High Kingdom of Beurum

"The old rulers themselves had no true need for strongholds, for they were their own strongholds. " - Jezheka the Singer, Fifth Era

The High Kingdom of Beurum was the greatest ruling power in the continent of Beurum prior to the Twenty-Year War. The government was in charge of all lands inhabited by the Trebai, Alois, Ren Berig, Uburi, and various other smaller groups. The kingdom ruled these groups with varying levels of authority at different points in its existence. Over time, the kingdom's power tended to decline. In the Fourth Era, a High Assembly was implemented to give more power to those outside of the royal family's court.

Structure

The head of the High Kingdom of Beurum was always the ruling monarch, usually the king or queen. In some cases, the ruling monarch was not a member of the traditional gender binary, and was usually addressed as "High Priest," since these individuals were usually high ranking, royal members of religious orders. Following this, the next highest ranking members of the government were different during different points in the High Kingdom's existence. Most of the time, the monarch was closely accompanied by circles of elite paladins, who acted as advisors, royal guards, or military commanders. These paladins were usually devoted to both deities of the Order of the Wanderers as well as lesser deities specific to a particular time period. These circles of paladins originated from the clergy class, who were mainly priests of the Order of the Wanderers. These priests were, over time, replaced in terms of power by people's assemblies, such as the High Assembly of Beurum. Below these groups were local rulers. The High Kingdom was divided into provinces, each of which was ruled by a Baron. Below this, local ruling systems varied heavily. In most cases, individual towns within a province were ruled by a Lord, who sometimes doubled as the Baron. Small villages were sometimes run by knights, who were directly loyal to the Lord of a larger town. In some cases, Barons, Lords, and Knights were also priests or clerics of the Order of the Wanderers, though this practice was uncommon by the Fourth Era.

Culture

The High Kingdom of Beurum was an amalgamation of countless different provinces, small kingdoms, towns, and communes. For this reason, its culture was decentralized and it was more accurate to view culture through the lens of specific ethnic groups, especially the Trebai, or specific political entities. Nevertheless, the High Kingdom did share some common cultural values. Being made up mostly of Trebai, the High Kingdom was traditionally patriarchal, though gender norms had loosened by the Fourth Era and the most severe restrictions had vanished by the First Era. Subjects of the High Kingdom generally valued hard work, loyalty, and a simple pastoral life. Usually, around one third of all subjects of the High Kingdom lived in cities or large towns, while the other two thirds lived in rural areas. Cultural output of the High Kingdom included poetry that often idealized war and a pastoral life, plays that poked fun at those in power, and long prose contained within illuminated manuscripts. The writings of the Unknown Orator in particular were reprinted countless times, as his work provided a set of principles for the proper management of both a state and one's person.

History

"Foolish individuals often complain of the tyranny a ruler might hold. They forget that chaos is a greater form of tyranny." - The Unknown Orator, First Era

The High Kingdom as it was known by the time of the Twenty-Year War began at the start of the Second Era, following the Neo-Chipahau assault on the city of Redoran. Following this chaos, the various tribes in the Western Commons at that time recognized the need for a more centralized form of government to repel future threats. A vote by the League of Chieftains, a semi-democratic council that governed affairs at that time, instated a rotating system of kingship. Each tribe would appoint its chieftain as the Ruler of Beurum until he or she died; after this, the rulership would pass to the next tribe in line. Under the first ruler in this system, a woman named Wiltrud Red Elk, the power of the various Trebai tribes grew and peace between these factions was achieved for a short time. Rulers following her were generally less successful, but the kingdom remained organized. Rulers who attempted to ignore the turn-system and establish a dynasty were consistently resisted. The kingdom also survived the Crisis of Akathon at the end of the Second Era, in which the Cult of Akathon rapidly expanded and even took over the City of Crastar. Following this chaos, Berika Baruma, a queen from one of the more powerful Trebai chiefdoms, abolished any power the League of Chieftains still maintained. A series of poor, weak rulers had left the League of Chieftains with little faith in the turn-based system, and, nearing death, Baruma's only potential successors were inexperienced young men and women. Conversely, her own offspring were wise and experienced, and played a central role in stopping the spread of Akathism into Peak(Victory), the most important settlement in Trebai lands. For this reason, Baruma was successfully able to establish a dynasty. Upon her death, her two sons swiftly put down any resistance, taking advantage of their more centralized status without the League of Chieftains. In the Third Era, the Baruma dynasty continued. One of Baruma's descendants, Gerard II, led the Trebai in the First Dwarven War, despite protests from lower chieftains. Though Gerard managed to secure some victories, the Kantaran Conquest, taking advantage of a weakened Beurum, soon began. With its forces spread out across the continent, the capital, Redoran, was conquered and the High Kingdom of Beurum was all but destroyed. A severely weakened version of the kingdom, under the leadership of Paulric XII, ruled from a stronghold in the Northern Commons. This stronghold, however, was destroyed by neighbouring Alois kingdoms and the kingdom was wiped out for a time. At the end of the Imperial Rule Period, returning conquerors from the Sacking of the Nine re-established the High Kingdom of Beurum. During the ensuing Golden Age, rulers expanded their power and took revenge on the Alois by conquering them. The kingdom's' territory expanded into nearly all of the Northern Commons and even reached the city of White Harbor (Fortitude). As a result of this, the government grew to be the most powerful in Beurum, growing stronger than even the combined power of western dwarven tribes. While the atmosphere of outer territories grew more peaceful, however, the atmosphere within the city of Redoran grew more tense. The period of Imperial Rule had devastated the city and, following a peasant rebellion, a High Assembly was established to complement the High Ruler. Though this body was largely composed of aristocrats, it was enough to somewhat satisfy the masses. Over time, the government gradually grew more democratic, with the Merchant's Assembly added in 7014 and the Commoner's Assembly added in 7130. Policy created by these assemblies included educational, economic, and democratic reforms, as well as an expansionist policy that focused on gradual pushes westward and northward. The High Kingdom's expansion ceased when its borders hit those of dwarven tribes, who refused to be conquered. This spurred several minor conflicts and increased tensions between human-halfling and dwarven groups- tensions that were increased by Daphnea efforts, trying for another war in order to profit.

Disbandment

During the Twenty-Year War, Trebai generals Zeredeus Zeno, Reymond I, and Ivona I organized a coup against the current ruler. They reorganized the High Kingdom into the Trebai Ascendancy.

DISBANDED/DISSOLVED