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==Overview==
Imperial historians date from the foundation of the Empire. Events that happened after the Empire is created are recorded as '''YE''' for "Year of the Empire" and '''BE''' for "Before the Empire." Most nations had their own calendars before the foundation of the Empire so historical documents that predate the Empire use different systems. A very few [[Highguard|Highborn]] historians stubbornly cling to the numbering '''SL''' for "Since Landfall" dating from the point at which they first set foot on these shores, but this is a largely discredited system.


Imperial historians date from the foundation of the Empire. Events that happened after the Empire is created are recored as '''YE''' for "Year of the Empire" and '''BE''' for "Before the Empire." A few historians use '''IY''' for "Imperial Year", giving positive numbers to dates after the Empire is formed and negative dates to events before the Empire.
==Before History==
Between the creation of the world, and the first records of human civilization, an unknown period passes. Some historians speak in terms of eons, others in terms of millennia. Most agree that there was a time before the existence of humans and orcs, when the world may have been dominated by other species - perhaps the dragons whose bones are such a [[Materials#Dragonbone|valuable material]]. This period, and the period that follows it, are sometimes called the Dark Ages - before the illumination of history.
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==Ancient==
This period begins with the earliest recorded human habitation of the Bay of Catazar. it starts perhaps as long as two thousand years before the founding of the Empire. The ruins of the first orc and human settlements date from this period. There is some argument among Imperial scholars as to who was here "first" - the orcs or the humans. Very little is known for sure about the Ancient period, meaning that along with the time Before History it is sometimes called the Dark Ages.  


==The Distant Past==
According to historians among the [[Navarr]], [[Urizen]] and [[Wintermark|Winterfolk]], the orcs occupied land that had once belonged to early human kingdoms. What is known is that there were some powerful human kingdoms at this time, but that they were ultimately defeated and overthrown by the orcs.
* Humans and orcs fight over the fertile lands.


Long before the [[Highguard|Highborn]] arrived in their great ships, much of the land that is now the Empire was occupied by orc tribes. According to historians among the [[Navarr]], [[Urizen]] and [[Wintermark]] peoples, the orcs occupied land that had once belonged to early human kingdoms. Truth is debatable - there are few if any records still extant from the distant past. What is certain is that when the first waves of human colonization began, there were already humans here - the Navarr in their forests, the Urizen in their mountains, the Ssuaq and the Kallavesi in the inhospitable north, the [[Varushka History|Ushka]] huddled around their camp fires, and the Feni lurking in their swamps. History also records that there were humans living with the orcs, largely as chattel, slaves or subjects. Where these humans were freed from orc oppression, they were usually assimilated into the conquering culture having little of their own.
At some point during this period, the forbears of the Suaq, Kallavesi, Ushka, Urizen, Terunael, and Feni settled around the Bay and began to build their cultures. There are ruins in many other places around the world that date from this period; the Asaveans claim that the city of [[Asavean_Archipelago_ports#Nemoria|Nemoria]] was founded during this period, making it the oldest city in the world.


==Pre-Empire Years==
==Terunael==  
* Successive waves of colonisation create proto-nations.
At its height, the Terunael empire may have lasted for between a hundred and three hundred years. During this period, the orcs were slowly driven out of the heartlands of what is today the Empire. The Terunael traded and warred with other human cultures - Imperial scholars believe that the Suaq, the Kallavesi, the Ushka, the Feni, and the Urizen, or their forebears, were all present in some form or another during this time along with several cultures that no longer exist about whom we have only fragmentary records - such as the [[Gwerin_Morfa|Gwerin Morfa]].
* Conflict with the barbarians begin


Several waves of colonization create the structures that will eventually become the Nations. The Highborn are generally held to be the first, but the forebears of [[Dawn]] and [[The Marches|the Marches]], and the people that will eventually civilise WIntermark and Varushka, also come to the area from elsewhere. Despite occasional outbreaks of peace, this period is one of conflict, both with the barbarian orcs who claim the best land, and within and between the human proto-Nations.
Terunael culture was centred around their cities. The heart of their Empire, the city of Terunael, stood in [[Brocéliande]] while other cities existed in [[Miaren]], [[Hercynia]], [[Liathaven]], and [[Therunin]]. Some historians believe there were between two and five other cities, located outside the area that the Empire now controls. Exact information about this period is fragmentary, but it is generally believed that the rulers of Terunael were its magicians.


While the orcs are driven out of the heartland of the Empire, life is hard and brutal for the initial settlers. The orcs continue to press them, and history suggests that it was only a matter of time before the individual human kingdoms were overrun and subjugated.
This period ends with the catastrophic Fall, and the creation of the [[vallorn]].
 
==Chaos==
After the fall of Terunael, the lands of the Bay of Catazar descended into chaos. Following the calamity, the barbarian [[orc|orcs]], who had largely been pushed out of the central lands, swept back in. A great many humans were enslaved, or killed, and their continued invasions sped the collapse of whatever infrastructure had survived the Bane of Terunael. Those human cultures who survived were isolated or lived in places the orcs were not interested in - the Suaq and Kallavesa in the north-west, the Ushka in the north-east, and the Urizen in the south-east.
 
Some historians believe that it was during the latter part of this period that the Vard and the Steinr fell from the heavens, and encountered (respectively) the people who would later form Wintermark and Varushka. Regardless, the Chaos is generally considered to end with the arrival of the Highborn.
 
Imperial histories tend to place the founding of [[Asavean_Archipelago_ports#Nemoria|Nemoria]] and the city that would become the [[Sarcophan Delves]] during this period, despite the claims of foreign scholars to the contrary.
 
==Pre-Imperial==
Three waves of colonization brought people that founded new human nations. The [[Highguard|Highborn]] are generally held to be the first, landing in the south, while the forebears of [[Dawn]] and [[The Marches]] settled in the east. Some scholars suggest that the [[Steinr]] and Vard appeared in the north during this period, after the foundation of Highguard, but there is no true consensus one way or another.
 
When the first waves of human colonization began, most of the initial inhabitants (sometimes called the ''[[People of the North]]'') were in retreat - the Navarr to their forests, the Urizen to their mountains, the [[Suaq]] and the [[Kallavesi]] to the inhospitable north, the [[Varushka History|Ushka]] huddled around their camp fires, and the [[Feni]] lurking in their wilderness. There were also humans living among the orcs, largely as chattel, slaves or subjects. Where these humans were freed from orc oppression, they were usually assimilated by the conquerors leaving no records of their own culture.
 
These nations grew in size and power through constant warfare with their neighbours, particularly the barbarian orcs who claimed the land as their own. While the nations were successful, life was hard and brutal for the initial settlers and historians believe that it was only a matter of time before these new human nations would have been overrun and subjugated, like their predecessors.


==Foundation==
==Foundation==
===Year Zero (476 years ago)===
===Year Zero===
* The Empress convinces the eight nations to unite against the barbarian threat
With an eye to the conflict between the human nations and the risks posed by the orcs, the [[First Empress]] began her crusade in Highguard. She gathered around a small group of like-minded individuals from various nations and with their assistance, and with the aid of the Navarr, she brought together the leaders of humanity to discuss the barbarian threat. Her vision and charisma - and the hard work of her allies - convinced many of them to recognise the value of an Empire. The people of [[Urizen]] declined to join, but sufficient folk from [[The Brass Coast]], [[Dawn]], [[Highguard]], [[The League]], [[The Marches]], [[Navarr]], [[Varushka]] and [[Wintermark]] accepted the proposal to allow them to form the Empire.
* The Empire is founded
 
====(1 YE - 5 YE) Internal conflict====
In the early years the Empire concentrated on consolidating its position. The creation of the Empire led to a brief but bloody civil war in the Marches and the first of many battles with the orcs. During this time the first [[Nationality#Egregore|egregores]] were created through a ritual created by the [[hakima]] of [[The Brass Coast]] to ensure that the various nations are able to maintain their distinct cultural identity.
 
