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| zioth:place:rang_history [2015-06-16 16:01] – external edit 127.0.0.1 | zioth:place:rang_history [2018-12-21 03:42] (current) – eli |
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| ==== Early origins of Rang ==== | ==== Early origins of Rang ==== |
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| Rang is said to be half as old as the world. The first settlers of the territory came from the cold regions to the northwest of Rang. The people were scattered, organized only on the clan level, and united only on the rare occasion when there was war with the equally disorganized tribes to the south and west. The balance between the northwestern shepherds and the southern farmers was maintained only because no war was big enough to conquer more than a couple farms or a grazing tract. [[zioth:person:guillame|Guillame the Conquerer]] changed that, by forging an alliance between several southern tribes and forming the kingdom of [[zioth:place:three_kingdoms|Mezonee]]. Under his talented leadership, the Mezonese pushed their borders north, raising the banner of the [[zioth:person:bloddy_son:Bloody Son]] (part of ancient Gallian mythology). Guillame was a harsh ruler to those who had been his people's traditional enemies for so long, and many of the clan leaders reacted by moving east into the mountains and dense forests, where the land was harsher but the competition nonexistant. It took nearly two hundred years for Mezonee to conquer all of the northern territory, by which time stories of Guillame the Conquerer had been blown up into the well-known legends of Guillame the Dragon-Slayer. Within fifty years, however, the northerners had crossed the mountains, and were united under a new flag. Two generations out of Mezonee, the tribe was ready to settle a new land, and they found it somewhere in what is now northern Rang. Their superior iron swords and ranged weapons let them conquer a first group of natives, and form the beginnings of a kingdom. Scholars claim that this could have occurred as early as the 290s or as late as the early 400s, so difficult is it to resolve the myths surrounding Guillame, the official histories of the Andrithan Church, and the better-known later histories of Rang. | Rang is said to be half as old as the world. The first settlers of the territory came from the cold regions to the northwest of Rang. The people were scattered, organized only on the clan level, and united only on the rare occasion when there was war with the equally disorganized tribes to the south and west. The balance between the northwestern shepherds and the southern farmers was maintained only because no war was big enough to conquer more than a couple farms or a grazing tract. Guillame the Conquerer changed that, by forging an alliance between several southern tribes and forming the kingdom of Mezonee. Under his talented leadership, the Mezonese pushed their borders north, raising the banner of the Bloody Son (part of ancient Gallian mythology). Guillame was a harsh ruler to those who had been his people's traditional enemies for so long, and many of the clan leaders reacted by moving east into the mountains and dense forests, where the land was harsher but the competition nonexistant. It took nearly two hundred years for Mezonee to conquer all of the northern territory, by which time stories of Guillame the Conquerer had been blown up into the well-known legends of Guillame the Dragon-Slayer. Within fifty years, however, the northerners had crossed the mountains, and were united under a new flag. Two generations out of Mezonee, the tribe was ready to settle a new land, and they found it somewhere in what is now northern Rang. Their superior iron swords and ranged weapons let them conquer a first group of natives, and form the beginnings of a kingdom. Scholars claim that this could have occurred as early as the 290s or as late as the early 400s, so difficult is it to resolve the myths surrounding Guillame, the official histories of the Andrithan Church, and the better-known later histories of Rang. |
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| The small conquered region was known as [[zioth:place:rannenothy|Rannenothy]], which means "the land which has been completely overcome." Scholars often refer to the conquerors, for lack of a better name, as [[zioth:person:rannenoths|Rannenoths]]. The region remained small for over a century, during which time many minor battles were fought, and the borders of Rannenothy changed continuously. Although the borders of Rannenothy were far from constant, the military policies of the Rannenoths were. All conquered peoples were required to speak only their conquerors' language, practice only their conquerors' religion, and adopt imported customs with complete enthusiasm. The penalties for disobedience were severe, and soon all native culture was lost to history forever. Rouch became the dominant language of the region, and Rannenoth values pervaded society, even far out from defended borders. | The small conquered region was known as Rannenothy, which means "the land which has been completely overcome." Scholars often refer to the conquerors, for lack of a better name, as Rannenoths. The region remained small for over a century, during which time many minor battles were fought, and the borders of Rannenothy changed continuously. Although the borders of Rannenothy were far from constant, the military policies of the Rannenoths were. All conquered peoples were required to speak only their conquerors' language, practice only their conquerors' religion, and adopt imported customs with complete enthusiasm. The penalties for disobedience were severe, and soon all native culture was lost to history forever. Rouch became the dominant language of the region, and Rannenoth values pervaded society, even far out from defended borders. |
