Allied Kingdoms of Nanhai

Official Seal

The **Alliance of Sovereign Kingdoms of the South Sea (同盟的主权王国上南海)**, more commonly called the **Allied Kingdoms of Nanhai (同盟国上南海)**, is a confederation of six sovereign kingdoms which are united in their interests and foreign policy. They have originated by seperating from the Liu Song Empire, following a rebellion, but they still have great trade relations with the Chinese.

The kingdoms are diverse in culture and technology. Together, they are a part of the Palawan Trade Organisation.

## History of Nanhai

As Emperor Shao of Liu Song was murdered in 425 AD by his administrators for incompetence, power struggle erupted in the capital of Jiankang (Nanjing). The empires grip of its peripheral regions in the south and of its islands weakened. Five heroes of the oppressed peoples used the turmoil and declared themselves Kings of their lands. The Kingdoms of Zhujiang (Pearlriver), Leizhou (Thunderland), Qiongzhou (Jadeland), Dongmin (Eastmin) and Gaoshan (Highland) subsequently formed an alliance to reduce the risk of being reconquored by their powerful neighbour. Shortly after forming, the Alliance joined the Palawan Trade Organisation.

In 427 AD the kingdoms were visited by seafarers from Europe. Administrator Kwan Mei joined them with a few junks as a guide, but split away in 433 AD when the seafarers became pirates of the Arabian sea. A year later, an exploration fleet of Nanhai and Madurai vessels departed to visit this Europe. They arrived there six years later in 440 AD and began exploring the continent, lead by Kwan Mei.

Meanwhile, the last rebellions in the Chinese Empire are struck down. Wu refugees flood into the kingdoms. They are resettled to the island of Benzhou in 438 AD where they proclaim the Benzhou Kingdom in 452 AD with King Zaon as it's sovereign.

In 440 the new capital of Yuejin is founded. Efforts begin to build a new kingdom for the nothern Nam people. The maritime silk road is established.

In 447 extensive trade relations are built up with the Kingdom of the Sun on Benzhou.

King She dies in 455 in the high age of 69. He was buried at sea in a nightly ceremony accompanied by hundreds of boats and thousands of torches. His successor is King Cheuk, who is the husband of She's daughter Yi. King Muwo dies two years later. His succession is decided by combat trial between the strongest warriors of the mountain tribes, of which King Karrn comes out victorious.

Singapura is founded in 457. It's construction is helped by the Palawan which it supports as an anchor of the Maritime Silk Route. The city is elevated to a kingdom twenty years later.

The War of Ao Thai is waged from 459 to 465. As a result, the cost of the Kingdom of Siam and it's capital of Ayutthaya are occupied. Siamese pillagers ravage Qiongzhou and kill King Duc Tai and his entire family. Following the will of the people, their liberator Tsang Siu Ka is crowned as the new king, but without choosing a king name.

King Zhen of Zhujiang dies in 469 and is succeeded by his son who is crowned as King Yuen. Following his last will, a Taoist temple is built in Yuejin under the name "Grand House of The Way". Animists oppose the idea as it favours the religions over their beliefs. After heavy protests and some riots in Panyu, Animist shrines are also erected in Yuejin. The largest shall honour the Snake.

A few months later the Kingdom of Jiaozhou is declared by the Nam people in Longbian with King Sai Anh as it's ruler. It immediately joins the kingdom alliance.

While Princess Consort Yi of Dongmin is on travels, a political crisis erupts in the kingdom. King Cheuk is outed as incompetent. A year later he chokes during dinner and was possibly poisoned. His wife usurpes the throne as Queen Yi.

With the decleration of Singapura as a kingdom in 477 the Eight Kingdoms are completed. In the same year, King Ma dies in old age and is succeeded by his grandson King Hyunh.

The Thai-Nanhai crisis of 491 leads to Ayutthaya and the Siamese coast being returned to Siam and the Wu people being forced out of their land on Honshu. King Zaon refuses to leave his land and commits suicide. The Benzhou Kingdom of the Rising Sun ends, but under the new King Kuno the Wu people sail south and settle the Ryukyu islands where they declare the Ryukyu Kingdom of the Glazed Dragon.

