AC 728 - 758: Marcianus Dalessenos, member of an
aristocratic family of Lucinius and commander of the
Imperial Fleet, was unanimously elected Emperor by the
Senate. By the time he had secured the throne, the
Alphatians had taken Cubia and were besieging
Tameronikas. Marcianus decided to sail against the Alphatians rather than march against them. He ordered their positions on the
Isle of Dawn attacked by the Imperial forces there, and
fleets sailed from the Pearl Islands and Ochalea against
the Alphatian-held Alatian Islands, landing forces on each
of them and tying down Alphatian armies. He followed the
practice of hiring Northman sea-wolves to attack Alphatian
shipping, and this prevented them from sending further
re-enforcements to Alaysia. Marcianus then took his own fleet, transporting
Imperial forces, and hooked around the main Alphatian army,
landing at Cubia. They recaptured the town, forcing the
Alphatians to break the siege of Tameronikas and march
north. They met Marcianus' forces outside Cubia, but he
refused battle, withdrawing back into the walls of the
town. While he supplied himself by sea, the Alphatians
began to run low on supplies, and by early spring of 729
they began to withdraw northwards. Marcianus' forces
harassed them the entire way, restoring Thyatian control to
the coastal strip as far north as Fabia, though that town
itself remained in Alphatian hands. Some histories
favorable to the Alphatians describe their offensive of AC
728 as "crushing" the Thyatian colonies in the region, but
the truth was far different. The Alphatians managed to chase down most of the Thyatian
probing forces on the Alatian Islands by AC 730, and peace
was re-established, though skirmishing soon broke out on
Alaysia again. Following this experience Marcianus ordered the
construction of a major road into the interior of
Thyatian-held Alaysia, which was harder to reach and
re-enforce by sea. This road ran from Biazzan to Ctesiphon,
and then east through the hills of Dythestenia and south
towards Fort Zendrol, and exists to this day. Marcianus died in AC 754, but his wife, Julia, manages
to reign as Empress in her own name for four years. A
strong-willed woman, she demanded that her five sons
compete to see who was fittest to rule, granting them each
fiefs on the Isle of Dawn to govern. The one that did best
would get her blessing, and in 758 Annius, her second
youngest son, proved his worth by deftly defeating an
Alphatian strike force intent on pillaging the region. The population of Thyatis City reaches 600,000 around
AC 750, and then largely stabilizes.
AC 758 - 783: Julia abdicates in favor of Annius, who
becomes Emperor. She advises him until her death two years
later, and he rules ably, preventing Ostlander and
Alphatian raiders from striking Imperial territory, and
after striking a deal with several nomad clans in Alaysia,
he extends his father's network of roads north to the oasis
of Ylaruam, sparking increased trade. But his brother, Marcus, seethed during this time. He
believed that as the eldest son of Marcianus, he deserved
to be Emperor, and that it was only good fortune that
brought the Alphatian raiders into Annius' lap, giving him
the chance to look good. In 761 Marcus finds an excuse to
challenge Annius to a duel, and to everyone's surprise the
Emperor accepts and, rather than resorting to a Champion
(as would be his right), faces Marcus himself. But Marcus
slays Annius. Knowing that Marcus is a better swordsman than they
are, the other brothers decide not to challenge his
subsequent claim of the throne. The Senate narrowly
ratifies his position as Emperor. But Marcus is not well
respected by most of the nobility. He avoids revolts by, in
effect, allowing most of his vassals to rule their domains
pretty much as they please, so long as they send their
taxes to Thyatis City. Marcus finds himself largely Emperor
in name only, truly ruling only the City and Duchy of
Thyatis. It takes some time for the Alphatians to notice this
state of affairs, but when they do they take advantage of
it. In 773 they invade Thyatian territory on the Isle of
Dawn. They overrun much of its northern head over the next
few years, and are stopped only by the ring of
fortifications outside Newkirk. In 780 they besiege
Kendach, and despite the forces Marcus personally leads to
its relief, it soon falls. The Emperor manages to stabilize
the situation, maintaining Thyatian control over the region
around Newkirk, the Redstone peninsula, and West Portage.
During this period the region of the Shadow Coast largely
falls into wilderness, with only a few scattered
settlements still maintaining ties to Thyatis. The Counts
of Dythestenia and Nicostenia govern especially harshly,
squeezing every last piece of gold from their subjects, and
selling almost all the Alaysians who were captured in the
increasingly fierce skirmishes into slavery.
783 - 797: Marcus died as he lived - his life ended
when he dueled he Duke of Kerendas, finally meeting his
match. He was succeeded by his son, Alexandros II.
