First Theddite Empire

The Theddite realm in 14089

The **First Empire of the Thedda** was an empire that spanned from the Great Gulf to the Northern Sea along much of the Volty and Thedda Rivers. The empire was founded in 14058 from the union of the City-Kingdoms of Lobanc and Theddias, uniting the areas surrounding the delta and western waters of the Thedda. Theddias became the capital of the empire, which quickly expanded to control all of the Theddite kingdoms and conquering the shores of the Great Gulf, which was inhabited by Nordish peoples. The empire then conquered the vast forests to the northeast, all the way to the shores of the Great Northern Sea and coming into contact with Subdelian and Exidelian civilizations in the far East. The Theddites founded numerous cities and settlements on the Gulf shore and along the Volty and Thedda rivers, which later became independent states. The empire was disestablished in 16022 with the outbreak of a major succession crisis.

## History

### Early History

Theddias, the center of Theddite culture during Imperial rule, was founded in c. 11400 by the early proto-Theddite tribes that were beginning to settle down and live sedentary lives along the fertile Thedda river. Theddias itself was known early on as simply, "the Town by the Thedda," which eventually evolved into its modern name. Through the centuries, many towns and cities rose from the banks of the river, and over time these cities consolidated into kingdoms. By the 14000s, the two largest kingdoms on the river were the Kingdom of Theddias and the Kingdom of Lobanc, which happened to be close allies. After many royal marriages between the kingdoms, by 14055 the king of Lobanc was also the nephew of the king of Theddias. When the Theddian king died with no children, his de facto successor was the Lobancker king Aderitas I, making him the monarch of both kingdoms and uniting them into a single state.

### Rapid Expansion

Carboton was the first city conquered by the Empire in 14060, after Aderitas consolidated power over his realm. The conquest of the kingdoms of Carboton and Picratas connected Lobanc and Theddias. Aderitas' ambitions were to conquer the entirety of the Thedda--not completed until after his death. The emperor initially marched up the Volty River, subjugating the East Nordish peoples inhabiting the area, and founding several Theddite colonies, including Bolfurt in 14064 and Volyter in 14071. After reaching the origin of the Volty in the Folthing Mountains, Aderitas marched his army east along the coast of the Northern Sea, and although they didn't know it, reaching the Thedda once again at its origin at the Osthedy Falls in 14082. However, as the Emperor marched his army of over 30,000 men down the banks of the river, they encountered a Delian army. The Theddite forces easily defeated the smaller force in the Battle of Eastriver, but this unprovoked attack pushed the Delian states into an anti-Theddite coalition. Soon after the battle, Aderitas reached the Dyitican city of Tiphopolis, and laid siege to its walls. The city capitulated after over a week, when the Theddite forces broke down the main gate. After the successful siege, the aging Aderitas, nearing 60 years old, became afflicted with a devastating illness, taking his ability to walk. His armies remained in Tiphopolis for almost a month until the Emperor died in 14084, leaving General Lenitac Trimenaso in command of his army and his 27-year-old son Aderitas II (who had been travelling with the army) as Emperor. Trimenaso continued the army's march along the Thedda, defeated the kingdoms of Exidelos and Dyiticos in the First Eastern War and annexed the region of Transtheda in 14087. During the march back to Theddias, more cities were founded on the Thedda, including Derricas and New Trimen, both in 14089. After the long expedition returned, the banks of the Volty and Thedda were under Imperial rule, and the enormous area enclosed between the rivers was Theddite dominion.

### Northern Push

Under Aderitas II the Theddite Empire's borders remained relatively stagnant. The Second Eastern War lasted from 14103 to 14107 with Theddite victory, forcing the Delian states to recognize the Dytic River as the eastern boundary of the Theddite Empire. Aderitas II ruled until his death in 14146, leaving the throne to Caralas of Vetuix, his nephew of 42. Caralas' primary goal was to take over the tribes of the North, known as Nordish peoples in the Empire. He started by pushing to the Flitta River, defeating the many Nordish fisher-tribes living on the coasts. He then went north up the banks of the Flitta, reaching the Northing Mountains in 14150. Shepercap was founded in 14159 and served as the main port in the north Gulf until Levidoc's founding in 14399. Caralas, in 14160, attempted to lead his armies east from the Flitta into the great forests of Progeise. Although the Emperor defeated the Nordish in battle, he couldn't subjugate the land effectively, forcing the Theddites to retreat from the forest. Although the Empire gained land around the Flitta and Evalter rivers and pushed the border farther north of the Thedda, most citizens were opposed to further conquests.

