Empire of Westoria - (01)

Flag of the Empire

The Empire of Westoria is a absolute imperial state located northeast of the Almia Strait. The empire has expanded throughout the decades, conquering new lands inland to other regions that are similar in culture and assimilating them into the nation. Westoria isn't a nation that is beyond ruthlessness, as shown during the conquest of Todtrusachia, where the heads of nobles were put on pikes after they resisted the invasion.

## History

### Beginnings

Westoria first began under the rule of Empress Briana I in 0 CE. Contemporaries knew her as an able queen, highly educated in matters of state and rule, and a brilliant strategist. Briana I was essential to the Empire's early expansion. With her eyes first set on the northern nation of Freibachbin.

### Freibachbin War

In a bid to expand north against the nation of Freibachbin, Briana attempted a cunning plan where she would fake an assasination attempt to blame on Freibachbin and thus have a *casus belli* against them without attracting other nations to intervene. However, their plans were leaked to Freibachbin who preemptively declared war on Westoria. But thanks to a non-agression pact with Bisch, there was no intervention by the western nations. The war was a quick one which resulted in a costly yet decisive victory for Westoria. However, they were later forced to abandon the area due to the Great Famine that hit the region.

### The Rains of Obernbachten

Despite having to abandon their northern gains due to the famine, Briana turned the gaze of the empire south, to the proud nation of Todtrusachia. The nation had been wary and hostile of the Empire, prehaps for good reason. Briana decided to remove this possible threat once and for all. Firstly, she garned military and material support from a newfound ally in the Almech Kingdom, who lent them 200 of their elite spearmen for the conflict. With the support granted, Briana sent an ultimatium to Todtrusachia which they rejected. Soon the war began with early sucess for Westoria, with the first battle resulting in a crushing victory that decimated Todtrusachia's army. However after marching to the capital and occupying it, a decree was put out, which stated that any enemy warrior laid down their arms, they would be granted amnesty. While almost half of the opposing army deserted, there were at least 200 remaining warriors against 1,000 men from Westoria. In an attempt to crush the opposing army, the army commander gave battle. But while Westoria was victorious in wiping out the 200 warriors, they lost more than half their men, including the army commander. After hearing the news, Briana was enraged. So enraged that she ordered the noble prisoners captured after the battle were to be executed and their heads adorned on spikes from Obernbachten to Stausten. This act set the tone for Westorian expansion throughout the histories.

### Reign of Johans

Briana I died after a long and prosperous reign, and was succeeded by her son and heir, Johans I. Johans kept a lot of the reforms his mother had put in, but also attempted to stabilize his mother's gains rather then continuing on to more conquests. One of the major events during Johan's reign was the union of Bisch-Seier-Bach, which consisted of the three remaining nations not under control of Westoria. Together, they were a powerful foe for the fledging empire. In an attempt to weaken the union, Johans organized a series of assassination against the rulers, but one lived and used the power vacuum to gain control of the state.

### Finishing Briana's work

After Johan's death, Isabella ascended to the throne, with the goal of conquering the nation of Bisch-Seier-Bach. As her forces marshalled, they were at first outnumbered, but there were better trained and experienced. Soon after many battles, the full resources of the Empire was brought to bear and eventually the nation was conquered, and the unity dreamed of by Empress Briana I was achieved. With the annexation complete, Westoria has consolidated the culture in the region, and now self-strengthening can be a goal for the empire to have as the nation enters the new age.

### Internal Strife, Crisis of the 9th Century and collapse

Wracked with internal divide, famine and plague, the Empire began to collapse. States such as Stausen, Obeck and Stria all seceded from the Empire during this chaotic time. The 9th century would be wracked with division and civil war.

Unfortunately, despite gains to rebuild the Empire's strength, its time was short. Soon a plot was formed to overthrow the royal family and dissolve the Empire. The newly formed Kingdom of Stausen was part of the plot, hoping to gain from Westoria's fall. In the year 900, after a coup organized by a rouge army general, the Empire of Westoria was no more.

## Geography

Westoria was situated on the eastern shoreline with a border of mountains to its west. They never expanded further than those mountains as they provided a natural barrier against enemy nations.

## Domestic division

Due to the long reign of Empress Briana I, women have a lot of freedom in the Empire. They can own property, run businesses, divorce their husbands and serve in positions of government. The progressive domestic reforms of Briana I was continued by her son and heir, Johans I, who has continued his predecessor's reforms and policies.

## Culture

Westoria is a very militarized and nationalitic society that believes in the devotion to the state, and that all work and ideas should be used to develop and better the state. Westoria's culture and language has a Germanic background with festivals and feasts mainly consisting of beer and sausage, and their armies are often fanatical, sometimes fighting to the death or showing ruthless tactics, such as in Todtrusachia.