Emperor Sqin' (Themiclesia): Difference between revisions
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Shljaps-tsung's stay in Blim-tsi was hectic and belaiden with dangers. The Emperor's guards, which once numbered in the thousands, had been deployed to fight at the front, leaving him open to predation. [[Dayashina]]'s operatives infiltrated the [[Themiclesian Marine Corps]], which guarded the city's ports and some of its infrastructure. During his seven-year stay there and in other coastal cities, there were no fewer than forty attempts on his life; in half of these occasions, the conspirators were apprehended within walking distance of the emperor, and in two they came face-to-face with the monarch before being foiled. Seven attempts were known by Themiclesian marines, until a mysterious series of killings happened, somehow eliminating most, if not all, Dayashinese infiltrators. It is rumoured that Dayashinese-born marines grew weary of the infiltrators and executed them; this was never proven, and the killers never identified. | Shljaps-tsung's stay in Blim-tsi was hectic and belaiden with dangers. The Emperor's guards, which once numbered in the thousands, had been deployed to fight at the front, leaving him open to predation. [[Dayashina]]'s operatives infiltrated the [[Themiclesian Marine Corps]], which guarded the city's ports and some of its infrastructure. During his seven-year stay there and in other coastal cities, there were no fewer than forty attempts on his life; in half of these occasions, the conspirators were apprehended within walking distance of the emperor, and in two they came face-to-face with the monarch before being foiled. Seven attempts were known by Themiclesian marines, until a mysterious series of killings happened, somehow eliminating most, if not all, Dayashinese infiltrators. It is rumoured that Dayashinese-born marines grew weary of the infiltrators and executed them; this was never proven, and the killers never identified. | ||
==Relationship with other monarchs== | |||
===Emperor Morohito of Dayashinese=== | |||
The two monarchs are, in their later years, close to each other, but their first impressions of each other was neutral at best and more likely negative. Much of this is due to the effects of the [[Pan-Septentrion War]], but Shljaps-tsung was said to have some personal views on Morohito as well. Shljaps-tsung first learned of Morohito upon the latter's ascension in 1940, when the Minister of the Left (foreign secretary) read reports on the event. According to some reports, Shljaps-tsung's said he hoped "Morohito would be different from the last one". The Minister of the Left replied that the "differences [Morohito] makes would be minimal." However, when Shljaps-tsung learned that Morohito may have had a role in sending infiltrators to assassinate him, Shljaps-tsung spoke of Morohito as "this person" (是人), possibly indicating he found Morohito beneath the status or expected conduct of a monarch. | |||
After the war, Shljaps-tsung's views on Morohito began to change. In 1947, several Dayashinese citizens petitioned his court, accusing certain Themiclesian officers (who participated in Dayashina's occupation) of slandering Morohito. Though he did not personally intervene, he told [[Privy Council (Themiclesia)|Privy Councillors]] that he could not approve of "the ignorant slander alleged", possibly suggesting Shljaps-tsung thought of his own critical views as justified, but those of the officers as borne out of ignorance. At the height of the Dayashinese food shortage, Shljaps-tsung instructed courtiers to send $50,000 in relief, saying, "If he can destroy his country, he certainly can rebuild it. If he fail, we shall assist him in a small way and show him how. All deserve to have a full stomach and a roof free of holes, here or there." | |||
Shljaps-tsung made a state visit to Dayashina in 1960. He was highly impressed by the rapidly recovering Dayashinese economy and the kind reception of Dayashinese people granted him. In the state dinner, Shljaps-tsung congratulated Morohito on the success of his country's economy and the wealth of his people. On this visit, the Themiclesian Marines provided the Emperor's ceremonial guards, a gesture to demonstrate that the wounds Dayashina caused in Themiclesia had healed; after he left Dayashina, the [[Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms|Gentlemen-at-Arms]] returned to this role. | |||
==Assassination attempts== | ==Assassination attempts== | ||
Revision as of 09:53, 7 April 2019
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| Emperor | |||||||||||||||||
 Portrait in 1989 | |||||||||||||||||
| Reign | 2 May, 1921 – 3 Dec, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||
| Coronation | 1 June, 1921 | ||||||||||||||||
| Predecessor | Mjen-tsung the Tranquil Emperor (文宗和皇帝) | ||||||||||||||||
| Regent |
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| Born | 綏 (snul) 21 March 1916 Nja-'rjem Prefecture | ||||||||||||||||
| Died | 3 December 2016 (aged 100) Kien-k'ang, Tuan-lang, IAR, Themiclesia | ||||||||||||||||
| Burial | Tjaw Mausoleum | ||||||||||||||||
| Empress Hruh-'an (孝安皇后, m. 1937) | |||||||||||||||||
| Issue |
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| Father | Prince Brjiang of Nja-'rjem | ||||||||||||||||
| Mother | Princess Consort Kaw of Nja-'rjem | ||||||||||||||||
Emperor Shljaps-tsung (世宗皇帝, Shljaps-tsung ghwang-tis), born Sje-mra' Snul (司馬綏) on Oct. 5, 1916, was the sovereign of Themiclesia from his ascension on May 2, 1921 until his death on Dec. 3, 2016; his regnal era was Griam-'an (咸安). He is the longest-reigning and oldest monarch in Themiclesian history. His reign saw remarkable events as the Pan-Septentrion War, the implementation of universal franchise, the Themiclesian Economic Recovery, and the Great Depression of 1978.
