Later Symmerian Empire

In historiography, the Later Makedonian Empire (also referred to as the Late Imperial Period) refers to the history of Makedonian Empire from 825 CE until the Arkoennite conquest of Makedon in 1305.

The onset of the Burning Plague and subsequent Crisis of the Ninth Century are used to mark the division between the Empire's middle era and the Late Imperial Period, during which the Empire underwent rapid demographic change, violent internal conflict, and territorial recession as more than half of the Empire's provinces attempted to secede from Makedonian dominion. Led by King Aristoxenus, the Makedonians were able to re-assert domain over northern Siduri, but the devastation caused by the plague and resulting military conflicts had depopulated the Empire and severely damaged its internal trade network. The empire never fully recovered from the crisis and for the next five centuries would see a gradual decline in Makedonian rule over Siduri as civil wars, political and civil unrest, rebellions and foreign conflicts steadily drained and reduced Makedonian influence.

History

The Makedonian Empire emerged from the Crisis of the Ninth Century badly depleted and weakened. By some estimates, the population of the Empire had decreased by 15-20% as a result of the Burning Plague and the wars waged by Aristoxenus. Despite the defeat of the Tống Rebellion in Quenmin, Makedonian influence in Siduri was already beginning to wane. In an effort to rebuild Makedon's shattered economy, Aischylos forged ties with the Kingdom of Dragovita on the basis of trade relations. The influx of Slavic traders and merchants from Dragovita into Syara had the unintended side effect of promulgating the Slavic language of Dragovita into the Empire, especially with the Syaran population. Over the course of the next several centuries Slavic languages would gradually take root in Syara and by the time of the Arkoennite conquest more than half of Syara's population spoke a Slavic tongue rather than the Makedonian language.

Although the 10th Century saw a temporary "restoration" of Makedonian rule as the Empire slowly recovered from the disaster of the previous century, it did not last. Beginning in the 11th Century Makedon began facing rebellions once more across its territories as various tribes and nations sought to take advantage of Makedonian weakness to gain their independence. Four major rebellions broke out in Knichus, Górska, Serikos, and Mansuriyyah between 1000-1060, which the Makedonians bloodily suppressed. Continuous fighting with the al-Bashiri Caliphate in southern Mansuriyyah was a constant drain on Makedonian resources, paving the way for the Âu Lạc Rebellion.

The loss of Qunemin as a result of the Âu Lạc Alliance was a major blow to the Makedonian Empire, as Quenmin had been a major source of manpower and taxation revenue for centuries. The Quenminese victory itself spurned several more rebellions across the Empire, especially in neighboring Serikos which the Makedonians struggled to suppress. As a result of the loss of Quenmin, Makedonian influence in south-east Siduri began to seriously wane, worsened by the increased demands of taxes and tribute the Makedonians required to make up for the loss of Quenmin. Makedonian heavy handedness in Knichus and Mulajhrya spurned rebellions and insurrections which eventually drew in the Rideva Empire, resulting in the Makedonian-Ridevan War in 1148.

War with the Ridevans was beyond the capability of Makedon to sustain, and in 1161 the Empire was forced to sue for peace. The terms of the peace treaty forced the Makedonians to abandon their claims to Knichus and effectively ended Makedonian influence in Mulajhrya, bringing south-east Siduri fully out of Makedonian dominion. Emboldened by the Ridevan victory, the recently formed Rawwadid Sultanate waged war against the Makedonians, which ended in a Rawwadid victory at the Battle of Tell Saqara. Makedonian control of Mansuriyyah was brought to an end after 1,440 years.

With the Empire's treasury and manpower emptied, the Makedonians were unable to prevent their remaining territories from exercising increasing levels of autonomy, which further lessened Makedon's ability to collect tribute and taxes. By the mid-1200s much of southern Arkoenn was in a state of frequent rebellion, but it was the War of the Marked that finally began the Empire's final collapse. Initiated by Eryx I, the Viceroy of Serikos and backed by the Han peasantry, Serikos successfully broke away from the Empire depriving the Empire of it's last bastion of foreign manpower and revenue. The Empire began to rapidly recede in the face of Arkoennite conquests, who rapidly expanded into Ruvelka in the final years of the 13th Century. In 1303 the Arkoennites crossed the Kurilla Mountains and invaded Syara itself, leading to the decisive Battle of Nemaro in 1305 which resulted in the surrender of the Empire and its subjugation by Arkoenn.