The central question is why would anyone accept a dependent relationship with an overlord. Why would an otherwise powerful lord accept a superior whose new office would reduce him from being sovereign, master unto himself, to a dependent, one duke in a much larger empire?
Marc Bloch wrote a pair of books called Feudal Society, and book 1 was growth of ties of dependence. It attempts to answer the question, why would lords accept overlords. How could Charlemagne unify separate kingdoms of Austrasia, Neustria, Burgundy, and Aquitaine, and then to add new lands in northern Italy, Franconia, Bavaria, and Saxony?
First he describes how Europe was under threat, Magyar, Saracen, and Viking attacks that local lords could not deal with. Profound disorder was the result with a decline in trade, prosperity, and the control that lords themselves had. Its like constant invasion was producing the pillage effect, reducing law holdings, guild holdings, and temple holdings as province levels drop with the pillage. Magyars from the east, Saracens from the south, Vikings from the north.
If Anuire is mostly static, with province levels, province control, mostly the same from year to year, then no one would give up their freedom and autonomy without fierce resistance. But if vast Gorgonic armies, constant elf wars not only Rhuobhe, but gheillie Sidhe armies allied with him coming out of Sielwode, Tuarhievel, and Rhuobhe, perhaps some betrayal of half-elves going over to Rhuobhe’s side, the Spider breaking out and attacking Ghoere, Diemed, Roesone, and Medoere, maybe pushing further as well. Wars between realms and domains. At least enough to realms and domains can’t turn to one another for mutual support. Goblins and other monstrous attacks from every quarter plausible.
Not all at once, not coordinated by a central evil, not necessarily. That would be a pretty dire situation, but I don’t think its necessary. Just that all of this is the normal stuff that happens.
Take Mhoried. The province 3’s drop to 2’s, then to 1’s. Even Bevaldruor gets pillaged, and the Mhor realizes he has no control beyond Bevaldruor and wonders how long he can defend Bevaldruor. His income dwindles, treasury declines, RP gone. Goblins from Thurazor, the Five Peaks , or even Markazor start wintering in the northern provinces.
Its not much better in Alamie, Elinie is facing goblins from Markazor and elves from Sielwode. Ghoere thinks it can pick up the pieces after your gone, or maybe Ghoere just thinks it needs to keep its army full and treasury stocked for the inevitable trouble that will come. In any event, Mhoried is alone.
Now, suppose that Aeric Boeruine’s son marries Aubrae Avan, both houses put aside their rivalry and put their future in the hope from a grandson who can wear the iron throne. Darien Avan and Aeric Boeruine agree on their roles. Prince Darien will be Imperial Chancellor, Archduke Aeric will be Imperial Marshal. Darien makes a diplomatic push to bring the realms together, to Ghoere to get them to link up with Elinie and Mhoried, to Tuornen and Alamie to work together for mutual defense. Aeric Boeruine commands the united armies of Boeruine and Avanil, along with auxiliaries, faces any one of the major threats, the Spider, Rhuobhe, or the Gorgon, and if they are successful in pulling the realms together, defeating these threats enough to send them back to domancy …
if you were Mhoried, Elinie, or Alamie, would you accept that Darien had claims on your treasury and Aeric on your soldiers? That their grandson would be your Emperor?
I’m not sure anyone wouldn’t.
