Carasilaen

Carasilaen is a populous and influential coastal city in the Dersialdara region of Carasala. It is build on the site of an older Haraklina city named Larakali in 513 NE to be the new capital of the Carasala Province. It has also served as the capital of the Kingdom of Dersialdara and is currently the capital of the Noulaenic Empire, though it only holds sovereignty over Dersialdara.

## Etymology

Carasilaen was originally named Carathailiaen after the province (then named Carathaila), with the Middle Noulaenic suffix *-iaen* (city). Literally the name meant "eastern lands city"

## History

The site of Carasilaen was home to a large walled fortress city named Larakali founded in 406 BNE. Larakali was sacked and depopulated by the Noulaenic Empire, and Carasilaen was built on the site. Much of the original structure of Larakali was preserved, including the undamaged portions of the defensive walls and many internal buildings.The provincial government moved to the city from Doucusamael in 515 NE.

Carasilaen was repopulated with people from the Noulaenic heartland of Malaena. The city therefore had a strong Noulaenic cultural identity from its foundation and has always considered itself an integral part of the core empire. The Duke of Carasala, a hereditary position in the First Noulaenic Empire, was descended from the imperial line and resided in the capital. As Carasala was by far the largest province in the empire, the Duke was arguably the second most powerful official behind the emperor himself

Carasilaen retained a significant number of Haraklina slaves, including both peoples formerly enslaved by the Haraklina and newly enslaved Haraklina captives. With the use of this skilled slave labor, Carasilaen was able to continue the large shipbuilding economy that existed in Larakali prior to its destruction. Carasilaen became an important center for the imperial navy and provided many of the ships that would be used in the conquest of the islands of the Pinakloosi Sea.

In 580 NE, construction was completed on the Dersialdaran section of the Filou Road, connecting Carasilaen to Bincaraelaen in Doucusada, the site of the lowest bridge over the Doucusa river. This road came to be known informally as the gem road as it carried gems mined in the hills of southern Doucusada to Carasilaen which developed a thriving jewelry business.

Carasilaen was attacked by pirates in 758 NE. The pirates attacked when the city was off guard and not well defended and did significant damage to the fleet docked in the harbor before seizing several ships and a considerable haul of jewels. The pirates set fire to the harbor before departing, badly damaging the city and the shipyard.

After the collapse of imperial authority in the region in the lat 760s NE, the Dersialdara region was raided repeatedly by ethnically Carasalic peoples and the city was often forced to seal its gates for defense against the raiders during the late 8th century. The city was heavily fortified and well stocked, however, and the raiders lacked the numbers and sophistication to storm the high walls. The Duke of Carasala became essentially independent of Noulian during this period and Duke Faelthios Sialnial Fulfal officially assumed the title of King of Dersialdara in 790 after Emperor Daramsis of Noulian was forced to abdicate in favor of Consis VII, the half-Casalanouic prince of Sarenmen.

Ethnically Malaenic forces led by Carasilaen regained control of the Dersialdara region in the early 8th century in the name of the Kingdom of Dersialdara. The Kingdom had conquered all former lands of the County of Dersialdara aside from Doucusamael in 812 NE. The surrender of Doucusamael was negotiated in 822 NE after a siege and Carasilaen once more commanded the whole of Dersialdara.

The last King of Dersialdara, Sarmasis II died without a son in 1083 NE and the Kingdom passed to his son-in-law, Emperor Aesis IV of Noulian. From this point onward Carasilaen and the rest of Dersialdara have been imperial holdings.

Carasilaen continued to prosper as a manufacturing center producing and trading luxury goods and sailing vessels during the second empire and once more served as the seat of government for Carasala province. The city lacked the large population of Noulian but was the most prosperous city in the empire and became a popular home for nobles and other wealthy citizens of the empire.

In 1999 NE, following significant unrest in Malaena, Emperor Faerbisis II moved the imperial court to Carasilaen, where it remains to this day. Malaena rebelled against this move under Farbisis's brother, Saenbisis. Faerbisis defeated his brother and sacked Noulian in 2012 but the Carasilaenic government lost control of Malaena regardless following their defeat battle of Nilfalum Bay in 2022 NE.

The strain of warfare and economic problems throughout the empire weakened the Carasilaenic economy considerably as demand for luxury goods plummeted and tax revenue collection fell off as well. The imperial government gradually lost the rest of its territory outside of Dersialdara during the 21st century NE.

The economy of Carasilaen revived once imperial ambitions were abandoned through continued manufacture and over-sea trade. The economy shifted from jewelry to clockworks and complex tools that could be manufactured without material imported from outside the Dersialdara region. The main naval shipbuilding hub for the area shifted to Elaen in the late 22nd century but Carasilaen continues to build a considerable number of trading vessels.