Cleomaic kings

The Cleomaic Kings was the ruling dynasty of Hedjaz for nearly 300 years until the Maracacan Empire took control of the region. Although originally a foreign power, the early Cleomaic Kings respected and adopted Hedjazi culture, customs, and religions. It became a tradition for all male rulers of the dynasty to take the name Cleo, while female rulers preferred Cleodessa or Qadimea. The Cleomaic kings had a custom of marrying their sisters and ruling jointly with their spouses, making Hedjaz politics confusingly incestuous and the ruling house increasingly feeble.

## Cleomaic Rule

### Height of the Kingdom

After King Cleo I, it became a tradition for all male rulers of the dynasty to take the name Cleo, while female rulers preferred Cleodessa or Qadimea. The Cleomaic kings had a custom of marrying their sisters and ruling jointly with their spouses, making Hedjaz politics confusingly incestuous and the ruling house increasingly feeble.

When Qadimea I, the sister and wife of Cleo III, and their son were murdered in a dynastic dispute, Cleo declared war on the Maracacan Empire. Cleo marched triumphantly into the heart of the Maracacan Empire, as far as Kardunyas, while his fleets in the Pagan Sea made fresh conquests as far north as the Gulf of Gabal. The victory marked the zenith of Cleomaic power. Hedjazi fleets controlled most of the Vaspukars and the rest of his reign saw an influx of literature and scholarship and the establishment of several great libraries and temples.

### Decline of the Cleomaic Kings

Contrary to his father, Cleo IV was a weak king, controlled by royal favourites, and though the country successfully defended itself against several attacks on their eastern border, a priest named Hugronator led native Hedjazi in a successful revolt and proclaimed himself Varshahari, ruling half the country for over 20 years until his death. He was succeeded by his son Ankarmaris, whose forces nearly drove the Cleomaics out of the country until the revolutionaries were finally defeated by Cleo IV’s forces, 185 years before our time.

After Cleo IVs death, a series of civil wars and feuds between the members of the Cleomaic dynasty started and lasted for over a century. His son, Cleo V, was slain in battle, and when his five-year-old son, Cleo VI, died of unknown ailments, the rule passed to his infant brother, Cleo VII. Soon after, however, his uncle, Philometor, killed his young nephew, seized the throne, and as Cleo VIII, proved himself a cruel tyrant.

After his passing, he left the kingdom to his wife, Cleodessa III and her son Cleo IX. The young king was driven out by his mother, who reigned as sole monarch until he returned after 19 years to gain the throne, which he retained until his death 8 years later. His cousin, Cleo X, was lynched by the mobs of Qadimenes after murdering his stepmother, who was also his cousin, aunt, and wife. His successor was immediately driven out of the city, leaving the kingdom to his ten-year-old son and seventeen-year-old daughter, Cleo XI and Neudessa who reigned as husband and wife until Cleo XI’s death.

The death of Cleo X marked the total demise of Cleomaic power, as the Kings were pushed from Hedjaz by the Maracacan Empire.