Meteoros Empire

The Meteoros Empire (adjective meteoroi) was an expansive imperial state in Lannonia that existed from the 4th century BCE to 2nd century CE. The Meteoroi arose from the Argilian civilization in modern-day Gostevia, being established by the kingdom of Tamania following its expansion across the Arpesa river basin and conquest of the Kalian civilization in modern Zesmynia. At its height in the 3rd century BCE, the Meteoroi spanned from Razaria to Nokhovia, established colonies in Mencia, and held hegemony over the Rimmory Sea. They were slowly weakened by war against the Neo-Sepcan Empire beginning in the 2nd century BCE, ultimately collapsing in the 2nd century CE.

Meteoros was a monarchy ruled by the nominally all-powerful nomopege ('source of law'), more commonly referred to as a basileus. For much of the empire's history after the death of Hypatos, the nomopege was in effect more a religious than directly political authority, and day-to-day administration was practiced by the archons, a class of rigorously educated and selected officials who possessed wide-ranging powers. At times actual power was concentrated with a particular archon thanks to informal influence, but the factional conflicts surrounding this weakened the political integrity of the empire and is thought to have contributed to its downfall. At a local level there were many councils administrating different aspects of local affairs, but their jurisdictions were so particularized that decisive action was usually taken at command of archons.

The Meteoroi had a significant influence on Lannonian culture and politics. Although the Argilian culture of the Meteoroi was fundamentally influenced by the Ancient Sepcan Empire, there were many innovations and differences in social structure, politics, and philosophy. The Meteoroi also continued to transmit the Sepcan tradition, most notably through the Lysandrene Canon, Argilian translations of Sepcan classic texts that served as the direct source of reference for all later scholars.