The Aegaen Empire

The **Aegaen Empire** (*Aygirn Imperiat [Aego-Greek]* - *Aygern Imperiat [Thessalonian] - Second Magnothesian Empire [Leewardian/Kyvasantian])* is a relatively moderately sized sparsely populated absolute monarchy located northwest of Syrena. Fire-forged after centuries of massive fighting between various warlord states, the Aegaen Empire is the most successful of the Aegaen Mountain unifying states, lasting from 2000 to this day. It was founded by Virrease Aegaen, proclaiming himself **Emperor Aegaen I**. The nation's current ruler is Theissa Aegaen of the Aegaen Royal Family.

## Imperial Aegaea

Flag of Aegaea

A map of the Aegaen Empire

## Government

### Ideology

**Monarchism:*** Absolutism
* "Absolutism with benevolence"

**Leftism:**

* Social welfare
* Liberalism
* Mixed economy
* Universal healthcare and human rights
* "*Theissaist*" doctrine

**Federalism**

* Provincialism

### President

Theissa Aegaen (Emperor Aegaen II) - *(official title; Heavenly Basileus/Heavenly Emperor)*

## Geography

### Fauna

Goats, sheep, cows, chicken, serres (dog-like creatures), dogs (imported)

### Flora

Cedars, pines

The Afterling race which now rules over Aegaea migrated to the mainland approximately 1100 AD after the annihilation of the First Minecraftian Empire; Governor Luka Aegaen having been a major cataclyst of this event. The Afterlings, having attracted the native Minecraftians' ire, were forced to escape across the Great Sea to the Kolossi Mountains, now the Aegaen landmass. Many large empires, like the Magnosthenian Empire in old Konstantinoupolis (now Kyvasantium), and the New Spartan Empire in New Sparta (which is now ruins) formed and went away. In the Industrial Era, unification ideals started propping up with multiple attempts such as the Aegaen Federation (1841-1848) and the Aegaen United Front (1937-1946) had failed. The Aegaen War of Influence (1946-2000) would lead to New Athenian victory, unifying the Aegaen Mainland under one banner. To this day, the Aegaen Empire remains a very stable, prosperous country with a growing economy and military influence.

The Aegaen Empire sits on a volcanic hotspot, known as the Colossian Hotspot, with massive inactive or dormant volcanoes littering the country. There are two active ones; Mt. Ebott (where the Aegaen Royal Palace is dug into) and Mt. Thassyria, a shield volcano in central Aegaea. To the Thessalonican region are vast arrays of swamps, and in the Leeward begin the Southern Aegaen Mountains, in which Konstantinoupolis/Kyvasantium (the second largest city after explosive growth in 2032 surpassed New Thessalonica; over 1/9 of its population are less than 1 year old) is the largest city in the region. However, there are some detriments; Aegaea sticks it into the sea and as a result ends up getting struck by hurricanes very frequently. *Super Typhoon Leonidas* struck New Athens as a Category 5 in August 2032, causing $600 billion Aegaen dollars in damage (200 billion US dollars) and inundating much of New Athens, being the costliest tropical cyclone in Aegaen history, and possibly on record.

The Aegaen Empire seeks to pursue a policy of neutrality under Aegaen II, but with its alliance with Minecraftia, it might be dragged into the next major conflict very soon.

## History

### Ancient (<500 BC)

The ancient history of Aegaea is very unknown; its extreme inhospitability and ruggedness means that few people have ever lived in Central Aegaea. However, in the Leeward Peninsula and in the East Coast, there has been civilization documented there; though, with evidence being in small villages spread out throughout the prehistoric and historic era. However, massive hurricanes which struck the islands, volcanic eruptions which annihilated crops and started fires, and earthquakes have always discouraged civilization there...until the Ancient Lavians/Spectralians came.

### The Spectral Era (500 BC-1200 AD)

A small group of ancient Lavians went to the Spectral Lands, now modern Breniscell, becoming the "Spectralians" of the Spectral Lands. The Ancient Lavians would continue spreading out through the Aegaen Mainland, but were mostly confined to the Leeward Peninsula and the Spectral Lands (the northeast coast) where they would make several kingdoms. The small extent of the Spectral Lands led to brief unifications under several dynasties from 100 AD to 1100 AD. The Leeward Peninsula was often unified though due to its much more flat nature compared to the mainland, although it was also considered "highlands" like the rest of the Mainland. Life in the Spectral Lands often depended on the nation; as the Ancient Lavians weren't like Modern Lavia it was generally 'good' for the time, but bad for our time (due to the lack of technologies and the extremely low life expectancies in the region, often only peaking at around 25 or 30 years old due to the region's inhospitability). The Spectrals would name the mountains the 'Colossian Mountains'. The collapse of the Minecraftian Empire led to raids on the Spectral Kingdoms; often foiled by large typhoons, but they still existed. The raids weren't very prominent though; as they were a warning sign of what was to come. A final dynasty would unify the Spectral Lands...until it happened. With the Aegaen-Minecraftian Royal Family rivalry, triggered in approx. late 1100 AD and triggering the Minecraftian decline with Aegaen I betraying Lisenar II. This caused the Minecraftians to get mad, forcing the Afterlings and several other peoples out.

### The Afterling Invasion (1204 AD-1245 AD)

On 1204 AD, Piet Aegaen (Aegaen II) would begin a mass migration to a supposedly 'random' direction of 'gold and silver' which happened to be south. He ended up going across the seas to the Aegaen Mountains, making new settlements. This terrified the Spectral peoples; the sudden mass movement of a new peoples who could push them out of the lands that they called home. The first settlements of the Afterlings included cities such as New Athens (the modern capital of the Empire), and New Sparta. The Afterlings knew a lot of things that the native Spectral Lands peoples didn't know; mainly metallurgy, mathematics and astronomy. The true Afterling invasion wouldn't begin until 1220 AD, until the New Spartan city state declared war on the Fredrik Dynasty of the Spectral Lands, with Piet Aegaen of New Athens declaring war on 1221 AD. This swung the Afterling race into war with the Spectral Lands; and a massive curbstomp battle would ensue. The Fredrik Dynasty in the northeast and the Valentin Dynasty of the Leeward Peninsula would lose much of their territory to the Afterling armies by 1225 AD. On 1226 AD both would sign peace; the Valentin Dynasty would lose all of its territory to Afterling settlers and collapse; and the Fredrik Dynasty now only held modern Breniscell. The Second Afterling invasion would begin on 1232 AD after a 6 years peace; the only major battle of the war being the Siege of Losholm, the capital of the Fredrik Dynasty of the Spectral Lands. Piet Aegaen would die in 1235 AD, beginning a succession crisis in New Athens and ending the Siege of Losholm and the second Afterling-Spectral war in a draw. In 1237 AD, the Athenian Civil War would end and in 1239 AD, the Third Afterling-Spectral War and the Second Siege of Losholm would begin, with forces led by Carsten Aegaen laying siege to Losholm. On 1240 AD, the city would be stormed and, after a week long set of battles, captured and renamed "New Ephesus" until it was renamed Breniscell in 1965 AD by the Kingdom of Ephesia. The Reconstruction of the Afterling nations would begin after the Spectrals were kicked out of Aegaea, and soon the Afterlings would begin invading each other instead of the Spectral Lands.

