Early Roman Settlements in Hesperidesia
The early Roman settlements in Hesperidesia refers to the pre-Empire of Exponent settlements along the southern coast of Hesperidesia, founded by Christian refugees fleeing persecution in the Roman Empire. These settlements would go on to become the foundations upon which the later Empire of Exponent, as well as the Latin Kingdoms of Hesperidesia, would be based.
History
First Wave
The first wave of Roman Christian immigration to Hesperidesia set sail from the Roman port of Ostia in 66 AD, led by St. Benedict of the Discovery. After nearly two years of traveling, the original group of 4000 refugees had widdled down to approximately 1500, with many either abandoning the expedition at ports along the way, or succumbing to disease. The first wave made landfall at the location of present-day Paradise City, with the majority choosing to establish a city at the mouth of the Fontus River. Some 400 hundred settlers, however, decided to continue voyaging westward along the coast, with about 250 people laying the foundations for the city of Divinity, and another 150 moving even further west to lay found Ravetta in 69 AD.
About 100 members of the initial landing group, however - including St. Benedict - chose to continue moving along the river deeper into the Hesperidesian Backlands, and ultimately set up a monastic community that would become known as the Monastery of Saint Benedict and the Discovery.
Second Wave
Upon hearing of the success of St. Benedict and his followers, a second wave of some two thousands refugees set sail for Hesperidesia in 71 AD, arriving early the following year. These newcomers primarily joined the already established settlements sprouting along the souther Hesperidesian coast, but about three hundred of the newcomers sought to set out on their own, establishing the city of Redemption just east of Paradise City. Another two hundred of the newcomers travelled westward, along the coast, where the founded the city of Albandaea.
Third Wave
The third wave of refugees arrived in 78 AD, with around 1200 Roman Christians. The majority of the third wave refugees made their way further west, making landfall in and around Albandaea, and also founded the city of Basilea.
Later Roman Immigration
After the founding of the Empire of Exponent under Valerius I in 87AD, immigration from the Roman Empire began to slow, and trickled to a near halt as Christian persecution came to an end in Europe. Later waves of Roman refugees arrived, however, as the Roman Empire came under attack from various barbarian groups, with small fleets embarking for Hesperidesia throughout the late fourth and through the fifth centuries. After the deposing of Romulus Augustus by the Germanic king Odoacer in 476 AD, however, emigration from the Old World to Hesperidesia essentially came to an end.