Minervian Empire

*This page includes role-play FANON information, any Canon material will be marked accordingly.*

   The **Minervian Empire** was an empire that persisted from an unknown date somwhere in the The Forgotten Past until the year 456 a.f.C, where massiv transmigrations and inner conflicts marked the downfall of the empire. The empire started their expansion from the far south and conquered most of the known world. The capital of the empire is called Minerva and it's todays residence of the Primate of the Minervan Church.

## Politics

The empire went trough a couple of changes in the government. In the days of The Forgotten Past, it was a monarchy with a king as the head of the change. But after some civil wars and puplic declerations later, it became a aristocratic republic. The republican era lasted until Dictator Marucs Atius, a famous conqueror and politician, declared himself "ruler for life" and "Emperor of Minerva," putting the republican era to rest and establishing the Minervian Empire.

## Culture

The most dominant culture were the Imperians. After the downfall of the empire, most of the Imperians left the known world and traveled back to the far south, returning to the roots of the empire, leaving the colonies in the known world behind. Today, some Imperians can be met in the Duchy of Pontavaux and the Kingdom of Rohynn even tough their presence is rare.

### Faith

Before the expansion of Essaxonism around 400 a.f.C, the state religion of the empire was the Imperian Paganism, worshipping the emperor as a descendend from the gods. Some ruins of former templed dedicated to the gods of Imperian Paganism can be found in the known world until this day.

Today, the great city of Minerva is the main residence of the leader of the Minervan Church and a holy site in Essaxonism.

## History

Not much is known about the foundtation about the great city of Minerva and the eponymous empire. Historically secured is, that the Imperians established the great city of Minerva and founded the Kingdom of Minerva, which got succeded by the Minervian Republic. After the chronicler and historian Beda "The Old" began to record time in the year 1 a.f.C, most things about the former empire are better reported. While Beda himself was a witness of the republican era, his succsessors marked down the rise and downfall of the imperial ages.

### The Downfall

The imperian historian Valerian summarized the end of the empire in his work "Cero" as follows:

"*There was, a long time ago, on this land, a great and powerful empire, known by everyone for it's might and glory, as well as it's cultural assets that allowed it to assert its domination over the Known World. This empire known as the Minervian Empire (named after it's eponym capital) lasted for several centuries. But as the emperors changed and aged, its decay was inevitable. Previously shining with gold over the walls and the bright chiseled columns, the capital lost its initial glory before the incompetence and the laziness of the governing class. Slave revolts were common, as well as villages set ablaze by invaders from every cardinal point. These were known as Pagans. Little by little, they put Minervia's sovereignty at stake and grasped land by force. The once all-mighty empire was since this moment, doomed to fall. Its borders continued to shorten, and the City of Minervia, finally, was assaulted. At the end of a twelve years siege, Pagans successfully entered the city and pillaged it, killed it's inhabitants and only left ruins, blood and ashes. There was nothing left but piles of rocks and bricks. This event is known as the Disaster, for it permitted to numerous communities around the Known World to break free from Minervia's hold. These communities would create the countries known today.*"