Timeline of the Laurasian Empire (1501-1700)

The Laurasian Empire is a galaxy-spanning empire which extends its jurisdiction over the Caladarian Galaxy and its two satellite galaxies, the Angelina Spiral and the Great Tesmanian Cloud. The Empire was established in AH 1321 by Seleucus the Victor, following the end of the Great Briannian War, and emerged from the Stellar Kingdom of Laurasia. The Stellar Kingdom had been originally established in AH 412 by Arasces I the Founder (AH 412-32), following the end of the Arachosian Period. Laurasia enjoyed strength and prosperity during the First Laurasian Period (412-630), during which it exerted its power over the Core States, including such rivals as Gordasis, Courdina V, Clancia, Goldaria, Marshia, Rebecca, Briannia, Chancia, and others. At the death of Horax (603-23), Laurasia governed a vast dominion spanning from the Central Core to the outskirts of the Middle Territories. After Horax's death, however, the Kingdom entered into a severe decline, experiencing a civil war and losing control of most of its worlds. By 630, Laurasia had been subdued by the Lacian Despotate, to which it was a vassal state for twenty-seven years. In 657, with the Lacian Despotate itself entering terminal decline, King Perseus (653-59) overthrew Lacian overlordship and reasserted Laurasia's complete independence.

During the Second Laurasian Period (657-840), the Stellar Kingdom of Laurasia enjoyed a even-greater period of strength and prosperity. Under the successive kings Constantine (659-87); Marcus Aurelius (687-712); Flavius Aetius (712-46); Hercules I (746-62); Gordian II (762-76); Hercules II (776-99); and Polares (799-809), the Stellar Kingdom of Laurasia extended its power from the Galactic Center and the Wild Marshes to the Shendonanan and Roastafarian systems. By the time of Polares however, Laurasia had become overextended and was under severe strains. The devastating Trajanic Civil War (810-32), caused by the ascension of the baby King Trajan (809-23) to the Laurasian throne, resulted in the severe disruption of Laurasian power. Heredotus (823-30); Andrea Septimia (830-32); and Neuchrus (830-32), struggled with each other for control of the Laurasian state. Eventually, Gordian III (832-40) emerged victorious, but was soon after confronted with the formidable Dasian challenge.

In 840, the Dasian Khan and military commander Batya, as part of his campaigns throughout the Core Regions, overwhelmed Laurasia Prime and subdued the world, commencing the Dasian Yoke. During the Dasian Yoke (840-1080), Laurasia Prime and the Laurasian Purse Worlds were under the rule of a Dasian Bey, who acted as the military and political governor for the Dasian Golden Horde in the region. From 978-82, Arasces Arcracius, a Laurasian noble, briefly managed to restore Laurasian independence, but was eventually defeated by the Dasian Khan Tokhtamysh in 982. After nearly another century however, Laurasia emerged as a Grand Principality in 1075, as the Khan Ahmad attempted to instate measures in order to insure loyalty to the Dasians. The Grand Prince Honorius took advantage of the weakened Golden Horde's troubles, and in 1079, instigated a rebellion. In 1080, he defeated Ahmad and proclaimed himself King, thus ending the Dasian Yoke.

During the Third Laurasian Period (1080-1321), Laurasia recovered from the Dasian Yoke, reconstituted its home territories, and at times even dominated the Core Regions, during the first half of the twelfth century. The reign of Honorius the Terrible (1133-84) and the following Time of Laurasian Troubles, however, seriously weakened the kingdom, as it suffered losses against the Solidaritan Sultanate, the Celestial Kingdom of Briannia, and the Polonian-Donguarian Commonwealth. The reign of Leonidas the Restorer (1213-45), and the establishment of the Leonidian Dynasty, began the process of recovery. During the second half of the thirteenth century, by means of the War of the Deluge (1254-67), Laurasia seized control of the Central Core from Polonia, and reasserted itself. Yet it was not until after Seleucus's accession to the throne, in 1282, that the true process of expansion and reform began. His triumph in the Great Briannian War brought the Empire the Nexus Route regions, Schaueria Prime, the Horacian Provinces, the Northern Crimeanian Provinces, and the Venasian Triangle. Over the course of the next four and a half centuries, under Seleucus's successors, including the Leonidian Dynasty (1321-1416), the Tiberian Dynasty (1416-68), the Vespansian Dynasty (1468-96), the Nervian Dynasty (1496-1592), the Severan Dynasty (1593-1635), and the Neuchrian Dynasty (1685-1803), Laurasia gradually expanded from its position in the central-western Core Worlds to encompassing the entire Caladarian Galaxy. The fourteenth century witnessed a continuation of conflicts with Polonia, Solidarita, Venasia, and in the Wild Marshes, with territorial acquisitions being made from all of these states and the Empire's elimination of Briannia (1364); the fifteenth century saw the Empire's rapid expansion across the Core Regions, into the Middle Territories, and down to the Lower Barsar Regions, with all core states except Venasia being completely subsumed, and with territories seized from Kimania, Melanie, Anastasia, Lesia, and the Abbathian Dynasty; the sixteenth century saw the Empire's incorporation of the rump remnants of Venasia, and its conquest of Hunt, Kimania, and Lesia.

It also seized the Homidinian and Burglais Arm Provinces from the Mellorite Empire, imposed its overlordship over Neo-Anastasia, and acquired strongholds from the Neo-Xilanian Empire. Yet that century saw the commencement of Laurasian military conflict with the Dejanican-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Marasharite Empire, and the Haynsian Despotate, who now became the Empire's main enemies. The seventeenth century was dominated by its Crisis (1635-85), in which the Empire faced considerable external and internal challenges, and wars with Dejanica, Marasharita, Vectoria (after 1613), and the Celestial Kingdom of Scottria (from 1602). Neuchrus I the Reformer's accession in 1685, however, inaugurated another period of great expansion and strength for the Empire. It became greatly involved in the affairs of the Great Amulak Spiral, and by the end of that century, had subsumed the remainder of Xilania, Anastasia, and Mellorita, as well as the Kingdom of Karakorum. It was the eighteenth century which saw the Empire's greatest period of expansion, with the extension of its rule over the Galactic Borderlands and the satellite galaxies. Haynsia, Vectoria, and Scottria would be eliminated, and Dejanica partitioned. Wars with these states and with Franconia, Spamalka, and Marasharita dominated that century.

The timeline covers the history of the Empire until 1701. For the history of the Empire in the eighteenth century, see The Eighteenth Century.

=Timeline of the Laurasian Empire (1321-1701)=

14th century (1301-1400)
The fourteenth century was the century which commenced on January 1, 1301, and ended on December 31, 1400, of the Hyperdrive Era system. The first two decades of the century were occupied by the Great Briannian War, which ultimately resulted in the formation of the Laurasian Empire. That period is not covered here. After 1321, the century witnessed the extension of the Empire's rule in the Central Core, Core Worlds, Outer Core, and Industrialized Borderlands.

1321

 * By the beginning of 1321, the 21st year of the fourteenth century, it had come to be realized in the Celestial Kingdom of Briannia that the war against its Laurasian foes was lost. King Fre'dac I of Briannia, who had succeeded his wife Ulrika Eleanora to the Briannian throne on March 24, 1320, had been hopeful that an alliance of Melorkia, Ashlgothia, Polonia, and Venasia would be formed that would forestall the ambitions of Laurasian King Seleucus I. However, this had not come to pass, due to the collapse of the Galactic Exchange of Leslie in September 1320; King Sisebut of Ashlgothia had been compelled to end his intrigues directed against the position of Seleucus, and of Laurasia in general. Fre'dac himself was also prompted by Laurasian naval expeditions into the outskirts of his realms, which had continued unabated for several years; Gdov, the Belts of Barton, Dill, Vurdurg, and Vardar were all harassed by the Royal Laurasian Navy from January to March 1321, and King Seleucus had been contemplating plans for a major offensive against Briannia's defenses. The Briannian outposts of Jaiden, Twining, Roehke, Layla, and Sadie fell into Laurasian hands in March 1321. It was with all of these reverses that the King of Briannia finally accepted that the Great Briannian War, which had by then dragged on for two decades, needed to be brought to an end. It was thus that he informed Seleucus that he was ready to reopen negotiations, and a second peace conference was convened at Nystadia (April 28, 1321).
 * The Laurasian plenipotentiaries to the conference were the Arian Admiral the Baron Jacobius Bruce, 1st Baron Bruce (1269-1335), who had been recently created by King Seleucus as one of the first barons in the Stellar Kingdom of Laurasia, and Seleucus's Assistant President of the College of Foreign Affairs, the Archleutan Sir Andrey Osterman (1686-1347), recently created as one of the Kingdom's first knights. When the conference opened, however, the Laurasians were astonished to find that their Briannian adversaries expected easier terms then had been offered at Aland. The Briannians in turn were dismayed to learn that Seleucus now demanded permanent cession of Horacia, which he had previously sought to possess for only a "temporary" span. The King of Laurasia, however, now declared that if the Briannians were left in possession of that region, they would pose a mortal threat to his own position. Thus it was that negotiations temporarily stalled; Seleucus now launched his naval forces into Briannian territory once more. In May 1321, Admiral Apraskanius and the 2nd Royal Laurasian Fleet assaulted the Briannian outpost of Gefle and harried the northern outskirts of the Belts of Barton, but the stronghold proved too strong for the Laurasians; they instead ranged into the Vardar Marshes, ravaging Sudeval, Lacey, Fulcher, Aliea, and nineteen other Briannian strongholds along the Rebeccan Galactic Trade Route. On June 23, having inflicted devastation across more than four hundred light years of Briannian territory, Apraskanius was ordered to withdraw.
 * His raid appeared to be the last straw for Briannia. Fre'dac I finally yielded Horacia and Northern Crimeania. Negotiations resumed in short order, and finally, on September 10, 1321, the Treaty of Nystadia was signed. For Seleucus and for Laurasia, it represented a major victory. The Stellar Kingdom of Laurasia now acquired the Nexus Route (with Jem, Dill, Boo, Jean, Caroline, Atticus, Harper, Lee, Finch, Scout, Ewell, Robinson), the Venasian Triangle (which included Ipsus V, Bolgrahay, Penshalay, Millia-in-the Core, and Robbay), the Briannian Duchy of Schaueria Prime (including Schaueria Prime, Tyleria Perea, Jessica Perea, Colsonia, Archleuta, Greenia, Hordania, Dorothy, Compost V, Shiloh, Calpurnia, Rashid, Smithia, Lydia, Avaskar, Steneborg, Linopking, Alvsborg, Gullborg, Kolchad, Farbissinia, etc.), the Horacian Provinces (with Horacia, Theresa, Donald, John, Levinston, Cinnamon, Pandy, Harvey, Momma, Bartello, Ergeme, Cageo, Kingpin, and Louza), and the Northern Crimeanian Provinces (with Ogla, Meris V, Eutagia, Cadaria, Anasia, Nathaniel, Hooper, Sanegeta, and Crimean IV). Laurasia was thereby expanded by the addition of more than 75,000 star systems across a span of some ten thousand light years, and found its position greatly amplified in the Core Worlds, Outer Core, and Industrialized Borderlands. Laurasia restored Gdov and the Kolomachana Territories to Briannia. As compensation for Horacia and Northern Crimeania, Laurasia agreed to pay $1.9 trillion denarius in installments over the next four years, while the Briannians gained rights of free commercial transit through the Horacian Provinces. All prisoners of war were to be freed; the King of Laurasia, on his part, pledged not to interfere in Briannian internal politics. Shortly after the conclusion of the Treaty (September 14, 1321), King Seleucus, who had been inspecting Meaganian, Capital, and Chandlier, was formally informed of the treaty's conclusion. He declared that "All scholars in arts usually finish their course in seven years. Our school has lasted three times that long...However, thanks to the Lord Almitis, it is so well finished that better would have been impossible."
 * News of the Treaty's conclusion resulted in outbursts of joy and jubilation throughout the Kingdom, from Laurasia Prime to Morgania Major, to Ivoria and to Clancia; the Great Briannian War had finally ended after twenty-one years. King Seleucus was beside himself with excitement, and the celebrations were long and prolonged. When the King arrived on Laurasia Prime (September 15), he was given a grand reception by his subjects, who wept and cheered when the Treaty of Nystadia was given a formal reading. Legate-Admiral Apraskanius and his subordinates asked Seleucus to accept promotion to Admiral; the King himself prayed at the Trinity Cathedral. The King then shouted to a crowd outside of the Celestial Palace that they should rejoice; he toasted the Laurasian nation, and his Praetorian Guards fired their weapons into the air. The Treaty of Nystadia, ratified by both Kings by the end of September, did indeed signal a new beginning. In October 1321, the King held a masquerade party at the University of Laurasia Prime to celebrate the Treaty's conclusion. The culmination of all this came on November 25, 1321, when the King appeared before the Senate to declare that, in gratitude for Almitis's mercy in giving Laurasia victory, he would pardon all imprisoned criminals except murderers, annul all debts to the government, and eliminate all tax arrears accumulated from 1300 to 1318. A service was then conducted at the Old Westphalian Cathedral (the version which existed from the tenth to the sixteenth centuries), with the King himself directing the liturgy, singing with the choirs, and giving his thanks to Almitis. At the end of this service, the Treaty of Nystadia was again formally read to all assembled. The newly-created Holy Synod, represented by Archbishop Theodosius Provickitis, then intoned its blessings for the sovereign; the Archbishop, in his oration, praised the King. Then he was followed by the first Chancellor of Laurasia, Sir Galerius Golovkinus: "By your tireless labors and leadership alone, we your loyal subjects have stepped from the darkness of isolation and depravity into the theater of fame of the whole galaxy, and so to speak, have moved from non-existence to existence, and have joined in the society of political peoples. For that and for winning a peace so renowned and so rewarding, how can we render our proper gratitude? And so that we may not be with shame before the entire galaxy, we take it upon ourselves in the name of the Stellar Kingdom of Laurasia, and of all ranks of the subjects of Your Majesty, humbly to pray you to be gracious to us and agree, as a small mark of our acknowledgement of the great blessings that you have brought to us and the State, to take the title: Father of the Fatherland, Seleucus the Victor, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Laurasians."
 * Seleucus, with a brief nod of his head, indicated that he would accept. Everyone present, from nobles to servitors to servants, and the whole of the Governing Senate, Holy Synod, Praetorian Guards, and Colleges of State, shouted "Vivat! Vivat! Vivat!" The crowds outside cheered, trumpets sounded, and all of the bells of the cathedrals and churches of Laurasia Prime were rung. The announcement was carried on the Holonet, and spontaneous praise broke out in Christiania, Colombia, Uris, Heliotrope, Herkorim, Menedelevium, Beneventum, Osraninpolis, Ostia, Ravenna, Soriana, Constantinople, and all of the other major cities; it soon spread to Jadia, the two Calaxies, the Post Settlement of Hepudermia, and the Neuron Plantita Station. Seleucus then delivered his own oration, declaring that his empire must "make efforts for the general good and profit which may Almitis grant us at home and abroad and from which our Empire will receive advantage." Following this, a herald formally stepped forward and read the formal proclamation of elevation (preserved, in the late eighteenth century, in the Imperial Archives), formally proclaiming Seleucus I as Emperor and Autocrat of All the Laurasians; announcing the reorganization of the Stellar Kingdom of Laurasia into the Laurasian Empire; and hailing him as the Victor and Father of the Fatherland. Recognition of the Laurasian imperial title was conferred immediately by Melorkia, the Rogerian Potentates, the Rudorite Kingdom of Kimania, the Huntite Caliphate, and the Neo-Merlites; Venasia and Polonia waited until 1335, Solidarita until 1339, Ashlgothia until 1342, the Abbathian Empire until 1355; and Neo-Anastasia, Lesia, and the Mereditan Despotate, until 1362. Jageronia was the last state to recognize the imperial title of the Laurasian sovereign, in 1364. Emperor Seleucus, as he now was, was the sole imperial sovereign in the Core Regions, and head of one of the most powerful states in the Caladarian Galaxy. The Laurasian Empire had thereby been established, and was, during the course of the next four and three-quarters centuries, to become the sole power of the Caladarian Galaxy and its satellite galaxies. 1321 thus ended with Laurasia greatly elevated.

1322-1323

 * 1322 began with new prospects on the horizon for Laurasia. With the Treaty of Nystadia, the newly-established Laurasian Empire was finally at peace. Now, it seemed, the great energy and effort which had been placed into the military campaigns from the Nexus Route and Dennis to Narra and Christopher could finally be poured into the internal development of the Empire. And indeed, Emperor Seleucus would implement several more reform measures during the final years of his reign. Yet the Emperor was also determined to expand Laurasian territory; specifically, he wished to push into the Wild Marshes and the Galactic Borderlands. From his earliest years, Seleucus had heard about the satellite galaxies and farther beyond; the great wealth of the Byzzarian Empire, the emerging commercial and other connections of the Celestial Kingdom of Scottria in the Angelina Spiral, and the strange tales about the powers of the Great Amulak Spiral, including the Holy Empire of Saxony, the emerging Marasharite Empire, the Masacavanian Principalities of Kiev and Vladimir, and the Vendragian Confederacy, among other states.
 * He was determined to extend Laurasian commerce and diplomacy into these regions. Seleucus had already attempted to reach out towards the Bulganians, Byzzarians, and Serbians through the establishment of economic consulates on Kolzuduzha, Kuchuk Kaynarca, Izmail, and Jassy, and by sponsoring the existing commodities trade. However, these peoples were distant from Laurasia, and impervious to its efforts at communication. The Emperor also maintained direct relations with Laurasia's neighbor, the Kingdom of Amelianian Cordania, which had, following the collapse of the Marcian Empire and the invasions of the Donathians in the previous century, had emerged as the leading Amelianian power in the Galactic Borderlands. King Edward the Elder of Amelianian Cordania, who was nearing the end of his reign, had subdued Kania, Partsia, Barching, and the Southern Rasdallan Provinces, and waged vigorous campaigns against the Donathians, Lavellans, and Donathian Kthexox. From 1315, however, he had been on friendly terms with King Seleucus, and in 1319, the Treaty of Shashanaya had been signed, confirming the commercial ties between the two realms. Seleucus had strengthened this by dispatching Vitus Bering to survey the Morganian Minor Outlets and the Merlin Shadows; this mission would begun in 1324, and last beyond the Emperor's death. Moreover, the Emperor sought to strengthen his trade connections to the Northern Reaches and the Dasian Heartland. The rulers of Abbathia and Xilania were in a prolonged struggle; the Xilanian Emperors, in particular, looked to Laurasia for moral and financial support. Seleucus dispatched expeditions to the Rebeccan Galactic Trade Route in 1314, 1316, and 1319, and in 1317, he had dispatched a commercial expedition to the Dali Trade Run; this, however, could not proceed due to the Solidaritan hold of the Western Redoubt.
 * Yet Seleucus did not abate his efforts. In March 1317, Sir Artemius Volyenskia (promoted to that rank of knight in 1322), had been dispatched as the Laurasian envoy to Ra'dai, capital of the Kingdom of Northern Donathia. He was ordered to "study the true state of the Donathian kingdom, its forces, fortresses, and limits." Volyenskia, however, was placed under house arrest on the orders of King Sitric of Donathia (who had just seized power), and was forbidden to have free movement within the Donathian realms. Having heard of the failure of the Laurasian Dali Expedition, and alarmed by the successes Seleucus's forces had obtained against the Briannians, Gofraid was concerned that Laurasian attention would be fixed upon his realms next. These concerns were legitimate. Volyenskia, although his freedom of movement was hampered, nevertheless reported on the "grievous tensions" at the court of Ra'dai, caused by Amelianian successes in the Central Galactic Borderlands, and by clashes with the Lavellans and Xilanians alike. He imparted to King Seleucus that the conquest of the Angelican Provinces, still held by Donathia, could be effected with ease. Volyenskia, who upon his return to Laurasia Prime later that year was named Governor of Kelvania Major, urged the King to take advantage of the situation and invade Donathia.
 * Seleucus, however, delayed until the end of the Great Briannian War. Soon after the proclamation of the Empire, the incident that was to provoke Laurasian intervention occurred; at Giron, a band of Angelican pirates attacked a Laurasian commercial convoy, capturing thirty of the forty freighters in the force and killing many Laurasian naval personnel (more than 40,000). This thereby gave the justification to Seleucus to proceed, and Volyenskia pressed upon him the necessity of maintaining Laurasian privileges and preserving the Empire's trade in those regions. The King rejected Volyenskia's ideas that he stir up rebellion among the Angelicans, Tofs, and Billians, and sought to only consolidate Laurasian grip over the minerals and commodities trade.
 * Thus it was that on May 3, 1322, the Emperor dispatched the Guards from Laurasia Prime; he then followed with the newly rechristened 1st Imperial Fleet, his wife, Empress Consort Eudoxia, Admiral Apraskanius, and others. His son, Grand Prince Seleucus, remained behind on Laurasia Prime to supervise governmental affairs in his absence. They proceeded to Heuthros, and from there to Patsy, near the border with the Kingdom of Donathia. The Emperor stopped at every major star system, received petitions, inspected fortifications and government buildings, asked questions about local administration and revenues, and examined objects of interest. At O'Neal, he met with the Chieftain of the Neo-Ecreutian Mercenaries, who pledged his loyalty and his men to the Emperor of Laurasia. Then on July 18, 1322, he embarked with his forces at Patsy and, having issued a declaration of war, crossed over into the Angelican Provinces. The advance against Giron, the first stronghold in the Laurasian path, followed. The outposts of Zachary, Donavan, and Sebastiani fell into Laurasian hands, and the Emperor had the Angelican pirate Nestet-Nevet, who had ambushed a Laurasian transport fleet, executed. Tarku submitted peacefully, and the Angelican princes there honored Seleucus. On August 9, 1322, Giron itself surrendered to the Emperor without a fight; the Governor of the system presented the keys to the system to His Majesty. From thence, the Emperor sought to occupy Eric, Shineski, and Iverman, to seize the worlds of the Prietest and the Immortalized Cluster, and to then advance against Angelica Minor, intending to then blockade Angelica Major and force the Donathians to conclude peace.
 * The Governor of Eric, however, refused to accept a Laurasian garrison, and Seleucus was compelled to launch a military offensive. Supply lines were lengthening; Laurasian communications with Patsy, O'Neal, Martina Mccasia, Mariah, and Blackria were in jeopardy, and the Emperor had to repel constant raids against his convoys. In October 1322, Seleucus returned to Laurasia Prime, but the Laurasians pressed forth. Eric was finally occupied by General Sir Michaelus Makshunia in July 1323, Shineski, Iverman, Titus, Sam, Evan, Aspen, Schulzki, Roach, and Etienne also fell into Laurasian hands, as did the Immortalized Cluster. It was thus that King Sitric was compelled to come to terms. The Treaty of Christiania (September 21, 1323), concluded the Laurasian-Donathian War of 1322-23; Giron, Eric, Shineski, Iverman, Titus, Sam, Evan, Aspen, Schulzki, Roach, Etienne, Angelica Minor, and the Immortalized Cluster were conceded to Laurasia; the latter two, however, would be restored a decade later. Emperor Seleucus could therefore boast that he had secured his Empire's position in the Wild Marshes. Donathia would be engrossed by renewed conflict with Ameliania, Lavella, and in the Galactic Borderlands during the succeeding decades.

1324

 * Following his return to Laurasia Prime in November 1322, Emperor Seleucus and his wife, Empress Consort Eudoxia, had plunged once again into the ceremonies of the Imperial Laurasian Court. Indeed, at that time, the Ashlgothian Ambassador to Laurasia Prime, Alaric of Leslie, noted in his official account of the "spectacle" conducted in which the Emperor appeared as a captain of the Imperial Laurasian Navy; the "All-Joking" Synod conducted themselves in procession, with a model of an Aquilionian eel in tow; and with Empress Eudoxia herself, decked as a Murphian peasant-woman, proceeding with her ladies in waiting and acknowledging the acclaim of all the courtiers. Another strange ceremony had followed in March 1323, when the Emperor invited his Praetorian Guards and his court to witness the ceremonial destruction of the barracks on Ralina Vixius from whence he had first planned his military offensives against Briannia; he declared his resolution to always remain in peace with that kingdom. The Emperor spent much of his time at his prized Palace of Placenta on Darcia, drinking the mineral waters and taking exercise; he also satisfied himself with domestic duties around the Palace. Then in June 1323, the entire Imperial Court, including the ailing Empress-Dowager Praskovia (wife of Seleucus's late half-brother and co-ruler, Menelaus I), embarked from Laurasia Prime to Meaganian, where the Emperor had constructed the magnificent Pink Palace for his wife, the Empress Consort. This palace was surrounded by an extensive garden with fountains, pools, and statutes; it was, on Seleucus's command, opened to the public. In July, the Emperor embarked with his force for maneuvers on the Rebeccan Galactic Trade Route.
 * These maneuvers were conducted around Blackria, Mariana Prime, Martina Mccasia, Katherine, Kigonia, Chancia, Rebecca, Durglais, and Nezbit. Then in August, he returned with his naval forces to Capital, where a ceremony was arranged to honor the sailing vessel which he had found at Vetta, and with which he had taken his first naval lessons in the vicinity of the Constantine Cluster. It was now known as the "Grandfather of the Laurasian Navy". There, the Emperor boarded the vessel, now flying the imperial standard. With four senior admirals manning the stations, and the Emperor himself in the captain's chair, the vessel passed in front of the 1st Imperial Laurasian Fleet, with twenty two Artabanus-class destroyers, two hundred galleys, and fifty support vessels. On a signal from Seleucus, the turbocannon of all the vessels roared out salutes. A feast then followed, with many lapsing. Then in October 1323, a celebration had been conducted of the second anniversary of the Treaty of Nystadia; Emperor Seleucus costumed himself as a Huntite va'kalah, then as a Horacian Father, and finally as a Imperial Army drummer. Shortly after this (October 13, 1323), Empress-Dowager Praskovia died, and was, on the Emperor's orders, interned at the Old Westphalian Cathedral alongside her husband, Menelaus I.
 * Yet by late 1323, Emperor Seleucus had resolved upon a ceremony of elevation, for himself, his Empire, and his wife. The Empress Consort Eudoxia, to whom he had been married for thirty-four years, had proven to be a partner of enormous energy, remarkable adaptability, and great loyalty. Seleucus's passion for her had ripened into love, trust, and mutual contentment. She traveled with him even when pregnant, and was often commented on her great stamina. They had a bond of joy in their son, the Grand Prince, and shared grief over the numerous infants they lost. They took pleasure in each others company. This respect and gratitude encouraged Seleucus, on November 15, 1323, in a decree to his subjects on the second anniversary of the Empire's foundation, to announce that he would be holding a second, imperial coronation, for himself and his wife in the following year. The coronation ceremony, which was to mark the Empire's ascendancy, was to be grander than any previous one. He commanded that no expense be spared. An imperial coronation mantle was ordered from Horacia (now under Laurasian rule), and a Christiania jeweler was commissioned to redesign the Royal Crown of Laurasia. The ceremony would be held in the Religious Quadrants of Christiania, as befitting ancient custom. The Senate, Holy Synod, and every official and nobleman of rank was commanded to be present, while Stephanius Yavorskius, Vice Chief-Procurator of the Holy Synod, and Baron Petevius Tolsotia were placed in charge of coronation preparations. At the beginning of March 1324, Seleucus was struck by a bout of internal strangury, and went to Almastead in order to take the waters. He recovered by March 22, and proceeded with the coronation plans. On May 7, he and his wife proceeded into Christiania, having retired to Darcia.
 * The crowds of the cities of Laurasia Prime, Jadia, Hepudermia, and the two Calaxies paid their due respects to their sovereigns; the Praetorian Guards and Christiania Palace maintained order and provided the escort, and turbocannons were fired to mark the appearance of the imperial couple. The Emperor and Empress were attended by all of the officials of the realm, the Senate, Synod, Colleges, the officers of the imperial household, and the military commanders of the Empire. The Empress was dressed in a purple gown embroidered in gold, and needed five ladies in waiting to carry her train. Emperor Seleucus himself wore a sky-blue tunic embroidered in silver and red silk stockings. Together, they went to the Celestial Balcony and looked out over the crowd at exactly the same spot where, forty-two years ago, the ten-year-old King Seleucus and his mother had seen the raging Royal Guards. Then, they descended the Imperial Staircase, walked through the Religious Quadrants, and reached the Old Westphalian Cathedral. In the center, a platform had been constructed, and on it, beneath a canopy of velvet and gold, two chairs encrusted with precious stones waited for the couple.
 * Provickitis, Yavorskius, and the other high clergymen, dressed in their clerical robes, met the imperial couple. Yavorskius presented the cross for them to kiss, and conducted them to the thrones. The services began while the Emperor and Empress sat side by side in silence. At the climax of the ceremony, they both rose; Provickitis intoned the formal blessings, the chief nobleman issued his prayer of injunction, and the Emperor, taking the Royal Crown, touched it on his wife's head and then crowned himself. He then took the Little Royal Crown, specially crafted for the occasion, and crowned his wife. He was then handed the imperial regalia; to his wife, he gave an orb and the wreaths of state. As Seleucus did this, Eudoxia, overcome with emotion, tears streaming down her cheeks, knelt before him and tried to kiss his hand. He pulled it away; she tried to embrace his knees, but Seleucus lifted her up. Prayers were solemnly chanted, cannon thundered, and the bells of Christiania pealed. The Chief Procurator then presented them formally as Emperor and Empress of All the Laurasians. Seleucus then retired back to the Celestial Palace, bu Eudoxia proceeded at the head of a procession; the imperial mantle was borne, forcing her to stop a number of times. As she walked, Duke Menshevkius of Laurasia Prime followed slightly behind, scattering largesse among the watching crowd. At the Celestial Palace, Grand Prince Seleucus, who himself had been in tears at his parent's imperial coronation waited to conduct her inside; the magnificent coronation banquet followed. Largesse was distributed further, medals bearing portraits of the Emperor and Empress, and a depiction of the coronation were circulated. The rituals thereby established in this ceremony, the "imperial" coronation of Seleucus I and of his wife Eudoxia Lopasaria, was, with little modification, to be adhered to for the next four and a half centuries; Empress Aurelia's coronation of 1759, considered by all accounts to be the grandest in Laurasian history, resembled that of Seleucus and Eudoxia in almost every respect. It was not until 1362, however, on the orders of Antiochus I, that the Coronation Guidelines were compiled, formally establishing the main procedures for the imperial coronation ceremony.
 * Yet Eudoxia soon found herself facing disaster. Among the Empress Consort's attendants was a handsome young man named Willar Monsia (1288-1324), the younger brother of Anna Monsia, the Goldarian woman who had once been closely associated with the Emperor himself. Monsia was a foreigner, a Goldarian born on Laurasia with one foot placed in each culture. He was elegant, lively, clever, ambitious, and opportunistic. He had chosen his patrons shrewdly, worked hard, and risen to the rank of chamberlain and the post of secretary and confidant to the Empress Consort. She enjoyed his company. His sister Matrena had achieved equal success. She was married to a Schauerian Prince named Fedyla Balk (1282-1340), who then served as Governor of the Prelone Asteroid Belt. She herself was a lady in waiting and the closest confidante of the Empress Consort. Gradually however, the two siblings, on the pretense of assisting the Empress and looking after her interests, contrived to gain control of access to her. They controlled all messages, petitions, and appeals addressed to the imperial household. And since Eudoxia's influence over her husband was known to be great, the Monsia channel became immensely valuable. Government ministers, foreign ambassadors, foreign princes, and even members of the Emperor's family approached the Monsias with a petition and a bribe. Empress-Dowager Praskovia and her daughters, Duke Menshevkius, and Baron Tolsotia, all approached them. Besides the wealth gained from bribes, the Monsias also received estates, money, and goods directly from the Empress. Emperor Seleucus, on his part, was completely ignorant of this.
 * Gossip soon spread about the Monsias. It was whispered by many at the Imperial Court that the Empress Consort had taken Monsia as her lover. Lurid stories circulated, including one that Seleucus had discovered the two having sexual intercourse in the Seleucid Gardens. No evidence was ever cited. Eudoxia was generous, warm-hearted, and sympathetic, but also intelligent. She understood the consequences of what would happen if she had any affair. Seleucus's ignorance served as an indicator of his declining health. Eventually, when he learned, retribution was swift and deadly. It was on November 6, 1323, that one of Monsia's own servants, a Footman of the Privy Chamber, informed the Emperor of what was going on.
 * The Emperor's first action was to forbid anyone from petitioning him for pardons on behalf of criminals. Then on November 8, he had a trivial conversation with Monsia, and dinner with the Empress and Grand Prince Seleucus. Then the Emperor, saying he felt tired, dismissed everyone to their chambers. Monsia went to his quarters, undressed, and was about ready to head into his bedchambers when a detachment of Praetorian Guards, led by the Lord Bergvenny of Oxia Vixius, arrived, and arrested him on the charge of taking bribes. His effects and electronics were seized, his chambers were sealed, and he himself was taken way in chains. The following day, Monsia was brought to Seleucus's presence. He was so frightened of His Majesty that he fainted. Once revived, he confessed to everything that he was accused of. He admitted taking bribes, using revenues from the Empress's properties for his own use, and involving his sister in the conspiracies. He did not confess to any improper relations with Eudoxia. Nor did Seleucus seek to conduct the inquiry in private. On the contrary, he issued a proclamation ordering that everyone who had given a bribe to Monsia or knew of such a bribe should step forward.
 * On November 14, 1324, Monsia was convicted on all charges by the Governing Senate and sentenced to death. Eudoxia, however, did not believe that he would die. She sent word to Lady Balk not to worry about her brother, and then went to Seleucus himself to ask for a pardon. However, she misjudged her husband. The Emperor, however, refused to listen. Seleucus said that he was sorry to lose such a talented man, but that the crime demanded the punishment. On November 16, 1324, both Monsias were taken to the grounds of the High Tower of Christiania (the Fortress of Baureux, that dreaded place of imprisonment for criminals of state in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, would not be built for another two centuries). Willar Monsia behaved courageously, nodding and bowing to friends he saw in the crowd (which numbered more than 75,000). He calmly took off his jacket, mounted the platform, listened to the reading of the sentence of death, and then placed himself on the block. He was then executed by electrocution; his sister then received twelve blows of the knout, and exiled for life to Goodman, where she would die in 1332. Her husband, Lord Balk, was given permission to marry again if he wished. This ordeal strained the relations between Seleucus and Eudoxia. Though her name had never been mentioned by Monsia or his accusers, and no one dared to charge her with taking bribes herself, it was widely suspected that she had known of Monsia's activities and hag ignored it. He therefore deprived his wife, on November 21, of all authority over her own household. Eudoxia however, steeled her emotions, and on January 7, 1325, would reconcile with her husband. Just over a month later, he would be dead.
 * The Imperial Academy of Sciences was founded (January 28, 1324). For more information on Seleucus the Victor's reforms, see Reforms of Seleucus the Victor.

1325

 * In the last years of his reign, the health of Emperor Seleucus I entered a serious decline. Sometimes, the Emperor worked with his customary energy and enthusiasm. Among his last projects were the foundation of the Imperial Academy of Sciences and the reconstruction of the University of Laurasia Prime. More often, however, he was moody and apathetic. In these periods of depression, he would procrastinate and refuse to act until the last minute. When the Emperor was withdrawn, few dared to speak to him even when matters are pressing. What lay behind this, only gradually realized even by those who were close to him, was the fact that Seleucus was seriously ill. Tremors still shook his giant but weakening frame, and only Eudoxia, taking his head in her lap, could bring him peace. The years had taken their toll. In 1324, Seleucus was only fifty-two, but his huge exertions, his ceaseless motion, the violent excesses of drink in which he had indulged in his youth, had all undermined his once extraordinary constitution. Beyond these afflictions, he had a new illness, which was to ultimately kill him. For some years, he had suffered from an infection of the urinary tract, and in 1322, the symptoms had reappeared. His doctors and medical bots had diagnosed strangury, a blockage in the urethra and bladder caused by deficiencies in the stomach. During the winter solstice of 1322-23, the pain returned. At first, Seleucus mentioned it to no one but his valet, and continued to drink and carouse in his normal way. Soon, the pain grew stronger, and he had to consult his doctors. He followed the doctors' advice, taking their drugs, submitting to thermal treatments, and engaging in vigorous exercise, but the affliction continued. Then, in July 1324, the disease struck him again. Unable to pass urine, Seleucus was in agony. His personal physician, the Archleutan Dr. Blumentrost (1275-1338), summoned Dr. Thaddeus Horn, who was of half-Marshian descent, to provide assistance. Horn performed surgery on the Emperor, who was placed into anesthesia; he extracted six glasses of urine and a kidney stone. When Seleucus awoke, he experienced great spasms of pain, and crushed everything on his bedside, in spite of the relief medicines administered to him. His pain abated, however, and he was able to pass urine again.
 * At the beginning of October 1324, the Emperor emerged from his chambers, and in spite of his doctors' warning that he should not exert himself, went out of doors. He went to Darcia to see the new fountains installed in Placenta Park; he then set off on an arduous tour of inspection. He began at Bolgrahay, to celebrate the fall of that stronghold twenty-two years before. He then visited the ironworks of Chandlier, and observed the work at the Anusia Ramparts. This tour lasted almost the whole of October; Seleucus felt twinges of pain, but they did not slow his progress. On November 5, 1324, he returned to Laurasia Prime, but decided to travel almost immediately to Taurasia, to visit the Magge Ironworks and Commercial Factory in that star system. On Taurasia, the weather was rough: gray skies, high winds, and icy seas. In the Taurasian Rifles, Seleucus's marine yacht was approaching Lakhta Point when in the distance he saw a craft carrying a number of garrison officers swept out of control. It was soon driven aground into a shoal; the people inside struggled. Seleucus sent a skiff to assist, but the men could do nothing, and were afraid of drowning. Watching impatiently, the Emperor ordered his own yacht to take him alongside the grounded boat. Unable to come close because of the waves, the Emperor suddenly jumped into the sea, plunging into the shallow icy water up to his waist and wading to the stranded boat. His arrival and presence galvanized the desperate men. Responding to his shouts, they caught a tarp thrown at them, and with the help of other sailors and navigators now in the water besides Emperor Seleucus, the stranded boat was pulled and dragged off the shoal. The survivors then thanked Almitis for their salvation and were taken ashore to recuperate.
 * Emperor Seleucus returned to his yacht to change his clothes before anchoring at Lakhta. At first, it seemed that the icy waters had not affected him. He then went to sleep, pleased at his exploit in saving lives and refloating the boat. During the night, however, he came down with chills and fever, and the pain in his intestine reappeared. He canceled his trip to Volta and returned to Laurasia Prime, where he took to his chambers. The disease never relinquished itself afterwards. At Ascentmas, the Emperor was well enough to make his traditional tour of the mansions and residences of central Christiania, accompanied by his band of musicians and carolers. On January 1, 1325 (four hundred years before the Duke of Norfolkius won the First Battle of Kagul), the Emperor was present at the customary fireworks. At Ephiphany, he went out into the waters of the Oslo River for the traditional Blessing of the Waters, catching another cold during the ceremony. He also participated one last time in the celebrations of the Drunken Synod. During that time, they elevated a new Mock-Pope. Then he had his reconciliation with Eudoxia, and they went together to a wedding of one of his personal attendants. He then attended assemblies at the Galactic Exchange and the Old Hickory House. Then on January 16, the illness returned, and compelled him to take to his bed. Dr. Blumentrost again called Horn and other doctors. They now discovered that the Emperor's bladder and intestine had inflamed badly, and with their instrutments, diganosed him with gangrene. They conducted an emergency operation on the Emperor, and removed five-sixths of the gangrene. They then subjected him to a regimen of radiation. Seleucus bore through all of this, summoning Osterman and his other ministers to work. Then on February 3, he suffered a relapse, and calling a priest, received the Last Rites. Tolsotia, Aprakanius, and Chancellor Golovkinus were then admitted to his bedside. Seleucus ordered the pardoning and release of all state prisoners except murderers, and granted an amnesty to young noblemen punished for not presenting themselves for service. He then signed decrees regulating phelyeum narcotics and adhesives, remaining attentive to detail; all present wept.
 * By evening on February 6, 1325, the Emperor seemed a little stronger; the doctors, still administering radiation treatments, talked of letting the Emperor get some exercise. After partaking his hospital gruel, however, Seleucus was then struck with violent convulsions. The Senate, Holy Synod, presidents of the Colleges, officials of state, and the senior officers of the Guard, along with Grand Prince Seleucus and Empress-Consort Eudoxia, were immediately summoned. Soon, the surges of pain through Seleucus's body became so great that Osterman begged him to think only of himself and forget all matters of business. In agony, crying out loudly from the intensity of the pain, Seleucus repeatedly expressed contrition for his sins. Twice more, he received the Last Rites and begged for absolution. Seleucus then spoke to Archbishop Provicktis, and said fervently "Lord, I believe. I hope Almitis will forgive me my many sins because of the good that I have tried to do for my people." All the while, his wife and son remained by his bedside. Seleucus then turned to his namesake, and enjoined him to "preserve all that I have undertaken, to protect the just, punish the wicked, and enforce the position of my Empire." He then called for a stylus and writing tablet; he wrote "Give all too.." before lapsing into unconsciousness. Seleucus sank into a coma, and groaned. The Grand Prince and his mother knelt beside him, praying incessantly that he might be released from his torment by death. At last, at 6:00 a.m., the morning of February 8, 1325, with snow falling outside the Palace, and the skies darkened, Seleucus I the Victor, founder of the Laurasian Empire, died, aged fifty-two.
 * Grand Prince Seleucus, who was thirty-four years old at the time of his father's death, now acceded to the throne as Seleucus II, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Laurasians. The new Emperor Seleucus delivered a speech to the Senate, Synod, and Colleges, declaring his resolution to adhere to all of his father's policies and reforms. He quickly consolidated his position of authority by granting an annuity to the Praetorian Guards, issuing amnesties to his subjects, and confirming those passed by his father. Manifestos were issued announcing the new Emperor's accession, and the Holy Synod conferred blessings for the new reign. On his orders, the body of his father, Seleucus I, was embalmed and placed in a bier, at the Celestial Palace, hung with Kimanian tapestries. For nearly a month, the public was allowed to file past and pay their respects. Then on March 8, 1325, the coffin was carried to the Old Westphalian Cathedral. Emperor Seleucus, his mother, now Empress-Dowager Eudoxia, and the chief nobles of Court walked at the head of a massive procession, which included courtiers, government officials, foreign envoys, and military officers, all bareheaded. Archbishop Provicktis then delivered the eulogy, comparing his late master to Moses, Paul, Solomon, David, and Arasces the Founder. He articulated the general disbelief that this man, who had set Laurasia on its path to galactic dominance, was dead: "O men of Laurasia, what do we see? What do we do? This is Seleucus the Victor whom we are committing to the earth!"
 * Yet matters moved along. Emperor Seleucus II, on his part, now sought for himself a wife. His first wife (to whom he had been married by his father in 1311), Grand Princess Fausta Socratos, had died on May 1, 1318, aged only 24. Their son, Prince Desiderius, had then died in the White Sea disaster (November 25, 1320), aged only five. As a result, Seleucus had no living legitimate male heirs when he succeeded to the throne. Only his daughter, Grand Princess Constantia (who had been born in 1313), survived. Yet the opposition to female rulers remained strong, having been inflamed further by his father's own clash with Grand Princess Theodora. Emperor Seleucus, in fact had instigated plans for his son to marry Lady Honoria Diadones of Constantia, but these had not been carried through before his death; the son now followed on these plans. On May 1, 1325, he married Lady Honoria at the Old Cathedral, in a ceremony attended by all of the magnates of the Imperial Laurasian Court. And then on September 13, 1325, he and his new wife were crowned Emperor and Empress at the Cathedral. They now engaged in vigorous efforts to have a child, but these efforts were to come to nought.

1327

 * Emperor Seleucus II the Strong, who as mentioned above had resolved upon the continuation of the policies and reforms of his father, Seleucus I, sought to thereby strengthen the machinery of the Imperial Laurasian Government. In this, he was encouraged by Duke Menshevkius, who had continued to remain a predominant influence within the ranks of the Court following the death of the first Emperor. It was thus that on February 19, 1326, that the Emperor had formally established the Supreme Privy Council, which was to act as his chief advisory board and as the leading organ of the civil service. This body, which assumed precedence over the Governing Senate, was to be composed of six members. These included all of the surviving chief officials of Seleucus I: Menshevkius himself, along with Admiral Apraskanius, Chancellor Golovkinus, the President of the College of Foreign Affairs Osterman, Baron Tolstoia, and the Duke of Mariana Prime. These advisors were entrusted with issuing ministerial instructions and civil service orders to execute the Emperor's commands, and were given day-to-day oversight over the administrative affairs of the Empire. Menshevkius, who had continued to maintain his position of standing with Emperor Seleucus (who nevertheless had a personal loathing for him), soon became the dominant member of this body. Yet Seleucus also implemented other reforms which proved to be of more benefit to the Empire.
 * The Emperor sponsored a massive expansion of the Imperial Court, thereby continuing with the cultural innovations introduced by his father. Beginning in November 1326, the Celestial Palace underwent a massive architectural renovation, which would result in its expansion to more than 3,000 rooms by 1332. In that year, it would be formally renewed the Quencilvanian Palace. It was Emperor Seleucus who was responsible for constructing the Public Senatorial Chambers, the Assemblage Auditorium, and the Tourist Information Center. He also instigated renovations to the Diplomatic Palace, Christiania Charterhouse, Lycian Crystella Palace, Palace of Placenta, the Palace of Harmony, and numerous other imperial residences in the Empire. The Emperor, moreover, implemented the Code of Courtly Ethics in January 1327, thereby providing strict regulations for protocol, precedence, and standards of personal behavior among his courtiers and attendants. He reorganized the Board of the Imperial Household and cracked down vigorously upon waste. Emperor Seleucus also instigated a major expansion of the Empire's judicial system. In March 1326, the Colleges of State Expenditures and State Income would be united to form the College of Finance; further reforms, implemented in the period 1327-1332, would result in the establishment of formal auditing procedures and a state budget for the Imperial Court. The Emperor also centralized judicial administration, and from 1327 onwards, would command the Senate to attach Procurators and itinerant justices to important star systems throughout the Empire, thereby dispensing justice among commoners and gentry alike. In 1325, 1329, and 1331, the Emperor reformed the imperial coinage, revising the value of the denarius, confiscating all foreign currency issue within his dominions, and decimializing stock bonds, interest rates, and government loans. He also maintained a close working relationship with the Chief Procurator, Archbishop Provickitis of Ralina Vixius; Seleucus, when making clerical appointments, sought to appoint men who supported further reform of church administration and adhered to the state's objectives in this.
 * Yet by early 1327, Emperor Seleucus had finally tired of Menshevkius; he was determined to get rid of this pestering, thieving figure who had gotten away with much while his father was alive, and who plundered the State for his own personal benefit. In March 1327, after Menshevkius had acted in a disorderly manner at a court reception, Seleucus said, ominously: "We shall see who is Emperor, you or I." Then in July 1327, the Duke of Laurasia Prime fell ill; he recovered at his estates in Mexicana, but when he returned to Christiania, he was ignored by the Emperor and by the other magnates of the Imperial Court. Then in September 1327, the moment of reckoning came. He was, on the Emperor's orders, arrested, deprived of all of his offices and titles, and stripped of his decorations; afterwards, the Emperor banished him and his family to Jenny. Menshevkius was now disgraced. Others of his friends and associates found themselves under Seleucus's heavy blow; Tolsotia was arrested and imprisoned at the Secret Prison of Ipsus V, where he died on May 11, 1329, at the age of eighty-four. Then in April 1328, the Emperor completed Menshevkius's destruction; he was accused of treasonable contacts with the Solidaritan Sultanate, lost all of his estates and properties, and exiled with his family to Takrania in the Malarian Provinces. He would die there on November 12, 1329, aged 56.

1330

 * The year 1330, by itself, was largely uneventful, except for the deaths of two of the sovereigns of the Great Briannian War. On February 12, 1330, the Queen Mother of Venasia, Kemutha II, who had ruled since her accession to the throne in August 1299, died on Monderon, aged 59. The Queen Mother's health had entered a serious decline during the last months of her reign, and she had embarked on a journey to Maxiliana, intending to take advantage of that world's spas in order to revive her own condition. These efforts were in vain, however, and she died on her way back to Venasia Prime. She was now succeeded as Queen Mother of Venasia by her eldest daughter, who became Cryastalla I of Venasia. The new Queen Mother, who had been born three months following her mother's accession to the throne, was far less favorably disposed towards the Laurasian Empire. She viewed the Laurasian acquisition of the Venasian Triangle and Grand Duchy of Schaueria Prime as threatening to her own position, in spite of the fact that Venasia's hold of Decapolia, Hannis, Organia, and Permi had been consolidated as a result of the Great Briannian War. Consequently, the Queen Mother, from the moment of her accession, began a major military buildup of Venasian forces, particularly at Ka, Phyilis, Ruttum, Hapes, Thasadornia, and Venasia Secondary; in March 1330, she declared to the Council of High Ones that she could not countenance the continued, aggressive expansions of the Laurasian power. Then on August 1, 1330, Solidaritan Sultan Nizim III, who had harbored King Char'lac in the early 1310s, and thereby become entangled in war with his Laurasian neighbors, was deposed from his throne, as a result of a revolt on Istantius by the Janissary Guards. He was now succeeded to the throne by his cousin Darim I, who had bribed the Guards to support his cause. Darim, however, spared his uncle's life, and had him banished to Roxuli. Emperor Seleucus was alarmed by this, and by the end of 1330, he had begun to contemplate plans for a preventative war against the Solidaritan Sultanate.

1331

 * 1331, was, for the Laurasian Empire, marked by two events: the Emperor Seleucus II's action over the succession, and the death of his mother, Empress-Dowager Eudoxia Lopasaria. The first must be addressed. By 1331, Seleucus had been married to his second wife, Empress Consort Honoria Diadones, for six years. Yet in spite of all their efforts, they had failed to have any children. Many at the Imperial Court rumored that either the Emperor's wife was infertile, or that he himself was now incapable of producing children. In any case, Emperor Seleucus was genuinely concerned by his lack of a son. He now began to consider his possibilities. One was that of Grand Prince Didius Julianus (who had been born on October 23, 1296, at the Diplomatic Palace), the only surviving son of his half-aunt, Grand Princess Theodosia (1262-1313), one of his father's many half-sisters. By 1331, Didius Julianus was thirty-three years old; in November 1325, he had been married to Lady Theodora Hercules, daughter of the 2nd Duke of Conservan, who was one of the leading magnates in the Empire at that time. This had been on the initiative of the Emperor himself. Yet Emperor Seleucus was opposed to the idea of Didius Julianus becoming his heir apparent.
 * He did not wish to be followed by one who descended from the family of his aunt Theodora, who had been such a formidable rival to his father during the early years of his reign. Consequently, the Emperor's attention fixed upon his own daughter: Grand Princess Constantia, who turned eighteen in 1331. This was a break from Laurasian tradition; not since the dawn of the Space Age had a woman governed over the Laurasian realms in any capacity. Yet Emperor Seleucus believed that his daughter, who was possessed of intelligence and learning, would be more then capable of controlling the fortunes of state. Thus it was that on Ascentmas Day 1331, that the Emperor ordered all of the leading magnates and officials of the Governing Senate, Holy Synod, Colleges of State, and the Imperial Court to assemble at the Quencilvanian Palace. There, they were compelled to take an oath of allegiance to Grand Princess Constantia, to recognize her as her father's heiress apparent, and to recognize the claims of any children which she might have. This move, however, was unpopular, for it was unusual for an Emperor to elevate an heir in this way. Moreover, misogynist feelings, which were to remain a strong undercurrent during the following centuries, prevailed, and many did not wish for Constantia to become Empress. These feelings were to reveal themselves in due course.
 * Months before this decision, on September 7, 1331 (402 years before the birth of Empress Aurelia I the Great), the Emperor's mother, Empress-Dowager Eudoxia Lopasaria, died at the Monastery of Windowia Photis, aged 62. Her death was greeted by the Emperor and the Imperial Court with much sadness; he ordered for his subjects to mourn for the Empress Consort, and issued a proclamation praising her virtues. On the Emperor's orders, she would be interred at the Imperial Mausoleum alongside her husband, Seleucus I, in October 1331.
 * Comet Demosthena is visible from Laurasia Prime. It will not be seen again until 1407.

1332

 * 1332 saw the continuation of the concern in the Empire over the succession. Emperor Seleucus, who had compelled the chief institutions and nobles of the Empire to formally recognize his daughter Constantia as his heiress apparent, now to sought to solidify this order of succession further by arranging his daughter's marriage. The search for a suitor began in early January 1332; the Emperor, adhering to the customs of the Third Laurasian Period, issued a proclamation from the Imperial Court, commanding for officials, authorities, and noble guilds throughout the Empire to search for candidates for the Grand Princess's hand, and to bring these candidates to the attention of his own household. The search extended in several star systems throughout the Empire, and in April 1332, the Emperor made his selection; he now choose the Earl of Melarnaria, Sir Gregorius Lauscranius (1313-51), as his chief candidate. The Earl of Melarnaria, nineteen years old at the time, had nevertheless distinguished himself in military service in the Central Core, was renowned for his athleticism and physical attributes, and considered one of the most intelligent young noblemen in the Empire. All of this suggested that he would be a good protector and husband for the Grand Princess, and the progenitor of a great dynasty.
 * On May 4, 1332, the Emperor had them formally betrothed, introducing the Earl of Melarnaria to his daughter. Gregorius and Constantia treated each other with outwards respect, although both recognized that their marriage was being contracted for reasons of state. The actual ceremony itself was conducted on June 1, 1332, at the newly renamed Quencilvanian Palace; Chief Procurator Provkictis officiated, and the ceremony was attended by all of the chief magnates of the Imperial Court. Towards the end of June 1332, it would be formally announced by the Imperial Court that the Grand Princess was pregnant with the Emperor Seleucus's first grandchild; the Emperor was delighted by this news, and ordered for celebrations to be conducted on Laurasia Prime, and in the Empire's other star systems. In November 1332, however, he reaffirmed his earlier proclamation that Constantia was to be his heiress apparent, deeming this a more secure situation than the possibility of a regency, in the event of his early death. This year also saw the implementation of the University Statute of 1332 and the Act of Commercial Navigation, among the Emperor's last reform measures.
 * The Treaty of Resht (January 21, 1332), was signed by the Laurasian Empire and the Kingdom of Great Donathia. Ever since February 1331, the government of Emperor Seleucus II had been conducting negotiations with that of Donathia, still under the rule of King Gofraid. The King of Donathia, who had been engaged in continuous conflict with Amelianian Cordania under King Athelstan (1323-39), and had been expelled from Amelianian Kthexox, was determined to secure his own territorial boundaries. At the same time, Emperor Seleucus wished for a free hand in any future military operations against the Solidaritan Sultanate, and he did not wish to be obstructed in this by his Donathian neighbors. Consequently, the two governments had opened negotiations, and had, within a short time, reached an agreement. By the terms of the Treaty of Resht, Angelica Minor and the Immortalized Cluster were restored to Donathia; in exchange, King Gofraid secured an assurance of non-aggression from the Emperor of Laurasia and recognized Laurasian rights of campaign against Solidarita. The Treaty of Resht was to hold for more than twenty years.

1333

 * 1333, the 33rd year of the fourteenth century, commenced with the Laurasian Empire and the other powers of the Core Regions still residing in a state of peace. Such "peace", however, was destined to be transitory, and would give way to the renewed outbreak of military conflict, though this conflict was not to be as intensive or as wide-ranging as the Great Briannian War, of more then a decade earlier. The new conflict was to be centered in the Polonian-Donguarian Commonwealth, and was to concern the succession to the Polonian-Donguarian throne. By January 1333, the health of King Aug'sac the Strong, Seleucus the Victor's old ally during the Great Briannian War, had entered into a serious decline. King Aug'sac, who had continued to wear himself out with pleasures at the court, and indulged himself with his numerous witnesses, now found that he had to face consequences for those actions. Already, in November 1330, he had collapsed at a session of the Polonian Parliament at the Great Palace of Polonia Major, and had to be escorted from the chambers by his subordinates. In March 1331, he had suffered a panic attack in his private quarters, and had to call upon the services of his personal physicians. His health troubles intensified during the remainder of 1330 and 1331, and in June 1331, the King was forced to undergo emergency artery surgery.
 * As Aug'sac's health entered its terminal decline, he looked ahead to the future. The King of Polonia now sought to resume his efforts to secure the claim of his son, Prince Aug'sac, to succeed him to the Polonian-Donguarian throne. In July 1331, he had told the Polonian Senate that the implementation of hereditary procedures of succession for the Commonwealth would serve to alleviate its troubles and secure its position in the face of foreign threats. He then issued a proclamation from the Royal Court in May 1332, attempting to persuade his subjects of the need for a hereditary succession. And he wooed many of the magnates of Polonia Major, Polonia Minor, Wronzaz, Draguilli, Lublin, and Masan, seeking to obtain their support for his moves. Things advanced to the point that, in November 1332, the King was able to secure discussion of the matter in the Parliament. However, all of his further moves towards securing a hereditary succession failed, as the Laurasian Ambassador to the Court of Polonia Major, Sir Antigonus Dyrania, acting on the orders of the Emperor, managed to successfully bribe many Parliamentary delegates into voting against any motions of succession.
 * On January 9, 1333, King Aug'sac, his efforts to secure the hereditary succession having failed, entered his final illness. He was now confined to his quarters at the Royal Palace, and was unable to present himself in public any further. For nearly a month, he hovered on the edges of death, with all of his subjects in apprehension as to his fate. Finally, on February 1, 1333, after having reigned over Polonia and Donguaria for a third of a century, Aug'sac I died at the age of 62. The news of the King's death spread rapidly throughout the Commonwealth, and to the courts of foreign powers. Few mourned his death, for his Polonian subjects had learned to despise his avarice and his taste for luxury. Nevertheless, the customary period of mourning was proclaimed by the Polonian Primate, Teodor Potocki, who now assumed temporary responsibility for state affairs as Interrex. Aug'sac I was then laid in state, and his funeral would take place on February 24, attended by dignitaries from all foreign powers.
 * Emperor Seleucus, learning of the Polonian King's death, now viewed it as the perfect opportunity to maintain Laurasian "protectorship" over Polonia and to further extend Laurasian interests into the affairs of the Commonwealth. In a speech to the Governing Senate (February 23, 1333), Chancellor Golovkinus declared that intervention into the affairs of Polonia would be necessary "for the security of these realms and the maintenance of stability in the Core Regions." The Emperor then announced his intention to support the claims of Prince Aug'sac. He received the Prince in a formal audience at the Diplomatic Palace on March 8. During the course of March and April 1333, Laurasian units were assembled at strongholds throughout the southern Central Core, including Maschinga, Ergeme, Redderson, Dasinae, Satisba, Sthanon, Goldaria, Yularen, Daala, Pellaeon, Carina, Seejay Prime, Mommica, and Maxc-casi, readied for a intervention into the Commonwealth as the occasion demanded for it.
 * On March 22, the Emperor sent a communique to King Childebert III of Melorkia, who had continued to remain friendly with the Empire. In this communique, the Emperor of Laurasia expressed his belief that "the affairs of Polonia concern all galactic powers", and that unless decisive action were taken, instability would spread outwards. Childebert, who entertained ambitions of his own in the Polonian Provinces, and had no wish to see a Commonwealth that was both unfriendly and marred in anarchy, agreed. Four days later, a conference was opened at Resmania between delegations of the Imperial Laurasian and Melorkian Governments. Chancellor Golovkinus attached Foreign Affairs Minister Ostermania and Prince Demetrius Golistinia as the Laurasian plenipotentiaries; the King of Melorkia was represented by the Duke of Algaica Belguica and Prince Louis of Melorkia Minor. The conference lasted for nearly a month, and concluded on April 15, 1333, with the signature of the Treaty of Resmania. By the terms of this treaty, the Laurasian Empire and the Confederate Kingdom of Melorkia agreed to work together to install Prince Aug'sac on the Polonian throne, to support the continuation of the Commonwealth's present constitutional situation, and to fight against any attempts by any other foreign powers to alter the situation.
 * Yet Laurasia and Melorkia were not the only interested powers in the Commonwealth's fate. There was also Venasia and Ashlgothia. As mentioned above, Queen Mother Cryastalla had been embarked upon a substantial military buildup since the commencement of her reign. She was far less favorably disposed towards the Empire then her predecessors had been, and was determined to find any means to limit Laurasian power. She decided that the situation in the Commonwealth was that means. Consequently, in April 1333, she instructed her Ambassador at Polonia Major, the Lady Executrix Tessalina, to organize a meeting of the Potocki and Czartoryski families. Lady Tessalina did so, and a conference was held at New Nosauria from April 21 to 29, 1333. At the end of the conference, she had secured their support for Venasian intervention and for the claims of Stanislaw I, former King of Polonia, who had been in exile at Kimanis Mooria since 1309. Stanislaw had returned to the Commonwealth two weeks after the King's death, and had been agitating for his own claims to the throne.
 * He now obtained the support of Interrex Potocki, who was fearful of Laurasian claims to intervention within Polonian territory. On May 9, 1333, in fact, the Interrex, persuaded by Ambassador Tessalina, called a convocation Parliament, in order to begin the election process. The Parliament agreed to a resolution banning consideration of any candidates selected by Laurasia or Melorkia, thereby narrowing the field of candidates. Prince Aug'sac, construed to fall under this ban, was alarmed, and on May 18, he requested of the Imperial College of Foreign Affairs that he be allowed to subscribe to the Treaty of Resmania. Seleucus eventually approved his request on June 6, and on July 1, 1333, after another month of negotiations, the Prince agreed to the Concordat of Charasia, by which he obtained the formal recognition of Laurasia and Melorkia for his claims. In exchange, the Prince promised to protect the diplomatic immunity and other rights of all Laurasian and Melorkian subjects in Polonia, and to agree to no treaties hostile to the interests of either power. The Concordat was ratified on July 6, and Emperor Seleucus invited Prince Aug'sac to participate in a gladiatorial tournament at the Post Settlement of Hepudermia.
 * By the beginning of August, Polonian and Donguarian nobles had begun gathering on Polonia Major in order to commence the selection process. Within a short period of time, however, the Laurasian intervention occurred. On August 11, 1333, Emperor Seleucus ordered Legate-General the Baron de Lamanius (1268-1341), to take command of Laurasian forces in the Central Core, and to send detachments into Polonia to assert Laurasia's claims in the election process. Lamanius did as ordered, and Laurasian troops poured into Polonian territory. By August 22, Watson, Ceres, and Sydney had all been occupied by Laurasian forces, and Frogglesworth was under siege. Interrex Potocki was outraged by this, and declared that the Empire had committed a "wanton, and uncalled for act of aggression." By the end of August 1333, Frogglesworth too had capitulated, and Daniel was blockaded by a Laurasian "diplomatic corps". On September 4, Queen Mother Cryastalla, alarmed by these Laurasian moves, announced her formal support for the claims of Stanislaw I, and sent a threatening communique to the Imperial Chancellory on Laurasia Prime, threatening retaliation for the "heinous violation" of Polonian territorial rights. On September 12, 1333, the Parliament formally elected Stanislaw as King-Emperor of Polonia-Donguaria. Emperor Seleucus, when he learned of this declaration, was outraged, and promised not to stand down until Aug'sac's "rightful place" on the Polonian throne was secured.
 * Cryastalla, on her part, now issued an ultimatum to the Imperial Laurasian and Melorkian Courts (September 16, 1333), demanding that the two powers disavow their support for Aug'sac, that they recognize Stanislaw as King of Polonia, and that they agree to not interfere in the Commonwealth's affairs in the future. Emperor Seleucus, when he received this ultimatum, scoffed at its demands. Nevertheless, he ordered for the garrisons of the Duchy of Schaueria Prime and the Nexus Route to be strengthened, and he commanded the Earls of Arias and Murphy to prepare themselves for military operations to the east. King Childebert, on his part, ordered the garrisons of Cholodio, Tournacia, Riparia, and Alsauborg strengthened. With no response to her demands forthcoming, the Queen Mother issued a formal declaration of war against both the Laurasian Empire and the Confederate Kingdom of Melorkia (October 10, 1333). For the first time in five centuries, Laurasia and Venasia had entered into military hostilities. Within days of the declaration of war, Venasian forces advanced swiftly into Laurasian territory. Bolgrahay was assaulted by a Venasian task force (October 12, 1333), falling into their hands two days later. Robbay followed on October 14, and on October 16, Ipsus V was besieged; it resisted until October 22, when it finally buckled under Venasian assaults. By the end of October, Dorothy, Hordania, Tyleria Perea, Jem, Dill, and Boo had all fallen into Venasian hands, while Atticus, Colsonia, and Smithia were being besieged.
 * Venasian expeditions, penetrating to the outskirts of Nathaniel, Crimean IV, and Sanegeta, also reached the Melorkian stronghold of Brittany, sacking its defenses (November 1, 1333). Two days later, on November 3, 1333, Archleuta fell to a rapid offensive launched by Venasian Princess Kamatha of Phyllis. Colsonia and Smithia, however, continued to resist Venasian assaults, remaining firm for their Laurasian garrisons under the command of General the Baron Melasgavius. Then on November 11, 1333,  King Sisenand of Ashlgothia, who had been engaged in negotiations with the Consortium for months, and seeking to arrest Laurasian power in the Commonwealth, announced his own declaration of war, and launched his forces into Melorkian territory. Marsin was the first to fall to Ashlgothian forces (November 14), followed in short order by Jasmine (November 16), Les Mans (November 18), Cambrina (November 22), and Manorsia (November 25-December 1). Through the latter weeks of November 1333, also, Venasian forces overran Farbissinia, Shiloh, and Linopking, and were on the verge of finally overrunning Smithia. Yet by December 5, soon after Princess Kamatha defeated Baron Melasgavius in the Battle of Gotlandia, the tide had already shifted to the favor of Laurasia and Melorkia. Emperor Seleucus, in a series of proclamations to his subjects, had exhorted them not to despair, and expressed his utmost faith that the Empire would succeed. On December 11, 1333, the Emperor moved from Laurasia Prime, announcing that he would take direct command of operations against the Consortium. He also ordered General de Lamanius to move with all speed against Polonia Major. On October 24, a coalition of Polonian-Donguarian nobles led by Duke Michael Wiśniowiecki of Cossack, the descendant of False Demetrius I's sponsor from more than a century earlier, had announced their recognition of Aug'sac as King-Emperor of the Commonwealth, and denounced the claims of Stanislaw I. On Ascentmas Day, 1333, they signed the Pact of Mohi with the Empire, pledging cooperation with Laurasian forces. By the end of 1333, Cossack, Bordilla, Pressburg, Mohi, Donguaria Minor, and Gischala were under their control.
 * On March 5, 1333, at the High Hatsheput Hospital in Randanian City, Horacia, the Emperor's daughter and heiress apparent, Grand Princess Constantia, gave birth to her first child, a son. She and her husband, Duke Lauscranius of Melarnaria, named him Antiochus. Emperor Seleucus was greatly pleased to hear about his grandson's birth, and he ordered for his subjects to celebrate it. Antiochus would be destined to become Antiochus I the Great, and would play a decisive role in Laurasian history later in the century.

1334

 * 1334, the 34th year of the fourteenth century, commenced with the tide of the war having shifted in the favor of the Laurasian Empire and its ally, the Confederate Kingdom of Ashlgothia. Emperor Seleucus, exultant still over the birth of his grandson, and determined to assert Laurasian dominance in the Polonian-Donguarian Commonwealth, now launched a vigorous series of counteroffensives against Venasian forces in the Nexus Route region and in the Duchy of Schaueria Prime. On January 7, 1334, Smithia finally fell to the forces of Venasian Princess Kamatha. This, however, proved to be the last major success for Venasian forces against their Laurasian enemies. Ten days later, the Princess moved against Rashid, hoping to overrun that stronghold's defenses and to drive a wedge in the direction of Kolchad, Alvorg, and Gulliborg. At Shiloh Points, however, she was intercepted by the 7th Imperial Fleet, commanded by Seleucus's chief fleet subordinate, the 2nd Duke of Christiania. On January 24, 1334, the Battle of Shiloh Points was waged. It lasted for seven hours, and when it had ended, the Venasians had been decisively defeated. Shiloh Points was secured by Laurasian forces, and the Duke of Christiania then proceeded to drive all Venasian units from the outskirts of Shiloh, Schaueria Prime, and Blueia (February 1334). On February 17, Smithia and Archleuta both fell back into Laurasian hands, and on March 5, the Emperor himself inflicted a decisive defeat upon the Princess in the Battle of Jean. Jem, Dill, and Boo were recovered by March 24, and on April 1, 1334, so was Dorothy. Venasian forces now launched vigorous raiding expeditions into the Horacian Provinces, attempting to keep their Laurasian enemies off-balance. Cageo, Louza, and Kingpin were harried by Venasian naval units (April 5-14, 1334), and on April 24, Levinston actually fell to a Venasian military force. On April 28, however, Seleucus defeated Princess Kamatha again in the Battle of Linopking, and on May 5, drove Venasian units from Levinston, the outskirts of Cageo, and Bartello. By May 14, Tyleria Perea, Dorothy, and Hordania were all back in Laurasian hands, and on May 22, Ipsus V was besieged by the Emperor's troops. It did not fall back into Laurasian hands, however, until June 6, 1334.
 * On that same day, "King" Stanislaw I was compelled to flee from Polonia Major, down the Denveranian Trunk Line, and into the dominions of Ashlgothia. During January 1334, Donguaria Prima, Croac, Aohi, Rohi, and the Trans-Croac Colonies had all defected to the cause of Prince Aug'sac. The Siege of Donguaria Secunda, which commenced on February 7, 1334, ended in victory for the forces of General Lamanius and Prince Aug'sac, bolstered also with Melorkian reinforcements. Following the world's fall on February 18, Daniel and Rupert had both been secured by Laurasian forces; Doris, Anthony, and Rawlings followed by March 7. And on March 19, 1334, the Confederates of Wronzaz and Kaidan had also defected to the Laurasian-Royalist cause. April and May 1334 saw Laurasian forces defeating all Venasian raiding expeditions launched in the vicinity of Crimean IV, Nathaniel, Drennan, and Hopper, thereby preventing the Consortium from providing any aid whatsoever to Polonian forces; Polonia Minor, Krakow, and Draguilli had also fallen into Laurasian hands. Polonia Major was placed under siege from May 24, and the King's departure on June 6 was the final culmination of his failure. By the end of June 1334, with the conquest of Lublin, Ostorkleka, and Polaga, the Commonwealth had been cleared of Stanislaw I's forces. Stanislaw himself, now ensconced at Ashlgothia Major, had lost his throne, without ever receiving the necessary "aid" from his Venasian allies.
 * On June 17, 1334, Emperor Seleucus sent a communique to Primate Potocki and the Polonian Parliament, urging them to formally denounce Stanislaw as King-Emperor of Polonia-Donguaria. To back this up, he ordered Laurasian troops to occupy the garrisons of Kaluszyn and Firley, dismantling the Polonian forces in both star systems. This proved the move necessary, and on June 22, they did denounce Stanislaw, declaring that he was a "false King of Polonia" and that they had been deceived into elevating him. He was formally deposed as King-Emperor of Polonia-Donguaria on July 1, 1334. By that time also, Bolgrahay was also back in Laurasian hands, and all Venasian forces had been expelled from Laurasian territory. Decapolia Minor then came under assault from the Emperor's troops (July 2-17, 1334), eventually falling. Agac, Aflac, Podrac, and Cadaria followed in quick order (August-September 1334), and on October 15, 1334, Princess Kamania herself died in the Battle of Lynne, conceding that stronghold to Laurasian arms. By November 1334, Laurasian forces had obtained the definite advantage on the Venasian front, and Queen Mother Cryastalla was now considering the possibility of negotiations.
 * On October 4, the Emperor issued instructions to General Lamanius, ordering him to move forth into Ashlgothia. Laurasian forces now drove Ashlgothian units from Manorsia (October 5-9, 1334), and on October 14, assisted their Melorkian allies in lifting the Ashlgothian siege of Algaica Belguica. On October 24, Imma was besieged by Laurasian-Melorkian forces. The Siege of Imma lasted for the better part of a month, as the Ashlgothian forces of General Gunsobad resisted fiercely. It's fall on November 19, however, opened the way to further Laurasian advances. Jeopardy and Trebek were then overrun (November 20-24), and on November 26, Emma fell into Laurasian hands also. Baiteman and Tahon were both blockaded, and Laurasian expeditions harried the outskirts of Nandia, Larkin, and Greg Minor. On December 4, 1334, General Lamanius scored a decisive victory in the Battle of Bryce, storming that world's defenses, capturing 250,000 Ashlgothian troops, and imprisoning the Ashlgothian Garrison General Alaric. Baiteman fell on December 11; Tahon was then subjected to a frontal assault on December 15, finally falling ten days later. By the end of the year, Laurasian forces were also blockading Kane, Kathryn, and Courtney, and were preparing an offensive against Brooke One.

1335

 * 1335, the 35th year of the fourteenth century, commenced with the Laurasian Empire's forces continuing to make further gains, in conjunction with its Melorkian allies. On January 3, 1335, Hannis was assaulted by Emperor Seleucus. This stronghold, one of the most important in the Venasian Consortium, commanded access to the Rebeccan Galactic Trade Route and was, by the fourteenth century, fully restored to its position of earlier economic predominance. The Siege of Hannis lasted for nearly a month, as Lady Executrix Palimera, Generaless of the Upper Venasian Cluster, sought to through back Laurasian assaults. Ultimately, however, Hannis's fall on January 24 merely confirmed the overall direction of the war's momentum. Maxiliana and Duris were now under siege from Laurasian forces, and by February 1335, the Emperor was preparing to launch an offensive against Ka, Monderon, and Venasia Secondary. In the meantime, in Ashlgothia, further major advances were also being made. Kane fell on January 14, 1335, and from thence, Laurasian forces stormed Brooke One (January 18), Allison (January 22), Matthew (January 25), West (January 28), and Thelma (February 2). Kathryn followed on February 6, 1335, and Courtney on February 11. By the end of February 1335, Laurasian forces were even threatening to overrun Leslie, Tea, and Jennings.
 * In March 1335, King Sisenand, who was still contending with outbursts of civil dissent on Larkin, Ashlgothia Minor, and India, and who recognized that there was no further advantage to be derived from the alliance with the Neo-Venasian Consortium, decided to bring the war to an end. On March 16, after Martinez fell to a Laurasian expeditionary corps under Admiral Sir Tacitus Amulus, Earl of Arias, the King sent a communique to General Lamanius, requesting for a military armistice. Lamanius, recognizing that he held the upper hand, forwarded this request to Emperor Seleucus, who was directing operations in Venasian territory from his headquarters on Schaueria Prime. The Emperor, who saw Laurasia's position in the Commonwealth as being secure, decided to accept the armistice request. On March 24, 1335, the Armistice of Jared was signed, thereby suspending hostilities among Laurasia, Melorkia, and Ashlgothia. Queen-Mother Cryastalla too, saw the writing on the wall, and on April 4, she also requested for an armistice: the Armistice of Arleen was signed between Laurasia and Venasia.
 * All the governments involved then decided upon a site for the diplomatic conference: Tolbiac, in the Confederate Kingdom of Melorkia. This conference convened on May 5, 1335, and lasted for over two months. This was due to the extensive wrangling among the diplomatic delegations. Laurasia was represented by Chancellor Sir Athanasius Sigelius (1292-1350), Archbishop of Constantinople. He had succeeded Golovinkius upon his death on January 6, 1334. Sigelius was aided by General Lamanius, Collegial President Ostermania, and the Duke of Christiania. Venasia was represented by Lady Executrices Demania and Palimera, the former of which was the Queen Mother's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. Primate Potocki and Prince Jerzy Czartoyski stood for the interests of the Polonian-Donguarian Commonwealth; Prince Louis of Melorkia Minor, those of Melorkia; and Ashlgothia, Prince Sisebut of Larkin. At points, it seemed as if the process would break down completely, and that no points of agreement would be reached. Eventually, however, the animus was overcome.
 * On July 24, 1335, the Treaty of Tolbiac was signed, thereby bringing an end to the War of the Polonian Succession. By the terms of this treaty, Aug'sac II was recognized by all parties as King-Emperor of Polonia-Donguaria. All of the previous arrangements of the Polonian Constitution were confirmed; the King-Emperor agreed to respect the immunities of his nobility, to refrain from aggressive foreign wars against his neighbors, and to grant privileges of equitable transit and access to all foreign subjects within his dominions. Laurasia and Melorkia agreed to withdraw all military units from the Commonwealth's territory by no later then July 1, 1336, and to restore all star systems, garrisons, and outposts in Polonian territory which they had occupied. As regards to territorial matters, the status quo ante bellum was restored between Laurasia and Venasia, and between Melorkia and Ashlgothia. The Laurasian Empire, however, was to occupy the Ashlgothian Borderlands Territories; vis, the strongholds of Courtney, Tahon, Bryce, Baiteman, Kane, Kathryn, Emma and Imma until September 1, 1347, as surety for its involvement in the conflict. All other parties, save Polonia, were to be compensated by Polonia for their involvement, to the tune of $400 billion denarius (Laurasian) each.
 * The Treaty of Tolbiac was ratified by Emperor Seleucus on July 28; by King Sisenand of Ashlgothia on August 2; by Queen Mother Cryastalla on August 8; by King Childebert on August 12; and by the Polonian Parliament on August 25. By September 1335, Laurasian forces were being withdrawn from Venasian, Ashlgothian, and Polonian territory, and a sense of equilibrium was returning to the Core Regions. Emperor Seleucus himself returned to Laurasia Prime in a victorious procession on October 2, 1335. He was greeted with the acclaim of his subjects at the two Calaxies, Jadia, Hepudermia, and in the cities of Laurasia Prime. The Governing Senate and Holy Synod conferred upon him the title of Polonius Maximus; he was the second Laurasian ruler, after his father, to be honored with such an designation. The Emperor then presided over a series of tournaments, jousts, parades, masques, banquets, and other celebrations to commemorate his victory. But by this point, the Emperor's health had entered a serious decline, due to the exertions of war. Seleucus had been complaining of stomach and back pains since November 1334; in September 1335, this had been joined with headaches, eye-strain, and inflammation of the bowels. On October 15, Seleucus suffered a violent attack of diarrhea and heat exhaustion in his private quarters, and had to be rushed to the Imperial Hospital.
 * The Emperor's physicians now attempted to provide him with all of the treatments possible, and for a time, it seemed as if he would be on the way up. But by November 5, Seleucus's condition had relapsed again, and it became increasingly clearer, to those within the Imperial Court, and to those without, that he was dying. This was confirmed five days later, when he was diagnosed with the dreaded Angrames malady. Seleucus himself, now facing death, now issued a proclamation from the Imperial Court (November 14, 1335), once again affirming his proclamation of his daughter, Grand Princess Constantia, as his heiress apparent. Constantia herself, along with her household, now entered a bout of illness at Williams, and were therefore unable to move to Laurasia Prime. The Emperor's cousin, Grand Prince Didius Julianus, then at Charasia, was in a much better position, and by December 1335, had definitively consolidated his place of prominence among the Laurasian nobility. He had now built up his base of supporters at the Imperial Laurasian Court, among them Chancellor Sigelius, and who were aghast at the prospect of a female monarch. Seleucus continued to remain unaware of these plots.
 * On November 28, the Emperor suffered a stroke in his hospital room, the final onset of the malady, and was rendered completely immobile. Two days later, on December 1, 1335, Emperor Seleucus II the Strong died at the Quencilvanian Palace in Christiania, Laurasia Prime, aged 45, and after having reigned for a decade. The news of the Emperor's death spread rapidly from the Palace, and then across the Empire's dominions. Many bewailed their monarch, who they considered a true warrior for his decisive victories against Venasia and Ashlgothia in the recently passed War of the Polonian Succession. They also hailed the fact that he had continued the reforms of his father, the great Seleucus I. Nevertheless, many of these same subjects, especially those within the Court and the Imperial Laurasian Government, disagreed completely with his succession arrangements. This disagreement now showed itself in full form. The Chief Procurator of the Holy Synod, Provkictis, was himself opposed, and believed that female rule would doom the dominions of the Empire. He now was further encouraged by the Bishop of the Cron Drift, Didius Julianus's cousin Antigonus (1298-1371), who held ambitions of his own. And as also mentioned, Chancellor Sigelius threw their support to the pro-Didius cause. Didius himself, immediately upon hearing of the Emperor's death, moved swiftly to Laurasia Prime. He arrived there on December 8, and now took full advantage of his position at the Imperial Laurasian Court.
 * The Governing Senate, Holy Synod, and Colleges of State now declared that the Emperor's will, naming his daughter as his successor, had been mistaken, and that the "froth of the anti-Almitis had wrongly influenced his mind." Consequently, they refused to recognize Grand Princess Constantia as her father's legitimate heiress apparent. On December 19, Seleucus II was interred at the Old Westphalian Cathedral. Three days later, on December 22, 1335, the bodies of state proclaimed Didius Julianus to be Emperor and Autocrat of All the Laurasians. Presented to his subjects from the balcony of the Celestial Palace, the Emperor announced his intention to uphold the "the reforms of my predecessors" and to maintain the integrity of the Laurasian State. He moved swiftly to consolidate his position, conferring titles, honors, and monetary rewards upon the Chancellor, Chief Procurator, Bishop, and others of his supporters. And on December 26, he crowned himself Emperor with the Great Imperial Crown. Thus as 1335, ended, Laurasia had a new master. Things were not all well, however, and tensions were to burst out shortly.

1336

 * 1336, the 36th year of the fourteenth century, commenced with the Laurasian Empire now under the rule of Didius Julianus, cousin of the late Emperor Seleucus II. Although Julianus had, in effect, seized the Laurasian throne, and had become Emperor in violation of the conditions laid down in the testament of Seleucus II, he sought to further legitimize his position in the eyes of his subjects. As part of this, the Emperor decided to extend the hand of reconciliation to Grand Princess Constantia and her husband, the Duke of Melarnaria. On January 7, 1336, the Emperor issued a manifesto from the Quencilvanian Palace, declaring that he did not, by any means, intend to "destroy the title, the liberty, or the immunity of all members of the imperial family", that he sought cooperation with them for the sake of the State, and that he hoped peace and prosperity would continue to transpire in the Empire's realms. Constantia herself, who already had ideas of rising up in force against her cousin and asserting claim to what was hers by right, nevertheless decided, on the part of her husband, to play it safe at this time. On January 15, therefore, when the Emperor invited her to the Imperial Court, she did not dare to refuse. She, her husband, and their household departed from Melarnaria ten days later, arriving in the outskirts of the Laurasia Prime star system on February 4, 1336.
 * The Emperor made a point of staging celebrations for their arrival. He himself greeted them at the Grand Entry to the Quencilvanian Palace, embraced them, and then presented them to his courtiers, and to his subjects, from the Palatial Balcony. The Emperor proclaimed that he would always honor them, and he in fact, conferred $100 billion denarius, along with estates on Tarravania, Osama, Little Mexicana, and Explosansia Major, among strongholds, upon the couple. During the course of the next two months, the Imperial Court's time would be occupied by banquets, masques, paegants, holomovie showings, plays, tournaments, and other athletic, as well as academic contests. On May 30, 1336, however, the Malarian patriot Davidios of Suri instigated a revolt on his homeworld, seeking the overthrow of Laurasian authority. He proclaimed that he could not continue to abide by the commands of the Imperial Laurasian Government, and promised to restore the glories of the Malarian people. By June 4, the rebel forces had seized Odika, Timsies, Timaslan, Acabania, and Takrania, and were threatening the defenses of Meehan, Manzo, and Ettleman. Emperor Julianus, who was determined to demonstrate that he would brook no defiance to his authority, ordered for General Lamanius, now reassigned from the Central Core, to move swiftly to crush this revolt. Lamanius did not waste any time. On June 16, having established his command headquarters on White, he defeated rebel forces in the Battle of Welch, preventing them from overrunning the stronghold. Then, in a series of confrontations at Cryst St. Constantia, Johnald, and the Jar Asteroids (June 6-19, 1336), Lamanius inflicted further decisive defeats upon rebel forces, repelling them decisively each time. Ettleman and Meehan were relieved on June 24, and by July 2, the defenses of Manzo had also been secured.
 * On July 16, 1336, Davidios launched an offensive against the Laurasian colony of Newerania; the ensuing Battle of Newerania proved to be a costly failure for the rebel leader, who lost 35,000 of his core troops and nearly all of his transports. On July 21, Acabania and Takrania returned to their loyalty towards the Imperial Laurasian Government, and by August 4, it was clear that the rebellion was doomed. Finally, on August 14, 1336, Davidios himself was defeated and captured in the Battle of Odika; within two days, Timsies, Timaslan, and Suri were back under government control. On the orders of the Emperor, the rebel was placed on a transport, bound in chains, and brought back to Laurasia Prime. There he was tried by the Senate (August 28, 1336), convicted on charges of treason, les-majestie, and conspiracy, and on September 4, executed at the High Tower of Christiania.
 * In the aftermath of this rebellion, Didius Julianus attempted to consolidate his authority further by implementing a series of reform measures. Already, in July 1336, the Imperial Court had moved from Laurasia Prime to the Palace of Placenta on Darcia, one of Seleucus the Victor's great constructions. On Darcia, the Emperor issued a manifesto (September 7, 1336), promising to reverse Seleucid promises in relation to land tenure and to reform any abuses within the Empire's judicial system. He ordered for the codification of all judicial decisions, decrees, and edicts issued since January 1330, and made a great effort to portray himself as the natural successor to the two Seleucids, declaring that all of his actions were a continuation of what they had achieved. He extended considerable grants of property and money to his nobles and courtiers, proclaimed a one-year alleviation of the imperial tax burden, and commanded for the release of all convicts who could demonstrate their innocence. On September 14, he ordered for the Heraldmaster's Office to revise the roll of obligations, and he now granted an exemption to each noble family, allowing for them to opt from military conscription and civil service for select members of their family.
 * On September 19, 1336, Chief Procurator Provkictis died, after having served in his position for fifteen years. Until his death, Provkictis had continued to remain a supporter of the Emperor's, and was a witness to the imperial charter of June 19, 1336, by which Didius Julianus had restored 1,500 confiscated ecclesiastical estates, chantries, and monasterial lands to the administration of the Holy Synod. The Emperor openly mourned the Chief Procurator's death, and commanded for an official period of such to be observed at the Imperial Court. Provkictis's body was laid in state at the Westphalian Cathedral for nearly a month; his burial on October 14 was accompanied with much ceremonial. Didius Julianus then moved to select his successor. He soon decided upon the Abbott of the Vemay Monastery on Jenny, Theodosius Beccarius (1290-1361), long a personal friend of his, and one Provicktis's most loyal subordinates. Beccarius was formally named Chief Procurator on October 25, 1336, and assumed the duties of his office on November 3. In November and December 1336, however, the Emperor was confronted with revolts on Clancia, Hannah, Evelyn, Taxiles the Great, Hydapses, Haudrau, Goss Beacon, Conservan, and Reoyania, provoked by the minor Laurasian barons Sir Boethius Redmania and Nicomedus Ramparania. These revolts were suppressed, at the cost of more then 85,000 troops; Ramparania was captured by Laurasian marines at Palimisiano and was imprisoned at Windowia Photis, while Redmania managed to flee to the Solidaritan Sultanate. He arrived at the Court of Istantius on December 23, 1336, and was there received by the Solidaritan Sultan Darim I, who was determined to strike a blow against the Laurasian Empire. Darim himself felt his own internal position more secure as his successor, Nizim III, had died in exile on Roxuli (July 25, 1336). He could therefore move against Laurasia with less fear of rebellion.

1337-1339

 * 1337 began with the Laurasian Empire and the Solidaritan Sultanate posed for yet another military conflict. This was due to the flight of the rebel Baron Sir Boethius Redmania to the Court of Istantius. Solidaritan Sultan Darim II, as mentioned above, had agreed to provide him sanctuary, and he now viewed Redmania as his means to strike back against the Laurasian Empire. Already, from November 1336, Solidaritan expeditions had been penetrating to Patsy, O'Neal, Chancia, Katherine, Durglais, and Blackria, harassing the defenses of those strongholds and irritating the Imperial Laurasian Government. Solidaritan authorities had committed violations of Laurasian commercial rights on Berhamia, Sair, and Sheryl; the Camare Market Incident on Laronn (January 8-14, 1337), proved to be especially galling, as Solidaritan agents of the Bureau of Economic Coordination seized 45,000 tons worth of Laurasian industrial and agricultural goods, imprisoned captains from Katherine Drive Yards, Christiania Pharmceuticals, and Constantinople Factories, and refused to allow Laurasian merchants further access to the Market. All of these incidents, combined with the harboring of Redmania by the Sultan, provoked Emperor Julianus, on January 24, 1337, to issue an ultimatum to the Solidaritan Court. In this ultimatum, the Emperor demanded that Redmania be handed back to Laurasian authorities; that all Solidaritan expeditions into Laurasian territory cease; and that the Solidaritan Government agree to respect all of the privileges of Laurasian merchants and navigators in the future.
 * Sultan Darim, when he received these demands, refused to even consider them. He declared that he would not "stoop" to the level of the Emperor of Laurasia, and that the Empire, in fact, should compensate the Sultanate for all previous outrages. On February 10, 1337, therefore, Emperor Julianus issued an official declaration of war against the Solidaritan Sultanate, commencing the War of 1337-39. Hostilities commenced in earnest. It was in fact, the Solidaritans, who made the first moves. Solidaritan Pasha Manzak-Shah, taking command of the garrisons of Dennis, Wendy, Coen, Shannon, and Michael, now moved across the Rebeccan Galactic Trade Route and into Laurasian territory. He besieged and conquered Nezbit (February 11-19, 1337), storming that stronghold's defenses in a wanton manner. From Nezbit, Solidaritan units overran Blackria, Martina Mccasia, and Heuthros (March 1337), thereby striking to the edges of the Laurasian Purse Region. N'zoth was then sacked by a Solidaritan expedition (March 29-April 4, 1337), while Durglais, Elizabeth, and Chancia were isolated from outside support. On April 18, 1337, Pasha Manzak-Shah secured another victory in the Battle of Astrakhan, driving Metallasian and Rebeccan colonists from that star system and destroying all of their settlements. Sanjoros, Manil, and Rainnan fell into Solidaritan hands by May 6.
 * Emperor Julianus had not been idle during this time. Indeed, he had to contend with renewed revolts in the Central Core, centered at Stenbock, Goldaria, Marshia, Bainsborough, and Ruthania (March-May 1337), all of which his forces crushed ruthlessly. The Emperor also had to quell civil dissent at Marsia and the moons of Laurasia Prime, ordering for the executions of 75,000 recalcitrant starhoppers at the Asteroid Belt (May 1, 1337). Besides all of this, he had also been preparing for a series of surprise offensives into the rear of Solidaritan territory, thereby taking advantage of Solidaritan weaknesses. On May 11, 1337, Laurasian forces at Ipsus V, Bolgrahay, and Robbay, commanded by the Earl of Arias, launched a surprise sally against Esmeralda, Big Twinny, and Vindictoria. Esmeralda was the first to fall (May 13-14, 1337), and was followed by Big Twinny ten days later. Vindictoria resisted the Laurasian onslaught, but Arias succeeded in isolating it from outside support, in disrupting its communication lines, and in eliminating the threat it posed. He then moved forward to Leopoldia (June 1, 1337), laying that stronghold under siege. Frederickslandia and Alexandra also came under assault from Laurasian units, and Laurasian expeditions penetrated as far as Quanna.
 * Sultan Darim, surprised by the assault from his east, was forced to divert units to shore up his position there. This gave the Emperor the opening he needed. On June 14, 1337, he lured Pasha Manzak-Shah into a trap at Sauvania; the ensuing Battle of Sauvania was decided by superior Laurasian naval strength. Within hours, Manzak-Shah had suffered a decisive defeat, and was compelled into retreat. Heuthros was then relieved (June 16-21, 1337), and Rainnan was recaptured on June 26. A Laurasian breakout from Rebecca and Durglais then followed, and Impania was overrun (July 1-9, 1337). From Impania, General Lamanius stormed Shannon (July 16, 1337), inflicting a major and humiliating defeat upon Solidaritan arms. Sanjaros and Manil were back in Laurasian hands by July 25, and on August 3, 1337, the Second Battle of Martina Mccasia ended in a decisive victory for the Emperor's forces. Nezbit, Blackria, and N'zoth were all back in Laurasian hands by August 15, and on August 21, the Battle of Cynthia ended in another victory for General Lamanius, securing Patsy and O'Neal from further Solidaritan moves.
 * September 1337 saw Laurasian forces driving Solidaritan units from the outskirts of Elizabeth, Chancia, and Katherine; on September 21, moreover, the Battle of Coen ended with the Solidaritans being decisively routed, and forced to abandon that stronghold. Baron Redmania, on his part, who had been given an expeditionary task fleet by his Solidaritan benefactors, now attempted a foray into the Empire. Using a secret military route through the Constantine Cluster, he appeared at the outskirts of Venusia (October 2, 1337), laying the world under siege. Venusia, which was caught completely unaware by the rebel assault, did not hold up for long, and it fell on October 6. By October 12, Explosansia Minor, Little Mexicana, Ralina Vixius, and Augis IV were all in rebel hands, and Redmania was even threatening the defenses of Vetta, Aquilionia, and Taurasia. Emperor Julianus now ordered the Duke of Colombia to move against Redmania. Colombia did as commanded, and on October 24, he halted a rebel move against Wroona. He then secured the defenses of Clackimaris (October 28-November 4, 1337), and on November 12, won a further victory at Explosansia Major. Explosansia Minor then fell back into Laurasian hands on November 16. Four days later, Dennis was captured from the Solidaritans; on that same day, Redmania was defeated in the Battle of Augis V. By the end of the month, Ralina Vixius, Augis V, and Little Mexicana were back in Laurasian hands. On December 5, 1337, Rastaborn was besieged by the Empire's forces; it fell on Ascentmas Day, thereby capping off a victorious year of campaigning for the Empire.
 * Into 1338, Laurasian advances continued. On January 7, 1338, the Battle of Michael was waged. Manzak-Pasha, who had thus far failed to repel continual Laurasian moves into Solidaritan territory, was again blunted. Emperor Julianus and General Lamanius secured a decisive victory; they captured a number of Solidaritan arks, more then 100,000 tons of military supplies, and the Solidaritan flagship, the IMS Belduk. Manzak-Pasha himself then suffered a further defeat at Bower (January 14), and on January 22, Lang also fell into Laurasian hands. On February 1, 1338, Baron Redmania was defeated in the Battle of Sapphire, and was forced to retreat from the Constantine Cluster, through Sauvania and Metallasia, and back across to Solidarita. Four days later, the Emperor's forces quelled another uprising in the Malarian Provinces, this time at Malaria Outer, and on February 19, Leopoldia finally succumbed to Laurasian assaults. Frederickslandia followed on February 25; Alexandra, however, continued to resist. Nevertheless, Laurasian forces continued their advance forward; Wendy, Wayland, and Solidaritan Doris all fell in March 1438; and on April 5, so did Quanna. Laronn and Sheryl were besieged from April 19, finally falling on May 22, 1338. By June 1338, Methusalah, Massanay, and Sassanay were all under siege, and the Emperor won another victory at Canterwell (July 1-5, 1338).
 * In August 1338, however, another revolt broke out against the Emperor's authority: in the southern Central Core. The Duke of Christiania, an illegitimate relation of the Emperor's, had become increasingly disenchanted with his rule, and was determined to stake out his own position. At his estates on Olivia, Muppet, Mommica, Seejay Prime, Carina, Yularen, and Sipp, he had been, since October of the previous year, assembling mercenaries, military supplies, and his supporters. Christiania was indirectly supported by Grand Princess Constantia, in contact with her own supporters at the Imperial Laurasian Court, and maintained his own communications with her husband, the Duke of Melarnaria. Finally, on August 14, when the Emperor sent the Duke a summons to take command of Laurasian forces in the Duchy of Schaueria Prime, Christiania refused the summons. Two days later, he declared himself to be in a formal state of rebellion, and moved quickly to secure control of various strongholds. The garrisons of the star systems mentioned above defected to his cause almost immediately. Daala fell to him on August 22, and was followed by Pellaeon on September 1. On September 6, 1338, the Battle of Natasi ended in a decisive victory for the rebel, and he then secured control of the strongholds of Teller, Cooonia, and Chany. On September 24, 1338, Merkelis also fell into his hands; Maxc-casi capitulated on October 1.
 * The Emperor, alarmed by this outburst of dissent against his authority in the Central Core, also found his forces facing difficulties against the Solidaritan Sultanate. Manzak-Pasha was formally dismissed from his position of command by Sultan Darim on August 30, 1338; on September 4, the Emperor appointed Chosroes-Mezhuk to succeed him. Chosroes-Mezhuk, himself promoted to the rank of Pasha, now launched a series of expeditions into the Morganian Provinces, seeking to distract Laurasian forces. Merlin fell (September 6-19, 1338), and was followed in quick order by Gunevere (September 22), Lancelot (September 29), and Arthur (October 4). The Battle of Medusa (October 15, 1338), saw another reverse for Laurasian forces, although Solidaritan moves against Morgania Minor, and to Kanjur in the Kelvanian Provinces, failed. Lang and Bower were then recovered by the Solidaritans (October 21, 1338); Didius Julianus was then forced to abandon Frederickslandia and Big Twinny, and to halt the siege of Alexandra. The Siege of Methusalah was lifted by the Solidaritans on November 8, 1338, and by November 12, Massanay and Sassanay were also free of pressure.
 * By that point also, Christiania had made further gains in the Central Core. During October 1338, he subdued Constantia, Elainsborough, and Taxiles the Great, and on October 22, he had gained the allegiance of the Ivorian Hetman, Yakiv Lyzohub, himself acting in defiance of the Emperor. On November 7, 1338, the Battle of Seenay saw another reverse for government forces. Emperor Julianus, realizing the dangers of a two-front conflict, now sought peace on his northern flank. On November 14, he sent an offer of peace to Sultan Darim, who was then preparing an offensive against Wendy. Darim viewed this as a sign of weakness, and at first refused. However, on November 22, Skyler, Zoe, and Eaidon erupted in revolt under the banner of the native nobleman Clae-Jadae, and on December 1, Istantius itself was shaken by a series of riots and other violent protests. Darim, who was also facing the threat of war with Donathia, which had been harrying Roxuli and the Western Redoubt for some time now, decided to end the conflict as well. On December 5, he accepted the Laurasian request, and on December 12, the Truce of Finch was signed. Negotiations then opened at the famed resort world of Idyll (this occurring about four hundred years before the conference there that ended the War of the Dejanican Succession). The conference lasted for a month, until, on January 13, 1339, the Treaty of Idyll was signed.
 * By the terms of the Treaty of Idyll, the Laurasian Empire now acquired Dennis, Rastaborn, Shannon, and Michael, along the lower Industrialized Borderlands. These strongholds had been lost by Honorius the Terrible to Solidaritan Sultan Erutugul in 1158, some 180 years earlier, and their restoration to the Empire was a cause for great joy on Laurasia Prime. All other territories, occupied by Laurasian or Solidaritan forces, were to be restored to their respective owners; all prisoners and captives of war exchanged; and no financial compensation to be paid to either side. Baron Redmania was to be delivered up to Laurasian authorities, and Sultan Darim agreed not to recognize the claims of any others besides Emperor Julianus to his throne. The Treaty of Idyll was ratified by both monarchs by January 24. With it concluded, Emperor Julianus immediately turned his attention to the situation in the Central Core. On February 2, 1339, he moved from Deanna, which was being restored to Solidaritan authority, to Dearton's Gateway, and from thence, down the Clancian Trunk Line, to Goss Beacon. He repelled a rebel offensive against that stronghold (February 4-11, 1339), and on February 24, won the Battle of Haudjrau. Hydapses and Taxiles the Great then fell into his hands, and on March 7, 1339, Chany also capitulated to the Emperor. By March 17, his forces had secured the defenses of Goldaria, and were besieging Natasi, Daala, and Yularen.
 * Emperor Julianus also, through the middle months of 1339, took a series of further measures to consolidate his position further. In March 1339, he ordered for the creation of forty new earldoms, including those of Blackria, Nezbit, Williams, Reoyania, Dramis, Tommy, and Capital, and for the abolition of all remaining Principalities within the Laurasian Empire; the Emperor declared that from thenceforth, only members of the Imperial Family were to lay claim to the title of Prince. He also created thirty baronies and the dukedom of Merlin, distributing these new titles among his supporters, men loyal to him and of capability, particularly among members of the Beaumontia family, who had arisen to prominence during the latter years of Seleucus the Victor's reign. The Emperor also cracked down on members of the clergy who he viewed as opposed to his authority; in June 1339, he would order the arrest and confinement of Archbishop Rogerius of Selena, of Rogerius's nephews, the Bishops of Quencania and Varangia, and of Rogerius's cousin, the Vice-Procurator of the Holy Synod. He confiscated all of their estates and properties, and ordered for an injunction to be laid forbidding any criticism of his policies by religious officials. The Emperor also ordered for a reevaluation of noble military obligations, and imposed a new conscription levy in the Purse Region.
 * These policies, ironically enough, served to provide the last push for Constantia and her husband, Duke Leonidas. They now became convinced that unless if they moved now, the opportunity to grasp power would be forever lost to them. Constantia was by now fully convinced that Didius Julianus was a usurper, and she was unwilling to cooperate any further with him. By July 1339, with government forces having made further gains in the vicinity of Sipp, Mommica, and Olivia, the need for action seemed to be urgent. On July 23, Constantia, who had established a command headquarters at Ruthania, issued a call to all of her supporters and retainers, declaring that she would not bear the insult to her dignity any longer. Four days later, the garrisons of Capital, Chandlier, Meaganian, and the Prelone Asteroid Belt revolted against the Emperor, declaring that Constantia was the legitimate ruler. Hickoris V, Hammenor, and Tommy saw similar declarations against the Imperial Laurasian Government (August 1, 1339). Finally, on August 8, 1339, the Grand Princess raised her standard at Ruthania, and announced her rebellion against the Emperor. The Constantian Civil War had begun, and was to embroil the Empire for the next fourteen years.
 * On August 18, the Baron Redmania, who had managed to flee from the Solidaritan Sultanate, and evaded the grasp of Laurasian authorities, appeared at Dramis, announcing his support for the claims of the Grand Princess. He sought to secure that stronghold for the Grand Princess, but the Emperor's forces at Clancia, Conservan, and Condtella soon forced him into retreat. He then fled west, to Courdina V, gained the allegiance of the world's garrison, and established his headquarters there. On September 30, the Duke of Christiania and the Grand Princess joined together at Daala, and four days later, they recovered Hydaspes, Taxiles the Great, and Haudjrau, forcing the Emperor to retreat from those strongholds. Sonnia was then captured (October 6, 1339), and on October 14, Constantia established her command headquarters on Carina. Her husband, the Duke of Melarnaria, secured control of his world, of Williams, Pasquarillo, Palmisiano, and Azov, thereby denying government units easy access to the Western Central Core. The Duke of Christiania then secured control of Teta (October 14), and established a direct supply line with the Prelone Asteroid Belt; Anusia and Saray defected to the rebel cause on October 22.
 * On October 26, the Emperor moved to Carina, and managed to trap Grand Princess Constantia there. He ordered his forces to establish a blockade of the star system, and he called for reinforcements from the Malarian Provinces. Baron Miletius Gloucarania, however, who had now allied himself with the Duke of Christiania, secured control of Odika, Timsies, Timaslan, White, and Welch (October 27-November 4, 1339), taking advantage of festering dissent at those strongholds against Didius Julianus. And on November 14, the Duke of Christiania won the Battle of Chany, forcing Didius Julianus to retreat from Carina. By the middle of November 1339, with the defections of Wroona, Constantine I, Andriana, and Mercedes to her cause in the Constantine Cluster, Constantia controlled a compact block of territory, stretching from the Constantine Cluster down to the Goldarian Worlds, and with the Ivorian Hetmanate loyal to her cause. She also had control of the Western Murphian Provinces.
 * Emperor Julianus now sought to reclaim the outer Goldarian Worlds. He started by assaulting Taxiles the Great yet again (November 19-24, 1339), managing to reconquer the stronghold. He then besieged Goss Beacon, but finding it too well fortified, he then moved forth to Natasi, Daala, and Mara, taking the last two strongholds. Baron Gloucarania, however, overran Dramis (November 29, 1339), and moved in the direction of Condtella, Reoyania, and Conservan, thereby threatening Clancia. Didius Julianus was forced to halt his siege of Mara and to move northwards to secure that region. During December 1339, a series of confrontations at the Clancian Worlds and at Dearton's Gateway, Maroni, and Janesia ensued, as Julianus and Gloucarania batled indecisively. 1339 therefore ended with the Laurasian dominions bogged down in war.

1340

 * 1340, the 40th year of the fourteenth century, began with the Constantian Civil War escalating yet further. And this escalation was found in the Laurasia Prime Purse Region itself. On January 7, 1340, the Archbishop of Katie, Creon Madaria, and the Governor of that star system, the Lord Manatha, announced their support for Grand Princess Constantia, and declared themselves to be in rebellion against Emperor Didius Julianus. Their forces quickly made major advances, driving government units from the garrisons of Caresolina (January 8-13) and Volterra (January 18). On January 21, 1340, the Battle of Travis ended in a decisive victory for Manatha's forces, and he then proceeded to secure the allegiance of Sentinum and Aquilionia, both of which had once been threatened by Baron Redmania. Archbishop Madaria, who had instigated the revolt, aired in his appeals to his flock his grievances against the Emperor and the Imperial Laurasian Government. The Archbishop declared that Emperor Julianus, a "heinous and unlawful usurper", had violated the law of the lord Almitis, treated his subjects in a tyrannical, brutal, oppressive manner, and that he had embroiled the Empire's dominions in "wars with no benefit for us, and which bring desolation, as well as ruin, to all." Consequently, it was justified in the eyes of the Lord Almitis to instigate rebellion against him, and to support the claims of those (i.e. Grand Princess Constantia), who had a legitimate claim to the throne.
 * Emperor Julianus rebutted these appeals by ordering the Holy Synod, on February 2, 1340, to deprive Madaria of his see, to excommunicate him and his supporters, and to pronounce anathema against any who sponsored rebellion against the Emperor's government. The Emperor also ordered for the priests and deacons of Laurasia Prime, and of other star systems under his control, to issue their own appeals to their congregations, to remain loyal to their master and his government. He now also took practical measures to suppress this new threat. Ordering General Lamanius to maintain the defenses of the Clancian Worlds, Julianus now moved to Vetta, establishing a command headquarters there (February 8, 1340). On February 14, he repelled an offensive by Manatha against Taurasia, and on February 22, recovered Sentinum. Aquilionia was besieged from February 26, and fell back into government hands by March 5. The Battle of Lusculum (March 7-13, 1340), also ended in another victory for the Emperor's forces, and by March 25, Caresolina and Volterra were both back in his hands as well. Finally, on April 9, 1340, the Emperor laid Katie under siege; the Siege of Katie lasted for the better part of the month, as Manatha's forces posed greater then expected resistance to Julianus's forces. Nevertheless, on May 5, 1340, it did fall, and Manatha himself was captured near Depp six days later, as he was trying to flee to the Constantine Cluster. He would be summarily executed on the Emperor's orders on May 16. Archbishop Madaria, on his part, did manage to flee, and found refuge with the rebel garrison of Capital.
 * By June 1340, the situation in the Central Core had changed further. Baron Gloucarania and the Dukes of Christiania and Melarnaria had taken advantage of the Emperor's distraction in the Purse Region to make further advances. Goldaria was laid under siege from February 9, 1340, and finally fell on March 27, thereby giving the rebels a major base of operations. Bainsborough and Elainsborough were captured in April 1340, and on May 12, the Emperor's troops were driven from Daala, Natasi, and the lower Goldarian strongholds. Ivorian Hetman Lyzohub, on his part, made moves into the Horacian Provinces, storming Theresa, Donald, John, and Levinston that same month. On June 16, 1340, Emperor Julianus and General Lamanius moved towards Paradine and Pasquarillo, attempting to regain the advantage. They were intercepted at Nikola, however, by the forces of the Duke of Melarnaria. The ensuing Battle of Nikola (June 16-22, 1340), ended in victory for the rebels, and Julianus was compelled to retreat. During July and August 1340, Cageo, Pandy, Cinnamon, and Bartello also fell into Ivorian-rebel hands, and rebel expeditions were soon threatening Duros, Murphy, and Kulikiovo.
 * On September 7, the Emperor sent an offer to Grand Princess Constantia; he declared that if Constantia terminated military hostilities, and recognized him as Emperor, then he would name her son, Antiochus, as his heir apparent. Constantia, advised by her husband and by Christiania to parlay with the Emperor to buy time, asked if a conference could be convened to negotiate an end to the rebellion. Julianus agreed, and on September 23, 1340, the two sides did indeed meet at Teth. The Conference of Teth lasted for over a month, and eventually collapsed as Constantia's efforts to persuade Julianus into proclaiming her heiress apparent, rather then her son, failed. By November 1340, hostilities were underway again, and on November 12, the Emperor did secure a victory in the Battle of Falloria Minor, preventing a move by rebel forces into the Purse Region. He then confronted revolts on Clackimaris, Osama, and Charasia, provoked by rebel agents, and on December 7, Merandaz fell to the Grand Princess. Heuthros, Ietas, and Tyndaris then defected, and by the end of December 1340, Gordasis was cut off from the rest of the Empire.
 * In the meantime, the Confederate Kingdom of Melorkia became engulfed in its own civil war. On May 31, 1340, King Childebert III of Melorkia died. The King of Melorkia, who had gained little from his intervention in the War of the Polonian Succession, had become increasingly paranoid and suspicious by the end of his reign. From 1334 to 1338, the King had contended with the Roastafarian Uprisings, which had been provoked by the Roastafarian patriot Marg. Roastafaria Major, Roastafaria Minor, Khagia, Dumbgwita, Ruthelaine, Jack, Rose, and the worlds of the lower Kimanian Trade Run had been consumed by the convulsions of this rebellion, which had done much to disrupt Melorkian internal unity. King Childebert had ultimately managed to quell the Uprisings, but at great cost to his security and his reputation. During the early months of 1340, he dealt with further outbursts of dissent on Cal, Morley, Shell, and Simon, which further taxed his energies.
 * Upon his death, Childebert left two sons: Clovis and Cholodio. However, in contrast to the customs of his predecessors, he had refused to partition his dominions among them, and was determined that Clovis, the elder son, inherit all of the territories intact. Clovis was formally proclaimed King of Melorkia within hours of his father's death. Prince Cholodio, however, who believed that he deserved a share in the inheritance, established his command headquarters, in June 1340, at Roastafaria Minor and planned a major revolt against his brother. In these plans, he received aid from Queen Mother Cryastalla of Venasia. Cryastalla, who had contemplated taking advantage of Didius Julianus's troubles to intervene in the Laurasian Dominions, now decided that Melorkia would be an easier, more obtainable target, and therefore turned her attention to Melorkian affairs. Finally, on December 9, 1340, Cholodio raised the standard of revolt against his brother, and now advanced to gain control over Manorsia, Riparia, and the immediate star systems. The War of the Melorkian Succession had begun, which was to drag on until 1348.

1341

 * 1341, the 41st year of the fourteenth century, commenced with Emperor Didius Julianus resuming his struggle with the forces of Grand Princess Constantia, the Dukes of Christiania and Melarnaria, and the Baron Gloucarania. The Emperor now sought to advance against Courdina V, in order to secure the defenses of Gordasis, which was under considerable danger from the rebel forces. The rebel garrison of Courdina V was now commanded by Sir Rudomentus Chestrania (1299-1353), a veteran of the Great Briannian War, Emperor Seleucus's Donathian War, and the War of the Polonian Succession. Chestrania had defected from his allegiance to the Emperor in October 1340, and he had been vigorous in his support for Grand Princess Constantia. Julianus was therefore determined to punish the man, and believed that without swift action, his position would be further endangered. Advancing from Metallasia, Metallina, and Heuthros, the Emperor arrived at the outskirts of Courdina V on January 15, 1341. By the time he arrived there, however, he discovered that Chestrania had quietly slipped from the star system, leaving behind its garrison, and had gone to summon the assistance of other rebel forces. The Emperor, consequently, was forced to entrench himself around the stronghold.
 * On January 22, however, Chestrania returned with the Duke of Christiania, who had continued to repel all government assaults along the Clancian Trunk Line. Chestrania and Christiania, who had been engaged in the process of actively recruiting Solidaritan, Millian, and Dasian mercenaries, and who had secured control of the communications lines leading into the Morganian Provinces, possessed a considerable force. Their force comprised of the 9th, 10th, and 11th Imperial Fleets, and of the 9th and 10th Imperial Armies. All total, they had more then four hundred warships and nearly a million troops. The Emperor on his part, had the 6th and 7th Fleets, along with the 5th Army; he had 250 warships and 700,000 troops at his disposal. The numerical balance, consequently, favored the rebel forces from the start. Julianus, hearing of the approach of the rebel forces, contemplated a retreat at first, but was ultimately persuaded by his advisors to stand his ground and to fight. The Emperor, moreover, called for reinforcements from Rebecca, Katherine, and Chancia.
 * On February 2, 1341, the Battle of Courdina V ensued. The Emperor commanded the center of his forces, while Legate-Admiral Sir Athanasius Clacius commanded the right and General Sir Nero Caesar commanded the left. To counteract the numerical supremacy of his enemies, Julianus arranged his starfighter squadrons in a frontal position, and himself engaged in combat from his flagship. After a initial success, in which General Caesar's forces destroyed the rebel transport corps, things went badly for Didius Julianus. The center of the imperial forces were encircled by Chestrania and Christiania, and the Emperor found himself surrounded by the enemy warships. Many of Julianus's subordinates, including the Beaumontias and Admiral Clacius, now fled from the star system in haste. Didius Julianus continued to fight on, however, and the IMS Cordelia, the Emperor's flagship, assaulted the enemy ships with all of the weapons at its disposal. Finally, however, it was disabled and boarded; Julianus himself was captured by rebel troopers.
 * Christiania treated the captive Emperor with much respect, and now took him to Melarnaria, where he met with Grand Princess Constantia. From there, he was moved to Bristalian Fortress. He was initially left confined in relatively good conditions, but his security would later be tightened and he would be kept in chains. Constantia now began to take steps to have herself proclaimed Empress in Didius Julianus's place; she sought to become the first female ruler of the Laurasian dominions since Andrea Septimia five centuries earlier. Laurasia Prime, however, was not under her control, and Chief Procurator Beccarius was not enamored of her. The Synod and Senate wavered over whether or not to proclaim her, and in fact, they sent a delegation to Melarnaria, asking for the opinions of Didius Julianus. Julianus said that it would be wise for them to proclaim her, since he himself was in extremis. On April 1, 1341, the bodies of state proclaimed Constantia to be Empress-elect, as a precursor to her coronation. The proclamation itself was attended by many of Constantia's supporters, but the nobility of Laurasia Prime prevaricated, and continued to remain reluctant. The prejudice against female rule, so engrained in the Laurasian mind, was hard to stamp out.
 * In June 1341, Grand Princess Constantia advanced with her forces from Melarnaria, up the Clancian Trunk Line, to Laurasia Prime. There, however, her position became precarious. Although she secured the support of the Governor of Laurasia Prime, the Duke Stolypius of Ravenna, forces loyal to the Emperor and his wife, Empress Consort Constantia, remained in the vicinity of the star system. The inhabitants, consequently, were reluctant to transfer their loyalty to her. On June 24, this reluctance burst out into full-scale rebellion; the garrison of Laurasia Prime joined in, and Constantia, along with Duke Stolypius and her court, were forced to flee from the star system with their lives, and managed to make it to Constantine I. In spite of this, Constantia's supporters did entrench themselves in parts of the Purse Region; Archbishop Madaria reestablished himself at Katie, and many of the Emperor's associates did swear an oath of allegiance to the Grand Princess.
 * Nevertheless, the Emperor's cause was not completely gone; in fact, his wife, Empress Consort Constantia, played a major role in keeping it alive during his captivity. Empress Constantia gathered Didius Julianus's remaining lieutenants around her, as well as the imperial family, and on July 5, took back possession of Laurasia Prime in the aftermath of the Grand Princess's retreat. The Emperor's long-standing commander, General Lamanius, remained with her on Laurasia Prime, and the Earl of Jadia took command of the forces in the Murphian Provinces. The Empress generated genuine sympathy and support from Didius Julianus's more loyal subordinates, and this worked to her advantage. Bishop Antigonus of the Cron Drift, on his part, met with her on July 14, 1341, at Darcia, returning to his allegiance, after he had briefly defected to the Grand Princess, and Chancellor Sigelius provided vital administrative assistance. During the remainder of July and August 1341, Empress Constantia gradually regained control of Sapphire, Mercedes, Andriana, Dearton's Gateway, Metallasia, and Gordasis, thereby securing her position further.
 * On September 14, 1341, however, Grand Princess Constantia and the Duke of Christiania launched an assault against the Cron Drift, besieging the Bishop in the installations of that asteroid belt. Empress Constantia and General Lamanius got wind of this, and within a short time, they had encircled the rebel forces at the asteroid belt, cutting off most routes of communication and of escape. Grand Princess Constantia decided to flee from the stronghold with her close associates, Sir Lucius Cornelius Crassus and the Baron Demeria, while the rest of her armada delayed the imperial forces. In the subsequent Battle of the Cron Drift, the Grand Princess's forces were decisively defeated and Christiania himself was captured, though Constantia and her associates managed to flee towards Wroona.
 * With both the Emperor and Christiania held prisoner, negotiations were held in an attempt to secure a long term peace settlement, but Empress Constantia was unwilling to offer any compromise to Grand Princess Constantia, and Christiania refused to accept any offer which required him to swear an immediate oath of allegiance to Didius Julianus, as he had in the past. Instead, on October 27, 1341, the two competing sides simply exchanged leaders, Didius Julianus returning to his consort, and Christiania to the Grand Princess at Wroona. Five days later, on November 1, 1341, the Senate, Synod, and Colleges of State reversed their previous decision, once again acknowledging Julianus as the legitimate Emperor, and denouncing their recognition of Constantia as "Empress-elect". To underline his restored position of authority, and to reward his wife for her loyalty, Emperor Julianus arranged for a second coronation ceremony at the Old Westphalian Cathedral, which was held on Ascentmas Day, 1341; at that ceremony, the Emperor himself crowned his wife, and allowed her to take brief possession of the Imperial Sceptre and the Imperial Orb. As 1341 ended, therefore, there was no resolution to the conflict in sight.

1342-1344

 * As 1342 began, the Laurasian Empire continued to be engrossed in the throes of the Constantian Civil War, while the War of the Melorkian Succession was ongoing elsewhere in the Core Regions. Emperor Julianus, who had been much shaken by his experiences while imprisoned at Melarnaria, and who was still in disbelief about the events of the preceding year, particularly his defeat and capture at the Battle of Courdina V, fell violently ill on January 6. For nearly a month, the Emperor's life were despaired of; false reports leaked out from the Imperial Court that he had the Angrames malady, and that his physicians had determined that he did not have much longer to live. Grand Princess Constantia and the Duke of Melarnaria were encouraged by these, believing that it was possible that soon, the imperial authority would truly be in the grasp of their hands. These hopes, however, turned out to be exaggerated. On January 30, Emperor Julianus finally emerged from his sickbed at the Imperial Hospital of the Quencilvanian Palace, and four days later, he resumed his normal duties of state. Moreover, on February 12, 1342, the Emperor issued a manifesto to his subjects, thanking them for their loyalty and continued dedication to him, pledging to finally bring the civil disturbances within the Empire's dominions to an end, and promising mercy to any of Constantia's supporters who defected and took a renewed oath of allegiance to him personally.
 * On February 19, the Emperor announced his intention to lead a series of renewed offensives against rebel forces in the outskirts of the Laurasia Prime Purse Region. He embarked upon this task in early March 1342, assembling a substantial force from the chief strongholds of the Purse Region. Repelling rebel moves against Chesham's Star, Sargent, and Promie, he then won a decisive victory in the Battle of Scout (March 19-24, 1342). On March 28, he defeated the Duke of Melarnaria in the Battle of Sklynn, and from thence secured the defenses of Gordasis. Courdina V was again assaulted by imperial forces in April 1342, and this time fell into their possession. Then on May 5, Dearton's Gateway, Janesia, and Maroni were cleared of rebel units, thereby reopening the communications lines to Clancia; Dramis, Condtella, and Conservan were secured by General Lamanius shortly thereafter. On May 21, 1342, seeing the way in which events were trending, Sir Chestrania met with the Emperor at Metallina and swore a renewed oath of allegiance to him, denouncing his earlier ties to the rebels. With his assistance, Julianus then reconquered Ietas and Tyndaris (May 24-June 4, 1342), drove rebel units from Sauvania and Heuthros (June 7), and then launched a penetrative offensive beyond Constantine I, clearing rebel units from the outskirts of the Constantine Cluster.
 * August 1342 saw Evelyn, Ruthania, and Teth falling into government hands, and the Earl of Jadia led a decisive offensive against Saray and Kulikovo, recovering both strongholds for the Imperial Laurasian Government. Anusia, the Prelone Asteroid Belt, and Mumbraine became further scenes of confrontation between the Laurasian and rebel forces, and by September 22, all of these strongholds were secure in their loyalty to the Emperor. With all of these advances, therefore, Constantia came under increasing pressure from the Emperor's forces at Wroona. The Dukes of Melarnaria and Christiania, in vain, sought to secure the defenses of Paradine, Pasquarillo, and Palimisiano, and had also campaigned around the Upper Galactic Center. Emperor Julianus, consequently, moved swiftly from Courdina V and Gordasis, through N'zoth, Azov, and Mylae, and towards Wroona. Wroona was besieged by the Emperor, beginning on October 4, 1342. The siege lasted for over two months, as Constantia's forces had established a series of defensive outposts, minefields, and orbital relays around the outskirts of the star system, and as Julianus continued to focus on maintaining his position in the Clancian Worlds. Finally, on Ascentmas Day 1342, the stronghold fell, but the Grand Princess, disguised as a starhopper, managed to flee from the star system, and joined the rebel forces at Williams.
 * 1343 saw a stalemate ensue between the Emperor and the rebel forces in the Central Core. However, the year opened and closed with Didius Julianus facing renewed attacks. On January 9, 1343, Julianus was trapped and besieged by the Duke of Christiania at Lalna, as rebel forces attempted a renewed thrust into the Constantine Cluster and towards the Rebeccan Galactic Trade Route. The ensuing Battle of Lalna saw the Emperor attempting to break out from this siege, and to advance downwards towards Paradine. For a time, it appeared as if he might actually be captured a second time. However, Major-General Sir Tiberius Claudius Nero (1315-67), father of the future Emperor Tiberius, who had arisen to prominence fighting for the Emperor in this conflict and in the Solidaritan War of 1337-39, executed a fierce rear guard effort, breaking through rebel lines and giving the Emperor an avenue to escape. Nero was captured, but on February 6, after a attack on rebel positions near Wes, Emperor Julianus was able to secure his release.
 * Indecisive confrontations throughout the northern Central Core, and in the Murphian Provinces, marred the middle months of 1343. However, in November 1343, Sir Quintius Volusius, Earl of Tyleria Perea, instigated a new rebellion against the Emperor in the Duchy of Schaueria Prime. Within a short time, he had secured control of Alvurg, Shiloh, Calpurnia, Selena, and Colsonia, thereby setting up a new front for the Emperor's forces. The Emperor now ordered the Earl of Jadia to contain this new revolt. Jadia did as ordered, and on December 5, 1343, he inflicted a decisive defeat upon Volusius in the Battle of Avaskar. Alvurg and Shiloh were recovered shortly thereafter, but the rebel Earl then seized control of Dusaburg and Dorothy. He sent a stream of communiques to the rebel forces in the Central Core, and declared his intention to recognize Constantia as his Empress. By the end of December 1343, he had consolidated his position further by seizing Rashid, Kolchad, and Goteburg.
 * 1344 opened with Emperor Julianus battling numerous threats at the same time. He faced the threat of Earl Volusius in the Duchy of Schaueria Prime; of Grand Princess Constantia and her husband in the Melarnarian Provinces; of the Duke of Christiania in the outskirts of the Purse Region, and to the Galactic Center, and of the rebel Appius Caecus, 2nd Baron Caecus, who had taken control of Capital, Meaganian, Tommy, and Chandlier. Yet it was in 1344 that the advantage finally, and fully, swung Julianus's way. First, Baron Gloucarania, while leading an offensive against Duros, was assassinated by one of his own bodyguards (January 7, 1344), who had been bribed by the Emperor's agents. Gloucarania's death therefore removed one of the most talented rebel commanders from the same. Jadia, receiving reinforcements from the Emperor, now pressed his advantage to the hilt, and on January 15, he besieged, captured, and destroyed the rebel headquarters at the Prelone Asteroid Belt. Anusia was then secured (January 16), and on January 22, 1344, Tommy too came under assault. In spite of the efforts of Baron Caecus, Tommy also fell (February 9, 1344). On February 14, General Lamanius crushed the forces of ex-Archbishop Madaria in the Battle of Tarentum, cleared Fitizsimmons and the Station of Dosch, and on March 1, broke through the defenses of Katie. Madaria was captured, and he, on the orders of the Emperor, imprisoned at the Monastery of Windowia Photis, where he died on June 6. By the end of April 1344, all rebel units had been cleared out of the Purse Region; at Chesrone, Chesham's Star, Kelby, and Chloe, the Emperor's forces inflicted a series of crippling defeats upon the Duke of Christiania, hurling him back into the Central Core.
 * In May 1344, General Lamanius and the Earl of Jadia combined together to lay Meaganian under siege. The ensuing Siege of Meganian, which began on the 4th of that month, lasted for several weeks, as Baron Caecus, in conjunction with Earl Volusius, launched a series of counteroffensives against Laurasian units. Steneborg, Gullborg, Linopking, and Gitlandia, in fact, fell into rebel hands on May 19, and on May 24, Calpurnia was also reconquered by them. But in spite of all their efforts, the advantage was fully with the Emperor's subordinates, and Meaganian itself finally succumbed on May 28. By June 9, Calpurnia, Gitlandia, and Linopking had been recovered, and on June 19, Volusius was thrashed in the Battle of Schaueria Prime. He was then driven from Smithia on June 24, which he had conquered some months earlier; Selena was captured on July 6, Colsonia on July 10, and Dusaburg on July 22. At the same time, Goss Beacon, Taxiles the Great, and Hydapses fell into government hands (July 17-28, 1344), and on August 4, Paradine was abandoned by the rebels.
 * On August 12, Gullborg and Steneborg were besieged by the forces of the Earl of Jadia; both strongholds did not fall into government hands until September 1. Then on September 6, 1344, Earl Volusius died while leading an offensive against Compost V, in a vain effort to revive his fortunes. His death brought to an end the rebellion in the Duchy of Schaueria Prime, and by September 24, the entire region was once again secure in the hands of the Imperial Laurasian Government. Capital and Chandlier were then stormed by General Lamanius (October 1344), and on November 5, Baron Caecus himself was captured at Jem. He was, on the Emperor's orders, brought to the Post Settlement of Hepudermia and imprisoned there. His rebellion was then ended with the final recapture of Arias (November 10, 1344). In the Central Core, Paradine had been fully reoccupied by government forces, and on November 15, Siri, White, and Ularia were reconquered. Timaslan, Timsies, and Welch followed by December 5. And on December 15, 1344, the Battle of Marshia ended in victory for the Emperor. By the end of 1344, therefore, Constantia and her husband were on the downside of their hopes.

1345

 * 1345, the 45th year of the fourteenth century, began with Emperor Didius Julianus restoring his position of authority, and reestablishing the civil unity of the Laurasian Empire's dominions. Indeed, during the early months of 1345, the Emperor made major advances against rebel forces. On January 5, 1345, the Battle of Bainsborough was waged; it ended in a decisive victory for Julianus, and the Duke of Christiania himself barely evaded capture. Bainsborough fell back into imperial possession, and was then followed by Elainsborough (January 20). On February 9, 1345, the Emperor launched a major offensive in the vicinity of Goldaria. Natasi and Daala were both besieged by his forces from February 15. The Duke of Christiania now instigated a counteroffensive against Clancia, Condtella, Dramis, and Taxiles the Great, seeking to draw off Julianus's attention. This counteroffensive, however, ended with the rebel defeat in the Battle of Partsan (February 21, 1345). On March 5, 1345, Natasi fell to the Emperor's forces; Daala followed twenty days later, thereby constituting a major reverse for Grand Princess Constantia. Constancia and the Sort Drift fell to Julianus in April 1345; in particular, on April 12, 1345, his victory in the Battle of Stenbock saw the Duke of Melarnaria again narrowly evading capture. Melarnaria grew increasingly isolated with the fall of Williams and Pasquarillo to the Emperor's forces on May 8, and on May 19, Palimisiano followed. By May 26, Azov and N'zoth were firmly in the Emperor's hands.
 * On June 6, 1345, Ivorian Hetman Lyzohub, who was fearful of dethronement, and wished to maintain the integrity of the Ivorian Hetmanate, sent a communique to the Emperor, offering to return to his oath of allegiance and subordination to him. Didius Julianus, seeing the value of maintaining the Hetmanate, and already looking beyond to other goals, decided to accept the Hetman's offer. On June 19, Lyzohub swore a renewed oath to the Emperor of Laurasia, and Ivorian forces evacuated the strongholds which they had seized in the Horacian Provinces. In July 1345, Yularen and Pellaeon also fell into the hands of the Emperor's forces, and Goldaria too, was now cut off. On August 8, Didius Julianus issued a formal order of pardon for all rebel soldiers who had surrendered to his forces, established a special tribunal on Laurasia Prime to try the cases of all noblemen and officers who had rebelled, and ordered for the alleviation of all tax burdens in the Central Core. Then on August 16, 1345, Melarnaria had to be abandoned by its Duke, and it was reoccupied by troops loyal to the Imperial Laurasian Government.
 * As September 1345 began, there was no question that Emperor Julianus once again enjoyed the ascendant position in his dominions. And with rebel forces now effectively contained to Goldaria, and to the southwestern Central Core, the Emperor could turn his attention to securing Laurasia's flanks. The situation in the Confederate Kingdom of Melorkia now deserved his attention. From 1341 to 1344, the Venasian Consortium's forces, intervening on the side of Cholodio, had gradually overrun Eutagia, Acamaria, Matthew, West, Mirohassani, Les Mans, and Jasmine, thereby effectively occupying the Southern Crimeanian Provinces. By April 1345, with the conquest of Ensrassburg, Kentaborn, and Tamars by the forces of Cholodio, who had proclaimed himself King of Lower Melorkia in November 1344, King Pharmond of "Upper" Melorkia, who had succeeded his father Clovis to the throne in January of that year, was in dire straits. He realized that he would soon be completely destroyed, his kingdom subjected to the rule of Cholodio, and perhaps a vassal of the Venasian Consortium. Consequently, Pharmond decided to appeal for assistance to the Laurasian Empire, his father's old ally. He made his appeal on September 2, 1345. Emperor Julianus, whose forces had the upper hand in the Central Core, and was confident that Constantia was contained, decided to respond to this appeal. Phramond had requested for the Laurasian Empire's intervention against Lower Melorkia and the Venasian Consortium, and to "insure the unity and uniformity of these Melorkian dominions."
 * On September 13, the Emperor's response to the appeal alluded to the need for "galactic stability and tranquility" among all powers. Julianus, therefore, decided that it would be in his interests to intervene. Ten days later, a conference opened at Alsauborg for a military alliance between Laurasia and Melorkia. This conference lasted until October 19, 1345, when the Treaty of Alsauborg was concluded. By the terms of this treaty, the Emperor of Laurasia agreed to recognize Pharmond as the only legitimate King of Melorkia, and to provide him military, as well as diplomatic assistance, in defeating Cholodio. In exchange, Phramond agreed to the concession of the Southern Crimeanian Provinces, with Eutagia, Acamadaria, and Benzitir V, to the authority of the Laurasian Empire. Following the conclusion of this treaty, Emperor Julianus sent an ultimatum to Cholodio on October 27, demanding that he end his rebellion and recognize Phramond as his King. He also sent a similar ultimatum to Queen Mother Cryastalla, demanding that she withdraw from her intervention in Melorkian affairs. Cryastalla and Cholodio both looked with askance upon the Laurasian ultimatums, and wondered why Julianus was making these demands of him when he still had not completely suppressed his own opponents.
 * On November 7, 1345, therefore, the Laurasian Empire issued a declaration of war against the Venasian Consortium; it still refused to recognize the Kingdom of Lower Melorkia as legitimate, and declared it still to be in rebellion. Laurasian forces now made advances in the Decapolian Provinces, and into Melorkian territory. Decapolia Major was besieged by the Earl of Jadia's forces, with assistance from the Hetman of Ivoria (November 8-17, 1345). It's fall constituted a major blow for the Venasians; Agac and Aflac were then attacked, and fell into Laurasian hands by December 11. On December 15, a Venasian expedition did sack Ipsus V, Caroline, and Jean, and launched a feinting move against Shiloh, but proved unable to hold any of those strongholds. The Laurasians retaliated by sacking Organia on December 21. On December 24, 1345, the Battle of Tamars ended in victory for the Laurasians and the Melorkians of King Phramond; Cholodio was forced into retreat.

1346

 * 1346 began with the Laurasian Empire, still not completely out of the Constantinan Civil War, now involved in the War of the Melorkian Succession. During the early months of 1346, General Lamanius maintained the status quo ante bellum in the Central Core, storming Chany (January 5, 1346), securin Muppet (January 11), and preventing the Dukes of Melarnaria and Christiania from breaking out to relieve Goldaria. Elsewhere, in Melorkia, Laurasian and royalist Melorkian forces continued to make gains. Kentaborn was besieged by the Emperor's forces, beginning on January 17, 1346. The Siege of Kentaborn lasted for ten days, until the stronghold finally yielded. Laurasian forces then drove through the defenses of Cholodio and Les Mans (February 1346), recovering both strongholds for Phramond. In the Decapolian Provinces, Laurasian units failed in their assaults against Colla and Tyrania, and on March 9, 1346, Venasian Princess Kamania actually defeated them in the Battle of Ruttum. The Venasians then assaulted Ogla, but were defeated by the Earl of Jadia in the Battle of Drennan (March 17-23, 1346). Further Laurasian confrontations with the Venasians at Hooper, Sanegeta, Nathaniel, George, Osriana, and Brittany, during April and May 1346, maintained Laurasian positions in the Northern Crimeanian Provinces, and Laurasian advances within the Southern Provinces. On June 5, 1346, Roastafaria Minor was sacked by a Laurasian expedition; from thence, Tolbiac and Shell were captured by Laurasian expeditionary forces, thereby weakening Cholodio's communication lines.
 * On June 22, Emperor Julianus won the Battle of Brooke One, allowing for him to recover Matthew, West, Mirohassani, and Thelma for the Melorkians. By June 26, Jasmine had also been assaulted by Laurasian forces; its fall on July 7, 1346, confirmed the overall trend of events. In August 1346, however, Lord Chestrania erupted in revolt against Julianus again at Arias and Tommy. Emperor Julianus, outraged by this, dispatched General Nero against him. Nero defeated him in the Battle of Roscoe (August 12-19, 1346), and on August 22, won a confrontation near Rebecca. The rebellion was crushed by September 5, and Chestrania himself was then captured at Tums, in the Murphian Provinces. On September 14, Tourbonne and Imun fell into the hands of the allied forces, and on September 29, Venasian Princess Kamutha suffered another serious defeat in the Battle of Monderon. Cambrina and Manorsia then fell in October 1346. By this point, the Consortium had a new ruler, Masania V. Queen Mother Cryastalla had died on Venasia Prime, on August 6, 1346, after having reigned for sixteen years, and had been succeeded by her daughter.
 * During the last months of 1346, a stalemate ensued in the Decapolian Provinces, while in Melorkia, Phramond focused on consolidating his gains. In the Central Core, on November 9, General Lamanius won the Battle of Sipp, thereby breaking through the defenses of that major rebel stronghold. Olivia, Mommica, and Maxc-casi had all fallen by November 24, giving a further advantage to the Empire's forces. Goldaria finally fell on December 7, 1346, and was followed by Carina ten days later. The Duke of Melarnaria and Grand Princess Constantia now relocated their headquarters to Seejay Prime, and managed to regain control of Constancia, Stenbock, and Goss Beacon (December 10-14, 1346). They then stormed Brithium on December 17, and reoccupied Muppet. By the end of 1346, nevertheless, their rebellion was in its death throes.

1347-1348

 * 1347 was dominated primarily by the final end of the Constantian Rebellion in the Central Core, and by further advances on the part of the Laurasian Empire and the Kingdom of Upper Melorkia, thereby compelling an end to the War of the Melorkian Succession. In January 1347, Emperor Julianus reshuffled military commands, assigning General Nero to take charge of the operations against the Neo-Venasian Consortium; General Lamanius to the Melorkian front; and the Earl of Jadia to the Central Core. With this shift of military responsibilities came a shift in resources. On February 7, 1347, the Emperor issued a final instruction through the Imperial General Headquarters, ordering for a focus on bringing the "dissent in the Central Core to its long due end." The Earl of Jadia, therefore, focused on the recapture of Brithium in the Clancian Provinces.
 * The Siege of Brithium began on February 16, 1347, and lasted for nearly a month. When it was over, nearly two-thirds of the rebel garrison was dead, and more then three million individuals had died. Brithium's recapture opened the way to expeditions by government forces against Constancia and Stenbock (March 1347), both of which fell back into government hands. Goss Beacon proved to be a tougher nut to crack, and it did not finally fall until May 7, 1347. On May 22, Teta was besieged and conquered by the Emperor's troops. Seejay Prime now became the ultimate target. But on June 8, 1347, Grand Princess Constantia, and the Duke of Melarnaria, seeing the writing on the wall, decided that they no longer had a chance against the Emperor. Consequently, they sent an armistice request to him, promising to return to a full oath of allegiance to him and to lay down their arms, in exchange for a pardon and for a guarantee of their titles and estates.
 * Emperor Julianus, when he received this request, was overjoyed. After nearly eight years of internal conflict, the Emperor hoped that this would be the avenue to the restoration of peace, and that it would allow for him to focus his attention on bringing the War of the Melorkian Succession to an end. Consequently, he responded positively to the request on June 16, agreeing to pardon both Constantia and her husband, and to preserve their liberty. On June 24, 1347, the two surrendered, and Seejay Prime, along with all remaining rebel garrisons, fell into the hands of the Emperor. With this, the Constantian Rebellion had finally ended. True to his word, Emperor Julianus ordered for all of the titles and estates owned by the couple to be confirmed, and he allowed for them to return to Melarnaria. He also pardoned many of the troops and associates under their command, including the Duke of Christiania.
 * Julianus, however, ordered his agents and the Imperial Secret Service to monitor all with rebel sympathies; he installed strengthened garrisons in the southern worlds of the Central Core; and he maintained the prior military conscription levies, determined to leave nothing at chance. The Duke of Christiania was placed under rigorous survelliance. There turned out to be little need of this, however, as the Duke's health had entered a serious decline during the last several months. He died at Darcia on October 31, 1347, aged 47. Now, as regards to the Melorkian theater, Laurasian forces had, as mentioned above, made further advances. By April 1347, allied units controlled Obathia, Cyrus III, Cal, Morley, and Simon; Roastafaria Major too was in their possession, and Cholodio was at his wit's end. In September, Laurasian troops "intervened" in the Ashlgothian Borderlands Territories, preventing Ashlgothia from reoccupying those strongholds, as had been agreed in the Treaty of Tolbiac, and thereby consolidating the Empire's position in that region. And on November 4, 1347, Laurasian troops besieged and conquered Ka, Phyllis, and Ruttum, thereby posing a further strain on Venasian defensive lines. By the middle of that month, both Cryastalla and Cholodio became desirous of peace. On December 7, they sent a request for negotiations to the Emperor, a request joined by King Chindasuinth of Ashlgothia. This request was approved by Didius Julianus on December 14, without consulting his "ally" Pharmond. On December 26, 1347, a conference opened on Xxi for the negotiations to end the war.
 * The conference continued for nearly two months, as the delegations from each of the respective states wrangled over the peace terms. Finally, on February 15, 1348, the Treaty of Xxi was signed, thereby bringing an end to the War of the Melorkian Succession. By the terms of this treaty, the division of the former Confederate Kingdom of Melorkia into two smaller kingdoms, those of Upper and Lower Melorkia, was confirmed by all of the powers. Upper Melorkia was to control Melorkia Major and the Melorkian Provinces; this was to include the strongholds of Merovech, Tournacia, Algaica Belguica, Ripara, Alsauborg, Cholodio, Roastafaria Minor, Rasti, Kentaborn, Tamars, Ensrassburg, Brooke One, Hefner, Matthew, West, Mirohassani, Les Mans, and Jasmine, along with their associated star systems. Lower Melorkia, on its part, was to have jurisdiction over Manorsia, Roastafaria Major, Cambrina, Resmania, Obathia, Cyrus III, Cal, Morley, Simon, Stahl, Tolbiac, Dumbgwita, and Khagia, thereby constituting the Lower Melorkian Provinces. All territorial disputes between the Melorkian kingdoms and the Kingdom of Ashlgothia were to hereby be resolved, and any future disputes between the two kingdoms were to be mediated by the Imperial Laurasian and Venasian Governments. The Laurasian Empire itself now gained confirmation of its acquisition of the Southern Crimeanian Provinces, including Drennan, Acamaria, and Benzitir V. Laurasia also obtained permanent possession of the Ashlgothian Borderlands Territories, which it had occupied since 1335. All other Laurasian and Venasian military forces were to be withdrawn from Melorkian territory by December 1, 1349; moreover, the status quo ante bellum was to prevail between Laurasia and Venasia in regards to territorial, economic, and diplomatic matters; all Venasian strongholds occupied by Laurasian forces were to be restored to the control of the Consortium by no later then January 1, 1348.
 * Finally, all powers agreed to guarantee the constitutional and territorial settlement now established for the Melorkian kingdoms, and to not brook any interference by other foreign powers into their affairs. The Treaty of Xxi was ratified by the monarchs of all states involved by the end of March 1348. It was not until April 6, 1349, however, before Pharmond and Cholodio came to their own agreement in the Treaty of Cambrina, thereby acknowledging the division of the Melorkian territories between them, and the conditions imposed by them at Xxi. With the end of the War of the Melorkian Succession, Emperor Julianus was able to shift his attention to affairs within the Empire, and to the process of recovery which sought to assert itself in the aftermath of the Constantinan Civil War. The first years of the 1350s were to pass in more tranquility, but this would be but a transient period of such.

1349-1352

 * As alluded to above, the middle of the fourteenth century arrived with the Laurasian Empire restored to a tenuous, but fleeting peace. During the years 1349-1351, Emperor Didius Julianus focused his efforts upon the economic, social, and political recovery of the Empire's realms from the exertions of internal conflict. In November 1348, he conducted a triumph through the Marsian Asteroid Belt, the moons of Laurasia Prime, and into the city of Christiania, impressing upon his subjects his accomplishments in battle, and his success in restoring the Empire's "natural" state of internal conformity. He now declared the alleviation of tax burdens throughout the Laurasia Prime Purse Region; ordered for the retirement and provisioning of many of the troops and personnel of the Imperial Forces; and had the Holy Synod bless the efforts of all those who had been involved in the war. In March 1349, the Emperor ordered for a codification of all decrees, edicts, and statutes which had been implemented since the commencement of his reign, and two months later, he had all measures which had been promulgated by Grand Princess Constantia and her supporters overruled. In June, the Emperor invited the Grand Princess, the Duke of Melarnaria, and their son, Grand Prince Antiochus, to the Imperial Court, which had then moved to Caladaria. Once they arrived, on June 26 of that month, the Emperor embraced them in full sight of his courtiers, expressed his delight at seeing them, and declared his hopes that the imperial family would not find discord again in the future.
 * In September 1349, the Emperor instigated another expansion of the ranks of the imperial nobility, creating thirty new peerages and bestowing these upon many of his most prominent supporters. General Lamanius was among the most renowned recipients of the Emperor's generosity, being granted the newly-created Earldom of Chandlier. Didius Julianus also ordered for the Heraldmaster's Office to draw up a list of all nobles and gentlemen who had wantonly defied imperial authority; forbade the construction of new fortifications or residences on noble estates for a period of ten years; and subjected the courtiers of the Imperial Household to a series of financial and personal inquiries. He also expanded the authority of the Imperial Secret Service, ordering for the establishment, on Vetta, of a new strategic operations center. In January 1350, the Emperor followed this up by issuing instructions to the planetary and municipal authorities of Laurasia Prime, ordering for them to provide regular updates to the Quencilvanian Palace Control of any stirrings of dissent, or possible conspiracies, in the capital star system. He also imposed restrictions upon communications and upon public assembly, but made it clear to the Senate and to his judicial officials that no man was to be accused of a crime unless if he had been offered the opportunity to give a reasonable defense.
 * By the middle of the century, the Laurasian Empire had become perhaps the single most powerful state in the Core Regions, and one of the preeminent states in the Caladarian Galaxy. In 1350, Laurasian dominions spanned from the Morganian and Kelvanian Provinces in the Wild Marshes, across to the Duchy of Schaueria Prime, the Nexus Route region, and the Crimeanian Provinces along the upper end of the Kimanian Trade Run. Laurasia now dominated the central, most prosperous portions of the Rebeccan Galactic Trade Route, the Kimanian Trade Run, and the Metallasian Trade Corridor. It exercised its jurisdiction over the whole of the Central Core, with the Ivorian Hetmanate, which continued to retain a semblance of independence, nevertheless a protectorate of the Empire. The Celestial Kingdom of Briannia was also under Laurasian influence, and was far reduced in power compared to its position at the beginning of the century. Laurasia had also acquired the Ashlgothian Borderlands Territories and projected its influence into the Polonian-Donguarian Commonwealth, which was growing progressively weaker. It continued to face substantial enemies, however, in both the Solidaritan Sultanate and the Neo-Venasian Consortium.
 * Emperor Julianus had struggled for so long to face all of this, but he new confronted new questions. One of the most significant concerned the succession. The Emperor desired to pass on the throne to his son, Grand Prince Eusebius (1327-53), whom he had also created Duke of Americana in April 1347. As part of his effort to prepare his son for the responsibilities of rule, Julianus appointed him to the Governing Senate in September 1350, gave him responsibility for the financial affairs of the Imperial Household, and in March 1351, made him Mayor of Christiania and Vice-Governor of Laurasia Prime. The Emperor also, in December 1350 and in July 1351, had the Holy Synod confer its blessings upon his son, and he expressed his open desire that his son be crowned and proclaimed co-heir while he was still alive. Yet Julianus was, in part, restrained by the advice of Chief Procurator Beccarius, who was fearful of the consequences of moving forward too soon, and was also compelled to take into consideration that Grand Princess Constantia was still very much alive, and might yet assert her claims after his death.
 * But by September 1351, Constantia was no longer interested in the imperial throne herself. Having retreated to the Vemay Monastery on Jenny, and increasingly contemplating the idea of taking up the religious life, Constantia now decided to promote the claims of her son, Grand Prince Antiochus, great-grandson of Seleucus I, instead. This was further bolstered by the sudden death of her husband, the Duke of Melarnaria, on September 7, 1351. This occurred 382 years before the birth of Laurasian Empress Aurelia the Great. Antiochus himself, who was eighteen years old by September 1351, was determined to assert his claim to the Laurasian throne. He was, according to contemporary accounts and to Baron Monopahalaus, considered to be exceptionally handsome, being red-haired, freckled, blue-eyed, and with a large head; he had a short, stocky body, but considerable physical ability. Antiochus did not possess the reserve of his mother or the charm of his father, but was nevertheless possessed of exceptional energy and drive. He was infamous for his piercing stare, bullying, bursts of temper, and occasions at which he refused to speak at all. Much of it, however, was theatrical, for Antiochus wished to cast off a certain impression to others. He also had a commanding grasp of languages, speaking and writing, besides his native Laurasian, Goldarian, Briannian, Solidaritan, Polonian, Donguarian, Galician, Ivorian, Carinan, Murphian, Horacian, and Melorkian. He also understood Venasian, Kelvanian, Dasian, Arachosian, and Merlite. The future Emperor was very well-read, and was fascinated by the intellectual currents of the times. In his youth, Antiochus took great pleasure in adventure and in athletic pursuits; over time, he would invest more energy and focus in judicial, ecclesiastical, and administrative affairs, and would possess a work ethic comparable to that of his great-grandfather, the Victor.
 * All of these skills and attributes now served the Grand Prince in good stead. Beginning in November 1351, he gathered his own supporters at Melarnaria, Pasquarillo, Palimisiano, Williams, and Paradine, working closely with the garrisons and authorities of those worlds, and making sure to remain loyal, at least for the time being, towards the Emperor and the Imperial Laurasian Government. He curried the favor of many prominent nobles in the Empire, and was in December 1351, given a position in the College of Internal Security by the Emperor, as an Assessor. From this position, Antiochus not only continued his education, but also built up further contacts within the civil service, and gained intimate awareness of Julianus's strengths and weaknesses. He also learned of the dissent among the notables of the Empire against the idea of Grand Prince Eusesbius becoming Julianus's successor as Emperor. Into 1352, events proceeded further. Emperor Julianus continued in his efforts of recovery from the ravages of conflict. He offered, in January 1352, promises of freedom of transportation, of religion, and of colonial development to any who moved in and rehabilitated the Empire's star systems. He lowered trade burdens, sought to liberalize transportation procedures, and invested vast sums of money into new manufacturing, agricultural, and mining projects, colonies, and stations. The Emperor also ordered for the release of all remaining captives and sponsored a rehabilitation of the imperial prisons, thereby relieving a major burden upon Laurasian taxpayers.
 * May 1352 saw three major events of consequence. On May 3, 1352, Empress Consort Constantia died at the Palace of Harmony on Clancia, at the age of 47. Her death proved an emotional blow to the Emperor, who was still grateful to her for her efforts to secure his release, and to maintain the integrity of his forces during his captivity. Constantia would be laid in state for some weeks, and she would be interred at the Old Westphalian Cathedral on May 24. The second event followed within weeks of the first. On May 18, 1352, at Dramis, Grand Prince Antiochus was formally married to Lady Anna Aquitaria of Commagenos (1322-1404), daughter of the Earl of Commagenos on Aroest, one of the largest cities in the Laurasian Purse Region. Lady Aquitaria, eleven years her husband's senior, was embarking upon her second marriage; her first husband, Sir Laudratus Brasius of Falloria Minor, had died on February 9, 1352. But even before his death, Antiochus had been planning his marriage to her, and felt satisfied that he had this prize at hand. His marriage consolidated his position, and enhanced his claims of being the Emperor's natural successor. Julianus, hearing of it, and hastening to rebuff any such claims, now, on May 24, formally proclaimed his son, Grand Prince Eusebius, to be his heir apparent, and had him presented to his subjects from the balcony of the Quencilvanian Palace. This served only to increase tensions, and by September 1352, Antiochus was fully engrossed in preparations to launch rebellion against Julianus, assembling substantial military forces of his own. And indeed, that rebellion was to come at the opening of 1353.

1353

 * 1353, the 53rd year of the fourteenth century, began with the Laurasian Empire once more being plunged into the specter of civil conflict. On January 5, 1353, from his command headquarters at Melarnaria, Grand Prince Antiochus formally announced that he was in rebellion against Emperor Didius Julianus, and that he intended to secure what was his by right: to be acknowledged as heir-apparent to the Laurasian throne. Antiochus and his forces, who had been engaged in extensive military preparations, and enjoyed the support of many among the imperial elites, made substantial advances from the start. Azov fell into his hands (January 5-6), followed, in short order, by Courdina V (January 8), Ietas (January 11), Mylae (January 14), Windowia Photis (January 18), Tyndaris (January 21), Gordasis (January 22), and Goss Beacon (January 24). On January 26, 1353, the garrisons of Americana, Explosansia Major, Osama, and Tarravania defected to the cause of the Grand Prince, renouncing their allegiance to the Emperor and to the Imperial Laurasian Government. On January 28, Antiochus defeated a imperial expeditionary force, under the command of General Sir Marcus Scalius, in the Battle of Brithium; that stronghold fell into his position. His units then stormed Lalna, Chesrone, and Depp (February 1-4, 1353), thereby entrenching themselves within the outskirts of the Laurasia Prime Purse Region. By February 14, with rebel forces taking control of Conservan, Dramis, Condtella, and Reoyania, Emperor Julianus found his position to be far more precarious.
 * On February 22, Grand Prince Antiochus instigated a siege of Clancia, seeking to breach the defenses of this major stronghold. This would give him a major projection point from which to penetrate northwards, through Janesia, Maroni, and Dearton's Gateway, to Laurasia Prime itself. The rebel forces imposed a series of stockades around the outskirts of the star system, halted all communications and transit to and from it, and launched a series of continual broadsides against its orbital stations and defensive outposts. Emperor Julianus, hearing of the siege, and determined to prevent any further move into the depths of the Purse Region, decided to move with his chief military forces and with General Nero, who had now become Chief of the Imperial General Headquarters. On February 28, the Emperor began his move from Laurasia Prime, and proceeded quickly down the Clancian Trunk Line. He arrived at the northern outskirts of Clancia the following day, and attempted to force a confrontation with Antiochus along the edges of the star system. Antiochus, however, who was not willing at this point to meet Julianus head on in battle, decided to left the siege and to instead concentrate on fortifying Condtella and Reoyania. Julianus himself reoccupied Clancia, on March 5, sent a expedition which sacked Paradine two days later, and was then forced to turn north, to suppress a series of revolts on Jem, Dill, Boo, Jean, Atticus, Caroline, and Millia-in-the Core.
 * This gave Antiochus a further opening. The Grand Prince now decided to secure his rear by making further gains in the Central Core. Five days after the Emperor's reoccupation of Clancia, Antiochus besieged and conquered Hydapses, Haudjrau, and Taxiles the Great, granting him control of the upper Galactic Center. The garrisons of Hannah, Teth, Evelyn, and Ruthania then defected to his cause on March 16, giving him access to the Murphian Provinces. He then launched a successful assault upon the Floating Cities of Seejay Prime (March 19-22, 1353), inflicting severe damage on them and compelling the Governor of the star system, the Lord Aederatus, to retreat. On March 26, Yularen and Pellaeon fell; Natasi followed on March 29, and on April 5, 1353, the Grand Prince won the Battle of Constancia, preventing the Emperor's forces in the Southern Central Core from reversing his gains. On April 9, he secured the support of Boethius Pramaius, Earl of Leicesterius on Jean, who was then Governor of Carina and Seejay Prime. This gave him control of all the southwestern regions of the Central Core, once held by his mother Constantia and her supporters.
 * On April 16, 1353, moreover, the Grand Prince won the allegiance of the Ivorian Hetman, Kyril Razumovsky, who had been elected to his position in January 1350. The Hetman swore allegiance to him at Maschinga. With his assistance, Antiochus was able to overrun Marshia (April 19-22), Bainsborough (April 25), Stenbock (April 29), and Goldaria itself (May 5). By May 11, with the capture of Daala and Elainsborough, most of the major strongholds in the Central Core, with the sole exception of Clancia, were in the hands of the Grand Prince. And by the end of the month, Constantine I, Andriana, Wroona, and Mercedes had also defected to his cause. On June 6, the Grand Prince met with a delegation of Almitian clerics, nobles, and governors at Tommy. They made clear to him that, while they continued to remain bound by their oath of allegiance to the Emperor, they would nevertheless support his claim to be his heir-apparent, and suggested a negotiated peace. Antiochus agreed, and he promised to protect all of their titles, properties, and positions once he acceded to the throne.
 * Then on June 22, 1353, Emperor Julianus launched a major offensive against Melarnaria, attempting to reclaim this world, which had for so long continued to remain a base of dissent and rebel tension against his authority. The Emperor's forces succeeded in imposing a blockade, and in making attacks against the world's defenses. Grand Prince Antiochus, who was then assaulting Chandlier and Meaganian, learned of the siege and decided to confront Julianus directly, in a decisive battle. He moved quickly across the Central Core, and on July 4, 1353, his forces arrived at the outskirts of the star system, facing those of the Emperor. By this point, however, the nobles and officials of the Empire were exhausted, and yearned for an end to the long civil disorder. Julianus himself, who was experiencing the first stages of the malady which would ultimately kill him, was tired, and sought a return, in peace, to Laurasia Prime. Consequently, on July 8, before the forces could join combat, he sent an armistice request to Antiochus.
 * Antiochus, who now saw that he had the advantage, decided to accept the request. The Truce of Melarnaria was proclaimed on July 12, and all hostilities between the Emperor's forces, and those of the Grand Prince, came to a halt. In the aftermath of this truce, Antiochus and Julianus met each other personally on July 17, 1353. They began to talk privately about a potential end to the rebellion. The Emperor's son, Grand Prince Eusebius, however, was furious about the conclusion of the truce. He himself realized that he might lose his place in the line of succession, and now embarked in a huff, on July 23, to Taurasia, intending to muster support for a resumption of hostilities. Eusebius however, was then struck down with the Antigenes fever, and his condition rapidly declined. In spite of all the efforts of his physicians, he died nearly a month later, on August 17, 1353, aged 25.
 * The removal of Eusebius from the scene greatly simplified matters. Though he had a younger son, Perdiccas, Emperor Julianus, who was exhausted and demoralized, lost all willingness to fight on. In this, he was encouraged by the Bishop of the Cron Drift and by Chief Procurator Beccarius, who saw opportunity in the end of hostilities. He therefore, on September 4, extended an offer to Antiochus to come to Laurasia Prime, and to conclude there a final treaty to settle all disputes between them. Antiochus, whose first son Willanius had been born at Jenny on the very day of Eusebius's death, agreed. The Grand Prince and the Emperor now embarked together to the capital world, arriving there on September 13. They were greeted by the inhabitants of Laurasia Prime, who expressed their especial admiration for the Grand Prince. Then, after some weeks of celebrations and of festivity, negotiations began.
 * These negotiations ultimately culminated in the Edict of Christiania, which was promulgated on November 4, 1353. By the terms of this edict, Didius Julianus finally recognized Antiochus as his heir-apparent, and that he had a legitimate claim to the imperial throne. All hostilities between their forces were to cease immediately; all strongholds and worlds occupied by the Grand Prince were to be restored to the authority of the Imperial Laurasian Government; and all prisoners of war were to be released, and allowed to return to their homes, and to their lives. Emperor Julianus promised to listen to Antiochus's advice, and he was guaranteed continued rule over the Empire until his death. The conclusion of this agreement was met with much celebration on Laurasia Prime, and elsewhere throughout the Empire. On November 12, the Emperor presented Grand Prince Antiochus to his future subjects at the Quencilvanian Palace, and then, on November 26, named him to the Governing Senate. Antiochus and his household were to remain at Laurasia Prime until April 1354.

1354

 * 1354, the 54th year of the fourteenth century, commenced with the Laurasian Empire finally restored to an absolute state of internal tranquility, and with Grand Prince Antiochus, grandson of Seleucus II, now acknowledged as successor to his cousin, Didius Julianus. During the early months of 1354, Antiochus had continued to remain on Laurasia Prime, being treated with much generosity, and exalting in his position as the recognized heir-apparent. Emperor Julianus, on his part, engaged in a final outburst of energy, vigorously applying himself to the task of economic recovery and of legal reform. In April 1354, the Grand Prince and his household departed from Laurasia Prime, and moved thence to Melarnaria. There he was "duly received with joy and honor" by his mother, Grand Princess Constantia, his brothers, and the assembled inhabitants of that world. In a short time, his wife, Grand Princess Anna, joined him to celebrate, bringing with her their eight-month old son and heir, Willanius. This was the first time that Anna met her formidable mother-in-law. Antiochus had been given additional responsibilities by the Emperor as Governor of Melarnaria, and he now traveled to Azov, N'zoth, Paradine, Pasquarillo, Palimisiano, and Williams, enforcing the dictates of the Imperial Laurasian Government and ensuring the rule of law. He also further ingratiated himself with his future subjects in that manner.
 * In May 1354, Emperor Julianus, on his part, had held a series of ceremonies on Caladaria, Mercedes, Andriana, and Tyndaris, seeking to impress upon his subjects in those star systems the reassertion of imperial authority. From there, the Emperor then embarked on a journey to Ivoria, where he met with Hetman Razumovsky, who had returned to his loyalty to the Imperial Laurasian Government. Razumovsky gave his oath of allegiance to Antiochus, and conducted him on a tour of the Ivorian Order's strongholds, including Maschinga, Dasinae, Esther, Alladoria, Burderia, Micenta, and Storgath. This tour lasted until the end of July 1354. The Emperor then returned to Laurasia Prime on August 22, 1354. The following month, while at Goss Beacon, Antiochus fell violently ill; it was even feared for a time that he might die. He recovered by September 29, however, and then embarked on a tour of the Clancian Worlds. Fortunately for him, his destiny was now within reach.
 * On October 5, 1354, Emperor Julianus collapsed in his personal bedchambers at the Quencilvanian Palace. The Emperor was soon rushed by his servants to the Imperial Hospital, where he was then subjected to a series of treatments by his physicians. In spite of all their efforts, however, his health continued to decline, and he suffered from severe stomach pains, respiratory issues, and pain in his limbs. This agony intensified, and continued over a period of twenty days. Finally, towards 10:00 in the morning of October 25, 1354, Didius Julianus, who had reigned over the Laurasian Empire for nearly nineteen years, died in Christiania, Laurasia Prime, at the age of fifty-eight. News of the Emperor's death spread rapidly from the capital world, and then, across the Empire's dominions. Within hours, Antiochus had been proclaimed Emperor and Autocrat of All the Laurasians by the Governing Senate, Holy Synod, and Colleges of State. He was en route to Treoshia when he was informed that he was now Emperor, and saluted as such by all of his subordinates. Antiochus, however, did not at first seem to be greatly moved at the fact that he was Autocrat of All the Laurasians, and he continued with his journey as before.
 * When he reached Treoshia, he was hailed by the inhabitants and the garrison of the star system, showered with accolades, and proclaimed by them to be the "Savior of the Empire and of galactic civilization." Antiochus relished in these honors, and he promised that he would do his best as Emperor, to work for the "good interests of all my subjects, to deliver proper justice and order to them, and to enhance this Empire's position forward." Antiochus stayed on Treoshia for several days. During that time, his wife, now Empress-Consort Anna, and her household officials launched into a flurry of preparations on Melarnaria, for the official procession into the Laurasia Prime star system. Antiochus himself remained in constant communication with them, and with the authorities on Laurasia Prime. He was aided, in particular, by Sir Ricomedius Ghenteria (in office 1342-55), who had always been a quiet supporter of his at the Imperial Laurasian Court. The Emperor, through this agency, issued his first proclamation to his new subjects from Treoshia (November 7, 1354), expressing his hopes that his subjects would prosper and would be protected under his hand.
 * Finally, on November 12, he departed from Treoshia, and made his way thence to Melarnaria. There, he joined his wife in the flurry of household preparations, drew up lists of appointments to the Colleges, the Praetorian Guards, the Imperial General Headquarters, the Senate, the Synod, and the administration of Laurasia Prime, and sent out a stream of verbal orders, communiques, and manifestos to the authorities of Laurasia Prime. They too were engaged in vigorous preparations to give a proper reception to their new Emperor and Empress. The Emperor now decided that, alongside himself and his wife, he would be attended by his son and heir, now Grand Prince Willianus, his brother Gregory and by his sister-in-law, Theodora. His mother, Grand Princess Constantia, whom he trusted implicitly, and turned to for advice, would be entrusted with the responsibility of supervising his interests and those of the Leonidian Dynasty in the Central Core.
 * Finally, on December 7, 1354, the Emperor, Empress, and Imperial Court formally departed from Melarnaria, and proceeded rapidly to the Clancian Trunk Line, through Maroni and Dearton's Gateway, and thence onwards to Laurasia Prime. The Empress-Consort, in fact, was now seven months pregnant with their second child, but this did not delay Antiochus's resolve. Chief Procurator Beccarius, who had also been a secret ally of the Emperor's, was urging him to come as soon as possible. Two days later, during the early hours of December 9, the imperial retinue arrived in the outskirts of the Laurasia Prime star system. They passed through Marsia, Inspiter, Volcania, the Asteroid Belt, the moons of Laurasia Prime, and into the city of Christiania. The Emperor's subjects, gathered in massive crowds at all of these locations, and controlled by the Christiania Police, the imperial garrison, and the Praetorian Guards, greeted him with much "joy and happiness." His subjects adored him, and were glad that his reign marked the onset of something new for the Empire. At the Quencilvanian Palace, the Emperor was received by Chancellor Ghenteria, Chief Procurator Beccarius, the Senate, Synod, Colleges, and other officials of the Imperial Laurasian Government; he impressed them all with his energy, perceptiveness, and intelligence.
 * Plans for his coronation, already in place since before Julianus's death, now proceeded without further incident, and on December 14, the Emperor and Empress made their leave to Darcia, as had become a coronation custom during the reign of King Artabanus. On December 18, they made the second, formal coronation procession into the Laurasia Prime star system and took up their quarters at the Byrnes Palace. The following day, December 19, 1354, the coronation ceremony was held at the Old Westphalian Cathedral, with the Chief Procurator presiding. There was a change at this ceremony. In December 1353, Emperor Julianus had commissioned a new imperial crown, believing that the old Royal Crown of Laurasia, which had been used to crown every sovereign since Honorius the Liberator himself, was outdated and no longer necessary for the Empire. This crown, which was completed in September 1354, was crafted by the famed Horacian jeweler Hetapheres and his assistant, Imhotep. The crown contained 4,936 Marian diamonds arranged in splendid patterns across its entire surface. Bordering the edges of the mitre were 37 fine, large white pearls. The crown was also decorated with a large, precious red spinel weighing 398 carats, specifically imported from Gilestis in the Barsar Regions. It contained also, sapphires, rubies, aquarius, and tabastian stones, the last of which was perhaps the rarest fine earth mineral in the Caladarian Galaxy; the acquisition of these stones by themselves consumed one-third of the budget allocated for the Crown's construction.
 * The crown was modeled after the Great Matriarchal Crown of the Venasian Queen Mothers and the Bahari of the Horacian Kings. All total, it weighed nine pounds and cost $30.4 billion denarius to create. Emperor Antiochus now crowned himself with this, which he named the Great Imperial Crown; it was to be used for the coronations of all future Laurasian monarchs, from that point on. He crowned his wife, Empress-Consort Anna, with the older Consort Crown, which was nevertheless regilded and recast with a set of new diamonds and rubies for the ceremony. The officiating clergy, along with the nobles and other personages in attendance, wore splendid vestaments of silk, such as had not been seen on Laurasia Prime before, while the imperial couple and their attendants were attired in robes of silk, brocade, and gauze. It was a very moving and spiritual occasion; Antiochus fervently swore the coronation oath, and, intimating the custom followed by every Laurasian sovereign since Eurymaschus I, he tapped his chest and declared that all of his wealth was the wealth of his subjects. Following the ceremony, as the new Emperor and Empress went in procession through the religious quadrants, subjects ran alongside to catch a glimpse of them, crying "Vivat Imperator!" and "Almitis save their Majesties!" As 1354 ended therefore, the Empire had a new, and firm imperial master in authority.

1355

 * As 1355, the 55th year of the fourteenth century began, the Laurasian Empire had become adjusted to the rule of Emperor Antiochus I, who would eventually become known as the "Great". From the onset of his reign, the new Emperor showed himself to be genuinely concerned in the welfare of his subjects, the stability of his dominions, and the integrity of his government. He took immediate, and vigorous, steps to continue the process of restoration from the travails of civil conflict. On January 5, 1355, at the Diplomatic Palace, the Emperor summoned a special session of the Senate, Synod, and the Colleges of State. There, he announced to them that the situation then transpiring within the Empire's dominions required prompt and immediate attention from him, and from his officials. In the aftermath of this, Antiochus implemented several measures to restore order. On January 11, he ordered for all nobles, clergymen, and personages in the Empire to dismiss all retainers and foreign mercenaries from their service. To prevent an outbreak of dissent from them over this, Antiochus implemented an immediate moratorium on the emergency military levies imposed by his predecessor; issued a series of charters confirming the restoration of earlier inheritance laws, and of the nobles' right to first claim on their estates; and forbade the Heraldmaster's Office from penalizing any nobles who were in default of their service obligations, without explicit permission from the Senate.
 * Moreover, the Emperor conferred estates, annuities, pensions, wardships, and trading privileges upon many of the courtiers and others in attendance at his household, thereby weaning them off any ideas of rebellion. He did not, however, tolerate peculation nor corruption, and in February 1355, he was to order the governmental censors to conduct a thorough investigation of all abuses and violations of the law which had transpired since January 1, 1350. Antiochus also implemented new ethics regulations for the imperial household, extended the jurisdiction of the Imperial Secret Service, and on March 9, granted the Praetorian Guards permission to quarter on, and search, the properties of subjects suspected of engaging in acts of treason or conspiracy against the state.
 * On March 12, the Emperor ordered for the demolition of all fortifications, posts, and garrisons which had been erected during the civil conflicts, and he mandated that all future colonies and outposts were to be established only in accordance with the directives provided through the Imperial College of Regional and Planetary Administration. Antiochus was to prove generous, however, in granting such permits, and in April 1355, he would establish the Office of Colonization Assistance, offering loans, equipment, and legal contracts to nobles, corporations, and guilds who could demonstrate that their activities would be to the Empire's benefit. Antiochus disbanded a number of superfluous military regiments maintained by his predecessor; revised the procurement and recruitment procedures for the Guards; and in May 1355, ordered a reorganization of all municipal police and enforcement agencies in the Empire. He also decreed a resumption of the occupation of all imperial strongholds and estates by officials handpicked by the Imperial Chancellory, and ordered for all obligations or liens placed on imperial, noble, and ecclesiastical property to be cleared. Antiochus also began a great expansion of the judicial and legal system, to become a hallmark of his reign.
 * In February 1355, he commanded the Senate to draw up a dossier of all vacant positions in the imperial magistracy, nobility, and solar courts, and to provide him reports about issues concerning the allocation of judicial resources. From May 1355 to November 1357, the Emperor and the College of Justice would be engaged in a process of ethics review, case codification, and judicial appointments; more then 20,000 officials would be reprimanded, moved, or dismissed, and their positions would be filled with men "cognizant of the law, respectful towards His Majesty, and loyal to the state." Antiochus asserted his right to personally decide cases relating to the imperial estates, and in July 1357, he would issue the Constitution of Clarandia, clarifying appeal procedures from the magistracy courts to the Senate, and from the Senate to the monarch. In August 1358, he would order the abolition of the Court of Imperial Enforcement, delegating such tasks to the Secret Service, the Senatorial Procurators, and the Senatorial Censors.
 * The Emperor also ordered, in August 1355, for the commutation and elimination of all sentences which had been imposed upon Laurasian subjects by either rebel or governmental authorities; he made it clear, in a proclamation issued on November 17, 1355, that no subjects would be held responsible for the "actions of their betters." He also enshrined it in imperial law, that no person could be compelled into military service by any private authority unless if the state were consulted. The Emperor also would begin, in December 1355, the process of redefining corporal punishment, abolishing the use of the barbaric cat-o'tails, of impaling, and of strangulation, and would, in March 1356, mandate that all future civil cases were to involve a jury.
 * The Emperor also sought to make the central government more efficient. In August 1355, he would order for the Senate to examine the executive institutions of the Imperial Laurasian Government, and to make recommendations as to how advice and governmental intelligence could be dispersed more effectively. The Senate completed its investigation in January 1356, and recommended to Antiochus the establishment of a central council of coordination. Antiochus took this advice, and on July 7, 1356, he would order the establishment of the Council of Civil Service, which became responsible for providing advice to the Emperor, overseeing the operations of the governmental bureaucracy and the Colleges of State, and executing the instructions of the Emperor and his leading officials. The Council was to be composed, besides the monarch himself, of the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, Collegial Presidents, and ten councilors chosen by the monarch, from the nobility and the clergy. Antiochus was to rely upon this council extensively for the remainder of his reign, and he was a master at keeping competing noble, civil, and ecclesiastical interests in balance. He would treat the clergy and the nobility both with some respect, but would also make clear to him the position of authority he held. This would be made even more obvious in July 1357 with the reform of the Table of Ranks, with officials now being promoted based both on merit and on the monarch's personal appraisal of their work. Military officers gained elevated status, as did secretaries of the Imperial Household.
 * Finally, the Emperor took measures to alleviate the situation then prevailing in the Empire's financial system. He ordered for a new circulation of the currency, in April 1355, and commanded the Imperial Exchenquer to revise interest rates, loan rates, and credit rules, taking into account the new economic conditions. He ordered for a thorough investigation of all household and military accounts, and he refused to compensate any officials who did not have records of consistent performance. The Emperor imposed a prohibition upon the circulation of foreign currency, restricted access to hard metals, and imposed a series of protective charges upon goods of vital importance to the Imperial Household, and to the imperial military. At the same time, however, he distributed billions and billions of denarius to star systems, nobles, corporations, and officials in need of them; relaxed Julianus's restrictions on transportation and assembly; and reduced the number of official moneyers licensed to produce currency. In 1358, Antiochus would implement a more extensive reform of imperial currency, ordering for new denominations, of $1, $5, $10, $50, and $100 to be produced; abolishing larger values; and pegging the currency to tiranium, then the most plentiful rare earth metal in the Empire. He also declared that any currency not stamped with his official signature, and recognized as valid by the Imperial Exchenquer, was not to be valid currency. As a result of all these measures, governmental revenues would increase by more then 46% from 1354 to 1361; inflation and trade would rise; and unemployment would fall.
 * In March and April 1355, Antiochus made a series of further appointments. He now named Sir Ricomedius Lucrania to the position of Justiciar, which Didius Julianus had established in 1348 as the chief law enforcement position in the College of Justice, and which had now been given responsibility for all legal cases presented before the Senate and the imperial magistracy courts. He also made Archbishop Madaria of Katie, once again restored to his position, Treasurer of the Imperial Household. And on April 23, 1355, following the death of Chancellor Ghenteria, the Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod, Thomasius Becketius, as Chancellor.
 * Becketius had been born in Christiania, Laurasia Prime, on December 31, 1318. He was the third son of Sir Athanasius Becketius (1269-1335) and his wife Messalina (1291-1353), who was 22 years his junior. Becketius's father, who was the first Intendant of the Diplomatic Palace, had been especially favored by Emperor Seleucus, who had also entrusted him with responsibilities relating to the administration of all public facilities in the city of Christiania. His father, consequently, had been rewarded with estates throughout the Laurasia Prime Purse Region, and had also been one of the first recipients of a hereditary knighthood in the Empire. Thomasius, who was overshadowed by his two elder siblings, destined to inherit the lion's share of their father's estate, became destined for an administrative career. His father had him educated at Mertonia Priory, one of the largest private schools in the Empire, before he was then sent to the University of Laurasia Prime. Becketius graduated in 1341, having acquired an extensive knowledge of both contemporary and ancient languages: he fully mastered Dasian, Lacian, Arachosian, and Millian, the languages of species who had conquered or threatened Laurasian civilization. After working for the University Administration for two years, Becketius became a clerk in the service of Chief Procurator Beccarius. Beccarius soon recognized his intelligence and administrative ability, and earmarked him for promotion. By the time of Emperor Julianus's death in 1354, Becketius had taken minor orders, and had become Provost of Mertonia Priory as well as an Archdeacon of Westphalia.
 * The Chief Procurator, therefore, had become convinced that Becketius would accomplish great things in the Emperor's service, and was able to persuade the Emperor into agreeing to his appointment. Becketius himself was tall and slim with dark hair, finely chiselled features, an aquiline noise, and tapering hands. He was a good conversationalist, and had a great charm of manner. He was a man of enormous energy and versatile talent, though unlike the Emperor, he avoided all encounters with women, due to his vows of chastity. He was, in the words of Lord Monophalaus, "elegant, witty, generous, vain, and ambitious, thriving on his role as the "great" Chancellor." The Emperor had a firm grasp of Becketius's abilities, and enjoyed a good relationship with him. Becketius, as Chancellor, was to maintain an extensive household of his own, renowned for its luxury and prestige, and reflecting on the wealth and generosity of his imperial master, who allowed him such things: the same would happen with Serjanius in the fifteenth century, Cleander in the sixteenth, Plautianus in the seventeenth, and Wolesius in the eighteenth.
 * The remainder of 1355 passed in peace, as the Emperor conducted a series of progresses across his dominions, engaged in his initial reforms, and made clear to all of his subjects the extent of his authority. Yet tensions were building that would lead the Empire into war against both Donathia, in Polonia, and the Neo-Venasian Consortium shortly afterwards. The first of these conflicts was to be in Venasia. But on February 28, 1355, at Apathama Vixius, Empress Consort Anna had given birth to the imperial couple's second son, who Antiochus named Decabulus. This Decabulus would be destined to rebellion against his father, and to an early death.

1356

 * 1356, the 56th year of the fourteenth century, commenced with Emperor Antiochus, held in acclaim by his subjects, and respected by his government, as well as his nobility, having done much to restore order and tranquility to the Laurasian Empire's dominions. On January 10, the Emperor and the Imperial Court had moved to Elizabeth. There, it had been announced that Empress Consort Anna was pregnant again. Many of the Emperor's subjects were becoming increasingly confident that the Leonidian Dynasty, stabilized as it seemed to be, would continue to reign over a prosperous, expanding Empire for many years to come. And that expansion now entered a new stage. Emperor Antiochus, since September 1355, had been consulting with the Imperial General Headquarters, with Chancellor Becketius, and with General Nero (Lamanius had died), on a new offensive conflict against the Neo-Venasian Consortium. The Emperor had read communiques and other reports indicating that the Venasians had supported many of the rebellious, conspiratoral movements which had arisen on Laurasian territory during the Constatinan Civil War, and that Queen Mother Masania, who had inherited her mother's dislike and loathing of Laurasian civilization, was herself preparing to restrain Laurasian power.
 * Antiochus was determined to take the first move, and to prevent the Consortium from gaining the advantage at Laurasian expense. Consequently, on Ascentmas Day, 1355, he had given his approval to strategic plans, drawn up by General Nero and his associates, for military campaigns into Venasian territory. And in January 1356, the Emperor strengthened the garrisons of Penshalay, Bolgrahay, Ipsus V, Robbay, and the chief strongholds of the Schauerian Provinces, for the move that was now to come. On February 9, he departed from Laurasia Prime, entrusting Chief Procurator Beccerius and Chancellor Becketius with responsibility for the safety of Empress-Consort Anna and of the Imperial Court. From thence, he moved to Atchinson, establishing his command headquarters there, and sending out a stream of communiques and orders to his military forces in those regions. On February 25, 1356, the Emperor ordered General Nero to take command of the garrison of Schaueria Prime, placing the 6th and 7th Imperial Fleets under his overall authority. And finally, on March 12, he sent a ultimatum to the Venasian Court, which was then at Relephon. In this ultimatum, he demanded the concession of Agac, Aflac, Decapolia Major, Decapolia Minor, and Podrac, for the Venasians to pay a substantial compensation to him for the expenses incurred in suppressing Venasian-sponsored "plots", and for the rights of Laurasian navigators and merchants traveling through Venasian territory to be respected.
 * Queen Masania was absolutely alarmed by these demands, and on April 2, she sent her response, declaring that she would not insult the honor of her goddesses, nor of her predecessors, by agreeing to them. This proved the final straw for Antiochus, who issued the final orders to his forces ten days later. Then on April 29, 1356, he issued a formal declaration of war against the Neo-Venasian Consortium, commencing the war of 1356-57. Laurasian forces made swift advances. The Emperor defeated a Venasian task force at Lythia (April 30-May 5, 1356), securing that stronghold. Repelling Venasian moves against Dorothy, Hordania, and Alvurg, he then proceeded to capture Rusum (May 18, 1356), and then dispatched a raiding expedition against Cadaria, sacking the defenses of that stronghold on May 25. Then on June 6, the Emperor advanced from Penshalay and Bolgrahay towards Colla, Ka, and Organia. Colla became the first target; the Siege of Colla, which commenced on June 8, lasted until the 24th, when the world capitulated to Laurasian forces. Ka proved more resistant, and in fact, Laurasian assaults, during June and July 1356, against that stronghold, generally failed. On July 1, however, Organia fell into Laurasian hands, thereby giving a vantage point for Laurasian expeditions into the Venasian Cluster. Indeed, Relephon, Pheleope, Duris, and Lynne would be subjected to a series of Laurasian raids over the next two months. On July 16, Antiochus won the Battle of Decapolia Minor; General Nero earned distinction by repelling the continual assaults of Decapolian stag troops upon his strategic positions. Decapolia Major was then laid under siege from August 4; Venasian moves against Shiloh, Rashid, Gullborg, Gitlandia, and Farbissna failed to turn the tide, and on August 22, Decapolia Major also fell.
 * In the meantime, on June 5, 1356, at Darcia, Empress-Consort Anna had given birth to the imperial couple's third child, a daughter who was named Messalina (1356-89). Following the birth of this child, Anna had, at the beginning of August 1356, moved from Darcia to Atchinson, and was there established. She did this, of course, with the Emperor's permission, and took charge of the affairs of his household from there. Archbishop Beccarius remained on Laurasia Prime. On August 29, the Emperor moved in the direction of Podrac. Venasian Generaless Temel Ka Dojo, however, launched a major offensive against Compost V, Bleuia, and Selena, overrunning all three strongholds (September 4-19), before storming the defenses of Linopking, Dusaberg, and Avaskar (September 24). On October 6, however, Antiochus defeated her in the Battle of Jessica Perea; by October 28, all of these strongholds had been recovered, and in November 1356, Podrac and Aflac were both conquered. Agac was secure in Laurasian hands by December 5, and on December 18, Antiochus won a further victory at Rhiata. By the end of 1356, therefore, the balance was firmly in the Empire's favor.

1357

 * 1357 began with the Laurasian Empire's forces holding the upper hand over those of the Neo-Venasian Consortium, in the Decapolian Provinces and to the outskirts of the Venasian Cluster. With Agac, Aflac, and Podrac securely in the hands of Laurasian units, Emperor Antiochus now planned for a major offensive against one of his chief objectives: Hannis. The Battle of Hannis commenced on January 8, 1357, and lasted for the next four days. The Emperor divided his force, comprised of detachments from the 7th Imperial Fleet, in addition to a corps of Imperial Marines, Praetorian Guards, and the 9th Imperial Army, into three wings; the first to penetrate through the star system's northern vector, the second to overrun Venasian outposts at Hannis Outer, and the thread to break Venasian naval positions in the Hannian Asteroid Belt. The garrison of Hannah was commanded by Princess Kemal Ka So, who was one of the Queen Mother's most trusted subordinates. And indeed, the ensuing battle did prove to be very hard fought. Kemal herself led assaults against the Laurasian warships, and on January 12, she actually managed to briefly storm the IMS Carpathia, the largest dreadnought in the 7th Imperial Fleet. Venasian troopers seized control of the bridge and of the communications system, but they were eventually driven off by Laurasian troops led by General Nero.
 * Following this, the Laurasian forces finally broke the defenses of the Hannian Asteroid Belt, and on Antiochus's orders, moved forward with a full-fledged offensive to the orbit of Hannis itself. Within another two days, Hannis's defenses had completely collapsed, and despite all of Princess Kemal's attempts, the world was ultimately subjected to landings on the Imperial Laurasian Army. By January 19, Hannis was securely in Laurasian hands. Following the conquest of Hannis, Laurasian units stormed Maxiliana, Desulima, Maria, and Tarai (February 1357), thereby inflicting a series of further humiliating losses upon their Venasian foes. Even the tragic death of the Emperor's eldest son and heir apparent, Grand Prince Willanius, at Schaueria Prime from a bout of Antigenes fever (February 27, 1357), did not distract from the success and the momentum of the offensives. Venasia Secondary itself was sacked by a Laurasian expedition on March 7, 1357, and plans were laid for the conquest of Ruttum and Phyllis. At this point, Queen Mother Masania decided to sue for peace, and to turn her attention to other objectives.
 * On March 22, she sent an armistice request to Emperor Antiochus. Antiochus, who was himself concerned by events then transpiring in the Wild Marshes, agreed to the request, and on April 1, the Armistice of Aso was signed. A conference was then opened, on April 14, 1357, at Poltava in the Central Core, where nearly fifty years earlier, Antiochus's great-grandfather Seleucus had defeated Char'lac IX of Briannia. The Emperor detached Chancellor Becketius and Chief Procurator Beccarius to take charge of the negotiations; Venasian interests were represented by Generaless Tenal Ka and by Suliuma, Chair of the Venasian Council of High Ones. Ultimately, on May 14, 1357, the Treaty of Poltava was signed. By the terms of this agreement, the Decapolian Provinces, comprising the strongholds of Agac, Aflac, Podrac, Decapolia Major, Decapolia Minor, and Aso, along with Hannis along the Rebeccan Galactic Trade Route, were now conceded to the Laurasian Empire. All other Venasian territories occupied by the Empire were to be returned promptly to the Consortium, and all prisoners of war exchanged. The Queen Mother also agreed to pay an indemnity of $1.2 trillion denarius, to be paid in four installments through 1361, and to recognize free trade privileges, for a period of seven years (until July 1, 1364), for all Laurasian merchants in her dominions.
 * The Treaty of Poltava, ratified by both powers by June 4, 1357, thereby ended the war with gains for the Laurasian Empire. Emperor Antiochus was joyous over this, and on June 14, he proceeded back to Laurasia Prime. There, he was greeted by the inhabitants of the star system with much praise, and they hailed him for his accomplishments in war. The Senate and Synod conferred upon him the title of Decapolius Maximus (June 22, 1357), and he ordered for all of his subjects to be given a tax relief award, to signify this. He held a series of tournaments, gladiatorial contests, games, pageants, masses, and other celebrations to mark his victory, and in January 1358, would commission the construction of the Obelisk of Antiochus in Constantinople. On July 4, Empress Consort Anna's new pregnancy was announced, and hopes were expressed at the Imperial Court that it would be a son. Antiochus himself firmly believed so. But he now turned his attention to the situation in the Angelican Provinces. Since 1355, Donathia had been under the rule of Eadwig, who was to rule until October 1359. Since the beginning of his reign, Eadwig had been confronted by disputes with his nobles, by the continuing rebellion of the Iffians in the Tof Borderlands and northern Outer Borderlands, and by various economic issues. Beginning in November 1356, he granted licenses to various privateers to launch raids into the Wild Marshes, seeking to gain more benefit for himself and his treasury.
 * One of the more notorious of these pirates was Harcwourg of Teller, who became loathed in the Laurasian Empire for his exploits. For much of 1357, he had harried various important strongholds in Upper Angelica, including Eric, Giron, and Shineski. Titus, in particular, became victim to a Donathian raiding expedition (July 1357), leading to the deaths of 450,000 Laurasian colonists, and the infliction of nearly $24 billion denarius in property damage. Emperor Antiochus, who was outraged by reports of this behavior, now ordered for the garrisons of the Angelican Provinces to be strengthened, and became determined to assert himself. On September 8, 1357, in Gloraid City, Chancia, the Empress Consort had given birth to their third son, whom Antiochus named after himself. Two days after his son's birth, the Emperor sent an ultimatum to King Eadwig, demanding for the end of all expeditions into Laurasian territory, and for Donathia to remain in compliance with the Treaty of Resht. Eadwig, however, engaged in yet another domestic dispute in his household, remained deaf to the ultimatum, and did not give a response.
 * Consequently, on September 24, 1357, the Emperor moved from Chancia to Patsy, and from there progressed through the Morganian Provinces. He brought with him substantial forces from the Purse Region, with General Nero and Admiral Sir Tacitus Gravius in command as his subordinates. The Emperor once again entrusted Chancellor Becketius and Chief Procurator Beccarius with the affairs of Laurasia Prime. Then on October 9, he issued a declaration of war, and launched a series of swift, lightning offensives. He defeated Harcwourg in the Battle of Iverman (October 14-21, 1357), and from there, destroyed Donathian raiding fleets at Zachary and Donavan (October 25), and on November 6, won an additional victory in the Battle of Hiron. Roach and Etienne were then cleared of Donathian units, and on November 14, 1357, Angelica Minor was besieged by the Empire's forces. The Siege of Angelica Minor ended on November 29, with the world's fall to the Emperor. December 1357 saw the Laurasian subjection of Corfu and Prima, and a Laurasian move into the outskirts of the Immmortalized Cluster. By the end of 1357, Laurasian forces were unstoppable.

1358

 * The fourth child and third son of Antiochus I and Anna of Commagenos, Leonnatus of Chancia (1358-1386), is born to Antiochus I and Anna of Commagenos on Katherine.

1359

 * Birth of the future Emperor Tiberius I (1416-1437), founder of the Tiberian Dynasty, on Mumbraine. His parents are Tiberius Claudius Nero and Livia Nero.

1360

 * Treaty of Dion results in the acquisition of Elijahana by the Laurasian Empire.

1361

 * Thomasius Becketius becomes Chief Procurator of the Holy Synod of the Laurasian Empire.
 * The fifth child of Antiochus I and Anna of Commagenos, Grand Princess Eleanora (1361-1414), is born to Antiochus I and Anna of Commagenos on Rebecca.

1363

 * The Emperor Antiochus I announces his intention to place ecclesiastical courts under the jurisdiction of the Governing Senate. Chief Procurator Thomasius Becketius, who had resigned his position as Chancellor, opposes the Emperor's policies. A rift develops between the two, which will later have disastrous consequences.
 * Death of Aug'sac II of the Polonian-Donguarian Commonwealth.

1364

 * Chief Procurator of the Holy Synod Thomasius Becketius, having fallen out with Emperor Antiochus I, flees to Venasia Prime. The Emperor formally deprives him of the Chief Procuratorate and confiscates all of his properties.
 * Annexation of Celestial Kingdom of Briannia's remaining territories (February 22, 1364), including Nystadia, Alemeda, Gdov, Vardar, the Belts of Barton, and Briannia proper. Deposition of the last Briannian king Adolp'hac I; he dies in 1371.
 * Ivorian Hetman Kyril Razumovsky is forced to abdicate by Emperor Antiochus I (August 7, 1364). The Hetmantate of Ivoria is formally abolished and annexed to the regular administrative system of the Laurasian Empire. The Headquarters of Ivoria, however, remains in operation at this stage.

1365

 * The sixth child of Antiochus I and Anna of Commagenos, Grand Princess Julia (1365-99) is born on Metallasia.
 * Outbreak of Third Laurasian-Venasian War, in the aftermath of Aug'sac II's death.

1366

 * End of the Third Laurasian-Venasian War. The Laurasian Empire acquires Frogglesworth, Rawling, Doris, Anthony, Watson, Sherlock, and Rupert from the Polonian-Donguarian Commonwealth as a result of the conflict. The Commonwealth becomes a formal protectorate of the Laurasian Empire at this stage.
 * Death of Solidaritan Sultan Ibrahim II. He is succeeded by his son, who becomes Suleiman III.
 * Birth of the seventh and last child of Antiochus I and Anna of Commagenos, the future Emperor Demetrius I the Fat (r. 1399-1416), last monarch of the Leonidian Dynasty.
 * Death of Venasian Queen Mother Masania V. She is succeeded by her daughter Kendura II.

1367

 * Death of the Grand Princess Constantia, the daughter of Seleucus II the Strong, instigator of the Constantian Rebellion, and mother of the Emperor Antiochus I the Great. By the command of her son, she is buried with great honors at the Cathedral of St. Paul’s.

1369

 * Conference of Emperor Antiochus I, Venasian Queen Mother Kendura II, and Thomasius Becketius. Becketius refuses the Emperor's conditions for a pardon and remains in exile at Venasia Prime.

1370

 * Reconciliation between Laurasian Emperor Antiochus I and Thomasius Becketius is finally made. Becketius is appointed Chief Procurator of the Holy Synod for the second time, but then begins to exert church rights to excommunication of those deemed in defiance of its mandates. Antiochus is irritated with Becketius, and asks if no one will rid him of the man. Becketius is murdered in December of this year by four pages of the Imperial Household. Antiochus is startled by the news of his death and enters a period of true lamentation and regrets.

1371

 * Laurasian-Mereditan War, in response to Mereditan violation of Laurasian commercial rights and constant raids by Mereditan military task fleets against the strongholds of the Rebeccan Galactic Trade Route. Beharis, Shephard, Walters, Whoppi, Goldberg, and Hasselbeck are conquered by Laurasian expeditionary forces, authorized by the Emperor Antiochus the Great. The Mereditans are forced to acknowledge these territorial losses and to halt operations into Laurasian borderland territories.

1372

 * Secret alliance between Kendura II of the Venasian Consortium and Suleiman III of Solidarita.

1373

 * Thomasius Becketius is canonized by the Almitian Church.
 * Outbreak of the Children's Revolt against Emperor Antiochus I, as all of the Emperor's elder sons, encouraged by his wife, Empress Consort Anna Commagenos, revolt against their father. Both Venasian Queen Mother Kendura II and Solidaritan Sultan Suleiman III provide their support to the rebels, hoping to damage the integrity of the dominions of the Laurasian Empire. Antiochus imprisons his wife for her treachery; she will remain in confinement for the last fifteen years of her husband's reign.

1374

 * The younger Antiochus argues with Decabulus, Leonnatus, and the Laurasian nobility, and defects to the side of his father, the Emperor Antiochus I. With his son's assistance, the Emperor finally suppresses the Children's Revolt. All of his other sons once again acknowledge his authority and jurisdiction over the Laurasian dominions, and renounce their earlier insubordination towards him. Kendura and Suleiman are forced by Antiochus to make peace with him, and to terminate their anti-Laurasian military alliance.

1375

 * Headquarters of Ivoria are destroyed by the forces of the Laurasian Empire, by the command of Emperor Antiochus I the Great. The Ivorians, in hopes of recovering their autonomy, had assisted the Emperor's sons during the Children's Revolt. Ivoria is firmly under the rule of the Laurasian Empire.

1380

 * Death of Venasian Queen Mother Kendura II. She is succeeded by her daughter, the ardently anti-Laurasian Kumthis.

1383

 * Kingdom of Upper Melorkia, which was then governed by Childebert IV (1362-98), signs the Treaty of Georgevisk with the Laurasian Empire of Antiochus I. By the terms of this treaty, Upper Melorkia becomes a formal protectorate of the Laurasian Empire. The Empire agrees to provide military and diplomatic protection to Upper Melorkia against all of its enemies; in exchange, Childebert acknowledges Laurasian overlordship and pledges to submit all of his foreign policies to the approval of the Imperial Laurasian Government. George, Osriana, and Brittany are incorporated into the Laurasian Empire at this juncture, and Laurasian supplies and military advisers arrive on Melorkia Prime.
 * Decabulus the Young Emperor dies of Antigenes fever, after having launched yet another failed revolt against his father, the Emperor Antiochus I; Grand Prince Antiochus now becomes the heir apparent to his father.

1386

 * Death of Grand Prince Leonnatus, third son of the Emperor Antiochus I, in a shockball tournament accident. Leonnatus's wife is pregnant with his child, who is christened Artemius upon his birth.

1387

 * War of Suleiman's Aggression, as the Sultan Suleiman III, encouraged by Venasian Queen Mother Kumthis, attempts to reconquer lost territory from the Laurasian Empire and to drive into the Malarian Provinces. The Solidaritan military forces, which are no longer the envy of the Core Regions, are thrashed by superior and larger Laurasian armies, and as a result, the Laurasian Empire incorporates Massanay, Sassanay, Cibourney, and the Western Redoubt. Suleiman dies shortly after the end of the war and is succeeded by his son Chosroes III.

1389

 * Grand Prince Antiochus revolts against his father, this time with the assistance of Venasian Queen Mother Kumthis (who sought to disorient the Laurasian dominions). The aged and ailing Emperor Antiochus is defeated, and forced to agree to the terms set forth by his son. Following this, he dies on Valderones: Grand Prince Antiochus now becomes Antiochus II of Laurasia.
 * Death of Grand Princess Messalina, the second child and eldest daughter of Emperor Antiochus I.
 * Empress-Dowager Anna of Commagenos is released from imprisonment by order of her son, the Emperor Antiochus II.

1390

 * Outbreak of Laurasian-Abbathian War, as the Abbathian Dynasty of Homidinia, under the direction of Saladin, allied with the Kingdom of Jageronia and the Huntite Caliphate in order to threaten the Laurasian hold on the Robertian Regions. Emperor Antiochus II departs to command Laurasian military forces: he appoints the Earl of Estatius and the Archbishop of Caladaria as joint regents in his absence. The Earl dies and is replaced by Antiochus's Chancellor Willanius Loncharia.

1391

 * Marriage of Emperor Antiochus II and Eleanor of Briannia at Beharis.
 * Emperor Antiochus secures a succession of victories over the Abbathian Dynasty and Kingdom of Jageronia; as a result, the Laurasian Empire obtains control of Robert, Wakedia, Jamuina, and Meris. Saladin and Antiochus develop a genuine respect for each other, and are cordial to each other, despite being bitter enemies.
 * Birth of the future Emperor Claudius II on Laurasia Prime.

1392

 * End of Laurasian-Abbathian War with the Treaty of Acre, resulting in the formal acknowledgment of the Laurasian Empire's territorial gains in the Robertian Regions.

1395

 * Fifth Laurasian-Venasian War, which had begun in 1393, results in a decisive victory for the military forces of the Laurasian Empire under the command of Emperor Antiochus II. Antiochus defeats Kumthis in the major Battle of Konduchra, where Timur of the Timurid Empire had defeated Tokhtamysh of the Golden Horde four centuries earlier. As a result of this conflict, the Laurasian Empire acquires Lynne, Ruttum, Cadaria, Anasia, Maxiliana, Phyllis, and Duris.
 * Melorkia Prime is sacked by the forces of the Celestial Dynasty of Kimania and the Kingdom of Lower Melorkia under Kimanian Shogun Zhuvan and his ally, King Louis II of Lower Melorkia. King Childebert IV of Upper Melorkia requests the assistance of his suzerain, Laurasian Emperor Antiochus II, under the terms of the Treaty of Georgevisk.

1396

 * The Melorkian Expedition of 1396, launched by Emperor Antiochus II against the Kingdom of Lower Melorkia and the Celestial Dynasty of Kimania. Antiochus had responded to the aid requests of King Childebert IV, and this expedition, launched by Laurasian forces stationed in the Crimeanian Provinces, was intended to punish those who had attacked Upper Melorkia. The expedition results in the recovery of prisoners of war and booty, and the extraction of financial and commercial concessions from Lower Melorkia.

1397

 * The War of Sar'lac's Revenge in the Polonian Commonwealth, as Polonian General Sar'lac launched his effort to overthrow Laurasian influence in the Commonwealth. Emperor Antiochus II inflicts a series of decisive defeats upon Sar'lac. Galicia Major, Volodormia, Zutagia, Zesia, and Zennethia are incorporated into the Laurasian Empire as a result, and the Empire obtains the right to station military garrisons in Commonwealth territory. The following year, Polonian King Stanislaw II dies, and Fre'dac is installed on the throne by Emperor Antiochus.

1398

 * Death of King Childebert IV of Upper Melorkia. He is succeeded by his son Clovis III, who becomes the last King of Upper Melorkia.

1399

 * Death of Laurasian Emperor Antiochus II, engaged in crushing a revolt on Constantia. He is succeeded by his brother, who becomes Demetrius I “the Fat” of Laurasia.
 * Death of Grand Princess Julia, youngest daughter of Antiochus I and Anna of Commagenos. She does not have any children.

