Hosaq Empire

* 452 NA - Merchant's coup in Aranwaën, loss of Bloodwine, Emirìa, Pendero and Asentir
* 532 NA - The Great Concession
* 739-744 NA - Second War of the Orcs
* 1124-1135 NA - First Wine war
* 1156-1161 NA - Second Wine war and dissolution of the Empire

### Preceded by

* Hosaq Second Kingdom
* Araner duchies
* High Kingdom of Ocania
* Greater Yondarin
* Old Somaria

### Succeeded by

* Hosaq Third Kingdom
* Aranwaën
* The Duchies
* Kingdom of Halion
* Kingdom of Somaria
* Yondarin Kingdom
* Lesser Yondarin
* Kingdom of Heremopia
* Great Duchy of Dracoria
* Kingdom of Pendero
* Kingdom of Barleus
* Principality of Devesq
* Principality of Vasseno

The **Hosaq Empire** (Hos: **Parqanq Hosaq**) was a state which existed between the years 248 and 1161 of the New Age. In its early history it rose rapidly and became the most powerful human-led empire in history, dominating most of Var Venail for nearly two centuries. The Hosaq mostly dominated the central and northern regions of Var Venail, without venturing too far south or much beyond the Red Mountains. The empire was centered around the eponymous city of Hosaq, which became one of the largest centers of trade, culture and science in the continent for nearly a milennia.

The empire was founded by Manar the Great in 248 NA, following the Onanelh concession in 248 NA, when the ruling council of Onanelh acknowledged him as the rightful successor of the Old Empire. Manar stopped his father's aggressive expansion policy once he had secured Bloodwine, and his reign was known for his sponsorships of the arts and large renovations in Hosaq itself, borrowing from elven and Araner architecture. His successors would bring the empire to its territorial zenith, subjugating over half of the continent, ruling over 60 million people by 355 NA. However at this time was also the First War of the Orcs which considerably weakened the empire, starting the so-called Long Decline. This decline culminated with the War of Kin following the death of an emperor with no designated successor and three eligible heirs. This was would however last much longer than the three heirs, and the empire ended up collapsing on itself and losing the vast majority of its territory and prestige. In the following century the emperors were forced to make large concessions to the most powerful nobles in the realm, culminating in the Great Concession of 532 NA, which effectively made the empire into little more than a military alliance.

The empire began making a recovery in the early 9th century under emperor Manar VIII, upon his son's accession to the throne the empire was hit by the First Manarian Plague and to enter the Second War of the Orcs. This considerably weakened the empire which was unable to ever recover from the massive economic and demographic destruction which followed the plague. The emperors of the late empire involved it as a major player in the Wine wars against Aranwaën, which ultimately led to the dissolution of the empire. In the First War the empire was defeated but was only forced to pay light reparations. In 1155 NA the empire began a preventive war against Aranwaën and its allies but was decisively defeated on the field due to the Araner-Dwarven discovery and utilisation of gunpowder. In the treaty ending the Second Wine war, the empire was permanently disbanded and its territory was divided between the empire's vassals and the newly formed Hosaq Third Kingdom.