Kingdom of Kyrkas

History can tell us of former countries that once held themselves above all but in the end, that was what brought them down. Kyrkas is such a country that had its impact and fell into ruins in the loss against an unpredicted opponent. What remains of Kyrkas is nothing but its successor that now tries to achieve what it could not.

— Everam, Teller of Nimenra

The Kingdom of Kyrkas was a country that held vast stretches of lands and wealth through their military prowess and successful warriors. It was the largest territorially spanning country of its time and dominated most of Telamirein except the Forest of Telamirein and the western part of Telamirein. Kyrkas' influence on its close neighbours was undeniably large as it used its prime position and power to take tribute in manpower and wealth. It held its position as dominator for over 500 years and waned after Orfordwhelm's successful independante rise.

Culture

Most of the culture surrounded the strong powerhouse of military prowess that the country had. Most famous was their utilisation of cavalry and heavy infantry. This formed into a lot of heavy-handed constructions, meter-thick walls and robust architecture that would stand the tests of time. Many Kyrans believed themselves as the strongest and most forward-thinking men and women around at their prime since they laid so much territory under them and wealth came into the core. Many were chiefly believers in Orios and Rhyn but the religious plurality was abundant even among the Kyrans.

History

Kyrkas had a vast history before they were annexed by the Orfordsmen leading Orfordwhelm to take its place. Like many countries, its beginning is clouded by the time of Jorvik but many would say that the Kyrans were among the first to organise into a structured hierarchy in a kingdom/country from the former tribal ways in the middle of the 600s V.D. After this time, Kyrkas conquered their way through the prime territory that aptly became named Kyrkas. This was followed by expansion into bordering territory southwards into Rowian territory and eastwards where eventually Kyrkas would form mines for iron and use the native Hugonir and Runorer as workers when able. The clashes in the south with Rowians were one-sided once the iron from the east was acquired and the late formation of Willrowia did not help. Eventually, Kyrkas would take control of the Orfordmen's ancestral valley and plains home with much resistance until they fully subjugated the Orfordsmen in 787. The Orfordsmen would become soldiers in Kyrkas' army due to this resistance and learn from them their conquerors' ways.

Over the next hundred years, several parts of the north up to the border of eastern Jorvemland would be occupied except The Three Duchies, to the south the Leoners and Leonerd would become a vassal state after the conquest of Paranvir's lands. At this point, Kyrkas was at its largest and most powerful with an army consisting of several ethnicities and tributes coming from all the vassals and conquered lands. However, the kingdom began its decline at that time too, an overextended power structure, governors who were assimilated or of the oppressed and/or conquered ethnic groups, an outstretched and frail supply network and nature's unfavour took their toll on the kingdom. While regions in the outer reaches like Leonard and the Hugonir and Runorer were also given much more freedoms because of their mostly cooperative ways, regions with much more resistance, like the Rowians, faced frequent changes in policy. In the center were the Orfordsmen who cooperated with their soldiers and pay but their traditions were not fully tolerated. Everything was a bursting cookpot waiting to be opened and thrown everything away from the hands of the chef.

In 941 Kyrkas attacked across the Forest of Telamirein and into the Kingdom of Hestandi. This was a daring move as they, and no one, did not control the forest. While initially, the use of the large river Kyrrskur (today Grensriver) did provide momentum and the supply line needed. But the surprising resistance from the Hestians, the sudden rise of The Nini resulted in the complete loss of the army which in turn began the fall of Kyrkas. With the majority of the army dead, lost in the Forest or eaten by it (70 per cent never returned according to some sources), the Orfordsmen and others took the opportunity to rebel against Ivarek I and Kyrkas in 944. Over the coming 22 years, a bloody conflict threw Kyrkas and its territory into open conflict with each other. The last devastating defeat came in 966 when the capital Surthem was burnt and by then all the vassals had essentially freed themselves from Kyrkas grasp except a few to the south (which included a major part of the Rowians territory). With the downward spiral continuing, Kyrkas never saw its glory again and was eventually occupied after several conflicts and wars with the successor state Orfordwhelm in 1248.

Type
Kingdom/Empire
Capital
Surthem
Demonym
Kyrans
Leader Title
King of Kyrkas
Last Recognized King
Ivarek III
Government System
Absolute Monarchy
Power Structure
Feudal state
Economic System
Traditional
Currency
Thals, minted silver coins.
Official State Religion
Pluro-religious, allowed the worship of all and any Gods. To a lesser extent oppressed cults to the Goddess Reliona.
Official Languages
Lavi
Rowinian (Kyrkan Dialect)
Controlled Territories
Beclen
Huren
Orfordwhelm
Paranvir
Wolfbear-country
Willrowia
Neighbouring Nations (at its prime)
Hestandi
Karakand
Leonerd (Vassal state)
Telars Confederation
Sucessor states
Leonerd (Freed)
Orfordwhelm
Willrowia and other smaller Rowians states
Paranvir
Eastern tribes in Huren

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