Timeline of Shirerithian History

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The Curator's note

As b2305 ASC equates to 1359 AN it is manifest that this history is flatly contradicted by the reconstructed List of Kaisers, and would thus belong in the reign of Kaiser John I. If we accept the internal chronology and the account of events offered within the history, we can accept that b2305 should in fact be bN 1125 and count backwards in this manner, introducing the correct chronology as we go.

Antiquity

~b6000 - ~b5000: Conjectural timeframe for the formation of the Empire. It is believed that the Khaz Modanians begin as a maritime people, exploring the oceans surrounding their homeland; they were probably only one of several such cultures based around the Shire Sea and the Central Sea at this time. The Istvanistani and the coastal peoples of modern-day Shireroth were also exploring during this period. Toward the end of the period, Yardistan is settled by ancient Shirerithians, who call the island Grønoroth.

~b4975: Blässburk, one of the oldest known settlements in Yardistan, is founded at about this time.

~b4850: Yardistan is discovered by the ancient Istvanistani, and it becomes a waystation for traders and merchants travelling between Istvanistan and the rising star of the Khaz Modanian Empire. Settlers from Istvanistan begin to make their homes on the eastern half of the island. The Golden Age of Yardistan begins.

~b4800: Explosives first make their way into Yardistan and Khaz Modan from Istvanistan, traded in return for gems from the continent. This marks the appearance of B0O0/\/\ism in both regions, whose inhabitants were apparently quite impressed with the explosives’ power.

~b4700: Contact with Tîrot begins to decline; both trade and immigration from coastal Shireroth slow, as the population drain from the region hampers its development. Yardistani culture begins to take on its own flavor, mixing Tîrotian and Istvanistani elements.

~b4650: Contact with the old homeland almost completely dies out as the region submits to the growing coastal empire of the Khaz Modanians. By this time, Istvanistani make up almost a third of the population of Yardistan, and the local language has taken on a heavy mixture of Isvaneradi elements.

~b4575: The Istvanistani kings begin to claim the eastern ports of Yardistan as their own, and send out their navies to subdue them. The entire island is eventually claimed.

b4552: The surrender of Blässburk, last of the independent settlements of Yardistan; this is the first firmly established date in Yardistani history. Istvanistan incorporates the island into its kingdom and begins to exploit its wealth. Isvaneradi is instated at the official language, and the island is renamed Izvaniard.

~b4550 - ~b4300: During this period, Yardistan experiences a decline as Khaz Modanian trade turns toward the Empire and Istvanistan continues to take the former wealth of the Yardistani. Imperial ambitions between Khaz Modan and Istvanistan flare up in the last thirty years of this period, focusing mainly on Yardistan.

b4298 - b4294: Khaz Modanian invasion of Izvaniard (Yardistan). Though the invasion is eventually defeated by the defending Istvanistani, the destruction is so great that the Yardistani economy nearly collapses. The defenders, unable to gain much further benefit from the island, leave it to neglect, and the survivors rebuild on their own.

b4205: The eruption of the volcano on Emetii (modern Amity) sends enough dust into the air to cool the climate of Micras. As more and more water becomes bound up in ice at the poles, the sea level declines for a number of decades. Yardistan, Amity, and Mirioth temporarily become a single island; the old ports of the Yardistani coast are left above water, and decline in importance.

~b4200: The devastation from the eruption becomes habitable enough for Yardistani seeking a better life to emigrate to Amity and Mirioth. The islands had formerly belonged to Khaz Modan, but were rendered uninhabited after the eruption; the Empire still claims the islands, but permits the colonization efforts in return for a small tribute. The historic association between Yardistan and Amity and Mirioth dates from this time.

~b4170: The sea begins to rise again, cutting off the islands from one another. The old ports begin to revive, and maintain themselves through trade and population transfer with Amity and Mirioth.

b4138: Resurfacing tensions between the Istvanistani and the Khaz Modanians, fed by increasing friendliness of the Yardistani population toward the latter, erupts into conflict once again. The first known Yardistani rebellion occurs, forcing most of the Istvanistani garrison into a few strongholds in the east.

b4138 - b4129: The rebellion, aided by forces from Amity and Miroth and supported by the Khaz Modanians, slowly takes the upper hand in Yardistan, and one by one the Istvanistani strongholds fall. The Istvanistani king sends forth his entire navy to regain control of the island, but it is promptly annihilated by the Khaz Modanian fleets, destroying Istvanistan’s power. Shortly afterward, the bankrupt Istvanistan collapses in anarchy.

b4127: Kethra Mata, writing in the Isvaneradi language, creates the first Yardistani history.

b4126: Yardistan, wishing to join its colonies in Amity and Mirioth, becomes subject to the Emperor of Khaz Modan, and joins the Empire.

