Sylvia

The Most Serene Kingdom of Sylvia (Sérénissime Regne de Sylvie [sylviesɛɾɛnissimɛ rɛɲɛ dɛ silviɛ]), commonly known as Sylvia (Silvonian: [silviɛ]) or La Sérénissime is a country in West Artopa, off the West Coast of mainland Artopa. Sylvia comprises of the Liliec Isles, Rubia, Kerland, Midthril and other small islands both within and without the Sylvian Archipelego. Sylvia does not border any nations, instead being completely surrounded by the Avansic Ocean, Avedoran Sea, Liliec Strait, Vikland Strait, and the Aventian Channel. The Total Area of Sylvia is 654,313.2 square kilometres (252,631.7 sq mi.), with the main isles being 544,978.40 square kilometres (210,417.34 sq mi.) with an estimated population of more than 55 million people in 1955.

One of the oldest countries in West Artopa, its territory has settled since prehistoric times. The territory was first inhabited by the Feldic people, and later invaded by Avedorans from modern day Glasea.

Etymology and terminology
The name Sylvia was used to refer to the Islands that makes up Sylvia today, especially concerning the island of Liliec since Antiquity. The Feldic natives of the islands referred the land as Kyrilsc. During the Avedoran migration, the invading Avedorans called themselves Silvonians (Silvoneis) to differentiate themselves from the natives of the islands. It is widely accepted that the word Sylvia originates from the Nicatorian word Silva, or Sylva meaning "Forest". The first recorded mention of the Sylvian Isles with this name was in 86 AT, by a Nicatorian explorer Carausius, who sailed the Avedoran sea. He noted that the coast of Liliec was entirely covered in trees, making observing further in-land impossible from the coasts.

In recent years the usage of Silvonian to refer to people of the Sylvian Islands has fallen out of style, with most including the government opting to use "Sylvian" to better reflect the status of Krilish and Viclandic nationalities that also resides within the isles.

The adjective "Sylvian" is commonly used to refer to matters relating to Sylvia and is used in law to refer to Sylvian citizenship and matters to do with nationality. People of Sylvia use several different terms to describe their national identity and may identify themselves as being Sylvian, Silvonian or Aventian (Krilish); or as having a combination of different national identities. The official designation for a citizen of Sylvia is "Sylvian citizen".

History
Main article: History of Sylvia

Prehistory
Main article: Prehistory in the Sylvian Isles

The earliest known evidence of human presence in the islands of Sylvia was the Homo antecessor, dating to approximately 800,000 years ago. The oldest proto-human bones discovered in Sylvia date from 500,000 years ago. Modern homo sapiens are known to have inhabited the area during the Upper Paleolithic period, though permanent settlements were only established within the last 6,000 years. After the last ice age only large mammals such as mammoths, bison and woolly rhinoceros remained. Roughly 11,000 years ago, when the ice sheets began to recede, humans repopulated the area; genetic research suggests they came from the northern part of the Actillan peninsula. The sea level was lower than the present day and Liliec was connected by land bridges to the rest of the Sylvian isles, Zerutsica and mainland Artopa. As the seas rose, it was separated from Artopa 10,000 years ago and from Zerutsica three millennia later.

The Beaker culture arrived around 2,500 BC, introducing drinking and food vessels constructed from clay, as well as vessels used as reduction pots to smelt copper ores. It was during this time that major Neolithic monuments were constructed. By heating together tin and copper, which were in abundance in the area, the Beaker culture people made bronze, and later iron from iron ores. The development of iron smelting allowed the construction of better ploughs, advancing agriculture, as well as the production of more effective weapons.

During the Iron Age, Feldic culture arrived from Northwestern Artopa. Kyrilisc was the spoken language during this time. Society was tribal with more than 50 tribes in the area. Earlier divisions are unknown because the Kyrilisc were not literate.

Antiquity
Main article: Feldic Period of Sylvia

The first instance of Sylvia appearing in written documents were in 86 AT, by Nicatorian explorer Carausius in his book Annales Artopaei. In 65 AT, three small attempts were launched by a Nicatorian general to conquer the isles, in which all thee ended in failure.

The Nicatorians maintained relatively cordial relations with the Kyrilisc tribes of the isles, maintaining trade of largely copper and iron which the islands were abdunant of. Archaeological evidence suggests that this trade may have happened as early as 20 AT. This era saw heavy Nicatorian cultural influence in the isles, with introduction of Nicatorian coinage and weaponary. In 124 PT, a rogue Nicatorian General Gaius Aurelius Postumus was invited by a Kyrilisc chief to act as a mercenary army against his contemporaries. However Postumus instead betrayed the chief and campaigned against the entire island. His wars lasted until 131 AT when Postumus' legions defeated the combined Kyrilisc army in the battle of Elsynhoek (present day Elsencourt). It is estimated that the wars of Postumus caused the death of 200,000 and 350,000 people from a population of perhaps 3,000,000. The Liliec Isle came under Aurelian rule for over three hundred years, however the Nicatorian Republic, and later the Nicatorian Empire did not recognise the Liliec as Nicatorian territory, and did not attempt to bring Postumus' or his successors into the Empire. In this period Nicatorian rule, Nicatorian culture flourished in Liliec, with the introduction of Nicatorian law, architecture, aqueducts, sewers, many agricultural items and silk.

