Sixth Empire of Bardonia

The Dandelist Empire of Bardonia, also known as the Sixth Empire of Bardonia or simply the Bardonian Empire, was a nation in eastern Syltor. Its capital was located in Dorasterrock. It was the eighteenth Bardonian government and lasted longer than any previous Bardonian administration. It set the precedent for a truly long-term imperial system within Bardonia, having eight emperors, five of which functioned under a diarchal system. It saw Bardonia's highest ever recorded population and the lowest levels of stability during the Second West March War and the later Parahands Coalition War. Following the secession of the Bardonian Soldier's Republic and continual losses against foreign powers, the Empire would ultimately collapse along familial boundaries, coalescing under the Union of Greater Plagos.

Etymology
Bardonia is named after the pre-existing discord server of its founder members, The First Republic of Bardonia, which is called "Dank Bard". In Aurlûnoren, it is called "Orchendor", which literally means Dandelion Land.

Collapse of the Imperium
After the seccession of Necrazel from the Imperium, it would begin its fast decline. While the growth rate of Escharia and Yimmu-Audal stagnated and fell, a "Bardonian renaissance" would be under way. With power back in the hands of the Bardonians the nation began to recover and rebuild. Dandelism would be re-introduced, while many infrastructure projects would begin. Andreas and Howertt quickly consolidated power and underwent a period of expansion into Nieden alongside Simulami, establishing the Realm of Escharia as a vassal state. During this period, Bardonia would explode in population, attracting many foreign investors and powers to seek close relations with the new state. It would begin operating in foreign conflicts, such as the War in Vastallos and the War in Aldovir.

This would sour relations with their neighbours, the Aurlunoren-Ryzani Empire, who had been attempting to curb Bardonian expansionism by building up alliance blocs and encouraging nations to cut off relations with Bardonia. Following this, Bardonia would begin the Second West March War, the longest war in Rathnir and Eldham history, as they attempted to conquer Aurlunor-Ryzan. Following the tie of the Bardonian military at the Siege of Tossagrad, the state would enter a series of leadership changes.

Three Days of Hell leadership crisis
The day leading up to the battle, Andreas would sell the entire Bardonian Armory to Galadonn, and an hour before Bardonia would march to war, Yazov of the Kingdom of Nieden supplied sets from his own armory for Bardonian use after Andreas had threatened the Kingdom vassal. With this and after the draw at the first battle and little morale management from leadership and high government, morale plummeted, but Bards continued on. However, fingers were being pointed at current Autarch Howertt who hadn't assisted in any preparation besides handing out armor in a disorganized unprepared manner. Andreas, feeling the drop in morale stepped down from his position as Autarch, giving his seat to Yazov. Talks led by Yazov and Howertt made a private vote to make peace with Ryzan, according to him most of the high government wanted this. Howertt and Yazov asked for terms from Geo and signed the treaty before it was reviewed by anyone else. The terms specified that Bardonia pay 4 million currency and let Ryzan oversee Bardonia's government.

This treaty was released publicly only after the Autarchs had signed, which enraged the higher government and citizens, they wanted peace, not surrender. As the citizens begged the Autarchs to reconsider, even going as far to write responses denying the treaty's legitimacy, Howertt threatened the Bardonians. "If you denounce the treaty, I walk" Howertt threatened. Instead of enforcing his choice, Howertt threatened to leave, which caused the Bardonians to push against Howertt. Yazov remained quiet on the matter besides stating that he didn't read the treaty and that Howertt asked him to sign it, so he did. Andreas, recognizing the mistake he had made, lead a coup which overthrew both Howertt and Yazov, he pulled Crezyman who had just returned to Bardonia into Howertt's seat while he reclaimed the one he gave to Yazov. Following this coup, Howertt went to Bardonia's allies which signed treaties only under him and every ally backed out all support for Bardonia.

