Sayyed

Vaha Antantı

The Serene Empire of Sayyed (Sayyiby : إمبراطورية السيد الهادئة : 'iimbiraturiat alsayid alhadia), commonly referred to as the Sayyed Empire is a constitutional monarchy located in the deserts of western Gondwana. It is close to Libertanny and Zukchiva.

The Serene Empire of Sayyed إمبراطورية السيد الهادئة 'iimbiraturiat alsayid alhadia
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Motto: "أكرم أولئك الذين جاءوا من قبل" "Honor those who came before."
Anthem: "The Sands of Sayyed" Royal anthem: "Long Live The Grand Emir/Emira"
Status	Universally Recognized
Capital and largest city	Al-Salarqa
Official languages	Sayyiby, Xuhari, Haqmi
Recognised regional languages	Xuhari, Sha'aidarum (Sayyiby dialect), Haqmi
Religion (2022)	Sunar (70%), Yekeneskmi (20%), Xuhar Folk Religion (10%)
Demonym(s)	Sayqidi
Government	Constitutional Monarchy
• Sirin Emira	Scheherazade al-Sayyed (2022)
• Grand Vizier	Sheikh Mahmoud Al-Ahdal
Legislature	Sayqidi House of Law
• Upper house	Imperial Parliament
Independent
• Kingdom of Sayyed founded	873 AD
• Sayyed Empire officially becomes a constitutional monarchy	1911 AD
Area
•	902,562.02 sq
Population
• (2022) estimate	7,531,764

The earliest settlement in the area that became the territory of the Sayyed Empire dates back to the Bronze Age, where multiple daily items and tools, such as knives and pottery were found outside the area of Al-Salarqa. There was also evidence of an ancient writing system called Salaharkeshmi, the precursor to the Sayyiby Alphabet. The evidence of the existence of the ancient writing system alluded to a large city state in the area called Salaharkesh.

Around 1000 BCE, the Kingdom of Ashur was founded by Niiqiarqusu the Great who reformed the economy, education, and political systems. Niiqiarusu was regarded as “A wise and dignified ruler who made significant changes to the kingdom and has made an impact so large it is still felt many generations after his passing.” During Niiqiarusu’s reign was when the Ashurian Code was written. A text detailing every law and every punishment for when the laws were broken.

650 AD marked a remarkable year in the history of the Kingdom, when the Sunarhi faith was founded. And by 750 AD, the religion has spread all through the territory of the empire.

In 873, King Manishtushu died without an heir so his cousin, Muhammed al-Sayyed, the head of the Sayyed clan, took the throne and implemented many changes to the system of the Ashurian Kingdom, and changing the name of the kingdom to Sayyed, after the clan.

The Sayqidi Golden age began in 955 and is marked as the most inspired age of Sayqidi history. The nation got incredibly wealthy by trade and turned their focus to mathematics, science, literature and the arts. Many great works were born. In 960 AD, the poet Scheherezade of Khor Sha'aidat published the "Tales and Poems from Sayyed", a collection of stories that were traditionally passed down orally. Her work has become the source material of all legends since then. In 970, Scheherezade was awarded by the  royal family and worked with their support to found schools. Since then, the literacy levels in the kingdom increased drastically.

In 1015, Sayyed conquered what was East of them. Five years later, they found signs of a nomadic group of people in the area. A few months later, they found the first settlement of the Xuhari, the elven people of the area.

King Lateef (1038-1059) worked with Xuhari leader Nyandak Lhamo and founded Quzou in 1045, which became the capital of the region of  the same name. The Xuhari has since become the second largest ethnic group in Sayyed.

The south had finally been conquered by the Sayqidi in 1100, and they  were able to call themselves an empire.

1250 marked an increased fascination with maritime and cross-continental trade, increasing the wealth of the empire. However, the Sayqidi Golden Age comes to a close in 1310, but many say that it has never really left.

