Sayyed

The Serene Empire of Sayyed (Sayyiby : إمبراطورية السيد الهادئة : 'iimbiraturiat alsayid alhadia), commonly referred to as the Sayyed Empire is an empire 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	Semi-Constitutional Monarchy
• Emira	Scheherazade Al Sayyed (2022)
• Grand Vizier	Sheikh Mahmoud Al Ahdal
• Imperial Viziers	Farhad Hanifnejad Leila Ghorbani Akeem Ghazali
Legislature	Sayqidi House of Law
• Upper house	Imperial Parliament
Independent
• The Emirate of Sayyed founded	873 AD
• Sayyed transitions into a unique form of government	1693 AD
Area
•	902,562.02 sq
Population
• (2022) estimate	7,531,764
GDP (PPP)	2022 estimate
• Total	$300 billion
• Per capita	$39,831
Gini (2022)	25 low
Currency	Sayqidi Dirham (SDI)

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 Scheherazade 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.

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

In 2022 Emir Darius Hassan Al Sayyed (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, 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.

Sheikhdoms

Sayyed has four sheikhdoms, all divided based off the shared history of its peoples and geographic climate.

• Atasiyah - Is the largest region in Sayyed, it covers the large Atasiyah Desert and is home to the capital city of the same name.
• Khonmani Plateaus - The second largest region and home to the Xuhari. Its capital is Quzou.
• Haq Mountain Region - The highest region in Sayyed. It's home to the Haqmi and their capital of Haraman.
• Khor Sha'aidat - Sayyed's hottest desert and the home to the Sha'aidarum people. Its capital shares the name of the region.

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. Women now played a more influential role in Ashurian society, and she endorsed the young poet Gashansunu, who wrote "The Epic of Ashur", an epic entailing the adventures of "Young Enheduana", which included a lot of figurative speech that put a commentary on Ashurian high society.

The Founding of Sunarhi

It was believed that the prophet, Ibrahim rested under a palm tree one night and heard a voice coming from the moon, saying that he was the true god and his wife shall receive good fortune in the coming days. When he returned home, he informed his wife about what he had heard, however, she, Aaliyah, a huntress, laughed at him, saying that it was probably just a mirage, and if the god were to be real, she desired a bountiful hunt, as to make food and clothes for the poor. The following day, she went out hunting, and brought back what she desired, from meat to eat to animals to skin for pelts. The same day, Ibrahim was working when he found gold, and decided to use the money he got from it to give alms, crediting al'Iilah for the wealth he found. Shortly after, the faith has spread around the village in which the couple lived, and the two were seen as holy vessels.

Spread to the Entire Kingdom

The teachings of Ibrahim from al'Iilah began to spread across Ashur, eventually reaching Salaharkesh, however, despite its popularity, the royal family refused to adopt the common faith.

The First Sayyed Dynasty

Formation of the Kingdom of Sayyed

King Manishtushu died without an heir in 873 AD. Before his passing, he named his cousin, the popular, Sunar-following Muhammed Al Sayyed, as his heir. Much to the displeasure of the King's brothers. Muhammed established the Emirate of Sayyed, and wrote the Code of Emirs, a book containing all the rights and limitations of the Sayqidi monarch. The sudden naming of Muhammed as Manishtushu's heir caused great dissatisfaction among the nobles supporting Manishtushu's brothers and led to great instability in the early years of Muhammed's reign. However, that wasn't the only reason why Muhammed's first years as Emir was unstable...

The Great Famine

Famine hit Sayyed in 879 AD. Known as the "Year of Death" as a quarter of the Sayqidi population starved to death or died of illness. As a response, Emir Muhammed greatly reduced taxes so the population could survive it. This made him more popular considering he also followed the common faith. When the famine ended in 880, the population flourished and Muhammed was renowned as "The Great Emir".

Stabilization of Emir Muhammed's Reign

After several plots against Muhammed's life have been discovered and traced back to Manishtushu's brothers, he ordered their executions and exiled their descendants, eliminating any claimants to the throne and establishing House al-Sayyed as the dominant and ruling house.

Rapid Growth of the Emirate

Following the famine, Emir Muhammed made laws and encouraged the development of domestic and continental trade routes, cities, and the nation as a whole.

