NationStates Jolt Archive

(OOC: This is a reference thread, as well as one for general notes concerning the Trilateral Federation. People are welcome to comment, but keep it nice and related, please.)

Timeline of Altani History

c. 11,000 BC
- Kitani arrive and begin establishing settlements around present-day Kyrinia.

c. 1000 BC
- The Akamian people emerge as an organized civilization; they reach an agreement of coexistence with the Kitani.

c. 350
- Proto-Altani arrive and begin residing in the east of the nation. Clashes break out with the Kitani.

c. 325
- The Altan Steppes: Kitani and proto-Altani agree to coexist together and end hostilities.

923
- The proto-Altani split after a civil war. The winning side forces the losing side to leave; the winners eventually become the Altanari, and settle down from a nomadic existence. The losing side emigrates to the far north, fighting their way past the Akamians along the way. This group retains its nomadic ways, and eventually becomes the Argali.

1166
- First Kingdom of Akamia established.

1599
-Akamian forces are decisively defeated after launching an invasion of Argalia in response to cross-border Argali raids. The Akamian kingdom begins a slow and gradual collapse.

1670
- King Ishaq of Akamia is overthrown; Akamian kingdom disintergrates into smaller states

1840
- King Olen of the petty kingdom of Ael Khalas forms an alliance with the petty kingdoms of Staria, Marr and Narraskath; widely regarded as the beginning of Altanari unification. Akamia is governed by a council of nobles, after no one can agree on who should be King.

1847
- Kingdoms of Po and Draskatar join the alliance led by King Olen.

1855
- Kingdom of Ektar joins the alliance led by King Olen, after the alliance sends soldiers to help repel Argali raiders attacking the Ektari capital.

1862
- The Solar Pantheonic Church agrees to cede its territory of Altana Hol to the Ael Khalas alliance, giving church recognition and support to the fledgling Altanari kingdom.

1871
- After an eight-year siege, the Kingdom of Nalioka falls to Altanari troops, completing the unification process. Olen is crowned the first King of Altanar.

1900
- King Olen dies. His son Catar ascends to the Altanari throne.

1906
- The Akamian Peoples' Congress asks King Catar of Altanar to intervene to restore order to the still-fractured Akamian state. As a result, Akamia is forcibly integrated into Altanar, after Catar invades and forces the Akamian nobles to agree to annexation.

1914
- The Akamian Peoples' Congress, angry that the Altanari annexed Altanar instead of helping them take power and reform the Akamian state, declare that the Altanari are occupiers and launch an insurgency against Altanari forces.

1920
- King Catar bans the Akamian Peoples' Congress and launches a brutal counterinsurgency operation. He also formally declares Argalia a protectorate of Altanar.

1925
- Altanari and Argali leaders sign a "gentlemen's agreement" in which Altanar technically rules over Argalia, but in which Argalia has almost total autonomy. Argali leaders allow a token Altanari military force to take up residence in Argalia.

1933
- King Catar dies. His son, Cebratha, ascends the throne, ushering in an age of modernization and the beginnings of democratic rule in Altanar.

1936
- The first Altanari Constitution is officially ratified. King Cebratha declares the Federalist movement, which sought to turn Altanar into a federated state where all three regions have equal status, a treasonous organization and arrests its members.

1957
- Unrest in Akamia over the continued Altanari occupation breaks out into open clashes between ethnic Altanari and Akamians throughout the nation; the government uses brute force to end the clashes.

1974
- King Cebratha dies. His son, Cianar, becomes the new King. Cianar institutes sweeping liberal reforms, creating an Altanari welfare state.

1992
- General Valen Tracor, commander of the Altanari military, is sacked by King Cianar. Soldiers angry at Tracor's firing, and at the gutting of the Altanari military to fund social programs, plan a coup, but refrain from overthrowing the King at Tracor's request.

2000
- King Cianar abdicates his throne after his wife, Queen Agani, dies in a military plane crash. His son, Aelkyn, becomes king.

2003
- King Aelkyn marries the Argali leader Melika, bringing the vassal state of Argalia fully into Altanar. Protests from Argali nationalists mar the wedding; the military is forced to subdue riots in Argali City.