The most significant conflict was in Varushka where the Imperial forces engaged those of the corrupt boyar [[Alderei the Fair]] who threatened to conquer Varushka and create his own corrupt Empire. With the magical aid of the [[Volodny]] magicians, his armies proved to be a match for the Imperial forces. The efforts of powerful magicians ultimately neutralised the Volodny and the tyrant boyar was defeated by the Marcher general Tom Drake, although his body was never recovered.
 
====(6 YE) The Senate, The Synod and the Military Council====
The Empress and her advisors laid the groundwork for Imperial structures to support and empower the Empire. Building on traditions of government in Wintermark, the [[Imperial Senate|Senate]] was created to advise the Empress and give the nations a voice in the rule of the Empire. Following a plan developed in the Marches, the [[Imperial Military Council|Military Council]] of generals was set up to coordinate the military forces of the various nations. The [[Imperial Synod|Synod]] was formed by the priests of Highguard, allowing the Imperial Faith to serve as a unifying force with a remit to ensure that the leaders of the Empire did not become corrupt.
 
====(22 YE) Death of the First Empress ====
The [[First Empress]] led her troops from the front, rallying and inspiring them in their campaigns against their enemies. She died on campaign in battle against orc barbarians on the Brass Coast who were subsequently wiped out. She was interred in the [[Necropolis]] at Highguard, creating the tradition for many dead Emperors and Empresses that followed.
 
The last known [[horse]], the mount of the First Empress, died at this time. Highguard tales described the pair's final battle, but Urizen records of army logistics from this period suggest that the horse died before the Empress. Although the first Empress is always shown on a horse, there were no more horses after this time.
 
===(22 YE - 34 YE) Reign of Emperor Giovanni, "the Peacemaker"===
After the death of the First Empress, [[Emperor Giovanni]] of [[Tassato]] was chosen by the Senate to replace her. An advisor to the late Empress, Giovanni was a statesman and politician rather than a military leader like his predecessor. He set about ensuring the Empire had the infrastructure required to help it prosper. His first act was to initiate a tradition of meeting once every three months at the site of the first meeting where the Empire was formed. A Senate building was built on the site, and it was declared Imperial Territory.
 
Giovanni approached the people of [[Urizen]] with an invitation to join the Empire, and this time they accepted. In return they offered their expertise as scholars and mages. Urizen scholarship slowly helped to raise levels of education and literacy across the Empire. Harnessing the power of Urizen divination with the expertise of the civil service helped Giovanni to transform the Imperial Civil Service into its current form.
 
The Urizen worked with the Empire to create the [[Imperial Conclave]], inspired by experiences during the war with Alderei the Fair in Varushka. The divided magicians of the Empire, each jealously guarding their own secrets, were barely able to neutralise the much smaller force of the Volodya, and the Senate was keen to ensure that this does not happen again.
 
Giovanni also laid the foundations of the [[Imperial Bourse]], and worked with the Senate and Synod to codify the body of Imperial Law.  During his reign he established a single [[currency]] based on steel coins issued by the Imperial Mint, based in Tassato under the ultimate control of the Civil Service. Giovanni died in 34 YE but his legacy was at least as durable as that of his predecessor. His relentless commitment to civilisation earned Giovanni the epithet "Peacemaker".
 
====(27 YE) Reclamation of Miaren====
After fifteen years or so of active preparation, the [[Navarr]] destroyed the vallorn of [[Miaren]] with a combination of military might and [[Wither the Seed|potent rituals]]. The city of Seren [[Reclamation of Seren|was recovered]] and became a center for investigation of both vallorn and the history of Terunael for the next hundred years.
 
==Consolidation==
===(36 YE - 69 YE) Reign of Empress Richilde, "the Sun Queen"===
Following the reign of Emperor Giovanni, there was a brief period during which the Throne was unoccupied. The next Empress was [[Empress Richilde]] of [[Dawn]]. Senator for [[Astolat]], this accomplished Dawnish noble parlayed her cleverness and charisma into political influence. She instituted the Imperial bards, served as a patroness of the arts, accompanied the Imperial armies on campaign as an inspirational symbol of The Throne, and worked extensively to encourage both national and Imperial pride. After her death, she was recognised as an [[paragons and exemplars|exemplar]] and later a paragon of [[Pride]].
 
====(46 YE) Karsk captured====
Imperial armies from Wintermark and Dawn supported the Varushkan force's conquest of [[Karsk]]. The war was long and did not produce tales of heroism or glory.
 
====(52 YE) Semmerholm defeated====
An unusual alliance between Marcher and Dawnish forces caused the destruction of a major orc nation in the territory now known as [[Semmerholm]].
 
====(54 YE) Scouring of Redoubt====
A combined Imperial force assisted the seers of Urizen in systematically removing the majority of orc occupants from the territory of [[Redoubt]]. Urizen control of the territory expanded allowing it to be represented in the Senate.
 
====(56 YE) Reikos gained====
Highborn forces finally succeeded in conquering [[Reikos]] on the borders of the Great Forest of Peytaht. The territory was accepted as part of the Empire although it took over a year to return the first senator for the territory.
 
===(71 YE - 91 YE) Reign of Empress Teleri, "the Pious"===
This [[Navarr]] [[Empress Teleri|Empress]] was deeply involved in the business of the Synod, and it was during her reign that they first began to exert the political powers they possessed. During her reign, the Synod gained increasing influence over all other parts of Imperial life, especially the Imperial Senate.
 
====(74 YE) Westward expansion====
A campaign to secure the western flank of the Empire took the Mourn from orcs and secured Mitwold to the sea.
 
====(88 YE) Invasion of Kahraman====
Freeborn and Marcher armies concluded a successful pincer invasion of the mountainous territory of [[Kahraman]]. The occupants were split in two by the invasion and forced out of the territory in the following years.
 
==Expansion==
===(92 YE - 102 YE) The First Interregnum===
Following the reign of Empress Teleri there was a period known as the ''First Interregnum'' during which there was nobody seated on the Throne. This period was marked by close co-operation between the Conclave, Bourse, Senate and Military Council with the Imperial Synod serving a vital role as supporters and intermediaries. As the interregnum progressed, however, there was increasing dissatisfaction with the dominance of the Synod.
 
===(103 YE - 120 YE) Reign of Empress Aenea, "the Builder"===
The [[Highguard|Highborn]] [[Empress Aenea]] spent most of her reign improving the infrastructure of the Empire. Several border wars occurred during Aenea's time on the Throne, and at various points the Empire was at war with [[Faraden]], the [[Iron Confederacy]], [[Axos]], [[Skoura]] and even (technically) the [[Sumaah Republic]].
 
===(125 YE to 167 YE) Reign of Empress Varkula, called "the Undying"===
Taking advantage of a weakened and divided Senate the ruthless [[Varushka|Varushkan]] [[Empress Varkula]] manipulated (and in some cases, allegedly extorted) her way to the Throne. She then set about dramatically increasing the military strength of the Empire. Her reign saw the Empire's borders expand, and also saw a reduction in the powers of the Synod that had expanded in the reigns of more pious Emperors and Empresses.
 
====(125 YE) Assimilation of Zenith====
The seers of Urizen completed the assimilation of [[Zenith]] after a lengthy campaign involving Highborn and League forces and a long sequence of powerful rituals.
 
====(136 YE) Fall of Holberg====
Imperial armies from Dawn conquered the territory of [[Holberg]]. The city of Holberg was convinced to join the Empire by League diplomats, leading to a political coup in the Senate that resulted in the territory being assigned to the League.
 
====(154 YE) Skarsind pacified====
Although it proved impossible to drive the barbarian orcs from [[Skarsind]], enough of the territory was conquered and fortified for it to be declared an Imperial territory.
 
====(167 YE) Domination of Miekarova====
Steady expansion by the Varushkan boyars over the preceding century led to the inclusion of [[Miekarova]] within the Empire.
 
===(168 YE to 179 YE) Reign of Emperor Frederick, called "the Philosopher"===
[[Emperor Frederick|Frederick Ritter van Holberg]] reigned for eleven years, over a time of relative peace during which the Empire consolidated the gains secured in the reign of Empress Varkula. He was a philosopher and political scholar who fiercely protected the rights of the individual over those of the state, and encouraged citizens of all nations to view the prosperity and security of the Empire as both their responsibility and something in which to take great pride.
 
