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Marlakcor (
), also known as Tianxia locally, is the northeastern continent of Patria.
Sovereign States
Four Holy Cities
The Four Holy Cities are a quartet of independent religious city-states spread around Marlakcor, all of whom are controlled by a religious order that pledges faith to the four Divine Beasts of Marlakcor, and each houses a main temple dedicated to one of the four to represent their cardinal direction.
Bei Haigui
Government: Theocracy
Heads of State: Council of Four Masters
Heads of Government: Council of Four Masters
Legislature: Council of Four Masters
Demonym: n/a
Currency: n/a
The Holy City of Bei Haigui is a city-state situated on the island of the same name in the Sea of Yao, at the entrance to Gui Bay off the northern coast of Liao, the northern subcontinent of Marlakcor. It shares maritime borders solely with Huaxia to the south.
A deeply religious state, Bei Haigui is one of four independent cities that are controlled by the religious order that pledges faith to the four Divine Beasts of Marlakcor. As the northern city of the order, Bei Haigui serves as the base for the Temple of the Black Turtle, Lord of Winter & Warden of the North.
As Huaxia expanded into the north, Bei Haigui was spared any threat of conquest or vassalization, as not even the Huangdi dared to threaten the sanctity of such a holy place.
Dong Long
Government: Theocracy
Heads of State: Council of Four Masters
Heads of Government: Council of Four Masters
Legislature: Council of Four Masters
Demonym: n/a
Currency: n/a
The Holy City of Dong Long is a city-state situated on the island of the same name in the Bay of Xiaolong, surrounded by Qiu Island to the north. It shares maritime borders with Huaxia to the northeast, and the Roman provinces of Serica to the west and east.
A deeply religious state, Dong Long is one of four independent cities that are controlled by the religious order that pledges faith to the four Divine Beasts of Marlakcor. As the eastern city of the order, Dong Long serves as the base for the Temple of the Azure Dragon, Lord of Spring & Warden of the East.
As Huaxia expanded east, Dong Long was spared any threat of conquest or vassalization, as not even the Huangdi dared to threaten the sanctity of such a holy place. Dong Long was also spared conquest of vassalization by Rome when the Empire formed the Serica Provinciae. Despite the usual policy to impose their religion on conquered or visited states, Rome respected the city's neutrality and honored the sanctity of a holy place.
Nan Niao
Government: Theocracy
Heads of State: Council of Four Masters
Heads of Government: Council of Four Masters
Legislature: Council of Four Masters
Demonym: n/a
Currency: n/a
The Holy City of Nan Niao is a city-state situated on the island of the same name in the Zhuhong Sea. It shares maritime borders with Huaxia to the north and Jingling to the south.
A deeply religious state, Nan Niao is one of four independent cities that are controlled by the religious order that pledges faith to the four Divine Beasts of Marlakcor. As the southern city of the order, Nan Niao serves as the base for the Temple of the Vermilion Bird, Lord of Summer & Warden of the South.
As Huaxia expanded southward, Nan Niao was spared any threat of conquest or vassalization, as not even the Huangdi dared to threaten the sanctity of such a holy place.
Xi Hu
Government: Theocracy
Heads of State: Council of Four Masters
Heads of Government: Council of Four Masters
Legislature: Council of Four Masters
Demonym: n/a
Currency: n/a
The Holy City of Xi Hu is a city-state situated on the island of the same name in the east side of the Oriental Sea, just off the coast of the Washi Peninsula of Manzhou, the northern lands of Jiangshan (the western subcontinent), to the east, and the island of Makigai Shima to the south. It shares maritime borders solely with the Morokoshi Provinces of Yamatai.
A deeply religious state, Xi Hu is one of four independent cities that are controlled by the religious order that pledges faith to the four Divine Beasts of Marlakcor. As the western city of the order, Xi Hu serves as the base for the Temple of the White Tiger, Lord of Autumn & Warden of the West.
As Huaxia expanded westward, Xi Hu was spared any threat of conquest or vassalization, as not even the Huangdi dared to threaten the sanctity of such a holy place. When Yamatai invaded the mainland and established the Morokoshi Kokudos, Yamatai gave Xi Hu the same courtesy.
Empire of Huaxia
Capital: Dahu'ziben
Government: Hereditary Absolute Feudal Monarchy
Head of State: Huangdi
Heads of Government: Huangdi & Zaixiang
Legislature: None
Demonym: Huaxian
Currency: Jiaozi, Huizi, Jinbi, Yinbi, Tongbi, Tiebi
The Empire of Huaxia is the dominant, and largest, state on Marlakcor. It occupies much of the continent, controlling northern and western Shenzhou (the central subcontinent), most of Manzhou (the northern lands of Jiangshan, the western subcontinent), and the whole of Liao (the northern continent). In the Zhingyuan Provinces, the capital regions, it borders Zhonghua to the south, and shares borders with the Roman Serica Provinciae on Shengfen Island and on Qiu Island. Via the Mu Jingling Peninsula, it borders Jingling to the south, and on the western continent, the Xifang Regions, it borders Raimei to the south and the Yamato Morokoshi Kokudos to the west.
