History of Meriad

Future home of a significantly expanded version of this! For now, it's just a dump of historical information so that the main Meriad page doesn't get cluttered with historical stuff that is WAY too detailed. It will also be split into multiple more detailed pages, detailing specific events such as the Chester Affair and broader time periods such as Meriad during the Second Endwar.

Certain sections of this article may also be works in progress, and should thus not be considered canonical. Any such sections shall be appropriately labeled.

Three Crowns Info Dump
This increasing connection with the outside world cause by the rise in Meriadni exploration also affected politics within what is now Meriad, which was at the time divided into the three kingdoms of Mjeräden, Bärdenskalla, and Sudurfjyk. In 1737, a series of assassinations of Skallic royalty and military commanders sparked a conflict between Bärdenskalla and Sudurfjyk, although most modern historians agree that the assassinations were probably carried out by individuals connected with Mjeräden. The war tensions and strings of assassinations between the two royal lines escalated into full-scale warfare at Hystafjord, near modern-day Húsavik, when sloops of both kingdoms met in combat and over a hundred sailors from both sides were killed, sparking the War of the Three Crowns.

Both Sudurfjyk and Bärdenskalla attempted to form alliances with then-neutral Mjeräden, led by King Alfgren Strongarm. Alfgren entertained envoys from both sides simultaneously, while preparing plans to strike into northern Bärdenskalla. In June of 1739, with the spring thaw finally allowing passage of his army, Alfgren executed the Skallic envoy and signed an alliance with the Fjykish representative. With the help of the Fjykish army in the south, the two kingdoms crushed the opposing Skallic forces, and took the monarch captive in early September, just as the winter snows set in.

In the spring of 1740, the Mjerädni army turned on its Fjykish allies, crushing the vast majority of the larger kingdom's forces before major casualties were taken in the Mjerädni ranks. The Mjerädni army then moved south, led by King Alfgren himself, and made it as far as Eyjarsten before being met at the Sklöngrad Pass a smaller but better-rested Fjykish army. The Fjykish force held off the larger Mjerädni force until late August in one of the most impressive examples of defensive mountain warfare in Meriadni history, at which point both armies retreated to better-provisioned regions for the long winter months.

The next spring, an offensive by the Mjerädni army soundly defeated the last Fjykish defenders at the Sklöngrad Pass, and marched on to the Fjykish capital by later in the summer. Alfgren Strongarm then proclaimed himself the king of all of Meriad, systematically executing every individual with any connection to either kingdom's royal line who could be found.

Second Son/Constitutionalization
In 1759, a civil war broke out within the newly-united kingdom as a result of member of one of the destroyed kingdoms' lines claiming power and raising an army. This ignited a bloody four-year war, known as the War of the Second Son, in which the reigning monarch lost the support of the population and was forced to wage a total war in order to have a chance at victory, despite superior arms. This war culminated in a truce in the summer of 1763, during which emissaries from the two sides met in the neural ground of what is now known as Castle Stormwyte. Over a period of two months, the 18 representatives created a government based around a constitution and a monarchy with limited power. This document, the Constitution of 1763, was ratified by both sides, thus ending the war.

Pre-history
Meriad's current mountainous topography was mainly formed during the last Ordic ice age, which lasted until around 11,400 BC. During this time period, massive glaciers covered the southern region of the country. Evidence of early human civilization can be traced back to southern Meriad in 8100 BC, during the stone age, who gradually moved northwards over a period of several thousand years. The recent discovery of numerous rock carvings and pottery shards in Sydilströp point to the possibility of southern Meriad's glacial lakes and waterways as being home to some of the earliest-known examples of systematic agriculture yet discovered.

While many other areas on the northern coast of Escar were populated during the bronze age, the harsh climate and bitter winters of the northern Nordellic Peninsula mostly prevented major human settlements from being established. Familial tribes of humans made semi-permanent residences in the region's numerous fjords and valleys, cultivating crops and defending territory and possessions from rival groups, but these groups rarely maintained contact with the outside world and were very limited in their capacity to coexist with other tribes. This was not the case in the far north of the peninsula, where the Innefødt people formed much larger and more structured patriarchal communities.

