The Exarchate of Spathos (/eksarkɪt ɘv spɒθos/ (Aeillan: /eksarkɪt ton spɒθos/))
Εξψαριτ τον Ψπαδοοσ
The Exarchate of Spathos is an old, and heavily militaristic Aeillan successor state, currently dominating the River Spartharii. Formerly known as the Western Gate, the Spathos long stood as the western edge of Aeillan Civilization, until the conquest of the Western reaches in EA 56. This long history of being on the frontier has fostered a strong militaristic culture and society, and as a result, Spathos maintains a large standing army with which it attempts to maintain its power, as well as suppressing slave revolts.
The Exarchate of Spathos is run as a semi-feudal monarchy with a great deal of power handed down to powerful Tourmarches who run the country on a day-to-day basis as well as providing troops for the common defense, typically to put down slave rebellions. The Tourmarches are reported to the Exarch who sets the agenda of the state and maintains the state bureaucracy as well as the Spathoi force of Penandroi. The Exarch is often succeeded by heredity though occasionally succession by adoption may also occur. Spathos is fairly unstable, with regular changes fighting over succession that leads to a dynastic change roughly once every century, as well as frequent small-scale slave revolts. As a result of this, Spathos generally is as tightly controlled by its ruling class as is feasible. The current reigning dynasty is the Deletrioi with Anna V Deletrios serving as ruling sovereign.
The Exarchate of Spathos has seen, since its independence from the Aeillan Empire, a long series of conflicts and wars as it carved out for itself as much territory as possible from its weaker western neighbors. Its eastern reaches, and especially its border with the Exarchate, and later the Republic of Nikea however, have been the chief source of conflict with no less than a dozen wars between the two states, of varying scales. Over time, however, the Nikeans have proven stronger as several key eastern territories have been lost to the Nikeans.
Demography and Population
The Exarchate of Spathos maintains a large, fairly dense population, though it is a comparatively rural population relative to the rest of the Aeillan Successor States. According to the most recent census, Spathos maintains a population of 6,210,000 people. About half of the rural population lives in large noble estates known as Latifundia, with the rest living in fairly large rural villages. Most of the remaining population lives in smaller agricultural communities scattered throughout the western reaches. A relatively small population lives in market towns or one of the few major cities in Spathos.
The largest city in the Exarchate of Spathos is, by far the city of Spathos itself 137,100 residents living in it. Other major settlements include Sirmios with 27,400 residents, Edressa with 16,400, and Demitios with 9,800. With most of the population spread out relatively evenly over rural communities throughout the Exarchate, though there are some larger communities primarily along the Spartharii River in the west, and in the extremely populous eastern territory of Alyseia where waterfront access and high productivity make larger cities more feasible.
The bulk of the Spathoi population is human, with Spartharoi Aeillans being by far the most common ethnic group and with only small populations of other Aeillan ethnicities. There are large numbers of non-humans in with Aarumite half-orcs being common, as are Terruk orcs, and to a lesser extent Cyrenic dwarves, Grecci gnomes, and halflings from Nimaera. There is a large population of slaves in Spathos, with almost four in ten residents being slaves. The overwhelming majority of slaves in Spathos are not human and the numbers of Aeillan slaves are vanishingly small.
Territories
Spathos is one of the largest successor states with a total territory of 166,500 kilometers. Taking 6 days to cross on foot if going from west to east, or 5 from north to south. It has open frontiers to its eastern, and frequently fights over its borders with Nikean Republic and Syros, with Alyseia being a particularly frequent flashpoint for conflict between the states. To the west, borders are defined by the west Odric Mountains, and the River Spartharii with a short frontier with Halion. To its south is the Yulan Ocean, and to the north the Regnum Cyrenica.
Spathos' core territory is bounded by the Spartharii River watershed, which is a valuable source of good soil though not nearly as much as the Ilos or Tyros rivers. This territory long known as the Western reaches is highly productive and many generations have spent their lives taming the region and greatly expanding agriculture. Spathos is fairly humid with regular rains coming in from the Yulan ocean. It is therefore very lush with almost all of its land arable, and that which is not covered in thick forests teeming with potentially dangerous wildlife.
Military
The Spathoi Army maintains the largest army in Aeilla, though it is hard to keep fully active. The reigning Exarch maintains are a fairly small force of 5,200 professional Penandroi who are the most capable forces in the Exarchate. These professional troops are generally well-armed, and exceptionally well armored, though lacking in handheld gunpowder weapons, though most can expect to be well armored with at least metal cuirasses, and helmets. The Pendandroi of Spathos mostly takes to the field as cavalry with the heavily armored trooper in the form of the cataphract being the ideal Spathoi soldier. The Hetairoi are fairly limited in size, with almost its entire strength consisting of magically trained auxiliaries.
The real strength of the Spathoi is in its Stratologoi, its levied troops who are raised and controlled by the local aristocracy who number some 29,500. These troops are more poorly equipped than the Penandroi with Kavadion armor and relatively simple pikes, hammers, and bows. Cavalry is mostly absent and mostly limited to lightly equipped scouts. In addition, there are about 12,000 Akritae are largely employed directly by the Exarch to guard the borders and police the provinces. Both Stratologoi and Akritae are experienced and able to deal with slave revolts and raids but are fairly poorly equipped to fight against a professional enemy force.
Spathos maintains a respectable, but unexceptional navy consistent 62 combat vessels. Most of the fleet is composed modified cannon-carrying war galleys, with a small number of gun caravels. Spathos maintains a sizable transport fleet with most of these vessels large and modern in comparison to the warships, intended to mount slave raids. Spathos' navy maintains an unusually large corps of Marines who are are some of the finest heavy infantry fighting on the high seas, though like the army they lack handheld gunpowder weapons.