To the east, it and shares maritime borders with Daludao. In the northwest it shares maritime borders with the island empire of Joseon, from whom it conquered most of the western continent, and the Empire of Tibet to the north, from whom it conquered most of the western half of northern continent. The eastern half of the continent was once controlled by the Empire of Khitan, whom resisted Huaxian expansion until its final breath.
Huaxia also shares maritime borders with three of the four island city-states: In the north, beyond Gui Bay, Huaxia shares maritime borders with the Holy City of Bei Haigui. In the Zhuhong Sea to the south, Huaxia shares maritime borders with the Holy City of Nan Niao. To the east, in the Bay of Xiaolong of southern Qiu Island, via what territories Huaxia still controls after the wars with Rome, Huaxia shares maritime borders with the Holy City of Dong Long.
Huaxia is also the suzerain of Tibet, forcing them to surrender base sovereignty in the face of the ferocity of the Huaxian Imperial Army & Navy and threats of invasion. At one point it held the now-defunct Kingdom of Daludao as a suzerainty as well, but it has since been conquered and renamed Serica by Rome.
Huaxia spared the four Holy Cities from conquest or vassalization, as not even the Huangdi of the time dared to threaten or desecrate the sanctity of such Holy places. All this is a result of the Huaxian Wars of Conquest (c. 2522 AFZ – c. 2875).
As a religious leader, the Huangdi also bears the title of Tianzi. While anyone can found a dynasty and claim the title of Huangdi, the title of Tianzi is only conferred upon by the high priests to the true ruler of the realm; the one who is believed to have the grace of the gods.
What is now Huaxia was originally a collection of quarreling kingdoms in what is now the Zhongyuan Region. There were eleven major states and several minor states under vassal hegemony of a few of the major ones.
Modern scholars agree that the events that led to the founding of the Huaxian Empire began following the collapse of what is known to history as the Mo Dynasty (which was in practice just a fragile hegemonic alliance under the lordship of the Kingdom of Mo) into the various states mentioned above at the end of what historians call the Summer & Winter Period. This collapse triggering a period of unrest known to history as the Warring States Period, an era of near constant warfare, shifting alliances, and brief periods of peace between conflicts. About a hundred years later, a warlord known to history as Qiang Zheng (styled Zhugong), a general from what was then the Kingdom of Hu, usurped control of the kingdom in a military coup d'état. Overthrowing the inept and complacent wang [king] and becoming wang himself, Qiang Zheng Wang then led his followers to conquer all of Hu's rivals, thus founding the first imperial dynasty of newly-named Huaxian Empire under the rule of the Hu Dynasty with himself as the first Huangdi [Emperor], taking the reign name Chuangjian Huangdi.
In the subsequent Huaxian Wars of Conquest, which lasted a few hundred of years with varying periods of peace, Huaxia expanded in every direction and grew into one of the largest and wealthiest empires on Patria. It is outclassed only by Yamatai in the latter aspect.
The empire is currently under the rule of the Cui Dynasty, run by the Sun clan, which took power roughly sixty years prior after overthrowing the collapsing Nao Dynasty and reconquering the state of Huo Xue, a northwestern secessionist kingdom. Cui is the latest of many dynasties that have ruled all or part of Huaxia. The country has a chaotic history of various pretender dynasties, breakaway states, or usurpations by rebellion, and many other types of crises besides. For example, the Hu Dynasty collapsed and was usurped by the Chang Dynasty only fifty years after the founding of Huaxia, which began the cycle for a successive change of dynasties.
