Nathan IV of Ghant
| Nathan IV | |||||
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| Emperor of Ghant King of Low Ghant | |||||
| Reign | 19 May 1997 – present | ||||
| Coronation | 17 July 1997 | ||||
| Predecessor | Alan I of Ghant | ||||
| Heir apparent | Nathan, Crown Prince of Ghant | ||||
| Regent | Prince Albert of Ghant (1997–2006) | ||||
| Born | 14 January 1988 Empress Elisabeth Hospital, Ghish, Ghant | ||||
| Spouse | Sophia of Dakmoor (m. 2014) | ||||
| Issue Among others | |||||
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| House | Gentry | ||||
| Father | John, Crown Prince of Ghant | ||||
| Mother | Caroline Zuria | ||||
| Religion | Church of Ghant | ||||
| Ghantish Imperial Family |
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Extended imperial family
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Nathan IV (Nathan William Alan Wain; born 14 January 1988) is the current Emperor of Ghant, since 19 May 1997, succeeding his grandfather Alan I of Ghant. He is a member of and the head of the Imperial House, a member of House of Keld of the Gentry Dynasty. He is the 71st man to sit the Obsidian Throne.
Nathan was born in Ghish, Ghant, the first of three children born to John, Crown Prince of Ghant and Caroline Zuria. His father died in 1994 as the result of a plane crash, resulting in his elevation to Crown Prince of Ghant at the age of six, becoming heir apparent. His grandfather, Emperor Alan attempted to prepare his grandson for rulership but died abruptly of a brain aneurysm in 1997, thereupon which Nathan acceded to the throne as Emperor Nathan IV at the age of nine. For the next nine years Nathan was under the regency of his uncle Prince Albert of Ghant, until the Emperor attained the age of majority in 2006 when he turned eighteen.
The young Emperor subsequently surrounded himself with relatives, favorites and courtiers who presumed to exercise imperial authority on his behalf. In 2014, he married Sophia, Princess Royal of Dakmoor, with whom he has six children: Sara, Princess Imperial, Nathan, Crown Prince of Ghant, High Prince John of Ghant, High Princess Valerie of Ghant, High Prince Nicholas of Ghant and High Prince William of Ghant.
Nathan has faced consistent republican movements in Ghant throughout his reign due to the unpopularity of his uncle’s regency government and due to his own personal controversies that have been brought to light by the press. He has been harshly criticized for his numerous affairs, children born out of wedlock and other indiscretions that are considered beneath the dignity of the Imperial Family. Despite this, a referendum to abolish the monarchy in favor of a republic was narrowly defeated in 2014, and the Emperor remains committed to democratic institutions and humanitarian causes both in Ghant and abroad, while his popularity is much greater in Northern Ghant than in the south.
Early Life
Birth
Nathan William Alan Wain, Prince Imperial of Ghant, was born at Empress Elisabeth Hospital in Ghish on January 14, 1988 at 11:11 PM. He was the first child of John, Crown Prince of Ghant and his wife Caroline Zuria, herself the daughter of Lord Raymond Zuria and Adenora of Gelonia. At the time of his birth, he was the second in line to the Obsidian Throne, behind only his father, John, the oldest son of Emperor Alan I and Empress Grace. His middle names are in honor of Prince William of Ghant, his paternal grandfather Alan I of Ghant, and the name Wain is a Gelonian slang term referring to a child.
His birth had been eventful. It occurred during the Ghantish Mail Riots of January 1988, and he was born over a month prematurely. It was also reported that he was backwards and upside-down in the womb, resulting in an extraordinarily difficult delivery as the Crown Princess refused to allow a Caesarean section. She was in labor for almost two days with him, before eventually giving birth, with initial reports stating that the Prince died in delivery. While initially the newborn was unresponsive, neonatal nurse practitioners performed Cardiopulmonary resuscitation for nearly six minutes on the newborn before there was a strong heartbeat, after which a breathing tube was provided to the infant, followed by three days of therapeutic hypothermia. After three days of medical attention, the infant was breathing on his own and had a regular heart rate with no developmental damage, and was released from the hospital. The media heralded the infant the “Miracle Prince of Ghant.”
Nevertheless, the infant Prince was weak and sickly, and imperial physicians suspected that the Prince would not survive the winter. Despite this, the Imperial Family went to great lengths to ensure his health and safety. He survived, although he would remain puny and sickly for most of his childhood, suffering from asthma, bronchitis, ear infections and digestive issues. The prince showed a certain resilience to his circumstances, and as an infant and toddler was relatively well-behaved and mild-mannered.
Childhood
Nathan was followed by a sister, Adelaide in March of 1989, but by then the young prince’s ailments and the strain it had put on John and Caroline’s relationship had taken its toll. Caroline, already on poor terms with the Imperial Family, became estranged from them and her and John separated, leading the press to speculate that divorce proceedings were in the works.
