Etruria

Middle Ages

After the Fall of the Solarian Empire and the fragmentation of Etruria, the former heartland was dominated by small states ruled by former Solarian senators and other aristocratic elites. The western reaches of Etruria, would fall under the dominion of numerous Marolevic tribes, who would over the course of several decades fighting fierce internecine wars, culminating into the future Kingdoms of Carinthia and Novalia. Efforts by the Empire of Arciluco to expand its dominion eastward to reclaim Solaria was repeatedly defeated by these Marolevic tribes, this in contrast to the Verliquoian Empire, which succeeded in restoring imperial control over much of Vespasia between 432 and 449 CE. Verliquoian rule would go on uncontested for over two-hundred years, until in 665, the patricians of the city of Povelia successfully negotiated independence from the Empire, despite imperial rule ever being nominal or superficial. The patricians and merchants established the Exalted Republic of Povelia the following year, and would result in the establishment of Povelia as one of Euclea's great powers during the Renaissance and early modern period. During this time of Verliquoian dominance, the numerous provinces that later form the numerous comunes and city-states of Etruria were established to ease imperial administration, another notable development was the ever growing autonomy of the city of Solaria under the direct temporal rule of the Papacy.

A 13th century depcition of the Tagamic invasion of Etruria.

In 878 CE, the ruling Verliquoian Empire would enter into conflict with the migrating Tagamic Horde led by Chanyu Ekkin. The previous years had seen the Tagamics devastate much of the Second Heavenly Dominion as they fled the Great Steppe. The resurgent Third Heavenly Dominion in pursuit of the Tagamic migrations forced them across the Aurean Straits, bringing the conflict onto continental Euclea in 880. The Tagamics under Ekkin would reach eastern Vespasia in 882 and unleash a wave of destruction from Santa Maria in the east, to Povelia and ultimately Solaria itself. The highly successful intervention by Saint Chloé and Emperor Philippe II would save both Povelia and the Ecclesiastical City from certain destruction. The defeats of the Tagamics at Povelia and Solaria succeeded in evicting them from Vespasia, however, they would go on to travel north-west before settling in modern day Narozalica. The devastation unleashed would have serious effects on the demographic development of Vespasia, however, the success of the Vespasian provinces in self-defence (in some cases), and the costs paid by the Verliquoian Empire led to a steady decline in imperial authority, with some of its provinces rising up in wake of the Tagamic's expulsion, to the voluntary withdrawal of the Empire from other regions. In 888, the Empire awarded the Papacy jurisdiction over Solaria and its surrounding regions in what is known as the Emperor's Donation to Saint Peter. This was followed by the emergence of the Duchy of Carvagna, Duchy of Tyrrenhus and the Grand Duchy of Faulia. Around this time, the Marolevic tribes in the west unified to form the respective kingdoms of Carinthia and Novalia in 890 and 899, the latter would eventually fall to the Kingdom of Miruvia in 1035.

Self-portrait of the leading light of the Vespasian Renaissance, Alessandro Tiberio Volci. Ducale Grande Gallery, Poveglia.

By the early 11th century, the previous decline in imperial authority, and the geographic separation between Etruria and the rest of the Verliquoian Empire via the Aventine Mountains led to the Vespasian Revolt in 1035, where the League of the Àdexe, led by Povelia rose up and defeated the Empire at the Battle of Tresano, guaranteeing the independence of the northern states of Vespasia. It was during this chaotic period that Vespasian towns and regions saw the rise of a unique institution, the medieval commune. Given the relative isolation from the rest of Euclea, the influence of already established Vespasian states to the south and the extreme territorial fragmentation present, numerous communities sought autonomous means of establishing law and order. The Revolt also saw the expansion of Povelia across the southern half of the Eugenian Plain, securing the island-city from land-based threats. The coasts of the Bay of Povelia saw an equally unique development during the middle ages, the emergence of thalassocratic city-states and the maritime republic. During the early centuries of the middle ages, the only cities to emerge of this type was Povelia, the Republic of Accadia and the Republic of Amelia. These cities would grow to eventually dominate the Solarian Sea and monopolise trade routes to between Euclea and northern Coius. All these cities during the time of their independence had similar systems of government in which the merchant class had considerable power. Although in practice these were oligarchical, and bore little resemblance to a modern democracy, the relative political freedom they afforded was conducive to academic and artistic advancement. However, over time Povelia would emerge as the undisputed maritime power, annexing Amelia in 1280 and greatly reducing the power and influence of Accadia by the middle of the renaissance, in wake of the War of the Bay. Povelia would emerge as the most powerful Vespasic state in 1450, following the War of the Amelian League, which saw it capture the island of San Francesco and almost the entirety of the Eugenian Plain. This was followed by the rapid expansion overseas, with the occupation of modern-day Galenia and the western coasts of Piraea. Through these acquisitions, Povelia was able to dominate the Euclean-Coian trade, establishing commercial outposts and colonies as far west as Satria. While the maritime republics flourished, so too did certain terrestial polities, primarily, the Grand Duchy of Carvagna, Principality of Tyrrenhus and the Grand Duchy of Faulia. Carvagna emerged as a capital of silk, wool, banking and jewelry and would emerge as the greatest rival of Povelia for domination over the Vespasian states.

Etrurian states in 1450.

The self-supporting wealth such business brought to Vespasia and the rest of Etruria, ostensibly through Miruvia's extensive trade with the city-states, meant that large public and private artistic projects could be commissioned. The Vespasian state first felt huge economic changes in Euclea which would lead to the commercial revolution: the rise of Povelia saw it able to finance the voyages and delegations to southern Coius; some of the first universities and academies were founded in the southern Vespasian states, giving birth to a new scholastic movement that would see some individuals achieve international and historical fame; the patronage of both the Ecclesiastical State and the city-states saw the emergence of capitalism and the great banking families of Stazzona, Faulia and Auronzo. In 1450, the so-called Concordat of Quaratica was signed by the major city-states, essentially establishing a treaty guaranteeing the current territories of the Vespasian region, the concordat also saw a universal commitment to defending Vespasian from foreign incursion, in what some view as the first collective defence agreement. The Concordat would maintain peace in Vespasia for over 150 years, deepening the degree of prosperity seen in the region. In the west, the Kingdom of Miruvia would benefit greatly from the prosperous Vespasian city-states, emerging as one of the most developed and wealthy of the Marolevic kingdoms in Southern Euclea, the kingdom under the Lazarević dynasty underwent a golden age. However, the Kingdom would collapse in 1577 with the Novalian and Carinthian revolts, which restored the kingdoms of Carinthia and Novalia.