The Construction of Al-Mahadiyya Palace

In 896, Emir Muhammed ordered the construction of Al-Mahadiyya Palace, which would become the official residence of the Emir of Sayyed. As Emir Muhammed described:

"The Palace shall be large and fit for a true Emir. However, it should be flexible so the palace is able to change with the times. It shall be lined with great works and tapestries telling the stories of our ancestors."

The construction took 24 years, and by then, Emir Muhammad was on his deathbed, but his final wish was to see Al-Mahadiyya before he passed, and he got his wish.

The Sayqidi Golden age

The Sayqidi Golden Age began in 950 after decades of economic prosperity and stability. Instead of focusing on political matters, Sayyed focused on science, math and literature. Al-Salarqa attracted great minds from all over the Emirate, and education became Sayyed's priority. Schools were put up by magisters who were supported by the royal family. School was no longer a privilege only the children of nobles can have. The wealth of the country made it so that not only can every child attend, but it also ensured quality education, oftentimes free. Students, both male and female, were taught science, geometry, history, and literature. It was encouraged to teach children how to read from a young age. Mathematics was a subject loved heavily by Sayqidi scholars and therefore was a common subject as it accompanied science.

Scheherazade of Khor Sha’aidat

Scheherazade of Khor Sha’aidat was revered as a legend of the Sayqidi Golden Age, as she has written the work Tales and Poems from Sayyed, a collection of stories and poems of Sayqidi legend that were traditionally passed down orally. She has also written books containing her poetry that are studied by scholars today. Scheherazade was also known to, with the support of the Royal Family, have built many schools and encouraged literacy in the country. By the time of her death, almost everyone in Sayyed knew how to read and write.

The Xuhari

Before having been discovered by the Sayidi, the Xuhari were an elven nomadic people that roamed the Khonmani plateaus. They lived their lives in small, isolated communities away from the rest of civilization.

Conquest of the East

The "Conquest of the East" wasn't a conquest but rather a claiming of land, but the Sayqidi prefer to call it a conquest as to make themselves appear stronger. The territory that was known as the Khonmani Plateaus was claimed by Sayyed in 1015, under the reign of Emir Muhammad II. By the time of the claiming, they reported no sight of human habitation, so they decided that it was "free territory expansion" and claimed the territory.

However, a few months later, scouts reported sights of "abandoned, foreign-looking, large camps" in the plateaus, so they decided to look into it. When they arrived at the Khonmani Plateaus, they found a camp that was inhabited by an elven people. These people called themzselves Xuhar, a nomadic elven people who have moved around the Khonmani Plateaus. After an exchange of culture, and an introduction to permanent settlements as a suggestion, the Xuhari and the Sayqidi were on good terms. Which will lead to the...

Founding of Quzou and the Sheikhdom of Khonmani

After a rising Xuhari population, Emir Lateef and the leader of the Xuhari, Nyandak Lhamo, formed the Sheikhdom of Khonmani with Nyandak, now Nyandak Lekhshey as its Sheikh and the new city of Quzou as the capital. This marked the year most Xuhari abandoned their nomadic ways and settled permanently in the area, accepting the Emir of Sayyed as their leader.

The Conquest of the Haq Mountains

The Conquest of the Haq Mountains is considered the bloodiest series of fights in Sayqidi history. Having occurred in 1229 with the help of the Xuhari, the Sayqidi conquered the Haq Mountains from Khor Sha’aidat and slowly went northeastward.

The Siege of Haraman

May 1st, 1229 marked the day that Haraman was sieged. The city was almost razed to the ground and many people were killed trying to escape or fight the invading force. Some women and girls were even taken as concubines for the current Emir. During the siege, heroes like Princess Dzaghig Vardanyan were killed fighting the Sayqidi and Xuhari forces. Two months later, their leader, King Tigran Vardanyan, surrendered to the Sayqidi and pledged alliegance. After two months of merciless and needlesss bloodshed, the Haq Mountains finally belonged to Sayyed and a treaty was signed.

The Treaty of Protection

On the 15th of August, 1229, King Tigran Vardanyan of Haraman and Emir Ibrahim Al Sayyed signed a treaty of protection and vassalage. In exchange for protection, the Haq Mountains will swear fealty to Sayyed. This was also the day when the Sheikhdom of the Haq Mountains was created with Tigran as its sheikh.

