Theiónikos

The Archonate of Theiónikos is a state in the High Kingdom of Yimmu-Audal. Previously, it was a state in the Empire of Astyllea, a duchy in the Empire of Yimmu-Audal, a province in the Imperium and a successor state of the 1st empire of Yimmu-Audal. At the head of the Archonate is the Archon, currently Archon Cirandir Keirikos Galus. The Archon has supreme authority through the god Theios.

Government
The government of the Archonate is split up between 4 historical counties: Ayesinco, Theiotikos, Gebel, and Auraion. These are run by counts, the counts are permitted to rule their county as they see fit, as long as it does not go in against the wishes of the Archon or the Constitution. Besides the counties, there is also a vast bureaucracy supporting the Archon in his duties. The bureaucracy is split up into ministries, you have for example the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Religion, the Domestikos (recruiting and integrating). A lot of the power and responsibilities still lie with the Archon though.

Military
The military of Theionikos, called the Riders of Theios, is headed by the Grand Commander. The Current Grand Commander is Scyser Cirandir Galus. The Riders work with a simple rank system, when you first join you are a Recruit, after passing tests and trainings you become a regular Soldier, the most skilled become a Knight. Soldiers or Knights who have a lot of experience often get promoted to Veteran. The pay and prestige a soldier gets increases depending on their rank. Below the Grand Commander there are a couple officers helping him manage the Riders of Theios. There also exists a Quartermaster, who heads the Logistical Division. They are equal to the rank of Officer in the Riders.

Ayesinco

 * Ayesinco
 * Timilon
 * Noukouthak

Theiotokos

 * Theiotokos
 * Evangalista
 * Ordruda
 * Fynde
 * Sancta

Auraion

 * Dur-Sharrukin
 * Nous-Il
 * New-Doomstadt
 * Mingrelia

Gebel

 * Die Einde
 * Gebel
 * Aldnoah
 * Pointlandia

Mythical History
In the myths, it is said that the Prophet Inirion founder the Holy City of Theiotikos, and the Archonate of Theionikos with it. There exist many a story, but sadly, the early beginnings of the Archonate are not clear. We do have a lot of information on the last 10 Archons, through the writing of the Scholar Mages Historicum of the House Galus.

Erbor IV "The Mad"
He started his reign promising, reforming the system of taxation and funding cultural projects with the money collected. He became quite fond of one particular painter: Picaticus. Picaticus wasn't a normal painter, he liked to paint with the most expensive colors and paints to make a mish-mash of colors. For some people, it just seemed like he was throwing paint at a canvas, but Erbor really liked the paintings and funded all his materials.

This wasn't a problem in the beginning, but his rapid spendings didn't match the money collected from his new tax system, and it put a strain on the treasury. He stopped listening to his advisors and even the Tetrachy. But there was a bigger problem on the horizon: he wasn't married nor did he have kids. His brothers all vied for control, while he was busy with Picaticus. At one point it even came to an armed confrontation, where guards loyal to one of his brothers, Malakos, attacked the son and heir of another brother, Felicus. When he was asked to judge on the the conflict, he passed on the responsibilty to the 3rd brother, Potentos, who used this opportunity to further his own power.

The last 3 years of his reign he didn't even leave the chambers of Picaticus, only calling his minister of Finances to buy new materials for the paintings. His brothers openly announced their wishes to become Archon after his death, and many Diwans and Tetrachs began choosing sides in the upcoming conflict.

On the 9th of June, it was announced that the Archon was dead. What followed was one of the dark pages in the history of Theionikos, a war where brother fought brother, and countryman fought countryman. Picaticus was quickly murdered by the Principales, the guards of the Archon, as they judged that he was responsible for the death of their Archon. All the paintings of Picaticus and Erbor were burned, and the ashes put inside the coffin of the former Archon.

He reigned for 13 years. He will always be remembered as one of the worst Archons, thus being given the nickname "The Mad"

Belisaros I "The Unlikely"
After the death of Erbor IV, his brothers Malakos, Felicus, and Potentos all declared themself Archon of Theionikos. This sparked a civil war that lasted 7 years, and it only ended after the death of most of the royal familly, with only the 3rd son of Potentos, Belisaros remaining fit to rule. I will not go in to the specifics of the Great Civil War, but I would recommend the book "The Three Archons" by Valakai. It has an accurate depiction of the battles, intrigue and most importantly, the divine interferences by Theios during the war.