===(180 to 199 YE) Reign of Emperor Barabbas===
The [[Highguard|Highborn]] [[Emperor Barabbas]] was driven by the desire to expand the Empire to control the entire Bay of Catazar. He was only marginally successful, managing primarily to alienate the people of [[Iron Confederacy|Surann]] and [[Skoura]] and ultimately seeing his ''Barabbine fleet'' sink in a terrible storm that would have left the Imperial Navy crippled if not for the foresight of his [[The Brass Coast|Freeborn]] allies.
 
====(183) Expansion into Segura====
A united front by the hakima of the Guerra and Riqueza led to the Brass Coast expansion into [[Segura]].
 
==Turmoil==
This period saw the reign of Emperor Nicovar, and his catastrophic effect on the history of the Empire. It was characterized by a sequence of military defeats as earlier conquests were lost to resurgent barbarian forces beginning with Segura in the Brass Coast in 204 and ending with the war in Karsk in 259. Most of the defeats were eventually reversed, with the borders moving back and forth. By the end of the years of turmoil, the Empire actually controlled slightly more land than at the beginning, but the period is still regarded as a low point in Imperial history.
 
===(200 YE - 209 YE) Reign of Emperor Nicovar "the Mad"===
The first reversals in the Empire's fortune occurred during the reign of [[Emperor Nicovar]]. Initially a brilliant administrator, Nicovar expanded the role of the civil service in support of the Empire. However, a decade of attempting to micromanage every element of the Empire, as well as a reliance on the magic of Day to gather and interpret ever greater amounts of information, eventually caused him to descend into madness.
 
The [[draughir]] Emperor became increasingly unstable, perceiving patterns in events that appeared paranoid to others. His unpopular policies divided the [[Imperial Senate|Senate]] and the [[Imperial Synod|Synod]], and there were rumbles of civil war. He began to demand extreme amounts of record keeping and it became clear that he was not in his right mind.


The First Empress is from the nation of Highguard. Details of her life prior to becoming Empress are conjecture at best; she appears to have actively discouraged efforts to record facts about her family and upbringing, claiming that her life began with the Empire. Even her name is unknown, although again there is some conjecture. She is referred to as First Empress, underlining her commitment to being a citizen of the Empire, and to the assertion that she will be the first of many.
Things came to a head in 209 when Emperor Nicovar sent his troops to burn down the Empire's libraries. There was a revolt, which culminated in the destruction of the central repository of records in Highguard and several key spires in Urizen. The mad emperor was executed by the captain of his own guard, the [[Navarr]] [[Thorn]] Isaella. Despite appeals for clemency from the Synod, Isaella took full responsibility. She was convicted as a traitor, but at the same time was both lauded as an exemplar of courage and duty, and a hero of the Empire.


Seeing the human nations in turmoil and on the verge of destruction at the hands of the barbarians, she takes action. She gathers around herself a small group of like-minded individuals from various nations. With their assistance, and with the aid of the Navarr people, she brings together the leaders of humanity to discuss the barbarian threat they all face. Her vision and cleverness - and the hard work of her allies - convince various of them to recognise the value of an Empire. The people of [[Urizen]] decline to join, but sufficient folk from [[The Brass Coast]], [[Dawn]], [[Highguard]], [[The League]], [[The Marches]], [[Navarr]], [[Varushka]] and [[Wintermark]] accept the proposal to allow them to form the first nations of the Empire.
The destruction of the libraries left a big hole in the history of the Empire - thousands of books and scrolls were lost. While records still existed, there were many gaps and those that remained were fragmentary. Since then scholars have attempted to recreate the books and records they had lost, but with mixed success.


When they recognise the woman as Empress, she immediately breaks her ties to Highguard and declares herself the first citizen of the Empire proper. In doing so she lays the groundwork for future Imperials to hold themselves apart from the nations of their birth, and for the various servants of the Empire (especially the civil service) to cultivate a neutrality that allows them to serve the Empire as a whole rather than any one part of it.
===(212 YE - 234 YE) Reign of Empress Mariika===
After three years without an Emperor or Empress, the [[Suaq]] [[Empress Mariika]] ascended the Throne. The Empire was on the verge of financial collapse, and Mariika's reign is remembered for her ruthless and efficient reorganisation of the Imperial Economy. She disbanded two entire armies, slashed funding to the Military Council, gave the Bourse control of a number of raw material surpluses, recognised several informal positions as Imperial offices, and generally took steps to ensure the Empire avoided economic disaster.  


===Year One (475 years ago)===
===(239 YE - 248 YE) Reign of Emperor Guntherm===
* A period of conflict begins during which the early Empire strengthens its borders and conquers its neighbours.
The [[Steinr]] [[Emperor Guntherm]] ascended the Throne after a series of successful campaigns against the [[Jotun]] barbarians. He was committed to expanding the reach of the Empire, and chafed under the economic restrictions placed by his predecessor. The early part of his reign is committed to strengthening the borders of the Empire, and a number of castles and fortresses were built during his reign. The latter part of his reign is known for [[Campaigns of Emperor Guntherm|some of the bloodiest battles]] in Imperial history.
* Creation of the Egregores


The early Empire turns its attention to those humans who have not chosen to be part of the Empire. There is a period of conflict and revolution during which various nations “clean house” and solidify their identity as part of the Empire. During this time, the Empress gives the territory of the Riding to the Marches. The first Egregores are created through a ritual created by the [[Hakima]] of [[The Brass Coast]] to ensure that the various nations are able to maintain their distinct cultural identity.
===(249 YE - 257 YE) Reign of Empress Brannan===
The [[Navarr|Navarri]] [[Empress Brannan]] followed Guntherm to the Throne, and was another military-minded ruler dedicated to smashing the orcs and expanding the borders of the Empire. Ultimately, her abusive attitude to the powers of The Throne, and allegations of improper relations with certain [[eternal|eternals]] resulted in her being the only Throne to be [[Revocation|revoked]] by the [[Imperial Synod]]. Despite her failings, she showed what the Empire was capable of when sufficient resources were given to its armies. Some of the most glorious battles in Imperial history took place during her reign, and with her support the Navarr in particular made great advances in their fight to destroy the [[vallorn]] and reclaim their lost cities.


During this time the orcs in particular become increasingly violent and aggressive. Many campaigns are fought against the orcs.
===(257 YE - 281 YE) Reign of Emperor James===
The [[The Marches|Marcher]] [[Emperor James]] took the Throne as a peacemaker - not to make peace with the barbarians, but to make peace within the Empire. He was responsible for fixing the borders of the Empire.


===Year Ten===
====(265 YE) Fixing the borders====
* The Senate, the Synod and the Council of Generals set up
The Senate decreed that the Empire was now large enough and argued that further expansion was counterproductive, despite vociferous argument from the Synod and the Military Council. Trade routes with various foreigners were established, and peace treaties were signed with various barbarians, ushering in an era of economic growth and prosperity.
* A currency is created


The Empress and her advisors lay the groundwork for Imperial structures to support and empower the Empire. Building on traditions of government in Wintermark, the [[The Senate]|Senate]] is created to advise the Empress and give the nations a voice in the rule of the Empire. Following a plan developed in the Marches, a council of Generals is set up to co-ordinate the military forces of the various nations. The [[The Synod|Synod]] is formed by the priests of Highguard, drawing together priests and allowing the Imperial Faith not only to serve as a unifying force but with a remit to ensure that the leaders of the Empier do not become corrupt. This power sharing is seen as a clever move to ensure no one group can easily dominate the entire empire, and to ensure that a weak or vainglorious Emperor can be controlled and channelled.
Some barbarians continued to threaten the borders, but the armies shifted to a more defensive role.


The Empress also defines up the process whereby a new Emperor or Empress will take the [[The Throne|throne]], intentionally removing any ability for rulers to create lineages or royal houses. In doing so she ensures that no one nation will easily dominate the Empire, but that instead it will be ruled for the betterment of all.
==Renewal==
The renewal period started with the fixing of the borders in 265YE and lasted until the end of the reign of Emperor Ahraz. It marked a period of introspection, but also of strengthening and renewing an Empire ravaged by the violence and confusion of the years of Turmoil. With the acceptance of the Imperial Orcs as a tenth nation, the Empire's strength appeared assured.


