Reign of Empress Miera

Usurper. Harlot. Traitor. Empress Miera has been called many things. What most of her critics overlook, however, be they historian, politician or common citizen, is that the latter part of her reign was, in fact, the last prosperous period Vardania experienced until the foundation of the Third Hegemony over four hundred years later.

— Darius Kaseidis "War of the Seven Princes"

The Usurpers had fallen. Their armies smashed, power bases occupied and supporters scattered. As Imperial Regent, Miera⁣⁣ now reigned unchallenged. With rebellions being crushed under the Legion's iron boot and her policies beginning to bear fruit, the worst of the troubles seemed over. Peace had returned to Vardania. At least for the moment.

Clearing the Rubble

by Roman Tishenin

Following the execution of Amelian "the Younger" in early Quitil of 2213, what is sometimes called the Usurpers War came to an end. With Eugeron's oldest sons dead, Metachares remained the primary claimant to the throne. And with Amelian "the Elder" and Vespasian Valerian on her side, Empress Miera controlled the largest part of the Imperial Army.

Her position secure, she could now fully focus on ruling the shaken realm. The previous years had seen near-constant warfare across most of Vardania. Hardest hit the Western Provinces and the area around the capital Velaris. Large swaths of land had been scorched, dozens of cities burned to the ground. About a third of the capital itself was still an abandoned ruin following Gordian's assault in late 2210.

Reconstruction

The Hegemony's coffers had already been strained by three years of war, but that did not stop Miera from pouring vast sums of money into the Western Province's reconstruction. Needed manpower came in form of tens of thousands of captured soldiers, former Legionaries and rebels alike. Special focus was put on Velaris and by 2215, the city had regained its past glory. This came at the expense of the surrounding land, however, and much of the west remained a shadow of its prewar self.

The Feran Problem

Rodarit, rebellious Feran governor of Caria, had only been the beginning. His revolt had sparked far-reaching unrest across Feran held territories. While the east hadn't broken into open revolt, it had supported Rodarit, tens of thousands of Ferans joining his army. The Hegemony was forced to deploy several Legions across its south-eastern provinces, as garrison forces could no longer guarantee stability. Several generals advocated for a preemptive crackdown or even forced relocation of unruly citizens.

Unrest in the Colonies

While Vardania remained largely peaceful following the Third Battle of Aurasio in 2213, the Hegemony's various overseas possessions saw an explosion of violent rebellion. Anti-Tarquinnian sentiment had existed since the Hegemony had first conquered those territories over 600 years earlier. The general prosperity of the 18th to 21st centuries DA had kept any independence movement small and largely impotent.
The decline and misrule of the 22nd century, however, saw them rapidly grow in size and strength. And with the majority of the Hegemony's army occupied with fighting itself, hundreds of nations around the Divide saw their opportunity.

Scetian Wrath

Just like during the Tarquinnian Invasion, Scetia would prove to be the greatest challenge for the Hegemony. From late 2212 on, Tarquinnian forces faced an extensive, well organized and devastating guerilla campaign. Rather than challenge the superior Legions on the field of battle, the rebels concentrated on weakening the Hegemony's hold on the west. This resistance would not die down till 2227 and at times, control large swaths of the Scetian outback.

Anidara in Flames

On the southern continent of Anidara, rebellions had started back in early 2212. Unlike those in Scetia, however, they lacked any form of organization, more akin to roving bands of marauders than any coherent force. Gaius Maeris, overall military commander of the southern territories, responded with ruthless efficiency. Throughout the 2210s, his forces systematically destroyed the rebellion, burning several dozen cities in the process.

Interra runs Red

Following the example of Rodarit, several Feran lords rose up in arms against the Hegemony. By early 2214, the Hegemony's provinces in Interra had been overrun, their beleaguered governor fleeing per ship north. The rebels fortunes turned as Dhion Hi arrived at the head of an imperial army 30,000 strong. For the next two years, Interra's hills were painted red as Hi indiscriminately slaughtered anyone even distantly associated with the revolt.

