Žésifo
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Žésifo [ˈʒɛ si fo] is the ancient capital of the Caďinorian empire, and the capital of the modern state of Ctésifon.
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Origins
According to tradition, the city was founded (in 1 Z.E.— the starting event of the Caďinorian calendar) by the Scadrorionit (‘master riders’, Ver. Šadoroi), a noble Caďinorian family which dominated the middle Svetla after the Cuzeians of Inibē’s lineage dissipated themselves with civil war. In its early days the town was known as Ctesifos, and like the other Scadrorion states was under heavy Cuzeian influence.
The Scadrorion states found themselves on the front lines after the Munkhâshi invasion; in Ctesifos, the clan was overthrown in 462 by Erbelaica, who styled himself a full elorion (king) though he ruled not much more than Ctesifos itself. By the 700s, however, the middle Svetla was organized into a Caďinorian League (Cundetanda caďina) under the city’s leadership, and it had adapted the Cuzeian alphabet to write its own language. As its realm grew it became known under the augmentative Ctesifon.
The Empire
As the capital of the empire (proclaimed by Keadau in 1150), the city grew into a metropolis of 150,000 or so; it and Aites and Aránicer were the urban jewels of the Empire. The emperors filled the city with enormous temples and monuments, and protected it with the massive fortress of Tasurcaln; traders and bureaucrats made it bustle— to the point that many nobles preferred to reside in the quieter town of Dalmaž, half a day’s ride south.
The Dark Years
During the Dark Years, the capital was the prize sought by all the empire’s enemies. It was conquered by the Red Cabal (2107-2220) and the barbarian Bešbalicu (2435-72), besieged by the Gelyet (2525), and fell to the semibarbarian Curiyans (2792-2917), to say nothing of sacks by various rebel generals. It was the Curiyan conquest that effectively put an end to the Empire— though control over outlying provinces had been nominal at best for half a milennium.
Modern times
- See Ctésifon for a more detailed account of the modern kingdom.
In 2917 the marquis Bura expelled the Curiyans and established the empire of Ctésifon. Several neighboring states sent gifts, which was as close as Bura came to having an actual empire. His son Ertala had higher expectations, demanding that the lord of Verduria, Caleon, swear loyalty. Caleon did travel to Žésifo, but was so disgusted by Ertala's arrogance that he declared himself an independent king (2943). When Ertala tried to contest this with an army, Caleon came south again, defeated the army, and promised to have Ertala whipped. Ertala committed suicide, and Ctesifon passed under Verdurian rule.
During Verduria’s dark years under the wizards Utu, Ribelgo, the duke of Řiseon, re-established Ctesifon’s independence (3198); he styled himself eloro, a reflex of Caď. elorion ‘king’, rather than either atabo ‘emperor’ or the kingly title dalu used elsewhere in the Plain. There was another period of Verdurian rule from 3305 to 3358; since then the country has been under the rule of the Aďlon dynasty, beginning with Čipelric, marquis of Aďlon. The current monarch is Onop 2e, who acceeded in 3462.
The city is still noted for its impressive architecture. Some has fallen into ruins, but other imperial buildings have been maintained or restored. Unlike Rome, many of them are still used for their ancient purpose. The Temple of Enäron and Išira (whose floor plan is in the Caďinor grammar) is still used for worship; so is Išira's own temple, the Cäma, whose perimeter defines the cemisa.
Important as a center of scholarship, religion, and culture, Žésifo still fancies itself the center of Caďinorian civilization, though its domain is no more than a principality. (Some of its neighbors eye it nervously; it may not expect to rule all of Eretald, but the eloroi still have dreams for the middle Svetla.) Its pride is damaged, but its purses are somewhat fattened, by its latest role: tourist and retirement haven for Verdurians.
Etymology: Caď. Ctesifon, earlier Ctesifos; of unknown origin. Ver. Žésifo. Bar. Shtezivu, Keb. Ektezivun.
In Almean studies it's convenient to use Žésifo for the modern city, Ctésifon for the modern kingdom, and Ctesifon for the ancient city. Verdurian usage is more complex. Outside Ctésifon the usage may match this rule, though there's a tendency to use Žésifo in all contexts. In Ctésifon itself it's usual to write Ctesifon and say Žésifo, though some like to say Žésifon or Ždésifon.