Grand Vizier Aghvani Arzumanyan

The Haraman-born Aghvani was appointed Grand Vizier at the age of 36 in 1459 by Emir Ibrahim Al Sayyed. Throughout his tenure of 34 years, he made great contributions to the education of Sayyed and creating an educational system based of the Haqmi Educational Philosophy.

The Tsamchoe Dynasty

In 1527, Emir Mirza Al Sayyed passed away, and to everyone's surprise, the son of Emir Mirza and his Xuhari concubine, Ngawang Tsamchoe Al Sayyed succeeded him instead of Mirza's son with his consort, who was about the same age as Ngawang. This sprouted the Tsamchoe Dynasty, and according to the Code of Emirs, Sayyed would be called Tsamchoe for as long as the dynasty lived. Court culture in what was now Tsamchoe saw a change as the Xuhari courtiers got more and more influential, eventually being influenced by Xuhari art, music and dress. However, the Tsamchoe Dynasty only lasted four generations.

The Tsamchoe Dynasty was ridden with weakness. However, upon the death of her father, Gyalwa Tsamchoe took the throne in 1589, the first and only Emira of the Tsamchoe Dynasty. Her reign was a breath of fresh air, as her reign was seen as stable and calm, "unlike her predecessors."

When Emira Gyalwa passed away in 1603, the throne went to her young son with her younger brother, Tobgyal as regent. After a series of events, Tobgyal usurped the throne in 1605 and became Emir of Tsamchoe. But, his rule proved to be unstable and challenging.

Bloody Salarqa

Late 1609 marked the time Sharyar Al Sayyed gathered enough support to put the Sayyed Clan back on the throne. It started with a letter from Sharyar to Tobgyal, saying that he (Sharyar) was the rightful Emir of (Sayyed), and if Tobgyal were to abdicate in favor of Sharyar being Emir and restoring the Sayyed Dynasty, no one would get hurt. However, Tobgyal crudely responded and refused.

(Note: make a letter from Tobgyal to Sharyar)

So, as a response, Sharyar and his supporters attacked Salarqa from the inside. The bloodshed lasted three days, but those three days saw multiple casualties on both sides, hence the name "Bloody Salarqa". Tobgyal's forces were weakened in Salarqa and Atasiyaqi, Sayyed-supporting men replaced the Emir's forces in the city. The following day, Sharyar planned an attack on Al-Mahadiyya Palace. Fortunately for Sharyar, he was able to get in contact with servants, both former and serving, who were willing to provide information on the palace's layout for a bit of gold. With information collected, he began to strategize: the members of the female-only legion, the Daughters of Aaliyah, would dress as harem maids to access the concubines and young children of Tobgyal, whom they will escort out to safety. A few selected younger soldiers would do something similar to his teenaged sons. The goal was to not harm any of his family or the staff. While the royals are being escorted, saboteurs go around the palace, sabotaging any escape route Tobgyal could take, disabling guards in the process. After the royals have been escorted to safety and the escape routes are secured, Sharyar begins the attack.

The plan was well-executed and as most his men focused on the exterior forces, Sharyar brought a few soldiers with him inside the palace where they located the office. Blood was spilled on royal carpets, and when they got to the office, Sharyar entered alone and saw Emir Tobgyal face-to-face. While no one knows what happened in the office, the doors opened to reveal Tobgyal on his knees, declaring Sharyar as Emir of Sayyed. Tobgyal was put with the rest of his family and everyone celebrated that night.

It was later decided that the Tsamchoe clan be exiled to a remote area in the Sheikhdom of Khonmani and denied any position of influence. The attack of Al-Mahadiyya marked the beginning of the Second Sayyed Dynasty.

Portrait of Emir Sharyar, 1615

The Second Sayyed Dynasty

Most of Emir Sharyar's reign focused on stabilizing the realm after what had occurred during Tobgyal's reign and Bloody Salarqa. He was revered as not only a great military leader, but a man of just. He encouraged free thinking, and helped development in Khor Sha'aidat.

The Hiqbat Jamila

The Hiqbat Jamila was a time of beauty for Sayyed. Unlike the Sayqidi Golden Age, it placed a focus on the arts and music of Sayyed, taking inspiration from the art of major powers.

