The Artorian Empire

The Artorian Empire also known as Imperium Artorius, the Empire of Rhomaion, and the Empire of Man, is the most powerful human nation in Terra, founded by the conqueror Gaius Julius Artorius in the early second era or CT 12. The Artorian dynasty has ruled the Empire ever since and has been trying to expand its borders on the known world trying to relieve its golden age. During its golden age, the Empire's power was unrivaled and its borders stretched across the continent. In current times, while the empire is a shadow of its former self in both size and power, it is still relatively powerful, and a major nation of Terra.   Currently, the empire held territorial holdings around the Mithridatic Sea, Rhomaion, North Sarran, Cimmeria, Anatalia, Iber, and Western Xia, it administered feudal control through the twenty provinces and with an Emperor or Empress acting as supreme ruler.  

History

 

Founding

The Artorian Empire was founded by Gaius Julius Artorius in the early years of the second era, he united the bickering human tribes and petty kingdoms of Rhomaion also known as the land of the northern men.   After he proclaimed the Artorian Empire, he began to slowly invade, conquer, and persuade the other regions of Terra to become part of his Empire. This policy was continued by Gaius' successors after his death in CT 21, by CT 427, under the rule of Emperor Quintilius Varus Artorius II, the empire managed to conquer the known world with its holdings stretching across western Sarran to the island of Jippon.  

Golden Age

After Emperor Varus' successful conquest of the isle of Jippon, the empire reached its greatest extent with the known world being under the Artorian eagle. Emperor Varus proclaimed the era of the Pax Artoria or the Artorian peace. The next 200 years of the Pax Artoria were described as a "lawful, pious, and glorious age." for its human subjects while its non-human subjects described it as "the age of discrimination, humiliation, and submission.". The Pax Artoria ended after the assassination of Empress Antonina II, the last of the "Five good imperators" kickstarting the decline of the empire.  

Decline

After the assassination of Empress Antonina II, her brother, Phocas inherited the throne, but he had little intention of running the empire, and instead spend most of his time with his many mistresses. But when he did, Phocas is characterized as tyrannical and cruel even compared to the previous rulers of the Empire, even his non-human subjects preferred the previous rulers rather than Phocas. His reign was rife with civil wars, mutinies, and revolts which greatly weakened the empire. After Phocas' death, he was succeeded by his son Commodus who was more of a whoremonger and tyrant than his father has ever been. Commodus drained the Empire's treasury to throw lavish parties and greatly suppressed the non-human subjects even more. This culminated in the Jipponese revolt, where their leader Raiden Mei, who claimed to be the avatar of the thunder god led numerous Hebii, Oni, and natives in revolt against the imperial authorities there. Subsequent attempts to crush the revolt failed due to part of Commodus' incompetence. Eventually not wanting to deal with the revolt he started, Commodus ordered a withdrawal of every imperial force in Jippon, leaving the island in the hands of its natives. This embarrassing defeat sews the seeds of revolt in every non-human vassal in the empire, which would later prove devastating for the empire.   Commodus eventually died in the privy, some said that he slipped on his own excrements, others say that his fat body is unable to support him anymore which caused him to die, while a small minority believed he was assassinated by his bodyguards and ministers to prevent him from damaging the empire even more. He was succeeded by his 5-year-old son Julius Nepos, a regency is established to rule in the emperor's stead until he was old enough. But 2 years into the regency, the Island nation of Jippon, still vengeful over the treatment of their people launched their invasion of the empire, led by their self-proclaimed God-Empress of Jippon, Raiden Mei, the invading Jipponese forces wreaked havoc on the eastern part of the empire, defeating every legion that was sent their way, partly due to sabotage and betrayals done by the non-human subjects of the empire who wished to weaken the empire even further. This culminated in the siege of Colonia Artoria where Amalexia, the leader and queen of the Dark Elves betrayed the defenders and opened the gates to the attackers, allowing the city to be sacked. For three days, the capital burned, and the Jipponese invaders exacted vengeance upon the citizens of the city. Emperor Julius Nepos was captured and consumed alive while his mother was forced to watch. Eventually, the invaders left after leaving a trail of destruction. Taking opportunity of the Empire's weakness, vassals of the Empire, the Kingdom of Ullonor, The Feng Dynasty, the various tribes of the continent of Ikune, and several eastern provinces declared independence, quickly annexing the lands that belonged to Empire in the east. Realizing that the Empire is unable to respond due to the abundance of enemies, and the current state of the Empire, the empire's leaders decided to abandon the eastern regions to their fates, and after 500 years of Artorian control, east Terra was independent.  