2006
- The Year of Strife. King Aelkyn disenfranchises the nobility, sparking a civil war. Rebels led by noble supporters, Akamian and Argali separatists, and right-wing opponents of the King are crushed after a month of fighting with the Altanari government forces. The first-ever elected Prime Minister, Norgan Sheloran, is assassinated by terrorists at his inauguration ceremony, along with half of Altanar's High Council. New elections are held, and Jinella Agaranth becomes the second elected Prime Minister in Altanar's history. Agaranth is also the first woman, and first Akamian, to be head of state. Queen Melika gives birth to a son, Crown Prince Dayanar Aranathas. In response to the rising unrest, Agaranth and King Aelkyn resurrect the old Federalist plan from 1936, update it for the modern era, and propose to devolve Altanar into a three-nation Federation. Voters approve the proposal, and also elect Alana Kasimira as the first President of the new nation.

2008
- The Federation attacks the neighboring state of BariyaKhem after a series of terrorist attacks linked to that nation. The Federation also claims that the Bariyans were responsible for the assassination of Federation Vice-President Aliri Margal. After a harsh bombing campaign and the destruction of the Bariyan military, the two nations negotiate a settlement. The Federation receives almost universal regional condemnation for their actions.

2010
- Second Federation elections.

(excerpted from Altani Ethnicity and History: A Primer, by Aimira Gulzhaina)

For an outsider looking in, the history of the Altan Steppes can seem chaotic. Three major ethnicities, and a "minor" one, form the native population; and that doesn't even begin to take into account the millions of people, from thousands of nations, who have immigrated to the Altan. The original Altan state, in the past decade, has also devolved into three constituent states under a single Federation, as well as spinning off two other nations entirely. This primer is meant to provide the beginnings of an explanation of the complex history that has resulted in the modern Altani states we know today.

A brief early history

The original inhabitants of the land known today as the Altan were the Akamians, a group of people who are believed to have Arabic roots. They have traditionally occupied the central region of the Altan, which constitutes the current Federation constituent state of Akamia. They did not expand beyond the central region, it is believed, due to the inhospitable conditions of the north, and because another group of people entirely occupied the eastern region of the Altan before Akamia could expand into it.

This second group of people is known by historians as the proto-Altani, or pre-Altani. It is believed that they are descended from nomadic tribesmen of an ancient offshoot of Mongolian culture, who arrived in the Altan after being forced out of their original homes. The location of this origin place is still unknown. This group inhabited the eastern half of the Altan, soon clashing with the Akamians to their west. Both sides eventually came to an uneasy coexistence with each other, due to outside factors. The Akamians were busy consolidating their own nation. The proto-Altani, however, were busy fighting another foe - each other.

A split had formed within the proto-Altani tribes between those who wished to maintain nomadic ways, and those who wished to settle down and form permanent communities. This split would eventually lead to a civil war within the proto-Altani, which was won by those who wished to settle. The victorious side forced the losing side out of the east, claiming it as their own. This is the group that would become the Altanari.

The losing side of the fight would travel westward, in search of an area where they could stake their own claim and continue to live in the old way. They would fight their way through Akamia in the process, furthering the spread of distrust and conflict between the Akamians and the newcomers. Eventually, this group would reach the far northern reaches of the Altan, an area no one wanted to claim or settle. The third group is who we know as the Argali today.

The rise of Altanari dominance

The three groups, now established more or less in the lands that they hold to this day, would take markedly different paths from this point. The Argali, rejecting most outside influence, would learn to survive, and even thrive, in the isolated and inhospitable lands they had claimed. They would become a fierce and hardy people in the process.

The Akamians initially had the best chance to develop into the dominant power in the Altan. However, internal differences and poor leadership would prove to prevent Akamian development. A disastrous military campaign against the Argali in 1599 would prove to be the turning point. The Argali had begun raiding Akamian settlements and had become a serious nuisance. The expedition was meant to stop the Argali raids and teach them a lesson, but was utterly unprepared for the harsh terrain or the guerrilla tactics the Argali would employ. After the complete failure of their expedition against the Argali, Akamia's army was shattered, as was the confidence Akamians had in their leaders. A series of clashes for power would result, ultimately resulting in the overthrow of Akamia's King Ishaq. Akamia would collapse into a series of petty kingdoms, all striving for power over the other. Akamia's nobility would become particularly notorious for their ruthless suppression of any dissenting elements.

While the Argali isolated themselves and the Akamians fought amongst each other, the people to their east quietly put together a nation of their own.

The Altanari, under the leadership of King Olen, managed to unify as a single nation just as the Akamian state was collapsing. With the forcible occupation of Nalioka in 1871, the last Altanari city became part of the nascent Kingdom of Altanar. Under Olen, and Kings that followed him, Altanar developed as a stable and modern nation. Advances in agriculture and ranching, in particular, would cause the population of Altanar to boom, at a time when Akamia's own population growth would be stunted due to its internal strife causing economic collapse. The Altanari, under the shelter of a strong government and economy, quickly grew to outnumber both the Akamians and the Argali by a huge margin.