===Year Twenty Two===
===(281 YE - 300 YE) The Second Interregnum===
* The Empress Dies
After James' reign, a period of relative peace settled on the Empire. The borders were reinforced. Relationships between the Senate, Synod and Military Council achieved a degree of status quo. The Conclave and the Bourse focused on their own interests and were free to explore new avenues. Modern scholars suggest that this was a period of increasing complacency and introspection for the Empire, but others point to the high quality of life for most citizens, the various advances in magic, the arts and technology, and consider it a golden age built on the solid foundations laid by Emperor James' reign.
* The First Emperor establishes the seasonal meetings at the site of the  
* Urizen joins the Empire


The First Empress reigns for twenty-two years before she dies. Upon her death Emperor Domianno of [[Sarvos]] is chosen by the Senate to replace her. An advisor to the late Empress, Domianno is a statesman and politician rather than a military leader like his predecessor. He sets about ensuring the Empire has the infrastructure required to help it prosper. He "civillises" the Empire that the First Empress has carved out. His first act is to begin the tradition of meeting once every three months at the site of the first meeting where the Empire was formed. A Senate building is built on the site, and it is declared Imperial Territory. He also founds the Imperial Mint, lays the foundations of the Bourse, and works with the Senate and Synod to codify the body of Imperial Law. His relentless commitment to civilisation earns Domianno the ephithet "Peacemaker."
=== (300 YE - 318 YE) Reign of Empress Deanne ===
[[Empress Deanne]] ended the Second Interregnum by taking the Throne in 300 YE, primarily in response to increased orc aggression. Her early reign was taken up with organising a fractious and complacent Senate, and helping a largely inexperienced Military Council deal with the dual threat of Grendel invasions along the southern coast, and a major effort by the Druj in [[the Barrens]] to claim [[the Barrens#Dawnguard|Dawnguard]].


Under Domianno the Nation of Urizen joins the Empire, offering their expertise as scholars and mages, and help Domianno set up the Conclave.
====(322 YE - 324 YE) The Orc Rebellion====
Prior to 322 YE, many orcs that were defeated in battle were enslaved. Orcs had no rights in the Empire before this time, as they were not considered people in the eyes of the Constitution. There were slave populations in Dawn, Wintermark and Highguard and especially in Varushka and The League.


During Emperor Domianno's rule,the Senate and the Synod begin to flex their political muscles, and the military is called on to deal with some rebellion.
During this period an orc hero arose among his people, leading them in [[The Orc Rebellion|armed revolt]] that saw them occupy parts of Varushka, the League, Dawn and the Marches. The Freeborn Emperor Ahraz arranged a deal with the orcs, and a motion to recognise them as people was brought before the Senate. The motion passed by a tiny margin, making the Imperial Orcs citizens of the Empire.


===Year Thirty===
===(324 YE - 329 YE) Reign of Emperor Ahraz "the Liberator"===
* The last horse dies
The only [[The Brass Coast|Freeborn]] Emperor to date, [[Emperor Ahraz|Ahraz]] came to the Throne with promises to end the Orc Rebellion. He did so by bringing the slaves into the Empire, and by recognising the right of orcs to be citizens. His reign was marked with turmoil, and he abdicated in 329 YE a broken man.
Precisely why horses died out is unclear. They are known to have existed, and the first Empress is always shown on a horse. By year thirty, however, there are no more horses. Never numerous, it is believed that horses are not native to the Empire but were imported by some of the original settlers. They do not prosper in the Empire, and are largely unknown among the Foreigners with whom the Empire deals.


===Consolidation West Year 275-or-so (200-or-so years ago)===
====(324 YE - 328 YE) The Freedom Heresy====
A briar priest preaching the heretical Virtue of Freedom ultimately inspired an [[Freedom Heresy|attempt to secede from the Empire]]. When the rebellion was defeated by Imperial forces, the priest led her followers into [[the Barrens]] where they attempted to found a rogue state, the kingdom of Montane. In 328 YE the heretics were destroyed by barbarian orcs, and in 329 YE the ringleaders of the heresy were tried and executed for heresy and blasphemy.


* A campaign to secure the western flank of the Empire takes the Mourn from orcs.
==Decline==
===(331 YE) The Decline begins===
In 331YE the territory of [[Spiral]] was lost to [[Urizen]]. This marked the start of the current period called the Decline. A greedy and corrupt Senate, more concerned with internal political manoeuvring than the strength of the Empire, supported two weak occupants of the Throne ([[Empress Giselle]] de Sarvos and [[Emperor Hugh]] the Ill-Prepared of House Rousillon) and a third catastrophically incompetent Emperor (the weak and self-indulgent naga-lineaged [[Emperor Walter]] Upwold who did not enter the Senate once during his two year reign).  


===Expansion West: Year 275-or-so (200-or-so years ago)===
The Synod was mostly concerned with dogmatic disputes and began to lose sight of its mission.


* A campaign through the territory now known as Mitwold to the sea gives the Empire a western coast
In 346 YE the territory of [[Holberg]] was lost to the barbarians. This triggered a defensive mindset and a period of recriminations. More territories were lost, leading to further defensiveness and less inter-nation cooperation. The generals of the Military Council found it impossible to collaborate effectively during this period. The addition of the first [[Imperial Orcs|Imperial Orc]] generals in 351 YE simply made the matter worse.


===Stability: Year 300 (175 years ago) Reign of Emperor Nicovar ===
Several more territories on the edges of the Empire were also lost during this time.
* Urizen Emperor Nicovar elected and expands role of civil service
* The increasingly unstable Emperor Nicovar burns universities and libraries across the Empire
* Civil War threatens
* The Emprors Navarri bodyguard executes him, ending his reign


The first major “wobble” in the Empire occurs during the reign of Emperor Nicovar. Elected in the year 300, the Urizen Emperor is initially a competent administrator and expands the role of the civil service in support of the Empire. However, a decade of attempting to micromanage every element of the Empire, as well as a reliance on the magic of Day to gather and interpret ever greater amounts of information, eventually causes him to descend into madness.  
===(331 - 346 YE) Reign of Empress Giselle "the Unwise"===
[[Empress Giselle]] de [[Sarvos]] of the [[The League|League]] took the Throne following the loss of [[Spiral]] in 331 YE and despite some early efforts entirely failed to re-take that territory. Her reign was marked with a period of political upheaval largely caused by the Empress herself whose blatant favouritism towards the League split the Senate and the Synod, and caused problems among the generals and the archmages. Her reign ended with her death during the battle for [[Holberg]] which saw that territory lost to the Empire.


He becomes increasingly  unstable, perceiving patterns in events that appear paranoid to others. He begins to see conspiracies under every bush. His increasingly unpopular policies divide the Senate and the Synod, and there are rumbles of Civil War. He begins to demand extreme amounts of record keeping and it becomes increasingly clear that he is not in his right mind.
===(348 - 368 YE) Reign of Emperor Hugh, called "the Ill-Prepared"===
After the death of Empress Giselle de Sarvos, [[Emperor Hugh|Hugh de Rousillon]] of [[Dawn]] took the crown. Nephew of the Dawnish general Leon de Rousillon, and a noble of a politically and militarily powerful Dawnish [[Noble house|noble house]], Hugh was a personable, enthusiastic and idealistic knight with extensive battlefield experience. Unfortunately, he was an absolutely abysmal administrator, incapable of delegation, torn between the realities of political life and his personal idealism. His reign was marked by a dizzying number of feasts, banquets, and tourneys during which he desperately tried to woo an increasingly jaded [[Imperial Senate]], as well as a sequence of crushing military defeats as Generals began to compete with each other over dwindling resources.  