1400

 * Laurasian annexation of the Kingdom of Upper Melorkia upon the death of Melorkian King Clovis III. Laurasian Emperor Demetrius the Fat refused to acknowledge the rights of Clovis's three sons and annexed the kingdom into the Laurasian Empire. Melorkia Major, Merovech, Tournacia, Algaica Belguica, Riparia, Alsauborg, Cholodio, Roastafaria Minor, Rasti, Kentaborn, Tamars, Ensrassburg, Brooke One, Hefner, Matthew, West, Mirohassani, Les Mans, Jasmine and other strongholds are acquired by the Laurasian Empire as a result. The annexation is confirmed on September 12, 1401.
 * Emperor Demetrius I marries his second wife, Maria Sompakalos. The marriage will produce one son, Grand Prince Antiochus (born in 1407), who dies prematurely in 1415.
 * Birth of the Emperor Tiberius II on Calaxis I.

15th century (1401-1500)
The fifteenth century commenced on January 1, 1401, and ended on December 31, 1500, of the Hyperdrive Era system.

1401

 * 1401, the first year of the fifteenth century, commenced with the Laurasian Empire now established as the predominant power in the Core Regions. The preceding century had seen the Great Briannian War, and Laurasian triumph in that conflict over the Celestial Kingdom of Briannia. This victory had been achieved in conjunction with allies such as Melorkia, Venasia, and the Polonian-Donguarian Commonwealth. Following that conflict, the Empire, as it had been formally established, had gradually exerted its power and influence more and more in the Core Regions. The Constantian Civil War and the Great Revolt of 1373, alongside the Becketius dispute and other internal troubles, did not halt this advance of the Empire. Briannia succumbed completely in 1364; the Ivorian Hetmanate had been abolished, and its Headquarters formally disbanded, in 1375; and through a series of wars with its neighbors, Laurasia had extended its power into the Inner Territories, Industralized Borderlands, Outer Core, and the Kimanian Trade Run. Its protectorship over Upper Melorkia, and its consequent annexation of that kingdom, had thereby strengthened its own position. By 1401, the Empire extended from Morgania Major, Kelvania Major, and Kanjur in the Wild Marshes across to the Decapolian Provinces, Hannis, Permi, and the Venasian Triangle regions in the east. It dominated the Central Core, and the upper Kimanian Trade Run. The Empire had enforced itself upon the Polonian-Donguarian Commonwealth, and moreover controlled the Ashlgothian Borderlands Territories, allowing for its influence to radiate into the Barsar Regions. The Empire itself, had two years earlier, passed under the rule of Demetrius I the Fat, destined to be the last from the Leonidian Dynasty. Although, as implied by his title, he was overweight, he was nevertheless vigorous, and determined to advance his Empire's interests further. This was to be seen in the following years.
 * 1401 itself began with the Empire in a tenuous peace. Emperor Demetrius, recently married to Maria Sompakalos, Duchess of Mariana Prime, had with his new wife retired to Constantine I. The commencement of the fifteenth century had been greeted with much celebration on Laurasia Prime, across the Empire's dominions, and elsewhere in the Caladarian Galaxy. There was a great festive spirit, and the Emperor himself, in proclamations to his subjects, enjoined them to consider that their state had been blessed by the fortunes of the Lord Almitis. On January 27, he and his wife formally embarked from Constantine I on a minor progress, passing through Andriana, Mercedes, Merandaz, Sapphire, Scout, Chloe, Kelby, Jenny, Rainnan, Chesham's Star, Metallasia, Metallina, Sauvania, Tyndaris, and Ietas, among other strongholds. They reached their capital world on February 15, and presided over a series of games at the Galactic Opera. During these same early, tranquil months of 1401, the health of the Emperor's mother, Anna of Commagenos, had hung on a thread. In retirement at Fountrevaultia Abbey on Dramis, the Empress Dowager had, into the new year, continued to monitor events. By March 1401, her health had recovered enough that she could again devote her attention to state affairs.
 * Indeed, two matters of concern arose: the outbreak of rebellion by the Lusarangian family in the south-western Central Core, and matters related to the formal incorporation of the defunct Kingdom of Upper Melorkia. The first was more immediate. The Duke of Olivia was still angry that the Emperor had "stolen" his betrothed, without compensating him or his family for this. He had also long had ideas of rebellion against the Imperial Laurasian Government, and sought to carve out for himself his own independent realm in the Central Core. On March 9, 1401, the Duke had formally submitted a petition to the Imperial Chancellory on Laurasia Prime, seeking redress for His Majesty's actions concerning his marriage with the Duchess of Mariana Prime, and for the promise of another marriage, for him, among the noble ladies of the Empire. Emperor Demetrius, seeking to maintain his own position, and unwilling to acknowledge the requests posed in the petition, did not even deign to respond to the petition. Olivia, therefore, became further disenchanted with him, and he continued to build up his military supplies, mercenaries, and supporters on Olivia, Muppet, Mommica, Maxci-casi, the Sort Drift, and Seejay Prime. Empress-Dowager Anna, however, had become aware of these rebel tensions through her agents, and she warned her son, on March 22, that he needed to take action before it was too late.
 * And action was indeed taken by Emperor Demetrius. On April 2, 1401, he formally proclaimed the Lusarangian family and their associates to be in contempt of his authority, issued another formal disavowal of their petition, and ordered for all of their strongholds and possessions to be confiscated. This order now pushed that family into rebellion against the Emperor. The Duke of Olivia raised his standard there on April 7, 1401, and refused thenceforth to acknowledge Emperor Demetrius's authority. Rebel forces, in this initial outburst of dissent, were able to make territorial advances. On the day of his proclamation of rebellion, Olivia's units stormed the governmental garrison of Clifton. The Battle of Muchacher (April 11-14, 1401), ended in a decisive victory for the rebels; following this, Seejay Prime, Stenbock, and Daala fell into rebel hands. By the end of April 1401, Yularen had also capitulated to the Lusarangia forces, and rebel expeditions were being launched against Constantia, Elainsborough, Bainsborough, Maschinga, Redderson, Ergeme, and Alton. Yet the Emperor of Laurasia was ready to exact his vengeance. He now dispatched the loyal Earl of Taurasia to suppress this rebellion and to restore his authority in the systems involved. Taurasia followed his master's orders to the letter. From his command headquarters on Goldaria, he advanced swiftly against rebel positions.
 * The Battle of the Sort Drift (May 2-4, 1401), ended in a decisive victory for the Earl. From thence, he drove rebel units from Muppet, Satisba, and Sthanon, and by May 14, had also recovered Daala. Then on May 18, he relieved the rebel siege of Pellaeon, ongoing since the beginning of the month. He then won another victory at Taylor (May 22, 1401), and crushed rebel detachments at Mucacher, Max-casi, and Redderson. By the beginning of June 1401, rebel expeditions against Constantia had been ended, and Carina secured. Stenbock was recovered on June 8, and Seejay Prime was besieged from June 10. Its fall on June 22, 1401, compounded earlier rebel humiliations. Muppet and Mommica were then recovered (June 24-29, 1401), and on August 2, 1401, Olivia was laid under siege. The Duke and his supporters resisted fiercely, but could not ultimately withstand the firepower and numbers of the superior Imperial Laurasian Navy. The world's fall on August 18, 1401, marked the effective termination of the rebellion. Yet the Lusarangias were able to evade the justice of the imperial authorities, and fled by freighter from Olivia, into the Horacian Provinces, and thence, in September 1401, into the Neo-Venasian Consortium. They reached Venasia Prime in short order, and were greeted by Queen Mother Kumthis with much ceremony. The Queen Mother, who had long been encouraging such tensions in the Empire (as explained above), now took up their cause, and refused all demands by the Imperial Laurasian Government to hand the rebels over. In October 1401, she exchanged a series of communiques with her Laurasian counterpart, defending the rights of the Lusarangias against "tyranny" and denouncing the Emperor for his policies. Demetrius, however, was not prepared to go to war with Venasia at this juncture; Kumthis, on her part, desired more preparation. Thus into 1402, the two sides were to keep a hostile eye on each other. In the Central Core, the Emperor's agents pursued a thorough-going policy of retribution. Between August 1401 and May 1402 nearly 100,000 individuals would be imprisoned or executed for their involvement in the rebellion, while all properties and funds belonging to them, and to the Lusarangia family, were confiscated.
 * As regards to the annexation of Upper Melorkia, Emperor Demetrius took steps to formalize the annexation. In February 1401, he had proclaimed, in a manifesto to the Imperial Court, that the annexation of these territories would serve to buttress the Empire's position against such adversaries as Venasia. Yet Melorkian Prince Philip d'Albret (1357-1411), who had been so involved in the tying of Upper Melorkia to Laurasia by alliance, and had, since 1395, served as its Ambassador on Laurasia Prime, continued to protest the annexation. In April 1401, he submitted a formal protest to the Imperial Laurasian Court, denouncing the annexation and accusing the Imperial Laurasian Government of violating its obligations. Chancellor and Chief Procurator Walterius, on the orders of the Emperor, refused to heed these pleas, and on May 5, had the Ambassador arrested and confined to the Post Settlement of Hepudermia for his insolence. Empress-Dowager Anna expressed her support for her son's actions, sending out communiques to Laurasian officials and commanders in the Melorkian regions, urging them to uphold the Empire's position there. Ten days after the Ambassador's confinement, Laurasian General Sir Seleucus Anthoria imposed marital law on Melorkia Major. He then, in July 1401, forced all of the Melorkian magnates to take an oath of allegiance to the Imperial Laurasian Crown. Laurasian military reinforcements to the Melorkian Provinces continued, and it was on September 12, 1401, that Emperor Demetrius issued the final decree of annexation. On the Emperor's orders, all the male members of the Melorkian royal family, including Princes Louis, Charlemagne, and Clovis, were removed to the Purse Region the following month. By the end of 1401, the Laurasian annexation of Upper Melorkia had been consolidated.

1402

 * 1402 was dominated by the continued diplomatic tensions between the Laurasian Empire and the Neo-Venasian Consortium, and by a failed effort, on the part of the Lusarangia family, to reestablish themselves within the Empire. This attempt, they conducted in conjunction with Duke Anastasius of Chancia, son of the late Grand Prince Leonnatus. In January 1402, Emperor Demetrius, in his New Year's proclamation to his subjects, declared that he would not allow for his Empire's tranquility to be disturbed any further by the likes of the "Lusarangias, or other comparable traitors." He now ordered the judicial and legal authorities throughout the Empire to maintain a vigilant watch on any who displayed sympathy for the rebels. Moreover, he had the Holy Synod issue a formal sentence of excommunication against the Duke of Olivia, and threatened to extend a similar sentence to any further individuals. He also strengthened the garrisons of the southern Central Core yet further, focusing particularly on Carina, Seejay Prime, Goldaria, Teth, and Ivoria. The Earl of Taurasia took command of the region, and was formally named Governor of Goldaria on February 2, 1402. In March 1402, the Emperor himself conducted a progress through the Clancian Provinces. He visited Dramis, Condtella, Reoyania, Conservan, Goss Beacon, Williams, Clancia, Evelyn, Hannah, and Ruthania, intending to demonstrate that the heart of his Empire's dominions were secure. Yet he was now to face further and renewed troubles. On April 28, 1402, the Emperor received another communique from Queen Mother Kumthis, threatening to terminate diplomatic and commercial relations unless if he pardoned the Lusarangias and permitted them to return to their estates and possessions in the Central Core. Demetrius refused to do this, and he continued with his earlier policies of stamping out dissent. Yet now Queen Mother Kumthis sponsored another rebel against the Emperor: Duke Anastasius.
 * The Duke of Chancia, still believing that he was the rightful heir to the Imperial Laurasian Crown, had been quietly assembling his resources on Sapphire, Merandaz, Katherine, Durglais, Rebecca, Americana, Little Mexicana, Heuthros, and Sauvania, determined to instigate a full-scale revolt against his uncle. He received financial aid, mercenaries, and encouragement from the Queen Mother, and maintained extensive contact with the Lusarangias. The Duke of Olivia, in fact, having been given a Venasian armed corps by the Queen Mother, and reorganized his supporters, was planning for a forcible intrusion into the Schauerian Provinces. All of this finally came to a head in May 1402. On May 8, 1402, the Emperor, having moved to the Station of Dosch, summoned the Duke of Chancia before him, commanding him to render a renewed oath of allegiance. The Duke refused to do this, and on May 13, formally proclaimed himself to be in rebellion against the Imperial Laurasian Government.
 * He now struck against government garrisons and positions throughout the Purse Region. Metallina was besieged and conquered by the Duke's supporters (May 14-15, 1402); Courdina V, Gordasis, and Tyndaris defected to his cause on May 20. By May 22, he had also stormed Depp, and from thence seized Osama, Augis II, and Darsis, thereby entrenching his forces into the Laurasia Prime Purse Region. Lomanis I, Alsora, and Anorr Minor then fell into his possession by the end of May 1401. On June 4, the garrisons of Clackimaris, Falloria Minor, and Americana defected to his cause; he then seized Ietas on June 6, and from thence overran Chesham's Star, Rainnan, and Merandaz. Scout and Wroona were both in his possession by June 14. Emperor Demetrius was also confronted now with the intrusion of the Duke of Olivia's supporters. On May 21, 1402, the Duke had sallied forth from Monderon with his forces, and moved across the border into the Schauerian Provinces. By May 24, he had besieged and conquered the garrisons of Aberdeen, Lythia, Calpurnia, and Rashid. Shiloh fell to him on May 28, 1402 and by June 4, he had also overrun Farbrisinia, Solis, Linopking, Alvurg, Gotlandia, and Goteburg. Smithia, Colsonia, and Archleuta were all under siege by the middle of June 1402. Emperor Demetrius, therefore, confronted with two challenges at once, now decided on his response. He ordered the Earl of Taurasia to proceed from Goldaria to Murphy, and to lead the defense of the Schauerian Provinces. The Emperor himself now embarked to suppress the threat from the Duke of Chancia in the Purse Region. On June 21, 1402, the Battle of Fitzsimmons ended in a strategic victory for Chancia's forces. From Fitzsimmons, Chancia lunged into the Central Core, isolating Janesia, Maroni, and Dearton's Gateway (June 24-29, 1402). He stormed N'zoth, Azov, and Pasquarillo (June 30-July 3, 1402), and by July 9, was threatening the defenses of Paradine, Palimisiano, and Ecreutus. On July 14, however, his offensive against Williams ended in failure in the Battle of Frankia, and on July 18, the rebel base of Stadium was stormed by government units.
 * On July 22, however, Chancia decided on a move against Dramis, hoping to capture his grandmother, the Empress-Dowager. He proceeded there four days later, evading government units at Palimisiano and Melarnaria, and reaching to the system in some time. He now besieged Dramis, hoping to capture Anna and to use her as a bargaining chip. Anna, cut off, now ordered her retainers and the planetary garrison to defend her, and sent urgent pleas to her son. Emperor Demetrius learned quickly of his nephew's act of perfidy, and moved to relieve his mother. He hastened from Taurasia, which was being defended by his units, to the outskirts of Dramis. On August 1, 1402, the Emperor launched a swift attack upon his nephew's positions at Dramis. Chancia was caught completely off guard; within two hours, the Battle of Dramis had ended in a decisive victory for the government forces of the Empire. Chancia himself, along with most of his chief lieutenants and over 150,000 rebel troops, were captured, as well as thirty rebel warships and 20,000 tons of supplies; Empress-Dowager Anna was escorted to safety. With the Duke of Chancia in his hands, the rebellion against the Emperor, in the Purse Region, collapsed quickly. Fitzsimmons, Rainnan, and Merandaz had been recovered the same day of the Battle of Dramis; by the end of August 1402, all other rebel strongholds had returned to their allegiance to the Imperial Laurasian Government. In the Schauerian Provinces, the Earl of Taurasia had made significant advances. Repelling rebel moves against Selena, Colsonia, and Tyleria Perea, he had then scored a crushing victory in the Battle of Bolgrahay (August 19, 1402), capturing the Duke of Olivia himself. By the end of September 1402, the rest of the Lusarangia forces had been suppressed, and full tranquility was restored across the dominions of the Empire. Emperor Demetrius, therefore, was once again fully master over all parts of his realms. He pursued a vigorous policy of retribution. Chancia and Olivia, were, on his orders, both imprisoned at the Secret Prison of Ipsus V, on October 1, 1402. The Emperor also imprisoned or executed more than eighty of their leading subordinates; had more than 100,000 common rebels attainted and either executed or sentenced to hard labor; and confiscated all revenues belonging to those associated with the rebellion. Chancia and Katherine, in particular, witnessed imperial authorities imposing martial law and striking vigorously against all with rebel sympathies. Martial law was declared in more than two hundred systems affected by the rebellions. In November 1402, the Emperor conducted another progress through the Purse Region, supervising the dismantling of rebel holdouts on Dosch, Fitzsimmons, Durglais, Heuthros, and Sauvania. He then returned to Laurasia Prime on December 9, and celebrated his victories. Yet as 1402 ended, the Empire would again be thrown into war.

1403

 * 1403 began with the Laurasian Empire of Demetrius I having restored internal stability and unity with the suppression of the rebellions by the Duke of Chancia and the Lusarangia family. Indeed, the early months of 1403 witnessed the termination to these events coming to their head. The Emperor was angered that his nephew had taken up arms again him in such a wanton manner. He had to take into consideration, however, the fact that the Duke was his own family, and that his mother, Empress Dowager Anna, had expressed her wishes that mercy be shown to her grandson. This therefore colored Demetrius's final moves against him. On January 7, 1403, the Emperor had the Duke brought before him on Caladaria, where the Court was presently lodged. He addressed him kindly, promised to pardon him of all of his offenses, and asked him to disavow any association with any foreign powers. The Duke, however, "ill-advisely" replied to his uncle in a brash and haughty manner. He demanded that the Emperor abdicate his throne, acknowledge his rights as his successor, and that he restore the Lusarangia family to their rightful titles and positions. This angered Demetrius, and he now ordered for his nephew to be taken out of his sight. The Emperor now believed it absolutely necessary to eliminate Chancia, and that to do so would improve the security of his own position. He therefore consulted his advisors and the Council of Civil Service about what should be done to the Duke, in February 1403. Almost to a man, they suggested that the Duke be "quickly and speedily disposed of", that it be done in private, and that a proclamation be issued from the Imperial Court, announcing his demise. Demetrius agreed, and on March 8, 1403, ordered for his nephew to be moved from the Secret Prison of Ipsus V to the Post Settlement of Hepudermia. He was now placed in the custody of Sir Heredotus Viederia (1369-1428), who had recently been appointed Governor of the Post Settlement. Then on March 17, the Emperor had his nephew formally attainted, and issued secret instructions to Sir Viederia, ordering for him to dispose of the Duke as soon as he was given the word.
 * This word came on April 3, 1403, with the Emperor and his Imperial Court then lodging at the Old Royal Palace. In the midst of the celebrations, which included a great feast and a performance of acrobatics, His Majesty sent his instructions to the Governor, giving him the command to carry out the attainder. Viederia did as ordered. He and his lieutenants entered Chancia's prison chambers, announced to him the terms of the sentence, and then raised their blasters. Chancia begged for mercy, asking to be allowed to directly appeal to the Emperor, and for the Almitian Church to exonerate him of his past sins. Viederia refused to listen, however, and had his men fire. Chancia died almost instantly, with one round being enough to bring him to his end. The Governor of Hepudermia then communicated word about his death back to the Emperor. Demetrius was pleased to hear of this, and he now ordered for the Duke's remains to be taken and incinerated at Gunevere, in the Wild Marshes. This was done on April 8, and in absolute secrecy. Then on April 14, the Emperor issued his manifesto to his subjects, announcing the death of the Duke, and attributing it to the "fate conferred by Almitis." The Emperor took care to declare to his subjects that the death was justified, and necessary for the preservation of the Empire's realms. Many chose to accept it, but Queen Mother Kumthis and Kimanian Shogun Comovius were outraged.
 * The two monarchs, who had been in correspondence with each other as far back as November 1399, now decided that the only way to prevent further Laurasian aggression was to unite in a formal alliance against the Empire. It was on June 9, 1403, that a conference opened on Ka between delegations of the two governments. Negotiations dragged on for months, but ultimately produced the Treaty of Ka (September 17, 1403), by which the two powers pledged to declare war against the Emperor of Laurasia by no later than March 1, 1404, and to coordinate their military campaigns against him. The Venasian Consortium was to recover the Decapolian Provinces, Hannis, and the Laurasian gains of 1395; Venasia was also to take Elijahana, Bolgrahay, Robbay, Ipsus V, the Nexus Route, and the Duchy of Schaueria Prime, while Kimania's protectorship of Lower Melorkia was to be confirmed, and its acquisition of Upper Melorkia, the Borderland Territories, and the Zennethian Provinces supported. In November 1403, King Louis II of Lower Melorkia pledged to place all of his resources at the disposal of the Kimanian Shoguns, for their campaigns against the Empire. Yet 1403 saw its own short, sharp conflict between the Laurasian Empire and the Solidaritan Sultanate. Solidarita, as previously mentioned, had been under the rule of Chosroes III since September 1387. Chosroes, however, had proved to be a weak and incompetent Sultan. A war against the Neo-Xilanian Empire (1393-95), had ended in failure, and had resulted in the end of all Solidaritan claims to Zoe, Skyler, and the Dali Trade Run. Constant uprisings on Roxuli, Abraham, and in the Home Region (1395-98), had weakened the Solidaritan government's hold over those star systems. Moreover, the Sultan's position had been challenged by the "Young Solidaritans". That movement had first emerged in November 1385, on Sair, and had held conferences on Sheryl, Laronn, Quanna, Methusalah, Dennis, and Wendy during the course of the following eleven years. They had gained increased influence on the Solidaritan Divan, and among the noble and other elite circles of the Sultanate.
 * Finally, in February 1402, the Solidaritan Prince of Berhamia, Ali Pasha, who had built up his network of supporters throughout the Solidaritan realms, executed a coup d'etat at the Divan. He secured majority control of the body, and forced Sultan Chosroes to name him as his Grand Vizier. In control of the Solidaritan government, Ali Pasha therefore sought to pursue his goals: to reorganize and revitalize the Solidaritan government and military forces, and to transform the Sultanate, step by step, into a constitutional monarchy. During the course of 1402, he sponsored a reform of the taxation system; increased conscription rates; cracked down on the privileges of the noble elites; and cut back on waste at the Solidaritan Court. He also strengthened the garrisons of such systems as Abraham, Istantius itself, Ablincoln, Finch, Garamia, and Doris. By December 1402, he had also issued a charter of "general liberties" for the Solidaritan peoples, and in March 1403, forbade the Order of Muftis from interfering in the affairs of the Divan. Thus, Ali Pasha now sought to take advantage of the Laurasian Empire's recent internal troubles in order to execute an extension of his sultanate's power and influence. By April 1403, Solidaritan forces, assembled at the above-mentioned strongholds, were poised for a strike. On May 22, 1403, the Divan issued a ultimatum to the Imperial Laurasian Government, demanding for the restoration of Dennis, Shannon, Rastaborn, and the Western Strongholds; for the restoration to favor of the Lusarangia family; and for the Empire to make territorial "revisions" in the Central Core and in the Decapolian Provinces, in favor of its Polonian and Venasian neighbors. Emperor Demetrius looked with scorn upon these demands, and rejected them haughtily.
 * Thus, on June 3, 1403, the short Young Solidaritan's War began when Solidaritan units launched an offensive into the Empire's territory. Dennis fell quite rapidly into their hands, followed by Shannon (June 6); Rastaborn (June 9-11); and Patsy (June 12). O'Neal followed on June 14. Michael was then isolated, and by the end of June 1403, Blackria, Mariana Prime, Nezbit, and Martina Mccasia were all being harried by Solidaritan expeditions. Yet Solidaritan forces had overextended themselves, and proved no match for the Empire's superior forces. On July 1, 1403, the Battle of Kristiania ended in a decisive victory for Laurasian forces. The Emperor then repelled Solidaritan moves against Durglais, Rebecca, Briannia, and Nystadia (July 2-5), and on July 8, 1403, the Battle of Cline ended in another victory for the Empire. Candlewell and Canterwell were then conquered by the Empire's forces in a swift offensive (July 9-14, 1403). By July 16, Patsy and Rastaborn had been recovered. Then on July 22, the Earl of Taurasia executed a surprise offensive against Sheryl; the world fell within hours, and from it, Laurasian units overran Methusalah, Laronn, and Quanna (July 23-29, 1403). On August 2, 1403, Solidaritan Doris fell into Laurasian hands; Garamia and Finch were then conquered on August 8; and on August 12, Leopoldia was besieged. The Siege of Leopoldia dragged on for more than a month, but the world ultimately fell on September 15, 1403. Frederickslandia proved an easier nut to crack, falling on September 22, followed by Big Twinny (September 28) and Alexandria (October 2).
 * On October 8, 1403, a Solidaritan move against Massanay was brought to ruin in the Battle of Thompson. Then on October 14, the recapture of Shannon by Laurasian forces put the final nail in the Solidaritan coffin. Ali Pasha and Sultan Chosroes III, their position weakened by this string of Laurasian victories, were forced to sue for peace. The Armistice of Ion was signed on October 19, 1403. Negotiations then commenced on Alemeda, and lasted for some months. On December 7, 1403, the Treaty of Alemeda was signed. By the terms of this treaty, the Solidaritan Eastern Provinces, embracing Leopoldia, Big Twinny, Alexandria, and Frederickslandia, were conceded to the Laurasian Empire. These strongholds, lost by Honorius the Terrible back in 1158, were now once again in Laurasian hands, more than two and a half centuries later. The Solidaritans were compelled to pay an indemnity of $115 billion denarius to the Empire; to recognize the suppression of the Lusarangia family; and to pledge non-interference in Laurasian affairs. In exchange, all other Solidaritan territory occupied by Laurasia was to be restored by April 1, 1404. Emperor Demetrius could therefore bask in this swift victory, and it elevated his military reputation among his subjects. Solidarita was to remain neutral in the larger, more intense war which was now to break out.

1404

 * 1404, the fourth year of the fifteenth century, commenced with the Laurasian Empire having emerged from the short and victorious "Young Solidaritan's War", which had resulted in the acquisition of the Eastern Solidaritan Provinces. Moreover, through his execution of the Duke of Chancia and his imprisonment of the Duke of Olivia, Emperor Demetrius had consolidated his position within the Empire proper. At the beginning of January 1404, the Emperor and his Court moved to Briannia, taking up lodgings at the Royal Palace. Yet peace was not to remain for long. Throughout the later months of 1403, and into 1404, both the Venasian Consortium and the Celestial Dynasty of Kimania had continued to build their military resources and prepare for a full-scale military onslaught into the Empire's dominions. Queen Mother Kumthis and Shogun Comovius were both determined to halt Laurasian ambitions, and felt that no more time could be wasted. The Queen Mother, on January 9, 1404, placed her military forces under the command of Generaless Rajania of Venasia Secondary. The Shogun, on his part, appointed Jai-Jin, General of Messalina, as the supreme commander of his forces. By the end of February 1404, both states were ready. On March 1, 1404, both the Venasian Queen Mother and the Kimanian Shogun issued declarations of war against the Laurasian Empire, accusing him of having "chastened and humiliated his own subjects, disturbed the galactic peace, and engaged in aggressive war with all other foreign powers." At first, the coalition made gains. Generaless Rajania besieged and conquered Ruttum (March 1-4, 1404), destroyed a Laurasian task force at Esmeralda (March 9); and besieged Lynne (March 18). By March 25, Venasian units had also seized Podrac, Agac, Decapolia Minor, Cadaria, and Anasia, thereby seemingly imperiling the Empire's position in the Eastern Core Regions. At the same time, General Jai-Jin, with support from the Lower Melorkians, had advanced into the Borderlands Territories and into the Upper Melorkian Provinces. Matthew, West, and Mirohossani all fell into Kimanian hands during March 1404, followed by Courtney (April 4); Tahon (April 8); Bryce (April 11); and Baiteman (April 14). Kimanian moves against Imma, Emma, and Roastafaria Major inflicted serious damage on those star systems; Jasmine was stormed on April 19, 1404.
 * By that point also, Maxiliana, Duris, and Phyilis had all fallen into Venasian hands, and they had also overrun Colsonia, Lydia, Dorothy, and Compost V, penetrating into the Duchy of Schaueria Prime. Kolchad was placed under siege from April 18, 1404. Emperor Demetrius now moved to deal with these challenges. He now assigned the rising young General Sir Tiberius Nerius to repel the Kimanian offensives in the Borderlands Territories, and to take command of the garrisons of the Kimanian Trade Run. The Emperor himself, along with the Earl of Taurasia, moved against the Venasians. On May 5, 1404, the Battle of Dusaberg ended in a decisive victory for the Emperor, who captured 75,000 Venasian troops. The Earl of Taurasia then defeated Venasian forces in successive confrontations at Rashid, Calpurnia, Alvurg, Gitlandia, and Steneborg (May 6-17, 1404). The Battle of Avaskar (May 18, 1404), ended in another decisive victory for the imperial forces. Venasian moves against Drennan, Brittany, Sanegeta, and Hooper then failed (May 21-27, 1404), and by the beginning of June 1404, both Agac and Aflac were back in Laurasian hands. At the same time, General Tiberius won the Battle of Jennings (May 4-9, 1404), secured Thelma and Tea against further offensives, and on May 19, 1404, humiliated Jai-jin in the Battle of Cyrus III. He then executed strikes against Tamars, Khagia, Tolbiac, and Beverly Hereidu (June-July 1404), thereby disorienting the Kimanians and their Melorkian allies. Bryce and Baiteman were both recovered during that time as well. Jasmine would be secured by the Battle of Les Mans (August 1-4, 1404), in which the Kimanians lost nearly twenty warships and over 300,000 troops. By the end of August 1404, Laurasian units would storm Stahl, Cal, Morley, and Simon, penetrating into Lower Melorkia, and would be threatening Winehouse, Woolestone, and Armenia Minor.
 * In the Eastern Regions, a major confrontation now ensued. On June 19, 1404, with Kolchad having been recovered by the Empire's forces, Emperor Demetrius moved against the Venasians at Decapolia Minor. With the Earl of Taurasia, he isolated Venasian detachments attacking Compost V, Lydia, and Dorothy, and cut directly into the Venasian strategic lines. Generaless Rajania and Venasian High Regent Quinja now brought their units forth, attempting to halt this latest Laurasian attack. Four days later, they moved out from Decapolia Minor to Gaillard, which was located eight light years to the east. The Emperor, however, employing his better intelligence capabilities, and capitalizing on the organization of his forces, now launched a decisive strike against the Venasian Navy. The ensuing Battle of Gaillard (June 23-25, 1404), ended in a decisive victory for him. More than 150,000 Venasian troops were killed or captured, and a third of their fleet was dispersed. Following this confrontation, Podrac fell firmly back into Laurasian hands, and by July 1404, Venasian units had also been expelled from Lydia, Dorothy, and Compost V. Colsonia also fell back into Laurasian hands. Cadaria and Anasia were both recovered on August 5, 1404, followed in quick succession by Maxiliana (August 8), Lynne (August 10), Ruttum (August 12), and Phyllis (August 14). Further Venasian moves against Elijahana, Robert, Wakedia, and Meris failed, and on September 9, 1404, the Battle of Permi ended in a decisive victory for the Emperor. Organia and Venasia Secondary then fell into Laurasian hands afterwards; Ka was besieged in October 1404; and on November 3, the Battle of Robbay ended in another victory for the Emperor. Esmeralda, Malurdio, and Vindictoria then became scenes of further Laurasian victories (November 8-19, 1404), and on December 1, 1404, Ka fell. Monderon then capitulated on December 14, 1404, in the face of superior Laurasian might.
 * At the same time, General Tiberius continued to advance the laurasian position forth in the Barsar Regions. Obathia and Cambrina fell into Laurasian hands in September 1404. Winehouse was then assaulted from October 3, 1404. A series of confrontations between the Laurasians and Kimanians at Tai, Do-Ching, and Amyria (October 8-19, 1404), failed to reverse the situation, and Winehouse finally fell on October 22. From thence, Woolestone was sacked by a Laurasian expedition (October 24, 1404); Khagia, Dumbgwita, and even Millard were all now being harried by Laurasian expeditions. Courtney, Matthew, West, and Mirohassani were recovered in November 1404. Ganja was then assaulted by the Laurasian General's forces (November 8-11, 1404). The Battle of Ganja was a vigorous confrontation, for the Kimanian garrison, in conjunction with a naval fleet commanded by Jai-jin, launched numerous attacks against Laurasian strategic positions. General Nerius had to call for reinforcements, reorganize his front lines, and lay minefields in the outskirts of their star system. His goals were ultimately successful, and Ganja finally fell on November 11. Jai-jin was himself captured at Hinds the following day, and bound in chains. From Ganja, Laurasian units conquered Gejeria, Gyrumi, and Tolbiac, during the remainder of November 1404. A Laurasian move against Yerevan failed (December 4, 1404), but on New Year's Eve 1404, the stronghold of Echimadzin was stormed by the Empire. Thus, as 1404 came to a close, the Empire had gained an advantage on all fronts. In the midst of all this, on April 1, 1404, Empress-Dowager Anna of Commagenos died on Dramis. She was eighty-two years old, being the longest-lived consort in Laurasian history, and the mother of two Emperors: Antiochus II and Demetrius I. Her wise and effective governance during the early years of her son, Antiochus II's rule, on Laurasia Prime, while he was engaged in his military campaigns, would be praised by Laurasian historians of later centuries. In the eighteenth century, Lady Vassalina, in her Lives of the Empresses of Laurasia (1748), was to especially praise her for her courage, intellect, and talent. On the command of Emperor Demetrius, she was interred at the Old Westphalian Cathedral (re-translated to the New Westphalian Cathedral in 1560). In 1789, a new crypt and memorial would be raised to her memory, on the orders of Empress Aurelia the Great.

1405

 * 1405, the fifth year of the fifteenth century, began with the Laurasian Empire on the offensive against the forces of both the Neo-Venasian Consortium and the Celestial Dynasty of Kimania. The early months of 1405 witnessed the termination of the Fifth Laurasian-Venasian War. On January 8, 1405, Generaless Rajania launched a series of desperate counteroffensives against the Emperor's forces, seeking to breakout from the Venasian Cluster and push to the Rebeccan Galactic Trade Route. Cadaria fell into Venasian hands (January 8-9), followed by Anasia (January 11), Duris (January 14), and Ka (January 16). On January 17, the Battle of Doja ended in a victory for the Generaless; she repelled assaults by the 17th Imperial Fleet against her starfighter squadrons, broke through Laurasian strategic lines, and captured twelve of the thirteen armed outposts in the system. By January 22, Venasian units had also overrun the Laurasian bases of Rajay, Polsaray, and Willarnay on the Galactic Trade Route. Emperor Demetrius, however, had allowed for the Venasians to pursue this series of offensives, hoping thereby to expose them to the final, and fatal blow. On January 24, 1405, Laurasian forces penetrated through the Venasian Gateworlds, conquering the garrisons of Zadaria, Olanji, and Luhria. By January 28, the Emperor's forces had also stormed the Venasian garrisons of Febini, Vergill, Phelphon, and Phelope. On February 1, 1405, the Battle of Tarai ended in another decisive victory for the Emperor. Recovering Anasia, Duris, and Ka, he then stormed Maria, Arna, and Lar (February 2-9, 1405). On February 11, 1405, Rajay also fell back into Laurasian hands.
 * Attempts by Generaless Rajania to recover Venasia Secondary and to drive Laurasian units from Monderon, Organia, and Permi ended in failure. Then, February 18, 1405, the 400th anniversary of the death of Timur the Devastator, Emperor Demetrius laid Hapes under siege. The Siege of Hapes lasted for ten days, seriously weakening the Consortium's interior supply, communications, and military transit lines. Hapes's fall on February 28 finally convinced Queen Mother Kumthis of the futility of this conflict. On March 3, 1405, she sent a communique to the Emperor of Laurasia, who was then besieging Pinkett. In this communique, she requested for an immediate military armistice. Demetrius, overjoyed at the Queen Mother's capitulation, accepted the request almost immediately. On March 9, 1405, the Armistice of Chapelle was signed, thereby suspending hostilities between Laurasia and Venasia. It was not until April 1, however, before a conference formally convened on Venasia Prime itself, for the conflict to be negotiated to an end. A month of negotiations followed, with Laurasian Chancellor Walterius especially pushing the Empire's claims forward. Finally, on May 8, 1405, the Treaty of Venasia Prime was signed. By the terms of this treaty, the Neo-Venasian Consortium agreed to terminate all military alliance arrangements with the Celestial Dynasty of Kimania. Queen Mother Kumthis furthermore, conceded Monderon, Permi, Organia, Maria, Anna, Lar, Tarai, Pinkett, and Desulima to the Laurasian Empire; consented to the limitation of the size of her military forces; and granted the Empire's forces unlimited access through her dominions. The Treaty of Venasia Prime was ratified by the Queen Mother that same day, and by Emperor Demetrius on May 19.
 * In the meantime, Laurasian campaigns in the Barsar Regions continued. Hinds Prime itself was besieged by the Empire's forces, beginning on January 1, 1405. The Siege of Hinds Prime lasted for several days, as Kimanian General Jaj-jin and his subordinate, Admiral Liu Hew, attempted in vain to reinforce the star system. Ultimately, their efforts failed, and Hinds Prime captiulated on January 16. Armenia Major then fell into Laurasian hands (January 18-22, 1405), and on January 24, the Battle of Emily Deuistiania resulted in the firm repulse of a Kimanian counteroffensive, into the Melorkian Provinces, by General Nerius. From Armenia Major, Nerius proceeded to reduce Shell, Earl, and Sandra (January 26-February 8, 1405), thereby penetrating into the heart of the Barsar Regions. Armenia Minor fell on February 14, 1405, and on February 19, a Kimanian counteroffensive against Cal, Morley, and Simon was decisively defeated in the Battle of Hartman. Knight and Shell then fell into Laurasian hands (March 1405), while Rose and Jack were secured from the Lower Melorkians. Gybrumi then fell on April 1, 1405, depriving the Kimanians of one of their chief military bases. The Earl of Darcia then led an offensive against Shaki, which had been colonized as far back as the 1st century BH by the Armenians (April 2-4, 1405), and stormed the stronghold, inflicting serious losses upon the Kimanian garrison. By April 16, Shrivan had also fallen into Laurasian hands.
 * Then on April 22, 1405, Karabakh was besieged by the forces of the Empire; the Earl of Darcia and General Nerius combined their efforts. Jai-jin, operating from Bookman, Rolle, the Orion Cluster, Nanking, and Christopher, now pushed back into the Borderlands Territories, seeking to halt this latest Laurasian move. He penetrated to Peterslie, which had been colonized in the previous decade (April 24-25, 1405), stormed Baiteman (April 26), and drove Laurasian units from Allison, Brooke One, and Cyrus III (April 28-May 4, 1405). On May 8, 1405, the Battle of Obathia ended in another victory for the Kimanian General. Les Mans, Jasmine, and Algaica Belguica then became scenes of further confrontations between Laurasian and Kimanian units; by May 14, the Kimanians were harrying the defenses of Crimean IV, had stormed Acabania, and were even threatening Eutagia, Benzitr V, and Hooper. General Nerius, however, now launched a surprise offensive upon Messalina and Reading, using units which had been blockading Karabakh. This offensive move led to his seizure of Goni (May 18, 1405), and his appearance near the outlet of the Kimanian Trade Run. Thus, Jai-jin was forced to turn his attention back to the Barsar Regions. He and Nerius then exchanged a series of clashes at Breha, Chobania, Offshora, Gardiner, and Bookman, continuing into June 1405. On June 8, 1405, therefore, the Laurasian Earl of Constantia defeated Kimanian Admiral Hew in the Battle of Sanegeta, and then stormed Kimanian repositories on Jesse.
 * By June 14, he had recovered Allison, Brooke One, and Cyrus III, was besieging Baiteman, and had pushed out to Constipex and Filorean. On July 9, 1405, King Louis II of Upper Melorkia, whose forces had been driven from Dacia, Mayblein, and Toule, and realizing the way in which the winds were blowing, formally disavowed all treaties signed with the Celestial Dynasty of Kimania and extended an offer of negotiation to the Imperial Laurasian Government. Emperor Demetrius quickly took advantage of this, and gave his consent. A conference opened on Cholodio, and on July 21, 1405, the Treaty of Cholodio was concluded, by which Lower Melorkia declared itself to be a ally of the Laurasian Empire and agreed to provide military forces for further operations into the Barsar Regions. With Lower Melorkia now in the Laurasian camp, the Emperor himself now moved from Venasia Secondary to Hooper, and to Winehouse, in order to direct operations against Kimania. He completed the recovery of Baiteman (August 1, 1405), and on August 8, cleared all Kimanian units from Obathia and Peterslie. The Battle of Tea, on August 12, resulted in another victory for the Laurasians. Grassley, Aleppo, and Damascus then fell into Laurasian hands (August 14-19, 1405), and on August 22, so did Riley. Strongstine, Abshire, and Drea were now under threat. Qobba-Darkand was then taken in September 1405, and on October 8, the outpost of Shraugei was taken. Admiral Hew now fortified Esther, seeking to block a Laurasian advance towards Rolle. Emperor Demetrius retaliated, in November 1405, by ordering General Nerius to take Shalkh-Burakh, which was at the outskirts of Bookman.
 * Nerius proceeded against the stronghold, but Admiral Hew now launched a sudden offensive against Shell and Earl, seeking to recover both strongholds. On November 11, moreover, Kimanian General Shi-Huagin besieged the Laurasian garrisons of Koraygin and Shusha, which had been established in late 1404 to control traffic proceeding down to Beverly Hereidu and Hinds Prime. Four days later, however, Shi-Huagin was caught by the Earl of Constantia at Owens; the Earl captured twelve of his transports and blunted offensive moves towards Winehouse, Woolestone, and Armenia Major. From thence, he moved out towards Askeran, routing a Kimanian force there (November 22, 1405). By the end of November, Acone had been seized by a Laurasian expeditionary force, and on December 4, Koraygin was relieved. Shusha followed on December 12, and on December 19, 1405, Shalkh-Burakh finally fell into Laurasian hands. By the end of 1405, therefore, Laurasian forces held the advantage in the upper Barsar Regions.

1406

 * 1406 began with the Laurasian Empire having driven the Neo-Venasian Consortium from hostilities and being in the ascendant over the Celestial Dynasty of Kimania in the Barsar Regions. This year, however, was to see the outbreak of overt rebellion in the Ashlgothian Borderland Territories and reverses suffered in the Upper Barsar Regions. On January 4, 1406, the Battle of Quba was fought between the forces of General Nerius, on the one hand, and those of Kimanian Admiral Hew on the other. This confrontation resulted in a victory for the forces of the Empire; Quba itself fell into Laurasian hands. Igdir was then stormed (January 17, 1406), and by the end of January, General Nerius was preparing for offensives against Gilan and Erevan. Baku fell on February 2, 1406, after a brief assault. Yet the rebel tensions in the Borderlands Territories, alluded to above, now broke out into full steam against the Imperial Laurasian Government. Emperor Demetrius himself had returned to Laurasia Prime in early January 1406, in order to respond to disturbances in the Wild Marshes. To those in the Borderlands Territories, this gave them their opportunity. At Tahon, Ashlgothian Prince Bato the Elder (1375-1409), issued, on February 9, 1406, a manifesto denouncing the exactions of Laurasian agents; demanding for the restoration of the Borderlands Territories to the Kingdom of Ashlgothia; and for the withdrawal of all Laurasian military units from the Melorkian Provinces.
 * The Emperor, disturbed by this outburst of dissent, ordered General Nerius to confiscate the estates of any in the Borderlands Territories who dared defy imperial authority. Nerius assigned Admiral Aulus Caecina Severus (1362-1429), to the task of carrying out these orders. Severus confiscated properties on Thelma and Jennings (February 14-19, 1406), but could not prevent the further outbreak of dissent. It was on February 22, 1406, that Prince Bato formally erupted into rebellion against the Empire. He was joined, in March 1406, by his son, Bato the Younger, whose center of operations was Hefner. By April 2, both Princes had secured control of Hefner, Matthew, and West. They therefore posed a serious threat to the position of the Imperial Laurasian Government in those regions. Salona and Narona both fell into their hands (April 4-14, 1406), and on April 22, they inflicted a ruinous defeat upon government forces in the Battle of Courtney. That stronghold now fell into rebel hands; from Courtney, Prince Bato the Elder, with the assistance of his chief lieutenant, Pinnes Avarich, seized the Laurasian garrisons of Epidarium, Delinium, and Burnum (May 1406). Kathryn was besieged from May 28, and fell on June 4, thereby inflicting another blow upon government forces. Admiral Severus, in conjunction with his colleague, General Marcus Plautus Silvanus (1369-1435), now launched a counteroffensive against rebel units at Sava, hoping to disorient their momentum and to push forth to Matthew. The ensuing Battle of Sava (June 8-14, 1406), ended in a decisive victory for Prince Bato, who thereby compounded his victory by seizing Drascium (June 19). By the end of June 1406, Imma had fallen into rebel hands, and Bryce was on the verge of doing so.
 * General Nerius, in the meantime, had been frustrated by the Kimanians in the Upper Barsar Regions. Kimanian units had attacked Cal (February 22-29, 1406), sacking the defenses of the stronghold. Nerius's attempts to move against Yerevan failed in the Battle of Turckaday (March 1, 1406), and during the course of March 1406, Laurasian units had suffered reverses in confrontations at Gilan, Goni, Samantha, and Breha. Acone was recovered on April 9, 1406, by the Kimanians; Khagia and Dumbgwita fell to them by April 18; and the Laurasians were driven from Beverly Hereidu on April 22. On April 29, 1406, the Battle of Shrivan ended in another victory for the Kimanians, who proceeded to recover Quba and to blockade Laurasian units at Igdir, Turcmenchay, and Hinds Prime. In May 1406, attempting to recover the momentum, Nerius assaulted Leo's Redoubt, Derangy, and Morangy. This, however, came to ruin in the Battle of Iffer (May 18-24, 1406), and on May 29, the defenses of Esther were fortified by Admiral Hew. General Jai-jin then stormed Rose and Roastafaria Minor (June 4-14, 1406), breaching into the Melorkian Provinces. Cansbrun, Purdill, and Martin fell by the end of June 1406; Winehouse and Woolestone were effectively isolated, and Kimanian units were now assisting rebel forces. Bato the Younger was able to seize Colaparia and Volcania (July 1406), and on August 4, even overran Cyrus III, forcing a Laurasian withdrawal from there. Peterslie was in his hands by August 11, and on August 19, the Battle of Crimean I ended in another humiliating victory for the rebel forces. Throughout September 1406, General Nerius, in conjunction with the Earl of Darcia, attempted to storm Erevan, to recover Shrivan, and to penetrate into Derbent, hoping thereby to disrupt rebel and Kimanian communications. This ploy failed. On October 14, 1406, the Battle of Mirohassani ended in another humiliating defeat for the Laurasians; Emma was firmly in rebel hands by the end of November. Madison and Kelly then were seized (December 2-4, 1406). Echimadzin was recovered by the Kimanians on December 14, 1406, and by the end of the year, the Empire was not in the best shape.

1407

 * 1407 saw the Ashlgothian Rebellion reach its height, but at the same time, the momentum began to swing back into the direction of the Laurasian Empire. In January 1407, Prince Bato the Younger launched an offensive against George, hoping to storm that stronghold and to thereby drive a wedge into the Laurasian strategic position. A series of confrontations at Hugh, Geena, and Ott (January 9-14, 1407), witnessed the Laurasians suffering heavy losses. Admiral Severus was forced to reinforce the defenses of Osriana, and to call for reinforcements from Ogla, Meris V, Nathaniel, Zennethia, Zutagia, and New Nosauria. Ultimately, however, the rebel assault on George (February 2-9, 1407), ended in a victory for the Imperial Laurasian Government, and the stronghold remained in their hands. Rebel units, however, enjoyed more success elsewhere. Resmania, Dourif, and Passif's Star were besieged and conquered (February 1407); Jasmine was sacked by a rebel expeditionary force (March 2-4, 1407); and the Battle of Isabella (March 18-22, 1407), humiliated Admiral Severus. On April 2, 1407, General Silvanus was seriously wounded in the Battle of Zamien, and was forced to ask for his recall from duty by the Emperor. By the end of April 1407, rebel units had scored further victories at Searia and Braydania, both of whom were historic Ashlgothian colonies. On May 4, 1407, Emperor Demetrius, seeking to revive the Empire's military effort in the southern regions, and to strike a series of blows against the Celestial Dynasty of Kimania, announced that he would be assuming direct command of the operations in the Barsar Regions. Moreover, he reorganized the effort against the Ashlgothian Rebellion. The Emperor now appointed the young and arising Brigadier-General Sir Germanicus Secrus (1385-1419), as commander of the Empire's garrisons in the region, and ordered General Nerius to provide increased reinforcements to that region. At the same time, Demetrius himself embarked from Laurasia Prime (May 14, 1407), arriving at Melorkia Major five days later. From Melorkia Major, he repelled a Kimanian-rebel offensive against Merovech (May 22-25, 1407); recovered Jasmine (May 28); and drove rebel units from Les Mans (June 1), before triumphing in the Battle of Micci (June 4-14, 1407).
 * By the end of July 1407, Laurasian forces had also recovered Roastafaria Minor, Rose, and Thelma, thereby inflicting a series of losses upon the Kimanians and the Ashlgothian rebels. Hugh and Geena were recovered on August 4, 1407; from thence, Laurasian units under Germanicus and Admiral Severus seized Baiteman, Tahon, and Mirohassani in a series of lightning strikes. The Emperor then relieved Winehouse, recovered Armenia Major, and on August 25, 1407, won the Battle of Maccra. Terezania and Blacharia then fell, and on September 9, Shrivan was recovered. Laurasian and Kimanian units then clashed at Tenedos and Aprachai (September 14-22, 1407), and on October 1, 1407, the Battle of Dardanellia was waged. This clash between the Imperial Laurasian and Celestial Kimanian Navies leaned heavily in the Empire's favor, due to the larger numbers of destroyers and battleships held by the Laurasians, and ended in a decisive victory for them. Esther's defenses were blockaded, and Nanking was sacked on October 18, 1407. Quba and Baku then fell to the Emperor (October 22-November 4, 1407), followed by Mingrelia and Turcmenchay on November 18. November 1407 also saw the Laurasian recovery of Dourif, Passif's Star, and Braydania by General Germanicus from the rebel forces. On December 8, 1407, the Battle of Walden ended in another victory for the Empire. Igdir was secured on December 18, and by the end of 1407, the momentum had been restored to the Laurasians.
 * In the midst of all this, 1407 had seen the further penetration of Laurasian influence into the Middle Territories. In February 1407, High Regent Parladi I of Way'tosk, who felt threatened by both the Neo-Venasian Consortium and the neighboring Kingdom of Temperance, requested for negotiations with the Laurasian Empire, in order to secure his own position and to extend his diplomatic ties. Emperor Demetrius had accepted, and at Grand Junction, on March 14, 1407, a conference had been convened between the two governments. Negotiations lasted for nearly a month, being conducted primarily by the Earl of Taurasia (who had been assigned to command of the Robertian Regions, and oversaw the withdrawal of Laurasian units from the Venasian Cluster). It was on April 12, 1407, that the Treaty of Grand Junction had been concluded. By the terms of this treaty, the League of the States of Way'tosk formally accepted the overlordship and protection of the Laurasian Empire. Emperor Demetrius I became Way'tosk's formal suzerain, assumed responsibility over its defense and foreign affairs, and agreed to protect the integrity of the Way'tosk government. Way'tosk in turn, promised to grant Laurasian forces transit through its territories, and to pursue domestic policies friendly to Laurasian interests. Free trade and navigation was also proclaimed to be in effect between the two realms. Way'tosk was to remain a Laurasian protectorate for over a third of a century, until its annexation by Claudius II in 1443.
 * Comet Demosthena is visible from Laurasia Prime. It will not be seen again until 1482.

1408

 * 1408 saw the forces of the Laurasian Empire making considerable progress against both the Celestial Dynasty of Kimania and the forces of the Ashlgothian Rebellion. The advances against Kimania were the most notable. Cansbrun, Purdill, and Martin were all recovered by Emperor Demetrius in January 1408. On February 2, 1408, the Emperor executed a renewed offensive towards the lower Kimanian Trade Run. Storming the Kimanian garrisons of Skyes III and Nandia (February 2-9, 1408), he then approached the outskirts of Yerevan, which time and time again had defied the efforts of the Empire's forces to seize it. Kimanian Admiral Hew now assaulted Laurasian units at Qui-Bingh (February 14, 1408), in one last effort to prevent a renewed Laurasian offensive against Yerevan. The ensuing Battle of Qui-Bingh resulted in a decisive victory for the Emperor of Laurasia; not only did Demetrius destroy more than 30% of the Kimanian offensive corps and impound most of their turbocannons and other military supplies, he finally captured Admiral Hew himself. The Admiral was brought before the Emperor on his personal flagship, the IMS Honorius the Liberator. Demetrius recognized that this man had fought well and bravely; consequently, the Emperor ordered for him to be treated well. The Battle of Qui-Bingh now opened the way to Yerevan, which was besieged beginning on February 22, 1408. The Siege of Yerevan lasted for nearly a month, and the Emperor had to repel Kimanian counteroffensives from Cox, Banks, Henderson, and the Orion Cluster. Ultimately, however, on March 20, 1408, Yerevan fell into the hands of the Empire. Emperor Demetrius ordered for the world's repositories, factories, and posts to be comprehensively sacked and destroyed; for its inhabitants to be deported; and for its resources to be stripped. The world would not be rehabilitated until the following century. From Yerevan, Derangy fell into the Emperor's hands (April 1-7, 1408); then on April 11, he moved against Echimadzin, occupying the stronghold within four hours. Nakchivan followed on April 18, 1408, and on April 22, Skold and Plath were both isolated by Laurasian units. Acone was seized on May 2, and a Laurasian expedition penetrated to Jarman, Harrison, Novina, and Rana.
 * The colony of Farnsworth was occupied in May 1408, and on June 3, the Siege of Reading commenced, which was to last for the next two months. Abshire, Riley, Drea, Duana, and Hutsia Minor were now being constantly harried by Laurasian expeditions, although Erevan continued to defy the Emperor. As regards to the rebellion, General Germanicus and Admiral Severus decided to take advantage of increasing dissensions among the rebel forces. The Princes Bato were now quarreling with Pinnes; the Princes were now leaning towards the possible conclusion of a settlement with the Imperial Laurasian Government, while Pinnes advocated for all military effort to be applied against the Empire's forces. As a consequence, they were unable to agree on future, coherent strategies of attack. In February 1408, rebel forces had been driven back from Drascium, Sava, Madison, and Kelly. Imma had then been recovered on March 9, 1408, by General Germanicus. Thus, rebel lines were already breaking. And it was on June 11, 1408, after a series of further confrontations at Bryce, Kristin, and Hefner, that General Germanicus advanced to Bathnicus, located eight light years to the northeast of Peterslie. The ensuing Battle of Bathnicus (June 11-14, 1408), resulted in a decisive victory for Laurasian forces; Bato the Younger was killed in the confrontation, and his flagship, the Hardamor, fell into Laurasian hands. From Bathnicus, the Laurasian recovered Salona and Narona (July 1408), and by August 9, were approaching the outskirts of Courtney. That same month, Emperor Demetrius stormed Morangy, and isolated Gardiner. Reading too, finally fell on August 11, dealing a severe blow to the Celestial Dynasty.
 * Yet the Emperor's attention was in part, diverted by the outbreak of another short, sharp conflict with the Solidaritan Sultanate. Ali Pasha, whose position had been weakened by the humiliating Young Solidaritan's War, tried for a time to continue with his reforms. In June 1404, he had sponsored the establishment of the Solidaritan Academy for the Marital Arts on Roxuli, attempting to improve professionalism and tactical skills among the rank and file of the Sultanate's forces. He sponsored the colonization of the systems of Ipshilion, Jodi, Emilio, and Chelsey during the course of 1404 and 1405; moreover, he relaxed restrictions upon industrial activity, repealed many of the monopolies in place on Istantius, granted subsidies to deserving businesses, and offered grants to those who sponsored scientific and technical research within the Sultanate. Yet all of these efforts were in vain. The Abbathian Dynasty of Homidinia, which was still under the rule of the great Emperor Haruna al-Rashid, now sought to gain commercial advantages within the Sultanate. In July 1406, the Abbathian Emperor's forces had occupied Roxuli, Zoe, and Abraham, thereby constituting a direct violation of the Sultanate's territory. A short, and pointed conflict had ensued, with Abbathian forces penetrating as far as Berhamia and Sair.
 * Ultimately, the Treaty of Roxuli (November 9, 1406), had resulted in the concession of commercial and transit privileges, by the Sultan, to the Abbathian Dynasty. Moreover, the Sultanate seceded Zoe and the Marmillion Reaches to the Dynasty, thereby further weakening its territorial base. Emperor Demetrius had been alarmed by this, and in June 1407, had ordered the Imperial General Headquarters to draft plans for intervention in Solidarita. Ali Pasha was deposed in November 1407, and replaced as Grand Vizier by the more fanatical Alridi Pasha. He now encouraged Solidaritan reconnaissance expeditions against Michael, Rastaborn, Shannon, and Leopolodia, hoping to provoke the Empire thereby. Finally, in September 1408, the Sultanate had issued a declaration of war, hoping to take advantage of the Empire's distraction with the campaigns in the Barsar Regions. Solidaritan forces seized O'Neal and Cline (September 9-17, 1408), blockaded Martina Mccasia, and on October 9, penetrated into the outskirts of Michael. Big Twinny was blockaded from October 11 to 14, 1408.
 * The Earl of Taurasia, however, acting on the instructions of the Emperor, now moved swiftly into Solidaritan territory. He stormed Impania (October 19, 1408); destroyed the shield defenses of Sheryl (October 24); and seized Finch (October 29), before occupying Solidaritan Doris (November 1). Then on November 9, 1408, Istantius itself was assaulted by the Empire's forces. The capital star system of the Sultanate was caught off guard by the Laurasian offensive. Alridi Pasha now sought to recall his units back to Istantius, Sair, and Berhamia. These efforts failed, and on November 18, 1408, Istantius itself fell, for the first time ever, into the hands of the Empire. The Earl of Taurasia wrecked much vegenance, deporting more than one hundred million persons and having all of Istantius's treasures and revenues impounded. Sultan Chosroes III himself was captured and on November 24, was forced to agree to an armistice with the Imperial Laurasian Government. Negotiations quickly proceeded, and on December 8, 1408, the Treaty of Kendra resulted in the concession of Roxuli, Abraham, Deanna, Coen, and Wendy to the Laurasian Empire. All treaties with the Abbathian Dynasty were disavowed; Alridi Pasha was dismissed from office, translated to Laurasian custody, and imprisoned at Jenny; and Chosroes pledged himself as a vassal to the Emperor of Laurasia. With this short conflict, the Solidaritan Sultanate had become dependent on the Laurasian Empire. In the Barsar Regions, the last months of 1408 saw the fall of Goni (September 9-14); Breha (September 22); Lange (September 29); Leseur (October 4); Taylsh (October 19); the colonies of the Shrivania (October 24); Hutsia Major (November 1); and Abshire (December 14) to the Empire's forces. And by the end of 1408, the Ashlgothian Rebellion was staggering towards extinction.

1409

 * 1409 saw the final suppression of the Ashlgothian Revolt. January 1409 saw further victories for the forces of the Laurasian Empire. Searia and Braydania were both firmly secured by government forces that month; on January 22, 1409, the Battle of Sirca ended in a decisive victory for General Germanicus. From Sirca, Germanicus besieged and conquered Epidarium, Delinium, and Burnum (January 24-February 7, 1409). On February 11, 1409, the Siege of Courtney commenced. Prince Bato the Elder, however, harried the outskirts of Tahon, and on February 17, launched a surprise offensive against Mons Almus. Germanicus hastened to meet with him, determined to prevent this Laurasian colony (established in 1356) from falling into rebel hands. Bato, however, used his starfighters and corvettes to harry the lines of the Imperial Laurasian Navy, and employed a series of orbital bombardments to batter down the defenses of the stronghold. Mons Almus fell on February 29, 1409. This was a humiliating defeat for Germanicus. Tahon was then temporarily recovered by the rebel forces (March 2-4, 1409), who then proceeded to seize Splonum, Seretium, and Raetinium. This series of defeats now motivated Emperor Demetrius, on March 17, 1409, to order General Nerius to come to the aid of his colleague. Nerius did so without objection, and on March 24, 1409, he established his new command headquarters on Imma. He then cooperated with Germanicus to expel the rebel forces from Fruska Gora (April 1, 1409), and four days later, won the Battle of Srimricum, capturing Pines. Andretium, which had become Bato the Elder's headquarters, was then besieged, beginning on April 9, 1409.
 * The Siege of Andretium lasted for twelve days, during which time the Laurasians successfully recovered Tahon. On April 21, 1409 (three centuries before the death of Neuchrus the Reformer), Andretium also fell into Laurasian hands. Splonum, Seretium, and Raetinium then followed. Courtney finally was overrun on May 4, 1409, after a siege of nearly three months, and more than 400,000 rebel soldiers were imprisoned or executed. General Nerius then proceeded to Arduba, which he laid under siege (May 14, 1409). Arduba resisted fiercely, with Prince Bato himself commanding its defense. Ultimately, on June 10, 1409, the stronghold fell into the hands of the Laurasian Empire. Bato and his chief lieutenants were captured, and were brought before Generals Nerius and Germanicus. When Nerius asked the Prince why he had revolted, he replied: "Because you Laurasians have sent wolves to guard the flocks, and not the shepherds." Emperor Demetrius, on his part, as well as the Generals, were impressed by Bato's courage, bravery, and tactical skill. Thus the Emperor decided to spare Bato's life, ordering for him to be exiled to Arthur in the Wild Marshes (May 22, 1409). He was not generous, however, to the rebel lieutenants, or to others who had been involved in the rebellion. Between May 1409 and September 1410, more than 400,000 rebels would be imprisoned or executed for their offenses; nearly four hundred million persons were deported from the Borderlands Territories; and marital law was imposed in the Ashlgothian Colonies. Bato the Elder himself would live on Arthur for the rest of his life. In 1417, he would be granted a lifetime imperial pension of $1 billion denarii by Emperor Tiberius, and permitted to travel freely in the Core Regions. The Ashlgothian Prince would ultimately die on May 14, 1435, at Lusculum. As for Pinnes, he would be imprisoned at the Secret Prison of Ipsus V, dying there on June 8, 1439.
 * The early months of 1409, on their part, had witnessed a stalemate in the Barsar Regions, for Emperor Demetrius focused on consolidating his hold of the Borderlands Territories, and of the strongholds which he had conquered to that point. Laurasian units did, however, seize Ganja, Guria, and Ajaria in March 1409, consolidating their hold of Derangy, Morangy, and Leo's Redoubt. Another conflict now erupted that diverted the attention of the Laurasians. That conflict was with the Kingdom of Ashlgothia. Since 1403, Wittiza had reigned as sole King of Ashlgothia. He had implemented some reforms, promulgating, in 1407, a revised version of the Lex Ashlgothorium (Laws of the Ashlgothians), promoting economic development, and reducing the privileges of his nobility on their estates. Yet overall, Ashlgothia had been plagued with troubles. It had to contend with constant Scottrian and Arachosian raiding expeditions from the Galactic Borderlands; uprisings on Trebek and Jeopardy; and a decline in the value of the Ashlgothian currency. All of this, therefore, had left Ashlgothia exposed to the assault of a willing, and aggressive, foreign neighbor.
 * Foolishly, Wittiza had pledged his private support for the rebels of the Ashlgothian Colonies, furnishing them financial aid and expressing moral sympathy with their aims. This had been discovered by the Imperial Intelligence Agency in March 1409. Emperor Demetrius had now become determined to punish Wittiza for his support; he also sought the further extension of Laurasian territory, to strengthen the Empire's position versus the Celestial Dynasty of Kimania. Consequently, on April 24, 1409, he had ordered the General Headquarters to draft plans for offensives into the Barsar Regions. These had proceeded quickly, and the Emperor, on July 18, 1409, ordered for General Sir Publius Quinticilius Varus (1354-1409), to take command of the offensives into Ashlgothia. Varus prepared his units at Tahon, Bryce, Courtney, Baiteman, Imma, Emma, Kathryn, and the other chief strongholds of the Borderlands Territories. It was on August 4, 1409, that the Emperor of Laurasia issued a formal declaration of war against the Kingdom of Ashlgothia. Upon this declaration of war, the Empire's units moved swiftly into Ashlgothian territory. Vetera fell into Laurasian hands (August 8-13, 1409), and on August 19, the Ashlgothian colony of Moguntia followed. From thence, Varus seized Renee (August 20-24, 1409), and repelled a Ashlgothian move against Kane (August 28).
 * Yet Ashlgothian General Arminius (1382-1421), who was one of the King's most trusted subordinates, now took the initiative in styming the Laurasian offensives. Relying upon a strategy of feints, deception, and retreat, he now sought to lure General Varus and his chief operational forces to a trap. That trap was to be laid at Teutoberg, which was located one hundred light years northeast of India. On September 4, 1409, the Ashlgothian General released false intelligence, by means of information probes, which suggested to the Imperial General Headquarters that an advance should be conducted towards Kakriea, a red-giant system just to the east of Teutoberg. General Varus, who believed that this star system harbored an important Ashlgothian military repository, and would allow for a quick move against India and Warren, elected to take this course, against the advice of his generals. It was on September 11, 1409, that the General and Admiral Sir Suetonius Prasius (1367-1409), proceeded towards Kakriea, and towards their ruin. Varus's forces included the 20th and 21st Imperial Armies, the 9th Imperial Fleet, and a detachment of Praetorian Guards. Arminius commanded a force composed of the 2nd Ashlgothian Expeditionary Force and the 1st Auxiliary Corps, with fewer warships and personnel then his Laurasian foes. Yet he had superior intelligence capabilities, and more starfighters, with mobile attacking weaponry, at his disposal. This showed in the ensuing battle. Early on September 12, the Imperial Laurasian Military's forces proceeded through Kakriea. Varus had neglected to send the typical reconnaissance parties forth to clear the path, and as a consequence, the Laurasians suspected nothing of the ambush awaiting them.
 * With the Laurasian forces in place, Arminius released his trap. Lighter, more mobile Ashlgothian corvettes, starfighters, and transports swept upon the flanks of the Laurasian force, darting in and out relentlessly. Laurasian supply lines, due to the nature of their progress, were perilously stretched out, inviting to any enemy with the necessary capabilities to attack. The Ashlgothians soon surrounded the entire Laurasian fleet, employing their superior mobility to the full. Arminius had a good understanding of Laurasian tactics and weapons capabilities, due to his five-year trip to Laurasia Prime, when relations were still peaceful, and his observation of Laurasian battle simulations and military parades. As a consequence, his forces effectively countered all Laurasian attacks. The following day (September 13), the Laurasians attempted to break out in formation, and to force their way into Teutoberg. Many ships of the fleet managed to do so, but only at great damage to themselves. There, they were encountered by further Ashlgothian units, and found their route of escape blocked. Varus's chief subordinate, Admiral Prasius, attempted to flee from the battlefield, but he was intercepted and killed by a convoy of Ashlgothian couriers. By the end of the day, with Laurasian efforts to storm Teutoberg failing, the Battle of the Teutoberg Fields, as it became known, had ended in a decisive Ashlgothian victory. Varus himself committed suicide before he could fall into enemy hands.
 * More than 400,000 troops of the Imperial Laurasian Army, and a comparable number of naval personnel, lost their lives in the confrontation. Fifty of the sixty Laurasian warships were destroyed or captured, along with most of their supplies. Arminius had scored a decisive victory. The Battle of the Teutoberg Fields was one of the most humiliating defeats of the Imperial Laurasian Period. When Emperor Demetrius learned of the loss, he banged his head against the chamber walls and yelled "Publius Varus, where are my troops?" Generals Nerius and Germanicus were also astounded by the defeat. In its immediate aftermath, Arminius drove the Laurasians from Vetera and Moguntia, stormed Kane (September 22-October 4, 1409), and by the end of October 1409, had overrun Hefner, Brooke One, Benzitr V, and Rose also. November 1409 saw Laurasian moves against Nandia being repelled, and Ashlgothian expeditions striking against West, Madison, Mirohassani, Peterslie, Bryce, and Baiteman. Manorsia was seized on December 4, and on December 11, Arminius won another victory in the Battle of Lee. By the end of the year, the Empire, though having suppressed the Ashlgothian Revolt, found itself at war with both Ashlgothia and Kimania.
 * On November 17, 1409, the future Emperor Vespasian (1469-79), was born at the Calumnis Estate on Dayanie in the Murphian Provinces. He was the son of the minor aristocrat, Baronet Titus Flavius Sabinus (1375-1427) and his wife, Vespasia Polla (1385-1449). Sabinus had been a Governing Senator since 1403, and had also served as Viceroy of Murphy for a time (1406-09), but he was not prominent at the Imperial Court. His wife, Lady Polla, was the daughter of Sir Vespasius Pollo (1351-1424), who had fought in the campaigns of Emperor Antiochus the Conqueror in the Robertian Provinces, and had gained renown for his exploits during that conflict. Pollo had served as Vice-Chief of the Praetorian Guards from 1396 to 1403, then was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-General in 1407 and commanded the garrison of Ivoria until 1416. During the first year of his life, Vespasian would be much in the company of his grandfather, gaining from him a life-long passion and respect for the military.
 * On April 27, 1409, the impotent Solidaritan Sultan Chosroes III, who had failed to halt the aggressive expansions of the Laurasian Empire, was formally deposed by the Janissary Guards. Many Janissaries were dissatisified with the direction the Sultanate had taken, and fearful that the reforms implemented over the course of the past decade would destroy their own status and privileges. Chosroes was forced to sign a declaration of abdication on Istantius, and was then banished to Quanna. He would remain there until his death on February 14, 1418. He was now succeeded as Sultan of Solidarita by his younger brother, Prince Darim, who became Darim II of Solidarita. He was destined to be the last Sultan of the Solidaritan Sulanate, being dependent on his Guards and constrained by his Grand Vizier, Dwalat Pasha, a fierce conservative nevertheless possessed with a lust for power and wealth.

1410

 * 1410, the tenth year of the fifteenth century, commenced with the Laurasian Empire, as mentioned above, embroiled in war both within the Kingdom of Ashlgothia and in the Barsar Regions against the Celestial Dynasty of Kimania. During the early months of 1410, Emperor Demetrius took measures to consolidate the Empire's position in the Middle Territories and along the Kimanian Trade Run; he also sought to improve the defenses and the strategic disposition of those forces deployed against the Kimanians. In December 1409, therefore, the Emperor had granted preliminary approval to plans by the Senate and the Council of Civil Service for the annexation of the Kingdom of Lower Melorkia. Laurasian units, already stationed at such strongholds as Dumbgwita, Khagia, Rose, and Jack, were reorganized; the 22nd and 23rd Imperial Armies were reassigned to duty in the Roastafarian Provinces; and the Emperor sent a series of secret communiques to the Melorkian nobility, promising to maintain their status and privileges if they in turn sponsored union of their territories with that of the Empire. On November 9, 1408, King Louis II of Lower Melorkia had signed the Treaty of Tamars with the Imperial Laurasian Government, which formally designated him as a Laurasian vassal. The King of Lower Melorkia, however, had become encouraged, in late 1409, by the Battle of the Teutoberg Fields, in which Ashlgothian General Arminius decisively defeated the Imperial Laurasian Navy.
 * By early 1410, he was formulating plans of aligning with Kimania and Ashlgothia against Laurasia, throwing off his terms of overlordship, and reconquering the Upper Melorkian Provinces. The Imperial Intelligence Agency, however, was aware of his conspiracies, and it was such that Emperor Demetrius decided to move before it was too late. On February 20, 1410, the Emperor announced the formal annexation of the Kingdom of Lower Melorkia into the Laurasian Empire. This occurred nearly two centuries following the death of Clovis I, the most vigorous and powerful of all Melorkian sovereigns. Laurasian troops swiftly occupied Manorsia; compelled King Louis to sign a formal declaration of abdication; and then chained him onto a transport. The Lower Melorkian Provinces, including, besides Manorsia, the strongholds of Cambrina, Resmania, Obathia, Cyrus III, Cal, Morley, Simon, Stahl, Tolbiac, Dumbgwita, and Khagia, therefore formally acceded to the control of the Emperor of Laurasia. Louis himself would ultimately be banished to exile on Vindictoria; he would die there on February 7, 1415, at the age of forty-three.
 * The annexation of Lower Melorkia improved the Laurasian Empire's strategic position, and allowed for the Emperor to conduct more coordinated campaigns into the Barsar Regions. Laurasian units, in March and April 1410, made further gains against their Kimanian rivals. On March 2, 1410, the Battle of Krtsansi ended in victory for the forces of General Nerius, once again in tactical command in the Lower Barsar Regions. From Krstansi, the Hutsite Reaches colonies of Tarki, Vladivavkaz, and Astrakhan fell into Laurasian hands (March 6-14, 1410). By March 18, the Laurasian hold over Hutsia Major and Hutsia Minor had been consolidated; Offshora had also fully succumbed to the Empire's armed onslaught. On March 22, 1410, the Battle of Cox ended in another victory for General Nerius; the Kimanian military base of Kipp was stormed soon afterwards, and Kimanis Mooria was sacked on March 28. On April 4, 1410, Kimanian General Jai-jin attacked Laurasian positions at Cybertron Xerxia; the ensuing Battle of Cybertron Xerxia, fought nearly a thousand years after the famous battle there of the Third Barso War, ended in a Laurasian victory. He was then pursued to Nuguria (April 9, 1410), and defeated there. Laurasian units then occupied the colonies of Ralina and Neutria, and by the end of April 1410, were threatening Caleb and Dodson. On May 13, 1410, however, the Battle of Meghri ended in victory for the Kimanians; Jai-jin managed to capture a number of Laurasian automated transports.
 * June 1410 saw Kimanian forces recovering Quba, Derbent, Baku, Shaki, Guria, and Ajara; on July 2, 1410, the Battle of Leo's Redoubt ended in another humiliation for the Empire. Then on July 14, 1410, the Battle of Erevan occurred; the result was a tactical victory for Kimanian forces, who thereby terminated the Laurasian threat in that star system. Breha and Offshora were then cleared of Laurasian units, and on August 3, Cox and Banks were recovered. Laurasian expeditions against Gardiner, Dorothea, Nanking, and Christopher failed to redress the balance; the Battle of Christophsis (August 19, 1410), in which Shogun Comovius himself held ceremonial command of the troops, lead to the loss of more than 150,000 Laurasian troops. By the end of August, Laurasian units had also been pushed out of Goni, Lange, Abshire, and Talysh. By September 1410, following further confrontations at Kartli, Kakheti, Earl, and Shell, the front lines had stabilized, and a stalemate ensued between the Laurasians and the Kimanians that lasted into the following year.
 * As regards to Ashlgothia, 1410 saw a series of victories by the Ashlgothians, who pushed into the Borderlands Territories and thereby threatened the Laurasian position there. In January 1410, Ashlgothian General Arminius reorganized his military forces, and now decided to conduct a general offensive, in order to secure Nandia, India, and Warren from further Laurasian attacks. In this, he was sponsored by King Wittiza, who had developed a distaste for the Laurasian Empire. Arminius won the Battle of West (January 22-29, 1410), and occupied that stronghold. He then faced down Laurasian units under Admiral Severus in the Battle of Marsha (February 4, 1410), and defeated them decisively. The Laurasian post of Sicambria then fell, on and February 17, 1410, Bryce was besieged by Ashlgothian forces. In spite of the efforts of General Germanicus, Bryce fell on March 1. Then on March 4, the Laurasian General was injured in a chemical explosion on his flagship, the IMS Constellation, near Courtney, and was forced to take leave back to Laurasia Prime for medical treatment. Emperor Demetrius himself, who focused his efforts upon completing the absorption of Lower Melorkia, now named Admiral Severus as the commander-in-chief in the Borderlands Territories.
 * Severus, however, found himself hard pressed against the Ashlgothians. Tahon, Baiteman, and the colony of Morgan were in Ashlgothian hands by the end of March 1410; Imma followed on April 9, and on April 12, the Battle of Jennings resulted in another humiliation for the Imperial Laurasian Navy. Throughout May and June 1410, a series of confrontations ensued between Laurasian and Ashlgothian units at Tea, Mirohassani, Emma, Kathryn, Imune, Xxi, and Jemena, as the two sides struggled to gain the advantage. Tamars and Babania fell to the Ashlgothians in July 1410, but they were expelled by the Imperial Laurasian Army from Benzitr V. Rose, Hefner, and Brooke One were recovered the following month, and a expedition, by Ashlgothian forces, against Jasmine failed (September 9, 1410). Just six days later, however, Peterslie fell into their hands. Yet on October 4, 1410, King Wittiza died suddenly on Ashlgothia Major; having had no children, his death threw the Kingdom of Ashlgothia into momentary peril. Arminius himself temporarily suspended his moves into the Borderlands Territories, in order to support the claims to the throne of Prince Roderic, the late King's nephew. Roderic ultimately prevailed, and he was proclaimed King on November 1. Yet that nearly month-long interregnum allowed for the Laurasians to recover. Admiral Severus recovered Baiteman (October 5-14, 1410), then Tahon (October 16). Securing Martinez, Courtney, and Emma, he then repelled Ashlgothian units from Imma (October 22, 1410) and on November 5, won the Battle of Stargossa. Tamars and Babania were recovered later that month, followed by Peterslie on December 6. A Laurasian force even sacked Moguntia (December 11, 1410). Kane was besieged from December 16, and recovered on the last day of the year.

1411

 * 1411, the eleventh year of the fifteenth century, began with the Laurasian Empire having experienced some losses to the Celestial Dynasty of Kimania in the Barsar Regions, and having reasserted its position in the Ashlgothian Borderlands Territories. Emperor Demetrius, by January 1411, had become determined to end the war with Ashlgothia, to continue the consolidation of his Empire's rule over Lower Melorkia, and to prepare for renewed offensives against the Kimanians. Consequently, he instigated a series of offensives in the outskirts of Ashlgothian territory, in order to force the Ashlgothians to the peace table. On January 8, 1411, Caitlin was stormed by a Laurasian expeditionary force; Walden fell into the hands of Admiral Severus four days later. The Ashlgothian colonies of Sejak, Vanna, and White were then stormed (February 1411). With Laurasian forces now moving against Greg, and with Nandia in serious danger as well, King Roderic, overriding the objections of General Arminius, now sought to commence negotiations with the Imperial Laurasian Government. On March 3, 1411, he requested for an armistice to be signed between the two states, and for negotiations for peace to commence. Emperor Demetrius accepted this quickly. The Armistice of Kevin was signed twelve days later, thereby terminating all active military hostilities between Laurasia and Ashlgothia.
 * A conference was convened on Bainsborough, beginning on April 13, 1411. After some weeks of negotiations, the Treaty of Bainsborough was signed on April 29, 1411, thereby bringing an end to the Laurasian-Ashlgothian War of 1409-11. By the terms of this treaty, the status quo ante bellum was imposed in territorial matters between Laurasia and Ashlgothia. All prisoners of war were to be exchanged, and properties seized in the conflict to be returned. The Ashlgothian Government agreed to recognize the Empire's annexation of Upper and Lower Melorkia, and any territorial gains which might be made by the Emperor of Laurasia from the Celestial Dynasty of Kimania. In return, Demetrius I pledged to respect Ashlgothian internal affairs. The Treaty of Bainsborough, ratified by both parties by the end of May 1411, thereby restored the peace between them, at least temporarily. On June 3, 1411, Emperor Demetrius launched a series of counteroffensives into the Barsar Regions. He besieged and conquered Jarman (June 4-19, 1411); stormed Preena (June 22); and recovered Quba (June 28). Derbent was then blocked by a Laurasian force, falling on July 4, 1411. Tarki, Baku, and Shaki were all back in Laurasian hands by July 21, and on July 27, Harrison fell to a Laurasian expeditionary force also. August 1411 saw Laurasian units storm Gilestis and Christophsis; the Christopherian colonies of Willona, Woods, and Penny were also seized. Laurasian moves against Cox, Bookman, and Rolle, however, failed, and on September 4, 1411, the Battle of Dorothea ended in a strategic stalemate. Kimanian General Abu Whazan, who had been appointed by the Shogun two months earlier, then defeated the Laurasians in the Battle of Aklatshi (September 19, 1411), and then drove them from Shell and Tolbiac. Beverly Hereidu was recovered on September 22 by the Kimanians, followed by Winehouse on September 26. By the end of October 1411, with further Laurasian reverses at Abshire, Drea, and Duana, a stalemate had ensued again between the opponents. Karabakh and Qoba-Darkand were both being harried by Kimanian expeditions.
 * In Ashlgothia, in the meantime, further instability transpired. General Arminius, who was angered by King Roderic's decision to end the conflict with the Laurasian Empire, now sought for himself a greater stake in Ashlgothian affairs. Consequently, at Leslie, Warren, and Reid, he assembled his own military supplies, troops, and equipment for possible action on Ashlgothia Major. Yet the General now found himself overshadowed by another: the Ashlgothian Prince Achila, cousin of the King (1381-1416). Achila was determined to become King of Ashlgothia in his own right. He was supported in his ambitions by Emperor Demetrius of Laurasia; the Emperor of Laurasia understood well that a weak, and divided Ashlgothia, would better serve his purposes then one that was united. Trebek, Jeopardy, and Alex became the main bases of operation for the Prince. It was in November 1411 that Achila formally proclaimed himself, at Olson, to be the rightful King of Ashlgothia, and refused to acknowledge the authority of Roderic. Roderic declared him a traitor, and ordered General Arminius to move against him. Arminius, having learned of Achila's Laurasian connections, buried his own plans for rebellion and obliged by his master's commands. Nevertheless, by the end of 1411, a civil conflict had emerged within those dominions; Achila and Roderic would fruitlessly dispute their claims with each other until 1414, thereby leaving Ashlgothia exposed to the renewed onslaught of the Laurasian Empire.

1412

 * The year 1412 began with the Laurasian Empire once again stalemated against the Celestial Dynasty of Kimania. The Laurasian-Ashlgothian War of 1409-11 had ended, but Ashlgothia itself had now descended into internal anarchy. Emperor Demetrius would, in January 1412, command for the Imperial General Headquarters to draft plans for renewed offensives into Ashlgothian territories, when the time would come for them. He continued the expansion and the revitalization of the Empire's military forces, having introduced a new Conscription Code in 1410. It was his intention that the Empire's forces would not be humiliated again like they had been by Arminius at Teutoberg. Yet in early 1412, a new and greater opportunity arose for the Emperor, one which would lead to another substantial territorial acquisition for the Laurasian Empire. In September 1411, another coup had taken place on Istantius. The previous Grand Vizier, Dwalat Pasha, was violently overthrown; he was in fact, strangled by a number of Janissary Guards in his own personal chambers. In his place stepped forward the leader of the coup, the Janissary officer Kemal Attaurk. Attaurk was a Solidaritan patriot, believing firmly in the traditions, culture, and power of his native species. He sought to resume with the interrupted program of reform begun by Ali Pasha and his Young Solidaritans, and sought, above all, to overthrow Laurasian influence once and for all. He also wished to maintain the independence and territorial integrity of the Solidaritan Sultanate. Attaurk, within a short space of time (between September 1411 and March 1412), pursued a series of military, administrative, and financial policies, seeking to revive the Sultanate once more. Yet in that same time period, he aroused the ire of many Solidaritans, and thereby laid the seeds for the Sultanate's rapid, and final collapse.
 * He intensified tax collection, imposing new levies on capitations, withholding, and capital gains. This was meant to produce more revenue for the Solidaritan Treasury, but ended up inflaming tensions against the authority of the Solidaritan government. Attaurk was ruthless on tax evaders, and he employed the Grand Council to confiscate or impound the revenues and resources of those nobles and magnates who refused to pay into the Treasury. He implanted his agents in the imperial household and in the households of the princes of Istantius, Methusalah, Sheryl, Laronn, and Quanna; he imposed strict survelliance over the press and over personal correspondence; and he expanded the ranks of the Janissary Guards, recruiting more than 20,000 new members in one month alone (December 1412). All of this spurred dissent against him. Moreover, the Grand Vizier increased the funding diverted to the Court, believing it necessary that all be awed by the Sultan's splendor, and that of his officials. This only served to inflame resentments more. In January 1412, he ordered for the colonies of Alkhakic and Khalic to be nationalized, thereby depriving the nobles of their rights and revenues from both star systems. All of this proved too much for them. On March 7, 1412, Solidaritan Prince Al-Baghadi, seeking to maintain his own family, sent a secret appeal to the Sultanate's suzerain, Emperor Demetrius of Laurasia. In this appeal, he bewailed the "tyranny and the cruelties of the new Grand Vizier" and begged for intervention by the Laurasian Empire, so as to "protect the peoples of Solidarita from the grip of an oppressive master." Demetrius responded positively to this, and on March 17, 1412, he ordered the General Headquarters to activate its plans for a final intervention in Solidarita.
 * Then on April 9, 1412, the Emperor sent a communique to the Sultan and the Grand Council on Istantius. In this communique, Demetrius decried the situation then prevailing within the Solidaritan Sultanate, and that the policies of Attaurk were "harming the stability and tranquility of all galactic peoples." Consequently, he demanded that Attaurk be dismissed from office, and that the Solidaritan government submit all domestic policies to the future approval of its Laurasian suzerain. Darim II, powerless against his Grand Vizier, yet defiant of the Imperial Laurasian Government, refused to respond to these demands. Thus, on April 14, 1412, Demetrius declared the Solidaritans to be contumacious, and he issued a formal declaration of war. Laurasian forces, already assembled at the chief strongholds of the Northern Core Worlds, poured rapidly into Solidaritan territory. Solidaritan Doris was captured (April 16-19, 1412), followed by Finch (April 22); Garamia (April 25); and Laronn (April 28). Sheryl was laid under siege from May 4, 1412. It was a tougher nut to crack, but ultimately fell on May 17. By the end of May 1412, the Belts of Mantin had fallen, and Quanna was under siege. It too fell on June 8, 1412. Then on June 17, 1412, Emperor Demetrius commanded the Laurasian move against Methusalah; the ensuing Battle of Methusalah was hard-fought, but four days later, ended in another victory for the Empire. The Solidaritans could not stop the Laurasian onslaught; Canterwell, Thompson, Canderwell, Yaedln, and Jubsia all fell in July 1412.
 * Finally, on August 2, 1412, Attaurk attempted to stop the Laurasians at Sair. The ensuing Battle of Sair, in which the Laurasians outnumbered the Solidaritans more than three-to-one, ended in a decisive victory for the Laurasian Empire. Attaurk himself was captured, and on the Emperor's orders, bound in chains. From Sair, Laurasian units stormed Berhamia (August 8, 1412). Then, on August 12, 1412, Istantius was besieged by the Emperor of Laurasia. Sultan Darim, who was no military commander, and the Grand Council, had few forces at their disposal, lacked the support of the Solidaritan nobility, and were isolated. Istantius fell within a day. Laurasian troops landed on the world, and engaged in a policy of rapine, massacre, and devastation. The Tomb of the Sultans, the Solidaritan Great Palace, and the Janissary Barracks were disturbed and sacked, Istantius was robbed of all its artifacts and great treasures, and its cities were comprehensively plundered. More than six hundred million sentients were deported, imprisoned, or killed. Emperor Demetrius himself commanded these operations.
 * Darim II was captured. On August 16, 1412, he was forced to sign a declaration of abdication; the Grand Council was formally disbanded; and Emperor Demetrius seized the Gird of Sultans, which had been used to swear every Sultan since Erutugul himself. It was on September 9, 1412, that he issued the final decree of annexation for the Sultanate's territories. The Solidaritan Sultanate, which had lasted for 261 years, had broken away from Laurasian overlordship, and had superseded the Kazanian Khanate, ceased to exist, and all of its territories were therefore incorporated into the Laurasian Empire. Darim II himself was exiled to Chloe (he died there May 16, 1426). The end of the Solidaritan Sultanate came on the occasion of the 1000th anniversary of the Laurasian monarchy. Emperor Demetrius returned to Laurasia Prime in October 1412, conducting a grand triumph in the star system, and into the city of Christiania. He was hailed by the Senate with the titles of Melorkius Maximus, Solidaritus Maximus, and Kimanius Maximus (November 4, 1412). The last months of 1412 saw the Empire consolidate its hold of Solidarita.
 * On August 31, 1412, future Emperor Caligula (1437-41), was born at the Diplomatic Palace in Christiania, Laurasia Prime. He was the third of six surviving children born to General Germanicus and his wife, Agrippina (1386-1433). The future Emperor had two older brothers, Nero (1406-31) and Drusus (1407-33) and three younger sisters, Agrippina (the mother of Emperor Antiochus III the Mad, 1415-59), Julia (1416-38), and Livilia (1418-42). This Emperor would eventually become one of the most depraved in the history of the Laurasian Space Age. During his early years, he would be raised at the family's estates on Americana, Charasia, and Laurasia Prime.

1413

 * 1413, the thirteenth year of the fifteenth century, began with the Laurasian Empire of Demetrius I having destroyed the Solidaritan Sultanate, which had been one of the leading powers in the Core Regions since the reign of Honorius the Terrible, and had been, during that entire period, one of Laurasia's primary enemies. The elimination of Solidarita thereby consolidated the Empire's territorial position, and extended its jurisdiction into the northern Industralized Borderlands, Inner Territories, and Middle Territories. Emperor Demetrius, by this point, had also come to realize that the long Kimanian War, which had lasted for nearly nine years by then, needed to be brought to an end. Thus, in January 1413, he moved swiftly to Jack, and made preparations for a final series of offensives into the Barsar Regions, to compel the Celestial Dynasty to peace. But it was the Kimanians who acted first. On January 19, 1413, Kimanian General Abu Whuzan launched a series of operations up the Kimanian Trade Run, seeking to breach into the Lower Melorkian Provinces. Driving Laurasian units from Gilestis (January 19-24), he then defeated and destroyed a Laurasian expeditionary force at Karabagh (January 26, 1413). From this, Merovech, Tourbonne, and Toule fell to surprise Kimanian expeditionary offensives (February 1413), and on March 2, the Battle of Shakhbulakh ended in another victory for the Kimanians. The Laurasians were then humiliated at Sultan-Bula (March 18, 1413); an entire battalion of the Imperial Laurasian Navy, the 15th Battalion of the 27th Imperial Fleet, was destroyed in action by the Kimanians. Yet Emperor Demetrius was now prepared for the final, and decisive, counter-strike.
 * On March 24, 1413, the Emperor repelled a Kimanian offensive against Enrassburg; from there, he lured the Kimanians to Isabella. The ensuing Battle of Isabella (March 26-April 1, 1413), though hard-fought, ended in a decisive Laurasian victory. Abu Whazan himself barely evaded capture. From Isabella, Laurasian units recovered Merovech and Tourbonne (April 2-15, 1413); secured the defenses of Qoba-Darkand (April 19); and sacked Orion III (April 22). Bookman was then blockaded by a Laurasian task force, and fell on May 3, 1413, dealing a humiliating blow to the Kimanian strategic position. Toule was reconquered on May 14, and on May 19, the Battle of Alenia ended in another victory for the Emperor of Laurasia. The Emperor's forces then pushed across the Aras Trade Route, isolated Christopher, and forced the Kimanians to Aslanduz, where they won a great victory (May 25, 1413). The Laurasians lost 50,000 troops and thirty of their warships; the Kimanians, almost all of their eighty warships, and more than 140,000 troops. Sultan-Buda was then recovered, and on May 29, the Battle of Katli ended in another victory for Laurasian arms. Breha was stormed again on June 3, and on June 6, the Battle of Karabezouk was the final nail in the coffin. Shogun Comovius was now forced to request for negotiations; on June 11, 1413, the Armistice of Herat was signed. Negotiations then began at Gulistan, a Kimanian colony five light years northwest of Christopher, in August 1413.
 * Finally, on October 24, 1413, the Treaty of Gulistan was signed. By the terms of this treaty, the Celestial Dynasty of Kimania conceded Woolestone, Winehouse, Armenia Major, Armenia Minor, Hinds Prime, Echimadzin, Ganja, Baku, Derbent, Gulistan, Katli, parts of the Aras Trade Route, Hinds Prime, Shrivan, Karabakh, Tarki, and the Upper Run to the vicinity of Rolle and Bookman to the Laurasian Empire. A boundary commission was established to define the exact boundary between the two states; the Imperial Laurasian Government acknowledged the Kimanian rule of Jarjanica. All Laurasian forces were to evacuate the Barsar Regions, not seceded, by January 1, 1415; all prisoners of war were returned. All goods seized in the conflict, however, were to remain in the possession of whoever had them. Moreover, Comovius recognized the Laurasian acquisition of both Upper and Lower Melorkia; Laurasian jursidiction over the Borderlands Territories; and Laurasian rights of intervention and campaign in Ashlgothia. He also pledged to limit the size of his garrisons at Beverly Hereidu and in the Orion Cluster, and to remain at peace with the Empire in the foreseeable future. The Treaty of Gulistan, ratified by both monarchs by the end of November 1413, thereby finally brought the long Kimanian War to an end. Emperor Demetrius could now turn his attention to digesting all of his conquests, but he was to have little peace. The following year would see the Empire thrown into conflict yet again.

1414

 * 1414, the fourteenth year of the fifteenth century, began with the Laurasian Empire, for the first time since the opening of the century, fully restored to peace with all of its neighbors. Emperor Demetrius I, the Fat, had extended the Empire's jurisdiction over the Solidaritan Sultanate, the Kingdoms of Upper and Lower Melorkia, and into the Upper Barsar Regions, besides seizing territories from the Neo-Venasian Consortium. He had gained much renown with his subjects for his military exploits, and for the exploits of his military commanders. The Emperor had also become known as an effective administrator. He maintained, and extended the legal and judicial reforms which had been enacted by his predecessors; systematized the system of taxation; and improved the administration of imperial properties and domains. His military innovations had also expanded the armed forces, introduced new and more modern battle strategies, and improved the technologies employed by both the Army and Navy. Thus, it seemed as if the Empire was lying on solid feet. Yet his territorial expansions had now aroused the absolute concern of Queen Mother Kumthis of Venasia. The Queen Mother, ever since being forced back into peace with the Empire in 1405, had nevertheless not been idle. At Venasia Secondary, Hapes, Ka, Phelope, Febrini, Zardania, and other strongholds in the outer Venasian Cluster and in the Intermediate Provinces, she had embarked upon her own expansion and modernization of the Venasian military forces. The Queen Mother imposed new taxes upon bonds and servitude, and through the Council of High Ones, extended the system of internal tolls, as had long been the traditional right of the Venasian Crown.
 * She hoped that all of these new sources of revenue would provide sufficiently for any military campaigns in the future. She had also re-based the Venasian currency, introducing, in 1408, new silver talons for the Royal Treasury. This helped to improve financial stability. And she had extended diplomatic overtures to other states hostile to the Empire. Her message resonated with the King of Jageronia, Liutprand (1412-44), and with the Despot of Meredita, Cathal Condochir II. The Laurasian conquest of the Robertian Provinces, in 1390-92, by Emperor Antiochus II, had thereby extended the Empire's power and influence up the Rebeccan Galactic Trade Route, and into the Outer Borderlands. It had also aroused the concern of both Jageronia and Meredita, who had both been invaded and forced to make concessions by Emperor Antiochus. King Liutprand was himself an ambitious ruler, and had already come into conflict with the Abbathian Dynasty and the Huntite Caliphate. He now sought to conquer the Robertian Regions, and to push his realm down as far as Elijahana, Bolgrahay, and Robbay. Cathal Condochir II, on his part, who had succeeded his nephew Carragh to the throne in 1402, sought to maintain the independence of the Despotate. As early as November 1412, the three monarchs had parleyed with each other; but it was not until January 9, 1414, before the Treaty of Jeanne was signed, thereby establishing a formal military and diplomatic alliance among them, against the Laurasian Empire.
 * The coalition now proceeded to their plans of attack against the Empire. The Queen Mother's goal was to clear Laurasian units from the Outer Venasian and Decapolian Provinces, to penetrate into the Duchy of Schaueria Prime, and to secure the Rebeccan Galactic Trade Route. She also sought to place the League of Way'tosk, a protectorate of the Empire since 1407, in peril, and to thereby secure her eastern flank. King Liutprand and Despot Cathal Condochir, on their part, sought to cooperate in a series of offensives to expel the Laurasians from the Robertian Provinces. All of these preparations, which had in any case been in formulation for years, received their full maturity by the end of February 1414. On March 8, 1414, the Queen Mother of Venasia summoned the Laurasian Ambassador to the Court of Laurasia Prime, Sir Euytchius Srasius (1367-1432), to her presence. She demanded that the Empire restore all of its conquests, dating back to 1355, to the Neo-Venasian Consortium; that the Emperor of Laurasia restore the Solidaritan Sultanate; and that the Imperial Laurasian Government evacuate the Robertian Provinces. Ambassador Srasius was appalled by these demands, and looked upon them with scorn.
 * Four days later, however, the Ambassador was imprisoned on the orders of the Queen Mother. Venasian communications networks had prevented him from warning the Imperial Court on Laurasia Prime, about the Queen Mother's intentions. It was on March 18, 1414, that the Neo-Venasian Consortium issued a formal declaration of war against the Laurasian Empire; it was followed by both Meredita and Jageronia on March 22. The War of the Three Powers had therefore commenced, to last until 1417. Venasian forces made gains against the Laurasian foe. Lynne fell (March 23-24, 1414), followed in quick succession by Duris (March 26); Organia (March 29); Phyllis (April 1-2); Permi (April 8); and Ruttum (April 12). By the middle of April 1414, Cadaria and Anasia had both capitulated to the Venasians; Podrac and Monderon were subjected to a series of devastating Venasian raiding expeditions. In the Robertian Provinces, King Liutprand besieged and conquered Meris (April 7-19, 1414), drove Laurasian units from Jamuina (April 22), and won the Battle of Izonza (April 28); he was assisted in his efforts by the Mereditan Despotate. May 1414 saw the fall of Monderon, Agac, Aflak, and Bolgrahay to the Venasians in the Core Regions, and of Wakedia, Robert Minor, and Deservo to the Mereditans and Jageronians. Elijahana was also threatened by a Jageronian-Mereditan expedition. This continued also into June and July 1414. On June 3, 1414, the Battle of Wagner ended in another victory for the Venasians. Marcell, Rashid, and Calpurnia then fell (June 4-9, 1414), and on June 22, Venasian forces invaded the League of Way'tosk, capturing Bor'say, Bacturis Invictis, and Wayne (June 24-29, 1414). On July 7, 1414, Decapolia Minor succumbed; Lydia, Dorothy, Alvurg, Farbissinia, Aberdeen, and Shiloh all fell before Venasian forces; and Colsonia was blockaded, beginning on July 20. It's fall on August 2, compounded with that of Smithia (August 8); Archleuta (August 12); Tyleria Perea (August 18); and Drennan (August 22), all humiliated the Imperial Laurasian Government.
 * Emperor Demetrius, however, successfully maintained the defenses of Podrac, and on August 29, he repelled a Venasian offensive against Bartello, Levinston, and Donald. In fact, he had been preparing a major counteroffensive against the Consortium, and its allies. On September 1, General Nerius, who had assumed command of the garrison of Elijahana, was commanded to take charge of Laurasian forces in the Robertian Provinces. McEvlogue, Alamaia I, and Parsons became scenes to confrontations between Laurasian and coalition units (September 7-19, 1414). All of these battles ended in victory for the Laurasian Empire. General Nerius then recovered Jamuina (September 22); Meris (September 26); and Wakedia (October 1), inflicting further humiliating defeats on the coalition. Robert Minor was also secured by the Empire's forces. Emperor Demetrius, on his part, had recovered Lydia, Dorothy, and Alvurg. He now proceeded to the reconquest of Archleuta. Queen Mother Kumthis, seeking to entrap the Emperor of Laurasia, and to break out to Greenia, Compost V, and Mumbraine, reacted. On October 27, 1414, after a Venasian move against Jessica Perea and Selena had been repelled, the Battle of Bouvines was fought between the Laurasian Empire on the one hand, and the Neo-Venasian Consortium. At first, it seemed Kumthis had the advantage. She employed the Venasian Royal Dragons, which were ton-for-ton superior to many of the starfighters of the Imperial Laurasian Navy. She also had a more efficiently organized destroyer force. The Emperor, however, had held the Earl of Taurasia's forces in reserve at Chambon in the Core Worlds, and at the height of the battle, they were called into action.
 * The result was a decisive victory for the Laurasian Empire, and a defeat for the Queen Mother. Nearly half of the Venasian armored forces were destroyed in the confrontation, while the Laurasians lost only ten of their own warships. Archleuta now fell under siege from the Empire's forces; it was not until December 2, 1414, before the Venasian garrison capitulated. But by the end of the year, Laurasian troops had also recovered Decapolia Minor, Agac, Aflak, Rashid, and Shiloh, thereby imposing losses upon their Venasian foes. In the Robertian Provinces too, General Nerius made further advances; Deservo and Robert Minor fell back into his hands in November 1414; and on December 9, he thrashed the coalition in the Battle of Jeanne. Xander fell on December 14, and by the end of December, Laurasian units were harrying the OsonBoka Nebula.

1415

 * 1415, the fifteenth year of the fifteenth century, commenced with the Laurasian Empire of Demetrius I engaged in conflict with the Neo-Venasian Consortium and with the Consortium's allies, the Mereditan Despotate and the Kingdom of Jageronia. In the last months of the previous year, the Empire's military forces had enjoyed some successes. And this continued into the early weeks of 1415. On January 1, 1415 (three centuries before the death of King Lujak XII of Franconia), the Battle of Aberdeen ended in a victory for the forces of Emperor Demetrius. The Emperor proceeded to clear Venasian units from Drennan (January 7-10) and Bolgrahay (January 12), although a Laurasian offensive against Smithia, held by the Venasians, ended in failure (January 13). In the meantime, on January 9, 1415, General Nerius defeated King Liutprand's chief lieutenant, General Godomer, in the Battle of Shelley. By January 19, Parsons had been firmly secured by Laurasian forces, and Nerius proceeded to reduce the Mereditan-held colonies of Derelium, Corlass, Panna, and Newswhatium. February 1415, however, saw reverses for the Empire's forces. The Kingdom of Temperance, which was then under the rule of King Cotys V (1414-19), was tempted by Venasian offers, from April 1414, of control over Elijahana and the League of the States of Way'tosk. It was thus that on February 7, 1415, the King of Temperance issued a declaration of war against the League and the Laurasian Empire. As mentioned above, Venasian units had already occupied Bacturis Invictis, Bor'say, and Wayne. Venasian and Temperanian units now cooperated in seizing Par'say and Millian Sarah (February 8-14, 1415).
 * On February 22, a Temperanian force, with assistance from Venasian units, stormed Hooper and Sanegeta, thereby penetrating out to the Kimanian Trade Run. Chapelle followed on February 28, and on March 2, Grand Junction was firmly secured by coalition forces. By March 8, Laurasian units had also been expelled from the Millian colonies of Bone, Perinni, and Mersrinni. General Nerius was forced to strengthen the defenses of Elijahana, and consequently, Wakedia, Meris, and Corlass were all reoccupied by coalition forces that month (March 1415). On March 15, 1415, Agac fell once again into Venasian hands; Vindictoria and Esmeralda were assaulted from March 22, and both were in the possession of the Consortium by April 6.
 * Emperor Demetrius therefore had to contend with the new theater of conflict, and the new troubles, in the Eastern Regions. At the same time, however, he authorized for a series of renewed campaigns, led by General Germanicus, from the Ashlgothian Borderlands Territories and into the Kingdom of Ashlgothia. On September 9, 1414, Prince Achila had finally succeeded in capturing Ashlgothia Major; four days later, Roderic fell into his hands, and was, on his orders, executed. His remains were dumped into the vaccuum of space; General Arminius pledged his allegiance to Achila. Yet the Ashlgothian dominions had been seriously weakened by the civil war; in November and December 1414, Redia, Sejucia, and Ruumlist were disturbed by a major uprising. The value of the Ashlgothian gueldros declined, and the threat of piracy, and of smuggling, intensified within the kingdom's realms. Moreover, Ashlgothian raiding parties struck against Kane, Peterslie, and Jennings during this time, thereby giving the Empire an excuse for intervention.
 * It was on April 9, 1415, that the Emperor of Laurasia issued a renewed declaration of war against the Kingdom of Ashlgothia. General Germanicus now moved, swiftly, into Ashlgothian territory. He besieged and conquered Vetera (April 18-14); Moguntia (April 22); and Stapleton (April 28). The Battle of O'Connor, fought from May 1-4, 1415, ended in another victory for Laurasian forces. From O'Connor, Gigi was besieged by the Empire, beginning on May 9, 1415. The Siege of Gigi lasted for nearly two months, finally concluding on July 1, 1415, with the stronghold falling into Laurasian hands. Trebek was then sacked by a Laurasian expeditionary force (July 2-6, 1415), and on July 12, the Battle of Jeremy ended in another victory for General Germanicus. During those some months, events transpired further in the Core Regions. Eutagia and Acamaria were secured, in April 1415, by the coalition forces; Benzit V fell shortly afterwards; and Rose was even threatened by a Venasian expedition. On May 8, 1415, the defenses of Hammenor were breached by a Venasian force, which then went on to seize Caroline, Jem, Dill, and Boo. Moves against Jean and Atticus failed however (May 12-17, 1415), and on May 18, 1415, Monderon was recovered by the Laurasians. Drennan followed on May 22, and on May 26, the Battle of Boydaria ended in a decisive victory for the forces of the Empire and League. Bacturis Invictis was recovered in June 1415.
 * Then on July 7, 1415, Laurasian forces won two battles in two different theaters: the Battle of Bronson in the Upper Robertian Regions, and the Battle of Larma in Ashlgothia. As a result of these battles, Sheehan, Gehring, and Abuza fell into Laurasian hands in Robert, while Larma succumbed in Ashlgothia. Laurasian units then stormed Levy (July 14, 1415), and on July 22, Germanicus humiliated Arminius in the Battle of Dylan, thereby gaining revenge for the losses of the earlier campaigns. Abigail and Paige were both seized (July 24-August 2, 1415), and by the end of August 1415, Walden was also in Laurasian hands. On September 7, 1415, Laura was besieged by a Laurasian expeditionary force; the world resisted for nearly a month, but fell on the 28th. By the beginning of October 1415, also, Laurasian units had recovered, in the Robertian Regions, Meris, Corlass, and Wakedia; from Xander, they seriously threatened Challenger and Meredith itself. On October 18, 1415, a Ashlgothian counteoffensive at Jack was terminated by General Germanicus; he then seized Richard on October 22, followed by DeMarcus (October 28), and then, on November 2, he isolated Greg. Greg's fall on November 11, 1415, was a serious blow to the Ashlgothians. During the course of November 1415, Eutagia, Acamaria, Benztir V, and Agac were all recovered by Laurasian units, and a Laurasian force drove Venasian units from the outskirts of Big Twinny and Leopoldia. On December 8, 1415, Sanegeta fell under siege by the Empire's forces; its recovery on December 17 was accomplished by the Emperor himself. By the end of 1415, Laurasian units were besieging Challenger in the Robertian Regions, Warren in Ashlgothia, and Permi in the Venasian Provinces.
 * On September 24, 1415, the future Emperor Vitellius (1469) was born in Roma City, Reoyania, in the Central Core. He was the son of Sir Lucillus Verius, 1st Baronet Verius (1382-1451), and his wife Sextilla (1395-1469). His younger brother was to be Lucius (1417-69). His father was a prominent gentleman in the system of Reoyania, and was destined to become the first Governor of Donguaria Prima, during the reign of Emperor Tiberius. Vitellius would be raised in luxury and great comfort throughout his childhood and teenage years, which would influence his habits in his later years.

1416

 * As 1416, the sixteenth year of the fifteenth century, began, the Laurasian Empire was truly on the ascendant over its rivals, in the form of the Neo-Venasian Consortium, the Mereditan Despotate, and the Kingdom of Jageronia. Emperor Demetrius, earning renewed acclaim from his subjects for his renewed success, sought to continue to push the offensive further against the Empire's enemies. On January 7, 1416, the Siege of Permi ended in victory for the Empire's forces. Following this, the Emperor proceeded to recover both Cadaria and Anasia; these strongholds were back in Laurasian hands by January 23. On January 26, 1416, the Siege of Challenger ended in victory for the Empire also, with General Nerius capturing nearly half of the Jageronian-Mereditan garrison. From Challenger, the General sacked Sofia (February 7-4, 1416) and repelled a counteroffensive against Alamaia I (February 11, 1416). Iego was then laid under siege from February 16; the stronghold was resilient, but ultimately proved no match for superior Laurasian military capabilities, and fell on March 2. By March 8, Izonza was also in Laurasian hands, and on March 14, Dickinson fell under siege. Despot Condochir himself now assumed command of the world's garrison, and he launched a series of vain assaults against Laurasian positions at Rudrig, Argai, and Clariv (March 17-25, 1416), all of whom failed to achieve anything substantial.
 * In the Ashlgothian Regions, events proceeded rapidly. On January 11, 1416, the Siege of Warren ended in victory for the Empire's forces under General Germanicus. Germanicus then proceeded to storm Larkin (January 22-February 7, 1416). On February 19, 1416, Larkin fell under siege by the Empire's forces. In spite of the efforts of General Arminius, this world too could not resist the Laurasian onslaught, and by the end of the month, it had fallen. March 1416 saw Laurasian forces subdue Ashlgothia Minor, India, and the outposts of the Trans-Larkin, thereby inflicting a series of further humiliations upon the Ashlgothians. King Achila, on his part, was becoming increasingly unpopular, and was viewed as ineffective. The tensions building up against him, among the ranks of the Ashlgothian nobility, were encouraged by agents of the Imperial Intelligence Agency. On April 7, 1416, the day after Laurasian forces won the Battle of Drennan against the coalition forces, the King of Ashlgothia was assassinated at his palace on Ashlgothia Major. The leader of the assassins, Prince Ardo, now seized the throne as Ardo I. Yet the Battle of Sykes (April 9-13, 1416), fought shortly after his accession, resulted in the utter annihilation of Arminius's forces by General Germanicus. Germanicus then won further victories at Anigvaria (April 18) and the Weser (May 1), recovering many of the standards and military equipment which had been won by the Ashlgothians at Teutoberg back in 1409. It was thus, on May 8, 1416, that the King of Ashlgothia was forced to sue for peace. An armistice was signed on Roatafaria Minor (May 14, 1416), and on June 2, 1416, a conference opened at Wanda, in the vicinity of Ashlgothia Major.
 * The Treaty of Wanda (July 11, 1416), resulted in the cessation of military hostilities between the Laurasian Empire and the Kingdom of Ashlgothia. By the terms of this treaty, the Laurasian Empire acquired Teutoberg, Gigi, Stapleton, Vetera, Moguntia, Anigvaria, and the colonies of the Trans-Larkin, thereby improving the security of the Ashlgothian Borderland Territories. All prisoners of war and military equipment seized by the Laurasians during the campaigns were to remain in Laurasian hands. The King of Ashlgothia agreed to acknowledge the Emperor of Laurasia as his overlord; to allow Laurasian military forces free access throughout his territories; and to restrain all raiding expeditions, by Ashlgothian units, into Laurasian territory. He also agreed to recognize the Laurasian annexation of the Melorkian Provinces and the Empire's acquisition of what remained of the Solidaritan Sultanate. In return, all Laurasian military forces were to be evacuated from the remainder of Ashlgothia by January 1, 1418. The Treaty of Wanda, ratified in August 1416, proved to be only a temporary break in the conflict between Laurasia and Ashlgothia.
 * As regards to the other regions of the war, matters continued to proceed. Dickinson finally fell on June 2, 1416. It was followed by Sofia (June 8) and then Brenda (June 12-19), thereby entrenching the Empire's forces in the depths of Mereditan and Jageronian territory. The strongholds of the OsonBoka Nebula now came under assault from General Tiberius's forces. He reduced Oseon, Scillai, and Antipose (June 22-25, 1416), and on July 2, 1416, won the Battle of Erlinar. A counteroffensive by Mereditan units at Rowley failed (July 4-7, 1416), and the Battle of Smoot (July 14, 1416), resulted in another victory for the forces of the Empire. By the end of July, Laurasian units had also conquered Ringelida, Dionexla, and Uexa. Farther west, a move by Temperanian forces against Elijahana failed (June 1416). Emperor Demetrius then recovered Phyllis, Duris, Ruttum, Lynne, and Maxiliana in a series of brilliant offensives, from June to September 1416. By the beginning of September 1416, Venasian units had also been expelled from Caroline, Jem, Dill, and Boo; were being besieged at Esmeralda and Vindictoria; and had been cut off from Smithia. Yet Emperor Demetrius's health had, by this point, entered a serious decline.
 * The Emperor's great physical bulk had always been a problem for him, and he had become less and less capable of physical exercise. In February 1416, the Emperor had suffered a panic attack while conducting operations near Robbay, and had been forced to take mineral waters, brought in from Idyll (which would become renowned from this point on as a major therapeutic resort in the Caladarian Galaxy). This availed him nothing, however, and by September 11, it was obvious that his health had entered a permanent, and terminal decline. On September 22, delegating command duties to the Earl of Taurasia in the Outer Venasian Territories, the Emperor retreated back to Laurasia Prime, arriving there on September 26. On September 29, 1416, Esmeralda was recovered by the Empire's forces; Vindictoria followed on October 5. Smithia was blockaded from October 9, and was soon within peril. In his last public manifesto to his subjects, which was issued on October 16, 1416, the Emperor praised these victories obtained by his Empire's forces, and expressed his hope that the conflict would soon be brought to an end. The following day, he suffered a massive heart attack, and was rushed to the Imperial Hospital of the Quencilvanian Palace. The Emperor's wife, Empress Consort Maria Sompakalos, as well as Empress Dowager Eleanora of Briannia, and the members of the Senate, Synod, and Council of Civil Service, rushed to his side. They pressed upon the Emperor to name a successor. Indeed, the succession was in doubt. The Emperor's only son, Grand Prince Antiochus, who had been born on October 1, 1407, had died on November 16, 1415, at the age of only eight.
 * His last surviving sibling, Grand Princess Eleanora, had died on October 31, 1414, at the age of fifty-two, without any surviving children of her own. His sisters, Julia and Messalina, had married but never had any children of their own. Grand Prince Decabulus, the Young Emperor, had died childless, as had Demetrius's predecessor, his other brother Antiochus II, although both had married. The Duke of Chancia, the son of Grand Prince Leonnatus, had of course been executed on the Emperor's orders. The line of Seleucus I's elder brother and co-ruler, Menelaus the Feeble, had gone extinct with the death of his daughter Anna, childless, in 1340. As a result, the Leonidian Dynasty, which had governed over the Laurasian Dominions for two centuries, was therefore doomed. Demetrius, who had been confident that he could still have children, had not prepared for this contingency, and now, in extreme agony, he could not respond to the pleas. He slipped out of all consciousness, and the Last Rites were administered late on October 18. On October 19, 1416, Demetrius I the Fat, the tenth and last sovereign of the Leonidian Dynasty, died, aged 50, at the Quencilvanian Palace in Christiania, Laurasia Prime.
 * The Emperor's death was greeted with much mourning throughout the Empire's realms. He had, through his vigorous military campaigns, definitively consolidated the Laurasian Empire's place as the most powerful state in the Core Regions, and had also maintained good governance while he was at it. Yet immediately following his death, the Senate and Synod moved swiftly to resolve the problem of the vacancy on the imperial throne. The Law of Succession of 1322 provided that if no Emperor had left a testament, the bodies of state could elect a successor. This was now used by them. They offered the throne, late on October 19, to the most popular and successful of Demetrius I's generals: General Tiberius Nerius. Nerius, who was now fifty-six years old, had cultivated a base of support among the aristocratic and governmental circles of Laurasia Prime, and was therefore well posed to occupy the throne. He accepted the offer quickly. On October 21, 1416, General Nerius was formally proclaimed Emperor and Autocrat of All the Laurasians, as Tiberius I. Thus, the Tiberian Dynasty had been established, and was to govern the Empire for the next fifty-two years. Demetrius I would be interred at the Old Westphalian Cathedral on November 9, 1416, in a ceremony presided over by the Chancellor, the Archbishop of Vetta.
 * The now Emperor Tiberius intensified the campaigns in the Robertian Regions, aiming for the final subjection of the Mereditan Despotate. Derelium and Newswhatium were both stormed by Laurasian units (October 22-27, 1416), and on November 2, 1416, the Battle of Sarammonas ended in a decisive victory for the Emperor of Laurasia. The Emperor then proceeded to capture Arleen, Rafa, and Dela, and on November 18, he laid Zebitrope under siege. Zebitrope resisted for some time, but its fall on November 29, 1416, dealt another blow to the Mereditans. By the middle of December 1416, Laurasian troops had also overrun Trammis, Hoxrel, Renastasia, and the system of ThonBoka proper, humiliating the coalition further. In the Venasian Provinces, Ka was stormed by the forces of the Earl of Taurasia (December 8-14, 1416), and on December 22, Grand Junction fell into the hands of allied forces. By the end of 1416, Iego and Meredita were both under threat of siege.

1417

 * 1417, the seventeenth year of the fifteenth century, began with the Laurasian Empire having now passed under the rule of Emperor Tiberius I, who had been one of his predecessor's leading generals. The death of Demetrius the Fat without children had resulted in his accession, and in the end of the Leonidian Dynasty, which had ruled over the Empire for more than two centuries. During the early months of 1417, Emperor Tiberius focused on bringing the War of the Three Powers to a definitive end. On January 4, 1417, Iego was besieged by the forces of the Empire. The Emperor himself, in the tradition of Seleucus I a century before, when he had commenced the siege of Schaueria Prime, fired the first turbocannon. The Siege of Iego lasted for the better part of a month, as the forces of King Liutprand of Jageronia attempted in vain to break the Laurasian lines, and to push back to the Rebeccan Galactic Trade Route. Ultimately, however, Iego's defenses cracked, and on February 1, they were breached by the Imperial Laurasian Navy. Laurasian troops then landed on Iego's surface, and quickly subdued all of its settlements, military fortifications, and government buildings. Iego was completely in Laurasian hands by February 6. From Iego, Meredith itself was now assaulted (February 11, 1417). The ensuing Battle of Meredita saw Despot Cathal Condochir II pose his last stand to the forces of the Empire. It was a vain effort, and Emperor Tiberius obtained a decisive victory over the weakened, disorganized, and disoriented coalition forces. Meredith fell within the day; the Despotic Palace was plundered by Laurasian troops; and the Mereditan Council of Warriors was forced to tender an oath of allegiance to the Imperial Laurasian Government. Cathal Condochir II himself was then captured at Vjeme (March 2, 1417), and was, on the orders of the Emperor, bound in chains. On March 6, the Earl of Taurasia stormed the defenses of Venasia Secondary, inflicting a humiliating loss upon the Queen Mother's forces.
 * Laurasian forces then conquered Zadaria, Phelope, Maires, and Relephon during the course of March 1417. It was the Battle of Hapes (April 2-5, 1417), that finally convinced Kumthis and Liutprand that all was lost. They now begged for negotiations with the Imperial Laurasian Government. Emperor Tiberius, appeased by their submission, agreed, and the Armistice of Daruvia was signed on April 18, 1417, terminating all military hostilities. The League of Way'tosk and the Kingdom of Temperance, under Cotys V, signed a separate Armistice of Wayne, in conjunction with the Empire, on April 22. Then on May 4, 1417, all parties, from all of the states, convened for a conference at Tommy. Negotiations lasted for less than a month. On May 17, 1417, the Treaty of Tommy was signed. By the terms of the treaty, the Laurasian Empire formally acquired all of the territories of the defunct Mereditan Despotate, including Meredith, Iego, Jeanne, Xander, Dickinson, Izonza, Abuza, Abrianna, Parsons, Sofia, Alamaia I, Jagornia, McEvlogue, and the Western OsonBoka Reaches. Moreover, all parties acknowledged Laurasian annexation of the Solidaritan Sultanate, of the Kingdom of Lower Melorkia, and of the territories won from Kimania and Ashlgothia earlier in the decade. The Venasian Consortium now conceded Ka and the Gateworlds, including Zadaria, Phelope, Olanji, Lurrha, Febrini, and Sargon, to the authority of the Imperial Laurasian Government. Both Kumthis and Liutprand promised to limit the size of their military forces, to one-fourth of what they enjoyed before the war; to allow Laurasian navigators, officials, and starhooppers free access through their territories; and to abolish all tariffs. The League of Way'tosk was confirmed in its status as a protectorate of the Laurasian Empire, and the status quo ante bellum was reimposed, in territorial and other matters, between it and Temperance.
 * The Treaty of Tommy, therefore, confirmed the arising ascendancy of the Laurasian Empire. Ratified by all parties by the middle of June 1417, it brought the War of the Three Powers to an end. Emperor Tiberius, on his part, finally returned to Laurasia Prime on July 3, 1417, with General Germanicus (the Earl of Taurasia oversaw demobilization and withdrawals in the Robertian Provinces, and in the Venasian Cluster). The Emperor conducted a victorious triumph through the two Calaxies, Jadia, Hepudermia, and into the city of Christiania. He was received with acclaim by his subjects, and was hailed by the Senate with the titles of Mereditus Maximus and Venasius Maximus. General Germanicus was formally awarded the Order of St. Honorius the Liberator, and promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-General for his exploits. Then on August 1, 1417, Emperor Tiberius formally crowned himself, with the Great Imperial Crown, at the Old Westphalian Cathedral. His coronation was one of great splendor and occasion. The Emperor named his former colleague, General Lucius Aurelius Sejanius (1381-1431), as the Praetorian Prefect. He kept the Archbishop of Darcia as his Chancellor. The last months of 1417 saw the Empire enjoying a period of tranquility and peace, digesting its conquests and adjusting to the rule of a new Emperor. In November 1417, the Emperor conducted a short progress in the vicinity of Laurasia Prime.

1419

 * Following the end of the War of the Three Powers, and the coronation of Emperor Tiberius I, the Laurasian Empire had fallen into a period of relative tranquility. The year 1418 was marked by nothing noteworthy, except that in February of that year, the Emperor named General Germanicus as the Governor of Robert, and gave him responsibility for overseeing the successful incorporation of the former Mereditan Despotate's territories into the Laurasian Empire. Germanicus had performed this duty diligently and faithfully. He did, however, get into trouble with the Lieutenant Governor of Iego, Sir Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso, 2nd Baron Piso (1363-1420), who defied many of his commands relating to taxation and the imposition of civil law practices. It was on his initiative that in November 1418, Piso was formally dismissed from his position as Lieutenant Governor, and was recalled to Laurasia Prime by the Emperor. Yet a year of relative peace and tranquility was followed by another year of renewed conflict and intervention for the Imperial Laurasian Government.
 * The Kingdom of Temperance, which as mentioned above had aligned itself with the Coalition, and had been forced back to the status quo ante bellum, now, like the League of the States of Way'tosk, found itself falling into the Laurasian Empire's sphere of influence. King Cotys V, in September 1418, imprisoned at Mariana Sirtis his nephew, Prince Rhescuporis, who had a claim to the throne of his kingdom. Rhescuporis was supported by notables at Deborah, Majoria Schall, and Boydaria; on January 7, 1419, they arose in rebellion against King Cotys, denouncing his authority. Jonathania and Predosur fell into the hands of the rebels by the end of the month; they also occupied the Millian colony of Wayne, in Way'toskian territory. Then, on February 15, 1419, King Cotys died suddenly on Par'say, after a reign of five years.
 * Emperor Tiberius now took advantage of these tensions to intervene in the affairs of Temperance. Prince Rhescuporis, who had remained a prisoner at Mariana Sirtia, was assassinated (March 1, 1419). His death therefore seemingly destroyed the object of the rebellion. Yet Rhescuporis's son, Rhometacles, along with his widow Tryphaena, both of whom had raised their standard at Endaker, were poised to become the new masters of Temperance. The young Rhometacles was only seven years old at the time, and thus it was Princess Tryphaena who, on March 9, 1419, appealed to the Emperor of Laurasia for aid to seize the throne. In return, she pledged that the Kingdom of Temperance would become a protectorate of the Laurasian Empire. Tiberius found this too good an offer to pass up, and he accepted it on March 14. Then on March 19, the Earl of Taurasia, operating from Cadaria, Anasia, Monderon, Phyilis, and Elijahana, cooperated with a force dispatched by the League and entered the territory of Temperance. He defeated a government force at Juno (March 22-29, 1419), and then proceeded to Bor'say and Grand Junction. From thence, he occupied Borenaz (April 1, 1419). Finally, on April 4, the rebels formally proclaimed Rhometacles to be the King of Temperance as Rhometacles II, hailing his mother as his regent. Effecting a junction with the Earl at Edwards, they then proceeded into Temperance itself (April 14-19, 1419). The stronghold was occupied, and the High Council of Temperance was compelled to swear an oath of allegiance to Rhometacles as King.
 * The new government then instigated negotiations with that of the Laurasian Empire. These negotiations lasted for the remainder of the month, and on May 4, 1419, the Treaty of Temperance was signed. By the terms of this treaty, the Kingdom of Temperance became a formal protectorate of the Laurasian Empire. King Rhometacles, and his successors, were to swear an oath of allegiance to the Emperor of Laurasia. Mariana Sirtis, Borenaz, and Jonathania were conceded to the authority of the Empire; Laurasian military forces gained free access privileges through Temperanian territory; and Temperanian foreign policy became subject to the Emperor's approval. Temperance promised to provide units for the Empire's benefit in all military conflicts it engaged in, and to remain on friendly terms with the League of Way'tosk. Thus, the two chief Millian States were now both vassals of the Empire.
 * With Temperance under the Empire's protectorship, Emperor Tiberius now turned his attention to unfinished business in the Kingdom of Ashlgothia. By May 1419, the Emperor had come around to the viewpoint that Ashlgothia needed to be eliminated as a threat to the Empire, and that its incorporation would further consolidate the Laurasian hold of the Melorkian Provinces. It would also allow for further Laurasian penetration into the Wild Marshes. Thus it was on February 19, 1419, that General Germanicus had been reassigned to duty, once more, in the Borderlands Territories. During the succeeding months, Germanicus had assembled his units at Gigi, Stapleton, the colonies of the Trans-Larkin, Kane, Baiteman, Kathryn, Emma, Imma, Peterslie, Tahon, and Bryce for the renewed moves into Ashlgothian territory. General Arminius, on his part, had been imprisoned by King Ardo from July to November 1418, and then kept in confinement at Trebek. This did not help matters, and thereby weakened Ashlgothian defenses further against the Empire.
 * Finally, on June 1, 1419, with Temperance secure, the Emperor issued the orders to General Germanicus to advance. Germanicus did so swiftly, and without warning, launched a series of coordinated offensives into Ashlgothian territory. Larkin itself became the first target of the renewed operations by the Empire's forces. It was besieged from June 3. Arminius now hastened to shore up the stronghold's defenses, but in spite of his efforts, the stronghold fell into Laurasian hands on June 8. By June 14, Laurasian units had stormed Wanda; Sykes, site of the Laurasian victory of 1416, fell on June 29; and on July 8, 1419, the Weser Belts were again assaulted by Laurasian units. Here Arminius, with the assistance of Ashlgothian Admiral Athaulf, was able to pose a more effective resistance to Laurasian advances. For ten days, Germanicus's units struggled with those of the enemy at the Weser outposts of Tyrdis, Rion II, and Xiclon-B. Finally, however, the Belts succumbed, and on July 18, Walden was again seized by the Empire. August 1416 saw the fall of Richard into Laurasian hands; Madlynn followed on September 3; and on September 9, 1419, the Battle of Jack ended in a decisive Laurasian victory. This stronghold had been subjected to an Ashlgothian counter-offensive. India was then besieged from September 12, 1419; Ashlgothian moves against Jeremy, Kane, and Baiteman failed; and the world fell on September 27. On October 2, Warren was occupied by the Empire.
 * General Germanicus's health, however, had taken a turn for the worse, and on October 4, while leading an assault against the Ashlgothian outpost of Demene, he fell violently ill. He was now obliged to retreat to his headquarters on Kathryn, and sought to receive treatments from his personal physicians. These efforts, however, were in vain, and the General's condition gradually deteriorated. Finally, on October 10, 1419, he died, aged only 33, at Kathryn. The news of this General's death was greeted with much bewailing throughout the Empire, according to Ulagrai, Aoari, and Monophalaus. Many Laurasians throughout the Empire believed that Germanicus was destined to succeed Tiberius as Emperor, and that he would have instigated a further, extensive expansion of the Empire's territories. Germanicus was considered by some to be a child of the Lord Paul and his agents; by others, to be the protector of galactic peoples; and by yet others as the greatest warrior of the age. Emperor Tiberius himself issued his sincere condolences for the widow and children of the General, and ordered the Court into two weeks of mourning. Germanicus's body was placed on a bier, and was, on the Emperor's orders, brought by procession, up the Kimanian Trade Run, to Laurasia Prime. He was then placed in state at the Quencilvanian Palace, and was to remain there for over a month.
 * Emperor Tiberius, who was engaged in administrative and financial reform on Laurasia Prime, now scrambled to find a new commander, for the Empire had suffered another loss. On May 14, 1419, just ten days after the conclusion of the Treaty of Temperance, the Earl of Taurasia had died at Podrac, aged 72; his death had also been bewailed throughout the Empire, and he had been given a state funeral on Laurasia Prime. The Emperor, however, finally settled upon his Praetorian Prefect, General Serjanius, and commanded him, on October 22, 1419, to assume command of the operations in Ashlgothia. Serjanius departed immediately from the capital world, and proceeded to the outskirts of India. In the meantime, Arminius had launched a series of desperate counteroffensives into the Crimeanian Provinces, hoping to draw Laurasian units off. George, Osriana, and Brittany had been stormed by Ashlgothian units (October 12-19, 1419); Meris V had been sacked (October 22); and a Ashlgothian force threatened the outskirts of Nathaniel and Chessman. On October 25, 1419, however, the Battle of Sanger ended in a decisive victory for General Serjanius, who now proved his military prowess. All of these strongholds were recovered by November 14; Trebek was occupied on November 22; and finally, on December 7, 1419, India fell into the hands of the Empire. By the end of the year, Ashlgothia Minor and Jeopardy were both being besieged by Laurasian forces. As for General Germanicus, he was finally buried at the Old Westphalian Cathedral on December 14, 1419. His funeral was to be one of the greatest of Laurasian history for a public, non-royal personage, to later be equaled by that for Sir Philip Sidronius (another young military hero), more than three centuries later, in 1786.

1420

 * 1420, the twentieth year of the fifteenth century, commenced with the Laurasian Empire's military campaigns in the Kingdom of Ashlgothia continuing in earnest. January 1420 saw Arminius again launching a series of counteroffensives against the Laurasians. Stapleton's defenses were penetrated by an Ashlgothian expeditionary force (January 7-10, 1420). From thence, the Ashlgothian General captured a Laurasian task force at Debera (January 22) and on January 27, 1420, won the Battle of Upper Gumena. By February 4, the Trans-Larkin outposts of Osias, Daphe, and Maisie had been overrun by the Ashlgothians, and Gigi was blockaded from February 11. General Arminius, however, then blundered in an attack on Courtney (February 12-19, 1419), and on February 22, the Battle of Isaac, fought near Woolestone, ended in a decisive defeat for him. General Serjanius then relieved the blockade of Gigi (February 28, 1420) and drove Ashlgothian units into a trap at the Sweat Star, where he won a decisive victory on March 2. By March 7, Daphne and Maisie were both back in Laurasian hands; Stapleton and Debera were recovered on March 11; and the Battle of Atlas, on March 22, 1420, ended in another Laurasian victory. On March 28, 1420, Ashlgothia Minor finally fell to the Empire. A Laurasian task force then struck at Sejak and Vanna, storming both (April 4-7), and on April 11, Benjamin fell into Laurasian hands.
 * Trebek followed on April 22, 1420; May 1420 then saw Ashlgothian counteroffensives against Roastafaria Major, Jasmine, Isabella, Kelly, the colony of Donaldson, and Thelma, to no avail. The Battle of Trisha (June 3, 1420), was another victory for the Empire's forces. Jeopardy was conquered ten days later; Jessie, Raja, and Guptah followed by the end of June; and Nandia was besieged, beginning on July 18. The fall of Nandia nearly two months later, on September 3, 1420, constituted another victory for Laurasian arms. Ashlgothian attempts to recover Greg failed, and Ashlgothian White fell on September 19, 1420. Leslie was then assaulted, and in October 1420, it too was overrun by the Laurasian Empire's forces. General Serjanius then ranged against Harvey, capturing the Ashlgothian military repository there (November 9-14, 1420). The colony of Steve was then sacked, and on November 22, 1420, the Battle of Bietra ended with the Laurasians seizing a valuable Ashlgothian supply convoy. Then on December 9, 1420, the Siege of Nicole commenced. This world, the gateway to the Wild Marshes and Galactic Borderlands, remained cut off as the year closed out.

1421

 * The year 1421, which marked the centennial anniversary of the end of the Great Briannian War, and of the Laurasian Empire's foundation, began with Laurasian forces on the verge of completing the conquest of Ashlgothia. Emperor Tiberius hailed the victories of General Serjanius and of his other military commanders, and sent him encouraging communiques, urging him on to the completion of his task. On January 7, 1421, Nicole succumbed to the Empire's forces. Sejucia followed (January 18), and on January 22, Redia was assaulted. That world proved no match to the might of the Empire's forces, and it too fell on February 7, 1421. Then on February 13, the Battle of Tasonaburg ended in another victory for General Serjanius, who captured twelve of Arminius's subordinate commanders. Finally, on February 22, 1421, Arminius himself was assassinated by his own officers, who had been recruited by the Imperial Intelligence Agency to that task. They were lead by Commander Italicus, who sought to gain favor with the Laurasian invaders.
 * It was Italicus who, on March 2, 1421, surrendered the garrisons of Larma, Levy, and Dylan to General Serjanius. For this, he would be rewarded by Emperor Tiberius. Abigail and Paige then succumbed to Laurasian assaults (March 18-22, 1421), and on April 3, 1421, Ashlgothia Major itself was finally besieged by the Empire's forces. King Ardo proved unequal to the task of hurling the Laurasian invaders back. Two days later, the Imperial Laurasian Navy's squadrons, having swept off all opposition from the field, pierced through Ashlgothia Major's defenses, and destroyed its orbital defense platforms. The world was now subjected to a direct Laurasian land offensive. The Imperial Laurasian Army and Marines were ruthless, and they followed the typical policy of rapine, devastation, and massacre. Ashlgothian settlements were plundered and seized; the Palace of King Wallia, and the other great Ashlgothian monuments, all fell into Laurasian hands; and the Great Treasury of Ashlgothia was confiscated. Ardo himself was captured by Laurasian troops, and brought before General Serjanius.
 * The General treated the Ashlgothian ruler with some respect, but nevertheless compelled him to sign a formal declaration of abdication, surrendering all claims to the Ashlgothian throne and territories, to the Laurasian Empire. The fall of Ashlgothia Major was followed by the Laurasian subjection of Laura and O'Connor (April 1421). By the end of that month, Laurasian forces had subdued the vast region extending from the Kimanian Trade Run to the Wild Marshes. The Kingdom of Ashlgothia, which had been originally established under Alaric I in 1095, and had consolidated itself as a territorial power under Athaulf and Wallia in 1110-19, had therefore ceased to exist. This state, which had played a role in the fall of the Huntite and Crimeanian Khanates, had now itself fallen to the Laurasian Empire. It is to be noted that by 1421, Laurasia had subdued three barbarian states which had emerged from the Dark Ages; Solidarita, Melorkia, and Ashlgothia.
 * Emperor Tiberius issued the formal decree of annexation on June 3, 1421. In his decree, he also granted Ardo the rank and title of King Emeritus of Ashlgothia, and permitted for him to retire to estates on India and Consuela. Ardo was to live out the rest of his days peacefully until his death on January 3, 1437, just over two months before the Emperor's own. General Serjanius now occupied himself, for much of the rest of 1421, with the task of suppressing Ashlgothian cells and rebel bands, consolidating the Empire's conquest of Ashlgothia Major, and imposing the policies of the Imperial Laurasian Government in those regions. Emperor Tiberius, on his part, enjoined his subjects to celebrate the annexations, organizing a series of games, gladiatorial contests, tournaments, parades, and the like on Laurasia Prime. Then on November 25, 1421, the Emperor led the celebrations and festivities for the 100th anniversary of the Laurasian Empire's foundation. He himself visited the tomb of Seleucus the Victor, and paid his respects to the Empire's great founder. The Empire had expanded significantly, in territorial terms, since the time of Seleucus the Victor.
 * With the incorporation of Ashlgothia, it now extended from the Morganian and Kelvanian Provinces in the Wild Marshes (subdued during the thirteenth century) across to the outskirts of Jageronia in the Far Outer Borderlands, and thence, down to the Upper Barsar Regions and the lower Middle Territories. Laurasia was, by 1421, the dominant power of the Core, and one of the leading powers of the Galaxy. It now embraced the territories formerly belonging to the Stellar Kingdom of Laurasia, the Celestial Kingdom of Briannia, the Solidaritan Sultanate, the Venasian Consortium (outside of the Venasian Cluster), parts of the Polonian-Donguarian Commonwealth, the Kingdom of Melorkia, the Mereditan Despotate, the Kingdom of Ashlgothia, and the entire Central Core. It was to be another 352 years, however, before Laurasia became the galactic power. The mood on Laurasia Prime, and in the Purse Region, was jubilant as 1421 came to its close.

1422

 * 1422 saw the further extension of Laurasian influence and prestige. The early months of the year, however, saw an event of domestic significance on Laurasia Prime: the construction of the Casta Praetoria (Praetorian Barracks), in Christiania, Laurasia Prime. This was a project instigated by the Praetorian Prefect, General Serjanius. The Praetorian Guards had, by 1422, evolved into a force of political significance within the Empire. As founded by Seleucus I, the Guards served as a bodyguard to the Emperor, to members of the Imperial Family, and to officials of the Imperial Laurasian Government. Yet it had also taken charge of law enforcement, general administration, and the maintenance of public order in the city of Christiania, and in the other cities of Laurasia Prime. It constituted a major part of the garrison of Laurasia Prime, and its presence served as a reminder to the Councils of State, and to the Empire's subjects in the star system, of the substantial armed force which served as a basis for imperial power. Serjanius, seeking to strengthen the position of his master, the Emperor, further, and to cow all opposition, had embarked upon an expansion of the ranks. The number of cohorts within the Guards, originally nine as defined by Emperor Seleucus, was increased to twelve. One of these cohorts was to be stationed for all time at the Quencilvanian Palace. The pay rates of the Guards was raised; Serjanius took into his hands the responsibility for appointing the tribunes and centurions of the Guards; and they were openly displayed in imperial parades.
 * To consolidate all of this, he began, in January 1422, the aforementioned construction of the Casta Praetoria. These barracks, which constituted a centralized, single garrison for the Guards, were completed three months later; Serjanius employed construction robots and conscripted laborers in order to accelerate the construction. The barracks comprised room enough to house 50,000 troops; was located twelve miles to the west of the Quencilvanian Palace; and was defended by a series of towers and ramparts. Gates controlled access into the barracks, which had its own military repository, prison, chapel, and living chambers. It was supplied with enough material to last a substantial siege, and with a ceremonial stall for the honors of the regiments. The Casta Praetoria towered over all surrounding structures, and became one of the most important on Laurasia Prime. It was destined to stand for the next two and a half centuries, until its destruction by Neuchrus I in 1688-89.
 * As regards to the extension of influence, it was this: the subjection of the Neo-Venasian Consortium to the overlordship of the Laurasian Empire. On July 14, 1422, Queen Mother Kumthis, that ardently anti-Laurasian personage who had fought Antiochus I, Antiochus II, and Demetrius I, had sought to obstruct the Empire's territorial expansion, and had engaged in efforts to undermine the Empire's internal stability, died, aged 63. She had reigned for forty-two years. The death of the Venasian Queen Mother now gave Emperor Tiberius the opportunity to impose his Empire over the Neo-Venasian Consortium, thereby improving its own strength and territorial intergity in the process. On August 1, 1422, the Emperor ordered General Serjanius to advance into the Venasian Cluster. He announced, in a proclamation to the Imperial Court, that this intervention was necessary to satisfy the "wishes of the Lord Almitis and of our loyal subjects." Serjanius did so, and within six days, he had occupied both Hapes and Venasia Secondary. On August 14, 1422, the short Battle of Charubah resulted in a decisive victory for the Empire's forces. Kumthis's daughter, the new Queen Mother Helsia (1422-40), and the Venasian Council of High Ones, realizing that resistance was futile, submitted and on August 19, offered to pledge themselves as a protectorate of the Laurasian Empire.
 * Emperor Tiberius, who sought to add to his collection of vassals, was pleased by this, and he accepted the offer. On September 3, 1422, a conference was opened between the Imperial Laurasian and Venasian Governments on Venasia Prime itself. General Serjanius represented the interests of his imperial master, and was able to speedily reach an agreement with the Queen Mother and her subordinates. It was on September 14, 1422, that the Treaty of Venasia Prime was signed. By the terms of this treaty, the Neo-Venasian Consortium pledged itself as a formal protectorate of the Laurasian Empire. Queen Mother Helsia tendered a formal oath of allegiance to the Emperor of Laurasia as her suzerain; in the future, all of her successors were not to inherit the Venasian throne unless if they had been confirmed by the Emperor personally, and had tendered their oath of allegiance to his person. The Imperial Laurasian Government now gained the absolute right of military and commercial transit, for its subjects, government officials, and military forces, through the strongholds of the Venasian Cluster. Moreover, free trade was to be maintained between the Empire and the Consortium, with Laurasian merchants gaining "favored nation" status, and being exempted from all Venasian laws, commercial regulations, and law enforcement.
 * Any offense committed by Laurasian subjects in Venasian territory was to be subject to the jurisdiction of Laurasian courts or military court martials, not those of the Venasian Government. All Venasian foreign policies were to be submitted to the Emperor's approval; the Queen Mother agreed to limit her military forces to strictly defensive purposes, and to not conclude any alliance adverse to the Empire's interests. She also pledged to sign no kind of treaty, economic or diplomatic, without first obtaining the approval of her suzerain. Moreover, the Emperor had the right to revoke any Venasian treaties, and to intervene in Venasian internal affairs as he pleased. The Treaty of Venasia Prime would be ratified by Queen Mother Helsia the day it was signed, and by Emperor Tiberius on October 1. On October 17, 1422, the Queen Mother met the Emperor in a conference at Mariana Prime, and formally tendered her oath of allegiance to him there. The Neo-Venasian Consortium now joined Temperance, Way'tosk, and the Polonian-Donguarian Commonwealth as a vassal state of the Laurasian Empire; it was to remain such until 1506. Following the conference, Emperor Tiberius retired back to Laurasia Prime in November 1422, and conferred the Order of St. Seleucus the Victor upon General Serjanius (December 9, 1422).

1423

 * Early 1423 saw yet another expansion of the Laurasian Empire's political and economic influence. The Laurasian absorption of Ashlgothia proceeded apace; rebel bands and cells in such systems as Gigi, Alex, Trebek, Jeopardy, Leslie, and Larkin would continue to oppose Laurasian authorities and garrisons until 1429. Yet the Emperor of Laurasia was always seeking to strengthen his Empire's position in the lower Middle Territories, and to thereby prepare it for any potential, and future conflicts, with not only the Celestial Dynasty of Kimania, but also the Neo-Anastasian Empire and the Great Kingdom of Lesia. Both states had been greatly alarmed by the resurgence in the Empire's power, and that would play a role in future Laurasian interactions with them. The next opportunity for Emperor Tiberius fell into his hands easily. In January 1423, the then senior monarch in the Caladarian Galaxy, King Juba I of Beatrice (who had ruled since November 6, 1367), suffered a series of heart attacks. His son and heir apparent, Prince Ptolemaic, was therefore posed to accede the throne. Juba's death on March 3, 1423, made him King Ptolemaic I of Beatrice. Yet Beatrice had long been menaced by the Anastasians, Ashlgothians, and Neo-Lesians; from 1417 to 1422, moreover, a fierce war had been waged at Ginger, Zoo, and Trieste, as the Devianiani resident in those star systems attempted to break away from Beatrician authority.
 * This had harmed the internal stability of the kingdom, had strained its resources, and had required much effort to put down. King Ptolemaic, therefore, was determined to guarantee the security and stability of Beatrice. For that purpose, he turned to the Laurasian Empire. He had, during his youth, spent some time on Laurasia Prime, and had traveled in the Core Regions. He had followed Laurasian military campaigns into Melorkia, against Kimania, and against the Three Powers with interest, and he sought to ensure that his state would be on friendly terms with the Imperial Laurasian Government. Thus it was that on March 19, 1423, that the King sent a communique to the Imperial Court on Laurasia Prime. In this communique, he pledged to place himself under the protectorship of the Laurasian Empire, in exchange for being given military and financial aid, and guaranteed freedom as regards to his domestic policies. Emperor Tiberius, who saw this as a means of maintaining the Laurasian hold over Ashlgothia, and vain enough to further increase his collection of vassals, accepted. On April 18, 1423, the Treaty of Denver was signed, by which the Kingdom of Beatrice formally became a protectorate of the Laurasian Empire. King Ptolemaic pledged himself as a vassal to the Emperor of Laurasia; allowed Laurasian forces military access through his dominions; and promised to conclude no treaty without the approval of his suzerain. In exchange, the Emperor pledged himself to provide the King with a expeditionary corps of not more than 250,000 soldiers and sixty warships; to defend Beatrician interests against foreign enemies; and to supply a subsidy, to the tune of $100 billion denarii a year, to the government of Beatrice. A Laurasian diplomatic garrison was also to be stationed on Beatrice Minor. Beatrice was to remain a Laurasian protectorate until 1440.
 * As regards to domestic affairs, 1423 saw a significant development. General Serjanius, as alluded to above, had come more and more into favor with Emperor Tiberius. On January 9, 1423, the General was named Praetor of Laurasia Prime, which thereby gave him authority over judicial and other administrative affairs in the Empire's star system. A statute in his honor had been raised at the Casta Praetoria; the Praetorian Guards adored him, and he made sure to keep himself assured of their loyalty through liberal rewards and the like. Many of his supporters and colleagues had been promoted to governorships, Senate seats, and other positions in the Imperial Laurasian Government, and throughout the Empire. However, this privileged position caused resentment among the Empire's nobility and the imperial family, in particular with Tiberius's son and heir apparent, Grand Prince Drusus (1387-1423). Drusus and Serjanius had been on hostile terms with each other since the latter had become Praetorian Prefect in 1415, which was worsened during the concluding campaigns of the War of the Three Powers, in which Drusus had risen to the rank of Brigadier-General and fought against the Neo-Venasian Consortium. Serjanius, however, had remained virtually the second man in the Empire, and in 1420, sought to arrange for the betrothal of his daughter Junilla to the son of Grand Prince Claudius, Claudius Drusus. This had come to an end only because the latter died suddenly of asphyxiation on September 9 of that year.
 * Following this, Serjanius turned his attention to eliminating the Grand Prince. By 1423, the enmity between the two men had reached fever pitch. An argument, on January 22, 1423, saw the Grand Prince striking the Prefect with his fists, and he openly lamented that a "stranger was invited to assist in the Imperial Government while His Majesty's son is alive, and is the recognized successor." With Tiberius now sixty-three years old, there was a real possibility that Drusus would become Emperor in the near future. To consolidate his own position, and to prevent this from happening, Serjanius plotted against the Grand Prince, from June 1423, with the Grand Prince's own wife, Livilla, to whom he had been married since 1408. The two engaged in a vigorous affair, and with her aid, Serjanius came up with his idea of disposing the Grand Prince. On September 13, 1423, the Grand Prince was poisoned by his own servants, in the pay of the Prefect. The poison ravaged his digestive and respiratory systems, and he died before he could obtain the aid of his physicians. The death of Grand Prince Drusus was a major blow for Emperor Tiberius. The Emperor openly bewailed his son; ordered for the Imperial Court to go into a period of mourning; and issued a series of proclamations hailing his merits. Drusus was interred at the Old Westphalian Cathedral on October 4, 1423, his funeral attended by all significant personages of the Imperial Laurasian Court. Emperor Tiberius now retreated more and more from the affairs of administration; Serjanius became Procurator-General of the Governing Senate in January 1424. During the course of 1424, he also accumulated the positions of Mayor of Christiania, Chief of the Imperial General Headquarters, and Governor of Laurasia Prime.

1425

 * As mentioned above, the year 1424 passed with Praetorian Prefect Serjanius further extending his power and influence on Laurasia Prime, to the extent of even overshadowing the Chancellor, the Archbishop of Vetta. Indeed, Emperor Tiberius had, by the decree of June 7, 1424, made Serjanius the highest ranking official in the Imperial Laurasian Government, giving him precedence over all of the Emperor's other subordinates. This had further inflamed his ambitions. He was also becoming increasingly hated throughout the Empire for his accumulation of wealth, estates, and honors; in November 1424, he was raised to the peerage as the Duke of Columbia, and he became the largest private landowner in the Laurasia Prime star system. As 1425 opened, Serjanius attempted to extend his power further. On January 7, 1425, the Praetorian Prefect requested the Emperor's permission to marry the widow of the man he had poisoned, Grand Prince Drusus. In October 1423, he had divorced his own wife, Lady Apicata Gaius (1385-1431), keeping his horizons open. Emperor Tiberius, however, demonstrating that he had not completely succumbed to the allure of Serjanius's influence, and believing that the Prefect was in this instance overstepping his rank, denied the Prefect's request. Serjanius, thus frustrated, then resumed his efforts at gathering more positions of note within the Imperial Laurasian Government. He conducted a purge of the Senate's ranks in February 1425, replacing thirty of them with his own supporters; moreover, he also convinced the Heraldmaster's Office to modify the Table of Ranks, so that his supporters in the Civil Service could be promoted with greater ease. He also managed to secure the implementation of the decree of March 7, 1425, by which the Praetorian Prefect gained the right to vet all communications and correspondence coming into the Laurasia Prime star system.
 * 1425, on the whole, was dominated by events of some significance in the Polonian-Donguarian Commonwealth. On February 27, 1425, Fre'dac I, King-Emperor of the Polonian-Donguarian Commonwealth, died at the age of 57. He had "reigned" over the Commonwealth for twenty-seven years, and throughout that time, had been a vassal of the Laurasian Empire. His reign, indeed, had seen the continued deterioration of Polonian military and economic strength. The Commonwealth was ravaged by a number of disturbances, ranging from a collapse in the Stock Market of Polonia Minor (1407) to the threat of the Tatar Pirates against the systems of Pressburg, Kaunas, and Ulthien (1408-12), and then, in 1416-18, the great Kymorsky Rebellion on Draguilli and Kaida. Moreover, Laurasian forces had intervened in the Commonwealth's affairs three times: in 1406, 1416, and 1420, in order to suppress anti-Laurasian sentiments and ensure the interests of Laurasian subjects residing in Polonian territory. In 1419-21, Emperor Tiberius had compelled the magnates of Wolbroz, Chemeri, Tursk, and Polonia Minor to sign the Concordats of Volodormia, by which they pledged themselves to contribute units to the Empire's defense, and to consult the Imperial Laurasian Government before conferring their assent to any measures passed in the Polonian Diet. By 1425, therefore, the Commonwealth was reduced to only the Central Polonian Provinces and the territories of the Donguarian Stellar Empire. The death of Fre'dac now gave Emperor Tiberius the opportunity to impose himself.
 * On March 9, 1425, the Emperor of Laurasia issued a proclamation from Laurasia Prime, expressing his "sadness" about the death of King Fre'dac, and announcing that the Commonwealth needed new, and more effective, forms of governance. He strengthened the garrisons of Doris, Anthony, Watson, Sherlock, Rupert, Galicia Major, and Zutagia, aiming therefore to project Laurasian influence and power across the borders into the Commonwealth's realms. The Emperor then ordered his agents within Donguaria to bribe the Princes of Donguaria Prime, Pressburg, and Mohi to make their "case" to the Diet. It was on April 2, 1425, that these Princes published the "Intervention Manifesto", inviting Emperor Tiberius to step in and to present himself as a candidate for election to the Polonian-Donguarian throne, so as to "restore tranquility and maintain the autonomy of the peoples of this Commonwealth." Prince Adam Czartyoski (1370-1461), was one of the most ardent proponents of Laurasian intervention, and he made numerous appeals to the Imperial Laurasian Government, calling for a reform of the Polonian-Donguarian government. Emperor Tiberius responded to these appeals on April 18, 1425, and formally registered as a candidate.
 * The Emperor found himself unopposed; his agents, in any case, distributed a liberal amount of bribes and favors to members of the Diet, and to other influential personages throughout the Commonwealth, including Interrex Clauz Wladlow of Legnica (1372-1430). It was on May 9, 1425, that the Diet formally convened on Polonia Major, in order to select Fre'dac's successor. A corps of Laurasian troops, detached by the Emperor from the diplomatic garrison at Mohi, was stationed near the Diet Chambers. They proceeded to business in quick order, and on May 14, 1425, formally elected Tiberius I, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Laurasians, as King-Emperor of the Polonian-Donguarian Commonwealth. Emperor Tiberius formally accepted his election on June 3, and then submitted a set of constitutional resolutions to the Diet, for them to adopt before issuing his pacta conventa. The Diet, under the influence of Laurasian blasters and money, did not demur, and on July 11, 1425, after another month of discussion and debate, the Constitutional Resolutions of 1425 were formally passed by the Diet, and codified in the pacta conventa. These Resolutions confirmed the Laurasian Empire's status as protector and guarantor of the Polonian-Donguarian Commonwealth's independence and territorial integrity. The right of Laurasian troops to pass through Polonian-Donguarian territory unmolested, and for free trade between the two dominions, was again confirmed. The government, on its part, was substantially modified.
 * The King-Emperor, as head of state, was granted the authority in Polonia-Donguaria to call, postpone, and dissolve sessions of the Diet; to confirm ministers, senators, high officials, and governors nominated by the Diet, and to nominate and confirm the marshals of the local sejimiks of the Commonwealth; to sign all legislation passed by the Diet; to introduce and temporarily annul legislation; and to conduct the Commonwealth's foreign and military affairs. He was to be represented at Polonia Major by a Viceroy of the Commonwealth, who was to head the Commonwealth Councils of State and Administration, and to superintend the councils of Polonia and Donguaria. The Viceroy had the right to condone nominations of the Diet, and he was moreover given the sole authority to nominate and confirm planetary-level officials. The Administrative Council, to be composed of five members, was to be headed by the Viceroy. It was to be responsible for general administration, and for the exercise of executive responsibilities. The Council was to prepare projects and regulations for the Council of State, and was to handle all matters not within the jurisdiction of the individual ministers or government officials.
 * The Council of State, on its part, was to be composed of the ministers, councilors, secretaries of Polonian and Donguarian state affairs, referendars, and five officials nominated by the King-Emperor. It was to prepare the legislation to be proposed to the Diet; to confirm the final version of legislation which was voted upon by the Diet; to file charges against administrative officials, and to handle all disputes or judicial cases relating to the administration; and to receive reports from various ministries and commissions, preparing reports and dossiers for the King-Emperor. The Polonian-Donguarian Diet, in its reorganized form, was to consist of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. Deputies were to number 128, with not more than half of them coming from Polonia, and half from Donguaria. They were to be chosen for six years, with one-third of them chosen every two years. They were to possess legal immunity, and to be selected by eligible voters of at least twenty-one years of age. All deputy candidates were required to possess a certain amount of personal wealth. Diets were to be called every two years for one-month intervals. The Diet was to vote on civil, administrative, and legal matters. With permission from the King-Emperor, it was also to be able to vote on matters related to the fiscal system and military. It was to have the right to control government officials and file petitions. The Senate, to be composed of 64 members, was to include among its ranks princes, magnates, castellans, and clergy of the Commonwealth. It was to act as the highest court in the Commonwealth and to handle all matters of precedence or conflict in the administration. The Commonwealth's system of lower courts, legal institutions, military districts, and planetary governance was to be preserved intact, but subordinated to the Diet and to the Council of State.
 * With the Constitutional Resolutions in place, Emperor Tiberius accepted the Polonian-Donguarian pacta conventa on August 8, 1425. Then on August 22, 1425, his election as King-Emperor of Polonia-Donguaria was confirmed. The Diet proceeded immediately to establishing the new machinery of the Commonwealth's government and military; in September 1425, the Emperor appointed his first Viceroy, this being the Duke of Christiania. Then on October 3, 1425, he himself embarked from Laurasia Prime, proceeded through the Central Core, and into the Commonwealth's territories. From thence, he moved to Polonia Major, and on October 14, he was formally crowned as King-Emperor of the Polonian-Donguarian Commonwealth. The "Constitutional Period", as it would become known, with the personal union between the Laurasian Empire and the Polonian-Donguarian Commonwealth, would last for just five years, until the outbreak of the Great Nationalist Uprising in 1430. The Emperor would return back to his Laurasian dominions on November 3, 1425.

1426

 * 1426, the 26th year of the fifteenth century, began with the Laurasian Empire having now entered into a "personal union" with the Polonian-Donguarian Commonwealth, which was a precursor to the Commonwealth's final annexation. Emperor Tiberius himself, however, had by this point become increasingly paranoid. He no longer trusted his nobility, and he loathed the rituals and ceremonial of the Imperial Laurasian Court on Laurasia Prime. The Emperor's behavior had become more erratic, and he had become less tolerant towards his subordinates, and towards his courtiers. The only person who consistently maintained his favor was Praetorian Prefect Serjanius. Serjanius, whose influence and power had continued to increase, was now entrusted by Tiberius with many important responsibilities, from presiding over the Senate (as Procurator-General), to handling Christiania's municipal affairs (as Mayor), to governing the interactions of the Council of Civil Service. It was inevitable that his power would only increase farther as the Emperor's paranoia deepened. And indeed, that is what occurred. In January 1426, the Emperor, having just found himself crowned as the King-Emperor of the Commonwealth, once one of Laurasia's most bitter foes, announced to his subjects, in a proclamation from the Quencilvanian Palace, that he was now translating his permanent residence to the Palace of Secrets on Paradine, and that from then on, the Prefect would be his representative with the Imperial Laurasian Government on Laurasia Prime itself. Tiberius explained this decision by declaring that he wished to have "deeper communion with the Lord Almitis", and needed a respite from all of the drama and the troubles afflicting his capital world. Serjanius, on this part, sought to make everyone understand that the Emperor had made this decision on his own free will, and that nothing had compelled him to to it.
 * It was on March 2, 1426, after over a month of delays and of "preparation", that the Emperor finally made his formal retreat from Laurasia Prime, leaving General Serjanius, as he had said, in charge of affairs in the capital star system. He now moved to Paradine with select members of his imperial household, and a special detachment of Praetorian Guards. There he was to remain during the last eleven years of his reign, refusing all entreaties by his subjects to return back to Laurasia Prime. With the Emperor's retreat, Serjanius gained absolute control of all communications on Laurasia Prime. He also controlled access to the Paradine star system, and forbade anyone to disturb His Majesty unless if they had special authorization. He also moved to consolidate his position by assuming the Chancellorate. On March 11, 1426, the Praetorian Prefect compelled the Archbishop of Vetta to resign as Chancellor of the Laurasian Empire, and assumed this position for himself; the Archbishop would retreat back to his star system, and die on May 1. Serjanius therefore held all of the chief offices of state (Procurator-General, Chancellor, Praetorian Prefect, Mayor of Christiania, Governor of Laurasia Prime), lacking only that of Chief Procurator of the Holy Synod; and the Chief Procurator was completely subordinate to him. He was to remain dominant for another five years.
 * In July 1426, the Laurasian Empire found itself plunged into another conflict with the Celestial Dynasty of Kimania. Shogun Comovius still reigned, and he was determined to recover the territories lost to the Empire. To that end, he had assembled his military units at Bookman, Rolle, the Orion Cluster, Nanking, Christopher, Beverly Hereidu, Earl, Shell, and at other strongholds throughout the Barsar Regions, determined to make his move northwards. His determination was fueled by the Laurasian colonization of Mirak, to the north-west of Gulistan, just two months prior. The Shogun therefore decided that the Laurasian threat needed to be eliminated before it was too late. On July 19, 1426, without a declaration of war, Kimanian units crossed the border into the territory of the Empire. They were under the command again of General Abu Whuzan, who had risen yet further in the Shogun's favor, and had conducted a successful defense of the Farther Trade Run against the Huntite Caliphate. General Whuzan made substantial gains against his Laurasian adversaries; indeed Laurasia, in spite of its subjugation of Beatrice and its conquest of Ashlgothia, found itself unprepared for the Kimanian moves. Whuzan's forces attacked Karabakh (July 19-24, 1426), and won a decisive victory there. The star system fell into Kimanian hands, and more than 75,000 soldiers of the Laurasian garrison resident there were slaughtered. Talysh then followed (August 3, 1426), and the Commander of the Garrison, Sir Antigenes Masavoich (1375-1426), was captured and executed on the orders of the Kimanian General.
 * From thence, he secured the surrender of the garrison of Gulistan itself (August 5-19, 1426), and then conquered, in September 1426, the Laurasian colonies of Bombak, Shuragei, and Gyrmi. Katli was threatened next by the Kimanians (October 1-3, 1426), and was overrun. Shusha and Shrivan were both blockaded by Kimanian units; Ganja was abandoned by its Laurasian commanders; and Kimanian expeditions struck against Winehouse, Woolestone, Isaac, Armenia Minor, Cal, Simon, and Morley, inflicting severe damage on all of these star systems during the course of October 1426. Shrivan fell on November 4, followed by Shusha four days later; Hinds Prime was soon cut off, and Baku was besieged. General Serjanius now took the initiative, and he ordered for the Duke of Briannia, who had assumed command of the garrisons of the lower Kimanian Trade Run in December 1425, to make his advance against the Kimanians. Briannia did as ordered, and on November 11, 1426, he won the Battle of Elisapol, thereby preventing a Kimanian move into the Melorkian Provinces. He then repelled a Kimanian expedition against Peterslie (November 14-19, 1426); won the Battle of Kamanny (November 25); and on November 30, relieved the siege of Baku. Hinds Prime was similarly relieved on December 4, and Kimanian units were driven from the outskirts of Beverly Hereidu. Abu Whuzan again attacked Cal (December 6-9, 1426), and suffered another defeat. On December 14, 1426, the Battle of Atsafka resulted in another victory for the Empire's forces. Shusha was recovered on New Year's Eve, 1426, and by the end of the year, the Laurasians had regained the advantage.

1427

 * The year 1427, the 27th year of the fifteenth century, began with the Laurasian Empire once again at war with the Celestial Dynasty of Kimania. The string of successes by Laurasian forces continued into the early months of 1427. On January 3, 1427, the Battle of Ricohoran V resulted in a decisive victory for the Duke of Briannia. From this stronghold, Briannia recovered Katli (January 5-19, 1427); captured the Kimanian system of Celestia (January 22); and on February 4, won the Battle of Taramia. Shuragei was back in Laurasian hands by the middle of February 1427; shortly afterwards, Laurasian units recovered Shrivan (February 18) and ruined the Kimanians at Goni (February 23), seizing that important stronghold. Bombak and Ganja were both recovered by Laurasian units during March 1427; on March 9, the Battle of Breha ended in another victory for the Duke of Briannia, and he proceeded to occupy that stronghold as well as Samantha. Echimadizin was assaulted on April 1, 1427, and fell into Laurasian hands two days later. Yerevan was then invested by the Duke of Briannia, in conjunction with General Sir Aurelius Zasius (1383-1439), on April 8, 1427. Yerevan remained under siege for nearly a month, but its fall on April 28 was a major victory for Laurasian arms. Dorothea, Lange, and Leseur then succumbed in succession to Laurasian forces during May and June 1427, thereby penetrating the defenses of the Orion Cluster.
 * Orion III itself was blockaded from June 16, and its fall nearly a month later (July 10, 1427), consolidated the Laurasian strategic position on the Kimanian Trade Run. Cox was then plundered by a Laurasian expeditionary force, and on July 16, 1427, Rolle capitulated to the Duke of Briannia almost without a fight. On July 26, General Zasius entered the Kimanian stronghold of Nakhichivan without a fight. His plans for an ambitious offensive against Hutsia Major, Roschmelle, and Drea, however, had to be abandoned. Abu Whuzan now launched a counteroffensive against Laurasian positions. On August 4, 1427, moving from Derangy and Morangy, the General advanced in the direction of Echimadzin, hoping to take that stronghold, overrun Gyrumi, and then devastate the Laurasian colony of Tiflis, as well as Hinds Prime. This would cut a hole into Laurasian supply lines. The Duke of Briannia, then besieging Neutria, was forced to turn to relieve Echimadzin. He had at his disposal a force of 250,000 troops of the 20th Imperial Army, and the 22nd Imperial Fleet. With this force, he advanced rapidly to the outskirts of Echimadzin, outmaneuvered Abu Whuzan, and on August 16, 1427, won the Battle of Ashtrak, destroying nearly a third of the opposing Kimanian force. Abu Whuzan was forced to halt his offensive and to retreat towards Derangy. Briannia then completed the seizure of Neutria (September 1-3, 1427), capturing all of that world's turbocannon, shield generators, and military supplies.
 * Roschmelle was then seized by a Laurasian expeditionary force on September 18, and on September 23, Serdar-Adad was overrun and stormed by Laurasian troops. Ralina capitulated at the end of that month, and on October 6, the Duke of Briannia appeared before the outskirts of Messalina. The Siege of Messalina lasted for twelve days, falling on October 18, 1427. More than 150,000 Kimanian troops were taken prisoner. Reading proved an easier target, and fell on October 24; Gilestis V and Bookman followed during November 1427. Then on November 19, General Zasius encountered and defeated Abu Whuzan in the Battle of Maurat, and proceeded to occupy Hutsia Minor, inflicting another humiliating defeat on Kimanian arms. Tabriz and Celestia fell by December 6, and on December 14, Chobania also surrendered to the Empire's forces. With these defeats, Shogun Comovius, whose health was in decline, was forced to admit the inevitable. On December 22, 1427, he requested for an armistice with the Empire. Serjanius, acting on the Emperor's behalf, approved this request; the Armistice of Cox was signed five days later.

1428

 * 1428, the 28th year of the fifteenth century, began with the Laurasian Empire having forced the Celestial Dynasty of Kimania to the peace table. Praetorian Prefect Serjanius, who had successfully overseen the prosecution of this, the Third Laurasian-Kimanian War to be fought since 1396, now assumed responsibility for negotiating and securing the peace. On January 9, 1428, a conference was convened at Turkmenchay, a Kimanian colony five light years to the northwest of Kimanis Mooria. Serjanius himself traveled from Laurasia Prime, joining the Duke of Briannia, Chief Procurator Stephanius Langtonia (in office 1407-28), and Sir Lysimachus Prasius, Governor of Ashlgothia Major (1389-1447), as one of the plenipotentaries. Abu Whuzan and Kimanian Prince Li-Hi-Wing represented the interests of the Shogun. Negotiations lasted for a month. On February 10, 1428, the Treaty of Turkmenchay was signed, thereby ending the Third Laurasian-Kimanian War of 1426-28. By the terms of this treaty, the Laurasian Empire acquired Erevan, Igdir, Yerevan, Mazandaran, Herat, Nahikchevan, and Ordubad, thereby consolidating its control over the Armenian Provinces. All Laurasian gains made as a result of the Treaty of Gulistan were confirmed; Laurasian rights of free commercial transit through Kimanian territory were confirmed; and the Laurasian Embassy's privileges on Kimania were confirmed by the Shogun. All prisoners of war were to be exchanged; Kimania officially apologized for having violated the terms of the Treaty of Gulistan; and a financial indemnity, by the Shogun's government, to the tune of $1.1 trillion denarii, was to be paid to the Imperial Laurasian Government.
 * The Treaty of Turkmenchay, which was ratified by both governments by the end of March 1428, thereby restored peace in the Barsar Regions; it was not until 1446 before Laurasia and Kimania went to war again. On June 9, 1428, Shogun Comovius died, and was succeeded by his son, who became Scrilio Shogun. As for the Empire, Serjanius returned to Laurasia Prime on April 9, 1428, and resumed with his earlier policies. He was now striking out against his political opponents across the spectrum, employing the Senate and the Court of General Assizes on Laurasia Prime to his advantage. Between November 1427 and October 1431, more than three hundred million individuals would be arrested and imprisoned or executed on the auspices of the Praetorian-Prefect, larger than any preceding political massacre in Laurasian history since the time of Honorius the Terrible. Yet Laurasia remained at peace with foreign powers for the rest of 1428, and indeed, throughout 1429.

1429

 * 1429, the twenty-ninth year of the fifteenth century, began with the Laurasian Empire residing in a state of general peace with its neighbors within the Caladarian Galaxy. Internally, however, great convulsions continued, as Praetorian Prefect Serjanius continued to exert his dominance over the Imperial Laurasian Government. By January 1429, Serjanius had arisen to a position which had not been enjoyed by any other favorite in the Empire since that of Duke Menshevkius, Seleucus the Victor's great favorite. Monopolizing most of the offices of state, he dominated government policy, controlled communications at Laurasia Prime, and access to Emperor Tiberius himself. He was determined to wield his influence yet further, and to do so by eliminating all of his opponents within the confines of the Imperial Court. He also sought to destroy the influence of the family of General Germanicus, who had been dead for a decade. Yet these final goals could not achieved while the Emperor's mother, Grand Princess Livia, continued to live. Ever since her son's accession to the throne in 1416, this venerable matron had enjoyed her own position of repute, and privilege within the Empire. Her son had raised her to the dignities of Grand Princess, and had mandated that she was to enjoy precedence over all other women at the Imperial Laurasian Court, save for the Dowager Empresses Maria Sompakalos and Eleanora of Briannia, the widows of Demetrius I and Antiochus II respectively. In 1420, the Emperor had even made it treason for anyone in the Empire to speak against his mother, on pain of death. Yet by 1423 in some ways, the relationship between mother and son had become strained.
 * The Senate sought to honor her with the title of Mother of the Fatherland, for having bequeathed the Empire with such a savior in the form of the Emperor; Tiberius vetoed this, although the following year, he did allow for the Holy Synod to issue a manifesto commending his mother for her virtues. Livia, moreover, showed herself all too willing to intervene in the domestic affairs of the Imperial Laurasian Household. This was particularly noted in the cases of Lady Urgulania Marasaria, who presumed that her relationship with the Grand Princess placed her above the law, and of Munatia Placiana, who was accused by some vengeful courtesans, in June 1425, of having murdered General Germanicus through devious means. She was saved by the Grand Princess's intervention. The Grand Princess also successfully stood up to General Serjanius, and intervened several times in 1427 and 1428 to protect members of the imperial household and the civil service from him. In March 1429, therefore, when her health entered a severe decline, the Praetorian Prefect rejoiced. He now was able to move against Lady Marasaria, seeing that Livia would be unable to stop him; on April 7, 1429, the Lady was arrested and confined to the Post Settlement of Hepudermia. On the orders of the Prefect, she was interrogated by Senators and by members of the College of Justice; then in June 1429, she, along with thirty of her associates, were condemned on charges of conspiracy, heresy, and corruption, and were banished from Laurasia Prime to Jenny. During July and August 1429, more than 2,000 individuals of all stripes on Laurasia Prime, closely associated to the Court, suffered a similar punishment at the Prefect's hands. Lady Placiana, on her part, was forced to publicly confess her crimes on August 8, 1429, and barred from the Imperial Court.
 * On September 28, 1429, Grand Princess Livia finally died at the Diplomatic Palace in Christiania, Laurasia Prime, aged 96. She was the longest-lived member of the Imperial Laurasian Family in the Empire's history, and indeed, of the history of the Laurasian Space Age. Emperor Tiberius, then at Paradine, issued a manifesto mourning his mother's demise. He did not, however, deign to arise from Laurasia Prime to attend her funeral, instead designating the Prefect as his representative. Serjanius presided over the ceremonies at the Old Westphalian Cathedral (October 8, 1429), in which the Grand Princess was formally interred at the Imperial Mausoleum. Yet her death completely cleared his path. He now turned his attention to General Germanicus's widow, Lady Agrippina Secrus, and to her two eldest sons, Nero and Drusus. All had continued to reside in the city of Christiania since the death of Germanicus a decade earlier. Lady Agrippina, in fact, had served as one of Grand Princess Livia's ladies-in-waiting, and was one of the most prominent women in the Imperial Laurasian Court. She had involved herself in the Court's affairs and intrigues, and she had shown opposition to the policies and brutalities of Serjanius. In 1426, she had requested the Emperor's permission to marry her brother-in-law, Senator Sir Gaius Asinius Salonius (1373-1432). The Emperor had refused, concerned about the marriage's political implications. Tiberius himself grew increasingly suspicious of the Lady, and played directly into the hands of Serjanius, who himself loathed her position and her influence.
 * Thus it was that on October 19, 1429, that the Prefect, acting on instructions received from the Emperor, ordered for the arrest and confinement, at the Old Royal Palace, of Lady Secrus and of both Lords Nero and Drusus Secrus. The Prefect also had more than four hundred of their supporters and associates arrested and imprisoned at the Christiania Municipal Prison, the Post Settlement of Hepudermia, and the Cron Drift. The period of the "true treason trials" now began, as the Prefect gained a special patent from the Emperor, on November 5, to unilaterally try any and all who he deemed to pose a significant threat to the Imperial Laurasian Government. He now used this authority to great effect, arresting another two hundred individuals on November 11, accusing them all of treason, les-majestie, conspiracy, and corruption. On December 3, 1429, Lady Secrus herself, along with her sons, were tried by the Governing Senate, Holy Synod, and Council of Civil Service at the Quencilvanian Palace. Some weeks of proceedings ensued, as the Prefect presented all of his evidence against them and engaged in a series of verbal arguments concerning their behavior. Yet finally, on December 20, 1429, they were convicted on all charges. On the orders of the Prefect, they were sentenced to perpetual exile from Laurasia Prime; confiscation of all properties, titles and honors; and condemnation by the Holy Synod. The punishment was carried out on December 22; on the command of Tiberius, they were all banished to Siri, in the Malarian Provinces. 1429 ended with the attitude at the Imperial Court poisoned.

1430

 * 1430 began with the Laurasian Empire having fallen further into the oppressive grip of Praetorian Prefect Serjanius, who intensified and widened his policies of oppression. The Prefect's disposal of Lady Agrippina Secrus, and of her sons, has already been noted. January and February 1430 saw the convictions and executions, exiles, or imprisonments of more than five hundred other individuals, among the numbers who had been arrested on the Prefect's authority in the latter part of the previous year. The Prefect, moreover, had the Holy Synod issue, on January 18, 1430, a manifesto excommunicating thenceforth any man who denounced his policies, who labeled him the Anti-Almitis or a follower of that Lord, or who dared condemn the Emperor for permitting such policies. More than two million individuals would be affected by this manifesto during the course of the year. Serjanius also instigated a expansion of the prison complexes of the Cron Drift from February 1430, and sponsored the establishment of the first imperial prison on Laura; these facilities were to become especially significant during the Crisis of the Seventeenth Century. He now increased the size of the Praetorian Guards from twelve to twenty cohorts; authorized the Imperial Intelligence Agency to search the properties of any Laurasian subject without a warrant; and in March 1430, confiscated more than twenty communications outlets in the Purse Region.
 * In June 1430, the Prefect also suspended the freedom of public assembly typically granted to magnates of the cities of Laurasia Prime, and issued instructions to the Suffects to suppress any outbursts of "rebellious talk" in their neighborhoods of responsibility. He impounded all correspondence not to his liking, and in September, nationalized the Christiania Times, using it as a propaganda platform. Indeed, the Prefect took care to maintain his own public image and that of the Emperor, ordering for statutes of himself to be erected in every major star system of the Empire, and issuing ceremonial coinage reflecting his status as the Emperor's chief enforcer. He also maintained his own household at the Praetorian Barracks, and distributed favors to the troops under his command. Emperor Tiberius, on his part, continued to indulge in various bawdy activities at Paradine. The Emperor was sexually depraved, maintaining a bevy of concubines and male attendants to satisfy his needs, and engaging in relations with any he fancied. Such antics would arouse the moral indignation of later generations of Laurasian historians (in particular Lady Vassalina).
 * Yet the Empire now faced a major challenge in the Polonian-Donguarian Commonwealth: the Great Nationalist Uprising. Polonian sentiments against the dominance of the Imperial Laurasian Government had begun to simmer in June 1427, when Emperor Tiberius formally appointed Sir Marcus Crassus, 4th Viscount Crassus (1378-1431), as the Viceroy of the Polonian-Donguarian Commonwealth. Acting with the consent of the Emperor and of Prefect Serjanius, and taking advantage of the divisions among the Commonwealth's nobility, Crassus proceeded to violate the Constitutional Resolutions. He was also aided by the substantial numbers of Laurasian naval and armed units in the Commonwealth; the "diplomatic garrison" of Mohi now numbered more than 500,000 troops and had one hundred warships; and Polonia Major itself possessed the 9th Imperial Fleet and the 12th Imperial Army. Thus, Crassus had sufficient armed strength to impose his will. In September 1427, the Viceroy forced through the Diet laws to expand the secret police, to impose marital law at Legnica, Wroclaw, Kaida, and Wronzaz, among other star systems, and to crack down on freedoms of the press, speech, and assembly. He now employed the Polonian Okrana to his advantage, confiscated all communications outlets opposed to the Laurasian regime, and arrested the members of Polonian national movements. In September 1428, the Viceroy acted further by banishing from Polonia Major more than one hundred nobles of anti-Laurasian persuasion, and confiscating all of their estates and revenues. He insulted and assaulted his Polonian subordinates; overruled the Administrative Council and Council of State on questions of policy; and replaced Polonians with Laurasians in prominent posts within the administration, military, and Polonian Court.
 * In January 1429, the Viceroy proclaimed the abolition of all patriotic organizations in the Polonian-Donguarian Commonwealth; imposed his agents on the estates of all Polonian notables; and heavily restricted the communications of Polonia Major. His troops now garrisoned all of the capital world's major settlements, broke up public protests, and quartered on the properties and businesses of local Polonians. Two months later, he brutally suppressed a rebel movement at Polonia Minor, and ordered for more than 200,000 persons to be arrested and incarcerated at prisons within the star system. By the middle of 1430, with the Viceroy calling in additional Laurasian reinforcements, and refusing to summon the Diet as called for in the Constitutional Resolutions, the Polonians had been driven to the brink of rebellion. The Great Nationalist Uprising finally erupted on November 29, 1430, when a young Polonian Cadet, Pitor Wysocki (1397-1475), led his fellow soldiers in seizing the arms of the garrison of Parclaw City and attacking the Belwelder Palace, the main seat of the Viceroy on Polonia Major. The rebels managed to penetrate the defenses of the Belwelder and captured its military repository. Viceroy Crassus found himself helpless against this rebel force, for many of his own Polonian and Donguarian troops deserted to the cause of the rebels. Within hours, a general uprising had arisen across Polonia Major, and the Laurasian garrison found itself hard-pressed. The Polonian fleet of the star system, moreover, also defected to the rebel cause, and refused to obey the Viceroy's commands. He was therefore obliged to retreat from the star system, leaving it in the hands of the rebels.
 * The Administrative Council, which was taken at surprise by this uprising, now assembled to decide on a course of action and to respond to events. Unpopular ministers were removed and men like Prince Czatoryski (the original supporter of Laurasian intervention), Julian Niewmwicz (1358-1441), and General Josef Choplcki (1371-1454) were installed in their places. Led by Czatoryski, they initially tried to negotiate with the Viceroy. However, when Czartoryski told the Council that the Viceroy was ready to forgive the offenders, and that the matter would be amicably settled, radicals such as Mayrcy Mournicki (1403-34), objected and demanded a national uprising, to liberate the Commonwealth completely from the grip of the Laurasian Empire. Not trusting the Council, Mournicki now sought to replace it with his own Patriotic Club, which he himself had organized. On December 3, at a large public demonstration on Polonia Major, he denounced the negotiations between the Council and the Viceroy, who had established his headquarters at the outskirts of the star system. He now advocated a military campaign throughout the Polonian Provinces so as to consolidate the Rebellion and extend its message. His Club adopted a number of demands to be communicated to the Council, including the establishment of a revolutionary government and an immediate attack upon the forces of the Viceroy. The Polonian army, and the garrisons of Polonia Minor, Draguilli, and Lublin, now joined the Rebellion.
 * The remaining four members of the pre-revolutionary government therefore resigned from the Council, with their places being taken by Mournicki and three of his associates from the Patriotic Club. The new body now called itself the Provisional Government. To legalize its proceedings, the Government called for a session of the Diet, and on December 4, 1430, General Choplcki was proclaimed the Dictator of the Commonwealth, to govern until the Laurasians were expelled and forced to acknowledge the restoration of the Commonwealth's internal independence. Choplcki reluctantly accepted the Dictatorship, believing that any conflict with the Empire would end in defeat. He was concerned mainly to preserve internal order and stability on Polonia Major, and in the other star systems which had joined the cause of the Rebellion. Believing that Emperor Tiberius would be amendable, Choplcki neglected to launch any further advances against Laurasian units in the Commonwealth and instead, on December 9, dispatched a delegation to Laurasia Prime under Prince Franciszek Drucki-Lubeki (1378-1446) in order to seek negotiations with the Imperial Laurasian Government. On December 16, however, the Diet proclaimed that the Commonwealth was now at war with the Laurasian Empire, and Prince Lubeki was consequently imprisoned by Prefect Serjanius upon his arrival in the Empire's capital star system. By the end of December 1430, nationalist agitation had increased to fever pitch.
 * On November 8, 1430, the future Emperor Nerva (1496-98) was born at the Cocceian Estate in Bardasi, Briannia. He was the son of Sir Marcus Cocceius, 4th Baron Cocceius (1397-1462) and his wife, Lady Sergia Plautilla (1405-67). The future Emperor was to have one younger sister, Cocceia (1432-91), who was to marry Sir Lucius Titianus, older brother of Emperor Seleucus III. Nerva was born into one of the Empire's most respected gentry families, among the many which had arisen to prominence due to the reforms and innovations of Seleucus the Victor. He would spend his early years on Briannia, Gdov, and at the Belts of Barton, becoming familiar with both Laurasian and Briannian culture.
 * On December 23, 1430, Dowager Empress Eleanora of Briannia, widow of Antiochus II the Conqueror, died at Epermanian Monastery on Senna, in the Murphian Provinces. The Dowager Empress had retired there in 1424, and had spent the last several years of her life in service with the Almitian Church. She had become a noted philanthropist, had avoided involvement in the affairs of the Imperial Laurasian Court, and due to her prestige, as well as the respect she commanded, had remained immune to the regime and oppression of Prefect Serjanius. The Prefect, nevertheless, issued a manifesto praising her merits, and she would be brought to the Old Westphalian Cathedral on Laurasia Prime, being buried there on December 30 in a lavish ceremony, attended by many of the most important figures in the Empire.

1431

 * 1431, the 31st year of the fifteenth century, began with the Laurasian Empire, still under the regime of Praetorian Prefect Serjanius, now confronted with the Great Nationalist Uprising in the Polonian-Donguarian Commonwealth. On January 7, 1431, in a proclamation to the Imperial Court, Emperor Tiberius temporarily emerged from his convalescence on Paradine, and issued a manifesto denouncing the rebellion in the Commonwealth. He declared that it would threaten the tranquility of both the Commonwealth and the Empire, and that it needed to be suppressed in order to maintain "order and stable government within this galaxy." On that same day, he sent his response to the entreaties of General Chlopcki, ordering for the Polonians to surrender to the grace of their Emperor. Disappointed by this, the General resigned from his position as Dictator the following day. The Patriotic Club, now under the direction of Joachim Lewel (1386-1461), thereby assumed absolute control of the Provisional Government. By this point, they had secured the adherence of the garrison of Masan, and had driven Laurasian units from Pasan and Garhasan, on the Denveranian Trunk Line. On January 25, 1431, on Lewel's initiative, the Polonian-Donguarian Diet issued the formal Instrument of Dethronization, thereby formally deposing Tiberius I as King-Emperor of the Polonian-Donguarian Commonwealth, severing the personal union between the Empire and Commonwealth, and formalizing the declaration of war against the Imperial Laurasian Government. On January 29, the Provisional Government rebranded itself as the National Government, and Michal Radziwill (1378-1450), was chosen to become the new Dictator. Choplcki was persuaded to become commander-in-chief of all Polonian-Donguarian military forces.
 * Yet the delays of the National Government had allowed for Prefect Serjanius to organize a vigorous response to the situation in the Polonian-Donguarian Commonwealth. At Watson, Sherlock, Rupert, Doris, Frogglesworth, and in the Ivorian Districts, the Prefect had assembled the Empire's military forces for a decisive counteroffensive. On February 2, 1431, he appointed General Sir Brutus Derehania (1385-1431), as the supreme commander of all Laurasian forces to be launched into the Commonwealth, and against the National Government. General Derehania did not delay in his advance. Two days later, he and his forces formally crossed the border into the Commonwealth's territory, and moved swiftly in the direction of Polonia Major. The first major battle, the Battle of Stozcek, was fought ten days later (February 14, 1431). In this battle, Polonian units under Admiral Joseph Dwernicki (1379-1457), managed to defeat a Laurasian reconnaissance force under Commodore Theodosius Gesimaria (1383-1448). This victory, however, was of mostly psychological value, and could not halt the Laurasian advance towards Polonia Major. The subsequent battles at Dobre (February 16), Wawer (February 19-20), Nowa Wies (also February 19), Kaluszyn (February 22), and Bialoleka (February 24-25), proved to be indecisive for the Polonians, who suffered greater losses against their Laurasian foes.
 * Polonian forces were now assembling near the Denveranian Trunk Line in order to defend the capital of the Commonwealth. On February 25, a Polonian-Donguarian contingent of more than 400,000 troops, and over eighty warships, met detachments of the Imperial Laurasian Military, with 600,000 troops and 120 warships, in the Battle of Olzyska Grochowska. The ensuing battle lasted for two days, with the Laurasian and the Polonian forces both suffering significant casualties. In the end, the Polonians were successful in preventing a further Laurasian move against Polonia Major, and General Derehania was forced to retreat to Sidelia, located twenty light years to the north of Polonia Major. Choplcki, who commanded the successful Polonian moves in the star system, was wounded, and was replaced now by General Jan Synerzkia (1387-1460), who like Choplcki thought a war against the Empire was fruitless. Nevertheless, he won the Battle of Grochkov (March 2, 1431), and from thence, managed to blunt Laurasian units in confrontations at Pulawy, Kurow, and Markuswow during the course of March 1431. Then on March 31, 1431, he won the Battles of Wawer and Debe Wielkie, humiliating the Imperial Laurasian Navy in both confrontations. Yet General Derehania was determined to continue forth, and he secured Mohi (April 6, 1431), before ruining Polonian units at Domanice (April 9). The following day, the Polonians won the Battle of Iganie, but this turned out to be their last significant victory of the Rebellion. The Skirmish of Porck, fought on April 11, also ended in Polonian victory, but they suffered greater casualties than their Laurasian foes.
 * From then on, the advantage was held by the Laurasians. Dragulli was reconquered by General Derehania (April 15-19, 1431); he then recovered Pasan and Garhasan; and on April 22, 1431, won the Battle of Masan, blunting the attempts of Synerzkia to cut through Laurasian strategic lines. From thence, Masan and Polonia Minor were both reconquered by the Empire's forces in May 1431. Derehania then won the pitched Battles of Wronow and Kazimeriz Dolony (June 2-7, 1431), capturing more than 150,000 rebel troops. From Kazimeriz Dolony, he assaulted Legnica, recovering the stronghold on June 18. On June 22, the Donguarian magnates of Cossack and Donguaria Prima held a conference with the Laurasian General at Pressburg, and declared their renewed allegiance to the Emperor of Laurasia. Donguaria's relative passivity in this rebellion, indeed, was a great aid to Laurasian efforts in maintaining the Empire's position in the Commonwealth. The Laurasians then recovered Grochkov (June 29, 1431), and on July 3, won the Battle of Boremel. Firley and Sokolow Podolski both fell into their hands during July 1431, and they blockaded Kaida; Wroclaw and Wronzaz both capitulated by August 8, 1431. Firley followed on August 12, and the Siege of Kurbatow (August 13-19, 1431), saw more than half of the Polonian armed supplies in that system being confiscated by Laurasian troops.
 * From Kurbatow, Derehania easily secured Polaga (August 22, 1431), and burst through Polonian defensive positions at Tyockin, Nur, and Wilno. General Synerzkia now attempted a vain counteroffensive against the Laurasians at Ostroleka (August 24-September 5, 1431), and failed, with the Laurasian General capturing more than 75,000 of his troops, and a number of Polonian turbocannon. Rajgrod then fell on September 12, opening the way to Polonia Major. On September 15, 1431, however, General Derehania suffered a stroke at his command headquarters on Berhan; in spite of the efforts of his physicians, he died during the late hours of that day. He was now succeeded, as commander-in-chief within the Commonwealth, by Vice-Admiral Sir Domitian Nucrus (1382-1456), destined to become the 1st Duke of Way'tosk. Vice-Admiral Nucrus now vigorously persecuted the final offensive towards Polonia Major. On September 19, he conquered the Polonian outpost of Wocala, penetrating the defenses held by Polonian General Josef Sowinskia (1377-1431), who was executed on his orders shortly after his capture. The Laurasian Empire's forces then imposed a complete blockade of Polonia Major, permitting no traffic in or out of the star system. Count Jan Krurkowiecki (1372-1450), who had become Dictator himself the preceding month, now, on September 24, 1431, surrendered unconditionally to the Empire. Laurasian troops now proceeded into the Polonia Major star system, although they still encountered stiff resistance from guerilla units and other scattered Polonian formations on the planetary surface. The remaining rebel units, under Bonawentura Niemjowski (1387-1435), withdrew to Modlin, one hundred light years west of Polonia Major. Eventually, they fled into the Wild Marshes, and thence to the Lavellan Provinces, thereby escaping the reach of the Imperial Laurasian Government. On October 5, 1431, the last remaining rebel forces in the field surrendered at Brodnica to Admiral Nucrus, thereby ending the Great Nationalist Uprising.
 * Events on Laurasia Prime, in the meantime, were transpiring, with great consequences for the Empire. The sons of Lady Agrippina Secrus and her late husband, General Germanicus, Nero and Drusus, had both been exiled to Siri on the initiative of Prefect Serjanius back in December 1429. Yet on March 9, 1431, both men had been found dead at Oprah Estate, where they resided. It was soon discovered that they had been poisoned, and the eyes of all became affixed on the Prefect. The Prefect himself denied any responsibility for their deaths, and claimed to mourn their loss, but this incident nevertheless weakened his position further. He had become yet more arrogant, openly receiving the attention and favors of those at the Imperial Court, attempting to court the senatorial elites, and in June 1431, finally becoming engaged to the Lady Livilla, with the Emperor's permission. Yet Emperor Tiberius himself was now being influenced by his chief secretary, Sir Agrippa Ledervaius (1385-1449), that Serjanius was an overly ambitious, envious personage, and that he needed to be eliminated. The Emperor came to believe that Serjanius desired the imperial throne for himself, and that all of his actions had been in accordance with fulfilling that goal. It was thus that, on October 15, 1431, ten days after the suppression of the Great Nationalist Uprising in the Commonwealth, that the Emperor acted, suddenly and to the surprise of almost everyone. Nevertheless, it demonstrated that it was he, and not Serjanius, who was still the absolute master of the Empire.
 * The Emperor sent a communique to the Governing Senate, commanding them to summon the Prefect before them. Serjanius, not knowing of His Majesty's intentions, obliged by the Senate's command, and proceeded to attempt to bully the body into conducting a series of further treason trials. The Senate, however, overruled him, and announced that by the orders of the Emperor, he was to be arrested and conveyed to the Post Settlement of Hepudermia. Ledervaius himself, who had traveled to Laurasia Prime specifically for the purpose of carrying out Tiberius's will, stepped forward and assumed immediate command of the Praetorian Guards. Serjanius was surrounded and chained by his own officers, and led out of the Senatorial chambers, and to the Post Settlement. Ledervaius now read a series of further communiques from the Emperor, accusing Serjanius of plotting to seize the imperial throne; of despoiling the Imperial Treasury; of treating with contempt all loyal servants of the State; and of issuing decrees and other orders without the Emperor's express authorization, and without his approval. Then on October 17, the Senate summarily condemned the Prefect to death; the Emperor approved this sentence, deprived Serjanius of his positions as Praetorian Prefect, Chancellor, Mayor, Governor, and Procurator-General; and ordered for the sentence to be carried out the following day. The once powerful magnate was executed in the Public Squares of Christiania, in front of a crowd of more than two million persons; his robes were stripped from his body; and his head was cut off, and paraded through the public thoroughfares.
 * Tiberius then indulged in a further policy of oppression. On his command, the Prefect's fiancee, Livilla, was arrested and confined at the Post Settlement of Hepudermia. She was attainted on November 4, 1431, deprived of all her honors and properties, and then chained in her cell chambers, without food or any other kind of nourishment. She would eventually die of starvation on January 7, 1432. More than seventy colleagues and associates of the Prefect were arrested and imprisoned or executed during the course of November and December 1431. His former wife, Apicata, was forced to commit suicide at Olivia; his son Strabo was arrested, attainted, and executed on October 26; and his other children, Captio Aelianus and Junilla, were imprisoned and then strangled on December 9, 1431. All of Serjanius's statutes and monuments were demolished; the Guards purged all signs of his influence from their ranks; and a sentence of excommunication was passed by the Holy Synod against his memory. All honors, properties, and decorations which he had conferred were abolished or confiscated, and damnatio memoriae was pronounced on his name by the Senate, the first time the body exercised this power (which had been conferred upon it late in the reign of Demetrius I). Moreover, riots erupted in Christiania, Columbia, Osraninpolis, Heliotrope, Soriana, Constantinople, Ostia, and in Herkorim against the supporters of Serjanius; more than $100 billion denarii in property damage was caused before these outbursts were suppressed in February 1432. That same month, Emperor Tiberius would impose damnatio memoriae upon Livilla and the members of Serjanius's family as well. On December 19, 1431, Secretary Ledervaius was made Chancellor of the Empire, and was raised to the peerage as 1st Baron Ledervaius of Metallasia (his world of birth). He was to remain Tiberius's chief minister for the remainder of his reign. 1431 ended with Serjanius gone, and with Laurasian dominance over Polonia-Donguaria restored.

1432

 * The year 1432, the 32nd year of the fifteenth century, opened with a program of oppression and repression launched by the Imperial Laurasian Government within the territories of the Polonian-Donguarian Commonwealth. Emperor Tiberius, in a manifesto of January 17, 1432, declared that the uprising against his authority in the Commonwealth was a blot on his reputation and that of his Empire's, and that this blot needed to be erased. Consequently, he ordered for the revocation of the Constitutional Resolutions, and the imposition of absolute marital law in all of the Commonwealth's star systems. Admiral Nurcrus now reiterated the earlier abolition of all Polonian and Donguarian nationalist organizations; significantly increased the garrison of Polonia Major; and extended the jurisdiction of the Imperial Intelligence Agency to the Commonwealth's territories. On his orders, more than forty million individuals, accused of complicity in the Uprising, were arrested, interrogated, and either imprisoned or executed between December 1431 and November 1432. The Emperor, moreover, by a series of decrees in March 1432, outlawed many of the customs of the Polonian nobility; heavily restricted communications, transit, and public assembly in the Commonwealth's realms; and granted the Council of State unlimited authority over the Polonian civil service and over the implementation of laws. The Diet itself was now suspended "for all time to come", and absolute legislative initiative was conferred upon the Viceroy (Nurcrus was formally made Viceroy on April 8, 1432). Laurasian troops confiscated many of the estates and businesses which had been used by rebel movements; quartered on the properties of Polonian subjects; and beginning in May 1432, forced prominent Polonian magnates, officials, clergy, and military officers to swear an oath of allegiance to both the Viceroy and to Tiberius as Emperor of Laurasia. The program of Laurasian oppression would continue throughout 1432 and 1433, though at this stage, Tiberius refrained from a direct annexation of the Commonwealth's dominions.
 * In August 1432, a short, but sharp conflict, erupted between the Laurasian Empire on the one hand, and the Kingdom of Jageronia, along with the Hookiee Confederacy, on the other. King Liutprand of Jageronia, seeking once again to expel Laurasian units from the Robertian Regions, had sought for an ally to assist him in this endeavor. He now found this ally in the Hookiee Patriarch, Wroog, who was fearful of Laurasian ambitions along the Rebeccan Galactic Trade Route. The Treaty of Belederon had been signed on April 19, 1432, between the Hookiees and the Jageronians. They were to cooperate in expelling the Empire from the Robertian Regions, Elijahana, and Temperance. Temperance was to become a vassal of the Confederacy; Elijahana, Grand Junction, and Par'say was to pass under Hookiee control; and Jageronia would gain the remainder of the Robertian Regions. Thus, it had been that Hookiee and Jageronian forces had assembled for a move into the Empire's territories. On August 4, 1432, Wroog and Liutprand both declared war upon the Empire, and launched their forces into Laurasian territory. Jamaia fell to an allied offensive (August 4-7), followed by McEvlogue (August 10), Alamaia I (August 22); and Sofia (August 29). The Battle of Grazia (September 3-4, 1432), was a victory for the Hookiees, and from thence, they drove Laurasian units from Deborah and Borenraz (September 11). On September 14, Xander fell to the Jageronians, who were now threatening the Laurasian hold of Deservo, Gutium, and Robert Minor.
 * Emperor Tiberius, however, rapidly assigned the Governor of Robert, the Lord Brashanius, to launch a vigorous, and quick, counteroffensive against the Jageronians. Brashanius lured the Jageronians to a trap at Meris (September 29-22, 1432), and inflicted a decisive defeat upon their arms. He then recovered Xander and Alamaia I (October 1-4, 1432); defeated a Jageronian force at Izonza (October 11); and then stormed Corscio (October 14), an important Jageronian stronghold. Temperanian forces, on their part, won the Battle of Gedran (October 4-7, 1432), and then sacked Predosur (October 11), which had been in Hookiee hands since 1422. On October 28, 1432, the Battle of Renastasia ended in another victory for the Empire's forces; the Jageronians lost more than 175,000 troops. Then on November 4, the Hookiee colony of Kashyykk was stormed by a Laurasian task force; Belederon itself followed on November 9, and Laurasian forces were soon threatening Griffith, Lois, and Brian. This series of Laurasian advances, and the Laurasian seizure of Zebitrope, Trammis, and Hoxrel during the middle weeks of November 1432, finally convinced Liutprand and Wroog of the rashness of their moves. They therefore sued for peace on December 1, 1432. The Armistice of Hornsfield was signed two days later, and negotiations began at Moesby. These negotiations produced the Treaty of Moesby (December 30, 1432), which restored peace among all the powers with the status quo ante bellum, except that Lois and the colonies of Borstein and Malex was conceded to the Laurasian Empire, so as to better maintain its control over Temperance. Laurasia thus ended 1432 peacefully. The following year, 1433, would pass without anything of note occurring in the Empire, save for the continued oppression in the Commonwealth.
 * On April 28, 1432, the future Emperor Seleucus III (r. 1469) was born in Gorias Capital District, on Arias, in the Laurasian Empire. He was the son of Lucius Otho, 17th Laurasian Earl of Arias (1402-61), and his wife, Terentia Albia (1407-54). His family was one of the most ancient and noble in the Empire, having first emerged to prominence in the late tenth century, shortly after the reconquest of Laurasia Prime by Khan Tokhtamysh, and having inherited the Earldom of Arias (then known as the Princedom of Arias) in 1199, upon the extinction of the original Cremanies family. Young Seleucus would follow in his father's footsteps, and would eventually enroll in the Imperial Laurasian Army in 1450, upon his completion of his tutorial studies.

