Manconian Empire

History
The Manconion Empire was founded near the end of The Wyrm Wars. It is the oldest Empire that still exists in Shattered Kingdoms.

Its first emperor was the legendary hero Kullth, High Priest of the Church of Mancos. His reign was short lived as he sacrificed his own life to save his lord Mancos in the last few months of The Wyrm Wars. He was raised to Sainthood by the church. Since then the Emperors have also been the head of the Church of Mancos. Many who have gone on to become living Saints.

The Empire slowly expanded after the end of The Wyrm Wars. Mancos did not have any direct rule in the empire, although from time to time in the early years it's said he gave some guidance to the Church, which ran the Empire. At the height of the Empire, in the 4th century, they introduced the calendar now used by all of Shattered Kingdoms.

The Empire's decline started in the 9th century but it was a very slow and unsteady decline. As they expanded they found it difficult to maintain direct control of their holdings and set up a proxy government system in the late 11th century which staved off their decline for many centuries to come but was ultimately the Empire's undoing. Many of the provinces of the Empire became fully autonomous kingdoms of their own, although most of them claimed to still be part of the Manconian Empire.

Current State
Outside the capital of the Manconian Empire, Manconia, the Emperor has no power aside from the ceremonial rights of investiture in the various proxy states that still claim to be part of the Empire. If all the various states of the Empire combined under one rule it would still be the largest Empire in all of the Shattered Kingdoms but it has been centuries since the Emperor had any direct power outside of the capital city.

While it's power has been greatly diminished, the Empire, especially Marconia, is often considered the center of culture in the Shattered Kingdoms and the capital is the biggest city in the whole realm. The Empire's cultural influence can not be understated.