Although he was the son of Potentos, Belisaros never fought in the civil war. He was warded to the nearby Archonate of Sironia, where he was raised from the age of 6, up untill his twenties when he returned to Theionikos to take the throne. He also met his wife there, there daughter of the Sironian Archon. He was mediocre in all, he was decent at swordfighting, but not extrodinary, he was decent at politics, but not extrodinary. Although not being extrodinary, he was exactly what Theionikos needed.

When he, after the Red Banquet, that killed the last remaining brother Malakos and his remaining daughter, returned to Theionikos with the support of Sironia, he was quickly accepted by all diwans and counts. He pardoned most warriors and soldiers, except for those who indulged themself in heresy or other unspeakable acts.

He fixed the economy and most of the damage caused by the war. He also got 3 sons, and 4 daughters. That way the succesion was guaranteed. He got the nickname "The Unlikely", because at the time of Erbor's death he was 13th in line. He ended up rulling for 27 years, a reign that saw much rebuilding and repairing what was caused during the reign of Erbor and the following civil war.

Belisaros II "The Merchant"
Did trade idk WIP

Kaloman I "The weak"
''After the reign of Kaloman I, it was decided that the Archon would appoint a successor with the blessing of the Tetrarchy, or after the Archons dead, if no successor had been chosen, the Tetrarchs would decide themselfs. The Archons didn't need to be connected by blood, anyone can be chosen.''

Humble Beginnings
The roots of the Duchy of Theiónikos are found in the initial settlement of the Yimmu-Audal Empire's northern desert territory when the Holy City of Theiotokos was founded by then slave LethalMuffin as a holy site of Theiosism. Upon the creation of this city and the start of development in the region, the Emperor and Elder Council of Yimmu-Audal established the Northwestern Territories, a semi-autonomous zone which encompassed the vast and uninhabited desert regions of the Western Continent. For a time the Northwestern Territories remained as an autonomous frontier region of the Yimmu-Audal Empire, until the formal establishment of a government by LethalMuffin.

Western Territories
The first formal government of the region which would go on to become the Duchy of Theiónikos was the territorial government under the rule of Governor LethalMuffin. During this time the territories were still sparsely populated and effectively under the theocratic rule of the Sanctum of Theiotokos of the Theiosistic Faith. However a colonization initiative would be declared by the government of Yimmu-Audal under the direction of the Governor, which would lead to the founding of many settlements, the first of which would be Gebel and Zir-Qalman. It was during this initial period of growth that the Theiosistic faith came into communion with the Sakrelist faith, and the foundations for the Duchy truly began to take shape.

County of Theiónikos
After the settlement of the first four major cities within the western Territories the first Feudal government would be put in place in the region. The County of Theiónikos, under the rule of Count LethalMuffin, would continue to see growth and spread the Theiosist faith during the last days of the Yimmu-Audal Empire, until eventually the territory would be peacefully annexed and turned into an Imperial Province under the Soleannen Empire by Emperor Siegfried of Escharia. It was during this time as an Imperial Province that the Duchy truly came into being.

Imperial Province of Theiónikos
When Yimmu-Audal was defeated in the Trillium War and annexed by the Soleannen Empire, the County of Theiónikos was peacefully integrated into the empire, while in contrast its southern neighbors of Audal proper were in stark opposition to the change of powers. During this initial period the Imperial Fort of Il-Kabulli was created within the lands of the newly named Duchy of Theiónikos under Duke LethalMuffin so as to ensure the loyalty and protection of the Imperial Province from hostile powers. While the Duchy of Theiónikos was continuing its expansion in population, the Emperor of Soleanna also granted them new lands in Siroba and Alshati and a coast on the Sea of Pearls. The Duchy's government continued to formalize, the faith continued to grow, and the power of the Duke continued to increase as Soleanna gave them more autonomy in the region. This growth and newfound autonomy would set the Duchy up for success once it gained its independence during the fall of the Empire.

