The Virgandian Empire

INTRODUCTION
The Virgandian Empire was the oldest and longest-lasting empire in Eithlith, prior to its defeat and dissolution at the hands of the Conoilithian Empire in 2353. Founded in 1560, the Virgandian Empire had conquered and ruled over a large portion of Eithlith's southern half.

Founding and Expansion
The Virgandian Empire had its beginnings as the Principality of Virgandia, situated along the Golden Coast in southern Eithlith. Retaining the technological, architectural, artistic and alchemical knowledge of the lost Elven civilisations, Virgandia was powerful and influential from its inception, boasting great wealth and military power. The Virgandians quickly began asserting their dominance over neighbouring city-states and factions with their cataphracts, conquering them first as vassals, before occupying them completely as imperial provinces. The Virgandian Empire was founded in 1560 following the soon-to-be Emperor Balos I's victorious siege and sacking of Marssala, the capital city of the rival Kingdom of Marssala. After the beheading of Marssalan royals, Balos I proclaimed the formation of the empire, choosing the Virgandian royal city of Virga as the imperial capital.

The Virgandian Empire would then continue expanding eastwards, conquering dozens more settlements and nomadic factions until it reached the eastern shores of southern EIthlith; then it expanded northwards, reaching the border with the Mittelmarkian Confederation in 2120. Throughout this period of constant expansion, Virgandia enjoyed a golden age, growing rich and technologically advanced beyond imagination when compared to other nations in Eithlith at the time. Impressive roads were built spanning the empire, and aqueducts and deep-reaching wells brought water to the numerous desert outposts and settlements which the Virgandian Empire owned. Although the Heinrikanen mountains in the north proved more abundant in rare metals, the Karkoroni mountains in the south gave the Virgandian Empire priceless riches in the form of gold and precious stones. Syrion II's palace in Virga became the largest and most opulent palace complex ever to be built in Eithlith, dwarfing Ankorien ān Riarond's citadel many times in area covered, with the Great Dome the greatest of its kind to be built in history, and a collection of lush gardens decorated with ancient Elven ruins.