Fifth Vasigala

## The Fifth Vasigala

The Fifth Vasigala, at it's peak territorial extent under the early Esmasca Dynasty.

### Capital

Ilágos (280-332)
Âdollis (332-560)

### Common languages

Old Azurite
 Nunnshirean
 Litigurical Azurite (Litigurical)

### Religion

The Blue Dawn (280-332)
Old Selenism (332-362)
Yamanaha Selenism (362-392)
The Blue Dawn (392-560)

### Government

Absolute Monarchy

The Fifth Vasigala was a state centered around the Azurial River Valley and modern day Ishuui, founded by Ashatia, Nephew of the Nunnshirean King, Themia, in 280 AB.

## History

Nunnshirean rule over the Azurial River Valley had been established in 246 A.B., and had remained relatively stable until the death of the King Themia, which prompted a civil war in Nunnshire. Following this, the survived nephew of the former king, Ashatia, fled the city of Teaton and established rule over the Nunnshirean holdings in the mainland, forming the Fifth Vasigala. Ashatia would minorly expand the vasigala, consolidating its control over the Azurial River Valley.

Ashatia was far more concerned with the internal development of his kingdom though, and worked to develop the infrastructure of his state. In a major break with the policy of his Nunnshirean predecessors, Ashatia, although himself a Dawnist, embraced religious toleration for all Eshmati, allowing Dawnists, Selenites, and even Theists to settle and establish themselves within the state, with minor restrictions applying to non-Dawnists.

While tolerant, the Fifth Vasigala very much was a Dawnist state, with the Blue Dawn being integral to government function, with the capital city itself being the old center of Dawnist power, Ilagos. In particular, Ashatia spent much effort in refurbishing the Great Dawnist Temple, adorning it with revitalized gardens and establishing a new Ahanilag for the temple, which stands to this day.

Ashatia died in 305 A.B., aged 57. His daughter, Vesania, subsequently became Vasiliassa. Her rule oversaw a continuing age of peace and prosperity for the first decade of her reign. War began in 315 when the Nunnshirean King invaded the Vasigala, deeming it too friendly toward Selenites. After two years of war, a treaty establishing status quo antebellum was signed. Vesania continued with conflict, invading the Hyatin, gaining minor territorical concessions. In particular, Vesania made a concerted effort to push further south to the fringes of the Bluhara, which was fairly successful, under Vesania, the Vasigala reached its maximum extent in 321 AB.

Vesania suddenly died in 332, and the Crestopolian influenced Shamunewas Dynasty took control under the leadership of Razhatas II, herself the daughter of King Pe'rofratas of Crestopolis; making a drastic change in governance for the Vasigala. At this time, Dawnists slightly outnumbered Selenites, and while Selenism was explicitly promoted by the state, Dawnists were free to practice their religion as they had before. This change of rule also quickly thrusted the Vasigala into the Selenite Wars, although their participation would be fairly limited. The primary reason for this hesitance was due to the Esmasca Resurgence, a long-standing rebellion where a variety of distant heirs to the Esmasca Dynasty took up arms to reclaim the Vasigala.

Shamunewas rule endured however, despite the Selenite's Leagues best attempts to destabilize the kingdom. Razhatas would eventually abdicate her throne following the end of the Selenite Wars in 362, allowing her son Azhitvan to rule until 391. Upon Azhitvan's death, Esmasca rule would return the following year. The second half of Esmasca Rule would be called the Later Esmasca period. The Later Esmasca would return Dawnist rule and influence, although by this time the Azurites were now very well entrenched in Selenite culture and religion. This would correspond with heightened Dawnist aggression toward Selenites, with all non-Dawnists being banned from the city of Ilagos and Adollis in 340 AB.

The Vasigala would change focus in 345, seeking to expand its influence in the Galak Sea, particularly to curb the influence of piracy in the region. Within seven years, the Grand Republic had been dismantled at the hands of the Vasigala, bringing an end to the age of piracy. The Vasigala also got into conflict with the fledgling Kingdom of Khisbaldee, another notable power in the area.

One notable facet of Esmasca rule was in architecture, while they mostly adapted to the local Azurite culture, the Esmasca very much incorporated Nunnshirean architecture into the state, particularly the prominent use of masonry and ornate and elaborate detailing. Many view this adaption as the ancestor of modern day Azurite architecture, as such, the style originating in the Esmasca controlled Vasigala is often named Proto-Azurite architecture, or simply just Esmasca architecture.

The Vasigala would remain mostly stagnant politically until the early 500s, when economic tensions between the Second Kingdom of Crestopolis culminated in a Trade War, states rallying behind the Vasigala formed the Meshan League, while states backing the Crestopolians formed the Chistai League, and an embargo began. Although growing increasingly distant from its ancestral origin, the Vasigala used its Nunnshirean heritage in order to leverage the Kingdom of Nunnshire into supporting the Meshan League. The Esmasca Dynasty would be assassinated and overthrown by Crestopolians in 508 AB, ending Esmasca rule permanently.

The Vasigala would dissolve in 560 AB, due to a multitude of pressures, and was then divided into multiple different polities. One state, the Wamushinaga, would go on to form the Sixth Vasigala under the leadership of Chesis.