Conquest of Malfan
The conquest of Malfan was a series of incursions, raids, minor wars, and political allegiances beginning in 229 IE and becoming complete in 271 IE with the Council and Treaty of Romaz. By the early 200s, Malfan was becoming politically inconvenient for the Omban emperors; they had been expelling Hulti from the Empire at an exceptional rate, and corpseborn, political dissidents, and others had made Malfan their home. The northern Malfander city of Zipus, particularly, was regarded as a hotbed for every rebel, partisan, or other disaffected elements.
The conquest began with the razing of Zipus in 229, followed by an extensive rebuilding process of the city center under the watchful eye of the Corps. Northern Malfan came under quick control of Omba, in particular, with the loyalty of several of the northern Malfander lineages. But around 231, progress much south of Zipus had failed, and efforts stalled for most of the next decade. In the 240s, the Malfander governors had some success bringing the Corps to new parts of Malfan, under the principle that religion would be the leader of the sword. By the 250s, however, a series of eager young Malfander chiefs began to push back on this incursion. Omban generals threw waves of attack at the Malfanders, in what would prove to be the bloodiest part of the conquest.
The conquest is generally accounted to have ended with the Treaty of Romaz in 271. This was an agreement between Emperor Khogru IV and the chiefs of the major southern Malfander clans. The clans would bend the knee to Khogru, but in return, they would be permitted autonomy in all lands south of the Damusa River. Furthermore, throughout all of Malfan, the old Hulti faith would enjoy freedom, which was not the case in any other Omban province. In general, the provisions of the Treaty were adhered to by the Nonduru emperors and thereafter the Tirumfegla emperors. After the end of the Empire, as Malfan reasserted its independence, religious autonomy and tolerance largely persisted, with southern Malfan, in particular, being almost entirely Hulti.
