Well, I've been working on this for the past 3 weeks and I'm ready for a break. I was hoping to release it all in one massive wave, but that may take a while, so here's the little bit I've been working on.
So, to give you an idea on how Salide started, read on.
Just a note before reading, forgive me if some of the paragraphs are not very well written. Making the history is easy, presenting it is hard
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Mesolithic 8000BCE - 4500BCE
Neolithic 4500BCE - 3800BCE
Copper Age 2500BCE - 2000BCE
Bronze Age 2000BCE - 500BCE
Iron Age 500BCE - 400CE
Prehistoric Salide
There is no record of any humans in Salide before Mesolithic people started to arrive by boat between 8000BCE and 7000BCE. From about 4500BCE, Neolithic Settlers arrived, introducing cereal cultivars, a housing culture, and stone monuments.
The Bronze Age brought about new technology, the most innovative being the use of metal, along with the wheel, harnessing oxen, textile weaving, and skillful metalworking (which produced new weapons and tools along with fine gold decorations). Salide in the late Bronze Age was part of a networked culture called the Atlantic Bronze age that included Ireland, Britain, France, and Iberia. This network introduced Celtic languages to the islands.
During the Iron Age, a Celtic language and culture emerged in Salide. There were 3 major migrations of Celtic peoples from Europe. The Priteni were the first, followed by the Belgae from northern Gaul and Britain. The Veneti (of the Brittany Peninsula) migrated by ship to the coast of Ireland and then to the Southern Island of Salide, around the same time as the Pritenis and the Belgae.
In the early 3rd Century a large group of Visigoths of northern Iberia migrated north and landed on the Southern Island, as well as a group of Saxons who landed on the eastern Grand Island in the latter half of the 3rd Century.
Christianity was introduced in the late 6th Century, with the arrival of Saint Peter (of Salide) in 564. Complete conversion of the islands was completed around the 9th Century.
Early Medieval Period, Viking raids, and the rise of the Saellaod Kingdom
The first viking raids were recorded in 803, when Vikings from Norway attempted to loot the island. This would mark the beginning of 2 centuries of intermittent warfare. By the late 850s, the Vikings founded several settlements on the Eastern coast of the Grand Island. The Vikings never achieved significant control of Salide, and were pushed out in the late 11th Century. However, the Viking settlements continued to flourish and trade had a significant impact on Salide's economy.
Salide was a patchwork of numerous rival clans (kingdoms) but beginning in the middle 9th Century, in 842, with the accession of Eoghan Mac Gabhann to king, the 8 major clans of southern Salide merged into one, creating a large Kingdom. The new Kingdom was named after the Saellaod Clan, the primary driver behind unification. This prompted other clans of the Islands to merge into larger kingships. By the end of the 9th Century, there were 4 major and 7 minor Kingdoms around Salide.
Clans of Southern Salide Before 842
Kingdom of Saellaod after unification in 842
Additional Notes:
-Saellaod is a Gaelic surname (which I made up for this AU). Following
basic Irish Gaelic pronunciation, you will find that it will translate into say-leed. After the English language takes over in the late 1600s, the name is Anglicized into it's current form, Salide, pronounced sah-leed. Also, the name Salise, of the current reigning House, is taken from Saellaois, a variant of Saellaod.
-The group of Visigoths that migrate to Salide's South Eastern Island are then after called Hansigoths, literally meaning 'group/band of Goths.'
Preview of later history:
-After the rise of Feudalism in the early 10th Century, there is a lot of infighting. After the death of a King in the late 12th Century, his Kingdom is split into 4 and a civil war begins between his sons. Other than that, there are no major events (aside from the European Famine of 1315-17 and the bubonic plague in 1349).
-Near the end of Feudalism, a Treaty of Union will be drafted to merge all of the Kingdoms of the Salidan Islands into one. However, unlike the case with the United Kingdom, all Kingdoms will become a part of the Salidan Kingdom and will not be considered as 'countries.'
-In the later 1600s, a large colonial empire arises, spanning the entire globe, including the Denton Islands. While not near as large as the Portuguese or the British Empire, probably comparable to the Dutch Empire. The Empire's subsequent fall would occur around the early 1800s, with the loss of 3/4 of it's empire to revolution, infighting, or other external forces. This would also be a motivator behind the revolution in Denton. As Salide's Empire crumbles, it exerts tighter control on the territories it still controls, especially Denton, because of it's abundant resources. Eventually, the colonists are suffocated and revolt in the 1850s. Salide is likely also facing opposition from the other colonial empires and cannot respond to the revolution fully and will end up losing Denton.
-Salide will participate fully in WWI, for reasons unknown yet. However, in WWII, the government will adopt a policy of Neutrality (while leaning towards the Allies) and will not join the war until 1943.
-Revolution against the monarchy in 1917, with a communist government taking over. Queen Amelia II travels to England. Her son Edward will restore the monarchy after the Communist govt loses control and fails.
Salide will adopt a policy of Neutrality through most of the 20th Century and as a consequence will not be a part of NATO.
I've been doing a lot of research on this, so most everything should be up to par. If anyone finds any questionable entries or have any concerns, please let me know and I will either fix them or explain in more detail.
-EZ
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Salide -
Denton -
The Interrealms
I am not very active on the forums anymore, but work is still being done on my AUs. Visit the
Salidan Altiverse Page on the SB Wiki for more information. All current work is being done on Google Docs.
If anyone wishes for their nations to interact with the countries of the Salidan Altiverse, please send me a PM, after which we can further discuss through email.