Cyrelius Kalarios
Regent/Emperor and Autocrat of the Rasenna Cyrelius Kalarios (a.k.a. The Pale Death)
The last regent of future Emperor Aurakios, came to power after throwing a coup against his former commander Tzimikus Monomachus. Successfully defended the empire in wars against the Drassids and confederacies of Herodi tribes.
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
Cyrelius is seen as the direct opposite of his contemporary Tzimikus Monomachus, while the general was a broad-shouldered, stout, and short figure, Cyrelius seems to be described as relatively tall with sloping shoulders, soft features and with an aura of elegance and lightness to his movements.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Few would have suspected Cyrelius Kalarios of becoming Emperor, his family, the Kalarii were a provincial family of poor repute as they had become characterized as court schemers and money lenders. Cyrelius was born in the southern Lakic town of Maninopoli. Very little is known about his childhood and upbringing, we know his father was a provincial worker, likely a moneylender and merchant. Cyrelius' mother would be known as an "actress" a term probably used to avoid calling her a prostitute in court and a fact that some of Cyrelius' opponents would use as fuel for denying his authority to rule legitimately in the stead of the still young Emperor Aurakios. Cyrelius is first mentioned as serving in the retinue of Georgios Stratiacus as secretary, a prominent position in the retinue of a prominent noble, brother of the empress, and commander under Emperor Dicorus. Cyrelius seems to have had endeared himself to the Emperor's court as he was brought in as an economic advisor and given a military command under Herus Tzimikus.
It was under Tzimikus that Cyrelius would gain significant military experience and would lead some raiding parties across the Oltune against Yarmeg and Beihan settlers. After this show of martial competence, Cyrelius was appointed as captain of the Cubrati guard, an esteemed position in the retinue of the imperial army. As the Curbati were stationed at the capital and tasked as guardians of the imperial palace, Cyrelius became well acquainted with the goings-on of the court in the capital and made many connections between himself and noble families and prominent commanders in the imperial Tagma. It was through these connections that Cyrelius seems to have grown an ambition for the imperial regency and became courting the favor and adoration of the empress Aetia Stratiacus.
The affair between the two was a closely kept secret among the circle of both party's allies as it would cause quite the scandal should it surface. Through access via his new lover, Cyrelius slowly devised his plot to usurp power from the hands of the unpopular regent, his old commander Tzimikus who had harshly irritated the nobility during his time in power. Looking for an opportunity to strike, Cyrelius found it sometime later when Tzimikus dismissed and imprisoned Evistrus Attaliates, the acting captain of the Cubrati and a man with a collection of contacts still in the palace, Cyrelius being one such man. Through exchanged and coded letters the two men coordinated a plan where Attaliates was secretly freed of his imprisonment via forged letters of the regent and made his way to the capital where he and Cyrelius would overthrow and assassinate the regent. Finding their way into the imperial bed-chamber via an unlocked door thanks to empress Aetia who had laid with the regent that night, the two conspirators and a number of their allies snuck in and slew the regent as he slept. In the power vacuum that followed, Cyrelius was appointed as the new regent at the behest of the empress who she then married, sealing the appointment in familial bonds. After the coup, Cyrelius quietly had potential rivals for power assassinated with Attaliates among them.
Now acting regent and in firm control of the government and court, Cyrelius now had to win the support of the provincial theme troops who had backed Tzimikus previously. So began Cyrelius' campaigning on the frontier, beginning on the frontier of the Rhor where he batted away a possible uniting of several Herodi confederacies in the region. While in the west, wor came that the eastern Rasanids had made significant incursions into the eastern provinces and had crushed a few theme forces who had tried holding them off. The east was in turmoil and Cyrelius rushed east accompanied by the full might of the imperial Tagma and significant theme troops in the region. A showdown with the Rasanids came when the two sides met at the town of Bahlak where the imperial troops annihilated the Rasanid vanguard and pursued the remaining forces into their own territory. Cyrelius' conduct in enemy territory would be what won him the approval of the theme troops as he conducted a prudent and appropriately cautious campaign into the heartland of the shahdom. On the road to the enemy capital, the imperial army fended off the raiding parties of the enemy and finally arrived and encamped at the capital of Sura. Cyrelius would besiege the city for several months before taking, ransacking the capital and forcing a favorable treaty on the Rasanid Shah Arinzses III before returning home with splendid treasures, victory in the field, and an approving soldiery who came home telling tales of "The Pale Death of the Drassids" a nickname which in part would stick for the rest of the man's life.
Cyrelius returned to the capital in triumph and made the show of dedicating the victory to the emperor and his ward, Aurakios who benefited from the public perception as he drew closer to coming of age in his own right. It seems a bond between the two materialized at the behest of the empress Aetia and Cyrelius brought his own personal experience to bear for the young emperor, taking on a paternal figure for the boy who had been born shortly before his own father's passing. After his final campaign, Cyrelius settled into domestic policy and threw games and holidays in celebration of the recent imperial victories in the field and in a famous case, threw a massive citywide banquet for the emperor's 16th birthday which came to be regarded as among the most lavish festivities the city had seen in decades.
