Chronology of the Rathan Kings (book)
Introduction
With the gracious consent of the Nine Families, I have assembled this record outlining all the monarchs who ruled over Reshalia and Qi, more widely known as the Rathan Kings. Although not intended to offer a complete biography of each and every one, I have carefully researched the accurate dates that each of them ruled, as well as noting down the most important historical events and occurrences as they relate to the monarchs.
The line of Rathan Kings forms a central thread of continuity for the history of my people, a line that lasts two thousand years. It stretches from the dim and uncertain times when the great Sarkhhl Smo'neh leapt onto the stage of history to unite Reshalia and found the line, through our so-called golden age, into the brutal long winter, the horrid price of the Elven-Human War, the long association with the Seven Star Empire, and into the coming of the Dragon Priests to Qi.
Not surprisingly, when one looks at how much time is actually covered, the line is often divided into groups according to the circumstances of their historical period. Historians have mostly settled onto six groups of monarchs, arranged thusly:
The Early Kings (2140 BL - 1586 BL) -- The greatest kings of legend; they founded the kingdom, built up its foundations, and set the course of things to come. It was their enormous foresight and wisdom that would provide the kingdom a means of growth and systems of administration that would allow the line to last as long as it did.
The Golden Kings (1586 BL - 1040 BL) -- Ruling over an explosion of wealth and culture, these kings continued to expand the realm, mostly through trade and good will. Their time is widely considered to be the greatest age of the S'Kra Mur people.
The Tragic Kings (1040 BL - 875 BL) -- A series of disasters struck at the S'Kra Mur people during this small age, straining the kingdom to its very limits and seriously reducing its overall power. It runs from the Long Winter to the inclusion of the kingdom into the Seven Star Empire, with the Elven-Human War, the destruction of Sraan Mehath, and the destruction of the Fangs of Ushnish at the hands of the Gorbesh in the years between.
The Imperial Kings (875 BL - 272 BL) -- Technically serving as administrators of Qi for the Seven Star Empire, the line of succession continued more or less uninterrupted, although it was affected by Imperial politics. Although there were many then and now that had no love for the Empire, it was the age when the S'Kra Mur people became more generally involved with the other peoples of Elanthia.
The Short Kings (272 - 240 BL) -- The Rathan Kings that served at the end of the Empire are often called the Short Kings for their brief reigns. All of them were forced off the throne by the increasingly erratic and conflicting political pressures of the Empire in the face of the growing power of the great families in Ratha. None of them are remembered with any great fondness, but in truth, none of them ruled long enough to make a great difference.
The Final Kings (240 BL - 173 BL) -- The last sad remnants of a once glorious tradition, the final monarchs ruled over a kingdom very much reduced in size and resources. By this time, the end of the kingdom was probably quite inevitable, little more than a relic of a bygone age unfit to face the challenges of a much changed world.
It is my genuine hope that readers of this volume will find the knowledge that I have accumulated and set down on these pages useful, or at least educational. With the wisdom and blessings of the Merchant Council, my work will continue. Finished this day in the 5th month of Uthmor the Giant in the year of the Golden Panther, 387 years since the Victory of Lanival the Redeemer,
Marhhgen Iryvykep, Annalist of Reshalia
The Rathan Kings
Sarkhhl Smo'neh (2140 - 2092 BL)
Unifier of Reshalia and originator of the line of Rathan Kings. Dictated the foundation of Ratha, the Fangs of Ushnish, the Ru'atin Peri'el, and the construction of Sshoi-Sson Palace. Signed the Irarasu Compact that codified the rights of Sraan Rasha to wander freely anywhere within the kingdom. An intelligent and endlessly energetic man even into his last years, Sarkhhl would be a legend among his people for any one of his many great accomplishments.
