Darnesian Sultanate
Government: Sultanate. A theocratic kingdom styled government, consisting of 3 large emirates (provinces), each governed by an Emir, all of whom answer to the Sultan.
Cultures: Darneshi
Official Religion: Dichotism
Population: 160,000
History: The Darnesian Sultanate, commonly called Darnesia, is a country that has had many periods of growth and decline. The nation itself is old, having formed as a minuscule Kingdom in 56 4E. The kingdom folded other collapsing nations into it, and grew their power, becoming the Darnesian Emirates in 94 4E. The Darnesian Emirates would continue a long process of gaining and losing territory, experiencing both internal and external conflict. In 100 4E, the second son of an Emir, named Alik, travelled to the Arbethian Kingdom as a diplomat. In 102 4E, he returned to the Darnesian Emirates from his diplomatic mission. With his return, he brought the religion of Dichotism.
As the religion spread in Darnesia, some emirates that were strongly rooted in Masoritanism resisted. This inevitably led to war, and the 100 Year Jihad. After the Jihad, most of the Darnesian Peninsula had been converted to Dichotism, and the Darnesian Emirates reformed into the Darnesian Sultanate, the most powerful religious leader of the land having named himself Sultan. The Emirates remained, governed by Emirs, though all were vassals to the Sultan, who would guide the nation both politically and religiously. Over the course of the rest of the 4th Epoch, the Sultanate gradually lost power and territory to rebellions, war, and other encroaching religions.
The countries approach to expansion began to fade from militaristic, and move towards cultural. Years of peace lead to a cultural boom late in the 4th Epoch, which made the Sultanate the artistic hub of the world for a few centuries. When the Rashwanan Rebellion happened in 380 4E, the country went to war again, and began a slow cultural decline as militarism increased again.
Now the country lies on the brink, balanced between its failing culture, and growing militarism. Some call for a return to peace, to allow their art to define the country once more. Others call for war, for another Jihad to make the country relevant on the world stage once more. Some Atabegs raid into Rashwanan territory without their Emirs permission, while others refuse to raise a banner at their Emirs command. It is a country that seems on the brink of war, or possibly collapse.