History of Valkea

The history of Valkea starts with the retreat of the polar ice caps and the end of the last glacial period. The earliest known human inhabitants first arrived in what is now Valkea in around 9000 BC. They were hunter-gatherer societies that used stone tools and had diets of seafood and game. Agriculture was introduced to the area in 3000 BC, although the inland regions still relied on hunting and fishing for subsistence. The Valkean Bronze Age began approximately in 1500 BC and continued until around 700 BC, when waves of proto-Valkenic peoples arrived from what is now Varddi and settled much of Vinstria. These new peoples brought iron tools with them and started the Valkean Iron Age, which lasted until the 9th century AD with the arrival of Viking settlers.

The Vikings settled along the coasts of southern and western Valkea, forming the basis for consolidation and unification of the modern Valkean state in the early 12th century. At the time, Valkea consisted of what is now the southern part of the country, currently the provinces of Valkea Proper, Vikkland, and Järvimaa, as well as parts of Ostrothia. Valkea slowly expanded northwards and eastwards over the following centuries, conquering other Viking kingdoms and Valkenic tribal lands.

After winning several wars against its neighbors, including Nynorsk Ostlijord, Caledonia, Romberg, and the Empire of Exponent via its colony in Occidentes (now part of the Aurora Confederacy), Valkea emerged as a great power in Northern Lorecia. It reached its territorial zenith under Gustaf III in 1723, having annexed the territories of < name >, < name >, and < name > from Caledonia. However, Valkea would be defeated by Caledonia in the 1750s and forced to relinquish their territorial gains, as well as lose some border territories. The modern border between Valkea and Caledonia was formalized in the Treaty of Tuuvalo in 1867.

A combination of economic crises, government mismanagement, and rising discontent with the monarchy culminated with the Valkean Civil War from 1916 to 1923. Gustav VI and his family fled the country to Aswick in 1921, although forces loyal to the monarchy continued fighting for two more years. After the war, Valkea was declared as a republic, with the Kansallist Party emerging as the sole political force ruling over the country's politics. Under the Kansallists, Valkea underwent a period of rapid industrialization and modernization. However, this period was also marked by serious corruption and political repression, as well as forced cultural assimilation of Valkenic peoples like the Lumika and the Velgi. Valkea stayed neutral in both Great Astyrian Wars.

In the early 1970s, Valkea was hit hard by the 1971 Astyrian Recession. This exposed several weaknesses in the Kansallist system, which paved the way for the 1975 Valkean Revolution, replacing the Kansallist regime with a democratic republic. With the democratization of the country came a period of unprecedented economic prosperity in the 1980s and 1990s, which saw Valkea emerge as a major economic powerhouse in Astyria.

Prehistory

Beginning in around 9000 BC, as the polar ice caps retreated from what is now Valkea, the earliest inhabitants arrived from the south and southwest. These early inhabitants were nomadic peoples, who slowly migrated northwards along the coastline as the ice caps continued to recede over the following millennia. They lived as hunter-gatherers that used stone tools and hunted fish and game, but they began hunting other animals as the climate grew steadily warmer, which allowed for increased forestation and new mammalian species. The earliest Stone Age cultures dated from this era include the Palsina, Toivari, and Unaja cultures, which were dated between 8500 and 7000 BC. The earliest human skeleton found in Valkea was found in Kohola in 2003 and was carbon dated to 6800 BC.

By 5000 BC, pottery was present in Valkea and was part of the wider Comb-Patterned culture. Around this time, an early trade network developed throughout Northern Lorecia, evidenced by the presence of slate from Clàr Mòr and amber from what is now Ostrothia and the Aurora Confederacy. Around 3000 BC, a new wave of migrants arrived from the southwest and settled along the shores of the Bay of Valkea. These migrants were part of the Sun Disc culture, who brought new weapons, tools, and technologies. It was around this time that agriculture was introduced to Valkea, along with animal husbandry. However, societies located in the interior still retained their hunter-gatherer lifestyles.