| Dynasty | Ruling House | From | To | Term | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Written | Origin of Name | Surname | Ethnicity | |||
| Semi-Legendary | |||||||
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| Pre-Imperial/Summer & Winter Peiod | |||||||
| [to be filled in] | ???AFZ | ||||||
| Mo | 魔 | Noble title | Tuzhu | AFZ 2398 | AFZ 2420 | 22yrs | |
| Warring States Period | 戰國時期 | ||||||
| Imperial | |||||||
| Hu | 胡 | Noble title | Zheng (整) | Tuzhu | AFZ 2521 | AFZ 2259 | 38yrs |
| [to be filled in] | |||||||
| Chang | 昌 | Noble title | Tuzhu | 208yrs | |||
| Xi Chang | 西昌 | Chang dynasty | Tuzhu | 10yrs | |||
| Crisis of the 32nd Century | 三十二世紀的危機 | ||||||
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| Zhai | 宅 | Toponym | Wu (屋) | Tuzhu | |||
| Chao | Noble title | Tong (同) | Tuzhu | ||||
| Southern Zhai | 南宅 | from Zhai dynasty | Wu (屋) | Tuzhu | |||
| Four Kingdoms | 四國 | ||||||
| Jing Huo | 晶火 | from Huo Kingdom | Kong (孔) | Tuzhu | |||
| Xue Shui | 雪水 | from Shui Kingdom | Xue (雪) | Tuzhu | |||
| Ni Tu | 泥土 | from Tu Kingdom | Chan (缠) | Tuzhu | |||
| Yun Feng | 雲風 | from Feng Kingdom | Yun (雲) | Tuzhu | |||
| Quan | 圈 | Toponym | Shu (书) | Tuzhu | 153yrs | ||
| Yan | 眼 | Noble title | Sa (薩) | Tuzhu | 20yrs | ||
| Fourteen Kingdoms | 十四國 | ||||||
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| Central Dynasties | 中朝 | ||||||
| Northern Dynasties | 北朝 | ||||||
| Western Dynasties | 西朝 | ||||||
| Jia | 家 | Noble title | Ping (平) | Tuzhu | |||
| War of the Seven Emeprrors | |||||||
| [to be filled in] | |||||||
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| Gui | 贵 | Noble title | Song (松) | Tuzhu | |||
| Six Dynasties and Twelve Kingdoms Period | |||||||
| Nao | 脑 | Toponym | Tuzhu | AFZ 4355 | AFZ 4481 | 126yrs | |
| Huo Xue | 火雪 | Toponym & Noble title | Tuzhu | ||||
| Cui | 翠 | Noble title | Sun (笋) | Tuzhu | AFZ 4482 | incumbent | 60yrs |
Alongside the successive change of dynasties, Huaxia has also fractured into separate independent states and rival dynasties as a result of wars of succession, rebellions for independence, or other issues many times in the past. Many of these eras have become known, in chronological order, as:
- Imperial Schism:
- When a member of a three-generation-old split in the imperial line of the Chang Dynasty declared himself emperor of Xi Chang.
- Crisis of the Thirty-Second Century:
- Four Kingdoms Period:
- As the latter half of the Zhai Dynasty (termed Southern Zhai by historians due to a brief interruption by the usurper Chao Dynasty) collapsed into the chaos of war between over thirty warlords, when four states (known as Jing Huo, Xue Shui, Ni Tu and Yun Feng) rose in the struggle for power and reunification of the country. Ended when they were conquered by the newly proclaimed Quan Dynasty.
- Fourteen Kingdoms:
- Near the end of the relatively brief Yan Dynasty, which succeeded the Quan Dynasty after it ruled Huaxia for 153 years.
- The political order of western Huaxia splintered into a series of short-lived sovereign states; some of which participated in the overthrow of Yan.
- Three of the states were founded by ethnic Yamato immigrants from Wa (this was many generations before the Yamato Invasion), and five others were founded by ethnic Seomins still living outside Joseon's borders.
- Near the end of the relatively brief Yan Dynasty, which succeeded the Quan Dynasty after it ruled Huaxia for 153 years.
- Central, Northern & Western Dynasties:
- War of the Seven Emperors:
- This conflict took place near the end of the short-lived Jia Dynasty, also dubbed the Zui Dynasty mockingly by many due to the sole legally recognized emperor's (known to history as Mulu Huangdi; personal name, Ping Yu; style name, Muren) drunken temperament and general lack of interest in ruling.
- As a result of the succession to the throne of an illegitimate bastard not born to the dynasty's emperor (known to history as Bufa Huangdi; personal name, Ping Wu; style name, Jujue), the late-emperor's three younger brothers (Ping Gou, Ping Mingce & Ping Long) proclaimed themselves emperors and fought the bastard, and each other, for the throne.
- Meanwhile elsewhere, three kings each declared independence, both of their provinces and the lands they claimed/conquered, as emperors themselves.
- Two were descendants of enfeoffed generals who had been given hereditary titles, and the third (whom was of different ethnicity) was enfeoffed by Mulu Huangdi.
- When the war ended eight years later:
- The bastard, all the self-proclaimed emperors, and most remnants the Gui Dynasty's house of Ping were dead.
- The Gui dynasty collapsed and was supplanted by the house of Song of the newly proclaimed Feng Dynasty.
- The secessionist kingdoms were reconquered by the new Feng Dynasty.
- This conflict took place near the end of the short-lived Jia Dynasty, also dubbed the Zui Dynasty mockingly by many due to the sole legally recognized emperor's (known to history as Mulu Huangdi; personal name, Ping Yu; style name, Muren) drunken temperament and general lack of interest in ruling.
