Lord of Ran

The Hon. Lord of Ran PC OA (Shinasthana: 闌侯, ran-go; Nov. 5, 1780 – Jan. 20, 1845) was a Themiclesian public servant and politician, serving as prime minister in 1834 – 39.

Political career

Premiership

The Lord of Ran replaced the ineffective Lord of Tubh in 1834. Tubh's premiership was shadowed by a near-dissolution of the Conservative Party that the Lord of Gar-lang had set up, since the Imperialists had faded from court in the 1800s. Ran was ushered into power by a revived Imperialist faction that now took up political reform as its primary objective, citing wars such as the Uzeri Rebellion that suggested a renewed round of Casaterran imperialism. Ran doubled the sizes of the army and navy, to 18 standing regiments and 15 ships-of-the-line respectively. While hard-line Conservatives grumbled about this in the Protonotaries, they were forced to concede to the fact that 9 standing regiments were insufficient to keep both the Mavericans, Hallians, and other potential invaders at bay.

In 1835, Kashubia appealed to Themiclesia for aid against Camian dominion, noting the traditional enmity between the two states. Correctly judging that Mavericans would not intervene, Ran send 90 cannons, 5,000 muskets, and ordnance for both via sea to Kashubia. Ran's navy secretary, the Lord of Rjai-lang, arranged for the two regiments on the Isle of Liang to be shipped off the island at night and returned to it at daytime, giving Camia the impression that troops on the island had doubled. The isle being the place where troops were last assembled for an invasion in 1791, Camians were led by Rjai-lang's deception to keep half of its army on the east of the Columbian mountains in case of a Themiclesian invasion. This prevented them from responding as effectively to the Kashubian uprising and may have contributed to their victory. However, Themiclesian use of Liang to generate political reactions in Camia was considered highly humiliating, later motivating Camian invasion and annexation of the island.

Ran resigned in 1838 due to declining health, having possibly suffered a stroke in 1837.

Sartorial style

The Lord of Ran was knonw at court as a man fascinated by clothing, both traditional and Casaterran. While Casaterran clothing has been worn by some in Themiclesia since the 1600s, he was the first person to do so at court. To satisfy court attire requirements, he wore an over robe (袍, bu) over Casaterran dress; this gradually replaced traditional attire at court

See also

• Themiclesia