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Belzhasar I, the 1st Emperor of the Ethuveraz
The first Ethuverazheise emperor is a figure shrouded in mystery and myth, and there are very few certainties. One is that Belzhasar was the ruler of an area approximately one quarter the size of what is now the East Ethuveraz: from Cairado up to the Osreialhalan, and as far east as Nelozho. It is purported that he was the first to control an area of this size. It is also believed that Belzhasar was the first leader to successfully enforce the peaceful passing of his power to his son.
There is some discussion among philologists as to whether the Ethuverazheise word “zhas”, meaning “emperor”, originates in Belzhasar’s cognomen, or Belzhasar’s cognomen was selected as an expression of the existing word.
Belzhasar II, the 2nd Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belzhasar III, the 3rd Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belzhasar IV, the 4th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belzhasar V, the 5th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belhelemar I, the 6th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belhelemar II, the 7th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belrovanar I, the 8th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belrovanar II, the 9th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belrovanar III, the 10th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belhelemar III, the 11th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belhelemar IV, the 12th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belhelemar V, the 13th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belmelivar I, the 14th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
One of the few early emperors of whom detailed record survives, Belmelivar I was known as a prodigious cartographer and proponent of the ordering of nature to the better service of civilisation. While unlike many other emperors of his era he did not push the borders of his domain outwards, he did much that made it possible for his successors to expand with such zeal.
He prioritised careful monitoring of food supplies, founded the imperial grain reserve, and lowered the taxes due from farming families, reasoning that a country must be fed before anything else can be achieved. His extensive records of the area are still copied and studied today, though of course some of the landscapes have changed.
Belsedresar I, the 15th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Beldeshenar I, the 16th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belhabrobar I, the 17th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belzhasar VI, the 18th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belzhasar VII, the 19th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belmelivar II, the 20th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belzhasar VIII, the 21st Emperor of the Ethuveraz
The last emperor to use the same cognomen as the very first, Belzhasar VIII was also known as ‘the banner emperor’. As with many early emperors, little record survives but his name and a few isolated facts. The sobriquet ‘the banner emperor’ is thought to refer to the ‘calling of the banners’, the old term for the act of an emperor summoning his lords to him, usually in advance of a battle of some kind. Reports of Belzhasar VIII’s territory are conflicting, suggesting a great deal of change during his reign, possibly as the result of conflict with the territories surrounding it.
Belzhasar VIII is known to have had no children, and to have passed the throne to his younger brother.
Belmelivar III, the 22nd Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Beltarinar I, the 23rd Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Beltarinar II, the 24th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Beltarinar III, the 25th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Beltarinar IV, the 26th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Beltarinar V, the 27th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Beltarinar VI, the 28th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Beltarinar VII, the 29th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belrovanar IV, the 30th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Beltarinar VIII, the 31st Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Beltarinar IX, the 32nd Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Beltarinar X, the 33rd Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belherren I, the 34th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belherren II, the 35th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belherren III, the 36th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belrenowet I, the 37th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belrenowet II, the 38th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belrenowet has the (some would say dubious) honour of being the emperor most overshadowed, in historical record, by the actions of his wife – Irino Drazharan, known as Irino the Fierce. Belrenowet had a comparatively difficult reign; contemporary accounts state that he had trouble commanding his lords and it is suggested by some scholars that he may have had some form of speech impediment, as well as several long illnesses. Irino Drazharan was reportedly dedicated to him, and scandalously led a number of military campaigns on his behalf.
As with many of the early emperors, nearly as much information about Belrenowet is hearsay and fable as it is fact; we do know, however, that he was the first emperor to commission a portrait of himself, and though it has since been lost there are existing copies that are thought to be faithful.
Belrenowet III, the 39th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belrenowet IV, the 40th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belrenowet V, the 41st Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belrenowet VI, the 42nd Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belherren IV, the 43rd Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belherren V, the 44th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belherren VI, the 45th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belherren VII, the 46th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belshadar I, the 47th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belshadar II, the 48th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belkador I, the 49th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Beltharien I, the 50th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belmorigar I, the 51st Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Though all the Ethuverazheise emperors would have had arrangements made for their personal security, Belmorigar was the first emperor to have nohecharei in the current understanding of the term – a select group who dedicated their lives to defending the emperor. For his purposes this consisted of a group of eight highly skilled soldiers who were dedicated to his personal safety and guarded him in two shifts of four.
Belmorigar formalised much around the imperial position and the Drazhada, and commissioned the first formal ‘History of Drazhadeise Emperors’, copies of which still exist, though the content is highly fictionalised and was likely used as a form of propaganda. Belmorigar’s reign was well-organised and tightly focused on steady gains to his territory, a pattern which characterised his heirs for several generations.
