Caedelia-Rhoak
"The Twin Kingdoms" and "Caedelia and Rhoak" redirect here.
The Twin Kingdoms of the Golden Crown of Saint Ceilhon | |
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| Capital and largest city | Corrhae |
| Official languages | Caedel Rhoacish |
| Recognised regional languages | Atteic, Cahuaniu, Chrotoecan, Cruoric, Eramian, Maric, Migandari, Teuric, Samagan Utheic (see languages) |
| Ethnic groups | |
| Demonym(s) | Caedelia-Rhoakian ? |
| Government | Dual Feudal Absolute Monarchy |
| King | |
| Chancellor | |
| Grand Chancellor | |
| Establishment | |
| 1248 IE | |
| 1326 IE | |
| Area | |
• Total | 396,360 km2 (153,040 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• 1384 estimate | ~7.5 million |
• Density | 18.92/km2 (49.0/sq mi) |
| Currency | Taer (τ) |
Caedelia-Rhoak, officially the Twin Kingdoms of the Golden Crown of Saint Ceilhon (Caedel: Ceisatrae-Dīdum sa Stēmrhae sa Hāgo Ceilhon; Rhoacish: Elhă Toħdicāv Sthav-Htoic Ħalerocā Celuth), sometimes referred to as the Twin Kingdoms, Caedelia and Rhoak or rarely the Lands of the Golden Crown, is a dual monarchy in a state of personal and civic union between the Kingdom of Caedelia and the Kingdom of Rhoak. It is located in inland Deteros, with a small shoreline on the Sea of Tovachy. It has borders with Bassiliya to the east, the Great Protectorate and Battlavia to the southeast, and Peraro Krotoik to the northwest. The Twin Kingdoms occupy a total land area of roughly 396,360 km2, with 128,884 km2 of this comprising Caedelia and her wider lands and the remaining 267,476 km2 of this comprising Rhoak. Combined, it has a population of roughly 7.5 million.
Both Caedelia and Rhoak both existed as territories within the purview of Peraro Krotoik. The land now comprising Rhoak existed as part of the Eastern Martial Province, importing a great deal of Krotoik culture to the region. To the north of the Martial Province lay the Shar Mountains, within which lay the tribal foederati, allies of Peraro Krotoik. In the Crisis of the 7th Century, the military governor declared independence from the central rule of the Peraro as the Principality of Ratia, which led to the foederati following suit. Previously harmonious relations gave way to open conflict, and by 913, the formation of the Kingdom of Caedelia cemented Caedel dominance in the Shar Mountains. 965 saw the invasion of Ratia by the Rhoacan ruler Ahtaħ Deler, and in 1026, the Rhoacish Confederation was formed. Over time, the Rhoacish people slowly adopted new customs from the local people of their state, and the Confederation started to become a centralised feudal kingdom and a local power. In 1248, Rhoacish King Rabahc died childless, and was replaced by his daughter Văhtera, who was married to King [___] of Caedelia. This union of the crowns became known as the Union of Iscor, and was the first of several unions over the next century that tightened relations between Caedelia and Rhoak. In 1326, the Union of the Golden Crown was signed into effect, allowing the separate Caedelia and Rhoak to continue the personal union between them indefinitely.
Caedelia and Rhoak is marked by a unique succession system, known as the Golden Privilege, the strong authority of the monarch in national and international affairs and for the extremely multiethnic composition of the nation. The state possesses a strong and diversified army, as well as fiercely defended borders and large numbers of fortifications, ranging from ancient tribal oppida, Krotoik fortified settlements and newer castles and fortifications built to enforce law and control local areas. Strong in primary industries and with high quantities of natural resources present within the state, Caedelia and Rhoak is a definite regional power and a key player in northern Deteros.
Etymology
The name Caedelia derives from the Caedel word Caedellīe, meaning "land of the Caedel". Originally applying to one tribe within the Krotoik foederati, the word caedel is believed to come from an archaic term for "braided hair" which has since fallen out of use in modern Caedel language. As such, the ethnonym "Caedel" can be roughly translated as "people of the braided hair". The Caedel particle -līe is a common affix referring to a country or nation. Caedelia-proper is defined as the four modern-day regions of Aollia, Taolhia, Treshar and Rhasour, though the Kingdom of Caedelia extends all the way west to Marania and all the way east to the Sea of Tovachy.
