Special Feature: Thyatian Timeline

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Timeline of Thyatian History, continued

The Bright Age

Zendrolion's Reign

AC 0: Thyatian troops entrench themselves on the Isle of Dawn, disarming the Ochalean and Pearl Islander troops that are present, so that they will not be able to help their nations resist Thyatian occupation. The disarmed troops are sold as slaves in Thyatis City. Zendrolion then dispatches maritime forces to take control of Ochalea and the Pearl Islands on his behalf. Both nations suffered heavy losses in the fighting against the local Alphatian garrisons during the war, as well as in later battles on the Isle of Dawn (where they were in part maneuvered by Lucinius & Zendrolion so they would face the stiffest opposition in many of the battles). They fall quickly. Zendrolion appoints one of his generals, Kantrius, as Duke of the Eastern Frontier, creating what will become the Duchy of Kantrium. The Duke guards the border with the Alaysians, who are still raiders and brigands. Kantrius rebuilds the city there, still largely ruined by the effects of the Alphatian occupation and the recent war of liberation. He colonizes it with those who fought by his side in the war.
AC 1 - 10: Alphas VI continues his efforts to put down uprisings in Alphatia and undo the effects of that Empire's decline. In Thyatis, Zendrolion begins his reign. The Thyatians have only one real model for governing an Imperial state, the Alphatian model. Zendrolion rules the Empire as a tyrant - though he lowers the tribute owed to him from the high levels imposed by Alphatia's Kerothar IV, he otherwise simply replaces the Alphatian magical despotism with a Thyatian military one. Thyatian administrators are less dissolute and more efficient than the Alphatian ones, but efficient occupiers are not usually admired by conquered people. In their eyes they have just exchanged one oppressor for another, but the Thyatian forces are too strong to expel, and their own forces are too weak to try. Recovery from the ravages of the war does begin, however. The Thyatian heartland rebounds fairly quickly. The Alphatian Cleric Retebius, who had helped Thyatis in the war, offers to organize an elite aerial force to help Thyatis defend itself against the Alphatians. He is granted funding and the dominion southwest of Kantrium. The town there, still largely ruined, is rebuilt as the headquarters of the Retebius Air Corps, and becomes known as Retebius as a result. Zendrolium orders a naval base constructed at the eastern mouth of Vanya's Girdle, renaming the town there (which was largely ruined during the Alphatian occupation and the struggle for freedom) Port Lucinius. Thyatians occupy Biazzan and fortify the pass. Zendrolion has several palaces built in Thyatis City - one on the old Acropolis, which becomes Emperor's Hill, and another in the district named for himself, where most of his soldiers are garrisoned. Being a military man, he spends most of his time in this latter palace.
AC 12: Thyatian colonists and traders found a trading port in Norwold on the site of present-day Alpha, signs of the expansion of Thyatis' trading network, which is helping the Empire recover from the effects of the war. Alphatia is still busy putting down uprisings and can do little on their own to oppose this; they are still too weak from the recent war and continued revolts to contemplate war with Thyatis over this settlement. They look for another solution. Dwarves who had had helped Thyatis in the war with Alphatia and worked on building projects for Zendrolion are granted a domain in the Altan Tepes, and found the town of Makrast. This later becomes the Barony of Buhrohur.
AC 15: Northmen mercenaries paid by Alphatia attack and destroy the trading port of Cape Alpha. As a result skirmishing breaks out on the Isle of Dawn and Zendrolion orders raids against the Alatian islands. He also sends arms and support to Alphatia's subjects. A new round of uprisings is unleashed in Alphatia, undoing much of Alphas VI's previous successes in putting them down.

