Forian Kingdom

Sovereign Kingdom of the Four Swords
Milavad Yeruv yTzuhei (Lithian) Genmil Yerû Tzuhê (Rudanian)
← 1386–1750 →
Capital		Dukrone (1386–1500) Nataliya (1500–1750)
Languages		Lithian, Xynder
Government		Parliamentary oligarchic thalassocratic monarchy
First Sovereign
•	1386–1412 (First)	Name
•	1606–1641	Meidan I
•	1735–1750 (Last)	Name
Legislature		Great Council
History
•	Established	1386
•	First international expansion	1449
•	Incorporation of Heartland Lugida	1507
•	Collapsed	1750
Today part of		Lugida Xynderland Riyana Kadya Zaizung

Forian Kingdom, also known as Foria or Four Swords, officially the Sovereign Kingdom of the Four Swords was a sovereign state and a thalassocratic monarchy in maritime East Soltenna.

The kingdom was established in 1386 through incorporation of Forian Confederation's four core city-states, namely Nataliya, Dukrone, Hadrun, and Iáecla. Incorporated in a response to the growing Terminian Empire, the four constituent states established a central monarchy, consolidated and shared naval control of the Amiyant Sea, and established new Forian routes in the Gulf of Sharkunen. In its early years the Forian Kingdom prospered on the trade of salt, and in later years on trade of luxury goods and through wealth accumulated from their control and dominance of several Sharkunen naval trade routes. Much of the amassed wealth is held by Forian merchant dynasties, such as House of Tearuviya, which drove the Kingdom's expansionist policies. Forian Kingdom entered its golden age in the 17th century under the rule of Meidan I. The kingdom had cultural, trade, and political links with a number of Vaniuan and Ekuosian polities.

The kingdom eventually ceased to exist by 1750 due to various factors, most notably territorial expansion by Melunair, a navy crippled by losses from engagements in the Taanttu Gulf, and internal strife between Natalian and Dukronian factions. Forian Kingdom has left a sizable legacy in Soltennan history. Forian merchant dynasties continued maintaining some trade routes but as private entities, and in the modern day developed into corporations. Dukrone's core territories Serval and Seret became the modern Republic of Xynderland in late 18th century. Modern Fordas is named after the Forian Kingdom's name, Four Swords, serving as the organization's spiritual foundation.

Name

Foria is itself derived from Four Swords, which symbolizes the four original city-states, "swords", that comprise the Forian Confederation, predecessor of the Forian Kingdom. The symbolism of city-states as swords are reflected in the Kingdom's flag and emblem.

Tzuhê (lit. sword-four) is the Rudanian name for Four Swords, derived from Kwang using the same constituent characters (zito remil). The Kwang name is loaned to many other languages to refer to the historical Kingdom, including Lithian Tzuhei, Riyan and Merish Tióháe, Xynder Ðuae, and Kadic Suha. Lithian additionally uses the native reading (shamei notz) of Tzuhê, Mitz Hazin, as used in the Lithian name for Fordas. Common modern usage for the two Lithian names is to use Tzuhei for the historical Foria and Mitz Hazin for Fordas.

History

Forian Confederation

Forian Confederation was founded in 1146 as a merchant union of four major city-states of the Amiyant Sea: Nataliya, Dukrone, Hadrun, and Iáecla. Their stated goal is to provide mutual security and prosperity of overseas trading in the Forian region, including protection against pirates and foreign, non-Forian ships. The region at the time was largely fragmented into many small dynasties and is only recently, but slowly, starting to consolidate due to pressure from traders and Kadic expansion. Overseas trade in the Amiyant Sea was then dominated by the Qonklese, and the region is seeing increased presence of traders and Pashaist missionaries from the Terminian Empire, especially in parts of Xynderland where Pashaism took stronghold and some of the earliest juvids in Soltenna were constructed. Seeing the need to trade as a unified collective entity, sovereigns and ministries of the region endorsed the Confederation's foundation.

Forian merchants of the time flourished from their network of established ports and their dominant position in the regional salt trade, controlling major salt production centers in Hariyav and Helvey. Merchants also traded luxury minerals from Kadya and Naean Confederation, spice from Akulanen, and grain from Oriel and Lithiya farmlands, going to as far as Vaniu and the Draconic Islands.

With the Confederation established, naval fleets of the member city-states started to regularly conduct joint operations in the Amiyant Sea region. Operations by the joint force typically target piracy, but they also conduct manhunts. A notable example is the arrest of assassin Nameson in 1301 as he was fleeing to Manea by sea. He was involved in murders of a number of merchants of in various Forian cities, including Eldin, Hariyav, and Helvey. He was tried in Helvey and was given a death sentence, but died prior to execution.

By the 12th century CE, the Forian Confederation collectively has control of much of the Amiyant Sea, and since 1195 collected tolls for passage of the Xynden Straits by foreign, non-Forian ships. Piracy in the region was reduced, including in much of the western basin of the Gulf of Sharkunen.

In the mid-12th century CE, some Forian port cities, with support from local nobility, began to impose tariffs and shipping regulations that favor local, typically Forian and Iovist traders. Traders, both local and foreign, were largely opposed to this change, as many merchants not affiliated with Forians, such as Mels shipping goods from Rotzim to Eldin, would be impacted by cost discrimination compared to Forian counterparts. The Avite-dominated port city of Eldin supported and adopted the change, but some port cities, including notably Dukrone and Nataliya, resisted adoption of the rule.

Kingdom established

In 1386, amid serious Terminian efforts to dominate maritime trade in Soltenna, and in the aftermath of the Tori Empire's failed military expansion to the Heartland, the Forian Confederation was superseded by the establishment of the Forian Kingdom, incorporating land controlled by the original four city-states. By this time, revenue from salt trade has diminished compared to early Confederation times, and has been largely displaced by revenue from trading of luxury goods, both local to Foria and foreign. Each of the four city-states' territories is made a circuit comprised of domains. (Nameson), a Xynden of the House of (Name), was coronated as the Kingdom's first head of state, the First Sovereign.