Titus City

## The Foundation of Titus City 671 D.T.R-677 D.T.R

Titus City was founded by Titus himself, in the year of 671 D.T.R. The Land settled was initially the resting place of Titus's home village. The City's placement was planted directly north bordering the Dominial River. The cities foundations were modeled on a mixture of Acrabian, Tarri, and Duvan design. Titus had imagined in his own words "A city of marble, which would house humanity's' greatest structural achievements." The City's plans were drawn up by Titus himself, and inscribed in these plans he orchestrated for a large Arch on the Eastern side of the city to house a golden gate that would be the main entryway to the city. From there the city would be divided into four quadrants with the middle of the city acting as the central hub for administrators. Each of these four quadrants would have their own designated purpose, the Northern Quadrant would house the Garrison and Soldiers of the surrounding area, The Southern Quadrant would be the economic sector holding the markets, businesses, and port. The Western Quadrant would be the residential sector, housing apartments, homes, estates, and various other residential dwellings. Finally the Eastern Quadrant was for State Provided Facilities, this area would house museum's, Acrabian Inspired Public Baths, Acrabian Inspired Gladiatorial Arenas, The Forum, Public Aqueduct, and a variety of other attractions and facilities. The Eastern Quadrant was chosen to be the State Provided Facilities in order to awe travelers, merchants, and envoys to the city. After planning out the four district's of the city, Titus would go on to commission nearly 23,000+ Duvan workers to lay down the foundations of the city. This initial order included the construction of Marble Roads, The Golden Arch of Titus, and The Imperial Palace in the center of the city.

Titus commissioned the Duvans instead of Human workers mainly due to the Duvans ability to acquire and use more advanced construction tools. Things like steam powered airships, steam powered drills, and advanced masonry machines not only allowed Duvans to complete massive construction projects in a timely manner; but also allowed the Duvans to construct designs that were unable to be designed by the more technologically inferior human workers. By early 674 D.T.R the foundations of the city had been completed, The Duvan workers were then tasked with the construction of more advanced infrastructure projects such as the Aqueducts and Bath Houses. While the Duvans were busy within the Eastern Quadrant, Titus began hiring workers from all across his Empire to begin construction of the other districts. While the Human workers were unable to work on the more complex projects of the city, the Acrabian, Hoplatakian, and Chinikan workers that were hired were still very skilled and advanced for the time. Although a majority of the workforce were Romikkans, Titus tasked the foreign workers with the management and training of the Romikkan Tribal Workers. The Romikkan Workers and their Foreign Foremen were assigned to construct the port of Titus City in the Southern Quadrant and The Military Complex within the Northern Quadrant. Titus had ordered that these buildings be made in a unique style of architecture, mixing the white stone or brick aesthetic inspired from Duvan Architecture, the tiled roofs of imbrex and tegula inspired by the Duvans, and support beams and Pillars of the Tarri Designs.

The Northern Military Quadrant was completed by late 676 D.T.R, and to the surprise of Titus had been completed years earlier than expected. This was thanks to the foreign instructors, who quickly shaped up the Tribal Romikkan Workforce into a coherent and disciplined workforce of talented craftsmen and builders. The Northern Military Quadrant possessed a huge military barracks, capable of housing nearly 2,000 soldiers. And adjacent to it, were temporary soldier homes that could house an additional 5,000 soldiers for a short time for forces cycling throughout the city. These barracks different from a fort, in winch the barracks were solely for garrisoned and law enforcement forces. Even then, the sheer size of the three story building was staggering. To compliment the barracks was a large training district that was exactly 1x1 miles within length possessing an archery range, laps course, horse corral, and infantry training area. A complement of other buildings littered the Northern Quadrant including The Imperial Prison, Military Personnel-Only Baths, Imperial Military Owned Bars, Military Owned Shops, Blacksmiths, Armorer Shops, and much more.

