Wastiôn Dynasty

瓦斯蒂昂

The flag of the Wastiôn Dynasty.

The **Wastiôn Dynasty**, officially known as the **Great Wastiôn Dynasty**, was a country in the south-eastern continent. It was the second Western Zhanun Dynasty & set the southern border for the modern Zhanun state. The Wastiôn saw the beginning of a cultural boom, as well as the first diplomatic contact with another state.

## Etymology

The term Wastiôn comes from the family name of the Wastiôn autarchs who ruled over the Western Wastiôn Dynasty prior to the succession to the role as the Great Wastiôn. However, over time the Wastiôn name has been appropriated as the nickname for the territories west of the Héliú River, and even at one point, the river itself.

## History

### Early History

Following the succession of the Manûlo Dynasty in 243 AZM, now-Empress Wastiôn Zand sought to cement her power & connect her territories, and over the course of her reign (243-79 AZM) would connect the capital city of Chéngqiáng to the rest of the western territories. This idea of eastern expansionism would become a core part of imperial foreign policy during the 3rd & 4th centuries AZM, with the following 3 emperors all continuing to fulfil Zand's goal of the unification with the Eastern Zhanun peoples. While expansion halted at the eastern plateaus, the ideology that the Western & Eastern Zhanun (also known as Navran) peoples should unite into a single state has remained a sentiment that continues into the modern day.

### The Conquest of Navor, Xzabun & Rancia Deals

The 4th century marked the cementing of Wastiôn power & the continuation of the eastern expansion following the Great Mourning (279-299) for Empress Zand, who was hailed as a heroine who brought a once-crumbling country to international prominence. Her impact on the ideals of the state eventually gave rise to Zandism during the later years of the dynasty, an ideology based around expansionism in her name.

The century began with the Xzabun Deal in 303, an agreement between the Xzabun tribes which gave the Wastiôn territory in exchange for trade, which was vital for the people on the plateaus. This was followed by the Navor Conquest in 331, wherein the Pricipality of Navor was violently subjugated into the dynasty's claims following a 4-year war. Navor became a prefecture & later a province of the empire in the 6th century AZM. Lastly came the Rancia deal in 344, which made the Kingdom of Rancia a territory of the dynasty, ending the 101-year quest to push the border as far eastwards as they could. Once they reached the main mass of the plateaus, they decided to stop pushing in favour of a stronger natural border.

### Cultural Boom

The 5th century marked the beginning of a cultural golden age, with legendary writers such as Dên Xaodun publishing works of literature such as *Works in the Art of Zandism* & *The Navor Question*. The dynasty also became the regional capital of cartography, with people such as Yeng Lin producing some of the first comprehensive maps of the southeast, alongside Luangese artists. The Zhanun people began to spread outside of the dynasty into foreign lands including the Tanûleng & Yua Dynasty, and those who returned brought back new customs & traditions which were engrained into local culture, including the Luangese script, which evolved & eventually replaced ancient Zhanun scripts with the modernised Zhuni script.

### Ithildae Vassaldom & Diplomatic Contact

With the cultural boom continuing in the background, the 6th century marked the beginning of the rise of the nation state, in which many tribal/ethnic groups formed the first basic semi-democracies. Amidst the chaos that came from this, the dynasty welcomed its first formal vassal, Ithildae, in 553, followed by the first diplomatic contact with Arcallos in 554. While no diplomatic relations were finalised, the moment stood as an evolution of imperial foreign policy from expansionism to economics.

### Civil War & Collapse

The year following diplomatic contact with a neighbouring state, the dynasty would be undermined & usurped by the House Dên in the western regions. Shortly after the announcement of the formation of the Western Dên Dynasty, who had the goal of succeeding the failing dynasty. Conflicting interests in the eastern & northern regions of the empire resulted in them defecting, leaving the Wastiôn with nothing but the capital of Chéngqiáng by the end of 556. Wishing for the capital to not fall into ruin through battle, Emperor Xhen willingly surrendered in 557 AZM, and lived the rest of his life in exile in the Tanuleng.

## Government

The government of the Wastiôn Dynasty was an absolute monarchy, where all affairs of the state must be passed through the head of state for ratification.

**Emperor/Empress -** The Emperor/Empress was the head of state. In government, the Emperor has near absolute power, getting the final say on laws, pardons, judicial sentences, honorary distinctions, among other things. The Advisory Council & Provincial Council are both headed by them.

**Emperor/Empress' Concubine -** In Zhanun culture, especially among the upper class, it was more custom to never be officially married to your significant other. Hence, the Concubine acted as more as a deputy to the head of state, yet while the Emperor/Empress was available held no true political power.

**Advisory Council -** The Advisory Council was comprised of the Emperor's most trusted individuals, tasked with giving advice on decisions made by the Emperor before they are ratified. The Advisory Council was made up of 8 members.

**Provincial Council -** The Provincial Council was comprised of the leaders of the provinces of the empire. They act more as a 'Lower Council' that addresses issues and request decisions be made by the Emperor/Empress. The Provincial Representatives acted as voices for the people to the sovereign, who may fulfil their requests.