In 1837, Dreytonia was made an autonomous state, but remained a dominion of Hassop. Independence was gained peacefully, as there were few doubts as to the loyalty of the Dreytonian people. Dreytonians, while fiercely loyal to the homeland, were eager to establish a reputation for their own nation. Attempts were made by the traditional Avalonians to restore their dominion over the land, but by this point in time, a large portion of the population were either Mercian migrants, or assimilated Avalonians. The Dreytonian fleet, the pride of its military, was at the forefront of naval confrontations in the Krimeon in this period, providing the Hassopite Empire with aa great deal of control over the region. The Dreytonians were devastated however when, at the end of a large conflict in which Hassop was victorious, they were excluded from peace talks and were granted no concessions. Coupled with poor economic conditions in the years following, a nationalistic fascist movement began to accumulate support. Oswald Crawford, a former Dreytonian Admiral who felt Dreytonia's exclusion from peace talks a personal betrayal, used his fiery rhetoric to incite ultra-nationalism amongst the people; Dreytonian and Avalonian alike.