Rhoak is somewhat more difficult to derive. The word "Rhoak" is a direct borrowing from the Caedel Rhoac, a term utilised as an exonym for the Rhoacish people since their arrival in Rhoak in 1026. It has been suggested that it derives from the Caedel raoc, meaning "brown", likely for the colour of their hair or their eponymous horses, the Rhoacish brownhair, though this is by no means certain. Another possible etymology is from the Rhoacish răht, being a word for "people" or "ethnicity" in Rhoacish. However, the Rhoacish people refer to themselves as Scahtichi, likely deriving from the phrase "those who bow", referring to the practice of bowing for the leaders of the Kingdom present within Rhoacish society. The Krotoik name for the territory, Ratia, is considered an unlikely candidate for the etymology of the region.
The practice of merging the two names to form a compound name has only existed since the 1326 Union of the Golden Crown, when the Kingdoms were brought into an official union. This union also gave rise to the official long-form of the nation's name, being "the Twin Kingdoms of the Golden Crown of Saint Ceilhon". Gold is a metal of great ceremonial significance to Caedel culture, with the practice of gifting a golden medallion to the children of the monarch born during the monarch's reign giving rise to the so-called Golden Privilege, and so crowns of gold in Caedel society are only ever reserved for monarchs, with lower ranking nobles being permitted only to wear silver crowns. Saint Ceilhon, or Ceilhon the Great, was the first ruler of an independent Caedelia, and according to legend was the first ruler to accept the Otoist faith within Caedelia. As such, he is venerated as the patron saint of Caedelia and one of the most important Caedel religious figures.
History
See also: History of Caedelia-Rhoak
Antiquity
The area that now comprises Caedelia and Rhoak was settled in pre-Krotoik times by various Tansic tribes throughout the majority of the region, with a smaller area of Briesic settlement in the far east of the country on the Tovachic coast. These two distinct peoples have early evidence of conflict and warfare, and it is believed that some of the earliest examples of war spears existed within this context.
At a point predating the arrival of the Peraro Krotoik into the area, numerous Deleric tribes invaded into the territory from the north. While it is not known exactly from where the Deler originated, numerous origins point to far northern Deteros, or even southern Oskiya. The Deler were skilled in forest and mountain warfare, and while they did not come to dominate the area until after the 7th Century, they formed for themselves a large cultural heartland extending further north than modern day Caedelia. The Caedeler tribe were one of the Deleric tribes to enter into Caedelia.
At some point during the rising Peraro Krotoik, the territory was conquered. The southern portion of the territory, between the Shar and Attes mountains, at the time inhabited by a patchwork of Tansic tribes, was incorporated into the Eastern Martial Province, sometimes referred to as Ratia. Throughout the mountains, the Krotoik employed a system of foederati, tribal allies who paid fealty to the Peraro Krotoik but over whom limited authority was exerted. In later times, these foederati would become further incorporated into the Peraro.
Numerous fortified towns and settlements were founded by the Peraro Krotoik, some located on the location of earlier Tansic oppida. Some of these forts became fortified towns and cities, while others remain forts to this day utilised by the Caedelian and Rhoacish states or repurposed into castles.
Post-Krotoik History
See also: Principality of Ratia and Caedel Dukedom
The Crisis of the 7th Century saw numerous widespread rebellions within the Peraro Krotoik, with many regions declaring themselves either successors to the Peraro or independent territories. In the year 607 IE, the Senate declared that a number of prominent generals were to be tried and executed for their part in an alleged conspiracy against the Peraro Krotoik. The military governor of Ratia, Arigines Ratos, was one such military leader, who first declared independence from the central government, but was later declared an Emperor by his troops. Despite this declaration, none of his successors, including his adopted son Alexandros, styled themselves as Emperors, instead preferring the Krotoik-derived title "Prince" of their new territory. During this period, the Krotoik inhabitants of Ratia, having intermingled with the Tansic peoples (now firmly divided into Cruoric and Palkaric peoples), began to form a new Chrotoecan identity native to the region.
