Dzi dynasty

The Dzii dynasty (齊, dzii or dziai, 752 – ?) was a dynasty that governed Themiclesia and a number of foreign territories in modern-day Columbia, Maverica, and Meridia. It was founded in the wake of the financial crisis at the end of the Meng dynasty and was itself replaced by the Drjen dynasty, excessive military expenditure triggering an aristocratic revolt. The dynasty saw rule by 19 monarchs in 15 generations.

History

Financial crisis

The Meng dynasty (孟, mrangs) introduced the concept of the Mandate of Heaven to Themiclesia. This named the holder of the Mandate the supreme monarch of world and was justified through the ruler's righteous conduct and strengthened by the appearance of foreign states bearing tribute. When the Meng ruling house lost the last of its territories in Menghe and sought refuge in Themiclesia, it was concerned to have lost its Mandate; thus, in Themiclesia, it vigorously sought re-affirmation in the form of tributary activity. However, since Themiclesia did not maintain a standing army that could dominate surrounding polities, the Meng court used bribes to solicit them, with promises of more gifts once tribute was paid. In the 500s, this economized on military expense and generated the prestige desired; however, as news of free gold and brocade spread throughout the continent, expenditures mounted, sometimes accounting for 50% or more of annual outlays.

The court obtained its gold by conscripting peasants close to gold mines irrespective of their normal activities; the secondment of agricultural labour injured the financial interests of some of the nobility, who demanded changes to this foreign policy. To provide the labour-intensive silk brocades (surviving examples show double- and triple-cloth work), female prisoners were condemned to a life in weaving. In 684, an edict directed judges to "increase prison sentences to contribute to the defrayment of public expenses." In the final decades of the Meng dynasty, agricultural taxes reached half of total product, and peasants were further obliged to provide free labour for public works and to remit fabric as well as local peculiarities. Access to forests and rivers and the resources found in them were further dutiable. Of the revenue collected, half was regularly spent on foreign gifts, a quarter to finance the expenses of the imperial court, and the other quarter to pay civil servants' salaries.

Establishment and stabilization

Despite the obvious problems the Meng dynasty's foreign policy posed for the fiscal soundness of the state, courtiers were unwilling to alter the policy. The Dynasty's political legacy, to which was attached its foreign policy, was too powerful for any faction to challenge openly; those who spoke out against it were often branded as disloyal and were removed from power along with their families. In 721, Siaw Gjong and his nephew Siaw Mjangs, both aristocrats, rose to prominence. By shrewd negotiations with visiting diplomats and strategic alliances with other aristocratic families, they were able to reduce short-term expenditures on the Dynasty's foreign policy while avoiding humiliations at the same time. The restructuring of the public census also permitted them to penalize aristocrats that opposed them, while favouring those supporting. In the three final decades of the Meng dynasty, the Siaw clan acquired more land and tenancies, some at royal largess for specific policy successes; additional income permitted them to assist in diplomacy, which reflected as their achievements in office, further strengthening their reputation. In 745, Siaw Mjang's son, Siaw Tek-djing (later Emperor Mjen), was appointed Marshal of the Corridors, giving him considerable influence over the appointment of junior aristocrats to office. In 751, the final Meng emperor was persuaded by a near-unanimous coalition of civil servants to abdicate in favour of the Prince of Dzii, as Siaw Mjangs was known by this point.

After the Prince of Dzii took the throne, the renewal of the Mandate of Heaven permitted some profound policy changes to be made, without as much concern for the historical legacy of the Meng state. Siaw Mjangs, aged 69 when crowned emperor, ruled for only five years before his death, but taxation levels were reduced from half of total yield to a quarter, easing social tensions that had plagued the Meng dynasty. Siaw Mjangs also ordered his successors to swear an oath not to build new palaces except with five years of increasing revenues. While the dynasty claimed succession from the Meng dynasty (which began in 192 BCE in Menghe), early emperors were content with receiving only an eighth as many tributary states; instead, the funds saved were used to forge more useful, local alliances, in some cases making them satellite states. Diplomats became more versed in taking advantage of difficulties facing other polities to compel an alliance with Themiclesia. This policy contrast with the Meng's desire simply to have as many tributary states as possible and is called, by some, a success of pragmatism over vanity. This policy continued during the reigns of Emperors Mjen and Drjing.

List of monarchs

Posthumous Name		Temple Name		Personal Name		Courtesy Name		Reign	Years
Emperor Kaw	高皇帝	Great Temple	太祖	Siaw Mjangs	蕭望	Trjungs-mjen-djeng-pja	仲文成父	752-757	5
Emperor Mjen	文皇帝			Siaw Tek-drjeng	蕭德程	Trjungs-snul-pja	仲綏父	757-784	27
Emperor Drjeng	成皇帝			Siaw Le	蕭飴	Stjuk-hmui-pja	叔恢父	784-797	13
Emperor Mja	武皇帝	High Temple	高宗	Siaw Gwreps	蕭櫰	Trjungs-lial-pja	仲宜父	797-831	34
Emperor 'an	安皇帝			Siaw Gweng-'an	蕭弘諳		?	831-850	21
Emperor Kwang	光皇帝			Siaw Ngral	蕭岸	Prak-sun-pja	伯孫父	850-864	14
Emperor Tshjik	刺皇帝			Siaw Nga-len	蕭吾寅	Trjungs-rjang-pja	仲量父	864-887	23
Emperor Mjuk	穆皇帝			Siaw Gwreih	蕭匯	Prak-tun-gwal-pja	伯敦桓父	887-894	7
Emperor Hngjans	獻皇帝			Siaw Trjung-dek	蕭衷特	Krjei-mrjin-pja	季憫父	894-920	26
Emperor 'jit	懿皇帝	Perpetual Temple	世宗	Siaw 'wei	蕭隈	Trjungs-skljul-pja	仲筍父	920-965	45
Emperor Rjais	厲皇帝			Siaw Gwrans	蕭奐	Prak-sgljul-pja	伯詢父	965-967	2
Emperor Ngjuan	元皇帝	Middle Temple	仲宗	Siaw Ngja	蕭晤	Prak-hwal-pja	伯歡父	967-988	21
Emperor 'jen'	隱皇帝			Siaw Le-njing	蕭以仁	Trjungs-drjeng-pja	仲成父	988-992	4
Emperor Snjang	襄皇帝	Beautiful Temple	康宗	Siaw Le-ka'	蕭以古	Stjuk-rjeng-pja	叔齡父	992-1015	22
Emperor Mrjing	敏皇帝			Siaw Ljeh	蕭似	Stjuk-'an-pja	叔安父	1015-1044	29
Emperor K'u'	考皇帝			Siaw Kjung-njing	蕭恭人	Trjungs-'wen-pja	仲溫父	1044-1053	9
Emperor Daw	悼皇帝			Siaw Gars	蕭和	Prak-shljuns-pja	伯順父	1053-1058	5