In 1990, John began a relationship with Princess Isabella of Latium, with the intention of marrying her once his divorce from Caroline was finalized. Isabella subsequently gave birth to a son, Leo in August of that year, although the divorce required authorization from the Jauneketxea in order to be finalized, which that body was unable to grant in a timely manner as a result of Caroline’s father Raymond obstructing the process and building opposition to it among the nobility. As a result, Nathan and Adelaide were raised alongside Leo at the Imperial Palace, with Isabella replacing Caroline in an unofficial capacity, the latter continuing to claim the title of Crown Princess from her father’s seat in Zuria.
By all accounts, Nathan got along well with Adelaide and Leo, and came to view Isabella as a mother figure. There was some talk of displacing Nathan from the succession in favor of Leo, though the Emperor and Empress refused to entertain this idea.
The first few years of his life were happy ones. His grandmother, Empress Grace, absolutely adored him and doted on him. His parents showered him with gifts, and his Grandfather took great pride in him, telling his friends to look at him well, for he would be Emperor of Ghant. Also, his father's best friend, King Malibar of Dakmoor, allowed for his oldest two children, Sophia of Dakmoor and Martin of Dakmoor, to spend time in the Imperial Palace with the Prince and his siblings. They became close friends, and they could often be seen playing throughout the Palace.
John and Isabella had a daughter, Diana in 1993, in anticipation of the divorce being finalized by the Jauneketxea. However when Nathan was six, Crown Prince John died in a plane crash on April 31, 1994, in a plane crash off the coast of Dakmoor during his return flight to Ghish, before the divorce could be finalized, making Nathan the heir apparent of his grandfather. At the time Isabella was pregnant and later gave birth to a daughter, Theodora. In the weeks preceding John’s death, he had reconciled with Caroline, and in December she gave birth to a daughter, Arietta.
In order to prepare Nathan to succeed, Emperor Alan maintained Nathan at the Imperial Palace, who was now Crown Prince, along with Adelaide, Isabella, Diana and Theodora. Alan allowed Caroline to keep Princess Arietta when she was born. Caroline within a few months of John’s death married Charles Kindaro, a professional yachtsman. The Emperor was greatly enraged by this and restricted Caroline’s visitation rights to the Imperial Palace, who up until that point frequently visited Nathan and Adelaide. This was hard on Nathan, and he began to grow cold and distant after he was separated from his mother at such a young age. At this point, he clung to Grace and Isabella for emotional support. Grace wrote in her memoirs that he was an affectionate child, kind, and incredibly bright, but also moody, petulant, and possessing a bad temper when he felt slighted.
In order to ease the stresses of the boy, The Emperor agreed to foster Prince Martin of Dakmoor in the Imperial Palace. Martin would become Nathan's best friend along with his half-brother Leo, and the three boys would remain very close throughout their lives. Isabella was given some influence on the boys’ education, and brought tutors from Latium to provide them instruction. Nathan struggled to learn Latin, which is the only language he can speak with some proficiency aside from Ghantish.
Emperor of Ghant
Regency Period
On May 19th, 1997, Emperor Alan died of a brain aneurysm while sleeping, and was discovered dead the following morning by servants. Once imperial physicians confirmed the death of the Emperor, imperial retainers went to the chambers of the nine year old Prince to inform him that his grandfather was dead, and that he was now Emperor of Ghant. It was reported that he cried hysterically.
Immediately after learning of the Emperor’s death, Grace reasserted her authority and exercised de-factor imperial authority until a regent could be declared by the Jauneketxea. She put herself forward as a candidate for regent, while inviting her second son Albert and Isabella to join an interim regency council. Their primary focus was to expedite the coronation ceremony.
His coronation took place on July 17, 1997, and became the most watched television event in the history of Ghant. He was too small for the coronation robes, so they had to be wrapped around him snugly. The crown was also too large, so the Archbishop had to put padding in it so it would fit on the Emperor's head.
Nathan was only the second minor to ascend the throne in four-hundred years, the last being Samuel II. As such, he was to have a Regent until his eighteenth birthday. The Jauneketxea gathered in Ghish in the days after the coronation and corresponding celebrations and deliberated on who the region should be. Grace was ultimately defeated by Albert, who was subsequently nominated by the Jaunektexa. Albert accepted and Grace relinquished power to her son, though continued to wield influence over the imperial court.