1434

 * 1434 was marked by an event of much significance; the final incorporation of the Polonian-Donguarian Commonwealth. By January 1434, Emperor Tiberius had deemed that the continued existence of the Commonwealth would be impractical for the Empire, and that he should follow the example of Demetrius I, by directly incorporating a state which had already been subordinate to the Empire from years before. Laurasian dominance was prevalent in the Polonian and Donguarian Provinces; nationalist sentiments had for the time being been crushed; and the further expansion of the Empire's territory would appease his subjects, and do something to repair his reputation with them, damaged as it had been by the cruelties and the excesses of Praetorian Prefect Serjanius. Thus it was that on January 17, 1434, the Emperor formally announced the annexation of the territories of the Polonian-Donguarian Commonwealth into the Laurasian Empire. In his decree of annexation, he confirmed the abolition of all of the institutions of the Commonwealth, including the local sejimiks, the Diet, the Administrative Council, and the Council of State. The Viceroy of Polonia now became the Governor of Polonia Major; the Commonwealth, was, by the successive decrees of February 19 and March 5, 1434, divided into the Donguarian, Western Polonian, and Eastern Polonian Provinces. The full apparatus of Laurasian administration, civil service, and justice was introduced into the conquered territories; all Polonian law, and customs, were abolished; and all Polonian subjects were made denziens of the Empire, though not given rights as subjects (none except Laurasians would be until 1612).
 * Moreover, Emperor Tiberius confiscated the properties, titles, and honors of the Polonian-Donguarian nobility, and as had been done with other regions incorporated into the Empire, he created a whole new slate of peerages, for Laurasian magnates and those who he deemed fit to reward. Dukedoms of Donguaria Prima, Polonia Major, Polonia Minor, and Pressburg thereby resulted. All Polonian military units were dissolved, and incorporated into those of the Imperial Laurasian Military; Polonians were forbidden to hold office in the Imperial Laurasian Government; and the earlier prohibitions on public activity were reiterated. Thus, with the destruction of the Commonwealth, which had lasted for 265 years (since the Union of Lublin in 1169), the Empire had subdued the majority of its neighbors and enemies from the Great Briannian War. Solidarita, Melorkia, Polonia-Donguaria, and Briannia were all now part of the Empire; Venasia, deprived of most of its territories, remained only as a prostrate vassal. Consolidation of Laurasian rule over the territories of the former Commonwealth was to continue throughout 1435 and 1436; Emperor Tiberius also ordered for the Polonian Royal Crown and the Imperial Crown of Donguaria to be transported to Laurasia Prime, and placed at the Crown Armories.

1437

 * The last years of Emperor Tiberius's reign witnessed a continuation of the treason trials and of the condemnations which had been carried out by Praetorian Prefect Serjanius, although in a somewhat reduced form. Chancellor Ledervaius was ruthless towards any who condemned the Emperor's policies, or who threatened his own position. In June 1435, a civil uprising on Calaxis II, Marsia, and Inspiter against the Chancellor's authority was suppressed by the Praetorian Guards; more than 150,000 dissidents were arrested and either imprisoned or executed on the Prefect's orders. Another outburst of dissent, this time at Americana, Lusculum, and Sarai in January 1436, resulted in the deportation of more than 250,000 persons from those three star systems, and the temporary imposition of marital law. Ledervaius, with the Emperor's permission, maintained the rigorous controls over communications and transit which had been imposed by Serjanius, and he refused to permit for any public assemblies on Laurasia Prime, or in other major star systems of the Empire, unless if they obtained license from the Senate for their activities. Ledervaius did, however, order a halt to confiscation of noble and aristocratic property as had been conducted by Serjanius; eliminated garrison payments and quartering practices the Prefect had pursued; and dismissed a number of the more superflous Guards regiments. He also lowered property tax rates, and confirmed the exemption of Christiania from all taxation by the imperial authorities. In November 1436, moreover, the Chancellor arranged for a series of lavish games to be held at the Galactic Opera, and he issued manifestos affirming his loyalty to the Almitian Church, as well as the loyalty of the Empire's subjects to their Emperor.
 * Emperor Tiberius himself now became more and more of a recluse on Paradine, and by December 1436, had once again withdrawn from all government affairs. One figure had now emerged as his heir apparent: Lord Caligula Secrus, the younger son of General Germanicus and Lady Agrippina Secrus. He had, since 1432, cultivated the Emperor's favor. With Tiberius's blessing, Caligula had married Junilla Claudilla at Tusculum in June 1433; she, however, died in November 1434, while giving birth to a stillborn son. The Emperor had, the following month, made Caligula a Suffect of Christiania, and in April 1435, Governor of Williams. These posts gave the young man political experience; he also had a honorary post in the Praetorian Guards, and was responsible for the security of the Emperor's household. He cultivated good relations with Chancellor Ledervaius and with the aristocratic circles on Laurasia Prime. Many were impressed by his energy and apparent patriotism, and thereby supported his claims to be the Emperor's successor. Though Caligula's mother, Lady Agrippina, had died at Siri on October 9, 1433, without ever being recalled, he did not hold this against the Emperor personally, and in fact had come to accept the necessity of his mother's exile. In December 1435, he became Quaestor of Paradine, and in March 1436, the Emperor made him Vice-Procurator General of the Governing Senate. Then in September 1436, the young man was created Duke of Tusculum, thereby giving him a elevated position among the Empire's nobility.
 * Praetorian Prefect Quintus Macro (1381-1438), who had succeeded Serjanius to that position in November 1431, supported Caligula's claims, and assured him of the loyalty of the Guards. With all of these factors working in his favor, Caligula was, in January 1437, finally able to secure a resolution to the matter. On January 7, 1437, Emperor Tiberius, whose health was by then in serious decline, signed and ratified his final will and testament. Using the 1322 Law of Succession to his advantage, the Emperor formally proclaimed the Duke of Tusculum to be his heir apparent. Caligula received an oath of allegiance from the bodies of the Imperial Laurasian Government, on the Emperor's command, two days later, thereby confirming his title to the succession. Then on January 16, the Emperor issued a proclamation to his subjects, justifying his decision and calling for any who opposed it to be "condemned and cast out by the Anti-Almitis himself." With the succession secure, the Emperor's health took a further downturn. He suffered a stroke in his private quarters on January 28, 1437, and on February 7, was moved to the Hospital of the Palace of Paradine. Tiberius first became incapable of speech, then of movement, and then finally lost his consciousness; by February 19, he was in a full-fledged coma. His doctors now despaired of him, and many throughout the Empire anticipated his death. Caligula now took steps to insure that the testament was obeyed, and had himself proclaimed Grand Prince on February 23, through the agency of Prefect Macro, to further consolidate his position as Tiberius's heir apparent. Tiberius lingered for another month in great agony, and to the agony of others.
 * Finally, on March 16, 1437, the Emperor Tiberius I, founder of the Tiberian Dynasty, died. He was 77 years old, the longest-lived sovereign in Laurasian history (a record which was not to be surpassed). Emperor Tiberius's death was greeted with much rejoicing on Laurasia Prime, and throughout the Empire's dominions. Many considered him, by his death, to be a tyrant and an imbecile, one who had allowed Prefect Serjanius to arise to such great power in the Empire's realms, and had himself abandoned the responsibilities of government. They considered him also to be mad, taking note of his personal excesses on Paradine. Yet Tiberius had overseen the Empire's further territorial expansion, in the Robertian Regions, Ashlgothia, and in Polonia-Donguaria; he had also subordinated Temperance, Venasia, and Beatrice under the Empire's suzerainty. By the eighteenth century, his reputation would be a mixed one, with some praising him for the military and diplomatic successes of his reign, and others decrying his domestic policies, and his own excesses. In any event, Caligula now succeeded him as Emperor and Autocrat of All the Laurasians. At the outset of his reign, Caligula was popular with all sects of the Empire's populace, from nobles, to government officials, to the military, to clergy, and to the common subjects. In his accession manifesto, the Emperor promised to govern in accord with the wishes of the people of the Empire. On his orders, two weeks of mourning for Tiberius were proclaimed. The Emperor's body was conveyed to Laurasia Prime, on March 19, and laid in state at the Quencilvanian Palace. Then on March 28, 1437, the new Emperor himself proceeded into the Laurasia Prime star system, and was given an enthusiastic reception by his subjects.
 * Many remembered that his father was the beloved and popular General Germanicus, and hailed him as his father's rightful heir. They hoped that he would continue Germanicus's legacy further, and preside over the further territorial expansion of the Empire. The Emperor's first acts were generous, though many were political in nature. He granted a series of bonuses and vacation privileges to the Empire's military forces, particularly the garrison of Laurasia Prime and the Praetorian Guards. He ordered for all of the treason reports and dossiers commissioned by his predecessor, Tiberius, to be destroyed, and for all trials or proceedings then planned to be stopped. He recalled almost all of those who had been exiled, and he pardoned more than half of his predecessor's victims. He had the remains of his siblings and mother brought back to Laurasia Prime; in September 1437, they were interred at the Old Westphalian Cathedral. He removed restrictions on communications and public assembly; cut back on the activities of the Imperial Intelligence Agency; and gave greater leeway to the municipal authorities of Christiania. The Emperor lowered all tax rates, reduced conscription rates, and issued a reconfirmation of the Sodomy Law of 1435, striking against sexual deviants and reasserting morality at the Imperial Court. He had all of Tiberius's concubines and menservants arrested and imprisoned on Ipsus V in April 1437. Then on April 19, 1437, Tiberius himself was interred at the Westphalian Cathedral. Four days later, Chancellor Ledervaius resigned; the Emperor appointed Sir Marcus Arrecinus Clemens (1396-1463) in his place.
 * On June 8, 1437, he crowned himself Emperor at the Old Westphalian Cathedral, and ordered for lavish celebrations to be conducted on Laurasia Prime as part of the attendant festivities. The Emperor respected the rights of the Holy Synod, encouraged renewed immigration into his realms, and even relaxed some restrictions imposed on the recently conquered Polonians, pardoning many of the most important officers and leaders of the Great Nationalist Uprising. Through all of these acts, he sought to establish his image as a benevolent and just sovereign. This period, however, was destined to last for only a short time. Indeed, in August 1437, signs were appearing that the honeymoon was over, for the Emperor indulged in outbursts against his personal servants at the Imperial Laurasian Court. Then on October 4, 1437, the Emperor suddenly fell violently ill, and had to be rushed to the Imperial Hospital of the Quencilvanian Palace. He was in delirium for ten days, and when he recovered from his illness, he was, in many respects, changed. Although it was discovered that the Emperor had contracted a bout of the Angrames malady, Caligula himself believed that he had been poisoned. He became irrational, and now decided to strike out at a number of individuals close to him, who he viewed with distrust. On November 4, 1437, the Emperor ordered for the arrest and imprisonment, at the Post Settlement of Hepudermia, of his cousin Grand Prince Tiberius Gamellus (1419-37), Emperor Tiberius's grandson. Gamellus had been a close friend and all of the Emperor's, but Caligula believed him responsible for his illness. He was tried by the Senate, convicted on all charges, and sentenced to death on November 9. This deed was carried out on November 14, in front of a crowd of more than 600,000 persons; it horrified many, who feared that the new Emperor might be in danger of becoming a tyrant.
 * And Caligula did not disappoint their fears. On November 17, he had both his former father-in-law, Sir Marcus Junius Silanus (1374-1437) and his brother-in-law, Baron Marcus Lepidus (1406-39), arrested. Silanus was tried and convicted by the Senate on November 22, and executed on Jadia, on December 3, 1437. Lepidus was sentenced to a long term of imprisonment, but would be released by the Emperor in March 1438 and for a time thereafter, actually favored by him. The Emperor also decided to get rid of Prefect Macro, who he now viewed as a threat. On December 9, 1437, the Prefect was arrested on the Emperor's orders, imprisoned at the Post Settlement of Hepudermia, and then, on December 14, attainted on charges of treason and conspiracy. He would be executed on January 11, 1438, and all of his properties and revenues were confiscated by the Emperor. He was replaced as Prefect by Chancellor Clemens, who was now one of the Emperor's chief favorites. 1437 ended with Laurasia having gained a new Emperor, who now seemed to be embarking on his own regime of terror, after a brief period of generosity and kindness towards his subjects.
 * On December 15, 1437, the future Emperor Antiochus III, the Mad, was born at the Imperial Hospital of the Quencilvanian Palace in Christiania, Laurasia Prime. He was the only child of Grand Princess Agrippina, sister of Emperor Caligula, and her husband Sir Gnaeus Ahenobarbus (1398-1440), whom she had married in 1435. This Antiochus was destined to become one of the most depraved monarchs in the history of Laurasia.

1438

 * 1438 began with the Laurasian Empire, as previously mentioned, now under the rule of Emperor Caligula. In the early months of 1438, Caligula turned his attention to governmental matters again; his subjects breathed a sigh of relief, believing that he would not be another Tiberius after all. This was, however, only a temporary respite. In January 1438, the Emperor reformed the trial procedures of the Governing Senate and Court of General Assizes on Laurasia Prime. He mandated for all trial records to be made public; commanded the Senate to obtain depositions from all witnesses it summoned before it; and issued a series of judicial regulations, describing in detail how evidence was to be handled, and how the proceedings were to be conducted. As for the Court of Assizes, he mandated that all civilian juries chosen be comprised only of individuals who were conversant with the law, and forbade the juries from modifying any verdict passed down by the Court. He also authorized the Court to hold its sessions in public. On February 9, the Emperor formally established the Imperial Treasury, thereby combining the Reserve and the Exchequer into one uniform body; subordinated the body to the College of Finance; and ordered for all reports on public audits and revenues to be published in government dossiers.
 * The Emperor also subordinated all Praetors to the College of Justice (on February 14), thereby regularizing the judicial coordination system. Moreover, he exempted Constantinople and the Americanian Environs from taxation in March 1438, and established an Imperial Account for Emergencies in the Empire. He also expanded the operations of the Imperial Bank of Caladaria, and introduced new terms for loans and for credit. April 1438 saw the enactment of the Charter of Planetary Transit, thereby removing all of Serjanius's remaining restrictions on movement and on the transport of goods. He did, however, increase internal tariffs, and again increased the size of the Praetorian Guards. The Emperor also embarked on a number of architectural projects. He completed St. Augustine's Church and the Auditorium of Pliny in Christiania, both of whom had been begun under Tiberius. He improved the sanitation system of Laurasia Prime's cities, and sponsored the establishment of the Caverns of North Artica in June 1438. He sponsored the colonization of Boyega, Ridley, and Abrams in the Wild Marshes; ordered for the chartering of the Laurasia Prime-Metallasia Trace; and sent survey expeditions to the Galactic Center, to produce new and accurate maps of those regions. He also ordered for the establishment of new intelligence and agricultural outposts in the Muriel Cluster, and rehabilitated the ancient Redoubt of Ux-Parr. In September 1438, the Emperor would erect the Vatican Obelisk in Christiania, imported from Horacia, and he would order for the establishment of a new hyperdrive engineering factory at the Prelone Asteroid Belt.
 * Then in August 1438, the Emperor instigated another expansion of Laurasian influence: over the Kingdom of the Merlites. On August 9, the Emperor gave the order for the Empire's forces to cross the boundary into Merlite territory. The Imperial General Headquarters had drafted plans for such an operation in June 1436, and they had been given preliminary approval by Emperor Tiberius in January 1437, shortly before his final illness. These plans called for the swift occupation of major Merlite strongholds such as Bobria, Carolyn, and Korgia, and for the subjection of the Merlites to Laurasian tribute and military protection. Moreover, the Empire took advantage of long-simmering civil and economic distress within the Merlite realms, and Merlite fears of Scottrian and Anastasian territorial ambitions. Caligula, eager for glory of his own, did not defer in following through with plans laid under his predecessor. As expected, Laurasian operations proceeded swiftly. Bobria was occupied within a fortnight; Carolyn followed on August 14, and then came Korgia (August 18); Alec (August 22); Austin (August 24); Aretha (August 26); Evan (September 9); and the colony of Franklin (September 15). Finally, on October 4, 1438, Laurasian forces blockaded Merilash, threatening to bombard the world into oblivion unless if King Cabanchan II (1435-38) surrendered immediately.
 * The King of the Merlites, finding that he had no hope of foreign assistance, capitulated the following day. Laurasian troops occupied Merilash, and compelled Cabanchan to summon the Merlite Hereditary Council. All of these Laurasian operations were commanded by Admiral Nucrus. On November 1, 1438, Cabanchan was forced to abdicate, and the Council now selected the Laurasian candidate, Prince Corlio, as Corlio VII. Then on November 17, 1438, the Treaty of Merilash was signed. By the terms of this treaty, Corlio pledged himself as a vassal to the Emperor of Laurasia. In exchange for autonomy over his domestic affairs, and the right to maintain a military force, Corlio promised to conclude no treaty hostile to Laurasian efforts; to support the Empire in its campaigns against foreign enemies; and to grant free trade, transit, and communications privileges to Laurasian subjects in his dominions. He also agreed to allow for Laurasian intervention in times of rebellion or unrest, and submitted to the confirmation of all his future successors by the Emperors of Laurasia. The Treaty of Merilash, ratified by Emperor Caligula in December 1438, established Merlita as yet another Laurasian vassal. It was to remain as such until 1474. As for Cabanchan, he would banished to Morgania Minor, and would die there on August 1, 1470 (three centuries before the Battle of Kagul).

1439

 * 1439, the 39th year of the fifteenth century, began with the Laurasian Empire having gained another vassal, in the form of the Kingdom of Merlita, and with Emperor Caligula having pursued a series of further reforms in the Imperial Laurasian Government. Yet the Emperor's paranoia returned in this year. It not only returned, but intensified, so that he soon earned the ire of many of his subjects. In January 1439, the Emperor conducted a short progress in the vicinity of Laurasia Prime, and issued a series of manifestos, announcing that the Empire continued to be blessed under his rule, and that he would ensure that the Empire's interests were always maintained. He was then conducting an expansion of the Quencilvanian Palace, and also planned to build for himself a new residence on Americana. Moreover, he conducted other beneficial projects. Taurasia was to see the construction of the Caliguilan Ramparts in this year, one of the most hailed architectural achievements of the fifteenth century. The Emperor also constructed a new retreat on Samos; contributed his resources to the construction of the Temple of Apollo, for the Laurasian Secrist cult, on Aquilionia; and ordered for the construction of hyperspace control terminals at Gordasis and Courdina V. Yet he now turned his attention back to affairs at the Imperial Laurasian Court. Indeed, what was transpiring there was to alarm the Emperor, and to launch him into a further spate of oppression.
 * His sister, Grand Princess Julia Drusilla, had died on June 10, 1438, in Constantinople, during an outbreak of pupetric fever in that city. The Emperor himself had been at his sister's bedside throughout most of her illness, had bewailed her death, and had ordered for her to be given a great state funeral at the Old Westphalian Cathedral. Throughout the early years of his reign, indeed, he had remained on good terms with all of his sisters. Grand Princess Livilla and Agrippina both received honors, properties, and annuities from their brother, and both were given precedence over all other women at the Imperial Court. Yet Caligula's own increasing personal irrationality contributed to a change in behavior on their part. Both sisters, in conjunction with Sir Lepidus, who had narrowly avoided execution earlier, now became involved in a conspiracy, in February 1439, for the overthrow of their imperial brother. There were some at the Court who believed that Caligula's overthrow would allow for the institutions of the Imperial Laurasian Government to become predominant. Agrippina herself was ambitious, and felt that by eliminating her brother, she would be able to gain increasing power and influence for herself.
 * The conspiracy was to include Caligula's seizure and imprisonment by a corps of select Praetorian Guards, loyal to the conspirators, and for Lepidus to be acclaimed by the Senate and the Synod as Emperor. Caligula himself would be banished to Jenny or Windowia Photis, and any associated with him (such as Chancellor and Prefect Clemens), were to be tried and executed. Yet this plot, from the first, was doomed to failure. On March 8, the Prefect himself, who made it his business to keep himself informed of all of the affairs of the Court, learned of seditious talk among the servants of the Household. He now alerted the Emperor to this, and expressed his belief that a conspiracy was being formulated against him. Emperor Caligula shrieked in terror, and he now ordered for a thorough investigation of the rumors, entrusting the Prefect with the responsibility. By March 12, Clemens had discovered the complicity of Agrippina, Livilla, and of Sir Lepidus in the conspiracy, and of their plans against the Emperor. Caligula was angered when presented with the evidence, but decided to show no mercy. Two days later, the Emperor ordered for his sisters, Lepidus, and twenty of their associates to be arrested. They were imprisoned at the Post Settlement of Hepudermia; Clemens, other Senators, and the Secretary of the College of Justice, Sir Ammonius Marthania, then vigorously questioned them. On March 19, 1439, the Emperor had them all brought before the Senate, and tried for their crimes. Within two hours, they were convicted of charges of treason, conspiracy, and les-majestie. Lepidus and the minor conspirators were sentenced to death; Livilla and Agrippina to imprisonment. The sentence against Lepidus was carried out on April 9, 1439, at Hepudermia; he was killed by firing squad, before a crowd of more than 500,000 spectators. The Emperor's two sisters, on their part, were taken from Laurasia Prime on April 14, and incarcerated at the Monastery of Windowia Photis. There, they were to remain until the end of their brother's reign. Emperor Caligula then ordered for a purge of his household servants, dismissing and exiling or imprisoning more than two-thirds of them between March and September 1439.
 * The Emperor was now dealing with financial pressures. In June 1439, the Laurasia Prime Stock Exchange, overburdened by years of reckless speculation, suffered a catastrophic collapse in its value; more than five million points were lost; and the economy was disjointed. Taxation revenues declined almost immediately, unemployment crept up to 8%, and inflation became rampant on Laurasia Prime, and throughout the Purse Region. Seeking to redress the situation, the Emperor then embarked upon a series of reckless financial policies of his own. He devalued the denarii by more than 10%; canceled all of the Imperial Household's outstanding debts and obligations; and ordered for all wills and testaments to be modified, so that items of value and revenues accrued to the Imperial Treasury. He called in loans from the Bank of Caladaria and other institutions; sold off imperial properties; and levied new taxes on lawsuits, weddings, and funerals. He even contemplated legalizing prostitution, so as to take advantage of its lucrative tax revenues. The Emperor also resumed Serjanius's confiscations, and extended these to the properties of the Church; more than 500 monasteries, abbacies, and citadels were seized during the later months of 1439. The nobles and clergy alike were alienated by this; Caligula further inflamed tensions by increasing the tithe demanded from church congregations, and levying a 10% capitation on all services offered by Deacons and Deans.
 * The Emperor's relations with the Senate and Synod collapsed. On August 3, 1439, he dismissed the Chief Procurator, the Archbishop of Caladaria, and more than twenty of his colleagues from office. He then ordered for all of Tiberius's surviving treason dossiers to be re-authorized, and declared that many of the charges they contained were valid. The Emperor then ordered for the arrest, attainment, and execution of more than two hundred personages, including the Earls of Darsis, Clackimaris, Janesia, and Reoyania; the heads of Katherine Drive Yards, IBSM, and Haladian Stores; and the Mayors of Constantinople and Columbia. He also imprisoned twenty members of the Senate, imposed restrictions on their discussion privileges, and barred his subjects from presenting any petitions to him. To enforce his will, the Emperor deployed the Guards more freely, again increased their size, and in November 1439, reintroduced conscription rates imposed by Serjanius. On November 9, he had the Senatorial Procurator of Clancia, Gnaeus Gaetuclius (1390-1439), attainted and executed for involvement with the conspiracy of Sir Lepidus. Then on December 3, the Emperor constructed a chain of warships stretching from Darcia to Hovium Minor. This feat, he claimed, was in imitation of the feat performed by Xer'xac of the Millian Empire, in his invasion of the Core in the 2nd century AH. The Emperor then had his personal corvette charge in the midst of the chain, and destroy it through successive bombardments. This was also combined with his movement of troops to Leslie, Larkin, Ashlgothia Minor, Trebek, Nicole, and Redia, apparently for an attack against the Neo-Anastasian Empire. At the last minute, however, he recalled the troops (December 18, 1439), and ordered for the Court to celebrate his victories. Many Laurasians, by the end of 1439, were angered by the antics of their Emperor.
 * On December 30, 1439, the future Emperor Titus (1479-81) was born in Ravarian City, Compost V, the son of future Emperor Vespasian and his wife Domtilla. Titus was their eldest child; his younger siblings were to be his sister, Domtilla (1445-66), named after her mother, and his own successor as Emperor, Antiochus (1451-96). Vespasian was serving as Aedile of Compost V at the time of his son's birth.

1440

 * 1440, the 40th year of the fifteenth century, began with the Laurasian Empire swaying under the rule of the depraved Emperor Caligula, who was, in some ways, revealing himself to be even more of a tyrannical ruler than his predecessor, Tiberius, had become. Caligula had resumed with the treason trials and with many of the other hated policies of Praetorian Prefect Serjanius. Moreover, the Emperor was now trying to elevate his own status in the eyes of his subjects. Beginning in January 1440, the Emperor began appearing in public dressed as various prophets and angels from the Almitian Testaments, including Eusebius, Simon, Matthew, John, and St. Paul himself. He began referring to himself as the next "apostle of Almitis" in public and even ordered that this status be alluded to in charters and manifestos issued from the Imperial Laurasian Court. The Emperor then ordered, on February 14, 1440, for a sacred precinct to be set apart on Hepudermia at the Grove of Miletus, meant specifically for his worship as an acolyte of Almitis; in March 1440, the Emperor would carry this further by announcing plans to construct a new cathedral in the heart of Christiania, by which he would honor those disciples of Almitis which he associated with his own person. He commanded the Holy Synod to accept as canon the Book of Jasher, which, Caligula claimed, included prophecies of the rise of a "great sovereign prophet who would bring knowledge and power to his subjects, and would reveal to them his ties with Almitis, and how those ties protected them from all foreign threats." He issued manifestos through the body, threatening to excommunicate or interdict anyone who refused to acknowledge his special status within the Church.
 * He increased further the tithes demanded from Almitian congregations; confiscated a number of monasteries for his own purposes; and modified the Rituals Regulations, so as to incorporate references to him specifically. The Cathedral of Sts. Castor and Pollux, in Colombia, was rededicated in honor of the Emperor in April 1440. At many Almitian edifices, both on Laurasia Prime and throughout the Empire, the Emperor had his officials and the local clergymen remove many of the frescoes, statutes, and monuments of other Almitian figures, and replace them with ones of himself, and of the members of his own family and personal household. He went as far as to proclaim his father, General Germanicus, a saint on June 8, 1440, enshrining him in the pantheon of the Almitian Church's protectors, and having a obelisk erected in his memory at the Cron Drift. The Emperor also ordered for the arrest and imprisonment of the Metropolitans of Ashlgothia and Polonia, when they refused to enforce his religious policies in those territories, and he issued an injunction forbidding any Almitian clergyman from criticizing any of his innovations.
 * Besides his religious and other domestic policies, the Emperor also engaged in further follies, and in one true endeavor of expansion, for the Empire. In June 1440, the Emperor conducted a trip to Kanjur, and announced his intention of launching an invasion of the Hypasian Confederacy. Soon, however, he changed his mind, and he ordered for those of his household who had attended him to take advantage of the luxuries offered by the Kelvanian Provinces. Caligula himself visited the systems of Kelvania Major, Kelvania Minor, Mordan, and Anjun, during June and July 1440. His return to Laurasia Prime, on August 4, 1440, was marked by another triumph on Laurasia Prime; this was done in spite of the fact that the Emperor had not yet instigated any military campaign of any significance. He then ordered for a statute of himself to be erected in the Public Square of Christiania, and for prayers to be offered for his well-being at all of the Empire's religious edifices. Yet this was followed by his actual positive act for the Empire's growth. On August 19, 1440, he suddenly summoned his vassal, King Ptolemaic of Beatrice, to Laurasia Prime, ostensibly for a conference and a banquet in his honor at the Quencilvanian Palace. Ptolemaic, who had received assurances from the Imperial Laurasian Government that the Emperor intended to divert more military units for the protection of Beatrice, and that he was contemplating ideas of assaulting the Neo-Anastasian Empire, did not defer. He departed from his capital world the following day, crossed the boundary into the Empire, and proceeded thence to Laurasia Prime, arriving on the capital world on August 24.
 * He was received by Emperor Caligula and the Imperial Laurasian Court with great ceremonial, and was treated to a series of festivities in his honor. Caligula, however, had more sinister plans. On September 5, 1440, on the Emperor's instructions, Ptolemaic's food was poisoned. The King, knowing not of this, had his breakfast in his chambers, and fell violently ill. He was rushed by his staff to the Imperial Hospital, but in spite of the efforts of the physicians, the King of Beatrice died later that morning. His death left Caligula free to do as he chose with Beatrice. The Treaty of Denver gave the Emperor of Laurasia the ability to choose Ptolemaic's successor as King. Caligula now declared himself to be such, and announced the official annexation of Beatrice on September 9, 1440. Beatrice, Ginger, Zoo, Trieste, Safer, and Masau were all occupied by Laurasian units without trouble; the nobility and administration of the Kingdom were forced to swear an oath of allegiance to Caligula as Emperor; and Beatrice was incorporated into the Laurasian Empire. This gave the Empire control of the Beatrician Bend, which intersected Nicole and Redia, and thereby eased Laurasian access into the Upper Barsar Regions. The annexation of Beatrice would be consolidated by November 1440, and at that time, the Emperor formally organized its new provincial administration.
 * On October 5, 1440, the Queen Mother of Venasia, Helsia, died on Hapes after a reign of seventeen years. The Queen Mother's health had entered decline during the last two years of her life. She had been unable to participate in the rituals of the Venasian Court, and had delegated more responsibilities, both to the Council of High Ones and to her daughter, Princess Malichina. In accordance with the terms of the Treaty of Venasia Prime, Emperor Caligula confirmed Malichina as the new Queen Mother of Venasia. Malichina, on her part, reaffirmed her commitment to the terms of the Treaty, and on October 14, proceeded to Aflac, where she formally paid homage to her Laurasian suzerain. Caligula contemplated ideas at this time of disposing of the Queen Mother, and of annexing the Venasian Consortium directly into the Empire. However, his vanities made the Consortium's continued existence an appealing fact for him, and he did not proceed with that course of action. Malichina returned to Venasia Prime four days later, being formally crowned Queen Mother. Her mother, Helsia, was buried on November 1, 1440, at the Mausoleum of the Queen Mothers.

1441

 * By January 1441, Emperor Caligula had become loathed by his subjects, and by many within the Imperial Laurasian Government itself, for his misdeeds. Many were now openly comparing him to such depraved and tyrannical rulers in the past history of Laurasia such as Honorius the Terrible. And of course, his reign was considered, in many ways, to be merely the continuation of that of his predecessor's, Emperor Tiberius. It had become apparent to the Praetorian Guards, the Senate, and to other factions within the Imperial Government that Caligula needed to be disposed of. Thus, a conspiracy for his assassination, from the preceding month, had been fomented by the Commander of the 2nd Cohort of the Guards, Sir Cassius Chaerea (1403-41). Chaerea felt himself personally insulted by the Emperor's antics, for whenever he had paid the proper respects to His Majesty, the Emperor had taken his hands "and caressed the officer's face in an obscene manner" (according to Sir Suetonius Tranquillius). On January 7, Chaerea met with his fellow associates in the Guards in order to plan out the assassination of the Emperor. Originally, they sought to murder the Emperor as he presided over the Candlemass pageant at the Imperial Court. Their plans however, shifted, when on January 12, the Emperor announced his intention to move the Empire's capital from Laurasia Prime to Melarnaria in the Central Core, an act which outraged many on the capital world. To Chaerea, it was necessary that the Emperor be stopped before he could carry out his plans. Thus, on January 24, 1441, Chaerea and twelve of his colleagues accosted the Emperor at the Great Chamber of the Quencilvanian Palace, as he addressed an acting troupe of young men, during a series of games and dramatics held in the memory of the Empire's founder, Seleucus the Victor.
 * The Emperor demanded the reasons for their defiance, and called upon his own regiment of Guards to deal with Chaerea and his men. Chaerea, however, left nothing to chance, and he now lunged at the Emperor, striking him several times with his vibroblade. Caligula's pleas for help availed him nothing, and he collapsed to the ground. By the time his personal bodyguards finally arrived, the Emperor was already dead. Chaerea and his men then dispatched those guards, and then proceeded to attack other prominent personages in the immediate vicinity. It now became apparent that the Commander was intent upon the general extermination of the imperial family. Forty other individuals, during the course of the next two hours, were killed by the conspirators. This included the Empress Consort, Caesonia, who had been married to Caligula in September 1439, and their infant daughter, Julia Drusilla (who had been born on January 7, 1440, at Americana). Empress Caesonia yielded to the conspirators bravely, posing no resistance to their arms; her daughter was killed by having her "brains bashed against the chamber walls." The Emperor's uncle, Grand Prince Claudius, now fled to his bedchambers in the Palace, and sought to hide from the conspirators. He himself witnessed a number of his friends and attendants being murdered by the conspirators. Yet fortune now worked in his favor. One of the loyal members of the Guards, Sir Gratus Carasius (1410-75), found the Grand Prince, dropped to his knees, and hailed him as Emperor and Autocrat of All the Laurasians.
 * The Guard assured Claudius that he was not one of the conspirators, and that the regiments were prepared to protect Claudius against them. He and some of his associates, having acknowledged Claudius as Emperor, then spirited him away to the Casta Praetoria in the city of Christiania; Praetorian Prefect Clemens himself hailed Claudius as Emperor and guaranteed him his safety. The Senate and Synod, in the meantime, had quickly assembled. A debate ensued among the two bodies of state, as they considered who should succeed to the throne (for Caligula had not named a successor before his death). The question was quickly settled by the Guards themselves, who now surrounded the Meeting Chambers of the Quencilvanian Palace, and demanded that the Councils proclaim Claudius, as they had proclaimed him. They had no choice, and during the late hours of January 24, Claudius formally became Claudius II, Emperor and Autocrat of All Laurasia. The new Emperor Claudius, who was the first Emperor to be proclaimed by the Guards, ordered for his predecessor's memory to be excommunicated. The Senate imposed a sentence of damnatio memoriae upon Caligula, his wife, and daughter. All of Caligula's statutes, public monuments, and honors were destroyed. The Book of Jasher was removed from the canon, and any regulations relating to the worship of Caligula, or his status as a prophet of the Almitian Church were revoked. The Holy Synod also renounced all manifestos it had issued on Caligula's behalf, and plans for the establishment of a cathedral in his honor were set aside. The Emperor also confirmed the privileges of the Almitian Church, and, to reward the Guards for having supported him, conferred upon them a substantial donative. This was the first time that the Guards had received a financial bonus on the accession of a new sovereign, and it was a practice which would be adhered to until the time of Neuchrus I.
 * The Emperor, on February 7, 1441, had the memory of Tiberius's mother, Grand Princess Livia Nero, posthumously blessed. He ordered for the remains of Caligula and of his wife and daughter to be interred at the Post Settlement of Hepudermia. Then on February 16, he formally released Caligula's sisters, Grand Princesses Agrippina and Livilla, from exile, and permitted them to return back to the Imperial Court on Laurasia Prime. Livilla returned to her husband, while Agrippina took charge of her son, young Antiochus, who was now three years old. On March 18, 1441, Claudius formally crowned himself Emperor at the Old Westphalian Cathedral, and staged, in conjunction with the coronation, extensive celebrations. A month before, on February 12, his son, Grand Prince Brittanicus, had been born at the Old Royal Palace, to his wife and consort at the onset of his reign, Empress Messalina (1417-48). Claudius had been married to Messalina on September 23, 1439, and they had a daughter, who became Grand Princess Octavia, in June 1440, before his accession.
 * The Emperor was then confronted with a challenge in the territories of Beatrice, which had been annexed by Caligula the year before. In July 1441, King Ptolemaic's former secretary, Aaedemon, who could not in his conscience support the continued Laurasian rule of Beatrice, decided to instigate a rebellion against the Imperial Laurasian Government. On July 17, he appeared at the outskirts of Trieste, and announced, in a proclamation to the subjects of Beatrice, his determination to resist the further intrusions of the Laurasian power. Trieste itself, only recently consolidated under the Laurasian grip, flung its gates open to the Secretary, and he now made it his chief headquarters. From Trieste, Aaedemon quickly secured control of the Beatrician colonies of Rusadier (July 18-22), Luxis (July 25), and Septem (August 1). On August 4, 1441, the Battle of the Atlaiana resulted in a decisive victory for rebel forces; from thence, Safer fell into Beatrician hands. Beatrician expeditions attacked Gigi, Stapleton, Walden, Warren, and Leslie during the course of August 1441, in the Ashlgothian Provinces, hoping to thereby keep the Laurasians off balance. Zoo fell on September 3, 1441, and was then followed by Banasa and Vollubis (both of whom were subdued by September 10). On September 12, the Battle of Chellah ended in another victory for Aaedemon's forces. Emperor Claudius, determined to consolidate his predecessor's conquest of Beatrice, now ordered Legate-General Sir Gnaeus Hosidius Geta (1410-95), to suppress the rebellion. Geta, whose chief subordinate was Brigadier-General Suetonius Paulinus (1413-76), who would become known as the suppressor of Boudicca's Rebellion two decades later, acted swiftly. In a feat of military daring, he pushed from India, along the Denveranian Trunk Line, and to Vollubis (September 14-17, 1441), reconquering the stronghold.
 * From thence, he defeated the Beatrician General Sabalus in the Battle of Bejara (September 23, 1441). Banasa and Chellah were then recovered by October 7, and on October 14, 1441, the Battle of Bolua ended in another victory for General Geta. Paulinus then distinguished himself at Chaka (October 17-22, 1441), and then penetrated the defenses of Luxis (October 28). On November 3, Septem was reconquered by the Empire's forces; Zoo followed on November 8; and on November 13, a move against Beatrice Minor, by Sabalus and Aaedemon, was defeated in the Battle of Stflis. Finally, on November 24, 1441, the decisive Battle of Sfasteria was fought between the Empire's forces under Geta and Paulinus on the one hand, and those of Aaedemon and Sabalus on the other. This battle resulted in a victory for the Laurasians, and in the capture of both Geta and Paulinus. Trieste was recovered by government forces on December 7, and the final rebel units were destroyed at Sinadda and Subbar on December 10. Aaedemon and Sabalus were, on the orders of the Emperor, bound in chains, placed on a transport, and on December 14, conveyed to Laurasia Prime. Arriving there two days later, they were both examined by the Emperor himself. Claudius then had them paraded through the streets of Christiania, and on December 20, both were attainted. Their executions at Hepudermia (December 23, 1441), was witnessed by a crowd of more than 400,000 persons. By the end of 1441, therefore, Laurasian rule over Beatrice was secure.

1442

 * 1442, the 42nd year of the fifteenth century, began with the Laurasian Empire having now passed under the rule of Claudius II, who was, in so many ways, different from his two predecessors, Tiberius I and Caligula. Emperor Claudius, in fact, was determined that the Empire's internal stability be maintained, and that the errors of the preceding reigns be corrected. To that end, the Emperor sought to implement a series of policies, in regards to the Almitian Church, to finances, and to government, in order to strengthen his own position and that of the Imperial Laurasian Government. He announced his goals in the proclamation of January 7, 1442, declaring that the Lord Almitis had called upon him to look after the prosperity and the interests of his subjects. He sought to establish a positive relationship with both the Senate and the Synod, deeming this especially important because of the circumstances of his accession. The Emperor attended sessions of the Senate on a routine basis, treated its members with great respect, and participated in all discussions just like any other normal member. He made a point of insisting on the precedence of Senators in ceremonies of state, and of honoring their position at the Imperial Court.
 * Moreover, Claudius, in February 1442, issued a series of manifestos confirming the Senate's prerogatives, including its right to impose damnatio memoriae, to confer decorations and knighthoods upon prominent individuals in the Imperial State, and for its members to be exempt from all taxation. He encouraged the Senate to publish proclamations and decrees on matters of importance to the Imperial Laurasian Government, and he allowed for the Senate to issue its own ceremonial medallions and coinage, the first time this privilege had been granted to the body. Moreover, he set about remodelling the Senate into a more efficient and more responsible administrative body. He reminded the Senators about their duties of justice and administration, admitted five more members to the ranks of the body, and in 1447, ordered for the dismissal of all Senators who failed to meet the qualifications for office set by him personally. However, he guaranteed that all former Senators were to receive pensions, unless if they had been removed due to opposition or resistance to His Majesty, and he forbade the College of Justice from pressing charges against the Senate without foundation. As regards to the Synod, Claudius, in March 1442, reaffirmed its right to issue regulations and directives relating to Church affairs.
 * He forbade the Colleges of State from pressuring the Synod to extend the Almitian Scriptures, and confirmed the invioability of those documents. He took his role as Pontifex Maximus very seriously, and presided over all of the sacred ceremonies and festivals in which his presence was required. He reduced the tithe demanded of Almitian congregations to 10%; abolished the extra taxes upon the clergy, church property, and church services which had been imposed by Tiberius and Caligula; and further limited the powers of the Commission of Economy, restoring autonomy over tax returns, bonds, and obligations to the Church's monasterial orders and foundations. The Emperor eliminated many miscellaneous celebrations introduced by Caligula, simplified the religious calendar, and in June 1443, issued an absolute prohibition for any but the acknowledged saints and figures of Almitism to be honored by the Church in the future. In 1444, he enacted a series of measures to reduce proselytizing, and vigorously renewed the Heresy Laws, authorizing for the Church to conduct inquiries into such sects as Janeism and Almitian Heysachism. He also completed the reconciliation of the Old Believers with the Official Church, in January 1445, and formally abolished all remaining semblances of their autonomy.
 * The Emperor placed a renewed emphasis upon equity and the operations of the judicial system. Continuing the practice of Laurasian monarchs, going back to the time of Gordian I, he himself personally judged many legal cases relating to the Imperial Court and to the Empire's nobility; he also had the final say on cases heard by the Senate and the Court of General Assizes. Claudius, in June 1442, raised the qualifications for expert juries, by imposing a new minimum age of 25. He shortened the legal term, introducing the practice of holding breaks both in the summer solstice and in the fall solstice. Moreover, the Emperor required all plantiffs to be held to the same standards as defendants, and he also limited the amount of evidence which could be used in the Court, thereby clearing out the docket of many of the Empire's civil courts. In November 1442, he issued a decree mandating that any who had assumed rights to subjectship of the Empire were to retain such rights, but laid strict penalties on any who attempted to claim they were subjects without documentation. He reasserted the sharp differentiation between subjects and conquered peoples of the Empire, though from 1442 to 1445 he issued a number of decrees granting such rights to individual colonies and communities in Beatrice, Polonia, Donguaria, and Upper Melorkia.
 * The Emperor also continued with the centralization of the Imperial Laurasian Government. In July 1441, he had appointed as his Chancellor Sir Tiberius Claudius Narcissus (1387-1454). Narcissus, who would eventually become 1st Baron Narcissus of Clevemenia in September 1448, was of very humble origins, having once been a common laborer on Augis V. He proved himself, however, to be a loyal and efficient servant of the Emperor's. Claudius also appointed Sir Pallas Clasterius (1406-62) as the Secretary of the College of Finance and Chief Officer of the Imperial Treasury; Sir Callistus Galarnia (1410-52), as Secretary of the College of Justice; and Sir Polybius Iulia (1397-1446), as the Secretary of the Imperial Chancellory. Like Narcissus, all of these men were of humble origins, and all of them served the Emperor loyally. It was on the initiative of Iulia and Narcissus, in fact, that Claudius established the Imperial Council of Secretaries in February 1442, in order to coordinate the activities of the Colleges of State, and to dispense advice on government affairs to him. And in May 1448, it was Narcissus and Clasterius who were responsible for the reformation of the Empire's provincial administration. Emperor Claudius now abolished the system of districts and provinces as had been established by Antiochus the Great; he now reorganized the Empire into twelve Senatorial, and twelve Imperial Provinces.
 * The Senatorial Provinces were to encompass the Empire's oldest, more "civilized" regions: Laurasia Prime, the Central Core (except for Ivoria), Briannia, parts of Solidarita, Malaria, Murphy, and Schaueria Prime were included in this definition. They were to each be controlled by a Senatorial Procurator, appointed by the Senate but confirmed by the Emperor, and answering to both the Senate and to the Emperor. The Senate was to have the right to station its own representatives in these provinces, to demand additional reports from them, and to override the actions undertaken by the local governments of those provinces. The Imperial Provinces, on their part, were each placed under the authority of a Imperial Governor, answerable only to the Emperor, and appointed, as well as dismissed, solely by him. Over these provinces the Senate enjoyed only normal powers, and it was the Imperial Chancellory which would be responsible for maintaining oversight of these territories. In all provinces, governors were to enjoy both military and civil authority; to be assisted by a Praetor of Justice, a Aedile of Finance, and a Quaestor of Security; and they were to enforce the Empire's laws on a regular basis. The reorganization of the provincial administration, as implemented by Claudius, was to last for more than two centuries until Neuchrus the Reformer's comprehensive reforms of 1695-96.
 * 1442 also saw the execution of Grand Princess Livilla and of Lady Julia Filia (1408-43), the daughter of Emperor Tiberius's son, Grand Prince Drusus. Claudius's wife, the scheming and reprehensible Empress Messalina, was determined to root out other women at the Imperial Laurasian Court who, she believed, would pose a threat to her own security and position. It was thus that she, in July 1442, accused both Livilla and Lady Filia of having plotted to assassinate the Emperor and seize the throne for their own supporters. Emperor Claudius, who was entranced by his wife's beauty, and willing to believe anything she said, ordered for both women to be arrested and interrogated at the Old Royal Palace. Livilla strongly maintained her innocence, declaring that she would never move against the man who had freed her from the exile into which her brother, Caligula, had cast her; but Lady Filia was not so strong, and breaking down under pressure, soon confessed to a slew of outrageous crimes. She stated that she had indeed plotted against the Emperor; that Livilla had been complicit in the plot; and that she had also given herself over to the wiles of the Anti-Almitis. Claudius, when hearing this, decided that was enough for him. On August 8, 1442, he had both women attainted and conveyed to the Post Settlement of Hepudermia. There, they were executed on August 21, before a crowd of 600,000 persons. The Senate laid damnatio memoriae upon both of them; they were also excommunicated by the Holy Synod, and in October 1442, became the first, under the Empire, to suffer the indignity of being dumped into the Pit of Traitors on Jadia (which would be formalized by Emperor Claudius in November of that year). This was the only act of paranoia by Claudius during this year, otherwise, of reform and stability.

1443

 * 1443, the 43rd year of the fifteenth century, commenced with the Laurasian Empire of Claudius II continuing to undergo a program of reforms in regards to its finances, government, and religious affairs. Yet the Emperor of Laurasia always had his goals set upon the Empire's territorial expansion. Claudius was determined to strengthen the Empire's position in both the Wild Marshes and in the Middle Territories. He acted first in the Middle Territories. To him, the continued existence of the League of Way'tosk and of the Kingdom of Temperance was unnecessary. By 1443, the Imperial Laurasian Government felt that the direct incorporation of those territories would strengthen the Empire's position in regards to both the Hookiee Confederacy and the Kingdom of Jageronia. This was an idea which Claudius himself had vigorously promoted. On January 18, 1443, in a manifesto to his subjects, the Emperor announced his intentions to take action in Way'tosk. On February 2, he ordered for the Laurasian diplomatic garrisons and troops stationed in the League's territory to assume full control of the garrisons and star systems there, and to begin the process of dismantling Way'toskian government operations. These units, which were commanded by General Geta, proceeded quickly; soon, Bacturis Invictis, Wayne, Bor'say, and Grand Junction had all seen the dismantlement of their previously existing governmental structures. Then, on February 19, 1443, Geta proceeded onto Way'tosk personally, and with his superior forces, forced the League Council to convene at the Palace of Emperor Heu'storr the Great.
 * There, the Council was presented with the Laurasian conditions: acknowledge the authority of the Imperial Laurasian Government, along the annexation of all the League territories into the Laurasian Empire, and be confirmed in turn, of possession of their personal titles, estates, and status. The President of the Council, Heur'lac, understanding that resistance to these demands were futile, capitulated quickly, along with his associates on the Council. On March 1, 1443, they signed the Capitulations of Way'tosk, embodying all of the terms presented to them by the Laurasian General. Four days later, Emperor Claudius, who had moved to Gunevere, issued a manifesto formally annexing the territories of the League of Way'tosk into the Laurasian Empire; abolishing the Council and all other League governmental institutions; and confirming the terms of the Capitulations of Way'tosk. All League resources and revenues were confiscated by Laurasian officials, and Way'tosk itself was placed under the jurisdiction of a imperial governor, appointed by the Emperor personally. The old capital world of the ancient Millian Empire, 1,116 years after its fall to Sargon the Conqueror, was now under the control of the Laurasian Empire.
 * The annexation of Way'tosk had been an easy task for the Emperor and his government. They now turned to one of a more challenging, and demanding nature: the subjection of the Hypasian Provinces. Laurasia's interactions with Hypasia had, in recent times, been of some note. The Hypasian Hegemony had emerged in 1353, as the collapse of the Kingdom of Greater Donathia proceeded in due course; its vassal, the Kingdom of Amelianian Cordania, was unable to maintain control in the Wild Marshes. From 1362, the Emperors of Laurasia had taken an interest in the territory. Antiochus the Great himself exchanged correspondence with the first Hypasian Hegemon, Cassel Vangh (1353-80), and in 1375, the two rulers had concluded the Treaty of Giron, thereby providing for tariff-free commerce and free transit between the two realms. This policy of friendliness had been continued by Vangh's successors as Hegemon, his son Tranh Vangh (1380-1409) and grandson Belivu (1409-40). Belivu, in particular, was friendly to the interests of the Laurasian Empire, and in 1413, he signed, at Patsy, a Treaty of Amity and Commerce with the Imperial Laurasian Government. Yet all of these hegemons had contended with the defiance of their various vassals, in particular the Icenian Hypasians of Saigon and the Brivantes of Don Mingh and Ho Chi Minh. The outbreak of the Huha Uprising in 1420-25 had tempted Emperor Tiberius into declaring war and intervening in the Hegemony's affairs, but his focus upon the vassalization of Beatrice and Venasia, and of the conquest of Ashlgothia, had diverted him from this. And as has been mentioned, in 1440, Emperor Caligula pretended to be in the process of launching an invasion of the Hegemony's territories, but had abstained from such a step at the last minute. But now Emperor Claudius was determined to conquer the Hegemony, and to extend Laurasian territory into the outskirts of the Eastern Galactic Borderlands.
 * In particular, he was alarmed by the ardent Hypasian nationalism of Belivu's sons, Trash Dogmus and Carah Signhu, who had become co-Hegemons of Hypasia upon their father's death in February 1440. Both were determined to restore the Hegemony's unity, to expand its military capabilities, and to instigate aggressive campaigns to extend its influence and power farther into the Galactic Borderlands. Claudius believed that they needed to be eliminated before they could accomplish such goals. As such, as early as November 1441, the Emperor had commanded the Imperial General Headquarters to draft plans for a military operation into the Hegemony's territory. These plans had been completed by December 1442, and had been presented to His Majesty by the Council of Secretaries. The Emperor now ordered for the Empire's military forces to be assembled at strongholds such as Mordan, Morgania Major, Kelvania Major, Angelica Major, Eric, the strongholds of the Prietist, Roxuli, Abraham, Massanay, Sassanay, Malaria Prime, and Kanjur, among others. Then in March 1443, he formally appointed Legate-General Sir Aulus Plautus (1391-1469) as the commander-in-chief of all Laurasian forces intended for the invasion. The Emperor himself, at Gunevere, continued to supervise the preparations for invasion. Finally, on April 14, 1443, he dispatched a communique to Hypasia Major.
 * In this communique, the Emperor declared that the Hypasian Hegemony had defaulted on its earlier obligations to the Laurasian Empire, and that consequently, it was necessary for the Empire to intervene in its internal affairs, in order to restore "harmony to our relations and order among the peoples who reside within the Hegemony therein." Consequently, Claudius demanded that the Hegemons agree to Laurasian garrisons being established on Hypasia Major, Saigon, Ho Chi Minh, and Trasha Dakai; that they submit to the overlordship of the Empire, and pledge themselves as vassals to him personally; and that Laurasian officials be given control over Hypasian finances and commerce. Carah Singhu, rightly seeing in these conditions the means by which the Empire would absorb the Hypasian Provinces, responded, on April 22, by utterly rejecting them. Consequently, Claudius believed, he had grounds for war. On May 2, 1443, the Emperor of Laurasia issued a formal declaration of war against the Hypasian Hegemony, and ordered General Plautus's forces to advance into Hypasian territory. Plautus did this without displaying any reluctance, and he quickly made gains against his Hypasian opponents. He besieged and conquered Rochetria (May 3-9, 1443); defeated Hypasian units in the Skirmish of Selsey (May 14); and isolated Van Klep (May 17-24). On May 28, 1443, Hegemon Trash Dogmus, attempting to reverse the Laurasian advance, confronted Laurasian units at Hung Yen. The ensuing Battle of Hung Yen ended in a decisive victory for Plautus's forces. Plautus then subdued the Hypasian colonies of Nam Dinh, Niem Binh, and Bac Ninh (June 1443), inflicting a series of humiliating losses upon Hypasian forces.
 * He returned to the conquest of Van Klep, and with the assistance of General Geta, reassigned to that theater, conquered the stronghold (July 2-3, 1443). Song Dhu fell into Laurasian hands on July 6, followed by Trasha Dakai on July 21. A series of further confrontations between Laurasian and Hypasian forces at Camanium and Tederway (July 22-27, 1443), resulted in victory for the Empire. Cassolar was stormed on August 4, followed by Bach Dang on August 8. On August 12, 1443, the Siege of Valeris V commenced, lasting for nearly a month. Although General Geta was nearly captured by enemy starfighter squadrons, the Siege ultimately ended in victory for the Laurasians (September 10); from Valeris V, Huerta Mongol and Qu'emia both capitulated to Laurasian forces, by the beginning of October 1443. October 1443 saw Laurasian troops storm Hue, Ban Noi, and Hu Thang; Bien Hoa and Can Tho followed by November 11. Then on November 14, Emperor Claudius himself, proceeding from Gunevere, made his arrival at the outskirts of Hypasia Minor, and instigated a siege of the star system. The Siege of Hypasia Minor lasted for some weeks, and its fall on December 3 was cause for much jubilation throughout the Empire. Hanoi and Sogan followed (December 5-7, 1443), and on December 10, Princess Kandukha of the Brivantes submitted herself as a vassal to the Emperor, paying him homage at Selgovae. Vertchi of Saigon followed on December 16, and by the end of the year, Hypasia Major itself was being threatened by the Empire's units.

1444

 * 1444, the 44th year of the fifteenth century, began with the Laurasian Empire having commenced its conquest of the Hypasian Provinces, which would not be completely consolidated until 1484. The early months of 1444, however, witnessed Laurasian forces completing the initial stage of the conquest, through the subjection of Hypasia Major and the effective destruction of the Hypasian Hegemony. On January 7, 1444, after a series of further Laurasian victories at Hai Dyoung, Hai Phong, and Vinh Phuc, the Empire's forces finally approached the outskirts of Hypasia Major and imposed a complete blockade. Emperor Claudius himself, who had taken delight in the exploits of war, and in the successes which his military forces had obtained over the Hypasians to that point, was present at the siege; Legate-General Plautus was in command of the actual military operations against Hypasia Major. The Siege of Hypasia Major lasted for over a month, as the Hypasian forces resisted the Laurasian assaults vigorously. Hypasian Hegemon Trash Dogmus, in particular, proved himself to be a vigilant military campaigner. He and his units sallied through the command lines of the Imperial Laurasian Navy; laid minefields in the vicinity of Hypasia Major; and harried Laurasian supply squadrons. On January 22, however, the co-Hegemon was seriously wounded in a confrontation with Laurasian troops at Thamian Point. He was forced to retire from the Siege, and suffered great pain from his injuries. His death on February 4, 1444, proved to be a great blow to the Hypasian cause. Yet his brother Carah Singhu, who was now the sole Hegemon of Hypasia, was equally determined to carry on the resistance, and he too, launched his own relentless attacks against the Imperial forces. Plautus, however, gradually wore the enemy down in further confrontations at Bac Giang and Bac Kan.
 * Finally, on February 19, 1444, Hypasia Major's defenses were penetrated by the forces of the Laurasian Empire. The world itself was then overrun by the Imperial Laurasian Army, and within the day, all remaining resistance had been suppressed. Carah Singhu was forced to flee to Thang Lak, along with the remnants of his forces. With the occupation of Hypasia Major, the Empire held the definitive advantage in the Hypasian Provinces. Emperor Claudius summoned Kandukha of the Brivantes, Vertchi of Saigon, and the regents of the Council of Hegemons to him at Valeris V (March 7, 1444), and secured their oath of allegiance to him as their sovereign. Laurasian units then occupied Quang Tri, Ha Trinh, and Nghe An during March 1444, thereby consolidating their hold of Hypasia Major. The Emperor then decided to return to Laurasia Prime, and on April 3, he formally named General Plautus as the first Governor of Hypasia. Four days later, the Emperor made his retreat, and proceeded quickly back to Laurasia Prime, arriving at his capital world on April 9. The Senate now conferred upon him the title of Hypasius Maximus (April 14, 1444); he conducted a triumph on the surface of his capital world; and a series of festivities were held at the Imperial Laurasian Court, in order to celebrate the conquest. The Emperor was especially generous to his subjects in these celebrations.
 * Although Carah Singhu refused to make his peace with the Imperial Laurasian Government, and indeed was to conduct a successful guerilla resistance against the imperial authorities for the next seven years, Emperor Claudius nevertheless considered the conquest to be effectively finished. He now turned his attention to consolidating Laurasian territory along the upper Rebeccan Galactic Trade Route. The Abbathian Dynasty of Homidinia, which was then ruled by Watthquaka (1442-47), was then entering its terminal decline. It was beset by continued, inconclusive conflict with the Neo-Xilanian Empire and the Cosite Kingdom; with economic deterioration; and with uprisings by the armies of its subject Mellorite mercenaries and their associates. Watthquaka himself, who was thirty when he acceded to the throne, was completely inexperienced with the cares of state, and did not understand how to grapple with the challenges now pressing upon his dynasty. As a consequence, the Emperor of Laurasia was able to take advantage of the troubles. On June 6, 1444, declaring that there was a need for intervention in order to "protect" the interests of the Empire's subjects in the Robertian Provinces, Claudius ordered for a series of operations into the Lower Burglais Arm. Laurasian troops quickly stormed Sanford (June 6-9, 1444); defeated Abbathian patrol units in the Battle of Martzy (June 12); and on June 17, won the Battle of Jefferson, humiliating the Abbathian garrison of that star system. From thence, Ian, Taraning, and Brlla fell into Laurasian hands (July 1444); on August 2, the Battle of Isabel ended in another victory for Laurasian forces. Gibbs-to-Lester was stormed on August 8, and on August 22, Yutzy was laid under siege.
 * The fall of Yutzy (September 9, 1444), was quickly followed by that of Calms (September 13). By the end of September 1444, Laurasian units were penetrating to Mackenzia Minor, Cassie, and Jacobs I. It was on October 4, 1444, that Watthquaka, beset by the threat of the Scott Pirates in the Corporate Sector, and with a series of civil revolts at the Kledis Var Trade Line, begged for peace with the Imperial Laurasian Government. Claudius agreed, not intending to wage a larger war. The Armistice of Marla was signed on October 11, and negotiations opened at Holt on October 22, 1444. The Treaty of Holt (November 17, 1444), resulted in the concession of Calms, Jefferson, Gibbs-to-Lester, Martzy, Isabel, and Hemsford to the Laurasian Empire; the recognition of absolute Laurasian jurisdiction over transit rights on the Trade Route; and Laurasian rights of intervention in Jageronia. In exchange, Emperor Claudius pledged to evacuate all other territories occupied by Laurasian forces, and to refrain from interfering in Abbathian internal affairs thenceforth. The Treaty of Holt, ratified by both parties by December 9, 1444, therefore resulted in an acquisition of value for the Laurasian Empire. 1444 closed with Emperor Claudius once again triumphant in the eyes of his subjects.

1446

 * 1446, the 46th year of the fifteenth century, saw the Laurasian Empire residing in a state of general peace, with the exception of continued moves of subjugation by the imperial authorities in the Hypasian Provinces. Emperor Claudius had, through his conquest of the Hypasian Hegemony, his incorporation of Beatrice and Way'tosk, and his swift interventions in the Lower Burglais Arm, strengthened and extended the Empire's territorial base. The preceding year, 1445, had seen little of note except for the execution of some notable individuals in the Imperial Laurasian Government, largely on the initiative of Empress Messalina. Sir Marcus Frugi (1382-1445), 2nd Baron Frugi, had distinguished himself in loyal and continual service to the Imperial Laurasian Government. Graduating from the University of Laurasia Prime in 1403 with degrees in administration, political science, and pre-law, he had then entered the Christiania Inns, eventually obtaining his licence as a lawyer of civil law, and serving with the Municipal Court of Christiania, the General Court of Assizes on Laurasia Prime, and the College of Justice. In 1423, he became Praetor of Laurasia Prime; this was followed in 1427 by his elevation to the Senate, and to his entering the service of the Imperial Household directly as a judicial attorney for the sovereign's personal estates. He continued to serve the government faithfully, and he became the Chancellor of the Inns in 1433, before, in 1442, being appointed by the newly-elevated Emperor Claudius to the position of Notary for the Imperial Council of Secretaries. With his wife, Lady Scribonia Meseria (1387-1445), he had one son, Sir Gnaeus Pompeius Frugi (1409-45).
 * The younger Frugi also became distinguished in the imperial service, becoming Chief Suffect of the City of Herkorim in 1440, and then, three years later, marrying Grand Princess Claudia Antonia, daughter of the Emperor himself. Yet Empress Messalina feared and despised the Frugi family, believing that their prominence posed a threat to her own position within the Imperial Court. Consequently, beginning in July 1444, she had conspired against them, planting evidence purporting to show their disloyalty to the State, and building up distrust against them. Finally, in April 1445, she had been in a position to strike. Word leaked to the Council of Secretaries that Frugi had been involved in a conspiracy to poison the Emperor while he was at Andriana. This was an unfounded rumor, spread by Messalina herself, but it worked. Claudius, still under his wife's great personal influence, heeded her "pleas" for his safety, and on April 12 of that month, ordered for the arrest of the Frugis, father and son, and of Lady Scribonia. They were incarcerated at the Post Settlement of Hepudermia, while Grand Princess Claudia was separated from her husband and was given permission to remarry. A series of interrogations were then conducted, under which the elder Frugi broke down and confessed to all sorts of impossible crimes. Finally, on June 18, 1445, the three were attainted by the Emperor and sentenced to death; their executions were carried out on Hepudermia, on June 24, before a crowd of 600,000 persons. In the aftermath, they were excommunicated by the Holy Synod; had all of their properties and estates confiscated; and their memory condemned.
 * In spite of this incident, however, Emperor Claudius still retained the overall popularity of his subjects. Thus, in January 1446, the Empire found itself launched into another military conflict, but not of its own accord. The outbreak of the Fourth Laurasian-Kimanian War was provoked by the Celestial Dynasty. Scrilio Shogun, who had now reigned on Kimania for eighteen years, was determined to recover the strongholds which had been lost to the Laurasians earlier in the century. To that end, he had, from 1444, engaged in an extensive military buildup. The lower Kimanian Trade Run, such as the strongholds of the Orion Cluster, Rolle, Bookman, Nanking, Christopher, Christophsis, and Gliestis, became host to Kimanian units training for combat, being upgraded with modern technologies, and engaged in military simulations. The Shogun also sought to extend his ties to the Hookiee Confederacy, then ruled by Purbacca (1440-49), and to encourage rebel tensions in the Ashlgothian Borderlands Territories. On September 2, 1445, the Hookiees and Kimania had concluded the Treaty of Tyvokka, pledging to cooperate in all campaigns against the Laurasian Empire and to make no separate peace without consulting the other. Kimania was to regain all territories conceded to the Empire since 1413, and to extend its protectorship over Lower Melorkia and the Borderlands Territories; the Hookies were to acquire Way'tosk and assume a protectorate over Temperance.
 * On January 7, 1446, therefore, the Shogun sent a message to Emperor Claudius on Laurasia Prime, demanding for the revocation of all treaties made since 1413 (the Treaty of Gulistan), and for the restoration of all Laurasian territorial gains to the authority of the Celestial Dynasty. The Emperor, who could not believe in the seriousness of these demands, refused to respond to them. Thus, on January 14, Scrilio issued a declaration of war against the Laurasian Empire, and launched his forces in an invasion of Laurasian territory. Kimanian forces gained a succession of early victories. Armenia Minor fell into Kimanian hands (January 14-19, 1446), followed by Isaac (January 22); Herat (January 26); and Qoba-Darkand (February 1). On February 6, 1446, the Battle of Winehouse was waged, between the forces of the Laurasian Empire on the one hand, and those of the Celestial Dynasty on the other. The result was a Kimanian victory. Winehouse's fall was followed by that of Cal (February 10-14, 1446); Stahl, Morley, and Simon were all blockaded by Kimanian units; and on March 1, the Battle of Ordubad resulted in another victory for Kimanian forces. Two days later, Regent Purbacca issued a declaration of war against the Empire; his forces seized, during the course of March 1446, Deborah, Wayne, Lois, and Grand Junction. The early weeks of April 1446 saw some further Kimanian victories. Echimadzin fell on April 4, 1446, followed by Mazandaran (April 8) and Igdir (April 14). This, however, was the limit of Kimanian advances.
 * General Gnaeus Geta, who had been reassigned by the Emperor to the Lower Kimanian Provinces at the end of March, now took command of the Laurasian response. He defeated a Kimanian expeditionary force in the Battle of Hinds Prime (April 17-22, 1446) and followed this up by routing a Kimanian supply force at Jackson (April 24, 1446). At the same time, the Duke of Columbia defeated Hookiee forces under Qurbacca in the Battle of Goodman (April 21-22, 1446), recovered Deborah, and then struck at Ond'diray, driving Hookiee units from that star system. On May 5, 1446, Igdir was reconquered by the Empire, less than a month after it fell to Kimanian units; from Igdir, Laurasian units won the Battles of Stahl (May 7-13); Gilan (May 14); and Astrabad (May 19). Turkmenchay fell on May 24, 1446, a great symbolic victory for the Empire. Echimadzin was blockaded from May 29, but was not reconquered until July 6. Nevertheless, during May and June 1446, Laurasian units made great progress in the Middle Territories, recovering Lois, Grand Junction, and Wayne in a series of confrontations. They also struck at Pailbirth and Predosur, inflicting further humiliating losses upon the Hookiees. On July 8, 1446, in the Barsar Regions, Kimanian General Abu Chrushan launched a counteroffensive against imperial units. He penetrated to Armenia Major, sacking the world's defenses (July 8-11); humiliated Laurasian units at Liliana (July 14, 1446); and on July 22, won the Battle of Peterslie, thereby penetrating into the Ashlgothian Borderlands Provinces. Morley was overrun on August 2, followed by Trieste (August 6); Safer (August 11); and India (August 14). Kimanian units were also harrying Walden, Nandia, and Larkin Minor, and penetrating the colonies of the Trans-Larkin. On August 22, 1446, however, the Battle of Luther resulted in the initiative shifting back to the Laurasians. McMannis saw another Laurasian victory (August 28, 1446); the blockade of Simon was finally relieved in September 1446; and on October 7, both Trieste and Morley fell back into Laurasian hands. Safer and India followed by October 14; Cal was finally recovered (October 18, 1446); and the Battle of Damavand (October 22-27, 1446), ended in a decisive Laurasian victory.
 * On November 1, 1446, the Hookiee Confederacy, which saw Boydaria and the colonies of Rwhorkia and Metalorn threatened by Laurasian units, sued for peace with the Imperial Laurasian Government. An armistice was signed the following day at Griffith, and the Treaty of Monderon (November 19, 1446), restored peace on the basis of the status quo ante bellum. Yet even before this, on November 11, 1446, Emperor Claudius had taken an action of decisive importance: the annexation of the Kingdom of Temperance. This was caused by internal turmoil within Temperance itself, and by Laurasian operations on Temperanian territory against the Hookiees. King Rhometacles II of Temperance had died on June 23, 1438, and had been succeeded to the Temperanian throne by his cousin, who became Rhometacles III. This last ever King of Temperance, which had first emerged in the sixth century AH with the collapse of the Sennacherid Empire, and had been revived at the beginning of the fourteenth, remained a loyal vassal to the Laurasian Empire throughout his reign. Yet his ambitious wife and consort, Tryphaena, sought to gain the throne for herself. To that end, she conspired ceaselessly with noble circles on Temperance and elsewhere, notably with her chamberlain Praxa. Their conspiracies bore their fruit on June 1, 1446, when Praxa, along with his attendants, arranged for the assassination of the King while he slept in his personal bedchambers. They had then summoned a session of the Temperanian High Council, forcing the body to proclaim Tryphaena Queen Regnant of Temperance. Such an action, however, did not have the approval of Temperance's overlord, Emperor Claudius of Laurasia. The Emperor had refused to recognize Tryphaena's regime, but his efforts had for some months been focused on the persecution of the war effort.
 * Yet with the war against the Hookiees ending, and with the Empire having gained the definitive advantage over its Kimanian rivals, the Emperor decided to make his move. On the date mentioned, the Emperor ordered for Borenraz, Deschanel, Zooey, On'diray, Bor'say, and Temperance itself to be occupied by the Empire's troops; for the Queen of Temperance to be forced to abdicate; and for the High Council to sign an instrument of surrender. The Duke of Colombia carried out these orders swiftly, and he met no resistance within Temperance's realms. Tryphaena was in due course forced to abdicate, placed in chains, and conveyed to the Secret Prison of Ipsus V; the High Council was convened and was forced, on November 13, to sign an instrument recognizing the incorporation of the Kingdom of Temperance into the Laurasian Empire; the abolition of all Temperanian governmental and military institutions; and the dissolution of the Temperanian Government. Following this, on November 15, 1446, Emperor Claudius issued the final and formal decree of annexation. Temperance was therefore incorporated into the Empire. Tryphaena would remain imprisoned at Ipsus V until her death on May 23, 1475; Praxa and his co-conspirators would be arrested, and executed at Phyllis on December 18, 1446. The last months of 1446 saw the intensification of Laurasian campaigns against the Celestial Dynasty. Mazandaran and Echimadzin well back in Laurasian hands by November 8; and on November 19, 1446, Qoba-Darkand was also recovered. On November 24, General Geta assaulted the defenses of Narra. Narra could not resist the Laurasian onslaught, and fell two days later. Gilestis and Christopher were both subdued during December 1446, by the end of the year, Laurasian forces were poised for an offensive against Tabriz, Derangy, Morangy, and Neutria.

1447

 * 1447, the 47th year of the fifteenth century, saw further successes by the Laurasian Empire's military forces against those of the Celestial Dynasty of Kimania. It also saw the outbreak of a brief rebellion against the Imperial Laurasian Government in the Murphian Provinces, which would come to an ignominious end. On January 3, 1447, Neutria was besieged by the Empire's forces. The Siege of Neutria lasted for several days, as the forces of the new Kimanian commander-in-chief, Fleet Admiral Zhou Enlai, posed a substantial resistance to those of General Geta and of Admiral the Lord Carus (1400-71). Ultimately, however, Neutria fell on January 18. From Neutria, Laurasian units stormed Cyberton Xerxia (January 22); Tabriz (January 24); and Ralina (February 1-4, 1447). On February 11, 1447, the Battle of Stedham resulted in another decisive victory for Admiral Carus, who captured 200,000 Kimanian warriors. From Stedham, Goni was blockaded by a Laurasian expeditionary force, while Samantha was seized (February 24). March 1447 saw Laurasian units overrun Celetia, Roschemelle, and Serdar-Adad. On April 7, 1447, the Battle of Chobania ended in yet another victory for Laurasian military forces. Although Laurasian units then suffered reverses in confrontations at Barnay and Sykes III (April 8-14, 1447), they nevertheless kept up the momentum against their Kimanian foes. Derangy capitulated to Admiral Carus on April 2, and on May 3, 1447, Laurasian units stormed its companion world of Morangy also. Gardiner, Leo's Redoubt, and Kimanis Mooria were now harassed by Laurasian expeditions; May 14, 1447, saw the fall of Constipex, after it had been besieged by Laurasian naval units for more than a month. By the beginning of June 1447, Laurasian units were besieging Messalina, Chobania, and Reading.
 * On May 27, 1447, however, at Senna, the Senatorial Procurator of Murphy, Lucius Scribonianus (1403-47), arose in rebellion against Emperor Claudius, declaring that he was not the legitimate ruler of the Empire's dominions and that a firmer hand was needed to continue the Empire's territorial expansion. With the assistance of Governing Senator Sir Vincinanus Qasabius (1390-1447), he quickly secured control of Saray, Hickoris Five, and Anusia. On June 8, 1447, the Battle of Cryan ended in victory for rebel forces; they were now harrying the outposts of the Prelone Asteroid Belt, and were penetrating as far as Capital, Meaganian, and Mumbraine. Murphy itself, however, remained loyal to the regime of Emperor Claudius, and on June 19, 1447, a rebel move against Theresa failed ignominiously in the Battle of Bartello. Then on June 24, Qasabius lost the support of his troops when he declared that he was in favor of restoring the ancient Stellar Republic of Laurasia. Thus, on July 3, 1447, the Duke of Murphy, who had remained loyal to the Imperial Laurasian Government, was able to make his advance against Procurator Scribonianus. He won the Battle of Duros (July 8-14, 1447), and then subdued Lopez (July 22), before moving into Anusia. Finally, on July 28, 1447, Scribonianus was assassinated by his own troops at Jorge, and the rebellion collapsed. Senator Qasabius surrendered at Saray on August 4; he was bound in chains, transported to Ipsus V, and thence imprisoned, dying there on September 3 of the same year.
 * The months of the rebellion saw a stalemate between Laurasian and Kimanian forces in the Barsar Regions; Laurasian moves against Messalina and Chobania failed to accomplish any results, while Kimanian units could not recover Neutria. Yet on September 12, 1447, the stalemate was broken when General Geta won the Battle of Drea. He then stormed that stronghold and Duana, by September 19, and on September 23, launched a renewed offensive against the defenses of Messalina. Messalina finally surrendered to the Empire's forces on October 8, 1447; Reading followed on October 14; and Chobania on October 22. Bookman and Rolle then were firmly secured by Laurasian units (October 24-31, 1447), and on November 4, 1447, Dorothea's defenses were breached by Geta's units. By November 17, Leseur, Lange, Orion III, and Nanking had also fallen into Laurasian hands. Narra capitulated on November 23, and Christophsis was isolated from November 26; its fall on December 7 was a major victory for the Empire. Christopher was captured on December 11, and the Battle of Tolbiac (December 14, 1447), confirmed the trend of events. 1447 closed with the Laurasians having made several important gains along the Run.

1448

 * 1448 began with the Laurasian Empire continuing to gain victories over its Kimanian rivals. On January 9, 1448, the Battle of Harrison ended in a decisive victory for General Geta, who broke through two Kimanian strategic lines and repelled a series of counterattacks against his flanks. Plath, Novina, and Skold were then conquered during the course of January and February 1448; Laurasian units held Hutsia Minor, and launched numerous raiding operations into the remainder of the Hutsite Reaches; and Kimanian counteroffensives against Bookman, Rolle, and the strongholds of the Orion Cluster ended in failure. On March 4, 1448, the Battle of Glenn ended in another victory for the Emperor of Laurasia's units; from Glenn, Laurasian units seized Goni (March 8); isolated Acone (March 12-17); and humiliated Kimanian units at Meister, Singer, and Sabany (March 22-24, 1448). Nikki Lowell was then seized on April 4, 1448, and Henderson was soon threatened by Laurasian expeditions. Yet in May 1448, Emperor Claudius dealt with an affair at the Imperial Court: the betrayal of Empress Messalina. Messalina had been, throughout her time as Claudius's consort, ruthless towards her political enemies and dominant in the Household's affairs. She had also been unfaithful to her husband, and had been promiscuous. It would later be stated by Baron Monompahlaus in his Complete History that her "behavior scandalized all within the reaches of the Empire, disgraced the monarchy, and profaned the name of women more honorable than she."
 * On May 7, the Emperor, along with his household and personal associates, departed from Laurasia Prime to Taurasia. It was while he was gone that Messalina forced Senator Gaius Silius (1413-48), to marry her in a private ceremony at the Quencilvanian Palace (May 11, 1448), thereby committing bigamy and violating her vows of loyalty and fidelity to the Emperor. She had been engaged in a sexual affair with this personage from long before, and had given her favors to both servants and nobles equally. The Emperor returned on May 24, and in quick order, learned of his wife's betrayal. Two days later, he ordered for the Empress and her bigamous husband to be arrested and confined at the Old Royal Palace. Claudius now acted bereaved in public, and declared that the Lord Almitis had cursed him with such a faithless wife. He was nevertheless now determined to terminate the relationship, being encouraged to do so by Messalina's great rival, Grand Princess Agrippina. On June 2, 1448, the Emperor ordered the Holy Synod to formally annul his marriage, and that of Messalina with Silius; to excommunicate both of the lovers; and to declare them sinners for having violated the Canon Laws on marriage, adultery, and fidelity. Then on June 6, he had them attainted. Messalina, in an act of vain self-concern, implored Claudius to spare her for the sake of their son, Grand Prince Brittanicus. Claudius refused however. Finally, on June 11, 1448, she and Silius were both executed at Hepudermia, before a crowd of over a million persons. Their bodies were dumped into the Pit of Traitors on Jadia. The Emperor showed no remorse about the executions, and declared that Messalina deserved her fate.
 * By June 1448, with this transpiring at the Imperial Laurasian Court, Laurasian forces made more progress in the Barsar Regions. Acone fell on May 9, 1448; Henderson followed on May 12. Laurasian units then breached the defenses of Kimanis Mooria (May 18-22, 1448), plundering that important Kimanian stronghold. Khorasan, Barnay, and Kabul fell into Laurasian hands the following month; on July 3, 1448, Jarman succumbed to General Geta's forces. Admiral Carus then destroyed a Kimanian task force in the Battle of Haingi (July 18, 1448), and on August 5, stormed both Preena and Susan. The Battle of Dominguez (August 17-22, 1448), quickly followed, and by September 9, Laurasian units were imposing a blockade of Allen. Allen resisted fiercely, and did not fall until October 15. During October 1448, Laurasian forces overran Abshire, Strongstine, and Riley in quick succession. A further confrontation at Shell (November 4-9, 1448), resulted in a decisive Laurasian victory. Earl and Sandra had both fallen by the end of November 1448, and on December 8, 1448, Offshora too fell under assault. Its fall two days later finally convinced Scrilio Shogun that peace needed to be made with the Laurasian foe. On December 13, 1448, he sent an urgent request for an armistice. Emperor Claudius accepted this, and on December 23, 1448, the Armistice of Clemens was signed, thereby bringing military hostilities to an end.

1449

 * 1449, the 49th year of the fifteenth century, opened with Emperor Claudius marrying his fourth wife. Following the execution of Messalina in June 1448, the Emperor had fallen, quickly, for the charms of his niece, Grand Princess Agrippina (the daughter of his brother, the late General Germanicus). Such a relationship was considered incestuous by the Almitian Church and was looked upon with disapproval by the public of the Empire. Yet the Emperor was determined to follow his own wishes. He made it known to his subordinates and to his associates that he would only be satisfied by a marriage with the Grand Princess, and that such a marriage would have positive benefits for the Empire in general. Agrippina herself, who pursued the marriage out of a desire for power, not out of love, encouraged the Emperor's advances and declared that no better honor could be done to her than by this man. In October 1448, on the Emperor's command, the Synod issued a dispensation dispensing with the prohibition of marriage on grounds of incest, and shortly afterwards, Claudius announced his official engagement to the Grand Princess.
 * The Grand Princess further built up her base of supporters within the Imperial Court, and moved against any who competed for the Emperor's affections, or challenged her own claims to be his consort. Then, on January 1, 1449, she and Claudius were married at the Old Westphalian Cathedral. Six days later, the Emperor had her formally crowned as his Empress Consort. Agrippina thereby became the most powerful woman in the Laurasian Empire, and at the center of a web of patronage and favors in the Imperial Household. She basked in her new position as Empress, and made sure that everyone was aware of her new-found influence and importance. In February 1449, the new Empress Consort engineered the execution of Lollia Paulina, who had been the third wife of her brother, Emperor Caligula. Paulina, who had been forbidden to remarry by Caligula himself upon their divorce, had nevertheless been critical of the new Empress and of her influence. Agrippina further extended her influence by ingratiating herself with Secretary Clasterius, who had become Head of the Imperial Chancellory following Iulia's death in June 1446. With his assistance, she used the Imperial Intelligence Agency and the Praetorian Guards to terrorize and humiliate her opponents among the government bureaucracy, the military, and the general populace. She quickly became unpopular, and the union was loathed by Laurasians. In June 1449, a series of public protests in the streets of Christiania, urging Claudius to divorce and execute Agrippina, were forcibly suppressed by the Guards on the Emperor's orders.
 * As regards to other matters, the Emperor's government acted to bring the Fourth Laurasian-Kimanian War to a close. Negotiations commenced at Riley on January 20, 1449, and continued for nearly three months. General Geta, who served as the Empire's chief plenipotentiary, wrangled with Kimanian Prince Deng Xiapoing over territorial concessions and over recognition for the Empire's annexation of Temperance. Finally however, on April 6, 1449, the Treaty of Riley was signed. By the terms of this treaty, the Laurasian Empire acquired Narra, Gilestis, Christophsis, Christopher, Constipex, Newman Victoria, and Nikki Lowell, thereby consolidating its control of the Dumbgwitan Provinces. The Celestial Dynasty acknowledged the Laurasian annexation of Beatrice, Temperance, and Way'tosk; granted all Laurasian subjects immunity from Kimanian laws while traveling in Kimanian territory; and assured for free commerce between the two realms in the Barsar Regions. In return, Laurasia pledged to restore all other conquered territories to Kimanian authority by no later than December 1, 1449. The Treaty of Riley, ratified by both parties by the end of April 1449, was to maintain the peace between Laurasia and Kimania for the next twenty-six years. Emperor Claudius focused his efforts on withdrawing Laurasian military forces, and consolidating the gains along the Kimanian Trade Run.
 * He also engaged in further beneficial innovations. The previous year (1448), he had staged a revival of the Secular Games, which had not been held since the eighth century AH, and provided for spectacular celebrations to be conducted for the benefit of his subjects. In 1448-49, the Emperor conducted a modernization of the Stadium of Christiania, formally renaming it the Circus Maximus and erecting sections specifically for dignitaries and for special guests. He also rebuilt the Stadium's gates and its security system, now constructed of solid platinum and gold mantle. Claudius established, in May 1449, Pompey's Theater in Colombia, in order to bring in new innovations as regards to plays and other public performances; he revamped the Galactic Opera; and he sponsored the establishment of Laurasian-style venues at colonies throughout the Ashlgothian Borderlands Territories, Lower Kimania, and Beatrice. The Emperor had, in 1447, chartered the Beatrice-Jared Highway, thereby improving communications and travel in that region; he constructed the Pelmite Hypergates at Shrivan in July 1448; and in 1449-50, he instigated the construction of the Galactic Starbase of Ostia, which was to become one of the largest shipyard and commercial facilities in the Caladarian Galaxy. The Emperor, in accordance with this, granted all sailors and shipyard laborers a special exemption from property and poll tax levies; in June 1450, he issued the Lex Pompeia, seeking to codify regulations on galactic travel, transport, and navigation.

1450

 * 1450, the 50th year of the fifteenth century, commenced with the Laurasian Empire once again residing in peace, both externally and domestically, under Emperor Claudius. By the middle of the fifteenth century, the Empire's power and influence within the Caladarian Galaxy had strengthened considerably. One hundred and twenty-nine years after the end of the Great Briannian War, the Empire's dominions stretched from the Hypasian and Angelican Provinces in the Wild Marshes to the Millian Home Region, Kimanian Trade Run, and Denveranian-Murphian Bend, to the east and south of the Caladarian Galaxy. Almost all of Laurasia's rivals or neighbors of the Great Briannian War had succumbed to the Empire's might during the first third of the century; Laurasia had also annexed Beatrice, Way'tosk, and Temperance, as well as various territories from the Celestial Dynasty of Kimania, the Neo-Venasian Consortium, the Hookiee Confederacy, the Abbathian Dynasty of Homidinia, and the Kingdom of Jageronia. Venasia was a vassal state and protectorate of the Empire; Jageronia was to become one later on in the 1450s. Emperor Claudius, on his part, had implemented reforms of importance and significance to the Imperial Laurasian Government. His reorganization of provincial administration, of the Council of Secretaries, and of the Empire's judicial system had all strengthened his own authority, and improved the efficiency of the Empire's bureaucracy. His architectural and cultural achievements had also received notice from favorable circles on Laurasia Prime, and elsewhere throughout the Empire. Yet he was now under the influence of his new Empress Consort, Agrippina, who, more and more, was to demonstrate her envious nature during the last years of her husband's reign.
 * The Empire, however, found itself engaged in renewed hostilities in the Hypasian Provinces at the commencement of 1450. In 1446-47, Legate-General Vespasian Sabinus had led a coordinated campaign, from Masan and Valeris V, against Hypasian cells and colonies in the Exterian Regions. During these campaigns, he had inflicted a series of humiliating defeats upon the Vietcong and the Communal Patriots, two of the most fearsome pirate bands in the Caladarian Galaxy; conquered the colonies of Neur Daso, Tonkin, Tuen Quang, Yeh Bai, and twenty associated minor outposts; invaded the star system of Vectis, clearing out Vietcong units from their outposts and garrisons in that star system; and established a new headquarters for Laurasian operations on the recently discovered world of Londarania, which, by the eighteenth century, was to be one of the Empire's preemnient colonies in the Wild Marshes. In September 1447, Governor Plautus had been relieved of duty and replaced by the Emperor with Sir Publius Scapula (1395-1452). Governor Scapula then suppressed, the month following, a rebellion by the Iceni of Saigon, installing the pro-Laurasian Ving Naugh (1447-60) as the new Vice-Hegemon of Saigon. In 1448, he conducted a series of military operations against the Decelangi of the Laos Nebula and the Outer Hypasian Provinces, dispersing that band and capturing Lai Chau, which had served as their chief supply base. The following year (1449), he sponsored the colonization of Canovia, which became another major Laurasian colony in Hypasia.
 * But in February 1450, the former Hypasian Hegemon, Carah Singhu, who had continued to hold out at Thang Lak, instigated formal rebellion against the Imperial Laurasian Government, and advanced with his forces. He was determined to restore the independence of the Hypasian species, and to drive the Laurasian intruders out. He would pose, throughout most of the rest of the year, a significant challenge to the Empire's forces, employing guerilla and classic ambush tactics in order to harry Laurasian supply lines, collect intelligence information, and weaken the Laurasian strategic position. He first won a victory at Thang Lang (February 9-14, 1450), capturing a number of Demetrius-class dreadnoughts and thereby augmenting the strength of his own forces. He then struck at Annam, incorporating what remained of the free Decelangi bands and frustrating government attempts to catch him (February 18). By March 4, Carrah Singhu had besieged and conquered Tonkin, Yeh Bai, Huerta Mongol, and Masan, thereby entrenching himself firmly in the heart of the Hypasian Provinces. He shifted his forces about, and at Tsumstu, humiliated a Laurasian expeditionary force (March 19, 1450). The Battle of Van Klep, which was fought on March 28, ended in another victory for rebel forces. Carrah Singhu then sacked Laurasian positions at Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi, and Bien Hoa (April 1450), and on May 7, won the Battle of Sorliar, driving Laurasian units from Bac Ninh and Nam Dinh. Governor Scapula, angered by this series of defeats, and having lost the services of Vespasian (who had been reassigned by the Emperor to the Laurasian garrisons in Merlita), now hurried his forces from Hypasia Major, intending to halt the threat posed by the rebels.
 * On May 18, 1450, he attacked a rebel convoy at Hue; the ensuing Battle of Hue resulted in a strategic victory for the Empire's forces, but most of the vital rebel transports and freighters were able to escape unharmed. Carrah Singhu then overran Laurasian positions at Viem Themp (May 22-29, 1450); on June 3, 1450, Sogan fell into rebel hands, and Laurasian units suffered a humiliating defeat. Scapula now ordered for a harsh retaliation; he had his forces sack the Hypasian strongholds of Quemp, Thang Gosong, and Van Dong (June 6-19, 1450); on June 23, 1450, the Battle of My Lai ended in victory for the Laurasians, who then executed more than 30,000 rebel troops. A Laurasian force then recover Tonkin (June 28, 1450), and on July 7, annihilated a rebel starfighter squadron at Husmaer. Laurasian units then reconquered Bac Ninh and Nam Dinh (July 8-11, 1450), but rebel units continued to harry their positions. On July 14, 1450, in fact, Hypasia Minor fell to a renewed rebel offensive; Carrah Singhu's units then overwhelmed Laurasian garrisons at Quang Tri, Ha Trinh, and Nghe An; Valeris V itself was on verge of falling into rebel hands. August 1450 saw indecisive Laurasian operations against Thang Lak and Buan Ma Thoat, and the capture of Laurasian military supplies at Da Ning. Emperor Claudius, angered by the continued Hypasian resistance, now ordered for a vigorous counter-response.
 * He dispatched substantial reinforcements to Hypasia Major and Que'emia, and on September 9, 1450, issued new instructions to Governor Scapula. Scapula was now able to reconquer Masan and Huerta Mongol (September 13-19, 1450), and on September 24, employing only his mobile units, was able to intercept and capture a Hypasian rebel convoy at Phuoc Long. From thence, Sogan was recovered (October 4, 1450), and on October 17, a Laurasian force recovered Hypasia Minor. Nghe An fell on October 17, followed by Ha Trinh (October 24); Quang Tri (November 2); and Vien Themp (November 8). On November 14, 1450, Scapula was finally able to bring Carrah Singhu to fight an open battle at Caer Caradoc. The ensuing Battle of Caer Caradoc ended in a decisive victory for the Empire's forces. The Hegemon's wife, daughter, and chief subordinates were captured by Laurasian units; more than two-thirds of the Hypasian rebel fleet, numbering sixty warships, was destroyed or captured; and over 150,000 rebel troops lost their lives. Carrah Singhu however, managed to escape from the field of battle. Thang Lak and Buan Ma Thoat finally fell to Laurasian units on November 22, and on November 28, Yeh Bai was recovered. Van Klep, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, and Bien Hoa were all back in Laurasian hands by December 12. The rebel cause was now lost, but Carrah Singhu fled now to Selgovae, to the court of Princess Kandukha of the Brivanti Hypasians. 1450 ended thus with the Empire having further secured its position in Hypasia.

1451

 * 1451, the 51st year of the fifteenth century, began with the Carrahan Rebellion in the Hypasian Provinces winding to its close. As mentioned above, Carrah Singhu had sought refuge on Selgovae with Princess Kandukha, ruler of the Brivanti Hypasians and now one of the Laurasian Empire's dependents. The Princess, however, was well aware of the superior military capabilities of her suzerains, and did not wish to forfeit her people's independence through harboring a fugitive. She also sought to ingratiate herself with the Imperial Laurasian Government. As a consequence, on January 18, 1451, the Princess revealed to Governor Scapula that she had the rebel Hegemon in her possession, and expressed her earnest desire to hand him over into the hands of the proper authorities. Governor Scapula did not relent, and quickly made the arrangements for the transfer. On Kandukha's orders, Carrah Singhu and his remaining household associates were chained and confined to private quarters. The transfer itself occurred on February 4, 1451, on Selgovae. Carrah Singhu could pose no resistance, and the last remnants of his rebellion collapsed, with the Laurasian victory in the Battle of Chu Lai. Emperor Claudius, pleased about the capture of this rebel, issued a manifesto on the matter to his subjects from the Imperial Laurasian Court and exalted on the achievements of his military commanders.
 * On February 17, the Emperor ordered General Scapula to bring the Hegemon and his family to Laurasia Prime. He did as ordered, and the entry into the Empire's capital star system (March 1, 1451), was one marked with much ceremonial and occasion. The Emperor sought to arouse the patriotism of his subjects, and he organized a triumph in the streets of Laurasia Prime, enthusing over the victories. A Te Deum service was held at the Westphalian Cathedral; Governor Scapula was honored for his achievements and awarded the Order of St. Alexander; and the Holy Synod issued a manifesto, conferring its blessings upon all soldiers who had participated in the campaigns. Carrah Singhu himself, his family, and his associates were paraded through the two Calaxies, Jadia, Hepudermia, and into the city of Christiania in chains, in cages for all to observe them. They were trundled to the Quencilvanian Palace. There, Emperor Claudius would himself examine the former Hegemon. He intended to have him executed after the audience.
 * Carrah Singhu conducted himself with dignity through the whole experience, and he acted with especial honor now. When presented to the Emperor, he paid him all of the due respects, while maintaining his own self-worth. He then delivered an eloquent, vigorous, and forceful speech, stating the reasons for his rebellion, lamenting the fate of his species, and yet commending all who had fought in the Rebellion, Laurasian and Hypasian alike, for their courage and valor. This speech, the Hegemon's manner of conduct, and the stories of his exploits during the campaigns of the past decade all had their effect upon the Emperor. Claudius now decided to spare Carrah Singhu's life, and the lives of his family and subordinates. The Emperor, on March 19, 1451, now issued a decree, conferring upon the former Hegemon the title of Prince of Hypasia; granting him estates throughout the Laurasia Prime Purse Region; pardoning him of all offenses; and allowing him to remain, with his family, as an honored guest at the Imperial Court for the rest of his days. Carrah Singhu, thus honored, eventually came to appreciate the beauty and the amenities of Laurasia Prime. In the course of time, he became reconciled to the imperial regime, and engaged in no further plot or conspiracy. He resided on Laurasia Prime until his death on March 9, 1476, aged 65.
 * Empress Agrippina had sat alongside her husband at this audience, and had also been impressed by Carrah Singhu's bravery, conduct, and eloquence. Yet at the Imperial Court, she maintained her regime of surveillance and of oppression of her servants and subordinates. Her influence over the Emperor continued to grow, and had resulted in major consequences for the imperial succession. In September 1450, the Empress had persuaded her husband, Emperor Claudius, to ratify a new will and testament. In this document, he proclaimed her son, Antiochus, to be his heir apparent, and formally adopted him into the imperial line. In January 1451, this was furthered when Antiochus was elevated to become Grand Prince, and was given a seat of honor and precedence on the Governing Senate and Council of Imperial Secretaries. Coinage, issued in 1451-53, would designate Antiochus as the Emperor's chosen successor, and associate him with his stepfather, the Emperor. Moreover, Agrippina, again using the Imperial Intelligence Agency had, between October 1450 and June 1452, more than 5,000 individuals of the gentry and knight elites in the Purse Region arrested and either imprisoned, fined, or executed for refusing to recognize her son's claims, doubting her marriage with the Emperor, or challenging her directly. She made all her ladies swear an oath of allegiance to her directly, and compelled the menservants to do the same for her son. She continued to conspire with other Senators, Secretaries, Praetorian Guards, and Suffects of Christiania, and in November 1451, got the Praetor of Laurasia Prime and the Commander of the Garrison to support her son's claims. The Emperor acquiesced in his wife's policies, and in December 1451, issued an imperial manifesto threatening severe penalties for any who challenged the succession.
 * On October 24, 1451, the future Emperor Antiochus IV, the Hated (1481-96), was born in the Military Garrison of Kristy, Yularen, of the Goldarian Province in the Laurasian Empire. He was the second son, and the last child, of future Emperor Vespasian and his wife Domtilla. By the time of his birth, the General had risen further in the imperial service, having served as Quaestor, Aedile, and Praetor, on Laurasia Prime and in the Core Regions, successively. In November 1451, the month after her son's birth, he was promoted to the rank of Legate-General and was made Vice-Mayor of the City of Christiania. He also became the Secretary of the Imperial College of Defense and a member of the Council of Secretaries, thereby giving him influence in the ranks of the Imperial Laurasian Government. Young Antiochus, like his elder brother Titus, would be raised in a strict and solemn, but productive, atmosphere during his formative years.

1453

 * The years 1452 and 1453 passed with the Empress Agrippina's regime at the Imperial Laurasian Court engulfing more individuals in alleged "conspiracy" against the Emperor. That will be described below. The most significant event of this year was the birth, on September 18, 1453, of the future Emperor Antigonus I, the Conqueror (1498-1517). He was born at Thathagones Military Compound Hospital on Leopolodia, in the Leopolodian Provinces of the Laurasian Empire. His parents were Sir Marcus Ulipus Trajanius (1430-95), 3rd Baron Trajanius, and his wife Lady Marcia Trajanius (1433-91). His father, Baron Trajanius, belonged to a distinguished family line which first emerged in the eighth century AH, and had become one of the most prominent gentry families on Laurasia Prime. He had passed through the Imperial Military Academy of Darcia, joined the Imperial Laurasian Army as an officer in 1451, and was posted to Leopolodia at the time of his son's birth. His father became a attache of the Governing Senate in 1454, and eventually a full Senator in 1456; he rose through the ranks of the Army, becoming Legate-General in 1463, and serving in the campaigns of the First Huntite War, the Donguarian Rebellion, and the conquest of Merlita.
 * This service would lead to Emperor Vespasian making him Suffect of Christiania (1473) and then Governor of Leopolodia and Vindictoria (1476); he would distinguish himself in both positions, serving until his retirement from the Army and from the civil service in 1480. Antigonus's mother, Lady Marcia, was the daughter of Sir Quintus Sulla (1407-83), who was the chair of the Imperial Geological and Astrographical Survey from 1449 to 1466, CEO of Chancellor Industries, and one of the leading patrons of colonization, exploration, and navigation in the Empire. She herself was a very educated woman, speaking seven languages and imbued with a passion for the classics. His father, on his part, had a passion for political science and military history. Both parents were to have a great influence on their son, and he would honor the memory of both after becoming Emperor. Antigonus's elder sister was Ulpia (1448-1514), who would be much beloved by him, and would assist with the affairs of the Court while he was away conducting his Kimanian and Anastasian campaigns.

1454

 * 1454, the 54th year of the fifteenth century, commenced with the Imperial Laurasian Court wallowing under the control of Empress Consort Agrippina, whose influence over her husband, Emperor Claudius, had grown to great bounds. She had destroyed further opponents of her cause, and threats to her position, during the preceding two years. In July 1452, Sir Asinius Gallus, 2nd Earl of Redia, and his colleague on the Holy Synod, Lay Councilor Lord Corvinus, were both "exposed" for having engaged in a plot to assassinate the Emperor with members of the household, and to usurp the throne for themselves. Gallus was deprived of his earldom and of all other honors and properties, banished from the Imperial Court, and confined to the Monastery of Windowia Photis; Corvinus, along with twelve of their "associates", was attainted and executed at Hepudermia, their bodies dumped into the Pit of Jadia due to excommunication. Then in January 1453, Sir Decimus Asiaticus (1395-1453), Governing Senator, Mayor of Herkorim, and Baronet of Jatheria, was arrested and executed on the Emperor's orders, without the benefit of public trial proceedings, and with no formal warrant of attainder issued. It was alleged by the Emperor, in a speech which he later delivered from the Quencilvanian Palace, that Asiaticus had been engaged in a conspiracy against his person. On Agrippina's urging, he also ordered for the ex-Earl of Redia to be poisoned by his Imperial Intelligence Agents (March 4, 1453), and for his remains to be disposed of at the Conventual Grounds of the Monastery of Windowia Photis. In June 1453, the Emperor had Lady Poppaea Sabina and twelve members of the Empress's retinue, accused by their mistress of committing heresy and conspiracy, publicly flogged.
 * Their hair was pulled out; they were deprived of all their possessions; and banished to hard labor at the Laurasian penal colony of Redis. In October 1453, the Emperor's troops dispersed a protest against his wife at the Imperial Treasury, and more than five hundred of the protestors were arrested, fined, and then branded as criminals with a electric iron. Claudius even had his own personal chamberlain flogged, and his tongue ripped out, for critiquing his wife's personal habits. Grand Prince Brittanicus, on his part, who had been deprived of his place as heir apparent, was kept isolated from the Court by his stepmother, the Empress Consort; she ordered that he be denied reading materials, and in every way, sought to prefer her own son over him. In January 1454, the Emperor embarked on a short trip to Darcia, Caladaria, and Americana; during his absence, the Empress Consort ordered for a statute of his natural son at the Galactic Opera to be torn down and replaced with one of her own son, Grand Prince Antiochus. In March 1454, imperial authorities destroyed the offices of the Christiania Post, and its editors, including Sir Otho Ocheria, one of the wealthiest communications magnates in the Empire, were arrested, branded, and imprisoned at Ipsus V for their crimes. Ocheria's vast estates, including his 50,000 acre holding on Americana, were confiscated and added to the Imperial Patrimony. In June 1454, Emperor Claudius had Archbishop Domitian of Way'tosk deprived of his see, reduced in status, and banished to Jenny for having called Almitis's wrath upon his marriage. The Monastery of St. Zephyr's on Selena was confiscated by the Emperor shortly afterwards, and all of its monks deprived of their robes and properties, and prohibited from receiving welfare payments or pensions.
 * But by August 1454, Emperor Claudius was showing signs of remorse. The Emperor now engaged in more frequent quarrels with his wife, complaining that the Lord Almitis had cursed him with bad wives. He himself was now seeing the effects of Agrippina's regime, and sought to look after the interests of his son, Grand Prince Brittanicus. On September 9, the Emperor announced to the Council of Secretaries that he intended to restore his son to his place as heir-apparent. He even contemplated the possibility of divorcing Agrippina, and of having both her and her son, Antiochus, attainted and executed. Agrippina herself, aware of the Emperor's statements and his plans through her own spies in the government and household, now realized that she had to act quickly, for her own skin, and to protect her son. Consequently, she became resolved on the murder of her husband. The Empress now obtained the assistance of Dr. Xenophon Sternus (1390-1454), the Emperor's personal physician, and of Sir Halotus Mereavia (1420-80), the Emperor's Chief Taster and Steward. Both of these individuals, seeing the end of Claudius's reign in sight, cooperated fully with Agrippina. Dr. Sternus now devised a poisonous concoction, of toxic mushrooms, to serve to the Emperor; this concoction would contain barbiturates, which would dull and destroy the Emperor's immune system, and rhyll salt, which would suffocate him.
 * On October 13, 1454, Emperor Claudius, who had then established himself and the Court at the Great Academic Palace in Academic City, Archleuta, sat down to his dinner after a performance of muses. Dr. Sternus and Sir Mereavia now carried out their plan, swapping the Emperor's food plates discreetly; the servants, themselves bribed by the Empress to reveal nothing, then served the toxic mushrooms to Claudius. The Emperor partook of the food. As soon as he had his bite, he experienced a severe heart attack. His face convulsed, he gasped for air, and he then fell, head-first, onto the table. Dr. Sternus deliberately delayed his treatments, and in fact administered an agent to the Emperor to hasten his death. During the late hours of that day, Claudius II, who had reigned for thirteen years, died at the age of 63. His death was greeted with shock throughout the Empire's realms, but not with lamentation. His popularity had disappeared by the end of his reign, and many blamed him for having let his wife's influence go too far. Agrippina, however, moved swiftly to consolidate her position.
 * The Empress now engineered the meeting of the Councils of State. With Praetorian Guards, she presented to them her son, Grand Prince Antiochus, then only sixteen years old. The Senate, Synod, and Council of Civil Service (which was becoming more and more a ceremonial body, with little actual influence over administration), completely cowed, and with many of their members themselves bribed by the Empress Consort, proclaimed her son to be Antiochus III, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Laurasians. The proclamation of his accession was issued to the Imperial Court and to the Empire's subjects; celebrations were held on Laurasia Prime to mark the occasion; and all swore an oath of allegiance to the new Emperor. Agrippina now promoted the installation of some of her prior associates in positions of power and influence. Sir Sextus Burrus, 2nd Baron Burrus of Williams (1401-62) was made, on November 3, 1454, both Chancellor and Praetorian Prefect. Lord Burrus had long been associated with the Imperial Court, and had become noted for his earlier service in the interventions in Way'tosk and Temperance during the 1440s. Five days later, Sir Lucius Seneca (1396-1465), a renowned Laurasian philosopher, dramatist, and humorist, who had already been tutor to Antiochus beginning in 1446, and had served on the Senate since 1439, was made Governor of the Emperor's Household and President of the Council of Secretaries. He too, was initially supportive of Agrippina. She also secured the appointment of seventy of her associates to her son's household, and to positions on the Council of Secretaries and the Councils of State. Moreover, she arranged for a generous donative, of more than $500 million denarii, to be made to the Praetorian Guards, and had her son confirm their privileges (decree of November 24, 1454).
 * Finally, on December 7, 1454, Emperor Antiochus, his mother, and the Imperial Court made their formal progress into the Laurasia Prime star system. They were greeted with enthusiasm by the system's residents, especially in Christiania. Although Agrippina herself was hated by many in the Empire, partly due to prejudice against women governing, the Emperor himself was personally popular, for many had heard of his intelligence, "gentleness", and of his willingness to learn. He was also viewed as a youthful revival of the Empire's fortunes and government, taking it away from the old, wearied hands of his predecessor, Claudius. On December 12, Claudius was interred at the Old Westphalian Cathedral in a state funeral; Agrippina ensured that there was no impression of her having distaste for her late husband. Then on December 24, 1454, the day before Ascentmas, her son crowned himself Emperor at the very same cathedral with the Great Imperial Crown of the Laurasian Empire. The Dowager Empress herself arranged the festivities, and ensured that the ceremony was grand; more than $10 billion denarii was spent on it. The Great Imperial Crown marked its 100th anniversary that year, and received a regilding of its vital components in celebration. Medallions were struck depicting the Emperor, his mother, and the Crown alike.

1455

 * 1455, the 55th year of the fifteenth century, commenced with the Laurasian Empire having now passed under the rule of Emperor Antiochus III, who was the youngest sovereign at the time of his accession since Seleucus the Victor himself. Emperor Antiochus's reign had opened on a somewhat auspicious note, in spite of the circumstances of the death of his predecessor, Claudius II. Yet matters quickly soured. As mentioned above, Dowager Empress Agrippina had been instrumental in installing her son on the throne, and had given some of her prior supporters important positions in the Imperial Laurasian Government. Lord Burrus, who was now both Chancellor and Praetorian Prefect, and Sir Seneca, President of the Council of Secretaries and Governor of the Emperor's Household, held considerable power and influence at the Imperial Laurasian Court. By January 1455, however, both Seneca and Burrus had become distrustful of Empress Agrippina. They believed it wrong for a woman of her kind to have such influence in the affairs of the Imperial Laurasian Government; were alarmed by her demonstrated lust for power and influence; and desired to consolidate their own position. Therefore, the two men took advantage of the youth of her son, Emperor Antiochus.
 * They fed to him lies, rumors, and other statements made about his mother, and made the impression in the Emperor's mind that she was conspiring against him to her own advantage. Antiochus, already was vain and self-confident. He would brook no challenge to his authority, and was, early in the new year, lead to believe that his mother was pressing upon him. Agrippina, indeed, insisted to all that she acted for the benefit of her son and family, that she was the only means by which his reign could be successfully commenced, and that she had his approval for all of her actions. On January 18, 1455, she commissioned a monument in Soriana, of her crowning her son as Emperor, and some days later, had the Holy Synod bless her, in the same vein as Emperor Tiberius's mother, Grand Princess Livia, had been blessed after her death. She also continued to engage in conspiracies at the Imperial Laurasian Court, and spread around her own messages concerning Grand Prince Brittanicus, Emperor Claudius's natural son. Antiochus, from this source and from his advisors, now sought to eliminate Brittanicus first, before making moves to consolidate his own status at the Court.
 * Agrippina, in fact, had shifted to the view that Grand Prince Brittanicus should be given some position of note in the State, to compensate for having deprived him of the succession. She insisted that the Emperor maintain his position, and that she be given responsibility for the boy's education and moral upbringing. Antiochus, however, refused. With the encouragement of Burrus and Seneca, he now acted. On February 11, 1455, the Emperor had Lady Locusta Amaria (1410-69), who operated a renowned pharmacy and medicinal practice in Christiania, poison the food served to the Grand Prince. He fell violently ill at a party, at the Galactic Opera, in which Agrippina and Empress Consort Octavia (who had married Antiochus in 1452), were guests. He fell to the ground, foaming at the mouth, and had to be carried out. In spite of the efforts of his physicians, Grand Prince Brittanicus died during the late hours of that day, aged only 14. Emperor Antiochus, in a proclamation to his subjects, declared that the Grand Prince's death was the result of an attack of epilepsy, and that his health had been in decline for some months. Everyone, however, knew the real reason: the first dint in the Emperor's popularity was made.
 * The Emperor made a show of mourning at his stepbrother's death, and had him interred at the Old Westphalian Cathedral, on February 22. After this, relations between him and his mother further deteriorated. In March 1455, the Emperor dismissed Sir Clasterius from his positions as President of the College of Finance and Chief Officer of the Imperial Treasury. Clasterius had associated himself closely with his mother, and had known of her conspiracy to assassinate Emperor Claudius. Antiochus therefore viewed him as a threat to his own authority. Clasterius was compelled to retire to Volta, and was forbidden to make his presence at the Imperial Laurasian Court again. Shortly afterwards (April 18, 1455), Empress Dowager Agrippina attempted to sit herself near the Emperor and his wife, Empress Octavia, at an official audience given at the Diplomatic Palace to ambassadors from the Huntite Caliphate. She was prevented from doing so by President Seneca, however, who had Guards escort her from the chambers. Agrippina grew angry with Seneca, and blamed him for poisoning her son's mind. In July 1455, the Emperor had a verbal argument with his mother at the Second Station of Callista, which had been built by Emperor Claudius in 1445-46, and was a recreation of the First, ancient Station of that name. Following this, he banished his mother from the Court for three months.
 * And then, in October 1455, the Emperor entered into an affair with Lady Claudia Acte (1431-69), who had been one of the ladies-in-waiting to his mother before his predecessor's death, and had become renowned within the Household for her beauty, energy, and perceptiveness. Emperor Antiochus was by now dissatisfied with his wife, Empress Consort Octavia, and sought to gain sexual favors for himself elsewhere. The relationship of Antiochus and Lady Acte was to continue for the next four years. The Emperor would lavish his mistress with gifts, annuities, estates, and honors; she would eventually become Baroness Acte of Herclauneum in June 1457, and was granted estates at the Laurasian colonies of Pompeii, Puteoli, Veliltrae, and Sardon. Empress Agrippina, when she was allowed to return to the Court at the beginning of November 1455, learned of her son's affair with Lady Acte. She now sought to act in the interests of Empress Octavia, and condemned her son's actions. Emperor Antiochus, supported by Seneca, rebuffed his mother and scolded her firmly, telling her she had no business interfering with his personal affairs. He banished her from the Court again on December 9; she was to stay away until July 1456. The Emperor also had the Synod revoke its proclamation of blessings for her, and forbade courtiers from contacting her without his explicit approval. Thus, just over a year into his reign, Antiochus had asserted himself as an independent sovereign and taken advantage of his autocratic authority.

1456-1457

 * The years 1456 and 1457 passed in relative peace for the Laurasian Empire. Emperor Antiochus III, whose accession to the throne had been engineered by his ambitious and determined mother, Empress Dowager Agrippina, had established himself as an independent sovereign and had openly broken with his mother, banishing her on occasions from the Imperial Laurasian Court. He had arranged for the poisoning of his stepbrother, Grand Prince Brittanicus, and had demonstrated to his subjects that he would not brook challenges to his autocratic authority. Yet the Emperor, still in these early years of the reign, and guided by the influence of Seneca and Lord Burrus, his chief ministers, embarked on a program to win the hearts and minds of his common subjects, to improve the efficiency of the government, and to reorganize the Empire's military forces. Although the Emperor continued to indulge in his affair with Lady Acte, and was himself sexually promiscuous, he sought to enforce civility among the nobility, and in the Imperial Almitian Church. He reiterated the Sodomy and Heresy Laws of earlier reigns, issuing a manifesto in February 1456 by which he declared that he would not upset the "immemorial customs of my predecessors." He authorized the Holy Synod to conduct investigations of any deemed to violate the laws, on the slightest suspicion; granted widened authority to both civil and ecclesiastical authorities to crack down on "pedophilia, homosexuality, bestiality, polygamy, and other wrong practices"; and in April 1456, established the Office of the Faithful, which was to respond to petitions and requests from the Empire's populace in regards to those reported to have heretical leanings. The Synod and his government were ruthless towards heresies; in January and February 1457, they would issue a series of decrees banning any subjects from possessing materials which doubted transubstantiation, denied the Emperor's status as the agent of the Lord Paul of Almitis, and which sought to modify the Almitian Mass. Alien sects faced fines and acts of petty persecution; in October 1457, the Emperor banned all foreign religions from maintaining establishments in the city of Christiania, and closed down those which already existed.
 * Yet at the same time, the Emperor claimed to profess a respect for the Governing Senate, the most cherished of the institutions of Seleucus the Victor. He appointed Senators to more important positions in the Household, the civil service, and the military; transferred Hypasia and Beatrice to the control of Senatorial Procurators in July 1456; and in January 1457, forbade the Court of General Assizes on Laurasia Prime from submitting writs and case appeals to him without first going through the Senate. In March, he ordered all Praetors and Aediles to reinforce, in their own jurisdictions, that all depended upon the Senate's legal opinions, and he refused to countenance any act of the local authorities which did not at least pay some recognition to Senate verdicts, codes, and judicial decisions. The Emperor also, in September 1457, would order for the establishment of a codification of the Senate's cases and rulings, and ordered for this to be made available to all government bodies. In November, he increased the salary granted to each Senator, and allowed for them to take their leave from Laurasia Prime, to travel, and to engage in business pursuits without requiring his permission.
 * The Emperor focused on the judicial and legal system in a more specific manner as well. He issued, in September 1456, a series of guidelines laying restrictions on attorney fees, on probates, and on the administration of wills. The constitution of June 3, 1456, which was drafted by Lord Burrus in conjunction with President Seneca and the College of Justice, formally codified all trial procedures of the Court of General Assizes, and mandated that uniform procedures of appeal, of inquiry, of indictments, and of questioning were to prevail in all Laurasian civil courts and tribunals. In March 1457, the Emperor commanded the Senate to issue instructions limiting the powers of Praetors, of Assize Justices, and of planetary judges to determine bail and fines, and in August, he subjected all municipal courts throughout the Empire to the authority of an Agency of Jurisprudence, responsible for upholding legal standards, such as in proof of evidence and of claims. He also compelled a reduction in the judicial docket, granting the Senate more discretion in which cases it wished to hear. He expanded the powers of the ecclesiastical court system, issuing in September a charter restoring to the prelates the right to hand down decisions in matters relating to divorce and to child custody.
 * The Emperor also addressed the taxation and finance system in the Empire. In 1457-58, the new Chief Officer of the Imperial Treasury, the Lord Gravius, issued a Code of Loans and Financial Terms, regulating the conditions under which government bullion could be dispersed to private businesses; establishing a universal system for government accounts, credit, and bonds; and tying the public debt of the State to the rates of inflation, to be determined by the Officer's own appointees. Interest rates were regulated under the decree of May 8, 1457, which established reserve repositories throughout the Empire to inject money into the economy's commercial and financial sectors in order to control the supply of funds, and to handle shifting rates of employment. In July 1457, Antiochus decentralized the collection of taxes, granting lower commissioners the right to deal with civilian and local planetary offices to disperse funds. He and the Senate then devised a common policy for the reduction of the poll tax: rates were reduced from 3.5% to 2.5% by 1459. Emperor Antiochus also abolished all remaining financial regulations which had been implemented during the reign of Caligula, restoring full order to the Empire's economy. In 1460, the Emperor would order for all tax records to be made public, and had the Imperial Journal include annual reports on government expenditures.

1458

 * 1458, the 58th year of the fifteenth century, commenced with the Laurasian Empire of Antiochus III still persisting in peace, externally and internally. This, however, was destined not to last for long. Events had transpired in the Middle Territories and in Jageronia through the middle of the decade. As regards to Jageronia, Laurasian efforts to obtain the predominant influence over that kingdom finally succeeded. King Liutprand of Jageronia died on April 7, 1444, on Brenda, and was succeeded to the throne by his son Hildeprand. Hildeprand, however, was a weak and ineffective ruler, and he was unable to suppress uprisings in the OsonBoka Nebula against his rule. In September 1444, he had been deposed by General Ratchis, who operated from Renastasia, and who ordered for his execution. Ratchis then seized the throne, ruling until 1449. He had then attempted to invade the Lower Burglais Arm, but his siege of Ian failed, and shortly thereafter, he had been forced to abdicate. His successor, General Aistulf, instigated vigorous campaigns in the Lower Burglais and against the Huntite Caliphate, attempting to secure Ber Bachman, Ian, Taraning, and Mackenzia Minor. All of these efforts failed.
 * Moreover, King Aistulf earned the ire of his subjects through his imposition of taxation and his harsh suppression of an uprising on Sebastiani. This eventually backfired against him, and in June 1456, Emperor Antiochus had been able to order Laurasian troops under the ailing General Geta to invade from Alamaia, McEvlogue, Meredith, and Jeanne. General Geta had advanced quickly. He defeated Aistulf in the Battle of Spoleto (July 1-7, 1456); stormed Sebastiani, which willingly admitted Laurasian units (July 10); and sacked Renastasia (July 14), before moving against Brenda itself in August 1456. On September 3, 1456, King Aistulf died suddenly at Tuscanos, and this permitted for Laurasian units to occupy Brenda four days later. Geta then forced the installation of the Jageronian noble Desiderio as King of Jageronia (September 14, 1456). Desiderio, on his part, signed the Treaty of Dickinson with the Empire, by which he recognized the overlordship of the Emperor of Laurasia; Laurasian rights of military and commercial transit through Jageronia; and the Empire's control over Jageronian foreign policy. Jageronia thereby became a vassal of the Laurasian Empire, and was to remain as such until 1499.
 * Yet it was the events in the Middle Territories which would have more consequences for the Imperial Laurasian Government. The Kingdom of Melanie Major, which had emerged during the collapse of the Kingdom of Kuevia in the middle of the thirteenth century, had from 1442 to 1451 been under the rule of King Mithadseric I. King Mithadseric, his kingdom trapped between the Laurasian Empire and the Huntite Caliphate, had sought to maintain positive relations with both. With the former, he had been particularly friendly, and in 1443, had signed the Treaty of Nottingham. By the terms of this treaty, the King had agreed to grant Laurasian merchants in his realms "favored nation status"; to recognize Laurasian preeminence in the farther Middle Territories; and to conclude no alliance or other agreement which was hostile to the interests of the Imperial Laurasian Government. In September 1451, however, Mithadseric had been deposed and executed by his nephew, Prince Rhadamistus, who had accused him of overt friendliness to foreign powers, and who sought to point back to the Kuevian heritage of the elites in the Kingdom. Rhadamistus had then seized the throne, and had quickly become unpopular, due to his harsh fiscal policies, his use of his secret forces to suppress public opposition to him, and his willingness to fatten himself off the revenues of the state. As a consequence, Huntite Caliph Malagravia I (1445-78), seeing the opportunity to extend the Caliphate's power and prestige, intervened in the affairs of Melanie Major in June 1453. The Caliph's forces invaded Melanite territory; occupied Katharnovich, Endaker, and Pailbirth (which had been given to Melanie Major in a gesture of good faith by Emperor Claudius) in quick order; and then besieged Melanie Major, the capital world of the Kingdom. Their forces succeeded, and on August 9, 1453, Rhadamistus had been forced to flee from Melanie Major, being deposed from the Melanite throne. The Caliph now installed his protege, the Arachosian Tiridates, upon the throne of Melanie Major. Rhadamistus, on his part, fled into the Laurasian Empire, and to Laurasia Prime. In January 1454, he had been granted an audience by Emperor Claudius, and had complained of his treatment at the hands of the Huntites.
 * The King soon alienated the Laurasians however, in particular Empress Agrippina; in July, she persuaded her husband to have the ex King of Melanie imprisoned at Ipsus V. Emperor Claudius had then recognized Tiridates as King of Melanie Major. This, however, was not destined to last. Many in the Empire viewed the Huntite intrusion into Melanite territory as a violation of Laurasian territorial rights and guarantees to that power, and as a threat to the stability of the Imperial Laurasian Government. Emperor Antiochus, following his accession to the throne in October 1454, took the same view. Encouraged by Lord Burrus, he issued a stream of manifestos, denouncing the actions taken by the Huntites. In March 1455, the Emperor forbade his subjects from engaging in all non-essential commerce in Melanite territory; he extended this to Huntite territory in September. In January 1456, he even considered the release of Rhadamistus from prison, and his restoration to the Melanite throne as a Laurasian vassal. Antiochus however, partly under Seneca's influence, conceived other ideas. In September 1456, the Emperor formally appointed Legate-General Sir Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo (1407-67), already famous due to his exploits in the Hypasian and Third Kimanian Wars, as the Governor of Way'tosk and as commander-in-chief of Laurasian forces in the Middle Territories. Corbulo himself was eager for fame and wealth, and sought the extension of the Empire's territory and of its rights against Huntite intrusions.
 * In January 1457, Corbulo, upon his arrival on Way'tosk, set himself to the task of strengthening the Empire's forces and garrisons in the region. He and the Governor of Temperance, Sir Ummidius Quadratius (1388-1460), dispatched, the following month, an embassy to Caliph Malagravia. In this embassy, they proposed that an exchange of hostages be made, in good faith to ensure the negotiations, and that all restrictions on commerce be overturned, so as to promote free transit in the Middle Territories. Caliph Malagravia, at that time facing the revolt of his son Varagravia in the Jasonian Districts, agreed to these proposals. A period of inactivity then ensued throughout much of the rest of 1457. Corbulo did not waste this time, however, and used it to strengthen his own military forces, restoring discipline, receiving reinforcements, and incorporating new technologies being developed in the Empire at that time. Tensions, however, increased between the Laurasians and Melanites; King Tiridates refused to honor the arrangements of February 1457, and in October 1457, composed a defiant communique to the Imperial Laurasian Government, asserting his willingness to go to war to defend his territorial claims. Ultimately, Corbulo grew tired of this, and in January 1458, he informed Emperor Antiochus of the occurrences in Melanie Major. The Emperor, himself monitoring the situation with the Council of Secretaries, now authorized Corbulo to take action against the Melanites.
 * At this stage, however, it was the Melanites who took preemptive measures. On January 22, 1458, in a council of war on Endaker, King Tiridates declared to his advisors that he could not tolerate the Laurasian pretensions any longer, and that he was determined to uphold the rights of his kingdom against Laurasian interference. It was on March 1, 1458, that the King of Melanie Major issued a declaration of war against the Laurasian Empire and launched his forces into Laurasian territory. He quickly overran Griffith (March 2-7, 1458); blockaded Mariana Siritis (March 11); and on March 18, won the Battle of Jonathania, humiliating Laurasian forces there. Lois, Peter, and Brian then became scenes of confrontations between Laurasian (supported by the Hookiees and Jageronians) and Melanite units (April 1458). On May 2, 1458, the Battle of Deborah ended in another victory for Melanite forces. King Tiridates directed his units against the Kimanian Trade Run also. Melanite forces, during the course of May 1458, seized Roastafaria Minor, Jack, Hooper, Eutagia, Acamaria, Benztir V, Rose, and Jasmine, breaching into the midst of Laurasian positions. Their moves against Majoria Schall, Taylor, and Shenandoah, however, accomplished nothing, and on June 9, 1458, Corbulo prepared his great counteroffensive. He took advantage of the fact that Malagravia was then faced with the revolt of the Kingdom of Upper Morsia and the Sheldonians in the Eastern Outer Borderlands; with incursions by the forces of Kimania into the Jasonian Provinces; and with an uprising, by Dasians, Brestords, and Halegothicans, against his civil authorities on Hunt Major itself.
 * The General received reinforcements from the Hypasian Provinces and from King Corlio VII of the Merlites, who remained a loyal vassal of the Laurasian Empire. The Emperor's government compelled the Hookiee Confederacy, on May 20, 1458, to sign the Treaty of Wryloccka, by which they pledged to give all possible military and financial aid to Laurasian campaigns in Melanie Major. Jageronia under Desiderio also contributed, under the terms of the Treaty of Dickinson. Corbulo focused first, from June 9 to 11, on defending the Laurasian colonies of Satala, Trapezum, and Mazaca from further Melanite raids, thereby permitting for their continued colonization and development. Laurasian units then recovered Roastafaria Minor, Jack, and Hooper in a series of coordinated offensives (June 14-22, 1458); repelled a Melanite offensive against Bacturis Invictis (June 24), and on July 5, relieved the Siege of Mariana Sirtis. They then recovered Benztir V, Rose, and Jasmine by the end of July 1458; on August 4, Laurasian units humiliated the Melanites in confrontations at Floriana, Ardahat (recently colonized), and Pailbirth. Tiridates then launched an offensive against Kentaborn and Rasti, attempting to overwhelm both of these Laurasian strongholds in the Melorkian Provinces. Corbulo, however, reacted, and on August 14, 1458, won the Battle of DeLauri, thereby forcing a Melanite retreat. Corbulo then instigated a series of further moves into Melanite territory, storming Katharnovich, Endaker, and Volorum during September 1458. He was now moving rapidly in the direction of Melanie Major, with Melanie Minor and Fats harried by Laurasian expeditions, and with Jonathania being cleared of Melanite squadrons and other forces. Melanie Major was finally laid under siege from October 4, 1458. King Tiridates sought to directly confront the Laurasians with his forces, but the Laurasian General kept his units together in a cohesive formation, feinting off all probing attacks and feigned retreats by Melanite and Huntite forces. Tiridates then withdrew from Melanie Major on October 14. Laurasian units occupied the star system, but refrained from sacking its treasures, as Corbulo kept in mind the Emperor's instructions. By the end of October 1458, Deborah and Eutagia had been recovered by the Empire's forces. The following month, Tiridates launched a series of counteroffensives into the Lower Melorkian Provinces. He stormed Roastafaria Major (November 4-7); sacked Les Mans (November 14); harried the outskirts of Isabella (November 19); and seized Cambrina (November 22). On November 28, 1458, however, the Battle of Malachi ended in a decisive victory for General Corbulo. Les Mans and Cambrina were recovered; a Melanite move against Resmania and Obathia failed; and on December 18, Roastafaria Major was recovered. Laurasian units were in control also of Florania and Artashat by the end of the year.

1459

 * 1459, the 59th year of the fifteenth century, began with the Laurasian Empire now engaged in war with the Kingdom of Melanie Major. This conflict was to see a series of further campaigns in this year, and then enter a relative lull until the counteroffensives of the Huntite Caliphate in 1461. As regards to domestic affairs at the Imperial Laurasian Court, matters came to a head. Emperor Antiochus, while pursuing his administrative reforms and his other innovations, nevertheless made it a point to keep himself at a distance from his mother, Dowager Empress Agrippina. In November 1456, she was again banished from the Imperial Laurasian Court, this time permanently, and was compelled to make her residence at Misetum Estate in Constantinople. Nevertheless, due to his duties as Emperor, and to his tours of the cities and settlements of Laurasia Prime, Antiochus found he could not avoid all contact with his mother. They would sometimes see each other at a distance, at public festivities in Constantinople, and he continued to receive news about her household through his servants and associates. Agrippina, on her part, remained determined to regain her son's confidence and to become once again the dominant influence in his household. These hopes, however, were to come short.
 * By June 1458, the Emperor had found a new love in the Countess of Arias, Poppaea Sabina (1430-65), who was then married to the Earl of Arias (future Emperor Seleucus III). Sabina, who was described as one of the wittiest and most beautiful women at the Imperial Laurasian Court, herself encouraged the Emperor's attentions, in spite of the fact that her husband was still in active service at the Court. Agrippina, on her part, was opposed to this, and sent messages to the Court, making her disapproval of the Emperor's advances known. This, along with the fact that she had become sympathetic towards Sir Rubellius Plautus (1433-62), a grandson of Grand Prince Drusus, and a claimant to the throne, made the Emperor determined to rid himself of her. He proceeded carefully and cautiously however, lest his mother believe something was afoot. He distanced himself for a time from the Countess, commanding her to return to her husband, and suppressed all talk of the affair within the Imperial Household. Then in January 1459, he took the dramatic gesture of inviting his mother back to the Court, overturning his ban against her attendance. Agrippina, seeing this as her opportunity, accepted. On January 17, their reunion at the Palace of Placenta on Darcia was one filled with much "emotion and joy". The Emperor, however, was putting on appearances. Two months later (March 23, 1459), Antiochus carried out his plans. He had considered poisoning her, or having her arrested, attainted, and executed publicly. Both of these options, however, seemed to him to be too dangerous.
 * Thus, it was that the Emperor persuaded his mother to ride upon a repulsorlift, personally constructed by his mechanics at the Public Hangar of the Quencilvanian Palace. Agrippina, knowing nothing of the conspiracy (her intelligence agents bribed by the Emperor's own), embarked upon the repuslorlift with a retinue of servants. While the vessel was traveling from the Palace to the Great Park of Christiania, however, it encountered severe mechanical issues and collided into St. Meseltine's Canal. The Dowager Empress was, astonishingly, relatively uninjured, and managed to swim to safety; her servant, Lady Aceronia Pollia (1416-59), was not so lucky, nor were her other associates. The Emperor, hearing of this, and determined to end his mother's life, hastily sent Christiania Police and Praetorian Guards to finish her off. They did so, pushing the Dowager Empress down, restraining her, and ending her with a few slashes of their vibroblade. All of this was done under the Canal Bridge, out of the sight of crowds. Emperor Antiochus was informed of the deed, and then announced, in a proclamation from the Palace, that his mother and her intimate servants had been killed in a horrific repulsorlift accident. He lamented their fates, and declared that the Lord Almitis was the "cruelest, most vile being in the Universe."
 * On the Emperor's orders, his mother's body was patched up, dressed in fine robes, and laid in state at the Old Westphalian Cathedral. He ordered for the family members of those killed to be compensated from the Imperial Treasury, covering their funeral expenses himself. Agrippina herself lay in state until April 18, 1459, when she was given a magnificent funeral. The Emperor played the part of a bereaved son, weeping for all to see. His mother's body was interred in the Imperial Mausoleum, after a ceremony attended by all of the significant personages of the Court and Government. It was not until after Antiochus's own suicide in 1468 that the Imperial Government released information on the actual circumstances of his mother's death. As regards to the campaigns, they proceeded on as noted above.
 * In February 1459, General Corbulo had proceeded towards Tigranocerta and Melanie Minor. He besieged and captured the colonies of Rendaker, Tendaker, and Burdaker during that month, and on March 9, suppressed a conspiracy against him by the Melanite nobles attached to his entourage. On his orders, twenty of these nobles were court-martialed and executed by firing squad. Upon arriving at Tigranocerta, moreover, the General had the heads of several Melanites launched by turbocannon into the star system's inner regions, thereby inspiring terror among its planetary garrison (March 21, 1459). The garrison and Council of Tigranocerta, alarmed by this, surrendered almost immediately. Melanie Major proved more recalcitrant; it was laid under siege from April 2, and did not fall until May 8. Corbulo's naval subordinate, Commodore Verulanus Severus (a ancestor of the future Emperor Demetrius Severus I, 1593-1611), then won a series of victories over Melanite and Huntite units at Batne, Rheguma, and Resnatia (May-June 1459), thereby preventing any moves beyond Melanie Minor. Then, on August 4, 1459, Emperor Antiochus installed the Arachosian Tigranes (1425-71) as King of Melanie Major. He invested the new King with a shield of armor, and granted him a substantial military escort. Tigranes proceeded to Melanie Major, and was secured there by Corbulo's forces on August 14. He then signed the Treaty of Endaker with the Laurasian Empire (September 19, 1459), reconfirming the arrangements of the earlier Treaty of Nottingham, and pledging himself, moreover, as a vassal to the Emperor of Laurasia. This treaty, ratified on September 25, allowed for Corbulo to maintain some of his forces in Melanie to suppress the last remaining cells to Laurasian dominance. Laurasian units cleared out Velenium, Dugard, and Morrison during October 1459; Corbulo himself retired back to Way'tosk on November 8. 1459 thus ended with the Kingdom of Melanie Major an apparent vassal; for his efforts, Corbulo would be made 1st Baron Corbulo of Way'tosk in February 1460 and given the Governorship of Temperance, in addition to that of Way'tosk.

1460

 * 1460, the 60th year of the fifteenth century, began with the Laurasian Empire having imposed its overlordship over the Kingdom of Melanie Major, and therefore consolidated its position in the Middle Territories. This was, however, to be a brief interlude to the Melanite War, which was to resume in full force the following year. 1460, however, was dominated by the outbreak of another rebellion against the Imperial Laurasian Government: this time in the turbulent Hypasian Provinces. Following the capture of Hegemon Carragh Singhu in 1451, the imperial authorities had continued to consolidate their control in Hypasia. Governor Scapula, the one who had finally defeated the Hegemon, and thereby asserted Laurasian ascendancy in his dominions, died suddenly on November 3, 1452 at Ho Chi Minh, while suppressing a civil uprising in that star system. Following his death, the Silurian Hypasians under Terses had erupted in rebellion, briefly driving Laurasian units from Hanoi, Annam, Tonkin, and My Lai between November 1452 and March 1453. On February 17, 1453, however, Emperor Claudius had appointed Sir Didius Gallus (1405-62), as the new Governor, and Gallus, operating from Huerta Mongol and Valeris V, had vigorously suppressed the rebellion. Terses had been captured at Terah Haugh on March 18, 1453, and was executed on Hypasia Minor the following month. Governor Gallus had then focused his efforts on beginning colonization efforts in the Hypasian Provinces, and recommended, in 1455, for the Imperial Laurasian Government to establish the Fosse Trade Route, to connect Hypasia Major with the Outer Provinces. In January 1456, however, Princess Kandukha of the Brivantes, tiring of her husband Vevun, divorced him and married one of her personal servants, Vellocraca. Vevun, who was opposed to the Laurasian domination of the Hypasian Provinces, then erupted in rebellion against his wife at Melgoave (February 4, 1456); overran his ex-wife's garrisons of Tardi Lah, Hesogoave, and Khmer (March 1456); and even threatened the outskirts of Selgovae.
 * Governor Gallus dispatched Legate-General Sir Caesius Nacca (1407-57), to suppress the rebellion. Nacca did so in short order, defeating Vevun in the Battle of Shai Lee (April 12, 1456), recovering Melgoave (April 29), and then forcing Vevun's surrender on May 8. On the orders of his ex-wife, he was imprisoned at Ba Mun. Order had been maintained, but Gallus fell out of the Emperor's favor. On January 8, 1457, Emperor Antiochus recalled the Governor (who would die at Lusculum April 9, 1462), and replaced him with Sir Quintus Veranius Nepos, 1st Baronet (1402-58). Nepos continued with his predecessor's policies of colonization, but also pursued a vigorous campaign against the Silurian Hypasians, seizing Cang Van, Daoao Bang, and Ha Giang in a series of offensives from March to July 1457. Baronet Nepos died however, on August 17, 1458, at Cassolar, after a long illness. Sir Suetonius Paulinus, promoted to the rank of Legate-General in October 1457, was then made Governor of Hypasia and Angelica by Emperor Antiochus in November 1458. He arrived at Hypasia Major on January 8, 1459, and during the course of 1459, continued with his predecessor's campaigns against the Silurians, storming Son La, Dai Bewn, and La Chau in a series of feint moves. In January 1460, he moved against Anglai Hai, located on the edge of the Wild Marshes, and focus to resistance against the Empire's authorities.
 * It was while Governor Paulinus was engaged in these campaigns against the Silurians, in 1460, that rebellion erupted. Ving Naugh, Vice-Hegemon of Saigon, had remained loyal to the Empire throughout his reign. By late 1459, however, his health was in serious decline, and on January 17, 1460, he died at Saigon. In his will, he had made Emperor Antiochus co-heir with his daughters, Trava and Turdva, hoping thereby that the Emperor would confirm the status of overlordship for the Iceni, and respect the earlier arrangements which had been made with them. The Emperor, however, had no such intention of doing so, and in February 1460, issued instructions to Governor Paulinus about the deposition of Saigon, Phu May, Ving Tanh, and the Saigon Outer Regions. The Governor then ordered his officials to seize the Iceni treasury of Saigon; to confiscate the properties of prominent Iceni officials; and to force Ving Naugh's widow, Bouddica, to acknowledge the Empire's assumption of direct rule over the Iceni fiefdoms. Boudicca refused however; on March 18, 1460, as a result, Paulinus dispatched troops that invaded Saigon, stormed into the royal residences of the Iceni Hegemons, and coerced the Council of Elites into signing a similar declaration. For her defiance, Boudicca was flogged, and her daughters raped by Laurasian soldiers.
 * Violated thus by the Laurasians, Boudicca became determined to avenge the insult, and to restore the independence of the Hypasian race. She now conspired with the Teradcong in the vicinity of Valeris V to make her move. On April 13, 1460, the rebellion was officially proclaimed at Moc Ha, to which Bouddica and her remaining household had been compelled to flee by the Laurasian military forces. Bouddica now proclaimed herself Hegemon of Hypasia, and announced that she would liberate her species from the subjugation of foreign outsiders. Her forces now made substantial gains. Masan fell quickly into rebel hands (April 14-19, 1460), followed by Sogan (April 22); Bach Dang (April 28); and Huerta Mongol (May 1). The Battle of Thang Gosong, fought on May 7, 1460, ended in a decisive victory for Bouddica, who was effective in rallying her soldiers and personnel in a common cause. Thang Lang, Van Dong, and Van Klep were then stormed by rebel units during May 1460. On June 8, Phu Hu capitulated to them; Valeris V itself followed on June 16, with the "Hegemon" accepting the allegiance of the inhabitants and ordering for the execution of 25,000 troops of the imperial garrison. From Valeris V, she stormed Tonkin (June 18, 1460), and on June 22, surprised and destroyed a Laurasian supply convoy at Trasha Dakai. Hypasia Minor itself now came under threat from the rebel forces.
 * On August 1, 1460, Sir Quintus Cerialis, later 1st Earl of Saigon, and Governor of Hypasia, then serving as Major-General in the Hypasian Provinces, led the newly formed 30th Imperial Fleet and Army in a vain counteroffensive against Bouddica's forces, hoping to thereby save Hypasia Minor and its Laurasian garrison. Laurasian units, however, were decisively outnumbered by the Hypasian hordes in this confrontation, and Bouddica led her forces to a great victory. More than 150,000 troops of the Imperial Laurasian Army, and nearly that many personnel of the Navy, died in the confrontation. General Cerialis himself, along with his chief subordinates, barely evaded capture, fleeing ignominiously from the battlefield. Laurasian corvettes and carriers fell into rebel hands. With them, Bouddica felt confident enough to resume with her siege efforts of Hypasia Minor. The world was besieged from August 8, and fell on August 17. She wreaked a terrible vengeance against the Laurasian garrison and colonists, slaughtering nearly 450,000 of them. She devastated the world's settlements, had any Laurasian sympathizers publicly humiliated and executed, and seized its treasures for use by her forces. From Hypasia Minor, rebel units secured the colony of Londarania (September 9, 1460), destroying the Laurasian military headquarters there and slaughtering another 100,000 colonists from the Empire. Her units then overran Hung Yen, Nam Dinh, Niem Binh, Thang Lak, and Selsey (September-October 1460), gaining further decisive victories over outstretched and divided Laurasian garrisons.
 * By this point, however, Governor Paulinus, who had finally compelled Anglai Hai to surrender (October 4, 1460), was preparing his counteroffensive against rebel forces. The Governor now summoned reinforcements from the Immortalized Cluster, Kelvania, and the Central Core, determined to make a decisive showdown with Bouddica. He was confident that the superior discipline and organization of his forces would decide the battle, that Bouddica would be defeated, and order restored within the Hypasian Provinces. He moved swiftly from Anglai Hai to Qu'emia. Bouddica's forces were rapidly approaching the stronghold. Chastened by the defeat of Cerialis, and seeking to draw the Hypasians to battle on his own terms, the Governor decided to abandon Qu'emia, so as to save Laurasian control in Hypasia overall. On October 18, 1460, therefore, Qu'emia fell to the Hypasians. Again, Boudicca and her commanders were ruthless, slaughtering any Laurasian or alien that breathed, and confiscating the world's goods and treasures for use in the world effort. More than ten million individuals perished. They then seized Hue and Bien Thoa (October 22-27, 1460), continuing the slaughter.
 * In the meantime, Governor Paulinus reorganized his forces and on November 9, 1460, lured Bouddica's forces to Ben Tre. Bouddica, eager to destroy the Governor's units in open combat, fell into his trap. Shortly before the beginning of the battle, she delivered a short speech to her troops and subordinates. Her daughters beside her, she declared that she was not just an aristocrat avenging her lost wealth, but an ordinary person, avenging her lost freedom, her battered body, and the abused chastity of her daughters. She said their cause was just, and that the Hypasian Gods were on their side; the one Laurasian force which had dared to face them had been destroyed. She, a woman, was resolved to win or die; if the men wished to live in subjugation, that was their choice. However, the Hypasian forces were heterogeneous, and their lack of mobility placed them at a disadvantage against the Laurasians. Governor Paulinus used this to his advantage, and organized his corvettes, battleships, and destroyers. They repelled all frontal Hypasian assaults, relying upon their superior mobility and firepower to devastate Hypasian ranks. He then attacked the disorganized Hypasian mass, using wedge and circular assaults to crunch in and destroy the Hypasians; moreover, Laurasian troops easily stormed their command outposts. The Battle of Ben Tre thereby ended in a decisive Laurasian victory. More than 450,000 rebel personnel died; two-thirds of their force was destroyed; and most of their turbocannon, military supplies, and mines were captured. The Laurasians suffered only 25,000 casualties and the loss of seven of their vessels.
 * Bouddica and her daughters, on their flagship, the Heregovh, were surrounded by Laurasian starfighter units. To avoid capture, she and her daughters self-destructed their vessel, killing themselves and all on board. With their deaths, the Rebellion was effectively over. Laurasian units, during the course of November and December 1460, reconquered all of the remaining strongholds and bases which had been held by Bouddica's units. The Laurasians were brutal, and from November 1460 until January 1462, would execute, imprison, or exile more than one hundred million individuals, on account of their complicity in the Rebellion. The Iceni of Saigon were completely suppressed; the decree of March 9, 1461, confirmed the full incorporation of their territories into the Laurasian Empire, and most Iceni Hypasians were deported and scattered throughout the Empire's realms. The Bouddican Rebellion was one of the most serious challenges to Laurasian rule in any province over the centuries of the Empire's advance.

1461

 * 1461, the 61st year of the fifteenth century, began with the Boudiccan Rebellion in the Hypasian Provinces, which had seriously challenged the authority of the Imperial Laurasian Government, having been suppressed. Emperor Antiochus continued to express his joy over the suppression of the rebellion into the new year. He called for a series of tournaments, gladiatorial contests, and other games to be held at the Circus Maximus and the Galactic Opera in order to celebrate the victories obtained over Bouddica and her rebels; issued manifestos to the population, praising Governor Paulinus and also giving due to the Lord Almitis; and asserted that any future rebellion against his authority would be quickly and ruthlessly suppressed. Yet the Empire now was to find itself plunged into renewed conflict in the Kingdom of Melanie, and in the Middle Territories. Emperor Antiochus was told by Lord Burrus and President Seneca, among others of his ministers, that once Huntite Caliph Malagravia I had reasserted the authority of his government in the Galactic Barrier and Eastern Provinces, then he would turn his attention back to the situation in Melanie, and would seek to impose himself there once more. This proved to be correct. In February 1461, the Caliph was finally able to bring King Manu VI of Upper Morsia to terms at Sheldonia, by which the King recognized the renewed overlordship and military protection of the Caliphate. He then turned his attention to the Melanite threat. King Tigranes of Melanie, who was himself fearful of Huntite moves into his territory, sought to secure his own position by launching raids into the Outer Borderlands.
 * Beginning on January 9, 1461, and continuing until March 8, the King's forces launched a series of military operations against Negro, the Sk'atha Cluster, Claithbourne, Gargonia, and Lorna, inflicting severe damage upon the defenses, outposts, and garrisons of those star systems. This only served to aggravate tensions in the borderland regions between Hunt and Melanie, and in particular, enraged the Huntite Viceroy of Samarkand, Mabba, who now urged for his master the Caliph to take quick and effective action. Malagravia himself, to this point, had sought to provoke dissent against Tigranes, and to take advantage of the Melanite political situation to impose himself there. Now he had to launch a direct military campaign. On March 12, 1461, the Caliph ordered General Monaeses to take command of the forces being assembled at Samarkand, Timur's Star, Hunt Minor, the Caroline Asteroid Belt, Garnett, and Ber Bachman, among other strongholds in the Eastern Outer Borderlands. Legate-General Corbulo on his part, alarmed by the Huntite moves, now dispatched Laurasian reinforcements to the diplomatic garrisons maintained on Endaker, Rendaker, Tendaker, and Katharnovich, hoping to deter the Huntites. He also strengthened the defenses of Majoria Schall, Shenandoah, and Grand Junction, and moreover, sent a petition to Emperor Antiochus, urging him to reorganize the military commands of Temperance and the upper Rebeccan Galactic Trade Route.
 * It was on April 1, 1461, that the Huntite Caliphate's forces crossed the border into the territory of the Kingdom of Melanie Major. General Monaeses quickly made advances against Melanite units. He captured the garrison of Praxan (April 2-14, 1461); defeated a Melanite patrol convoy at Alafa (April 17), and on April 24, stormed Melanie Minor, thereby inflicting a humiliating loss upon Melanite forces. Schriver, Sargent, and the Upper Katharnovich Colonies were seized during May 1461, although Huntite moves against Endaker and Rendaker were blunted by the Laurasian garrisons in those star systems. On June 4, 1461, the Battle of Ruthelaine ended in a decisive victory for Huntite forces, who then drove Melanite units and their Laurasian auxiliaries from Batne, Rheugatia, and Morrison; the Battle of Philip, on June 22, 1461, was a humiliation for King Tigranes. Huntite forces were now rapidly moving towards Tigranocerta. King Tigranes, however, had taken care to stockpile military supplies; had secured the world's communication terminals; and had reorganized its garrison, equipping his personnel with Laurasian-style arms and armor. The Siege of Tigranocerta began on July 12, 1461, and continued for over a month, as Huntite forces under Monaeses tried every expedient to break through the defenses of the stronghold. Tigranes's defenses held however, and on August 17, Monaeses was compelled to withdraw his forces by a sally of Laurasian units from Katharnovich commanded by the Lord Carus.
 * Following this, Batne and Morrison were recovered by the Melanites (September 1461), and a Laurasian force struck as far as Zachary, Isiah, and Jonah, thereby severely disrupting Huntite positions in those star systems. Shortly thereafter, Emperor Antiochus commanded General Corbulo to request for an armistice with the Huntites. Corbulo extended this offer on October 4, 1461. Malagravia, who was again facing rebellion in the Jasonian Provinces, and had to deal with the incursion of Brestord and Armane pirates from the Galactic Void, accepted. Moreover, his supply lines to Melanie Major were becoming overstretched, and his forces needed reorganization. On October 29, 1461, after some weeks of negotiations, the Truce of Malgraxia was signed, by which both the Empire and the Caliphate agreed to withdraw their units from Melanite territory; to refrain from military operations until at least March 1462; and to abstain from interference in Melanite internal affairs. Malagravia now dispatched Huntite emissaries to Caladaria, where Emperor Antiochus then resided, and an effort at negotiations to resolve the matter began. These negotiations would come to nought.
 * But in November 1461, the Emperor heeded Corbulo's wishes for command reorganization. Legate-Admiral Sir Lucius Paetus (1420-72), arrived in order to relieve burdens off the shoulders of Corbulo. The Emperor appointed Admiral Paetus as Governor of Temperance and Elijahana, and assigned him command of the 30th, 31st, and 32nd Imperial Armies, as well as the 29th and 30th Imperial Fleets; Corbulo retained all of his other fleets and armies, to which was added the newly formed 36th Imperial Army. Corbulo and Paetus, however, did not always see eye to eye with each other, and quarreled over strategy and administration at intervals. Nevertheless, the two Laurasian commanders were now at the head of a substantial part of the Imperial Laurasian Military, and could use this strength with vigor against the Huntites.

1462

 * 1462, the 62nd year of the fifteenth century, commenced with the Laurasian Empire and the Huntite Caliphate enjoying an interlude of peace. Emperor Antiochus's commanders in the Middle Territories, Legate-General Sir Gnaeus Corbulo and Legate-Admiral Sir Lucius Paetus spent the early months of the year, in which the Truce of Malgraxia remained in effect, to further reorganize their military forces and to prepare for renewed operations in Melanite territory. At the same time, events of note were taking place at the Imperial Laurasian Court. By January 1462, Emperor Antiochus had become fully convinced that his marriage with Octavia, with whom he had no children, was useless, and that he needed another, more fulfilling relationship. Once again, his eyes alighted on the now former Countess of Arias, who was now in regular attendance at the Imperial Laurasian Court and who continued to entrance the Emperor with her appearance and other qualities. Lady Sabina, as she was known as at this stage, had divorced the Earl in January 1459, and had turned her sights elsewhere. From June 1461, in fact, she and Emperor Antiochus, having taken such notice of each other, had entered into an affair: she became his official mistress, replacing Baroness Acte in that role. Over time, the Emperor came to the conclusion that he must have this lady as his wife. On January 7, 1462, the Emperor announced to the Council of Imperial Secretaries that he was considering remarriage. He brushed aside all of the complaints of those who dared to complain, and proceeded with his plans. On January 19, on his orders, Empress Consort Octavia was arrested and confined at the Post Settlement of Hepudermia. There, she was vigorously interrogated by President Seneca, by the Chief Procurator of the Holy Synod, and by other officials of the Imperial Laurasian Government. They asked her for her opinions about the Emperor, and the reasons why her relationship with him had resulted in no heirs for the Tiberian Dynasty. Octavia defended herself vigorously, but when told that Antiochus was divorcing her, she posed no opposition.
 * On February 4, 1462, the Synod formally annulled the Emperor's marriage with Octavia, who was thus deprived of her title as Empress Consort. She remained imprisoned at the Post Settlement of Hepudermia. Twelve days later, on February 16, the Emperor and Lady Sabina were married at the Old Westphalian Cathedral; Antiochus was so eager to validate their relationship that he did not bother with a betrothal and engagement. Empress Poppaea, as she now was, would be formally crowned consort on March 8, at the same cathedral. Established with authority over the Imperial Household, the new Empress now persuaded her husband to take further measures against his former wife. Antiochus now, on March 17, 1462, had Octavia banished to O'Neal, and forbade her to conduct any communications or to move from that star system without his permission. For Poppaea, this was not enough; she wanted Octavia's death. Many on Laurasia Prime, and elsewhere in the Empire, criticized the Emperor's move, and he, paranoid as he was, could not take criticism. Thus it was that the Emperor fell susceptible to Poppaea's demands. In May 1462, the Emperor had Octavia's household dismantled and all of her remaining dower revenues and properties confiscated by the authorities. Then on June 7, he had his ex-wife attainted and sentenced to death. The following day, Octavia was beheaded by Praetorian Guards on O'Neal; her clothes were stripped from her body, she was excommunicated by the Synod, and on June 12, her head was presented to the Empress on Metallasia. Poppaea had the head, with her husband's consent, incinerated in Metallasia's star, Metallos.
 * Thus by such brutal measures did Emperor Antiochus rid himself of his first wife and consort. He had also moved against other perceived rivals at the Imperial Laurasian Court. On March 19, 1462, after being convicted on charges of treason, conspiracy, and les-majestie by the Senate, Sir Faustus Felix, who had been one of the most prominent courtiers of the Household, and was distantly related to the Emperor himself, was executed at the Christiania Municipal Prison. Emperor Antiochus had accused Felix of being involved in a conspiracy to depose and assassinate him; thus, he declared, this man needed to be eliminated as soon as possible. The Emperor's attention then turned to Sir Pallas Clasterius, who he, at the beginning of his reign, had dismissed from his offices and banished from the Imperial Laurasian Court. Clasterius too, was accused of conspiring to depose the Emperor, and of being in league with Sir Felix to accomplish this goal. He was arrested on April 2, 1462, at Calaxis II; imprisoned at the Post Settlement of Hepudermia; and then tortured on the Emperor's orders. Clasterius protested his innocence, and declared that he had always been faithful to His Majesty and the Imperial Laurasian Government. Antiochus did not heed these pleas, however, and on April 17, Clasterius was tried and convicted by the Senate on charges similar to those posed against Felix. He was executed on May 8 at Hepudermia, in front of a crowd of more than 600,000 persons. Emperor Antiochus then confiscated all of Clasterius's properties and estates, and had all remaining members of his family imprisoned at Ipsus V, Windowia Photis, and Laura. In June 1462, Sir Rubellius Plautus, Viscount Plautus of Paula, would be arrested and confined on the Emperor's orders; he would eventually be attainted, and executed on January 9, 1463, at Reoyania.
 * It was in June 1462 that the Melanite War resumed. On June 8, 1462, Caliph Malagravia, with diplomatic negotiations having failed, rejected the Truce of Malgraxia and ordered for his forces to renew operations against those of the Empire. Batne once again fell into Huntite hands (June 8-12, 1462), followed by Morrison (June 14); Ruthelaine (June 16); and the Laurasian military outpost of Toni (June 22). Aradahat was blockaded by a Huntite expeditionary force from June 23; its fall on June 26 was a major victory for Huntite arms. Huntite forces then stormed Pailbirth, Boydaria, and Nottingham (July 1462), thereby penetrating into the Laurasian holdings of the Middle Territories. General Monaeses, moreover, stormed Budaker, using Halegothican and Vickian reinforcements (July 9-17, 1462), and on August 4, resumed his drive against Tigranocerta. Tigranocerta was overwhelmed by this renewed Huntite offensive, and fell on August 11, humiliating the Laurasians and the Melanites alike. Melanie Minor, Katharnovich, and Schriver then fell by September 4, further disrupting Laurasian strategic lines. Legate-Admiral Paetus now launched a counteroffensive into Huntite territory, hoping to halt this series of recent reverses.
 * On September 14, he stormed Agnes, and from thence, moved against Lorna. Lorna was sacked by a Laurasian expeditionary force on September 22; from Lorna, Laurasian units seized Leah, Darrow, Christin, and Caitlin Allioh (September 24-October 9, 1462). Moreover, General Corbulo, who had strengthened the shipyards of Temperance, put on a convincing show of military might and destroyed a Huntite-Melanite force at David (September 14-19, 1462): he then repelled Huntite moves against Deschanel, Par'say, Wayne, and the Millian colony of Stark, thereby maintaining the Laurasian hold in Temperance and the outskirts of the Millian Home Region. Paetus, by October 11, 1462, had made a substantial advance into the Outer Borderlands, but in doing so, had dispersed his forces, leaving them vulnerable to Huntite flanking assaults. Huntite troops therefore moved against Resnatia, Fats, and Griffith. When he learned of it, he moved backwards, hoping to intercept the Caliph, who was himself leading this renewed advance. A Laurasian reconnaissance force was defeated at Bruce (October 15-19, 1462), and Laurasian units were driven from Pailbirth, thereby forcing Paetus to halt his moves. He now dispatched Laurasian units to the Melanite garrison of Arsamosorta, and tried to block Huntite moves up to Melanie Major at the Taur Garrisons. In doing so, however, he further dispersed his forces, and on October 27, 1462, Malagravia won the Battle of Jonathania, thereby further humiliating the Laurasians.
 * Laurasian morale now plunged, and Paetus's forces were trapped in the vicinity of the Melanite colony of Rhandeia. Paetus now sent urgent messages to Corbulo, who was focused on securing Bacturis Invictis and Mariana Sirtia against Huntite moves, asking him to come to his assistance. Corbulo had been aware of the challenges facing his colleague, and had put part of his forces on readiness for a counteroffensive, but he did not immediately move to Paetus's assistance. This aroused suspicions at the General Headquarters, monitoring the situation tensely, that Corbulo sought to gain the advantage for himself. It therefore commanded him to take more vigorous measures against the Huntites and in Melanie Major. He now marched towards Deborah, managed to reorganize some of Paetus's reconnaissance units there, and rallied his men to repel the Huntite threat (November 1, 1462).
 * But before he could arrive at Rhandeia, Paetus capitulated. On November 9, 1462, isolated at that particular star system, cut off from his supply lines, and with the morale of his forces down, he surrendered to the Caliph. The Caliph now forced him to sign the Terms of Rhandeia, by which all Laurasian military forces were to evacuate the territory of the Kingdom of Melanie Major. He confiscated Laurasian arms and military equipment; secured control of Melanie Major; and compelled Paetus and his subordinates to "pass under the yoke", considered an utter humiliation for the Laurasians. Paetus was then allowed to depart, meeting up at Boydaria with Corbulo on November 17. Both commanders lamented, but Paetus urged Corbulo to break the Terms and to vigorously renew the Laurasian push into Melanie. Corbulo however, had his hand stayed by Emperor Antiochus, who had grown angry about the situation, and was exasperated by the success of Melanite forces. But Prefect Burrus, in his last piece of advice for the Emperor, had advised him not to act too rash.
 * Thus, it was that Laurasian forces were withdrawn from Melanie, and abstained from further campaigns. Caliph Malagravia, on December 3, offered to withdraw his forces from the Middle Territories and from Melanie if the Terms of Rhandeia were confirmed. Emperor Antiochus accepted this, and Corbulo made the arrangements with Huntite General Monaeses. Thus, Melanie was left without foreign forces, but de facto under renewed Huntite overlordship, at the close of the year. As for Emperor Antiochus, Prefect Burrus suffered a final stroke and died in Heliotrope on December 9, 1462, aged sixty-one. The Prefect's death threw off the last restraints upon the Emperor. He was now completely his own master. He lamented the passing of the Prefect, and had him given a lavish state funeral at St. Colombia's Cathedral. But on December 14, the Emperor formally dismissed Seneca from his positions in the Imperial Laurasian Government, and had him retire to his estates on Mexicana and Azatha II. Seneca obliged, seeking to keep away from the Court at all costs.

1463

 * 1463, the 63rd year of the fifteenth century, commenced with the Laurasian Empire having suffered a serious reverse, with the Terms of Rhandeia, and with the Kingdom of Melanie apparently back into the fold of the Huntite Caliphate. Emperor Antiochus, although he had heeded Burrus's advice to adhere to the Terms, at least for the time being, was determined that the Laurasian position in the Middle Territories be consolidated and mandated, regardless of the circumstances. Thus it was that on January 12, 1463, the Emperor ordered the Imperial General Headquarters to draft plans for renewed, and final, military operations, into the Kingdom of Melanie. On January 27, the Headquarters completed their plans, and presented them to His Majesty for his approval; Antiochus quickly consented. On February 9, Admiral Paetus was recalled on the Emperor's command; upon his arrival at Laurasia Prime on February 16, he would be harangued publicly by the figures of the Imperial Court, condemned for his cowardice by the Senate, and then dismissed from all of his military posts. Corbulo, however, received other reward. On February 22, the Emperor again named him as supreme commander-in-chief of all Laurasian forces in the Middle Territories, and granted him emergency powers over the administration of Temperance, Shenandoah, and Way'tosk as needed. Corbulo, who had now established his command headquarters at Deborah, vigorously reorganized his forces. He disbanded the fleets and armies which had surrendered under Paetus; brought in substantial reinforcements from the Venasian Provinces; and ordered for the colonization of Meliah as a Laurasian outpost.
 * Finally, on March 18, 1463, General Corbulo launched a renewed invasion of the Kingdom of Melanie Major. He made major gains. Morrison, Toni, and Ruthelaine were stormed by Laurasian units by March 24; on April 1, Corbulo defeated General Monaeses in the Battle of Floriana. Ardahat, Pailbirth, and Katharnovich were then conquered by his forces during the course of April 1463, and on April 28, Corbulo won another victory in the Battle of Ender, thereby preventing any Melanite or Huntite moves towards Nottingham, Griffith, or Boydaria. Fats was secured on May 4, followed by Endaker (May 7), Burdaker (May 9), and Volorum (May 11). On May 15, 1463, Melanie Minor fell to a sudden Laurasian offensive; from thence, Laurasian troops ranged out and seized Batne, Rheguma, and Resnatia. By June 9, Laurasian forces were approaching the outskirts of Melanie Major. It was at this point that Caliph Malagravia and King Tiridates (restored to the Melanite throne by the endeavors of the Caliph), both of whom were aware of Corbulo's abilities as a military commander, and themselves tired of war, requested for a military armistice. Emperor Antiochus, on his part, believed that he could now dictate the terms with the Huntites. Thus he commanded Corbulo to accept the armistice request. Corbulo demanded that Tiridates agree to receive his crown from the hands of the Emperor; Tiridates agreed to this condition, and Rhandeia, scene of the Laurasian humiliation in the preceding year, was chosen as the site for discussions. The Armistice of Schriver was signed on June 17, 1463. It was not until August 2 before delegations from the Imperial Laurasian, Huntite, and Melanite Governments formally convened at Rhandeia for the treaty negotiations. Finally, on September 24, 1463, the Treaty of Rhandeia was signed.
 * By the terms of the Treaty, all territorial disputes persisting in the Middle Territories were resolved. Nottingham, Fats, Pooch, Griffith, Shenandoah, Boydaria, Jonathania, Deborah, Ruthelaine, and Morrison were confirmed as belonging to the Laurasian Empire. The Empire's annexation of Temperance and Way'tosk was accepted by the Huntites and the Melanites; Laurasian overlordship over the Kingdom of Jageronia and the Neo-Venasian Consortium, as well as the Empire's treaties with the Hookiee Confederacy, was acknowledged; and the Empire gained rights of free commercial transit in Melanie Major and the Sk'atha Cluster. The Kingdom of Melanie was acknowledged to be a joint protectorate of the Laurasian Empire and the Huntite Caliphate. All Kings of Melanie were to be chosen by the Huntite Caliph, but were to be invested with their throne and recognized as sovereign by the Emperors of Laurasia. Tiridates was confirmed as King of Melanie, but was not to be formally acknowledged as such by the Imperial Laurasian Court until such time as he had pledged himself to the Emperor personally. Melanie was to be free of foreign troops, Huntite and Laurasian; it was to determine its domestic policies; and it was to conduct commercial relations with both powers. However, its foreign policy was to be subject to Laurasian and Huntite approval, it was to conclude no treaty or alliance without first consulting the two governments, and it was to limit the size of its military forces. All prisoners of war were exchanged, and the Laurasians agreed to restore all plunder and goods seized from Melanie during their campaigns. The Treaty of Rhandeia, which would be ratified by Emperor Antiochus on October 1, by Caliph Malagravia on October 12, and by King Tiridates on October 24, would keep the peace between Laurasia and Hunt for the next fifty years, until the decisive campaigns of Antigonus the Conqueror. Emperor Antiochus enjoined his subjects to celebrate the victories of his commanders. Corbulo himself was conferred the Order of St. Honorius the Liberator; masques, tournaments, contests, balls, parades, parties, and other celebrations were held in star systems throughout the Empire; and the Almitian Church blessed all Laurasian soldiers. 1463 therefore ended on a good note.

1464

 * 1464, the 64th year of the fifteenth century, commenced with the Laurasian Empire residing in peace. The Melanite War had ended, with the Kingdom of Melanie Major, in common with the Huntite Caliphate, now a protectorate of the Laurasian Empire. Moreover, the Empire's territorial base in the Middle Territories had been consolidated, and its rule of the Millian Regions recognized by the Huntites and by the Melanites. Emperor Antiochus therefore had much to celebrate. He continued to remain in a jubilant mood during the early months of 1464. The Emperor continued with the practice of his immediate predecessors in staging elaborate ceremonies and festivities for the subjects of Christiania, and of Laurasia Prime. He expended hundreds of millions of denarius upon organizing entertainment for the masses; sponsoring the arts and sciences; and engaging in beneficial architectural projects. The Emperor viewed himself as something of a cultural connoisseur. He tried his hand at poetry and songwriting, at first working in private and then, from November 1463, revealing his works in public. He sat in on lectures and activities at the Imperial Academy of the Arts and the University of the Empire, seeking to thereby "learn" from intellectuals, and to place himself within such an environment.
 * It was on January 17, 1464, that the Emperor first performed in public at the Diplomatic Palace. He took to acting, to singing, and to playing with the lute, the lyre, the flute, the trombone, the violin, the cello, and other instruments. He basked in the attention of his subjects, declared himself the most artistic of all Laurasian monarchs, and dwelled on his own qualities. To later historians in the Empire, and to the Emperor's own contemporaries, such acts were ones of madness and of self-worth. Nevertheless, Antiochus persisted, and in March 1464, had the Imperial Post publish a collection of his poems and short stories. The Holonet played recordings of the Emperor's performances, and Antiochus rewarded any firm which promoted his works. In April 1464, he began participating more actively in public games, excelling at shockball, jousting, and tennis, and demanding that all rewards in every competition be conferred in his name, and conferred by him. The Emperor even took to devising elaborate regulations concerning the behavior, training, and payment of athletes in the Empire, and to changing the procedures and criteria for the Imperial Olympics, the Galactic Games, and the Galactic Tournaments.
 * But on July 18, 1464, the electrical systems of Christiania experienced a catastrophic failure, and in the Residential Districts, a combustive explosion erupted. Within hours, a general conflagration had been created, and began to spread throughout the city of Christiania. The ensuing Great Conflagration of Christiania, as it would come to be known, would become one of the greatest natural disasters in the history of the Space Age, and would be responsible for much devastation and much disruption. During the course of the next five days, the conflagration raged throughout Christiania. The Residential and Commercial Districts, in particular, were almost completely annihilated by the Conflagration; more than seventy million dwellings, six million businesses, and over half of the city's parks, recreational facilities, docking facilities, and spaceports were destroyed or damaged; and several ancient Laurasian landmarks, such as the Statute of Cliesthenes, portions of the Old Royal Palace, and most of the Byrnes Palace, as well as the Lycian Congress Hall, the Hall of Justice (where Honorius the Terrible had convened the first Consultative Assembly in 1149), and the Old Winter Palace, were destroyed. Emperor Antiochus, who was then in Uris, hastened to Christiania, and immediately took command of the efforts to combat the fire and to provide relief to those who had been displaced or affected by it. Following the example of Honorius the Terrible, in the Great Conflagration of Constantinople three centuries earlier, he sent orders to the Christiania Public Services Department and to the Palace Control for Tx-500 conflagration-proof, construction droids to be brought in. The droids, working with quarantine robots, Christiania Disaster workers, and repair droids, finally brought the conflagration under control during the late hours of July 23. By that time, however, more than twenty million individuals, out of Christiania's then population of nearly 300 million, had perished, and another fifty million were homeless or destitute.
 * On the Emperor's orders, a state of emergency was declared. Temporary residence and relief camps appeared; the Colleges of Commerce, Transportation, Sentient Services, and Emergencies cooperated with the authorities of Christiania and the garrison of Laurasia Prime to oversee relief and reconstruction efforts. The Emperor had all of the city's food reserves opened, and supplies were distributed to those in need. He temporarily canceled all taxes and obligations; suspended non-essential traffic to Laurasia Prime; and ordered for the communications system to be overhauled, to coordinate the efforts of the authorities. He vigorously reorganized the emergency services, and gave all personnel bonuses for working overtime. He freed non-violent prisoners on the condition that they volunteer community service, and shifted the resources of the judicial agencies to combat crimes related to the Conflagration. The Emperor now spent vast sums of money in order to spearhead the reconstruction efforts, and in September 1464, again following Honorian precedents, appointed a commission to oversee Christiania's general recovery. The city was to recover gradually during the course of the next decade; by 1475, the remaining traces of the Conflagration would be gone. Christiania's population, however, did not recover until the end of the century.

1465

 * As 1465, the 65th year of the fifteenth century, commenced, Christiania was in the slow and gradual process of recovery from the Great Conflagration of the preceding year. Emperor Antiochus had distinguished himself by his efforts to relieve the stress and the suffering within the City. Moreover, the Emperor had made arrangements for its future reconstruction, and in November 1464, he had ordered the College of Planetary Resources to develop studies on how the city could be guarded against such a disaster in the future. This would eventually lead to the Emperor, in 1466 and 1467, implementing the Construction Code for the City of Christiania, providing for the construction materials to be used, for the evacuation and emergency alert procedures to be employed in the future, and for the design of the city in such a manner as to discourage disaster. All of these measures taken by the Emperor would play a role in preventing Laurasia Prime, and other worlds in the Empire, from experiencing a comparable disaster again. Yet in the early months of the year, other, more ominous events were occurring at the Imperial Laurasian Court. These related to the Emperor's increased paranoia, and to the distrust held for him by many among the Empire's noble and administrative elites.
 * In December 1464, the Senate had, on the Emperor's orders, ordered for the public condemnation of Praetor Ansitius Clarus (1417-65), who was accused of speaking ill of the Emperor at the Galactic Botanical Gardens. Praetor Clarus was bound in chains, paraded through the public squares of Christiania, and at the Diplomatic Palace, he was denounced by fellow Praetors from the Laurasia Prime Purse Region, by the chief servants of the Imperial Laurasian Court, and by crowds specially assembled for the purpose. Emperor Antiochus, however, evolved a further desire of revenge against Clarus, and on January 7, 1465, without warning, he attainted the Praetor, had him imprisoned at the Post Settlement of Hepudermia, and issued instructions for his execution. Clarus was publicly beheaded and electrocuted, before a crowd of nearly 300,000 persons, on January 12. To the last, he begged for mercy from the Emperor, asserted his loyalty to the Imperial Laurasian Government, and declared that any who conspired against the "person of His Most Sacred Majesty is not deserving of life." Antiochus, however, refused to heed these pleas. The Holy Synod excommunicated Clarus, and his remains were dumped into the Pit of Traitors on Jadia. Moreover, the Emperor confiscated all of Clarus's estates, banned his family from Laurasia Prime, and issued a general memorandum to all judicial officials throughout the Empire, warning them of the consequences of disorder and treason. He emphasized that all were loyal only to him, and ordered for any verdicts which had seemed to suggest the securities of his subjects, or of the rights of any in contravention to his will, to be overturned.
 * In February 1465, the Emperor struck against the Chief Suffect of Christiania, Sir Fabricius Valento, and ordered for him to be stripped of all his titles and offices, publicly flogged, branded as a felon, and condemned to penal labor at Christophsis, quickly becoming one of the Empire's chief mining colonies. Valento's colleagues protested this move, and on February 22, shortly after the punishments to Valento were administered, submitted a petition to Emperor Antiochus at the Quencilvanian Palace. In this petition, they urged the Emperor to "moderate his rule" and to not persecute any of his subjects unheard. Antiochus responded by having the Suffects deprived of a year's salary. Moreover, he imposed a fine of nearly $1 billion denarii, collectively, upon them, their families, and their businesses. In this manner, Antiochus demonstrated once more that he would brook no dissent. On March 3, he actually forbade his subjects to submit him any petitions in the future, and issued a series of regulations laying down harsh penalties of fines, imprisonment, and condemnation for any who dared defy this command. On March 11, he reorganized the Imperial Chancellory, and commanded the Council of Secretaries to suppress requests and memoranda submitted to the Court. This was the final straw for Sir Gaius Calpurnius Piso (1411-65), Baronet Piso, who had served on the Governing Senate since 1441 (appointed by Emperor Claudius), and was one of the most influential individuals at the Imperial Court.
 * Piso believed that the Emperor would stop at nothing, and that for the Empire and its subjects to be saved, Antiochus needed to be removed. Already, from December 1464, he had assembled around him a group of supporters. This group embraced numerous individuals of importance and prestige in the Emperor's regime. Senators, synostic councilors, college secretaries, board members, Praetorian Guards, military officers, regional and planetary officials, gentlemen, knights, noblemen: all of them lent a sympathetic ear to the appeals of Piso. After March 11, Piso intensified his efforts of organization, and by the end of that month, had formulated his conspiracy against the Emperor. He now conceived that Sir Faenius Rufus (1417-65), who had served as co-Praetorian Prefect with the Lord Tigellinus (1410-69) since Burrus's death in 1462, would conduct him to the Casta Praetoria for a formal declaration by the Guards. Subvinus Flavius, Lord Flavius of Temperia (1429-65), Tribune of the Guards, and Suplicus Asper, Knight Banneret (1431-65), both helped Piso formulate his main strategies. Piso sought to become Emperor of Laurasia himself; the Guards, after the declaration, would seize Antiochus and assassinate him; and all of the late Emperor's subordinates and associates would be compelled to swear allegiance to Piso, or else forfeit their lives.
 * Seneca, once the Emperor's President of the Council of Secretaries, and his tutor, had contact with Piso and became involved with the conspiracy; his nephew Sir Lucan Annaeus (1439-65), one of the most renowned poets in the history of the Space Age, also joined. All total, the Pisonian Conspiracy, as it became known, attracted forty-one individuals of repute at the Imperial Laurasian Court, and thereby had wide connections. Yet before the conspirators could act on their plans, they were betrayed. On April 19, 1465, Milichus Pertus (later Baronet Pertus, 1432-99), who was in the service of Praetorian Tribune Flavius Scavenius, 4th Lord Scavenius (1420-65), a member of the conspiracy, learned of it and revealed its existence to Sir Epahroditos Klauria (1420-95), Personal Secretary of the Emperor, after being urged to do so by his wife. Klauria was absolutely loyal to the Emperor, under whom he had risen considerably, and he in turn informed Antiochus. Emperor Antiochus was enraged when he learned of the conspiracy's existence, and he now ordered for the Imperial Intelligence Agency to launch an intensive investigation of the activities of Scavenius and his immediate associates. By April 24, the Emperor's agents and guards had discovered the names of all involved in the conspiracy, of what they intended, and the level of support they commanded.
 * Antiochus now realized that he needed to act swiftly, to maintain his own life and also to demonstrate that his authority would crush all who sought to oppose him. On April 29, the Emperor ordered for the arrest and imprisonment, at the Post Settlement of Hepudermia, of Piso, Annaeus, Seneca, Rufus, Scavenius, and of all their associates and colleagues as revealed by the Intelligence Agency. This was carried out swiftly, and all of the conspirators were confined in due order. His Majesty then conducted a purge of the Praetorian Guards; Lord Tigellinus disciplined or expelled more than six hundred of his subordinates, suspected of having sympathies with Piso and with Prefect Rufus. The Emperor issued a manifesto, on May 8, to the Imperial Court, announcing his "miraculous escape from ruin" and ordering for all of his subjects to expose anyone who had ever demonstrated opposition to him or his policies. On May 14, the Senate imposed a sentence of condemnation upon the conspirators. Five days later, on his orders, the Heraldmaster confiscated all of the estates, properties, and titles of the conspirators, and invested them in the Imperial Estate. Yet it was not until June 6, 1465, before the Emperor, bypassing the trial proceedings of the Senate, ordered for all of the conspirators to be attainted and sentenced to death. He now commanded that they all suffer the full penalties of hanging, drawing, quartering, disintegration, and disembowelment; for the first time, the "traitor's death" was employed, and would ultimately be formalized as the ultimate penalty for treason by Emperor Lysimachus I in 1535. On June 19, the sentences were carried out. Annaeus and Seneca alike went bravely to their deaths; Rufus posed some resistance, which was quickly dispatched; and Piso meekly accepted his fate.
 * By July 1465, with all of the conspirators dead, with the purges complete, and with his authority more secure than ever, Emperor Antiochus again seemed dominant. Moreover, his wife, Empress Consort Poppaea, who had borne him a daughter, Grand Princess Claudia Octavia (born on January 13, 1463, and died four months later), had become pregnant in March. Her pregnancy was clearly visible, and on July 4, the Emperor formally announced the fact of it to the imperial public. Yet a terrible incident now occurred that shattered all remaining semblances of popularity for the Emperor, and lead him into a downward spiral of madness which culminated, three years later, in his ruin. Despite her pregnancy, Poppaea had become increasingly irritated with her husband, and during the course of it, they had engaged in numerous arguments. She sought desperately to retain her looks, and could not tolerate any of the petty trifling of her husband, or his excesses of luxury. Antiochus, on his part, sought for his wife to become more subordinate to him, and was growing tired of her arrogance and her self-confidence, which had once attracted him. Early on the morning of August 3, 1465, they had the latest of their arguments in the Private Chambers of the Quencilvanian Palace. The Emperor accused his consort of being unfaithful to him, and of being a vixien in the eyes of the Lord Almitis. Poppaea responded by pointing out Antiochus's own past affairs and stated that it was no fault of hers that their first child had died.
 * At this, the Emperor grew angry, and he now lashed out with his fists against his wife. He threw her to the ground, punched her several times in the face, and then began kicking her violently. The Empress screamed; pools of blood burst forth; and she suffered serious internal injuries, both to herself and to her child. Antiochus threw everything he could at her, and he kicked with the most vigorous force which he could muster. Finally, after more than an hour of this, his guards managed to restrain him. Poppaea, however, was unconscious. She was hurried to the Imperial Hospital, but in spite of the efforts of the Emperor's physicians, her life faded away. During the late hours of August 3, Empress Consort Poppaea Sabina died, aged 35. The Emperor, who had regained his senses, bewailed his dead wife, and declared that the Anti-Almitis had possessed him. He claimed that it was not he, but this evil force which killed his wife, and that the stresses of the Pisonian Conspiracy had driven matters to a fever pitch. On his orders, the Empress's body was cleansed and dressed in state robes. She was then laid, in state, at the Public Chambers of the Palace. The Emperor issued a mournful manifesto to his subjects, lamenting his wife's death and that of his unborn child, and proclaiming that there was never another lady of such virtue and worth as her.
 * Everyone, however, knew that the Emperor had killed her, and many now began to consider him as an evil and cruel tyrant, regardless of his public generosities and "kindness". Tensions began to boil against Antiochus, and would increase during these remaining years of his reign. Empress Consort Poppaea laid in state for nearly two months. Finally, on October 1, 1465, she was interred at the Imperial Mausoleum. Emperor Antiochus professed to be the most stricken of the mourners at her funeral. He threw himself at her casket, bewailed her, and shouted at those around him. The Court now descended into a atmosphere of depression and of terror. On October 14, the Emperor ordered for the arrest of all his late wife's servants, attendants, and ladies; they were interrogated and tortured on his orders, accused of threatening the interests of the Imperial State; and then confined to the Post Settlement of Hepudermia. In November 1465, the Emperor sentenced nearly all of them to death or perpetual imprisonment, dismissed them from his service, fined and banished their families, and had them excommunicated by the Holy Synod. On December 5, he ordered for work to begin on a statue of Poppaea; then on December 13, he had each of his courtiers pay for a separate Mass to be conducted for her soul. 1465 ended, therefore, with the Empire stricken, and bewildered.

1466

 * 1466, the 66th year of the fifteenth century, commenced with the Imperial Laurasian Court scared by Emperor Antiochus's brutal suppression of the Pisonian Conspiracy and his murder of his second wife, Empress Consort Poppaea Sabina. As the new year began, the Emperor himself was still troubled by thoughts of what had transpired, and what he himself had done. At night, he claimed to be bothered by dreams about his wife, and he even called for his own vibrosword to protect himself from "ghosts" and other intruders who, he claimed, entered his bedchambers and disturbed him. Yet in other ways, Antiochus seemed cheerful and joyous. The Emperor continued to bask in the rituals and ceremonies of his court, and he enjoined all of his servants and associates to enjoy themselves, to forget the past, and to look forward to the future. Antiochus himself did this by now contracting his third marriage. On January 17, 1466, he married Lady Stallia Sarina (1435-96), to whom he was to be married for the rest of his reign. Lady Sarina's husband, Sir Marcus Vestinus, had been forced, on October 9, 1465, to commit suicide on Little Mexicana on the Emperor's orders. Shortly afterwards, Antiochus had taken his wife, whom he had noticed at public ceremonies on Laurasia Prime, as his mistress. Their marriage, therefore, was the formal ratification of their relationship. Empress Stallia was formally crowned consort by her husband on February 8, in a lavish ceremony staged at the Old Westphalian Cathedral, and attended by all of the chief personages of his court and government. The Emperor ordered for coinage to be struck in honor of the marriage; for his wife's memory to be blessed by the Almitian Church; and for statutes of her to be erected at prominent locations throughout the Empire.
 * And it was Empress Stallia who was now at the Emperor's side as he now endeavored to receive the homage of Tiridates I, King of Melanie. Tiridates, prior to embarking from Melanie Major for the act of homage on Laurasia Prime, as demanded by the Treaty of Rhandeia, visited his mother and two brothers in Hunt and Gabriella. He then, on March 4, 1466, turned from Melanie Major, to the Kimanian Trade Run, and began his journey to Laurasia Prime. He was accompanied by his wife, children, two of his brothers, and a vast entourage including many of his nobles, secretaries, guards, government officials, and his resident Laurasian corps. The King proceeded slowly and gradually up the Trade Run, visiting worlds such as Nathaniel, Sanegeta, Hooper, Eutagia, Acamaria, Rose, Jack, and those in the Horacian and Murphian Provinces. He basked in the sights and the honors given to him in these diverse star systems. Finally, on March 22, 1466, the King reached the Station of Dosch, in the Core Worlds. There, he was greeted by Emperor Antiochus himself.
 * No one was permitted to greet the Emperor armed, but because Tiridates was a fellow sovereign, this requirement did not apply to him. The Emperor nevertheless greeted him warmly and fully. It was at Fitzsimmons, to which the respective Courts then moved, that Antiochus ordered for athletic games to be staged in his guest's honor. These ceremonies included a series of tournaments, jousts, athletic competitions (such as in archery and in steed-riding), gladiatorial contests, and wild beast spectacles. The King of Melanie distinguished himself at playing shockball, and received accolades from the courtiers of the Empire. The climax of the ceremonies, however, was to be reserved for Laurasia Prime. The collective entourage proceeded there, arriving on April 7, 1466. The star system was ringed with honorary turbocannons and platforms, decorated and designed in the King's honor. Tiridates, escorted by the Emperor, proceeded on a lavish yacht, through Marsia, Volcania, Inspiter, the Asteroid Belt, the moons of Laurasia Prime, and into the city of Christiania. Crowds were assembled to greet his arrival, in spite of the fact that reconstruction of the still partly-devastated City continued.
 * On the day after the King's arrival, Emperor Antiochus came to the Diplomatic Palace, clothed in triumphal vestments, and surrounded by dignitaries and soldiers, all resplendent in expensive attire and glittering armor. When the Emperor of Laurasia sat on his throne (Empress Stallia sat next to him on a throne of her own), King Tiridates and his retinue advanced between two lines of troops of the Praetorian Guards and Imperial Laurasian Army. Arriving in front of the dais, the King knelt before the Emperor and Empress, hands clasped on his breast. After the thundering shouts and acclamation aroused by this spectacle had ended, the King addressed his suzerain, the Emperor: "My Lord, I am a descendant of Artakh and a brother of the Caliph Malagravia. I have come to you who are my master; I have worshiped you as I would my Gods; I shall be whatever you order me to be, because you are my destiny and fortune."
 * Emperor Antiochus replied: "You have done well by coming here to enjoy my presence in person. What your father has not left to you and what your brothers did not preserve to you, I do accord to you, and I make you King of Melanie, so that you, as well as they, may know that I have the power to take away and grant kingdoms." The King then mounted the steps of the platform and knelt, while the Emperor placed the royal diadem on his head. As the young king was about to kneel a second time, Antiochus lifted him by his right hand and after kissing him, made him sit by his side on a throne lower than those of himself and his wife. Meanwhile, the populace gave tumultuous ovations to both rulers. Following this ceremony, festivities continued at the Quencilvanian and Diplomatic Palaces, at the Opera, the Old Galactic Exchange, and the Cultural Hall. Pompey's Theater was gilded for the occasion; the Emperor, on his part, took part in a repulsorpod race at the Circus Maximus. At the evening banquets Antiochus, in gold-embroidered vestment, sang and played his instruments with much zeal. King Tiridates was both amazed and disgusted by the Laurasian Emperor's extravagance, but concealed it well, paying him due respects. He also made positive comments about General Corbulo. Finally, on May 2, 1466, King Tiridates made his leave from Laurasia Prime. He returned to Melanie Major on May 18, bringing with him a gift of $25 billion denarii from the Emperor, Laurasian advisors, and luxury goods. The King would remain a loyal and faithful vassal to both Hunt and Laurasia for the rest of his reign, refraining from hostile moves beyond his own realms.
 * Emperor Antiochus now proclaimed to his subjects that universal peace prevailed, and that the Empire was stronger than ever before. But in July 1466, rebellion exploded against the Imperial Laurasian Government: in the Donguarian Provinces. Donguaria had become increasingly alienated by the policies of the Emperor's regime since its formal annexation by Laurasia in 1434. In 1443, Emperor Claudius, in the course of his provincial reforms, placed Donguaria Prima and its immediate regions under the authority of a Senatorial Procurator. At first, and for the remainder of Claudius's reign, the Procurators respected the customs and traditions of the Donguarians, who had been fiercely nationalistic and self-conscious for centuries, and had maintained their own identity throughout the existence of the Polonian-Donguarian Commonwealth. This changed abruptly however, when on June 7, 1464, Sir Gessius Florus (1421-67), was appointed by Emperor Antiochus as the new Senatorial Procurator of Donguaria Prima, and invested by the Governing Senate with his responsibilities. Florus, whose wife was friendly to the Emperor's second wife, Poppaea Sabina, proved to be an incompetent and ruthless Procurator. He now issued a series of decrees placing restrictions on Donguarian customs.
 * He forbade ritual circumcision; required all Donguarian religious rabbis to obtain licenses to preach from the Almitian authorities; and restricted communications on Donguaria Prima, Pressburg, and Cossack. The Procurator, moreover, increased the military regiments stationed in Donguarian settlements; demanded that Donguarian subjects, especially the wealthier ones, contribute more to his private treasury; and openly favored the rights of Laurasian and other alien colonists over native Donguarians. He granted transportation and monopoly licenses to aliens, provided them generous subsidies, and in June 1465, informed the Donguarian Houses that they could no longer send survey expeditions into the Wild Marshes, as had previously been their right. He compelled all Donguarian nobles to demonstrate their loyalty to the Emperor and the Imperial Laurasian Government and gave orders for the Donguarian Great Temple to be stripped of many of its treasures. He refused to allow Donguarians to rest or to fast, and he obtained authorization, by the imperial decree of April 9, 1466, to destroy Donguarian monuments, religious edifices, and memorials. All of these actions aroused Donguarian nationalism, and reminded them that they were indeed under the jurisdiction of a foreign Empire.
 * Finally, on July 12, 1466, matters reached boiling point on Croac, one of the old Donguarian worlds. There, Laurasian merchants interrupted Donguarian rituals in Casar City, seeking to conduct the organization of a commercial convoy from the star system. Donguarians on the world protested this action. Soon, word of it spread to Donguaria Prima itself, and much dissent was aroused among the population. Eliezar Hathagrad, who was the chief clerk of the Donguarian Great Temple, convinced the Temple's administrative staff and clergy to cease offering prayers and sacrifices for the Emperor of Laurasia, as had previously been custom. Procurator Florus, who was angered by this act of disobedience, ordered his troops, on July 16, to seize a number of sacred icons from the Temple, and to coerce the authorities there to resume with the typical services. He claimed that the icons were needed to recoup for taxes and obligations not paid by the local population. In response to this, the city of Buda saw a great wave of unrest ensue. Some of the Donguarian population began to openly mock Florus, asserting that he was personally poor. Rioters, on July 18, attacked a garrison in the Central City, killing sixty of the Laurasian and Core soldiers stationed there. Florus reacted to the unrest by ordering his troops to maintain public order in Buda, and to arrest and punish the Temple clergy and members of the Donguarian elite. Violence now erupted between the crowds and the troops; on July 19 and 20, more than 200,000 protestors were arrested or killed by the garrison. At the same time, on the orders of the Procurator, Hathagrad, his father, Donguarian Chief Priest Anaza Hathagrad, and thirty other members of the Donguarian nobility and business elites were publicly flogged and humiliated by the imperial authorities.
 * This was the final straw. On July 24, 1466, under the leadership of the Donguarian Prince Simagrad bar Giora (1431-70), at Mohi, Donguarian rebel forces formally proclaimed their revolt against the Laurasian Empire. Bar Giora himself, in a manifesto issued from Mohi, declared that he and his rebels were determined to "drive the Laurasian monsters from our Donguarian realms, to preserve the independence of our species, and to maintain our honored customs." He and his forces made swift and immediate gains against the Empire's fleets and garrisons. Rohi fell on July 28; on August 3, the Donguarians of Pest erupted in rebellion against their Laurasian garrison, drove them from the star system, and joined the rebel cause. Donguarian Kaunas was stormed on August 7; three days later, Bar Giora defeated a Laurasian expeditionary force in the Battle of Jericho, thereby maintaining his advance. From Jericho, his units occupied Jannia, Gaza, and Jilach (August 10-17, 1466); on August 22, Rapphia also defected to the rebel cause, expelling its Laurasian garrison with much violence and much force. On August 26, Cossack was besieged by rebel forces; its fall on September 7, 1466, demonstrated the seriousness of the rebellion.
 * Bar Giora now lunged at Donguaria Prima, taking advantage of the heavy anti-Laurasian feeling in that star system, of the strength of his own forces, and of the weakness of the planetary garrison. He approached the outskirts of the star system on September 11. Procurator Florus, who deemed that he would not be able to maintain the Donguarian capital world in the face of this rebel onslaught, and that it would be prudent to withdraw, did so the following day. Early on September 12, 1466, Bar Giora's forces entered Donguaria Prima. He was greeted with acclaim by the world's native populace; issued another manifesto, calling on all other Donguarians to revolt "for the sake of their species"; and decrying the policies of the Imperial Laurasian Government. It was now that Cestius Gallus, 2nd Lord Gallus of Legnica, who then served as Governor of Polonia Major (1411-67), decided to move into the Donguarian Provinces and to suppress the rebellion before it was too late. Lord Gallus obtained authorization to do so from Emperor Antiochus, who was utterly shocked by the outbreak of the rebellion. On September 19, Lord Gallus, having made his departure from Legnica, defeated a rebel force in the Battle of Aohi. From thence, he moved in the direction of Donguaria Prima, hoping to reconquer the chief world of that region and to thereby break the rebellion's neck.
 * Bezetha fell on October 7, 1466, to the Laurasian Governor's forces; from thence, he advanced his forces into position near Donguaria Prima, and prepared to launch a coordinated offensive against the star system's defenses. Bar Giora, however, who had moved out from Donguaria Prima, and had secured control of Tescus, five light years to the northwest of the world, unveiled his strategy against the Laurasians. At Beth Horon (October 14, 1466), the rebel leader's mobile starfighter, corvette, and courier units ambushed the squadrons of the 14th Imperial Fleet; the Laurasians found themselves under assault from all sides, with projectiles and ion cannons in turn used upon their warships. They were then rushed by a sizable contingent of Donguarian freighters and battleships. Lord Gallus found that he could not bring his forces into cohesion under the conditions of battle, and the Empire suffered a serious defeat. More than 100,000 Laurasian troops died during the confrontation; thirty Laurasian warships were destroyed or captured; and Gallus himself, along with his chief subordinates, barely escaped with their lives from the battlefield. Following the battle, Donguarian units moved through the damaged Laurasian warships, stripping them of their weapons, equipment, armor, supplies, and tools. Gallus found that he was unable to prevent any further Donguarian advances.
 * During the course of November 1466, Donguarian rebel units stormed Shechem, Joppa, and Tiberias, inflicting a series of further defeats upon the Laurasian garrisons resident in those star systems. Bar Giora used direct assaults but also guerilla and reconnaissance tactics in order to batter down the Imperial Laurasian Military. In all of the star systems which he came to control, he issued manifestos appealing to the population's patriotism, repealing any and all measures imposed by the Empire's representatives, and promising that he himself would be the founder of a new Donguarian Stellar Empire, greater, more united, and more capable than its predecessor. On December 4, rebel forces won the Battle of Bathsheba, thereby further humiliating the Laurasians. By December 14, Sepphoris, Borilla, and Tel Amarem were also in Donguarian hands. Emperor Antiochus and his ministers, shocked by the Battle of Beth Horon, and angered by the incompetence of their commanders already stationed, decided to change matters. On December 11, the Emperor recalled both Gallus and Florus from the Donguarian Provinces. Two days later, he designated Legate-General Lord Vespasian Sabinus, distinguished for his service in the Hypasian Wars two decades earlier, as the supreme commander-in-chief and governor of the Donguarian Provinces. General Sabinus had, in November 1465, been banished from Laurasia Prime by the Emperor for having fallen asleep during one of his performances. But now, he was lifted out of disgrace. His son, Major-General Sir Titus Sabinus, who had distinguished himself by his service in the Praetorian Guards, was made his subordinate commander. General Vespasian and his son departed from Laurasia Prime on December 18, 1466, and proceeded swiftly to Polonia Minor, where they established their chief command headquarters. The General now engaged in vigorous preparations to strike against the Rebellion. 1466 ended with the Empire gearing itself to restore order in the Donguarian Provinces.

1467

 * 1467, the 67th year of the fifteenth century, commenced with the Laurasian Empire's military forces, under General the Baron Sabinus (Vespasian), now preparing for a series of counteroffensives into the Donguarian Provinces, and against the Donguarian Rebellion. The early months of 1467 witnessed further rebel advances in those territories. On January 8, 1467, the Battle of Ephraim ended in a decisive victory for Bar Giora's forces. From Ephraim, Bar Giora blockaded Pressburg (January 11-14), and conquered the Laurasian colonies of Jotapata, Gamla, and Teremenia (February 1467). But by the beginning of March 1467, rebel supply lines had become overextended, and Vespasian was ready to made his strike. He now established a strategy of vigorous retribution against any and all rebel holdouts, garrisons, and bands. The General decided that it was necessary for the Empire to completely suppress the Rebellion in other parts of the Donguarian Provinces before moving in to reoccupy Donguaria Prima itself. He was in no hurry to reconquer that world; moreover, he and his son could gain more glory in the eyes of the Emperor, and the Empire's elites, by scoring a succession of victories over Laurasian enemies. He demonstrated this strategy in his methodical destruction of a Donguarian rebel convoy at Haifa (March 5-8, 1467). From Haifa, he reconquered Judah (March 11, 1467), and penetrated into the outskirts of Borilla (March 17-23, 1467), sacking the rebel positions and defenses in the outskirts of that star system. April 1467 saw Mohi, Rohi, and Aohi being besieged and conquered in turn by the Empire's units.
 * It now became the General's intention to reconquer Jotapata, which was the most prized of the Empire's colonies in the Donguarian Provinces. He was now faced with Joseph bin Hayyah (1437-1501), son of Donguarian Prince Rudolph bin Hayyah. The rebel government on Donguaria Prima had assigned the younger Hayyah command of Jotapata, Jericho, and the Laurasian Colonies. It was therefore Hayyah's responsibility to obstruct the advance of the Empire's forces. He now attempted to confront Vespasian's units at Sepphoris (May 8-12, 1467), but failed in this effort. He then retreated first to Tiberias, and then to Jotapata, thereby drawing Laurasian units towards him. On June 2, 1467, a detachment of Laurasian warships and troops arrived at the outskirts of Jotapata to blockade the star system, followed the day after by the remainder of Vespasian's forces. While his units surrounded the star system, the General established his command headquarters to the north. An assault against Jotapata's defenses on the second day of the siege failed, and after several days in which the world's defenders made successful sorties against his forces, Vespasian decided to prosecute the siege with all possible vigor. Therefore, he had a series of minefields and turbocannons ranged around Jotapata; Hayyah's efforts to halt the construction of these Laurasian fortifications failed. The Laurasians then launched numerous assaults into the star system, but Donguarian mobile units kept them disoriented; Vespasian himself was wounded, and as a consequence, the bombardment of Jotapata's defenses was intensified further.
 * Finally, on July 12, 1467, Laurasian troops broke through a gap in Jotapata's shield defenses, and landed on the planetary surface. These troops were commanded by General Titus himself. They quickly disabled Jotapata's remaining shield generators, thereby permitting Vespasian (who cleared all remaining naval resistance), to launch a full-scale onslaught on the star system. In the ensuing confrontation, more than 250,000 Donguarian rebel troops were killed; 110,000 were captured; and over a million Donguarian civilians were imprisoned, deported, or killed. All of the world's settlements fell swiftly into Laurasian hands. Hayyah himself and his remaining associates hid in a cavern in the Jotapatan Deserts. He was in favor of surrendering, but his associates were not. They therefore decided to draw lots to kill each other, a form of ritual suicide. Hayyah devised the manner in which this would be carried out, thereby sparing himself and his chief lieutenant. Both then surrendered to the Laurasian troops. Presented before the victorious General Vespasian, Hayyah predicted that he would, on the basis of an old Donguarian prophecy, become Emperor. Vespasian subsequently spared Hayyah's life. Hayyah was made a prisoner of war, but in the course of time, would collaborate with, and gain the favor of the Laurasians. He would become Sir Flavius Josephus, prominent historian of the Laurasian Empire. Following the fall of Jotapata, Vespasian proceeded to the capture of Gamla. Gamla too resisted fiercely, and after two Laurasian assaults had failed, the General ordered for a ruthless bombardment of the planetary surface. It was on August 19, 1467, that Gamla was finally secured by the Empire's forces.
 * Jericho, Teremenia, and Bethhabra were reconquered by the Empire's forces during September 1467. On October 2, 1467, General Titus distinguished himself in the Battle of Joppa, penetrating through rebel defenses in that star system and capturing more than 75,000 Donguarian troops. By October 17, Laurasian troops had also besieged and reconquered Tiberias, Shechem, and Gazara, inflicting a series of further defeats upon the rebel units. Throughout November 1467, Vespasian continued with his typical strategy. He destroyed the Donguarian outpost of Kreia (November 8), ordering for all of the civilian colonists there to be bound in chains and flogged or branded; for all of the officers of the garrison to be attainted and executed; and for the world's treasures to be seized. He then overran Netanya, Petah, and Tikva (November 13-19, 1467), thereby seriously weakening rebel supply lines around Pressburg. Pressburg itself fell back into Laurasian hands on December 8. Then on December 13, 1467, the Battle of Beersheba ended in another victory for Laurasian units. By the end of 1467, therefore, the Donguarian Rebellion was on the way to suppression.