### Medieval Aegaea (1245-1500 AD)

The Medieval era would begin after the First Spartan-Athenian War, which would end in Sparta's invasion being repelled and them being humiliated by the Aegaen Royal Family's city state of New Athens, being forced to pay reparations. The Leeward Peninsula would have a new city built; Constantinople, which would rapidly grow to become the Colossian Mountains' largest city by 1260 AD. The City State of Constantinople under *Faidon I* would conquer New Thessalonica in 1263 AD, founding the Magnothesian Empire which proclaimed itself as a true successor state to the First Minecraftian Empire. Most of Imperial Aegaea's well known weapons, art, architecture, and literature dates back to this period; the Rossoglou's Recurve was made in the Medieval Era, as well as several legends detailing events in the Interior Aegaen Mountains considered inhospitable at the time. This era is sometimes considered the "High Aegaen Period" due to its golden age of culture, although the Aegaen Empire is considered its "Second High Period". Massive technological process was also made in Aegaea. Much of its culture and technology would come from Magnothesia and the New Athens city-state.

In 1281 AD the Spartans would conquer Kalaberg and Achaea forming the New Spartan Empire. The Spartan Empire went to war with New Athens many times, with these wars often ending in stalemate. The Magnothesian Empire would briefly conquer the modern city of Nytt Lavia until the Minecraftians would take it back in 1293 AD. There were also frequent wars with another claimant for the 'True Minecraftian Empire', the city state of Larissa. It won the Second Larissan-Magnothesian War in 1300 AD, making Larissa a Magnothesian march until 1451 AD (two years before the Fall of Constantinople). The New Spartan Empire would invade New Ephesia in 1295 AD leading to the beginning of the Twenty Years War pitting Sparta against the Aegaen Royal Family in New Athens and the Marios Royal Family in New Ephesia. The Spartans, as mighty as they were, were unable to defend the onslaught coming to them from both sides; as well as Achaean rebels. The Athenians would lay siege to New Sparta multiple times from 1301 AD to 1307 AD, until Aegaen IV would die of smallpox with only a 3 year old male heir, kicking New Athens out of the war. The Spartans would eventually reach a stalemate with New Ephesia. However, Achaea would declare independence in 1312 AD, allowing New Ephesia to break the exhausted Spartan lines and take New Sparta in 1315 AD, leading to the collapse of the New Spartan Empire and the brief period of puppet status, their suzerain being New Ephesia. Meanwhile, Magnothesia would invade the Southwestern Aegaen coast in 1317 and puppetify New Athens the same year with its 14 year old heir Aegaen V. New Athens would break free 5 years later in 1322 although it would fail to break the southwestern Aegaen coast free from Magnothesian rulership. The Magnothesians reached their peak at this time as well; much literature detailing fantastic worlds in the central Mountains became extremely popular throughout the Colossian Mountains. In 1338 AD the Colossian Mountains would receive a name change to the Kolossian Mountains. Eastern Sucelia would fall to Seucelia in 1339 AD. The New Minecraftian Kingdom to the north would successfully invade and conquer Sindelburg in 1348 AD. However, in the North, despite there being large wars, not much progress was made compared to the Northeast (Ephesia) West (Athens) and South (Magnothesia). Magnothesia would then conquer Nytt Lavia again in 1350 AD with the nation reaching its largest extent; owning the southern Aegaen Mountains and most of modern Lavia. In 1365 AD, Emperor Vlassis VI would die without an heir causing a 23 year succession crisis. The nation would lose vast swathes of land in Lavia and Aegaea, and much of its intelligent scholar population would be executed by a series of rulers taking over the country, usurping one another. By the end of the succession crisis in 1388 AD, the Magnothesian Empire was now a shadow of what it once was, and New Athens was now a rising force once again. New Athens would conquer Lacipolis in 1392 AD from the Magnothesian Empire and then venture into the Central Aegaen Mountains, although this adventure would fail. In 1400 AD, New Ephesia would invade Sparta again, razing the city of New Sparta after a brief siege in 1401 AD. A new city would be built near it, the city of New Kalamata which still exists today. In 1408 AD, the Magnothesians would lose all of their land in Central Lavia, only keeping the Southern Aegaen Mountains which were hard to invade. The Seucelian Empire would briefly rise, but would collapse in 1415 AD following their king's death in the Invasion of Achaea. New Athens would slowly expand into the central Kolossian Mountains. In 1431 AD, Magnothesia would fall into a highly corrupt regency. This would lead to the city-state of Mitenlan launching an invasion in 1433 AD, but they were stopped in the march of Larissa. However, Magnothesia would lose what was left of it in the Mitenlan invasion, and eventually Lavians marched into the country, laid siege to Constantinople, and eventually took the city in 1453. This led to Magnothesia collapsing entirely into city states, and southern Aegaea being conquered by Lavians and Minecraftians until Larissa's expansion later on. The collapse of Magnothesia brought nations like Laphyria to expand into the centre; New Athens would reach Supervolcano Anastallis in the deep center of Aegaea first in 1481, only to find it wasn't according to legend. Advancements in technology, culture and arts would bring an end to the medieval era, with 1500 being the beginning of the short-lived Achaean Empire.

### Early modern Aegaea (1500-1800 AD)

The Achaean Empire would form in 1500 AD, briefly holding Seucelia. However, New Ephesia would cause its collapse in 1518 AD after invading and capturing Achaea the capital of the Empire. Meanwhile, gunpowder weaponry was now the dominant weaponry in the Kolossian Mountains, with cannons and muskets being used to wage wars in the very high, steep mountains of modern Aegaea.

