Kanodite Empire
The Everchosen Empire
All beneath the great blue sky was destined to fall before the Kanodite Empire. No man could stop their expansions, only delay the inevitable. In the end, the gods themselves saw fit to break the Kanodites and even then, after the fire consumed the world, the Empire continued. In the end, it was only the Kanodites that could end the Kanodite Empire.The Kanodite Empire (322BSF-6ASF) was an empire based in the southern portion of the known world founded by Shapoor I. At its largest, the Empire spread from the tips of the Alshari Sea in the north to Genakys in the south. No other Empire has come close to its size, which nearly encompassed a third of the known world. The bureaucracy created to support the Empire, through a system of governors called Shaliks, permitted the growth of a large military force and civil service. The success of the Kanodite Empire has seen its military and civic systems emulated by their successor states to the present day. The Kanodites settled in western Sarzamin in pre-history, with the lands surrounding Hidayer becoming their heartland. From Hidayer the Kanodites, through diplomacy and aggression, became the overseers of the surrounding region and established the Kanodite Empire. After an age of expansion, the Empire entered a century of decline that was ended by Sunfall. The aftermath of Sunfall saw the Empire enter a period of civil wars that culminated with the end of the Kanodite Empire. A number of successor states were formed but none have been able to mirror the eminence of the Kanodites.
Contents
Etymology
The term Kanodite means "of the house of Kanod". The Kanod royal family created the Empire and ruled as Monarchs until 282BSF. The later emperors continued to use the name in an attempt to maintain their legitimacy and maintain a link to the founders.History
The Kanodite Empire was formed in 322BSF by Shapoor I and collapsed after Sunfall in 6ASF. The final Kanodite king was Kazem who ruled for only four years.Kanod Dynasty
Bamasian Dynasty
Kabbha Dynasty
Tukina Dynasty
Gora Dynasty
Baati Dynasty
Khosravani Dynasty
Tavaria Dynasty
Government
In an attempt to manage the ever-growing scale of the Empire, the government of the Kanodites became increasingly bureaucratic with varying tiers of leadership. Sitting on the Tranquil Throne was the Great King of the Kanodites who ruled as an autocratic monarch for his life before passing the throne to his heir. He in turn divided the Empire into provinces called Shalikdoms that were run by Shaliks or Governors, who reported directly to him. The Great King managed the military, civil, religious and economic policies of the Empire although generally surrounded himself with advisors or experts to inform his decision. Certain Great Kings decided to take a personal interest in certain areas of governance be it Mazyar I with his military reforms or Bakhyar I with his law code codification. These efforts had varying success and some measures were quickly undone by the next Great King to take the throne.
At their core, the government of the Kanodite was tasked with keeping the peace as agreed at the Empire's foundation. The success or failure of a Great King generally weighed on the question of whether peace was maintained. To ensure that they did not appear as the aggressors, the Kanodites 'exclusively' fought defensive wars. There was a reason that the Kanodite Great Kings held the title of 'Crafters of Peace' and they fought hard to maintain the peace, no matter the bloodshed or cost to themselves or the Empire. It was believed that any Great King who did not pursue this peace had lost the favour of the divines and was not worthy to rule the Empire.
Peace at the end of a spear is still peace. Peace bought with gold is still peace. There is no price for peace that is deemed too high, too dear. It is those who do not fight for peace that have no place leading our people or sitting on the Tranquil Throne.
Division of power
The Kanodite Greater Shalikdoms
At the top of the Kanodite Empire was the Great King who ruled from Hidayer or, in the latter days of the Empire, Khomedasht. In its early history, the Great King ruled from his capital and delegated power to Shaliks who ruled the other cities in his empire in his stead. Each was given an annual tribute to be paid to the capital and was tasked with levying forces for any conflicts. As the Empire grew, this system became bloated and, under Kambiz, the Greater Shalikdoms were created. These grouped regions together based on ethnicity, industries or strategic considerations to be ruled by one man in the Great King's stead. They in turn delegated to the Lesser Shalikdoms.
