Bhatsara

Bhatsara ( ભટસરા, Bhaṭasarā) is a  located in south-western Tagol. It borders Kanakavali to the north, the Red Yi Sea to the west and the Western Ocean to the south. It is comprised of 16 administrative regions, two of which are coastal islands, which are known as . The country is home to over 91 million people as of the most recent census, a large majority of which living on the nation's north-western and western coastlines. The capital and largest city in Bhatsara is Kandipur, with a population of close to 8 million.

Lakhani Dynasty & Rise of the Tularajya System
Main Article: Tularajya, Lakhani Dynasty  The Lakhani Empire was the first post-Tripathian entity to conquer the majority of the Bhatsaran Peninisula, subjugating most of the and  by 980 ACE. The Lakhani were also among the first of the Bhāvanāic kings, supplanting long history of Suryanic rulers in the region. In accordance with Bhavanaic outlooks on the institutions of rulership, the priestly caste was restored to a position of political-power as the electors and guaranteers of the  of the royal court. Under Maharaja Pashv II, the central court adopted a general outlook of religious which would come to define inter-religious relations in the region for several centuries. The Lakhani monarchs are credited with moving the meeting place of the court south, to Tajibhavi, outside of the city of Kandipur.

From 1100 to 1200 ACE the Lakhani monarchs would expand their influence beyond the Jeda River in the north-central interior, exceeding the traditional boundaries of the Tripathi Empire and subsequent Bhatsaran states. As the traditional bounds of Bhatsaran influence expanded, so to did the relative autonomy of its subjects. The 1100s saw a phenomena of a gradual of power to local lords, warlords, and chieftains of conquered regions. The 13th century saw a common trend of smaller 'border-states' swearing to the Maharaja, generally for military protection or material gain. This system of various petty lords became known as the 'Tularajya' (તુલરાજ્ય, lit. the balanced rule), and would become somewhat of an institution of traditional Bhatsaran governance which would influence all forms of Bhatsaran politics for the next several centuries. The system, initially utilized to direct a flow of material power and to the court of the Maharaja, would see local lords leverage alliances and material wealth to expand their own influence upon each other. In time, a complex web of alliances and inter-subject relationships would dominate peninsular politics -- with the Maharaja's position being little more than a in most scenarios. However the word of the Maharaja and the Sansada were still largely respected by subjects of the Lakhani, despite the general inability to physically enforce new.

Largely due in part to the Lakhani-led of  and temple-cities across the peninsula, Bhatsara underwent another wave of  in the 1300s and 1400s. Conjoining Bajāra (બજાર, lit. market) to major urban temples became major as well as social gathering places. Often, ceremonial spectacle carried out by local lords or members of the court of the Maharaja drew visitors, pilgrims, and merchants to major urban centers. The revitalization of temple life, as opposed to periphery, was a subsequent after effect of the second wave of urbanization.

Major literary developments also occured during this time period, as temples grew due to a wave of patronage (local polities often constructing large complexes to attract merchants and travelers as well as obtain the favor of the royal court) so did the tradition of the priest caste. Education and literacy was still largely restricted to a few, however a period of academic interest in and  would see the culture of the lower-class of the time period largely preserved and iterated on. In many ways, the 14th and 15th centuries were considered to be a relative for Bhatsaran material and non-physical culture. Developments in Bhāvanāic and  also occurred; with the emergence of several off-shoot traditions which would come to form the major  schools of belief that still exist today.

Warring Princes Era
Main Article: Sinjuese colonial ventures in Bhatsara The era following the end of the Lakhani dynasty and the Uccadeshan Migration is considered by most accounts to be an era of relative decline in the region. Though the naming of the era as the 'Warring Princes Era' is considered to be a due to the inconstant nature of conflict in the region. Regional conflict generally occurred in 'waves', often with periods of relative peace among local polities.