The Northern Kolossi Mountains now had several dominating states; Larissa, New Athens, and New Ephesia. The three superpowers constantly competed for influence. However, the Kolossi Mountains' population only totalled a measly 1.5 million in areas outside of the Leeward, with the Leeward Peninsula and Southern Mountains having around 6.3 million. The Central Kolossi Mountains had not been explored yet, and the Southern Mountains were blocked by a (presumably) Minecraftian kingdom in Lavia, most likely *Helur*, which is supported by the collapse of the southern occupation in 1572 coinciding with Helur's collapse, and the formation of the city states of Kyvasantium, Demyria, and Skalenburg. One year later New Athens would go to war with Larissa, although the war would end in a stalemate due to the immense mountains separating the two countries. Larissa's king **Soren III** would end up dying of tuberculosis, and the city state was forced to sign peace in 1575, only paying minor reparations to the Aegaen Royal Family. The Kyvasantium city state would end up turning into a merchant republic. Larissa would recover from its succession crisis, crown **August I** as King, and invade Demyria in 1581, with the invasion resulting in a huge success by 1582. The Larissans would then lay siege to Thessaly in 1584. The siege was less successful, with Larissa's military suffering large casualties, but they would succeed by 1586. In 1591, August I would proclaim himself Emperor, and the Larissan Empire was created. The Empire would seize Skallenburg in 1593 AD and enter into parts of the Southern Mountains, becoming the most powerful Aegaen city state. New Ephesia would suffer a civil war in 1596, and in 1600 Larissa would invade Kyvasantium, but fail in the resulting siege. This, along with New Athens, would block Larissa's southernward expansion, so in 1605 August I would invade Mitenlan, which would go successful at first. However, August I would be shot in the lung during the Battle of Mitenlan with only 7-year-old twins as heirs; the Larissans would be forced to leave Mitenlan to deal with their succession crisis for now. New Athens was developing its territories instead of expanding. In 1617 the Larissans under **Florian II** would invade Mitenlan again, with this invasion being successful. In 1621 Larissa would finally conquer the Southern Aegaen Mountains. In 1624, the Athenian Renaissance would begin, with art, culture and science rapidly rising. The city of New Athens quickly became the scientific, economic and cultural hub of Aegaea, but its political hub would be Laris. In 1625 Larissa would invade New Athens but the invasion was swiftly repelled. In 1633, Sizzelbeurg would be founded by New Athens, quickly becoming a semi-independent city state under Aegaen suzerainty. Achaea would take some land from New Minecraftia after a war in 1638. In 1641, Syncozopolis would invade Velipolis, causing a long-lasting war that would plunge both nations into colossal debt and annihilate their economies. The war would end in 1648, with Kalopolis taking advantage and invading both states, subjugating them in merely 2 months before they both rebelled in 1653, breaking free of Kalopolian rule. In 1665, Kalaburg would gain some land in the Inner Mountains, while Seucelia expanded once again. The Enlightenment would begin in Clarrenburg in 1700, spreading throughout Aegaea and leading to the rise of republicanism. In 1713, the foundation of the **Gauren Empire** would lead to large-scale conflicts in the Kolossian Mountains between the Larissan Empire and the Gauren Empire often ending in stalemate and little territorial change. Syncozopolis would become a classical republic after the Green Revolution of 1721 (albeit more oligarchic similar to Rome and early America). The age of legends began to die down as most of the Kolossian Mountains were already mostly if not fully explored. New Athens would go to war with Syncozopolis in 1722 ending in Athenian victory within weeks and restoring the monarchy in place beforehand shortly after. In 1727, New Minecraftia would turn into the Mantenion Confederation with the Minecraftians living there having already assimilated into Aegaen culture and tradition. Sindelbach would secede due to this in 1729 beginning the Sindelbach War of Independence, lasting 5 years and ending in a stalemate with Sindelbach managing to obtain its independence. Bolepolis would split from New Ephesia in 1731, beginning its decline. In 1735, the Third Larissan-Gauren War began, ending in 1738 with a minor Gauren victory and forcing Larissa to give up its territory in Southern Aegaea. Another war, the Fourth War, would begin in 1740. This war lasted merely 3 months, ending in a Larissan victory and giving Larissa its lost territories plus a few more border towns back. Seucelia would suffer a particularly bloody revolution known as the "Violet Uprising" in 1741 and early 1742, establishing a republic and renaming the country and city it was named after to Saucelia, whose name persists today. In 1751, the Fifth Larissan-Gauren War would begin, ending in another stalemate which plunged Larissa into large debt. This caused the Larissan-Athenian War, ending in a New Athens victory by 1753 and the liberation of Western Demyrian by New Athens as a protectorate. New Athens would release Lacipolis as another protectorate soon after. In 1768, Myrmpehyria would try to gain its independence from Mitenlan. However, the rebellion was quickly put down after a naval invasion. In 1775 Larissa and Gauren would go to war for a sixth time, a war that would last 12 years. Larissa would take the Southern Aegaen Mountains, but after the Battle of Sellenberg the tide turned and Larissa would eventually lose the city of New Thessalonica, ending the war. This would significantly divide up the Larissan Empire once again and the City State would turn into a republic after a revolution in 1790. Gauren wouldn't have to worry about Larissa...for now. Meanwhile, industry was picking up in city states like New Athens and Achaea.

### Industrial Aegaea (1800-1945)

The Kolossian city states industrialized rapidly due to the lack of prominent agriculture in the Kolossian Mountains, coupled with their unusually high agricultural surplus due to their small populations and low birth/mortality rates, and progressive leadership in several countries. Despite the Industrialization movement however, a country threatened Aegaen sovereignty, the Gauren Empire, who had just defeated Larissa in the late 1700s. Throughout the early 1800s Aegaen birth rates began to increase significantly, and with consistent low mortality rates, population in some city states doubled, tripled or even quadrupled over the course of 40 years. The total Aegaen population rose from 3.6 million in 1790 AD to 5.1 million in 1848 AD. The Industrial Revolution was extremely beneficial for Aegaea. Interconnection in the Kolossian economies reduced interstate conflicts and even promoted nationalistic unification against the threats to their south. The Gauren Empire would invade Aegaea in 1831, reaching New Athens by 1834. New Athens would decisively win this battle, killing Lisenar XII, and leading to the Gauren Empire collapse in 1834. This would lead to several conflicts however, mainly in the south between Demyria, New Thessalonica, Larissa, and Skallenburg. Aegaen IX would found the *Aegaen Federation* in 1848, creating the first unifier of the Peninsula. But, the Federation would be short lived, with the entire Aegaen Mountains falling under the Kingdom of Lavia's sovereignty in 1851 after the Fall of New Athens with the exception of the Northern states of Achaea, Saucelia, Kalaburg, Ephesia, Mantenion, and Sindelbach. The entire Aegaen Royal Family would nearly go extinct after a mass execution in 1852, with only Photios Aegaen (Aegaen X) escaping to the city state of Achaea. For the Afterlings, Lavian occupation was brutal. With the Minecraftions finally having got vengeance against the Aegaen Royal Family, Afterling technological and cultural process turned into regression. The Aegaen Mountains descended into poverty with the exception of the Northern nations, which were picked off one by one. Large famines and diseases ran rampant once again as healthcare improvements found in other places were not able to spread to Aegaea. By 1894 the Lavians had conquered every nation but Achaea, Mantenion, and Sindelbach. Meanwhile, a client state was founded in Aegaea in 1872; the Kingdom of Aegaea. The Kingdom of Aegaea's goals were simple; to end the Afterling race for good and to populate Aegaea with Lavians and Minecraftians. However, in 1896 the Northern Nations would invade the Kingdom of Aegaea with the help of several rebel groups, and would depose Lisenar XVI in 1921 in the Second Battle of New Athens, nearly executing him, bringing several royal families out of exile, and ending Lavian occupation. This began the period of Aegaen Reconstruction (1921-1937). The Aegaen Reconstruction was a period of technological and cultural resurgence in several countries, and the resurgence of population, which had declined to around 2.8 million under Lavian rule, all the way to around 7.1 million by 1937. New Athens and New Thessalonica would rise as the two dominant nations in Aegaea, representing Monarchy and Republic. The old Aegaen coin would be devalued and replaced with the Aegaen vell, the universal currency of Aegaea, in 1913, a currency that would last until 1945. Communism and fascism would rise after the 'Great Pillager War' (1914-1918). The Communists would take over in Mantenion in 1929, creating the People's Republic of Mantenion. Myrmephyria would become Fascist in 1931. Achaea and Saucelia would go to war in 1932, lasting for 3 years and ending in Achaean victory. Achaea would make Saucelia a vassal state in 1935. The Lavian Empire, having prepared to avenge Lisenar XVI's deposition in 1921 for decades, would invade the Kolossian Mountains in 1937. Aegaen XII (Theissa Aegaen's grandfather) would declare the Aegaen United Front, creating the second major unified Aegaen government. While Kyvasantium held out, Skalenburg fell within a few weeks of the war's declaration on July 8, 1937.

