History of Thraysia
The history of Thraysia is what happened in that country, located in parts of Belisaria and Chersonia, in the past until the present day.
Prehistory
Chersonia became an important center of civilization as it connected the continents of Belisaria, Scipia, and Ochran. It was a center of agriculture during the neolithic revolution.
Antiquity
Around 2500 BC, Hellenic colonies were established on the coast of Chersonia and the eastern coast of Belisaria. Some of them would emerge to be prosperous centers of arts, sciences, culture, and technology. Intermarriage and cultural diffusion occurred between the native Chersonian/eastern Belisarian population and Hellenic colonists. By the 4th Century BC, the Hellenic city states would fall under the rule of semi-nomadic Mysian invaders.
An ancient Jewish Kingdom emerged known as "Chersonian Yisrael" sometime around the 5th Century BC. Their origins are relatively unknown, though some Thraysians claim them to be descended from a lost tribe of Yisrael. While the Kingdom eventually fell to the Macedonians, there was relative religious tolerance towards the Jews. Some cultural diffusion and syncretism between Chersonian Jews and pagans occurred, though a specific group of Chersonian Jews were extremely bent on preserving their culture and faith from corruption.
Around 183 BC, the Thraysian Kingdom emerged, originiating from the region of Chersonia known as Thrace. At its height in 51 AD, it reigned over the southern coasts of Belisaria, much of the Chersonian peninsula, and some of Scipia.
Peninsula Wars and Latin rule
The Latins and Thraysians clashed in a series of wars known as the "Peninsula Wars." The First Peninsula War in 92 AD resulted in a defeat by the Latins and a failure to obtain any Thraysian territory. The Second Peninsula War in 121 AD took heavy losses on the Latins, but managed to conquer segments of northern Thraysia. The Latins were met with considerable pushback, militarism, and resistance among the Thraysians. As the Thraysian Kingdom fell under decline and were outmatched by Latin military technology, the Latins declared the Third Peninsula War. The city of Thrace was sacked and burned to the ground, while its entire population was enslaved. The Thraysian people faced considerable oppression and enslavement under the Latins for their heavy resistance. Tax burdens became extremely high, while an extreme wealth gap emerged between Latin elites and Thraysian commoners.
The Spread of Christianity
The Apostles spread Christianity to the Thraysians as early as 36 AD, initially with St. Andrew the Apostle. It was met with considerable persecution under Thraysian and Latin rulers. The Thraysian ruler, King Simeas, became the first rulers to convert to Christianity in 42 AD. He promoted the spread of Christianity but was assassinated by angered Thraysian pagan elites in less than a year after his conversion. With the devastating impacts of the Peninsula Wars and oppression of Latin rule, Christianity quickly spread among Thraysian commoners for its appealing messages to disheartened and burdened masses in spite of its periodic persecution.
Eventually, Thraysian resistance to Latin rule considerably diminished after the conversion of the Latin Empire to Christianity.
The Middle Ages
Early Middle Ages
The Prefect of (?) had begun to consolidate power over the eastern provinces of the declining Latin Empire. His successor, Constantine the Great, officially announced an independent Thraysian Empire in 441 A.D. with himself as the Caseser. This was enabled by the weakening of the Latin Empire and imperial authority, especially among its eastern provinces. With the continued fall of the Latins, the Thraysian Empire continued to expand and overtake the Latin Empire's eastern provinces.
In 513, Emperor Basil the Great came to power after inheriting the throne from his uncle, Justin I Rhagabe. Basil embarked on a vast series of conquests to the western territories of the former Latin Empire, accelerating its westward expansion and extending Thraysia's domain over most of the Periclean Sea. Basil had ambitious plans to eclipse the ancient Latin Empire's size, though this was never accomplished. Another resonant activity of his reign was the codification of Thraysian law, otherwise known as the Code of Basil. It remains the basis for several law codes to this day. The strength of the Thraysian state grew under Basil, which borrowed ideas from the Latin Empire but was even more despotic and autocratic in nature. At its time, it was an impressive creation. Political authority was tightly centralized in Konstantinopolis, extending across the Empire with an extremely efficient bureaucracy. Its legitimacy and authority was greatly strengthened under Basil. The prosperity and stability of the Thraysian Empire under Basil the Great and other Emperors of the Rhagabe dynasty allowed for a golden age of Thraysian culture. The Emperors of the Rhagabe dynasty were prolific builders that sponsored many Churches and infrastructure development. Among the most famous includes the Church of Hagia Vasiliki commissioned by Basil in 519. The Empire was strengthened through the construction of many fortifications. Many ancient cities were rebuilt. Additionally, its prosperity allowed Konstantinopolis to emerge as one of the (if not the most) wealthiest and largest cities in the world. The arts flourished with significant innovations in eastern Christian art. Literature of both the divine and the secular flourished, producing many great historians and poets.
In the 7th Century, the Thraysian Empire would face significant reductions in its territorial size. This was especially prevalent in its western Belisarian territories, dealing with rebellious populations in southern Garima and a break of vassalization with the Lihnidos Islands. Directly east, pressure from Germanic and Slavic invaders and settlers weakened Thraysian's imperial grip over southern Belisaria. However, relative peace endured for a while within its Chersonian and Scipian territories. The early 8th Century was marked by reconquests of Belisarian territory, though it failed to extend as far west as it once did. The Empire had begun to turn its eyes towards eastward expansion.
The Thraysian Void
The Thraysian Empire would face a huge blowback from the rise of the Caliphate and the Azdarin religin. With the significant losses to the Caliphate, some Thraysians interpreted it as divine punishment over alleged idolatry. Iconoclast movements began, taking literally to prohibit graven images. The Thraysian Emperors brutally cracked down upon the Iconoclasts, until a few sympathizers had taken the throne and instituted Iconoclasm over the Empire. The destruction of many religious images ensued along with manuscripts depicting images. Iconoclasm was not, however, without controversy. It was eventually put a permanent end by Empress Dominica.
Middle Thraysia
The era known as "Middle Thraysia" began as Iconoclasts were brutally suppressed and successful reconquests were made against the Caliphate and northern barbarians. The Empire returned to a degree of prosperity and enabled a cultural renaissance. Icons became of even greater significance and importance in reaction to the Iconoclasts. Art and architecture flourished once again. Manuscript production reached a height. The Empire remained a powerful force in Belisaria and Scipia but failed to come close to the territorial height of the Rhagabe dynasty.
Late Medieval Thraysia
As Thraysia began significantly shrinking in territory and power, the era of "Late Medieval Thraysia" began. It was most signiciantly marked by the rule of the Palaiologan dynasty. Eventually, all that remained of the Empire was the city of Konstantinopolis. It was sacked in 1468 by the Tuluran Caliphate.