Sirradra

The Autokratoria of Sirradra, ruling over the majority of Cymru, is the empire of the continent - bordering Tortuga, Requiem, and Aezenfjord, as well as small holdings in Sparwood along the border of Aezenfjord and Eisenland. Sirradra is a cosmopolitan, autocratic, nationalist state known for its advanced burreacracy. As a military stratocracy, it's centered around the power of its Autokrator, a leader chosen by merit to maintain and restore Cymru and its people. The nation was formed following the bloodless Viesten Coup, led by Kogan Martillus Justinianus, which overthrew Archôn Ryou Bakura of the Imperial Archonal Union. This caused the dissolution of the latter and its full absorption by Sirradra days later.

For its first half-century, Sirradra would inherit the Grim Calamity - a period of great famine, war, and plague that preceded the Autokratoria by a decade. This would come in the form of multiple invasions from Boulderists, the Hands, Galadonn, and D.U.T.Y. as part of the wider Istanboulder Campaign. The empire would overcome the Grim Calamity through various military and political successes, ultimately resulting in a period of great stability and prosperity known as the Andronikon Restoration, which would till Autokrator Antoninus's abdication. Before his abdication however, Antoninus would oversee the end of Istanboulder and its reincorporation of the rebel province. Nicodemus's ascension to the throne would finally complete Sirradra's affirmation of legitimacy by incorporating Demiarbez, most of Dorio, and the reunification of the province of Valron, accomplishing the campaign to restore Cymru.

Due to the Autokratoria's greater focus on consolidating the continent of Cymru, resources that were once used to expand Viodoxa's imperialist campaigns in Sparewood were diverted to support the needs of the provinces. The continent experienced a boom in population.

The nation is currently led by Autokrator Faustus IV "Nicodemus" Rex, since the 146th year.

Fall of the IAU
"Do not weep for the past, for we must forge a new path forward. Our government has failed us, and it has fallen upon those who see through the lies to create a better future for us all."

-Llyre es vel Volaerys, member of the Viesten Coup    The formation of the Autokratoria was instigated by the fall of the IAU, which began with the Paradise War. The war was waged between the Imperial Archonal Union and the Diarchy of Paradise, ending in a crushing defeat at Maxstadt. The destruction of the city and the stalled response from the dysfunctional government caused the provinces of Eisenland, Aussay, and Regonia to declare independence, alongside the vassal state of Avertico. In doing this, they formed the Bazingah Pact with the support of Galadonn, an empire created by Tsæloman-exile Cassius Potentia. This sudden loss of authority caused attitudes among the remaining states within the IAU to plummet, and members of the government attempted to salvage the situation. Under the new Archôn, Ryou Bakura, the long-awaited Constitution of the Imperial Archonal Union was published with the help of Llyre sel Bakura. He quickly conducted his coronation, which opposed to the opulence of Archôn Havi's Coronation, was attacked by Galadonni assassins. Following this, he continued to conduct his duties and affirmed the loyalties of Tsæloma, Valrôn, Fortunae, Adytum, and Silvay. Istanboulder, however, took the instability of the country as an opportunity to secede. Seeing the fall of the IAU, a secret meeting of the SDF convened, with members such as Lily, Ambit, Barend and Cube of Kartek, to discuss the division of Cymru between Kartek and Certaria. Due to continued government instability, a full Kartek-backed incursion into Cymru was successful, leading to the formation of the Visible State of Confusion & Ainsel (later known as the Aeternum Order of Hireathium & Requiem). This new breakaway would come to occupy all of the province of Doiro and much of Demiarbéz, and split Valron in half.

Difficulty in Cymru
In the later days of the IAU and into the early days of Sirradra, Cymru would be plagued by multiple foreign invasions, experience internal insurrections, suffer from resurging plague, undergo widespread famine from raided crop fields, and various civil conflicts between reactionaries. The most prominent event of the period was arguably the Istanboulder Campaign, a war which saw the deaths of thousands during its three sieges. Ironically, this turbulent time and its consequences would result in the rise of Sirradra, and the rapid development of the Sirradran Identity as a egalitarian and culturally-rich society.

