Greater Kildare

"Greater Kildare is by far the largest region within the Imperial Republic. Ranging from the Carama Bay with is gentle sea breeze to the rough and icy waters of the Northern Sea. From the vast Riponian steppes with its nomad tribes in the east, to the industrious cities at its western coastline. The Region is both rich in land, resources and people. One can almost not fathom that these Lands, which are divided into six mighty fiefs, were once united as one under the Great Jing."
Hai Pei, scholar at the Ecclesiastical Academy of Pentapolis, nephew of the Duchess Liu Pei, 1707 AN.

Map of Greater Kildare, drawn in 1707 AN (source: the Gurandoatorasu, Great Atlas of Jingdao).

Whomever looks at the map of the region of Greater Kildare, or Eastern Imperium, feels impressed by its sheer size. Ever since its independence as an nation in 1617 AN, it not only kept most of its ancestral lands (with exception of the Norfolk Islands and Aryasht) but successfully expanded east and northwards during the Great Jing.

During its expansion under the Great Jing, the tribes which once raided villages and threatened cities within Kildare's heartland, were subdued. The Zygus Qamil, a defensive line of bunkers and castles, which once stood as a proud example of Shiro-Kildarian engineering, wastes away, with time as its sole enemy still standing.

The tribes of the east, now utterly crushed, subjugated, enslaved or integrated within Kildarian and Jingdaoese society, became merely a reminder of days long gone at the end of the 17th century. Only in the Lands of Qyzyl a visitor can still frequently visit a nomadic tribe. Those tribes, while mostly peaceful, still have territorial conflicts over the lands most fertile plains.

Bastard children born in Greater Kildare are called by the surname Lightborn.

Fiefs

Greater Kildare itself is divided in a number of fiefs, which are loyal to the Kaiser of Shireroth:

• The Dutchy of Kildare: Kildare is without doubt the richest and most populous. It's the heartland of the Imperial Republic's eastern territories and houses fertile lands with numerous resources, like gold and uranium.
• The Duchy of Jingdao: Shirerithians with bad blood towards the Jingdaoese mockingly laugh with what they perceive as the shattered remnants from the House of Erasmus. In the early 1700's - during the Decade of Inharmonious Regrets - the Heavenly Court secured its home islands in the far east and the region beyond the Walls of Zijin for itself. While limited in size, it's the home of religious power in the eastern part of the Imperial Republic.
• The Duchy of Jinkeai: the northernmost duchy within Greater Kildare is home to numerous expats. Its access to Lake Lamantia and the Northern Sea proved vital for the mountainous and poor lands. Residents of Jinkeai are known as shipbuilders and miners.
• The Duchy of Outer Antya: Outer Antya has long been the periphery of the Great Jing, and later became a crossroad between the western and eastern provinces. Nowadays, it's one of the least populated parts of Greater Kildare, mostly inhabited with traveling merchants and religious clergymen. It's famous for its many natural landmarks and shrines.
• The Duchy of Qyzylqaystan: the Lands of the Qyzyl consists of the vast Riponian Steppes. For an eternity, those lands were called home for wild tribes whom roamed the lands and pillaged its villages. The Green Tribes from the past were eventually subjugated, but there way of life has been sustained. The northern lands hold a number of cities, which are home to the Duchy's immigrant population (or those whom could not live with the harsh nomad life).
• Duchy of Raynor's Isles: Once home to pirates, nowadays home to many fishermen who inhabit the small islands. Why, and how, it thanks its name to Raynor (most likely Raynor the First) is still debated, but the locals saw themselves - to the annoyance of the Jing - as loyal citizens of Shireroth, long after the Kaiser's rule had ended over these territories. The War of Lost Brothers led to the expansion of the province of Liao (its old name). The war, close to their border, strengthened ties between the populace and its Jingdaoese overlords. Nowadays, the Raynorites are mostly busy living their harsh lifes and looking with suspicion to its north: Floria bides its time, awaiting to conquer and pillage their lands.
• Protectorate of Alrig: Small but strong are the citizens of Alrig. While culturally connected to the Jing, they paved their own way.

