Kou Empire

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Kou Empire
Kanji	煌帝国
Rōmaji	Kō Teikoku
Capital	Rakushou (Eastern) Balbadd (Western)
Located In	Far East
Controlled By	Hakuryuu Ren (Eastern) Kouen Ren (Western) Gyokuen Ren (former) Koutoku Ren (former) Hakutoku Ren (former)
Anime Debut	Episode 4 (mentioned) Episode 5 (debut)

The Kou Empire (煌帝国, Kō Teikoku) is a large military nation, considered one of the most powerful in the current era because of the number of Dungeon Capturers and armies it controls. Their High Priest is Judar, one of the five Magi of the current era. The capital is Rakushou. The empire is also described as very aggressive, using any reason to attack another nation.

A civil war was erupted when Hakuryuu became Emperor and declare war on Kouen Ren after he and Judar overthrew Gyouken and eliminated her and Al-Thamen, dividing the nation into two factions: The Western Army led by Kouen Ren after he proclaimed Emperor and made Balbadd his capital, and the Eastern Army led by Fourth Emperor Hakuryuu.

History

Although it was just a small country in the Far East, Hakutoku Ren, managed to unify three neighbouring countries and founded the Kou Empire. It expanded into the central plains after borrowing power from the "oracle" Judar, who was brought there by Al-Thamen.

Imperial Family

Second Emperor's Sons

First Emperor's Children

The Ren household, which has ruled on the commoners for centuries, are the rulers of the Kou Empire.

Hakutoku Ren, the First Emperor, founded the empire. He had four children with his wife, Gyokuen Ren.

When Hakutoku Ren and two of his sons died during a revolt, his brother Koutoku Ren, who had ten children with at least three different women, became the Second Emperor, although at that time Hakuryuu Ren the youngest son of Hakutoku Ren his succession rights were superior to that of Koutoku Ren but because he was young and on the verge of life and death. The seat of the Second Emperor were given to Koutoku and then he adopted the remaining siblings. Soon after, Gyokuen married Koutoku and upon his death Gyokuen became the new Empress, as what was written on his will. She was later overthrown and killed by her son, Hakuryuu who took back what is rightfully his.

Family Tree

1st Emperor Hakutoku

3rd Empress Gyokuen

2nd Emperor Koutoku

Unknown Women

Hakuyuu

Unknown Woman

Unknown Woman

Unknown Woman

Kourin

Hakuren

1st Prince Kouen

2nd Prince Koumei

3rd Prince Kouha

5th Empress Kougyoku

Daughter

1st Princess Hakuei

Daughter

4th Emperor Hakuryuu

Daughter

Daughter

Daughter

Dungeon Capturers

Kou Empire's Dungeon Capturers

Six members of the Imperial Family are Dungeon Capturers and King Vessels. Five of them were invited by Judar to capture the dungeons that he summoned, excluding Hakuryuu, who was sent by Sinbad to the 61st dungeon, Zagan, in the Torran Village located near Sindria's territory.

Politics

Slavery

Slavery is legal in the Kou Empire and in the countries under its government. However, the slavery system is considered "humane", since slaves are freed after 5 years of service. Also, mistreatment is prohibited by law.

Political Marriage

Political marriage is a diplomatic union of two members of different royal or ruling families. The Second Emperor, Koutoku Ren, used his daughters to marry off rulers of different countries. One of it's traditions, wedding partners are not allowed to see each other before the wedding ceremony.

Al-Thamen

Al-Thamen is currently reside in the Kou Empire posing as Imperial Priests and their leader, Gyokuen Ren, became its Empress. Al-Thamen gain political power and influence in the Imperial Court, such as orchestrating the assassination of the First Emperor and his two eldest sons and later placing Gyokuen Ren as the Third Emperor following the death of the Second Emperor. However, Hakuryuu Ren and his army managed to overthrow them, killing Gyokuen Ren and enslaving the rest.

Military

The Kou Empire is one of the world's superpowers. It takes advantage of its Dungeon Capturers to invade other countries. Recently, they have even acquired dungeon monsters for their army. They also possessed a powerful naval fleet for transporting troops.

Magicians are also employed within their ranks and are stationed in various locations, which they transmit communication through long-range Clairvoyance Magic. However, this was a highly classified secret.

At the Start of Kou Civil War, the nation divided into two factions: The Western Army representing 80% of Kou's military, resources, and territories led by Kouen Ren after he proclaimed Emperor and made Balbadd his capital, and the Eastern Army representing 20% of Kou's military, resources, and territories led by Fourth Emperor Hakuryuu.

Western Subjugation Army/Western Army

The large and powerful expeditionary army, led by the General Commander and First Prince Kouen Ren, is bent on expanding the empire and aims to subjugate/invade the western world. The army and particularly its generals are extremely loyal to Kouen, to the extent that they are willing to fight Gyokuen Ren and Al-Thamen, and later Hakurou Ren and his Eastern Army on his behalf for the throne.

Currently, they were stationed at Balbadd and later became their capital at the start of the Kou Civil War, the Western Subjugation Army became the Western Army with 80% of Kou's military, resources, and territories.

