History of Western Stoldavia
The history of Western Stoldavia has witnessed intermittent periods of competition and cooperation between the Aldsay and Dölmer peoples. Early Western Stoldavic history is sparse. Corinthas, writing shortly after the fall of Skiuöldavik in 5713, describes the Aldsegians as wild, savage, and impatient, even to their own kings. The Aldsay of Western Stoldavia were a loose confederation of elected tribal chiefdoms. Corinthas mentions several tribes of Alsegian peoples inhabiting Stoldavia, including the Ælsati, Ævendil, Diari, Ætlii, Ærivarii, Skadii, and Skjoldii, all defended by slow forded rivers or dense forests. They universally worshiped Æðel, their deity.
First Stoldavic Empire
For five thousand years, the Dölmer culture embarked on a haphazard campaign of expansion against the Stoldavic Aldsay. Their advance faced challenges from the unforgiving Stoldavian winters and geography. Around 5200, the Dölmer's development of crop rotation and cultural unity under the Orkanan faith allowed them to make gains against the semi-nomadic Aldsay. The Dölmer eventually forced the nomadic Aldsay people from Vittmark, central Stoldavia. However, even at its peak, the Orkanan Realm of Stoldavia was unable to permanently remove the Aldsay from northwestern Stoldavian wilderness. The "civilized" Kingdom of the Ælsatings became a Skiuöldavik tributary, while other uncivilized kingdoms resisted Skiuöldavik's domination.
Golden Age of the Aldsay
The collapse of the First Stoldavic Empire coincided with the Migration Period in Anaria. The Aldsay culture made progress during this dark age, removing the Dölmer ruling class from Villand and Aelsass in 5983. Local Aldsay fully adopted agriculture, and only a few tribes remained semi-nomadic. The Aldsay launched counter invasions into central Stoldavia between 6100 and 6250. At their apex in 6235, Aldsay tribes controlled half of Stoldavia and sacked Skiuöldavik. Aldsegian adventurers, pirates, and settlers traveled from Western Stoldavia and southern Juørveh to distant lands, with the Aldsegian presence remaining in Cykeria, Alaun, Tanais, and Achilleion.
Before the Migration Period, Skiuöldavik's domination led to the displacement of semi-nomadic Alsegian tribes along the empire's western frontiers. Historians confirm this displacement, suggesting Aldsegian migration was encouraged by new sailing technologies, competition among local tribes, shortage of women, climatic changes, and news of more temperate lands to the southwest.
The Stoldavic Aldsay appeared several times throughout Anaria, Eastern Davai, and Tharna in the historical records of the first century of the sixth millennium as traders, raiders, and settlers. During their ascendancy, the Amberii fought battles with the Aldsay, calling them the "Naurthana Swioniz" or Northern Sea Peoples. Towards the end of the first century, the Aldsegians began to face pressure from the expanding Dölmer population.
The Antaran historian and biographer, Marcius, emphasizes that the invasions were not just military operations but involved large population movements seeking new lands to settle. They plundered coastal cities along the eastern coasts of Davai, northern Tharna, and the western coasts of Anaria and Thultan from 5713 to 6938. Initially, summer raids were launched from Western Stoldavia, Alaun, and Cykeria, and over time, raiding became more extensive with bases established throughout the Thuaid Sea, Vestsjøen, and the Western Sea.
The Tahani historian, Ammurapi, provides early records of Aldsegian raiders and their motivations. The Aldashiya were from a northern land beyond the great sea and turned to piracy under their powerful leaders. They plundered towns and cities and even formed conspiracies. In the second half of the seventh millennium, the character of the Aldsegian raiders changed dramatically. By 6300, the Aldsay tribes had been pushed back to Villand. The sack of Skara in 6412 marked the last major military campaign of the Aldsay tribes into central Stoldavia.