The Justiciar
AC 20: Emperor Zendrolion dies; his empire was controlled by force and seems likely to collapse upon his death. The conquered areas have recovered sufficiently from the war against Alphatia that they now feel strong enough to rebel against Thyatis. His wife, Valentia, seizes control of Thyatis and undertakes emergency measures to save the Empire, and place it on a firmer foundation than that of the military despotism that Zendrolion had substituted for Alphatia's magical despotism. She brings the children of the aristocracy of the subject lands to Thyatis, ostensibly to teach them Thyatian ways, but also as a hostage-taking tactic that stalls the revolts. Empress Valentia makes her Citizens' Proclamation, based on Thyatis' old pre-Alphatian conquest traditions. From now on Thyatis will be divided into three classes (Noble, Citizen, Slave), the vast majority of whom will be citizens (even those of the conquered lands), rather than subjects as under the Alphatian system. She establishes a Senate based on Thyatis' old one, with representatives from all over the Empire. The Senate at first has little power, acting in an advisory capacity to the Empress (herself), but conveys the impression that each part of the Empire has a voice in its governance. Local curial bodies, city Senates, are established throughout the Empire as well, to administer local affairs. She also liberates Ochalea and the Pearl Islands, withdrawing Thyatian garrisons from them, then invites them to re-join the Empire under the terms of her Proclamation, with full representation in the Senate. They accept, rejoining the Empire voluntarily as equal members rather than subject nations. As for Zendrolion, after he is interred and folks have forgotten about him, he is revived by his buddy Lucinius as a form of undead. They withdraw deep into the catacombs of Thyatis City, for their own purposes. . .Pax Valentica begins (AC 20 - 313). Throughout the next several centuries, while there are a few wars on the frontiers of the Empire, this is a time when these wars are not very burdensome and do not ravage the territories of the Empire itself.
AC 21-50: Valentia turns her attentions to reforming the Thyatian legal code, establishing a uniform system intended to provide the rule of law to the Thyatian Empire, favoring no one on account of rank or station. This, and harsh penalties imposed on corrupt officials, establishes the sense that justice is available to all throughout the Empire. Valentia chooses to live in the palace on Emperor's Hill rather than the palace in the Zendrolium District. She has the Senate House and other governmental offices constructed nearby, as well as another Civic Forum. During this time in Alphatia Alphas VI and his successor Alphas VII (AC 30) finally subdues most of the overt resistance to that Empire, and Alphas VII begins the process of rebuilding it. A strong trading network throughout the Thyatian Empire brings vitality to it, allowing it to recover from the ravages of the war much faster than the Alphatians do. It will take them another two centuries to truely rebound.
AC 23: General Kantrius dies. The people of the Duchy of the East vote to rename the Duchy after him and call the City Kantridae in his honor.
AC 50: The population of Thyatis City reaches 300,000. Sesquicentennial Celebration throughout the Thyatian Empire, celebrating freedom from Alphatia.
AC 53: Empress Valentia dies, much respected. The Senate awards her the title "The Justiciar" and renames the Civic Forum near the Senate House the Forum Judiciale in her honor, and has a large marble statue of her constructed at its entrance. Valentia was, of course, the Immortal Tarastia. She took mortal form as Lucinius' half-sister. Her motives for doing so may seem obscure, but they reach back into early Thyatian history. Polytius Nobilissimus Trenzantenbium had taken Tarastia as his patron, and governed Thyatis justly, resulting in a golden age. Tarastia had admired the way Thyatian political theory had developed prior to the coming of the Alphatians, though she did not like the direction Zendrolion took the Empire after its foundation. She initiated a Plot to undo some of the damage the Alphatian occupation had done to the development of Thyatian politics and philosophy, putting it back on course. She also saw the creation of a more just Thyatian Empire as a way for Alphatia's former subject races to exact some revenge against the Alphatians. Tarastia was far from an admirer of corruption, so she created harsh penalties against it. Once she had reforged the Empire, she "died". Some say also that Tarastia had reached the status of Ruling Hierarch in the Sphere of Energy before taking on the Valentia identity, and that she dispersed her power at the time with the goal of trying to reach Immortality a second time, and subsequently Hierarch status as well. Whether this is the case and what will happen if and when she does is for the Old Ones to decide. In the centuries after Valentia the Empire expanded and worked to make reality of her promises. Arts and learning flourished, Thyatis City became a cosmopolitan mercantile center, and the security of the Empire was assured. Thyatian rulers supported theological and philosophical inquiry, resulting strong clerical orders which help defend the Empire from Alphatian expansionism. The strength of the Thyatian Empire becomes based on a combination of fighting, magical, and clerical power.

