Narmein

Narmein (also known as Narmen in later sources) was a fortified hill city near the Carasac River, a tributary of the Sarabal river in Bindaela. The fortress commanded entrance to the fertile Carasac Valley, a small floodplain valley above the Bindael valley. The fortress was first constructed in 152 BNE and a substantial community grew around it during the pre-Noulaenic era. The city's last King, King Dramthios of Narmein, founded Noulian and moved his court there in 1 NE. Narmein remained a substantial town and was ruled by an imperial prince until its destruction in 772 NE by invading forces from Casalanoua.

## Etymology

The name derives from Proto-Noulaenic *nar* (mountain) and *mein* (fortress).

## History

The Carasac Valley was settled by agriculturalists in the fourth century BNE. The fortress that gives Narmein its name was first constructed in 152 BNE to guard the main entrance to the valley where the Carasac flowed into a steeper, more narrow section leading to the Bindael Valley below. A matching fortress was built on the hill on the opposite side of the river in 144 BNE. A town grew around the fortresses and was walled as well beginning in 120 BNE. By the late pre-Noulaenic period, Narmein was the largest settlement in Bindaela and commanded the most populous kingdom, being more than twice the size of Thraenmein in both respects.

Wars between Bindaelic kingdoms were common in the pre-Noulaenic period and Narmein was frequently in combat with its neighbors, especially Thraenmein and Thraenflan. In 12 BNE Narmein won a significant victory under King Cionthios and bound its principle rivals, the Four Kingdom's Alliance, in a treaty that required tribute paid to Narmein and mutual defense.

After Cionthios's death in 6 BNE, his son Tharthios took the throne. Tharthios was an alcoholic and wasteful with the city treasury, and the rival kings sought to take advantage of his weakness. They made a secret treaty with the Icrenic peoples who lived in the hills above Narmein and plotted a joint attack on the fortress in 4 BNE. The Four Kingdom's Alliance did not join the attack on the planned date, however, hoping that the Icrenic would weaken the city's defenses before they arrived. Narmein repelled the Icrenic attack, and the Icrenic agreed to peace with Narmein withdrew believing they had been betrayed by the Four Kingdoms.

Narmein declared war on the Four Kingdoms and the crown prince, Dramthios, led a successful campaign against the city's rivals. The campaign ended with the destruction of the Four Kingdom's main forces at the Battle of Falinmal Hill in 1 NE, by which time Dramthios had become King of Narmein. Dramthios began construction of a new capital at the site of his victory, founding the city of Noulian and moving his court there that year.

Dramthios sent his second son, Tharmathios, to rule Narmein as an imperial Duke. This tradition of placing the second in line for the throne in Narmein continued for the duration of the First Noulaenic Empire.

The strategic value of the fortifications was reduced during the period of unchallenged Noulaenic rule of Malaena, and the city's fortifications were not significantly improved after the third century NE. This left the city vulnerable during the crisis of the 8th century NE, and both the city and its fortifications were razed by raiders from Casalanoua in 772 NE. The city was not subsequently rebuilt although parts of the fortifications were restored and improved by the Casalanouic Kingdom of Carasac during the period between empires. These fortifications remain in use today.