Several examples of written languages, both carved in stone and written on clay tablets, have been uncovered in Sydilströp from the 9th century BC, primarily related to crop yields and the flood cycles of the Yurgen River. A lunar calendar detailing flood cycles has also been discovered near Súderváking. Archeological records also point to systematic agriculture becoming a much more widespread practice during the Iron Age, as iron farming tools can be found throughout southern Meriad dating to that time period.

Viking Age
The beginning of modern Meriadni culture and demographics can be definitively traced to the viking age, when viking longships began to land along modern-day Meriad's northern coastline. At first, these 'long-bearded savages,' as described in indigenous records, landed solely to loot established centers of civilization, mainly in Sydilströp, but soon began to weather the harsh winters in well-built and semi-permanent long-halls in the northern region of the country, presumably due to similarities to their point of origin. Burial ships and similar grave and religious sites and artifacts can be found all along the coast from the time period, and written records of the Innefødt people from northern Meriad indicate extensive contact with the vikings.

The first evidence of semi-permanent habitation by the viking raiders comes from the middle of the 10th century, specifically in the form of numerous trading goods and the remains of a viking hut at Strakkalafjördur in modern-day Eyjanfjalla. This coincides with records of a great migration of Nordåsk peoples from Skogkläddaberg in the late 9th century. Evidence of permanent habitation as early as around 1030 has been found in Francifjord, on the island of Eyjanfjalla. Archeological evidence from around the island points to the fact that the vikings drove the small number of native people off of the island, and then used the relatively calm fjords as winter quarters. Permanent settlements also sprung up to cater to returning longships, which consistently raided coastal Kolintha and Meriad during the spring and early summer.

The main source of food appears to have been fish, with limited agriculture, until around 1080, when low-lying coastal areas of the island were clear-cut to facilitate larger-scale agriculture. The norsemen cultivated a variety of crops, from native strains of barley and rye to imported potatoes and wheat. The small apples native to Eyjanfjalla also appear to have formed an important part of the nordic diet. The vikings gradually spread from Eyjanfjalla to what is now Skipelande, where intermarriage with Innefødt people started to become more common. Archeologists estimate from the proclivity of viking trade goods in Sydilströp that the Norse had spread their influence over the whole of the Nordellic Peninsula by no later than 1140, with permanent habitations throughout the peninsula becoming relatively common by 1230. For the most part, the Norse colonists remained grouped into small villages, usually ruled by a jarl or similar leader. These villages generally included several family groups, although they lived primarily in small groups of longhouses. Diets ranged between villages, with northern settlements being much more seafood-oriented, whereas settlements in the south had much more expansive agriculture. Most of these villages were entirely independent, and raiding of settlements around the Nordeaic Sea by sea was relatively common during the early summer, when crops had been planted and the men were more readily able to leave their farms for extended periods of time.

Conquest of 1282
In the year 1282, archeological evidence in the northern coast of the country points to massive increases in the development of production of forged iron weapons. This is theorized to be as a result of the military advances of a king from the Kjelmoen coats referred to in Old Meriadni texts as Isgjäll, which roughly translates to Ice Crow. According to these text, the ice crow led a fleet of several hundred longships into battle all along the coastline, and united an area over one hundred in miles in length, from Duvnafjördur in the south to Fjördlande in the north. This unification represented the first large-scale example of the Norsemen grouping around a single individual or banner. Despite this, the king's influence faded away after his death around 1297, when his gains were torn apart by a feud between his five sons.

