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As a result of the dynastic cycle influenced by a religiopolitical concept known as the Mandate of Heaven (天命/Tianming), Tianchao has gone through many periods of chaotic division, fractured into separate independent states and rival dynasties as a result of wars of succession, rebellions for independence, or other crises many times in the past.
Warring States Period[]
The Warring States (戰國/Zhanguo) (101TJQ – 5TJH (106yrs)) was a period of constant fighting between the states of central Zanghuan in the final century of the Mei dynasty, the final dynasty of the Predynastic Era. The period ended with the conquest of all other states by the Kingdom of Qiang and the founding of Tianchao under the Qiang dynasty.
Historians traditionally consider the defeat, capitulation and annexation of Hong Kingdom following the merge of Qiang and Bao Kingdoms through marriage as the official beginning of the Qiang dynasty. A couple years prior to that, Hong had conquered Mei, Wu and Xiao and seemed prime to dominate, only for their fortunes to reverse from the sudden alliance between Bao and Qiang Kingdoms.
Once Hong Kingdom and its conquered lands had been secured by the Qiang–Bao alliance, the marriage alliance between the two kingdoms was soon finalized. Bao Kingdom was annexed by Qiang and, in the aftermath of Hong Kingdom's capitulation, the Qiang dynasty was proclaimed. Over the coming years, Qiang continued to unite the land by diplomacy and conquest – mostly the latter – until the lands of the former Mei dynasty and more were under the Qiang banner. In 5TJH, Qiu Kingdom was the last to fall.
Fan–Chang Contention[]
The Fan–Chang Contention (飯與昌爭辯/Fan yu Chang Zhengbian) (138 – 141TJH (3yrs)) was a civil war at the end of the short-lived Fan dynasty – which succeeded the Qiang dynasty – between the incumbent regime and the declared Chang dynasty. Ended with the collapse of the Fan dynasty when its sole huangdi abdicated.
While the two regimes were competing for supremacy, some minor warlords were also contending for influence. Most of said warlords chose sides as the war seemed to near its conclusion.
Imperial Schism[]
The Imperial Schism (帝國分裂/Diguo Fenlie) (296 – 302TJH (6yrs)) was a massive civil war that erupted as a power struggle involving a three-generation-old split in the imperial line of the Chang dynasty. The war began when a member of a cadet branch declared himself huangdi of the self-proclaimed Can dynasty.
End of the Zhai Dynasty[]
The End of the Zhai dynasty (斎朝末年/Zhaichao Monian) (c. 1504 – 1539TJH (35years)) was a period of constant fighting between regional warlords that occurred as the the Zhai dynasty came to a close.
The Zhai dynasty was one of Tianchao's golden ages up until at least a generation prior to this period. By this time Tianchao controlled the central southern lands of Pianpilu and was just dipping its toes into Guangdai (said territories were lost to local tribes during the period but were later reconquered during Xuan dynasty). The origins of the period take root some years prior the final huangdi of Zhai's abdication.
During and in the wake of a nationwide uprising known as the Heijin zhi Luan (黑巾之亂/Black Turban Rebellion), the power of the huangdi diminished into the hands of regional warlords, squabbling court officials and then a tyrannical chengxiang.
The rebellion was allegedly contrived by the Hanluan Jundi (混亂軍隊/Chaos Army), the Tianzu branch of the Cult of Chaos. The rebellion took advantage of the people's growing resentment against the Zhai government due to a recent famine and river floodings that the central government was unable to do anything about due to recent internal turmoil. The rebellion was defeated after three years of war, but the order never planned on victory; the goal of the rebellion was destabilizing the empire to the point of destruction, and the death of Huangdi Zhixu (斎秩序皇帝); personal name Wei Chong (薇衝), in the final battle came as an added bonus for them. The order did have a plan in place in the event of victory, but never intended to use it.
With the huangdi and many other powerful military and/or political leaders dead and the imperial army decimated, quick and hasty replacements were made in hopes of stabilizing the regions, to little avail as it had the opposite effect. With with the government of the new huangdi unable or unwilling to supervise the new appointments throughout the empire, though they had little manpower anyway, most of the new regional lords were quick to turn their new appointments to their fortune. As the central government struggled to come to order, with the more corrupt court officials rapidly gaining more power for themselves at the expense of the new huangdi, and with little manpower in what remained of the imperial army to enforce the dynasty's laws, it soon became apparent that they had no control over the countryside anymore. All began to change with the coming of the tyrant who's actions would doom the dynasty.
The tyrant is known to history as Huai Gui (壞貴): styled Yaoguai (妖怪). Huai Gui, a nobleman of means and arms, ascended to power when he, on the advice of another general and statesman, brought his army into the capital to eliminate the court eunuchs who were usurping the power of the imperial court. Said eunuchs had been amassing political power and privilege for themselves since the early days of the reign of Huangdi Zhixu, but were kept in check by their huangdi's charisma. They used his death at the end of the Heijin zhi Luan two years before to fully consolidate the power of the court around themselves and deprive the young, new and inexperienced ruler of actual power; all the while losing control of the countryside to the newly appointed regional lords in the wake of the rebellion. The new Huangdi of Tianchao, Wei Sui (薇歲); posthumous name: Huangdi Zhamen (斎閘門皇帝), was powerless to do anything and spent the two years of his reign practically under house arrest, with only a few generals and officials loyal to him keeping him apprised of the situation.
