Henry the Great
Emperor of the West & East
Henry the Great, or Henry Rex Oui Hughson de Normandie, was a unique figure in history, known for his unprecedented dual rule over both The Empire of Man and the Empire of Outremer. Crowned at 18, Henry ascended to the thrones of both realms, being the only person in histroy to do so, he became known as Emperor of Man Heinrich III in the Empire of Man and the Saint Emperor in Outremer. Although his reign lasted only five years, until he was 23, his transformative impact left a lasting legacy on both empires.
In the Empire of Man, Henry’s rule was marked by decisive reforms that dismantled corruption, established order, and rejuvenated the empire’s economy. By introducing new revenue streams and uplifting the lower class, Henry not only addressed inflation but also laid the foundation for a robust economy. His uncompromising stance against crime syndicates and cultists reasserted imperial authority and safeguarded the public, all while bolstering military and civic life. His actions instilled renewed pride in the Empire of Man, strengthening its foundations for generations to come.
In Outremer, Henry’s accomplishments were equally monumental. His battle against the Silver Dragon Ansmuger earned him sainthood, and his subsequent drinking from the Sacred Pool sanctified him as Saint Emperor. His reforms paralleled those he implemented in the Empire of Man—crushing noble dissent, reducing the nation’s debt, stabilizing the currency, and lifting up the lower classes. Under his guidance, Outremer emerged from bankruptcy, with a revitalized economy and strengthened institutions.
Despite the vast distance between the two empires, Henry demonstrated an unparalleled ability to manage and uplift both realms without neglecting one for the other. His delegation and vision allowed each empire to flourish under his unified rule, setting a standard for wise and effective governance.
Henry’s reign ended abruptly. In 11958 AC, rebel forces attacked the capital of Vermandois, resulting in his capture by mercenaries and his mysterious disappearance. For five years, the world remained uncertain of Henry's fate until news of his death in 11963 AC, at the age of 28, sent shockwaves through both empires. His loss plunged Outremer into the War of Greed, the most brutal civil conflict that shook the nation to its core, and the Empire of Man experienced its own era of strife.
In the Empire of Man, Henry’s rule was marked by decisive reforms that dismantled corruption, established order, and rejuvenated the empire’s economy. By introducing new revenue streams and uplifting the lower class, Henry not only addressed inflation but also laid the foundation for a robust economy. His uncompromising stance against crime syndicates and cultists reasserted imperial authority and safeguarded the public, all while bolstering military and civic life. His actions instilled renewed pride in the Empire of Man, strengthening its foundations for generations to come.
In Outremer, Henry’s accomplishments were equally monumental. His battle against the Silver Dragon Ansmuger earned him sainthood, and his subsequent drinking from the Sacred Pool sanctified him as Saint Emperor. His reforms paralleled those he implemented in the Empire of Man—crushing noble dissent, reducing the nation’s debt, stabilizing the currency, and lifting up the lower classes. Under his guidance, Outremer emerged from bankruptcy, with a revitalized economy and strengthened institutions.
Despite the vast distance between the two empires, Henry demonstrated an unparalleled ability to manage and uplift both realms without neglecting one for the other. His delegation and vision allowed each empire to flourish under his unified rule, setting a standard for wise and effective governance.
Henry’s reign ended abruptly. In 11958 AC, rebel forces attacked the capital of Vermandois, resulting in his capture by mercenaries and his mysterious disappearance. For five years, the world remained uncertain of Henry's fate until news of his death in 11963 AC, at the age of 28, sent shockwaves through both empires. His loss plunged Outremer into the War of Greed, the most brutal civil conflict that shook the nation to its core, and the Empire of Man experienced its own era of strife.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Prince Henry of Outremer and The Empire of Man was born into a lineage steeped in both honor and ambition. He was the son of Hugh, firstborn to Saint EmperorSaint Emperor Reginald of House de Normandie, and Princess Sybilla, daughter of the Emperor of Man, in what was meant to be a groundbreaking alliance between Outremer and the Empire. Though the marriage between Hugh and Sybilla was outwardly portrayed as a diplomatic bond, Saint Emperor Reginald’s true vision went beyond mere alliance. He saw the union as the first step toward a unified empire, with Henry as the instrument of this vision.
Raised in Outremer, young Henry was immersed in its culture, its chivalric codes, and its rich spiritual traditions. Even in his earliest years, Henry showed signs of being no ordinary prince; his intelligence was remarkable, his insight uncanny. At ten, he was sent to the Empire of Man to study at the prestigious Imperial Academy, an opportunity he uniquely had. The Academy was renowned for producing the finest minds, training young nobles in history, strategy, philosophy, sciences and warfare. Henry was driven, surpassing his peers and even astounding the academy’s most learned scholars. His command of history and strategy was so precocious that he was often invited to council sessions merely to observe, though he would sometimes provide insights that shocked seasoned advisors.