Srethati (2092 - 2085 BL)
Sarkhhl's son took the throne after the passing of his legendary father, but he never seems to have intended to hold the throne for a long time. He simply kept the wheels turning while his own son completed his education and training, then abdicated in his favor to retire at Sraan Smolg's great fortress in the mountains above Ratha. Still, he had a fine eye for detail and a head for numbers, allowing him to move easily through the vast amount of work that was necessary in the continuing establishment of the kingdom.
Syikhhl (2085 - 2053 BL)
Sarkhhl's grandson, Syikhhl had spent his entire life being trained to take the throne after his legendary grandsire. Not an innovator though, he merely continued the works and policies that were already in place by the time he took the throne. Still, he was a wise, generous, and effective leader, with whom it is nearly impossible to find fault. However...
Danamishen (2053 - 2037 BL)
Syikhhl had spent so much time running the kingdom that he didn't find time to father an heir. Danamishen, a young man of Sarkhhl's family but not of his direct descent, was selected to become the next king. Prior to his being picked as the heir apparent, he had been trained in the clan's sailing tradition, a love he carried with him to the throne. It was Danamishen who closely oversaw the completion of the Fangs of Ushnish to its launching in 2040 BL.
Zayoikhhl (2037 - 2008 BL)
Zayoikhhl oversaw the first real expansion of power and military challenge to the new kingdom in the War of the Waves. Although an effective military leader in his own right, he saw the wisdom of not attempting to fight the entire war himself. He appointed several competent generals, giving them their orders as strategy dictated, and trusted them to carry out their orders without his having to watch them closely. Instead, he made sure that things at home were going smoothly so that his soldiers and sailors had timely support and excellent supplies. More than one scholar has declared that Zayoikhhl's method of military leadership was the very epitome of wisdom that all the following Rathan Kings should seek to emulate.
Sarilotha (2008 - 1978 BL)
It fell to Zayoikhhl's adopted daughter (and thus the first person not directly related to Sarkhhl to sit upon the throne) Sarilotha to consolidate power on over the lands that her father had secured. She proved to be an able administrator, tirelessly working to extend the royal system over the new territory while also displaying military wisdom in deploying the Fangs of Ushnish in the suppression of nascent pirate groups. However, the royal system had limits and began to show serious problems. Knowing that her power had limits, Sarilotha did not attempt to reform the system simultaneously with her work in expanding it, a path that she knew would put too much strain on the system. However, she did instill a deep understanding of the limitations she had faced into her son, Shasudan.
Shasudan (1978 - 1921 BL)
Shasudan carried out his mother's dream of reinventing the elaborate and formal bureaucracy after she abdicated in his favor. This system would form an enduring legacy, bearing his name as it lasted in one form or another until Qi joined the Seven Star Empire. A heavily modified version sprang up after the Empire had passed, but was much weaker and relatively short-lived.
Latasuke (1921 - 1889 BL)
Shasudan's daughter inherited a relatively peaceful and stable kingdom to reign over. The only event of note during her time on the throne was the founding of the Disilogen. She died suddenly after a brief illness, leaving her unprepared son to take the throne.
Qhoin (1889 - 1885 BL)
Qhoin's corrupt and decadent ways were quickly found to be intolerable to a people that had come to expect a wise and effective leader upon the throne. He soon fell before the q'zhalata and a new king came to the throne. It is worth noting however, that he was the first of the Rathan Kings that fell to an assassin's blade, proving that even they were not immune to the old traditions of removing ineffective leaders.
Kohamiz (1885 - 1852 BL)
Although hardly an inspirational choice, Kohamiz was seen as a 'safe' replacement for Qhoin by those that put him into power. A pious scholar of noble blood, he was incorruptible and paid particular care to the running of the kingdom. Never an ambitious man, he eventually abdicated in favor of his son, Qahhro, and retired to a monastery.
Qahhro (1852 - 1806 BL)
Qahhro put forth his famous decree that a member of the bureaucracy could not serve in any one place for too long a time, to avoid conflicts of interest or gathering of personal power. Previously this had been a growing problem, especially after the brief rule of Qhoin, who had given out dozens of favors and considerations without judgement for their effect upon the kingdom. This Rule of Avoidance changed the Shasudan Bureaucracy into a more trusted organization once again.
