Ildernia

Ildernia, officially the Ildernian Kesriate, is an independent state in southern Onthukhan that is made out of two geographically separated parts: Milland and the Ilder. Ildernia shares a border with Scylding, Kuzina and Sunovia.

Ildernia was initially established as a Græssiate within Baykonia however would act as an independent state following King Biglrab's coup and formally become one upon its expulsion from Baykonia by King Biglrab. It remained an independent state until when it became a vassal of Velerin after losing land to Kuzina following a dispute. It remained a part of the Velerian Empire until its dissolution.

Ildernia is a unitary absolute monarchy ruled by the de Honse family, with Hugo Ildernestes de Honse as its current Kesr.

Etymology
The name "Ildernia" comes from the Litan word for Eldham, Ilderna. The term "Ilderna" comes from "Ensle Derna", which means "Final Island", which is likely what the crew of the expedition referred to the land they discovered, believing it to be the end of the world. According to legend, this was then corrupted as the people who listened to the crews' tales of their discoveries thought they said "Ens Ilderna" meaning "Over in Ilderna". As such, when the Litans migrated with the Baykonians to Eldham, they referred to the new land as "Ilderna", which later would become the Litan name for all of Eldham.

Pre-migration
Prior to the Baykonian Migration, the Milland was inhabited by the Millayan tribe, who are described by the Milland Wars to be a tribe who "wanted war, and have everything to destroy". The Milland Wars itself is about a legendary invasion of Legasia, in which the Millayans took part. Nothing is known about the pre-migration history of the Ilder.

Early History (1705-1734)
Enthof Island, the island on which Ilderburg currently lies, was discovered in 1705 during an attempted expedition to Litany by Seved Driets de Honse. According to legend, the expedition got caught in a storm which put them off course and would lead them to discover what would eventually become Neubaykonia. Upon realising this error, the expedition returned to Birkenport, where King Peg of Baykonia got word of the discovery and initiated the Baykonian Migration to the newly discovered lands.

Ilderburg would be established shortly after in 1706 as an estate of Seved Driets de Honse. Ilderburg would be given its name the following year in 1707. Ilderburg became a Barony in 1711 upon the request of Seved Driets de Honse, who was merely the Lord-Mayor of Ilderburg at the time. Ilderburg would also become a Principality in 1713 due to Seved's appointment as Prince and heir to the Baykonian throne, with the Barony of Ilderburg becoming the Prince-Barony of Ilderburg.

Ilderburg became a town in 1714 following a decree by its Prince-Baron. This led to an increase in population and activity, which in addition to the power of its ruling Honsiate family, led Ilderburg to become one of the most powerful towns in Neubaykonia. Ilderburg would reach its height of power and activity in the 1720s, as the town functioned as the seat of the Regent and later King of Neubaykonia. Ilderburg would also become home to the first newspaper in Baykonia and one of the oldest in Eldham, the Ilderburg Post, being founded in 1724. With the establishment of the Domnates of Baykonia in 1728, the Honsiates were granted the Domnate of the Ilders, which included Enthof Island and Ilder Island. The Atlechian Crisis of the early 1730s would result in the decline of Ilderburg as it lost both people and political power, ending in its abandonment with the death of Seved Driets de Honse.

Alexandrine and Early Hubertine Period (1734-1765)
In 1734, a group of Litan refugees led by Aletsánder Svintersbrœick de Honse, who was the son of Seved Driets de Honse, settled Ilderburg, believing it to be a new Litany due to its architectural features. Aletsánder assumed control of the town, which was renamed to "Litansbœrg" and implemented Litan law and customs to the town. Aletsánder's reign would last less than three years as he died of an infection in 1737, which according to legend came from the bite of a pig as Aletsánder tried to slaughter the pig for pork.

His son Hubertus Perriér de Honse succeeded his father. Hubert largely reversed the reforms and edicts of his father and converted to Snoutiality, although this conversion was only symbolic. Hubert sought to restore Ilderburg's power and activity throgh economic reforms and established the Ilderburg Company for this purpose. The Ilderburg Company sought to establish plantations and trading outposts overseas and managed to establish a colony at the south-eastern tip of Zamotz called New Birkenport. The Ilderburg Company proved to be a failed venture and the colony was later abandoned and absorbed into Femminellia.

