically subduing the so-called Diadochi (successors), until Novo Illium was unified. His name was Aeneas Romagnon.

By 873 the remaining Diadochi were "reconciled" to Romagnon's rule, the last laying down arms in September of that year after a failed attempt to relieve Novo Illium. In December the Patrician Council proclaimed Romagnon as Emperor, then promptly dissolved. For the next five years, Romagnon was occupied in politics and consolidation of his winnings. Then, in 878, he embarked on one of the largest, most successful military campaigns the ancient world had ever seen. In what is now called The Hundred Days, Romagnon march north with half a million men, and conquered the rest of modern Juliaena, the area around the future capital of Romagnus, and 2/3 of modern Kicaeria. Though the Halemen tribes fought fiercely, they were disunited and no match for Romagna tactics and organization. This rapid, massive push, though strengthening the Empire and binding together its people, exhasted Romagnon's armies. Once again he had to pause to consolidate his possessions. This time it took the rest of his reign.

By the end of Romagnon's life, Novo Illium had quadrupled in size, population, and prosperity. The first reliable system of recording history (with some biases) had been established, along with libraries to house it. The Romagna military was the largest and most professional in the region, and there were still more territories to conquer. The only forseeable problem was succession. Though war of power had begun Romagnon's career, he was admandant that one would not end it. To ensure this he divided Imperial power between his four children, setting up a government that is still modeled by Kicaeria today. To his eldest son, Silvus Romagnon, went the title of Emperor, Romagnus, and the Army. To his middle son, Iulus Romagnon Ceazaris went the stewardship of Juliaena. To his youngest son, Tulus Romagnon Kicero went the stewardship of Kicaeria. It appears he hated his only daughter, Helana Romagnon, as she recieved the unconquered East (Leninakana), the harem, and the family wine cellar. To the newly refounded Partician Council went the legislation and the treasury. All of these elements were subordinate to the Emperor, but retained some measure of independence.

Gais Romagnon Marsus
caesar.jpg
Title
Romagna Emperor
Lifetime
1019-1081
Renowned for
Reforming Romagna Army, conquering East (Leninakana), weakening Empire politically, military genius
Political leaning
Expansionist Dictator

The Marsic Reforms

For the next 170 years, the Romagna Emperor's were occupied in establishing the supremacy of the descentdants of Illium, now called the Peninsulares, over the native Halemen, the majority of the population. The old language of Illium, Quirites, was made the official tongue of the Empire. Attempts to stamp out the native Halemaan attained little success or popularity. While all this was going on, little money was spent on formerly great Romagna military, which quite became obsolecent in the face of new technology. Some territorial gains were made, but the Empire was unable to hold them. In 1060, a new Emperor, Gais Romagnon Marsus, took the throne. After the usual reprisals, and removal of the old regime, Marsus set about rebuilding the Romagna Army, beginning the Marsic Reforms. After reaching considerable success with the armed forces, Marsus prepared the Empire for another grand military campaign. This time it was to attack the East (Leninakana), which his disgraced ancestor, Helana Romagnon had inherited, but never controlled. But the conservative Patrician Council was heavily opposed this decision, and denied Marsus crucial funding. Expanding the Marsic Reforms into politics, he dissolved the Council once again, vastly increasing the Emperor's power. Then in 1064 he dedicated the rest of reign to conquering most of modern Leninakana.

After Marsus' death in 1081, a third stewardship was created. The Romagna Empire had reached its pinnacle. Though later in its history, the Tulii Kicaerones would add the area around Tuliasea to the Empire, and other Emperors would expand the Empire in the East, major expansion was over. But the Empire was not. Later Emperors focused on economic prowess rather than the military. For the moment, the Halemen and the Peninsulares were at peace, Quirites and Halemaan were equally used as the official lanuage. However, the Marsic Reform still inhibited Romagna politically. Since the Patrician Council had been dissolved there was no conservative counterbalance to the fickle whims of the Emperors. If one way or another the Empire was becoming more extreme and unbalanced, it was fitting that so was the Last Emperor.

The Collaspe

It was apparent from birth that Claudus Romagnon Nero was insane. Nevertheless his family allowed him to become Emperor thinking to manipulate him behind the scenes. They were wrong. Several preceding Emperors had widen the gap between Halemen and Peninsulares by limiting the civil rights of the former and insitituing a secret police program that had the word "massacre" on everyones lips. Nero only worsened the situation by issuing decrees preventing Halemen to work jobs for pay, turning 70% of the population in virtual slaves. When family members fearful of rebellion tried to dissuade him, Nero ordered the entire Romagnon family killed. Next, he dissolved the thousand-year-old system of Stewardships, bring supreme power under the Emperor. Under the Nero Doctrine the secret police were allowed to execute anyone suspected of "uncitizenlike behavior". Nero's reign of terror did not last long. After a mere three years in power, his spymaster assassinated him to protect the Empire, ending the Romagna Dynasty. The populace breathed a sigh of relief, but the worst was yet to come.