## Second Lavian-Aegaen War

### Result

**Decisive United Front Victory:*** Second breakup of Aegaea
* Loss of around 20% of the Aegaen mountains' population
* Status quo antebellum, massive war reparations paid to Aegaea
* Beginning of the Aegaen Cold War

## Participants

### Sides

*Defenders*
**The Aegaen United Front**
*Attackers*
**The Lavian Empire**
**The Pillager Empire**

* Neva vassal state

## Commanders

### Commanders

**Aegaen United Front*** **Aegaen XII**
* Socrates VI
* Philippos
* Minas III

**Lavian Empire**

* ?

**Pillager Empire**

* ?

## Losses

### Losses

**Aegaen United Front***\* 2,500,000 civilian losses (revived)*

* 1,600,000 military losses (revived)
* 450,000 unrecoverable civilian losses
* 200,000 unrecoverable military losses

**Axis Powers**

* 1,100,000 military losses
* 450,000 civilian losses

##### Operation Karl Swing (1937-1941)

The initial weeks of the war went very poorly for the United Front as they couldn't mobilize efficiently, while Lavia executed Operation Karl Swing, the invasion of Aegaea. However, things quickly turned around after the fall of much of the Leeward Peninsula as the Aegaen United Front would halt Lavian forces for a long period of time. Aerial bombardment over Aegaea was rampant; often civilian targets were prioritized, which, although many casualties and deaths were reported, failed to hinder the United Front's war effort. The Aegaen United Front would also manage to keep naval supremacy against the Lavian Empire, blockading several of their coasts, but on land and in the air they were struggling. The Lavians would break through on February 1938, with their troops finally freed up from the Siege of Kyvasantium. The Lavians would approach Demyrian, and successfully capture the city although taking 4x as much deaths as the Afterlings did, who had a much smaller army. This "pyrrhic" victory would force the Lavians to suspend future plans until they could get more reinforcements. The Aegaen United Front's naval supremacy was reinforced in the Battle of the Gulf of Attica, a decisive United Front victory. The Lavians would break through again on May 1938, advancing to New Thessalonica but being encircled and forced to withdraw back to defensive lines near the city of Demyrian. The Second Battle of Demyrian would occur on June 1938, ending in a minor Lavian victory. The United Front was forced to delay offensive plans to push out the Lavian Empire, but they were able to push the Lavians out of the Mountains, isolating them in small cells connected to them via roads and significantly hindering their war effort. The Lavians would launch an offensive to the West; Lacipolis and Syncozopolis, beginning the First Stefanne Offensive. This offensive was very bloody for the Lavians and the Afterlings, with massive fighting taking place in Syncozopolis. The Lavians were able to take Syncozopolis after 5 months of fighting, but failed to take Lacipolis and suffered immense casualties attempting to do so. The Lavians attempted to advance further to Kalopolis but were halted in the Battle of the Leveil River, a decisive United Front victory, and pushed back to Syncozopolis. They would then advance on New Thessaloniki once again, with them being halted in September 12 and pushed back by the end of the month. The United Front would briefly retake Demyrian severing supply lines to Syncozopolis, leading to the recapture of the city in December 9. Demyrian would be retaken on December 14, stopping the Lavian retreat. With huge Afterling guerrilla resistance plaguing their lines, the Lavians were forced to stop advancing to defend against Afterling partisans. However, a few minor advancements would be made by both sides, until on February 7, 1939 when the United Front would lay siege to Demyrian again. They would win this siege after 3 months, with Demyrian's population unfortunately decreasing by over 60% in the various battles taking place in the city. The war would reach a stalemate by March, with neither side being able to gain much territory from the other without suffering exorbitant casualties. However, in May, the Second Stefanne Offensive would begin. This would result in Lavia being able to take Syncozopolis back, as well as Lacipolis and Kalopolis after extremely bloody battles. By August though, the extremely exhausted Lavian Army would be crushed in the decisive Battle of New Athens, and the United Front would prepare its counteroffensive as Autumn rolled over. However, another Lavian offensive would delay it until January 1940. The Lavian Offensive codenamed the 'First Kalunnian Offensive' would encircle Demyrian, beginning a Fourth and Final Battle to take the city over. An offensive to Thessalonica would fail miserably, though. The Second Siege of Demyrian would end in Afterling victory and Lavian withdrawal from the Demyrian area, and the beginning of the Great Counteroffensive in March 1940. The Great Counteroffensive would lead to recapture of Kalopolis and Lacipolis by April 1940, and Syncozopolis the following month. However, the United Front couldn't continue further into the Leeward region due to its defenses, but it was able to force the Lavians out of the Aegaen mainland proper. In May 1940 began the turning point as the United Front led the grueling campaign into the Leeward and Southern Aegaea, which was very slow; by August 1940 they barely took any land, although they did reestablish a connection with the Eastern Leeward. In September 1940 the first major advancement was made, with the United Front retaking the outskirts of Lamiraki and beginning fighting for the city. In Lamiraki, the Lavian Empire fanatically defended the city but the United Front was able to retake it with a naval invasion through the Gulf of Nektaria despite brutal fighting and high casualties by October 1940. Retaking Skallenburg and Constantinople were different stories though; the Second Battle of Skallenburg was a catastrophic United Front defeat, forcing complete army reorganization. The Lavians attempted to take advantage in December 1940 and invade Lamiraki once again, being unable to take the city despite high Afterling casualties. When the Aegaen United Front reorganized, it led the push to take Skallenburg in the Third Battle in late December 1940, which ended in a stalemate leading into the First Siege of Skallenburg, which was catastrophic for the city's inhabitants. The Siege would last 3 months. In Constantinople, the city would revolt in January 1941, with it falling into Aegaen hands in late January 1941. The Siege of Skallenburg would end with the city losing 30% of its population, but with the Lavians pushed out of most Aegaen major cities Aegaen leaders had to decide whether to continue going into mainland Lavia proper. In April 1941 Skallenburg would fall on the same day as Neva did to the Pillagers, and the Aegaens had made their decision. They were going to invade Lavia. The Afterlings would kick the last Lavians out of their soul in May 1941, and launch a small invasion into Lavian soil on June 1941. The Aegaen United Front was beginning to contest Lavian supremacy in the air, but on land they were unable to make any advancements into Lavian defenses in the Southern Aegaen Mountains.

