Orchoris Domain
Orchoris Domain | |||||||||
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| 1305–1521 | |||||||||
 Flag | |||||||||
 The Domain's territory at its greatest extent. | |||||||||
| Capital | Hellichrotos | ||||||||
| Common languages | Makedonian Early Slavic | ||||||||
| Religion | Zobethos | ||||||||
| Demonym(s) | Orchorisian | ||||||||
| Archon | |||||||||
• 1305 - 1326 | Orchoris | ||||||||
• 1500 - 1521 | Zyvatlas Pragelos | ||||||||
| History | |||||||||
• Established | 1305 | ||||||||
• Dissolved | 1521 | ||||||||
| Currency | Drachma | ||||||||
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The Orchoris Domain was a Rump state of the Symmerian Empire that emerged in the 14th Century as a de facto independent state following the Fall of the Symmerian Empire in 1305. The Domain ruled over much of former Symmerian holdings in the Boreagros, namely lands in the modern-day state of Górska.
The conquest of Syara by the Adamdar Empire in the early 14th Century brought an end to Symmeria as an independent state, reforming into the tributary Symmerian Khanate, subject to the Great Khan. At the time of its conquest the Symmerian Empire largely been reduced to the Symmerian Peninsula, the lands west of the Kurilla Mountains, with Górska the only remaining territory outside of Siduri to remain in Symmerian hands. At the time the region was known as "Boreas" and under the control of the appointed Archon Orchoris, himself a Symmerian noble. The exact circumstances under which the Domain became independent are unclear. It is likely the Adamdar were aware of Symmerian holdings in Eracura, but these lands were not referenced or addressed specifically by Temiarlan Khan in his subjugation of Syara. It is possible that the Khan was not aware of the extent of Symmerian territory, or was distracted by the Rawwadid Sultanate. Górskan historian and author Wojciech Kotłowski argues that the Adamdar, originating in the Siduri steppe, likely did not envision their empire stretching beyond the oceans that they themselves were not accustomed to, although this claim has been disputed.
If Orchoris ever officially declared independence from the Empire, the details of it are lost to history. By 1320 however coins were being minted in Orchoris' name bearing the Symmerian letter Omega and the title "Last of the Symmerians", which was likely an effort by Orchoris to establish himself as a legitimate, if final, incarnation of the Empire. His ability to retain rule was largely dependent on remnants of the Arktikoi Phylakes, the North Guards, the Symmerian military forces that had been in Eracura prior in 1305. Shortly after the end of the Empire the North Guards began an extensive construction campaign along the southern coastline, building fortresses and towers, evidently to defend against a potential Adamdar invasion. When Orchoris died in 1326 he was succeeded by Prokoidu, either his son or protege; either way he was reportedly very young, possibly as young as 19, and did not enjoy strong support from the settlers, locals, and soldiers who comprised most of the Domain's population. Prokoidu responded by mustering what was left of the Guards to launch an incursion into the Górskan tribes in Siedlce, ostensibly to secure livestock, gold, and food, but primarily to prove of his ability to lead. Prokoidu was killed almost instantly in the raid, after which the Ochorisians retired back to their lands.
The surviving generals of the North Guards then elected a leader, Sabbas, who was then challenged by Cheperka of Panonia, resulting in a duel where Cheperka slew Sabbas, earning her the title of Archon of the Domain. The Ruvelkan-born warrior then led her own expedition into Siedlce, which this time proved successful at the cost of enraging the Górskan tribes, who mobilized an army of 40,000 men and invaded the Domain in 1328. Cheperka met the tribes in battle with her own army of 25,000 men; despite being outnumbered the Orchorisians prevailed, likely due to killing six of the Górskan chieftains, which demoralized their army and routed them. Cheperka captured most of the wagon trains and camp followers of the Górskans, including Adwiga, daughter of the slain Chieftain Adulf, whom Cheperka took back to her palace and married. This action provoked a mutiny among her officers, who protested that such a union would not produce an heir for the Domain, to which Cheperka announced that from then on the leadership of the Domain would fall to an election by the senior officers of the army.
Cheperka ruled for 16 more years until 1344 when she challenged an upstart officer named Therapon to a duel after Therapon had allegedly attempted to seduce Adwiga. However in a drunken state (the duel occurred in the middle of a festival), Cheperka fought poorly and was killed by Therapon, whom promptly declared himself Archon of the Domain. This proved unacceptable to the assembled guests, and Therpaon was seized and killed by the Karnak Brothers, Gregorius and Makarios, who subsequently took power and ruled jointly for three years until Makarios fell from his horse while hunting and died of his injuries, leaving Gregorious to rule alone. By now the threat of Adamdar invasion had receded and the Domain was functional; domestic sources of revenue came from mining, lumber, farming and metal works, while trade along the Sundering Sea brought in foreign goods from both Eracura and Siduri. The biggest problem facing the Domain were the Slavic tribes to the north.
Since the collapse of the Slavic League in the 13th Century, the various Kingdoms and tribes of the Slavs of Eracura had squabbled and waged war against another, contributing to the instability of the continent that had followed the dissolution of the Acrean Empire. Most of the borders of the Domain were settled by Górskan tribes which by the mid-century had began coalescing into distinct Kingdoms in Siedlce, Mielec, Chelm, and Belchatow. While no single kingdom was powerful enough to threaten the Domain on their own, the combined balance of power was titled in the favor of the Slavs, only interrupted by their tendency to fight amongst each other as much as they did against non-Slavs. Further north was the Kingdom of Dragovita, although not as powerful as it once was, still larger than the Domain. Despite being a military officer Gregorious attempted to leverage diplomacy to secure peace with the Górskans, succeeding with Mielec and Chelm, but was forced to go to war with Siedlce, which ended with the Orchorisian capture of the fortress of Molzaszta in 1350, after which peace was achieved by treaty.
