Imperial Chantry

The Imperial Chantry is a denomination of the Chantry centered in the Tevinter Imperium. The Imperial Chantry does not recognize the Divine of the Chantry of Andraste in Orlais, but elects its own Imperial Divine - sometimes called the "Black Divine" by the Chantry of Andraste. This "Black Divine" is known to reside in the Argent Spire in Minrathous. Therefore, it can be assumed that this is where the Imperial Chantry's headquarters are located. In contrast to the Andrastian Chantry, the Imperial Chantry allows male priests and has more tolerant views of mages and magic. The Imperial Divine is also one of the Enchanters of the Minrathous Circle of Magi.

History

When Emperor Kordillus Drakon anointed Divine Justinia I as the head of the Andrastian Chantry, it upset the Tevinter, who had established their own Chantry with a male leader long before Orlais was ever unified, believing their country to be the Holy Land, as Andraste had lived and died there. As mages form the ruling class of Tevinter, magic is a valued trait there. Along the upper class, it is prized and even nurtured through selective breeding. Commoners view magic as a gift that may manifest in anyone's bloodline as an admission ticket to the upper classes. Mages are respected across all social classes far more than in other countries. Thus, the Chantry was never able to fully defeat the magister lords of the Tevinter Imperium: Despite accepting the Chantry's laws and teachings and surrendering to the Circle of Magi, they did so on their own terms. As a result, the mages of Tevinter retained much influence and power even under Chantry control. In an effort to appease the Orlesian Chantry, the Imperial Divine's role was reduced to a ceremonial position and authority over the faith was transferred to the grand clerics within the Imperium. The Tevinter Grand Clerics made multiple requests for recognition by the Orlesian Chantry but were rebuffed every time on the theological grounds that, the Imperial Chantry admitted men into the priesthood and all men were judged by Maferath's betrayal. At the time, the presence of multiple mages within the ranks of the Tevinter clergy was unknown to their Orlesian counterparts. The Orlesian chantry continued to struggle in spreading and preserving its influence within the Tevinter Imperium. This was further exacerbated when, after the Third Blight, the Orlesian Chantry began promoting the story that it was the ancient magisters who caused the Blights. The Chantry's mistrust for magic conflicted with the native Tevinter culture, which still viewed magic as a mark of honor. The greatest source of conflict ultimately arose from the second verse of Canticle of Transfigurations in the Chant of Light, "magic exists to serve man, and never to rule over him," which was subject to a very different interpretation in Tevinter. The Tevinter Grand Clerics felt that this commandment, meant that magic must serve the greater good and not be used to control the minds of others. They believed that this could best be accomplished by freeing the Magi to take part in government. The Chantry in Orlais condemned this as a wicked distortion and demanded that they revert to the original version of the Chant. Tevinter refused, claiming corruption within Val Royeaux. The schism finally occurred in 3:87 Towers, when Tevinter broke from the Orlesian Chantry entirely and the Imperial Chantry was formed. Tevinter placed Valhail, a male member of their Circle of Magi, as the head of their Chantry. The Imperial Divine (also known as the Black Divine) declared a celebration when the Divine Joyous II died. The new White Divine named the next age the "Black Age" in reference to the 'Black Divine' and the perceived corruption in Tevinter and ordered an Exalted March against the Tevinter Imperium. There were four Marches in total as the Andrastian Chantry amassed armies and proceeded to invade the Imperium. However, Tevinter withstood all attempted invasions. All four Marches failed to take the capital city of Minrathous or force the Imperial Chantry to surrender. With their mages free from Chantry shackles, the Imperium unleashed its full magical might against its invaders. This, combined with the aid of foreign mages seeking refuge in Tevinter, caused massive casualties among the White Divine's forces. The Exalted Marches only came to an end with the outbreak of the Fourth Blight; Tevinter correspondingly refused to aid the Anderfels and Free Marches against the darkspawn in retaliation for the Exalted Marches. The unsuccessful Exalted Marches ensured the divide between Val Royeaux and Minrathous could never be bridged. After the Orlesian retreat, Tevinter officially separated and established their own teachings. To this day, the White and Black Divines both refuse to recognize the legitimacy and authority of the other. The only cooperation between them has been during the Blights and the New Exalted Marches against the Qunari.