The Prince Regent was a cold, distant man, and his first actions as regent earned him significant unpopularity. One of his first actions was to banish Isabella and her children from court, stripped them of their titles and had them repatriated to Latium, an action which immediately caused relations with Latium to sink. He also had a habit of heavy-handed rulership that brought him into conflict with the elected government, and was frequently accused of political interference. His relationship with Nathan was harsh. He offered the young Emperor neither emotional support or any kind of affection- it was widely believed that he had a personal disliking for his nephew due to a hatred for Caroline. As a result, the only support figure that Nathan had in Ghish was his grandmother, Empress Dowager Grace, and the influence that Albert had at court was countered only by her. When Grace died of brain cancer in 2000, the young Emperor, aged twelve, was absolutely devastated. It took two grown men to pull Nathan from her casket at her funeral, as he cried hysterically.
After his mother died, the Prince Regent was free to exert total control over the imperial court as well as the Emperor's development. He insisted on strict curfews on the Emperor, limited his ability to leave the Imperial Palace, and filled the court with northern favorites, many of whom were brought in to train the Emperor in martial skills. The Emperor was regularly disciplined harshly by his retainers.
Despite this, Nathan regularly received visits from extended family members, such as the Gelonian Royal Family and members of the Guegani family. It was at this point that Nathan struck up friendships with his third cousin Prince Arthur of Oxonia, Princess Lena of Oxonia, and Grace Domnonea. He also made some of his first overseas visits as Emperor, most often visiting Gelonia at this stage.
Nathan visited Latium, in August 1997, with his sister Adelaide, and grandmother Grace to celebrate the birthday of his brother Leo. The visit was controversial in both Ghant and Latium, as Prince Regent Albert was prohibited from accompanying Nathan. The planned week long stay was cut short after Leo, Prince Consort suffered a heart attack during Prince Leo’s birthday celebration. Various reports from the event implicated Nathan’s actions at the party as a cause for bringing on the Prince Consort’s heart attack. The Prince Consort died the following day on 1 September 1997.
Nathan faltered under the instruction of his retainers, and proved a poor student. Martin, who continued to reside at court, proved to be a quick study and excelled in this training, though he was soon banished from court for coming to the defense of the Emperor when he was being punished by their instructors. Ultimately, Nathan's strengths were intellectual in nature- he studied history, government, literature and foreign affairs zealously, and he wrote poetry and critical essays. One of his tutors described him as an incredibly intelligent person, who showed an intellectual mastery rarely seen. Unfortunately Albert placed little value on academic studies, and continued to emphasize physical education, which the Emperor continued to fail.
Occasionally, Nathan was allowed to go on state trips to fulfill some duties as a part of his training. It was during one such trip to Oholesia that he re-encountered Sophia, with the two reconnecting and supposedly developing a romantic interest in each other. Despite this, after Martin was sent away from court, Nathan became more isolated and insular. Due to his singular nature, odd mannerisms, and social awkwardness, he became a mocked figure in Ghant, and a satirical punchline. He became known as Emperor Fidget, due to his habit of fidgeting out of a sense of unease and social anxiety. The regency remains a controversial period of Ghantish history and a sour subject for the Emperor, and he is known to show the numerous scars on his back, arms and legs as a result of his harsh training and draconian discipline inflicted upon him by his uncle and his northern favorites.
Personal Rule
- "He causes pain to everyone who gets close to him. Even when you're the victim of his outrageous behavior, his selfishness, or one of his tantrums, you always found yourself smiling about it afterwards, even if you had to do it through gritted tears." - Princess Alysanne of Ghant, on her cousin Emperor Nathan IV.
In the days leading up to the Emperor’s eighteenth birthday, Albert’s favorites at court began to depart the palace en masse, fearing reprisal from the Emperor. Albert himself departed from Ghish a week before the Emperor’s birthday, though continued to claim the regency if in name only. During that final week, the Palace was virtually empty aside from the Emperor, imperial servants and palace staff, while various members of the Imperial Family, including Nathan’s uncle Prince Stephen and Great-Uncle Prince Edward fulfilled various administrative obligations.
On Nathan’s eighteenth birthday, the regency officially came to an end and he immediately began to exercise imperial authority. His first action was officially discharging Albert as regent, restricting his access to the imperial court and permanently banishing all of Albert’s favorites from Ghish. His second action was to undo Albert’s decrees against Isabella and her children, officially restoring to them their titles, privileges and granting them substantial incomes. Thirdly, he attempted to restore confidence in the Imperial Family with the public, the press and the government, though this was met with little success.
The Emperor remained isolated and distant, and spent his time reading, writing, watching television and playing games. Martin often returned to court to visit and spend time with him, as did some of his cousins. He traveled often, and had made official visits to all of the Provinces of Ghant, with the exception of Ziri, where Albert resided.
Nathan instituted many changes to the Imperial Palace. Unlike his uncle, who was rigid and caught up in formalities, Nathan was very casual and relaxed in terms of imperial protocol. He slept in everyday and passed on the morning routine of the emperor, he insisted that he be referred to as Nathan, as opposed to your majesty, and he strove to be more in touch with the common people. He went on walks around Ghish, went to sporting events, engaged the populace on the internet, and often had pizza delivered to the Imperial Palace, which he would receive and pay for personally.