- Six Dynasties and Twelve Kingdoms Period:
- Beginning witht he end of the Six dynasties in the Zhongyuan Region succeded each other one after abother, while twelve breakaway states existed concurrently.
The reason for the constant changes of dynasties and wars is all in part due to a dynastic cycle influenced by a religiopolitical concept known as the Mandate of Heaven, a philosophical concept of the circumstances under which a ruler is allowed to rule [see the two links to the wikipedia articles for the full explanation on both concepts].
Huaxia maintains the largest known armed forces on Patria, but the country's sheer size, and constant threat of rebellions in the outer territories furthest from Benqian Province, the capital of the Zhongyuan Region, causes it to be spread thin. This flaw caused it to lose control of its westernmost territories during the Yamato Invasions of Marlakcor (4010 AFZ – 4100). Huaxia also lost the former Kingdom of Daludao as a suzerainty, along with some of its southeastern territories, when the Roman Empire invaded and conquered Daludao, renaming it Serica. Despite these flaws and a recent decline in power, it maintains its status as Marlakcor's dominant empire, a title rivaled by both Zhonghua and Yamatai.
On the western border with the Yamato Morokoshi Kokudos stands the Great Wall of Manzhou. This massive fortification of 25m-high stone walls, fortresses, and castles, which runs along the entire length of the Morokoshi-Huaxian border. It was constructed in the wake of the Third Yamato-Huaxian War (4100 AFZ – 4112) to prevent any further expansion eastward by the Yamato into the western continent, and took nearly a century to build. It has so far fulfilled that purpose, save for very brief occupations of various fortresses at various periods during several wars throughout its history. The last official war was fought from 4516 to 4523.
This wall far surpasses Zhonghua's Mulan's Wall, which was built for similar reasons against Rome.
Confederation of Jingling
Capital: Toron's Grove
Government: Hegemonic Confederated Elective Absolute Tribal Monarchy
Head of State: Syl-Tynajar (fem. Syl-Tynajil)
Head of Government: Rinv
Legislature: High Council
Demonym: Jinglinese
Currency: Bloom
The Confederation of Jingling is a large confederated Wood Elven tribal kingdom occupying the dense Conglin Jungles in southern Shenzhou, the central subcontinent of Marlakcor.
It borders Zhonghua to the east, Huaxia to the north via the Mu Jingling Peninsula, and shares maritime borders with Raimei to the west across the Conglin Sea.
Jingling is a collection of nearly two hundred autonomous tribal chiefdoms pledging fealty to the king, and therefore isn't wholly united. Consequently, internal conflicts, ranging from inter-clan disputes to all-out-war, are a common occurrence.
Empire of Joseon
Capital: Goguryeo
Government: Hereditary Absolute Feudal Monarchy
Head of State: Taewang
Head of Government: Taewang
Legislature: Jegug Uihoe
Demonym: Joseonite
Currency: Mun, Yang, Won
The Empire of Joseon is an island nation, occupying the island of the same name, in the northwest corner of Manzhou, the northern lands of Jiangshan, the western subcontinent of Marlakcor. It shares maritime borders with the Morokoshi Kokudos of Yamatai to the south and Huaxia to the east.
Once stretching from the northern Sea of Udeung to the southern Isthmus of Jeolm-eum on the western continent, Joseon was once the two dominant nations on western lands of Marlakcor before Huaxia invaded. As a result of the Huaxian Wars of Conquest, Joseon was reduced to the island from whence it originated. Unlike Tibet and now-defunct Daludao, Joseon managed to stave off the threat of invasion and retain full sovereignty.
Empire of Nanyue
Capital: Sanoigon
Government: Hereditary Absolute Monarchy
Head of State: Vuong
Head of Government: Vuong
Legislature: none
Demonym: Nanyese
Currency: Van
The Empire of Nanyue is a monarchical island nation, occupying the tropical jungle island of the same name, in the Xich Dao Sea of southern Marlakcor. It shares maritime borders solely with Raimei to the west.
Empire of Raimei
Capital: Hekireki
Government: Hereditary Absolute Feudal Monarchy
Head of State: Raiun-kōtei
Head of Government: Raiun-kōtei
Legislature: None
Demonym: Raimese
Currency: Hansatsu, Koban, Nibuban, Ichibuban, Tsuho
The Empire of Raimei, sometimes known as the Thunder Empire in the west, is a large monarchical state in southwestern Marlakcor, occupying much of Manzi, the southern lands of Jiangshan, the western subcontinent of Marlakcor.