##### Operation Thunderstorm (1941-1945)

###### Phase 1 (1941-1942)

Naval invasions were attempted to distract the Lavians but they ended up in senseless loss of life instead. The United Front's high command, mainly **Aegaen XII** of Athens, **Socrates VI** of Thessalonica (its monarch; the nation is a westminster-like state in principle), **Philippos Ballotis** of Saucelia, and **Minas III** of Achaea, were planning on an invasion of mainland Lavia through several fronts; in the Nytt Lavia river region, several naval invasions in unstrategic points to distract Lavia, and the main invasion in Southern Aegaea. In September 1941, the Aegaen United Front would capture Politas, a major border city in Southern Aegaea, paving the way for Operation Thunderstorm beginning December 7, 1941. The United Front would successfully destroy the Lavian Empire's navy in November in the Battle of Timocratas, allowing them to invade a remote region near Central/Southern Lavia. In December 5, 1941, the last reinforcements arrived and on December 7, 1941, the Invasion of Lavia would begin, or, what is known to Aegaea as the Second Battle of Lavia (the current battle being the Third Battle of Lavia, the first being Magnothesia's invasion). The first stages of Operation Thunderstorm were incredibly bloody with not much progress; the Aegaen United Front would then break through after the naval invasion into Nytt Lavia, seizing Xezopolis, the second largest city in Southern Aegaea on February 1942. In April 1942 the naval invasion into Nytt Lavia would fail but the City of Icarius, Southern Aegaea's most populous city, would fall to the United Front. The rest of the resistance in the Southern Mountains was cleaned up, but upon entering central Aegaea, the United Front was driven back to the Western Mountains and to the Southern Aegaen major cities by a Lavian counteroffensive. In June though, they would manage to retake those parts despite high casualties and would enter Central Lavia only to be pushed back. Despite over 200,000 dead (and 160,000 of those revived due to the 'Afterling revival rule'), the First Phase of *Thunderstorm* had succeeded.

###### Phase 2 (1942-1944)

After the pyrrhic success of the first phase, Grand Duke Aegaen XII of New Athens would greenlight plans for Phase 2 of Operation Thunderstorm in August 1942, with the war between the Allies and the Pillager Empire & Lavian Empire beginning to sour for the two nations, the "Axis" powers. Phase 2 would begin with a "flashy" bombardment of Central Lavia and Eastern Lavia, which would succeed. The Second Battle of Nytt Lavia would begin, and the march into Central Lavia began. With the Afterlings abandoning their old positions, they would suffer costly amounts of casualties and were pinned down in the Southern Aegaen Mountains for several weeks without any advancements. The Naval Invasion would fail once again, but Lavian lines were broken in the North, with the Afterlings advancing for around two days before they were contained by Lavian reinforcements. The Lavians would attempt to counterattack in the south to no avail; this weakened both sides enough for fighting to stop temporarily. In September 1942, fighting began again; the Afterlings began to gain land this time around, although it was not much. By November 1942 the Afterlings had not gained much land in exchange for an extremely bloody offensive and morale to continue the Operation rapidly declined. However, a breakthrough would occur in December 1942, encircling a Lavian division and pushing more into Lavia than the previous minor offensives combined. However, the Afterlings were still far from Nytt Lavia, and in January 1943 a counteroffensive would happen, causing them to lose half of their land they gained in December, mostly in the southern flank. In the Northern Flank they would gain land throughout February 1943, capturing a major ailfield; Gustav Airfield, and managing to actually bombard Nytt Lavia. The offensive was attempted to continue throughout early 1943, but in March 1943 the Afterlings only gained 4 km of land, and in April 9 km. Leader of the United Front and Grand Duke of New Athens **Aegaen XII** called off the offensive on May 8, 1943, declaring it a 'partial success' despite incredible casualties. The United Front would declare a ceasefire on May 15, 1943 with the Lavian Empire agreeing. The Lavian Empire launched an offensive of its own on November 12, 1943, breaking the ceasefire. Aegaen XII would finish Operation Thunderstorm Phase 2, taking most of Central Lavia by the end of January 1944, and him declaring the second phase a full success.

###### Phase 3 (1944-1945)

Phase 3 began on February 1944, with the phase being greenlit by New Athens. Cleaning up the remainder of Lavian Resistance was much more difficult than expected; there were waves upon waves of Lavian defenses in the plains leading up to Nytt Lavia proper. Each defense took several weeks to surmount. The Afterlings suffered large casualties to clear out every defense line, but the defensive lines couldn't be repaired, luckily, as the Lavians had wasted their entire economy on them and couldn't bother to repair them with the Allied Forces approaching their northern border near Neva. In June 1944 the Afterlings had barely made much progress due to the immense amount of defensive lines, but throughout the summer and autumn more progress was made. In October 1944 the Afterlings were now in the Eastern River Delta but still had various defenses to surmount, so they stopped attacking to rebuild and reorganize and tried again in February 1945. The defenses there took several months to take down, with massive casualties for both sides. However, the Aegaen United Front would begin fighting for Nytt Lavia in May 1945. Despite Lavian ultranationalist revolts in occupied territories, Nytt Lavia would fall on May 21 and the Lavian Empire would collapse. The Aegaen United Front would withdraw from the Lavian Empire soon after facing revolts threatening to cut off their lines back home as they did to the Lavians when they invaded. The United Front would dissolve in December 1945.

### Modern Aegaea (1945-2033)

#### The Aegaen Cold War (1945-2000)

*Main article: The Aegaen Cold War*

After the dissolution of the United Front, two major powers emerged; New Athens and New Thessalonica. The two

