Ovancian Empire

The Ovancian Empire was an empire situated in Western Artemia spanning most of the southern Balearic Sea until its collapse during the Grand Campaigns. At the time of its collapse in 1925, Ovancia's continental population numbered 159.8 million. For most of its history following the real union with Insennia in 1532, the Ovancian Empire was a unitary semi-constitutional monarchy with brief periods where it could have been described as an absolute monarchy.

Ovancia is generally considered to have been one of the greater colonial empires from the 16th to 18th century, including several large holdings in Avalonia. It began establishing colonies in Avalonia in 1440 with the establishment of Chezzetcook, to be followed by parts of Tilenno and Laurentia. However, its power diminished greatly during the Queens' War in the 18th century, making it one of Western Artemia's smaller colonial empires in terms of overseas territories (compared to Tiperyn, Agrana y Griegro and the Goetic Empire) by the turn of the 19th century. Losses overseas resulted in instability closer to home, leading to the loss of Mespalia in 1824 after having been an integral part of continental Ovancia for almost 700 years. But, its continental population and economic and political power still placed it as one of Western Artemia's great powers until its collapse.

As a result of socialist revolution during the Grand Campaigns, the Ovancian Empire ultimately broke up in 1925. Most of its continental territory formed the five constituent socialist republics of the Union of Artemian Socialist Republics (URSA). Insennia, which was ethnically and linguistically distinct from the rest of continental Ovancia, gained independence as a semi-constitutional monarchy with the Crown Alliance's political and military support. Litania also gained its independence separate from URSA and established itself as a parliamentary republic.

Antiquity
In the 1st century, Gotaz tribes settled in the region of Ovancian. Although initially small in numbers and often integrating with existing populace, the number of Goten settlements increased in the following centuries. This caused tension between the groups over resources such as fertile ground and access to ancient trade networks. The frequent skirmishes resulted in the construction of fortifications.

As the settlements sought more protections, the raiding parties got larger and stronger. This in turn brought the construction of the first stone forts in the region. These forts would over time also start to hold small retinues, which provided the ground for a kingdom. By the late 6th century, the kingdom of Ovaïçe collapsed after the failed succession war for NAME, which resulted in the death of king NAME. This in turn brought a period of instability and fractured the realm.

Rise of the Ovancian Empire
By the 13th century, the realms were slowly consolidated by pacts and marriages. This gave rise to a regional power that soon would diplomatically influence its neighborhood. Convoys are send to modern day Mespalia to convince nobles to join the rising kingdom. This would wound up into the 1308-1342 Ovancian annexation of Mespalia, which is often marked as the start of the First Ovancian Empire.

As the country grows territoriality during the 14th century, cultural tensions within the empire grinds the expansionism to a temporary halt. With the birth of the nationstate in the early 15th century, power blocks in western Artemia form. Seeing themselves enclosed, expeditions to overseas territories are funded. Various tradeposts in north Artemia and west Kesh are established, and religious missions are send out. However, the settlements are heavily contested, and tight budget forces the empire to surrender these holdings.

Start of the Age of Discovery
In 1440s, sailors looking for new fishing grounds discovered Chezzetcook, which over time is secretly relayed to the emperor. Various expeditions were sent and, after a short war with Tiperyn, the islands are settled by 1482. From the harbors established in the fjords, expeditions were sent to the newly discovered continent of Avalonia. Trading posts were established along the Ingonian Sea, Brigantican coast, towards the north of the continent.

Age of Colonisation
On Brigantica, the second official colony is established in Laurentia in 155x.

The initial tradeposts are soon contested as various Artemian powers try to establish a foothold on Avolonia. In 1546, Ovancia gets into conflict with Tilenno over holdings in Zesha, which results in a colonial war. In 1579, it establishes Ocancian Tilenno. By the late 16th century, the Ovancian Empire claims all of Brigantica, much east coast Avolonia, and large territories in modern day Tilleno. Although the strength of these claims is discutable, as the territories are often still contested, the empire did prove strong influences over Brigantica and Tilleno.

In 1676, Ovancia captures Làgora (Tilenno).

In 1706, Upper Mespalian rebels, which is smashed down hard again.

Collapse of the Colonial Empire
Between 1721-1743, Ovancia fights the Second Ovancia-Tilenno colonial war. This was a very bloody war. The finances were running dry and general unrest on colonial management caused uprisings across the Ovancian colonies. The protests were countered hard-handedly, the crown was ultimately forced to make concessions to prevent general uprisings in Artemia. This would result in the 1739 (?) Chezzetcook independence and the 1767 de-jure Independence of Brigantica (?).

By the end of the 18th century, the colony empire of Ovancia had collapsed. This ofcourse caused a peak of oppression in Mespalia.

The Veiko-Ovancian war
With the loss of the Avalonian territories, public opinion in the imperial administration declined. The economic stagnation and financial trouble of the government affected all levels of society. The frequent protests since the middle of the century increased in size, as the list of reasons to get into the streets increased. To mitigate protests in the eastern parts of the country, various concessions were made to the Litanian population: ... . Although this did decrease the frequency of the protests, people still took to the streets because of economic hardship among the working class. The inability address the financial problems among the Litanians, a narrative rose that the concessions were a sham.

In an effort to address both trade and societal issues, Bruno Florent III decided to invade the Veikaian Kingdom. The intend was to annex southern parts of the country: the region featured the port-city of Biratovo, which would eliminate the contest of the eastern Balearic sea, and give control of import in the south of Veikaia; and the region featured the Litano-Veikan minority, which would provide concession to the Litanian nationalists. With a suprise attack, Imperial forces crossed the border in 1781. Quick advances were made on the Veikaians, and peace was signed by 1783. The war left the Veikaian Kingdom destabilised.

Mespalian indepedence
With the loss of the colonial holdings the late 18th century, many colonial regiments had been moved to Mespalia. The heavy oppresion by the sour veterans caused significant harm, while tightening of religious freedom in the vice-royalities damaged the protestant church in the regions.

As the officers from the colonial period went into retirement in the early 19th century, the garrisons evolved from strict and orderly to brutal and chaotic. As their efficiency declined, large scale public unrest reignited in 1816. However, this time the Mespalians saw support from Ovancian settlers, as economic downturn and extreme voilence distanciated them from the imperial authority. Terror campaigns ignited retributions, which caused a downward spiral.

This would ultimately spark the 1823 Mespalian independence war. By summer 1824 the Ovancian forces have retreated from the island, ending over 7 centuries of Ovancian presence.

Grand campaigns
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In the wake of the revolution, the Ovancian Socialist Republic rose up. This state, that encompassed part of the former territory, subsequently united other parts of the former empire into the URSA.