List of Regalian Arch Chancellors: Difference between revisions

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{{Info people
{{Info people
|fullname = Arch Chancellors of [[Regalia]]
|name = Arch Chancellors
|race = [[Ailor]]
|race = [[Ailor]]
|real = Real
|fame = Heads of the [[Regalian Government]]
|fame = Heads of the [[Regalian Government]]
|}}
|}}
The Arch Chancellor of Regalia was a political office which was positioned at the head of the civil [[Regalian Empire]] government, thus being the supreme ruler second only to the [[Emperor of the Empire]]. The Arch Chancellor position was originally created by the [[Five Family Rebellion]] where the Five Family Concord assigned the Civil Government’s rule to [[House Kade]]. House Kade maintained control of this office for nearly 300 years uninterrupted, but the office eventually faded away during the political upheavals of the 4th century. Still, a lot of political actions and offices were inspired or influenced by the Arch Chancellors of Regalia, and many of their policies are still in effect and relevant to modern day politicians.  
The Arch Chancellor of Regalia was a political office that was positioned at the head of the [[Regalian Empire]]’s government, thus being second only to the Emperor. The Arch Chancellor position was created after the [[Five Family Rebellion]], granted in near perpetuity to [[House Kade]]. House Kade has maintained control of this office for decades as a result, but the office eventually faded away during the political upheavals of the 4th century, replaced by a less powerful Chancellery and other offices similar to it. Several political actions and offices were inspired or influenced by the Arch Chancellors of Regalia, and many of their policies are still in effect and relevant to modern-day politicians.  


==Thedmir I (5-21 AC) & Marianne I (7-21 AC)==
==Thedmir I (5-21 AC) & Marianne I (7-21 AC)==
Thedmir Kade was the first Arch Chancellor of the Empire, who was appointed to the office following the Five Family Rebellion at an advanced age. What is most significant is that Thedmir’s tenure saw the precedent of Co-Chancellorship established after he married [[Marianne Vermeer]], which coincidentally saw one of the Five Families absorbed into House Kade. Besides this main event, the two Chancellors hardly competed with royal power, and instead set up the framework for future Chancellors. When Marianne Kade passed away in 21 AC, Thedmir Kade chose to resign from the position of Arch Chancellor, allowing his teenage son Caldomir to ascend.
[[File:Thomur.png|220px|thumb|right|The close bond of friendship between Thedmir and Theomar was essential to the stability of the early Regalian Empire.]]
*Thedmir Kade was the first Arch Chancellor of the Empire, who was appointed to the office following the Five Family Rebellion at an advanced age. It is said his blood connection to Emperor [[Theomar I]] confirmed his appointment, though the two men were also friends despite their age difference.
*Thedmir’s tenure was unique for how quickly it came to feature the first of several dual Arch Chancellorships as with his aging body gradually failing him, his newly married wife, Marianne Vermeer from [[NPC_Houses#House_Vermeer|House Vermeer]], soon took a close role in aiding him.
*Their tenure is also notable for setting the framework of the Regalian bureaucracy in place, as well as the Arch Chancellor’s normal role in politics. They did not compete with Imperial power and instead served to complement and extend it as needed or wanted.
*After Marianne died, the now exceedingly aged Arch Chancellor Thedmir chose to resign from his post and allow his teenage son, Caldomir, to ascend over him. The pairing is often upheld today as an excellent example of what good Arch Chancellors should strive for.


==Caldomir I (21-49 AC) & Annaleora I (32-49 AC)==
==Caldomir I (21-49 AC) & Annaleora I (32-49 AC)==
Caldomir Kade ascended to the Chancellery at the age of 15 following the death of his mother Marianne Kade. He is often known as the Patriarch Chancellor, as he established the inheritance protocols of the Empire, as well as legal law concerning family, inheritance, and had a large hand in the establishment of the feudal system of the Empire. It was during his tenure that the Regalian Empire fought through the First Hecarian Conflict in 28 AC, which saw the [[Lordship of Vixhall]] established as [[House Ivrae’s]] stronghold, with the remaining northern territories of the [[Hecarian Kingdom]] absorbed four years later in 32 AC. Like his predecessor, Caldomir also appointed his wife Annaleora I as Co-Chancellor, and together the two of them ruled competently for the next several years. In regards to religion, both Chancellors became the first Kade converts to [[Unionism]] at the behest of Emperor [[Theomar I]], with the remaining Five Families following soon after.
*Caldomir I, the eldest son of Thedmir I and Marianne I, ascended to the Arch Chancellery at the age of fifteen. Despite his young age, he was well prepared for his role, a trait echoed in several other Arch Chancellors in later years.
*Caldomir I is sometimes called the Patriarch Chancellor, as he established the laws of inheritance for the Empire as male preference. He was not as harsh in his personal life, however, as he appointed his second wife Annaleora I to rule at his side, which she did competently for over a decade and a half.
*Caldomir also oversaw some of the first conflicts of expansion in the Regalian Empire’s history and was among the first to convert to [[Unionism]] alongside his wife. Much of House Kade soon followed, as did the other Five Families.
*Caldomir I and Annaleora I stepped down from their roles to focus on their family, leaving the position open to their eldest son, Aldomir I. Modern historians broadly consider them an uncontroversial continuation of the policies and lineage set forth by Caldomir’s father.


==Aldomir I (49-55 AC)==
==Aldomir I (49-55 AC)==
Aldomir Kade was the eldest son of Caldomir and Annaleora Kade, and was known as the “Lazy Chancellor” for doing nothing during his tenure, content with letting Theomar ruling without interference. Eventually, he was forced to resign his position due to pressure from his siblings in 55 AC, making him the first Arch Chancellor to be deposed rather than through resignation.
*Aldomir I was the eldest son of Caldomir and Annaleora Kade and was initially a bright, earnest child. However, adulthood seemed to dull his edge, and by the time of his ascension, he was competent, but only just.
*Aldomir became known as the “Lazy Arch Chancellor” for doing little of note during his tenure, content to let Theomar rule the realm without interfering in his affairs. It was a good thing that the Emperor was highly competent.
*It was also fortunate that Aldomir had far more energetic brothers and sisters who pressured him to resign and the Emperor to remove him from his position. These siblings then competed for the position themselves. This also set a precedent that Arch Chancellors would need to keep on top of family politics as well as those of the broader Empire.
*Aldomir I was deposed due to the pressure of his siblings, and was replaced by his sister, Eotranna I. Despite his inaction while in office, he is broadly considered un-offensive and simply lacked the drive required for the role.


==Eotranna I (55-60 AC)==
==Eotranna I (55-60 AC)==
Eotranna Kade was the only daughter of Caldomir and Annaleora Kade, and was the first sole female Kade Chancellor. Eotranna would prove to be a competent ruler, and her tenure would see the Kade Chancellery inherit more governing powers from the Emperor, who has begun to focus solely on religious matters rather than secular rule. Unfortunately, Eotranna would pass away in 60 AC after succumbing to a seasonal illness, but not before setting a precedent for capable female politicians in the Regalian Government, something which even [[New Regalians]] begrudgingly accept to this day.
[[File:Efrateotranna.png|220px|thumb|right|Eotranna I and the Narim Queen were close friends and allies in politics.]]
*Eotranna I was the only daughter of Caldomir and Annaleora Kade, the younger sister to Aldomir Kade, and the first sole female Arch Chancellor. She was a sharp wit and was noted as engaging in theological debate with many early members of the Unionist Celacy. She became a student to the [[Narim]] monarch, and the two were very close friends.
*Eotranna proved a competent Arch Chancellor during her tenure, working to aid the Emperor in the promotion of Unionism across Regalian territory. Her tenure saw her working with religious figures to establish their privileges in the law.
*Her greatest projects were her gates. They were great works of defense and security for several cities in Anglia and elsewhere to combat a rise in smuggling and banditry. She also focused on healthcare for the poor and founded many hospitals, as she herself had skills in healing [[Magic]].
*However, after a stroke she successfully survived, Eotranna I retired from the position of Arch Chancellor and went on to live a long, prosperous life. She was succeeded by her brother Tedromar I and is broadly considered an exemplary politician and bureaucrat. She is also considered a great motherly figure, given she had half a dozen children in her life, and cared for the defense and health of the Empire’s citizens during her tenure.