Qarapak (1806 - 1780 BL)
Ushamitei (1780 - 1757 BL)
Mharhhdu (1757 - 1723 BL)
Hrranake (1723 - 1721 BL)
Hrranake was assassinated after a mere two years on the throne, not over any political inability, but for a personal matter.
Gratarratin (1721 - 1708 BL)
Saryvytaph (1708 - 1662 BL)
Hrrarrav (1662 - 1625 BL)
Hrrarrav presided over a huge celebration in 1640 that marked 500 years of rule by the Rathan Kings.
Urhhsu (1625 - 1586 BL)
Even while Urhhsu was still the heir designate, he was heavily involved in talks with the clans as a representative for his father, Hrrarrav. After ascending to the throne, he eventually brought together the remaining Sraan in a council that created a code of conduct, still known as the Urhhsu Code, that defined interaction between the clans.
Poharara (1586 - 1571 BL)
Mala'mishen (1571 - 1508 BL)
Fekahhgi (1508 - 1460 BL)
Ushoishuk (1460 - 1448 BL)
Assassinated.
Khyvyshen (1448 - 1391 BL)
Ishilomigen (1391 - 1308 BL)
Gor'Tog laborers became widespread throughout S'Kra Mur territories, marking the beginning of the so-called Golden Age of the S'Kra Mur.
Irarakiel (1308 - 1291 BL)
Zhoez the Elder (1291 - 1279 BL)
Zhoez was a rather unremarkable ruler of Qi who only earned a title 800 years after he died, when a distant descendant of his with the same name rose to the throne. To distinguish between them, the two have since been known as Zhoez the Elder and Zhoez the Younger.
Olgethalho (1279 - 1235 BL)
Hrrirath (1235 - 1218 BL)
Tysehhn, "The Flower King" (1218 - 1213 BL)
An almost accidental ruler, the Flower King was put onto the throne as a temporary place-holder, to be removed when a more suitable candidate was determined. The delay in determining said candidate was that several interested parties were fighting tooth and nail to put their own man on the throne. Many possible candidates were assassinated outright in the confusion. While the fighting continued, a member of Sraan Rasha was elevated to the throne, seen as a harmless figurehead occupier while they sorted it all out.
A new difficulty arose as the temporary king turned out to be rather good at the job. He was popular with the people, pious and respectful of the priesthood, charmed the leaders of the Sraan, worked to reduce government overhead, and as a result of the last, actually reduced the burden of taxes upon the people and families alike. The potential problems of attempting to remove him from the throne forcefully were averted when Tysehhn suddenly abdicated without warning, hopped a ship leaving Ratha within the hour, and continued his wandering life.
Sroedan (1213 - 1159 BL)
Sroedan is most famous in history for his long chain of wives. He married again and again, becoming increasingly frustrated as none of the women produced an heir. Eventually, his last wife, Lanasupi, produced a son.
Lanasupi (1159 - 1152 BL)
The young queen of Sroedan, who bore him his only child, was an unwilling ascendant to the throne. She ruled more as a regent for her son Srhekelho than with any ambition for herself. As soon as the young lad came of age, she abdicated in his favor.
Srhekelho (1152 - 1074 BL)
The youngest king ever to take the throne, his mother remained a quiet but powerful influence behind the scenes for decades after he assumed power.
Gratyvyshen (1074 - 1072 BL)
Assassinated, but the records on the incident make it unclear if the motivation was personal or political.
Pohehhlho, "The Golden Queen" (1091 - 1040 BL)
Pohehhlho is remembered as the Golden Queen, a peaceful and generous patron of the arts and charity. She abdicated on a high note, transferring power to her chosen successor Malhhsu during the celebration that marked 1000 years of rule by the Rathan Kings.
