User:ZKang123/Sandbox/Ascot History

See also: User:ZKang123/Sandbox/Viveltia History

Prehistory

According to the Scrolls of Davus, Ascot (and North Ascot) used to be occupied by a tribe of natives which is believed to have originated from mainland Antarephia. It is believed these natives, called the Davunians, rose in prominence in the Holmish Islands around the 3rd century BC, establishing a kingdom which lasted for at least until the 2nd century AD, when much of the natives died out when an unknown disease spread through the nation (believed to be bird flu). The island was eventually occupied by some Antarephian explorers before Ascot's eventual colonisation by the Ingerish.

Colonisation

Due to the need of establishing a form of checkpoint between Antarpehia and Uletha, and the need for resettlement of several Asvenists overcrowding in Ingerish colonies, the Ingerish arrived in the Holmish Islands in the 1650s. The settlement of the Asvenists was met with little opposition; by then only about 1800 people occupied Ascot. A pact was signed between the Tegung clan, the largest clan at the time, and the Ingerish settlers to establish a port and a town on Ascot, making it the most prominent settlement in the Holmish islands.

In the early years of colonisation, about 60,000 to 300,000 Ulethans immigrated to the islands. Initially, the economy of the Holmish colony blossomed, until overcrowding on the island and a famine later have made conditions worse. Tensions between Ulethans and the natives rose over the lack of resources until the Ingerish government decided to eliminate all the remaining natives. Most of the natives eventually fled to mainland Antarephia or hide in other Holmish islands, thus eliminating all remaining natives on Ascot.

However, the land problem has not been settled over the discovery that Ascot has plenty of arable land for farming; a brief war started in 1677 between Ulethan businessmen over competing land uses. Eventually, the war was settled when the government took ownership over the land in Ascot, though this was met with some opposition from the supposed landowners. Agriculture became the next major sector of the Ingerish colony, but a major flooding on the island in 1717 undermined the economy. Eventually, many settlers decided to leave for other colonies with better working opportunities, leaving behind only about 15,000 Ulethans on the island.

In the 1730s the Franquese have settled on the northeastern parts of the Holmish islands, which eventually became Franquese Holmish in 1748 when the Ingerish and Franquese signed a pact allowing the Franquese to occupy the islands. Over declining trade in Ascot, the Ingerish meanwhile have decided to leave the islands and hand Ascot over to the Franquese administration. However, several Ingerish settlers on Ascot were concerned over their would-be rights under the Franquese, hence under negotiations, the Ingerish decided to set up an Ingerish-administered government on the islands on what will be North Ascot, while the other Ulethans on Ascot are given a choice whether to join the Franquese or gain independence. Eventually, many Ulethans on Ascot decided to form its own government, while the Ingerish kept North Ascot. The division of Ascot was then signed on 1850, ending Ingerish colonisation on the main island of Ascot.

Post-independent Ascot

After independence, the Asvenist community in Ascot rose in prominence for being the majority of independent Ascot, hence a theocratic constitution was established along with the newly independent government. However, eventually, the government is split over conservatives and liberal Asvenists, and eventually, most of the liberals were forced out of the government when the Primus of Ascot Ryon Tellser made conservative Asvenism the only legalised religion in Ascot in 1913. However, the liberals revolted and overthrew the government in 1920; even then many Ascottians were not happy with the theocratic rule. Therefore, the Primus Lincoln Harrius was then assassinated in a terror attack in 1927, throwing the whole of Ascot in anarchy when a war was waged between the Liberals, Conservatives and other non-Asvinists. Eventually, it ended when a Primus Henry Philip officially took power in 1934, supported by some communists which have gained considerable support in Ascot.

In the next 51 years, Ascot was ruled under a communist regime, while still allowing religion in the state. Its isolationist regime, however, resulted in a lack of social and economic development. By the 1960s, the other nations in the Holmic islands have a higher GDP level than Ascot. The poor economic conditions resulted in the Ascottian Spring in 1966, which was brutally suppressed. About 200 protestors were killed, and 30,000 people were arrested. However, in response to the attempted revolution, Henry Philip resigned and was taken over by Finance Primer Kurst Antipas. The government of Ascot, under the new primus, implemented reforms for the general improvement of the economy, through the improvement of worker's conditions and opening up its ports for trade, but the opening was limited to only certain ships.

In 1982, Ascot ran into foreign debt over mismanagement of finances and decrease in agricultural production when the lands of Ascot began to lose its fertility. A protest broke out in October that year over the fact that the government arrested key Asvenist pastor Zekiel Thomas, who urged that Ascot 'should no longer rely on agriculture to survive'. The protests accumulated into a riot when the soldiers reportedly killed 18 protestors. The soldiers, being overpowered by the rebellion, decided to join the masses. The Primus Kurst Antipas tried to flee, but Viveltian forces managed to capture him and send him back to Ascot, where he voluntarily resigned in December. By this time, the communists have lost power in November after the protests, creating a political vacuum in Ascot.

The National Ascot Front, supported by Vilvetia, formed a provisional government under elected Primus Michael Bank. However, the government received little support from the Ascottians as they accused the NAF as a way of Vilvetian interference in the state's politics, while also accusing the party of being slow in introducing reforms. Eventually, the NAF was dissolved after a peaceful revolution in August 1986. A national election was held in September 1986, which was won by the Ascot Asvenist Party (AAP). In an attempt to settle the national debt, the AAP government sold many industrial and economic enterprises built and operated by the communist regime at undervalued prices, but this move was openly criticised as many Vilvetians and NA businessmen took over the companies. Nevertheless, the economy of Ascot generally improved before the end of the 20th century.

In 2001 the Primus Stephen Curtmantle stepped down over corruption charges and was taken over by Primus James Nephon. He made further improvements in Ascot economy by promoting local enterprises in the country, which grew in prominence in the Holmic islands and later Antarpehia. Today, Ascot became a prominent trade city in the Holmic islands with a considerable high level of development.