For the first few years of his personal rule, Nathan ebbed between traveling and spending time in isolation in the Imperial Palace. He also became very outspoken on various political issues, and was an avid conspiracy theorist. One such incident involved Prime Minister Alonso Tobar mulling the idea of altering the succession laws of Ghant, so that the oldest child of the Emperor would inherit the throne, regardless of gender. The Emperor was deeply offended by this, and said that if this became law, then he would never have any children. The laws were not changed and it ceased to be a political issue.
Courtships
Accession ball
In the summer of 2006, he hosted an accession ball, with the intention of finding a highborn lady roughly his age, who would become the next Empress of Ghant. Several hundred appeared over the three day event, including several prominent princesses and noblewomen from Belisaria. Among the notable women in attendance were, Princess Emmanuelle of Tiberias, Alienor of Turenne, Grace Domnonea, Antonia Antistia, Delal Hazarasp, Gabrielia Pinaria, Theodora Ulpia, Tatjana of Silingia, Madeline of Mauchatel, Maria of Garza, Valencia of Garza, Frederica of Nyrundy, Dagmar of Sudmark and Olympe of Hayan.
The Emperor was incredibly shy and socially awkward, though he made his best attempt at welcoming and providing hospitality to all the women in attendance, and danced with several of them. On the third day, Sophia came to the ball in a red dress. Nathan was swept off of his feet, and the two danced, drank, and talked for most of the night, much to the chagrin of the other ladies in attendance. While it was rumored that Sophia stayed in the Emperor’s chambers that night, the ball ended without any formal courtships, and Sophia hastily departed for Dakmoor the next day. Following the ball, Nathan started drinking more frequently, and it was later assumed that he became an alcoholic.
Early courtships
As the accession ball failed to result in any formal courtship, Nathan’s first confirmed courtship came in fall 2006 with Louise of Rahdenburg. Nathan’s courtship of Louise was highly controversial in Ghant due the age difference between Nathan and Louise – the latter being six years Nathan’s senior, and second cousins (Louise’s grandmother Bessandra was the twin sister of Emperor Alan). Louise was reported to wield considerable influence over Nathan at court, much to the irritation of senior officials and courtiers. The relationship came to an end in February 2007, though they are said to remain friends to this day.
Due to the strong relationship between Ghant and Gelonia, a match between their respective ruling houses received great consideration. In 2009, Nathan began courting Princess Lena of Oxonia, despite Lena’s brother Arthur courting Nathan’s sister Adelaide at the time. Nathan’s courtship prompted the end of Arthur’s courtship of Adelaide. Nathan and Lena had been friends as children, however those close to them said that neither took well to the courtship as it seemed “improper” and the impact it placed on their siblings, along with rumors that Nathan was also engaged in a relationship with Lena’s cousin Gaudentia of Roazhon (who he’d officially start courting after his courtship with Lena ended). Nathan and Lena agreed to end the courtship after three months, after which Arthur’s courtship of Adelaide continued.
Courtship of Gaudentia of Roazhon
After a betrothal arrangement was reached between Arthur and Adelaide, in 2010s, Nathan began courting Gaudentia officially, though the two had been in a relationship for several months prior. Gaudentia was considered an attractive choice by the Ghantish Imperial Family, since she was a Gelonian Princess and granddaughter of the Queen of Gelonia, as well as the maternal granddaughter of King Peter II of Garima. Gaudentia’s maternal grandmother, Izara of Sydalon was the sister of King Jordan IX of Sydalon. Nathan’s uncle Prince Richard was also married to Gaudentia’s maternal aunt, Matilda of Silingia.
Gaudentia was a regular figure at court in Ghish during this period. She was often seen with Nathan, and according to courtiers and family members, Gaudentia and Nathan were seen as inseparable. Gaudentia often accompanied Nathan to Privy Council meetings, and sometimes attended in his stead at his request. A biographer of Nathan remarked that it was “as if Nathan was fully under her spell,” and that she “ran court like she already wore Paulina’s Crown.” There were also claims that Nathan abruptly ended his courtship of Lena at the request of Gaudentia, so their courtship could begin immediately.
However, numerous external factors plagued the courtship. Gaudentia was widely considered rude, abrasive, demanding, and cruel to courtiers. Her relationship with Natha’s sister Adelaide also plagued the relationship, with some claiming that Gaudentia attempted to intervene in her personal affairs and arrange courtships on her behalf. Gaudentia’s family ties were also seen as disqualifying, due to her uncle Richard of Ghant’s alleged ties to organized crime in Ghant and Belisaria, and even her father’s ties to right-wing, extremist nationalist groups within Gelonia. The strain these factors placed on their relationship eventually ended the courtship after a year, and Gaudentia quickly returned to Gelonia. Her abrupt departure from Ghant left Nathan devastated by his own admission.
