Illyria

Illyria is a Mediterranean/Balkan country that gained its independence after the fall of the Roman Empire in the second half of the 4th century. Illyria was originally under the control of its Provincial Governor Marcellinus who ruled the realm as Rex Illyriae. The capital city of Illyria is Andautonia although Iadera and Diocletianopolis are the two largest cities in the region. The concurrent Kingdom of Illyria encompasses approximately 260 000 kilometers squared and has a population of 712 500.

## Rex Illyrae Period (395 AD - 399 AD)

Soon after Illyria gained its independence, Governor Marcellinus reorganized the country in order to centralize his control over the realm. He accomplished this by creating a network of loyal bureaucrats through which he was able to exert absolute control. This power was institutionalized in the office of the Rex Illyrae. This period is marked with major reconstruction efforts of Roman settlements, the preservation of Roman culture and language in the face of Slavic migrations and expansion. Rex Marcellinus would continue to expand his power and influence until he encountered a rival factions aiming to turn Illyria into a republic. Aiming to curve their growing influence, Marcellinus would create the Senatus Populusque Illyricum which consisted of bureaucrats and republicans that served as advisors to Rex Illyrae. Unfortunately, the SPQI only aided the republican faction, allowing them to get closer to Marcellinus and execute an assassination attempt on his life. His supposed death would mark the end of the Rex Illyrae Period and the start of the Republican Period.

## Republican Period (399 AD - 411 AD)

The Republican Period was an 12-year period that saw Illyria become a proto-democratic realm. The introduction of democratic reforms was done by the SPQI, starting with the abolishment of the position Rex Illyrae. The first democratic elections gave all adult men and women the right to vote and saw the victory of the Concustodio Group led by Octavinus Marius. The Concustodio Group was a socially conservative group that aimed at retaining the status quo of the newly established Republic while also vesting more authority within their own hands.

The next elections would see Flavinia Asprenas of the Progressus Group win open elections, breaking the status quo imposed by the Concustodio Group. Consulesa Flavinia would decentralize Illyria and introduce the Supreme Codex as the central law of the Republic, ensuring political rights remained relatively untouched and unquestioned. She would also expand the social rights of individual citizens and introduce a massive judicial reform aimed at a more transparent and effective judicial system.

The third Illyrian elections would see the fall of the Republic as the presumably deceased Marcellinus would makes his return through the victory of the Factĭo Novi Ordinis.

## Marcellinus' Period (411 AD - 429 AD)

The Marcellinus' Period is marked by the return of Marcellinus to the throne of Illyria after the victory of his FNO political group. He would preserve the Supreme Codex and the judicial reforms made by his predecessor but any semblance of democracy was lost after his rise to power. The ex-Rex Illyrae would crown himself King of Illyria and go on to establish a new network of allies through the creation of Ducal and County titles across Illyria. This move would cement the new political order in Illyria by ensuring that these titles were inherited, forever remaining loyal to the office of King. These reforms turned Illyria to a hereditary monarchy with some weak restrictions imposed by the Supreme Codex.

#### The Conquest of Rome

The Conquest of Rome was a conflict waged between the Republic of Sardinia & Corsica and a coalition consisting of Illyria, Ardonia and Hispania. The war would turned out to be a costly one as the forces of Sardinia & Corsica successfully won every single battle. Nonetheless, despite their victories on the field, the war itself was won by the coalition and Illyrian troops would enter and occupy the Eternal City of Rome. Following the integration of Rome and the surrounding tiles, Illyria would hand over the newly conquered territories over to the Papacy which would go on to create the Papal State.

#### Second Marcellinus' Period

The Second Marcellinus' Period is a name often given to the tenure of King Marcellinus after the war against Sardinia & Corsica. A previously ambitious and somewhat arrogant man would be changed by the events in Rome, changing him into a calm and rational individual. During this time, Marcellinus would focus on his realm, financing many infrastructure projects and supporting the expansion of Andautonia as the capital of Illyria. He would also construct a villa for his personal use and would eventually marry a Slavic woman by the name of Kalina. The two would go on to adopt a young boy who they named Kalinus Marcellinus, his adoption marking the official start of a hereditary monarchy in Illyria.

The Marcellinus' Period would end with his death in 429 AD.

## The Marcellinović Period (429 AD - onward)

The Marcellinović Period (not to be confused with the Marcellinus' Period) is a period in Illyrian history following the death of King Marcellinus. After his death, the role of the ruler of Illyria would befall to Queen-Regent Kalina who presided over the realm with an iron fist, solidifying the influence of the Illyrian nobility and cementing their loyalty to the newly founded House of Marcellinović. During her tenure, Illyria's Roman heritage would start to erode away as it mixed more and more with the new Slavic peoples, culminating in a melting pot that combined Slavic and Roman cultural markings. Once Prince Kalinus was 18 years old he would go on to be crowned King of Illyria while his mother would retreat away from the political scene.

#### The Rise of House Marcellinović

House Marcellinović would, in the years following Kalinus' rise to power, expand its influence across the Mediterranean world. Through political scheming King Kalinus would enable his cousins to attain several titles, culminating in House Marcellinović controlling four kingdom titles (Hispania, Greece, Jerusalem and Lugaria). However by the year 453 AD House Marcellinović would lose control of Hispania with its King Marko Marcellinović being exiled. Another crisis would strike Lugaria where Kalinus' cousin Marina would be murdered by the Followers of Rikorsos. Following her death, the title of Queen of Lugaria would be passed down to her daughter Cilinia Basilidonna Marcellinović.

#### The Liberation of Jerusalem

During the Crisis of the Fare Empire, King Kalinus would through diplomatic means and negotiations acquire the territories encompassing the Holy Land. Soon after acquiring these lands, and after being crowned King of Jerusalem, Kalinus would cede the city of Jerusalem to the Empire of Malhut Safun as a show of respect towards the Jewish faith and the Jewish people. The city however, would remain open to both Christian and Jewish settlers alike with political and cultural rights being guaranteed for all who resided in that Holy City.