Meko (meːɡo)
King of Lampuato
"One of Hundaru's most significant talents was to identify other talented individuals and place them where they could shine. One example is the General Meko, who joined as a simple conscript from Gurri, and rose quickly to become one of the most trusted and successful generals in the Telmunic Empire." - Callisthenes of Macris
Meko was one of the generals in the army of Hundaru of Telmun, and went on to found the kingdom which ruled the island of Lampuato for over seventeen hundred years. Historians recognize Meko as one of the most talented and ambitious of Hundaru's generals, and some claim that he and Hundaru had a romantic relationship as well. Others claim that this relationship was a fiction invented by those jealous of Meko's rapid rise through the ranks who wanted to claim that Hundaru promoted Meko for reasons other than talent.
Early Life
Meko was born on the island of Gurri in the Southern Region, probably around the year 2072. We know little of his life before the island was conquered by the expanding Telmunic Empire, which claimed the island in 2090. Records differ on whether he volunteered or was conscripted into the army led by Hundaru of Telmun, but it is known that he was actively involved in the invasion of Pulo, where he gained several honors and was promoted to a high position within the army. He accompanied Hundaru westward, and was present on Lahat when the great conqueror was poisoned and died. According to some accounts, Meko carried the torch to Hundaru's pyre and set it aflame, an honor that supports rumors of a more intimate relationship.
After the Empire
None of the generals who had accompanied Hundaru of Telmun west of Saba ever considered swearing allegiance to his heir, Tylos of Nisi. They had never met the young emperor, nor had he any accomplishments to his name. Instead, they looked to each other for who would lead the empire, and several believed themselves the best and only choice. Meko was not beloved of the other generals, but had a strong following among the troops which made him a target for either recruitment or elimination. But none of them suited the young general, who was well aware of their feelings towards him. Instead of throwing his support to any of the candidates for emperor, Meko chose to take his troops out of Lahat and headed east to the island of Lampuato. There, he established his own kingdom, and prepared to defend it against all comers.
The Kingdom of Lampuato
While the other generals struggled for power, Meko was fortifying and strengthening his position. He proclaimed himself the King of Lampuato in 2115, five years after Hundaru's death. By that point, his rivals in the region had nearly exhausted their resources. Communication and support from the eastern half of Hundaru's empire had been cut off by uprisings on Atu Motu, as well as by their own refusal to acknowledge Tylos of Nisi as the Emperor of Telmun. While a few of Meko's old rivals did attempt to invade Lampuato, he was well positioned to repulsed their attacks, and they soon obvious that none of them had the power to dislodge Meko from the island.
The Mekongga Dynasty
Meko's army was made up of soldiers from all across the Telmunic Empire, from the Kaphtor Islands to Lahat. One of his greatest accomplishments was turning that disparate collection of people into a cohesive group. It's unclear when they began calling themselves the Mekongga, but we do know the term was well established before Meko died at the age of 79. Over the next seventeen centuries, the Mekongga ruled the island of Lampuato and the Mekonggan Archipelago, blending their diverse origins into a distinct ethnicity. Every king of Lampuato until King Saambu could trace their lineage back to Meko, and it was a point of great pride among the Mekongga that they had such a long and illustrious royal line. Even now, after the collapse of Lampuato and the migration of the Mekongga to the island of Lahat, Meko is considered to be their most revered ancestor and progenitor, despite the actions of his last direct descendants. A memorial to Meko is prominently displayed in the city of Ratabula, and his writings are studied by the Mekonggan military to this day.
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