Government

Sayyed is a semi-constitutional monarchy, which means that unlike in a constitutional monarchy, power is divided between the head of state and a government body, in this case, the Council of Viziers (CoV), which is divided into the Chamber of Imperial Viziers and the Chamber of Commons. A lot of decisions, votes, and other actions have to be approved by the monarch if made by the CoV, and approved by the CoV if made by the monarch. The head of government is the Grand Vizier, and beneath them are the Imperial Viziers, who are the direct advisors and ministers to the monarch. Just beneath them are the Realm Viziers, elected by the people and report to the Imperial Viziers.

Government Structure

The Emir/Emira

The title of Emir/Emira is the highest in the Sayqidi government structure, and represents the head of state.

The Grand Vizier

The rank of Grand Vizier is the second highest rank in the Sayqidi government structure. They play the role of Sayyed's head of government. Grand Viziers are usually elected from the pool of Upper Viziers who hold seniority. Though historically, they were appointed by the Emir/Emira themselves, but it gradually turned into the electoral system it is today. The current holder of this title is Grand Vizier Mahmoud Al Ahdal.

Th Grand Vizier is Sayyed's form of the constitutional role of Prime Minister, though unlike a Prime Minister, Grand Viziers usually remain Grand Viziers until they reach the age of 70 or until they either die, resign, or are replaced by the Emir/a. A new Grand Vizier can be chosen upon the crowning of a new Emir/a.

Imperial Viziers

Upper Viziers are advisors and ministers appointed by the Emir/a, Grand Vizier, or the Royal Family. Often times, they are from families trusted by the Royal Family or selected as a Lower Vizier. They are the advisors to the Grand Vizier and Emir/a and often times the head of the branch they serve.

List of current Imperial Viziers

Name		Date of Birth	Serving Since	Branch	Appointed by	Description
Vizier Farhad Hanifnejad		December 11th, 1957	June 7th, 1989	Sayqidi Royal Household	Emir Hassan Al Sayyed	Vizier Farhad is tasked with managing royal residences, specifically Al-Mahadiyya, including its staff and structure.
Vizier Leila Ghorbani		July 16th, 1975	September 29th, 2016	Imperial Chamber of Law	Emir Hassan Al Sayyed	Vizier Leila is the first female Vizier of Law, and one of the youngest, being 41 years old at the time she was appointed Vizier. She is tasked with reporting on cases concerning the state and drafts laws to be passed onto voting.
Vizier Akeem Ghazali		February 2nd, 1969	April 16th, 2004	The Royal Exchequer of the Emirate	Grand Vizier Mahmoud Al Ahdal
Vizier Anoush Safaryan		June 27th, 1980	January 11th, 2017	Chamber of Education	Grand Vizier Mahmoud Al Ahdal	Vizier Anoush is tasked with monitoring educational requirements and cultural events. She reports to the CoV on new policies regarding education.

The Sheikhs/Sheikhas

The Sheikhs (fem. Sheikhas) are the rulers of the Sheikhdoms of Sayyed. They have their own viziers and share authority on the sheikhdom. However, the Sheikh/a is not allowed to influence crown politics and thus is not allowed to be appointed or elected as viziers of any rank.

List of Current Sheikh/as

Name		Date of Birth	Title	Tenure	Description
Emira Scheherazade Al Sayyed		May 23rd, 2003	Sheikha of Atasiyah	May 16th, 2022 - present	The title of Sheikh/a of Atasiyah is synonymous to the Emir/a of Sayyed. If one becomes Emir/a, they also become the Sheikh/a of Atasiyah.
Sheikh Eman Al Hassanein		July 6th, 1969	Sheikh of Khor Sha'aidat
Sheikha Artzouig Vardanyan		September 20th, 1992	Sheikha of the Haq Mountains
Sheikha Jigme Lekhshey		November 1st, 1979	Sheikha of Khonmani

Realm Viziers

The Realm Viziers are elected by the people and are often in public service. They usually work in a high position in a branch ran by an imperial vizier. A realm vizier may rise to the rank of an upper vizier if appointed by the monarch, Grand Vizier, or Royal Family.

The Separation of Faith and Government

According to the Code of the Emirate, matters of the state and religion are separated. A vizier may not use their faith as a justification for certain political actions. This was also set in place because the Haqmi and some Xuhari viziers believed in a different faith, and a Sunar-based law could conflict with their own beliefs.

