Šerian
From Almeopedia
| < ŠERIAN |
Šerian [ʃɛ ˈri an] is a Verdurian province, just south of Verduria itself. Its core is the Svetla valley; to the south is Krasnaya. Its western boundary is the Šcarea, beyond which is Curesi; its eastern boundary lies within the Endi Irvesë, the Irvesi Woods, and beyond this of course is Irvesi. Its capital is also named Šerian, which lies on the Svetla and was once a winter retreat for the emperors; other major towns are Ulian on the Svetla and Bogric and Vešnoa on the Šcarea. Its chief product, besides food, is tuyošari (pipeweed).
In ancient times Šerian was the heartland of the Kahinisa, a Central people related to the Caďinorians, known for their trade and their fight against Munkhâsh; their dynamism seemed to disappear after the Caďinorian conquest of Kaino in 1079. Kaino became a sleepy agricultural province, and Caďinas generally managed to hold onto it except when Žésifo itself was ruled by barbarians.
When Žésifo was conquered by the Curiyans in 2792, the region found itself independent, though barely a country: the duke of Šerian, Bendazón Selëon, declared himself a prince (sazë) and was accepted as ruler by the other nobles on the understanding that he would not actually attempt to rule. He was confirmed in his new title by Bura, who liberated Žésifo in 2917. His son Onmura was loyal to Bura’s son Ertala in his confrontation with the king of Verduria, Caleon; as a result of this unwise choice he was killed in Caleon's defeat of Ertala’s army near Ulian, in 2950. In 2954 Caleon gave the duchy to one of his generals, Mërmey Belgoro.
The province has supplied two kings of Verduria: the usurper Boďomor Kušďey and the eminently respectable Mëranac 1e, originally cont of Abolineron. The Abolineron estate in Šerian served as a refuge for queen Icëlana during the dynasty’s low-key civil war.
Notable dukes of Šerian:
- Řezörn Selëon, who founded a university was established in the city of Šerian in 2571
- Bendazón, independent from Ctésifon in 2792
- Onmura, his son, who made the mistake of fealty to Ertala
- Mërmey Belgoro, given the duchy by Caleon
- Caiem, prime minister for Mëranac 1e from 3307 to 3312
- Meleon, his son, prime minister for Ažerey 2e from 3327 to 3328
Etymology: Caď. Scehiranda ‘place of palaces’, Ver. Šerian, Bar. Sheran.