immediately began fighting for influence over Aegaea, with ideas for unification at an all time high. The conflict was not only for domination, but ideological as well; Republic versus Monarchy. In 1947 Socrates VI would abdicate the throne leading to a republic in New Thessalonica, only adding fuel to the fire. The Aegaen Cold War had begun with the testing of a very powerful warhead by New Athens (albeit not a nuclear bomb) in 1948, called the Mihalis Weapon. In 1950 the Sizzellyn Civil War would begin, beginning the first major proxy war of the Aegaen Cold War, between Athenian-funded partisans in the West and the Federal Government in Sizzelbeurg proper. The proxy war would last several years, and end in a direct Athenian intervention in 1952, with Sizzelia being split in half to avoid a 'Great Mihalis War' which would be feared to destroy the entire Aegaen civilization as it was known. In the west was the State of Sizzelia and in the east the Sizzelian Federal Republic. The Commune of Mitenlan would enter into a direct war with the Mephyrian Reich in 1953 with Mitenlan being funded by the Thessalonians and New Athens funding the Mephyrian Reich through Ephesia. Mitenlan would turn into a hardcore communist government after the October Coup in 1954, and attempted to invade Mephyria, ending in failure. Peace would be signed in late 1954. In 1955, the first hurricane naming lists were designated by the Athenian government after it was struck by the *1954 Category 5* hurricane, or **Hurricane Eight**, retrospectively named **Super Typhoon Helle**. In 1956 Thessalonica would launch a revolution in its southern neighbour the Kingdom of Lamiraki, which would succeed. In response the Athenians would coup the Federation, which would also result in a resounding victory. The Thessalonians would found the Socratian Council in 1957. One year later the Athenians would found the Pact of Lacipolis. In 1958 Larissa would fall into a civil war, with heavy intervention coming from the two alliances. However, the Larissan Civil War would be much bloodier and last much longer than past civil wars. Other revolutions broiled in other countries; Sindelbach would be subject to a guerrilla war in 1959, and the Myrmephyrian Fascist Government would collapse into several warlord states in 1961. But, Athens and Thessalonica wouldn't directly come to near blows in 1962, when New Athens would place several hypermihalis missiles on the Lamyrian Kingdom's border with Thessalonica. In response, Thessalonica would place missiles in the Saucelian Republic, with both nations frantically negotiating to avoid mihalian annihilation. The negotiations would succeed although high tensions would persist. In 1963 Thessalonica would directly intervene in the Larissan Civil War only to get bogged down. The Mantenion People's Republic would suffer a military coup by its own devices in late 1963, proclaiming the United Kingdom of Mantenion, which would join the Pact of Lacipolis around 2 months after its inception. However, despite its name, it was a ruthless military dictatorship. In 1964, the Larissans continued to break down into various partisan factions as the two main factions; the Monarchist government and the Larissan military, had lost the trust of the people. The Mephyrians would unify under **Dennis II** in 1965, making the Principality of Myrmephyria. In 1965, the Athenians would test their first true nuclear bomb. The Space Race would begin in 1966, with the Grand Duchy of New Athens and the Thessalonicans coming head-to-head to reach the Moon first. The Demyrians would fall into civil war in 1967, ending in a republican victory the following year. The Larissan Civil War would reach 1.5 million deaths in 1968. **Aegaen XII**, or Giannis Aegaen, the father of Virrease, would get pancreatic cancer at the age of 72, or in 1968, deeming him unfit to rule. Virrease Aegaen was only two years old when Giannis would come down with this cancer. However, he would recover before the cancer got too severe and was able to rule again. In 1969 the Athenians would send a man to space first, ending the three-year-long first phase of the Space Race. The Second Phase would begin in 1970 with unmanned landings in other planets by the Athenian and Thessalonican governments. In 1971, the Larissan Civil War would finally come to an end although numerous fundamentalist and extremist guerrilla groups would continue fighting for decades. In 1972, the Thessalonican Market Crash would occur, forcing them to withdraw their soldiers from Larissa and being one of the main catalysts to their decline. This would also cause New Athens to finally integrate Lacipolis once again. In 1973, Cynthia Aegaen, then known as **Cynthia Moraitellis**, would be born in the city of Lacipolis to an upper class family connected to Grand Duke Aegaen XII. In 1974, a Larissan coup would threaten to start another civil war, but would fail. However, in 1975 another brief civil war would begin, worsened by a category 3 hurricane, Ioannis, making landfall in Laris in late 1975, worsening the kingdom's situation even more. In the mid to late 1970s, while Thessalonica was falling into high debt, New Athens and Kyvasantium were rapidly urbanizing and making new advancements in technology. In 1977, the Mountain Territory would be couped by communists, joining the Thessalonican Side. Due to this, an Athenian-sponsored coalition invasion would occur in 1978, with the Mountain Territory resisting greatly due to its geographic position in the high mountains and inflicting heavy casualties unto the coalition members (Mantenion, Ephesia, Bolepolis, Achaea, and Kalaburg) but it would eventually fall in 1980. In 1981, Saucelia would be the only Socratian Council member that was rapidly industrializing like the rest of Aegaea; a period of reactionary leadership in the 80s would make Thessalonica's situation worse. In New Athens, a series of constitutionalist rallies would begin in 1982, which would be allowed to continue under Giannis Aegaen. Giannis Aegaen was 86 years old and still relatively healthy despite complications from pancreatic cancer, was still an able fighter, as shown in an assassination in 1983 when a pro-ultranationalist man by the name of **Spyridon Floroulis** would attempt to assassinate Giannis Aegaen. Spyridon would then be whacked by the Michisane, which, at the time, was in Giannis Aegaen's hands. The Murderous Years between the Minekraforlen Royal Family and the Aegaen Royal Family wouldn't affect Giannis Aegaen too badly, although Virrease Aegaen would suffer quite greatly, losing his brother to the Minekraforlens in 1986. In 1987, Category 4 Hurricane *Aspasia* of the very inactive 1987 hurricane season would make landfall in Mitenlan, becoming the costliest Kolossian hurricane until *Filippos* in 1995, and the deadliest until Super Typhoon *Leonidas* in 2032. In 1988, Thessalonica was designated by many nations around the Aegaen peninsula as the "Sick Man of the Aegaen Mountains" as its decline would continue, and political instability would rise. In 1989, the Socratian Council would transfer its leadership to the Saucelian Republic due to the Thessalonican decline, as the council gradually lost its members and faded into obscurity compared to the Lacipolis Pact. In 1990, Aegaen XII would fall ill again, this time to lung cancer, but with it having developed several years prior he was now in a terminal, unrecoverable situation. There were also numerous revolutions throughout the Socratian Council's countries, as in all but Thessalonica and Saucelia, to become monarchist. The Socratian Council would dissolve in late 1991 after Saucelia would begin pursuing its own goals, which would bring an end to the Aegaen Cold War. The Aegaen Mountains would also closely watch the beginning of the ***Charles Conflict***. In 1992, Cynthia Moraitellis and Virrease Aegaen would marry, having their first daughter, Frances Moraitellis, in 1993. Frances would be renamed Frances Aegaen in late 1993 corresponding to Cynthia Aegaen's name change. In 1994, the monarchy would be restored in New Thessalonica, making the Saucelian Republic the last republic left in the Aegaen Mountains. In 1995, *Philippos* would hit the Mantenion region as a high end Category 4 typhoon, surpassing *Aspasia* in costs. In 1996, the Leeward Peninsula would fall to the newly formed Lavian nation, which had just recovered from the **Hydroxian War**/**Charles Conflict**. Giannis Aegaen would also finally die of lung cancer in 1996, with Virrease Aegaen/Aegaen XIII rising to power in New Athens. In 1998, the Republic of Saucelia's flag would fall for the last time and the monarchy would be restored after approximately a century and a half. In 1999, the Act of Union would be signed by the Aegaen Mountain governments, proclaiming Virrease Aegaen as the Emperor of Aegaea. Then, in January 1, 2000, it would happen. In the new millennium, all of the regional states' flags...would be descended, and replaced with the unified Aegaen flag rising up in their place. The ***Aegaen Empire*** has finally unified, under one banner. Despite this, not all would be sunshine and roses. In 2001, Frances Aegaen would be assassinated by a Minecraftion, beginning Virrease Aegaen's descent to madness.

#### **The Aegaen Empire (2000-Present)**

##### Virrease Era (2000-2028)

The early Aegaen Empire was characterized by a period of absolute rule, despotism, and rapid change. The former Kingdoms became provinces. A set of "guidelines" would be established by Virrease Aegaen in late 2000, however he would not obey all of the rules himself, setting himself as a figure above the law. Many were arrested for speaking out against the Royal Family during his rule. However, the Aegaen Empire's economy would skyrocket during his rule, with the nationalization of several corporations and an economic boom generated from linking several of the warlords' economies. This allowed Thessalonica and the other Socratian Council states to rebuild. In 2013 Theissa Aegaen would be born. In the late 2010s and early 2020s, the economy started to stagnate especially with the landfall of Category 5 Super Typhoon *Flora* south of Mantenion. More people were being arrested as well for speaking out against the government which just showed Aegaen I's increasing insanity. Rotislav Lisenari would be assassinated circa. 2026, leading to a scandal within both Minecraftians and Afterlings in the Aegaen Empire, but that would not last long.

