Sijikarat Empire

The Sijikarat Empire or Sijikarat Confederacy was an empire which dominated Eastern Teutalli between 2960 to 2880 AR. Sijikarat was a political, religious and military affiliation, originally a mutual alliance between the Sijiks of Kantelli and the Ignati priests of Signaty. As these 2 peoples began to cooperate with one-another, their religious teachings of nixum and pyrasianism began to coalesce, forming a syncretic religion known as Sijikken.

Government
Sijikarat is governed under a bicameral legislature which is also the religious authority of Sijikkenites. The Ignati inherited their titles and are situated in Calyra. The Sijiks are appointed based on their ability to pass the Kantacori. These 2 houses elect a Sijik to become the Anak, the leader of the executive branch and head of state. The Anak has the power to create laws which can be overturned if both houses oppose it.

History
see also: Signaty

 see also: Kantelli

The Kantelli acquired suzerainty of Signaty from the Taanasa Empire in 3300 AR. The Ignati priesthood of Signaty declared the Kantelli heathens, leading to years of religious ethnic conflict.

In 2990 Anak Barat had a premonition that the religions of his empire would homogenize, and thereby reconcile the differences that divided his subjects. This was the origin of Sijikken. Anak Barat came to a compromise with the Ignati in that they would be included in the election of future Anaks provided that they stop rebelling and be annexed into the empire. This political union established what would become known as the Sijikarat Confederacy.

The Taanasa, who were long-time allies and trading partners of the Kantelli, were intimidated by the annexation of the buffer state separating their territory from Sijikarat. The Taanasa ambushed several Sijikarat merchant ships, initiating Sijikarat intervention in The War of Treachery. The Sijikarat counter-offensive was swift and brutal, decimating Taanasa defenses and resources. The victorious Sijikarat and Aratnalli empires partitioned Taanasa along continental boundaries: Sijikarat received Teutalli, Aratnalli received Tuktalli and the Free City of Fahataan became an independent buffer-state. The eastern territories annexed from the war doubled the size of the empire. Sijikken missionaries were sent out east to convert the locals, often facing considerable resistance. By around 2900 AR Eastern Teutalli was predominantly Sijikken, and Kantelli became the lingua franca of the empire. Arts and Technology flourished at this time, initiating a Golden Age.

The empire came into decline during the Suri Plague Outbreak of the 2800s, leading to the rise of local warlords. The Anakkora religious order claim succession to the Sijikarat, and seek to establish harmony among all sijikken nations.