With his loyal army and retainers backing him, Huai Gui succeeded in taking the capital and eliminating the eunuchs, but he immediately showed his true colors when he proceeded to assassinate Huangdi Zhamen and his loyalists. He then enthroned Zhamen's younger brother, the seven-year-old Wei Anzi (薇安子): styled Chunjie (純潔), posthumous name: Huangdi Ang (斎昂皇帝), though the child huangdi was little more than a puppet. Through Huangdi Ang, Huai Gui was in effective control of the court and the empire, making him huangdi in all but name.
A punitive expedition against Huai Gui was initiated by a coalition of twenty regional warlords, most of whom were either military veterans – some of whom took part in defeating the Heijin zhi Luan – or powerful noblemen, but said coalition fell apart after just a few victories. This was mainly in part because each warlord had their own agendas and ambitions, leading them to scheme against each other. Worse yet, only a few of them had any intention of trying to restore the Zhai dynasty to glory; the rest sought to carve out a piece of the empire for themselves in the chaos they knew was to follow.
With Huai Gui's tyranny rampant, the dynasty faltered into the chaos of civil war between dozens of regional warlords – mostly the ones who participated in the coalition, but also some others – in a bid for power and hegemony over the realm. Even Huai Gui's eventual public assassination three years after the coalition fell apart – at the hands of his adopted son and future warlord Sun Jun (筍菌): styled Shengxing (盛行), which just in time prevented him from usurping the throne – did nothing to quell the unrest. Even more so since Sun Jun, the greatest warrior of his time and commander-in-chief of the Zai army under Huai Gui, wasted no time in taking over the government.
Following his assassination of Huai Gui, Sun Jun took over as regent of Huangdi Ang and ruled like a military dictatorship with the army to enforce his rule, defeating all opponents, including Huai Gui's old loyalists and sycophantic followers, until he held sole authority over the court. Self-titling himself Tongshuai (統帥/commander-in-chief), he ruled for six years until he was outwitted and defeated in battle by another major warlord named Kong Song (孔嵩).
Immediately following the execution of Sun Jun, Huangdi Ang came under control of Kong Song, who used the huangdi and his new status as the chengxiang and the new head of the Zhai central government as a basis to assume control the rest of Tianchao as the de facto ruler of the empire. Many warlords resisted this and soon Kong Song was waging campaigns against them to restore central authority.
Over the course of at least at least three decades (historians debate the actual duration), most of the warlords fell to one another or vanished into obscurity until Tianchao was split into a quadripartite as power was consolidated into a delicate and fragile balance between four warlords heading their individual states: Gan, Yong Zhai, Lu, & Zan.
During the conflicts before the rise of the four kingdoms, three warlords, at different times, had the audacity to proclaim themselves huangdi of new dynasties. Two were defeated, while the third died before he could make good on his promise to reunite Tianchao under a new dynasty.
- The first warlord was a female outlaw warlord known as Lin Lin (霖琳): styled Reqing (熱情), and she declared herself huanghou of the short-lived Fei dynasty, posthumously known by her followers as Huangdi Liang of Fei (匪亮皇帝).
- Her rationale for proclaiming the dynasty was her coming into possession of the imperial seal, which she actually stole from the capital when she and her bandit army sacked it while Sun Jun was away warring with Kong Song. Lin Lin's self-proclaimed dynasty was defeated by a new coalition after only five years on her self-proclaimed throne. While the imperial seal was recovered, Lin Lin vanished following her final defeat and was never seen again.
- The second was Xin Zhujiao (信主教): styled Jiaohuang (教皇), a religious leader-turned-warlord, who proclaimed himself huangdi of the Huang dynasty (also known as Xin Huang (信黃) to differentiate it from the Warring States kingdom of the same name), posthumously known by his followers as Huangdi Jiuzhu of Huang (黃救主皇帝).
- Devoted to Linglun faith and loved by his people, his rationale for proclaiming his dynasty was that the Zhai dynasty had long-since lost the Mandate of Heaven and that he had received a vision from the gods saying that it had been granted to him for the purpose of saving the nation from self-destruction. He died of illness a year and a half following his declaration. Passing on without an heir, his court quickly collapsed and his army scattered.
- The third was San Yinghao (傘英豪): styled Lijie (禮節), an ethnic Senzai warlord from the Dianqing (靛青) peninsula, who proclaimed himself huangdi of the Dian dynasty, posthumously known by his followers as Huangdi Jingling of Dian (靛精靈皇帝).
- His rationale for proclaiming his dynasty remains unknown to history. He intended on conquering the rest of Tianchao, but his self-proclaimed dynasty was defeated by Kong Song and his armies following a successful invasion and reconquest of the peninsula two years later. San Yinghao himself was captured and executed. His heirs were spared, but were forced to serve the Kong-controlled Zhai court.