Belmorigar II, the 52nd Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belmorigar III, the 53rd Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belmorigar IV, the 54th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belmorigar V, the 55th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belmorigar VI, the 56th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belrenowet VII, the 57th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belmorigar VII, the 58th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belmorigar VIII, the 59th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belmorigar IX, the 60th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Beltanthiar I, the 61st Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Beltanthiar II, the 62nd Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belmorigar X, the 63rd Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belmorigar X reigned for forty years, and most of his notable acts surrounded the army and the security of the Ethuveraz. A great admirer of military prowess, he established the first medals for Ethuverazheise soldiers and is the originator of several longstanding military ceremonies. Belmorigar additionally made a number of changes to the nohecharei, a group of eight soldiers at the time, setting in stone rules around privacy, dedication, and lifestyle that still govern nohecharei today. He did attempt to involve mazei in the arrangement, but this was declined by the Athmaz’are, possibly due to the otherwise poor relations they had with the throne. Mazei would not join the nohecharei for some years (see entry for Belochlasen III).
Belmorigar’s four sons all died in combat, forcing him to pass the throne to his nephew.
Belvesenar I, the 64th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Beltanthiar III, the 65th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belvorsina I, the 66th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Beltharien II, the 67th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Beltharien III, the 68th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belsarinar I, the 69th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belvorsina II, the 70th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belthelema I, the 71st Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Ruling more than three-quarters of what is now East Ethuveraz, from the Osreialhalan in the north to Puzhvarno in the south, Belthelema established a number of structures that still persist in today’s Ethuveraz. He was the first emperor to locate the ruling seat in Cetho, instead of the various more central locations that previous emperors had chosen, usually based upon political expediency. In doing so he has been painted as the forerunner of the Conqueror, as Cetho is central to unified Ethuveraz; however, this is revisionist, as it is exceedingly unlikely that a unification was considered even possible at the time.
Belthelema I is also noted for the establishment of the Nevennamire, and his support of the construction of the Mazan’theileian in close proximity to his court.
Belmorigar XI, the 72nd Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belmorigar XII, the 73rd Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belvorsina III , the 74th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Known as the Emperor of Cities, Belvorsina III made civic infrastructure a focus of his reign. Though reports of the time indicate much of his work was part of a campaign to preserve his own place in history (and indeed, a great many north-eastern towns and cities retain his name on buildings, streets, and squares), the Ethuveraz nevertheless benefited immensely. Most notable among his work was the founding of the city of Amalo, previously a small market town that Belvorsina targeted as having the potential for growth. In the years of his reign construction on the city was immense, until the original town had grown to swallow several villages around it and become central to the silk trade.
Belvorsina is considered to be one of the more well-travelled emperors since the settling of the ruling seat in Cetho by his great-grandfather (see entry for Belthelema I), and his writings are the source of much of our current knowledge of the Ethuveraz of that era.
Belthelema II, the 75th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belthelema III, the 76th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belthelema IV, the 77th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belthelema V, the 78th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belhothen I, the 79th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belvesena II, the 80th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belhothen II, the 81st Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belsarinar II, the 82nd Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belsarinar II is among a select number of emperors to be more well-known for his personal endeavours than for his imperial policy. He was a talented poet of some renown, and his work translating earlier epic poetry is still the foundation of our current translations. He was particularly well known for his love poetry, still quoted and exchanged by romantic youths today, which consisted of over one hundred and fifty poems written over the course of his lifetime. Some were addressed to his wife, and others to a carefully anonymised person, and many scholars have conflicting theories as to who this was.
Belsarinar’s reign is also noted for strictly enforcing tax collection and developing trade on the Istandaärtha.
Belsarinar III, the 83rd Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belhothen III, the 84th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belthelema VI, the 85th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belthelema VII, the 86th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belthelema VIII, the 87th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belthelema IX, the 88th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
The average elf’s knowledge of Belthelema IX will surround his relationship with his wife. Valestho Drazharan was accused of treason by Belthelema’s brother while the emperor was away, and imprisoned in the Nevennamire. Upon his return, Belthelema broke all tradition and entered the prison personally in order to release her, condemning his brother to take her place. The facts of the motives behind these actions have been obscured by time and by several fanciful fictionalised versions, usually framing Valestho Drazharan as declining the romantic attentions of her husband’s brother, prompting his ire. There is no historical evidence for this premise.
Belthelema’s reign also saw improvements in the relationship between the Ethuveraz and Barizhan, which were unfortunately swiftly undone by his successor.
