Ravenna
A nice little place, Ravenna: founded by one of the waves of Illyrians that migrated into Italy, the city, it had its beginnings as one of a hundred hill forts that dotted, and in many places, still dot the country side, a home for yet another warlord whom made his fame by leading his warriors in heroic clashes and raids with neighboring tribes; an exciting life, but hardly the foundations for a great kingdom; or rather, the republic which has now come into being. No, the prosperity of Ravenna is to be found in its location; thier area few places in the world that lend them some what naturally to being important; Ravenna, located close to the sea, and near where Italy meets up with the main of Europe is one of those places. With hordes of Illyrians and Italiots running all over the place, more specifically, between the mains of Italy and Illyria a natural stopping point- and for many, a settling point, was Ravenna; attracted by the good lands in the general area, and the natural defenses present around the city itself, such as an area of marsh land, as well as, in the beginning a stout series of log walls and stockades around a hill fort more mighty then any other yet seen; and imposing structure, three stories high in some places!
The Old Fortress the name for the old wooden center fort, and palace that was once the center of Ravenna
However, what was once wood in the age of copper has given way to stone in the age of Bronze; where might war chiefs once sat in the protection of the mightiest Motte-and-Baily fortress for miles upon miles in any direct gave way to kings ruling from an imposing citadel.
This imposing castle is the New Fortress; that is to say, when stone working became widely available, the King of Ravenna, Adrianus the Seafare, for whom the Adriatic sea is also named, commision that the old stockades should torn down, including the old castle, in their place, grand new walls- and an imposing now fortress be erected: the city, while it has been attacked, has never fallen, and many say that Adrians Palace that has a blessing from the gods placed upon it, for it is the heart of the city
As one can expect, some fo these kings were Great: Adrianus the sea fairer was magnificent ruler, and his ships of adventure plied the waves, and he, in many ways, set up Ravenna for its current state of affairs: You see the Rule of Adrianus left Ravenna wanting; dare I say needing good, strong leadership from a king; yet his successors were not up to par; some were good, but they just didnt have the right stuff to compare with the previous kings of Ravenna; and so it came to pass, after 100 years of rule after old Adrianus, the monarchy toppled; a civil revolt broke out in the city, its causes were vile repression by the king at time Erasmus the Cruel, and in the so called bloodless coup soldiers stormed the citadel, to fin the gates promptly opened for them; the Royal guard was in touch with the, degraded, angry, and fervently nationalistic themselves, the despised what the monarchy had become, and confronting Erasmus, he jumped off a balcony, killing himself; he had no son, for he had no lovers, and the other relatives of the house relinquished all claims to the throne; they too had seen the edge of Erasmus knife all to often.
In the days following the coup, people assembled, they mulled, and discussed what needed to be done in the aftermath; some suggested a council, others (the nobles) an Oligarchy, some suggested putting the closest of kin on the throne, and others wanted to place a new dynasty entirely on the throne; it was Liberius the Patrician whom came up with an answer; the institution of the Republic; it combined the elements that the people were discussing, and added a more dynamic element to the mix; the people elected representatives, some for the city, some for the surrounding country side, however many were needed to a ruling body called a senate to represent the people; but to give a more firm handed leadership, their was in turn an elected position called the Consul; nominated by the people, the candidates various qualifications were ratified by the senate, the army, and the people again got a say in the matter; in this way, the people could prevent the rise of another tyrant such as Erasumus, and keep a stable, popular leadership, but one not left directly to the passions of the mob as the Nobles put in their own gathering.
In a nut shell, that is how Ravenna got to be where it is today, withstanding numerous events such as wars and heros, and other such things, it at least tells how Ravenna came to have the government which it has, and why its society is the way it is.
