Secens

Not to be confused with Sekens.

Secenic horse warriors as depicted by Cjetor Dasen, 1856

The Secens or Old Secenic people were a North Nelbec ethnos that inhabited northeastern Nelbecia during the Nelborne dark ages. Secens spoke Old Secenic whose dialects would form the present Secenic languages. Secens and are commonly accepted as the ancestors of modern Sekens, Fjeskans, and other Secenic peoples.

The earliest mention of Secens is attested from North Nelbec writings from the Classical era, when Proto-Secenic was likely spoken. As a nation, the Secens established the Secenic Empire in the early Middle Ages under the fabled leadership of Myna. As the state decentralized into various duchies, it later transformed into the Secenic Confederation before ultimately becoming proclaimed as the Kingdom of Seketan by Moress II in the 9th century.

Origins and early states

During the Classical era, Proto-Secenic was spoken by early Secens who formed tribal societies on the basin of Lake Seketan. There is little attested evidence of early Secens, however their likeness is mentioned in some North Nelbec writings.

Secenic Empire

Main article: Secenic Empire

By the 4th century, a recognizable Secen state formed with the emergence of the Secenic Empire. Written history of the empire's early existence is sparse, although its fabled founding was led by Myna according to Kingdom of Seketan historiography. The state was dominated by the Conils, a Secen tribe led centralized the state towards the capital of Conelibek.

A majority of Secen tribes and polities were subjected or dominated by the Secenic Empire. The Duchy of Fjeska remained nominally independent and expanded its influence southward. The territories of the empire were granted regional autonomy, gradually forming the Secenic duchies. Sememy, the last known Secenic emperor, reigned until c. 580 AD wherefrom the Secenic Confederation is traditionally dated as to have started.

Confederation

Main article: Secenic Confederation

See also: Secenic duchies

By the 6th century, the Secenic duchies yielded considerable authority as the central power of the Conils diminished. Their influence remained present in Old Secenic, which became the lingua franca of the Secenic duchies. Conelibek and the Lake Seketan region broadly remained an important centre for trade and cultural exchange between Secens. The confederation existed in a period of relative peace. Christianity first appeared in the 7th century and became widespread through the work of Saint Gjenor in the 9th century. Moress II of Conelibek would reunited the duchies and proclaim the Christian Kingdom of Seketan in the 9th century.

Legacy

Seketese, Fjeskan, and other dialects and languages are spoken today, forming the Secenic branch of the North Nelbec languages. Secenic society under their empire purportedly formed a common nation; its subsequent decentralization formed the Secenic duchies whose borders inspire the provinces of Seketan. Old Seketese emerged from Old Secenic as a liturgical language during the Christianization of Seketan. The Duchy of Fjeska remained a nominally independent polity from the succeeding Kingdom of Seketan, leading to the formation of Old Fjeskan as a recognizable written language.

See also

• Middle Nelborne