Sarcian Empire

The Sarcian Empire is a large imperial state centered in northwestern Achuirea, with Turazan and the Baudros peninsula as its heartlands, although its provinces extend far to the east from there along Achuirea’s northern coasts and southwards into Harumau. The Sarcian empire is a maritime power, with its strength in its fleet and sea trade: It also controls the island of Aumegaron and many other holdings in the Azarian Archipelago, where it is the dominant power, and maintains colonies across the Northern Ocean on the Thelbir coast. A large part of Taijuria is subject to its rule, and at times in the past it has extended its control over all of the great island, even forcing the lords of Thrommelport to submit, although that is not currently the case.
The Sarcian Empire was founded in 39 CV by Kerestes of Mimyran, a Phoacian prince driven into exile (or perhaps setting out for adventure) in the turmoil following the Great Cataclysm and the destruction of Qoss. According to the empire’s founding myths, he took to the sea with his household and loyal followers in forty ships and sailed east, rounding Taijuria and traversing the Azarian isles before he came to the Alabaster Coast. There he landed, subdued the archons of the coast and brought their cities to heel, and declared himself ruler of a new empire, establishing his capital in Tusuba, which is now called Sarcedon and is still the seat of the Imperial court.
The aristocracy and lordly classes of the Sarcian Empire are still of Phoacian blood to this day, although mingled with upper-caste Turzenes to a degree by long centuries of intermarriage with pre-existing local elites. The peasantry and serf caste, especially in the countryside and small towns outside the major cities, remain of solidly Achuirean race. The empire’s large slave population is a mix of Achuireans and Thelbirs, with the latter becoming more common over time as the bustling slave trade across the Northern Ocean has flourished under Sarcian naval dominance.
The Sarcian Empire is organized into a number of provinces, each under the authority of an imperial governor. There are several different ranks and types of governor, depending on the size and value of the province; a handful of provinces which are considered very important but lie far from the imperial heartland (such as Lesharea) are governed by viceroys who wield very broad powers and are considered to rule as direct personal representatives of the emperor.