Warlords | |||
---|---|---|---|
Promienent clans | |||
Names | Clan | Notes, Fate & Legacy | |
Personal | Courtesy | ||
Chan Kan 纏看 |
Yingxiong 英雄 |
Chan clan | Participated in the Coalition against Huai Gui. Died at the Battle of Anbian following the coalition's failure. Succeeded by his eldest daughter, Chan Ming. Posthumously honored as Huangdi Ge of Zan (攢鴿皇帝), with the temple name Dazu, following Chan Yue's founding of Zan Kingdom |
Chan Ming 纏名 |
Nujie 女傑 |
Daughter of Chan Kan. Suceeded her father afte his death.
Assassinated by unknown assailents. Suceeded by her younger brother, Chan Yue. Posthumously honored as Huangdi Tian of Zan (攢甜皇帝) following Chan Yue's founding of Zan Kingdom. | |
Chan Yue 纏越 |
Shijian 時間 |
Son & younger brother of late warlords Chan Kan & Chan Ming respectively. Suceeded Chan Ming upon her death. Later founding huangdi of Zan. Died of old age. | |
Yin Mao 銀毛 |
Shashou 殺手 |
Yin clan | Original founder and leader of the Coalition against Huai Gui and half-brother of Yin Ming.
Defeated in battle by Kong Song and later died of his injuries. Survived by his four sons, who fought each other later and were too defeated by Kong Song. |
Yin Ming 銀瞑 |
Nenya 嫩芽 |
Half-brother of Yin Mao. Died of his wounds following a defeat against Yin Mao.
Survived by his three sons and two daughters, all of whom pledged fealty to Kong Song. | |
Kong Song 孔嵩 |
Zhengke 政客 |
Kong clan | Chengxiang of Zhai. Died of old age. Posthumously honored as Huangdi Meng of Gan (感猛皇帝) with the temple name Yaozu. |
Kong Hao 孔好 |
Youya 幽雅 |
Son of Kong Song. Chengxiang of Zhai following Kong Song's death. Later the first huangdi of Gan. Died of illness. | |
Wei San 薇散 |
Sangjian 桑劍 |
Wei clan | A warlord of humble origins of the preceding civil wars and a distant relative of Wei Anzi, hailed as the "Imperial Uncle." Imperial scion of the imperial house of the Zhai dynasty. Huangdi of Yong Zhai. Died of illness. |
Wei Ru 薇儒 |
Xuezhe 學者 |
Governor of Kaizhou (a now-defunct province), a distant member of the imperial family, and a participant in the Coalition Against Huai Gui. He defended Kaizhou against all invaders, in particular the Chan of Zan, until his death.
His sons fought each other for succession following his death. In the end:
This event split Kaizhou in two until the end of the Four Kingdoms period. | |
Xue Tai 學鈦 |
Tangling 糖零 |
Xue clan | First huangdi of Lu Kingdom. |
Xue Han 學含 |
Bingzhen 冰鎮 |
Son of Xue Tai and the second and last huangdi of Lu Kingdom. Died of old age following abdication. | |
Others | |||
Huai Gui 壞貴 |
Yaoguai 妖怪 |
An ethnic Senzai warlord from southern tip of Pianpilu. Tyrannical Chengxiang of Zhai following the Heijin zhi Luan. Assassinated by Sun Jun. | |
Nai Xiao 鼐肖 |
Heyi 盒依 |
Originally a vassal of Wei San before striking out on his own. Died in the Battle of Lanjing against Yin Mao. | |
Lin Lin 霖琳 |
Reqing 熱情 |
Declared herself huanghou of the self-proclaimed Fei dynasty. Vanished following final defeat. Posthumously known by her followers as Huangdi Liang of Fei (匪亮皇帝). | |
Sun Jun 筍菌 |
Shengxing 盛行 |
Adopted son of Huai Gui. The greatest warrior of his time and commander-in-chief of the Zhai army under Huai Gui. Later publically assassinated Huai Gui.
Took over the Zhai government following the death of Huai Gui and ruled as a military dictatorship for six years, self-titled Tongshuai (統帥/commander-in-chief). Defeated and captured by Kong Song at the Battle of Yintalou. Executed following his defeat. | |
Shenji Rui 身幾瑞 |
Jinjiang 金匠 |
Originally vassal of the Kong clan of Gan and regent of the kingdom during the reign of the last huangdi of Gan. He usurped the Kong clan and abolished Gan Kingdom to found the Xuan dynasty. | |
Da Nai 答奈 |
Yihe 易合 |
||
Fei Mei 飛美 |
Kaihua 開花 |
A female warlord and a participant in the Coalition against Huai Gui.
Following the tyannical chengxiang's death, she conquered almost half of then Tianchao and seemed prime to dominate the empire – even become huanghou – until she was defeated by Kong Song. Dying childless (though it was rumored she was pregnant at the time of her death), her domain fell apart between her former subordinates, who became warlords competing to either succeed her legacy or become hegemon themselves. | |
Liang Dan 糧啖 |
Canyin 餐飲 |
Participant in the Coalition Against Huai Gui.