Early life
Shljaps-tsung was born the eldest son of Prince Brjiang of Nja-'rjem in the latter's residence in Nja-'rjem Prefecture in the small hours of the morning on Oct. 5, 1916; his mother is the Princess Consort Mo'. Though he not born heir, it became apparent soon that he would inherit the throne. The reigning Emperor, Muk-tsung, suffered from infertility, and none of the issue of his five predecessor survived. Shljaps-tsung was fifth cousin to the reigning Emperor. His father died of pneumonia in 1917, which made Shljaps-tsung heir presumptive at the age of 2. Little is known about his childhood, though it is assumed that, even in a princely house, Shljaps-tsung enjoyed more intimacy with his family than any of his predecessors did.
Shljaps-tsung was his parents' only offspring. At the age of 3, renowed historian Prof. Lang of the University of Rei-tju was retained as his tutor. He was invested as heir apparent on Mar. 3, 1920; from then, he lived in the East Palace, the official residence of the imperial heir. Upon investiture, he took Empress Ru' as his legal mother, such as the law required. Lang and a handful of other scholars instructed him in history, literature, philosophy, mathematics, astronomy, fine arts, and music. Little more than a year later, Emperor Muk-tsung fell into a pond under suspicious circumstances; though rescued within minutes, water accumulated in his lungs, triggering an acute infection. Muk-tsung fell into a coma and died on the following day. Empress Ru' chaperoned the four-year-old to the throne before the remains of the late emperor, and courtiers accepted him as the new sovereign on the same day.
Minority
The edict of succession was passed by Empress Ru', who thereby became Empress Dowager; Shljaps-tsung's own mother, Prince Consort Mo', was made Imperial Consort Dowager. As the Emperor was only 4 years of age at that point, Themiclesian law required a regent to act on his behalf, until he is of majority age at 20. The court appointed both the Empress Dowager and the Imperial Consort Dowager as co-regents, and for the following nine years, Shljaps-tsung sat with his two mothers each morning audience and listened to its proceedings.
Perhaps the greatest threat to the dynasty came during the Nationalist Revolt of 1932.
Early reign
On Mar. 21, 1936, his 20th birthday, Shljaps-tsung underwent rites of majority at the Great Temple, where previous emperors were venerated. A great banquet followed the complex ceremonies. Arriving at the Great Temple in his regents' processions, he left in his own. Adulthood meant Shljaps-tsung now held court without the attendance of his mothers; accounts show that Shljaps-tsung was very conscientious about his duties as emperor, even if largely cermeonial. His predecessor, Mjuk-tsung, often cancelled audiences, believing they were too early in the morning for his health; Shljaps-tsung held court with great enthusiasm, heralding a brief era of restoration of court ceremonies. In 1939, the encroaching Menghean invasion forced Shljaps-tsung, along with his government, to evacuate to Blem-tsi, a coastal city. There, he insisted on holding court without interruption and at the traditional time—three hours before sunrise, described as "draconian and medieval" by foreign visitors.
Shljaps-tsung's stay in Blim-tsi was hectic and belaiden with dangers. The Emperor's guards, which once numbered in the thousands, had been deployed to fight at the front, leaving him open to predation. Dayashina's operatives infiltrated the Themiclesian Marine Corps, which guarded the city's ports and some of its infrastructure. During his seven-year stay there and in other coastal cities, there were no fewer than forty attempts on his life; in half of these occasions, the conspirators were apprehended within walking distance of the emperor, and in two they came face-to-face with the monarch before being foiled. Seven attempts were known by Themiclesian marines, until a mysterious series of killings happened, somehow eliminating most, if not all, Dayashinese infiltrators. It is rumoured that Dayashinese-born marines grew weary of the infiltrators and executed them; this was never proven, and the killers never identified.
