Mangzmat
Mangzmat is the southernmost province of the Taalorang Empire. Along the northeast, it is bordered by Vishim, Gedyae, and Zuiseng. To the south is Levaebu Bay and the scattered villages of people not part of a larger nation-state, and a small border with the Kingdom of Aralia.
Mangzmat has a distinct cultural identity within Taalora. Its dominant people, the Sarvichs, are not related to the Baan people like most of the residents of the steppes. They are more closely related to the Dàni people of Aralia, or the Kivans of nearby Jausai. Although it functions as a province, it is formally known as the Kingdom of Mangzmat, with a hereditary king rather than an appointed governor.
Mangzmat has a distinct cultural identity within Taalora. Its dominant people, the Sarvichs, are not related to the Baan people like most of the residents of the steppes. They are more closely related to the Dàni people of Aralia, or the Kivans of nearby Jausai. Although it functions as a province, it is formally known as the Kingdom of Mangzmat, with a hereditary king rather than an appointed governor.
History
Mangzmat was a powerful kingdom in the century leading up to the Fourth Reckoning. Much of the coast was devastated by a tsunami during the Reckoning. One of the only coastal buildings that remained standing was the Great Lighthouse of Sehedu. The first quiet evening after the Reckoning, the surviving lighthouse keeper climbed to the top to light the fire, serving as a symbol of survival to the people. The lighthouse, which had always been a source of pride for the people of Mangzmat, transformed into an icon of resilience and still features on their banners.
Before the Fourth Reckoning, Mangzmat's territory surrounded all of Levaebu Bay. Afterwards, they lost control of much of their coastline, but held onto the interior regions where the population was made up of Zuis and Jennais rather than the dominant Sarvichs. In the Fourth Age, the small but wealthy kingdom frequently sent out naval expeditions and was known as a bastion of exploration, but after the Reckoning, they could not afford to send ships far from home. Their trade routes crumbled and maps of distant lands languished in the libraries.
After 55 AR, when the Taalorang Empire was established, Mangzmat's primary concern became maintaining independence. At the time, there was still a large empty buffer zone of steppe between the empire's border and theirs, so when King Sutam ordered construction of a great moat along their border, he was thought insane. The project took 20 years, during which time Taalora was focused on seizing territory in the east. It consisted of a six feet deep and ten feet deep canal dug from the mountains to the south to the Vishim Desert in the north. All the dirt from the moat was piled into an earthwork wall on their side.
King Sutam died before seeing his great project put into use, but during his son's reign, in 81 AR, Taalora launched their first offensive against Mangzmat. The difficulty of either crossing the barrier, marching through the desert, or being caught in a funnel with the mountains led to an easy victory for Mangzmat.
Over the next two centuries, Mangzmat and Taalora had uneasy relations. The border was heavily guarded on both sides, trade was strictly regulated, and three different invasions were attempted. The third one, in 248 AR, was finally successful. The king was forced to surrender and hand his territory over to the empress. Mangzmat was transformed into one of the provinces of Taalora, but in a gesture of goodwill, the ruling family were allowed to maintain power so long as they respected the empress of Taalora as their sovereign.
Today, remnants of Sutam's Moat - or, the Big Ditch as locals call it - can be seen in many places along the border. The royal family of Mangzmat still rules, and has several times intermarried with the Taaloragn royal family over the years.
Before the Fourth Reckoning, Mangzmat's territory surrounded all of Levaebu Bay. Afterwards, they lost control of much of their coastline, but held onto the interior regions where the population was made up of Zuis and Jennais rather than the dominant Sarvichs. In the Fourth Age, the small but wealthy kingdom frequently sent out naval expeditions and was known as a bastion of exploration, but after the Reckoning, they could not afford to send ships far from home. Their trade routes crumbled and maps of distant lands languished in the libraries.
After 55 AR, when the Taalorang Empire was established, Mangzmat's primary concern became maintaining independence. At the time, there was still a large empty buffer zone of steppe between the empire's border and theirs, so when King Sutam ordered construction of a great moat along their border, he was thought insane. The project took 20 years, during which time Taalora was focused on seizing territory in the east. It consisted of a six feet deep and ten feet deep canal dug from the mountains to the south to the Vishim Desert in the north. All the dirt from the moat was piled into an earthwork wall on their side.
King Sutam died before seeing his great project put into use, but during his son's reign, in 81 AR, Taalora launched their first offensive against Mangzmat. The difficulty of either crossing the barrier, marching through the desert, or being caught in a funnel with the mountains led to an easy victory for Mangzmat.
Over the next two centuries, Mangzmat and Taalora had uneasy relations. The border was heavily guarded on both sides, trade was strictly regulated, and three different invasions were attempted. The third one, in 248 AR, was finally successful. The king was forced to surrender and hand his territory over to the empress. Mangzmat was transformed into one of the provinces of Taalora, but in a gesture of goodwill, the ruling family were allowed to maintain power so long as they respected the empress of Taalora as their sovereign.
Today, remnants of Sutam's Moat - or, the Big Ditch as locals call it - can be seen in many places along the border. The royal family of Mangzmat still rules, and has several times intermarried with the Taaloragn royal family over the years.
Population: 1,708,672
Capital: Mangzmat City
Demonym: Mangzian
Capital: Mangzmat City
Demonym: Mangzian