Known for his gluttony, he instituted policies in his domain solely for the purpose of feeding his vanity and coffers, causing his people to suffer. He was assassinated by his own subordinates when Kong Song made them an offer they not only couldn't refuse and were only too willing to accept. | |
Zao Richao 造日超 |
Jingji 競技 |
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Dan Fu 膽佛 |
Chengzhi 誠摯 |
||
Xin Zhujiao 信主教 |
Jiaohuang 教皇 |
A religious leader-turned warlord. Later declared himself huangdi of the self-proclaimed Huang dynasty. Died of illness a year and a half following his declaration. Posthumously known by his followers as Huangdi Jiuzhu of Huang (黃救主皇帝). | |
San Yinghao 傘英豪 |
Lijie 禮節 |
Ethnic Senzai warlord from the Dianqing peninsula. Proclaimed himself huangdi of the self-proclaimed Dian dynasty. Captured and executed following his final defeat. Posthumously known by his followers as Huangdi Jingling of Dian (靛精靈皇帝). | |
Prominent Subordinates | |||
Names | Master | Notes & Fate | |
Personal | Courtesy | ||
Yinghua Meigui 英華玫瑰 |
Lican 麗璨 |
Sun Jun | Wife of Sun Jun. Widely regarded as the the most beautiful woman of her time.
Granddaughter Yinghua Kui (英華葵), an official of the Zhai court, she schemed with him to sow discord between Sun Jun and Huai Gui and have the former assassinate the tyrant, by having her presented as a concubine of the huangdi that Huai Gui would take for himself. The plan that succeeded, but, against the expectations of Yinghua Kui, Sun Jun took over the government and ruled as a military dictator. By that time, Yinghua Meigui had fallen in love with Sun Jun and supported everything he did, turing a deaf ear to her grandfather's complaints until he took it so far she had him executed for treason. Yinghua Meigui took her own life when Kong Song executed her husband. |
Shenji Jian 身幾檢 |
Piaobo 漂泊 |
Kong Song | Closest advisor of Kong Song.
Regent of Gan during the reign of Kong Su (孔素) of Gan, the penultimate huangdi of Gan. Died of old age. Grandfather of Shenji Rui, the founder of the Xuan dynasty. Posthumously honored Huangdi Huanyuan of Xuan (軒還原皇帝) with the temple name Dazu. |
Huan Hao 換號 |
Shuzhao 數找 |
Xue Tai | |
Gang De 鋼德 |
Yongling 永靈 |
Wei San | Sworn brother of Wei San. Abjaksan of Marlakcor in his time. Died in the Battle of Jinghai. |
He Gan 河紺 |
Fengbao 風暴 |
Sworn brother of Wei San. Died of illness. | |
Wen Li 聞李 |
Ningjing 寧靜 |
Sworn sister of Wei San. Died in childbirth. | |
Fanwei Mingzhi 範圍明智 |
Tiancai 天才 |
Master strategist, chengxiang of Yong Zhai and alleged descendant of Xiangrikui Gongchen. Died of old age.
After the death of Wei San and his sworn brothers and sworn sister, Fanwei Mingzhi kept Yong Zhai going on behalf of Wei Fu until his own death in 1564TJH, an event that most historians regard as the beginning of the end for Yong Zhai. | |
Wei Fu 薇福 |
Longta 龍獺 |
Second son of Wei San. Became huangdi of Yong Zhai following his father's death. | |
Kong Zao 孔早 |
Danliang 膽量 |
Nephew of Kong Song and a rival of Kong Hao to succeed the chengxiang's legacy.
Following a political purge in the wake of Kong Hao's ascension to emperorship and the founding of Gan Kingdom, he defected to Yong Zhai and served until he died in battle. | |
Yue Liu 月懰 |
Chanjuan 嬋娟 |
A female warlord-turned-vassal.
A distant cousin and subordinate of the female warlord Fei Mei, Yue Liu rose to prominence following the death of Fei Mei. Yue Liu was one of only a handful of warlords who managed to fight Kong Song's armies to a stalemate. She later became a vassal and trusted general of Wei San following a decisive defeat in battle against the forces of Xue Han, whom annexed her lands following her defeat. She loyally served Yong Zhai with distinction until her death. |
Four Kingdoms[]
The Four Kingdoms (四國/Siguo) (1539 – 1589TJH (50yrs)) commenced with the end of the Zhai dynasty.
Following the death of Kong Song, who by then had assumed the title of King of Gan and controlled a great portion of the empire of the time, the Zhai dynasty finally ended with the forced abdication of Huangdi Ang to Kong Hao (孔好), Kong Song's son and successor.
Later the rulers of the other three kingdoms, one after another, declared themselves huangdi of the territories they had conquered in the preceding years, igniting a new but different struggle for power: the reunification of the country under one dynasty.
The era ended when the four kingdoms were conquered by the newly proclaimed Xuan dynasty, which was proclaimed following the overthrow of Gan by the Shenji clan.
Kingdom | Tenure | Founder | Final Ruler | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Ruling Family | ||||||
Surname | Race | Ethnicity | |||||
Gan 感 |
Kong 孔 |
Human | Gao | 1539 – 1581TJH | 42yrs | Huangdi Gengxin 更新皇帝 |
Kong Jiong 孔炯 |
Gan Kingdom – also known as Kong Gan (孔感) or Northern Gan (北感/Bei Gan) – was the first to declare its own emperorship after Kong Hao – posthumous name: Huangdi Gengxin of Gan – forced Huangdi Ang to abdicate to him, ending the Zhai dynasty.
