Kingdom of Asharia
Asharia is a powerful ancient kingdom located in southeast Armara, and home to the Asharian peoples and civilization. The region has been historically renowned for its wealth and natural beauty. The capital is the city of Tansei, laying on the convergence between the Joshin and Baaju Rivers, from where numerous dynasties have ruled for over 10,000 years. With a population of roughly 290 million in 5489 AF and roughly the area of Brazil, Asharia's domain stretches from the traditional heartland in the Joshin and Baaju River Valleys west to the Hondan Desert and the Koltan Mountains, and with long coasts on either side of the continent. Asharia's biggest trading port is the city of Wanchū near the mouth of the Joshin River on the coast of the Roha Sea. Asharia's influence extends across much of eastern Armara, often strongly influencing nearby Haoko, Chan, Yulko, and many others, often bearing the Asharian word for country (ko) in their names. Asharia is an exonym, as the native name for the country is Aoshyko.
Structure
Asharia is a semi-feudal monarchy centered in Tansei, a neutral territory from where the Chisei rules and their family lives. In order to prevent succession crises, a successor (called the Sansei) from within the ruling family is elected by the court nobles and the governors (Deisei) early in a Chisei's reign. This theoretically results in the most qualified family member being assigned successor, however if the Sansei (who can be replaced in the event of death) feels they may have to wait a long time for their time on the throne, regicide has frequently occurred in Asharia's past.
The kingdom is broken up into different provinces ruled by governors called Deisei, who rule their provinces similar to how the Chisei rules Asharia, but obey any directives given to them from Tansei, often relating to farming and manufacturing. The provinces are forbidden from operating any standing armies, but may request armies be stationed at sanctioned fortresses in case of potential invasion or civil unrest. The Deisei are handpicked by the Chisei and the court nobles and rarely hail from the province they run.
Culture
The Asharian calendar system counts the years since the ruling dynasty took power, thus 5489 AF is written as Dansing 255, as the Dansing dynasty took power in 5234 AF.
History
The first civilizations in the Joshin river valley appeared in around the 6th millennium BF, founding many cities that still exist 12,000 years later. A semi-mythical legends tells of the king Ao Do-jin, who united the squabbling city-states of the lower Joshin river valley in 4724 BF, beginning the Ao Dynasty, from which Asharia gets its native name (Aoshyko, lit. "Ao descendants' land"). The Ao Dynasty established many of the core tenets of Asharian culture and society, namely the founding of Tansei (lit. "central rule") as a capital of this unified kingdom, described in the legend to have been built by Ao Do-jin himself. In 4396 BF the Ao Dynasty fell to infighting between many of its members after the death of Chisei Ao Kinjye, breaking into a period known as the Warring Princes Period, eventually resulting in the warlord Chi Sungan from the Kunlye Province reunifying the kingdom and beginning the Chi Dynasty in 4289 BF.
Technological Level
To stay on top of the global power dynamic, Asharia has invested loads of money into science and technology, pioneering early machinery by the 55th century.
Foreign Relations
Asharia readily trades with the other nations of Eridus, though has also had imperial ambitions for most of its history, as can be seen in countries like Haogir and Yulgir, whose cultures have largely been adapted toward Asharian culture.
Agriculture & Industry
Asharian agriculture is most strongly associated with rice and millet farming, as well as fishing and kelp farming on the countless low-lying islands just off the coast. Asharia however excels in the trade of luxury goods and materials, namely silver, lapis lazuli, porcelain, opal, jade, racehorses, glass, and Asharian handicrafts.
Founding Date
4724 BF
Type
Geopolitical, Empire
Capital
Alternative Names
Aoshyko
Leader
Leader Title
Government System
Monarchy, Elective
Power Structure
Unitary state
Economic System
Palace economy
Currency
Silver coins called Chen, with a common style, writing on both sides detailing the amount and with a circular hole in the middle to be looped onto a string.
Legislative Body
The Chisei rules the kingdom with the Deiseis ruling individual provinces to an extent, however the Chisei's powers are checked by the court nobles (Tumingsei) who act as a sort of appointed parliament and who live within the imperial palace in central Tansei.
Location
Official Languages
Related Traditions
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
Related Ethnicities
Comments