Thejari I Thalmari Tijone (Common Tinjongnian: θ'ʒɑri θæl'mɑri ti'ʒon)

"Lèspat marèn tìr my'aveit um ètik vòn myo Yarèpa." - Thejari I

 

Introduction

(Born Andalafynks Theja Thalmari Tijone) Vaintoreks Thejari "The Great" is one of the most revered Vaintoreks of Tinjongnia. He would spend most of his reign helping to expand the City of Tihja, investing heavily in military development and research, plague recovery, and decreasing extreme poverty in Tinjongnia. However, the last 2 years of his reign would define his image.

Birth and Pre-Imperial Life

Thejari was born Andalfynks Theja Thalmari Tijone in the Palace of Tihja, Tinjongnia, in 1556 AY to reigning Tinjongnian Vaintoreks Phalus I and Amma Lei Aentelija of Kinjin. He was Phalus and Amma’s only child. Theja and his father occasionally spent time together during his early childhood, but Theja spent most of his time with his mother, partially due to his father’s deep obsession with Tinjongnia’s political climate. They drifted further apart during the Second Tinjongnian-Xivenyu War (1567-69), when Phalus was in the field leading the Imperial Army. During Theja’s teenage years, when the two of them had time, Phalus taught Theja how to ride his sertonsasks, Andiv, and taught him how to lance. It was these moments spent with his father that ultimately caused lancing to become his favorite activity.

Ascension to the Throne and Early Reign

After Phalus I died in late 1576, Theja became Vaintoreks, taking the regnal name “Thejari I” and adopting the purple uniform his father wore during battle as his standard imperial outfit. In 1577, Thejari discreetly detained Andalbeura Yirud Julien and exiled him along with his immediate family, only permitting his son, Rota, to enter Tinjongnia for diplomatic purposes. Yirud was replaced with Visol Titra, a notable Tinjongnian General who had served in the Second Tinjongnian-Xivenyu War. In 1578, Thejari approved Ereka Tijone’s claim to the title of “Kypra vo Verdunderlon”, two years after the death of her brother, Kypir-General Renid M. Tijone. This was the highest sovereign title that a female member in the Tijone family had been granted so far. In 1582, Thejari’s mother, the last close family member to him, died. This quickly resulted in a sense of loneliness and finally convinced the 26-year-old to search out a partner. In 1583, Thejari adopted a baby Zivian sasks he names Ziv that will become his life-long companion . During the 1585 Congregation of Noble Tins, he encountered Oupaula Zvid, the 28-year-old daughter of Danj Oveur Enquilla III. Thejari was intrigued by her strong demeanor and shared several interests with her. The two of them got along together very well and Thejari would even visit her during diplomatic visits to Danja. Later in 1585, Thejari dissolved the vaintums of Tihja and Zivia and created the first Kantus (States), tying the ownership of Tihja and Zivia to the title of Vaintoreks itself instead of the individual titles of Vaint. This was not perceived well by Zivian Kypir Pilen Viscouzi IV, who believed it degraded the legacy of the Viscouzi family and was a step too far in the direction of centralization.

Family Growth and Later Reign

In 1587, on the 100th anniversary of the union between Tihja and Zivia, Thejari and Oupaula got married, further strengthening ties with Danja. Two years later in 1589, their son, Theja Opal Tijone, was born. In 1592, Andalbeura Visol died and Thejari replaced him with Hipola Gorred. In winter 1593, Oupaula gave birth to a daughter named Amala who would die the next year, causing great grief between her and Thejari. They’d have no more children after Amala. In 1597, Thejari incorporated the riverside cities of Berain and Emernza into Tihja City, expanding the city by a third. He also divided the city into the districts of Aitihja, the older, core city on the west bank of the River Tihja, and Eitihja, the younger district on the east bank of the river. In 1600, despite protest from the Dero of Mena, Thejari and Xivenyu Vaintor Anrad II met in Autaiziv, Xivenya, in order to define the Xivenyu-Tinjongnian border and possibly repair relations. It was the first and only time the vaintors of Xivenya and Tinjongnia met on neutral grounds. The Tinjongnian-Xivenyu border was successfully agreed upon and defined, but relations between the two vaintors barely changed. In 1606, his son married Werea Keiza, and two years later his grandson, Thejari Gala Tijone, was born. In 1610, Andalbeura Hipola died, so Thejari looked for a replacement. He discovered that Yirud Julien has a granddaughter, Zilia Jajien, who had become a prominent figure within the Syvonan Royal Family, and believing that she’d fit as Tinjongnia’s Andalbeura, sent a message to Zilia and her uncle, Vaint Altai II of Syvona, proposing that she become the Andalbeura of Tinjongnia. After several weeks, Thejari got confirmation that Zilia and Altai II accepted the proposal and sent the Andaliskuta to escort her to Tihja. In 1611, Thejari’s second grandson, Phalus Wero, was born, and in 1615, his granddaughter, Ovora, was born.

The Last Tinjongnian-Xivenyu War (Outdated)

In late 1616, 10,000 Xivenyu soldiers would march overnight through Tihja to Zivia and would slaughter over 50,000 Zivian Sasks (95% of the population), foxlike animals that were strong and large enough to carry people into battle, animals that were used before as an advantage in the first two wars between Xivenya and Tinjongnia. This was part of a plan by Xivenyu Emperor Xiiv III for a planned invasion of Tinjongnia in the 1620s. Once the information about the 1616 Massacre reached the Imperial Palace in Tihja, Thejari would immediately declare war against the Xivenyu Empire and Emperor Xiiv III. Thejari I had famously designated a noble women named Zilia Jajien as his imperial general. In early 1617, Thejari I and Tinjongnian forces take the Xivenyu city of Ataiziv after a week-long siege. The city would be renamed to Thaerum after the war. In late 1617, Tinjongnian forces reach Aizol, a city across the Great Xivenyu Lake from Zivandeya. After a siege that lasts through the winter and to early 1618, the city falls, and Thejari I begins his iconic March to Zivandeya. With the assistance from Danx, Sueba, and Tolu-Demeran forces, Thejari I and his Tinjongnian army of over 100,000 men march for several months until they reach the outskirts of Zivandeya. Once they had reached the walls of Zivandeya, they would bombard the walls with artillery for days until the walls of Zivandeya crumbled and they stormed the city, fighting with civilian resistance and Xivenyu soldiers. 20,000 Xivenyu would die in the Siege of Zivandeya. Any Xivenyu nobles that could not flee in time, including some members of the imperial house of Xivenya would be captured. Xiiv III would flee north along with many nobles and an army of 30,000. Many of them would die of sickness as their retreat was unsupplied. Xiiv III would be captured 1 month after the Siege of Zivandeya during the Battle of Wurena. Thejari I would bring Xiiv III back to Zivandeya along with many Xienyu nobles and royalty, including his son. Xiiv III would be executed in Zivandeya in late 1618 and his son would be executed in 1619. After the execution of Xiiv III, Thejari I declares the war to be over and agrees with Vinetian Emperor Yires Ankora to have the Tinjongnian military occupy most of Xivenya except the far north, which would be occupied by Vinetian forces. Thejari I dies in fall of 1619, supposedly from an illness caught during his campaign in Xivenya. His sudden death is considered to be one of the causes of the Great Xivenyu Famine.