Wednesday, November 29, 2006

The Emperor





Cledman VI, Vylor Zekresh
(Zekresh Emperor)

The Empire is currently ruled by the Emperor Cledman VI, who is 74 years old, slightly senile, often drunk and thoroughly corrupt. He is a member of the Cledman Dynasty which has been on the throne for more than two centuries.





The Succession to the Imperial Throne

Crown Prince Ardimuk, the Emperor's firstborn son, died in a horseback riding accident over twenty years ago, leaving the Empire with no clear heir. The Emperor's younger son, Yatya, had taken his own life previously. Neither son had any children of their own. The Emperor also had a daughter named Gilit who he disowned for marrying a commoner. She has since passed away, but has several children who are now grown up. Custom and several Imperial Decrees forbid inheritance of the Imperial Throne through the female line or by illegitimate heirs, but there is precedent for doing it anyway. The Emperor is rumored to have at least a dozen illegitimate children also and quite a few illegitimate grandchildren. The emperor also had a younger brother named Gamuk and a sister named Jaleenit, both now deceased. The brother had no children. The sister left behind a total of three nephews and two nieces of the Emperor. Some of them also have children of their own. The Emperor also has an Uncle, Rubanya, who is still alive and who has children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and even great-great grandchildren who all have a claim to the throne. There are also hundreds of more distant relatives.

The succession to the throne is often a power struggle with no hard and fast rules. There are decrees of previous Emperors and many precedents, but these contradict each other. The usual method for settling the matter of succession is for an Emperor to issue a decree specifying who his heir will be. The Emperor has refused to do this. In the absence of such a decree, the succession is unclear. The Emperor is still in denial that his sons are dead and also seems to enjoy watching powerful members of the royal family try to win his favor and obtain a decree naming them his heir. The Emperor seems utterly unconcerned at the possibility that the Empire may be plunged into civil war and chaos if he dies without issuing a decree settling the succession issue. It might happen even if he does issue the decree.

There are already political factions forming behind potential heirs to the throne, especially the "Reformist Faction" led by Rubanya Cledman, the Emperor's Uncle and the "Loyalist Faction" led by Levorek, the Emperor's favorite nephew.

See Imperial Council and Faction Map for more information on the factions.



Here is a simplified family tree of the Emperor, Cledman VI and his closest relatives:

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

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