Kingdom of Randaland

Kingdom of Randaland Ubwami yigihugu ya-Eranda
1681–1890
Status	Kingdom
Capital	Ichambu
Common languages	Randa, Rwizi, Kirobyi
Religion	Fetishism, Badi, Irfan, Sotirianity
Demonym(s)	Randa
Umwami
• 1681–1710	Kunesha Manirambona
• 1713–1762	Ingwe Manirambona
• 1833–1879	Joseph Manirambona
• 1879–1890	Thomas Manirambona
Historical era	Toubacterie
• Overthrow of Umwami	1681
• Annexation into Estmere	1890
Succeeded by Colony of Riziland File:Rwizicolonialflagb.png
Today part of	Mabifia Rwizikuru

The Kingdom of Randaland (Randa: Ubwami yigihugu ya-Eranda) was a state in present-day western Rwizikuru, centred in the modern-day province of Thongaland that existed from 1681 until it was annexed into the Estmerish colony of Riziland in 1890. The Kingdom of Randaland was historically subordinate to an axial houregery until the late seventeenth century, when Kunesha Manirambona deposed the previous hourege, taking the position for himself.

Randaland would peak under Ingwe Manirambona, who reigned from 1713 to 1762, during which time Randaland would be a significant player in the Transvehemens slave trade. However, following Ingwe's death, a series of succession crises weakened the realm, which was exacerbated by the end of the slave trade in the late eighteenth century.

By the nineteenth century, despite some efforts by Tekanyi Manirambona and his son, Joseph Manirambona to rebuild the state's power, the intensification of Toubacterie saw Randaland become more and more influenced by Estmere, until by 1890, Joseph's son, Thomas Manirambona formally ceded Randaland's sovereignty to Estmere.

History

Until 1681, the Kingdom of Randaland was always subordinate to an axial houregery, either the Kambou Empire or the Rwizi Empire. With the collapse of the two by the late seventeenth century, and the overthrow of the previous karane of Randaland by Kunesha Manirambona in 1681, the Kingdom of Randaland no longer had a higher hourege.

Taking advantage of the Transvehemens slave trade and the weakened position of its neighbours, Kunesha Manirambona would engage in tetere against neighbouring villages and states to capture slaves so that he could enrich his realm via the sale of slaves to Euclean trading posts. The wealth acquired by the sale of slaves enabled Manirambona to build a capital in Ichambu, which he envisioned to be a "new Munzwa."

When Kunesha Manirambona died in 1710, he was initially succeeded by his eldest son, Imfura I Manirambona. Imfura I would die in 1711 during a raid, leading to Imfura's younger brother, Igesa, becoming the Umwami of Randaland. Igesa died from sleeping sickness, leading to Igesa's younger brother, Ingwe Manirambona, to take the throne.

During Ingwe's rule, Randaland was at its zenith, with the slave trade being very profitable, even after Estmere's defeat in the Ten Years' War in 1721. In order to secure more slaves, raids had to be conducted, which helped increase Randaland's prestige at the expense of its neighbours. Furthermore, the decline of the Aguda Empire's influence in Randaland enabled Randaland to advance towards the Maccan Sea, and by the early 1760s, Randaland would be at its greatest extent.

Following the death of Ingwe Manirambona in 1762, he was succeeded by his youngest surviving brother, Hererezi Manirambona. Hererezi largely continued Ingwe's policies during his tenure as Umwami. However, tensions began rising between his eldest surviving nephew, Hayagiza, and his eldest son, Imfura, over succession, as Randaland used agnatic seniority for monarchical succession.

After the death of Hererezi in 1777, as he had no surviving brothers, the throne passed to the next generation, with Hayagiza inheriting the throne. Imfura, outraged that he did not become Umwami, would start a civil war to try and secure the throne for himself, with Imfura setting up his capital in Irembo. At the Battle of Ichambu in 1778, Hayagiza managed to capture Imfura, ending the civil war. However, Hererezi died of old age in 1779, leading to his cousin, Ikinege to accede the throne. Ikinege would convert to Solarian Catholicism on his deathbed, and designated his son, Impore I, to succeed him.

Impore I's succession was opposed by his uncle, Kurongora, who would have otherwise inherited the throne. Supported by the warriors and the Fetishist clergy, Kurongora would murder Impore I, and assumed the throne for himself. After experiencing five monarchs in three years, Kurongora's main priority was to try to rebuild Randaland's strength, and to rebuild its slave-based economy. However, Kurongora would die of malaria in 1785, and was succeeded by his brother, Igihombe.

