Aenonesos

Aenonesos
City
Aenonesos, the Unconquered City
View of one of the Outer Suburbs
Province	Varios
Government
• Emperor	Romulus X
Population  (2013)
• City	2,209,483
• Urban	885,784
Demonym	Aenonen
Area code	100

Aenonesos, or the Unconquered City (often shortened to Aenon) is the capital of the Tarsan Empire and the second largest city in the nation. It has served as the capital of the Hellenic Empire since its founding in 954. It is notably know as the Unconquered City and has consistently defeated multiple sieges due to its favorable topography and significant defenses.

The city was founded by Hellenic colonists in 1987 BC as a trade hub connecting the Periclean Sea with the Sea of Ozeros. It became apart of the Thrakian Kingdom along with Pylos and Laodecia Combusta. In 687 BC, the city peacefully surrendered to the Tiespid Empire after the siege and destruction of Pylos that same year. It became an important trade hub under the Teispid Empire for the next 900 years and grew in size and prosperity, with early settlements and construction beginning on the Scipian side of the Straits of Parma in 453 BC. Christianity spread to the city in AD 25 and a vast majority of the city had converted by AD 47. The city became a tributary to the Latins in AD 578 until its withdrawal in AD 954.

Aenonesos was famed in antiquity and in the middle ages for its complex and massive defenses. The first wall of the city was erected and constructed under the authority of the Prefect of Thrakios. They surrounded the city on both continental sides and sea fronts on the Periclean and the Ozeros. Later, in the 8th century, the Prefect Decius Ainicus undertook the construction of the Decian Walls, which consisted of a triple wall lying about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) to the west of the first wall and a moat with palisades in front. This formidable complex of defences was one of the most sophisticated of Antiquity. The city was specifically built up to serve as the gateway of the Periclean and protect Latin holdings in Scipia from invaders from Ochran. Because of its location on the strait, the land area that needed defensive walls was reduced, and this helped it to present an impregnable fortress enclosing magnificent palaces, domes, and towers, the result of the prosperity it achieved from being the gateway between two continents and two seas. In AD 923, shortly before Latin withdrawal, the Prefect Arga (the future emperor Arga I) ordered the construction of the Gates of Saint Andrew and of Saint Clement, two towers at each of the entrances to the Strait of Parma. Two massive chains spanned both entrances and could be raised to block ships from passing through from either tower, which were both fortified behind city walls. The walls were successively updated as military technology improved, with the iron sheathing added to the outer walls in 1587 in order to counter cannons.

Aenonesos, alluding to its location and importance as a trade hub, has been historically been one of the wealthiest cities in Ochran. It is divided into three districts, the Old City, Middle City, and Outer Suburbs. The Old City rests behind the Decian Walls, which serve as a checkpoint within the city, and requires a special permit to enter one of its five gates. The Old City also contains many architectural masterpieces, such as the Orthodox Cathedral of Christ's Resurrection, the Argios Palace where Tarsan emperors have lived since 1701, the Galatos Tower, the Golden Gates of Wisdom and Governance, and the opulent aristocratic palaces lining the arcaded avenues and squares. The Imperial University was founded in the 10th century and contains numerous artistic and literary treasures that have been stored and collected including its vast Imperial Library. The Middle City and the Outer Suburbs are the newest and most modern sections of the city and are much newer than the Old City. These sections contain the most modern sections of the city and are where the vast majority of its population resides.

Cityscape

Old City

The Old City of Aenonesos comprises of the entirely of the ancient city and resides entirely behind the Decian Walls. The walls surrounds 5.6 square miles of Old City and contains twelve gates with three facing Ochran, three facing Scipia, three facing the Ozeros, and three facing the Periclean. These are known as the Gates of the 12 Apostles and there is one gate for each of the original twelve; Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Thaddeus, Bartholomew, Thomas, James the Less, Matthew, Simon, and Matthias. The gates are still guarded by the Phyrgian Guard, which is the paramilitary force that protects the Old City and all gates are still in operation. The Old City is notable for its Zoning Code, which was issued in 1824 by Manuel II. The code forbade any new development or redevelopment without express permission from the Imperial Household. The Middle City had long been expanding since the first settlements outside of the walls were constructed in 1692 under the orders of Aristophanes IV. As other means of defense were constructed for the Middle City, the Old City was given enclave status in 1825. Under this status, current residents of the Old City were issued permits which allowed them to enter and leave at will and new residents were barred from moving in. Those without permits were barred from entry to the Old City. This caused a large influx of businesses to move to the Middle City and a large number of nobility and wealthier individuals took up residence in the Old City.