Intermittent courtships
In 2011, Nathan embarked on a tour of Belisaria again, where he visited South Ottonia, Sudmark, Lyncanestria, Latium, Garza and Garima. During this time, he briefly courted Valencia of Garza before courting Alienor of Turenne for several months. Nathan’s first stop in Garima was to Turenne, and was also his longest stop. Nathan and Alienor were often spotted in public, and attending events together. While at a local football game, Nathan told members of the press that he “found [his] Empress.” Alienor disappeared from Turenne and reappeared in Sydalon the following day, where she was seen with Aubin V, Duke of Philippopolis. The courtship ended abruptly.
Of the Belisarian nations that Nathan toured in 2011, Garima was his longest stay, and after Turenne he traveled to Silingia where he courted Charlotte of Silingia, and then Hildegard of Vandalia. It was rumored that during his last stop in Tungria, the Duke Otto implied that he’d have his son-in-law murdered so Nathan could then court his widowed daughter. Alas, nothing came of his Gariman venture, and he returned to Ghant.
After his Gariman tour, Nathan went through a series of courtships with various Ghantish princesses and noblewomen in the latter part of 2011 and 2012, including Daena of Gaemar, Layla Lianu, Dyanna of Arrautsa, Josephine of Jehenna, Magdelena of Odolargia, Elena Voor and others. However the majority of these courtships were as formal as they were brief, at most lasting a month.
The exception was Elena Voor, whom Nathan courted for the better part of a year and enjoyed an intimate relationship with for almost a year. Elena was the eldest child of Lord Atticus Voor, who was a friend of his father John, and Alberta of Ravenna, a prominent Latin ducal family from a cadet branch of the Imperial Houses of Ghant and Latium. Atticus himself was the son of Calista Virtuvia, making him first cousins with Zoe Verrucosa, herself the mother of the eventual Constantine XX of Latium, and prominent Latin courtiers such as Florian Claudius. As a result of those ties, Elena was considered a suitable choice, though she ultimately found the prospect of becoming Empress intimidating, resulting in their courtship ending in December 2012.
Following this, Nathan became increasingly frustrated with courtships, and engaged in various romantic relationships and affairs with lowborn women and lesser nobles. One of the longest relationships he experienced during this period was with Soraya bint Qaid ar-Ruweyni, and exiled noblewoman from Fahran. None of these relationships resulted in anything more than romantic trysts.
Sophia of Dakmoor
In early 2013, Sophia visited Nathan at the Imperial Palace, and began to spend time together. The two had been close since childhood, and for a long time shared a romantic interest in each other, though during their minorities had a difficult time staying in contact due to the enmity that existed between Albert and Malibar. After their encounter in 2006, Sophia completed her university studies in political science and international affairs at the University of Ghish, then went on to complete her graduate studies in the same areas, at the same university. During this time, she kept in contact with Nathan but consistently refused his advances. Sophia went on to compete in and win the Miss Ghant beauty pageant, and committed herself to humanitarian work through the Ghantish Foreign Affairs Ministry, using her profile to bring increased awareness to the Ministry’s humanitarian programs. Her work would win her the Ismos Peace Prize in 2013.
Nathan and Sophia began a relationship that turned into an official courtship, which enjoyed wide support in the Imperial Family, among the nobility, the political class and the general population. Nathan asked Malibar for Sophia’s hand, which he granted, and an engagement was announced that summer, with a wedding date set for February 14, 2014, which would be Sophia’s twenty-sixth birthday. The marriage ceremony would double as a coronation ceremony as well. During that time, Sophia continued to reside in the Imperial Palace and was personally involved in the marriage plans.
Marriage
In a televised event that surpassed Nathan’s coronation ceremony, Nathan and Sophia were married in the Cathedral of Ghish on February 14, 2014, and she was crowned Empress of Ghant by the Archbishop of Ghish with Paulina’s Crown. Following the wedding, Nathan and Sophia went on an extended honeymoon in Oholesia, and later toured Ghant, Belisaria and Scipia. Their marriage was the subject of extensive media attention in Ghant and Belisaria, being portrayed as a “fairytale.” The new Empress was immensely popular in Ghant, so much so that the Emperor’s approval rating jumped by nearly twenty percent according to some polls.
The couple have six children:
- Princess Sara Isabella Maria Elizabeth, born 14 November 2014 at Empress Elisabeth Hospital in Ghish.
- Prince Nathan Leo Malibar Wain, born 14 November 2014 at Empress Elisabeth Hospital in Ghish.
- Prince John Martin Titus Balthazar, born 14 November 2014 at Empress Elisabeth Hospital in Ghish.
- Princess Valerie Maria Adenora Beladore, born 1 January 2016 at Empress Elisabeth Hospital in Ghish.