1468

 * 1468, the 68th year of the fifteenth century, commenced with the Laurasian Empire's military forces, under the command of Legate-General Sir Vespasian Sabinus, Lord Sabinus and of his son Titus, having made considerable gains against the forces and the strongholds of the Donguarian Rebellion. And indeed, the successes of the Empire's military commanders continued into the early months of 1468. On January 8, 1468, Gischala, which was a major Donguarian colony in the vicinity of Pressburg, was besieged by General Vespasian's forces. The Siege of Gischala lasted for several days, as the Donguarian garrison of the stronghold, led by Lagar of Giscala, who was the commander of the Trans-Pressburg Garrisons and one of Prince Bar Giora's chief lieutenants, posed a substantial resistance. Ultimately however, on January 24, Gischala's defenses were penetrated by the Empire's forces; Titus led the offensives on the planetary surface, and he executed all of the officers and commanders of the rebel garrison. From Gischala, Laurasian units won the Battle of Ein Gedi (February 1-2, 1468), comprehensively pillaging this military settlement and thereby depriving it of all value for rebel forces. Jilach and Gaza were secured by government forces during that same month, February 1468. On March 2, General Vespasian defeated Lagar of Giscala in the Battle of Ebla, and from thence proceeded to drive Donguarian units from Mathagar and Borodinio. By March 17, Laurasian units had also secured Raphia, and were approaching the outskirts of Donguaria Secunda.
 * But by that time, other, more momentous events were taking place elsewhere in the Laurasian Empire. By March 1468, Emperor Antiochus III had become one of the most despised and most unpopular monarchs in all of Laurasian history. The Councils of State, the Praetorian Guards, the authorities of Laurasia Prime, and of the Empire's other star systems, the military commanders: all of these had become opposed to Antiochus's policies, his excesses, and his vanities. Many believed that unless if action were taken at that moment, Antiochus would cast the Empire's realms into ruin and utter disunion. Consequently, rebellion broke out against his authority. On March 21, 1468, the Governor of Goldaria, Sir Gaius Julius Vindex, Baronet Vindex (1425-68), officially proclaimed himself to be in a state of rebellion against the Emperor, declaring that his taxation and conscription policies were "beyond the bounds of reason, and not to the benefit of this Empire." Within a short time (by April 6), Vindex seized Stenbock, Goss Beacon, Williams, and Bainsborough, intending to thereby strengthen his position against the Imperial Laurasian Government and to consolidate his base within the Central Core. He drew up plans for the subjugation of Marshia, Ruthania, Evelyn, Hannah, and the other strongholds of the northeastern Central Core.
 * Emperor Antiochus, hearing of the outbreak of rebellion, now moved quickly to suppress it. On April 11, 1468, the Emperor commanded the Governor of Seejay Prime and Carina, Sir Lucius Verginius, 2nd Viscount Verginius of Mommica (1415-97), to move with his military forces and suppress the rebellion. Verginius, who had been a Suffect Consul of Laurasia Prime, and had served the Emperor faithfully throughout his reign, obliged by these orders. Vindex himself, aware of the commands which Verginius had received from his master, now tried to entice Legate-General Lord Tiberius Suplicus, the Governor of Murphy, to join the rebellion and to assume the imperial mantle against Antiochus. Governor Suplicus, however, refused, and on April 17, in a communique issued from his headquarters on Murphy, reaffirmed his loyalty to the Emperor. Verginius and Vindex now found themselves embroiled in conflict. On April 22, Verginius, advancing from Daala, moved into the Carinan Provinces. He seized Maxck-casi (April 22-25, 1468); defeated Vindex's subordinate, Commodore Sir Gaius Tiranius, in the Battle of Barty (May 2); and on May 8, overran both Mommica and Muppet. From Muppet, he blockaded Olivia (May 12, 1468), and then seized government supplies at the repository of the Sort Drift (May 17). Verginius, however, had through all of this bid his time.
 * On May 22, 1468, the Governor lured Vindex to Chany; the ensuing Battle of Chany ended in a decisive victory for the loyalist Governor. Receiving reinforcements from the Melarnarian Provinces, Verginius then overwhelmed Vindex's troops at Seenay (May 23, 1468), reconquered Mack-casi (May 24), and drove rebel units from Daala (May 27). Then on May 30, 1468, the Battle of Vesontio was waged; Vesontio was a Laurasian colony in the southern Central Core. Verginius now displayed his tactical skill, organizing his squadrons in a superior fashion to those of his enemy, and relying upon his corvettes and couriers to shred through enemy lines. As a result, he won a decisive victory, destroying more than two-thirds of the rebel forces. 250,000 rebel troops and personnel died or were wounded; among the victims included Vindex himself, whose starship was destroyed by the Governor's starfighters. With their leader gone, the rebel Goldarian Provinces were now willing to transfer their allegiance. But they did not wish to acknowledge Emperor Antiochus as their master.
 * Instead, on June 2, the Goldarian provincial administration sent a communique to Governor Verginius directly, offering to recognize him as Emperor himself. Their plea was joined to that of Verginius's own subordinates and military officers, who sought for the Governor to proclaim himself Emperor, reject the authority of Antiochus, and quickly secure the remainder of the Central Core. Verginius, however, was as noted above absolutely loyal to the Imperial Court on Laurasia Prime, and was not willing to become the leader of his own rebellion. Consequently, he declined the appeals made to him by the Goldarians and by his military forces. But the Battle of Vesontio had consequences which resonated beyond the Central Core. Governor Suplicus, who had entered into a league with his counterparts at Schaueria Prime, Horacia, and the Nexus Route, was now unwilling to accept the future authority of Emperor Antiochus. Civil revolts and outbursts of dissent exploded on Caladaria, Americana, Darcia, Katherine, Elizabeth, and dozens of other worlds throughout the Purse Region, directed against Antiochus. And the Councils of State, now convinced that the time was ripe to strike, began secretly drafting plans to take action against the Emperor.
 * On June 4, the Emperor himself departed from Laurasia Prime, with the intention of going to the Malarian Provinces and thence taking command of his military forces to reassert his position. He was attended by many of the members of the Imperial Court, and by those Praetorian Guards who he deemed to still be loyal to him. Antiochus, however, upon reaching Mercedes, was openly defied by the Guards and by his military escort, who refused to follow his future commands and to go to the Malarian Provinces. He therefore was compelled to abandon his initial scheme. The helpless Emperor now contemplated the idea of fleeing to the Middle Territories, throwing himself upon the mercy of Suplicus (who had made it known to many on Laurasia Prime, and elsewhere, that he no longer considered Antiochus to be his sovereign), or making a direct appeal to his subjects, begging them to forgive his past errors. Consequently, Antiochus returned secretly to Laurasia Prime (June 6, 1468), and retired back to the Quencilvanian Palace. That night, he awoke, and found that all of his guards regiments had abandoned him; the Praetorian Prefect, Sir Gaius Sabinus (1435-68), had publicly abandoned his allegiance to the Emperor, and had proclaimed that he would now support the cause of Governor Suplicus. Antiochus now searched desperately through the quarters of his courtiers and servants, finding that everyone else had left.
 * Now desperate, he was eventually able to find Phaon Peredies, Knight Banneret (1431-68), who was one of his secretaries. Banneret Peredies now offered to lead the Emperor to his personal residence, Estello Palace, on Wendy, and to abet his efforts to reorganize his military forces, and regain the trust of his subjects. Emperor Antiochus accepted this course of action, and he, along with Peredies, his favored servants Sporus and Neophytus, and his clerk, Sir Epaphroditos Tieria (1420-95), made, early on the morning of June 7, their final departure from Laurasia Prime. They arrived at Wendy by the middle of that day, and the Emperor threw himself into a frenzy, fearing his death. Soon afterwards, late in the afternoon of June 8, he learned the terrible news: his subjects had finally, and formally, turned against him. The Governing Senate and Holy Synod, hearing of His Majesty's leave, and now in full confidence with their plans, convened at the Quencilvanian Palace, deposed him as Emperor and Autocrat of All the Laurasians, and formally proclaimed him a public enemy of the Laurasian Empire, the first time that the bodies had taken action to remove a sovereign in such a manner. Some, however, were still in favor of seizing Antiochus, of forcing him to halt his despotic policies, and of thereby preserving the Tiberian Dynasty.
 * Antiochus, however, did not know this, and upon hearing the news through the Galactic Holonet, prepared himself for suicide. He paced up and down in the quarters of the Estello, muttering "What an artist dies in me!" On June 9, 1468, the Emperor ordered Neophytus to kill himself in order to set an example; the servant obliged, and plunged his own breast with a vibroblade, dying from the injuries thus inflicted. By that time, the authorities of Wendy had been alerted to the proclamation of the Councils of State, and were moving to themselves seize Antiochus. Finally, as local officers were approaching the Estello, Antiochus forced Epaphroditos to kill him. By the time the officers arrived, the Emperor was already dead. Upon hearing of his death, the subjects of Laurasia Prime exploded in celebration, denouncing Antiochus as a "heinous usurper and tyrant." The Senate now formally imposed a sentence of damnatio memoriae upon him, ordering for all public references, memorials, and monuments to him to be destroyed. He was excommunicated by the Synod, and on June 17, 1468, his body would be deposited by the imperial authorities at the Pit of Traitors on Jadia. The Tiberian Dynasty thus went extinct, after having ruled the Laurasian Empire for fifty-two years.
 * With Antiochus dead, the way was cleared for Governor Suplicus. The very night of June 9, the Councils of State formally proclaimed him Emperor and Autocrat of All the Laurasians as Tiberius II. The new Emperor Tiberius sought to quickly consolidate his position in the Empire. On June 14, the Emperor issued his first public manifesto from Schaueria Prime, condemning the excesses and the cruelty of the preceding reign, promising to respect the Almitian Church, and declaring that the Empire would be stronger than ever before under his rule. In July 1468, Tiberius granted a increased donative to the Praetorian Guards and the Imperial Laurasian Military, seeking to earn their support. He ordered for all of the remaining inscriptions and coinage of Antiochus III to be destroyed or hidden; commanded the Synod to issue instructions to all congregations, with blessings for the new reign and condemnation for the last; and imposed restrictions on public communications, controlling what outlets could publish about him and his intentions. Prefect Sabinus, however, now tried to assert himself on Laurasia Prime as Emperor. The Prefect informed his colleagues and his soldiers that only he could restore the Empire to its full, prosperous state. On August 4, he seized control of the Quencilvanian Palace, and sent his troops to barricade the Senate and Synod at the Old Royal Palace. He also sought to gain the support of the municipal authorities of Christiania and the planetary garrison.
 * Emperor Tiberius, enraged by this overt challenge to his authority, now moved quickly from Schaueria Prime, and in the direction of Laurasia Prime, to assert himself in person. By August 9, he reached the strongholds of the Nexus Route, and he issued orders to all of the Empire's governors to conduct purges among their personnel and military forces, of any one who demonstrated that they would not be faithful to the new regime. On Laurasia Prime, however, matters turned quickly against Sabinus. Few desired to see a violent struggle over the Empire's capital world; all desired for there to be as smooth a succession to Antiochus as possible. Thus, on August 14, 1468, just as Tiberius's forces were approaching Apathama Vixius, and sending a reconnaissance squadron to the very outskirts of Laurasia Prime, the Guards turned against their own Prefect. Sabinus could not stand up against them, and he was imprisoned at the Post Settlement of Hepudermia. The Guards then lifted the blockade of the Councils of State, and on August 17, the Senate sent a formal invitation to Emperor Tiberius to enter the star system.
 * The Emperor did so on September 1, 1468, conducting a formal progress through the two Calaxies, Jadia, Hepudermia, and into the city of Christiania. He was received with enthusiasm by the inhabitants of Laurasia Prime, many of whom were hopeful that his reign was the beginning of a new age. This would prove to be a misguided hope. Instead, Emperor Tiberius now proceeded to consolidate himself further through particularly brutal measures. On September 5, he reiterated his restrictions on public communications which he had imposed earlier, and commanded the Imperial Intelligence Agency to vet the correspondence and transport of all who entered the capital star system. With the support of his chief subordinates, Sir Titus Vinius (1412-69), installed as Mayor of Christiania, Sir Alecismus Cleseranius (1419-80), appointed Chancellor of the Empire, and Sir Cornellius Laco (1428-69), appointed as the new Praetorian Prefect, the Emperor pursued his policies with especial vigor. He declared marital law on Laurasia Prime; refused to permit for any of his subjects to change occupations or residences without first notifying the local authorities of their intentions; and forbade the nobility from utilizing the revenues of their estates. He deprived the Senate of its right to issue public manifestos, and imposed a series of new regulations governing its proceedings. He ordered for his troops to quarter on Almitian monasteries, and to confiscate the property of any deacon or reverend who did not adhere to the official line in their sermons. In October 1468, the Emperor began commanding for the arrest, attainment, and execution of individuals who he identified as a threat to his power.
 * More than 100,000 individuals would be executed between October 4, 1468, and January 1, 1469; many of these executions were completely unjustified, and inflamed the populace's hatred for the Emperor's regime. Moreover, Tiberius confiscated the properties of all those he executed, and announced, by the decree of October 18, 1468, that all wills would automatically be suspended, and the Imperial Estate would take its share from the possessions of all the deceased. He limited the number of trial proceedings in criminal cases, reduced the jury pools selected, and compelled justices of the Court of General Assizes to meet in secret sessions. Tiberius refused to allow for any judicial verdicts or church regulations to be published unless if they were reviewed by a commission of the Council of Civil Service; he dismissed more then half of those in the highest ranks of the Colleges; and he imposed new and rigorous rituals of obedience at the Imperial Laurasian Court. The Emperor also repealed the tax regulations brought in by Antiochus III, and ordered for all contributions, levies, and requisitions to be made in accordance with the rates imposed by Caligula. He also, on November 4, 1468, revoked all future allowances and donatives to the Praetorian Guards, declaring that they should have resisted the rebellious Sabinus more firmly. This was his most dangerous action, and it was to cost him dearly.
 * The Emperor further disgusted the populace by his meanness, and his dislike of pomp and display. Advanced age led him to cancel many of the public festivities held on Laurasia Prime; to impose a curfew upon all in the city of Christiania; and to tighten penalties for those who disrupted the "public order". He banned assemblies held without a warrant, and installed his inspectors at cultural institutions throughout the Purse Region. He also announced plans to promulgate a extensive imperial statute which would define what was acceptable for artistic expression in the Empire, and he restored several of Emperor Caligula's censorship restrictions on the press, entertainment, and on private clubs. Thus it was that, by December 1468, the Empire was in a dangerous mood. Tiberius II was now an extremely unpopular Emperor, and many wished for him to be removed from power. These tensions were to be shown clearly in the following year.

1469

 * 1469, the 69th year of the fifteenth century, began with the Laurasian Empire in a dangerous mood. The deposition and assassination of Antiochus III the Mad the previous year had been followed, after some delay, by the imposition of the elderly Tiberius II as Emperor. Emperor Tiberius, however, as explained, had through his policies, and through his actions on Laurasia Prime, alienated many, among the Praetorian Guards, the Imperial Laurasian Government, and throughout the Empire. It was evident that a new figure would arise, and that Tiberius's reign was destined not to last for much longer. Indeed, on January 1, 1469, the military garrisons of the Clancian Provinces, who were now utterly rebellious against the Emperor, refused to renew their oath of allegiance to him. The following day, they formally proclaimed Governor Vitellius Verius, 2nd Baron Verius, as Emperor and Autocrat of All the Laurasians. Verius, in a manifesto issued from the Palace of Harmony on Clancia, proclaimed that as Emperor, he would bring "true stability, order, and prosperity to the realms of Almitis" and that Tiberius was a "heinous tyrant who will bring no advantage to our Empire, and will condemn us to ruin at the hands of our enemies." Emperor Tiberius, hearing of this proclamation of rebellion in the northern Central Core, grew alarmed.
 * The Emperor was now aware of his own unpopularity and of the vulnerability of his own position. In order to check this rising storm of discontent, he designated Senator Sir Lucius Calpurnius Piso, Baron Piso of Penania, as his heir apparent (January 10, 1469). To consolidate his heir-apparent's position, Emperor Tiberius made him co-Prefect of the Praetorian Guards, Procurator-General of the Governing Senate, and Governor of Laurasia Prime. This action aroused the discontent of many among the aristocratic and military circles of Laurasia Prime, who considered Piso to be incompetent. In particular, the Earl of Arias, now one of the most politically important figures in the Empire, found himself to be alienated by the Emperor's decision. He had fully expected that the Emperor would name him as his heir, and was absolutely disappointed. Consequently, in order to obtain what he desired, the Earl decided to assassinate both the Emperor and Senator Piso. He entered into communication with the discontented Praetorians.
 * Early on the morning of January 15, 1469, the Earl appeared at the Casta Praetoria. He delivered a speech to the regiments, declaring that he understood the situation in which they were placed, that they had been betrayed by the Emperor, and that action needed to be taken to save the state. Soon after his speech was concluded, the regiments raised him upon their shields, and proclaimed him Emperor and Autocrat of All the Laurasians. Emperor Tiberius heard of this, and at once, embarked from the Quencilvanian Palace with his officials and personal guards in order to meet with the rebels. The Emperor's entourage was intercepted by the Guards, led by Prefect Laco, angered by Tiberius's diminution of his status. At the first sight, most of the Emperor's attendants and guards deserted to the side of the rebels; Tiberius was left completely defenseless. The only one of his men to remain loyal to him, Captain Sempronius Densus (1438-69), defended him to the death. Only when Densus was finally slain were the Guards able to overcome Tiberius. Tiberius was hacked to death by vibroswords, screaming the name of the Lord Almitis. Shortly afterwards, Senator Piso was killed in his quarters at the Diplomatic Palace by a retinue of Guards.
 * The Guards now cut off the heads of both Tiberius and Piso, and brought them to Emperor Seleucus III, who was now recognized as such by the Councils of State and the other institutions of the Imperial Laurasian Government. The Emperor ordered for the heads to be paraded through the streets of Christiania, and then, on January 21, had both Piso and his predecessor secretly buried at the Post Settlement of Hepudermia. The new Emperor now sought to curry the favor of the Empire's populace. He ordered for the body of Emperor Antiochus to be transferred from the Pit of Traitors to the Post Settlement for formal burial; his sentence of excommunication was lifted. This was done to atone for the Tiberian Dynasty. Seleucus repealed his predecessor's decrees on communications, transit, and correspondence; restored the allowances of the Praetorian Guards; released all of those who had been imprisoned in the preceding reign; and restored many confiscated properties to their families. On January 28, he issued a manifesto affirming the Synod's prerogatives, and ordering for sanctions to be applied against any who violated the Church's property. He restored the public nature of trial proceedings, and repealed all of Tiberius's directives relating to the judiciary. The Emperor also lowered tax rates and issued new coinage; on February 8, 1469, he would order for the Empire's currency to undergo a new decimalization and for all properties of the Imperial Estate to be re-valued by his officials at equitable rates.
 * But by February 1469, the situation had deteriorated in the Clancian Provinces. All of its major strongholds were in the hands of Vitellius's regiments; the usurper now advanced into the Laurasia Prime Purse Region. Maroni fell to him on January 23; Dearton's Gateway followed on January 26; and on February 1, 1469, he won the Battle of Nicator, overrunning that stronghold. Emperor Seleucus now sought to conciliate his rival, and on February 6, dispatched a communique to him, offering to share the rule of the Empire. Vitellius, however, desired sole possession of the throne, and turned this down. Thus, Seleucus now proceeded to strengthen the fortifications of Laurasia Prime, and to organize a vigorous defense of the Purse Region against further rebel advances. Little help could be expected from the more distant provinces of the Empire, which had accepted his rule, but the regiments of Laurasia Prime itself, of Caladaria, Darcia, the Heuthrian Provinces, and the Metallasian Trade Corridor could all be helpful. Thus it was that on February 14, the Emperor dispatched the 2nd Imperial Fleet, under Admiral Sir Otho Merius (1412-69), to meet the challenge of the rebels. Rebel units had continued to make gains, and by February 18, when Merius encountered them near Depp, the strongholds of Sapphire, Merandaz, Rainnan, Chesham's Star, Volta, Sarai, and Lusculum had fallen into rebel hands. The Battle of Depp was indecisive, and further confrontations between rebel and government forces at Wroona, Maria Xindia, Courdina V, Gordasis, and Brenni (February 22-March 9, 1469), accomplished nothing.
 * The Emperor himself, seeking to now directly repel this threat to his position, departed, on March 14, from his capital world. He commanded the 1st Imperial Army and Fleet, hoping to bar any further advances by Vitellius's units towards the capital star system, and to maintain his hold of Darsis, Mexicana, Azatha II, Americana, and Clackimaris. This, however, was a futile exercise; on March 15, rebel troops overran Augis I, Augis II, and Oxia Vixius, and on March 18, government units suffered a ruinous defeat in the Battle of the Redoubt of Ux-Parr. The efforts of Vitellius's commander, General Aulus Alienus (1421-70), to seize the Laurasian colonies of Placenta and Marcenta were successfully rebuffed by the government forces, but this did little to redress the balance, which was stacked against the Emperor. General Sir Fabius Valens (1418-69), who was Vitellius's chief lieutenant, now took charge. General Alienus, on his part, had launched a offensive against Locus Castorum (March 25, 1469), but this had also been beaten back by Emperor Seleucus's troops. Thus, after further confrontations at Tyndaris, Ietas, and Andriana, Valens and Alienus combined their forces at Cremona (April 1, 1469).
 * Emperor Seleucus, that same day, ordered his brother, Titianus, now Earl of Arias himself, to take command of his forces in the vicinity of Cremona. Titianus arrived at Nexian Point on April 3, and took command. Against the advice of Legate-General Paulinus (the former Governor of Hypasia, who had suppressed the Bouddiccan Rebellion, and now served on the Imperial General Headquarters), and of the other generals, the Earl of Arias now sought for a direct advance against Cremona. Emperor Seleucus himself came to the colony of Brixellnum, in order to await the outcome. On April 14, 1469, the two opposing forces clashed at the Postuma Straits, intersecting Cremona and Bedriacum. The ensuing Battle of Bedricaum resulted in a decisive victory for the forces of Vitellius, who himself was at his command headquarters on Janesia; more than half of the government troops lost their lives, and the unity of government forces was utterly broken. The following day, the Earl of Arias and Legate-General Paulinus surrendered to General Valens at Bedriacum, and swore an oath of allegiance to Vitellius as Emperor. When news of the defeat reached Brixellnum, many of the troops urged Emperor Seleucus to fight on, reminding him that he could retreat from Laurasia Prime and call upon the garrisons of the upper Rebeccan, and of the Solidaritan Provinces.
 * The Emperor refused. Realizing that Vitellius would soon be at Laurasia Prime, he himself retreated to there, made a dignified speech to the Councils of State, and early on the morning of April 16, 1469, committed suicide in his personal chambers at the Quencilvanian Palace. In his suicide note, he stated that he had done so to spare the Empire the agonies of civil war and disunion. He urged all to acknowledge Vitellius as his successor, and as their new Emperor. The Emperor's passing was greatly mourned by his subjects, and his funeral was conducted at the Old Westphalian Cathedral immediately after his death. Vitellius was indeed acknowledged as Emperor by the Councils of State on April 18, and was formally invited to Laurasia Prime.
 * He proceeded there quickly from Janesia, and arrived at his capital world on April 22, to a modest reception from his new subjects. Seeking to consolidate his position, Emperor Vitellius now conducted a purge of the Praetorian Guards, replacing them with his own men from his military forces. He confirmed the charters issued by his predecessor, and promised that his reign would see no resumption of the cruelties inflicted by Antiochus or Caligula. Soon, however, he revealed himself to be a shallow, careless ruler. He was fond of eating and drinking, being lazy and self-indulgent. He was an obese glutton, eating banquets several times a day and on rare and exotic foods from the Caladarian Galaxy, the expense of which fell on his subjects. He neglected the defenses of Laurasia Prime, and aroused the distaste of the populace through his extravagance. The Emperor now exacted tithes, levies, and payments from the Church and from many of the Empire's most prominent nobles and merchants, further inflaming tensions. May and June 1469 saw a series of riots break out on the moons of Laurasia Prime, at Americana, Rebecca, Durglais, and Briannia, protesting Vitellius's rule.
 * It was in this atmosphere that General Vespasian now gained the advantage. Events had continued to proceed with the Donguarian Rebellion. Donguaria Secunda had fallen into the hands of government units on April 19, 1468; from Donguaria Secunda, Vespasian had seized the Donguarian colonies of Acre, Nahariya, Karmiel, and Safas (May-June 1468), inflicting a series of further humiliating losses upon the rebels. Croac, which had fallen again into rebel hands on March 28, 1468, was then besieged by Vespasian and Titus, beginning on July 6; its fall nearly two months later, on September 1, was a great blow to the Rebellion. Rashaserus and Bethasherus were then stormed (September 7-14, 1468), and on September 22, the Battle of Ramoth-gilead ended in another victory for the General's forces. Then, in October 1468, Donguaria Prima itself had been torn by the outbreak of the Zealot Revolt. The Zealot faction, led by Elazar Simonia, now revolted against Prince Bar Giora, seeking to take command of the rebel effort. Vigorous fighting had ensued across the surface of Donguaria Prima, but finally, on November 4, 1468, the Donguarian Great Palace was seized by Zealot forces. Bar Giora himself was executed, and Simonia proclaimed himself the leader of the Rebellion. As a result of this, General Vespasian was able to secure Bordina and Cromes (November 1468), and on December 8, 1468, won the Battle of Afula, thereby further humiliating rebel units.
 * The early months of 1469 had seen Laurasian units seize control of the Trans-Croac Colonies, including Tizrah, Napah, Penah, Libnah, and Parilla; by June, Donguaria Prima itself was within range of the Empire's forces. Vespasian, had, through his further military exploits, gained further respect and prestige throughout the Empire. Moreover, he was renowned for his own firm, but well-meaning, treatment of his subordinates; his caution; and his great dedication to the Imperial Almitian Church, and to the interests of the Laurasian State. Thus, with the contentions for the throne underway, he emerged as a candidate for Emperor in his own right. His popularity had reached new heights, and many felt that he would bring the turmoil in the Empire to an end. On July 1, 1469, General Vespasian was proclaimed Emperor by the forces of the Polonian Provinces, at Polonia Major, under the command of Major-General Sir Tiberius Alexander (1422-78), who was himself a long-time friend and associate of his. Two days later, Vespasian's own forces in Donguaria hailed him as Emperor. At that point, Vitellius still had the advantage, but this would soon break. A crescendo of defections now took place throughout the Empire.
 * On July 14, Governor Verginius of Carina, who was also a friend of Vespasian's, hailed him as Emperor and rejected the authority of Vitellius, who, he stated, was decadent and incompetent. He was soon followed by the authorities of Goldaria, Hypasia, Malaria, Marshia, the Outer Venasian Provinces, Temperance, Way'tosk, and Melorkia Prime, all of whom acknowledged Vespasian as their master. In August 1469, moreover, the Solidaritan Provinces defected to the cause of Vespasian, thereby giving him a base from which to make the decisive assault against Vitellius at Laurasia Prime. The forces in Solidarita were commanded by one of Vespasian's strongest supporters, Lieutenant-General Sir Marcus Primus, later Earl of Massanay (1430-81). General Primus firmly believed that Vitellius's rule would doom the Empire, and that a new, more vigorous regime was needed. In his eyes, only Vespasian could provide this. On September 7, 1469, General Primus began his advance from Istantius, Deanna, Coen, and Wendy, to the Rebeccan Galactic Trade Route. He quickly secured Blackria (September 7-8); Martina Mccasia (September 12); Mariana Prime (September 14); Sauvania (September 20); and Heuthros (September 21); the garrisons of Nezbit, Tyndaris, and Durglais defected to him on September 23; and Patsy was blockaded by one of his reconaissance forces from September 25. At the same time, the Governor of Marshia, Sir Gaius Mucianus, who had also defected to the cause of Vespasian, had besieged and conquered Reoyania (September 8-12) and was moving towards Dramis, Condtella, and Conservan. Thus, it was that Vitellius found himself under assault from two sides.
 * On October 2, 1469, the garrisons of Ralina Vixius, Oxia Vixius, and Apathama Vixius revolted against Vitellius, proclaimed their allegiance to Vespasian as Emperor, and opened communications with General Primus. This therefore allowed Primus to move forward with his advance against Laurasia Prime. Vespasian himself had moved to Polonia Major, consolidating his control there and making arrangements for his son, General Titus, to assume supreme command of the operations in the Donguarian Provinces. By October 11, Primus had also secured Taurasia, Aquilionia, Dearton's Gateway, and Clackimaris. Belatedly, Emperor Vitellius now dispatched General Alienus with the 1st and 2nd Imperial Armies, the 1st Imperial Fleet, and a substantial corps of auxiliaries, drawn from the Garrison of Laurasia Prime, in order to confront and halt Primus. This force was on the surface, a powerful one, but many of those who served within it, both in the Navy and the Army, were sympathetic to the cause of Vespasian. Laurasian units now reached Veserona; Alienus was urged to assault that stronghold before Primus could fortify it, but he refused to do so. In fact, he and Admiral Lucillus Bassus (1407-72), Head of the Imperial Naval Academy of Laurasia Prime, had both been conspiring to defect to the cause of Vespasian, and renounce their oath of allegiance to Vitellius. On October 18, however, they were betrayed and arrested by their officers; Vitellius now ordered General Valens to assume command of the effort to secure Laurasia Prime.
 * Alienus's forces, now without their commander, continued to advance to Cremona. General Primus was now based at Bedricaum, and now advanced towards Cremona with his secondary offensive force. They encountered the vanguard of the Vitellian armada at the cross highways of Bedricaum (October 24, 1469). Primus sent for his main destroyer and battleship corps; utilizing these, and his superior turbocannons, he gained the advantage, and forced Vitellius's units to retreat from the battlefield. They now moved back to Cremona. Primus continued his own advance to that star system, with all of his chief offensive forces at his disposal. They were opposed by the 1st Imperial Fleet and Army, but these units still did not have a commander, for Valens was delayed by skirmishes with Laurasian units at Americana and Osama. This Battle of Cremona (October 26, 1469), was hard fought, and dragged on for many hours. Ultimately, however, Primus's units gained the advantage, broke through the defenses of the Vitellian force, and then stormed Cremona itself.
 * With the Battle of Cremona, the advantage was irrevocably with the forces loyal to Vespasian. By November 8, the Cron Drift, Caladaria, and Darcia had all been secured by General Primus's units. Valens finally took command of the garrison of Lomanis I, but on November 14, he was decisively defeated by Primus in the Battle of Isoter's Shaft. Katie, Alsorr Minor, and Lomanis itself then fell into Primus's hands. Emperor Vitellius himself, surrounded by enemies, made one last effort to regain allegiance. He distributed bribes and promises of power to many of those on Laurasia Prime; issued manifestos urging loyalty to his own person; and on December 1, soon after the Ashlgothian Provinces switched their allegiance to Vespasian, even attended a solemn mass at St. Colombia's Cathedral. None of this accomplished anything. Vitellius now, on December 8, sent an offer for negotiations to General Primus.
 * Primus, however, demanded that Vitellius abdicate immediately and acknowledge Vespasian as Emperor. Vitellius responded by offering to share rule of the Empire. Primus rejected this, and he now proceeded to take Laurasia Prime by force. On December 17, his forces, having seized the Station of Dosch and Constantine I, approached the outskirts of the Empire's capital world. Vitellius now sought to rally the population, and to keep himself assured of the Praetorian Guards. This, however, was a futile effort. Finally, on December 19, he was betrayed; the garrison, the Guards, and the Senate admitted Primus's forces to Laurasia Prime, and they quickly asserted control on the surface. Vitellius himself now fled from his quarters into the recesses of the Quencilvanian Palace. Early on December 20, 1469, he was found by some of Primus's troops. His pleas for mercy availed him nothing; they dispatched him, his family, and his remaining associates with blaster fire. Later that very day, the Councils of State, assembled on the initiative of Primus, acknowledged Vespasian as Emperor and Autocrat of All the Laurasians. Vespasian's authority was recognized throughout the Empire; after more than a year, stability had returned to the Laurasian realms. 1469 had seen the rule of four different emperors. The Vespasianite Dynasty thus established was to rule until 1496.

1470

 * 1470, the 70th year of the fifteenth century, commenced with the Laurasian Empire restored to internal tranquility, except for the Donguarian Provinces. As the 1470s began, Emperor Vespasian, famed for his exploits as a military commander in Donguaria and in the Hypasian Provinces, was now established upon the throne of the Empire. His son, now Grand Prince Titus, had taken command of the Empire's operations in Donguaria. The new Emperor had to contend, however, with some other troubles in this year. In January 1470, a series of protests occurred on Polonia Major, Polonia Minor, Legnica, Wronzaz, Wolbroz, and Krasow, as the Polonian inhabitants of those star systems sought to gain self-government privileges, official recognition for the use of their own languages, and a reduction in taxation. The Emperor himself, through a combination of compromise and of force, quickly suppressed these outbursts. He declared that while he could not tolerate dissent within his realms, he would not leave the grievances of his subjects unanswered. Consequently, he issued a series of decrees extending language recognition to not just the Polonians, but to all subject peoples of the Empire. He also promised a thorough study of all tax policies once he had made his formal arrival at Laurasia Prime. But no sooner had the disturbances in the Polonian Provinces been suppressed then new ones arose: in the Clancian Provinces.
 * The Clancian-Laurasian General Sir Gaius Julius Civilis (1417-74) had, during the course of the preceding thirty years, loyally served the Laurasian Empire. He had commanded Clancian regiments during the campaigns against the Hypasian Hegemony in AH 1443, and had then conducted operations in the vicinity of Hanoi, Saigon, and Tonkin between 1446 and 1449. In 1450, he assisted in the capture of Carrah Singhu, and in 1460, in the suppression of the Boudiccan Rebellion. But by 1466, he and his Clancian compatriots had become dissatisfied with the Imperial Laurasian Government. That year, he and his brother, Sir Gerome Civilis, were arrested at Dramis on the orders of Governor Vitellius of Clancia, and sent in chains to Laurasia Prime for judgment by the Senate and Emperor Antiochus. Civilis's brother, Sir Gerome, was in short order attainted and executed at Hepudermia (January 7, 1467), but he himself was imprisoned at the Christiania Municipal Prison, and remained there through the turmoils of the following year. In August 1468, however, he was released and pardoned by Emperor Tiberius, and was permitted to return back to his estates on Dramis, in the Central Core. Civilis, however, was arrested, again on the orders of Governor Vitellius; many of his subordinates demanded for the execution of Civilis. At the same time, the Emperor disbanded the Clancian Regiment, which he distrusted, and thereby angering many Clancians. Consequently, relations became strained between Laurasians and Clancians serving at the garrisons of the Central Core.
 * It was thus that on August 28, 1469, at Treoshia, that Civilis induced the Clancian inhabitants of that star system to revolt against the imperial authorities. Led by Prince Bandina, the Clancian units quickly ranged from Treoshia and seized the Laurasian garrison of Traiectum. General Sir Demetrius Flaccus, commander of the garrisons of the Lower Clancian Trunk Line, now dispatched a force to control the rebellion. Civilis, however, who had formally taken command of the rebellion, humiliated these units in the Battle of Arnhemia (September 2, 1469). Rear-Admiral Sir Claudius Labeo was now commanded by Flaccus to launch another offensive against rebel forces. Civilis anticipated this Laurasian move, and with his units, he intercepted and defeated Labeo in the Battle of Nimweria on September 8. Laurasian units now had to retreat to the colony of Casta Vetera. Civilis now proceeded to the siege and conquest of Casta Vetera, hoping to thereby humiliate the Laurasians and to move in the direction of Condtella. On September 12, 1469, Casta Vetera was blockaded by rebel units. At first, he launched a series of frontal assaults against the world's defenses. These failed, and he came to realize that the stronghold needed to be compelled into surrender.
 * Civilis continued the Siege of Casta Vetera throughout September and October 1469; Flaccus, on his part, confronted rebel units at Brithum, Tunga, and Harmony, thereby seeking to prevent any further advances. On December 1, 1469, however, Civilis attacked the Laurasians at Krunga. The ensuing Battle of Krunga ended in a decisive victory for the Empire's forces, and the Clancians were driven back. The Laurasians, however, suffered serious losses. Civilis, on his part, now abandoned the siege of Casta Vetera, understanding that the Laurasians would advance to it. He instead moved to Gatty. Laurasian forces, on their part, were able to reconquer Nimwheria and the Clancian colony of Timberia. But on January 1, 1470, Flaccus was assassinated at Ratty. With the way open to him, Civilis once again besieged Casta Vetera from January 8. General Sir Munius Lupercus, commander of the garrison of Casta Vetera, found himself at a complete disadvantage against the rebel forces. On January 22, 1470, he surrendered his forces and the stronghold to Civilis. From Casta Vetera, Civilis then seized the Laurasian colony of Agrippina (February 1-4); stormed Brithum (February 8); and on February 12, won the Battle of Tardina, seizing that important Clancian colony. Haudjrau, Taxiles the Great, and Hypases were in Clancian rebel hands by February 25, and on March 1, 1470, Reoyania was besieged by Civilis. The Siege of Reoyania ultimately ended in victory for rebel forces, and on March 21, Civilis made the star system his new command headquarters. By the beginning of April 1470, therefore, the Clancian Rebellion had become a real threat to the Empire.
 * Emperor Vespasian was concerned by this threat in the Central Core, but to him, it was imperative that he consolidate his position on Laurasia Prime first. The Emperor, after suppressing further civil disturbances at Doris, Frogglesworth, and Anthony during February and March 1470, and formally promoting his son, Titus, to the rank of Legate-General, finally embarked on his journey to Laurasia Prime, from Polonia Major, on April 4, 1470. The Emperor made a swift progress from the Denveranian Trunk Line to the Kimanian Trade Run, and thence, into the Purse Region. On April 8, he finally arrived at his capital world, four months after being recognized as Emperor there. The reception given to him was enthusiastic and spirited; Vespasian's popularity ensured that large crowds, on the two Calaxies, Jadia, Hepudermia, the Second Station of Callista, and in the cities of Laurasia Prime, assembled to greet their master. Turbocannon was fired in his honor; Christiania Police and the 1st Imperial Fleet conducted naval routines; and the Praetorian Guards marched before the Quencilvanian Palace. The Councils of State themselves greeted the Emperor at the Diplomatic Palace, and paid him all of the proper respects. Among those receiving His Majesty were the victorious Legate-Generals Primus, Paulinus, Valens, and Alienus, as well as Admiral Bassus. At the Diplomatic Palace, the Emperor delivered a carefully crafted speech to his subjects, praising the return of organized government, of the Almitian Church's virtue and solidarity, and of prosperity to the Purse Region.
 * He now took further measures to consolidate his power and to cement his popularity among his subjects. Vespasian granted a elevated donative of $15.5 billion denarii to the Praetorian Guards, and on April 14, issued a series of regulations, confirming the vacationing, communications, and public conduct privileges of the regiments. Moreover, the Emperor offered to provide for the educational expenses of all children born to Guards officers, and he established that each officer, upon retirement from the force, was to receive a bi-annual pension which was equivalent to what they had earned while in the service. On April 22, Vespasian forbade the Court of General Assizes, the College of Justice, and the Governing Senate from instigating any legal proceedings against those within the Guards without his express authorization, and he protected their property from confiscation in all cases except for forfeit of obligations. The Emperor also increased the pay rates of all other soldiers and personnel in the military service of the Empire; reorganized the General Headquarters, reducing the number of command offices and simplifying the chain of command among his highest officials; and ordered for an investigation to be launched into the revenues of the Imperial Academies. He also, in May 1470, relaxed admissions requirements into the officer corps, and provided that any foreign subject of the Empire who voluntarily entered the forces would receive all of the rights of a Laurasian.
 * The Emperor pardoned all of those who had fought for either Tiberius II, Seleucus III, or Vitellius (April 17, 1470), and issued a manifesto commanding that all government troops be removed from private property unless if "reasonable justification" could be found to keep them there. He restored to the Senate all of its prerogatives and rights (decree of April 21, 1470), expanded the numbers of Senators employed in the Civil Service, and issued new instructions to the Procurator-General, regulating his relations with members of the body and the expectations of office. Vespasian also took care to maintain the Almitian Church; the decree of May 18, 1470, would affirm the Church's status as the official state religion of the Empire, and in June, he extended the authority of the Court of Heresies, authorizing for it to investigate the activities of alien sects not approved by the imperial authorities. In 1475, the Emperor would grant the clergy the unlimited right to arrest and imprison any individual who was reported by their associates for heretical tendencies, and he authorized the use of torture in order to extract confessions on matters of faith and morals. The Emperor also took measures to please the general public; he ordered for all new obligations imposed or revised in 1469 to be eliminated, for the Imperial College of State Income to conduct a thorough investigation of government revenues; and granted increased authority to public tax commissioners.
 * To promote his own image, Vespasian embarked on a program of building monuments, statutes, and memorials to glorify his rule. He also issued, in July 1470, new regulations for the Empire's medallions, coinage, and banners. On all of these, the Emperor was to always be portrayed in heroic or patriotic pose; he associated himself with the emblems of the Almitian Church, and openly called himself "Restorer of Laurasian Fortunes." Beginning in 1471, following the capture of Donguaria Prima, coinage would be issued exalting the Empire's capability to suppress all future rebellions, and the Emperor would, in 1474, order for the construction of the Spire of McEvlogue, with engravings and other inscriptions of Laurasian military might. He exerted a strict control over the press and communications, imposing harsh penalties on any outlets which spoke ill of the imperial family. Yet he also provided financial rewards, vacation privileges, and honors to those of the arts and sciences who both supported his regime and lifted the Empire's reputation; it was he, who, in 1476, established the St. Gregory Prizes for Literary Merit. Emperor Vespasian also took care to stage magnificent public festivities for his subjects, and utilized the Circus Maximus to a greater extent than his predecessors. He more than doubled the number of servants attached to the Imperial Court, embarked on the beautification of the Quencilvanian Palace, and tripled the expenditures of his household. On June 1, 1470, he crowned himself Emperor at the Old Westphalian Cathedral, and had more largesse distributed to the crowds than any of his predecessors. He also granted an extended holiday to all workers on Laurasia Prime, and ordered for a memorial to be dedicated for the occasion.
 * With all of these measures, the Emperor secured his place on the throne and strengthened the authority of the Imperial Laurasian Government. His attention now turned to both the Donguarian and the Clancian Rebellions. For much of the year, it was the former in which Laurasian forces had the greatest further progress. His son, Legate-General Titus, had during the early months of 1470 made further gains against rebel forces. From June 1469, Donguaria Prima had been within range of the Empire's forces. Titus, had, however, focused his efforts on consolidating control of the strongholds already recovered, and he watched as further outbursts of dissent among the Zealots weakened their strategic and moral position. And then, in January 1470, he had attacked again, beyond Donguaria Prima. He was determined to have every conceivable stronghold in that world's vicinity conquered before turning on it. On January 7, he won the Battle of Japhia, capturing 25,000 Donguarian troops and having them bound in chains. Most would eventually be transported to the Malarian and Kelvanian Provinces. From Japhia, he crushed an outbreak of dissent against Laurasian authorities at Tarichae (January 15-19), repelled a rebel counter-offensive against Tiberias (January 22), and on January 28, laid Tabor under siege. The world resisted vigorously for some weeks, but its fall on February 15, 1470, proved a major blow for the rebels. Azotus, Jamnia, and Lydda were secured during March 1470; then on April 8, 1470, Titus won another victory in the Battle of Gophna. He then destroyed the rebel fortifications of Bethel (April 12) and dispersed the Perean Pirates, a criminal band affiliated with the Donguarians, in the Battle of Jerasa (April 18-22, 1470). Gerizim, Acrabeta, Gadora, and Bethhenabris were in Laurasian hands by the end of May 1470.
 * Then on June 3, 1470, he finally surrounded Donguaria Prima with the 11th and 12nd Imperial Fleets; the associated Armies were onboard the transports, ready for an offensive once the world's shield defenses had been penetrated. Donguaria Prima itself was defended by three layers of defense. The First Barricade, a string of orbital defensive platforms, outposts, and patrol beacons, ringed the extreme outskirts of the star system. Beyond that was the Second Barricade, which comprised of a great hyperspace interruption boom, extended across the Donguarian Asteroid Belt, and supported by the garrison's frigates, corvettes, couriers, and fifty automated transports. Beyond the Second Barricade was the Third; this comprised of the destroyers, battleships, and starfighter squadrons stationed behind a series of minefields. Finally, Donguaria Prima itself was defended by elaborate particle shields; a Orbital Garrison; the Military Arsenal; and an army of nearly 700,000 rebel troops on the planetary surface, organized in military districts which had been plotted by the command. Titus, on his part, had more than 800,000 troops, 350,000 naval personnel, and ninety warships, with a squadron of 7,000 starfighters, at his disposal. He also had a number of Augustus-class turbocannon and Tiberius-class ion disruptors, which could puncture through and disperse the minefields. The First Barricade was gradually overrun by the Imperial Laurasian Navy's squadrons; by June 11, Titus's units were attacking the Second Barricade. This posed more of a problem for him, and he lost most of his frigates because of the effect radiated by the interruption boom. A ruse, on June 23, finally disabled the boom's operational center, allowing the General to rush his forces through and to thereby break the Second Barricade.
 * Disputes continued among the Zealots, and Elazar Simonia was himself murdered by Lagar of Gischala on June 25, 1470. The Laurasians now began to employ their turbocannon against the Orbital Garrison and Donguaria Prima's shields; Titus also launched his corvettes, starfighters, and couriers to launch a series of striking attacks through the lines of the defensive fleet. The Donguarians were heavily disoriented, and their formation soon broke. By June 29, Laurasian naval units had destroyed, captured, or driven away all Donguarian vessels in orbit of the world, and had established themselves firmly around its shields. The Orbital Garrison, whose weapons systems were disabled by the imperial turbocannon, was then stormed by Laurasian troops. Donguarian resistance there, however, was very fierce, and it was not until July 4 before the garrison was securely in Laurasian hands. Laurasian turbolaser assaults against the shields intensified, while the last of the Donguarian mines were destroyed by the ion disruptors. General Titus now sent Joseph Ben Hayyah to negotiate with the rebels; Lagar of Gischala, however, rejected all of his appeals, and Hayyah was wounded when his ship was damaged by a Donguarian surface battery. Titus himself, who used his starfighter to conduct a reconnaissance of the planetary defenses, narrowly escaped capture by Donguarian drag-nets in the planetary atmosphere. Finally, on July 31, 1470 (three centuries before the Battle of Kagul in the Fourth Laurasian-Marasharite War), the shields of Donguaria Prima were breached by the Empire's offensive warships, and the 11th and 12th Armies landed on the planetary surface. Titus himself commanded the offensives, clearing out the Military Arsenal, Buda City, and all rebel positions. Rebel resistance continued, however, for more than a month. The Great Palace of Donguaria, dating from the eighth century and built by Emperor Geza II, was seriously damaged in the fighting; the Great Temple of Donguaria, on its part, was set ablaze by rampaging Laurasian troops, and it burned to the ground.
 * On September 7, Lagar of Gischala and his remaining associates committed suicide rather than let themselves fall into Laurasian hands. Two days later, the final remaining Donguarian armed resistance on the surface ended. Donguaria Prima was firmly in the hands of the Laurasian Empire once more. The Grand Prince sent word of the victory to his father on Laurasia Prime. Emperor Vespasian, in response, ordered for lavish celebrations to be conducted, and a Te Deum was sung at the Westphalian Cathedral. Yet the Siege of Donguaria Prima had resulted in the loss of more than thirteen million lives; all of the Donguarian rebel units in the star system had been wiped out; and the world itself had suffered much damage. Laurasian troops now engaged in a comprehensive plunder of all Donguarian residences, businesses, and government buildings. More than $30 trillion denarii worth of goods and property was seized by the Empire's forces. With Donguaria Prima in his hands, Titus could now intensify the campaign in the Outer Donguarian Provinces.
 * October 1470 saw Laurasian units overrun Hebron, Emmaus, and Herodium. On November 3, Titus secured another victory in the Battle of Hycrania, destroying the Donguarian arsenal there and having 20,000 Donguarian soldiers, along with their families, summarily attainted and executed. Although he then suffered a reverse at Prassburg (November 7-14), and was forced to defend Bordina from a renewed rebel move (November 22), he then stormed Phaselis (November 28). On December 8, 1470, the Battle of Tohi would end in another victory for Laurasian forces. By the end of that year, Donguarian rebel forces held on to Masada, Betogabris, Lachish, Machaerus, and the strongholds of the Upper Bordina. As regards to the Clancian Rebellion, events shifted to the favor of the Imperial Laurasian Government from September 1470. On August 19, 1470, Emperor Vespasian appointed General Quintilus Cerialis, veteran of Bouddica's Rebellion, as the Governor of Clancia and as commander-in-chief in the Northern Central Core. Cerialis acted quickly, following his arrival at Clancia on August 21. Receiving substantial reinforcements from the Purse Region, he recovered Hypases and Taxiles the Great (August 22-29, 1470); humiliated the rebels at Taxium (September 2); and then drove them from Tardina (September 4). The Battle of Treoshia (September 9, 1470), ended in another decisive victory for government forces.
 * Then on September 13, Reoyania was blockaded by Cerialis. In spite of Civilis's efforts, it fell five days later. By the middle of October 1470, Haudrjau, Condtella, and Getty were also back in government hands. Agrippina and Casta Vetera were now within range of attack. Civilis, at this point, whose fortunes were in the decline, took advantage of an offer made by Vespasian, two months earlier, for a pardon to any rebel or dissident who peacefully surrendered by the end of the year. On November 1, he sent a request to Cerialis for this offer; Cerialis accepted on November 8, having obtained the Emperor's approval to treat with the rebel. Then on November 13, at Casta Vetera, Civilis surrendered himself, his forces, and his remaining strongholds to the Imperial Laurasian Government. The Emperor proved faithful to his word, and on December 2, on the obtainment of an oath of allegiance from Civilis and all of his followers, pardoned them. Civilis himself would retire to Melarnaria. He remained there until 1482, when Emperor Antiochus reneged on his father's pardon and had him arrested. He would be executed on October 7, 1482, at Ipsus V, twelve years after the end of his rebellion. Thus, as 1470 ended, the Empire was moving closer to complete internal peace. The Hypasian Provinces, however, would now see renewed activity.

1471

 * 1471, the 71st year of the fifteenth century, began with Emperor Vespasian having consolidated his place on the throne, and having gained the enduring support of his subjects, and of his government, through his prudent administrative, financial, and cultural policies. His son, Grand Prince Titus, had gained laurels for himself through his conquest of Donguaria Prima and his continued successes against the Donguarian Rebellion. The early months of 1471 witnessed the Grand Prince obtaining a further string of victories before his final recall from the Provinces. On January 3, 1471, Titus destroyed a rebel force under Prince Kolad in the Battle of Lachish. Lachish itself now fell into government hands; from Lachish, he then laid Betogabris under siege. The Siege of Betogabris lasted until January 21, when one of the garrison officers, who had been bribed by the Laurasians, lowered the planetary shields, thereby admitting their troops. More than 40,000 Donguarians died in the ensuing confrontation, and the Grand Prince had his troops destroy the Great Citadel, the world's chief landmark. February 1471 saw Laurasian units overrun Elusa, Zoar, Gabalis, Thona, and Eglam, defeating Prince Kolad each time, capturing more than a third of the supplies, equipment, and turbocannon remaining to the rebels, and eliminating their mine production facility at Eglam.
 * On March 8, the Grand Prince conducted a bold march towards Libba and Dabaloth; within a fortnight, both had fallen to him, and Prince Kolad's chief subordinate, General Bajad-Giron, was captured and executed. On March 17, Laurasian units won the Battle of Papyron; the world's agricultural plantations were devastated by them, and the rebels deprived of an important food store. On April 2, however, Herodium was recovered by a rebel surprise offensive from Masada; rebel units then temporarily seized Gadara, Jappa, Lydda, and Joppa (April 3-9, 1471). On April 12, however, their advance was halted by Titus in the Battle of Marisa, and he then drove into the stronghold of Adora, clearing rebel units from there. All of the lost strongholds except Herodium were recovered by the end of April 1471. Finally, on May 4, 1471, with government forces preparing a renewed offensive against Herodium, Emperor Vespasian recalled his son from the Donguarian Provinces, determined that he share in the celebrations on Laurasia Prime, and needing his advice. Titus adhered to his father's commands, and he made his leave from his headquarters at Donguaria Prima on May 14. He arrived at Laurasia Prime seven days later, and was given a triumph by the joyous inhabitants of the Laurasian capital world. Then on May 24, the Emperor's replacement for his son, General Sir Lucius Flavius Silva, 2nd Baronet Silva (1436-89), appointed also as Governor of Donguaria Prima, arrived at Joppa, determined to finally end the rebellion. Seizing Arethusa (June 1, 1471), Silva then advanced to the outskirts of Herodium. Herodium was blockaded by Laurasian forces from June 4, who permitted no traffic into the star system, and who gradually squeezed its supply lines. On June 28, the world's defenses finally cracked. Before Laurasian troops began their landing operations, its commander, Prince Kurad, surrendered. With Herodium in Laurasian hands, Silva gradually subdued Oronaim, Hippus, and Abila (July-August 1471). By the autumn solstice of 1471, Machaerus and Masada were both under threat.
 * September 1471, however, saw the outbreak of the Second Vevunite Revolt in the Hypasian Provinces. Vevun, who had nearly two decades earlier arisen in rebellion against the dominance of the Laurasian Empire, escaped, on September 3, from his prison at Ba Mun. From months earlier, the former consort of Princess Kandukha had maintained contact with rebel movements throughout his ex-wife's territories, and was determined to use them as a basis for a wider, more intensive uprising in the Hypasian Provinces. At Ka Thun, located eight light years to the east of Ba Mun, he assembled mercenaries, Hypasian defectors, and his other supporters. On September 11, he seized Tardi Lah; Khmer followed on September 14; and on September 22, he won the Battle of Bangkok, destroying thirty of his wife's corvettes. On September 16, his wife's leading military commander, Da Tho, defected to his cause, bringing with him substantial military forces; then on September 22, he won the Battle of Merdogovae, and penetrated into the outskirts of Selgovae.
 * Kandukha, who found that her position was now extremely vulnerable, and that her own subjects were sympathetic to her husband's demands, was forced to flee from her capital world (October 1, 1471). She proceeded quickly to Hypasia Major, being received by the Laurasian garrison there. She thence sent an urgent appeal to Emperor Vespasian and the Imperial Laurasian Government on Laurasia Prime, on October 3, begging for imperial troops to be utilized against rebel forces. Concidentially enough, the Emperor had reassigned General Cerialis from the Central Core to the Hypasian Provinces in August 1471; now, on October 9, he appointed Cerialis Governor of Hypasia and Angelica, and ordered for him to proceed against Vevun and his forces. Cerialis did so quickly. Vevun now launched offensives against Hanoi, Saigon, and Tonkin, briefly overrunning those strongholds (October 11-15, 1471). On October 18, however, Cerialis defeated him in the Battle of Pari Hi. From thence, he ambushed rebel units at Dang Lao (October 20) and drove into Merdogovae, thereby weakening rebel supply lines. By November 5, Ka Thun and Ba Mun were both in Laurasian hands; on November 11, he defeated Vevun again in the Battle of Stan Ho, and thence seized Khmer. On November 11, 1471, the Battle of Dingiem Sao ended in another victory for Cerialis. On November 16, he defeated Vevun again in the Battle of Hesogovae; Tardi Lah fell to him on November 22; and on December 2, the Battle of Per Alah saw Vevun being forced to flee ignominiously from the battlefield. On December 13, he was defeated again at Tenh. Selgovae was then surrounded, beginning on December 18, 1471. It was still under siege as 1471 ended.
 * On August 21, 1471, the Queen Mother of Venasia, Malichina I, died on Venasia Prime. She was fifty-two years old at the time of her death, and had ruled for thirty-one years. Throughout her reign, she had remained loyal to the Laurasian Empire, and had contributed troops for the Empire's campaigns against the Bouddican and Donguarian Rebellions, as well as the Huntite Caliphate and the Kingdom of Melanie Major during the Melanite War. She was now succeeded as Queen Mother by her daughter, Tethria II. The new Queen Mother was just twelve years old at the time of her mother's death; for the first time since the reign of Christiana, in the late twelfth century, the Neo-Venasian Consortium passed under a regency. The Lady Executrix, Shalania, took over as regent of the Consortium during the first seven years of the Queen Mother's reign. Due to her youth, Tethria was not obligated to pay homage to her overlord, the Emperor of Laurasia, at this stage. Emperor Vespasian, in fact, was urged by some of his ministers to intervene and annex the Consortium directly. He refused however, amused by the continuing existence of a matriarchal society paying tribute to a patriarchal one. Venasia was, however, now in the reign of its last monarch; it had just thirty-four more years to live.

1472

 * 1472, the 72nd year of the fifteenth century, began with the Laurasian Empire's forces still battling the persistent Donguarian Rebellion, and also dealing with the Second Vevunite Revolt in the Hypasian Provinces. The first of these uprisings would experience a temporary resurgence in this year, before finally entering its death throes; the second was suppressed early in the new year. On January 7, 1472, Governor Cerialis intensified the siege efforts of Selgovae, and ordered for a renewed offensive to be launched against the system's orbital defensive outposts. The ensuing offensive was a spectacular success; Laurasian starfighters overwhelmed the outposts and destroyed them in quick succession. Selgovae was now more defenseless than ever, and on January 17, its shield defenses were finally destroyed by the relentless Laurasian bombardments. Laurasian troops now stormed onto the planetary surface, engaging in a policy of devastation and plunder. The world's settlements were thoroughly sacked, and the High Mansion of the Selgovae Princes was seized. Vevun himself managed to escape from Selgovae, having attempted to conduct its last defense against the Laurasians. He and his remaining units were now pursued to Candaro, which was located on the very outskirts of the Wild Marshes. He waged a vigorous guerilla resistance against the Empire's forces, and for a time, it seemed as if he might be able to elude the Laurasian grasp. Finally, however, on February 12, 1472, he was captured by Governor Cerialis's troops, and Candaro itself fell into Laurasian hands.
 * The rebel leader was, on the Governor's orders, placed on a prison transport. He was transported back to Hypasia Major on February 18, and a proclamation concerning his defeat was issued throughout the Empire. Emperor Vespasian now showed his hand. He was determined that Laurasian administration throughout the Hypasian Provinces be regularized, and that all the remaining fiefdoms be eliminated. Consequently, on March 1, 1472, he issued a manifesto from Laurasia Prime, proclaiming the dissolution of the Principality of Brivanti Hypasia and its direct incorporation into the Laurasian Empire. Kandukha was thereby formally deposed as Princess, an imperial garrison was installed on Selgovae, and all Brivantis were obliged to swear an oath of allegiance to the Emperor of Laurasia directly. On March 11 and 17, similar decrees would order for the disbandment of the Satarapies of Veta and Buta, thereby consolidating Laurasian authority in the vicinity of Hypasia Major, Hypasia Minor, and Cassolar. Kandukha herself, along with Vevun and twenty other minor Hypasian leaders, were all chained, hustled onto a barge, the IMS Gloriana, and on March 24, transported to Laurasia Prime. There they were paraded through the streets of Christiania, humiliated, and eventually, on April 1, attainted on the Emperor's orders. Kandukha and Vevun, along with the others, would be executed at the Post Settlement of Hepudermia on April 8, 1472, in front of a crowd of more than two million persons. Their deaths consolidated Laurasian dominance over Hypasia. By the end of April 1472, the Second Vevunite Revolt had been completely suppressed.
 * In Donguaria, events continued to unfold. The last months of 1471 had seen Governor Silva tied up by the continued resistance of rebel holdouts at Gaba, Strata, and Dora. By February 1472, these had been finally taken, and the officers of all the garrisons were executed on his orders. Yet the following month, in March 1472, Prince Kolad led a series of counteroffensives. He seized Mohi in a surprise operation (March 8-14); Rohi, Legnica, Tescus, and Retescus fell into his hands by April 1; and on April 9, he managed to defeat Silva in the Battle of Gadara. Raphia, Azotus, and Jericho were then overrun by rebel units, who were even, by the end of April 1472, threatening the outskirts of Donguaria Secunda, Cossack, and Croac. Pressburg's outposts were sacked by a rebel expedition on May 8, and the Battle of Canatha (May 11, 1472) registered another defeat for government forces. Dium, Aphek, and the colony of Arydda then fell into rebel hands (May 14-22, 1472); Coreae, Samaria, and Bethhoron were now threatened. But Kolad overextended himself, and he did not reckon for the series of Laurasian counter-strikes which now resulted. On June 1, 1472, Governor Silva assaulted Machaerus directly, bypassing the recent rebel gains. Machaerus had the largest remaining rebel military repository, with more than 100,000 tons of armor and military supplies; a garrison of 120,000 troops; and a reserve of hard currency, used by rebel leaders to provide for the salaries and needs of their men. Kolad now rushed back to save the stronghold, and from June 3 to 8, engaged, near Zoar and Beersheba, in a series of skirmishes with government units.
 * These efforts proved futile, and on June 13, Machaerus was stormed by the Laurasian Empire's troops. Governor Silva had all of the supplies and weapons confiscated; he then destroyed the repository and devastated the surrounding lands, so that neither "crop nor man can thrive." Nearly the entire rebel garrison died, was executed, or deported by the Imperial Laurasian Army. The fall of Machaerus forced Prince Kolad to strengthen the defenses of Masada, and to withdraw from Dium, Aphek, and Arydda by the middle of July 1472. On July 18, Coreae was relieved by Silva in the Battle of Hammath; Manahaim then fell to him on July 22, from which he recovered Gadara, Raphia, and Azotus (July 23-August 9, 1472). On August 18, Kolad's offensive against Wolbroz ended in the Battle of Tubroz; Donguarian Kaunas, which had fallen back into rebel hands in February of that year, was firmly reconquered on August 28; and by September 4, Jericho and Canatha too, were back in Silva's hands. Rohi and Legnica, however, proved to be more difficult, and both strongholds had to be laid under siege. Rohi eventually fell on September 24 and Legnica on October 5, and the rebels suffered another serious blow. Tescus and Retescus were secured by October 19, and on November 3, 1472, the Second Battle of Strata ended in victory for Governor Silva. Then on November 17, Silva began his final advance towards Masada, the last remaining rebel stronghold of note. Kolad's efforts to stop him at Ekron, Gibbetheon, and Geber failed (November 17-December 4), and these minor bases were secured by Laurasian troops.
 * Finally, on December 7, 1472, Masada was reached by Laurasian forces. Silva, determined to leave nothing for chance, had the outlying garrison of Rasada taken by his crack Imperial Marines, and he then ordered for the erection of blockade fortifications around the outskirts of the star system. Laurasian ships suppressed all traffic into the star system, and imposed a complete stranglehold on communications. Masada itself, located in an isolated region of the Donguarian Provinces, was heavily defended. It had four barricades; a minefield, a asteroid belt ringed with defensive outposts, a hyperspace interruption boom, and mobile turrets, the last remaining rebel ships, based around a Orbital Garrison and a second minefield, and the planetary shields, manned by 200,000 troops, all that remained of rebel land forces. Thus, the Siege would require great effort. It formally began on December 11, and thirty Laurasian Augustus-class turbocannon blasted away at the star system defenses and the planetary shields. The defenders of Masada had supplies enough to last them for months.

1473

 * 1473, the 73rd year of the fifteenth century, began with the Laurasian Empire's forces under General and Governor Sir Lucius Flavius Silva, Baronet Silva, besieging the Donguarian rebel stronghold of Masada, which was located in the outskirts of the Donguarian Provinces. The Siege of Masada, as it progressed, proved especially brutal. On January 22, 1473, with Laurasian turbocannon having pounded against the orbital and planetary defenses for weeks, Governor Silva ordered for his frigates, corvettes, and minesweepers to advance into the outskirts of Masada. It took these units until February 6 to completely clear the First Barricade; more than 10,000 Laurasian personnel died, and several of the Laurasian ships had to be abandoned. Rebel units fought fanatically, and sallied from the farther side of the minefield to harry the Laurasian squadrons. But with the First Barricade out of the way, Laurasian units proceeded to the Masadan Asteroid Belt. This proved a more formidable obstacle; every frontal Laurasian assault launched from February 6 to 17 was a failure, and another 25,000 personnel were killed. Moreover, Silva's own flagship, the IMS Juno, suffered serious damage from the interruption boom, which also disabled a third of the Laurasian starfighters. Ultimately, Silva employed a ploy, the use of cloaked transports, to break through the boom and thereby open the way to the storming of the Second Barricade. The Asteroid Belt was in Laurasian hands by February 25.
 * The Third Barricade proved the most difficult. The Donguarian rebels of Prince Kolad were fully aware that theirs was a last stand. There would be no future; they were all that was left of the Rebellion. Thus, they fought with a fanatic ardor. The Donguarian minefield was again cleared by Laurasian mine-sweepers, but more than two-thirds of them were destroyed or severely damaged while doing so; the Donguarian Orbital Garrison was eventually stormed, but this only on March 21, after nearly a month of direct bombardment and of assaults. And the Donguarian ships were eventually swept aside, but only after thirty of Governor Silva's seventy warships had been destroyed, severely damaged, or forced to retreat. And it was on March 25 that the Third Barricade was finally, and completely, cleared. The shields now came under a more direct assault; Prince Kolad retreated to the planetary surface, coordinating the resistance. It was on April 2 that the shields faltered, and the Imperial Laurasian Army staged four landings on the planetary surface.
 * Governor Silva, leading his troops in battle as Grand Prince Titus had before him, was faced with considerable resistance from the Donguarians. Laurasian troops struggled to seize the cities of Rusada and El-Ghteri, both of whom were heavily manned by Donguarian troops. Donguarian units harassed Laurasian advance parties, disrupted their convoys, and drove at their lines, again and again. Finally, on April 19, 1473, the Citadel of Masada fell into Laurasian hands. Kolad and his immediate associates, along with their families, determined not to surrender, took a suicide pact. More than 7,000 individuals died in this manner; their bodies were discovered by Silva's troops in the inner recesses of the Citadel. With the fall of the Citadel, Masada was securely in Laurasian hands. And with the fall of Masada, the Donguarian Great Rebellion had finally been completely suppressed, after having lasted for seven years.
 * Emperor Vespasian ordered for another Te Deum to be held at the Old Westphalian Cathedral, and issued a proclamation, on April 22, hailing the final suppression of the Donguarian Rebellion. Vigorous celebrations ensued throughout the Purse Region, and at Laurasian colonies elsewhere in the Empire. Governor Silva himself was rewarded by the Emperor with the Order of St. Honorius the Liberator and in May 1473, with a seat on the Governing Senate. The Emperor also now took more practical measures to ensure that another rebellion against Laurasian authority in Donguaria would not arise in the near future. The Emperor had all remaining rebel leaders and officers still in imperial custody executed; more than 15,000 individuals experienced the extreme penalty at Donguaria Prima, Donguaria Secunda, Polonia Major, Galicia, and elsewhere during the course of the next two months. Donguarians were now forbidden to change residences, to enter into business, or to transport goods without permission from the authorities. Marital law was imposed on Donguaria Prima, and an extensive regime of survelliance imposed over all Donguarian communications and media. Public assemblies were outlawed; all Donguarian patriotic organizations and clubs banned; and Donguarians subjected to curfews, at all of their worlds, enclaves, and communities. Laurasian garrisons in Donguaria were to remain larger than those assigned anywhere else in the Empire; in June 1473, the Emperor created the Donguarian Military Zone, encompassing Donguaria Prima, Pressburg, Bordina, Cossack, Croac, and Kaunas, in which all Donguarians were subject to imprisonment or execution without basis, and without need of the judicial system. He also mandated that the site of the Great Temple remain in ruins; that the Holy Synod actively harass all adherents to Donguarian orders; and that Donguarian religious policies be supervised by the Commission of Economy. These harsh measures maintained Laurasian rule over Donguaria, but would eventually result in the outbreak of renewed rebellion six decades later.
 * The middle months of 1473 then passed in tranquility for the Empire. The Emperor began, in June 1473, construction of the Forum of Peace in Constantinople, in order to celebrate the Empire's return to complete internal stability. He also embarked on numerous other architectural projects. He sponsored the establishment of the Galactic Gallery of Antiquities in Christiania; continued the expansion of the Quencilvanian Palace, with a radical redesign of the King's Guest Floor and construction of the Underground Treasury Chambers; and on July 8, announced his intention to construct, in Christiania, a new public amphitheater. On June 19, 1473, the Emperor also dedicated the Senatorial Palace, construction of which had begun under Claudius and had dragged on for more than twenty years. This vast new residence, with more than 5,000 rooms, and with its own galleries, auditorium, gardens, and entertainment complex, became home to the Governing Senate. He also sponsored the colonization of Senaprania in the Andrianian Cluster, and conducted an expansion of the Palace of the Greats on Americana (August and September 1473). But by November 1473, the Emperor's attention had shifted to Merlita.
 * King Corlio VII of the Merlites had remained a loyal vassal of the Laurasian Empire throughout his reign. From 1459 to 1461, he had participated in the Melanite War, and had dispatched his chief commander, General Dungalio von Tarlio, to serve under Laurasian General Corbulo in Melanie Major. Later, he provided troops to the Empire for the suppression of an anti-Laurasian revolt at Beatrice and Trieste (1463), and then against the Donguarian Great Rebellion. He had remained aloof from the factions which struggled after the death of Emperor Antiochus III in June 1468, but in January 1470, proclaimed his full support for Vespasian as Emperor. In March 1472, the Treaty of Commagene between Laurasia and Merlita had confirmed the earlier arrangements prevailing between the two states, and had granted Corlio control of the Laurasian colony-worlds of Ioatpa, Germanicopolis, and Neronias in an act of good faith and will. It seemed that Corlio was destined to remain, until his death, a vassal of the Empire, and that Merlita would continue to provide valuable support. Emperor Vespasian however, while he refused to sanction the annexation of the Neo-Venasian Consortium, had by 1473 come to the belief that Merlita needed to be directly incorporated into the Empire. Indeed, a number of Donguarian rebels had fled into Merlite territory; pirates in the Wild Marshes generally operated from there, thereby evading the direct retribution of Laurasian authorities; and there were anti-Laurasian tensions evident on Merilash and elsewhere.
 * Thus, on November 9, 1473, the Emperor approved plans drafted by the Imperial General Headquarters for a swift intervention into, and the annexation of the Kingdom of the Merlites. Ten days later, Vespasian formally informed the Councils of State of his intentions, and stated that he would not hesitate at military force if it came to it. King Corlio himself now received reports of Laurasian intentions. The King of Merlita, reminded of the fates of Kandukha, Vevun, and the Donguarian Princes, became determined therefore, to abdicate in Laurasian favor, in exchange for a guarantee of security and safety from the Emperor of Laurasia. But before he could do so, he was restrained. On November 16, Merlite General Cabanchan Branchan (1421-74), who claimed descent from King Cenio I (859-72), and his supporters executed a coup against the King on Merilash. They seized control of the King's person, and forced him to convene the Hereditary Council. The Council, two days later, formally disavowed all treaties signed with the Laurasian Empire and declared that Merlita was once again a completely independent realm. King Corlio himself was then imprisoned at the Mazes of Rorilo on Aretha.
 * Emperor Vespasian was enraged to hear of this act of defiance, and now executed his plans. On November 27, he declared the Kingdom of the Merlites to be contumacious, and ordered for General Sir Petelius Cerealis (1435-91), cousin of the Governor of Hypasia, to advance from the Ashlgothian Provinces into Merlite territory. General Cerealis obliged quickly, and now obtained a series of victories over the Merlites, disoriented by General Branchan's seizure of power, and the imprisonment of their King. Bobria fell (November 28-December 3, 1473), followed by Carolyn (December 8) and Korgia (December 12). On December 14, 1473, the Battle of Carrahan ended in a decisive victory for General Cerealis's forces; from Carrahan, he proceeded to the conquest of Franklin and Evan (December 17-22). By the end of 1473, Merlita was under assault by the forces of its overlord.

1474

 * 1474, the 74th year of the fifteenth century, commenced with the Laurasian Empire's military forces, under the command of General Sir Petelius Cerealis, advancing into the territory of the Kingdom of the Merlites, which was then in rebellion against the Empire's overlordship. General Cerealis found that the Merlite resistance continued to be disorganized, and he now made rapid progress against them. On January 7, 1474, the Battle of Ryan Barlak ended in another decisive victory for the Laurasian; he captured more than 75,000 Merlite troops and the Ryan Barlak Arsenal, which was one of the largest military fortifications in the Caladarian Galaxy at that time. From Ryan Barlak, Laurasian units subdued the colonies of Gordy, Quincy, Jayria, and Debby Barlak (January 8-17, 1474). On January 22, General Branchan, moving out from Merilash, and seeking to demonstrate his military prowess, launched an offensive against Nicole, Redia, and Trebek in the Ashlgothian Provinces, hoping to thereby draw Laurasian units out, and restore his supply lines. This ploy did not work, for the garrisons of those star systems were well organized and enjoyed solid communications with the Imperial Laurasian Government. Moreover, Cerealis himself continued his moves in Merlite territory with especial vigor. On February 1, he won the Battle of Calhan, humiliating the Merlite 2nd Royal Army and easily seizing the world's defenses. From Calhan, Thathel Prime was besieged by Laurasian units; its fall on February 18, 1474, entrenched them firmly within the Merlite Territories. March 1474 saw the subjugation of Alec, Aretha, and Talaris by the Empire's forces; all of Branchan's moves, against Leslie, Gigi, Ashlgothia Minor, Stapleton, Walden, and to the Borderlands Territories, failed to accomplish anything decisive; and on April 2, he was defeated in the Battle of Thatcher, losing most of his starfighters at hand.
 * On April 8, Cerealis pressed his advantage further, and drove into Orithiana; that stronghold too, was occupied by the arms of the Empire. Roaeris followed (April 12-14), and on April 29, 1474, the Battle of Vai ended in a decisive victory for Cerealis. Branchan himself barely evaded capture from the confrontation, but most of his associates did not, and they were, on the orders of the Laurasian General, bound in chains and branded with electric irons. Ethel Kennethia succumbed on May 9, following a relentless bombardment; it was soon followed by Jacquenthia, securely in Laurasian hands by May 16. Then on May 22, 1474, the Battle of Rory resulted in another decisive Laurasian victory; Branchan was not only defeated, but killed, his starfighter being overwhelmed and destroyed by Laurasian projectile fire towards the end of the confrontation. Merilash was now in danger, and Laurasian units occupied the colonies of Harry, Willie, and Sylvester (May 23-27), making the danger more relevant. On June 1, King Corlio, with the assistance of his household servants, managed to free himself from the custody of Branchan's henchmen and to have them summarily executed. The Royal Council quickly condemned Branchan as a traitor and disavowed all of its ties to him. The King of Merlita now realized that surrender and abdication was imperative. On June 8, 1474, he sent a communique to the Imperial Laurasian Government, denouncing the actions of Branchan, but at the same time, offering to surrender on whatever terms posed to him.
 * Emperor Vespasian, of course, responded by demanding Corlio's immediate abdication and Merliash's capitulation to the Empire. This Corlio did; on June 12, 1474, at the Merlite Hillarania Palace, he renounced his title as King of the Merlites, discarded his royal insignia, and signed the formal proclamation of abdication. The Merlite Royal Council then broke its bond of allegiance to the King, and on June 14, formally lowered the planetary shields of Merilash. General Cerealis's forces swiftly occupied the Merlite capital world. Finally, on July 4, 1474, they were compelled to sign the Capitulation of Merilash, by which they formally acknowledged Emperor Vespasian of Laurasia as the absolute master of the Merlite territories; the formal dissolution of all Merlite government, military, and economic institutions; and Merlita's surrender to the Laurasian Empire. On July 17, 1474, the Emperor issued the formal decree of annexation. The Kingdom of Merlita, which had lasted, uninterrupted, for more than a thousand years (since its secession from the Sennacherid Empire in AH 426), and was the oldest independent state then existing in the Caladarian Galaxy, had ceased to exist. As for ex-King Corlio, he was given the title of King Emeritus of Merlita, awarded status as a Laurasian subject, and granted extensive properties, both in Merlita and in the Laurasia Prime Purse Region. He was required, however, to make his primary residence at Darsis, where he could be under the Imperial Laurasian Government's surveillance. He was to live peacefully on his estates for the rest of his days, and died at Imma on June 9, 1493. The latter months of 1474 were marked by the Emperor's consolidation of his rule over Merlita. He issued a series of decrees organizing the administration of the region, and on October 1, named General Cerealis as the first Governor of Merlita. Moreover, Vespasian incorporated all Merlite military units into the Imperial Laurasian Military; confiscated all properties, estates, and honors belonging to the Royal Council; and in November 1474, received ex-King Corlio at the Quencilvanian Palace on Laurasia Prime. Outbursts of dissent on Alec, Austin, Evan, and Aretha would be suppressed in December 1474.

1475

 * 1475, the 75th year of the fifteenth century, commenced with the Laurasian Empire having further expanded and consolidated its territorial base, with the elimination of the petty satrapies in the Hypasian Provinces, the suppression of the Donguarian Great Rebellion, and the incorporation of the Kingdom of the Merlites. The annexation of Merlita was of great symbolic importance for Emperor Vespasian and the Imperial Laurasian Government. By it, Laurasia had brought to an end a state which had existed, without interruption, for more than a millennium. Merlita had defied the Lacian Despotate, the Dasian Empire and its successor states, and the barbarian peoples of the eleventh to thirteenth centuries, only to now succumb to the Laurasian Empire. The Emperor made sure to underline the importance of this; in January 1475, new coinage was struck by the Imperial Treasury, depicting him as the "Millennial Conqueror of Merlita", and depicting Merlites bowing in humble obeisance before the Empire's might. Vespasian would also order for the erection of the Merlite Obelisk in the city of Christiania; this would be completed in 1477, and would contain the official Laurasian version of events as regards to the annexation of Merlita. During the early months of 1475, the Empire remained completely at peace. On January 14, 1475, the Emperor and the Imperial Court departed from the Imperial Court, and conducted a short progress through the Andrianian Cluster, Maroni, Dearton's Gateway, Janesia, and the Katian Regions.
 * He also made a detour to Heuthros, the capital world of a species which had once been a bitter opponent of the Stellar Republic of Laurasia. Returning to Laurasia Prime on February 11, the Emperor staged a series of further public festivities for the benefit of his subjects. Yet not all was peaceful. Vespasian, although he was never a tyrant in the fashion of Tiberius, Caligula, or Antiochus III, nevertheless demonstrated that he would not brook dissent. On March 1, 1475, he ordered for the arrest and confinement, at the Post Settlement of Hepudermia, of Sir Helvidius Priscus (1426-75). Priscus had in his most prominent work, The Ideals of Government (1467), promoted his viewpoint that a republican government was the best model of rule for civilizations in the Caladarian Galaxy. He had pointed to the example of the Stellar Republic, declaring that the Laurasian monarchy was a "recent, and unjust aberration, unfit to the Space Age of our species." To Vespasian, this was seditious. Already, in June 1471, he had commanded for all of his subjects to refrain from talk about the system of government in the Empire, and promised harsh penalties for any who did so. The Synod had, in January 1472, backed this up with a bull threatening to excommunicate any who espoused the overthrow of the Emperor or a transition to any other form of government.
 * Priscus, however, had persisted, and had defended his views in academic debates at the University of Laurasia Prime. The Emperor now had him vigorously interrogated by his own officials. In spite of all their efforts, Priscus refused to renounce his earlier viewpoints. Thus, he was on March 9, tried by the Governing Senate on charges of conspiracy, les-majestie, treason, and libel. Priscus continued to defend himself vigorously, and called upon Vespasian himself to see the truth of the matter. The outcome was inevitable, and he was, on March 16, sentenced to death by the Senate. The Emperor signed his death warrant thereafter; had Priscus publicly condemned by his colleagues at the University; and excommunicated by the Synod. On April 2, 1475, he was executed at the Christiania Municipal Prison, in front of a crowd of more than 600,000 persons. His body was dumped into the Pit of Traitors on Jadia. During April 1475, the Colleges of Communications and Media confiscated all copies of Priscus's works throughout the Empire, and they were officially banned. Then on May 23, 1475, the Emperor dedicated the Forum of Peace in Constantinople, a ceremony accompanied with much celebration and pomp. He was assisted by his sons, Grand Princes Titus and Antiochus. In June 1475, the Cathedral of St. Luscula, begun by Claudius II, was finished and dedicated in Osraninpolis; the Emperor had a statute to the saint's memory erected at the gates to the Cathedral.
 * On July 8, 1475, the Emperor dispatched a expeditionary armada under General Alienus to engage in a show of force near Tyvooka, Predosur, and Hoohshikk. The Hookiee Confederacy, which already had treaties of commerce and military cooperation with the Empire, was now forced to enter into negotiations with the Imperial Laurasian Government again. A conference was opened at Emily Deuistiania on July 14, and negotiations continued for over a month. The Treaty of Emily Deustiania (August 19, 1475), ratified by both governments by the end of September, made the Confederacy a formal protectorate of the Laurasian Empire. The Regents of Hoohshikk now pledged themselves as vassals of the Emperor of Laurasia; permitted Laurasian forces untrammeled military and civilian access through their territories; and agreed to contribute to all Laurasian military campaigns in the future. They also promised to pay an annual stipend to the Imperial Court, to provide for duty-free commerce and transit between the Empire and the Consortium, and to adhere to Laurasian regulations concerning the treatment of criminals and the transport of goods. This treaty, therefore, protected the Laurasian position in the Middle Territories. In October 1475, Emperor Vespasian met with his vassal, King Charlemagne of Jageronia, at Wakedia and engaged in a series of friendly discussions with him. Charlemagne had been installed the previous year by the Emperor (October 4, 1474), who had become dissatisfied with Desiderio. Desiderio, in fact, had been imprisoned at Iego, and would die there November 1, 1479. At their meeting, Charlemagne paid an oath of homage to Vespasian.
 * And in November 1475, the Emperor executed a swift conflict against the Celstial Dynasty of Kimania. From 1464, Kimania had been under the rule of Duras Shogun. The Shogun of Kimania had maintained an oppressive grip over his subjects. In 1466, he had established the Western and Eastern Depots. In spite of their names, these agencies were in fact secret intelligence services, meant to maintain the Shogun's control, to report on all trends of dissent against his authority, and to spread terror. Between 1466 and 1475, more than one hundred million Kimanian subjects were arrested and either imprisoned or executed by the Depots, acting in the Shogun's name. Duras Shogun was also exceptionally ruthless towards those who he viewed as a threat to his power. In 1471, he had his own wife, Wu Ha, and thirty of his concubines summarily executed for a conspiracy against him; in 1473, he ordered for the destruction of the New City of Wanjing on Kimania, and for the deportation of all its inhabitants. He confiscated the properties of thirty prominent Kimanian nobles later that same year, and in 1474, he ordered for the establishment of new penal colonies at Sharangy and Darangy, thereby denying his subjects the opportunity to colonize those star systems. And in particular, he was brutal towards his Deusitianian subjects in the Western Barsar Regions. In 1470, he ordered for the execution of 75,000 Deustianians on Denkura, and for a ban to be imposed on all Deustianian religious customs. The following year (1471), he conducted a series of purges on Hemkura, and forbade any of its inhabitants from leaving the star system without the authorization of his forces. And in 1473, he outlawed all Deuistianian patriotic organizations and had all Deusitanians serving at his court, and in his military services, dismissed from his service.
 * It was in July 1475 that the Deustianians, under the leadership of Kemal, formally erupted in rebellion against the Celestial Dynasty. They quickly seized control of Denkura, Senkura, and Marakura. By the beginning of November, Destiny Minor and Hemkura were both under threat from Deustianian forces. Emperor Vespasian now viewed the Deustianian Rebellion as an opportunity to demonstrate Laurasian supremacy over the Celestial Dynasty. On November 8, 1475, he issued an ultimatum to the Shogun of Kimania, demanding that he recognize the Laurasian annexation of Merlita and the independence of Destiny. If not, Vespasian threatened, "grave consequences would result for your dynasty and for yourself." Duras Shogun, who believed that the Emperor of Laurasia would not seek war at this juncture, and was bluffing for his own gratification, refused to even respond to the Laurasian ultimatum. Thus, on November 14, the Emperor of Laurasia announced his solidarity with the Deustianians and issued a declaration of war against the Celestial Dynasty. Laurasian units quickly besieged and captured Rolle (November 18); Bookman (November 22); Dorothea (November 26); Lange (November 28-December 4); and Leseur (December 12). On December 15, 1475, Destiny Major was liberated by the Deustianian rebels; then on December 19, they concluded the Treaty of Hiron with the Imperial Laurasian Government, obtaining its financial and military assistance. On December 22, Derangy and Morangy fell to a swift offensive, commanded by Admiral Sir Paradius Petrevius; on December 24, Neutria followed. Duros Shogun was now confronted with a massive uprising on Gardiner, Leo's Redoubt, and Kimanis Mooria against him, partly in protest at the policies of the Depots. Moreover, the Dynasty's exchange markets were experiencing major fluctuations, and tensions were rising at the Celestial Court. As the year 1475 came to an end, he demonstrated a willingness to negotiate, so as to focus on his internal troubles.

1476

 * 1476, the 76th year of the fifteenth century, commenced with the Laurasian Empire engaged in a short conflict with the Celestial Dynasty of Kimania in the Barsar Regions. This conflict, known as the Deustianian War (or as the Fifth Laurasian-Kimanian War), had erupted because of Laurasian support for the independence of the Deustianians, who had long simmered under Kimanian rule. And as mentioned above, Duras Shogun was now proving himself willing to enter into negotiations with the Imperial Laurasian Government. A series of further Laurasian victories during the early months of 1476 convinced him fully in that direction, and demonstrated the Empire's superior military capabilities. On January 9, 1476, Admiral Petrevius obtained a decisive victory over overstretched Kimanian units in the Battle of Winehouse, thereby preventing Kimanian counteroffensives into the Upper Barsar Regions, and thence to the Ashlgothian Borderlands Territories. He then stormed Dominguez, Allen, and Preena in a series of coordinated moves (January 11-17). On January 22, the Battle of Harrison ended in another victory for the Empire's forces; Laurasian units then destroyed the Kimanian operational outpost on Jonas, and forced the withdrawal of Kimanian units from Novina. On February 9, 1476, Cyberton Xerxia was besieged by the Imperial Laurasian Navy, with support from the Deustianians.
 * The Siege of Cyberton Xerxia lasted for several days, but on February 19, the stronghold fell into Laurasian hands. From thence, Drea, Duana, and Roschmelle were captured (March 1476), while the Deustianians inflicted another defeat upon Kimanian arms in the Battle of Crades (February 27-March 2, 1476). Yet it was the Laurasian victory at Strongstine (April 1-3, 1476), which finally spurred Duros Shogun to act on his feelings, and to request for a military armistice. The Armistice of Chobania was signed on April 14, 1476. A conference then opened at Bookman from May 11, 1476. After over a month of negotiations, the Treaty of Bookman was signed on June 14, 1476, thereby ending the Deustianian War. By the terms of this treaty, the Kingdom of Destiny, comprising of Destiny Major, Destiny Minor, Hemkura, and the strongholds of the farther Murphian Trade Spine, obtained its independence from the Celestial Dynasty of Kimania. All Kimanian troops in the Deustianian Provinces were to be withdrawn. Moreover, the Kimanians confirmed all transit privileges conferred upon Laurasian merchants in the Barsar Regions; agreed upon border rectifications in the vicinity of Nanking, Narra, and Breha; and promised to compensate the Imperial Laurasian Government with an annuity of $1.2 trillion denarii, in order to cover the Empire's military expenses. The Treaty of Bookman, ratified by all governments by the middle of July 1476, thereby restored peace.
 * Emperor Vespasian was praised by his subjects for this short, decisive war in the Barsar Regions, and for consolidating Laurasian territory through his annexation of Merlita. A festive atmosphere descended on Laurasia Prime, which persisted throughout the remainder of the year. It was in September 1476, three centuries after the fall of the Huntite Khanate, that the Emperor began construction of what was to become the Flavian Amphitheater. It would take more than four years for the Amphitheater to be finished, and when it was, it would become one of the largest public edifices in the city of Christiania. The Emperor also embarked on the construction of the Spire of Hope on Hepudermia; of a new system of orbital defense platforms and hyperspace admission systems at Laurasia Prime, Caladaria, Andriana, Sapphire, Merandaz, and Metallina; and of a Habitation Station at the Belts of Barton. All of these projects required much expenditure, and that all helped to fuel the Empire's economy. In October 1476, the Emperor reformed the municipal taxation system, granting exemptions to Quencania City and Paramania, and revising the accounts of tax collection possessed by the authorities in Christiania, and elsewhere.
 * On January 24, 1476, the future Emperor Lysimachus I (1517-38) was born at the Teritary Palace on Nathaniel, in the Nathanelite Province of the Laurasian Empire. His parents were Sir Publius Hadrianus Afer (1429-86) and his wife, Lady Domitia Paulina (1441-85). Sir Afer was a cousin of the future Emperor Antigonus I, the Conqueror, and a prominent member of the Governing Senate, on which he served from 1471 until his death in 1486. At the time of his son's birth, he was also serving as the Senatorial Procurator of Nathaniel and as the Warden of the Central Kimanian Trade Run, which gave him control over commerce and transportation in that region. Thanks to his wife, daughter and heiress of the famed Legate-General Sir Suetonius Paulinus, he was one of the wealthiest gentlemen in the Empire, owning estates in the Purse Region, on Nathaniel, the Polonian Provinces, and in the Millian Home Region. Young Lysimachus would have a younger sister, Lady Aelia Domitia (1479-1530), who would be married to the Mayor of Christiania, Sir Lucius Julius Servanius (1445-1536), who would be prominent in the reigns of Nerva, Antigonus, and Lysimachus himself.

1477

 * The year 1477, the 77th year of the fifteenth century, witnessed a number of further events within the Laurasian Empire. The year in general, passed in tranquility, as the Empire remained at peace with its neighbors, and as Emperor Vespasian continued to focus his efforts on maintaining power on Laurasia Prime. The Emperor continued with his propaganda campaign and with the public festivities, but he also, in March 1477, reorganized the Imperial Intelligence Agency. The Agency was now divided into three bureaus: the Bureau of Internal Investigation, the Bureau of Foreign Intelligence, and the Bureau of Imperial Investigation. The first of these bureaus dealt with the investigation and prosecution of criminal and civil cases among the subjects of the Empire, particularly those cases which infringed upon the nobility or upon the institutions of the Imperial Laurasian Government; the second, with all investigations, studies, and probes in foreign states and against foreign governments; and the third, with investigation of threats or cases relating to the Emperor himself, along with the members of the Imperial Family. Vespasian also implemented new procedures for confessions, for informants, and for such practices as wire-tapping, intrusion of properties without a warrant, and confiscation of goods viewed as "threatening" to his safety, or the safety of his government. After the implementation of this reform, the volume of work attributed to the Intelligence Agency increased substantially; during the last two years of the Emperor's reign, it received more than 200,000 complaints on matters ranging from civil disorder in the cities of Laurasia Prime, to the activities of pirate bands in the Donguarian and Ashlgothian Provinces.
 * On August 7, 1477, Queen Mother Tethria III of Venasia obtained her majority at nineteen, as defined under Venasian law. Consequently, she was now old enough to pay the oath of allegiance and of homage to her suzerain, the Emperor. Emperor Vespasian looked forward eagerly to this ceremony, and had the arrangements for it made with the Venasian Council of High Ones. Finally, on August 18, the Emperor departed from Laurasia Prime and proceeded, with the Imperial Court, to Briannia. It was there, on August 24, 1477, that the Queen Mother arrived with her entourage. She was conducted through the Court's ranks by the Praetorian Guards. At the foot of the Emperor's throne, she bowed a number of times, declared her loyalty to Vespasian as her "protector and master", and then, on his command, approached him. Once reaching him, she kissed his feet and pledged the formal oath of homage. The Emperor then raised her up, kissed her on the cheeks, and enjoined her to sit on a throne next to him. The magnates of Venasia and Laurasia then bowed before the two monarchs, and the formal proclamation of homage was issued from the Royal Palace of Briannia. A routine of ceremonial, of festivals, and the like then was conducted. When Emperor Vespasian made his leave from Briannia on September 8, 1477, he bid the Queen Mother well and presented her with gifts, "the token of a master to his servant." He then returned to Laurasia Prime two days later, satisfied by the whole charade.
 * Yet the Emperor had other matters on his mind. Although the independence of autonomous satrapies in the Hypasian Provinces had been curtailed, Vespasian was still convinced that those territories still needed to be dealt with the firmer hand of the Imperial Laurasian Government. He was also aware of anti-Laurasian sentiments in those provinces, and of the need of a vigorous, loyal military commander who would eliminate these sentiments. He now turned to Legate-General Sir Gnaeus Julius Agricola (1440-93), who had already demonstrated his fidelity to the state through his service in numerous different positions. General Agricola, who had enrolled in the Imperial Laurasian Army in 1458, had then served under Governor Paulinus as a military tribune, and had participated in the suppression of the Boudiccan Rebellion. In 1462, he had married Lady Domitia Decidiana, and with her had two children, Julius and Julia. He then served as Quaestor of Schaueria Prime (1463-64), Tribune of the Nobility (1466), and Praetor of Meaganian (1467-69), before the new Emperor Vespasian assigned him to the Hypasian Provinces in 1470. There, he had served under Governor Cerialis, advancing to the rank of Lieutenant-General, and participating in the suppression of the Second Vevunite Revolt. In 1473, he was reassigned to the Donguarian Provinces, and helped to conclude the Siege of Masada. From thence, he fought in Merlita (1473-74), gaining renown for his exploits at Carolyn, Korgia, and Jacquenthia.
 * In November 1475, he had been promoted to the rank of Legate-General and became Governor of Tommy. Yet his service in that post did not last for long, for on November 12, 1477, Emperor Vespasian summoned him to the Quencilvanian Palace on Laurasia Prime. There, the Emperor informed him of the necessity of consolidating Laurasian rule over the Hypasian Provinces and the Wild Marshes, and thereby appointed him as Governor of both Hypasia and Angelica. Agricola found himself humbled and honored by this appointment, and he promised to His Majesty that he would do everything possible to justify his expectations. Consequently, the Legate-General made his leave from Laurasia Prime on December 1, after having formally received his commission as Governor, and recognition from the Governing Senate. He then proceeded swiftly, using the Metallasian Trade Corridor, into the Hypasian Provinces. His arrival at Hypasia Major, on December 3, 1477, was greeted with a formal reception by the officials of the province and of that star system.

1478

 * 1478, the 78th year of the fifteenth century, commenced with the Laurasian Empire still residing in a state of external tranquility at its neighbors, and of relative stability in most of the Empire's regions. Emperor Vespasian had, during the course of the past eight years, managed to ingratiate himself with his subjects on Laurasia Prime and elsewhere. All had moved beyond the excesses and the irrationality of the reign of Antiochus III, and could look forward to the reign of a stable, firm dynasty for the foreseeable future. Within the Hypasian Provinces, however, there was still tension and resistance to the Empire's authorities. The Emperor's fears about the Provinces were justified; pirate and slaver bands such as the Ordovican and Silurian Hypasians continued to threaten Laurasian authority in the Outer Hypasian Provinces, rebel tensions persisted among the Brivantes, and the Caledonian Loop, which was located in the farthest extremities of the Galactic Borderlands, had remained beyond the range of Laurasian military forces. Governor-General Agricola, recently appointed to his post by the Emperor, was determined to destroy these last remnants of resistance to the Imperial Laurasian Government; to sponsor the colonization and development of the Hypasian Provinces, to the benefit of his imperial masters; and to project Laurasian influence into the Wild Marshes.
 * And he had the chance to do so. On January 8, 1478, the Silurian leader Cang Dho announced himself to be in a state of rebellion against the Laurasian Empire, and with his forces, which he had assembled at his strongholds of Thak Taso, Gul Praso, and Gul Draso, managed to make a series of gains against government forces. He besieged and conquered Neur Daso (January 8-14), Tonkin (January 16), and the Hypasian colony of Prak Dasi (January 22). By the end of January 1478, Silurian forces had humiliated a government convoy in the Battle of Vet Dero, had occupied Lai Chau, Declangia, and Lai Mau, and were blockading Canovia, which had continued to be developed by the imperial authorities. On February 8, 1478, the Battle of Bien Hoa ended in another decisive victory for Silurian forces; Than Hoa, Duang Chau, and Vien Hoa now fell into their hands (February 9-15); and on February 22, the inhabitants of Ho Chi Minh revolted against their Laurasian garrison. Soon, Hua, Vien Themp, and Van Dong were also being harried by rebel units, and they had repelled a government counteroffensive at Tafa Duro. General Agricola, however, had been conducting reconnaissance expeditions against enemy lines, and he had counted upon the Silurians overextending themselves, thereby leaving them exposed to a blow from his own forces. At Saigon, Hanoi, Da Ning, Hypasia Minor, Nam Chao, and Quang Tri, he had been assembling his forces for the decisive counteroffensive.
 * It was on March 3, 1478, that the General now struck. He advanced swiftly upon Tonkin. The rebel defenses of that stronghold were completely unprepared for a sudden assault, and he recovered the stronghold in short order. Repelling rebel offensives against Huerta Mongol, Valeris V, and the colonies of the Upper Valeris (March 4-9), he then, on March 14, captured a rebel transport convoy at the Sung Straits. He ordered for the officers of the convoy to be tortured and interrogated; they revealed to him the location of Cang Dho's operational headquarters at Bang Son. On March 22, 1478, after having driven rebel units from Lai Mau, and secured the defenses of My Lai, he executed a swift assault against Bang Son. Laurasian corvettes, couriers, and starfighters slashed through the booms and ramparts erected around the outskirts of the star system; the Imperial Laurasian Army then executed a series of landings on the world, using their rapid aerial-to-surface freighters, and within hours, Cang Dho himself, along with his associates and officers, was in custody.
 * Bang Son's defenses and settlements were razed on the orders of General Agricola, who then had Cang Dho and his associates bound in chains, placed on a transport, and moved to Hypasia Major. With the capture of its leader, the Silurian Rebellion was gravely weakened. Agricola then won the Battle of Thetum (April 1, 1478), and by April 8, he had recovered Neur Daso, Prak Dasi, and Bien Hoa. Duang Chau was stormed on April 12; four days later, Than Doa surrendered to the General without a fight. Thak Daso and Gul Draso were both overrun in May 1478; the capture of Gul Praso, on June 3, 1478, finally brought an end to the Silurian Rebellion. Soon afterwards, General Agricola crushed an attempted uprising of Iceni convicts on Canovia (June 8-14), having more than 75,000 of them executed. He ordered for the deportation of all remaining Iceni from Saigon and its environs, and he inflicted a deliberate humiliation upon them by desecrating their prized resort colony of Hong Gai; on his orders, all of its casinos were trashed, its treasures ripped up, and its outskirts littered with debris, so that it could not be reached again. Then in August 1478, after having conducted campaigns against smuggler bands at Dong Van and Cao Bang, General Agricola was confronted with the Ordovican threat.
 * On August 14, Ordovican units seized Masan in a surprise offensive. Sogan, Van Klep, Selsey, and Hung Yen were soon in their hands, and on September 1, the General's chief subordinate, Vice-Admiral Sir Vessanius Therdius, was defeated and killed in the Battle of Tederway. Bach Dang was in Ordovician hands by September 7. Agricola now moved swiftly to secure Hypasia Minor, Camanium, and Ban Noi (September 9-13). On September 17, he attacked and destroyed Ordovician fortifications at the Iti Theri Drifts. He followed this by isolating Selsey, preventing rebel units from launching further operations from there (September 18-19), plundering the Ordovocian operational outpost of Kule (September 22), and then defeating Orodvician General Vuna Nahu in the Battle of Tet. By the middle of October 1478, Sogan and Masan had both been recovered by government forces, and on November 5, Selsey was directly assaulted. Its fall nine days later, followed by the recovery of Hung Yen (November 8) and the destruction, on November 12, of Ordovician mobile units in the Battle of Apro Thai, brought the end of the Ordovician Rebellion. On November 24, Agricola moved against Conrah, which had served as the chief Ordovician pirate base. Conrah fell to the Empire nearly a month later, on December 19. At that time, Agricola had its defenses destroyed; all of the officers and commanders executed; and the star system's coordinates wiped from civilian logs. As 1478 ended, therefore, he had consolidated the Laurasian grip over Ordovician and Silurian territories.

1479

 * 1479, the 79th year of the fifteenth century, commenced with General Sir Gnaeus Julius Agricola, through his campaigns against the Ordovician and Silurian Hypasians, have eliminated the threat posed by those two Hypasian factions, and thereby further consolidated Laurasian influence in the Hypasian Provinces. Indeed, the early months of 1479 were dominated by Agricola's continued moves and military campaigns in Outer Hypasia. On January 3, 1479, he attacked and destroyed the smuggler holdout of Ky Son, executing more than 15,000 Hypasian troops, recovering all of the goods and plunder which had been seized in raids against Laurasian colonies in the immediate vicinity, and again mining the outskirts of the star system, so that it could not be reached again. By January 11, Agricola had pressed the advantage further and had cleared the smuggler holdouts of Dao Bach, Long Vi, and Bac Giang, recovering more than $10 trillion denarii worth of property and executing or imprisoning another 75,000 Hypasian and Angelican brigands, rebels, and pirates.
 * Then on January 19, 1479 (two centuries before the accession of Fe'ro II as King of Greater Spamalka), the General's forces approached Haiphong, from which the Namadian Cho, one of the Empire's most elusive slaver bands, operated. The ensuing Siege of Haiphong proved to be exceptionally fierce. Namadian battleships and freighters harried the lines of the Imperial Laurasian Navy; captured a number of Laurasian starfighters, chaining the pilots therein and executing them in the vaccuum of space; and penetrated beyond the star system, threatening to cut off imperial communications lines. Ultimately, however, General Agricola ordered for his Tiberius-class turbocannon to be employed, and these projectiles rained more than ten million tons of explosive and radioactive material upon Haiphong's weapons systems, planetary shields, and ground-level garrisons. The world finally fell on February 18, after a siege which had lasted nearly a month. The Laurasians were utterly ruthless, and by the time they had finished with the world, all of its settlements had been destroyed; its countryside devastated; and all of the officers and personnel of the Namadian Cho executed or deported. With the capture of Haiphong, and then the neutralization of Viet Tri (March 4, 1479), the threat of the Namadian Cho was forever terminated.
 * On March 12, Governor-General Agricola had Anglai Hai orbitally razed by his his destroyers and dreadnoughts, thereby eliminating its resources and usefulness as a military outpost, to be employed to the detriment of the Empire. Beyond Anglai Hai, he had similar procedures applied to Manglai Hai and Tahrai Hai (March 14-22, 1479). Then on March 28, he received word of a Brivante outbreak at Selgovae, Bangkok, and Merdogovae. Agricola moved swiftly to suppress this new threat. He defeated a Brivante force at Lestae (April 1-2) and on April 4, 1479, humiliated the Brivantes in the Battle of Rangoon. Merdogovae was then besieged from April 8; its fall on April 16 saw more than 100,000 Brivante civilians being slaughtered on the orders of the General, with only 1,000 Laurasian casualties. Selgovae itself then came under assault from April 22, and fell on May 4, 1479. Agricola had its fortifications demolished; its outskirts littered with debris; and its entire populace deported. By such brutal methods, he consolidated the Laurasian hold over the Brivante territories.
 * At the Imperial Laurasian Court, however, the health of Emperor Vespasian had entered a decline. In September 1478, the Emperor had suffered a minor heart attack in his quarters at the Quencilvanian Palace. He became progressively incapable of exerting himself physically; suffered eye-sight loss; and was, in November, forced to cease his regular attendance of the Senate, Council of Imperial Secretaries, and the public festivities in the city of Christiania. His son, Grand Prince Titus, who had already been serving as President of the Council of Secretaries and Secretary of the College of Administrative Affairs since June 1475, and as Praetorian Prefect since March 1476, now assumed greater responsibility for the cares of the state. In the midst of this atmosphere, Senator Sir Titus Clodus Marcellus (1436-79) entered into collusion with General Sir Aulus Alienus, former servant of Emperor Vitellius's. The two men now believed that they could move to assassinate Vespasian, eliminate his sons, Titus and Antiochus, and install themselves on the throne of the Empire. They now recruited mercenaries and Guards to their cause; distributed bribes among certain members of the Imperial Court; and held a series of meetings, plotting how they would proceed with their conspiracy.
 * The Imperial Intelligence Agency, however, thanks to Vespasian's reforms, had become more aware of internal dissent than ever before. Grand Prince Titus was alerted by the Agency to the conspiracy in short order. He now acted swiftly. On March 19, 1479, eight days after receiving the first reports from the Agency, the Grand Prince invited General Alienus and Senator Marcellus to have dinner with him at the Diplomatic Palace. They accepted, unaware that Titus knew of their conspiracy. Half-way through the banquet, he suddenly accused them of treason against the Imperial State, revealed his knowledge of their conspiracy, and had them arrested by the Praetorian Guards. Soon afterwards, the Emperor's loyal agents and guards arrested all other courtiers who had listened to the entreaties of the two conspirators, or had accepted bribes from them. On Titus's orders, all were incarcerated at the Post Settlement of Hepudermia. Alienus, Marcellus, and their associates were tortured during the course of the next several days, and a proclamation was issued from the Imperial Laurasian Court, announcing the discovery of the conspiracy. Finally, on April 2, they were all tried, convicted, and sentenced to death by the Senate on charges of treason, les-majestie, corruption, and conspiracy. Alienus and Marcellus were both executed two days later, in front of a crowd of more than a million persons; twenty of their associates died during the following month.
 * Titus had therefore secured his place, and that of his father. Then on June 3, Emperor Vespasian suffered a more serious heart attack, and had to be moved to the Imperial Hospital. As he lay dying, the Emperor exclaimed: "Dear me, I am becoming a saint!" He summoned his sons to his deathbed, and enjoined them to always look after the best interests of the Empire. On June 24, 1479, after more than twenty days of agony, the Emperor died. He was sixty-nine years old at the time of his death, and had reigned for a decade. The news of Emperor Vespasian's death was received with much bewailing by his subjects throughout the Empire. In his accession manifesto, the now Emperor Titus proclaimed that his father had truly deserved his title "Restorer of the Empire" and that Laurasian might would continue to spread through the Caladarian Galaxy. Titus himself took immediate steps to solidify his own popularity. The Emperor, by the decree of August 2, 1479, ordered for the abolition of the Imperial Office of Informers, and declared that from that point forward, the courts of the Empire would not accept accusations made without proof or made with malice. Titus declared that he could not be the subject of any malice, and did not wish to hear reports of behavior which proved to be false.
 * The Emperor, on August 14, forbade any person from being tried under different laws for the same offense; double jeopardy thereby disappeared from the Empire's judicial system. He took his role as Pontifex Maximus very seriously, and commanded the Holy Synod, in September 1479, to issue a series of manifestos prohibiting slander of the Lord Almitis and his angels; reiterating the Church's doctrine on sexual affairs, family roles, and moral conduct; and censoring or excommunicating any who threatened the properties and the role of the Church. Yet the Emperor was also tolerant towards alien sects and faiths; he permitted for the first ever Solidaritan Shrine to be constructed on Laurasia Prime, granted druidists in the Hypasian Provinces a right of secluded private worship in their own residences, and forbade the Synod from compelling any alien religion to violate its own rituals and precedents to honor Almitian festivals. In January 1480, the Emperor would order for the establishment of the Commission of Other Faiths, to coordinate future government policies towards alien religions, and their relationship with the Almitian Church. As regards to public matters, he proved himself to be a benevolent, generous sovereign, displaying his concern for the welfare of his subjects.
 * This was put to the test when on August 24, 1479, Pompeii I went supernova in the Malarian Provinces. The ensuing disaster destroyed the Laurasian colony of Hercalena; the renowned Laurasian historian, scientist, and philosopher Sir Gaius Plinus Secundus (Pliny the Elder, 1423-79), who had published his Naturalia Historia just the preceding year, was among the nearly fifty million colonists killed in the disaster. The Emperor immediately ordered for a state of emergency to be declared in the vicinity of Hercalena; commanded for the subjects of those star systems to take precautionary measures to safeguard themselves, and their families; opened the reserves of the Imperial Treasury to finance recovery and emergency reconstruction efforts; and in October 1479, ordered for a study to be undertaken of the nature of the supernova. Moreover, the Emperor had the gamma ray deflection systems of all worlds within a 2,000 light-year radius from Hercalena activated, so as to protect them from the effects of the disaster. He gained wide-spread acclaim from the inhabitants of the Empire for his efforts. On November 4, 1479, in order to cement his position further, he crowned himself Emperor at the Old Westphalian Cathedral, in a ceremony attended by all of the notables of the Imperial Laurasian Court. As for the Hypasian Provinces, General Agricola, during the latter months of 1479, sponsored the colonization of the systems of Spencer, Coleman, Ambarac, and Titus Majoria (named in honor of the Emperor); between 1479 and 1493, the year of Agricola's death, more than four million Laurasian and Core colonists would establish themselves on these worlds.

1480

 * 1480, the 80th year of the fifteenth century, began with the Laurasian Empire having acquired a new ruler in the form of Titus I. Emperor Titus had, through his abolition of the "informant" practices, his generosity in the disaster which struck the star system of Hercalena, and his vigorous defense of both the Almitian Church and of the Empire's alien faiths, earned the love and respect of his subjects. The fears of some that he would become another Caligula, Tiberius, or Antiochus proved to be completely unfounded: he continued with the wise policies of state which had been pursued by his father, Emperor Vespasian. And indeed, during the early months of 1480, the Emperor was confronted with further challenges, which again revealed his concern for the welfare of his subjects. On January 18, 1480, the Station of Exeron, in orbit of Laurasia Prime, suffered a catastrophic reactor failure. Within a short space of time, the station's mooring systems and orbital grid had failed. From thence, it careened into the atmosphere of the capital world below, and smashed into the city of Osraninpolis. The resulting impact destroyed the Station, devastated eighty square miles of territory in Osraninpolis, and killed or injured more than 600,000 persons. Titus, upon hearing of this disaster, ordered for the imposition of marital law in Osraninpolis; issued a emergency declaration to the authorities of Laurasia Prime; and again opened the reserves of the Imperial Treasury for relief and reconstruction efforts. The Emperor established a commission to oversee these efforts and himself undertook two visits to Osraninpolis, comforting many of those who had been displaced, and many of those who had lost loved ones.
 * He himself aided in the removal of debris, and he gave orders that all subjects who had suffered financial loss as a result of the Station's destruction were to be relieved of all debts, obligations, and credit responsibilities which they owed. He also ordered an investigation into the causes of the Station's destruction (which would be completed in April 1480); mandated that new construction and systems regulations be devised, so as another disaster of these proportions could not occur again; and in June 1480, began construction on the Exeron Monument, to honor all of those who had lost their lives in the incident. Then in March 1480, an outbreak of the Antigenes fever broke out on Kalaria, Charasia, Combina I, Americana, and Metallasia. Soon, more than twenty million persons had been infected, and disorder erupted within those star systems. The Emperor had all communications and traffic to them suspended; ordered the 1st Imperial Fleet to impose a quarantine; and then commanded the medical and civil authorities to establish care camps, to impose a public curfew, and distribute emergency supplies to those affected. He also intensified the study efforts at the University of Caladaria, and he mandated that a vaccine be developed by no later than January 1, 1483. The Emperor also remitted all taxes due by those affected and offered each victim's family a annuity to cover their funeral and medical expenses.
 * The Emperor had, through these incidents, gained further acclaim from his people; on April 8, 1480, the Governing Senate honored him with the title of Galacticus Maximus, implying his concern for the civilization of the Caladarian Galaxy. Yet it was not just disasters that occurred. Architectural projects also came to a fruition. On April 21, 1480, the Emperor formally dedicated the Baths of Titus in Christiania. This was the second public sanitary and recreational complex built in Christiania by an Emperor (following the Baths of Seleucus), and would be followed, in turn, by the Baths of Antigonus, the Baths of Caracalla, the Baths of Neuchrus, and the Baths of Antigonus. This particular installation, following the typical Laurasian grid-plan, was divided into a sauna, a hot bath, a warm bath, a cold bath, and general relaxant facilities. It also contained a library, restaurants, gallery, and consumer shops, and had enough space to contain 200,000 individuals at a time. In September 1480, the Emperor would abolish all charges and fees for the use of public medical and sanitary institutions throughout the Empire. Then, on October 9, 1480, the 400th anniversary of the Battle of Ugra, which had witnessed the end of the Dasian Yoke and the liberation of the Stellar Kingdom of Laurasia, Emperor Titus formally dedicated the Flavian Amphitheater.
 * The Amphitheater, with enough room to fit 500,000 seated individuals, was one of the lavish, most extravagant edifices to now grace the city of Christiania. Standing over 1,200 feet, the structure was ringed by a set of specially dedicated statutes to Almitis, past Emperors, and other figures of significance in the history of the Empire. Its seating was divided according to social class and rank: the podium for government officials, the Governing Senate, Holy Synod, Councils of Civil Service and Secretaries, foreign dignitaries, clergymen, and the officials of the Imperial Laurasian Court; the maenianum primum for the nobles and magnates of the Empire; the immum for knights, knight bannerets, gentlemen, and non-hereditary members of imperial orders; and finally, the summum for all common subjects of the Empire. The Emperor himself, along with members of the imperial family and those specially selected by him, had the Imperial Box, elevated in the center of the auditorium, and on the same level as the podium and the maenianum primum. Containing enough space to hold one hundred individuals, the Box was equipped with its own commlinks, computer panels, and control systems for all operations of the Amphitheater. From it, the Emperor could see everything and witness everything. He could maintain control over the entertainments in the vast arena. Underneath the Arena, indeed, was a complex of holding pens, training rooms, and monitoring chambers, for the animals, competitors, and equipment used in the Amphitheater's events. The Underground Rooms also contained the offices of the Suffect of the Amphitheater, the Arena's leading official, who was appointed by, and directly responsible to, the Emperor.
 * The Amphitheater itself was intended for a variety of different purposes. Gladiatorial shows, jousts, tournaments, races, wild beast hunts, historical reenactments, plays, circus and comedy performances, dialogues, oratory sessions, academic competitions, recreations of natural scenes, and public events were all to be held there. The Amphitheater was also employed by the Archdiocese of Christiania for public prayer sessions and church festivals; as an emergency operations center in times of need by the local authorities; and as the repository for weapons and supplies of the Garrison of Laurasia Prime. Emperor Titus now launched a series of inaugural games, which continued into January 1481 and attracted millions from across Laurasia Prime, and elsewhere in the Empire. More than 100,000 contestants and 75,000 animals participated in these games. 1480 ended with the Empire still persisting in both internal and external tranquility. Early in the next year, however, there would be a short-lived, and abortive revolt against the Emperor.

1481

 * 1481, the 81st year of the fifteenth century, commenced with Emperor Titus having dealt with further disasters on Laurasia Prime and dedicated the Flavian Amphitheater, now one of the largest and most substantial public edifices in the Empire. Yet as the new year began, a short revolt broke out against the Emperor's authority. On January 3, 1481, at Palimisano in the Central Core, Sir Terentius Maximus (1440-81) raised his standard. He declared (foreshadowing the claims of the notorious rebel Anastasius Pugachevia in the eighteenth century), that he was the actual Grand Prince Brittanicus, son of the Emperor Claudius II; that he had escaped the assassination efforts of Antiochus III; and that he had lived a secluded, and secure, life in the Central Core. Now he had returned to reclaim his throne, restoring the Tiberian Dynasty to rightful rule over the Empire, and instigating a great "expansion of our Empire's territory, honor, and prestige." Maximus, who resembled Brittanicus in facial appearance, had a magnetic personality, and was wealthy, managed to assemble a cadre of followers. The garrison of Palimisano fell quickly to his message, and joined his cause. From Palimisano, he secured Pauli (January 7); Pasquarillo (January 12); and Ecreutus (January 14-19), thereby gaining the loyalty of the garrisons resident at those strongholds and widening his own territorial base. His forces then blockaded Williams (February 1, 1481), which proved to be far more recalcitrant, launched an assault against Paradine (February 8), and defeated a government force in the Battle of Azov (February 12). N'zoth then fell into his hands on February 16, and rebel expeditions harried the outskirts of Wroona, Constantine I, and Metallasia. Courdina V was then sacked (February 22, 1481), and on March 8, Williams finally fell to the rebel forces.
 * Emperor Titus, from as soon as hearing of the outbreak of this revolt, issued a manifesto from the Royal Palace of Briannia, to which he had moved at the beginning of the year (January 7, 1481). He denounced the claims of Maximus called upon all Laurasian subjects to resist his entreaties, and ordered for the remains of Grand Prince Brittanicus to be analyzed, the results of which were published in a government study. He allowed for rebel forces to make the advances that they did, so that their supply lines would be overextended, and so that Maxentius become over-ambitious. Then, on March 12, 1481, the Emperor struck. He now dispatched General Cerialis, who had assumed command of the Garrison of Laurasia Prime in November 1480, to take charge of the suppression of the rebellion. Cerialis rebelled a ambitious rebel move against Tony and Latifiah (March 14-17, 1481), and on March 22, won the Battle of Chloe, capturing more than 35,000 rebel troops. He then quickly recovered N'zoth and Azov (March 24-27), had government garrisons at Conservan and Reoyania destroy rebel convoys in the vicinity of Goss Beacon and Hypases (April 1), and on April 7, drove into the Central Core. He relieved Paradine and then captured a second rebel force in the Battle of Gorm (April 11, 1481). On April 23, 1481, following the recapture of Courdina V, Maximus suffered another devastating defeat in the Battle of Haley. Haley was recovered by the Imperial Laurasian Government.
 * Maximus's followers, who were hearing of the study published on the Emperor's command, and themselves aware that the rebellion was doomed, now began to desert him in droves. On May 4, 1481, Maxentius was forced to withdraw from Pasquarillo, and that world returned to its allegiance towards the Imperial Laurasian Government. He then moved towards Ecreutus, but on May 11, that stronghold was stormed by General Cerialis. Maximus then elected to flee into the Galactic Borderlands. He began his journey in the direction of Kelvania Major and Kanjur. On May 22, 1481, however, his starfighter suffered a engine malfunction, and he was hurled into Themes, a isolated red-giant located three hundred light years to the west of Pasquarillo. Maximus's death thereby brought an end to his rebellion; Palimisano was back in government hands by June 1. Emperor Titus proved ruthless again in suppressing rebellion, and he had more than 20,000 of the pretender's followers imprisoned, executed, or condemned to penal labor.
 * In the Hypasian Provinces, in the meantime, Governor-General Agricola had resumed his offensives, this time against the Caledonian Loop. During 1480, the General's focus had been on improving the fortifications of Hypasia Major, Hypasia Minor, Cassolar, and their associated colonies. He had also suppressed a civil revolt on Ho Chi Minh and Van Klep, ordering for more than 50,000 rioters to be banished from those respective star systems. And in March 1481, Agricola had destroyed the pirate base of Them Tho, recovering six Tiberius-class turbocannon which had been lost by a Laurasian expeditionary force in November of the previous year. But now, on June 8, 1481, the General advanced against Barratbang. This world, which had long been renowned for its pirate and smuggler havens, for its illicit space trade, and its other criminal connections, was subjected to a punishing bombardment. Its fall on June 16 was a major victory for the General; he seized more than $100 billion denarii worth of goods, destroyed the world's settlements, and had thirty of the most prominent smugglers, including the Hypasian Rak Dah, who had eluded imperial justice for nearly twenty years, executed and mounted on ramps in the system's outskirts. From Barratbang, he advanced upon and conquered Sattship, Anglour Wat, and Demnia (July 1481). On August 9, he established the colony of Tarramenia, and had its native tribes, the Targi, moved onto military reservations. He then applied force against the Gargi of Senkour Wat, and on August 22, 1481, had the Watti cities of Preti and Rama destroyed by the battleships of his fleet. Agricola then cleared the Tagus Straits, and on September 4, 1481, won the Battle of Udon Bachaurnni, dispersing another pirate fleet.
 * Emperor Titus, on his part, had embarked, in October 1481, on a journey to the Carinan Provinces. He had conducted a progress through Carina, Mommica, Sipp, Olivia, Muppet, Maxc-casi, and the Sort Drift, reveling in the acclaim of his subjects in those star systems. During his journey, the Emperor had commissioned the construction of more than four hundred public edifices, including amphitheaters, baths, auditoriums, spaceports, space stations, residences, and commercial markets; he had also ordered for the colonization of the systems of Griff and Taradia, in the vicinity of Muppet. On September 10, he reached Seejay Prime, and took his residence at the Platform of Serenity. There, however, the Emperor fell violently ill with the Antigenes fever. His health rapidly declined, and despite receiving experimental treatments from his physicians, Titus's life was declared beyond hope of rescue. His brother, Grand Prince Antiochus, was then at Laurasia Prime, and received word of his brother's worsening condition. To consolidate his own position, Antiochus went to the Casta Praetoria and secured a preliminary oath of allegiance from the Guards.
 * On September 13, 1481, Titus I died, aged forty-two, after having reigned for just over two years. Nevertheless, in that short time he had become ingratiated with his subjects, and had earned their respect. The Emperor would long be remembered, both for his generosity during his reign, and his successful repression of the Great Donguarian Rebellion. Antiochus now became Emperor, as Antiochus IV, and received an oath of allegiance from the institutions of the Imperial Laurasian Government. In his first manifesto to his subjects, the new Emperor lamented the fate of his brother, and ordered his subjects into a period of mourning for his soul. Titus's body was conveyed back to Laurasia Prime, and on September 24, he was interred next to his parents and sister at the Old Westphalian Cathedral. Emperor Antiochus, however, wasted no time in establishing that the Empire indeed had a new master. In Antiochus's view, the whole Empire would be governed in accordance with his wishes, and he would rule in an enlightened manner. More so than any of his predecessors, the Emperor asserted his own autocratic authority, and his dominance over all the affairs of state.
 * In addition to exercising absolute political power, Antiochus believed that the Emperor's role encompassed every aspect of daily life, guiding the Laurasian subjects as a cultural and moral authority. To usher in the new era, he would embark upon ambitious military, economic, and cultural programs with the intention of strengthening the Empire and of enhancing the reputation of its government. He was determined to govern the Empire conscientiously and scrupulously. He now personally involved himself in all branches of the administration. Edicts and decrees were, from October 1481 onwards, issued by him governing every aspect of daily life for his subjects, while taxation and public morals were rigidly enforced. The imperial bureaucracy came under the Emperor's intense scrutiny, improved its operations, and was cleansed of corruption. The Emperor hardly respected the rights of the Senate and Synod, subordinating them both to him, and he valued his appointees for their honesty, malleability, and competence. He dispensed with the neopotism which had been practiced by his father and brother. The Emperor, moreover, spent significant time away from Laurasia Prime, and was the most traveled Emperor of the fifteenth century. The focus of the imperial government was to revolve wherever he was at the moment.
 * On November 2, 1481, he crowned himself Emperor at the Old Westphalian Cathedral in Laurasia Prime. This ceremony was marked with much splendor, and the Emperor revised the coronation oath, incorporating provisions referring to his duties as protector of all Laurasian customs and as the arbiter of the will of Almitis. He also insisted on strict precedence regulations, and forbade the common crowds from being permitted to sit inside the Cathedral during the ceremony. Moreover, Antiochus dictated that communion was to be offered in the two forms only to him, thereby abolishing the exemptions granted previously to nobles and members of the imperial family. He also had the Imperial Crown Jewels regilded, and a new Wreath of State was crafted on his orders. The Emperor now issued medallions and medals enthusing his own merits, and the merits of the Almitian Church. In January 1482, new coinage would be struck, depicting Antiochus as the "Determiner of Laurasian Fortunes". During the last months of 1481, with the Emperor asserting his authority, General Agricola engaged in further moves, overrunning Phanarom and Tek Dhaki (October 8-14), crushing a Hypasian force in the Battle of Ramrot (November 4-12), and on November 23, 1481, destroying the Pol Pot Outposts, on the farther side of the Caledonian Loop. December 1481 saw the devastation of Ang Lac, and the confiscation of all Hypasian noble properties on Honkin, Haiphong, and Tonkin.

1482

 * 1482, the 82nd year of the fifteenth century, opened with the Laurasian Empire having again changed rulers. Titus I, after a reign of just over two years, was dead, and had now been succeeded by his brother Antiochus IV. Antiochus's assertion of his autocratic rights, and his establishment of new policies in affairs of state have already been described. Economics, moreover, became the Emperor's primary focus as the new year opened. On January 7, 1482, the Emperor announced to his subjects that he was undertaking an extensive reform of the Empire's currency, meant to target inflation, to encourage employment, and to control the money supply. In a series of decrees, issued on January 11, January 19, and February 1, Antiochus revalued and redesigned the Empire's currency. He now tied the sesterces values, attached to all bills of denomination, to the worth of solid platinum in the Empire; platinum, he believed, was a more stable metal, with less flexibility in its value, than gold, silver, or other minerals. Ases and tiraces were taken out of circulation, replaced by shekels and peonias, valued at 5c and 25c respectively. The silver purity of the regular denarius was increased from 90% to 98%; strict new regulations and penalties for counterfeiting, bankruptcy, and public debt were implemented; and Antiochus required all obligations of the Imperial Household to be recorded in a special dossier, maintained by his own personal officials.
 * He also eliminated bills of denomination valued above $10,000, and required for all banks to ban foreign currency, unless if it could be easily converted into metals acceptable to the Imperial Treasury. He extended the Treasury's jurisdiction over the financial affairs of the Empire's nobles, and he imposed a uniform system of tariffs, duties, and product charges for the Empire's orbital garrisons, spaceports, and stations. Internal tariffs were laid down on a schedule in March 1482, and local authorities were forbidden to levy charges on products exported from their own systems; they could only levy on imports. In April 1482, the Emperor revised the donatives given to the Praetorian Guards, the public, and the Imperial Court, ordering that accounts be made of all such awards, and requiring recipients, for the first time ever, to file public tax returns in regards to the expenses for which they used the donatives. In November 1482, Antiochus would forbid any subject of the Empire from receiving welfare and relief payments if they had been unemployed for more than three years, and he narrowed the criteria for orphans, single-parent families, and dependents with disabilities. In January 1483, the Emperor would require that all welfare payments be made electronically, and he would forbid those receiving such payments from possessing hard currency.
 * The Emperor also sought to continue with the program of construction in Christiania, the other cities of Laurasia Prime, and elsewhere throughout the Empire, as had been conducted under Vespasian and Titus. In March 1482, he ordered for the codification of all construction, relief, and zoning regulations which had been passed since 1464; the Code of Municipal Standards would appear in January 1483, and would be applied to all settlements, cities, towns, colonies, and garrisons throughout the Empire. Antiochus abolished the Emergency Commissions of Christiania in July 1482, and placed all responsibility for future disasters under a Agency of Public Architecture, to be subordinated to the Suffects, and subject to the purview of the reorganized College of Planetary Resources and Infrastructure. The Emperor established a separate Treasury Reserve for future emergencies, and he required that nobles with a stake in commercial business (such as in transport, spices, and starships), be required to provide for the future relief of all disasters caused in the vicinity of space. In June 1483, the Emperor established a centralized Sentient Services Office, to which all requests for medical supplies, food, and equipment by those deprived of their homes through disaster or government confiscation were to be directed.
 * As for the construction, the Emperor erected more edifices than any of his predecessors since Antiochus the Great. More than a million public structures of importance would be raised throughout the Empire during the course of his reign; 10,000 of these were on Laurasia Prime and its moons. The Emperor, in 1483 and 1484, renovated the newly erected Flavian Amphitheater, building a Security Access Center, expanding the Imperial Box, and improving the Amphitheater's emergency communications systems. In September 1482, he restored the Cathedral of Sts. Vesta and Pax, and ordered for the Grove of Paul in Herkorim to be re-laid and reoriented. In October of that year, he dedicated the Flavian Mausoleum on Dayanie, and built statutes to the memory of his parents and brother at the Calumnis Estate. The Forum of Peace was renovated between May 1482 and July 1485; and in 1486, the Emperor would commission the construction of the Spoils House, to hold all the treasures seized in Laurasian military campaigns dating back to the time of Honorius the Liberator.
 * In May 1482, he dedicated the Arch of Titus in Christiania. This structure was built to celebrate his brother's victories in Donguaria, and to serve as an additional memorial to his brother's reign. The Arch contained an inscription dedicating it to the Grand Prince, depictions of the Donguarian Rebellion, and of the spoils seized, and a panel tracing the lineage of the Vespasanite Family. In addition to this, he would, in September 1482, dedicate the Obelisk of Vespasian, with a statute of his father placed at its base. The Odeon of Antiochus, a structure intended for plays, musical competitions, and public performances, was built from November 1482, and finished in June 1485. This structure was based on the ancient Brethalian and Grinae odeons of the Ancient Age. In 1483-86, the Emperor would construct the Stadium of Antiochus, for specialized athletic competitions, races, and parades. And in 1487, he embarked upon the massive expansion of the Quencilvanian Palace. This expansion, not completed until 1495, created the Blast Room, added more than 1,000 additional chambers to the Palace superstructure, redesigned and modernized the Palatial Information Center, created the Palace Courier and Rapid Transit Service, and vastly improved the Palace's security systems. He also completely redesigned the Seleucid Gardens, and built the Avenue of Honors, lined with statutes of previous Laurasian monarchs. A arcade was also constructed to connect the Palace with the Circus Maximus and the Flavian Amphitheater. The Emperor also renovated and rebuilt portions of the Byrnes Palace, Old Royal Palace, and Diplomatic Palace; the Diplomatic Palace, in particular, saw the organization of its Foreign Embassy Chambers and the creation of new offices for the College of Foreign Affairs.
 * Besides these continuing innovations of the Emperor, 1482 also saw further campaigns in the Upper Hypasian Provinces by General Agricola. He also consolidated the Laurasian hold in Upper Angelica. January 1482 saw the General besiege, capture, and destroy the Hypasian outposts of Atapau, Pakan, and Pakse. On February 8, the General moved towards Hurston, which was located on the outskirts of the Immortalized Cluster, and had been discovered by an imperial expedition in 1476. The ensuing Siege of Hurtson lasted for nearly two months, as the planetary Coeii civilization (which possessed a powerful space defensive capability) vigorously resisted all the assaults of the Imperial Laurasian Navy's formations, employed their ion disruptors to great effect against Laurasian warships, and kept their communications open with Kuraon. Finally, however, on April 1, 1482, Hurston fell into Laurasian hands. Agricola then destroyed the Angelican pirate holdouts of Stash and Terkeit (April 2-14, 1482), and on May 1, 1482, won the Battle of Dejang, thereby severing all supply links from the outer Immortalized Cluster to the Hypasian Provinces. In June 1482, he invaded and conquered Muang Xay and Phunbogali, uprooting the Tierian Hypasians from those star systems. He then destroyed the native Choi civilization of Samgositu (July 1-7, 1482), and freed their Zannanite and Bannian slaves. By the end of August 1482, the Hypasian world of Kiytre had also been occupied by Laurasian units.
 * General Agricola then conducted a march through Thahkeuk, Xam Neua, and Dom Neua (September 1482), forcing all of these star systems to swear an oath of allegiance to the Emperor of Laurasia, and installing garrisons on them. On October 8, 1482, he encountered and destroyed a force commanded by the elusive Hypasian pirate Teri-Ah in the Battle of Diem Ven Phu, and blockaded Lugsha. Lugsha fell on November 4, 1482, after a siege of almost a month. General Agrciola then fortified the colony of Tardamon, established in July 1481, and moved to conquer Vientiane (November 14-19). December 1482 saw Laurasian units seize the Outpost of Janx. By the end of 1482, only the inner regions of the Caledonian Loop remained outside of Laurasian control.
 * Comet Demosthena is visible from Laurasia Prime. It will not be seen again until 1559.

1483

 * 1483, the 83rd year of the fifteenth century, began with the Laurasian Empire's military forces in the Upper Hypasian and Angelican Provinces, under the command of Governor-General Gnaeus Julius Agricola, pursuing their final campaigns in the Caledonian Loop, the last region of Hypasian territory which remained outside of the control of the Imperial Laurasian Government. General Agricola was determined to leave nothing to chance; he sought for the complete and utter subjugation of the Loop, and the destruction of all remaining Hypasian holdouts, pirate forces, and the like. Consequently, in November 1482, he had requested from the Emperor and the Imperial General Headquarters substantial reinforcements. These reinforcements, in the form of the 7th Imperial Fleet and the 8th Imperial Army, arrived at his command headquarters on Diem Ven Phu (January 3, 1483). Then on January 10, 1483, three centuries before the Battle of Imokhill, in which Admiral Sir Thomasius Whyrtia inflicted a decisive defeat upon the forces of the Desmonian Rebellion in the Scottrian Governorates, General Agricola sallied forth from Diem Ven Phu. He overran the Hypasian outpost of Udon Thani (January 10-13, 1483), capturing 15,000 Hypasian troops, destroying the system's fortifications, and inflicting severe damage to the Thani Marital Valleys, long one of the chief tourist attractions in the Caladarian Galaxy.
 * From Udon Thani, General Agricola's forces successively reduced the outposts of Surat Thani, Burat Thani, and Khon Keon (January 17-25), and on February 1, 1483, he destroyed a Hypasian task force in the Battle of Roui Thani's Star. From thence, he destroyed a Hypasian communications relay in the Outer Thani Nebula (February 5) and on February 11, conquered the garrison of Gubani. By the end of February 1483, Laurasian units had also conquered the Hypasian pirate bases of Chiang Mai, Sat Ki, and Pak Kret. It was at this point that the last of the significant Hypasian rebel leaders to oppose the intrusions of the Laurasian Empire, Calg Thiat, took command of the Adjuhajei Pirates at Phuket (March 4, 1483). From Phuket, he issued a proclamation, calling upon loyal Hypasians to join his forces, denouncing the excesses of the Laurasian "occupiers", and demanding that the Hypasian Hegemony be restored. At first, he managed to make gains. He drove Laurasian units from Kiytre and Dejang (March 8-14), harried the defenses of Tambor Wat (March 22), and on March 28, won the Battle of Nam Chao, briefly reconquering that stronghold. Rebel units then secured Tonkin, Annam, and the Cochin Outposts, and on April 8, 1483 (three centuries before the annexation of the Haynsia by Empress Aurelia the Great), he won the Battle of Thak Nasao, destroying five Augustus-class destroyers of the Imperial Laurasian Navy and freeing more than 75,000 Hypasian prisoners, then in Laurasian custody. Agricola, however, had in the meantime laid waste the outpost of Chongukin (April 2-4), and on April 12, 1483, he encountered and defeated a Hypasian task force at Djem So. From Djem So, he drove into the system of Ataru (April 21-24), and won a decisive victory there, forcing Calg Thiat to terminate his plans for offensive moves against Cassolar, Qu'emia, and Huerta Mongol.
 * On April 29, Calg Thiat, changing his strategy, attempted to launch a vain strike against the Laurasian General at Hursae. The ensuing Battle of Hursae saw Agricola secure a strategic victory, for he blunted the offensive moves of Calg Thiat's starfighter squadrons, maintained his own headquarters in the star system, and inflicted greater casualties upon the Hypasians. Though Agricola was then forced to defend Xam Neua and Dom Neua from Hypasian moves (May 1483), he had nevertheless regained the advantage. Kiytre was besieged from May 28, and its recovery by the Empire on June 6, 1483, was a great humiliation for the rebel forces. Calg Thiat then attempted to save Nam Chao and Dejang, but failed at the Nerite Star (June 11, 1483). Both strongholds were back in Laurasian hands by June 20; then on June 26, the Battle of Honkin saw another victory for General Agricola. Tonkin, Annan, and the Cochin Outposts were recovered by the middle of July 1483. Agricola then repelled another Hypasian attack against his forces in the Battle of Dano, on July 27. He then determined to force a decisive, direct confrontation with Calg Thiat, and to that purpose lured him to Mons Graupius, which had been colonized by the Imperial Laurasian Navy in December 1482.
 * On August 3, 1483, the Laurasians and Hypasians clashed in the Battle of Mons Graupius. General Agricola placed his auxiliaries in the front line, keeping his main offensive regiments in the rear, and relied upon the superior organization and coordination of his forces in order to blunt Hypasian frontal attacks. He also employed his Tiberius-class turbocannon, to devastating effect. Calg Thiat found that he could not withstand the full power of the Empire in a direct confrontation, and in spite of all his efforts, his forces faltered. By the end of the day, the Battle of Mons Graupius had ended in a decisive victory for the Laurasian Empire. Hypasian units, driven off by the Laurasian squadrons, attempted an outflanking movement, but were themselves outflanked by Laurasian corvettes, frigates, and couriers; all of their attempts to land on the surface of the world were repelled by organized Laurasian aerial assaults. More than 150,000 Hypasian rebel troops died or were wounded in the confrontation, and over a third of their warships destroyed, compared to just 30,000 casualties and the loss of ten vessels for the Laurasians. Calg Thiat himself was captured, being bound in chains on the orders of General Agricola. In September 1483, he would be conveyed back to Laurasia Prime, paraded through its moons and the city of Christiania, and on October 7, executed by the command of Emperor Antiochus at the Post Settlement of Hepudermia.
 * The Emperor hailed the victories of his commander, and on October 14, 1483, awarded him the Order of St. Honorius the Liberator. He commanded for all of his subjects to celebrate, and had a Te Deum conducted at the Westphalian Cathedral. Yet the campaigns were not entirely over. Two-thirds of the Hypasian force escaped from Mons Graupius and now conducted a harrying campaign against Laurasian forces. Agricola pushed on, determined to finally root them out and to thereby consolidate Laurasian rule of the Caledonian Loop. On August 11, he sacked and devastated the Hypasian outpost of Thal Thani; by August 16, his forces had stormed Pataya, Nattkhon Sawan, and Phitsanulok. In September 1483, he engaged in a game of cat and mouse with the Hypasian stragglers, now led by Dag That, in the vicinity of Hanoi, Bangkok, and Atapau. The Laurasians gradually wore down the Hypasian resistance, and inflicted severe losses upon their ranks. Finally, on October 24, 1483, he lured Dag That and his remaining warships to the Nestes Trap; the Battle of Nestes saw a final, more decisive victory for the Laurasian Empire. Dag That and all of his subordinates died in the confrontation, and the Hypasian force was virtually wiped out. It was on November 8, 1483, with the conquest of Inckhutalli in the Wild Marshes, that the conquest of Hypasia, forty years after the initial invasion of Emperor Claudius, was finally concluded. The Hypasian Wars had constituted the Laurasian Empire's longest-running military conflict, and the Hypasian Provinces was the territory subdued with the most difficulty by the Empire. Yet after 1483, Laurasian rule over Hypasia, except for sporadic revolts, occasional pirate and smuggler activity, and acts of civil disobedience, was secure.
 * Emperor Antiochus, on his part, had turned his attention to the Kingdom of the Cosites and the Iffian Imperium, on the northern reaches of the Empire's territory. Ever since the conquest of the Solidaritan Sultanate in 1412, Laurasian relations with both the Cosites and the Iffians had, for many decades, remained startlingly peaceful. The two species, who had asserted themselves following the collapse of Amelianian and Donathian power in the Northern Galactic Borderlands, were too busy fighting with each other, with the Neo-Xilanian Empire, and with the Lavellan States to pose a threat to the Empire's position in the Northern Provinces. But by the late 1470s, that had changed. In 1478, the Iffians gained an aggressive new monarch in the form of Curat (1478-87). Curat was determined to extend the power of his realm towards the Galactic Core, and rightly viewed the Empire as a threat to this. Consequently, he aligned himself with Durna II of Cosita (1476-86), who also entertained ambitions of expanding at Laurasian expense. Beginning in 1481, the Cosites and the Iffians had engaged in routine raiding expeditions into the Empire's territory.
 * Roxuli, Abraham, Eaidon, Zoe, Skyler, and Iphsilion, among other strongholds, were harried by them between June 1481 and April 1483. These operations irritated the Imperial Laurasian Government, resulted in the capture of more than two hundred million sentients, and the infliction of nearly $200 trillion denarii worth of property damage. The Emperor of Laurasia, who had focused on his reforms and innovations within the government, and upon the final subjugation of the Hypasian Provinces, had nevertheless, in March 1482, ordered the Imperial General Headquarters to draft plans for a short, decisive war against the Iffians and Cosites, in order to force them to halt their operations into Laurasian territory. These plans were completed a year later; the Emperor then began assembling his forces throughout the Northern Provinces, and on September 19, announced to the Senate and Synod his intention of going to war. It was on October 22, 1483, that he sent a ultimatum to the Cosite and Iffian Governments, demanding for their recognition of Laurasian dominance over Hypasia and Angelica; the termination of all their expeditions into the Northern Provinces; and the return of all prisoners and goods seized.
 * Curat and Durna, however, had spurned this Laurasian demand, and on November 3, Solidaritan Doris and Finch became subject to another one of their raiding expeditions. This one, however, was repelled by the Imperial Laurasian Navy. Then on November 12, 1483, the Emperor, who had moved from Laurasia Prime to Shannon, issued a declaration of war. Laurasian units, operating from Roxuli, Abraham, Eaidon, Zoe, and their immediate surrounding systems, advanced quickly into the Satian Provinces, then under Cosite control. Gayle was besieged and conquered by a Laurasian expeditionary force (November 12-17, 1483); on November 21, the Emperor's forces obtained a decisive victory in the Battle of King, destroying a joint Cosite-Iffian fleet and demonstrating their tactical supremacy. From King, Charlie was besieged, beginning on November 23, 1483. Emperor Antiochus himself now took direct command of his military forces and conducted the siege. The Siege of Charlie lasted until December 4, when the stronghold fell into Laurasian hands. The Emperor then stormed Multan, Margery, and O'Donnell (December 6-14, 1483), and on December 20, the Battle of Juxles ended in another victory for His Majesty. By the end of the year, Bingley was besieged by the Emperor's units.

1484

 * 1484, the 84th year of the fifteenth century, saw the culmination and then the conclusion of the First Northern War, the first of two major military conflicts fought in the late fifteenth century between the Laurasian Empire on the one hand, and the Iffian Imperium, alongside the Cosite Kingdom, on the other hand. Bingley fell on January 7, 1484; Emperor Antiochus was ruthless, and he had that world's residences, businesses, and other properties comprehensively plundered. From Bingley, a Laurasian force scattered a Cosite convoy near DeMarco (January 11, 1484), and on January 17, the Battle of Sadie ended in another victory for the Empire. The Cosites, under General Aduza, now launched a series of counteroffensives against Roxuli, Massanay, and Sassanay, briefly overrunning all three of these strongholds (January 22-27, 1484). On February 7, they stormed into the outskirts of Dennis; from thence, Wendy, Coen, and Deanna were also assaulted by Cosite units. At the same time, a Iffian expedition struck at Laronn, Sheryl, and Methusalah, penetrating into the heart of the Solidaritan Provinces. A uprising also erupted on Berhamia and Sair by local Solidaritans against the imperial authorities (February 12-14, 1484). The Emperor, apparently confronted by a multitude of sudden crises, dealt with the situation admirably.
 * On February 19, the Governor of Istantius, Sir Leo Baslicus, defeated a Cosite force at Grunch. From Grunch, he bombarded Sair, killing more than 170,000 insurgents and reasserting Laurasian authority in the star system (February 28, 1484). March 1484 saw Laurasian forces drive Iffian units from Laronn and Sheryl, stop their offensive moves in the direction of Alexandia, Frederickslandia, and Leopolodia, and penetrate into Massanay. Emperor Antiochus, on his part, won the Battle of Ipukli (March 28, 1484), which was fought on the three hundredth anniversary of the death of Honorius the Terrible. The coincidence was not lost on the Emperor, and he boasted of how he had achieved where Honorius had failed, in the arts of war and of internal stability. On April 9, 1484, Governor Baslicus suppressed the Solidaritan uprising on Berhamia; Laurasian forces also halted another Iffian expedition, this time against Durglais, Alemeda, and Nystadia. By April 14, Massanay and Sassanay were both back in Laurasian hands; Roxuli followed on April 26; and on May 1, 1484, the Emperor won the Battle of Kaming.
 * Orkhan was conquered on May 6, and on May 14, a Laurasian expedition struck at Pelaski, Kia, and Sly James, inflicting severe damage on the fortifications of those relevant star systems. Then on May 22, 1484, the Emperor lured General Aduza to Meneia, which had been colonized earlier in that century. The ensuing Battle of Meneia resulted in a decisive victory for the Laurasian Empire; Aduza himself was captured, and 200,000 enemy troops lost their lives. Dennis was recovered by Laurasian forces on June 1, and by June 8, they had overrun McIver, Ferguson, Ra'dai, and Illumis, thereby further humiliating the Cosites and Iffians. Laurasian forces were now posed for an offensive against Norah; Satie was besieged from June 3, and fell to them on June 14. Laurasian expeditions penetrated to Adrianne, Abrianne, Natalie, and Tiona; Belprasian was sacked by a Laurasian force on June 26, 1484. Thus it was that on July 12, that both Curat and Durna sued for peace with the Imperial Laurasian Government. The Armistice of Poloa was signed on July 27, 1484.
 * Negotiations then commenced at Martina Mccasia in August 1484. The Emperor's interests were vigorously promoted by Sir Philiostratus Versanius (1439-92), who had served as Chancellor of the Empire since October 1479, and was a loyal servant of Emperor Antiochus. Sir Versanius was well versed in the arts of diplomacy, and he sought to conciliate the Cosite and Iffian delegations while at the same time maintaining the demands of the Imperial Laurasian Government. It was on September 7, 1484, that the Treaty of Martina Mccasia was signed. By the terms of this treaty, all Cosite and Iffian expeditions into the Empire's territory were to cease. The Cosites and Iffians pledged to return all captives they had seized back to the Empire; to pay the Imperial Laurasian Government an annuity of $150.7 trillion denarii, to compensate for the damages they inflicted, and to recognize the integrity of their borders with the Empire. They also agreed to acknowledge Laurasian rule of the Hypasian and Angelican Provinces. In exchange, Emperor Antiochus agreed to revert to the status quo ante bellum, in regards to territorial matters, and to withdraw all Laurasian forces from Cosite and Iffian territory by no later than January 1, 1486. He also agreed to permit for free commercial transit between the two realms, for a period of three years.
 * The Treaty of Martina Mccasia was ratified by all governments by the end of September 1484. Emperor Antiochus began the withdrawal of his military forces, in accordance with the Treaty's provisions, and then, on November 9, 1484, embarked on his trip back to Laurasia Prime. He arrived at his capital world on November 16, and was received with acclaim by the world's populace. He conducted a triumph through the moons, the Second Station of Callista, and into the city of Christiania. The Governing Senate honored him with the titles of Solidaritus Maximus, Cositus Maximus, and Iffius Maximus; he was blessed by the Holy Synod, a Te Deum was sung at the Westphalian Cathedral, and medallions were struck in honor of the occasion. The Emperor then staged a series of lavish games at the Flavian Amphitheater and the Circus Maximus, in order to celebrate the victories thus obtained. As regards to the Hypasian Provinces, Governor-General Agricola had continued colonization and fortification efforts, now that the Caledonian Loop was firmly in Laurasian hands; Tarramania, Icamania, Diocletiania, and Antiochia were all colonized in this year, and the garrison of Hypasia Major received a substantial expansion. The General also constructed the Trae Garrisons in the outskirts of the Loop, and ordered for the holonet system in the Outer Hypasian Provinces to be overhauled. 1484 ended with the Empire again at peace.

1485

 * 1485, the 85h year of the fifteenth century, commenced with the Laurasian Empire again restored to both external and internal peace. Emperor Antiochus, through his short First Northern War against the Iffian Imperium and the Cosite Kingdom, had ended their raiding expeditions into the Northern Provinces, secured his Empire's jurisdiction in that region, and gained further renown for himself, and for the Empire's military forces. The Hypasian Provinces, as previously mentioned, were now completely subdued. It was thus that in January 1485, Emperor Antiochus formally recalled General Agricola from his duties as Governor of Hypasia and Angelica, and commanded him to return to Laurasia Prime promptly. Agricola, who had been the Governor of those territories for nearly eight years, was by now one of the most renowned military commanders in the Empire, famed throughout for his victories over the intractable Hypasians. Yet the Emperor had now developed a distrust and a jealousy of him, and believed that it would be best to have this vigorous commander under his direct supervision.
 * Agricola, who was himself tired of the exertions of war and administration, and wished to find more peace for himself, accepted the Emperor's recall without demur. On January 21, 1485, he returned to Hypasia Major, and in a speech at the Vakat Palace, declared to his associates and subordinates that he had fulfilled the mission of the Lord Almitis in those territories. Then on February 6, after making further arrangements for the governmental administration in those regions, he made his departure from Hypasia Major, and proceeded in quick fashion to Laurasia Prime. His arrival (February 10, 1485), was greeted with much celebration by the subjects of the capital world. The Senate honored him with the title of The Emperor's Hand; public manifestos were issued enthusing over his achievements; and crowds adored him, shouting their thanks and appreciation to him for what he had accomplished. Emperor Antiochus received the victorious General at the Quencilvanian Palace, and told him that he would always be due the thanks of the Empire's subjects.
 * For the remainder of the month, Agricola found himself celebrated by all on Laurasia Prime. But on March 4, 1485, the Emperor commanded for the General to retire to his estates on Taurasia, and to stay away from the Imperial Laurasian Court. This astonished all, but he complied. Agricola left Laurasia Prime for the last time on March 16, and arrived at Taurasia on April 1. There, he was to remain for the last eight years of his life. The celebrations ended; Antiochus avoided any further references to the victor of the Battle of Mons Graupius, and issued an injunction forbidding the members of his Household from making similar references. Never again did Agricola hold a position of importance in either the military or in administration; he was given no further honors by the Emperor, and Antiochus, by 1487, was taking credit for himself, for the victories gained in Hypasia and Angelica.
 * The Emperor, during the middle months of 1485, focused his attention on the Imperial Almitian Church. As mentioned above, Antiochus rigorously enforced public morals and religion. Throughout his reign, he associated himself closely with the Church, and expressed his firm belief in all of its customs. In order to justify the divine nature of the rule of his dynasty, he emphasized his own connections to the Lord Paul of Almitis. It was in April 1485 that he had a statute of the Prophet erected in the city of Christiania; between 1485 and 1491, similar statutes would be erected in nearly 20,000 other star systems throughout the Empire. He also had a personal shrine to the Prophet erected in the Imperial Chapel. He had the Synod bless the memories of his parents, brother, stillborn daughter, and niece, and in September 1485, ordered for all deceased relatives of sovereigns back to the reign of Honorius I to be given the same honors. He also ordered the construction of the Templum Devorum and the Templum Fortuna Redux, in order to pay further respects to the imperial family; both structures would be completed in 1495. In 1486, the Emperor would begin construction of the Sts. Seleucus and Honorius Monastery in Mendelevium, and in 1487, he would establish the Brigitte Order, with all previous Laurasian monarchs as the order's patron saints.
 * In June 1485, the Emperor renewed the Heresy and Sodomy Laws; he now tightened the penalties for adultery, sodomy, and incest. In his public manifestos, Antiochus stated that such crimes would never be tolerated within his realms, and ordered for the Holy Synod to impose a sentence of automatic excommunication upon any who dared transgress. He expanded the authority of the Court of Heresies, and by the decree of September 7, 1485, forbade all nobles and gentlemen from marrying more than once without obtaining a special dispensation from the Synod. Later that same month, Antiochus would grant the Synod the authority to issue dispensations relating to familial adoption, but laid strict regulations upon the marriage of minors (those under the age of sixteen). In 1488, the Emperor would forbid all sexual relations among couples who had not obtained control over their own revenues and estates. He also mandated that any parent found to engage in relations with their child be not only excommunicated and imprisoned (or executed for the most heinous offenses), but forfeit all of their property and all rights to have children or spouses in the future.
 * The Emperor also heavily prosecuted corruption among clergymen and functionaries, removing any who who were demonstrated to have accepted bribes, and ordering for any found to engage in illicit sexual conduct to be promptly defrocked. He reiterated the old ban on clerical marriage, and revised the rules for denouncement of clergy by their peers. He was especially harsh with nuns and monks. In 1487, the Emperor had six hundred nuns of the Benedictine and Carthusian Orders, found to have broken their vows of lifelong chastity, flared and then buried alive, as custom demanded. In 1493, he would order for the Monastery of St. Joseph's on Jem to be destroyed and all of its monks and mendicants flogged, deprived of their property, and cast out, following reports of "lewd and naughty sexual conduct" there. In 1495, the Emperor would order the Court of High Heresies to conduct annual examinations of all dioceses, monasteries, nunneries, abbacies, chantries, and church estates, so as to root out those accused of sexual impropriety.
 * By October 1485, however, the Emperor had new concerns. Tensions had remained high between the Laurasian Empire and the Celestial Dynasty of Kimania following the end of the Deustianian War in 1476. Duras Shogun, in particular, embarked upon an extensive military mobilization, intensifying his efforts following the death of Emperor Vespasian in June 1479. Narra, Nanking, the strongholds of the Orion Cluster, Gardiner, Leo's Redoubt, Samantha, Breha, Messalina, Chobania, Goni, Reading; all of these strongholds saw their garrisons increased in size, given modern military equipment, and reorganized vigorously. Duras was encouraged by his younger brother, Prince Decabolio, in his efforts. Decabolio harbored a great hatred for the Laurasian Empire, and was determined to see his species return to their earlier position of power and honor. By November 1484, the mobilization efforts had been virtually complete, and in March 1485, Duras Shogun authorized his brother to conduct reconnaissance and harrying expeditions into Laurasian territory.
 * Decabolio did not hesitate to do so, and he now launched a series of vigorous moves. Gulistan was threatened by a Kimanian expedition that very month; then, between March and October 1485, the Kimanian Prince led expeditions against worlds as varied as Nahickvan, Karabakh, Qobba-Darkand, Shaki, Erevan, Tolbiac, Earl, Shell, Dumbgwita, and Khagia, among others. He harried Laurasian supply lines; impounded or attacked Laurasian transport and commercial convoys; and tampered with communications in the Upper Barsar Regions. All of these efforts greatly agitated the Imperial Laurasian Government; more than $200 trillion denarii worth of damage was attributed to the Kimanian actions, and on Laurasia Prime, clamors arose for actions to be taken. At first, Emperor Antiochus had merely strengthened the garrisons of the Armenian Provinces, sent a series of diplomatic requests to the Kimanian Government, demanding for an end to the expeditions, and ordered the General Headquarters to draft plans for preemptive military operations. He also entrusted the rising young Major-General, Sir Antigonus Trajanus, commander of the garrisons of Cal, Simon, Stahl, and Beverly Hereidu, with greater responsibility, in defending against the expeditions and maintaining Laurasian border defenses. But it was in October that the clamors reached such a level, and Kimanian actions such a tempo, that Antiochus finally took more vigorous action. In particular, the Kimanian murder of the Governor of Christopher, Sir Oppius Sabinus, on October 14, 1485, aroused much fury throughout the Empire. On October 17, the Emperor dispatched one last ultimatum to the Celestial Court. In this ultimatum, Antiochus demanded that all expeditions cease immediately; that the Shogun compensate the Empire for all of the losses it had suffered; and that Laurasian troops be stationed at Gardiner and Leo's Redoubt, to monitor Kimanian actions in the future.
 * Prince Decabolio openly laughed at the Laurasian demands, and so did Duras Shogun. On October 22, they issued a haughty response to the ultimatum. Refusing to heed the Emperor's terms, they called for the return of all territories seized by the Laurasian Empire since 1413. This was unacceptable for Emperor Antiochus, and on November 1, his patience finally exhausted, he issued a declaration of war. Kimanian units under Prince Decabolio, however, made their own advances into Laurasian territory. On November 3, they breached the defenses of Christophsis, securing that world with some ease. Christopher, already weakened by the loss of its governor, capitulated two days later. By November 13, Kimanian units had also occupied Shrivan, Shaki, Baku, and Derbent, dealing a series of humiliating blows to Laurasian garrisons in the Lower Barsar Regions. And on November 19, Decabolio Shogun won the Battle of Samurita, thereby driving into, and occupying, Gilestis. By the end of the month, the Laurasians had also lost Nikki Lowell, Constipex, and Dumbgwita to Kimanian offensives.
 * On December 7, 1485, however, a Kimanian move against Damavand, Trieste, and Morley was defeated by General Trajanus in the Battle of Calkand. He then repelled another Kimanian offensive, this time against Herat (December 11-14), and on December 18, seized Dominguez in a surprise offensive. Emperor Antiochus, on his part, now ordered his Praetorian Prefect, Legate-General the Lord Fuscus, to take command of operations in the Barsar Regions. Fuscus made his leave from Laurasia Prime on December 20, and proceeded rapidly along the Kimanian Trade Run. He arrived at Turkmenchay on December 22, and immediately launched a counteroffensive against Nikki Lowell, recovering that stronghold on Ascentmas Day, 1485. By the end of the year, Shrivan was under siege by Laurasian units. 1485 therefore ended with Laurasia once again at war with the Kimanians.

1486

 * 1486, the 86th year of the fifteenth century, commenced with the Laurasian Empire now engaged in war once more with the Celestial Dynasty of Kimania in the Barsar Regions. The early months of 1486 witnessed the Empire's military forces, under the command of Legate-General the Lord Fuscus, obtain a series of victories over the Kimanians. On January 9, 1486, Shrivan fell to the Empire; Fuscus had the High Citadel of Do Chou destroyed, all of the world's military supplies and equipment confiscated, and the leading officers of the garrison bound in chains and transported away from the star system. From Shrivan, Gilestis was reconquered (January 11), followed on January 16, by Nikki Lowell. On January 28, 1486, Lord Fuscus obtained another victory, this time over Prince Decabolio's chief subordinate, Lecabolio, in the Battle of Dymer. This allowed for him to recover both Constipex and Dumbgwita from the Kimanians (February 1486), and to drive into the outskirts of Shaki; Shaki fell on March 8, thereby dealing another blow to the Celestial Dynasty. Baku and Derbent were recovered by March 14, and on March 22, 1486, Fuscus obtained another victory in the Battle of Goni. Goni itself now fell into Laurasian hands. On March 25, Fuscus moved against Dominguez, overrunning the stronghold in swift order; from thence, Caleb, Dodson, and Harrison all fell into Laurasian hands (March 28-April 5). Prince Decabolio, however, had been biding his time against the Empire, and he now planned to lure Fuscus into a trap. The system which he chose for this was Sardae, the sister world of Tapae (where, later, two famous battles would be fought between the Empire and the Celestial Dynasty), and one of the chief Kimanian military outposts in the Lower Barsar Regions.
 * On April 9, 1486, Prince Decabolio succeeded in luring Fuscus's forces into Sardae, using his probes in order to disseminate false information to Fuscus and his subordinates that the world was open to an unchallenged, and swift Laurasian assault. When Fuscus arrived at the star system, indeed, he found that the defenses had apparently been dismantled, and that the garrison could be subject to a simple orbital bombardment. This, however, was a deception, and as soon as Laurasian units began bombarding the world's shields, Decabolio appeared with his fleet, surrounded the star system with his mobile units, and then shred through the lines of the Imperial Laurasian Navy. Fuscus found that he could not penetrate from the star system, and that he was trapped. Within hours, the Battle of Sardae had ended in a decisive victory for the Celestial Dynasty of Kimania. More than 150,000 Laurasian troops died; one-third of the fleet was destroyed, and another third dispersed; and Fuscus himself was killed towards the end of the confrontation. Following the Battle of Sardae, Kimanian forces made great advances. Goni was recovered (April 12), followed by Leseur (April 14), Lange (April 18), and on April 22, Dominguez. Gilestis and Constipex were again stormed by Kimanian units the following day, and on April 28, 1486, the Battle of Gilan ended in another victory for Prince Decabolio. By the beginning of May 1486, Decabolio's units had also conquered Baku, Derbernt, Turkmenchay, and Gyrmi.
 * On May 4, 1486, Decabolio laid Katli under siege; the Laurasian garrison of the star system posed a substantial resistance to the Prince's troops. Ultimately however, on May 11, Katli fell into Kimanian hands. Decabolio then destroyed a Laurasian task force at Morley (May 14), and by May 19, Isaac, Armenia Minor, and Woolestone had also fallen into Kimanian hands. Emperor Antiochus was now utterly distressed by this series of reverses, and he sought to take direct command of the military operations himself. On May 24, following the conquest of Hinds Prime and Kamanny by Kimanian forces, the Emperor made his leave from Laurasia Prime, and proceeded rapidly down the Trade Run to Roastafaria Major. He arrived there on May 27, and immediately launched a series of counteroffensives against the Kimanians. The Emperor secured the defenses of Christopher (June 1, 1486), drove Kimanian units from Willona and Woods (June 6), and on June 11, besieged Rolle. The stronghold fell four days later, and from thence, Bookman was assaulted. It proved more resilient, and on June 19, the Laurasians suffered a further reverse in the Battle of Shusha. By June 23, Prince Decabolio had successfully raided Isabella, penetrated into Les Mans, Cambrina, and Jasmine, and had blockaded Armenia Major. Emperor Antiochus's efforts to bolster the defenses of Rose, Jack, Ruthelaine, and Roastafaria Minor against these Kimanian moves were only partially successful. On July 3, 1486, however, Bookman did fall into the Emperor's possession.
 * Dorothea and Lange were then assaulted (July 6-11), but both strongholds could not be immediately taken, and had to therefore be laid under siege. On July 14, 1486, the Prince attacked the Emperor at Tolbiac; the ensuing Battle of Tolbiac resulted in a strategic victory for the Kimanian Prince, who managed to force a Laurasian withdrawal and to capture most of the Tiberius-class turbocannon deployed; Antiochus, however, inflicted greater casualties upon the Kimanian ranks, and he maintained the intergity of his chief offensive formations. Earl, Shell, and Khagia fell into Kimanian hands, but at the same time, Laurasian troops drove to Celestia, Neutria, and Ralina. By the end of August 1486, these three worlds were in Laurasian hands, and the Emperor conducted reconnaissance expeditions in the vicinity of Leo's Redoubt, Morangy, and Kimanis Mooria. On September 8, 1486, he recovered Baku and Derbent, and on September 13, drove into Mazandaran, which had been overrun by a Kimanian force. Peterslie, Warren, and Martinez, however, were sacked by Kimanian expeditions (September 14-22), and on October 2, Thelma was besieged and conquered by Prince Decabolio.
 * Decabolio's further advances were blunted by confrontations with the Emperor's units at Imma, Emma, Walden, Gigi, Stapleton, and Courtney during the course of October 1486; moreover, on October 17, 1486, the Battle of Tory ended in victory for the Emperor, who thereby recovered Shaki and Gilan. On November 4, Nakhichivan and Igdir were both assaulted by the Kimanians; Antiochus, by maintaining his communications lines, and rushing immediate aid to the relevant garrisons, managed to keep both systems in Laurasian hands. On November 17, Prince Decabolio, stymied in the Ashlgothian Borderlands Territories, launched another push into the Melorkian Provinces. Dacia fell to a vigorous Kimanian assault (November 17-19), and on November 22, 1486, he won the Battle of Merovech. He then destroyed the Laurasian hyperspace terminal at Tamars (November 24), seized Tourbonne (November 26-December 1), and on December 9, 1486, won the Battle of Dagnught. Moule then fell into Melorkian hands on December 12. Emperor Antiochus, however, now moved swiftly to Cholodio. From Cholodio, he repelled Kimanian offensives against Wilmson, Xxi, and Jemeina (December 14-19, 1486), and on December 22, recovered Earl, Shell, and Tolbiac. Dumbgwita and Khagia were both being besieged by Laurasian units at the end of 1486.
 * On September 19, 1486, the future Emperor Antoninius Pius (1538-61) was born in Dilorium, Ux-ney, in the Laurasian Purse Region of the Laurasian Empire. He was the only child of Sir Titus Antoninus Fulvus (1456-90) and his wife Lady Arria Fadilla (1460-87). Fulvus, who served on the Governing Senate from 1484 to his death in 1490, was also the Vice-Chancellor of the Imperial Academy of the Arts in 1489-90, Legate of the Christiania Board of Utilities, and a member of the board of directors for Katherine Drive Yards. His mother was the heiress to the renowned Fadilla family, which was involved in retail, land speculation, stock speculation, and agricultural raising. It therefore possessed property and estates through the Core Regions. Both of the future Emperor's parents would die while he was only a young child, and he would be raised by his maternal grandfather, Sir Gnaeus Titus Fadilla (1431-1505).

1487

 * 1487, the 87th year of the fifteenth century, commenced with the Laurasian Empire's military forces still engaged in a vigorous war with the Celestial Dynasty of Kimania. Prince Decabolio, during the early months of the new year, intensified, with renewed vigor, his moves into Laurasian territory. On January 3, 1487, the Prince advanced against Armenia Major again; that star system had continued to defy the Kimanian forces. His assault on Armenia Major was conducted swiftly and efficiently; on January 11, the world surrendered to the Celestial Dynasty's forces. From Armenia Major, Winehouse, Peterslie, and Tea fell into Kimanian hands (January 12-17), and on January 20, 1487, the Battle of Masia ended in another victory for Prince Decabolio. Cal, Simon, and Morley were all firmly in the possession of the Kimanians by the end of January 1487, and on February 6, the Prince executed a daring and lightening offensive into the Beatrician Bend. Trieste, Beatrice Minor, and Ginger fell into Kimanian hands during February 1487. Emperor Antiochus, however, had conquered Orion III, Breha, and Chobania during that same month, and on March 5, 1487, compelled the Kimanians to retreat from Toule, Merovech, and Les Mans. He then secured Tamars (March 11), and on March 14, humiliated the Kimanians in the Battle of Babania. On March 22, 1487, the Emperor obtained another victory in the Battle of Woolestone, recovering that stronghold; Laurasian units also seized Isaac, Dominguez, and Skold. Jarman and Allen fell on April 7, 1487, and on April 12, Christopher and Christophsis were secured.
 * By the middle of April 1487, Kimanian units were operating in the vicinity of Beatrice Major, Beatrician Zoo, and Trebek, but their assaults against Jeopardy, Vanna, Sejak, and Redia ended in failure. Prince Decabolio himself now sought to return to the Armenian Worlds, to blunt further Laurasian moves, and to keep his eye on events then transpiring on Kimania. The health of Duros Shogun had entered a dangerous decline from November 1486; on April 21, 1487, he suffered a severe stroke on Derangy. The Prince attempted to save Armenia Minor, but the world again fell into Laurasian hands on April 26. On May 14, 1487, Dumbgwita and Khagia, having been besieged for several months, finally succumbed to the Empire's military forces. Beverly Hereidu, Hinds Prime, and Simon were recovered (May 16-27), and on June 1, Emperor Antiochus encountered and defeated Prince Decabolio in the Battle of Herat. Gilan, Astarabad, and Turckmenchay were firmly in Laurasian hands by June 16, and on June 22, 1487, Decabolio was defeated again in the Battle of Stedham.
 * In July 1487, Emperor Antiochus, seeking to turn his attention back to affairs on Laurasia Prime, decided to make his leave from the front. He did so, however, with the assurance that he had in place talented military commanders who would continue the war effort against Kimania without fail. Therefore, the Emperor appointed Legate-General Sir Tettius Julianus, Duke of Sanegeta (1436-94), as the commander-in-chief of Laurasian forces in the Barsar Regions. General Trajanius, who had continued to distinguish himself by action with the Kimanians, was made his chief subordinate commander. Then on August 4, 1487, the Emperor himself made his leave from the theater of war, and proceeded back up the Kimanian Trade Run to Laurasia Prime. General Julianus did not flag in his mission. He now took advantage of the Laurasian hold of Harrison, Skold, Jarman, and Allen to prosecute further the drive in the Jarjanican Provinces and Hutsite Reaches. Roschmelle was assaulted on August 14, 1487; the world fell two days later. Drea, Duana, and Aldea then followed (August 16-23), and on August 28, 1487, the Battle of Mike ended in another victory for Laurasian arms.
 * Hutsia Minor was then besieged; its fall on September 7, 1487, saw more than 50,000 Kimanian troops and the prototype Wuju-class star destroyer fall into Laurasian hands. Prince Decabolio's moves against Christopher, Gilestis, and Breha accomplished nothing. He was still distracted by events on Kimania itself. On September 9, 1487, two days after the fall of Hutsia Minor to the Laurasian Empire, Duras Shogun died at the Summer Palace, after having reigned for twenty-three years. The Prince now succeeded him as Decabolio Shogun; but his dominions continued to remain under Laurasian attack. By the end of September 1487, Leo's Redoubt, Angel, and Millard had fallen into Laurasian hands; Hutsia Major followed on October 8, and Abshire was besieged from October 13. It did not fall until November 5. On November 11, Susan and Chobania fell to the Laurasians. Decabolio, however, launched another vigorous counteroffensive, seizing Echimadzin and Ganja; then on November 25, 1487, he won the Battle of Nelson. Qoba-Darkand, Karabakh, and Aslanduz then fell into Kimanian hands, during the early weeks of December 1487. By the end of 1487, Laurasian forces were entrenched in the Barsar Regions, but Kimanian units continued to occupy parts of Laurasian territory.

1488

 * The year 1488 began with Decabolio Shogun, who remained as ardent an enemy of the Laurasian Empire as ever, launching another series of counteroffensives into Laurasian territory. He hoped, through guerilla tactics and constant attrition, to wear down the strength of the Empire's forces, and to thereby compel the Imperial Laurasian Government into territorial concessions in the Barsar Regions. On January 9, 1488, he won the Battle of Karabezouk, thereby avenging the Laurasian victory there seventy-five years earlier. Astarbad was then besieged and conquered by Kimanian units (January 12-19); from thence, Orion III and Lange were recovered by the Shogun, and on January 24, 1488, he humiliated the Laurasians again in the Battle of Dauley. Quba then fell to the Kimanians (January 27-31), and they then pushed towards Christopher. Christopher was besieged throughout February 1488 and fell on March 8, denting the Laurasian position in the vicinity of Rolle and Bookman. Constipex, Millard, and Cox were then cleared of Laurasian units, and on March 17, 1488, Admiral Xi Jinping defeated the Laurasians of General Trajanius in the Battle of Henderson.
 * Angel was then recovered by the Kimanians on March 28, and on April 4, 1488, the Battle of Hinds Minor ended in another victory for the Celestial Dynasty. The Shogun, however, had failed to recover Celestia, Ralina, and Neutria, all of whom remained in Laurasian hands, and he did not count that from Cyberton Xerxia, General Julianus would launch further moves in the central Barsar Regions. Samantha and Reading were now blockaded by the Empire's forces, beginning on April 9, 1488. The siege of these two strongholds was also compounded by Julianus's victory at Goni (April 14, 1488), and his capture of the Kimanian outposts of Adamclisi and Tyler (April1 19-22). On April 29, 1488, Reading cracked under the Laurasian pressure, and fell into the hands of the Empire. Samantha finally fell on May 14, dealing another significant blow to the Kimanian strategic position. Filorean was then overrun by General Trajanius in June 1488, and Laurasian units recovered Gilan, Karabakh, and Astarbad. The Battle of Perette (June 14, 1488), was a particular humiliation for Decabolio Shogun.
 * On July 14, 1488, Decabolio Shogun launched an offensive towards Beverly Hereidu and Dee, hoping to storm both of these strongholds and to then move forward into the Armenian Provinces. General Julianus, however, monitored the Kimanian moves, and determined to attack the Shogun before he could advance any further. Three days later, just as the Shogun was moving near the outskirts of Dee, the General made his move. Laurasian corvettes, starfighters, and freighters swept at the Kimanian squadrons, disoriented them with a variety of aerial actions, and thereby forced Decabolio to draw off many of his offensive squadrons. The Kimanians soon surrounded the Laurasian detachments, and it seemed that they had the advantage. Julianus, however, now sent in his troops to storm the Kimanian mobile outposts in the Dee Junction, and had his starfighters, destroyers, and battleships break the wedge of the Celestial Navy's formations. The ensuing Battle of the Dee Straits, as it was known, resulted in a decisive victory for the Laurasian Empire. Decabolio Shogun lost sixty of his warships, and 270,000 of his troops; he was forced to begin his retreat from Dee. He was harassed along the entire route by Julianus's forces; they pursued him all the way to Tapae. The Shogun now sought to muster the garrison of that system, and to barricade it against the Laurasians.
 * This attempt, however, proved to be unsuccessful. On August 4, 1488, the First Battle of Tapae was waged. This battle lasted for the next four days, as Decabolio Shogun attempted, time and time again, to break out with his offensive formations. Julianus, however, used his superior mobile units to stop all such Kimanian moves, and he cut off all communication and supply routes into the star system. When it was over, the Laurasians had scored another great victory; Decabolio Shogun lost virtually all of his remaining warships, personnel, and troops, and barely managed to evade capture on his personal starfighter. Tapae was now in the hands of the Empire, and Messalina was subjected to a direct offensive. The Siege of Messalina began on August 15, 1488, and lasted for nearly two months. Throughout that entire time, Laurasian and Kimanian forces continued to clash at Celestia, Derangy, Morangy, Cyberton Xerxia, and in the Lower Melorkian Provinces. Julianus, however, remained fixed on the goal; September 1488 saw Laurasian units gain complete control over Messalina's outskirts.
 * Finally, on October 1, 1488, Messalina fell to the Empire. This, and the Laurasian conquest of Riley on October 12, finally compelled Decabolio Shogun to begin peace negotiations with the Imperial Laurasian Government. On October 21, 1488, the Shogun sent a armistice request to his Laurasian counterpart Emperor Antiochus, who was himself eager to turn back to internal matters, and contemplating a second war against the Cosites and Iffians, accepted the Kimanian request almost immediately. On November 4, 1488, the Armistice of Soraya was signed by the Shogun and General Julianus. From thence, the preparations for negotiations began immediately. It was on December 7, 1488, that a conference was convened on Abigail, also in the Ashlgothian Borderlands Territories, for the final treaty to end the war. The conference continued early into the following year.

1489

 * 1489 began with the Laurasian Empire's diplomats negotiating with those of the Celestial Dynasty of Kimania for an end to the Fifth Laurasian-Kimanian War of the fifteenth century. These efforts bore their fruit after some further weeks of negotiation. On January 22, 1489, the Treaty of Abigail was signed, restoring peace between the Empire and the Celestial Dynasty. By the terms of this treaty, Emperor Antiochus acquired Tapae, Sardae, Breha, Constipex, Henderson, Cox, and the Upper Orion Cluster, thereby consolidating the Empire's dominance of the farther Kimanian Regions. Decabolio Shogun, moreover, agreed to sign no military alliance or make any treaty with a foreign power without first obtaining the approval of the Imperial Laurasian Government; to permit the Empire's troops military transit privileges through his dominions; and to respect the rights of the Laurasian Embassy on Kimania. In exchange, the Emperor of Laurasia agreed to pay an annual subsidy of $75.3 billion denarii to the Court of Kimania; to allow the Shogun to employ the services of Laurasian engineers, military technicians, and navigators; and to refrain from interference in Kimanian internal affairs. All Laurasian units were to be withdrawn from Kimanian territory by no later than January 1, 1491. Decabolio Shogun, however, did acknowledge the Emperor as his protector. The Treaty of Abigail was ratified by both governments in February 1489.
 * With the end of the war, Emperor Antiochus hoped that he could turn his full attention back to internal policy in the Empire, but nurture his long-term plans for war in the Wild Marshes and Galactic Borderlands. This, however, was not to happen. Many within the Empire were dissatisfied about the terms of the Treaty of Abigail, and angered that the Imperial Laurasian Government was now bound to pay an annual subsidy, to provide advisors to, and respect the internal independence of, the Celestial Dynasty. Moreover, many thought that the Emperor did not force the concession of as much Kimanian territory as would otherwise have been possible. These tensions were now brought to the fore. The Emperor conducted games, a triumph, and other celebrations on Laurasia Prime in order to mark the Laurasian victories. But in the Ashlgothian Provinces, there now arose a rebellion against his authority. That rebellion was sparked by the Governor of Ashlgothia Major, Legate-General Sir Lucius Antoninus Saturninus, Baron Saturninus of Leslie (1440-89). Governor Saturninus was angered by the Emperor's policies towards the Kimanians, and he believed that the Empire needed a more vigorous form of government, one that would not hesitate to take the advantage over the enemies of Almitis. He was also alienated by Antiochus's harsh treatment of the Senate and the imperial nobility.
 * Thus it was that on March 7, 1489, the Governor raised his standard on Ashlgothia Major, and announced himself to be in a rebellion against the Emperor. He declared that he would not "soil himself any further" by acknowledging the continued rule of Antiochus over the Empire's dominions. He and his forces, during the course of the next two months, made gains against the garrisons and forces loyal to the Emperor. On March 11, Saturninus besieged and conquered Vetera; by March 18, Moguntia and Stapleton had also fallen into rebel hands. On March 23, 1489, the Battle of Kane ended in another decisive victory for the Governor's forces. He then destroyed a government convoy in the vicinity of Peterslie (March 28-April 2), and on April 7, 1489, three centuries before the death of Marasharite Emperor Abdulahamid II, drove into Jennings. Jennings capitulated the following day; Mirohassani, Matthew, and West were in rebel hands by April 23, and on April 28, the General's forces blockaded Hefner. Allison, Brooke One, and Emily Deustiania were harassed by rebel expeditions; on May 5, 1489, the Battle of Cyrus III ended in victory for Saturninus. But Saturninus had overextended himself, and he was now conducting operations some ways outside of the vicinity of his own territories.
 * Emperor Antiochus had bid his time. He ensured that the garrisons of the Kimanian Trade Run were secure against rebel moves; ordered the Imperial Intelligence Agency to conduct purges of any among the Praetorian Guards, the Colleges of State, or the Imperial Household who might be tempted to associate themselves with Saturninus; and himself reminded his subjects of the victories and the exploits of his father and brother. He called upon the Holy Synod to excommunicate Saturninus and his followers (April 27, 1489), and he offered to reward any subject who openly disavowed rebel aims, or who reported rebel intentions to his government. And it was on May 7 that he issued instructions to the Baron Maximus of Eutagia (1437-95), Governor of Lower Melorkia, to launch an immediate counteroffensive against Saturninus. Maximus was assisted by his procurator, Sir Titus Flavius Norbanus (1445-1503), who also served as Praetor of Roastafaria Major. He now repelled a rebel offensive against Jack (May 8-13), and on May 18, 1489, won the Skirmish of Alasara.
 * From Alasara, he defeated rebel forces in confrontations at Kathryn, Soraya, and Abigail, and on June 6, 1489, drove Saturninus from Mirohassani. Hefner was then relieved on June 18. On June 22, Saturninus attempted to lure the garrison of Jeremy to his side. This attempt foundered, and the only result of it was that he was driven from Stapleton and Moguntia. Then on July 2, 1489, Governor Maximus advanced onto Ashlgothia Minor, having seized both Thelma and Tea. Saturninus now hastened back to Ashlgothia Minor, but it was in vain. On July 6, 1489, the Battle of Ashlgothia Minor ended in a decisive victory for Maximus. Saturninus himself was not only defeated but killed, and his associates too, fell to the sword. The death of Saturninus resulted in the collapse of his rebellion; by August 1489, the Ashlgothian Provinces were again firmly in the hands of the Empire.
 * Emperor Antiochus was angered by the Saturninan Revolt, as it became known, and embarked upon a comprehensive policy of retaliation and retribution. The Emperor ordered for the executions of more than 200,000 rebels during August and September 1489; another 350,000 were imprisoned or exiled on his orders. The Holy Synod confirmed its sentence of excommunication against Saturninus and all of his followers; the Emperor, moreover, had all rebel properties, revenues, and estates confiscated. He expunged all public references to the Rebellion, tightened the penalties for treason, and imposed marital law on Ashlgothia Major, Ashlgothia Minor, and other star systems in the Ashlgothian Provinces. Yet the Emperor also rewarded all of those who had participated in the rebellion's suppression. All soldiers in the forces thus concerned received a raise in their pay and the grant of additional vacation privileges; Governor Maximus was awarded $320 billion denarii, granted rebel estates, and was promoted to Earl of Eutagia in September 1489. Antiochus conducted public festivities on Laurasia Prime, staging a lavish spectacle of wild beasts, stimulated battles, and dramas at the Flavian Amiptheater; on October 5, 1489, he bequeathed nearly $4 billion denarii worth of largesse upon the inhabitants of the city of Christiania.
 * But by October 1489, the Empire was again confronted with the specter of military conflict: this time against the Hookiee Confederacy. Since 1482, the Confederacy had been under the rule of Patriarch Tarfful. Tarrful simmered at the terms of subjugation and alliance to the Empire, and sought to reestablish the independence of the Confederacy. He was encouraged in his ambitions by Mellorite Emperor Qalawun Sala I (1479-90), who was himself alarmed by the territorial ambitions of the Laurasian Empire, and sought to curb these before they got out of bounds. In September 1486, the Treaty of Dion provided for financial subsidies, technical assistance, and diplomatic aid to the Hookiees by the Mellorite Empire. Taking advantage of this, Tarrful expanded his military forces; equipped them with new and modernized arms, weapons, and shields; and strengthened the garrisons of Predosur, Brian, Moesby, and Hornsfield. He also launched reconnaissance expeditions into the Middle Territories, and sought to arouse the patriotism of his own subjects. It was on October 14, 1489, that the Patriarch issued a series of demands to the Imperial Court. In his ultimatum, he sought for the Empire to release Melanie Major from all obligations towards it; to retreat from Nottingham, Deborah, Boydaria, Majoria Schall, and the Melanie Trunk Line; and to demilitarize the Millian Home Region.
 * The Emperor of Laurasia, when he received these demands, considered them to be unacceptable. Moreover, he was angered by the insolence of the Hookiees, and sought to demonstrate to them his Empire's superior capabilities. On October 23, he issued a declaration of war against the Hookiee Confederacy and declared them to be in contempt of their obligations. Hookiee units, however, now managed to obtain some victories over the Empire. Bor'say was stormed by a Hookiee force (October 24-29), followed by Mariana Sirtia (November 2), Grand Junction (November 4), and Wayne (November 11). Jonathania was attacked and plundered by a Hookiee expedition on November 13, and on November 16, Tarrful won the Battle of Deschanel. Borenaz, Temperance, and Par'say were then besieged. The Hookiee momentum, however, ran out by the end of November 1489. General Sir Antigonus Trajanius, reassigned from the Barsar Regions to the Middle Territories, now distinguished himself against the Hookiees. He defeated them at Pailbirth (December 4, 1489), and on December 9, recovered Deschanel. Laurasian victories at Griffith, Fats, Nottingham, and Juno (December 11-15, 1489) followed, and on December 17, Laurasian units seized Metalorn. On December 22, the Battle of Kashykk ended in another victory for General Trajanius. Temperance and Par'say were relieved on Ascentmas Day, 1489, and on December 30, 1489, Grand Junction was recovered. Thus, as 1489 ended, the Hookiees were on the path to defeat.

1490

 * 1490, the 90th year of the fifteenth century, began with the Laurasian Empire, for the last time, waging war with the Hookiee Confederacy. On January 1, 1490, in a proclamation to his subjects, Emperor Antiochus hailed the achievements of his own person and of his military commanders, declared that the Lord Almitis had blessed the Laurasian race, and expressed his hopes that the last decade of the fifteenth century would yield "yet more hopes and prosperity" for his realms. And indeed, early 1490 saw the destruction of the Hookiee Confederacy. The Mellorite Empire, which had given aid to the Hookiees, was distracted again by war with its Xilanian, Cosite, and Iffian rivals, and by the continued defiance of the Brestord Kingdom of Karakorum. Consequently, Laurasian objectives in Hookiee territory could be achieved easily. On January 7, 1490, the Battle of Tyvooka ended in another decisive victory for the forces of General Trajanius, who successfully drove off the assaults of Hookiee warriors, and maintained discipline among his own formations. From thence, he drove the Hookiees from Wayne (January 8-9), Mariana Sirtia (January 11), and Bor'say (January 14). On January 19, 1490, the General destroyed a Hookiee expeditionary force under Hewbacca in the Battle of Wrylock. Metalorn then fell into Laurasian hands on January 25, and in February 1490, Hookiee moves to recover Predosur were blunted. On March 8, the Battle of Alaris saw another decisive Laurasian victory.
 * Over the course of March 1490, Laurasian units overran the Hookiee colonies of Transdosha, Mytaranor, and Randon; Tarrful's forces, in spite of their expansion and organization, could not ultimately stand up to the superiority of the Imperial Laurasian Military. Kwokhur and Rakhuun were then seized (April 8, 1490), and on April 17, Tarrful suffered defeat again in the Battle of Tyria. Finally, on May 2, 1490, Hoohshikk itself was besieged by the Laurasian Empire's forces. The Siege of Hoohshikk lasted for nearly a month, for the Hookiees proved themselves to be especially adept in defending their capital world. Laurasian organization and use of the Tiberius-class turbocannon, however, ultimately wore down Hookiee defenses. On June 1, Hoohshikk's shields were breached, and its orbital garrisons overrun. The 27th Imperial Army landed on the world, and conducted extensive ground operations, with General Trajanius himself leading the assaults. Tarrful and High Regent Turdacca resisted until the end, and were cut down by Laurasian troops. Finally, on June 16, all resistance on Hoohshikk ended. The subjugation of Kara and Heresera, shortly thereafter, brought all Hookiee territory, by July 1490, into the hands of the Laurasian Empire.
 * Emperor Antiochus was jubilant over this swift victory, and on August 3, 1490, he would commission the construction of the Column of Valor in Constantinople, as a monument to the victories of the preceding years. He conducted more lavish games, celebrations, and festivities on Laurasia Prime, ordered all of his subjects to offer their thanks to the Lord Almitis, and decked himself, as well as his courtiers, in expensive Horacian garments, with emblems of war and of the species conquered on them. In September 1490, General Trajanius returned to Laurasia Prime, and was rewarded by the Emperor with the Order of St. Seleucus the Victor and with the governorship of Way'tosk and Temperance. But by October 1490, the Emperor's paranoia had reached a fervent pitch. He became more determined than ever to enforce the traditional customs of the Almitian Church. On October 14, he ordered the Court of High Heresies to compile together all reports of sexual deviancy or crime in the Church. It was from these that he learned that the Head Nun of the Order of St. Catherine, Cornelia Fulania, had been promiscuous, violating her vows as a Nun of Almitis. On October 26, the Emperor ordered for her arrest; Fulania was conveyed to the Post Settlement of Hepudermia. There, she was harshly interrogated by the Emperor's agents, and called to question on her offenses.
 * Fulania admitted that she had strayed, but used the Almitian Scriptures to defend herself. She also alleged that the Emperor himself had indulged in various ways, and it was therefore hypocritical of him to accuse her. Antiochus was absolutely outraged at this, and on November 6, he had Fulania attainted. She was, furthermore, excommunicated by the Holy Synod, deprived of her ecclesiastical rank and positions, and publicly condemned. On November 12, her execution was carried out on Hepudermia. The Emperor then conducted a purge of the Order of St. Catherine, between November 12 and December 3, more than 4,000 nuns and lady members would be arrested, interrogated, and either executed, imprisoned, or exiled for their offenses. In December 1490, the Emperor compelled all of his courtiers to divulge information about their own sexual relationships, and he issued a strict injunction against any civilian having any personal contact with officers of the Praetorian Guards, unless if they were in a married relationship approved by the Church. These measures reaffirmed the Emperor's firm stance on personal morality, but also alienated his subjects.

1491-1492

 * The years 1491 and 1492 saw the Laurasian Empire remain at peace with its neighbors. However, within the Empire, the oppressive regime of Emperor Antiochus IV intensified. The Emperor of Laurasia continued to govern his dominions in the same conscientious manner as he had before. However, he became convinced that unless if all threats to the Imperial Laurasian Government, and to his own position were eliminated, then he could not live in peace. Consequently, he enacted an ever-increasing program of surveillance, of censorship, and of penalties, for those construed to have violated the precepts which he had laid down. In January 1491, Antiochus implemented a series of reforms to the Imperial Intelligence Agency. He now granted the Agency the unlimited authority to search properties, to arrest and detain individuals, and to use torture on criminal suspects without the need for any warrant or any other authorization. The Emperor also granted the military the authority to impose marital law in any region of the Empire where it was deemed that its inhabitants possessed "treasonous thoughts" about the government and the Emperor; the Senate's jurisdiction over court martials and specialized courts was curtailed, and he narrowed the requirements for valid evidence to be presented in Court. The Emperor also, by the decree of February 7, 1491, granted judges and praetors absolute authority over the proceedings of any trial in which they presided; they could now order any individual to pay fines or to serve hard labor for revealing any details of the case, or for disobeying their commands. The jury was almost entirely eliminated, being retained only for the highest cases of state.
 * The Emperor also, in March 1491, established the Bureau of Judicial Collections, in the College of Finance, to process all fines, levies, and confiscations made by the Imperial Laurasian Government in cases of importance to the state. In June 1492, the Emperor went even further with his so-called "Placenta Decrees", named after the Palace of Placenta on Darcia, from whence they were issued. The decrees now imposed uniform censorship procedures upon the press and communications of the Empire. All outlets were forbidden to report anything which was not first approved by the specialized Censorship Board, placed under the jurisdiction of the College of Communications. Moreover, the Emperor organized a system of elaborate rewards for those enthused his merits, and elaborate penalties for those who dared to criticize him. The same decrees regulated what could and could not be discussed in public; forbade all public assemblies; banned political and academic clubs, organizations, and fraternities; required all those holding public office, or owning business enterprises, to swear an oath to uphold the laws of the Empire; and created a registry, upon which all works banned by the state were to be entered. These Placenta Decrees further inflamed tensions against the Emperor; under their provisions, from June 1492 to September 1496, more than four hundred million individuals would be imprisoned, exiled, executed, or fined.
 * In October 1491, the Emperor restored the practice of informants, which had been eliminated by his brother, and regulated the means by which informers were to notify the imperial authorities of what they had learned. He also encouraged counter-intelligence efforts, and he expanded the Empire's penal system. Towards the Senate and the aristocracy, Antiochus behaved with even more condescension and recklessness. Unlike his father or brother, he did not sit at sessions of the Senate; he refused to receive petitions from that body, or from his subjects; and he forbade Senators, Synostic Councilors, or members of the government Colleges to conduct business transactions, leave Laurasia Prime, or receive honors without his approval. At the same time, he used excommunication and damnato memoriae freely, applying these extreme penalties to some 300,000 individuals during the last six years of his reign. The Emperor also increased the purview of the Heraldmaster's Office, and had the agency maintain a list of noble properties and business shares for his private eyes only, so that he could decide when such and such property should be impounded, penalized, or confiscated. Antiochus also directed that the revenues of all minors, and those of all vacant Almitian dioceses, were to accrue to the Imperial Treasury (decree of October 7, 1491).
 * And in March 1492, there began the Second Treason Period, comparable in many ways to that during Tiberius's reign. Emperor Antiochus resorted to the old practice of maintaining dossiers and records of those to be accused of offenses; he now issued a string of manifestos to his subjects, accusing many of his subjects of undermining the fortunes of the Imperial State. On March 11, he had arrested Sir Titus Flavius Sabinus, one of his cousins, the Earls of Darsis, Osama, and Little Mexicana, and all members of the Tedemnian family, owners of Tedemnian Engine Systems, one of the Empire's leading hyperspace technology firms. They were imprisoned and tortured at Hepudermia, and on April 3, attainted and sentenced to death. Sabinus and the Lord Tedemnia of Chandlier, in particular, asserted their innocence to the last. Yet on April 14, 1492, their executions were carried out at Hepudermia. In July 1492, the Emperor eliminated all rights to legal defense for the Empire's nobility, and mandated that under no circumstances were future defendants to be permitted access to the evidence against them. In September 1492, he had the Governor of Upper Melorkia arrested, deprived of his offices, and imprisoned on charges of les-majestie and corruption. And during October 1492, the Emperor attainted and executed a third of his own personal servants, all the Suffects of Constantinople, Soriana, and Herkorim, and the Warden of the Cron Drift. At the end of 1492, the Empire's aristocracy and nobility quailed at the future accusations to be levied against them.

1493

 * 1493, the 93rd year of the fifteenth century, began with Emperor Antiochus still engaged in his policies of terror and oppression against his aristocracy, at the Imperial Court, and among his subjects. The last six years of his reign, in fact, would eventually become known in later centuries as the "Reign of Terror"; in many ways, his excesses and cruelties exceeded those even of Caligula, Tiberius, or Antiochus III. Some believed that the Empire had not seen such a regime of government ruthlessness since the time of Honorius the Terrible. In January 1493, Emperor Antiochus ordered for the arrest and interrogation of Sir Marcus Arrecinus Clemens, Quaestor of Laurasia Prime and another of his cousins, as well as thirty members of the Imperial Academies of the Arts and Sciences. All of these individuals were accused of spreading propaganda throughout the Empire's realms which demeaned Antiochus's achievements, denied that he was responsible for the successes of the Kimanian and Hookiee Wars, and criticized his internal policy. These charges were false: Antiochus merely wished to dispose himself of these individuals, and to have some weak justification in doing so. On February 5, 1493, he had Clemens and his associates brought before the Governing Senate; condemned for their crimes; and then convicted on charges of treason, conspiracy, and les-majestie. They were executed at the Christiania Municipal Prison on February 17. Their heads were strung on poles and displayed at prominent locations throughout the city of Christiania.
 * Within Christiania itself, murmurs erupted into a show of disobedience against the Emperor's regime. On March 5, 1493, the 300th anniversary of King Odoacer's murder by Theodoric the Great of Halegothica, a crowd of more than 170,000 individuals assembled outside of the Old Royal Palace, Diplomatic Palace, and Quencilvanian Palace. These crowds demanded that the Emperor curtail the activities of the Imperial Intelligence Agency, pardon those whom he had punished, and grant a relaxation of tax liabilities, military conscription, and other obligations. Antiochus refused, and he now ordered the Praetorian Guards and Palace Control to fire upon and disperse the crowds by force. They obliged by His Majesty's orders, and more than 45,000 individuals were killed or wounded by the Palace turbocannon. The crowds, lacking any short of cohesiveness or discipline, dispersed, and scattered out into the City's quadrants. During the course of the next two days, another 50,000 individuals were arrested and imprisoned by the imperial authorities. The Emperor had most of these exiled or imprisoned in April 1493; the forty leaders of the protest were executed at the Post Settlement of Hepudermia.
 * With all of this occurring, Antiochus now found his Empire placed into military conflict again. The Emperor, as had been mentioned earlier, sought to instigate renewed campaigns against the Cosites and Iffians. But it was these species instead who now moved against the Empire. The Imperiex of the Iffians, Durat, who had ruled since his elder brother's death in November 1487, was now determined to resume with the earlier moves and to drive into the Solidaritan Provinces. Working in conjunction with King Tuffa of the Cosites (1490-96), he was confident that he could humiliate the Imperial Laurasian Government and deal a serious blow to Laurasia's strategic position. It was on May 4, 1493, that the two monarchs issued an ultimatum to Emperor Antiochus, who was then on Gdov. In this ultimatum, they demanded that the Emperor of Laurasia concede Roxuli, Abraham, and the Western Redoubt to the Cosite Kingdom; that he agree to limit the size of his military forces; and that he promise to restore the independence of Temperance, the League of Way'tosk, and Hoohshikk. They also sought for Antiochus to recognize Cosite and Iffian rights to campaign against the Neo-Xilanian and Mellorite Empires. Antiochus was angered when he received these demands, and deemed that they did not deserve a response.
 * Thus, on May 17, Cosite-Iffian forces crossed into the territory of the Empire, while Durat and Tuffa issued declarations of war. The Second Northern War, which would drag on for nearly three years, had commenced. The coalition forces made a series of gains against the Empire's forces. Ablincoln was the first to feel the brunt of their power (May 17-23, 1493), and more than 100,000 Laurasian troops were captured there. From Ablincoln, Ipshilion and Abraham were both blockaded by coalition forces, falling into their hands on June 5. On June 12, 1493, the Battle of Sassanay ended in another victory for Cosite General Thurat, cousin of the Imperiex. He then humiliated Laurasian units at Turtheney (June 14-18); sacked the Western Redoubt (June 22), and then drove into Massanay. Massanay fell on July 1, 1493; Cibourney followed on July 7; and by July 23, Roxuli had also been overrun by the coalition forces. Although a coalition move against Finch and Grunch then failed (August 1493), they were able to secure Doris, Alania, and Daramia. Shannon was assaulted on September 7, 1493, and fell five days later. Dennis, Rastaborn, and Coen were in coalition hands by September 16.
 * Legate-General Sir Tettius Julianus, victor of the Battle of Tapae, who had been punishing the Toomian Pirates in the vicinity of Ecreutus, Goss Beacon, and the Galactic Center, was now dispatched by the worried Emperor to strike back against the coalition forces. He saved Berhamia from a coalition move (September 22, 1493) and defeated Thurat in the Battle of Candlewell (October 2). Thompson, Canterwell, and Sair, however, fell during October 1493, and a move by Julianus against Cibourney and Ablincoln ended in failure. On November 1, 1493, Thurat executed a daring move into the Core Worlds. He sacked Blackria, blockaded Nezbit, and stormed Patsy, before winning the Battle of O'Neal (November 8). On November 13, a Cosite force even penetrated as far as Heuthros, Sauvania, and Ietas, thereby seriously alarming the Imperial Laurasian Government. Julianus, however, took advantage of their overextension to humiliate them in the Battle of Mylae (November 17, 1493), and to drive Cosite units from Patsy, O'Neal, and Nezbit by the end of the month. On December 4, 1493, Rastaborn was recovered by the Empire's forces, followed by Canderwell on December 14. Canterwell proved to be more difficult, and did not fall until December 21. By the end of the year, the Empire's forces were engaged with their Cosite and Iffian enemies for control of the Solidaritan Provinces.
 * On August 23, 1493, the famed victor of Mons Graupius, General Gnaeus Julius Agricola, conqueror of Upper Hypasia and Angelica, died at his estates in Gallia City, Taurasia, aged fifty-three. As mentioned above, the General had remained outside of the public eye during the last eight years of his life. Rumors now circulated through the Imperial Court, and in the Laurasia Prime Purse Region, that Emperor Antiochus, who had been jealous of Agricola's military achievements, had ordered for him to be poisoned. The Emperor, however, firmly denied this, and on September 4, issued a manifesto threatening anyone who openly expressed such sentiments to be arrested and tortured without further question. He also threatened such individuals with confiscation of all property, recall of all taxes and loans, and the banishment of their families to penal labor or exile. This quelled public dissent about the matter. Antiochus, moreover, arranged for a lavish public funeral to be staged for the late General; he was interred at St. Paul's Cathedral in Christiania, Laurasia Prime, on September 11, 1493.

