The Western IslesBoard

Middle Ages and the Octarchy

c.500AD to 827 || During this period, the area now known as Albaclythe was dominated by eight major kingdoms, each with their own smaller vassals and tributaries. Two of these kingdoms were Aprosiatic , but the rest all mainly consisted of either Alochnorse, Early Anclire or Gwyth peoples. The eight kingdoms were, as follows, Khatám, Mešdqám, Morlochclythe, Gwyfedd, Arleyme, Norleyme, Swyleme and Estdorlia. To varying degrees, each state would see its rise to hegemony among the other kingdoms, the most notable being the Estdorlian Hegemony c.670-752AD, with other kingdoms seeing rises of influence to. It is also typical that these eight kingdoms war over smaller vassal states, such as lordships bordering Arleyme and Gwyfedd, with Arleyme frequently diminishing the power of their lesser neighbours.

The Octarchy ends in 827, upon the signing of the Sithain Mhor (Great Peace), when Fithe Donthaeward of Arleyme defeats Swyleme and Estdorlia at the Battle of Brew's Bluff, ending the existence of both of these two Kingdoms. From this point on, Donthaeward and his descendants fashion themselves not as the Fithe of Arleyme, but as Thegn of the Anclires, beginning the formation of the modern Thegndom of Ancland.

875AD || This year marks the death of Donthaeward, who had no heirs. Three claimants, his brother, uncle and second-cousin (Donseur, Harothe, and Matillia), all fought for the throne over the period known as the Great Anarchy (when it only lasted about 11 months), before Harothe (Donthaeward's uncle) took the throne, which marks the beginning of the Baltican Dynasty of Arleyme.

917AD-948 || Harothe dies and is succeeded by his son, Dwythe. Over the course of his reign, Dwythe would conquer much of the southern portions of what is now Albaclythe, and in 943 crowned himself Thegn of Ancland - officially forming the Kingdom of Ancland. Northwards, the rump state of the northern marches of Norleyme and Morlochclythe still existed as separate states, and Gwyfedd is not annexed by Ancland until 1345 with the Acts of Dominion.

Early Modern Period and Unification

1557 || Upon the death of Thegna Gloria I of Ancland, Earl Arthrel II of Alochclythe is crowned Thegn Arthrel I of Ancland, and by extension Arthrel holds dominion over the Sasanian Marches and Norleyme

1567 || Arthrel passes the Act of Supremacy through the Seomra (Parliament), annexing Norleyme equally between Ancland and Morlochclythe

1598-1604 || The Anclo-[nation] war saw the rise of profile for the Anclous Navy, as the much larger and more professional [nation] navy was defeated by mainly the bad weather, but it was a huge publicity win the Ancland.

1708 || The Alba movement - a political movement wanting the complete unity of Morlochclythe, Sasania and Ancland, begins a gathering at Denpool, which is mistaken for an uprising. 13 men lose their lives, and throws into the limelight the idea of one, unified nation.

1721 || The Acts of Unification and the subsequent Act of Singularity end the existence of Morlochclythe and Ancland to form the Thegndom of Albaclythe.

Colonial and Modern Periods

1794 || King Etheren VIII establishes a new constitutional monarchy in the wake of political turmoil, but remained particularly unpopular due to his extravagant and autocratic fashion of ruling the Thegndom.

1798-1803 || The Albian Civil War begins in 1798 after Etheren attempted to shut down the National Constituent Chamber for the second time a month, with the Chamber ultimately winning the war thanks to more modernised tactics and establishing the Albian Commonership. The political commentary produced by republican thinkers who supported the Commonership is considered the main inspiration of the later leaders of the Confederacy of Seòmar Democratic Republics that was created years later. The Commonership managed to lose control of Sasania, however - the Aprosiatic nation breaking away and forming the Sasanian Republic in 1802. The Monarchy returned after the death of the military leaders of the Commonership in 1803.

1810-1900 || Whilst the Thegndom had experimented with colonialism throughout the 18th and 17th centuries, colonisation accelerated due to the "Great Game of the Southern Sea" between Albaclythe and Altera (?), whereby each nation accelerated their colonisation efforts to outcompete one another. Albaclythe managed to create a modest colonial Empire, whilst frequently finding itself in heightened tensions between Razzgriz (?) and the Khas-Khirati Empire (?).

1901-1904 || The Albo-[nation] War sees a surprise victory for Albaclythe, allowing them to take more colonial possessions in the process.

1926 || Albaclythe, after the General Strike, sees Red Monday: groups of the far-left Party for Revolution, based upon the republican practices of the Commonership, seize government buildings and formed the Confederacy of Seòmar Democratic Republics. This communist regime establishes massive industrialisation programmes and sees the complete redevelopment of the capital's city centre.

1938-1949 || During the Imperial War, the CSDR signs a defensive pact with [Free Power nation], which eventually drags the CSDR into the IW as an associate partner of the Free Powers. The Confederacy drafts its "5-Point Mandate on Freeing the Working Classes" as it prepares for peace negotiations, attempting to establish friendly communist nations across the Southern Sea (whether it works is up for OOC debate)

1975-1979 || The CSDR collapses due to economic stagnation, and is replaced by the United Albian Republic, or Albaclythe, and attempts to reconcile the former Confederate states. During this time, the Sasanian Troubles also occur, where Sasanian separatists and those wishing to unify with Aprosia (?) cause huge rioting in the area. An agreement is later signed to allow Sasania greater autonomy within Albaclythe.