Alexis V of Velikoslavia

Romulus X
Emperor of the Tarsan Empire (more...)
House Kaligoúlas
Reign	May 8, 2001 – Present
Coronation	May 8, 2001
Autokrator of Tarsas
Reign	May 8, 2001 – present
Predecessor	Marcus II
Magistros	Megas Doux Hadrian Anacomas
Born	(1985-05-07) 7 May 1985 Neopolis, Tarsas
Spouse	Florentia Belliena (m. 2003)
Issue	Herakleios, Despotes of Tarsas Kaisarissa Maria of Tarsas Kaisar Marcus of Tarsas Kaisar Michael of Tarsas Kaisarissa Theodora of Tarsas
Full name Romulus Ionnes Markos Maximos Andrew Kaligoúlas
House	House of Kaligoúlas
Father	Marcus Kaligoúlas Autokrator
Mother	Princess Lorîn of Iotopha
Religion	Tarsan Orthodox Church

Romulus X is the current reigning monarch of the Hellenic Empire. His reign began on May 8, 2001 after the death of his father Marcus II. His coronation was held on the exact date of his father's death as tradition dictated with the ceremony held later. The early days of his rule were handled mainly by Magistros Hadrian Regulus Anacomas while he remained distracted and courted Florentia Belliena of Latium, whom he married in 2004.

Romulus is the eldest of ten children and was born in 1985. He received his education in the Aftokratorikó Panepistímio where he was educated as his father's firstborn. Though he was unable to finish his education before his coronation, he went back soon after assuming the title of Autokrator and completed a magister gradius in economics, where he graduated fifth in his class of fifty. His first child, Heraclius, was born shortly after his wedding. He began to function in the station of his office at the age of 22 soon after his graduation where his first major engagement was to commission a new nuclear plant.

Romulus has been known as a sensible monarch though he has a tendency to use brash words in the media. He has left the vast majority of domestic policy making in the hands of the Imperial Senate, only stepping when necessary. His first trial by fire was a series of border skirmishes with Islamic revolutionaries in Marad. He is known as an advocate for the Legion, making significant benefits and pay raises available for the numerous reservists. He has also added significant pay and benefits for members of the Japhic Guard. Romulus is a staunch supporter of nuclear power and has personally commissioned two new plants since taking the throne

Early Life and Education

Romulus was born January 5, 1985 during an unseasonably wet year at the Argentum Praedium in the Glass Hall. He spent the first six weeks of his life with his mother before she turned him over to the care of a governess at the Argentum Praedium, where he spent the first two years of his life. He was accepted into the succession via the Imperium Sollemne, the ancient ritual that all young heirs must go through. Following his birth, the Grand Feast of New Life was held across the empire for five days in a national celebration. His gender had been kept a secret until his birth in accordance with ancient tradition for firstborn children. His father officially announced his name on live television across the nation as Romulus, "for he will receive the guidance of the great emperors of old". Upon his naming, his father publicly proclaimed him as the accepted and rightful heir to the Sapphire Throne of the Hellenes. His shares his name with great emperors such as Romulus V the Reformer and Romulus III the Lance, both revered monarchs.

Reign

Romulus began to reign at 15 years of age but left many of his initial duties of managing court to Megas Doux Hadrian Anacomas, who was appointed as the Magistros under the rule of Marcus II. He did little in his initial years besides marry his wife and issue an official edict to grant her full citizenship. He approved a series of military reforms aimed at increasing pay for reservists and increasing pay for those serving in difficult positions.

By age 22, he had began to take on the reigns of government. His first edict was to honor his wife and authorize funds for repairs of the Atherios Cathedral in Neopolis, which was an Alban cathedral located in Neopolis. Additional funding was issued to forces patrolling and securing the border in light of the recent instability in Marad. This further strengthened the border though some decried the increase in the defense budget that such reforms brought.

With his economics degree, Romulus began to significantly modify the tax code. Sales tax was waived on certain key necessities like water and specific food categories. Though income tax and sales taxes were slightly raised, all tax rates were nationally standardized and collection systems were streamlined with multiple 21st century methods to pay taxes. It is estimated that the tax system and tax collection efficiency increased by 14% after the reforms were implemented. Local rulers and councils were also given more freedom to make individual decisions that didn't necessarily need to be approved by provincial governors.

Romulus also strengthened Tarsan ties with the Alliance of Oil Producing Nations and renewed his commitment to the organization. He renewed the protection and alliance agreement with Yisrael and signed the new lease terms on Valkryon Air Base in Ashkelon as well as Hydros Naval Base in the same city. In 2010, he negotiated and signed an agreement with Bahktar to build the region's first high speed rail line from Marvius to the border regions of the BWR in order to streamline trade and travel. He approved agreements between the BWR and Anacom Industries to build and maintain six lead cooled fast reactor plants to increase the output of the local electric grid.

