Agathonice the Haimeist
Agathonice the Haimeist | |
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 Agathonice as portrayed by Hellene-Quenminese actress Persephone Thường | |
| Born | Agathonice (Ἀγαθονίκη) August 1035 Cassandreia (present-day Calat), Symmerian Quenmin |
| Died | 16 June 1132 Lào Hóa, Quenmin |
| Other names |
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| Occupation | Haimeist priestess, military leader |
Agathonice of Cassandreia, also recognized as Agathonice, daughter of Lycaretos and more popularly as Agathonice the Haimeist and Priestess Bạch Yến from her Quenminese courtesy name, was a Hellene Olympio-Haimeist priestess who was one of the notable leaders of the Autumn Flag Rebellions. She is also venerated as a Sanctified in all Haimeist denominations for her leadership and contribution to the faith and the uprisings.
Little is known of her childhood, but historical records show that Agathonice was born to a wealthy Hellene family headed by Lycaretos in Cassandreia on August 1035. In her adolescence, which is more , she grew entrapped with the precepts and pantheon of Olympio-Haimeism, and became a shaman at the age of 13. She later became a priestess at 25, which occurred at the time of the Three Calamities. In 1061, she encountered Haimeist priest and mystic Văn Ngọc Quyết who went to Cassandreia to assist the afflicted, and became influenced by his intepretations of the disasters and his teachings. During his congregations in the city, she encountered and continuously met with two prominent Hellene inidividuals Heracleides Philkuenaeus, the city's mayor, and fellow priest Antialcidas of Seleucia. Together, they attracted citizens to their following, adhering to the Quyết's practices and tenets. During this time, it was rumored that she healed hundreds of people with water personally blessed by her. In 1063, as the Autumn Flag Rebellions were instigated within the northern cities and towns, Agathonice alongside Heracleides and Antialcidas instigated their uprising, and managed to entice Eucratides of Doracuse, the sub-governor of southeast Quenmin to the cause.
Agathonice played a key role in preserving Central Quenmin under the rebellions' influence, and persuading the Tamauese to join in. When the Rebellion reached a moment of crisis with the Symmerian counteroffensive, she was critical in leading Hoạn Quốc Tổ, the future emperor of the Early Hoạn dynasty, to purge the rebellions' leadership of Eucratides and general Lưu Ðình Dương by exposing his plans of assassination in exchange for amnesty from the Symmerian government. Afterwards, she continued to lead Central Quenmin and Tamau towards independence in the later years of the uprisings. She was awarded significantly by Quốc Tổ, and continued to be a priestess after the Rebellions. She died in Lào Hóa at the age of 97.
Agathonice remains one of Quenmin's most prominent historical figures, as well as one of the country's famous women. Upon her death, she was declared a Sanctified by her peers, and is worshipped by all denominations. Agathonice is also depicted highly in Quenminese popular culture, and in literature, she served as an inspiration for Priestess Cà Long, a character in The Azure Lotus.