Natrix

Natrix is a city in the Duchy of Coluber, in the north of the plains region of eastern Long. Treaty

The Treaty of Natrix (also called the Peace of Natrix), signed between King Seb of Hu and King Priyama of Long, ended the latest armed conflict between the two kingdoms. The peace was signed on 15/8/FD 5 (the 15th day of the 8th month of the 5th Year of the Era of Filial Devotion).

After Hu's victory in the battles of Liodytes (4/3/FD 5), Thamnophis (4/7/FD 5) and Agkistrodon (5/8/FD 5), Long was forced to admit defeat.

The Princes of Long had led the war effort on their father's behalf together with several important dukes.

Word of the defeat reached the Long King at Ophiophagus on 8/8/FD 5. After being apprised of the situation the King sent word for his sons (as representatives of the crown) to accept peace under whatever terms Hu might impose.

This message was relayed to the generals at Natrix on 12/8/5. The official signature of the Treaty took place 3 days later on 15/8/5.

Signing

A controversy arose over the physical act of signature. Hu maintained that the document was so important that it must be signed by the two kings personally. The King of Long was then located in his retreat outside of Varanus where he had resided throughout the military conflict. To appear at Natrix, Priyama would have needed to complete an arduous journey over land, something he had not done since the inauguration of the Era of Filial Devotion.

For the King to do this at Hu's behest (travel across the country solely to sign the treaty and immediately turn back again) would be seen as an additional humiliation on top of the terms of the peace.

Eventually, Hu agreed to have the First Prince of Long sign in his father's stead using the Great Patrimonial Seal. It is worth noting that the Hu King did not understand Long's "open succession" and believed Priyama's eldest son to be the crown prince and heir presumptive. The Great Seal was the most official, sacrosanct stamp used by the King of Long so Hwaskar's signature carried all the weight of the king behind it. Indeed, use of the Great Seal by persons other than the king himself was highly irregular, if not unprecedented.

Terms

The terms of the peace weighed heavily in Hu's favor with Long having no choice but to agree to the treaty's burdensome and humiliating terms.


 * four provinces in southern Long were handed over for direct rule by Hu;
 * the King of Long committed to providing military support to suppress any revolts and to keep the status quo as established under the treaty

Aftermath

After suffering defeat in three major battles and signing of the Peace of Natrix, the King of Long and the Long central government began to appear weak; several powerful nobles began to question the crown's capability of protecting and ruling the large kingdom.

See Timeline of Latest Military Campaign