Game of Thrones

by Jaime Jasso

Despite the volatile situation across the world, the years from 2213 to 2219 DA, are considered a period of stability. Vardania remained largely peaceful and Miera's reconstruction healed many of the wounds, the Usurper's War had created. Trade began to flow again and first reform attempts saw the burden of corruption and waste began to lessen slightly.
Meanwhile, the climate at the imperial court in Velaris began to worsen. Since 2213, matters of the state had been handled by a triumphirat under the leadership of the Imperial Regent. Amelian the Elder, Prince of Sigrin, while a capable administrator and commander, was not adept in the matters of the court. To say that he was a mere tool for Empress Miera would not be far from the truth. Vespasian, the Prince of Magna Caria, was a wholly different beast, however.
He was, without a doubt, the most powerful man in Vardania at the time. Sharp of mind, ruthless and ambitious, he began to contest Miera's authority at every chance he got. The power struggle between the two intensified over the years and reached its peak in late 2218 when Miera removed several of his supporters from their positions. In response, Vespasian recalled Dhion Hi from Interra, leaving the Empress aligned province defenseless.

by Jue 'Leo' Li

As the year turned, the situation had become untenable. Something had to give. When Miera received news that Vespasian was attempting to gain guardianship over young Metachares, she decided to act. On the 2nd of Febris, she called Vespasian before the imperial court and demanded he swear the Oath of Imperial Servitude. It was a trap. Swearing it would be akin to giving up all his power while denying the oath was seen as high treason. One way or another, she would remove yet another obstacle to her reign. With the Imperial Guard on her side and her allies holding the capital, Miera thought her position unassailable. A fatal mistake.

I have to admit your play was masterful, Miera. Votarian, Octavian, Amelian. You played all of them like fools. Tools to be discarded once they had lost their usefulness. Your only mistake was thinking that the same thing could never happen to you.

— Vespasian to Miera

Start Date

06.07.2213

Ending Date

17.02.2219

Conflict Result

Short term stabilization of the Hegemony.

Location

Vardania - The Northern Daughter

by Aaron Sims Creative

Tarquinnian Imperialism
Lands under Tarquinnian rule fell into one of two categories. Those considered "core territories" or of vital importance became fully incorporated into the Hegemony. Tarquinnian Law was established, the bureaucracy consisted almost entirely of Vardanians and some areas, even saw a large influx of Vardanian settlers.
Areas seen as less important were generally allowed more autonomy. Native faiths and cultural practices were tolerated unless they were actively used to rally support against Tarquinnian rule.

by Eddie Bennun

Labor Corps
Whenever large scale construction needs to be done, be it roads, fortresses or even, entire cities, the Hegemony will call upon their Labor Corps to accomplish the task. Depending on need, a Corp can consist of anywhere between 100 and 10000 men. Organized and controlled by the Hegemony's army, they are almost always accompanied by a detachment of soldiers.
They are often referred to as Slave Corps by outsiders. An accusation that is correct and false at the same time. Vardanians will never enslave other Vardanians. The same cannot be said about prisoners of war, however. Vardanians do not conduct raids or wars to gather slaves but will work the captured soldiers of beaten enemies/invaders to their deaths or as Vardanians prefer to say, as long as they are useful.

It is the standard punishment administered by Vardanian courts. It makes sense, doesn't it? Why waste a perfectly healthy individual by killing them, when they could still be put to use?

— Darius Kaseidis on Vardanian Law

Oath of Imperial Loyalty
Under normal circumstances, a mere formality, as swearing it merely confirms that all of your authority stems from the Emperor. What made the situation in 2219 so critical, was that as Imperial Regent, Miera essentially embodied her son's authority.
Vespasian swearing the oath would have meant a degradation, from co-ruler of the Hegemony to servant of Miera. While it wouldn't have rendered him powerless, it nevertheless would have given Miera the upper-hand in their power struggle and make any action taken against her look like treachery of the highest order.

by Jacek Ogonowski