The Aenean Empire

The Aenean Empire is a sovereign nation located in Iradeth.
It is the largest in size of landmass and second in population. Within its
borders, it contains only three provinces—each ruled by the same families that
controlled the territories as Illian Principalities.

Ten years ago, following the death of Proximus Hadrian three
Princes banded together to declare their sovereignty from their Illian masters
in Nova Lumia. This, of course, sparked military conflict, starting in the now
Aenean capitol—Fos Theikos. Though bloody, the conflict was short lived as the
Illian Empire was still recovering from the destabilization caused by the Vendilyrian
Schism, resulting in its inability to maintain its hold on the region.

### **War of Independence:**

An alliance of three Princes that governed principalities under
the Illian Imperium formed following the death of Proximus Hadrian. Using the
resources their massive territories allotted them, they declared war on the
Illian Empire when their armies seized the city of Fos Theikos, which was the
center of Illian influence in the region. Unbeknownst to Nova Lumia, each
Prince had spent considerable time prior to their declaration of war vetting
legion soldiers in their Principalities out of the legion outposts there that
did not have a familial investment in the region.

Illian’s responded with military action as best it could, dispatching
several legions from the mainland South to address the rebellion. No help was
given by the Proximian Temple in this endeavor as the Aeneans had done nothing
to indicate heresy in their treachery. Alone, Nova Lumia tried to retain
control but lacked the manpower or the resources to do so effectively. Because
of the destabilization caused by the Vendilyrian Schism and the severe losses
the Legion faced trying to maintain the Imperium’s other losses over the last
forty years, it was not able to dedicate enough manpower without risking other
territories considered at the time to be more vital.

The war was short lived, lasting only a year and seeing
three battles. Each was a success for the Aeneans who inflicted massive losses
on the Illian Legion which operated under the command of inexperienced
officers. The rebels, however, were not without heavy losses of their own.

### **Government:**

The government is an imperial oligarchy ruled by the heads
of the three most prominent families in the Empire. Together this triumvirate forms
the Vasilias Palasi. As a council, they decide on all domestic policy with a
simple two-thirds vote. Foreign policy is left to a single member; the Polemos,
who is selected by unanimous decision to represent the Aenean Empire in all diplomatic
proceedings excluding declarations of war which require a unanimous vote by the
council.

The Vasilias Palasi carries no military authority as the empire
has not military of its own. Instead, it relies on the militaries of the three
individual provinces to enforce its policy. While carrying no technical
authority, it does hold inferred command over the three militaries it relies upon through a shared fear that alone they would not be able to resist re-invasion
by the Illian Legion.

This rocky balance, and lack of a central government that is
truly in control over the Aenean Empire has led to significant struggles in
establishing itself as a new nation and providing stabilization to the Provinces
that form it.

### **Provinces:**

Of the three provinces that make up the Aenean Empire, the
largest is Argolis which controls the entire Southern half of the empire.
Though massive, it is plagued by the largest stretch of territory used by the
nomadic Centauri Califate which prevents Los it from growing beyond its need of the
Vasilias Palasi and the other two provinces. Its Southern border is shared with
Vendilyr, while its Eastern border places it beside the Loxodonian Khanate.
Asticus Sevona serves as Argolis’ capital and contains the largest citadel in Iradeth
outside of Nova Indomitus or the imperial capitol Fos Theikos.

The second largest province is Verodonum which shares a border
with Canaan land-locks Nova Indomitus from travel outside of the river it
straddles. Slavers from the basalt city are frequent visitors to its rolling
hills and sweeping plains, looking for easy pickings among the struggling
province that lacks the resources to risk damaging the economy of the city and
its Tribune. The Garden city; Kipos serves as the provincial capital of
Verodonum.

Messambria is the third province, and the only of the three
to have achieved notable stability since the Schism, and continue to improve
since the empire’s inception. Though it is the smallest of the three it only
shares a border with the Loxodonian Khanate and the Agrio Dasos, meaning it is
relatively unbothered. The small mountain range that lies within its borders
contains the largest gold vein discovered in Iradeth outside of Canaan, leading
to its incredible wealth. At the base of this mountain range lie the ruins of the old Aenean capital, Posmenos, which was destroyed by Alexander and Azazel at the end of the Aevum Ira. It is now a field of glass surrounded by a small handful of ruins. The current day capital of Messambria is Chrysos.

### **Culture and Religion:**

Culturally, the Aenean Empire population is predominantly
human. While the territory’s time as part of the Illian Imperium has led to some
level of racial diversity it is still not a significant piece of their culture.
The people here harbor heavy resentment for both Illian and Vendilyr. Illian,
for allowing the region to destabilize which greatly affected the lives of the
people and Vendilyr for causing the Schism to begin with.

In the last several years, a large portion of the population
has started to harbor xenophobic beliefs as a result of their distaste for the
Northern counterparts and Vendilyr to the South. The Proximian Temple has made
efforts to prevent these beliefs from spreading, but thus far it has been unsuccessful
in that endeavor.

Religiously, the Empire remains true to the Proximian Faith
and all three Provinces have maintained a lack of religious freedom from their
time as principalities. Outside of Illian, Aenean boasts the second largest
population of the Faithful in the world and thus the second largest source of
income for the Temple making it an area of great focus for Nova Carthago and
the Proximus Vitem Mortem.