Malhhsu (1040 - 1014 BL)
After beginning his rule on such a happy note, to Malhhsu fell the unhappy task of seeing the kingdom through the Long Winter (1023 - 1019 BL). It was only due to the long standing practice of hoarding critical supplies that the kingdom survived at all. During the last five years of his life after the Long Winter, he strived to help not only his own people, but those of the clans as well, attempting to keep his people from the growing Elven-Human War that he foresaw as an action that his people as a whole should have nothing to do with.
Olgaraphhr (1014 - 1004 BL)
Taking the opposite tack from Malhhsu, the new king committed the support of the kingdom behind the clans, bringing the entire weight of the S'Kra Mur people to bear in the war. Unwilling to listen to the wisdom of his advisors who directed him to follow the example of King Zayoikhhl and let his generals do the fighting, he personally commanded troops at the front lines. He was killed with the rest of Sraan Mehath when it was wiped out in 1004 BL, becoming the only Rathan King to die in battle.
Sevhhro (1004 - 980 BL)
An unhappy king who fended off innumerable assassination attempts as various parties struggled to wrest control of the throne. He finally succumbed to the q'zhalata, but most feel that he was in fact a quite reasonable leader for the time.
Mhhkenath (980 - 941 BL)
Mhhkenath was yet another unhappy king. Although much of the infighting that had surrounded Sevhhro had died away, he was still beset by internal political struggles at a time when the Gorbesh came to Qi in great fleets. During his reign, the Fangs of Ushnish engaged them in two massive actions which drove the Gorbesh off, but no one believed that either of the battles was a permanent victory.
The internal struggles proved to be a huge impediment when the king tried to rebuild and refit the fleet for the inevitable third engagement. The throne was slowly losing control of the outer islands due to the struggles as well as the reduced power of the fleet to engage rebels and a growing pirate threat. Nor could he count on the full resources of Aesry, now within the sphere of the Elothean and Elven refugees that had fled there during the Elven-Human War. It was a recipe for disaster and it is said that Mhhkenath went to the grave almost thankfully, rather than having to face what the future would bring.
Kherkep (941 - 889 BL)
Starting his reign only a year before the third engagement of the Fangs of Ushnish with the Gorbesh, Kherkep had the questionable distinction of watching the destruction of the fleet that his ancestors had founded a thousand years before to protect his kingdom. Although his six ministers did their best to paint the loss of the fleet in the light of a painful yet wondrous sacrifice that would keep the Gorbesh away forever, they had no evidence that it would keep them away at all. The king and his ministers spent the rest of his reign in dread that the sails of the next Gorbesh fleet would appear on the southern horizon, for they knew that there was nothing left to even slow them down if they came.
Zsehhdu (889 - 875 BL)
The king that signed the pact with the Seven Star Empire to bring Qi Reshalia peacefully into the empire. Hardly a popular move by any account, he rated the awful decision of this action as the lesser of two evils. Zsehhdu remained on the throne for three years after signing the Imperial compact, but under constant threat of assassination by conservative elements, he abdicated three years later, a broken man.
Khoirath (875 - 864 BL)
Although Qi was now part of the Seven Star Empire, they left the main structure of administration in place among the islands, including the King. Although he was now technically a vassal of the Empire, the line of succession continued uninterrupted through Imperial times. Khoirath was the first unlucky king to be raised to the throne in a now somewhat uncertain place of power. He did his best to maintain the kingdom while meeting the demands of the Empire, but fell to the q'zhalata after eleven years.
Zhyvyshuk (864 - 847 BL)
Szoengi (847 - 823 BL)
Qoekhh (823 - 796 BL)
Zhyvynys (796 - 750 BL)
Draami'phhr (750 - 728 BL)
Zhhhngi (728 - 711 BL)
Smeketei (711 - 690 BL)
Kahanakar (690 - 669 BL)
Uroikem (669 - 635)
Pivamirdu (635 - 614)
Sarasupi (614 - 612)
Assassinated under mysterious circumstances.
