Eleutherios

Federal Republic of Eleutherios ομοσπονδιακός Δημοκρατία από Ελευθέριος
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Dum Spiro Spero" "While I breathe, I hope"
Anthem: Victory March
Capital and largest city	Oikos
Official languages	Eleutherian
Government	Federal Republic
• Federal Chancellor	Stavros II
Legislature	Senate
Area
• Total	111,369 km2 (43,000 sq mi)
• Water (%)	2
Population
• 2020 estimate	6,041,825
GDP (nominal)	2022 estimate
• Total	259,798,475,000
• Per capita	$43,000
HDI (2021)	0.84 very high
Currency	Drachma (ELD)
Date format	DD/MM/YYYY
Driving side	right
Calling code	+15
Internet TLD	.elu

Eleutherios (Eleutherian: ομοσπονδιακός Δημοκρατία από Ελευθέριος), officially the Federal Republic of Eleutherios, unofficially the FRE or FR Eleutherios, is a small nation on the southeast coast of Ecros. Eleutherios is bordered to the north by Quebecshire, to the south by Terranihil, and to the east as the Caelean Sea. Eleutherios' capital and largest city is Oikos, located along the coast of the Caelean Sea. As of 2022, Eleutherios has a population of approximately 6 million.

History

Early History

Much of Eleutherios’ early history was lost after the arrival of the Romanyan Empire in 60 BCE following the annexation of Alaia.

Classical Eleutherios

It is known that, prior to the arrival of the Romanyans, Oikos was an affluent city state founded by traders and merchants needing a port in the Caelean Sea, and archeological records show that the city was one of the first to institute a democratic system of government. In its heyday, Oikos and by extension the region of Eleutherios was an extremely prosperous and culturally significant state, seeing an influx of scholars and humanitarians. This period of success is known as Classical Eleutherios. During this time, the University of Athenia (at the time known as Athen’s School) was established by Athen, a leading Eleutherian scholar and statesman. Elections were held for government offices, leading to a stable central government that was beholden to its constituents. The Eleutherian military was initially compromised of militia units raised by provincial councils. These units worked against native skirmishes, but were not successful against larger foes.

End of Classical period

While Eleutherios was enjoying prosperity, its population remained small and mainly composed of scholars, thinkers, and artists. Therefore, the military was extremely small, still consisting of only militia units raised from the local level, and could not stand up to a much larger foe. When the Romanyan Empire conquered and subjugated Alaia, the Eleutherian government made overtures to the Romanyan emperor in an attempt to maintain their independence, however the messages were never returned. The town of Marathon, located near the border with Alaia, and was a trading hub for commerce between Eleutherios and the Tundren Empire. The small militia of the town was alerted to a large Romanyan force crossing the border, and they quickly sent a runner to alert the central government in Oikos to send the army to help. The Romanyans proceeded to siege the town, which lasted almost 2 weeks. The defenders attempted to fight back, but were overwhelmed and nearly destroyed by the numerically superior Romanyans until the timely arrival of a large, hastily-mobilized force comprised of men from all corners of Eleutherios. At the Battle of Marathon, the Romanyans, exhausted by weeks of conducting the siege on the city, faced off against a deeply motivated but numerically inferior force led by General Pyrrhus, who just five months prior had been appointed as the commander of the Oikos militia. In a stunning display of bravery and tactical prowess, General Pyrrhus dealt a rough blow to the Romanyan army, lifting the siege of Marathon. However, this victory came at an extremely high cost, and the losses incurred by the Eleutherian force could not be replaced in time. Romanyan ships appeared off the coast of Oikos, and the demand was made for Eleutherios to capitulate and accept Romanyan rule. The Senate, led at this time by Chief Senator Pelagon, decided to accept the demands with the caveat that the city be untouched by Romanyan forces. The Romanyans agreed and were allowed to enter the city without resistance. However, after disarming the remaining military forces, the Romanyans sacked the city, burning down the Central Library containing countless historical documents that were lost. General Pyrrhus was executed, and Romanyan control over the city was solidified.