## The Kingdoms

#### Zhujiang Kingdom of Pearlriver

Ruled by King Yuen from Panyu. Populated by the Nam people in majority and the Han people in the city. Culturally close to the Empire with mainly central chinese traditions. Panyu is the largest city at the Southern Sea and one of the largest ports of the world, famous for it's rich culture. Zhujiang is also the location of the alliance capital Yuejin which lies 53 Li north of Panyu. The founder of Zhujiang was King Zhen.

#### Leizhou Kingdom of Thunder

Ruled by King Hyunh from Xuwen. Populated by the Hlai or Luo people as farmers and the Min people as citizens. Both cultures heavily tattoo themselves and pray to animist gods. Founded by the longhaired warrior King Ma.

#### Qiongzhou Kingdom of Jade

Ruled by King-General Tsang Siu Ka from Qiongshan on the island of Hainan. Also populated by Hlai and Min, so culturally very close to Leizhou. Also geographically close as both capitals are on the opposite side of the strait. It was founded by King Duc Tai who was killed by siamese pillagers.

#### Dongmin Kingdom of Meadow

Ruled by Queen Yi from Niaosung on the island of Taiwan. Populated by the Min people (which give the kingdom it's name) and tribes of the plain. Partially matriarchal in that the family name is inherited by women and men are married into a clan, but political power still lies in male hands. Marriage is only arranged after a man has completed his military service to the tribe. Contrary to the mainland millet is used instead of rice as staple crop. Houses are built on stilts and each family own a barn of livestock. Headhunting is common practice of warriors. Like elsewhere, tattooing is expected and animist gods are revered, especially the snake. The Kingdom was founded by King She, who was succeeded by his daughters husband. King Cheuk was later rumored to be murdered for incompetence and his wife took the throne as Queen Yi.

#### Gaoshan Kingdom of the Mountains

Ruled by King Karrn from Lalu on the island of Taiwan. That capital is not actually a city, but a ceremonial village on an island in a holy lake high in the mountains. Populated only by mountain tribes, so the tribal structure is strong and the influence of the king relatively small. Culturally close to the plain tribes but with important differences. There is not much agriculture, and still a lot of hunting and gathering. The mountain tribes are also a lot more brutal and take great pride in the headhunting tradition. They were seen as savages by the Empire, but in the Alliance of Kingdoms they stand as equals. The first ruler was King Muwo. His succession was handeled in a competition.

#### Ryukyu Kingdom the Glazed Dragon

Ruled by King Kuno from Okinawa Island Naniwa. Populated by the native Liu people and the immigrated Wu people. The Wu have been displaced from their homeland in China and have settled around Naniwa in Kansai on Honshu for forty years alongside the Wa people before being forced out from their land again. The Kingdom was founded as Benzhou Kingdom of the Rising Sun under King Zaon who commited suicide upon being forced out his land.

#### Jiaozhou Kingdom of the Crossing

Ruled by King Sai Anh from Longbian. It is the largest Kindom by area, but sparcly populated. Most of the land is jungle and mountains. The natives are the Nam people.

#### Singapura Kingdom of Lions

Ruled by King-Magistrate Hong from the city of Singapura. The port is an important anchor point for the Maritime Silk Road.

## Notable People

King She of Dongmin (386-455)

King Duc Tai of Qiongzhou (388-465)

King Ma of Leizhou (393-477)

King Muwo of Gaoshan (397-457)

King Zhen of Zhujiang (400-469)

Kwan Mei, Scholar and Explorer (410-?)

King Cheuk of Dongmin (415-471)

King Zaon of Benzhou (422-491)

King Karrn of Gaoshan (425-?)

Princess Consort Yi of Dongmin (428-?)

King Sai Anh of Jiaozhou (435-?)

King Yuen of Zhujiang (440-?)

King Hyunh of Leizhou (452-?)

King Kuno of Ryukyu (456-?)