Belochlasen I, the 89th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belochlasen II, the 90th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belzhevedar I, the 91st Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belzhevedar II, the 92nd Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belzhevedar III, the 93rd Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belvesena III, the 94th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belvesena IV, the 95th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belvesena V, the 96th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belvesena VI, the 97th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belsamben I, the 98th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belochlasen III, the 99th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
The reign of Belochlasen III saw the first use of mazei as nohecharei. The complement was six, at the time: four soldiers and two mazei, with the four soldiers guarding the emperor in pairs and the two mazei following a more esoteric pattern of their own, leaning on unpredictability and the intimidating reputation of the Athmaz’are to fulfil their purpose. These were ordinary mazei; dachenmazei did not become required for nohecharei positions until the reign of Beltanthiar IV (see below).
Belochlasen is also noted for engaging in an extended feud with the judiciate of the time regarding the laws of inheritance, which required the eldest son provide support for non-inheriting children. Reportedly, over the course of this dispute he destroyed all positive relationships with his fellow Drazhada. He was widely considered a selfish and unpleasant man, and inspired a popular folk song about the consequences of greed.
Belochlasen IV, the 100th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Beltharien IV, the 101st Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Beltharien V, the 102nd Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Beltharien V’s reign started well, if unremarkably – he had an interest in breeding horses, and the court stables saw great improvements during his tenure, but he was not notable for anything in particular beyond that. Unfortunately, he was struck by an illness (possibly consumption, but his medical information was never made public) after only eight years on the throne which never fully left him, rendering him dependent on his Lord Chancellor and senior government and only rarely appearing before his court or people. While Beltharien survived another twenty years after his initial illness, his hold on his throne was tenuous at best.
The Untheileneise Court became a precarious place during this time period, beginning the descent into the sharp factions of the so-called ‘Courtly War’ which would last several reigns.
Belvesena VII, the 103rd Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belsamben II, the 104th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belsamben III, the 105th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belsamben III is known for having had the shortest reign of any Ethuverazheise emperor, as he was assassinated after just four days on the throne. This is commonly framed as the peak of the so-called “Courtly War”, an intense period of political backstabbing, undercutting, and violent tactics among the senior nobility of the Untheileneise Court. Interestingly, Belsamben’s assassination was not attributed to any of the nobility but rather an unidentified anarchist commoner, who took advantage of the chaos. Later research has suggested this individual was a fiction invented to allow a “clean slate” upon the ascension of Belmidar I and to ensure the related suspension of hostilities amongst the nobility.
Belmidar I, the 106th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belmidar II, the 107th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belsamben IV, the 108th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belvesena VIII, the 109th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belmaliven I, the 110th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Beltanthiar I, the 111th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Beltanthiar II, the 112th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Beltanthiar III, the 113th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
His father’s second son (the firstborn having died of a fever at an early age), Beltanthiar III was a reserved and patient emperor, known for preferring long term political manipulation over direct confrontation. He oversaw several shifts in the boundaries of what would later become the principalities, and was later accused of playing nobility against one another in order to achieve his goals.
Famously, Beltanthiar III survived an assassination attempt by the only maza to try to take the throne: Orava the Usurper. His first nohecharis, Hanevis Athmaza, was credited with his survival; both Hanevis Athmaza and Orava the Usurper died as a result.
Beltanthiar IV, the 114th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Known as a nervous child and an anxious young man, Beltanthiar IV was very sheltered by his father after his older brother was killed by Orava the Usurper during the latter’s attempt on the throne. This undoubtedly contributed to his focus on safety throughout his reign – a focus some historians have labelled paranoia, though that is perhaps unfair. Beltanthiar IV was responsible for great increases in the security of the imperial family, expanding the size of the Untheileneise Guard threefold, and adding both rules and laws limiting access to the imperial person.
He had a relatively quiet reign, and produced nine children – the highest number of legitimate children of any emperor to date.
Belmidar III, the 115th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
The eldest son and third eldest child of nine, Belmidar III oversaw a great expansion in the size of the Drazhada, and the challenge of finding his siblings, their spouses, and their children all appropriate positions in court was the defining feature of his reign. Popular legend says the high number of family disputes prompted one prominent politician to state ‘the Drazhada are not a family, they are an altercation’.
While Belmidar III suffered no direct challenges to his throne, the constant adversity among his various relations and lack of reliable familial support severely limited his ability to pursue imperial policy and act as an emperor should. He achieved little in his reign that was not minimal or ultimately reversed, and his frequent changes in stance to accommodate the changing battlefield of the family caused him to be viewed as unreliable and even amoral.