Presented to our Great King, the Crafter of Peace, Greater Shalik of Sarzamin, Ruler of all Beneath the Blue Sky and Divine-Chosen, the Shalik of Meran presents 1,000 Hastids in Silver and 6,000 Amphorae of Ibiran Black Wine with 100 Amphorae of his personal wine grow from his vineyards.Whilst the borders of the provinces changed during the empire's growth and decline, the region capitals remained the same and each housed the Greater Shalik and their residence. Many of these capitals became the capital cities of the successor kingdoms that arose after the Kanodite Empire collapsed in 6ASF.
Sarzamin
Capital: Khomedasht
The home of the Great King, the birthplace of the Empire and its cultural and religious hub.
Kalarah
Capital: Kamyamsar
The strategic center of the Empire and laid on major trade routes by both land and sea.
Kanga
Capital: Kangaroud
A mercantile collection of cities, Kanga produced most of the metalwork in the Empire.
Palla
Capital: Meran
Filled with pastoral farms and vineyards, Palla grew the crops that fed most of the Empire.
Dashta
Capital: Saraa
Consumed by the desert, Dashta is the gateway to the west and a major source of salt and gems.
Bracas
Capital: Bracalla
The smallest Shalikdom is a mountainous region mainly used for lumber and stone.
Cotnara
Capital: Cotnari
Cotnari was an agricultural and fishing province with a major leather and butchering industry.
Tyros
Capital: Tyroda
The most eastern Shalikdom, Tyros was famed for its dyes, stonework and sculptures.
Alshar
Capital: Annaba
Famed for its sweet fruits, Alshar was an arable province that provided finer foods to the Empire.
Ahirias
Capital: Ahiram
Rich in gold and silver, Ahirias bankrolled the later Kanodite Empire and its military.
Outside of their economic duties, both tiers of Shaliks had civil and military power over the regions that they oversaw. In the case of a disagreement, the Greater Shalik had to right to overrule the Lesser Shaliks. To counter any potential corruption or tyranny, the Lesser Shaliks could petition the Great King to intervene in the dispute. To further ensure the Greater Shaliks held no ideas of independence or rebellion they were required to travel to the capital every five years to swear loyalty to the Great King. This meeting was also used as a time to discuss the state of the Empire and receive further information on the provinces from the men who ran them personally.
Kanodite Laws
Legal authority was derived from the gods, who entrusted it to the Kanodite Great King. The Great King was then tasked with establishing, maintaining and defending the legal system. Whilst the Great King had sweeping prerogatives, he was not above the law but instead a central part of it and could be dethroned if it was believed he had abused the powers given to him. The first Kanodite Great King, Shapoor the Great, was given the title Crafter of Peace, and each Great King that followed him inherited the title. The peace was described as not just peace with foreign nations but also internally. It was believed that a Great King who could not keep the peace in his own lands, should not be sat on the Kanodite throne. The Kanodite laws were among the first to be codified in the known world and the earliest laws can be found on the Bakhian Wall in Hidayer, named after the Kanodite Great King Bakhyar I (282-249BSF) who created the first set of written laws.Let this show that all in my empire adhere to the same rule. No man can choose ignorance or find solace when he breaches these laws. As the gods chosen, see your laws and tremble for those that disobey them yet rejoice for those that follow them. All will be judged fairly before the gods.
Cases were judged by the local Solite priests who were deemed above personal biases and would apply the law equally to all. Both sides were permitted to speak and present evidence before being asked to give an offering to the gods. The priest would then confirm the outcome.
Punishments ranged from compensation in goods or money, evictions, injunction, capital punishment, forfeiture of property, corporal punishment as well as payments instead of corporal punishment. In rare cases, blood revenge was permitted. Typically, compensation was decided in multiples of one, two, three, ten, fifteen or thirty with the main deciding factor being the severity of the crimes and the class of the injured party.