Seven years after conquering Yong Zhai, Gan was usurped by the Xuan dynasty under Shenji Rui (身幾瑞) – posthumous name: Shanyu (軒善于皇帝) – following the forced abdication of Huangdi Kong Jiong.
| |||||||
Yong Zhai 永斎 |
Wei 薇 |
Human | Gao | 1539 – 1574TJH | 35yrs | Huangdi Qianbei 永斎謙卑皇帝 |
Huangdi Heshan 永斎和善皇帝 |
Yong Zhai Kingdom, also known, uncommonly, as Southern Zhai (南斎/Nan Zhai), was the second kingdom to declare emperorship, yet it was founded as a succession to the Zhai dynasty.
The founder of Yong Zhai was a scion of the imperial family with the intent of restoring the dynasty proper. The founder added the prefix "Yong" to the name of the kingdom not only to distinguish it from the dynasty proper but also to signify his intentions to restore the Zhai dynasty to full glory. Wei San passed on from illness in 1552TJH. His chosen successor was his second son Wei Fu (薇福): styled Longta (龍獺), posthumous name: Huangdi Heshan. With the conquest of Yong Zhai by Gan – which concluded with Wei Fu's abdication following Yong Zhai's last defeat at the Battle of Nanting – it was the first kingdom to fall, ending the last vestiges of the Zhai dynasty for good and dashing any hopes of restoration. Despite abdicating his position, Wei Fu was named a Taishang Huangdi and given an imperial posthumous name upon his death. | |||||||
Lu 露 |
Xue 學 |
Faun | Gao | 1540 – 1588TJH | 48yrs | Xue Tai 學鈦 |
Xue Han 學含 |
Lu Kingdom, also known as Xue Lu (學露) or Eastern Lu (東露/Dong Lu), as it was the easternmost of the four kingdoms. Lu was also the only kingdom whose ruler was a race other than a human, a faun in this case.
Although it was the third kingdom to declare an emeprorship, Lu was really only following suit to the previous two declarations and pretty much stayed out of the conflict between the three other states. Additionally, while Zan resisted Xuan to its last breath, Lu's second, and last, huangdi willingly abdicated rather than risk a subtantial loss of life. Said huangdi is known to history as Xue Han (學含), whom took over from his father, Xue Tai (學鈦), at the age of sixteen when the latter died of old age. | |||||||
Zan 攢 |
Chan 纏 |
Human | Gao | 1546 – 1589TJH | 43yrs | Huangdi Jinyue 攢勁樂皇帝 |
Huangdi Haolong 攢好龍皇帝 |
Zan Kingdom, also known as Chan Zan (纏攢) or Gao Zan (皋攢) to distinguish it from the later Tonglu-ruled dynasty of the later Medieval Imperial Era, was the westernmost of the four kingdoms. Zan's ruler was he last one to declare himself huangdi.
For a several years, the King of Zan, Chan Yue (纏越), later known as Huangdi Jinyue of Zan, submitted to Gan Kingdom as a vassal in the face of the aggression of Yong Zhai Kingdom over past disputes, but proclaimed emperorship in the wake of the death of Kong Dong (孔懂) – the second huangdi of Gan – at the Battle of Hongdu against Yong Zhai. Zan Kingdom was the last to declare emperorship and the last fall, resisting submission to the Xuan dynasty to its last breath, when Huangdi Haolong of Zan, aka Chan Jieji (纏傑基), Zan's fourth and final huangdi, died in the final battle against Xuan forces. |
Crisis of the Twentieth Century[]
The Crisis of the Twentieth Century (二十世紀的危機/Ershi Shiji de Weiji) (1941 – 1997TJH (56yrs)) was a result of a power struggle within the Imperial House of Huang of the Hun dynasty – the only unified vampire-ruled dynasty in Tianzu history – known to history as the Six Years & Ten Emperors (六年及十皇帝/Liu Nian ji Shi Huangdi). As a result of the breakdown of imperial authority, Tianchao broke into three empires competing for supremacy: Jian, Zhao & the Hun dynasty itself.
Peace was finally restored when the Hun dynasty, restored to stability, reconquered the breakaways just a few years before the new millennium (by the Luan calendar).
Also called the Crisis of the Sixteenth Century among Gaian historians.
Dynasty | Tenure | Founder | Final Ruler | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Ruling family | ||||||
Surname | Race | Ethnicity | |||||
Jian 鍵 |
Tang 瑭 |
Human | Gao | 1941 – 1997TJH | 56yrs | ||
Zhao 照 |
Yan 眼 |
Vampire | Gao | 1944 – 1991TJH | 47yrs | Yan Tang 眼糖 |
War of the Twelve Princes[]
The War of the Twelve Princes (十二王子之戰/Shi'er Wangzi zhi Zhan) (2575 – 2588TJH (13yrs)) was a series of devastating civil wars that occurred during the Kai dynasty – which succeeded the Hun dynasty and, up till then, was one of Tianchao's golden ages – and lasted for thirteen years. The twelve wangzi in question – four of whom were wangfei, contrary to the name of the conflict – fought each other for control of the empire.
