History of Gilana

The History of Gilana has been part part of written and oral legend since pre-history. Although history prior to the settlement by the Invisa clan is uncertain, fossil records show that the island has probably been settled on and off at points for nearly 20,000 years. The records show the island has many times been used as a bridge from Africa to the Americas in human migration.

Pre-History
The fossil record shows the first human settlements as occurring about 19,650 years ago. Scientists theorize hunters may have been following game during the last great ice age. However, there is currently dispute among scientists about the mode of travel. Most geologists agree that the glacier pack did not extend as far down as the African continent. However, no fossilized remains of boating equipment has been found on the eastern Gilanan shores, nor within a 10 mile range inland. The question of how the early Gilanan settlers came to the island remains a mystery.

First known settlement
The first known people to settle the system of islands was a system of clans led by a man named Invisa in circa 3,000 B.C. Although it has never been proved for certain, Invisa family lore claims the clan arrived from a region in modern day Portugal. The group arrived in the modern port city of Invis in the Invisio province. The number of settlers in the group was possibly up to 7,000.

The biggest mystery is why the clan chose to settle in the Invisio province. If the Portugal origin story is correct, then the family would have most likely arrived first in the Yencko region of Gilana. Invisa family history does indicate that the region was explored first, but later abandoned for unknown reasons. It is notable that forests fill 90% of Invisio. To this day, members of the House of Invisa have a controlling interest in the forest ministries of the Invisio and Agnon provinces, and members make up a slim minority of the administration of the national forestry ministry.

Kingdom of Invisio
Immediately upon settlement, according to Invisio lore, Invisa proclaimed the land would belong to him and his heirs, and be the land upon which a new kingdom would arise. According to written records of the Invisa family, two years after arriving in Invisio, construction on a royal house was finished, and the Kingdom of Invisa was proclaimed

Although life during the reign of King Invisa is said to have been relatively peaceful, in 2970 B.C. he died suddenly without leaving an heir. Invisa had seven sons, the oldest of which, Invisi, claimed to be the rightful heir to the throne. However, the second oldest son, Naher, claimed that Invisi had displeased their father in the past several years, and had confided to him that their father was considering making him the heir to the throne.

Naher and Invisi both had large followings from the population, but Invisi had control of the most of the military, except the navy, which was under the control of Naher. After an assassination attempt on Invisi, he sent a contingent of soldiers to capture Naher. Left with no other choice, the younger brother took his family and most of his followers, along with all the ships, and left Invisio and the mainland. They sailed to Napoli, the second largest island of the modern day Naher province, and settled there. Unable to follow, due to lack of ships, Invisi's soldiers fell back. Many advisers urged Invisi to build more ships and follow, but content with his kingship, Invisi left Naher and his followers to their exile. In order to create a sense of a kingdom under his rule, and not that associated with the entire family, Invisi renamed his realm the Kingdom of Invisio. After establishing his rule, Invisi quickly decided on an oldest son-based heirship in order to prevent further disputes.

For the next 2930 years, the dynasty of the kingdom was only threatened three times more. In 1904 B.C., the senior aide to King Invisee, Grandon, attempted to assassinate the king. The attempt was unsuccessful, but when Grandon was brought to trial, the king refused to consider execution for the aide. Instead, he sentenced Grandon and his accomplices to live in the barren desert to the east of Invisio. Grandon, his family, and his accomplices were marched 20 miles into the current day Grandon province, and left there. Although it seems clear the king expected the group to die in the wasteland, an exploration mission commissioned to the region ten years later by the King found most of the group to still be alive, including Grandon himself.

In 1634 B.C., King Invisenton was assassinated by a group who rebelled to the monarchy. With little other choice, the royal family fled west, with many followers and military leaders, led by Queen Luvenia to the region emcompassing today's Luvenia province. The leader of the group, Veraco, proclaimed himself as leader and proclaimed the Invisio Republic. Although Veraco had promised freedom from the royal elites, he quickly lapsed into autocracy, becoming one of the most tyrannical dictators the region has ever seen. All political opponents were executed, as was a small contingent of royalist rebels.

One year later, Queen Luvenia led a large contingent of soldiers back to Invisio, and forced Veraco's forces to fight. Inspired by the queen, much of the population rose up against Veraco. Many of Veraco's soldiers, who had started off at Veraco's side, also turned against him. Veraco and a continent of 1,500 loyalists fled the island in naval boats, and sailed off to an island which Veraco would establish as the successor to his failed country in Invisio. It would become the Republic of Veraco.

Finally, in 210 A.D., King Agnon, who's grandfather has established a legislature in order to give a voice to the people, declared that the legislature would be dissolved. Thus started the Invisio Civil War, which lasted for two years. The war, fought between the Royalists and the Republicans, lasted for two years. In the end, the Republicans, led by Jolep, captured the royal palace, and offered the royal family two options: 1) Denounce their royalty and transform their roles into senior officials of a new republican form of government, or 2) Move their family and followers to another part of Gilana, perhaps to Luvenia.

Agnon chose the later option, and moved with the family to the Queendom of Luvenia, which had been established by Queen Luvenia while in exile in 1634 B.C., and was later left in the care of Luvenia's cousin Morgan. The Queen of Luvenia at the time, Elise, denied Agnon admittance into the royal palace, on basis of his actions on Invisio, and expelled him from the Queendom. Agnon moved further west, and later established the Kingdom of Agnon.

Twenty years later, the Republic of Invisio was in disarray. The nation was experiencing its worst drought in 100 years, and Chancellor, Jolan (Jolep's grandson) was blamed for the starving population. He began a massive reclamation of operations, and persuaded the Legislature to grant him emergency dictatorial powers. This the Legislature did, and within two years, agriculture production was back to where it was before the drought. Instead of asking for the powers back, the Legislature voted unanimously to form a new monarchy, with Jolan as King, and the Legislature as the law-making body, effectively turning Invisio into a constitutional monarchy.

For the next 1,747 years, Invisio lived in relative peace. It, like the United States, remained in official isolationist stance for the majority of World Wars I and II. However, it did eventually opt to enter the war on the side of the allies both times.