Gregorious ruled for a total of 34 years before dying, with Askolon of Mretia following his reign. Askolon was only in the fourth year of his rule when King Bawon of Belchatow made war upon the Domain, invading Svydnika in 1382. Askolon rode out to meet Bawon in battle but was decisively defeated, thanks in large part to Bawon's adoption of firearms among his army, to which the Orchorisians had no response. Askolon fled back into Zamosc with the remains of his army, while Bawon secured his position in Svydnika before pursuing. Faced with defeat, Askolon emptied the Domain's coffers and furnished enough money to hire nearly 15,000 Slavic and Nordic mercenaries from neighboring Dragovita and Æþurheim. Askolon chose to avoid pitch battle until he had rebuilt his forces and harassed Bawon's army until Bawon invaded Zamosc in 1380. Having learned of the shortcomings of gunpowder, Askolon avoided battle as much as possible until the rains came, at which point he finally met Bawon south of Grudzin. Amid a damp and mud clogged battlefield Askolon successfully overpowered Bawon, who fell in battle and his army retreated. Askolon reconquered Svydnika then invaded Belchatow, incorporating it into the Domain.
The Orchorisians had prevailed, but the war had drained their treasury and devastated the land, all the while leaving the Domain with an army of mercenaries demanding compensation for their services. Askolon offered them land in Chryse, a promise he did not truly have the power to guarantee, but at least 8,000 of the mercenaries agreed, settling along the relatively unpopulated northern coast west of Rozan. If this settlement provoked a response from the locals, it is not recorded in history, although it would later have major impact on historical events. Askolon then set about rebuilding the Domain's infrastructure and economy, presiding over a period of relative stability for the 29 years of his reign which saw the Domain mark several technological advances, including the adoption of the mechanical clock, vertical windmills, handcannons, and ship building. This level of prosperity in turn brought about a resurgence of culture, with the construction of more than thirty Hellenic inspired theaters. Acting troupes sprung up, featuring retelling of ancient Kydonian plays remade with contemporary references. By far most significant was the adoption of the printing press, which made widespread production of printed medium possible.
By the 15th Century the Domain had effectively evolved from a militarized enclave to a mercantile state of artisans, traders, artists, actors, and inventors. Exploiting its strategic location along the Sundering Sea, the Domain continued to expand its trade routes, eventually reaching as far as Quenmin in the east and Ossoria in the north. Between trade, culture, and relative peace along its borders and internally, the early to mid 15th Century can be best summarized as the "Golden Era" of the Domain. In 1453 the Symmerian Rebellion broke out in Siduri, an attempted overthrow of Adamdar rule over Syara. Helladios, in his fifth year as Archon, reportedly dispatched 15,000 men to aid the effort, but this contingent does not appear in any Symmerian record; it's possible such information was lost when the Adamdar razed Parilla, or they were unable to reach Symmeria for unknown reasons. The defeat of the rebellion brought an end to the Symmerian Khanate and led to the establishment of the Rioni Union, effectively marking an end to a separate extant Hellenic culture in Syara; the Symmerian language would go extinct by the 19th Century.
An influx of refugees from Symmeria began arriving in both Chryse and the Domain following the defeat of the rebellion, which had far reaching effects. The arrival of refugees in Chryse caused the population of the island to rise, and led to an increasingly complex demographic situation as centuries old Symmerian settlements were intermixed with recently arrived refugees, on top of holdovers from the Slavokratia and other Slavic invasions. The situation taxed the resources of the island and led to the outbreak of violence sporadically throughout the century. In 1479 the Kingdom of Dragovita collapsed, marking an end to the last major state of the long defunct Slavic League. The fall of Dragovita in turn caused a ripple effect along the Slavic Kingdoms that bordered the Domain, leading to renewed violence and fighting. By far the most significant impact however was the rising Khoymyel Empire, who now stood as the undisputed Slavic power in Eracura.
In 1494 Dedomir II led his armies to conquer much of the former Dragovitan lands, before turning south and invading Sepronia in 1501. Although he died before it could be completed, his son Iziaslav continued his work and finished the campaign by 1506. Faced with a burgeoning Slavic empire encroaching close to the Domain, Soterios, Archon since 1499, attempted to enact an alliance with the Górskan Kingdoms, but his efforts were undermined by Khoymyel interference, who managed to turn the kingdoms of Bedzin and Siedlce into satraps. Contingent on this arrangement was the promise of land to be taken from the Domain, which prompted Soterios to raise any army from all available manpower and prepare for war. Labeling the act provocative, Iziaslav demanded that Seterious and the Domain submit to Khoymyel rule as a client state, along with ceding the territories of Svydnika, Tzcew, and Lomza to the Górskans. When Seterious refused, Iziaslav invaded in 1515.
By 1518 the Khoymyel had conquered all of Suwalki, which the Orchorisians were gradually forced to withdraw to before being forced to retreat entirely to the capital of Hellichrotos on the Haethune Peninsula, which was then besieged in 1519. Lacking a strong navy, the Khoymyel were originally unable to starve the city into submission, and attempts to quickly built a navy from local sources were thwarted by raids from the Orchorisians. Having failed to wait out the defenders, in the spring of 1521 Isiaslav brought forth heavy artillery, which was used to breach the city walls. Khoymyel troops then quickly invaded the city, overwhelming the defenders and bringing an end to the Orchoris Domain.
The conquest of the Domain brought an end to the presence of Symmerian culture on Eracuran soil, which also paving the way for the complete Slavicization of Górska. The Khoymyel conquest also brought the Empire into contact with Slavic settlers on Chryse, who's call for aid would eventually trigger a Khoymyel invasion of the island and later conflict with the Rioni Union in the First Chryse War.