The Amazons were created by the goddess Artemis, who cast the souls of murdered women into new ageless bodies. Artemis led the majority of the sisters to an island in the Atlantic Ocean which they named Thermyscira. This island would be cloaked magically, allowing the sisters to remain sequestered away from the World of Men, developing themselves into peerless warriors. Only a few women ever have left the island for any reason, the most famous of which was Princess Diana who would be known throughout Known Space as Wonder Woman.
Because of Wonder Woman, the forces of Apokolips considered Thermyscira a prime target and launched a vicious assault against the island. With hundreds of immortal warriors and scores of ancient relics at their disposal, the Amazons were ultimately victorious but at a terrible cost. It is said that Hippolyta herself sacrificed her life in order to collapse the Boom Tube and cut the Parademons from reinforcements. It is said that almost half of all Amazons perished that day.
In the wake of the assault, Diana was forced to return to Paradise Island and take the throne as its Queen. She was immediately forced to confront the tragedy that had struck her people and deal with the effect the loss of thousands of her sisters had on their society. Her land was defenseless and without the vital skills needed to rebuild. She considered calling for S.H.I.E.L.D. assistance, but she knew that they would demand concessions that she could not give them and maintain their independence.
So she started an ambitious plan to recover her nation. She allowed the immigration of young women across the globe to become a new generation of Amazons. They would have to renounce all ties to nations and family, committing themselves to the culture and laws of Themyscira. Given a mystical potion created from the blood of Diana herself, they were granted the same mystical longevity and abilities as any of the original Amazons.
In addition, she accepted the offer of Regent Kentauride of Outland to join the Sword Nations, adding the mystical knowledge of Paradise Island to their arsenal. This was a difficult decision because of her ties to the rest of Earth, but S.W.O.R.D. was very much a mutual defense pact with little interest in changing the cultures of the member governments.
Things have not been smooth, however, for there has been a clash between the old Amazons, who still cling to conservative Therysciran values and the Immigrants who often hold more egalitarian and liberal philosophies. In this situation, the Queen has been well equipped to bridge the ideological divide between the generations - the old guard respects Diana for her prowess and lineage, while the new guard grew up with tales of Wonder Woman.
This mutual respect has dampened the scandal of Diana marrying an icon of the World of Men and allowing him to live on the island. While there is a threat of civil war between the various factions the influence of Kentauride and the rest of S.W.O.R.D. is the best bet to integrate Paradise Island with the outside world.
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