The Bright Age of Thyatis
AC 53-59: Valentia and Zendrolion's grandson, Valens, succeeded her. Emperor Valens ruled only for five years. He was always in poor health, and apparently died of a heart attack, without heirs. He was succeeded by his brother, Zendrol. At the time of Valens' death, Zendrol was in the east with several legions, campaigning against the Alaysians of the Tel Akbir region. He was forced to give up the offensive and return to Thyatis for his coronation, but ordered construction begun on a fortification in the eastern foothills of the Altan Tepes Mountains. Zendrol ruled only for one year, after which he was murdered while he was going to the Senate for an extraordinary session, during which he would have opposed the Senate's efforts to gain more power. The Senate immediately elected Emperor one member of the Popular faction, that wanted more power for the Senate, in opposition to the Optima's, aristocratic and close to the Tatriokanitas imperial family. As a result, Tel Akbir remained under control of the Alaysians, though the northeastern frontier was anchored by a strong fortress. The Senate, realizing Zendrol was popular with the troops, had this fortress named in his honor to somewhat mollify them.
AC 59 - 68: The Senate elects Aemilius Scaurus Emperor, in exchange for gaining the right to legislate, determining the Empire's laws. The Emperor retains the right to veto them, however. Aemilius also creates numerous new dominions within Thyatis, and gives the noble rulers of these the right to appoint a Senator.
AC 68 - 85: Lucius Aemilianus succeeds his father, Aemilius Scaurus. Several sharp clashes take place between the Thyatian and Alphatian held regions of the Isle during this period, and as a result Kendach is founded on the Isle of Dawn, built initially as a fortress, but a town soon begins to grow around it. The frontier is advanced into Bogland (Dunadale) as many of the inhabitants of that region aid the Thyatian advance. In between these skirmishes, West Portage rises to commercial prominence as Thyatian traders expand their trading network, even beginning to send caravans to Hillvale, which soon becomes more commonly known as East Portage.
AC 85 - 95: Upon the death of Lucius Aemilianus, his younger brother Paulus Aemilianus is selected as Emperor. After the Struggle for Freedom against Alphatia, the Thyatians and the Vyalian Elves had remained friendly but had no official ties. During the reign of Paulus they sign a pact of alliance with Thyatis, formalizing the relationship. The Vyalians and Thyatians begin to interact more often and some commerce develops along the Kerenda River, though it is closely monitored and regulated by the Elven clans.
AC 95 - AC 111: The third of Aemilius' sons, Leontius I Aemilianus ruled briefly. Neither he nor his brothers had sired any children. The aged Leontius realized he would not rule long, and so he adopted his closest friend and advisor, Lucius Metothemios, and insured that he would succeed him. Leontius died before the year AC 95 was over and Lucius took the family name Scaurus and wore the crown as Lucius II Aemilianus Scaurus. During his reign, as a result of the growing interaction with the Vyalian elves, the dominion of Machetos was created (at this time it was a County). he was deposed in 111 by Leontius II with the help of the Senate, because they felt he was abusing his authority and transgressing against the rights of Thyatian Citizens.
AC 111 - 117: The Senate replaced Lucius II with Leontius II Scaurus, a man from another branch of the Scaurus family. He was a caretaker Emperor who did little during his short reign. The Scaurus dynasty ended without violence when Leontius II's daughter Eliana was married to Philippus Isauricus, a Thyatian Popular Senator.
AC 117 - 129: Philippus Isauricus initiates a period of largely peaceful expansion. Early in his reign he came to an agreement with the Elves of Vyalia, forging agreements regarding human inhabitation in the region. The coastal areas between the Kerenda and Rugalov rivers were cleared, expanding the amount of farmland under cultivation in Machetos, but the forests to the north, where the elves lived, were declared off limits to tree cutting. Humans began to settle in Vyalia, founding the town of Foreston, with the agreement of the elves. With the help of the Vyalia elves, he also absorbed Terentias into the Empire. Many humans descended from the original Kerendan colonists still lived there, with the elves that had settled it after the Alphatian invasion. Though there was some friction, the annexation of Terentias was mostly peaceful on this occasion, and Terentias became a County in AC 120.