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| It is worth mentioning once, although the issue will not be overemphasized, that even the more respectable of sources from this time showed that their authors had a great fear and unshakable belief in magic. Many claims are made regarding the use of sorcerers and enchanters in the field of battle, of temporary alliances with non-human races, and of magical interference of so many kinds it is impossible to list them. If something went wrong in a battle or in any other activity, magic was more likely than not to be blamed. Common as such writings are today, it is not surprising that from this period come the most elaborate mythology and the most numerous and varied of stories and legends. Perhaps the only useful piece of information regarding the mythologies is that the Rannenoths seem always to have been on the losing side whenever there was magic involved. Rannenoth sources endlessly elaborate on the lack of magical aid for their side, and the abundance of magic in the hands of their enemies. Other sources corroborate, if only to say that they themselves had frequent magical aid; there is no mention in non-Rannenothian sources that the Rannenoths were without magic. This imagined imbalance led to a great fear of magic in Rannenoth society, and eventually, to the [[zioth:event:battle_of_the_magics|Battle of the Magics]] in 577. | It is worth mentioning once, although the issue will not be overemphasized, that even the more respectable of sources from this time showed that their authors had a great fear and unshakable belief in magic. Many claims are made regarding the use of sorcerers and enchanters in the field of battle, of temporary alliances with non-human races, and of magical interference of so many kinds it is impossible to list them. If something went wrong in a battle or in any other activity, magic was more likely than not to be blamed. Common as such writings are today, it is not surprising that from this period come the most elaborate mythology and the most numerous and varied of stories and legends. Perhaps the only useful piece of information regarding the mythologies is that the Rannenoths seem always to have been on the losing side whenever there was magic involved. Rannenoth sources endlessly elaborate on the lack of magical aid for their side, and the abundance of magic in the hands of their enemies. Other sources corroborate, if only to say that they themselves had frequent magical aid; there is no mention in non-Rannenothian sources that the Rannenoths were without magic. This imagined imbalance led to a great fear of magic in Rannenoth society, and eventually, to the Battle of the Magics in 577. |
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| It wasn't until 511, in the midst of the greatest level of superstition ever held in these lands, that the kingdom began to expand, with Ghorheim the Overtaker at its head. In fact, many scholars refuse even to call the region a kingdom before that date. Ghorheim was the first to organize the mobs of untrained swordsmen and archers into an army, and was the first to build a stone fortress, which declared by its very presence that the territory was permanent, and that the borders would no longer be allowed to collapse arbitrarily. The borders, of course, did continue to change, but they were expanded outward far more often than before. Ghorheim more than doubled the size of the kingdom, but at the peak of his reign, the kingdom was still only a fiftieth-part of what it is today. His most important contribution was to stabilize the borders, and post guards and watchtowers wherever there was a risk of invasion. Ghorheim's fortress, according to doubtless exaggerated accounts, was destroyed by a great bolt of lightning from the heavens, during the height of the [[zioth:event:battle_of_the_magics|Battle of the Magics]]. Whatever actually have happened during that battle, if all the mythology could ever be stripped off, it had the result of giving the soldiers of Rannenothy much more confidence against the mysterious magical forces of their enemies. Very rarely following that great battle is magic portrayed as an unbeatable enemy. Eventually, it is barely mentioned at all. | It wasn't until 511, in the midst of the greatest level of superstition ever held in these lands, that the kingdom began to expand, with Ghorheim the Overtaker at its head. In fact, many scholars refuse even to call the region a kingdom before that date. Ghorheim was the first to organize the mobs of untrained swordsmen and archers into an army, and was the first to build a stone fortress, which declared by its very presence that the territory was permanent, and that the borders would no longer be allowed to collapse arbitrarily. The borders, of course, did continue to change, but they were expanded outward far more often than before. Ghorheim more than doubled the size of the kingdom, but at the peak of his reign, the kingdom was still only a fiftieth-part of what it is today. His most important contribution was to stabilize the borders, and post guards and watchtowers wherever there was a risk of invasion. Ghorheim's fortress, according to doubtless exaggerated accounts, was destroyed by a great bolt of lightning from the heavens, during the height of the Battle of the Magics. Whatever actually have happened during that battle, if all the mythology could ever be stripped off, it had the result of giving the soldiers of Rannenothy much more confidence against the mysterious magical forces of their enemies. Very rarely following that great battle is magic portrayed as an unbeatable enemy. Eventually, it is barely mentioned at all. |