Meanwhile, the foederati were now free from the yoke of Krotoik protection. While the Principality attempted to exert control over the Shar and Attes mountains, the tribes declared their own independence, with intermittent conflicts occurring throughout the now fractious region. The Caedel, led by their first leader Ceilhon, formed the Caedel Dukedom in 619 IE. From this year onward, the Caedel would be ruled by one or more dukes. Other states that emerged within the Shar mountains included Erigia, Uthai, Darcadia, Boramia and Marania.
In 923, after a great many conquests and disputes, the Kingdom of Caedelia would be formed, with the Caedel becoming the most prominent people group of the Shar mountains. Caedel culture adopted a number of the trappings of old Krotoik majesty. It was also during this time that the Principality of Ratia now began to decline significantly, with the standards of the old Imperial army slacking greatly. A series of wars between Caedelia and Ratia called the Caedel Wars ended in stalemate, with the Caedel forces managing to hold firmly along their defensive fortifications but not being able to penetrate into the Ratian plains. Caedelia would consolidate its full control over the Shar and Attes mountains by 1058.
Rhoacish Invasions
See also: Rhoacish conquest of Ratia and Rhoacish Confederation
Foundation of the Rhoacish state is connected to the Rhoacish conquerors, who arrived from Central Deteros in waves, beginning with the Invasion of Ahtaħ Deler. 965 saw the first wave of Rhoacish conquests, with their swift cavalry tactics proving effective against the undisciplined Chrotoecan forces. The Rhoacish Deler, Ahtaħ, accepted the surrender of a great many Chrotoecan nobles, and it initially seemed as though the Rhoacish people would peacefully intermingle with the Chrotoecan and Tansic peoples. However, further Rhoacish incursions, including many wars where Rhoacish settlers fought against new Rhoacish arrivals, caused the Rhoacish people to eventually outnumber the other people of the region, and for the lands of Rhoak to now resemble a patchwork of semi-independent Rhoacish fiefdoms. The Rhoacish Confederation was formed in 1026 as a union between the tribes.
Geography
See also: Geography of Caedelia-Rhoak
The land of Caedelia and Rhoak is largely defined by three main geographic features: the Shar Mountains across the north of the country, the Attes Mountains across the eastern edge of the country, and the Sharatian Basin. The Shar mountains pass through the Chrotoecan Principalities and up along the main length of Caedelia, where it meets the north-south oriented Attes, which continue through Caedelia and down the eastern border of Rhoak. The Sharatian Basin generally covers central Rhoak, and is generally flat and surrounded on the north and east sides by both mountain ranges.
Caedelia and Rhoak covers an area of 396,360 km2. 128,884 km2 of this area comprises the Kingdom of Caedelia and her wider lands, and the remaining 267,476 km2 of this makes up the Kingdom of Rhoak. Both of Caedelia and Rhoak's longest borders are with each other, with the border spanning [___] km in length. In the furthest western reaches of Rhoak, there is a short border with Peraro Krotoik. To the southeast, Rhoak borders Battlavia along the Attes mountains, and as the mountains rise and move further east, both Caedelia and Rhoak border the Great Protectorate along the [___] river. Finally, there is a sizeable border between Caedelia and Bassiliya, with the eastern reaches of this border containing numerous exclaves. Through this border, Caedelia has scant access to the Sea of Tovachy. The border stretches northward along the northern Attes mountains.
Climate
Government
See also: Government of Caedelia-Rhoak
Demographics
See also: Demographics of Caedelia-Rhoak
Caedelia and Rhoak's population is estimated to be roughly 7.5 million, with population growth remaining stable. There is an estimated population density of 18.92 citizens per square kilometre. The royal capital of Caedelia and Rhoak is Corrhae, a city with a population of [___], which is known for its cultural offerings and strong economy. Named in honour of Corrhae Castle, it has been the capital of the Kingdom of Rhoak since shortly after its founding in 923.
Immigration to Caedelia and Rhoak from outside countries is fairly low, with the number of foreign-born residents of the nation being lower than 1%. However, the country is extremely ethnically and linguistically diverse, with a wide variety of people groups living within the nation.
Languages
See also: Languages of Caedelia-Rhoak
Economy
See also: Economy of Caedelia-Rhoak
Culture and Society
See also: Culture of Caedelia and Culture of Rhoak
Military
See also: Caedelian Military Structure
Foreign Relations
See also: Caedelian Foreign Relations