The failed colonial venture meant a shift in policy as Hubert now sought to improve the standing and prestige of the Ildernian state. As such, Prince-Baron Hubert sought to take over the County of Milland following the death of Joseph Richardson, the last Count of Milland. His ambitions were countered by the Grand Duke of Kuzino, who himself sought to incorporate the county into his domain. The Domn of Xandtmarch and the King of Baykonia, Biglrab, also sought the County but would eventually declare Hubert as the new Count of Milland, thus ending the dispute in de Honse's favour.

Hubert de Honse launched an expedition to Salameberg in 1759, with the intent of restoring the city and Baykonian presence in the area. He was joined by Josep Thorne, the Duke of Sunovia and Grand Duke of Kuzino, who declared the re-establishment of Salameberg. Both became friends and close allies during the expedition, which is today regarded as the beginning of the friendship between Ildernia and Sunovia. Salameberg and the rest of Baykonia in Rathnir would be invaded by Daelyria in 1762 and has been under their control ever since.

The Prince-Barony experimented with constitutional rule between 1751 to 1770. According to the constitution, legislative power was vested in a "Public Assembly" where all citizens of Ilderburg, except for the Prince-Baron, were permitted to participate. Due to Ilderburg's low population, no changes in policy or legislation could be enacted during this time, politically paralysing Ilderburg.

Late Hubertine Period (1765-1790)
Following his victory in the 1765 Baykonian Elections, Hubert de Honse shifted attention from the Prince-Barony to take care of more matters nationwide. Realising the failure of the constitutional system in the Prince-Barony, Hubert made the decision to abolish it through a self-coup in 1770. A mere week later, Hugo merged his domains to form the Lands of Ilder Litany, considered to be the first modern Ildernian state. The formation of Ilder Litany inspired the Thornes of Sunovia to merge their domains into Thorovia later that year.

For the rest of Hubert's term as PM, Ilder Litany was neglected and eventually abolished with the administrative reform of 1772. Ilderburg merged with New Salameberg following the administrative reform in an attempt to establish a greater capital city for Baykonia, called Baykonford. The merger, which would end up failing and be officially dissolved following independence in 1791, allowed Hubert to establish a town in the Milland. The city was based around the location of the estate owned by its former Count, Joseph Richardson, after whom the town would be named.

Ildernia was formally established in 1780 as the Græssiate of Ildernia, which was a province without its own Deputy in the Chamber of Deputies, instead sharing a Deputy with nearby Domnates, in this case Xandtmarch for the Milland and Neubaykonia Proper for the Ilders. With the establishment of Ildernia, the border with Revreia was adjusted to better fit natural boundaries, granting Bimont to the Milland. A piece of northern Milland was ceded to Legasia for the same reason in 1784.

The year of 1785 is regarded as a golden year for Ildernia, as it grew in population and activity due to immigrants settling in Ildernia. However, the collapse of Baykonia which would be initiated the same year stunted any future potential growth and led to a decade of stagnation and decline, from which Ildernia has yet to recover.

Ildernia was among the first states to refuse to recognise Biglrab's coup and regarded the absolute monarchy of Baykonia as illegitimate, with all power that the Baykonian government had over Ildernia being assumed by Græz Hubert, making Ildernia de facto independent in 1786. An attempt to hold a nationwide election by Ildernia was made in the same year but ended up with a very low turnout and therefore was declared as invalid, with Hubert retaining his powers seized from the Baykonian government over Ildernia, turning Ildernia into an absolute monarchy in 1787.

Seeing a need to defend the newly independent Ildernian state, Hubert decreed the establishment of the Ildernian Guard in 1787 for the sake of law enforcement and the defence of Ildernia. The same year Hubert granted a charter to Bimont, forming the Lordship of Bimont with Bonkman Evengale as its Lord. Revreia, another region of Baykonia opposed to absolutist rule, petitioned to join Ildernia in 1788 and was admitted into Ildernia the same year. With this, Ildernia had reached its height, both in terms of size and population. Ildernia ceased to formally recognise Biglrab as King of Baykonia in 1788, following his announcement against Græz Hubert, but would withdraw it later the same year as both leaders reconciled.

Modern Era (1790-)
W.I.P.