==Tedromar I (60-65 AC)==
==Tedromar I (60-65 AC)==
Tedromar Kade was the second son of Caldomir and Annaleora Kade. Unfortunately, he was horribly disfigured by a fiery accident, earning him the nickname of “The Burned Chancellor.” While Tedromar was well meaning and bright of mind, his handicaps ultimately forced him to stay bedridden for most of his tenure, before he eventually passed away in 65 AC.
*Tedromar I was the second son of Caldomir and Annaleora Kade and an elder brother to Eotranna I. Unfortunately, he was disfigured by a fiery accident in his youth, earning him the nickname of “The Burned Arch Chancellor.”  
*Despite his physical deformities, Tedromar was well-meaning and bright of mind, devoted to intellectual pursuits. While he lay bedridden, his dictated laws saw the opening of many scholastic enterprises across the Empire.
*Tedromar was also apparently good friends with the future [[Lilienmar I]] (then just the Crown Prince), the two men speaking often on matters of philosophy and Unionist doctrine.
*Tedromar’s condition eventually saw him pass away, and he is broadly considered a good Arch Chancellor for his turn toward scholarship. He was succeeded by his younger brother Dwalmar.


==Dwalmar I (65-67 AC)==
==Dwalmar I (65-67 AC)==
Dwalmar Kade was the third brother of Aldomir, Eotranna, and Tedromar, and found himself the Arch Chancellor following Tedromar’s death in 65 AC. Known as the “Short Chancellor” due to his height, he passed away in 67 AC from a plague outbreak in the Crown Isle, causing the Chancellery to fall to the final brother of the family, Arnold Kade.
*Dwalmar Kade was the third son of Caldomir and Annaleora Kade, the first of two younger brothers to Eotranna Kade. Known as the “Short Arch Chancellor” due to his height of 5’6, he was still an earnest man.
*Where his siblings had focused on defense, theology, and scholarly pursuits, Dwalmar was a fan of the arts and helped to foster artistic inspiration in the name of the Unionist faith.
*He was also a man who did not get along as best as he perhaps could with a now-aged Emperor Theomar. Their arguments remained private but were never to the degree of seeing Dwalmar removed from his position.
*Dwalmar died suddenly in a plague outbreak on the [[Crown Isle]], the first Arch Chancellor to die of illness, and his role was picked up by his youngest brother, Arnold. Dwalmar is judged as a man taken too soon, difficult to judge, but broadly liked in the art history community.


==Arnold I (67 AC)==
==Arnold I (67 AC)==
Arnold Kade was the final son of Caldomir and Annaleora Kade, and had one of the shortest tenures of all Arch Chancellors (but not the shortest). Known as the “Apathetic Chancellor,” Arnold’s tenure saw the death of Emperor Theomar I and ascension of his son [[Lilienmar I]] to the Imperial Throne. Seeing an opportunity to create a blank slate for the Regalian Government, Arnold resigned his position after only a few months into his rule, declaring his nephew Betheoric Kade as his successor.
*Arnold Kade was the youngest, and final son, of Caldomir and Annaleora Kade. He also, unfortunately, had the shortest reign of all the heirs to his famed parents.
*With his parents both having died, and half his siblings also gone, many believe the drive and competition that had once defined the children left them in adulthood, especially in Arnold.
*He is called the “Apathetic Arch Chancellor,” not because he did not care for the Empire, but because it is believed he came to see his taking of the role as hollow, and himself, unworthy. He grew not to care about his post.
*After the death of Emperor Theomar I and the ascension of Lilienmar I, Arnold resigned his position voluntarily after just a few months and cleared the way for his nephew Betheoric to take the reins. History has judged Arnold a melancholic survivor, who spent the last years of his life with family and relatives as much as possible back in Anglia.


==Betheoric I (67-79 AC)==
==Betheoric I (67-79 AC)==
Betheoric was the son of Aldomir Kade, and was appointed as Arch Chancellor following his uncle Arnold Kade’s resignation. Unlike his previous uncles, Betheoric was a capable administrator, who saw the [[Iltar Kingdom]] absorbed into the Empire after orchestrating a coup that saw the Iltar King’s brother placed on the throne, who in turn gave all territory to Regalia. Betheoric’s tenure also saw the start of the [[First Holy Skagger War]], which he fought in personally until his death in 79 AC.
*Betheoric I was the son of Aldomir Kade and was appointed as Arch Chancellor following his uncle Arnold Kade’s resignation.
*Unlike his father, now deceased, Betheoric was a highly capable administrator and a man driven to expand the Empire. He worked closely with the Lilenmar Emperors who reigned during his time as a result, reinforcing the military and diplomacy with other realms.
*Betheoric I is perhaps best remembered as the Arch Chancellor who engaged in formal contact with [[Ithania]] and other western [[Ailor]] nations, following trade lines from now subsumed regions of [[Corontium]].
*Betheoric was also an honorable man, and as the First Skagger War grew in intensity, he went to fight at the front line. He was ultimately killed in battle (the first Arch Chancellor to fall in this way) and was replaced by his son of the same name. He is well remembered as a diverse, energetic Arch Chancellor who lasted more than a few years, finally providing a degree of policy continuity to his office.


==Betheoric II (79-89 AC)==
==Betheoric II (79-89 AC)==
Betheoric II was the eldest son of his father of the same name, and served for a decade before death in 89 AC. During his tenure, Betheoric II oversaw the [[Bergerlander War]], which saw the fallen republic’s treasury funneled back to the [[Crown Isle]]. Betheoric also began to set up the shipyards that would build the [[Imperial Navy]], an action that would be completed by his successor. Unfortunately, Betheoric would pass away in 89 AC after succumbing to a hunting wound sustained a week before.
*Betheoric II was the eldest son of Betheoric Kade, and was more emblematic of the warrior role his father took on later in life. Trained in a broadsword, he was a fearsome opponent.
*He took to several battlefields of the Empire, and survived, ultimately leaving the front lines to focus on developing the military alongside Emperor [[Henri I]].
*While Henri I appointed [[Viridian]] leaders for various projects, as well as founding the earliest version of the formal [[Regalian Army]], Betheoric focused on founding the [[Regalian Navy]], to counteract both the ships of the Skaggers, but also marauders elsewhere in Aloria.
*While he might have lived a great many more years, Betheoric II died after he sustained a wound in a hunt a week prior. He left the Arch Chancellorship to his eldest son, named after both his father and grandfather. Much like Betheoric I, Betheoric II is well remembered though most fondly by militarists.


==Betheoric III (89-97 AC)==
==Betheoric III (89-97 AC)==
Betheoric III was the eldest son of his father Betheoric II. Like his predecessor, Betheoric III would expand the Regalian Empire by waging the Second Hecarian Conflict with Emperor [[Henri I]]. His tenure would end during the [[Years of the Three Emperors]], where he would be found dead alongside Emperor Carvallais I, both seemingly victims of the same assassination plot, with rumours at the time indicating that the Virdian Order played a hand in the Arch Chancellor’s demise.
*Betheoric III was the eldest son of Betheoric Kade II. Just like his father, Betheoric was a military-minded young man who had been raised closely by his father and had also trained in combat.
*While he helped push more military victories in the name of the Empire, the growing political dominance of the [[Viridian Order]] started to affect the military as they were awarded positions as generals, admirals, and more, without any training in those areas.
*Betheoric was not particularly politically savvy in trying to shake this corruption loose, and many believe he sealed his fate by nearly dueling a notable Viridian Knight close to Emperor Henri I.
*Betheoric III was found assassinated alongside Emperor Carvallais I, victims of the [[List_of_Regalian_Emperors#Years_of_the_Three_Emperors_(96-99_AC)|Years of the Three Emperors]]. He was succeeded by his wife, Maenarra, and is remembered as a tragic figure, a warrior who expanded the Empire and who died defending one of its younger Emperors (though all indications of their killing showed both men were taken fully by surprise).


==Maenarra I (97-104 AC)==
==Maenarra I (97-104 AC)==
Maenarra I was the wife of Betheoric III, and succeeded him as Chancellor following his assasination. There were only two notable events from the Regalian Chancellery at the time. One event being the kidnapping attempt of Princess Amelia Ivrae by bandits from [[Amaolits]] in 103 AC an action which has earned the small nation a reputation as a criminal state even into modern times. The second, and arguably more important event, occurred three years priot in 100 AC with the sanctioning of the [[Azure Order]] under [[Grand Vigil Nicholas]], ushering two centuries of anti-magic crackdowns in the Regalian Empire. Maenarra would resign her position as Chancellor in 104 AC, placing her eldest daughter in the position.
*Maenarra I was the wife of Betheoric Kade III and succeeded him as Arch Chancellor following his assassination. Maenarra was far more politically astute than her husband, and realizing that the Viridians were fully in charge, she focused her time on other matters.
*Her desire to work quietly means that her reign is now considered overshadowed by the notable events to continue during her lifetime. For one, the Years of the Three Emperors concluded, followed by the foiled kidnapping of Crown Princess Amelia Ivrae by [[Daendroque]] criminals hired by unknown parties. The other was the crackdown against [[Mage]]s by the newly formed [[Azure Order]].
*Maenarra’s family life was also quite notable, at least for the time. One of her sons ran away with a Viridian Knight, while the status of her other children and grandchildren (Ellenore possessing a fused leg, and the twins Tarnan and Sarvan, each with other deficiencies) allowed the Viridians to smear this part of the Kade family.
*Out of disgust, or perhaps fear for her own life, Maenarra ultimately resigned from her position and passed it on to her eldest daughter, Ellenore. She lived for many more years and eventually reconciled with her youngest son, a man never to become Chancellor.


