Eckrillian Empire

Era beginning/end

The Eckrillian Empire lasted for over 450 years and created the groundwork for the Eckril that is known today. It ended with the Armistice of the First Island in 2623.

The land now known as Eckril used to be a collection of many city-states, more than the 5 we have now. They would war and fight with each other over small plots of land, whole cities destroyed over a single tiny island. Then a hero rose from seemingly nowhere: Dimitra Nassosiverica. Over the course of a few decades, Dimitra Nassosiverica controlled the land from the Bormor Mountains to the Hassian River. She built her capital in what is now known as Nassos, named after her, and put her children in charge of the consolidated regions of Askan, Airginas, and Catalone. [Nero was conquered later in the Empire's history]. While Dimitra ruled as Archon times were peaceful but upon her death, a succession crisis arose. Who would be the next Archon or would they divide into true city-states once more?
To prevent all-out war between the Princes they came to comprise, one of them would be elected Archon by the Princes and the nobility to rule over them all and settle conflicts, representing them on the global stage. But the Archon could be voted out if necessary and replaced. This gave rise to the system still used in Eckril today. It was this elected nobility system that allowed the Eckrillian Empire to flourish for 450 years. Expanding south into the seas and taking over smaller islands, along with east into Nero, allowed for the expansion of power and resources, along with protection from sea dangers, without too much interstate trouble.
Then Jullian Airgipoli was elected Archon by a slim margin in 2521 after the suspicious death of the previous Archon. He quickly replaced the Princes and nobles that voted against him with his loyal followers - through assassination and banishment. Jullian was treated like a demigod, promising to bring even more wealth to Eckril. To bring the whole First Island under his rule. The war he wrought against the First Island lasted for over a century. Jullian was eventually killed in 2610. His general tried to maintain their ground for over a decade, but infighting and rebellions eventually led to the Armistice day treaty.
The system of government and expansionist policies of Eckril created the landscape for modern Eckril. The trade routes between southern island outposts were the starting point for what is now the Nassos Trading Company. Many of the families that rule Eckril now are descendants of Dimitra herself or her general - with the Nassos royalty tracing their lineage back to her directly. The title of Prince that the Eckrillian leaders use today is a remnant of when all the leaders of the city-states were Dimitra's sons. There is no Archon in Eckril, while the elected Prince might take that role after a fashion it does not have the power it once did. Eckril can still elect an Archon if a threat to the country is deemed large enough for an absolute ruler.