1911 marks the year the monarchy becomes constitutional, yet the royal family still has large influence over the  parliament.

From 1963 onwards marks the Salarqa Renaissance, a time where the music, art, pop, and street culture of Salarqa  strengthed  with iconic artists emerging  in this era.

In 2022 Sirin Emir Hassan (1959, r. 1985-2022)  abdicated due to poor health and his daughter, Scheherazade al-Sayyed (b. 2003) inherited the throne of Sayyed, becoming  the second youngest Sayqidi Emira and one of the few Sayqidi monarchs of direct Haqmi heritage. Her coronation was known to be one of the most expensive and most grand ones.

Sayyed is known for its diversity and its beauty. One of its major industries is tourism, especially in the region of Khor Sha'aidat which holds many wonders, man-made and natural.

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Etymology

Because of its religion and culture, the realm would be named after the ruling dynasty. The name of the dynasty, al-Sayyed (السيد) means "The Master" in Sayyiby.

-i in Sayyiby, followed by a culture or a nation means "people of", hence Xuhari (People of the Xuhar) and Haqmi (People of the Haq).

Before Sayyed, the preceding kingdom was called Ashur, named after the river that flowed near the city of Salaharkesh (now Salarqa).

The first time Sayyed was ever used to refer to the kingdom was in 873 CE, when King Muhammed al-Sayyed made a speech, referring to the what was then called the Ashur Kingdom as "The Kingdom of Sayyed".

Geography

Sayyed is located in western Gondwana, and has a surface area of 900,000 sq km. It is a nation that is almost pure desert, with the exception of the Haqmi Mountainous Region in northern Sayyed. The longest river in the nation is the River Ashur, which flows into the city of Al-Salarqa. (Notes: write about water area once you get the detailed border.)

Sayyed's highest point is Mount Qami, located in the Haqmi Mountainous Region, Qami has an elevation of 10,195 feet.

Had it not been for the multiple oases and the Ashur river, the areas where most important cities are would have been nearly uninhabitable. The Sayqidi deserts are mostly arid, so rain barely comes to bless the land.

However, Sayyed has a lot of rich resources that led to their wealth. Not only do they have a monopoly on oil, their land also contains gold, diamonds, iron, copper, and platinum-group materials.

Sayyed's fauna contains animals like camels, lizards, sand cats, etc. Sand cats and camels have been important in the empire's history and culture.

History

Ancient History

The first known settlement in the area was found to be Salaharkesh, an ancient metropolis that became the foundation of what would be the city of Al-Salarqa. Archeologists found pottery with traces of spices and honey in them. Archeologists estimate the city's founding to date back to around 1300 BCE. Evidence of an existing writing system and currency system were also found.

In 1000 BCE, the Kingdom of Ashur was founded by Niiqiarqusu the Great who reformed the economy, education, and political systems. Niiqiarusu was regarded as “A wise and dignified ruler who made significant changes to the kingdom and has made an impact so large it is still felt many generations after his passing.” During Niiqiarusu’s reign was when the Ashurian Code was written. A text detailing every law and every punishment for when the laws were broken.

King Issaruutunu III

The reign of King Issaruutunu III is marked to be one of the most impactful reigns in the history of the kingdom. His reign saw the development of a more urbanized metropolis and an improved connection between cities in the kingdom. Issaruutunu was also known to conquer the south, most significantly the region of Khor Sha’aidat, and has developed the city of the same name.

Enheduana I

King Suusaandar IV “the Mad” had a reign of dread and instability. A lot of his decisions displeased the people and were out of madness. So, the people started to turn to his younger sister, Enheduana, to rule the kingdom. The revolts were met with violence, people were killed on both sides. In 150 BCE, Suusaandar and Enheduana had a duel where Enheduana, as described by the writer Baassiia:

“Enheduana sliced Issaruutunu’s head off and placed it on the end of her spear, and paraded it all around Salaharkesh, without words, announcing that she was the new queen. And she proved to be such. However, she has spoken about her guilt of slaying her own kin, but knew it had to be done.”