Personal life

As Despotēs, Romulus was to be future emperor and his life was always under great public scrutiny. As a boy attending an all boys boarding school, he had little in the way of women throughout his primary and secondary years. His years prior to his rule were somewhat wild, When he was 13, he was discovered running through the streets of the Old City naked. When caught by a local Praesdii, he was taken before his father who scolded him harshly. This was one of the many "dares" his school friends would give him that he would carry out. The "daredevil prince" was the subject of several tabloid articles in which his various dares were listed.

When he was 14, he had a brief stint with a common girl, Penelope Ventros. Though his relationship was made public, it was not discussed in great depth due to protection laws for minors. He took the throne at 16, only one year after his majority. In an interview with the Nekorian tabloid Fatehe stated that he wished his father could have lived longer so he could have enjoyed more of his youth but stated he had no regrets about inheriting the throne.

Marriage to Florentia Belliena

Romulus met his future wife, Florentia Belliena, while she was vacationing with her father and half siblings. He happened to walk into the Grand Atrium when the family was touring the Agios Palace in 2002. Though he only glimpsed her from afar, he became fixated with her almost immediately. He invited her and her family to a banquet on the spot and got to know her better. During her trip, he invited her and her family to his palace on four separate occasions.

He spent the remaining year courting her, flying her to Civitas Tarsae on seven separate occasions for weekly visits. The couple made many phone calls and video chats as well. It was announced in January of 2003 that a betrothal agreement had been reached. Romulus would pay Ψ1.2 million harkans to a charity of her mother and stepfather's choice as well as award them ownership of Villa de Rosa on Lake Arga.

The couple was married in a lavish ceremony in March of 2003. Romulus personally spent Ψ32 million harkans from the Caligula family fortune on the event, declining to use any of the imperial funds. When later asked why he had personally paid for the wedding, he cited the ancient customs and was quoted as saying that it was his job to show the world that his new bride would get only the best, whether he was emperor or not.

Public perception and character

Since taking the throne, Romulus has been open and honest about his political views, showing no fear in addressing tough questions. Romulus has stated multiple times that he strongly supports the divine right of kings, stating that the gods appoint emperors and tear them down. He takes the typical conservative Tarsan view on abortion transgender people. His views on homosexuality are known to be rather liberal in comparison with his father and grandfather and he has supported several proposed reforms in the Senate that would ease restrictions on homosexuals.

He regularly attends Alban church services with his wife, though a member of the Tarsan orthodox Church himself.

Titles, styles, honors and arms

Upon assuming the throne, Romulus assumed the full titles of the Hellenic Empire. He is known as: Romulus the Tenth, Set Apart by God, Emperor of All Hellenes, Emperor of All Bahktaric Peoples, Padishah Emperor, Doux of Civitas Tarsae, Christ's Favored, Supreme Commander of the Legion, Chief Senator, He Who Commands a Thousand Horses, Lord of Thrakios, Captain of the Cataphract Hosts, Highest Honored Autokrator".

Styles of The Hellenic Emperor
Reference style	Lord Autokrator
Spoken style	My Lord Autokrator
Alternative style	Autokrator

Arms

Coat of Arms of Romulus X

Ancestry

Family of Alexis V of Velikoslavia

16. Severus Caligula, 4th Grand Duke of Neopolis 8. Maximus Autokrator I 17. Augusta Caligula-Lerius, 4th Grand Duchess of Neopolis 4. Diocetus Autokrator I 18. Tiberius Anacomas Autokrator III 9. Augusta Anacomas Autokrateira 19. Dorothy Autokrateira 2. Marcus Autokrator II 20. Ananaeus Urbanos, 23rd Duke of Rhegium 10. Cornelius Urbanos, 24th Duke of Rhegium 21. Aquila Urbanos, 23rd Duchess of Rhegium 5. Sabina Autokrateira 22. Caius Scipio, 9th Count of Miletus 11. Fausta Urbanos 23. Balbina Urbanos, 9th Countess of Miletus 1. Romulus X 24. Mêrxas VII of Iotopha 12. Prince Jorin of Iotopha 25. Princess Delal of Iotopha 6. Jorin, Crown Prince of Iotopha 26. Prince Meywan of Iotopha 13. Princess Ashti Hazaraspid 27. Princess Dilare Hazaraspid 3. Princess Lorîn of Iotopha 28. Sebastian I of Ghant 14. Nathan III of Ghant 29. Princess Magdalena of Odolargia 7. Princess Alaia of Ghant 30. Mikel Kristhulm 15. Princess Edaalya of Onneria 31. Erika Lyndburg