Colonial History of Doubeia
The Twicetagrien colonisation of modern-day Doubeia period spans the first landfall in modern-day Queensland in 1654, to the Fall of Twicetagria in 1850. As a means to expand territorially and to seek potential safe havens for the monarchy in the event of a crisis, the Twicetagrien crown funded colonisation and expedition trips to Esportiva. Settlement rates in the two Esportivan colonies, Dobraya and The Newlands, gradually increased as people were attracted by the fertile soil and agricultural opportunities present.
Settlers in the Twicetagrien colonies were overwhelmingly, if not entirely, of Twicetagrien ethnicity. Foreigners were almost nonexistent as the colonies had strict rules that forbade foreigners to permanently settle in them. Nevertheless, foreign goods were regularly traded to and from the colonies. Within twenty years, Dobraya's population had grown to more than 75,000, and The Newlands to more than 50,000. The two colonies, despite both being under the Twicetagrien crown, operated independently. Dobraya's economy was heavily reliant on agriculture and sustenance farming, whereas The Newlands' economy was more diversified, with fishing and trade being other major industries during their sunrise years.
The colonial history of Doubeia ended when the Twicetagrien monarchy dissolved as a result of the Fall of Twicetagria in 1832. The colonial administrations, loyal to the crown, were seen as unofficial successors of the monarchy, but anti-monarchist sentiments amongst settlers resulted in the Doubeinese Revolution.
Background and settling of Dobraya (1654-1700s)
Twicetagria's first foray into Esportiva took place in 1654 when the crown-backed colonisation and expedition mission first made landfall in Esportiva on the piece of land where modern-day Queensland sits on. The area was scouted, and after reporting fertile, arable farmlands around the area, the Twicetagrien government officially began to prepare for its first Esportivan settlement. The first few settlers arrived a few months after the land was newly formed. The entire colony was named Dobraya (from Twicetagrien Russian до́брая “good”), but the main settlement itself was named Queensland (Korolyevi Krai, Kороле́вы Kрай) after the Twicetagrien monarch Queen Eva II. In the following months, Dobraya expanded as more settlers came, especially farmers. Farmers were granted large pieces of farmland as a ploy to attract more settlers. Feodor Churkayev was named as the first colonial governor of Dobraya.
The Twicetagrien monarchy intended Dobraya to not only be a boost to Twicetagria's economy, but a safe haven for the monarchy and nobility. Anti-monarchist sentiments were on the rise in Twicetagria, and members of high society were fearful of a popular rebellion which would implicate and turn public opinion against them. Therefore, whilst most nobles did not live in Dobraya, they owned properties in Queensland. Meanwhile, due to ongoing and persistent droughts and climate uncertainties in Twicetagria, many farmers were paid to move to Dobraya due to the abundance of arable land. Although the crown promised to aid the farmers and subsidise farm operations for the first few years, many farmers were often left unsupported, having to rely on themselves and other farmers to set up their farms.
In the meantime, other middle-class families and individuals also started to move to Dobraya to escape the tensions and instability in Twicetagria. Some sought a quieter life without having to resort to rural lifestyles, while others saw Dobraya as an opportunity to set up business. Amongst these settlers were both pro- and anti-monarchists, although most in Queensland supported the monarchy. Penal settlements were also set up in Dobraya, with convicts being tasked with colonial projects such as construction of infrastructure, manufacturing and farming. In the next few years, the settlement had grown to about 50,000, and New Tvoygrad was crowded enough that the first serious effort to establish other urban areas outside of New Tvoygrad was made. New Tvoygrad’s geography made it, while a great port, hard to expand as much of its land sat on a coastal island, with the surrounding coast being largely marshy and unsuitable for settlement. Smaller settlements started to form including Angelovsk (А́нгеловск, lit. “city of angels”) and Gavany (Гавань, lit. “haven”).
The Winter of 1675 was the first crisis Dobraya faced as a colony. The winter was a particularly harsh one, and many crops failed while at least sixty-seven deaths were reported due to starvation or hypothermia. Farms and penal settlements were hit the hardest as many were not adequately prepared to withstand the cold. The warmer climate in Queensland made it a safe haven for many farmers escaping the cold. December 14 is celebrated in Doubeia as Foundation Day to commemorate the Winter of 1675 and Dobraya's early display of community-centredness.
Oblasts of Dobraya
Queensland Oblast
Named after the city of Queensland/Korolyevi Krai, Queensland Oblast served as the administrative centre of Dobraya as the colonial administration and most services were located in Queensland. Queensland Oblast contained only the city of Queensland.
