Merosian History
B.A. = Before Adeodatus, A.E.D. = After Elder Drakes
Foundation & Early Years [22 B.A. - 120 A.E.D.]
The First Queen [121 A.E.D.]
The Shipwrecker Conflict [384 - 409 A.E.D.]
Modern Day [503 A.E.D. Onwards]
The First Queen [121 A.E.D.]
The Shipwrecker Conflict [384 - 409 A.E.D.]
Modern Day [503 A.E.D. Onwards]
Foundation & Early Years [ 22 B.A. - 120 A.E.D. ]
Meros has its origins as a nation of refugees.
Concido, the oldest city-state, was first founded in 22 B.A (before Adeodatus) by humans from across the Realm fleeing Elder Drake rule. The Merosian peninsula was chosen both for being safe and a potentially good spot for trade with the rest of the Realm. The river delta where the city now sits was only ever intended to be a temporary home; the land was fertile and it was outside of any known Elder Drake’s territory, so they felt it was safe enough to settle down for the immediate future.
Since it was safe from the Elder Drakes, however, people continued to congregate there, and layers of buildings were made over the original constructions. Some settled to the north in 6 B.A, establishing the seafaring city of Madeo. By the time the Elder Drakes fell during the Night of the Red Moons, Concido was far too populated and permanent for them to uproot themselves and find somewhere else to live.
Over the following decades, new arrivals and parts of Concido’s ever-growing population - who sometimes struggled to find housing - left and established other city-states. Madeo was growing rapidly since its foundation and was quickly joined by Testudo in 17 A.E.D, Carissima in 25, Acies Ferro in 29, Pruina in 37, Amara Antrum in 84, Pars Solis in 97.
Chrysos was the last city-state to be established, founded by an extremely wealthy trading family from Madeo. The founder paid for the city to be constructed as well as a skyship port to be made - which remains the only skyship port in the entirety of Theavia to this day.
These city-states, despite sharing similar origins, quickly developed rivalries, fighting each other with soldiers, gold, and politics, until the Princesses formed an alliance and elected the first Monarch.
Meros has avoided wars with other nations since its inception, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t profited from them. Merosian mercenaries are highly skilled and have participated in almost all major conflicts, and their traders often sell supplies and weapons to warring nations.
Concido, the oldest city-state, was first founded in 22 B.A (before Adeodatus) by humans from across the Realm fleeing Elder Drake rule. The Merosian peninsula was chosen both for being safe and a potentially good spot for trade with the rest of the Realm. The river delta where the city now sits was only ever intended to be a temporary home; the land was fertile and it was outside of any known Elder Drake’s territory, so they felt it was safe enough to settle down for the immediate future.
Since it was safe from the Elder Drakes, however, people continued to congregate there, and layers of buildings were made over the original constructions. Some settled to the north in 6 B.A, establishing the seafaring city of Madeo. By the time the Elder Drakes fell during the Night of the Red Moons, Concido was far too populated and permanent for them to uproot themselves and find somewhere else to live.
Over the following decades, new arrivals and parts of Concido’s ever-growing population - who sometimes struggled to find housing - left and established other city-states. Madeo was growing rapidly since its foundation and was quickly joined by Testudo in 17 A.E.D, Carissima in 25, Acies Ferro in 29, Pruina in 37, Amara Antrum in 84, Pars Solis in 97.
Chrysos was the last city-state to be established, founded by an extremely wealthy trading family from Madeo. The founder paid for the city to be constructed as well as a skyship port to be made - which remains the only skyship port in the entirety of Theavia to this day.
These city-states, despite sharing similar origins, quickly developed rivalries, fighting each other with soldiers, gold, and politics, until the Princesses formed an alliance and elected the first Monarch.
Meros has avoided wars with other nations since its inception, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t profited from them. Merosian mercenaries are highly skilled and have participated in almost all major conflicts, and their traders often sell supplies and weapons to warring nations.
The First Queen [ 121 A.E.D. ]
Meros began as scattered city-states, with short-lived alliances and squabbles, with no singular leader.
It was through the constant effort of the ruling family of Concido - then a prosperous trading center - that relationships between the other City-States warmed up enough for the suggestion of electing a leader to represent all the cities and to mediate any disputes to be seriously considered. The other cities decided that they would give it a try, some more reluctantly than others.
They elected the ruling Princess of Concido, Theodora, as the first Queen in 121 A.E.D. Her task was not an easy one; during her five-year reign, she had to settle disputes, establish a state language to ease communication, and do her best to convince the other city-states that the new system was worth continuing.
The latter she managed by ensuring that her influence over Meros and on their trade with outside nations was a profitable one; she organized trade expeditions that pooled resources from multiple cities.
