Saruan Empire

This article is about the Neviran Empire in Lahan and Ystel. It is not to be confused with the First Neviran Empire.

Neviran Empire in the Saru Sea
← 1611–1889 →   →   →   →
Flag
The Saruan Empire at its greatest extent
Capital		Yisma
Languages		Neviran languages, Lahiri languages, Ystelic languages, Sanu-Jutean languages
Religion		Qurosism, Iovism, other faiths
Government		Multidynastic militaristic autocracy
Emperor
•	1611-1646	Emperor 1
Historical era		Colonial
•	Proclaimed	June 27, 1611
•	Dissolved	October 14, 1889

The Saruan Empire, ( Classical Neviran: Nivīxabā ēθehaqā, Modern Neviran: Sorixabo Athoqa ) also called the Neviran Saruan Empire or the Second Neviran Empire and, in previously occupied territories, often simply the Neviran Empire, was a colonial empire in mid-eastern Baredina, Lahan, northern Ystel, and many small islands in the Saru Sea. The spiritual successor to the First Neviran Empire, the Saruan Empire began as the consolidation of the Interimperial Neviran Region. New maritime technologies developed in Nevira and acquired from abroad allowed swifter and more economical exploration of the Saru sea and those landmasses which border it, which swiftly developed into speculative trade ventures and from there into colonial enterprises. It was administrated from modern Nevira and has had lasting cultural impacts on Povania, Lahan, Jute, South Jute and Mermelia. Probably.

Etymology

See also: Saru Sea § Etymology

At its establishment, the empire still called itself simply Neviran Empire (Nivīšabā Ēθehāqā in Classical Neviran). Only towards the 19th century did it officially change its name to the Saruan Empire, or the Saruan Neviran Empire, (Nivīšabā) Sarumabā Ēθehāqā, sharing its name with Saru sea, whose coasts it generally conquered or had significant control over. However, the exact relationship between the name of the sea and that of the empire are disputed, with some linguists and historians stating that the sea was named for the Empire.
In modern historiography, only the name Saruan Empire is generally used.

History

Rise

The fall of the First Neviran Empire as a result of overextension marked the policy of the delta state Jenneye in the aftermath of the first imperial collapse. As a new power vacuum suddenly opened across former imperial lands, the delta state centered on protecting its borders rather than starting offensive wars for expansion. Additionally, the military focus brought in the imperial era created a tradition of military commanders gaining more power in the imperial decision-making, something which lasted well onto the establishment of the Jenneye kingdom. The imperial dynasty in Yisma was weak, and was further weakened by political intrigue. The hereditary nature of the kingdom was questionable by the late 16th century, and in 1603 when king X died without an heir, a council composed of the nobility and military commanders convened to elect a new king, officially establishing the elective system.
The collapse difficulties trade at first, yet the delta cities easily regained their position as major trade centres in the Saruan sea.
It is unclear when the Saruan Empire was proclaimed, but lower ekuosian historiography considers that moment to be in 1611, after Emperor X proclaimed Nivīšabā Ēθehāqā (Neviran might) after the surrender, in the same day, of the besieged cities of Hazimde in central Nevira and Kizhavle in modern-day Cimseje.

Expansion

Initially, the empire focused on securing the Ekuos river, both due to its profitability and the weakness of the front, the Ekuos proved to be an easy front to invade the delta from, as had several wars shown during the interimperial period. After defeating several Ledzib polities and securing their position after the battle of Kamiad in 1619, expansion ended in the area as expanding towards Mehyaran was deemed unnecessary. Afterwards, attention focused on unifying the rest of Nevira, a process which took around 2 decades of conflict
During these campaigns, the horizons of Neviran traders had expanded. Following the terrestrial expansions, the imperial policy shifted to a focus on the sea, as to avoid the mistakes commited by the first empire and avoid costly land expansions.
It reached Lahan in 1631 and formed alliances with some of the local dynasties, including the Kingdom of Thap and the Luyuan Confederacy, providing military technology and imported natural products in exchange for raw latex, vulcanized rubber products, and lucrative trade treaties.
Imperial frontiers remained somewhat constant in the mainland, with most of modern Nevira and Povania (except modern Arzahu secured. Colonial possessions were expanded during the mid 17th century in the island of X in modern Asesha and Lahan, in order to maintain a route to the Prime Corridor. Expeditions in Püzimm were avoided, unless it was to aid an allied state in the region.
The last expansion came in Ystel, where imperial interests had been present ever since the 17th century, but only in the latter half of the 18th century was any Ystelian territory integrated into the empire.

Decline

Unlike the first empire, the downfall of the Saruan Empire did not come as a straightforward consequence of aggressive overexpansion.
The maritime nature of the empire made its revenue dependant on mostly trade in the Ekuos and the Saruan sea, and as such its bureaucracy was centered around those. Cracks in the system began to show as the new realities of industrialization began to show, with new products appearing yet taxes and tariffs not being updated to take those into account. The elective character of the Saruan monarchy led candidates to promise not to intervene in these matters in order to appeal to nobles. This also applied to railways, whose expansion hurt transport by ship, while not bringing as many direct profits, and in fact bringing deficit in certain occasions as they were built funded by the state.
Lahan had been the crown of all colonial possessions, and had carried a huge investment. However, imperial control of the continent was weak, and the extraction of raw materials, which was one of the main reasons the endeavour took place, was disrupted by several factors, such as the so called Rubber Barons, local oligarchs, siphoned away materials, pirates, and lacking infrastructure. Lahan became increasingly costly to operate each year, and as a result of other economical difficulties, it was decided by the emperor and ratified by the Imperial Council that it would be sold to the Balak Empire.
The inefficiencies in the tax structure would soon bundle up with overspending on infrastructure projects leading to economic issues.

Politics

Government

The Saruan Empire was governed from present-day Nevira by a monarch. Colonies and territories were officially overseen by members of the royal family or lesser nobles, but many were de facto ruled by the military leadership.

Demographics

Ethnic groups

Due to its imperial, colonial nature, the Saruan Empire was made up of many different ethnic groups, many of which had little or no relation to each other, and especially to the ruling class.

Language

Classical Neviran was the administrative language and lingua franca of the Empire.

Religion

The ruling classes of the Saruan Empire subscribed to various sects of Qurosism.