The Last quadrant to be constructed was The Western Quadrant, which would hold the Residential Buildings. The Western Quadrant was to be constructed by the Duvan Workers, whose workforce had increased to nearly 35,000+ personnel. Titus admired how the Hoplataki, Acrabian, and Tarii cities had structured housing districts, that were both planned and constructed to allow as many people as possible to inhabit the area within an organized and sanitary fashion. Titus ordered the construction of hundreds of homes, with the smallest middle class homes being 30 x 20 feet, medium upper class homes being 45 x 40 feet, and the largest homes for the wealthy typically being 80 x 70 feet with the largest of these wealthy homes being estates and villas being 300 x 500 in size. All of these homes would be constructed with cubed or rectangular frames, oftentimes making the structures appear to be symmetrical. The homes constructed would all be connected to a massive sewer system that ran underneath the city, and the homes would also feature crude insulation between the concrete walls. The materials used to construct these houses were a mix of brick and stone, sealed with plaster, insulated with straw in-between the brick, and the roofs being made of imbrex and tegula tiles which were typically red, white, brownish yellow, and blue. Alongside these residential homes were large apartment complexes that could house 40-70 inhabitants, which Titus envisioned housing the poor who could rent these apartment from private owners. Titus had hoped that his extensive housing project would allow the city to harbor anyone and everyone from all income levels, and would help reduce the chances of slums being formed. Out of all of the homes constructed, about 80% of the homes were middle class homes and apartments, 17% were upper class homes, and 3% were wealthy estates and villas. Although not as numerous as the Eastern Quadrant, a number of public infrastructure and market centers were constructed for the convenience of those who lived deep within The Western Quadrant. Upon the completion of The Western Quadrant in late 676 D.T.R, it was estimated the city's Western Quadrant alone could house nearly 1,700,000+ inhabitants, and although it wasn't the primary purpose of the other 3 Quadrants, the other three quadrants did possess small housing districts as well, in areas of land that wasn't being used; further allowing for an additional 400,000+ individuals to settle within the city.

The final construction project of the city was the Walls of Titus, which began on 677 D.T.R and would not be completed until late 681 B.F, Titus would not live to see the completion of these walls. The plans Titus laid out detailed a massive wall made of Acrabian Concrete and Romikkan Brick, the wall was 20 feet wide and its height varied between 30 to 40 feet high in certain locations of the wall. The wall featured nearly 20+ gates, though the Eastern Quadrants gate was the main point of entry being the largest of the 20. The wall featured several artillery ports that housed Ballistas and Catapults, alongside nearly 60 patrol and archer towers built into the wall. Upon completion the walls of the city ran nearly 22 miles around the entire settlement.

Upon completion of the 4 Quadrants of the city, both the 30,000+ Duvan Workers and nearly 325,000 Human workers were gifted middle class homes while the Construction Foremen were given upper class homes. Titus further rewarded his workers with immediate citizenship within The Romikkan Empire, at its peak the city average nearly 36 miles in size. Upon the completion of Titus City, citizens from all over Titus's newly formed Empire began to settle the city enmass. Making Titus City the largest city in all of Nara's history, only rivaled by the Chinikan City of Kayata. For many years after the completion of the city, various cranes, industrial areas, resource storage facilities, and Duvan Machinery littered the streets until the construction tools were gradually cleaned up or moved to other construction projects. Alongside what remained of the previous construction effort, was vast amounts of vacant space, that although filled up quickly, feel into neglect and disrepair.

## The Imperial Capital 678 B.F-1003 A.T.F

With the walls completion in 681 B.F, and the death of Titus years prior, Titus City became the seat of power for generations of the future Emperors. Following Titus's death, Zardul oversaw the peaceful transition of power to Titus's son, Titus Junitores. During this Transition of power the Imperial Capitol saw a huge transformation, the city's population swelled and by the reign of Artius Maximus the city had surpassed Kayata in both size and population.

During this golden age, Titus City would be the Official center of Administration for the largest of the Three Empires, The Romikkan Empire. From the Imperial Palace Emperors such as Titus Junitores and Gallius Pallentoraxus Agustus would enact major sweeping reforms that would see vast improvements for the city and Empire alike. During this reign of what was called "The Good Emperors", Titus City would become an economic trade hub. Large merchant caravans from all over the world would visit the Eastern and Southern Quadrant, furthermore the Western Quadrant would be packed with nearly 1,500,000 inhabitants.

During the reign of Gallius Pallentoraxus Agustus, Gallius would enact one of the most important reforms within the Romikkan Empires history, known as The Gallius Reforms. One of the major takeaways from this massive reform of both the bureaucratic and military sectors of the Empire, was the establishment of a Senate. Gallius hoped that with the establishment of a body of elected officials, it would encourage the Imperial Subjects to vote for change rather than rise up and use military force to enact change. To show a balance of power between the Senate and The Emperor, Gallius had half of the Imperial Palace renovated into a senate chamber. Building a debate and assembly hall, logs and forums chambers, and a Barracks for the newly formed Golden Palatina.