==Ellenore I (104-110 AC)==
==Ellenore I (104-110 AC)==
Ellenore was the eldest child of Betheoric and Maenarra Kade, and took control of the Chancellery following her mother’s resignation. It was under Ellenore that the Regalian Empire began to absorb some of the fringe lands of the fallen [[Wirtemcaller Kingdom]], pushing back the [[Skagger Horde]] into modern day [[Opper Calem]]. Unfortunately, Ellenore would end up like her father, and she was found poisoned in the Chancellor’s office in 110 AC, with her final will starting one of the most unique tenures of the Empire.
*Ellenore I was the eldest child of Betheoric and Maenarra Kade. A childhood accident meant her leg had to be fused but she was never disheartened by this and was a highly competent woman.
*Initially content with a crutch, and then a cane, her reign saw some of the first industrialization in the Empire, and she was gifted an engineering-based walking aid by an Ailor engineer.
*Ellenore’s time was also spent better integrating the first [[Wirtem]] territories the Regalian Empire was absorbing. The conflict against the Skaggers significantly slowed during this time, yet for all of Ellenore’s urgings, could not get Imperial approval for the required push into enemy territory.
*Ellenore was found assassinated much as her father had been years prior, and her role was passed onto her young twin sons. She is considered a marked improvement over her mother, as her policies were at least publicly known, and sought to improve the Empire.


[[File:Tarnansarvan.png|220px|thumb|right|The Twin Arch Chancellors were great men, and the best of brothers.]]
==Tarnan I & Sarvan I (110-119AC)==
==Tarnan I & Sarvan I (110-119AC)==
Tarnan and Sarvan were the first twins to rule as Co-Chancellors, an action their sister Ellenore deemed necessary in her will. Unfortunately, Tarnan was discovered to be a leper early on in his childhood, and Sarvan was mentally handicapped, suffering from bouts of epilepsy. Thus Ellanore believed that while Tarnan was frail, Sarvan could supplement him, while Tarnan would guide Sarvan with his mind. The Twin Chancellors’ Chair is a specific relic to this era, where in the front there is a chair built for Sarvan, while behind the screen there is a bed for Tarnan. Under their joint tenure, the [[Sudlander Principality]] freely joined the Regalian Empire, and the Republic of Lusits became a nation of interest, with delegates sent to the oligarchic courts to set the stages for what was to eventually come. Sarvan would die early in 119 AC, with Tarnan several months later, leaving the Chancellery to one of the most important figures in Regalian History.
*Tarnan I and Sarvan I were the sons of Ellenore Kade, and their father is unknown. The children suffered terribly at their young age, as Tarnan was born a leper, and Sarvan suffered from a mental disability.
*Despite these problems, the near-identical twins loved each other as true family, and their deep brotherly bond allowed them to function in concert, making up for the traits the other lacked. They were given the Arch Chancellorship at the age of seventeen.
*They spent their tenure focused on internal matters of the Empire, smoothing out issues in transportation the now vast Empire was seeing and dealing with the growing problems caused by the Viridians though never directly confronting them.
*It is a widespread rumor today that the Viridians finally acted against the twins upon realizing that their deficiencies were not the lead weight outsiders assumed it might be. In fact, this is false. No record or indication of assassination or nefarious scheme exists in the deaths of the twin Arch Chancellors (Sarvan died first, followed by Tarnan). They are well remembered as a truly unique pair but are often dwarfed by their cousin, Nicholas.


==Vlaas I (119-205 AC)==
==Nicholas I (119-205 AC)==
Vlaas Kade ascended to the position of Arch Chancellor at the age of 16, and from the beginning history was fated to favor his life. In 122 AC, Emperor [[Henri III]] foiled the [[Viridian Coup Attempt]], restoring Imperial Prestige which had long since been diminished. One of his first acts was to call for the [[Second Holy Skagger War]], which Vlaas spearheaded by using his charismatic, dominating personality to rally soldiers to continue the war against the Skagger Horde into what would become [[Greater Drixagh]]. With Regalia pushing through the north, Vlaas immediately began to focus on the future of Regalia, and set his eyes on the Isle of [[Etosil]] which had long been in the shadows of the [[Regalian Archipelago]], but never fully incorporated. With his landing in 127 AC, the entire state was annexed into the Empire, with the Chancellor allowing citizens of Etosil to finally return to the Regalian Archipelago, ending the exile that lasted for nearly a century. Vlaas set up what would be known as the [[Hellatian States]] in the southeast of the Archipelago for the [[Etosian]] [[Ailor]], while allowing the [[Krainivaya]] riders of Essalonia to settle new territories in Drixagh, creating the Petty Principality of [[Volgaria]] in the process, an action which earned him the appreciation of the militarily-inclined Ailor, who immediately convinced the [[Etosian Patriarch]] to declare him [[Hero]] Vladimir of Chancellors though Vlaas himself never referred to himself as a Living Hero, simply content with adding a new state to the Empire.
[[File:New Canvasyrdhtrfdtjftuyfgv.png|220px|thumb|right|Nicholas Kade had many names and titles in his long life.]]
 
*Nicholas I, Vlaas Kade, the Imperial Architect, the Great Statesman, and the Glorious Arch Chancellor, was the son of Betheoric III and Maenarra Kade’s second daughter, Beatrix. Nicholas was quietly a close companion to the young Henri III, back when he was merely [[Henri II]]’s bastard son being raised away from the Imperial Court.
The next great feats of Vlaas Kade began with the landing and subjugation of [[Ithania]] in 150 AC, which coincided with the start of the [[Ithanian Gem Boom]], leading to a massive population migration to the areas of [[Vixhall]], [[Pays-Sud]], and [[Rivellia]]. A year later in 151 AC, the Kingdom of [[Catalon]] freely joined the Empire, with the states of [[Visois]] and [[Andois]] being incorporated in 152 AC. This time in Vlaas’s career saw the Empire continue to prosper, and even when Emperor Henri III died in 166 AC, the Empire was still growing stronger and more influential. When Emperor [[Allamaria I]] ascended to the throne, Vlaas saw another opportunity to finish up Regalia’s expansion across the Archipelago. After sailing the Imperial Navy to the [[Eerstwald Kingdom]] in 178 AC, the latter promptly surrendered in a battle-less war, which was followed up by the Skagger Horde retreating from Drixagh in 179 AC. All that was left was the [[Genevaud Cantons]], which had miraculously avoided Regalian hegemony for centuries longer than their neighbors, fighting off attempts of regional lords to annex them. Not wanting to declare war on a [[Unionist]] population, Vlaas sent a delegation to the [[Genevaud]], who promptly joined the Empire as the [[Lordship of Genevaud]] in 180 AC.
*While his first few years in the role were subdued, the rise of [[Henri III]] and the foiled [[Viridian Coup Attempt]] allowed Nicholas and the Emperor to rip the corruption of the Viridians out from the heart of the Empire.
 
*Given free reign to act, and in close concert with the Emperor, Nicholas I oversaw the fundamental transformation of the Regalian Empire. The Second Skagger War began and ended during his tenure, seeing the signing of a peace treaty with the [[Velheim]] north, a dozen lands beyond Corontium were joined to the Regalian Empire by colonization, diplomacy, or minor military intervention (most notably [[Ithania]] and [[Etosil]]), and the bureaucracy was fundamentally reshaped. He was aided in these tasks by many competent people, including the [[Suvial]] bureaucrat Sadhana.
With the Regalian Archipelago fully united under Imperial control, Vlaas began to focus on consolidation. However, he did approve of the exploration of [[Kelmoria]] in 184 AC, and also approved the Ithanian colonization attempts in [[Fendarfelle]] in 200 AC. Though as all good things come to an end, Vlaas’s health soon began to wear on him. He would pass away in 205 AC at the significant age of 102 years old (a feat for the time before an industrialized Regalia), and forever be remembered as the Glorious Chancellor that turned Regalia into a local player and the Archipelago into a formal sea-spanning Empire.
*His long, full, rich life of tireless service to the State also saw him outlive four Emperors, and when he died at the exceptional age of 102 (he had been given the job at just sixteen), the entire Empire mourned. His life was spectacular and he is broadly considered the man to have led a golden age for the Regalian Empire.