Alongside Kouen are his brothers - Second Prince Koumei Ren, who serves as his advisor, and Third Prince Kouha Ren, who commands the vanguard - as well as General of the Left Kokuhyou Shuu and General of the Right Seiryuu Ri, but later both later joined Hakuryuu and his Eastern Army. Kouen has four powerful Household members under his command, each of whom can easily kill several Black Djinn.

The army is divided into corps and divisions, some led by members of the Imperial family, all of them are Dungeon Capturers.

Third Alphine Division

The vanguard forces of the Western Subjugation Army led by the Third Prince, Kouha Ren. Many members of his forces are social outcasts, which makes them highly controversial within the Imperial Court. Some of the most prominent members are Meihou Kan, and three artificial magicians, Jinjin, Junjun and Reirei.

Northern Station Corps

Part of the Western Subjugation Army, led by First Princess Hakuei Ren, and stationed in the Northern Tenzan Plateau. Among Hakuei's ranks are her assistant and Household member, Seisyun Ri, and her former subordinate, Ryosai overthrown Hakuei for the control of the army until he was subdued by Aladdin and Ugo. After Hakuei subdued Ryosai's loyal forces, she recruited more than 100 members of the Kouga Clan, called the Kouga Household Corps. All of them are part of Hakuei Ren's Household and they use the power of Hakuei's Djinn, Paimon.

Defense Corps

They are a seperate forces from the Western Subjugation Army, they defend the capital, Rakushou. They were wipe out by Hakuryuu Ren's army and the surviving forces fled to Balbadd to join the Western Subjugation Army and later part of the Western Army.

Eastern Army

They are Hakuryou's main army representing 20% of Kou's military, resources, and territories at the start of Kou Civil War when he proclaimed Emperor after he and Judar eliminated Gyouken and the Al-Thamen. Many of its soldiers and the remaining Al-Thamen were brainwashed and enhanced by Hakuryuu. Among Hakuryou's high-ranking members are General of the Left Kokuhyou Shuu and General of the Right Seiryuu Ri, and High Priest Judar.

Economy

Huang

Huang is the paper money circulating within the Kou Empire and affiliated countries. The value of Huang changes constantly, so that items that only cost 1 Huang would require 2 Huang another day. The countries supplied with Huang become dependent on the Kou Empire and accumulate large debts.

Citizens

Imperial Family

Name	Rank	Status
Hakutoku Ren	First Emperor	Deceased
Koutoku Ren	Second Emperor	Deceased
Gyokuen Ren	Third Empress	Deceased
Hakuryuu Ren	Fourth Emperor	Alive
Kouen Ren	First Imperial Prince	Alive
Koumei Ren	Second Imperial Prince	Alive
Kouha Ren	Third Imperial Prince	Alive
Hakuei Ren	First Imperial Princess	Alive
? Ren	Imperial Princess	Alive
? Ren	Imperial Princess	Alive
? Ren	Imperial Princess	Alive
? Ren	Imperial Princess	Alive
? Ren	Imperial Princess	Alive
Kourin Ren	Imperial Princess	Alive
Kougyoku Ren	Eighth Imperial Princess	Alive
Hakuyuu Ren	Former First Imperial Prince	Deceased
Hakuren Ren	Former Second Imperial Prince	Deceased

Other

Name	Rank	Status
Judar	Magi	Alive
Markkio		Unknown

Army

Name	Rank	Status
Shou En	Kouen's Household Member	Alive
Seishuu Ri	Kouen's Household Member	Alive
Kin Gaku	Kouen's Household Member	Alive
Kokuton Shuu	Kouen's Household Member	Alive
Seiryuu Ri	General of the Right	Alive
Kokuhyou Shuu	General of the Left	Alive
Ryosai	Former Temporary General	Unknown
Dorji	Cavalry Captain	Alive
Bator	Soldier	Alive
Boyan	Soldier	Alive
Meihou Kan	Soldier	Alive
Meisai	Soldier	Deceased
Meishin	Soldier	Deceased
Mouketsu	Soldier	Deceased
Ryobun	Soldier	Deceased
Teishuu	Soldier	Deceased
Koushou Ka	Soldier	Deceased

Subordinates

Name	Rank	Status
Koubun Ka	Assistant	Alive
Seisyun Ri	Assistant	Alive
Chuu'un	Assistant	Alive
Junjun	Assistant	Alive
Jinjin	Assistant	Alive
Reirei	Assistant	Alive

Regular Citizens

Name	Rank	Status
Sai Lin	Magician	Alive, studying in Magnostadt
Toya	Citizen	Alive

Monsters

Name	Rank	Status
Engi		Deceased
Enshin		Deceased
Entai		Deceased

Trivia

• The Kou Empire displays many Imperial Chinese influences.
• Five of the imperial princesses are currently unnamed. According to Gyokuen, they are all married, probably to leaders of other countries.
• There are apparently many dungeons within its territory, since Judar has a tendency to raise more than his fair share.
• The empire's name, Kou (煌), is pronounced "Huáng" in Chinese (which is the Empire's paper money). It means Dazzling.
• The names of the First Emperor and his children begin with Haku (白, Bái) meaning White, and the names of the Second Emperor and his children begin with Kou (紅, Hóng) meaning Red.
• The imperial family's name, Ren (練), pronounced "Liàn" in Chinese, is not normally used as a surname, but rather applies to martial arts training.