- Prince Nicholas Michael Mathias David, born 21 March 2018 at Empress Elisabeth Hospital in Ghish.
- Prince William Merrick Jason Constantine, born 10 January 2020 at Empress Elisabeth Hospital in Ghish.
Infidelity and Ohaides
Though initially a happy marriage, within a year of being married, Nathan and Sophia’s relationship began to deteriorate. Nathan lacked an interest in exercising imperial authority, resulting in Sophia having to rule in his stead. Though she initially tolerated Nathan’s lack of involvement in affairs of state, she began to grow irritated with what she thought was laziness. Sophia’s pregnancy and difficult childbirth with their first children left her in a weakened state, though Nathan still refused to take an interest in ruling. The pregnancy, delivery and personal conflicts took their toll on their relationship, and a rift eventually emerged between them. A series of arguments resulted in Nathan going on a “sabbatical” and traveling around Ghant and Belisaria, while Sophia remained with the children at the Imperial Palace.
In January 2015, Nathan reconnected with Gaudentia during a formal state visit to Gelonia. The two were seen in each other’s company throughout the state dinner and subsequent reception, and it was there that the two subsequently began an affair. Nathan announced that he was extending his trip to Gelonia and would tour the continent. Gaudentia accompanied Nathan during the rest of his tour through Belisaria, and eventually returned to Ghant and joined Nathan on his scheduled tour of Northern Ghant.
It was in northern Ghant that Gaudentia informed Nathan that she was pregnant, at which time the latter began exploring Old God worship and northern customs. One of these was called Ohaidetza, which was a practice common among Northern Ghantish pagans akin to concubinage. Nathan presented this idea to Gaudentia, and explained that while it wouldn’t be a marriage in the Christian sense, it would be a matrimonial arrangement that would entitle her and her children to rights and privileges that she otherwise wouldn’t have. She accepted this, and upon the conclusion of Nathan’s tour of Northern Ghant, she returned with him to Ghish and took up residence in the Imperial Palace, where she later gave birth to a son, Victor.
Nathan entered into similar relationships with other women who he previously had relationships with, including Cécile Palèmier, a Lyncanestrian noblewoman he met during his Belisarian tour, Madeline of Mauchatel, who he encountered from his tour in Garima, Elena Voor, and various other women. Nathan also maintains a relationship with Alienor of Turenne, with whom he has two illegitimate children. His most recent Ohaide is Vardanan national Damaspia Berkar.
Policies
Domestic policies
Following Albert’s reactionary regency, Nathan as emperor has refused to interfere with the elected government, except when he feels as though the traditional rights of the monarchy are being infringed upon. Some examples of this include his fierce opposition to altering imperial succession laws or allowing any sort of government regulation of imperial privileges.
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Nathan has promoted the development of oil and natural gas in Northern Ghant, with revenues going to support indigenous populations that are affected by the development. The Emperor has been especially protective of tribal peoples (much more than his predecessor) and has reaffirmed imperial commitment to tribal rights and allowing their traditional lands to remain undisturbed (with the disturbance of tribal lands being a violation of Imperial Law).
In 2015, Nathan assented to the revocation of the 1875 Crown Act, allowing the displaced provincial monarchs of Ghant to publicly use their titles again. This decision was met with widespread acclaim from the upper nobility, though with trepidation from the lower nobility and the common people, who feared that the provincial monarchs would abuse their power or impose their wills upon their subjects.
Unlike his predecessors and other members of the Imperial Family, Nathan is especially candid with the press and is known to engage the paparazzi while in public. In the past he has allowed “all access tours” of the Imperial Palace and Courtyard, as well as providing “exclusive interviews” on palace grounds. This has caused a great deal of controversy for the Imperial Family because Nathan is known to commit gaffes. The Emperor is particularly outspoken about his personal beliefs on a wide variety of political and social issues as well, some of which have come under fire from the press and various segments of society.
Foreign policies
While Nathan is expected to represent Ghant at home and abroad, and go on state visits, trade and humanitarian missions and participate in high level government and international meetings, he has shown little interest in doing any of this, mostly delegating these responsibilities to the Empress and to various uncles, cousins and other relatives. It has been noted that when he does engage in these activities, it is with little formality.
In 2015, the government of Prime Minister Yula Zimya initiated a referendum to abolish the monarchy and establish a republic. Nathan sparked controversy during the referendum campaign by encouraging Northern Ghant to “go their own way” if the referendum was successful. The referendum was ultimately defeated, while Nathan’s popularity in Northern Ghant has remained high.
Nathan has also expressed varying opinions on the “Western Monarchies” of Belisaria, referring to them as a “cabal” and “carpetbaggers” on several occasions, and has been especially critical of nations such as Sydalon. He has shown sympathies to various populist movements in North Ottonia, Gran Aligonia and the Messidor Union, and has criticized condemnation of these regimes by the “Western Monarchies.”
