The Hadovean Empire's first regents

Founding

  The first Empress, the reluctant ruler. Essandra’s history is widely known. She may well have been the legitimate Queen, that part is unclear. What is known and widely accepted is Essandra did NOT want the throne, or power, to lead. She rejected the throne, and some rejected her decision. This led to war.

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It is also known that the Kingdom’s days were done – the sun was setting on the golden age. The only ones not accepting that, held all of the power in the current structure. Corruption was everywhere, everyone suffered (well, except for the corrupt of course). When Essandra rejected the throne she made way for her brother, not to undermine or change, simply to have no part. Those who chose to follow her were now at grave risk though, the Kingdom had branded them rebels without cause and quite unreasonably.
It was as Empress that Essandra established the council of 12 (Truth be told, it rarely had exactly twelve members, sometimes more and sometimes less – most records concur the smallest number was 7, so far), to administer Empire’s interests. In effect, they advise the Emperor or Empress, manage affairs of day to day matters and, as needed, elect the new Emperor. The council is drawn from the Noble houses that have supported the Empire since its formation (formerly) in 250 AE. Over the centuries a few noble houses have “changed”  as new houses gain prominence, and others fading into oblivion. A footnote in the histories.   Throughout the centuries, the pretenders of Geldheim (and their cowardly backers) have attempted to undermine, assassinate, divert, threaten, intimidate, bribe, or overthrow with subterfuge our just and Noble council members. The August body has always remained true, to the people of the Empire, and its leader. All the pretenders of Geldheim have really done is thrown away the lives of their commoners whom they send to do the dirty work.   I digress.   Essandra died in the final battle of the succession wars.