Gylias-Tennai relations
 Gylias |
 Tennai |
|---|---|
| Diplomatic mission | |
| Gylian Embassy, Aminjikarai | Tennaiite Embassy, Mişeyáke |
The relations between Gylias and Tennai have traditionally been close and friendly. Both nations have a centuries-long history of contact, encompassing both trade relations and cultural ties. Official relations were established in 1958, after the end of the Liberation War.
Today, the two countries enjoy strong bilateral relations, which have been at times compared to a special relationship. Tennai enjoys significant soft power in Gylias, particularly from cultural and economic ties, and cultivates extensive economic and strategic relations with Gylias as part of its "Look East" policy.
History
Liúşai League
The first records of contact between Gylics and Tennaiites date to the 5th century CE, between the Rideva Empire and the Liúşai League. As a result of the Ridevas' extensive conquests, the two polities gained a direct border.
The Empire and the League enjoyed good relations for most of their history; there were occasional border conflicts but these were largely minor. One of the major cultural exchanges was the transmission of Buddhism, which in turn produced Sofianism through religious syncretism. The Buddhist link led monastics and scholars to travel between the two countries, resulting in parallels in folkore and religious practices. In turn, the Ridevas' evolution into a Persianate society under Mansuri influence was transmitted to the League, creating a fashion for all things Persian.
The extensive ties with Tennai were a factor in Gylic mistrust of the Mansuri caliphates that arose during the Rideva decline and later became enemies in religious conflict. Queen Kavithana I Mattasupta is recorded as expressing a high opinion of the League's military performance in the Quliyasi Jihad and its governance.
Xevden
Xevden's victory in the Colonisation War interrupted direct relations for the better part of two centuries. During the Gylian ascendancy, Tennai was seen together with Kirisaki and Cacerta as models to look up to — despite a period of stagnation and decline, Tennai remained one of Siduri's notably prosperous and advanced countries until well into the Industrial Revolution.
Many Gylian activists escaped Xevdenite rule and took refuge in Tennai, particularly after the Gylian revolution of 1848 and the Glorious Rebellion. A Tennaiite-Gylian Association was established in 1904 — reflecting the popularisation of "Gylian" as the common term of identity.
Alscia
The establishment of Alscia allowed for a resumption of official relations. Alscia established a legation in Tennai in 1911.
During the 1920s, ties between Alscia and Tennai deepened, particularly as a deterioration of the world situation and rise of radical movements led the then-ruling queen, Jyotirmoyee Suravarjula Upaadhyayala I Vanpalla to appreciate the "stability and good common sense" of the Donatella Rossetti government. When the Siduri War broke out, Alscia supported Tennai as it fought back an invasion on the Tennaiite Front.
Liberation War
During the Liberation War, Tennai officially supported the Nerveiík Kingdom. Its overthrow on 31 December 1947 was very disappointing for Tennaiite policymakers, who found themselves forced to look for alternatives.
At the same time, Tennai cultivated ties with the Free Territories. Although the then-monarch expressed distaste for the Free Territories' anarchism, she was "pleasantly surprised" by their "reasonable and peaceful" inhabitants, commenting "they keep to themselves and don't bother us; we can do business with them".
The result was a "honeypot policy", with Tennai seeking to bring the Free Territories into its sphere of influence.
Capitalising on existing cultural ties, Tennaiite films were exported and extensively shown in the Free Territories, and several iconic stars such as Madhubala were sent on successful goodwill tours. Tennai's interest was in maintaining a balance of interests in eastern Siduri. The queen described the aim in one government meeting as follows: "the Gylians can make friends with whoever they want as long as they cooperate whenever we have reasonable requests".
Independence
Tennai established official relations with the Free Territories in 1950. The Free Territories embassy became the Gylian embassy after the Liberation War.
Tennaiite foreign policy after the Siduri War contained a "Look East" policy — wishing to avoid the encirclement that befell Ruvelka during the war, it sought to guard its eastern flank in particular. Owing to its history of relations and relative international marginalisation after the Liberation War, Gylias was a logical destination for increased co-operation efforts.
Much of Tennai's Gylias policy was shaped by four princesses, nicknamed the nāldevi ("four devi"). These were Gayatri Devi, Niloufer Khanum Sultana, and two separate Maharani named Sita Devi. All four served both officially as ambassadors to the Free Territories and Gylias, and unofficially through extensive cultural diplomacy.
The nāldevi were widely regarded as among the most glamorous women of their day, and according to one commentator, their "colourful and extravagant lives endeared themselves to Gylians raised to appreciate socialised luxury". Gayatri Devi was part of the Mişeyáqueens. Niloufer famously ingratiated herself into the inner circle of the Darnan Cyras government and ferroses, and was famed for her "jovially firm" advocacy of Tennaiite interests. One example was her firm insistence that the Varnaþ family be excluded from the Arnak Trials.
The period from 1958 to 1976 is considered the "golden age" of Tennaiite-Gylian relations. The Gylian-Tennaiite Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation was signed in 1962, specifying mutual strategic cooperation in areas of shared interest. Gylias sought to use ties to foster Tennaiite closeness to the Common Sphere. Trade between the two nations increased. Both shared the experience of post-war economic reconstruction and rapid growth, and broadly similar state-driven development policies. One illustrative example was the cooperation between Tennai Aerospace Industries and Gyliair.
Notably strong collaboration occurred in the cultural domain. Tennaiite cinema became an influence on the Gylian one, and Tennaiite films became popular in Gylias, contributing to a popular perception of Tennai as "an exotic and inviting country of ancient wisdom and strong-willed women".
The Beaties' visits to Tennai in 1965 and 1968 had a pivotal impact on their careers, and helped launch a craze for Tennaiite music which influenced Gylian psychedelic music. This development would reflect on Tennai during the Gylian Invasion as well, with the emergence of a raga rock scene that contrasted with the filmi-dominated mainstream. Niloufer played an important role in such cultural exchanges through her work in directing films, writing songs, and being a patron to the Tennaiite rock scene.
Relations were affected by the wretched decade, but subsequently recovered. Tennai's move to an export-oriented economy model led to ongoing collaboration in the fields of science and technology. Tennaite foreign policy continues to pursue the goal of keeping Gylias in its sphere of influence. Notably, Tennai stepped up its diplomatic efforts while Gylias and Ossoria's relations suffered after the Ossorian war crisis.
Tennai had become an associate member of the Common Sphere in the 1960s, in part to maintain advantageous trade. Over the years, its economic policies had broadly harmonised with the CS model, and with Gylian encouragement, it became a full member in 2015.
One commentator writes that Tennai's great investment in maintaining Gylias "placid and complaisant to its interests" advantages it by guarding its eastern flank against manoeuvres from Quenmin and Cacerta.