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Colonization of Gapolania was a period in history of Gapolania between 1523 and 1531, started by the arrival of Domenico Sarutina in the bay of Astia and finished by the establishment of the Governorate of Nassea by Alberto Gappolani. Following the discovery of the north-eastern parts of Asteria Inferior by Povelian explorers, the region was subjected to extensive marine and inland expeditions, Vespasian settlement, wars with the indigenous people and slavery.
Background
Discovery of modern-day Gapolania is commonly attributed to Domenico Sarutina, a Povelian trader, however, Sarutina initally was a part of a bigger fleet of Raffaelle di Mariran. Di Mariran's expedition was ordered by the Doge of the Exalted Republic of Poveglia, whose goal was to map the coast of the Asterias and establish outposts that would expand the republic's trade opportunities. The expedition departed from Povelia in 1522 and reached the New World a year later. While di Mariran arrived on the coast of West Arucian Sea, several ships, including La Orchidea, commanded by Sarutina, were blown off the course during storm and ventured further east. It is unclear why the ships did not attempt to rejoin di Mariran and instead kept on sailing east, ultimately discovering Gapolania. Several studies claim that it was Sarutina's ambition and desperation for an achievement of his own that led the rest of the fleet there, making it simply a personal and emotional reason, while others do explain that by taking into consideration logistical factors - dwindling supplies, reaching fully unknown waters and having no information of the main fleet's whereabouts caused Sarutina to sail to the first safe spot encountered along the way, trying to establish contact with di Mariran and Povelia upon disembarking.
In April of 1523, Sarutina's crew arrived at the Bay of Astia on the northwestern tip of Asteria Inferior. According to the reports, 339 people landed, most of them exhausted or with scurvy symptoms. Upon discovering that di Mariran had reached Asteria Superior and had engaged in a war with Oaexicun Empire, Sarutina claimed the area for Povelia and established an outpost of Astia. This marked the beginning of an intense colonization period. In the upcoming year, over 10 thousand people migrated into the region.
Colonization
Expeditions
Following the discovery of Gapolania by Domenico Sarutina, the land quickly attracted several other traders, military figures and explorers. Often, in the name of Povelia, these people would claim power, accomplishments and rewards for themselves, as settling in Gapolania promised a land to own, resources to trade and people to command. Starting in 1523, there were several major marine and land expeditions to Gapolania.
Expedition of Giovanni Senafori
Giovanni Senafori was a Povelian trader that had been previously trading spices from Bahia. When di Mariran reached the coasts of Asteria Superior, Senafori had already gathered a small fleet, ready to assist di Mariran in his conquests. Many of the crew members were experienced traders and soldiers. Senafori departed from Povelia in late 1522 but and reached Marirana in the summer of 1523 but, upon learning oabout the discovery of Gapolania by Domenico Sarutina, sailed further east, thinking that his fleet would be needed more there. The flotilla reached the coast of Gapolania in late 1523, passed the Cape of Basaìa and disembarked in the Basaìa Bay, founding a small outpost of Baria.
Surrounding area was inhabited by the indigenous tribes of Dajù and Kanimoka. Initially friendly, the natives were expelled by force from the coast as Senafori claimed it for Povelia. The terrain around the town of Baria proved to be decent for sugarcane harvesting, soon making it one of a major sugar producers for Povelia. Senafori himself engaged in a dispute with Sarutina, with Sarutina worried about increasing Senafori's influence over the region. While many groups started to settle around Baria and ventured deeper into the continent, Sarutina forbid them from passing the Semara river, claiming the territory had already been assigned to the settlers arriving in Astia. Personal conflict ended in 1526, when Sarutina was killed in the clash with the indigenous people. Senafori played a significant role in developing Gapolenese industry, supporting Gappolani's governorship.
Expeditions of Alberto Gappolani
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Alberto Gappolani was a major persona in colonizing Gapolania and creating its history. Born to a noble family, he quickly became a military professional. Motivated by his master, he embarked on a journey to Gapolania, then known just as a part of Nuova Poveglia and reached the continent in 1524. Aware of Sarutina and Senafori's developments in the northwestern parts of the region, he sailed further east, establishing a port of Santo Aurelio, in the delta of the river Gezzanari. Gappolani's crew consisted mostly of soldiers, whom he used to fight with local tribes. He did not stop there, however, but sailed further, eventually founding another outpost in Darmatum. This was the first settlement east of the Cape Sette Rocce, bringing attention of the several Povelian noble families, which, interested in possessing a share of the New World's resources, funded an inland expedition of Gappolani.
Starting from Darmatum, Gappolani managed to reach the valley of Paraìa and consistently moved southwards, claiming most of the area of modern-day Gapolania for Povelia. Encounters with indigenous people resulted mostly in them escaping their native territories and hiding in the more mountainous areas, where they later became a threat for Povelian settlers. Reaching the mountains, Gappolani traveled west, arriving in relatively densely populated areas around Jindò river. With an exception of Chomidari, most tribes actively fought Gappolani's army and ultimately he was forced to return. Passing the Setorran hills, he found the river Gezzanari and successfully reached Santo Aurelio.
Acknowledging Domenico Sarutina's death, Gappolani decided to pursue an active role in the colony's politics. Supported by Senafori, he assembled a fleet and sailed back east to the delta of the Paraìa river, which he found suitable for founding another outpost. The settlement, called Nassea, became Gappolani's seat and quickly developed into a major hub in the region, being conveniently approachable from both the Arucian Sea and the Lumine Ocean.
In a recognition of his contributions for the Exalted Republic of Povelia, Gappolani was named by the Doge a governor of the region he claimed for Povelia. In 1531, Alberto Gappolani officialy named the land the Governorship of Nassea and kept the office until 1548, when he died of natural causes.
