Western Kingdoms

The Most Faithful and Sovereign Realm of Hadašham commonly called the Western Kingdom, the Western Kingdoms, the Westernlands or in official Hadašhim documents the Viceroyalty of Westerlands is a confederacy of western territories under former imperial control. It encompasses most of the land area once ruled by the captain general and later viceroy of the Westerlands.

Panidutne is the hearthland of the state, the main area where the noble families decided in 826 to form an elective monarchy after they realised the impending threat both from the north and from the east. Ahargan attempted in some unserious invasions to spread its influence in the area but it was blocked both politically and religiously in fierce resistance. As a matter of choice elective monarchy became the state form that in practiced at imperial assemblies ever since.

The ninth and tenth centuries were a time of great expansion, as noble houses from Imitas, Rahap, Kutaba and Tantorel joined one by one. Damar and Egiten petitioned the union as relative latecomers but they were accepted into the fold nonetheless. Furthermore, the city state and urban area of Kartam also joined the federation on its own terms and served as an major centre ever since. Apart from the Kartam region, the Westernlands do have natural borders. In the east and the north the Šyul and the Red Šyul serve as mighty barriers from Hadašham and Ahargan respectively. At the northwest the Red Šyul and the Dalam denote the line with Manlisan, while fortifications running from the Dalam through the Ragod Foothills and along the Zaab make up the westernmost area claimed. Southern borders are invariably the Ocean for the mainlands as well as for the islands.

Central authority is weak in the Westernlands as the emperor only enjoys that much inderect power as his was before election. In all other matters nobles have to decide. Powerful coalitions form to enthrone a person who also have significant support among the eligible voters in the assemblies so decision making is swift in usual cases. Defence of each other is a common issue, as is free trade and travel within the realm. Common religion unifies the territories and outside pressure makes coordinated protection an outmost necessity. From this point of view the Western Realm is more of a passive player as it has no goals beyond upholding the current borders ans securing stability in inner and outer relations.

This however mandates interventions sometimes as it happens in 1058.