He was survived by a singular son, and had no other children.
Belmaliven II, the 116th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belmaliven III, the 117th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belmaliven III reigned over a period of great difficulty in Ethuverazheise history, particularly famous for the two-year drought that led to great food supply problems across the country. Where many of the nobility resorted to stockpiling and protecting their own, however, Belmaliven famously declared that he would have no Ethuverazheise citizen starve if it could be avoided. He did not quite achieve his aim in totality, but he made great improvements to the ways in which the Ethuveraz handled such events in future, as well as undoubtedly reducing the loss of life by a considerable degree – some historians believe the death toll would have been almost double without his actions.
Belmaliven’s second wife provided him with three children, all boys, the youngest of whom succeeded him.
Belzhivar I, the 118th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belzhivar II, the 119th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belvesena IX, the 120th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Beltanthiar V, the 121st Emperor of the Ethuveraz
A child emperor who did not live to adulthood, Beltanthiar V is often used as the quintessential example in warning of the dangers of inheriting power too young. While the records of the time were altered considerably, later research indicates that his steward (later Belvesena X, see next entry) held the loyalty of Beltanthiar’s nohecharei, and upon establishing his own allegiances among the court and the government Beltanthiar was initially kept in the Alcethmeret tower for some months before dying of a supposed illness at the age of eleven. His treasonous nohecharei went on to serve his successor, and it is this circumstance that led to the law banning any nohecharei from serving more than one emperor.
Beltanthiar V’s reign lasted three years in strict legal terms.
Belvesena X, the 122nd Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belmaliven IV, the 123rd Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belmaliven IV had one of the shorter reigns of the Drazhada line, at five years; his sudden death, as will be seen by the following entries, led to considerable political turbulence.
During his reign, Belmaliven was known for his cautious politics and reluctance to accept change. This gave him a great deal of standing among the nobility of court, while putting him at odds with those further away as they struggled with several difficult harvests and a turbulent common population. He was also noted for having an interest in more thoroughly mapping the Osreiahalan mountains, something that would not be achieved for another two hundred years. Belmaliven IV had two sons, who were eight and seven years old when he died. He was succeeded by his younger brother (see following entry).
Belmaliven V, the 124th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belmaliven V succeeded his older brother on the latter’s unexpected death, and found himself ruling over a court which was much opposed to his presence. Unlike his brother, Belmaliven V showed a strong interest in modernising aspects of the Ethuveraz. He was already married when he came to the throne, but as his beloved wife was barren he elected to keep his nephews as the next in line rather than remarrying to produce his own heirs.
He was deposed and murdered in the second year of his reign, and replaced by his eldest nephew (see following entry).
Belvesena XI, the 125th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belvesena XI was placed on the throne aged ten after his uncle was deposed and murdered. His regent was Emris Drazhar, his first cousin once removed. As a child emperor, Belvesena had no impact on public policy and very little public presence at court, appearing only for ceremonial purposes and spending the rest of his time under heavy guard in the Alcethmeret with his younger brother.
He was known for his ill-health, and was removed from the throne before he could turn sixteen. The manner and exact date of his death are unknown, but murder is presumed.
Belmaliven VI, the 126th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
One of the only child emperors to survive into adulthood and have an otherwise normal reign, Belmaliven VI ascended the throne aged fifteen under the same regent who had served his brother. While it cannot be proven, there is some circumstantial evidence to suggest that Belmailven VI’s nohecharei may have quietly caused the illness and death of his regent, allowing him to take control of his country with more freedom only three months after turning sixteen.
As an adult emperor, Belmaliven VI’s dedication to the rule of law was strict and all-encompassing. He studied the law in a more formal way than was common for the time, and paid sharp attention to criminal cases.
Belgaret I, the 127th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belgaret II, the 128th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Beltharien VI, the 129th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belmorigar XIII, the 130th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belmorigar XIII was adopted into the imperial line, having been born to the first cousin of the previous emperor. By all accounts he was well-liked as heir, having embarked early on a campaign to win supporters for what might otherwise have been seen as a dubiously legitimate candidacy for the throne. As emperor, this drive to placate those around him turned into a disadvantage; by the end of his reign he had achieved no significant political progress in any direction, and many courtiers regarded him with disdain.
His marriage was also famously poor, with the imperial couple known to barely speak to one another even on state occasions once their son was born.
Beltharien VII, the 131st Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Beltharien VIII, the 132nd Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Beltharien VIII was, most unusually, the grandson of his predecessor rather than his son. Beltharien’s father died not long after his son was born, and before he could inherit the throne; Beltharien therefore took power at the age of seventeen, one of the youngest adult emperors.
