There’s a story that I’ve heard about a downtrodden kingdom. This kingdom rose up to claim its independence in a political landscape already fraught with major powers. They didn’t fight for their land so much as take it - the major powers didn’t really give a shit about the wet marshes these people inhabited. For years and years, the people of the kingdom were bullied and persecuted by those stronger than them. A meaningless laughingstock rather than a political player of any real significance, the people suffered under the harsh rule of the powers that were.
At a certain point, the rulers of the kingdom were ready to throw in the towel.