Queen Enheduana, called the mother of Ashur as the kingdom went under great changes during her reign.

Politics

Sayyed is a constitutional monarchy, which means the monarch's power is limited by the nation's constitution.

The Royal Family

Main article: al-Sayyed Family

The al-Sayyed family reached a large level of significance after the hit show Keeping Up with the al-Sayyeds, which show the personal lives of the royal family. It received praise for its transparency and how honest the family members seemed to be.

The royal family holds a large amount of influence in the parliament, specifically the Emir/Emira.

Culture

(Sayyed has multiple ethnic groups, and therefore many cultures, the largest being Sayqidi, followed by the Xuhari. This section will discuss Sayyed's culture in general.)

Literature

Literature has always been something sacred to Sayqidi hearts. It played an important role in Sayyed's history and a bigger role in its culture. There have been many famous writers and poets, who have written great works. As an example, Scheherazade of Khor Sha'aidat wrote the Tales and Poems from Sayyed, a collection of Sayqidi and Sha'aidarum tales and poems, in the 10th century. Contemporary works like 90 Days in Al-Salarqa (1893) by Kelden Norbu have also been considered classics and are read in schools.

Music

Musicians in Sayyed have always been treated with respect, as music is integral to its culture. It is the nation's oldest art form, having existed since the dawn of the Ashur Kingdom. Sayqidi music has always been considered "ethereal" by outsiders.

Traditional Music

Sayqidi traditional music mainly consists of wind and string instruments, like the kawalah or the kanun (zither). Traditional music dates back to the early days of the Kingdom of Ashur, as part of festivals and ceremonies.

Modern Music

Modern music in Sayyed emerged during the beginning of the Salarqa Renaissance in the 1960s. Many movements happened at this time, too. Genres like pop, rock, hip hop and its subcultures all found popularity during this era. The invention of multiple computer-powered music software later in the 20th century gave opportunities to a more diverse music scene. As of currently, the most popular music genre is punk pop and ethno-pop.

Visual Arts

Portrait of Sirin Emir Behrouz al-Sayyed

Painting

Sayyed has a long history of art, one of the oldest art forms in history. Famous painters include Samira Hedayat, Anoush Vardanyan, Prince Ibrahim, etc. In its history, there has been multiple art movements during the Sayqidi Golden Age and the Salarqa Renaissance. Many styles emerged, such as watercolors, reliefs, oil painting, and charcoal are popular mediums in Sayyed. A lot of Sayqidi people prefer quality garments, and the lower classes would

Fashion and Clothing

Due to its wealth and diversity, Sayyed has had a lot of fashion trends and traditional garments throughout the years. Good quality clothes are a stable in Sayqidi social culture, as designer Aaliyah Bakir said:

A Sayqidi would save up for a better quality garment than immediately buying a lower quality alternative, not just because it lasts longer, but because it would give them the respect of members of the Sayqidi elite, and will usually give them opportunities. In Sayyed, good clothes make good impressions. — Page 13, The Fashion of the Sayqidi People by Aaliyah Bakir

Because of this, a lot of Sayqidi people prefer high-end and quality brands. As of 2022, the average household in Al-Salarqa has a few high-end items.

The line between what's a luxury item and what's not is blurred to the Sayqidi, as the average household can afford high-end pieces without sacrificing their wealth. There are also a lot of other factors as to why that line is blurred, such as how a lot of the clothing the average Salarqi wears usually come from brands that are associated with high fashion. — Page 20, The Fashion of the Sayqidi People by Aaliyah Bakir

Sayqidi fashion is also shaped around the desert climate, cooling outfits are what seem to be popular.

Fashion History

A painting depicting a woman playing the zill, mid 18th century.