He was, reportedly, a stickler for proper form and ceremony, and his reign saw the first use of the imperial bell to mark births, deaths, and marriages among the Drazhada. The same bell remains in use in the Untheileneise Court today, though its use is now limited to incidents directly affecting the imperial line.
Belvechelar I, the 133rd Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belvechelar II, the 134th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belvechelar III, the 135th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belvechelar IV, the 136th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belvechelar V, the 137th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belvechelar VI, the 138th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belgaret III, the 139th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belgaret III is most famous for being one of the main subjects of the opera ‘Polisar and Tanet’ – he was born a twin, and his reign was challenged by supporters of his younger brother who accused his mother of switching them in their cradles and thereby changing who would inherit the throne. The opera is almost entirely fiction, as Belgaret’s brother in fact expressed no interest in the throne and left the Drazhada to become a cleric of Orshan. The two men were reputedly on good terms for all of Belgaret’s reign, a far cry from the treacheries and passions often depicted on the stage.
Belgaret’s reign was characterised by his focus on religion and his adherence to religious principles; he had strong ties to the prelacy, which therefore rose in power and influence over the course of his thirty-four years on the throne.
Belgaret IV, the 140th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belgaret V, the 141st Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belgaret VI, the 142nd Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belrovanar V, the 143rd Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belrovanar VI, the 144th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belrovanar VII, the 145th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belmaliven VII, the 146th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belmaliven VII, the 147th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belmaliven IX, the 148th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
The last Belmaliven to rule, Belmaliven IX originated the concept of a so-called “three points” system in Ethuverazheise government: the delicate balance of power between the Parliament, the Judiciate, and the Corazhas. This system persists to the present day, and has done much to stabilise the process of government and avoid excessive in-fighting.
Belmaliven’s reign was comparatively short, at just fourteen years, due to his age upon gaining the throne (seventy-three); he oversaw the beginnings of significant changes to laws around imprisonment which would be pursued throughout the reign of his son (see following entry).
Belsomivar I, the 149th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belsomivar II, the 150th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belsomivar III, the 151st Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belsomivar IV, the 152nd Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belhothen IV, the 153rd Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belhothen IV’s reign saw the now infrequently discussed “servants’ rebellion”. A series of strikes and similar mass actions that predominately occurred among the servants of nobility, it achieved particular success at the Untheileneise Court. Reportedly, the emperor’s edocharei were instrumental to many of the events in question, and it has been speculated that the strikes were permitted not only to occur but to be successful in many ways due to Belhothen’s distrust of his court. It is possible that he intended the energy spent in response to these events would allow some of the inter-nobility machinations to ease.
Belhothen IV was a highly unpopular emperor among the nobility, and many written accounts of his reign are extremely negative in tone. There are few existing texts that acknowledge the existence of the “servants’ rebellion” and many citizens of the Ethuveraz today will never learn of it.
Belhothen V, the 154th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belsomivar V, the 155th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Belsomivar VI, the 156th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
The last of the ‘Bel’ emperors and the father of Edrevenivar the Conqueror (see following entry), Belsomivar is often passed by unremarked by historians and scholars. It is true that his reign held little of the dramas and dangers that draw interest to other emperors, but this lack of surface-level glamour obscures the relevance Belsomivar’s reign has to the modern-day Ethuveraz.
Belsomivar VI was deeply preoccupied with the function of Parliament, and his writings on its purpose and regulation were key to the establishment of the House of Commons by his grandson, amidst considerable controversy. He also introduced many laws around the silk trade that still strengthen it today.
While his quiet manipulation of relationships with nobles in the Western Ethuveraz was a part of what enabled his son’s unification, he was noted for having a horror of warfare and opposing violence as a solution.
Edrevenivar the Conqueror, 157th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Perhaps the most well-known of the Ethuverazheise emperors, Edrevenivar the Conqueror unified the Eastern and Western Ethuveraz, forming the country as it stands today. This expansion was the largest in Ethuverazheise history, and cemented the power of the Ethuveraz in the eyes of its neighbours.
Known as Edrevenivar the Bloody by what became Western Ethuveraz, Edrevenivar also drastically increased the use of house symbols – these were prominently shown on the field of battle, allowing for easier large-scale coordination, and developed into the complex system of symbolism seen at court today.
His cognomen was the first to use the prefix Edre-, a fitting reflection of the turning point marked by his reign. All emperors until the Varedeise dynasty continued this tradition, though none used his exact cognomen.