In the later years of Dobraya's colonial rule, Queensland started to face over-population concerns. Most of the island Queensland was situated on had been urbanised, and as settlers continued to flow into Dobraya, the city became very crowded. Furthermore, a housing shortage forced many settlers, old and new, to go homeless, with many living in informal housing and slums. A former mayor of Queensland, Yoan Hanzelkov, decreed that newer settlers were not allowed to settle in Queensland if they had not bought a lodging before their arrival, while properties that were left unoccupied for more than 60 days would be claimed by the city and resold to willing buyers. This led to disapproval amongst the nobility back in Twicetagria as many owned doomsday properties in Queensland but did not reside in them, so the latter ruling was rescinded. The nullification of the ruling caused frustration and annoyance amongst the general populace, especially those looking to purchase homes amidst the housing shortage and high housing prices.
Crime was a significant issue in Queensland, with a significant presence of gangs and criminal organisations. They were mostly limited to underdeveloped areas of Queensland, but more affluent areas were not exempt from criminal activity. Crimes ranging from petty crime to more serious ones such as murder all were not uncommon, and local law enforcement was often ineffective. Most of these gangs were imports from Twicetagria where they already had a presence. Gangs mainly preyed on young, impressionable settlers forced to live without a home due to Queensland's overcrowding issue.
Angelsk Oblast
Angelsk Oblast comprises Angelsk City, which it was named after, and several smaller settlements and farms. Angelsk was the second city to be founded in Dobraya, serving as an alternate destination along the Dobrayan coast for settlers. Queensland's overpopulation contributed to its quick growth especially during the later years. The expedition team that scouted the area reported sightings of what they described as angels, which gave the city its name.
Angelsk City is known in the modern day as Angelos.
Gavany Oblast
Named after the penal settlement of Gavany, Gavany Oblast was the first home of many Twicetagrien convicts and prisoners. Whilst it was originally a separate entity from Dobraya, it was formally incorporated into the colony in 1767.
The Gavany penal settlement was home to as many as 80,000 convicts. Many of these convicts had committed political or high-profile crimes, and it was rumoured that dissidents amongst the royal family and nobility and anti-monarchists made up a substantial portion of these convicts. As Dobraya's farming industry grew larger, more and more convicts were transported to Dobraya even if their crime was relatively insignificant (e.g: robbery, theft or pickpocketting, perjury) to support farming operations. These convicts were often transported without their families; homesickness and loneliness were contributors to the high suicide rate in Gavany.
Gavany remained a penal settlement until the Fall of Twicetagria. However, convicts were encouraged to settle in Gavany while serving their sentences. Former convicts and their families were allowed to move to other parts of Dobraya and The Newlands if they showed good attitude in Gavany. Some managed to escape Gavany even though they were not allowed to leave, but many eligible families chose to stay in Gavany due to the stigmaisation of so-called "convict families" in the rest of the colonies.
Gavany City is known in the modern day as Ebony, both as a rough transliteration of the Twicetagrien name and after the ebony trees in the area.
Krasnyezhsk Oblast
Krasnyezhsk (Красне́жск, lit. “city of red snow”) Oblast is named after the city of Krasnyezhsk. The largest oblast by land area, Krasnyezhsk oblast largely comprised Krasnyezhsk City and surrounding farms who used Krasnyezhsk City as an urban centre to sell and distribute their crops. The etymology of the name is unknown, but it was speculated that it was named after the Winter of 1675. Most human and livestock deaths were recorded in Krasnyezhsk, and the "red" may have referred to the blood of the deceased.
Krasnyezhsk City is known in the modern day as Crossnisck.
Lyevly Oblast
Named after its namesake city which in turn was named after its founder, Lyevly (Ле́вль, lit. “of Lev”) Oblast was the easternmost oblast in Dobraya. Lyevly is largely mountainous and borders Kita-Hinode to its east. Nevertheless, there was little evidence of any contact between Dobraya and Kita-Hinode. Lyevly is located close to the Lyev mountain range which stretched across the diameter of Dobraya. Lyevly's mountainous terrain and often harsh climate attracted few settlers, most of whom settled on the foot of mountains and valleys closer to other parts of Dobraya.
Lyevly City is known in the modern day as Lievlie.
Rudagorod Oblast
Rudagorod (Рудагoрoд, lit. “ore city”) Oblast was known for its numerous mines and mineral deposits. When ore and other precious metals were first discovered in the area in the 1740s, Rudagorod attracted many settlers hoping to profit from the minerals. Other than ores, Rudagorod's southern location and mild weather attracted settlers who could not acclimatise to the cooler and more populated parts of Dobraya. Due to the island's proximity to the Euthymian Isles, many followers of the Tetralotoi faith would move to Rudagorod City; this would lead to the city being granted the title of "Saint".
