The History of Chedian

Starting with the discovery of the Thiergard element (around 100AC), several wars broke out over the possession of the sources of this valuable resource. The last one occurred in 418AC between the Thiergard and Thronheim clans.
About the Thiergard Element
The Thiergard element is a metal that is easy to process and alloy. It is very heavy. Its only known deposit is the Miners' Gorge in Thiergard. It is likely that there are other deposits in the Fenn mountains (Fenn is a mountain range surrounding the Sea of Ferhoven), but the cost of establishing and developing them deters potential entrepreneurs.
Early Wars (112AC — 200AC)
The first four Thiergard Wars took place between settlements located in the modern Thiergard region. In the end, one faction emerged victorious, led by a chief known as Bjarnus the Mighty. He not only unified the entire region but also founded the city of Thiergard (named after the ore). His troops conquered all other Thiergard clans and brought the entire ore-bearing district under the control of a single clan. After Bjarnus's death, Thiergard enjoyed peace for nearly 40 years — until 238AC.
Middle Wars (240AC — 310AC)
In 238, Hridmir Strawlands, the Jarl of Thiergard, traveled to Thronheim for the first meeting with his fiancée. During a game of stones, Hridmir's opponent happened to be the bride's older brother, Hafgrim, and an argument broke out between them. Hridmir strangled Hafgrim right on the game board and left for home. Dain Fasoltssen, Hafgrim's father, was infuriated. He demanded that Hridmir pay a wergild of 2000 pounds of the Thiergard element. Hridmir refused, and Dain invaded Thiergard.
The siege of Thiergard lasted 30 years; eventually, Dain breached the walls, but Hridmir escaped. Dain's army plundered Thiergard. Houses burned, all shops were looted, and the residents trembled in fear. The looting lasted two days. Then Hridmir's sister, Oda, arrived with a fresh army and drove Dain's army away from Thiergard. She pursued them all the way to Thronheim and eventually besieged Thronheim. However, Dain managed to buy his way out from Oda, and she lifted the siege.
Later, three more wars occurred between the neighbors — Thiergard and Thronheim, and during this time, Thronheim was plundered at least twice. But eventually Leip, Dain's grandson, forced Thiergard to sign a peace treaty, which was honored until 404AC.
Late Wars (350AC — 400AC)
Thronheim was not the only one who wanted to seize the valuable ores. In 350AC, troops from the Frosgard clan invaded Thiergard. They were led by Jarl Olaf the Fat. His goal was to unify all of Chedian with an iron fist, and he believed that nothing could stop him as long as he held his magic sword, Jorhgamesh. However, during the march, Olaf became separated from his army and fell into an ambush by mountaineers. They killed him and stole the sword. Without a leader, the Frosgard army collapsed the very next day. Most of the soldiers were taken prisoner. Their descendants still live in Thiergard today.
A few years after the death of Olaf the Fat, a warrior from Sturmford gathered an army to invade Thiergard. He claimed to be the grandson of Sven Bloodaxe, the legendary invincible warrior. He attempted to land a force from the sea several times, but eventually, his fleet was caught in a storm, and he drowned along with his ship.
Not all wars were won on the battlefields. The wealthy merchants of Thiergard were also keen to buy the jarlship for themselves. One of the merchant-jarls, Roderik the Stout, was generally considered a fat miser. He was more interested in filling his purse than in governing the people.
A certain Ragnar, another merchant, used his savings to bribe people close to Roderik. Unfortunately for Ragnar, one of Roderik's associates betrayed him to his master, and Ragnar, instead of becoming jarl, found himself dangling from a noose.
The Last War
Under the terms of the peace treaty imposed on Thiergard by Leip, Thiergard paid the Jarl of Thronheim 1000 pounds of the Thiergard element annually. But in 400AC, Thiergard's industry was hit by a crisis, and almost the entire annual ore production was sent to Thronheim. By 404AC, the patience of the Thiergardians was exhausted.
The Thiergardians, under the leadership of Geitlif Strongpick, overthrew their jarl. Geitlif became the new jarl and immediately denounced the peace treaty with Thronheim. Thronheim responded by sending an army to besiege Thiergard, but Geitlif secretly led his detachment through tunnels in the mountain gorge and attacked the Thronheim army from an ambush. One skirmish did not decide the fate of the war, but after a year of grueling clashes with Geitlif's army, which used guerrilla methods unfamiliar to the northerners, the Thronheimers left Thiergard.
The war between Thiergard and Thronheim did not end there.
It lasted another 13 years, and then, for some unknown reason, ended in 418AC. Rumor has it that the mountain pass between Thiergard and Thronheim mysteriously closed. For a hundred years since then, there have been neighborly relations between Thiergard and Thronheim. Several Jarls of Thronheim married women from the families of Thiergard's jarls, and vice versa. And both clans see no threats to peace in the future.