Sangetelle

The Kingdom of Sangetelle is an ancient kingdom dating back to the 1st century PW.

## Basic Information

### Favored Diety

* Bahamut (State Deity)
* Melora (Founding)
* Sarenrae (Ruler's Favored Deity)

## History

### Foundation

Legends say that Sangetelle was founded in the 1st century PW by a Half-Elven lord, Altarion Enselltyr, from the nearby Elvish clans of Lirellan. Favored by Melora, he established many new settlements on Chronaetas after the great war and helped defend the balance of nature. He and his companions would oversee a collection of tribes and clans that would eventually become Quvilleauve, and their descendants the nobles of Sangetelle.

The first records that speak of a true Kingdom of Sangetelle were written in the year 315 PW. Before this, it was believed to have remained a collection of tribes across the eastern plains of Central Chronaetas.

### Expansion

Around 340 PW, the faith of Sangetelle had shifted from venerating primarily Melora to venerating Bahamut, Pelor, and Sarenrae. At this point, the Kingdom of Sangetelle oversaw a policy of expansion over the plains of Central Chronaetas, assimilating the local humans and halflings living there.

The furthest Sangetellan expansion had reached was the Riverlands far to the west, established in 615 PW. Though they were able to establish a Sangetellan nobility, the Riverfolk were notably more numerous, stubborn, and connected to assimilate.

### Crisis of the Ninth Century

#### End of House Enselltyr

By the 9th century PW, Sangetelle had had many long years of growth and expansion, but it was reaching its limits. The Elves of the Lirellan forest and the Langdost lords to the east and south resisted attempts at encroachment, and many of the lords of Sangetelle had begun to split from their cultural roots. River Lords spoke Common first and Elvish second, some western lords venerated Sarenrae or Pelor first while the capital worshiped Melora and Bahamut.

The first sign of trouble arose when the last Enselltyr ruler perished in 800 PW. Two successor candidates arose: the Duke Robert Enselltyr-Ensifer de Oresdes, a western lord, and the king's nephew Philippe Enselltyr-Villessy, an eastern nobleman. A council of nobles declared Philippe the king in 802 PW, but Robert was not present and declared the council illegitimate. The two rival claimants did not break into open conflict until early in 804. Robert had secured the support of many western lords, while Philippe had secured the eastern and central lords. While Philippe had more of the great nobles supporting him, they were divided and prone to scatter. Robert mustered the western lords and pushed on Quvilleauve, while leaving some forces in the west to protect against the loyalist lords in the Riverlands. Robert had taken the town of Pites in 805, and pushed forward, taking Charoy later that year. The capital of Quvilleauve was within Robert's grasp, but Philippe had mustered his armies. Besieging Charoy, Robert's rebellion appeared fated to an end.

Unfortunately for Philippe, the Riverlands fell into chaos when Louis Granevar de Cendreterre took over the Marquise of Fleuvemarche, killing Charles Hautefer de Fleuvemarche in the process and declaring him a traitor. Charles' brother Bohemond revealed Louis Granevar's treachery, which was proven in 805 PW when Louis declared for Robert. Bohemond rode west to organize a resistance, but failed to defeat Granevar, who eventually secured the Riverlands. The Granevar forces would then move east and prepared to relieve Robert. Philippe, having heard of this force, had ordered his forces to fortify the area around the town of Charoy, which the Granevar forces then besieged. Days before the new year, the Granevar forces besieging Philippe and Robert's forces launched a simultaneous assault on Philippe's camp and broke through it. Philippe was slain during the aftermath, and Robert was free to march into Quvilleauve on New Year's Day of 806.

#### Oresdean Rule

Robert began his reign by lavishing his supporters in honors, making Louis Granevar Duke of the Fleuveterre and rewarding others with reduced tax loads, obligations, or with prestigious offices. He gave some of the eastern lords positions on the council, though he spurned those who voted against him in the Council of 802. His reign was relatively peaceful afterwards, seeing only minor conflicts with the Langdost lords and the petty Auroran states. Robert Hugues Enselltyr-Ensifer de Sangetelle died of old age in 830 PW.

His successor and grandson, Robert Louis Enselltyr-Ensifer de Sangetelle (also known as Robert II), was 24 at the time of his coronation later that year. The first 16 years of his rule were peaceful, but the tensions between eastern and western lords only grew. His attempts to appease them both would gradually undermine his authority. He believed that the nobility could only be appeased with great military glories and new lands, and so attempted to expand south into the Auroran principalities.