Formation of Sirradra
On, several members of the legislature, particularly Prime Minister Kogan Justinianus and the ministers Llyre es vel Volaerys, Jericho dem Spheniscidae, and Flavius Rex, and Etriarch Alihas dem Spheniscidae forced Archôn Ryou Bakura out of office, placing him under house arrest as Kogan seized control of the government. The Viesten Military Junta was declared, and remained in power for several weeks before officially announcing itself as the Autokratoria of Sirradra. Kogan was installed as the Autokrator, and the constitution was rewritten to reflect the changes in the government. The primary intention of the revisions were to rectify the mistakes of the Union and the Archonates that came before, mainly aiming to increase provincial autonomy and to become a more isolationist yet stable state.

Antoninus III (Kogan) Martillus Rex
Being the creator of Sirradra comes with heavy burden, requiring someone who is knowledgeable in the courses of empire-building, and Kogan was no exception. In fact, he was beyond what Cymru could have asked for, as his wisdom granted him the talent for being calm, calculative, and strategic. All accounts describe Kogan as "possessing the youth and vigor of a young man" - despite being a century old. He is responsible for stabilizing the nation, introducing the Crimson Reforms, ending the Istanboulder Campaign, and introducing the Andronikon Golden Age.

Born in the purple of Fortunan Royalty, he grew up learning how to be a thoughtful and athletic young man. He was groomed to be a statesman and successor to Fortuna by his father, Basileus Flavius Justinianus, an accomplished military tactician. Kogan must have adopted the martial blood, as he took up the sword quickly. Rising high through Rathnir as the feared mercenary leader of Viesten, he learned only from the best of Viodoxa and Ryzan. He used such experience to great effect in cymru, defending Fortunae from the Karolians, ousting the J Horde, deposing Hazel McSpiegel, and defending the better interests of Cymru as a whole. When the Imperial Archonal Union was established, his military prowess gained him favor from the Viodoxans, to which they granted him the position of Prime Minister. Kogan would spend his time as Prime Minister emassing influence, both inside and outside of Cymru. This would culminate in taking advantage of the IAU's decline to establishing the Autokratoria.

Styling himself officially as Antoninus, the Autokrator was first and foremost a man of the army. When it came to ruling, he left most administration to his court, focusing mainly on the effectiveness of the military. Thus, Kogan has sometimes been seen as one who works in the backround of sirradra, but in battle he clearly displayed his might, repeatedly winning glory for the nation. Kogan ruled softly, but carried a strong backbone. He possessed the largest military in Cymru to back his throne, and his threats. As a statesman, he understood that he needed people, but not those he didn't want. To that end, he picked not only the most dedicated, but also the most talented to his vision - restoring Cymru.

Finding a National Identity
Kogan would stylize himself as Autokrator Antoninus Rex in. Despite this effort to increase his legitimacy, the people were still unresponsive to the change in administration. Many people were still suffering from the blight, disease, and warfare that ravaged the country. Autokrator Kogan would first have his people be involved in the nation-building of Sirradra, employing many into the Ministry of Culture, whom would design the national aesthetic and reinforce its ethos. Kogan then proceed to undertake many reforms, purging many from the Autokratorial Council (previously the Archonal Council). Many under Archon Ryou and Havi's reign had gone corrupt, holding insurrectionist sentiment towards the government, especially those originating from Istanboulder. The governor of Istanboulder, Bagelinian Yale, had been approached by Certarian leaders, under the command of the Hands and other anti-cymrite nations to stage a rebellion. Kogan, in order to handle this crisis, decided to implement numerous governmental reforms so that positions left over after his purge could be given to those loyal to Sirradra.

