Four Corners of the House of Troubles
'Four Corners of the House of Troubles' (Shangean: 烦恼之家的四个角 Fánnǎo zhī jiā de sì gè jiǎo) is a phrase that was used by Shangean historian Guo Fangai in his 1996 book The Coian Century: Crisis and Conquest, specifically regarding four important figures of the seventeenth century: Gurkhan of the Togoti Empire, Intharatcha of the Khaunban Empire, the Tianshun Emperor of the Toki Dynasty, and Zeyar Ko Zeyar of the Zaihar Empire. While Guo used the Zohist expression in a purely contextual manner from the viewpoint of a Red Orchid rebel in the 17th century, it was quickly taken up by Shangean nationalists, politicians, and Tsandau Zohist clergy. It began a debate over the use, promotion, and demonisation of historical figures, and particularly worsened relations between Shangea and Kuthina, the latter seeing it as an attack on a national hero, founding father, and ancestor of their monarchy. It has exacerbated divisions between Northern and Shangean historians, the former who see it as a dangerous reframing of history to fit political narratives, and the latter who decry Northern attempts to frame their history in an imperialist attempt to present Shangea as a weak country. The phrase also found currency with Zorasan's leadership, and has since become a common political phrase. Guo has since distanced himself from the phrase, claiming that it has been used inappropriately, and has promoted the more neutral alternative phrase 'Four Conquerors of the Coian Century', a stance endorsed by historians worldwide, as well as Zohist clergy of the Theuku and Busothaq schools.
Background
Four Conquerors
,_1467_edition.jpg)
Gurkhan
Gurkhan, also known as Jasur Khan, was a Sakiro-Pardarian monarch who founded the Togoti Empire. A skilled commander and astute politician, he extended the small Chagirid state into a vast multiethnic empire stretching from Lake Zindarud in the east to the Bay of Bashurat in the west. He was notable for his fast and brutal campaigns, and for his ruthlesness dealing with rivals, enemies, and burying alive poets who insulted him. Despite this he was also noted as a highly intelligent man known for patronising the arts, building temples, and holding grand debates with intellectuals, religious leaders, and scholars. Considered one of the last great nomadic conquerors, the short-lived Togoti Empire represented the swan song of the steppe conquests. After his death in 1662, during his ill-fated attempt to conquer Shangea amidst the collapse of the Jiao dynasty, the steppe would become increasingly marginalised as trade became increasingly sea-oriented. His own empire would collapse shortly after his death, falling into an internal civil war as his grandsons fought for the throne, before disappearing entirely as neighbouring states, such as the nascent Zaihar Empire, conquered the weakened remnants.
.jpg)
Intharatcha
Intharatcha, born Supsampantuwongse Chaowas Nai-Thim, was a Kasi monarch and was the founder of the Khaunban Empire, which lasted from 1647 to 1673. He was a highly intelligent, ruthless, and militaristic monarch whose 26-year reign saw the rapid creation of one of the largest empires in Coius. At his empire's height in 1665, his rule stretched from Rongzhuo in the west to Sungai Baru in the east, and he received tribute from over 20 nations. Intharatcha spent most of his ruling years on an unprecedented military campaign throughout Southeast Coius, and by the age of 35 he had subjugated most of it. Until his expedition into Shangea he remained undefeated in battle, and continued to win the vast majority of his battles. He is regarded as one of the most successful military commanders in history, known for his innovative strategies and Grand Army. While known less for it than his military achievements, his political, cultural, and religious legacy has made him one of the most celebrated monarchs of Kuthina, though he remains controversial in Shangea and elsewhere in Southeast Coius, as historians estimate his conquests may have led to the deaths of up to 20 million people, or 5% of the world's population at the time.
Intharatcha built an empire on a scale not seen in Southeast Coius before, one which in his mind rivalled and outshone that of the Svai Empire, and the concurrent Shangean and Senrian empires, both of which he sought to subjugate. Like previous Kasi monarchs he was a zealous Zohist and he built, converted, and patronised over a hundred temples. While his empire did not last, his unification of the Kasi Kingdoms of the Upper and Lower Lueng endured, as did the Kasi suzerainty of the Svai and Nyaram kingdoms. He remodelled the concept of Kasi kingship from that of a paternal father and personal ruler, to that of a divine autocratic monarch, a system which would endure until the Khanompang Revolution and institution of constitutional monarchy in 1961.
Tianshun Emperor
Zeyar Ko Zeyar
Politicisation
Shangea
Three Worthies
- Red Orchid guy
- Jiao prince who gets a good rep
- gentry-scholar who led a failed rebellion against Toki