Difference between revisions of "Old Empire of Ghis"

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{{Infobox Realm
 
{{Infobox Realm
| name = Ghiscari Empire
+
| name = Old Empire of Ghis
| image =  
+
| image = [[File:GhisHarpie.png|180px]]
| image_caption =  
+
| image_caption = [[Harpies|Harpy]], the symbol of the Old Empire
 
+
| location = [[Ghiscar]], [[Slaver's Bay]]
| location = [[Slaver's Bay]]
+
| capital      = [[Old Ghis]]
| capital      = [[Old Ghis|Ghis]]
 
 
| government =  
 
| government =  
 
| ruler =  
 
| ruler =  
+
| religion = mixed
| religion = Mixed
 
 
| population =  
 
| population =  
 
 
| founded =  
 
| founded =  
 
| preceded =  
 
| preceded =  
Line 17: Line 14:
 
| succeeded = [[Valyrian Freehold]] (conqueror)
 
| succeeded = [[Valyrian Freehold]] (conqueror)
 
| restored =  
 
| restored =  
 
+
| places = [[Meereen]] {{!}} [[Yunkai]] {{!}} [[Astapor]]<br>[[Old Ghis]] {{!}} [[Zamettar]]
| places = [[Old Ghis]]<br>[[Meereen]]<br>[[Yunkai]]<br>[[Astapor]]<br>[[Zamettar]]
 
 
| organizations =  
 
| organizations =  
 
}}
 
}}
  
[[File:Harpy.jpg|thumb|350px|The [[harpies|harpy]] is a Ghiscari symbol]]
+
The '''Old Empire of Ghis'''{{Ref|ADWD|67}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|Ancient History: The Rise of Valyria}} was one of the oldest known nations and cultures in the world. It reigned supreme over much of [[Essos]]. Its founding and golden age predate that of its successor, the [[Valyrian Freehold]], by thousands of years.  
[[File:HBO Valyria v Ghis.png|thumb|350px|Five great wars were fought between Ghiscar and the Freehold]]
+
 
The '''Old Empire of Ghis'''{{ref|ADWD|67}}{{ref|TWOIAF| Ancient History: The Rise of Valyria}} was one of the oldest known nations and cultures in the world. It reigned supreme over much of [[Essos]]. Its founding and golden age predate that of its successor, the [[Valyrian Freehold]], by thousands of years. The Old Empire took the [[harpies|harpy]] emblem of [[Old Ghis|Ghis]].  It depicted a fanged woman with leathery wings for arms, the legs of an eagle, and the tail of scorpion, clutching a thunderbolt in her talons.{{Ref|aSoS|23}}  
+
==Harpy==
 +
The Old Empire took the [[harpies|harpy]] emblem of [[Old Ghis]].  It depicted a fanged woman with leathery wings for arms, the legs of an eagle, and the tail of scorpion, clutching a thunderbolt in her talons.{{Ref|aSoS|23}}  
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
The Old Empire reigned supreme over much of [[Essos]] while the [[Valyrian Freehold]] was still young and savage. It rose from the ancient city of [[Old Ghis|Ghis]] in [[Ghiscar]] and grew into a military, economic and cultural powerhouse.  
+
===Rise===
 +
The Old Empire rose from the ancient [[Old Ghis]] in [[Ghiscar]], a city founded by [[Grazdan the Great]]. Old Ghis fielded highly-disciplined [[Ghiscari legions|lockstep legions]] of free soldiers reputed to have been nearly unbeatable on the battlefield. The architecture of Old Ghis was dominated by massive brick towers and pyramids built using [[slave]] labor.{{Ref|ASOS|23}} Since the Ghiscari hills were rich in [[copper]], the Old Empire used bronze weapons.{{Ref|ADWD|16}}
  
At its height Ghis fielded highly-disciplined [[Ghiscari legions|lockstep legions]] of free soldiers reputed to have been nearly unbeatable on the battlefield. The architecture of Ghis was dominated by massive brick towers and pyramids built using [[slave]] labor. Its symbol was the [[harpies|harpy]]. The Ghiscari expanded south to [[Sothoryos]] and the [[Basilisk Isles]], building [[Gorosh]] as a penal colony at [[Wyvern Point]], [[Zamettar]] at the mouth of the [[Zamoyos]], and [[Gogossos|Gorgai]] on the [[Isle of Tears]].{{ref|AWOIAF| Gorosh}}
+
After colonizing nearby land, Old Ghis began subjugating its neighbors.{{Ref|TWOIAF|Ancient History: The Rise of Valyria}} The Ghiscari expanded south to [[Sothoryos]] and the [[Basilisk Isles]], building [[Gorosh]] as a penal colony at [[Wyvern Point]], [[Zamettar]] at the mouth of the [[Zamoyos]], and [[Gogossos|Gorgai]] on the [[Isle of Tears]].{{Ref|AWOIAF|Gorosh}}
  