Edrenechibel I, the 158th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Edrenechibel II, the 159th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Edrenechibel III, the 160th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Edrevenitar I, the 161st Emperor of the Ethuveraz
By all accounts a mild and well-mannered child, Edrevenitar I shocked both the Drazhada and the court as a whole by refusing marriage entirely and declining to give a reason. When he eventually ascended to the throne, he formally adopted the child of a distant cousin as his heir, with a mixed response from the Ethuveraz. This singular eccentricity aside, Edrevenitar I was an otherwise unremarkable emperor whose reign did not contain any particularly dramatic achievements or failures.
He was succeeded successfully by his adopted heir. However, this success was temporary; see entry for Edrevenitar II.
Edrevenitar II, the 162nd Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Edrenechibel IV, the 163rd Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Edrehasivar I, the 164th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Edrenechibel V, the 165th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Edrenechibel V is notable for his overhaul of the treasury, and will be known to the elf on the street as the first emperor to have had his likeness embossed on the coinage of the realm. His financial overhaul was sorely needed, as since the unification of east and west some three hundred years before, adjustments to accommodate the larger geography and population had been ad hoc, inconsistent, and of dubious merit.
As with any significant changes to the tax system, his actions met with considerable resistance, in this case among the Eastern lords, who felt his terms were too generous and that the conquered west (despite the centuries since unification) should be contributing more. This resulted in two failed attempts on his life, which in turn resulted in several executions. The son of one of the executed men successfully assassinated Edrenechibel some six years later.
Edrehasivar II, the 166th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Edrenechibel VI, the 167th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Edrenechibel VII, the 168th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Edretanthiar I, the 169th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Preceded by a string of highly traditional, highly conservative emperors, Edretanthiar I was considered by many to be a breath of fresh air. He approached every aspect of his role as emperor with an analytical mind, and pursued efficiency in all areas of government. While his willingness to incorporate new ideas was lauded by many, he did not enjoy universal popularity, with others of the court objecting either to changes to their familiar processes or o what they saw as efficiency to a damaging excess.
His successes in this enterprise allowed his successors to pursue their goals with fewer restrictions, but also permitted government to act more swiftly in cases of emergency. A great deal of governmental infrastructure has grown more complicated since his era, but many agree that his acts ‘cleared the floor’ for improvements that benefit the current Ethuveraz.
He was succeeded by his nephew, whom he adopted as a son after his own son died of a wasting illness.
Edretanthiar II, the 170th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Edretantivar I , the 171st Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Edretanthiar III, the 172nd Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Edretanthiar III had the longest reign in Ethuverazheise history (for the shortest reign, see the entry for Belsamben III). Edretanthiar III ascended the throne at twenty-one due to his father’s sudden and fatal illness, amid accusations of patricide that seem to have had little other than circumstantial evidence. He died, passing the throne to his more volatile son, at the age of ninety-seven.
His reign was largely peaceful internally, but saw a series of clashes with neighbouring countries. Notably, Edretanthiar held Estelveriär and Celvaz in particular disdain, refusing to offer favourable trading arrangements and using the comparative weight and scale of the Ethuveraz to push for what he felt entitled to. These strained relations had a lasting impact on international diplomacy.
Edrevechelar I, the 173rd Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Edrevechelar II, the 174th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Edrevechelar’s delicate negotiations with Estelveriär and Celvaz were instrumental in undoing the damage of his grandfather’s reign, at least as far as possible. Both countries remained politically cautious around the Ethuveraz for several generations, but steady trading was maintained and eventually developed into more comfortable alliances.
Edrevechelar II was also noted for considerable political contention over the coal mining industry in the northern regions of the Ethuveraz; public opinion on the topic shifted drastically back and forth over the twenty years that several complex disputes took to resolve, and many commentors of the time applauded Edrevechelar’s careful handling of the issue.
Edrevechelar III, the 175th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Edrevechelar IV, the 176th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Edrevechelar IV is the quintessential example of an emperor who was much loved by his court, and detested by his government. He was known for his elaborate and near-constant parties and celebrations as prince, and many hoped his father would displace him from the line of inheritance in favour of his younger brother. He did not; Edrevechelar IV reigned for twenty years in a style of excess, extravagance and recklessness that has yet to be met in another Ethuverazheise emperor. His imperial policies changed on a whim, he was often facetious and contrary in correspondence with his Lord Chancellor, and he was eventually removed from his position by a formal and impressively unified motion of government.
He was succeeded by his younger brother, and is one of the few emperors to have outlived his own reign by any substantial amount of time.
