Occupied Listonia

The Paritions of Vekaiyu: Vekaiyu (red), Listonia (green), Kunnat Highlands (blue).

Civil wars, brought on by the weak king Silesi V and his policies on removing peasant rights and unique city identities and cultures, sparked into a heated conflict at the close of 1588. With vulpine people fighting against each other, the nation weakened considerably. Unable to defend itself, the powerful nations of Dveria and Sevropia, along with the nation of Rykkovaa, partitioned Listonia from Vekaiyu in 1598. Dividing the province between each other, the nations hoped to gain from its agricultural integrity. This shocked the vulpine people, who quickly understood the goal of the three nations was to wipe Vekaiyu off the map. While still fighting against one another for control, they managed to keep unity against a common enemy, though Dveria partitioned the ever-rainy Kunnat Highlands from the vulpine nation in 1611.

Unfortunately, the partitions of Vekaiyu prolonged civil unrest, as the nation struggled to overcome famine. The wars officially ended in 1633, and a new form of government, Socialism promised more rights to the people while at the same time protecting their well-being. As the nation's economy shifted to accommodate adequate farming in the interior of the nation, Vekaiyu slowly stabilized.

Listonia was not as lucky. In the Dverian-controlled section, all Vayan Catholic cathedrals were converted to protestant churches. The practices and teachings of vulpine customs, traditions, and history was outlawed, and, while Listonians were allowed to work from their lands, they were not allowed to own any territory. Sevropian-controlled Listonia did not fare much better. Listonian peasants were assimilated into Sevropian culture. Lands were re-divided and Sevropian peasants were moved into the area in an attempt to water-down the Vekaiyun loyalty, which included some Listonians stripped from their farms and forced to begin life anew. This move proved disastrous, as Sevropians, ill-prepared for the hardships of the Listonian lands, experienced a series of harsh growing seasons, preventing it from participating in the second partition.

Listonians themselves revolted. Gypsy horsemen, who were initially employed to police over the land under Vekaiyun rule, suddenly became rebel leaders. Entire families attempted to fight the occupying soldiers with anything they could, and often met harsh consequences for their actions. Numerous revolts and uprisings dotted the seventeenth and eighteenth century in the occupied region, as entire cities - both Listonian and non-Listonian - were burned to the ground. Agriculture suffered greatly, as much farmland was torched during the initial occupation period. This practice was ceased, however, when both Dveria and Sevropia bound Listonian serfs to their land, requiring them to produce a minimum amount of goods per year to maintain their security and well-being.

Vekaiyun attempts were made at restoring Listonia as a province once more, but they were often thwarted by their own formidable defense system set up centuries ago. Hilly terrain also proved fighting an offensive battle to be difficult and, with Vekaiyu colonizing lands abroad, the need for the Listonian breadbasket dwindled. Morale within the stateless lands decreased, and many farm produced just above minimum, turning the once efficient land into mediocrity. Gypsies remained as an important group of vulpine people in the region, and consistently opposed the foreign occupation.

A final attempt at liberating Listonia was made by Max Venavle in 1984, however, fears of igniting an inter-regional war caused him to back down. The former Vekaiyun dictator is quoted with saying, "Listonia will always be the stolen jewels which once rested on the Vekaiyun crown."