The rise of the Second Stoldavic Empire brought relative stability to much of central Stoldavia by 6800. Although sea raids continued for the next four hundred years, many Aldsay set sail in search of new homelands. Historians believe that the great scarcity mentioned was due to conflicts as the Dölmer regained control over central Stoldavia. The Aldsegian tribes, including the Ussir, Ällens, Gruön, and Skiuölda, were stripped of their lands and expelled by the Njudälanders, leading to a second migration.
The resulting second migration involved entire tribes from central Stoldavia. The Ussir followed western routes into the Thuaid Sea and conquered the Athves of Achilleion, replacing the ruling class. The Ällens established the Kingdom of Aluon in western Thultan. The Skiuölda invaded Dardania but were repelled by the kings of Ostenia. The Gruön invaded Ambesia Major, becoming lost to history among other invaders of the Migration Period.
As the great empires of Üstervallen, Hoffnung, Cedelphia, and Ashgate brought new order to Anaria, the period of great migration came to an end, and piracy was nearly eradicated, marking the end of the Aldsegian diaspora. The rise of the Princes of Mellanhand pushed the Aldsay from central Stoldavia by 6890. In 6938, Prince Ruåger of Mellanhand invaded Western Stoldavia, capturing Uålesund, the capital of the Ælsati. This move shifted Western Stoldavia into Üstervallen's sphere of political influence. From 6938 to 6940, Prince Ruåger focused on the south of Stoldavia.
Prince Ruåger's Conquests and the Independence of Western Stoldavia
Prince Ruåger conquered Helreich Helland in 6942 and then turned his attention back to Western Stoldavia. An initial attempt to access the west via the White Marches was repelled by King Rollo of Ævendiland. Undeterred, Prince Ruåger sailed his invasion army from Kobbe and landed at Ædelais unopposed. The Orkanan army defeated the Ævendil and their allies in two battles.
The first battle took place on the rolling hills of the Sigyn as Prince Ruåger's army marched east towards the Ævendil capital. King Rollo rushed to meet the advancing enemy but was killed on the field, leading to the collapse of the Ævendil force. Orkanan reinforcements, including artillery and elephants, joined for the final march to the White Keep. Prince Ruåger subdued Grunnrland, and the Ælsatian Vilhelm was established as a friendly king of Ælsatia and Ævendiland. Treaties were made with lowland tribes outside the direct Orkanan control.
From 6942 to 7151, all of Western Stoldavia, known then as Vesturland, was under the de jure rule of the Stoldavic Empire. However, only Nordland, known as Orkanan Vesterland, was under the empire's authority. A large number of soldiers were garrisoned in Orkanan Vesterland. Despite this, many highland tribes, including those of Ævendiland, remained outside Orkanan control, causing frustration for the Orkanan emperors.
Responding to coordinated guerrilla attacks from the uncivilized kingdoms, campaigns were launched against the highlanders starting in 6945 and continued for the next 50 years. By 6998, most of the Háraland foothills and all of Ævendiland were subdued. An aggressive campaign of conversion and feudal subjugation led to the gradual "Orkanization" of the subject Aldsay and the destruction of their semi-nomadic culture.
From 7998 to 7135, Orkanan rule over Vesturland remained relatively stable. During this time, the Aldsegian kingdoms of Ælsatia and Ævendia in Nordland were ruled by a Fürst installed by Üstervallen. It was only in the west that the Aldsegian colonial presence endured. Stoldavic Aldsay continued to settle Cykeria, which remained loyal to the free Aldsegian kings of the Skjoldregionen. Cykeria was ruled by the kings of the North from Drum Castle. The Principality of Achilleion was ruled by the Äsir-named dynasty, vassals of the Aldsegian Skjolds of Knivene.
