Thraysia

Thraysian Empire Βασιλεία Ῥωμαίων
Flag Imperial Ensign
Motto: "May the Lord guide us"
Anthem: Απολυτίκιο του Τιμίου Σταυρού_(Thraysia)
Capital and largest city	Konstantinopolis
Official languages	Koine Hellenic
Ethnic groups	not!Macedonian not!Arabic not!Slovakian not!Armenian not!Turkic Other
Religion	Eastern Orthodox
Demonym(s)	Thraysian
Government	Absolute Monarchy
• Emperor	Alexios VIII Gregoras
• Heir	Alexios VIV Gregoras
Legislature	Imperial Council
Establishment
Population
• 2019 estimate	94,593,874
GDP (nominal)	2018 estimate
• Total	$1,774,202,700,744‬
• Per capita	$18,756
Currency	Bezant (☧) (BZT)
Time zone	Thraysian Imperial Time
Date format	mm-dd-yyyy
Driving side	left
Calling code	+32

Thraysia, officially the Thraysian Empire, is a sovereign country located in the far east of Belisaria, sharing borders with Vardana and Uluujol. It has coasts among the Periclean and Ozeros Seas. With over 94 million subjects, it is one of the more populated nations in the world.

Thraysia is a semi-federal absolute monarchy. The current Emperor is Alexios VIII, who has reigned since 2001. The Emperor remains the primary figure in politics and is the final authority in all political decisions. In theory, the Emperor is acclaimed to have absolute power, claiming titles such as "sole ruler of the world" and "peer of the apostles." In practice, the Thraysian Charter of Liberties, the concept of "antiemperors," and semi-federal autonomy provide protections against tyranny.

The heartland of the Thraysian Empire traces its roots to Hellenic settlements among its coasts, its indigenous peoples, and not!Macedonian invaders. Some of the region was unified under the ancient Empire until its collapse and fall to Latin rule. The Thraysian Empire officially formed as a client King organized a large-scale rebellion among its eastern provinces. It grew into an Empire that would become one of the most powerful economic, cultural, and military force in southeastern Belisaria. Later, it would be challenged by the rise of the Holy Audonian Empire and the Latin Empire. Barbarian invaders and Caliphate invasions would result in its reduction of size. Eventually, it fell to the Tuluran Caliphate in the late 15th century.

The Thraysian Empire revived during the reconquest era in the 18th century. As it seemed to have fallen somewhat behind its western neighbors, Stephanos I (1751-1784) began enacting reforms to forcibly westernize Thraysia in hopes of its modernization. It replaced many of its social and political systems dating to the Middle Ages with ones that were based on western models and Arthuristan Illumination. Westernization efforts applied much more to the upper class than the commoners. As the wealth gap increased under the "pseudo-industrialization" era and caused social unrest, a violent uprising overthrew the Thraysian government with a new one that began the "nationalist revolution." A cultural renaissance flourished and revived aspects of medieval Thraysian culture while forming an "anti-western" identity.

The modern day Empire is a developed market economy, though it remains somewhat behind the most developed nations of Belisaria. Its economy is driven by industries such as manufacturing, textiles, and mining of gold and other natural resources in its plentiful deposits down south.

Thraysia is known for being a fervently religious and extremely conservative society, fueled by a long-lived nostalgia for the medieval Thraysian Empire and its success. Its religious life is characterized by the Eastern Orthodox Church, which plays a large influence in politics. Culturally, the Empire is multi-ethnic, with separatist sentiments among its not!Slavic and not!Armenian peoples.

History

Prehistory

Chersonia became an important center of civilization as it connected the continents of Belisaria, Scipia, and Ochran. It was a center of agriculture during the neolithic revolution.

Antiquity

Around 2500 BC, Hellenic colonies were established on the coast of Chersonia and the eastern coast of Belisaria. Some of them would emerge to be prosperous centers of arts, sciences, culture, and technology. Intermarriage and cultural diffusion occurred between the native Chersonian/eastern Belisarian population and Hellenic colonists. In some city states, under the influence of the Xanthi, various forms of Democracy began to flourish. By the 7th Century BC, the Hellenic city states would fall under the rule of semi-nomadic Macedonian invaders. Around 500 BC, most of the Macedonian people were united under the Macedonian Empire. Eventually, it had fallen at around 201 BC.

An ancient Jewish Kingdom emerged known as "Chersonian Yisrael" sometime around the 5th Century BC. Their origins are relatively unknown, though some Thraysians claim them to be descended from a lost tribe of Yisrael. While the Kingdom eventually fell to the Macedonians, there was relative religious tolerance towards the Jews. Some cultural diffusion and syncretism between Chersonian Jews and pagans occurred, though a specific group of Chersonian Jews were extremely bent on preserving their culture and faith from corruption.

