Vyat
From Almeopedia
| • Vyat |
Vyat [vjat] is a small city located along the Svetla river at the southern tip of Verduria province, just north of the confluence with the Menla. With a population of over 60,000, it is the second-largest town in the province, after Verduria city.
Etymology: Caď. Viať; Bar. Fiath.
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Ancient times
In ancient times the main settlement was on the opposite bank, the city of Cantiego; it was the chief city of the Meťaiun kingdom of Davur, and later the capital of the Central kingdom of Kaino. The Kahinisa built a bridge across the river in the 800s, but the city was overshadowed by Anaseri to the north during Caďinorian times, especially after the bridge collapsed in the 1700s.
Irun of Banda rebuilt the bridge in the 2240s, as part of a program of shoring up the empire's declining infrastructure. Settlement moved to the east bank of the river, now under the name Vyat. The town was sacked by the Bešbalicu in the 2430s, after their conquest of Žésifo. When the Caďinorians retook their capital, in 2477, with the aid of Velto Cänen, warlord of Arcaln, Velto was rewarded with the rule of Verduria city, but the emperor feared giving him rule of the province as well; this was given instead to a governor (scoȟos) based in Vyat. The governors were at first appointed, but by the late 2600s the position was hereditary.
Later on
After Žésifo fell to the Curiyans in 2792, the provinces of northern Eretald found themselves independent. This set the stage for a struggle between the dukes of Vyat and the lords of Verduria for Verduria province. In economic and military resources Vyat was far outclassed; but the duke did have the better legal claim, and generally had the support of the province's nobles, who feared being dominated by Verduria. On the other hand they didn't really want to be dominated by Vyat either, so their help was useful only to oppose Verduria, not to elevate Vyat.
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It was with the help of a foreign noble, the marquis of Irvesi, that Avtor Prežeon decisively defeated duke Ondorot, in 2920. This effectively ended the dukes' pretensions; as if to underline this, Caleon, first king of Verduria, created new duchies, naming himself duke of Kaino and an ally duke of Pelym.
Within the kingdom, Vyat became known for its merchants, more lately joined by factories. The town received a boost with the construction of the Menla-Vesi Canal, which allows water transit from the Serea to the Svetla.
Elena established a university in Vyat in 3290. This has brought a large number of students to the town and brought a little color to a town previously considered rather dull. The poet Faledašo Boďmorey lives in Vyat, and indeed claims to prefer it to Verduria city.
The duchy (šohát) has continued to modern times, held by the Dineon family. It's the largest noble estate in the province.
Notable dukes
- Opoȟumos (Opohum), first governor, 2477
- Mieranoctu (Mëranožu) Dineon, appointed 2684; the Dineons inherited the duchy from then on
- Ondorot, defeated by Avtor in 2920
- Dënes, prime minister from 3386 to 3391
- Aďdul 4e, the present duke, known for his experiments with steam-powered plowing