Crimson Reforms
From name changes to administrative reforms, Autokrator Kogan introduced the rector system, cementing his control over Sirradran provinces. He removed old traditions that hindered local authority, making it easier for Sirradra to establish communications and law. Kogan also reestablished the Autokratorial Council, which unlike the Archonal Council, did not hold special privileges or power. A position in which he would place those he wished to gain loyalty from, as figure heads. Using the responsibility that the Archonal Council used to have, Kogan would funnel these powers into the new positions he would later establish. Among these positions were borrowed ideas from Fortuna, such as Consul and Rector. This created a very articulate byzantine bureaucracy, ultimately relying on the strength and power of the Autokrator. The Autokrator also focused much energy on centralizing the military. In order to repel the many Vardenii, including supressing the great divide, created by the State of Confusion (D.U.T.Y.), Kogan made it his entire effort to reorganize the military. In the early years, this meant disbanding all militaries, temporarily, replacing it with his own known as Viesten. This did great wonders, preventing other provinces from splitting off, as Sirradra had a competent and reliable military to defend its state. In later years, Kogan's vision of a Sirradran military would finally be realized, as the importance of a Viesten presence would be replaced by its auxiliary forces, primarily made up by Cymrites.

Crusade to Save Cymru
The Crimson Reforms did much to prevent the end of a united Cymru, however it was not enough to prevent the tragedy that would follow. Sirradra would continue to be engulfed in warfare and unrelenting pressure. Autokrator Kogan had to deal with balancing his relations with the State of Confusion, which would launch raids and establish strongholds in Sirradran land. Kogan would also have to deal with the breakaway states of Aussay and Istanboulder. One way to mitigate the incoming siege from Istanboulder, was to weaken their allies. With great manuevering he broke up the Bazingah Pact, diswading several Sparwood states from entertaining the idea of an attack against Sirradra. Kogan then began to rally allies to his cause, such as Aldovir, Greenland, Kush, and Ryzan. He would also purchase many mercenaries, that were against the Hands, to help defend his territory. He then would begin appointing a man to Consulship, Maximal, who was the Prefect over the Magnus Enithica Prefecture (Fortunae Regnum). Kogan had chosen Maximal for several reasons:


 * 1) He needed new blood for his Auxiliary Army, and Maximal was Cymru's recruiter at the time.
 * 2) He needed to ensure Maximal's loyalty, as he was contemplating separating Magnus Enithica from Regnum Fortunae by force.
 * 3) If Maximal was Consul, Kogan could control his actions and prevent him from going rogue.

With that, Consul Maximal went about his way to convince the Southern Fortunan population to "give the new nation a chance", Maximal also recounts convincing those involved in a second coup, made up of disloyal Enithicans and Shalomans, from rebelling. For his part of the First Batle of Istanboulder, he was responsible for the recapturing Stoneguard for Silvay, which was a long process that wouldn't be completed until after the 2nd Battle of Istanboulder. He then organized the logistics for the army, buying military equipment for the soldiers, and convinced Autokrator Kogan to let Fjörgyien, his city, be the Sirradran HQ. He remembers keeping activity alive in the Empire by "recruiting people, checking in on them to make sure they are still active, or if they need anything to stay active".

While Maximal was working in the background, Autokrator Kogan had prepared a great force. With many expenses undertaken, he had the strength to launch an attack on the city of Istanboulder. But before he could, he faced a great crisis with The State of Confusion and Ainsel. The city Krigor was at a crossroads...

The Dance With Dragons, The Krigori Crisis
"'What is funny is that making Valron the center of freedom in Cymru, is the motto of my city... 'Feel the Freedom', and that is what we will have.'""-Queen Alvara's speech to her court about choosing Valrôn over The State of Confusion and Ainsel."Krigor, a city within the collapsing province of Valrôn, was on the border of the State of Confusion and Ainsel. It was under the management of Alvara Tizoc O'Valmen, who was the daughter of Valrôn's Rector, Mel Valronov. Rector Valronov had witnessed her realm be splintered into two halfs by the State of Confusion and Ainsel, and was losing control over her province. Alvara war furious that her mother took no action to prevent this apocalypse and left her city undefended to the Vardenii attacks. GBN of Kartek approached Alvara, attempting to convince her to join his State of Confusion, or continue to be attacked by his raids. Alvara saw this as a opportunity to bargain with her mother, by confronting the Sirradran Court with a ultimatium: either to make Queen Valronov abdicate the throne in favor of her, or she will split from Valron to take her realm into the State of Confusion and Ainsel. The Sirradran government panicked, and Autokrator Kogan was forced to deal with the situation himself. At first, Autokrator Kogan gave a firm stance, demanding that Alvara stand down or face being sacked as mayor. This deeply concerned Alvara, who worried about a war at the foot of her city, and the possibility the complete destruction of Krigor. So she turned to her oracle, the ghost of Queen Arcadia, within the Temple of Lapithos. Arcadia advised that she choose wisdom and follow Cymru, and so Alvara did and abandoned The State of Confusion and Ainsel. In revenge and out of spite for failing to take Krigor, GBN invaded Sirradra and took a stronghold right next to the castle of Mossheim in Silvay, threatening to besiege the city. However, Autokrator Kogan convinced GBN to back down and normalize relations. In an effort to gain the forgiveness of her Autokrator, Alvara promised Kogan enchanted diamond swords for the remainder of the war, to which he accepted. Thus ended the Krigori Crisis...