Kanodite Coinage
Main article: Kanodite Currency
The Kanodite Daruks, gold coins, and Saats, silver coins, allowed the Kanodites to move away from a bartering system and introduce the first widespread coinage. Imperial mints were only found in two locations: Khomedasht and Hidayer. Despite the widespread usage of the coin and increasing financial strain on the empire, the coins remained reasonably pure with the Daruks containing at least 95% gold content throughout their usage. This purity made the coins popular with mercenaries and merchants who be assured of the coin's worth. Those forging or clipping the coins could expect a death sentence if caught.
Daruk of Shapoor I
When the Kanodite Empire collapsed in 6ASF, many of the successor kingdoms continued to use the coinage. In part, this was for a purely fiscal policy however the coinage was also seen as a continuation of imperial rule, a trait that each successor kingdom strove for.
Military
The Kanodites did not consider themselves skilled warriors or generals. Before their ascension, they served the Hidayian kings as merchants and smiths and shied away from combat unless no other course of action was possible. In the early empire, the imperial army was typically led by mercenary generals, using mercenary forces only lightly supported by ethnic Kanodites. As the campaigns of the Kanodites began growing in size, length and duration the Great Kings began a move towards levied domestic force which would be cheaper and easier to access quickly. Mercenaries were still used to complement Kanodite armies but on a far smaller scale and in specialised roles, typically as heavy infantry or shock cavalry. As the Crafters of Peace, the Kanodite Great Kings shied away from declaring wars of aggression. Any declaration of war needed to have exhausted all other possible avenues and it was not unheard of for the nobility and royalty to fabricate reasons for war or offer terms that could not be accepted for a campaign to begin. When war did come, the Kanodite Great Kings were always accompanied by their personal bodyguard, the Afetkharan Guard.Army
Being a primarily land-based Empire, the Kanodites relied heavily on the army primarily as a garrison force and border protection force. In the early empire, the Kanodites relied on mercenary commanders and mercenary armies to win wars but as the Empire grew, the Kanodites invested in improving the capabilities of their military permitting them to engage in conquest when diplomacy failed personally. During the later Empire, the army progressively became more vital to maintaining the Empire as internal power structures weakened after civil wars. Paradoxically, the rise of professional forces empowered generals to declare themselves Great Kings and wrestle control from the incumbent Great Kings. This was a problem absent from the early history of the Empire.A Kanodite Archer
The typical tactic employed by the Kanodite army, after the Mazyari reforms, was to form a shield wall that archers could fire over. Whilst the Kanodites were equipped to conduct shock action (hand-to-hand combat), this was used rarely with a preference to maintain distance from the enemy and defeat them with superior missile power. A division of 1000 archers could launch 10,000 arrows in a single minute and maintain this rate of fire for a number of minutes. The focus on ranged combat meant that the Kanodites needed to be able to form a battle line and fared poorly when this was not possible.
Navy
Famously once called 'glorified fishing ships' by the Samadic King Hiyani III before the first Kanod-Samadic War, the Kanodite Imperial navy was typically an afterthought in the imperial court. The Kanodites did not consider themselves sailors and saw little value in a professional navy, believing that the size of the fleet they could raise would easily overwhelm any that opposed them regardless of strategies and tactics used. This was proven starkly incorrect in the first Kanod-Samadic War and the Andistani Revolt. It was under Emperor Mazyar I that the navy became an equally important branch of the military and saw a heavy investment as part of his military reforms. The emphasis on overwhelming the enemy with boarding actions was replaced with a professional fleet that was drilled to ram their opponents and out-manoeuvre when possible.Culture
The Kanodites prized their diplomacy over their martial might and this seeped into their culture. A complex set of social graces pervaded Kanodite's social structure with differing rules for differing peoples. The king and royal family were at the fore in this system with the priesthood and aristocracy placed near the head of the social hierarchy They were followed by farmers and metalworkers, then warriors, soldiers, traders, peasants and then slaves. Despite the reasonably rigid social system, in which one could climb in some capacity, it was considered in poor taste to treat those lower in the ranking poorly. With a background in agriculture and industry, the Kanodites prized skills in farming and metalwork and supported both industries heavily. Kanodite orchards were said to be gifted by the gods as only they could create fruits and berries so sweet. Under Solitism, the principal religion in the Kanodite Empire, it was believed that good fortune from the earth, in terms of crops and harvests, would equate to good fortune from the gods and vice versa. A civil war was once ended prematurely after a sour apple was presented to the Emperor. Sunfall saw most of the agricultural knowledge of the Empire lost although some methods are slowly being recovered.Customs