The Old Empire fell five thousand years ago.{{ref|ASOS|23}} After the Valyrians discovered [[dragons]] and quickly rose to power, the Ghiscari wanted dragons for their own. [[Ghiscari wars|Five great wars]] were fought between Ghiscar and the Freehold, which Valyria won with its dragons.{{Ref|aSoS|27}} The Ghiscari won some skirmishes as there is a large ancient [[tapestry]] in the [[Heart (Great Pyramid)|heart of the Great Pyramid]] in [[Meereen]] showing the last survivors of a defeated Valyrian army passing beneath the yoke and being chained.{{Ref|aDwD|67}} In the last great war the Valyrians smashed the Ghiscari legions and used their dragons to burn Ghis and its pyramids to the ground. After Ghis was burned, the Valyrians sowed the fields with salt and sulfur to prevent any surviving inhabitants from returning.  
+
===Ghiscari Wars===
 +
[[File:HBO Valyria v Ghis.png|thumb|350px|Five great wars were fought between Ghiscar and the [[Valyrian Freehold]], screenshot from ''[[Game of Thrones]]'']]
 +
After the [[Valyria]]ns discovered [[dragons]] and quickly rose to power, the Ghiscari wanted dragons for their own. [[Ghiscari wars|Five great wars]] were fought between Ghiscar and the [[Valyrian Freehold]],{{Ref|ASOS|27}} with the [[Tall Men]] of the [[Kingdom of Sarnor]] participating in three of the conflicts.{{Ref|TWOIAF|Beyond the Free Cities: The Grasslands}} The Ghiscari won some battles, as there is a large ancient [[tapestry]] in the [[Heart (Great Pyramid)|heart of the Great Pyramid]] in [[Meereen]] showing the last survivors of a defeated Valyrian army passing beneath the yoke and being chained.{{Ref|aDwD|67}} However, the Ghiscari eventually lost each war.{{Ref|ASOS|27}}
  
With the destruction of Ghis, the Old Empire collapsed and most of the original Ghiscari bloodline was wiped out. The surviving populations of the empire rebuilt what they could from the wreckage. The outlying colonies of [[Slaver's Bay]] rose to prominence: [[Astapor]], [[Yunkai]], and [[Meereen]]. These cities established themselves as a hub of the global slave trade and became extremely wealthy. The island city of [[New Ghis]] was also founded.{{Ref|aSoS|23}}
+
The Old Empire fell five thousand years ago.{{Ref|ASOS|23}} In the [[Fifth Ghiscari War]] the Valyrians smashed the Ghiscari legions and used their dragons to burn Old Ghis and its pyramids to the ground. The Valyrians sowed the fields with salt and sulfur to prevent any surviving inhabitants from returning.{{Ref|ASOS|23}}
  
During the [[Century of Blood]] after the [[Doom of Valyria]], the [[Dothraki]] destroyed northern Ghiscari colonies, whose ruins are now called [[Krazaaj Has]], [[Vaes Mejhah]], and [[Vaes Efe]].{{ref|AWOIAF}}
+
===Aftermath===
 +
With the destruction of [[Old Ghis]], the Old Empire collapsed and was conquered by the [[Valyrian Freehold]]. The Valyrians learned [[slavery]] from the Ghiscari and applied it to other lands.{{Ref|TWOIAF|Ancient History: Valyria's Children}}
 +
 
 +
After the [[Doom of Valyria]], the [[Slaver Cities]] of [[Slaver's Bay]] and [[New Ghis]] overthrew their Valyrian overlords and reestablished control of the slave trade.{{Ref|TWOIAF|Ancient History: The Rise of Valyria}} During the [[Century of Blood]], the [[Dothraki]] destroyed northern Ghiscari colonies, whose ruins are now called [[Krazaaj Has]],{{Ref|AWOIAF|Krazaaj Has}} [[Vaes Efe]],{{Ref|AWOIAF|Vaes Efe}} and [[Vaes Mejhah]].{{Ref|AWOIAF|Vaes Mejhah}}
  