Second West March War
The UCS began their counteroffensive on October 23rd following the allies of Bardonia backing out. With the first battle to take New Dorasterrock resulting in a hotly contested UCS victory, mainly thanks to the extra assistance of Shirokaneza, the elite forces which had been brought in by Howertt. However, before the second battle for the city, Bardonia announced that they would become a vassal of Velerin, resulting in them switching sides and fighting for Bardonia during the second battle. The second battle was declared a Bardonian victory, which was only won by one point. The decision was argued and contested, leading to stoneworks ownership intervention, recognizing Bardonias win. The 990 ACA Counteroffensive conducted by the UCS and its allies was declared a a mediocre success, and after the collapse of Velerin and the stepping down of Crezyman, some town owners who disliked Bardonia's trajectory at the time began to defect.

Republican secession
After a brief period of peace, Ryzan would go on to threaten New Dorasterrock with a third battle, Crezyman would decide to leave the city to a close ally who could handle the city while he stepped away from most of his public offices, that was also agreed upon with Ryzan, this player was Wrenbee. Shortly afterwards, Wren announced the secession of New Dorasterrock from the empire, and claimed large amounts of unclaimed land that they had no connection too, under the banner of the Republic of Bardonia, as a democratic force calling for reform and closer ties to the UCS. The central government declared the secession as illegitimate, merely a puppet state with the backing of the UCS. Over the course of November and early December, more provinces would secede from Bardonia, including Port Solanaria. Under Emperor Shanks however, most of the secessions were a ploy meant to undermine the republican effort, as a majority of the seceding cities were set in force by Shanks, to protect them temporarily, and leak info from UCS and Repuiblic officials back to Bardonia. At this time, Coltmaere, Oxeya-Kazan and the Escharian Realm also departed from the empire, however through peaceful terms.

Second Westmarch victory
The UCS announced that following a proposition for peace on the 6th December 2022, they would be going after Dorasterrock and two other important eastern claims. the Bardonians would decline the peace offer, due to Geo demanding ownership of the Bardonians discord, which at the time and currently is the largest nation discord on Stoneworks. And as a result of the declined peace deal, Geo announced they would be attacking Dorasterrock, Prata and Lobopolis at the same time on the 12th December from Carthya, Tossagrad and Sanctuary. The involvement of Sanctuary as an attacking city brought the Horde into the fold, consisting of Vivonia, Lorent and Askonia whic was already supporting Bardonia, who declared support for Bardonia the same day. Despite initial success in the first battle, the subsequent two battle were incredible victories for Bardonia, with the first due to the overconfidence of the Phoenixian Imperium and the thought that Bardonia was on its ends. For the final battle, Bardonia returned with a vengeance and were able to defeat the UCS and gain control over two of Phoenixian Imperium cities Carthya and Tossagrad while the famous city of Sanctuary went to Vinovia. These victories were followed by the immediate reconstruction of Bardonian morale and its border integrity, as the Republican secessionists and other movements rejoined Bardonia over the span of a week, after the loss of confidence in the UCS caused by their military loss in Dorasterrock.

Postwar collapse
Following the failed peace talks, the UCS would seek to continue the war. hoping to win a victory against Carthya from Slouttawa. However due to multiple large logistical failures, and the embarrassing loss at Dorasterrock, only a small number of UCS soldiers and mercenaries were able to attend the battle, and they were immediately met with failure and pushed out of Carthya, they were unable to deal with the overwhelming numbers of Bardonia and their allies, and were overcome. Peace talks were once again initiated after the battle, with the Bardonians pushing for the borders of the original Republic of Bardonia and then their expansions into Tossagrad. However, the UCS would decline Bardonias original peace treaty, which would later put Lhûmar under threat of war due to the counter attack Bardonia had available. Emperor Shanks would decided to focus on the ryzani city of Slouttawa instead of Lhumar, and would offer a new peace treaty to the UCS in the meantime. While the following few days of talks are not public knowledge, the treaty was made public and the war ended in 1018 ACA, 42 years after it began, leading to the restoration of the 1st Republic of Bardonia's borders and the securing of Tossagrad, Tonton, and Orenia.