Botany, husbandry, horse-riding, archery, swimming and wrestling were all popular pastimes for the Kanodites. Gardens and orchards were points of pride for the nobility who took great pleasure in growing their own produce, particularly rarer variants. Regardless of social status, it was expected that all guests, regardless of the duration of their visit, should be offered food so having an expansive or rare offer was desired. Feasting was a common pastime and the host typically offered cups of water to all of his guests on arrival, typically a job reserved for servants or slaves. The sharing of water was tied to Ahassunu, the goddess of water, and was seen as a bond shared before the goddess throughout the feast. During these feasts, board games and music were played, dancers would be brought out and story-telling was a popular pastime.The dancers were from the tribes to the west of the known world. They sang in a harsh, guttural dialect that none in attendance knew and moved in sequence creating a mesmerising display. To the sound, three men played an array of instruments resembling drums that I had not seen beforeBoth men and women were treated equally and both could work in the same professions with a handful of exceptions. Women could own land and conduct business in their own right and did not need support from a man for this. Solites believe that half of the year is overseen by goddesses and this concept is generally the reason supplied for this parity.
Dining and cuisine
Kanodite meals were surprisingly simple although were accompanied by many side dishes. Most meals were also presented with bread and wine. Lamb and goat were the main meats used and they were seasoned with a number of herbs and spices which were often combined into stews. The wealthier portions of Kanodite society would have bakers and vintners on retainer and the royal household had bakeries and vineyards that would exclusively serve them.As the Empire expanded outwards, foods and drinks that had never been seen before started to filter back to the royal palace and the nobility creating a number of fads around certain dishes. This desire to impress guests and be seen as fashionable led to a niche market of exotic food and drink importers who could become reasonably wealthy. Outside of the foreign foodstuffs, peanuts and pistachios are also seen as reserved for the wealthy due to the high price point. The poorer sections of society relied heavily on rice and bread to subsist although the location of the populace heavily affected their diet and the conquered peoples had some of their cuisines added to the Kanodite palate.
A array of spices and herbs used in Kanodite cuisine
Religion
Main article: Solitism
Art and architecture
Kanodite architecture is grounded in symbolism and symmetry, with general rules and principles applied to nearly every structure. Most buildings were constructed out of mud brick, supported by wooden beams and ceilings and are built in square or rectangular dimensions with flat roofs. Religious and wealthier buildings were built using stone, marble and glazed bricks distinguishing them from the majority of other structures. The more important buildings were built on raised platforms, physically symbolising their stature and allowing them to avoid floodwaters. Wide staircases were used to reach these buildings and were ornately decorated with glazed brick and marble. The stairs leading to the Bamasian Palace in Khomedasht can fit 12 people abreast walking up together. At the top of these staircases, a portico with large doors barred entrance to the building or complex. Fires or statues were commonly placed by the doors' edges. The wealthier buildings and complexes could be comprised of a number of different rooms but most contained a large columned room with up to 100 pillars holding up splendidly illustrated wood ceilings. The walls of these rooms were equally decorated with murals, paintings and carvings. Outside, gardens were exceedingly popular and used to showcase wealth and grow produce used for consumption. Kanodite art covered several areas of craftsmanship, such as frieze reliefs, metalwork, palace decoration and glazed brickwork together with fine masonry, carpentry and gardening. It was common for the wealthier nobility to have staff on hand or artisans on retainer to create set pieces of work for them. Jewellery, with agricultural, botanical or animalistic imagery were common and worn by most of the elite. The type of metal used and the gems or ivory used to inlay the jewellery were highly symbolic and could be tied to certain divines, seasons or events. For example, emeralds (and green generally) represented Autumn and the Solite goddess Ku-Aya.The armlet was made of gold and inlaid with silver, rubies and garnets. The silver was shaped around the armlet as a series of branches and leaves that extended up to the top where the ends had been moulded into two opposing eagles bearing down on one another, wings back, talons raised and beaks ajar. On the branches the rubies and garnets were placed as berries, ripe for picking and glistening in the sunlight.Rock reliefs were also popular and can be found at water sources and sites of significance. Battlefields, tombs and sites of divine intervention are a few examples. These works can be large in size and incredibly detailed, telling stories of the Great King and their deeds for any passerbys to see. The Great Kings and Kanodite nobility were also invested in the propogation of ordered gardens focussing on both beauty and utility. It was considered a point of pride and status to feed guests from fruits and vegetables grown in personal gardens.