Although called the War of the Twelve Princes, it's somewhat of a misnomer: rather than one continuous conflict, the War of the Twelve Princes saw intervals of peace interposed with short and intense periods of internecine conflict. At no point in the whole conflict were all of the twelve wangzi on one or multiple sides of the fighting.
The wars occurred during the reign of the mentally incompetent Huangdi Ju (愷句皇帝), personal name, Huangdi Tai Bing (泰兵): styled Bangshou (幫手). Huangdi Ju was developmentally disabled and could not effectively rule. Throughout his reign, there was constant internecine fighting between regents, imperial wangzi (his siblings, uncles, cousins), and his wife Huanghou Mihan Keyi (米晗可以皇後) for the right to control him (and therefore the imperial administration), causing great suffering for the people and greatly undermining the stability of the Kai regime. Most historians believe and agree that Mihan Keyi provoked the wars between the twelve wangzi in an vain, foolish, and ill-fated attempt to establish supreme hegemony over the realm from behind the throne, or perhaps even usurp the throne herself. What most didn't know at the time was that she was a member of the Cult of Chaos, with the goal of plunging Tianchao into a never-ending period of civil war.
Most of the fighting was either to establish regency over Huangdi Ju or remove Huanghou Keyi from power; but, two of the Wangzi had to audacity to attempt to usurp the throne for themselves when they drove the court from the capital. However, their reigns were brief and are not traditionally counted among the official list of huangdi stored in the imperial archives.
Another important figure of the time was Huang-Taihou Ming Ye (鳴也皇太後): styled Soujia (艘家), second wife of the previous ruler, Huangdi Songhan (愷嵩涵皇帝), and mother of Huangdi Ju. She sensed that Huanghou Keyi was attempting to usurp power by provoking conflict between the wangzi and wangfei and eventually learned of her goal to deliberately plunge Tianchao into civil war. Upon learning this secret she tried to defuse the situation before it got out of hand. Tragically, she was assassinated by poison within two years after the conflicts started.
Prince(ss) | Relation to Huangdi Ju | Notes & Fate | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Style | Title | ||
Tai Aimi 泰愛米 |
Jingling 精灵 |
Qinyi Wumei Wangfei 秦怡嫵媚王妃 Princess Wumei of Qinyi |
Aunt | Imprisoned. Released after conflicts & exiled. |
Tai Bian 泰便 |
Yongrong 雍容 |
Tiao Kanzhi Wangzi 條看直王子 Prince Kanzhi of Tiao |
Uncle | Executed. |
Tai Caojin 泰曹金 |
Songhao 嵩号 |
Shangui Hao Wangzi 善鬼号王子 Prince Hao of Shangui |
Older brother | Killed in Battle. |
Tai Fang 泰房 |
Xiaotao 笑套 |
Rongying Piao Wangzi 荣膺漂王子 Prince Piao of Rongying |
Second cousin | Imprisoned. Died in prison |
Tai Han 泰喊 |
Gongtai 攻台 |
Nanzhou Yuji Wangzi 南粥預計王子 Prince Yuji of Nanzhou |
Uncle | Declared himself huangdi. Executed. |
Tai Jiji 泰急擊 |
Haojin 耗尽 |
Yi Rongbei Wangzi 以荣北王子 Prince Rongbei of Yi |
Killed in Battle. | |
Tai Lin 泰霖 |
Jiaying 嘉硬 |
Puzhang Meiji 鋪張每即王妃 Princess Meiji of Puzhang |
||
Tai Mian 泰面 |
Taoli 桃李 |
Kanglong Puyin Wangfei 亢龍普印王妃 Princess Puyin of Kanglong |
Younger half-sister | Executed. |
Tai Song 泰送 |
Jiatang 加糖 |
Jiongxiao Tinan Wangzi 囧校題難王子 Prince Tinan of Jiongxiao |
first cousin, once removed | Declared himself huangdi. Commited suicide following final defeat. |
Tai Qing 泰清 |
Jimin 机敏 |
Hangzhai Linyun Wangfei 航窄磷孕王妃 Princess Linyun of Hangzhai |
||
Tai Wang 泰网 |
Erding 而定 |
Ruicao Kongxian Wangzi 瑞肏控先王子 Prince Kongxian of Ruicao |
Granduncle | The oldest of the wangzi at start of conflicts (78yrs). Died of old age at 85. |
Tai Zize 泰紫澤 |
Linmi 林密 |
Shangling Ouran Wangfei 尚翎偶然王妃 Princess Ouran of Shangling |
Third cousin | De facto winner of the War of the Twelve Princes. |
During the conflict, Huanghou Keyi schemed to put one of her favored sons, whom she kept under her thumb, on the throne in place of her husband and rule the empire through him, so she conspired with Tai Song, a wangzi she favored, to have her elder stepson, the taizi (the heir apparent) – whom was from a concubine Huangdi Ju took before he married Keyi, as well as intelligent and long-favored by the people – murdered.
She attempted afterward to have her youngest son named taizi, but the after-effects of the incident backfired on her, as Tai Song used the assassination as an excuse to have her deposed and forced her to commit suicide. Shortly after, Tai Song deposed Huangdi Ju and declared himself huangdi but did not hold power for long. Later that year, another coup was held, Huangdi Ju was restored to the throne and Tai Song was executed for treason.
