Holy Sigmarite Empire 210-237PC

The reign of Heinrich II lasted 27 years and on land at least, was a period of peace and prosperity. His son, Heinrich III was crowned in the autumn of 210PC and he immediately began expanding the nation's influence. Unlike previous emperors however, Heinrich was a cautious and serious man, and preferred to avoid open war at all costs.

This resulted in 27 years without a major land battle involving the Holy Sigmarite Empire's armies. Instead the HSE began trading heavily with its smaller neighbours, Pellenar, Kustenland and Ebenland, the latter two having been entirely surrounded by Sigmarite settled land by the end of Heinrich's reign. Many took it for granted that the small states would be swallowed by their larger neighbour in due course, though Pellenar remained fiercely independent.

In 214PC the HSE fleet saw action against Typhus' fleet, but Heinrich III avoided war. Similar clashes with Mellvellon in 216 and then an even larger naval battle with the Dwarf Kingdom in 220PC rocked the Empire and even threatened Heinrich's rule, but the Emperor managed to sooth Dwarf anger. The fact that the battle had been an unmitigated disaster for the Empire's fleet helped, and this single encounter ensured the HSE fleet remained mostly in port for the next 18 years, rebuilding.

The HSE turned inwards, concentrating on the prosperity of the realm. By 235PC the population had risen to 1,380,000 and the cities of Sigmarheim and Sudhafen had become important centres of culture and learning. Two new cities sprung up during Heinrich II's realm, Galamory, on the coast of Galamor bay, and Gross Dortbeck, the capital of the new province of Dortland on the Great Canaur.

In early 216PC, aged just 17, Prince Karl married Lady Jane Fringsdorf and by the late autumn they had a son and heir to the Alptraum dynasty, Otto. This was followed in 219 by the birth of Princess Anna and in 222 by the birth of the couple's third child, Princess Magda. The happy situation at court was only marred by the death of Heinrich's sister, Isabella, in childbirth during 220PC.

By 237PC the old emperor was 76 and knew he was dying. His reign had been largely uneventful and although the HSE had prospered under it, many now considered the realm weak and less vital than others, particularly the aggressive Dwarf Kingdom and the ever expansive high elves of Mellvellon. The lizardmen and Dark Elf Dominion were on the move once more and the long dormant threat from the Cloudy Mountain Orcs had resurfaced.

Heinrich died in 237PC and was succeeded by Karl I. Karl knew the Holy Sigmarite Empire was surrounded by warlike realms and threatened as never before. The HSE needed allies, and more than the small kingdoms with which his father had made treaties. Karl began talks with the Dwarf Kingdom, Cuitlaxaochitzin and the High Elves once more, in an attempt to secure the peace and safety of the Empire.