Randaland was dealt a fatal blow when in 1790, Gaullica abolished the slave trade. As Estmere had already abolished the slave trade in 1741, this meant that Randaland would no longer be able to pay their warriors, and to massacres against the Mirites. In 1794, Igihombe was murdered by his own warriors, who installed Igihombe's cousin, Horereza.

Horereza would see the influence of Randaland completely decline, while the continued economic devastation led to continued unrest: in 1797, Horereza was murdered by his own brother, Igihuna I, who in turn was assassinated by his own warriors in favor of his younger brother, Kwicumba. The continued unrest and internal turmoil in turn hampered any efforts to rebuild Randaland's economy following the end of slavery, and also led to the collapse of Randaland's influence outside of the capital in Ichambu.

In 1805, Tekanyi Manirambona would accede to the throne. By this point, Randaland went through eighteen monarchs in a space of thirty years, with Randaland being significantly weakened due to a combination of the end of the slave trade and civil wars. Despite a very stagnant economy, and the Kingdom only comprising of Ichambu and its surrounding environs, Tekanyi Manirambona would attempt to reassert the authority of the Umwami outside of Ichambu. In 1813, Tekanyi converted to the Embrian Communion, along with his sons, and adopted Sotirian names, with Tekanyi taking on the name of David.

By the time of Tekanyi's death in 1833, Randaland, although very much a shadow of its former self, had reasserted some limited authority in Randa-speaking regions. Tekanyi appointed his "eldest Sotirian-born son," Joseph, to succeed him, which outraged both Kwitanga, Tekanyi's eldest son, and Kwihanukira, who was the eldest surviving great-grandson of Kunesha, as Tekanyi died without any younger brothers or cousins.

Joseph appealed to the Saint Geoffrey's Company for them to recognise him as King of the Randas, who accepted Joseph's claim to the Randan throne. Interpreting it as being effective Estmerish support for his claim, Joseph would suppress Kwitanga and Kwihanukira's attempts to claim the throne of Randaland, solidifying his hold as Umwami. However, this came at the cost of deepening Estmerish influence in Randaland, which would only increase further after 1863, when Estmere took direct control of the lands previously owned by the Saint Geoffrey's Company. This led to both Estmerish encroachment on Randaland, and to a reduction of the powers that were previously enjoyed by the Umwami. In 1874, Randaland officially became a protectorate of Estmere.

In 1879, Joseph died, and was succeeded by his eldest surviving son, Thomas Manirambona. By this point, the principle of primogeniture was accepted among the Manirambona family, while the powers of the Umwami had effectively dwindled to a merely ceremonial position, although Thomas would nominally rule over Randaland. Following the Estmero-Verizi War, where parts of Randaland were occupied by Verizi Empire's forces, concerns about Randaland being a new focal point for a revolt against Estmerish rule led to calls for Randaland to be annexed into the Colony of Riziland. Thus, in 1890, under significant Estmerish pressure, Thomas was forced to "permanently cede all sovereign powers" in Riziland to the Estmerish crown, ending the independent existence of Randaland.

However, Thomas would continue to use the title of Umwami as a courtesy title until his death in 1902. Since then, Thomas' descendants have used the title of Umwami, and in 1968, the Umwami of Randaland was officially recognised by the Rwizikuran monarchy as Prince of the Randa.

List of monarchs

1. Kunesha Manirambona (c. 1681-1710)
2. Imfura I Manirambona (1710-1711)
3. Igesa Manirambona (1712-1713)
4. Ingwe Manirambona (1713-1762)
5. Hererezi Manirambona (1762-1777)
6. Hayagiza Manirambona (1777-1779)
7. Ikinege Manirambona (1779-1780)
8. Impore I Manirambona (1780)
9. Kurongora Manirambona (1780-1785)
10. Igihombe Manirambona (1785-1794)
11. Horereza Manirambona (1794-1797)
12. Igihuna I Manirambona (1797)
13. Kwichumba Manirambona (1797-1798)
14. Kwichunguza Manirambona (1798-1799)
15. Inzovu Manirambona (1799)
16. Imfura II Manirambona (1799-1801)
17. Intama Manirambona (1801-1802)
18. Guterekera Manirambona (1802)
19. Impore II Manirambona (1802)
20. Kurama Manirambona (1802-1803)
21. Igihuna II (1803-1805)
22. Tekanyi Manirambona (1805-1833)
23. Joseph Manirambona (1833-1879)
24. Thomas Manirambona (1879-1890)