The Gargan Dark Age was a period of time in the history of Gargan's Empire in which the Empire nearly collapsed under the combined pressures of heightened crime, pirate activity, civil wars, class rebellions, social revolutions, political instability (with multiple noble families both breaking away from - and trying to assume control of - the Empire), Garganese military forces relying on foreign mercenaries and commanders nominally working for the Empire, plague, debasement of currency, and economic depression.
The crisis began with the assassination of Gargan the Fang in 669 BBY by the Agunna Shiv, believed by some to have been orchestrated or ordered by House Isid. Gargan the Fang effectively became the first Gargan in history to have been successfully assassinated, and with the power vacuum he left behind due to rampant imperialism the Order of Gargan was left scrambled to both retain the Empire's new territories and keep order within its home systems. The following century, social reforms were introduced to keep the goodwill of the Empire's Kolkans - giving them increased power and autonomy from the office of the Gargan.
In the middle to late 200s BBY, increased pirate activity and underworld dealings left most Kolkans still loyal to the Gargan with decreased military forces and economic hardships. When House Beshan openly revolted, several vassal families united under the Houses Minor with the intent of decentralizing Imperial leadership and transferring power of the Gargan to an oligarchical feudal system ruled by the Landsmeet. During this period, Gargan the Great came to power, defeating the Houses Minor and subjugating any other disloyal House. His implementation of reforms ended the Dark Age in 216 BBY.
The Dark Age profoundly changed the sociopolitical landscape of the Empire. Before it, the noble families were effectively in control of the Empire by pushing for successful reforms through the Landsmeet. When it had ended, Gargan the Great returned the absolute power of the Gargan and severely stunted the influence of the Kolkans. By his death, nobility became largely a formality; the noble families lost their political power but retained their wealth and estates.
| Gargan Dark Age | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|