Duchy of Crai Plea

The Duchy of Crai Plea is an Eastern Duchy in the Kingdom of Wermania. It is home to the Chuacians and borders the duchies of Aclium, Esmijan and Edrad. Through the duchy flow the Plea river, which the Duchy gets the latter part of its name from. To the North lie the Ferral Mountains and to the Southeast the Red Mountains, where the river Plea has its source. To the West lies the Plea Delta.

### **History**

#### **Early Imperial Era (-15.000 to -11.000)**

Around the year -15.000, the Empire of Crai Plea began conquering neighbouring tribes in the Plea Delta. The name 'Crai Plea' finds it's origin in this time period. 'Plea' of course refers to the river, and 'Crai' means 'Great' in old Crai Plean. Around -11.000, they conquered the entire river and surrounding areas.

#### **High Empire (-11.000 to -6.000)**

For 5.000 years, the Empire of Crai Plea stood uncontested as the greatest nation in the West. Around -10.000, it opened a limited trade with Ushen, which led to the rise of nations between the two, who taxed trade routes. Particularly Bruuckzell, Nagra and Esmijan profited from this trade.

#### **Aclian Refugee Crisis (-6.000 to -4.000)**

The rising power of Esmijan kicked out their rival tribe, the Aclians. The Aclian fled to seek protecction in the Empire of Crai Plea. At first, the Crai Pleans welcomed them gladly, but quickly, around a quarter of their Empire was Aclian. In -4.500, around half of them were Aclian. Having to take action, the Empire gathered an army and started forcing the Aclians out. The forced them North, near the Ferral Mountains, where they had to stay.

#### **Reforming the Empire (-4.000 to -2.500)**

There had to be reforms to have the Empire recover from the Aclian Refugee Crisis. The reforms were the following:

-Making the position of Emperor an election position to make sure no competent rulers would rule

-Building bridges and roads to connect the Empire

-Set up a new administration

To get necessary funds for these projects, they sold land to Aclium. A move they would later come to regret. By the year -3.000, most reforms were done, and the Empire wass stable again.

#### **Crisis of the Empire (-2.500 to -650)**

After the reforms it became clear that the position of Emperor became a more and mroe corrupt one. The Empire was plagued with coups and civil wars. The Aclians also regularly crossed the border to plunder the lands of the Empire. In -900, the Emperor and lots of nobles got into a battle with the Aclians and were all killed. The next election for the Emperor was won by Ferankin 'the Conquerer' Monkenarian. He returned the Empire to its former glory, and conquered back lands from the Aclians. Under his dynasty, Crai Plea was once again a stable, major player in Gatish.

#### **Silence before the storm (-650 to -500)**

After many generations of stable Monkenarian rule, the Empire learned of the Bruuckzellian conquests in the North. They send an envoy to broker a peace with the Bruuckzellians, which lasted untill -500. When in that year another envoy was sent to prolong the treaty, it was denied. A week later, Bruuckzellian troops crossed the border.

#### **Bruuckzellian invasion (-480 to -350)**

    The Bruuckzellian armies had a lot of trouble taking the capital of the Empire despite of their new elite roops and massive lines of spearmen. They then slowly took over the delta and moved up the river. In -350 the Empire of Crai Plea laid down their arms. The Imperial Era was officially at an end. Their Empire became a mere duchy of Wermania, yet the Imperial family was allowed to rule the duchy.

#### **Arthuria (33)**

In 33, the son of Duke Fredrick Monkenarian, Arthur, took a massive army and fleet to the New World and conquered a place that would later be renamed to Arthuria.