Wizkanian Empire

The Wizkanian Empire (Vojanak: Џекы Визкънак (zaszesz), ჯეკჷ ვიზკჺნაკ (zajoç), : Dzekě Vizkănak, ) was an empire which existed from 800 BCE until 1108 CE, originating on the North Plăduvian River Plain in modern-day Vojandzeka with its territorial expansion reaching as far as Aquizireiki in the north and Abayadi Sea in the south until the Downfall of Wizkania in 250 BCE.

Wizkania began as a Plăduvian settlement traditionally dated to 800 BC in the North Plăduvian River Plain along its respective river in the Bregashian Mountains. The settlement grew into the city and polity of Wizkania, and came to control its neighbors through a combination of treaties and military strength, as well as advanced politics for its time. It eventually dominated the Transbregashian and Serpentine regions, as well as much more surrounding areas which eventually landed its territory reaching to the Abayadi Sea and beyond. It was among the largest empires in the ancient world.

The empire's roots are not completely known, though classical historical legends state that the Zavno dynasty who ruled the empire had descended from the God of the Sun. More grounded theories assert that the Zavno dynasty had come from a group of banished Viduz royals who traveled southwards to the Plǎduvian realm to reestablish a new kingdom far away from the Viduz domain. The traditional story of the settlement of the city of Wizkanja asserts that the first building was built by Zavno himself atop the ruins of an enemy castle, and the rest of the city was constructed by Plăduvian servants. The Empire of Wizkania was extremely territorial in nature in its early years; constantly seeking to expand its domain and take over other nearby kingdoms who paled in comparison to the superior Wizkanian armor, trade, and weapons. The first two to three centuries of the Wizkanian's imperial reign are generally seen as the empire's most peaceful era, with its territory being isolated to the Bregashian mountain range in Central Alutra, mostly centered around its capital Wizkanja, today known as Brelakja.

Conquest began to hasten through the 6th century BCE, with the ascension of Dzek Lebimăerd to the throne and conquest ideas spreading throughout the Empire's core territories. Advanced military techniques were being used by Wizkanian legionaries as far back as 550, and the recruitment of lesser Gožyar tribes to fight under the Imperial Banner. The enlistment of Gožyar fighters into the ranks of the Wizkanian Army would go on to be one of the most crucial decisions made by Wizkania, and most likely led to the state's immense military power and success. By the 5th century BCE, the Wizkanian legion was at least 80% Gožyar, and large territorial advancements came with ease. Their distinction in the army would lead to a large amount of authority in Wizkania being wielded de facto by Gožyar military officials and soldiers. Also during the 5th century, the Wizkanian Empire reached the domain of the High Kingdom of Urland. While the Wizkanians did not necessarily want the area in which Urland possessed, the opposite was true for Urland, as they wished to conquer the northern Serpentine areas of the Wizkanian Empire. Small wars against these two powers sparked over the course of several centuries, and the two became close rivals.

In 310 BCE, the great Dzek Trpin would die unexpectedly while the empire was at war with both Urland and the Sedic Confederation. In addition, the empire was suffering from an extreme drought. The effective decapitation of the Empire led to extreme trouble for Wizkania, and its enemies quickly gained territory in the northeast of the state. Trpin's son, Dzek Andmě, was not nearly as competent in military command as his father, and therefore the state of the empire suffered even more. In 260BC, enemy soldiers reached the capital of Wizkanja, and in 250BCE the enemies breached the walls of the capital, bringing on the Downfall of Wizkania.

Following the collapse, post-Wizkanian splinter states experienced a power struggle between Vojanak and Međaczi horsemen, in which both groups would attempt to bring different regions under their own respective control. Rump states east of the Cestă River in modern-day Izlegal remained under Wizkanian power, whilst the Međaczi horsemen retained control over today's Ochsardvian territory. West Izlegal would eventually unite and separate from Wizkanian core territories, becoming a march. Wizkanians would continue to defend against the Aquizi Conquest of Izlegal for the rest of its existence as an independent state. In November of 1108, the Wizkanian Empire, as well as West Izlegal and Međaczi city-states, would unite to form the Snudzinskian Union - previously a trade federation.

