Four Red Centuries

The Four Red Centuries (1486 C.E. and 1850 C.E) is a period in Jelbanian history which was marked by endless intercrine strife, natural disasters and never ending military confrontation between the Jelbek clans. It followed the collapse of the Ahmadi Caliphate in 1486 and ended at the unification of Jelbania after 1850.

Background
Jelbania had been unified between 607 and 620 by the conqueror Grzkai 'One Eye' forming the First Jelbek Khanate. The Khanate lasted for 377 years, expiring in 997 when Khan Grzkai the Last was slain by Tokundian invaders. Tokundian rule lasted for 251 years till 1248 when the Ahmadi Caliphate conquered the Khanate. The country was ruled by a Khedive appointed by the Caliph and Ahmadi rule fell relatively lightly on the Jelbeks compared to Tokundian rule.

In 1486 taknig advantage of the Caliphate's growing weakness, the Jelbek clans successfully rebeleld against Ahmadist rule. The trouble began after that. The male line of the House of Grzkai had died out sometime in the early 15th century at the orders of a particularly cruel Caliph who ordered the massacre of all males of the Grzkai line. Many of the then 43 clans were descended from the earlier Khans matrineally. Many of those clans pressed their own claim to the throne of the newly independent Khanate and soon the debate turned violent.

The 'One Thousand' Khanates
The newly independent Khanate quickly collapsed into civil war. The greatest of the clans carved up large portions of the Khanate and each declared themselves the true heirs to the first Khanate. Majatrans in the south east created their own little emirates as well. Dissuwans were not to be left out and created their own statelets too. Historians estimate that more than 30 states existed over the territory now known as Jelbania