By the late 990's B.F the City's Golden age had begun to wane, initially the city's Golden Age arguably ended during The Reign of The "Bad Emperors", however even then the city endured and continued to grow. With The Second Apocalypse in full motion, and The Crisis of The Tenth Century begging, Titus City fell into disrepair and neglect. With a majority of the Imperial Funds spent on the Military or wasted amongst Romikkan Nobles infighting amongst one another. There was no funding for many of the Eastern Quadrants Public buildings, soon even the most important structures of the city, such as the Walls of Titus fell into disrepair. To make matters worse, Titus City found itself in the middle of a mass migration event. The City was swarmed with Tribals and Romikkans alike who were fleeing the hordes of Northmen and Armies of Sargoth. Titus City had already exceeded its maximum population cap of 2,100,000 residents nearly a century prior, but was able to sustain its massive population thanks to the yearly surplus of grain and tax revenue the Empire enjoyed. Now the farmlands were destroyed, and much of the Empire was in chaos. Soon coupled with the influx of refugees and the city's burgendoing problem of over population, the city's populace began to starve. This mass starvation inadvertently accelerated the downfall of Titus City, as a result of the growing body count, disease became rampant amongst the streets of Titus City.

With the issues of mass migration, infrastructural neglect, diseases, starvation, and public unrest, Titus's City's population took a steep decline. By the year of 1003 A.T.F, the City's population fell from an estimated 3,200,000 inhabitants to nearly 1,400,000 inhabitants. The massive loss of population left entire quadrants of the city empty, and the city fell further into neglect and disrepair. Things such as the Public Baths, Sewers, Aqueducts, Apartments, Forums, and Museums were now inoperable, falling apart, or had been ransacked by looters.

## The Last Holdout and Brief Republic 1003 A.T.F-1009 A.T.F

During Titus City's fall into Chaos, the last "True Romikkan" Emperor, Pompus Servellius, had been killed by an Avatar of Sargoth. This was Sargoths final attempt to turn the tides of the Second Apocalypse, which had previously shifted in the favor of The People of Nara, thanks to the efforts of a half Romikkan half Barbarian warlord named Quintius Barbacanous. The Death of Pompus Servellius was the final blow needed to cause Titus City to descend into utter chaos. For several weeks looting and rioting swept across the city, the chaos wouldn't be stopped until a popular Senator of the city, Napoleon Latrimouis, would use his wealth and influence to consolidate his power and bring order to the city.

By 1009 A.T.F Napoleon Latrimouis had successfully taken control over the city, and with the aid of another influential Senator, Baedus Agustus Ramsaes, Napoleon reorganized Titus City into a Republic. This Republic would be short-lived as only mere months after its declaration, Quintius Barbacanous would arrive at the Gate of Titus with the intentions of retaking Titus City for himself. In a mad race against the successor of Pompus Servellious, Quintius Barbacanous had defeated the largest contestor to the claim of Titus City at The Battle of The Red Pines. After defeating the only man who could stand in his way, Quintius arrived at Titus City with an army of nearly 77,000 men. With little hopes of successfully defending Titus City, Napoleon Latrimouis opted to surrender.

## The Sacking of Titus City and Capitol of a New Empire 1009 A.T.F-1046 A.T.F

When Napoleon opened the Gates, he was immediately cut down by Quintius and Baedus Agustus Ramsaes was quick to meet the same fate as Napoleon. What followed was nearly half a years worth of looting, pillaging, and the burning of Titus City. Quintius Barbacanous ordered that any monument that could be tore down be destroyed, that any homes be looted, and that any who remained be put to the sword. Quintius Barbacanous wanted to remake Titus City in his vision, and his vision did not involved what he personally described as "An Empire of Filth".

The sacking of Titus City was completed by early 1010 A.T.F, and reconstruction began of Quintius Barbacanous's "dream city". The sharp decline of Titus City coupled with the brutal six month sacking left the City's once bustling population now capped at 540,000 individuals, a shadow of its former self. Although Quintius made it a point to eradicate the remnants of The Romikkan Empire, he understood the importance of the advanced architecture and its benefits to the city. He ordered the repair of the city's sewer system, rebuilt the aqueducts, reinforced areas of the walls that had fallen in disrepair, and began repairing the roads within the city.

After twenty years worth of rebuilding, Titus City began to show signs of recovery. The City's population had risen to 800,000+ inhabitants. The economic importance of Titus City also began to return, and soon merchants from far away lands began revisiting the markets within Titus City, albeit in much smaller number than before. Titus' City had also changed in looks, with a majority of the homes either being Tribal Round Houses or Wattle and Daub Houses. As a result the once orderly and Imperialized City, began to look less and less planned and resembled more of a tribal metropolis, with around 70% of the current inhabited buildings being of newer infrastructure.