With this rise in numbers and prosperity came a growing belief among the Altanari that they had a destiny: to unify the Altan under a single banner and government. Altanari nationalists argued that the success of the Altanari state, when its neighbors were struggling, was proof from the gods themselves that the Altanari were the people most suited to rule over the Altan.

This belief would be put into practice in 1906, when a group of dissident Akamians known as the Akamian Peoples' Congress went to the court of Altanar's King Catar, pleading for him to intervene and put them in power to restore Akamia to order. King Catar agreed that an intervention was in order, but he had other ideas from the Akamians who had asked him for help. King Catar duly sent the Akamian leaders a message: step down, or be forced from power. The Akamian leaders refused to negotiate; they had a mistaken belief that Akamia was still the power it had once been. Lost in visions of long-departed glory, they were confident that their armies could defeat the "upstart" Altanari. Rarely have a nation's leaders been so wrong.

King Catar sent his armies into Akamia, equipped with modern weapons and methods of war. The Akamian armies, under multiple leaders who didn't trust each other and fielding obsolete weapons and ways of war, were quickly defeated by the Altanari armies in three battles, culminating in the Battle of Celavan just outside the Akamian capital on March 3, 1906. With his troops on the doorsteps of the Sivanti Palace itself, the King of Altanar made the Akamian nobles an offer. The nobles could surrender to him, and Akamia could become a "protectorate" of Altanar. If they refused to surrender, he warned, he would simply execute them all and take over anyway. Faced with that choice, the nobles agreed to become vassals of Altanar. Their vassalage, however, would not be a willing one.

The people of Akamia would likewise feel betrayed, particularly the ones who had asked King Catar for help in the first place. The APC had expected the Altanari King to throw out the Akamian nobles and put them in charge, not to annex Akamia. Resentment would quickly spiral into open hatred for the Altanari, who they saw as occupiers. The APC would soon form the basis of multiple insurgent groups who would fight the Altanari during their time in control of Akamia. Altanari dominance would fuel continuing resentment between the two groups. The Altanari tended to view Akamians as well-meaning but incompetent children who needed leadership; the Akamians viewed the Altanari as arrogant, imperialistic occupiers. The mutual dislike and distrust would be the foundation of repeated clashes between the two groups for decades.

After the annexation of Akamia, King Catar would also declare Argalia to be a "protectorate" of the Kingdom of Altanar. Altanari leaders stopped short of formally trying to annex Argalia, however, mindful of the painful debacle Akamian forces had suffered trying to subdue that wild region. The Argali had grudging respect for the Altanari after the Akamian annexation, but they still considered the Altanari weak for abandoning their old nomadic ways, and warned Altanari leaders not to try to impose their will too heavily in Argalia. The two sides settled into yet another uneasy coexistence, with Altanar having theoretical reign over Akamia but being mostly limited to the role of a police force in Argalia's two cities. Time had mostly eased the tensions between the Altanari and the Argali after their bloody split, but neither side thought very highly of the other.

Beginnings of change

This tumultuous relationship would continue until the ascent to power of Altanar's King Aelkyn in 2000. Unlike previous Altanari leaders, who had refused to even consider the idea of reform, King Aelkyn would inaugurate dramatic changes which would change the face of the Altan.

After a short but bloody civil conflict in 2006, the consensus among King Aelkyn and his advisors was that the unitary Kingdom of Altanar could still be held together, but only by force and brutal suppression of the Akamian and Argali populations. This was not a step that Aelkyn, nor his advisors, were willing to take. "If it takes that to hold Altanar together, then by the gods, it's not worth holding together at all," Aelkyn is said to have told his advisors. Altanari leaders still wanted a unitary Altan state, however, because they believed that three small states would be much weaker than one large one. It was at that time that then Altanari Prime Minister Jinella Agaranth resurrected an idea that had been proposed many years before.

In 1936, during the convention that would write Altanar's first Constitution, a group of reformers would propose a radical departure from the Altanari-dominated state. Their proposed "Federation of the Altan" would have created a nation of three separate states, all sharing equal power. The leaders of those three states would appoint a Prime Minister to lead the nation, along with a democratically-elected Assembly. This idea was too radical for the Altanari King of the time, Cebratha, to accept. He rejected the idea and imprisoned its supporters.