 
==Government==
 
==Government==
 +
The ruling structure of the Old Empire is unknown. Five thousand years after the empire's fall,{{Ref|ASOS|23}} [[Hizdahr zo Loraq]]'s list of titles includes those of "Scion of Old Ghis" and "Octarch of the Old Empire".{{Ref|ADWD|59}} This may imply that the empire was ruled by a council of eight, that it had eight regional governors underneath an emperor, or that octarch was a military title or rank. It is uncertain if Hizdahr's title has any basis in the Old Empire's practices.
 +
 +
==People==
 +
The modern [[Ghiscari]] people are mongrels of a dozen races and peoples driven together by the empire and its fall. They are spread over a large area around [[Slaver's Bay]], west of the [[Gulf of Grief]].
 +
 +
Ghiscari have dense, dark amber skin and wiry hair with red highlights. Men of the [[Slaver Cities]] are known to wear their hairs teased, oiled, and twisted into fantastic shapes. They have wear cloaks of yellow with copper disks sewn on. Their tunics are embroidered linen. Below the waist they wear pleated linen skirts and sandals. The richest classes, who are primarily made up of slavers, wear the ''[[tokar]]'' and are fond of rich foods, such as dogs, octopus stew, and duck eggs.{{Ref|aSoS|23}}
 +
 +
==Legacy==
 +
[[File:Harpy.jpg|thumb|The [[harpies|harpy]] is a Ghiscari symbol]]
 +
The [[Old Ghiscari]] language, culture, and gods were largely forgotten over time and the [[Ghiscari]] adopted the language of their Valyrian conquerors. Today most speak a dialect of [[High Valyrian#Slaver Cities|High Valyrian]].{{Ref|aSoS|23}} The crumbling walls, stepped pyramids, and [[harpies|harpy]] statues are all that remain of the Old Empire's glory days.
 +
 +
The [[Unsullied]] tactics are considered a remnant of Old Ghis. They are trained to fight in the same disciplined lock-step manner and are considered the legions of Old Ghis come again, but are [[slaves]] instead of free men. The free iron legions of [[New Ghis]] are also inspired by the [[Ghiscari legions|lockstep legions]] of old.{{Ref|TWOIAF|Ancient History: The Rise of Valyria}}
  
It is unclear if the Ghiscari Empire was in truth an "empire", as no emperors have ever been mentioned. Thousands of years later, [[Hizdahr zo Loraq]]'s grandiose list of titles includes the phrase "Scion of Old Ghis, Octarch of the Old Empire".  This may imply that the empire was actually ruled by a council of eight people - or it could simply refer to something such as eight regional governors underneath an emperor, or it could also be a military title or rank.  Moreover, given how far removed in time Hizdahr is from the actual Ghiscari Empire from 5,000 years in the past, it is uncertain if this title has any substantial basis in the old empire's actual practices.{{Ref|aDwD|59}}
+
The [[harpies|harpy]] was adopted as a symbol by all the [[Slaver Cities]] and their silver [[Currency|coins]] are stamped with a harpy. The [[Good Masters]] of [[Astapor]], the [[Wise Masters]] of [[Yunkai]], and the [[Great Masters]] of [[Meereen]] have been training slaves for generations, much as their predecessors did, and are experts at it.{{Ref|aSoS|23}}  
  
==Known Ghiscari cities==
+
==Known Cities==
[[File:GhisHarpie.png|180px|thumb|The symbol of the Old Ghiscari Empire]]
 
*[[Old Ghis|Ghis]]
 
 
*[[Astapor]]
 
*[[Astapor]]
 +
*[[Ghozai]]
 +
*[[Gogossos]] ([[High Valyrian|Valyrian]] name for Gorgai)
 +
*[[Gorosh]]
 +
*[[Krazaaj Has]] ([[Dothraki]] name for Ghardaq)
 +
*[[Meereen]]
 +
*[[New Ghis]]
 +
*[[Old Ghis]]
 +
*[[Vaes Diaf]] (Dothraki name for Hazdahn Mo)
 +
*[[Vaes Efe]] (Dothraki name, Ghiscari name unknown)
 +
*[[Vaes Mejhah]] (Dothraki name, Ghiscari name unknown)
 
*[[Yunkai]]
 
*[[Yunkai]]
*[[Meereen]]
 
*[[Hazdahn Mo]]
 
*[[Ghazdaq]]
 
*[[Vaes Mejhah]] (Dothraki name)
 
*[[Vaes Efe]] (Dothraki name)
 
*[[Ghozai]]
 
*[[Gorgai]]
 
 
*[[Zamettar]]
 
*[[Zamettar]]
*[[Gorosh]]
 
 
==People==
 
:{{main|Ghiscari}}
 
The Ghiscari people are mongrels of a dozen races and peoples driven together by the empire and its fall. They are spread over a large area around [[Slaver's Bay]], west of the [[Gulf of Grief]].
 
