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With the turn of the century came the changing of the Imperial Court. Inheriting the Imperial Seat from his father Handorien, Allestrain the First would lead Regalia down a military path through the education of the School of Marshalry. Together with his Chancellor Alexander the Giant, the two men would work to spread the Unionist faith through the sword, leading to many smaller states joining the Empire. Many historians praised Allestrain as one of the more capable Emperors, and it wasn’t until the short reign of Cedromar I that this legacy began to be revised. Regardless of the current revisions to history, Allestrain remains a strong example of a military Emperor, as well as one of the Regalian Military’s greatest products.
| Allestrain I | |
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| Notable Person | |
| Full Name | Allèstre Ivrae de Sange |
| Race | Ithanian Ailor |
| Date of Birth | August 24th, 165 AC |
| Date of Death | January 10th, 219 AC |
| Claim to Fame | Ninth Emperor of the Regalian Empire |
Origins and Early Life
Allèstre Ivrae de Sange was born in 165 AC in the Sovereignty of Ithania to his mother Yvette the Magenta Princess and Handorien I. In a similar manner to his father, the young Emperor-to-be was first suggested to be raised in the Ithanian homeland by his grandmother Leïasse the Westerling. However, his grandfather Allamaria the First, part of the infant New Regalian Culture, would not allow his consort to liberalize another Imperial Prince. Within a few short weeks of birth, the infant Allèstre was brought to the Crown Isle to be brought up according to his grandfather’s will. At least, that was the plan until his mother Yvette became the favorite of the Imperial Court, and took an active role in the Palace’s circles. Because of this unprecedented public lifestyle of a future Empress, the infant prince ironically did share mostly Ithanian values growing up, while his grandfather busied himself creating his military academy.
Eventually, when he came of age, Allèstre was sent by his grandfather to the newly established Marshal’s Academy, where he would become one of the first Regalian Generals to graduate from the school. After years of tutoring and education from the Wirtemcaller, now Calemberger, Marshals, Allèstre graduated from the Academy, and rejoined the Imperial Court, where he would engage his grandfather in games of tactics. After Allamaria passed away and his father took up the position of Emperor, the now stylized Crown Prince decided to travel around the Regalian Archipelago, overseeing the Regalian Military’s shipyards and engaging with local military houses whose sons were now graduating from the Marshalry as well. Eventually he would be called back to the Crown Isle after the death of Chancellors Vladimir and Arnold Kade, to maintain House Ivrae’s interests at the Imperial Palace. During these chaotic years, he would be acquainted with the new Chancellor Alexander the Giant, and the two would find common ground with their love of the military. Eventually, this friendship would pave the way for greater feats as, a few years later, Handorien I would pass on and the throne would fall to Allèstre.
History
Upon ascension, the now stylized Allestrain the First would work with his Chancellor to handle the transition of Imperial Power, using their military backgrounds to swifty eliminate the small voices of dissent. After securing the domestic front, it would be outwards that the two men would look. Allestrain, now the vessel of the Imperial Spirit, found himself moved to spread the faith to the heathen lands around the Regalian Archipelago and beyond. Though the means for which he desired to convert the populations was not through diplomacy, but through the sword. Together with his Chancellor, the two men set out around the Great Middle Sea, using the Imperial Fleet and the Army to invade coastal settlements and replace the local rulers with Unionist puppets. Then with the seats of power secured, they would withdraw and allow the locals to consolidate power. After a few years passed, the two would return to these settlements, where the newly converted populations would accept integration into the Regalian Empire. This conversion through conquest became the identity of Allestrain’s reign, where he would use military force to stage coups in various areas, and then return when the populations became converted to the one true faith. Within the decade, many of these settlements entered union with the Regalian Empire, and consequently the Regalian Military and merchant guilds now had new ports to station their garrisons and trading posts. Having set out to spread the faith, Allestrain succeeded.
Later Life
As time passed, the Emperor began to lessen the frequency of his conversion campaigns, beginning to see the state coffers run dry. In contrast, Chancellor Alexander insisted that the conquests continue, citing his position as manager of finances to justify his arguments. While the two men served together for many years, they always had a rivalry of sorts, with the differences between frontline command and the tactical tent becoming more apparent in these later years. However, the two would never full come to an agreement, as early into 219 AC, Emperor Allestrain would pass. In his place, his infirm son Justinais would ascend to the throne as Justinian I. With a weak Emperor in power, Alexander the Giant would now be free to continue the conquests of foreign states, ultimately sending the Empire into a financial downturn.
Personality
Allestrain was seen to be a fairly introverted individual, owing mostly to his mother’s time in the spotlight and being the court’s focus. With his father and grandfather being military men, he would mostly act in the shadows of the Imperial Palace, content on being away from the lavish lifestyle of the court. Politically, he seemed to continue much in his predecessor’s footsteps in that he spent more time on matters of the military than on other subjects, though ultimately balanced the needs of everyone competently in order to keep focused on his campaigns. In regards to the military, there has been nothing but praise, even by today’s historians. Allestrain was a gifted tactician who knew when to press on the enemy, and when to be more reserved. If things had gone differently, some may argue that he would have made the perfect New Regalian leader like his grandfather, as he seemed to show many similarities with the culture. In the end however, his Ithanian side won out, owing to being favored by liberals as an Emperor who knew when to put down the sword, and by conservatives as one who knew when to pick it up again.
Legacy
Strong Emperor Allestrain the First ultimately earned his title as being a capable ruler who did not shy away from direct confrontations in order to spread the faith. Through his campaigns, he laid out the foundation for the Regalian Empire’s sphere of influence around Aloria, a legacy that best exemplifies itself in the Unionist-heavy Colonial Culture. Furthermore, Allestrain famously popularized the term “holy war” due to these many conquests for the faith, and even retroactively applied such a term to the Skagger Wars of his predecessors. However, despite these praises, modern historians have begun to critique the backline focus of the Emperor, especially after the reign of Cedromar I, who even now continues to fight directly on the front lines as the Imperial Dragon. Proponents state that the modern battlefield is not the same as it was a century ago, and that Allestrain’s status as an armchair general was expected of him. Others disagree, often citing the lack of magical forces during the 3rd century AC as reason enough that the Emperor could’ve taken a more direct role in leading his troops. Besides this one point of debate, all agree that Allestrain was one of the last great Emperors, especially due to what followed after his death.
Extended Family
Emperor Allestrain married Isabella the Songstress, a Daendroque noblewoman who was famous for her otherworldly voice. However, this was the only plus for the marriage, as the two seemed to face many difficulties conceiving children, many thinking it was due to a pagan curse placed on the Emperor during one of his campaigns, or a secret deal the Empress made for her voice. Eventually the two birthed two sons, Justinais and Alain, who were infirm from a young age. Alain died during his youth, leading Justinais and his weak mind to one day succeed his father as Justinian the First, known to history as the Unfortunate.
Trivia
- The Marshal’s Academy on the Crown Isle bears a statue of both Allamaria and Allestrain, symbolizing the founder of the school as well as the first graduate.
- Some New Regalian historians make the case that Allestrain was indeed a New Regalian in culture despite being raised by Ithanians, citing the Emperor’s apparent use of Harte Ziele philosophy as their chief argument.
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