Things come to a head in 309 when Emperor Nicovar sends his troops to burn down universities and libraries. Using Imperial Troops against their own people threatens to destroy the Empire. There is a revolt, which culminates in the destruction of the central repository of records in Highguard and several key spires in Urizen. The mad emperor is executed by the captain of his own guard, the Navarri Thorn Isaella, who then immediately hands herself over to the Judiciary. The Synod calls for clemency, but the fact remains that she has murdered the Emperor. She takes full responsibility, and is executed as a traitor, while simultaneously being lauded as an exemplar of courage and duty and a hero of the Empire.
By the end of his reign, the Emperor was almost unrecognisable as the energetic young man he had been when the took the Throne. Decades of feasting had left him corpulent and unhealthy, barely able to fit into his harness. Trying to stay ahead of the manipulations and machinations of the Senate had left him exhausted and despondent. According to those who saw him in the fateful battle for Karsk that spelled the end of his reign and ultimately his life, he was a broken man who embraced the peace offered by death.
===The Crows Gather===
Emperor Hugh's reign was marked by a catastrophic sequence of defeat, military blunders, and loss of territory. Almost as soon as he gained the Throne in 349YE, the Navarr territory of [[Liathaven]] was conquered by the [[Jotun]]. They move quickly to capitalise on their unexpected attack, efficiently conquering the [[Mournwold]] by the end of the year.  


The destruction of the libraries leaves a big hole in the history of the Empire - thousands of books and scrolls are lost. While records exist, there are many gaps and those that remain are fragmentary. Over the next hundred and seventy-five years scholars try to recreate the books and records they have lost, but with mixed success.
In 363YE, [[Segura]] was conquered by a unified force of orcs from the Lasambrian Hills; efforts to push into Kahraman, Feroz, and Madruga were repulsed by Imperial forces but disorganised attempts by the Empire to recapture the westernmost territory met with abject failure.


===Stability: Year 320 (155 years ago)===
Four years later, the [[Druj]] launched an attack previously considered impossible; striking through the [[Great Forest of Peytaht]] from [[the Barrens]], they quickly overwhelmed the defenders of [[Reikos]], conquering the territory by the close of 367YE.
* A period of stability
* The Empire stops growing
* Orcs join the Empire
The Senate decrees that the Empire is now “big enough” and argues that further expansion is counterproductive, despite vociferous argument from the General Staff and the Synod. Prosperity follows. Trade routes with various Foreigners are established, and peace treaties are signed with various barbarians. Bregasland in the Marches is added to the Empire by treaty at this time.


Some barbarians continue to threaten the borders, but the army is forced into a defensive role. Some territories change hands several times over this period.
Finally, in 368YE, the [[Thule]] joined the attack against the Empire, seizing the northern parts of the eastern territory of [[Karsk]] from [[Varushka]]. Hugh himself died during a desperate attempt to drive back the orcs of Otkodov.


At some point during or just prior to this time, a handful of small orc tribes choose to join the Empire. The Imperials are pleased with the deal because they are getting dedicated shock troops. The Orcs are pleased with the deal because they are leaving a hunter-gatherer environment for an environment where their warrior ethic can prosper. Both sides think they are getting the better of the deal.
===(371 - 373 YE) Reign of Emperor Walter, "the Ham-fisted"===
[[Emperor Walter]] [[Upwold]] was a [[The Marches|Marcher]] [[naga]] who took the Throne under dubious circumstances and was widely considered to be a disaster for the Empire. Under his 'reign' the Senate fell even further into open bickering and factionalism. He choked to death on an olive pit in 373YE during a state dinner with a group of [[Sarcophan Delves|Sarcophan]] and [[Principalities of Jarm|Jarmite]] diplomats.


===Decline: Year 424 (50 years ago)===
In the final year of his reign, the Thule continue their attacks across the northern borders of the Empire, taking control of the Wintermark territory of [[Skarsind]]. Some scholars speculate that the suspicious circumstances surrounding his death may have been linked to the loss of the Winterfolk holdings there.
* Stagnation leads to decline
* Successive weak emperors allow territory to be lost to barbarians
* Discontent grows in Empire
The period of stability slowly devolves into a period of decline. Territories are lost to the barbarians. A greedy and corrupt Senate, more concerned about its internal political manoeuvring than the strength of the Empire, supports two successive “average” emperors and a third catastrophically incompetent ruler.


===Year 474 (2 years ago)===
==Resurgence==
* A vibrant young Empress comes to the throne
===(374 YE - 376 YE) Reign of Empress Britta, "the Young Empress"===
* Seen as a reincarnation of the first Empress, she galvanizes the Empire
A Steinr woman named [[Empress Britta|Britta]] became the nineteenth Empress. In the wake of the disastrous Emperor Walter (who was already being termed "the Ham-fisted") she took up the sword and shield and challenged the corruption of the Senate and Synod. She surrounded herself with competent generals, and began to formulate and prosecute a campaign to recover lost territories and drive the barbarians back.
* Some territory is reclaimed by the orcs
The new Empress, in the wake of the disastrous previous Emperor, takes up the sword and shield and challenges the corruption of the Senate and Synod. She demands and receives powers for herself and the Generals, and begins to formulate and prosecute a campaign to recover lost territories and drive the barbarians back.


A popular and charismatic figure, she unites the people of the Empire behind her and deals ruthlessly with her enemies. The Empire begins to drive the barbarians back.
A popular and charismatic figure, she united the people of the Empire behind her and dealt ruthlessly with her enemies. She had the wisdom to select competent advisors. People began to call her the Young Empress, and hailed her as the reincarnation of the First Empress, come to protect the Empire in its time of need.


===Year 476 (this year)===
====(376 YE) Death of the Young Empress====
* The new Empress dies on campaign, creating a power vacuum
The Empress Britta was killed during a disastrous attempt to retake Skarsind. Perhaps galvanised by this, the fastest campaign of conquest in Imperial history saw five territories previously lost returned to the Imperial fold. In the three years after her death, Skarsind, Karsk, Segura, Holberg, and Reikos were recaptured.
The Empress is killed on campaign. The first event of the year takes place some short time after her death. It is possible her body has yet to be recovered and will make part of the plot for the first year.


===(380 YE - 383 YE) Reign of Empress Lisabetta, "Empress of Flowers"===
Appointed by the Senate at the Spring Equinox, Lisabetta Giacomi von Holberg of the House of Seven Mirrors claimed she was inspired by her countryman, the intellectual [[Emperor Frederick]], and by the example of the glorious [[Empress Richilde]], paragon of [[Pride]].
==Other Media==
This page was recorded and uploaded to YouTube in March 2021 by the Orcs Planet. It's unlikely that more than a few details will change significantly, meaning these three recordings should remain broadly useful as another way to experience the broad strokes of Imperial History. There are three videos: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZDQKi3fTOk&t=59s Pre history to 22YE], [https://youtu.be/MlaP7jVC5OU 22YE to 209YE], and [https://youtu.be/XiGw__Fu9Ko 209 YE to 383YE].
[[Category:History]]
[[Category:History]]
[[Category:The Empire]]
[[Category:The Empire]]

Latest revision as of 04:41, 20 August 2024

Overview

Imperial historians date from the foundation of the Empire. Events that happened after the Empire is created are recorded as YE for "Year of the Empire" and BE for "Before the Empire." Most nations had their own calendars before the foundation of the Empire so historical documents that predate the Empire use different systems. A very few Highborn historians stubbornly cling to the numbering SL for "Since Landfall" dating from the point at which they first set foot on these shores, but this is a largely discredited system.

Before History

Between the creation of the world, and the first records of human civilization, an unknown period passes. Some historians speak in terms of eons, others in terms of millennia. Most agree that there was a time before the existence of humans and orcs, when the world may have been dominated by other species - perhaps the dragons whose bones are such a valuable material. This period, and the period that follows it, are sometimes called the Dark Ages - before the illumination of history.

Ancient

This period begins with the earliest recorded human habitation of the Bay of Catazar. it starts perhaps as long as two thousand years before the founding of the Empire. The ruins of the first orc and human settlements date from this period. There is some argument among Imperial scholars as to who was here "first" - the orcs or the humans. Very little is known for sure about the Ancient period, meaning that along with the time Before History it is sometimes called the Dark Ages.

According to historians among the Navarr, Urizen and Winterfolk, the orcs occupied land that had once belonged to early human kingdoms. What is known is that there were some powerful human kingdoms at this time, but that they were ultimately defeated and overthrown by the orcs.

