Old Xhola
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Thousands of years ago in AR -1490, The Hakeen peoples of the continent of Za'har founded an ancient, great empire they called Xhola. Today, that civilization is long gone, and is simply called "Old Xhola."


For nearly a millennia after its establishment, Xhola was a thriving civilization of great culture, arts, and fabulous wealth. Its capitol was the ancient and beautiful city of Abu-Zhin.

In a desire to further expand their empire, the Dragonfly Emperors of Xhola eventually expanded west across the Vhan Myr, discovering and colonizing three large island chains; Ilsenene, Rhaygos, and Styr.

In the following centuries, Hakeen explorers reached the eastern shores of Corwyn and eventually colonized much of the Vakara Grasslands region. On Corwyn, the Hakeen established three large cities; Ashkavan, Zocolo, and Zhin.

Sadly, in the year AR -552, Xhola was invaded and destroyed by the demon-worshiping people called the Deskari, and as a result, the great Hakeen empire began to break up.

The Cities on Corwyn became known as the "Xholar Empire," and the three island Sultanates of Ilsenene, Rhaygos, and Styr became "New Xhola." At this time, the remains of the original empire on Za'har became known simply as "Old Xhola."

Eventually, New Xhola itself broke into the three independent island Sultanates within a few decades.

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It is known by sages that the royal symbol of Old Xhola was the Dragonfly; for the insects were considered sacred in Hakeen culture. In fact, the Sultans of Old Xhola named themselves the "Dragonfly Emperors".

The home of these Dragonfly Emperors was the lavish Rhodium Palace, built in their sacred citadel of Abu-Zhin. In addition to Abu-Zhin, there were several other great cities of the lost Hakeen empire of Za'har. These included: Nashatra, Eshaar, Ra'jhar, and Reshek.

HISTORY


Long Ago, when the ancient Hakeen Empire of Old Xhola was thriving on the Continent of Za'har, its rulers; the Dragonfly Emperors, sent Hakeen explorers west across the Vhan Myr in an effort to discovery new territory to expand the Empire.

Those Hakeen explorers discovered the Rhaygos Islands in the year AR -1191, and later discovered the fabulous spice fields found on those islands. Soon after, the islands of Ilsenene were discovered in AR -1181, and the islands of Styr in AR -1175.

Over the next several centuries, the Hakeen people of Za'har colonized all three island chains and their Empire became fabulously wealthy from the trade of Rhaygosi spices, Ilseni pearls, and Styrian fruits back on Za'Har.

Of the three island colonies; Rhaygos was the largest and considered the most profitable and most important to the Dragonfly Emperors of Old Xhola. The three imperial colonies became collectively known as "New Xhola."

With a profitable trade established between New Xhola and the imperial territories on Za'har, the Dragonfly Emperors grew immensely wealthy.

But later Hakeen rulers desired ever more wealth and power. Eventually, fleets of their ships sailed even further west and landed upon the eastern coast of Corwyn, where they founded the mainland colony of Zhin in the year 507/3 (AR -1095).

From there, Hakeen explorers expanded west across the Vakara Grasslands to the shores of the Grafenmyr, where, in the year AR –945 they established Ashkavan; their greatest city. This is considered the zenith of Hakeen power on the world of Oris.

At this point, the Hakeen Empire was so large that it was essentially became two empires. The first Empire became known as “Old Xhola,” which was based on Za’har and centered around the ancient, imperial capital of Abu-Zhin.

The second Empire became known as “New Xhola,” and consisted of the three island Sultanates of Ilsenene, Rhaygos, and Styr, and the Corwyn city-states of Ashkavan, Zocolo, and Zhin.

Sadly, this glorious period of Hakeen domination was not to last. About four centuries later, Abu-Zhin was destroyed after a Deskari invasion which occurred in the year 1050/3. (AR -552) With the fall of that city, the entire Hakeen civilization on Za’har collapsed, and “Old Xhola” was destroyed.

When Old Xhola was destroyed by the demon-worshiping Deskari, most of the remaining Hakeen population on Za’har fled to the island Sultanates of Rhaygos, Ilsenene, and Styr, as well as the city of Zhin. At this time, the former colonies all experienced a huge population boom.

With the collapse of Old Xhola, the three island-Sultanates became fully independent nations and broke away from the mainland Hakeen colonies on Corwyn. Afterward, the three island sultanates kept the title of “New Xhola,” whereas the Corwyn-based territories became known as the "Xholar Empire."

When an Üthrari Warlord named Zhang the Terrible and his hordes began their invasion of the Xholar Empire on Corwyn, all three island nations of New Xhola offered assistance, but it was not enough.

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In the year 325/4 (AR -98, the Xholar Empire on Corwyn was destroyed and its capital city of Ashkavan was captured. The Hakeen city of Zocolo fell soon after.

Zhang the Terrible finally turned his attention to Zhin and marched his armies east. Luckily, Zhin had high walls and a strong garrison and was able to successfully resist the Üthrari siege.

Over the years, tensions rose between the three islands states, forcing “New Xhola” to break into three independent Sultanates. This proved to be tragic for less than a century later, a new threat was on the horizon.

The Eloysian Empire, which had already conquered the entire continent of Azoria, was expanding east across the Vhan Myr in search of new conquests. In fact, the Eloysians had already captured the island realms of Al’Kethai and, more recently, Malvatis.

In AR 255, Emperor Damodar led a gigantic fleet of Eloysian warships against the three Hakeen island nations. First to be captured was Ilsenene in AR 255, followed soon after by Styr, which was conquered in the year AR 266.

Rhaygos was much stronger militarily and resisted much longer. Eventually, in AR 358, the last Rhaygosi Sultan surrendered to the Eloysian Emperor Farshad.

For the next 1,700 years, the three island realms were subject to the rule of Hamanid governors appointed by the Emperors in Sanjakar. When the Eloysian Empire finally collapsed in AR 2079, the three island nations overthrew their Eloysian masters and declared Independence once again.

This political arrangement still holds true today.