~b4100 - ~b2600: There is a relative gap in Yardistani historical material, due to centralization of record-keeping under the Empire; most Yardistani records were sent to the Khaz Modanian capital. Later, during the collapse of the Empire, most of these records are destroyed. Knowledge of only a few specific events survives from this period. Records become more frequent with defiance of the cntralization orders.

~b3900 - ~b3650: The Isvaneradi language dies out as a language of learning in Yardistan, being replaced by the more colloquial native Iardistanian.

~b2900: The proto-Machiavellian peoples in the west of the Empire begin to get restive.

~b2650 - ~b2600: Sometime during this period, the Sword of Fire, symbol of the emperors of Khaz Modan, disappears. Given that it later ends up in the hands of the Dæmon Rrakanychan, it seems likely that somehow he would be connected. Trying to find a way to break loose into the mortal world, he was unable to do it himself... too big to fit through any portal within his power to create. However, he was able to let through a servant into the mortal realm, and that servant stole the Sword of Fire.

b2572: The Yardistani demonstrate against the Khaz Modanians when the Imperial government attempts to disband the Iardistanian Confederation. Actual violence is precluded by the imposition of military rule.

b2558: Beginning of the First Unrest in Yardistan, with the declaration of independence of several city-states in the interior of the island. Without access to the sea, the rebels are surrounded and cut off by Imperial-controlled forces.

b2556: The First Unrest is ended when the Imperial military punches through the rebel defenses.

b2547: Niglai, of the Imperial House of Me’Jiliad, is born.

b2543: The Second Unrest.

b2529: The Third Unrest.

b2506: The Fourth Unrest.

~b2494: The Elemental Mages begin their experiments with planar magic. Possibly also the time period in which Niglai became Emperor. Niglai gave the Mages his confidential support for their experiments. It seems evident that he knew some other-planar being had stolen the Sword of Fire, and authorized the experiments specifically in order to get it back... all according to the plans of a certain Dæmon of Balgurd.

~b2490 - ~b2475: The political wars between the Technomaezji and the Mages. The Technomages lose when their final appeal to the Emperor is rejected. Since the Emperor was the one backing the experiments in the first place, perhaps the Technomages were at a political disadvantage.

b2484: Anticipating trouble due to the Empire’s political struggles, a faction of the Imperial government orders a pullout of nearly half the Imperial Guard from Yardistan and its colonies. This encourages the Yardistani to push for independence once again.

b2481: The Fifth Unrest (also called the Great Unrest) begins with a massive and well-coordinated attack on the naval bases and ships occupying the three islands. Hastily taking over much of the navy, the rebels use their new ships to keep fresh Imperial forces from reaching the islands while the fighting continues on land. But despite the surprise offensive, the Imperial Guard, prepared for trouble, manages to establish safe strongholds and the rebellion turns into a war of attrition.

b2476: The main isle of Yardistan is freed after the last Imperial Guard units surrender; most of Amity and Miroth are also liberated, although Imperial resistance persists in the west of both islands.

b2474: The disaster occurs; the Mages are wiped out, and the Technomaezji, powerless to stop it, go into hiding for 3000 years. The core of the Khaz Modan Empire is wiped out overnight, and the economically dependent provinces fall to indigenous ‘barbarians’ one by one. Niglai and his entourage escape. This historian believes that the disaster that wiped out the Empire was, in fact, Rrakanychan, armed with the Sword of Fire. The Dæmon had the Sword stolen specifically to lure someone into using planar magic to get it back. The Elemental Mages did so, opened the way to Balgurd, and Rrakanychan came through and used the Sword’s power to start destroying mortal lands... the Khaz Modan Isles being the first to go. A great armada sent to subdue Yardistan meets the rebel navy in battle off Mirioth, but turns back to respond to the disaster, and never returns. Yardistan is thus saved from the Empire, and becomes independent, crushing the last of the Imperial Guard units on Mirioth.

b2465: Approximate birth date of Fola Helipov, future Duchess of Brookshire.

~b2450: Yardistan establishes itself as a highly anarchic society, owing partially to increased wealth and trade contacts fostering a sense of nidividualism.

b2447: Niglai and his followers reach Brookshire after many years, having been forced to hide, flee, and otherwise keep on the move from place to place by the chaotic situation following the end of the Empire. The young Duchess Fola of Brookshire, who recently took the throne after her father was killed in battle against the rival state of Goldshire, welcomes them.