At the end of the conflict, all other principal wangzi and wangfei of the wars were dead and Tai Zize held power over the empire as regent, but her victory was short-lived. With the death of Huangdi Ju by poisoning two years later, he was succeeded as huangdi by his youngest brother, Tai Yan (泰眼): styled Huakong (花控), posthumous name: Huangdi Yong (愷永皇帝). The new huangdi was much more intelligent and tried to initiate reforms to restore the empire, but Tai Zize, as regent, kept him from exercising any real power.
This, combined with the instability brought on from the previous conflict, resulted in a devolution of imperial authority that caused the near-collapse of the empire.
Twenty Kingdoms[]
The Twenty Kingdoms (二十王國/Ershi Wangguo) (2594 – 2734TJH (140yrs)) occurred the during the last century of the Kai dynasty.
In the aftermath of the War of the Twelve Princes (roughly six years, give or take; historians continue to debate it) the political order of what was then western and northern Tianchao splintered into a series of short-lived sovereign states while the Kai dynasty, whose power continued to wane, continued to rule most of central and eastern Zanghuan. Some of the kingdoms participated in the later final overthrow of Kai.
Most of the states of central Tianchao were founded by ethnic Gao, but the states on the fringes of the empire were founded by ethnic Tukhii, Enhuai or Cathized Sinjok still living outside their homelands' borders.
Kingdom | Years | Term | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Origin of Name | Ruling Family | ||||
Surname | Race | Ethnicity | ||||
Zi 資 |
Western, Central & Northern Dynasties[]
The Western, Central & Northern Dynasties (西方中環和北朝/Zhonghuan Xifang Hebei Chao) (2734 – 2940TJH (206yrs)) followed the Twenty Kingdoms period with the final complete collapse of the Kai dynasty. Ended with the reunification of Tianchao under the Zan dynasty.
The ruling families of the Central Dynasties were mostly ethnic Gao, while those of the Western Dynasties were mostly either Enhuai or Cathized Sinjok, while those of the Northern Dynasties were mostly either Senzai or semi-Cathized Tukhii.
Western Dynasties 西朝 |
Central Dynasties 中朝 |
Northern Dynasties 北朝 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sai | Tan | Yutian/Boroo | |||
Northern Sai | Southern Sai | Western Tan | Eastern Tan | ||
Rao | Jiu | Xiatian/Zuny | |||
Fang | Dan | ||||
Chao | Kang | ||||
Qingwa/Malkhii | |||||
Ling |
Dynasty | Years | Term | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Origin of Name | Ruling Family | ||||
Surname | Race | Ethnicity | ||||
Western Dynasties | ||||||
Sai 塞 새 |
Noble title | Long 롱 |
Human | Sinjok | 2736 – 2816TJH | 80yrs |
Northern Sai 北塞 북새 |
Sai dynasty | Aeng 앵 |
Human | Sinjok | 2816 – 2872TJH | 56yrs |
Southern Sai 南塞 남새 |
Sai dynasty | Baek 백 |
Human | Sinjok | 2815 – 2900TJH | 85yrs |
Rao 饒 |
Toponym | Shu 書 |
Human | Enhuai | 2872 – 2911TJH | 39yrs |
Chao 炒 |
Noble title | Wan 萬 |
Human | Enhuai | 2911 – 2930TJH | 19yrs |
Fang 枋 |
Noble title | Yao 葯 |
Human | Enhuai | 2900 – 2935TJH | 35yrs |
Central Dynasties | ||||||
Tan 探 |
Toponym | Mingliu 名流 |
Human | Gao | 2734 – 2790TJH | 56yrs |
Western Tan 西探 |
Tan dynasty | Mingliu 名流 |
Human | Gao | 2790 – 2912TJH | 122yrs |
Eastern Tan 東探 |
Tan dynasty | Mingliu 名流 |
Human | Gao | 2790 – 2920TJH | 130yrs |
Ling 令 |
Noble title | Ruan 軟 |
Human | Gao | 2920 – 2930TJH | 10yrs |
Kang 康 |
Noble title | Gua 刮 |
Human | Tonglu | 2912 – 2938TJH | 26yrs |
Northern Dynasties | ||||||
Yutian 雨天 |
Toponym | Senlin 森林 |
Human | Tukhii | 2735 – 2809TJH | 74yrs |
Boroo ᠪᠣᠷᠣᠭᠠ |
Oin ᠣᠢ ᠶᠢᠨ | |||||
Xiatian 夏天 |
Noble title | Zao 燥 |
Human | Tukhii | 2809 – 2905TJH | 96yrs |
Zuny ᠵᠤᠨ ᠤ |
Khuurai ᠬᠠᠭᠤᠷᠠᠢ | |||||
Jiu 酒 |
Noble title | Gongtang 貢糖 |
Human | Senzai | 2809 – 2864TJH | 55yrs |
Dan 蛋 |
Toponym | Zhugan 主幹 |
Human | Senzai | 2864 – 2904TJH | 40yrs |
Qingwa 青挖 |
Noble title | Hexie 和諧 |
Human | Tukhii | 2905 – 2940TJH | 35yrs |
Maltakh ᠮᠠᠯᠲᠤᠬᠤ |
Taaramj ᠲᠠᠭᠠᠷᠠᠮᠵᠢ |
The period ended with the reconsolidation and reconquest of Tianchao under the Tonglu-ruled Zan dynasty, which came to power following the overthrow of Kang, one of the central dynasties, in 2838TJH.
