Kadmaian Dynasty

The Kadmaian Dynasty is the preeminent founding and ruling family of the Kingdom of Thebai. The Kadmaians are an offshoot of the Tyrian royal family, closely related to the Minoan Dynasty of Krete and the founding dynasty of Illyria. They have long been entangled with various of the noble houses of the Spartoi, but through one particular patrilinear line, the Dynasty held a near-monopoly on the Theban throne for almost six centuries, from the coronation of Kadmos the Founder through the reign of King Laios, who died without an heir in 1106 a4.

History

The Beginning

In 498 a4, Kadmos the Founder was born into the royal family of Tyre, a Canaanite territory in the land that would later become part of Phoenicia. As a younger prince in a large family, he was treated by his parents as somewhat expendable. When his sister, Princess Europa, was kidnapped by marauders in 516 a4, Prince Kadmos was assigned by his royal parents to lead an expedition to bring her back, or not to return at all.
Kadmos tracked the marauders to the Island of Samothraki, where he met and fell in love with a Samothrakian woman named Harmonia. They were soon married, but meanwhile, Europa's trail had gone cold. Unknown to Kadmos, she had been taken to Krete and sold as a slave to the palace at Knossos. She would later scheme her way into the royal family, and co-found the Minoan Dynasty.
Kadmos and Harmonia traveled to mainland Hellas in search of leads, consulting an oracle who directed Kadmos to found the city and kingdom of Kadmaia, later to be renamed Thebai. This marks the official start of the Dynasty in 521 a4.
The Dynasty survived an early crisis with the exile of Kadmos and Harmonia from the kingdom by one of their own sons. The ultimate resting spot of these two founding members remains unknown.

The Gaps

The Kadmaian Dynasty was broken and restored only twice during the Fourth Age. Once, upon the death of King Polydorus, when the regent to Crown Prince Labdacus, Lord Nykteos, was deposed by his own brother, the tyrant Lykus, who then ruled for twenty years before being deposed by Amphion and Zethus, the sons of King Epopeus of Sicyon. Labdacus lived in exile for most of his life before eventually reclaiming the throne and reestablishing the Dynasty.
The second lapse came when Pentheus, of Tribe Echion, claimed succession through his mother, Agave, a princess of the Kadmaian line. The death of Pentheus brought the Kadmaian Dynasty back into power.

Future Prospects

Although King Laios died without issue, and the crown has passed to a foreigner, there are two alternate lines of succession that various Theban factions still recognize. One is the Royal House of Illyria, which descends from Illyrius, the brother of Agave, who abdicated in favor of Pentheus. Through him, some still hold out hope that the Dynasty may yet be reestablished. The other line is the House of Kreon, which traces descent from Pentheus. In fact, Kreon did serve as king for eleven months from 1106 to 1107 a4, during the interregnum between King Laios and the present King Oidipous.
Those who advocate for the return of the Dynasty point to the blind seer Tieresias as evidence that the Kadmaians are destined for yet another comeback. Although he/she has not spoken on the subject of restoration, the centuries-old Tieresias served as prophet and adviser to the Dynasty for dozens of generations, from Kadmos to Laios, and his/her continued longevity signals, to some, that his/her work in that regard is not yet complete.

Treasures

A remarkable magical necklace, brought by Harmonia from Samothrake, was passed down through many generations of Theban queens of the Kadmaian line, preserving each wearer's youth for her entire lifetime. It is still today in the possession of Laios's widow, Queen Jokaste, although she has remarried to King OIdipous, who hails from Korinthian stock.

Founding Date

521 a4

Type

Political, Family

Demonym

Kadmaian