Ancient Wizkania (800BCE-250BCE)
The true foundation date of Wizkania is one of much contention by historians. While the traditional date of settlement is dated at 800 BCE, some evidence - such as faulty written accounts and inaccurate historical details - suggests the city was founded as late as 770 BCE or as early as 850 BCE. Regardless, the story's most famous depiction is that from the "Dzelěk rzap Çăs", or "Rock and Sun", written by the author known only as Qesks in 610 BCE. The epic tells of Zavno, the founder of Wizkania, and his journey to the Wild Land (xelerr) from the sun (çăs) - descended from a long line of planetary beings. In reality, it is believed that Zavno instead was a banished Viduz royal, who traveled south to establish a new kingdom far from his previous domain; however, Zavno's true identity remains a mystery. The tale tells of Zavno's dispelling of foes along his way to the North Plăduvian River Plain to establish a new kingdom of the sun in the Wild Land, which he called Wizkǎnja, the direct translation of Wild Land in proto-Wizkanian. The first building built in Wizkanja is said to be a Temple to the Sun built atop the ruins of an enemy fortification which was said to be defeated single-handedly by Zavno. Plăduvian servants were then used by Zavno to construct surrounding fortifications and homes, eventually constructing enough luxurious houses to fit every single servant with their own bed. It is said that the Vojans themselves are all descendants of Zavno, which brought forth the first religion of the Wizkanian Empire - Zavnakism. Zavankism's heavy spiritualization of natural elements such as sunlight and water made the Empire's later transition to Stroomism smoother, as it could be interpreted as a continuation as their original faith. It is said that Zavno's very first child was to succeed him and become leader and his own death, and this tradition carried on throughout the remainder of the Wizkanian Empire, in which the Dzek's (Emperor) first child is to become the next Dzek.


 * 600BC - Wizkania begins to expand and incorperates some of its weaker, 'tribal' neighbors, going first to the south to incorperate modern day Ochsardvia. Wizkania completely dominates the rest of the Pladuvian city-states which formed nearby, granding it borders not too dissimilar to what ZUOVA was.
 * 500BC - Wizkania begins expanding towards the north in slow, incremental steps
 * 410BC - Lavah of Wizkania rises to the throne, who was a very notable military specialist. His idea was, because the Vojanak culture was at least partially gozyar, galvic, and letan, that Wizkania must grow and take over all of these cultural regions. Wizkania begins its golden era.


 * 360BC - The Lavah dynasty helped in Wizkania expanding at an insane rate, eventually expanding to what you see on the maps i make of its borders. This year marks Wizkania at its territorial peak, with Emperor Trpin in charge
 * ~300BC - Trpin dies in the midst of a great war, and his son is not prepared for the job at all. This leads to great instability in the Empire and prompts the beginning of the end. [put gozyar stuff here i guess] To make things worse, there is an ongoing drought which drastically effects both the citizens of Wizkania as well as logistics on the front lines. In short, Wizkania gets too big and no longer has a good leader who can support it
 * 250BC - The fall of Wizkania. [insert rival here] makes great territorial gains, and even though Trpin's son has since grown to be a noble and respected leader, there is no going back to the way that things were. The enemy reaches Wizkania (capital) and the sieges begin. After a very long siege, the enemies breach the walls and raze the city to the ground. Legend states Trpin's son was fighting alongside his soldiers to the very end. [CONTINUED ]

Modern Wizkania (250BCE-1108CE)

 * After the razing of Wizkania, the empire enters a secondary traditional era, dubbed Modern Wizkanian Empire.
 * 200BC - Following the splintering of the Wizkanian empire, the Wizkanian and Međaczi Horsemen (Tretu) begin going around and securing splinter states under each's respective claims. This creates a turf war of sorts, which lasts about a century. Međaczi Horsement gathered what is now Ochsardvia, and Wizkanian Horsemen were around modern Vojandzeka as well as western Izlegal.
 * 0CE - Izlegalian states get autonomy from the Wizkanian Empire, and begin fighting Aquizis in the Aquizi conquest of Izlegal. Wizkanians assist in the war and help repel many Aquizis from izlegalian territory
 * 1108CE - the Wizkanian Empire, as well as West Izlegal and Međaczi city-states, would unite to form the Snudzinskian Union.

Geography and demography
At its peak, the Wizkanian Empire occupied approximately 2,965,845 square kilometers of territory.