Romanyan Rule

Eleutherios became a client state of the Romanyan Empire, and initially efforts were made by Romanyan governors to stamp out any trace of Classical Eleutherian culture. Eventually, however, amalgamation took place, with the blending of both cultures into one unified culture. This effort was led by a man named Greco, the first Eleutherian to become the Romanyan governor of the region. Efforts from foreign governors to control the populace, especially in the capital of Oikos, were unsuccessful, and it was decided to let a native Eleutherian represent Romanyan interests in the hope that it would decrease resistance to Romanyan rule. Greco worked tirelessly on smoothing relations and improving cooperation, to the point where both cultures began to meld together in an amalgamation historians would dub Greek, named for Greco himself. The Romanyans brought Christianity to the region, which stood in stark contrast to the pagan, polytheistic Classical Eleutherian religion practiced at the time. Through Greco’s efforts, Christianity spread and rooted itself in the local population, and many historians associate early Greek culture with Romanyan Christianity.

Fall of the Romanyan Empire and Independence

By the early 600s, the Romanyan Empire was in crisis, with Islamic forces invading and conquering much of southern Ecros. Taking advantage of the crisis, Chief Senator Nikomedes, head of state, quietly declared independence from the Empire. Nikomedes himself rallied a small force of volunteers and fought the decisive Battle of Corinth. Corinth, a small town on the outskirts of Oikos, was the location of the main Romanyan garrison in Eleutherios. Nikomedes and his men ambushed the garrison at night, catching them by surprise and almost completely routing the Romanyan force. Surprisingly, the Romanyans accepted Eleutherian independence, and historians believe this was due to the mounting pressure on the frontiers of the Northern Empire.

Rise of Islam and Early Modern Eleutherios

Following the collapse of the Northern Romanyan Empire and the rise of the Mutadinun Caliphate, Eleutherios again faced the prospect of subjugation. However, through swift action taken by Nikomedes, the Treaty of Friendship was signed by Mansur ibn Affan in 650, which guaranteed Eleutherian independence, established free trade between both states, and codified the use of Oikos’ port by Mutadinun merchants. This treaty did come at a cost, however, with Eleutherios ceding vast territory to the Caliphate, including the vaunted city of Marathon where Phyrrus defeated the Romanyans. The borders of what historians dub “Early Modern Eleutherios” are essentially the borders of modern Nikomedes Province. During this time, Eleutherios began to regain the economic status it enjoyed prior to subjugation by the Romanyans. Oikos quickly became a new hub of commerce and culture, with goods flowing in from all corners of the globe. The Mutadinun merchants carved out a new rung on the social ladder, enjoying privileges afforded to them in the Treaty of Friendship. This did cause friction at times, such as the Unrest of 653, in which an Eleutherian woman was assaulted by a group of Mutadinun merchants, leading to massive riots and clashes between local Eleutherians and Mutadinuns. The Unrest was squashed by combined efforts of Eleutherian and Mutadinun soldiers, the latter of which consisted of troops stationed on merchant vessels given emergency permission to assist. This cooperation helped quell the riots, and impressed the Mutadinuns so much that the garrison commander was honored by a Mutadinun ambassador. Islam, of course, spread into Eleutherios during this period. It did not take root as much as Christianity, but with the high amount of Islamic traffic that passed through the country, a mosque was necessary to keep the population satisfied. With cooperation from Mutadinun architects, the Mosque of Corinth was completed in 657 and is still a tourist attraction to this day. With the fall of the Mutadinun and rise of the Zuhraid Caliphate in 664, cooperation between the Caliphs and Eleutherian Senate continued. Since Nadr ibn Zayd was a close relative of Mansur ibn Affan, he respected the treaty and it was again ratified in 665 between the new Zuhraid Caliphate and new Chief Senator Petros. The Early Modern period continued with relative peace and economic success until 876 with the collapse of the Zuhraid Caliphate.

The Aramea-Eleutherian War

The Kingdom of Aramea was established in 876 during the chaos following the collapse of the Zuhraid Caliphate. Initially, the prospect of a new, Christian kingdom on the border seemed a blessing to the Eleutherian citizens, who still were majority Christian. However, this was quickly revealed to not be the case. As Eleutherios moved to reclaim territories lost in the Treaty of Friendship, expeditions were met with hostility from Aramean troops. Eleutherios sent a delegation of Aramea to work out the problem peacefully and establish a mutual border, however the delegation was rebuffed by the King and sent back empty handed. The Senate therefore voted to retake Eleutherian lands by force, and the army was rallied to fight. The decisive action was fought in the Second Battle of Marathon, where an experimental Kataphraktoi armored cavalry force under Hippeis II dealt the decisive blow, flanking the Aramean infantry force and causing a rout. The Eleutherian army pursued the Arameans to the capital city of Valeriana, and threatened the city with a prolonged siege unless the Arameans agreed to Eleutherian terms, including the return of Eleutherian lands. The King of Aramea agreed, and Eleutherios finally reclaimed the lands lost to the Caliphates.

