Rwizi Empire

Rwizi Empire Humambo hweRwizi
1160–1655
Coat of arms
Capital	Munzwa
Common languages	Rwizi, Sisulu, Njinji, Kirobyi
Religion	Fetishism, Irfan
Demonym(s)	Rwizi
Mambo
• 1160–1181	Sikarudzi
• 1437–1462	Chamunorwa
• 1654–1655	Takawira
Historical era	Djaladjie
• Established	1160
• Fall of Munzwa	1655
Today part of	Garambura Mabifia Maucha Rwizikuru Yemet

The Rwizi Empire (Rwizi: Humambo hweRwizi), also known as the Rizi Empire (not to be confused with the Estmero-Verizi War-era Rizi Empire), was a Houregic empire situated in Bahia which existed from the middle of twelfth century until its collapse in 1655 following the conquest of the capital of Munzwa by the Kambou Empire. At its height in the fifteenth century, it extended as far west as present-day Mabifia and as far east as Maucha. However, wars with the neighbouring Kambou Empire led to the empire's demise when Kambou conquered Munzwa.

Origins

As the village system gave way to Hourege, the ideas made by Koyizo Nzorfu spread to what would become present-day Rwizikuru, with chief Tamuka of Munzwa following the example of Nzorfu to combat the spread of Irfan to the region. Over the next few centuries, the Bahian Consolidation took place, with various statelets following the Houregic model merging with one another, via a process of wars, and submission.

In 1160, the leader of Munzwa, chief Sikarudzi declared himself Mambo, and thus establishing the Rwizi Empire. During the early stages, the Rwizi Empire constructed its position as being an axial houregery, allowing it to exert significant influence over the rest of the Bahian subcontinent. However, its position meant that it was at frequent conflict with the neighbouring Kambou Empire, which sought to conquer the Rwizi Empire and convert the area to Irfan, leading to frequent wars between the two polities.

Over the next few centuries, the Rwizi Empire began expanding east towards the Gonda River, while it also took control of Yekumavirira, albeit the latter would often be in conflict with the Kambou Empire, frequently alternating between the two sides. By the fourteenth century, it had effective control of present-day Rwizikuru and Garambura, as well as parts of present-day Maucha and Mabifia.

Golden age

Ruins of Old Munzwa, 1996

In the fifteenth century, the position of the Rwizi Empire was strengthened at the time that the Bahian Golden Age took place. As one of the primary axial houregeries, alongside the Kambou Empire, it played a significant role in the Kupokana Kwevakachenjera, especially during the reign of Chamunorwa, when the Rwizi Empire had direct control from Yekumavirira (present-day Inkiko, Mabifia) in the west, to TBD (present-day TBD, Maucha) in the east, as well as indirect influence across (TBD).

During the Bahian Golden Age, Munzwa was an important political and intellectual centre in the Bahian subcontinent, while the economy of the Rwizi Empire was significantly dependent on slavery, as well as agriculture. Many of these products were exported to the rest of the continent by the Mufedha, Mirites, and other Coian merchants.

However, while there was significant wealth as a result of these connections that grew during the Bahian Golden Age, the exemption of the wealthy from taxation would lead to a decline in revenues, while the increasing affluence of the warrior caste would ultimately begin to weaken the structure of the Rwizi Empire, and make it more vulnerable to tetere, especially as minor houregeries on the frontier of the Rwizi Empire felt that the Rwizi Empire was no longer able to protect their interests. This in turn would lead to Mambos following Chamunorwa frequently being overthrown, which helped further weaken the Rwizi Empire.

Decline and collapse

By the middle of the sixteenth century, the Rwizi Empire was well into decline, as the political instability within the empire greatly eroded its power in the Bahian subcontinent. While Munzwa was still an intellectual centre and contributed to the Kupokana Kwevakachenjera, it was losing control of most of its indirect vassals to more powerful axial houregeries like its rival, the Kambou Empire in the west, and TBD in the north, while the rising Aguda Empire would occupy huge swathes of its territory by the early 1600s.

The loss of vassals led to the power of the Rwizi Empire declining, especially as it found itself being unable to protect their vassals from tetere, due to the various internal problems that were facing the Rwizi Empire. This meant that as its sphere of influence contracted, it provided expanding states like the Kambou Empire with greater influence.

It is believed that the final blow of the Rwizi Empire was the establishment of Port Graham by Estmerish merchants in 1628, which ushered the start of the murungocracy in the Bahian subcontinent, as while its establishment did provide short term benefits via trade with Eucleans seeking to transport slaves to the Asterias, the increased demand for slaves forced the Rwizi Empire to wage war against the Kambou Empire to acquire more slaves. In these wars, the Rwizi Empire lost more and more land and territory until by 1655, Munzwa itself fell to the Kambou Empire, marking the end of the Rwizi Empire.