With Aurakios nearing adult age, Cyrelius reserved himself more and more as he seemingly eyed retirement. It seems Cyrelius had become much more content as he reigned, a contrast to his ruthless ambition nearly a decade ago which brought him to the seat of power. More and more, the regent handed the reins of the government over to the emperor and acted as a senior advisor to the young man in his final years in power. At this time, the regent and his imperial bride also seem to have had a son, a child who could prove a potential claimant for power, but this was not the case as the boy showed early signs of a severe learning impediment that forced him away from future public life. This case also seems to be a motivator for Cyrelius to peaceably retire as he seems to have generally wished to care for his son in a quiet respite, away from the dangers of power. So it came, in 698 B.E, the longtime boy emperor Aurakios finally donned his imperial regalia and assumed sole rule and bid his regent and stepfather a good rest and peaceable retirement. In retirement, Cyrelius was awarded a luxurious estate in the outskirts of Maninopoli, his place of birth, and an estate where he would act as caretaker for his son. This was the life that former court secretary, Cubrati captain, usurping magnate, and imperial regent would live for the rest of his days as the old guardian of Aurakios died peaceably in his bed at nearly ninety years of age. He left his estate to his grandchildren who would continue to be governmental figures in future imperial regimes for the next fifty years. Cyrelius seems to have had a large influence on his ward as Emperor Aurakios would commemorate the passing of his one-time guardian, simply stating
It was under Tzimikus that Cyrelius would gain significant military experience and would lead some raiding parties across the Oltune against Yarmeg and Beihan settlers. After this show of martial competence, Cyrelius was appointed as captain of the Cubrati guard, an esteemed position in the retinue of the imperial army. As the Curbati were stationed at the capital and tasked as guardians of the imperial palace, Cyrelius became well acquainted with the goings-on of the court in the capital and made many connections between himself and noble families and prominent commanders in the imperial Tagma. It was through these connections that Cyrelius seems to have grown an ambition for the imperial regency and became courting the favor and adoration of the empress Aetia Stratiacus.
The affair between the two was a closely kept secret among the circle of both party's allies as it would cause quite the scandal should it surface. Through access via his new lover, Cyrelius slowly devised his plot to usurp power from the hands of the unpopular regent, his old commander Tzimikus who had harshly irritated the nobility during his time in power. Looking for an opportunity to strike, Cyrelius found it sometime later when Tzimikus dismissed and imprisoned Evistrus Attaliates, the acting captain of the Cubrati and a man with a collection of contacts still in the palace, Cyrelius being one such man. Through exchanged and coded letters the two men coordinated a plan where Attaliates was secretly freed of his imprisonment via forged letters of the regent and made his way to the capital where he and Cyrelius would overthrow and assassinate the regent. Finding their way into the imperial bed-chamber via an unlocked door thanks to empress Aetia who had laid with the regent that night, the two conspirators and a number of their allies snuck in and slew the regent as he slept. In the power vacuum that followed, Cyrelius was appointed as the new regent at the behest of the empress who she then married, sealing the appointment in familial bonds. After the coup, Cyrelius quietly had potential rivals for power assassinated with Attaliates among them.
Now acting regent and in firm control of the government and court, Cyrelius now had to win the support of the provincial theme troops who had backed Tzimikus previously. So began Cyrelius' campaigning on the frontier, beginning on the frontier of the Rhor where he batted away a possible uniting of several Herodi confederacies in the region. While in the west, wor came that the eastern Rasanids had made significant incursions into the eastern provinces and had crushed a few theme forces who had tried holding them off. The east was in turmoil and Cyrelius rushed east accompanied by the full might of the imperial Tagma and significant theme troops in the region. A showdown with the Rasanids came when the two sides met at the town of Bahlak where the imperial troops annihilated the Rasanid vanguard and pursued the remaining forces into their own territory. Cyrelius' conduct in enemy territory would be what won him the approval of the theme troops as he conducted a prudent and appropriately cautious campaign into the heartland of the shahdom. On the road to the enemy capital, the imperial army fended off the raiding parties of the enemy and finally arrived and encamped at the capital of Sura. Cyrelius would besiege the city for several months before taking, ransacking the capital and forcing a favorable treaty on the Rasanid Shah Arinzses III before returning home with splendid treasures, victory in the field, and an approving soldiery who came home telling tales of "The Pale Death of the Drassids" a nickname which in part would stick for the rest of the man's life.
Cyrelius returned to the capital in triumph and made the show of dedicating the victory to the emperor and his ward, Aurakios who benefited from the public perception as he drew closer to coming of age in his own right. It seems a bond between the two materialized at the behest of the empress Aetia and Cyrelius brought his own personal experience to bear for the young emperor, taking on a paternal figure for the boy who had been born shortly before his own father's passing. After his final campaign, Cyrelius settled into domestic policy and threw games and holidays in celebration of the recent imperial victories in the field and in a famous case, threw a massive citywide banquet for the emperor's 16th birthday which came to be regarded as among the most lavish festivities the city had seen in decades.