Rudagorod City is known in the modern day as Saint Ruderock.
Roga Oblast
Roga (Ро́га, lit. “horn”) Oblast was the only oblast in Dobraya not to be named after the largest city in the oblast, Aleksandraya. Instead, Roga was named after the Horn of Dobraya (modern-day Horn of Doubeia). Primarily a farming oblast, Roga was differentiated from the other oblasts due to its relatively low-altitude interior but high-altitude coast. This contributed to its iconic cliff coasts. However, this also made Roga rather inaccessible by sea, and this limited its settler potential.
Roga and Aleksandraya are known in the modern day as Horne and Alexandra respectively.
Ruzhkov Oblast
Ruzhkov (Ружко́в, lit. “of Ruzhkov”) was located in the Lyev mountain range, serving as a gateway between the northern and southern portions of Dobraya. Due to its location, Ruzhkov was sparsely populated.
Ruzhkov Oblast is known in the modern day as The Russeland, and Ruzhkov City as Rostov.
Viksetsk Oblast
Viksetsk (Виксэ́цк, lit. “city of Vixette”) was named after the largest Euthymian Isle, Vixette. It was home to the largest Vixettienne population in Dobraya and the most Tetralotoi temples per capita. At first, the city served mainly as a hub for Vixettiennes to travel to and from Dobraya. Tourism would become an integral part of the city's economy due to its favourable weather.
Viksetsk City is known in the modern day as Saint Pixie.
Dryevyesinsk Oblast
Dryevyesinsk (Древеси́нск, lit. “timber city”) was famed for its lumbering and carpentry industries. It was the heart of Dobraya's lumbering industry due to its proximity to conifers and other trees suited for timber. Dryevyesinsk City sits on a massive aquifer. The city was also known for its unique architecture inspired by local and Twicetagrien carpentry.
Dryevyesinsk City is known in the modern day as Timberlake.
Arbatovo Oblast
Arbatovo (Арбато́во, lit. “of Arbatov”) was the southernmost oblast in Dobraya and the colony's main gateway to their neighbouring nation of Moladea. Nevertheless, there was no attested records of contact between Dobraya and Moladea. Arbatovo Oblast was unique as it was the only oblast whose administrative center was not located on the mainland. Arbatovo was known mostly for its desirable climate and sugar plantations along the coast. Arbatovo also received the most rainfall of any
Arbatovo City is known in the modern day as Saint Alberts.
Colonisation of The Newlands (1677-1700s)
In 1677, a Twicetagrien expedition mission was sent to scout for lands west of the Dobraya settlement. The Newlands was first sighted during the mission, and after a second, more detailed expedition, the Twicetagrien crown granted charters to set up settlements in The Newlands. The first of those settlements was at Port Pomeranian (Порт-Помера́нский). The Port Pomeranian colony flourished as its settler count grew from 3,000 to more than 10,000 in a decade of settlement. Other colonies such as Byelaxolm (Белахо́лм, lit. “white hill”) and New Tvoygrad (Но́вый Твойгра́д) were also established along the coast of The Newlands (Но́вый Kрай), but neither were as successful as Port Pomeranian.
The establishment of The Newlands was largely in response to overcrowding in Queensland and the Winter of 1675. After the devastating effects of the winter, confidence in Twicetagria's colonisation efforts had fallen drastically and the number of new settlers dropped by more than half in 1676. The Newlands was marketed as having a warmer and more tolerable climate than Dobraya whilst boasting similarly vast farmlands. In the first two years, more than 5,000 settlers arrived from Twicetagria to The Newlands, and close to 800 moved from Dobraya.
The Newlands' early economy was not reliant on agriculture like Dobraya. Instead, fishing and trade held much importance in The Newlands' economy, with seafood generally being its largest export. Many Twicetagrien nobles and royal family members also bought possessions in The Newlands. Many of The Newlands' first settlers comprised members of royalty, the nobility, and Twicetagria's richest families escaping the instability in Twicetagria. The relative wealth of the settlers and imported inflation from foreign countries made The Newlands an expensive place to live. This dissuaded many middle-class Twicetagriens from settling in The Newlands. Hence, settler rates for The Newlands were lower than that of Dobraya. Nevertheless, The Newlands was seen as a more desirable place to settle in due to the more comfortable standard of living and larger provisions of housing in Port Pomeranian.