Bronze was first introduced around 1500 BC, which brought with it several new innovations. Around this time, the Sun Disc culture had merged with the Comb-Patterned culture to become the Maaninka Culture. Crop yields grew substantially in southern Valkea, allowing farmers to trade them for luxury goods such as furs from other parts of Lorecia.

Iron Age

Valkean Iron age swords, dated 4th century AD

Between 700 and 500 BC, a large wave of human migrants arrived from what is now Varddi and settled throughout western Vinstria. Through them came iron weapons and tools, as well as the proto-Valkenic languages. These proto-Valkenic speakers assimilated with the indigenous populations of the region and formed the basis of the proto-Valkean, Lumi, Ostli, and Velgi peoples.

Trade with the Merovian Empire took place in the 1st century AD, trading furs for weapons and luxury goods. Many proto-Valkeans served as Merovian mercenaries. Connections were also made with the Arlethic and Ethlorek peoples of Eastern Lorecia.

Between the 4th and 5th century AD, Vinstria began experiencing mass migrations of Calatic peoples, which would later become the basis for the Caledonians and other related groups. Some of these Calatic peoples migrated into eastern Valkea, bringing them into conflict with the Valks who began building simple fortifications. Valkenic chieftains began to emerge, ruling over several clans and tribes and competing with each other for land and resources.

Viking Age

Viking longship at Vikalki Museum, Källälivi

The Vikings began arriving in Astyria from Europe in the 9th century AD. They expanded into Lorecia and Northern Teudallum through trade, raids, and colonization. Viking activity was especially prevalent in Northern Lorecia, from which they made it their base of operations from which they would raid the rest of the continent. Some Vikings settled along the western and southern coasts of Valkea at around 900 and founded several cities, including Brantevik, Dagsmark, and Osterlund. The indigenous Valks referred to the Vikings as "Vikalki". Vikings from Valkea often raided along the western and northern coasts of Lorecia, although some of them made it as far as the Mederano Peninsula. The plunder gained from these excursions made the Vikings considerably wealthy and powerful.

The 10th century was characterized by a series of power struggles between Viking chieftains. Some of these chieftains forged petty kingdoms, but the most ambitious of them was Haakon the Stout, who was recognized in Valkean tradition as the first King of Valkea. He began the process of unifying these kingdoms through a mix strategic alliances and wars of conquest. This process culminated at the Battle of Nolvik in 1016, from which Haakon would become the undisputed ruler of a united Valkea.

Christianization efforts began around the 11th century with the arrival of missionaries from Central and Southern Lorecia. Contact between the Vikings and Christians was established centuries prior during their raids, and some Christians were brought to Valkea as slaves. But tradition maintains that the first Christian missionary to Valkea was St. Bodo, a monk from Southern Lorecia who arrived at < island > in 1024. While < island > steadily converted to the new faith over the next few decades, early efforts to Christianize the mainland were met with fierce resistance from the jarls. St. Bodo himself would be martyred in Taimo in 1041.

Haakon the Stout died in 1058 and was succeeded by his son, Eric the Black. Eric established a thing comprised of the Valkean jarls as well as free men of the kingdom, as well as a leidang for seasonal raids on neighboring coastal regions. He expanded Valkea to include the regions of Funland (now part of Löysimaa), as well as settled the coasts of Suojamaa, Pikkamaa, and Vorland.

Middle Ages

Magnus II officially converted to Christianity in 1134 and attempted to enforce his new faith across his kingdom, building new churches, passing church laws, and destroyed pagan temples and holy sites. These Christianization efforts were met with fierce hostility from the jarls, who saw the new religion as a threat to their power, influence, and way of life. In 1141, a rebellion erupted against Magnus and raged for the next two years, culminating in the Battle of Rautoja in 1143 where Magnus was killed. His pagan brother, Olof I, was elected as king by the thing, and ruled over a period of relative peace and prosperity until 1160 when he died attempting to subjugate the indigenous Valkenic tribes in Osterland (now Itämaa). As Olof left no heirs, the thing selected Magnus' son, Sigurd I, as the new king.