Edretanthiar IV, the 177th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Edrevechelar V, the 178th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Edrehasivar III, 179th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Edrehasivar III is more frequently referred to by his sobriquet, ‘the widow emperor’. His wife, Ristino Drazharan, died young in the first year of his reign after giving birth to their third child and only son. Edrehasivar’s grief was famously persistent; he wore mourning colours for the rest of his thirty-four-year reign, never remarried, and made weekly visits to his wife’s tomb.
Despite this preoccupation, he was regarded as a reasonable emperor. His politics were moderate and he was wise enough not to require his extended mourning be mirrored by his court. He oversaw an increase in trade with surrounding countries, and supported the expansion of the town of Nelozho into a larger city.
Edrehasivar IV, the 180th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Edrehasivar V, the 181st Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Edrehasivar VI, 182nd Emperor of the Ethuveraz
A lesser-known emperor to the average elf, Edrehasivar VI’s reign was both peaceful and largely prosperous. He oversaw a number of diplomatic successes, none dramatic, but all laying the foundations for the security that would empower many of his successors in their various ventures. Notably, his quiet political overtures to the Hasperin nobles in the south of Barizhan were fundamental in acquiring the prodigious amount of stone, marble and otherwise, that were needed to build the current Untheileneise Court several generations later.
He died at the age of ninety-seven, after a reign of thirty-one years, and was peacefully succeeded by his eldest son. He is, as of yet, the last Edrehasivar to rule, and with the recent change to varen- as an imperial prefix this is likely to remain the case.
Edrevechelar VI, the 183rd Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Edretanthiar V, the 184th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Edrethelema III, 185th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
As the architect of the current Untheileneise Court, Edrethelema III is unlikely to be forgotten. The court had long since swelled beyond the capacity of the original structure, with many courtiers spending weeks or months of the year away for their own comfort. The Mazan’theileian had been completed in his father’s reign, and Edrethelema III felt that it overshadowed the court in its quality and elegance, something he determined to amend.
The tremendous scale of the undertaking has yet to be matched in Ethuverazheise history: Edrethelema needed more space than the current court allowed for, and therefore his work included dramatically expanding Cetho and relocating its common people from their more central origins to the so-called “ring city” that can be seen today. It is estimated that more than eighty thousand people were moved, and the entire project lasted through the reigns of four emperors before it was completed.
Edrethelema IV, 186th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
One of the four emperors whose reign saw the construction of the current Untheileneise Court, Edrethelema IV had aided his father in its design. Among his contributions were the design of the Alcethmeret nursery, the concept of preventing any overlook of the Alcethmeret gardens, and the style of the floor of the Untheileian. He is also credited with supporting the growth and development of the Mazan’theileian.
He was noted, during his reign, for his dislike of public appearances, as well as a stronger than typical disdain for the common people. Alongside policies which rewarded the wealthy and often caused disproportionate consequence to the poor, this made him a widely disliked emperor. He reigned for twenty-four years and passed the throne to his son.
Edrethelema V, the 187th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
One of the four emperors whose reign saw the construction of the modern Untheileneise Court, this progress saw severe delays during Edrethelema IV’s time due to a rebellion against the Drazhada. Led by the Pevennada, this rebellion had complicated origins which have been greatly obfuscated in historical record by sabotage, retrospective revisions, and the competing propaganda of the time. It is clear is that a major inciting incident was the execution of Usteris Pevenar, along with a series of fires along the northern bans of the Tetara; however beyond these facts, almost every event has multiple possible versions and interpretations.
While the severe delays prevented much progress on less urgent areas, Edrethelema V pushed substantial amounts from the imperial funds into the security and defences of the court. The structure had already been designed with the imperial security in mind, but Edrethelema’s changes made it much more formidable.
Edrethelema VI, 188th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Edrethelema VI was the last emperor of the four who contributed to the construction of the current Untheileneise Court; it was completed in the twelfth year of his reign. By his coronation it was, therefore, largely complete, but Edrethelema nevertheless had significant input: the development of pneumatic messaging systems had attracted his interest, and he delayed the construction in order to add more than twenty miles of tube for the purposes of efficient court communication. This remains in use today. Edrethelema additionally pushed for additions to the staff areas that encouraged more staff to lodge at the court itself, rather than in Cetho.
Edrethelema VI was also noted for a number of mistresses and affairs that shocked even besides the lax standards of his court. He was succeeded by his second son after disinheriting the first for reasons never made public.
