History of Telamon

Prehistory
Telamon was settled by the ancient tribe, the Tela, at least by 30 BCE. Archaeologists believe that they emigrated from Seleya after being defeated or persecuted by Seleyan tribes. Traditional myth tells of a Great Migration, or Exodus, led by Tela Chief Yursi 'Miga, also refered to as "Fransolu" in the great Telamonian legend, the "Wars of Fransolu". The migration split the Tela, bringing roughly one third of the people to the island of Migadon, which was appropriately named after Chief 'Miga. The other two thirds have been lost, although legends have it that they traveled southeast, where they would likely have found their way to modern day Lodamun and Likatonia. Their first settlement in Fredocu was destroyed after a great hurricane, and the Tela resettled slightly to the north in what is now Telapolis, the "City of the Tela".

Beginnings
By 20 BCE, the Tela had taken complete control of the uninhabited island of Migadon. Ancient records and study have unearthed what is believed to be the first meeting place for the general tribe, known as the "Bouletarion Tela", or "Great Council of the Tela". These meetings are believed to be led by the "Telarchos", the Telan word for magistrate.

The Classical Period: 10 BCE - 600 CE
The Golden Age of Ancient Telamon is commonly referred to as the Classical Period, a time of expansion and trade for the Telan people. It is here that we see the Telamonian love for the sea grow, as well as their mercantile ambitions. Trade became a very important part of the Telamonian economy with trading posts being established along the coasts of northern Seleya, eastern Keris, western Artania and Makon, leading some historians to suggest the formation of a Telamonian Empire. This trade made possible many of the great achievements of early Telamonian architecture that we embrace today.

The Dark Ages: 600-1035 CE
The Telamonian Empire, as it were, collapsed internally as its people pushed outwards too fast and small rebellions and disputes between nobles undermined tribal integrity. Especially damaging was the independence of the merchants, who eventually brought down the "Empire" by withdrawing their support and creating separate economic domains.

Establishment of the Monarchy: 1035-1062
Order was restored only after a long, tumultous internal war, refered to as the First Civil War. The Telan people were finally reunited by the wealthy merchant John of Parah, who conquered Telapolis in 1035. Thirty years later he was crowned King John I, of the Royal House of Calderon.

Feudal Period: 1062-1483
King John's rule was short lived, as he died only a few years after he was officially crowned. His son, King Samuel, took over from him, and is widely regarded as Telamon's first great leader. Samuel moved the Kingdom of Tela to a feudal society, which helped ease the confusion of the lower classes and brought order to the kingdom's elite. His benevolent rule also brought with it a flourishing of culture and patronage of the arts that has left Telamon with a great cultural heritage. When Samuel died in 1115, he was buried with his father in Parah. From there, the first son of Samuel's descendants ruled Telamon without much incident. The only notable exception was King John the VIII, who asserted complete Telan control of southern Makon, now the Telamon mainland. It was then, around 1298 that the Kingdom of Tela was renamed the Kingdom of Tela and Amon, after the river Amon. Shortly thereafter, it was reduced to the Kingdom of Telamon. Earlier historians have claimed that the name actually came almost a thousand years earlier, and that "Mon" was the Telan word for "land of", but using modern technology historian Frank Ludlow of the Hollings Institute corrected this mistake.