Norlandic Colonization of Yen

## Introduction

The **Norlandic Colonization of Yen** was a Norlandic colony consisting of what is now **Yen**. It was formed from the nationalised trading depots of the **Norlandic Trade Corp** (Nardiks: Sherket Tyarit Serzmala, STS) which came under the administration of the Norlandian government after its bankruptcy in the early 20th century.

## Corporation Arrival

Years before the Norlandic colonialists arrived, the Yennese archipelago supported various states, including commercially oriented coastal trading states and inland agrarian states. The islands were known to the Norlandics and were sporadically visited by multiple expeditions by the STS beginning a century before the major settlements started in the late 17th century. Following disruptions of the STS access to spices, the first Norlandic military expedition set sail for the Yen archipelago in 1695 to access spices directly from Yen. When it made a 200% profit on its return, other Norlandic expeditions soon followed. Recognising the trade potential of the archipelago, the Norlandic government bought a 20% share for the STS.

## Corporation Operations

A couple of years after the aforementiond expeditions, the STS was granted a contract to construct facilities, recruit locals, and sell their products to an international audience. A small headquarters was established in the newly built Yan'tara, which became the center of the STS's Yennese trading network.

The STS and introduced non-indigenous crops and safeguarded their commercial interests by recruiting mercenaries and off-duty/retired Norlandian military personnel to act as a defence force in case of any commotions caused by the local population. Smuggling, the ongoing expense farming operations, corruption, and mismanagement forced the Norlandian government to intervene by the early 18th century. The company was formally dismissed from all operations in 1716 and its colonial possessions in the Yennese archipelago were nationalized under the Imperial State of Norland as the Norlandic State of Yanna.

A myriad of people believe, including rogue members of the STS, that the main reason the Norlandic government terminated all operations for the STS, were to set up colonization procedures in the Yennese archipelago. This was ascertained by the mass transportation of Norlandic military troops to former STS operating bases days after the termination. However, official sources from the Norlandic government denied the alleged involvement of the corporation in the process of the colonization.

## Colonial Expansion

From the arrival of the first Norlandic colonist ships in the early 18th century, to the abolishment of foreign colonies, Norlandic control over the Yennese archipelago was always burtal. There were numerous wars and disturbances across the archipelago as various indigenous groups resisted efforts to establish a Norlandic hegemony, which weakened Norlandic control and tied up its military forces. Finally, in the mid 18th century, imperial dominance was extended across what was to become the territory of modern-day Yen.

Since the establishment of the Norlandic colonization in the late 17th century, the expansion of Norlandic territory had been a business matter. However, from about 1714, Norlandic national expansionism saw them wage a series of wars to enlarge and consolidate their possessions in the outer islands. Motivations included: the protection of areas already held; the intervention of Norlandic officials ambitious for glory or promotion; and to establish Norlandic claims throughout the archipelago to prevent intervention from other powers in the area. As exploitation of Norlandic resources expanded off Yen, most of the outer islands came under direct Norlandic government control or influence.

The Norlandians subjugated the people of Hiani in the Hiani War (1716–1718) and various wars soon after gave more land to the colonists. The Sel-je War (1719) resulted in the defeat of the Yennese forces and led to their ultimate surrender. The most prolonged military expedition was the N'zona War in which a Norlandic invasion in 1723 was met with indigenous guerrilla resistance and ended with a full surrender for Yennese forces in 1726. Disturbances continued to break out on all islands during the remainder of the 18th century. Military leaders and Norlandic politicians believed they had a moral duty to free the Yennese peoples from indigenous rulers who were considered oppressive, backward, or disrespectful of international law.

Although Yennese rebellions broke out, direct colonial rule was extended throughout the rest of the archipelago throughout the entirety of the 18th century. A few rebellions took control of their respective provinces, some of these rebel-held areas requested Norlandic protection from neighboring islands thereby avoiding Norlandiv military conquest and were able to negotiate better conditions under colonial rule.

## Independence

After the Imperial State of Norland conceded, On 7 June 1852, the new Norlandian government ratified an agreement with former colonial territories, establishing a vow to never occupy any historically foreign soil. Many nationalists protested the treaty but were quelled soon after and the perpetrators were arrested shortly after. The rubber plantations and oil fields previously owned by the STS and later by the Norlandian government were considered crucial for post-colonial Yen. These plantations were quickly overtaken by the Yennese government as well as local oil corporations, and on months later the STS and the Norlandian government officially bestowed these facilities.

## Post-independence

Following the departure of the Norlandians, nationalist leaders in Yen declared Yennese independence. A lengthy struggle followed as the government tried to re-establish their tradition; although the population re-occupied most of Norland's territory a coexistence struggle ensued, and the majority of Yens, including nationalists, favoured the Yennese people over the small population of Norlandians still residing in Yennese cities. The Norlandians committed war crimes: summary and arbitrary killings of Yennese villagers and farmers, torture of Yennese prisoners and execution of prisoners. As a result, the nationalist movement during the later phases of the post-indepence era of Yen also targeted Norlandian civilians, particularly under the direction of the nationalist movement's leader who personally supervised the summary executions of hundreds of civilians.