The island of Bisoa, northeast of Anasthias, was conquered some thirty years ago in 4188 HM (see Bisoan Conquest), and is now administered as the Hartheran Dominion of Bizoa.
Previously it comprised two ancient rival kingdoms, Sanal in the north and Alsan in the south. The island's population was decimated during a ruthless invasion campaign, leaving burned towns, cities, fields and forests, a ruined and despoiled landscape. Many thousands of refugees fled north to the Spines, to Anrel and other isles.
(It should be noted that Besoa is the native name. Bisoa, or Bizoa, is it's Hartheran spelling.)
NB Antyok and Besoa follow the old custom of placing North to the right
Hartheran Conquest
After centuries of belligerence, the island's two kingdoms belatedly joined together to fight the Hartherans, who had used this historic animosity to gain a foothold on Besoan soil.
Once the Besoan armies had been crushed, both governments retreated from their capitals to rural strongholds, to direct a vicious guerilla campaign. In retaliation for every assault on the occupying forces, the Hartherans burned massacred villages and burned crops, causing famine.
In five years the island's population was reduced by three-quarters. Tens of thousands were dead, many others fled north to outlying islands or taken captive as little more than slaves.
Consolidation
Now that Bizoa is pacified, the Hartheran authorities have encouraged Hartherans to settle on the island, with offers of free land grants and trading and commodity concessions. This caused an initial rush, but few settlers wanted to stay in the bleak and benighted landscape the occupation left behind. Many war veterans claimed stakes in the new land, but beset by ruined soil, poisoned water and creeping virid vegetation, most returned home within a few years.
Today the only significant Hartheran settlement is the Dominion's capital, the former Sanali port of Famul.