 
Ghiscari have dense, dark amber skin and wiry hair with red highlights. Men of the Slaver Cities are known to wear their hairs teased, oiled, and twisted into fantastic shapes. They have wear cloaks of yellow with copper disks sewn on. Their tunics are embroidered linen. Below the waist they wear pleated linen skirts and sandals. The richest classes, who are primarily made up of slavers, wear the [[tokar]] and are fond of rich foods, such as dogs, octopus stew, and duck eggs.{{Ref|aSoS|23}}
 
 
==Legacy==
 
The [[Old Ghiscari]] language, culture, and gods were largely forgotten over time and the Ghiscari adopted the language of their Valyrian conquerors. Today they speak a dialect of [[High Valyrian#Slaver Cities|High Valyrian]].{{Ref|aSoS|23}} The crumbling walls, stepped pyramids, and [[harpies|harpy]] statues are all that remain of the Old Empire's glory days.
 
  
The [[Unsullied]] tactics are considered a remnant of Old Ghis. They are trained to fight in the same disciplined lock-step manner and are considered the legions of Old Ghis come again, but are [[slaves]] instead of free men. The free iron legions of [[New Ghis]] are also inspired by the lockstep legions of old.{{ref|TWOIAF| Ancient History: The Rise of Valyria}}
+
==Quotes==
 +
{{Quote|What now remains of the once-proud empire of [[Old Ghis]] is a paltry thing—[[Slaver Cities|a few cities]] clinging like sores to [[Slaver's Bay]] and [[New Ghis|another that pretends]] to be Old Ghis come again.{{Ref|TWOIAF|Ancient History: The Rise of Valyria}}|writings of [[Yandel]]}}
  
The harpy was adopted as a symbol by all the [[Slaver Cities]] and their silver [[Currency|coins]] are stamped with a harpy. The [[Good Masters]] of [[Astapor]], the [[Wise Masters]] of [[Yunkai]], and the [[Great Masters]] of [[Meereen]] have been training slaves for generations, much as their predecessors did, and are experts at it.{{Ref|aSoS|23}}  
+
{{Quote|[[Old Ghis]] ruled an empire when the [[Valyria]]ns were still fucking sheep, and we are the sons of the [[harpies|harpy]].{{Ref|ASOS|23}}|[[Kraznys mo Nakloz]] to [[Missandei]]}}  
  
==References and Notes==
+
{{Quote|Ours is the blood of [[Old Ghis|ancient Ghis]], whose empire was old when [[Valyria]] was yet a squalling child.{{Ref|ASOS|42}}|[[Grazdan mo Eraz]] to [[Daenerys Targaryen]]}}
{{references|2}}
 
  
{{Creatures}}
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==References==
 +
{{References|2}}
  
 
[[Category:Ghis]]
 
[[Category:Ghis]]
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[[fa:امپراطوری گیسکاری]]
 
[[fa:امپراطوری گیسکاری]]
 
[[fr:Empire ghiscari]]
 
[[fr:Empire ghiscari]]
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[[nl:Ghiscaarse Rijk]]
 
[[ru:Гискарская империя]]
 
[[ru:Гискарская империя]]
 
[[zh:&#21513;&#26031;&#24093;&#22269;]]
 
[[zh:&#21513;&#26031;&#24093;&#22269;]]

Revision as of 00:38, 22 July 2022

Old Empire of Ghis
GhisHarpie.png
Harpy, the symbol of the Old Empire
Location Ghiscar, Slaver's Bay
Capital Old Ghis
Religion mixed
Destroyed Fifth Ghiscari War
Succeeded by Valyrian Freehold (conqueror)
Notable places Meereen | Yunkai | Astapor
Old Ghis | Zamettar

The Old Empire of Ghis[1][2] was one of the oldest known nations and cultures in the world. It reigned supreme over much of Essos. Its founding and golden age predate that of its successor, the Valyrian Freehold, by thousands of years.

Harpy

The Old Empire took the harpy emblem of Old Ghis. It depicted a fanged woman with leathery wings for arms, the legs of an eagle, and the tail of scorpion, clutching a thunderbolt in her talons.[3]

History

Rise

The Old Empire rose from the ancient Old Ghis in Ghiscar, a city founded by Grazdan the Great. Old Ghis fielded highly-disciplined lockstep legions of free soldiers reputed to have been nearly unbeatable on the battlefield. The architecture of Old Ghis was dominated by massive brick towers and pyramids built using slave labor.[3] Since the Ghiscari hills were rich in copper, the Old Empire used bronze weapons.[4]