Meriad's mountainous topography and harsh lifestyle highly restricted incursions by foreign civilizations until the early 14th century, which allowed Meriadni culture to develop independently of foreign influence. While items from foreign civilizations are by no means uncommon among grave sites from the time period, their singularly small size and ease of transportation indicates that they had been attained through the new inhabitants' continuing raiding of coastlines all around the region. The seizing of goods and women from other areas also gave rise to the uniquely Meriadni demographic group, which is a combination of the Kolish, indigenous, and Norse people groups.

Throughout the 12th century, there is archeological evidence of numerous attempts of individuals and groups of villages attempting to unify, whether by force or by treaty. This led to the rise of a large number of petty kingdoms, which were typically centered around a single large settlement which had influence over the surrounding area. Germanic writings and runic carvings point to the development of several systems of government throughout Meriad, from absolute monarchy to several instances of direct democracy. These petty kingdoms commonly warred against each other, and gave rise to much larger civilizational structures. Despite the increasing ability of the Meriadnir to exert influence over large areas of the coast, the vast majority of the interior of the peninsula remained entirely untouched.

Exploration Age
Around the beginning of the 13th century, the increasing presence of a wealthy Meriadni upper class of royalty and craftsmen began to increasingly fund exploration of both the Unikaret Mountains and the Nordellic Peninsula, neither of which had been extensively surveyed. By 1450, this exploration had brought about the end of the period of Meriadni isolation, and voyages by both Meriadni sailors and foreign seamen led to the opening of interregional trade routes, particularly between modern-day Kolintha or the southern regions of Meriad. This rise in trade coincided with a period of relative stability in Kolintha, which had been rocked by civil wars for generations. The Poryten Konzhunate's firm hold on Kolish politics led to the Kolintho-Meriadni War, which culminated in an attempted invasion of Meriad. This foray marked the first real example of Kolish aggression against Meriad, and served to introduce Meriadnir to the use of gunpowder in warfare. Despite the superior arms of the Kolish, the invasion fell apart as a result of internal strife within the Kolish army, as well as stiff resistance from Meriadni Jarls in the Sydilströp and Sjoland regions.

Unification
This increasing connection with the outside world caused by the rise in Meriadni exploration also affected politics within what is now Meriad, at the time divided into numerous separate petty kingdoms. The ease with which the Kolish army had invaded and nearly overrun the region settled by the norsemen brought about multiple alliances, primarily in the south of what is now Meriad. A large number of communities, from Sydilströp north to Steinhjem, united under the banner of Sudurfjyk, coinciding with the unification-by-force of much of northern Meriad by the Mjeräden monarchy. Civilizations along the central coastline of Meriad loosely aligned themselves with a number of alliances and coalitions, many pledging allegiance to the King of Bärdenskalla.

In 1737, a series of assassinations sparked a conflict between two of these three dominant kingdoms, almost certainly influenced by meddling by Mjeräden. This led to the near-destruction of the royal bloodlines of both southern kingdoms, and the unification of the country under the banner of King Alfgren Strongarm of Mjeräden.

In 1759, a civil war broke out within the newly-united kingdom, which lasted four years of near-constant and exceptionally brutal combat. This war culminated in a truce in the summer of 1763, during which emissaries from the two sides met on neutral ground and created a government based around a constitution and a monarchy with limited power. This document, the Constitution of 1763, was ratified by both sides, thus ending the war and establishing the current system of government.

The transition from absolute monarchy to the new government, which was a completely new concept on the world stage, was by no means simple. A number of loyalist factions emerged, who supported the return of the monarch to a position of complete authority both through attempting to deadlock the new parliament, the Hall of Jarls, and by executing limited against the supporters of the new system of government. The Prime Minister, Hallstein Tastad, successfully managed to limit loss of life and appease many parties of the revolting loyalists by granting the monarch a wide range of state responsibilities not granted by the constitution, including the responsibility of appointing the Prime Minister and other high executive branch officials. These revolts came to a complete close in 1768, when the monarch, King Pietr II, stepped down and publicly requested that the revolts end.