Alexandros II was the complete opposite of his father.
Where Marcus craved the throne, Alexandros was
disinterested in ruling. Where Marcus was an enthusiastic
fighter, Alexandros II was a reticent, scholarly mage.
Alexandros found the Empire in a condition that suited him:
the dominions were largely governing themselves, and he let
that continue. He even turned over as much of the
administrative duties he did have to the Senate and, with
respect to Thyatis City and the Duchy, to his court
functionaries and advisors. Through deft and efficient deployment of the Empire's
magical resources, the one asset Alexandros II was
interested in, he managed to defeat the next Alphatian
attack against the Empire, aimed at sweeping through
Alaysia. An invasion fleet headed for the Pearl Islands was
likewise dispatched by elements of the Retebius Air Fleet
and numerous wizards, which Alexandros had presciently sent
there prior to the Alphatian's sortie. By these means,
Alexandros II earned a reputation for being a deft Diviner
and precognate, but little respect as a ruler. The
Alphatians did manage to take advantage of Alexandros II's
relative inattentiveness in order to add Glantri to their
Empire, when the wizard Halzunthram subdued it in 788. In AC 795 Alexandros' chamberlain, Alexius Penhaligon,
convinces him to abdicate. Alexandros retires to the island
of Sclaras and Penhaligon becomes Emperor Alexius. Alexius
takes immediate steps to re-establish Imperial authority.
He dispatches his most able general, Giovanni Porpora, to
the Isle of Dawn with a skilled army and instructions to
recover Imperial territory there. Porpora was a long time
adventurer especially in the savage countries of the
Northern Reaches, Heldann and even Norwold, and he takes
this experience, and a select bodyguard of fierce
Heldanners, with him. Alexius then begins recovering
Imperial prerogatives from the Senate. But he takes a dangerous path when he attempts to
re-assert his authority over the nobility, by now used to
ruling as they please. Several revolt, and in 797 Alexius
is deposed and executed. The victorious faction puts a
non-entity, Luigi Villari, on the throne to rule as their
puppet. But he reigns for only a few months until the Duke
of Kantrium forces his way to Thyatis City, encouraging an
uprising that overthrows Villari, and has himself crowned
as Emperor Octavianus Kantrius. During this time Giovanni Porpora had performed
magnificently on the Isle of Dawn. With few troops at his
disposal, he had none the less recaptured Kendach. Ignoring
the Civil War, he continued to fight the Alphatians,
marching northwards up the western coast of the Isle of
Dawn, defeating every force the Alphatians sent against him
until they finally sued for peace. With the borders on the
Isle restored to largely their former frontiers, Giovanni
sailed for Thyatis City to announce his triumph.
797 - 830: To his surprise as much as to the surprise
of Octavianus, when he arrives at the capital, late in 797,
the people overthrow the Emperor in a bout of seemingly
spontaneous enthusiasm and insist that Giovanni Porpora
take the throne. The troops of the capital abandon Octavianus, who is
forced to flee the city. Giovanni is crowned, and
Octavianus is soon captured. But he is treated mercifully.
He is compelled to take monastic vows and retire to the
island of Mositius (then only sparsely inhabited), to found
a monastic community. Octavianus' son is, however, anointed
Duke of Kantrium. Giovanni puts an end to the Empire's
fractious condition, restoring Imperial authority. In 799
he sends forces to conquer Terentias, recovering it for
Thyatis. He works diligently thereafter to return the
Shadow Coast of the Isle of Dawn to Imperial control,
succeeding in as great a respect as anyone has managed to
subdue this dark region. In Hattias the Order of Vanya is
founded in 808 as a branch of the Brotherhood of the Grey
Lady. It is formed by people who were expelled from the
Storm Soldiers hate society because of their rejection of
that group's beliefs in racial purity and supression of
women. In 811 Giovanni dies, and is succeeded by his daughter,
Livia. Livia holds the throne through deft political
maneuvering and through playing off the various nobles
against themselves, with the implication that any one of
them might win her hand and with it an Imperial crown.