##### Theissaist Era (2028-)

In 2028, the Aegaen Royal Family would go missing leading a 15-year-old Aegaen II to the throne, who would impose freedom of speech and emancipate over 460,000 political opponents. Aegaen II's accession to the throne would lead to the Minecraftian-Aegaen Alliance to form. In August 2032 Super Typhoon *Leonidas* would hit New Athens, becoming the costliest typhoon in Aegaea and perhaps on record. Today, the Aegaen Empire, despite the recent typhoon, remains a prosperous and rich state.

The Invasion of Lavia has prompted protests from the Aegaen Empire's Minecraftian population to join the war, although Aegaen II remained staunchly neutral. Despite Aegaen II's supposed death (the only casualty from the Aegaen Empire in the battle), the Aegaen Empire had managed to remain neutral the entire conflict. Cynthia Aegaen would also pass away due to complications from injuries from the Battle of Lavia on December 9, 2032. In 2033 and 2034 the Aegaen Empire didn't do much, other than land a man on Mars in very late 2033 being the first nation to do so. The Aegaen Empire currently pioneers healthcare and astronomical technology, mainly due to its irregular elevation (the average height is nearly 5,000 feet above the ground) and more willingness for Afterlings to sacrifice themselves due to their infinite lives. Recently the Aegaen Empire has been preparing Project H, which is a universal, definitive defense and survival project against natural disasters such as tornadoes, hurricanes, and volcanoes. With the rise of tensions in Lavia again, Aegaea's foreign policy is one of staunch neutrality and passive expansion in the Far West. However, Aegaen II has a war plan/disaster plan for a potential Forpist invasion of Aegaea, or War Plan Clocktower, for a defense in the very high plateaus/mountains of Aegaea, with more minimal defenses in the lower coastlines except the ports. However, this plan is usually standard for every invasion by a foreign country, with minor modifications. Despite these extensive preparations, many of them are often not put to use (although Disaster Plan Moon helped save **many** lives in Super Typhoon Leonidas despite its absurdity; a 300 mph Super Typhoon hitting New Athens, a 200 mph hit instead).

In early-mid 2035, the Aegaen Empire became the first nation to establish a temporary moon base, and it plans to make said base a permanent colony by 2038. Due to the inevitable fall of the Lavian Kingdom to independence movements, the Empire of Heavenly Aegaea distanced itself further from mainland continental politics and mainly focused on not only the domestic front and recovery from the 2035 cyclone season, but also in outer space to launch more satellites for easier transport of rockets for a potential second landing on Mars, and a theoretical colonial establishment. In addition, Heavenly Aegaea also plans a large naval buildup as a further line of defense against a foreign attack on its soil and to keep control of its overseas colonies in the Western Great Continent. Despite Aegaea's growing isolationism, the Emperor does not plan to dissolve the Aego-Minecraftian alliance despite its current nominal status (Aegaea's population is vastly anti-war especially anti-offensive war; Pugia's attempt to nuke New Athens was just an extreme outlier that sparked feelings of an offensive war). However, with its southern neighbor on the brink of another civil war or revolution, its feelings of neutrality may not last long.

The Form 5 curse's "breakout" in Nytt Lavia has caused the Aegaen Empire's Dikastiko, Argyris Marise, to prevent any ventures of the Aegaen Emperor (who has a permanent Form 6) into Nytt Lavia. However, there are fears the Curse may escape to New Athens, Nova Hopoenia, or other cities. The early post-Leonidas era has been prominently noted for a rapid reconstruction of New Athens with completely different architecture and the collapse of the Conarian Cliff connecting the Aegaen Mainland with the central Great Continent.

###### The Post Minecraftian Collapse (2037-)

After the collapse of the Second Minecraftian Empire and its annexation by Pugia, the Emperor of Imperial Aegaea houses the Minecraftian government-in-exile, actively cooperating with Niedernburg, Sindelbach and Mantenion's governments for a potential restoration to power, and has begun naval movements in the Northern Great Sea of questionable hostility. Aegaen II has stated his intentions (to Pug), that they are 'peaceful' and that he hopes to 'restore Minecraftian rule' in Fort Neva. However, the gestures of the naval movements have appeared to be threatening towards Elysium, and intentionally so by Emperor Aegaen II. The much smaller northern fleets were ordered to move north near two islands in the Pugian Empire (for supply), some small detachments patrolling the northwestern Great Sea, and one fleet (The Mitenlan Fleet) moving near Fort Neva to defend the city should it be attacked by a foreign power. Much more recently, a submarine detachment of the Aegaen Heavenly Navy or Heavenly Aegaen Navy (AHN/HAN) moved directly to the coastline of the northwestern Great Sea for around 8 minutes until it went away. The Aegaen Empire has also begun movements on the Leewardian border with Syrena, with a Seraphimist coup incoming, but Aegaen II has remained silent on the matter with Syrena. The threatening gestures on the part of the Heavenly Emperor have attracted a lot of praise from Niedernburg and Sindelbach, which still have a Minecraftian plurality or even majority.

Later in the week Aegaen II pulled back the Navy from the north as he didn't consider it "worth it" to put ships in the far north with little supply in the event of a foreign attack against the Heavenly Empire. On the day of the 100th anniversary of the Second Aego-Lavian War, several provinces in the north agreed to denounce Elysium and swear to "bring back Minecraftia" as a sovereign state. When the Minecraftian Liberation War (Aegaen Empire historiography)/Minecraftian War of Independence (official name?) began, Emperor Aegaen II had major plans for a full scale intervention to restore the Aegaen Empire's former ally. However, with the swift defeat of the rebellion, Aegaea plans to reenter isolation perpetually.

Much more recently in 2038 the Emperor has passed a series of laws which have been deemed by outside "observers" as a transition to a democratic system of government, although his purpose was mainly to limit the power of future Aegaen Emperors and Empresses to prevent potentially devastating repercussions in the future like the first Aegaen Emperor beforehand. These laws include the establishment of a prime minister role, democratic elections of provincial governors instead of the previous appointment by the Emperor, and the official end of Aegaen II's rule is set to be at January 8, 2051. In addition, the designated successor is to be Princess Asinima.

In January 2040, an ominous buildup has occurred on the border with the new Chrysanthian Unreal State, still fighting a war with the United Democratic Front. This appears to be nothing more than simple self-defense though, for the time being. Aegaea is dominated by large-scale fighting continuing on the southern border and the continuation of the Second Civil War in Syrena, the revival of indie game culture (Arminas and the Phantom Moon), and the rise of monarchist conservatism in the Minecraftian north with the old Second Kaiserreich gone.

## Government and Politics

The Aegaen Empire stands as a semi-absolute federal monarchy. It has an Emperor, a Crown-Prince, and a Dikastiko (Court Leader). The Emperor is ***Emperor Aegaen II***, the Crown-Prince(ss) is ***Princess Asinima***, and the Dikastiko is ***Argyris Marise***. The Emperor has near absolute authority in almost all affairs; both civilian and military, but can appoint various ministers to do things. Aegaen II currently has full control over most civilian affairs and diplomacy but the military's commander in chief is ***Inoue Takaaki***. The Dikastiko, Argyris, also has full power over judicial affairs but judges themselves mostly depend on the Aegaen courtroom.