Sayqidi fashion as we know it emerged during the Sayqidi Golden Age, when luxuriant materials were in abundance. The beauty standards also affected how people dressed. The cut of garments, which usually hugged the waist and flared at the skirt, gave women a curvy appearance in accordance to the beauty standards. From the 15th century, garments began to be more structured with the discovery of boning and more ways to layer to achieve the fashionable silhouette. "Palace dress" was used to refer to the style of dress with the hem being floor length, and is commonly worn by noblewomen when at home, as to not soil the long hems.

The 17th century saw a change in silhouette, while the cinched waist and flared skirt silhouette stayed the same, the bodice became straighter and the skirt was held up by a stuffed roll. The dresses got more intricate and brocading came into fashion. Along with the gowns, the head dresses and hats got more intricate. Pearls were a common decoration, and were often seen everywhere in an ensemble. Sirin Emira Abreshmina al-Sayyed was known to have influenced the Sayqidi court fashions of the later half of the 17th century.

For most of the Industrial Era, Sayyed took inspiration for its high fashion from neighboring powers and trade partners, but adding a cultural twist. In the 20th century, when Sayyed became a constitutional monarchy, the fashion reflected the more liberating political philosophies that ensued in the following decades. Short skirts and shorts were a thing for both genders. The 1980s was a time of exaggeration. A small waist, complimented by larger skirts, high-waisted jeans, large hair and shoulder pads.

Traditional Clothing

Traditional clothing, in a modern sense, is what is worn during traditional events, or clothing based of what people wore from the past, before the existence of mass production, and made with either culturally aesthetic or deep symbolisms.

Traditional wear in Sayyed always had a sense of luxury. Considering its history of wealth and trade, it is no surprise why we associate it with such. Traditional wear is what we see the noble characters in art wear, and today, a lot of traditional garments, as in authentic true-to-the-original patterns, are handmade and hand embroidered, which causes them to be very costly, considering the time it takes to hand craft every single piece of it. — Page 5, The History of Traditional Wear, by Jamila Adel

Salarqi

The traditional garments of a the Salarqi people are heavily associated with wealth. Colors are usually bright with an emphasis on luxuriant materials and intricate brocades. Sayqidi traditional clothing varies in style but the aforementioned values are what tie into what is considered the traditional garments of the Sayqidi, such as the cemetery iris, the nation's national flower, and the peafowl, the national bird. Veils are common accessories, alongside pearls, gems and decorative metals. Like most traditional garments, a lot of pieces were made and decorated by hand.

For almost its entire history, Sayyed has always had a fascination with the grandiose and wealth. It was associated with power and respect, plus they knew that it wouldn't harm those "below" them as lower classes were almost non existent in Sayyed. This is what caused the millennium-long rage of hand-embroidered coats, brocaded skirts, gorgeous and gaudy jewelry, and plumed hats. Though the silhouette changed, the trends of grandiose fashions stayed the same. — Page 5, The History of Traditional Wear, by Jamila Adel

The Salarqi Jacket is a known fashion phenomenon. It's in the style of an empire waist garment, and the sleeves are in the style of a Salarqi dress. It is known formal wear among the Salarqi elite. It was designed by then fashion student, Cairo Mostafa and was first worn in the public eye by then princess Scheherazade al-Sayyed. Since its debut in 2018, it has been a symbol of the Sayqidi Icon.

Xuhari

Xuhari traditional clothing is usually a wrap-style garment, with a variety of muted and deep colors, the most common being red. A common theme on Xuhari garments is embroidery representing a story either from folk myths or family tales. Beaded jewelry is a common companion to the traditional garment. Beads were seen as vessels to keep away evil spirits and to bring in good fortune and blessing. Even when the Xuhari wear contemporary clothes, they wear a few beaded pieces.

Haqmi

The Haqmi live in colder climates, and that is reflected in their clothing: bear fur is a common feature is Haqmi dress, as well as thicker materials. Tall, decorated hats are also part of the culture's traditional clothing. These hats usually have veils as well. Silver accents are also common. Warm colors are also popular amongst the Haqmi, purples, browns, and oranges being common colors in traditional wear.