Then, in 826 an unexpected disaster strikes. The nomads of Alaysia had united under one leader,
against both the Alphatians and the Thyatians. The
Alphatians were quickly swept from their colonies in
Alaysia. The Thyatian armies hang on longer, but uprisings
in Ctesiphon (826) and Cubia (829) allow armies under
al-Kalim to enter both cities after he poisons the wells
and encourages treason. The siege of Tameronikas (830) is
hard fought, but eventually it too falls after al-Kalim
undermines morale by poisoning the wells and commits a
dwarven siege train to the task of battering down the wall. Livia then leads her armies forth herself, mobilizing
them outside Fort Zendrol. The forces of al-Kalim attempt
to invade Tel Akbir, hoping to recover it as well. But the
folk of Tel Akbir, even the Alaysians, do not rally to his
cause but instead fight against his troops. They are forced
to withdraw northwards, and that is when Livia strikes. The
two armies clash in the Battle of Tel Abdallah, a confusing
engagement fought amidst a driving dust storm. The result
is an unsatisfying draw for both armies. The forces of
al-Kalim retreat northwards, and the Thyatian armies
withdraw to Fort Zendrol. Soon after Livia signs a treaty
with the nomad leader, establishing the frontiers between
the Empire and the new nation of Ylaruam more or less at
where they are today. The site of the battlefield ended up
on the Ylari side of the border, and thus they claim it as
a victory. Also during this time, Lord Alexander Glantri, a descendent
of the Thyatian settlers in Flaemish lands, captured
Halzunthram and liberated the region from Alphatia. The
population names the land Glantri in his honor.
831 - 876: This treaty, though it restored true peace
to the Empire for the first time in centuries (since
endemic skirmishing with the Alphatians was ended), proved
controversial. Many in Thyatis thought a strong effort
could be made to recover the domains of Nicostenia and
Dythestenia. As a result, in order to secure her position
against the rising chorus of grumbling, Livia finally
marries. She selects the then-Count of Hattias, Rudolf von
Hattias, to rule by her side. He becomes known in The City
as Rudolvos Porphora, and is recorded in the lists of
Emperors as Emperor Rudolvos. Rudolvos was a kind, noble man, stable and pacific.
Just what the Empire needs at the moment. During the long
period of Imperial control in what is now southern Ylaruam,
the fortifications of Nikos and Zendrol had fallen into
disrepair. He has these strengthened, to deter cross-border
raids. Rudolvos sponsors the arts, and many fine concertos
and operas are written during his reign, works of beauty
played throughout Mystara to this day. Livia dies in 842, and her husband, who had come to
love her dearly, does not long outlast her, dying the next
year. Their son, Adolphus, succeeds them. As Emperor,
Adolphus works hard to try and seal the still seething rift
between the people of Hattias and the rest of Thyatis. As
part of a program of reconciliation and openness, he
legalizes the Storm Soldiers, long outlawed as a terrorist,
subversive organization. Though he makes some progress in
healing the old wounds during his long reign, he feels that
every step forward was somehow inexplicably being undone,
and eventually comes to the conclusion that some unknown
force was behind this. As a result, he appoints one of his
close advisors, Gustav Oesterhaus, as Count of Hattias.
During the preceding period, both his father Rudolf and he
had ruled as Count as well as being Emperor, but Adolphus
feels that someone closer at hand, able to concentrate on
Hattias, would stand a better chance of getting to the
bottom of the problem. He promises Gustav that when he did,
Hattias would become a Duchy again and Gustav would be
elevated to Duke, co-equal once again with the Duchies of
Kerendas and Thyatis. The other major accomplishment of
Adophus's reign was the passage by the Senate of
legislation making it easier for slaves to buy their
freedom. But neither Adolphus nor Gustav were to live to
discover the source of the problem in Hattias, for both die
of apparent strokes in 864. Gustav is succeeded by his
infant son, Hansel, and Adolphus by his eldest son, who
rules as Emperor Giovanni II. Giovanni II is known as "the
Drunkard," and spends much of his time in colorful
debauches while his court functionaries and ministers run
the Empire. When he is clear-headed and focused, he is a
capable ruler, but he finds the details of governance a
monotonous annoyance. He is, however, both a capable
swordsman and, later in life, a skilled mage. During the last years of his life he promotes a
common-born man from the region of Redstone, Gabrion
Eusebos, to ever higher rank. Gabrion was born into a
family of peasants, and came to the capital when his family
decided it had too many mouths to feed, to seek his
fortune. He got a job in the household of a city
aristocrat, tending the horses, and caught the Emperor's
eye one day when he out-wrestled an insolent, but extremely
tough (and at the time seemingly unbeatable) Ylari envoy,
who was challenging and taunting the Empire's men during a
banquet. He was promoted to Master of the Imperial Stables,
and subsequently became the Emperor's Vestarios
(Chamberlain). In that position he acted as the Emperor's
personal servant and advisor. At some point he began a
discrete affair with the Emperor's wife, Anna, while
Giovanni II was elsewhere, conducting affairs of his own
amid the pleasure gardens he had constructed near the
Palace, or wrapped up in his increasing obsession with the
forces of sorcery. In 876 they became increasingly strained - opinions
vary: some say Giovanni II suspected Gabrion of plotting
against him, and of carrying on with his wife. Others say
that he grew irritated at Gabrion's increasing attempts to
interest Giovanni in matters of state. In any case, what is
known is that Giovanni retired to his study and began a
magical ritual aimed at killing Gabrion. Gabrion learned of
this, somehow, and with a band of supporters rushed to the
study. A melee ensues, and Giovanni II is slain.