Raimei borders the Morokoshi Kokudos to the west, Huaxia to the north via the Isthmus of Jeolm-eum, and shares maritime borders with Jingling to the east across the Conglin Sea, and Nanyue to the southeast via its island territories in the Xich Dao Sea, and Siam to the south across the Keiyrti Channel.
Raimei was once part of the Yamato Morokoshi Kokudos, and therefore sovereign territory of Yamatai, until a rebellion led by one renegade clan, the Sanda clan, established the new independent empire, which took ten years of war, now known as the Raimese War for Independence (4235 AFZ – 4245), to achieve.
Raimei remains at odds with Yamatai, and have fought several wars with the empire since its founding, but careful diplomacy has prevented the empires from outright destroying each other. The Sanda clan still rules Raimei to this day.
As an empire made up of lands that were formerly part of Siam, Raimei has it's own unique culture that is a blend of both Yamato and Siamese culture.
Nation of Renyu Dao
Capital: Yai
Government: Elective Absolute Monarchy
Head of State: Patriarch/Matriarch
Head of Government: Patriarch/Matriarch
Legislature: Council
Demonym: Renyan
Currency: Jinbi, Yinbi, Tongbi, Tiebi
The Nation of Renyu Dao is an island nation, occupying the island of the same name in the Xich Dao Sea of southern Marlakcor, sharing maritime borders with solely Zhonghua.
Renyu Dao is a nation where merpeople live alongside humans in harmony. Renyu Dao was originally founded when a clan of humans got washed up on the shores, and have lived alongside the merfolk together in harmony from then on.
When Zhonghua expanded to their waters, they at first signed a treaty to come under Zhonghuan sovereignty, but pulled out of the confederacy less than a year later. The separation wasn't welcomed at first, leading to a brief military confrontation, but Zhonghua's government caved in and drew back within weeks.
Kingdom of Shayuwei Dao
Capital: Shaqi
Government: Hereditary Absolute Feudal Monarchy
Head of State: Wang
Head of Government: Wang
Legislature: None
Demonym: Shayu
Currency: Jinbi, Yinbi, Tongbi, Tiebi
The Kingdom of Shayuwei Dao is and island nation on the southern half of the island of the same name in the Sinolatin Sea off of Shenzhou in western Marlakcor. The kingdom shares borders with the Roman provinces of Serica to the north, to whom it is a suzerainty.
Shayuwei Dao was once in full control of the island upon which it resides. As Zhonghua expanded, Shayuwei Dao rejected all offers to join the expanding confederacy and even managed to repel an invasion when negotiations turned hostile. After the only war it ever fought with Zhonghua, Shayuwei Dao experienced a golden age of prosperity due to the soon established trade and military alliance that followed a change of management to both nations. However, this ended with the invasions of Rome.
When Rome exerted its control of western Marlakcor, Shayuwei Dao was no exception to the ever opportunistic Roman Empire. After losing almost half the island to the invaders, Shayuwei Dao signed a submissive peace treaty with Rome, retaining nominal sovereignty while still a vassal of the empire.
Kingdom of Siam
Capital: Thonburi
Government: Hereditary Absolute Feudal Monarchy
Head of State: Rama
Head of Government: Rama
Legislature: None
Demonym: Siamese
Currency: Dok Chan, Pod Duang, Namo
The Kingdom of Siam is an island nation, occupying the island of the same name, off the southern coast of Manzi, the southern division of Jiangshan, in southwest Marlakcor. Siam shares maritime borders solely with Raimei to the north across the Keiyrti Channel.
It once occupied the southern portion of the western continent, once bordering Joseon, and then Huaxia, at the Isthmus of Jeolm-eum, but invasions by Yamatai and the Yamato-Saimese War (4120 AFZ – 4131) led it to recede from the mainland as Yamatai established the Morokoshi Kokudos.
When the Sanda clan rebelled against Oda rule a century later, separating from the Morokoshi Kokudos and establishing the Empire of Raimei, Siam managed to diplomatically stay out of the conflict, and fostered a trade relationship with both empires. Since then, it has served also a diplomatic medium between the two empires.
Empire of Tibet
Capital: Lhasa
Government: Hereditary Absolute Monarchy
Head of State: Tsenpo
Head of Government: Tsenpo
Legislature: None
Demonym: Tibetan
Currency: Tangka, Srang, Skar
The Empire of Tibet is an island nation, occupying the mountainous tundra island of the same name in the Sea of Hanleng in northern Marlakcor, off the northwest coast of Liao, the northern subcontinent. It shares maritime borders solely with Huaxia to the south.
Tibet was once one of nations dominating the high mountains and tundras of the northern continent before Huaxia invaded, the other being the now-defunct Empire of Khitan. Tibet once controlled the western half of the northern continent, up to the isthmus separating Gui Bay from the Gulf of Shule, while the Empire of Liao controlled the rest of the eastern half. These two powers fought for land and power on-and-off for nearly five centuries before Huaxia invaded.
