Dên Dynasty

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The flag of the Dên Dynasty.

## Geography

Core territories of the Dên Dynasty shown in dark green. The Xzabun Dynasty shown in green, with territory claimed but not controlled shown in light green.

## Founding

### Succeeded by

Six States Period* Southern Wat Dynasty
* Hostï Dynasty

The **Dên Dynasty**, officially known as the **Great Dên Dynasty** or the **Late Dên Dynasty**, was a country in the south-eastern continent. It was the third & final Western Zhanun Dynasty & the last unified state of the Western Zhanun realm. The Dên saw the extinction of the southeast's elven population, as well as the first state religion, Tumecipocu, being adopted & spread throughout the Zhanun realm.

## Etymology

The term 'Dên' comes from the family name of House Dên, a long line of famous scholars, philosophers & authors who helped shape Zhanun culture. Their books & texts take many ideas from Luangese texts, including those of self-determination. The term has also been used in connection to the cultural boom (5th-7th century AZM) which has been known as the 'Dên Era' or 'The Dên Golden Age'. Despite originally claiming the western territories upon breaking away, the Dên actually originate in the eastern territories, with some even believing that they are Navran (or Eastern Zhanun) of origin.

## History

### Early History

Following the succession of the Wastiôn Dynasty in 557 AZM, life remained relatively the same. The civil war had caused little damage thanks in part to the defection of the majority of the provinces of the empire before any fighting had begun. Cultural reform was in order however, & over the next 28 years of Dên Sho's reign the Dên Dynasty adopted the religion of Tumecipocu & began spreading it across the Zhanun realm with missionaries. By the end of the 6th century the religion had an estimated 63,000 practitioners in the region.

### Zhanun-Elven Genocide

Dên Sho's successor, Dên Lan, was a staunch opposer of the treaties which the elven populations of their northern vassal had attempted to impose on the dynasty during its rise, and among other blatantly racist beliefs, wished to cleanse the region of the elven population which had migrated from the Tanuleng hundreds of years ago. This began in 626 with a state-sponsored slander campaign against the elven population lasting roughly 150 days, with the call on that last day for the peoples of the nation to take up arms & *'cleanse our valleys of its core sins'*. The roughly 6,500 elvens living in Ithildae were forced to defend themselves against a larger, more well-equipped force. The Zhanun-Elven Genocide claimed around 4,300 lives, with the rest of the elven population fleeing elsewhere to become nomadic peoples. Dên Lan would succumb to cancer the following year.

### Century of Silence

Following the Zhanun-Elven genocide, the dynasty cut off all communications with the outside world for 112 years, in what has become known as the 'Century of Silence'. Little is known about what occurred during this time, aside from a boom in population & a military tribunal organised by Dên Lan's successor, Dên Zho (627-689 AZM), in regards to punishing those responsible for the Zhanun-Elven Genocide. The population also received a great boost during this period, going from roughly 47,000 to 68,000. Towards the end of this period, the dynasty's fourth & final ruler, Dên Ling (689-758 AZM) ascended to the throne at the young age of 16, the youngest emperor ever at that time. The period's end was marked by the announcement of the Second Xzabun Deal, bringing the Dên Dynasty back into the international audience.

### Second Xzabun Deal

The original Xzabun Deal (304 AZM) gave up portions of the Xzabun Dynasty to the Zhanuns. In the 435 years that followed, the various Western Zhanun dynasties & the Xzabun Dynasty grew ever closer. During the Century of Silence, the ideology that the Dên Dynasty must be the supreme power in the realm resurfaced, and with the positive relations that had been established, the dynasty set their sights on the Xzabun.

The Xzabun Dynasty had been approached by Dên missionaries before in the 6th century in regards to religious reform, but now the Dên missionaries approached them with a message to head to the city of Sēnlín to discuss a new Xzabun Deal of protection. Over the following week, the Sēnlín Accords defined the Xzabun Dynasty's integration into the Dên as a protectorate.

### Collapse

The young & naïve Dên Ling allowed his power to be undermined from the beginning of his reign. By giving more autonomy to the Rancians in the north & the Senians in the south, he divided up his empire along ethnic boundaries & soon tensions began to brew. The Navori peoples, who lived in the eastern lowlands, also demanded similar autonomy to their brethren in the north & south in 709 AZM, but were denied by the central government along the basis of inciting rebellion in the eastern territories. The Xzabun grew increasingly spiteful towards their position in the empire, and, following the dissolution of Zhanun-occupied Ithildae in 710, the Dên cracked down harder on dissent and it was evident that they had violated the grounds on their end of the Xzabun Deal.

In 724, The Senians began conducting their own diplomacy in a direct attempt at securing independence. The Rancians in the north also conducted talks with the Navra Dynasty in regards to the events in Píngyuán, in the hopes that they would not fight a war over the piece of land if the empire ever fell apart. By the 750s the empire was at breaking point, with an uprising in Píngyuán being supressed not by the Imperial Army, but rather by local Rancian forces who had come to occupy most of the Navor & Píngyuán provinces at that point. It all came crashing down over a 24 hour period, when a total of five states seceded from the empire, leaving the Dên with a small slice of Héliú Province & the capital of Chéngqiáng. The dynasty effectively ceased to exist shortly afterwards.

## Government

The government of the Dên 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 5 members from across the southeast, including Luang & Arcallos.

**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.