History of Lindin: The Tenacious Kingdom Defined by Conflict

Lindin's current war-hungry nationalist identity has roots in its long-standing development as a land constantly overcoming adversity, struggle, competition, and even itself throughout history, a testament to its tenacity that drives it even now.

Many look to today's view of Lindin and see a kingdom warring for conquest and power, a culture that sacrifices many of it's citizens in the pursuit of it's lofty ideals. But for the most part, it is the historians and aged races that have a much larger perspective of Lindin and it's legacy. And these souls can see a lot clearer the foundations of today's most volatile yet ambitious kingdom.

Early Lindin History

5DR to 544DR

During Lindin's first five centuries, it existed as a province of Astana. Its early history was dominated by the constant rebellion, conflict, and unrest surrounding the Tengu Clans in Lindin. As Astana itself grappled with the Tengu from The City of Beasts in Eirilys, so too did Lindin grapple with its own population of Tengu. For all of this early period, the Tengu of Lindin were repressed by the "Clan's Law" - designed to prevent the Tengu from growing and settling land in the peninsula.

These early years were not prosperous for Lindin. It was often seen as a stain in the crown of the High King of Astana. The stormy wetlands were not particularly suitable for farming or other industry. The province of Lindin was geologically different from the rest of Astana. The strange Lindin accent was a source of mockery in the courts of Drakengard, and nobility hailing from the storm peninsula were the butt of many jokes.

Integrating the Tengu within Lindin paved the way for Lindin to form its own unique culture and people, that helped define it as being independent from Astana. The diversity of the people of Lindin would lead it to a place of strength despite its humble beginnings. Lindin would never truly heal the wounds left by the Tengu Wars, and the many tragedies of this era are still remembered in traditions by the Tengu of Lindin to this day.

Lindin Independence

545DR to 1020DR

No history of Lindin is complete without the tale of how it broke free of the tyrant "High Kings" in Astana. The truth is that the Kingdom of Lindin was a title granted by the High King of Astana in 545DR, partly for the resolution to the Tengu wars, and also to recognize the growing economic status of the province.

However, Lindin was culturally distinct from the rest of Astana. The integration of the Tengu Clan leaders to noble status upset many of the other Astanan Kingdoms. From the beginning, relationships were strained. Nobility from Lindin made little effort to interact with their northern counterparts.

In 772DR, the High King in Drakengard died without an heir. When his successor was chosen, Lindin refused to recognize him as the true king. This was known as the "Act of Revocation" - as the King in Lindin revoked the right of the High King in Astana to rule. It was the beginning of independence for Lindin.

A rift had been steadily growing over the centuries between the court in Linnel and Drakengard. Language also played a large part in this rift. By the 8th century, when the "Act of Revocation" was invoked, the "funny accent" of Lindin had become quite a different dialect. Over the following centuries, Lindin would again and again have to fight to maintain its freedom. Helped by widespread famine across Astana and constant infighting between the Astanan Kingdoms, Lindin was able to not only secure its freedom but also acquire new fertile territory in the south of Astana. This was the foundation of the historic rivalry between Astana and Lindin, and the disputed southern regions.

In 1020DR, Lindin officially reformed its government and removed any need to "revoke" the High Kings in Astana. After witnessing centuries of instability in Drakengard brought on by the random chance of heirs and inheritance, Lindin became a land where the nobility "elected" Kings.

The Guild Era

1020DR to 1725DR

This period of Lindin history is known as "The Guild Era". It is regarded as a time of high culture, art and music. During this time the language and cuisine of Lindin formed and became popular. The first university of Lindin was established in 1299DR, called "The Senat of Sages" - it would later be known as "Senat University of Linnel".

The elected Noble Kings of Lindin during this era set out to establish Lindin as a sea power that could contest the Merdian Ocean. To do this, Lindin founded "The Shipworks" - a massive shipbuilding quarter in Linnel. The Shipworks would become the workshop for the Lindin Navy for centuries, producing the finest galley ships in the world, that could easily traverse the difficult storms of the peninsula.

The Guild Era was a mostly peaceful time, but Lindin still engaged in wars with its neighbors. The most notable was the Northern Trade War (1414DR - 1422DR) with Astana. It was the first major war that Lindin lost to Astana, but paved the way for common trade standards, such as weight measurements and currency exchange.

