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This article is about the country. For the character, see Irene.

Attolia is one of the three nations on the Little Peninsula. Lying southeast of the mountain country of Eddis, which separates it from its traditional rival Sounis, it is a major regional power and is currently ruled by Attolia Irene and her husband Eugenides, the former Thief of Eddis.

History[]

At the beginning of The Thief, Attolia has been ruled by Attolia Irene for some years. Irene had used ruthless tactics to gain the throne, and strived to limit the power of her barons. Most notably, the queen enlarged the size of the Queen's Guard, allowed talented okloi (citizens without land) to rise through its ranks, and made the Guard the central part of the army, loyal to her rather than the barons. However, few barons support the queen and the country is unstable.

During the events of The Thief, Attolia is the location of the temple contain Hamiathes's Gift, a precious stone that magus of Sounis sent the thief, and later future king of Attolia, Eugenides to steal. Irene, queen of Attolia, manages to capture Eugenides, and tries to convince him to become her thief, but he turns her down. It is later revealed that Eugenides is in fact the Queen's Thief for the ruler of Eddis, Helen.

In The Queen of Attolia, Eugenides returns to Attolia to spy on Irene, but is soon captured, and punished for thievery by having his hand cut off. After Attolia chops off Eugenides's hand, however, Eddis seizes Attolian caravans as compensation and, by refusing to back down, ends the Eddisian policy of neutrality. Initially, Attolia allies with Sounis, but the alliance is broken when Eugenides frames Attolia for the burning of Sounis's navy, and the war is split three ways. With no army able to make it through the mountain pass of Eddis, Attolia and Sounis once again battle for control of offshore islands, in battles such as the Battle of Thegmis.

Throughout the war, Attolia Irene considers the possibility of allying with the Median Empire, in the hopes that Median gold (and potentially their troops) might help her manage the instability in her own kingdom, and later her war against the Sounisians and Eddisians. The Median ambassador to Attolia, Nahuseresh, attempts to exert influence over Irene and arranges for Attolia to receive a large amount of gold, but also seeks to undermine Irene's power by deploying Median troops without the queen's request and executing several of her few loyal barons.

To rid her country of Median influence, the queen ultimately agrees to a treaty with Eddis, cemented by the marriage between the queen and Eugenides, the Thief of Eddis, and form an alliance against the Mede Empire.

The new king, Eugenides, is not well-received by the barons, who perceive him to be a foreigner who has usurped the throne, however his status as outsider is advantageous to the queen. His neutral standpoint to the politics of Attolia prevent the barons from contesting amongst themselves for the queen's power and unite against the greater threat of the Mede Empire.

Although the war with Eddis is over, Attolia is unable to declare a formal peace with Sounis, as a civil war in Sounis temporarily ousted their king, Sophos, from the throne. When Sophos arrives in Attolia, Eugenides and Irene agree to provide him with troops to end the civil war, provided that he swear allegiance to Attolia. Sophos agrees, and his subsequent marriage to the queen of Eddis ensures that Attolia, led by Eugenides, becomes the dominant power of the Little Peninsula.

Government[]

Attolia is an absolute monarchy ruled by a king or queen, who holds the title of Attolis (male), or Attolia (female). The monarch is also advised by her barons, who each hold authority over lands of various sizes. Attolia is a feudal society divided into okloi (who do not own land) and patronoi (who do). Both groups pay taxes and owe allegiance to barons, who themselves must obey the Attolis/Attolia.

Economy[]

Attolia has some of the most fertile land in the three countries. Its best farmland is at the mouth of the Aracthus River, where minerals from the dystopia have been carried down from the mountains of Eddis. Attolia trades in wheat, olives, and wine, along with other agricultural products, with both Eddis and Sounis. All trade to Sounis needs to move through the Pass of Eddis.

Foreign Relations[]

Attolia has a longstanding rivalry with the kingdom of Sounis, with both attempting throughout the years to gain control of the Little Peninsula. This rivalry, however, is limited due to the land-separation provided by the mountain country of Eddis, which strives to maintain neutrality. There are a number of islands off the coast of the Little Peninsula that have been the setting for this rivalry, changing hands between Attolia and Sounis several times throughout the years.

Notable Locations[]

Notable People[]

  • Irene
  • Costis
  • Teleus
  • Phresine
  • Baron Erondites
  • Sejanus
  • Dite
  • Lady Themis
  • Heiro
  • Relius
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