Expansion

In the period of time spanning 876 to 1459, Eleutherios enjoyed a period of relative peace and prosperity. With the consolidation of control over the reclaimed southern lands, and the influx of capital from foreign trade, Eleutherian explorers wanted to explore north and west, along the shoreline of the Caelean Sea and deeper into the uncharted forests. These explorers were given a limited charter to survey the areas and identify any valuable natural resources, but not to stake any claims on the land. Explorers were sent westward beginning in 1049 and discovered beautiful untouched forests and hills containing minerals such as coal. The Senate voted to stake a claim to the region, and expanded slightly to the northwest. In 1193, Eleutherian explorers who had ventured north along the coast encountered settlers from Quebecshire, and a border was established between the two with the settling of Yamachiche by Quebecshire and Grecopolis by Eleutherios. In the west, Eleutherios slowly gained more territory until it resembled the modern borders. Westward expansion stopped along a small mountain range, named the Peloponnese mountain range after the explorer who discovered them, Pelopon. By 1459 the southern border had been established following the Terranilian Empire’s conquest of Aramea and a mutual treaty. Throughout this period, Eleutherios continued to be a global hub of trade. Merchants from all over the world used Oikos as a port, and Eleutherian merchants traveled the globe trading and selling the resources discovered in the new lands. There was some trouble along the new Western frontier, with bands of native Kavardans occasionally attacking frontier settlers. This led to the creation of the Frontier Patrol, the first governmental police force of the country and grandfather of the modern Border Police. Until then, law enforcement and security had been handled by local sheriffs appointed by town councils. The Frontier Patrol was uniformed, armed, and mounted on horses. The Frontier Patrol was very successful in protecting Eleutherian citizens against native raids, leading to a substantial drop in the number of raids by the late 1400s.

Pax Eleutheria

Following the expansions and increased contact with the outside world between 1000 and 1400, Eleutherios experienced a political, economic, and cultural renaissance. The framework for the modern republic was established, with thinkers such as Lavrentios building upon the senate system, which had been in use since the Classical period. The court system was overhauled, with legal schools established in order to provide local councils with trained and knowledgeable magistrates. The military was reorganized, with the Pyrrhus Military Academy established to train prospective officers. The officer class became an essential component of Eleutherian social life, with young officers marrying into rich merchant families creating a wealthy upper class. Merchant and artisan guilds were established, leading to a skilled and prosperous lower class. Poverty levels dropped and the standard of living began to increase. The guild system allowed for even the poorest peasant to learn a valuable trade. A substantial shipbuilding industry grew in the coastal town of Grecopolis due to its proximity to the vast forests in the northwest, and the town quickly grew into an economic powerhouse. Good weather provided bountiful crop yields in the southern plains, and food became a top export for the country. Cooperation with the neighboring Quebecshire and Terranihil benefitted all, and new technologies such as the printing press allowed thinkers to publish their works, and in the cafes and meeting houses around Oikos, political and theoretical discussion flourished. This period is known as Pax Eleutheria, the period that cemented Eleutherios in the global exchange of goods, services, and ideas.

Quebecshirite Civil War

In 1607, neighboring Quebecshire erupted into civil war (see: Quebecshirite Civil War)between monarchist and republican factions. The Senate, led at this time by Chief Senator Aurelios, decided to mobilize the army and Frontier Patrol in the event that the violence spills over the border. The military garrison at Grecopolis was bolstered by a large contingent of soldiers, including the elite Kataphraktoi heavy cavalry. The Frontier Patrol essentially closed the border with Quebecshire except for the main trade route between Yamachiche and Grecopolis where a checkpoint was established. Eleutherios received a huge horde of refugees, leading to a temporary refugee crisis until temporary shelters could be constructed to house them. Upon the Terranilian Empire’s entrance into the war on the side of the monarchists, Eleutherios closed the shared border and sent a message to the Emperor that Terranilian troops could not pass through Eleutherios’ borders to engage in the conflict, however, troop ships may temporarily pass through Eleutherian waters. The Emperor agreed, and troop ships passed peacefully through the Caelean Sea. Eleutherios did not officially declare support for either side, but public opinion heavily supported the republican faction. Thankfully, no violence ever spread to Eleutherian lands, and at the conclusion of the 1620 Orleans Negotiations, most refugees returned to their native lands. However, not all would, leading to an increased Quebecshirite population in the north. Many who remained were staunch monarchists, sowing the seeds for later tensions.