1494

 * 1494, the 94th year of the fifteenth century, opened with the continuation of military campaigns against the Iffian Imperium and the Kingdom of the Cosites in the Solidaritan Provinces. This year, moreover, would see the further intensification of the Emperor's "Reign of Terror". On January 5, 1494, the Emperor issued a manifesto from Murphy, commanding his subjects to cooperate fully with the Imperial Intelligence Agency to report all subjects and organizations who opposed the war effort, and who decried the diplomatic policies pursued by the Imperial Laurasian Government. Then on January 11, following a coalition victory in the Battle of Frederickslandia, which saw that stronghold falling into their hands, he implemented the Espionage and Sedition Decrees. These decrees made it a crime for any subject of the Empire to convey information with the intent to interfere with the operation or success of the Imperial Laurasian Military, or to encourage the success of its enemies. Moreover, the conveying of false reports and information meant to undermine the Empire's war effort, or to encourage insubordination, disloyalty, refusal of duty, or desertion among the Empire's military forces, was outlawed; the Imperial College of Communications gained the jurisdiction to confiscate any material, in any outlet or medium, which was in violation of these stipulations. These crimes were to be punishable with death or imprisonment for a term of at least twenty years.
 * The Emperor's regime used these laws as further justification for its persecutions. And in February 1494, the Emperor tightened the penalties for mutineers, authorizing commanders to enforce capital punishment in the field without recourse to their superiors, or to the General Headquarters. During 1494 and 1495, another twenty million individuals would be punished in accordance with the terms of these decrees. Yet the early months of 1494 saw further reverses for the Empire against their Solidaritan enemies. On January 7, 1494, the Battle of Alexandra ended in another victory for General Thurat. Big Twinny and Leopolodia were now both under threat; Sheryl fell on January 16, and on February 2, the Solidaritan colony of Lemelle was overrun and destroyed by a coalition expedition. Coalition units then blockaded Esmeralda (February 4-9) and on February 12, stormed Vindictoria. Millia-in-the Core was sacked on February 18, and on March 1, 1494, General Julianus suffered another defeat in the Battle of Solis. By March 17, Big Twinny had been conquered, and on March 28, Leopolodia followed. On April 5, 1494, a Laurasian counteroffensive against Ipshilion was defeated in the Battle of Tair. Deserlia fell five days later, and Michael was assaulted on April 16 by the Cosites, though not taken.
 * In May 1494, however, the coalition forces overreached themselves. General Thurat now sought for a direct push into the Core Worlds proper, believing that menacing the Laurasia Prime Purse Region would compel the Emperor of Laurasia to peace. On May 8, he moved against the Belts of Barton. The Belts, however, possessed some of the strongest military fortifications in the Empire, and all coalition assaults against them failed. In fact, Thurat lost five of his dreadnoughts, including the prized IMS Va'larat. Further confrontations with Laurasian units at Middleton, Alemeda, Heorge, and Julia (May 12-17, 1494), failed to redress the balance, and on May 24, General Trajanius, who had now assumed command of the Garrison of Briannia, humiliated Thurat in the Battle of Nystadia. Vardar, which had briefly fallen into coalition hands, was recovered on June 7, 1494; by the end of that month, Big Twinny, Frederickslandia, and Esmeralda were all securely back in Laurasian hands. Trajanius and Julianus then combined for a joint offensive against Laronn, handing a decisive defeat to coalition forces there (July 4, 1494). On July 8, Leopoldia too was recovered. On July 17, Thurat launched a vigorous offensive against Istantius.
 * He managed to penetrate the world's outskirt defenses, and to deal severe damage to its orbital garrisons. Eventually, however, this world, once capital of the Solidaritan Sultanate at the beginning of the century, withstood the coalition onslaught. Sair was recovered by a Laurasian task force in August 1494, and all Solidaritan raiding expeditions against Durglais, Rebecca, Blackria, Martina Mccasia, and Mariana Prime were ended. On September 4, 1494, General Trajanius again distinguished himself in the Battle of Sabanika; Millia-in-the Core was recovered twelve days later. Sheryl was besieged, beginning on October 4, 1494; its recovery on October 18 did much to restore Laurasian pride. Massanay, Sassanay, and Cibourney then fell like dominoes before Laurasian forces (October 19-27) and on November 4, 1494, three centuries before Surovius's decisive victory in the Battle of Praga, Julianus scored the second major military victory of his career in the Battle of the Western Redoubt. Nearly two-thirds of the coalition force was destroyed or dispersed by the Laurasians. Thurat was himself grievously wounded, and he now fled towards Abraham. He died on November 16, thereby depriving the Cosites and Iffians of one of their greatest commanders. December 1494 saw Dennis, Coen, and Solidaritan Doris all be secured by Laurasian units; Alania was besieged from Ascentmas Day, 1494.

1495

 * 1495 saw the tide turn decisively in the favor of the Laurasian Empire, and Laurasian forces again launching penetrative campaigns into the territories of the Cosites and Iffians. On January 7, 1495, Alania was reconquered by General Julianus. He then scattered a coalition fleet, under the command of Admiral Murat, in the Battle of the Straits of Deanna, on January 9, and reconquered Daramia (January 15, 1495). On January 19, Thompson was besieged by the Empire's forces; its recovery on February 3, dealt another nail to the military power of the Cosite-Iffian Coalition. Julianus then swept forth to reconquer Roxuli, Abraham, and Ablincoln during the course of February 1495. On March 8, 1495, Iphsilion was stormed; then on March 16, he defeated and captured Admiral Murat at Tiore. From Tiore, Laurasian forces now pushed decisively into Cosite and Iffian territory. Once again, the Satian Provinces were their main target. On March 18, Gayle was assaulted by General Julianus and Laurasian Vice-Admiral the Lord Verus; it could not withstand the Laurasian military might, and fell on March 22. King was secured four days later; then on April 6, 1495, the Battle of Charlie saw Julianus capture another coalition commander, the Iffian General Cuzua.
 * By the end of April 1495, Multan and Margery had both been besieged and conquered by General Julianus. Praises for him were now sung, not only on Laurasia Prime, but elsewhere throughout the Empire. Once again, Emperor Antiochus's jealousy was inflamed, as it had been with Agricola, and he ordered for all celebrations among his own courtiers and servants to cease. Juxles was besieged in May 1495; during that same month, Julianus humiliated the Coalition again in the Battle of Derae. On June 8, Juxles fell; then on June 13, 1495, Admiral Verus conducted a bold, and swift move, into the Tof Borderlands. Ra'dai, McIver, and Ferguson fell before this Laurasian move; Meneia was isolated; and Sly James was sacked (August 1, 1495). On August 7, Orkhan was assaulted by General Julianus; Trajanius again distinguished himself in that confrontation, fighting off two successive Cosite efforts to resist Laurasian landings. Orkhan's capture was completed on August 21; Bingley fell on September 2, 1495, with the garrison surrendering at the first approach of the Laurasian forces. Kia and Pelaski were both conquered later during that month, and by October 1495, Laurasian forces were threatening Satie, O'Donnell, and Norah.
 * Emperor Antiochus's irrationality, in the meantime, reached fever pitch, and struck in new directions, on Laurasia Prime. On September 14, 1495, the Emperor denounced all traitors within his realms in a speech given from the Diplomatic Palace, and demanded that these be exposed to him. He said that the agents of the Anti-Almitis had inflamed their minds against him, and he would not tolerate it any further. On September 23, he ordered for the arrest and imprisonment of another of his relatives, this time Baronet Titus Flavius Clemens of Lycia, along with his wife Flavia Domtilla and Sir Demetrius Sabinus, widower of the Emperor's late mistress Julia Flavia, who had died in October 1491. Clemens, Domtilla, and Sabinus were now accused of conspiracy and of "atheism" (that is, adhering to non-Almitian cults while being registered members of the Imperial Almitian Church). On October 4, 1495, Clemens and Sabinus were sentenced to death by the Emperor. These sentences were carried out ten days later. Antiochus had damnatio memoriae imposed on them by the Senate, their remains dumped into the Pit of Traitors, and all of their honors, titles, and decorations confiscated. Lady Domtilla, on her part, was banished to the Monastery of Windowia Photis and was forced to take the veil as the Nun Elena. The Emperor had her three children imprisoned at the Secret Prison of Ipsus V, denied contact with the outside world. On November 7, 1495, he ordered for the arrest, attainment, and execution of the last of Emperor Antiochus III's personal servants, Sir Epaphroditos Tieria, his clerk, who had assisted that Emperor to his death. Tieria, Antiochus IV said, had "failed to do his utmost" to prevent the Emperor's death, and had consequently forfeit his own life. The spectacle of a 75-year old man being quartered, incinerated, and beheaded at the Post Settlement of Hepudermia inflamed many against the Emperor, and further destroyed his popularity. On November 14, in a act of reverse, he had the remains of Antiochus III's mistress, the Baroness Acte of Herclauneum, exhumed and deposited into the Pit of Traitors; she was posthumously excommunicated by the Holy Synod.
 * In conjunction with this, the last months of 1495 saw a string of successes for the Empire. On October 12, 1495, Satie was placed under siege. Cosite General Markat now tried to break through Laurasian offensive lines and to terminate the offensive. This was a gesture of desperation, and one that was carried out in vain. After just two days, Satie's defenses were breached, and Laurasian troops, commanded by General Trajanius, landed on the planetary surface. By October 21, Satie was completely in Laurasian hands. O'Donnell succumbed quickly (on October 26), and Laurasian units then approached Norah. Here, however, resistance was markedly stronger; the Siege of Norah, once capital of the independent Satian Kingdom, dragged on throughout November 1495. During that time, Laurasian units seized Tokyang and McCaskill. On December 9, 1495, Norah finally fell. By the end of the year, most of the Satian Provinces were occupied by Laurasian military forces; the Cosites and Iffians now realized that the war effort was futile.

1496

 * The year 1496, the 96th year of the fifteenth century, began with the Second Northern War drawing to its close. The Cosite-Iffian Coalition had been ruined through the victories of General Sir Tettius Julianus, and the subsequent Laurasian occupation of the Satian Provinces. It was a string of final Laurasian victories during January 1496, which prod them along in requesting peace with the Imperial Laurasian Government. On January 7, 1496, Herculis-001 was besieged by the combined forces of Julianus and Trajanius. The Siege of Herculis-001 saw another vain effort by the coalition, under the command of Admiral Gerat, to terminate this latest Laurasian move. His efforts, however, proved once again to be in vain, and on January 12, Herculis-001 fell. Laurasian units then struck and overran Billy Gasis, Sissy, and Sadasko (January 13-21), and on January 28, 1496, the Battle of Touforia ended in another victory for the Empire. With Laurasian units now threatening to penetrate to the Muggal Cluster, and with Marasharite pressure continuing to build upon the Coalition Powers from the Galactic Void, Imperiex Durat decided that peace was essential. The death of King Tuffa of the Cosites, on February 5, 1496, and his replacement by his younger, more docile brother, Taffa, helped to speed this along. On February 11, the two monarchs sent a request for a armistice to the Imperial Court on Laurasia Prime.
 * Emperor Antiochus, satisfied by the victories of his military commanders, and increasingly afflicted with paranoia about his own subjects, accepted the Cosite-Iffian request on February 15. On February 19, the Armistice of Seoul was signed between the contending powers, thereby suspending military hostilities. Negotiations began at Uglich on March 5, 1496. There, just over three centuries earlier, Grand Prince Demetrius, the youngest son of Honorius the Terrible, had been murdered on the orders of Eurymaschus Gadavaranius. After over a month of negotiations, the Treaty of Uglich was signed on April 18, 1496. The terms of the treaty caused consternation and anger throughout the Empire. The status quo ante bellum was imposed in territorial matters between the Empire on the one hand, and the Coalition Powers on the other. The Laurasians were to evacuate all Iffian and Cosite territories by no later than January 1, 1498. All prisoners of war were exchanged; all spoils were to be returned to the states which had possessed them before; and free transit, for a period of six years, was ensured among the warring realms. The Coalition also agreed to pay a indemnity of $9.9 trillion denarii to the Imperial Laurasian Government, in three installments, to be spread out over five years. They also promised not to threaten Laurasian territory in the future, and to recognize the Empire's conquest of the Hookiee Confederacy.
 * The Treaty of Uglich, ratified in May 1496, further lowered Emperor Antiochus's popularity. He aggravated matters further by recalling General Julianus back to Laurasia Prime (June 4, 1496), and having him confined to his mansion, Durhamian House, in the City of Christiania. The Emperor took all credit for the victories of the late war, had medallions, decorations, and coinage struck in his name, and staged a series of expensive games at the public venues of the capital world, avoiding all references to his military commanders. General Trajanius was made Governor of Briannia, but was not given any other decorations or honors for his achievements. Nor did the Emperor raise the pay of all soldiers who had fought in the campaigns. All of this now made him unpopular with the military forces, whom he had relied upon to this point. And the middle months of 1496 saw an intensification of the Reign of Terror; on one day alone (July 14, 1496), two hundred prominent individuals of the Purse Region were executed or imprisoned on the Emperor's orders. In August 1496, Antiochus announced his intention to extend a system of military maritals to all civilians, regardless of the circumstances under which they were tried, and to abolish the normal judicial processes.
 * It was this which sparked the final conspiracy against him, which ended his life and reign. This conspiracy was now organized by the Emperor's own wife, Empress Consort Domitia Longina. On July 29, the Empress had seen her name on a treason dossier prepared by her husband, and was determined to save her own skin. Thus, she worked with the Chamberlain of the Household, Sir Parthenius Eprevius (1443-97), who bore a grudge against His Majesty due to the recent execution of Sir Epahroditus, who had been a friend and mentor's of his. They decided on the means of attack against Antiochus, and on the day that the assassination would be carried out. The duty for it was entrusted to the servants Maximus and Stephanus, both of whom were in the Chamberlain's pay. The Praetorian Guards learned of the conspiracy, but they, alienated by the Emperor's policies concerning the Second Northern War, and by his increasing demands for morality among their ranks, did nothing to halt it. Early on the morning of September 18, 1496, at the Quencilvanian Palace in Christiania, Laurasia Prime, the Emperor awoke and asked his manservant if there was peace within the Household. The manservant, included in the conspiracy, lied, proclaiming that there was.
 * Antiochus then went to his desk to sign some decrees, but he was suddenly approached by Stephanus. Stephanus told the Emperor that he had uncovered a new conspiracy against him and that he had a dossier to prove it. Antiochus rose, and asked for the dossier. Stephanus approached him, and at that moment lunged at him, plunging his vibroblade into the Emperor's heart. Antiochus now collapsed to the ground, and Maximus, as well as Satyr, Gladitus, and Cloadianus, all of whom were menservants of the Imperial Household, and involved with the conspiracy, rushed in. They stabbed the Emperor several times, for he continued to struggle on the ground. Stephanus himself was mortally wounded, and died later that day.
 * But the goal of their conspiracy was accomplished: within twenty minutes, Antiochus IV, now known as the "Hated", was dead. He had reigned for fifteen years, and was just one month short of his forty-fifth birthday. The news of the Emperor's death was received with joy across Laurasia Prime, and throughout the Laurasian Empire. Bonfires were lit, celebrating his death; praises were sung in the churches; and the public officials disavowed all of their oaths of allegiance to the hated younger son of Vespasian. Antiochus's body was carried out from the Palace unceremoniously on a bier, and transported to the Post Settlement of Hepudermia. The Governing Senate and Holy Synod assembled quickly, and during the afternoon of that very same day, proclaimed the elderly Senator, Baron Nerva Coccecius of Briannia, as Emperor and Autocrat of All the Laurasians. This was a remarkable choice: Nerva was 65 years old at the time of his accession to the throne. He possessed considerable political experience, having served every Emperor since Claudius II; but he was also childless and had never married. Yet he had been approached by the conspirators before the assassination as a potential successor, and was aware of the conspiracy. He was opposed to Emperor Antiochus's policies, and determined to reverse them.
 * The accession of Nerva marked the beginning of the rule of the Nervian Dynasty, which was to govern over the Laurasian Empire for nearly a century, until 1592. The dynasty of Vespasian had lost the Imperial Laurasian Crown after just twenty-seven years. Soon after Nerva's proclamation as Emperor, the Senate and Synod passed both damnatio memoriae and an excommunication sentence upon his predecessor. All of Antiochus IV's coins and statutes were melted or taken out of circulation, his other monuments were torn down, and his name erased from all public records. Antiochus's remains were denied an Almitian burial, and on October 4, 1496, ignominiously dumped into the Pit of Traitors on Jadia. On October 9, General Julianus was released from house arrest by Emperor Nerva, and was invited to the Quencilvanian Palace. There, he was awarded the Order of St. Seleucus the Victor and given a substantial imperial annuity. The Emperor himself, seeking to further consolidate his position, took a series of measures to reverse Antiochus's other policies.
 * He declared that no official of the government would be executed or humiliated without a investigation, ordered for the destruction of all of Antiochus's treason papers and dossiers, restored Titus's decrees relating to informants, and proclaimed a complete amnesty for all then under trial. He pardoned most of those who had been condemned during the Reign of Terror, returned all confiscated properties to those families and individuals who had previously possessed them, and in November 1496, repealed the Placenta Decrees, thereby removing state regulations on communications, public assemblies, and public comments. Moreover, he recalled many of those who had been exiled, and had all of Antiochus's political prisoners released. Attempting to involve the Senate in the affairs of government, he confirmed its discussion privileges, appointed Senators to more positions of prominence in the government and civil service, and resumed regular attendance of its sessions. He established, by the decree of November 17, 1496, a special Petitions Office, to receive all requests addressed to him, and ordered for his officials to diligently and faithfully respond to such requests. Nerva, moreover, restored the traditional exemption of all Senators from the poll tax, and affirmed the charters granted to the Court of General Assizes, the Christiania Inns, and the cities of Laurasia Prime.
 * Nerva, however, continued to rely upon friends and advisors that were known and trusted. He proved especially reliant on the Chancellor, Sir Antiochus Langatonia, who had been appointed in October 1495. This alienated some within the Imperial Laurasian Court, who had hoped that the Emperor would rotate positions in his service, and that he would elevate those whom his predecessor had excluded completely from all honors. But Nerva persisted with his policies to gain the support of the common populace. He formally crowned himself Emperor at the Old Westphalian Cathedral on November 28, 1496, and increased the largesse distributed to the public following the event. He bestowed a lavish donative, of $500,000 denarii per person, upon the Praetorian Guards, Christiania Police, and the Palace Control; Nerva also, in December 1496, had every indigent or unemployed inhabitant of Christiania granted a congigarum of $15,000 denarii per person. He also implemented a number of other financial and economic reforms. He exempted all individuals and families making less than $100,000 denarii per year from the inheritance tax, and made loans to imperial proprietors and real estate investors on the condition that they pay interest of 5% to support hospitals, orphanages, monasteries, and welfare provision programs; remitted numerous taxes which had been imposed by his predecessor; and ordered for all non-Almitian congregations to be exempted from Almitian tithes.
 * The Emperor, in January 1497, would establish a commission of economy to investigate the expenses of the imperial budget. The most superfluous games, religious sacrifices, and athletic races were abolished; many of the properties of the Imperial Patrimony were leased or sold; and Nerva forbade any images, of gold, silver, platinum, or other rare minerals, being made in his name for a period of at least three years. He also impounded all of the revenues belonging to the Vespasanite Dynasty, and used these to finance the activities of the Imperial Household. As regards to architectural projects, Nerva, whose reign was brief, could focus only on completing works begun under his predecessors. This included the construction of a new rapid-transit system on Laurasia Prime, and other worlds of the Purse Region; the completion of the Water Depots of Iego, providing a fresh water supply to other star systems throughout the Empire; and the dedication of the Forum of Antiochus (June 1497). The Emperor also constructed the Horrea Nervae, to centralize all food imports in the Laurasia Prime star system.

1497

 * 1497, the 97th year of the fifteenth century, began with the Laurasian Empire adjusting to the rule of Nerva the Old, following the assassination of Antiochus IV and the end of the Second Northern War. Emperor Nerva had implemented numerous measures to reverse the abuses of his predecessor's reign, and to establish his own popularity at the Imperial Court, and with the subjects of the Empire. However, the Emperor found that he had greater difficulty in securing the support of the Imperial Military and the Praetorian Guards, though he had honored General Julianus for his victories in the Second Northern War. Attempting to secure the loyalty of the Guards, the Emperor, on January 7, 1497, dismissed Sir Titus Petronius Secundus (1440-97), one of the chief conspirators against Antiochus, but long viewed as a stooge of his, as Prefect, and replaced him with a former commander of theirs, Sir Casperius Aelianus (1413-98). The donative given to the Guards was also hoped to appease them. Yet they now demanded that the assassins of Emperor Antiochus be tried and executed for their crimes; the assassination of that Emperor had revived their earlier love for him, and they remembered his elder brother Titus, who had himself been their Praetorian Prefect.
 * Emperor Nerva refused, asserting that the Guards should not dictate to him who should live, and who should die. Dissatisfaction accordingly built up among the regiments. Although the swift transfer of power following Antiochus's death had prevented a civil war from erupting, Nerva's position as Emperor was rapidly becoming vulnerable, with his benign nature turning into a reluctance to assert his own authority. He allowed the Senate to continue its investigations of informers, and he had not relaxed disciplinary regulations for the Guards or the other regiments of the Imperial Laurasian Army. In March 1497, Senator Sir Gaius Calpurnius Piso led a conspiracy against the Emperor, in conjunction with several courtiers and associates of his. This conspiracy, however, was quickly detected and suppressed; Piso and thirty others were imprisoned at the Post Settlement of Hepudermia. Once again, however, the Emperor refused to attain and execute the conspirators, much to the disapproval of his advisors and of the Councils of State. This situation was further aggravated by the absence of a clear successor, because of Nerva's childlessness and old age. He had only distant relatives, who were incompetent and unsuited for political office. The Law of Succession of 1322 still remained in effect, but the Emperor did not, to this point, take advantage of its provisions.
 * A successor would, nevertheless, have to be chosen from among the governors or military commanders of the Empire. By the middle of 1497, it seemed that the Emperor was finally coming around to that viewpoint, and that he was considering to adopt the Lord Maternus (1456-1513), who was the powerful Governor of Nathaniel and Sanegeta. Many others, however, preferred General Trajanius, who had displayed his skill in the Kimanian and Hookiee Wars, and in the Second Northern War. Trajanius was, on July 4, 1497, appointed Governor of Merlita, and he acquitted himself well in his duties there during the course of the following three months. Yet the Emperor asserted that this gesture did not mean he had chosen a successor, and his continued public procrastination finally brought matters to a head. On October 5, 1497, open rebellion broke out in Christiania against the Emperor. Prefect Aelianus now led the Praetorian Guards and Christiania Police. Betraying his master, he and his forces besieged the Quencilvanian Palace. Within a short time, the Palace Control had yielded, and Emperor Nerva himself was taken hostage. He was now forced to yield to their demands, agreeing to hand over those responsible for Antiochus's death and even giving a speech thanking the rebellious Praetorians. Ex-Prefect Secundus, Antiochus IV's Chamberlain Sir Parthenus, and the servants Maximus, Satyr, Gladitus, and Cloadianus were all sought out, and on October 14, executed by the Guards at the Casta Praetoria; this was accompanied with a formal bill of attainder, signed by the Emperor.
 * Emperor Nerva, whose reputation had been damaged by this incident, now realized that his position was no longer tenable without the support of an heir who had the approval of both the Imperial Military and the Empire's subjects. Consequently, on November 5, 1497, the Emperor announced that General Trajanius was now his official heir apparent, in accordance with the Law of Succession of 1322; he also formally adopted him and raised him to the rank of Grand Prince, thereby legitimizing his status. The General was renowned for his ability, his intelligence, his military tact, and his patriotic fervor for the concerns of the Empire. Moreover, he possessed the military experience, noble ancestry, and personal connections which would maintain Nerva's own position. Nerva now began issuing coinage depicting both him and the recently-elevated Grand Prince; had the Synod bless his heir and his forthcoming reign; and on December 1, 1497, presided over a ceremony at the Diplomatic Palace, where the then-absent General Trajanius was tendered a preliminary oath of allegiance by the Councils of State, the Guards, and the Imperial Court. Moreover, the Emperor made the General Procurator-General of the Governing Senate and President of the Council of Secretaries, entrusting him with status within the ranks of the imperial bureaucracy proper. He had begun a tradition which would last for the next six decades; an Emperor adopting a prominent figure of the realms as his successor, and not a natural-born heir. 1497 thus ended with the Empire at peace.

1498

 * 1498, the 98th year of the fifteenth century, began with the Laurasian Empire still persisting in a state of general prosperity and tranquility, both internally and with its neighbors. Emperor Nerva, who had been compelled to give in to the demands of the Praetorian Guards, and sanction the execution of the conspirators against his predecessor, Antiochus IV, had nevertheless conducted a wise administration. Moreover, by naming General Antigonus Trajanius as his heir apparent, the Emperor had secured the succession. As soon as the new year opened, however, the Emperor's health was suddenly, and fatally stricken. It was expected by all that it would only be a matter of time before his life and reign came to an end. And indeed, it was so. On the very first day of the new year (January 1, 1498), Nerva suffered a debilitating stroke during a private audience. The Emperor's health quickly deteriorated, and he was soon moved to the Imperial Hospital of the Quencilvanian Palace. On January 16, he was stricken with a bout of Antigenes favor; this further hastened his decline, and four days later, he fell into a coma. Word of the Emperor's condition quickly spread from the Quencilvanian Palace, to the cities of Laurasia Prime, and then, by the Galactic Holonet, across the Empire. General Trajanius, who was then at Schaueria Prime, learned of the Emperor's impending demise. He now openly bewailed Nerva, and called for all of his associates to offer up prayers to the Lord Almitis. By this action, therefore, he demonstrated his loyal concern for the man who had made him his heir and Grand Prince.
 * On January 24, the Last Rites were administered. Then on January 27, 1498, after a reign of just fifteen months, Nerva the Old died in the Imperial Hospital of the Quencilvanian Palace. He was 67 years old at the time of his death. The Emperor's death was received with the proper show of somber respect, and of mourning. The Councils of State issued a manifesto praising the late Emperor's virtues, merits, and wisdom in correcting the abuses of Antiochus. A period of mourning was proclaimed for him, and the crowds of prominent star systems throughout the Empire honored his memory. General Trajanius now became Antigonus I, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Laurasians. A few days after his predecessor's death, his accession to the throne was being greeted with acclaim by his new subjects. Antigonus justified their expectations by announcing, in his first manifesto, that he intended to preserve the intergity of the Almitian Church, correct all abuses within the Empire, and vigorously expand the Empire's realms. Indeed, he was to achieve all of these goals, and more. He would become known as the "Conqueror", of Hunt, Kimania, and Jageronia, and would be one of the most popular, respected, and successful monarchs in the history of the Laurasian Space Age.
 * The new Emperor now conducted a progress through the Schauerian Provinces, the Nexus Route region, and to Briannia, examining the defenses of those regions. At the same time, he ordered for his predecessor's body to be given the proper respects. Nerva laid in state at the Old Westphalian Cathedral throughout February 1498. Then on March 7, he was interred there, near to the body of Seleucus the Victor himself. Antigonus also summoned to him, on Durglais, Praetorian Prefect Casperius Aelianus, and on March 22, 1498, formally dismissed him from his post. Aelianus was allowed to retire to Compost V, where he died on August 9, 1498, aged 58. The Emperor now replaced him with one of his own military subordinates from the time of the Second Northern War, Sir Sextus Suburanus (1463-1501), who was loyal to him and defended his interests with vigor. Antigonus also granted the Guards a generous donative of $600,000 denarii per person, and confirmed all of their garrison, vacation, and transit privileges in April 1498. Then on May 8, after further tours in the vicinity of Arias, Meaganian, and Tommy, he finally proceeded to Laurasia Prime. His entry into the star system (May 14, 1498), was with much ceremonial. His subjects adored him, at the moons, and in the city of Christiania. The Senate and Synod gave him all due honors, and the magnates of the Imperial Court met him at the Diplomatic Palace.
 * On June 6, 1498, he crowned himself Emperor at the Old Westphalian Cathedral, and ordered for two successive largesse grants to be made to his subjects. The Emperor then conducted a series of lavish coronation games, festivals, and parades, thereby further endearing himself with his subjects and revealing his generosity. He also worked on building a close relationship with the Senate and Synod. Though making it clear that he was the Autocrat, and vigorously defending the traditions of Laurasian absolutism, the Emperor nevertheless treated the Councils of State with great respect. He regularly attended their sessions, confirmed all of their privileges, made grants of titles and property, and expanded their membership; by the end of his reign in 1517, the Senate would have fifty members. Antigonus treated all who came into contact with him with moderation, and he sought to listen to the petitions, and the requests, of his subjects. He relaxed the strict rituals of the Imperial Court, and permitted his subordinates greater freedom of action, and conversation in his presence. He kept the Guards at his side, at all times, and kept them involved in public ceremonies, thereby earning their trust and selfless devotion.
 * Antigonus also continued to reverse the policies of Antiochus IV. In August 1498, he laid down strict new procedures for the investigation of sexual deviancy and other such offenses by the Court of High Heresies. He commanded that no man be convicted of such crimes unless if they had been first informed of the charges, and given an opportunity to defend themselves. The Emperor again limited the powers of Praetors and Justices, and permitted juries in civil trials to issue opinions on the cases presented before them. He restored Senatorial jurisdiction over the military court martial system, and he repealed Antiochus's grant of authority to the military concerning marital law. The Emperor also widened again the criteria for evidence in the Court, and he forbade any civilian from being deprived of property or liberty unless if they had received the proper warrants from civilian authorities. Yet at the same time, Antigonus repealed many of Antiochus's odious measures concerning conduct and discipline in the military, and permitted the Praetorian Guards to engage in private relationships and activity, as long as they adhered to the overall standards of conduct. He restored the Intelligence Agency to what it had been under Vespasian, and fully reinstated all of Titus's decrees relating to treason trials and informants. The Bureau of Judicial Collections was abolished in November 1498, and the Emperor remitted all such fines and penalties incurred by subjects since 1490, provided that they could prove their innocence. And in December 1498, Antigonus issued new instructions to the judicial and legal authorities of the Empire, commanding them to refrain from warrantless searches, to reduce surveillance of private communications and correspondence, and to employ lethal force only when circumstances called for it. All of these policies greatly raised his already strong popularity with the Empire's subjects, and would lead to his proclamation as Optimus (The Best) by the Senate and Synod in 1505.

1499

 * 1499, the 99th year of the fifteenth century, began with the Laurasian Empire now under the rule of Antigonus I. During his first year on the throne, Emperor Antigonus had pursued a series of civil, administrative, and public policies which had endeared him to his subjects and had consolidated his position. It had also demonstrated that the Emperor was concerned about his Empire, and sought to vigorously defend its interests. In January 1499, the Emperor embarked on a tour of the cities of Laurasia Prime. Colombia, Osraninpolis, Constantinople, Mendelevium, Soriana, Heliotrope, Uris, Ravenna, Beneventum, and Quencania City, among others, were all graced with the presence of His Majesty. He distributed further gifts to his subjects; staged a number of triumphal games and tournaments in honor of the Empire and the Almitian Church; and made it known that he would always protect the interests of his subjects. On February 5, 1499, following his return to the Quencilvanian Palace, the Emperor delivered a speech to the Councils of State, promising that he would continue to consult them in the future, and that he would not abstain from addressing their complaints. All of these actions further convinced the magnates of the Imperial Court that they had the right, and most just ruler. But Antigonus, at heart, was a military commander, and he believed that the Laurasian Empire's territorial expansion needed to be vigorously resumed. The Emperor sought to extend Laurasian power further outwards from the Core Regions, to consolidate the frontiers, and to eliminate threats to his own position.
 * He therefore decided to eliminate the Kingdom of Jageronia, which had been, for forty-four years, a protectorate and client state of the Laurasian Empire. Circumstances within Jageronia favored an intervention by the Emperor of Laurasia. On July 4, 1497, King Charlemagne of Jageronia had died, after a reign of twenty-three years. He had been succeeded to the throne by his son, Prince Adelchis, who in November 1497 had paid homage to Emperor Nerva at Arias. Adelchis, however, was a weak and ineffective monarch. He possessed a physical disability which impaired his ability to walk, he had no military skill of his own, and he indulged himself in the luxuries of the Jageronian Court. The Jageronian Armed Forces, which had been restricted on the initiative of the Imperial Laurasian Government, were no longer capable of effectively defending the Kingdom's realms. Moreover, internal dissent boiled over within Jageronia; Renastasia, Dilonexa, and Rafa were plagued with civil uprisings from March to August 1498; and in November 1498, King Adelchis himself was briefly seized and held captive by Turdachis, Prince of Brenda. He was eventually freed by his troops, and Turdachis was executed. Nevertheless, all of this had shown to the Court of Christiania that Jageronia was ripe for the taking. It was on March 6, 1499, that Emperor Antigonus sent a communique to King Adelchis, commanding him to present himself before him at Caladaria, and to bring with him his leading courtiers. Adelchis, who was stricken with illness, now tried to come up with excuses, and to delay his journey from Brenda. This therefore gave Antigonus the excuse, on March 13, to declare the King of Jageronia to be in contempt, and to order General Julianus (commanding a military offensive for the last time in his career), to launch his forces into Jageronian territory.
 * Julianus obliged, and Laurasian forces now pushed from McEvlogue, Dickinson, Iego, Abuza, Abrianna, Izonza, Robert, Wakedia, Deservo, and other strongholds in the Robertian and Mereditan Provinces. On March 18, 1499, the Battle of Tuscanos ended in a decisive victory for the Empire's forces. From Tuscanos, Spoleto was laid under siege by Julianus (March 22-29, 1499), and its fall dealt a major blow to the Jageronians. April 1499 saw the subjugation of Renastasia, Zebitrope, Uaua, and Antipose, thereby entrenching Laursian forces firmly within the OsonBoka Nebula. Although a Jageronian force managed to harry Jamuina and Alamaia I (May 5, 1499), their other offensives into the Robertian Provinces failed. On May 14, the Battle of Tolorado ended in another victory for General Julianus; he captured 35,000 Jageronian troops, and had a number of them put to death. On May 21, Laurasian troops stormed the Jageronian colonies of Tusulf and Benverentia, thereby dealing further damage to Jageronia's military position. On June 5, 1499, Erlinar fell to Julianus; this effectively secured the Central OsonBoka Reaches, and placed Brenda in jeopardy. Further clashes at Hoxrel, Trammis, and Arleen confirmed the general trend of events (June 7-14, 1499). On June 22, 1499, the capture of Dela and Rafa effectively destroyed all semblances of Jageronian military force in the OsonBoka Nebula.
 * Finally, on July 1, 1499, Brenda, the capital world of the Kingdom of Jageronia, was laid under siege by General Julianus. He had at his disposal 350,000 troops, along with the 20th and 21st Imperial Fleets. The garrison of Brenda numbered just over 100,000 men, and its defenses were paltry. They could not long withstand the onslaught of the Imperial Laurasian Navy, and on July 5, the shields failed. At this point, Emperor Antigonus sent another communique to King Adelchis, offering to spare his life and to grant him all of the privileges due to a Prince if he surrendered. Adelchis, who was aware of the fate of those enemies who resisted, and that there was no longer any hope for his kingdom, decided to accept the offer. On July 8, he formally surrendered to General Julianus, and ordered all of his forces to disarm themselves, and to hand their weapons over to the Laurasians. There was some resistance on the part of the garrisons of Upper Brenda, but most resistance was quickly quelled.
 * Emperor Antigonus was true to his word. King Adelchis, on July 14, 1499, signed a declaration of abdication, and was permitted to retire to his estates on Renastasia. He was granted the title of King-Emeritus of Jageronia and given an annual imperial pension of $25.5 billion denarii a year. He would reside at Renastasia, and at his other estates on other worlds, until his death on March 9, 1514. On July 22, 1499, the formal decree of annexation for Jageronia was issued by Emperor Antigonus. All Jageronian military forces were disbanded, Laurasian garrisons installed on Brenda and in the other star systems, and Laurasian administrative practices introduced into those regions. Julianus was thanked for his services, and in September 1499, received the Order of St. Honorius the Liberator. The Emperor himself was hailed as Jageronius Maximus by the Governing Senate and Holy Synod (October 5, 1499). The last months of 1499 passed in peace for the Empire; the Emperor continued to govern with acclaim over his subjects. The annexation of Jageronia thereby brought an end to the independence of a state which had lasted for over four centuries (since c. 1066), and had, until 1236, been a vassal of the Huntite Khanate, Kingdom of Rudorita, and Kingdom of Halegothica. Between 1236 and 1456, it had been an independent realm.

1500

 * 1500, the 100th and concluding year of the fifteenth century, opened with the Laurasian Empire having expanded its territory through the acquisition of the Kingdom of Jageronia. Emperor Antigonus was now receiving more enthusiastic praise from his subjects than before, and on January 1, 1500, the Holy Synod conferred its formal blessings on his reign, praising him for his policies, his virtues, and his dedication to the welfare of his people. The Emperor now turned his attention to another, more ambitious project of military expansion: a short, decisive war against the Neo-Anastasian Empire. Surprisingly enough, to many throughout the Caladarian Galaxy, Laurasia had not become embroiled in wars with the powers of the western Barsar Regions until this point. The Empire's annexation of Ashlgothia, Beatrice, Melorkia, and of territories from the Celestial Dynasty of Kimania had, it was assumed, all been ground for the Anastasians and Lesians to react in their own defense. Both of these powers, however, had been distracted by internal conflict, war with each other, and with economic and other concerns. Moreover, all Emperors from Demetrius I himself to Nerva had made sure to manipulate these divides, and to thereby keep themselves in good standing with both realms. They had also refrained from aggressive expeditions or raids into Lesian and Anastasian territory. But now, Antigonus sought to pursue a different policy.
 * On January 17, 1500, the Emperor moved from Laurasia Prime to Sanegeta, and thence to Ashlgothia Minor. There, he issued an ultimatum to the Neo-Anastasian Empress, Solana III (1482-1507). In his ultimatum, the Emperor demanded that the Anastasians grant free transit privileges to Laurasian merchants through their realms; that the strongholds of the Upper Durant Cluster, including Hamackai Barka and Stewart, be conceded to the Empire; and that the Anastasians pledge to respect the integrity of Laurasian territories. Solana (who was named after the Anastasian ruler who had, with her husband King Narada of Lesia, fought against Timur the Devastator at the turn of the millennium), was enraged by these demands, and in March 1500, rejected them. Consequently, on April 2, 1500, Emperor Antigonus issued a declaration of war against the Neo-Anastasian Empire and launched his forces from the Ashlgothian Provinces into their territory. As expected, the war turned out to be short.
 * On April 9, 1500, Granada was attacked by a Laurasian expeditionary force; within two days, it had succumbed. The Emperor then besieged and captured Helen (April 14-19, 1500), inflicting a further humiliation upon the Anastasians. Anastasian counter-offensives against Nicole, Redia, and Sejucia ended in failure, and by the end of May 1400, Angela Masia was also in Laurasian hands. Then on June 4, 1500, the Emperor attacked and defeated Anastasian General Colada in the Battle of Masia. From Masia, he then occupied Ruumlist (June 8-14, 1500), and drove into Churchill. Churchill was besieged from June 16, and on July 7, 1500, it fell into the Emperor's hands. He followed this by besieging and conquering Sharon Alfonsi (July 11) and on July 14, 1500, overrunning Tiesting. Skye I surrendered on August 1, 1500; four days later, Stewart was conquered by the Emperor. On August 18, Hamackai Barka was besieged by the Emperor. In spite of Anastasian moves against Leslie, Knight, and Gigi, the world's defenses succumbed in short order, and on August 22, it too fell. Empress Solana, who was now faced with war against the Nagoshi Confederacy, felt it necessary to negotiate peace. On September 7, 1500, she sent a communique to her Laurasian counterpart, requesting for negotiations.
 * He agreed, and the Armistice of Zoo was signed on September 22. A conference was then opened at Sejucia (October 14, 1500). Two months of negotiations then followed, as the delegations wrangled over the terms. Finally, on December 16, 1500, the Treaty of Sejucia was signed. By the terms of this treaty, the strongholds of the inner Durant Cluster, including Hamackai Barka, Stewart, Skye I, and Sharon Alfonsi, were conceded to the Laurasian Empire. The Emperor of Laurasia agreed to evacuate his forces from all other Anastasian territory by no later than January 1, 1502 and to restore all spoils and prisoners of war captured. In exchange, the Anastasians recognized the Laurasian annexation of Jageronia, promised to guarantee the intergity of the Empire's frontiers in Merlita and Ashlgothia, and to grant free transit privileges to Laurasian starhoppers, navigators, and merchants through their territories for a period of four years. The Treaty of Sejucia was ratified by Empress Solana on December 21 and by Emperor Antigonus on Ascentmas Day, 1500. The Emperor had already returned to Laurasia Prime, and there was much anticipation, for the fifteenth century was now ending.

16th century (1501-1600)
The sixteenth century commenced on January 1, 1501, and ended on December 31, 1600, of the Hyperdrive Era system.

1501

 * 1501, the 1st and opening year of the sixteenth century, was greeted with much celebration on Laurasia Prime, and joy throughout the Empire's dominions. By the beginning of the sixteenth century, the Empire's dominions spanned from Upper Angelica in the Wild Marshes to Nikki Lowell, Newman Victoria, and the northern reaches of the Kimanian Trade Run in the southeast (including Khagia, Dumbgwita, Beverly Hereidu, and the Ashlgothian Borderlands Territories). The preceding century had seen the Laurasian subjugation of all of the powers involved in the Great Briannian War, and the Empire's territorial expansion across the Middle Territories, into the Wild Marshes, and to the southwestern Barsar Regions. The subjugation of Lower Melorkia (1410); Solidarita (1412); Meredita (1417); Ashlgothia (1429); Polonia-Donguaria (1434); Beatrice (1440): Temperance and Way'tosk (1443-46); Hypasia and Angelica (1443-84); the Kingdom of the Merlites (1474); the Hookiee Confederacy (1490); and Jageronia (1499), along with the acquisition of territories from Anastasia, Kimania, the Abbathian Dynasty, the Kingdom of Melanie Major, and most importantly of all, the Neo-Venasian Consortium (which was a vassal state to the Empire from 1422) had immeasurably strengthened Laurasia's position of power and influence within the Caladarian Galaxy. Yet Emperor Antigonus was confronted with the challenge of now securing the Empire's frontiers, and of vanquishing rivals in the Outer Borderlands. In particular, the Celestial Dynasty of Kimania continued to be an irritant to the Empire. The continued Laurasian subsidies to the Court of Kimania (valued at more than $1.2 trillion Laurasian denarius per annum), the provision of Laurasian technological specialists, advisors, military mercenaries, and agents, and the special transit privileges granted to Kimanian merchants, corporations, and starhoppers in the Ashlgothian Borderland Territories all provoked the Emperor. He was also agitated by raids, launched by freebooters and pirates operating from within Kimanian territory (such as the Zyggerian Pirates), directed against Brooke, Allison, Emily Deuistiania, Matthew, West, Mirohassani, Imma, Emma, Kathryn, and Baiteman, among other worlds in those regions.
 * Thus the Emperor, as early as November 1499, had begun preparing for renewed military conflict with the Kimanians to the south. In September 1500, he commanded the Imperial General Headquarters to formalize these plans of action, and to present him with a coordinated strategy. The Headquarters proceeded quickly to their work, and on December 22, 1500, Emperor Antigonus had been presented with their memorandums, at the Palace of the Greats on Americana. From this, the Emperor sought to gauge the opinions of his subjects and to rally the Empire's subjects to support his war efforts. It was on January 15, 1501, that the Governing Senate formally accorded, in a proclamation from the Imperial Court, its support for the Emperor's objectives. The Emperor of Laurasia, with this manifesto of support in his hands, moved swiftly to Jennings, establishing his military headquarters there, and in February 1501, issued an ultimatum to Decabolio Shogun, demanding that he renegotiate treaty arrangements with the Empire and restrain all pirate expeditions into the Borderlands Territories. The Shogun of Kimania, who was still possessed of the same arrogance as previously, and who did not believe that the Laurasians would be able to conduct a successful military campaign along the Kimanian Trade Run, refused. Thus it was, on March 7, 1501, that the Emperor of Laurasia issued a declaration against the Celestial Dynasty.
 * Laurasian units, already assembled at the chief strongholds of the Lower Melorkian Provinces and Ashlgothian Borderlands Territories, launched a series of swift offensives into Kimanian territory. Tolbiac on the Kimanian Trade Run became the site of an early Laurasian victory (March 19, 1501); by the end of March 1501, Laurasian units had stormed Shell, Earl, and Sandra, thereby inflicting a series of humiliating defeats upon overstretched Kimanian border garrisons. Kimanian counteroffensives against Cox, Henderson, Banks, Breha, and Constipex failed (April 1501), and on May 2, 1501, Dorothea was besieged by Emperor Antigonus's forces. The Siege of Dorothea lasted for ten days, and despite the efforts of the Kimanian Prince of Hutsia Minor, Dim-Sew, the world fell into Laurasian possession. From this vantage point, Emperor Antigonus secured Millard, Leseur, and Lange (May 5-19, 1501), and on May 22, blunted a Kimanian counteroffensive against Narra, Christopher, and Gilestis. Nanking was then captured (May 25, 1501), and on May 28, General Dim-Sew suffered another defeat in the Battle of Allen. Harrison, Novina, Preena, and Jarman now fell into Laurasian hands (June 1501), and by that point, the Imperial Laurasian Navy was launching raiding expeditions into the Hutsite Reaches and against Drea, Duana, Abshire, Riley, and Strongstine. Orion III was isolated from June 7, 1501, but did not fall to Laurasian Major-General Sir Lucius Quietus (1449-1518), until July 7. On that same day, the Battle of Offshora resulted in another victory for the Laurasian Empire; Goni and Reading were now under serious threat from Laurasian forces. Leo's Redoubt was sacked on July 14, 1501, and Gardiner was seized two days later. Dominguez, Susan, and Plath were occupied by the Empire's forces in August 1501. By that point, Decabolio Shogun, who had in vain strengthened the defenses of Rolle, Bookman, Chobania, and Messalina, now sought to move against the Laurasians, and to thereby regain the advantage. Launching a surprise offensive from Kimanis Mooria, the Shogun stormed Erevan (August 19, 1501), and then destroyed the Laurasian military repository on Turcmenchay; from here, Gilestis and Christopher were besieged by Kimanian units.
 * On September 4, 1501, Igdir and Nahikchevan were both seized by Kimanian forces. Emperor Antigonus, reacting vigorously to this threat, now determined to lure his Kimanian rival to the outskirts of Woolestone, and to thereby deal a decisive below to his forces. This strategy worked, and after a route of pursuit through Winehouse, Shell, Dumbgwita, Khagia, and Les Mans, the Kimanians were lured to Tapae, site of that first Laurasian victory in 1488 (September 11, 1501). The Second Battle of Tapae, as it was called, resulted in a decisive victory for the Laurasians; more than 350,000 personnel of the Kimanian Celestial Navy died in the confrontation, and Decabolio Shogun was forced to halt his offensive. Erevan and Igdir were both recovered on September 15; Nahikchevan on September 19. Turccmenchay would be back in Laurasian hands by the end of the September, and on October 9, Gilestis and Christopher were both relieved. Kimanian clashes with Laurasian units at Echimadzin, Gilan, Ganja, Qobi-Karabakh, and Hinds Prime accomplished nothing; on October 14, 1501, Bookman was besieged and conquered by Emperor Antigonus. Rolle followed on October 22, and on October 25, 1501, the Battle of Nelson resulted in a decisive victory for General Quietus. Acone and Plath were in Laurasian hands by the end of November 1501; then on December 4, 1501, the Battle of Hutsia Minor resulted in another victory for the Emperor Antigonus. As a result of this victory, Kelly, Caleb, and Dodson, Kimanian colonies in the outskirts of the Hutsite Reaches, were occupied. By the end of 1501, the Emperor Antigonus's forces were geared for further advances into Jarjanica and against the lower Kimanian Trade Run.
 * On March 21, 1501, the renowned Donguarian-Laurasian historian Flavius Josephus, who had written The Donguarian Rebellion (1488) and The Antiquities of the Galaxy (1491), died in Christiania, Laurasia Prime, aged sixty-three. Josephus's works would be major sources for the prominent historians of the eighteenth century, such as Gibboneous, Baron Monompahlaus, and Lady Vassalina.

1502

 * 1502 witnessed the conclusion of the Second Antigonid War of Kimania, though tensions continued to persist between the two states afterwards. The early months of 1502 saw a continuation of the string of Laurasian successes from the previous year. Wallace, Security, and Polk were occupied by Laurasian units (January 7-15, 1502), and on January 22, 1502, Emperor Antigonus won the Battle of Hutsia Major, thereby occupying that major stronghold. Drea, Duana, and Melvin then fell into Laurasian hands (February 1502), and the Laurasian hold of Preena, Novina, and Nelson was consolidated after decisive confrontations with Kimanian units at Leroy, Jones, Ward, and Derby during that same month. By March 1502, however, Decabolio Shogun had resolved upon a renewed counteroffensive into Laurasian territory, directed against the Ashlgothian Borderlands Territories. Seeking to bypass the Armenian Provinces, the Shogun sought to bring retribution to the Laurasian realms for Emperor Antigonus's attacks against him. This string of counteroffensives commenced on March 8, 1502, with a Kimanian move against Earl; the stronghold fell into Kimanian possession. Khagia, Tolbiac, and Dumbgwita were blockaded by Kimanian units; then on March 17, 1502, Kristin fell victim to a Kimanian assault. This world, whose units had been moved out in anticipation of further offensives into the Barsar Regions, proved no match to the Kimanians, and surrendered two days later. Hefner, Brooke One, West, and Jennings were then secured (March 18-April 9, 1502); on April 12, 1502, the Battle of Celestina ended in another victory for General Xi Jiaoping, who had become the Shogun's new field commander. Tahon, Bryce, and Peterslie then fell into Kimanian hands, and by the beginning of May 1502, Nandia and India were both threatened. The Kimanians, however, had now overextended themselves, and Emperor Antigonus struck back in a decisive manner. On May 19, 1502, he repelled a Kimanian move against Warren in the Battle of Jeopardy; Page, Ellen, and Winfrey then became the sites of Laurasian counter-assaults against Kimanian raiding expeditions.
 * On June 1, 1502, the Emperor won the Battle of Nicopolis, handing General Jiaoping a decisive defeat and forcing the Kimanian evacuation of Nick, Brad, Dragosh, and Hefner. Brooke One was recovered on June 8, and on June 11, 1502, the Battle of Louis ended in another victory for Emperor Antigonus. By the end of June 1502, Kimanian moves into the Borderlands Provinces had come to a halt. Strongstine was then conquered by General Quietus (July 8, 1502), handing a serious blow to the Kimanians. Knight, Vithian, and Olapia then saw further Kimanian humiliations, and Jennings was recovered by the Laurasian Empire (July 17, 1502). Tanning and Abshire then fell, and on August 9, 1502, Shell and Tolbiac were relieved. Then on August 24, 1502, the Battle of Adamclisi, fought near the outskirts of Armenia Minor, resulted in a decisive victory for the Emperor of Laurasia; Tahon, Bryce, and Peterslie were recovered, and the Kimanians suffered a reverse at Tyler. Decabolio Shogun, whose treasury was being drained by the conflict, and who saw Kimania's own defenses menaced by Emperor Antigonus's forces, now decided to reach a peace with the Emperor. The offer was made on September 4, 1502; Emperor Antigonus accepted in short order, and on October 9, 1502, the Treaty of Istria was concluded. Peaceful relations were thus restored between the Laurasian Empire and the Celestial Dynasty of Kimania. The Orion Cluster (with Dorothea, Lange, Leseur, Orion III), Millard, Filorean, and Reading were acquired by the Laurasian Empire. The Shogun of Kimania agreed to return all Laurasian fugitives, captives, and prisoners of war, and all subsidy arrangements with the Imperial Treasury were formally terminated. Moreover, the Shogun promised not to conclude any treaties without first obtaining the consent of the Emperor of Laurasia. Emperor Antigonus thus returned to Laurasia Prime in triumph; festivities were staged throughout the Empire to mark his victory; and Chief Procurator of the Holy Synod Sir Antiochus Wincheslia (in office 1493-1513), offered his thanks to the Lord Almitis. Yet Decabolio Shogun was not completely quiescent, and war would once again break out, leading to Kimania's final destruction and its incorporation into the Laurasian Empire.

1505

 * The years 1503 and 1504 saw the intensification of tensions between the Laurasian Empire and the Celestial Dynasty of Kimania. Decabolio Shogun, in spite of his obligations under the Treaty of Istria, and his pledge to remain on friendly terms with the Emperor of Laurasia, nevertheless acted in an aggressive and hostile manner against him, once more. Beginning in June 1503, the Shogun once more began to harbor fugitives from the justice of the Imperial Laurasian Government; he also encouraged renewed expeditions by the Izygian League of Skold and the Zyggerian Pirates into the Borderlands Territories. Emma, Tahon, Bryce, Peterslie, April, Soraya, Kathryn, and Abigail were all threatened by the Zyggerians and Izygians during the course of 1504, who inflicted more than $5 trillion denarius worth of damage, and kept the authorities of those regions on perpetual alert. Then in February 1504, the Shogun sponsored an assassination attempt against the Emperor of Laurasia. The Shogun sponsored the conspiracy of the Coales brothers, both of whom served in the Praetorian Guards, were veterans of the Emperor's first war against Kimania, and bore a grudge against him, believing that they had not been properly rewarded for their services.
 * The brothers, who had access to the King's Floor of the Quencilvanian Palace, sought to assassinate the Emperor in March of that year, while he was progressing with his commanders and Court to a service at the Old Westphalian Cathedral. This effort, however, was blunted before it could be launched, and on March 17, 1504, the Emperor had both brothers arrested and imprisoned at the Post Settlement of Hepudermia. Tortured, they soon revealed their ties with the Shogun of Kimania. On April 8, 1504, both brothers were condemned to death by the Governing Senate; their executions at the High Tower of Christiania on May 19 attracted a crowd of more than 150,000 persons. The Emperor of Laurasia, angered by this Kimanian-sponsored assassination plot, ordered for a strict surveillance to be placed on the activities of the Kimanian Ambasasador to Laurasia Prime, Xi-Chai; and in September 1504, he ordered for rearmament to commence. Decabolio Shogun, likewise, had engaged in efforts to strengthen his own military position, sponsoring the establishment of a new Kimanian headquarters on Samantha. Thus it was, on January 7, 1505 (two centuries before the convocation of the Conference of Sejucia, by which the Vectorian War of 1702-05 would be negotiated to an end), that the Emperor issued an ultimatum to the Kimanians, demanding that the Shogun disavow all ties to rebels within the Empire's realms; that Kimania concede the Hutsite Regions to Laurasia; and that all Kimanian military forces be disarmed. Decabolio Shogun, however, refused to adhere to these conditions, and in February 1505, staged a ceremony on Ryaa II in which he disavowed all treaties signed with the Laurasian power.
 * Emperor Antigonus interpreted this as a declaration of war, and on March 18, 1505, he issued the formal proclamation. The Emperor, who had already moved to Woolestone, moved swiftly. Repelling Kimanian moves against Caitlin, Moore, Hardwicke, and Hedemark (March 19-27, 1505), and securing the defenses of Breha, Antigonus proceeded into the Jarjanican Provinces. Betty, Sexton, and Schlumeister fell into Laurasian hands (April 1505), and on May 2, 1505, the Battle of White ended in a victory for Emperor Antigonus and General Quietus. Four days later, Hamilton and Ury were both stormed by Laurasian units; then on May 21, 1505, the Battle of Darrin ended in another crushing victory over the Kimanians. General Xi Jiaoping was killed in that confrontation. Harrison and Novina were in Laurasian hands by the end of June 1505; in spite of the failure of a Laurasian raiding expedition against Security, the Empire's forces nevertheless generally advanced forwards. The Battle of Madison (July 7, 1505), witnessed another victory for the Emperor Antigonus; then on July 18, 1505, he destroyed the Kimanian forces of General Hideki Tojo in the Battle of Plath. Plath fell into Laurasian possession; Skold, Jarman, and Allen had all been secured by September 1505. On October 5, 1505, the Battle of Preena ended in another victory for Laurasian arms; that world, along with Nelson, Novina, Harrison, Polk, and Rogers, all fell swiftly into Laurasian hands. Everett, McCloskey, and McDivitt were stormed, allowing for the Laurasians to attack, and to conquer, Hutsia Minor (October 27, 1505). Abshire, Drea, and Duana were besieged and conquered in November 1505; Riley followed on December 7, and by December 17, Chobania, Goni, Hutsia Minor, and Strongstine were all in Laurasian hands. Gardiner and Leo's Redoubt were taken on Ascentmas Day 1505; Samantha, Messalina, and Offshora were now under siege.

1506

 * 1506 witnessed the conclusion of the Seventh Laurasian-Kimanian War, and the final subjection of the Celestial Dynasty of Kimania to the authority of the Laurasian Empire. In January 1506, Emperor Antigonus, advancing from Armenia Major with the 22nd and 23rd Imperial Fleets, proceeded to complete the conquest of the Hutsite Regions and Lower Barsar Regions. The Battle of Perlman (January 7, 1506), ended in a decisive victory for the Emperor of Laurasia. Messalina, which was now buckling under Laurasian pressure, captiulated on January 18; McLean, Hugill, and Dolores followed on January 22, thereby completing the encirclement of Offshora. Kimanian counteroffensives against Goni, Breha, Narra, and Reading availed nothing; Offshora was seized on February 18, 1506. By the end of February 1506, Laurasian units had also secured Hutsia Major and Drea. Duana was stormed on March 4, 1506; then on March 17, Samantha finally fell into the Empire's possession. From hence, the Emperor of Laurasia inflicted decisive defeats upon Kimanian units at Damien, Cooley, and DeLourencio (March 22-April 9, 1506). On May 5, 1506, two centuries before the Battle of Irving in the War of the Dejanican Expedition, the Battle of Sergio was waged, ending in a decisive victory for the Laurasians. The Emperor's forces, having effectively secured the Lower Barsar Regions, now pushed with all deliberate speed to Kimania and Kimanis Mooria. Emperor Antigonus now organized his units into three columns. The first, comprised of the 29th Imperial Fleet and the 30th Imperial Army, followed the Cema, Tebisis, and Shanghai Lanes to Tibiscium, located eight light years to the southwest of Rolle (which had been seized in December 1505). From hence, they passed through the Kimanian colonies of Valea Certnei, Hateg, and Valea Streiluiui.
 * These units, commanded by General Sir Meleagus Sporus (1459-1533), then destroyed the Kimanian fortifications on Costesi, Bildaru, and Piatra Rosie. The second column, comprised of the 23d Imperial Fleet and the 31st Imperial Army, and commanded by General Quietus, seized Bookman and crossed to Sucidava. It then approached the Jin Colonies, linking with the first column at Tara Hategugui (June 1, 1506). The combined forces then seized the Suiranu Approaches, meeting fierce but sporadic resistance from the Kimanian garrisons of those systems. The third column, led by the Emperor Antigonus himself, advanced through Muntenia, passed through the Kimanian systems of Bran, Bratocea, and Oituz, and destroyed Cumdivavia and Augstua Starbases, near Kimanis Mooria. Then, on July 2, 1506, the combined forces of the Laurasian Empire converged on Kimania and commenced their siege. Laurasian units blockaded Kimanis Mooria and destroyed the Kimanian fortifications of Derangy, Morangy, and Zirdava, thereby denying Decabolio Shogun reinforcements. The Siege of Kimania lasted for over two months, and was particularly fierce, as Decabolio's forces ceaselessly harried the lines of the Imperial Laurasian Navy. The Emperor of Laurasia had to lay a series of minefields around Kimania, to vigorously reorganize his offensive units, and to employ his turbocannon to bombard Kimania's defenses. Finally, however, on September 9, 1506, Kimania finally succumbed to the Laurasian Empire. Laurasian troops quickly overran Bejing and the other major cities of Kimania, securing the Celestial Palace of Kimania and the other major landmarks. Decabolio Shogun himself, along with his court and remaining retainers, fled on his personal starfighter, but made it only as far as Kodaisay, where he was forced to commit suicide (September 20, 1506).
 * On September 22, Kodaisay fell into Laurasian hands, and Decabolio Shogun's corpse was discovered by Colonel Sir Tiberius Claudius Maximus (1467-1545); he severed the Shogun's head with his vibroblade, and presented it to the Emperor himself. For this, Maximus would be promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General and in June 1507, be created the 1st Laurasian Earl of Kimanis Mooria. Emperor Antigonus, on October 5, 1506, formally proclaimed the annexation of the Celestial Dynasty of Kimania's remaining territories into the Laurasian Empire. He then returned to Laurasia Prime in triumph (November 1, 1506), bringing with him $11 trillion denarius worth of goods, more than three million Kimanian prisoners of war, and over two hundred Kimanian warships of the Celestial Navy. Decabalio Shogun's head had a prominent place in the triumph, conducted through the two Calaxies, Hepudermia, Jadia, and into the city of Christiania. The Chief Procurator presided over a Te Deum service at St. Katherine's Cathedral, and much praise was lavished upon the Emperor; in January 1507, the Governing Senate and Holy Synod would confer upon him the title Kimanius Maximus. The Emperor, over the remaining decade of his reign, pursued a systematic policy of resettlement in the Barsar Regions, importing Laurasians and other subjects from throughout the Empire; consolidating Laurasian rule over those regions; and engaging in numerous construction projects, to consolidate the Laurasian political and military position there.
 * His conquest of Kimania therefore meant that Laurasia now held virtually all of the territories once held by the Illkhanid Empire, which had disintegrated and collapsed in the mid tenth century, some six hundred years earlier. His campaigns benefited the Empire by the recovery of fugitives of justice; the seizure of the Kimanian Treasury and of the vast estates of the Kimanian Shoguns; and control over the prosperous Kimanian mineral and spice mines. The Zyggerian and Izygian Pirates would be exterminated by coordinated Laurasian expeditions in the Wild Marshes between 1507 and 1513, culminating in the Laurasian victory at Moigrad in the Hutsite Reaches. Decabolio Shogun's remains would be interred in the Imperial Mausoleum, on the Emperor's orders, in 1509. In 1756, on the orders of Empress Didymeia, they would be removed back to Kimania, and interred in the Great Imperial Mausoleum, alongside the remains of other Kimanian Shoguns and Kings. Emperor Antigonus, to commemorate his victories over Kimania, would commission Apollodorus of Dramis (1462-1539), in 1509, to construct Antigonus's Column in Christiania, both as a propaganda piece and a public monument; the Column would be dedicated in 1513, with a gold statute to the Lord Almitis on the top. In December 1787, this would be replaced with a gold statute of Emperor Antigonus himself, erected by Empress Aurelia the Great (as part of her efforts to drum Laurasian spirit for the ongoing wars with Spamalka and Marasharita).
 * On June 9, 1506, Venasian Queen Mother Tethria III, the last ruler ever of the ancient Venasian Consortium, and one of the Laurasian Empire's client monarchs, died, after having reigned for thirty-five years (since 1471). Emperor Antigonus I (who had now become known as the "Conqueror" by his some of his subjects), believing that the continued existence of the rump Consortium, in the midst of Laurasian dominions, was illogical and ineffective, refused to acknowledge Tethria's daughter, Amayia, as her mother's successor, and ordered for the direct incorporation of the Venasian Consortium into the Laurasian Empire (decree of June 22, 1506). Three hundred and fifty years after the Venasians had overthrown the Dasian Khanate of Venasia, they were brought under the rule of the Imperial Laurasian Government. Laurasian troops occupied Venasia Prime, Hapes, and Venasia Secondary with little opposition, and the Venasian Cluster was absorbed into the normal administrative system of the Empire. All of the Core Regions were now under Laurasian rule. As for Venasian Princess Amayia, she was granted a pension by Emperor Antigonus, and allowed to retain all of her hereditary estates in the Venasian Cluster. She resided quietly in the Cluster until her death on November 15, 1565, on Hannis, at the age of eighty-eight.

1509

 * The prominent Laurasian historian, Sir Decabulus Aaori, completed his two primary works, The Annals of the Laurasian Monarchy and The Histories.

1513

 * For seven years following the conclusion of the Sixth Kimanian War, Emperor Antigonus ruled in peace over the dominions of the Laurasian Empire, to the same acclaim and praise as before. He established a policy of moderation and prudence towards religious minorities and alien sects within his Empire; in 1509, the Emperor issued a general edict of toleration, forbidding the Holy Synod and the officials of the Imperial Court from trampling upon the rights of Dasian Cultists, the Arachosian Orders, or the Briannian Congregations. That same year, he issued the first of many confirmations of the privileges of the Venasian Matrons, and of the precedence and inheritance rights of Venasian noblemen within the Venasian Cluster; these privileges were to be confirmed by all of his successors, all the way to the reign of Aurelia the Great in the late eighteenth century. The Emperor also became known as a vigorous architect, sponsoring numerous projects throughout the Purse Region and in other regions of the Empire. Besides Antigonus's Column, Antigonus also constructed the Antigonid Trade Exchange in Christiania (between 1508 and 1512); the Baths of Antigonus (completed in 1516, one year before his death); and Kigonian Mansion (1511-12), which was to become one of the most renowned noble residences in the Empire. He also sponsored the expansion of the Diplomatic Palace, building the Palatia Imperium (1512-13), redesigning the Palace's security systems, and erecting a special Athletic Court. Christiania, Colombia, Constantinople, Soriana, Mendelevium, Ostia, Herkorim, and Beneventum were all beautified by the Emperor; in 1514, he rebuilt the Truist Temple of Maldaria, and dedicated the Grove of Ansum in Heliotrope. He was also a prolific builder of starbases, outposts, and garrisons; Cholidria Starbase near Acabania was built by him from 1509 to 1511. He reconstructed the Station of Dosch, expanded the Neuron Plantita Station, and in 1514, erected the Booms of Martina Mccasia. Mariana Prime, Blackria, Dennis, Shannon, Wendy, and Coen saw the complete redesign of their transportation systems, and in 1516, the Emperor sponsored the establishment of the Arts Gallery of Monderon. Between 1506 and 1517, more than 175,000 new edifices were raised by Antigonus throughout the Empire, including 2,000 starbases and 1,500 hyperspace terminals; he also extended the Empire's hyperroutes, chartering the Roxuli-Abraham Way (1512); the Dennis Trace (1514); and the Lower Angelican Military Highway (1509-13).
 * All total, more than 175,000 light years worth of hyperroute was chartered during his reign. Between 1511 and 1513, moreover, more than two thousand star systems would be colonized in the Barsar Regions and the Borderlands Territories on the Emperor's initiative, and populated with immigrants from throughout the Empire. The Via Antigonia (1512), was blazed to connect Narra with Peterslie, Warren, India, and the Borderlands Colonies. The Emperor also expanded the Empire's public welfare system through the enactment of the Community Laws (1508), which regulated obligations and terms of welfare provision for all lower-income inhabitants of the Empire; provided a fixed account for all local welfare, healthcare, and social services administrations in the Empire to utilize; and tied work to welfare obtainment. He also lowered tuition rates at the Empire's universities, encouraged the establishment of private charter schools, and lifted restrictions imposed upon the entry of merchants and others into the Empire's military academies. 1507 also saw the enactment of a currency decimialization; the Emperor decreased the silver purity of the denarius and reformed the sesterces value, tying it more directly to the worth of spices rather than of hard metals, which proved greater stability to the Empire's financial situation.
 * Yet by 1513, Emperor Antigonus had decided to embark upon his last military campaign: against the Huntite Caliphate. Ever since his accession to the throne in 1498, the Emperor had dreamed of conquering this state, of extending Laurasian jurisdiction over the eastern Outer Borderlands, and strengthening his Empire's contacts into the Galactic Void. He sought to thereby continue the intensification of Laurasian ties with the powers of the satellite galaxies and the Great Amulak Spiral, a policy pursued from as far back as the reign of Seleucus I. Moreover, Antigonus desired control of Hunt Major, Jasonia, and Samarkand, those worlds which had been the capitals of numerous previous empires in galactic history. From 1511, therefore, he had engaged in vigorous preparations for possible military campaigns. He issued new command instructions to the Imperial General Headquarters; imposed a new levy upon all tax contributions to the Imperial Estates; and commanded the officials of the Millian Provinces to provide all possible support for the military forces. Military spending underwent an upwards trajectory; by 1512, more than $400 hepmillion denarius were being spent on the Imperial Laurasian Military. The Emperor also implemented a new Code of Discipline in 1510, seeking to strengthen the cohesiveness of his chief units, and he expanded the Praetorian Guards, constructing for them a new barracks compound on Laura. Imperial units assembled at major strongholds in the Millian and Robertian Provinces; the garrisons of Robert, Meris, Wakedia, Meredita, Iego, Jeanne, Brenda, Dickinson, Shephard, Walters, Beharis, Hasselbeck, Predosur, and Hoohshikk all became hives of activity. Thus, by 1513, the Emperor of Laurasia was ready to make his strike. Events in the Kingdom of Melanie now provided a justification for war.
 * Ever since the conclusion of the Treaty of Elijahana in 1463, the Laurasian Empire and Huntite Caliphate had shared a protectorate over Melanie Major; all kings of Melanie were appointed by the Huntite Caliphs, and invested by the Laurasian Emperors. In succession, there had been Tiridates I (1451-58, 1466-88) and Sanatruk (1488-1510), both of whom had remained friendly with the Empire, had hired Laurasian mercenaries, and assured passage privileges for Laurasian merchants. Both had been invested by Laurasian Emperors; Tiridates by Antiochus III, and Sanatruk by Antiochus IV. Yet following the death of Sanatruk in 1510, Huntite Caliph Vologravia I (1509-16, d. 1529), intervened in Melanie's affairs, and now installed the Huntite Prince Partamasir, who was the son of Vologravia's brother, Pacoria II (r. 1478-1505). He did this without consulting the Imperial Laurasian Government. Emperor Antigonus was enraged by this, and had begun his mobilization efforts. Yet it was not until March 1513 before he was ready to act. On March 19, 1513, in a proclamation from the Quencilvanian Palace, the Emperor declared that Huntite intervention into the affairs of Melanie was an "unforgivable" crime, and that it needed to be redressed. In April 1513, the Emperor proceeded from Laurasia Prime to Deborah, and from thence to Nottingham. It was not until June 2, 1513, however, before he launched his forces into Melanite territory, aiming to depose Partamasir. Artashat and Arahahat, both of whom had been colonized by the Melanites during the fifteenth century, fell swiftly into the Emperor's possession (June 8-14, 1513).
 * On June 22, 1513, the Battle of Pailbirth ended in a decisive victory for the Emperor of Laurasia; from thence, he captured Melania Minor, Ararat, and Tagankaeret, thereby inflicting humiliating losses upon Melanite forces. By the end of July 1513, Laurasian units had also secured Florania, Endaker, and Katharnovich, thereby depriving the Melanites of their sole footholds on the Kimanian Trade Run. Finally, on August 12, 1513, Melanie Major itself fell under siege by the Empire's forces. The Siege of Melanie Major lasted for over a month, but on September 19, 1513, the world fell into Laurasian possession. King Partamasir himself now fled to Pusarat, but was captured there by the Laurasians (September 25, 1513). He was, on October 7, 1513, forced by the Emperor of Laurasia to abdicate the Melanite throne. Then in November 1513, Antigonus, pursuing his ultimate goals against the Huntite Caliphate, proclaimed the direct annexation of Melanie Major into the Laurasian Empire. This action alarmed and angered the Huntite Caliph Vologravia, who now believed that preemptive action had to be taken. Assembling his units at Vickis, Uris, Choir, Samarkand, and the Sk'atha Cluster, Vologravia issued a ultimatum on December 9, 1513, demanding for Laurasian withdrawal from Melanie and the restoration of Partamasir to the Melanite throne. The Emperor of Laurasia refused, however, and instead strengthened the newly-installed garrison of Melanie Major. Thus it was, on December 21, 1513, that Vologravia issued a declaration of war, commencing the Antigonid War of Hunt.
 * Death of the Laurasian historian Pliny the Younger (son of the ill-fated Pliny the Elder), who was Governor of Shenandoah.

1514

 * 1514 witnessed the initial campaigns of Emperor Antigonus I into the Huntite Caliphate. The Huntite declaration of war, caused by the Laurasian invasion of Melanie Major and the annexation of that kingdom, nevertheless came to the advantage of the Emperor of Laurasia. Laurasian units, who had as previously described already been geared for war, in the Robertian and Millian Provinces, now quickly took the advantage. Emperor Antigonus now executed a series of offensives in the vicinity of Hoohshikk, and towards Samarkand, determined to secure his position in those regions. He besieged and captured the Huntite outposts of Juno, Ball, and Lucille (January 1514), thereby preventing any Huntite moves into Melanie Major. From this, Cameron-Bure, Patton, Rehnquist, and Dolly were then secured (March 1514), and the Emperor's forces now penetrated into the outskirts of the Sk'atha Cluster. Caliph Vologravia, who was surprised by this series of initial Laurasian successes, now strengthened the garrisons of Akmaaar, Jabul, Negro, and Gargonia, thereby seeking in vain to halt the Laurasian advance. He placed the garrisons of these star systems under the command of Prince Osroes, who had long advocated for preemptive action against the Laurasians. For a time, Osroes actually managed to gain a series of victories over the Emperor Antigonus's forces. He defeated General Sir Neuchrus Thramanius in the Battle of Schriver (April 1, 1514), and from there, overran Nottingham, Majoria Schall, and Boydaria, thereby driving a wedge into the Millian Provinces. He then recovered Lucille (April 22, 1514), and humiliated the Emperor's advance squadrons at Farley (April 28-May 2).
 * A Laurasian move against Claithbourne and Timur's Star failed in the Battle of Lucrilla (May 1, 1514), and on May 9, Pailbirth fell to Huntite units. Cameron-Bure and Patton were then stormed in May 1514. Emperor Antigonus however, pursuing a similar strategy to that in the Sixth and Seventh Kimanian Wars, allowed for the Huntites to overextend their supply lines. On June 2, 1514, he launched a decisive counteroffensive from Cagasania, blunting the Huntites in the Battle of Nicholas. From thence, he cleared Huntite units from Cameron-Bure, Patton, and Nottingham. It was not until July 2, 1514, however, before Majoria Schall fell back into Laurasian hands, and not until July 11 that Boydaria did so. Darrow, Christin, and Caitlin Allioh then became the scenes of confrontation between Laurasian and Huntite units (July 15-22, 1514). On August 1, 1514, Gargonia was blockaded by the Emperor's forces; its fall on August 12 humiliated the Huntite Caliph. Negro then fell into Laurasian hands (August 24, 1514), followed by Horne (August 29, 1514), and then Jodie (September 3, 1514). Laurasian expeditions were now penetrating into the Mauryan Provinces, storming Huntite garrisons on Little Maurya, Amira, Ashanti, and Dovani (September 1514); the Battle of Allavaha (October 1, 1514), ended in another victory for the Emperor's forces. Then on October 8, Legate-General Sir Lucius Quietus advanced from Araxes to Gilhan and Choir; he then defeated the Huntites in the Battle of Malatia, and thence stormed Gilhan (October 19, 1514).
 * Timur's Star was then blockaded by a Laurasian expeditionary fleet, and fell on November 5, 1514, dealing a severe blow to the Huntites. Then on November 11, 1514, the Emperor, after seizing London and Alexa, advanced upon Jasonia, once the capital of the Huntite Khanate, Rudorita, and Halegothica. After four days, the Empire's forces reached the outskirts of that star system, and imposed a comprehensive blockade. The Siege of Jasonia lasted until December 9, 1514, when, after a failed counteroffensive by Caliph Vologravia, the world finally fell into the Laurasian Emperor's possession. Emperor Antigonus himself, attended by his courtiers and his military commanders, surveyed the conquered star system. He visited the Great Palace of the Khans and the Palace of King Theodoric the Great (who had been dead for 287 years), visiting the great Halegothican King's crypt, and the crypts of the Huntite Khans. The Emperor also basked in the acclaim of many on Jasonia, who considered him a liberator from the despotism of the Huntite state. Three hundred and thirty-eight years had passed since the fall of the Huntite Khanate, and its core was now in Laurasian hands.

1515

 * 1515 saw the continuation of Laurasian offensives into the Huntite Caliphate. Emperor Antigonus, who had now secured Jasonia, the former capital of the Huntite Khanate, and had ended Huntite moves into the Middle Territories, now decided to direct the thrust of his military forces from the Robertian Provinces, intent upon subduing the Northern Huntite Provinces and the remaining Huntite strongholds in the outskirts of the Middle Territories. For this operation, he had moved swiftly from Jasonia to Roastafaria Minor, leaving General Quietus in charge of maintaining the security of that stronghold, and thence to Hasselbeck. The goal of the Emperor's new offensive was to drive towards and seize Samarkand, and to thereby deprive the Huntites of their hold of the Sk'atha Cluster. The Emperor's new offensive commenced on January 11, 1515, with his seizure of Qora, a Huntite base on the Rebeccan Galactic Trade Route. From Qora, the Emperor's forces subdued Bagavan, Doridunk, and Bolan (January 17-29, 1515), thereby securing Hasselbeck, Walters, and Beharis from Huntite moves. He now proceeded directly to Goldberg, which blocked a Laurasian advance towards Leah and Lorna. Goldberg was placed under siege beginning on February 7, 1515; the Siege of Goldberg lasted for nearly two months, as the garrison of that star system, under the command of General Tyries, proved to be a formidable obstacle for the Imperial Laurasian Navy. Successive Laurasian assaults against the world's defenses were blunted, and the Emperor was forced to call for reinforcements from Beharis, Shephard, Walters, Temperance, and Robert in order to maintain the offensive. Ultimately, however, Goldberg fell (April 1, 1515), by which time Laurasian units had already conquered Whoppi, Ber Bachmann, and Zachary. Leah followed in short order (April 12, 1515), and on April 21, 1515, Emperor Antigonus won a decisive victory in the Battle of Smoot, capturing Huntite Prince Sopraies in battle.
 * From Smoot, he secured Hill, Yeh, and Bergeman (May 1515). Garnett fell into Laurasian hands on May 23, 1515, but Lorna proved to be more difficult; it required a siege of nearly a month before Lorna surrendered on July 2, 1515. By the end of July 1515, Uris and Vickis had also been stormed by Laurasian units, while the Laurasian hold over Choir had been consolidated. Beginning in May 1515, General Quietus moved from Majoria Schall, Boydaria, Shenandoah, and Melanie Major, performing a successful pincer maneuver against Morsia, Clathbourne, and Hunt Minor. By the end of August 1515, all of these strongholds were in Laurasian hands; Jabul and Akamaar had capitulated to General Quietus; and Gedrosia Max was under siege. Emperor Antigonus and General Quietus then came together to complete the siege of Gedrosia Max; its fall on October 6, 1515, capped the Laurasian successes of that year. Timur's Star and the Sk'atha Cluster, including the bases of Root, Philipsen, Mitch, and Dalton, were secured in November 1515. Then on December 2, 1515, after capturing Maurya Major, Emperor Antigonus proceeded to Sheldonia and there received the submission of King Abgaros II of Upper Morsia, the Huntite Caliphate's chief vassal, who ruled over Sheldonia, Gabriella, Outer Maurya, and the Eastern Wild Marshes. Abgaros recognized the Emperor of Laurasia as his suzerain, and pledged his absolute support to him in further military offensives against the Huntite Caliphate. The Emperor of Laurasia now established his winter headquarters on Winslet, and sent a flood of communiques back to the Senate and Synod on Laurasia Prime, declaring his victories to his subjects.

1516

 * After having relaxed at his headquarters on Winslet, Emperor Antigonus renewed, in January 1516, his military campaigns against the Huntite Caliphate, with the view of subduing the Huntite Home Region and completing the subjugation of that state to the authority of the Laurasian Empire. The results of the ensuing military campaign almost completely backfired on the Emperor and did much damage to his more ambitious plans. The 23rd Imperial Fleet, operating from Lorna, re-captured Jabul and Akamaar (January 19-22, 1516), which had been briefly recovered by the Huntites at the end of December 1515. Huntite ties to the Sk'atha Star Cluster were then sundered. Adiabene and Adenystrae, which had originally been colonized during the reign of Theodoric the Great three centuries earlier, were both stormed by Laurasian troops (February 1516). Emperor Antigonus himself advanced from Dura, sweeping through Ozogardana, Hunt Minor, and Gargonia (February-March 1516). At Hunt Minor, the Emperor's troops would erect a triumphal arch in his honor, commemorating his recent victories over the Huntites. He then captured Estella and Gedrosia Minor (April 1-9, 1516), and besieged the defenses of Hunt Major. Then on April 12, 1516, the Emperor of Laurasia received the submission of Athambelus, the Laurasian Governor of Samarkand. The conquest of Samarkand finally brought this jewel into Laurasian possession, 511 years after the death of Timur the Devastator himself. Antigonus, who was enthused by this major achievement, conducted a triumphal procession through the streets of Timur's City; had turbocannon fired as a tribute by his fleets in the outskirts of the star system; and on April 19, ordered for a statute of himself to be erected at the Dasian Market. Four days later, the Emperor stormed Charax, and this system, capital of the Huntite Principality of Charax, and one of the Caliphate's leading economic entrepots, fell into Laurasian possession.
 * Then on May 1, 1516, Emperor Antigonus sent the Senate and the Synod an official communique, along with Huntite military armor, goods, and other spoils of war. Brimming with confidence and glee, the Emperor haughtily declared in his communique that the war was coming to a close. Furthermore, he bemoaned that he was too old to go on any further and emulate the conquests of Sargon the Conqueror, Devlet-Giray, Genghis Khan, and Timur the Devastator. Coinage, from February 1516, was struck by the Imperial Treasury to commemorate the Emperor's victories. One gold solidus depicted the Emperor on the obverse; on the reverse, he was shown, garbed in military armor, standing over the standards of Upper Morsia, Melanie, and the Huntite Caliphate. However, as the Emperor departed (May 5, 1516), to command the final siege of Hunt Major, a sudden outburst of Huntite resistance, led by Sandgruthia, a nephew of the Huntite Caliph, imperiled the Laurasian hold on Hunt Minor and the regions of the Sk'atha Cluster. Sandgruthia reconquered Timur's Star, Hunt Minor, Uris, Vickis, Adiabene, and Udall (May-June 1516), penetrating through Laurasian command positions. Emperor Antigonus ordered General Quietus to advance against the Huntite bases in the Sk'atha Cluster, while General Appius Santra (1475-1516, formerly Governor of Way'tosk), was dispatched to subdue Grumman's Star, Northop, Clarise, and Jodie. General Quietus was successful, recovering the strongholds mentioned above from Sandgruthia by August 3, 1516. General Santra, however, was not so lucky, and he was ambushed and killed at Rolle (August 11, 1516), by Huntite starfighter detachments.
 * Emperor Antigonus, rousing again, took command of a military force assembled against Sandgruthia, with General Quietus and the legates M. Erucius Clarus and Tiberius Julianus as his subordinates. Departing from the outskirts of Hunt Major on August 20, 1516, he defeated Sandgruthia in the pitched Battle of Jodie (September 1, 1516): the Huntite Prince himself died in the confrontation. Hunt Major was then finally stormed by the Laurasian forces (September 25, 1516). The Emperor conducted a victorious triumph into the star system and then proceeded to business. Vologravia I, who had been captured towards the end of the siege, was formally deposed as Caliph of Hunt; the Emperor of Laurasia installed his son Parthamapsies as Caliph, and compelled him to take an oath of allegiance and vassalage to him (October 1516). The Emperor's forces then completed the conquest of Jodie, Northrop, Clarise, and Grumman's Star (November 1516), completing the subjugation of the Gedrosian and Jasonian Districts. Hatra, however, a Huntite stronghold located five thousand light years to the east of Hunt Major, continued to defy the Emperor's forces. Emperor Antigonus moved against the stronghold on December 1, 1516, and himself directed the siege efforts, but in spite of this, Hatra continued to remain defiant. The Emperor, who had planned to launch campaigns against the Mellorite Empire of Homidinia and the Neo-Anastasian Empire in the Barsar Regions, now found his military forces dealing with multiple pressures. Huntite units, operating in the vicinity of the Caroline Asteroid Belt, continued to harry the Laurasian garrisons around Hunt Major; Hatra remained defiant; and moreover, the Hasbranian Rebellion had erupted in the Zennethian Provinces. Zennethia, Nosauria, Zutagia, Zesia, Denver, Jared, Galich Major, Volodmoria, Dorris, Anthony, Frogglesworth, Rupert, Watson, and other strongholds were ravaged by a series of revolts against the imperial authorities of those star systems. The Hasbranian Rebellion was to last from November 1516 to November 1518, and would result in the Emperor being forced to strengthen the garrisons of the southern Core Worlds, to contend with the troubles. Disturbances in the Millian Provinces, Carina, Seejay Prime, and the Constantine Cluster also concerned the Emperor.

1517

 * By the beginning of 1517, the Emperor Antigonus I of Laurasia, who had been exhausted by the military campaigns against the Huntite Caliphate, and the outbreak of rebellion within some regions of the Empire, had decided to make his leave from the theater of conflict. In January 1517, the Emperor fainted while overseeing the siege efforts of Hatra, and this convinced him that it was imperative to withdraw from active participation in the military campaigns within Hunt as soon as possible. He now retired to Jasonia, and there attempted to take treatments at the planetary spas. By March 1517, however, his condition had shown no signs of improvement, and the Emperor now sought to retire back to Laurasia Prime. On April 7, 1517, he departed from Jasonia, and proceeded slowly to the Kimanian Trade Run, passing through Clarise, Jodie, Northrop, Horne, Nikki Lowell, Newman Victoria, Filorean, Constipex, Millard, Cox, Banks, and Henderson. By the time he reached Kimania, he was exhausted, and experienced a further fainting spell in his personal bedchambers. The Emperor now consulted his personal physicians; on May 18, 1517, they informed him that he had developed the terminal Sorones's disorder, which affected the brain, heart, lungs, and liver.
 * No cure for this disease existed at the time (and would not exist until the eighteenth century). Emperor Antigonus was disheartened, and realizing that his health would not permit him to make the full journey back to Laurasia Prime, decided to make a detour. He now proceeded to Leo's Redoubt, determined to die on this world renowned for its resorts and its beautiful countryside. The Emperor's decline had at first been shielded from his subjects, but it was now made plain by the Governing Senate, in a proclamation from the Imperial Court (June 1517). A bronze bust of the Emperor, dedicated on June 5, 1517 at the Ankaran Gallery of Art on Ruttum (founded 1471), clearly showed the Emperor as aged and emaciated. Once at Leo's Redoubt, Antigonus's physical decline accelerated. On August 2, he took the Last Rites and delivered his final address to his troops from his chambers. He was attended by his wife, Empress Consort Pompeia Plotina (1461-1523). It was on August 7, 1517, at the Loredian Castle on Leo's Redoubt, that Emperor Antigonus I, "the Conqueror", one of the most successful military campaigners in Laurasian history, and one of the Empire's greatest rulers, died, aged 63. The Emperor Antigonus I's reputation, already legendary by the time of his death, would survive unblemished for centuries thereafter. In the eighteenth century, he would be praised by all of the major historians. Following his death, the Senate would, until the time of Neuchrus I, hail every new Emperor with the hope that they would be "as wise as Seleucus [I] and as successful as Antigonus." Yet to the moment of his death, the Emperor had never publicly named a successor.
 * His widow, the Empress Dowager, however, was able to convince the Senate, Synod, and the Empire's subjects that her husband had named Legate-General Sir Lysimachus Hadrianus, Duke of Colombia, as his successor on his death bed. General Hadrianus was the Emperor's cousin, and he, like his cousin, was popular with the military and Guards. His service in the Kimanian Wars had demonstrated his commitment and dedication to the Empire, and he had distinguished himself as Quaestor of the Imperial Treasury (1509-11), Praetor of Laurasia Prime (1514-17), and commander of the Quencilvanian Palace Control. Thus, his accession was unchallenged, and hours after Antigonus's death, he was proclaimed Emperor as Lysimachus I. The new Emperor Lysimachus, then on Hunt Major, moved to immediately consolidate his position. In September 1517, he dismissed General Quietus from his position of command in the Huntite Provinces. He followed this by issuing a series of proclamations to the Imperial Court, announcing his intention to govern with prudence and to adhere to the dictates of the Almitian Church. The Emperor also rewarded his supporters such as the Praetorian Prefect Publicus Attianus (1473-1519), who had served as Prefect since 1514. In October 1517, however, the incident was to occur which would blemish the Emperor's standing with the Governing Senate. Attianus, who claimed to be acting on behalf of the new Emperor, ordered for Quietus, who had returned to Laurasia Prime, and twenty other Senators to be arrested and imprisoned at the Post Settlement of Hepudermia. Then on November 9, 1517, following extensive interrogation by the Prefect and his officials, Quietus and his accomplices were attainted, publicly humiliated, and then executed at the High Tower of Christiania. Afterwards, Attianus appeared before the Councils of State, and read out documents, purportedly signed by Emperor Antigonus, formally recognizing Lysimachus as his heir. The two bodies were cowed, while Emperor Lysimachus, who expressed his "regrets" over the deaths of Quietus and the others, nevertheless affirmed the Prefect's acts. Thus, relations between Lysimachus and the Senate were irreparably damaged; he would control them in an autocratic manner for the rest of his reign. As for Antigonus, his body was brought back to Laurasia Prime, and he was, on November 17, 1517 (241 years before Empress Aurelia's accession to the throne), formally interred at the Imperial Mausoleum. Emperor Lysimachus, on his part, was now determined to complete the suppression of the Hasbranian Rebellion; to seize Hatra; and to formally eliminate the Huntite Caliphate.

1518

 * 1518 was marked by two major events: the final fall of Hatra, and the consequent elimination of the remnants of the Huntite Caliphate, and the suppression of the Hasbranian Rebellion. To the Emperor Lysimachus, the first of these goals was undoubtedly the most important. In January 1518, the Emperor established his command headquarters on Ber Bachman, and from thence reorganized the forces then in place around Hatra. He now designated Legate-General M. Erucius Clarus as the supreme commander of Laurasian forces in that star system. Moreover, the Emperor brought in substantial reinforcements from Leah, Lorna, Garnett, Meredith, Iego, Jeanne, Abuza, Abrianna, Brenda, and Dickinson, comprised primarily of the 40th and 41st Imperial Armies; he was determined to leave nothing to chance. Hatra's defenses, which had already begun to wilter, now collapsed under this renewed Laurasian onslaught. The Commander of the Garrison of Hatra, the Huntite Prince Mugguthia, found that he could not effectively oppose the Imperial Laurasian Navy. On February 7, 1518, Hatra's defenses were finally breached by the forces of the Laurasian Empire; within four days, the stronghold had been occupied. Prince Mugguthia himself managed to escape, and now attempted to lead a resistance against Laurasian units. He sacked the newly installed Laurasian garrison of Amida (February 9, 1518); penetrated to the outskirts of Negro (February 12-17); and on February 22, breached the defenses of Zachary, inflicting severe damage upon Laurasian positions in that star system. The Battle of Doug (February 27-March 1, 1518), also was another victory for these erstwhile Huntite forces. Emperor Lysimachus himself, however, now brought this string of counteroffensives to an end. On March 7, 1518, he lured Mugguthia and his units to Nasala, located two hundred light years to the northeast of the Caroline Asteroid Belt. The ensuing Battle of Nasala resulted in a decisive victory for Laurasian forces; more than 75,000 Huntite troops died in the confrontation. Prestley and Natazdha became the sites of further confrontations between Laurasian and Huntite forces (March 1518).
 * Finally, on April 2, 1518, Mugguthia was defeated and captured by the Emperor of Laurasia's forces at Lura. Bound in chains, he was presented to the Emperor personally. Lysimachus, impressed by Mugguthia's bravery, decided to spare his life. Mugguthia, who would be allowed to retain the title of Hereditary Prince of Hatra, was able to retire to Hunt Major. There, he would become an early ally of the Imperial Laurasian Government, thereby ingratiating himself with his new masters. This allegiance, however, would prove to be shallow. Lysimachus now turned to the task of eliminating the remnants of the Huntite Caliphate. On April 17, 1518, the Emperor moved to Hunt Major with his forces, and effected a landing upon the planetary surface. Huntite Caliph Parthamapsies, who had been installed on the throne less than two years before, was quickly apprehended. Then on May 5, 1518, the Emperor compelled the Caliph to abdicate, and, before an assembly of the Huntite Ba'klar (Hereditary Council), announced the formal annexation of the Huntite Caliphate's territories into the Laurasian Empire. Thus Hunt was now under Laurasian rule. Parthamapsies would be imprisoned on Iego in June 1518; Lysimachus was fearful that rebel elements within the newly-dubbed Huntite Provinces would use him as their puppet. By the end of July 1518, with Hulio, Dantrise, and the Jabba Colonies in Laurasian hands, all of Hunt had been firmly consolidated under the Empire's rule. Emperor Lysimachus, on his part, was now able to turn his full attention to the suppression of the Hasbranian Rebellion.
 * In August 1518, the Emperor commanded the Governor of Horacia, Marcus Turbo (1479-1534), to apprehend the Zennethian rebel leader Lukuas, and to bring an end to his rebellion. Governor Turbo advanced swiftly. Zesia was assaulted by his forces (August 9-14, 1518); in spite of the efforts of Lukuas and his subordinates, it fell four days later. Watson, Sherlock, and Rupert were then secured (August 20-24, 1518), and on September 3, 1518, the Battle of Maschinga ended in a decisive victory for Turbo. Rawling and Ildoch then became the scenes of confrontations between Laurasian and rebel forces; by the end of September, both strongholds were back in the Imperial Government's possession, and rebel units had been ejected from Doris, Frogglesworth, and Ula. Then on October 7, 1518, Galich Majoria was relieved, and Lukuas was forced to retreat to Montel; he would be captured here on October 14, and presented to General Turbo in chains. By the end of October 1518, Wronzaz, Polonia Minor, Xuia, and Anthony were firmly in Laurasian hands, and the Hasbranian Rebellion had been suppressed. On the orders of General Turbo, Lukuas's two brothers, his subordinates Julian and Pappius, who had been leaders of the rebellion, were attainted and then executed on Dasinae (November 4, 1518). Lukuas, himself, however, was brought on a prison transport to Laurasia Prime, where on November 19, 1518, he was tried by the Governing Senate. The Senate wasted no time in convicting him, and he was sentenced to death (November 21, 1518). Four days later, the sentence was carried out at the High Tower of Christiania, and witnessed by a crowd of more than 200,000 persons. By the end of 1518, therefore, Emperor Lysimachus had consolidated his position in Hunt and in the Outer Core. He was now, however, to contend with rebellion in the Barsar Regions, and war with the Anastasian Empire.

1519

 * The year 1519 witnessed the continuation of military conflict for the Laurasian Empire. Although the Huntite Caliphate had now been completely suppressed, and the Hasbranian Rebellion quelled, tensions still persisted in other regions of the Empire. In particular, the recently-subdued Kimanian Provinces, which had now been under Laurasian rule for just over a decade, brimmed with dissent against the Emperor Lysimachus's regime. As early as September 1517, protests and riots had broken out on Kimania, Kimanis Mooria, Gardiner, Hutsia Major, Derangy, and Morangy, in protest against the Imperial Laurasian Government. By early 1519, these tensions had coalesced into definite rebellion against the Imperial Laurasian Government. It was on January 18, 1519, that Hiai-Jiao of the House of Chin, one of Kimania's leading hereditary princes, announced from his estates on Goni that he could not tolerate the continued presence of the Laurasian "foreigners", and that the integrity and independence of the Kimanian realms needed to be restored. Within a short time, Jiao, who received substantial reinforcements from throughout the Eastern Barsar Regions, had advanced his position forth. Offshora, Reading, and Chobania quickly fell into his hands (February 1519); on March 2, 1519, he repelled a government offensive in the Battle of Plieser, and from there stormed Dominguez. Shell, Earl, Sandra, and Tolbiac then defected to the rebel, and on March 22, 1519, he overran the garrison of Breha. Preena, Novina, and Nelson soon found themselves threatened by rebel expeditions, and Prince Jiao imposed a blockade of Messalina, preventing Laurasian units from moving into the Hutsite Reaches. Riley then surrendered to Jiao (April 8, 1519), and he then stormed the outposts of Acone, Kelly, Caleb, and Dodson. Tarbell and Wasatch then followed (April 19-22, 1519), and on May 2, 1519, Messalina finally succumbed. Emperor Lysimachus, alarmed by the outbreak of this rebellion, had reacted swiftly.
 * Still engaged in efforts to consolidate Laurasian rule of Hunt Major and the surrounding star systems, the Emperor ordered General Turbo, on March 24, 1519, to take command of the government's response against the rebellion. Turbo acted swiftly, and on April 1, he had departed from Zennethia. He proceeded quickly to Roastafaria Major, and organized a vigorous defense of government positions in the Ashlgothian Borderland Territories. Thelma, Jennings, Tea, and Matthew were all threatened by rebel units (April-May 1519), and on May 12, 1519, the Battle of Isaac was waged, in which Jiao attempted to breach the defenses of Peterslie, Wes, and Moran. These efforts failed, however, and on June 5, Turbo recovered Breha in a decisive counteroffensive. He then stormed Kelly and Caleb (June 8-13), secured the defenses of Leo's Redoubt (June 12), and reconquered the repository of Acone (June 16). Dodson proved a tougher nut to crack, and was not recovered by government units until the end of June 1519. Lange, Ruya II, and Leseur became the sites of confrontation between rebel and Laurasian units (July 1519), and on July 9, 1519, the Battle of Musania ended in a decisive victory for Turbo. Finally, on August 5, 1519, the Battle of Riley was waged, and ended in a decisive Laurasian victory. Prince Jiao himself managed to flee, but was captured near Allen (August 12, 1519). He was then placed in chains and brought to General Turbo; on September 2, 1519, the Prince would be attainted and executed on Harrison, on the orders of the Emperor. By the end of September 1519, all remaining strongholds which had been seized by Kimanian rebel forces, including Goni, were back in Laurasian hands. Turbo then suppressed disturbances on Derangy and Morangy (October 1519).
 * Yet the Neo-Anastasian Empire, now ruled by Guddari I (who had acceded to his throne in 1514), was alarmed by the Laurasian conquest of Hunt and Kimania, and by the victories obtained by the Emperor Lysimachus's generals. Guddari, determined to forestall the Laurasian threat, had since 1516 pursued a policy of military mobilization and rearmament. Caesearea, Ruumlist, Helen, Grenada, Hospallia Major, and Masia all saw extensive reinforcement by the Anastasian Emperor; moreover, he launched reconnaissance expeditions into the Merlite Provinces, attempting to gather information on the state of Laurasian defenses in that region. Then, on October 4, 1519, the Emperor of Anastasia issued a declaration of war, decrying the Laurasian "aggression" at the expense of every other reasonable power in the Galaxy. He advanced swiftly. Sejucia fell into Anastasian hands (October 8-14, 1519), being followed by Redia (October 22), Nicole (October 24), and Trebek (October 26). He then isolated the defenses of Ashlgothia Minor, Leslie, and Knight; Beatrice was sacked on November 4. From thence, Courtney and Tahon became victims of the Anastasian offensive (November 8-14, 1519). Anastasian units, by December 1519, were ranging to Aretha, Alec, Austin, Evan, and Ryan Barlak, thereby seriously threatening Laurasian positions in the Merlite and Ashlgothian Provinces. Emperor Lysimachus, however, now sought to launch a decisive counteroffensive, allowing the Anastasians to tire themselves out. Assembling his units at Peterslie, Bryce, Baiteman, Emma, Imma, Mirohassani, West, and Madison, he advanced swiftly to Nandia (December 8, 1519). On December 13, 1519, the Battle of Byron resulted in a decisive victory for the Empire. Trebek was then recovered, and on December 22, a Anastasian move against Warren was repelled. By the end of 1519, Laurasia had taken the offensive.

1520

 * 1520 witnessed the conclusion of the Laurasian-Anastasian War of 1519-20, and the consolidation of Laurasian rule over the Eastern Barsar Regions as a consequence. On January 7, 1520, the Battle of Cyrus III ended in another victory for Emperor Lysimachus; Kristin, Hefner, and Dragosh were definitively secured. Sejucia and Redia were then recovered in February 1520, and on March 3, the Emperor relieved Ashlgothia Minor. Leslie and Knight obtained similar relief on March 14. By the end of March 1520, Laurasian units began to penetrate into Anastasian territory. Granada was besieged and captured (April 2-4, 1520), followed by Helen (April 18); Churchill (April 22); and Hospallia Major (April 28). Anastasia Minor was isolated from April 29, 1520; its fall on May 4, 1520, compounded the earlier series of Anastasian humiliations. By the end of May 1520, Laurasian units had penetrated to Ruumlist and Masia, seizing both strongholds. Angela Masia, Tiesting, and Damasacus then fell into Laurasian hands (June 1520), inflicting another humiliation upon the Anastasians. It was the Battle of Teutonica (July 2-4, 1520), however, that finally compelled Anastasian Emperor Guddari into making peace with the Empire. On August 1, 1520, the Truce of Rhodes was signed, thereby leading to the suspension of military hostilities. A conference then convened on Thathel Prime, from August 19, 1520, and lasted for over two months; General Tullo, Chief Procurator of the Holy Synod Sir Walterius Reynoldia, and Chancellor, Major-General Sir Gaius Clarus (who had also become Praetorian Prefect in 1519), served as the Laurasian plenipotentiaries. Finally, on October 21, 1520, the Treaty of Thathel Prime was signed.
 * By the terms of this treaty, the Emperor of Anastasia agreed to recognize the Laurasian acquisition of the Huntite Caliphate, and Laurasian dominance over the Eastern Barsar Regions. Ginger, Zoo, Stephanopoulos, and Strahan were conceded to the Laurasian Empire, thereby consolidating its rule of Beatrice; moreover, the Anastasians agreed to release all prisoners of war and to compensate the Imperial Laurasian Government for military expenses. The Treaty of Thathel Prime, ratified by both governments by the end of November 1520, thereby brought the Empire's realms to a state of peace. Emperor Lysimachus, who had supervised pacification efforts on Kimania, in the aftermath of Jiao's Rebellion, was pleased by its conclusion. On November 22, 1520, the Emperor finally commenced his long-awaited progress to Laurasia Prime. Proceeding rapidly from Kimania, up the Kimanian Trade Run, he finally reached the outskirts of his star system on November 26, more than three years after his accession to the throne. The Emperor proceeded through the Outer Worlds, the two Calaxies, Jadia, Hepudermia, and into the city of Christiania. He was greeted by a volley of turbocannon; by the acclaim and adoration of his subjects; and by a performance of Christiania Police, Praetorian Guards, and the Imperial Garrison of Laurasia Prime. The Emperor then reached the Quencilvanian Palace, was greeted by the Governing Senate and Holy Synod, and delivered a formal address to his subjects. On December 15, 1520, he announced that his coronation would be held in February of the following year.
 * Death of the great Laurasian historian Sir Decabulus Aaori, who had chronicled the history of the Laurasian monarchy and the Laurasian Empire to the reign of Emperor Antigonus I.

1521

 * 1521 began with the Laurasian Empire restored to internal and external tranquility. Emperor Lysimachus, who had consolidated the conquest of both Hunt and Kimania, and had conducted a short but victorious war in the Barsar Regions, was now determined to turn his attention to the Empire's internal affairs. The Emperor proved to be a fair and just ruler, earning the acclaim of many on Laurasia Prime, and elsewhere throughout the Empire, for his prudence and toleration. He maintained the financial and religious policies of his predecessor, Antigonus the Conqueror, and sought to promote the Empire's culture and infrastructure. The Emperor's coronation was the first manifestation of his intentions; on February 9, 1521, he crowned himself Emperor at the Old Westphalian Cathedral, received the allegiance of his subjects, and in his remarks at the Quencilvanian Palace, indicated his desire to remain at peace with the Empire's neighbors. The Emperor now revealed himself to be sophisticated and culturally aware: he was to become known as the "Cultivated" by his subjects, and had interests in fields ranging from philosophy and theology to architecture, music, dance, theater, and history. Lysimachus was multilingual, speaking, besides his native Laurasian, Dasian, Arachosian, Lacian, Briannian, Polonian, Solidaritan, Millian, Huntite, Robertian, and Kimanian. He also had a perceptive understanding of several other languages, including Homidinian, Brestord, Halegothican, and the ancient Marauder tongue. The Emperor liked to write poetry and other works in Old Laurasian; he produced numerous architectural studies; and in 1526, published, by the auspices of Phlegon of Treles, his personal secretary, his memoirs of the Kimanian and Huntite Wars. Many of Lysimachus's works were to later be compiled into the Palatine Anthology, which would be published by Sir Constantine Cephalas (1542-1619) in 1606, and become one of the most renowned collections of poetry in Laurasian history.
 * It comprised of more than 7,000 poems by various Laurasian authors, extending as far back as the fourth century BH. Moreover, the Emperor sponsored many artists, musicians, actors, architects, and authors throughout the Empire, including the historians Sir Suetonius Tranquillius (1469-1540) and Sir Arrian Nicoredia (1486-1560); the former was renowned for his Lives of the Emperors and his histories of the reforms of Seleucus the Victor and Antiochus the Great, Laurasian culture, and the Almitian Church, while the latter was renowned for his Anabasis of Sargon (1525), the most comprehensive account ever compiled of the exploits and conquests of Sargon the Conqueror. He also sponsored the philosophers Baron Epicetus Moragria, 1st Baron Moragria (1455-1535); Sir Heliodorus Emessa (1469-1531); and Baronet Sir Favornius Areltia (1480-1560). Lysimachus himself published several works of philosophy, the most notable being The Arts of the Laurasian Mind (1529). The Emperor also reintroduced an old facet of Laurasian culture: the beard. Ever since the time of Seleucus the Victor, all Laurasian nobles, clergymen, officials, and notables had gone clean-shaven; every Emperor from Seleucus himself to Antigonus I had no facial hair. Before Seleucus, every Laurasian sovereign since Honorius the Liberator had been bearded and mustached. Lysimachus, however, an admirer of Laurasian culture during the Dasian Yoke and Third Laurasian Period, took to once again growing a full beard and mustache. This custom was to be followed by every Emperor until Titus II, in the late seventeenth century; he, Neuchrus I, and Antigonus III would revert to being clean-shaven.
 * Besides these cultural innovations, 1521 also witnessed another landmark for the Laurasian Empire: the 200th anniversary of its formation. On November 25, 1521, Emperor Lysimachus presided over the festivities marking the Empire's anniversary, as his predecessor, Tiberius I, had done a century earlier. Two centuries after the end of the Great Briannian War, the Laurasian Empire had become the most powerful state in the Caladarian Galaxy. The Empire, by 1521, extended its jurisdiction over territories extending from the Angelican and Hypasian Provinces in the northeast, to the outskirts of the Eastern Outer Borderlands. All of the Core Regions now answered to the authority of the Imperial Laurasian Government. Melorkia, Ashlgothia, Solidarita, and Polonia had all been subdued by the Laurasian Empire during the first third of the fifteenth century; during the other two-thirds, the Empire had advanced through the Middle Territories and into the Barsar Regions. The Kingdom of Upper Morsia, encompassing Gabriella, Sheldonia, and parts of Gedrosia, was at this stage still a vassal state of the Empire, and the Empire had forced concessions from the Iffians, Cosites, Donathians, and Anastasians. Laurasian authority now extended over twenty-five million inhabited star systems, and the Empire controlled the most prosperous portions of all the major galactic trade routes with the exception of the Galactic Frontier Route.
 * With this in mind, Emperor Lysimachus, determined to demonstrate his wide-reaching authority and to inspect the vast dominions which he ruled, commenced his progresses throughout the Laurasian Empire in this year. As a military commander, he had already traveled extensively throughout Laurasian territories, and had participated in the Kimanian and Huntite Wars of Emperor Antigonus I. More than half of his reign would be spent outside of the Laurasian Purse Region. Since the reign of Tiberius I, most Emperors had restricted the range of their travels to the immediate vicinity of Laurasia Prime, generally going farther only when staging military campaigns. Emperor Antiochus III the Mad had visited Melorkia Major, Nathaniel, and Sanegeta, and was condemned for his self-indulgence. Lysimachus, by contrast, traveled as a fundamental part of his governing, and made this clear to the Imperial Laurasian Government and his subjects. The Emperor had detailed plans for the administration and maintenance of his dominions. His intention was to strengthen the Empire from within through improved infrastructure, as opposed to conquering or annexing perceived enemies. This was often the purpose of his journeys, commissioning new structures, projects, and colonies. The Imperial Court became ever more complex as a result of the Emperor's progresses, and the economies of the star systems and sectors he visited expanded as a result of the Household's presence. The tradition thus commenced by the Emperor would be followed by all of his successors, ultimately culminating in the grand progresses of Empress Aurelia the Great in the late eighteenth century.
 * On April 26, 1521, the future Emperor Antigonus II the Philosopher (1561-80), was born in Christola, Ralina Vixius. He was the son of Sir Marcus Annius Verus (1482-1524), Praetor of Ralina Vixius from 1517 to 1524, and one of the most respected nobles in the Laurasian Empire. Antigonus's mother was Lady Domitilla Lucilla (1490-1561), who was the daughter of the Earl of Rashid, one of the wealthiest magnates in the Core Regions. The young Lord Verus would be raised in great wealth and privilege, though his father was to die when he was only three years old. Afterwards, he would be raised by his grandfather, the 2nd Baron Verus (1458-1537), who had been a Governing Senator since 1516. The young Antigonus would obtain an excellent education during his youth, at the hands of the tutors Sir Alexander Coitea (1470-1550), Baronet Trosius Aper (1495-1565), and Sir Tucitius Proculus (1489-1554).

1522-1524

 * Emperor Lysimachus, who had in August and September 1521, conducted a tour of the chief strongholds of the Rebeccan Galactic Trade Route (the first of his progresses), now embarked, on January 5, 1522, from Courdina V, for his journey to the Hypasian Provinces. This region, which had taken the Empire's military forces four decades to subdue, had recently experienced further turmoil. The Valerian Revolt had erupted on Bach Dang in March 1519, and had dragged on for more than two years, spreading to Valeris V, Huerta Mongol, Trasha Dakai, Song Dhu, and Sogan, before it was finally suppressed in September 1521. Moreover, the Iffians and Cosites, who were now themselves under pressure from the encroaching Marasharite Empire and Haynsian Despotate (to become enemies of the Laurasian Empire later on in the century), continued to harass the outskirts of the Hypasian Provinces, with Van Klep, Thang Lang, and Masia becoming targets of their raids. Emperor Lysimachus, therefore, was determined to maintain Laurasian authority over Hypasia, and to provide better security. He arrived at Hypasia Minor on January 18, 1522, and from there proceeded through Saigon, Ho Chi Minh, Huerta Mongol, Qu'emia, Van Klep, Hypasia Major, and the other major strongholds, a journey which lasted for more than four months.
 * It was while he was at Harm Buhamidal, in the outskirts of the Wild Marshes, that Lysimachus, on April 15, 1522, issued the first instructions to the Imperial General Headquarters, and to the garrisons of the Hypasian Provinces, to begin construction of a series of border outposts, garrisons, and minefields, in order to control cross border trade and immigration; provide protection for the Empire's garrisons against both rebels and foreign enemies; and to delineate Laurasian territorial claims. Construction of this elaborate system of defenses, which had been planned by the Emperor since January 1520, commenced in earnest in June 1522, after his departure from the Hypasian Provinces, and lasted for the next two decades. The Lysimachid Barrier Defenses, as they would become known, would not be finished until 1543, during the reign of Lysimachus's successor Antoninus Pius, and would, from the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries, become a focus for Laurasian military operations in the Wild Marshes and Galactic Borderlands. Following his departure from Hypasia Major, the Emperor headed south to Beatrice, where he personally conducted a military campaign to suppress rebels at Trieste, Zoo, and Ginger (June-October 1522). The Emperor then conducted a tour of the Neo-Merlite and Donguarian Provinces, inspecting the Empire's frontiers in those regions, before proceeding to the Murphian Trade Spine and to Ashlgothia Major, Leslie, Larkin, Trebek, and Jeopardy. In July 1523, however, the Emperor dismissed General Clarus from his position as Praetorian Prefect; Marcus Turbo, who was now promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-General, assumed increasing responsibility for the affairs of the Guards and Laurasia Prime.
 * Then in August 1523, while conducting a tour of the Armenian Provinces, Emperor Lysimachus received intelligence information, from the General Headquarters, that the Mellorite Empire of Nasria I (1510-41), alarmed by the Laurasian conquest of Hunt, was preparing a military offensive against the Robertian and Mereditan Provinces. In his characteristic fashion, the Emperor now hastened from Woolestone to Robert. There, the Emperor vigorously reorganized the defenses of Elijahana, Parson, Abuza, Izonza, and Iego, and issued contingency instructions to the Imperial General Headquarters. King Nasria, however, realizing that a confrontation with the Laurasian Empire at this stage would be disastrous, and imitated by the Emperor's military forces, decided to negotiate with the Imperial Laurasian Government, instead of launching an offensive against Laurasian territory. A conference was opened on Peters in October 1523, and on November 9, 1523, the Treaty of Peters was signed. By the terms of this treaty, the King of the Mellorites agreed to recognize Laurasian acquisition of Hunt and Kimania, and Laurasian acquisitions at the expense of the Neo-Anastasian Empire. Moreover, all Laurasian and Mellorite merchants were to be able to travel, unmolested, in the territories of the other; a joint commission to govern commerce along the Rebeccan Galactic Trade Route was established; and Nasria agreed to protect religious minorities in his realms. Emperor Lysimachus, having therefore maintained peace through diplomatic negotiation, then toned down military armament; the Treaty of Peters was ratified in December 1523. Following the conclusion of the Treaty of Peters, the Emperor then conducted a general tour of the strongholds of the Robertian and Mereditan Provinces, lasting until May 1524. Robert, Meris, Wakedia, Jamuine, Beharis, Shephard, Walters, Hasselbeck, Goldberg, Whoppi, Meredita, Jeanne, Abuza, Brenda, Dickinson, and Iego were all visited by the Emperor of Laurasia on this particular tour. Lysimachus then wintered at Uris, before beginning his procession through the Middle Territories (June 1524). The Emperor and the Imperial Court passed through the Shenandonite Provinces and the Millian Home Region. He visited Shenandoah, Majoria Schall, Choir, Hoohshikk, Predosur, Bacturia Invictis, Boydaria, Bor'say, Par'say, Ond'diray, Grand Junction, Temperance, and then Way'tosk. The Emperor's visit to Waytosk, the old capital world of the Millian Empire (September 29, 1524), was particularly memorable, and he paid homage to the Kuevian Mausoleum of Kings and the Great Vault of the Empire, offering his prayers for the Millian Emperor Heust'orr the Great and the Kuevian King Genseric the Great. Following this, the Emperor departed from Way'tosk and proceeded rapidly to the Venasian Cluster. He visited Maxiliana, Phyllis, Monderon, Ruttum, Lynne, Organia, Ka, Hannis, Bolgrahay, Venasia Secondary, Venasia Prime, and Robbay before reaching the Nexus Route (December 1524).

1525

 * In January 1525, following a detour to the Decapolian Worlds, Emperor Lysimachus finally returned to Laurasia Prime, after having been absent from his capital world for more than three years. The Emperor's arrival back at Laurasia Prime was marked with a series of tournaments and games at the Circus Maximus, and by the presentation of the colors to His Majesty at the Imperial Balcony. Lysimachus's journey had given him considerable information about the customs and subjects of his Empire, and had further inspired him in his policy of peaceful construction of the Empire's internal structure. The Emperor devoted much of his time, during 1525 and 1526, to renewed architectural, trade, and commercial projects. In March 1521, the Emperor had commenced the construction of the Christiania Pantheon, which he intended as a theater, religious observance center, and cultural marketplace. The Pantheon was intended as the replacement for the Old Curia, which had been constructed in the tenth century, during the time of the Dasian Bey Demetrius Rakanedis (919-27). The Pantheon, whose construction was supervised by Emperor Antigonus's old architect Sir Apollodorus of Dramis, would be eventually completed and dedicated on March 7, 1526. The structure, inscribed with the words "Emperor Lysimachus I Dedicated This in the Honor of Almitis, AH 1526", spanned over ten acres. It was circular with a portico of large Corinthian columns under a pediment. A rectangular vestibule linked the porch to the rotunda, under a coffered concrete dome, with an opening to the sky. The Pantheon also had underground chambers, extending thirty feet into the ground and spanning across a distance of nearly 1.5 miles.
 * This structure, which became one of the chief landmarks of the city of Christiania, would be renovated by Antoninus Pius from 1549 to 1555, who erected a statute to the Emperor Lysimachus's memory at the apex of the dome. In the late eighteenth century, from 1783 to 1786, Empress Aurelia the Great would conduct a massive renovation and expansion of the structure, replacing all of its artwork, building statutes to several other prominent Laurasian figures, and expanding the Dome's portico. New Corinthian and Ionian columns would be erected, while the inscription of Lysimachus was recast in gold alzonite letters. Besides the Pantheon, Emperor Lysimachus conducted several other projects in the city of Christiania. He initiated a massive reconstruction of St. Katherine's Cathedral (1525-27); added two hundred rooms and the Celebratory Hall to the Quencilvanian Palace (1526); and redesigned the Public Squares of Christiania, removing, reconstructing, and rearranging many of the obelisks, columns, and monuments erected there. In 1529, the Emperor would construct the Lysimachid Obelisk in Colombia, with inscriptions chronicling his progresses throughout the Empire. The Emperor also continued with his cultural innovations, and in April 1525, General Turbo was formally named Praetorian Prefect and Chancellor of the Empire.
 * 1525 also witnessed a further territorial acquisition for the Laurasian Empire: that of the Kingdom of Upper Morsia. On April 7, 1525, King Abgaros II of Upper Morsia, who had so meekly submitted to Emperor Antigonus nearly a decade earlier, died on Sheldonia. His son, Abgaros III, was poised to accede to the Morsian throne, but according to the terms of his father's vassalage, had to gain the consent of the Imperial Laurasian Government. Emperor Lysimachus, however, whose officials had continued to deal with disturbances on Samarkand, Timur's Star, Hunt Minor, and Claithbourne, now sought to directly annex Upper Morsia into the Empire. This would consolidate the Empire's position along the rims of the Galactic Void. Thus, in June 1525, the Emperor commanded Prefect Turbo to launch a swift military operation against Sheldonia, Downs, Morsia, and Gabriella. Toma fell quickly into Laurasian hands (June 27-July 5, 1525), and on July 12, Downs also fell into Laurasian position. The Sheldonian colonies of Ahoor, Afriasic, Everlaman, and Muth then fell quickly into Laurasian hands; on August 7, 1525, Asiastic and Noah were stormed. Finally, on August 18, 1525, King Abgaros, realizing that further resistance was futile, signed a declaration of abdication on Gabriella, and formally surrendered to the Laurasian Empire. Sheldonia, Gabriella, Morsia, Prestley, and Natazdha were quickly occupied by Laurasian units; on September 8, 1525, Emperor Lysimachus formally announced the annexation of the Kingdom of Upper Morsia into the Laurasian Empire. As for King Abgaros, he was allowed to retain his hereditary estates and to retire to Mariana Sirtia; he died there on June 9, 1553, at the age of seventy-four. The entirety of the territories once ruled by the old Huntite Empires, the Carolyne and Huntite Khanates, and the Kingdom of Rudorita were now under the authority of the Laurasian Empire.

1526

 * Birth of the future Emperor Pertinax (r. January-March 1593) in Alba, Dapales III, which had been colonized during the reign of the Emperor Claudius in 1449.

1528

 * By 1528, after more than a decade on the throne, Emperor Lysimachus had succeeded in his goal of strengthening the Empire's internal condition, and of remaining at peace with the Empire's neighbors. However, the Emperor of Laurasia was to find that not all was to persist in such a state. In particular, the Huntite Provinces, the Laurasian Empire's most recently acquired region, still boiled over with dissent against the Laurasian occupiers. Throughout the course of 1525, 1526, and 1527, sporadic outbreaks of civil dissent and of overt rebellion emerged in many Huntite star systems against the Empire's governmental authorities. Solay, in particular, was ravaged by a series of violent riots from December 1526 to March 1527, demonstrating that world's resistance against the Empire. With these tensions building up, it was inevitable that a rebellion would break out against the Imperial Laurasian Government. And indeed, that was what happened. The rebellion was now to be lead by Huntite Prince Muggutha, who had, over the course of the preceding decade, apparently ingratiated himself with his new Laurasian masters. In reality, however, Mugguthia had been plotting rebellion against the Imperial Laurasian Government; he stockpiled supplies at his estates on Hunt Minor, Claithbourne, Raithbourne, Lorna, Garnett, Ber Bachman, and Vasquaro, determined to take the lead of the effort.
 * It was on April 7, 1528, that the Mugguthian Rebellion formally erupted. The Prince refused a summons from the Council of Notables on Hunt Major, and from Vasquaro, announced his revolt against the Empire. In his proclamation of rebellion, Muggutha claimed that continued adherence to the "dictates and the directives of the foreigners" would humiliate the honor of the Huntite species. Therefore, he called upon all Huntites to overthrow such an odious evil. Many were attracted to Muggutha's message (except for those on Jasonia and Samarkand), and he was able to assemble a substantial military force. With this force, the Prince quickly made gains. Charax and the Huntite colony of Susa quickly fell into his possession (April 8-14, 1528); he repelled a government offensive against Raithbourne (April 17); and on April 22, 1528, captured a convoy under the command of Captain Scripo Marcanius in the Battle of Doug. Amida, Zachary, and Negro were then captured (May 1528), and on May 21, 1528, the Prince obtained another victory in the Battle of Petrault. Adenstyrae was soon threatened by rebel units, and Jabul capitulated in July 1528. Emperor Lysimachus, outraged by Muggutha's treachery, now took drastic measures. On August 1, 1528, shortly after Muggutha had besieged and conquered Gargonia, the Emperor secretly ordered for Parthamapsies, still imprisoned at Iego, to be poisoned. This was done swiftly, and the death of the last Huntite Caliph thereby deprived Muggutha of the opportunity to use him as a puppet against the Empire. Although Muggutha then proceeded to conquer Iscar, Haset, and Crygins (August 1528), Horne was successfully reinforced. Then on September 3, 1528, the Governor of Hunt Major, the Lord Borgvania (1488-1571), inflicted a decisive defeat upon Muggutha in the Battle of Penez. He then drove rebel units from Grumman's Star (September 8), recaptured Negro, Gargonia, and Jabul (by September 15), and drove into Haset. Estella, Gedrosia Max, and Royan then became the scenes of further confrontation. By the end of October 1528, Zachary and Amida were back in government hands. Yet it was not until November 7, 1528, before Iscar was recovered, and not until November 15 before the disturbances on Solay were completely suppressed. Raithbourne then fell into government hands (November 18-22, 1528), and on November 24, Governor Borgvania confiscated rebel estates on Garnett, Leah, Lorna, and Ber Bachman. Hunt Minor was blockaded from December 3; its fall on Ascentmas Day, 1528, signaled the definite downturn in rebel fortunes.

1529

 * The year 1529 witnessed the culmination of governmental moves against the Mugguthian Rebellion, as well as a short-lived conflict in the Angelican Provinces. In January 1529, Governor Borgvania, receiving reinforcements from the Robertian Provinces, launched the decisive, final thrust, against the forces of Prince Muggutha. He stormed Dura (January 7, 1529), capturing more than 35,000 tons of military supplies and nearly 100,000 Huntite conscripts. From Dura, Adenstyrae was secured, and on January 18, 1529, the Battle of Crygins ended in a decisive victory for the government. Haset was completely cleared of rebel units by January 22. Mugguthia now launched a vain move towards Cox, Banks, Henderson, and Millard, which ended in failure at Ashley (February 1-9, 1529). By the end of February 1529, Doug, Susa, and Charax had also been recovered by government forces. Finally, on March 4, 1529, the Battle of the Caroline Asteroid Belt resulted in a decisive victory for the Empire's forces; Mugguthia himself was captured as a result of this confrontation. He was strictly confined, and on the orders of Emperor Lysimachus, placed on a prison transport. On March 22, 1529, Mugguthia, escorted by a cadre of Imperial Navy warships, began the long journey to Laurasia Prime: Lysimachus was determined to punish the rebel personally. He arrived at Laurasia Prime on April 2, 1529; was jeered by the world's populace; and then consigned to the Post Settlement of Hepudermia. There, he was interrogated by the Emperor personally, who demanded the reasons as to his revolt. Mugguthia proved defiant, and declared that he was perfectly willing to die for the independence of his species. Lysimachus was enraged by this, and called the curse of the Lord Almitis upon the traitor. Mugguthia was then attainted on April 14; forced to give a confession of his exploits; and was executed at the High Tower on April 28, 1529, before a crowd of more than 300,000 persons.
 * By the end of May 1529, his rebellion had been completely suppressed. Yet Emperor Lysimachus now had to turn his attention to the Cosites, who from the Satian Provinces had been harrying northern Angelica. Between 1527 and 1529, Cosite expeditions had penetrated to the outskirts of Angelica Minor, Giron, the Immortalized Cluster, Londarania, Eric, and the Priestest, thereby placing those possessions in peril. On June 9, 1529, a Cosite force sacked Ali; this proved the last straw for the Emperor of Laurasia. He issued a declaration of war ten days later, and advanced into the Satian Provinces. Margery was sacked by a Laurasian force (June 11-16, 1529); Multan followed on June 22, and on June 29, 1529, Prefect Turbo obtained a decisive victory in the Battle of Satie. Satie itself surrendered to the Laurasians in July 1529; from this vantage point, Jamilla, Max, Cameron, and Angelique were stormed by Laurasian units. On August 4, 1529, Lee surrendered; Nisbis, Carrhae, and Emessa also suffered from Laurasian expeditions. By October 1529, Laurasian units, having secured Lawrence, Charlie, O'Donnell, and Gayle, were approaching the outskirts of Norah itself. The Cosites, once again under attack by the Marasharite Empire to the north, were forced to sue for peace with the Laurasians. A conference was convened at Sarah, from September 9, 1529. The Treaty of Sarah was signed twelve days later, thereby ending the short Laurasian-Cosite War of 1529. By the terms of this treaty, the Cosites agreed to recognize all Laurasian acquisitions in Hunt and Kimania; moreover, the boundary in the Angelican Provinces was adjusted to the Empire's favor, with Charlie, O'Donnell, Gayle, and Sarah being acquired by the Emperor of Laurasia. All captives seized in Cosite expeditions into Angelica were to be returned, and free trade established between the two realms.
 * The Treaty of Sarah, ratified by both states by November 1529, maintained the peace between Laurasia and the Cosites for the remainder of Lysimachus's reign. The Emperor himself, in the meantime, had conducted a tour of the Polonian Provinces (June-October 1529), following his tour of the Central Core from 1526 to 1528. On these progresses, he was attended by his lover Antinous (1500-30), who he had met at Winehouse in June 1523, and who had become close to him. Theirs soon turned into a sexual relationship; this was against the precepts and dictates of the Almitian Church. The Emperor, however, kept his relationship secret, and ensured that word of his relationship did not leak out of the Imperial Court. He was not the first Emperor to have homosexual tendencies: Antiochus IIII the Mad had paraded them openly, and earned the opprobrium of his subjects. From thence, Antinous attended the Emperor on all of his progresses; to Venasia, to the Robertian Regions, to the Central Core, and, during 1529, to the Decapolian, Nathanielite, and Sanegetan Provinces. The Emperor's relationship with his wife, Empress Consort Vibia Sabina, was unhappy, although they had been married for thirty-five years by that point. Sabina herself strayed, and had an affair with Sir Suetonius Tranquillius in 1519. Lysimachus was never sexually attracted to women, and he did not have any children. Laurasian historians of later centuries have taken great care when discussing this Emperor's sexual oddities; Cassius Dio, Appianus, Eutropius, Euesbius, Aurelius Victor, Marcellus, Gibbeoneous, Vassalina, and Monompahlaus all approached this topic with reluctance.

1530

 * 1530 saw the Laurasian Empire residing in a state of general tranquility and stability. Emperor Lysimachus, attended by his wife, Empress Consort Sabina, by his lover Antinous, and by the chief magnates of the Imperial Court, now embarked on his next progress: to the Murphian Provinces. He departed from Caladaria in January 1530 and proceeded rapidly to Meaganian. From thence, the Emperor and his entourage proceeded through Capital, Tommy, Anusia, Lonnie, Chandlier, the Prelone Asteroid Belt, Mumbraine, Hammenor, Josopha, Hickoris Five, and Crossley, before reaching Murphy in April 1530. During this journey, the Emperor dedicated thirty arches in the memory of Antigonus I and presided over a massive gladiatorial contest at the Prelone Barracks. Antinous was in his entourage during all of this time, though the Emperor attended every ceremony with his wife, the Empress Consort. Then in August 1530, the Emperor turned to Senna Major, determined to see this world which had once been a throne world of the Sennacherid Empire. It was while on Senna Major that he and his soldiers conducted an official hunt in the Mauritanian Marshes, tracking down and killing a band of rancors who had strayed from the Senna Zoo. Antinous distinguished himself in this. The Emperor, so pleased by his own exploits, and those of his lover, commissioned Sir Pancrates Muxelia of Daala (1491-1566) to compose a poem on the occasion. He cast bronze medallions of it, and had a tondo depicting the event placed upon the Arch of Seleucus I in Constantinople, Laurasia Prime. Then on October 2, 1530, the Emperor and his entourage departed from the Senna Major star system, and proceeded to Saray, once capital of the Golden Horde. The entourage included the officials of the Court, the Governor of Murphy (then Sir Zosimus Prevarius), military commanders, and various scholarly figures.
 * Joining them also was the Duke of Constantinople, Lucius Aelius (1501-38), the father of Lucius Verus, co-Emperor to Antigonus II (who would be born on December 15, 1530, at the Mansion of the Yurians on Mommica). On their journey to Saray, they stopped at Shalemenser Goldthia, where the Emperor intended to dedicate a shrine to the Murphian God Thoth. Tragedy, however, now befell him. On October 30, 1530, Antinous died when he drowned in the Osrian Pond, located next to the new Thoth Shrine. Emperor Lysimachus, when he learned of his favorite's fate, bewailed; according to Cassius Dio, his wailing "could be heard with all in earshot" and "shook the ground with its violence." The Emperor went into a period of mourning, and declared to his courtiers that he had been a grievous blow. News of his relationship with Antinous now leaked out, but in January 1531, the Emperor ordered the Holy Synod to issue an injunction suppressing all talk of it. Nevertheless, Emperor Lysimachus had his lover's body buried at the Thoth Mausoleum (March 8, 1531), which he erected specifically for him. He ordered for him to be given a state funeral, and presented banners to those who attended. In 1533, Antinous would be further honored by a statute to his memory at Stratta, Oxia Vixius, where he had been born; in 1537, the Emperor would found the city of Antinouspolis on Chronographia in the Outer Borderlands, named in honor of his favorite. Antinous's body was to remain at the Thoth Mausoleum for nearly two centuries, until in 1727, on the orders of Chief Procurator Willanius Warhamius (with the approval of Emperor Antigonus), it would be exhumed and removed to a common cemetery on Oxia Vixius. The Chief Procurator had the statute of Antinous destroyed, and issued a manifesto denouncing Emperor Lysimachus's relationship with the favorite. In 1764, however, Empress Aurelia would overturn this and have Antinous's corpse returned to the Mausoleum, which was fully restored: she believed that "all who had been honored before should remain honored."

1531-1534

 * Following the death of Antinous, Emperor Lysimachus had remained at Senna until July 1531, when he resumed his progress to the Horacian Provinces. Cinnamon, Pandy, Louza, Kingpin, Levinston, Theresa, Bartello, Donald, Momma, and John, among other strongholds, would be visited by the Emperor and his court between July 1531 and January 1532. The Emperor bestowed honors upon many of the settlements, organizations, and nobles in these star systems during his progress; in November 1531, he founded the city of Hadriana on Bartello, which by the time of Aurelia the Great was to be one of the largest cities in the Core Regions. Moreover, the Emperor established, in December 1531, the Order of St. Antigonus the Conqueror, in honor of his predecessor, the conqueror of Hunt, Jageronia, and Kimania. The Order of St. Antigonus, placed in precedence after those of St. Honorius, St. Seleucus, and St. Antiochus, was to remain one of the Empire's primary military honors into the eighteenth century. Prefect Turbo would be the first individual to be conferred this decoration, in February 1532. Then in March 1532, the Emperor of Laurasia enacted the Perpetual Edict, which had been compiled by a legal commission of the Senate, led by the renowned jurist Sir Salvius Julianus (1500-70), one of the most respected jurists and legal historians in the history of the Laurasian Empire. Julianus was convinced that the Empire's laws, dating back to the fourteenth century, needed to be codified in a manner that would be accessible to the Empire's subjects and to its government officials alike. Consequently, he had convinced the Emperor, in July 1527, to establish the commission for the compilation of a formal legal code.
 * The Perpetual Edict, as it was now enacted, mandated that the various forms of legal action, undertaken by the Council of Secretaries, the Governing Senate, and the Courts of the General Assizes, were to remain fixed. The laws became fixed, with only the Emperor having the authority to amend or repeal them. Magistrates could now only enforce the laws, in accordance with instructions issued from the center. The Edict also organized all decrees, edicts, statutes, constitutions, and prescripts which had been passed since the reign of Antiochus I, and established them in a clear registry of legal procedure. It also provided the principles of Laurasian legalism and of common law. At the same time, the Emperor reorganized the Council of Secretaries, which became a more permanent body staffed with salaried legal aides. By doing so, he further centralized the Imperial Laurasian Government and restricted the Senate's prerogatives in civil service. Yet the Emperor's relationship with the Senate strained further as a result of this innovation, as was to be seen at the end of his reign. Two events, however, now emerged, one of which would ultimately be a harbinger of what was to come later on in the sixteenth century.
 * On June 9, 1531, the first ever raid, by the Haynsian Despotate, into the Laurasian Empire was launched. A Haynsian convoy, which had been attacking Nagai and Anastasian commercial fleets near the Hutsite Reaches, penetrated into the Reaches, sacking the minor Laurasian outposts of Rochemelle, Garcia, and Martinez. Haynsian units would penetrate as far as Strongstine, Drea, and Duana before retreating back into the Galactic Void in August 1531. Some 350,000 captives and more than 10,000 tons of armor and equipment were seized by the Haynsians in this operation. Emperor Lysimachus received word of this raiding expedition, and ordered for vigorous patrols to be organized in the Reaches and the Lower Galactic Void. Sporadic Haynsian raids into the Reaches and the Jarjanican Provinces would continue for the next six years, launched by Haynsian Despot Shannai I Karany (1524-32); it was not until the Borderlands War, however, before the Haynsians would become a major threat to the Empire. The Haynsians would prove to be an irritant to the Empire for the next two and a half centuries, until the annexation of the Haynsia by Aurelia the Great in the late eighteenth century.
 * As regards to the other event, there occurred the outbreak of a major rebellion against the Laurasian Empire (1532). Tensions in the Donguarian Provinces, against the Imperial Laurasian Government, had remained high during the six decades following the end of the First Donguarian Rebellion. Emperor Lysimachus had paid a visit to Donguaria Prime in March 1530, and it appeared to some that he would sponsor the restoration of the Great Temple of Donguaria, which had been destroyed by the forces of Vespasian's son and successor, Titus, in 1470. Instead, however, the Emperor had announced that a new cathedral, dedicated to St. Thomasius of Clancia (a fourth century BH missionary who was executed by Clancian authorities on trumped up charges), was to be constructed. Donguarian customs such as ritual circumcision and war-dances were banned in 1531, and the Emperor pursued a policy of resettlement in Donguaria Prime's cities. All of this angered the Donguarians considerably, and now inspired their revolt against the Empire.
 * On June 7, 1532, Simagrad bar Kohba, a Donguarian of Galician descent, raised his standard on Pressburg, and announced his intention to resist the further intrusions of the Laurasian Empire. Bar Kohba, who was possessed of a vigorous determination and a ability to inspire devotion from his subordinates, quickly gained strength. By August 1532, his forces had seized Borilla, Emmaus, Shechem, Syechar, and Masada, thereby inflicting a series of humiliating losses upon Laurasian garrisons. Jilach was stormed on September 9, 1532, and Donguaria Prime was virtually isolated by the rebel units. In October 1532, Cossack and Croac both fell into rebel hands; Mohi followed on November 5. Bar Kohba, who claimed to be a descendant of the Arpad Dynasty of Donguaria, and declared that he had been sent by the Warrior-Gods of the Donguarian Ancestors to save the Donguarian race from destruction and subjection to the control of foreigners, now proclaimed himself Stellar Emperor of Donguaria, pledging to restore that ancient state which had existed for more than five centuries. By the end of November 1532, Pest and Donguarian Kaunas were in his possession, and he had isolated Rohi, one of the chief Laurasian bases in the vicinity of Donguaria Prime. Emperor Lysimachus, alarmed by the outbreak of this renewed rebellion, ordered for the garrisons of Joppa, Jannia, and Gaza to be strengthened. Then on December 4, 1532, Hypasian Governor Baron Sextus Julius Severus (1481-1551), 5th Baron Severus of Vang Dong, was appointed as commander-in-chief of the Empire's forces in the Donguarian Provinces, and ordered to take command at Samaria against the rebels. The Emperor provided him with heavy reinforcements; by February 1533, the 19th through 25th Imperial Armies had been detached, along with the 9th and 10th Imperial Fleets. The size of the Empire's military forces amassed against the rebellion was much larger than those commanded by Titus six decades earlier; Lysimachus was determined to leave nothing to chance, knowing well how fiercely the Donguarians had fought in the late 1460s.
 * Over the course of 1533, Governor Severus managed to gain a series of victories over the rebels. He recovered Jilach, Mohi, and Cossack in a series of hard-fought offensives (March-April 1533); stormed the rebel garrisons of Shechem, Sepphoris, and Tiberias; and on June 9, 1533, obtained a decisive victory in the Battle of Tel Amarem, thereby ejecting rebel units from Pest. Donguarian Kaunas was besieged from August 1 to October 9, 1533, finally falling to the Empire's forces after a fierce resistance; Laurasian units then recovered Masada, Borilla, and Croac. By November 1533, in spite of rebel victories at Joppa, Ephrhaim, and Jericho, the advantage had shifted, in general, to the Laurasians. Bar Kohba now launched a relentless series of guerilla raids and other operations against Laurasian units; they were unable to capture Betahabra, and in January 1534, the Donguarians ejected them from Hippos and Gerasa. Yet Governor Severus proved to be patient, and on March 1, 1534, he defeated Bar Khoba in the Battle of Judah. Benjamin, Manasseh, and Zephrahim were then seized (April-May 1534); Hulach and Rohi both fell in June 1534; and by July, Bethabra had been recovered. Hippos and Gerasa would be recovered on August 19, 1534, and by early September, Nazareth and Ptolemais were firmly in Laurasian hands. Philadelphia, Machaerus, Philippi, and Tyre were under Laurasian control by the end of 1534, and Laurasian units were approaching Donguaria Prima.

1535

 * Birth of the future Emperor Pescennius Niger (r. 1593-94), rival of the Emperor Demetrius Severus, in Aqunio, Aquilionia.
 * 1535 saw the final suppression of the Bar-Kohba revolt by the forces of the Laurasian Empire. In January 1535, General Severus, who had driven rebel units from the outskirts of Gaza, and had seized the rebel garrison of Ashakelon, moved swiftly towards Donguaria Prime. This world, once capital of the Donguarian Stellar Empire, fell under a renewed Laurasian onslaught on January 24, 1535. The Siege of Donguaria Prime lasted for nearly a month, as rebel forces posed a significant resistance to the assaults of the Imperial Laurasian Navy. Bar-Kohba himself, who had established his command headquarters at Lydda, launched numerous guerrilla raids against Laurasian lines, but failed to halt their offensive. Donguaria Prime finally fell on February 18, 1535; its fall proved a major blow to the rebellion. Severus then stormed the rebel garrisons of Poltava and Haustien (March 1535), decimating the rebel formations in those star systems; capturing more than 150,000 rebel troops; and recovering more than $200 billion denarius worth of goods, military equipment, and supplies which had been seized by the rebels during their offensives. Then on April 4, 1535, he launched an offensive against Lydda; Bar-Kohba, whose forces were undermanned and outnumbered, was forced to retreat in ignominy from the stronghold, which was comprehensively sacked by the Laurasians. Sheva, Lackish, and Ashedon were then seized, and on April 29, 1535, the Battle of Dibon ended in another decisive victory for Severus. Bar-Kohba and his remaining units now retreated to Betar (May 1535), geared for a last stand against the Empire. The Siege of Betar, instigated on June 4, 1535, lasted for nearly four months. Finally, on October 2, 1535, the world's defenses were breached by Severus's forces. Severus then wreaked a terrible revenge, and Laurasian troops engaged in wanton plunder, devastating the world's cities, businesses, and private properties.
 * Bar-Kohba himself, hunted down by Laurasian troopers, managed to commit suicide before he could be captured. His severed head would later be dispatched to Laurasia Prime by General Severus as a spoil of war. More than 350,000 rebel troops would be executed, tortured, or imprisoned to the end of the year. The capture of Shoalem (October 18, 1535), near Masada, completed the suppression of the Bar-Kohba revolt. Emperor Lysimachus now took brutal and harsh measures in order to maintain his Empire's future dominion over Donguaria. Martial law was again declared in all Donguarian systems (and was to remain in place until 1555). Donguarians were forbidden to form organizations or to discuss political affairs without the approval of the Imperial Laurasian Government. Restrictions were placed on the possession of arms, and a complete prohibition on any Donguarian entering military or mercenary service imposed (not overturned until 1596). The Emperor strengthened the garrisons of all the chief Donguarian strongholds; constructed the Hadraid-Tesios Fortress on Donguaria Prime (which would be completed in 1547, during the reign of his successor Antoninus Pius), and ordered for all statutes and memorials to the Donguarian Cult to be demolished. Furthermore, the Emperor ordered for Polonians, Galicians, Nathanelites, Hooperites, and Chapellans, among others, to be resettled in Donguarian star systems. He proceeded with his plans for St. Thomasius's Cathedral (which would not be completed until 1551) and constructed the city of Trajan Max on Donguaria Prime, which would be designated as the new capital in 1538. Emperor Lysimachus's policies worked; the Donguarians would never again arise in a major uprising against the Empire.

1538

 * The last years of Emperor Lysimachus's reign witnessed a rapid decline in his physical health, disputes over the succession, and turmoil within the Imperial Household. In March 1534, the Emperor returned to Laurasia Prime from his last progress (to the Malarian Provinces). Although he had plans for a progress into the Solidaritan Provinces, these never came to fruition: he was destined to spend the last four years of his life in the Laurasia Prime Purse Region. The Emperor now retired to the Estates of the Remesis on Rebecca, which he had expanded between 1523 and 1528, and which had become his favored residence. The Estates contained innumerable pools, baths, fountains, and classical Laurasian architecture. Statutes, obelisks, and monuments, of nymphs, satyrs, gods, mythological heroes, she heroes, villains, and the like, lined the Estates's passageways; it also possessed one of the most beautiful gardens in the Caladarian Galaxy. Here, the Emperor could take the waters, and could find distraction from concern with the cares of state. Yet his mind was troubled by what transpired. On March 9, 1536, Lucius Aelius, Duke of Constantinople, who had been appointed to the Governing Senate in 1534 and had become one of the Emperor's closest confidantes, was adopted by the Emperor and named his heir apparent, in accordance with the custom that had been established by Nerva. Aelius, however, was himself in delicate health, and many considered his physical attractiveness to be his only virtue. Aelius, nevertheless, was named Chief Suffect of the City of Christiania, made Commander of the Quencilvanian Palace Control, and in June 1537, designated as Governor of Venasia Prime. He displayed some merit in these capacities, but was never able to overcome the earlier accusations. By October 1537, he had entered a terminal decline, and retired to Idyll, attempting in vain to take that world's spas.
 * On January 1, 1538, however, Aelius died there in his sleep; his death now deprived the Emperor of his heir apparent, and forced him to visit the question of the succession once more. Lysimachus's wife, Empress Consort Sabina, had died on June 22, 1537, aged fifty-four, and as mentioned above, had no children with her husband. In February 1538, however, the Emperor decided to designate the Praetor of Laurasia Prime, Antoninus Aelius (a veteran of the Kimanian and Huntite Wars), as his successor. This decision was formally announced to the Imperial Court in a proclamation on March 2; at that time, Aelius was presented to the Empire's subjects as the Emperor's heir apparent. Lysimachus did this, however, on the condition that Antoninus in turn adopt Lord Antigonus Aelius, the son of the Praetor's brother-in-law, and Lucius Verus, son of the late Duke Aelius, as his heirs. Antoninus agreed to oblige by his adoptive father's commands; Lysimachus formally adopted him on March 9, 1538. In April 1538, however, Lucius Servianus, Earl of Aeoleon, along with his grandson Sir Gnaeus Selinator, orchestrated an assassination scheme against the Emperor, in protest at his succession decisions. Lysimachus, however, caught wind of the conspiracy, and on May 4, 1538, he had both Servianus and Selinator arrested, convicted by the Senate, and then executed at the High Tower.
 * Then in June 1538, the Emperor, who had returned briefly to Laurasia Prime to formalize the succession, retired back to the Estates of the Remesis. It was there, on July 10, 1538, that he died at the age of sixty-two. Emperor Lysimachus's reign had lasted for twenty-one years, and he had, for the most part, abstained from foreign conflict. For this, and for his efforts to promote the Empire's culture, administration, and internal unity, Lysimachus would be hailed by historians in later centuries. Following his death, Praetor Aelius acceded to the throne as Antoninus Pius I; he took the name "Pius" as a marker of his devotion to Almitism. The Emperor immediately had the Synod bless his predecessor's memory, and he ordered the Court into a state of mourning. Lysimachus would be buried at the Imperial Mausoleum on August 19, 1538, alongside his wife, Empress Consort Sabina. Emperor Antoninus then officially proclaimed Antigonus Aelius and Lucius Verus as his heirs (September 1538). Then on October 4, 1538, he crowned himself Emperor at the Old Westphalian Cathedral, the last time a coronation was held here before the edifice's demolition.

1539

 * 1539, the 39th year of the sixteenth century, began with the Laurasian Empire under the jurisdiction of a new sovereign who was determined to provide for the security and stability of the Empire's realms, and to continue with the policies of his predecessor, Lysimachus I. Emperor Antoninus Pius (who was formally awarded that title in November 1538 by the Governing Senate, on account of his fervent devotion to the customs of the Almitian Church and his respect for the customs of his predecessors), had already declared that it was his intention to avoid aggressive military conflict with the Empire's neighbors, unless if circumstances compelled him to it. The Emperor, however, was not above mandating for the reorganization and the expansion of the Empire's military forces. Moreover, he recognized the continuing vulnerability of the Laurasian position in the outskirts of the Hypasian Provinces, and was determined to rectify this situation. To do this, the Emperor appointed, on March 5, 1539, a new Senatorial Governor of Hypasia and Angelica: this was Sir Quintus Lollius Urbicus, 4th Earl of Almastead (1502-60). Urbicus, who was a veteran of Bar-Kohba's Rebellion and the Laurasian-Anastasian War of 1519-20, had already gained distinction for his service as Praetor of Decapolia (1535-39) and for his suppression of the Xemernian Rebellion at Podrac, Agac, and Alfac in 1537. He was therefore considered by the Emperor to be the best man for the job in Hypasia. Urbicus, who arrived at Hypasia Major one month following his appointment, proved to justify the Emperor's expectations. He now carried out the expansion of the Lysimachian Barrier Defenses, ordering for the construction of new defensive garrisons at Spencer, Coleman, Ambarac, Cooper, and Emerson; providing for the emplacement of new Tyrannis-class turbocannon batteries on Angelica Minor, Giron, Eric, and Londarania; and constructing a series of minefields around Abraham, Lincoln, and Roxuli, to thereby deny any enemy the possibility of progressing into the Solidaritan Provinces.
 * Moreover, he sponsored the establishment of several new Laurasian colonies and military outposts in the Empire's border regions, in order to encourage immigration and to strengthen the Imperial Laurasian Government's hold. Among the colonies which were now established included Crassner (1539), Carbania (1539), Carrevia (1540), Brigantia (1541), Sandy (1542), Gregory (1542), and Mendoza (1543). By 1544, more than ten thousand new star systems had been colonized in the Hypasian Provinces, as a result of Urbicus's efforts. Urbicus also pursued campaigns against pirate bands, rebels, and Hypasian cells in the outskirts of the Provinces. This included the Damonii Raiders, the Vothgani-Cong, the Selgovae Pirates, and the Novante of Than Luo. Through a series of confrontations at such Hypasian systems as Hanoi, Saigon, Ho Chi Minh, Hue, Ban Noi, Hu Thang, Bien Hoa, and Can Tho (1539-41), Governor Urbicus gradually quashed the resistance of these groups and asserted Laurasian jurisdiction. By 1542, the Lysimachid Barrier Defenses extended from Roxuli to Sogan, Valeris V, and Huerta Mongol, encompassing a string of outposts, garrisons, hyperspace relays, minefields, armories, and military facilities across a distance of more than fifteen thousand light years.

1540

 * Emperor Antoninus Pius, besides pursuing the expansion of the Empire's military forces and the maintenance of peace in the Hypasian Provinces, embarked upon a process of financial and administrative reform, determined to strengthen the Empire's economy and bureaucracy. The Emperor reformed the general capitation in January 1540, ordering for the Imperial Treasury to issue new regulations concerning tax returns, dividends, and profits from all businesses and estates in the Empire. He also reduced the payroll tax, expanded income tax credits for lower and middle-income individuals within the Empire, and granted a series of tax breaks to such corporations as Christiania MetalWorks, Katherine Drive Yards, the Tagge Corporation, and Constantinople Industries, thereby sponsoring the expansion of commercial and other activity by these businesses in the outer regions of the Empire. Moreover, Antoninus Pius adhered to a policy of relieving star systems, cities, and colonies affected by natural or other disasters from taxation and other financial obligations, for the duration of that emergency. This occurred when combustive explosions struck Christiania and Constantinople on Laurasia Prime (as to be seen shortly); when Aquilionia and Taurasia were devastated by a series of earthquakes; and when gamma rays brought Nathaniel, Sanegeta, and Chapman into near-disaster (1546). He offered considerable annuities, financial grants, and the assistance of the Imperial Colleges of Manufacturing, Planetary Resources, and Agriculture when disaster struck Strongstine, Riley, and Abshire (1540), and later when Robert, Meris, and Wakedia were threatened by asteroids (1552). In addition to this, the Emperor granted numerous privileges to many of the municipalities in the Empire; in 1547, he issued the first Charter of Planetary Privileges, affirming the right of the local populaces, of the most important cities in the Empire, to have a consultative assembly and a say in the selection of their mayors and other officials.
 * The Charter also granted them autonomy as regards to education, utilities, local healthcare, welfare provision, transportation maintenance, and cultural activities. He also sponsored the expansion of the Empire's education system: the Laurasian Universities of Millard, Narra, Rose, Nandia, India, Warren, Christopher, Bor'say, Par'say, Hannis, and Crimean IV were all founded during the 1540s, and in 1551, the Imperial Board of Regents was established, to monitor the Empire's academies and state universities. Antoninus Pius, adhering to his name, also proved himself a vigorous and loyal follower of the Almitian Church. His first Chief Procurator of the Holy Synod, Sir Antiochus Straffordia (in office 1533-48), introduced, in 1545, the Ritual Code of the Almitian Church, formalizing procedures for communion, baptisms, burials, weddings, masses, and "acknowledgements of Almitis." The Emperor himself took his role as Pontifex Maximus seriously; in 1548, he would preside over the Secular Games on Laurasia Prime. It was during his reign that the Peter and Paul Ecclesiastical Academy was established in Christiania (1549). The Emperor also had a high concept of the importance of nobility and rank in the Empire. It was in November 1540 that he formally abolished the Table of Ranks, which had existed in some form or another since the reign of Seleucus the Victor, and which had, by the sixteenth century, become antiquated and outdated. Instead, Pius reorganized the Heraldmaster's Office, assigning new responsibilities to the Herald as regards to precedence rights and rank among the nobility. He also streamlined the Imperial Orders.
 * In June 1540, the Emperor devised the Heraldry Procedures, providing strict guidelines for admission into the Orders; for the obligations and duties of members; and the precedence of members of the Orders. In 1542, he abolished the Orders of St. Alexander and St. Arasces Arcanius, both of whom had been established by Seleucus I. In 1544, the Imperial Orders were rearranged: Sts. Honorius the Liberator, Seleucus the Victor, Antiochus the Great, and Antigonus the Conqueror were placed as the highest orders in the Empire, either civilian or military. In 1545, the Imperial Order of the Garter was established, followed by that of Thistle (1548) and the Civilian Order of St. Victoria (1549). In 1553, the Emperor would compile the Nobility Regulations, which would establish the procedures for the ranks and precedence of the Empire's nobility. The Sovereign and members of the imperial family were placed first. The title of Grand Prince (Princess) was reserved solely for the children and in-laws of the monarch; Prince and Princess would be bequeathed upon the grandchildren of the monarch; and Duke, or Duchess, upon the great-grandchildren of the monarch. After members of the Imperial Family would come the Laurasian Dukes, then the Earls, then the Marquesses, then the Barons and Counts, the Baronets, the Knights, and the non-hereditary Knights Banneret. All non-Laurasian nobles were ranked lower than Laurasian nobles, but retained their traditional titles. Emperor Antoninus's reign thus laid the groundwork for the great expansion in the ranks of the Empire's nobility which would continue into the eighteenth century.

1543

 * As mentioned above, a number of natural disasters occurred during the reign of the Emperor Antoninus Pius. One of these was the Combustive Explosion of 1543, which erupted in the Religious and Military Quadrants of Christiania, Laurasia Prime. On March 9, 1543, a violent chemical reaction, caused by a failure in the computer systems of the City's security network, ensued within those quadrants. In spite of the efforts of the Christiania Police and Emergencies Departments, and of the Emperor's own Palace Control, the reaction spread until a major explosion ensued. Within a matter of hours, the Old Westphalian Cathedral and the High Tower of Christiania had both been reduced to ruins. Fortunately, the Imperial Mausoleum, which was located underground, was spared the effects of the disaster; the remains of all Laurasian sovereigns, dating back to the fifth century AH, remained safe. However, the disaster had ruined these traditional structures, these centerpieces of the Imperial Laurasian Government. Fifty persons working in the structures at that time lost their lives, and more than $400 billion denarius worth of damage was caused. Yet the Emperor, who was greatly affected by the disaster, nevertheless became determined to recover from it. He now saw it as an opportunity to demonstrate his Empire's vast resources, and his ability to bring these resources to task. It was thus that in May 1543, the Emperor announced that he was embarking upon the construction of a New Westphalian Cathedral, and of a new military prison and armory, to replace the previous structures.
 * This would also include the demolition of the Imperial Mausoleum, and its incorporation into a larger, grander complex than what had existed previously. On his orders, the remains of his royal and imperial predecessors were briefly translated to the Mortuary of the Old Royal Palace. In August 1543, after months of architectural planning and consultation, the Emperor appointed Sir Pereseus Wyraius (1493-1563), who was renowned for his work on projects throughout the Core Worlds, as the chief architect of the two structures. Wyraius set to work, and construction on what would become the New Westphalian Cathedral and the Fortress of Baureux commenced in November 1543. It would take nearly two decades for these structures to be finished, ultimately costing nearly $700 billion denarius and the use of more than 500,000 laborers, along with 120,000 construction robots, conscripted from across Laurasia Prime, and other star systems of the Empire. Millions of tons of construction material, ore, electronics, and other equipment would be imported for use on the projects. Yet when they were finished, they were to add to the grandeur of Laurasia Prime.

1545

 * Emperor Antoninus Pius, besides his administrative reforms and his numerous construction projects, proved himself also to be a determined, diligent legal reformer. He dealt with the patrimonies of the Imperial Estate, determined to improve the efficiency of their operation, and to clear out waste in the Imperial Household. It was thus that the Emperor, in 1544, had partitioned the properties of the Imperial Estate. The first, known as the Imperial Patrimony, was to be the properties of the Imperial Laurasian Crown, the hereditary properties of each succeeding person that sat on the throne, transmitted to his successors in the office, and therefore regarded as public domain. The second, known as the Personal Patrimony, was to comprise of the "private" properties tied to the maintenance of the Emperor and his family, and therefore part of the monarch's private domain. By doing this, Antoninus Pius sought to demonstrate that what was the monarch's was the state's, and what was the state's was the monarch's. It therefore served as a consolidation of the concept of autocracy, and of absolutism within the Laurasian Empire. The Emperor, moreover, took a great interest in the revision and practice of the law throughout the Empire. One of his chief concerns was ensuring that all non-Laurasian communities, sects, and species adhered to the standards of the Governing Senate and of his bureaucracy, and of ensuring that laws emanating from the Imperial Laurasian Government always took precedence. He ordered proconsuls, senatorial procurators, governors, and praetors to keep detailed records of local cases, and to always report legal decisions to the Senate. Moreover, Emperor Pius sought to introduce into the Empire's legal system several new principles, to systematize and strengthen its equity. In this, the Emperor was assisted by five chief legal advisors, the most important of whom were Baronet Sir Fulvius Abrunius Valens of Texana (1499-1581) and Sir Ulpius Marcellus (1505-84), both of whom were also known for their extensive legal works. Moreover, Baron Sir Volsius Maecianus, 1st Baron Maecianus (1500-59), also proved to be an important advisor and secretary of the Emperor's.
 * It was he who would publish Testamentary Trusts (1554), which would clarify legal customs as regards to probates, wills, estate taxes, insurance, and inheritance regulations. Moreover, Antoninus's reign saw the appearance of the Institutes of Gaius (1561) by the renowned Laurasian legal scholar Sir Gaius Bagonius (1510-79), an ancestor of Aurelia the Great's first Procurator-General, Sir Nicholas Bagonius. This work served as an introductory guidebook to the principles of Laurasian law, divided into four sections. These sections dealt with the treating of persons and the differences in status before the law; property rights; intestate succession and obligations; and actions, and their forms. The Emperor himself, however, expanded the use of torture; in 1547, he issued a rescript authorizing for its use to obtain evidence in pecuniary and financial cases; previously, it had only been applied in criminal cases. The Emperor, however, did exempt all municipal officials from torture (decree of May 1, 1548), and in 1553, he would issue regulations dictating as to what techniques of torture could be employed, and in what manner.
 * Birth of the Emperor Clodius Albinus (r. 1593, 1596-97), the rival of the Emperors Pescennius Niger and Demetrius Severus, on Hadramnatia, a Laurasian colony-world in the Malarian Provinces which had been established in 1407.
 * Birth of the future Emperor Demetrius Severus I the Warrior (r. 1593-1611), the founder of the Severan Dynasty and the victor in the Year of the Five Emperors, in the city of Leptis Magna, Chronographia, which had been colonized under the patronage of the Emperor Lysimachus I the Cultivated in 1522. Chronographia was destined, by the eighteenth century, to have a population of six billion and would become one of the most prosperous worlds in the Outer Borderlands.

1546-1549

 * By January 1546, Emperor Antoninus Pius had succeeded in strengthening the internal situation of the Empire, in asserting order within the Hypasian Provinces, and preserving the innovations of his two immediate predecessors, Lysimachus I and Antigonus I. Yet 1546 now saw the renewed outbreak of war with the Neo-Anastasian Empire, which by itself was aligned with the Nagoshi Confederacy. Tensions between the Laurasians and the Neo-Anastasians had become increasingly apparent in recent years. Disputes existed over the possession of various strongholds and colonies in the vicinity of the Durant Cluster: Muir, Thomas, Chelsea, Pierre, and Benitez were fiercely contested. Moreover, the Neo-Anastasians, now under the rule of Narvada II (who had acceded to the throne in 1541), were determined to recover the Durant Cluster itself, and to eject the Laurasians from their position in the Western Barsar Regions. Thus it was that on March 2, 1546, that the Emperor of the Neo-Anastasians had issued an ultimatum to his Laurasian counterpart, demanding for Laurasian evacuation of the Durant Cluster; recognition of Anastasian rule over the contested Trans-Durant Colonies; and the demilitarization of Ginger, Zee, Champion, Stephanpoulos, and Beatrice, all of whom had become major Laurasian colonies and military outposts. The Emperor of Laurasia, who found himself insulted by this series of demands, refused, and instead ordered for the diversion of reinforcements to the Ashlgothian Provinces. Thus it was that on April 1, 1546, Narvada issued a declaration of war, thereby instigating the Laurasian-Anastasian War of 1546-49. At first, Anastasian forces obtained a series of victories. The Battle of Finckelstein (April 2-4, 1546), resulted in the destruction of a Laurasian convoy by the Anastasian Admiral Narada.
 * Following this victory, Anastasian units seized Strahan, Heather, and Graham. By the end of April 1546, Beatrice's defenses were being harried by Anastasian expeditions, and a Laurasian offensive against Angela Masia, Ruumlist, and Caesearea had been halted. On May 4, 1546, Admiral Narada obtained another victory in the Battle of Nicole; this major stronghold now fell into Laurasian hands. Arrington, Colalenglo, and Strabala then fell, and on May 29, 1546, so did Ginger. By June 1546, Laurasian moves against Nestos, Swabie, Bledsoe, and Dickerson had been repelled, while Redia, Sejucia, and Jeopardy were all under siege by the Anastasians. Yet Emperor Antoninus Pius now devised a clever diplomatic move. He had commenced negotiations with the Great Kingdom of Lesia, ruled by King Campsura II (1541-59), at Ain Jalut; the Treaty of Ain Jalut was signed on July 4, 1546, thereby providing for a military and diplomatic alliance between the two states. Then, on July 11, Governor Urbicus of Hypasia, reassigned to the Barsar Regions, arrived at Alec to take command of Laurasian counteroffensives. These were fully underway by the end of July 1546. The Battle of Roehler (August 1, 1546), ended in a decisive victory for the Empire's forces. Laurasian units then recovered Strahan, Heather, and Graham; the Battle of Connelly (August 25-29, 1546), proved a major humiliation for the Anastasians. Helen was then attacked (September 1546), by a joint Laurasian-Lesian force, and fell in short order. From thence, Governor Urbicus seized Teutonica (October 2-9, 1546) and blockaded Hospallia Minor.
 * A Anastasian counter-thrust at Granada accomplished nothing, and the Battle of Ipkit on October 20, 1546, ended in another victory for the Laurasians. By the end of November 1546, Arrington, Colalenglo, and Strabala had been recovered. Ginger was relieved on December 3, 1546, followed in quick order by Redia, Sejucia, and Jeopardy. January 1547 witnessed the fall of Nestos, Swabie, Bledsoe, and Dickerson into Laurasian hands; Schieffer, Arnell, and Dubois followed in February; and on March 9, 1547, the Battle of Thomas ended in a decisive victory for Urbicus and the Lesian Prince Gampsura. Urbicus's chief subordinate, Major-General Sir Gaius Supremus, then launched a surprise offensive against Angela Masia (March 18-19, 1547), conquering the stronghold. From thence, he overran Muir and Chelsea, securing Laurasian possession of those strongholds, before ejecting the Anastasians from Benitez and Pierre (March 29-April 5, 1547). On April 8, 1547, the Second Battle of Finckelstein ended in a decisive victory for the Laurasians. Ruumlist was besieged, beginning on April 19, 1547, but did not fall until May 25. By July 1547, Laurasian and Lesian units had repelled a Anastasian move against Champion and Zee, and drove to Anastasia Minor. The Siege of Anastasia Minor commenced on August 11, 1547, and lasted for nearly two months. Its final fall (October 9, 1547), however, paved the way for the final Laurasian seizure of Hospallia Minor, Hospallia Major, and Skyriver (November 1547), and the penetration, by Governor Urbicus, to Mercia and Angelia (December 1-4, 1547). Borgia, Meridu, and Tiesting fell during the early months of 1548; by August of that year, Laurasian units had also conquered Milking and Nagosh, thereby effectively paralyzing the Nagohi Confederacy. Korgia, Anjun, and Brennan fell in November 1548. By January 1549, therefore, the Anastasians were in desperate straits. Thus it was that on January 15, 1549, that Narvada II requested for an military armistice, and the commencement of negotiations with Laurasia and Lesia. Emperor Pius, satisfied by the victories of his military commanders, accepted. After an armistice was signed at Elaine (January 28, 1549), a conference convened at Armenia Major in March 1549. Ultimately, the Treaty of Armenia Major (April 9, 1549), witnessed the end of the War of 1546-49. By the terms of this treaty, Muir, Pierre, Thomas, Chelsea, and Benitez were conceded to the Laurasian Empire, whose rule of the Durant Cluster, Sejucia, and Ruumilist was also recognized. All other Anastasian territories were restored, and all prisoners of war exchanged. Peace thereby returned to the Empire; Emperor Pius had maintained Laurasian interests in the Barsar Regions.

1552

 * Following the conclusion of the Laurasian-Anastasian War of 1546-49, the Laurasian Empire returned to a state of both external and internal tranquility, as well as stability. Indeed, throughout the 1550s, the Empire was to remain largely quiescent, a situation that would persist to the end of the reign of Antoninus Pius. The middle years of the sixteenth century, however, did bring some minor challenges to the Emperor of Laurasia. The first of these was in the Central Core. 1550 and 1551 passed in peace, as the Empire adjusted back to its state of peace, and as Emperor Pius continued with his prior policies. In January 1552, however, underlying tensions on Ivoria, which had been simmering for several years, broke out into full-scale rebellion. The Ivorian Kagyl Masachakl, who claimed to be a descendant of the legendary Ivorian Hetman Bogdan Khmelnytsky, who had asserted Ivoria's independence from the Polonian-Donguarian Commonwealth during the 1250s, now claimed that he had been called upon to throw off Ivoria's ties of subjection to the Laurasian Empire. Gathering together his supporters, which included Dasian and Arachosian mercenaries, he quickly took the mantle of leadership against the Imperial Laurasian Government. Masachaki's rebellion spread quickly; Ivoria was in his possession within a short time, and on January 15, he seized Maschinga. Satisba, Sthanon, and Esther then fell rapidly into his possession (February 1552).
 * On March 9, 1552, the Ivorian rebel, who had now claimed the title of Hetman, obtained another victory over government forces under the Duke of Clancia in the Battle of Dasinae. Micenta, Storgath, Alladora, and Burderia then fell into his possession (March 1552); Alton, Montel, Redderson, and Ergeme were besieged. Emperor Pius, however, who was determined now to allow this outbreak of dissent to persist, ordered Legate-General Sir Cornelius Fuscus, Earl of Hannah, to suppress the rebellion (April 9, 1552). Fuscus, from his bases on Daala, Constantia, Natasi, and Pellaeon, followed his orders to the letter. He repelled a rebel expedition against Olivia and Maxc-casi (April 19-17, 1552); recovered Burderia (April 22); and defeated Masachaki in the Battle of Barbara Carol (April 29, 1552). Satisba and Sthanon were then recovered, and by the end of June 1552, Storgath and Alladora had been as well. Dasinae, however, proved to be more obstinate, and it was not until August 4, 1552, before that stronghold was seized. Maschinga then followed in September 1552, and the Battle of Stenbock (October 1-4, 1552), resulted in a decisive government victory. Hammond and Esther were then recovered; finally, on November 4, 1552, Ivoria itself was recovered. Masachakl was pursued to Xuia in the Outer Core, where he was captured (November 14, 1552). On the orders of Emperor Pius, he was bound in chains and transported back to Ivoria, where he was attainted and then executed (November 28, 1552). By the end of 1552, the disturbances in the Ivorian Provinces had been completely suppressed. In 1554, however, disturbances would erupt on Angelica Major and Eric, which would suppressed by Governor-General Urbicus. The previous year (1553), a Haynsian expedition against the Laurasian colonies of Karti and Olbica, in the Wild Marshes, was suppressed. Emperor Pius also contended with civil disturbances in the Roastafarian Provinces, and dealt with these by appointing as Governor-General Sir Caius Popillius Pedo (1510-94), who conducted an expansion of the Agri Decumates Fortifications on Roastafaria Minor (1554-57).

1555

 * By 1555, over a thousand years after the fall of the Arachosian Empire of Kalbacha, four hundred and seventy five years following the end of the Dasian Yoke, and two hundred and thirty years after the death of Seleucus the Victor, the Laurasian Empire of Antoninus Pius I had consolidated its position as the predominant power in the Caladarian Galaxy outside of the Galactic Borderlands. By the middle of the sixteenth century, the Empire's dominions spanned from Upper Angelica in the Wild Marshes to Sheldonia, Gabriella, and Upper Morsia in the eastern Outer Borderlands. Ever since Emperor Antigonus's Kimanian and Huntite Wars during the first quarter of the sixteenth century, the Empire had largely refrained from aggressive military conflicts, except against the Anastasians, in Donguaria, and in the Hypasian Provinces. Both Lysimachus I and Antoninus Pius had focused their efforts on internal consolidation, cultural encouragement, and economic expansion. Pius had become known as the Consolidator due to his legal and administrative innovations, and his vigor in consolidating the reforms of his predecessors. Laurasia however, now became involved in a short, but pointed war with the Mellorite Empire, with whom, thirty-five years earlier, Emperor Lysimachus had succeeded in maintaining peace. The King of the Mellorites, Badria (r. 1547-51, 1554-61), who was resentful of his Laurasian neighbor's power and economic influence, instigated a series of border incidents at such star systems as Elijahana, Winslet, DeCaprio, Calms, Hemsley, Gibbs-to-Lester, Taraning, and Ian (September 1554-January 1555). Emperor Pius was provoked by this, but despite numerous diplomatic overtures to the Mellorites, the peace settlement between the two empires collapsed. It was thus on January 29, 1555, that Badria issued a formal declaration of war against the Laurasian Empire. At first, Mellorite units made a series of gains. Big Twinny, Leopolodia, and Frederickslandia were seized by Mellorite expeditions during the early weeks of February 1555; Laronn, Methaulsah, Berhamia, Sheryl, and Quanna all fell under siege. Elijahana, Winslet, and DeCaprio then fell into Mellorite hands (February 21-March 3, 1555). On March 11, 1555, the Battle of Parsons ended in another victory for Mellorite Prince Nasria al-sim, who then proceeded to eject the Laurasians from the Osonboka Nebula, Jeanne, and Meredith. Michael, Orlando, Wendy, and Coen in the Solidaritan Provinces were in Mellorite hands by the end of March, while Abuza, Izonza, and McEvlogue were all threatened. Yet the Mellorites did not hold the advantage for long.
 * Emperor Pius called once again upon the services of Urbicus, who was now Legate-General and Praetor of Caladaria, and ordered him into combat (April 1, 1555). Urbicus did not waste any time, and he blunted a renewed Mellorite offensive in the Battle of Iego (April 3-6, 1555), before securing Brenda, Sofia, and Wakedia against further Mellorite moves. He then recovered Winslet (April 11), DeCaprio (April 14), and Elijahana (April 18). From thence, he proceeded to seize Taraning, Ian, and Mackenzia Minor, all by May 2, 1555. Banfield, Celia, and Peters were all harried by Laurasian expeditions; Perry fell on May 14, followed by Abitia (May 19); Wakino (May 22); and Homidinian Calms (May 24). From Peters, the Homidinian colonies of Coretta, Tammi, and Martin were conquered (May 26-June 4, 1555), and on June 8, 1555, the Battle of Dion ended in another victory for the forces of the Laurasian Empire. By the end of June 1555, Yutzy, Homidinia Minor, and Ryan were all in Laurasian hands; Gwendolyn and Brent were occupied on July 6, followed by Markis Prime, Kledis Var, and Dominic on July 9. By the end of July 1555 also, with Dominic, Dembezaic, Rutherford, and Sharman falling into Laurasian hands, General Supremus had recovered Wendy, Orlando, Michael, and Coen; he also blockaded Mellorite units at Frederickslandia, and isolated the defenses of Leopoldia.
 * August 1555 witnessed the Laurasian seizure of Drake, Derek, Mocktrialis, Capone, English Star, and Mackenzia Major; it was this series of successes that finally compelled Marasharite King Badria into making his peace with the Empire. On September 4, 1555, he requested for an armistice be concluded; Emperor Pius accepted. A conference then convened at Felix, from September 21, 1555, with Legate-General Urbicus serving as the chief Laurasian plenipotentary. Then, on October 14, 1555, the Treaty of Felix was signed. By the terms of this treaty, peaceful relations between the two empires were restored. The King of the Mellorites agreed to reaffirm recognition for Laurasia's jurisdiction over the Huntite and Kimanian Provinces; to return all captives, goods, and equipment seized by Mellorite forces; and to grant Laurasian merchants free-transit privileges in his dominions. Banfield, Taraning, Maxwell, Kledis Var, Markis Prime, and Ian were now conceded to the Laurasian Empire; Laurasian and Mellorite forces were to evacuate all other occupied strongholds and territories by April 1556. Peace between Laurasia and Mellorita was restored, to last for the next decade.
 * Birth of the prominent Laurasian historian Cassius Dio, in Nicaea, Constantine I, who would compile an extensive account of the history of the Laurasian species, The General History of the Laurasian Civilization, which will span from 100,000 BH all the way to AH 1630, in the early seventeenth century. This work would be a major source for the great Laurasian historians of the eighteenth century.

1559

 * The years following the end of the Laurasian-Mellorite War of 1555 witnessed a return to the earlier status quo which had prevailed in the Laurasian Empire. Emperor Pius, however, was now confronted with a conspiracy against his authority. In January 1556, with the Emperor approaching his seventieth birthday, two Governing Senators, Sir Cornelius Priscanus of Vetta, and Banneret Attilus Rufilus Tufus of Teth, instigated an abortive assassination plot against him. Priscanus and Tufus, both of whom had become prominent at the Imperial Court, and enjoyed considerable influence within the halls of the Senate, believed that they could easily eliminate the Emperor. Bribing some Praetorian Guards, they planned to assassinate His Majesty in his personal bedchambers at the Quencilvanian Palace, and to rally their supporters into proclaiming them co-sovereigns of the Empire. These plans, however, were destined to ruin from the first, for the ever-loyal Governor Urbicus, who had returned to Laurasia Prime in December 1555, quickly learned of them through his agents. Alarmed, he, on February 2, 1556, informed Emperor Pius of the conspiracy which was being formulated against him. Pius, who had not been seriously challenged from within the Imperial Laurasian Government before, was alarmed, but nevertheless acted swiftly.
 * Within hours, both Priscanus and Tufus had been arrested and confined to the Post Settlement of Hepudermia, while their supporters had been rounded up. In a proclamation from the Imperial Court (February 19, 1556), Pius had announced their offenses, and had declared that both would be tried by their peers in the Senate. The trial of Tufus and Priscanus, following a round of interrogation by the Emperor's officials, including Chancellor Willanius Ediratia, Archbishop of New Nosauria (in office 1555-63), was conducted on March 8, 1556. After just two hours of proceedings, they were found guilty by their former colleagues and convicted on all charges. Then on March 19, 1556, both were executed at the Post Settlement. Emperor Pius then conducted a purge of the Imperial Court and the Praetorian Guards, determined to root out other elements that might be hostile to him. By the end of 1556, this process had been completed, and more than four hundred individuals had been arrested, deprived of their titles and positions, and either imprisoned or banished from the Imperial Court. 1557 and 1558 then passed in relative peace, with construction on the Fortress of Baureux and the New Westphalian Cathedral proceeding as planned. 1559, however, witnessed a swift, and rapid territorial expansion for the Laurasian Empire.
 * On January 7, 1559, the last Great King of Lesia, Campsura II, who had formally pledged himself as a vassal to Emperor Pius in 1554, died on Lesia Major, aged 59. Emperor Pius, who was determined to consolidate the Laurasian position in the central Barsar Regions, and to provide a further buttress against the Neo-Anastasian Empire, intervened rapidly and decisively. In February 1559, Laurasian units invaded the Lesian Great Kingdom; within weeks, Lesia Major, Lesia Minor, Ain Jalut, Cal, Simon, Morley, Stahl, Pocket, Mrpath V, Eliza Spencer, Ankara, and Meridu had all been occupied by the Empire's forces. It was on March 18, 1559, that the Emperor formally announced the annexation of all Lesian territories into the Laurasian Empire. Thus, more than 150,000 star systems passed under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Laurasian Government. The Neo-Anastasians of Narvada II at first protested, but, faced with raiding expeditions by the Haynsian Despotate, and conflict in the Galactic Borderlands, found they could do nothing. Thus, on September 4, 1559, the Treaty of Tolbiac was signed, by which Narvada recognized Laurasian acquisitions and agreed to adhere to a pact of non-aggression towards the Empire.
 * Comet Demosthena was visible from Laurasia Prime. It will not be seen again until 1635.

1560

 * 1560 was significant for one event: the completion of the New Westphalian Cathedral and the Fortress of Baureux. The construction of both structures was finally finished on March 22, 1560, after nearly two decades of labor. It was on April 8, 1560, that they were formally dedicated and opened by Emperor Antoninus Pius, attended by his heirs, Grand Princes Antigonus Aelius and Lucius Verus, by General Urbicus, Chancellor Ediratia, and the Chief Procurator of the Holy Synod, Sir Simon Islpia (in office 1549-66). The other magnates of the Imperial Court were also in attendance. The Emperor presided over the ceremonies of blessing for both structures, and in his speech to his subjects, intoned his wish that the Laurasian Empire would continue to thrive in peace and prosperity, with the Lord Almitis casting out and defeating all of his realm's enemies. The New Westphalian Cathedral itself was a grand structure, constructed of rare stalamite, specifically imported from Narra, Gilestis, and Christopher on the Kimanian Trade Run. It was dominated by its two Gothic-style towers, both of whom soared more than five hundred feet into the air. Included within the Cathedral were the State Church, with its alter, pews, and chalices (with enough room to fit more than 350,000 individuals); the Coronation Chambers, including the Imperial Chair, the Communion Parapet, and the Noble Balconies; the redesigned Imperial Mausoleum, containing the tombs and vaults of all Laurasian sovereigns since Arasces the Founder himself, and divided into six sections; the Cathedral School, comprised of sixty chambers and offices, to serve as an ecclesiastical academy for clergymen on Laurasia Prime; the Organ's Hall, for Almitian choirs and musical performances; and the Archbishop's Residence, with official chambers for the Conference of Prelates. All total, the Cathedral was comprised of more than five hundred rooms and spanned across two square miles of territory. Its grounds were dominated by groves, statutes of the Lord Almitis, his prophets, and missionaries, and a row of King's and Brethalian trees. The Cathedral itself had numerous engravings; its interior decorations consisted of everything from statuettes to formal paintings.
 * The Fortress of Baureux, on its part, was even more impressive. The Fortress spanned over nearly six square miles and contained over 2,000 rooms of every description. It was divided into three wards. The First Ward contained the Fortress Tower. Encircling it to the west, east, and north, was the Second Ward. Then, there was the Outer Ward which encompassed the entire Complex. The Fortress Tower, which was over seven hundred feet high, contained the monarch's pre-coronation chambers, the Fortress Chapel, the Fortress Armory (where the Imperial Crown Jewels would be stored), and the Fortress Gallery, with various artifacts and items of curiosity. It was adjoined by the Fortress Fore, containing a military repository and the Fortress Grounds Control. Adjoining each side of the Tower were the Smaller Towers, each of whom hold prison cells and an observation deck. The Second Ward, consisting of eight towers, contained the Possessive House, St. Nicholas's Tower, the Fortress Kitchens, and the Great Hall of Baureux, where banquets and receptions would be held. This hall could hold more than 400,000 persons. The Third Ward, on its part, consisted of thirteen towers, and contained the Noble Stalls, the Chapel of St. Peter ad Vicula, the Fortress Public Cemetery, and the Outer Prison Chambers. A garden and public walkaway was also within the Ward. The Fortress of Baureux was surrounded by a moat, filled with Aquilionian eels, and connected to a drawbridge, constructed of neranium. Ten shield generators, on the sides of the Fortress, provided protection; it held a garrison of 55,000 troops of the Imperial Laurasian Army, and was equipped with supplies, munitions, and arms enough to last a siege. Access was strictly controlled on the Fortress Roads, which were lined with outposts and monitoring stations. The New Westphalian Cathedral was to become the coronation place for all Laurasian sovereigns to the late eighteenth century. The Fortress of Baureux, on its part, was to become notorious for the many imprisonments and executions there from the sixteenth to the eighteenth centuries, being especially favored by the Neuchrian sovereigns.

1561

 * By January 1561, the health of Emperor Pius had experienced a severe downturn. Pius, who was now seventy-four years old, had suffered from a series of minor strokes and panic attacks since late 1557; the Emperor was soon confined to a electronic hoverchair, and found that his movements were restricted. Consequently, his two heirs, Grand Princes Aelius and Verus, assumed more responsibility for the cares of state. In February 1560, the Emperor had named both to the Council of Secretaries; they were then made Governing Senators, and assigned control of the affairs of the Imperial Household. Aelius, in particular, had ascended high within the ranks of the Imperial Laurasian Government. From 1541 to 1545 he had served as Chief Suffect of the City of Colombia. He then became Captain of the Praetorian Guards (1548-49), Tribune of the Quencilvanian Palace (1551-53), and Governor of Caladaria (1555-56), before his service as Praetor of the Polonian Provinces (1559-60). Aelius had also performed his duty of ensuring the succession. With his wife Grand Princess Faustina, daughter of Emperor Pius, whom he had married in 1545, he had his daughters Domitia Faustina (1547-1600); Annia Lucilla (1548-82); Annia Faustina (1553-58); Fadilla (1559-64); and Cornifica (1560-67). They also had a son, Tiberius, in 1552 (he died in 1558). Emperor Pius, on his part, had absolute confidence in the ability of Aelius, and was not concerned about the Empire's fate after his death. In February 1561, the Emperor, who was then in Cressolite City on Scout, entered his final illness. Realizing that he was approaching death, he, on March 5, 1561, called Aelius, Verus, and the other members of the Court to his side.
 * At his deathbed, he enjoined them all to continue with his policies, to honor the Lord Almitis, and to vigorously enforce the fortunes of the State. Pius then fell into a coma, and was administered the Last Rites. On March 7, 1561, he died in Cressolite City, Scout, aged 74. At the time of his death, he was the second-longest lived sovereign in Laurasian history (after the short reign of Demetrius Severus II, 1675-76, he would be the third longest lived). His reign had lasted for twenty-three years, longer than that of any Laurasian Emperor since Antiochus the Great nearly two centuries earlier. Upon his death, Aelius and Verus were proclaimed co-Emperors and Autocrats of All the Laurasians as Antigonus II and Lucius I. Emperor Antigonus, however, became the senior of the two; he alone possessed the title of Pontifex Maximus. Verus acknowledged his subordination to him. This was the first time in nearly three centuries (since the co-reign of Seleucus I and Menelaus 1282-96), that the Laurasian realms were governed by two joint sovereigns. Empress-Consort Faustina, wife of Antigonus, was pregnant at the time of her husband's accession to the throne, and she would give birth to the future Emperor Commodus, at the Diplomatic Palace on August 31, 1561. On March 19, 1561, the two Emperors made their procession into the Laurasia Prime star system. Acclaimed by their subjects, they then proceeded to the Casta Praetoria, where co-Emperor Lucius delivered a speech to the Praetorian Guards. The two Emperors then granted the traditional donative to the Guards, as had been made since the reign of Claudius II; this one was worth more than $20 billion denarius. Emperor Antigonus then (April 1561), devalued the Empire's currency, decreasing the purity of the silver denarius from 83% to 79%. This issue, however, would eventually be revisited.
 * Then on April 18, 1561, Emperor Pius was formally interred at the New Westphalian Cathedral which he had built; the ceremonies were grand, and viewed with much reverence by the Empire's populace. Then on May 9, 1561, Antigonus and Lucius were formally crowned at the Cathedral; Antigonus, as senior Emperor was crowned first, and with the Great Imperial Crown. Lucius bore the Royal Crown of Laurasia, which had not been used for more than two centuries and was brought back for this occasion. Emperor Antigonus also pursued a series of beneficial policies for the state. He replaced a number of the Empire's leading officials, appointing Sir Titus Varus Clemens (1512-81), as the new Chief Secretary of the Imperial Chancellory. Baronet Lucius Volusius Maecanianus (1509-79), formerly Senatorial Procurator of Shenandoah, was named as Prefect of the Imperial Treasury. Finally, Sir Aufidius Victorinius (1518-92), was named Governor of Laurasia Prime. Sir Marcus Cornelius Fronto, the Emperor's former tutor, remained in His Majesty's confidence, and was appointed to the Council of Secretaries in September 1561. The early months of the reign passed in peace, with the coinage of that year proclaiming the Empire's condition would be forever prosperous. This, however, would soon be ended.

1562

 * By January 1562, new tensions were brewing for the Laurasian Empire, which would lead to the outbreak of the Second Laurasian-Mellorite War of the sixteenth century. On March 17, 1561, Mellorite King Badria I had been assassinated at Dromund by the Mellorite Emir, the Dasian Yalbugha, and he was succeeded to the throne by his nephew, who became Salahria I. Salahria was determined to recover the territories conceded to the Laurasian Empire in the previous decade, and to demonstrate his military prowess against one of the Caladarian Galaxy's most formidable powers. It was thus that, during the winter solstice of 1561-62, the King had engaged himself in preparations for his military offensives against the Empire. Star systems as varied as Wakino, Dominic, Kyler, Abitia, Celia, Alyssa, Chalassion, Demebezaic, Gwendolyn, Ryan, and Brent witnessed extensive preparations by the Mellorite government; the King was determined to leave nothing to change. Thus, it was in November 1561 that Mellorite raids, across the Rebeccan Galactic Trade Route, into the Mereditan and Robertian Provinces had commenced. Abuza, Abrianna, and Izonza were all threatened that month; the Mellorite expedition of December 9, 1561, against McEvlogue, Brenda, and Sofia, proved to be particularly devastating, with more than one million individuals in those star systems being slaughtered or deported by the Mellorite units. Mellorite Prince Vologar then destroyed the Laurasian colonies of Gaylor, David, and Gomez (December 1561), inflicting severe damage upon the Empire's military position and seizing more than one million metric tons worth of equipment, supplies, agricultural tools, and produce.
 * By January 1562, Mellorite expeditions were ranging to Iego, the Osonboka Nebula, Jeanne, Meredith, Xander, Shelya, and Coso's Shaft; Wakedia, Meris, and Robert Minor were all blockaded by Mellorite units. The Laurasian Governor and Praetor of Robert, Lieutenant-General Sir Marcus Sedatius Severanius (1505-62), who had assumed command in the region in July 1561, now became determined to end this series of Mellorite expeditions, and to push forth into the Outer Borderlands. He therefore sallied from his command headquarters on Robert (January 10, 1562); defeated and destroyed a Mellorite convoy at Myra (January 18), and then stormed the Mellorite relay of Shakespeare Point (January 22), thereby relieving Iego, Jeanne, and Meredith. Mellorite offensives against Markis Prime, Kledis Var, and Maxwell were repelled; Rexarwell was stormed on February 4, thereby depriving the Mellorites of one of their chief operational bases. Kupferer, Gwendolyn, and Ryan then fell into Laurasian possession by the end of February 1562, and a Laurasian expeditionary force penetrated to Brlla, Yutzy, and Dion. However, this run of Laurasian successes did not last for long. On March 18, 1562, Prince Vologar, who was determined to terminate the Laurasian threat, and to push Mellorite units farther across the Rebeccan Galactic Trade Route, lured General Severanius to Elegia, which was located eight light years south of Halassion. The ensuing Battle of Elegia (March 18-21, 1562), ended in a decisive victory for the Mellorite Empire.
 * More than 100,000 personnel of the Imperial Laurasian Navy lost their lives in that confrontation, and thirty Laurasian corvettes fell into Mellorite possession. General Severanius himself was driven from Kupferer, Rexarwell, and Ryan (March 24-April 1, 1562), and was driven to Cambodium on the Larkian Way, where, surrounded by Mellorite squadrons, he committed suicide (April 5, 1562). Following this disaster, Mellorite forces made rapid gains against the Laurasians. The Battle of Peters (April 11, 1562), ended in a decisive victory for the Mellorites, who then recovered Capone, which had briefly fallen into Laurasian hands. Confrontations at Brent, Kledis Var, and Cedric (April-May 1562), served to swing the balance further in the Mellorite direction. By the end of May 1562, Laurasian forces had also been ejected from Lawson, and forced to retreat towards Taraning. Taraning itself fell under siege from June 4, 1562; its fall on June 16, followed by that of Ian (June 22), proved to be a blow to the Laurasians. Gibbs-to-Lester, Pearl, and Elijahana were under siege by the end of July 1562. Emperor Antigonus, who was caught off guard by this sudden outbreak of conflict, nevertheless now took action to redress the balance. Issuing a formal declaration of war against the Mellorite Empire (August 1, 1562), the Emperor now reshuffled military commands.
 * The Emperor now appointed the Duke of Organia (1509-65), who then served as Senatorial Procurator of Hypasia and Angelica, as the new Governor and Praetor of the Robertian Provinces, and assigned him with responsibility for that region's defense. Moreover, the Emperor assigned Vice-Admiral Sir Marcus Anninus Libo (1525-71), to the theater, replacing Vice-Admiral the Lord Cornelianus, who had been defeated and killed at Silverman by the Mellorites on July 19. The Emperor also dispatched considerable reinforcements to the Robertian Provinces, in the form of the 11th, 17th, and 22nd Imperial Fleets, as well as the 30th and 31st Imperial Armies. Units were also pulled from the garrisons of the Neo-Merlite, Ashlgothian, and Galician Provinces. The troubles in Homidinia were not the only troubles for the Empire. The first raiding expeditions by the Dejanican-Lithuanian Commonwealth, into the Malarian and Morganian Provinces had commenced (from February 1562); rebel disturbances simmered on Kimania and along the lower Kimanian Trade Run; and there was an overt civil revolt on Williams, Melarnaria, Palimisiano, and Pasquarillo against the government authorities in those star systems. The Emperor also had to grapple with a series of earthquakes and hurricanes which inflicted much damage in the Americanian Valleys, during the middle months of 1562, and required emergency efforts by the governmental authorities of Laurasia Prime. Yet by October 1562, by which point Laurasian units had suffered reverses at Solis, Holmes, Robert Minor, Whoppi, Goldberg, Shephard, and O'Reilly, it had been decided that junior Emperor Lucius Verus should take command; this decision was further spurred by the outbreak of rebellion at Goldaria, Yularen, Daala, and Pellaeon against the imperial authorities. Emperor Verus, himself eager for glory in military conflict, readily agreed.
 * His departure from Laurasia Prime (October 22, 1562), was marked with much ceremony. The junior Emperor departed with the Vice-Praetorian Prefect, Sir Furius Victorinus (1522-87), as well as Major-General Sir Pontus Laelianus (1511-69) and Rear-Admiral the 4th Lord Bassus (1529-78). Laelianus had been Governor of Ashlgothia Major; Bassus had served in the Central Core, the Kelvanian Provinces, and against the Anastasians. The junior Emperor proceeded in slow stages; he hunted on Aquilionia, feasted at many of the strongholds along the way to the Rebeccan Galactic Trade Route; and considered his journey to be the same as an imperial progress. At Ipsus V, he joined in the Eleusinian Mysteries, and stayed with the prominent philisopher and gentleman Sir Herodus Atticus (1501-70), one of the wealthiest magnates in the Core Worlds. He then made stops at Bolgrahay, Robbay, and Hannis, and proved himself to be very generous to the local inhabitants. The journey then continued up the Rebeccan Galactic Trade Route, lingering at Vindictoria and Hannis, before finally reaching Elijahana. The Emperor established his command headquarters there (November 15, 1562), took as his mistress Lady Pamplonia Perdua (1530-71), and wasted his time in vain pleasure. This angered his colleague Emperor Antigonus, who spent the last months of the year suppressing the disturbances in the Central Core and in the Hypasian Provinces.

1563

 * 1563 witnessed the commencement of the Laurasian Empire's counteroffensives against the Mellorites, in the Robertian Provinces, and a push into the Homidinian Territories of the Outer Borderlands. Junior Emperor Lucius Verus, who in January 1563 moved his command headquarters to Jeanne, nevertheless refrained from the field of battle. In spite of this, however, the Emperor delegated the Duke of Organia with the responsibility of pursuing active military operations. Organia did not fail in his duty, and proceeded rapidly. On January 9, 1563, three days after receiving his instructions from the junior Emperor, Organia proceeded to Dickinson. There he successfully attacked and defeated a Mellorite expeditionary force under the command of Prince Cholsat. Following this victory, Sofia, Brenda, and the OsonBoka Nebula were cleared of Mellorite units; Organia then relieved Pearl and Gibbs-to-Lester (February 1563). On March 3, 1563, the day that the Duke obtained a victory in the Battle of Hemsley, co-Emperor Verus made his journey back down to Bolgrahay, and married his colleague's eldest daughter, Grand Princess Lucilla, who had just turned fifteen. Emperor Antigonus himself came up from Laurasia Prime for the ceremony, which served to consolidate the ties between the two co-Emperors. They remained for several days to celebrate the wedding, before Verus departed on March 19, with his bride, and back to Robert. By that stage, Organia had made further advances against the Mellorites. His victory in the Battle of Calms (March 9-14, 1563), proved a major humiliation for Mellorite Prince Volgosat. Securing Kledis Var and Maxwell against Mellorite moves, the Duke then besieged and conquered the Homidinian colonies of Vai, Martin, and Kay (April 1563).
 * The Battle of Taraning (April 28-May 5, 1563), resulted in that stronghold and Ian both falling back into Laurasian hands. Silverman, Marley, and Ryan were all subdued by the end of July 1563; Peters was besieged from July 22, but did not fall until August 18. Organia then defeated Vologosat in the Battle of Bonnie (August 21-25, 1563), and forced Mellorite units to retreat towards Mackenzia Major and English Star. Halassion and Chalassion were then secured in September 1563. Vert, Sinster, Zhang, Chou, and Whou then fell into Laurasian hands (October 1563), and on November 9, 1563, the Battle of Terry ended in another decisive victory for the Laurasians. Karia and Nickiss fell by November 15; the Battle of Nicks (November 27, 1563), ended in another victory for Organia. Already, on May 25, 1563, Mellorite King Salahria I had been deposed; his successor, Asharafia I, installed on his throne by the Dasian Emir Yalbugha, nevertheless continued the prosecution of the war. Lawson was assaulted by the Duke of Organia on December 1, 1563, and fell to him ten days later. By the end of 1563, Laurasian forces had expelled all Mellorite units from the Empire, and had made considerable advances across the Rebeccan Galactic Trade Route.

1564

 * The year 1564 witnessed the continuation of Laurasian successes against the Mellorite Empire. In January 1564, the Duke of Organia directed a series of offensives in the vicinity of Homidinia Minor, seeking to consolidate the Laurasian strategic position in that region. He defeated Vologosat in the Battle of Darsies (January 9-14, 1564), capturing more than 100,000 Mellorite troops and inflicting a serious defeat upon the ranks of the Mellorite Navy. From this vantage point, the Duke besieged and conquered Fletcher, Gerby, Ward, and Amphonia (January-February 1564). Then on March 9, 1564, the Mellorite military stronghold of Artaxata fell under siege from the Empire's forces; the Siege of Artaxata lasted for nearly a month, as Prince Vologosat, in conjunction with Emir Yalbugha, tried in vain to relieve the garrison of that star system. Ultimately, however, on March 18, 1564, Artaxata fell; more than 150,000 Mellorite troops became Laurasian prisoners of war, and Organia seized the garrison's military supplies, equipment, and shield generators. From thence, Julie and Karen were both stormed by the Empire's forces (April 1564); on May 11, 1564, the Battle of Joseph ended in another victory for the Duke. By the end of June 1564, Laurasian units had besieged and conquered Satala, Sura, and Dausaura, thereby securing the hold of Lawson. Capone was then sacked by a Laurasian expedition (July 9-14, 1564); Laurasian moves at Bonnie, Clyde, Zelda, Dillinger, and Rosenberg also blunted the Mellorites. Silverman, Marley, and Martin were all in firm Laurasian possession by August 15, 1564; Organia inflicted another defeat upon the Mellorites on that day at Rarafat. Laurasian units operating in the vicinity of Taraning, Ian, and Pearl, then moved to take possession of Mackenzia Minor and the Mellorite colony of Anthemusia (September 1564), thereby pushing farther into the Burglais Arm. Kupferer and Ryan fell in October 1564; Gwendolyn, Celia, and Brent were all besieged. Mackenzia Major was assaulted by Organia beginning on November 3, 1564; its fall twenty days later compounded this latest series of Mellorite humiliations. Celia and Brent both fell on November 29; by the end of December, Laurasian units had also completed the occupation of Dion, Brlla, and Homidinia Minor.

1565

 * The trend of Laurasian successes continued into 1565. On January 7, 1565, Laurasian Major-General Sir Avidius Cassius (1530-75), who had gained renown for his earlier confrontations with Mellorite forces, obtained a smashing victory in the Battle of Europa. As a result of this confrontation, Laurasian forces could now make major advances along the Larkian Trade Run. Mocktrialis, Greyson, and Deusseria all fell in January 1565; Laurasian expeditions penetrated as far as Sierra, Felix, Lizaragga, Guzman, and Glassia on the Corridor, thereby seriously disrupting Mellorite strategic and communications lines. On January 29, 1565, Gwendolyn finally fell to the Duke of Organia's forces; Organia then secured Wakino and Kara (February 9-14, 1565). On February 22, 1565, the Battle of Pollock resulted in another decisive victory for the Laurasian Empire; Ross, Perry, and Abitia then fell in March 1565. On April 8, 1565, a Mellorite counteroffensive against Julie, Karen, and Kledis Var was defeated in the Battle of Digette; Mellorite Ian, Curry, and Yutzy were then secured; and on April 29, 1565, the Battle of Osorpathia resulted in another decisive victory for Cassius. Advancing from the outposts of Anderson and Barker, Cassius then penetrated the defenses of Drake and Rutherford; both strongholds fell into Laurasian hands by May 5. Homidinian Wyatt proved to be more obstinate however, and did not fall until May 30, 1565. June 1565 witnessed the subjection of Derek, English Star, and Dominic by the Empire's forces. Demebezaic followed on July 8, 1565; Kallista, Jaiden, and Twining were then secured on July 17. Sonny and McDowell were both besieged by Organia and Cassius; they finally fell on August 5, 1565. Then on August 18, 1565, Laurasian forces penetrated the Stygian Caldera; Sonny, Dromund, and Shaelynn fell into Laurasian hands in quick succession, by the end of that month. Coronadia, Jacobs I, and Edmundia Major followed in September 1565; Laurasian units now seriously threatened Scanlan, Garner, and the Corporate Sector. Chalassia, Lacia, and Englestrom were all blockaded by Laurasian units; the Battle of Christensen (October 1-4, 1565), ended in another victory for the Laurasians. Kylia, Kyler, and Corinne fell in November 1565, thereby tightening the nooze around Homidinia Major. Then on December 8, 1565, the Battle of Lacia ended in a smashing victory for the Empire; this world, the former and now desolate capital world of the Lacian Despotate, which had briefly subjugated the Stellar Kingdom of Laurasia nine centuries earlier, fell into Laurasian hands, and was ransacked by the troops of the Imperial Laurasian Army. On December 15, Emperor Verus himself ventured to Lacia, to observe the world of one of Laurasia's former conquerors. By the end of December 1565, the Mellorite Empire was in dire straits.
 * Birth of the future Emperor Marcinus I (r. 1617-1618) at the Hospital of St. Katherine's in Christiania, Laurasia Prime.
 * In February 1565, the first recorded outbreak of the Marsian Fever, also known as the Antigonid Plague, appeared in Constantinople, Laurasia Prime. The biological origins of this dreaded epidemic, which was to be one of the most infectious diseases to exist in the Caladarian Galaxy, are unknown. However, it is believed that the fever was first brought to Laurasia Prime by returning veterans from the Second Mellorite War. The disease, which thrived upon bacteria, could be spread through air-to-air transmission; blood transfusions; and sexual intercourse. What was unique about this disease was that it aroused different symptoms in the genders of the species that it affected. In males, it affected the skeletal, respiratory, and circulatory systems; in women, it remained dormant, and then assumed flu-like symptoms upon childbirth or during pregnancy. The disease was first described by the renowned Laurasian physician, surgeon, and philosopher, Dr. Claudius Galenus (1529-1616), one of the most prominent medical professionals in the history of the Laurasian Space Age. In spite of his efforts, and those of his contemporaries, Marsian fever would come to be established as a major recurring epidemic in the Caladarian Galaxy. Within months of its arrival on Laurasia Prime, it spread to thousands of star systems throughout the Empire. Worlds such as Chesham's Star, Constantine I, Rainnan, Sapphire, Courdina V, Gordasis, Ralina Vixius, Osama, Apathama Vixius, Little Mexicana, Clackimaris, Charasia, and Americana lost up to a thirteenth of their populations during the fifteen-year period from 1565 to 1580. It is estimated that Marsian fever killed more than one hundred billion sentients during that time. It would continue to be one of the most dreaded diseases in the Empire, killing millions of sentients every year, until it was finally extinguished in the late eighteenth century during the reign of Aurelia the Great. Among its victims would be a number of consorts (Aurelia Zemakala, Theodora Seymouris and Katharina Parsius in the eighteenth century) and an emperor, Lucius Verus himself.

