Grand Duchy of Khotam
The Khotam tribe has existed for many centuries on the continent of Sinisterra. Relative to its neighbours it has always been a relatively well developed and technologically advanced nation. As such it more than often managed to outsmart and outfight its enemies whenever conflict arose, and thus became one of the largest tribes on the continent. By building expansive defensive structures throughout its territory it stood largely unchallenged through the years up to the early 17th century.
That changed when the Aldion colonizing nations landed on Sinisterra and started to expulse the native tribes from their traditional lands or annihilate them in war. Soon they came into contact with the Khotam Empire as well. With their significant defensive structures the colonists knew they were not to be underestimated, both military and economically. The latter was an opportunity for trade and riches, which resulted in the Khotam Empire and colonizing nations to live at relative peace for the first decades.
Soon however the colonists’ hunger for expansion as well as the riches the Khotam Empire possessed within its territory grew too large. The Khotami in turn saw from the start that there was more to the colonists’ intentions than just trade. Tensions rose and soon erupted into small conflict, which gradually erupted into war. Having had ample opportunity to scout the Khotami settlements under the guise of trading, the colonists gained a good insight into the defensive structures and how to breach them. Cannons were imported in large scale from Aldion to beat the Khotami in their fortifications.
Although the Khotami used gunpowder weapons of their own, they stood little chance against the larger cannons of the enemy. Fortifications started crumbling and the Khotami slowly started retreating to more easily defensible areas and consolidated their power there.
With the Khotami people retreating to more centrally located areas on the continent, the desire to pursue dimished for the colonizing nations. Their unfamiliarity with the area and rough nature in some areas made them focus on the newly conquered lands closer to the coast line. Relative peace ensued as a result.
Things changed for Khotam in the early 1830s when a large convoy of former Nidwaldonian Nobility landed on the Lago de Dos Vías just North of the Khotam Empire borders. These former Aldions, with support of the Charmelan Royal Family, bought a former Eldonian colony on the lake and managed to settle successfully in a short amount of time.
While first facing these Nidwaldonians with distrust, soon the Khotami came to see the peaceful intentions of these colonists was sincere. While the Nidwaldonians saw opportunity in the trade of valuable natural minerals, gemstones and jewelry, the Khotami saw an opportunity to advance technologically by adopting knowledge and practices offered by the Nidwaldonians.
The friendship and relations flourished and the Nidwaldonians were welcomed as saints. In the years that followed the Nidwaldonians married into the leading houses of the Khotam Empire, eventually leading to the marriage of a third generation Nidwaldonian daughter marrying the High-Chief of Khotam. New forms of governance were adopted and the positions of leading houses in the Khotam Empire were formalised by adopting an Aldion feudal system in 1841.
Today the now Grand Duchy of Khotam, is still ruled by an ethnically mixed ruler and family of Khotam and Nidwaldonian descent. The combined knowledge of both cultures has resulted in a thriving nations that the colonizing nations won’t oppose like they used to in the early days of colonization.
Founding Date
1841
Type
Geopolitical, Vicekingdom
Alternative Names
Großherzogtum Khotam
Demonym
Khotami
Head of State
Government System
Monarchy, Elective
Power Structure
Feudal state
Location
Official Languages
Notable Members
Related Ethnicities