Henry’s life took a solemn turn at 17. His grandfather, Saint Emperor Reginald, died unexpectedly. Henry left the Empire to attend Reginald's funeral, witnessing his father's coronation as the new Emperor of Outremer. Just as he returned to the Empire, news arrived that his maternal grandfather, the Emperor of Man, had passed, creating another vacancy on a throne. Sybilla, along with her son, returned to the Empire of Man for the Emperor’s funeral and her brother’s coronation. However, tensions ran high upon their arrival, and a faction of Imperial Princes rebelled against Sybilla’s brother, hoping to place her on the throne instead.
The timing seemed almost providential for the rebel princes. With Sybilla, the late emperor's daughter, conveniently back in the Empire, she became an unwitting figurehead for their cause. Sybilla’s status and her connections to Outremer were formidable assets, and the princes compelled her to take up their cause. This rebellion erupted into civil war, throwing Henry into the center of a deadly political game. For the first time, Henry was thrust into the role of commander, a responsibility he had long prepared for but not expected to assume at just 17. Employing his expertise in both Imperial and Outremer tactics, Henry organized defenses, fought skirmishes, and directed troops with an efficiency and insight that made him a rising star among the nobles and soldiers alike.
The rebellion concluded after several months, with Sybilla crowned Empress of the Empire of Man. But her triumph was short-lived—eight days after her coronation, she was poisoned, her death a shocking blow to Henry and the Empire. With Sybilla gone, the Imperial Princes, still sympathetic to the family, looked to her son. They elected Henry, who had barely reached 18, as the new Emperor of Man. Though initially viewed as a young and untested “puppet” ruler, Henry quickly proved to be a force of his own and no mere puppet, implementing sweeping reforms that rooted out corruption and restored stability in record time.
No sooner had Henry begun to settle into his role than devastating news arrived from Outremer. His father, Emperor Hugh III, had been killed by a Silver Dragon—Ansmuger, a creature believed dormant for centuries. The sudden attack was suspicious; Henry knew his father’s strength, both as a warrior and as a saint, and suspected darker forces were at work. Rallying the Imperial troops, Henry departed for Outremer. Upon his return, he was crowned Emperor, inheriting a divided empire on the brink of chaos. He wasted no time in investigating his father’s death, tracking the silver dragon to its lair in a quest fueled by duty and vengeance.
The battle with Ansmuger was a clash of legends. Henry, though young, fought with a ferocity and skill that astounded witnesses. Combining divine power with cunning tactics, he managed to overcome the mighty dragon, slaying it and avenging his father’s death. For his heroism, Henry was proclaimed a saint, and he performed the sacred rite of drinking from the Sacred Pool, a privilege granted only to the most revered warriors. His sainthood and his victory against Ansmuger solidified his reputation as a ruler of extraordinary capability and valor.
With both titles—Emperor of Man and Saint Emperor of Outremer—Henry became known as the “Emperor of the West and East.” His dual rule over two of the mightiest empires of the age was a feat unparalleled in history, and he dedicated himself to the welfare of both. Despite the immense geographical and political challenges, Henry maintained a balance, leading both realms with wisdom and strength. He married and fathered a daughter, further solidifying his legacy. His reign marked a golden era of peace and prosperity for Outremer and the Empire of Man, and he was celebrated by his people as a symbol of unity and fortitude.
Yet peace proved elusive. A rebellion soon threatened to undo all Henry had built. The son of a noble he had previously defeated managed to amass a mercenary army and besieged the Outremer capital, Vermandois. Henry, ever the defender of his people, organized a fierce defense. But as he fought on the battlefield, he learned that a faction of mercenaries had infiltrated the imperial palace. Fearing for his family, he raced back to find that his wife had been slain, and his young daughter had been taken.
The mercenaries escaped with Henry and his daughter, and their captors held them in secret, refusing every attempt at ransom. For a year, Henry languished in captivity, while negotiations failed. Unable to restore order, the Empire of Man elected a new emperor, marking an end to Henry’s authority there. Outremer, too, fell into disarray, lacking a clear successor. House Robertine, closest in line, had renounced their claim for three generations in loyalty to Henry, leaving Outremer in a power vacuum that spiraled into a brutal civil conflict, later known as the War of Greed, beginning in 11959 AC.
Raised in Outremer, young Henry was immersed in its culture, its chivalric codes, and its rich spiritual traditions. Even in his earliest years, Henry showed signs of being no ordinary prince; his intelligence was remarkable, his insight uncanny. At ten, he was sent to the Empire of Man to study at the prestigious Imperial Academy, an opportunity he uniquely had. The Academy was renowned for producing the finest minds, training young nobles in history, strategy, philosophy, sciences and warfare. Henry was driven, surpassing his peers and even astounding the academy’s most learned scholars. His command of history and strategy was so precocious that he was often invited to council sessions merely to observe, though he would sometimes provide insights that shocked seasoned advisors.