1566-1567

 * The early months of 1566 witnessed the culmination of the Laurasian Empire's military offensives into the territory of the Mellorite Empire. On January 8, 1566, General Cassius obtained a further victory in the Battle of Huff. Following this victory, Blamano, Paige Neustman, Merkie, Kenda, and Konak were besieged and conquered in turn by the Laurasians (January-February 1566). On March 2, 1566, the Homidinian colony of Susa was stormed by a Laurasian expeditionary force. Chalassia, Englestrom, and Homidinia Major all were under ceaseless pressure by the Imperial Laurasian Navy; their supply lines were effectively sundered. Mellorite Emperor Asharafia I and his government found that they could do little to repel the continued series of Laurasian assaults. Yet it was the Battle of Leisl (March 7-14, 1566), which proved to be a very vigorous and contentious confrontation, which finally compelled them into opening peace negotiations with the Empire. On March 22, the Mellorite Government sent a communique to Emperor Verus, who had moved to Sanford. In this communique, it requested for a military armistice, and for the commencement of negotiations. Emperors Verus and Antigonus II accepted this offer. On April 2, 1566, the Duke of Organia met with Mellorite Prince Vologar at McDowell; the Truce of McDowell was signed after a few hours of negotiation. It was not until May 18, 1566, however, before a peace conference was convened on Brlla for the end of the war. The Duke of Organia, General Cassius, the Earls of Aeoleon and Janesia, and the Archbishop of Christiania served as the Laurasian plenipotentiaries to the conference; Prince Vologar, the Mellorite Lord of Zayn, and Prince Parthasait of Chalassia represented the interests of the Mellorite Empire. The Laurasians had the upper hand, and the conference proceeded rapidly.
 * On June 3, 1566, the Treaty of Brlla was signed, thereby ending the Second Laurasian-Mellorite War. This witnessed substantial territorial acquisitions for the Laurasian Empire. By the terms of this treaty, the Imperial Laurasian Government extended its jurisdiction over the greater portion of the Homidinian Regions, including parts of the Lacian Cluster. Lawson, Chalassion, Peters, Brlla, Dion, Yutzy, Dromund, Shaelynn, Kacee, Halassion, Alyssa, Ryan, Gwendolyn, Brent, Celia, Wakino, Perry, Kara, Drake, Rutherford, Sharman, Homidinian Wyatt, Joseph, Greyson, McDowell, Julie, Karen, English Star, Mellorite Ian, Curry, Kallista, Derek, Dominic, Digette, Demebezaic, and Kupferer, along with all of their associated colonies and strongholds, were conceded in their whole to the Empire. The Mellorites agreed to compensate the Imperial Laurasian Government for all military expenses incurred since 1562 (amounting to more than $50 trillion denarius); to immediately release all prisoners of war; to recognize Laurasian rights of free trade and economic intercourse in Mellorita; and to refrain from signing any alliances which were adverse to Laurasian interests. The Mellorites also agreed to limit the size of their military forces and to terminate all raiding expeditions into Laurasian territory at once. In exchange, Laurasian Emperors Antigonus II and Lucius I restored Mocktrialis, Capone, Homidinia Minor, and the Burglais Arm to the jurisdiction of the Mellorite Empire, and agreed to recognize the future territorial intergity of the Mellorite realms. The Treaty of Brlla, which was ratified by both governments by June 18, thereby resulted in the restoration of peace. Following its conclusion, Emperor Lucius and General Cassius made a swift return to Laurasia Prime. His Majesty arrived in the capital star system on July 3, 1566. He was granted a triumph, and a vigorous reception by the capital world's inhabitants; this was all staged by his senior Emperor, Antigonus II. Antigonus's son, four-year old Commodus, and Verus's son, two-year-old Anninus, were both created Grand Princes of the Empire on this occasion. At the same time, however, new and grievous troubles were brewing for the Empire in the Wild Marshes. It is now expedient to explore what had happened in those regions, and the history of Laurasian relations, as they existed to that point, with the Great Amulak Spiral. By 1566, the Great Kingdom of the Iffians and the Cosite Imperium, which had both emerged in the middle of the fourteenth century during the collapse of the Great Kingdom of Donathia, had both succumbed to the power of the Marasharite Empire. Both of these states had been frontier rivals of Laurasia, fighting two wars against the Empire in the late fifteenth century. They were, however, compared to the Marasharites, to prove to be an insignificant threat.
 * The Marasharite Empire itself originated from the Great Amulak Spiral and the Great Tesmanian Cloud. The Marasharite Martial Confederation itself, originating from the Oklarian Nebula, had been established in the middle of the eleventh century AH; had overwhelmed the Byzzarian Empire in the Battle of Manzikert (1071), and during the course of the twelfth century, conquered the Anatolian Sectors and the Upper Peldavian Gateways, constituting what eventually became known as the Marasharite Homeland Territories. During that period, they waged relentless conflict with the Northanians, Pictans and Dal Riatans (unified into the Celestial Kingdom of Scottria after 1242), and the Third Bulganian Empire. The second half of the thirteenth century saw the gradual disintegration of the Marasharite Marital Confederation into a number of smaller Marasharite principalities, each of whom was controlled by a bey with his own supporters, retainers, and court. By 1293, the Marasharite Marital Confederation had formally dissolved. From one of its successor principalities, however, emerged Osman. Osman became Prince of Marasharite Bithynia; hemmed in by the more powerful Marasharite principality of Gemmaya, he and his immediate successors would focus their efforts on Byzzarian territory in the Bosporan Straits of the Great Amulak Spiral. In 1299, he took a bold step by proclaiming himself Emperor of the Marasharites; this is considered to be the foundation date of the Marasharite Empire proper. He defeated several organized Byzzarian efforts to halt his rise in power, but found himself unable to take major strongholds in Bithynia, due to the Marasharites's lack of turbocannon and other siege weapons. They also found themselves at a loss against the principalities of Aydin and Karahasi. In 1326, however, the year of Osman's death, his son Ahmed conquered Bursa, laying the foundations for the Empire's future administrative, military, and economic power. Ahmed (1326-62) gradually extended Marasharite rule over Iznik, Izmit, and Uskudar; he then annexed the Principality of Karahasi in 1345, taking advantage of internal divisions.
 * By 1354, he had conquered Aydin, seized Gallipoli, and set the Empire on its course of taking control of the Byzzarian Territories. Marasharite intervention into Byzzarian affairs now became commonplace. His successors Murad I (1362-89) and Sassas I (1389-1402), continued the Marasharite advance. Murad conquered Edrine (1362); Philippolis (1363); Macedonica (1371); Central Bulgania (1382-86); and Serbia (1388-89). He defeated the Hungarians, Serbians, and Byzzarians at Cheremonian in 1371, thereby consolidating his conquests. That of Kosovo (1389), was a decisive defeat of the Serbians, Bosnians, and Byzzarians. Sassas I, on his part, focused his energies on subduing the other Marasharite principalities. Hamid and Germiyan had fallen under Marasharite rule from 1387-89, but Sassas was faced with the threat of Karaman, which incited the Serbians and other Marasharites into rebellion against him. By 1390, however, he had subdued the Western Marasharite Principalities, and in 1391, defeated and subjugated Karaman. From thence, he conquered the Eastern Marasharite Principalities, but was forced to turn back and deal with a revolt by his Tesmanian and Outer Amulak vassals, supported by Hungary and Byzzaria. By 1393, Amulak Bulgania was completely under the rule of the Marasharite Empire; the Emperor even besieged Byzzaria Prime. In 1396, the Crusade Wars of Nicopolis, launched by Hungary, ended in a Marasharite victory; in 1397, he subdued Karaman entirely, thereby completing the conquest of the Marasharite Principalities. In 1398, however, Sassas came into conflict with the Great Breffal Federation, then under the rule of Tambourlaine; in 1402, he was decisively defeated at Ancris. Tambourlaine then restored Karaman and most of the other Marasharite Principalities.
 * The Marasharite Empire then fell into eleven years of civil war and dissension, with Sassas's four sons struggling for control of the Empire. Ultimately, however, his eldest, Mehmed, emerged victorious, and in 1413, became sole Emperor of the Marasharites. He and his son Murad II (1444-46, 1451-81), focused their efforts on internal restoration. In 1422-23, Byzzaria Prime was again besieged; from 1423-30, the first Marasharite war with the Haxonian Confederacy was waged; and in 1437, following the death of Hungarian King Sigismund, much of Hungary was ravaged by Marasharite forces. In 1439, Serbia was annexed directly into the Marasharite Empire. Most of the Marasharite Principalities, except for Karaman and Galatia, were also recovered. The Hungarian leader Jan Hyuandi, however, posed a serious resistance to the Marasharites; in 1444, Mehmed was forced to restore Serbian autonomy, and recognize Hungarian rule of Wallachia and Belgrade. Later that same year, he and his son Murad, to whom he abdicated briefly, won the Battle of Varna, defeating the Hungarians, Haxonians, and Danubian Principalities in a pitched confrontation. The Marasharites then focused their efforts on extending their direct rule over the Grecian Provinces, Macedonica, Lower Bulgania, and Thrace. Albania resisted however. Then in 1453, Murad II finally stormed Byzzaria Prime, completely conquering the Byzzarian Empire. Byzzaria Prime was renamed Topacia, and became the capital world of the Marasharite Empire. In 1454-55, Murad annexed Serbia yet again; conquered the Morea (1458-60); and in 1461, asserted Marasharite dominion over Trebizond, Sinop, Kaffa, and the Caucasian Colonies.
 * In 1463, Bosnia fell under Marasharite rule; then from 1463 to 1479, Marasharita and Haxonia (supported by Vendragia, Genoa, and Florence) found themselves at odds, in a major conflict over Dalmatia, Epirus, the Peloponnese, and the Ionias. In 1468, Karaman fell under permanent Marasharite rule, followed by Galatia in 1473. Haxonia, Hungary, Albania, and the Great Breffal Federation now launched a joint offensive against the Marasharites (1473-78), which ended in victory for the Marasharites. In 1479, Albania finally fell under Marasharite rule, and the Haxonians were ejected from Ragusa and Inner Dalmatia. In 1480, Otranto was occupied. Murad died the following year. Sassas II (1481-1512) and Selim I (1512-20), greatly extended Marasharite power in the Great Tesmanian Cloud. Herezgovina was occupied (1483), followed by Kilia, Akkerman, and Bender (1484-87). Wars with Dejanica (1483-84), the Great Breffal Federation (1485-91), and Hungary (1484, 1491-95), prompted by the challenge to his authority of his brother Jem, resulted in the Marasharite acquisition of Hadjibey, Ochania, Kinburn, Izmail, Jassy, and the Upper Danube Military Highway, and annexation of Cilicia. Haxonia, on its part, occupied Cyprus (1489), encouraged revolts against the Marasharites in Albania and Dalmatia, and consolidated its hold of the Ionias. War erupted (1499-1503), ending in Marasharite victory and its acquisition of Lesbos, Chios, and the Lower Peldavian Gateways. Wars with the Danubian Principalities (1497-99, 1503-05), the Haynsian Despotate (1498-1505), and the Lavellan Potentates (1507-13) were also pursued. Selim I, on his part, defeated the Iffians and Cosites at the Battle of Bucharina (1514), subduing the Northern Reaches, Marson, and Kerch. By 1520, he had also conquered Aegyptiania, Upper Nubia, and the Arabian Potentates. It was under Sulayman I (1520-66), that the Marasharite Empire entered its greatest period of expansion.
 * He conquered Belgrade (1521); Rhodes (1522); and in 1526, with the Battle of Mohacs, subjected Transylvania and Central Hungary to the suzerainty of the Marasharite Empire. In 1529, Suleyman invaded the Holy Austarlian Empire, but failed to capture Vienna. A further war against Austarlia and Bohemia (1532-35), also failed to achieve any results. Suleyman had also waged wars with Haynsia (1524-25) and Dejanica (1527-31), consolidating Marasharite hold of the Ochanian Provinces. It was not until 1541 before Hungary and Transylvania were directly annexed. Suleyman then extended his rule over the Barbary States: Algiers (1529), Cyrene (1531), Tunis (1535), and Tripoli (1538), gradually fell under Marasharite suzerainty. Wars with Dejanica (1533-35, 1541-46, 1559-62, 1564), Scottria (1529-31, 1546-49, 1555-59), Haynsia (1535-38, 1551-55), and the Breffals (1535, 1548-51, 1554-55) led to the extension of Marasharite rule over the Lower Caucasian Colonies, the Central Ochanian Provinces, Lower Nubia, Mesopotamia, Palestina, and Syria. The Cosites and Iffians remained thorns in the side of the Marasharites; after three wars (1530-34, 1549-53, and 1560-62), the Cosite Imperium was finally destroyed in 1565. By the time of Suleyman's death, the Iffians had been reduced to a precarious hold of Norah and Satie.
 * The Dejanican-Lithuanian Union, which was soon to become the Dejanican-Lithuanian Commonwealth, also had an extensive history before its first contacts with the Laurasian Empire. It originated from the Union of Krevo (1385), between the Kingdom of Dejanica and the Grand Principality of Lithuania. The Kingdom of Dejanica itself had first been established in AH 1025, when Duke Boleslgravius I of Dejanica was formally crowned King of Dejanica at Gnienzo. He had died in June 1025, however, just two months following his coronation. For a time, under Boleslaw's immediate successors, Dejanica enjoyed some success. Kings Misesko II (1025-34); Casimirus II (1034-58); and Boleslgravius II the Bold (1058-79) pursued a series of vigorous military campaigns against the Northanian Confederation, the Yotviginian Republic, the Slavic Confederations, the Grand Duchy of Saxony, and the Kingdom of Bohemia, among other rivals, seeking to assert the kingdom's position and to expand its territorial base. Masovia (1047) and Silania (1054) were recovered, Dejanican rule over Inner Pomerania was consolidated, and the Kingdom made its first penetrations into the Great Tesmanian Cloud. Under Vologravius I (1098-1102) and Boleslgravius III (1102-38), however, the Kingdom entered a decline.
 * Vologravius had to contend with the rebellions of his sons, Boleslgravius (who succeeded him) and Zbignew. Boleslgravius, on his part, consolidated his position as King only after defeating his brother, Zbignew, in 1106, and forcing him into exile from the Crown Territories. Boleslgravius managed to recover Lautenburg, Butow, Schezin, Rugen, and parts of Western Pomerania, which had been temporarily lost to the Dejanicans, but he was unable to bring civil tensions within the realms under control. Following his death in 1138, Dejanica entered nearly two centuries of anarchy and disunion. Boleslgravius, in his will, had divided Dejanica into five principalities, the first four of whom was to be inherited by one of his sons: Silania, Greater Dejanica, Masovia, Sandomierz, and Krakow. The last, Krakow, was to be added to the patrimony of his eldest son, who would become Grand Duke of Dejanica and serve as the entire realm's representative. Yet with Boleslgravius's death, this broke drown: his sons Vologravius II the Exile (Duke of Silania 1138-46, Grand Duke of Dejanica 1138-46), Boleslgravius III the Curly (Duke of Masovia 1138-73, Grand Duke of Dejanica 1146-73), Mieszko III the Old (Duke of Greater Dejanica 1138-1202 and Grand Duke of Dejanica 1173-77, 1191, 1198-99, 1201, the longest-reigning Dejanican monarch in history), and Casimirus II the Just (Duke of Sandomierz 1166-94, Grand Duke of Dejanica 1177-91, 1191-94) fought with each other bitterly for power, thereby tearing the Kingdom apart. The twelfth and thirteenth centuries were also dominated by fierce Dejanican wars with the Slavic Confederates, the Holy Empire of Saxony (which had consolidated itself in 1106), the Teutonic Order, the Byzzarian Empire, the Kingdom of Hungary, and the Northanian Coalition. Finally, in 1305, there emerged Vologravius III (1305-33), who became Duke of Krakow that year, and who brought about the reunification of Dejanica.
 * Through a series of vigorous campaigns in Kuayvia, Lesser Dejanica, Greater Dejanica, and Sandomierz, he finally restored the unity of the Kingdom. He faced rebellions in Krakow (1311-12, 1324-27) and further wars with Northania (1314-17) and the Teutonic Order (1309-10, 1327-32), but prevailed through all and was finally crowned King of Dejanica in 1320, at Krakow. He formed alliances with Hungary and the Grand Principality of Lithuania, and extended overtures to the Vendragian Confederacy, the Celestial Kingdom of Scottria, and the Bulganian Empire. In 1333, upon his death, he was succeeded by Casimirus III, who became the Great (1333-70). Casimirus continued Dejanica's consolidation and expansion. After a further war with the Teutonic Order and Northania (1335-43), Casimirus finally concluded peace with them by the Treaty of Kalisz (1343), recovering Kuayvia and Dobryzn. Between 1340 and 1366 he conducted a series of campaigns in the outskirts of the Great Amulak Spiral (at the Barbarossa Wormhole), in the Galactic Void and the Great Tesmanian Cloud, fighting the Haynsian Goths, the Slavics of Tesmania, and the Bulganian Empire; by the end of his reign, what would become known as Tesmanian Dejanica, Galicia, and Lodomeria had been brought firmly under Dejanican rule. Silania, however, was being conquered by the Kingdom of Bohemia, then ruled by the Luxembourg dynasty; Casimirus's efforts between 1343 and 1348 to recover this territory failed. Nevertheless, by 1365, through joint action with Denmarica, Holstein, and Brandenburg, he was able to seize Walcz, Drezdenko, and Santok. By the time of his death in 1370, Casimirus had become one of the most powerful monarchs in the Great Amulak Spiral; he had alliances with Hungary, Denmarica, the Holy Empire of Saxony, Vendragia, Austarlia, Lithuania, and the Danubian Principalities, and was in correspondence with their monarchs. From 1370 to 1382, Dejanica and Hungary were in personal union, ruled by Casimirus's nephew, King Lajos the Great. Lajos, however, recognized the autonomy of the Dejanican nobility. In 1382, Lajos's death left the future of the Dejanican Crown open to contention. After two years, his daughter, Jadwiga, became Queen of Dejanica, the only female sovereign in Dejanica's history. Then in 1385, the Union of Krewo was signed between Dejanica and Lithuania, paving the way for the marriage of Grand Duke Jogaila to Queen Jadwiga. Their marriage occurred the following year (1386), creating a personal union between the two monarchies, and Jogaila became Vologravius IV, King of Dejanica.
 * The Grand Principality of Lithuania, originating in the Great Tesmanian Cloud, had been established in the thirteenth century. Mindaugas (1219-63), was the figure responsible for unifying the disparate Lithuanian fiefdoms, star systems, and colonies into a cohesive and uniform dominion. His reign was dominated by conflicts with his nephews Tautvilas and Edivydas, war with the Northanian Coalition and the emerging Teutonic Order, and incursions by the Great Breffal Federation. Although Mindaugas himself was assassinated, the advance of his state in the Great Tesmanian Cloud, and to the Galactic Void, did not halt. Traidenis (r. 1269-82), consolidated Lithuania's rule of Black Ruthenia and fought with the Northanian Coalition, winning the Battles of Karuse (1270) and Azikraule (1279). Following the short reign of Daumantias (1282-85), the Gediminid Dynasty came to power in Lithuania with the accession of Butigedis (1285-91). Yet by 1291, the Northanian Coalition and the Teutonic Order had completed their subjugation of the Yotvingians, Nasdruvians, Skalvians, and Samogitia. From thence, they turned their attention to Lithuania. Grand Duke Vytenis (1295-1316), however, managed to hold off their advance. Throughout his reign, he was engaged in constant conflict with the Teutonics, Northanians, Dejanica, and Ruthenia. He involved himself in succession disputes in Masovia; conquered the principalities of Pinsk and Turau in Belarania; seized Minsk (1307); and allied with the subjects of the Riga Trade Alliance against the Northanian Coalition.
 * It was under Grand Duke Gediminias (1316-40) that Lithuanian territorial expansion accelerated. He subdued many of the Belaranian and Ukranian principalities, captured Kiev (1321), and established Vilinus as the Grand Duchy's capital. He also engaged in conflicts with the Northanians, Teutonics, Celestial Kingdom of Scottria, Haynsian Goths, and the Great Breffal Federation, consolidating Lithuania's position astride the Galactic Void. By the time of his death in 1340, Lithuania extended to as far as the Tesmanian Core. Following the brief reign of his son Janutis (1340-45), his younger sons Algiras (1345-77) and Kestutis (1345-82), assumed power. They proved to be especially formidable; Pskov, Novogrod, and Vyazma in Masacavania were made vassals of Lithuania (1347-53), the Great Breffals were defeated near Kiev (1362) and expelled from the Lower Bug Trade Routes, Smolensk and Bryansk were occupied (1363-66), and in 1368-70, Moscow, capital of the Grand Duchy of Moscow, was besieged by Lithuanian forces. Moreover, Algiras defeated the Northanians in the war of 1357-61, thereby maintaining his rule over Pinsk and the environs of Eastern Belarania. In 1382, following the death of Kestutis, Jogaila became the sole Grand Duke of Lithuania. His marriage to Jadwiga in 1386 thereby brought together two of the most vigorous and successful states in the Great Amulak Spiral. Vologravius IV (as he now was) and his new wife ruled together over Dejanica until her death in 1399; from 1399 to 1434, Jogaila ruled alone, as both King of Dejanica and Grand Duke of Lithuania. In 1387, Ukraine and Red Ruthenia were re-subdued by Jadwiga's forces; she also secured the allegiance of Petro I, Volvode of Danubian Moldova. Dejanican wars with Wallachia (1388-91), the Great Breffals (1395-99), and the Teutonic Order (1399-1404), followed.
 * Samogitia had to be conceded to the Teutonics; by 1407, in personal union with the Northanian Coalition (from 1381), they controlled Pruthia, Pomerelia, Samogitia, Northania, Gotland, Dago, Osel, the Neumark, and the Livonian Sectors. Yet in 1409, the Samogitians, encouraged by Dejanica and Lithuania, revolted; the ensuing Dejanican-Lithuanian-Teutonic War culminated in the Battle of Grunwald (1410), which ended in a decisive victory for King Vologravius. The Peace of Thorn (1411) restored peace, but the Teutonics were irreparably weakened. By the Peace of Menlo (1422), Samogitia acceded to Lithuania. The last years of Vologravius's reign witnessed conflict with the Dejanican nobles, a renewed war with the Teutonics (1431-35), and struggles over the succession in Lithuania. Following his death in 1434, his eldest son Vologravius V became King of Dejanica (1434-44), and then King of Hungary (1440-44); his reign witnessed the disastrous Battle of Varna against the Marasharite Empire. Dejanican conflict with the Marasharites therefore commenced at this time. Finally, in 1447, Casimirus IV became King of Dejanica; he had already been Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1440. His reign (1447-92) witnessed triumph for both Dejanica and Lithuania. The war of 1454-66 against the Teutonics and the Northanian Coalition ended in the Treaty of Thorn, by which Royal Pruthia, Kuayvia, Lautenburg, and Butow acceded to Dejanica; East Pruthia remained under Teutonic rule, but became a vassal of the Kingdom of Dejanica. In 1449-53, he allied himself with Denmarica and the Duchy of Holstein against the Electorate of Brandenburg, winning concessions in Neumark and the Netze Regions, then in 1459-63, 1469-71, and 1475-79, he engaged in wars with the Great Breffal Federation, the Grand Duchy of Moscow, the Great Republic of Novogrod, and Ryazan, consolidating Dejanican rule of Stardoub, Bryansk, and the neighboring regions. Osicewim and Zator were taken from Bohemia in 1475; in 1471, his son Vologravius had become King of Bohemia, and then of Hungary in 1490. From 1482-87, he contended with the Haynsian Despotate, which had been established at the beginning of his reign; wars with Scottria (1479-82, 1485-86) and Lavella (1468-72, 1475-76, 1490) also occupied Dejanican energies; and in 1485, he embarked on a expedition against the Danubian Principalities. In 1487-91, Brandenburg found itself at odds with Dejanica and Bohemia; ultimately, Dejanican rule of Warmia and Lodz was consolidated. Casimirus died in 1492, and was succeeded by Albertislaw I (1492-1501) and then Alexagius I (1501-06), who contended with the Haynsians, Marasharites, the Danubian Principalities, and the Holy Austarlian Empire. Then came Sigisio I (1506-48), the Old, who instigated Dejanican expansion into the Galactic Borderlands. After wars with the Teutonic Order in 1509-12 and 1519-21, Sigisio finally forced the full vassalization of its territories to Dejanica in 1525; that year, the Order was secularized, and became the Duchy of East Pruthia, with Duke Albert I (1525-68), pledging his allegiance to the King of Dejanica. Sigisio incorporated Klaipeda at that stage, which was to remain a point of contention until the late eighteenth century. Wars with the Breffals and Moscow (1511-14, 1524-29, 1537-45) resulted in Dejanica expanding into Vyazma, Tver, Rostov, and the Lower Stroganov, thereby obtaining its maximum territorial penetration into the Great Amulak Spiral.
 * He fought Moldavia from 1529 to 1538, halting that principality's expansion; contended with raiding expeditions by the Haynsian Despotate from 1515 to 1542; and in 1531-34, and again in 1536-39, fought defensive wars against the Marasharite Empire in Belarania and Ukraine. Then in 1509, Sigisio launched the first Dejanican expedition into Lavella; through the course of four wars (1509-14, 1518-22, 1533-36, and 1545-47), he gradually subdued the Lavellan Potentates, thereby establishing the Voivode of Dejanican Lavella. In conjunction with this, he fought with the Scottrians (1530-35, 1544-46) and Donathians (1537-1545), preventing them from halting his advance and penetrating to the Galactic Barrier. By the time of his death in 1548, Dejanica was definitively established in Lavella. Sigisio Augustus I (1548-72), continued this expansion. In 1553-55, he seized Carrie, Dequan, Shashanaya, Black Chandlier, and Monique after another war with Scottria; in 1556-59 and 1561-62, he fought the Danubian Principalities, Haynsian Despotate, and the Marasharite Empire; and in 1561, he vassalized the Northanian Coalition, with Gotthard Kettler, Grand Master of the Coalition, becoming the first Duke of Dejanican Northania and Semigallia. Thus it was that by 1562, Dejanica eyed Laurasian territory in Hypasia and Angelica; Marasharita, Laurasian territory in Angelica and Solidarita. These were the enemies now to be faced by the Laurasian Empire, and the Empire would have to contend with these two adversaries for the next two centuries. Laurasian relations with the powers of the satellite galaxies and the Great Amulak Spiral, by the time of the outbreak of the Borderlands Wars, had only recently been established. Yet Laurasian attempts to establish relations with these powers stretched back farther. As early as the reign of Seleucus the Victor, in fact, the Imperial Laurasian Government had made efforts to extend Laurasian diplomatic and economic ties to the the Great Amulak Spiral.
 * Seleucus himself, through his campaigns against Donathia in 1322-23, attempted to extend the Empire's territorial base. This was also demonstrated by his commercial expeditions north through Solidarita and Xilania to the Dasian Heartland. In 1319, the Emperor even composed a communique to the "great Lord and Emperor of the Byzzarians", at that time Andronikos II, offering to establish a diplomatic relationship between the two Empires, and expressing his wishes for peace and prosperity to prevail in both realms. This communique, however, never even reached the Byzzarian Court, and following Seleucus's death in 1325, Laurasian efforts at contact lapsed, due to the concerns, by the Laurasian sovereigns, with internal affairs and with the Empire's expansion within the Caladarian Galaxy. It was not until the late fifteenth century before Laurasian efforts at contact were seriously resumed. One exception was with the Celestial Kingdom of Scottria: Emperor Seleucus exchanged communiques with King Constantine II of Scottria in 1320, 1322, and 1324; economic relations between the two realms matured; and in 1389, the Treaty of Dunbar was signed by Laurasian Emperor Antiochus II the Conqueror and King Kenneth II of Scottria, leading to the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two realms. During the course of the fifteenth century, as Laurasia advanced outwards from the Core Regions, knowledge about the civilizations beyond the Caladarian Galaxy became clearer. Finally, in 1474, Emperor Vespasian embarked upon the task of establishing definite ties with the Great Tesmanian Cloud. He dispatched a series of commercial expeditions, from the Hypasian Provinces, through the Neo-Xilanian Empire, and into the Galactic Void.
 * The following year (1475), the Laurasian adventurer Sir Constans Pyradius, who operated Meredian Commerce Lines from Blackria, Nezbit, and Angelica Minor, appeared at the court of the Northanian Master Bernd von der Borch (r. 1471-83). The Grand Master, astonished by the appearance of this personage from a state still foreign to Northania, nevertheless received him courteously, and lavished him with many gifts. Pyradius then returned to Laurasia Prime in 1477, after making a tour through the Caucasian Colonies and along the Upper Danube Military Highway. He presented to Emperor Vespasian various Northanian garments, military armor, and a communique from Master der Borch himself, addressed to his "Most Dread Imperial Majesty of Laurasia." Vespasian was flattered by this, and he ordered Pyradius to make ready for another expedition to the Great Tesmanian Cloud. Pyradius, escorted by the 9th Auxillary Force, departed again in 1479, the year of the Emperor's death, and proceeding up the Galactic Frontier Route, reached the Cloud once more. In 1480, he was received by the Grand Master once more, and conducted a series of informal negotiations with him. Then in 1483, Grand Master der Borch dispatched the first ever-embassy, from any power in the Great Tesmanian Cloud, to the Laurasian Empire. The embassy was received by Emperor Antiochus IV at Rebecca on September 1, 1483; he entertained them, listened to their entreaties, and conducted a friendly conversation with them. The Northanians now attempted to inviegle the Emperor of Laurasia into an alliance against the Dejanican-Lithuanian Commonwealth; this proved impractical, as Laurasia was still too far away from the Galactic Void (hampered by Xilania, the Mellorite Empire, and the Cosite Imperium) to be capable of such an intervention. During the course of the next eight years, Laurasian and Northanian envoys traveled back and forth between the Core Regions and the Great Tesmanian Cloud.
 * Finally, in 1491, another formal Northanian embassy, led by Prince Baron von Herolt, was accredited to the Imperial Court; he was authorized to conduct negotiations with the Imperial Laurasian Government, and on January 3, 1492, the Treaty of Karonia was signed, thereby formally establishing diplomatic relations between the Coalition and the Empire. Permanent embassies were to be established at the courts of both powers; correspondence was to commence between the two governments; and Laurasian merchants gained rights of free transit in Northanian territory for a period of five years. Emperor Antiochus IV would dispatch the first Laurasian ambassador ever accredited to a court in the Great Tesmanian Cloud, Sir Andronicus Mesadius (1445-1514) in September 1493. From this beginning, contacts with other Tesmanian and Amulak states quickly followed. Already in 1486, the Germanian Nikolai Poppel (1451-99), had arrived at Darcia, following a long and perilous journey across the Galactic Void, bearing a letter of greetings from Holy Austarlian Emperor Fre'dac III (1440-93). The Emperor of Austarlia had heard of the wealth and might of the Laurasian Empire, and was determined to establish ties with this state. Emperor Antiochus responded amiably, and in 1488 Poppel returned to Austarlia, bearing a reciprocal communique from the Emperor of Laurasia. Then in August 1490, the first Laurasian envoy ever dispatched to the Great Amulak Spiral, the Lord Marsanius of Costello, made his leave; he arrived at Vienna with his entourage, and was greeted by the Holy Austarlian Emperor and his court with much formality. It was not until 1497, however, before the Treaty of Linz was concluded, leading to the establishment of diplomatic ties between Laurasia and Austarlia. With the assistance of Fre'dac's son and successor Maximilian I (1493-1519), the Imperial Laurasian Government was then able to send its first diplomatic envoys to the courts of Hungary (1498); Brandenburg (1499); Holstein (1502); Bohemia (1504); Bavaria (1508); Wurttemberg (1512); Lorraine (1518); and Florence (1522).
 * In 1496, Emperor Nerva dispatched Sir Commodus Tasius (1459-1507) to Haynes, where he was greeted by Haynsian Despot Neal I Karany (1478-1515); the Treaty of Little Boravia, signed in September 1497, resulted in the opening of their diplomatic ties. In 1501, the Voivode of Moldavia, Stephan the Great, renowned for his long resistance against Hungary and the Marasharite Empire, sent a holo-communique to the Imperial Laurasian Court; in 1503, the Treaty of Vashiti marked the commencement of formal diplomatic ties. Wallachia quickly followed (1505). In 1506, the Teutonic Order signed the Treaty of Marienburg with the Laurasian envoy Sir Gratian Mearsian (1462-1533). Ten years later (1516), the first ever Haxonian embassy in Laurasian territory, dispatched by Doge Giovanni Soranzo (1512-28), arrived at Laurasia Prime; in 1523, after years of negotiations, the Treaty of Christiania was signed, thereby leading to Laurasian-Haxonian relations. Naparia (1526); Milania (1531); and Genoa (1535) followed. King Philip V of Franconia (1516-22), in 1521, opened up contacts with the Imperial Laurasian Government; Franconian adventurers had appeared in Laurasian territory as early as 1473. In 1529, the Treaty of Elijahana was signed; Count Philebert de Bonilovo (1479-1541) was then named as the first Franconian Ambassador to the Laurasian Empire. A century and a half would pass before the two powers entered into direct hostilities. Vendragia (1526), Denmarica (1529), and Portugallia (1538) followed Franconia's lead; the Duchy of Burgundy did so in 1545, along with the Durthian Duchies of Hainault, Brabant, Flanders, and Holland. Greater and Lesser Spamalka then followed in 1548. With Dejanica and Marasharita, however, matters were more fraught.
 * In 1520, Emperor Lysimachus dispatched Sir Valerian Pleschieff (1473-1551) to Topacia, seeking to open ties with the Marasharites. He was received by Emperor Sulayman I in November 1521; Pleschieff, however, was unaware of the customs of the Marasharite Court, and found himself barred from any future audiences with the Emperor. The Imperial Laurasian Government then recalled Pleschieff; it was not until 1539, with the dispatch of another envoy, the Lord Perdon (1496-1570), that the Treaty of Ispaki was signed, thereby leading to the establishment of diplomatic ties. As regards to Dejanica, three Laurasian embassies were dispatched (1519, 1526, 1535), but each was rebuffed by King Sig'sio I. It was not until 1552 that the Treaty of Dequan was finally concluded; King Sig'sio Augustus I, however, refused to celebrate the conclusion of the treaty. And indeed, just ten years later, the Dejanicans launched their first military assault against the Empire. Nevertheless, by 1555, after diplomatic relations were established with Mecklenburg (1547), Granada (1549), Ragusa (1550), and the Knights of Malta (1555), Laurasia had ties to all of the powers of the Great Amulak Spiral and the satellite galaxies. Foreign visitors now came to the Empire. Austarlian Baron Sigismund von Herberstein (1486-1566), served as Ambassador from 1517 to 1526. His work, Commentaries on the State of the Laurasian Empire (1549) was the first significant account, by a Amulak foreigner, concerning the Laurasian Empire and its politics, culture, economy, military, and history. It was to be a major source for the great historians of the eighteenth century, especially for Lady Vassalina (for Herberstein included much information about the affairs of the Imperial Court). Herberstein was dilligent, relying upon oral interviews and testimony, contemporary sources, and his own observations (recorded in his personal journals and notes).
 * It was thus that the stage for the Borderlands Wars was set. As already mentioned, the Dejanican-Lithuanian Commonwealth took the initiative in first instigating hostilities with the Laurasian Empire. In June 1562, King Sig'sio Augustus sponsored a series of intelligence expeditions, to be launched from Carrie, Novella, Nelson, Spacek, and Fisher, through the Dejanican Borderlands, and into the Wild Marshes. The first of these expeditions was commanded by the Dejanican admiral Kazimerzes Culaskia (1507-69), who was one of the Emperor's leading military commanders. Under Culaskia's lead, Dejanican units crossed over the boundary into the territories of the Laurasian Empire for the first time (July 2, 1562). Over the course of the next two months, Dejanican forces instigated a series of attacks and raids throughout the outskirts of the Hypasian Provinces. Bach Dang, Masan, Hieshbig, Saigon, Ho Chi Minh, Van Klep, and Can Tho all fell under attack from the Dejanicans; the Dejanican expedition against Trangh Naugh, in particular (July 22-25, 1562), proved to be devastating, for more than two million inhabitants of that star system were killed, deported, or displaced from their homes. More than $1.2 trillion denarii worth of Laurasian goods, equipment, and arms were seized by the Dejanicans during this first raiding offensive. Emperor Antigonus and his military commanders had been particularly alarmed by this first Dejanican intrusion; the Laurasian Ambassador to the Court of Dejanica Major, Sir Phocas Ereasius, posted a formal diplomatic protest to the King and the Dejanican Diet. Sig'sio Augustus, however, rejected these claims, and during the course of the next four years, Dejanican units would harry the Lysimachid Barrier Defenses, penetrating to Emerson, Ambarac, Spencer, Coleman, and Londarania. This thereby irritated the Imperial Laurasian Government. In November 1566, a Dejanican-Lavellan force invaded Ho Chi Minh, Saigon, and Hanoi; the former two star systems briefly fell into Dejanican possession, and the third was blockaded from its supply lines, but Laurasian General Cassius was ultimately able to terminate this expedition.
 * In January 1567, Hypasia Minor, Huerta Mongol, and Qu'emia fell under the assault of Dejanican units; they seized more than 200,000 captives and collected intelligence information on the state of Laurasian defenses in that region. Compounded to this was the Marasharite Empire's moves into Laurasian territory. As early as November 1565, Marasharite intelligence units had appeared in the vicinity of Roxuli, Abraham, Zoe, Skyler, and Lincoln, thereby collecting information on the defenses of those systems for the Grand Council. From March to September 1566, Massanay, Sassanay, Cibourney, the Western Redoubt, and Angelica Minor were threatened by a Marasharite naval task-force; Marasharite units also sacked the defenses of Leopolodia. On September 5, 1566, Marasharite Emperor Suleyman I, who was then conducting his last campaigns in Royal Hungary, died at Szigetvár, aged 72. His son Selim II now acceded to the throne, and became determined to launch his Empire's military forces into a major confrontation with the Laurasian foe. Thus it was that on March 9, 1567, the Emperor of the Marasharites summoned the Laurasian Ambassador, Sir Basilicus Asatius (1500-69), to his presence, and issued a formal ultimatum to him. In this ultimatum, the Marasharite Emperor demanded that the government of "Their Imperial Majesties of Laurasia" concede the Angelican Provinces, Western Redoubt, Roxuli, and Abraham to the authority of the Marasharite Empire; that the Emperors of Laurasia restore all territories which they had gained from the Mellorite Empire the previous year; that they limit the military garrisons deployed in the Hypasian Provinces; and that they recognize Marasharite rights to the rule of the Satian Provinces, and their expeditions in the Wild Marshes. Ambassador Asatius, alarmed by this series of insolent demands, refused; on March 19, therefore, Selim had him imprisoned at the Seven Towers of Topacia, and ordered the Grand Council to issue a formal declaration of war against the Empire. Thus the Borderlands Wars commenced, which were to drag on throughout the last decade of Antigonus II's reign.
 * Marasharite forces made swift advances against their Laurasian adversaries. Calgania and Londarania were besieged and conquered by the forces of Marasharite Grand Admiral Altari-Bey (March 22-April 1, 1567); Titiania Majoria followed on April 18. Valeris V was besieged beginning on April 21, 1567; its fall on May 5 proved a major setback to the Laurasian strategic position. From thence, Sogan, Masan, and Hieshbig were seized by Marasharite units (May-June 1567); the defenses of Spencer, Coleman, and Ambarac were placed in peril; and Huerta Mongol was blockaded by a Marasharite expeditionary force. Giron then fell to a surprise Marasharite offensive (July 19, 1567), and on July 22, the Battle of the Lower Prietest ended in another victory for Altari-Bey. By the end of August 1567, Marasharite units had also overran Traugh Naugh, Saigon, Hanoi, Trasha Dakai, Van Klep, and Cassolar, thereby inflicting another series of humiliations upon the Empire. The two co-Emperors, who were alarmed by this series of Marasharite offensives, now ventured to take command of the Laurasian response to them, and to lead their forces into a punitive expedition against the Marasharites. On September 7, 1567, Emperor Antigonus delivered a address to his subjects from the Quencilvanian Palace, declaring that the Empire would not bend under the pressures imposed by the "foreign savages" and that in due course they would be punished with the wrath of the Lord Almitis. He now made vigorous preparations for the care of government on Laurasia Prime, with Praetorian Prefect and Chancellor Furius Victorinus assuming responsibility for the cares of state.
 * The Emperor also drew reinforcements from garrisons throughout the Core Regions. Finally, on October 9, 1567, he and Verus departed from the capital world, bringing with them the 7th, 9th, and 11th Imperial Fleets, with the 7th, 8th, and 9th Imperial Armies. They proceeded quickly to Angelica Major, which they established as their strategic headquarters. Verus now assumed command of that star system's defenses, while Emperor Antigonus moved forth to directly confront the enemy. The Battle of Roach (October 15-17, 1567), resulted in a decisive victory for the Laurasian Emperor. He then proceeded to expel Marasharite units from Aspen (October 19); Giron (October 22); Angelican Evan (October 24); Shineski (October 29); Titus (November 4-5); and Sam (November 11). By November 12, the Emperor had also relieved Huerta Mongol, and cleared all Marasharite units from the Lower Prietest. He then launched a daring expedition into the Satian Provinces and Tof Borderlands; Laurasian units sacked the Marasharite military base of Meneia (November 15, 1567); harassed Ba'dai, Ra'dai, and Mar'dai (November 18-22); and threatened Carrhae (November 25) before retreating. Londarania was then recovered (December 1, 1567); Laurasian units then cleared Spencer and Coleman. However, on December 8, 1567, Dejanican King Sig'sio Augustus, observing the Laurasian counter-response, issued a declaration of war against the Empire, and launched his units into the Morganian and Kelvanian Provinces. Merlin, Morgania Minor, Guenevere, Lancelot, and Arthur were quickly seized; by the end of December 1567, Kanjur and Mordan were both being threatened by the Dejanicans. On December 18, 1567, moreover, Marasharite Admiral Altari-Bey breached the defenses of Norah; the Iffian Kingdom was now completely destroyed and incorporated into the Marasharite Empire.

1568

 * The early months of 1568 witnessed a continuation of Dejanican offensives into the Morganian and Kelvanian Provinces. On January 7, 1568, the Battle of Mordred resulted in a decisive victory for Dejanican forces under General Culaskia; from Mordred, Dejanican units seized the Morganian colonies of Culwich, Waleran, and Lear (January 9-15, 1568). By the middle of February 1568, the Dejanicans had also stormed Regan, Goneril, and Cordelia, thereby posing a serious threat to the defenses of Morgania Major. Anjun and Kelvania Minor were secured by the Dejanicans in March 1568; Dejanican expeditions were now penetrating even into the Malarian Provinces, with Odika, Welch, Johnald, Almastead, Ettleman, Evans, Goodman, and the Maluyta Nebula all coming under threat. Emperor Antigonus, however, had strengthened the garrisons of Acabania, Takrania, Kanley, Malaria Prime, and Naranja; he had no doubt that these would halt any further Dejanican advances. On his part, the Emperor of Laurasia had focused his attentions upon the Marasharite threat. During the course of January and February 1568, Marasharite units, who now came under the command of Grand Admiral Haybreddin Ambradia (following Altari-Bey's recall to the Great Amulak Spiral on New Year's Day), made a series of further advances into the Solidaritan Provinces. The Western Redoubt was subjected to a renewed Marasharite offensive (January 5-9, 1568), and this time fell into their possession. From thence, Marasharite units seized Coen, Impania, and Wendy (January 11-19, 1568), and on January 25, the Battle of Crawford ended in a decisive victory for Admiral Ambradia. He then stormed Greisan (January 29, 1568), and blockaded the defenses of Dennis, Turnquist, and Virginia (February 1-6, 1568). By the end of February 1568, Deanna, Michael, and Alexandra had fallen into Marasharite hands; Frederickslandia, Big Twinny, and Methuselah were all seriously threatened by Marasharite units.
 * On March 9, 1568, however, Emperor Antigonus, who had sought to allow for an overextension of Marasharite supply lines, directed another surprise move into Marasharite territory, this time against Nishbis, Emessa, and Ctiesphon; all three strongholds were stormed by the Laurasians, thereby disrupting Marasharite communications lines radiating from the Galactic Void. Antigonus then overran Luxhall (March 19-April 2, 1568), which had served as a major Marasharite communications relay. On April 8, 1568, O'Donnell also fell into Laurasian hands. Admiral Ambradia was thus forced to divert units northwards, and this allowed for Emperor Lucius, who had remained at the task of securing Angelica Major and the Immortalized Cluster, to launch a series of counteroffensives into the Solidaritan Provinces. Greisan, Michael, and Deanna were recovered by Laurasian units, operating from both Angelica and from the Rebeccan Galactic Trade Route (April 1568). The Battle of Sair (May 5, 1568), ended in another decisive victory for Laurasian arms. By May 11, Coen, Impania, and Alexandra had also been recovered. On May 24, 1568, a Marasharite offensive against Sheryl, Quanna, and Laronn was repelled in the Battle of Beowulf; then on May 28, Turnquist, Dennis, and Virginia were relieved from the Marasharite threat. The fall of Crawford (June 2, 1568) compelled the Marasharites to withdraw from the Western Redoubt. This was compounded by a string of victories obtained by Emperor Antigonus's forces at Eaidon (June 8); Zoe (June 11-14); Skyler (June 19); Ipshilion (June 22); Bravey (June 24); Colson (June 28); and Heaton (June 30-July 5, 1568), thereby terminating the Marasharite threat from the Satian Provinces. At Lincoln, on July 9, 1568, Emperor Antigonus captured a Marasharite raiding convoy. He now launched ambitious expeditions against the Galactic Frontier Route and into the Satian Provinces. Adrianne, Belparasian, Natalie, and Tiona were all threatened by Laurasian units in August 1568, for the first time ever.
 * Laurasian moves against Norah, Satie, and Illumis, however, failed, and the Battle of Crimea (September 5-11, 1568), ended in victory for Marasharite Admiral Ambradia. By October 1568, the Emperor had been forced to recall his units from the Galactic Frontier Route. The situation in the Kelvanian and Morganian Provinces, on its part, had changed. On March 22, 1568, Emperor Lucius's chief subordinate, Major-General Sir Theodosius Caranius, obtained a victory in the Battle of Excalibur. From thence, he recovered Lancelot, Gunevere, and Morgania Minor (April 1568); on May 9, 1568, Kelvania Minor also fell back into the Empire's hands. Regan and Goneril, however, proved to be more difficult; they were not recovered until the end of June 1568. Laurasian and Dejanican units then clashed at Edmund, Edgar, Kent, and Cornwall (July 2-18, 1568), with the Laurasians gradually gaining the upper hand. Lear and Arthur were stormed on August 4, 1568; Merlin followed on August 18; and by August 22, Dejanican expeditions against Kanjur and into the Malarian Provinces had been terminated. On September 4, 1568, however, the Battle of Gloucester ended in a victory for Dejanican General Culaskia; he now launched himself into Angelica and Hypasia, with Spencer, Coleman, Ambarac, Etienne, Iverman, and Roach falling into Dejanican hands. It was not until October 9, 1568, with the Battle of Crassner, that this latest Dejanican advance was halted. All of the above strongholds were back in Laurasian hands by the end of that month; Cassolar was recovered from the Marasharites on December 5, and on December 11, 1568, the Battle of Corfu ended in a decisive victory for Emperor Lucius's units. Laurasian raiding expeditions into the Dejanican Borderlands, against McIntyre, Flournoy, and Orion, however, ended in failure (December 1568).

1569

 * 1569 opened with the Laurasian Empire having gained the advantage in the struggles with Dejanica and Marasharita in the Wild Marshes and in the Industrialized Borderlands. By January 1569, however, the health of Emperor Lucius Verus had entered a serious decline. Verus had proven himself to be a capable administrator and military campaigner, successfully maintaining the Empire's overall strategic position in the Angelican Provinces. Yet he had continued to indulge himself in the luxuries of the Imperial Court, and did not take the proper precautions for his own health. Thus it was that on New Year's Eve 1568, that the Emperor contracted the dreaded Marsian fever, which had become a major epidemic within the Empire's realms just three years before. It was not until January 4, 1569, however, before the Emperor showed the first symptoms of the disease. He now sought to retire to Laurasia Prime, believing that a visit to the Imperial Hospital of the Quencilvanian Palace would be sufficient to alleviate his condition. Yet upon his arrival at the capital world (January 8), the Emperor's condition declined further, and he was soon unable to arise from his bedchambers. All now recognized that his condition was beyond hope, for as of yet, the Marsian fever was still very much misunderstood. Verus experienced violent sneezing, coughing, and chest pain; it then degenerated into a fever, which left him completely immobilized and rendered him unable to speak or to move his head. Finally, on January 12, 1569, the co-Emperor died at the Quencilvanian Palace, aged only 38.
 * Verus's death provoked much lamentation throughout the Empire. Emperor Antigonus, who was then at Raven, in the vicinity of Abraham, issued his sincere condolences upon receiving word of his co-monarch's death; condolences also arrived from various foreign courts, such as those of the Mellorite Empire, Celestial Kingdom of Scottria, Neo-Anastasian Empire, Haynsian Despotate, etc. In a proclamation to his subjects (January 22, 1569), the Emperor, who was now the sole ruler of the Laurasian Empire, declared that Verus's death was a "serious blow from the agents of the anti-Almitis", but that the Empire's progress in the war would nevertheless continue. By his command, Verus's body was laid out in state at the Diplomatic Palace. Then on February 9, 1569, his state funeral was conducted, and he was formally interred at the New Westphalian Cathedral, with the new Chancellor, the Lord Rufus (who would serve until 1577), serving as the Emperor's representative. Yet as soon as Verus was buried, Emperor Antigonus turned his attention once again back to the war. March 1569 now witnessed a series of Marasharite counteroffensives into the Solidaritan Provinces. On March 11, 1569, penetrating from Billy Gasis, Kia, Pelaski, and Billy, Marasharite Admiral Ambradia, supported by Pasha-General Hureem Bay, pushed in the direction of Massanay and Sassnay. Both strongholds fell swiftly into Marasharite hands, and on March 16, the Second Battle of Griesan ended in another victory for the Marasharites. Patsy, O'Neal, and Metallina then fell (March 19-22, 1569); by the middle of April 1569, Marasharite units had also secured Blackria, Nezbit, and Martina Mccasia. Mariana Prime, Durglais, Kigonia, Katherine, Metallasia, Heuthros, and Tyndaris were all harried by Marasharite expeditions. On April 18, 1569, the Battle of Shannon ended in another decisive victory for the Marasharites; the colonies of Nathan and Deal were captured thereafter.
 * A Marasharite force then seized Stoughton (April 22-28, 1569); and on May 9, 1569, Laronn fell into Marasharite hands. Berhamia followed on May 18, and by May 22, Marasharite units were harrying the outskirts of Leopoldia and Quanna. June 1569 witnessed Michael, Coen, and Grunch being seized by the Marasharites. Emperor Antigonus also suffered a humiliating defeat in the Battle of Vorna (July 1-7, 1569). With the assistance, however, of his son-in-law, Lieutenant-General Sir Claudius Pompenianus (1525-93), Emperor Antigonus repelled a Marasharite move against Sheryl (July 18, 1569), and on July 22, secured the defenses of Rastaborn and Candlewell. On July 29, the Battle of Daramia ended in another Laurasian victory. By the end of August 1569, Marasharite moves into the Core Worlds had been ended; Metallina, Patsy, and O'Neal were all back in Laurasian hands by September 7. Michael and Coen, however, became scenes of vigorous struggle between the Laurasians and Marasharites; this kept the Emperor's energies occupied for the remainder of September. In the meantime, the Dejanicans launched a series of major offensives into the Malarian and Kelvanian Provinces. Kanjur and Kelvania Minor were stormed by a penetrative Dejanican expedition (July 1-9, 1569), and on July 14, 1569, the Battle of Mordan ended in a decisive victory for General Culaskia. On July 24, however, Culaskia was mortally wounded in a confrontation with Laurasian troops at Anjun; in spite of the efforts of his physicians, he died on July 29.
 * Nevertheless, the Dejanican advance continued under his subordinate, General Prince Josef Kasunskia of Belarania. Prince Kasunskia seized Almastead in a surprise offensive (August 5-14, 1569); Laurasian units then overran Takrania, Acabania, and Naranja (by the end of the month). On September 9, 1569 (two centuries before the Third Battle of Khotyn, which was a decisive Laurasian victory in the early stages of the Fourth Laurasian-Marasharite War), the Battle of Terell was waged, ending in a decisive Dejanican victory. Ettleman, Goodman, and Malaria Outer then fell during the remainder of September 1569. On October 8, 1569, Michael was finally recovered by the Laurasians; Emperor Antigonus, however, could afford only to reorganize the defenses of Malaria Prime, and to order General Cassius to advance against the Dejanicans. Cassius won the Battle of Suri (October 21, 1569), and then saved Ularia, Odika, and White from a Dejanican move (November 1569), but was unable to expel the Dejanicans from the Narvet Corridor. By the end of 1569, therefore, matters had settled into a stalemate, with Coen remaining in the hands of the Marasharites, and the Dejanicans still entrenched in Malaria.
 * Birth of the future Emperor Gordian IV (r. March-April 1638) at the Diplomatic Palace in Christiania, Laurasia Prime.

1570

 * 1570, the 70th year of the sixteenth century, witnessed the Laurasian Empire's military forces, under Emperor Antigonus II, still engaged in a vigorous conflict with the Marasharite Empire and the Dejanican-Lithuanian Commonwealth (which had been formally constituted the previous year with the Union of Lublin). The early months of 1570 witnessed Dejanican forces making a series of renewed advances into the Malarian Provinces. On January 7, 1570, the Battle of Manzo ended in a decisive victory for Dejanican Prince Kasunkia. He now proceeded to storm Aingley (January 9-14); Meehan (January 18); and Welch (January 22), thereby penetrating from the Narvut Corridor and the Maluyta Nebula. The Jar Asteroids were assaulted by the Dejanicans in February 1570, and quickly secured by them, resulting in another humiliation for the Laurasian Empire. A Dejanican expeditionary force, under the command of General Stanis Barsinkia, then stormed the Kelvanian system of Artan (February 22, 1570) and blockaded Kelvania Major, thereby hampering Laurasian strategic lines extending into the Wild Marshes. By the end of March 1570, Hadlson, Ostak, and Rogers were also in Dejanican hands; Kamachina was besieged and conquered (April 4, 1570); and on April 12, 1570, the Battle of Xebertis ended in another victory for Prince Kasunkia. Emperor Antigonus, however, who had left General Pompanius in command of the continuing siege of Coen, now hastened into the Malarian Provinces to reverse the Dejanican line of march (April 18, 1570). On April 22, he defeated a Dejanican force in the Battle of Merle, thereby preventing them from threatening Malaria Prime. Confrontations at Timaslan, Johnald, Welch, and White then followed (April 26-May 15, 1570), with the Emperor of Laurasia gradually advancing his position forth.
 * In June 1570, Laurasian units recovered Rogers, Kamachina, and Xebertis; Christiane, Siri, and Frazier were subjected to Dejanican expeditions, but were sucessfully defended by their Laurasian garrisons. On July 9, 1570, the Battle of Malaria Outer ended in another victory for Emperor Antigonus; it was in this battle that Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Pertinax Helvius, the future Emperor, distinguished himself for the first time. Almastead, Kanley, and Naranja were recovered (July 11-22, 1570); on July 31, 1570, Aingley also fell back into Laurasian hands. Meehan and Manzo were recovered by August 6, and on August 11, Takrania was stormed. Dejanican Prince Kasunkia now launched desperate counteroffensives against the Jar Asteroids, Williams, Pasquarillo, Paradine, Courdina V, Gordasis, and the Constantine Star Cluster (September-October 1570), but these failed. Ettleman, Evans, and Goodman were all back in Laurasian hands by November 4, 1570; Artan, Kelvania Minor, and Anjun followed by November 14. Acabania followed on November 18, and on November 21, 1570, the Battle of Terell ended in a decisive victory for the Empire. Emperor Antigonus then recovered Kanjur, Mordan, and Timsies in a series of decisive offensives. By the end of the year, the Malarian and Kelvanian Provinces were securely back in Laurasian hands. As for the events in the Solidaritan Provinces, General Pompanius was gradually able to restore the Laurasian strategic position. Coen was finally recovered by the Empire on April 1, 1570; Massanay, Sassanay, and Cibourney were recovered in May 1570; and on June 12, 1570, the Battle of the Western Redoubt ended in victory for Pompanius. Martina Mccasia was back in Laurasian hands by the end of the month, and on August 1, 1570 (two centuries before the decisive Battle of Kagul in the Fouth-Laurasian Marasharite War), Pompanius defeated Marasharite Admiral Ambradia in the Battle of Mariah. The last months of 1570 saw Laurasian units clearing all remaining Marasharite forces from the Solidaritan Provinces, and launching expeditions against Guthmiller, Chappelear, Nicole, Tiona, Adrianne, and Meneia in the Marasharite Empire.

1571

 * The early months of 1571 witnessed the Laurasian Empire launching a series of offensives into the Dejanican Borderlands, and, for the time being, compelling the Dejanicans to peace. On January 3, 1571, Emperor Antigonus, in a proclamation from his military headquarters on Kanley, declared to his subjects that the Lord Almitis had continued to bless his Empire's military forces with success in battle, and that the Dejanicans and Marasharites would be thoroughly chastened and humiliated. It was on January 14, after repelling Dejanican expeditions against Takrania, Acabania, and Naranja, that the Emperor's forces pushed from the Wild Marshes into the Dejanican Borderlands, thereby marking the Empire's first invasion effort into Dejanican territory. McIntyre was seized (January 19-22, 1571); Orion and Flournoy then were subject to Laurasian offensives, and both strongholds fell in February 1571. A series of confrontations between the Emperor and his Dejanican foes then ensued at McEntre, Ernie, and Lee (March 2-9, 1571), all of which ended in victory for the Imperial Laurasian Army. On March 12, 1571, Laurasian forces approached the outskirts of Shashanaya; the world was placed under siege two days later, and in spite of the efforts of Dejanican Voivode Kanz Wilarmist, it fell on March 30. Adelita and Black Chandlier were in Laurasian hands by the end of April 1571. On May 4, 1571, the Battle of Jon ended in another decisive victory for the Empire's forces. King Sig'sio Augustus II, who was now faced with war against the Great Breffal Federation, and embroiled in disputes with the Marasharite Principality of Transylvania and the Electorate of Brandenburg, decided, towards the end of May 1571, to open negotiations with the Laurasian Empire. He sent the request for an armistice on June 8, 1571; a conference was then convened at Morgania Major, and the Armistice signed there (June 21, 1571), temporarily suspended military hostilities.
 * On August 4, 1571, delegations from the two governments convened at Nezbit, in order to craft the final peace settlement; Laurasian interests were represented by now Legate-General Sir Avidius Cassius, Chancellor Rufus, and General Pompeianus. Finally, on September 20, 1571, the Treaty of Nezbit was signed, resulting in the termination of military hostilities, at that stage, between the Laurasian Empire and the Dejanican-Lithuanian Commonwealth. By the terms of this treaty, the status quo ante bellum was restored; the Dejanicans acknowledged the Empire's rule of Hypasia, Angelica, Kelvania, Morgania, and Malaria (vis, all Laurasian territories in the Western Core and the Wild Marshes), while the Imperial Laurasian Government, on its part, affirmed Dejanican rule of the Borderlands region. All prisoners and goods of war were to be exchanged; economic relations were reestablished, with the merchants and navigators of each state enjoying rights of transit in the territories of the other; and the Dejanicans agreed not to conclude any military alliance with the Marasharite Empire in the future. The Treaty of Nezbit, ratified by both monarchies in October 1571, therefore allowed for Emperor Antigonus to focus his energies upon the Marasharites. 1571 itself saw a stalemate between Laurasian and Marasharite forces; desultory skirmishes continued in the Immortalized Cluster, the Satian Provinces, and Solidarita. The Emperor of Laurasia, however, was determined to end the war, to the favor of his Empire, and now prepared for vigorous counteroffensives into Marasharite territory.

1572

 * In January 1572, Laurasian Emperor Antigonus II, who had assembled his forces at strongholds throughout the Solidaritan and Angelican Provinces, and determined to end the war with the Marasharite Empire, launched an extensive invasion of the Tof Borderlands and Satian Provinces; this marked the Laurasian Empire's first major military campaign onto Marasharite territory, and into the Galactic Borderlands. The Emperor's forces now secured a succession of victories; Legate-General Cassius once again distinguished himself in the course of these confrontations. Lynne was besieged first (January 7-16, 1572); its fall on January 16 constituted a major humiliation for the Marasharites, with Admiral Ambradia losing more than a third of his zebecs to relentless Laurasian assaults. From this vantage point, Laurasian units subdued the Marasharite colonies of Carrhae, Immae, Edessa, Ctesiphon, Nisbis, and the Western Pargurs (February 1572). On March 3, 1572, Emperor Antigonus obtained another decisive victory in the Battle of Multan; General Cassius repelled successive Solidaritan assaults upon his command positions. Although Solidaritan Pasha Hurrem Bey managed to storm Eaidon (March 7), and on March 10, 1572, sacked Heaton, he was unable to reverse the overall momentum of Laurasian successes. Simmons fell to the Empire on March 22, 1572, after a siege lasting two days; from Simmons, Natalie, Tiona, and Belaprasian fell into Laurasian hands (March 24-April 2, 1572). Satie was then sacked by a Laurasian expeditionary force (April 9, 1572); on April 12, the Battle of Andress ended in another decisive Laurasian victory. Penn and Garrett then fell (April 18-22, 1572); then on May 1, 1572, Emperor Antigonus besieged and conquered Meneia, capturing more than 100,000 tons of Marasharite military supplies. May 1572, moreover, saw Laurasian forces seizing Ba'dai, Ra'dai, Sissy, Rose, and McIver, thereby humiliating the Marasharites in the outskirts of the Tof Borderlands. Norah was then besieged beginning on May 22; Carly and Sly James fell to Laurasian task forces on June 1; and on June 6, Billy Gasis was blockaded.
 * Finally, with the Battle of Pelaski (June 12, 1572), which ended in a decisive Laurasian victory, Marasharite Emperor Selim II was compelled to come to terms with the Imperial Laurasian Government. The Marasharite Empire had continued to wage wars in the Great Amulak Spiral. The Treaty of Adrianpole (February 17, 1568), had concluded the most recent war between Marasharita and Austarlia, by which Austarlian Emperor Maximilian II recognized Marasharite authority over the Danubian Principalities and Transylvania. Selim, then, had to turn his attention to the threat posed by King Peter IV of Greater Spamalka (1536-87), whose conquest of the Kingdom of Majorica (1549), had made him a much more formidable threat to the Marasharite Empire. Peter was allied with King Henry II of Lesser Spamalka (1566-67, 1569-79), whose kingdom had subdued Alegcircas in 1544 and had been involved in the affairs of Navarre, Franconia, and Vendragia. In 1570, the two Spamalkan Kingdoms allied with the Haxonian Confederacy, Genoa, the Knights of Malta, and Florence, and had declared war upon the Marasharite Empire. An extensive conflict over the Sicilian Wayward Colonies, Corisca, Sardinia, Epirus, the Morea, and the Ionias had ensued; the Battle of Lepanto (1571) was a decisive victory for the allied coalition, although the Marasharites overran Haxonian Cyprus. Nevertheless, by the beginning of 1572, Tunis, Cyrene, and Rhodes had fallen into the allied possession. Thus, it would be to Selim's benefit to temporarily end hostilities with the Laurasian Empire. On June 24, 1572, following his request to the Imperial Laurasian Court, the Armistice of Latrice was signed. Negotiations then commenced at Kia, from July 8, 1572. The conclusion of the Treaty of Kia (August 1, 1572), ended military hostilities between Laurasia and Marasharita at this stage. By the terms of the treaty, the Emperor of the Marasharites agreed to respect Laurasian territorial rights in the Wild Marshes; to refrain from future expeditions into Laurasian territory; and to permit Laurasian troops to occupy Lynne, Multan, Carrhae, Immae, Edessa, Ctesiphon, and Nisbis for a period of thirteen years (to conclude August 1, 1585). The first stage of the Borderlands Wars therefore ended. Emperor Antigonus, in September 1572, conducted a victorious triumph upon Laurasia Prime; his subjects celebrated the conclusion of the war, and the Empire's military veterans were honored through a series of parades on Laurasia Prime, and performances at the Circus Maximus. Generals Cassius and Pompeianus were rewarded with the Order of St. Honorius the Liberator for their efforts; the Emperor granted additional annuities to the Praetorian Guards and his troops, and issued confirmations of their traditional privileges. This state of peace, however, would not last for long.

1573

 * 1573, the 73rd year of the sixteenth century, commenced with the Laurasian Empire once again restored to a state of internal and external tranquility; the suppression of the Clancian "Harmony" Revolt, in the Northern Central Core, in September and October 1572, had maintained the Imperial Laurasian Government's position in that region. As mentioned above, however, this state of peace would not last for long. On July 7, 1572, King Sigi'sio I Augustus, the last of the Jagellionian dynasty to rule over the Dejanican-Lithuanian Commonwealth, had died in Warsaw, Dejanica Major, at the age of 52. In accordance with the procedures provided with the Union of Lublin, he was now succeeded as King, by election, by the Dejanican Prince Furtislaw Chrobry, who became Furtislaw I of Dejanica. The new King Furtislaw, who had capitalized on his support with war-like, aggressive factions within the Diet to win his election, was determined to renew conflict with the Laurasian Empire and to continue the expansion of Dejanican power into the Wild Marshes, regardless of Laurasian assaults. It was thus that in January 1573 that the King of Dejanica had issued orders to his military commanders to commence renewed offensives into the Empire's territory. Laurasian Emperor Antigonus II, however, thanks to the services of the Imperial Intelligence Agency, had caught wind of Dejanican preparations and now took premptive action for his own offensives into the Dejanican Borderlands. On January 22, 1573, he departed from Laurasia Prime, and proceeded swiftly to Angelica Minor. Assembling his military forces at Corfu, Prima, Eric, Giron, Aspen, Roach, and in the Immortalized Cluster, he entrusted General Cassius with responsibility for the defenses of Laurasia Prime, and General Pompeianus with maintaining tranquility in the Central Core. It was on February 7, 1573, that the Emperor issued a declaration of war and launched a renewed invasion of the Commonwealth's territories. Laurasian forces made swift advances.
 * Orion was conquered (February 8-14); Black Chandlier followed on February 21, and on March 1, 1573, the Battle of Perbardy ended in another decisive victory for the Empire. Ernie and McIntyre were stormed that month (March 1573); Monique fell on April 4, followed by Kali (April 19); Flournoy (April 22); and Jon (April 28). Dequan and Antwone were threatened by Laurasian expeditions; then on May 4, 1573, the Battle of Podigniay ended in another decisive victory for the Empire. From thence, Outpost K999 and Laverne were overrun by Laurasian troops (May 6-17); Polotsk and the Dvina Straits were under serious threat by June 1573. King Furtislaw, on his part, now had other troubles. In December 1572, months after his predecessor's death, hostility with the Great Breffal Federation and the Great Republic of Novgorod erupted into full-scale war; by July 1573, Stardoub, Bryansk, Cherginov, Pulsk, and Ryazan had fallen into the hands of the Breffals, and the Dejanican hold over the Bug Trade Highways, Lodomeria, and Belarania was in serious jeopardy. King Furtislaw also had to contend with a major uprising, by the Wormenian Confederation, in Little Dejanica against his authority; by border incursions from Brandenburg in Royal Pruthia, Pomerania, and Kuayvia; and by the threat of unrest in Ducal Pruthia, Northania, and Samogitia. Thus it was that on August 2, 1573, by which point the Laurasians had overrun Carrie, Polotsk, and Irving, that the King of Dejanica was forced to request for peace. An armistice was quickly concluded at Spacek, and on October 4, 1573, the Treaty of Ularia was signed. This treaty again restored peace between Laurasia and Dejanica on the basis of the status quo ante bellum; the Laurasian Empire, however, was permitted to keep all booty and spoils of war from this recent conflict, as compensation for Dejanican treachery. Emperor Antigonus, on his part, was forced, in October 1573, to dispatch General Sir Antiochus Julianus, then in command of the garrisons of Dromund and the lower Lacian Cluster, to Greyson. There, he repelled Xilanian raids and operations along the course of the Larkian Way, maintaining the Empire's position in that region.
 * Birth of the future Emperor Maximinus I (r. 1635-38) in Copleis, Vindictoria.

1574

 * Yet as soon as peaceful relations were restored between the Laurasian Empire and the Dejanican-Lithuanian Commonwealth, military hostility between the two powers erupted yet again. On January 22, 1574, King Furtislaw I was assassinated at Krakow by magnates of the Little Masovian Confederation, which had arisen in December 1573 in opposition to his taxation and conscription policies. The Confederation believed that the King of Dejanica was a weak and incompetent military commander, and that he was not proactive enough in resisting the Laurasian Empire within the Galactic Borderlands. He was now succeeded to the Dejanican throne by Ariogasi I (1574-86), originally a Prince of Transylvania, who had built a base of support in Masovia, Warmia, and Lodz. This King of Dejanica was a far more martial character than his predecessor, having fought as a mercenary in Austarlian and Transylvanian wars against the Marasharite Empire. He was determined to continue with the Dejanican advance into Laurasian territory, and wasted no time in bringing these plans to fruition. Dejanican General Josef Kasunzki (1519-87) now assumed command of the Commonwealth's forces and garrisons in Dejanican Lavella (March 18, 1574). By May 1574, Dejanican forces had been assembled at all of the major strongholds in the Dejanican Borderlands, and were posed for a strike into the Kelvanian and Malarian Provinces once more. They were assisted in these efforts by the fact that Emperor Antigonus's government was then distracted by efforts to strengthen the defenses of the Lower Lacian Cluster, by Haynsian expeditions in the Hutsite Reaches and the OsonBoka Nebula, and by the activities of the Culloden Pirate Ring in the Neo-Merlite and Donguarian Provinces. Thus, on June 2, 1574, the Dejanican Diet issued another declaration of war, and Dejanican forces once again invaded the Wild Marshes. Kanjur and Morlan both fell quickly into Dejanican hands (June 4-11, 1574); on June 15, 1574, the Battle of Rojia ended in victory for Dejanican General Kaszunki.
 * The Kelvanian colonies of Bouchet, Parkins, and Lielle were then stormed by Dejanican units (June 17-22, 1574), and on June 24, Kelvania Minor fell into the possession of the Dejanicans once more. From thence, Kasunzki stormed Ursula and Guin (June 29-July 4, 1574); Ettleman was conquered on July 8, followed by Manzo (July 12); Evans (July 16); and Goodman (July 22-August 1). Laurasian positions in the Maluyta Nebula and along the Narvet Corridor were harried ceaselessly by Dejanican forces; Ularia fell on August 5, 1574, and Almastead found itself under blockade by Dejanican naval forces. Terell, Takrania, and Acabania were in Dejanican hands by the end of August 1574; Kamachina fell on September 8; and for the first time ever, Dejanican units entered the Central Core. Paradine was seized by a Dejanican expeditionary force (September 19, 1574); Williams was blockaded; and Dejanican units penetrated as far as the Clancian Trunk Line. Emperor Antigonus, who had suppressed the disturbances in the Neo-Merlite Provinces, now launched one final, and vengeful, counteroffensive in the Central Core. On September 24, 1574, he decisively defeated General Kasunzki in the Battle of Palimsiano; Pasquarillo, Dramis, and Condtella were secure from Dejanican raiding expeditions. Williams was relieved (October 3, 1574), and Paradine was recovered four days later. The Battle of White (October 9-10, 1574), ended in a decisive Laurasian victory; Terell, Acabania, and Takrania swiftly fell back into Lauasian hands; and on October 23, 1574, Ularia was also recovered. Ettleman, Manzo, and Evans were overrun by the Emperor's forces in November 1574. On December 8, 1574, the Second Battle of Bouchet ended in a Laurasian victory; Laurasian units then drove the Dejanicans from Ursula, Guin, Goodman, and Parkins. Kelvania Minor was recovered on December 14, followed by Lielle on December 22. By the end of 1574, Laurasian forces were besieging Kanjur and Mordan, and raiding Ernie.

1575

 * The early months of 1575 witnessed the end of the Empire's renewed war with the Dejanican-Lithuanian Commonwealth. On January 2, 1575, the Battle of Carson ended in a decisive victory for Emperor Antigonus. From thence, he definitively expelled Dejanican units from the Kelvanian Provinces, including at Ansia and Morhlaim. The Battle of Gurlack (January 8-9, 1575), marked the continuation of the trend. McIntyre and Ernie were both stormed by Laurasian units (January 15-21, 1575) and on February 1, 1575, the Emperor scored another victory in the Battle of Shashanaya. DeAndre was then secured by Laurasian units (February 4, 1575), followed in quick succession by Polotsk (February 9); Irutsk (February 12); Black Chandlier (February 18); Monique (February 22); Novella (February 28); Nelson (March 1); and Jon (March 2). On March 10, 1575, following the Laurasian seizure of Amy and Irving, King Ariogasi I, now faced with vigorous Breffal offensives into the heart of Dejanican Ukraine, was forced to accept that his ambitions in the Galactic Borderlands, at this time, were impractical. That day, the Armistice of Fisher was signed, thereby marking the termination of yet another period of military conflict between Laurasia and Dejanica. This was sealed in the Treaty of Meehan (April 4, 1575), by which McIntyre, Ernie, and Gurlack were conceded to the Laurasian Empire. In Xilania, with which Laurasia had exchanged blows since 1573, the Emperor's military commanders had gained further victories. Emperor Antigonus had issued a formal declaration of war against Neo-Xilanian Emperor Mugus VI on January 7, 1575; during the course of the next three months, General Pompeianus had distinguished himself by a series of victories at Juxles, Orkhan, Bingley, Xilania Minor, Morg, and King, thereby humiliating the Neo-Xilanians. On April 1, 1575, Emperor Mugus, whose northern territories were suffering from Scottrian and pirate expeditions, and faced with the threat of war with the Mellorite Empire, had sued for peace. The Treaty of Ursula (April 28, 1575), saw the concession of King, Morg, and Alpha Secundi to the Laurasian Empire, and the payment of a $5.5 trillion denarii reparation, by the Xilanians, to the Imperial Laurasian Government.
 * Having obtained such victories in swift order over the Xilanians and the Dejanicans, Emperor Antigonus now sought to launch a renewed war against the Marasharite Empire, with the goal of subduing the Satian Provinces. Selim II, the Marasharite Emperor who had first instigated hostilities with the Laurasian Empire back in 1566, had died at Topacia on December 15, 1574, and been succeeded by his son, Murad III. Murad had inherited his father's conflict with Greater Spamalka, Lesser Spamalka, Florence, and the Haxonian Confederacy. In 1572, Selim had aligned himself with the Sultan of Granada, Muhammad V, and in conjunction with him, had instigated a vigorous series of offensives into Minorca, Gibraltar, Majorica, and Valencia. Marasharite forces also succeeded in recovering Rhodes, Lesbos, Chios, and the Peldavian Gateways; 1573 saw Marasharite victories at Doburja and Duborvinik, thereby reversing the string of earlier allied successes. By December 1574, most of the Sicilian Wayward Colonies were in Marasharite possession; Marasharite forces had also again seized Otranto and were campaigning in Presidi, Sienna, and Lucca. Haxonian forces, however, had entrenched themselves in Cyrene and Aegyptiania; Yemen, Aden, and the Hejaz were also being secured by Haxonian military units, and Mecca was even threatened by a Haxonian fleet in January 1575. The Marasharites also were at odds with the Great Breffals over Azov, Taganrog, and the Lower Don Colonies. In March 1575, a Haxonian-Florencian-Greater Spamalkan force would seize Athens, Corinth, Thebes, and Sparta, thereby imperiling the Marasharite position in the Grecian Provinces. Thus, conditions seemed ripe for the Emperor of Laurasia to make his move into the Tof Borderlands.
 * Emperor Antigonus's plans, however, were to now be disrupted. General Avidius Cassius, who had gained renown for his exploits in the Mellorite and Borderlands Wars, and had successfully maintained order within the Central Core, had by this point developed ambitions of grandeur. Believing that he was entitled to the Imperial Laurasian Crown, Cassius, from his operational headquarters on Melarnaria, had plotted rebellion against the Emperor. On May 9, 1575, Emperor Antigonus proceeded to Abraham, planning to take charge of the preparations for the Empire's renewed offensives into the Tof Borderlands. Just five days later, however, Cassius issued a declaration of rebellion from Melarnaria; he was himself proclaimed Emperor and Autocrat of All the Laurasians by his troops. The rebel General now sought to expand his own territorial base. Ecreutus, Palimisiano, Pasquarillo, Paradine, Williams, Goss Beacon, Evelyn, Hannah, Ruthania, and Teth were all under Cassius's control by the beginning of June 1575. The Emperor's own wife, Empress Consort Faustina, who believed that her husband would die soon, and sought to maintain her position at the Imperial Court, secretly encouraged Cassius's revolt. Moreover, Cassius had the support of the Prefect of Clancia, Sir Calvisitus Statianus (1510-75), who pledged his guards and military regiments to him. Cassius, however, soon found the tide of events turning against him.
 * The Governor of Goldaria, Sir Martinus Verus (1530-79), remained loyal to Emperor Antigonus, while the Duke of Christiania sent him a communique, on June 14, 1575, declaring him "mad". On June 19, 1575, Emperor Antigonus dispatched the Governor of Carina and Seejay Prime, Legate-General Sir Julius Hospes, 1st Lord Hospes of Mommica (1527-91), to the northern Central Core in order to suppress the rebellion. Hospes performed his duty brilliantly, and defeated Cassius in successive confrontations at Reoyania (June 24); Condtella (June 28); and Dramis (July 2). On July 5, 1575, Williams and Goss Beacon were captured by government troops, and Prefect Statianus resumed his loyalty to the Imperial Laurasian Government. By July 14, government forces had also recovered Ruthania, Evelyn, and Hannah, inflicting a series of humiliating defeats upon the garrisons loyal to Cassius. Cassius's support now collapsed, as he was unable to stand against the superior weight of government forces. Finally, on July 28, 1575, the usurper Emperor was asssasinated at Ecreutus by one of his own bodyguards, who had been bribed by General Hospes's agents. With the assassination of Avidius Cassius, his rebellion completely fell apart, and by September 1, 1575, the entire Central Core had once again acknowledged Emperor Antigonus's authority. General Hospes secured possession of Cassius's corpse; he had the head chopped off, and dispatched it to Abraham. The Emperor, who received it on September 7, refused to see it and had it incinerated by his troops. Emperor Antigonus now canceled his plans for a renewed war against the Marasharite Empire, and turned his attention to internal stabilization. He strengthened the garrisons of the Central Core, so as to prevent another rebellion; had more than 500,000 rebels attainted and executed or imprisoned during the ensuing months; and conducted a purge of the Praetorian Guards. On November 9, 1575, the Emperor made his arrival back to Laurasia Prime, and was greeted with acclaim by his joyous subjects. The Holy Synod conferred the titles of Xilanius Maximus, Marasharitus Maximus, and Malarius Maximus upon him. He reconciled with his wife, Empress Consort Faustina, whose health had taken a severe downturn. She died in Heliotrope on December 9, 1575, at the age of fifty. On his orders, she was given a state funeral, and interred at the Westphalian Cathedral. Laurasia was to remain at peace throughout 1576. In December 1576, the Emperor would celebrate a joint triumph with his son Grand Prince Commodus (Anninus, son of Lucius Verus, had died in 1574, aged only ten), and ordered for the erection of the Aurelian Column in the Governmental District of Christiania, to celebrate his deeds and victories in battle over the Marasharites, Dejanicans, Xilanians, and Mellorites.

1576

 * Birth of the future Emperor Balbinus (r. April-July 1638) at the Colony of Neustria in Ompamia, Tommian Province, Laurasian Empire.

1577

 * 1577, the 77th year of the sixteenth century, commenced with the Laurasian Empire still residing in a state of overall peace and tranquility. This persisted throughout the first months of the year. Emperor Antigonus II, who would become known as the "Mediator" by his subjects, primarily due to his extensive publications on matters of philosophy and theology, and his perceived connections with the Almitian Church, nevertheless embarked, in January 1577, upon a move which proved to be very controversial for his subjects, and which was criticized by historians of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. On January 15, in a proclamation from the Quencilvanian Palace, the Emperor formally named his son, Grand Prince Commodus, as his heir apparent to the Imperial Laurasian Crown. This decision broke with the tradition, which had continued since 1498, of an Emperor naming his adopted son as his successor, not one of his own blood. Commodus, who was only fifteen years old at the time that the Emperor announced his decision, would prove to be a tyrannical and indulgent Emperor who had little concern for the affairs of the Empire. Unaware of the faults in his son's character, and seeking to provide him both administrative and military experience, the Emperor named him to the Governing Senate, appointed him as a secretary of the Imperial Chancellory, and assigned him to duty with the Praetorian Guards on Laurasia Prime. During the last three years of his reign, he would continue with his efforts to prepare Commodus for his impending imperial dignity. As regards to matters beyond the Empire, events proceeded quickly towards the resumption of war. Marasharite Emperor Murad III, from February 1577, intensified his efforts against the coalition of the Haxonian Confederacy, Greater Spamalka, Lesser Spamalka, the Knights of Malta, and Florence which had been at conflict with the Empire since the beginning of the decade. In conjunction with Grenada and the Marinid dynasty of Morocco (with whom the Marasharites concluded a formal military alliance in March 1576), the Marasharite Emperor conducted a series of campaigns in Aetolia, the Morea, Epirus, Rhodes, Cyprus, and the Barbary States against the coalition. In March and April 1577, Athens, Corinth, Sparta, and Thebes were recovered by Marasharite forces; from thence, the Marasharites defeated the coalition in confrontations at Patras, Kalamata, Algion, Argos, and Mycenae. Marasharite control of Cyprus was consolidated, and the Haxonians found themselves ejected from Parga, Nicopolis, and Prevenza in Epirus.
 * By August 1577, with Marasharite forces having secured Lucca and Benevento, advancing into Urbani and Anti, and besieging Majorica, while the Granadians had advanced forth in Andalusia, the allied coalition was finally forced to make their peace with their adversaries. Negotiations began that month at Vesperra in Macedonica; the Treaty of Vesperra (September 19, 1577), ended the Marasharite-Coalition War of 1570-77. By the terms of this agreement, Cyprus was confirmed to be in the possession of the Marasharite Empire (and would remain so until 1699). The Haxonians agreed to abandon Cyrene and Tripoli, to withdraw support for the potentates of the Hejaz, Aden, and Yemen, and to recognize Marasharite jurisdiction over the Moria, Aetolia, and Epirus. Granada and the Spamalkan Kingdoms were to revert to the status quo ante bellum; Marasharita agreed to withdraw its military forces from Lucca, Sienna, the State of the Presidi, Benevento, and the Romagna. The Scilian Wayward Colonies were to be occupied by the Marasharites for a period of ten years (to conclude October 1, 1587). Moreover, the coalition powers recognized Marasharite rights to campaign in the Caladarian Galaxy and in the Angelina Spiral against the Haynsian Despotate. The conclusion of this treaty now allowed Emperor Murad to turn his attention to the affairs with the Laurasian Empire. He and his Grand Council simmered about the terms of the Treaty of Kia, and were determined to reverse its provisions. Therefore, during October and November 1577, the Emperor of Marasharita began assembling his military units at Billy Gasis, Latrice, Donna, Teller, Imegina, Karlong, Ung, Kumong, Bucharina, Marson, Kerch, and in the Tof Borderlands, determined to recover the Satian Provinces and to push back into Laurasian Solidarita. Finally, on December 8, 1577, the Grand Council issued a declaration of war against the Empire; Emperor Murad had the Laurasian Ambassador, the Lord Antonkios, imprisoned at the Seven Towers. Emperor Antigonus therefore found himself at conflict with the Marasharites once again. Marasharite forces, now commanded by Grand Vizier Sokollu Mehmed Pasha, drove Laurasian units from Satie, O'Donnell, and Charlie (December 9-14, 1577). Then on December 22, 1577, Dejanican King Ariogasi I rejected the Treaty of Meehan and issued a renewed declaration of war against the Empire. Laurasia was once again confronted with conflict in the Wild Marshes and the Western Provinces.

1578

 * As 1578, the 78th year of the sixteenth century commenced, the Laurasian Empire of Antigonus II found itself once again at war with its new-found adversaries, the Marasharite Empire and the Dejanican-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Marasharite forces, under Grand Vizier Sokollu Pasha and his chief subordinate, Subordinate Pasha Guashim Mullah, made a series of further advances against the Empire. Multan was seized by a Marasharite expeditionary force (January 8-14, 1578); Margery followed on January 28; and on February 5, 1578, the Battle of Gayle ended in a decisive defeat for Laurasian units under the command of Major-General Sir Antigenes Bresaius. From thence, Marasharite units recovered Carrhae, Emessa, and Nisbis in February 1578, thereby further humiliating Laurasian forces. The Marasharites also sundered Laurasian lines in the vicinity of Norah, and during the early weeks of March 1578, the Grand Vizier destroyed the Laurasian garrisons of Sermons, Chalaeguerie, and Abarmanthe. Emperor Antigonus launched a series of counteroffensives against the Galactic Frontier Route, focusing particularly on Keeley, Natalie, Adrianne, Tiona, and Abrianne; these moves ended in failure (March-April 1578). At the same time, the Dejanican-Lithuanian Commonwealth's forces in the Wild Marshes, under the command now of Prince Wolch Jalezca, made a series of major advances against their Laurasian foes. Jalecza stormed McIntyre (January 11, 1578). On January 16, he repelled a Laurasian counter-offensive against Monique in the Battle of DeAndre. From thence, Laurasian units were driven from Sidbae and Gabourney (January 22-29, 1578), and on February 4, 1578, Ernie was besieged by Dejanican forces. Its fall on February 21 weakened the Laurasian strategic position in the outskirts of the Dejanican Borderlands. Gurlack then fell on February 24, and Dejanican forces pushed forth into the Kelvanian Provinces. Mordan, Kanjur, Angun, and Kelvania Minor all fell in succession (February 28-March 14), followed by Bouchet (March 16). On March 22, Meehan was subjected to the attack of a Dejanican expeditionary force; its fall on April 4 humiliated the Imperial Laurasian Government. By the end of April 1578, Onn, Alamastead, Manzo, and Acabania had all been conquered by the Dejanicans, while Marasharite Pasha Mullah had driven Laurasian units from Eaidon, Zoe, Skyler, Heaton, and Ipshilion. May 1578 saw Dejanican forces securing Takrania, Siri, and Malaria Outer, with penetrative raids being made into the Maluyta Nebula.
 * Then on June 4, 1578, Laurasian General Sir Demetrius Plesius (1522-78), suffered a humiliating defeat in the Battle of Ablincoln; he himself was slain at the end of the battle, and the Marasharites captured more than 80,000 troops of the Imperial Laurasian Army. Ablincoln fell into Marasharite possession as a result; Lincoln, Abraham, and Cibourney had followed by June 16, and on June 24, 1578, Roxuli was also overrun by Marasharite forces. Emperor Antigonus, whose health had entered a decline by this point, and who was disheartened by the prospect of having to face the Dejanicans and Marasharites yet again in direct combat, departed from Laurasia Prime on August 3, 1578; the previous month saw Marasharite forces penetrating to Massanay, Greisan, Wendy, and Crawford. The Emperor focused his immediate efforts on the Malarian Provinces, and arrived at Goodman on August 8; this world now became his chief operational headquarters. Evans and Ettleman fell into Dejanican hands during the latter weeks of August 1578, while the Marasharites attacked Wakino, Perry, Curry, and Kallista. This, however, proved to be the extent of their offensives in this year. On September 9, 1578, the Emperor defeated Prince Jalecza in the Battle of Siri, thereby preventing a further advance by Dejanican units to Pumos. He then reconquered Manzo, Takrania, and Acabania (September-October 1578). Prince Jalecza's forces did breach the defenses of Terell and Welch, comprehensively sacking both systems (November 3-9, 1578), but then suffered a reverse at the Jar Asteroids (November 14, 1578). The Emperor also parried Marasharite forces in confrontations at Odika, While, and Ularies. December 1578 saw Laurasian units recovering Onn and Alamastead, and the Emperor prepared for further moves along the Narvet Corridor and into the Kelvanian Provinces. As for the Marasharites, General Pompeianus, supported by Legate-General Didius Julianus, recovered Cibourney and Abraham (September 1578), repelled Marasharite moves against Crawford and Greisan, and then won the Battle of Paragosh (November 4, 1578). From thence, the Laurasians captured a Marasharite convoy at Joshua (November 18, 1578).
 * Yet the closing months of 1578 witnessed the consolidation of the Marasharite position in the Angelina Spiral. Marasharite Emperor Murad III, determined to consolidate his Empire's dominion over its territories in the Caladarian Galaxy and in the Great Tesmanian Cloud, had embarked upon the process of subduing the remaining Genoan territories in the Angelina Spiral, and of compelling the Haynsian Despotate into allegiance. Thus, in April 1575, Marasharite General Gedik Ahmed Pasha, a veteran of the Empire's wars in Hungary, against Malta, and in the Danubian Principalities, took command of the offensive moves into the Angelina Spiral. He responded to a request of assistance from the Haynsian Despot Neal III Karany (1569-81), who sought to secure his position against his enemies, and who in turn promised to conclude diplomatic arrangements with the Marasharite Government. In a series of swift military campaigns, Gedik Pasha subdued the Genoan colonies of Caffa, Soldaia, Cembalo, Matrega, Vospero, Cherson, and Calitra (April-July 1575); the capture of Tana, on August 2, 1575, completed the Marasharite assertion of rule over the Perekop Reaches and the Brigoff Stellar Nebula. From thence, Pasha's forces attacked the Principality of Theodoros, with Theodoros, Mangup and Ikkerman being overrun by the Marasharites (August 4-19, 1575); on September 1, 1575, the last Prince of Theodoros, Alexandrios, who was of half-Byzzarian descent, was captured by Marasharite units at Isis, bound in chains, and then transported back to Topacia, where he would be imprisoned at the Seven Towers, and kept there until his death in 1584. By October 1575, all of Theodoros and Angelina Genoa was consolidated under the rule of the Marasharite Empire. Despot Karany, however, had then betrayed his obligations towards the Marasharite Empire, and in January 1576, attempted to open diplomatic negotiations with the Imperial Laurasian Government. Thus, in March 1576, General Pasha advanced into the Haynsian Despotate proper. Doros, Greater Boravia, Karabusar, Semrnapoval, Badjay, Little Boravia, Chalaa, and Perekop fell into the hands of Marasharite units.
 * Then on April 7, 1576, he breached the Tauric Approaches, which protected Haynes, Balaclava, and Bahkchisiray; this feat would not be repeated again by a foreign enemy until 1771, during the Fourth Laurasian-Marasharite War. From thence, Balaclava fell rapidly into Marasharite possession (April 8-14, 1576), followed by Bahkchisiray on April 22. Haynes was then besieged from May 4, 1576; its fall nearly a month later, on June 3, completed the series of Haynsian humiliations. Despot Neal was himself captured by Marasharite troops, and transported to Tivran, where he would be imprisoned for more than two years. During that time, the Marasharites compelled the Haynsian magnates and nobles to swear an oath of allegiance to Emperor Murad, and occupied Batchbey, Quickbay, Quinta-il-vily, and the other strongholds of the Haynsian Slave Highway. Finally, on November 24, 1578, with the war efforts against Laurasia ramping up, Emperor Murad decided to settle matters with the Haynsian Despotate. He now released Neal III from imprisonment and allowed him to resume his position as Despot. In exchange, Neal was to pledge himself as a vassal to the Marasharite Empire; to abstain from conducting foreign policy without the approval of the Marasharite Government; and to submit to the ratification of all his successors by the Marasharite Emperors. On their part, the Marasharites would provide the Despotate with an annual financial subsidy, for privileges of military transit in their territory, and use of Haynsian forces for future campaigns against the Empire's enemies. The Haynsians, moreover, were granted the right to launch unlimited raiding expeditions against Marasharite enemies at will. Neal submitted to these conditions in December 1578, and the Haynsian Despotate became a formal protectorate of the Marasharite Empire. Marasharite units established a diplomatic garrison on Bahkchisiray, and restored other occupied star systems to Haynsian authority. The Haynsian Despotate was to remain a Marasharite vassal for nearly two centuries, until its "liberation" at the Treaty of Kuchuk Kaynarca (1774). The Laurasians would soon encounter the forces of the Despotate in battle.
 * Birth of the future Emperor Pupienus (r. April-July 1638) in Calamary City on Nezbit in the Blackrian Province of the Laurasian Empire.

1579

 * 1579, the 79th year of the sixteenth century, witnessed a continuation of the hostilities between the Laurasian Empire on the one hand, and the Marasharite Empire, along with the Dejanican-Lithuanian Commonwealth, on the other. Emperor Antigonus focused his attentions upon the Dejanicans, determined to expel them from Laurasian territory, and to drive once more into the Dejanican Borderlands. On January 7, 1579, he lured Prince Jalecza to Timsies; the ensuing Battle of Timsies resulted in a decisive victory for the forces of the Laurasian Empire, with the Dejanican Prince losing more than 75,000 troops to a series of Laurasian offensives. Following this battle, Laurasian units definitively expelled the Dejanicans from Anjun and Bouchet (January 9-19, 1579), and on January 24, 1579, the Battle of Barbara ended in another decisive victory for Emperor Antigonus. From Barbara, Antigonus stormed the Dejanican base of Gibbs (February 1, 1579), and blockaded Kanjur, thereby preventing Prince Jalecza from using that stronghold to his advantage. A series of confrontations between Laurasian and Dejanican forces then ensued at Gurlack, Carson, and Lielle during February 1579; on March 4, 1579, the Battle of Parkins saw a Dejanican transport convoy falling into Laurasian hands. Kanjur finally surrendered to Emperor Antigonus on March 15, 1579; Kelvania Minor was recovered by him on March 22. Mordan followed (April 1, 1579), thereby marking the final expulsion of Dejanican forces from the Kelvanian Provinces. A final Dejanican move into the Malarian Provinces, against Onn and Siri, was defeated in the Battle of Raphael (April 4-7, 1579). Then on April 18, 1579, Ernie was assaulted by Laurasian forces; its fall on May 14 brought Laurasian units back into the Dejanican Borderlands. McIntyre, McEntre, and Kevin were then subdued (May-June 1579), and on June 14, 1579, Emperor Antigonus humiliated Prince Jalecza again in the Battle of Siveria. Shashanaya, Flournoy, and Orion were all in Laurasian hands by the end of July 1579. Novella, Nelson, and DeAndre then became subject to a series of Laurasian offensives (August 5-14, 1579), and on August 22, the Emperor of Laurasia stormed Black Chandlier. Monique, Polotsk, and Jon were all blockaded by Laurasian forces. By September 1579, Laurasian forces were moving head first across the Dvina Straits and into Dejanican Lavella. Irutsk and Yakutsk were conquered that month, and on October 4, 1579, Spacek fell into Laurasian hands. Dequan, Antwone, and Dejan were then secured (October 6-14, 1579); on November 1, 1579, Monique and Polotsk both surrendered to the Emperor of Laurasia's forces. November 1579, moreover, saw Laurasian units conquering Allen, Nancy, Ladelle, and Dakiewon, thereby further humiliating the Dejanicans. On December 4, 1579, Prince Jalecza launched a major counteroffensive, and managed to humiliate Laurasian units at Scott. On December 14, 1579, the Battle of Pitt, however, ended in another victory for Emperor Antigonus; Fisher, Amy, and Irving fell before the Laurasians by the end of the year. As regards to the Marasharites, 1579 witnessed a strategic stalemate. The Laurasian forces, under Legate-General Didius Julianus, did recover strongholds seized by the Marasharites. Ablincoln was definitively secured on January 11, 1579; Roxuli (January 18); Eaidon (January 24); and Zoe (February 1-19), followed. Abraham was a tougher target, and did not fall until May 3, 1579. Laurasian units also drove into Multan, Margery, and Lynne, inflicting defeats upon the Marasharite garrisons of those star systems.
 * By July 1579, however, Laurasian forces had become stalled, for their attempts to storm Billy Gasis, Teller, and Jaeson ended in failure; Emperor Antigonus, on his part, was unwilling to invade the Tof Borderlands and the Muggal Cluster at this juncture. The latter months of 1579, however, did witness the first major expeditions launched by the Haynsian Despotate into the Laurasian Empire; this occurred in the Homidinian Provinces. Haynsian forces, under the command of Prince Emil-Karany, invaded from the Galactic Void in August 1579. They sacked the defenses of Taraning, Ian, Calms, Senford, Hemsley, and Gibbs-to-Lester that month; on September 4, 1579, the Haynsians humiliated a Laurasian border patrol in the Battle of Brlla. From thence, Dion, Yutzy, Peters, English Star, Kupferer, Gwendolyn, and Ryan fell victim to Haynsian raiding expeditions (October-November 1579). Haynsian units penetrated as far as Markis Prime, Maxwell, Kledis Var, and Halassion before retreating back into the Galactic Void at the end of December 1579. They seized more than eight million captives and nearly $5 trillion denarii worth of goods, equipment, and produce in this operation. Haynsian expeditions also struck in the Jarjanican Provinces, the Hutsite Reaches, and the Neo-Merlite Provinces; the Haynsian raiding operation against Plath, Skold, and Novina in September 1579 captured more than one million captives and plundered the treasury repositories in those star systems. All total, nearly three million captives were seized by the Despotate's forces in these secondary operations.

1580

 * The early months of 1580, the 80th year of the sixteenth century, witnessed the continuation of the Laurasian Empire's military offensives into Dejanican Lavella. Emperor Antigonus II, who had spent the better part of the last fifteen years waging war against the Empire's enemies, launched a series of further operations against the Dejanicans. Yemenk was stormed by a Laurasian task force (January 7-14, 1580). From thence, the Emperor's forces secured Lavelle, Latifah, Rhonda, and Levonda (January 22-29, 1580), thereby placing the defenses of Lavella Major in serious danger. Podiginay fell into Laurasian possession (February 2, 1580); by February 22, Laurasian units had also secured LaWanda, Redd, Foxx, and Laverne. Fisher and Carrie were definitively in Laurasian hands by the end of February 1580. By this point, Emperor Antigonus had decided that in order to terminate the persistent Dejanican threat to the Empire's realms in the Wild Marshes, all of Dejanican Lavella needed to be conquered and incorporated into the Empire. Moreover, the Emperor contemplated the incorporation of the Corporate Sector, the Dasian Heartland, and the Tof Borderlands into the Empire, believing that this would improve Laurasia's political security and internal integrity. These ambitious plans, however, would come to nought. By February 1580, the Emperor's health had entered a serious decline. Exhausted by the exertions of war, Antigonus had suffered from intestinal and mobility issues from the preceding year, and found himself paralyzed by a series of panic attacks and heat strokes. On March 3, 1580, the Emperor undertook a sudden journey to Calms in the Homidinian Provinces, seeking to reorganize the Empire's defenses in those regions, and to prepare for his planned campaigns into the Tof Borderlands. His health, however, now declined further, and Antigonus soon found himself confined to his personal bedchambers. He now retreated to the Calarian Hospital in Vindobona. On March 7, he suffered a major heart attack, and his physicians now despaired of him. Realizing that he was dying, the Emperor confirmed his succession arrangements, and sent a message to his son Grand Prince Commodus, then on Darcia, enjoining him to always follow the commands of the Lord Almitis and to strengthen the Empire's position.
 * Then on March 17, 1580, Emperor Antigonus II the Meditator, died in Vindobona, Calms, aged 58. The death of this Emperor brought an end to the Era of the Five Good Emperors, which had lasted since Nerva's accession to the throne in 1496, and had been one of the Empire's most important periods of economic and military expansion. Antigonus's son and successor, now Emperor Commodus I, was soon to reveal his traits of laziness, indolence, and greediness to his new subjects. At the very beginning of his reign, however, he won praise from his new subjects, and from many circles on Laurasia Prime and other major worlds of the Empire, by deciding to bring the Borderlands Wars to a definite end. Thus, Generals Pompeianus and Julianus launched a series of vigorous offensives against the Marasharites. O'Donnell, Charlie, and Norah all fell into Laurasian possession in April 1580; by May 5, Edessa, Immae, Nisibis, Carrhae, and Ctesiphon had also been secured by the Laurasian Empire's forces. At the same time, Laurasian units in Dejanican Lavella conquered Delany, Ross, and Webster, maintaining the blockade of Lavella Major and Lavella Minor. Yet it was not until June 4, 1580, with the decisive Laurasian victory in the Battle of Pelaski, that both Marasharite Emperor Murad III and Dejanican King Ariogasi I, both of whom were facing renewed conflict in other theaters (Marasharita against the Great Breffals in Caucasia, Haxonia in Dalmatia and Epirus, and the Spamalkan Kingdoms in the Barbary States, Dejanica against Brandenburg, Denmarica, and Vendragia), decided to end their futile war with the Empire. On June 9, both monarchs sent a request for an armistice to the Imperial Laurasian Government. Emperor Commodus, determined to end the war as soon as possible, accepted two days later. Armistices were then signed with the Dejanicans at Molina (June 14) and Marasharites at Chappelear (June 21). Negotiations then commenced at Sadasko in the Tof Borderlands, among representatives of all three governments, in July 1580.
 * The Laurasian Empire was represented by Generals Julianus and Pompeianus; the Marasharite Empire, by Gedik Pasha, Guashim Mullah, and Grand Vizier Lola Kara Mustafa (replaced after August 7 by his successor, Koca Sinan Pasha); and the Dejanican-Lithuanian Commonwealth, by Prince Jalecza and the Voivodes of Lavella, Minsk, and Klaipeda. Finally, on September 23, 1580, the Treaty of Sadasko was signed, thereby bringing a final end to the Borderlands Wars, which had dragged on for some fourteen years. The status quo ante bellum was imposed in territorial matters, with Laurasia restoring all conquered territories and systems back to Dejanica and Marasharita. Both powers agreed to recognize the Imperial Laurasian Government's rule over the Western Provinces; to halt military expeditions into Laurasian territory; and to release all prisoners of war. In exchange, Laurasia agreed not to extend any diplomatic overtures, or to conclude any alliances, with powers opposed to their interests. The conclusion of the Treaty of Sadasko thereby freed Emperor Commodus from the burdens of military conflict. Ratified by him, by Murad III, and Ariogasi I by October 14, 1580, the Emperor now sought to celebrate the conclusion of the war. On October 22, 1580, the Emperor conducted a formal procession onto Laurasia Prime. He received the acclaim of his subjects; conducted a series of gladitorial contests and parades; and issued a proclamation proclaiming the formal end of hostilities. Moreover, the Emperor also presided over the celebrations for the five hundredth anniversary of Laurasian independence, following the end of the Dasian Yoke.
 * The Emperor now detached Generals Sir Clodius Albinus, Sir Pescennius Niger, and Sir Marcus Maximianus, to maintain order in the Solidaritan Provinces; the first two were destined to become Emperors. On November 21, 1580, he crowned himself Emperor at the New Westphalian Cathedral with the Great Imperial Crown. Antigonus II had already been interned at the Cathedral, on July 4, 1580, and his memory had been blessed by the Holy Synod. His territorial ambitions would not be realized until much later; the Upper Burglais Arm would accede to the Empire in 1643, upon the conquest of what remained of the Mellorite Empire. The Dasian Heartland would not be conquered until 1682-83; Dejanican Lavella would not come under the Empire's jurisdiction for nearly another two centuries, until the First Partition of Dejanica in 1772. The Tof Borderlands would not be taken from the Marasharite Empire until 1739. The Empire's realms were now restored to internal and external tranquility as 1580 ended, but this would not last for long.

1582

 * As mentioned above, the Laurasian Empire descended into a state of internal and external tranquility during the first year of Emperor Commodus's reign. 1581 passed with the Empire passing through a "stage of calm", with nothing of great significance transpiring. The Emperor, who turned twenty that year, delegated governmental affairs to the advisers and subordinates which he had inherited from his father. These included Chancellor Sir Publius Paternus (in office 1577-82), Legate-General Sir Tiberius Pompeianus, who in March 1581 became Duke of Mariana Prime (along with his wife, Commodus's sister Grand Princess Lucilla, widow of the co-Emperor Lucius Verus), his father in-law the Lord Praesens (he had married Praesens's daughter, Bruttia, in 1579), Sir Titus Pollio (1529-83), who had served as Procurator-General of the Governing Senate since 1579, and Sir Auifidus Victorinus (1531-86), Mayor of Christiania from 1576 to 1583. While these personages took charge of the affairs of the Imperial Laurasian Government, and of the routine administration of the Empire (a departure from the practice of Commodus's predecessors), Commodus indulged himself in a series of gladitorial tournaments, jousts, athletic competitions, and other public games. He staged lavish and expensive festivities at the Circus Maximus and the Flavian Amphitheater for the benefit of his subjects; presided over the official processions, religious festivals, and public banquets in the city of Christiania; and patronized musicians, artists, writers, actors, performers, and the like at the Imperial Court. Moreover, the Emperor, by the decrees of June 8 and July 19, 1581, lifted many of the onerous property and public levy duties which had been imposed upon his subjects; expanded vacation and paid-leave privileges for the servants of the Imperial Household; and increased the number of holidays on the public calendar. He also staged a memorable occasion, in November 1581, in which more than $20 billion denarii worth of largesse was distributed to the Empire's subjects in all of the cities and settlements of Laurasia Prime.
 * These measures earned him the loyalty of the common populace, which he was to retain throughout most of his reign. Yet by March 1582, new issues were brewing for the Emperor. Grand Princess Lucilla, who loathed her brother's lack of concern for the governmental administration of the Empire, and disagreed strongly with his decision to end the Borderlands War, now became involved in a conspiracy against him. This was further fueled by disputes between her and Empress Consort Bruttia, who demanded absolute obedience from all of the ladies of the Imperial Court, including the Emperor's sister. From December 1581, the Grand Princess had been engaged in planning her conspiracy, holding meetings with fellow nobles and personages of her own household in Colombia, Ostia, and Osraninpolis; withdrawing more than $14 billion denarii from her personal accounts, and sending her agents among the Praetorian Guards, attempting to stir them up in her support. In this, she was assisted by Sir Marcus Annianus (1538-82), a Governing Senator and one of the wealthiest gentlemen in the Empire, owning estates in star systems from Taurasia and Aquilionia to Hunt Minor and Gedrosia Max, and by Sir Appius Quintianus (1545-82), a Captain of the Praetorian Guards who had served under Lucilla's father, Emperor Antigonus II himself. It would later be alleged that the Grand Princess was engaged in an affair with both of these personages.
 * On March 9, 1582, Lucilla finalized her plans: Annianus and Quintianus were to lead a party of Praetorian Guards and Imperial Marines to assassinate the Emperor while he attended a performance at the Galactic Opera. At the same time, the Grand Princess herself and a faction of Senators supportive of her would seize control of the communications at the Quencilvanian Palace; issue a series of manifestos declaring that the Emperor had been murdered; and announce the Grand Princess's accession to the Imperial Laurasian Crown. The Guards and Marines, bribed from Lucilla's personal accounts, would then surround the Senatorial Palace, thereby compelling the Senate and Council of Imperial Secretaries into ratifying Lucilla's accession to the throne. The conspiracy, if successful, would make Lucilla the first woman to claim the imperial throne in more than two centuries, since the time of Grand Princess Constantia. Two days later, the conspirators acted. Their plot, however, was doomed from the first.
 * The Emperor's agents, including Sir Sextus Perennis (1534-85), Praetorian Prefect of Laurasia Prime, had become suspicious of the Grand Princess's activities, and had taken to monitoring her correspondence, movements, and financial transactions. They thereby discovered the existence of the conspiracy. Perennis acted swiftly to quell dissent within the ranks of the Guards regiments and the Marines, arresting or confining those perceived to be susceptible to bribes by the Grand Princess's party. Moreover, he doubled the guard at the Quencilvanian Palace, and strengthened the regiments assigned to protect the Emperor. Perennis also waited for the Grand Princess and her faction to leave her personal bedchambers for the proclamation before having them searched; dozens of communiques were confiscated, as well as her personal computer, which contained incriminating material.
 * Thus, when Annianus and Quintianus tried to muster their supporters, the hue and cry was quickly raised. Within hours, they were in the custody of the imperial authorities and conveyed to the Fortress of Baureux, becoming the first prominent state prisoners there in the Empire's history. Grand Princess Lucilla herself, along with her supporters, were intercepted in the Public Squares of Christiania, restrained, and placed under house arrest at the Old Royal Palace. Emperor Commodus, hearing of his sister's treachery, proved merciless. On March 17, 1582, he issued a manifesto to his subjects, announcing that a "felonious conspiracy against my life" had been stopped, and that all involved would be punished for their crimes. On March 24, Annianus and Quintianus were both brought before the Governing Senate, accused of treason, les-majestie, conspiracy, and other offenses. Their conviction was a foregone conclusion; they were sentenced to death after just two hours of proceedings. On April 2, 1582, both men, after having been stripped of their knighthoods and offices, and degraded from all honors, were executed at the Fortress of Baureux, in a front of a crowd of more than 350,000 persons; they became the first prominent state prisoners executed at the Fortress. As for Lucilla, she was, by the manifesto of April 18, 1582, deprived of the title of Grand Princess; stripped of all her honors, properties, and funds; and banished to the Monastery of Windowia Photis. She would not have long to live, however, and would eventually be poisoned on the Emperor's orders (November 9, 1582). Her husband, General Pompeianus, was spared from punishment, although he was dismissed from his seats on the Councils of Civil Service and Secretaries, the Governing Senate, and the Holy Synod; he was compelled to retire from public life, and retreated to his estates on Tyrania, where he was to remain until the end of Commodus's reign. The Emperor, in June 1582, conducted a purge of the Praetorian Guards; more than 15,000 Guardsmen were dishonorably discharged, fined, and exiled from Laurasia Prime.
 * Twelve of the sixteen Senators who had backed Lucilla were deprived of their titles and dignities, and kept in perpetual imprisonment at the Fortress of Baureux, the Post Settlement of Hepudermia, and the Secret Prison of Ipsus V. In September 1582, Sir Saetorus Desanius (1539-82), was assassinated, through the intrigues of Prefect Perennis and Chancellor Paternus, who had maintained contact with Grand Princess Lucilla during her conspiracy. Emperor Commodus was devastated by the loss of his chamberlain, though he was unaware of who was responsible for his murder. Perennis now took advantage of this to strengthen his own position, by implicating his colleague, Paternus, in another conspiracy with Sir Publius Julianus (1535-82), son of the great jurist Sir Salvius Julianus. On October 11, 1582, Emperor Commodus had Paternus, Julianus, and a number of their "adherents" arrested and conveyed to the Fortress of Baureux. Tortured, they were forced to confess to plotting another assassination attempt against the Emperor's life. On October 24, they were convicted by the Governing Senate on all charges and sentenced to death. The sentence was carried out at the Fortress on November 3, 1582 (two centuries before Haynes surrendered to the Laurasian Empire, at the end of the Bahaviran Insurgency of 1782). Perennis was, on November 9, 1582, appointed Chancellor in Paternus's place; he would remain Chancellor for more than two years. Emperor Commodus also took a fancy to Sir Marcus Aurelius Cleander, 1st Lord Cleander of Beneventum (1542-90), who had served as a Groom of the Imperial Privy Chamber since 1567, and was accounted one of the most handsome and accomplished men at the Imperial Court. He had been married to Lady Demonstratia Salasia of Beneventum, who had died in 1580. In December 1582, Cleander became the Emperor's chamberlain and his chief favorite at the Court.

1583

 * 1583, the 83rd year of the sixteenth century, began with the Laurasian Empire emerging from the recent spate of conspiracies at the Imperial Court. Emperor Commodus, who had quashed two assassination schemes against him, now decided to return to his earlier luxuries and to retreat from the demands of government on Laurasia Prime. This he did on January 23, 1583, accompanied by Chamberlain Cleander and by the magnates of his Court; Chancellor and Praetorian Prefect Perennis remained on Laurasia Prime, supervising the Empire's affairs. Commodus now retreated to the Palace of Harmony on Clancia, which became his favored residence, and threw himself once more into athletic competitions, gladiatorial tournaments, and public games. In February 1583, he would compete in the Clancian Harmony Games, and would be awarded first place in every field of competition (from wrestling to swimming to track), in order to satisfy his vanity. He also continued to display the common touch by distributing largesse, medallions, and tax exemption privileges to many of his subjects in the star system. Yet war now ensued for the Empire: in the Barsar Regions. Laurasia and Anastasia had remained at an uneasy peace since the Treaty of Armenia Major in 1549. However, during the course of the next three decades, border disputes had continued to erupt between Laurasian and Anastasian garrisons; in 1571, 1575, and 1576, incidents occurred at Hannibal, Lector, Hamacaki Barka, Sharon Alfonsi, and Skye I, thereby displaying the heated tension that existed between the two states. In 1579, Narvada II of Anastasia had died, and he was succeeded by his daughter, who became Solana IV. Solana was determined to recover territories lost to the Empire in the Durant Cluster and in the Beatrician Bend; she also sought to restrict Laurasian military capabilities in the Barsar Regions. Thus it was that on March 19, 1583, the Empress of Anastasia issued an ultimatum to the Imperial Court on Laurasia Prime.
 * In this ultimatum, Solana demanded that the Emperor of Laurasia evacuate the Durant and Trans-Durant regions; concede Sejucia, Nicole, Redia, and Ruumlist to the Neo-Anastasian Empire; and create a demilitarized zone in the Ashlgothian Provinces. She also sought to revoke Laurasian commercial transit privileges in her dominions. Chancellor Perennis was alarmed by these demands, and acting on the Emperor's behalf, rejected them (March 24, 1583). Thus it was that on April 4, 1583, the Empress of Neo-Anastasia issued a declaration of war, thereby commencing the Laurasian-Anastasian War of 1583-85. Anastasian forces, over the course of the next three months, made considerable advances against their Laurasian adversaries. Angela Masia was assaulted by a Anastasian force the day that war was declared, and fell into their hands quickly. It was followed by Skye I (April 6). Then on April 8, 1583, two centuries before the annexation of the Haynsia by Empress Aurelia the Great, the Anastasian Prince Molvarda obtained a decisive victory over Laurasian forces under the Lord Heregevnia in the Battle of Lector. From thence, Hannibal, Stewart, and Muir fell into Anastasian hands (April 9-17, 1583). By the middle of May 1583, Thomas, Benitez, and Chelsea had fallen into Anastasian hands; another Anastasian victory, in the Battle of Hopkins (May 19-21, 1583), inflicted a further humiliation upon Laurasian arms. Nicole then fell victim to a sudden Anastasian offensive (June 1, 1583), and was quickly subdued. By June 6, Sejucia, Ginger, Zee, and Connelly fell into Laurasian hands; Stahl was seized on June 18. On June 22, 1583, the Battle of Safer ended in another victory for the Anastasians. By the beginning of July 1583, Stephanpoulos, Jeopardy, Strahan, Graham, and Trieste had all fallen into Anastasian hands. Emperor Commodus, however, now briefly emerged from his lethargy, and on July 7, 1583, authorized the appointment of Legate-General Sir Clodius Albinus, Lord Albinus of Therra, to take command of the Empire's forces. Albinus, who established his headquarters on Beatrice (July 10, 1583), now acted swiftly to halt the Anastasians.
 * In a series of confrontations with them at Timulis III, Sparton's Beacon, and Simon (July 12-19, 1583), he inflicted serious losses upon Anastasian expeditions. Although a Anastasian force proceeded to conquer Morley (July 22) and to sack the defenses of Armenia Minor, Winehouse, and Beverly Hereidu (July 28-August 7, 1583), they were unable to progress further into Laurasian territory. September 1583 witnessed Laurasian forces defeating their Anastasian rivals at Sejucia-Pax, Cal, and Pocket. On October 4, 1583, the Battle of Eliza Spencer ended in another victory for the Empire. Hemkura was then seized by a Laurasian task force (October 8-14, 1583), and on October 22, 1583, the Battle of Granada ended in a decisive victory for General Albinus. Sejucia itself was recovered on October 28, and a sharp confrontation at Jennifer (October 27-November 1, 1583) forced the Anastasian withdrawal from Ginger, Zee, and Connelly. Stahl, Simon, and Morley were back in Laurasian hands by the end of November; Thomas, Benitez, and Chelsea were recovered by December 10. On December 24, 1583, the Battle of Dana ended in a decisive victory for Albinus; Prince Molvarda was seriously wounded in the confrontation. Anastasian moves towards Jarman, Skold, Novina, and Harrison accomplished nothing. By the end of 1583, the Laurasian Empire's forces were on the offensive.

1584

 * 1584 witnessed the further progress of the Laurasian Empire's military forces against their Neo-Anastasian rivals, but also the outbreak of rebel tensions in the Hypasian Provinces, and of dissent at the Imperial Court. The early months of 1584 saw a succession of victories for the Empire's forces under Legate-General Sir Clodius Albinus, Lord Albinus. On January 8, 1584, the Battle of Stephanpoulos ended in a decisive victory for Lord Albinus; he captured the Anastasian General Molkotha, and more than 10,000 tons of Anastasian military supplies. From Stephanpoulos, Laurasian forces reconquered Graham (January 11); Strahan (January 12-17); and Trieste (January 22). On January 23, 1584, the Battle of Ipkit ended in another victory for Laurasian arms; Lord Albinus gained especial notice for repelling two successive Anastasian assaults upon his forward positions. Muir and Jeopardy were both recovered during the early weeks of February 1584; Hannibal and Stewart were blockaded by Laurasian naval units. Prince Molvarda now launched a surprise offensive into the Ashlgothian Borderlands Territories; his forces overran Tahon (February 11); Bryce (February 14); Zahlmann (February 17); Peterslie (February 22); Baiteman (February 28); and the Laurasian colony of Emmy (March 2-3). On March 8, 1584, however, this offensive ended when Molvarda's offensive units were surrounded by General Albinus's forces at Louisa; the ensuing Battle of Louisa resulted in a decisive victory for Albinus. Not only were the Anastasians defeated, but Molvarda himself was captured.
 * Bound in chains, he would eventually be imprisoned on Roastafaria Major. All of the above strongholds were back in Laurasian hands by March 14, and on March 17, Hannibal surrendered to the Empire's forces. Stewart followed on March 19; from thence, Laurasian units won the Battle of Martha (March 22-24, 1584) and then recovered Sharon Alfonsi, Skye I, and Hamacaki Barka (March 25-27 2). The Second Battle of Lector (March 28, 1584), fought four centuries after the death of Honorius the Terrible, resulted in more than 175,000 Anastasian troops and personnel losing their lives. Laurasian units now swept into Anastasian territory. Dickerson, Swabie, and Bledsoe were overrun in April 1584; Jarvis, Clarissa, and Brennan were all seized on May 4; and on May 17, 1584, the Battle of Schieffer ended in another decisive victory for the Empire. Nestos was conquered on May 22; then on May 26, Hospallia Minor was sacked by a Laurasian naval expedition. The minor colonies of Woodruff, Karl, and Ifill were then overrun by Laurasian units (May 28-June 5, 1584), and on June 11, 1584, Caesearea fell. Both and Talini Minoria were then overrun, and by the end of June 1584, Hospallia Major was being threatened by Laurasian units. July 1584 saw Damascus and Tiesting fall into Laurasian hands; by August, Laurasian units were penetrating to the Wild Marshes. Yet it was in that month that rebel tensions boiled in the Hypasian and Angelican Provinces. Since 1576, these territories had been under the rule of Governor-General Sir Ulpus Marcellus (1526-87), who was a veteran of the Anastasian War of 1546-49, the Mellorite Wars of 1555 and 1563-66, and the Borderlands Wars (to 1573). Governor-General Marcellus, imbued with a deep loyalty to the Imperial Laurasian Government, had sought to strengthen the Empire's hold in the region. He sponsored the establishment of colonies on Chesters (1579), Asturians (1581), and Lysimariana (1582). He strengthened the Lysimachid Barrier Defenses, constructing new outposts on Carbania, Gregory, and Mendoza; expanded the defenses of Angelica Minor; and sponsored numerous exploration expeditions throughout the Immortalized Cluster.
 * He also managed to suppress a minor uprising on Huerta Mongol in 1580. In spite of his efforts, however, the overall stability of the region deteriorated. Already, in November 1582, outbursts of civil dissent had occurred on Eric, Shineski, and Iverman; Corfu and Prima were both threatened by the Cordell Pirates in March 1583; and in November of that year, the Governor-General had to destroy a smuggler holdout at Mudd. On August 8, 1584, however, the Pictans, lead by Le Duan, erupted in rebellion against the Empire's authorities on Veldarania, which had been colonized in 1483 and had, during the following century, become one of the Empire's chief agricultural colonies. Duan, in his proclamation of rebellion, declared that he could no longer countenance subjection to the authority of a "foreign, distant power with no concern for the welfare of our species." By August 19, Bach Dang and Masan V had both defected to the rebellion. From thence, Le Duan defeated a government convoy in the Battle of Tonkin (August 22-25, 1584), and on September 3, 1584, won the Battle of Emerson. Van Dinh and Tram Singh then fell into rebel hands (September 4-14, 1584); Cassolar expelled its government garrison on September 29. Hue and Dan Nang were then conquered (September 19-24, 1584), and the defenses of Titiania Majoria, Londarania, and Angelica Minor were all placed in serious jeopardy.
 * Governor Marcellus now attempted to suppress this rebellion; he attacked rebel units at Evan, Roach, and Etienne (September 29-October 4, 1584), attempting in vain to reverse their advance. These efforts, however, failed, and Spencer fell into rebel hands on October 8. Aspen was then stormed two days afterwards. Emperor Commodus, angered by the outbreak of this rebellion, and then residing at Americana, now believed that the government's attention had to be focused back on internal affairs. On October 15, 1584, this view of his was fueled by an incident at the Circus Maximus, where Sir Jovian Urxurius (1535-84), a renowned Cynic philosopher of the University of Laurasia Prime, publicly denounced Chancellor Perennis before Emperor Commodus. He was immediately taken into custody, attainted, and executed for his defiance five days later. On October 28, 1584, the Chancellor, acting on the Emperor's behalf, sent a request for an armistice to the Neo-Anastasian Government. Solana IV, realizing that she had been defeated, decided to accept. The Armistice of Meridu was signed on November 4, 1584, thereby suspending hostilities between Laurasia and Anastasia. A conference, however, would not be convened until December 2, 1584, at Jack; negotiations would last for over a month. Then on November 14, 1584, the Emperor formally dismissed Marcellus from his position as Governor-General of Hypasia and Angelica; recalled him to Laurasia Prime; and issued a proclamation condemning the rebellion. On November 29, 1584, Legate-General Pertinax, who had gained further acclaim through suppressing the Qing Revolt on Kimanis Mooria in July 1584, was named the new Governor-General of those regions, and assigned the task of reasserting order in them. Then on December 3, 1584, Ambarac and Coleman both fell into rebel hands; Saigon, Ho Chi Minh, and Valeris V followed by December 11. On December 16, the garrison of Hypasia Minor proclaimed Lieutenant-General Baronet Priscus Masius (1519-86), who had been Marcellus's chief field subordinate, to be Emperor. Priscus at first refused to accept their acclamation, but on Ascentmas Day 1584, the Emperor proclaimed him a public enemy of the Imperial State. Thus, on the last day of 1584, he assumed the mantle of rebel leadership.

1585

 * 1585 witnessed two events: the suppression of the Priscan Rebellion by Legate-General Pertinax, and the overthrow of Chancellor Perennis from his position of predominance and influence. As regards to the Priscan Rebellion, rebel forces, under the leadership of Le Duan, made further gains against government forces. On January 3, 1585, the Battle of Londarania ended in a decisive victory for rebel units; this major Laurasian stronghold now fell into their possession. From thence, Masan, Song Dhu, and Hieshbig were stormed by rebel units (January 6-14, 1585). On January 20, 1585, however, a rebel move against Thang Gosong was decisively defeated by Pertinax in the Battle of Verlinum. Confrontations between rebel and government forces at Ho Chi Minh, Saigon, and Titania Majoria (February 1585), saw the balance of power gradually shift in the favor of the Laurasians. By March 6, Pertinax had reconquered Etienne, Roach, Aspen, and Evan; on March 14, he won the Battle of Jeremy, thereby inflicting a humiliating loss upon rebel forces. Cassolar was then secured (March 18-22, 1585), and on March 24, 1585, the Battle of Van Thang ended in another victory for Pertinax. By the end of March 1585, he had attacked and driven rebel forces from their footholds at Da Lat, Camng Ranh, and Vung Tau. Then on April 5, 1585, the Battle of Masan ended in victory for Pertinax. Spencer, Coleman, Ambarac, Cooper, and Emerson were recovered in quick succession (April 6-17); Hypasia Minor, Eric, and Giron were cleared of rebel units (April 22-24); and rebel expeditions were driven from the upper Immortalized Cluster (April 26-29, 1585). On May 4, 1585, Valeris V was recovered by Pertinax; he then suppressed disturbances on Sogan, Van Klep, and Qu'emia. Van Dinh and Tram Singh were recovered in June 1585. On July 18, 1585, Hieshbig was stormed by government units.
 * Finally, on August 1, 1585, Pertinax cornered and intercepted Le Duan and his chief lieutenant, Vuang Duah, at Dong Xoai; the ensuing Battle of Dong Xoai ended in a smashing victory for the Laurasian Empire. Two days later, Duan and Duah were both captured by the Imperial Laurasian Navy. There were bound in chains, placed on a prison transport, and dispatched to Laurasia Prime. On August 8, Veldarania, where the rebellion had erupted, was stormed by government troops; then on August 11, "Emperor" Priscus, who had fled to Hydarria following the fall of Hypasia Minor, was killed by starfighters (that destroyed his freighter) as he attempted to flee into the Wild Marshes. By the end of August 1585, all rebel tensions had been completely suppressed. On September 7, 1585 (two centuries before the conclusion of the Treaty of Nonsuchia Palace), Duan and Duah were formally paraded into the Laurasia Prime star system. Crowds of subjects jeered the two Hypasian rebels; objects were thrown at them; and they were publicly humiliated. On September 11, on the orders of Chancellor Perennis, they were placed on trial before the Senate and a assembly of prominent Laurasian nobles. The proceedings lasted only one day, and they were convicted of treason, conspiracy, and les-majestie. Their executions at the Fortress of Baureux (September 19, 1585), were witnessed by a crowd of more than one million persons, the largest such crowd of the sixteenth century. Over the course of the next three months, more than 100,000 rebels would be attainted and either imprisoned or executed for their role in the Priscan Rebellion. Perennis, himself, however, did not have any longer to live.
 * Emperor Commodus had been convinced by Chamberlain Cleander and his supporters in the Court, during the course of 1585, that Perennis was plotting to assassinate him and to seize the Imperial Laurasian Crown for himself. The Emperor himself had become jealous of Perennis's prestige and his influence within the government, and determined to now strike him down. On October 9, 1585, the Chancellor was arrested on the Emperor's orders, while presiding over a session of the Council of Secretaries, and conveyed to the Fortress of Baureux. He was not allowed to see the charges against him, and his pleas to the Emperor for mercy were denied. On November 1, Commodus attainted the Chancellor, and authorized Cleander to dispose of him as he wished. This was done on November 6, as the Chamberlain had Perennis and twelve of his servants executed by firing squad at the Fortress of Baureux, before a crowd of 300,000 persons. Thus, with one stroke, the Emperor had removed his chief minister. Then on November 18, 1585, Cleander himself was appointed Chancellor of the Laurasian Empire, Imperial Privy Seal, and President of the Council of Civil Service, thereby becoming the leading influence at the Imperial Court. He quickly proceeded to consolidate his power and took control of all public offices, controlling entry into the Senate, the Imperial Household, the Praetorian Guards, the military, and the civil administration; he even disposed of the suffectates of Christiania and the imperial governorships of the Empire. Cleander would remain predominant within the Empire for the remainder of the decade. Moreover, 1585 saw the conclusion of the Treaty of Jack (on January 18), which ended the Laurasian-Anastasian War on the basis of the status quo ante bellum.

1587

 * 1586 passed in "relative" tranquility for the Laurasian Empire, as Chancellor Cleander focused upon consolidating his position of power at the Imperial Laurasian Court, and within the ranks of the Imperial Laurasian Government. Emperor Commodus, who had elevated his chamberlain to such a high position of power and prestige, allowed for him to do virtually as he wished. Cleander now issued new regulations concerning precedence and heraldry rights at the Court; in March 1586, he granted "preferred" status to his own servants and courtiers, thereby degrading such nobles as the Dukes of Christiania, Constantinople, and Colombia. He maintained his iron grip over patronage: in June 1586, the Chancellor established twenty new suffecates for the Laurasia Prime star system, conferring these upon his supporters. He also conducted a purge of the Senate in August of that year, arresting and banishing sixty of its members from Laurasia Prime. Cleander reorganized the Quencilvanian Palace Guards; installed his agents in all of the major businesses and firms of the Empire; and established an elaborate intelligence network. He came to be despised by many throughout the Empire for his gluttony and greed. The Chancellor, however, kept an iron grip over the Almitian Church, and he compelled Chief Procurator Sir Willanius Courthania (1581-96), to issue injunctions and reprimand sentences against any who criticized his policies. Yet Cleander did introduce some beneficial innovations. He re-valued the denarii in September 1586, and modified the standards for interest rates, tax obligations, and bonds with the Imperial Treasury. And in November 1586, he issued new instructions to praetors and quaestors throughout the Empire, providing them with a clear set of guidelines as to how to execute their duties. Moreover, Cleander increased the annuities granted to the Praetorian Guards and the Imperial Marines, and he maintained the loyalty of the garrison of Laurasia Prime.
 * Yet 1587 saw the Chancellor striking against those who challenged him. In January 1587, the garrisons of Oxia Vixius, Ralina Vixius, Apathama Vixius, Little Mexicana, and Clackimaris experienced a series of civil protests against the Imperial Laurasian Government. During the course of the next two months, more than 150,000 troops of the Imperial Laurasian Army deserted from their garrisons. These engaged in attacks upon commercial and governmental convoys in the vicinity of Laurasia Prime; Depp, Mercedes, Andriana, Sargent, and Janesia were all harried by these traitors. Cleander now dispatched Legate-General Pertinax, who had returned to Laurasia Prime in December 1586, and been made Commander of the Planetary Garrison, to restore order. Pertinax performed his duty expertly; on March 28, 1587, he defeated a band of pirates near Augis V. Dearton's Gateway, Augis II, and Auggie then became scenes of confrontations near Laurasian and bandit forces; on April 7, 1587, the Skirmish of Reagan ended in a decisive victory for Pertinax. By the end of April 1587, most of the deserters had been killed or captured. On May 5, 1587, however, a soldier of the Garrison of Laurasia Prime, Maternus Brusius (1562-87), who had been denied promotion by the Chancellor's agents, and boiled over with grievances, attempted to assassinate the Chancellor in his sleep. He was, however, betrayed, and arrested by Praetorian Guards before he could reach the Chancellor's chambers. Convicted by the Governing Senate on charges of treason and conspiracy, he was executed at the Fortress of Baureux over a month later, on June 22, 1587 (two centuries before the death of Jay XIV Karany, the last Despot of Haynsia). Then in November 1587, General Pertinax unmasked a conspiracy against the Chancellor by two of his enemies: Sir Antisius Burrus (1555-87), a brother-in-law of Emperor Commodus, and Sir Arrius Antoninus, a Gentleman of the Privy Chamber. Both men were attainted and executed at the Fortress of Baureux on November 25 of that year. Thus as 1587 ended, it seemed that Cleander was secure in his position of supremacy.

1588

 * 1588, the 88th year of the sixteenth century, began with Chancellor Cleander having faced down conspiracies against him, and maintained order within the Laurasia Prime Purse Region. Emperor Commodus continued to indulge himself in his personal entertainments on Clancia, and left the affairs of government to his chief favorite. This year saw Cleander take further steps to consolidate his position of power; he also instigated a short, but decisive war, against the Neo-Xilanian Empire. On February 9, 1588, the Chancellor gave a formal address to the Empire's subjects from the Quencilvanian Palace, and in this address, declared that it was necessary for the stability of the Imperial Laurasian Government that he consolidate more of the "State's resources" under his oversight. All of this, of course, was by the authorization, and on the behalf of, Emperor Commodus. Four days later, the Chancellor ordered for the arrest and imprisonment of Sir Atilius Aebutianus, the Praetorian Prefect of Laurasia Prime (1539-88), who had assumed his position in December 1585, succeeding the disgraced Perennis. Aebutianus was now accused of treason and conspiracy against the Empire; his pleas availed him nothing; and he was, on March 2, 1588, tried and convicted by the Governing Senate on all charges. His execution at the Fortress of Baureux on March 15 inspired revulsion throughout the Empire. On March 18, Cleander took the position of Praetorian Prefect himself, thereby assuming direct supervision over the Guards. He made an appearance at the Casta Praetoria, and earned the allegiance of the troops by granting them an increased donative. It now appeared to virtually everyone that Cleander was Emperor in all but name. And in many ways, that was true, for Commodus still remained away from Laurasia Prime. And the point was driven further when on April 6, 1588, the Chancellor declared to his subordinates his belief that the Neo-Xilanian Empire posed a serious threat to the security of the Empire's northern territories, and needed to be dealt with accordingly. Mugus VII, who had been Emperor of Neo-Xilania since 1583, was a weak and ineffective monarch; the Neo-Xilanian Empire itself was in terminal decline, and its military forces were no match for those of the Empire. On April 29, Emperor Commodus, acting on the "persuasion" of Cleander, issued a formal declaration of war against the Neo-Xilanian Empire. Matters were helped by the fact that the Marasharite Empire of Murad III was distracted by conflict with Dejanica, in the Danubian Principalities, and against the Great Breffal Federation.
 * Laurasian units, assembled at Eaidon, Zoe, Skyler, Roxuli, Abraham, and other northern strongholds, and commanded by Legate-General Pertinax (with Clodius Albinus as his chief subordinate), made swift advances into Xilanian territory. Juxles fell quickly into Laurasian hands (April 30-May 2, 1588). On May 7, 1588, the Battle of Orkhan ended in a decisive victory for General Pertinax, who humiliated Xilanian General Uggus in that confrontation. By May 23, Bingley, Xilania Minor, and Xilania Secondary had fallen into the hands of Laurasian forces. June 1588 saw Laurasian forces subduing Horeb Prima, the Satellites of Ursula, and Al-Durah. Then on July 2, 1588, the Battle of Kemp ended in a decisive victory for General Pertinax. Jin Minor now fell under siege from the Empire's military forces (July 6, 1588). It resisted for more than a month, but ultimately Laurasian military forces penetrated its defenses on August 9. By the end of August 1588, Jin Major, Boniface, and Calrissian were all in Laurasian hands, while Varta, Nandia Major, and Esperanza were seriously threatened. It was thus that on September 18, 1588, Xilanian Emperor Mugus sued for peace. An armistice was signed at Greyson on October 3, 1588. Negotiations then commenced at Massanay, culminating in the Treaty of Massanay (November 4, 1588). By the terms of this treaty, Kemp, Al-Durah, and Boniface were conceded to the Laurasian Empire. Laurasian military forces gained transit rights across Xilanian territory; the Xilanians reconfirmed all free-trade privileges granted to Laurasian merchants; and recognized Laurasian rights in the Wild Marshes. This treaty, ratified by both governments by the end of November 1588, thereby weakened Xilania's position and strengthened that of Cleander's. Cleander now conducted elaborate celebrations on Laurasia Prime, and staged a triumph to celebrate the end of the war (December 1588).


 * Birth of the future Emperor Caracalla the Mad (r. 1611-1617) at Specilan Military Medical Post in Burgundum, Athens. He was the son of Brigadier-General Demetrius Severus and his wife Paccia Maricana, whom he had married in 1575.

1590

 * The year 1589 passed with the Laurasian Empire continuing to remain under the dominance of the Emperor Commodus's favorite and chief minister, Chancellor Cleander. The Chancellor had, during the course of that year, taken further measures which alienated the noble elites of the Empire and which demonstrated the extent of his influence at the Court. In March 1589, the Chancellor had conferred upon himself, and upon several of his associates, including Legate-General Pertinax and Mayor of Christiania Sir Willanius Vesvour, the Orders of the Imperial Garter, Antiochus the Great, and Seleucus the Victor. Neither Cleander nor Vesvour had participated in the Empire's recent military campaigns, or had ever taken a prominent role in the imperial military. Nevertheless, Cleander sought to demonstrate that all avenues of patronage were his. He lavished Vesvour, Pertinax, General Albinus, and the suffects of Christiania with numerous gifts, estates, and titles; in June 1589, the Chancellor was "awarded" Livadian Resort, the Estate of Calmos, and Fortunata Mansion by Emperor Commodus, and set upon developing these properties for his own use. In August 1589, Brigadier-General Demetrius Severus, the future Emperor (who was then forty-four years old), and was a veteran of every Laurasian conflict since the Mellorite War of 1563-66, was promoted to the rank of Major-General and named one of the suffects of the City of Christiania. Yet by January 1590, Emperor Commodus's regime, in general, had become widely unpopular throughout the realms of the Empire. The Emperor himself, who was growing increasingly paranoid, continued to indulge himself in athletic and courtly pursuits, and neglected the affairs of state.
 * Although he maintained the support of the common populace, he had lost it among the nobles, government officials, and courtiers of the Empire, failing to inspire their respect, loyalty, or affection. They compared him unfavorably to his father and to the other rulers of the Nervian Dynasty. Many of the Empire's elites considered Commodus to be one of the worst rulers in Laurasian history, on par with Antiochus III, Antiochus IV, Didius Julianus, or Honorius the Terrible; and that the Empire was disgraced with his presence. What incensed their opinions against him even more was that he allowed Chancellor Cleander to assume so much control over the affairs of the Empire, and laid no restraint on his actions. Tensions were boiling. On January 22, 1590, a notable incident occurred at the Imperial Academy of the Arts, where the Chancellor was dedicating the new Pavarian Gallery of Sculptures and Models. There, a crowd of unruly commoners denounced the Emperor's favorite, calling him a "beggar, liar, plunderer, coward, and consort of the Anti-Almitis" and demanding his head. Cleander had his guards disperse the unruly crowd; many of the crowd's members would be imprisoned at the Fortress of Baureux, the Post Settlement of Hepudermia, and the Neuron Plantita Station. During February and March 1590, a series of manifestos were circulated on the galactic media, decrying Cleander and providing a list of his "crimes". The Chancellor's efforts to suppress this libelous material did nothing. Events were swiftly turning against the Chancellor. On April 6, 1590, Christiania's high-rail system was disrupted by a series of failures in the city's transportation computer systems.
 * As a consequence, thirty of the city's sixty main lines were disabled; four hundred trains lost power; and a number derailed, killing more than ten thousand individuals. Difficulties intensified over the course of the next ten days, as the city's warehouses, public buses, and utilites systems all experienced major technical difficulties. Six quadrants of Christiania lost all electrical and mechanical power; in one quadrant, the city's maintenance bots turned on the populace, killing a number of innocent civilians and ransacking their properties. Cleander sought to bring these difficulties under control, and harangued the suffects and departments of Christiania. However, Sir Papirius Dionysius (1528-91), Suffect of Urban Transportation now successfully laid the blame for these issues on the Chancellor's shoulders, and encouraged his subordinates not to adhere to the Chancellor's orders. Although by the end of May 1590, the issues had been resolved, tensions had been increased to fever pitch: more than $300 billion denarii of expenses was incurred, and more than ten million individuals had experienced financial or personal injury. The Chancellor's popularity now hit rock bottom. Tensions finally exploded on June 20, 1590. A series of riots and demonstrations broke out in the thoroughfares of Christiania. Soon, a mob of more than sixty thousand ruffians descended on the Circus Maximus, where the Chancellor was attending a rancor race. Cleander, alarmed by this outbreak of disobedience, now dispatched a regiment of Praetorian Guards to disperse the crowd and restore public order. Legate-General Pertinax, however, had become ambitious, and was now opposed to the Chancellor.
 * He was encouraged in this state of mind by Sir Dionysius, who had aroused the city's notables to conspiracy. Pertinax had been appointed Chief of the Christiania Police Force and Suffect of City Administration in September 1589. He now ordered the Christiania Police Force and a detachment of public agents to oppose Cleander's guards, in direct defiance of the Chancellor's orders. The Guards, however, many of whom had been bribed by Dionysius, and swayed from their loyalty to Cleander, did not resist, and soon joined Pertinax's forces. Cleander was now compelled to flee for his life from the Circus Maximus, and from Laurasia Prime; authorities and garrisons across the star system were now openly revolting against him, and refused to recognize his authority. During the late hours of June 21, he got onto his personal starfighter and executed a swift journey to Americana, where the Emperor Commodus was residing. This was a vain effort, however, for the Emperor, who was now heavily influenced by his mistress Lady Marcia Demetrias (1559-93), decided to eliminate Cleander. The Chancellor made his arrival at Americana early on June 22, 1590, but was, on the Emperor's orders, promptly arrested and confined at the Palace of the Greats. Two days later, the Emperor formally attainted the Chancellor and his son, Anthemius. On July 4, 1590, Cleander was executed at the Palace of the Greats, in front of a crowd of more than 100,000 persons; his son was strangled to death in his cell at the Secret Prison of Ipsus V. The garrison and authorities of Laurasia Prime reaffirmed their loyalty to Commodus, on the urging of Pertinax, who sought for further advancement under his imperial master.
 * The Emperor now took further measures. On July 14, 1590, on his orders, Praetorian Prefect Sir Julius Julianus, the Emperor's cousin Princess Anna Fundania, Suffect Dionysius, and the Emperor's brother in law Sir Mamerintus were all arrested and imprisoned at the Fortress of Baureux. They were then interrogated by Pertinax and by the newly-appointed Chancellor, Sir Ecletus Suravius (1545-93). Finally, on August 4, 1590, all of these individuals were attainted and sentenced to death. Dionysius, Julianus, and Mamerintus would be executed at the Fortress of Baureux on August 19, 1590, before a crowd of more than 600,000 persons; Princess Fundania was banished to Kelby, where she would die on July 22, 1591. In September 1590, the Emperor formally disavowed his wife, Empress Consort Bruttia Crispina, and had her exiled to Pearl; she would die there on October 4, 1591, at the age of twenty-nine. The Emperor, who remained at Americana, nevertheless took more direct interest in the government. Affairs, however, were effectively handled by the Lady Marcia, Chancellor Suravius (far less powerful than his predecessor Cleander), and Praetorian Prefect Sir Quintus Laetus (1541-93), who had succeeded Cleander in command over the Guards. In September 1590, Arias, Manil, and Gogia revolted against the Imperial Laurasian Government, under the influence of the Arian nobleman Ortho. This revolt, as well as similar disturbances on Chandlier, Capital, Meaganian, Tommy, and Fitzsimmons, was quickly suppressed by Legate-General Pertinax. In November 1590, Pertinax was appointed to the Governing Senate; by now, he was conceiving ideas of possibly acceding to the Imperial Crown himself.

1592

 * 1591 and 1592 saw numerous acts of irrationality by Emperor Commodus personally, which at last destroyed his popularity with the common populace of the Empire, and which ultimately culminated in his assassination. The Emperor now took to using his pronouncements and iconography to stress his own status and position, disregarding the wishes of the Senate, Synod, Council of Civil Secretaries, and other institutions of the Imperial Laurasian Government. He sought to demonstrate his liberality, physical prowess, and his relationship to the Lord Almitis, reaffirming the traditional Almitian teaching that the monarch was that Lord's representative in reality. Innumerable statutes, monuments, and inscriptions throughout the Empire's realms, commissioned by Commodus beginning in 1587, portrayed him in the guise of the Angel Hercules, reinforcing the image of him as an Almitian agent, a physical giant, a protector, and a battler against beasts and men. Moreover, as Hercules, he could claim to be the messenger of the Lord Paul of Almitis, and to be in communion with the spirtual demands of Laurasian civilization. As 1591 progressed, these tendencies intensified to megalomaniacal proportions. Far from celebrating his descent from Antigonus II, the actual source of his power, he stressed his own personal uniqueness as the bringer of a new order, seeking to recast the Empire in his own image. On July 19, 1591, a combustive explosion destroyed the Cathedral of Sts. Vesta and Pax, which had been constructed by Seleucus I. Further accidents during the course of the next four days severely damaged the Grand Corridor of the Quencilvanian Palace, the Palatia Imperium, and the Seleucid Gardens.
 * Emperor Commodus took advantage of this incident to formally declare himself the "agent of Almitis". He now ordered for the cathedral to be reconsecrated in his honor and renamed the Cathedral of St. Hercules. Moreover, the Emperor erected statutes and portraits to himself, to the Angel Hercules, and to his family members in the Grand Corridor; mounted a tapestry in the Westphalian Cathedral, with the story of his "divine" origins; and issued a series of injunctions through the Holy Synod, adjusting the Almitian Mass, calling for Angel Hercules to be acknowledged in the liturgy, and adding a procession to the Church's calendar, in the Angel's honor. In September 1591, the Synod declared the Emperor "sacrosanct", and issued the Book of Jasher, which particularly emphasized Hercules's role in the foundation of the Almitian Church. Commodus also purged the Almitian Church's clergy; more than one-third of dioceses saw their prelates dismissed or translated by the Emperor between August 1591 and December 1592, as he sought to install his own supporters and associates within the church administration.
 * Then in January 1592, the Emperor implemented a series of name-change designations, to underline his own position. The Quencilvanian Palace became the Commodian Palace; all legions of the Imperial Laurasian Army became known as Commodian Regiments; the Governing Senate became the "Fortunate Commodian Senate", and the Holy Synod the "Fortunate Holy Herodian Synod", and the months of the year were changed to reflect the adoptive names the Emperor had taken, all of whom dealt with divinity and with Almitism. Moreover, the Emperor laid plans to construct a massive "museum" to his memory in Colombia; had a statute of himself erected over the entrance to the Imperial Mausoleum; and even gave orders for his insignia to be attached to the tombs of Seleucus I and of all Laurasian sovereigns since him. All of these follies were worsened by the Emperor's declaration that he intended to reestablish the policies of Honorius the Terrible, by resurrecting the Reginiks, that dreaded secret police and security force which had terrorized the Laurasian people and dominions four centuries earlier. The final spark came in November 1592, when Commodus participated in the Plebian Games on Robert (which had been organized since 1419, and would continue until 1696), and announced his intention to inaugurate the new year of 1593 as both a gladiator and Emperor. At last, the Imperial Household took action against him. Prefect Laetus, who had become Earl of Americana in December 1591, now formed a conspiracy with Chancellor Suravius and the Emperor's own mistress Lady Marcia, in order to supplant and kill him. Commodus had, in September 1592, drafted a new list of individuals whom he intended to execute or imprison, and Marcia had seen her name on that list. She therefore sought to save her own skin. Thus, on December 31, 1592, the Lady poisoned her master's food, served to him as his dinner.
 * The Emperor, however, vomited up the poison. The conspirators then sent Narcissus Marasius (1570-93), a page of the Imperial Household and a competitor in the recent Plebian Games, to assassinate the Emperor personally. Narcissus, who had Commodus's absolute confidence, succeeded; he caught the Emperor unawares in his bedchambers. Commodus was struck down with a vibrosword; by the time guards came in to restrain Marasius, he was already dead, at the age of only thirty-one, and after a reign of twelve years. Immediately following his death, the Senate, Synod, and Councils of Service and Secretaries convened; passed damnatio memoriae on the deceased Emperor, the first time in nearly a century that such a penalty was imposed upon a deceased sovereign; and abolished all of his name designations. The Synod revoked every injunction issued by the Emperor in regards to the Church's affairs. All of his statutes, including the one at the Imperial Mausoleum, were destroyed; his insignia, coin, and inscriptions removed; and his name effaced from public records. Moreover, he was excommunicated, and his plans for a museum in his honor were abandoned. The Cathedral of St. Hercules (whose reconstruction would be finished in 1595), was renamed back to the Cathedral of Sts. Vesta and Pax, and the Angel Hercules was removed from the Almitian hierarchy. 1592 therefore ended on a bad note.
 * Birth of the future Emperor Gordian V (reigned as co-ruler with his father Gordian IV, March-April 1638) in the City of Swetha on Nathaniel.

1593

 * 1593, the 93rd year of the sixteenth century, commenced with the Laurasian Empire having now emerged from the rule of the Nervian Dynasty, which had governed over the Empire's dominions since 1496. Nearly another century would pass before another stable dynasty would be established upon the imperial throne. The chief institutions of the Imperial Laurasian Government, having taken measures to eliminate all traces of the Emperor Commodus's reign, now moved quickly to select his successor. Towards 12:00 p.m. on January 1, 1593, the Senate, Synod, and Councils of Civil Service/Secretaries formally proclaimed Legate-General Pertinax, Head of the Christiania Police Force and Chief Suffect of Christiania, to be the new Emperor and Autocrat of All the Laurasians. The new Emperor Pertinax, who had served his predecessor in numerous capacities, was nevertheless determined to consolidate his own rule, and sought to disassociate himself with the previous reign. He therefore focused his efforts on restoring some of the measures of Antigonus II, ordering for the purity of the denarii to be revised upwards to 87%; issuing a series of manifestos to his subjects, proclaiming his fidelity to the traditional customs of the Almitian Church; and pardoning many of those who had been unlawfully imprisoned by Emperor Commodus and his agents. Yet from the very beginning, the Emperor had alienated the very factor which he needed to maintain his grip on power: the Praetorian Guards. He displeased the regiments by not immediately granting them a donative allowance, as had become common practice since the reign of Claudius. It was not until he dismantled Commodus's household, on January 28, 1593, dismissing his predecessor's numerous concubines and servants, before he finally gave the Guards a limited annuity of $1,000 denarii per soldier. The Guards therefore became dissatisfied with their new master, and believed that he did not intend to honor their privileges. In February 1593, the Emperor issued a series of instructions to the Guards through Prefect Laetus, attempting to impose higher standards of discipline. This only aroused further tension against him.
 * By the beginning of March 1593, these had escalated to new heights. On March 5, 1593, four hundred years after the murder of King Odoacer of Rudorita by Theodoric the Great of Halegothica, the Emperor averted a conspiracy by a group of Guards officers and Imperial Marines in Christiania to replace him with Sir Quintus Falco (1531-94), the Secretary of the Imperial Chancellory; Falco himself was pardoned, but thirty of the thirty-five officers involved in the abortive conspiracy were dismissed from the Guards and either imprisoned or banished. In spite of all his efforts, however, Emperor Pertinax could not avoid his ultimate fate. On March 28, the gates of the Quencilvanian Palace were rushed by a substantial detachment of the Praetorian Guards. Neither the Palace Security Patrol nor the Palace officials choose to resist them. Emperor Pertinax sent Prefect Laetus to meet them, but he sided with the insurgents and deserted the Emperor. Although advised to flee, Pertinax then attempted to reason with them, and was almost successful before being struck down by one of the soldiers. Following the assassination of Pertinax, the Praetorian Guards announced they would sell the throne to the man who was the highest bidder. Sir Titus Suplicanus (1537-97), who had become Mayor of Christiania following Pertinax's accession to the throne, and who had been his father-in-law, began making offers. Senator Antiochus Julianus, who had distinguished himself through his earlier service in the Neo-Xilanian War of 1588, the Anastasian War of 1583-85, and the Borderlands Wars from 1566-80, became the second contender. He was roused from a banquet by his wife and daughter, and hastened to the Casta Praetoria. Unable to gain access to the barracks, he stood outside the gates, and with a loud voice competed for the prize. As the bidding went on, the Guards reported to each of the two contenders, the one within the fortifications, the other outside the ramparts, the sum offered by his rival. Eventually, Suplicanus offered $100 million denarii to each soldier; Julianus, fearful that Suplicanus would gain the throne, then offered $225 million denarii. The guards immediately closed with the offer of Julianus, threw open the gates to their barracks, saluted him in the name of the Lord Almitis, and proclaimed him Emperor. The Senate and Synod, threatened by the Guards, hastened to affirm his elevation to the imperial throne, to recognize his wife, Manila Scantilla, as Empress Consort, and his only child Didia Clara, as Grand Princess. Emperor Antiochus V, as he was now called, hastened to devalue the Empire's currency, decreasing the purity of the silver denarius from 87% to 81%. This measure angered many on Laurasia Prime, and quickly turned many of its inhabitants against him.
 * He was derided in public wherever he went, and news of the public anger on Laurasia Prime spread throughout the Empire, and soon, the Generals Pescennius Niger (Governor-General of Venasia Prime), Demetrius Severus (Governor-General of Goldaria and Seejay Prime), and Clodius Albinus (Governor-General of Hypasia and Angelica), refused to acknowledge Antiochus Julianus as Emperor. On April 9, Niger was proclaimed Emperor by the regiments of the Venasian Cluster, followed by Demetrius Severus and Clodius Albinus five days later. Emperor Antiochus declared Governor-General Severus to be a public enemy of the Laurasian Empire (April 12, 1593), because he was the nearest of the three and therefore, the most dangerous foe. Deputies were dispatched from the Chancellory and the General Headquarters to persuade his soldiers to abandon him; General Sir Lysimachus Urus (1548-93) was nominated to supersede him; and orders issued to the Prefects to execute "this heinous traitor" as soon as the proclamation of treason was officially announced. The Praetorian Guards, who had not participated in active military operations since the reign of Antigonus I, were marched into the Campus Martius (on the outskirts of the City of Christiania), regularly drilled, and trained in the construction of fortifications and field works.
 * Demetrius Severus, however, aligned himself with Clodius Albinus, offering him the title of Supreme Commander of the Hypasian and Angelican Provinces and a position on the Council of Ministers if he in turn assisted him against his enemies. With Albinus’s support, Severus began his march towards Laurasia Prime. The garrisons of Hannah, Ruthania, Evelyn, Goss Beacon, Williams, Constantia, and Marshia defected to his cause during the course of April 1593, and he soon took Haujrau and Conservan by storm (April 30-May 4). Emperor Antiochus now dispatched Praetorian Prefect Sir Tullius Crispinus (1538-93), to intercept Demetrius Severus and attempt to reason with him. Severus, however, confronted him at Janesia (May 8-9, 1593), and inflicted a decisive defeat upon his forces; more than 100,000 governmental troops died in the confrontation. Crispinus himself was captured by the usurper Emperor, and was executed on his orders at Maroni four days later. The Guards, lacking discipline and sunk in debauchery and sloth, were incapable of offering any effectual resistance.
 * Emperor Antiochus, who was now desperate, attempted negotiations with his rival and offered to share rule of the Empire with him (May 15, 1593). Severus ignored these overtures and pressed forward; by May 24, the Clancian Provinces and the major Purse Worlds of Caladaria, Darcia, Clackimaris, Apathama Vixius, Ralina Vixius, Charasia, and Americana acknowledging him as their master. On May 26, 1593, the Guards, who had received secret assurances from Demetrius Severus that they would be properly "rewarded", and would not be punished for their assassination of Pertinax, took action into their own hands, arresting Prefect Laetus, Lady Marcia, and Chancellor Suravius; they also took custody of Narcissus Marasius, the assassin of the late Emperor. Then on May 31, the Senate and Synod passed a motion proclaiming General Demetrius Severus Emperor and Autocrat of All the Laurasians; beatifying Pertinax; and deposing Antiochus Julianus from the throne. On June 1, 1593, he was assassinated by some of his own guards at the University of the Laurasian Empire. His reign, which had lasted for only sixty-six days, had come to an end. Demetrius Severus took possession of Laurasia Prime shortly afterwards (June 6, 1593), and was acclaimed as Emperor by the population of the capital world. He now took vigorous action. On his orders, Lady Marcia, Laetus, and Suravius were all attainted, on June 10, deprived of all titles, dignities, and honors, and sentenced to death. Their executions at the Fortress of Baureux (June 22, 1593), attracted more than 800,000 persons, and aroused much comment in the circles of Laurasia Prime. They were then excommunicated by the Synod, and their remains were dumped in the Pit of Jadia. Emperor Severus also purged the officer corps of the Guards, replacing many of them with his own supporters and associates. Clodius Albinus was awarded his promised titles, and he acknowledged Demetrius Severus as Emperor (June 24, 1593). General Niger, however, who had now secured possession of the Outer Venasian Provinces, continued to call himself Emperor. Emperor Severus ordered Prefect-General Gaius Plautinus (1550-1605), destined to become Praetorian Prefect, to capture Niger’s children and hold them as hostages.
 * Niger, on his part, sought to consolidate his position. He seized Decapolia Major, Agac, Aflac, Podrac, Uber-Commerce, Archleuta, Colsonia, and the Venasian Triangle regions during May and June 1593. Moreover, the usurper Emperor secured the support of the Praetor of Monderon, Maxiliana, and Phyilis, Lord Aemillianus of Asellia (1529-95), who had been a loyal field subordinate of the late Antigonus II. Niger, however, had fewer military units at his disposal than Emperor Severus; Severus controlled all of the fleets, strongholds, and garrisons of the Laurasia Prime Purse Region, where the Empire's major military resources were concentrated. Governor Clodius Albinus, who controlled Hypasia and Angelica, also provided troops, funds, and equipment to Severus. Niger therefore tried to act aggressively, and on July 18, 1593, General Sir Lucius Clio, 4th Baronet Clio (1550-1609), one of Severus’s commanders, was defeated in the Battle of Rashid. Following this defeat, Rashid, Kolchad, Calpurnia, and Gitlandia capitulated to Niger’s forces (July 18-August 5, 1593). Emperor Demetrius Severus, seeking to arrest the advance of Niger, and to inflict a decisive defeat on his arms, moved out from Laurasia Prime to the Eastern Core Regions, sending General Sir Tiberius Candidus, Knight Banneret of O'Neal (1532-98) ahead of him. Niger, having made Bolgrahay his headquarters, gave General Aemillianus the task of defending Robbay, Bolgrahay, and Ipsus V. Emperor Severus reached Schaueria Prime in September 1593, and offered Niger the opportunity to surrender and to go into exile. Niger refused however, believing he would obtain victory in a direct military encounter. On October 7, 1593, Candidus clashed with Aemillianus in the Battle of Jean, resulting in a decisive victory for the government forces and the capture of Aemillianus, who was then executed on the Emperor’s orders shortly afterwards. Bolgrahay was placed under siege, and Niger was forced to abandon the world, retreating to Monderon. Bolgrahay remained loyal to Niger, and it would remain under siege by the Emperor Severus’s forces for over two years. Niger was then defeated again in the Battle of Aflac (December 14, 1593), but he was able to withdraw his units intact back to the Transitory Mists of the Venasian Cluster, and retained control of Duris, Maxiliana, Ka, and Hannis.

1594

 * 1594 saw the subjection of the territories under the control of usurper Emperor Pescennius Niger to those of Emperor Demetrius Severus. Yet it also witnessed the outbreak of renewed conflict in the Malarian and Kelvanian Provinces with the Dejanican-Lithuanian Commonwealth. On January 8, 1594, Emperor Severus, moving from his command headquarters at the Belts of Barton, launched a decisive assault against Niger's forces at Jean. The Second Battle of Jean resulted in a decisive victory for the Emperor; more than 200,000 rebel troops died, and Niger himself was forced into a humiliating retreat. Following this victory, Emperor Severus quickly secured Caroline (January 9); Jem (January 11-12); Boo (January 14); Dill (January 18); and Atticus (January 22). On January 26, 1594, the Battle of Lythia ended in another decisive victory for Severus; he and General Candidus now combined together to drive rebel units from Hordania, Dorothy, Bristalai, Compost V, and Decapolia Minor (January 27-February 4). By February 12, Archleuta, Colsonia, and Smithia had all abandoned their allegiance to Emperor Niger, acknowledging Demetrius Severus as their sovereign. General Candidus then defeated Niger's chief remaining field subordinate, Major-General Sir Euphemius Arstatius (1534-94), in the Battle of Rusum (February 14-15, 1594). Aflak fell into government hands (February 19), followed by Agac (February 24-25); Podrac (February 27); Maxiliana (February 29); Ka (March 2); Phyllis (March 8); Duris (March 11); Organia (March 17); and Athenis (March 22). By March 24, Vindictoria, Hannis, and Organia had also fallen into the hands of the Emperor's forces. On April 4, 1594, however, Emperor Severus dismissed General Candidus from his post, and appointed as his replacement the Lord Annulius (1547-1602). Annulius, who had previously served as Senatorial Governor of Clancia, vigorously pursued the offensives forth. He besieged and captured Venasia Secondary (April 8-14) and then on April 19, defeated General Arstatius again in the Battle of Tyrania.
 * Dayanie and the Prelone Asteroid Belt were then cleared of rebel units (April 22-29, 1594), and on May 2, 1594, the Battle of Istar ended in another victory for Annulius. Emperor Niger, seeking to arrest the government's advance, now met Annulius at Drennan, on the Kimanian Trade Run. The ensuing Battle of Drennan (May 5-7, 1594), was hard fought, but Niger was decisively defeated, losing almost all of his warships and over half of his personnel. Following this battle, Cadaria, Sanegeta, Hooper, Ruttum, Monderon, Lynne, and Anasia all capitulated to the Imperial Laurasian Government (May 1594). Niger, now realizing that all was lost, attempted to flee to the Mellorite Empire. On June 2, 1594, however, he was captured near Wakedia in the Robertian Provinces. On the orders of Emperor Severus, the usurper was bound in chains and transported back to Venasia Prime, which had been his "capital world", and which had now acknowledged Severus's authority. There, on June 8, 1594, after being attainted by the Emperor and deprived of all properties, he was executed at the Public Courtyard of the Queen Mother's City. Emperor Severus now published a series of decrees restricting many of the hereditary privileges of the Venasian nobility, and providing for limitations on commerce and communications, in response to their support for the rebellion. Niger's head, severed from his body, was taken to Bolgrahay, but the world still refused to surrender. Emperor Severus also punished all of Niger's supporters. His wife, Claudia, and his three sons (Pescennius, Septimus, and Nicanor) were executed at the Fortress of Baureux (June 21, 1594); all of his family estates, honors, and dignities were confiscated. By the middle of July 1594, most rebel territories except for Bolgrahay had been brought back under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Laurasian Government. Yet as soon as quelling the threat of Niger, Emperor Severus was confronted with the Dejanican challenge.
 * King Ariogasi I died in December 1586, having consolidated the Dejanican-Lithuanian Commonwealth's hold of Livonia, Pskov, and Yaroslavl following the end of the Stroganov War in 1582 with the Great Breffal Federation, the Great Republic of Novgorod, and the Denmarican Union. Following his death, a interregnum had ensued before in December 1587, Alexaigus II (1587-1607), was elected to succeed him as King of Dejanica and Grand Duke of Lithuania. The early years of Alexaigus's reign had been occupied by a renewed conflict in the Danubian Principalities, Podolia, and Ukraine with the Marasharite Empire; Dejanica allied itself with Austarlia, Haxonia, and the rebel confederacies of Montenegro against the Marasharite Empire and Haynsian Despotate, but the war of 1588-92 had accomplished nothing, save for the concession of Chochim and Kaidek to Dejanica in the Great Tesmanian Cloud. Moreover, King Alexaigus had to contend with civil uprisings in Galicia, Lodomeria, and Tesmanian Dejanica, and with the rise of the Kolbrow Confederation (1593). Yet by the middle of 1594, he and the Dejanican Diet had become convinced that a renewed war with the Laurasian Empire would extend Dejanican power, and could result in the recovery of Borderlands strongholds lost to the Laurasians. Thus it was on July 22, 1594, that the King of Dejanica had issued a ultimatum to the Imperial Court of Laurasia Prime, demanding for the revocation of the Treaty of Sadasko and for the restoration of McIntyre, Ernie, and Gurlack to the authority of the Empire. Emperor Severus, still focused on consolidating his own rule, but determined not to yield to these imperious Dejanican demands, ignored the ultimatum. Thus it was on August 9, 1594, that the Dejanican Diet issued a declaration of war against the Empire. Dejanican units, commanded by General Stanislaw Zosswoski, later to become famed for his exploits in Masacavania, Transylvania, and Denmarica, launched a penetrative invasion of the Kelvanian Provinces. Mordan was seized (August 11-14, 1594), followed by Anjun (August 18); Bouchet (August 19); and Kelvania Minor (August 22).
 * On August 24, 1594, the Battle of Kira ended in a decisive victory for Dejanican forces. Kelvania Major was soon blockaded, and the Laurasian colony of Barbara fell into Dejanican hands (August 28, 1594). Kanjur and Lielle both fell by September 6; then on September 19, Evans was seized by a surprise Dejanican expedition. From thence, General Zossowski seized Meehan, Manzo, and Siri (September 22-October 4, 1594). On October 9, Kelvania Major fell to the Dejanican-Lithuanian Commonwealth, constituting a blow to the Empire's strategic position in the Western Provinces. Ettleman, Goodman, Takrania, and Terell were in Dejanican hands by the end of October 1594. Yet Emperor Severus had, in the meantime, prepared a vigorous counteroffensive. On November 6, 1594, Welch and Johnald were overrun by the Dejanican units. They soon found, however, that they had overextended themselves, and the Battle of Sypert (November 11, 1594), was a decisive victory for General Plautianus, rising higher in his master's favor. Laurasian forces then repelled Dejanican assaults against Ursula, Odika, and White; the Battle of Foley (November 19-22, 1594), ended in another victory for them. Welch and Johnald were recovered in short order (December 1-5, 1594), and on December 8, Dejanican units were driven from the Maluyta Nebula. By December 11, Takrania and Terell were under siege by Laurasian forces; they were recovered on December 19, although McIntyre and Gurlack both fell into Dejanican hands. On December 24, 1594, the Battle of Takrania ended in another victory for Emperor Severus. Ettleman, Goodman, and Meehan were under assault by the end of 1594.

1595

 * 1595, the 95th year of the sixteenth century, commenced with Emperor Demetrius Severus I having consolidated his place on the Laurasian throne. Clodius Albinus, still Governor-General of Hypasia and Angelica, professed to be loyal to the Emperor at this stage, but was already harboring ideas of obtaining the imperial throne for himself. Yet Emperor Severus had to conclude the war with the Dejanican-Lithuanian Commonwealth, and he now took ready opportunity to do so. On January 5, 1595, the Battle of Manzo ended in a decisive victory for the Emperor's forces; Dejanican General Zossowski suffered a serious defeat there, losing 75,000 Dejanican marines. Meehan and Siri were then recovered by the Empire (January 8-13), and on January 14, so was Ettleman. Goodman proved to be a tougher nut to crack, but it finally fell on February 7, 1595. Kelvania Minor, Hadlson, and Kanjur were then recovered (February 8-14, 1595). Emperor Severus then launched a surprise offensive into the Dejanican Borderlands, storming Monique (February 19-22), Black Chandlier (February 26), Jon (March 2-4), and Shashanaya (March 8-13), in quick succession. Bouchet was recovered on March 18, followed by Kelvania Major on March 28. On April 2, 1595, the Battle of Flournoy ended in another victory for the Emperor of Laurasia; McIntyre, Ernie, and Gurlack were recovered, while Orion, Dequan, and DeAndre fell into Laurasian possession. By the middle of April 1595, Laurasian expeditions were penetrating to the outskirts of Fisher, Carrie, Irving, and Spacek. Thus it was on April 22, 1595, that King Alexaigus II, facing renewed war with Denmarica over Samogitia, Northania, and Pskov, and also contending with internal dissent focused on his government's taxation and religious policies, decided to conclude this latest, futile conflict with the Laurasian Empire.
 * On May 4, 1595, after an exchange of communications between the two governments, the Armistice of Dequan was signed. Ultimately, the Treaty of Dejana (June 11, 1595), restored peace between Dejanica and Laurasia on the basis of the status quo ante bellum. All military forces were to evacuate occupied territories; prisoners of war were exchanged; and full diplomatic relations, as they had existed prior to the war, were restored. In June 1596, Emperor Severus would conclude a Treaty of Commerce and Amity with the Commonwealth, which would last until 1611, and would regulate commercial relations, immigration, and border patrols between the two realms. The Emperor, in the meantime, had continued with certain domestic innovations. The Emperor provided for new annual allowances for the Imperial Household and the Praetorian Guards, and staged a series of magnificent games and public ceremonies on Laurasia Prime, seeking to gain the affection of his subjects. He also provided for renovations at the Galactic Opera, Imperial Academy of Sciences, and Galactic Gallery of the Arts (these projects were to continue for the remainder of his reign). Emperor Severus also finally completed the Aurelian Column, begun during the reign of Emperor Antigonus II to commemorate his victories in the Borderlands War. He was, however, soon confronted with other challenges.
 * The Marasharite Empire, in 1595, was still engaged in military conflict in the Great Amulak Spiral. Besides the war of 1588-92 with the Dejanican-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Empire had also found itself at odds with the Haxonian Confederacy, Genoa, and the Great Breffal Federation during the 1580s. In August 1576, Murad III had issued a declaration of war against the Federation, seeking to take advantage of the death of Breffal Emperor Tahmasp I in May of that year. During the course of the next fourteen years, Marasharite forces, supported by their vassals in Georgia, the Haynsia, and the Barbary States, slowly advanced against the Breffals, conquering Alkathiskhe (1576), Tiflis (1578), Kars (1585), and Tabriz (1585), while compelling Armenia into vassalage towards them. The Battle of Torches (fought in May 1583) had ended in a decisive Marasharite victory, and Marasharite forces had advanced through Dagestan and the Azerbajani Territories, with the Haynsian Despotate launching penetrative raids into Inner Breffalia, Turkemenstan, and the Uzbek Territories. In 1586, Haxonia, then under the rule of Doge Antonio Venier (1582-1600), declared war against the Marasharites, but its operations in Inner Dalmatia, Epirus, Rhodes, Galatia, and Macedonica accomplished nothing. Genoa, moreover, launched expeditions against the Sicilian Wayward Colonies and Palestina, seizing Tel Aviv and Jerusalem in 1587 but achieving little else. Both powers sent naval and financial aid to the Breffals, and utilized their possessions in India and Muscat to attack Marasharite positions throughout Mesopotamia, Kuwait, and Arabia. This did not change the balance of the power. The Marasharites continued their advance against the Breffals, seizing Luristan and Hamadan (both in 1587). Finally, in 1590, Breffal Emperor Abbas I was forced to sign the Treaty of Topacia, conceding Tabriz, Kars, Tiflis, and the remaining Caucasian strongholds to the Marasharite Empire.
 * Then in 1591, Murad launched an invasion of Haxonia and Izonza, forcing Doge Venier to come to terms in the Treaty of Verona. By January 1592, Genoa had also been compelled to make peace, through the Treaty of Ferrara. Then in 1593, Murad became embroiled in war with the Celestial Kingdom of Scottria, then ruled by Robert III; this war lasted until January 1595, and resulted in the Marasharite acquisition of Bessarabia and Focasani, thereby forcing Scottrian withdrawal from the Great Tesmanian Cloud. Haynsian and Marasharite forces campaigned as far as Madelaine, Albright, Albemaine, and Dourif in that conflict. 1593, however, also saw the outbreak of the Long War, which pitted the Marasharite and Holy Austarlian Empires against each other. Austarlia was supported by the Principality of Transylvania, which had since 1576 gradually broken away from Marasharite influence, and was ruled by Sig'sio Bathory (1586-97, 1598-99), who was hostile to the Marasharites. Moldavia and Wallachia had also come under the rule of anti-Marasharite princes. Michael the Brave became Prince of Wallachia in September 1593, but within months, had rejected the over-lordship of the Marasharite Empire. Aaron the Tyrant, who first became Prince of Moldavia in 1592, aligned himself with Michael and Sig'sio Bathory against them in November 1593. In June 1593, Marasharita and Austarlia had already entered into a state of war; Bihac had been seized by the Marasharites the previous year. Gyor and Korozom fell into Marasharite hands that year, though they suffered a serious defeat in the Battle of Sisak.
 * 1594 had then witnessed Raab falling into Marasharite hands, though Austarlian moves against Komorom and Gran failed. This was the situation which existed when on January 15, 1595, Murad III died after a reign of twenty-one years. He was now succeeded by his ambitious and intriguing son Mehmed III. Mehmed's energies were absorbed by the struggle with Austarlia, Transylvania, and the Danubian Principalities, which was to rage for another eleven years. And indeed, Prince Michael the Brave launched a series of offensives that year, capturing Girugiu, Iasi, Bucharina, Braila, Harsova, Silistra, Focasani, Fidonsi, and parts of the Peldavian Gateways from the Marasharites. Nicpolis, Ricnic, Kilia, and Adrianpole would also fall, and the Battle of Calugareni (August 23, 1595) would end in a decisive Wallachian victory. The Austarlians and Hungarians, on their part, recaptured Graz, drove the Marasharites from Esterzgom, and penetrated into Croatia, the Banat of Temesvar, and the Pazak Cluster. Thus, Mehmed could not afford to engage in extravagant military adventures in the Caladarian Galaxy. He was, however, aware of the Laurasian Empire's recent internal troubles, and believed that he could stir more difficulty for Emperor Severus and his government by provoking the Mellorites of Homidinia, whose power had been in major decline following the fall of the Jalaid Dynasty in 1582, into war with the Empire. It was in June 1595 that the Emperor of the Marasharites sent a communique to the Mellorite Court on Scanlan, offering them subsidies and military advisors if they in turned declared war against Laurasia. Mellorite King Safia Barugia I (1582-89, 1590-99), accepted the Marasharite offers. The Treaty of Mocktrialis (August 3, 1595), proved for the provision of 600.1 billion Marasharite bajaks to the Mellorite Empire, and a corps of 25,000 military advisors, to be employed in military campaigns against the Laurasians. All expenses of the military advisors would be borne by the Marasharite Government.
 * Following the conclusion of this treaty, Safia Barugia began to strengthen the garrisons of Jacobs I, English Star, Coronadia, Wes, Moran, Edmundia, Mackenzia Major, Scanlan, and the worlds of the Corporate Sector. Finally, on September 29, 1595, he issued a declaration of war and launched a series of offensives against the Empire. Abitia, Peters, and Celia were overrun by Mellorite troops (October 1-7, 1595). Maxwell, Markis Prime, and Kledis Var then suffered from a series of Mellorite raids, and on October 18, Silverman was blockaded by a Mellorite force. Emperor Demetrius Severus, who had been at Methuselah, now demonstrated his speed and vigor by swiftly moving to Alyssa, in order to take command of operations against the Mellorites. Destroying Marasharite units in the Battle of Selma (October 22, 1595), the Emperor then reconquered Peters and Celia (October 28-November 3); defeated Mellorite units in the Battle of Marley (November 8); captured a Mellorite transport convoy near Yutzy (November 12-14); and then drove the Mellorites from Silverman (November 19, 1595). Abitia was recovered on December 6, 1595, and Laurasian units pushed against Englestrom, overrunning the stronghold within two days. Sonny followed on December 14. Although Laurasian efforts to storm Capone and Felix failed (December 16-19, 1595), Emperor Demetrius Severus did obtain a major victory at Parthia (December 21). Wes and Moran were soon overrun, and at the end of December 1595, Mackenzia Minor was placed under siege.
 * Birth of the future Emperor Valerian (r. 1653-60) in Randanian City, Horacia.

1596

 * 1596, the 96th year of the sixteenth century, began with the military forces of Emperor Demetrius Severus I continuing to vigorously pursue their military campaigns against the Mellorite Empire of Safia Barugia I. The Mellorites, in an act of desperation against the Empire, now sought to launch a series of counteroffensives into the Homidinian Provinces. These were commanded by Mellorite Prince Afria of Capone, who was determined to deal a blow to the Empire's strategic position. On January 2, 1596, a Mellorite expeditionary force penetrated the defenses of Lawson; the stronghold, which was caught unawares by this sudden offensive, fell to them within the day. From thence, Prince Afria's units proceeded to seize Halassion (January 5); Chalassion (January 9); Chalassia (January 12); Alyssa (January 16); Dromund (January 21); Demebezaic (January 22); and Digette (January 23). By that point, however, Mellorite supply lines had become overextended, and their position in the vicinity of the Lacian Cluster was vulnerable. General Plautianus took advantage of this to lure Afria's advance squadrons, under the command of Prince Kamagucha, to Wakino. The ensuing Battle of Wakino (January 25-26, 1596), ended in a decisive victory for the Laurasian Empire; Prince Kamagucha himself was killed at the end of the confrontation. Following this decisive victory, Laurasian forces quickly terminated Mellorite moves against Kara, Perry, Abitia, Drake, and Rutherford, and on February 5, 1596, won the Battle of Erica, storming twelve Mellorite command positions. Chalassia, Dromund, Digette, and Demebezaic were back in Laurasian hands by February 11, and on February 17, 1596, the Battle of Bonnie ended in another decisive victory for General Plautianus. Then on February 22, Bolgrahay finally submitted to the Imperial Laurasian Government, and the last remnant of Pescennius Niger's forces was eliminated. Having consolidated his authority over the Empire's central regions, Emperor Severus could now focus his attention to bringing this latest Laurasian-Mellorite War to a successful conclusion.
 * On March 2, 1596, soon after Alyssa and Chalassion were recaptured by the Laurasians, the Battle of Cassie ended in a decisive victory for the Emperor. Mackenzia Minor finally capitulated to the Empire two days later, and on March 9, a Laurasian expedition sacked Coronadia Minor, Rosalie, and Temhassion. Mackenzia Major was then blockaded from March 18, 1596; it fell ten days later, thereby inflicting a major strategic blow on the Mellorites. With the Battle of the Stygian Caldera (March 22, 1596), Mellorite forces were finally expelled from the Lacian Cluster. Capone then fell on March 28, followed by Mocktrialis (April 1); Edmundia Major (April 4); and Honoken (April 9). Jacobs I and Scanlan were in serious peril by the middle of April 1596. Yet it was not until the Battle of Volovran (April 29, 1596), before Safia Barugia I, realizing that the war was accomplishing nothing, requested for peace negotiations with the Laurasian Empire. An armistice was signed at Ambroz on May 4, and negotiations then commenced at Syr-Daria twelve days later; Plautianus served as the Imperial Laurasian Government's chief plenipotentiary to the conference. Finally, the Treaty of Syr-Daria (June 18, 1596), resulted in Capone, Mocktrialis, Englestrom, Sonny, and the Upper Lacian Cluster being conceded to the Laurasian Empire. All prisoners of war were released, and Laurasian merchants gained free-passage through Mellorite territories. The Treaty of Syr-Daria was ratified by the governments of both realms by the end of June 1596. Following the successful conclusion of the Edmundian War, as this conflict became known, Emperor Severus returned triumphantly to Laurasia Prime (July 14, 1596), two centuries before the death of Durthian Protector Philip William of Orange, and presided over a victory parade at the Quencilvanian Palace.
 * Moreover, he ordered for the erection of the Forum of Severus in central Christiania (which would eventually be completed in 1616). He also formally proclaimed his eldest son, Grand Prince Caracalla, then eight years old, as his heir apparent. This last proclamation finally aroused the Governor-General of Hypasia and Angelica, Clodius Albinus, to action. Emperor Severus had already begun to discuss with his advisers the possibility of deposing Albinus from his position and having him imprisoned at the Fortress of Baureux. In April, Albinus had barely evaded assassination by one of the Emperor’s Quaestors. In September 1596, Emperor Severus demanded that the Governor-General pledge him a direct oath of allegiance. Albinus, considering this an affront to his honor, and reminding the Emperor of the aid which he had given him previously, refused. Severus now proclaimed him to be a public enemy of the Empire and a traitor to the Imperial Dynasty (September 22, 1596). The Senate passed a declaration of condemnation, and Albinus was formally dismissed as Governor-General. Albinus refused to submit, and had himself declared Emperor by his troops and authorities (October 2, 1596). Four days later, he departed from Hypasia Major, seeking to secure his territories and to penetrate into those loyal to the Imperial Laurasian Government. During October 1596, Albinus's forces had a string of successes. He secured possession of Sommers (October 4); Abraham (October 9); Skyler, Zoe, and Eaidon (all October 12); Roxuli (October 17); the Western Redoubt (October 18); Massanay (October 22); and Sassanay (October 24). By October 28, Dennis, Shannon, Rastaborn, Greisan, and Wendy had all been overrun by the pretender's forces, and he now launched vigorous expeditions into the Northern Provinces, seeking to extend his power further.
 * Rebel units entered systems such as Julie, Karen, Drake, Rutherford, Kara, and Perry; his communications extended as far as Calms, Hemsley, Sanford, and Gibbs-to-Lester in the Burglais Arm. On November 6, 1596, Albinus defeated the Emperor's legate and newly-appointed Governor-General of Lacia, Sir Virius Lupus (1560-1606), in the Battle of Sheryl. From this, Quanna, Methusalah, Laronn, Big Twinny, and Frederickslandia fell into his possession (November 6-11); Vindictoria was blockaded (from November 12); and Hannis submitted to his authority (November 16). By the end of November 1596, Wakino, Abitia, Silverman, Marley, Derek, Sharman, and Homidinian Wyatt had also fallen into his grip. Yet Emperor Severus had allowed the pretender to overextend himself, and on December 7, 1596, he departed from Laurasia Prime, determined to assert his absolute authority over the Empire's realms. He now stormed Greisan (December 9); Wendy (December 11); and Rastaborn (December 14). Severus then proceeded to strengthen the garrisons of Cibourney, Coen, Deanna, Blackria, Nezbit, and Martina Mccasia, thereby preventing any rebel advance into the Core Worlds. He then drove rebel units from Vindictoria (December 21, 1596), and on Ascentmas Day, 1596, inflicted a severe defeat upon rebel General Sir Cassius Lagos in the Battle of Candlewell. By the end of the year, the Emperor had assembled the chief fleets of the Laurasia Prime Purse Region for a decisive stroke against Albinus, and had ordered General Plautianus to maintain the security of Laurasia Prime and the Malarian Provinces.

1597

 * 1597, the 97th year of the sixteenth century, began with the Emperor Demetrius Severus I engaged in a struggle with the pretender Clodius Albinus, seeking to assert his absolute dominion over the Laurasian Empire. January 1597 saw the Emperor score a succession of victories against Albinus. On January 7, 1597, the Battle of Sair ended in a decisive victory for the Emperor of Laurasia's forces; that stronghold was definitively secured, and rebel units were driven from the Western Redoubt. Big Twinny, Leopoldia, and Frederickslandia fell back into the central government's hands (January 8-11), and on January 13, the Emperor launched a daring expedition against Roxuli, recovering that vital frontier star system. Skyler, Ipshilion, Eaidon, and Zoe were back in his hands by January 16. His forces then advanced into the Western Provinces, quickly securing Veldarania (January 14); Titania Majoria (January 16); Londarania (January 18-19); and Cassolar (January 22). By the end of January 1597, Huerta Mongol, Que'mia, Hypasia Minor, and the Immortalized Cluster were all back in the central government's possession. On February 4, 1597, "Emperor" Albinus, seeking to halt this advance of his rival's, moved from Gwendolyn (which his forces were besieging in vain), and into the Solidaritan Provinces. Emperor Severus, however, was awaiting him, and now lured his rival to Lugdunum, a Laurasian colony on the Dali Trade Run. The ensuing Battle of Lugdunum (February 19, 1597), ended in a decisive victory for Emperor Severus's forces. More than half of the rebel warships were destroyed or captured, and nearly 300,000 rebel personnel died. Albinus himself was captured by the Emperor's troops. Presented before his conqueror, he begged for mercy.
 * According to the accounts of Cassius Dio, however, Emperor Severus refused to consider any option of mercy for him, and he ordered for Albinus to be attainted and executed immediately. Albinus died from a round of blaster-fire from the Praetorian Guards. His body was then mounted on a pike and sent into the empty vacuum of space, where it quickly disintegrated. His head, which had been severed from the corpse, was sent back to Laurasia Prime, both as a display of the Emperor's might and as a warning to any others who might consider rebellion. Albinus's wife and two sons were executed on the Emperor's orders and their bodies were incinerated. After defeating Albinus, Emperor Severus quickly secured the renewed allegiance of the Hypasian and Angelican Provinces, as their Lieutenant-Governor Pyrrhus was unable to resist who he now deemed to be his proper "imperial master" (March 1597). Moreover, the Northern Provinces were restored in their entirety to the Imperial Laurasian Government. The Emperor returned to Laurasia Prime once more, on April 5, 1597, but he was to have but a short convalescence there. In April 1597, the Imperial Intelligence Agency and Bureau of Foreign Affairs discovered that Marasharite Emperor Mehmed III (who was still bogged down in war in the Great Amulak Spiral against Austarlia, Transylvania, and the Danubian Principalities), had provoked the revolt of Clodius Albinus, by offering his leading officers bribes and even sending the General financial aid. Moreover, the Haynsian Despotate's raids into the Empire's territory had reached a higher tempo; between 1593 and 1597, Haynsian fleets were reported in the Burglais Arm, Dejanican Borderlands, Neo-Merlite Provinces, Central Core, Hutsite Reaches, and the Gedrosian Provinces, and plundered or harried more than thirty thousand inhabited star systems. 1595, in particular, had been a horrific year of raids: Haynsian expeditions sacked Strongstine, Abshire, Drea, Duana, Breha, Offshora, Reading, and Goni in that year, inflicting more than $10 trillion denarii in damage and seizing more than thirty million captives.
 * Emperor Severus, who had proved his prowess in battle by defeating Niger, the Dejanicans, the Mellorites, and Albinus in succession, now wished to complete what Antigonus II had started, and to bring the Satian Provinces under the Empire's jurisdiction. Therefore, on May 21, 1597, Emperor Severus sent an ultimatum to the Marasharite Court on Topacia, demanding for compensation to be paid to the Imperial Laurasian Government for the raids inflicted by the Haynsian Despotate and for the Marasharites to refrain from provoking any future tensions in Laurasian territory. Mehmed III, who had a corps of Haynsian and Barbary troops deployed in the Northern Reaches, refused to even respond to the ultimatum. Following this, Emperor Severus departed for Valeris V (June 8, 1597), and assembled his units in the Borderlands Territories for offensives into Marasharite territory. In July, war broke out, and the Emperor directed a general offensive into Marasharite territory. He received the allegiance of Abgar, the Satian Viceroy of Simmons (July 22, 1597), and soon stormed Marasharite positions on Margery, Multan, and Lynne (July 23-August 6). General Sir Julius Laetius, on his part, repelled Marasharite counteroffensives against Bach Dang, Ho Chi Minh, and Saigon (August 1597). A Haynsian raiding expedition, however, struck Angelica Minor, Giron, and the Immortalized Cluster (September 1597). They managed to inflict damage upon the fortifications of those worlds and to carry away some 1.2 million captives. Emperor Severus, however, now retired to Eric, and prepared for more extensive offensives into Marasharite territory. Following the Emperor's withdrawal to Eric, Mehmed III assembled his military forces and Haynsian squadrons under the command of one of his leading generals, Bassan Pasha, and ordered for him to advance into the Northern Provinces. Bypassing Laurasian garrisons in the Satian Provinces, Pasha assaulted Sommers, Eaidon, and Zoe (September 19-25, 1597), inflicting severe damage upon Laurasian positions and even threatening to breach the defenses of Roxuli. By October 1597, however, General Laetius, who had now been assigned with the defense of the Northern Provinces, had managed to repel most of the Marasharite offensives. The last months of 1597 witnessed indecisive skirmishing between Laurasian and Marasharite forces at Morg, King, Xilania Minor, Norah, Satie, Simmons, and other strongholds in the Borderland Territories.

1598

 * 1598, the 98th year of the sixteenth century, commenced with the Laurasian Empire's military forces continuing to pursue operations into the Satian Provinces. Emperor Severus was determined to reduce Norah and Satie to the jurisdiction of the Imperial Laurasian Government; to terminate Haynsian raiding expeditions into the Empire's territory; and to force Marasharite recognition of Laurasian supremacy over the declining Neo-Xilanian Empire. In a proclamation to his subjects from his operational headquarters on Eric (January 7, 1598), the Emperor of Laurasia blamed the Marasharites for actively fomenting dissent against the Empire, by supporting the claims of Pescennius Niger and Clodius Albinus, and by provoking the Mellorites into hostilities against the Empire. He and General Laetus now conducted a series of strategic operations in Xilanian territory, the Satian Provinces, and into the Tof Borderlands. Morg and King were secured against Marasharite assaults (January 8-14, 1598); the Battle of Mugar the Great (January 22, 1598), ended in a decisive victory for the Emperor, who had moved swiftly from Eric, bringing with him the 9th, 10th, and 17th Imperial Fleets, and the 2nd Imperial Army. Expelling Marasharite units from Montgomery, Marciano, and Poppy (January 24-February 2, 1598), the Emperor then launched a surprise offensive against Meneia. Meneia, which was besieged beginning on February 6, 1598, fell into Laurasian hands four days later. Marasharite General Zafir-Salim now launched a series of strikes into the Homidinian Provinces, attempting to blunt further Laurasian moves. Lawson, Mocktrialis, and Greyson were threatened by the Haynsian Despotate's raiding forces in that month; on March 7, 1598, the Battle of Christensen ended in a victory for Haynsian Nalga Neshim-Karany. From thence, Kylie, Silverman, Marley, and Chalassion fell victim to Haynsian raids (March 8-14, 1598). By the middle of March, however, the Marasharite-Haynsian momentum was fraying, and on March 19, 1598, a Marasharite expedition against Ryan, Markis Prime, and Maxwell was destroyed by Legate-Admiral Sir Gaius Petraeus (1534-1603), in the Battle of Curry.
 * Jaiden, Kalista, and Twining were then secured against Marasharite assaults, and on March 22, Petraeus obtained another victory in the Battle of Sonny. Then on April 4, 1598, Emperor Severus himself, whose forces had assaulted Adrianne, Abrianne, Guthmiller, Chromy, and Chappelear, destroyed a Haynsian raiding party in the Battle of Eaidon; Haynsian moves against Zoe, Skyler, Roxuli, and Ipskhilion also ended in failure, and on April 9, 1598, Lower Izzia fell to the Empire. With Charlie, O'Donnell, and Gayle firmly in Laurasian hands by the end of that month, the Emperor turned his attention to Norah. Norah was besieged beginning on May 2, 1598. In spite of the resistance of Marasharite General Abshif-Kareef, the stronghold proved no match to the Imperial Laurasian Military, and on May 24, 1598, its shield and minefield defenses were breached. Within two days, the world itself was securely in Laurasian hands. From Norah, Orkhan, Juxles, Bingley, and Kaming were all cleared of Marasharite units (May 24-June 12, 1598), thereby definitively hurling them into the Wild Marshes. Edessa, Immae, Carrhae, and the Pargurs fell during June and July 1598; on August 9, 1598, the Battle of Ba'dai ended in a decisive victory for Emperor Severus. Ra'dai, Billy, Sly James, and Natalie all fell into Laurasian hands by August 19, and on August 24, Pulaski capitulated to an assault by General Laetus's units.
 * By September 1598, Satie was being threatened by the Emperor's forces. Marasharite Emperor Mehmed III, whose forces were continuing to contend with threats in the Danubian Principalities, Transylvania, and in Marasharite Hungary, now ordered Bassan Pasha, Commander of the Garrisons of the Lower Tesmanian, to conduct a counteroffensive against the Laurasian foe (September 7, 1598). Pasha executed his instructions to the letter. He repelled a Laurasian move against Tiona (September 13, 1598); drove them from Natalie (September 22); and on September 25, 1598, won the Battle of McIver, preventing further Laurasian penetration into the Tof Borderlands at that juncture. By October 4, Kia, Billy, Sly James, and Pulaski had all been secured by the Marasharites, and they were now pushing to relieve Satie. On October 13, 1598, however, Emperor Severus intercepted the Pasha's units at Ctesiphon; the ensuing Battle of Ctesiphon ended in a decisive victory for the Empire. More than 200,000 Marasharite troops died in the confrontation; the Haynsians were prevented from providing auxiliary support to their suzerains; and Bassan Pasha himself barely evaded capture, with his flagship, the Kalaukui, falling into Laurasian hands. This would be considered perhaps the greatest Laurasian victory against the Marasharite Empire until that of Kagul, in 1770. Following this victory, Emperor Severus besieged Billy Gasis once more, reconquering the stronghold (October 11-15, 1598); Sly James, Pulaski, and Carly fell into Laurasian hands (October 22-28); and a Laurasian expedition sacked the defenses of McIver, Ferguson, Sissy, and Latrice Minor (November 1598).
 * Finally, on December 9, 1598, Satie fell after a siege of nearly three months. Emperor Severus was exultant about this victory, and celebrations broke out on Laurasia Prime, praising the Emperor's exploits. Mehmed III, by this point, had pressing concerns in the Great Amulak Spiral. Emperor Mehmed had himself conducted a renewed campaign against Royal Hungary and the Austarlian Archduchies during 1596; in October 1596, the Siege of Eger had ended in a decisive victory for the Marasharites, who then proceeded to take Gyor, Esterzgom, and Hungarian Brest. The Battle of Kerestzes (October 24, 1596), had ended in another decisive victory for them. Holy Austarlian Emperor Rudolfios II (1576-1612), however, launched a renewed counteroffensive against the Marasharites early in 1597; the Austarlians overran Papa, Tata, and Veszprem; they also stormed Gyor again. Komoarom had fallen to the Austarlians in January 1598. Thus, it was to Mehmed's benefit to extraciate himself from the fruitless war in the Caladarian Galaxy. It was on December 15, 1598, that he extended an armistice request to the Imperial Laurasian Government. Emperor Severus, who was planning an offensive against Beit Shalom and Donna Major, responded positively to this, and on December 22, delegations from the two states met at Teller. The Truce of Teller (December 31, 1598), suspended all military hostilities and paved the way for peace negotiations.

1599

 * 1599, the 99th year of the sixteenth century, opened with the Laurasian Empire of Demetrius Severus I arriving at the conclusion of the Satian War against the Marasharite Empire. Emperor Severus himself, who wished to celebrate his victories on Laurasia Prime, and to turn his attention once more to internal matters, prodded matters along to a swift conclusion. On January 26, 1599 (one century before the conclusion of the Treaty of Karlowitz, which ended the Great Marasharite War), delegations from the two governments formally convened on Latrice, in order to negotiate an end to the war. The Laurasian plenipotentiaries were Lieutenant-General Sir Julius Laetus, Chancellor and Praetorian Prefect Sir Gaius Plautianus, and the Secretary of the College of Foreign Affairs, Sir Creon Marasch (1549-1617). The Marasharite Empire was represented by Basshan Pasha, Subordinate Vizier Galid of Perekop, and Haynsian Kalga Sirim-Karany. After over a month of negotiations, the Treaty of Latrice was signed (February 27, 1599). By the terms of this treaty, the Satian Provinces (including Norah, Satie, O'Donnell, Gayle, Charlie, Margery, Multan, Bingley, Orkhan, Juxles, and Kaming) were conceded to the Laurasian Empire. Haynsian expeditions into the Wild Marshes, and into the Empire's other dominions were to cease; all prisoners of war and captives seized in the military campaigns were to be returned. In return, the Imperial Laurasian Government pledged to return its conquests on the Galactic Frontier Route, in the Billian Provinces, and along the Galactic Frontier Route to the Marasharites; to recognize the Haynsian Despotate's vassal status, and servitude towards the Marasharite Emperors; and to refrain from commercial or intelligence expeditions in the Marasharite Galactic Void. The Treaty of Latrice was ratified by Marasharite Emperor Mehmed III on March 3, 1599, and by Emperor Severus four days later.
 * Upon the conclusion of this treaty, Emperor Severus instigated the construction of the Limes Saticus at Satie, Norah, Charlie, and O'Donnell, attempting to strengthen the defenses of these newly acquired star systems; the Limes would be completed in 1606. The Emperor then, on March 24, 1599, made his formal procession back into the Laurasia Prime star system, and conducted a victorious triumph there in order to celebrate his victories. Crowds of subjects adored their sovereign; fireworks displays, and an acrobatic performance by the Christiania Police Force, were conducted; and the Circus Maximus became the scene to numerous gladiatorial contests and other games. The Emperor, in May 1599, instigated the construction of the Column of Severus, in order to immortalize his deeds of victory over his enemies. The Column would be finished in 1603, and would contain visual depictions of the prominent battles of the 1590s. Then in September 1599, the Emperor affirmed the position of his son, eleven-year old Grand Prince Caracalla, as his heir apparent. Caracalla made his first state appearance at this time, sitting next to his father at a banquet held for foreign envoys at the Diplomatic Palace. As he matured, his father would begin to give him duties of administration and in the Imperial Household.

1600

 * Birth of the Emperor Demetrius Severus II (r. 1675-76), the successor of Aurelian the Savior and the second-longest lived sovereign in Laurasian history. He was born at the Hospital of St. Joseph’s in Christiania, and belonging to one of the junior lines of the Severan family, his baptism ceremony was presided over by the Emperor Demetrius Severus himself.

17th century (1601-1700)
The seventeenth century commenced on January 1, 1601, and ended on December 31, 1700 of the Hyperdrive Era system.

1601

 * On January 1, 1601, celebrations were held on Laurasia Prime, and throughout the Laurasian Empire's realms, in order to welcome the commencement of the new century. The first year of the seventeenth century saw the Laurasian Empire established as the single-largest and most powerful state in the Caladarian Galaxy. By 1601, the Empire's dominions spanned from the Satian Provinces, Wild Marshes, and Nicole in the west to the Gedrosian Regions, OsonBoka Nebula, and Huntite Provinces in the east. The preceding century had seen the extension of Laurasian rule over Hunt, Kimania, Lesia, and parts of the Mellorite Empire. Territories had also been taken from Dejanica, the Marasharite Empire, and the Neo-Xilanian Empire. Emperor Severus had done much to expand the Empire's power through his successful military campaigns against his rivals, the Mellorites, the Dejanicans, and the Marasharites. He had preserved the central authority of the Imperial Laurasian Government. He was very popular with the citizens of the Empire and with the Praetorian Guards. He continued to provide for magnificent public celebrations and allowances, in order to maintain the loyalty of his subjects. Emperor Severus, however, was not popular with the Governing Senate, many of whose members still viewed him as a usurper. Emperor Severus fueled this by ordering the arrest and imprisonment or exile of many of the leading Senators and their families, replacing them with his own favorites (more than one hundred were treated thus in the period 1600-05). He also antagonized the Holy Synod by overriding its directives and giving orders for his divinity as a servant of Almitis to be upheld in church doctrine. The Emperor’s popularity with the Guards and the Imperial Military, however, made him invulnerable. This century would witness the Empire experiencing great internal and external challenges, and its territorial expansion would not be as considerable as it had been in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.
 * Birth of the future Emperor Trajan Decius (r. 1649-51) at the Decian Family Mansion in the Residential Quarters of Christiania, Laurasia Prime.