Recent History
AC 876 - 898: Thus Gabrion Eusebos becomes Emperor
Gabrionus III Eusebos, after being acclaimed by the troops
of the Imperial Palace and elected by a Senate too stunned
to object. Gabrionus III cements his authority by marrying
Anna, the widow of Giovanni II. They had fallen in love
while Giovanni frolicked with other women. It is soon
discovered that Anna was pregnant (and some wonder, given
how soon the child was born, whether it was Gabrionus' or
Giovanni's - for some reason, Divinatory investigations
never proved anything either way). Gabrionus III is a stolid, conscientious Emperor. He
puts right the Empire's finances, which had fallen into
disarray during the reign of Giovanni II, with many
exemptions passed out to that Emperor's friends and hangers
on. He also cuts expenses by spending less on
frivolities. While there are a few skirmishes on the Isle of Dawn
and some raids back and forth between the Ylari and the
Thyatians during this period, Gabrionus III's reign is
largely peaceful. The only real threat he faces is an
insurrection of Hattian troops in the capital in 881, at
the instigation of their captain, who sought to become
Emperor. But Gabrionus III handles this deftly, putting it
down with little difficulty. It is also during this period that trade and contact
with the scattered coastal villages of Traladara increases.
Though directly to the west of the Empire it was long
ignored by Thyatis because of its backwardness, and the
fact that the only threat it posed was occasional humanoid
raiders. But as Traladara's dark age began to lift,
Thyatian merchants saw new opportunities for trade in this
region. The traders of Minrothad are also becoming
interested in the area, but competition for the market does
not spill over into friction or warfare, because the trade
of Traladara is too slight for Minrothad to risk its access
to the vast market of Thyatis over.
AC 898 - 913: Beginning a tradition of imaginative
naming that would be a hallmark of the Eusebos line,
Gabrionus III named his firstborn son after himself (some
say to cut short the rumors that he was not the child's
father). In 898 Gabrionus III died, and was succeeded by
the young Gabrionus IV. Gabrionus had spent his youth
wildly and impetuously, running away from home for a time.
But by the time he became Emperor, he seems to have
matured. He was married, and had a son of his own
already. Gabrionus IV seemed set to follow the diligent,
stabilizing, unimaginative policies of his father. But at
the turn of the century he initiated two surprising moves
that would change the shape of Mystara. As Traladara revived, both Darokin and Thyatis began to
eye it warily. Both nations are afraid that it might unite
under a threatening banner, and begin to take steps to
secure it for themselves. The last thing Gabrionus IV
desires is to have Thyatis flanked by an expanding Darokin,
so he strikes swiftly and decisively. In AC 900, he sends
troops to occupy the main trading village of Traladara, the
town of Marilenev. The region becomes the Province of
Traladara, and the Thyatian military commander renames the
village of Marilenev "Specularum". But the ways of the
Traladarans are largely undisturbed. A trade tax is levied,
but the greater Thyatian interest in the region means that
trade booms and prosperity increases anyway. Gabrionus IV
insures the area is governed lightly and justly, largely
allowing the Traladarans to handle their affairs by means
of their own traditions. The presence of Imperial troops
patrolling the region increases safety from monsters and
brigands. Over the preceeding decades trade and good relations
had grown between Thyatis and the Ostlanders and other
northmen. As a result, Gabrionus sends colonists to found a
city in Norwold, Oceansend, and claims that region for the
Empire. This was made possible by the increasingly good relations
between the Thyatians and the Ostlanders. As the northern
trade grew, new settlements were needed to better take
advantage of the wealth of the region. Though ruled by
Thyatis, the growing population includes not only Thyatians
but also Ostlanders and, over time, increasing numbers of
the Heldanners native to Norwold. A strong ring of
fortifications is built around this colony, to prevent the
Alphatians from seizing and destroying it. In 911, they
send a strike force to try just that, but it is repelled
decisively. Gabrionus also encourages a wave of colonization to the
western shores of the Gulf of Hule. Most of the colonists
are derived from the Ispan ethnic group of Kerendas. Their
colonies eventually become known as the Savage Baronies
because of the fractious nature of their relations with
each other. Though Gabrionus' other two colonization efforts are
directly controlled by the Empire, these distant colonies
are allowed autonomy from the start. Thyatian traders
conduct much commerce with them during the first half of
the 10th century AC, however, profiting the Empire greatly.