==Arnold II (205 AC)==
==Arnold II (205 AC)==
Arnold II was known as the “One Day Chancellor,” and only symbolically held the title for less than a day. In fact, he was already on his deathbed from old age by the time his father died. Due to his short duration as Chancellor, and the previous Arnold I’s swift rule as well, House Kade ceased naming their children Arnold, believing the name to be an ill omen for the family, a tradition which has remained till this day.
*Arnold II was Nicholas Kade’s eldest son and he often worked closely alongside his father in his younger years. But as decades passed, and Nicholas didn’t step down, and Arnold himself grew older, he retreated from politics and bureaucracy.
*The “One Day Arch Chancellor” did indeed hold the title for a single day. By the time his father died, Arnold was himself on his deathbed and perished in an estimated twenty-five hours. He left the Arch Chancellery to his twin sons, and history had judged him for this action alone, often forgetting his secondary role in many of Nicholas’ most important policies.
*A historical quirk is that House Kade ceased naming their children Arnold after his life, believing the name to be an ill omen for the family, a tradition which has remained till this day.


==Cedmir I & Alexander I (205-216 AC)==
==Cedmir I & Alexander I (205-216 AC)==
The joint tenure of Co-Chancellors Cedmir and Alexander Kade were seen as the inevitable downfall after the glorious reign of Vlaas Kade. While the [[Colony of Silverwind]] was established in 211 AC, Emperor Allestrain I’s short reign saw the [[Regalian Military]] sail across Aloria, with Arch Chancellor Alexander “the Giant” (rumored to have been 7 feet tall) leading forces in his name. When Allestrain I passed away and his son [[Handorien II]] ascended to the Imperial Throne, Cedmir Kade began to note the income coming into the Empire was far less than was going out. This all came to a climax in 214 AC, after Alexander ended three short lived wars against [[Arlora]], [[Torse]], and [[Arvost]]. Cedmir’s worst nightmare came true, as excessive military spending saw the Regalian coffers drained, leading to a time known as the [[Purple Bleeding]]. Wishing to get back to war, Alexander alongside Handorien II declared all debts owed by the Regalian Empire were declared null and void, and promptly ordered the military to suppress the rebellions that broke out, granting them territories from the old nobility that were unable to weather the financial catastrophe. Within a year, Alexander annexed [[Basqilerra]], and began a war with the [[Kingdom of Nordskag]], desiring to finish what his grandfather had nearly ended when the Skagger Wars concluded in 179 AC. Alexander would be killed in battle against the Nordskaggers in 216 AC, forcing Cedmir to resign in shame a few days later, fearful that he would be the victim of assasination now that his giant of a brother was no longer there to assert the Chancellery’s dominance. He would be succeeded by his only son, a man whose tenure was steeped in controversy.
*Cedmir I & Alexander I were the twin sons of Arnold II and could not have been more different from each other and their father. Alexander I was also known as the Giant, given his immense size at over seven feet tall, while Cedmir was short, nervous, and a good administrator but easily swayed by his brother, who was also his protector politically and physically.
 
*The controversial life of Alexander I cannot be ignored, as it was rumored then (confirmed today) that the Giant and Crown Prince, soon the Emperor, [[Allestrain I]], were lovers. Empress Eolaria Cadar and Alexander’s wife, Leona Kade, are also said to have been in a relationship (and this is similarly confirmed).
==Morgann I (216-256 AC)==
*Alexander I completely focused himself on Allestrain’s desire for warfare, and conquests led by the two men and their wives on the frontlines saw several regions and nations seized in the name of the Empire. Cedmir stayed behind in the capital and attempted to keep up with the logistics and bureaucracy of such constant conflict.
Morgann Kade’s tenure as Chancellor remains one of the most hotly debated subjects to modern day scholars, with some commending him for ending the Purple Bleeding, while others vilify him as an egotistical dictator that ultimately caused the [[Regalian Pessimism]]. Though with that said, Morgann’s first few years of rule were some of the most critical. His first few actions were to aggressively expand into Daen, which saw the Governorates of [[Daenshore]], [[Caslin]], and [[Amaolits]] annexed and established in 219 AC. The following year saw the Governorate of [[Bastierra]] created, and soon the income generated by the lumber, [[Tabacca]], and [[Opium]] industry started to bring much needed income into the Empire’s coffers, essentially creating a second Blessed Reign in a few short years.
*After Allestrain’s shocking death at the hands of the Nordskaggers, Alexander grew unstable, full of rage and grief. Convinced by Alexander to ignore the “trivial” bureaucratic matters of massive debt, Emperor [[Handorien II]] signed the edict that began the [[Purple Bleeding]]. Alexander carried out brutal campaigns first at home to stem the chaos caused by this edict, and then abroad, finally dying in another war against the Nordskaggers. Afraid for his life, Cedmir I quickly resigned his position for his son, Morgan, though soon came to regret it. History has looked with mixed opinions on this joint Arch Chancellor reign, with those in the military praising it, and those not being more critical of a range of events.


However, Morgann’s ambitions did not end there, and it was now with income to spare that the first signs of concern began to show. When Handorien II died in 219 AC, he was succeeded by his son [[Justinian I]]. To Morgann, Justinian was a golden opportunity, as the Emperor was slow of mind, prone to epileptic episodes, and was easily influenced with the right words. All of these culminated into an Imperial Decree, which granted Morgann religious prerogative over the Empire. While the vessel of the Imperial Spirit resided in the Emperor, Morgann would be the final authority on the Spirit’s messages, essentially usurping the powers of the Unionist priesthood and the Primae-Celate. With his power now including the power of religious primacy, Morgann soon declared that Justinian had died after a severe seizure, though many scholars question whether murder was involved.
==Morgan I (216-256 AC)==
 
[[File:MorgansNarsil.png|220px|thumb|right|It remains somewhat of a mystery how Morgnn I acquired Narsil, but once in his possession, the Marken became a tool of terror.]]
Whatever the case, the reign of the [[Seasonal Emperors]] began with Justinian’s passing, and would continue for the rest of his life. Morgann’s first act after the ascension of [[Handorien III]] was to annex the Kingdom of [[Kausis]] in 224 AC in retaliation for the [[Ohrneti]] Ailors’ attack on a merchant vessel several years before. With a demonstration of military prowess, Morgann began to run the Empire as he saw fit. He would throw lavish parties at the Imperial Palace, present courtesans to his favored bureaucrats, and see those he disliked removed from relevance, often mysteriously disappearing mere days after disagreeing with the Arch Chancellor. In fact, Morgann’s ego was so large that he styled himself as the Golden Sun Chancellor, believing that his rising from bed each morning set the day in motion. He renamed the Chancellery to "Le Court de Soleil" and enforced the haute [[Ithanian Culture]] in the Imperial Court, completely barring the nobility from speaking any language besides [[d’Ithanie]] in the process. This ultimately isolated the New Regalians and other conservative elements, who made no secret proclaiming that Morgann Kade had turned the Chancellery into a brothel (which he actually did). However, Morgann saw that these outcries never left the eastern realms, and even went as far as to fire the entire Board of Admirals and [[State Academy of Officer’s]] administration, causing a "brain drain" in the Regalian Military.
*Morgan I, the Dark Kade, the Deceiver, the Sun Chancellor, was the eldest son of Cedmir I. It is not clear what caused him to mature into the highly manipulative, vain, and cruel man he became, but some blame his uncle Alexander for playing a role in such development.
 
*His early acts were swift, forcing Emperor Handorien II to abdicate and successfully ending the Purple Bleeding by also granting himself religious powers, and removing them from the hands of Handorien’s successor, Justinian I (many at the time believed that the Imperial lineage had grown corrupt, a rather ironic opinion given what came next).
Despite his hedonistic pursuits, Morgann did bring the Empire into a second golden age, and saw a few more territorial expansions. Expeditions to [[Essalonia]] began in 240 AC, with [[Silsaerimas]] and [[Dormin]] annexed the same year. He also successfully saw Nordskag join the Empire after a three year long battle with [[Markus Krumme]] surrendering in 252, completing a conquest that his uncle Alexander paid his life for. However, Morgann’s power trip eventually had him lose sight of reality, as his constant swapping of Seasonal Emperors left him blind to the ascent of [[Vilgemar I]].
*For nearly four decades after this, Morgan Kade ruled the Regalian Empire from behind the throne, repeatedly replacing the men who sat in it, who eventually became known as [[List of Regalian Emperors#The Seasonal Emperors (224-255 AC)|The Seasonal Emperors]] for how quickly they came and went. While he ruled through intimidation (the fear cast by his terrifying domesticated [[Marken]] Narsil not easily forgotten), he was also brilliant as a statesman and bureaucrat, a true successor to Nicholas I.
 