The fall of the greater Stoldavic Empire in 7151 resulted in civil war, and imperial garrisons in Orkanan Vesturland were reduced. Taking advantage of the situation, Aldsay nobility demanded independence from the Dölmer nobility and imperial loyalists. The resulting Council of Uålesund divided Orkanan Vesterland into the kingdoms of Ælsatia and Ævendilia. Frederick, cousin of Emperor Erik II, remained Fürst of Ælsatia. In return, he recognized the jarldoms of Ævendiland, Aryaland, Austland, Nordland, Æland, Sikeland, Skjoldaland, and the Free State of Mildeland.
Frederick established an international court at Uålesund and through alliances, unified Vesterand in a matter of decades. A series of conflicts led to the unification of Western Stoldavia under Frederick, who took the title of Háprins (High Prince) in 7162. Over time, the Aldsay became a minority among the greater nobility, and Frederick's heirs dominated the Aedelish nobility. In 7232, Aldsay were a minority among the greater nobility, and in 7267, the High Prince removed the remaining landed Aldsegian jarls from court.
The jarls protested and demanded their status as granted by the First Council of Uålesund. When the Háprins refused, they marched on Uålesund. Eventually, a council of landed nobles was established at knifepoint. Following the collapse of the greater Stoldavic Empire, several competing petty kingdoms arose throughout Stoldavia.
First and Second Aldsegian Empires
By 7362, the Konung of Hagen invaded Ævendiland, capturing its capital Ascolat. When the Aldsegian jarl of Ævendiland petitioned the Orkananist Háprins, the Fürst refused. While the refusal was primarily due to a lack of resources, it was poorly received among the Aldsegian subjects. This marked the beginning of the First Aldsegian Empire.
When Aedeland sent its first explorers to the Sinian and Ovestan Seas, a century of Anarian colonialism had already passed. Although Aedeland lagged behind other powers in establishing colonies, it had been engaged in settlements in Cykeria, Æland, Tanais, and Achilleio, drawing on precedents from the Migration Period.
After gaining independence from the Greater Stoldavic Empire in 7156, the Aldsegian peoples in Western Stoldavia and Cykeria united under the Háprins. The other Aldsegian nations outside of Stoldavia remained loosely unified under common laws and customs. It wasn't until 7199 that the Aldsegian ambitions were realized as Ælsatia, Tanais, and Achilleio were brought under the authority of Uålesund through diplomatic and military maneuvering.
Aedelish explorers engaged in piracy and sought a passage to the Phasian from 7199 to 7287. In 7287, an expedition secured a treaty with the ruler of Tauruças, and the Suørtarnland Company was formed to pursue Aedeland's imperialist interests in the Zalelsan Sea. A trade dispute led to a proxy war in 7459. Responding, the Althing authorized the mobilization of the Styrkene. After securing Aedelish interests in Tauruças, the Althing authorized the creation of the Væringer as a military arm of the Suørtarnland Company.
Using the Væringer to control the straits of Zalelsia, the Suørtarnland Company established a monopoly over the Anarian dye trade. This period of imperialism is unofficially known as the First Aldsegian Empire.
In 7362, the Skeráhálsi jarls demanded the Orkananist Háprins be replaced by the Aldsegian House of Heorot. The ensuing coup and harsh response by the Háprins led to open rebellion. The seven-year civil war between the Aldsegian and Dölmer nobility, known as the Uåsturúk, was the bloodiest in Western Stoldavian history. The capture of the Fürst of Ælsatia ended Orkananist rule.
The republic was established after the Second Council of Uålesund, known as the Aedelant Constitution, granting rights to all free Aedelmenn. The Second Aldsegian Empire began in 7356.
Aedeland's interests expanded, with conflicts arising in the Auresian colony in Ephesus. Auresia offered land to Aedelmenn, leading to conflicts with native populations. Auresia provided protection to the Imbatu under the Treaty of Fort Frostmoth.
The Suørtarnland Company established a colony on the Dharian coast in 7282. Aedelish explorer Henry Langston navigated rivers to reach the Phasian, and by 7356, the Second Buçale colony was established along the Wabulum coast.