As a result of the Huaxian Wars of Conquest, Tibet was reduced to the island from whence it originated, while Liao has ceased to exist. Tibet has since become a suzerainty of Huaxia in the face of the ferocity of the Huaxian Imperial Army & Navy and the threat of invasion.
Being a cold country of mostly tundra and mountain, similarly to the northern mainland, Tibet has only a small amount of fertile land for farming and is mostly dependent on the sea and imports for food, but has a large economy thanks to rich mining on the island and elsewhere.
While still in a tense diplomatic relationship with Huaxia, Tibet also maintains the rights to mine certain areas within Huaxia's borders on the northern mainland, in exchange for Huaxia receiving 25% of the profits as tribute annually.
Hegmonic Confederation of Zhonghua
Capital: Luoyang
Government: Hegemonic Confederated Parliamentary Quasi-Federal Hereditary Feudal Monarchy
Head of State: Zuigao Wang
Head of Government: Zhengfu Buzhang
Legislature: Canyiyuan
Demonym: Zhonghuan
Currency: Jiaozi, Huizi, Jinbi, Yinbi, Tongbi, Tiebi
The Hegemonic Confederation of Zhonghua, also known locally as Baquan Banglian de Dongnan [Southeastern Hegemonic Confederation], or simply The Southeastern Kingdoms, is a large state in southeast Shenzhou, the central subcontinent of Marlakcor. It borders Huaxia to the north, and the Wood Elven kingdom of Jingling to the west. It also shares borders with the Serica Provinciae of Rome to the north, the border marked by Mulan's Wall. Down south, it shares maritime borders with the island Nation of Renyu Dao, which was briefly part of the confederacy before it seceded in favor of retaining independence. It also holds sovereignty over the archipelagic state of Long Qundao (the western half of the Dragon Islands) in Maritymir.
The whole of Zhonghua.
Modern Zhonghua was originally many dozens of independent kingdoms, dukedoms, counties and city-states struggling for land and dominance. But in the face of Huaxian aggression and expansion during the Huaxian Wars of Conquest, many of the northern states banded together to resist the expansion of Huaxia, eventually becoming a united confederated state.
However, the first hundred years of wars with Huaxia were met with minimal success, and Zhonghua was pushed back. The first true peace treaty ended with Huaxia in control of Jing bu Xibei (what is now northwestern Zhonghua).
While originally a directorial confederation in which all lords have equal say, the confederation eventually turned hegemonic, with the ruler of Lan Kingdom taking the role as hegemon under the title of Zuigao Wang.
A few centuries after the peace treaty that left Huaxia in control of Jing bu Xibei, during one incident when Huaxia descended into chaos, Zhonghua seized the chance to reconquer the region from Huaxia, and did so with minimal resistance, achieving its modern northern and western borders. Aside from that, Zhonghua has mostly avoided taking advantage or getting involved in Huaxia's near-constant internal strife.
Even while going to war with Huaxia on and off for centuries, they turned their attentions toward expanding west and south, uniting many other states and tribes under their banner through treaty and conquest, eventually expanding to northern Maritymir. Zhonghua remains at odds with Huaxia to this day, and the two powers go to war almost every other decade for one reason or another. Its relations with the Wood Elves of Jingling are cold too, but diplomacy has avoided too many wars.
Zhonghua is divided into many territories termed one of several things depending on rank upon accession to the confederation. From highest to lowest they are:
- Wangguo (ruled by a hereditary Wang)
- Gongguo (ruled by a hereditary Gong)
- Jun (ruled by a hereditary Hou)
- Xian (ruled by a hereditary Bo)
- Tai (governed by an elected Zhishi)
- Chengbang (a single city and surrounding territory governed by an elected Zhangguan)
- Junqu (a military region along Mulan's Wall or the fortress regions along the borders and northwestern seaboard. Each are governed by a Zhong-jiang, a military rank)
Zhonghua eventually lost some of its northeastern territories to Rome. While Zhonghua anticipated an invasion when Rome all but defeated Huaxia, it was still unable to resist the ferocity of the Imperial Roman Army in the initial invasion, despite years of preparation. This changed when a female warrior, known to history as Hua Mulan, came to prominence. Mulan had learned all about Roman war tactics both from watching the battles from afar and, after learning their language during her time as a war slave to a Roman officer, from listening to the Roman commanders talk. After escaping, she disguised herself as a man, enlisted in the army, and rose through the ranks until she became a general.