At some point during this period, the forbears of the Suaq, Kallavesi, Ushka, Urizen, Terunael, and Feni settled around the Bay and began to build their cultures. There are ruins in many other places around the world that date from this period; the Asaveans claim that the city of Nemoria was founded during this period, making it the oldest city in the world.

Terunael

At its height, the Terunael empire may have lasted for between a hundred and three hundred years. During this period, the orcs were slowly driven out of the heartlands of what is today the Empire. The Terunael traded and warred with other human cultures - Imperial scholars believe that the Suaq, the Kallavesi, the Ushka, the Feni, and the Urizen, or their forebears, were all present in some form or another during this time along with several cultures that no longer exist about whom we have only fragmentary records - such as the Gwerin Morfa.

Terunael culture was centred around their cities. The heart of their Empire, the city of Terunael, stood in Brocéliande while other cities existed in Miaren, Hercynia, Liathaven, and Therunin. Some historians believe there were between two and five other cities, located outside the area that the Empire now controls. Exact information about this period is fragmentary, but it is generally believed that the rulers of Terunael were its magicians.

This period ends with the catastrophic Fall, and the creation of the vallorn.

Chaos

After the fall of Terunael, the lands of the Bay of Catazar descended into chaos. Following the calamity, the barbarian orcs, who had largely been pushed out of the central lands, swept back in. A great many humans were enslaved, or killed, and their continued invasions sped the collapse of whatever infrastructure had survived the Bane of Terunael. Those human cultures who survived were isolated or lived in places the orcs were not interested in - the Suaq and Kallavesa in the north-west, the Ushka in the north-east, and the Urizen in the south-east.

Some historians believe that it was during the latter part of this period that the Vard and the Steinr fell from the heavens, and encountered (respectively) the people who would later form Wintermark and Varushka. Regardless, the Chaos is generally considered to end with the arrival of the Highborn.

Imperial histories tend to place the founding of Nemoria and the city that would become the Sarcophan Delves during this period, despite the claims of foreign scholars to the contrary.

Pre-Imperial

Three waves of colonization brought people that founded new human nations. The Highborn are generally held to be the first, landing in the south, while the forebears of Dawn and The Marches settled in the east. Some scholars suggest that the Steinr and Vard appeared in the north during this period, after the foundation of Highguard, but there is no true consensus one way or another.

When the first waves of human colonization began, most of the initial inhabitants (sometimes called the People of the North) were in retreat - the Navarr to their forests, the Urizen to their mountains, the Suaq and the Kallavesi to the inhospitable north, the Ushka huddled around their camp fires, and the Feni lurking in their wilderness. There were also humans living among the orcs, largely as chattel, slaves or subjects. Where these humans were freed from orc oppression, they were usually assimilated by the conquerors leaving no records of their own culture.

These nations grew in size and power through constant warfare with their neighbours, particularly the barbarian orcs who claimed the land as their own. While the nations were successful, life was hard and brutal for the initial settlers and historians believe that it was only a matter of time before these new human nations would have been overrun and subjugated, like their predecessors.

Foundation

Year Zero

With an eye to the conflict between the human nations and the risks posed by the orcs, the First Empress began her crusade in Highguard. She gathered around a small group of like-minded individuals from various nations and with their assistance, and with the aid of the Navarr, she brought together the leaders of humanity to discuss the barbarian threat. Her vision and charisma - and the hard work of her allies - convinced many of them to recognise the value of an Empire. The people of Urizen declined to join, but sufficient folk from The Brass Coast, Dawn, Highguard, The League, The Marches, Navarr, Varushka and Wintermark accepted the proposal to allow them to form the Empire.

(1 YE - 5 YE) Internal conflict

In the early years the Empire concentrated on consolidating its position. The creation of the Empire led to a brief but bloody civil war in the Marches and the first of many battles with the orcs. During this time the first egregores were created through a ritual created by the hakima of The Brass Coast to ensure that the various nations are able to maintain their distinct cultural identity.

The most significant conflict was in Varushka where the Imperial forces engaged those of the corrupt boyar Alderei the Fair who threatened to conquer Varushka and create his own corrupt Empire. With the magical aid of the Volodny magicians, his armies proved to be a match for the Imperial forces. The efforts of powerful magicians ultimately neutralised the Volodny and the tyrant boyar was defeated by the Marcher general Tom Drake, although his body was never recovered.

(6 YE) The Senate, The Synod and the Military Council

The Empress and her advisors laid the groundwork for Imperial structures to support and empower the Empire. Building on traditions of government in Wintermark, the Senate was created to advise the Empress and give the nations a voice in the rule of the Empire. Following a plan developed in the Marches, the Military Council of generals was set up to coordinate the military forces of the various nations. The Synod was formed by the priests of Highguard, allowing the Imperial Faith to serve as a unifying force with a remit to ensure that the leaders of the Empire did not become corrupt.

(22 YE) Death of the First Empress

The First Empress led her troops from the front, rallying and inspiring them in their campaigns against their enemies. She died on campaign in battle against orc barbarians on the Brass Coast who were subsequently wiped out. She was interred in the Necropolis at Highguard, creating the tradition for many dead Emperors and Empresses that followed.

The last known horse, the mount of the First Empress, died at this time. Highguard tales described the pair's final battle, but Urizen records of army logistics from this period suggest that the horse died before the Empress. Although the first Empress is always shown on a horse, there were no more horses after this time.

(22 YE - 34 YE) Reign of Emperor Giovanni, "the Peacemaker"

After the death of the First Empress, Emperor Giovanni of Tassato was chosen by the Senate to replace her. An advisor to the late Empress, Giovanni was a statesman and politician rather than a military leader like his predecessor. He set about ensuring the Empire had the infrastructure required to help it prosper. His first act was to initiate a tradition of meeting once every three months at the site of the first meeting where the Empire was formed. A Senate building was built on the site, and it was declared Imperial Territory.

Giovanni approached the people of Urizen with an invitation to join the Empire, and this time they accepted. In return they offered their expertise as scholars and mages. Urizen scholarship slowly helped to raise levels of education and literacy across the Empire. Harnessing the power of Urizen divination with the expertise of the civil service helped Giovanni to transform the Imperial Civil Service into its current form.

The Urizen worked with the Empire to create the Imperial Conclave, inspired by experiences during the war with Alderei the Fair in Varushka. The divided magicians of the Empire, each jealously guarding their own secrets, were barely able to neutralise the much smaller force of the Volodya, and the Senate was keen to ensure that this does not happen again.

Giovanni also laid the foundations of the Imperial Bourse, and worked with the Senate and Synod to codify the body of Imperial Law. During his reign he established a single currency based on steel coins issued by the Imperial Mint, based in Tassato under the ultimate control of the Civil Service. Giovanni died in 34 YE but his legacy was at least as durable as that of his predecessor. His relentless commitment to civilisation earned Giovanni the epithet "Peacemaker".

(27 YE) Reclamation of Miaren

After fifteen years or so of active preparation, the Navarr destroyed the vallorn of Miaren with a combination of military might and potent rituals. The city of Seren was recovered and became a center for investigation of both vallorn and the history of Terunael for the next hundred years.

Consolidation

(36 YE - 69 YE) Reign of Empress Richilde, "the Sun Queen"

Following the reign of Emperor Giovanni, there was a brief period during which the Throne was unoccupied. The next Empress was Empress Richilde of Dawn. Senator for Astolat, this accomplished Dawnish noble parlayed her cleverness and charisma into political influence. She instituted the Imperial bards, served as a patroness of the arts, accompanied the Imperial armies on campaign as an inspirational symbol of The Throne, and worked extensively to encourage both national and Imperial pride. After her death, she was recognised as an exemplar and later a paragon of Pride.

(46 YE) Karsk captured

Imperial armies from Wintermark and Dawn supported the Varushkan force's conquest of Karsk. The war was long and did not produce tales of heroism or glory.

(52 YE) Semmerholm defeated

An unusual alliance between Marcher and Dawnish forces caused the destruction of a major orc nation in the territory now known as Semmerholm.