Sigurd continued his predecessor's wars of conquest in Itämaa, eventually bringing the region under Valkean control. He also built fortifications along the southern frontier of Valkea to deter tribes from Varddi and Ostrothia from raiding his lands. However, it was under Sigurd that the practice of assembling raiding parties to plunder the coasts of Lorecia were stopped - instead his vassals fought in Osterland and were rewarded with lands and titles for their services. The practice continued as Valkea incorporated Ostrothia as part of their territory in 1208, and the Valkean kings fought to bring Tasakunta and Pikkamaa under Valkean rule.

The Tasakuntans banded together under the Koivunen Confederation, an alliance of tribes that refused to submit to Valkean sovereignty and had a great deal of cooperation with one another. A series of wars called the Koivunen Wars followed between Valkea and the Confederation that lasted from 1216 to 1242. At first, the Valkeans made significant gains and conquered much of southern Tasakunta by 1225. However, a large Valkean host was ambushed at the Battle of Kantele in 1227, killing thousands of Valkeans. Furthermore, it flared up indigenous uprisings in the newly-conquered lands, temporarily halting any further expansion to the north as efforts were redirected towards suppressing rebellion. The campaign resumed in 1233 under Olof II, who made significant gains and made it as far as the Väylä River. Attempts to cross the river were repulsed by Koivunen forces, but the Valkeans crossed a ford upstream and caught them by surprise at the Battle of Paasola in 1237, giving the indigenous forces a costly defeat. The Tasakuntans attempted to rebuild their numbers, but were powerless to stop the Valkeans' advance. Eventually, the remnants of Koivunen forces fought and lost to the Valkeans at the Battle of Muittari, marking the end of the war and the complete subjugation of Tasakunta.

The population of Valkea grew from 700,000 in 1000 to 2 million by 1300. Forests were being cleared for agricultural production to support the growing population. New towns and cities were built across Valkea, especially in Funland and Österland. Lands throughout Valkea were mostly owned by the king, the church, or by the Valkean aristocracy. However, Valkean farmers remained free men and enjoyed more rights and privileges than serfs in other Lorecian kingdoms. The second half of the 13th century was described as an age of peace and prosperity for Valkea, with trade flourishing between it and neighboring states.

In 1338, King Knut the Tall died, causing a succession crisis that plunged Valkea into civil war until 1342. Dalmar the Valk - who was the son of Niklas, Duke of Mannerheim and of Knut's sister Tove - emerged victorious and became the first king of the Mannerheim Dynasty. A period of peace once again prevailed throughout Valkea, however he struggled to maintain control of the kingdom in the face of opposition from both the church and the aristocracy. After suppressing the Vikkland Rebellion in 1345, Dalmar was forced by the nobility to sign a charter limiting the crown's authority. However, these limits would slowly be eroded by succeeding kings as Valkea's monarchy began to centralize power over the centuries.

Valkea continued to expand at the turn of the 14th century through launching crusades against the indigenous populations of the north. They conquered much of Lumimaa by 1416 and expanded their holdings in Vorland in 1422. However, they were unable to completely subjugate the Velgi, who would remain fiercely independent for centuries to come. Similarly, the Kingdom of Nynorsk Ostlijord, which remained pagan even as other Viking kingdoms converted to Christianity, fought a war with Valkea from 1481 to 1496. This conflict, called the Nynorsk War, ended with a victory for the Nynorsk.

Early Modern Valkea

Reformation

The Protestant Reformation began in 1528 with the arrival of Lutheran missionaries in Valkea, many of which came from Central and Southern Lorecia. In 1535, the first translation of the New Testament into Valkean was completed, followed by the first translation of the Bible in Valkean in 1552. Both translations proved popular with the Valkeans, who now were able to read the Bible in their own language.