*However, his time throwing parties, picking favorites, and utterly destroying rivals or those he thought had slighted him as the marvelous Sun Chancellor came to an abrupt end thanks to Emperor Vilgemar I. Summarily executed within just a year of the young Emperor’s rise to power, Morgan’s political machine was dismantled and his name cast into the dirt. House Kade itself suffered greatly, and no successor to Morgan was named for several years. Despite his hedonism and violence, some modern scholars have noted that Morgan did keep the realm together. He might have lived to shepherd forth a second golden age for the Empire if he was not such a tyrant and if Vilgemar had feared him like all others did.
At first Morgann paid him no heed, as Vilgemar was mostly concerned with having fun and carefree about Imperial rule, but was soon caught off guard in 256 AC during one of the many lavish parties in the Imperial Palace. Morgann publicly called out Vilgemar for appointing his [[Viridian]] brother as an [[Imperial Guard]], throwing shade at the Emperor for his actions. However, Vilgemar clapped back, and stated that the Emperor was the Vessel of the Imperial Spirit, and that insulting the Vessel of the Spirit is heresy. Caught by surprise at the first real challenge of his power by an Emperor, Morgann had the edict signed by Justinian I brought to Vilgemar, which confirmed the Arch Chancellor’s position as the final authority on religious matters. Rather than accepting the law, Vilgemar instead ripped the edict up in front of the gathered nobility, before ordering his Imperial Guards to seize the Chancellor. Declared a traitor and a heretic, Morgann Kade met his unceremonious end as the Emperor personally executed him, before declaring that the position of Chancellor was dissolved, dying alongside the man who tried to play God with the Imperial Spirit. Today, Morgann Kade is more publicly known as 'The Morgannt,' which is also a name given to tyrannical rulers who care more about their own selfish ambitions than the wellbeing of those beneath them.


==The Years Without a Chancellery (256-263 AC)==
==The Years Without a Chancellery (256-263 AC)==
After the execution of Morgann Kade, Emperor Vilgemar I began a purge of the Regalian Government of all Kade Influence. The brothel of "Le Court de Soleil" was scrubbed clean of hedonistic pursuits, and hundreds of Kade bureaucrats and loyalists were removed from their positions. Every aspect of the Empire saw a purge of Kade power, from the [[Regalian Judiciary]] to the Regalian Military, which once again saw New Regalian leaders return to their traditional positions at the war tables. Even with the position of Arch Chancellor dissolved, the Empire still seemed to run smoothly. Contact with the [[Dwarves]] in 260 AC sparked the first gears of industrialization in the Empire, which saw heavy investment into modernizing technology. This period also saw the liberations of tens of thousands of slaves by the Emperor's hand, created a period of celebration with the removal of the Morgannt.
*For seven years, following Morgan Kade’s death, Vilgemar I did not appoint a new Arch Chancellor, instead focusing on scrubbing the Kade’s influence from the State and removing many of Morgan’s cronies in other areas.
 
*The young Emperor then focused on celebrating freedom, parties, and emancipation for thousands of slaves, neglecting the mechanisms of the empire out of a keen hatred for their authoritarian tones.
As the Empire began to modernize, an unforeseen action of Vilgemar’s purge began to take route. Only as the coffers started to run out much the same as they did under Cedmir I that reality sank in: Morgann Kade was a financial mastermind. While everyone initially viewed the late Chancellor as nothing more than an egotistical hedonist, investigations soon revealed that Morgann had meticulously perfected the Regalian economy by carefully investing into certain industries, all which went to pay for his lavish lifestyle. When the Kade purge was enacted, the removal of core Kade bureaucrats caused the very sensitive system to collapse in on itself, which was made even worse by the Emperor's emancipation policies and parties celebrating the freedom of tyranny. As reality began to sink in, one woman stepped up to try and correct the rapid decline of the Regalian economy. In an ironic twist of fate, Vilgemar would do the unthinkable, and appoint the daughter of Morgann Kade as the first Arch Chancellor of a restored Kade Governance to try and remedy the situation.
*However, as the Regalian Empire began to mechanize like never before, aided by [[Dwarves]], [[Eronidas]] and others, the economy started to waver. Without an Arch Chancellor, Imperial coffers were drained, with nothing to replace them, and suddenly, hardship began to sweep the Empire.
*Realizing too late that their judgment against both an entire family and mechanism of government had been too harsh, Emperor Vilgemar recalled Morgan’s eldest daughter, Aliandre, and granted her the role of Arch Chancellor.


==Aliandre I (263-269 AC)==
==Aliandre I (263-269 AC)==
Upon her ascension under the revived Chancellery, Aliandre Kade was already met with another crisis. Within days of her tenure, a [[Silver]] crash started in Silsaerimas which expanded outwards, which caused Dormin to secede from the failing state, yet remaining part of the Empire. Not caring to continue her father’s legacy, Aliandre immediately declared an austerity movement on all levels of the Regalian Government. State parties were held in bare ballrooms, with the food selection for the nobility reflecting that of the commoners they ruled over. While these measures did slow down the decline of finances, they did not go far enough. In [[Dragenthal]], the [[House van Sherburne]], one of the three surviving Five Families with influence since the death of [[Marianne Cadar]] in 198 AC, had continued the lavish displays they had under Morgann Kade, with [[Olgorr van Sherburne]] creating various new taxes to fund their lifestyle since the death of the Chancellor. On top of it all, the next crisis occured in 268 AC, when the Regalian Navy sailed to save as many lives as possible as the [[Destruction of Ceardia]] took place. Even as the situation looked deary and the first signs of the Regalian Pessimism began to take hold, Aliandre continued to run the government with a level head, spending countless hours with advisors trying to mitigate the damage to the economy. Eventually she succeeded with flatlining the economy, but the years of stress ultimately caught up to her. At the relatively young age of 43, Aliandre Kade passed away, requesting in her last will and testament to forego a state funeral in order to prevent the coffers from going negative once more. Although only serving for six years, Aliandre is still fondly remembered by many in the Regalian Empire as a capable administrator who was able to soften the damage of the Regalian Pessimism for a time.
*Aliandre I was the eldest child of her father, Morgan Kade. There were rumors of perhaps a dozen illegitimate siblings or more, but Morgan (to his “credit”) never acknowledged them, instead focusing his efforts on training Aliandre for the future role she might one day have.
*While she had been dismissed years prior, she returned with determination and all the skills she had been taught by her father. Her first move was immensely unpopular, declaring a state of austerity to stem the financial bleeding of the event later called the [[Regalian Pessimism]].
*Over the coming years, Aliandre worked tirelessly, despite the insults, the sexism, and the greed of many nobles who, while no longer Imperial favorites, still lounged and lorded over impoverished lands while they thrived. The [[Destruction of Old Ceardia]] also compounded matters, by flooding several regions of Corontium with refugees from that great disaster.
*She finally succeeded in flatlining the economy, preventing further decline, but she passed away in the same year as Emperor Vilgemar - her black hair, almost fully gray, and her body, mind, and soul, exhausted. She was succeeded by her younger brother, and history has judged her as an exemplary woman, who worked herself to death in the name of the Empire and prevented even greater calamity through her actions.


==Norn I (269-272 AC)==
==Norn I (269-272 AC)==
Norn Kade was the brother of Aliandre Kade, though the two couldn’t be more opposite. Whereas Aliandre accepted the state of the government and tried to persevere, Norn was a pessimist and ultimately did little to improve the Empire’s affairs, content with having the newly enthroned [[Justinian II]] to deal with it. As the Pessimist Chancellor and namesake for this period of history, Norn I’s only significant action was sending aid to Olgar van Sherburne, who had just caused the [[Bloodbaths of Inner Drachenwald]] in 271 AC. Leading an Imperial Host, Norn would ultimately be killed by the Barons Coalition at the [[Battle of Lausitze]], alongside many Imperial Loyalists in what would be the only successful rebellion in Regalian history.
*Norn I was the younger brother of Aliandre Kade and suffered socially growing up. Ignored by his father, isolated and melancholic, the execution of Morgan right before his eyes as a young adult transformed him into a withdrawn, fearful man.
*He had skills in numbers and some political acumen, but it is believed he feared that overstepping Imperial authority in any way would result in his death. He was also a pessimist and believed that there was nothing to be done to save the Empire in his time. He largely stayed out of the young Emperor [[Justinian II]]’s way, which suited the earnest young man just fine, even though there was tension over Norn’s unhelpful opinions on the state of affairs.
*Whether this would have developed into a larger problem, or would have been solved in time, is unknown as the emergence of the [[Drachenwald Crisis]] saw Norn summon up what little courage he had, and ride to stop the rebels.
*This attempt abysmally failed, and Norn was summarily executed by the rebels. Forced to acquiesce to the rebel demands, the [[Regalian Senate]] was formed to handle most matters of policy, reducing both the Emperor and Arch Chancellor to rubber-stamp offices. History has not looked kindly on Norn I, but he is also considered a tragic figure, whose one attempt to finally act decisively ended with his death.