While Lindin was ruled by its nobility, society and trade was dominated by the Guilds and their effect on Lindin politics was great. In 1720DR an adventurer guild from Linnel called "The Shadowfire Guild" was held responsible for the death of Astanan Prince Eryic, cousin to the High King in Drakengard. In restitution and to avoid a war, King Astier IV of Lindin handed over the leaders of the Shadowfire Guild to Astana. This caused a backlash and protest by all the guilds of Lindin. The crisis led to an attempted coup by the Guild Masters of Linnel and an armed force of adventurers to force the King to abdicate. It failed. In the aftermath, King Astier IV dissolved the Guild system of trades and adventuring, phasing out all guilds entirely by 1725DR.

So ended The Guild Era.

Early Modern Lindin

1725DR to 1864DR

With the dissolution of the Guilds, the merchant class and nobility sought to find a way to organize trade. In 1730DR the first stocks were traded on the floor of the Linnel Exchange. The first company established through the Exchange was the Northern Seas Trading Company, which sought to engage in trade with Suna. Within a few years many other companies were founded and established. In 1777DR the first coffee house opened in Linnel. It was a sensation and the demand for coffee grew rapidly. In 1785DR Insurance Charter companies Reynelt & Gessipi formed a monopoly on shipping charters in Lindin. R&G established offices around the world.

In 1790DR The East Azmith Trading Company was formed to establish trade with Azmith. It would go on to dominate all other trading companies out of Lindin. At the height of its power it would have the third largest navy in the world after Suna and Lindin. Global trade expanded rapidly through the port of Linnel, bringing with it foreign goods from Azmith, Suna and Eren. Wealth poured into Linnel.

Lindin during this period established its first foreign colonies. The most important of which was Vinnel. By 1840DR Vinnel was regarded as one of the most prosperous cities controlled by the Lindin Crown, rivalling even cities in the peninsula. Wine, nutmeg and coffee from Vinnel were sold around the world. Other colonies were established in Azmith under the control of the East Azmith Trading Company. The EAC frequently engaged in dramatic sea battles with the Azmith Corsairs during this period.

Suna emerged as Lindin's primary rival during this period, as both contested the oceans for control of merchant shipping. In 1809DR, after a brief trade war with Suna, the "Act of Merchant Privateering" was established.

Both Sunan and Lindin navies turned their attention to the rising threat of piracy in the Merdian Ocean. Lindin expanded "The Shipworks" during this period, pushing naval technology forward in leaps and bounds.

Relations with Astana stagnated during this time, as Lindin began to eclipse Astana in terms of technology, culture, economy and military. In 1844DR the Lindin Brotherhood was founded. It was a nationalistic group designed to promote “Lindin values and culture”. It was staunchly anti-Astanan in nature, secretive, and strongly supported by the nobility of Lindin. The Brotherhood would grow in popularity eventually influencing many of the nobility of Lindin to this day.

The Industrialization of Lindin

1864DR to 1970DR

The roots of the Industrial revolution of Lindin began with lightning. In 1864DR a tengu called Dooly Park whose job was installing lightning rods on buildings around Linnel began to experiment with ways of storing the energy from lighting. His experiments were noticed by a Senat University researcher called Trevolt. Over the next few years both worked on a way to "bottle lightning". In 1876DR they revealed the first powercell, and changed Lindin forever.

Powercell technology grew rapidly, changing all parts of Lindin society. In 1882DR Senat University officially cut ties with its sister institutions in Drekaya, Drakengard and Sirelina. This was the beginning of the closing off of Lindin to the rest of the world. The technology would not be shared.

Society in Lindin changed rapidly during this time too. The Lindin Brotherhood grew in power, and organized attacks against innocent Astanans living within Lindin. What it meant to even be Lindinian changed. In 1869DR the excavation of Ancient Lindin civilization sites began by the Histography Society of Linnel, dating back thousands of years before the first settlers from Astana came to the peninsula. In 1879DR the first Trade Union was formed; The Shipmakers Union. New social movements took hold within Lindin society, and many secret dissident groups emerged. The Crown established the Ministry of Crown Affairs in 1927DR - a secret police to combat these underground movements.

As Powercell technology changed the everyday lives of all in Lindin, new technologies followed rapidly. In 1911 the first Airship took flight over Linnel. In 1920DR construction began on Dinnel - The Floating City. Thirteen years later in 1933DR, during the celebrations of the 900th anniversary of the first election of Noble Kings, King Armand VII unveiled the city of Dinnel.

The King ordered a mass relocation of people from Linnel and other towns to Dinnel. The city would not take to the skies for another ten years.

By the end of the reign of King Armand VII, Lindin had become unrecognizable from how it was a century earlier. It was this new industrial Lindin that King Shamos was elected to rule in 1970DR.

Date Submitted
November 15, 2024
Contributors
Ames