Agaranth saw in that old plan a way to save the Altan state. With changes to bring it into the modern era, such as making the head of state elected instead of appointed, the plan was brought forth, and would form the basis of the current Trilateral Federation.

A principal part of the Federation's agenda has thus been to dismantle the old structure and values that the Kingdom of Altanar established. Federation supporters believe that the old religious, ethnic and cultural identities were a major reason the Kingdom of Altanar failed. Their goal is to form a new "Altani" identity, one that transcends the old boundaries. They take this very seriously, because they believe that this is the only chance that a unitary Altan state has to survive.

Current status

In the modern day Federation, the newfound equality between the various ethnic groups and the end of Altanari dominance has begun to heal the wounds left by the longstanding history of strife and conflict. While there are still issues of trust and power between the various groups, the differences between them have begun to become more a matter of amusement and joking rather than conflict. The Federation government, while trying to wipe away the lines between the groups with its encouragement of a universal "Altani" identity, has cracked down hard on anyone who encourages division between ethnic groups.

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Subgroup: the Kitani

The Kitani are a people that are believed to have inhabited the Altan before any others, even the Akamians. Their history is unclear, mostly because the Kitani have tried to keep it hidden. Kitani legends claim that they arrived in ships from an undisclosed location, thousands of years ago, and settled in the area around the city of Kyrinia. It is known that they initially clashed with the proto-Altani before coming to a peaceful accord with them. Since then, they have mostly taken a backseat role in the history of the Altan, preferring to remain in the background and content to let the so-called "major" ethnic groups in the Altan run things. Renowned for their grace on both land and on the seas, the Kitani traditionally rank among the greatest sailors the Altan has to offer.

The Kitani mostly live in their ancestral homeland around the city of Kyrinia in Altanar, although they can be found in most major Altan cities. The Kitani are best described as "warrior-scholars", and they maintain renowned libraries and training centers in the cities they call home. They are the only indigenous Altan ethnic group that doesn't follow the Solar Pantheonic faith; instead of any religion, the Kitani devote themselves to philosophy and ancient learning. Kitani philosophy and ascetic beliefs focus on a practice called kishatinali, which has been described as "perpetual perfection of one's existence". Kitani typically strive to excel at whatever pursuits they undertake, emphasizing patience and the acquisition of wisdom and learning as the cornerstones of that pursuit.

While the Kitani do not tend to take up leadership roles, they are often found as advisors to the powerful and wealthy. All Kitani have a last name that begins with K'; an example is Ariel K'Shan, Commodore of the Federation Coast Guard. Two prominent people of mixed Altanari-Kitani ancestry are Federation President Alana Kasimira and Lavinium WA Delegate Jaris Krytellin; their last names are most likely a corruption of Kitani names "K'shirina" and "K'triellin", respectively. The Kings of Altanar have also traditionally had Kitani as advisors and as members of their Aranathan Guards.

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Spinoffs: Altana Hol

The Holy Enclave of Altana Hol is one of the two nations that was formed after the Federation was created. Rather than remain part of the new nation, the Solar Pantheonic Church decided to seek independence for the Holy Lands traditionally under their control. King Olen had forced the Holy Lands to become part of Altanar, and the Church had no qualms about forcing his descendent, King Aelkyn, to reverse that process with the potent threat of torpedoing the Federation talks.

The history between the Church and the Altani government is a complicated one. The Church has traditionally exercised significant power over the general population, and used that to influence governments to get its way. Naturally, government officials have tended to resent that.

The matter came to a head during the 2006 civil war, when the High Priest of the time learned of the plot to overthrow the King but didn't bother to tell the government about it. When a radical splinter group of Solar Pantheonic priests openly joined the revolt, their churches were utterly destroyed by massive explosions, which were rumored to have been done by a foreign power at the request of the Altanari government. These incidents greatly increased the distrust between the Church and the government.

While many average Altani citizens are devout Solar Pantheonics, most government officials are openly secular and disdainful of religion. This is highly resented by the Solar Pantheonic clergy, who see the government as godless and corrupt. This has not helped to ease the tensions between Church and state.

Spinoffs: Antavre

During the failed rebellion of the Altanari colonies in 2006, a group of colonists who were opposed to the government fled from the colonies rather than surrender. They formed a small nation which they named Antavre (a combination of the names Antarctic Altanar and Poivre Atoll, in honor of the so-called "lost" colonies). This nation has deliberately isolated itself from the international community, which it feels unfairly supported the Altanari during the rebellion. Little is known about this nation, but it is known that the population there still bears great anger towards the Altanari.