First Battle of Istanboulder
While only expecting boulderists, the Hands would show up from winning against the Vulperium, and on their high, would devastate the ragtag army of mercenaries and Sirradrans. On top of this issue, Kartek war veterans traveling along with the Hands, joined Istanboulder and their defence. The battle became a disaster - so much that Kogan himself would be severely wounded, but was lucky to make it out with his life. The Hands and other Istanboulders backers proceeded to attack the city of Fjörgyien and after a devastating battle, and Sirradran loss, Paragonite guerillas and mole fighters managed to harrass them back to their camps in Istanboulder.

Grim Calamity Storms Through Cymru
"We saw the IAU and Sirradra as the same nation. I don't remember the point when they became Sirradra, but they recklessly raided us, and we did the same. Galadonni's follow an eye for an eye very well..."

-King Cassius of Galadonn comments on his rivalry with Early Sirradra. The Sirradrans were broken at the first battle, as it ended indecisively. What was more of a blow was the attack on Fjörgyien by the Hands, devastating Fortunan land and stability. The Enithicans used this as an excuse to claim that Fortuna was too weak to rule Magnus Enithica. Consul Maximal would rally the Enithicans, with the support of Prefect Lachs, to accuse Basileus Flavius of neglect, despite Maximal threatening Flavius to never enter South Fortuna previously. This problem would be exacerbated by Lapithos and Kogan's Fiancé, Alessandra of Aldovir, pressing defamation charges on the Consul, after Maximal had held its residences in contempt for scaring the nobles of the Babs Family. Such a trial for Maximal never came to fruition as Lapithos dropped the charges. Sirradra would also lose one of its royal members, Kogan's son Maximus, who was assassinated by the hands for being too powerful of a warrior to Sirradra. Galadonnians, led by Leader and Chief Cassius, arrived from the seas, bypassing the Kumaur navy, and struck the heartland of Sirradran territory. As retribution for aiding the Aldoviri in their conflict over the Aldovir Penninsula against Galadonn, Cassius would order the murder of the villagers, the burning fields, and the assassination of Alessandra. It was in this struggle that the State of Confusion began to put more pressure on Sirradra, thus Kogan would take action against the Vardenii before their southern frontier could be exploited. Fjörgyien was rebuilt with help coming from all over Sirradra, including Fortuna, which had sent Kogan's son, Ioseph Determinata Martillus (Minister of Finances), to make sure Fortunans were doing their part as well. Kogan would also increase conscription of frontier forces, creating the Limitanei, Sirradra's imperial levies, to be the first line of defense against invasions. Although both battles ending in results that were not what Sirradra was after, the national resolve proceeded to strengthen with the newly revealed presence of foreign powers involved in the SDF. Autokrator Kogan finally revealed to the people that their enemies to have been part of a pact to carve up the IAU between eachother, such as Karteki, Hands, Bardonians and others. This rallied the people, and developed a sense of unity Cymru had not seen in many ages.

Rise of Tsaeloma
"In Tsaeloma, we were all pretty hyped up because it was a new regime and there was that expected increase in activity. [...] Tsaeloma was probably the liviest it had ever been since the reign of Oliver.

