Monumenta

Monumenta refers to the Northern civilization centered around Lake Monu, Lake Loya, and Lake Valk. The Monu peoples originally were a set of distinct tribes that lived near the lakes, often in a precarious position between the Venanstranic and Zlozi Mojkan tribes. The migration of the Venanstranics allowed for the tribal kingdom of Valkan to unite many of the Monic tribes in the northern parts of the Lake Monu, before their defeat at the hands of the Zoshani Kingdom. The Monu tribe, a powerful successor to the Valkan, the Mentan, whom were highly numerous, and the various Levian tribes that farmed along the Lova and south Monu coasts, united into the Monumenta-Levia Confederation after the Zoshani imposed heavy tribute on the Monic peoples. The Confederation founded the city of Monumenta in the center of the lake, along with defeating the Zoshani kingdom and gradually pushing back the surrounding Mojkan peoples on their frontiers for the next few centuries. After subsequent invasion by the Meloneshians and later Syetans, the Monus experienced a time of great expansion as their sister city Leventus also grew in size. The Confederation reformed into the First Kingdom of Monumentes-Levias under the Monu dynasty around this time, and fought the devastating Seige of Ida against the Meloneshians. Monu rule came to an end with the Three Titan Wars and Purvali conquest of the kingdom, until the Leventans reconquered Monumenta from the collapsing Purvali Empire. The Valk dynasty then took the throne, and a general time of peace encompassed the kingdom, though with growing rivals in Meloneshia and Zenur threatening their strength. Under the Valk, Monumenta also became dramatically more feudal, with decentralized Duchies and Counties taking more power in the countryside and outer cities. Prosperity continued under the Fumei dynasty, with Leventus gaining status as an equal kingdom to Monumenta. After a decadent and ineffective set of kings the Kingdom was on the verge of collapse during civil war and the invasion by the Revolutionary Idans. After the Yi won the civil war and fought off the Revolutionaries, they took control under the Yi dynasty.

Monumenta is renowned for being one of the most ancient and longstanding civilizations in the world. While Midlandic civilizations have been settled and urbanized for nearly one thousand years before the formation of the Valkan kingdom, The Monus have been roughly under the same political system for centuries after. The civilization has also rarely been under foreign rule or influence, instead exerting massive cultural and political dominance on its neighbors, most notably Meloneshia.

## History

### Tribal Origins

Originally the Monic peoples were a distinct ethno-linguistic group that lived native to the lands near Lake Monu and Lake Loya in the massive forest region of Mojk. The early Monics were divided into various tribes, with more settled farmers living along the eastern coast of both lakes often called the Levians, most Monus lived in the lands north and south of Lake Valk in more nomadic lifestyles. Traditions indicate that early Monus were likely much less inclined to fight each other than neighboring Mojkan and early Gei tribes, however this could be fabrication. At a certain point after the Venanstranic Migrations, a major tribal kingdom developed in the north of Lake Valk, naming themselves the Valkan. The Valkan, or Valk Kingdom, were the first to use the Eagle as a symbol of Monic peoples, and were able to consolidate power in the regions north of Lake Valk and Lake Monu. The Valk were famed for being a warrior tribe that was excellent at conquest. The Valk at this time engaged in a now near mythical conflict with the neighboring Zoshani Mojkan Kingdom, based around the modern city of Zon, and were defeated at this point. Accounts tend to depict the Zoshani as extremely cruel and merciless in their conquest, and imply an occupation of much of the northern areas of Lake Monu. Valkan lands then became divided between several successor tribes, most notably the Monu tribe. The Zoshani at a certain point instituted tribute on the various Levian and Monic tribes, and threatened to invade the entire region. An agreement of alliance was then made between the largest of the three Monic tribes- The Monus, successor to the Valkan and maintainers of most of the warrior traditions of their predecessors, The Mentans, notable mostly for having the largest number of people, and the Levians, notable for their farming. The three tribes agreed to form an alliance, and began to establish a small settlement on a tiny island in the middle of Lake Monu, which would later become the famed City of Monumenta.

### Confederation

After repeated threats from the Zoshani after tribute was no longer paid, the burgeoning alliance decided to strike and attack the Zoshani. Not much is known except that the alliance was successful in defeating the Zoshani, forcing them to migrate eastward and solidifying the area directly around Lake Monu as their own territory. The Monic had also largely migrated out of traditional lands near Lake Valk in favor of settling the burgeoning settlement and areas around Lake Monu. As the settlement began to become a city, walls were erected around the island, with artificial expansion of the island also being introduced to expand the size of the urbanity. The Monumenta-Levias Confederation was officially established, and as the tribes lived together the minimal cultural and tribal differences entirely eroded, until all Monic peoples were referred to as 'Monus', generally as shorthand for the entire city and confederation rather than dominance of the Monu tribe.

## Nobility

Monumenta as a feudal kingdom has various nobles representative of territories across their lands, however under Yi rule has returned to a more top-down absolutist form of administration. Different powerful nobles known as Houses often compete for the most significant territories and titles, with Houses that have ever ruled the Kingdom being named Dynastic Houses.

### Dynastic Houses

The following lists the Dynastic Houses and titles held by members of the respective families.

Monu

-Duke of Monela

-Count of Konen

-Count of Jina

-various other territorial holdings across the Kingdom and within the City of Monumenta

Valk

-Duke of Valkan

-various other territorial holdings across the Kingdom and within the City of Monumenta

Fumei (Branch Monu)

-Duke of Fumei

Yi

-King of Monumenta

-King of Leventus (nominal)

-King of Mojek (nominal)

-Duke of Fariah

-Count of Hogk

-Count of Monoh

-Count of Gimok

-Count of Zinah

### Houses (Non-Dynastic)

Zon

-Duke of Zon

-Duke-Governor of Zon (City)

-Holy Prince - a symbolic title bestowed for the religious significance of Zon

Ba

-Duke of Bayan

Ki

-Grand Count of Voland

-Duke of Frasa

Oneer

-Grand Count of East