Illiyor began several thousand years ago with the settlement of the Lyrican people on the two small islands known as Estilliyor and Vestilliyor. The two islands marked the greatest westward expansion of the Lyricans, but also meant that the nearby Grand Duchy of Jaris and the Free Republic isolated them. With the collapse of the Lyrican Kingdom the islands passed into the hands of Jaris, which ruled them as a part of Shireroth until 2488 ASC, when the Republic of Antica took over the region. The Anticans ruled for over two thousand years until 4937 when the republic collapsed. After that the islands alternated between periods of anarchy and varying overlords as several minor powers fleetingly grasped for control of the area. It wasn’t until 5168 that the Jingdaoese arrived and established the Kingdom of the Six Islands. Vestilliyor became the seat of their power, and the settlement of Rollins Piek soon exerted its influence over vast territories as the Siseran armies swept over the land. Yet seemingly just as quickly the Jingdaoese departed (in 5427), lost in religious fervor. Again Illiyor relapsed into a period of apathy, and its small fishing villages resumed the day-to-day routine of rural life.
Around 5600, nearly 150 years after the last Siseran departed, Illiyor had rebounded enough that the population of both islands began to increase dramatically. Illyrikos, the main settlement on Estilliyor, had grown into an important trade center, replacing the major ports of old, such as Nafticon and Rollins Piek. Both Jingdao and Antica had brought modern industry and technology to the islands, thus they were far more capable of an economic rebound. Fisheries were at peak production, tourism was increasing, and the digital age provided a source of additional jobs. With this growth came the need for a centralized government.
In 5635 the Illiyorans chose the form a provisional government in Illyrikos. People from both islands gathered in the capitol to cast ballots from a long list of candidates. After several successive votes to narrow down the candidates to just two popular choices, they elected Philip Crumb as the first President of the Illiyoran Commonwealth.
Timeline of Illiyor
366 ASC: Illiyor founded by Lyrica.
912 ASC: Jaris/Shireroth takes over islands.
2488 ASC: Antica takes over islands.
4937 ASC: Antica collapses. No central government.
5168 ASC: Jingdao begins colonizing islands.
5427 ASC: Last Jingdaoese leaves Illiyor.
5635 ASC: Illiyor establishes independent state.
5667 ASC: Present (Feb. 10th, 2015)
Map of Illiyor
