History of Peninsular Iverica

Peninsular Prehistory

The Iverican Peninsular is believed to be among the last regions of Arigs to have been settled by nomadic populations during the Paelolithic settlement of Argis by Pseudo-Buranian tribes originally from Northern Europa. Buranian Paleolithic hunter-gatherers entered Argis from the North Adlantic land bridges, which had formed between northeastern Argis and Occidental Europa due to the lowering of sea level during the Last Glacial Maximum. These populations expanded south of an Ice Sheet and spread steadily throughout Argis; Eastern and Southern Argis being the most quickly settled regions somewhere between 20,000 years BP and 15,000 years BP. Around 14,000-10,000 years BP, the Buranian Argics (of which there were many already consoldiated splinter cultures of) spread across Western Argis. Celtic, Early Nordic, Proto-Slavic and Proto-Germanic had somewhat consolidated in Europa prior to the trans-Adlantic migration, but began to develop greater differences and regional insularities during the settlement period. By 10,000 years BP, Celtic offshoot populations began to enter the Peninsula, presumably via the Vasqqan Isthmus. The earliest populations in the Peninsula, thought to settle around 10,000 years ago, are known formally as the Paleo-Erouthi but are also referred to in many sources as Sindragente.

First Populations

Sindragente ring fort, near Vargo, Vasqqa D'Oeste

The earliest archaeological evidence of Pre-Iveric inhabitants come from the excavated remains of Neolithic settlements preserved in layers volcanic ash. These Neolithic inhabitants were named "Sindragente" or "ash people" by the Ivericans who had learned of the people's existence from the Narvic oral traditions. This ancient group purportedly utilised the volcanic ash found surrounding the mountains for pottery and crude masonry. In old Narvic, the group is called "Erouthixonein" another word literally meaning "ash people"

The tribes are noted to have originated from the continent proper of Argis. The common theory being that they migrated via the thin north-eastern isthmus in waves from a period between 4500-4000 B.C. Currently, this land-migration theory is the most widely accepted on the basis of the volume of archaeological evidence. Maritime migrations are largely speculative as evidence of such activity in that period has yet to be discovered.

A series of volcanic eruptions seem to have deterred the growth of the Neolithic tribes from periods between 2000-1000 B.C. After this period, archaeological evidence of human activity decreases dramatically. There is a general consensus among Archaeologists that this event signalled the downfall of the Sindragente.

A period of inactivity is known to have followed the downfall of Iverican Neolithic peoples. According to geological data, much of the surface of the land is known to have been covered in volcanic ash, resulting in the death of most of the crops left behind by the Neolithic people.

Early Peninsular History

Though the Narvic settlement of the Peninsula is popularly known, smaller demographic groups had also been present in the Peninusula. Archeological digs around northern coastal settlements show evidence of Canamonic settlement as far back as as 5,000 years before present. Other groups in the south such as the Alharun Andalo-Marrakish peoples (not to be confused with Andallans), Ververo peoples, and Indes were found to have settled parts of what is now Nou Argon, Altaria, and Nou Stille. Though these populations were many times assimilated or removed by adjacent Narvic kingdoms.

During this period, the historical record is largely known thorugh findings of clay tablets and sometimes papyrus records of Andalo origin. As the Andalo and Marrakish were literate in an Azanian-derived language and writing system, their accounts and trading records survive to detail their experiences with Narvics (most of whom were illiterate, or did not keep writeen records outside of glyph and rune carving).

Between 1,000 BC and 800 BC, the Narvic tribes, a collection of Celtic Argics had settled the peninsula, effectively becoming the majority population from the coasts of what is now Providencia to the western coasts of Argis proper.

Narvic History

Around 800 B.C, the first wave of Narvic settlers constructed a settlement in what is now the outer city-limits of Intreimor. Much of this settlement's palisade and forge is preserved and on display today.

The Narva were a group of maritime nomadic tribes from the northern coasts of the continent proper, likely seeking fertile new lands to settle in the south. The Narvic sites evidence a sophisticated knowledge of fortifications, the evidence of bronze, and later iron tools similar to those from the continent proper.

The Narva developed a socio-political structure centred around a monarch and animist religions. Their culture, on the other hand, was focused on ancestral worship, and oral tradition. Much of Iverica at this point was divided into petty kingdoms which were constantly at odds fighting over rich hunting ground, arable land, and bountiful fishing sites. This status quo persisted until their eventual capitulation to the Iveric emigrants.

Narvic Plague

An epidemic of what can be described by a few written accounts as a highly contagious, and aggressive influenza struck the Narvic kingdoms repeatedly over the years of 1380, 1478, and 1591 A.D, resulting in a total death toll of over two-hundred thousand Narva.

Historians point out that worst outbreaks coincided with the large population growth in Narvic cities during this age. It is likely that the cramped conditions and poor infrastructure of cities at the time had aided in the spread of the virus.

As a result of this, the Narva had largely abandoned many of their largest cities by the start of the 17th century.

Iberic Colonisation

During the year 1620 A.D, Tacolic priest and historian Lemuel Urquijo documented the conflict between Iveric and Narvic Kingdoms. The account holds that Iveric Admiral, Esteban Deiargon, attempted to settle the inlets and bays around the western coasts but was turned back by constant raids by Narvic warriors. The Iverics, also called Iberics, were newly arrived from the event known as the Gran Viatge or the "Great Voyage".

The Gran Viatge was a mass exodus of ships fleeing a radical peasant's revolution destroying the Iberic Empire, in Southern Europa. It encompassed more than 16 separate waves of refugees, embarking in different numbers at different times. The first and longest exodus journey took place between 1593 to 1620 and involved a starting population of approximately 70,000--it was known as Deiargon's fleet, after Almirante Esteban Deiargon who lead it. The routes vary between exodite waves, but the most storied and infamous route was Cross-Oriental route, which claimed the lives of more than half the fleet's population. Constant storms, illnesses, and pirate raids would slowly reduce Iveric numbers until a population of 28,000 would make landfall in 1620.

Hostilities with the Narvics began when Iveric settlers made camp in a river delta in what is now Providencia. The site was purportedly uninhabited, although the large Narvic Kingdom of Narstun, based up-coast to the north had apparent religious interests in the area. It is speculated that this was unknown to the settlers at that time. Regardless, they were attacked in the night and subsequently slaughtered or taken as captives. Deiargon, who was aboard his flagship at that time, moored miles further off due to the receding tide only learned of the settler's fate in the morning. He quickly dispatched messengers to his subordinate captains most of whom were away mapping the coastline.

Deiargon's orders were to mount a counterattack to liberate the captive settlers. Fierce skirmishing ensued around the coastal hills and river plains. The Iverics had the advantage of arquebus and pike weaponry and tactics, which they employed to great effect against Narstunic cavalry armed with short spears. Eventually, with the help of artillery from the newly arrived Iveric ships, Deiargon was able to successfully lay siege to and occupy the Narstunic kingdom's walled capital. Today, the ruin sits atop the Elector's hill in Intreimor, which overlooks the later-built fortifications of the city's bay-inlets.