Treaty of Five Kings

The Treaty of Five Kings (五王之盟, m-gha′-gwjang-tje-mrang) was a long-standing political treaty between five states, Tsjinh, Sjing, Tengh, Pjang, and Dem, recognizing the primacy of the king of Tsjinh, concluded in 256. It brought a historiographical end to the Hexarchy that was characterized by warfare, though structures that existed prior to the treaty were not totally interrupted thereby. In canonical histories, the treaty was regarded as a founding moment for Themiclesia, though this representation has numerous shortcomings and is not accepted in all circles. Notably, some historians believe that the role of warfare was replaced by marriage and economic politics, but the competitive, unstable, and multifocal nature of the Hexarchy-era interstate system remained in progress.