AC 129 - 143: Leontius III ascended to the throne after his father died. He tried to continue the expansion initiated by Philippus, but "with more glory," starting a number of wars - fighting on the Isle of Dawn, where the border in Bogland (Dunadale) shifted east a few miles, capturing the westernmost island of the Alatian chain, destroying the Alphatian settlement on the eastern coast. He renamed this island Aegos and founded the town of Aegopoli on its western tip. He finally launched a reckless attack against the elves of Alfisle in the Minrothad chain. This was poorly planned from the start, Leontius' ship was separated from the invasion fleet by the elves, who skillfully used their sea magic to create fogs and confuse the ship captains. Most of the fleet found themselves landing on the shores of Hattias, but the flagship, bearing the Emperor, was never seen again (though it is the source of "ghost ship of the Sea of Dread" tales by superstitious seamen to this day).
AC 143 - 175: Zendrolion II succeeded his father, but only after the Senate wrested from him an agreement that from now on all future external wars could only be initiated with the approval of the Senate, a declaration of war by that body. The Senate had not been happy with Leontius' wars: even the successful ones had produced little of value (some bogs in Bogland (Dunadale) and an island still suffering from the ravages of the wars that shook Alphatia in the previous century). Zendrolion II patched up relations with the Meditor and Verdier elves. Zendrolion II was a militaristic man, however. He spent the early years of his reign building up support in the Senate for a new war of expansion. He finally convinced them in 148 to permit him to make war against the Alaysians, on the basis that the Thyatians had held the Tel Akbir peninsula prior to the Alphatian invasion. Zendrolion II planned his campaign well. He sent his armies driving eastward out of Fort Zendrol, sealing off the peninsula from receiving help from the nomads of the northern desert. He then sent several fleets against Tel Akbir, blockading it. With the help of an Alaysian Emir, Muhad Benaker, who was disaffected from the then-ruling clan of Tel Akbir and opened the gates to the Thyatian armies, Thyatis captured the city. Zendrolion II then initiated the colonization of southeastern Ylaruam, founding the town of Tameronikas in AC 150. Muhad Benaker was named Duke (Shaikh) of Tel Akbir that same year. The population of Thyatis City reaches 400,000.
AC 175 - 197: Zendrolion II was succeeded by his eldest son, Leontius IV, who reigned quietly for five years. He never truly enjoyed the cut and thrust of Thyatian politics or the administrative detail of governing the Empire, and in 180 he abdicated in favor of his brother, Demetius. Leontius IV was appointed an Imperial General. This turned out to be fortuitous, because the Alphatians soon initiated a series of attacks on the Isle of Dawn, and invaded Aegos. While Demetius straightened out the Empire's finances (which had become somewhat scrambled during Leontius IV's rule), Leontius repelled the Alphatian attack force, sinking their fleet at Aegos. Peace was soon re-established, with the Alphatian gains limited to the areas of Bogland (Dunadale) that Thyatis had captured during Leontius III's reign.
AC 197 - 211: Demetius died without a male heir and was succeeded by his daughter, Valeria (197 - 202). Valeria had a husband, but reigned on her own account. During her rule, Halathius was established as a County. Alaysian nomads began a series of raids along the northern frontier, but were repelled easily. Valeria died young and was succeeded by her equally strong-willed daughter, Irene (202 - 211). Irene was a descendent of Valentia (on her father's side), and a renowned sorceress. She forged the pact with the Vyalia Elves wherein they agreed to join the Empire as a County and to train Thyatians in their arts, creating the Order of Foresters. Irene abdicated the throne in favor of her son in 211, so as to concentrate on her arcane studies, living thereafter alternately on Sclaras, the family estate on Carytion, or in Foreston. She still lives today, kept ever-young by powerful magics, but is very reclusive, spending almost all her time on Sclaras or Carytion, save for periods of emergency that prod her attention.
