Benghezakhan

An emirate in the Skahazadans, ruled by Emir Tiadara II Zakarya from the city of Markesh. The country's flag is a field of orange and white, descending. 
Benghezakhan is situated in the central part of the Skahazadani coast of the Pagan Sea. It is bordered by the Cyrenian Mountains to the east, and the rest of the Eunisian Mountain Belt to the south. To the west, an arid steppe forms a borderland to Vaslor. The country also controls the Vasareen Peninsula, which borders Vaslor and Volubis. Benghezakhan consists of vast arid grasslands and plains, home to nomadic tribes which often come into conflict, while most of its populated settlements are centred around the coast. Most of the land is barren, cut by irregular streams that only flow after rainfall, leading to the country's prominent nomadic lifestyle. 
== Culture ==
Benghek people are predominately Amareed and most belong to the Urubuhl Faith. Typically, they have copper-toned skin and almond-shaped eyes, while black hair is most common, often growing fast, thick and wild. Although some cities along the coast, or in the mining settlements of the south, have adopted lifestyles closer to those of other Skahazadani regions, most of the population are nomadic, gathered in fierce warrior tribes, who roam the plains and grasslands on sturdy, fast horses, as well as Sylozi striped horses.
== Economy ==
Benghezakhan is not an economically strong country and the wealth disparity is greater here than in most of the Skahazadans. Their biggest exports are silver, of which they are the biggest exporter in all of Skahaz, and slaves, which they sell to the Gardens of the Ayyubid Emirate, but otherwise, they are quite reliant on neighbouring countries for basic goods.
== Administrative Divisions ==
Most of the Benghek lands are barren, traversed by nomadic tribes, many of which lay claim to vast, overlapping and contested landmasses, but without any easily identifiable natural borders, these divisions are constantly shifting. Currently, the Emir only recognizes four pasharates: 
* Markesh, ruled by Emir Tiadara II Zakarya from the city of Markesh
* Mareed, ruled by Sinistra Foniir from the city of Mareed
* Vasareen, ruled by Bayan ad Altaiiya from the town of Altaiiya
* Cabal, ruled by Dalanzagda Vardokarr from the town of Cabal
== History ==
At the beginning of recorded history, the ancient city of Maracacar, where Markesh stands today, was the seat of the Maracacan Empire, the dominant civilization of the ancient world, ruling much of the coasts of the Pagan Sea before the emergence the Urubuhls in the 7th century. The Maracacar were formidable warriors and much of the early developments within ships, warfare, and weaponry are credited to them. They annexed Hedjaz around 150 years before our time, when the Maracacan Emperor married the Warrior Queen Neudessa, and continued to expand across the sea, conquering large regions in the Free Cities and Chorene.
However, in the early 7th century, the Urubuhl armies had begun to stir in the east, unified under The Prophetess. In 636, the Urubuhls decisively defeated the Maracacan forces in Hedjaz and established the Emirate of Rahusha. Once firm Urubuhl control had been established of the region, the Rahusha Emir turned towards the foreign lands west of Hedjaz. In 670, an Urubuhl army led by Safar the Sorcerer entered Maracacar by land and established the first Urubuhl town in the region. Safar's army was defeated by an alliance of Amareed forces. In 682, Safar resumed his conquest, beat the Amareed and Maracacan forces and allegedly cast an immensely powerful and destructive magic which tore down the city's walls of Maracacar, dried out the Maracacan river, and caused the waters to rise and swallow the rest of the city. In military triumph, he continued westward, eventually reaching the Levanthian Sea and proclaimed that the Urubuhls had conquered the World.
During the fall of the Rahusha Emirate in the early 8th century and the subsequent slow decline of its successor, the Rifahn Emirate, the emerging local aristocracy was growing increasingly resentful of the distant Emir's interference in local matters. Revolts arose among Amareeds of Syloz Safali and threatened to destabilize Hedjazi power over the region, which the Emir was unable to secure.
=== Early Benghek Rule ===
With the establishment of the Caelyan Kingdom in the west began a slow withdrawal of Hedjazi from the west, and they left the region in the hands of a local Amareed tribe, the Bengheks. For a time, the region flourished. Aqueducts were installed to promote agriculture and commercial trade routes across the Pagan Sea were improved. A prosperous economy led to a refined and luxurious court life in Markesh and several grand palaces were constructed. Still politics in the region was shaky at best and the Hedjazi rulers continued to demand tribute payments. In 984, Emir Mansa challenged the rule of the Hedjazi throne, but after his death in 1015, a lengthy era of civil wars and political confusion broke out and the land disintegrated into small warring tribal states, which lasted until the 11th century.
=== Establishment of the Emirate ===
After a long civil strife in the land of Syloz Safali, the last Emir of the Amareed Emirate, Tiadara Zakarya, was chased from Razaban, and eventually conquered Markesh, settling herself in the region, from where she began to establish the new Emirate of Benghezakhan. 
In the late 13th century, Benghezakhan experienced a rising prosperity, mainly due to renewed trade with Magnia and with the threat of the Golden Horde, many talented Urubuhls and Menkhu craftsmen immigrated to Benghezakhan. Education was improved and extensive roadwork began, more closely connecting cities and countryside. New mines were established in the Eunisian Belt and a better system of regulating the metal value of coinage and the minting of new coins emerged. For a while, Benghezakhan was at the forefront of western Skahazadani culture and commerce. 
Responding to their growing power, Syloz Safali attempted to conquer Benghezakhan. From their naval base at Altaiiya, they launched several successful attacks and seized the town of Mareed in 1338, before managing to conquer Markesh in 1342. However, the following year, a revolt of local tribes ended any hopes of taking the mainland. Tiadara's son Alexander allied with Volubis and managed to expel the Sylozi. When they attempted to retreat, they were cut off near Astentina and suffered a crushing defeat, pinned between the forces of the Astentine-Benghek coalition, attacking from both sides. The remaining Sylozi forces withdrew entirely and was forced to give up the town of Altaiiya.
=== Economic Decline ===
Benghezakhan continued to rise in power, along with neighbouring Volubis, and became a bigger and bigger threat to Syloz Safali. However, in the mid 14th century, the region went into a rapid economic decline with severe droughts and famine. The countryside became depopulated as agriculture became increasingly unfruitful, which in turn led to further decline in trade, as traders began to prefer Volubis. The country shifted from agriculture to manufactures and mining and the overwhelming population of poor people were forcedly moved to form new urban sprawls around the major mines of the country in an attempt to boost the economy. Even so, the country is in sharp economic decline, while corsair activity has begun to take over the coastline.
Category:Countries
Category:Skahazadans