Stabilization

After the death of Julius Nepos, the crown passed to Antoninus Pius, the younger brother of Commodus, and uncle of Julius Nepos. Unlike the previous Emperors and Empresses of the Artorian Empire, who believed in human supremacy, Antoninus saw that an empire as diverse as the Artorian empire cannot be dominated by a single race. So he began to enact reforms to the empire, starting with allowing non-humans to take governmental positions and enter human ran institutions, all non-Imperial religions allowed to be practiced and protected, and all non-humans classified as citizens of the Artorian empire instead of being classified as "Tolerated Outsiders". He also encouraged good relations with its non-human vassals and neighbors, doing state visits to his vassal states and neighbors and signing pacts of peace. Because of this, Antoninus was popular amongst the non-human citizens of the Empire as well as their neighbors, which gave him the nicknames "The Peaceful", "The Kind" and "The Great Reformer.". But these changes weren't popular with the human nobility, who see this as submission towards the "lesser races", this boils over when there were rumors of Antoninus making plans to abolish slavery which made angered many of the human nobles and so they decided to assassinate Emperor Antoninus. On the 2nd day of the first month of the year 890, Emperor Antoninus was killed during a coup alongside his entire family save for his son Aurelian and his daughters and granddaughter, Farah.  

Interregnum

After the death of Emperor Antoninus, the Empire was plunged into a civil war named "The Year of the Four Rulers" where four different leaders vied for the throne. Servius Galba a local powerful lord, the first of the four rulers to capture the Imperial city. Galba declared himself emperor in 905 as the head of the new Servian Dynasty, but Galba was unable to establish his authority over the Empire, as several of his supporters were disappointed by his lack of gratitude for helping him ascend to the throne. He especially adopted a nobleman named, Piso Licinianus as heir, instead of Otho his cousin, who, it had widely been assumed, would be chosen. Angered by this disgrace, Otho murdered Galba on the 15th day of the 5th month of 905 and became emperor instead.   Otho still had to face another claimant, Marcella a general of the northern provinces, who had been acclaimed by the northern legions on the 17th day of the 7th month of 905. Marcella marched her legions south and defeated Otho in battle on the 29th day of the 8th month of 905. Otho committed suicide the next day and Marcella was appointed emperor by the Senate on the 2nd day of the 9th month. The new empress had little support outside of her soldiers from the northern legions though.   Meanwhile, Aurelian instead crowned his niece, Farah as the Empress and began gathering support for her claim, they received the allegiance of the southern legions as well as many former supporters of Galba and Otho. After her acclimation, Farah alongside her uncle Aurelian marched onto the capital city, they defeated Marcella's legions at the Battle of Civilis on the 15th day of the 10th month. Marcella was killed by a mob on the 4th day of the 11th month. Farah and her supporters arrived at the capital on the 12th day of the 11th month. There she would be crowned as the restored Empress of the Artorian Empire.   Meanwhile, during the chaos of the "Year of the Four Rulers," the vassal kingdoms of Aranna, Modan, and Arctus as well as the southern and northern provinces declared independence, shrinking the Empire even further, although Empress Farah would succeed in bringing back a few of the lost territories and bringing back the Kingdom of Modan back to the Empire's fold.  

A New Era

After the ascension of Farah to the imperial throne, there were many hopes that she will continue her grandfather's reforms but those hopes were dashed after Empress Farah reversed some of the progressive policies of Emperor Antoninus, this caused unrest in the Empire, with some breaking out to outright revolt, although they were quickly crushed.   Recently, The Artorian Empire waged a devastating war against the Elven Kingdom of Aranna in an attempt to regain control of the northern territories held by the empire that was lost in the year of the four rulers. With the war currently on a stalemate with both sides suffering heavy casualties.    