In Haqmi culture, warm colors were associated with the sun and they believed that those colors would bring more warmth. It also had a sense of welcoming, something the Haqmi are known to be.

Sha'aidarum

Khor Sha'aidat is the hottest part of Sayyed, and the traditional clothing reflects that. Sha'aidarum clothing usually covers up the wearer to protect them head to toe from the sun. A very common color for the garments is black with red embroidery. A face veil is often worn to protect the face. Belts on women's garments were often at the waist and often were made of the same material as the veil ring. Sha'aidarum garments are traditionally elaborately embroidered, usually at the hem and neckline. The cultural color of the Sha'aidarum is black and red, which is seen on their clothing. The black is worn out of practicality for the heat, and the red embroidery is used to reflect upon one's own family history, the blood of their kin.

Modern Fashion

A sketch depicting casual fashion in Al-Salarqa

Trends in Sayyed operate differently than in other countries. Though there are many subcultures, a theme in the fashion is sophistication.

Regardless of the subculture you identify with, in Sayyed, that subculture would often have a touch of sophistication. Not modesty, but elegance. Wear as short a skirt or tight a dress as you wish, as long as you look smart and clean, people will respect you. For this reason, blazers, pencil skirts, button-downs, and dress pants are common. At least in Al-Salarqa; people in different regions dress depending on the climate, for example: it would be very impractical to wear a blazer on a day out in Khor Sha'aidat, so blazers aren't the thing there. Instead, they wear looser garments in light colors to keep themselves cool during the day, but at night, one might decide to wear warmer clothes as the Sha'aidari Desert gets very cold that time of the day. But even if they dress looser, there is still a hint of sophistication in their everyday outfits. — Page 14, The Fashion of the Sayqidi People by Aaliyah Bakir

Modern fashion was also influenced by the region, not only was the type of clothing influenced, but also how it was styled and the colors. For example: the Haqmi tend to wear garments with warmer tones and thicker material, and garments are styled in a way so during the winter, people remain fashionable without being cold. The Sha'aidarum people also wear dark clothing as a reflection of their traditional garments. And the Sayqidi from Al-Salarqa tend to wear neutral colors, and the Xuhari youth tend to lean towards looser garments and bright colors.

Haute Couture

Sayqidi haute couture is usually based on the aesthetic values of the Sayqidi. It can be anything grand, regardless of the inspiration behind it. Haute couture garments are usually reserved for formal events and gatherings. These garments are the most expensive in the Sayqidi fashion scene considering their partially handmade and intricate nature.

Sayqidi haute couture takes inspiration from anything, it can be either a beautiful wonder or a household item. Either way, it'll look either very tacky or very beautiful. In Sayyed, you either go very simple or all out, no in between. And these pieces are worn by the Royal Family. I've personally made pieces for royalty, and they do like some personalized and extravagant styles, but it's Al-Salarqa, everyone is a bit luxurious. The haute couture in Sayyed is known for its striking silhouettes and colors. A designer could put random colors onto a gown, but for some reason it just works. — Page 26, The Fashion of the Sayqidi People by Aaliyah Bakir

Notable Brands, Designers and Fashion Icons

Designers and Brands

Name		Brand	Notes
Aaliyah Bakir		Aaliyah Bakir	One of Sayyed's most prominent modern designers. The current queen of fashion. She has made a remarkable about of fashion design learning material. She personally works for the al-Sayyed Family.
Jamila Adel		Adel	A designer from Khor Sha'aidat. She takes inspiration from Sha'aidarum traditional wear and adds a contemporary twist.
Cairo Mostafa		CAIRO	Unlike other Sayqidi designers, Cairo focuses on casual fashion for the wealthy youth, which made him popular to names like Emira Scheherazade al-Sayyed.