Maridia

Maridia is the most populous city on the continent of Valia. It is home to the Maridian Institute of Defense that, despite being named after the city, has no direct allegiance to it.

History
Though there was evidence that societies had inhabited the region prior to its founding, Maridia was formally founded in the year 431 by a group of rebels who fled from the Elven Dominion of Aryndal. Maridia, an unofficial democracy led by the prominent members of society, became a haven to those who resisted the oppression from Aryndal and grew steadily over the next 200 years.

First War of the Mystics
When the First War of the Mystics reached Maridia in the year 638, the city quickly fell and the citizens were forced to flee south. There they gained the support of the southern city-states and, in 639, managed to push Mystic forces out of Valia and retook what remained of the city. In exchange for the south's continued support, the southern commander of the army, Lynos Artell, was named the first king of Maridia.

Second War of the Mystics
As Maridia continued to grow over the next few hundred years, its obligation to protect the holds sworn to it frequently caused it to get involved in territorial skirmishes with the growing Balter Empire to the north, and Genestria on the opposite coast of Valia to the east. In 1098, following Genestria's attack on Midarch, Maridia, having long surpassed Genestria's strength, gathered its forces to finally bring the country to heel.

They were assured a resounding victory, but as Maridia prepared to march on Genestria, they found that the city was already under attack by an alliance of the Mystics of Ilios and the Balter Empire. Maridia's expeditionary force was decimated, and the army regrouped back in the capital.

(More coming eventually...)

Government
With the crowning of King Dalton Florentus I following the fall of House Faring in 1445, Maridia became a constitutional monarchy at the pressure of Maridian elite. Power is split evenly between the king and the Senate, comprised of 11 officials elected by the citizens of the city. The most prominent member of the Senate is Barrion Grace, whose family's influence is said to control most of the city's operations, and possibly even the king himself.