Once a general, Mulan took charge of an army and successfully defended against the Roman army in a decisive battle that changed the course of the war, know known to history as the Battle of Qiuling Pingyuan. Mulan's true gender was accidentally exposed not long after, but her troops defended her and the Zuigao Wang was so impressed with her and her record that he let her retain her position and rank. Mulan then led a successful campaign that saw the reclamation of much territory before a peace treaty ending the war was signed.
On the northern land border with Huaxia and down and northwestern coast, spaced varyingly (mostly between ten to twenty miles), are a series of fortresses and castles that defend the empire from invasion. The ones along the border with Huaxia were built in the aftermath of the last great war with Huaxia. The ones along the northwestern coast are relatively recent constructions. When Huaxia solidified its grip on the Laoying Peninsula, the fortifications were constructed down the northwestern coast. The final fortress, dubbed Bianjie Castle, situated almost right on the border with Jingling, also serves as one of several border crossing points between Zhonghua and Jingling. The northernmost of these fortresses is Qingwa Castle, which is also the westernmost fortress along the northern border fortifications.
To the east along the border with the Serica Provinciae of Rome stands Mulan's Wall, named for Hua Mulan, the legendary female general who spearheaded the defense of Zhonghua during the Roman Invasion, and also led the recapture of much of the occupied territories before the wall's construction, and served as the wall's architect. These massive fortifications of 25m-high stone walls, fortresses and castles, which runs along the entire length of the border and took nearly ten years each to build, were constructed to prevent any further invasion by Rome. Mulan's Wall was built some centuries later in the wake of the Roman Invasion of Zhonghua. Mulan's Wall, blocks any further invasion by sea via some other fortifications along the coasts beyond the wall's end points, known respectively as Xiang-xi Castle and Nanchao Watch.
The wall has fulfilled it's purposes throughout their existence.
Constituent Territories
Kami Islands (Yamatai)
Capital: Aki no Machi
Government: Imperial Appointed Magistracy
Head of State: Tennō of Yamatai
Head of Government: Sotoku
Legislature: High Council
Demonym: Kamio
Currency: Hansatsu, Koban, Nibuban, Ichibuban, Tsuho
The Kami Islands is an archipelagic Senkyo owned by Yamatai in the Sea of Shinko in the northwestern waters of Marlakcor.
Morokoshi Kokudos (Yamatai)
Government: Hereditary Feudal Monarchy
Head of State: Tennō of Yamatai
Currency: Hansatsu, Koban, Nibuban, Ichibuban, Tsuho
The Morokoshi Kokudos the the collective term for the kokudos (provinces) of the Yamato Empire on Jiangshan, the western subcontinent of Marlakcor, taking up great portions of both Manzhou and Manzi, and two large islands between them.
The easternmost lands of the empire, the Provinces border Huaxia and Raimei to the east, and sharing maritime borders with Joseon to the north. It was first established as a result of the Yamato Invasions of Marlakcor (4010 AFZ – 4100), which in turn sparked the First Yamato-Huaxian War (4010 AFZ – 4019). The Third Yamato-Huaxian War (4100 AFZ – 4112) ended with the Morokoshi Kokudos' furthest northern and eastward expansion into the westernmost parts of the western continent, and resulted in the construction of the Great Wall of Manzhou, preventing any further expansion. Yamatai instead turned its attentions to the southern lands, and several wars with Siam over several generations led to the conquest of the entire southern portion of the western continent.
Some time after, the Morokoshi Kokudos then experienced an insurrection in the southeast by Yamato settlers, led by the Sanda clan, rivals of the Oda clan, which led to the Raimese War for Independence (4235 AFZ – 4245), and the establishment of the separate Empire of Raimei. The Morokoshi Kokudos remain at odds with Huaxia and Raimei, yet has managed to secure a relatively peaceful existence in Marlakcor.
Like the main empire in Wa, the Morokoshi Kokudos are divided into several kokudos ruled by clan Daimyo pledging fealty to the Tennō of Yamatai, and smaller ryoikis ruled by Shujins sworn to the Daimyo. Some clans and Daimyos are from Wa, whether by immigration or land grants. Other Daimyos, particularly the eastern ones, are more local compared to the clans of Wa, as the majority are families that cooperated, and even helped, the invading Yamato Imperial Armies during the Yamato Invasions of Marlakcor; many even adopted Yamato customs and traditions to varying extents.
Samui Shima (Yamatai)
Capital: Fuyumachi
Government: Imperial Appointed Magistracy
Head of State: Tennō of Yamatai
Head of Government: Sotoku
Legislature: High Council
Demonym: Samuio
Currency: Hansatsu, Koban, Nibuban, Ichibuban, Tsuho
Samui Shima is an island Senkyo owned by Yamatai in the Sea of Kori Bing. Residing in the far northern waters of Marlakcor, it is the northernmost land of the empire. Being so far north, Samui Shima is immensely cold.
