Monarchy of Vardana

Monarchy of Vardana
Royal Badge
Stepan IV
Details
Style	Royal Apostolic Majesty
First monarch	David I
Last monarch	Stepan IV
Formation	18 January 1009
Abolition	9 December 1923
Residence	Lauseion Tigranaberd
Appointer	Hereditary
Pretender(s)	disputed

The Monarch of Vardana ruled at various stages from the establishment of the Kingdom of Vardana, in 1009, until its dissolution, in 1923, and the revolution. Intermittently, the rulers of Vardana paid tribute or were vassals of neighboring realms, such as Thraysia. It was succeeded by various petty kingdoms, which continued to claim the Vardanan crown until they were themselves conquered or overthrown.

The monarchy was restored in 1900 when the Iotophan kingdom reconquered much of Vardana's core territories, but was ultimately overthrown as part of the Vardanan Revolution of 1923. The longest reigning dynasty of Vardana was the House of Artavazd, ruling from the 13th century until the 18th century, though a cadet branch continued to rule Vardana until 1830. All monarchs of Vardana descend from David I of Vardana, though some direct lines have ended.

Currently there are no fewer than five chief pretenders to the vacant throne of Vardana.

History

Various ancient kingdoms controlled what is now Vardana since before the 2nd century BC, often referred to as Urartu. Though it did not claim domain over all Vardana, the first iteration of Vardana was Greater Vardana, which was established following the abandonment of Perateia by the ancient Latin Empire in the 6th century AD. This kingdom's independence was short lived, eventually falling under the suzerainty of the Bayarid Empire. It continued to pay tribute to the Bayrids until the empire's demise and the rise of David Manavazean, who became the first Basileus of Vardana in 1009.

The Manavazean dynasty reigned until 1266 when it married into the Artavazd dynasty, who ruled until the kingdom's demise through a cadet line, in 1830. The Artavazds are regarded as the most important dynasty in Vardanan history. In 1694, Manuel I became Basileus of Vardana and King of Lihnidos, ushering in a 136 year personal union between the two realms. This period of Vardanan history is known as Xanthi Vardana, earning its name from the ruling House of Xanthi. While still a line of Artavazd rulers, the dynasty adopted the name Xanthi from its main seat in Lihnidos from which it ruled.

In 1830, the personal union ended with the death of Manuel III and the Lihnidosi rebellion. The dissolution of the union resulted in Vardana splitting into petty states, the most prominent of which continued to claim the defunct titles of Vardana.

Full title

Until the dissolution of the monarchy in 1830, the full title of the monarch of Vardana was:

[Name], by the Grace of God, King of Greater Vardana, of Aparan, of Mysia, of Bayazet, of Armavir, and of Ayrum, King of Tayk, Grand Prince of the East, First Venerable One, Bridger of Seas, Master of the Periclean and the Ozeros, Sovereign Ruler and Lord of the Scipian Provinces and the lands in between, Protector and Defender of the Apostolic Faith.

Current claimants

Main article: Succession to the Vardanan throne

The dissolution of the Monarchy of Vardana resulted in numerous successor states, the most prominent of these continued to claim the mantle of Vardana. All claimants were descend from monarchs of the Lihnidosi-Vardanan personal union and the House of Xanthi. With exception of the Lihindosi claim, all claimants follow male-preference succession practices.

Pretender		Since	House	Claim	Heir apparent
Aram, Despot of Bayazet		9 June 1966	Hazarasp	descendant of Basileus Stepan IV (1920–1923)	Prince Jorin Hazarasp
Stella II of Lihnidos		27 November 2007	Vasiliou	descendant of Basileus Manuel II (1785–1788)	Princess Efthymia, Duchess of Rhithasa
Christina, Despotissa of Mysia		7 April 1980	Junia	descendant of Basileus Manuel II (1785–1788)	Michael Pinarius
Basil I of Aretias		20 September 2014	Bznuni	descendant of Basileus Manuel II (1785–1788)	Zenobia, Despoina of Mysia
Makarios, Despot of Derzene		11 December 1981	Maleinos	descendant of Basileus David VIII (1725–1785)	Princess Anna
Melek, Despot of Mestamor		18 September 1999	Levidis	descendant of Basileus David VI (1666–1699)	Prince Rupen

Hazaraspid claim

Main article: House of Hazarasp

The Hazaraspids dynasty arrived in Vardana around the 11th century during the Bayarid period, originating from Chu River Valley in Uluujol. The dynasty ruled over Vardana following the departure of the Bayarid’s, and later as a princely family in the Greater Vardanan Kingdom. Hazaraspid dynasts served the Vardanan crown as despots of Bayazet periodically from the 16th through 19th century; the province later became the primary demesne of the dynasty. Following the demise of the Lihnidosi-Vardanan personal union, Stepan Hazarasp proclaimed himself King of Greater Vardana and successor to the personal union, by right of his wife, a daughter of Empress-Queen Konstantina I (r. 1788-1815).

