On Exetia

Dear Reader,

Before we begin, I feel as if some information must be clarified before the letters are read. While Julia’s legend is ubiquitous, with even children knowing of her stories and legends, the detailed history of Exetia itself is less commonly known in the present day, yet Tacitus speaks in his letters as if many concepts are common knowledge. I will provide context at the top of every entry, as well as footnotes where I deem appropriate. At the same time, this brief document will assist readers with concepts and information that Tacitus did not fully clarify in his letters.

Exeter, the titular city from which this entire story unfolds, was founded in 753 YBCE (Years Before Camelot Era), or, in Exeter’s old calendar, 1 Exeter Year, EY. Thus, all of Tacitus’ entries count up from when Exeter was formed, e.g. 420 EY. It was located in the southwestern peninsula of Britannia. Now, in the modern day, it has long since been consumed by the Hellands, and only its ruins remain.

The Exetian Empire was a retroactive title given by future scholars. At the time, it was referred to as the Principate or “Exetia”, the lands that Exeter ruled, which were vast in their heyday. Exetia’s influence spread across most of Britannia and much of Ireland (known at the time as “Hibernia”). Its exact borders at the time of Lady Julia reached to the northern Orkney Mountains and into the eastern Dragonshard Mountains.

It held influence and dominance over all subsidiary duchies and kingdoms, even the vastly powerful Londinium. Though, it maintained control by not explicitly referring to itself as a “kingdom above all kingdoms”, but rather a “governance that assists, maintains, and coordinates between all kingdoms”. It honored itself as the glue that kept Britannia together, with the Emperor being the first citizen that kept the system running.

The title of the Emperor at the time, meaning “first citizen”. Exeter’s government had three phases: at first a monarchy, founded by King Artorius. Several generations later, the monarchy was deposed, and the Exetian Republic was born under the Senate and Consul system. Then, after both Consuls were defeated in war and half the Senate burned by a rival monarchy, the son of one of the Consuls, Augustin, rose to power, overthrew that monarchy, and established the Principate with himself as the first Princeps. From then forward, Exeter came under a time of long peace and prosperity. From Augustin came his son Pompeiius, then his son Constantinus, then of course, his lovely daughter Julia.

Exetians hold a unique naming system that differs depending on if the baby was a male or female.

For males, their name is structured as such: Name given by their father; Name of their most prominent forefather; Given name of their mother. An example of this is Tacitus Aeneas Livia, the author of many of the coming letters.

For females, their name is structured slightly differently: Name given by their mother; Name of their most prominent forefather, feminized; Given name of their mother. Example: Julia Augusta Alexandria.