Relationship with Yisrael
The Emperor claims to have a strong relationship with Yisrael and considers himself a patron of Ghantish Jews, Jewish rights abroad and their culture. He has traveled to Yisrael more than any other nation outside of Belisaria. However, his relationship with Yisrael has not been without controversy. He has routinely been critical of Yisrael’s domestic laws regarding freedom of religion, and in June 2018 “demanded” the extradition of his maternal relative Godfrey Galan who was detained in Yisrael for engaging in “inappropriate” relations with another man. This demand was acquiesced, though the decision to do so was harshly criticized in Yisrael, with segments of the population accusing the then-government of President Noah Feldman of appeasing Nathan due to his support for Yisrael.
The current Foreign Minister of Yisrael, Ariel Goldblatt, is on friendly terms with the Emperor, having developed a cordial relationship while he served as the Yisraeli ambassador to Ghant as well as his role in ensuring Galan's freedom. Leaked diplomatic cables in April 2020 indicate at least several foreign intelligence services, particularly Latium, believe that Nathan and Goldblatt backchannel foreign policy moves, especially as it relates to Belisaria, between Ghant and Yisrael, to the concern of other Western Monarchies.
Assassination attempt of Constantine XX
Nathan attended the funeral of Latin Emperor Jason VI, on 13 January 2017. During the funeral procession through the streets of Castellum, Nathan was speaking with newly ascended Latin Emperor Constantine XX, when members of the crowd gathered along the famed Via Sacra erupted and a lone gunman pushed through the crowd.
Gunman Lanig Kou Sezneci, a Gelonian national, fired four shots in Constantine’s direction before he was himself killed by Latin authorities. All four shots missed Constantine, who was pushed to the ground by Nathan, himself later revealed to suffer a gunshot wound – both were unconscious and taken to the hospital. Nathan was released from the hospital on 19 January 2017. Upon his next visit to Latium, Nathan was made a Knight of the Ancient Equestrian Order.
Personal Interests
Sports and Recreation
Nathan vacations at least a month each summer at a palace on Lake Lorazaina in Oholesia, where he engages in yachting, fishing and swimming. He has commented that he enjoys the peace and quiet that comes with those vacations, as they are far from the city and the prying eyes of the media. While he allows some media access to the Imperial Palace, the media is restricted from his summer palace.
The Emperor is an avid hockey fan, though he has never played the sport personally due to the fact that he never learned how to skate. He regularly attends games of the Ghish Imperials GHL club, and has dropped the ceremonial puck in at least one game of the 2011, 2012 and 2018 GHL Finals in which the Imperials made an appearance. Nathan keeps a personal collection of Imperials memorabilia and has a room in the Imperial Palace specifically for that purpose.
Nathan is also a talented chess and kerbasi player, both of which he’s played since childhood. He has been known to participate in local tournaments for charity. A more recent pursuit of his is mixed martial arts, having studied kung-fu and jiu jitsu. Though he does not participate in any organized competitions, he has on at least one occasion participated in a charity fight, in 2016 against Borig Ojembarrena, with Nathan submitting in the third round.
Arts and Sciences
Nathan is widely regarded as a patron of the arts, having sponsored artists, writers, poets and musicians in Ghish and donating extensively to museums and concert halls in the city. Nathan has added a great many pieces to the already robust Imperial gallery, and has been known to spend hours on end admiring its collective works. He has insisted that these works be public accessible via limited tours, which he has personally participated in on a few occasions.
In addition to paintings, Nathan has a great love for collecting books. He has always made it a priority to expand the imperial library and provide access to it for scholars and university students. He has been known to spend a great deal of time there, pouring over tomes and scrolls related to his particular area of interest, which is said to be ancient religion, philosophy and myths.
In terms of religion, Nathan is nominally a member of the Church of Ghant, the default religion of the Imperial Family. However, it has been rumored that privately Nathan worships the Ghantish Pagan Old Gods and regularly spends time in the Pagan Sept of Ghish, a Shrine dedicated to that religion where Nathan has been seen frequenting. Neither Nathan nor the Imperial Family have ever publicly commented on his religious affiliation. Nathan is rumored to be a student of Kabbalah and has invited several members of the old Ghantish Jewish community to participate in research with him at the Imperial Palace. It has been argued that his personal interest in Yisrael is specifically related to his interest in ancient Judaic wisdom, though Nathan has never made any comments regarding that specifically, nor have any Ghantish Jewish scholars come forward to share any insight into his research.
The Emperor also has an interest in the collection of ancient weapons, instruments and artifacts. He has a collection of medieval weapons, armor, scientific instruments, religious and cultural artifacts and relics, and it has been rumored that he has a special task force under his employ which searches for items he wants to add to his collection. This interest in the ancient world and the occult, combined with his unusual personal life, has given Nathan a somewhat mystical reputation.