In 126 A.E.D, the end of Theodora’s five years, the other Princes and Princesses agreed to try another term. And another. Until now, when the system of electing a Monarch from among the rulers of each city is as natural as breathing.
It was through the constant effort of the ruling family of Concido - then a prosperous trading center - that relationships between the other City-States warmed up enough for the suggestion of electing a leader to represent all the cities and to mediate any disputes to be seriously considered. The other cities decided that they would give it a try, some more reluctantly than others.
They elected the ruling Princess of Concido, Theodora, as the first Queen in 121 A.E.D. Her task was not an easy one; during her five-year reign, she had to settle disputes, establish a state language to ease communication, and do her best to convince the other city-states that the new system was worth continuing.
The latter she managed by ensuring that her influence over Meros and on their trade with outside nations was a profitable one; she organized trade expeditions that pooled resources from multiple cities.
In 126 A.E.D, the end of Theodora’s five years, the other Princes and Princesses agreed to try another term. And another. Until now, when the system of electing a Monarch from among the rulers of each city is as natural as breathing.
The Shipwrecker Conflict [ 384 - 409 A.E.D. ]
Perhaps the closest thing to a real foreign war - rather than just hiring out mercenaries to all sides in various conflicts throughout the Realm - that Meros has experienced were the shipwrecker raids that lasted from 384 to 409 A.E.D.
For a period of twenty-five years, they had to deal with the attacks of Pirate Queen Baikal, who was determined to prove that the shipwreckers had the best ships and naval tactics in the Realm. In Baikal’s mind, their only true rivals were the Merosians, and she wanted to prove their superiority without a doubt.
The Gaping Sea and Meros’ coastal cities became the field of battle for numerous naval clashes between the united Merosian navy and the Captains under Baikal’s command. Clashes were frequent and trade across the seas was unsafe for nearly two decades before the Battle of Black Island when a fleet led by the Prince of Madeo’s heir, Notus Ilarion Madeo, destroyed half of Baikal’s ships and forced her to flee. From 404 to 409 A.E.D it was a far more defensive and scattered effort on the shipwrecker’s behalf.
This period ended in 409 A.E.D when the Merosian Captain Marius Kajal Akiba Hidaka managed to sink Baikal’s flagship and kill her. After the death of their Pirate Queen, the shipwreckers descended into anarchy once more and quickly became too caught up in internal rivalries to even think about Baikal’s previous dreams of proving shipwreckers’ power at sea to the Realm.
Captain Marius became a national hero in Meros; especially in Madeo, where he was born. Every city with a seaside port has a statue of him looking out over the ocean, even in death watchful for raids by future Pirate Queens.
For a period of twenty-five years, they had to deal with the attacks of Pirate Queen Baikal, who was determined to prove that the shipwreckers had the best ships and naval tactics in the Realm. In Baikal’s mind, their only true rivals were the Merosians, and she wanted to prove their superiority without a doubt.
The Gaping Sea and Meros’ coastal cities became the field of battle for numerous naval clashes between the united Merosian navy and the Captains under Baikal’s command. Clashes were frequent and trade across the seas was unsafe for nearly two decades before the Battle of Black Island when a fleet led by the Prince of Madeo’s heir, Notus Ilarion Madeo, destroyed half of Baikal’s ships and forced her to flee. From 404 to 409 A.E.D it was a far more defensive and scattered effort on the shipwrecker’s behalf.
This period ended in 409 A.E.D when the Merosian Captain Marius Kajal Akiba Hidaka managed to sink Baikal’s flagship and kill her. After the death of their Pirate Queen, the shipwreckers descended into anarchy once more and quickly became too caught up in internal rivalries to even think about Baikal’s previous dreams of proving shipwreckers’ power at sea to the Realm.
Captain Marius became a national hero in Meros; especially in Madeo, where he was born. Every city with a seaside port has a statue of him looking out over the ocean, even in death watchful for raids by future Pirate Queens.
Modern Day [ 503 A.E.D. Onwards]
Today, Meros is a powerful nation and certainly the wealthiest. Individuals from across the Realm use their banks, and you can find Merosian traders in all corners of the world. There are a lot of jokes about finding Merosian traders in the strangest of places, like abandoned ships and pockets. They often invest in experiments and new technologies in Ironbrook and with the stormheralds, helping inventors with promising ideas complete their projects, and thus the influence of Meros is felt Realm-wide.
The current Queen of Meros, Princess Evangeline Valentina Carissima, was elected on May 13th, 503 A.E.D, and will rule until 508 A.E.D. Before her, Princess Aemeliana Neville Mawar Madeo ruled as Queen.
The current Queen of Meros, Princess Evangeline Valentina Carissima, was elected on May 13th, 503 A.E.D, and will rule until 508 A.E.D. Before her, Princess Aemeliana Neville Mawar Madeo ruled as Queen.