Empire of Zhenia

The Empire of Zhenia (Zhenian: 대동진제국, Daedong Jin-jaeguk, literally translated as "Empire of Great Zhenia"), was a historical and  that existed as the direct predecessor to modern-day Zhenia, from June 4, 1438 AC until the Declaration of Union following the December Revolution and the Declaration of Union in 1499 AC, which resulted in the formation of the First Republic and modern Zhenia. With a history spanning over 61 years, it saw the reign of four emperors during its existence, starting from Emperor Seongjo and ending with Emperor Gojong.

It was founded on June 4, 1438, shortly after the end of the Wars of Zhenian Transition, when the pre-existing Confederation of Zhenia was reorganized into an empire centered around Shindan via the Declaration of Zhenian Unification, thus introducing the title of Emperor of Zhenia to Emperor Seongjo, then-Emperor of Shindan and Khagan of the Yemeg and Balakhaat People. Daedo was selected as the new imperial capital, although the Government of Shindan would assume complete control over foreign and military affairs from Sanggyeong until it too completely relocated to Daedo in 1451. While the emperor remained the head of state, the Prime Minister of Shindan acted as the empire's, proliferating many Shindanese practices, standards and laws throughout the mainland. Under imperial leadership, most of mainland Zhenia ushered into a period of rapid and, resulting in the empire's eventual rise into a , while the indoctrination of the One Continent, One Suzerain scheme, as well as the Shinzhen Doctrine, further consolidated the empire's international status.

Under imperial leadership and extensive reforms, the Empire of Zhenia became one of the most industrialized nations outside Azora towards the end of the 15th century AC, with its economic size expected to have matched those of major Azoran colonial powers by 1475. It was also proactive in increasing Zhenian influence throughout Tarsis and the Hanmaric Ocean, actively pursuing the removal of Azoran colonialism from Tarsis and asserting its own influence in the process. Although achieving an array of military successes throughout most of East and Central Tarsis as well as the West Hanmaric Ocean, the draining of resources in Central Tarsis, namely in Kordalsam, coupled with repeated failed campaigns against Yinguo to the south resulted in political turmoil, which intensified with the Civil Liberties Movement. Dissent against imperial rule, amid concerns over maladministration by higher members of government resulted in the events that ultimately led to the December Revolution as well as the Declaration of Union, all of which culminated in the establishment of the Republic in 1499.

Emperor Seongjo (1438-1443)
The reign of Emperor Seongjo, also referred to as the Daeseong era due to his era name, marked the beginning and fundamentals of the new empire. He came to rule as the Emperor of Zhenia following the Declaration of Zhenian Unification on June 4, 1438, the same day as his coronation as Zhenia's sole emperor. Directly after his coronation, a series of reforms, commonly referred to as the Daeseong reforms, were announced nationwide: the reforms essentially proliferated existing policies of Shindan and the Confederation of Zhenia into the mainland as a whole, including the prohibition of topknots, mandatory education by the state, reorganization of administrative subdivisions and several other reforms spurring industrialization and modernization. Much of the Daeseong reforms was in part the implementation of Shindanese systems and policies nationwide, at an attempt to ultimately suppress secessionist movements and increase Shindanese control over the mainland.

Emperor Saejo (1443-1470)
The reign of Emperor Saejo is mainly characterized as a continuity of Emperor Seongjo's policies, as many of the fundamentals of his rule, including the Daeseong Reforms, stayed the same during Emperor Saejo.

Emperor Gojong (1489-1499)
The reign of Emperor Gojong from 1489 to 1499 AC saw both the end of the empire and its progression into a full republic as a result of the December Revolution and the Declaration of Union, as well as the continuity of modernization and industrialization in mainland Zhenia.

End of the Empire
Following the abdication of Emperor Gojong, the former empire was left without a ruler.

Legacy
While the war towards Zhenian unification was done before the establishment of the empire itself, the unified Zhenian state in the modern sense of the word had finally been achieved under Imperial Zhenia, despite it was primary led by Shindan and the Golden Arc region. Imperial rule under the Empire also laid out several characteristics defining modern Zhenia, including freedom of the presses and protest, a governmental system centered around the Parliament, a social system completely devoid of the traditional caste system and a standardized education system proliferated nationwide.