Kingdom of Qästelo

The Kingdom of Qastelo, sometime around 200 AB. It's most prominent neighbors are shown in green (Matria), and red (Crestopolis)

### Government

Monarchy

The Kingdom of Qästelo was a polity in Matria founded in 160 AB by the Balderlinian general Esaui. The state lasted until its sudden destruction in 252 AB.

## Etymology

The name "Qästelo" was not widely used to refer to the region prior to the formation of the kingdom. The name is of Crestopolian origin and phonology, and is believed to have been coined by Esaui himself, seeking to form a cohesive identity for his new nation.

## History

### Background

The region of northern Nerdensburg was one of the areas more dramatically affected by Ravacinian rule. As a center for trade and commerce under the state, Matria faired far better than its neighbors to the south. With Ravacin came a revitalization of Matrian institutions. In particular, many Crestopolians migrated and introduced their ways to the area, including the introduction of Selenism into the region. Crestopolians disproportionately represented the merchant and upper class, although many native Matrians also grew to become very wealthy. For these reasons, Matrians were less concerned with asserting their independence, especially given their generous amounts of autonomy granted from Ravacuse.

### Establishment

Independence came in 160 AB, as the disintegration of the empire severely intensified. Esaui, a general who served as part of the Ravacinian invasion of the Cyanic confederation, grew increasingly frustrated with the empire, blaming his failure in the war on the incompetence's and lack of support from Ravacuse, who he felt was increasingly disinterested in reclaiming the unruly Cyanic heartland. Esaui eventually mutinied, taking those under his command to the region, and establishing himself as duke of the region. Initially, his territory occupied a small portion of land surrounding his capital at Orisi.

Esaui quickly grew his polity, expanding it rapidly over the course of a decade. Esaui frequently thought of his realm as a second, revitalized Ravacuse, and implemented many Ravacinian principles in his Qästelo experiment. Esaui was a noted apologist of Balderlane and his legacy, and viewed the increasingly weak Ravacin state as a perversion of the original institution established by Balderlane. In this sense, Esaui effectively saw himself as the true torch-bearer of Balderlane's state. As time progressed, his opinion of Ravacin deteriorated. By his death in 184, he was a sworn enemy of Ravacuse.

### Civil War

Upon his death, his realm was split between his two sons. His firstborn, Salin Maviha, occupied much of the north. While his second-born, Wen Maviha of Orisi, occupied much of the south and inner mountain regions. The two existed under a fragile peace for about five years. Combined, they fought off an invasion from Matria and a rebellion from the Har people. While the two were similar in land area, the south had more people and better infrastructure. The south was dominated by Cyans and the Har, while the north was occupied by Salamandrans and Lazhans. The two monarchs slowly assimilated into their various cultures, although both still retained vestigial elements of their Crestopolian upbringings. Regardless, Crestopolians continued to be dispraportionately employed and favored with the courts of the two kings.

Relations broke down after the invasion from Matria, and eventually culminated into war, as both kings saw a fractured kingdom as unacceptable, both sought to reunify it under their banner. Eventually, Wen won and reunified the kingdom. Wen chose to spare his brother, refusing to execute him and leaving him under house arrest for the remainder of his life.

### Reunification

Reunified in 189 AB, Wen sought on continuing the work his father had began. He made minor incursions into Har territory and north into Clementine. Wen's work as monarch would be more concerned with internal development rather than expansion, although he did do the latter as well. He constructed many Selenite temples, including the famous Rostello Temple. Wen would import a large bureaucracy from Crestopolis to manage his realm. Under his reign, Qästelo political ambitions were reshaped significantly. Being less concerned with conquest and preserving their Ravacinian origins, Wen perused to reconcile his relationship under the late Ravacinian state, to middling success. After the Baldur Dynasty was overthrown in Ravacin in 199 AB, the First Kingdom of Crestopolis was proclaimed. Wen supported the revolution, and eventually grew to become a reliable friend and ally of the fledgling Crestopolian state.

Wen Maviha died in 219 at age 58. His daughter Ysia Maviha then ascended the throne. Ysia defended another invasion from Matria, which the two states would continuously be in a struggle for control of the Har region until her death. Ysia would significantly expand the royal palace and the court. Ysia would implement multiple policies in attempt to revitalize trade and commerce, with mixed success.