~b2435: The first Anarchs appear, providing a general sort of leadership and mediation for the otherwise unorganized society.

b2430: Niglai Me’Jiliad and Fola Helipov have a son named Raynor. Soon after he is born, Ju’Uliave Mercaja, Duke of Goldshire, hears about the birth and tries to have Raynor and his father killed; a merchant prince, Ju’Uliave hopes to leave Brookshire without an heir in order to weaken Goldshire’s old trading rival Brookshire and gain dominance. Niglai takes Raynor into hiding.

b2419: A prosperous merchant named Grifos becomes Anarch, founding the line of du Grifos.

b2408: Niglai Me’Jiliad dies of old age. Raynor, now becoming a young man, emerges from hiding and takes his rightful place as heir to the throne of Brookshire. He takes over the reins of government from his aging mother. Determined to prevent Brookshire from being forced into a position of weakness, he embarks on a campaign to expand the duchy; sometimes with diplomacy, but mostly by the sword, Raynor adds neighboring city-states one by one into his burgeoning kingdom. Ju’Uliave of Goldshire, alarmed by the sudden emergence of an heir to Brookshire, gathers his military, but refrains from attacking, much to his later disadvantage.

b2401: Grifos’ son, Loki, becomes Anarch, establishing the title as a more-or-less hereditary birthright, remaining mostly in the du Grifos line.

b2400: The last of the city-states south of the Elwynn, Woodshire, falls to Raynor. Woodshirian territory includes a small spit of land between the branches of the Elwynn, but this strategic site is already claimed by Goldshire and occupied by a Goldshirian outpost. Raynor orders the outpost destroyed (First Battle of Elwynn Fork), precipitating war between Brookshire and Goldshire. Over the next few years, much of Goldshire’s most productive southern lands are wrested from their control.

b2397: The time that Goldshire waited to engage in war with Brookshire proves fatal, as the resources of Brookshire’s new empire, the expanded size of its military, and Raynor’s own strategic skill all help to lead the Brookshire armies to victory at Goldshire Hamlet. Ju’Uliave Mercaja is personally slain by Raynor, but his son Ta’Are Mercaja manages to escape with the remnants of the army, striking out across the countryside. The Gods, who send him a sign in the form of a meteorite, alert Raynor to this event; from this, he has a famed blacksmith forge the Sword of Vengeance. Raynor follows Ta’Are with his own detachment, leaving the rest of the army to finish subduing Goldshire.

b2396: Toward the end of the year, Ta’Are’s archers ambush Raynor in the hopes of assassinating him, but the ambush is defeated and the archers traced back to Ta’Are’s main force. The Duke of Goldshire finds himself trapped as Raynor’s forces surround him on one side and the River Elwynn on the other; beyond the Elwynn is Goldshire’s old outpost at the confluence, now occupied by yet more of Raynor’s forces. Ta’Are’s forces are slaughtered in what becomes known as the Second Battle of Elwynn Fork, and Ta’Are himself thrown into a dungeon in Goldshire.

First Era

b2395: Raynor Me’Jiliad officially unites Brookshire and Goldshire, founding the nation of Shireroth. He becomes Kaiser Raynor I. To aid in the unification of his new empire, Raynor orders the construction of a new capital at the confluence of the Elwynn, on the site of the old Goldshirian outpost there. Part military fortress, part palace, and part settlement, the city becomes known as Shirekeep.

b2393: The beginning of the Musican Revolt.

b2392: After crushing most of the Musican forces, Raynor’s army begins to lay siege to Musica itself. Because the city can still be supplied by sea, however, Raynor begins the creation of a navy to cut off supplies.

b2390: A new threat to Shireroth appears in the form of the Elwys, who begin raiding Shirekeep. Raynor splits his armies, leaving General Francis Fenrir in charge of the Musican siege and leading his own force north to break the siege. After the Elwys threat is past, Raynor remains in the capital to govern his realm and allow the armies some rest.

b2383: The First Fleet of the Shirerithian navy is made ready and begins to engage the ships supplying Musica.

b2382: Yardistani ships begin protecting Musican maritime supply routes; in response, Shireroth launches the Second Fleet.

b2379 - b2378: Supply levels in Musica run low with shipping being cut off; the city weakens, and is taken by Gen. Fenrir. The city is largely destroyed for its betrayal of the Kaiser.

b2378 - b2337: The Time of Building. Shireroth recovers after the lengthy wars of its birth, and develops an infrastructure capable of holding together its vast territories. Exploratory missions to the north, west, and south begin, adding to Shireroth’s knowledge of foreign lands.

b2374: Raynor I marries Nia; possibly a scion of the Mercaja family that once ruled Goldshire.

b2373: Mira Fola Me’Jiliad, daughter of Raynor I and Nia, is born. Through her descends the Imperial Line of Raynor.

b2370: Brrapa Me’Jiliad, elder son of Raynor I and Nia, is born. Through him descends the Imperial Line of Metzler.

b2368: Mortis Raynor Me’Jiliad, younger son of Raynor I and Nia, is born. Through him descends the Imperial Line of Mortis.

b2337: A confrontation between Shirerithian and Yardistani ships during exploration of the Khaz Modan Isles brings the two nations into contact. Diplomatic relations begin, but are usually very tense.

Second Era

Third Era

Fourth Era

Started by the Great Consolidation.

Fifth Era

Started by the Secession of Elwynn and Straylight.

Sixth Era

Started by Elwynnese reintegration.

Seventh Era

Started by Kildari Independence