Utica

Once a small north-african tribe who inherited an abandoned Sardican colony, they have raisen the banner of Zirilism after the fall of Toras-Noth.

History
The people of Utica began to settle down as early as 2850 BC, forming petty cheifdoms and trading with the other powers in the Central Seas. Some minor Toras-Noth settlement began in 2800 BC and continued on and off for the next hundred years, but never got further than Cape Kerkouane (Cap Bon). A united Kingdom of Utica formed in 2738 BC. Relations with the Kingdom of Sardinia were excellent, and the two entered into personal union in 2648 BC. Under the Sardican Empire, Utica expanded into the south and west. Zirilism was introduced around 2590 BC, and quickly became the dominant religion there. Thus, when war finally broke about between the Faithful Sardican Empire and the Zirilist Toras-Noth in 2440 BC, Utica rebelled against Sardinia and joined Toras-Noth. However, Torasian rule was short lived, for Toras-Noth was destroyed in the great eruption of Ziril in 2397 BC, with Sardinia meeting much the same fate. Utica was relatively unscathed and regained its independence as the Commonwealth of Utica. The Uticans began to resettle Zirilia, eventually resettling the south and east, including the holy city of Toras-Noth. The Great Temple of Utica was also begun in the capital, to strengthen what remains of Zirilism. After the fall of Apulia to the Katanic Empire in 2276 BC, the remaining Apulians and Calabria asked to swear fealty to Utica. This was accepted, and what remained of Apulia joined Utica for protection against Katan. The nation continued to grow and prosper, and The Great Temple of Utica was finished in 2154 BC after a century of construction, beginning a Zirilist revival. Utica joined the Allies in the Great Levantine War, which resulted in the capture and annexation of the former Levantine colony of Woet. Though trade in the Eastern Seas collapsed as a result, it was more than made up for by the reconstruction of the Grand Temple of Toras-Noth, which brought numerous Zirilist and Melodist pilgrims and allowed the city to prosper once more.