History

• 1707
  • II:
    • Li Suyi, former chief of the Tegong, secretly moves back to Daocheng after seven years of self-imposed exile. Eager to destroy the syndicalist regime that had poisoned the minds of lower-class Kildari and weakened the resolve of their proud Jingdaoese and purified Kildarian masters, he contacted old allies among the purist Tegong officers. His hatred towards the new chief of the Tegong for the betrayal of the principles of Tianchaodao and the de facto confinement of the Heavenly Light in his palace in Daocheng, had not lessened since his departure.
    • A meeting finds place between the Xinshi Heavenly Light and important officials who had been demoted or removed from office with the Second Kildarian Revolution. Notable attendees: Yoshi Iwao (former Field Marshall), Hon Ben Gyoku (former Diwang), Jin San (also a former Diwang and effectively placed under house arrest within the Imperial Guang Palace during the syndicalist era). Tegong officers acted as contact person between Li Suyi and the Court.
      Xinshi approved future actions to start an overthrow of the regime: "These last three years have weakened our people, crushed their spirits and broken our precious youth. As my forefathers already proved, the masses do not belong at the wheel of governance. May this be a lesson to later generations that the Path of Light must not be abandoned."
    • Secret deliveries of military shipments arrive from the Honourable Company and enter through the harbour of Gangdiguo. Custom officers handling those containers are bribed or end up disappearing. The deliveries end up in hands of partisans.
  • III:
    • The number of raids by anti-syndicalist partisans in rural areas begin increasing at an alarming rate. Reports of impoverished Jingdaoese and Kildarian soldiers who had been purged from the Imperial Armed Forces and the warlord's armies had been pushed into banditry. These brigands who made the countryside unsafe, were now flocking under the banners of resistance.
    • Several temples and shrines - reluctantly kept open under the watchful eye of the government - start publicly denouncing the anti-Tianchaodao actions of the administration. Chief of the Tegong, Shi Pupei, attempts to warn the government of increased upheaval, but General Secretary of the Republic Wang Wei ignores the pleas for extra resources. At this moment, the Tegong is distrusted as much as the anti-syndicalist peasantry.
  • IV:
    • The Chief of the Tegong, Shi Pupei, is murdered when entering the Tegong Headquarter. His death is kept silent. Li Suyi replaces the Chief and starts pretending to be his predecessor. Any potential Tegong officers who can betray the partisan movement are transferred to the fringes of the nation.
  • VI:
    • Start of the Fortuitous Immolation: a series of coordinated massacres and follow-on purges by the Tegong and Talons of the Archon against the syndicalists who governed (or at least pretended to rule) over Greater Kildare.
    • The Xinshi Heavenly Light reveals that Kaiseress Salome holds the Heavenly Mandate, with the Heavenly Light retaining Her role as religious figurehead and Guide towards the Pure Path. While the news is met initially with surprise, Salome is soon accepted and applauded when it is revealed that Shireroth has been supplying the anti-syndicalists.
  • VII:
    • The Treaty of Gaelen's Landing is signed at Gaelen's Landing in name of the Xinshi Heavenly Light and Kaiseress Salome. The territories of the Great Jing were integrated as Greater Kildare into the Imperial Republic.
    • Kaiseress Salome raises several important Jingdaoese and Kildarian important figures into Shirerithian nobility.
  • X:
    • The combination of reforms and integration of the Eastern Imperium into the Imperial Republic of Shireroth, push Dutch of Kildare, Jin San's, administration to the brim. Nobles, former warlords and military personnel seek to retain (or increase) their power and wealth: while not openly rebelling, local governors start ignoring calls from Gaelen's Landing. To avoid a crackdown or angering the Heavenly Palace, Imperial law is still upheld. The next few years, a series of governors and nobles will start ruling the lands in name of the Heavenly Light and Kaiseress, while ignoring the court in Gaelen's Landing.
• 1708
  • VIII
    • Outbreak of the Qyzyl Revolt.
• 1710
  • II:
    • End of the Qyzyl Revolt. only a small stroke of land near the Camoleo river remained of Qyzylqaystan (these remnants were renamed the county of Camoleo and placed under the Duchy of Jinkeai).
• 1714
  • • X: Marius Gallo successfully ends Jin San's effective rule over the region of Dalmacija. While still unrecognized, his pleas for autonomy from the Dutchy as a separate Thanedom find support among the Humanists.
• 1715
  • IV: Start of the Feudatory Feud: The last in a series of revolts and infighting. The feud over dominance east of the Antya River ends Kildare's authority over Hondon. A new Duchy, the Duchy of Audentior is proclaimed.
• 1716
  • III:
    • Chastisement of the Hereditary Lords: Fed up with the the unruly nobles and warlords that plague the Eastern Imperium, Li Suyi gathers the Tegong Banner Army for a tour through Greater Kildare. With the blessing of the Heavenly Court and the military backing of the Mango Court he starts visiting the domains of local lords to settle - once and for all - the borders of the Duchies and their provinces.