Technological Level
Spathos is fairly primitive in comparison to most Aeillan successor states running largely as a feudal palace economy state, with hereditary professions largely untouched by the influence of the mercantile class. Most technological advancements and acquisitions are done at the whim of the ruling class, generally to maintain the power of the ruling class. To that end metallurgy, particularly for the creation of armor is comparatively advanced, and Spathos regularly seeks out expert gunsmiths to produce firearms for the Spathoi.
Religion
The official state religion of the Exarchate if Nikea is Pandroi, the traditional religion of the Aeillan peoples dating back nearly to the fall of the Yulan-Tai Empire. More specifically, Nikea has adopted Io, Goddess of Victory, and one of the few goddesses dedicated to war, as its patron deity. Most of the population, practices the Pandroi faith, though some populations, particularly those of nonhumans practice other faiths, particularly among slaves who struggle to maintain their identity in the face of Spathoi oppression.
Foreign Relations
The Exarchate of Spathos is aligned closely with Apepsos as part of an alliance of conservative Aeillan successors who seek to contain the influence of the maritime states of Aeilla. In recent years, the loss of territory has accelerated the need for such a network. To that end, it has recently, formally joined an alliance with the Exarchate of Apepsos, meant to contain the Republic of Nikea. It also maintains friendly relations with Polanis and Iskandris; guarding some of the slave convoys of the former, and forming a mutual agricultural commercial pact with the latter. Indeed Spathos is probably the largest buyer of Iskandrian slaves in the known world.
Conversely, the Spathoi have hostile relations with Nikea with whom they frequently clash in raids, and have had no less than a dozen wars of varying scales. This goes doubly for the actively abolitionist Syroi, with whom the Spathoi are functionally in a state of perpetual war. They would like to invade Syros through fear of Nikea preventing a major incursion into Syroi territory as forces are held back to guard the Nikean border. Spathos is, more generally, hostile to states with which it shares a border as Spathos seeks to expand its territory.
Outside of Aeilla, Spathos holds little sway, as it has interests only in defending itself from what it deems degenerative influence. It does however engage in routine commerce, and when it can manage transit, raids foreign states for captives to sell into slavery. Cyrenica is the only state outside of Aeilla that Spathos actively maintains any semblance of proper diplomatic relations. In recent years the diplomatic corps has slowly expanded as the notion of diplomacy has evolved from occasional conferences to a perpetual process.
Agriculture & Industry
Spathos is highly agrarian more so even than the average Aeillan state. Agriculture is almost engaged in as an industrial pursuit with farms operated with a great deal of central planning, as of the Exarchate's independence, the Spathoi aristocracy is handed out land to maintain by the central government, they in turn directly maintain centralized estates tended by slaves and tightly control villages of free peasants. Agricultural output is accounted for by a local aristocrat who takes a part of the product as tax, some of which is then turned over to Exarch. Spathoi Akritae is also given land to tend, though in practice, most Akritae purchase slaves to handle the growth of crops while the soldier in question discharges their other duties.
Outside of agriculture, most of the population works in skilled trades, with smiths, cobblers, shoemakers, and other craftsmen making up the bulk of Spathos' skilled workforce, and a comparatively small mercantile class. Soldiers and scribes make up a roughly equal portion of the workforce each being a small but crucial part of the Spathoi economy as well as their functions of the state. Lastly is the aristocratic class which is nominally responsible for administration and wartime leadership though in practice the Spathoi aristocracy is often idle content only to collect taxes. Spathos possesses only very limited industrial capacity, with almost all of the productive capacity being made up of skilled tradespeople.
Trade & Transport
commercen which the entire Spathoi trade network is based. Transoceanic commerce exists but is fairly limited in comparison to the more easily controlled overland trade lanes.
Most goods on Spathoi markets are produced locally, and most marketplaces are largely glorified grain exchanges with foodstuffs forming the overwhelming majority of goods on the market. Goods made by skilled professionals also exist, but are comparatively uncommon, though pottery and some simple farm tools can be found relatively easily. In the larger towns, exotic spices and wares become much more common as the major commercial hubs demand a wider variety of goods on the market. Some skilled craftsmen do produce magic items, but only on commission.
In Spathoi markets, one can regularly find slaves for sale. By Spathoi law, nobody of Aeillan blood can be sold into slavery, and as a result, non-humans are generally by far the most likely peoples to be sold in Spathoi markets, with Terruk and Aarumite peoples being favored for their strong backs. Some seek out other types of slave however, and Spathos has one of the diverse populations in bondage with a large number of Nabari, Gallacans, Hadar, Jorgans, Meridans, and Eriganese among many other peoples living as enslaved persons in the territory of Spathos.
Infrastructure
Spathos has actively allowed most of its old Imperial infrastructure to fall to rot, this was done as a way of preventing the spread of servile insurrection past a small localized area. As a result, its roads are in a sorry state in most of the Exarchate, and it is lacking in some of the more advanced amenities outside of major cities, and the most heavily defended Latifundia. Generally, access to running water, and the sewers are limited to the wealthy elite who often pay foreign experts to keep up their services despite the governmental lack of concern.
Founding Date
EA 371, Independent ER 1
Type
Geopolitical, Principality
Capital
Demonym
Spathoi
Leader Title
Head of State
Government System
Monarchy, Absolute
Power Structure
Feudal state
Economic System
Palace economy
Currency
Imperial Denarios, Imperial Oros
Official State Religion
Location
Official Languages
Related Ranks & Titles
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
Notable Members
Related Ethnicities
