Londinian City-States
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Age of City States |
This article features historical information pertaining to British Londinium during the years BCE 2 to CE 134. For information regarding other periods in Londinian history, view the sidebar to the right.
Contents
Launch of the Roman Expeditionary Fleet
In 4 BCE, Emperor Octavian commissioned the launch of a expedition into Africa - the Roman settlers and troops were to sail through the Straits of Gibraltar, sail south around the coast of Africa, and attempt to land in Egypt, as part of a cartography programme launched in 7 BCE. The fleet, under command of Gaius Marcus Decidius, successfully sailed around the Cape of Good Hope (then known as the Amiculum ab Triumphus; however, torrential storms blew the fleet eastward past Australia - deemed unhabitable by a scouting party - and landed in Northern British Londinium, at the present-day location of Triumphe, British Londinium in 3 BCE.
Settlement of the north
Utilising celestial navigation and dead-reckoning, the one hundred thousand Romans determined that, by 2 BCE, the probability of engaging in a successful trip home were Lilliputian in margin. Ergo, Decidius declared that he was the new Emperor of the islands, which he christened the Eurasian Islands, in recognition of its cultural heritage and its geographic location. The area to the south of Triumphe proved more hospitable than Triumphe, so the main city-state of Kensington (Novæ Londinivm) was situated there, whilst Triumphe was redesignated as a minor city.
Flourishing Period (0 CE - 119 CE)
The loose conglomeration of city-states built in British Londinium flourished, with the development of the arts and culture rivalling the growth of culture that the Athenians and the Roman Republic experienced in the past. Each metrocivita, or city, centered around the cittadella, which possessed the centre of government, temples to major deities, along with barracks, and supply caches. Arguably the most important part of the city was the mercari, a massive, open-air marketplace, where most of the day's exchanges and activities took place. Finally, most Londinian metrocivitas possessed a sumposio, or forum, where political debates and discussions were held.
War soon faded from the collective memory, with the spectre of prosperity sweeping over British Londinium. Kensington's quæstor, or elected leader, initiated the construction of the vast eurastrata system in 70 CE, a series of roads linking most settlements in British Londinium; the eurastrata served as the predecessor to the modern-day motorway system. Education and higher learning blossomed, with notable scholars such as Caecilia Auxilius Metelli founding major academies and universities throughout British Londinium. From the start, linguistics, grammar, metaphysics, and the study of time were focuses for study in British Londinium - later causing modern Eurasia to be preoccupied with time and linguistic perfection.
Harmony Breaks Down (119-126)
Unfortunately, the harmony of the Flourishing Period would not last long. Kensington decided to create the first military alliance in Londinian history, the Boreal League, consisting of the western city-states in the north. Initially the alliance was headquartered in the neutral isle of Borealis, but in 120 Novæ Londinivm moved the treasury of the Boreal League from Borealis to Kensington, allegedly to keep it safe from Newcastle (Novæcastrum) . However, Londinian historical accounts indicate that many individuals viewed the transfer to Novæ Londinivm as usurping monetary resources to fund elaborate building projects. Kensington also switched from accepting payment in the form of ships, men and weapons, to only accepting money. The new treasury and headquarters established in Kensington was used for many purposes, not all relating to the defense of members of the league. It was from tribute paid to the league that Kensingtonites built the Cittadella Majestas and the Great Temple of Minerva, as well as many other non-defense related expenditures. It was during this time that some claim that the Londinivm Empire arose, as the technical definition of empire is a group of cities paying taxes to a central, dominant city, while keeping local governments intact. The Boreal League was turning from an alliance into an empire.
Victorian War (126-131)
The city-state of Newcastle watched from the south as Kensington consolidated its power within the Boreal League. After the alliance absorbed all of the north, including the Newcastlian colony situated at Monégasque, Newcastle had the justification it needed for war. Sending a fleet of troops to the north, Newcastle quickly swept up unprepared city-states, seizing the harbours at Devonport, Piccadilly, and Chelsea. Kensington was slow to respond, too busy relishing in their power. However, when Newcastlian sailors razed the port of Kensington in 127, the reality of the situation became all too apparent. Troops were dispatched from the Boreal nations to reseize the captured cities of Victoria, with General Pacitalius Vindex leading seventy-five thousand troops in an assault on Piccadilly in 127. Clever tactical strategems devised by Newcastle's military personnel, however, lead to the brutal demise of twenty-seven thousand Boreal soldiers; General Pacitalius, seeing no other choice, initiated a seven month siege of the city. After the last Newcastilian general died of malnutrition, the gates to the city were thrust open, with Pacitalius ruthlessly swept through the city and executed thousands whom he suspected collaborated with Newcastlians. In celebration of his triumph, Pacitalius was granted the victory title of Piccadillius. Later, campaigns were waged against the rest of the Victorian cities seized by Newcastle, and by 131, all Victorian cities had been liberated - and made into members of the Boreal League.
Ganapatian War (131-134)
Empress Oliva Tibullus of Kensington, ruler at the time. found Boreal expulsion of Newcastle to be unsatisfactory; she would only be satisfied with the complete destruction and subjugation of the south as well. In 131, the Boreal League attack Winchester, the only other southern city-state at the time besides Newcastle. Winchester was a satellite-state of Newcastle, which was wholly committed to ensuring that it would not fall to the Victorians. Three bloody years of sieges, razes, and slaughter ensued until 134, when Winchester fell victim to a plague of hemorraghic fever, allowing for the easy capture of the city.
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The People's Sovereign Republic of British Londinium |
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| Main article: British Londinium | ||
| Individuals: Alistair Davidson • Adélaïde Azzopardi | ||
| Miscellaneous: Volscian • Londinian Armed Forces • Flag of British Londinium • Denarii • Colonies of British Londinium • Kensington • Londinian Democratic Socialists • Londinian Broadcasting Group • List of Londinian Prime Ministers • Londinian history • Londinian Immigration Clearance Level • List of Londinian Sovereigns | ||