After colonizing nearby land, Old Ghis began subjugating its neighbors.[2] The Ghiscari expanded south to Sothoryos and the Basilisk Isles, building Gorosh as a penal colony at Wyvern Point, Zamettar at the mouth of the Zamoyos, and Gorgai on the Isle of Tears.[5]

Ghiscari Wars

Five great wars were fought between Ghiscar and the Valyrian Freehold, screenshot from Game of Thrones

After the Valyrians discovered dragons and quickly rose to power, the Ghiscari wanted dragons for their own. Five great wars were fought between Ghiscar and the Valyrian Freehold,[6] with the Tall Men of the Kingdom of Sarnor participating in three of the conflicts.[7] The Ghiscari won some battles, as there is a large ancient tapestry in the heart of the Great Pyramid in Meereen showing the last survivors of a defeated Valyrian army passing beneath the yoke and being chained.[1] However, the Ghiscari eventually lost each war.[6]

The Old Empire fell five thousand years ago.[3] In the Fifth Ghiscari War the Valyrians smashed the Ghiscari legions and used their dragons to burn Old Ghis and its pyramids to the ground. The Valyrians sowed the fields with salt and sulfur to prevent any surviving inhabitants from returning.[3]

Aftermath

With the destruction of Old Ghis, the Old Empire collapsed and was conquered by the Valyrian Freehold. The Valyrians learned slavery from the Ghiscari and applied it to other lands.[8]

After the Doom of Valyria, the Slaver Cities of Slaver's Bay and New Ghis overthrew their Valyrian overlords and reestablished control of the slave trade.[2] During the Century of Blood, the Dothraki destroyed northern Ghiscari colonies, whose ruins are now called Krazaaj Has,[9] Vaes Efe,[10] and Vaes Mejhah.[11]

Government

The ruling structure of the Old Empire is unknown. Five thousand years after the empire's fall,[3] Hizdahr zo Loraq's list of titles includes those of "Scion of Old Ghis" and "Octarch of the Old Empire".[12] This may imply that the empire was ruled by a council of eight, that it had eight regional governors underneath an emperor, or that octarch was a military title or rank. It is uncertain if Hizdahr's title has any basis in the Old Empire's practices.

People

The modern Ghiscari people are mongrels of a dozen races and peoples driven together by the empire and its fall. They are spread over a large area around Slaver's Bay, west of the Gulf of Grief.

Ghiscari have dense, dark amber skin and wiry hair with red highlights. Men of the Slaver Cities are known to wear their hairs teased, oiled, and twisted into fantastic shapes. They have wear cloaks of yellow with copper disks sewn on. Their tunics are embroidered linen. Below the waist they wear pleated linen skirts and sandals. The richest classes, who are primarily made up of slavers, wear the tokar and are fond of rich foods, such as dogs, octopus stew, and duck eggs.[3]

Legacy

The harpy is a Ghiscari symbol

The Old Ghiscari language, culture, and gods were largely forgotten over time and the Ghiscari adopted the language of their Valyrian conquerors. Today most speak a dialect of High Valyrian.[3] The crumbling walls, stepped pyramids, and harpy statues are all that remain of the Old Empire's glory days.

The Unsullied tactics are considered a remnant of Old Ghis. They are trained to fight in the same disciplined lock-step manner and are considered the legions of Old Ghis come again, but are slaves instead of free men. The free iron legions of New Ghis are also inspired by the lockstep legions of old.[2]

The harpy was adopted as a symbol by all the Slaver Cities and their silver coins are stamped with a harpy. The Good Masters of Astapor, the Wise Masters of Yunkai, and the Great Masters of Meereen have been training slaves for generations, much as their predecessors did, and are experts at it.[3]

Known Cities

Quotes

What now remains of the once-proud empire of Old Ghis is a paltry thing—a few cities clinging like sores to Slaver's Bay and another that pretends to be Old Ghis come again.[2]

—writings of Yandel

Old Ghis ruled an empire when the Valyrians were still fucking sheep, and we are the sons of the harpy.[3]

Ours is the blood of ancient Ghis, whose empire was old when Valyria was yet a squalling child.[13]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 67, The Kingbreaker.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 The World of Ice & Fire, Ancient History: The Rise of Valyria.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 23, Daenerys II.
  4. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 16, Daenerys III.
  5. George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Gorosh.
  6. 6.0 6.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 27, Daenerys III.
  7. The World of Ice & Fire, Beyond the Free Cities: The Grasslands.
  8. The World of Ice & Fire, Ancient History: Valyria's Children.
  9. George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Krazaaj Has.
  10. George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Vaes Efe.
  11. George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Vaes Mejhah.
  12. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 59, The Discarded Knight.
  13. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 42, Daenerys IV.