As the most powerful Vardanan successor state, the Hazaraspids gradually reincorporated most former Vardanan provinces, with exception of the Latin Diocese of the East. By 1900, the Hazaraspids actively disregarded any claim to the Lihnidosi throne. The Hazaraspids were overthrown in 1924 during the Vardanan Revolution and establishment of the First Republic. King Stepan IV, his wife, and heir were killed or executed during the revolution, leaving Prince Jorin of Vardana as the eldest surviving son of King Stepan. Jorin lived abroad, in Ghant, at the time of the revolution. Jorin’s son Aram has been Head of the House of Hazarasp since 1996. His heir apparent is Prince Jorin, whose heir presumptive is Prince Ardil.

Mysian claim

Main articles: House of Kamytzes and Monarchy of Aretias

The first King of Mysia, David I, was the maternal great-grandson of Emperor-King Manuel II (r. 1785-1788). The Mysian kingdom is among the longest lived of the Vardanan successor states, existing from 1830 to 1901, and again from 1924 to the present day. There are two principle claimants to the Mysian claim: Christinia Junia, Despoinia of Mysia and Basil I of Aretias.

These competing claims diverge from King George II. The senior claim of Christina Junia traces back to George II’s eldest son by his first wife, David, Despot of Mysia, who died during the Vardana Revolution. Conversely, the Aretian claim descends from Irene I of Mysia, who George II named his heir upon the restoration of the Kingdom of Mysia in 1924 after David’s death. Irene I’s line continues to reign Mysia from the islands of Aretias just off the Mysian coast.

Aylketian claim

Main article: House of Maleinos

The Aylketian claim to the Vardanan throne is among the most remote, tracing its claim to Emperor-King David I & VII. Through this relation, the new nobility Maleinos dynasty rose to prominence in the province of Derzene – now known as Aylket, later establishing itself as Kings of Derzene immediately following the breakup of the personal union and Vardana itself. The Derzene Kings continued to claim Greater Vardanan titles from its inception in 1832 to until its demise in 1890. Makarios, Despot of Derzene has been pretender to the vacant throne since 1981; his heir presumptive is Princess Anna, who became heir in 1986 following the death of an younger brother.

Zeytune claim

Main article: House of Levidis

The Kingdom of Zeytun was established in 1833, in what is now the Vardanan province of Tsaghkadzor. Aram Philes was an officer in the Vardanan military, and later governor of the province of Mestsamor. He claimed the throne of Vardana during the Lihnidosi rebellion, based on descent from King David VI (r. 1666–1694). Zeytun was among the first states re-incorporated into the newly established, Hazaraspid-led Kingdom of Vardana in 1858. The current pretender is Melek, Despot of Mestamor; his heir apparent is Prince Rupen.

Lihnidosi claim

Main article: House of Vasiliou

The House of Vasiliou was a leading noble house in the Lihnidosi rebellion that led to the eventual dissolution of the personal union in 1830. In the aftermath, Athanasios, King of Ithica became Emperor of Lihnidos. He and his descendants have continued to claim the royal titles of Vardana, despite Lihnidsoi succession practices following a form of gender neutral succssion while Vardanan succession followed male-preference. Athanasios I declared that the titles of Vardana were tied to the Emperor or Empress of Lihnidos. The current pretender to this claim is Empress Stella II of Lihnidos.

However, if this line was to follow male-preference in the Vardanan style, the current pretender would be Stella's brother, Prince Adrian of Lihnidos. His heir apparent is Prince Athanasios of Lihnidos.

Seat

The seat of the Vardanan monarchs from 1009 until 1699 was Leonopolis, with its chief residence changing over time. Aparan Palace in the Aparan district held the distinction of being the longest used residence and oldest palace still extant in the city. From 1699 until 1830, [Palace] in Xanthi, Lihnidos served as the chief royal residence, while Lauseion in Leonopolis remained the monarch's chief residence in Vardana.

See also

• Monarchy of Bayazet
• Monarchy of Lihnidos
• Monarchy of Aretias
• Monarchy of Perateia
• Count of the East