Solisbury History
Foundation
The city of SolisburyOne was founded in the third century BC by the Inspirii tribe on the estuary of the River Sol. The city (then named Bury-on-Solis) grew over the centuries and expanded to include surrounding tribes and villages. However, it was not until the 16th century that the nation of Solisbury was officially formed by the Foundation Act of 1551. Over the following decades, the nation annexed smaller states on its borders in an agressive expansion policy led by the dictatorial Duke Regent Victor Augustus, expanding to encompass more than eleven million citizens - a large number for that period. However, the surrounding states refused to accept the imposed rule of Solisbury and a bloody civil war ensued from 1583 until 1621. The war ended on March 31 1621 when the Separatist faction captured and executed the leading officers of the Regency faction. By the end, more than four million lives were lost and a large portion of Solisbury's developing industries were destroyed beyond repair.
Consolidation
For the following twenty years the people of Solisbury rebuilt their tattered nation. However, the surrounding smaller states were attacked repeatedly and in their weakened state could not defend against the agressors. It is estimated more than half of the population of the surround states were captured or killed during this time. The Separatist leaders of the surrounding nations realised they could not defend themselves without the unity and strength a single government could provide, and on January 12 1645 the Protectorate of Solisbury was formed by a coalition of leaders from the surrounding states and the surviving leaders of Solisbury. The Consolidation Act of 1645 decreed that from now until eternity the people of Solisbury would be led, protected and united by the Protectorate Parliament. Furthermore the Consolidation Act set in place the foundations of the government we see today, with the Lord Protector's Council and the Judiciary Council developing into today's Office of the President and Executive Office.
Radical Reform
Following the Consolidation of 1645 the Protectorate of Solisbury and Outlying States continued to exist in peace until the year 1990. Under the influence of external sources, fourteen dissident leaders of the Protectorate Army formed a military coup, destroying the Parliament building with more than three hundred Members of Parliament in-session. The remaining leaders of the Protectorate Army arrested and immediately executed the dissenting officers, but the damage was done. The Protectorate of Solisbury remained only in geographical location, and it was two years before another governmental election could be organised and held. In 1993 the first session of the New Parliament of Solisbury was held at a secure location, and the Parliament voted to dissolve itself, recognising the short-comings of its previous incarnation. The following ten years marked a radical restructuring of the Solisbury governmental system, with more than fifteen governmental elections and over 1000 bills passed the government evolved from a rather outdated, overly bureaucratic system into the streamlined, modern system we use today.
Unison
On April 20th 2003 the Protectorate of Solisbury held its first election for the new Protectorate Senate. With a record 92% electoral turn-out, all 450 Senators were elected, the votes counted and results announced that night, marking the beginning of the new government. The following October, after passing the Presidential Act, the first Presidential Elections were held in Solisbury. Senator Will Statham gained a landslide victory result, and on October 31st was sworn in as the first President of the Protectorate of Solisbury. After a referendum in February 2004, the Protectorate Senate took measures to better recognise and represent the Outlying States of Solisbury. By passing the Unison Act of 2004 the United Peoples of Solisbury was established, under the government of the United Peoples of Solisbury Grand Senate led by President Will Statham.
