Kingdom of Lensalia

The **Kingdom of Lensalia** was a major regional power in south-eastern Helinska from the early 6th century until the end of the 13th Lysellic-Varrenescene War, when it integrated with the Lemetiate of Airolia. Contemporarily, most historians assert that the intensive Lensalian-Airolian cooperation, as opposed to potential resistance, was necessary for Airolia's eventual expansion into the continent.

## History

### Ancient history and the Rèregen (c. 3000-100 BCE)

Lensalia traced its roots to the Kaaru, a multiethnic tribal confederation along the River Chêne and Chêne Basin that eventually evolved into several Bronze Age kingdoms including the Rèregen Empire, a proto-Oçidilan confederation, though further conquests of proto-Akaric lands and the Central Aquensis region centralized the empire. Few exact records exist of this period other than myth and oral history, so much of the current historical consensus on this topic is uncertain at best.

### Rèregen fragmentation (c. 100-4 BCE)

By sometime around 100 BCE, the ruling dynasty of the Rèregen had died out, leaving the empire split between its generals. One of these generals, Ragnedemer, would inherit the lands roughly corresponding to that of the ancient Kaaru. Several succession wars were waged in this time period, both between and within the fragmented Rèregen states.

### Ragnedemer dynasty (c. 0 BCE-170)

Under Ragnedemer, wars with other splinters and rebellious tribes cemented the existence of a proto-Lensalian state. By year 60, Ragnedemer II had succeeded his father and began violently centralizing the tribalistic confederation that then made up his lands. He would perish sometime in the 110s during a scuffle with rebel forces and be succeeded by his brother, Hughes the Terrible, who continued the Ragnedemer policy of centralization. Hughes would partially succeed at this but then die of illness in the 140s, leading to his uncle, Hynek the Gracious, ascending to the throne as the final Ragnedemer ruler.

Under Hynek, who created and convened the *Chäwi*, an ancient Kaari word for meeting, the Ragnedemer lands became an elective monarchy, drawing from Kaari and Oçidilan tribal tradition that had popular assemblies to elect leadership.

### Early Lensalia (c. 180-500)

In the 180s, the Lensal tribe was elected to the Kingship, naming the realm 'Lensalia' to reflect this new change. For the next 260 years, the Lensal tribe would rule Lensalia until their eventual peaceful deposition by the Ald tribe.

Early Lensalia spent most of its time consolidating internally and advancing technologically.

## Culture

The culture of the Kingdom of Lensalia was predominantly Oçidilan, with partial to significant Airolian influence by the end of the 14th and beginning of the 15th centuries. Oral record keeping and storytelling was incredibly prominent for all of recorded Lensalian history, meaning that a majority of the known facts regarding Lensalia come from Airolian or foreign authors.

While initially very decentralized and based on tribal divisions--the origin of the electoral monarchy--the centralization under Ragnedemer II and Hughes the Terrible created a unique form of feudalism to replace it.

## Religion

Lensalian religion was, as with many of its neighbors, polytheistic. While numerous different religions were practiced among the Lensalian populace, Airolian authors noted a "general cohesion" between them and "shared tenets". Strikingly to many Airolian contemporaries, it was incredibly common for Lensalian citizens to identify with more than one religion, leading to a rise of personal deities and shrines to the spirits of deceased relatives.

As Airolia's influence in the region grew, so did Lianis Liamism. By 1404, it is estimated that roughly 60% of the Lensalian populace either followed solely Liamism, many tenets of it, or certain deities of the religion. After the incorporation, many Lensalian deities were ascended to the Court of the Venerated Ones.