Belisaria

Belisaria within Tonan Samaria.

**Belisaria** is a historic cultural and geographical region in Eastern Euteria, located on the northern shore of the Palladian Sea. Neropolis was the capital of the Belisaria Province, located in the Bay of Calcaria. Geographically, Belisaria is situated in the centre of the continent, facilitating trade between the west, east, north, and south.

Belisaria has long been an important trade region. It lies at the northernmost access point of the Serephanian Sea; the Bay of Calcaria leads to the Palladian Sea, part of the Aspean Sea, which drains into the Serephanian and eventually the Great Western Ocean.

The area of modern-day Belisaria was inhabited by the Samarians and Delliks during ancient times, followed by waves of Thydian and Therosian migrations. It was incorporated into the Tonan Empire as part of the Samarian Region, organized as the Province of Belisaria.

## Etymology

The name *Belisaria* is derived from the ancient Delliks. They used the name *Bellasaria* to denote the land north of the Palladian Sea.

## History

The first people to inhabit the area were the Samarians, who lived in the interior. The first city in Belisaria was Neropolis, founded by the ancient Delliks in the Bay of Calcaria. The Delliks created several other colonies throughout the Palladian Sea, existing peacefully with the Thydian and Samarian natives. The Therosians began migrating to the area later, creating settlements in the eastern fringes.

The Tonans conquered the area and incorporated it into their empire. The Antalians migrated from the far north of Euteria into the northern shores of the Aspean, including Belisaria, during the Great Migrations.

## Culture

Belisaria was a melting pot of different cultures; Samarian, Dellik, Thydian, Therosian, Leppian, and Tonan. Under Tonan rule the Tonic language and religion united the groups into a Belisaro-Tonan ethnolinguistic community. Dellik was widely spoken along the coast during this time, serving as a merchant *lingua franca*. During Tonan rule Belisaria was known as "the Empire's Crossroads". It was midway between the Far North and the southern shores of the Serephanian, and midway between the Great Western and Great Eastern Oceans.

Belisarian culture blended elements from the east, west, north, and south. Architecturally it resembled the great cities of the East. Cities were densely populated, focused on trade and merchandise, and were local centres of mysticism and religion.

## Demographics

Belisara has been home to many different peoples: Samarians, Delliks, Thydians, Therosians, Histrians, Aspeans, Tonans, Antalians, and others. Most modern Belisarians are a mixture of one or more of these groups.

The Delliks managed to maintain a diaspora in Belisaria for over millennia. They have historically lived along the coast and the lower Korax River. Belisarian Delliks are a subgroup of the larger Dello-Palladian ethnic group, who descend from Delliks who settled on the Aspean and Histrian coasts during ancient times. Modern-day Belisarian Delliks are a mixture of Ancient Dello-Palladian colonists who mixed with the Samarians, Thydians, Therosians, and Tonans.