Portrait of Pekka I, 1544

Initially, Pekka I took in Lutheran reformers under his protection but chose not to support the Reformation. However, he had a falling out with the Pope over his expulsion of Natanael Miettinen, Archbishop of Kiesimä for a new archbishop selected by the king himself. In protest, Pekka appointed Eljas Peltola, a Lutheran scholar, as archbishop in 1536 - marking Pekka's official separation from the church and the creation of the Church of Valkea. He then proceeded to confiscate church lands, which made up 1/5th of all lands in Valkea, as well as instituted tax reforms that standardized and simplified tax collection. These actions increased crown revenues substantially, but caused intense resentment from Catholic bishops and peasants, as well as from aristocrats who remained loyal to the Catholic Church. In response, Pekka embarked on a campaign to suppress opposition to his ecclesiastical and monetary policies.

His successor, Pekka II, was more conciliatory with the Catholic Church than his father. Seeing that the crown's suppression of Catholic peasant revolts was threatening to tear apart the realm, he returned seized lands back to the Church while also rolling back some of his father's more radical reforms. Pekka advocated for a middle ground between Lutheranism and Catholicism, seeking to retain Catholic customs that did not contravene Scripture. In 1560, he called for a synod to be assembled at Kiesimä to promote his stance to the lords and nobles of Valkea, but support for his moderate views was outnumbered by both ardent Catholic supporters and radical Protestant supporters. This meant the Kiesimä Synod was unable to reach a compromise between the two groups that Pekka would have wanted. Another Synod was convened in Källälivi in 1573, but this time the Protestants outnumbered the Catholics and Moderates. As a result, the Church of Valkea formally adopted the Augsburg Confession, joining the ranks of other Lutheran churches in Astyria.

Rise as a Great Power

In 1592, Valkea resumed its wars of expansion in the north by conquering Rudanmaa. However, hostilities between it and Nynorsk Ostlijord resumed over control of the Velgi region, causing several border conflicts. Many of these conflicts were inconclusive as Valkean and Nynorsk gains were unable to be consolidated due to a combination of invasions from each other and constant rebellion from the Velgi in their respective territories. This state of affairs continued until 1627, when the two kingdoms came together and signed a peace treaty dividing the Velgi region between them.

Alvar III died in his sleep in 1635, producing no heirs. As a result, a war of succession broke out between supporters of his nephew Tatu, Duke of Osterlund, and those of his brother, Jari-Pekka, Duke of Korsholm. The resulting civil war, called the War of Valkean Succession, lasted twelve years - with each claimant receiving support from foreign powers. Jari-Pekka's backers included the Empire of Exponent, while Tatu's backers included Aquitayne and Caledonia. Jari-Pekka's forces held the advantage in the first few years, but were forced on the defensive in 1640 with Caledonia's entry into the war. At the same time, Nynorsk forces invaded the north of Valkea, taking over large parts of Velgi in the process. In 1643, Tatu assembled an army to march north and defeated them at the Battle of Rudanmaa. He then fought two more years in Velgi to bring back Valkean rule. He returned to Southern Valkea in 1644 to resume his conflict with Jari-Pekka, sailing his fleet to Ostrothia and marching north into Vikkland. With this bold attack, combined with the Caledonians marching from the east, spelled the end of Jari-Pekka's ambitions. In 1647, two members of his household guard assassinated Jari-Pekka in his sleep, leaving Tatu as the undisputed ruler of Valkea.

Tatu established a formal alliance with Caledonia thru the marriage of his son Gustav with Dìorbhail, daughter of King < name >. A similar marriage pact with Aquitayne was planned, but fell through due to the outbreak of the War of the White Rose. He then focused his attention on enacting various domestic reforms, including the raising of taxes, the creation of a standing army, and imposing military conscription. Tatu claimed that these reforms were needed to strengthen the country's defense against foreign powers, but in reality was to be used as part of his new, more aggressive foreign policy. In 1655, Tatu fought against the Nynorsk when they launched another invasion of Velgi, which was where he gained the epithet "the Great". The Nynorsk were forced to cede more land to Valkea in 1657, establishing the modern border between the two countries. In 1663, Tatu completed the conquest of Jatinmaa, bringing the region under Valkean rule.

Valkean Civil War

Main article: Valkean Civil War

Kansallist Era

Main article: Kansallist Valkea