Henry’s life took a solemn turn at 17. His grandfather, Saint Emperor Reginald, died unexpectedly. Henry left the Empire to attend Reginald's funeral, witnessing his father's coronation as the new Emperor of Outremer. Just as he returned to the Empire, news arrived that his maternal grandfather, the Emperor of Man, had passed, creating another vacancy on a throne. Sybilla, along with her son, returned to the Empire of Man for the Emperor’s funeral and her brother’s coronation. However, tensions ran high upon their arrival, and a faction of Imperial Princes rebelled against Sybilla’s brother, hoping to place her on the throne instead.
The timing seemed almost providential for the rebel princes. With Sybilla, the late emperor's daughter, conveniently back in the Empire, she became an unwitting figurehead for their cause. Sybilla’s status and her connections to Outremer were formidable assets, and the princes compelled her to take up their cause. This rebellion erupted into civil war, throwing Henry into the center of a deadly political game. For the first time, Henry was thrust into the role of commander, a responsibility he had long prepared for but not expected to assume at just 17. Employing his expertise in both Imperial and Outremer tactics, Henry organized defenses, fought skirmishes, and directed troops with an efficiency and insight that made him a rising star among the nobles and soldiers alike.
The rebellion concluded after several months, with Sybilla crowned Empress of the Empire of Man. But her triumph was short-lived—eight days after her coronation, she was poisoned, her death a shocking blow to Henry and the Empire. With Sybilla gone, the Imperial Princes, still sympathetic to the family, looked to her son. They elected Henry, who had barely reached 18, as the new Emperor of Man. Though initially viewed as a young and untested “puppet” ruler, Henry quickly proved to be a force of his own and no mere puppet, implementing sweeping reforms that rooted out corruption and restored stability in record time.
No sooner had Henry begun to settle into his role than devastating news arrived from Outremer. His father, Emperor Hugh III, had been killed by a Silver Dragon—Ansmuger, a creature believed dormant for centuries. The sudden attack was suspicious; Henry knew his father’s strength, both as a warrior and as a saint, and suspected darker forces were at work. Rallying the Imperial troops, Henry departed for Outremer. Upon his return, he was crowned Emperor, inheriting a divided empire on the brink of chaos. He wasted no time in investigating his father’s death, tracking the silver dragon to its lair in a quest fueled by duty and vengeance.
The battle with Ansmuger was a clash of legends. Henry, though young, fought with a ferocity and skill that astounded witnesses. Combining divine power with cunning tactics, he managed to overcome the mighty dragon, slaying it and avenging his father’s death. For his heroism, Henry was proclaimed a saint, and he performed the sacred rite of drinking from the Sacred Pool, a privilege granted only to the most revered warriors. His sainthood and his victory against Ansmuger solidified his reputation as a ruler of extraordinary capability and valor.
With both titles—Emperor of Man and Saint Emperor of Outremer—Henry became known as the “Emperor of the West and East.” His dual rule over two of the mightiest empires of the age was a feat unparalleled in history, and he dedicated himself to the welfare of both. Despite the immense geographical and political challenges, Henry maintained a balance, leading both realms with wisdom and strength. He married and fathered a daughter, further solidifying his legacy. His reign marked a golden era of peace and prosperity for Outremer and the Empire of Man, and he was celebrated by his people as a symbol of unity and fortitude.
Yet peace proved elusive. A rebellion soon threatened to undo all Henry had built. The son of a noble he had previously defeated managed to amass a mercenary army and besieged the Outremer capital, Vermandois. Henry, ever the defender of his people, organized a fierce defense. But as he fought on the battlefield, he learned that a faction of mercenaries had infiltrated the imperial palace. Fearing for his family, he raced back to find that his wife had been slain, and his young daughter had been taken.
The mercenaries escaped with Henry and his daughter, and their captors held them in secret, refusing every attempt at ransom. For a year, Henry languished in captivity, while negotiations failed. Unable to restore order, the Empire of Man elected a new emperor, marking an end to Henry’s authority there. Outremer, too, fell into disarray, lacking a clear successor. House Robertine, closest in line, had renounced their claim for three generations in loyalty to Henry, leaving Outremer in a power vacuum that spiraled into a brutal civil conflict, later known as the War of Greed, beginning in 11959 AC.
Species
Ethnicity
Other Ethnicities/Cultures
Honorary & Occupational Titles
Emperor of the West and East
The Great Reformer
Dragon Slayer
The Lion of Crowns
Savior of Lessers
The Great Reformer
Dragon Slayer
The Lion of Crowns
Savior of Lessers
Life
11935 AC
11963 AC
28 years old
Circumstances of Death
In captivity
Family
Children
Aligned Organization
Other Affiliations
Comments