This is also the period when Thyatis begins trading with
the communities of northern Davania to a limited degree.
Kastelios becomes an occassional stopover for merchants
travelling back and forth between Thyatis and the Gulf of
Hule, and eventually trade is extended to the tribes of the
northern coast, in what becomes known as the
Hinterlands. Gabrionus IV creates the County of Lucinius, splitting
it off from the Duchy of Thyatis. He does this to reward
the able commander who scouted out and secured the location
upon which Oceansend is built. He also because he feels it
will be more efficient to administer this region separately
from the Duchy, as its population has grown significantly
during the expansion of trade and seafaring. Helskir is
conquered from Alphatia, and more settlements are founded
in the Isle of Dawn. This is when the Baronies of Caerdwicca and Furmenglave
are created in the south, as colonization is expanded. In 913 a band of foolish adventurers accidentally
unleash a monstrous fiend in the sewers below the capital.
All but one are slain by it, the sole survivor managing to
report this occurrence to the Emperor's agents. The fiend
itself busts its way to the surface in one of The City's
main plazas, causing widespread panic. Gabrionus IV
decides to confront this threat before it can harm his
city, with a band of his most able bodyguards and advisors.
An epic melee takes place, and eventually the fiend is
dispatched. But Gabrionus IV is mortally wounded in the
process, dying moments later, his sword thrust through the
fiend's carapace. The fiend is later found to have been in
the City of Thyatis at the instigation of an Alphatian
wizard who wanted to cause harm to Thyatis, intending to
use it to overthrow the Empire and gain control of it. Over
the next week Thyatian adventurers sally into the lair the
wizard had created beneath the city, rooting out his agents
one by one until the area is secured. The tunnels are then
sealed over.
913 - 959: Gabrionus IV is succeeded by his son,
Gabrionus V, who is only seventeen at the time. Gabrionus V
is a scholarly sort, who sponsors the arts, builds many
theatres and museums throughout the Empire during his
reign, and finances painters, sculptors, architects, and
musicians. He feels that the era of major warfare with Alphatia is
over, and that the friction that resulted in the death of
his father is caused by misunderstanding that can be
overcome through cultural exchanges. He believes in
promoting goodwill through friendly gestures intended to
demonstrate peaceful intent so he cuts funding for the army
and fleet. He diverts the funds towards lavish spending on
beautiful buildings and increases funding for the Thyatian
universities and libraries. Several treaties with Alphatia
are signed during this period, limiting Thyatian expansion
in Norwold and dealing with trade matters. The Alphatian
Emperor of the time, Tylion IV, was concerned with the
growth of trade and wanted it regulated, so that the
subjects and slaves of Alphatia would not be exposed to
outside influences he felt would undermine their
loyalty. Gabrionus is also inattentive to the Ministries and
Judges - he appoints people to offices based upon their
family backgrounds, and then fails to supervise them
diligently. As a result, corruption grows throughout his
reign as graft, cronyism, and nepotism become commonplace,
undermining the foundations of the Empire. On the other
hand, this was an era of economic prosperity, as Oceansend
grew into a thriving port city and Specularum expanded from
a small but prosperous village to become a bustling
town. In AC 948 a faction of the priesthood of Vanya, the
Order of Vanya, disturbed by the Emperor's unmilitant
policies, approaches him with a plan to emigrate from
Hattias with their followers and conquer a region of their
own. Happy to see them go, Gabrionus V gives his assent to
their plan, and two years later they sail northward to the
Heldann Freeholds, landing south of Haldisvall. The ruling
Haldis clan is defeated by the knights, who capture their
capital city and its vicinity. That same year, AC 950,
Thyatis and Ostland formalize their friendly ties through a
treaty of alliance. In AC 952, the Order of Vanya conquers
Altendorf, completing its conquest of the Heldannic
Freeholds. The order is recast as the Heldannic Knights.
Over the next several years more of Thyatis' most able and
enthusiastic warriors emigrate to the Heldannic
Territories. There they seek of the oportunities for
glories of war that Gabrionus V's pacific reign denies them
in Thyatis. This drains the Empire of many of its most
skilled warriors.