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| There were sixteen warmongering kings and many battles between Ghorheim and Drannenveldt in 637. | There were sixteen warmongering kings and many battles between Ghorheim and Drannenveldt in 637. |
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| ==== Drannenveldt (635-660) and the Assembly of 637 ==== | ==== Drannenveldt (635-660) and the Assembly of 637 ==== |
| [[zioth:religion:andritha|Andrithanism]] had been one of several religions in the area, and had been slowly growing in influence, but less than a third of the population of what is now Rang was Andrithan. The religion that the Rannenoths originally brought with them has been lost to history, but was most likely related to one of the major religions of 637. In that year, Drannenveldt, eager for the help of the gods in what he hoped would be the greatest battle in the history of his people, assembled the best-known priests of the four most popular religions in his territory and the surrounding areas. The Assembly of 637 consisted of Furlan, a High Priest of [[zioth:religion:morenth|Morenth]] (a religion whose influence today extends only to [[zioth:place:huerten:maelbourg|Maelbourg]] in [[zioth:place:Huerten|Huerten]] and [[zioth:place:haelbourg|Haelbourg]] in [[zioth:place:elgony|Elgony]]), Ranshakah, Revered Worshipper of [[zioth:religion:polinaka|Polinaka]] (a religion which is now totally extinct), Burkhard, a Senior Director of [[zioth:religion:jarram|Jarram]], and Torval, an Ecclesiarch of [[zioth:religion:andritha|Andritha]] (after whom [[zioth:person:torval|His Emminence Torval]] is named). Each religious leader gave his blessings and suggestions, but it was Torval's advice that was most closely followed, and that therefore yielded the greatest reward. The kingdom was again doubled. It is still difficult to tell whether Torval's advice was sound or he was just lucky, since the only clear biographical information about Torval is in the biased writing of the later Andrithans. In thanks, Drannenveldt offered his crown to Torval, who re-crowned him and named him [[zioth:person:diure|Diure]]. He also blessed the kingdom and named it Rang, which, in [[zioth:sarnam|Sarnam]], means "Land of the Holy." From then on, Ecclesiarches of Andritha performed the coronation ceremony, preferably in the spring. As was the common way among the Rannenoths, Diure made his new religion law, and before long, Andrithanism was the most widely-observed religion in Rang. | Andrithanism had been one of several religions in the area, and had been slowly growing in influence, but less than a third of the population of what is now Rang was Andrithan. The religion that the Rannenoths originally brought with them has been lost to history, but was most likely related to one of the major religions of 637. In that year, Drannenveldt, eager for the help of the gods in what he hoped would be the greatest battle in the history of his people, assembled the best-known priests of the four most popular religions in his territory and the surrounding areas. The Assembly of 637 consisted of Furlan, a High Priest of Morenth (a religion whose influence today extends only to Maelbourg in Huerten and Haelbourg in Elgony), Ranshakah, Revered Worshipper of Polinaka (a religion which is now totally extinct), Burkhard, a Senior Director of Jarram, and Torval, an Ecclesiarch of Andritha (after whom His Emminence Torval is named). Each religious leader gave his blessings and suggestions, but it was Torval's advice that was most closely followed, and that therefore yielded the greatest reward. The kingdom was again doubled. It is still difficult to tell whether Torval's advice was sound or he was just lucky, since the only clear biographical information about Torval is in the biased writing of the later Andrithans. In thanks, Drannenveldt offered his crown to Torval, who re-crowned him and named him Diure. He also blessed the kingdom and named it Rang, which, in Sarnam, means "Land of the Holy." From then on, Ecclesiarches of Andritha performed the coronation ceremony, preferably in the spring. As was the common way among the Rannenoths, Diure made his new religion law, and before long, Andrithanism was the most widely-observed religion in Rang. |
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| Drannenveldt became Diure the First in 637. He is also known as Diure the Holy, and as Diure XXXIII. Before him, Rang is historically referred to as Rannenothy, or, to more Rouche-centered historians, the Central Kingdom. | Drannenveldt became Diure the First in 637. He is also known as Diure the Holy, and as Diure XXXIII. Before him, Rang is historically referred to as Rannenothy, or, to more Rouche-centered historians, the Central Kingdom. |
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| ==== Diure XXXV (680-687) and the renumbering of kings ==== | ==== Diure XXXV (680-687) and the renumbering of kings ==== |