Serica Provinciae (Rome)
Government: Imperial Appointed Viceroyalties
Head of State: Augustus of Rome
Heads of Government: Proconsuls & Vicaruses
Legislatures: none
Demonym: Serican (also others, varying by province)
Currency: Aureus, Denarius, Sestertius, Dupondius, As
Serica is the collective name of the is a colonies & provinces of the Roman Empire in Marlakcor, occupying a cluster of islands and a part of the mainland in eastern Marlakcor on the west side of the Sinolatin Sea. Serica shares borders with Huaxia to the north and west, and Zhonghua to the south in western Shenzhou, the central subcontinent. Via Qiu Island, Serica also shares maritime borders with the Holy City of Dong Long. And on Shayuwei Island, Serica borders the kingdom of the same name, which is now a suzerainty of the Roman Empire.
Serica occupies the island of Daludao (the easternmost island), most of the Island of Shengfen (the land closest to the mainland) save for the western peninsula and just beyond it, along with a cluster of islands in between them. Northward, it occupies the two southern peninsulas of Qiu Island, separated by territory still controlled by Huaxia. Serica also controls parts of the mainland just south of Shengfen, namely the Pingfang and Tuoyuan peninsulas and some lands just beyond it. But the mainland territories end at Mulan's Wall, which was built to stall any further Roman expansion into the mainland. Serica also occupies the northern portion of Shayuwei Island.
The island of Daludao was formerly known as the kingdom of the same name, which was a suzerainty of Huaxia following the Huaxian Wars of Conquest, Serica was established as a result of the Roman Conquest of Daludao.
Suisho (Yamatai)
Government: Hereditary Feudal Monarchy
Head of State: Tennō of Yamatai
Currency: Koban, Nibuban, Ichibuban, Tsuho
Suisho is the collective name of the easternmost lands of Wa and the empire proper in the western waters of Marlakcor. Suisho was also the name of one of the states of the Fourteen Kingdoms Period that preceded the Two Hundred Years' War. When the wars broke out, even Suisho was not spared the chaos and also fell apart during the Warring States Period. Suisho was the last lands to fall to Oda rule in the final stages of the Age of Conquest period before a period of peace ensued.
Suisho served as the launchpad for the mainland invasions that began the First Yamato-Huaxian War (4010 AFZ – 4019).
Capitals
The location of every country's capital. Note: the Suisho Islands, the Morokoshi Kokudos and the Serica Provinciae don't have capitals because they're subject to their owning countries' primary political systems.
Notes & Trivia
- The demonym for people from Marlakcor is "Marlakcan".
- Marlakcor is roughly divided into three subcontinents, Shenzhou, Liao, and Jiangshan. Shenzhou is the central, and largest, subcontinent divided between Huaxia, Zhonghua and Jingling. Liao is the northern subcontinent, fully controlled by Huaxia; and Jiangshan is the western continent, divided between Huaxia, Yamatai, and Raimei.
- Shenzhou is further divided into three regions: Zhongyuan, the land occupied by Huaxia; Dongnan, the land occupied by Zhonghua; and Conglin, the land occupied by Jingling and partially by Huaxia.
- The northwestern part of Dongnan, the part past the narrowest area of Zhonghua's territory, is sometimes referred to as Jing bu Xibei.
- Liao is further divided into east and western regions known as Yuan and Khitan respectively. They are divided at what is known as the Guixiong Corridor, the narrowest region of the subcontinent.
- Jiangshan is further divided into northern and southern regions known as Manzhou and Manzi respectively. They are divided at the Isthmus of Jeolm-eum, the narrowest point of the subcontinent.
- the body of water on the west side of the isthmus is known as Dalpaeng-i Bay, which is a part of the Yazuishou Sea further westward.
- Within the space between northern and southern Shenzhou is a body of water known as the Zhuhong Sea.
- The northern sea between Shenzhou and Jiangshan is known as the Zhongyang Sea, which deviates northward into the Sea of Udeung to the west and the Sea of Xaio to the east.
- The Sea of Udeung separates Jiangshan from Liao.
- The Sea of Xaio, followed by the Xiong Sea separate Shenzhou from Liao. The Sea of Xiao and the Xiong Sea are separated from each other by the Shumiao Strait, the narrowest point between them.
- The southern sea between Shenzhou and Jiangshan is known as the Conglin Sea.
- The Zhongyang Sea and the Conglin Sea are divided by what's known as the Yinghao Strait, the narrowest point between them.
- The island of Siam is sometimes considered part of Jiangshan, but modern cartographers still dispute this.
- Shenzhou is further divided into three regions: Zhongyuan, the land occupied by Huaxia; Dongnan, the land occupied by Zhonghua; and Conglin, the land occupied by Jingling and partially by Huaxia.