The Aegaen Constitution enshrines freedom of expression and other constitutional rights as a central, core part of Aegaen Empire society. Even with referendums, states are unable to leave the central core government (they must follow a two step process, first to be Autonomous then independent. Autonomous States can hold referendums for independence as long as they keep close ties, alliance and protection by the Central Aegaen Government, and promises for eventual reintegration if the independent nation could not sustain itself). The Empire also enshrines the right to be armed, as it is a core and central part of Aegaen culture. Despite the amount of weapons many Afterlings hold, the nation is surprisingly peaceful especially compared to the more violent regions of Syrena (currently in skirmishes with rebels) and Lavia (multiple rebel groups, syndicalist uprisings, Kal Lavian forces).

The Aegaen Royal Family is not the only royal family with significant influence in politics; the Thyssan (Thessalonica), Alvard (Achaean), and Neubach (New Minecraftia) royal families maintain a large sway in their respective regions, but the Aegaen Royal Family is the principal royal family that controls the Aegaen Empire.

The Empire is notable for its impartial stance in the Post-Aegaen I era against or for Jude, which would be all for naught as Jude would mistake the Emperor, Aegaen II, as an enemy in the Lavian Republic's final days. However, this was mainly due to the overwhelmingly anti war rhetoric of the Aegaen Empire's population, something that would only change in the Pugian attempt to blow up New Athens in January 2033, in which the anti war rhetoric faded and a striking oratory of pro Aegaen nationalism arose in both its normal provinces and its autonomous regions, something that would escalate even further after Forp's takeover of Nytt Lavia, as well as after the Syndicalist victory in the Civil War.

Most of the population still is fiercely anti-war and pro-isolationist/non-interventionist, with the exception of the majority of the Minecraftian ethnic Aegaens, who are often pro-Minecraftian in all issues including wars and tend to sail overseas to enlist due to the Aegaen Empire's stance of strict neutrality in major conflicts. With conflict boiling in Lavia once again, the Aegaen Empire prepares to defend its near-absolute (it maintains an alliance with Minecraftia) neutrality, possibly by force.

The Spectral Lands, an autonomous province, is typically pro-Lavian but have been demonstrated to show fierce Aegaen nationalism if their home country is aggressive or dictatorial, displayed by their government's disapproval of the Jude regime, as well as their vehement disgust of the regime of Kal Lavia/Forpist Lavia. Multiple times, the Lavians of the Spectral Lands sent petitions to the Aegaen government to intervene and "liberate" their home country, and fought in Syrenian and Minecraftian armies in the Battle of Lavia (2032). Despite the government's fiery disapproval of the Kal Lavian government, there are a minority of supporters within the Spectral Lands.

New Minecraftia, the other of the two autonomous provinces, is dominated by Minecraftians who are often very supportive of the Second Kaiserreich at home. This leads to some rifts between the province and the central Royal Family controlled government, mainly over the Royal Family's strict neutrality and the New Minecraftia province's massive support for Minecraftia in its wars and diplomatic happenings. This leads to many New Minecraftians enlisting in the Minecraftian Armed Forces, especially during the Battle of Lavia. The province nearly revolted after hearing of Virrease's killing of Rotislav, but after Aegaen II ascended to power, relations mended. Minecraftians went to New Minecraftia first when they pursued the Afterlings, eventually settling down on Oppenheim Island and establishing a nation. They forgot about the rivalry as time went by, but in the modern era it resurfaced. New Minecraftia is one of the least patriotic Aegaen provinces.

The Emperor of Imperial Aegaea, Aegaen II, has barred the creation of political parties in 2035, wishing for the country to 'not be torn apart by democracy' like neighbouring Lavia and more recently Syrena, and encouraged 'non-partisan politics' with people representing their own ideals rather than a political coalition or party.

###### Province Renaming

In mid-late 2034 New Minecraftia was renamed Niedernburg, with the local governor citing the "large cultural and language barriers" between the Second Minecraftian Empire and New Minecraftia, as the pursuit and Minecraftian migration to Oppenheim Island was around 700 years ago and since then language and customs had changed a lot, mainly due to the immense influence from their Southern Afterling neighbors, but there is still loose mutual intelligibility between the Minecraftian language and New Minecraftian speakers, who speak an Aygirn-Minecraftian creole. New Minecraftia also had converted to Agreleism in the mid 1900s, which also was another reason for the renaming according to Governor Stephan Lehrer. This was the first Aegaen province to change its name.

Bolyarg renamed itself to "Outer Ephesia", on December 28, 2035.

###### Province Merging

There has been debate to merge Sindelbach and Niedernburg with both having significant New Minecraftian ethnics. However, due to Virrease's genocide of Minecraftians Sindelbach is now half-and-half with Afterlings having very significant demographics as part of Virrease's "Operation Sanbrum" or the resettlement of Afterlings in the autonomous territories and the exodus or genocide of their native peoples. This operation was stopped immediately after his death by the Regency Council, and enforced by Cynthia Aegaen during her regnancy. Thus, the Niedenburg province did not want Sindelbach due to Virrease's 'tainting' of the city-province.

Likewise, many people have wanted Kaos and Syncozopolis to merge, as well as Ingullsland and Saucelia. However, none of the provincial governments have taken steps to a merge. Thus far, no Aegaen province has merged with another.

### Administrative divisions

In Aegaea, there are 23 provinces. Out of those two are autonomous (Niedenburg and Spectral Lands), and five are city districts (N. Athens, N. Thessalonica, Mantenion, Sindelbach and Syncozopolis.

Autonomous provinces were designed in 2031 under Cynthia Aegaen's regency, the only one being New Minecraftia. In 2032 the Spectral Lands Autonomy was established in the first weeks of Aegaen II's tenure. There has been debate to establish the Leeward as an autonomous region, but this was declined after a referendum.

There are also two territories, both colonies in the Far West.

#### List of provinces

* Niedernburg (*Autonomous, New Minecraftia*)
* **Sindelbach**
* **Mantenion**
* Kalburg
* Achaea
* Mephyria
* Ingullsland
* Saucelia
* Mountain Territory
* Outer Ephesia (*Bolyarg*)
* Akhyfria
* **Mittelban**
* Sindom
* **New Athens (Capital City)**
* Lacipolis
* Kaos
* **Syncozopolis**
* Larissa
* Yria
* **New Thessalonica**
* Sizzelia
* Leeward Peninsula
* The Spectral Lands (*Autonomous*)

#### List of territories (Northern Aegaen Colonial Empire)

* New Sindelbra
* Arsarae
* New Rasarae
* Pietsland
* Titanium Coast
* Lakesfield
* New Larissa
* New Leewardia
* Nyshbarg
* Myncra
* North Visarae
* South Visarae

#### List of territories (Southern Aegaen Colonial Empire)

* Port of Good Feelings

***Total Population: 15,300,000 (2036 Census)***

*(Mainland: 15,200,000 + Colonies: 100,000)*

### **Provincial Information**

#### New Athens

New Athens is the only city in Imperial Aegaea to have subdivisions, known as Districts. Each district has a "Margrave" in place, which can do limited decisions for development or changes to each individual city district.