AC 211 - 256: This was a largely quiet period in Thyatian history. Irene Isaurica's son Alexian I reigned for a decade, working with the Senate on a revised legal code. He abdicated in favor of his own son, Tiberius I, in AC 220. During the reign of Tiberius I war again broke out with Alphatia, and on account of the heroism of the then Count of Machetos that dominion was elevated to the status of Duchy. Tiberius I died in a hunting accident in AC 223, however, and his brother Phileas was then crowned Emperor. He ruled quietly over a prosperous Empire for over a quarter of a century. At the tail end of his reign, the Alphatians began to conquer the northeastern coastlands of Alaysia.
AC 256 - 287: Tiberius I was followed by his energetic son, Marcianus I Alasyianus. Marcianus begins a series of renewed offensives in Alaysia. Shortly after his ascension he leads his legions through the pass at Biazzan against Ctesiphon. At the time that town is strong and prosperous, due to the trade that passes through it, as the northern counterpart to Biazzan. It resists fiercely, and when Marcianus' troops capture the town, he sells the inhabitants into slavery as a result, and resettles the town with Thyatians. Marcianus spends the next several years subduing the northern foothills of the Southern Altan Tepes, the arc of land between Ctesiphon and Tameronikas. As each clan in the region is distinct, the area has to be conquered meticulously. Some decide to submit and pay tribute in exchange for peace, while others are forced to flee into the desert, and still others fight to the bitter end. In order to gain control over the region, Marcianus establishes colonies of Thyatians, heavily intermixed with retired soldiers, throughout the hill country. While the Emperor was engaged in this project, the Alphatians began a major offensive on the Isle of Dawn, overrunning much of the north. Marcianus sent one of his ablest generals, Titus Andronikos, to restore the situation. Operating with limited resources but extreme ruthlessness, Titus launched savage attacks deep into Bogland (Dunadale), and eventually compelled the Alphatians to accept peace and returned the region to the previous frontier. With Titus returning by sea, Marcianus decided to concentrate on expanding Thyatis' control of the Alaysian coasts. Titus' fleets invested the town of Cubia by sea while Marcianus marched his troops to its walls. With an immense siege train, the Thyatians slowly batter the defenses of Cubia, and capture it in 281. The Senate votes Marcianus the appellation "Alasyianus" as a result of his victories. Marcianus appoints Titus Count of Nicostenia, governing the coastal strip. He appoints another of his Generals as Count of Dythestenia, to supervise the hill country.
AC 287 - 313: Marcianus' son succeeded him, ruling as Alexian II. Early in Alexian II's reign the Alphatians again tested the Empire's defenses, launching an attack against Aegos. The local commander, Heraclonian Chrysavian, with only local forces at his disposal, managed to defeat a much larger fleet of Alphatian ships. As a result, Alexian II awarded him the island of Actius and the title of Lord Knight. Late in Alexian II's reign Hattias revolted against the Empire. Hattian members of the Imperial guard tried to slay Alexian II, but were defeated in a pitched battle with other Guard troops in the Imperial Palace in the Zendrolium district. Much of that palace was damaged at the time, however. Most Imperial troops were away from the capital, on the frontiers, and the Hattians managed to besiege The City. Alexian's forces held out, and eventually a relief force arrived from Kerendas, and the Hattian rebel army was smashed. Alexian then sent his legions, under General Savros Kallastines, to re-occupy Hattias and crush the rebellion. After a lengthy and brutal siege, Hattias City fell and the rebellion was ended. At the order of the Emperor, Savros had his troops tear down the walls of Hattias, to make it more difficult for them to rebel again in the future. Savros then returned to the capital to report his victory to the Emperor, but upon his arrival he deposed and murdered Alexian II, occupying The City with his troops and having himself crowned Emperor. The Senate, faced with the choice of either acclaiming him or being killed, accepted. But throughout the Empire the regional generals had different reactions to this, and civil war soon broke out. This marked the end of the Bright Age, and of the Pax Valentica. Unknown to all, one of the causes of the end of the Bright Age is the disappearance of the Imperial Crown (an artifact created by Tarastia), which was in part responsible for the prosperity and success of the Empire in the preceding period. The Crown was stolen during the siege and subsequently lost. Also not known at the time, and even to this day, is that the Hattian revolt was provoked by Thanatos, the civil war that followed being a natural (but not directly Immortal - provoked) result. The population of Thyatis City reached 500,000 around AC 300.

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