Relationship with other monarchs
Emperor Morohito of Dayashinese
The two monarchs are, in their later years, close to each other, but their first impressions of each other was neutral at best and more likely negative. Much of this is due to the effects of the Pan-Septentrion War, but Shljaps-tsung was said to have some personal views on Morohito as well. Shljaps-tsung first learned of Morohito upon the latter's ascension in 1940, when the Minister of the Left (foreign secretary) read reports on the event. According to some reports, Shljaps-tsung's said he hoped "Morohito would be different from the last one". The Minister of the Left replied that the "differences [Morohito] makes would be minimal." However, when Shljaps-tsung learned that Morohito may have had a role in sending infiltrators to assassinate him, Shljaps-tsung spoke of Morohito as "this person" (是人), possibly indicating he found Morohito beneath the status or expected conduct of a monarch.
After the war, Shljaps-tsung's views on Morohito began to change. In 1947, several Dayashinese citizens petitioned his court, accusing certain Themiclesian officers (who participated in Dayashina's occupation) of slandering Morohito. Though he did not personally intervene, he told Privy Councillors that he could not approve of "the ignorant slander alleged", possibly suggesting Shljaps-tsung thought of his own critical views as justified, but those of the officers as borne out of ignorance. At the height of the Dayashinese food shortage, Shljaps-tsung instructed courtiers to send $50,000 in relief, saying, "If he can destroy his country, he certainly can rebuild it. If he fail, we shall assist him in a small way and show him how. All deserve to have a full stomach and a roof free of holes, here or there."
Shljaps-tsung made a state visit to Dayashina in 1960. He was highly impressed by the rapidly recovering Dayashinese economy and the kind reception of Dayashinese people granted him. In the state dinner, Shljaps-tsung congratulated Morohito on the success of his country's economy and the wealth of his people. On this visit, the Themiclesian Marines provided the Emperor's ceremonial guards, a gesture to demonstrate that the wounds Dayashina caused in Themiclesia had healed; after he left Dayashina, the Gentlemen-at-Arms returned to this role.
Assassination attempts
| Date | Place | Perpetrators | Perpetrators' affiliation | Details | Perpetrators' fates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan. 2, 1939 | Skwjan-lang Palace | Kurobe no Masato | Dayashina | Rushed with two rifles into the palace, shot by guards | Died of excessive bleeding |
| Mar. 15, 1940 | Outskirts of Blem-tsi | Arasaki Murakami | Dayashina,  Themiclesia |
Planted explosives along road, triggered by a car carrying flowers | Arrested and convicted |
| Apr. 29, 1940 | Blem-hme' Palace | Takahara no Imabito | Dayashina | Hid in truck and smuggled into palace, fell into pond | Arrested then died of pneumonia |
| Jul. 3, 1940 | Tek-lang Palace | Ishinaka Komiya | Dayashina, Themiclesia |
Member of Themiclesian Marine Corps, delivering message to Ministry of Finance, questioned for carrying pistol then rushed for the Palace Hall; stopped by the Gentlemen of the Corridor with halberd | Died of excessive bleeding |
| Sept. 22, 1940 | Blem-hme' Palace | Asukara no Takimushi, Ookoro Takesari | Dayashina, Themiclesia |
Members of Themiclesian Marine Corps, escaped from nearby garrison with grenades and rifles, attacked palace gate in the night; police alerted | Committed suicide in custody |
| Feb. 13, 1941 | Blem-hme' Palace | Konoe no Asomi, Akisaki Imonaro, Oonoue no Fumimaro, Moriumari no Roshin | Dayashina, Themiclesia |
Member of Themiclesian Marine Corps, forced into the palace with supply wagons, entered the Enclosure; stopped by desert and soup chefs with cauldrons and tables | Arrested and convicted, pardoned in 1948 |
| May 5, 1941 | Skwjan-lang Palace | Hanamiya Hashimoto | Themiclesia |
Member of Themiclesian Marine Corps, lost inside palace | Died of metathesizing pancreatic cancer |
| Jun. 26, 1941 | Blem-hme' Palace | Inasuki Atakami | Themiclesia |
Member of Themiclesian Marine Corps, scaled palace walls with machine gun tied to his back; gun discharged when falling from wall, wounding himself | Arrested and acquitted due to lack of evidence; decapitated by other members of Themiclesian Marine Corps whose identites are unclear |
| Oct. 30, 1941 | Gwrjing-ghar Palace | Yamabe no Oshimaro | Dayashina, Themiclesia |
Member of Themiclesian Marine Corps, thrown off the Palace Hall by a Tribune of the Hall | In hiding until 1948, died of cartel violence in 1982 in Maracaibo |
| Feb. 27, 1942 | Gwrjing-ghar Palace | Ichiro Yamamichi | Dayashina | Dayashinese (not naturalized) restraurant owner, attempted to break into palace with a chef's knife, with "Dayashina Victory" banner tied to forehead | Declared legally insane |
| Nov. 13, 1943 | Gwrjing-'an Palace | Komi no Masabito | Dayashina, Themiclesia |
Member of Themiclesian Marine Corps, rammed into the palace with a truck, overturned at Carriage Stop Gate, oil tank conflagarated | Died of severe burns |