Monemvasia

Monemvasia, officially the Kingdom of Monemvasia is a nation in Korovia, on the eastern continent of South Korovia. It is located on a peninsula, with the landward side being bordered by several minor nations. Monemvasian territory also includes the three small islands of Elafoisos, Kythira, and Syros, with a total national land area of 631,100 km2. Monemvasia is the second most populated nation of the region with over 131 million inhabitants. Somewhat separated from the rest of Korovia by the Caldyonian and Erisian Oceans, Monemvasia is arguably the most influential nation in Eastern Korovia.

Monemvasia is divided into six provinces. The government of Monemvasia is a constitutional monarchy. The King, currently Constantine Palaiologos II, directs foreign policy and acts as the head of state. Most domestic affairs fall to unicameral parliament, the Synklētos. The Synklētos is elected by popular vote every four years. At the conclusion of the popular election, a prime minister is selected from a vote by Synklētos members. The Prime Minister acts as the head of government.

Kingdom of Monemvasia
Motto: Audentes Fortuna Iuvat
Capital	Gefyra
Largest	Neapolis
Official languages	Monemvasian Greek, English
Recognised national languages	Sakonian
Government	Constitutional Monarchy
• His Majesty	Constantine II Palaiologos
• Prime Minister	Eugen Alexiou
Establishment
• Komnenos dynasty established	1084
• Republic formed	1867
Area
•	631,100 km2 (243,700 sq mi)
Population
• 2015 estimate	131,107,781
• Density	208/km2 (538.7/sq mi)
GDP (nominal)	estimate
• Total	$4.1804 Trillion NSD
• Per capita	$31,885.47 NSD
Currency	Kero
• Summer (DST)	Gefyra Standard Time

History

Pre Caldyonian Contact

Humans have inhabited the area that would become Monemvasia since at least 15,000 BC. The Kelesh, Eresh, and Shardan were the largest pre-Caldyonian tribes in the area. These tribes practiced polytheism and were mostly hunter-gatherers. The Shardan was the most powerful group and constantly waged war on its neighbors. None of these tribes developed a written language, as such, little is known about them and what is known comes from later Caldyonian writings.

The Caldyonian Arrival

The Caldyonians were an ancient seafaring civilization whose homeland was situated in eastern Archona Cristo. The Caldyonians developed a language very similar to Greek after making contact with the people of ancient Etarmoof and adopted many Hellenic traditions. From 800-300 BC, the Caldyonians established trading colonies along the coast lines of what is now known as the Erisian and Caldyonian Oceans. Some colonies grew to become powerful states in their own right. Tanais was established in modern day Glanodel and Cretyra would eventually grow to become the city of Creteil, Hzarland. The Caldyonians reached what would become Monemvasia around 400 BC and established two colonies. The first, Kyrenia, situated on the island of Kythira, would be abandoned after several years. Arneae on the Dorian peninsula, was the second colony and would be much more successful. From Arneae, the Caldyonians began to spread inland, making contact with the Kelesh and Eresh tribes. In contrast with some of the other Caldyonian colonies, the Caldyonians of Arneae intermarried with the local tribes. The population in the area began to grow exponentially and new city states, including Asopos, Molaoi, and Mystras, were formed from 200 BC to 100 AD. These city states developed rivalries, usually because of economic reasons, and fought many wars during this time period. Meanwhile, the Caldyonian homeland in Archona Cristo was overwhelmed by barbarian invasions and finally collapsed around 10 BC, leaving its colonies to fend for themselves.

Medieval Period

When news of the fall reached the Caldyonians of Arnea, they adopted the name Monemvasia to refer to the collection of city states of South Eastern Korovia. Monemvasia was the name of the last fortress to fall in the Caldyonian homeland. The Caldyonians of the area thus became known as Monemvasians. Monemvasia, however, would not be politically united for almost over a thousand years. Christianity became the dominate religion in the area in the 200s AD. By the 6th century, Monemvasian missionaries began to spread the religion across the Erisian Ocean. In circa 600, Father Odysseos, a famous Monemvasian missionary, arrived in Archona Cristo.

The first tenous political unification in Monemvasia came in 1084, when Alexios Komnenos of Molaoi formed an alliance with Asopos by marrying Queen Karinia.

The newly formed kingdom was not a stable one. With the death of King Antonis in 1149, the formal line of succession was broken. Nomadic tribes began invading from the south and with no strong leader to unite the Monemvasians, the kingdom broke up into rival states yet again. In 1261, Michael Palaiologos, a military general from Molaoi, defeated an invading barabarian army and declared the kingdom reestablished. In all practicality, he only directly ruled over the cities of Molaoi, Papadianika, and Dara, scarcely a quarter of modern Monemvasia. The rest of the city states remained nominally independent, but in alliance with Molaoi to varying degrees. The remainder of Monemvasia's present territory was slowly incorporated into the country over the next 300 years.

Early-Modern Period

The Kingdom of Monemvasia labored on as a somewhat backwards feudal state until the Industrial Revolution. With the rise of industry, wealthy businessmen began to have more power than the royal family in Molaoi. Accordingly, new industrial cities, such as Neapolis and Gefyra began to eclipse Molaoi in economic importance. As the businessmen consolidated their control, there were calls to form a democratically elected government to represent the people. These calls escalated and eventually spread to Molaoi in 1867. The population threatened to revolt unless the Palaiologos family endorsed popular elections and gave up all political power. With no allies, the Palaiologos relented and went into voluntary exile for the next 147 years. The Synklētos, the parliamentary legislative body was created, and the Republic of Monemvasia was formed. The capital was moved from Molaoi to Gefyra in 1870. The Republic beckoned in the first true era of stability, which would last for the next 150 years.

The Modern Era

The only dissent to the formation of the republic came from the Sakonian minority, who are concentrated in the southern district of Trogir. The Sakonians, a minority in Monemvasia, felt marginalized by the new republics direct popular elections. Sakonian resistance to the government culminated in a bitter guerrilla war lasting from 1958 to 1959. The role the military played in winning the war elevated it to its current privileged position in Monemvasian society and culture. The defeated Tsakonians for the most part integrated into the republic following the war, although the Sons of Trogir terrorist group (estimated at around 100 members) remains active.

Monemvasia became an important sea trade center in the late 20th Century. In 2002 however, the stock market collapsed and resulted in a major economic downturn for the next twelve years. The majority of the population blamed corrupt politicians for their hardships. In a move to secure popular support, the Monemvasian Conservative Union (MCU), an alliance of right wing parties in the Synklētos, decided to ask the Palaiologos royal family to return to the country in early 2014. The Palaiologos family demanded that the call a vote of confidence in the sitting prime minister be called and a new, more royal friendly, minister be put in his place. The MCU agreed. Amid much pomp and circumstance, the royal family took up residence in Gefyra, and popular opinion in both the Synklētos and the new monarch, Constantine II Palaiologos, soared. The MCU agreed that the King would direct foreign policy and appoint National Court judges, while the Synklētos and Prime Minister would retain control over domestic affairs and the military.