(54 YE) Scouring of Redoubt

A combined Imperial force assisted the seers of Urizen in systematically removing the majority of orc occupants from the territory of Redoubt. Urizen control of the territory expanded allowing it to be represented in the Senate.

(56 YE) Reikos gained

Highborn forces finally succeeded in conquering Reikos on the borders of the Great Forest of Peytaht. The territory was accepted as part of the Empire although it took over a year to return the first senator for the territory.

(71 YE - 91 YE) Reign of Empress Teleri, "the Pious"

This Navarr Empress was deeply involved in the business of the Synod, and it was during her reign that they first began to exert the political powers they possessed. During her reign, the Synod gained increasing influence over all other parts of Imperial life, especially the Imperial Senate.

(74 YE) Westward expansion

A campaign to secure the western flank of the Empire took the Mourn from orcs and secured Mitwold to the sea.

(88 YE) Invasion of Kahraman

Freeborn and Marcher armies concluded a successful pincer invasion of the mountainous territory of Kahraman. The occupants were split in two by the invasion and forced out of the territory in the following years.

Expansion

(92 YE - 102 YE) The First Interregnum

Following the reign of Empress Teleri there was a period known as the First Interregnum during which there was nobody seated on the Throne. This period was marked by close co-operation between the Conclave, Bourse, Senate and Military Council with the Imperial Synod serving a vital role as supporters and intermediaries. As the interregnum progressed, however, there was increasing dissatisfaction with the dominance of the Synod.

(103 YE - 120 YE) Reign of Empress Aenea, "the Builder"

The Highborn Empress Aenea spent most of her reign improving the infrastructure of the Empire. Several border wars occurred during Aenea's time on the Throne, and at various points the Empire was at war with Faraden, the Iron Confederacy, Axos, Skoura and even (technically) the Sumaah Republic.

(125 YE to 167 YE) Reign of Empress Varkula, called "the Undying"

Taking advantage of a weakened and divided Senate the ruthless Varushkan Empress Varkula manipulated (and in some cases, allegedly extorted) her way to the Throne. She then set about dramatically increasing the military strength of the Empire. Her reign saw the Empire's borders expand, and also saw a reduction in the powers of the Synod that had expanded in the reigns of more pious Emperors and Empresses.

(125 YE) Assimilation of Zenith

The seers of Urizen completed the assimilation of Zenith after a lengthy campaign involving Highborn and League forces and a long sequence of powerful rituals.

(136 YE) Fall of Holberg

Imperial armies from Dawn conquered the territory of Holberg. The city of Holberg was convinced to join the Empire by League diplomats, leading to a political coup in the Senate that resulted in the territory being assigned to the League.

(154 YE) Skarsind pacified

Although it proved impossible to drive the barbarian orcs from Skarsind, enough of the territory was conquered and fortified for it to be declared an Imperial territory.

(167 YE) Domination of Miekarova

Steady expansion by the Varushkan boyars over the preceding century led to the inclusion of Miekarova within the Empire.

(168 YE to 179 YE) Reign of Emperor Frederick, called "the Philosopher"

Frederick Ritter van Holberg reigned for eleven years, over a time of relative peace during which the Empire consolidated the gains secured in the reign of Empress Varkula. He was a philosopher and political scholar who fiercely protected the rights of the individual over those of the state, and encouraged citizens of all nations to view the prosperity and security of the Empire as both their responsibility and something in which to take great pride.

(180 to 199 YE) Reign of Emperor Barabbas

The Highborn Emperor Barabbas was driven by the desire to expand the Empire to control the entire Bay of Catazar. He was only marginally successful, managing primarily to alienate the people of Surann and Skoura and ultimately seeing his Barabbine fleet sink in a terrible storm that would have left the Imperial Navy crippled if not for the foresight of his Freeborn allies.

(183) Expansion into Segura

A united front by the hakima of the Guerra and Riqueza led to the Brass Coast expansion into Segura.

Turmoil

This period saw the reign of Emperor Nicovar, and his catastrophic effect on the history of the Empire. It was characterized by a sequence of military defeats as earlier conquests were lost to resurgent barbarian forces beginning with Segura in the Brass Coast in 204 and ending with the war in Karsk in 259. Most of the defeats were eventually reversed, with the borders moving back and forth. By the end of the years of turmoil, the Empire actually controlled slightly more land than at the beginning, but the period is still regarded as a low point in Imperial history.

(200 YE - 209 YE) Reign of Emperor Nicovar "the Mad"

The first reversals in the Empire's fortune occurred during the reign of Emperor Nicovar. Initially a brilliant administrator, Nicovar expanded the role of the civil service in support of the Empire. However, a decade of attempting to micromanage every element of the Empire, as well as a reliance on the magic of Day to gather and interpret ever greater amounts of information, eventually caused him to descend into madness.

The draughir Emperor became increasingly unstable, perceiving patterns in events that appeared paranoid to others. His unpopular policies divided the Senate and the Synod, and there were rumbles of civil war. He began to demand extreme amounts of record keeping and it became clear that he was not in his right mind.

Things came to a head in 209 when Emperor Nicovar sent his troops to burn down the Empire's libraries. There was a revolt, which culminated in the destruction of the central repository of records in Highguard and several key spires in Urizen. The mad emperor was executed by the captain of his own guard, the Navarr Thorn Isaella. Despite appeals for clemency from the Synod, Isaella took full responsibility. She was convicted as a traitor, but at the same time was both lauded as an exemplar of courage and duty, and a hero of the Empire.

The destruction of the libraries left a big hole in the history of the Empire - thousands of books and scrolls were lost. While records still existed, there were many gaps and those that remained were fragmentary. Since then scholars have attempted to recreate the books and records they had lost, but with mixed success.

(212 YE - 234 YE) Reign of Empress Mariika

After three years without an Emperor or Empress, the Suaq Empress Mariika ascended the Throne. The Empire was on the verge of financial collapse, and Mariika's reign is remembered for her ruthless and efficient reorganisation of the Imperial Economy. She disbanded two entire armies, slashed funding to the Military Council, gave the Bourse control of a number of raw material surpluses, recognised several informal positions as Imperial offices, and generally took steps to ensure the Empire avoided economic disaster.

(239 YE - 248 YE) Reign of Emperor Guntherm

The Steinr Emperor Guntherm ascended the Throne after a series of successful campaigns against the Jotun barbarians. He was committed to expanding the reach of the Empire, and chafed under the economic restrictions placed by his predecessor. The early part of his reign is committed to strengthening the borders of the Empire, and a number of castles and fortresses were built during his reign. The latter part of his reign is known for some of the bloodiest battles in Imperial history.

(249 YE - 257 YE) Reign of Empress Brannan

The Navarri Empress Brannan followed Guntherm to the Throne, and was another military-minded ruler dedicated to smashing the orcs and expanding the borders of the Empire. Ultimately, her abusive attitude to the powers of The Throne, and allegations of improper relations with certain eternals resulted in her being the only Throne to be revoked by the Imperial Synod. Despite her failings, she showed what the Empire was capable of when sufficient resources were given to its armies. Some of the most glorious battles in Imperial history took place during her reign, and with her support the Navarr in particular made great advances in their fight to destroy the vallorn and reclaim their lost cities.

(257 YE - 281 YE) Reign of Emperor James

The Marcher Emperor James took the Throne as a peacemaker - not to make peace with the barbarians, but to make peace within the Empire. He was responsible for fixing the borders of the Empire.

(265 YE) Fixing the borders

The Senate decreed that the Empire was now large enough and argued that further expansion was counterproductive, despite vociferous argument from the Synod and the Military Council. Trade routes with various foreigners were established, and peace treaties were signed with various barbarians, ushering in an era of economic growth and prosperity.

Some barbarians continued to threaten the borders, but the armies shifted to a more defensive role.

Renewal

The renewal period started with the fixing of the borders in 265YE and lasted until the end of the reign of Emperor Ahraz. It marked a period of introspection, but also of strengthening and renewing an Empire ravaged by the violence and confusion of the years of Turmoil. With the acceptance of the Imperial Orcs as a tenth nation, the Empire's strength appeared assured.

