Rathanan
12-07-2008, 17:16
Origins
The region that would become the Holy Empire of Rathanan was first settled by a group of escaped Helot slaves in circa 420 BC during the Peloponnesian War. These escaped slaves cultivated a small society of subsistence farmers who maintained a democratic system (like that of Athens) to decide policy within the community. Though it was constantly addled by rampaging Gauls from northern Italy, their society prospered.
Conquest, Joining the Macedonian Empire
When Alexander the Great assumed power in Macedon, he sent a small detachment of soldiers to the small city state (called New Athens) in present day Rathanan. The Macedonian soldiers took the city after a short siege and Alexander incorporated the region into his Empire. Alexander the Great added a great deal of New Athenian hoplites into his army as he marched eastward into Persia and Arabia.
After Alexander the Great's death, the rest of the empire was carved up between his generals, but New Athens remained with Macedonian control.
Growth
Under Macedonian control, the entire region that is now the Holy Empire of Rathanan grew and flourished. The primary city, still New Athens, became an important port in the Mediterranean, bringing much wealth and culture to the region.
The Macedonian Wars and Roman Conquest
Due to present day Rathanan's position as a gateway between Italy and Greece, it sustained many battles during the Macedonian Wars. Though the Romans were driven out after the First Macedonian War (which ended indecisively), the Romans took and assimilated the province early in the Second Macedonian War (circa 200 B.C.). Many of the people within the province were sold into slavery and numerous towns and villages were burned to the ground when the Romans came. Most of the citizens viewed the Roman occupation as dreadful, but the Romans eventually brought a great many things to the province (now called Rathanan).
Origin of the Name: Rathanan
There are conflicting stories about where the name of the Holy Empire comes from. However, the most popular (and amusing) story states that the Roman general who commanded the Legions that captured Rathanan, Titus Sentius Poblilia Quadratus, became heavily drunk the night he captured New Athens. That same night, a dispatch came from the Senate congratulating Sentius on his victory and gave him the opportunity to name the new Roman province. Hardly able to speak correctly, the General mumbled something that sounded like "Rathanan." Though the Senate thought it sounded foolish, they agreed to allow it and, from then on, the province was known as "Rathanan."
Roman Rule: 200 BC - 361 AD
Under Roman occupation, the province of Rathanan grew and flourished. Rathanan became an important commercial and military hub for the Roman Empire. The Rathani legions took part in numerous campagins including the Third Punic War, the Seleucid War, and many others.
Rathanan continued to be an important part of the Roman Empire until it broke away from the Empire in 361 A.D. and declared its independence.
The Rise of Christianity
Saint Paul stopped very briefly within Rathanan and established a small Christian church. Ironically, the Church heavily persecuted in Rathanan (as with most of the Roman Empire) until the rule of Constantine the Great, when it became the established religion.
Schism with the Roman Empire
During the rule of Julian the Apostate, Rathanan grew very distressed at the pagan Emperor's anti-Christian rulings. Moreover, Rathanan's governor, Alexander Poblilia Imperiosus, a retired half Roman half Greek general, questioned Julian's right to the throne and claimed he was the rightful successor to Constantius II. Julian responded to Alexander's criticisms by ordering his arrest and execution. Alexander was a very popular leader within Rathanan, thus this order created an uproar within Rathanan. The Rathani Legions, who were far more loyal to Alexander than to Rome, secured Rathanan's boarders and threatened to kill any Roman soldiers who crossed into Rathanan. Moreover, the citizens of Rathanan declared Alexander Augustus of Rathanan and considered Julian's rule to be null and void.
((TBC))
The region that would become the Holy Empire of Rathanan was first settled by a group of escaped Helot slaves in circa 420 BC during the Peloponnesian War. These escaped slaves cultivated a small society of subsistence farmers who maintained a democratic system (like that of Athens) to decide policy within the community. Though it was constantly addled by rampaging Gauls from northern Italy, their society prospered.
Conquest, Joining the Macedonian Empire
When Alexander the Great assumed power in Macedon, he sent a small detachment of soldiers to the small city state (called New Athens) in present day Rathanan. The Macedonian soldiers took the city after a short siege and Alexander incorporated the region into his Empire. Alexander the Great added a great deal of New Athenian hoplites into his army as he marched eastward into Persia and Arabia.
After Alexander the Great's death, the rest of the empire was carved up between his generals, but New Athens remained with Macedonian control.
Growth
Under Macedonian control, the entire region that is now the Holy Empire of Rathanan grew and flourished. The primary city, still New Athens, became an important port in the Mediterranean, bringing much wealth and culture to the region.
The Macedonian Wars and Roman Conquest
Due to present day Rathanan's position as a gateway between Italy and Greece, it sustained many battles during the Macedonian Wars. Though the Romans were driven out after the First Macedonian War (which ended indecisively), the Romans took and assimilated the province early in the Second Macedonian War (circa 200 B.C.). Many of the people within the province were sold into slavery and numerous towns and villages were burned to the ground when the Romans came. Most of the citizens viewed the Roman occupation as dreadful, but the Romans eventually brought a great many things to the province (now called Rathanan).
Origin of the Name: Rathanan
There are conflicting stories about where the name of the Holy Empire comes from. However, the most popular (and amusing) story states that the Roman general who commanded the Legions that captured Rathanan, Titus Sentius Poblilia Quadratus, became heavily drunk the night he captured New Athens. That same night, a dispatch came from the Senate congratulating Sentius on his victory and gave him the opportunity to name the new Roman province. Hardly able to speak correctly, the General mumbled something that sounded like "Rathanan." Though the Senate thought it sounded foolish, they agreed to allow it and, from then on, the province was known as "Rathanan."
Roman Rule: 200 BC - 361 AD
Under Roman occupation, the province of Rathanan grew and flourished. Rathanan became an important commercial and military hub for the Roman Empire. The Rathani legions took part in numerous campagins including the Third Punic War, the Seleucid War, and many others.
Rathanan continued to be an important part of the Roman Empire until it broke away from the Empire in 361 A.D. and declared its independence.
The Rise of Christianity
Saint Paul stopped very briefly within Rathanan and established a small Christian church. Ironically, the Church heavily persecuted in Rathanan (as with most of the Roman Empire) until the rule of Constantine the Great, when it became the established religion.
Schism with the Roman Empire
During the rule of Julian the Apostate, Rathanan grew very distressed at the pagan Emperor's anti-Christian rulings. Moreover, Rathanan's governor, Alexander Poblilia Imperiosus, a retired half Roman half Greek general, questioned Julian's right to the throne and claimed he was the rightful successor to Constantius II. Julian responded to Alexander's criticisms by ordering his arrest and execution. Alexander was a very popular leader within Rathanan, thus this order created an uproar within Rathanan. The Rathani Legions, who were far more loyal to Alexander than to Rome, secured Rathanan's boarders and threatened to kill any Roman soldiers who crossed into Rathanan. Moreover, the citizens of Rathanan declared Alexander Augustus of Rathanan and considered Julian's rule to be null and void.
((TBC))