War of the Seven Emperors[]
The conflict known as the War of the Seven Emperors (七皇帝的戰爭/Qi Huangdi de Zhanzheng) (3181 – 3196TJH (15yrs)) took place near the end of the short-lived Jia dynasty, which took power after overthrowing the Qiu dynasty (which was of Xiyi (爬蟲) ethnicity and the second non-Gao ethnic group of the Wan peoples to rule a unified Tianchao; the Zan dynasty being the first) in what is historically known as Muren's Rebellion. Said rebellion was to overthrow Qiu's final Longdi (the Qiu dynasty's imperial title), whom was a tyrannical monster known to history as Xiuhuang Shui Bude shi Mingming (羞皇誰不得是命名/Disgraced Emperor Who Shall Not be Named), whom was so infamously cruel and evil that he was denied a proper execution and burial, and was instead cursed and buried alive in a tomb that was more of a prison, the location of which was purposely scratched from history. His real name is feared to the point that even saying it is still avoided by the general populace.
Said huangdi is known to history as Huangdi Zui (嘉醉皇帝); personal name, Pang Yu (滂與): styled Muren (木人); temple name: Jiuxing. He was known for his drunken temperament and general lack of interest in ruling the empire. Because of this, he was also widely regarded as an inefficient ruler whose policies, or lack thereof, destabilized the regime and the empire, setting the stage for civil war following his death.
- As a result of the succession to the throne of an illegitimate bastard whom was not born to the Jia dynasty's huangdi (as Pang Yu's huanghou, known to history as Jin Ting (尽挺), decieved him into thinking he was), the late-huangdi's older brother and two brothers proclaimed themselves huangdi of the Jia dynasty and fought the bastard, and each other, for the throne.
- Said bastard is known to history as Pang Wu (滂吴): styled, Jujue (拒絕), posthumous name: Huangdi Hunwai (嘉婚外皇帝).
- Huangdi Pang Yu's elder brother and younger brothers were:
- Pang Gou (滂够): styled Wenxian (文獻). Pang Yu's elder brother. Posthumously known as Huangdi Shi (嘉獅皇帝) by his followers.
- Pang Mingce (滂命策): styled Weilian (威廉). Posthumously known as Huangdi Hu (嘉虎皇帝) by his followers.
- Pang Long (滂隆): styled Yadang (亞當). Posthumously known as Huangdi Xiong (嘉熊皇帝) by his followers.
- Meanwhile elsewhere, three kings each declared themselves huangdi and independence, both of their provinces and the lands they claimed/conquered.
- Two, whom were a centaur and a vampire, were descendants of enfeoffed generals who had been given hereditary titles; and the third, whom was a human of different ethnicity, was enfeoffed by Huangdi Bo for his service in the rebellion.
- As Pang Yu was the sole legally recognized huangdi of the Jia dynasty, most historians consider the reign of Pang Wu, and the war itself, an interregnum.
- When the war ended fifteen years later:
- The bastard Huangdi Wu, all the self-proclaimed huangdi, and most remnants the Jia dynasty's direct imperial Pang clan (those who could possibly make a claim to the throne, including the rest of Huangdi Bo's children) were dead.
- The Jia dynasty collapsed and was supplanted by the Song clan of the newly proclaimed Gun dynasty.
- The secessionist kingdoms were reconquered by the new Gun dynasty.
State | Tenure | Founder | Final ruler | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Ruling Family | ||||||
Surname | Race | Ethnicity | |||||
Pian 楩 |
Sui 虽 |
Centaur | Gao | 3181 – 3188TJH | 7yrs | Sui Han 虽韩 |
|
Nian 年 |
Ren 稔 |
Vampire | Gao | 3181 – 3192TJH | 11yrs | Ren Jizhi 稔機智 |
|
San 傘 |
Na 拿 |
Human | Gao | 3181 – 3196TJH | 15yrs | Na Bin 拿斌 |
Na Ao 拿澳 |
The last of the breakaway states to fall, ending the War of the Seven Emeprors. Endured until seven years after the founding of the Gun dynasty, and five years after the Jia dynasty officially ended with the death of Huangdi Xiong. |
Seven Dynasties & Twelve Kingdoms[]
The Seven Dynasties & Twelve Kingdoms (七朝和十二國記/Qichao he Shí'er Wangguo) (3980 – 4121TJH (141yrs)) period began following the collapse of the Jun dynasty, seven dynasties in the Zanghuan Provinces succeeded each other one after another, while twelve breakaway states existed concurrently elsewhere.
The Six Dynaties & Twelve Kingdoms period, the last prolonged period of division in Tianzu history, ended with the conquest of Tianchao under the Lin dynasty, the only ethnic Arslan dynasty to rule a unified Tianchao and the last true golden age in Tianzu history.