History of the Drankorian Empire
Beginnings of Empire
DR 1 - DR 331
The city of Drankor was founded in the year 4133 by the Dwarven count of years, which became the first year of the Drankorian reckoning. The early years of growth and recovery in the shadow of the destroyed forests of Alcarinquë are poorly recorded. By the end of this era, the fledging Drankorian Empire has settled and controls the entire Istaros Watershed.
- 1 DR: The city of Drankor is founded by refugees from Hkar fleeing the wars of The Downfall
- 169 DR: Celadir is proclaimed the first Emperor of Drankor, laying claim to the coastal plains and the rich Isatros river valley.
First Age of Expansion
DR 331 to DR 528
While during the founding era the empire grew from its roots as a powerful city to a great river realm, during much of this time it was settling land left changed and unpopulated by the Downfall Wars, land that had once been occupied largely by the elven realm of Alcarinquë. In the DR 330s, Drankor began to spread its influence into lands populated by other human survivors of the Downfall Wars. This era was marked by expansion and increasing diversity in the imperial population, but also by war and tragedy.
- 402 DR: The Treaty of Marhavn is signed by Emperor Goristo, and establishes the Volta as the northern border of the Drankorian Empire; the people living in what is now Sembara and Cymea are imperial subjects.
- 525 DR - 528 DR: The Demonfire Wars, fought against a severe abyssal incursion. Emperor Ingwelir, a renowned wizard and warrior, died at the gates of Drankor defending the city against a demon lord.
The Peace of Drankor
DR 528 - 595
A great age of peace and prosperity across the Empire.
- 528 DR - 595 DR: The Peace of Drankor, a time of peace and prosperity in the aftermath of the Demonfire Wars. Ended by the fratricide of Oros the Cruel. Later known as the First Peace or the First Golden Age.
The Western Wars
DR 595 - DR 647
During this era, the Empire turns to conquest, and fights a series of wars in the west, conquering the western coast as far as Lake Valandros. See: Western Wars.
- 597 DR: The Battle of Yaroket (“Yah-roh-keht”), won by Drankor in the Myraeni Gap, begins the Western Wars and the conquest of the western coast by Drankor
- 634 DR: The Battle of Tawir Forest ends the Drankorian conquest of the west on the northern shores of Lake Valandros.
The Golden Age
DR 647 - DR 965
A long period of peace, and a time that recalled the early days of Drankor’s glory. Many significant institutions (such what would become the Great Library of Chardon) are founded during this time, and for more than three hundred years the city of Drankor serves as the protector of all against extraplanar incursions and the evils of the world.
- 647 DR: The beginning of the Great Peace, sometimes called the Golden Age of Drankor, a period of 300 years of sustained peace and prosperity across the empire.
- 688 DR: The Sibyline Archives, which will eventually become the Great Library, is founded in the developing city of Chardon
Civil War
DR 965 - DR 997
Corruption and darkness grew in the shadows during the Golden Age. The age of peace ended abruptly, with the assassination of the Emperor and the beginning of the Drankorian Civil War.
- 965 DR: The Drankorian Civil War begins with the assassination of Emperor Helea by allies of the Omnis Pura, and is won by Emperor Vestian, associated with Omnis Pura
Dominion and Downfall
DR 997 - DR 1059
After the victory of Omnis Pura in the Drankorian Civil War, the Empire gradually grew darker and darker, until in the end the full might of imperial power was turned to raising Apollyon to godhood, only to see defeat at the last second from a magical plague that spread through the heartlands of the empire destroying nearly everyone it touched.
- 1001 DR - 1013 DR: The Dominion Wars, a series of attempted conquests to the east
- 1059 DR: The destruction of Drankor by the First Plague.
Rulers
The emperors of Drankor, starting with the rule of Celadir, who was the first to proclaim the Drankorian Empire.
| Emperor | species/ancestry | notes | rule start | rule end |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Celadir (m) | Peronar | first to proclaim the Empire | 169 | 231 |
| Elenwe (f) | Peronar | 231 | 244 | |
| Serime (f) | Peronar | 244 | 294 | |
| Mirodor (m) | Peronar | 294 | 331 | |
| Anates (m) | Hkar | First human emperor; began expansion into the Sembaran region | 331 | 366 |
| Goristo (m) | Hkar | Renowned general and mage, negotiated Treaty of Marhavn | 366 | 433 |
| Liasa (f) | Hkar | Died under suspicious circumstances | 433 | 439 |
| Estragon (m) | Peronar | Victor of contested succession | 439 | 451 |
| Kylanthe (f) | Hkar | 451 | 499 | |
| Aenros (m) | Peronar | Ascended to throne at advanced age | 499 | 513 |
| Ingwelir (m) | Peronar | Died defending empire against planar incursion | 513 | 527 |
| Malrin (f) | Peronar | Reign regarded as first great golden age | 527 | 579 |
| Pelenel (f) | Hkar | 579 | 595 | |
| Oros the Cruel (m) | Hkar | contested succession; killed his brother to secure the throne | 595 | 601 |
| Desopho (m) | Hkar | famed warrior and swordsman, prosecuted western wars | 601 | 620 |
| Thesto the Vengeful (m) | Hkar | 620 | 628 | |
| Valandros (m) | Hkar | made peace in the west | 628 | 647 |
| Rystil (f) | Peronar | (name means copper) | 647 | 654 |
| Edrae (f) | Peronar | the child emperor, magically cursed to never age, reigned for years as a child | 654 | 684 |
| Miluinis the Gentle (f) | Peronar | 684 | 701 | |
| Ernault (m) | Non-Hkar | first non-Hkar ruler | 701 | 762 |
| Aglir (m) | Peronar | one of the last Peronar rulers, his reign was considered an echo fo the First Peace and the reign of Malrin | 762 | 811 |
| Pelois (m) and Cekious (f) | Hkar | twins; ruled together; died in battle against a planar incursion | 811 | 820 |
| Melisende (f) | Non-Hkar | second non-Hkar ruler | 820 | 855 |
| Alador the Elf Friend (m) | Hkar | strong ruler | 855 | 879 |
| Imrodel (f) | Peronar | her daugher Tariele died young and never ruled; historians mark this as beginning of end of Golden Age | 879 | 934 |
| Letusas the Quiet (f) | Hkar | weak ruler | 934 | 936 |
| Eiphis the Blind (m) | Hkar | came to the throne late in life; founded University of Chardon | 936 | 943 |
| Helea (f) | Non-Hkar | killed by Omnis Pura to start civil war | 943 | 965 |
| Ysabel (f) | Non-Hkar | ally of Helea; defeated in civil war; known as the Pretender in later years | 965 | 971 |
| Vestian (m) | Hkar | won civil war against Helea faction; associated with Omnis Pura | 965 | 980 |
| Akaston (m) | Hkar | 980 | 991 | |
| Persa (f) | Hkar | 991 | 997 | |
| Iarus (m) | Hkar | died in battle | 997 | 1006 |
| Lycia (f) | Hkar | died in battle | 1006 | 1007 |
| Calemna (m) | Hkar | died in battle | 1007 | 1011 |
| Apollyon (m) | Hkar | Last Emperor of Drankor | 1011 | 1059 |