Mangadan: History at a Glance
Though distant, the Commonwealth of Mangadan has remained an ever present force in Rhaetiadan since the Anterhaetian Era. Immensely wealthy and staggeringly sophisticated, Mangadan has acted as a bastion limiting Rhaetiadan's ambitions for southern expansion for centuries. It was here where St. Lyeb fell in battle attempting to spread the light of the Separti faith 150 years before the crowning of Empress Rhaetia. Just as it keeps Rhaetiadan from reaching further south however, it also keeps the continent's southern flank secured from the warring tribes of Iikarak-- A fact that was not lost on Empress Rhaetia during her pacification of the steppe. Knowing she could not garrison and occupy an expansive, arid frontier while the continent remained disjointed she elected to take a diplomatic approach to the Commonwealth while she worked to consolidate the northern realms. In 31RE Empress Rhaetia signed the Treaty of Cape Feitoria guaranteeing Mangadan a small foothold on the continent in exchange for guaranteed access to trade routes, currency exchanges, and joint cooperation on patrolling the Iikarak steppe. Though Rhaetiadan has fractured since the Empress's ascension Mangadan still honors this strategic alliance with the Ommiad Empire, who they see as the legitimate claimant to the legacy of the Rhaetian Empire.
The Commonwealth of Mangadan is a federal elective monarchy comprised of five major peoples; the Fang, Dozo, Ashaman, Ogal, and Griot. Nobles from each peoples are guaranteed equal legal status regardless of rank, economic status, or ethnic background. The legislative body of nobles, the Gold Court, collectively elect a Manga to act as head of state. Part emperor, part spiritual advisor and defender of the faith, the Manga serves a lifetime appointment unless deposed by a two-thirds majority vote of the Gold Court. Though the Manga is typically elected from among the nobles of the Gold Court, nobility is not considered a requirement for the position. In fact, in the nine centuries that the Commonwealth has waxed and waned the Gold Court has elected three lowborn men of exceptional virtue to hold the title of Manga. Masane Bah, current Manga of the Commonwealth, is one such man.
Born to a family of tradesmen on the border with Huesca, Masane Bah was captured as a young man by Iikarak raiders where he was held for ransom. Rather than paying to have him released, his family forsake him entirely leaving him for dead. Thankfully for Masane, the Iikarak tribesmen were amenable to their hostage training him in the ways of the saddle until he had earned their trust and respect as a part of their warband. That was until the tribe attempted to intercept a Huescan trade caravan bound for the Anvil guarded heavily by Rhaetian janissaries. Once again taken prisoner, Masane had no choice but to take the oath and join the Janissary Corps under an Ommiad name in the service of the Rhaetian Empire. It was only after the Janissary Corps revolted in 644RE that Masane was able to free himself once more and finally return home to his ancestral lands of Mangadan. His experience sharpened him and granted him firsthand knowledge of the technological and societal advancements the lands of Rhaetiadan were rapidly developing. Knowing a storm of revolution and enlightenment was soon on its way to the northern realms, Masane Bah made it his life's work to ensure the Commonwealth would be prepared when that happened. Fighting for dominion over his family's extensive wealth, he poured untold financial and political capital into developing new patronage networks to influence the Gold Court despite his lowborn heritage until being crowned Manga in 691RE. Today Masane Bah is a wizened, but ancient man clinging to life despite poisoning from the musket shot that's riddled his body since the Ommiad Revolt. While he's done all he can to prepare Mangadan for the future, only time will tell if it will be enough to sustain the Commonwealth in an age of revolutions-- or if the Gold Court will slip back into bickering aristocratic rule that will only accelerate the Commonwealth's undoing.
