Interlude 03
Screen is occupied by a digital political map of Usean Continent of early 1990's.
Larry Foulke (voice over): "Today's topic is about Federal Republic of Erusea." As he speaks, the map magnifies on western section and highlights Erusian territory.
(voice over)
Like Federation of Central Usea, Federal Republic of Erusea is not originated indigenously in Usean Continent. Around two thousand years ago, there were numerous ethnicities roaming across Osean Continent, especially in its eastern half. By that time, they were divided into tribes or alliances of tribes by the languages they spoke. Hampered by such fundamental differentiation, these groups were unable to fuse into a massive, unified, strong empire, instead they would evolve into embryos of modern nation-states existing in this sector of the world.
In ninth century, French-speaking tribes situated in easternmost lands established Kingdom of Nordlands (abbr. Nordlands). Soon after the formation, it engaged into territory expansion like all other nations during that time. Because paths of advancing westward were blocked by sovereign states of non-French-speaking ethnicities, thus it turned attention to opposite direction. On April 14th 874, an expedition fleet, led by legendary voyager Captain Jacques Johnson, landed ashore where would become Farbanti, after sailing across the Spring Sea of Atlantic Ocean, marking beginning of Nordlands' colonization of Usean Continent. During following centuries, most of western and southwestern coastal regions of the continent fell under Nordlands' control, however there were few further colonization activities toward inland, due to the geographical difficulties posed by arid deserts and rugged mountains, also because the military obstacle from Empire of Central Usea.
As time progresses, rifts emerge inside the kingdom, after centuries of geographical separation by sea and ocean, Usean colonies began to show tendency of succession. Moreover, colonies' primary function is serving as subjects of exploitation, and such irrational burdens added to colonies were getting severer with each passing day. Finally on July 17th 1727, independence war of Usean colonies, also a revolution of capitalism, broke out. The war lasted four years, in 1731, revolutionists declared victory.
But the victory was short-lived, factions inside revolutionary began to squabble against each other for ownership of powers, granting Nordlands' time to prepare for striking back. One year later, the kingdom successfully retook all colonies, subsequently initiated a reign of white terror, hunting and slaughtering anyone who deemed guilty in the "rebellion", with no mercy. Such coercion policy didn't extinguish flames of resistance, three more revolutions arose in 1758, 1770 and 1790, although all ended in bloodsheds of failures.
Two newly-emerged, eminent revolutionary leaders changed everything: Claud Korman, from a family of rich merchants, who organized and led regiments in north half of colonies; and Sheng Gong Ran, from a family of poor peasants, who organized and led regiments in south half of colonies. With stunning military talents, the two expelled all royal armies sent by Nordlands in a ten-year war, subsequently forcing it to sign a treaty of giving up all privileges and interests in Usean Continent. On August 24th 1812, northern colonies founded Federal Republic of Erusea, setting Farbanti as its capital. Claud Korman, by his exceptional merits, was elected to be the very first head of state.
Soon after its founding, Erusea undertook industrialization. To accumulate resources for boosting such process, it invaded Empire of Central Usea, which was still a backward feudal nation of agriculture, for multiple times. The most notable invasions were the First Erusea-Central Usea War in 1840 and Second Erusea-Central Usea War in 1850, especially during the second invasion, Erusian army advanced as far as dozens kilometers from Saint Ark, before the emperor agreed to all demands they made, Erusian fleets also implemented long-distance raids to assault empire's ports and merchant ships.
After Federation of Central Usea rose from empire's ashes, fearing retributions for that rather uncomfortable period of history, Erusea formed a regional bloc with Ugellas and Delarus, pouring majority of money into military expanding, the result were the long-lasting bad terms against FCU and strong military influence in government. Being wary about FCU taking advantage of its leader position, Erusea and its bloc also refused to join UTO, despite being invited time and time again.
The discovery of Ulysses 1994XF04 Asteroid partly eased standoff between two factions, for surviving the unprecedented catastrophe demands cooperation of all countries. Erusea, knowing it was sitting in first row toward impending impact, invested generously to construction of Stonehenge, also hastily constructed Megalith as an auxiliary planetary defense project. It served as the citadel of fighting rebels during First Usean Continental War, thus was awarded with enormous compensations to strengthen its power.
Erusea was among the most devastated nations of Ulysses' planet-fall, the efforts of rebuilding was an obstacle course, yet eastern nations led by FCU still pressurized it on refugee issue. Erusea retaliated by Second Usean Continental War and was utterly defeated after two years of carnage. As the result of unconditional surrender, Erusea was placed under ISAF's custody, government was dismantled, reorganized under ISAF's supervision; its military was reduced too. Many radical Erusian officers saw their fatherland in such status as a humiliation, they rallied each other to form an extremist group "Free Erusea", continued to fight against "ISAF tyranny".
Free Erusea gained access of a large quantity of hardware and software left by former Erusian military, they were well-equipped and were abundant in numbers. During following months, this group of extremists wrecked havocs across entire continent, attacking military and civilian targets alike. The first open revolt was staged on March 22nd 2006, targeting the summit conference held on Newfield Island, a meeting to decide ISAF's future.
Since Second Usean Continental War concluded in ISAF's victory, it seemed this coalition had served its purposes and no longer needed. Most of attending members, who were representing their own sovereignties respectively, expressed wills of withdrawal, but sudden strike of Free Erusea's fighter squadrons forced them to make a U-turn, supporting extension of ISAF's existence instead of discontinuing it.
Free Erusea's attempt of "freeing" Erusea was doomed at the beginning. Catalyzed by its insurgents, ISAF, on the verge of being disbanded, was tightened once again, in order to wipe out those radical dissidents for good. Meanwhile FCU lost no time to exploit such opportunity, conducting vigorous propaganda of "all Usean nations band together to face the common enemy" which would persuade all countries across Usean Continent to join the unification plan proposed by it.
ISAF quickly responded to Free Erusea's threat by initiating "Operation Katina", Mobius One, the legendary ace who led ISAF to win previous war, was back on horse again. On January 18th 2007, Mobius One destroyed last bits of Free Erusea's forces, Operation Katina was successfully concluded.
With leaders of Free Erusea detained and their activities pacified, Erusea finally was able to drive on road of rejuvenation. Thanks to shrunk scale of military, defense budget was slashed as well, meaning more investments for peaceful endeavors. By 2010s, Erusea had recovered to much of its pre-impact condition, and became a powerhouse of numerous scientific projects. During this period, many local private technology enterprises were vastly developed, they would later purchase EASA to form a mega-corporation known as Neucom Incorporated.
On May 9th 2020, Erusea announced abolishment of its sovereign rights, officially acceded USEA Federation. Since then, Federal Republic of Erusea, as a nation, disappeared from world map, marking the dawn of a new era.
Larry Foulke: "This is the end of Federal Republic of Erusea's brief history, a history of founding a nation, struggle with neighboring countries, and finally joining the bigger picture. Next time we'll discuss something about Republic of North Point."