The Old City is considered a security zone where non permitted residents are not allowed to enter. There are also no automobiles within and they are not permitted. Most residents use UTVs or small city cars to get around. The area is populated by nobility and their families, with a vast number of the residents related in some manner to a noble family but holding no title and living middle class lives. Peers and the wealthy also make up a large percentage of the population. The residents of the Old City, known as hereditary residents, are descended from the same inhabitants of 1825 that remained in the Old City. Many of these residents own houses that have been in their families for generations. The economy is supported by hereditary residents and nobility who run numerous small businesses that enjoy almost no corporate competition due to the exclusive nature of the city. Vast numbers of servants also live within the Old City, with many spending their entire lives from birth to death working in service of a lord or in a local business. The vast majority of residents are upper middle class or upper class and live out their entire lives in the Old City. The area is also unique because it is possible someone could be born in the Old City and never need to leave due to the local economic structure. The area is also notable for its astronomical land prices since families rarely leave or sell property within the city. A small one room house may sell for upwards of three million harkans. The most notable purchase was the purchase of Ventrilos Palace in 2013 for 1.6 billion harkans.

The Old City cannot be entered without a permit, through tours are offered and deliveries to businesses and other entities within the city are presided over and escorted by the Phyrgian Guard. The lack of usable roadways and entrances for trucks has resulted in a popular and profitable industry for helicopter deliveries. For certain sections of the city, deliveries have even been unloaded without the aircraft ever landing. Unauthorized entrance into the city is punishable by a heavy fine and potentially even prison time. Fully staffed checkpoints at each of the gate entrances protect the entrances and police all entrances and exits. Despite these laws, many illegal residents lived in the city until the Regulated Sales Laws of 1865 where any goods purchased in the Old City required the purchaser to show their residential permit, though tourists and visitors may purchase goods and services provided that a Tour Guide Permit holder is with them or they have a temporary entry permit. Because of its strict requirements for entry, the Old City is considered a safe haven for those fleeing persecution in other nations and many deposed monarchs and other victims of political upheaval have sought refuge over the years. The current most notable residents are the former Imperial Family of Rabinovska, who live in the Argios Palace.

The Old City has historically been divided into quarters based off of the population that various monarchs have permitted to live there.

Jewish Quarter

A prominent Jewish quarter exists on the eastern side. A large number of Tarsan Jews are among those with permanent residency permits to live inside the Old City. Several large synagogues are known to be in the city and Jews are permitted to practice their religion publicly due to strong relations with Yisrael, unlike most other religions. The Jewish quarter was founded as early as AD 76 when Jews fleeting Latin persecution arrived in the city and were permitted to live there by the local Tiespid satrapy governor. The Jews were subsequently permitted to live there during the Latin rule of Tarsas. Arga I granted the Jews special boons to practice their religion and protect their property rights, recognizing their 1,000 year history in the city. The Jewish Quarter is known for its many specialty shops and famous bakeries, including the famous Masorite Jewelry Company who have been responsible for dozens of iterations of the Crown Jewels of Tarsas.

Mutulese Quarter

The Mutulese Quarter was slowly built up throughout the late 17th century and early 18th century as more traders from Mutul received grants from Aristophanes IV to move into the city. The dilapidated western Port of Saint John Ogaios and the quarter around it was rebuilt under Aristophanes orders in 1686 with the Mutulese received permission to construct temples for passing traders and permitted use of the port in exchange for Aenonesos serving as the largest point of arrival for goods from Mutulese Ochran. This was part of several reforms committed under Aristophanes as he rebuilt and repaired the ancient sections of the city. There are four prominent temples here that the residents, most who are descended from the original Mutulese traders, use and the White Path is a recognized sect permitted to practice within the temples. The quarter is unique in that it is one of the only places in Tarsas where a major foreign population has been permitted free expression of their culture and architecture, despite its significant difference from Tarsan architecture. The Quarter is one of the main areas of the nation where famous Tarsan chocolate is crafted and produced and the Port of Saint John Ogaios is still a stopping point for Mutulese trade today.

Alban Quarter

A Quarter for Alban Christians first sprung up during the reign of Aristophanes IV as portions of the city were vacated by those seeking to build new dwellings in the emerging Middle City. Portions of the quarter were rebuilt and remodeled until 1824 when the existing residents were issued Habitation Permits. The quarter's current population is mostly descended from persecuted Alban Christians from various parts of the world who fled to Aenonesos. It contains the Basilica of Saint Flavius, a large Alban cathedral where Alban Christianity is openly practiced. The racial makeup of the population is diverse with a significant amount of Western Belisarians making up the vast majority of residents. The Alban Quarter contains the Gate of Saint Thomas and Gate of Saint Simon, which are apart of the 12 Apostolic Gates.