Freedom at Last
After the dissolution of the Soleannen Empire the Duchy of Theiónikos, as well as many Imperial Provinces including Audal, were granted independence as successor states of the Soleannen Empire. For the first time in Theiónikos' history it was a sovereign nation with the right to its own self determination. The formal systems of government and the power of the Sanctum of Theiotokos had fully established themselves, and now they were free to pursue their own destiny. The growth seen under Soleanna would continue to increase, while its southern neighbors sadly continued to degenerate. During this prosperous age the Duchy would gain multiple land acquisitions and experience an economic boom before the the Jagdasian Emperor, and previous master of Duke LethalMuffin, StoryStudio returned and ushered in the Yimmu-Audal Renaissance. Reunification talks had already taken place between the leadership of both the Duchy of Theiónikos and Free Yimmu-Audal, but the process would be impeded by internal politics until the former Emperor returned. The Duchy of Theiónikos, being the dominant power of the region, would then serve as the foundation for the new Kingdom of Theios-Essukdal, with the state faith and Feudal system of the Duchy continuing on into the new nation. The Duchy would be reorganized into a new realm under Theios-Essukdal, with its previous leader LethalMuffin maintaining his title of Duke and focusing his efforts on leading the new faith of the nation. The next monarchs of this Kingdom would also be powerful and influential figures in Theiónikos' history, with the First Lugal being Takiruko, previously the Count of Gebel and Chief Diplomat of the Duchy of Theiónikos, and the First Ningal being Countess Mystic of Coltmaere. The laws and Constitution of Theiónikos would also serve as the basis for the First Constitution of Theios-Essukdal, with the foreign and domestic policy of the nation greatly influencing the development of this new Kingdom.

Rituals, customs and ceremonies
In this category are all rituals, ceremonies and other customs important to the Theioniki.

Coronation process
The soon to be crowned Archon slowly enters the room. He sits upon the throne, surrounded by guards. The Coronation will start off with a chant to Theios, sung by a priest. This priest, in most cases, is the former Archon, reincarnated by Theios to fulfill the ceremony. The chant goes as follows:

Oh Sun of Truth and everlasting Light, our God Theios have mercy on us and bless us with Thy presence.

Look upon your humble servant Círandir Keírikos Gálus, who through your mercy and wisdom was deemed worthy.

''Oh, (Archon), thy are hereby crowned, by mandate from the Sun, Archon of His Victory. May you uphold His Fire,  and keep us from the cold grasp of heresy and blasphemy.''

The priest will go on to give the first of the three Regelia, the crown of Theionikos. Then the priest proclaims: This Crown will, if thee are faithful, give you the protection of Theios.

The priest goes on to gives the second artifact, the Sword of Light. He tells the Archon:

''The Sword of Light was forged by the prophet Inirion, bless him. May you use it to strike His enemies, and those of the Archonate. Use it to defend His people, and execute His will.''

The priest will move on the last artifact, maybe the most mysthical of them all. The Apple of Asria. But before giving it, he warns the Archon to be careful:

''This apple, one of 2, but the only one left, was plucked from the tree of life, the Avendesora, by the angel Asria. The first one was given to the prophet Inirion, so he could live a long and healthy life. May you use it wisely, under His guidance, to save the Archonate if it is needed. But use it unwisely, influenced by the Darkness, and your soul will be decimated to the very source that made you eat it.'' With all artifacts given, the priest calls out the new Archon:

''Then I hereby declare you Archon of Theionikos. May you be guided by the wisdom of Theios, his angels and your predecessors. Bless Theios! BLESS THE ARCHON!''

The ceremony will go on with the counts and noblemen swearing loyalty, and them recieving their powers through the Archon. Every Archon lets the nobles swear diffirent oaths, as a sign that their rule is independent from the last. No priests of other religions are allowed to bless the Archon. An exception is made when the head of Hukar Sharud wants to formally declare the new Archon an Audalad, and member of that dynasty. This isn't seen as a real blessing of religious nature though.

Tournaments
The Theioniki are famous for their many and glamorous tournaments. In 3 county capitals, Mingrelia, Ayesinco and Gebel, there are arenas. The national and county governments try to organise biweekly tournaments. The prize can go from a simple title or some cash, to mythical artifacts. People all from the Alteniquian continent go to Theionikos to train in the arenas.