Following the end of the war, Bardonia would support a new government in Ryzan, helping rebuild the war-torn nation. Bardonia also asserted itself temporarily as a global power as part of the Horde and Syltor. However, following the resignation of Shanks Aelarion as Emperor, things would once again to start to go downhill for the Sixth Empire. With the collapse of the Horde and the rise of the Parahands Coalition against the Horde's former states, Bardonia would lose their capital city of Dorasterrock in yet another siege. During this time, New Dorasterrock seceded from the Empire once again as the Bardonian Soldiers' Republic, offering the Bardonian people the potential of peace and democratic freedom. Following this, they would lose their gains in the Second West March War to Parahands, who threatened to death war Bardonia. LeGoods took rulership of Bardonia after Shanks stepping down and would lead it to the best of his abilities, but due to personal reasons he would later step down. After the first battle of Bardonia city by Daelyria backed by Parahands, Emperor Cheese would step up as the new Emperor. Under the new rulership of Emperor Cheese, the Empire would continue to decline, losing more territory around former Auron's Peak and their vassals following the war against Daelyria. With the constant threat of coalitions and wars, Emperor Cheese decided to protect the rest of Bardonia's citizens and cities by ending the Sixth Empire of Bardonia, with a final sendoff speech. Bardonia would then be annexed into the Union of Greater Plagos, dissolving along familial boundaries.

Government
The Sixth Empire of Bardonia was a unitary senatorial monarchy. The Emperor (formerly the Autarchs) would serve as head of state and head of government. The Imperial Court would serve as a collection of the Emperor's most trusted statesmen, alongside the Imperial Advisors, which were statesmen who had either formerly served as Bardonian elite or were well-known statesmen from historical countries. The lowest form of the government was the Senate, which would pass laws and serve as the government's legislative branch.

Historic leaders
Andreas Medici lead the first Diarchy of the Dandelist Empire alongside Howertt and managed Bardonia's internal government, building, and planning. He was seen as a close friend to all of the Bardonian communities. Andreas stepped down during the Three Days of Hell, but would return to coup Howertt and Yazov, pulling himself back into leadership position alongside Crezyman. He retired during the Second West March War giving his position to Unic0rnb0i to continue the diarchy. He continued serving Bardonia even after his retirement.

Howertt lead the first Diarchy of the Dandelist Empire alongside Andreas Medici. He secured many alliances and was seen as one of Bardonia's greatest diplomats. He would attempt to declare war on Ryzan twice during his leadership, succeeding the second time. Howertt would be deposed alongside Yazov following the signing of a negotiated peace settlement with Ryzan, which resulted in nearly every treaty signed by the Empire being declared void. Following his removal from the position of Autarch, he would assist Ryzan in the second battle of the Second West March War.

Yazov was briefly put into power alongside Howertt after Andreas Medici stepped down, continuing the diarchy. He was only in power for a day before he was couped during the Thee Days of Hell by Andreas Medici and Crezyman. He left Bardonia shortly after.

Crezyman was only looking forward to retirement when the Three Days of Hell happened. Seeing his nation in need, he volunteered to take Howertt's position in the Autarch Diarchy where he took the reigns and lead Bardonia through Second West March War.

Dr. Prophet Professor Unic0rnb0i Azurov, Great Grandson of Bardonia's founder, Unic0rnb0i, stepped up as Andreas Medici went into retirement to assist Crezyman in leading Bardonia through Second West March War.

Shanks Azurov Aelarion would be crowned Emperor of the Dandelist Empire of Bardonia during the Eastmarch war. He would lead the Bardonians to victory against the Phoenixian Imperium after a crushing defeat.

LeGoodsSol succeeded Shanks, and ascended to the throne of the Bardonian Empire shortly prior to the first attack against Dorasterrock by the Parahands. He was the first Tuberist Emperor of Bardonia. LeGoods would marry Niki of Kocssacks, making her the Empress of Bardonia. During his reign, the capital of Dorasterrock would be lost to the Parahands and handed to the Second Ryvenate of Ryzan. He would be succeeded by Emperor Cheese.