Theodarity was first introduced to the isles in 200 PT, when Rex Gaius Sextus Postumus invited missionaries from Novaria to settle the outstanding religious tension between the ruling Nicatorian elite and the Kyrilisc natives. In this period Kyrilisc Theodaric monastic and missionary movements flourished. This period of Theodarity was influenced by ancient Kyrilisc culture in its sensibilities, polity, practices and theology. Local "congregations" were centred in the monastic community and monastic leaders were more like chieftains, as peers, rather than in the more hierarchical system of the Nicatorian-dominated church.

Early Middle Ages
Main article: Avedoran Migration, The Ennearchy, and de Muneforte Dynasty

The fall of Nicatoria saw the trade between Sylvia and mainland Artopa collapse, and local economies that relied on copper exports to Nicatoria completely destroyed. in 389 PT during the complete destruction of Nicatoria in mainland Artopa, Rex Gaius Silvius Octavius declared the Aurelian kingdom the legitimate continuation of Nicatoria. However this claimant to Nicatoria only lasted another 32 years, as invading Kyrilisc tribes from Kerterre and Midthril, along with the continuing economic strife in Liliec saw the downfall of the Aurelian Kingdom. The fall of the Aurelian Kingdom left Liliec defenceless of further invasions from continental Artopa, chiefly the Avedorans. The Avedorans conquered the Liliec in quick succesion with the aid of the Nicatorian remanent of Sylvia, who preferred the rule of the much more culturally close Avedorans than the foreign Kyriliscs. Avedoran nobleman Henry Muneforte who had notably been a decisive factor in the success of the conquests was ostracised by the rest of the nobles, fearing his power and prowess, and were subsequently excluded from the partition of Liliec. Munfeorte sailed northwards with his retinue, and happened upon the coasts of Rubia. There he established his own petty Kingdom, and consolidated his own power on the island. The nature and progression of the Avedoran settlement of Liliec is consequently subject to considerable disagreement; the emerging consensus is that it occurred on a large scale in the northeast but was less substantial to the southwest, where the Nicatorian language prevailed for many more decades. Kyrilisc style Theodarity had, in general, been replaced in the conquered territories by the more mainstream Nicatorian styled Avedoran Theodarity, Disputes between the many forms of Theodarity now present in the isle was settled in the Congression of Averaut (478), which established the Liliec Theodaric doctrine which dominated the isle until the introduction of Silestrianism in 1567.

The land of Liliec and Rubie had coalesced into nine kingdoms including Rubie, Albumie, Anecost, Ruchestria, Aris, Montecello, Noringe, Vlamonte, Evenrie. Over the following centuries, this process of political consolidation continued. This period, known as The Ennearchy saw a struggle for hegemony between the nine kingdoms, especially between the powerful Rubie and Aris. The fall of Evenrie and Noringe by the Kingdom of Aris established Aris as the predominant power of the isle, however Aris could not hold this tentative position for long, as all remaining kingdoms of Liliec now feared the power of Aris, and many of the kingdoms, especially situated on the western coast pledged fealty to the King of Rubie. When the King of Montecello died without an heir, a dispute over the succession to the throne of Montecello led to the War of the Isles. This war led to the collapse of Aris, and the preeminance of Rubie over all of Liliec. Rubian consolidation saw the island of Liliec unified for the first time since the Aurelian kingdom almost 400 years ago.

The Munefort dynasty's control over Liliec went on for two centuries in relative peace, until the Bubonic Plague hit Liliec, killing the royal family and depopulating most of the capital city of Cerimel. The plague decimated the population of Liliec, killing over half of its' inhabitants. Without a direct heir, two claimants to the Liliec throne emerged in the form of the House of Aleuois, Barnet and Aris. From 1212 to 1231 civil war occurred between the three competing families– known as the Liliec Wars. The Aris dynasty was quickly beaten and exiled to continential Artopa, and the war was mainly fought between Aleuois and Barnet. However in the closing days of the war, House Aris returned with an army of Salinan mercenaries and defeated his contemporaries in the battle of Sombre and the battle of Anhost against Edward Aleuois and Silvois Barnet respectively. Upon the ascension of Louis d'Aris however, the nobility refused to cooperate with the new regime unless given explicit rights in state affaires, leading to the signing of Carta Iurium.

High and Late Middle Ages
Main article: and the d’Aris Dynasty and Aventian Wars

Imperial period
Main article: Sylvian Empire

Early to mid-20th century
Main article: Second Serene Age, Sylvia in the Great War and Colonial Schism

Geography
Main article: Geography of Sylvia

Constitutional principles
Main articles: Politics of Sylvia and Government of Sylvia

Law
Main article: Law of Sylvia

Administrative Divisions
Main article: Administrative Geography of Sylvia

Dependencies
Main articles: Sylvian Overseas Territories

Military
Main article: Sylvian Armed Forces

Demographics
Main article: Demography of Sylvia and Sylvian people

Ethnic Groups
Main article: Ethnic Groups of Sylvia

Languages
Main article: Languages of Sylvia

Religion
Main articles: Religion in Sylvia and Silestrianism