Emalia (Origo Mundi)
Emalia | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| -10 OM - ??? | |||||||
| Capital | Ema | ||||||
| Common languages | Emalian, Mesallian | ||||||
| Religion |
Emalian (Official) | ||||||
| Government | Absolute Matriarchal Theocracy | ||||||
| Queen | |||||||
• -10 - ? | Nysia | ||||||
| Historical era | Ancient / Classical | ||||||
• Nysian Unification | c. -10 OM | ||||||
• Disestablished | ??? | ||||||
| Population | |||||||
• 800 | Unknown | ||||||
| |||||||
Emalia was an ancient monarchy centered around the Ema Delta on the continent of Letsia, believed to have formed around the year -10. The nation formed from the unification of previous kingdoms and tribes that had previously inhabited the delta for the past several centuries, under the leadership of the prophetess Nysia. Under her leadership the nation formed into a theocratic nation centered around the worship of Ema, the creator goddess and giver of life and fertility in Emalian culture, and developed a matriarchal society led by women.
The nation was heavily entwined with the culture of Ancient Mesallas to its west, which inhabited a similar but distinct way of life. By the fourth century the Mesallian colonization of the Gabatrian Sea saw increased intermixing between the Mesallians and Emalians. The conquests of Ioxemander the Great led to Emalia being annexed into the Mesallian Kingdom of Erasidon, although Emalia formally entered the union diplomatically through a marriage to Ioxemander, in which the queen still ruled as monarch of the Emalians. Emalia would play a central role in the wars of Ioxemander's successors after his untimely death in 420, with his son with the Emalian queen Pyra, Igneous, being a major claimant to the throne of the empire.
After this period the Ulm religion would begin to grow in popularity in Emalia, particularly the Shanzian sect of the Ulm religion that appealed to Emalia's matriarchal hierarchy. The region would begin a cultural shift, from its matriarchal, traditional background, to a Mesallian and Xeran influenced later period, and traditional Ulm doctrine, which was patriarchal, began to gain a foothold in the seventh century. In Emalia the shift from traditional Emalian culture to that of Mesallian culture was a centuries long process. From the nation’s founding, Emalia’s sphere of influence clashed with the societies of the Mesallian world, with the Ema Delta being a meeting place of culture and conflict. With Mesallians eventually making up a large portion of the northern population, and with a Mesallian government taking over for extended periods of time, the nation shifted toward a patriarchal society based on the traditional ideals of Mesallas. The civil war against the ruler Haliecles would confirm this shift, with his make descendants ruling over Emalia solely as king for the first time.
Under the reign of Tiramus, the former province of Ephenus conquered Emalia, which further solidified the rule of kings descended from Haliecles over Emalia. During this period of upheaval, the southern half of the nation, which was more traditional and less Mesallian in influence, broke away from northern rule. Under the rule of Queen Prophetess Sheba, the south of Emalia became de facto independent in the year 640. The outbreak of the Second Xeran-Yannian War prevented an Emalian response to the internal tensions and further weakened the nation. In 671 the capital city was sacked by the Yannians, leading to the fragmentation of the Emalia. Queen Sheba, later known as Shema, would lead an exodus to the south, while the former Emalian nation eventually coalescing into five divisions: the Kingdom of Ephenus led by Haliecles IV, Alsoba ruled by Odessa, the Kingdom of Sephimora, the Kingdom of Gabatria, and the Kingdom of Lyania. These divisions would later become united at various points into a loose federation known as the Empire of Emalia. During this period Emalia turned its attention to outward expansion, often contending with the neighboring nation of Edom.