Ila

Ila Protectorate
Protectorate
Flag Coat of Arms
Nickname(s):  Sherry
Motto:  Ubi dubium, ibi libertas (English: "Where there is doubt, there is freedom")
Location of the Ila Protectorate
Sovereign state	Liberta
Libertan settlement	743
Protectorate status	819
Autonomy	May 16th, 1707
Government	Protectorate
• Governor	Layemin Augustus
• Vice Governor	Asi Icarus
Legislature	Sherbro Grand Hall of Decision
Area
• Total	600 km2 (230 sq mi) (2nd)
• Water (%)	negligible
Elevation	6 m (20 ft)
Population
• 2022 estimate	205,448 (1st)
• 2020 census	202,234
• Density	342.413/km2 (886.8/sq mi)
Currency	Libertan Dollar (LRD)
Time zone	UTC-1 (UTC)
Driving side	right
Calling code	+38
ISO 3166 code	LE-2
Website	ila.gov.le

The Ila Protectorate (Libertan English: /aɪlɒ/), often shortened to just Ila, and also colloquially known as Sherbro, is a protectorate of Liberta. It encompasses the entirety of Ila Island and is situated on the coast of Sierra Leone. Several smaller skerries surrounding the island are also part of the Protectorate. It is the largest and most populous of the Libertan protectorates. Ila has a population of roughly 200,000 and maintains a high degree of autonomy. The judicial capital of Ila is Malacia, situated on the eastern coast, whilst the largest city, the economic and cultural capital, is Acta-Calet on the southeastern shore of the island.

Inhabited before and since the arrival of Libertans, the Sherbro people were the first inhabitants of Ila. Archaeological evidence suggests they lived a hunter-gatherer lifestyle. Libertans arrived in the 700s, looking to expand their agricultural production. Upon their arrival, Libertans employed the local population in voluntary work camps, deeming colonization by force to be too dangerous. In 819 the colony was granted protectorate status, and the military instead spearheaded the operation. Libertan settlers looking to work the land arrived in waves during the 14th and 15th centuries, and again in the 18th and 19th centuries. It was granted autonomy on May 16th, 1707. The industrial revolution swept across the island, and in the 20th century, the protectorate was further modernized. Beginning in the 1950s, the infrastructure allowed the tourism industry to flourish. During the Sierra Leonean Civil War, the strategic military importance of the protectorate allowed for it to act as a base for British, UNAMSIL, ECOMOG and Libertan troops. Since the cusp of the 21st century, Ila has been a firmly interconnected part of Liberta.

As the largest domestic producer of agricultural products, excluding olives, by a considerable margin, the Ilan government has been able to leverage a considerable amount of autonomy compared to other protectorates. Maintaining a strong agrarian culture, the main economic sectors have historically been centered around farming and ranching, especially in the central regions. In modern times, this has largely been superseded by manufacturing and a growing domestic tourism industry.

The historic isolation, differing climate and proximity to other ethnic groups has resulted in a unique Ilan culture. Though initially frowned upon by mainland Libertans as "low culture", the Ilan culture is today frequently celebrated and embraced in both the media and in general as a unique aspect of Libertan culture. Often likened with Australian culture, Ilan people are frequently portrayed as relaxed and familiar with nature. Following the gradual ousting of native Africans in the 14th and 15th century, Ila is today a largely homogeneous country. Though a small minority of native Sherbro remain in the northwestern regions of the island, they constitute less than 5% of the total population of the island.

Etymology

The origin of the name Ila is unknown, but was used since the Libertan discovery of the island, as shown in texts from the eight century documenting the exploration of the island. Some historical linguistic evidence points to the word likely originating in the Classical Latin word īnsula, meaning "island".

Sherbro is the name used to denote both the native African people of the island, as well as the island itself. The Sherbro people have historically inhabited the island until their ousting in the 14th and 15th century. The nickname Sherry is also derived from the name.

History

Before Libertan arrival

Not much is known about the island before Libertan arrival, due to the absence of written history. Modern archaeology suggests that the Sherbro people have inhabited the island for at least a thousand years. Though little is known about their style of life, it was likely similar to the hunter-gatherer lifestyle of nearby tribes. The Sherbro maintained a fishing based economy and traded by boat with neighboring villages along the coast. Swamp-rice cultivation was the main farming activity on the island.