The 17th century saw the formal end of the Lakhani dynasty, with their supplantation by Uccadeshan monarchs following the establishment of the Nandasiri dynasty. Pandu Nadasiri I would formally adopt the title of Maharaja, continuing many of the court institutions and political practices of the Lakhani. However, the Nadasiri would attmept to implement sweeping reforms to the Tularajya system. The center of political power in the nation was moved towards the external fortifications around the urban center of Kandipur once more, in line with the practices of the early Lakhani monarchs. The Nadasiri's reign was relatively short-lived, being replaced by the Kamdar dynasty (1660-1690) and later the Goswami dynasty in 1698. The power dynamics among the polities and states of the peninsula shifted quite volatilely, in general seeing a weakening of the central court of the Maharaja. Amassing debt and a gradual would see the levied armies of the Maharaja downsized considerably, reducing the military reach of the court and subsequently leading to more  on the north-eastern regions of the peninsula.

Sinju powers began to gradually influence the power balance in the region, arriving in the 18th century in the eastern half of the continent in Rodasia first and expanding their influence west. Initially, Sinju influence was confined to treaty ports and individual in Eastern Tagol but as the traditional powers of the continent began to decline Sinju influence would fill in the gaps. The Treaty of Pokhra in 1732 would see Jeongmian merchants afforded special treatment, later extending this treatment to the Jeongmian military. The Chaton Uprising in 1762, in response to the incursion of Jeongmian forces, would see the beginning of anti-Sinju resistance among the native population. Despite various uprisings, most would often forge treaties with various Sinjuese powers to acquire military backing, resources, and exclusive trade rights. In exchange, Sinjuese powers expanded their influence on the peninsula.

Modern & Industrial Era
Following the Kamalanadi War (1715-1719) and the Upper Yodhana War (1725-1729) the peninsula once again saw a period of relative peace. Though, the balance of power had greatly shifted to favor external Sinjuese institutions which had utilized the instability of the region to seize, holdings, and establish  among smaller Bhatsara polities. In particular, Jeongmian and Meisaani influence began to challenge and eventually overshadow the institution of the Maharaja. More binding trade treaties and port-access treaties stripped more and more of the power of the Maharaja, culminating in an official response from Maharaja Dhaval III. The Punargaṭhana Act  saw a reorganization of internal border of the Tularajya system, with significant swaths of land integrated as direct holdings of the central court. In many ways, this was seen as an early attempt at in order to respond to Sinjuese incursions.

Tensions between colonial powers and the Maharaja escalated following, resulting in the Saffron War (1734-1739) which saw the deposition of Dhaval III, the acquisition of several treaty-ports known as the Three Cities Treaty, and the full 'opening' of trade to Bhatsara from Sinju powers. Shrey Bhakta, along with members of the Sansad, worked closely with Jeongmian forces in the region to orchestrate a coup concurrent with the Saffron War, seeking to depose what supporters of the coup decried as the "regressive traditionalism" of Dhaval's regime. Dhaval III would be replaced with his younger brother Vishal, a proponent of Sinju-style, government reform, and the opening of trade to the east. Under Vishal, several reforms were handed down which targeted, , and the erosion of regional conflict. Vishal I also approved the introduction of a range of Sinjuese advisors, a tradition which would be followed by his successors as well.

To meet the demand of colonial trade, of  expanded rapidly throughout the mid 18th century. The development of a network of became a defining factor of colonial involvement in the region. Despite an avowed interest in Sinjueses, the existing caste system was utilized to garner large large forces which were forcibly relocated to fertile areas. Traditionally isolated peoples were relocated and forcefully into new communities.

Civil War & Reconstruction
A declining economic situation, slow industrialization, and the influence of Sinju power in native politics had spurred a sizeable opposition movement to the Maharaja. Initially movements gained traction in the Sansad, however their progress in enacting tangible change was limited. The majority of political power still laid amongst the, of which few perceived themselves to be in a material position to oppose the central court. The Famine of 1891 and the subsequent period of and  furthered the unraveling political crisis. Regional conflicts amongst the princely states, while no where near as large scale as in past decades, still continued -- exasperating the declining conditions of life in Bhatsara.