Duchy of Esmijan

The Duchy of Esmijan is a central Duchy in the Kingdom of Wermania. It is home to Esmijans, Esmija-Franconians and Franconians. To the North lie the Duchies of Nagra, Bruuckzell, Chuacia and Crai Plea, as well as Fer-anck's River and the Iron River. To the West lie the Red Mountains and the Merlot River. On the other side of the Merlot River lies the duchy of Edrad. To the East flows the Claine River, and lies the Duchy of Proclain. In the Easternmost border of Esmijan lies the Great Divide Mountain Range. To the South are the Guran Islands.

### History

#### **Earliest mention (-11.000)**

The earliest mention of Esmijan was in -11.000, on a piece of papyrus in Crai Plea. They were on of the main peoples who profited off of trade across the continent.

#### **Controlling the trade routes (-10.000 to -7.000)**

The Esmijans, led by a chieftain, roamed across the vast open plains of Esmijan, robbing and taxing traders from Crai Plea and Ushen. By -10.000, they had control of one of the main traderoutes, but they soon realised there was an even more profitable traderoute to the North, controlled by early Aclians.

#### **Establishing local hegemony (-7.000 to -1.000)**

Around the year -7.000, the Esmijan attacked the richer Aclians, and forced them to leave. The Aclians, who just fought a war with Bruuckzell, were too weak to do anything and went to Crai Plea, to seek their fortune there. The Esmijans, now growing richer, established contacts with Nagra, Ushen and Crai Plea. More small tribes joined Esmijan over hundreds of years, making the Chieftain the richest person between the Red Mountains and the Great Divide. Around the year -1.000, Esmijan controlled most of its modern day lands.

#### **From traders to conquerors (-1.000 to -650)**

Around -1.000, the Chieftain proclaimed himself king of Esmijan and started to more agressively expand across the continent. By -900, they had reached the Merlot River and by -700, they were the biggest kingdom. That last fact was about to change with the conquest of the Bruuckzellians.

#### **Testing their strength (-600 to -450)**

In -600, the Esmijans moved their armies North towards Bruuckzell, claiming all remaining lands for themselves, which angered the Bruuckzellians, who were however unable to do anything because of their conquests in the North. Fifty years later, the Esmijans invaded Bruuckzell, but were met with heavy resistance. Getting monetary aid from Nagra, they were able to split Bruuckzell effectively in two. The war in the North grew to a stanstill at the Iron river and the Nagra river. In order to break the deadlock, Esmijan crossed the Claine river to forcefully enlist Proclani citizens. This however backfired as Proclain fought back. In the North, a large Bruuckzellian army crossed the Iron river, and marched into Esmijan. The gruesome Esmijan War was about to begin.

#### **Esmijan War (-450 to -340)**

The Bruuckzellians could not afford to focus their attention on Esmijan too much, since they were involved in multiple other conflicts so they sent a smaller force to mop up Esmijan. What they did not expect was that Esmijan had made peace with Proclain, and moved it's Southern Army to go around and harrass Bruuckzellian forces. The resulting guerilla warfare would last over 100 years, causing great casualties in the North of Esmijan, which are the reason why that region is now home to a majority Franconians. In -340, the Esmijans surrendered and their king was decapitated for his evil deeds.

#### **Becoming a Duchy (-340)**

Esmijan became a Duchy and a lower Esmijan noble, who helped the Bruuckzellians locate the hideout of the Esmijan king, was put in place as the first Duke of Esmijan. His name was Eli.

#### **Establishing the Counties (2 to 3)**

In the year 2, the county of Jin was established, and the cousin of the Duke was put in place. The next year, the county of Gano was also established.

#### **Selling of the North (33)**

In the year 33, duke Drake sold off the land of his cousin, count Darjin to Duke Hans Fritz of Chuacia. The land itself had little population, but has a strategic importance. Historians still debate why duke Hans spent so much on the basically empty land.