1602

 * 1602, the second year of the seventeenth century, began with the Laurasian Empire still at peace. Emperor Demetrius Severus, seeking to consolidate his territories in the Barsar Regions, and to give his troops opportunity to obtain more glory and booty in battle, decided to end this state of affairs and to launch a military campaign against the Celestial Kingdom of Scottria, that state originating from the Angelina Spiral which had now ascended to predominance in the central Galactic Borderlands. It is now expedient to give a brief description of Scottria’s history, and the circumstances under which it were to now come into conflict with the Laurasian Empire, a conflict which was to continue throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. As previously noted, Scottria had originally been established in AH 1242, from the earlier Kingdoms of Dal Riata and Pictland. Dal Riata had been established in AH 900, by the three brothers Fergus Mor, Loarn, and Onaegus; Pictland had been established by King Vipoig in AH 712 from Glasgow and Madelaine. The founder of united Scottria, Kenneth MacAlpin, had originally been King of Dal Riata, having ascended to the Dal Riatan throne in 1241. His ascension to the Pictan throne the following year occurred as a result of the death of his kinsman King Bridei I, who had died without surviving heirs. Kenneth had fought his rivals Bridei II and Drest for five years, until in 1248 he consolidated his rule of Pictland. Kenneth however, never assumed the title of "King of Scottria", and when he died in 1258, the two realms were still theoretically in personal union. Under his successors Donald I (1258-62); Constantine I (1262-77); Aed (1277-78); and Giric (1278-89) this situation continued.
 * Donald II (1289-1300), was a different kind of man, and he was determined to consolidate his position. By centralizing his household, imposing a uniform taxation system, and curbing the influence of his nobles, Donald extended his effective authority over the whole of his realms. By the time he died in 1300, reference was being made in state documents to Kings of Scottria. Donald’s son and successor Constantine II (1300-43), consolidated the Celestial Kingdom of Scottria; he proclaimed himself definitively King of Scottria in 1327, and finally abandoned the Dal Riatian and Pictan royal titles. His reign was dominated by conflict with the Donathians of Kthexox, the Amelianian Kingdom of Cordania, and the Brittonic Potentates in the Angelina Spiral. Although forced in 1327 and 1334 to acknowledge the overlordship of Amelianian King Athlestan, Constantine was eventually able to maintain his kingdom’s territorial integrity and to gain a sphere of influence in the Galactic Borderlands. After his abdication in 1343 (he died in 1352), his successors during the course of the fourteenth and early fifteenth centuries greatly expanded Scottrian power and influence. His son and heir Malcolm I (1343-54) acquired Waxefield and the Upper Galactic Barrier by arrangement with Amelianian King Edmund, thereby establishing the first Scottrian foothold in the Galactic Borderlands. The reigns of Indulf (1354-62); Dub (1362-67); Cuilen (1367-71); and Amlaib (1371-77) were occupied by continued conflict with the Donathians, the Lavellans, and the Brittonic Potentates, ultimately resulting in the Scottrian acquisition of Dumbaline and the Lower Angelian Reaches. Kenneth II (1377-95) took advantage of the weakness of Amelianian King Aethelred the Unready (1378-1416) to extend Scottrian authority over Rasdalla Minor (1379); Onasi (1381); the Cane Cluster (1383-86); Rasdalla Major and the Kathy Worlds (1388); Kalbacha Minor and Zannah (1389); and the Vilmanstrand Colonies (1394). It was also during Kenneth’s reign that diplomatic relations were first established with the Laurasian Empire. The Treaty of Dunbar, signed in 1389, was the first agreement concluded between the Imperial Laurasian and Scottrian Governments.
 * The Scottrian advance continued during the first decades of the fifteenth century. Kenneth III (1397-1405) and Malcolm II (1405-1434) conquered Kalbacha Major, Gwynne, Goriance, Gadweria, Palaris III, and parts of the Berwick Barrier. When Malcolm II died in 1434 (the year that Laurasian Emperor Tiberius destroyed the Polonian-Donguarian Commonwealth), Scottria had absorbed the greater bulk of the Amelianian Southern Territories. The reign of Duncan I (1434-1440), who ascended to the throne as the first of the House of Duncan, was marked by military failures, as the Amelianians and Donathians (united under King Canute), repelled Scottrian offensives against the Muggal Cluster and even reconquered the Kalbachan Provinces. Macbeth (1440-57), who overthrew and killed Duncan, was distracted by efforts to maintain his authority over his nobles. His successor Lulach (1457-58) ruled for only a year before he in turn was overthrown and killed by Duncan I’s son, Malcolm III (1458-93). Malcolm was also faced with military failure, and he lost Partsia, the Riverite Asteroid Belt, Barching, and the Vilmanstrand Colonies to King Wilvert the Conqueror (1466-87) of Ameliania. Moreover, he found himself embroiled, in 1479-82 and 1485-86, in two wars against the Dejanican-Lithuanian Union ruled by Casimirus IV.
 * By the late fifteenth century, it seemed as if the Scottrians would be driven from the Galactic Borderlands. Donald III (1493-97); Duncan II (rival king, 1494); and Edgar (1497-1507), were all incompetent and did not launch any military campaigns. Edgar’s death in 1507 without children resulted in the usurpation of the Scottrian throne by Robert Bruce (1507-29), who established the short-lived Brucian Dynasty. Bruce defeated the Amelianians in the Battle of Bannockburn (1514), maintaining Scottrian rule of the Rasdallan and Barrier Provinces. His son and successor David I (1529-71), was only a child when he ascended to the throne. The early years of his reign saw conflicts with the Dejanican-Lithuanian Union, the Kingdom of Ameliania, and the Haynsian Despotate. In 1533, the Amelianians of King Edward III invaded Scottria again and won the Battle of Halidon Star. King David was sent to reside at the Franconian Court for his safety. David ultimately returned to Scottria in 1541, but five years later, was defeated and captured by the Amelianians in the Battle of Neville Cross. His captivity lasted for eleven years, during which time most Scottrian territory in the Galactic Borderlands was lost to the Amelianians and Dejanicans (Sig'isio II seized the Dejanican Borderlands region in 1553-55, as alluded to above). Released in 1557, David then displayed a burst of vigor, as his rival Edward III was beset by war with the advancing Marasharite Empire (who had already seized the Northern Reaches and Muggal Cluster from the Iffians and Cosites) and with the Dejanican-Lithuanian Commonwealth, who had overrun the Lavellan Potentates. By the time of his death in 1571, David had not only recovered lost Scottrian territories in the Galactic Borderlands (except for the Dejanican Borderlands), but he had also conquered the Kalbachan Provinces for the second time and sent expeditions into the Rogerian Cluster. He died childless however, and was succeeded by his nephew, Robert, Steward of Scottria, who became Robert II of the House of Stuart. Robert II (1571-90), waged a series of victorious campaigns against the Dejanicans and the Amelianians, sometimes in contact with Laurasian Emperor Antigonus II. Although he eventually lost control of state affairs to his nobles and son, his reign saw a decisive Scottrian victory over the Amelianians at Otterburn in 1588, which resulted in the annexation of the Rogerian Cluster into the Celestial Kingdom of Scottria. Robert’s death in April 1590 brought his son Robert III to the throne. Robert’s reign was dominated by internal strife, but by 1597, the Amelianians had been reduced to a precarious hold of Cognus and Bane.
 * They were under constant pressure from the Scottrians and the Marasharites (who fought a war with each other from 1593-1595). This was the situation which existed as the Emperor of Laurasia engaged in the first Laurasian-Scottrian War. In March 1602, the Emperor sent a ultimatum to the Scottrian Court on Ediania, demanding that Laurasian rule of the Hypasian and Merlite Provinces be affirmed by the Scottrian Government; that the Scottrians refrain from providing refuge to fugitives from the justice of the Imperial Laurasian Government; and that Laurasian merchants be granted special privileges of transit in Scottrian territory. Scottrian King Robert III considered these demands to be an affront to his honor, and steadfastly refused. The following month, Demetrius Severus declared war against the Celestial Kingdom of Scottria, and Laurasian units advanced into the Galactic Borderlands. The Emperor’s chief general of operations, Anicius Fastus, who served as Supreme General of the Merlite Provinces, obtained a series of victories in battle against Scottrian units, which were commanded by Archilain Douglain, 4th Earl of Douglain. Ladoga, Oneida, Spurra, Ranieda, the Vilamanstrand Approaches, Tram Buhimdal, and Roger Minor were overrun by Laurasian troops. By August 1602, the Emperor’s forces had also stormed the Scottrian colonies of Cydamus, Gholaia, Garbia, and Garama, driving a wedge into the heart of the Scottrian Provinces.
 * The following month, the Earl of Douglain, seeking to reverse Laurasian progress, opposed them at Humbleton Mist (September 14, 1602). This confrontation resulted in a decisive victory for the Emperor Demetrius Severus. Douglain himself, along with several of his leading captains, including the 5th Earl of Moray and Lord Murdoch of Fife, were captured and sent back to Laurasia Prime as prisoners of state. Following this victory, the forces of Emperor Severus and General Fastus overran Vescera, Roger Major, Castellum Dimmdi, Gemallae, Thabudeos, Thubnae, Zabi, the Bereoyeze Asteroids, Fraiser, McKellen, Crusher, and Wesley, inflicting a series of humiliating defeats upon the Scottrians. By December 1602, Laurasian forces were menacing Janeway, Devily, and Barching.

1603

 * King Robert III of Scottria, hard-pressed by internal troubles and seeking to reorganize his military forces, requested for negotiations with the Emperor Demetrius Severus (January 19, 1603). Emperor Severus, who believed that he had accomplished his goals, approved this request, and an armistice was concluded at Janeway ten days later. Delegations from the two governments then convened at Littleton in order to negotiate an end to the conflict. Then, on March 24, 1603, the Treaty of Littleton was signed, which brought an end to the First Laurasian-Scottrian War, and marked a decisive victory for Laurasia. By the terms of this treaty, Cydamus, Gholaia, Garbia, Garama, Humbleton Mist, Vescera, Castellum Dimmdi, Gemallae, Thabudeos, Thubnae and Zabi were conceded to the authority of the Laurasian Empire. Other Scottrian territories conquered by Laurasian arms were to be restored to Scottrian authority before the end of 1605.
 * The Scottrian Government agreed to pay a financial indemnity to the Emperor of Laurasia for his military expenses; to acknowledge Laurasian territorial rights in the Barsar Regions; and to provide for free commerce and transit between the two realms. Emperor Demetrius Severus, on his part, agreed to respect future Scottrian territorial integrity and to release all prisoners of war. The Treaty of Littleton was ratified by both sovereigns by the end of April 1603. Following the conclusion of this treaty, Emperor Severus proceeded to Caesearea. He sponsored the colonization of Gerasa, Ioppe, Aeropolis, Aelana, Raphia, Hierosolyma, Panias, Berytus, Callinicum, Banae, Zeguma, Bastie, and Damata in the Neo-Merlite Provinces, encouraging the development of those regions, while at the same time strengthening the outposts of the newly acquired Eastern Berwick Barrier, to consolidate his Empire's hold over the Garaman Provinces. In June 1603, however, Sir Antigonus Percius, Earl of Redia, erupted in revolt. His forces managed to secure control of Sejucia, Ruumlist, and Nicole before being ruthlessly suppressed following the Battle of Sherwania (July 21, 1603). Percius was himself killed, and his head was brought to the Emperor, who had it incinerated. Following the suppression of this revolt, Emperor Severus returned to Laurasia Prime in October 1603, after having made a tour throughout his southern territories, and conducted a triumph in the quadrants of Christiania. His Chancellor and Praetorian Prefect, Sir Gaius Plautianus, one of the Emperor’s leading favorites, staged the ceremonies. He had become unpopular throughout the Empire, however, and was despised by all at the Imperial Court as an imprudent upstart. The Arch of Septimus Severus was erected in November 1603, in commemoration of the Emperor’s military victories.
 * Birth of the future Emperor Elagabalus the Loathsome (r. 1618-22) in Emacia City, Doracia, of the Permian Province in the Laurasian Empire. Doracia had been originally colonized by the Dasian Golden Horde in 889 during the reign of Khan Kalanbuga, and had been rehabilitated as a Laurasian colony during the reign of Emperor Antiochus I the Great in the fourteenth century. Elagabalus would become one of the most despised rulers in all of Laurasian history.

1604

 * Birth of the future Emperor Philip I (r. 1644-49) in the City of Strabtha on Millard, which had been established as a civil settlement for Laurasian colonists in 1519.

1605

 * 1605, the fifth year of the seventeenth century, began with tensions boiling over at the Imperial Laurasian Court. As was mentioned above, Emperor Severus's second-in-command, Chancellor and Praetorian Prefect Sir Gaius Plautianus had become unpopular throughout the Empire, due to his great wealth, his position of prestige at the Imperial Court, and the resources he held. In November 1601, he had been created Duke of Uris by Emperor Severus. Then on April 8, 1602, he had married his daughter Fulvila Plautilla to Grand Prince Caracalla, with the approval and the connivance of the Emperor himself. As a result of this marriage, Plautianus acquired further influence in state affairs, and he continued to accumulate estates, businesses, and properties throughout the Empire. In June 1604, he became Procurator-General of the Governing Senate and President of the Imperial Council of Secretaries, and now took over oversight of the Empire's civil service and judiciary. Plautianus's enemies, in the meantime, had multiplied. Grand Prince Caracalla himself, who was now nearing maturity, despised the favorite, as did his mother, Empress Consort Paccia Marciana. They now conspired with others at the Court, including Chief Procurator Thomasius Arundellia (1599-1614) to bring about Plautianus’s downfall.
 * On January 22, 1605, Plautianus was accused openly by Grand Prince Caracalla and several Senators of plotting to assassinate the Emperor and his family. Emperor Severus, presented with the "proof" about his favorite’s guilt, was overwhelmed, and in a surge of fear, ordered his prompt attainment and execution. Plautianus was put to death in the Fortress of Baureux; damnatio memoriae was passed on him, and all of his honors and estates were confiscated. Caracalla quickly distanced himself from his wife and persuaded his father to banish her to Jenny. All of Plautianus’s other family members were imprisoned or exiled from Laurasia Prime. In the aftermath of this, Caracalla himself was promoted to Procurator-General of the Governing Senate (September 1605), and plans were drawn up to proclaim him co-Emperor alongside his father.

1606

 * Birth of the future Emperor Trebonianus Gallus (r. 1651-53) in Coda, Majoria Schall, in the Majorian Province of the Laurasian Empire.
 * Emperor Demetrius Severus secured a major symbolic triumph when Ashlgothian pirates, operating in the vicinity of Bobria and Merliash, captured the entourage of the Scottrian Prince Jamsius and his household. Scottria had continued to be ravaged by internal dissent and rebellion; in particular, the struggle over the throne between the Earl of Albany and the supporters of Prince Jamsius. King Robert III, seeking to preserve his son’s safety, and hoping to tone down the dynastic squabbles in his realms, ordered his son to depart for Franconia. His son had, in defiance of his father’s instructions, decided to take a progress through the Scottrian provinces in the Eastern Galactic Borderlands before making his departure. This now proved to be his undoing, as he was waylaid and captured by the Ashlgothian pirates in the Mists of Odo (March 1606). The pirates, who had been fugitives from the justice of the Imperial Laurasian Government, now sent word to the Imperial Court on Laurasia Prime about their illustrious captives, and entreated the Emperor for a pardon if they surrendered the Scottrians into their custody. Emperor Demetrius immediately accepted, and the transfer occurred at Talaris.
 * Jamsius was treated well by the Emperor, who nevertheless had him displayed in a triumph in the streets of Christiania. King Robert, whose health had been ailing, died on April 4, 1606; his son now became King Jamsius I of Scottria. The Duke of Albany moved swiftly to establish himself as lord protector of the kingdom. Realizing that the Laurasians had the advantage, Albany decided to refrain from instigating war against them. In June 1606, he instead offered to cooperate with the Imperial Laurasian Government if they in turn offered diplomatic and economic aid to the Scottrian Government for military campaigns against their Amelianian adversaries. Demetrius Severus accepted, and agreed to provide for all of King Jamsius’s expenses while in his custody. War erupted between Scottria and Ameliania in November 1606; by the end of the year, the Amelianians of King Henry III were on their last legs.

1607

 * Birth of the future Emperor Aemllian (r. August-October 1653) at the Second Station of Callista in orbit of Laurasia Prime.
 * Bane was stormed by the Scottrian forces of the Duke of Albany, resulting in the final destruction of Amelianian power in the Galactic Borderlands. This event occurred 561 years after the first entry of Amelianian war-bands into the Caladarian Galaxy. The final destruction of Ameliania strengthened the position of the Scottrians in the Galactic Borderlands, but Albany was still unwilling to go to war with the Laurasian Empire at this juncture.

1608

 * Birth of the future Emperor Alexander Severus (r. 1622-35) at the Palace of the Greats on Americana. Emperor Demetrius Severus and Grand Prince Caracalla were present at the birth of the young Prince, and served as two of his godparents.
 * Emperor Demetrius Severus, seeking to obtain further military glory in battle, and to demonstrate the military capabilities of the Laurasian Empire, decided to embark on a campaign to consolidate Laurasian rule in the Northern Provinces. He intended to do this by subduing the remainder of the Neo-Xilanian territories and annexing them into the Laurasian Empire. Departing from Laurasia Prime in March 1608, Emperor Severus soon established his operational headquarters at Eaidon. Laurasian units assembled at Margery, Multan, Lynne, Norah, Satie, Zoe, Roxuli, Abraham, Chalassion, Greyson, Alyssa, Halassion, Chalassia, Dromund, Englestrom, Mocktrialis, and Lawson, posed for a decisive strike into the Xilanian territories. The Neo-Xilanian Empire was under the rule of the incompetent Gurgal, who had received financial subsidies from the Imperial Laurasian Court and lived in sloth. He had allowed the military preparedness of his dominions to fall apart.
 * In May 1608, the Emperor’s forces invaded Xilanian territory and encountered no opposition. Jin Major, Horeb Prima, Xilania Minor, Calrissian, Lando, Varta, and Nandia were quickly overrun by the Emperor’s forces, as were the old Marauder Colonies. Emperor Severus himself supervised the seizure of the Tomb of Vorastis, that famed fifth-century Marauder conqueror and emperor, and offered his prayers to that monarch’s soul. Emperor Gurgal dispatched a force to resist the Laurasian advance. The Battle of Trimontium (June 22, 1608), the only pitched confrontation of the Laurasian-Xilanian War, resulted in a decisive victory for the Imperial Laurasian forces. Xilania Major was now exposed to the Laurasian assault. The world was besieged from July 9. Its fall on September 2, 1608, was accompanied with Gurgal’s capture and execution by Praetorian Guards on the Emperor’s orders. By the end of 1608, most Xilanian strongholds had been occupied by Laurasian forces. Emperor Demetrius surveyed his conquests, and conducted a victory triumph on Xilania Major. He now prepared to return to Laurasia Prime and was contemplating renewed military campaigns against the Marasharite Empire.

1609

 * Emperor Demetrius Severus returned to Laurasia Prime from his campaigns against the Neo-Xilanians. Conducting a triumph in the streets of Christiania, he was praised by the institutions of the Imperial Government in an official proclamation. The Emperor’s sons Caracalla and Geta, who had served under the command of their father in the military campaigns, were both conferred the Order of St. Honorius the Liberator as a reward for their efforts. In March 1609, Emperor Severus proclaimed Geta to be his co heir-apparent, and mandated that he and Caracalla were to be joint Emperors upon his death. This declaration rankled with Caracalla, who desired to become the sole ruler of the Empire upon his father’s death, and it would have grave consequences. Just two months later, the Emperor was forced to stir from Laurasia Prime by the outbreak of overt rebellion against his authority in the newly-conquered Xilanian Provinces. At Horeb Prima, the Xilanian nobleman Argentocoxos, who had served in the Neo-Xilanian Army and believed himself to be a patriot, announced his intention to expel the Laurasian occupiers. He now received covert aid from Marasharite Emperor Ahmet I, who had succeeded his father Mehmed III upon his sudden death in December 1603. By June 1609, Xilanian rebel and mercenary units had assembled for combat. Jin Major, Jin Minor, Morg, and King quickly defected to the forces of Argentocoxos. The Laurasian Legate-General, Julius Avradius, was defeated in the Battle of Caledonia and forced to abandon Xilania Secondary to the rebel forces. Emperor Severus now assembled his squadrons at Roxuli, Abraham, and in the Satian Provinces, determined to suppress this rebellion. He left his son Grand Prince Caracalla on Laurasia Prime, to handle the affairs of government in his absence. In September 1609, after having defeated rebel units in confrontations at Zoe, Alyssa, and Mocktrialis, the Emperor advanced against Jin Major. Argentocoxos and his forces now pursued a guerilla strategy, inflicting severe damage upon Laurasian assault forces. Emperor Severus ordered his troops to be utterly ruthless, and many Xilanian colonies were plundered by the forces of the Laurasian Empire. Nevertheless, a stalemate ensued which continued for the last months of 1609.

1610

 * In February 1610, Emperor Demetrius Severus, determined to suppress the Xilanian Rebellion, and to maintain his authority in the Northern Provinces, decided to vigorously reorganize his military forces and to adopt a new offensive strategy against the Xilanian rebels. General Julius Laetitus, renowned for his military exploits in the Laurasian-Marasharite War of 1597-98, was appointed operational commander of Laurasian military forces. Emperor Demetrius assembled new offensive squadrons at the strongholds of the Larkian Way and in the Lacian Cluster, commanding the officers and personnel of these units to apply “all effort” in battle against the Xilanian enemies, and to be utterly ruthless towards any who opposed their advance. The Emperor ensured that large numbers of cruisers and corvettes were included in the offensive corps, and he provided that Laurasian units were to encircle and destroy all enemy forces through use of superior firepower, organization, and tactics.
 * As a result of these strategies, Laurasian forces finally began to make more appreciable advances against the Xilanians. Kavarry, Horeb Prima, and the Juxles Asteroid Belt were stormed by Laurasian detachments; in June 1610, the Emperor secured a major victory over the Xilanian General Mugus in the Battle of Jin Minor, and managed to storm that stronghold. General Laetitus, on his part, conquered Calgravia and repelled Xilanian counteroffensives into the Angelican Provinces. By November 1610, Xilania Secondary and Jin Major had both been conquered by government forces, and Argentocoxos was forced to retreat towards Xilania Prime. In December, however, Emperor Demetrius Severus’s health entered a sudden and swift decline.

1611

 * Emperor Demetrius Severus, who had continued to pursue his Xilanian Campaigns, was now forced to retire to his operational headquarters on Chalassion, as he was laid waste by his illness. It was eventually discovered that the Emperor had contracted the Avraid malady, which affected bodily mobility, sensory perception, and the nervous system. Emperor Severus, hoping that he would be able to affect a cure, decided to take the waters in Ebocorum, Cremline, located in the Horacian Provinces and one of the chief therapeutic resorts in the Laurasian Empire. Emperor Severus arrived there in the middle of January 1611, but despite his hopes, his health remained poor. Realizing that he was now approaching death, the Emperor made his final will and testament, affirming that his sons Caracalla and Geta were to succeed as co-Emperors upon his death. He then entered confinement and quickly descended into a coma. Demetrius Severus died on February 4, 1611, after having ruled for nearly eighteen years.
 * Upon his death, Caracalla and Geta were proclaimed joint Emperors and Autocrats of All the Laurasians by the Imperial Government. Caracalla, who had assumed command at the headquarters of Chalassion, now sought to suppress the Xilanian Rebellion swiftly, so that he would be able to turn his attention to consolidating his position on Laurasia Prime. In April 1611, the Battle of Jenbrania resulted in the decisive defeat of Argentocoxos’s forces by Laurasian troops under the command of General Laetitus. Argentocoxos himself was shortly afterwards captured at Venbrae. Xilania Major capitulated in June, thereby leading to the firm consolidation of the Empire’s rule over the Xilanian Provinces. Caracalla returned to Laurasia Prime that month, and he attempted to rule with his brother Geta. He even suggested that they split the Empire into two among themselves; his mother, Empress-Dowager Paccia Marciana, who now had substantial influence in state affairs, ultimately dissuaded her son from this course of action. Gradually, Caracalla became determined to assert his sole authority over the Empire. In September 1611, the Emperor attempted to assassinate his younger brother at the Saturnalia Festival in Colombia. The following month, he increased the donation made to the Praetorian Guards, thereby earning their support.
 * Finally, on December 22, 1611, the Emperor’s mother, Empress-Dowager Paccia, arranged a meeting between the two brothers. At the meeting, Caracalla refused to talk with his brother, and then dispatched Praetorian Guards loyal to him to assassinate him. Geta was unable to resist, and he fell dead into the arms of his mother. Following Geta’s assassination, Caracalla, who was now sole Emperor, had the Governing Senate and Holy Synod pass damnatio memoriae on his brother. All of Geta’s statutes, portraits, coins, and inscriptions were destroyed. It was forbidden to mention his name, and a sentence of excommunication was passed on his soul, preventing him from being buried at the Westphalian Cathedral. The Emperor then arrested and either imprisoned or executed most of Geta’s supporters and his personal household, declaring that he would have no mercy for any subject who acknowledged Geta as a legitimate imperial sovereign. At this time, the Emperor had his estranged wife, Fulvia Plautilla, executed at the Tyburnian Stockards. He then devalued the imperial currency, lowering the purity of the denarius from 56.5% to 51%.

1612

 * Emperor Caracalla, seeking to maintain the loyalty of the alien subjects of the Empire, and following the recommendations of his legal secretaries in the Imperial Chancellory, promulgated the Antonine Constitution. Cassius Dio, in his General History of the Laurasian Civilization, would state that the Emperor promulgated this statute primarily for the purpose of increasing the Empire’s tax revenue. By the provisions of this constitution, all men and women, of all alien species and creeds, were now granted full citizenship rights as subjects of the Laurasian Empire. They were now to possess the same privileges as native-born Laurasians, and were to be treated the same as Laurasians before courts of law. Citizenship now entitled them to hold high-ranking military and civil positions; to submit petitions or grievances to the Imperial Chancellory; to make legal contracts and hold property as a Laurasian subject; to have a lawful marriage with a native-born Laurasian and children by that relationship; immunity from certain legal obligations; the right to have a trial in the Laurasian justice system; and the right to preserve their citizenship when residing at Imperial colonies. Before 1612, only full-blood Laurasians, residents of the Laurasian Purse Region, Laurasian colonists in other regions of the Empire, Laurasians (or their descendants) living in the non-Laurasian Provinces, the inhabitants of certain locales throughout the Empire, and members of the armed forces had been full subjects of the Empire. The enactment of this law would allow for a large number of aliens to enter the state service of the Empire during the course of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

1613

 * Birth of the Emperor Claudius Vectorius (r. 1668-70) in Stansila, Caladaria, of the Laurasian Purse Region in the Laurasian Empire.
 * Emperor Caracalla, who sought to demonstrate that he possessed the military prowess and tact of his illustrious father, Demetrius Severus I, announced his intention to campaign in the Galactic Borderlands. By the early seventeenth century, the southern Galactic Borderlands were falling under the influence and control of the Vectorian Empire. The virtual collapse of Amelianian power and influence during the latter half of the sixteenth century, and its total eclipse by the Celestial Kingdom of Scottria, had allowed the Vectorians to establish themselves as a viable independent realm. Arachosia Prime, Vector Prime, Neustron, Ompus Septimia, and the Gate Solarian Cluster became the power-bases of the Celestial Vectorian Empire, which was formally established by Emperor Vasharnipal I in 1591. Vasharnipal had gradually subdued the Sassi-ruuk, Rhedite, and Nagai Districts to his authority, and by the time of his death in 1605, Vectorian units were pressing into Tashian and Alexandrian territory. Emperor Caracalla, who was determined to gain control of Mercia, Camrania, Deira, Ivanna, and Kthexox, and determined to establish a position from which to eventually conquer the Scottrian provinces in the Central Galactic Borderlands, decided to make demands of the Vectorians.
 * In February 1613, four hundred years after Leonidas I the Restorer had been elected to the Laurasian throne following the Time of Troubles, Emperor Caracalla issued an ultimatum to the Vectorian Court. In this, he asserted Laurasian rights to Alexandrian territory, and demanded that Vectorian Emperor Ashurna acknowledge Laurasian domination of Hospallia and the rump Neo-Anastasian Empire. Ashurna, who considered Laurasian imperialism to be a threat, and not willing to yield, rejected the ultimatum promptly. Two months later, war was declared. Advancing from Merilash, Alec, Austin, Aretha, Evan, Ryan Barlak, Orithiana, Talaris, Roaeris, and Thathel Prime, Laurasian troops quickly penetrated into Vectorian territory. Angela and Kylarnatia were both besieged and conquered by Laurasian forces (June 1613); the following month, Emperor Caracalla, who was himself commanding operations against the Vectorians, obtained victory in the Battle of Humbratia. At this point, however, Vectorian Emperor Ashurna launched a series of counteroffensives into Laurasian territory. He stormed Gholaia, Garama, and Humbleton Mist, inflicting severe damage upon Laurasian fortifications in those star systems.
 * On July 27, 1613, the Vectorians obtained a crushing victory in the Battle of Charlotte, and Vectorian expeditions were soon threatening Merilash, Carolyn, and Masada. Emperor Caracalla was forced to divert units to Bordina and Cossack, and to launch expeditions to Gemallae and Vescera. By October 1613, the front-lines had stabilized. Emperor Caracalla, whose paranoia was now becoming more and more marked, decided to now bring this war, the first between Laurasia and Vectoria, to an end. On December 4, 1613, the Treaty of Nicole brought the First Laurasian-Vectorian War to a close. In exchange for recognition of Laurasian overlordship over the Neo-Anastasian Empire, and Laurasian control of the Merlite and Garaman Provinces, Caracalla agreed to refrain from annexing Vectorian territory and to pay a subsidy for the transit rights of Laurasian merchants. Following this treaty, which many considered disgraceful to the honor of the Empire, the Senate awarded the Emperor the empty title of Galacticus Maximus. Caracalla now decided to spend his time in extensive tours throughout his realms: he was destined never to return to Laurasia Prime for the remainder of his reign. Emperor Caracalla would keep the Imperial Court and the Governing Senate in check by forcing them to construct palaces, theaters, and places of public entertainment at their own expense (also contributing to the general development of the Empire’s realms) and by levying a reformed capitation levy on the wealthy classes (the old poll tax of Seleucus I had been formally abolished under Emperor Antigonus I in 1505).

1614

 * Birth of the Emperor Aurelian the Savior in Chrisholm, Hemsley, of the Mackenzian Province in the Laurasian Empire.
 * Emperor Caracalla, although his paranoia of his subjects resulted in the extension of the Imperial Intelligence Agency and the Praetorian Guards, nevertheless managed to cultivate his popularity with the military forces of the Empire. He raised the annual pay of soldiers in the Imperial Army; conferred titles and property upon the members of the Guards; and conducted various popular gestures to earn their support, such as marching with the soldiers, sharing in their food, and even sleeping in their barracks. Caracalla also commissioned the construction of the Baths of Caracalla on Caladaria, as a testament to his legacy and to exalt his name in the annals of Laurasian history. The Baths were one of the largest and most extensive construction projects in the history of the Laurasian Empire, and upon their completion in 1616, would boast its own library and a personal entertainment complex. Gold and marble were the building materials employed for the Baths, which fuelled the mining and construction sectors on Caladaria and across the Empire.

1615

 * Emperor Caracalla, seeking to reform the currency of the Laurasian Empire and to provide some stability to the Laurasian economy, introduced a new coinage in January 1615, which was named the Antoninanus in honor of Emperor Antoninus Pius. This was a “double denarius” which weighed 5.1 grams and contained 2.6 grams of silver-a purity of 52%. For the purpose of striking this coinage, the Emperor sponsored the establishment of a new mint on Paul II, which had been colonized initially by the Imperial Survey Corps of the Imperial Military in 1571, during the Borderlands War with the Marasharite Empire and Dejanican-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Paul II will become transformed into a major mining and construction materials colony by the beginning of the eighteenth century, partly due to the patronage of the Imperial Government and contracts awarded to various corporate firms for the world’s development.
 * The inhabitants of Briscum, Vetta, who had been among the most restless inhabitants of the Empire during the sixteenth century, produced a satire mocking Emperor Caracalla’s claims that he had murdered Geta in self-defense. They also attacked the Emperor’s other pretensions, including his demand that he be exalted as a prophet of the Almitian Church and his efforts to have statutes of himself erected at major public locations throughout the Empire. Caracalla, whose reign had seen the condemnation and punishment of nearly a million “enemies of state” in the Laurasian Purse Region and elsewhere, was enraged by this satire, which was circulated by the Velorian Printing Press of Briscum. He visited Vetta personally and ordered the immediate execution of the deputation of leading citizens who had assembled at the Vettian Spaceport in order to greet his arrival. The Emperor then unleashed his troops for an orgy of looting and rapine in the streets of Briscum. Cassius Dio would later estimate that some 100,000 civilians were killed during the course of six days in April 1615.
 * Shortly after this massacre, the Emperor established his headquarters on Sassanay; he now announced his intention to extend the Laurasian Empire’s dominions into the Galactic Borderlands by means of war. Marasharite Emperor Ahmet I had died on April 25, 1608 after ruling for just over four years; following his death, a conflict had erupted between his sons Jem, who had ascended to the throne, and Bajazet, who claimed that he was the rightful Emperor. Bajazet soon gained the ascendancy, and by 1613, had secured control of Topacia and the Marasharite Homeland Territories. Jem however, continued to hold out, and retained control of the Pazak Cluster and Hungary. Emperor Caracalla sought to exploit this civil war. He encouraged dissension at the court of Haynsian Despot Jay IV; sponsored rebellions by the Moldavian Prince Abogar and Wallachian Prince Khorsav, both of whom were vassals of the Marasharites; and sent raiding expeditions against the Galactic Frontier Route. In November 1615, Emperor Caracalla demanded the release of Laurasians who were being held in Marasharite custody for having violated Marasharite customs, and for Haynsians to refrain from engaging in slave trades from the Caladarian Galaxy. Emperor Bajazet refused to oblige by these demands, and the following month, Caracalla severed diplomatic relations with the Marasharite Court. Towards the end of December 1615, the Emperor issued a manifesto to his subjects, justifying his decision to go to war on the basis of “security” for the Laurasian dominions.

1616

 * 1616 opened with Laurasian forces assembled at Giron, Eric, the Immortalized Cluster, Angelica Major, Kanjur, Kelvania, Hypasia Major, Norah, Satie, Simmons, Eaidon, Zoe, Xilania Secondary, Xilania Major, Morg, King, Roxuli, and Abraham, among other strongholds, poised for offensives into Marasharite territory. Emperor Caracalla issued a formal declaration of war against the Marasharite Empire, and Laurasian troops pushed into the Galactic Borderlands. Carly, Billy Gasis, and Teller capitulated swiftly to Laurasian forces. Adrianne, Keeley, Natalie, Tiona, and Beluprasian were constantly harried by Laurasian squadrons, and the Emperor of Laurasia drafted plans for offensive operations into the Muggal Cluster, which had not yet been penetrated by Laurasian military forces. By September 1616, Laurasian troops had also overrun Ba’dsai and Morlan, posing a threat to the defenses of Chardis and Illumis. At this point, however, the Haynsians intervened. Having acknowledged the authority of Bajazet as Emperor of the Marasharites, Haynsian Despot Jay IV declared war on the Laurasian Empire (October 1616).
 * Haynsian forces, operating from Touforia, Kurdi, Marson, Kerch, and Bucharina, quickly penetrated into Laurasian territory. Jin Major and Horeb Prima were sacked by Haynsian expeditionary forces, and a Laurasian effort to storm Marasharite positions at Arbella was swiftly suppressed by the Haynsians in the Battle of Edessa. In December 1616, Emperor Caracalla managed to storm the Marasharite arsenal of Arbus, but Haynsian expeditions penetrated as far as Brent and Gwendolyn. Lacia was plundered by a Haynsian squadron, who inflicted more damage on a world which had never fully recovered from its losses at the hands of the Allied Coalition nearly a thousand years earlier. Its population, which had been 65 billion at the death of Devlet-Giray in 638, was now, in the early seventeenth century, a mere 40 million.

1617

 * The Haynsians stormed Abitia, Wakino, Mir, Julie, and Karen, inflicting much damage on properties and businesses located at these worlds, and carrying nearly six million individuals into captivity. They would be sold at the slave markets of Caffa, Bahckirsaray, Haynes, and Backalava in the Angelina Spiral. At this point, Emperor Caracalla vigorously reorganized his military forces, and he advanced upon the Haynsians at Nisbis. The ensuing Battle of Nisbis (February 11, 1617), was a bloody and costly affair. The Laurasians suffered far more losses in combat than their Haynsian adversaries, and it was even feared at one point that the Emperor and his officers would be isolated and captured by the enemy. Ultimately, however, Caracalla was able to obtain a strategic victory, and the Haynsian General Surva-Nester was forced to retreat. Following this battle, Laurasian troops managed to push Haynsian raiding expeditions back to the Galactic Frontier Route, but had in the meantime lost Carly, Billy Gasis, and Teller to Marasharite counteroffensives. Nevertheless, Caracalla sent a communique to the Imperial Chancellory on Laurasia Prime, announcing his victories in battle over the Marasharites and that they would soon be driven from the Caladarian Galaxy. The Haynsians, in the meantime, had redirected their raiding parties into the Angelican Provinces, and some ten thousand Laurasian colonies of the Priestest and the Immortalized Cluster, most of whom had been established during the late fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, were plundered.
 * Caracalla, however, proclaimed himself Marasharitus Maximus, adding to his earlier titles of Xilanius Maximus and Galacticus Maximus. This proved to be the final straw for some of his subjects. General Macrinus, who had been appointed by Caracalla as Captain and Prefect of the Praetorian Guards in 1614, now provoked Julius Martialis, a common soldier, into action against the Emperor. Martialis was angry that the Emperor had not promoted him to the Guards, and he was particularly resentful that his elder brother, Marcus, had been executed in December 1614 on the Emperor’s orders on an unproven charge. Offered a substantial bribe by Macrinus, Martialis acted. In late March 1617, Emperor Caracalla decided to visit the Temple of Luna on Meris V, one of the most renowned non-Almitian religious sites in the Caladarian Galaxy, so as to obtain blessings for the renewal of offensives against the Marasharites and Haynsians. On April 8, just as his flagship was approaching the outskirts of Meris V, Caracalla went to the onboard restroom facilities in order to relieve himself. Marcinus had given Martialis the access codes, and the soldier now penetrated into the chamber and killed Caracalla with one blow, whilst he was still sitting on the toilet. Macrinus, however, was determined that no one could give him away, and immediately upon receiving word of the Emperor’s assassination, he, as ranking subordinate, had Martialis executed by court martial immediately.
 * Within three days, Macrinus, who produced a will purportedly that of Caracalla, which named him heir apparent, had been proclaimed Emperor by the Praetorian Guards and the Imperial Military; this was affirmed by the Senate, Synod, and Imperial Chancellory on April 16. On May 1, 1617, Caracalla’s body was brought back to the Westphalian Cathedral; he was interred there four days later. Later that month, Empress Dowager Paccia Marciana, in depression as a result of the violent deaths of her two sons, and suffering from Sorones disease, committed suicide. In June 1617, Emperor Macrinus returned to Massanay, and determined to bring an end to the Marasharite War by defeating the forces of that empire in a decisive confrontation. Two months later, the Second Battle of Nisbis resulted in a tactical stalemate, with the Laurasians again suffering greater losses than their opponents. Macrinus now sought to bring this war to an end; in November 1617, the Treaty of Cibourney was concluded, ending the Laurasian-Marasharite War of 1615-17 on the basis of the status quo ante bellum. The Emperor of Laurasia, however, agreed to allow the Haynsians to keep all captives and spoils of war seized in their military campaigns. After the conclusion of this agreement, Macrinus sought to refrain from war. In a manifesto to his subjects (November 27, 1617), he declared that his administration was devoted to maintaining peace with all neighbors of the Empire. He restricted the privileges of the Guards; eliminated the pay raises enacted by Caracalla; and forbade the Guards to engage in trades or other activities without his approval. The Emperor revalued the currency in December 1617, abolishing the Antoninanus coinage issued by Caracalla and increasing the purity of the civil coin to 58%. Nevertheless, his popularity with the military and Guards collapsed, and the legions began to contemplate elevating another in his place as Emperor.

1618

 * The discontent against Emperor Macrinus continued to fester during the early months of 1618. New figures now emerged to take advantage of the extensive discontent. These were Julia Maesa, who was the aunt of the deceased Emperor Caracalla; her two daughters, Caracalla’s cousins Julia Soaemias and Julia Mamaea; and Maesa’s eldest grandson, Grand Prince Elagabalus, the grand-nephew of Emperor Demetrius Severus. Upon ascending to the throne, Macrinus, who viewed these members of the Severan family as a threat to his power, ordered for them to be banished to Aingley. There, he believed, they would pose no threat to his position or his authority. In this, however, he was proven grievously wrong. Almost upon arriving at Aingley, Grand Princess Maesa began conspiring with her chamberlain, Sir Gannys Androvich, who also served as her grandson’s tutor. Their intention was to overthrow Macrinus and elevate Elagabalus, who was now fourteen years old, to the imperial throne. His mother, Grand Princess Soaemias, proclaimed that he was the son of Caracalla, and was therefore owed the allegiance of the officials and troops who had served under that Emperor. In March 1618, Macrinus, in response to this declaration, sent orders to the authorities of Aingley that Maesa, her daughters, and her grandson be arrested; that their household be dismantled; and all properties of the Severan family confiscated. Maesa, however, secured the allegiance of the garrison of Aingley, who remembered Caracalla with reverence.
 * The following month, the Governor-General of Malaria Prime declared his allegiance to the cause of the Severan Dynasty, and all the strongholds of the Malarian Provinces renounced Macrinus as Emperor. On May 16, 1618, Legate-General Publius Comazon, who commanded the forces of the Malarian Provinces, proclaimed Elagabalus, who had just turned fifteen, to be Emperor and Autocrat of All the Laurasians. In response to this proclamation, Emperor Macrinus dispatched a force under the command of Praetorian Prefect and General Ulipus Julianus to Welch and the Jar Asteroids, with a number of warships that he considered sufficient to crush the rebellion. On May 25, however, Colonel Anastasius Morsius led the personnel in rebellion against General Julianus. Morsius and his men were successful. Julianus and his other officers, who refused to betray their Emperor, were executed by blaster, their heads severed from their bodies. Within two days, the entire government force had defected to the rebellion, giving Maesa and Elagabalus access to a number of corvettes and dreadnoughts. Emperor Macrinus now commanded the Governing Senate to formally condemn the rebellion.
 * Declaring Elagabalus insane, the Emperor had both him and his grandmother excommunicated, and he issued a manifesto to his subjects, urging them to suppress the rebellion swiftly. Soon, he and his son, Grand Prince Diadumenian, whom he had proclaimed his heir apparent in February, arrived at Kamachina to take command of their forces against the rebellion. On June 1, however, the II Imperial Legion defected to Grand Princess Maesa, lured by her promises and bribes. Other governors, military commanders, and clergymen throughout the Empire denounced Macrinus as a usurper and refused to acknowledge his authority. Protests broke out in the streets of Christiania and other cities. On June 8, 1618, the forces of Emperor Macrinus and Grand Prince Diadumenian, weakened by the defection of the II Legion, clashed with rebel forces under Generals Comazon and Androvich in the Battle of Ularia; the result was a decisive rebel victory. Emperor Macrinus barely managed to escape capture, and fled on his starfighter. He soon disguised himself as a navigator and booked passage on a transit line at White. On June 14, however, Macrinus was captured by rebel troops near Johnald. Maesa, who knew that the Empire was within her grandson’s grasp, ordered for him to be executed immediately. The Emperor was unable to resist, and he died at the hands of rebel troops. Twelve days later, his son Diadumenian was captured at Zeguma (which had been established in 1491 as a medicinal colony in the Malarian Provinces) and was also put to death. On July 1, the institutions of the Imperial Government formally acknowledged Elagabalus as Emperor, and his proclamation of accession was dispatched throughout the Empire. Emperor Elagabalus, as he now was, pardoned any officials who had supported Macrinus; denounced him as a usurper; and condemned the policies of his administration. Caracalla and Paccia Marciana  were both declared saints of the Almitian Church; both Julia Maesa and Julia Soaemas obtained rights of precedence in the imperial household; and Macrinus and his son Diadumenian were excommunicated and laid under a sentence of damnatio memoriae. General Comazon was appointed Praetorian Prefect and Captain of the Guard, as a reward for his support to the rebellion. Emperor Elagabalus decided not to make an immediate progress to Laurasia Prime, which startled his subjects. Instead, he and the reconstituted Imperial Court spent the winter solstice of 1618 on Malaria Prime. It was also during this time that the Emperor’s policies began to alienate his subjects. His old tutor Sir Gannys Androvich was executed on trumped-up charges in September 1618, allegedly for attempting to "control the Emperor’s household beyond reasonable bounds." The following month, Grand Princess Maesa had a portrait of Elagabalus in priestly robes sent to Laurasia Prime. This was mounted at the altar of the Westphalian Cathedral, and all were commanded to pray for Elagabalus’s soul before Almitis. This placed many worshippers in an awkward position. The legions were also dismayed by the Emperor’s laziness and gluttony, and quickly came to regret having supported his accession to the throne.
 * Birth of the future Emperor Gaillenus (r. 1653-68) in Randanian City, Horacia, of the Horacian Province in the Laurasian Empire.

1619

 * In March 1619, Emperor Elagabalus finally announced his intention to make his formal arrival on Laurasia Prime. Before he was to arrive there, however, it was declared that he would make a tour of the Northern Central Core and Western Provinces. The Imperial Court departed from Malaria Prime towards the end of March 1619, and commenced on its route of progress. Melarnaria, Paradine, Pasquarillo, Palimsiano, Azov, Gordasis, Courdina V, Metallasia, Ietas, Tyndaris, Heuthros, Sauvania, the Heuthrian Colonies, Williams, Goss Beacon, Clancia, Conservan, Reoyania, Hysapes, Condtella, Reoyania, Dramis, Hannah, Teth, Evelyn, Ruthania, Elainsborough, Bainsborough, Marshia, Constantine I, Scout, Andriana, and Mercedes were all visited by the Emperor and the Imperial Court during this progress, which lasted for some months. In June 1619, however, a series of minor revolts broke out among the imperial regiments, as their dissatisfaction with the Emperor continued to grow. General Gellius Maximus provoked a rebellion at Sapphire and Chesham’s Star, ostensibly over the failure of the Emperor to restore Caracalla’s pay scales for the imperial forces. Governing Senator Verus, in communication with General Maximus, provoked a revolt at Durglais, with the Third Legion betraying the Emperor and demanding his deposition. General Comozon suppressed the revolts within a matter of days. Both General Maximus and Senator Verus were arrested, convicted by the Governing Senate, and executed for their crimes.
 * In October 1619, the Imperial Court finally arrived on Laurasia Prime, more than a year after Elagabalus’s seizure of the throne. Upon taking up residence at the Quencilvanian Palace, the Emperor appointed Comazon as Head of the Bureau of Defense, Imperial Marshal, and Secretary of the Imperial Chancellory. Other allies of his and his grandmother were appointed to the Senate, civil service, or imperial household. Many government officials and nobles were outraged by this, considering these men to not be worthy of these privileges. Comazon was now in effect the Emperor’s chief minister, overshadowing Chancellor Demetrius Unthrius, who had served in his position since the latter years of Demetrius Severus’s reign and retained the confidence of both Caracalla and Macrinus. Comazon would eventually become Mayor and Chief Suffect of Christiania in January 1620, and would also serve as Assistant to the Chief Procurator of the Holy Synod. Elagabalus also devalued the imperial currency, decreasing its purity from 58% to 42%. This enraged many in the Empire who had actually favored Macrinus’s currency reforms; devaluation of the currency was a practice which was to be adhered to for most of the seventeenth century, until Neuchrus the Reformer finally stabilized the currency system.

1620

 * 1620, the 20th year of the seventeenth century, saw the follies of Emperor Elagabalus continue. It also saw a short, and sharp, war between the Laurasian Empire and the Dejanican-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The vain and foolish Emperor Elagabalus continued to alienate his subjects and influential personages within the Imperial Government and Military by his actions. He now became known as an outright pervert and homosexual, in direct contravention of the dictates of the Imperial Almitian Church. Emperor Lysimachus, who had been involved in a homosexual relationship with the young Antinous, had nevertheless kept this a secret from most of his subjects, and had been a respected and beloved monarch. Elagabalus was nothing of the sort. On January 22, 1620, the Emperor formally repealed the Sodomy and Heresy Laws, which had first been promulgated during the reign of Honorius the Terrible in the twelfth century and had been reissued, in amended form, by almost every Laurasian sovereign over a course of nearly five centuries. These laws had forbidden homosexual marriages or civil unions; made it an offense to "advertise" or display homosexual behaviors or propaganda in public; and had laid the sentence of excommunication upon any Laurasian found to engage in such practices. The laws had provided harsh penalties for violation of its provisions, ranging from fines and confiscation of all property to exile, imprisonment, or even execution. They had also made strict definitions for sexual orientation and forbidden any change practices. Following the repeal of these laws, Elagabalus named his lover, the steward Sir Hiercoles Calla (1589-1622), to the Governing Senate (January 31, 1620), and raised him to the peerage as Baron Hasbrania of Constantinople. Another lover, the athlete Aurelius Zoticus, was appointed Chief Gentleman of the Privy Chamber and Imperial Steward in February 1620, which gave him much influence in the Imperial Household; he would be knighted in September of that year. Cassius Dio would declare in his General History that these actions of the Emperor "perverted Laurasian moral values and damaged the integrity of this Empire."
 * Elagabalus’s repeal of the Heresy and Sodomy Laws was followed by his effort to change, by his directive, the theology and doctrine of the Almitian Church itself. In March 1620, the Emperor commanded the Holy Synod and Chief Procurator Antigonus Chiechlia, who abhorred the Emperor's innovations, to acknowledge that the Book of Elagabal, which had been composed as a "pious fraud" in the 27th century BH, was valid, and that Elagabal, who was claimed by the book to be the son and High Prophet of Almitis, was exalted even above the Lord Paul. By June 1620, Emperor Elagabalus began issuing imperial coinage in which he designated himself Sol Invicticus "Unconquered Prophet" and included an inscription of Elagabal passing judgment upon mortals. The Emperor announced his intentions to begin construction on a cathedral dedicated to Elagabal, and that this would take the place of the Westphalian Cathedral. Many Almitian believers throughout the Empire were enraged by the Emperor’s policies. He even had himself circumcised, in violation of the customs of the imperial family and nobility, so that he could assume duties as the High Potentate of the Almitian Church.
 * It would be in November 1620, the Emperor married Aquilia Severa, who had formerly been a Nun of the Monastery of Windowia Photis. He thereby cast aside his wife Julia Paula, a Laurasian lady of the prominent Paulan family in Osraninpolis, whom he had married in March 1619. His marriage with Severa was in flagrant violation of Laurasian law and tradition, which demanded that a nun who violated her vow of celibacy in the Almitian Church was to be executed by solar incineration. Emperor Elagabalus claimed that the marriage would produce "saintly" children; however, he hardly slept with his wife and continued in his homosexual indiscretions. As regards to the war with Dejanica, it is expedient to provide a description of what had happened as regards to the Marasharite Thirteen Year's War, and with the Commonwealth itself. In 1599, Michael the Brave had won the Battle of Selimbar and entered Alba Iulia, becoming Prince of Transylvania. A few months later, he had reached Jassy, and was proclaimed Prince of Moldavia. He kept control of the Danubian Principalities for less than a year before a series of revolts in Wallachia and Transylvania disrupted his power (1600). By March 1601, tensions between Transylvania and the Holy Austarlian Empire were high.
 * On August 9 of that year, the Battle of Gursulau resulted in a decisive victory for Michael against Sigismund Bathory, but he was shortly afterwards assassinated on the orders of Rudolfios II. By 1603, following the Battle of Brasov, Austarlia had managed to neutralize the threat of rebellious noble elements in Wallachia and Transylvania. From 1604 to 1606, Stephen Bathory of Transylvania continued the struggle against Austarlia, but it was finally ended by the Peace of Vienna (June 23, 1606), which ended hostilities between them. Shortly afterwards, Marasharite Emperor Ahmet I had concluded the Treaty of Zsitvatorok with Austarlia (November 11, 1606), which restored the status quo in Hungary and Slavonia between the two Empires. They would not go to war again until 1632. Marasharita had, of course, following Ahmet's death in 1608, fallen into internal troubles; Austarlia on its part, saw Rudolfios being effectively displaced by his brother Matthias, who succeeded him as Emperor in 1612, and reigned to 1619, when he was succeeded by Ferdinand II. Austarlia, from 1618, would be plunged into the Thirty Year's War, which would evolve into a major military struggle among Austarlia, Bavaria, the Palatinate, Brandenburg, Denmarica, Vendragia, Franconia, Burgundy, the Haxonian Confederacy, Florence, Milania, Naparia, and the Spamalkan Kingdoms. Dejanica, on its part, remained under the rule of Alexagius II until his death in 1607. He was then succeeded by Casimirius V (1607-19), whose reign saw renewed wars with the Haynsian Despotate (1608-12), the Great Breffal Federation (1615-16), in the Danubian Principalities (1612-19), and Scottria (1618-19). He also contended with Haynsian raids and expeditions in Belarania, Ukraine, and Tesmanian Dejanica from 1613 to 1620. Casimirus, following his death in 1619, was succeeded by Ariogasi II (1619-32). Ariogasi, who was becoming more involved in the affairs of the Danubian Principalities, nevertheless decided to embark, in April 1620, upon a war with the Laurasian Empire. He sought to recover Gurlack, McIntyre, and Irnie, and to penetrate into the Wild Marshes.
 * On May 8, 1620, a formal declaration of war was issued by the Dejanican Diet. Dejanican units under General Stanis Zaskuskia then invaded the Empire's territory. Ernie fell quickly into Dejanican hands (May 9-15, 1620), followed by Gurlack (May 22), McIntyre (May 28), and Kanjur (June 2-4). Mordan then fell on June 8, and Dejanican expeditions harried the defenses of Anjun, Kelvania Minor, Bouchet, Merlin, and Guenevere. General Comazon, however, who had departed hastily from Laurasia Prime, repelled a Dejanican move against Lancelot (June 12, 1620), and on June 29, he won the Battle of Arthur, thereby securing that stronghold for the Empire. Although Dejanican units overran Barbara, Kira, and Lielle (July 1-7, 1620), and penetrated to Meehan and Manzo (July 15), the General was gradually able to turn the tide. By August 1620, Mordan and Kanjur had been recovered by the Empire's forces; Comazon then defeated Dejanican General Zaskuskia in the Battle of Queen (September 4, 1620), and then proceeded to storm Major (September 17), driving Dejanican units from Barbara, Bouchet, and Lielle. By the end of September, Gurlack and McIntyre had fallen back into Laurasian hands, and Laurasian units were penetrating to Shashanaya, Black Chandlier, and Monique. It was on October 18, 1620, with the prospect of war looming with the Marasharite Empire, that King Ariogasi was forced to ask for negotiations. The Armistice of Orion (October 25, 1620), ended hostilities. The war itself was terminated by the Treaty of Nelson (December 2, 1620), which restored the status quo ante bellum. Thus, although the prior situation was maintained, many blamed Emperor Elagabalus's regime for not taking advantage of the opportunity presented to press into Dejanican Lavella. Dissent against his rule thereby increased further.

1621

 * The 300th anniversary of the foundation of the Laurasian Empire. For many subjects of the Empire, it was considered an extreme curse that they were burdened, at this important commemoration date in their history, with a decadent, lazy, and vile monarch. Emperor Elagabalus did not arouse any affection or respect from the hearts of his subjects, and many believed that the Anti-Almitis would ruin the Laurasian dominions. The Emperor justified their views by his behavior at the ceremonies. His lovers Hiercoles and Aurelius Zoticus were given prominent places in the order of ceremonies; his other favorites presided over the affairs of the imperial household, with there being much sloth and debauchery; and the rituals of the Almitian Church were degraded by Elagabalus’s demands that he be worshiped as an angel of Almitis and his refusal to pay his respects to the tomb of Seleucus the Victor. He disgraced the names of his predecessors, and gave riotous occasion in the quarters of the palace. All of this will lead to Elagabalus’s memory being harshly criticized and censured by historians of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, from Cassius Dio to Viscount Monompahlaus, Lady Vassalina, and Gibboneous. Nevertheless, the Laurasian Empire was at this stage stronger and larger than it had been at its inception three centuries earlier.
 * As of November 25, 1621, the Laurasian Empire’s jurisdiction extended from the Galactic Frontier Route and the Satian Provinces in the northwest to the outskirts of the Eastern Outer Borderlands and to the Burglais Arm, Corporate Trade Corridor, and Larkian Way. Laurasian rule now extended over nearly forty million inhabited star systems within the confines of the Caladarian Galaxy. The Empire also held over-lordship over the Neo-Anastasian Empire, which held on to the southwestern Barsar Regions; had extracted commercial concessions from the Celestial Kingdom of Scottria and the Mellorite Empire; and signed economic treaties with the Vectorian and Marasharite Empires. The Empire’s Western Provinces, however, were under threat from the Dejanican-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Haynsian Despotate, who were ceaseless in their raiding expeditions. The Marasharites, Scottrians, and Vectorians in the Galactic Borderlands all desired to expand their dominions at Laurasian expense, and they continued to gather intelligence about the status of the Laurasian military forces.
 * Emperor Elagabalus succumbed to the pressures of General Comozon and his grandmother, Grand Princess Julia Maesa, and officially divorced his wife, Empress Consort Aquilia Severa. The marriage had continued to arouse much criticism from circles at the Imperial Court and was more unpopular with the Empire’s subjects than ever before. Instead, the Emperor was now persuaded to marry Annia Faustina, who was a descendant of the Laurasian Emperor Antigonus II and therefore had a hereditary claim to the Laurasian throne. Faustina was recently widowed, as her husband Pomponius Bassius, Lord of Cassanova, had been executed for sedition and treason in November 1620. The government officials and nobility of the Empire were more receptive to this marriage, and wedding vows were exchanged in March 1621. Emperor Elagabalus conferred state honors upon his new wife, and she sought to tone down the immodesty of the Imperial Court. Supporters of the Emperor hoped that his new wife would bear him children; during their short marriage, however, she did not become pregnant. Elagabalus soon tired of his wife, and continued to indulge in his homosexual affairs. In December 1621, the month after the imperial anniversary celebrations, the Emperor divorced her and married Aquilia Severa for the second time, defying the protests of his grandmother and her supporters. Faustina, granted the title of the "Emperor’s Dearest Sister", retreated to Fulcania, where she died in November 1622.

1622

 * By the beginning of 1622, the Emperor Elagabalus’s eccentricities, particularly his homosexual affairs with Hirecoles and Aurelius Zoticus, as well as his habit of prostituting himself in the public chambers of the Quencilvanian Palace, had incensed the officers and soldiers of the Praetorian Guards and Imperial Military. His grandmother, Grand Princess Julia Maesa, perceiving that public support for her grandson was waning, and determined to maintain her own position of influence at the Imperial Court, now decided that he and his mother, her daughter Grand Princess Julia Soaemias, had to be replaced. As alternatives, she turned to her other daughter, Grand Princess Julia Mamaea, and her other grandson, Grand Prince Alexander Severus, who was now thirteen years old. Maesa had prevailed upon Emperor Elagabalus and persuaded him to name his cousin as his heir apparent in September 1621. Elagabalus, however, began to reconsider this arrangement in January 1622, as he suspected the Guards supported his cousin as ruler above himself. The Emperor then attempted to have his cousin assassinated by officers loyal to him; these attempts failed. Following this, he removed Alexander Severus from his place in the line of succession, deprived him of all grants and honors conferred upon him by the Imperial Court, and circulated rumors that Alexander’s health was too perilous to allow him to have any future public career. In February 1622, the Guards, who had come to respect and honor Alexander Severus, erupted in a riot in the Public Square of Christiania. They were encouraged by Maesa, who bribed them to support her plans. The Guards then demanded to see both the Emperor and Grand Prince Alexander at the Praetorian Barracks. Elagabalus, believing he would be able to assert his authority over the wayward Guards, accepted this demand.
 * On March 11, 1622, he publicly presented his cousin along with his mother, Grand Princess Julia Soaemias. On their arrival, the Guards began to cheer and to hail Grand Prince Alexander, while ignoring the Emperor. Elagabalus, provoked by this, ordered the summary arrest and execution of all who had taken part in this display of insubordination. In response, several Guards officers attacked Emperor Elagabalus and his mother. Elagabalus attempted to flee from the Barracks, but in the streets of the Palatial District, he was intercepted and captured by Guards officers. The Emperor begged for mercy, but his pleas were ignored, and he was hacked to pieces by the Guards. His mother, Grand Princess Julia, was also captured and she was dispatched with blaster fire. Following this, the Guards took the corpses of the Emperor and his mother, stripped them naked, and then paraded them throughout the public squares of Christiania. Finally, they took them and dumped them in the Pit of Jadia. Following Elagabalus’s assassination, his associates and household, including his lovers Hirecoles and Aurelius Zoticus, were arrested, attainted, and summarily executed by the Guards and the imperial authorities. The Governing Senate and Holy Synod passed damnatio memoriae on the Emperor and his mother; had all of his coins, statutes, and inscriptions destroyed; and forbade anyone to mention his name in public. All of his religious measures were reversed. The Heresy and Sodomy Laws were revived, and were to remain in effect for another 137 years, until they were finally and permanently overturned by Empress Aurelia the Great in 1759. The Book of Elagabal was again declared noncanon and Elagabalus’s portrait at the Westphalian Cathedral was destroyed. His plans to construct a cathedral of Elagabal were scrapped. Alexander Severus was now proclaimed Emperor and Autocrat of All the Laurasians. His grandmother Julia Maesa once again became the leading influence in the government, and she arranged for her grandson’s coronation in June 1622.
 * Influenced by his mother, Emperor Alexander immediately pursued policies to “expunge” the damage inflicted on the Imperial Court and Government by Elagabalus and his associates; to restore and to improve the morals and material welfare of his subjects; and to enhance the dignity of the Imperial State. The Emperor appointed Sir Ularian Marcellus to the Governing Senate in July 1622; Marcellus would eventually become Procurator-General (1626) and play a leading role in the compilation of the Codex Severanius (1628), an extensive legal code compiling all of the laws passed since the inception of the Empire. The historian Cassius Dio, who had become a knight in 1617 during the brief reign of Macrinus I, and had opposed Elagabalus, was appointed Secretary of the Imperial Chancellory and Co-Chair of the Council of Civil Service. Dio was also elevated to the Governing Senate.
 * The Emperor also reorganized the municipal administration of Christiania; the Urban Regulations of November 1622 established a council of fourteen suffects to assist the Mayor of Christiania in his duties. The office of Chief Prefect of Public Welfare was established to coordinate the city’s welfare, educational, and health systems. The city administration instituted by Alexander Severus was to survive all of the turmoil of the Crisis of the Seventeenth Century, and remained in effect with little modification until the Administrative Ordinance for the City of Christiania (1782) and the Imperial Charter of Urban Administration (1785) during the reign of Aurelia the Great. Emperor Alexander reduced the purity of the silver denarius from 46% to 43%, cut down on expenses at the Imperial Household, and implemented cross-the-board tax cuts.
 * The Emperor also promoted literature and science; he in fact was Cassius Dio’s literary patron. Loan offices were instituted by the Imperial Treasury, to assist individuals in obtaining decent rates of interest. He also did much to expand the rights of the soldiers. The Emperor earned their support by restoring the Caracallan Pay Scales; permitting soldiers to name anyone as their heir in their wills; and protecting their property from seizure or foreclosure while they were engaged in their military campaigns. He reasserted the Laurasian tradition that property which soldiers acquired in or because of military service could not be claimed by anyone else, not even his parents. Finally, he pursued a policy of religious toleration, despite the restoration of the Heresy and Sodomy Laws. During his reign, five hundred new bishoprics were established, expanding the administrative system of the Almitian Church. He also expanded the membership of the Holy Synod and granted the Chief Procurator greater prerogatives in church administration. In December 1622, Alexander Severus, under the influence of his mother and grandmother, embarked on a progress throughout the realms of the Empire, so that his subjects would be able to see their new master. This progress would take the Emperor and the Imperial Court as far as the Burglais Arm and the Mereditan Districts, and would continue until the court returned to Laurasia Prime in February 1624.

1624

 * Immediately following his return from the grand progress throughout the dominions of the Laurasian Empire, Emperor Alexander Severus turned his attention to the matter of the captive King of Scottria, Jamsius I. Jamsius had continued to be held as a prisoner on Laurasia Prime since his capture in 1606. Emperor Demetrius Severus had adhered to the arrangements with the Earl of Albany. He ensured that the young King of Scottria was given the best education available in the Caladarian Galaxy; provided for all of the expenses of his royal household; and permitted him to tour the Empire’s realms, provided he was escorted by a military convoy at all times. This treatment had continued until Demetrius Severus’s death in 1611. Caracalla, upon ascending to the throne, immediately reversed this fair treatment of the King of Scottria. Believing that he was in league with the Marasharites and the Empire’s other enemies, Caracalla ordered for Jamsius and all the members of his household to be imprisoned at the Fortress of Baureux. Albany protested, but not wishing to see his monarch executed, still refrained from the renewal of war with the Empire. Caracalla’s death in 1617 brought an immediate relaxation of conditions, as Jamsius was now released by Emperor Macrinus. Macrinus and his successor, Elagabalus, both treated him fairly.
 * By 1620, Jamsius was being regarded as less of a hostage and more as a guest. He accompanied Elagabalus during his progress throughout the Empire’s realms, and he obliged by the Emperor’s religious commands. The King of Scottria also attended the Emperor’s weddings to Aquilia Severa and Annia Faustina. When Elagabalus was assassinated in March 1622, Jamsius prudently switched his allegiance to Alexander Severus. From the first, Emperor Severus was inclined to have Jamsius released from his captivity. Archilain Douglain, Earl of Douglas, established contact with the King and conducted negotiations with the Imperial Government, although the new Duke of Albany and his advisors proved reluctant to pay a ransom for the King’s release. In August 1623, however, the Earl of Douglas finally managed to convince the Scottrian Estates and Council of State to begin negotiations. These had been ongoing while the Emperor was finishing his progress. His grandmother, Grand Princess Julia Maesia, took the leading part in handling negotiations with the Scottrian Government.
 * On March 24, 1624, the Treaty of Gwynne was signed, arranging for the release of King Jamsius I from captivity in the Laurasian Empire, after eighteen years. The Scottrian Government agreed to pay the Laurasian Empire an annual ransom of €250 billion dataries for a period of twenty years (to 1644); to acknowledge the rights and transit privileges of Laurasian merchants and navigators in Scottrian territory; and to recognize Laurasian acquisition of the Neo-Xilanian Provinces. Jamsius was formally released at Roger Major on April 5, 1624, and Albany surrendered the seals of government into his hands. Jamsius adhered by the terms of the Treaty of Gwynne, and refrained from hostilities against the Empire for twelve years. He did not, however, turn out to be the pliant pro-Laurasian monarch that had been hoped for. That will be described below.

1625

 * Three hundred years after the death of Seleucus I the Victor (February 8, 1625), Emperor Alexander Severus visited the deceased sovereign’s tomb. Emperor Elagabalus had failed to do this upon the occasion of the Empire’s tercentennial anniversary in November 1621, and had been denounced by his subjects for this. Emperor Alexander offered his prayers before the coffin of the Empire’s founder, announced that Almitis had blessed the Laurasian dominions, and asked for guidance in all of his policies. During this year, and for the remainder of the decade, the Laurasian Empire (with the exception of irritating Vectorian and Haynsian raiding expeditions in the Borderland Territories) remained generally at peace. The revenues of the Imperial Treasury expanded threefold; the Imperial Almitian Church recovered from the humiliations of Elagabalus’s reign; and nearly twenty-five thousand star systems were colonized by imperial authorities or corporate firms throughout the Empire’s realms.
 * Birth of the future Emperor Gordian VI (r. 1638-44) at the Post Settlement of Calaxis II on Calaxis II, in orbit of Laurasia Prime in the Laurasian Purse Region of the Laurasian Empire.
 * Birth of the future Emperor Herennius Etruscus (r. May-June 1651), co-ruler with his father, the Emperor Trajan Decius, in the City of Nova Constantinople on Constantine I, Laurasian Purse Region, Laurasian Empire.

1626

 * Death of Grand Princess Julia Maesa, the sister of Emperor Demetrius Severus, mother of Julia Soaemias and Julia Mamaea, and grandmother of the Emperors Elagabalus and Alexander Severus. Maesa had been one of the most powerful women in Laurasian history, following the likes of Octavia Sesalis, Andrea Septimia, Regent Elena, Regent Theodora, Grand Princess Constantia, and the Empresses-Consort Anna Commagenos and Agrippina Thrax. By command of her grandson Emperor Alexander, she is interred next to the body of her brother in the Imperial Mausoleum of the Westphalian Cathedral.

1627

 * Birth of the future Emperor Hostillian (r. June-November 1651), the son of the Emperor Trajan Decius and younger brother of co-Emperor Herennius Etruscus. Hostillian is born at the Hospital of St. Titus in Christiania, Laurasia Prime.

1629

 * Birth of the future Emperor Quintillus (r. January-July 1670) at the Maternity Quarters of the Diplomatic Palace in Christiania, Laurasia Prime.

1630

 * In this year, the several years of peace which the Laurasian Empire had enjoyed under the wise and beneficial rule of the Emperor Alexander Severus came to an end with the renewal of active military hostilities with the Marasharite Empire and Haynsian Despotate. The Marasharite Empire's realms, as eluded to above, had continued to grapple with both internal and external challenges during the course of the preceding two decades. Beginning in September 1603, Great King Abbas I of Breffalia had launched a series of offensives against the Marasharite Empire, seeking to recover the Amulak Caucasian Colonies, Azerbajan, Daghestan, Mesopotamia, Kuwait, and Tivran. The ensuing Breffal-Marasharite War of 1603-18 drained the Empire's military resources; Yerevan was conquered in November 1603, while Kartli and Kaheti became dependencies of the Great Breffal Federation once again. Following Mehmed III's death in December 1603, the series of reverses had continued under his son Ahmed I. In September 1605, the Battle of the Urmia Nebula ended in a decisive victory for the Federation; by June 1606, Abbas had conquered Shrivan, Ganju, Shamakahi, and Baku in Azerbajian. Moreover, in the period from 1595 to 1610, the Marasharite Homeland Territories were disturbed by a series of Jelail revolts: the years from 1605 to 1609 was the worst period for the Marasharite Government, with Tavil Ahmed and his son Mehmed, with support from the Breffals, the Haxonian Confederacy, and Dejanica, capturing Harput and seizing Baghdad and its associated star systems. By 1610, however, Grand Vizier Murad Pasha had ruthlessly suppressed these revolts, and had resumed with the campaign against the Breffals. Pasha's death the following year, however, ended the Marasharite momentum. In November 1612, the Treaty of Nashuh Pasha had temporarily ended hostilities between the two Empires. Emperor Bajazet then turned his attention to his brother Jem; his control of Topacia and the Marasharite Homeland Territories was assured, as was mentioned above.
 * In November 1615, however, the war had resumed again, and Grand Vizier Okuz Mehmed Pasha, in April 1616, marched from Aleppo, through Kars, and into Azerbaijan. Yerevan was besieged by the Marasharites, but their efforts failed, and the Grand Vizier withdrew to Eruzrum. Damat Halil Pasha then became Grand Vizier in November 1616. The year 1617 had passed without any substantial campaigns, though the Haynsian Despotate penetrated into Daghestan, Mandaran, and Central Persiana. In 1618, Okuz Mehmed was restored to the Grand Viziership, and was dispatched by Emperor Bajazet to once again campaign against the Great Breffals. Tabriz was seized by the Marasharites, but in September of that year, the Battle of Sarab ended in a decisive victory for the Breffals. Following this, the Treaty of Serav was concluded, ending the war on the status quo ante bellum. The Marasharite failure to make any further advances against the Breffals seriously weakened the positions of Bajazet and Jem. Moreover, from 1620-21, the two brothers, having finally agreed to share rulership of the Empire's dominions in 1617, embarked upon a joint campaign in the Danubian Principalities and against the Dejanican-Lithuanian Commonwealth; the Treaty of Khotyn ended the war on October 9, 1621, following the decisive Marasharite victory at the Battle of Khotyn. No territorial changes had occurred, however. Thus, by 1622, the Osmanli Dynasty, which had ruled for more than three and a half centuries, was now discredited in the eyes of the Marasharitan people, and it was desired for another, more vigorous dynasty to take control of the helm of state. The Marasharites believed that they found a savior, and a new master, in the person of Ardashir Pasha, who served as Governor of the Serbian Provinces and Viceroy-Intendant of the Danubian Principalities. Ardashir, born to a prominent Marasharite noble family of Bursa, had become Governor and Viceroy-Intendant in 1609. Over the course of the next thirteen years, he earned the respect and loyalty of many through his vigorous efforts to ensure the authority of the central government and by his fair treatment of those under his charge. In 1622, Jem, believing Ardashir loyal, made him Lieutenant-General of the Palace Guard, which gave him much influence in the Imperial Household. Ardashir quickly developed a network of patronage, and he now plotted rebellion against his sovereign.
 * In 1624, Ardashir finally erupted into rebellion. He quickly subdued Marasharite Hungary, the Pazak Cluster, Bulgania, Macedonica, and the territories of the Great Tesmanian Cloud. Emperor Jem now moved to suppress the rebellion. On April 24, 1624, the Battle of Hormidezghan was fought; it resulted in a decisive victory for Ardashir. Jem himself died in the battle, and most of his forces were annihilated. By August 1624, Ardashir had captured Topacia, and proclaimed himself Emperor of the Marasharites. The Ardashiran Dynasty had been founded, which would rule the Marasharite realms through the termination of the late eighteenth century. Ardashir then embarked upon wars with Haxonia (1624-25), Dejanica (1626-28), and the Great Breffal Federation (1628-29), consolidating his position, extending Marasharite suzerainty over the Sicilian Wayward Colonies, and recovering Tabriz. By September 1628, he had defeated and killed Bajazet, subduing the remainder of the Homeland Territories to his authority. He had also secured the allegiance of the Haynsian Despotate, and in March 1629, revised the terms of military provision and vassalage bounding that state to the Marasharites. Ardashir now turned his eyes towards the Caladarian Galaxy. He was determined to reconquer the Satian Provinces, and to drive the Laurasians from their conquests in the northern Outer Borderlands. Ardashir believed that Emperor Alexander Severus was an inexperienced and unskilled youth, who would be unable to command military operations and who would yield quickly in the face of Marasharite and Haynsian units penetrating into his dominions.
 * Therefore, from May 1629, the Emperor of the Marasharites assembled his military units at Izzia, Carly, Billy Gasis, Donna, Teller, Ba’dsai, Latrice, Kia, Pelaski, Natalie, Tiona, Adrianne, and the strongholds of the Galactic Frontier Route. His Haynsian vassals, still ruled by Despot Jay IV, contributed five starfighter squadrons and a transport fleet to the Marasharite war effort. Finally, in December 1629, the High Council of the Marasharite Empire, acting on the orders of Emperor Ardashir, commanded the Laurasian Ambassador to the Marasharite Court, Sir Antigonus Veranius (1574-1638), to appear before the body in order to justify the continued Laurasian occupation of the Satian Provinces. Ambassador Veranius reported this to the Emperor and the Council of State; they ordered him to comply with Marasharite demands. On January 17, 1630, the Ambassador appeared before Emperor Ardashir and the High Council. There, the Marasharites accused the Imperial Laurasian Government of "provoking war, death, and destruction among galactic powers" and of engaging in a policy of deliberate and wanton aggression. Ambassador Veranius’s protests were overridden. On February 1, Ardashir ordered for the Ambassador to be cast into the Seven Towers, and he issued a declaration of war against the Laurasian Empire. Laurasian units, which had been focused on suppressing dissent in the Farther Homidinian Provinces, were at first caught unprepared by Marasharite assaults.
 * By March 1630, Marasharite units had stormed Simmons, Margery, Multan, Roxuli, and Norah, capturing large amounts of Laurasian armor and starships. Haynsian expeditions ravaged the Borderland Provinces. Titania Majoria, the Immortalized Cluster, Angelica Minor, Kanjur, Calgrania, Londarania, Spencer, and Coleman were all harassed by the Haynsians, who managed to inflict much damage upon their fortifications. In June 1630, Marasharite forces under the command of General Al-Garsik managed to obtain victory over the Laurasians in the Battle of Bingley; they soon stormed Morg, King, and Jin Minor. The following month, Emperor Ardashir himself, seeking to gain glory over the Laurasians in battle, took command of Marasharite military forces. He stormed the Space Satellites of Ursula (August 1630) and then conquered Calrissian, Lando, and Varta, inflicting humiliating defeats on Laurasian border garrisons. By this point, however, Laurasian troops under the command of General Maximinus Thrax (who thus emerged into real prominence at this time), had assembled at Chalassia, Alyssa, Halassion, and Greyson, arrayed for counterstrikes against the Marasharites. In November 1630, Ardashir attempted to besiege Nisbis, which had now become a major Laurasian military outpost. General Maximinus, however, cut off Haynsian supply lines, and he soon captured Haynsian supplies and troopers in the Battle of Ucker. By the end of 1630, Ardashir had been forced to abandon the siege of Nisbis, but Marasharite and Haynsian troops continued to penetrate as far as Robbay, Bolgrahay, and Hannis.
 * Birth of the future Emperor Florian (r. June-September 1676) in Estelle City on Hordania, in the Hordanian Province of the Laurasian Empire.

1631

 * By the beginning of 1631, a theater of conflict between the Laurasian and Marasharite Empires had developed in the Borderland Provinces, as the adjacent regions between the two Empires had become known. They were to retain this designation until the Laurasian-Marasharite War of 1768-1774, which resulted in the final acquisition of Marasharite territories in the Caladarian Galaxy proper by the Laurasian Empire. Emperor Ardashir now renewed his military campaigns into Laurasian territory. A Marasharite expeditionary force stormed Grumman, the Colonies of Varmant, and Nandi, inflicting further humiliating losses on overstretched Laurasian border garrisons. By June 1631, Angelica Major, Melvin, and Satie had all capitulated to Marasharite forces. The Haynsians even launched a successful raiding expedition against Frederickslandia, Leopoldia, and Big Twinny (July 1631), carrying off some fifty million fugitives and inflicting nearly €500 trillion in losses on the economies of those star systems. Emperor Alexander Severus, coming under increasing pressure from warmongers in the Governing Senate and within the Imperial Court, departed from Laurasia Prime in September 1631. He quickly proceeded to Eaidon and established his military command headquarters there. At this stage, the Emperor still retained the loyalty and support of the troops and of the Praetorian Guards. In October 1631, however, he attempted to extend a negotiation offer to the Marasharite Government, offering to form a military alliance with the Marasharites against the Dejaniks, and to recognize their sphere of influence in the Great Tesmanian Cloud. Ardashir, however, refused, and continued to press his troops forward in military offensives.
 * By December 1631, Marasharite troops had conquered Al-Durah, Kemp, Boniface, Kara, Perry, Wakino, and Mir, penetrating to the Larkian Way and posing a serious threat to Laurasian positions in the Farther Homidinian Provinces. Another appeal, this time from the Imperial Bureau of Foreign Affairs, to the Marasharite Court got no response. Emperor Severus continued to have difficulties in coordinating Laurasian troops for action against the Marasharites. General Maximinus, however, continued to prove his skill at repelling Marasharite moves against his positions.

1632

 * By March 1632, Emperor Alexander Severus had finally managed to assemble all of the military units and garrisons of the Laurasian Empire into a cohesive offensive force, and he now launched a three-pronged assault against the Marasharite and Haynsian forces. One force, under the command of General Maximinus, advanced against the Marasharite troops occupying the Marauder and Calrissaite Districts; another force, under the command of General Antiochus Drevius, advanced against the Marasharites in the Satian Borderlands and Xilanian Provinces. The final force, under the command of Emperor Alexander Severus, launched a bold move into the Tof Borderlands and the outskirts of the Muggal Cluster. Of the three advances, that of General Maximinus was the most successful. Maximinus destroyed a Marasharite-Haynsian force in the Battle of Tiona (March 29, 1632). In April 1632, he reconquered Nandia and Calrissian, seizing a large amount of Haynsian military armor and freeing some twenty-five million captives. Maximinus then stormed Nandi, the Colonies of the Varmant, and Varta, driving a wedge against Marasharite positions on the Galactic Frontier Route. By June 1632, he had recovered the whole of the Nandi, Calrissiate, and Marauder Districts for the Laurasian Empire. General Drevius, on his part, managed to reconquer Bingley (April 1632) and then drove Haynsian fleets from Roxuli, Abraham, Simmons, and Margery. The Laurasian offensive against Lynne and Multan, however, proved a catastrophic failure, and in July 1632, Ardashir’s subordinate general Safay crushed Laurasian detachments in the Battle of Ilia. Jin Major and the Satellites of Ursula were besieged by Laurasian forces from May 1632, but they remained under Marasharite control. Finally, that under the Emperor faced immense challenges.
 * Although Alexander Severus managed to storm Billy Gasis (April-May 1632), his efforts to seize the defenses of Ba’dsai, Tokyang, and Donna were repelled by Ardashir in a series of bitter confrontations in the Tof Bandlands (June-August 1632). In September 1632, the Emperor was defeated in the humiliating Battle of Latrice, and as a result was forced to terminate reconnaissance expeditions against Ung, Kumong, and Karlong. Ardashir also pursued a strategy of deception, for he left a mere screening force to protect Kia and Latrice; his main units continued to thrust against Xilania Major and Xilania Secondary, keeping Laurasian garrisons disoriented and off-balance. By November 1632, Laurasian troops had managed to recover Leopoldia and Big Twinny, but Haynsian expeditions continued to devastate the Farther Homidinian Provinces. Nearly thirteen billion captives, mostly women and children, fell into Haynsian hands and were enslaved in the Angelina Spiral and the Amulak Spiral. Male captives were castrated and many of them were forced to become eunuchs at the Marasharite Court. By this process, Laurasians and other aliens from the Caladarian Galaxy began to spread throughout Marasharite territories; by the end of the seventeenth century, Caladarian Galaxy natives would appear as far as Damasia, in the Felix Galaxy. In December 1632, the garrisons of Bach Dang, Ho Chi Minh, Saigon, and Valeris V erupted in revolt, under the command of General Taurinus. Emperor Alexander Severus suppressed this revolt swiftly, and on New Year’s Eve 1632, Taurinus committed suicide on his personal flagship.
 * Birth of the future Emperor Probus (r. 1676-83) in Martiz, Rebecca, of the Rebeccan Province in the Laurasian Empire.
 * Birth of the future Emperor Volusianus, co-ruler with his father Trebonianus Gallus (r. 1651-53) in the Compound of the Laurasian Gubernatorial Garrison in Prime City on Shenandoah, of the Shenandonanite Province in the Laurasian Empire.

1633

 * By January 1633, the Laurasian Emperor Alexander Severus was desperate to obtain a peace agreement with the Marasharite Empire. The Emperor wished to return to Laurasia Prime, so that he could focus his attention on reforms in the educational system and Imperial Court. He also wished to take the lessons learned from this latest Laurasian-Marasharite War in order to reform the discipline, tactics, and military organization of the Laurasian military forces, and to prepare for military campaigns against the weak Mellorite Empire, so as to consolidate the Empire’s northern frontier. Ardashir, on his part, was faced with war against the Holy Austarlian Empire and the Haxonian Confederacy, the two most persistent adversaries of the Marasharites, and needed to turn his attention back to affairs in the Amulak Spiral. He therefore proved receptive to a negotiation offer by his Laurasian counterpart. A diplomatic conference was convened on Dromund, and after two months of negotiations, the Treaty of Dromund (March 19, 1633) was signed. By the terms of this treaty, the status quo ante bellum was restored in territorial matters. All Laurasian territories occupied by Marasharite troops were restored to the authority of the Imperial Laurasian Government; the Laurasians, likewise, agreed to evacuate the Tof Borderlands. Alexander Severus, however, permitted the Marasharites and Haynsians to retain all spoils and prisoners of war they had seized in the military campaigns, and he promised to reduce military deployments in the Borderland Territories.
 * These concessions played a role in sowing the first seeds of dissent against the Emperor in the Imperial Military, who believed that he had been too generous towards the Marasharites. At the time, however, everyone wished for this conflict to end. Following the conclusion of peace, the Emperor proceeded from Eaidon to Istantius. He was escorted by Origen Velementos (1584-1653), who was one of the most renowned theologians and religious scholars in the Laurasian Empire at that time. The Emperor remained on Istantius for the next several months, reveling in the comforts and luxuries of the Sultanic Palace. He also paid his respects to the Tombs of the Solidaritan Sultans. The Tombs had been restored by order of Emperor Antigonus I the Conqueror in 1501, nine decades after they had been desecrated by the troops of Demetrius I the Fat. In September, Emperor Alexander arrived back at the Quencilvanian Palace, but problems had in the meantime intensified for the Empire. The Dejanican-Lithuanian Commonwealth, on its part, had, during the 1620s, waged two wars against the Marasharite Empire and Haynsian Despotate, and was compelled to withdraw from the affairs of the Danubian Principalities as a consequence. King Ariogasi II, up to his death in April 1632, managed to maintain the Commonwealth's neutrality in the Thirty Year's War. Rudolfios II, prior to his death in 1612, had in 1609 issued the Letter of Majesty, granting extensive religious and economic liberty privileges to his subjects in the Kingdom of Bohemia. His brother Matthias, however, was unable to prevent the Defenestration of Prague (May 1618), which then ushered in the outbreak of the Bohemian Revolt. After his death on March 20, 1619, he was succeeded as Emperor by his cousin Ferdinand, who became Ferdinand II. Ferdinand suppressed the Bohemian Revolt ruthlessly (1619-20), invaded the Palatinate, and deposed its ruler Pru'a V, who had been invited by the rebels to become King of Bohemia (1621).
 * Following this, the Emperor of Austarlia imposed a policy of rigorous surveillance throughout his realms, and suppressed a series of revolts in Lower Carnithia, Styria, and Tyrol. In 1622, Denmarica, under King Christian VII, and Vendragia, under King Henvar V, both declared war against Austarlia. Wurttemberg, Bavaria, and Baden aligned themselves with the Emperor, but Celle, Brunswick-Luneburg, Mecklenburg, and Saxony supported the cause of the allies. The Electorate of Brandenburg joined the fight in 1625, under the leadership of Elector Johan Willhelm. That year, Ferdinand appointed Albrecht von Wallenstein as his supreme commander-in-chief. During the course of the next four years, Wallenstein campaigned in Silania, Saxony, Lusatia, Holstein, Thrunigia, Magdeburg, Holstein, Anhalt, Pomerania, and Brandenburg, inflicting a series of defeats upon the Empire's enemies. In 1629, however, Haxonia and Milania both entered the war; Milania on the side of the Emperor of Austarlia, Haxonia against him. By 1633, the conflict involved virtually all of the Germanian Principalities; Vendragia was embroiled by war in Gascony, Aquitaine, Orleans, and Normandy against Franconia; and Burgundy, then ruled by Philivus the Good, who took advantage of the conflict to extend his rule over Namur, Hainault, Holland, Freisland, Zeeland, Brabant, and Limburg, between 1628 and 1632. Dejanica itself, in 1629-31, became involved in a war with Denmarica over Livonia, Royal Pruthia, and Samogitia. Thus, in April 1632, Vologravius VI acceded to the Dejanican throne. An ambitious and determined monarch, he now sought to instigate a series of extensive military campaigns against the Laurasian Empire. The King of Dejanica was determined to recover McIntyre, Ernie, and Gurlack, and to seize control of the Wild Marshes. From June 1633, therefore, he began assembling his military squadrons at Orion, Flournoy, Shashanaya, Dequan, Antwone, Novella, Nelson, Irving, Spacek, Carrie, and the other strongholds of Dejanican Lavella and the Borderlands region, for a series of penetrative strikes into the Empire. Dejanican intelligence and reconnaissance expeditions now routinely harried the Empire's borderland territories, penetrating to Gunevere, Lancelot, Arthur, Morgania Major, and Kelvania Minor between July and November of that year. Emperor Severus, however, did not take appropriate action in response to this. This would prove to have consequences.

1634

 * On January 27, 1634, the Dejanican forces of King Vologravius VI launched a swift military invasion of the Laurasian Galactic Borderlands, causing considerable alarm on Laurasia Prime. The Dejanican units, who had the element of surprise, and taking advantage of the disorientation and unprepardness of the Laurasian forces, in the wake of the Laurasian-Marasharite War, managed to make swift advances into Laurasian territory. Ernie, McIntyre, Gurlack, Siveria, and Gibbs were besieged and conquered by the advancing Dejanican units. By March 1634, Almastaead, Mordan, Kanjur, Morgania Minor, Lancelot, Gunevere, Anjun, Barbara, Bouchet, Kanley, Manzo, Aingley, and Meehan had also capitulated to the Dejanicans, who harried Laurasian colonies along the Narvet Corridor and in the Maluyta Nebula. Millions of sentients in the affected star systems were killed or taken away as captives by the Dejanican troops, who were considered to be even more savage than the Haynsians. The Emperor Alexander Severus, shocked by the sudden Dejanican invasion, was paralyzed with indecision, and he remained in slumber at the Imperial Court, despite the efforts of his mother and of General Maximinus to have him arise. As a result, the discontent of the soldiers increased further, and serious grievances against the Emperor began to emerge. In June 1634, however, the Dejanicans destroyed a Laurasian patrol force in the Battle of Siri; Ettleman, Evans, Goodman, and Terell all fell into their hands. This was what finally motivated the Emperor to move from his capital world and to take command of his forces in the field of battle.
 * In September 1634, after Dejanican units had stormed Welch, Hadlson, and Pumos, the Emperor arrived at Malaria Prime and established his command headquarters there. He ordered for extensive preparations to be made by his units before offensives were to be launched against the Dejanicans. At this stage, however, he still knew little about military affairs, and believed that the mere appearance of his forces would scare the Dejanicans. In October 1634, under pressure by his military officers, the Emperor directed a military offensive to prevent the Dejanicans from seizing White and the Jar Asteroid Belt. He obtained a minor victory at Johnald, but was unable to prevent a Dejanican raiding expedition from penetrating to and sacking the outskirts of Kamachina. By the end of 1634, the Emperor still had not made major counterstrikes against the Dejanican forces, and a stalemate had ensued in the Malarian Provinces. The Dejanicans, however, continued to harry and plunder the star systems they had conquered; millions of lives were further disrupted or ruined by their predations. The Emperor’s reputation with the military forces and with his subjects weakened. They now began to view his conduct as dishonorable and believed that he was actually in collusion with the Empire’s enemies.

1635

 * The year 1635 commenced with the Laurasian Empire emmeshed in war with the Dejanican Commonwealth, and still in the process of recovery from the wars with the Marasharite Empire and Haynsian Despotate. General Maximinus Thrax, who had earned the respect of the troops under his command, and who was the most successful Laurasian operational commander, was now considered by many among the Praetorian Guards, and at the Imperial Court, as a possible candidate for the imperial throne. The Emperor Alexander’s conduct during the early months of 1635 finally pushed the soldiers into action against him. In January 1635, his mother, Grand Princess Julia Mamaea, arrived at the operational headquarters on Malaria Prime. Still holding a substantial influence over her son, the Grand Princess convinced him that, in the light of Laurasian losses against the Marasharite Empire, it would be wiser to attempt to bribe the Dejanicans to halt their offensives, and to even consider territorial arrangements with them. The Emperor adhered to this, and in early February, after Dejanican troops had seized Malaria Outer and Takrania, he sent an offer for negotiations to the Dejanican Government. Vologravius IV sent his demands to the Emperor thereafter: that the Imperial Laurasian Government return its territories in the Galactic Borderlands to Dejanican authority; that it agree to the occupation of the Malarian Provinces by Dejanican troops for a period of ten years; and that it pay an annual financial subsidy to Dejanican coffers. Alexander Severus asked for time to consider these demands; Vologravius gave him two months. As word of this spread throughout the Empire, General Maximinus himself became convinced that the Emperor and his mother needed to be removed from the picture. The Emperor’s reputation and popularity had been destroyed by the Marasharite and Dejanican debacles, and Maximinus was considered to be the Empire’s savior by many. On March 19, 1635, Emperor Alexander and his mother were holding a routine meeting with the generals of the Imperial Army, within the quarters of the Malarian Royal Palace, when soldiers of the XXII Imperial Legion rushed in and, drawing their vibroswords, attacked them. Alexander and his mother were helpless, and the generals now encouraged the soldiers to kill their masters. They did so readily; Emperor Alexander and his mother were both assassinated, and were stabbed at least forty times by the soldiers each.
 * Following the assassination of Alexander, the imperial forces in the Malarian Provinces unanimously acclaimed General Maximinus Thrax as Emperor and Autocrat of All the Laurasians. Maximinus declared that the soldiers of the XXII Imperial Legion had "performed the will of the Lord Almitis" by slaying the Emperor Alexander and his mother. Their deaths thereby brought the Severan Dynasty, which had ruled for forty-two years, to an end. The Crisis of the Seventeenth Century had commenced. During the course of the next fifty years, the Empire was to contend with numerous internal and foreign conflicts, but was nevertheless to continue its territorial expansion, and would eventually be restored to a state of internal governmental stability and prosperity under Neuchrus the Reformer. On March 27, the Governing Senate and Holy Synod reluctantly acknowledged Maximinus as Emperor. Maximinus moved immediately to consolidate his position of power. Designating his son Maximus as his heir apparent and Grand Prince, the Emperor had the memory of Alexander Severus, his mother, and grandmother condemned; all their coins, statutes, and inscriptions were to be destroyed, and they were to be excommunicated and denied the worship of the Almitian Church. He also ordered for the arrest and imprisonment or exile of all the members of Alexander’s household. The new Emperor then contended with two conspiracies against him: one from a group of soldiers who planned to strand Maximinus at Abaga and to proclaim Senator Magnus Emperor; the other from a group of Arachosian troopers who had been loyal to Alexander. They planned to elevate General Quartinus to the supreme dignity. Maximinus suppressed both conspiracies by May 1635, and had their leaders attained, convicted, and executed at the Fortress of Baureux. Following this, he launched a series of vigorous counteroffensives against the Dejanicans, withdrawing the earlier peace offer made by Emperor Alexander and declaring that Vologravius would be forced to acknowledge the supremacy of Laurasian arms.
 * In June 1635, the Emperor, who had assembled his squadrons at White, the Jar Asteroids, Timaslan, Timsies, Malaria Prime, Tasablakaia, and other strongholds still under Imperial control in the Malarian Provinces, launched a general move against Dejanican positions. Defeating Dejanican units in the Battle of Aldastaire, he reconquered the strongholds of the Maluyta Nebula, Takrania, Almastead, and Kanley by September 1635, earning widespread acclaim from his subjects throughout the Laurasian Empire and praise by the institutions of the Imperial Government for taking a decisive course of action against the Empire's enemies. King Vologravius then entrusted his leading general, Samagasius Cleo, with the task of repelling the Laurasian Emperor's forces. In a series of confrontations at Ursula, Guin, Van-Dogh, Lafaria, and Unacia (September-October 1635), Maximinus successfully repelled the Dejanican forces, subduing those outposts firmly back to the authority of the Laurasian Empire. In November 1635, the Emperor obtained a decisive victory in the Battle of the Belts of Asil, although Laurasian forces suffered losses in battle greater than those of the Dejanican adversaries. Nevertheless, by the end of 1635, Manzo, Aingley, and Meehan had been reconquered by Laurasian units, while Evans and Ettleman were both being besieged by Laurasian fleets. Maximinus was granted the title of Malarius Maximus by the Governing Senate and Holy Synod.
 * Death on Charasia of the prominent Laurasian historian Sir Cassius Dio, 1st Baronet Dio of Charasia.
 * Comet Demosthena was seen from Laurasia Prime. It will not be seen again until 1710.

1636

 * The year 1636 opened with the Emperor Maximinus's campaigns against the Dejanican-Lithuanian Commonwealth reaching their victorious conclusion. In January 1636, Laurasian troops under the command of General Sir Callimachus Arvenius obtained a decisive victory over the forces of General Cleo in the Battle of Acabania. In the aftermath of this battle, that stronghold capitulated to Laurasian forces. Evans and Ettleman were finally reconquered by the Laurasian Empire the following month; following this, Laurasian squadrons launched a series of devastating and decisive assaults against the strongholds of the Narvut Corridor. Goodman, Terell, Lancelot, Gunevere, Bouchet, and Siri were all reconquered by the middle of March 1636, and Dejanican units were in full-scale retreat from the Malarian, Morganian, and Kelvanian Provinces. Emperor Maximinus issued proclamations to his subjects hailing these achievements in battle over his enemies, and he declared that no one could obstruct the rights and territorial integrity of the Laurasian Empire. In April 1636, Laurasian troops crossed over into the Galactic Borderlands, pursuing retreating Dejanican armadas.
 * The Battle of Sister-Niger (April 22, 1636) resulted in the final and decisive defeat of General Cleo; the Dejanican General himself fell into the custody of the Laurasian Emperor, who treated him with much courtesy and more as a guest than a prisoner. Monique, Black-Chandlier, John, Orion, Flournoy, McIntyre, Shashanaya, Gurlack, Ernie, and Adelita were all stormed by Laurasian troops, who even began to launch raiding expeditions against Ladelle and Lavella Minor. These losses in battle against the forces of Emperor Maximinus were what finally convinced King Vologravius to request peace negotiations. The Treaty of Abraham (July 5, 1636), resulted in the concession of all the remaining strongholds of the Dejanican Borderlands, including Monique, Black-Chandlier, John, Orion, Shashanaya, Orion, Flournoy, and Adelita, to the authority of the Laurasian Empire. All prisoners and goods of war were to be exchanged, and peaceful economic relations between the two states, in accordance with the Treaties of Commerce of 1581, 1589, 1596, and 1611 were restored.
 * Following the conclusion of this war, Emperor Maximinus returned to Laurasia Prime in August 1636, the first time since his usurpation of the throne that he had appeared on the capital world. He extended largesse and a public holiday to his subjects, and for the time being enjoyed their affection. The Emperor, however, was already planning for further military campaigns, for events in the Celestial Kingdom of Scottria alarmed him and the Imperial Laurasian Government. King Jamsius V of Scottria had grown more and more hostile towards the Laurasian Empire ever since his release in 1624. The immediate years of his direct reign were occupied by his efforts to dominate his nobility and to consolidate his control over the Scottrian State. By 1628-1629, however, he had largely consolidated his place on the Scottrian throne, and now turned his attention towards his foreign policy. The King of Scottria, who was determined to obtain greater influence and security for his realms, and believed that it was important to foster ties to the civilizations of the Great Amulak Spiral, now sought to procure for himself a bride from some foreign potentate. Such a marriage would demonstrate his power and influence and warn the Laurasian Empire against unduly interfering with Scottrian territorial integrity. In June 1628, King Charman I of Franconia, who had grown increasingly wary of the Empire's widening interactions with Franconia's neighbors, and believing it essential to find a ally beyond the Amulak Spiral, dispatched a special envoy, Reginault of Chartles, to the Court of Ediania in order to provide for the establishment of a diplomatic and economic alliance between the two realms. This was to be sealed by the marriage of Jamsius's daughter Margaret to Lujak, the Dauphin (Prince) of Franconia. Jamsius proved amendable to this offer, and within a matter of months, the terms of the agreement had been hammered out. On October 2, 1628, the Treaty of Ediania had been signed, providing for the establishment of a diplomatic alliance between the Celestial Kingdom of Scottria and the Serene Kingdom of Franconia. By the terms of this treaty, each state was to support the "diplomatic intentions" of the other, agreeing to conclude no treaty adverse to the interests of the other. Free trade was established between the two realms; no tariffs were to be imposed upon the products of the other. Finally, the terms of the marriage compact were established: the Princess of Scottria was to be married to the Dauphin of Franconia. The Franconian Court was to cover transportation expenses, but the Scottrian King was to provide the dowry for his bride and would responsible for her welfare and household expenses thenceforth.
 * Jamsius found his political importance and reputation boosted by the impending marriage of his daughter and his newly-established contacts with Franconia. For a time, however, the King reverted to a moderate foreign policy, displaying neither hostility nor overt friendliness towards the Laurasian Empire, the Haxonian Confederacy, or even his erstwhile Franconian allies. He maintained diplomatic contacts with Greater Spamalka, Lesser Spamalka, Austarlia, the Duchy of Miliania, and the Electorate of Brandenburg, among other powers. And indeed, until August 1636, he continued to remain at peace, however warily, with his Laurasian neighbors. Tensions, however, finally erupted at that time. In April 1636, Princess Margaret, who had now obtained the age of twelve, formally departed with her entourage and personal household from Branxholme in the Outskirt Districts, proceeding rapidly across the Galactic Void to the Great Amulak Spiral. On June 24, she arrived at Tours and formally met her husband-to-be, Dauphin Lujak, for the first time. The following day, they were formally married there by the High Priest of Reims. Emperor Maximinus, believing that unless if he acted now, Franconian military support would be channeled to Scottria, issued a declaration of war against Scottria on August 29, 1636. Within days of his return to Laurasia Prime, the Emperor again departed to take command of his military forces in the field. Laurasian military units assembled at Garama, Cydamus, Gholaia, Garbia, Castellum Dimmdi, Gemallae, Thabudeos, Evan, Jacquenthia, Merliash, and Aretha, posed for a strike into the Galactic Borderlands. The King of Scottria, however, who had been anticipating an Laurasian offensive move, launched a preemptive strike from Frederickshamm, the Vilmanstrand Approaches, and Ladoga into Laurasian space. In October 1636, the Laurasian military arsenals on Vescera and Zabi were stormed by Scottrian units. In a series of confrontations at Bobria, Carolyn, and Korgia (October-December 1636), Jamsius managed to harass Laurasian supply lines and to hamper their advance into his realms. Towards the end of December 1636, Scottrian units began their advance against Roxburgh, which was a frontier base located twelve light-years to the east of Humbleton Mist. The base had been expanded and equipped with new shield generators by the Imperial General Headquarters. Jamsius, however, was confident that this stronghold would fall into his possession.

1637

 * In early January 1637, the forces of King Jamsius I of Scottria, operating from Humbleton Mist (which had been seized by Scottrian units on the last day of the previous year), advanced towards Roxburgh. Scottrian squadrons besieged and conquered the Laurasian outposts on Uber-Caithness, Marvash, and the System of the Clear Asteroids, from which Laurasian forces conducted intelligence and harrying missions into the Scottrian Galactic Borderlands. Emperor Maximinus, who was stunned by the early successes of the Scottrian troops in battle against the Empire, and who was aware of the necessity for the continuation of military success for the maintenance of his rule, now decided to strengthen the fortifications of Jacquenthia, Merliash, Aretha, and Roxburgh. This was a decision which was to prove pivotal in the outcome of the battle. On January 24, the units of King Jamsius formally commenced their blockade of the Roxburgh star system, suppressing the supply lines to the garrison. The King of Scottria, in proclamations issued from his operational headquarters on Roaeris, boasted that his Laurasian adversaries would soon be made aware of the true might of his kingdom. The King, however, dislocated his own strategy through the decisions he made with his command. He appointed his young and inexperienced cousin, Laird Robert Stewart of Albany, as the chief subordinate commander of the Scottrian fleet. Stewart was placed in seniority ahead of the Earls of Douglas and Angus, who were forced to acknowledge his directives. Stewart failed to secure control of the Laurasian outpost on York III, which had been colonized by the Imperial Ministry of Defense as a communications center thirty years earlier. Consequently, the Earl of Redia, as well as the Praefect of Ashlgothia and the Archbishop of Thathis, were able to assemble their military units for a counteroffensive against the outskirts of Roxburgh. The Battle of the Roxburgh Mists (January 29, 1637) resulted in a decisive victory for the forces of the Laurasian Empire. As a result of this confrontation, the Scottrians were forced to abandon the blockade of Roxburgh. Within four days, they had been ejected from Roaeris, Marvash, the Clear Asteroids, Bobria, Carolyn, and Korgria, being forced to retreat back towards the Vilmanstrand Approaches. The King himself retired to Janeway, determined to reverse the sudden decline in his fortunes. A conspiracy, however, was now hatched against him.
 * The Earl of Atholl, who had also been passed over for operational command, was one of the King's cousins: he was a son of Robert II and therefore a uncle of the King. He had become guardian of his niece, Euphemia, when her father, his brother David, Earl of Straithern and Caithness, died in March 1589. Atholl administered his brother's territories for over fifteen years, and also provided assistance to his brother, the Earl of Fife, who then served as Guardian of Scottria, against Lord Alexander of Bandonech (their brother) and David, Duke of Rothesay (their nephew). Albany, however, arranged the marriage of his niece with one of his affinity, Patrick Graham, ending Atholl's involvement in Straithern. Graham died in a quarrel with his principal servant, John Drummond, in 1613. Atholl became involved in Straithern's affairs again, serving as the guardian of Graham's infant son. This fueled a further struggle between him and his brother Albany, with whom relations had soured. Upon his return to Scottria in 1624, King Jamsius aligned himself with Atholl. The following year (May 1625), he participated in the assizes which resulted in the execution of many prominent Albany Stewarts. Jamsius granted Atholl the positions of Sheriff of Perth and Justiciar, and also granted him the rights to the income of the Earldom of Straithern. Atholl's elder son, David, was one of the hostages sent to the Laurasian Empire upon the King's release and had died there in 1634; the younger, Alan, died in the King's service at the Battle of Iverlochy with the Lordship of the Mists in 1631. David's son Robert had become Atholl's heir, and both were in line to the throne after the young Prince Jamsius.
 * Jamsius continued to show favor to Atholl and appointed Robert as his personal chamberlain, but by 1637, relations had begun to sour, and both the Earl and his son had developed a hostile view of him. Atholl's hold on Straithern was weak, and both he and his son realized that the earldom would certainly revert to the Crown upon his death. Robert would have been reduced to rule of the earldoms of Caithness and Atholl, which were relatively impoverished. The retreat from Ediania now posed questions about the King's control over his subjects; his military competence; and his diplomatic abilities. However, he remained committed to war with the Empire, and contemplated ideas of aligning with the Neo-Anastasians and Deuistianians in the Barsar Regions against Maximinus. On February 3, the King summoned a general council to finance further hostilities through greater taxation. The Scottrian Estates opposed this fiercely, and their speaker, Sir Robert Graham, a servant of Atholl, articulated this brilliantly. Graham then foolishly tried to arrest the King; this resulted in his banishment to Fraiser. Two days later, Jamsius overturned the chapter of Dunkeld Conclave, replacing Atholl's nominee by his own nephew and firm supporter, Jamsius Kennedy.
 * The reaction against the King at the General Council convinced Atholl that his authority was no longer firm, and inspired him to launch his conspiracy against him. He believed that decisive action on his part would produce a change in government and secure influence for himself. The destruction of the Albany Stewarts in 1625 played a part in the conspiracy. The judicial killing and forfeiture of their properties affected their servants grievously. Atholl filled the vacuum created, and many Albany men became his servants. Sir Robert Graham, and the brothers Christopher and Robert Chambers now became co-conspirators with the Earl, each having their own motivation to be rid of the King. On February 10, a general council was held on Perth, located in Atholl's jurisdiction. Crucially for Atholl and his conspirators, the King and Queen had lodged at Blackfriar's Tower in Perth's capital city, Melbathia. During the evening of February 20, the King and Queen were in their rooms and separated from most of their servants. Robert Stewart, the King's Chamberlain, allowed his co-conspirators, led by Sir Robert Gresham and the Chambers brothers, to have access to the King's personal quarters. Jamsius was alerted to their presence, and attempted to flee from his chambers. He was soon trapped however, and killed with five shots of a blaster.
 * The assassins had achieved their priority in killing the King but the Queen Consort, although wounded, managed to escape. Prince Jamsius, who was only six years old, was now King Jamsius II of Scottria. The news of his father's assassination quickly filtered out from Perth. Emperor Maximinus, who had reconquered Vescera and was preparing a counteroffensive against Ladoga and Oneida, learned of the King's death on Murray, where he had established his operational headquarters. Most importantly, the King's murder inspired outrage throughout the Scottrian realms. The new King had been safeguarded from harm by his mother's servants. The Earl of Angus and Sir William Crichton both supported the Queen, and allowed her to keep a firm hold of her son. This greatly reinforced her position, but Atholl still had his followers. By early March 1637, neither side held the advantage.
 * By the middle of March, however, Angus and Crichton had both mobilized to move against Atholl. Atholl gathered his own forces to resist intrusions into his territory; the Queen, on her part, ordered the authorities of Perth to resist the intrusions of the "foul traitors". Atholl's position, however, only collapsed after his heir Robert Stewart, who had been captured at Spurra, confessed to his part in the crime. On March 17, the Earl of Atholl himself was captured by a squadron of government starfighters near Spurra, after a series of short confrontations at Ladoga, Perth, Vyborg, and in the Berrick Barrier. Brought back to Ediania in the Angelina Spiral, Atholl was convicted and executed (March 26, 1637), one day after Jamsius II was crowned at Holyrood. Sir Robert Gresham, who had led the band of assassins, was captured by former Atholl allies at McKellen; he was executed at Stirling on April 9. Shortly afterwards, the Earl of Douglas became lieutenant-general (effectively Regent), of the Celestial Kingdom of Scottria, a position he was to hold for the next two years. Almost immediately, he turned his attention to bringing the war against Laurasia to an end. Over the course of March and April 1637, Laurasian units had advanced along the Vilmanstrand Highway, besieging and conquering the Beroeyze Asteroids, Kania, Crusher, Wheaton, and the Trans-McKellen systems. Emperor Maximinus had also stormed Ladoga and Oneida, and was amassing his military units to assault Perth.
 * In July 1637, however, he proved amendable to negotiating peace with the Scottrian Government. After some months of negotiations, the Treaty of Nicole (September 6, 1637), ended the war with the acquisition of Zebetha, Dasalaburgh, and Ranieda Minor by the Laurasian Empire; the confirmation of Laurasian commerical rights in Scottrian territory; and the payment of a massive indemnity, to the tune of €25 trillion dataries a year, for ten years (to 1647). In return, Emperor Maximinus agreed to recognize Jamsius II's rights as King of Scottria and to refrain from making any further demands on Scottrian territory. After the conclusion of this peace, Emperor Maximinus conducted a tour throughout the Ashlgothian and Melorkian Provinces; he then returned to Laurasia Prime in October 1637, and ordered for a triumph to be conducted in the streets of Christiania to celebrate his victory. The Emperor's popularity, however, had begun to wane by this point, as he now indulged in a regime of despotic oppressions at the Imperial Court and continued to devalue the currency. Many in the Empire believed that he had betrayed his promises and that he should have continued the Scottrian War with greater vigor. The nobility in all regions of the Empire continued to despise him as a upstart. By the end of 1637, these tensions were beginning to be revealed in circles at the Imperial Court and in the far-flung Huntite Provinces.

1638

 * In January 1638, tensions against the Emperor Maximinus's authority finally erupted among the nobility and prominent personages of the Huntite Provinces. One hundred and twenty-one years had passed since Antigonus the Conqueror had destroyed the Huntite Caliphate; for many in the region, independence was now but a distant memory. The Emperor Antigonus had instigated the policy, continued by his successors, of sponsoring extensive immigration to and colonization of star systems in the Huntite Provinces by Laurasians and by other subjects of the Empire. Emperor Lysimachus I had, by the decree of February 17, 1522, offered freedom of movement, freedom of religion, the right to appoint representatives to present petitions to the government, and financial subsidies for the "development of the agricultural, mineral, and industrial resources of the star systems concerned" to any who migrated freely to the Huntite Provinces. Already, by the second quarter of the seventeenth century, there were over one hundred billion Laurasians resident in the Huntite Provinces. Emperor Demetrius Severus I himself had been born on Chronographia, one of the worlds colonized under the Imperial Government's patronage.
 * Hunt Major, which had once been the capital world of the successive Huntite Empires; the Carolyne Khanate; and the Huntite Caliphate, had become, by 1638, the chief headquarters for the Imperial government authorities in the Huntite Provinces. From the old Palace of the Carolyne Khans and the Andravid Palace in Caroline, Hunt Major's capital city, the Praefect of the Huntite Provinces supervised military and other affairs of importance in his jurisdiction; the Governor of Hunt Major wielded executive authority over Hunt Major, Hunt Minor, Claithbourne, the Cathy Asteroid Belt, and the Sk'atha Nebula. And it was on Hunt Major that the first stirrings of dissent appeared which were to erupt into rebellion against the Emperor's government. Hunt Major was one of the star systems opposed to the Emperor; the powerful Huntite, Rudorite, Dasian, and Halegothican magnates of the star system resented the Empire's taxation demands. Therefore, when on January 12, Financial Procurator Sir Galerius Acronius, obliging by the instructions of the College of Justice, attempted to compel the nobles into maximizing their taxes to the Imperial Treasury, he provoked open revolt. His falsifications of charges against nobles of Caroline in the Provincial Court of Assizes had alienated many; they now considered him to be a fiend. Antigonus Crimonia, 3rd Lord Crimonia of Caroline, and the most powerful Laurasian emigrant noble on Hunt Major, aligned with the Huntite Prince Agamantha, member of the influential Huntite kajidic (noble family) of the Memuhlkia, to provoke a riot outside the Procurator's private residence. The rioters, who numbered nearly two thousand, ransacked the surrounding properties and penetrated the residence's defenses within hours. Procurator Acronius, who was utterly helpless, was butchered to death by the crowd.
 * Within three days, Lord Crimonia and Prince Agamanthia had managed to secure the support of the Honorary Council of Huntite Lords, who constituted the most powerful institution of Huntite nobles in the Empire. By the end of the month, the garrisons and nobles of Hunt Minor, Boontha, Timur's Star, Claithbourne, Adiabene, Adenystrae, and Ozogardana had all renounced their oaths of allegiance to the Emperor Maximinus's government and declared their support for the rebellion. In early February, Lord Crimonia led his troops and Huntite mercenaries in seizing Thysdrus, where they murdered the Praefect, the Lord Villonia, who had refused to support their rebellion. In the midst of all this, one figure had remained aloof from all activity. The Governor of Hunt Major, Sir Gordian Semiporanus, Lord Semiporanus had been at his estate on Samarkand at the time of the outbreak of the revolt. Governor Semiporanus was a well-respected official of the Empire. He had enlisted in the Imperial Army in 1593 and over the course of the next four decades, had risen through the hierarchy. He had obtained the rank of Lieutenant-General by 1609; seven years later, he was appointed to the Governing Senate by Emperor Caracalla. He then served as Governor of Hypasia; in 1620, the Emperor Elagabalus's grandmother, Julia Maesa, sponsored his appointment as a Suffect of the City of Christiania. Gordian also commanded the Legion III Solidarita, which was stationed at Massanay; he provided operational support for intelligence expeditions against the Dejaniks and Marasharites.
 * From 1616 to 1629, he also served as an Aedile for the Imperial College of Works and Holdings, gaining popularity for the magnificent public works and entertainment projects he sponsored. From 1632 to 1637, he had served as Vice-Governor of Murphy, before being promoted to the prestigious Governorship of Hunt Major; at the same time, he became Baron Semiporanus of Copleis, having received a knighthood in 1628. By 1638, therefore, Gordian was already a senior official and noble. At sixty-eight years old by the time of the revolt, it seemed that he would be an unlikely candidate for the Laurasian throne. Fortune turned out in his favor, for Lord Crimonia had no wish for the throne himself and believed the rebellion could gather more support throughout the Empire if the Governor were elevated to the throne. Therefore, on February 12, he sent the first of numerous pleas to the Governor, urging him to assume the mantle of the throne. Gordian at first resisted, and assembled squadrons at Samarkand, Leah, Lorna, Garnett, Ber Bachmann, Jabul, Akaamar, Gagronia, and Negro, determined to launch a counteroffensive against Hunt Major. He was eventually swayed by the entreaties of his own son, also named Gordian, who was his heir to the Baronecy of Semiporanus.
 * The younger Gordian, born in 1592, had followed his father into the Imperial Army and had become Legate-General of the Governor's Household of Hunt Major in December 1637. More ambitious than his father, the younger Gordian believed that now was the opportunity to overthrow the despised Maximinus and restore a nobler blood-line to the Laurasian throne. On March 22, after the garrisons of Jasonia, Hasselbeck, Whoppi, Downs, and Garnett had all acknowledged the authority of the rebel government, Gordian finally accepted the offer made by Lord Crimonia. In his proclamation of accession, he promised to respect the rights and privileges of all native nobles in the Empire; to grant them privileges of self-government; and to refrain from levying undue taxes. This earned the support of the Huntite Council of Lords, who believed that they could eventually supplant the usurper Emperors and reestablish the independence of their species. Gordian, however, also insisted that his son be proclaimed co-emperor and heir, so as to "aid me in the execution of my duties". This was accepted, and a joint manifesto of proclamation for both Gordian IV and Gordian V was issued by the Chancellory of Hunt Major. On March 25, father and son, now acknowledged as co-Emperors and Autocrats of All Laurasia, in opposition to Maximinus, made a victorious procession onto Hunt Major. Emperor Maximinus, who had moved to Leopoldia in response to a revolt at Methuselah, Sheryl, Laronn, and Quanna, reacted with outrage to this proclamation. On March 29, he issued instructions to his officials and military commanders throughout the regions of the Empire, denouncing the rebellion and ordering them to take all measures to suppress it. Within days, however, events turned against the Emperor further.
 * On April 2, the Governing Senate and Holy Synod hastily convened in an emergency session at the Quencilvanian Palace. Denouncing Maximinus as a usurper, they now acknowledged the two Gordians as their sovereigns, and declared that Maximinus should now be treated as an enemy of the Imperial Government. This proclamation swayed the loyalties of the Central Core and of Briannia, Nystadia, the Nexus Route strongholds, the Station of Dosch, Arias, Tommy, and the Murphian Provinces, all of whom rejected Maximinus's authority and acknowledged that of the two Gordians. Maximinus was now confronted with two theaters of rebellion. The Emperor now assembled his squadrons at Bolgrahay, Dennis, Rastaborn, Shannon, Quanna, Sair, and Berhamia, determined to advance to the Rebeccan Galactic Trade Route and reassert his control of Laurasia Prime. In the Huntite Provinces, the rebel forces, now united under the direction of the two Gordians, made more advances; by the early weeks of April 1638, the Sk'atha Cluster, Uris, Vickis, Choir, Udall, Jodie, Northrop, and Clarisse had all been secured by rebel units. By this point, however, the steam and energy of the rebellion was already running low. One prominent personage in the Empire had remained loyal to Emperor Maximinus, and the territories he wielded jurisdiction over directly bordered those of the rebellion. That was Governor Sir Capellianus Survanius of Robert, who had been a loyal associate of the Emperor in the Imperial Army and was bitterly opposed to the influence of the Gordians.
 * On April 7, refusing to acknowledge the authority of the two Gordians, Governor Survanius (who had gained special authorization and reinforcements from the Emperor), advanced from Izonza, Abuza, Dickinson, and Meredith. He quickly stormed Leah, Lorna, Garnett, Morsia, Whoppi, and Hasselbeck, forcing rebel units under the command of "Emperor" Gordian V to retreat southwards. Within three days, Survanius had managed to take advantage of tensions at the Caroline Asteroid Belt and on Samarkand to launch a surprise offensive, breaking the defenses of Jabul, Akamaar, and Boontha. During the early hours of April 12, 1638, the two forces of Governor Survanius and Gordian V clashed in the Battle of the Caroline Asteroid Belt. The battle's outcome was decided by the greater number of professional corvette and courier squadrons avaliable to the Governor. Within hours, Gordian V himself, unable to flee on his flagship, the IMS Imakarata, had been killed, and most of the rebel force scattered. Gordian IV, who had been at the Citadel of Hunt Major anxiously awaiting news about the battle, was devastated when he learned of his son's death. In utter despair, and realizing that all was lost, he committed suicide in the quarters of the Neo-Carolyne Palace. By April 17, Survanius had captured Hunt Major, and the last remnants of the Gordianite Rebellion were suppressed. Lord Crimonia, Prince Agamanthia, and seventy Huntite magnates were executed by the Governor for their treason. Ironically, Governor Survanius himself would be poisoned on August 7, 1638, having by then developed ambitions for seizing the throne himself.
 * The collapse of the Gordianite Rebellion forced the Senate, the Synod, and the chief bodies of the Imperial Government on Laurasia Prime to act quickly. Their open support for the two Emperors Gordian meant that there would be great vengeance exacted on them by the Emperor Maximinus when he reached Laurasia Prime. Therefore, they turned their eyes to two senior and respected Senators: Sir Pupienus Clodius and Sir Balbinius Caelius. Both Pupienus and Balbinius, who were of the same age as Maximinus and Gordian IV, had devoted long years of service to the Empire. Pupienus served as Proconsul of Zennethia and Zutagia (1609-1614); Legate of the Merlite Military Districts (1614-17); and Governor of Ashlgothia Major (1617-1626). Appointed to the Governing Senate in 1629, he had also been raised to the knighthood at that time and received the Suffect Consulship of Columbia. In 1634, he became Suffect of Social Welfare for the City of Christiania, and became known for his rigorous efforts to root out cheaters of the system. Balbinius, on his part, had served as Governor of Venasia Prime from 1613 to 1619, before being appointed to the Governing Senate in 1627. Both had been members of the Regency Committee created by the Senate to supervise affairs on the capital world until the Gordians could consolidate their positions. Now, with the Gordians dead, they were considered viable candidates for the imperial throne. On April 22, 1638, they were formally proclaimed Emperors and Autocrats of All the Laurasians.
 * Pupienus assumed control of military and foreign affairs, relegating civil administration and affairs of the Imperial Household to Balbinus. The two co-Emperors, however, were soon compelled to acknowledge Lord Gordian Pius, who was the grandson of Gordian IV and the nephew of Gordian V, as their junior emperor and sole heir apparent. Although Pupienus and Balbinus had been elevated by the chief institutions of the Imperial Government, on the basis of their perceived experience and insight into state affairs, neither were popular with the common inhabitants of Christiania or the other cities of Laurasia Prime, who preferred the now Grand Prince Gordian. Nevertheless, this choice stood for the time being.
 * Two days after his formal ascension to the throne, Emperor Pupienus, at the head of the 1st Imperial Fleet and detachments from the garrisons of Katherine, Chancia, Ralina Vixius, Apathama Vixius, Augis I, Oxia Vixius, Sarah, Vetta, Lusculum, and Volta, departed from Laurasia Prime in order to arrest the advance of Maximinus, who still considered himself Emperor and was determined to defeat his rivals. Maximinus, indeed, secured Durglais, Gdov, Rebecca, Nystadia, Courdina V, Peramalania, and Americana, driving a wedge into the Laurasian Purse Region. Sweeping from the Metallasian Trade Corridor, the Emperor stormed Adys, Zeena, and Constantine I, penetrating to the outskirts of Aquilionia on May 3. The star system, however, refused to give him entry, and was determined to oppose his further advance. Senators Rutilius Pudens Crispinus and Tullius Meniphilus took command of the garrison, and successfully repelled all offensives launched by the Emperor's units. Maximinus's soldiers now began to grow disaffected and turned against him, believing that he was incapable of achieving victory now. Two frontal offensives against the outskirts of Aquilionia failed, and an attempt by Maximinus to offer clemency to the system's residents if they surrendered peacefully was rebuffed by Senator Crispinus. By May 6, the Emperor's soldiers were in absolute despair. His son Grand Prince Maximus was unable to keep the loyalty of his men; Pupienus continued his advance into the Constantine Cluster. Finally, during the early morning hours of May 12, 1638, just as the Emperor was about to order another offensive against Aquilionia's defenses, soldiers from his personal staff rushed into the official conference chambers. Pulling Maximinus, Grand Prince Maximus, and several of their ministers from their seats, the soldiers ran them through several times with their vibroswords. Within hours, news of Maximinus's assassination, and that of his son, spread throughout the Empire.
 * Within days, Pupienus and Balbinus found their authority acknowledged throughout the Empire. On June 7, Emperor Pupienus returned to Laurasia Prime, having supervised the disbandment of Maximinus's armies; the retrieval of the killed Emperor's body and that of his son and ministers; and the affirmation of the Imperial Government's authority over the strongholds which had remained under the control of Maximinus's forces. Balbinus, however, had failed to keep public order on Laurasia Prime during Pupienus's absence. Balbinus, who was possessed of some paranoia, believed that Pupienus would employ his Arachosian and Millian bodyguards to depose and assassinate him, and to assume sole possession of the Imperial throne. Soon, the two Emperors were living in separate sections of the Quencilvanian Palace. They were therefore at the mercy of the Praetorian Guards, who resented them bitterly and now intended upon killing them. In late June 1638, Balbinus became aware of the stirrings of dissent among the ranks of the Guards. This further increased his fears; then on July 6, violent riots broke out in the Commerical and the Residential Districts of Christiania, provoked by nobles sympathetic to the wishes of the Praetorian Guards. Among these included Willanius de la Pole, Earl of Sufforia, who desired to obtain a position of ascendancy in the Imperial Government. These riots continued for several days and further weakened their position. A massive combustive explosion at the Diplomatic Palace on July 27 proved the final spark. The Earl of Sufforia, aligning himself with Sir Gaius Timesithus, who had served as Prefect of the Cohorts and as Judicial Procurator in the Venasian Cluster, on Schaueria Prime, Murphy, and in the Millian Home Region, now decided that the two co-Emperors must be deposed; the young Gordian should be installed as sole emperor in their place.
 * Two days later, July 29, 1638, the conspirators acted on their plans. Balbinus held a conference, during the early morning hours, with his co-monarch, Emperor Pupienus, demanding that he take action to suppress the dissent in the Praetorian Guards. Pupienus grew angry, and accused Balbinus of being incompetent. The two became involved in a verbal argument; minutes later, Guards officers led by the Earl of Sufforia burst into the official Conference Chambers, and hacked both co-Emperors, who were completely defenseless, to death with vibroswords. At noon, Galactic Standard Time, the Praetorian Guards, Governing Senate, Holy Synod, and Council of Civil Service formally proclaimed the younger Gordian as Gordian VI, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Laurasians. The young Emperor was hailed by his subjects from the balcony of the Quencilvanian Palace, escorted by the Earl of Sufforia and Sir Timesithus. Because he was too young to rule, the bodies of state assumed the duties of a Regency Council, while the Earl of Sufforia was appointed as his protector and governor of the imperial household. He arranged the Emperor's coronation in September 1638; this was meant to demonstrate that Almitis had truly blessed him with the reins of power. For the rest of the year 1638, the Laurasian Empire remained at a turbulent peace. Many throughout the Empire had high hopes of their new monarch, and believed that the Empire could resume its territorial expansion unobstructed. Soon however, the Empire was to face a renewed challenge from its ardent Marasharite and Haynsian adversaries. This war would indeed result in territorial acquisitions for the Empire, but also in the devastation of parts of the Borderland Territories.

1639

 * The year 1639 commenced with the Laurasian Empire residing in a state of relative peace and internal prosperity, as a result of the deposition of Pupienus and Balbinus from the Imperial Laurasian throne and the installation of Gordian VI as sole Emperor. And indeed, the new Emperor, under the control of the Earl of Sufforia and of other influential personages at the Imperial Court, seemed to represent the new and best hope for the Empire. Within months, however, that situation changed. The Mellorite Empire, with whom Laurasia had remained at peace for more than four decades, had continued its internal political and military decline. Six of the twelve Mellorite Emperors of the Bayid Dynasty had been deposed from the throne through violent means. In fact, in November 1638, Emperor Jamal Yusuf had been deposed from the throne after just four months, and replaced by his cousin Jaqmaq. Jaqmaq was a weak and ineffective monarch, and he was unable to restrain the actions of some of his more reckless subjects. The Mellorite military commander Abgul-Kamak, Governor of the Burglais Arm Military Districts, was an ambitious, determined figure, eager to obtain glory for himself among the Mellorite species. He wished to assert the dominant position in the Mellorite Empire, and believed that this could be accomplished by launching expeditions into the territory of the Laurasian Empire. The Mellorite nobles and the subjects of the Empire would see him as a hero, and would desire for him to be established on the Mellorite throne in place of the incompetent Jaqmaq. In March 1639, Abgul-Kamak assembled his military squadrons on Edmundia, Cassie, English Star, Mackenzia Major, Mackenzia Minor, and Taraning, determined to threaten the Laurasian hold over the Further Homidinian Provinces. Defying the directives of Emperor Jaqmaq and his government, located on Homidinia Major, he soon embarked on a series of intelligence and raiding expeditions into Laurasian territory, threatening the garrisons, outposts, and defenses of the Imperial Laurasian Government in that region and provoking many throughout the Laurasian dominions through his actions. Mellorite expeditions harried Ian, Calms, Hemsford, Gibbs-to-Lester, Winslet, DeCaprio, Peters, Celia, Gwendolyn, Ryan, Brent, Abuza, Brlla, Dion, and Yutzy constantly over the course of the next several months.
 * Their raids were now encouraged by the ailing Marasharite Emperor Ardashir. Ardashir, who was still determined to recover the Satian Provinces from the Laurasian Empire, and in particular to obtain control of the major fortress star-systems of Nisbis and Carhae, both of whom had been established by the Imperial Laurasian Government as major intelligence and military assembly posts in the Borderland Territories. In June 1639, Ardashir, who believed that this was the opportune time to act on his plans, sent a communique to Abgul-Kamak, praising his actions against the "hated Laurasian mongrels" and declaring that only firm action against the forces of that particular empire would result in the "restoration of the military, economic, and diplomatic equilibrium of the Caladarian Galaxy." The following month, the Emperor of the Marasharites stated, in a session of the Grand Council, his intention to avenge "the honor of our species and of my noble predecessors on this imperial throne" by engaging in renewed military campaigns against the Laurasian Empire. His son, Prince Shapur, born in 1615, had accompanied his father as a boy in his initial campaigns against the remnants of the Osmanli Dynasty and then against the Marasharite Empire's neighboring enemies. By 1635, he had been formally designated his father's heir apparent, and had assumed his seat as a Prince of the Royal Line on the Grand Council. Two years later, he became Lieutenant-Pasha of the elite Janissary Guards, and in this position gained prominence and influence at the ranks of the Imperial Court. Ardashir had already begun to make plans to proclaim his son as his co-ruler, and he believed that this war against the Empire's Laurasian adversaries would be good practice of war for him.
 * Therefore, Ardashir announced to the Council that Shapur was to be his chief operational commander in the offensives against the Laurasian Empire. The Grand Council quickly concurred in their master's plans, and preparations for war were hastily made. The Haynsian Despot, Bahavair I Karany, was commanded to prepare his units along the Haynsian Slave Highway and at Perekop, Little Boravia, and in the Brigoff Stellar Nebula for raiding expeditions into the Caladarian Galaxy. Marasharite units, in the meantime, assembled along the Galactic Frontier Route and at Donna, Teller, Latrice, Ba'dsai, Imegina, Karlong, Kumong, Billy Gasis, Kia, and Pelaski, posed for offensives into Laurasian territory. The Earl of Sufforia, who still dominated government affairs at this point, ignored all the indications given by the Imperial Intelligence Agency, believing that the Empire's defenses would repel all Marasharite offensives and that its power would be sufficient to prevent a Marasharite invasion. These foolish hopes were to be dashed upon the rocks of folly. On September 3, 1639, the Marasharite High Council suddenly issued a declaration of war against the Laurasian Empire, and hurled its military units into Laurasian territory. Within weeks, the folly of the Earl's decisions revealed themselves. Margery and Multan were assaulted by Marasharite expeditions the day of the military invasion; both fell into Marasharite possession by September 7. On September 14, Prince Shapur, commanding Marasharite military forces personally in battle, destroyed a Laurasian force in the Battle of Jaeseon. Within five days, Safra, Jacqueline, and Noelle, all of whom served as major intelligence outposts along the Galactic Frontier Route, were besieged and destroyed by Marasharite units. Haynsian expeditions slashed through Laurasian border defenses, and in October 1639, struck at Kanjur, Morgania, Angelica Minor, Eric, Giron, the Immortalized Cluster, Londarania, Verlania, Neur Daro, Masan, and Hishiebig, inflicting severe damage upon the defenses of those star systems. Nisibis fell under the blow of a major Marasharite offensive on November 6, 1639; within two weeks, it had capitulated to Prince Shapur, who presented the world's sword of capitulation and spoils from the Planetary Treasury to his father's representatives on Kerch. Carhhae, Satie, Bingley, and Juxles would be besieged and conquered by Marasharite units before the end of 1639, while Haynsian expeditions continued to devastate the Angelican Provinces.

1640

 * As the year 1640 commenced, the Laurasian Empire found itself at war with its implacable Marasharite adversaries, who were determined to recover the Satian Provinces and to limit the Empire's further territorial growth. The Imperial Laurasian Government, under the domination primarily of the Earl of Sufforia and his cronies, also had to contend with the increasing border troubles in the Robertian Regions. The first issue contended with, however, was the outbreak of a revolt in the Huntite Provinces. That same region, which had already been impacted by the revolt of the two Gordians barely two years earlier, was confronted with another demonstration of dissent against the Empire's authorities. This revolt, however, compared to the previous one, would prove to be relatively minor. In December 1638, Sir Sabinianus Yebranius had been appointed by the Earl of Sufforia, on the recommendation of the Imperial College of Regional and Provincial Administration, as the new Governor of Hunt Major. In the aftermath of the Gordianian Revolt, he was instructed to restore "proper obedience to the will of the Empire's authorities; to suppress any outbreaks of dissent against His Majesty's lawful throne; and to ensure the continued adherence to the laws of this government." Governor Yebranius at first adhered to his instructions, but underneath the veneer was a man of ambition. He came to believe that only he would be able to restore "proper order" to the Empire and that this could only be made true if he took possession of the imperial throne. The Governor had begun to stockpile military supplies and equipment at the Carolyne Palace, the Spaceport of Hunt Minor, and in the Cathy Asteroid Belt, determined to await for a moment to arise against the Imperial Laurasian Government. He was also in secret contact with rebel cells on Jasonia, Negro, Gargonia, and Gedrosia Max, and believed that if he combined his influence with those of these movements, he would be able to apply extensive pressure on the Emperor Gordian's regents.
 * In February 1640, Governor Yebranius formally raised the standard of rebellion, declaring, in his manifesto to his supporters, that he was determined to maintain "true religion and the stability of these realms against the enemies of the anti-Almitis" and that therefore, he could not tolerate the "oppression inflicted on the people by the distant and unfeeling government on Laurasia Prime." For a time, he enjoyed some success. Jabul, Akaamar, Claithbourne, Timur's Star, and Boontha defected to his forces within a matter of days; by the end of March 1640, he had secured control of the Sk'atha Cluster and was preparing to launch an offensive against Samarkand, which remained loyal to the government authorities. Yebranius, however, had neglected to take into consideration the attitude of the Governor of Gabriella, Sir Laconius Murcius. Murcius refused to listen to the rebel pleas, and on Gabriellia, Downs, Sheldonia, Upper Morsia, Brenda, Iego, and in the Osonboka Nebula, he prepared his units for counteroffensives against rebel positions. During April and May 1640, confrontations between rebel and government forces occurred at Julianne, Morsia, Catalaunia, and Gargonia, as each struggled to advance their position. Finally, however, the pressure was too great for the rebel forces, and on June 2, 1640, Governor Murcius crushed his rival in the Battle of Hunt Minor. Within two days, the rebel Governor's own supporters on Hunt Major, realizing that all was lost, surrendered him into the hands of the authorities, and the rebellion formally came to an end. Yebranius was executed at the High Prison of Changalar at Claithbourne on June 17, 1640.
 * During these months of the Yebranian Rebellion, as it became known, Marasharite forces consolidated their control of the Galactic Frontier Route. In April 1640, Shapur, as a reward for his victories over the Laurasian forces, was formally proclaimed co-ruler by his father Emperor Ardashir. Three months later, he resumed active military offensives against Laurasian positions. Orkhan and Sommers were reduced to surrender by Marasharite forces, and by the end of August 1640, it appeared that both Eaidon and Zoe were in danger of falling to the enemy. Haynsian expeditions were now penetrating to the Lacian Cluster. Haynsian units sacked Chalassion, Halassion, and Alyssa; menaced the defenses of Dromund and Englestrom; and penetrated to the outskirts of Kacee, Sonny, and Lacia, imperiling the Laurasian hold over those star systems. Overall, in the course of these campaigns, nearly €500 trillion dataries in damage had been inflicted on the affected regions, and some thirty million captives taken back to the slave markets of the Angelina Spiral and the Great Tesmanian Cloud. The Earl of Sufforia was criticized for his indolence, and many believed that his incompetence had allowed for the Empire to suffer so many humiliations in battle against its enemies. In October 1640, Sir Gaius Timesithus, who was now Vice-Prefect of the Praetorian Guards, was able to prevail upon the Earl to appoint him as commander of military forces assembled to advance into the Mellorite Empire. Many in the Imperial Court believed that the suppression of this enemy was necessary to build a stronger defense against the Marasharites, and that the irritating Mellorite raiding parties into the Farther Homidinian and Robertian Provinces could no longer be tolerated. Timesithus quickly proved himself to be an intelligent, dedicated, and determined military commander, as he sought to allow the Empire's enemies no advantage. Timesithus arrived at Robert, which became his chief operational headquarters, on November 7, 1640. During the course of the next month, he assembled his military squadrons at Robert, Wakedia, Meris, Brenda, Dickinson, Hasselbeck, Shephard, Beharis, Walters, Abrianna, Meredith, Jeanne, Abuza, and Iego, determined to launch a swift offensive into the Mellorite territories and to terminate the raiding expeditions. Finally, in the middle of December 1640, Timesithus launched his decisive move. Defeating the Mellorite General Al-Kabim in the Battle of McEvlogue, Timesithus forced Mellorite units to withdraw from Alamaia I and Jagornia, which they had harried constantly, and began to advance across the Rebeccan Galactic Trade Route. By the end of the year, he had secured possession of Taraning and Mackenzia Minor, driving Mellorite units northwards into the Burglais Arm. The Haynsians, however, continued to harry the Farther Homidinian Provinces. Gwendolyn, Brant, Ryan, Peters, Winslet, and DeCaprio were all harried by Haynsian expeditions during this time.

1641

 * As the year 1641 commenced, the balance in the military contest between the Laurasian Empire and its northern adversaries, the Marasharite Empire, the Haynsian Despotate, and the failing Mellorite Empire, was changing in favor of the Laurasians. In January 1641, Marasharite units managed to storm the Satellites of Ursula, Xilania Secondary, and Jin Minor; this would prove to be the greatest extent of their conquests into the northern territories of the Laurasian Empire. Early in the following month, General Timesithus defeated his Mellorite counterpart Al-Kabim again in the Battle of Dion, terminating a Mellorite threat to Laurasian possession of the Farther Homidinian Provinces. He then blockaded Homidinia Major; the world fell into his possession on February 14. By February 27, Mackenzia Major, English Star, and Cassie had all been overrun by Laurasian forces, and the Mellorites were in a spirit of desperation. The Laurasian General also managed to halt Haynsian expeditions against Markis Prime, Maxwell, and the Kledis Var Trade Route, and to repel a Haynsian convoy at Greyson. In March 1641, Marasharite Prince Shapur directed an offensive against Saigon, Ho Chi Minh, and Bach Dang, determined to storm those strongholds and to threaten the Laurasian position in the Hypasian Provinces. Although Saigon was stormed by a Marasharite expedition, Shapur was defeated in the Battle of Huerta Mongol (March 29, 1641), preventing a further advance into the Hypasian Provinces. A Laurasian expedition to recover Sommers and Orkhan, however, was defeated in a fierce confrontation at Mankiller (April 1641). Nevertheless, the Laurasians more and more gained the advantage. Ardashir, whose health was now in serious decline, was unable to take command of his forces in the Northern Outer Borderlands; the Marasharites were now finding that they could not advance any farther into the Northern Provinces; and the superior industrial capabilities of the Laurasian Empire were being displayed in the military campaigns. The result of these successful military offensives was to elevate Timesithus’s position and reputation within the Empire and at the Imperial Court. Many on the Governing Senate and Holy Synod believed that he was the "savior" of the Empire, and that it was time for the Earl of Sufforia to be removed from his position of influence.
 * On May 6, 1641, Senators Galbus Athurnius and Sir Demetrius Masthanius, both of whom were major supporters of Timesithus, introduced a motion to the Senate declaring that the Earl had been "neglectful" in his duties as regards to the Imperial Laurasian Government, and that the Earl should be dismissed from his duties. Sufforia, who was now opposed by the Praetorian Guards and the Suffects of Christiania, was quickly outmaneuvered; within hours, he had been comprehensively denounced and dismissed from his positions as Governor of the Imperial Household and Guardian of the Emperor’s Person. Five days later, Timesithus, who had now moved to direct operations from Kaycee, was promoted to Prefect of the Praetorian Guard and appointed Protector and Governor of the Emperor’s person. Now the most powerful individual in the Empire, Timesithus moved swiftly to reward his supporters and to consolidate his position of influence in the Imperial Household. He appointed his cousin, Antigonus Timesithus, Baron Wandgave of Darcia, as the Imperial Chamberlain and the Controller of the Quencilvanian Palace. He installed many of his other supporters on the Council of Civil Service and the Governing Senate; and he ordered for the donative allowance of the Praetorian Guards to be increased.
 * As a result of these measures, Timesithus’s position on Laurasia Prime was definitively secured, and the new Prefect was able to continue his campaigns against the Mellorites with great vigor. By July 1641, the forces of Prefect Timesithus were besieging the outskirts of Edmundia and had stormed Bronson and Sheehan. The Burglais Arm was falling progressively under the control of the Laurasian Empire. It was at this point, however, that Marasharite Prince Shapur, hoping to shore up his Mellorite allies, and to reorganize his units for a renewed push into Laurasian territory, dispatched his chief subordinate commander, Agmal-Kabuk, to Sierra in order to take command of a coordinated counteroffensive against Laurasian forces. In August 1641, Kabuk launched a surprise offensive against Laurasian positions at Bronson, Taraning, and Ian, determined to sunder the supply lines to the blockade of Edmundia and to force Timesithus to reinforce his positions in the Lacian Cluster. Over the course of the next two months, a series of bitter confrontations occurred between Laurasian and Marasharite forces at Derek, Sharman, Rutherford, Drake, Kallista, Curry, Wakino, Mir, and Perry, as the Marasharites attempted constantly to breach the Empire’s frontier defenses. Lacia and Sonny were attacked by Marasharite units three times during September 1641; on October 7, Kabuk and the Mellorite General Sava-Dava managed to obtain a victory in the Battle of the Styrian Caldera. Eventually, however, Timesithus, supported by his chief subordinate commander, Lord John Howardis of Soria, was able to stem the tide of the Marasharite offensives. Edmundia was finally stormed on November 7, 1641; seven days later, Coronadia and Jacobs I capitulated to Laurasian troops without a fight. In December 1641, Kay, Grumper, Silverman, Marley, Kruger, and the Star of Devlet were secured by Laurasian troops; Homidinia Major was now in a situation of extreme danger, at the risk of falling to the Laurasian Empire.

1642

 * The year 1642 opened with the Laurasian Empire conducting a series of victorious and decisive military campaigns against the remnants of the Mellorite Empire. Although the Marasharites, under the direction of Emperor Ardashir and his son, Prince Shapur, had managed to storm the strongholds of the Satian Provinces and to penetrate throughout the Northern Districts, they had thus far been unable to prevent to the fall of the Mellorites before the forces of the Empire. Early in this year, however, the Mellorites themselves, desperate to reverse their series of losses to Laurasian forces, launched a counteroffensive, attempting to penetrate to the Kledis Var Trade Line and to push Laurasian units from the Southern Burglais Arm. On January 16, 1642, Mellorite General Maky-Maky launched a sudden assault from Scanlan, which remained under their control. Within five days, he had defeated a Laurasian starfigthter squadron in the Battle of Andrea Doria; repelled Laurasian expeditions against Mordan and Longmira; and penetrated to the outskirts of English Star, blockading or destroying a number of Laurasian operational outposts along the vicinity. At the same time, Mellorite Emperor Jaqmaq himself, seeking to demonstrate to his subjects that he was not weak and incompetent, assaulted Silverman, Marley, Curry, and Julie. All of these strongholds were in Mellorite possession by the end of February 1642. Soon, however, the Mellorite offensives lost steam. Prefect-General Timesithus, who remained in close contact with his subordinates at the Imperial Court on Laurasia Prime, decided that it would best to strike the Mellorites whilst they were overextended and vulnerable.
 * On March 9, 1642, the forces of Emperor Jaqmaq advanced against Alyssa, which had by this point become a major stronghold of the Imperial Laurasian Government. Emperor Antigonus II, in particular, had sponsored the establishment of military observation posts and factories in the star system, determined to strengthen the Empire's Borderland Territories with a string of defensive outposts. Jaqmaq believed that the capture of Alyssa would imperil the Laurasian hold on the Lacian Cluster and force them to terminate their offensives in the Burglais Arm and in the vicinity of Homidinia Major. In this presumption, he was to be proved grievously wrong. Prefect-General Timesithus had garnered intelligence about Mellorite strategic depositions; he deployed his cruiser and destroyer units at the Alyssa Straits, understanding this was where the enemy destroyer squadrons would launch their main thrust. His plan of action was to prevent their further progress and to use his cruisers to disorient the Mellorite warships. And it worked. Within four hours after battle was joined, the Laurasian Empire's forces obtained a decisive victory. Of one hundred Mellorite warships, fifty were destroyed by the Laurasians and another thirty captured. Nearly 200,000 Mellorite personnel and officers died or were captured; as compared to only five thousand Laurasians on six warships. Following the Battle of Alyssa, there was no turning back.
 * By the end of March 1642, Laurasian units had reconquered Silverman, Marley, Curry, and Julie, driving Mellorite units from the vicinity of the Kledis Var Trade Route. Mellorite offensives against Greyson and McDowell were repelled; in April 1642, Laurasian troops stormed Andrea Doria, Longmira, and the Verdant Industrial Worlds, pressing into the Corporate Sector. The vain attempts of Emperor Jaqmaq to fortify Homidinia Major and to secure the strongholds of the Corporate Trade Corridor flopped; on May 2, 1642, Timesithus obtained a major victory in the Battle of Coretta, pushing from Hemsford, Calms, and Gibbs-to-Lester towards Homidinia Major. The Mellorite capital world fell under siege on May 15, 1642; within ten days, it capitulated to General Timesithus's forces. Jaqmaq himself now fled to Felix, and sent further pleas for assistance to Shapur. Shapur himself, however, was still contemplating his counteroffensives against the Laurasian Empire, and he also had more immediate concerns as regards to the Marasharite Empire's internal affairs. On June 1, 1642, his father, Emperor Ardashir I, founder of the Ardashiran Dynasty, died after a reign of nearly two decades. Shapur, now sole Emperor of the Marasharites, had decided to return to Topacia, to forestall a threat to his position at the Marasharite Court and to conduct his formal coronation. He had already departed from the Caladarian Galaxy in February 1642, upon hearing of the decline in his father's health. As a result, the Mellorites succumbed entirely to Laurasian pressure. During June and July 1642, Jaqmaq launched desultory offensives against McDowell, Lawson, Greyson, and Mocktrialis, attempting in vain to prevent a Laurasian advance towards the Northern Heartland. In July 1642, Theodore capitulated to General Timesithus; he was now on the verge of assaulting Scanlan.
 * During the course of the following two months, Laurasian troops secured Madison, Levi, Joseph, and Cris-Homidinia, securing control of the last remaining Mellorite outposts in the vicinity of Homidinia Major. Finally, on October 7, 1642, General Timesithus's forces advanced to the outskirts of Scanlan. Jaqmaq, in his last desperate show of resistance, organized his remaining starfighter squadrons and a detachment of destroyer escorts to defend Scanlan. The Mellorite force numbered twenty warships; that of the Laurasians, nearly one hundred. Nevertheless, Mellorite units under the command of the Emperor's subordinate commander, General Abuz-Kajiz, resisted fiercely. Frontal assaults by Laurasian troops against Scanlan Minor and Brevan were repelled with heavy losses on October 13 and 16; on October 22, General Timesithus was forced to bring substantial reinforcements to the blockade. Eventually, however, on November 19, Scanlan's defenses were finally penetrated by Laurasian units. Abuz-Kajiz himself was killed while leading the final stand of Mellorite units in Scanlan's capital city, Commerce Hub. By the end of November 1642, Scanlan was definitely in the possession of the Laurasian Empire. On December 7, Lizaragga, Glassia, and Sierra were all stormed by Laurasian units; the inevitable end was approaching for Jaqmaq. By the end of December 1642, Wyatt and Felix, the final remaining Mellorite stronghold, were on the verge of falling to the Laurasian Empire.

1643

 * 1643 commenced with the Mellorite Empire of Jaqmaq on its last legs, in the face of the ceaseless military offensives by the forces of the Laurasian Empire. Prefect-General Sir Gaius Timesithus, who was definitely the most powerful personage in the Imperial Laurasian Government, and who had proven his capabilities as a military commander and officer, had won acclaim for himself throughout the Caladarian Galaxy, as a result of his victories over the Mellorites. This reputation was to be burnished further throughout the first half of 1643, until untimely circumstances brought a sudden end to his career. On January 5, 1643, Rushina, which had functioned as an intelligence and supply convoy outpost for the Mellorite units, was besieged and conquered by the II Imperial Army under the command of General Sir Seleucus Brusius. Within three days, Laurasian troops had stormed the last remaining minor Mellorite outposts on Kyler, Cesania, and Ibica, penetrating to the outskirts of Wyatt. Wyatt itself fell under siege by the forces of General Timesithus on February 1, 1643; twenty days later, Mellorite General Al-Bauk surrendered unconditionally, compelled to do so by his starving, exhausted, and war-sick men. Jaqmaq himself, however, utterly pathetic and enjoying no respect from his forces, nevertheless displayed a last burst of initiative, and refused all Laurasian demands that he capitulate. Therefore, on February 28, 1643, General Timesithus directed the final offensive against Felix; within five days, the world was in Laurasian possession. Jaqmaq himself managed to evade capture for a time, but was finally intercepted by Laurasian starfighters near Konik on March 21, 1643. On the orders of General Timesithus, he was bound in chains, placed on a prison transport, and taken on a progress throughout the Laurasian Empire's dominions, so that the Empire's subjects would be able to see the man who had been humiliated at the hands of the imperial forces. Jaqmaq's journey would take from worlds such as Massanay and Sassanay to Robert, Hunt Major, Melorkia Major, and to Briannia, Rebecca, and other major worlds in the Core Regions. His arrival on Laurasia Prime (September 1, 1643), would be greeted with much spectacle. Paraded in chains past the Second Station of Callista, the two Calaxies, Hepudermia, Jadia, and then through the streets of Christiania, Jaqmaq's humiliation was evident to all. His journey would eventually end at the Fortress of Baureux, where he would be executed on November 7, 1643. With his death, the Mellorite Empire formally came to an end after nearly two centuries.
 * Following the final suppression of the Mellorite Empire in March 1643, General Timesithus turned his attention to the other adversary, who still occupied Laurasian territory and were still threatening the Empire's northern frontiers: the Marasharites. Timesithus was even more secure of his position on Laurasia Prime, now than ever. This was due not only to his own military victories; it was also due to the fact that his daughter, Augusta Tyulla, had been married to the Emperor Gordian himself. This marriage had taken place on September 19, 1642 at the Westphalian Cathedral in Christiania. Timesithus himself, directing the military offensives against the Mellorites, had been unable to attend the wedding, but nevertheless arranged for lavish festivities in honor of the occasion. Now, as he was embarking on the counteroffensives against the Marasharites, he decided that the Emperor and his wife should accompany him. Gordian, who was now eighteen years old, was now formally at his age of majority, and therefore, Timesithus believed that he should obtain experience through war.
 * On April 2, 1643, Marasharite Emperor Shapur, who had consolidated his position on Topacia, arrived at Bucharina, determined to finally instigate his long-planned offensives deeper into Laurasian territory. It was the Laurasians, however, who had the advantage. Seven days later, the Battle of Boniface resulted in a victory for General Timesithus, who captured a number of Haynsian scoutships and most of the fleet's armor and shield generators. Jin Minor, the Satellites of Ursula, and Xilania Secondary were reconquered by General Timesithus before the end of the month; by May 2, Marasharite units were being compelled to retreat from Orkhan, Bingley, Satie, and Al-Durah, while Timesithus had ended Haynsian expeditions against the Immortalized Cluster, the worlds of the Prietest, and Eric. On May 7, Haynsian General Karam-Nester launched a counteroffensive against Laurasian positions at Trash Dakai and Song Dhu; within four days, this offensive was blunted by Laurasian troops. On May 22, Margery and Multan were both stormed by Laurasian troops. It was at this point, however, that Emperor Shapur, who sought to blunt these Laurasian moves and to demonstrate prowess in further military campaigns, launched a massive counteroffensive from Ba'dsai, Styris V, Crimea, Billy Gasis, Kia, and Pelaski. Pushing from these strongholds, he managed to storm Kemp (May 25); Lynne (May 29); Chapman (June 1-3); and King (June 4). Ultimately, however, Timesithus managed to stabilize the front lines, repelling Marasharite reconnaissance units in the Battle of Roxuli (June 7-11) and reconquering Simmons (June 14). On June 22, Xilania Major was recovered by Laurasian troops; four days later, General Timesithus scored an even greater victory in the Battle of Hieshbig, resulting in the final withdrawal of Marasharite units from Multan, Norah, and Carrhae.
 * In July 1643, Shapur, determined to halt the Laurasian counteroffensives, moved to halt the Laurasian advance; he decided to meet General Timesithus, who had been joined by Emperor Gordian at Nandi on June 22, in battle at Reseana, a minor Laurasian border outpost located three hundred light years to the east of Kia. On June 26, the Battle of Reseana was waged. Shapur deployed his Haynsian scoutships and Marasharite corvettes in the rear, intending on using these to shatter Laurasian supply lines and to harass their destroyers. General Timesithus, from his flagship, the IMS Emeshia, had managed to obtain intelligence about his enemy's strategic depositions, and was able to keep a corps of Laurasian starfighters and couriers in reserve at Orgazanda, located three light-years from the field of battle. These were commanded by young Emperor Gordian, who was able to learn quickly the direct arts of war. The confrontation was nevertheless hard-fought, and the outcome was not decided until August 4. Shapur and his chief operational formations retreated in good order, but most of the Haynsian ships were ambushed and waylaid by Laurasian starfighters, which proved to the Imperial General Headquarters that the Haynsians did possess weaknesses with their weapons technology. Gordian himself earned distinction in the battle. Following this confrontation, Timesithus began planning for offensives against Kia, Pelaski, Billy Gasis, and into the Tof Borderlands. By the end of August 1643, his forces had secured Nisbis, Jacqueline, and Nadiege, finally recovering all the territory which had been lost to the Marasharites. On September 11, 1643, however, Timesithus suffered a sudden heart attack at his operational headquarters on Norah. He was now hastened to the Hospital of St. Ida's on Cibourney, but despite the efforts of the imperial physicians, he died on September 24. Emperor Gordian, who had finally claimed his rightful and central position as Autocrat, was utterly distressed and saddened about his father-in-law's death. Three months of mourning were proclaimed for the late General, and the plans for the military offensives were temporarily laid aside. Marasharite Emperor Shapur, who had come to recognize General Timesithus as a worthy adversary, commanded for his forces to stay in their positions on October 2 for the remainder of the year, to give time for the General's memory to be honored. Timesithus's body was brought back to Laurasia Prime (October 9, 1643), and laid in state for more than a month. His funeral (November 15, 1643), was presided over by the Emperor and attended by the chief personages of the Imperial Court. But by late December 1643, Gordian had returned to the headquarters on Norah, and renewed the plans for offensives into the Wild Marshes.

1644

 * The year 1644 commenced with the Emperor Gordian VI, who at nineteen years old was now the sole and undisputed ruler of the Laurasian Empire, preparing to conduct renewed military offensives into the Galactic Borderlands against the Empire's most ardent foes, the Marasharites and the Haynsians. The Emperor, at his operational headquarters on Norah, assembled military squadrons at Satie, Bingley, Sommers, Lynne, Multan, Eaidon, Orkhan, Juxles, and Xilania Major, determined to bring this conflict to a swift and decisive end and to secure the Empire's dominion over the Tof Borderlands. In these efforts, Gordian was now assisted by Lieutenant-General Julius Philippus, the new Praetorian Prefect of the Praetorian Guards and chief subordinate commander of the 1st Imperial Legion. General Philippus had originally enlisted in the Imperial Army in 1621, and had, during the course of the next two decades, ascended rapidly through the military ranks. He earned distinction during the Roastafarian Revolt of 1626, which had originated as an anti-taxation protest on Roastafaria Major but had eventually spread to Roastafaria Minor and Rasti, and had become a formal rebellion against the Imperial Laurasian Government. Philippus, then a sergeant, earned notice for his successful defense of the government position at High Mount and for his ruthless suppression of rebel bands.
 * Following this, he had been promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel, and assigned to the Merlite Legate. Philippus had ascended further during the course of the following decade, and served with distinction in the Marasharite and Dejanican wars of Emperors Alexander Severus and Maximinus; by 1636, he had reached the rank of Colonel and was appointed Commander of the Palatial Garrison of Polonia Major. Two years later, in 1638, he was reassigned to Calrissian, where, the following year, he repelled a Haynsian raiding expedition against the star system. Following this exploit, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general; by 1641, after participating in the defense of Rushina and Chalassion, he had become a major-general. It was at this point that he came to the notice of Prefect-General Timesithus, who appointed him to his command staff in February 1642 and charged him with the strategic plans for the offensives into the Burglais Arm. Therefore, when Timesithus met his untimely end in September 1643, Philippus was the candidate to succeed him. On January 1, 1644, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-General and appointed Prefect of the Praetorian Guards by Emperor Gordian. Gordian trusted him, and it was Philippus who was at his side when he advanced from Norah (January 9, 1644). Within four days, Laurasian units had stormed Meneia, Styris V, and the Ba'dsai Outposts, driving a wedge into the Tof Borderlands. Laurasian units repelled Haynsian expeditions against Kaming and Bingley; harried the outskirts of Billy Gasis; and launched an intelligence expedition against Latrice, blockading or storming Marasharite outposts along the way. By the end of January 1644, Emperor Gordian's forces were advancing against Ctesiphon, now one of the chief Marasharite military arsenals in the Tof Borderlands. Emperor Shapur, however, was determined to give his Laurasian enemies no advantage.
 * On January 24, a Haynsian expedition suddenly appeared at Morgania and inflicted severe damage on the star system's defenses; within six days, Haynsian expeditions appeared at Song Dhu, Valeris V, Bach Dang, Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi, and Pinlong, carrying off some twenty million captives and inflicting a further €200 trillion dataries in economic damage. By February 2, however, Laurasian units were approaching near the outskirts of Ctesiphon, but Gordian decided to conquer the Marasharite garrison of Mische, believing this would secure his rear. Shapur, however, gained wind of his adversary's plans, as Laurasian intelligence files were captured by Haynsian scoutships at Sogan on February 5. On February 7, 1644, the Battle of Mische occurred between the forces of the Laurasian and Marasharite Empires. The 2nd Imperial Fleet, under the command of Admiral Sir Antigonus Vemius, launched the first initial offensive against the outskirts of the Mische star system. Marasharite units under General Karim-Pasha were forced to retreat to the Asteroid Belt, and Emperor Gordian ordered his troops to launch a encircling maneuver to Mische Outpost 2. General Philippus was more cautious, and attempted to persuade the Emperor to instead order for a blockade to be established around the star system. Gordian, however, refused to listen; the consequences were disastrous.
 * By the early hours of February 9, the momentum of the Laurasian forces had been broken, as Haynsian units, held back in reserve at Fallujah, launched a sudden strike against Laurasian positions near Denim's Entrance. Admiral Vemius was himself killed when his flagship was destroyed by a projectile shot from a Haynsian interdictor ship; twenty of the forty Laurasian assault vessels were either destroyed or severely damaged. The next day, Emperor Gordian was forced to call a retreat from Mische, and to abandon his plans for an offensive against Ctesiphon. Cassolar, Van Kelp, Van Dong, and Hypasia Major were now under constant threat from Haynsian raiding parties; the Haynsians even stormed Hieshibig during the late hours of February 9, and held the star system for six days. Tensions against the Emperor now emerged in the ranks of the Imperial Army. On February 11, Colonel Alexander Sermanius decided to take matters into his own hands. While the Emperor was on the bridge of his flagship, IMS Colombiana, conferring with General Philippus and his other subordinates, Colonel Sermanius suddenly rushed onto the scene.
 * He soon revealed his blaster and discharged the weapon, firing five shots at the Emperor's head. Gordian died instantly; Colonel Sermanius was then gunned down by troops of the Praetorian Guards. The news about Emperor Gordian's death quickly spread throughout the Laurasian Empire and inter-galactic civilization; condolences arrived from all foreign courts. Even Emperor Shapur, who had been preparing a counteroffensive into the Satian Provinces, and contemplating an alliance with the Brestord Kingdom of Karakorum, expressed his sadness about the Emperor's death, and ordered for a cessation in active military campaigns. Gordian's death, however, came with there being no heir named to the Laurasian throne. He and his wife, Empress Consort Augusta Tyulla, had not had any children, and she was not pregnant when he died. Therefore, the succession question loomed large on the minds of all. Prefect-General Philippus, however, quickly assumed his position as the leading candidate. He made a show of extreme sadness and regrets concerning his deceased master. The General made the point of lamenting the late Emperor and weeping over his body as it was carried off the bridge, following the assassination. This behavior was reported to the Imperial Court on Laurasia Prime. Within four days, the General's supporters and allies at the Court and on the Senate had prevailed.
 * On February 15, 1644, Prefect-General Marcus Philippus was proclaimed Emperor and Autocrat of All the Laurasians as Philip I. The newly proclaimed Emperor, who had now assumed supreme command of Laurasian military forces in the Borderlands Territories, quickly issued an accession manifesto from Norah, to which he had returned on February 13. In this manifesto, Philip declared that it was his intention to bring "this costly and fruitless conflict with our Marasharite neighbors" to a "complete and utter end." The Emperor proved as good as his word. His first task, upon ascending the imperial throne, was to bring hostilities with the Marasharite Empire to an end. In March 1644, the Emperor sent a diplomatic communique to his Marasharite counterpart, declaring that "the recent death of my late Lord, His Imperial Majesty Gordian, by right, Emperor of Laurasia, has compelled me to consider the circumstances which we now find ourselves in, and to seek to appease the Lord Almitis by ending hostility between us." Appealing to Shapur to look to the advice of his own Gods, Philip signaled his willingness to end the war on terms "favorable to both parties and injurious to none." Shapur himself was now leaning to ending the war. Tensions had increased with the Haxonian Confederacy and the Knights of Malta over possession of the Grecian Provinces; Marasharite troops had also been deployed in greater numbers in the Pazak Cluster, as a result of Croatian raids in the Dalmatian Provinces. Shapur wished to turn his full attention to these threats, and realized that his Laurasian adversaries had the advantage. On April 2, 1644, he accepted Philip's offer of negotiation. Ten days later, a conference was opened between the two Empires on Oystranae, a Laurasian border colony located thirty-light years to the east of Mische. Negotiations lasted for over a month, and were fraught with many difficulties.
 * But finally, on May 11, 1644, the Treaty of Oystranae was signed, thereby bringing the Laurasian-Marasharite War of 1639-44 to an end. By the terms of the treaty, the status quo ante bellum in territorial matters was restored between the Laurasian and Marasharite Empires. All troops were to withdraw from the territory of the other, and all prisoners of war were to be exchanged. However, the Haynsian Despotate was to be permitted to retain all captives and booty seized in the military campaigns; the Laurasian Empire, likewise, retained goods, property, and equipment which it had seized from the Marasharite military forces. Economic and diplomatic relations between the two governments were restored on equal terms, and right of free transit and commerce was guaranteed for those inhabiting the Satian Provinces and the Galactic Frontier Route. The Treaty of Oystranae was ratified by Emperor Philip on May 14 and by Emperor Shapur, with the Haynsian Despot Sophraid IV Karany, on May 22. Following the conclusion of the Treaty of Oystranae, the Emperor Philip traveled from Norah with his military forces to Cirecisum, where, on June 2, he laid a cenotaph in honor of his predecessor, the Emperor Gordian. A manifesto of mourning had declared that Gordian’s memory was to be honored for the remainder of the year; his body had already been dispatched to Laurasia Prime, for his funeral ceremonies at the Westphalian Cathedral; and the Holy Synod, on the Emperor’s orders, formally blessed his memory. By the end of June, the Emperor had arrived on Chalassia. He now appointed his brother, Priscus (who had been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-General), as Prefect of the Satian Provinces and Governor-General of Xilania Major, giving him almost exclusive authority, in his name, over the northern territories of the Empire. Priscus had loyally supported his brother’s rise in the military service, and had himself earned the favor of those at the Imperial Court. Philip remained on Chalassia for two months, where he supervised the disbandment of the remaining Mellorite armies and the administrative reorganization of the Mellorite territories acquired by the Empire. He also supervised the withdrawal of all remaining Laurasian military units from Marasharite territory. On October 4, the Emperor moved forth to Abraham, where he gave his brother-in-law, Sir Severeanius Begamius, the Governorship of Angelica Major and Roxuli. Philip finally arrived at Laurasia Prime on October 19, 1644; five days later, he formally presided over the state funeral of Gordian VI. On November 2, he received the acclamation of the Senate and Synod for his "victorious" conclusion of the Laurasian-Marasharite War, and for the victories he had obtained, assumed the titles of Marasharitus Abaticus, Haynsius Maximus, and Marasharitus Maximus.
 * The Emperor also blessed the memory of his father, Sir Macrinus Philippus, although he had never been Emperor. His coronation was then conducted on November 24, and at this ceremony, he proclaimed his son Philip as Grand Prince. During the early months of his reign, Emperor Philip vigorously pursued various measures, in an effort to consolidate his place on the Laurasian throne and to strengthen his oversight over the Empire and the Imperial Government. The Emperor put a great deal of effort into maintaining positive relations with the Governing Senate and the Holy Synod, the two central bodies of state, seeking their advice on important matters of state; showering grants, titles, and properties upon their members; and taking care to maintain their prerogatives and their rights of precedence at the Imperial Court. He reaffirmed Traditionalist Laurasian values and traditions, vigorously enforcing the Heresy Laws and supporting the policies of Chief Procurator Demetrius Staffordia, Archbishop of Clackimeris, who was determined to suppress "heresy" and to maintain order and conformity within the Almitian Church. He quickly ordered an enormous expansion and revitalization project in Strabtha, Millard, the city of his birth. Renaming it Philippolis, he raised it to the status of an Imperial City and populated it with statues of himself and his family. This was not his only project however; the Emperor also initiated the establishment or reconstruction of nearly fifty thousand colonial settlements throughout the star systems of the Laurasian Empire. As a result of this, the expenses lavished upon the Imperial Court, the donative allowance given to the Praetorian Guards and Imperial Armed Forces, the expenses of his own lavish coronation, and the gifts handed out to various courtiers and nobles, the Emperor soon found himself desperately short of money. To pay for this, he ruthlessly increased the levels of taxation, imposing a new capitation levy in September 1644 and a imposition of 15% upon the goods of spice, transport, and agricultural supply merchants. He also imposed heavy levies and tariffs upon the goods of Dejanican and Vectorian merchants, who generally enjoyed greater prosperity than native Imperial merchants of the Empire. This, however, provoked tensions which were to lead to war the following year.

1645

 * The year 1645 commenced with the Laurasian Empire becoming "adjusted" to the rule of Philip I, who had ascended to the throne following the assassination of Gordian VI. Philip, who had been a popular and well-respected general, and who had demonstrated consistent and loyal service to the Imperial Government, had, however, already begun losing the support of his subjects. His oppressive taxation policies; the favors he conferred upon nobles and courtiers on Laurasia Prime; all of this began to alienate some of the Empire's subjects against him. For the time being, however, the Emperor retained his general position in the Empire. Nevertheless his taxation policies now provoked a new military conflict for the Laurasian Empire; with the Dejanican Commonwealth. By this point, the Commonwealth was under the rule of King Wladlio II Vamana (1638-48), who had ascended to the Dejanican throne in 1638, following the death of Wladlio I (1637-38), successor to King Vologravius VI. The King had, until this point, remained at peace with his Laurasian neighbors in the Caladarian Galaxy, distracted by wars with the Marasharite Empire, Haxonian Confederacy, and Holy Austarlian Empire. Now, however, the Laurasian Emperor's intrusions upon the rights of Dejanican merchants, and the very fact that he was vastly increasing funding to the Imperial Armed Forces, provoked the King into taking action.
 * On January 27, 1645, the King of Dejanica held a conference on Praga with the Dejanican Diet and the Council of Military Advisers, resolving on a directed military offensive into Laurasian territory. Within a week, Dejanican units began to assemble at Vietsbk, Polotsk, Ladelle, Lavelle, the Galactic Frontier, Dehner, and in the Marvald Straits, poised for a direct strike into the Empire. Emperor Philip, who was still focused on rewarding his associates and "consolidating" his position on Laurasia Prime, ignored reports from the Imperial Intelligence Agency of the building tensions on the Empire's western borders. This backfired against him, as on February 12, 1645, the Dejanican Commonwealth's forces in the Lavellan Provinces, under the command of General Pa'vo Warmalaki, launched a sudden offensive into Laurasian territory. Within six days, Shashanaya, Black-Chandlier, Orion, Flournoy, and Monique, those worlds which had been acquired by the Empire from Dejanica in the late sixteenth century, were overrun by Dejanican forces. Dejanican raiding expeditions penetrated as far as the Immortalized Cluster and the worlds of the Prietest. By the middle of March 1645, Merlin, Kelvania Minor, and Rani had all been stormed by the Dejanican forces. On April 12, 1645, the Dejanican forces under the command of Major-General Amasilaw Wamankia obtained a crushing victory in the Battle of Kelvania Major, capturing nearly half of the Laurasian destroyers and inflicting humiliating losses upon the Laurasian starfighter squadrons. Kelvania Major, one of the Empire's major bastions of power in the Western Provinces, was stormed by Dejanican units, placing the Laurasian position in the Morganian and Angelican Provinces in severe peril. By the end of April 1645, Angelica Minor, Giron, Eric, and Londarania were constantly being harried by Dejanican raiding expeditions; it seemed as if the Empire's Western frontier was in peril. The main thrust of the Dejanican offensive, however, was directed into the Malarian Provinces, which had long been the chief theater of conflict between the Empire and its Dejanican adversaries.
 * On May 2, General Warmalaki, who had repelled a Laurasian counter-offensive against the Dvina Straits, stormed Goodman, capturing a number of Laurasian shields and impounding the garrison's agricultural supplies and military equipment. Within six days, Evans, Ettleman, and Takrania had all capitulated to Dejanican forces, who began to systematically devastate the colonies and outposts of the Narvet Corridor. On May 19, General Warmalaki obtained another victory in the Battle of Kanley. The Laurasian commander of the forces in the confrontation, Sir Neuchrus Ligonius, was himself captured and bound in chains, being humiliated by the Dejanican officers. Almastead, Naranja, and Manzo had fallen into Dejanican possession by June 6. Meehan, however, resisted Dejanican offensives fiercely. Two attempts by Dejanican corps, under the command of Warmalaki's subordinate, General Petro Povona, were repelled. The Dejanicans, however, continued to appear unstoppable. They soon recovered from the humiliations at Meehan, and in July 1645, Malaria Outer, Odika, Welch, Johnald, and White all fell to the Dejanicans. Emperor Philip, who had established his command headquarters on Kamachina the month before, now began to prepare a coordinated counteroffensive against the Dejanican forces intruding upon his dominions. He assembled his military units at the Jar Asteroids, Malaria Prime, Suri, Paradine, Pasquarillo, Palisimano, Gordasis, Courdina V, Frazier, Rogers, and Hadlson, determined to drive to the Narvet Corridor. In the manifesto of August 21, 1645, the Emperor assured his subjects that "I shall not permit the foreign barbarians to do as they wish in our territories; they shall be ejected and they shall know the Empire's power." On September 2, he validated his words with action, focusing his efforts on sundering Dejanican supply lines to units stationed in the outskirts of the Maluyta Nebula. In a series of confrontations at Xeberts, Onn, Ariasole, Racqueline, Pumos, and the Station of Christiane (September-November 1645), the Emperor gradually gained the advantage in the Malarian Provinces and inflicted severe damage upon Dejanican units. On December 6, Johnald and White were both recovered by Laurasian troops operating from Guin, Van-Dogh, and Timaslan; six days later, Laurasian troops blockaded Malaria Outer, which eventually fell on Ascentmas Day 1645. By the end of 1645, Laurasian forces had driven all Dejanican raiding corps from the Immortalized Cluster, Eric, and the worlds of the Prietest, and were besieging both Merlin and Kelvania Minor.

1646

 * 1646 commenced with the Laurasian Empire of Emperor Philip I engaged in another vigorous conflict with its foreign adversaries, in this case the Dejanican Commonwealth. The Dejanicans, under the direction of their vigorous and ambitious King Wladlio II Kamana, had at first caught their Laurasian neighbors off-balance; they had managed to overrun parts of the Malarian and Kelvanian Provinces, and menaced the Empire's western frontier in the Wild Marshes. The forces of Emperor Philip, however, had regained the advantage, and started on the process of hurling the Dejanican adversaries back. This accelerated quickly during the early months of 1646. On January 8, 1646, the Emperor held a strategic conference with his chief military commanders on Timsies, which had now become one of the Empire's chief military arsenals in the Malarian Provinces. Here, it was decided that the effort would be focused on expelling Dejanican units from the remainder of the territories they held in the Malarian Provinces, and to therefore isolate them from their units elsewhere in imperial territory. Within a week of this conference, Laurasian troops had recovered Welch, Odika, and Takrania, driving Dejanican units from the Maluyta Nebula back to the strongholds of the Narvet Corridor. A Dejanican counteroffensive, directed against Lafaria, Aingley, and Acabania, was blunted, and on February 7, 1646, Manzo was reconquered by a Laurasian expeditionary corps. The situation for the Dejanican Commonwealth worsened four days later, when General Warmalaki suffered a severe stroke at his command headquarters on Naranja. Despite the efforts of the military physicians, he died on February 19. Following his death, the morale of the Dejanican forces collapsed. They were swept from Kanley, Naranja, and Almastead by the end of February 1646. In March 1646, Kelvania Minor, isolated from support and bombarded ceaselessly by the Laurasian task force besieging it, surrendered. Merlin followed its example on April 2.
 * On April 5, the Battle of Meehan was waged between the Laurasian Empire and the Dejanican Commonwealth, resulting in a decisive victory for Laurasian forces under General Sir Antigonus Crattius. By the middle of April 1646, Evans, Ettleman, and Goodman had all been recovered by Laurasian units, while Kelvania Major was in severe peril of falling back into Laurasian possession. At this point, the King of Dejanica, whose border territories were being harried ceaselessly by Haynsian forces, and facing a major rebellion against his authority in Ukranian Dejanica, decided to divest himself of this costly and expensive "sideshow" war in the Caladarian Galaxy. On April 25, he sent a request for peace to Emperor Philip. The Emperor, who wished to return to Laurasia Prime, accepted the request almost immediately. A diplomatic conference was convened on Trash Dakai from May 7, and negotiations continued for some weeks. Finally, on May 29, 1646, the Treaty of Trash Dakai was signed, concluding the Frontier War of 1645-46 between the Laurasian Empire and the Dejanican Commonwealth. The status quo ante bellum was imposed in territorial matters; all sides were to return prisoners and captives of war seized in the military campaigns; and free trade privileges between the two realms were confirmed, with the Emperor of Laurasia pledging not to raise levies upon Dejanican merchants in the future. The Treaty of Trash Dakai was ratified by King Wladlio II the day it was signed, and by Emperor Philip on June 11. By August 1646, all Dejanican units had withdrawn from Laurasian territory, and the Empire's garrisons were back in their normal positions. Emperor Philip supervised the withdrawal of Dejanican units and the restoration of the Empire's frontier provinces to normal alert status.
 * He soon, however, had to contend with a revolt on Melarnaria, provoked by General Priscus Anthurius, who had ambitions of securing dominion over the Central Core. The revolt spread to Williams, Goss Beacon, Conservan, and Reoyania within a month; on September 29, 1646, rebel units defeated a government patrol fleet in the Battle of Dramis. Philip rushed to Kamachina and dispatched a force to confront the rebel units. On October 12, 1646, the government forces won the Battle of Condtella; within four days, the revolt collapsed. General Anthurius himself was betrayed by his followers and handed over to the government authorities. Taken to Laurasia Prime, he was executed at the Fortress of Baureux on November 9. Emperor Philip then traveled to Melarnaria, and during the course of the next two months, supervised the trial and either imprisonment, banishment, or execution, of many of the leading rebel leaders. An imperial manifesto condemned all who "stirred up" dissent within the Laurasian Empire. Philip did not return to Laurasia Prime until August 1647.

1648

 * Throughout the year 1647, the Laurasian Empire had generally remained at peace, both domestically and with its immediate neighbors. Emperor Philip's restoration of "law and order" to Melarnaria and parts of the Western Central Core, following the abortive revolt of General Anthurius in late 1646, had been the only exception to this general prevalence of tranquility. Philip in fact, had sought to consolidate his place on the Laurasian throne with a radical measure, shortly before his return to Laurasia Prime. In May 1647, the Emperor announced his intention to elevate his young son and heir apparent, Grand Prince Philip (who was then eight years old), to the throne as his co-emperor and junior associate. In his manifesto, the Emperor declared that unless this were done, then the Empire's dominions would "descend into absolute anarchy, of the likes which have not been observed in centuries." By providing his son experience in the cares of state, Philip reasoned, his dynasty would be secured and the Empire would remain stable. Over the course of the next two months, extensive preparations had been made by the Governing Senate and Holy Synod for the official ceremony of elevation. The Emperor was determined that this ceremony would display his power and influence, and that his son would be exalted alongside him, above all of the Empire's subjects.
 * Finally, on July 29, 1647, his son had been officially proclaimed Philip II, co-Emperor and Autocrat of All the Laurasians, alongside his father, Philip I. The Emperor himself elevated his son on the balcony to the subjects assembled outside the Quencilvanian Palace, and announced to them that this "would be their future monarch, who will bring you to glory and your enemies to ruin." Philip, now granted a imperial household, remained in the care of his mother, the Empress Consort Marcia Severa.
 * By late 1647, with his son established as his co-ruler, and with the Empire experiencing no difficulties, Philip I decided to continue with the tradition of the Ludi Saeculares (Secular Games), which had previously been staged by Emperors Claudius II (1448) and Antoninus Pius (1548). The Secular Games were a tradition extending back to the 1st millennium BH; they had first been staged in 505 BH, four years after the establishment of the Stellar Republic of Laurasia. Following this, celebrations were held in 425 BH, 348 BH, 249 BH, 142 BH, and 17 BH. The tradition lapsed after the 2nd century AH, but was then revived in the seventh century by King Perseus the Savior. Thereafter, they continued for nearly two centuries until the commencement of the Dasian Yoke in AH 840. Emperor Claudius had revived the tradition six centuries later, ostensibly to celebrate the millennium after the foundation of the Laurasian monarchy. Philip was therefore adhering to a long-established custom. In January 1648, the Emperor formally announced his intentions to all of his subjects, and commanded them to pray for the Empire's future welfare. The Imperial Treasury poured billions of dataries into the celebrations, with Christiania's subjects becoming absorbed in all of the spirit and vigor of the occasion. Finally, on April 5, 1648, the Secular Games of 1648 formally commenced when heralds formally departed from the Quencilvanian Palace, Westphalian Cathedral, and Old Royal Palace. The heralds, wearing garments of gold, assumed their positions at public platforms which had been erected in the major squares of the City; from these locations, they formally "invited" the people to attend "a spectacle, such as they would witness and never would again." Their invitations were carried by the Holonet to all residential quadrants of the city. The citizens of Christiania now emerged from their residencies and businesses, and dispersed throughout the public thoroughfares, in accordance with the directions of the Christiania Police Department and the Praetorian Guards. The quindecimviri, ceremonial officials of note who had been appointed by the Holy Synod to officiate during the Games, handed out sulphur, asphalt, and electrical torches, to be burnt as a means of purification. This was in accordance with the Book of Antigonus, which contained the procedures of law for the Almitian Church, and mandated that followers of Almitis "sanctify themselves in the eyes of the Lord." Offerings of honey wheat and barchi (Laurasian ceremonial wine), were also made to those gathered. The formal declaration of inscription then arrived from the Senate, which mandated that the official record of "all which has and will transpire be indicated at the Tarentum Memorial."
 * Following the declaration of inscription, the Emperor Philip himself, escorted by his wife and leading courtiers, departed from the Quencilvanian Palace and began their procession through the Palatial Districts. The procession, which was attended by all of the members of the Imperial Household, followed the traditional route of coronation to the Westphalian Cathedral. There, the Emperor conducted the rite of central purification; all were enjoined to purify themselves with what they had been provided by the quindecimviri. Following this, the "stay on joy" was lifted, and the Emperor permitted the inhabitants to enjoy themselves with the proffered entertainments. During the course of the next two weeks, Christiania, and Laurasia Prime in general, were dominated by a series of lavish events. The Circus Maximus staged three animal games; two shockball competitions; and a "performance at arms", in the Emperor's honor. Plays, literature readings, fireworks displays, opera concerts, formal dances, and gatherings came in plenty; the Emperor himself staged a massive banquet for all of his courtiers, while his wife, the Empress Consort, arranged banquets and society gatherings for the leading women of the cities of Laurasia Prime. Turbocannon displays; a military parade through the star system; and space simulations also accompanied the celebrations. Six more ceremonies of purification were performed at the Westphalian Cathedral; April 14 witnessed a "day of prayer and honor", held by the monasteries of the Church. The Games ultimately ended on April 21 with one final celebration at the Circus Maximus; nearly a thousand animals, including such exotic creatures as Gardinerite rancors; Horacian bamboos; Aquilionian eels; Marcian brabants; Zennethian giraffes; and Samanthan hippotamuses, were conducted and then killed in a series of gory combats. Philip also presented his son once more to the crowds; he received a formal oath of allegiance from the chief officials of the Imperial Government.
 * In spite of the festive appearance on Laurasia Prime, which had been created as a result of the Secular Games, issues were emerging in other regions of the Empire. By May 1647, the situation in the Empire's Merlite Provinces had deteriorated considerably. Emperor Philip, although he had organized such magnificent festivities on Laurasia Prime, had nevertheless earned the ire of his subjects beyond the Laurasian Purse Region. His lack for money had led him to intensify taxation; this provoked rebellion and outbursts of civil dissent against him. In September 1647, Emma, Kathryn, Imma, Tahon, and Baiteman had been ravaged with a series of protests by the Laurasian colonists and the Ashlgothian natives, who protested the exactions made of them by an "overbearing, despotic imperial government." Two months later, the Venasian Countess of Emarganachay, Kennalaia, organized a gathering of prominent Venasian noblewomen at the Fountain Palace on Venasia Prime, to protest the "preferences made by the officials of this Empire to the contrary of our cultural habits and customs." In January 1648, Colombia and Constantinople had been marred by a series of urban riots protesting the Emperor's imposition of a new property levy upon the central businesses of the two cities, a move which they believed threatened their economic vitality and hampered job growth. The Merlite Provinces, however, were the most unstable region of all. Between 1637 and 1648, six rebellions had erupted in the region against imperial authorities; Bobria, Merliash, and Aretha were among the most unstable star systems, with much hostility being displayed towards central government officials. By the middle of 1648, their grievances had increased. Merlites and colonists alike believed that they were exposed to the threat of the Vectorian Empire and Celestial Kingdom of Scottria in the Galactic Borderlands, and that they needed a ruler who would respond to their needs. A unlikely figure now emerged to take advantage of these tensions; Governor-General Sir Tiberius Pacatianus. Pacatianus was initially loyal to the Emperor Philip's government, having been appointed by the Emperor to the Governor-Generalship of the Merlite Provinces in October 1645. He was, however, easily influenced, and it was his subordinates, in particular General Agrippa Lamarius, who persuaded him to shift his loyalties to those opposed to the Emperor.
 * On September 15, 1648, Pacatianus, at the Governor's Palace on Merilash, was formally proclaimed Emperor and Autocrat of All the Laurasians by his leading commanders and the men of the star system's garrison. Within eight days, the garrisons of all the chief Merlite strongholds had proclaimed their loyalty to Pacatianus as Emperor, rejecting their oath of allegiance to Philip. In a "ascension" manifesto, issued on September 22, 1648, Pacatianus declared that he was determined to "restore the proper rule to this Empire" and to prevent the continuance of conditions by "those who are in consort with the anti-Almitis." When Philip learned of the rebellion while staying at the Palace of Placenta on Darcia, he was furious. In a venomous proclamation to his subjects (October 2, 1648), he declared that he could not permit this "usurper" to remain, and that immediate action needed to be taken. Another challenge, however, now confronted the Emperor. The Vectorian Empire, observing the Imperial Laurasian Government's difficulties, decided to launch a surprise offensive into Laurasian territory.
 * Vectorian Emperor Ashurnasirpal I (1631-1650), had assembled his military squadrons at Kylantha, Nagosh, Mercia, Camarania, Deira, Elizabania, Taghania, Francia, and Dedatia. The Emperor was determined to occupy the territories of the Neo-Anastasian Empire, the Laurasian vassal-state which still held on to Hospallian and Anastasian territories in the southwestern Barsar Regions, and to penetrate into the Ashlgothian Provinces. On October 16, 1648, just before Philip was to announce his plans of offensive against the rebel forces of Pacatianus, Ashurnasirpal I issued a formal declaration of war against the Laurasian Empire. The Second Laurasian-Vectorian War commenced, thirty-five years after Caracalla's Vectorian campaigns. Within days of the declaration of war, Ashurnasirpal's forces made considerable advances, taking advantage of the weakness of Anastasian defenses and the dispersal of Laurasian frontier garrisons. He besieged and conquered Skye I (October 22); Ghaza (October 27); Meridu (November 1); Teutonica (November 6); and Anastasia Minor (November 11), before inflicting a grevious defeat upon a hastily assembled Anastasian expeditionary force under the command of General Amaru in the Battle of Helen (November 14-19, 1648). By the middle of November 1648, Redia, Nicole, and Sejucia had been seized by Vectorian troops, who now imperiled the defenses of Ashlgothia Major, Trebek, Leslie, and Warren. Vectorian expeditions repeatedly assaulted the Durant Cluster, with Sharon Alfonsi, Eliza Spencer, Lesia Major, and Ain Jalut experiencing raids and reconnaissance parties launched from Vectorian strategic positions. On December 3, the Siege of Ankara commenced, as that important Lesian star system was blockaded by a detachment of Vectorian warships under Ashurnasirpal's chief subordinate and military commander, his brother Adad-nirari. The efforts of Laurasian forces, stationed at Winehouse, Woolestone, Armenia Major, and Beverly Hereidu, to provide military relief and necessary supplies to the garrison failed, and the star system's inhabitants were soon suffering from shortages of food and other essential supplies. Emperor Philip, whose attitude had changed swiftly to one of apprehension and fear, was now engaged in hectic moves on Laurasia Prime. Sending instructions to his garrison commanders, the Emperor followed the situation in the Barsar Regions and Merlite Provinces anxiously. On December 8, General Pacatianus obtained a victory over government forces in the Battle of India, preventing a move against his positions at Ryan Barlak and Evan. Five days later, Warren, threatened by the Vectorian troops and believing that the Emperor Philip was weak, defected to the rebel. By the end of December 1648, Vectorian forces had seized Pocket V, Lincoln, Rhodes, Tong, and Al-Pushim, seriously imperiling the defenses of Hospallia Major.

1649

 * The year 1649 commenced with the Emperor Philip I, who had only a year before conducted the magnificent Secular Games in the streets of Christiania, now overwhelmed with two major crises at the same time. Both presented a major threat to his authority, and both occurred in some of the Empire's more perennially unstable and vulnerable regions. Governor-General Tiberius Pacatianus had found himself at the head of the Merlite Rebellion, and had been proclaimed Emperor by his troops. Thus far, he had managed to overcome all challenges which had been posed against him by the government forces, and posed a serious threat to Philip's position in the Ashlgothian Provinces. At the same time, the Vectorian Empire, under the direction of Ashurnasirpal I Adak, had launched an invasion of the Neo-Anastasian Empire and the Barsar Regions, determined to take advantage of the Emperor's troubles to arise to a position of ascendancy in the Barsar Regions. Their advance, in fact, continued during the first two months of 1649. Ankara, which had been besieged for more than a month, fell more and more into the depths of despair. On January 6, the garrison commander of Ankara, Sir Demetrius Paullanius, made one last plea for assistance to the Imperial Government on Laurasia Prime, begging "my most honorable Majesty not to abandon me to the hands of barbarians, who have no respect for your authority and loathing for our Empire and our customs". The Emperor, however, whose forces were now blockaded from the Western Barsar Regions by the units of Pacatianus and by the Vectorians themselves, decided to leave the garrison to its fate. General Paullanius finally surrendered to Adad-nirari on January 11; the Vectorian General, deeming him a worthy adversary, decided to spare him from execution. After the fall of Ankara, the Vectorian forces made further advances. By January 16, Caesearea, Jacksonian Backory, and Aletis had all been stormed by Vectorian troops. Then on January 23 the Vectorians crushed the last remaining Anastasian battlefleet of note in the Battle of the Martima Asteroid Belt; within six days, Hospallia Major and Anastasia had both fallen into their possession, extinguishing the Neo-Anastasian Empire.
 * In February 1649, Vectorian troops stormed Cal, Morley, Simon, Stahl, and Armenia Minor, striking the strongholds of the Murphian Trade Spine and harrying the Eastern Barsar Regions. At the same time, Dejanican nobles, with the connivance of King Wudarnak (who had ascended to the throne in September 1648), operating from their bases on Dejanican Mir, Mons Bathocius, and Kranski, launched a series of raiding expeditions into the Malarian Provinces. The strongholds of the Narvet Corridor and the Maluyta Nebula, among them Evans, Ettleman, Goodman, Almastead, Takrania, Acabania, Aingley, Malaria Outer, Meehan, Manzo, and Suri, were harried by Dejanican raiding parties for several weeks, who inflicted up to €200 trillion dataries in economic damage. Finally, yet another revolt broke out against the Emperor Philip's authority: in the Farther Homidinian Provinces. On February 12, 1649, General Marcus Jotapianus, who had kept track of all the outbreaks of dissent against the Emperor's government, and who possessed delusions of grandeur himself, raised the standard of revolt on Calms. In his proclamation of rebellion, General Jotapianus declared that he could not "countenance the oppressions of this man who calls himself our sovereign lord" and in particular, that the Emperor's brother, Prefect-General Priscus, was a "brutal and oppressive man, representative of the anti-Almitis." Within days of his rebellion, Gibbs-to-Lester, Taraning, Ian, Abuza, Hemsford, Homidinia Minor, Yutzy, Dion, and Brlla had defected to his cause. On February 21, General Jotapianus defeated Priscus's subordinate, Governor Sir Antigonus Mendusia, in the Battle of Ryan. Ryan, Gwendolyn, Brent, Celia, and Peters were secured by his forces, resulting in the virtual isolation of Homidinia Major. By the middle of March 1649, rebel expeditions threatened Markis Prime, the colonies of the Kledis Var Trade Route, Maxwell, Curry, Wakino, and Homidinian Wyatt, spreading anarchy and terror throughout parts of the Homidinian Provinces. Minor disturbances on Greyson, Chalassion, and Alyssa were instigated by Marcus Silbannacus and Sponsianus, both of whom were High Colonels of the Praetorian Guards, and took advantage of dissent against the Emperor's taxation policies.
 * With all of these difficulties converging on him at the same time, the Emperor Philip found himself in a situation of absolute despair. On April 6, 1649, the Emperor summoned the Governing Senate, Holy Synod, and Council of Civil Service to the Audience Chamber in the Quencilvanian Palace. Haste was made in the preparations for the ceremonies; there was no grand entrance, no presentation, only the commencement of business. In his speech to the bodies of state, Philip declared that all of the recent difficulties impacting the Empire was a demonstration of the Lord Almitis's disfavor with him, and that consequently, he could no longer shoulder the burdens of the imperial throne. Announcing his intention to abdicate, Philip begged the leading officials of the Empire to proclaim his son as his sole successor, and to find for him "men of state who will guide this Empire through its travails and on to the right course." The Senators and Synostic Councilors, as well as nobles and courtiers who were in attendance, were alarmed by the Emperor's declaration. Philip had still managed to maintain a measure of popularity and support within the Imperial Court; they were not willing to tamper with the succession at this juncture. Among the most vocal men was Senator Trajan Decius, one of the most distinguished officials in the imperial civil service. Decius had served as Chief Suffect of Heliotrope in 1632; he had then held the Governorship of Americana and Oxia Vixius for the following six years, gaining the respect of his colleagues for his vigorous enforcement of the Empire's rule, no matter who happened to be on the throne at that time. In 1641, Decius was appointed to the Senate, and became Chair of the Senatorial Committee on Judicial Administration. Three years later, when Philip ascended to the throne, he was named President of the City Council of Christiania and Assistant to the Mayor. Decius also served in the Imperial Army, and by 1648, had obtained the rank of lieutenant-general. Therefore, when he spoke up, all listened. Declaring his absolute loyalty to the Emperor, Senator Decius went on to state that the Lord Almitis had preserved the Laurasian dominions through the turmoils of the past and that, in spite of everything, he would again. Impressed by this display of support, especially from Senator Decius, Emperor Philip resolved to deal with all of the difficulties in a firm and effective manner. On April 11, he promoted Senator Decius to the rank of Legate-General and designated him as Governor-General of the Merlite and Ashlgothian Provinces. Decius, given supreme command over the forces assigned to him, was ordered to suppress the rebellion of General Pacatianus without delay and to halt the Vectorian incursions into imperial territory. At the same time, the Emperor ordered his brother, Prefect-General Priscus, to advance against Jotapianus without "any procrastination" and to quell the other disturbances in the Farther Homidinian Provinces. In the meantime, Philip himself set out on a inspection tour of the Laurasian Purse Region, strengthening the central garrisons of the Empire. The Imperial Military was placed on universal alert, and conscription was intensified.
 * As a result of his vigorous efforts, the situation shifted in the Imperial Government's favor. Priscus, advancing from his command headquarters on Chalassia, wasted no time. By April 22, he had quelled the disturbances on Greyson, Chalassion, and Alyssa. Colonels Silbannacus and Sponsianus were both captured and arrested by government troops near McDowell, being transported to the High Prison of Lacia. Here, they were executed on April 30. Quelling revolts and anti-taxation riots on Dromund, Shaelynn, Kacee, Sonny, and Englestrom, Priscus then assembled his squadrons in the outskirts of the Lacian Cluster and advanced to the Kledis Var Trade Route. In a series of confrontations with General Jotapianus's forces (May-June 1649) at Wyatt, Homidinian Imma, Curry, Julie, Wakino, Drake, Rutherford, Mir, and Derek, Priscus gained the advantage and halted all further rebel forces. By the end of June 1649, Kledis Var and Maxwell had been secured, and government units advanced into the Inner Homidinian Districts. Homidinia Major was relieved on July 4; three days later, Brlla, Dion, and Celia were recovered by government troops. By July 12, Yutzy and Homidinia Major had also been seized, and government units applied severe pressure upon rebel bases at Ryan, Dominic, Digette, and Gwendolyn. General Jotapianus now retreated to his original stronghold, Hemsford, and determined to organize a vigorous resistance against government forces. His chief subordinates, however, knew the way the wind was blowing, and on July 22, they assassinated him in his personal bedchambers within the confines of the Lystarian Palace. By the end of July 1649, all remaining rebel strongholds, including Calms, Gibbs-to-Lester, and Taraning, had surrendered to General Priscus, thereby ending the rebellion in the Homidinian Provinces. As all of this was going on, General Decius took action against Pacatianus and the Vectorian invaders. On April 14, Decius formally departed from Laurasia Prime on his flagship, the IMS Imperatica. Making a rapid journey through the Central Core, he arrived at Bryce on April 19, which now became his chief command headquarters. Immediately afterwards, Decius had to contend with rebel offensives against Brooke One, Hefner, Mirohassani, Matthew, and West; by the end of the month, these had been halted, and government units were pressing on the defenses of Warren. Warren itself capitulated on May 14, terminating the threat posed by rebel forces to Ashlgothia Major. Advancing swiftly, he soon drove Vectorian units from Nicole (May 17) and destroyed another rebel force in the Battle of Kim (May 19-24). On May 29, Decius besieged Corinia V, which had become a major supply base for rebel forces; it fell on June 7.
 * By June 14, Rory, Schriver, Eurdice, and the outpost systems of the Merilash Corridor had been reconquered by Decius, who enjoyed a numerical supremacy over his rival Pacatianus. Pacatianus, who was now in league with the Vectorians, encouraged them to launch a counteroffensive against Leslie, Beatrice, Trieste, Zoo, and Hamacaki Barka (June 16-22, 1649), a offensive which was ultimately parried by Decius's garrisons. On June 25, the Battle of Bobria resulted in a smashing victory for the forces of the Laurasian Empire; Pacatianus lost nearly half of his offensive starfighters in the confrontation. Bobria itself fell to General Decius on that day; Carolyn, Thathis, Ethel Kennethia, and Jacquenthia had been seized by Decius's troops by August 2. On August 9, Decius repelled another Vectorian offensive, this time against Tolbiac, Dumbwita, and Khagia; by August 17, Aretha and Ryan Barlak had both fallen into his hands. Pacatianus was now desperate, both because of the losses he had incurred against government forces and also because of the increasing tensions among his own command. The usurper Emperor's subordinates now sought to save their own skins by betraying their master. On September 5, General Cassius Masio contacted Decius, who was then besieging Austin, and offered to execute Pacatianus, in exchange for a pardon for himself and his officers. Decius, who sought to bring this rebellion to a swift end, agreed; two days later, Pacatianus was shot to death by General Masio and his bodyguards in his shipboard bedchambers. Masio, now in command of rebel forces, surrendered unconditionally to Decius on September 11, thereby bringing the Merlite Provinces back under the central government's jurisdiction. Decius now earned universal acclaim throughout the Empire. His troops, utterly loyal to him and despising the Emperor Philip, now decided to take the next step.
 * On September 14, 1649, they formally acclaimed him as Emperor and Autocrat of All the Laurasians, elevating him onto a place of honor above all of them and comprehensively denouncing Philip as a usurper. Decius, who had entertained ambitions of seizing the imperial throne, quickly accepted their elevation and moved swiftly to consolidate his position. Within days, he had obtained the allegiance of the Melorkian and Roastafarian Provinces, and had earned the support of Laurasian magnates in the Malarian Provinces and in the Western Central Core, who were dissatisfied with the Emperor Philip's performance. Philip himself, who was then at Sanegeta, was alarmed by this turn of events. On September 18, he sent a communique to Decius, urging him to renounce his "act of treason" and to return to his proper oath of allegiance. Decius, however, moved swiftly to meet his rival. Advancing from Nicole to Pressburg, he was determined for a decisive showdown with his former master. Philip himself now moved to Polonia Major, seeking to halt the usurper's further advance.
 * Decius, however, had the advantage, and by September 24, he had secured Masar, Tursk, Krakow, Kaida, and Draguilli, securing a firm bridgehead in the Polonian Provinces. Although a rebel offensive against Frogglesworth and Volodormia failed (September 25-27), Decius was able to secure control of Polonia Minor in a surprise assault (September 29). The decisive confrontation between them occurred in the Battle of Chemeri (October 2, 1649). Emperor Philip's forces comprised of the VII and IX Imperial Legions and the Praetorian Guard. This amounted to a force of 700,000 personnel on 50 warships and 2,000 starfighters. Decius's force, on the other hand, comprised of the XII and XIV Imperial Legions and several cohorts of auxillary and courier units, amounting to 850,000 personnel on 53 warships and 4,000 starfighters. Within only two hours, the result of the battle was decided: Decius inflicted a decisive defeat upon the Emperor's forces, suffering the loss of only two warships to the virtual annihilation of the government force. Moreover, Emperor Philip himself, who had ruled by then for five years, was killed in the heat of battle; the carcass of his flagship was found by Decius's probes in the outskirts of the star system. Decius was now hailed as Emperor throughout the Empire's dominions. His position was consolidated the following day, when Philip II, who had been co-ruler alongside his father, was murdered by members of the Palace Guard in his personal chambers in the Quencilvanian Palace. With both Philips out of the way, Decius now proceeded rapidly to Laurasia Prime.
 * He arrived at the Empire's capital world on October 12, 1649, and was formally acknowledged by the bodies of state and the Imperial Court as Emperor. Decius now quickly arranged for his coronation, intended to demonstrate that he had established his position on the throne. The coronation, which occurred on November 1, 1649, was staged with much splendor and conducted with much effort. As soon as it was over, however, the Emperor immediately turned his attention to the war with the Vectorian Empire. On November 11, 1649, the Emperor declared to the Imperial Chiefs of Staff that he would not permit the Vectorians to continue their ravages in the Barsar Regions. Five days later, after making administrative arrangements on Laurasia Prime, he departed for the theater of conflict. On November 19, he received word that Priscus, the Emperor Philip's brother, had been assassinated by his own officers on Chalassia. The Farther Homidinian Provinces, the only region which had not quickly acknowledged Decius's authority following the death of Decius, now did so. On November 23, Decius arrived at Trebek, which became his chief command headquarters. Over the course of the next month, he repelled Vectorian moves against Nandia, Greg, Larkin, and Cyrus III, inflicting losses upon their offensive units. On December 29, he obtained victory in the Battle of Redia, recovering that stronghold for the Laurasian Empire.

