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Faerie

Years ago

Events

140 B.E.

630

Three prophets in distant provinces of the Illerian Empire independently begin preaching a monotheistic religion centered on the worship of a creator deity they call Logos. They are widely ignored

137 B.E.

627

The Prophet Justinian passes away. Before he dies, he charges his apostles, including Theodoric, to spread the word of the new religion.

135 B.E.

625

Theodoric, after meeting with little success, travels to the Imperial Capitol to spread the word, where he meets the Prophet Dominica. He is struck immediately by the similarity between her message and his own.

135-134 B.E.

625-624

Upon seeing the similarities between the independent message of Justinian and Domenica, many people become convinced that the message of Logos must be a revelation, and the church begins to grow rapidly.

134 B.E.

624

Emperor Constantus perceives the new faith as a threat to the existing order in the Empire and declares it illegal. Domenica is arrested and tried for sedition. Before her execution she passes on the mantle to Theodoric.

134 B.E.

624

Later that year, Theodoric meets the Prophet Valerian for the first time and the validity of the new religion is secure.

134 B.E.

624

Valerian dies while preaching the new faith in the far south of Illeria. The location of his grave remains unknown.

128 B.E.

618

Theodoric dies after naming the priest Loginus as his successor. This cements the office of Primate (later called the Logothete) and establishes the apostolic nature of the church. Future clergy can trace their authority all the way back to the prophets via the uninterrupted succession of the primates.

122 B.E.

612

Death of Emperor Constantus. His successor, Gregorius IV, persecutes the worshipers of Logos with renewed vigor. Many are put to death and the religion seems on the brink of disaster, but manages to hold on for years as an illegal faith.

112 B.E.

602

The Martyrdom of Petronella. Loginus manages to convert Gregorius, and the church attains a legal standing in the Empire for the first time.

108 B.E.

598

Groundbreaking for the Cathedral.

106 B.E.

596

Gregorius dies without issue, throwing the Empire into turmoil. Loginus suggests that the new Emperor must be one of the faithful if the Empire is to prosper. The Senate is split on the issue, and many candidates are put forth as possible choices for the throne. A sizable minority wants to convert the Empire to a Republic, leaving the Senate in charge of all secular affairs. The Empire is poised on the brink of civil war.

104 B.E.

594

After two years with no clear leader, the Empire is in chaos. In the Capitol, construction of the new cathedral is suspended during the crisis. General Galerius meets with Loginus and strikes a bargain. He reveals his plan to seize the Senate with the support of the elite Guard and declare himself Emperor. He realizes this may well spark a civil war, and he seeks the aid of the church in swaying public opinion. His offer is simply that if the church will agree to support him, he will convert. Loginus makes a counter offer, and says he will instruct the members of the senate who are also members of the church, a sizable minority that could represent the deciding votes, to nominate and vote for the election of Galerius. By the time the two men are finished negotiating, it is decided that the church and its members will support Galerius, who will not only convert but who will declare the worship of Logos to be the official religion of the Empire. The church will also be granted lands and holdings to use as they wish. In return, Galerius and his successors will have the authority to veto future appointments to the office of Logothete. (Note: Some scholars suggest that Loginus conceded this last point only under duress, as it represents a substantial weakening of the church's power. Others point out that, at the time, the church *had* no power, so they actually had little to give up, and in return they gained much wealth and land from the deal.)

103 B.E.

593

The senate as the new emperor selects General Galerius on New Year's Day. At his coronation, he takes the crown of the emperor from the hands of Senator Pilates as the Senator is about to place it on his head, and hands it instead to the Logothete Loginus, who crowns him Emperor. His first act is to declare the Church of Logos as the new state religion, replacing many generations of ancestor worship and shamanism.

99 B.E.

589

Loginus dies and Cardinal Olybrius is chosen to replace him as the third Logothete. Olybrius oversees a period of rapid growth for the Church, wherein it's holdings increased in value many times. He is also a close advisor and friend to Emperor Galerius.

98-15 B.E.

588-510

The Church grows rapidly and generally prospers. Although never declared illegal, the old religions slowly recede from the capital, although they remain somewhat popular in the countryside, where many citizens pay homage to both religions.

14 B.E.

509

The Cathedral is finally completed. The church is at the apex of its power in the old Empire.

11 B.E.

506

Emperor Sarapion dies and divides the Empire between his daughter Ionna and son Claudius.

9 B.E.

504

Claudius begins construction of a shrine to Sarapion in the capitol. He begins to garner support among those still following the old religions.

5 B.E.

500

Claudius declares himself sole Emperor of Illeria and launches a campaign to bring the countryside under his control. Thanks to his embrace of the old religions, most of the Legion is split in their loyalties and he makes many early military gains.

*

495

Illerian Catastrophe and Exodus to Palaestra

1 A.I.

495 A.I.

0

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