-Andros Martillus "Loaf" Justinianus recalling Early Sirradra within his home town. Tsaeloma, unlike Valrôn, Fortuna, and Silvay, was luckily spared from much of the pillaging conducted by Vardenos, and remained Sirradra's most stable province, but also like Valrôn, was underdeveloped and was neglected under the Imperial Archonal Union. That was until in September, Alihas resignd from being Rector and Autokrator Kogan took in the Aetolian Scholar from The State of Confusion and Ainsel, Nicodemus. Rector Nicodemus set out to revive and restore Tsaeloma, and enlisted the help of Slid of Magnus Enithica to help bring in new people into the settlement of Voitshenheiger. He had the help of up and rising Tsaelomans, such as Azazel, a scholar such as he, and Andros Martillus, son of Kogan who had the talent for finance. Together, they made Tsaeloma wealthy in gold and culture, as Azazel educated the Tsaelomans on how to read, and Andros managed relations between Sirradran government and Tsaeloman HQ. Soon, Azazel would be appointed Deputy of Culture for Sirradra, and Rector Nicodemus would make Andros the Earl of Wordesh and Autokrator Kogan would make him the new Minister of Finance after his brother, Ioseph Determinata Martillus, would resign. This would bring the education and funds necessary to clear the rubble the old Galadonnians left behind in Wordesh, pre-exile. Ryou Bakura would lend his aid to Nicodemus to help draft new agendas for Tsaeloma's development, beginning the reconsolidation of Hollow and Molacarth into Wordesh, and the expansion of Black Waters / Saerturat into the ruins of De Sloog and Rican.From the word of Quaerendo_Invenietis, Nicodemus himself. Under Tsaelerin Nicodemus, Tsaeloma would go from a ruined province, into a fully-functioning and rich state through the Grim Calamity.

Rise of Valrôn
After the Krigori Crisis, Mel Valronov promised her daughter, Alvara, the line of succession, allowing her to have more influence in the court. Using her new influence, Alvara began the process of integrating Krigor properly into the rest of Valrôn, and the homogenization of the Valrôni idenity. Weeks later, Mel would resign and Alvara would proclaim the "Queendom of Valrôn". Queen Alvara would begin the production of wartime materials for the Sirradran Army, in order to win favor of Autokrator Kogan. She also began the importation of Silvish technology to increase food production in order to remove famine from her realm. This resulted in a huge baby boom within Valrôn with the more people fed, and a revolutionizing in Valrôn cuisine, art, and practices. From what was only the O'Valmen family living in the ruins of Valrôn City, became what should be considered an entire metropolis of a province, larger than that of Fortunae City. It was in this time that Queen Alvara, with the help of her great niece, Alice, began her liberal reforms. Taking inspiration from Loyalist Uldarash and their legacy, she reformed her entire government to allow the people many freedoms, and access to many healthcare services. Finally, Queen Alvara became close in her partnership with the leader of Yuria, Nagisa Yamato. They would eventually marry right before the end of the Istanboulder Campaign.

Second Battle of Istanboulder
"We do what we do for the sake of Valrôn. My children! AVERI VALRON!" "-Queen Alvara rallying her Krigori warband into enemy trenches at The Second Battle of Istanboulder." This time around, Kogan was aware of the force they are facing, and as such went all out to gather more elite soldiers and mercenaries both domestically and abroad to bolster the army ranks. The Sirradran army had more quality and strength, along with the Viestenese veteran army providing a strong Vanguard, aided the push through the Ferryman Fort to the walls in order to avoid the very well prepared and sturdy defences of Istanboulder. The Autokrator, despite his wounds, joined his army at lifting the ladders up the walls, raising morale and bolstering the army's resolve. The north eastern wall was breached as well as Sirradran troops scaling the shared wall of Istanboulder and Ferrymen fort. However, the boulderists replenished their forces and activated their first advantage, unleashing berry bushes and numerous other traps on the attackers.The Sirradran army was winning and beating back the boulderist allies however, slowly but surely, and gained supremacy over the port and northern part of the city.They were getting closer and closer and were approaching the city center, whose capture would be a sure victory for Sirradra. Maximus and Grand Marshal Jericho would cut through their way into the city, and almost reach its center. Logistics began to hinder the Sirradran army, however that wasnt a issue as victory was in their grasp nonetheless. Unbeknownst to the Sirradrans, around the clocktower of the city the Boulderists placed explosives underneath the area and once they realised that Sirradra would soon enough capture the center, they detonated their explosives, splitting off Sirradran forces and Boulderist forces and killing many on both sides in the process. It was impossible to capture the city at that point, and so Kogan would order his armies to withdraw. The battle would be a loss. The Boulderists suffered great losses, and their capital was turned into craters and ash both due to their own doing, and Sirradran bombardment, but as damaged as it was, the city would remain theirs for a little while longer. The Sirradran's were beating the Hands, kill-wise, however, it was a victory but unable to get the siege point in the battle, the battle would end in a defacto draw.