Edrevechelar VII, the 189th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Edrevechelar VIII, 190th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Edrevechelar VIII was the first of a series of emperors who oversaw a significant shift in the cultural mores of the Ethuveraz. Edrevechelar disapproved of frivolity and promoted the prioritising of the family line among nobility. Lines of inheritance had always been significant to the Ethuverazheise upper classes, but Edrevechelar and his successors brought interest in it to a near-obsessive level. It was Edrevechelar who commissioned work describing, for the first time, the full length of the imperial line, claiming Belzhasar I as the first emperor, and claiming direct descendance from such.
During his reign, laws around family relations became stricter in many ways – from inheritance laws to marital entitlements, these legal complexities remain characteristic of today’s Ethuveraz. Edrevechelar also notably barred women from a number of positions, including the role of house steward, though this was overturned by a later emperor.
Edrethelema VII, the 191st Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Edrethelema VIII, 192nd Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Edrevechelar IX, the 193rd Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Edresomivar I, 194th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Edresomivar’s curse is a phrase now fading from public use, but it was once the common term for a man whose marriage resulted only in a multitude of daughters, potentially resulting in the dissipation of the house. Obviously the Drazhada survived its own brush with this situation, but Edresomivar I had many years of navigating a hostile and anxious court due to his lack of a direct heir to the throne.
While they were perceived by the court and the country as an extreme disadvantage, even a danger, Edresomivar I himself wrote positively of his five daughters in his personal record. He referred to them as his ‘courtly hunting cats’ and encouraged their political educations, allowing them more choice in their marriages than was typical of the era.
Edresomivar’s throne was passed to the son of his eldest daughter.
Edrevechelar X, the 195th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Edrevechelar XI, the 196th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Edresomivar II, 197th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
While the imperial family has always had the highest standards of education, Edresomivar II is known for being one of the few Ethuverazheise emperors to have become a notable scholar in his own right. He was permitted by his father to attend university, where he studied the natural sciences for a time before broadening his field. By the time of his death he had written fourteen books on a variety of subjects including natural science, philology, architecture, and history. He was reputed to host lectures at court, where attendance often impacted a courtier’s political standing.
While apparently a doting husband with a devoted wife, he produced no heirs. He was succeeded by his nephew, and this shift marks the beginning of a series of extreme swings in imperial politics (see following entry).
Edrevechelar XII, 198th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
The nephew of his predecessor, Edrevechelar XII was the first emperor since the Bel- era to marry outside not just his empire, but outside the entirety of the Ethuveraz. His wife was the eldest daughter of the ruler of Ilinveriär, and was much disliked by the court for her unusual manners of speaking and dress, as well as her tendency to manipulate others beyond what the court considered acceptable bounds. Edrevechelar was indifferent towards her and, in drastic contrast to his predecessor, ruled both his country and his court without subtlety or caution.
Duels between courtiers became increasingly common during his reign, with Edrevechelar himself involved on several occasions. In one famous incident, Edrevechelar lost an index finger, but continued to promote duelling as the optimum way to settle an argument or prove one’s courage. His tendency to provoke arguments nearly led to war with Ilinveriär towards the end of his reign, with only his zhasan’s intervention sufficing to prevent it.
Edrenechibel VIII, the 199th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Edrevechelar XIII, the 200th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Edrevechelar XIV, the 201st Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Edrevechelar XV, the 202nd Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Edrevechelar XVI, the 203rd Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Varenechibel I, the 204th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
The first of the so-called ‘Varedeise dynasty’, Varenechibel I was the first to use a new imperial prefix since Edrevenivar the Conqueror. Politically, he was known for strongly isolationist policies which cooled relations with Barizhan, and for favouring wealthy eastern nobility including the Rohethada and the Ormevada. More personally he had a notable interest in hunting, a hobby which was common among the nobility and grew more popular with the emperor’s encouragement. He introduced a number of laws to prevent the common people sharing hunting ground with the nobility.
His reign saw an increase in corruption and nepotism that would continue to develop under the eyes of his successors.
Varenechibel II, the 205th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Varenechibel III, the 206th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Varevesena I, the 207th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
Varenechibel IV, the 208th Emperor of the Ethuveraz
The last of the Varedeise dynasty to date, Varenechibel IV was known for his political obfuscation, preferring to keep his stances on political matters private until the moment arose and avoiding disclosing his reasoning wherever possible. He supported the beginnings of the political push towards bridging the Istandaärtha, and pursued a number of anti-corruption measures designed for parliament.
Varenechibel IV was also notable for having several marriages, with his first wife being put aside for barrenness; his second, third, and fourth wives predeceasing him; and his fifth wife surviving to be his widow. He and his three eldest sons were assassinated when their airship was sabotaged, and his throne passed to his youngest, formerly relegated son.