### Gulf Colonization

After the minor port of Shepercap in 14159, the Theddite focus shifted inward for several centuries. However, between 14399 and 14600, there was increased interest in the Gulf. Levidoc was the second colony to be created, followed by Poross, Arguid, Langeport, New Volyter, Pinarea, and Varding. Hundreds of thousands of Theddite settlers flocked to the shores, driving out Nordish tribes from the north coast and Carboci nomads on the south coast. The colonial interest reached another climax in the late 14700s, beginning with Bronze-Port in 14740, followed by Carbatan, Walbreach, Toplizia, and Goldar. The colonization period was followed by a long peace period, which continued through the 15000s.

### Decline

As the Empire grew in population and area, its citizens started to become increasingly regionalist and some became opposed to the monarchy. Some cities in the Gulf began to advocate for democratic government (acevaticas). The Nordish and Delian inhabitants of the Empire grew in separatist sentiment whenever the imperial economy took a downturn. Most dangerously, the Theddite people in the provinces of the Great Gulf and Osthedia began culturally distancing themselves from the classical Theddite civilization, embracing local dialects and customs. In 15489, the governor of Upper Volty declared himself King of Arapovoltios, and launched a seven-year war of rebellion against the empire, inspiring dozens of other local leaders to attempt similar insurrections. The emperor, Sandras II, captured Arapovoltios' capital, Bolfurt, in 15492, but this did not end the war, only leading to several more years of attritional and guerilla warfare across the Empire. Apsacas, the self-proclaimed king, was defeated and captured in December '495. Despite remaining under Theddite control, the people of the Upper Volty would remain largely hostile to the central government for the remainder of its existence. The next ~500 years were marked by slow but noticeable decline, as the value of Theddite currency depreciated, imperial influence shrank, and frontiers gradually became abandoned by the military, leaving foreign groups to raid and settle in the Empire's lands, usually without intervention from the Theddites. People living in the hinterlands came to hold deep resentment against the empire, especially the Lobancas dynasty, which lost the throne in 15503 only for their descendants to regain power in 15888, to the disdain of many living in Osthedia and the Gulf cities.

### Succession Crisis

*Main article: Great Theddite Succession Crisis*

The Theddites lost the Second Subdelian-Theddite War, forcing them to relinquish claims on Transtheda. The emperor, Nisemicas IV lost much of his support from Osthedian citizens. In 16022, Nisemicas traveled to Derricas in an attempt to improve public image. When he arrived, an Osthedian separatist stabbed the emperor in the neck twice before guards killed him. The emperor died an hour later. Before his death, Nisemicas IV had three sons, each of whom acted as governors within the Empire. Nisemicas V was governor of the Lower Volty. Atsicras governed the provinces of Osthedia Major and Osthedia Minor. His youngest son, Lastilas, was governor of Mouth-of-Thedda. Each of his sons claimed to be the rightful heir to the Empire, leaving the Theddite Empire divided into three. Soon after the split, Lastilas' Kingdom of Lobanc lost control of much of its territory, especially the Gulf colonies. This prompted Nisemicas V, leader of the Kingdom of Theddia, to launch his invasion of Lobanc. Meanwhile, Atsicras was not widely accepted as the rightful ruler of the Kingdom of Osthedia, and was deposed by nobles in Bolfurt. The Estilmark and Krieschen kingdoms attempted to seize Osthedian lands in the Osthedian-Nordish War, in which the Osthedians managed to achieve victory and consolidate the border. Later, Osthedia also used its momentum to reconquer Transtheda in the First Delo-Osthedian War.

### Historical Impact

The Theddite Empire left a lasting impact on the entire region, shaping the borders of future kingdoms and enabling the rise of the Theddite peoples to supremacy over the Great Gulf and beyond for several centuries. Other states took the moniker of a "Theddian Empire" in the future (see: Second Theddite Empire)

## Rump States

* Lobanc
	+ New Volyter
	+ Pinarea
	+ Varding
	+ Carbatan
	+ Neosas
	+ Goldar
	+ Bronzas
	+ Toplizia
* Osthedia
* Theddia (later the Second Theddite Empire)
	+ Northedia
	+ Southedia
* Flittien
* Vokissen Confederation
* Terpeozia