==Moriarty I (272-302 AC)==
==Moriarty I (272-302 AC)==
Moriarty came to the position of Arch Chancellor utterly out of power due to the [[Regalian Senate]] usurping most of his responsibilities. Moriarty and Emperor Justinian II were good friends, more so than previous Chancellors had been with Emperors, and the two of them worked tirelessly to destroy the Barons Coalition’s influence on Regalian Politics, and to end the Regalian Pessimism. Together with an extreme nationalist faction in the Senate and the Kade led intellectual faction, the Empire embarked on the [[Chrysant War]] against the [[Allar]] and [[Slizzar]] of the [[Essa Empire]] to the south, ending the Regalian Pessimism with a massive plot of Unionist fervor and nationalism. With success in the war and military momentum at an all time high, the Emperor and Chancellor disbanded the Regalian Senate and re-established absolute monarchy in the Empire. This all came at a great cost however, as Moriarty’s wife and various family members were all assassinated by Slizzar infiltrators. After the war time victories, Moriarty would prove to be a stable if somewhat uneventful Chancellor, until he retired in favor of his son Alexander. While Alexander is technically an Arch Chancellor, he is often omitted since his office only lasted three months before he inherited the throne of the Regalian Empire, after which Moriarty returned from his retirement to assume the position of Arch Chancellor. Moriarty eventually died at the hands of [[Andrieu Anahera]].
*Moriarty I was the eldest son of Norn Kade and came into the role of Arch Chancellor without any power. He soon made common cause with Emperor Justinian II, and the two slowly worked to eliminate the Regalian Senate.
*Moriarty eventually came to work through the Senate, founding a political party known as the Dragons. While opposed by many others, the opportunity both Emperor and Arch Chancellor had been looking for came in the desire of a nationalist faction to declare war on the [[Essa Empire]].
*The [[Chrysant War]] eventually engulfed [[Hadar]], while at home, the Emperor and Arch Chancellor pushed vote after vote reducing the power of the Senate. At the end of the war, the two were able to successfully have the Senate disband itself. However, their actions, and those of many nobles, came at a cost, when revanchist [[Slizzar]] and [[Allar]] assassins killed Moriarty’s wife, and numerous other nobles in reprisal for the lost war.
*Justinian and Moriarty would work closely over the coming years to help the reinvigorated Regalian Empire, now free of the Pessimism, to improve and grow. When Justinian’s life neared the end, however, he signed the Imperial Succession Act (also called the Kade Settlement), naming Moriarty’s son [[Alexander Kade]] as his heir. Moriarty I then stepped down from the role of Arch Chancellor and while Alexander temporarily held it for a few months while also Crown Prince, the position was ultimately put aside when the Kades left the role, and became Emperors under [[Alexander I]].


==Trivia==
*Many modern Chancellors have been forced to work at a distance from the Kade rulers they serve, a contrast to several close partnerships between the Arch Chancellors and Ivrae Emperors of the past. Some believe this is why modern Regalian politics have been so volatile.
*Moriarty Kade did not long survive his son’s crowning as Emperor. He died in the Daendroque-centered rebellion led by a former head of [[House Anahera]] in 303 AC, cruelly executed alongside a handful of older elder statespeople who posed a political threat to the Anahera’s efforts at upheaving the status quo.
{{People}}
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{{Accreditation
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|Writers = MonMarty, FireFan96
|Writers = HydraLana
|Processors = HydraLana, TheBioverse, Arhbi
|Processors = RaggedyGrace, MantaRey
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[[category:People]] [[category:Regalian Chancellors]]
[[category:People]] [[category:Regalian Chancellors]]

Latest revision as of 22:43, 18 February 2024

Arch Chancellors
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Notable Person
Race Ailor
Claim to Fame Heads of the Regalian Government

The Arch Chancellor of Regalia was a political office that was positioned at the head of the Regalian Empire’s government, thus being second only to the Emperor. The Arch Chancellor position was created after the Five Family Rebellion, granted in near perpetuity to House Kade. House Kade has maintained control of this office for decades as a result, but the office eventually faded away during the political upheavals of the 4th century, replaced by a less powerful Chancellery and other offices similar to it. Several political actions and offices were inspired or influenced by the Arch Chancellors of Regalia, and many of their policies are still in effect and relevant to modern-day politicians.

Thedmir I (5-21 AC) & Marianne I (7-21 AC)

The close bond of friendship between Thedmir and Theomar was essential to the stability of the early Regalian Empire.
  • Thedmir Kade was the first Arch Chancellor of the Empire, who was appointed to the office following the Five Family Rebellion at an advanced age. It is said his blood connection to Emperor Theomar I confirmed his appointment, though the two men were also friends despite their age difference.
  • Thedmir’s tenure was unique for how quickly it came to feature the first of several dual Arch Chancellorships as with his aging body gradually failing him, his newly married wife, Marianne Vermeer from House Vermeer, soon took a close role in aiding him.
  • Their tenure is also notable for setting the framework of the Regalian bureaucracy in place, as well as the Arch Chancellor’s normal role in politics. They did not compete with Imperial power and instead served to complement and extend it as needed or wanted.
  • After Marianne died, the now exceedingly aged Arch Chancellor Thedmir chose to resign from his post and allow his teenage son, Caldomir, to ascend over him. The pairing is often upheld today as an excellent example of what good Arch Chancellors should strive for.

Caldomir I (21-49 AC) & Annaleora I (32-49 AC)

  • Caldomir I, the eldest son of Thedmir I and Marianne I, ascended to the Arch Chancellery at the age of fifteen. Despite his young age, he was well prepared for his role, a trait echoed in several other Arch Chancellors in later years.
  • Caldomir I is sometimes called the Patriarch Chancellor, as he established the laws of inheritance for the Empire as male preference. He was not as harsh in his personal life, however, as he appointed his second wife Annaleora I to rule at his side, which she did competently for over a decade and a half.
  • Caldomir also oversaw some of the first conflicts of expansion in the Regalian Empire’s history and was among the first to convert to Unionism alongside his wife. Much of House Kade soon followed, as did the other Five Families.
  • Caldomir I and Annaleora I stepped down from their roles to focus on their family, leaving the position open to their eldest son, Aldomir I. Modern historians broadly consider them an uncontroversial continuation of the policies and lineage set forth by Caldomir’s father.

Aldomir I (49-55 AC)

  • Aldomir I was the eldest son of Caldomir and Annaleora Kade and was initially a bright, earnest child. However, adulthood seemed to dull his edge, and by the time of his ascension, he was competent, but only just.
  • Aldomir became known as the “Lazy Arch Chancellor” for doing little of note during his tenure, content to let Theomar rule the realm without interfering in his affairs. It was a good thing that the Emperor was highly competent.
  • It was also fortunate that Aldomir had far more energetic brothers and sisters who pressured him to resign and the Emperor to remove him from his position. These siblings then competed for the position themselves. This also set a precedent that Arch Chancellors would need to keep on top of family politics as well as those of the broader Empire.
  • Aldomir I was deposed due to the pressure of his siblings, and was replaced by his sister, Eotranna I. Despite his inaction while in office, he is broadly considered un-offensive and simply lacked the drive required for the role.

Eotranna I (55-60 AC)

Eotranna I and the Narim Queen were close friends and allies in politics.
  • Eotranna I was the only daughter of Caldomir and Annaleora Kade, the younger sister to Aldomir Kade, and the first sole female Arch Chancellor. She was a sharp wit and was noted as engaging in theological debate with many early members of the Unionist Celacy. She became a student to the Narim monarch, and the two were very close friends.
  • Eotranna proved a competent Arch Chancellor during her tenure, working to aid the Emperor in the promotion of Unionism across Regalian territory. Her tenure saw her working with religious figures to establish their privileges in the law.
  • Her greatest projects were her gates. They were great works of defense and security for several cities in Anglia and elsewhere to combat a rise in smuggling and banditry. She also focused on healthcare for the poor and founded many hospitals, as she herself had skills in healing Magic.
  • However, after a stroke she successfully survived, Eotranna I retired from the position of Arch Chancellor and went on to live a long, prosperous life. She was succeeded by her brother Tedromar I and is broadly considered an exemplary politician and bureaucrat. She is also considered a great motherly figure, given she had half a dozen children in her life, and cared for the defense and health of the Empire’s citizens during her tenure.

Tedromar I (60-65 AC)

  • Tedromar I was the second son of Caldomir and Annaleora Kade and an elder brother to Eotranna I. Unfortunately, he was disfigured by a fiery accident in his youth, earning him the nickname of “The Burned Arch Chancellor.”
  • Despite his physical deformities, Tedromar was well-meaning and bright of mind, devoted to intellectual pursuits. While he lay bedridden, his dictated laws saw the opening of many scholastic enterprises across the Empire.
  • Tedromar was also apparently good friends with the future Lilienmar I (then just the Crown Prince), the two men speaking often on matters of philosophy and Unionist doctrine.
  • Tedromar’s condition eventually saw him pass away, and he is broadly considered a good Arch Chancellor for his turn toward scholarship. He was succeeded by his younger brother Dwalmar.

