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Very little is known about the first thousand years of Imperial history. The Empire grew in power, but there were civil wars, times with no Emperor and times when marauding Orcs and Goblins plundered the lands. Despite times of disarray the Empire remained united.
The reign of Boris
Goldgather is seen as a disaster. People struggled under the
burden of heavy taxation and corrupt officials and the army was
neglected. In 1111 the black plague struck the Old World and many
thousands of people died during the winter of 1111-1112. Some
entire villages were wiped out, towns deserted, and nearly three
quarters of the people in the cities were taken by disease. To
make matters worse Skaven appeared from their tunnels looting and
destroying. The plague subsided over the next four years and the
only good news in this time was that Boris Goldgather had died
from it in 1115. This helped raise the morale of the people and
in 1124 the Skaven were finally driven away. Count Mandred Skaven
Slayer became Emperor for his efforts. He was assassinated in1152
and the Elector Counts failed to reach a decision for the new
Emperor.
A period of war between the provinces followed. Between 1360 and 1979 their were at least two Emperors; the rebel Count of Talabecland, and the elected Emperor. In 1979 the infant Countess Magritta of Marienberg was elected Emperor. However, the Grand Theogonist refused to acknowledge the appointment and the Imperial system totally broke down. The Elector Counts didn't meet for four hundred years. During this time cities began to govern themselves and recruit armies. Their leaders, the Burgomeisters, grew in power, and the Elector Counts' power decreased.