Expedition of Domenico Sarutina
While the first one to reach Gapolania, Sarutina found it increasingly hard to compete with Senafori and Gappolani. Low on resources and proper funding, Sarutina was inclined to keep his dominance and, upon learning of Gappolani's planned inland journey, he quickly gathered a crew of his own, intending to travel along the Semara river. His plans met with approval of the traders residing in Astia and Sarutina left the town in 1526. Most of the journey was reported in Michele di Carniola's notebook, a close friend of Sarutina. In his notes, di Carniola points out several encounters with the indigenous people, most of whom were treated with aggression and driven out of their territories. Sarutina attempted to establish a few settlements along the way, however, most of them were quickly destroyed by the natives hiding in the woods or mountains. Ultimately, more than a half of Sarutina's team, including Sarutina himself, were killed by one of the native tribes after sparking a dispute over a concubine taken by Sarutina and a subsequent refusal to make peace with the chief of the tribe. This expedition was deemed as unsuccessful, enraging the indigenous people and sparking a major campaign against them.
Expedition of di Rosignelle
The death of Sarutina, controversial, yet important figure in a newly established colony, sparked a major scale war between Vespasian settlers and the indigenous people. Invited by Alberto Gappolani, Nunzio di Rosignelle was an experienced veteran, serving previously in Povelian army in the war against the Gorsanid Empire. Di Rosignelle arrived in Astia in 1527 and soon traveled along the Semara river with around 2200 soldiers, armed with artillery and firearms, exterminating encountered tribes along the way. His campaign lasted for 3 years, during which an estimated 6'000 to 10'000 natives died, including Chomidari and Tamarùa people, who were willing to surrender and pledge their loyalty to Povelia.
Despite its cruelty, di Rosignelle's journey marked also the first expedition that allowed more precise mapping of the region and establishing formal borders with Caluchia. Over the next decades, the valley of the Semara river would be subjected to heavy Vespasian settlement, de facto strengthening the rule of Povelians in the governorate. Di Rosignelle himself would then become a military advisor of Gappolani and, upon his death, would be granted the title of governor.
Other expeditions
In 1530s and 1540s, there were other minor expeditions initiated by Povelian nobility or Gappolani. In 1534, Antonio Banevida became the first colonist to pass the mountains in the south of the country, revealing several copper and gold ores. He then founded the first copper mine, in 1538, and established a town of Duclea, which later became a major city.
In 1536, Andrej Perogglia fully mapped the coastline of the governorate and attempted to reach Povelia across the Lumine Ocean. He was also one of the first colonists of Novelian origin to arrive in Gapolania.
In 1542, Marco Serromora attempted to convert indigenous populations to Sotirianity. While many of the tribes agreed to convert in exchange for possibility to return to their land, some natives actively fought Serromora's crew, ultimately capturing and killing him.
People
Most of the settlers arriving in the governorate came from the Exalted Republic of Povelia and surrounding duchies. In 1550, approximately 120'000 people inhabited Gapolania, excluding the native populations, estimated as 10 to 15 thousands. The introduction of slavery in the New World caused the slave trade to develop in the area, with ships bringing hundreds of Bahian slaves to Vespasian colonies and though Caluchia was the main target of the slave trade in the basin of the East Arucian Sea, several thousands of slavers were brought to Gapolania as well. They were mostly used on sugar plantations.
Major towns were established on the coast, including Asia, Santo Aurelio or Nassea. Laying near the rivers, they were able to receive resources from settlements upstream and export it to the metropolis. Their quick growth was accompanied by a development of urban planning and colonialist architecture, ultimately creating a modern city network, effectively utilizing terrain features and engineering ideas. Citizens of these cities included traders, sons from a big families, having little to no chance of inheritance; nobles with a goal of establishing wealthy dominions in the New World; mercenaries and soldiers looking for an employment and middle-class, with sole goal of advancing in the societal structure. Further from the coast dominated plantations and small, rural settlements, focused on harvesting resources. Initially there were based on agriculture, soon enough new types of villages gained notoriety - these were based around sawmills and mines. Smaller villages were populated by a low-class Povelian population searching an employment in the colonies, natives willing to assimilate and slaves.
The majority of Gapolanese settlers were members of the Solarian Church. There was a church in nearly each of founded towns, including the Cathedral of Saint Aurelius in Santo Aurelio or the Church of Starry Heavens in Nassea. Colonists often spread the Sotirian faith into the native populations, with some more willing to accept it than others. Many native idols and beliefs were dismissed and destroyed, considered evil and barbarian. In the regions where the faiths met, they often merged, creating a unique mix of Sotirianity with indigenous accents.
Vespasian was the sole language used in Gapolania in its early colonial times. Non-Vespasian immigrants were forced to speak it if they wished to find an employment in the military, industry or trade, while slaves were only expected to understand basic commands. Indigenous languages were not encouraged and people were largely discriminated while using them.
Aftermath
The colonization of Gapolania resulted in establishing a dominance of Povelian Republic in the northern Asteria Inferior. The region underwent a dynamic political, economical and cultural changes, shifting from a agriculture-based society to a trade-based one. Povelian colonization was characterized by delimitation of first state, development of agriculture and industry, religious and cultural Eucleanization of the region, extermination of the indigenous population, as well as usage and trade of slaves.
Colonization of Gapolania was an initial stage in the creation of colonial, and later modern, republic of Gapolania. The state, while under Euclean influence at the beginning, would soon exhibit a different direction of development and distinct set of issues, ultimately proclaiming its independence in 1810. At first close, Gapolania maintains weak political and economical ties with Etruria.