Controversies
The Emperor’s reign has been fraught with controversies brought to light by the media, including his various affairs. The paparazzi has frequently taken pictures of him and his various partners, where they’ve found their way into newspapers, magazines and tabloids. For these affairs the Emperor has been roundly criticized in the media, though he has been magnanimous in the face of it. Whenever asked about it during interviews, Nathan’s usual response is “it is what it is.”
Nathan has also attracted controversy for his comments made about foreign nations and their heads of state, most notably Sydalon and it’s Queen Melisende III, his sister-in-law (Melisende is married to Michael of Dakmoor, Sophia’s brother). He has an acrimonious relationship with Michael, the two having gotten into a physical altercation in 2014 some months after Nathan married Sophia. According to eye-witnesses, after a verbal argument, Michael punched Nathan twice in the face, causing him to fall down the steps of the grand ballroom of the Imperial Palace. Despite Michael’s actions being in violation of Imperial Law, the Emperor took no action, though Michael has since the altercation spent far less time at the Imperial Palace.
The Imperial Court under Nathan has been rumored to be rife with corruption, cronyism and fiscal indiscipline, with his favorites largely abusing positions of power and influence. This has led to inconsistent and often arbitrary imperial policies, many of which only have marginal input from the Emperor himself. His cousin Princess Cassandra in her position as Imperial Manus and Lady Protector has been implicated in widespread corruption of the Imperial Court, though none from the Imperial Court have commented publicly about this, due to fears of whistleblower retaliation. This situation has been exacerbated by additional pardons for corruption charges issued by Imperial Justicar Prince Leo, leading to further divides and in-fighting at court.
Titles, styles, honours and arms
| Styles of Nathan IV, Emperor of Ghant | |
|---|---|
| |
| Reference style | His Imperial Majesty |
| Spoken style | Your Imperial Majesty |
| Alternative style | Your Majesty (less formal) |
Titles and styles
From birth, he was afforded the title of Prince Imperial of Ghant as the heir apparent to his father, the Crown Prince. He also was given various courtesy titles by his grandfather to supplement his position.
- 14 January 1988 – 31 April 1994: His Imperial Highness The Prince Imperial
- 31 April 1994 – 19 May 1997: His Imperial Highness The Crown Prince
- 19 May 1997 – present: His Majesty The Emperor
Nathan’s full title since becoming Emperor is: His Majesty, Nathan, the Fourth of His Name, Emperor of Ghant, High King of the Ghantar, King of Low Ghant, Lord of Ghish and Protector of the Realm
Honors
Aretias: Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Star and Crescent 
Gelonia: Knight of the Most Noble and Distinguished Order of the Clover 
Kostritz: Knight Grand Cross of the Ducal Order of Kostritz 
Latium: Knight of the Ancient Equestrian Order 
Lyncanestria: Grand Cordon and Star of the Most Excellent Order of the Imperial Lion- Lyncanestria: Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Golden Sceptre
- Lyncanestria: Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Robert File:Order of Saint Robert Grand Cross.png
Montgisard: Knight of the Order of the White Elephant 
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Dynastic honors
House of Hazaraspid: Knight of the Order of the Senmurv 
House of Rahdenburg: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Rahdenburg 
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Issue
| Name | Birth | Death | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| By Sophia, Princess Royal of Dakmoor | |||
| Sara, Princess Imperial | 8 November 2014 | ||
| Nathan, Crown Prince of Ghant | 8 November 2014 | ||
| High Prince John of Ghant | 8 November 2014 | ||
| High Princess Valerie of Ghant | 1 January 2016 | ||
| High Prince Nicholas of Ghant | 21 March 2018 | ||
| High Prince William of Ghant | 10 January 2020 | ||
| By Princess Gaudentia of Roazhon | |||
| Prince Victor of Ghant | 15 September 2015 | ||
| Princess Valentia of Ghant | 14 February 2017 | ||
| By Athina, Duchess of Astantium | |||
| Sophia of Astantium | 14 July 2016 | ||
| Titania of Astantium | 2 September 2019 | ||
| By Madeline of Mauchatel | |||
| Princess Blanche of Ghant | 10 April 2016 | ||
| Princess Noire of Ghant | 23 November 2017 | ||
| Prince Philip of Ghant | 23 September 2019 | ||
| By Cécile Palèmier | |||
| Princess Emma of Ghant | 18 April 2016 | ||
| Princess Christine of Ghant | 2 November 2019 | ||
| By Damaspia Berkar | |||
| Princess Lelia of Ghant | 19 January 2017 | ||
| By Alienor of Turenne | |||
| Ella of Ghant | 22 October 2017 | ||
| Emilie of Ghant | 15 September 2019 | ||
Ancestors
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