Civil War and Invasion

(1876-1889)

The Marxist Revolution Summary
Date: Summer 1876 - Spring 1877
Locations: City of Romagnus, Romagna-Muscovy Border, Northern Romagna
Outcome: Conflict ended with victory for Muscovy and Leninakana. The People's Republic of Leninakana is created out of Romagna province of The East.
Casualties (approx.)
Military: 980,000 dead
Civilian: 2,300,000 dead
Total: 3,280,000 dead
Main Participants
Red Star Alliance Romagna Empire
Socialist Federation of Muscovy
Leninakana
Other Minor Allies






Romagna Empire








The Marxist Revolution

For 100 years since its foundation in 1777, a nation to the northwest of the Romagna Empire had steadily, stealthily amassing power. Its name was the Socialist Federation of Muscovy (SFM). It was now a regional power, and the time for stealth was over. Since the 1850's when Muscovy had first set its sights on the declining Empire, it had infiltrated the country with agents to spread dissaffection. One of these spies, a Muscovite known only as V.I. Lenin had gained the ear of the Last Emperor, and his friendship. It was Lenin who was mastermind behind the crazy decrees, secret police, and anti-Halemen rhetoric. Before arrangement the Emperor's assassination, Lenin adjusted his will so that in the light of the execution of the remaining Romagnas, Muscovy would inherit the Romagna Empire. Both Halemen and Peninsulares were outraged once this became publically known, and the Empire prepared for war. Lenin, of course, was a step ahead of them. His supporters and Romagna communists seized control of a large part of the East, declaring for Muscovy. At first, the war went well for the communists, as the Romagna military was disorganized and untrained. The border of the communist East, now called the People's Republic of Leninakana was pushed almost to the walls of Romagnus. The tide began to turn once the numerically superior Romagna military could be marshalled. Within two months Leninakana's troops had been pushed back 100 miles all along the front. Lenin appealed to his Muscovite allies for help again and again, but none came. By spring 1877, the Romagna advance had slowed, supply lines were overextended, and the men exhasted. The Muscovites had finally found their weakness.

With no declaration of war SFM forces struck everywhere along the northern border with the Empire. The Romagna commanders, thinking Muscovy was content to sit on her hands, were caught totally unprepared when the foriegners attack their rear. The Muscovites managed to encircle half of the entire front, with support from Leninakana on the other side. In one manuver, the communists had trapped 2/3 of the Romagna Army. After a few belated attempts of breakout, the entire encircled army surrendered. This defeat was so great that it should have ended the war then and there. Instead, the remaining Romagna forces in the south withdrew, under orders from their commander, a Juliaen Ceazari, to the base of the Juliaen Peninsula. This blatant abandonment of the West was so outragous to Lucius Tulius Kicaero, governor of the region, that he lost all reason. The breaking had begun. The debate over what the Army should have done still rages today, but what is certain is that if it had stood and fought it would have been annhilated. Regardless, the capitol, Romagnus was undefended when Muscovite and Leninakanan forces jointly occupied it. Communist forces paused to rest and reorganize.

Romagna Separatist Crisis Summary
Date: Spring 1877 - Fall 1889
Locations: City of Romagnus, Kicaeria-Juliaena Border
Outcome: Conflict ended with armistice ending Romagna Empire and establishing Leninakana, Kicaeria, Juliaena
Casualties (approx.)
Military: 173,000 dead
Civilian: 3,000 dead
Total: 176,000 dead
Main Participants
Western Separatists and Red Star Alliance Old Romagna Empire
Kicaeria
Leninakana
Socialist Federation of Muscovy
Other Minor Allies





Juliaena
City of Romagnus







Romagna Separatist Crisis

During the interlude, Lucius Tulius Kicaero, met with all important figures in the West to plot their next move. In a rhetorically brillant speech that shocked the world he annouced their conclusion. The unconquered West was now called Kicaeria, with its capital at Tuliasea, and was to secede from the Empire and sign peace accords with Leninakana and Muscovy. Upon hearing the news, what remained of the Empire went beserk, declaring war on anything within 2000 km. The Juliaen Ceazari general was appointed Regent of the Romagna Empire, which he promptly dissolved in favor of the new nation of Juliaena. The new war still continued but with little progress on either side.