Tombs
The Kanodite Great Kings are buried in a collection of Mausoleums outside of Hidayer, the birthplace of the Empire. The Mausoleums are surrounded by a set of walls and placed within a series of gardens and waterworks that are collectively called the Naqsh-e Kanod or Tombs of Kanod. The Naqsh-e Kanod were strictly off-limits save to the nobility and royal family and guarded to ward off potential thieves and grave robbers. During his lifetime, the incumbent Kanodite Great King would be tasked with building their own mausoleum and extending the Naqsh-e Kanod if more space was needed. It was also their responsibility to fund the upkeep of the previous tombs, the gardens and the various fountains and canals. However, during the later empire, a number of Emperors began looting from the tombs of their predecessors to fund their ever-growing expenses.The divine kings that once led us to glory and victories have been despoiled and we must lament with deep sadness. If our Great King cannot protect his ancestors, those who built the Tranquil Throne that he now sits on, then how can he protect his people or his empire?The tombs themselves were square with an outer layer of pillars giving way to the chamber where the sarcophagus is held. On the exterior walls, the deeds and accomplishments of the great king buried within are carved or painted. Gilding and adornment with gems and rare stones are also common. The interior, which was permanently sealed once the body was laid inside, was richly decorated too. Entombed in a lavish sarcophagus, the body was buried with riches that the great king had gathered during their lifetime. Some of the most important artefacts taken or built by the Kanodites were placed within the mausoleums of the Naqsh-e Kanod.
Legacy
At the height of their strength, the Kanodites ruled over the largest empire the world had ever seen and had seen since. They were the first to create a continent-spanning empire and unite a vast array of warring petty kingdoms and city-states that had previously warred amongst themselves. The Kanodites were the first to create a standardised system of coinage and the first to create a codified system of laws. Both accomplishments are now commonplace in the known world. Since the empire's collapse in 6ASF, many have attempted to emulate them and the political, military and social structures of the Kanodites can still be seen in those that succeeded them.
However, the grandeur of the Kanodites has also been seen as a teaching point for many late pre-sunfall and post-sunfall scholars. The corruption and rot that pervaded the late empire, beginning with the infamous year of the seasonal emperors, is continually used as a warning to those who lead the kingdoms, republics and empires that survived Sunfall and now rebuild anew.
The Kanodite Empire at it's largest extent, c.131BSF
Kanodite Great Kings and Emperors
There were 33 Kanodite Great Kings during the 328 years of the Kanodite Empire's existence. The reign of Amavand III was the longest, lasting 41 years. List of Great Kings of the Kanodite EmpireThe Kanodite Empire
The Everchosen Empire
322BSF - 6ASF (328 years)
The emblem of the Kanodite Empire
The Kanodite Empire at it's greatest extent under Amavand IV, c. 131BSF
Capital
Religion
Solitism
Demonym(s)
Kanodite
Goverment
Monarchy
Great King
332 - 324BSF
2 - 6ASF
Shapoor I
Kazem
Historical Era
Before Sunfall
Area
SDFSD
Population
40-50 million people (c.130BSF)
Currency
Preceded by
Andistani Kingdom
Hidayian Kingdom
Succeeded by
Kangaroudian Empire
Dobarid Empire
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