Culture

  The Artorian society can be seen as highly xenophobic to non-humans, due to the fact since the founding of the empire, the rulers have been pushing the notion of human supremacy over all. This caused its human citizens to view non-humans as inferior to them, nothing but servants and entertainment for their pleasure. Artorian society is notoriously decadent yet also takes great pride in its history and achievements. The Empire treasures its past and preserves it, as shown that everything they've built has been carefully preserved and renovated.  

Religion

  The main religion of the Artorian empire is split into two, the Imperial Pantheon which is mostly worshipped in the regions of Rhomaion, Cimmeria, Anatalia, Iber, and Western Xia, and the Sarran Pantheon which is exclusively worshipped in the province of Sarran in the south. Both Pantheons are quite similar only separated by culture and ways of worship.   Before the Antoninus reforms, non-Imperial religions like the Elven, Orc, Dwarf Patheon, and other religions were banned from practice and were subject to brutal forced conversions by the clergy of the empire, but after the reforms, they were allowed to be practiced in public although many xenophobic local governors still suppress the non-Imperial religions.    

Social Classes

Artorian society is highly stratified, with citizens classified into different levels depending on their ancestry and line of work, although social mobility is achievable only if they are human.   Nobilitas The nobles are the highest ranking of Artorian society, holding much power and sway in the Empire.   Triarii The second-highest ranking of the empire, the Triarii is composed of families whose members serve in the Imperial Legions, usually in the higher ranking positions. The Triarii hold less power than the nobilitas but it is for a Triarii family to ascend to the rank of Nobilitas if a member has gained enough prestige and wealth.   Mercator The third social ranking of the empire. These consisted of wealthy traders and businessmen and women who day-to-day traded with other nations and people, bringing in riches to the empire.   Plebs The fourth social ranking of the empire. These consist of common citizens of the empire. The plebs are a class that is allowed to own property and serve in the military but they have no real power in the nation's governance unless they move up the social ladder.   Externii The fifth social ranking of the empire. Consisting of non-human citizens of the Empire, before the reforms, the Externii class were slaves in all but name, unable to own property nor join the military, after the reforms they were allowed a small bit of autonomy, allowed to own small properties and join the military though is unable to rise up the ranks above captain.   Servus The bottom of the social ranking consists of slaves. In the Empire, slavery is not only legal but officially sanctioned. Slaves were usually prisoners of war or bought from other nations that sell them. Artorian slaves mainly consist of non-humans, but humans are capable of being enslaved mostly if they were accused of treason against the empire. Outside of the Empire, slavers operate throughout Terra, luring and kidnapping people to sell them into slavery in the Empire.   Slave uprisings are frequent but rarely successful, as are attempts by more progressive politicians to abolish the practice. After the Antoninus reforms, slaves can only be legally freed but only before a judge, with their owner present to make the decree, or by the owner's will upon their death. However, freed slaves are still not considered citizens of the empire. Those who achieve freedom are instead sectioned into another class known as the Liberatii. The Liberatii functions as a subclass and those within it are granted limited rights and eventually could rank up to the rank of Externii.  

Government

Ultimate power in the Artorian Empire is vested in the Emperor, but the day-to-day running of the Empire is overseen by the Senate. The Council is devised by the Emperor to help keep the empire running by taking charge of the operations across the Empire, their responsibilities consist of administrating and overseeing provinces, advising the Emperor, and creation of laws (over which the Emperor still holds a veto). While the Emperor and the Senate rule over the entirety of the empire, power is also invested in smaller rulers such as the dukes to rule over their respective regions.  

Military

  The armed force of the Artorian Empire are the Imperial Legions. Although the legion is made up of mostly humans, many non-humans, particularly the orcs serve as legionnaires with many of them rising to the rank of captain, the highest rank that a non-human can achieve. The Legions are considered one of the most disciplined and effective fighting forces Terra has ever seen. Consisting of a wide selection of units, its soldiers are tasked with upholding the law, defending the citizenry, and waging war against enemies of the Empire. Imperial Soldiers patrol the roads of the Imperial provinces, engaging in combat with any threat to the traveler on the road.