| In the first year of his reign, Diure XXXV had the names of all his traceable ancestors retroactively changed to Diure, as he thought it improper for a king, even in a history book, to have a name in such a profane language as [[zioth:language:rouch|Rouch]]. His name became Diure XXXV, making his grandfather Drannenveldt into Diure XXXIII. The precise numbering becomes a bit confused before that, as Ghorheim, only eighteen generations behind Drannenveldt, was named Diure IV. The eleven extra Diures were brothers, brothers-in-law, and even the more renowned cousins of the direct line. The three Diures before Ghorheim were thought to be of his direct line, but Diure III was later found to be a cousin of Ghorheim's father, and Diure I was found to be a general under Ghorheim's grandfather. The son of Diure the Zealous repaired that mistake by transferring the name Diure I to Ghorheim's actual grandfather, but the general was already in the books as Diure I, so it became difficult to tell which was which. To futher complicate matters, Drannenveldt is sometimes referred to as Diure I, being the first to be crowned with that name by an Ecclesiarch. And if that wasn't enough, Diure XLV decided he would end the confusion once and for all, and renumbered all three early Diures to be in a direct line to Ghorheim, even though nothing at all was known about Ghorheim's great-grandfather. So, in total, there are four people who can be correctly referred to as Diure I. Fortunately, Drannenveldt and Ghorheim retain their given names in most written and spoken histories. | In the first year of his reign, Diure XXXV had the names of all his traceable ancestors retroactively changed to Diure, as he thought it improper for a king, even in a history book, to have a name in such a profane language as Rouch. His name became Diure XXXV, making his grandfather Drannenveldt into Diure XXXIII. The precise numbering becomes a bit confused before that, as Ghorheim, only eighteen generations behind Drannenveldt, was named Diure IV. The eleven extra Diures were brothers, brothers-in-law, and even the more renowned cousins of the direct line. The three Diures before Ghorheim were thought to be of his direct line, but Diure III was later found to be a cousin of Ghorheim's father, and Diure I was found to be a general under Ghorheim's grandfather. The son of Diure the Zealous repaired that mistake by transferring the name Diure I to Ghorheim's actual grandfather, but the general was already in the books as Diure I, so it became difficult to tell which was which. To futher complicate matters, Drannenveldt is sometimes referred to as Diure I, being the first to be crowned with that name by an Ecclesiarch. And if that wasn't enough, Diure XLV decided he would end the confusion once and for all, and renumbered all three early Diures to be in a direct line to Ghorheim, even though nothing at all was known about Ghorheim's great-grandfather. So, in total, there are four people who can be correctly referred to as Diure I. Fortunately, Drannenveldt and Ghorheim retain their given names in most written and spoken histories. |
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| Diure XXXVIII also confused the numbering a bit, by naming four of his wife's dead ancestors Diure, and thus producing a gap in the numbering of kings. | Diure XXXVIII also confused the numbering a bit, by naming four of his wife's dead ancestors Diure, and thus producing a gap in the numbering of kings. |
| Diure LXII (932-953) was the first of the long-lived, powerful kings that have maintained the stability of Rang for the greater part of a century. Diure LXII, starting in 940, was the Third Emperor of the Realm. A few brief but significant wars and trade agreements during his reign paved the way to the substantial increase in the size of the kingdom that was to be carried out by his son. | Diure LXII (932-953) was the first of the long-lived, powerful kings that have maintained the stability of Rang for the greater part of a century. Diure LXII, starting in 940, was the Third Emperor of the Realm. A few brief but significant wars and trade agreements during his reign paved the way to the substantial increase in the size of the kingdom that was to be carried out by his son. |
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| Diure LXIII (2/1/953 - 2/9/982), known as Diure the Negotiator, made a significant addition to the kingdom. In 956, Aranas, king of Rang's eastern neighbor [[zioth:place:ostmark|Ostmark]], signed an agreement that reduced his rank to Duke, and made him a noble under the Diure crown. It was made clear to Aranas by Diure LXII that he had little choice in the matter, given the far superior military and commercial power of Rang. Ostmark and its dukes, however, have had no reason to regret the agreement, as the duchy has maintained much of its independence, and it has thrived commercially. Part of the agreement gave Diure half of what is now the Royal Estates. | Diure LXIII (2/1/953 - 2/9/982), known as Diure the Negotiator, made a significant addition to the kingdom. In 956, Aranas, king of Rang's eastern neighbor Ostmark, signed an agreement that reduced his rank to Duke, and made him a noble under the Diure crown. It was made clear to Aranas by Diure LXII that he had little choice in the matter, given the far superior military and commercial power of Rang. Ostmark and its dukes, however, have had no reason to regret the agreement, as the duchy has maintained much of its independence, and it has thrived commercially. Part of the agreement gave Diure half of what is now the Royal Estates. |
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| ==== The Present King ==== | ==== The Present King ==== |
| [[zioth:person:diure_lxiv|Diure LXIV]] was crowned king by His Eminence [[zioth:person:torval|Torval]] on 2/10/982. He is often likened to Drannenveldt, although, following in his father's footsteps, he prefers to gain land and power through diplomacy rather than war. He is likely to become Fourth [[zioth:place:empire|Emperor of the Realm]]. | Diure LXIV was crowned king by His Eminence Torval on 2/10/982. He is often likened to Drannenveldt, although, following in his father's footsteps, he prefers to gain land and power through diplomacy rather than war. He is likely to become Fourth [[zioth:place:empire|Emperor of the Realm]]. |
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