Imperial Order of the Dragon
The Order of the Dragon (Latin: Ordo Draconum) was a chivalric order for selected nobility, founded in 1008 by Maximinius II. It was created during one of the highest points of the Hesperidesian Crusades, requiring its initiates to defend the Christian cross and fight the enemies of Christianity both in Hesperidesia and across the globe.
The Order flourished under the reign of the Exponential Empire, with many of the nation's most notable and influential citizens having been granted entrance into its ranks. The Order's importance began to decline steadily throughout the late 19th and 20th centuries, and although it lacks much of the power it once held, members of the Order can still be found throughout Astyria.
Historical background
Maximinius, by the time he was crowned Emperor, was facing numerous enemies at home and a country locked in the midst of a holy war with surrounding Islamic and pagan states. In 996, yet another crusade against the Voltai in the east was called, and a campaign was organised to capture their capital city and permanently eliminate the kingdom as a Hesperidesian power. Maximinius was nominally in charge; however, in the 1001 Battle of Yamagobo a crusader leader, Julius of Divinitia, commanded half of the Christian forces and ignored emperor's orders by charging directly into a Voltai camp, deep in the heart of a dense jungle. As a result, thousands of crusaders died with only a few leaders, including the emperor Maximinius himself, escaping. Maximinius returned to Paradisa later that year only to face a number of patrician revolts, but gradually resumed control and re-asserted himself as the Emperor of Exponent. This was achieved by allying himself with a number of key patricians in Divinitia and Paradisa, such as Octavius Grassus, Livonius Titanicus, and Marulius Americius among others, which enabled him to fight off domestic rivals. Maximinius then campaigned against the Djujiba, which culminated in 1008 with the Battle of Dobari, fought for the possession of the east coast of modern day Bungussi.
Foundation and purpose
On Christmas Day, 1008, following the Battle of Dobari against the Djujiba, Maximimius what is known today as the Order of the Dragon. Its statutes, written in Latin, call it a society (societas) whose members carry the signum draconis, but assign no name to it. Contemporary records, however, refer to the order by a variety of similar if unofficial names, such as 'Fraternitas Draconum. The statute of the Order, which were expanded upon by Bishop Aurelius of Sacramantum, chancellor of Maximius' court, survives to this day and can be found in the National Museum in Paradise City. The prologue to these statutes of 1008 reports that the society was created:
in company with the holiest members from every class of citizen of our Empire, whom we invite to participate with us in this party, by reason of the sign and effigy of our pure inclination and intention to crush the pernicious deeds of the same perfidious Enemy, and of the followers of the ancient Dragon, and (as one would expect) of the pagan knights, schismatics, and other nations of the heretical faiths, and those envious of the Cross of Christ, and of our Empire, and of his holy and saving religion of faith, under the banner of the triumphant Cross of Christ...
Described in general terms, the "enemy" was any anti-Christian political power or group, including schismatic or actively heretical fellow countrymen or Heresperidesian ; but the primary representatives of "the perfidious Enemy" remained the Islamic forces along the western coast and the pagan kingdoms to the east, who continued to be a problem for many of Maximius' successors. The Order's outward focus on foreign threats was also aimed at achieving a level of domestic cohesion. The statutes go on to describe the order's symbols of the dragon and the red cross, which were worn by its members and gave the order its corporate identity. They also list the mutual obligations of the Emperor and the patrician class. The members were to swear loyalty to the Imperial family and to protect the any and all Imperial interests. Some modern historians have argued that "the Society of the Dragon was clearly intended to serve [...] as the institutional embodiment of the Imperial faction its founder had created". In return for their services, the members could expect to enjoy Imperial protection, honors, and offices.
Symbol of the Order and other artifacts
The Order of the Dragon adopted as its symbol in 1008 the image of a circular dragon with its tail coiled around its neck. On its back, from the base of its neck to its tail, was a red cross on the background of a silver field. With the expansion of the Order, other symbols were adopted, all variations on the theme of dragon and cross. For example, one class of the Order used a dragon being strangled with a cross draped across its back; another presents a cross perpendicular to a coiled-up dragon with an inscription "O quam misericors est Deus" and "Justus et paciens". Other emblems of the Order included a necklace and a seal, each with a variant form of the dragon motif.
In battle, many soldiers of the order wore a red cross over gold flames on their chest, with the circular symbol of the order found on their cloaks or on medallions which hung from their necks. They also very commonly wore large, very distinctive winged helmets into battle, to mimic the wings and horns of a dragon.
Membership
Members of the order, known as "Draconists", were mostly the Exponential Emperor's political allies and supporters, who were at first largely confined to the political factions of around Paradise City and Divinity. After some time, Maximius chose to expand the ranks of the Order. A second group of inductees was initiated between 1031 and 1037. As membership grew, the Order of the Dragon came to have two degrees. There was a superior class, which between 1008 and 1018 wore both the dragon and the cross as the Order's emblem and a more elaborate version afterwards. The second degree had a large number of members, and its symbol was only the dragon.
In more modern times, the Imperial Order of the Dragon has been given to individuals, both foreign and domestic, who have shown themselves to have contributed in a significant way to the benefit or maintenance of the Empire of Exponent.
Modern Members (Post-1896)
Thomas Reich, King of Aquitayne (1989-2014)- Sugard Reich, King of Aquitayne (1951-1989)
Desiderious Silkvest, Chancellor of the Exponential Empire (1948-1962)- Christian Reich, Lord Protector of Cape Town (1952-2006)
- Decimus Brightglass, Chancellor of the Exponential Empire (1936-1943)
- Octavius Whitewood, Imperial soldier and Legate (1885-1932)
- Decius Arminius, Imperial Army Chief of Staff (1921-1925) and Minister of War (1927-1934)
- Laurentius Gildedsword, Imperial soldier and Dux (1868-1927)
- Template:Country data Hifax Felipe II, Prince of Hifax (1872-1956)