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Despite the quarrelsome nature of the Wertians and their constant feuds both within and outside of their society, conflicts in this era are small and contained and rarely threaten the stability of Wertian Geran. The people of the west are still fearful of the invaders and remove themselves as far as possible from them, forming a sharp border south of Inverydd that splits the Wertian Kingdom in two; but the Kalparians of the Kalpa Valley are receptive for the newcomers’ trade, technology, and culture, leading to the second decline of ancient Kalparian traditions. The Kalpattu realm maintains its Kalparian nationality, but its identity is a thin veil over an Olgish-speaking, quasi-olgicized state. In this role, the Kalparians also maintain what little contact there is between Wertians and Aribelians. The young republic has long distrusted the war-like invaders from the south, whom they consider the spiritual successor of their Yamenaen enemy. Fearing for its own sovereignty, Aribel isolates itself from its neighbours both to the south and to the east. What limited trade remains with Geran flows through the domain of the eastern Kalparians. | Despite the quarrelsome nature of the Wertians and their constant feuds both within and outside of their society, conflicts in this era are small and contained and rarely threaten the stability of Wertian Geran. The people of the west are still fearful of the invaders and remove themselves as far as possible from them, forming a sharp border south of Inverydd that splits the Wertian Kingdom in two; but the Kalparians of the Kalpa Valley are receptive for the newcomers’ trade, technology, and culture, leading to the second decline of ancient Kalparian traditions. The Kalpattu realm maintains its Kalparian nationality, but its identity is a thin veil over an Olgish-speaking, quasi-olgicized state. In this role, the Kalparians also maintain what little contact there is between Wertians and Aribelians. The young republic has long distrusted the war-like invaders from the south, whom they consider the spiritual successor of their Yamenaen enemy. Fearing for its own sovereignty, Aribel isolates itself from its neighbours both to the south and to the east. What limited trade remains with Geran flows through the domain of the eastern Kalparians. | ||
Relations to the south remain in the friendly-hostile state common to most Olgish principalities. When Enethin establishes his rule over the Olgs of Belkondíl in 0 E.B., the Wertians silently ignore the call for their homage. They view themselves as Olgs in the broadest sense but do not consider themselves part of the narrower nation Enethin has claimed dominion over. This refusal of allegiance, similar to the resistance Enethin’s rule is facing in the mountains, sours relations between Belkondíl and Geran, but the Kingdom of Belkondíl is not forged yet, and the early Olgish kings are too occupied with their own affairs and too wary of the still-forbidding Wertian cavalry to interfere with Geranian affairs. It is only in 312 E.B., on the eve of the Olgish High Kingdom, that | Relations to the south remain in the friendly-hostile state common to most Olgish principalities. When Enethin establishes his rule over the Olgs of Belkondíl in 0 E.B., the Wertians silently ignore the call for their homage. They view themselves as Olgs in the broadest sense but do not consider themselves part of the narrower nation Enethin has claimed dominion over. This refusal of allegiance, similar to the resistance Enethin’s rule is facing in the mountains, sours relations between Belkondíl and Geran, but the Kingdom of Belkondíl is not forged yet, and the early Olgish kings are too occupied with their own affairs and too wary of the still-forbidding Wertian cavalry to interfere with Geranian affairs. It is only in 312 E.B., on the eve of the Olgish High Kingdom, that King Thulcárin I seeks, first by military and, after a series of devastating defeats, later by diplomatic means, to annex the Olgish-inhabited parts of Geran to his kingdom, but his attempts fail, culminating in the desperate Invasion of the Ilathw and Thulcárin’s death in battle in 315. | ||
===The Olgish High Kingdom=== | ===The Olgish High Kingdom=== | ||
Another century will pass ere the long-saught reconciliation between Belkondíl and the Wertians is achieved. When the more peaceful policies of Thulcárin’s successors foster trade and immigration in Belkondíl, beginning what will later be known as the Olgish High Kingdom, the increase of material power in both rural and urban areas sets populations in motion. The great Olgish harbour cities of the Hajalad are from the beginning part of the ever-growing network of trade routes along Elondor’s western shores, and their wealth and prestige attract immigrants from Belkondíl. It is around this time that the Hajalad is given its name, and soon, not only the larger cities but also the open land between the coast and the hills of the inland become the target of an Olgish exodus. Beginning in the late 320s, the fourth and fifth century see a great influx of Olgs into Geran. Most of them hail from the impoverished west of Belkondíl, hoping for better chances in the Norian Bight and perhaps even a taste of the luxuries the Hajalad has become infamous for. | Another century will pass ere the long-saught reconciliation between Belkondíl and the Wertians is achieved. When the more peaceful policies of Thulcárin’s successors foster trade and immigration in Belkondíl, beginning what will later be known as the Olgish High Kingdom, the increase of material power in both rural and urban areas sets populations in motion. The great Olgish harbour cities of the Hajalad are from the beginning part of the ever-growing network of trade routes along Elondor’s western shores, and their wealth and prestige attract immigrants from Belkondíl. It is around this time that the Hajalad is given its name, and soon, not only the larger cities but also the open land between the coast and the hills of the inland become the target of an Olgish exodus. Beginning in the late 320s, the fourth and fifth century see a great influx of Olgs into Geran. Most of them hail from the impoverished west of Belkondíl, hoping for better chances in the Norian Bight and perhaps even a taste of the luxuries the Hajalad has become infamous for. | ||