There was much migration from Dobraya to The Newlands, especially as more affluent and influential persons and families chose to move to Port Pomeranian. Hostility was uncommon between the two colonies, although Dobraya traders in The Newlands were often treated poorly according to recounts.
Oblasts of The Newlands
All oblasts are named after their largest cities/settlements.
Port Pomeranian Oblast
Port Pomeranian (Порт-Помера́нский) was the administrative centre of The Newlands. Located on a natural harbour, Port Pomeranian was the gateway between The Newlands and the world as most trade flowed through it. Other than fishing and trade, shipmaking was also a significant industry. Port Pomeranian sat on the Chuka river that connected the city to the interior, and ships were the main mode of transport along the river. Port Pomeranian's population expanded greatly from 5,000 in the 1680s to more than 40,000 in 1715. Its growth was not hampered by geography, as the surrounding flat terrain made expansion convenient. The city's layout was planned by central urban planners who had plans for future expansions as late as the 1800s. Most of these future expansions would be fulfilled, often with a few adjusments to suit the changing times.
Port Pomeranian attracted many businesses and wealthy entrepreneurs. Additionally, many of its early settlers were from well-to-do and renowned families, giving it the nickname "The City of Gold". Its cost of living was the highest amongst all oblasts in both The Newlands and Dobraya. Many settlers could not afford to live in Port Pomeranian, and despite it being the hub for Twicetagrien settlers in The Newlands, most would end up moving to other settlements.
Chyorniy Oblast
Chyorniy (Чёрный, lit. “black”) was named after the local population of black swans (Cygnus atratus). Chyorniy was the second settlement to be founded in The Newlands, and served as an alternative for settlers who found Port Pomeranian too expensive to live in. Because of the large number of conifers in the oblast, Chyorniy became a lumbering hub, supplying wood to the rest of the two colonies. When ore and silver deposits were found near the area, Chyorniy experienced a silver rush as numerous miners from both colonies sought to mine and make profits off of metal ores and silver. The city's population ballooned to over 63,000 in 1756, a year after the silver rush started. When it ended, most settlers chose to remain in Chyorniy.
Chyorniy Oblast is known in the modern day as Black Swan, and Chyorniy City as Chorley.
Byelaxolm Oblast
Byelaxolm (Белахо́лм, lit. “white hill”) sat on the foothills of the Byelli mountain range and was named after it. Despite its name, it did not snow at Byelaxolm. The city was unique in its topography: unlike most cities with relatively flat terrains, Byelaxolm sat on top of multiple hills, and many parts of the city were not easily accessible from one another. Byelaxolm served as a bridge between the two parts of The Newlands divided by the Byelli range. It rivaled Chyorniy in terms of lumbering, and its proximity to the snow-capped mountains in the Byelli range made it a popular holiday destination, especially in the winter. Unlike most other oblasts, Byelaxolm's terrain was relatively hilly, and its land was not suited for agriculture, so it was reliant on food imports from the rest of the colonies.
Byelaxolm City is known in the modern day as Belle Hills.
New Tvoygrad Oblast
New Tvoygrad (Но́вый Твойгра́д) was the only oblast to lie below the Byelli mountain range. Named after the Twicetagrien capital Twice Square (Твойгра́д), the city sat on a confluence. Despite its inland location, New Tvoygrad City developed faster than its coastal counterparts due to its proximity to trees for lumbering and ore deposits. New Tvoygrad began to develop a more liberal counterculture which went against the widespread conservatism in other parts of the colonies.
New Tvoygrad City is known in the modern day as Twice Square.
Mosyland Oblast
Mosyland (Мо́с-Край, lit. “Mos Land”) was the largest oblast in The Newlands, spanning the entire north of the colony. It contained much of The Newlands' farmlands and produced much of its agricultural output. Some farmers from Dobraya opted to move to Mosyland in search of better crop prospects after a series of crop failures in several oblasts in Dobraya. Population growth remained low compared to other oblasts due to the large distances between the oblast's several settlements and Port Pomeranian where most of the colony's economic activities were located in. Biodiversity in Mosyland was the richest in The Newlands, boasting more than 200 flora and fauna species, and 14 endemic ones. This was helped by Mosyland being expanded multiple times to cover most northernly and westerly territorial gains in The Newlands. In addition to enriching the oblast's biodiversity, the expansion also made it the largest oblast in terms of land area.
The etymology remains unknown.
Mosyland Oblast is known in the modern day as The Mooseland, and Mosyland City as Moses.