The One Month Rebellion

In 1638, a surprise protest took place in Grecopolis. Members of the so-called “Central Power Party", annoyed at the lack of action in the local council, called for a strong central government under a powerful leader. This party was influenced by monarchist sympathies in the local population following the Quebecshirite Civil War, who convinced a large portion of the working class that a strong, king-like ruler would benefit them more than the series of representative councils that governed Eleutherios from the smallest of villages to the Senate itself. The local military garrison was deployed to contain the protest, but the arrival of soldiers angered the crowd. The crowd armed themselves with makeshift weapons and attacked the soldiers, leading to an all out brawl in the city square. People on both sides lay dead following the confrontation, and the outnumbered soldiers had to pull back. The protestors declared themselves to be in rebellion, set fire to the council building, and barricaded the city square. A messenger was sent to Oikos, and the Senate allowed a military force to be rallied to defeat the rebels. Led by the Kataphraktoi cavalry, the army marched towards the square. The rebels were offered a chance to surrender, but this offer was rejected by a volley of musket fire. The army brought forward a cannon and fired at the barricade, destroying it and opening a hole for the Kataphraktoi to exploit. Some rebels attempted to fight, but were swiftly cut down. The remaining rebels surrendered, and order was restored. This action took less than a month, but is called the One Month Rebellion in contemporary sources.

The Industrial Revolution and its Consequences

For the next century, Eleutherios provided economic support to Quebecshire to assist in their recovery after the war. This increased trade relationship led to Eleutherios being one of the first to experience the industrial revolution by 1760. Factories, mines, and sawmills sprung up in the previously-quiet frontier towns. Mines excavated the iron resources found in the Peloponnese mountains, sawmills cut down more lumber than could be replaced, and factories producing new consumer goods polluted the skies. By 1800, this growth was deemed unsustainable, and for the first time, the Eleutherian government stepped in to limit and regulate businesses. The amount of forest that could be cut down, mineral veins that could be exploited, and factories per square mile were all limited. The first railroad was established in 1802 between Oikos and Marathon to transport goods from the vast farmlands around Marathon to the central port of Oikos. This drastically reduced transit time, and increased the yield that could be exported as less food went bad during the trip to market. New shipbuilding techniques were invented, nearly halving the time it took to build a full size ship. All of these industrial advancements led to a mass migration to cities, as farmers desired a new life for their families and work in the new factories. Manufactured goods quickly became a cornerstone of the Eleutherian economy. However, the population of Oikos and Grecopolis swelled to an unsustainable level, leading to unsanitary conditions, disease outbreaks, and increased levels of poverty and unemployment. Corporations took advantage of this vast population of desperate, unskilled laborers and charged them very little to work in unsafe conditions, due to the lack of labor laws in place at the time. Worker’s Rights unions began to form, consisting of workers fed up with the abuse of their bosses and lack of government intervention. Workers would organize strikes, completely shutting down factories by refusing to work. Corporations responded by hiring private enforcers to break up the strikes, and the clashes sometimes escalated to violence. The culmination of this became the 1816 Battle of Ergostasio Street, where armed workers and strikebreakers engaged in a bloody battle until the army could be mobilized. This led to the Senate to pass sweeping workers rights reforms, limiting the hours in a working day, establishing a basic minimum wage, and increasing work safety regulations.

Military technology changed drastically as well. Up until this point, small artisan shops produced muskets and cannon for the army. This led to wide variation between units and even between individual soldiers, even as drastic as different musket ball sizes, despite a standard set by army command. However, in 1753, a Quebecshirite by the name of Leon Herstal established FN Herstal in a leased factory in Oikos. FN Herstal demonstrated they had the capacity and capability to mass produce identical muskets for the army. This impressed the army, so FN Herstal received an official contract to produce the new musket for the army, the “1st Pattern 1755”, also known as the Pattern 1755. This was the first standardized weapon of Eleutherian provincial militia, the fledgling Federal Army, and Frontier Police.

By the 1850s, the quality of life in Eleutherios had skyrocketed, unemployment was low and average wages were high. The creation of processed iron, or steel, lead to mass production on a nationwide scale, further improving tools and leading to the development of interchangeable parts. These interchangeable parts meant that one factory was not responsible for start-to-finish manufacturing, but could focus its efforts on making one part, with networks of smaller factories producing parts for final assembly. These techniques, combined with improvements to precision metalwork, refined and streamlined the manufacture of goods essential to the Eleutherian economy, such as ships, firearms, tools, and watches.