When the Duke of Correalla took the town of Numanseti in 847 PW, King Robert II attempted to subjugate the duchy as a punitive measure. His forces crushed the Duke, and exerted control over many independent cities as well as the minor Duchy of Coudria. Distributing these lands had appeased the Eastern lords but alarmed the Auroran principalities.

Later that year, the towns of Eguard and Heartwatch revolted against the local Duke of Castfall, supported by other free cities down the river Nakun. Robert II saw an opportunity for the western lords to campaign, and marched on Eguard. The cities formed the Nakun League, and petitioned Nova Aurora for support. The Archmage of Arcane Affairs, deeming Sangetellan expansionism a threat to the city's security and prosperity, organized a coalition against the forces of Sangetelle. Thus had the War of the Auroran League begun.

Characterized by principalities shifting allegiances for 8 years, where local rivalries shaped the conflict more than the interests of Sangetelle or Nova Aurora, the War of the Auroran League was fought with pen and quill just as much as by the sword. However, in 855 PW, the two sides had assembled their armies and fought by the town of Cloudcross. Robert II and his forces were winning, until the Archmage of Arcane Affairs Abi-Dalzim cast a single spell. The grass withered, flowers wilted, and soldiers on both sides died en masse. Robert II and his son Robert were both among the deaths. The town of Cloudcross was rendered barren and became known as Dustcross.

Robert II's death resulted in the end of Sangetellan expansion and the end of western rule. Robert II's successor and grandson, Charles, though a western lord by birth, would grow up among eastern nobles.

#### Collapse

Charles Guiscard Enselltyr-Ensifer de Sangetelle was crowned King at the young age of 4. As such, the true rulers of the realm were the members of the council and the regent. The eastern nobles took advantage of this situation to entrench their power and turn Charles into a puppet. This was mostly successful until 872 PW. The council of 872 resulted in increased taxes on western nobles, despite the opposition of the now-21 King Charles.

Consequently, the Dukes of the Riverlands, Castfall, Lailnay, and Oirol refused to pay taxes. The eastern lords amassed a punitive force to collect taxes from the Duke of Oirol, but the rebellious lords declared the force to be an act of tyranny and amassed their forces. Thus began the second Civil War of the Ninth Century. The first clash of the war occurred near the town of Corrois in Oirol. The western lords had managed to unite their armies and overwhelmed the unprepared punitive force, decimating it. Emboldened by this victory, they marched on the royal demesne of Ocresdes. Many more of the discontented western lords rose up in rebellion.

The eastern lords amassed a second and larger force, this time accompanied by the young king of Sangetelle, now 21, and marched on the rebels. However, Charles was still not given command of the armies. However, the fortress of Ocresdes had fallen to Duke Richard's forces, and a period of slow maneuvering began. Finally, the two forces met near the village of Jargis early in 873, and the western rebels were victorious, even capturing the king. He was forced to acknowledge their independence before being released from captivity. The central Sangetellan dukes then declared their own independence, but the king refused to accept their demands. Rather, he ordered the council to handle it; the council accepted in his stead. Thus, the kingdom of Sangetelle was left greatly weakened.

#### End of the Crisis

Charles's reputation was initially tarnished, but his time in battle had earned him the loyalty of many lesser lords, chevaliers, and commoners. Furthermore, by forcing the council to accept the terms of the central dukes, he had humiliated them. This animosity led them to scheme to assassinate him and replace him with his younger brother in 876 PW, but Charles uncovered the plot and had all councilors implicated in the plot executed for treason, their lands seized by the crown. A few of the councilors' relatives rose up and decried it as treason, but Charles utilized the loyalty of the lesser lords to crush the councilors in battle. The show of force was enough to put an end to any further secession or scheming.

Charles' policy focused on normalizing relations with the rebel lords, establishing Sangetelle as a legitimate force in the region, and ensuring peace. Internally, he continued to weaken the powers of the court nobles and strengthened the monarchy. With Sarenrae as his personal deity, the "Sun King" Charles Guiscard Enselltyr-Ensifer de Sangetelle seeks to revitalize the Kingdom of Sangetelle and bring its glory into the modern age.

## Culture

### Language

The Sangetellans are notably for their use of Elvish as their primary tongue, though many (especially those near the Riverlands or Nova Aurora) speak the Common tongue.

### Religion

Sangetellan nobles greatly value chivalry, and as such many of them choose Bahamut as their patron deity. Also popular are Sarenrae, who represents redemption and is particularly well-regarded by the Sangetellan bards and clergy, and the Whispering Knight, an aspect of Kord representing the winds. Other Prodeans are widely worshipped as well.