(281 YE - 300 YE) The Second Interregnum

After James' reign, a period of relative peace settled on the Empire. The borders were reinforced. Relationships between the Senate, Synod and Military Council achieved a degree of status quo. The Conclave and the Bourse focused on their own interests and were free to explore new avenues. Modern scholars suggest that this was a period of increasing complacency and introspection for the Empire, but others point to the high quality of life for most citizens, the various advances in magic, the arts and technology, and consider it a golden age built on the solid foundations laid by Emperor James' reign.

(300 YE - 318 YE) Reign of Empress Deanne

Empress Deanne ended the Second Interregnum by taking the Throne in 300 YE, primarily in response to increased orc aggression. Her early reign was taken up with organising a fractious and complacent Senate, and helping a largely inexperienced Military Council deal with the dual threat of Grendel invasions along the southern coast, and a major effort by the Druj in the Barrens to claim Dawnguard.

(322 YE - 324 YE) The Orc Rebellion

Prior to 322 YE, many orcs that were defeated in battle were enslaved. Orcs had no rights in the Empire before this time, as they were not considered people in the eyes of the Constitution. There were slave populations in Dawn, Wintermark and Highguard and especially in Varushka and The League.

During this period an orc hero arose among his people, leading them in armed revolt that saw them occupy parts of Varushka, the League, Dawn and the Marches. The Freeborn Emperor Ahraz arranged a deal with the orcs, and a motion to recognise them as people was brought before the Senate. The motion passed by a tiny margin, making the Imperial Orcs citizens of the Empire.

(324 YE - 329 YE) Reign of Emperor Ahraz "the Liberator"

The only Freeborn Emperor to date, Ahraz came to the Throne with promises to end the Orc Rebellion. He did so by bringing the slaves into the Empire, and by recognising the right of orcs to be citizens. His reign was marked with turmoil, and he abdicated in 329 YE a broken man.

(324 YE - 328 YE) The Freedom Heresy

A briar priest preaching the heretical Virtue of Freedom ultimately inspired an attempt to secede from the Empire. When the rebellion was defeated by Imperial forces, the priest led her followers into the Barrens where they attempted to found a rogue state, the kingdom of Montane. In 328 YE the heretics were destroyed by barbarian orcs, and in 329 YE the ringleaders of the heresy were tried and executed for heresy and blasphemy.

Decline

(331 YE) The Decline begins

In 331YE the territory of Spiral was lost to Urizen. This marked the start of the current period called the Decline. A greedy and corrupt Senate, more concerned with internal political manoeuvring than the strength of the Empire, supported two weak occupants of the Throne (Empress Giselle de Sarvos and Emperor Hugh the Ill-Prepared of House Rousillon) and a third catastrophically incompetent Emperor (the weak and self-indulgent naga-lineaged Emperor Walter Upwold who did not enter the Senate once during his two year reign).

The Synod was mostly concerned with dogmatic disputes and began to lose sight of its mission.

In 346 YE the territory of Holberg was lost to the barbarians. This triggered a defensive mindset and a period of recriminations. More territories were lost, leading to further defensiveness and less inter-nation cooperation. The generals of the Military Council found it impossible to collaborate effectively during this period. The addition of the first Imperial Orc generals in 351 YE simply made the matter worse.

Several more territories on the edges of the Empire were also lost during this time.

(331 - 346 YE) Reign of Empress Giselle "the Unwise"

Empress Giselle de Sarvos of the League took the Throne following the loss of Spiral in 331 YE and despite some early efforts entirely failed to re-take that territory. Her reign was marked with a period of political upheaval largely caused by the Empress herself whose blatant favouritism towards the League split the Senate and the Synod, and caused problems among the generals and the archmages. Her reign ended with her death during the battle for Holberg which saw that territory lost to the Empire.

(348 - 368 YE) Reign of Emperor Hugh, called "the Ill-Prepared"

After the death of Empress Giselle de Sarvos, Hugh de Rousillon of Dawn took the crown. Nephew of the Dawnish general Leon de Rousillon, and a noble of a politically and militarily powerful Dawnish noble house, Hugh was a personable, enthusiastic and idealistic knight with extensive battlefield experience. Unfortunately, he was an absolutely abysmal administrator, incapable of delegation, torn between the realities of political life and his personal idealism. His reign was marked by a dizzying number of feasts, banquets, and tourneys during which he desperately tried to woo an increasingly jaded Imperial Senate, as well as a sequence of crushing military defeats as Generals began to compete with each other over dwindling resources.

By the end of his reign, the Emperor was almost unrecognisable as the energetic young man he had been when the took the Throne. Decades of feasting had left him corpulent and unhealthy, barely able to fit into his harness. Trying to stay ahead of the manipulations and machinations of the Senate had left him exhausted and despondent. According to those who saw him in the fateful battle for Karsk that spelled the end of his reign and ultimately his life, he was a broken man who embraced the peace offered by death.

The Crows Gather

Emperor Hugh's reign was marked by a catastrophic sequence of defeat, military blunders, and loss of territory. Almost as soon as he gained the Throne in 349YE, the Navarr territory of Liathaven was conquered by the Jotun. They move quickly to capitalise on their unexpected attack, efficiently conquering the Mournwold by the end of the year.

In 363YE, Segura was conquered by a unified force of orcs from the Lasambrian Hills; efforts to push into Kahraman, Feroz, and Madruga were repulsed by Imperial forces but disorganised attempts by the Empire to recapture the westernmost territory met with abject failure.

Four years later, the Druj launched an attack previously considered impossible; striking through the Great Forest of Peytaht from the Barrens, they quickly overwhelmed the defenders of Reikos, conquering the territory by the close of 367YE.

Finally, in 368YE, the Thule joined the attack against the Empire, seizing the northern parts of the eastern territory of Karsk from Varushka. Hugh himself died during a desperate attempt to drive back the orcs of Otkodov.

(371 - 373 YE) Reign of Emperor Walter, "the Ham-fisted"

Emperor Walter Upwold was a Marcher naga who took the Throne under dubious circumstances and was widely considered to be a disaster for the Empire. Under his 'reign' the Senate fell even further into open bickering and factionalism. He choked to death on an olive pit in 373YE during a state dinner with a group of Sarcophan and Jarmite diplomats.

In the final year of his reign, the Thule continue their attacks across the northern borders of the Empire, taking control of the Wintermark territory of Skarsind. Some scholars speculate that the suspicious circumstances surrounding his death may have been linked to the loss of the Winterfolk holdings there.

Resurgence

(374 YE - 376 YE) Reign of Empress Britta, "the Young Empress"

A Steinr woman named Britta became the nineteenth Empress. In the wake of the disastrous Emperor Walter (who was already being termed "the Ham-fisted") she took up the sword and shield and challenged the corruption of the Senate and Synod. She surrounded herself with competent generals, and began to formulate and prosecute a campaign to recover lost territories and drive the barbarians back.

A popular and charismatic figure, she united the people of the Empire behind her and dealt ruthlessly with her enemies. She had the wisdom to select competent advisors. People began to call her the Young Empress, and hailed her as the reincarnation of the First Empress, come to protect the Empire in its time of need.

(376 YE) Death of the Young Empress

The Empress Britta was killed during a disastrous attempt to retake Skarsind. Perhaps galvanised by this, the fastest campaign of conquest in Imperial history saw five territories previously lost returned to the Imperial fold. In the three years after her death, Skarsind, Karsk, Segura, Holberg, and Reikos were recaptured.

(380 YE - 383 YE) Reign of Empress Lisabetta, "Empress of Flowers"

Appointed by the Senate at the Spring Equinox, Lisabetta Giacomi von Holberg of the House of Seven Mirrors claimed she was inspired by her countryman, the intellectual Emperor Frederick, and by the example of the glorious Empress Richilde, paragon of Pride.

Other Media

This page was recorded and uploaded to YouTube in March 2021 by the Orcs Planet. It's unlikely that more than a few details will change significantly, meaning these three recordings should remain broadly useful as another way to experience the broad strokes of Imperial History. There are three videos: Pre history to 22YE, 22YE to 209YE, and 209 YE to 383YE.