Partitions of Vekaiyu

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

The Partitions of Vekaiyu occurred in two separate stages. The First Parititon of Vekaiyu took place in 1598 and witnessed the separation of Western Vekaiyu with Eastern Vekaiyu, named Listonia. The Second Partition of Vekaiyu occurred thirteen years later in 1611 and saw the Kunnat Highlands annexed to Dveria. These partitions are considered among Vekaiyu's "darkest hours" and remain a sore topic to this day.

First Partition

Civil wars, brought on by the weak king Silesi V and his policies on removing peasant rights and removing more rights to unique city identities and cultures, sparked into a heated conflict at the close of 1588. This civil war pitted city against city, with no regional divide present, which aided in prolonging the war into a deeper and destructive conflict.

With vulpine people fighting against each other, the nation weakened considerably. The Vekaiyun Royal Army was thoroughly divided within two years of fighting, the once formidable divisions shattered as in-fighting continued. Consequently, Vekaiyu became increasingly fragmented, and foreign concern was gradually overlooked. This caught the attention of neighbors of Vekaiyu, namely Dveria, Rykkovaa, and Sevropia. Over the past two centuries, these three nations had grown quite used to Vekaiyun aggression, losing considerable amounts of territory and power in the process. The Vekaiyun neighbors seized the opportunity to annex a weakened Vekaiyu. Unable to defend itself, Vekaiyu lost out as the powerful three nations partitioned Listonia from Vekaiyu in 1598. Dividing the province between each other, the nations hoped to gain from its agricultural integrity. Within months, Vekaiyu had lost nearly 45% of its 1597 territory.

Second Partition of Vekaiyu

Response to the first partition was rapid and alarming, but it did not quell the unrest within the Vekaiyun state. If anything, it prolonged it. However, this was enough to cause the warring cities within Vekaiyu to loosely unite against the overbearing foreign expansion. Vekaiyu itself took this threat seriously, believing the goal of the three nations was to wipe Vekaiyu off the map.

However, within ten years, Vekaiyun efforts were stretched thin. The nation had lost a considerable amount of strength, splendor, and people. It is estimated that at this point in the war, fifteen percent of Vekaiyu's original 1598 population had been killed. Due to their inability to raise a significant unified army, Dveria partitioned the ever-rainy Kunnat Highlands from the vulpine nation in 1611.

Attempts were made at a third partition, but by this time Vekaiyu had shrank to an easily defensible size. Dverian aggression would continue for nearly a generation until Vekaiyu obtained peace.

Aftermath

Vekaiyu

Unfortunately, the partitions of Vekaiyu prolonged civil unrest, as the nation struggled to overcome famine. A large reason for this famine was the nation's inability to cope without the agricultural breadbasket Listonia. Eventually, however, cities within Vekaiyu began to re-orient themselves, and one common side appeared to finally gain a significant upper hand, mainly due in part to identifying with a new political belief, socialism. The wars officially ended in 1633, and a new socialist monarchy promised more rights to the people while at the same time protecting their well-being and balancing the rights of cities, now identified as provinces. As the nation's economy shifted to accommodate adequate farming in the interior of the nation, Vekaiyu slowly stabilized.

Listonia

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 being 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 and much farmland was torched during the initial occupation period. This practice was ceased, however, when both Dveria and Sevropia bound Listonian peasants 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."

Modern Cultural Impact

The Partitions of Vekaiyu remain as unhealed scars within the nation of Vekaiyu. After the civil war, common Vekaiyun sentiments toward foreign nations became bitter, cold, and unable to trust foreigners. Consequently, Vekaiyun citizens adopted an isolationist policy against foreign nations. Aside from the obvious connotations of being occupied by other nations, this was much easier to obtain in Vekaiyu than Listonia, since Vekaiyu was much more vulpine in percentages and numbers.

Currently, Vekaiyu and Listonia are at peace. However, there is a varying degree of opinions as to how separate or unified the two nations should be. Selvala McEva has been adamant about a Vekaiyun absorption of Listonia, while the Listionian Premier Stapen Evesuni has proclaimed his "unwavering stance" on Listonian independence. New Vekaiyun Premier Ikrisia Levinile has yet to really comment on the situation. As for opinions of the people, Vekaiyu is divided on whether Listonia should be unified to create the Vekaiyu of old. Many are apathetic, which could stem from the two nations working together quite well since Listonian Independence. Listonians, on the other hand, have become increasingly more willing to remain independent of Vekaiyu. This is most likely due to Listonian cultural programs sponsored by the government, which have been geared toward giving Listonia a completely separate identity to Vekaiyu.