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Primer on the ethnic groups of the Altan

Altanari
Average height: 5' 7" (male); 5' 2" (female)
Average weight: 153 pounds (male); 125 pounds (female)
General appearance: Asiatic features, typically black hair and pale skin, brown eyes
Nature: The Altanari tend to be more serious and businesslike than their other Altan counterparts. Order and harmony are very important to the Altanari; they believe it is the responsibility of sentient beings to shape the world and govern it in a decent manner. They are industrious and hardworking. Honor is a very important trait to the Altanari. The Altanari have a strong sense of right and wrong, and greatly value education. While they can be good and even noble, their stubbornness and sense of righteousness can lead them to also be arrogant and uncompromising. Their constant seriousness and stubborn ways often frustrate others, especially Akamians.

Akamian
Average height: 5' 8" (male); 5' 3" (female)
Average weight: 156 pounds (male); 129 pounds (female)
General appearance: non-Asiatic ("Western") features, vary widely in skin, hair and eye color
Nature: The Akamians are, in many ways, the exact opposite of the Altanari; they believe that being serious has its time and place, but that beauty, joy and fun do as well. They believe that the Altanari are unbalanced in their approach to life, and strive to maintain that balance between frivolity and seriousness. They love artistry and creativity, but often pursue those aims to the detriment of more serious or "hard" learning. The Akamians also tend to pursue instant gratification more eagerly than their Altanari counterparts. The Akamians bring much-needed creativity, culture and color to Altan life, but their lack of "productive" behavior can greatly frustrate Altanari who have to work with them. The Akamians tend to be less stubborn and more willing to compromise than the Altanari, and are known for their much more laidback attitude. Non-Altani often find the Akamians easiest to deal with out of all the Altani races.

Argali
Average height: 5'6" (male); 5'1" (female)
Average weight: 136 pounds (male); 106 pounds (female)
General appearance: Asiatic features, typically black hair and light skin (tend to be a bit more tanned in appearance than Altanari due to frequent exposure to outside elements), brown eyes
Nature: It is often said that when the proto-Altani split into the Argali and the Altanari, the Argali took the "wild" attributes with them when they left. While the Argali and Altanari share common roots, and even some common beliefs, the way they live their lives are quite different. Unlike the very much settled Altanari, the Argali revel in the ways of their nomadic ancestors, disdaining urban life except when absolutely necessary and preferring to live on the open steppe much as their ancestors did. The Argali have some respect for Altanari accomplishments, but still tend to view the Altanari with a bit of disdain for being "civilized". The Argali often find it hard to hide their amusement or contempt for the Akamians, and love to point out that both the Argali and the Altanari defeated Akamians in war. The Argali share one unfortunate trait with their Altanari cousins, a marked tendency to stubbornness. They also tend to be much more conservative than the Akamians or even the Altanari. The Argali can be quick to anger and are ready to defend perceived slights to their honor with violence. On the positive side, their harsh environment and lifestyles enable them to survive conditions that Akamians or Altanari would find impossible. Honor is even more important to the Argali than it is to the Altanari, and insulting an Argali's honor or family name is a mortal insult.

Kitani
Average height: 5'11" (male); 5'6" (female)
Average weight: 165 pounds (male); 140 pounds (female)
General appearance: non-Asiatic ("Western") features, red or blonde hair, pale skin, green, hazel or blue eyes
Nature: The Kitani are unlike any other people of the Altan, both in appearance and in demeanor. They are noted for their compassion and their patience, and for the flexibility of their thinking. They often find themselves in the role of spiritual or intellectual mentor to the other Altan races, who the Kitani call the "young" races. The stubbornness of the Altanari and Argali, and the flightiness of the Akamians, can frustrate Kitani at times, but their prediliction for patience helps them overcome it (usually). Kitani prefer to avoid confrontation or violence, but can be ferocious warriors if forced to fight. The Kitani are a relatively small part of the Altan population, due to a much lower birth rate than the other Altan races.

Other races
Sentient beings of widely varying races, nationalities and even species have come to call the Altan Steppes home, thanks to an open immigration policy and a relatively tolerant population. In most places, immigrants are welcomed and respected, particularly in urban areas. Some pockets of nationalist or xenophobic sentiment do exist in rural areas or more traditional communities, but as immigration has grown widespread and normal, these pockets have rapidly been shrinking both in presence and in importance.