Around 183 BC, the Thraysian Kingdom emerged, originiating from the region of Chersonia known as Thrace. At its height in 51 AD, it reigned over the southern coasts of Belisaria, much of the Chersonian peninsula, and some of Scipia.

Peninsula Wars and Latin rule

The Latins and Thraysians clashed in a series of wars known as the "Peninsula Wars." The First Peninsula War in 92 AD resulted in a defeat by the Latins and a failure to obtain any Thraysian territory. The Second Peninsula War in 121 AD took heavy losses on the Latins, but managed to conquer segments of northern Thraysia. The Latins were met with considerable pushback, militarism, and resistance among the Thraysians. As the Thraysian Kingdom fell under decline and were outmatched by Latin military technology, the Latins declared the Third Peninsula War. The city of Thrace was sacked and burned to the ground, while its entire population was enslaved. The Thraysian people faced considerable oppression and enslavement under the Latins for their heavy resistance. Tax burdens became extremely high, while an extreme wealth gap emerged between Latin elites and Thraysian commoners.

The Spread of Christianity

The Apostles spread Christianity to the Thraysians as early as 36 AD, initially with St. Andrew the Apostle. It was met with considerable persecution under Thraysian and Latin rulers. The Thraysian ruler, King Simeas, became the first rulers to convert to Christianity in 42 AD. He promoted the spread of Christianity but was assassinated by angered Thraysian pagan elites in less than a year after his conversion. With the devastating impacts of the Peninsula Wars and oppression of Latin rule, Christianity quickly spread among Thraysian commoners for its appealing messages to disheartened and burdened masses in spite of its periodic persecution.

Eventually, Thraysian resistance to Latin rule considerably diminished after the conversion of the Latin Empire to Christianity.

The Middle Ages

The Rise of the Empire

The Thraysian client King, Constantine the Great, announced an independent Thraysian Empire in 451 A.D. This was enabled by the weakening of the Latin Empire and imperial authority, especially among its eastern provinces. With the continued fall of the Latins, the Thraysian Empire continued to expand and overtake the Latin Empire's eastern provinces.

The Thraysian Zenith

In 513, Emperor Basil the Great came to power after inheriting the throne from his uncle, Justin I. Basil began a vast series of conquests to the western territories of the former Latin Empire, extending Thraysia's domain over most of the Periclean Sea. Another resonant activity of his reign was the codification of Thraysian law, otherwise known as the Code of Basil. It remains the basis for several law codes to this day. The strength of the Thraysian state grew under Basil, which borrowed ideas from the Latin Empire but was inherently more despotic in nature. At its time, it was an impressive creation. Political authority was tightly centralized in Konstantinopolis, extending across the Empire with an extremely efficient bureaucracy. Its legitimacy and authority was greatly strengthened under Basil, though it still lightly touched on the lives of most people. The prosperity and stability of the Thraysian Empire under Basil the Great and other Emperors of the Justin dynasty allowed for a golden age of Thraysian culture. The Emperors of the Justin dynasty were prolific builders that sponsored many Churches and infrastructure development. Among the most famous includes the Church of Hagia Vasiliki commissioned by Basil in 519. The Empire was strengthened through the construction of many fortifications. Many ancient cities were rebuilt. Additionally, its prosperity allowed Konstantinopolis to emerge as one of the (if not the most) wealthiest and largest cities in the world. The arts flourished with significant innovations in eastern Christian art. Literature of both the divine and the secular flourished, producing many great historians and poets.

Rise of the Caliphate: The Thraysian Void

The apex of Thraysia came to an end after the Justin dynasty. The Empire's territory began declining with constant attacks at its borders and the rise of other powers in Belisaria. Eventually, it would face a huge blowback from the rise of the Caliphate and the Azdarin religion with large amounts of territory lost. With the significant losses to the Caliphate, some Thraysians interpreted it as divine punishment. Iconoclast movements began, taking literally to prohibit graven images. The Thraysian Emperors brutally cracked down upon the Iconoclasts, until a few sympathizers had taken the throne and instituted Iconoclasm over the Empire. The destruction of many religious images ensued, but was not met without opposition. Iconoclasm was eventually put to an end by Empress Dominica.

Middle Thraysia

The era known as "Middle Thraysia" began as Iconoclasts were brutally suppressed and successful reconquests were made against the Caliphate and northern barbarians. The Empire returned to a degree of prosperity and enabled a cultural renaissance. Icons became of even greater significance and importance in reaction to the Iconoclasts. Art and architecture flourished once again. Manuscript production reached a height. The Empire remained a powerful force in Belisaria and Scipia but failed to come close to the territorial height of the Justin dynasty.

Late Medieval Thraysia

As Thraysia began significantly shrinking in territory and power, the era of "Late Medieval Thraysia" began. It was most signiciantly marked by the rule of the Palaiologan dynasty. Eventually, all that remained of the Empire was the city of Konstantinopolis. It was sacked in 1468 by the Tuluran Caliphate.

Culture

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