Industrial Revolution and Nationalism
Late 18th Century - "Kolintha into Stronk"

Mid to late 1800s - Industrial revolution, huge swaths of forest cut to make way for farmland and for timber; sparks massive environmentalist movement and leads to formation of national parks.

The First Endwar and Faldarunic Civil War
The First Endwar marked the first extensive usage of Meriadni Ski Troops as a means of controlling border crossings. While Meriad remained neutral throughout the war, a draft was instituted in order to protect against invasion.

EWI: #neutralityforever

1917-1919 - Faldarunic Civil War: Maybe supported confederals?

The Second Endwar
In the wake of the First Endwar the Kolish steadily began to become more militaristic, reequipping their armed forces and conducting mass deportation of religious and ethnic minorities including Christians and Nordics. This raised tensions between the Kolish and Meriadni governments, especially following the temporary imprisonment and subsequent deportation of 72 Meriadni citizens by the Kachan government in 1935. Following the de facto annexation of Palaska in early 1936, tensions between Meriad and Kolintha heightened greatly, and continued state-sponsored discrimination against Meriadni citizens in Kolintha further exasperated the Meriadni government. On July 16th of 1936, the Kolish government issued an ultimatum to the Meriadni government, claiming sovereignty over most of Sydilströp. King Fredrik, the reigning Meriadni monarch, unconditionally rejected this offer, leading to the start of a massive ground offensive by the Kolish army across the southern Meriadni border on August 1st, 1936, and the subsequent capture Súdurfjördur in under 72 hours. Two amphibious landings followed in the next three days, leading to the Kolish occupation of the Meriadni capital of Járnfjördur and largest city of Duvnafjördur. Despite the overwhelming Kolish military advantage, Meriadni Prime Minister Gudmund Rendahl refused to surrender, and encouraged Meriadni military units to retreat to the mountains and continue to resist. What remained of the Meriadni government, including much of the Royal Navy, relocated to Eyjanfjalla, from which the continued to operate throughout the war as the government in exile. Meriandi forces successfully resisted Kolish ground offensives against the military establishments at Berknafjördur and Sköntafell, and held the cities despite extensive blockading of port cities by Kolish naval vessels.

The Kolish occupation forces handed control of the occupied country over to the General Government, led in part by Meriadni collaborator Mikkel Borsheim. The General Government continued the Kolish policies of ethnic cleansing, and sponsored the mass deportation, internment, and execution of minorities and Meriadni nationals. Resistance forces, bolstered by propaganda and training dispersed by Meriadni the strongholds of Sköntafell and Høstenpunkt, exercised near-constant guerilla warfare against General Government forces and Kolish occupation troops and assets. The Meriadni Royal Navy and Army also contributed to resistance efforts, conducting periodic raids on Kolish supply lines. From June 3rd to July 1st of 1942, Meriadni Royal Navy vessels and Aerial Forces aircraft successfully blockaded Duvnafjördur Sound, preventing General Government forces from being resupplied and boosting morale of Meriadni partisans through defeating attempts by the Kolish navy to break the blockade.

As Comintern and Thelassic Sphere forces began to force Kolish forces into retreat over the fall of 1942, Meriadni forces stepped up large-scale attacks, and successfully liberated the capital city of Járnfjördur in March of 1944 after blocking the flow of supplies into the city over a period of three months.

Post-war Era
The occupation by and subsequent defeat of the Kolish during the Second Endwar caused a resurgence in Meriadni nationalism, as well as a general public will to be more involved in international affairs in order to prevent future conflicts. This general distaste of the isolationism that protected the country during the First Endwar brought about major changes in Meriadni foreign policy, which caused the nation to gradually move away from its long-held stance of total neutrality in world conflict. The country is a founding member of the Nordic Congress, which facilitates dialogue and cooperation between the Nordic states of Meriad and Faldarun, and the Ordic League, which strives to promote multilateral international cooperation. The Meriadni capital of Járnfjördur also hosts the headquarters of the Ordic League.