Rasaratin (612 - 601)
Rasaratin was an effective administrator, having served in the bureaucracy himself, but severely hampered by a cloud of scandal that was impossible to eliminate after several parties tried to link him to the assassination of his predecessor, Sarasupi.
Disoeke the Aged (601 - 530 BL)
Disoeke is most well remembered for his 71-year reign, which was far, far longer than anyone could have expected him to hold the throne. Taking his place already middle aged, he was more than 120 years old when he finally died. Some scholars point to his time on the throne as proof of how effective and powerful the Shasudan Bureaucracy still was, as Disoeke has little to do with actual governing for the later half of his reign but things ran rather smoothly without him.
Qamiphhr (530 - 496 BL)
Rising to the throne on a wave of populist fervor, Qamiphhr had been a labor leader in the poorer quarters of Ratha with a natural gift for public speaking and an easy way with slogans and rhetoric. While he campaigned in the last years of Disoeke's life to have new blood put on the throne, he doesn't seem to have expected himself to be placed there. The nobility and great families mostly washed their hands of him, but with heavy reliance on the bureaucracy, his government survived.
In his first burst of power, he radically changed taxes and laws that oppressed the poor (including the Gor'Togs), sending his already popular rule into a frenzy of loyalty and approval. However, in the later years of his rule, a great deal of corruption was exposed, souring the people on the leader that they had put in place. Qamiphhr abdicated under pressure from the nobles and dissent from the people. He retired to a small estate on the fourth tier and never appeared in public again.
Zhoez the Younger (496 - 474 BL)
Put onto the throne by the noble families, Zhoez was a namesake descendant of the Zhoez who ruled from 1291 to 1279 BL. Neither showed any mark of greatness and this younger Zhoez seemed to be mostly a placeholder for the nobility and great families while they reasserted their power after Qamiphhr's populist movement.
Mhoitha (474 - 447 BL)
Srarrarsk (447 - 414 BL)
Gratoemigen (414 - 348)
Mhalikhh (348 - 342 BL)
During an age of religious fervor, Mhalikhh swept to power on the self-declared claim that he was the famed Mhalush reincarnated to cleanse the S'Kra Mur world. Although not a very effective leader or administrator, Mhalikhh seemed to have the inside information and dirty secrets on everyone, claiming spiritual guidance. At the end of his bizarre six-year reign, Mhalikhh fell to an assassin's blade. The source of the assassin was never learned, as the assassin himself was killed by the palace guards during his escape attempt.
Lohehhn (342 - 306 BL)
Sarahhnath (306 - 272 BL)
Mekhhtha (272 - 267 BL)
Srehhro (267 - 262 BL)
Indoirhh (262 - 257 BL)
Ogoiphhr (257 - 240 BL)
Ogoiphhr was a humble man who honestly wanted to do his best to make everything better. However, he knew that his rule would forever be linked to the crumbling Seven Star Empire, and by now the writing was on the wall that the Empire was on its way out. He abdicated as the Seven Star Empire fell apart, stepping aside to let someone who was not marked with the Empire to take the throne.
Hegyvyngi, "The Lost Hope" (240 - 230 BL)
Taking the throne as the Seven Star Empire fell into ruins and war swept the mainland, Hegyvyngi took the throne with a firm hand. He declared that Qi was once again sovereign territory, began reforms to rebuild the strength of the kingdom, and moved to suppress the piracy that was becoming a threat to trade once again. He is called the Lost Hope by some for his actions that potentially could have restored the kingdom to greatness, but he was assassinated after only ten years on the throne.
Ruahhgi (230 - 190 BL)
Ruahhgi created the Merchant Council in 228 BL on the insistence the great families.
Qethakem (190 - 183 BL)
Arhekesaar (183 - 173 BL)
When Arhekesaar died suddenly in 173, the Merchant Council stepped in to take over the government of Ratha (and by extension, Qi) instead of putting a new king on the throne.