The swathes of settlers from Orinion, Atrissar, and the Mairn first make their homes in the southern Hajalad, but even the open and empty land between Darinsford and Ahtar does not have room for all of them, and their interests soon turn further north. As the Belkondilian Olgs spread, the Geranians are forced to retreat from their native lands, or diminish and drown in the culture of the newcomers. By the mid-sixth century, the Kalparian language is extinct here as it had already been in the east for several centuries. The various dialects of Hayan will remain spoken until the days of Lécaron, but they are not thought fondly | The swathes of settlers from Orinion, Atrissar, and the Mairn first make their homes in the southern Hajalad, but even the open and empty land between Darinsford and Ahtar does not have room for all of them, and their interests soon turn further north. As the Belkondilian Olgs spread, the Geranians are forced to retreat from their native lands, or diminish and drown in the culture of the newcomers. By the mid-sixth century, the Kalparian language is extinct here as it had already been in the east for several centuries. The various dialects of Hayan will remain spoken until the days of Lécaron, but they are not thought of fondly and driven into shadow by an increasingly self-conscious and nationalistic Olgish majority. Untouched remain only trade and commerce, and the Hajalad’s gluttonous reputation. | ||
Not least animated by the persisting wealth of western Geran, | Not least animated by the persisting wealth of western Geran, the ever-roving gaze of the Wertians is soon turned to their newly neighbouring relations. King Aeneleg II is the first Wertian ruler who, his father of the same name having already united his own people in a largely ceremonial and peaceful campaign E.B. 395–408, in 432 claims his right as high king of all Geranian Olgs. The region is still formally without a ruler but in fact controlled by a new merchant elite that has emerged from an astute few among the Olgish settlers trading with and marrying into the old Hayan merchant families. The Wertian claim to this land is at first met with indifference but eventually received with mixed feelings, as the descendants of the settlers fleeing the harsh conditions in western Belkondíl see their designs of a stable new country under a single ruler come to light and especially the peasant class hopes for a king to reign in the relatively unrestricted excesses of the wealthy merchants but at the same time fear for their newly found freedom. Aeneleg offers the latter protection and relative freedom in exchange for modest, but compared to the relative poverty of the Heath substantial, tribute payments. At first unwilling to agree to these terms, the representatives sent by the merchant families are soon intimidated by the military strength Aeneleg has brought to the negotiations held at [[Ancient Invarydd]] and confirm the terms of their submittal with only minor amendments concerning the Hayan cities’ rights in imposing customs fees. Returning home, they are met with disdain from their families and the populace at large, who accuse them of having sold their new country for ‘three dried fish and a jug of sour milk’. | ||
===The Wars of Fish and Milk=== | |||
Nonetheless, the agreement is honoured at first, and over the following five years the Hajalad is peacefully integrated into Aeneleg’s Olgish kingdom. A new capital is constructed at the site of negotiations in Invarydd and new trade routes established connecting the coast with the Heath in the mountains inland, under the powerful protection of the Wertian cavalry. It is only in the autumn of 437 that the Hayan Olgs refuse payment of the in their eyes injust Wertian Taxes. Aeneleg enters negotiations calmly, either hiding his ire or seeing a long-expected threat come true. A drastic restriction of taxable transactions—largely relieving the merchants from their obligations and putting a greater strain on the general population—, the formation of an official recognized merchant guild—the [[Hayan Trade Magistrates]] based in Bernab—, and Aeneleg’s assurance that Wertian warriors remain on the Heath and do not enter the Hajalad initially settle the dispute, but the newfound peace cannot last. With the Hayan peasantry suffering and increasingly unable to fulfill their tax duties, Aeneleg once again exalts taxes on the merchants in 446, and, once again, the powerful Magistrates refuse to honour their obligations. His patience running thin and under the constant threat of seeming weak to the Wertian earls, who themselves have only recently submitted to a greater ruler, Aeneleg rallies his vassals in Invarydd and marches on Bernab. | |||
-> the magistrates hire mercenaries from the Mairn etc. > Aeneleg dies in battle > he is succeeded by an earl who doesn't care about the land but takes the riches and withdraws > the magistrates are unable to pay their mercenaries > the mercenaries begin to raid the countryside > the populace tries to resist > eventually they work together in a great uprising > the magistrates fall > a short-lived republic under a new mercenary nobility > prosperity > What then? > eventually, the Wertians take the land back > all of this can take abt 400 years | |||
-> Great wealth in 4th century brings influx of Belkondilian Olgish settlers (mostly from Orinion, Atrissar, and Mairn) who occupy the southern Hajalad and slowly move north, marginalizing the Hayans and western Kalparians, until Kalparian is fully extinct; Hayan and Noridic survive but are suppressed -- only Olgish should be spoken in this Olgish country | -> Great wealth in 4th century brings influx of Belkondilian Olgish settlers (mostly from Orinion, Atrissar, and Mairn) who occupy the southern Hajalad and slowly move north, marginalizing the Hayans and western Kalparians, until Kalparian is fully extinct; Hayan and Noridic survive but are suppressed -- only Olgish should be spoken in this Olgish country | ||