For the sake of readability, the Sovereign Era section is divided into sub-sections denoting the rule of each Sovereign. This does not necessarily mean they were responsible for every event discussed within, but the cultural context and background of their rule did likely play a large role.
Following Renatus Tellions' declaration in 1560, he began to plan an offensive against the colonies known simply as the "Reclamation". The plan involved provoking kingdoms individually, utilizing guerrilla warfare and prioritizing bringing the enemy to him rather than vice versa. It would be realized in 1555, and would see incredible initial promise. The few colonies that had dared to place themselves at essentially the epicenter of the continent were left dazed and confused, wandering the sands chasing over the seeming spectres of the Sovereign's forces.
By 1553, having conducted the Reclamation to some success, Renatus and his followers (coming to be known as the Sovereign's Faithful) began to goad Vulas, locking them into a conflict that, even with the most advanced magic of the time, they could not win. The Glistening Plains was much more abundant than the terrain that Renatus' desertborn legions were used to, and they were able to easily evade, outlast, and encircle the city under his leadership. By 1550, the citizenry of Vulas was forced to evacuate, and the Commander was thrust into exile. Coinciding with this, a formal capital of the fledgling empire was designated in 1550. Alitesra, near present-day Tai'Un, was chosen due to its perceived strategic invulnerability and significance to Renatus specifically.
The early years of Tellion's rule would be beset by much of the same wars that permitted his ascension, constantly pushing back the colonies just an inch further. By 1538, sentiment among the colonies, however, was that defiance against the Sovereign's Faithful was an exercise in foolishness. Though skirmishes would pop up, for the remainder of Renatus' rule there would be no more broad conquests. The Reclamation had come to an end. This ushered in an era of relative peace across the newly formed empire, resulting in a golden age of culture and the arts. Tellion's term as sovereign would resolve in 1486 when he died of old age in his sleep. As per the conditions of his will, Aulus Tellion, his first and only son, was appointed to the throne.
Aulus' rule was short, as he was already of advanced age when he was appointed to the throne. Not much changed across the empire besides the name praised as a savior and the color of banners. Some minor concessions were made to conquered territories, but the empire barely reduced in size. While it was seldom uttered during his rule out of fear, he would later earn the nickname "The Gravekeeper" for how he ruled in the shadow of his father. Statues of Renatus and writings of his greatness were not only highly encouraged by Aulus, but commissioned directly with the spoils of war. The most elegant of these works was no doubt the Obelisk of Alitessra, an elegant structure constructed in 1476 that would serve as the tomb for all future Sovereigns.
It was not long before Aulus himself would be sealed away inside the Obelisk. He would pass away in 1462, leading to a confusing succession. As 2nd Sovereign, however, he established a precedent of hereditary rule that would persist far into the future of the empire.
Aulus' eldest sons (Gaueus and Parenes) were rendered unwell after an expedition near the Empire's conquered Jailur, one succumbing to the rot and the other deemed insane. At the time of Aulus death, his only surviving son, Amlettis, was a boy of 10 years old. Fearing that appointing a child to the throne would allow him to be manipulated easily, and that any sort of intermission of Sovereign rule would cause immediate collapse, his daughter Anastasia would be appointed to the throne. This was in accordance with the wishes of Aulus' will, and further established that Sovereignty could be held by both men and women.
Despite some initial criticism, Anastasia proved to be the best choice for an heir. She was practically raised by her grandfather, and was already well liked among the people of the empire at the young age of 22. Much like Renatus, she was eager for conquest. Any land that was ceded by her father had been reclaimed by 1458, and Anatasia only wanted more.
Great steps were made during Anastasia's rule to cultivate what would come to be known as the "Cult of the Sovereign". Intended at first only as a dramatic tribute to her father and grandfather's lives, the religious embrace of the empire quickly began to incorporate Anastasia herself. Renatus had already become a sort of semi-religious icon, at the very least a mythological hero, among the people of the Tellion empire prior to this. The approval of his direct descendant only gave such outlooks the confirmation they yearned for. In 1454, the first "Hall of the Sovereign" (a sort of church analogue) was established in Alitessra, and many more began to pop up across the continent, even in the unconquered colonies.
In 1439, having almost unanimous support thanks to the newly found fervor of the Cult of the Sovereign, Anastasia announced the "2nd Reclamation", aiming to push into the North and conquer Aurikya (modern day Clairus). This proved to take much longer than she had expected, resulting in the Winter War spanning from 1438 to 1426. The army of the Tellion Empire was not exactly prepared for the frozen taiga of Auriyka, and would initially take heavy losses. However, their sheer numbers combined with force of will would inevitably lead them to victory. Following this victory and major acquisition of land, cartographers of the Cult of the Sovereign began to refer to the continent as a whole as "Tellia", quickly catching on in the triumphant aftermath of the Winter War.
The remaining years of Anastasia's rule were largely uneventful, wrapping up any leftover conflicts of the Winter War and ensuring Aurikya's assimilation went seamlessly. She would pass away in 1419 unexpectedly after contracting an unknown disease, spending the last months of her life bedridden. Her will was spotty, being drafted in her final weeks when she could sparsely get a word in between coughs, but it outlined Amlettis as her choice of heir.
Amlettis' took the throne for a short period, but knew that he didn't have the capacity to be a ruler and it was a title in name only. His only memorable recorded act was arranging the funeral of his sister, a highly attended event hosted at the Obelisk of Alitesrra. Amlettis would then become the first Sovereign to willingly give up the throne, abdicating to his son Teyo. He proceeded to pass away in the summer of 1410.
Teyon's early years as Sovereign almost proved to be slightly eventful, with some conflict opening up between Tellian Auriyka and Jailur in the form of the Three Year Rebellion. The people of Jailur would eventually be forced to submit by the end, but it was by no means even necessarily by the Sovereign's hand. The empire had, to a degree, become self sufficient in the absence of a proper ruler. Teyon spent most of his rule wasting away in decadence, reveling in worldly pleasures. Not much was accomplished by Teyon at all, and the few diplomatic negotiations that were made in spite of his presence rather than due to it. In 1372, he passed away due to an accident facilitated by his own intoxication.
In the time immediately following Teyon's death, his first son, Lucien was placed on the throne. However, without a concrete will in place, there was a major dispute on who the Sovereign crown should defer to. Ironically, the Cult of the Sovereign, established to unite the empire, caused a major schism. Many favored Tareus Tellion, the descendant of Parenes' illegitimate daughter as a more personable Sovereign for the people compared to Lucien, the son of the widely disliked Teyon.
This only escalated when Teyon's illegitimate daughter, Julina, was found dead not long after Lucien's ascension. This deteriorated Lucien's public favor even further, and fueled the schism. Eventually, Tareus, who was a minor military official at the time, began to plead his case directly to the Sovereign's Faithful. By 1371, with the support of 7 of the 11 generals, Tareus backed by the millitary, marched into Alitessra.
They held a formal trial against Lucien, accusing him of the murder of his half-sister as well as various crimes against the people, including conspiracy to murder Tareus himself. After failing to dismiss these charges, Lucien was held before the people, and it was not long before he was executed by Tareus, being decapitated. Mythically, it is said to have been done with a "blade forged of his own blood", though the veracity of this claim is uncertain.