With Aurakios nearing adult age, Cyrelius reserved himself more and more as he seemingly eyed retirement. It seems Cyrelius had become much more content as he reigned, a contrast to his ruthless ambition nearly a decade ago which brought him to the seat of power. More and more, the regent handed the reins of the government over to the emperor and acted as a senior advisor to the young man in his final years in power. At this time, the regent and his imperial bride also seem to have had a son, a child who could prove a potential claimant for power, but this was not the case as the boy showed early signs of a severe learning impediment that forced him away from future public life. This case also seems to be a motivator for Cyrelius to peaceably retire as he seems to have generally wished to care for his son in a quiet respite, away from the dangers of power. So it came, in 698 B.E, the longtime boy emperor Aurakios finally donned his imperial regalia and assumed sole rule and bid his regent and stepfather a good rest and peaceable retirement. In retirement, Cyrelius was awarded a luxurious estate in the outskirts of Maninopoli, his place of birth, and an estate where he would act as caretaker for his son. This was the life that former court secretary, Cubrati captain, usurping magnate, and imperial regent would live for the rest of his days as the old guardian of Aurakios died peaceably in his bed at nearly ninety years of age. He left his estate to his grandchildren who would continue to be governmental figures in future imperial regimes for the next fifty years. Cyrelius seems to have had a large influence on his ward as Emperor Aurakios would commemorate the passing of his one-time guardian, simply stating
"May his bones rest easy and his progeny know all success afforded to them by their ancestor."
Education
Tutored in diplomatic, economic, and religious matters by family tutors and academics
Taught and commanded in military matters by Georgios Stratiacus and Herus Tzimikus
Taught and commanded in military matters by Georgios Stratiacus and Herus Tzimikus
Employment
Court secretary for Georgios Stratiacus
Subordinate commander of Herus Tzimikus
Captain of the Cubrati imperial guard
Appointed regent for Emperor Aurakios
Subordinate commander of Herus Tzimikus
Captain of the Cubrati imperial guard
Appointed regent for Emperor Aurakios
Accomplishments & Achievements
Rose through the bureaucracy of the imperial government
Led incursions into territories across the Oltune against the Yarmeg and Beihan
Appointed captain of the Cubrati guard
Successful assassination and overthrow of regent Tzimikus
Successful engagements with Herodi tribes across the Rhor
Successful war in the east against the Rasanids
Effective rule and guidance as regent for Aurakios
Led incursions into territories across the Oltune against the Yarmeg and Beihan
Appointed captain of the Cubrati guard
Successful assassination and overthrow of regent Tzimikus
Successful engagements with Herodi tribes across the Rhor
Successful war in the east against the Rasanids
Effective rule and guidance as regent for Aurakios
Mental Trauma
Inferiority Complex
Morality & Philosophy
The ability to release the reins of power when necessary is one of the greatest tests of any ruler
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
See personal success
Hold appropriate power
Ensure imperial success and stability
Hold appropriate power
Ensure imperial success and stability
Virtues & Personality perks
Prudent
Competent
Humble
Studious
Competent
Humble
Studious
Vices & Personality flaws
Ruthless
Scheming
Paranoid
Scheming
Paranoid
Social
Contacts & Relations
Secretary of Georgios Stratiacus
Subordinate of Tzimikus Monomachus
Subordinate of Tzimikus Monomachus
Family Ties
Father of Sivrakos Kalarios
Lover and husband of Empress Aetia Stratiacus
Stepfather of Emperor Aurakios
Lover and husband of Empress Aetia Stratiacus
Stepfather of Emperor Aurakios
Social Aptitude
Socially, Cyrelius was the antithesis of his predecessor as while Tzimikus was a brawny and blunt military man with little patience, Cyrelius proved a mastermind schemer and adept in the language of court politics. He was also said to be quite handsome, given his affair and later marriage of the empress Aetia, this seems that it would have to be the case.
Mannerisms
Standing tall and displaying a delicate and almost regal set of mannerisms, Cyrelius put those before him at ease with his charismatic and engaging socialite behavior.
Religions
Ethnicity
Life
745 B.E
657 B.E
88 years old
Circumstances of Birth
Son of a provincial moneylender and an actress
Circumstances of Death
Died of natural causes after his retirement
Birthplace
Maninopoli, Lakia
Place of Death
Kalarii Estate, outskirts of Maninopoli
Children
Gender
Male
Eyes
Dark Brown
Hair
Receeding Black Hair and Bushy Beard
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Tan
Height
6'2
Weight
190 lbs
Quotes & Catchphrases
"If we have earned nothing less from war, it is best conducted ruthlessly and as quickly as possible." -a quotation from a lost treaty on campaign doctrine likely compiled after the war with the Rasanids
Belief/Deity
Manus and the Pantheon of the Rasenna
Aligned Organization
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