Dwalmar I (65-67 AC)

  • Dwalmar Kade was the third son of Caldomir and Annaleora Kade, the first of two younger brothers to Eotranna Kade. Known as the “Short Arch Chancellor” due to his height of 5’6, he was still an earnest man.
  • Where his siblings had focused on defense, theology, and scholarly pursuits, Dwalmar was a fan of the arts and helped to foster artistic inspiration in the name of the Unionist faith.
  • He was also a man who did not get along as best as he perhaps could with a now-aged Emperor Theomar. Their arguments remained private but were never to the degree of seeing Dwalmar removed from his position.
  • Dwalmar died suddenly in a plague outbreak on the Crown Isle, the first Arch Chancellor to die of illness, and his role was picked up by his youngest brother, Arnold. Dwalmar is judged as a man taken too soon, difficult to judge, but broadly liked in the art history community.

Arnold I (67 AC)

  • Arnold Kade was the youngest, and final son, of Caldomir and Annaleora Kade. He also, unfortunately, had the shortest reign of all the heirs to his famed parents.
  • With his parents both having died, and half his siblings also gone, many believe the drive and competition that had once defined the children left them in adulthood, especially in Arnold.
  • He is called the “Apathetic Arch Chancellor,” not because he did not care for the Empire, but because it is believed he came to see his taking of the role as hollow, and himself, unworthy. He grew not to care about his post.
  • After the death of Emperor Theomar I and the ascension of Lilienmar I, Arnold resigned his position voluntarily after just a few months and cleared the way for his nephew Betheoric to take the reins. History has judged Arnold a melancholic survivor, who spent the last years of his life with family and relatives as much as possible back in Anglia.

Betheoric I (67-79 AC)

  • Betheoric I was the son of Aldomir Kade and was appointed as Arch Chancellor following his uncle Arnold Kade’s resignation.
  • Unlike his father, now deceased, Betheoric was a highly capable administrator and a man driven to expand the Empire. He worked closely with the Lilenmar Emperors who reigned during his time as a result, reinforcing the military and diplomacy with other realms.
  • Betheoric I is perhaps best remembered as the Arch Chancellor who engaged in formal contact with Ithania and other western Ailor nations, following trade lines from now subsumed regions of Corontium.
  • Betheoric was also an honorable man, and as the First Skagger War grew in intensity, he went to fight at the front line. He was ultimately killed in battle (the first Arch Chancellor to fall in this way) and was replaced by his son of the same name. He is well remembered as a diverse, energetic Arch Chancellor who lasted more than a few years, finally providing a degree of policy continuity to his office.

Betheoric II (79-89 AC)

  • Betheoric II was the eldest son of Betheoric Kade, and was more emblematic of the warrior role his father took on later in life. Trained in a broadsword, he was a fearsome opponent.
  • He took to several battlefields of the Empire, and survived, ultimately leaving the front lines to focus on developing the military alongside Emperor Henri I.
  • While Henri I appointed Viridian leaders for various projects, as well as founding the earliest version of the formal Regalian Army, Betheoric focused on founding the Regalian Navy, to counteract both the ships of the Skaggers, but also marauders elsewhere in Aloria.
  • While he might have lived a great many more years, Betheoric II died after he sustained a wound in a hunt a week prior. He left the Arch Chancellorship to his eldest son, named after both his father and grandfather. Much like Betheoric I, Betheoric II is well remembered though most fondly by militarists.

Betheoric III (89-97 AC)

  • Betheoric III was the eldest son of Betheoric Kade II. Just like his father, Betheoric was a military-minded young man who had been raised closely by his father and had also trained in combat.
  • While he helped push more military victories in the name of the Empire, the growing political dominance of the Viridian Order started to affect the military as they were awarded positions as generals, admirals, and more, without any training in those areas.
  • Betheoric was not particularly politically savvy in trying to shake this corruption loose, and many believe he sealed his fate by nearly dueling a notable Viridian Knight close to Emperor Henri I.
  • Betheoric III was found assassinated alongside Emperor Carvallais I, victims of the Years of the Three Emperors. He was succeeded by his wife, Maenarra, and is remembered as a tragic figure, a warrior who expanded the Empire and who died defending one of its younger Emperors (though all indications of their killing showed both men were taken fully by surprise).

Maenarra I (97-104 AC)

  • Maenarra I was the wife of Betheoric Kade III and succeeded him as Arch Chancellor following his assassination. Maenarra was far more politically astute than her husband, and realizing that the Viridians were fully in charge, she focused her time on other matters.
  • Her desire to work quietly means that her reign is now considered overshadowed by the notable events to continue during her lifetime. For one, the Years of the Three Emperors concluded, followed by the foiled kidnapping of Crown Princess Amelia Ivrae by Daendroque criminals hired by unknown parties. The other was the crackdown against Mages by the newly formed Azure Order.
  • Maenarra’s family life was also quite notable, at least for the time. One of her sons ran away with a Viridian Knight, while the status of her other children and grandchildren (Ellenore possessing a fused leg, and the twins Tarnan and Sarvan, each with other deficiencies) allowed the Viridians to smear this part of the Kade family.
  • Out of disgust, or perhaps fear for her own life, Maenarra ultimately resigned from her position and passed it on to her eldest daughter, Ellenore. She lived for many more years and eventually reconciled with her youngest son, a man never to become Chancellor.

Ellenore I (104-110 AC)

  • Ellenore I was the eldest child of Betheoric and Maenarra Kade. A childhood accident meant her leg had to be fused but she was never disheartened by this and was a highly competent woman.
  • Initially content with a crutch, and then a cane, her reign saw some of the first industrialization in the Empire, and she was gifted an engineering-based walking aid by an Ailor engineer.
  • Ellenore’s time was also spent better integrating the first Wirtem territories the Regalian Empire was absorbing. The conflict against the Skaggers significantly slowed during this time, yet for all of Ellenore’s urgings, could not get Imperial approval for the required push into enemy territory.
  • Ellenore was found assassinated much as her father had been years prior, and her role was passed onto her young twin sons. She is considered a marked improvement over her mother, as her policies were at least publicly known, and sought to improve the Empire.
The Twin Arch Chancellors were great men, and the best of brothers.

Tarnan I & Sarvan I (110-119AC)

  • Tarnan I and Sarvan I were the sons of Ellenore Kade, and their father is unknown. The children suffered terribly at their young age, as Tarnan was born a leper, and Sarvan suffered from a mental disability.
  • Despite these problems, the near-identical twins loved each other as true family, and their deep brotherly bond allowed them to function in concert, making up for the traits the other lacked. They were given the Arch Chancellorship at the age of seventeen.
  • They spent their tenure focused on internal matters of the Empire, smoothing out issues in transportation the now vast Empire was seeing and dealing with the growing problems caused by the Viridians though never directly confronting them.
  • It is a widespread rumor today that the Viridians finally acted against the twins upon realizing that their deficiencies were not the lead weight outsiders assumed it might be. In fact, this is false. No record or indication of assassination or nefarious scheme exists in the deaths of the twin Arch Chancellors (Sarvan died first, followed by Tarnan). They are well remembered as a truly unique pair but are often dwarfed by their cousin, Nicholas.

Nicholas I (119-205 AC)

Nicholas Kade had many names and titles in his long life.
  • Nicholas I, Vlaas Kade, the Imperial Architect, the Great Statesman, and the Glorious Arch Chancellor, was the son of Betheoric III and Maenarra Kade’s second daughter, Beatrix. Nicholas was quietly a close companion to the young Henri III, back when he was merely Henri II’s bastard son being raised away from the Imperial Court.
  • While his first few years in the role were subdued, the rise of Henri III and the foiled Viridian Coup Attempt allowed Nicholas and the Emperor to rip the corruption of the Viridians out from the heart of the Empire.
  • Given free reign to act, and in close concert with the Emperor, Nicholas I oversaw the fundamental transformation of the Regalian Empire. The Second Skagger War began and ended during his tenure, seeing the signing of a peace treaty with the Velheim north, a dozen lands beyond Corontium were joined to the Regalian Empire by colonization, diplomacy, or minor military intervention (most notably Ithania and Etosil), and the bureaucracy was fundamentally reshaped. He was aided in these tasks by many competent people, including the Suvial bureaucrat Sadhana.
  • His long, full, rich life of tireless service to the State also saw him outlive four Emperors, and when he died at the exceptional age of 102 (he had been given the job at just sixteen), the entire Empire mourned. His life was spectacular and he is broadly considered the man to have led a golden age for the Regalian Empire.

