Accesion and coronation of Emperor La

The accesion and coronation of Emperor La of Themiclesia occurred after the death of his predecessor, Emperor Snū, on 29 December 2016, and related ceremonies continued until 31 January 2017. By the Act of the Succession passed in 1938, it is clarified that the heir apparent instantly becomes the new monarch once the incumbent dies, though there are many procedures that facilitate and are legally required for the orderly transition between reigns.

Arranged contingency

Due to Emperor Snū's advanced age, actions to be taken upon his death have been meticulously arranged during his lifetime. The specific plans are known by the summary title Contingency #1, which was first authorized by Parliament in 1938 and amended many times since. In contrast to previous successions, Contingency #1 implies that the death of the monarch would be nationally announced with very little delay.

29 December 2016

At the age of 100 years, Emperor Snū was found by his bedchamber staff to have died in his sleep in the morning of 29 December 2016 and was pronounced dead by Drs. Andrew Ki and Margaret Sle. The staff, according to the Contingency, notified the Baron-in-Waiting at 5:42 a.m., who then relayed this information to the Cabinet Office, the Chancery, and the Prime Minister. After the three recipients confirmed the reception of the news, the Contingency was officially activated.

By 10:30, the Privy Council was summoned to assemble at Q'in'-lang Palace and led to its council chamber; the Vice-President of the Council presided, as the President was ill. After the Drs. Ki and Sle testified to the Council that they had pronounced the sovereign dead, the Privy Council at 10:50 commanded the Attending Attorneys (寺御事) to collect the deceased Emperor's personal seals, which were removed from the Attending Attorney's chambers and placed in the custody of the Attorney-general.