Transparency

The Sayqidi government is known to be transparent in their political actions and what goes on behind the scene, even recording meetings and uploading clips.

Economy

Jewelry Industry

Sayyed is known for its robust jewelry industry, exporting billions of dollars worth of jewelry every year. Sayqidi jewelry has found itself a favorite among royals in other countries.

The Royal Family

Main article: Al Sayyed Family

The Al Sayyed family reached a large level of media 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.

Education

Education in Sayyed has been modeled off the Haqmi Education Philosophy (HEP), which promotes independence and hands-on learning. The philosophy was adapted for widespread use in 1459 when Aghvani Arzumanyan was appointed Grand Vizier.

Sayyed has two levels of compulsory education: Madrasat Saghira (Small School) and Almadrasat Althaanawia (Upper school). For Madrasat Saghira, the average class size is 15, and for Almadrasat Althaanawia, the average class size is 20.

Subjects

The focused subject of each school varies, but every school is required to teach five main subjects:

• Literature (Staynish and Sayqidi)
• History (Regional, then National, then World)
• Mathematics
• Language (Sayyiby + Local language if any)
• Art and Music

Upper Education

Upper Education in Sayyed is considered essential.

Demographics

Ethnic Groups

Sayyed has four major ethnic groups represented on its flag. These are: the Atasiyaqi, Sha'aidarum, Xuhari, and Haqmi. The Atasiyaqi being the largest followed by the elven Xuhari population.

Tribes and Smaller Minorities

Sayyed has multiple tribes that come from the Sheikhdoms. Usually they're related to one of the four larger groups, like the Dihobja, who are culturally related to the Sha'aidarum. The Xuhari also have multiple cultural minorities considering their size and variety. The Haq Mountains also have towns that are culturally different from the mainstream Haqmi culture which comes from Haraman.

Groups of Mixed Ethnicities

It is no surprise that many Sayqidi are of mixed heritage considering its cultural diversity. They are most populous in Al-Salarqa as many choose to move there for more opportunities.

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 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.

Beauty

History

Beauty, as a concept, has been around since the dawn of Sayqidi civilization. In both men and women, it was desirable to look on the softer side, as a sign of wealth. A rounder look meant you had the wealth to eat quality food regularly, which, what was then the Kingdom of Ashur, a privilege only the wealthy can afford. Even after the growing wealth of the nation after that, to when what was considered a privilege in Ashur became common in the average household as they got wealthier.

During the Tsamchoe dynasty, courtiers desired paler skin, which, in Xuhari culture, was a symbol of wealth, which displeased the Tsamchoqi (Sayqidi) people as they were naturally, drastically darker than the Xuhari.

As modelling became a sustainable industry after the rise of globalization which helped the popularization of international fashions in the 20th century, a skinnier frame became more "on par" with the ever-changing fashions of Sayyed.

When Emira Scheherazade Al Sayyed ascended to the throne in 2022, the tradition of following the Emira in her ways of beauty came into question: Scheherazade was seen to be "too thin", which concerned parents who didn't want their teen to replicate something that could possibly harmful.

Makeup and Cosmetics

Makeup for most of its history in Sayyed has been used to enhance features. A very popular cosmetic item for both genders is kohl, black eyeliner made from charcoal. It's most common in the Sheikhdom of Khor Sha'aidat as a huge focus was put on the eyes of a person. In Al-Salarqa, many women favor contouring and smoky makeup looks, there's also a similar trend in Haraman. In Quzou, looks including the color red became extremely popular during the rise of social media. Also in Quzou, it became popular to add glimmering highlights to one's under eyes, they referred to it as "smiling eyes".

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.

When the Tsamchoe Dynasty took the throne, the fashions in the Empire changed: while silhouettes stayed somewhat similar, court fashions were heavily influenced by Xuhari garments. Wrap dresses came into fashion, as well as hairstyles that integrated braids. Beads also became a popular accent during this time. For palace women, long and large sleeves became popular, as well as tulip-shaped layered skirts.

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

Atasiyaqi

The traditional garments of a the Atasiyaqi 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.

Fashion Subcultures

The rise of social media in Sayyed caused for multiple modern fashion subcultures such as the Xuhari Alt Movement, which gained popularity in 2020 and diverged from the large goth and emo movement of the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

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.