Arnold II (205 AC)

  • Arnold II was Nicholas Kade’s eldest son and he often worked closely alongside his father in his younger years. But as decades passed, and Nicholas didn’t step down, and Arnold himself grew older, he retreated from politics and bureaucracy.
  • The “One Day Arch Chancellor” did indeed hold the title for a single day. By the time his father died, Arnold was himself on his deathbed and perished in an estimated twenty-five hours. He left the Arch Chancellery to his twin sons, and history had judged him for this action alone, often forgetting his secondary role in many of Nicholas’ most important policies.
  • A historical quirk is that House Kade ceased naming their children Arnold after his life, believing the name to be an ill omen for the family, a tradition which has remained till this day.

Cedmir I & Alexander I (205-216 AC)

  • Cedmir I & Alexander I were the twin sons of Arnold II and could not have been more different from each other and their father. Alexander I was also known as the Giant, given his immense size at over seven feet tall, while Cedmir was short, nervous, and a good administrator but easily swayed by his brother, who was also his protector politically and physically.
  • The controversial life of Alexander I cannot be ignored, as it was rumored then (confirmed today) that the Giant and Crown Prince, soon the Emperor, Allestrain I, were lovers. Empress Eolaria Cadar and Alexander’s wife, Leona Kade, are also said to have been in a relationship (and this is similarly confirmed).
  • Alexander I completely focused himself on Allestrain’s desire for warfare, and conquests led by the two men and their wives on the frontlines saw several regions and nations seized in the name of the Empire. Cedmir stayed behind in the capital and attempted to keep up with the logistics and bureaucracy of such constant conflict.
  • After Allestrain’s shocking death at the hands of the Nordskaggers, Alexander grew unstable, full of rage and grief. Convinced by Alexander to ignore the “trivial” bureaucratic matters of massive debt, Emperor Handorien II signed the edict that began the Purple Bleeding. Alexander carried out brutal campaigns first at home to stem the chaos caused by this edict, and then abroad, finally dying in another war against the Nordskaggers. Afraid for his life, Cedmir I quickly resigned his position for his son, Morgan, though soon came to regret it. History has looked with mixed opinions on this joint Arch Chancellor reign, with those in the military praising it, and those not being more critical of a range of events.

Morgan I (216-256 AC)

It remains somewhat of a mystery how Morgnn I acquired Narsil, but once in his possession, the Marken became a tool of terror.
  • Morgan I, the Dark Kade, the Deceiver, the Sun Chancellor, was the eldest son of Cedmir I. It is not clear what caused him to mature into the highly manipulative, vain, and cruel man he became, but some blame his uncle Alexander for playing a role in such development.
  • His early acts were swift, forcing Emperor Handorien II to abdicate and successfully ending the Purple Bleeding by also granting himself religious powers, and removing them from the hands of Handorien’s successor, Justinian I (many at the time believed that the Imperial lineage had grown corrupt, a rather ironic opinion given what came next).
  • For nearly four decades after this, Morgan Kade ruled the Regalian Empire from behind the throne, repeatedly replacing the men who sat in it, who eventually became known as The Seasonal Emperors for how quickly they came and went. While he ruled through intimidation (the fear cast by his terrifying domesticated Marken Narsil not easily forgotten), he was also brilliant as a statesman and bureaucrat, a true successor to Nicholas I.
  • However, his time throwing parties, picking favorites, and utterly destroying rivals or those he thought had slighted him as the marvelous Sun Chancellor came to an abrupt end thanks to Emperor Vilgemar I. Summarily executed within just a year of the young Emperor’s rise to power, Morgan’s political machine was dismantled and his name cast into the dirt. House Kade itself suffered greatly, and no successor to Morgan was named for several years. Despite his hedonism and violence, some modern scholars have noted that Morgan did keep the realm together. He might have lived to shepherd forth a second golden age for the Empire if he was not such a tyrant and if Vilgemar had feared him like all others did.

The Years Without a Chancellery (256-263 AC)

  • For seven years, following Morgan Kade’s death, Vilgemar I did not appoint a new Arch Chancellor, instead focusing on scrubbing the Kade’s influence from the State and removing many of Morgan’s cronies in other areas.
  • The young Emperor then focused on celebrating freedom, parties, and emancipation for thousands of slaves, neglecting the mechanisms of the empire out of a keen hatred for their authoritarian tones.
  • However, as the Regalian Empire began to mechanize like never before, aided by Dwarves, Eronidas and others, the economy started to waver. Without an Arch Chancellor, Imperial coffers were drained, with nothing to replace them, and suddenly, hardship began to sweep the Empire.
  • Realizing too late that their judgment against both an entire family and mechanism of government had been too harsh, Emperor Vilgemar recalled Morgan’s eldest daughter, Aliandre, and granted her the role of Arch Chancellor.

Aliandre I (263-269 AC)

  • Aliandre I was the eldest child of her father, Morgan Kade. There were rumors of perhaps a dozen illegitimate siblings or more, but Morgan (to his “credit”) never acknowledged them, instead focusing his efforts on training Aliandre for the future role she might one day have.
  • While she had been dismissed years prior, she returned with determination and all the skills she had been taught by her father. Her first move was immensely unpopular, declaring a state of austerity to stem the financial bleeding of the event later called the Regalian Pessimism.
  • Over the coming years, Aliandre worked tirelessly, despite the insults, the sexism, and the greed of many nobles who, while no longer Imperial favorites, still lounged and lorded over impoverished lands while they thrived. The Destruction of Old Ceardia also compounded matters, by flooding several regions of Corontium with refugees from that great disaster.
  • She finally succeeded in flatlining the economy, preventing further decline, but she passed away in the same year as Emperor Vilgemar - her black hair, almost fully gray, and her body, mind, and soul, exhausted. She was succeeded by her younger brother, and history has judged her as an exemplary woman, who worked herself to death in the name of the Empire and prevented even greater calamity through her actions.

Norn I (269-272 AC)

  • Norn I was the younger brother of Aliandre Kade and suffered socially growing up. Ignored by his father, isolated and melancholic, the execution of Morgan right before his eyes as a young adult transformed him into a withdrawn, fearful man.
  • He had skills in numbers and some political acumen, but it is believed he feared that overstepping Imperial authority in any way would result in his death. He was also a pessimist and believed that there was nothing to be done to save the Empire in his time. He largely stayed out of the young Emperor Justinian II’s way, which suited the earnest young man just fine, even though there was tension over Norn’s unhelpful opinions on the state of affairs.
  • Whether this would have developed into a larger problem, or would have been solved in time, is unknown as the emergence of the Drachenwald Crisis saw Norn summon up what little courage he had, and ride to stop the rebels.
  • This attempt abysmally failed, and Norn was summarily executed by the rebels. Forced to acquiesce to the rebel demands, the Regalian Senate was formed to handle most matters of policy, reducing both the Emperor and Arch Chancellor to rubber-stamp offices. History has not looked kindly on Norn I, but he is also considered a tragic figure, whose one attempt to finally act decisively ended with his death.

Moriarty I (272-302 AC)

  • Moriarty I was the eldest son of Norn Kade and came into the role of Arch Chancellor without any power. He soon made common cause with Emperor Justinian II, and the two slowly worked to eliminate the Regalian Senate.
  • Moriarty eventually came to work through the Senate, founding a political party known as the Dragons. While opposed by many others, the opportunity both Emperor and Arch Chancellor had been looking for came in the desire of a nationalist faction to declare war on the Essa Empire.
  • The Chrysant War eventually engulfed Hadar, while at home, the Emperor and Arch Chancellor pushed vote after vote reducing the power of the Senate. At the end of the war, the two were able to successfully have the Senate disband itself. However, their actions, and those of many nobles, came at a cost, when revanchist Slizzar and Allar assassins killed Moriarty’s wife, and numerous other nobles in reprisal for the lost war.
  • Justinian and Moriarty would work closely over the coming years to help the reinvigorated Regalian Empire, now free of the Pessimism, to improve and grow. When Justinian’s life neared the end, however, he signed the Imperial Succession Act (also called the Kade Settlement), naming Moriarty’s son Alexander Kade as his heir. Moriarty I then stepped down from the role of Arch Chancellor and while Alexander temporarily held it for a few months while also Crown Prince, the position was ultimately put aside when the Kades left the role, and became Emperors under Alexander I.

Trivia

  • Many modern Chancellors have been forced to work at a distance from the Kade rulers they serve, a contrast to several close partnerships between the Arch Chancellors and Ivrae Emperors of the past. Some believe this is why modern Regalian politics have been so volatile.
  • Moriarty Kade did not long survive his son’s crowning as Emperor. He died in the Daendroque-centered rebellion led by a former head of House Anahera in 303 AC, cruelly executed alongside a handful of older elder statespeople who posed a political threat to the Anahera’s efforts at upheaving the status quo.

Accreditation
Writers HydraLana
Processors RaggedyGrace, MantaRey
Last Editor HydraLana on 02/18/2024.

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