A timeline of Syldavian history - Part 2: From the founding of the Kingdom until the arrival of the Ottomans

1127: Muscarius Hivegiorum (Muskar Hveghi or Muskar of the Hvegs), later King Muskar I, with the help of Venetian and Carinthian mercenaries defeats the last Turkic khan of Lower Syldavia and his army at the Battle of Zileheroum. Legend tells that the night before the battle Muskar dreams of a giant black pelican who flies out of the dawn bearing in its beak a scroll inscribed with the words “hoc signo vinces nigrum onocrotalus”.

A cabal of Klovinian and Zympathian nobles invite him to join an uprising against Jaskvar and after a short campaign Muskar and his allies are victorious. He marries the widowed Caterina and is proclaimed King Muskar I of All Syldavia. At his coronation, Muskar adopts the black pelican as his coat of arms.

1132: The Treaty of Perpetual Friendship between Syldavia and Venice is signed. The port city of Dobronium (Dbrnouk) sees the building of a Venetian fondaco (fontego) and regular trade develops.
       

1147: The Second Crusade begins. Modvar of Istrow and a retinue of 24 knights and 200 footsoldiers sets off for Vienna to join the army of Conrad III, Rex Romanorum. Modvar and most of his troops perish at the Battle of Dorylaeum. The sole survivor is Petar of Klip, who makes his way home via Constantinople where he is imprisoned for several months. He eventually reaches Klip in October 1148.
            

1169: Muskar I dies of the plague. He is succeeded by his son, who is crowned Muskar II on Christmas Day in the Cathedral of St Budvar in Klovinus, or Klow as it is now known.
                

1178: The Revolt of the Barons. Tired of the weak and vacillating king, the barons of Istrow, Tesznik, Klip and Douma, led by the elderly Petar of Klip force Muskar to accept the 12 Terms of Niedzdrow, named for the battle where the Royal Army is defeated and Muskar is captured. Muskar continues on the throne but is forced to accept the imposition of a Council of State to actually run the kingdom. Petar of Klip assumes the title Lord Councillor. Concerns are raised that the King has no male heirs and that a woman may not inherit the throne.
                     

1183: Petar of Klip is assassinated by a rival baron, Foskar of Nokosz. The Council falls apart and Muskar resumes control with the aid of army of Italian and Bordurian mercenaries. Dragomir of Peshod, the leader of the Bordurians marries Alicia, the eldest of Muskar's three daughters.
                       

1184: Queen Maria dies from food poisoning.
                            

1186: Muskar II marries Agnes of Neckerstadt, a member of the Hohenstaufen family.
                          

1187: Queen Agnes gives birth to a son, christened Joskar. He is given the title of Dux Hivegiorum, signifying that he is the heir apparent to the crown.
                                

1190: Joskar dies of the plague. There is now a real succession crisis. Dragomir of Peshod becomes the de facto heir, via his wife Alicia.
                                   

1195. Agnes gives birth to a second son, christened Amilkar. Dragomir of Peshod, now Voivode of Szohôd invades Syldavia and deposes Muskar, who is imprisoned in the fortress of Poliszchov, across the Bordurian border.
                              

1197: Muskar is strangled while incarcerated. Dragomir installs his son, also Dragomir as Ban of Syldva. Queen Agnes and the Royal Family flee and seek asylum in Venice. The pro-Bordurian Foskar of Nokosz seizes control of Klow, while Dragomir fortifies Niedzdrow, which he makes his capital.
                                       

1197-1275: Syldavia remains under Bordurian rule, which becomes more and more oppressive. Many Syldavian noble families leave the country. Amilkar, Duke of the Hvegs reaches maturity and in 1220 is betrothed to the 6 year-old Elizavetna of Svinjske, the half-sister of Vlad, Baron Almaszout, a Syldavian noble who has maintained his independence from the Banat of Syldva in his mountain stronghold.
                                 

1240: Amilkar and Elizaveta are married in Venice.
                                 

1243: Vlad of Almaszout is mortally wounded in battle against Bela of Klip, Duke of Klow. Being childless, he bequeathes his lands and title to his brother-in-law Amilkar, to be held in perpetuity.
                                  

1245: Birth of Ottokar to Amilkar and Elizavetna of Almaszout.
                                      

1270: Ottokar succeeds his father as Baron Almaszout. Immediately, he lays claim to the vacant throne of Syldavia, being the last member of the bloodline of Muskar the Hveg. 
 

1271: With the aid of Venetian and Carinthian mercenaries, Ottokar invades Syldavia and four years of war ensues.
                                       

1274: Ottokar defeats Bela II of Klip at the Battle of the Wladir. He gains control of much of Upper Syldavia. Many surviving Syldavian nobles flock to his banner.
                                     

1275: Ottokar defeats Foskar III of Klow and Petar of Douma in quick succession. He besieges the city of Niedzdrow, which surrenders after a siege of 60 days. Dragomir III, Ban of Syldva is hanged from the castle walls and his head sent to Szohôd in a barrel of salt. Ottokar is proclaimed King of Syldavia, first of the House of Almaszout. He takes the title “Ottokar I, Scion of the House of Almaszout, by Divine Will and by Right of Arms King of Syldavia, Protector of the Hvegs, Tervings, Syldavians, Ghogs and Istrovians and Master of the Order of the Black Pelican.”
                          

1305: Death of Ottokar I. He is succeeded by his eldest son, who rules as Ottokar II until 1332, when he dies in mysterious circumstances.
                                       

1332: Accession of Ottokar III, brother of Ottokar II. Ottokar is an unpopular king, paranoid and unpredictable. He is unable to control the rising power of the nobility. 
 

1346-53: The Black Death devastates Syldavia. Tens of thousands die. The country descends into chaos and intercommunal fighting.
                                     

1356: Ottokar III exiles his son, also Ottokar, because he believes that the Prince is plotting to depose him
                                  

1358: Ottokar III is deposed by Baron Mazolnik who assumes the title of King but is unable to gain support from many nobles. Ottokar IV returns from exile.
                                         

1360: Ottokar IV becomes King after defeating Mazolnik. He has several nobles executed for treason and breaks the power of others in a brutal military campaign. Eventually, peace is restored and the rebellious nobles swear fealty to the Crown. When the last rebel lord, Baron Staszrvitch draws his sword and tries to kill the king, Ottokar strikes him with the Royal Sceptre, killing him instantly.

1389: The Battle of Kosovo. The Ottomans expand across the Balkans and force Ottokar IV to become a vassal of the Sultan, Murad I.