Cultural and Ideological Evolutions

During the late Industrial Revolution period, new political ideologies took root in all corners of the population. Up until this point, the centrist Eleutherian Senate had done a good job at balancing demands from both sides of the political spectrum, but new ideologies pushed people even further towards their respective corners. Socialism spread rapidly in the urban centers, with the Worker's Union being the first organized socialist political party. As a reaction to this, nationalist ideas began to take hold in the rural and suburban areas. By the start of the 20th century, both ideologies had such a strong hold on the Eleutherian political sphere that protests and rallies were happening almost weekly. While violence was rare, it increased leading into the 1930s. Communist movements in Terranihil spread that ideology over the border, emboldening the Worker's Union to take more drastic actions. Even more radicalized movements within the Worker's Union, calling themselves the Red Hand, began sabotaging industry with explosives, and threatening to kill their political opposition. The nationalists, at this time united by the National Unity Front, responded in kind by initiating violence at Worker's Union rallies.

During this time, the Senate was struggling to handle the mass unrest, since the Senate Charter severely limited the powers of the central government. The military was in a sorry state, with national security mostly being provided by the provincial militias. The military needed a severe overhaul, and General Maximos was the man to do it. Convincing the government to authorize his 1890 Reform Plan, the Army saw a major boost to its development. A new rifle was developed by FN Herstal, using new technology such as smokeless powder. A new, federally controlled infantry battalion was raised from volunteers, and alongside the cavalry troop, became the basis for the Federal Army. New officers, new tactics, and new training methods whipped the Army into shape.

A cultural evolution was taking place in the background of this civil strife. Art, music, and poetry inspired by national events began popping up in all corners of the country, with Nationalist works praising the ancient ways and Socialist works lamenting the struggles of the worker. Religion again took hold in a country which, up until that point, was lacking. Even the ancient, polytheistic Idolatrous (Greek: ειδωλολατρικός, lit. Pagan) religion took hold, especially in Nationalist areas. Romanyan Catholics still existed, albeit in smaller numbers, and an even smaller Muslim population still resided around Corinth. This increase in religious ferver, combined with increasingly aggressive political agitation, and the 1937 Terranilian Revolution right on the border, created a dangerous powder keg that was ready to explode.

Government

Constitution of the Federal Republic of Eleutherios

The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Eleutherios is the supreme governing document of Eleutherios. It mandates the governing bodies of the nation, establishes their authority, and outlines the rights of the citizens of Eleutherios. Civil rights and political freedoms are important aspects of Eleutherian culture, and the Constitution makes it clear that any right afforded to citizens of Eleutherios can be taken away or impeded without due process. The Constitution also makes it clear that the government is beholden to the citizenry, and its responsibility to ensure the prosperity and security of Eleutherians. The Constitution authorizes a three-branch federal government:

• The executive branch, known as the Office of the Federal Chancellor;

• The legislative branch, known as the Senate;

• The judicial branch, known as the High Courts.

The Constitution also allows and encourages the provinces within Eleutherios to establish their own Provincial Councils in a manner mirroring the federal government, dividing power between regional and centralized level, creating and adopting a federal system of government (hence Federal Republic).

File:Province and city map.jpg

Map featuring provinces and cities. Lines represent provincial borders.

Economy

Eleutherios has a strong economy, especially for a small nation. Its main exports are weapons, ships, steel, and lumber. The arms industry is well established in Eleutherios, with FN Herstal being a leading weapons manufacturer for both civilian and military purposes. Grecopolis is home to Eleusis Shipyards, a massive shipbuilder who has made ships for both the Eleutherian Navy and other foreign navies, as well as a vast array of civilian ships. Eleutherios also has a strong tourist industry, in part due to legalized gambling. Eleutherios has also been accused of being a tax haven, due to lax banking laws and low tax rates.

The Nemeth Accords were signed between the countries of Jackson, Quebecshire, and Eleutherios, creating a strong economic alliance between the three. For Eleutherios, the accords established a strong market for steel and iron, and aerospace technology to help develop the Air Corps. It also brought manufactured goods in at a lower price, increasing the average purchasing power of Eleutherian citizens.

Some of the primary industrial manufacturers in Eleutherios are:

• FN Herstal, firearms
• Eleusis Shipyards, shipbuilding
• Pilatus Aircraft, civilian and military aircraft

Military

Main article: Federal Forces of Eleutherios