Celestial Empire

Celestial Empire Khyè Nghwe
1732–1928
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History
• Established	1732
• Disestablished	1928
Preceded by Succeeded by File:Blank.png Byàn Dynasty 1901: League of Eight Cities 1928: Qonklese Empire

The Celestial Empire (Kwang: Khyè Nghwe /kʰjè ŋ̊wé/), alternatively translated as the Empire of the Sky, Kingdom of Heaven, or Celestial Dynasty, was a Qonklese nation-state.

History

Late Byàn Reforms

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Jiqjõ Reforms

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Early Celestial Era (ECE)

(1732-1850)

Celestial Stagnation (CS)

(1850-1893)

Lyĩ Coup

Grand Marshal Lyĩ Bain, a bannerman of the Kwang Bordered Red Banner and leader of the Steel Will Reforms of 1889, was increasingly favoured by the Bèchauq Emperor as his health deteriorated around the 1890s. Earning imperial trust and having bought the support of the eunuchs, Lyĩ was nominated as Prime Minister by the emperor himself in a clear violation of constitutional rights. Logically, the three chambers voiced their objection, but by this point, Lyĩ declared martial law, citing possible insurrection from 'anti-imperial' groups and had the most prominent members of his opposition purged from government. He altered the constitution in 1893, first cementing the position of prime minister as a directly appointed position by the emperor instead of being democratically elected, and removing the five-year term limit for prime ministers. The Mya River flood of 1899 led to a peasant rebellion in Wiai Province attempting to topple Lyĩ's junta, but was violently suppressed by Lyĩ's personal forces. To many, these events were a clear indicator that Lyĩ's acclimation of political power upset heaven, and the belief that the Bèchauq Emperor was under house arrest in Jikhein was beginning to spread.

In 1900, the Celestial Army under Lyĩ's command began to grow disillusioned with Lyĩ's hold on power, and several prominent generals from all banners began to plan for an attack on Jikhein to topple the junta and restore the constitutional government. They called themselves the Coalition to Restore Heaven and Earth, and led a 600,000 strong force directly to Jikhein. Lyĩ was mortally wounded in an artillery strike as he attempted to escape from Jiya Palace on February 27th, 1903. Coalition forces captured Jikhein and secured it that day, with Lyĩ loyalist forces surrendering completely within the week. However, Coalition leader Marshal Sein Bya of the Kwang Black Banner merely assumed the position that Lyĩ left and promoted himself to Grand Marshal, which proved highly unpopular with the rest of the Coalition leaders, especially Nã Pudàin, a Kwang Bordered Black Bannerman and a member of the imperial family. Sein's forces maintained a strong hold of Jikhein Province, and Nã consolidated his forces in Yiu, which was his power base at the time.

Fall to Warlordism

(1903-1928)