Development/Rise of Sirradra
"'Sirradra came from need. At the time Sirradra was created, I was the Minister of Culture and tried involving myself with the other parts of the nation to see its growth and stability. At the time, there were well-estabilished governmental positions in certain departments and lacking in others, (to which it) has become better in many ways [...]. Sirradra's culture as a whole was also established across Rathnir, deferentiating it from the I.A.U. or any previous Cymrite nation. Though many of the friends before have left, a new generation is here...'""-Xeno Bakura Maxwell, Prime Minister of Sirradra under Autokrator Nicodemus."

"Why did I ever give into any thought of sparing pathetic shits like you? Karolians, Hazelites, Hands, Bardonians, you are all the same - mindless."

-Kogan speaking to an imprisoned Boulderist.

Government

 * Autokrator: Nicodemus of Aetolia
 * Consul: Undye
 * Prime Minister: Xeno Maxwell-Bakura

Ministers

 * Minister of Architecture: Sigfrida Rheinhard Ludwig val Oberstein
 * Deputy: Nagisa Yamato
 * Minister of Commerce and Finance: Andros Martillus "Loaf" Justinianus
 * Deputy: Mathias Dem Spheniscidae
 * Deputy: Sigfrida Rheinhard Ludwig val Oberstein
 * Deputy: Boxy þeirHolr
 * Minister of Communication: Luca Brizzo ad Alendir
 * Deputy: None
 * Minister of Culture: Dānjel Āmphed von Ifrīldhim
 * Deputy: Alice of AweBriiss
 * Minister of Foreign Affairs: Nicodemus of Aetolia
 * Deputy: Damien Teutonicus ad Alendir
 * Grand Marshal: Kogan Martillus Justinianus
 * Deputy: Undye
 * Deputy: InYourTv
 * Minister of Recruitment: Kornis Yamato O'Valmen (Taco)
 * Deputy: Fawkes Teutonicus ad Alendir

Rectors

 * Adytum: Feniks Fleminius
 * Fortuna: Flavius Justinianus
 * Tsaeloma: Andros Martillus "Loaf" Justinianus
 * Silvay: Aldagautr Asagrim
 * Valron-Yuria: Alvara
 * Novoros: Fawkes Teutonicus ad Alendir
 * Magnus Enithica: Luca Brizzo Vulidion-Ad Alendir
 * Demiarbéz: Throsaere Kotudaar
 * Eldaria: Otey

Provinces
Sirradra is divided in 9 official provinces, those being:
 * Brouenhanzen of Silvay (Capital: Miklagard)
 * Regnum Fortunae (Capital: Fortuna)
 * Diarchy of Valron-Yuria (Capital: Valron)
 * Æðelod of Tsaeloma (Capital: Voitshenheiger)
 * Archduchy of Adytum (Capital: Viodoxa City)
 * Principality of Novoros (Capital: Cadabia)
 * Magnus Enithica (Capital: Fjörgyien)
 * Governorate of Demiarbéz (Capital: Nova Ohrid)
 * Province of Eldaria (Capital: Hitlum)

Etymology
"Sirradra" comes from the Escharian name for the region, deriving from the Nieðene term meaning "Southern Edge." This is possibly due to the extensive Soleannen influence on the region and former Escharian influence over Aezenfjord.

Geography
Sirradra is located in Rathnir in the southeastern continent of Cymru. It encompasses most of the continent's land, alongside some territory in Sparwood Minor.