Ich Dynasty
The Ich Dynasty is the ruling family of the New Sammichian Empire. In addition to the modern-day Empire, the dynasty also produced monarchs for the Kingdom of Fulfwotz and even the ancient power of Xamichia. It is currently the most well-known, longest-surviving, and largest dynasty in the Shire. Over a dozen independent monarchies can claim distant relation to the influential family. It has ruled for well over two millennia, with relatively-brief periods of having been dethroned. The current Ich dynast is Emperor Sammus Mephistes Inigmax vos Ich II. The family's current seat is at Castle Mugg in Fulfwotz, with its ancestral seat at Niflheim Palace.
The Ichs take their name from Ichira, a province in Xamichia of which they were appointed the governors (or Praetorae) by Emperor Allexedes III of the Telsid Dynasty in the sixth century PRY. The first Ich praetorus was Callistes vos Ichira, commonly hailed as the legendary founder of the dynasty. Through a series of increasingly-convoluted political alliances and schemes, the Vos Ichira family was able to increase their standing and eventually overthrow the Telsid Dynasty, which had been impaired thanks to centuries of inbreeding. In 477 PRY, Thressindes vos Ichira became Emperor of Xamichia. The family's last name was changed soon after, following a rebellion and the razing of Ichira (which was in turn renamed the Niphuline). It was simply shortened to Ich, explaining the unusual nature of the name in Thrennexian conventions.
The Ich Dynasty, despite overseeing Xamichia at its greatest territorial extent as well as during the Mandatux Impiratia period of expansion, were instrumental in its downfall. It was under them that the Xamichine capital of Sarrimus slowly deteriorated and Fulfwotz became the de facto political center of the empire. Notorious Ich hot-headedness and hostility provoked other nations of the Shire who began picking at the massive dominion's borders. The state was threatened by rebellion in dozens of its provinces. In an effort to salvage what she could, Empress Flux dissolved Xamichia in 58 PRY, making the Ich Dynasty the rulers of an independent Fulfwotz. They would rule the Kingdom for nearly two-thousand years until they were deposed following the Revolution of 1681, only to regain power once again in the 1780s. After ruling as Kings and Queens for centuries, then-King Sammus M.I.v. Ich II crowned himself Emperor with the formation of the New Sammichian Empire in 1930.
The Ich family possesses cultural and political influence unrivaled by any other royal family in the world; throughout its lifespan, it has amassed thousands of priceless artifacts as well as an enormous fortune. It is unknown the extent of their wealth, but it is often hypothesized that the Ich Dynasty is the wealthiest family in the world. Their various Imperial Estates across the Shire, the majority of which are privately-owned by the family, retain a combined value of approximately $3.1 billion in their own right.