Arrival of Libertan explorers (743–819)

The overcrowding and lack of resources of the impoverished Liberta sparked an interest in exploration and a search for new lands which could be used for farming and resources. In the spring of 743, the Libertan convoy of Pristinus and Aequor, led by Hadrian the Great departed from Liberta proper. They traveled along the coast of Morocco, stopping by Agadir where the crew took great interest in the town of Imsouane. However, unable to purchase the town outright, they continued to venture south. Following stops in Gambia and Ghana, but without coastal contact with the wealthy Ghana Empire, the crew relied on trade with local tribes along the coast. By the late summer of 743, the convoy arrived at Ila. Hadrian, yet to have yielded any major success in trading nor in finding a good location for a colony, promptly established the colony on the second day of anchorage. Scouting of the area proved that what was initially believed to be a peninsula was instead an island. The locals proved to be friendly, but Hadrian documented that he was nonetheless disappointed by their "primitive way of life." Half of the crew were left on the island, before Pristinus and Aequor departed for Liberta.

It is widely believed that Hadrian and the remaining crew widely oversold the resources of the island to the government, as they were granted a considerable amount of material and men to return to the island to establish a colony. After securing funding and permission from the military, the crew returned to the island by the winter of 743. Skilled laborers, architects, planners, fishermen totaling in excess of 150 were brought along. Two companies were sent to assist and to protect the Libertans. As the initial crew left on the island comprised solely of men, Hadrian was disappointed to see that many of them had taken a liking to the local women, many becoming parents by the arrival of reinforcement. Learning the ways to cultivate swamp rice, the first Libertan farmers were taught basic agriculture. Lieutenant colonel Petronius deemed a subjugation by force to be too dangerous, leading to the establishment of a voluntary work camp. Maintaining an alcohol monopoly, the local workers were paid in wine. Food was promptly exported to Liberta, whilst tree plantations were set up across the island. Workers were also taught to speak and to write Vulgar Latin, whilst the native language was discouraged though not expressly forbidden according to Petronius himself.

Initial doubts were raised by senators, in 743 at the discussion of resource allocation for explorations, senator Vergil of Garana stated "there is considerable uncertainty whether it will be an island of more than mere barbarism [...] I for one, am doubtful of it". The colony proved itself to be more prosperous than anticipated, and by the year 800 logs show that it exported nearly 60 thousand tonnes of rice per season. The fertility of the soil and the abundance of wood made the island an excellent provider of food. Any geographical advantage was instead largely overshadowed by the importance of securing its resources. By 819 this concern had grown so great, as for the government of Liberta to officially grant Protectorate status for the island, and replaced the civil leadership with a solely military one.

Early history as a Protectorate (819–1000)

As the military took control of the island and its production, the few civilian and Ilan born Libertans became subject to military restrictions. They could no longer receive or purchase alcohol, flirt with the local women, nor could they trade with the local tribes. This caused many to flee into the deep marshes of the northwestern part of Ila, where they lived as outlaws. As they were by that point considered to have rescinded their allegiance to Liberta, any found outlaws were to be killed on sight. Under the hand of the Libertan Navy, production increased further and was greatly expanded in scale. However, despite the increase in numbers, mainland Libertan attention had largely steered away from Ila onto other protectorates. As a visitor, di-consul Cassian the Benevolent, upon his return, described the island as "lost in time's trenches." Despite relations with the local women being a criminal offense, this was a popular past time with the soldiers. Whenever a colored baby was born, the responsible soldier had to claim the baby in a process nicknamed "the claim of shame", such a claim resulted in a dishonorable discharge. By the year 988, roughly three quarters of soldiers who were stationed ended their stay by being dishonorably discharged for illegally impregnating a local.

Libertan Imperial Era (1000–1600)

After decades of military rule, the strict control of the Navy was relaxed, and by the 14th century, mainland Liberta was increasingly internationalized. A greater public knowledge and increased curiosity in the foreign, brought attention back to the isolated protectorates. This eventually spread to Ila, when the government of Liberta proclaimed and subsequently ordered that settlement of the island was to be initiated. Men and women, most of them impoverished, joined the journey on the hundreds of boats heading for the island. A few struck it well, many struck it fine, but most struck little to no luck at all, and ended up as either domestic workers or sharecroppers on the new estates of the island. Mass anger ensued, as many had been promised a better life, when most returned to similar arrangements as back home. Still, even those who were farmhands, the least prestigious occupation, lived under significantly better circumstances than those with equivalent jobs in mainland Liberta. Anticipating the large number of settlers, the Navy began a gradual and complete expulsion of the native Sherbro population, the majority of which now spoke Latin, and could read and write. Those who could not speak fluent Latin were ousted to the neighboring mainland. Those proficient in Latin were sent to the islands of the strait, or to the Imsouane protectorate as laborers. Those who could also read and write in Latin were sent to the marshes of the northwestern part of the island and were granted land to farm on.