1650

 * The year 1650 commenced with the Laurasian Empire having endured through a succession of internal crises and unrest, and once again having experienced a change in ruler and dynasty. Nevertheless, the Empire was now bogged down in war with its implacable Vectorian adversaries, who had seized the remaining Neo-Anastasian territories and held a commanding position in the Barsar Regions. At the middle of the seventeenth century, nevertheless, the Laurasian Empire had definitively established itself as the predominant power in the Caladarian Galaxy outside of the Galactic Borderlands. By 1650, the Empire's dominions extended from the Galactic Frontier Route and the Corporate Trade Corridor in the northern Outer Borderlands to the Galactic Mists and the Wild Marshes in the southern Barsar Regions. The territorial acquisitions of the Empire during the first half of the century had been less extensive than the territories which had been annexed by Emperor Antigonus I, but nevertheless had seen the extension of imperial control over the Neo-Xilanian and Mellorite Empires, as well as former Scottrian territory in the Wild Marshes. Emperor Decius, in his New Year's proclamation to his subjects, promised them that his reign would be a time of prosperity and stability, and that he would maintain a "firm hand over this Empire's dominions, while crushing our enemies without." Shortly after his proclamation however, the Vectorian War intensified. The health of both the Vectorian Emperor Ashurnasirpal and his brother, Adad-nirari, experienced a sudden and swift decline in January 1650. It was soon discovered by the physicians that both brothers had developed a genetically-related disease, the dreaded Sargonic fever, which had struck down Sargon the Conqueror thirteen centuries earlier. The Emperor and his brother were now moved, by the command of their physicians, to the Vectorian Military Hospital on Ghaza. Ashurnasirpal, knowing that both he and his brother would now face their demise, nevertheless declared that he would not depart before making preparations for the commencement of further military campaigns into the Laurasian Empire. He wished that the honor of his species would not be disgraced through defeat to the Laurasians. Therefore, on January 17, while lying in delirium on his sickbed, he formally named his talented and determined general of the mobile offensive corps, Cniva, as his heir apparent and successor to the Vectorian throne. Cniva, who had gradually risen through the ranks of the Vectorian forces, possessed a fierce hatred of the Laurasians and believed that their power within the Caladarian Galaxy needed to be contained, "lest they overspread their filth and ideals into our realms and the realms of other civilizations." Following the proclamation, Ashurnasirpal's health, and that of his brother, Adad-nirari, collapsed completely; the two Vectorian royal brothers died on February 7.
 * Cniva, who was now Martial Emperor of the Vectorians, immediately turned his attention to the war with the Laurasian Empire. The Vectorian ruler decided that a swift military offensive, directed against the strongholds of the Denveranian Trunk Line and the Barsar Regions, would be the best means to strike against Laurasian power. At the same time, Vectorian troops would keep up the pressure in the Ashlgothian Provinces, thereby forcing Emperor Decius to fight on two fronts. Assembling his military squadrons on Cal, Morley, Stahl, Simon, Zoo, and Trieste, Cniva now declared his intention to honor the memories of his predecessors. On February 17, 1650, he launched a two-pronged offensive into Laurasian territory. Vectorian, Arachosian, and Nagai units, under the command of Cniva's new chief subordinate, Regent-General Tushipa, advanced against Nicole, Redia, and Trebek, determined to drive Laurasian garrisons from these star systems and to terminate their threat to the Durant Cluster. At the same time, Cniva himself advanced against Shell, Cyrus III, Brooke One, Christopher, Earl, and Tolbiac. Cniva's force was divided into two columns. The subordinate column, under the command of General Esarhaddon, quickly stormed Shell (February 22); Tommie (February 26); Tolbiac (February 29); Khagia (March 1-5); and Dumbgwita (March 9-12), before launching raiding expeditions against Rose, Jack, and Roastafaria Minor. A Vectorian attempt to besiege Resmania, however, was blunted after confrontations at Jasmine, Les Mans, and Obathia. At the same time, the main column, under the command of Cniva himself, stormed Laurasian garrisons on Beatrice (February 19-24); Messalina (February 27); Chobania (March 2); and Reading (March 12), before harrying the outskirts of Hefner, Matthew, and West (March 22).
 * At this point, the Vectorian Emperor, accompanied by a number of mercenary and mobile courier corps, crossed the Kimanian Trade Run and advanced on Narra, Breha, Gilestis, and Christopher. It was here, however, that the Vectorians suffered their first major reverse. Emperor Decius had managed to parry Vectorian moves north of Nicole, and from his headquarters on Ashlgothia Minor, prevented offensives against the Emmian Colonies. The Emperor then moved swiftly to Cambrina, arriving there on March 27, and repelled a Ashlgothian offensive against Alausborg and Cholodio. In the meantime, Cniva had seized the Laurasian colony of Oescus, as part of his goal in seizing the Christopherian Sector, and then advanced against Novae, a Laurasian supply base fifty light-years northeast of Christopher. On April 12, however, he was defeated by the Governor of Christopher and Prefect of the Lower Kimanian Trade Run, Sir Trebonianus Gallus, in the Battle of Gelp. Gallus, who had graduated from the Imperial Academy of Military Sciences in 1624, had become Suffect Consul of Vladiorium, Big Twinny, in 1643, before being appointed to the Governorship of Roastafaria Major six years later. On January 2, 1650, Decius had appointed him to his current positions and ordered him to take all measures "to prevent the further advance of barbarians into our territory." It was here that Gallus first gained prominence through his victory at Gelp. Cniva, however, although prevented from assaulting Christopher, decided to advance further south along the Kimanian Trade Run. Defeating Laurasian patrol units at Crasis V (April 15-19), he then blockaded Rolle (April 22) and then assaulted Bookman (April 24-May 1), inflicting severe damage on the star system. Decius, who had hastened to Nikki Lowell from Cambrina, was determined to halt Vectorian forces before they could penetrate the Orion Cluster. In a series of confrontations at Newman Victoria, Henderson, Cox, Banks, and Woods (May 2-19, 1650), Decius managed to prevent the Vectorians from advancing into the Mauryan Provinces.
 * Finally, on June 2, 1650, he lured Cniva to Millard. The ensuing Battle of Millard resulted in a victory for the Laurasian Empire, as Decius managed to capture 300 Vectorian starfighters and to impound a number of Vectorian ion projectiles. Cniva, however, managed to keep his main battleships intact, and he retreated from the battlefield in good order. Following this victory, Vectorian units were expelled from Constipex, Bookman, and Filorean, and were forced to retreat from their blockade of Rolle. At the same time, a Vectorian move against Chobania, Goni, and Samantha was repelled by Governor-General Gallus. By September 1650, Trieste, Cal, and Morley had been reconquered by General Gallus, who was awarded the Order of St. Antiochus the Great by the Emperor for his efforts. Cniva, however, was determined not to give up, and he now renewed his moves against the southern Kimanian Trade Run. Gardiner and Leo's Redoubt were conquered by Vectorian troops (October-Novwember 1650). Strongstine and Abshire were raided by Vectorian troops, and on the last day of 1650, Cniva managed to obtain victory in the Battle of Kimanis Mooria, establishing a foothold near Kimania itself.

1651

 * The year 1651 commenced with the Emperor Decius, who had established himself on the throne only a little over a year before, engaged in a series of fierce military confrontations with the Vectorian Empire, under the rule of the ambitious, energetic, and ruthless Cniva. Cniva's victories in the Barsar Regions had resulted in the entrenchment of Vectorian troops near the outskirts of Kimania; their establishment at Kimanis Mooria posed a serious threat to the strategic position in the Barsar Regions. Throughout the early months of 1651, the advance of the Vectorian forces continued. On January 6, Vectorian units, advancing from their bridgehead at Kimanis Mooria, launched a offensive move towards Henderson, Nikki Lowell, and Cox. Within seven days, they had besieged and conquered Derangy, Morangy, and Ivrangy, formerly major Kimanian colonies but now among the chief Laurasian agricultural and industrial settlements in the Barsar Regions. On January 15, a counteroffensive, launched by General Gallus, from Drea came to ruins in the Battle of Haset. By the end of January 1651, Cox and Banks had both been secured by Vectorian units, and Cniva himself was directing blockade operations around Kimania, determined to begin the suppression of that star system's supply routes. The following month, he dispatched General Tushipa to Strongstine and ordered him to secure the Laurasian worlds of the Hutsite Reaches and the Jarjanican Provinces. In a series of offensive moves, Tushipa stormed Novina (February 2-5); Preena (February 11); Harrison (February 14); Skold (February 22); Hutsia (February 29); Plath (March 3); Acone (March 5-7); Duana (March 11); and Abshire (March 19), before blockading Jarman and Addison (March 22-April 2, 1651).
 * It was at this point, however, that the Vectorian luck stymied. On April 7, General Gallus, who had established his command headquarters on Drea, defeated Tushipa in the Battle of Allen. Five days later, he launched a counteroffensive against Earl, Shell, and Beverly Hereidu; by April 12, all of these strongholds had been recovered by Laurasian units. Two days later, he repelled a Vectorian offensive against Antherson and Opramia. By the end of April 1651, Laurasian troops had reconquered Cal, Morley, Stahl, Beatrice, Zoo, Stephanpoulos, and Trieste in a series of counteroffensives, seriously imperiling the Vectorian position along the Denveranian Trunk Line. Emperor Decius, on his part, had slowly begun to drive Vectorian units from the Kimanian Trade Run; by May 7, he had recovered Derangy, Morangy, Gardiner, and Dumbgwita, driving Vectorian units towards Brooke One, Hefner, and the outskirts of Mirohassani. Cniva, however, was now preparing for a massive counteroffensive against Laurasian arms. On May 11, Decius, having repelled a Vectorian move against Roastafaria Minor, moved to Olm. He then cleared Vectorian units from Matthew, Leslie, and the outskirts of Trebek and Imma (May 12-19, 1651). On May 22, Woolestone was recovered by Laurasian troops. Following these series of setbacks, Cniva, who was determined to defeat his Laurasian adversaries, retreated with his troops to Ain Jalut. Emperor Decius now moved quickly against them, attended by his son and now co-ruler, Herennius Etruscus. Herennius had been among his father's entourage when he had served as Governor-General of the Merlite Provinces; the following year, when his father seized the throne, Herennius was proclaimed Grand Prince and heir apparent to the throne. He had then gained further prominence at the Imperial Court and throughout the Empire, as a result of his service in the Vectorian War. Therefore, on May 9, 1651, his father had elevated him to the rank of co-Emperor and promoted him to the rank of Prefect-General of the Forces.
 * By doing this, the Emperor sought to maintain his dynasty's position on the throne and to associate his son with him in the public's eyes, thereby reducing the threat of overthrow. Father and son, now co-rulers, were therefore pursuing a joint campaign against the Vectorian adversaries. The Emperor's younger son, Grand Prince Hostillian, who was now heir apparent to the throne in the event of his brother not having any children, remained on Laurasia Prime with his mother, Empress Consort Herennia Etruscia. On May 28, a convoy of Vectorian starfighters and transport craft was captured by a Laurasian advance squadron near Simon; two days later, Laurasian forces launched a strike operation against Damasacus and Armenia Major, inflicting serious damage upon the Vectorian repositories in those star systems. On June 3, however, the Emperors' army was taken by surprise at the colony of Beroe. Cniva, having received intelligence information about their positions, had decided to launch a surprise offensive against Beroe before they could react.
 * The ensuing Battle of Beroe lasted for three days, but ultimately resulted in a humiliating defeat for the Laurasian Empire. Decius and his son were now forced to retreat to Oescus, which was located six hundred light years north of Beroe. Cniva was now able to renew his offensives in the vicinity of Armenia Major. By June 17, he had reconquered Cal, Simon, and Stahl; destroyed Laurasian repositories on New Moesia, Helen, and Grassley; and penetrated to Leseur and Dorothea, seriously imperiling the defenses of those two star systems. These Vectorian expeditions resulted in the capture of nearly six billion captives, and their deportation to the Galactic Borderlands. Nearly €300 trillion dataries in economic damage was inflicted upon the worlds affected by these campaigns. Then on July 6, India, which had been besieged by Vectorian units for over two months, finally capitulated to Emperor Cniva. Five days later, General Sir Titus Priscus, who had served as Governor of Baiteman and Emma for four years, and had long entertained ambitions of seizing the Laurasian throne, betrayed his oath of allegiance to the Emperors and announced himself to be in rebellion against the Imperial Laurasian Government. Priscus, in fact, now proclaimed himself Emperor. By July 20, he had secured control of Kane, Tahon, Bryce, Imma, Courtney, Kathryn, Jennings, Thelma, and Tea, establishing for himself a frim position in the Borderland Ashlgothian Provinces. On July 23, Cniva, who saw Priscus as a potential ally, and entertained ambitions of intervening in the Laurasian Empire's internal affairs, sent a communique to the rebel, offering to acknowledge his rights to the Laurasian throne in exchange for direct military assistance in the campaigns against Decius and Herennius Etruscus, and agreement to concede the Barsar Regions to the authority of the Vectorian Empire. Priscus, who entertained grandiose ambitions, and believed that once he controlled the Empire, he would be able to easily repel the Vectorian invaders, decided to accept.
 * As a result of Priscus's defection, the Vectorian forces were able to secure Cyrus III (July 24-29); Hefner (August 2); and Allison (August 6). Emperor Decius, however, who had received substantial reinforcements from the garrisons of Nathaniel, Sanegeta, Eutagia, and Acamaria, decided to force a decisive confrontation with Cniva and Priscus. His son Herennius Etruscus, as well as General Gallus, were now the subordinate commanders of his military forces, and they both placed in charge of commanding front-line offensives against Vectorian positions. On August 9, 1651, Laurasian units intercepted the Vectorian-rebel forces at Arbitus, a minor penal colony located six light-years east of Resmania. Cniva, however, quickly reorganized his forces, now diving them into three columns. One column was held in reserve at the far side of Arbitus. A alarming event of supreme importance took place before combat was formally joined between the two opposing forces. Co-Emperor Herennius Etruscus, who had led a squadron of starfighters to dislodge Vectorian units from Hemmerna's Outpost, was seriously wounded when his fighter's engines were bombarded with projectile fire. He was immediately rushed by his escorts to the nearest star destroyer, the IMS Imushia. Shortly after arrival, however, he died at the age of twenty-six. When Decius was informed of his son's death, he was utterly distraught. The Emperor, however, quickly overcame his utter grief, and announced to his soldiers that "the death of my son will only serve to increase our resolve and the resolve of the Empire." And indeed, the Laurasians did fight with great ferocity. Decius's forces defeated the Vectorians at the front-line, blunting their direct offensive moves, but made the fatal mistake of pursuing their enemy to the far side of Arbitus. Decius was advised against this course of action by General Gallus, but he refused to listen. At the far side, Cniva unleashed his waiting column; the Laurasian warships were disoriented, ambushed, and completely routed. Immense slaughter occurred, and Decius's flagship was surrounded by Vectorian fighters. The Emperor had no chance, and he died when the ship bridge was incinerated by a proton torpedo launched by one of the fighters. General Gallus managed to flee on his personal starfighter, as did a number of other Laurasian commanders, but this could not disguise the fact that the Battle of Arbitus had been an unmitigated disaster for the Laurasian Empire. As a result of this confrontation, Cniva had established the Vectorian position on the other side of the Denveranian Trunk Line.
 * A further series of events now followed themselves in rapid succession. The first of these concerned the succession to the Laurasian throne. Officially, according to the Emperor Decius's will (June 1, 1651), his younger son Hostillian was to become Emperor if both he and his elder son and co-ruler, Herennius Etruscus, died; in particular, if Herennius died without any surviving heirs of his own. Hostillian, who at the time of the death of his father and brother, was twenty-four years old, had long since reached the age of majority. However, he had continued to remain under the heavy influence of his mother, the Empress Consort Herennia Etruscia. Because he was not expected to ascend to the throne, and since the arrangements for his succession were made in such a peremptory and hasty manner, he had not been given any opportunity to obtain military or governmental experience. Consequently, he was considered by many throughout the Empire to be unfit for the cares of rule. In the days following the death of his father and brother, however, Hostillian found himself elevated to the throne on Laurasia Prime, by virtue of his mother's machinations. On August 13, 1651, Hostillian was proclaimed Emperor and Autocrat of All the Laurasians by the Governing Senate, Holy Synod, and the Imperial Council of Civil Service. He was presented to his subjects on the balcony of the Quencilvanian Palace, and orders were sent to General Gallus (now in supreme command of Laurasian forces in the Barsar Regions), commanding him with all speed to resume offensives against the Vectorian "savages". Gallus, however, was not willing to be a subordinate. He now entertained the supreme ambition of reigning, in his own stead, over the Laurasian Empire, believing that by sitting on the throne he would restore unity and prosperity to the "realms of Almitis".
 * Just one day after Hostillian's proclamation, Lieutenant-General Trebonianus Gallus was proclaimed Emperor and Autocrat of All the Laurasians by his own troops at the command headquarters on Beverly Hereidu. This proclamation quickly earned him the oath of allegiance from the garrisons of the Ashlgothian, Polonian, Donguarian, and Horacian Provinces. Gallus, however, did not desire civil war at this juncture, and on August 18, he offered to share joint rule of the Empire's dominions with Hostillian, declaring that his loyalty to the late Emperor and his son "overrode all of my other concerns." The Empress-Dowager Herennia Etruscia protested vigorously, but the nobles of the Imperial Court, among them the Earl of Americana, decided to accept Gallus's offer. The Governing Senate and Holy Synod formally acknowledged Gallus and Hostillian as co-Emperors on August 24, and promoted Gallus to senior rank on the imperial throne. Now acknowledged as senior Emperor by the Imperial Court, Gallus now turned his attention to the Vectorian War. A major incident now took place which bolstered Laurasian fortunes and allowed for the conclusion of the war in short order. On September 2, "Emperor" Priscus and his erstwhile ally, Vectorian Emperor Cniva, who convened to plan strategy on Allison, departed on the chief Vectorian flagship, the VMS Tiggrutha, in order to command operations against Mandra. The flagship, however, now suffered a catastrophic reactor failure; within seconds, the entire ship had disintegrated into stray atoms, killing both the Laurasian usurper and the formidable Vectorian Emperor. Cniva was now succeeded to the Vectorian throne by his inexperienced younger brother Ishuima; as for Priscus, there was no successor, for he had not groomed any of his subordinates to assume the mantle of rebellion in case of his death.
 * He had believed that he would live to seize Laurasia Prime and to establish his own dynasty on the Laurasian throne. Consequently, Emperor Gallus was able to seize the advantage. Ishuima, who had not been a distinguished military officer, and who had then been in headquarters on Sharon Alfonsi, was unable to respond to the renewed Laurasian thrust. By September 12, Laurasian forces had reconquered Brooke One, Allison, Hefner, and Cyrus III. Four days later, after storming the defenses of Thelma, the Emperor gained the renewed allegiance of the rebellious Ashlgothian Colonies. Reorganizing his offensive formations at Jennings, Thelma, Tea, Resmania, Obathia, Cyrus III, Leslie, Trebek, Tolbiac, Beverly Hereidu, Shell, Earl, Roastafaria Minor, Marsin, and Manorsia, the Emperor launched a two-pronged offensive into the Western Barsar Regions. Dividing his force into two columns, the Emperor was determined to recover the Laurasian position in the face of the Vectorian seizures. The first column, under the command of Lieutenant-General Marcus Aemillus, penetrated swiftly into the Durant Cluster. Hamacaki Barka (September 22); Stewart (September 26); Hannibal (September 30); Sharon Alfonsi (October 3); Skye I (October 9); Ankara (October 14); and Sejuca (October 15-19), were reconquered by the Laurasian forces. Gallus, on his part, stormed Cal (September 24); defeated Vectorian detachments in the Battle of Goni (September 29); and reconquered Morley, Simon, and Trieste (October 4-11), before driving the last Vectorian units from the Kimanian Trade Run in the Battle of Molibac (October 12). Vectorian Emperor Ishuima, who was now confronted with the possibility of a revolt at Arachosia Prime and in the Gate Solarian Cluster against his authority, and with the Dejanik Commonwealth's forces making threatening moves towards the outskirts of Vectorian territory, decided to end the long and exhausting Vectorian War.
 * On October 22, after the Laurasians had successfully recovered Lesia Minor and Eliza Spencer after obtaining victory in the Battle of Meridu, he sent a request for negotiations to the Imperial Court. Trebonianus Gallus, eager to return to Laurasia Prime and to consolidate his place on the imperial throne, accepted the request on October 29. Negotiations opened at Mrpath V, which was still occupied by Vectorian units, on November 3. A month and a half of negotiations followed, as arguments raged between the delegations of the two states. Finally, the Treaty of Mrpath V (December 15, 1651) was signed, bringing an end to the Second Laurasian-Vectorian War. By the terms of the treaty, all Laurasian territories still occupied by Vectorian units, such as Mrpath V, Pocket, Lesia Major, and the Lower Denveranian Trunk Line, were to be restored to the authority of the Laurasian Empire. All Vectorian units were to evacuate Laurasian territory by the end of 1652; Laurasian forces, in turn, were to cease their military campaigns in the Western Barsar Regions.
 * Here, however, were there now terms which were to cause much dissent and rancor to rise against the Laurasian Emperor. Emperor Gallus now agreed to acknowledge the acquisition, by the Vectorian Empire, of the territories of the Neo-Anastasian Empire. This included Ghaza, Hospallia Major, Anastasia Major, Anastasia Minor, Lincoln, Rhodes, Tong, Al-Pushim, Caesearea, Jacksonian Backory, and Aletis. A boundary commission was to be established to define the boundary between the two Empires in the Barsar Regions. In what was the humiliating term of the agreement, the Imperial Laurasian Government agreed to allow the Vectorians to keep all of the captives, goods, and equipment which they had seized in the military campaigns, although all prisoners of war were to be exchanged. The Treaty of Mrpath V was ratified by Emperor Gallus on December 19 and by Vectorian Emperor Ishuima on December 22. By this point, Gallus was the sole Emperor of Laurasia. The ill-fated Hostillian, who was never able to arise out of the shadows in his own right, had died on November 6 from a bout of Marsian fever; his mother the Empress-Dowager succumbed to the same disease six days later. Marsian fever, in fact, had erupted in another outburst within Christiania since February 1651; by the time this epidemic subsided in June 1652, nearly a million individuals had died. Gallus had therefore, through fortune and not by assassination or violence, consolidated his position on the Laurasian throne. His popularity with the Praetorian Guards and the Laurasian Military, however, had weakened as a result of the humiliating terms of the peace settlement. Emperor Gallus now moved to headquarters on Kimania, and began to supervise the cessation of hostilities with the Vectorian Empire. Ishuima, on his part, who now had a active rebellion in the Galactic Borderlands, wasted no time in withdrawing his troops from the Laurasian Barsar Regions; they had completely vacated Laurasian territory before the month was out. As the year 1651 ended, the Empire had been restored to a tumultuous peace, domestically and externally, but this was not to last long.

1653

 * Following the end of the Second Vectorian War (December 1651), Emperor Trebonianus Gallus had focused his efforts upon the maintenance of peace within the Laurasian Empire's dominions, and to consolidate his own authority as Emperor. In spite of his efforts, however, the Laurasian Empire found itself wracked once again by internal division and conflict. In March 1652, the Governor of the Satian Provinces, Sir Marides Uranius, erupted in a revolt against the authority of the Imperial Laurasian Government. Securing control of the strongholds of Norah, Satie, Margery, Lynne, and Multan, Uranius quickly pursued the offensive against government garrisons, seeking to rally others to his cause and to dispute that of the Emperor's. On April 7, 1652, he defeated and destroyed a governmental task force, under the command of Fleet-Admiral Sir Zosimus Vasporius, in the Battle of Orkhan. By the end of April 1652, Juxles, Bingley, and Sommers had all been stormed by rebel units; in early May 1652, Uranius defeated another task force under the command of Vasporius in the Battle of the Lesser Izzia. Nisbis, Eric, Giron, and Kaming all fell into the possession of rebel forces. His expeditions now ranged as far as Mocktrialis, Capone, and Lawson, and even to the outskirts of the Lacian Cluster; he therefore posed a serious threat to the security of the Imperial Government's position in the northern regions. Emperor Gallus, who had to contend with appeasing his "allies" on the Governing Senate, and the leading magnates of Laurasia Prime, did not, at first, direct a vigorous counter-offensive against the rebel forces. That changed, however, following the Battle of Boniface (May 28, 1652), in which the planetary garrison, considered one of the strongest in the Xilanian Provinces, surrendered to Governor Uranius within hours of his first assault. Emperor Gallus now decided to react more decisively, and in June 1652, ordered his son and co-ruler, Volusianus, to take command of the Empire's response to this rebellion. Volusianus departed from Laurasia Prime on June 20 of that month, bringing with him substantial reinforcements from that world, and from many of the strongholds of the Laurasia Prime Purse Region. He arrived at Al-Durah (June 24, 1652), and two days later, inflicted a ruinous defeat upon Uranius's chief subordinate, Major-General Sir Antiochus Graganius, in the Battle of Kemp.
 * By the middle of July 1652, government assaults had driven rebel units from Eric and Giron, thereby expelling them from the Angelican Provinces; Kaming, however, proved to be a tough target, and did not fall until August 18. The Second Battle of Nisbis (August 19-22, 1652), ended in another victory for government forces, although their casualties outweighed those of the rebels. Juxles and Bingley were both recovered on August 25; Sommers on September 3; and Orkhan on September 11. Volusianus then launched a daring thrust against Lynne and Multan, utilizing his superior strategic positions at Morg, the Space Satellites of Ursula, Vorta, Calrissian, and Nandia to execute the maneuver. It succeeded, and by September 23, Uranius had been reduced to a precarious hold of Norah and Satie. Five days later, co-Emperor Volusianus began his advance against those strongholds. Uranius, now revealing his true, cowardly nature, decided to make a hasty retreat to the Marasharite Empire's dominions in the Galactic Borderlands. He executed his move on October 13, abandoning his remaining units and garrisons in the face of government advances. He crossed the Galactic Frontier Route the following day, and proceeded direct to Imegina, arriving there on October 21. That same day, Norah and Satie were reconquered by government units, thereby ending the Uranian Rebellion. Nevertheless, the rebel himself had escaped retribution, and in November 1652, Marasharite Emperor Shapur granted him refugee status. Emperor Trebonianus Gallus learned of the rebel's escape into Marasharite dominions, and on New Year's Eve, 1652 (after recalling his son back to Laurasia Prime), he issued a ultimatum to the Marasharite Court.
 * In this ultimatum, the Emperor demanded that the Marasharite Empire provide a "assurance" that all Haynsian raiding expeditions into the Caladarian Galaxy would cease; that the strongholds of the Galactic Frontier Route would be fortified solely by Laurasian military forces; and that the "traitor Uranius" be handed over into the custody of imperial authorities. The Laurasian Ambassador to the Marasharite Court, Sir Avronius Mathius, was the one responsible for communicating the ultimatum to Emperor Shapur and to his Grand Council. The Emperor of the Marasharites, determined not to yield, and seeing an opportunity to strike, haughtily rejected the ultimatum in January 1653; Grand Vizier Gurcu Mehmed Pasha declared it "beneath our honor" to consider such Laurasian demands. From this point, Shapur decided to move forward with his plans: for a renewed military conflict against the Laurasian Empire, with the goal of reconquering the Satian Provinces, securing the Galactic Frontier Route, and, perhaps, encouraging future tensions against the Imperial Laurasian Government. He had assembled his military forces at Meneia, Styris V, Adrianne, Abrianne, Natalie, Tiona, Belaprasian, Ba'dai, Donna, Teller, Latrice, Kia, Billy Gasis, Khotyn, Karlong, and other strongholds, in the Tof Borderlands, along the Frontier Route, and in the Muggal Cluster.
 * The Haynsian Despot Meharid IV Giray also prepared his forces in the Perekop Reaches and along the Haynsian Slave Highway for raiding expeditions from the Galactic Void. Finally, in April 1653, the Marasharite Empire issued a formal declaration of war; Emperor Gallus, distracted by rebellions in the Borderland Territories and at Shell, Dumbgwita, Beverly Hereidu, and other strongholds in the Barsar Regions, had not been able to focus on shoring his position in the Satian Provinces. Repelling a hasty Laurasian counteroffensive against Edessa (April 11-14, 1653), he besieged and conquered the Satellites of Ursula, Al-Durah, Kemp, and Boniface in a swift offensive (April 19-24, 1653). By the middle of May 1653, Marasharite forces had conquered Calrissian, Vorta, Margery, Lynne, Multan, Xilania Secondary, Xilania Minoria, Jin Major, and Jin Minor, penetrating to the Larkian Way. Haynsian expeditions, in the meantime, struck throughout the Angelican and Hypasian Provinces, attacking targets from Giron and the Immortalized Cluster to Huerta Mongol, Que'emia, and Bach Dang. Saigon, Ho Chi Minh, and Hypasia Minor in particular were threatened by Haynsian fleets, who by the end of June 1653, had impounded more than €200 trillion dataries worth of goods. That same month, the Battle of Barbalissos resulted in a decisive victory for Marasharite General Al-Karim Pasha, who captured more than 75,000 troops of the 37th Imperial Laurasian Army, and overran all of their chief land positions. On July 7, Chapman was stormed by a Marasharite detachment; Juxles, Orkhan, and Kaming soon followed. Roxuli, Eaidon, and Zoe then fell victim to Haynsian raids, and Abraham was conquered on July 19, 1653. At this point, the troubles for the Laurasian Empire were especially severe.
 * Yet Emperor Gallus and his son were unable to focus on the Marasharites, for another, more internal threat to their authority had emerged. Throughout 1652, and into 1653, raids by Dejanican and Scottrian "pirates" into the western borderlands of the Empire had become common. King Jamsius III of Scottria implicitly supported the raids against Garama, Vescera, Zabi, Cydamus, Gholaia, Garbia, and Castellum Dimiddi (November 1652-June 1653), which resulted in more than 7.5 million casualties and property damages in excess of €100 trillion dataries. Dejanican raids into the Malarian Provinces were especially aggravating; White, Odika, Timaslan, and Ularia were all placed under emergency status in March 1653. Another now arose to take advantage of this: the Governor of the Merlite Provinces, Sir Aemillian Aemillus.
 * A veteran of the Conquest of Melloria, the Dejanican Frontier War, and the Second Vectorian War, he had been appointed as Governor of Merlita by Emperor Trebonianus Gallus in February 1652; and for a time, he had remained loyal to the Emperor. Yet all of the debacles which had been suffered by the Empire, by the early months of 1653, had convinced Aemillian that only he could save the Empire. In April and May 1653, the Governor of Merlita distinguished himself by suppressing the Zoras Pirates, in the vicinity of Aretha, Evan, Thathel Prime, Carolyn, and Korgia; news of his "exploits" spread, and he acquired a strong base of support among the nobles and magnates of the Imperial Court. His own troops adored him, and when at the end of May 1653, he fortified Ryan Barlak, in defiance of Emperor Gallus's instructions, he was praised for his efforts to "secure" the Empire's stability. Therefore, on June 18, 1653, his troops proclaimed him Emperor and Autocrat of All the Laurasians, a proclamation which was quickly accepted by the Merlite Provinces, by the Ashlgothian Provinces, and by the Donguarian Provinces. Gallus and his son Volusianus, when they heard of Aemillian's defiance, determined to set out from Majoria Schall, to which they had relocated in a vain, and belated effort, to mobilize those regions for a possible counteroffensive against Haynsian units in the Homidinian Provinces.
 * Aemillian, however, anticipated their moves, and swiftly proceeded to Interamna Nahars, a Laurasian colony located five thousand light years northeast of Aretha, on the Murphian Trade Spine. It had been established in 1479, and had since matured into a reasonable world of more than two hundred million inhabitants. This advance occurred with Aemillian having secured the allegiance of Beatrice, Trieste, and the Lesian Provinces. On July 19, 1653, shortly after being excommunicated by the Holy Synod (on the orders of Gallus), Aemillian confronted the two co-Emperors at Interamna Nahars. The ensuing Battle of Interamna Nahars resulted in a decisive victory for Aemillian, in spite of the fact that the co-Emperors had forces which outnumbered his. As a result of this battle, Gallus and Volusianus fled towards Laurasia Prime; governors, military garrisons, and populaces throughout the Empire switched their allegiance to Aemillian. Then on August 3, 1653, Gallus and Volusianus were both betrayed by their guards and assassinated in Hutchinese City on Mariah, in the Laurasia Prime Purse Region. They had ruled for just two years, and their deaths were mourned by none. Following the assassination of Gallus and Volusianus, Aemillian was acknowledged as Emperor and Autocrat by the Governing Senate, Holy Synod, and Council of Civil Service, thereby confirming his position of authority over the whole of the Laurasian Empire. Yet his reign was destined to be very short. Indeed, he found his position immediately challenged by the Governor of the Robertian Regions, the Baron Valerian Ladaratus, who had remained loyal to Gallus and Volusianus to the end.
 * On August 11, 1653, Valerian refused to acknowledge Aemillian's authority as Emperor, and launched an immediate military offensive against him. Aemillian himself proved to be weak; he did not seem to be interested in a vigorous defense against the Marasharites, and his brutal manner towards his subordinates lost him the support of many who had backed him. Elijahana, the Venasian Triangle, Hannis, Organia, Vindictoria, Permi, Drennan, and the Venasian Cluster all defected to Valerian; by the end of August 1653, he had reached Jem, was besieging Caroline, and had his forces ranging into the Core Regions. Early in the following month (September 5, 1653), Valerian was proclaimed Emperor by his troops, and soon received the allegiance of the Istantius and Leopoldian Provinces. As he advanced closer and closer to Laurasia Prime, Aemillian found himself struggling with Marasharite and Haynsian raids into the Kelvanian and Malarian Provinces; with revolts in the Borderland Territories, on Kimania, and in the Drea Provinces, and with dissensions among his own troops. By the middle of September 1653, Halassion, Chalassion, Alyssa, Curry, Perry, Mir, and Wakino had all surrendered to the Marasharites; Dromund, Kacee, and Englestrom now seemed under threat. On September 24, this was compounded with Valerian's successful conquest of Caroline, and the defection of the garrisons of Dill, Boo, Atticus, and Jean to his side. Finally, on October 8, 1653, Emperor Aemillian was assassinated in Randanian City, Horacia, by guards supportive of his enemy Valerian; later that same day, the institutions of the Imperial Laurasian Government recognized Valerian as Emperor. On October 22, Emperor Valerian made his arrival on Laurasia Prime, and was greeted with "restrained" praise and acclaim by the inhabitants of the capital world. Five days earlier, he had announced the elevation of his son, Grand Prince Gallienus, to the co-Emperorship, entrusting him with the duties of a junior ruler.
 * Thus, once again, the Laurasian Empire had two rulers, a situation which had now become common for that century. A lavish coronation ceremony for father and son was staged (November 6, 1653), with much attention being paid to the festivities, in order to communicate the impression of the Empire's continuing glory. Yet the Empire continued to be dogged by issues; by the time of Valerian's expedition, Haynsian raiding expeditions were penetrating to Wakedia, the OsonBoka Nebula, Meris, Jamuina, Brenda, Dickinson, and the lower Burglais Arm, thereby periling the entire northern swath of the Laurasian Empire. Norah and Satie both fell into Marasharite hands (October 1653), and Angelica Major was on the verge of falling. Therefore, in late November 1653, Emperor Valerian decided to organize a vigorous counter-response to the Marasharites. He now entrusted his son, co-Emperor Gallienus, with the task of remaining on Laurasia Prime and taking charge of the affairs of the Core Regions, and of the Empire's more southerly regions. The Emperor himself would take command of Laurasian military forces and launch a vigorous counteroffensive against the Marasharites. This enactment was made official in early December 1653; Valerian departed from Laurasia Prime on December 9, and proceed northwards. Halting a Marasharite offensive against Massanay and Cibourney (December 7-11, 1653), he then recovered Giron in a surprise offensive (December 22) and cleared Marasharite units from Londarania, the Lysimachian Barrier Defenses, and the Immortalized Cluster. On December 19, Abraham and Roxuli were both recovered; and on December 25, Valerian destroyed a Marasharite force in the Battle of Rani, thereby terminating their threat to Eric. By the end of that year, the tide had shifted. Spencer and Coleman, both of whom had suffered from Haynsian raids, were refortified.

1654

 * 1654 saw the eruption of wars between the Laurasian Empire on the one hand, and the Vectorian Empire, as well as the Celestial Kingdom of Scottria, on the other, besides the continuing military conflict with the Marasharite Empire and Haynsian Despotate. Throughout the first half of 1654, the Marasharites and their Haynsian vassals actually managed to make further gains in the Lacian Cluster and in the Farther Homidinian Provinces. Mackenzia Minor was besieged and conquered (January 1654); the following month, a Laurasian counteroffensive, by the forces of the Earl of Jadia, were repelled by Marasharite Admiral Al-Kadik in the Battle of Edessa. By March 1654, Marasharite units had stormed Coronadia, English Star, Jacobs I, Mackenzia Major, Edmundia Minor, and Cassie, thereby entrenching themselves within the Burglais Arm. At the same time, Sonny fell victim to a major Haynsian raiding expedition, and on April 9, 1654, Haynsian vessels even penetrated into the Lacia star system, imperiling the system's defenses and its settlements. Emperor Valerian, however, who had methodically prepared his forces in the Solidaritan Provinces for a counteroffensive, now launched his move. Reconquering Juxles and Orkhan (April 1654), he then isolated Sommers, thereby forcing Haynsian expeditions to halt their raids against Zoe, Skyler, and Eaidon.
 * On April 27, 1654, the Battle of Alexander Haley ended in a victory for Sir Honorius Grasius, Governor of Homidinia Major; Cassie was recovered five days later, and in May 1654, Laurasian units chased the Marasharites from Mir, Perry, and Wakino. Haynsian expeditions against those systems, as well as Gwendolyn, Demebzaic, Dominic, Ryan, and Markis Prime, all failed to accomplish anything. Simmons was then recovered by Emperor Valerian, and on June 7, 1654, he scored another victory in the Battle of Boniface. The Marasharites were soon compelled to abandon Kemp and Al-Durah. At that point, however, the threat emerged from the Vectorian Empire. Emperor Ishuima, whose raiding expeditions had harried Nicole, Sejucia, the Hospallian Sectors, and the Murphian Trade Spine without rest, launched a formal invasion of the Barsar Regions (June 1654).
 * Within weeks, Vectorian units had stormed Stewart, Hannibal, Sharon Alfonsi, Skye I, and Meridu, penetrating to as far as Trieste, Zoo, Zee, Ginger, and Stahl. A Vectorian raiding operation against Winehouse, Woolestone, Hinds Prime, and Beverely Hereidu (July 1654), inflicted much damage upon those star systems. Emperor Gaillenus, who had proved himself in his efforts to re-conciliate the Senate, to lower oppressive taxation rates, and to streamline the Praetorian Guards, now swiftly moved from Laurasia Prime to Breha, determined to take command of the Laurasian counteroffensive. On August 11, 1654, he defeated the Vectorian General Tiglath-plieser Arak in the Battle of Morley, and two days later, terminated all raids against Stahl, thereby securing that stronghold for the Empire. With the aid of General the Lord Ingennus of Tolbiac, he then reconquered Skye I and Meridu (August 14-19, 1654), and on August 23, secured Ruumlist. Angela Masa was recovered on August 28, and by early September 1654, both Hannibal and Stewart had fallen back into Laurasian hands. Vectorian offensives against Lesia Minor, Destiny, and Pocket (September 1654), failed to accomplish any results; Sharon Alfonsi was recovered on September 29. By that time, Margery, Lynne, Multan, and Kaming had all been recovered by Emperor Valerian, thereby all but restoring Laurasian control of the Satian Provinces. Cal and Sejucia were recovered by Gaillenus in the Barsar Regions (October 5, 1654), and he then pushed into the Anastasian Territories. Tong, Miller, and Al-Pushim were all stormed, and on October 22, the Battle of Anastasia Prime ended in a decisive victory for Emperor Gaillenus. By the end of October 1654, Lincoln, Rhodes, and Jacksonian Batory had also been conquered, and Anastasia Minor was under threat. Emperor Ishuima, realizing that he was going no where, decided to sue for peace. A truce was concluded at Teutonica (November 1, 1654), and a month later, the Treaty of Arachosia Prime was signed, terminating the war on the basis of the status quo ante bellum.
 * Yet towards the end of December 1654, whilst Emperor Valerian was recovering Englestrom, Sonny, and Dromund for the Empire, and hurling Haynsian raiding expeditions back across the Larkian Way, King Jamsius II of Scottria, who had been engaged in reducing the Brittanic Potentates of Orkney and Shetland, had waged military campaigns against the Duchy of Northania and Semigallia, and repelled raids by the Haynsian Despotate into the Outskirt Districts, issued a declaration of war against the Empire, demanding the return of the Garaman Provinces. Zebetha and Ranieda Minor were both stormed by Scottrian units on New Year's Eve 1654.

1655

 * January 1655 witnessed the fall of Garama after a surprise Scottrian offensive. Merilash, Bobria, and Ryan Barlak were then conquered by penetrative Scottrian expeditions, and by March 1655, Dasalaburgh was under severe threat from Scottrian units. Emperor Gallienus had now been forced to turn his attention from the Barsar Regions to the Garaman Provinces. Repelling Scottrian moves against Larkin, India, Warren, and Greg (April 1655), he then reconquered Ranieda Minor, stormed Wheaton and McFadden, and penetrated through the Berwick Barrier, posing a direct threat to the Vilmanstrand Approaches (June 1655). The following month, Zebetha was then recovered, and Perth became the next target of a Laurasian offensive. Ladoga, Onieda, and Vyborg were all stormed (July 1655), and on July 22, 1655, Gaillenus inflicted a humiliating defeat upon the Earl of Crawford in the Battle of Roaeris, thereby expelling them totally from the Merlite Provinces.
 * During the remainder of 1655, Laurasian forces made progress on both theaters; by November, Emperor Valerian had conquered Billy Gasis, Kia, Pelaski, Meneia, Adrianne, Natalie, Tiona, and the Tof Borderlands, thereby penetrating into the Galactic Borderlands. In September 1655, Frasier surrendered to Emperor Gaillenus without a fight; Gaillenus also maintained contacts with the Earl of Douglas and with Jamsius's other noble rivals in the Homeland Territories. On October 4, 1655, Sasha VI, Frederickshamm, and Bristain were all stormed by Gallienus; by the middle of October 1655, the Beroyeze Asteroids, Perth, Rasdalla Minor, Kathy Minor, Aland, and Littleton had all been overrun. Hidmenia Sauria, Kania, and the Riverite Asteroid Belt all suffered from Laurasian expeditions (November 1655), and on December 9, the fall of Janeway dealt an especial humiliation to the Scottrians. By the end of 1655, Barching, Partsia, and Patricia were all under threat.

1656

 * 1656 witnessed a temporary end to the Third Scottrian War, but also a renewal of Marasharite strength, and of reverses in the Xilanian Provinces. In January 1656, co-Emperor Gallienus advanced upon Patricia, determined to subdue that stronghold, and to proceed from there against Genoa, Kaluna, and Summers, which comprised the old Homi Worlds. The Siege of Patricia began on January 14, 1656; the Earl of Ross, who commanded the world's defenses, proved to be utterly incompetent, and the world fell just six days later. Kaluna followed (January 22, 1656), followed by Genoa, Summers, and Australis (February 1656). Laurasian forces now blockaded the Riverite Asteroid Belt; Barching was completely isolated from its supply lines. In March 1656, the Earl of Arran, acting on the orders of King Jamsius, organized a counteroffensive against Vyborg, Ladoga, Onieda, Vilmanstrand, Fraiser, McKellen, and Crusher which ended in failure (at the Battles of Sockoth and Marlton). Aspo and Spurria then fell into Laurasian hands; Barching finally surrendered on April 7, 1656. King Jamsius, who was now facing rebellion in the Dumbarton Governorate, decided to negotiate for peace. On April 27, 1656, the Truce of Mar temporarily suspended hostilities; negotiations then commenced at Kalbacha Major, and continued for over a month. Then on June 4, 1656, the Treaty of Kalbacha Major was signed, thereby ending the Third Scottrian War. Parts of the Berwick Barrier, encompassing the Upper Perth Region, were conceded to the Laurasian Empire; economic and commercial privileges for Laurasian merchants and corporations were guaranteed; and the Scottrian Government agreed to compensate all of the Empire's subjects who suffered from Scottrian raiding expeditions. The Treaty of Kalbacha Major was ratified by both King Jamsius II and by Emperor Valerian before the end of June 1656.
 * As regards to the Marasharite Empire, the early months of 1656 had seen the continuation of Laurasian successes. The Satellites of Ursula, Xilania Minoria, Xilania Secondary, Jin Major, and Jin Minor were recovered by Emperor Valerian (by March 1656), while Ayensdord, site of the victory of Amelianian Kings Hengist and Horta six centuries earlier over the Torfians, was stormed (April 1, 1656). Kilojong, Pyongyang, Seoul, and Karlong were then seized (April 1656), and by the end of May, Laurasian units were pressing towards Khotyn, Chardis, Stary, and Crimea. It was at this point that Emperor Shapur made his counteroffensive. The newly-appointed Marasharite Pasha of the Muggal Cluster, Giluat-Vehray, organized his forces at Dilojong, Riababia Mogila, the Station of Ung, Ung, Kumong, and Imegina, determined not to give any more space for maneuver to the Laurasian foe. In May 1656, he launched a massive counteroffensive, penetrating from the Muggal Cluster across into the Xilanian Provinces. Calrissian and Vorta were both secured; by the end of that month, Haynsian expeditions were once more reaching out to the Lacian Cluster. Jin Minor, Xilania Minoria, Greyson, Tblisi, Sierra, Felix, and Glasia all became subject to Marasharite assaults, and on May 29, 1656, Scanlan and Coronadia were both stormed by Marasharite units. Marasharite attention, in June and July 1656, then shifted to Duros-Europos, which had been fortified as a major Laurasian military base and strategic point in the Upper Xilanian Provinces from the 1610s, and now posed an obstacle to further Marasharite advances downwards. The ensuing Siege of Duros-Europos began on June 18, 1656, and continued for more than a month. The world's final fall to the Marasharite Empire, after a disastrous battle which cost the lives of more than 275,000 Laurasian military personnel, allowed for more offensives to be made. By September 1656, Laurasian units had been driven from Styris V, Illumis, Ba'dai, Meneia, and Billy Gasis; Kia and Pelaski were both under siege; and the Western Redoubt was being blockaded by Marasharite squadrons. A daring Haynsian raid against Malaria Prime, Almastead, Welch, Takrania, Acabania, and the Narvet Trade Corridor followed (October-November 1656), penetrating through Laurasian lines and leading to the seizure of more than 20 million civilian captives. A Laurasian counter-move at Ayeoung (December 3, 1656), failed. Sommers, Eaidon, Zoe, Skyler, Nisibis, and Carrhae all fell during that month. Emperor Valerian therefore found himself, and his forces, in a fix at the end of 1656.

1657

 * The year 1657 commenced with the Laurasian Empire's military forces, under the command of senior Emperor Valerian, having suffered a series of reverses at the hands of its Marasharite foes. Pelaski and Kia, as mentioned above, were both under siege by Marasharite forces at the beginning of 1657. The first of these strongholds, Pelaski, capitulated on January 12, 1657; Marasharite General Karim-Pasha captured and executed more than 25,000 troops of the 9th Imperial Battalion, 4th Imperial Regiment, 60th Imperial Army; ransacked the Laurasian operational headquarters on the planetary surface; and impounded a number of Laurasian starships, military equipment, and armor. Kia surrendered on January 24, 1657, thereby completing the effective expulsion of Laurasian military forces from the Billian and Donnian regions. Vesporia Major and Al-Durah were reconquered by Marasharite forces (February 1657), and on February 21, Emperor Valerian's effort to storm Marasharite positions at Eaidon and Zoe ended in failure in the Battle of Ipkshilion. During the course of March and April 1657, Marasharite forces penetrated into the Angelican Provinces, effectively subduing Eric, Giron, Titus Majoria, and the Upper Immortalized Cluster. The Laurasian colonies of Taylor, Emerson, Cooper, and Guthmiller were then overrun by Marasharite troops (May 1-7, 1657), and on May 14, the Pasha Giulat-Vehray destroyed the Earl of Jadia's main offensive force, the 48th Imperial Fleet, in the Battle of Upper Saigon. Haynsian expeditions were now penetrating into the Morganian and Hypasian Provinces. Saigon, Bach Dang, Ho Chi Minh, Masan, Valeris V, Sogan, Mordan, Kanjur, and Kelvania were all harried by Haynsian fleets between February and July 1657; by the end of July 1657, Huerta Mongol, Song Dhu, Trasha Dakai, and Moria had all been occupied by Marasharite units. Londarania was constantly harried by Marasharite fleets, and Haynsian convoys penetrated as far as Shannon, Dennis, and Rastaborn.
 * Emperor Valerian, however, now instigated a bold move against Nisibis, determined to drive a pincer through the Marasharite supply lines, and thereby to force Pasha Giulat-Vehray to turn his attention to shoring up his position in the Tof Borderlands. This would relieve the pressure upon the Empire's position in other regions. On August 7, 1657, Ansarthea and Bereoa, two Marasharite fortresses along the Dali Trade Run, were stormed by Emperor Valerian. Five days later, he drove Marasharite units from Bingley, Chapman, and Kaming, thereby securing his position in the approaches of the Satian Provinces. Combining his forces together at Nandia, Calrissian, Vorta, Belaprasian, Esperanto Major, Lawson, Dawson, and Alyssa, among other strongholds in the Farther Homidinian and Xilanian Provinces, Valerian bypassed Haynsian fleets at Xilania Major and Xilania Secondary, and at the end of August 1657, appeared at the outskirts of Nisibis. The ensuing Battle of Nisibis, which lasted until September 5, 1657, ended in a decisive victory for the Laurasian Emperor. By the end of September 1657, Kia, Billy Gasis, and Pelaski were once again in Laurasian possession; Sly James was constantly harried by the Empire's military forces, and the Haynsians had been forced to terminate their raiding expeditions in the Kelvanian Provinces. In October 1657, Londarania was secured against future Marasharite assaults; Thang Gosong was then stormed, and from there, Marasharite units were driven from Huerta Mongol, Song Dhu, and Trasha Dakai. On November 7, 1657, after being forced to abandon Shannon in the face of relentless Laurasian counter-assaults, Giulat-Vehray was defeated in the Battle of Kinjur. Tolombina and Kabul were overrun by Laurasian troops, thereby giving them a renewed position of entrenchment in the Tof Borderlands. A Haynsian raiding expedition against Kelvania and Merlin was repelled in the Battle of Cole (November 14, 1657); the reconquest of Guntmiller, Emerson, and Cooper then followed. By December 1657, Ba'dai and Styris V were both once again in Laurasian possession. Throughout this year, as Valerian made his renewed gains, his son Emperor Gaillenus continued to focus his efforts on strengthening the defenses of the Merlite Provinces, and of taking action against any stirrings of dissent, as he could. Rebellion, however, would break out once more against the Imperial Laurasian Government's authority.
 * On January 28, 1657, the future Neuchrus I "the Reformer", founder of the Neuchrian Dynasty and reformer of the Laurasian Empire, the one who terminated the Crisis of the Seventeenth Century, was born at the Gilbertine Estate in Gilbertine City, Tudoria. Tudoria was a Laurasian colony-world located in the outskirts of the Venasian Cluster, and had been first colonized in 1512, during the reign of Emperor Antigonus I the Conqueror. In the ensuing century and a half, Tudoria's population and wealth had both experienced substantial increases. By the time of Neuchrus's birth there, it had a population of more than one hundred million inhabitants; a network of cities, including Gilbertine, Pembroke, and Carmathon; and a prosperous economy, with emphasis upon agriculture, mining, tourism, luxury goods, electronics, industrial materials, and industrial equipment. Neuchrus was the son of Lady Margarina Beaufatia, Countess of Tudoria. She was the very young widow (at only thirteen years old), of Athanasius Craterles, Earl of Tudoria (1631-56). The Earl of Tudoria had died on November 3, 1656, at the age of only twenty-five, following injuries he sustained while fighting with Marasharite and Haynsian troops at Suri, in the Malarian Provinces. He had entered the Imperial Laurasian Army in 1649 and had, through distinction in military combat and loyalty to his superiors, risen to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. His wife, Lady Beaufatia, was related to the Emperor Lucius Verus, co-ruler of Antigonus II. Her grandfather, Demetrius Beaufatia, Earl of Sommerlia, was the son of Grand Princess Ceionia Fabia (1534-79), the younger sister of Emperor Verus, and her husband, Lord Plautius Quintilus of Beaufatia (1521-75), a prominent military commander and Governing Senator during the early years of Antigonus II's reign. This therefore gave her new-born son Neuchrus a claim to the throne; furthermore, his paternal grandfather, Sir Aelius Craterles (1600-1661), had been a page of the Imperial Court during the reigns of Emperors Caracalla, Marcinus, Elagabalus, and Alexander Severus. Neuchrus and his mother would be entrusted to the guardianship of his uncle, Sir Acillius Craterles, Earl of Mariana Prime, during his childhood and teenage years; he therefore began his life in the least prominent of circumstances.

1658

 * The years 1658-1660 saw a rapid turnover in the Laurasian Empire's fortunes; in particular, in the fortunes of Emperor Valerian and his son (and co-ruler), Gaillenus. The focus throughout most of 1658 was on the continued procession of military offensives with the Marasharite Empire, which were progressively draining the vitality of Laurasian military forces, strangling the galactic economy, and harrying the livelihoods and prosperity of those in the Northern Provinces. In January 1658, Pimjang was conquered by Marasharite forces under Admiral Al-Geshik of Aegyptiania; with the assistance of specialized Haynsian scoutships, and of infantry units from Tripoli, Algiers, and the Grecian Provinces, he then proceeded to storm the Laurasian garrisons of Temperalla, Nexania, and Petrash, thereby breaching a major line in Laurasian supply lines extending from Norah across to Roxuli and Abraham. Drake and Rutherford were then seized by a surprise Haynsian offensive, and on February 21, 1658, Mocktrialis fell victim to a Haynsian raid. Perry and Wakino now found themselves under constant threat, and in March 1658, Emperor Valerian's attempt to reverse this most recent move was defeated in the Battle of Lemmon. The strongholds of the Kledis Var Trunk Line were then subjected to an extensive harassing campaign by Marasharite and Haynsian units (March-May 1658), by which point Ba'dai and Styris V had once again fallen into Marasharite hands. Laurasian expeditions against Chardis, Crimea, Brasseca, Braila, and the Lower Dniper Highway, to as far as Kuban and Voronezh, failed to reverse the momentum of the Marasharite moves. Joseph and McDowell were stormed by Haynsian units (June 1658), and Emperor Valerian was compelled to strengthen the defenses of Homidinia Minor, Sansford, Hemsley, Calms, and Buranti, in order to prevent possible enemy moves against those systems. Homidinian Wyatt was then secured, and on July 7, 1658, the Battle of Kara ended in a victory for Emperor Valerian. The Emperor then progressively subdued Tiona and the Northern Galactic Frontier Route, including the strongholds of DeSimms, Chappelear, Chromy, and Hinz, completing that subjugation at the end of July 1658. Joseph was then recovered (August 1658), although Elijahana, Ryan, and Gwendolyn suffered from further Haynsian raids.
 * In September 1658, Emperor Valerian again pushed his military forces into the Tof Borderlands, seeking to break to Karlong, Kumong, Seoul, and Kilojong. Although he managed to penetrate the defenses of the Verabona Nebula (October 1658), and to approach the outskirts of Verdorium Minor, a renewed push by Admiral Al-Geshik, this time directed against Brlla, Dion, and Yutsy, forced him to halt his move. By November 1658, a stalemate had ensued in the Farther Homidinian Provinces, which continued over into 1659. At the same time, his son, Emperor Gaillenus, faced two challenges, one after the other. By June 1658, tensions had increased to a fever pitch in the Carian Provinces. The Governor of Carina, Sir Regalianus Mitarus (1584-1658), decided to take advantage of long-simmering anti-government tensions there to elevate his own position. On July 27, 1658, Governor Mitarus was formally proclaimed Emperor by the garrisons of Carina and Seejay Prime. Announcing that he could no longer countenance the oppressiveness of "Their Majesties, who hold their thrones through deceit and not by right", he quickly advanced his own position. He issued numerous manifestos, promising to relax taxes and grant self-government privileges to any who joined his cause.
 * By the beginning of September 1658, the garrisons of Sipp, Olivia, Mommica, Yularen, Daala, Natasi, and Maxck-casi had all defected to the rebel; Goldaria found itself under serious threat; and "Emperor" Regalianus launched routine raiding expeditions against Goss Beacon, Williams, Melarnaria, and the Lower Clancian Highway, to as far as Dramis and Condtella. Emperor Gaillenus, tied up by an anti-taxation revolt in the Roastafarian Provinces, and by the activities of Hookiee pirate bands in the vicinity of Vickis, Choir, Uris, and the Walterian Colonies, ordered the Governor of Melarnaria, the Earl of Reoyania, to launch an immediate counteroffensive against the rebels in the southern Central Core. Reoyania did as ordered, and in October 1658, recovered both Daala and Natasi. On October 27, 1658, he defeated Regalianus in the Battle of Chanay, before driving them from Rusania, Dernik, and Merkelis. On November 13, 1658, Governor Reoyania then launched a vigorous move against Seejay Prime, breaching through the defenses of Mommica and Hypases. The ensuing Siege of Seejay Prime ended in victory for government forces (December 1, 1658), and four days later, Carina itself capitulated. On December 19, 1658, "Emperor" Regalianus committed suicide at Simircum, just six months after instigating his rebellion. By the end of December 1658, the whole of the Carinan and Goldarian Provinces had returned to their allegiance to the Imperial Laurasian Government.

1659

 * In January 1659, Emperor Gaillenus moved to Masada, and from there intended on conducting a progress into the Central Core, so as to maintain the loyalty of the Galician Provinces and crush any future tendencies to rebellion. At this point, however, he was again forced to divert his attention to the Garaman Provinces. King Jamsius II of Scottria had been biding his time, and he was now determined to seize Roxburgh from the Laurasian Empire; he also hoped to expel them from the Garaman Provinces, and to seize parts of the Merlite Provinces. In January and February 1659, a series of border incidents at Ladoga, Onieda, Ranieda Minor, Zebetha, Aretha, Merilash, and the Merlite Borderlands indicated the Scottrian intentions; war was formally declared (March 7, 1659), and within days, Scottrian forces made substantial advances. By the middle of April 1659, Ladoga, Onieda, Ranieda Minor, and Zebetha had all been stormed by Scottrian troops; Merilash, Ryan Barlak, Evan, Racqueline, and Aretha were all threatened by Scottrian expeditions; and Garama itself had been blockaded by a Scottrian naval force. Spurra fell on May 5, 1659, and was followed by Cydamus two days later.
 * Emperor Gallienus, who had now organized his forces at Ruumlist, Leslie, Trebek, Ashlgothia Major, Ashlgothia Minor, Courtney, Kane, Tahon, Bryce, Baiteman, Nicole, Redia, and Zabi for a vigorous counteroffensive, now launched it (June 1659). On June 11, he repelled a Scottrian move against Gemallae in the Battle of Trion, and then relieved the blockade of Garama. Laurasian troops now seized the Vilmanstrand Approaches, Perth, and the chief strongholds of the Berwick Barrier (June 18-July 7, 1659), and by the end of July 1659, had terminated the Scottrian threat to the Merlite Provinces. In August 1659, both Ladoga and Onieda were recovered, and on August 18, the Battle of McKellen ended in a decisive victory for Emperor Gaillenus. Following this, he advanced upon Scottrian fortifications at Mediolanum. The Battle of Mediolanum (August 29-September 4, 1659), ended in victory for the Laurasians once more, thereby completing the expulsion of Scottrian units from Zebetha, Cydamus, and Spurra. In October 1659, Crusher, Wheaton, and McFadden all fell into Laurasian possession, although an offensive against Vilmanstrand and Frederickshamm ended in failure. On November 7, 1659, the Earl of Angus was defeated by Emperor Gaillenus in the Battle of Habi; he now stormed Pescrea, Milanium, and the Agri Decumates, thereby entrenching himself firmly in the Berwick Barrier. Laurasian expeditions were penetrating to Barching, Bristain, and the El Paso Colonies by the end of 1659.

1660

 * As mentioned above, 1659 witnessed a major stalemate in the theater of conflict between Laurasia and Marasharita (with its Haynsian vassals), in the Northern Outer Borderlands and in the Galactic Borderlands. Yet by the beginning of the new decade, that situation had changed. In January 1660, Emperor Shapur, whose efforts had been focused on military campaigns against Kuwait, Qatar, and the Arabian Potenates, and worried about the threat posed in the Grecian Provinces by the Haxonian hold of Crete, nevertheless decided to turn his attention to relieving his Empire of the "burden" in the Caladarian Galaxy. The Emperor of the Marasharites now deemed it expedient for him to make his presence in the military campaigns, and to take command of his own forces. That month, entrusting the care of the state's affairs to the Grand Council and to Grand Vizier Koprulu Mehmed Pasha, founder of the Koprulu political dynasty, and a successful military campaigner in his own right, Shapur departed. He had gained renown for his victories against the Haxonian Confederacy, the Anatolian Rebel Confederacies, and the Principality of Transylvania. On February 7, 1660, he arrived at Marson, and thereby took command of his Empire's military forces against those of the Laurasians. Shapur immediately pursued a series of vigorous military assaults. Securing Ba'dai and Styris V, he then ejected Laurasian units from Kia, Pelaski, and Billy Gasis (March 1660). That same month, Marasharite Admiral Al-Geshik reconquered Natalie, Tiona, and Belaprasian, thereby going some way to reverse the Laurasian gains along the Galactic Frontier Route.
 * The following month (April 1660), Emperor Valerian, receiving substantial reinforcements from the Solidaritan Provinces, the Laurasia Prime Purse Region, and the Briannian Provinces, decided to move directly at Carrhae, to dislodge the Marasharites from that star system and to have confrontation with their ruler. After a series of confrontations with Marasharite troops at Juxle, Andress, Penn, and Garrett, he reached the outskirts of Carrhae on April 17, 1660. Emperor Shapur, however, once again anticipated him, and linking up with Admiral Al-Geshik and with units sent by his vassal, Haynsian Despot Mehraid IV Giray, launched a surprise offensive against Laurasian positions in that star system (April 19-21, 1660). The ensuing Battle of Carrhae, as it was called, resulted in a decisive victory for the Marasharite Empire, the most decisive for it during the course of the seventeenth century. For Laurasia, it was an absolute disaster. More than 300,000 military personnel of the Imperial Laurasian Navy died during the confrontation; furthermore, Emperor Valerian became the first Laurasian monarch in over eight centuries, since Gordian III the Unfortunate (832-40), to be captured by a foreign enemy. This was to have a major effect upon the Empire's internal situation in the 1660s and 1670s, casting it into the worst part of the Crisis of the Seventeenth Century. Shapur, pleased to have such an enemy in his hands, gloated over the situation; he now forced Valerian to pay him homage, used him as a living foot-stool, and issued manifestos across the Galactic Holonet, hailing his accomplishment. This occurred just under a century before the accession of Aurelia the Great to the Laurasian throne, and a thousand years after the fall of the Lacian Despotate. Valerian, however, did not have long to remain in the custody of the Marasharite foe. On May 9, 1660, the senior Emperor of Laurasia committed suicide in his cell onboard the Marasharite Emperor's flagship, the Ikralth, in the Pargurs, a stellar wasteland located ten light years north of Carrhae. Shapur, angered that he had been cheated of his chief "spoil" or prisoner of war, nevertheless decided to give orders for the Emperor's body to be encased in a coffin, and to be treated with honors.
 * Yet in the aftermath of this disaster, the Marasharites, for several months, made major gains in the Northern Territories. By the end of May 1660, the whole of the Satian Provinces was in their possession; they had ejected all Laurasian units and expeditions from the Galactic Frontier Route, Tof Borderlands, and Muggal Cluster; and they were sending expeditions, by the Haynsians, to as far as the Corporate Trade Corridor. The Kingdom of Karakorum, which had signed a economic alliance and treaty of amity with the Marasharites in 1656, was encouraged by them to launch raiding expeditions against Theodore, Andrea Doria, Garner, Scanlan, and the worlds of the Corporate Sector, thereby further weakening the Laurasian strategic position in that region. Emperor Gaillenus, on his part, grappled with other challenges. By the time of his father's death (May 1660), Gaillenus's forces were besieging Rasdalla Minor, Kathy Minor, and Goriance; Bane, Cognus, Gwynne, Sabinia, and Sherry had all been threatened by Laurasian expeditions. Gaillenus found that he had to maintain the military campaigns against the Scottrians, while turning back the Marasharite tide. Now sole ruler of the Laurasian Empire, he knew that it was up to him to fend off the various challenges now converging upon his state.
 * In June 1660, the Governor of the Ashlgothian Borderland Territories, the Lord Ingenallus of Roastafaria Minor, erupted in revolt against the authority of the Emperor. Assuming the imperial title himself, Ingenallus quickly seized control of Alison, Brooke One, Thelma, Jennings, Tea, Matthew, West, and Mirohassani, thereby threatening to also take control of the Melorkian Provinces. Emperor Gaillenus, who entrusted his forces in the Galactic Borderlands to the command of the Duke of Christiania, raced across to suppress this rebellion. On July 7, 1660, the Emperor met the usurper at Mursa, which was located two hundred light years to the north of Emma. The ensuing Battle of Mursa was decided in the Emperor's favor by the actions of his chief military subordinate, Lieutenant-General Sir Auroleus Kelacius; as a result of this battle, Mursa was secured by government forces, and Igenallus handed a decisive defeat. Thelma, Jennings, and West were all reconquered (July 1660); Mirohassani followed on August 5.
 * That victory came two days after another triumph. On August 3, 1660, King Jamsius II of Scottria, who had conducted a tour of his troops at Rasdalla Major, Dehner, Onasi, and Waxefield, and who was contemplating the possibility of a renewed thrust against Roxburgh (and also of a potential alliance with the Marasharites), was killed when a turbocannon exploded upon his company. As a result of Jamsius's untimely death, his nine-year old son acceded to the Scottrian throne, becoming King Jamsius III of Scottria. Because Jamsius was too young to rule as King in his own right, his mother, the Durthian Princess Mary of Guelders, was formally designated as Regent, by virtue of her late husband's will and on the initiative of the Scottrian Estates (August 20, 1660). The fall of Bristain, Littleton, and Marlton to Laurasian units during that month, and the failure of the siege of Roxburgh, finally convinced the Scottrian Government to bring hostilities to an end. In September 1660, on the instructions of the Queen-Regent, the Earl of Angus sent an offer for a military armistice to the Imperial Chancellory on Laurasia Prime, promising to return to the status quo ante bellum in territorial matters, in exchange for the withdrawal of all Laurasian military forces from the Scottrian Galactic Borderlands. Emperor Gaillenus, who was reconquering Tea, Alison, and Brooke One, and also wished to focus upon the Marasharite rampages in the Northern Outer Borderlands, decided to accept the Scottrian armistice offer. On September 29, 1660, the Truce of Kathy Minor was signed. Delegations from the two governments convened at Onasi the following month: the Duke of Christiania and the Earl of Aretha were the chief plenipotentiaries for the Imperial Laurasian Government, while the Earl of Angus and Jamsius Kennedy, Archclanniarch of St. Andrews, headed the Scottrian delegation. The Treaty of Onasi (October 12, 1660), resulted in the termination of the Third Scottrian War on the basis of the status quo ante bellum. All Laurasian military forces were to be withdrawn from Scottrian territory by September 1, 1661, but neither government would be obliged to compensate the other for any military expenses or other financial damages.
 * With peace now restored with the Celestial Kingdom of Scottria (and with the Laurasian withdrawal from the Central Galactic Borderlands proceeding in quick order), Emperor Gaillenus was able to focus all of his attention on the complete, and final suppression of the Ignellan Rebellion. Roastafaria Minor, his last significant stronghold, and long a hotbed of dissent against the imperial authorities, capitulated without a fight (October 24, 1660). On November 2, Governor Igenallus, who had been formally dismissed from his position and excommunicated by the Holy Synod, attempted to flee towards the Wild Marshes, but was intercepted near Ginger by a government task force. General Kalacius (who would be raised to the peerage as Baron Kalacius of Myrth), was responsible for the ultimate capture of the rebel usurper. On the orders of Emperor Gaillenus, Igenallus was brought back to the Central Fortress of Ashlgothia Minor; tried and convicted, in absentia by the Governing Senate, and then executed (November 16, 1660), thereby bringing his revolt to a complete halt. With the Ashlgothian Borderland Territories once again securely in the Emperor's hands, attention shifted to the conflict with the Marasharites. By December 1660, Haynsian raiding expeditions were penetrating as far as the Nexus Route and Venasian Triangle regions; reports routinely reached the Imperial General Headquarters of Haynsian convoys appearing at Bolgrahay, Hannis, Permi, Elijahana, Dion, and Vindictoria, among other strongholds. Emperor Gaillenus, during the last month of 1660, was able to secure the defenses of Bolgrahay and to repel an attempted Marasharite move against Big Twinny, Berhamia, and Sair.

1661

 * The year 1661 was dominated by the reversal of the Marasharite Empire's march of progress in the Caladarian Galaxy. In January 1661, the Emperor established his command headquarters on Sassanay, and now shifted the military commands for the counter-offensives against the Marasharites, Haynsians, and the Kingdom of Karakorum. The Praetorian Prefect of Laurasia Prime, Sir Calistus Balista, who had been entrusted by Valerian with maintaining the defenses of the Empire's capital world during his absence, was named as the chief offensive commander of the campaign. Lieutenant-General Lord Fulvius Macrianus, 3rd Lord Macrianus of Shannon, assumed command as Balista's second in command, while the Governor of the Laurasian Abriannian and Nandi Colonies, Lucius Odenathus, Duke of Calrissian, was promoted to the rank of Fleet-Admiral and given command of the 44th, 49th, and 51st Imperial Fleets for the operations against the Marasharites. A good turn of luck now occurred for the Laurasian military forces. At the beginning of February 1661, word came from the Great Amulak Spiral, to Emperor Shapur's headquarters on Imegina, that the Kraplai family of Galatia and Cilicia, in the Anatolian Provinces, had arisen in revolt against the taxation drives of the Marasharite Imperial Treasury; furthermore, the Haxonian Confederacy was conducting a punitive campaign against the Barbary States of Tripoli, Algiers, and Tunis, in conjunction with the Knights of Malta and the Kingdom of Greater Spamalka. Emperor Shapur, who also found that troubles were intensifying in his own personal household, was forced to withdraw from direct involvement in the military campaigns. He now entrusted direct command to Subordinate Vizier Kevrakh-Bey, who would prove to be an incompetent military commander, one who was not able to stem the Laurasian advances. And indeed, those advances proved to be swift.
 * On February 12, 1661, Prefect Ballista and General Macrianus, who had been engaged in assembling their forces at Celia, Peters, Brent, Ryan, Gwendolyn, Homdinia Major, Calms, Buranti, Gibbs-to-Lester, Mackenzia Minor, and other strongholds in the Lower Burglais Arm, launched the decisive move to clear Haynsian expeditions from the Farther Homidinian Provinces. Brlla was secured (February 18-29, 1661), followed by Yutzy, Dion, and Homidinia Minor (by the middle of March 1661). General Macrianus, in particular, gained distinction for his victories over overstretched Haynsian units at Heresorfian and Merley Station. On March 27, 1661, Kara was recovered by the Laurasian Empire; Haynsian and Marasharite forces were then expelled from Scanlan and Coronadia (April 1661), and on May 2, 1661, the Battle of Homidinian Wyatt resulted in another decisive victory for the Laurasian military commanders. By the end of May 1661, the Kledis Var Trunk Line had been cleared of enemy forces, while Abitia, Perry, Mir, Wakino, Drake, and Rutherford were all back in government hands.
 * In June 1661, Emperor Gaillenus and Governor Odenathus of Calrissian cooperated in a series of pincer strikes against Marasharite units in the Satian Provinces, in the Northern Territories, and at the Larkian Way. Zoe, Skyler, and Ipshilion were all secured, while on June 14, a Marasharite counteroffensive at Nisbis was defeated in the Battle of Dura. On June 18, Dura-Europos was stormed by a Laurasian force, thereby hampering further Marasharite raiding expeditions towards the Istantius Capital Region. Roxuli and Abraham were both then secured by government units, and on June 28, 1661, the Battle of Huerta Mongol resulted in a decisive victory for Emperor Gaillenus. As a result of this victory, all Marasharite raiding expeditions into the Hypasian Provinces were terminated. During the course of July and August 1661, as Greyson, Mocktrialis, Dromund, and Kacee were reconquered by Prefect Balista, the Emperor's forces, along with those of Odenathus of Calrissian, pushed forth, expelling the Marasharites from Bingley, Orkhan, Juxles, Xilania Minoria, and Xilania Secondary. On August 21, 1661, the Second Battle of Carrhae, which occurred a year and half after the first, ended with a Laurasian victory. Nisbis was then firmly secured by a Laurasian taskforce (August 25, 1661), and by the beginning of September, Chapman and Simmons were both under siege by the Emperor's forces. Although a Laurasian move against McDowell failed (September 7, 1661), Emperor Gaillenus was nevertheless able to blunt Karakorian raids at Sierra, Felix, and Glassia-on-the-Corridor, thereby containing the threat from that state. Chapman, however, did not fall until September 26; Simmons followed two days later. By that time, all Marasharite and Haynsian forces in the Lacian Cluster, including those at Shaelynn, Sonny, Chalassion, Halassion, and Alyssa, had been expelled. Mocktrialis and Capone were recovered (October 4, 1661), and offensives by Haynsian units against Calrissian, Nandia, and Vorta ended in failure. On October 11, Governor Odenathus launched a decisive move to the Galactic Frontier Route, thereby storming Chappelear, Natalie, Tiona, and Adrianne, and securing the Laurasian position in the Borderlands Territories. Ursula, Jin Major, Morg, and King were recovered that month, and on November 3, 1661, Marasharite Vizier Kevrakh-Bey was forced to abandon Xilania Major. DeSimms, Chromy, and Hinz fell on November 14, and this was compounded by the seizure of Nexania and Petrash (November 22, 1661). Lynne and Multan were then secured, and on December 14, 1661, Governor Odenathus and Prefect Balista imposed a blockade of Norah itself.

1662

 * As 1662 commenced, the Laurasian Empire had gained the upper hand in its struggle with the Marasharites. Norah, which was blockaded from December 14, fell on January 7, 1662, thereby virtually completing the Laurasian reconquest of the Satian Provinces. Belaprasian and Abrianne fell on January 10, thereby bringing the Empire's forces back up to the Galactic Frontier Route. Emperor Gaillenus, however, was forced to return to Laurasia Prime, due to the outbreak of the Quadrant Rebellion in the Cellini Middle East and the activities of pirate and Dejanican bands in the Malarian Provinces (February 1662). It was with this turn of events that the revolt against his authority took place. General-Lord Macrianus was now confident in his own abilities. He had indeed gained much popularity with his own subordinates and supporters, and assumed the false confidence that he alone could determine the thrust of the Empire's future successes. On March 3, 1662, Macrianus held a secret conference with Prefect Ballista (himself disenchanted with the Emperor), seeking to thereby connive with him in order to assume direction of their own realm, and to turn their resources against the "false Emperor Gaillenus". Governor Odenathus was kept ignorant of these proceedings.
 * On March 27, 1662, just as Ba'dai and Styris V were again being threatened by Laurasian expeditions, Macrianus issued a proclamation from his command headquarters on Xilania Major, announcing that he could no longer recognize the authority of Emperor Gaillenus. At that point, Macrianus was acclaimed Emperor by his own troops and subordinates, and now claimed jurisdiction over the Empire's territories extending from the Galactic Frontier Route to the Lacian Cluster. Prefect Balista supported him in his claims, and expected to be rewarded for this support. In April 1662, Macrianus proclaimed his sons, the Lords Titus Quietus and Fulvius Iunius as his co-Emperors, thereby intending to buttress his own position and to consolidate his familial hold of the "throne".
 * Governor Odenathus, who had refused to renounce his allegiance to Gaillenus, nevertheless decided to bide his time. "Emperor" Macrianus, on his part, confident of his own position, now decided to launch his move against Gaillenus. On May 4, 1662, he advanced from Eaidon, Zoe, Juxles, Orkhan, Bingley, and Sommers against the Northern Territories; his son, co-Emperor Iunius, served as his chief military subordinate. Father and son at first faced no opposition, and gained a string of successes. Roxuli and Abraham were both conquered (May 14), followed by Skyler (May 22, 1662). Ablincoln was then blockaded (May 28, 1662), while Laronn, Quanna, and Sheryl were threatened in their turn by rebel expeditions. Emperor Gaillenus, still grappling with troubles in the Purse Region, and with the Eastern Barsar Regions growing increasingly restless against his authority, now decided to dispatch his successful commander, Lieutenant-General Aureolus, against the rebel trio. The General, establishing his command headquarters on Frederickslandia, now halted a further raiding expedition against Laronn (June 8, 1662), and on June 14, destroyed a force dispatched by co-Emperor Iunius in the Battle of Wendy. From there, he relieved Ablincoln (June 17, 1662), and on June 24, stormed the rebel strongholds of the Western Fortress, Roxuli, Apashalion, Sophie, and Irra, thereby terminating the threat to the historic Istantius Capital Region.
 * On July 4, 1662, the Battle of Finch resulted in another, yet more decisive victory for General Aureolus. As a result of this, both Macrianus and his son Iunius were captured. Bound in chains, they were presented before the victorious Laurasian General shortly afterwards. Father and son now attempted to beg for mercy, but Aureolus ignored this. On July 12, after the Emperor had imposed a imperial writ of attainder against them both, Macrianus and Iunius were executed. By the end of July 1662, the Northern Territories were once again back in the hands of the Imperial Laurasian Government. Yet more trouble had now arisen. As mentioned previously, the Eastern Barsar Regions were simmering in dissent against the Emperor Gaillenus's regime. Breha, Chobania, Samantha, Messalina, Offshora, and Reading were in particular, hotbeds of dissent against the Emperor's administrative, religious, and taxation policies. It was now the Earl of Messalina, the Governor of the Lower Barsian Diocese, and Field-Marshal Postumus Gallicus who took advantage of these tensions to elevate himself. On April 19, 1662, he was proclaimed Emperor by the garrisons and authorities of Samantha, Goni, and the Samanthan Colonies, thereby becoming Emperor of what would become known as the Laurasian Empire of Samantha. Over the course of the succeeding months, Gaillenus successively advanced the bounds of his authority. Chobania, Messalina, and Reading recognized him as Emperor in May 1662; Breha, Drea, Duana, Abshire, Strongstine, and the Hutsite Reaches followed in June; and by July, the strongholds of the Orion Cluster, Rolle, Bookman, Gilestis, Christopher, Narra, Nanking, Filmore, Millard, Constipex, Henderson, Cox, Banks, Gardiner, and Kimanis Mooria had all recognized Postumus's authority.
 * On August 2, 1662, Postumus, seeking to consolidate his authority, ordered his forces to blockade Beverly Hereidu, whose defenses were commanded by the Lord Saloninus of Cal and his superior, Major-General Sir Silvanus Brascius, Praetorian Prefect of the Upper Barsar Regions. Postumus now demanded that Saloninus and Brasicus acknowledge him as Emperor; both refused, and they paid for their defiance. Beverly Hereidu fell (August 22, 1662), and on the usurper's orders, both were executed. By October 1662, Winehouse, Woolestone, Tolbiac, Marsin, Khagia, Dumbgwita, Cal, Morley, Simon, Stahl, and the Armenian Worlds had all submitted to Postumus's authority as Emperor. Postumus now proceeded to strengthen his military and to establish his own governmental structures. On Samantha, he organized his own versions of the Governing Senate and Holy Synod. Furthermore, he assumed the honorary rank of consul, and appointed Sir Honoranius Lervisus as his Chancellor. He strengthened Samanatha's defenses, sponsoring a major expansion of the Samanathan Military Citadel through the last months of 1662. In January 1663, Postumus began issuing his own coinage, assumed the rank of Pontifex Maximus, and organized his own corps of Praetorian Guards. His jurisiction extended further, with Novina, Preena, Harrison, Jarman, and Skold all accepting him as Emperor in December 1662. By February 1663, Riley and Plath had also been compelled to accept his authority, thereby effectively extending his rule over the Jarjanican Provinces. Postumus proved resoundingly successful in bringing tranquility to the Eastern Barsar Regions. The coinage he issued was of better quality, and higher value, than that issued by Gaillenus; he maintained an effective judicial system; and he ordered for periodic codifications of the laws that he promulgated. Furthermore, the years 1663 and 1664 would see Postumus instigate a series of successful military campaigns in the Hutsire Reaches and the Galactic Void, repelling Haynsian raids, suppressing a number of pirate organizations, including Czors' Marauders and the Pirates of Harth, and improving commerce in the Wild Marshes.
 * Gaillenus, on his part, had to contend with other issues, which distracted his attention from the situation in the Barsar Regions. In August 1662, he issued a series of instructions to Governor Odenathus, whose period of "biding" was over, and who decided to assert his own position of ascendancy in the Outer Borderlands. Emperor Gaillenus ordered Odenathus to stike against "Emperor" Quietus without delay, and in exchange, offered to make him Praetorian Prefect of the Outer Borderlands, Duke of Nandia and Xilania Major, and Governor-General of the Xilanian, Satian, and Galactic Frontier Provinces, thereby giving him a substantial base of authority and patronage over the Empire's Borderland Territories. Odenathus accepted this offer, and proceeded without delay against Quietus. Defeating Quietus at Jin Minor (September 1, 1662), Odenathus then secured Bingley, Juxles, Morg, and King, thereby driving a wedge into the heart of the rebel territories. In October 1662, he repelled a series of rebel counteroffensives against Nandia, Urta, and the Vorassi Colonies, thereby maintaining his control over his chief strongholds. On November 7, 1662, the Battle of Horeb Prima ended in another decisive victory for Odenathus. It was not until November 18, however, before Xilania Major was captured, and not until December 9, 1662, before the Battle of Emesa resulted in the final defeat and death of "Emperor" Quietus, who committed suicide before he could be captured.

1663

 * In January 1663, Odenathus chased Prefect Balista across the Pargurs, defeating him in confrontations at Jan, Hancock, and Gilmore. Finally (February 9, 1663), Balista was defeated and captured in the Battle of Markoth; an writ of attainder had been imposed against him, and he was executed on Odentathus's command just four days later. This, along with the capture of Sommers from rebel units (February 18, 1663), completed the reassertion of imperial control in those regions. Odenthathus, confirmed in all of his positions and rewards by Emperor Gaillenus earlier that month, was now the chief "agent" of the Imperial Laurasian Government in the northern regions. He now pursued a vigorous offensive into the Tof Borderlands and Muggal Cluster, determined to compel the Marasharites to recognize the Empire's hold of the Eastern Galactic Frontier Route. Pimjang was stormed (February 27, 1663), followed by Seoul, Karlong, Pyongyang, and Verdorium Minor (March 1663). On April 2, 1663, the Battle of Karl resulted in a decisive victory for Prefect Odenathus; by the end of that month, he had stormed Ayensdord, Ba'dai, and the Tof Colonies of the Farther Bend, thereby entrenching the Empire's offensive forces in those regions. Sackrandis then fell victim to a Laurasian offensive (April 8-17, 1663), and a Marasharite counteroffensive against Kaming, Ursula, and King (May 1663), ended in failure. Karlong was then blockaded by a Laurasian force, from May 22, 1663. It's fall (June 18, 1663), thereby imposed a further humilation upon the Marasharites, who were now facing military conflict in Crete, the Lebanonian Worlds, the Arabian States, and in the Danubian Principalities (against Transylvania, Hungarian rebels, and the Holy Austarlian Empire). In July 1663, Kilia and Braila were both stormed by Laurasian forces, and by September, they were directly threatening Ung, Kumong, and Imegina. Although Haynsian expeditions struck into the Morganian and Kelvanian Provinces, harrying the whole length of Laurasian border defenses, Odenathus successfully advanced the Laurasian position forward. In October 1663, he won the Third Battle of Carrhae, recovering many of the standards and armor lost to the Marasharites three years earlier. Ctiesphon fell (November 2, 1663), and even Edessa fell victim to Laurasian assaults. Meneia's fall on November 18, 1663, followed by that of Kia, Pulaski, and Billy Gasis (December 2-15, 1663), finally compelled Marasharite Emperor Shapur to peace.

1664

 * In January 1664, he requested for a truce to end the conflict, through his Grand Council, and ordered for Marasharite and Haynsian military forces to halt all of their operations. Emperor Gaillenus reciprocated, accepting the truce and ordering Odenathus to halt his moves. The Truce of Marson (January 27, 1664), put military hostilities to a halt. It was not until March 5, 1664, however, before the Treaty of Latrice was signed, thereby terminating the Laurasian-Marasharite War of 1653-64, which had dragged on for eleven years. Laurasian rule of Abrianne, Adrianne, Natalie, Tiona, Belaprasian, and the Chapperian Colonies was recognized by the Marasharite Empire, as was Gaillenus's rightful title to the Laurasian throne. The Marasharites thereby promised not to conduct any diplomatic or economic relations with the breakaway Samanthan Empire. All prisoners of war were to be exchanged; the Haynsians were to return all plunder, equipment, and goods seized since January 1, 1662; and all military forces were to be withdrawn back to their respective realms. With the conclusion of the Treaty of Latrice, Prefect Odenathus had enhanced his own position. His chief headquarters was now on Calrissian, and for the remainder of 1664, his attention turned to maintaining the overall stability in the Borderlands Provinces. Yet other concerns now arose for Emperor Gaillenus through the middle years of the 1660s.
 * Following the termination of the Laurasian-Marasharite War of 1653-64 (March 1664), the Emperor Gaillenus sought to focus his attention upon internal reforms and upon addressing the precarious state of the Laurasian Empire's currency and taxation systems. In June 1664, the Emperor streamlined overall property tax rates, decreasing them from a maximum of 15% per annum to less than 5% per annum. This was followed in July 1664 by the reorganization of the Imperial Treasury, and by directions issued to quaestors, aediles, and financial procurators throughout the Empire to crack down on peculation, fraud, tax evasion, and other tax-related crimes. The Governing Senate, which still maintained overall authority over the financial administration of the Imperial Civil Service, was ordered to conduct a general survey of all government debts, obligations, and bonds (August 1664). This report was not complete until February 1665, and it inspired Emperor Gaillenus to order for the establishment of a commission of economists, in order to investigate proposals to reform the Civil Service's disbursement and salaries system. Gaillenus also sought to reform the Praetorian Guards. He had raised their salary four times since assuming sole possession of the throne; in October 1664, the Emperor issued a reconfirmation of their basic privileges of vacation, garrison, and of "flexible" movement, while at the same time ordering a reduction in enrollment numbers, the dismantling of five Praetorian Guards training barracks on Charasia, Americana, Clackimaris, and Falloria Minor, and the implementation of new regulations on uniforms, armor, and overall conduct.

1665

 * In January 1665, Emperor Gaillenus forbade members of the Governing Senate and Holy Synod from holding, or assuming military commissions; by doing this, he sought to break the bonds which had come to exist between the armed forces and the central institutions of the Imperial Laurasian Government, thereby rendering both more dependent on him, and him alone. He also sponsored a reorganization of the military academic system; the Emperor founded forty auxillary sciences, engineering, and merchant marine schools in the years 1664-1666. Gaillenus also sought to improve military mobility, and issued a series of memorandums reorganizing, reducing, or streamlining more than 15,000 regiments of the Imperial Laurasian Army. He promoted the establishment of new barrier defenses in the Beatrice Region and in the Merlite Provinces; shifted military commands in an effort to deprive commanders of definite ties to one region; and expanded opportunities by commoners and middle-class subjects to enter the officer corps. These measures would ultimately pave the way to the far greater innovations, and reforms, promulgated by Emperor Neuchrus.
 * Yet not all was in order for the Emperor of Laurasia. Postumus's rebellion has already been noted. Gaillenus found himself grappling with other outbursts of rebellion, and of civil dissent, throughout the Empire. Hannah, Ruthania, Teth, and Evelyn erupted in a series of anti-taxation revolts against the Imperial Laurasian Government (March 1665); Hoohshikk, Predosur, Whoppi, Goldberg, Shephard, Beharis, Hasselbeck, and Walters were seriously threatened by the activities of the Metalorn Rings, who constantly defied efforts by the imperial garrisons of the Hookiee Provinces to stamp them out; and in June 1665, violent demonstrations occurred on Osama, Tarravania, Little Mexicana, and Darsis, protesting the Emperor's instructions concerning peculation and tax evasion. In August 1665, Emperor Gaillenus had to contend with the outbreak of riots in Christiania, Colombia, Osraninpolis, Heliotrope, Uris, Beneventum, Medelevium, Ostia, and other major cities across Laurasia Prime; these riots lasted for the remainder of the year, and ultimately caused property losses of more than €17 trillion dataries. In November 1665, Zutagia, Zennethia, and Nosauria were gripped by the Brimian Revolt, as the Nosaurian rebel Al-Gacki attempted to reestablish the independence of those systems and to repel Laurasian military forces.

1666

 * The rebellion of Al-Gacki, instigated in November 1665, continued into 1666. It required a direct campaign by General Aureolus before this rebellion was finally suppressed at Zesia (January 7, 1666). Al-Gacki committed suicide before he could be captured. And then in February 1666, Emperor Gaillenus was confronted with yet another rebel threat, again in the Central Core. Paramine, Pasquarillo, and Palimisiano all found themselves ravaged by the outbreak of civil dissent, this time related to government policies concerning transit and land requisitions. And it was the Governor of the Paramine Province, Major-General Sir Lucius Aemillianus, Knight Banneret of N'zoth, who took advantage of the rebellion to enter into a direct rebellion against the authority of Gaillenus.
 * On March 2, 1666, he denied the jurisdiction of Gaillenus over the Empire, and was proclaimed Emperor by his own troops. Within days, he had secured Goss Beacon, Williams, Melarnaria, the Outer Belt, Margarina, Seniolo, and Beritvetti, thereby posing a serious threat to the Emperor's position in the Clancian Provinces. Rebel expeditions harried Wroona, Constantine I, Andriana, Ietas, Tyndaris, Gordasis, N'zoth (where an attempt to rise against governmental authorities failed), and Courdina V. "Emperor" Aemillianus was by April 1666 issuing coinage in his own name, and he sought to recruit mercenaries and defectors from throughout the remainder of the Empire. That same month, his forces stormed Daala, Yularen, Pellaeon, and Natasi, thereby posing a threat to Goldaria itself. Emperor Gaillenus, who could not afford to lose control of the important Clancian Trunk Line and the Goldarian Core Highway, now dispatched the Governor of Carina and Seejay Prime, Sir Theodosius Crassius (1607-1668) against the usurper. General Crassius advanced from Carina in May 1666, and within days, had recovered both Yularen and Natasi. On June 4, 1666, he inflicted a ruinous defeat upon rebel forces in the Battle of Ecreutus, thereby maintaining that important world for Gaillenus. Daala was recovered ten days later, and on June 29, 1666, he instigated a siege of Pellaeon.
 * "Emperor" Aemillianus now rashly threw his forces into an offensive against Bainsborough and Elainsborough, attempting to stretch government lines across and to force the abandonment of the siege. That strategy, however, failed, and on July 18, 1666, Pellaeon fell. Two days later, Crassius launched a surprise move against Paramine and Pasquarillo; both strongholds surrendered within hours. Tuckman, Danny, and Austin became scenes of further humiliating defeats for rebel forces (August 3, 1666), and on August 18, Palimisiano too surrendered. Aemillianus, however, was not captured until October 1, 1666, at Paula; he was executed twelve days later, having been condemned in absentia by the Governing Senate and thereby sentenced to death. By the end of October 1666, the Central Core was once again securely in Emperor Gaillenus's possession. On November 8, 1666, Emperor Gaillenus began a tour through the Clancian and Melarnarian Provinces, thereby confirming his authority over those regions. He then suppressed civil uprisings on Marshia, Tommy, Arias, Capital, and Meaganian (December 1666). By January 1667, however, the Emperor's position in the Barsar Regions had further deteriorated. The efforts by his subordinates in the Ashlgothian Borderland and Melorkian Provinces to defeat Postumus failed, and by the end of 1666, Postumus had finally seized Kimania and Leo's Redoubt, thereby consolidating his hold of the entire lower Kimanian Run. Yet there were other issues, as regards to the Vectorian Empire. Vectorian Emperor Ishuima died on January 17, 1666, and was succeeded to the Vectorian throne by his aggressive nephew, Mandaru I. Emperor Mandaru now sought to turn his eyes once more upon the Laurasian Empire, for his predecessor had been engaged in wars with the Haynsians, Dejanicans, and Scottrians over the course of the preceding decade. By September 1666, Vectorian units had been assembled at Rhedita, Mercia, Camarania, Kylatnha, Essie, Deira, Ghaza, Anastasia Major, Anastasia Minor, Rhodes, Hospallia, Al-Pushim, Aletis, and Jacksonian Backory, among other strongholds. Vectorian reconnaissance and intelligence expeditions now penetrated deep into Laurasian territory, in spite of numerous protests issued by the Imperial Laurasian Government.

1667

 * 1667, the 67th year of the seventeenth century, commenced with war on the horizon between Laurasia and Vectoria. On January 7, 1667, Emperor Mandaru issued instructions to the Vectorian High Command, ordering them to ready for the final commencement of military campaigns. The war itself commenced on March 9, 1667, following two months of further intensive preparations by the Vectorians. Within weeks, Vectorian military forces made hefty gains. Angela Masia was conquered (March 9-14, 1667), followed by Lesia Minor (March 22); Ruumlist (March 29); Nicole (April 4); and Redia (April 11). Sejucia found itself subjected to a Vectorian blockade from April 15, 1667, and fell at the end of the month. Sharon Alfonsi, Hamacaki Barka, Destiny Major, and the Laurasian colonies of Schieffer, Dickerson, and Brennan all fell into Vectorian hands (May 1667). On June 7, 1667, Emperor Mandaru's chief military commander, Harna-General Nuabu-Gabu, humiliated Laurasian forces under the Earl of Beatrice in the Battle of O'Donnell. By June 18, Laurasian military forces had been ejected from Stewart, Hannibal, Skye I, and Lesia Major; and in July 1667, Lesia Minor also fell victim to Vectorian assaults. Meridu and Eliza Spencer were then seized (August 5, 1667). Emperor Gaillenus, once more distracted by the open defiance of the garrisons of Wakedia, Jaumina, and Meris in the Robertian Provinces against his will, did not finally respond to this Vectorian assault until the end of August 1667. On September 4, 1667, the Emperor advanced swiftly from Robert to Melorkia Major, and now took vigorous measures to repel further Vectorian moves. In that month, the Vectorians overran Ankara, Zoo, and Beatrice Minor, but the Laurasian Emperor successfully secured Kane, Tahon, Bryce, Courtney, Emma, Imma, and Baiteman from Vectorian assaults. Then in October 1667, he launched a major counteroffensive in the Durant Cluster, recovering Skye I, Schieffer, Dickerson, and Brennan within a few days. Angela Masia was taken (November 1, 1667), and six days later, General Nuabu-Gabu was forced to abandon the blockade of Leslie, Trebek, and Larkin. A Laurasian move against Tong, Al-Pushim, and Aletis, however, failed (December 1667).

1668

 * The year 1668 saw the continuation of the fierce struggle in the Western Barsar Regions between the Laurasian and Vectorian Empires. January and February 1668 saw a series of clashes at Ankara, Zoo, Zee, Robach, and Destiny Major between the Laurasians and Vectorians. On March 7, 1668, General Nuabu-Gabu, seeking to press the advantage against the Laurasians, launched a major offensive into the Merlite Provinces. Evan and Jacquenthia became the first targets of this offensive; both strongholds fell within ten days. Aretha and Roaeris were then seized by Vectorian units, and on April 8, 1668, Vectorian Admiral Yakmeni destroyed a Laurasian task force under the Lord Grangius of Donguaria Prima in the Battle of Korgia. Following this confrontation, the Laurasian colonies of Dubois, Smith, Arnell, and Sven became subject to Vectorian offensives (April 9-17, 1668), and by the end of April 1668, Ethel Kennethia was under siege by the Vectorian forces. Emperor Gaillenus, who was struggling to repel Vectorian expeditions into the Ashlgothian Borderland Provinces, and who had to deal with raids from his rear by his rival Postumus in the Barsar Regions, was now confronted with two blows to his position of authority in succession. The situation in the Northern Territories had now turned against the Imperial Laurasian Government. The Marasharite Empire was at this juncture distracted by wars with Transylvania, the Haxonian Confederacy, and the Kingdoms of Greater & Lesser Spamalka; it was therefore less focused on what was occurring in the Caladarian Galaxy. Nevertheless, the Laurasian Empire's position in those regions weakened considerably. Prefect Odenathus had, during the course of those middle years of the 1660s, grown more and more powerful. In March 1665, Emperor Gaillenus, confident of his loyalty, had appointed Prefect Odenathus as Governor-General of the Diocese of Lacia and Greater Homidinia, thereby extending his jurisdiction to the confines of Ryan, Gwendolyn, and the Kledis Var Trade Run, as well as the Lacian Cluster itself. Odenathus, whose "headquarters" on Xilania Major (to which he relocated in late 1664), now effectively resembled a imperial court, proved himself a vigorous and fair administrator, enforcing Gaillenus's taxation policies but proving amenable to all complaints by those under his authority, and building a close affection with his troops and immediate subordinates. Except for one: Lieutenant-General Sir Maeonius Crathius, who began plotting his conspiracy against Odenathus from September 1666.
 * By August 1667, he had gathered his own corps of supporters, and had completely formulated his plans, determined to seize Odenathus's position of power, and entertaining a direct revolt against the authority of Emperor Gaillenus. On September 9, 1667, Prefect Odenathus was presiding over a gladiatorial contest at the Hyperian Arena when Crathius's soldiers suddenly leaped upon him and his eldest son, Sir Hairan Redisus. Odenathus and Hairan both died instantly; yet, contrary to Crathius's expectations, the soldiers rallied around Odenathus's widow, Zenobia, and her sons Vaballathus and Herodianus. On September 28, 1667, General Crathius was captured at Jin Minor, having attempted his escape from Xilania Major, and was brought there. Emperor Gaillenus issued a writ of attainder against him on October 1, 1667, and he was executed five days later. On October 28, 1667, the Emperor formally designated Odenathus's former chief subordinate, Sir Septimius Zabbai, as his successor as Prefect and Governor of the concerned regions. Yet Zenobia, who was 27 years old, and renowned for her beauty, wit, and vigor, was determined to have a say. Zabbai in any case soon became her lover, and the loyalty of Odenathus's troops was to her, not to Zabbai. This situation then solidified, and in April 1668, the Duchess Dowager of Calrissian found herself hailed by the troops as protector of Odenathus's sons, and as Praetoress of the Xilanian Territories. Zabbai submitted to her authority, and she now became effective ruler of the Empire's northern territories. Emperor Gaillenus refused to acknowledge this situation, and in May 1668, would issue a manifesto denouncing Zenobia and her supporters as traitors. Yet imperial authority in those regions was all but gone, and the Emperor found that he could not impose his will on these far-flung territories without war. This reverse was followed by another. By May 1668, General Aureolus had come to believe that Emperor Gaillenus had forfeit his right to the Laurasian throne, and that he was utterly incapable of solving the Empire's troubles.
 * The month prior, Gaillenus had ordered Aureolus, whose loyalties were becoming uncertain, to take command of the garrisons of the Nexus Route, and to suppress any revolts which might occur against government authority in the region. Aureolus obliged, but from his base on Jem, planned rebellion against the Emperor. On May 17, 1668, he revealed his plans to his chief subordinates, in particular Vice-Admiral the Earl of Kigonia. Kigonia, who was himself eager for reward, and for glory in the Imperial State, eagerly supported his superior's plans. Finally, on June 7, 1668, Aureolus, having secured his supreme control of the Nexus Route garrisons, announced his revolt against Emperor Gaillenus, and declared his support for Postumus in the Barsar Regions. Aureolus made quick progress. Meaganian, Chandlier, Capital, and Tommy all fell into his hands (June 1668), and on July 4, he secured Ipsus V, Bolgrahay, and Robbay, thereby exerting control over the Venasian Triangle. By July 18, the garrisons of Mumbraine, Bristalai, Dorothy, Lydia, Greenia, Bleuia, Hordania, and Compost V had all declared their loyalty for him; those of Gitlandia, Dunaburg, and Shiloh seemed to be swaying. Emperor Gaillenus now found himself forced to return to the Core Regions to suppress this revolt. Entrusting command of his forces in the Barsar Regions to Lieutenant-General Sir Claudius Valerius, the Emperor hastened to Murphy, arriving there at the end of July 1668. On August 7, 1668, he began his advance into the Schauerian Provinces. Rashid and Calpurnia were both secured by Gaillenus (August 8-11, 1668); on August 14, from Dunaburg (where rebel sentiments had been brought under control), Gaillenus formally proclaimed Aureolus a traitor, and denounced all who cooperated with him. Aureolus responded by ordering for coinage of Emperor Postumus to be minted on Jem, Dill, Boo, and Atticus.
 * Nevertheless, by the latter weeks of August 1668, Bristalai, Mumbraine, Hordania, and Compost V had all been secured by Emperor Gaillenus's forces, and the rebellion seemed close to suppression. Yet Gaillenus was now forced to hasten to Marshia, where a rebellion had erupted against the Imperial Laurasian Government. Aureolus, on his part, nevertheless found himself blockaded at Caroline by government forces from Nystadia, Gdov, and Kamachina (August 25, 1668). But by the beginning of September 1668, Emperor Gaillenus's position was extremely weak. Many of the Emperor's subordinates and servants now heartily distrusted or disliked him, and like Postumus or Aureolus, wanted him dead. The conspiracy was now nurtured by the Praetorian Prefect of Laurasia Prime, Sir Aurelius Heraclianus, and by the Lord Macrianus, both of whom wished for General Valerius to become the next Emperor. They were supported by Major-General Sir Aurelian Domitius, who was the chief subordinate to General Valerius. On September 5, 1668, having secured the loyalty of their troops, the two officials instigated their plan. Emperor Gaillenus, who was in Aquielia, Tarsius II, in the orbit of Marshia, and was overseeing the blockade of that rebellious system, was struck down by one of his Praetorian Guards, whilst conducting a review of his troops and personnel. Within hours, news of Gaillenus's death (after a reign of fifteen years), spread quickly throughout the Laurasian Empire. General Valerius, who now had major support among the Senate, Synod, and Council of Civil Service, and had become respected for his successes against the Vectorians, was acclaimed as Emperor by the institutions of the Imperial Laurasian Government, and by his own troops (September 8, 1668).
 * The new Emperor wasted no time. He ordered for the Senate to confer posthumous blessings upon his predecessor, and for him to be given a ceremonial funeral at the Westphalian Cathedral. By doing this, Emperor Claudius II sought to disassociate himself from the assassination. He nevertheless rewarded both Prefect Hercalianus and Lord Macrianus; the former was raised to the peerage as Lord Hercalianus of Karl (September 27, 1668), and the latter was named Governor of the Schauerian Diocese. The new Emperor Claudius, on his part, ordered Prefect Hercalianus to press the offensive vigorously against Aureolus and against the rebels of Marshia. Marshia finally capitulated on October 7, 1668, and Hercalianus was ruthless, having more than 200,000 rebels executed in the span of twelve days. In the Schauerian Provinces, considerable progress was made by government units. Bleuia, Greenia, and Lydia were all stormed by Lord Macrianus's forces, and on October 14, 1668, Aureolus's attempt to break out from Caroline was ended in the Battle of Monique. Two days later, Jem and Dill were both stormed in a surprise thrust; Atticus, Finch, and Jean followed on October 29. Caroline itself, however, was not captured until November 2, 1668. Aureolus, however, committed suicide before he could be captured; nevertheless on the Emperor's orders, his body was incinerated, placed on a transport, and dumped into the Pit of Traitors on Jadia. By the end of November 1668, the whole of the Schauerian Provinces, Venasian Triangle, and Nexus Route once again acknowledged the Imperial Government's jurisdiction. Emperor Claudius, on his part, now sought to bring the Vectorian campaigns to a victorious end. Already, on November 18, 1668, he had secured victory in the Battle of India, terminating, with decisive effect, the Vectorian offensive against that stronghold. By the end of November, all Vectorian raiding moves into the Borderlands Territories had been ended, and on December 9, 1668, Ankara was stormed. Zee, Zoo, and Destiny Major were then secured, and on December 19, Stewart. Hannibal, Sharon Alfonsi, and Skye I were all definitely in Laurasian possession by the end of December 1668.

1669

 * The year 1669, the 69th year of the seventeenth century, saw the Laurasian Empire bring the Fourth Vectorian War to a conclusion, and make gains against the breakaway Samanthans in the Barsar Regions, but also face further challenges (with Xilania), and internal convulsions. This process continued into 1670. In January 1669, Emperor Claudius, with his subordinates Generals Domitius and Hercalianus, instigated a further, decisive move against the invading Vectorians. On January 9, 1669, he defeated the Vectorian High-Admiral Al-Karik in the Battle of Aretha; within five days, he reconquered Bob, Evan, and Jacquentha, thereby expanding the Laurasian position in the Neo-Merlite Provinces. On January 22, 1669, a further victory was gained in the Battle of Thathis; the Laurasian colonies of Murdoch, Nancarrow, Swabie, and Bledsoe were then recovered by Laurasian expeditions. By February 1669, Laurasian units were blockading Nicole, Redia, and Sejucia, thereby threatening to expel the Vectorians from that region. The Vectorian siege of Ethel Kennethia was relieved on February 9, 1669; ten days later, the Battle of Aletis ended in that world's fall to the Laurasian Empire. Then on February 28, 1669, General Domitius gained a major victory in the Battle of Nestos, capturing more than 200,000 Arachosian troops and forcing the surrender of Arachosian High-General Akiya. By March 7, Laurasian units had recovered Lesia Minor, Lesia Major, and Rummlist. Nicole finally surrendered on March 18, 1669, being followed by Redia four days later. Brennan, Dickerson, and Schieffer all faced renewed Vectorian moves, as did Ginger and Robach, but ultimately all of these strongholds remained in Laurasian possession.
 * But in April 1669 a major offensive against Ashlgothia Minor, Thelma, Jennings, Matthew, and West began, launched by Nuabu-Gabu, and all of these strongholds found themselves under siege. The Tyres Straits, in particular, became the site of a major confrontation between Laurasian and Vectorian units (April 21, 1669), resulting in a major strategic stalemate. Emperor Claudius, on his part, was assembling his forces carefully in the Durant Cluster, particularly at Mummaquim and Hummaquim, determined not to give space to the Vectorians. The Laurasian colonies of Dobreus, Pelagonia, and Chrysopolis all suffered from Vectorian raids, but this did not deter the Emperor's plans. Finally, on May 8, 1669, Emperor Claudius drew Nuabu-Gabu into a direct confrontation at Naissus, a minor Anastasian mining colony located twelve light years westwards of the Durant Cluster. The ensuing Battle of Naissus was hard fought, with both sides suffering extensive casualties. General Domitius, however, distinguished himself in the confrontations, and it was the superior Laurasian resources and organization which decided the outcome. Ultimately, more than two-thirds of the Vectorian forces were destroyed or captured, and Nuabu-Gabu was forced into retreat. Eliza Spencer, Jacksonian Backory, and Korgia all fell into Laurasian hands, and in June 1669, Vectorian Admiral Yukmeni was killed in the Battle of Anjun.
 * Following this, General Domitius surrounded and destroyed a larger Vectorian force at the Mounds of Heranius, thereby preventing any moves on their part against Beatrice. Arnell, Dubois, and Beatrice Minor were all recovered in July 1669, and by early August, Caesearea, Anastasia Major, and Hospallia were all under assault from Laurasian forces. Emperor Mandaru, facing troubles of his own with the Scottrians over Rasdalla and Kania, decided to now terminate the military conflict. On August 7, 1669, he sent a offer for a peace armistice to Emperor Claudius; this was accepted within three days, and the actual armistice was concluded at Nagosh (August 24, 1669). A conference then convened on Anastasia Minor from August 29, 1669; General Domitius headed the delegation, and distinguished himself in the course of negotiations. The Treaty of Nagosh (September 7, 1669), concluded sixty-four years to the day before the birth of Empress Aurelia the Great, resulted in the concession of Aletis, Jacksonian Bathory, Caesearea, Anastasia Minor, and the Eastern Hospallian Territories (including Hospallia Minor, Ghaza, Lincoln, and Rhodes), to the Laurasian Empire. All prisoners of war were exchanged, and the Vectorian Government agreed to compensate its Laurasian counterpart for all military expenses. The Treaty of Nagosh was ratified by the end of September 1669, by both parties. Emperor Claudius, in the meantime, had pursued the offensive against the "traitor Postumus": during August and September 1669, he gained a series of victories at Khagia, Hefner, Cyrus III, Anasia, Cadaria, Roastafaria Minor, and Armenia Major, thereby securing (or maintaining) those strongholds for central authority.
 * On October 15, 1669, Emperor Claudius inflicted a humiliating defeat upon Postumus in the Battle of Bookman, thereby penetrating to, and entrenching, at that stronghold. Nanking, Diamond, Taming, and Ala-Tagh were all secured by government forces in November 1669. Plath and Skold, neither of whom had never fully supported Postumus's regime, defected back to the Empire on November 18, 1669. Yet by this time, Emperor Claudius's health was in serious decline. On September 21, 1669, he had been hailed as Claudius Vectorius by the Senate and Synod, a reference to his victories over the Vectorian Empire earlier that year. Yet the Emperor found his condition feeble, and it was discovered, on December 4, that he had contracted the Angrames malady. The Emperor now returned to Laurasia Prime (December 14, 1669), and to the Imperial Hospital of the Quencilvanian Palace, aiming for a series of medical treatments to moderate his disease. Yet his condition declined rapidly, and by the end of December, the Emperor was lapsing into unconsciousness.

1670

 * As 1670 began, the Emperor Claudius Vectorius's condition continued to decline. On January 4, 1670, the Emperor fell into a deep coma, and his physicians now despaired of him. He died on January 19, 1670, at the age of 56, after having reigned for only a year and a half. Yet the death of Claudius Vectorius, the first natural death of a Laurasian Emperor since that of Demetrius Severus in 1611, fifty-nine years earlier, sparked much sadness and remorse throughout the Empire. Many considered him the "restorer of Laurasian fortunes", and believed that he had he not died, he would have crushed all. Such a time would come, but not until later in the decade; fifteen years still remained before Neuchrus's accession. Following Claudius Vectorius's death, his cousin, Grand Prince Quintillus Valerius, quickly gained the support of the institutions of the Imperial Laurasian Government to succeed him. Grand Prince Valerius was proclaimed Emperor just hours after his predecessor's demise was announced. Claudius Vectorius would be buried on February 11, 1670, in a solemn ceremony at the Westphalian Cathedral.
 * Yet Emperor Quintillus proved to be an ineffective ruler. By 1670, the ambitions of "Prafectoress" Zenobia had widened beyond bounds. Now convinced of the utter impotence of the government of Laurasia Prime, and eager to carve out her own independent realm, Zenobia engaged in efforts to extend her authority over the Satian Provinces. In January 1670, the Governor of Norah and Satie, the Marquess of MacArthur, reluctantly acknowledged Zenobia's jurisdiction; then in March, she seized Roxuli, Abraham, Eaidon, and Zoe by force, thereby indicating her hostile intentions. And finally, on April 11, 1670, Zenobia formally renounced all allegiance to Emperor Quintillus; formally proclaimed herself Queen of Adrianne and Empress of Xilania, and named her son Vaballathus as her heir-apparent. Her other son Herodianus had died on July 20, 1669, at the age of only five. Emperor Quintillus formally denounced Zenobia's rebellion, but was now confronted with issues of his own. Domitius, who had now risen to the rank of Lieutenant-General and Prefect of the Barsar Regions, had from the first refused to recognize Quintillus as Emperor.
 * Yet it was not until May 16, 1670, before he formally erupted in rebellion against Claudius Vectorius's successor. By June 1670, Aurelian had secured the Borderland Territories, Merlite Provinces, and Galician Provinces; the garrisons of Horacia and Murphy, and their associated colonies, had declared for him; and Quintillus found himself threatened by outbursts of violence on Oxia Vixius, Ralina Vixius, Darcia, Americana, and Katie against his rule. Emperor Quintillus, determined to halt any further "rebel" advances, now sought to proceed into the Roastafarian Provinces. Strengthening the garrisons of Nathaniel, Drennan, Sanegeta, Brittany, and George, he arrived at Roastafaria Minor (June 22, 1670). Emperor Aurelian, however, was quickly alerted to his advance, and within ten days, had intercepted him near Roastafaria Major. On July 3, 1670, the Battle of Rasti was waged between the two opposing Emperors; within hours, Aurelian had secured a decisive victory, and Quintillus was not only defeated but dead. With the defeat and death of Quintillus, Aurelian was (July 12, 1670), acknowledged as Emperor by the institutions of the Imperial Laurasian Government, and by all remaining garrisons. In August 1670, after suppressing revolts on Resmania, Obathia, Marsin, and Algaica Belgucia against his authority, the Emperor made his progress towards Laurasia Prime. He arrived there on September 9, 1670, being hailed by his subjects with much vigor and celebration. Aurelian now threw himself into efforts to consolidate his position of rule; to ingratiate himself with his subjects; and to strengthen the Imperial Laurasian Government.
 * He granted tax-relief privileges to the nobles and gentry of the Empire, thereby allowing for them to make a return upon their own personal revenues. In October 1670, Aurelian repealed many of the taxation and enumeration charters and decrees passed under Valerian and Gaillenus, thereby reducing peculation and the people's grievances at the same time. He then conducted an extensive purge of the leadership of the Praetorian Guards, replacing the officers of the units with his own supporters. And on November 12, 1670, the Emperor offered unconditional amnesty to any within the Empire's realms who ceased depredations against governmental authorities; this offer was taken up by many thousands during the succeeding months. And on November 28, 1670, the Emperor's coronation, the first of a Laurasian sovereign in nearly two decades, was conducted at the Westphalian Cathedral. The ceremony, presided over by the Cardinal of the Laurasia Prime Purse Region and Chief Procurator of the Holy Synod, Thomasius Boucherius (who had held his position from April 23, 1654, and had maintained it through all the turmoils and tribulations), proved to be very lavish, thereby strengthening Aurelian's relationship with his subjects. And in December 1670, Aurelian began the massive expansion of the defenses of Laurasia Prime; during the course of the next four years, three orbital platforms and a new shield generator grid would be constructed for the Empire's capital world.

1671

 * The early 1670s saw the Emperor Aurelian overcome many challenges to his authority. 1671, in particular, was a difficult year, with mostly internal troubles facing the Emperor. Yet this year also saw the renewal of military hostilities with the Celestial Kingdom of Scottria, and the further challenges posed by Zenobia's "Xilanian Empire". In January 1671, Emperor Aurelian conducted a tour of the Laurasia Prime Purse Region, intending to strengthen the defenses of the chief strongholds, and to bring himself closer to his subjects. Yet soon after departing from Caladaria (one of the main targets of his process), the Emperor received word of a uprising on Leah and Lorna by the Laurasian Major-General Sir Septimius Cravanius. General Cravanius raised his standard on January 29, 1671, and within days had secured Garnett, Ber Bachman, Gargonia, Negro, Hunt Minor, Timur's Star, and Jabul. Yet Cravanius's momentum only went so far. By March 1671, the rebel had descended into a sense of debauchery and of sloth, and he lost much support when he brutally crushed a protest on Adiabene, which was in favor of the Emperor Aurelian and of the Imperial Laurasian Government (March 12, 1671). By that point, the Governor of Hunt Major, Sir Athanasius Lyradia, had already pressed the counteroffensive against Cravanius. Defeating him in the Battle of Ostrahaye (March 16, 1671), Governor Lydradia then drove rebel units from Ber Bachman, Zachary, and Zeffinerli, thereby securing all of those strongholds for the government. On April 5, 1671, Cravanius suffered a more serious defeat in the Battle of Downs, ending his efforts to push into the Sheldonian Provinces. He was then driven from Timur's Star, and from his garrisons on Luttman, Taylor, and Emerson in the Sk'atha Nebula. By April 15, Gargonia and Negro had both returned to their proper allegiance, and on April 24, Cravanius was expelled from Lorna, a sign of his collapsing situation. On May 1, 1671, his own troops and subordinates turned upon Cravanius at his personal bedchambers in the High Palace of Leah; he was smothered in his bed, and died without resisting.
 * By May 9, Governor Lydradia had secured all remaining rebel strongholds, including Leah, thereby ending the short lived Cravanian Rebellion. A similar outburst in the OsonBoka Nebula and on Iego, Brenda, and Dickinson, inspired by the Lord Urbanus, was crushed in May and June 1671. Yet following Urbanus's Rebellion, the Emperor faced another rebellious outburst against his authority: this time in the Shenandonan Provinces. By the middle of 1671, this region was virtually "wallowing" in dissent against the Imperial Laurasian Government. The Governor of Majoria Schall and Prefect of the Central Shenandonan Diocese, Major-General Sir Domitianus Pasuvius, 2nd Earl of Pailbirth, had become disenchanted with the Emperor Aurelian's military and fiscal reform policies; furthermore, the Earl of Pailbirth considered himself to be inadequately "rewarded" by His Majesty, for he had supported him when he had usurped the Imperial Laurasian Crown a year earlier. Therefore, from November 1670, he had begun assembling supplies and military units at his strongholds on Endaker, Jonathania, Bar'say, Par'say, Bacturis Invictis, and Mariana Sirtia. In May 1671, he held a conference with his subordinates and with the Millian Houses of Shenandoah, thereby gaining their support and allegiance for a revolt against Aurelian's authority. The formal rebellion itself erupted on June 22, 1671, just as Urbanus's Rebellion in the Robertian Provinces was being brought to a close.
 * In his proclamation of rebellion from Majoria Schall, Domitianus not only denounced Aurelian's government, and decried the exertions of his regime, but declared himself Emperor, as Domitianus I. Within a short time, he found more support beyond his original strongholds. By July 12, 1671, the garrisons of On'diray, Cagania, Nicholas, Shriver, and Katharnovich had pledged their allegiance to the usurper. On July 19, he defeated a government force in the Battle of Frakes, thereby maintaining his control of Endaker and Jonathania. Four days later, Deborah, whose garrison had been restless for months, and chafed at reductions to their military annuities, declared their support for "Emperor" Domitianus. Furthermore, Domitianus began issuing his coinage from Shenandoah; promised freedom of navigation and transportation, as well as a five-year exemption from taxes and obligations, for any who pledged their support to him; and issued further manifestos, with insulting and misleading statements about Aurelian and his government. Emperor Aurelian, who had been engaged in reorganizing the Lysimachid Barrier Defenses, and in his further streamlining of the Imperial Military's ranks, found that he could not ignore this threat.
 * On August 1, 1671, the Emperor, along with the 29th, 30th, and 31st Imperial Armies (with the 5th and 9th Imperial Fleets), proceeded directly to Way'tosk, Temperance, and Elijahana, determined to forestall any further rebel advances. The Emperor then obtained a series of victories at Boydaria, Nottingham, and Fats (August 4-15, 1671), thereby blunting any further progress by Domitianus. On August 22, Par'say was recovered by government forces, being followed by Mariana Sirtia on August 28. In spite of the fact that Domitianus then repelled a offensive against On'diray (August 28, 1671), Emperor Aurelian was gradually able to gain the advantage. He reconquered Deborah, Predosur, and Jonathania in a series of surprise feints (September 1671). It was not until October 7, however, before Endaker capitulated to the Emperor. Aurelian pursued a vigorous policy of retribution against any who supported the rebel, and on October 15, he ordered for the execution of 30,000 rebel officers on Nicholas, after that world had capitulated to his authority once again. By the middle of October 1671, therefore, Emperor Aurelian was preparing a final push against rebel forces. Yet now, the news arrived of the outbreak of war with Scottria.
 * The Celestial Kingdom of Scottria's affairs had, since the conclusion of the Third Scottrian War in 1660, gone through an interlude of regency. King Jamsius III's mother, Mary of Guelders, had remained as regent, and had looked after the interests of her son with great vigor and great skill, until her sudden death on December 1, 1663, at the age of 29. In particular, her fortification of Rathanvorg in the Outskirt Districts, and the incorporation of the Diocese of Berwick (1662), had strengthened the Kingdom's position in the outskirts of the Angelina Spiral. Following her death, Jamsius Kennedy, the Archclanniarch of St. Andrews, and his brother Gilbert, Lord Kennedy of Denure, had then taken the direction of affairs. Both also proved to be effective in handling affairs of state, although the Archclanniarch also engaged in various schemes to increase his own personal wealth, and to use the resources of the government to sponsor his own business ventures, both in the Homeland Territories and in the Galactic Borderlands. The Archclainnarch died on May 24, 1665, only a year and half after the death of Mary of Guelders; Lord Kennedy, who would survive until March 27, 1689, nevertheless decided to retreat from the stake of preeminence, and to instead allow the ascendancy of Robert, Lord Boyd (1613-1682).
 * Boyd, who had been one of the commissioners at the negotiations for the Treaty of Nagosh back in 1660, was an esteemed member of the Scottrian Estates, and one of the Queen Dowager's favorites, proved himself to be an astute diplomat; in 1668, the Treaty of Branxholme resulted in the final concession of the Shetland Colonies by the Haynsian Despotate to the Celestial Kingdom of Scottria, thereby strengthening Scottria's territorial and diplomatic position in the vicinity of Dumbarton. Yet Lord Boyd was also an military adventurist, and he urged his colleagues, both on the Estates and the Scottrian Privy Council, to consider the renewal of active military hostilities with the Laurasian Empire. On July 2, 1669, King Jamsius III, who was now eighteen years old, formally reached his majority; the regency therefore offically ended. Four days later, he married the Denmarican Princess Margaret, thereby providing for the insurance of the Stuart Dynasty's continuance. Lord Boyd remained High Chancellor and President of the Privy Council until December 1669, when his enemies, the Earls of Argyll and Angus, combined together to force his ouster. Boyd would eventually be compelled to flee to the Vendragian Confederacy (1673), and would die there, on Londarania, nine years later. Yet Jamsius now decided to proceed with Boyd's plans for war in the Caladarian Galaxy. He was determined to recover the Garaman Provinces, and to extend Scottrian jurisdiction into those of Hypasia and Angelica. By the middle of 1670, the Scottrian High Command had formulated its offensive plans; furthermore, the King of Scottria assembled his military units and squadrons at Vilmanstrand, Frederickshamm, the Berwick Barrier, Frasier, McKellen, Crusher, McFadden, Wheaton, Janeway, Gwynne, Bane, Cognus, Godweria, Deira, and other strongholds in the Southern Galactic Borderlands.
 * In April 1671, the King of Scottria issued the first of several ultimatums to the Laurasian Ambassador of the Court of Ediania, Sir Vallerius Etharius (1609-98), in which he demanded for the return of the Garaman Provinces; the concession of Huerta Mongol, Qu'emia, Saigon, Bach Dang, Ho Chi Minh, Hypasia Minor, Valeris V, and Trash Dakai, among other Hypasian strongholds, to Scottria; and for the Imperial Laurasian Government to demilitarize Nicole, Redia, Sejucia, and the Merlite Provinces. The ultimatums proved to be unacceptable to Emperor Aurelian, and he commanded Ambassador Etharius to ignore them. Finally, on October 6, 1671, the King of Scottria, obtaining the authorization for war from the Scottrian Estates, announced the commencement of military hostilities. Within days of this announcement, Scottrian forces advanced into Laurasian territory. On October 11, 1671, the Battle of Ranieda Minor resulted in a victory for the Celestial Kingdom of Scottria; Zebetha and Dasalaburgh were both in Scottrian hands by October 19. On October 24, a Laurasian counteroffensive against the El Paso Colonies, Bristain, and Sasha VI was defeated by the Earl of Caithness in the Battle of Memathon; by the end of the month, Garama, Vescera, and Humbleton Mist had all been secured by Scottrian units. On November 9, 1671, Caithness defeated Laurasian Rear-Admiral Sir Phyrrus Cassidoris in the Battle of the Upper Barrack; the Laurasian colonies of Shelton, Pasmanaki, and Michelle fell into Scottrian possession shortly afterwards. Gholaia and Garbia both fell (November 16, 1671). Emperor Aurelian was by now rushing from the Shenandonan Provinces towards the Galactic Borderlands. He placed Major-General Sir Marcus Aurelius Probus (the future Emperor), who had first arisen to prominence during the reign of Valerian, in command of suppressing the rest of Domitianus's Rebellion. Probus performed his task brilliantly. Bacturius Invictis was recovered (November 29, 1671), and on December 4, General Probus destroyed the force of Domitianus's subordinate, Vice-Admiral Sir Carus Sirmithus, in the Battle of Darrow. Reese and Christian were then secured, and on December 11, 1671, Shenandoah was blockaded. The stronghold would fall after just ten days; "Emperor" Domitianus would find himself at the lerch. On Ascentmas Day, 1671, Majoria Schall in turn was besieged, an effort which would continue into the early months of 1672.
 * Whilst all of that was going on, Emperor Aurelian was able to redress the balance in the conflict with the Scottrians invading the Garaman Provinces. On November 19, 1671, having made his arrival at Castellum Dimmidi, Aurelian successfully repelled a Scottrian offensive against Malia in the Battle of Zabi. Thubnae and Cydamus were then secured from Scottrian assaults (November 26-December 2, 1671), and there then followed a series of confrontations at Marcotte, Flipovic, Blumer, and Yoder (December 8-14, 1671), securing all of these colony systems for the Empire and repelling Scottrian moves at every turn. The Emperor of Laurasia continued to inspire his troops, and his commanders, with a selfless devotion to him and the State, and a dedication to suppressing Laurasia's enemies. On December 19, 1671, soon after Garama was recovered by one of the Emperor's detachments, the Earl of Caithness decided to attempt a feint offensive at the Asteroids of Benacus, hoping thereby to divert Aurelian's attention, and to allow for a renewed Scottrian thrust against Castellum Dimmidi, Zabi, and Thubnae, with the goal of breaking out to Nicole, Redia, and the Neo-Merlite Provinces. Emperor Aurelian, however, was well-informed of Scottrian plans, thanks to his own intelligence agents, and he prepared his defenses at Benacus accordingly. Four days later, Caithness's forces arrived at the outskirts of the star system and launched their offensive; they were soon startled to discover that the star system was by no means unprepared for their assault. Emperor Aurelian ordered Vice-Admiral the Lord Florianus of Volodormia to hold his offensive units in reserve, while the Emperor himself directed the main counter-thrust against Caithness's ranks. The ensuing Battle of the Benacus Asteroids saw the Laurasian strategies of coordination and organization gain the advantage over the rushed assaults of their enemies; nearly two-thirds of the Celestial Scottrian Navy (some one hundred warships), were destroyed or captured during the confrontation. By December 28, Caithness and his subordinate, the Lord Erroll of Flynn, had been forced to call a retreat. And thus, at the end of 1671, Laurasian forces were posed for their own advance.
 * In the Samanthan Empire, in the meantime, the change of rulers had proceeded with some pace. On December 9, 1669, the Governor of the Hutsite Reaches, Sir Laelianus Cornelius, had been proclaimed Emperor by his own troops. Within days, he had secured control of Drea, Duana, Riley, Strongstine, and Abshire, and refused to acknowledge any future acts or policies by Postumus. Emperor Postumus's own popularity had declined since the onset of the new year, and his humiliations against the Emperor Claudius Vectorius's forces in the Ashlgothian Borderlands and the upper Kimanian Run had seemed to expose the Samanathan Empire's weakening military state. Postumus, who was then at Kimanis Mooria, now rushed to suppress this revolt against his authority. Mogauntaticum, which had been colonized by the Imperial Laurasian Government in 1548, became the focus for Postumus's actions against the rebel. The stronghold fell at first into rebel possession (December 11-14, 1669), but Emperor Postumus, having assembled his forces at Nanking, Reading, Breha, Offshora, Messalina, and Chobania, was determined to give the rebel no space.
 * By December 18, he had lured, and trapped "Emperor" Laelianus within the confines of Mogaunaticum; the siege lasted for just six days, and on Ascentmas Eve (December 24, 1669), the world had fallen into his posession. Laelianus was able to flee towards Drea, and Postumus was forced to divert units to seize the rebel bases of Ruha, Bruhan, and Aldea (December 26, 1669-January 7, 1670). On January 13, 1670, Duana capitulated to Postumus, and he shortly afterwards ordered the seizure of all military supplies and equipment on Karhi, thereby depriving the rebels of one of their main military repositories. However, Postumus restrained his troops in their combat actions, and refused to allow them to execute rebel troops on Windarch (February 1670). Therefore, on March 4, 1670, Postumus's own officers, led by Lieutenant-Colonel Marius Marcus, turned upon their Emperor, assassinating him with a series of blaster shots in his personal bedchambers. Marius, overconfident and rash, was now proclaimed Emperor by Postumus's troops and fleets. Yet his reign lasted for only three days, as many of the now assassinated Emperor's subordinates hated the prospect of a commoner lording over them. On March 7, 1670, the Lord Victorinus of Camarth, who had served as Emperor Postumus's Chief of Staff and Secretary of the Imperial Chancellory, raised a revolt against Emperor Marius; within hours, Marius had been deposed and executed (with blaster fire), and Victorinus was proclaimed Emperor of Samantha. Victorinus completed the suppression of Laelianus's Rebellion; Drea was finally captured on April 11, 1670, and Laelianus himself was executed thirteen days later.
 * In June 1670, Emperor Victorinus suppressed a revolt on Abbott, with more than 20,000 rebels being put to death on his orders. In September 1670, he defeated the attempted uprising of General Regaliannus Marxes, and had the military bases of Stohler, White, and Mekailaya plundered. Yet Victorinus alienated the troops by refusing to raise their annuities and pensions; in November 1670, furthermore, he raised the highest income tax brackets, thereby losing the support of the elites of Samantha, Kimania, and other important worlds. On January 3, 1671, one of the Emperor's "Praetorian" Guards, Attitianus Letherius, with a retinue of his own men, strangled the Emperor in his bed. News of Victorinus's death spread quickly, but it was not until January 22 before the late Emperor's mother, Lady Victoria, Dowager Baroness of Carmath, who had actually cultivated popularity with the elites, was able to support the installation of the Governor of Leo's Redoubt and Justiciar of Gardiner, Sir Escuvius Tetricus (1622-1705), who had served on the Governing Senate from 1648 to 1657, and then became one of Postumus's earliest supporters, on the Samanathan throne. He thereby became Tetricus I of Samantha, and as it turned out, the last Emperor of Laurasian Samanatha. Emperor Tetricus quickly elevated his son, also named Tetricus (1648-1726), as his co-ruler and heir apparent (March 1671). He provided for Victorinus's blessing and funeral, but quickly reversed his predecessor's tax policies. In September 1671, Emperor Tetricus further expanded the Military Citadel of Samantha, and he began issuing terms to navigators, merchants, and starhoppers within his territories, hoping to encourage economic development. Yet the Samanthan Empire was experiencing considerable stress; Harrison, Novina, and Allen all experienced outbursts of anti-government dissent in November and December 1671, while the Emperor's military forces had to battle incursions by the Imperial Laurasian Government from the north, and Haynsian raiding parties from the Galactic Void.

1672

 * The year 1672 witnessed the termination of the Fourth Scottrian War, and the commencement of Emperor Aurelian's campaigns against the Xilanian "Empress" Zenobia. In January 1672, the Emperor of Laurasia orchestrated a series of decisive counteroffensives in the Garaman Provinces, meant to expel all remaining enemy forces from Laurasian territory. On January 7, 1672, he inflicted a humiliating defeat upon the Earl of Caithness in the Battle of Posucia, capturing more than 75,000 Scottrian harquebusiers and forcing them to abandon that stronghold. Garama fell on January 18, 1672, being shortly followed by Zebeda (January 25) and Dasalaburgh (January 29). Ranieda Minor was placed under siege from January 31, 1672, but did not fall until February 15. Nevertheless, by the end of February 1672, all Scottrian forces in the Garaman Provinces had been conclusively expelled. Frederickshamm, Vilmanstrand, and the Berwick Barrier strongholds of Rourke, O'Cathallon, and Marshion were seized (March 1672). On April 4, 1672, an attempted Scottrian move against Roxburgh was defeated in the Battle of the Beroyeze Asteroids. Frasier and McKellen then became targets of the Laurasian Emperor's vengeance (April 8-17, 1672), and both strongholds fell in due order. On April 25, 1672, Crusher fell after a coordinated assault by Fleet Commodore the Earl of Ashlgothia Minor. The Earl, furthermore, humiliated the Scottrians at Snipes (May 1, 1672). Bristain was seized on May 9, and by the end of May 1672, Littleton, Marlton, and Sasha VI were all under threat from Laurasian forces. King Jamsius III of Scottria, who was now entertaining outlandish ambitions in the Durthian Duchies (where Duke Char'va the Bold was in conflict with Franconia, Austarlia, and Vendragia), decided, in July 1672, following the Laurasian conquest of McFadden and Janeway, to conclude peace with his Laurasian counterparts. The Armistice of Zannoth was signed (July 17, 1672), and negotiations commenced at Perth on August 5.
 * After over a month, with the Earls of Caithness, Argyll, and Angus wrangling with their Laurasian counterparts, in particular Chief Procurator Boucherius and Chancellor Sir Robertius Stillingtia (1620-91), the Treaty of Perth was signed (September 9, 1672). The status quo ante bellum was again imposed in territorial matters, except for the proviso that the Celestial Kingdom of Scottria agreed to abandon any and all claims it still held to the Garaman Provinces. In exchange, Emperor Aurelian agreed to recognize Scottrian annexation of the Shetlands and Berwick. But as soon as this treaty was concluded, Emperor Aurelian turned his attention to another, menacing threat; the Xilanian Empire of Zenobia. On March 10, 1672 (a century before the death of Aurelia the Great's first Lord Treasurer, the Earl of Winchestrius), Majoria Schall finally succumbed to the forces of General Probus; "Emperor" Domitianus would be captured at Melanie Major a month later, and, condemned by an act of attainder (of Aurelian's), executed on May 2. In July 1672, General Probus was reassigned by the Emperor to station in the Farther Homidinian Provinces, specifically at Homidinia Major. He was now ordered to prepare the Empire's garrisons and forces in those territories for a decisive counteroffensive against Zenobia. Zenobia's chief general, Zabbai, had conquered Scanlan, Garner, Whytcliff, and Coronadia during the early months of 1672, humiliating the Governor of the Burglais Arm Diocese, Senator Lord Probus of Tenaningo, in a series of confrontations at Morlan, Galatia, and Chacledon.
 * Therefore, by late 1672, it was imperative for Aurelian to end the humiliations and to recover the northern Outer Borderlands. Thus, on September 25, 1672, soon after the ratification of the Treaty of Perth, Emperor Aurelian proceeded direct to Skyler and Ipshilion. Already, he had issued a series of ultimatums to Zenobia on Xilania Major, demanding that she abdicate from her "pretensions to the Imperial Laurasian Crown", dismantle all of her military forces, and return all territories which she had seized to the "rightful authority of my government." In exchange, Emperor Aurelian offered to grant a pardon to her, her son, and all of her officials; to permit her to retain all properties and titles previously possessed by her husband; and to live "without molestation from my authorities." Zenobia, however, who was haughty, and believed that her position was all but secure, refused. On October 11, 1672, having received no response to his offers, Aurelian issued a formal declaration of rebellion and launched a carefully coordinated, two-pronged offensive into Xilanian territory. The main thrust of the offensive came from the Emperor's forces in the Northern Territories, directed against the Satian Provinces, and the lower Xilanian Provinces.
 * The second came from General Probus's forces in the Homidinian Provinces. And Laurasian forces quickly made decisive gains. On October 14, 1672, Emperor Aurelian obtained a decisive victory over Xilanian General Zabdas in the Battle of Tyrana; this stronghold, which had been colonized in 1606, during the reign of Demetrius Severus I, surrendered without a fight within days. Eaidon, Zoe, and Abraham were all back in the Emperor's possession by October 24. Roxuli, however, proved to be a tougher nut to crack, and did not fall until November 2, 1672. On that day, General Probus, who had repelled Xilanian counteroffensives against Calms, Sanford, and Gibbs-to-Lester, defeated Zabbai in the Battle of Mackenzia Minor. Securing Jacobs I, English Star, and Edmundia from the Xilanians, he then recovered Mackenzia Major (November 8, 1672), and by November 15, had seized Coronadia, thereby returning that major stronghold to the Imperial Laurasian Government's possession. Whytcliff surrendered on November 28, but Garner proved more resilent. It was laid under siege from December 7, 1672, and remained so until January 22, 1673, when it finally fell to government forces. By the end of November 1672, therefore, Probus had pushed forward in the Burglais Arm; his forces had also recovered Abitia, Mir, Wakino, Kara, Perry, and Rutherford, thereby reducing the threat to Maxwell and Markis Prime. On December 12, 1672, Margery surrendered after a surprise offensive of the Emperor's; Aurelian then stormed Issus, Carrhae, and Simmons, driving a wedge into the Satian Provinces. On December 28, 1672, Empress Zenobia herself, vainly attempting to strengthen the defenses of Jin Major, Jin Minor, Norah, and Satie, advanced with General Zabbel to Immae, determined to forestall the Laurasian Emperor's further advance there. At first, it seemed that the Xilanians had the advantage. Zabbel had a greater number of mobile transports and freighters at his disposal, and he also had access to a corps of 245,000 elite Northanian mercenaries, of the Chivallers' Corps. Furthermore, Zabbel enjoyed a slight numerical supremacy, in terms of military personnel and deployable attack craft.
 * Aurelian, however, had more starfighters, and his crack, reorganized Praetorian Guards formed the cream of his offensive ranks. Zenobia, furthermore, was more of a spectator than an actual commander; she inspired morale among her troops, but she did not grasp the details of strategy. Therefore, in the battle, Zabbel pushed the offensive forward; his units broke the Laurasian mobile corps, and it seemed that he could slice through the lines. However, this was a ploy of Aurelian's. Aurelian lured the Xilanian corps and Chivallers out into a trap; he then used his heavily-armored destroyers, battleships, and dreadnoughts, supported by a retinue of assault starfighters, to surround and to pummel the overstretched Xilanian lines. Within hours, the entire Xilanian force thus in action had been destroyed. Zabbel was forced to pull back, and in spite of Zenobia's pleas, he realized that the battle was lost. The Battle of Immae therefore ended in a decisive victory for the Laurasian Empire.

1673

 * 1673, the 73rd year of the seventeenth century, began with Emperor Aurelian making substantial advances following the Battle of Immae. On January 4, 1673, he destroyed another Xilanian force in the Battle of Lynne. Multan, Sommers, Orkhan, Juxles, and Bingley all fell into his possession (January 1673). On January 22, 1673, the Emperor obtained another decisive victory at Daphne, destroying all of the Xilanian supplies and military equipment there. He then seized the colonies of Apamea and Ctieshis before advancing upon Norah; Norah was blockaded from February 7, 1673, and fell ten days later. By the end of February 1673, Morg, King, and Xilania Secondary had all surrendered to Emperor Aurelian's forces. Xenobia's Empire was in self-destruction mode. The garrisons of Dromund, Shaelynn, and Kacee renounced her authority on January 20, 1673; five days later, General Probus inflicted a ruinous defeat upon Zabdas in the Battle of Vo'rill, thereby driving Xilanian troops from the Corporate Trade Corridor. Scanlan and Garner both surrendered on February 12, 1673; they were followed by Drake, Curry, and Homidinian Wyatt (February 19-27, 1673).
 * On March 4, 1673, Emperor Aurelian stormed Xilania Minoria after blunting a counteroffensive attempt by Zabbel into the Northern Territories; five days later, Halassion and Alyssa were both seized by General Probus in a series of surprise assaults. Mocktrialis, Capone, and Lawson were seized in March 1673; Zenobia's vain efforts to revive her troops, and to mobilize her military resources, did nothing to stem the Laurasian assaults. On April 1, 1673, Emperor Aurelian reached Emesa, located twelve light years south of Xilania Major; Jin Major had already been neutralized by his forces six days earlier. Zenobia and Zabbel now sought to make a next stand here, but by this point, with Aurelian having pulled forces from throughout the Empire, and displaying his skill as a military commander, they had lost any advantage. The Battle of Emesa lasted for two days, but when it was over, Zenobia and Zabbel had been conclusively defeated.
 * Zabbel was captured at the Satellites of Ursula (April 9, 1673), and Calrissian revolted, returning to its allegiance towards Aurelian several days later. By the middle of April 1673, General Probus's forces were pushing across the Larkian Way, and towards Varta, the Nandi Colonies, and Eastern Xilania. On May 5, 1673, Zenobia, realizing that all was lost, abandoned Xilania Major with her forces. She then linked up with General Zabdas, who had managed to flee from the Burglais Arm by means of the Corporate Trade Corridor, who met her at Adrianne. But Aurelian was quickly advancing upon them. He and General Probus combined their forces at Jin Major (May 19, 1673), finally storming that stronghold, and then moving towards the Galactic Frontier Route. Chappelear, Natalie, and Tiona were then seized in quick succession (June 1673), and on July 5, 1673, Zenobia suffered a final defeat in the Battle of DeSimms, a battle in which Zabdas lost his life.
 * Twelve days later, the Empress of Xilania and her son were betrayed at Chromy by their own servants, bound in chains, and handed over to Emperor Aurelian. Aurelian, who completed the subjection of the remaining rebel holdouts at Varta, Nandi, and Dali, had Zenobia and Vaballathus brought before him (August 6, 1673). The Emperor, impressed by the courage of his now subdued enemy, decided to spare her life, and on August 18, issued a manifesto which granted them both pardon; however, they would both be obliged to participate in the Emperor's victory progress on Laurasia Prime, and to assume their place as subdued enemies. By the end of September 1673, the Emperor had cleared up all remnants of the Xilanian Empire, thereby bringing those regions back under Laurasian jurisdiction. Furthermore, he suppressed a new civil uprising on Xilania Major (October 2-11, 1673), and ordered for the world's fortifications, defenses, and orbital platforms to be demolished in retaliation. In November 1673, Emperor Aurelian was confronted with yet another outbreak of defiance against his authority, this time at Cibourney and Sassanay. It was provoked by Knight Banneret Firmus Pilasus, who sought to protest the Emperor's policies in regards to noble retainers and requisitions. The revolt, however, was quickly suppressed by General Probus. Banneret Pilasus was captured and arrested, and on December 13, 1673, condemned to death in absentia by the Governing Senate. He would be executed on New Year's Eve, 1673.

1674

 * 1674 began with the Emperor Aurelian's continuing policies of reaction following the final suppression of the Xilanian Empire. The Emperor, who had ordered the executions of many of Zenobia's subordinates and military officers, nevertheless showed mercy to those personnel and servants who had pledged allegiance to her; on January 5, 1674, he issued a formal pardon for all who had been involved against their will, in the "Zenobian Rebellion". Then on January 22, the Emperor began his progress back towards Laurasia Prime. The now former Emperor Vaballathus, who had nevertheless been treated with great civility, died en route at Berhamia (February 2, 1674). On Emperor Aurelian's orders, he would be interred at the Cathedral of St. Xius's on Istantius five days afterwards. On February 27, 1674, the Emperor finally reached Laurasia Prime, and conducted his triumph through the two Calaxies, Hepudermia, Jadia, and into the cities of Laurasia Prime. Crowds of subjects adored their master; turbocannons were fired in salute; the troops of the Guards, Christiania Police, and Imperial Military conducted their routines; and His Majesty received blessings from all of his religious officials. Zenobia was in prominent display; shackled in golden chains, she was placed on a automated transport and taken through the streets of Christiania, exposed to the attention, and the jeers, of Aurelian's subjects. Nevertheless, Aurelian heeded his promise, and on March 15, 1674, confirmed his pardon of Zenobia. She was now affirmed in her title as Dowager Duchess of Calrissian; awarded properties throughout the Laurasia Prime Purse Region; and even invited to the Imperial Court on occassion. In 1675, Zenobia would, with the Emperor's permission and patronage, marry Governing Senator and the former Proconsul of Mariana Prime, Sir Marcellus Petrus (1631-1704), with whom she would have three daughters. She would live well into the eighteenth century and see the reign of Antigonus III the Extravagant, dying on March 24, 1724, at the age of 84.
 * Yet Emperor Aurelian did not remain on Laurasia Prime for long. In January 1674, before he returned to Laurasia Prime, the Emperor had issued a ultimatum to Tetricus of Samantha, offering him an unconditional pardon if he abdicated his throne, dismantled his forces, and surrendered all of his territories back to the Imperial Laurasian Government without delay. Emperor Tetricus, who was engaged in efforts to strengthen his own military and diplomatic position, at first ignored the Laurasian Emperor's offers. Aurelian, however, was determined to use all means necessary to crush this rebel. On March 27, 1674, the Emperor made his formal departure from Laurasia Prime, leaving his loyal General Probus in charge of affairs on the capital world. He proceeded quickly to the Melorkian and Roastafarian Provinces, bringing with him many of the crack units which he had employed in his campaigns against Zenobia. Tetricus, on his part, now faced challenge and trouble at the worst possible venture. At Breha, on April 2, 1674, the Governor of Breha, Sir Faustinius Tigoria, erupted in revolt against Tetricus, refusing to recognize the authority of the "usurper". Within days, he had secured the adherence of the garrisons of Dorothea and Orion III, thereby posing a serious threat to Tetricus's position. Furthermore, the garrisons of Kimanis Mooria and Leo's Redoubt munitied, protesting at the Samanthan Emperor's delay in paying their military wages. Aurelian took advantage of all of this, and in May 1674, pushed the offensive forward into the Barsar Regions.
 * He besieged and conquered Beverly Hereidu (May 13, 1674); drove Samanthan units from Armenia Minor, Woolestone, and Hinds Prime (May 19-29) and on June 3, obtained a major victory in the Battle of Simon. Morley, Stahl, and Cal all surrendered to the Emperor of Laurasia in June 1674, and by July 4, Tolbiac, Khagia, and Dumbgwita had been firmly secured by Aurelian's forces. From thence, Aurelian seized Novina and Harrison (July 9-17, 1674), capitalizing on their utter dissent against Tetricus's regime, and on July 28, he offered a pardon to Governor Tigoria, in exchange for allowing him to retain his positions. Tigoria responded positively, and on August 7, 1674, surrendered custody of all his garrisons into the Emperor's hands. Henderson, Cox, and Banks were stormed by August 19; Leseur and Lange capitulated seven days later. Then, on September 6, 1674, Emperor Tetricus and his son advanced to Chomang, in a last, vain effort to stall Aurelian. The ensuing Battle of Chomang (September 11-16, 1674) resulted in heavy casualties for both sides, but Aurelian ultimately obtained a decisive victory. Narra, Gilestis, and Christopher were conquered before the end of September 1674; Rolle, Filorean, and Millard in October; and Kimanis Mooria on November 7, 1674. Chobania and Offshora surrendered on November 15, 1674, and by the latter weeks of that month, Emperor Aurelian's forces were approaching Goni, Samantha, and Messalina. Allen and Jarman had fallen into his hands in September and October 1674. Finally, on December 3, 1674, Tetricus, realizing that there was nothing more he could do, offered to surrender to Aurelian, along with his officials, forces, and strongholds, promptly, on promise of the pardon. Aurelian, who wished to return to Laurasia Prime to introduce more economic and governmental innovations, and nurturing plans for a war against the Vectorian Empire to seize all of the remaining Anastasian territories still in their possession, accepted this on December 6. Then on December 14, 1674, the garrisons of Samantha, and of all other remaining rebel strongholds, again proclaimed their allegiance to Emperor Aurelian; Tetricus and his son formally surrendered, and abdicated from the Samanthan "throne"; and the Samanthan Empire dissolved. Emperor Aurelian was once again acknowledged as ruler of all the Laurasian dominions, and the Empire had regained its territories in the Northern Outer Borderlands, and in the Eastern Barsar Regions.

1675

 * The year 1675 began with the Laurasian Empire once again reunified, and with its frontiers stabilized. The Emperor Aurelian, by his victories over the breakaway Empires and the Scottrians, had restored the Empire's integrity and overall stability; as the last quarter of the seventeenth century thus commenced, many considered him a savior, sent by the Lord Almitis to atone for his subjects. On January 15, 1675, after securing the allegiance of all remaining rebel holdouts in the Barsar Regions, the Emperor and his main forces began their advance back towards Laurasia Prime. With them were Tetricus and his son; the Emperor had decided to again extend clemency, and once more spared the lives of these of his enemies. Aurelian arrived on Laurasia Prime (January 22, 1675), and was greeted by his subjects with further ceremonial and jubliation. Tetricus and his son were the prominent "enemies" displayed in the Emperor's triumph. Soon after the triumph had concluded, however, Emperor Aurelian conferred upon the elder Tetricus the title of Duke of Samantha, granted him a honorary commission in the Imperial Laurasian Army, and permitted for him to take up residence in Christiania. The younger Tetricus became Lord Tetricus of Goni (March 2, 1675), and was permitted to pursue academic studies at the University of Laurasia Prime. Tetricus would rise to the point that Emperor Probus would name him Governor of Melarnaria in November 1677, a position which he would hold for two years. Upon acceding to the throne in August 1685, Emperor Neuchrus the Reformer would grant Tetricus estates on Goni, Samanatha, Reading, Nanking, Gardiner, Leo's Redoubt, Reading, Breha, Offshora, Messalina, Chobania, and Kimania, among other worlds in the Barsar Regions. Tetricus would, in 1690, be permitted to take up his chief residence at Chobania, and in 1696, was named honorary Proconsul of the star system. He would remain there until his death on November 2, 1705, at the age of 83.
 * Throughout much of 1675, the Laurasian Empire remained in a state of peace, as Emperor Aurelian's plans for war with the Vectorians proceeded forth, and as the Emperor focused on strengthening the Imperial Almitian Church, beginning the economic restorations of regions torn apart by war and rebellion, and maintaining his authority on Laurasia Prime. The Praetor of Darcia, the Baron Felicissimus Tarius, 1st Baron Tarius of Darsis City, attempted to raise protests against the Imperial Chancellory in June 1675, but this was quickly suppressed, and Baron Tarius was executed for his defiance. In July and August 1675, Emperor Aurelian conducted a tour through the Malarian Provinces, examining the defenses of that frontier region (which continued to be plagued by Haynsian and Dejanican raids), and held a series of strategic conferences with his commanders on Malaria Prime, Ularia, White, Almastead, Takrania, Meehan, Manzo, and Naranja, in his efforts to plan out his military strategies. Yet by September 1675, the Emperor's popularity with the Praetorian Guards, and with the civil service, had fled. Aurelian was known for the high standards he demanded of his servants and subordinates, and of his harshness towards those whom he believed contravened those standards. The Emperor believed that it was within his autocratic rights to demand only the best from those who served him, and he was unwilling to tolerate failure. It was this drive for ethics which proved to be the cause of his demise. On September 2, 1675, the Emperor arrived at Caladaria, and took up residence at the High Palace of Gornes in Stansila, which was one of the world's most beautiful cities and resorts. There, the conspiracy against him was formulated. His secretary, Sir Muctapor Isur (1628-75), in cooperation with the officer Lacantes Mageries, of the Praetorian Guard, and ten others of the Emperor's subordinates, now plotted his assassination, determined to rid the Imperial State of one "who did not defend it vigorously".
 * On September 5, 1675, they executed their plan. Emperor Aurelian had developed the habit of walking about his palatial bedchambers in the early morning, contemplating about what had passed, and what more would pass. He had no idea that Mageries, Isur, and their co-conspirators were advancing upon him from down in the hall. They wore full body armor and carried high-power blasters. The Emperor, who had no weapons on him, and wore only his nightclothes, was quickly overtaken by the men. They pushed him into the ground, kicked him brutally, and then fired six rounds into his body, killing him instantly. Aurelian was sixty-one years old at the time of his assassination, but had ruled for only five years. The conspirators soon found that their plans backfired. The Emperor's subjects, the chief institutions of the Imperial Laurasian Government, and the vast majority of his military subordinates had great fondness for his memory. Within minutes, the conspirators were apprehended; on September 14, 1675, the Emperor's death was announced to the public by the Senate and Synod, and those who contrived it were comprehensively denounced. On September 16, Isur, Mageries, and their ten co-conspirators were placed on trial by the Senate and Synod at the High Palace; within hours, they were convicted, and sentenced to death for their crimes. Before this was done, however, the chief bodies of state had taken action to fill the vacancy upon the imperial throne. Almost as soon as receiving word of Aurelian's death, they had pushed forward the elderly Senator and Secretary of the Bureau of Finances, Demetrius Severus, the only surviving member of the Severan Dynasty, as Emperor. Severus was 75 years old, and had little desire for the imperial throne, but he was prevailed upon by influential personages to accept. He was proclaimed Emperor and Autocrat of All the Laurasians on September 11, 1675, just six days after the death of Aurelian. On September 19, he signed the death warrants of the conspirators; they were executed on September 29, 1675. The new Emperor then arrived at Laurasia Prime on October 7, 1675, receiving silenced greetings from his subjects. Aurelian would be blessed by the Holy Synod, and on November 3, 1675, his state funeral would be conducted at the Westphalian Cathedral, with Chief Procurator Boucherius presiding. Emperor Demetrius Severus II, on his part, who knew that he owed his elevation to the throne to his colleagues on the Senate and the Synod, issued, on November 21, 1675, a reconfirmation of their privileges, including the rights to confer damnatio memoriae and excommunication, and the Senate's powers of supervision over the Senatorial Provinces. In December 1675, the Emperor increased the annuities awarded to Senators for performance of their service duties, and commended them in a proclamation from the Imperial Court. Demetrius Severus also removed Gallienus's restrictions on military service, permitting Senators to once again hold ranks of military prestige and of command.

1676

 * The year 1676 commenced with the Laurasian Empire now in the hands of the elderly Demetrius Severus II, last scion of the Severan Dynasty. As mentioned above, this Emperor had taken measures in order to ingratiate himself with the chief institutions of the Imperial Laurasian Government. Furthermore, he now sought to resume with his predecessor Aurelian's plans for war with the Vectorian Empire. Vectorian Emperor Mandaru I had died on January 7, 1674. He had first been succeeded to the Vectorian throne by his cousin Hauharu, who held the throne for a scant four months. Hauharu quickly proved himself to be incompetent, and incapable of effectively managing the resources of the Imperial State. General Shamashi-Adad Adak, who was one of the Vectorian Empire's most prominent military commanders, and had experience in combat with the Laurasian Empire, Celestial Kingdom of Scottria, and Haynsian Despotate, now decided to take advantage of the situation to usurp the throne. On May 11, 1674, having secured the support of the Vectorian High Council of Regents, he instigated a revolt against Emperor Hauharu on Vector Prime. Hauharu found himself abandoned by his own guards, and without support among the ranks of the Vectorian Court or Civil Service. Within hours, the authorities and garrison of Vector Prime had acknowledged Shamashi-Adad Adak as the first Emperor of that name, and of the new Adak dynasty. This dynasty would rule the Vectorian Empire for just thirty-six years, until the Vectorians lost their independence to their Laurasian adversaries in 1711.
 * Hauharu was himself captured on May 22, 1674, as he attempted to flee from Vector Prime; bound in chains, and executed within short order. Shamashi-Adad Adak thereafter instigated on a massive expansion of his military. Vectorian forces at Nagosh, Sassi-ruuk, Rhedita, Vector Prime, Arachosia Prime, Ompus Septimia, Neustron, Anastasia Major, Hospallia Major, Mercia, Camerania, Deira, and other strongholds in the Southern Galactic Borderlands, were reorganized and expanded. Therefore, by January 1676, the Vectorian Empire was by itself geared for war. Yet their Laurasian foes still enjoyed the advantage. Emperor Aurelian's military preparations had been far more rigorous and extensive; Demetrius Severus II, while no military commander himself, simply had to execute them. On January 7, 1676, the Emperor ordered Generals Probus and Lord John Howardis of Soria (who had gained increasing prominence in military service to the Imperial Laurasian Government), to prepare the Empire's forces in the Barsar Regions for the offensive into Vectorian territory. By "prepare", the Emperor meant for them to carry out the strategies drafted by the Imperial General Headquarters. By the middle of January 1676, the Imperial Laurasian Military was posed for a strike into Vectorian territories. Demetrius Severus II issued a formal declaration of war on January 29, 1676, four centuries after the death of the Laurasian King Artabanus the Gentle, and immediately, the Empire's forces advanced. Anastasia Major and Tong both fell into Laurasian possession swiftly (January 29-February 5, 1676). Vectorian counteroffensives against Angela Masia, Ruumlist, and Rhodes failed; on February 17, 1676, General Probus gained a further decisive victory in the Battle of Kimilia, thereby maintaining the Laurasian hold over Nicole and Sejucia.
 * Teutonica then capitulated to the Laurasian Empire (February 27, 1676), and on March 8, Helen was occupied. From this vantage point, Laurasian units began to push into the Galactic Borderlands. Curtis, Natliana, Natalia Wood, and Bree all fell to General Probus (March 1676), and on April 2, he secured another decisive victory in the Battle of Pompus. Five days later, Milking also fell to the Imperial Laurasian Army. Lord John Howardis of Soria, on his part, distinguished himself and his units in military confrontations with Vectorian units at Lwheek, Kaluna, and Genoa (March 7-April 18, 1676). By the end of April 1676, Camerania and Mercia were both under threat. Dedantia, Kaley, and Sulios were all seized in May 1676, and on May 22, General Probus and Lord Howardis combined to impose a siege of Deira, the former Nordanian capital world, and one of the Vectorian Empire's strongest military bases. By that point, however, the health of Emperor Demetrius Severus II had entered a rapid decline. Now 76, the second-oldest Laurasian sovereign in history, Demetrius Severus had never been robust physically. On June 4, 1676, he was found unconscious in his personal bedchambers at the Quencilvanian Palace. Despite the efforts of his physicians, Demetrius Severus never emerged from his coma. He died on June 9, 1676, after a reign of barely nine months, and just five days after being stricken. The news of Emperor Demetrius Severus's death saddened his supporters and colleagues within the Imperial Government, but hardly resonated beyond Laurasia Prime. Many, however, supported the claims of Probus to the imperial throne. But the Senate and Synod had different ideas. On June 12, 1676, just three days after the death of Demetrius Severus II, the chief institutions elected Senator Sir Florian Annius, who had served as Praetorian Prefect of Laurasia Prime since 1672, as the new Emperor. Emperor Florian, who did not have a stomach for war, and believed that the Laurasians had intimidated their Vectorian enemies enough, decided to terminate the conflict of his predecessor. This would prove to be an unpopular decision. On June 24, 1676, the Emperor ordered for General Probus and Lord Howardis to cease hostilities, and to open negotiations with their Vectorian counterparts. Vectorian Emperor Shamashi-Adad, who was confident that he could strike later, accepted the armistice offer on June 27. The Armistice of Tulia was signed on July 4, 1676; negotiations then commenced at Neustron, and continued until August 1, 1676, with the conclusion of the Treaty of Neustron. This treaty ended Demetrius Severus's Vectorian War on the basis of the status quo ante bellum. Therefore, all of the territories which had been occupied by Laurasian military forces, including Hospallia Major, Anastasia Major, and the Sassi-Ruuk Worlds, along with those portions of Nagai, Rhedita, and Tashia seized, had to be restored to Vectorian authority. This angered many within the Imperial Laurasian Government and throughout the Empire. In particular, General Probus, who had considered himself to be the main actor in the Empire's recent victories over the Vectorians, and who had a belief in the vigorous expansion and consolidation of the Imperial State, was enraged by the conclusion of this treaty.
 * Thus, by August 1676, plans of rebellion and unrest were stirring against the Emperor Florian. Many of these tensions were encouraged by General Probus himself, who now sought to assert his own position as Emperor, which he had considered rightfully his after the death of Aurelian. Many of the members of the Governing Senate and Holy Synod, in particular Chief Procurator Boucherius, Archbishop Petreus Livadia of Caladaria, and the Dukes of Christiania, Constantinople, and Osraninpolis, desired for Probus to assume the Imperial Laurasian Crown; by August 11, they were holding secret conferences at the Byrnes Palace, Old Royal Palace, and Senatorial Palace to plot Florian's removal from the throne. Furthermore, the Praetorian Guards demonstrated that they owed the greater loyalty to Probus; he was greatly helped in that his youngest brother, Colonel Sir Titus Probus, was one of the most popular members of the Guards, while another, Sir Georgius Probus, was the Captain of the Christiania Police. All of the elements therefore combined against Emperor Florian, as is now to be shortly demonstrated. Instead of demilitarizing his forces, General Probus now decided to utilize them in his bid to assert himself, and to erupt in open rebellion against Florian's regime. On August 18, 1676, he declared to his troops that he pitied the condition of the Laurasian Empire, and in particular, of the rulers who had "surrendered the honor and fortunes of this state to our foreign enemies." Consequently, he was now rejecting the authority of the Emperor, and was asking for the aid of his troops and personnel in accomplishing his goals. Without hesitation, every man assigned to Probus's command declared their loyalty to him, and proclaimed him Emperor on the spot. Within days, "Emperor" Probus had secured the allegiance of the garrisons of the Ashlgothian Provinces, Borderland Territories, Melorkian Provinces, and Barsar Regions, thereby giving him a substantial territorial base from which to operate from.
 * On August 25, 1676, the claimant Emperor's troops stormed Evan, Jacquentha, and Aretha; the garrisons of Bobria, Merilash, and Carolyn, realizing that resistance was futile, surrendered just two days later. Ethel Kennethia, Korgia, Orithiana, Talaris, and Alec then acknowledged Probus's authority (August 31, 1676), virtually completing his extension of authority over the major strongholds of the Neo-Merlite Provinces. Emperor Florian, alarmed by the outbreak of this rebellion by his most effective military commander, now issued, on August 30, a manifesto from Laurasia Prime condemning the General as a traitor; commanding for all of his loyal subjects to divert all of their efforts to maintaining the authority of the lawful officials and agents in his name; and ordering Lord John Howardis of Soria, as second-ranking commander, to take command and "to halt this heinous rebellion". The Lord of Soria refused however, and on September 2, 1676, he formally swore allegiance to Probus at Trieste, thereby definitively rejecting Florian's authority. On that same day, the garrisons of the Nexus Route, Venasian Triangle, Meaganian, Arias, George, and Brittany all proclaimed their allegiance to Probus. Florian, attempting to now rally the strength of his central military forces in the Core Regions, and to squash the threat of Probus, departed from Laurasia Prime with the Laurasia Prime Core Defense Fleet, the 1st and 2nd Imperial Armies, and a detachment of Praetorian Guards (September 3, 1676), making a rapid progress to Rebecca. From there, he intended to draw resources in order to suppress the threat in the Nexus Route region, and from there, to advance to the Merlite Provinces. The following day, however, just five hours after making his formal arrival at Rebecca, Emperor Florian was assassinated by his own officers, chief of whom was Sir Willanius Parrius (the grandfather of Antigonus III's sixth wife and Empress Consort, Katharina Parrius), at the Laurasian Military Post of Martiz (September 4, 1676). The news of Emperor Florian's assassination quickly spread throughout the Empire; within hours, the Senate, Synod, and Council of Civil Service had been notified of Florian's demise. Probus now found himself hailed as Emperor throughout the Empire's dominions. On September 7, 1676, just three days after Florian's death, the chief institutions of the Imperial Laurasian Government formally acknowledged Probus as Emperor and Autocrat of All the Laurasians; he now assumed the regnal name of Probus I, thereby taking his last name for his first. His brothers, Sirs Titus and Georgius, were automatically raised to become Grand Princes of the Laurasian Empire. By September 13, all of the garrisons and authorities throughout the Empire had acknowledged Probus as Emperor.
 * Probus issued a proclamation from his temporary command headquarters on Merilash, thanking his subjects for their loyalty to him, and for "suppressing, and bringing an end, to the rule of evil fiends who would doom this Empire." On September 21, 1676, the Emperor issued a pardon to Sir Willanius Parrius and the other regicides, declaring that they had "fulfilled the will of Almitis" through striking down Florian. It was not until October 3, however, before the Emperor began his formal progress towards Laurasia Prime. When he arrived there (October 8, 1676), he was greeted by his subjects with much praise and exaltation; many hailed him as a liberator, and he was given the title of "Beloved of the State" by the Senate. Emperor Probus now took immediate action to consolidate his position. He decided to reward those who had assisted him in his rise to power. Lord John Howardis of Soria was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-General and granted the new rank of Viscount Howardis of Soria, thereby elevating him among the ranks of the Laurasian nobility. Sir Willanius Parrius, who had taken the lead in assassinating Florian, was raised to the peerage as 1st Baron Parrius of Kendalia in November 1676. Others, including Sir Jamsius Harringtia, were also rewarded through the grant of titles, annuities, and decorations. On November 7, the Emperor reconfirmed the privileges of the Senate, and he increased the annual donative given to the Praetorian Guards, thereby earning their unqualified support. Five days later, he ordered for Aurelian to be given the posthumous honorific of "Savior of the Laurasian Empire" and to be named Vectorius Maximus, Xilanius Maximus, Scottrius Maximus, and Samanthanus Maximus, thereby honoring him for his victories over these enemies of the Empire. On November 18, the Emperor had Demetrius Severus II given another, more formal memorial service at the Westphalian Cathedral; then two days later, the late Emperor was sanctified by the Holy Synod. As for Florian, Probus had his remains incinerated and dumped into the Pit of Traitors on Jadia (December 1, 1676). Then, on December 27, 1676, he crowned himself Emperor at the Westphalian Cathedral.

1677

 * 1677, the 77th year of the seventeenth century, began with Emperor Probus, who had consolidated his place on the imperial throne through rewarding his supporters, and through alleviating some of the distresses which his subjects had faced following the assassination of Aurelian, deciding to turn his attention to a state which had perennially threatened the security of the Laurasian Empire’s territories in the Western Core; that of the Dejanican-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Laurasia and Dejanica had remained at an uneasy peace for thirty years, ever since the conclusion of the Frontier War in 1646. It is now expedient to provide a description of what had transpired in the Great Amulak Spiral, as regards to the Thirty Year's War, and then the affairs of Dejanica specifically. By April 1632, the Holy Austarlian Empire was in a desperate state. Brandenburg, under Elector Johann Willhelm, had made substantial gains against the Emperor's forces, seizing Liegnitz, Magdeburg, Brieg, Wohlau, and Breslau in a series of coordinated campaigns; the Elector of Brandenburg also first claimed title to rule of Upper Silania, thereby setting the stage for the dispute between Pruthia and Austarlia over that duchy which would last for over a century. Saxony, under the rule of Elector Johann George (1611-56), overran Schlesin and Upper Moravia, penetrating as far as Glatz, Olmutz, Zatec, and Slany.
 * The Saxons and Pruthians, in conjunction with Denmarica, Mecklenburg, and Vendragia, occupied Munich, the capital of the Electorate of Bavaria; Austarlian forces were effectively expelled from Prague and Silania by November 1632. That month, the King of Denmarica died at Lutzen, after having destroyed another Austarlian force there. By 1634, nevertheless, the Austarlians had been expelled from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, Pomerania, Holstein, and Jutland; Salzburg, Linz, and Klag were all in allied hands. In that year, the Haxonian Confederacy launched a renewed invasion of Carnithia and the Tyrol; Bozen and the Archmandarites of Trient and Brixen fell into their hands. Haxonian, Saxonian, and Vendragian forces also won control of Lichtenstein, Valduz, Genoa, and Lausanne. Wallenstein had been assassinated on the orders of Emperor Ferdinand, but the Battle of Nordlingen, fought that year, ended in a decisive Austarlian victory. Austarlian forces quickly recovered Wohlau, Brieg, Breslau, Prague, and Linz; then in January 1635, they invaded the Electorate of Saxony, occupying both Lepizig and Dresden. In March 1635, Elector Johann George was compelled to conclude the Treaty of Prague. Emperor Ferdinand's renewed authority over Bohemia was acknowledged. In that year, Franconia under Charman II, who had concluded the Treaty of Arras with Duke Philivus the Good, obtaining his recognition of his title, and recovering control of the Ile-de-Franconia and Parri, issued a declaration of war against Austarlia. Vendragia, on its part, concluded peace with Austarlia (November 1635) and aligned itself with the Spamalkan Kingdoms. Consequently, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg, Denmarica, Holstein, Saxony, Franconia, and Haxonia were now united against Austarlia, Greater and Lesser Spamalka, Naparia, and Vendragia.
 * During the course of the next ten years, the war continued, with the Franconians continuing to fight the Vendragians in Normandy, Aquitaine, Gascony, and Brittany; the Spamalkan Kingdoms trading blows with Franconia in the Basques, Andorra, and Navarre; Haxonia battling with Naparia over Benevento, the Vatican Circles, Lucca, and Tuscany; and Austarlia engaged in Wurrtemberg, Baden, the Durthian Duchies, Saxony, Bohemia, the Austarlian Archduchies, and against Transylvania, which under George I Rackosy (r. 1630-48) overran Austarlian Royal Hungary and threatened the outskirts of Vienna. The Marasharite Empire, under Ardashir I, supported the Prince's efforts, and from 1632 to 1638, was engaged in its own war in Croatia, Slavonia, and Lower Austarlia; Marasharite forces were also fighting Malta, Lesser Spamalka, Naparia, Genoa, and the Great Breffal Federation at this time. In 1637, Emperor Ferdinand II died, and was succeeded by his son Ferdinand III (r. 1637-57). By August 1645, the Emperor was forced to recognize the need for peace. In September, he concluded the Peace of Vienna with Transylvania, recognizing its rights to autonomy. Negotiations began at Osnabruck and Munster in October 1645; finally, on October 24, 1648, the Peace of Westphalia was signed, ending the Thirty Year's War. By the terms of this agreement, Austarlian rule of Bohemia and Silania was affirmed by the governments of all states. The Decapole in Alsace was conceded to Franconia, as well as Pesrignol near Milania; Austarlia obained Monthelard, Lindau, and Zummarhausen. The Electorate of Brandenburg received Magdeburg, Farther Pomerania, Halberstadt, Kammin, and Minden. Moreover, the succession to the United Duchies of Cleves-Julich-Berg was clarified; Brandenburg received Cleves, Mark, and Ravensberg, while Julich, Berg, and Ravenstein went to the Count Palatinate of Neuberg (which would eventually be inherited by the united Electoral Kingdom of Pruthia in 1698). The Palatinate was divided, with Elector Palatine Char'lac Lujak receiving the Lower Palatinate, while Elector Maximilian of Bavaria received the Upper Palatinate. Wildehausen went to Munster; Bremen, Verden, and Western Pomerania to Denmarica; and Holstein to Mecklenburg (a situation which lasted until 1679).
 * Haxonia received the Braxant region from the Holy Austarlian Empire, but returned its other conquests; the autonomy of the Swiss Duchies was affirmed; and all Burgundian acquisitions in the Durthian Duchies recognized. Moreover, the Electorate of Saxony was formally united, in personal union, with its ducal counterpart (converted into a full union in 1697), and Bavaria received Regensburg. Naparia received Benevento, while Haxonia retained Lucca and the Upper Piomobino. The war among Vendragia, the Spamalkan Kingdoms, and Franconia, however, was not ended; indeed, it was only the Franconian conquest of Normandy in 1653 which shifted the balance of power in that situation. The Treaty of the Pyrenees (1659) ultimately restored peace among all powers. Through this conflict, Dejanica had remained neutral. King Wladlio II of Dejanica died at Merecz on May 20, 1648. He was succeeded by his brother Vologravius V (1648-1668). It was during his reign that the Dejanican-Lithuanian Commonwealth was nearly destroyed in the War of the Deluge (1654-67), one of the most destructive conflicts in Dejanican history. The war began in 1654 when Denmarica under King Gustav X launched an invasion of Livonia, Samogitia, Lithuania, and Amulak Dejanica. Matters escalated quickly, and by 1656, the Duchy of Pruthia, now ruled by A'rua I (since 1640), asserted its complete independence from Dejanica. The war eventually involved the Holy Austarlian Empire, Denmarica, the Vendragian Confederacy, and the Duchy of Pruthia against the Dejanican-Lithuanian Commonwealth; the Marasharite Empire and Great Breffal Federation conducted auxillary campaigns in Belarania, Ukraine, the Mascavanian Provinces, and Podolia, while the Haynsian Despotate launched deep penetrative expeditions into Dejanican territory. At one point, nearly three-fourths of the Commonwealth's territory was occupied by the foreign coalition.
 * Ultimately, however, the Dejanicans enjoyed a revival, and were able to recover their losses in Galicia, Lodomeria, Greater Dejanica, Kuayvia, and the Great Tesmanian Cloud. The Treaties of Olivia (1660) and Andrusovo (1667) finally ended the war, with the newly established Electoral Kingdom of Pruthia's independence from Dejanica confirmed; with Dejanica conceding Ryazan, Rostov, and the Stroganov Territories to the Masacavanian Principalities; and Livonia lost to Denmarica. Vologravius V, humiliated by these defeats, died the following year. He was succeeded briefly by Mersius IV (1668-73), who was left to contend with the results of the war. Following the death of Mersius IV, his cousin, the famed Dejanican General and Hetman of the Crown of Dejanica, Janis Sobieskia, had acceded to the throne. He had gained fame for his victories against the Khlmentskie Rebellion in Dejanican Ukraine (1648-53) and in the War of the Deluge. Following this, he had fought valiantly against the Haynsian Despotate and the Marasharite Empire, during the course of the Cossack Wars (1666-71) and then the War of Podolia (1672-73, 1676), which, although the Dejanican-Lithuanian Commonwealth had to concede Podolia to the Marasharites, nevertheless earned him fame and prestige among the states of extra-galactic civilization. By the late 1670s, the Dejanican-Lithuanian Commonwealth had become entangled in the diplomatic and military struggles of Pruthia, the Germanian Principalities, Haxonia, Franconia, Vendragia, Australia, and Spamalka. In 1675, the King of Dejanica contemplated the seizure of East Pruthia, but he was hampered in this by King A’rua I’s defeat of the Vendragians and the Hessians (1675), and by his treaties with Franconia, Austarlia, and other important powers.
 * Moreover, the Dejanican-Lithuanian Commonwealth continued to contend with the Haynsian raids into its borderland territories, and by early 1677, found itself in the midst of a dispute with the Vectorian Empire, concerning access privileges in the Galactic Void. All of this encouraged Emperor Probus to secure his own position in the Malarian Provinces. On January 12, 1677, the Emperor issued an ultimatum to the Dejanican Court, which was formally delivered to King Janis and to the Dejanican Diet by the Ambassador to Dejanica, the Lord Bucharvius of Oxia Vixius. In this ultimatum, Probus demanded that the Commonwealth terminate all expeditions into the Malarian Provinces, and that, furthermore, it recognize the Empire’s sole title to Shashanaya, Black Chandlier, and the other strongholds of the Dejanican Borderlands. Furthermore, Probus wished for financial compensation for all the damages inflicted by Dejanican forces in Laurasian territory. King Janis, who continued to be distracted by the threats of the Haynsians and the Danubian Principalities, and himself in a struggle with the Diet over taxation and conscription, did not respond to the ultimatum. Instead, he issued reassurances of his general affection for peace, and his hope that the Empire and the Commonwealth could continue in such a state with each other. Probus, however, was determined otherwise. On February 7, 1677, he issued a declaration of war against the Dejanican-Lithuanian Commonwealth, thereby commencing the third Laurasian-Dejanican War of the seventeenth century. Laurasian forces moved quickly to terminate the Dejanican threat in the Malarian Provinces. Ettleman, Meehan, and Manzo were secured against the threat of the Dejanicans (February 1677), and on March 2, 1677,  Lieutenant General Howardis of Soria defeated Dejanican Prince Wladios Murviski in the Battle of the Lower Suri. Laurasian victories at Hadlson, Rogers, Acabania, Takrania, Almastead, Terell, Kanley, and the colonies of the lower Narvet Corridor then followed, and by the end of April 1677, all Dejanican raiding expeditions into the Malarian Provinces had ceased.
 * Laurasian forces now pushed into the Galactic Borderlands, and into the heart of Dejanican Lavella. The Dejanican strongholds of Irutsk, Yarmuk, and Opochok were seized (May 5-14, 1677); on May 22, Lieutenant General Howardis of Soria, in cooperation with a force under the command of the new Prefect of the Praetorian Guards, Sir Antigonus Percius, Earl of Malaria Prime, and Lord Stanelis of Eutropia, destroyed a   second Dejanican force in the Battle of   Myganovisk. Black Chandlier, Shashanaya, and Prutell had all been definitively secured by Laurasian troops by the middle of June 1677. Polotsk was then conquered (June 18-22, 1677), by the Earl of Malaria Prime. The Dvina Straits then became subject to a series of Laurasian assaults, with the bases of Upper Moldoach, Marevoach, and Karmania falling quickly into the Empire’s possession (July 1677). King Janis Sobieskis of Dejanica-Lithuania, who found his attention held by the worsening tensions in Hungary and Transylvania between the Holy Austarlian and Marasharite Empires, and by the events in Burgundy and the Durthian Duchies, could not himself depart for the command. As a consequence, the Dejanicans continued to suffer humiliation after humiliation. Dejan and Antwone were both conquered by Laurasian troops in August 1677, while Emperor Probus himself directed the subjection of Vitesbk to the Laurasian authority (August 18-September 3, 1677). La’delle was seized on September 14, 1677; by the following month, Lavelle and Dequan were both in serious danger. It was at this juncture that the Dejanican Diet now clamored for peace, voting a resolution to the effect on October 2, 1677. This resolution, according to the Dejanican Constitution, had to be accepted by King Janis.
 * On October 18, 1677, the King sent a formal request for an armistice through the Voivode of Dejanican Lavella, Prince Josef Lesckysnikia. Emperor Probus, who had achieved his goal of securing the Malarian Provinces, accepted ten days later. The Armistice of Mariosk was signed on November 4, 1677. The following month, negotiations commenced at Kelvania Minor for the termination of the military conflict.

1678

 * 1678, the 78th year of the seventeenth century, began with the Fourth Laurasian-Dejanican War reaching its culmination. On January 5, 1678, the Treaty of Kelvania Minor was signed, thereby bringing an end to the Third Laurasian-Dejanican War of the century. By the terms of this treaty, the Dejanican-Lithuanian Commonwealth agreed to suspend all future expeditions into the Malarian Provinces, and to recognize the Laurasian Empire’s absolute jurisdiction over that region. Furthermore, the Dejanican Borderlands in the Wild Marshes were now conceded in their entirety to the Laurasian Empire. Irutsk, Yarmuk, Opchok, and Prutell, along with Shashanaya and Black Chandlier, all came into the Empire’s permanent possession. Emperor Probus, who had been responsible for orchestrating this victory, found his popularity with his subjects, and his military forces, raised to a higher tempo. In March 1678, having conducted a victorious "tour" through the Malarian Provinces and through his new acquisitions in the Wild Marshes, the Emperor made his return to Laurasia Prime. Honored by a magnificent triumph in the depths of the capital star system of the Empire, Probus found himself acclaimed Lavellus Maximus by the Governing Senate and Holy Synod.
 * Yet soon after Probus made his return to Laurasia Prime, he was confronted with an unexpected challenge to his position. The challenge came from his elder brother, Grand Prince Georgius, now Duke of Naranja, who entertained pretensions to the Laurasian throne. By February 1678, the Duke of Naranja had assembled his military squadrons, retainers, and supplies at his personal estates on Naranja, Kanley, Almastead, Malaria Outer, Ularia, Odika, White, Timaslan, Kamachina, Pasquarillo, Kelvania Minor, Kelvania Major, Morgania, Merlin, and in the Maluyta Nebula. The Duke conspired with many of his supporters at the Imperial Court, in particular with the Secretary of the Bureau of Space and Colonial Administration, Sir Ligonius Metres, and with the sub-Prefect of the Praetorian Guards, the Lord Billavach of Colombia. It was not until March 18, 1678, however, by which time the Emperor had undertaken a progress to the Venasian Cluster, that the Duke of Naranja erupted in rebellion against him. In his proclamation of rebellion, the Duke claimed that he had the support of the "agents of the Almitian Church", and he promised to award additional donatives and grants to the nobility, Praetorian Guards, and the chief institutions of the Imperial Laurasian Government.
 * And at first, Naranja was able to make some gains in the Malarian Provinces. Welch and Johnald capitulated to the Duke without a fight (March 22-27, 1678), and on April 1, he defeated a government force, under the command of the Governor of Manzo, Sir Leo Brascius, in the Battle of the Jar Asteroids. By the middle of April 1678, Mylae, Rainnon, Rucell, and Metallina had all surrendered to the Duke's forces; on April 28, he obtained another victory in the Battle of Kanjur, storming that important military stronghold and strategic base. Yet by this point, his momentum was already flagging. Rebel offensives against Malaria Prime, Ostak, Evans, and Goodman ended in failure (April 31-May 15, 1678), and on May 19, 1678, Naranja suffered a serious reverse in the Battle of Cryst St. Demosthena, being forced to terminate plans for offensives against Melarnaria, Williams, and Paradine. Metallina and Rucell were then recovered by Lord Howardis of Soria, now detached by the Emperor to face the threat, and in June 1678, rebel units were also expelled from Mylae, the Jar Asteroids, and Welch.
 * On June 22, 1678, Emperor Probus himself strengthened the defenses of Fitzsimmons, Dosch, Katie, Tommy, Vetta, and Arias, thereby denying his brother any change of advancing through to the Eastern Purse Region. On July 2, Timaslan and Kamachina were both reconquered in a series of surprise assaults; then on July 11, the garrisons of Ularia and Odika declared their renewed allegiance to Probus. The Senate formally denounced Naranja as a traitor to the Imperial State on July 18, 1678; two days later, the Emperor ordered for Lord Billavach to be arrested and confined at the Fortress of Baureux. Furthermore, he conducted a second purge of the officer corps of the Guards, rooting out those who openly displayed their sympathy for his traitor brother. And then, on August 18, 1678, Lord Howardis of Soria and the Earl of Malaria Prime combined to ruin Naranja in the Battle of Pasquarillo, thereby effectively terminating all of his ambitious plans for aggressive military expansion. Two days later, Naranja was captured near Zachary. With their leader now in the hands of the Emperor's subordinates, rebel leaders found that they could not go on. By the end of August 1678, Kanley, Almastead, and Malaria Outer, as well as rebel estates and bases in the Morganian and Kelvanian Provinces, had returned to their proper allegiance. On Emperor Probus's orders, more than 250,000 rebels would be tortured, interrogated, and executed publicly, in more than thirty star systems, during the course of the next six months.
 * As for Naranja, he was bound in chains, placed on a prison transport, and brought back to Laurasia Prime (September 14, 1678). He was jeered in public by the Emperor's loyal subjects, and considered a vile traitor. On September 29, 1678, he was tried by the Senate, Synod, and Council of Civil Service at the Public Chambers of the Quencilvanian Palace. Naranja confessed to all of his crimes, and begged for mercy, but none was forthcoming. He was found guilty, convicted on charges of treason, les-majestie, rebellion, and conspiracy, and sentenced to death (October 4, 1678). Emperor Probus did not relent to sign his death warrant, although he did agree to allow for his brother to be executed merely by blaster fire, and in private. The execution took place on October 17, 1678, at the Fortress of Baureux. On the Emperor's orders, Naranja's body was buried at the Chapel of St. Peter ad Vicula in the Fortress. As for Billavach and Metres, they were both executed on October 24 (after being convicted by the Special Court), and their remains were dumped into the Pit of Traitors on Jadia. By November 1678, therefore, Emperor Probus had consolidated himself further upon the Laurasian throne. For the next few months, the Empire remained at peace, as the Emperor focused on suppressing underlying tensions in the Malarian Provinces, and on implementing further changes to the administration of the civil service and military. In particular, his institution of a new merits system in January 1679, would prove to be a precursor to Neuchrus the Reformer's own reforms some years later. As for foreign policy, Probus sought to build closer relations with some of the Empire's neighbors, both in the Amulak Spiral and in the Caladarian Galaxy proper. Commercial treaties were signed with Pruthia, Austarlia, and Haxonia in 1678-79; King A'rua I of Autocratic Pruthia (1640-88), in particular, proved to be amendable to offers of negotiation from the Imperial Laurasian Government. Yet the most important overtures were to Scottria. In June 1677, the two governments had agreed a Treaty of Amity and Commerce, thereby permitting for free transit and navigation privileges in the Garaman Provinces, Berwick Barrier regions, and Rogeria for a period of ten years, for Laurasian and Scottrian merchants respectively, and abolishing all immigration restrictions in those territories.

1679

 * 1679, the 79th year of the seventeenth century, opened with Emperor Probus continuing with his diplomatic overtures. The possibility of a marriage treaty with Scottria was now pursued by him and his government. He first raised the subject to his advisers in June 1678, but it was not until January 2, 1679, before the Imperial Bureau of Foreign Affairs made the formal proposal to its Scottrian counterpart. King Jamsius III of Scottria, who had by now been compelled to abandon his ambitions in the Durthian Duchies, but had expanded his own power through the seizure of the Lordships of the Straits (1674), proved amenable, and accepted the Laurasian offer on January 19, 1679 (the date that Fe'ro II, future Laurasian ally, became King of Greater Spamalka). Negotiations commenced on March 2, 1679, at Madelaine, and they were concluded on April 1 with the signing of the Treaty of Madelaine. Lord John Howardis of Soria, Chief Procurator Boucherius, and the Duke of Christiania were instrumental in securing the agreement. By the terms of the Treaty, the Emperor's second surviving daughter, Cerania, was formally betrothed to the King of Scottria's young son and heir, Duke Jamsius of Rothay (who had been born in 1673).
 * By the terms of this agreement, the Emperor Probus agreed to pay a financial dowry of €550 billion dataries per annum to the Scottrian Court; in exchange, Cerania was to be granted the curtsey title of Princess of Scottria, and, upon reaching the age of fourteen, was to reside at Ediania, at the expense of her future father-in-law. The marriage was to be formally conducted once Grand Princess Cerania reached her eighteenth birthday (in 1687). The Treaty of Madelaine, ratified by both parties by the end of April 1679, seemed at first that it would preserve the peace, and improve relations, between the two realms. Yet other affairs eventually caused for the arrangements to fall apart. In April 1679, Laurasian and Scottrian merchants experienced serious commercial disputes at Frederickshamm, Crusher, Ladoga, Onieda, and in the Berwick Barrier, thereby threatening the free-transit provisions of the agreements. Two months later, a Laurasian reconnaissance expedition strayed from Hypasia into Scottrian Kalbacha, threatening Sherry, Sabinia, Seeben, and the Irand Colonies.
 * In July 1679, the Scottrians refused to allow a Christiania Drive Yards convoy passage through Derith, Erith, and Stirling, thereby resulting in a formal protest from the Imperial Court. The most serious complication, however, arose in connection to the Duke of Albany, who had long been receiving financial subsidies from the Empire. He had for years resisted the King's policies, and in June 1679, matters were worsened when King Jamsius, with the consent of the Estates, seized the Earldom of March, one of Albany's main subsidiary titles, and all of its associated properties. Finally, on September 7, 1679, Albany, unable to take any more of the King's "harsh dealing" with him, decided to flee, by juncture of Swmerick, Derry, and Carrickfergus, into the Galactic Void, and to the Amulak Spiral. He reached the Serene Kingdom of Franconia on September 14, and was formally granted asylum by King Lujak XI "the Spindler" (1661-83), who was known for his intrigue and for his caution. The Scottrian Estates now conducted an intensive investigation of Albany’s estates, and of his activities; his ties to the Emperor of Laurasia were discovered, as well as a full disclosure of all the financial and other aid which he had received in the preceding years.
 * King Jamsius III, who was angered by these revelations, and considered them to be a betrayal of the Treaty of Madeleine, now decided to take action against the Laurasian Empire. In November 1679, soon after Emperor Probus returned from another progress (this time to the Schauerian Provinces), the King of Scottria issued a formal ultimatum to him, demanding for the return of Ranieda Minor, Dasalaburgh, Roxburgh, and Zebetha to the Celestial Kingdom of Scottria; for the disclosure, by the imperial authorities, of all their intelligence and other missions in Scottrian territory; and for the Emperor to apologize for all that he had done to “undermine” his Scottrian neighbor. Probus, who considered all of this to be an insult to this position, but who was himself determined to extend his Empire’s position at Scottrian expense, refused to respond to the ultimatum. The formal declaration of war was issued by the King of Scottria on December 12, 1679, and hostilities promptly commenced.  Zebetha and Ranieda Minor were both stormed in quick succession by Scottrian units (December 14-29, 1679); Aretha was harried by Scottrian expeditions.

1680

 * 1680, the 80th year of the seventeenth century, saw the Scottrians making further progress against the Laurasian Empire. In January 1680, Roxburgh itself was besieged by Scottrian forces under the command of the Earls of Rothes and Glasgow. On January 17, the Earl of Mar, who had been a supporter of Albany’s, died suddenly on Ediania; Jamsius now had the gall to proclaim that Laurasian agents were now conspiring to assassinate all of his nobles. Roxburgh itself fell on February 1, 1680, but only after extensive effort by Scottrian forces. By February 17, Garama, Gholaia, Cydamus, and Garbia had all been stormed by Scottrian units; Castellum Dimmidi, Jacquenthia, Merilash, and Orithiana were all in serious danger.
 * Emperor Probus now found his attention diverted by a uprising, led by the Governor of Iego, Major-General Sir Julius Saturninus, a former comrade of the Emperor’s, in the Robertian Provinces (March 1680). Within weeks, General Saturninus had extended his authority over Brenda, Dickinson, Abuza, the OsonBoka Nebula, Jeanne, Meredith, Meris, and Wakedia, thereby posing a serious threat to the imperial position in those regions. Parsons was seized (April 2-17, 1680), and by April 22, Homidinia Minor, Julianne, and Izzia had all been blockaded by rebel forces. Furthermore, Archbishop Proculus Semirania of Jasonia encouraged a civil revolt against the Emperor’s officials in that star system, and on May 2, proclaimed that Probus was the "incarnation of the anti-Almitis". The Emperor, however, now devised a vigorous response to all of these challenges. On May 7, 1680, he ordered his Praetorian Prefect, the Earl of Americana, into action against rebel forces in the Robertian Provinces; Lord Howardis, Viscount of Soria, on his part, assumed command of the Empire’s forces in the Garaman Provinces, while the Emperor himself embarked to suppress the disturbances on Jasonia. Americana proved to be ruthless in his response to General Saturninus’s Rebellion; on May 14, 1680, he defeated a rebel assault upon Walters and Beharis in the Battle of the Raft, and on May 21, he secured Wakedia from rebel units. Meris was reconquered on May 26, followed by Jeanne (June 1); Julianne (June 2-4); and Izzia (June 10). Sofia, Jagronia, and McEvlogue then became the scene of successive governmental victories over rebel forces (June-July 1680), and by August 3, 1680, Brenda and Dickinson were both under siege. At the same time, the Emperor suppressed civil uprisings on Akamaar, Gargonia, Negro, Jabul, Adiabene, and Adenystrae; on June 29, 1680, Jasonia surrendered to him without a fight, and the rebellious Archbishop Semirania was tried, convicted, defrocked, and condemned to perpetual imprisonment by the Holy Synod.
 * As regards to affairs in the Garaman Provinces, the Laurasian Empire quickly reassumed the advantage. General Howardis of Soria ended the threat against Merilash in the Battle of Branada (May 14-19, 1680); Garama, Cydamus, and Garbia were reconquered by the end of the month; and on June 17, 1680, Howardis of Soria defeated the Earl of Glasgow in the Battle of  Damgurang. Castelleum Dimmidi was relieved as a result, and on July 13, 1680, Roxburgh was besieged in turn, by Laurasian units. Its fall (August 15, 1680), completed the termination of the Scottrian offensive. On August 22, 1680, Zebetha and Ranieda Minor both fell back into the Empire’s hands; on that same day, Dickinson capitulated to the Earl of Americana. Brenda followed on August 28, and on September 2, 1680, Meredith was laid under siege. Governor Saturninus, who had been so confident in his own abilities, lost the loyalty of his troops, and on September 17, 1680, he was assassinated in his personal headquarters by blaster fire. Meredith and other remaining rebel bases surrendered the following day, thereby ending the Saturninian Rebellion. By that point, Dasalaburgh had fallen back into the Empire’s hands, and on October 1, 1680, Ranieda Major, which had remained in Scottrian hands until now, fell under siege by the Imperial Laurasian Forces. The Siege of Ranieda Major dragged on for more than a month, but when it fell on November 4, the Scottrian threat to the Garaman Provinces was formally terminated. Ladoga, Onieda, and the Berwick Barrier strongholds became the next targets, and all fell, one by one, by the end of November 1680. Frasier, Wheaton, Crusher, McFadden, and McKellen were then subdued in December 1680, and by the end of that year, Laurasian forces were pushing into the Central Galactic Borderlands.

1681

 * On January 5, 1681, Cognus, which had served as a major Scottrian base for operations into the Wild Marshes, and thence into the Hypasian and Angelican Provinces, was conquered by Lord Howardis of Soria and Sir Willanius Parrius in a joint operation. Ten days later, Bane also surrendered to the Laurasian Empire. Zannah, however, proved to be a stubborn holdout, and it required a Laurasian victory at the Battle of Gruther (February 2, 1681), before that stronghold too submitted to the Laurasian power. Michael and Thayer, Scottrian colonies in the vicinity of Kalbacha Minor, were then stormed (February 1681), and Laurasian forces now struck into the heart of the Kalbachan Provinces. On February 22, 1681, furthermore, Bristain and Partisa I were both stormed by Emperor Probus, who had now proceeded swiftly to the Galactic Borderlands, to assume the main post of command. The El Paso Colonies, Sasha VI, and Scillus then were conquered, and on March 4, 1681, the Battle of Perth resulted in another decisive victory for Laurasian arms. On March 16, 1681, Kathy Minor surrendered after a brief struggle with Laurasian units, and the Earl of Sutherland was forced to call a retreat from Onasi, Waxefield, and Dehner, all of whom were being harried by Laurasian reconnaissance expeditions. Patricia and Hidemnia Sauria were both seized in April 1681, and on May 5, 1681 (a century before the conclusion of the Treaty of Invictis Mesura between Laurasia and Austarlia), Kathy Major surrendered. Vilmanstrand, the Riverite Asteroid Belt, and Janeway, which had been stubborn holdouts, were all seized by the end of May 1681. On June 9, 1681, Emperor Probus obtained another decisive victory in the Battle of Frederickshamm, thereby completing the expulsion of Scottrian units from the Berwick Barrier. Rogeria Minor, Thak Duro, and Guh Naso were seized in July 1681.
 * By August 1681, the Imperial Laurasian Navy was actually launching expeditions into the Galactic Void, and the Scottrian outposts of Rigallia, the Lower Void Belt, and Shervina were seized in succession. On September 1, 1681, Rogeria Major surrendered to General Howardis of Soria and to Admiral Sir Theodosius Levashius (the great-grandfather of one of Empress Aurelia the Great’s most prominent military commanders), thereby completing the extension of Laurasian control over the Rogerian Provinces. Rasdalla Minor followed on September 17, and Seeben followed on the 22nd. Sabinia, however, did not surrender until October 3, 1681. In November 1681, with Sherry and Rasdalla Major both under threat from Laurasian forces, Emperor Probus received word of yet another revolt against his authority, this time in the Galician Provinces. Frogglesworth, Doris, Anthony, Volodormia, and Galich Minor were encompassed by the pretensions of Sir Bonsous Argellio, who had secured access to a corps of Dasian and Arachosian conscripts. The Emperor turned to face this new threat, and in a series of confrontations at Borodino, Cossack, Galich Majoria, and Rossach, quickly ended the rebellion. On November 29, 1681, Argellio committed suicide before he could be captured. On Ascentmas Day, 1681, with Barching and Jakarta in Laurasian hands, Rasdalla Major surrendered.

1682

 * 1682, the 82nd year of the seventeenth century, commenced with the Laurasian Empire of Probus I having faced down further internal threats, and on the ascendancy over the Scottrians in the Galactic Borderlands. On January 7, 1682, Sherry surrendered to Emperor Probus; this was shortly afterwards followed by the conquest of Kathy Major, thereby completing the effective subjugation of the Rasdallan Provinces. By the beginning of February 1682, Emperor Probus’s forces had overrun Kuris, Gwyenne, Kalbacha Minor, and Kania, with the Scottrians holding on to the Galactic Barrier and to the Northern Kalbachan Territories. King Jamsius III, faced by revolt in the Dumbarton and Outskirt Districts, and himself in danger of bankruptcy, decided, on March 3, 1682, to seek for peace with the Laurasian Empire. Six days later, he sent a request for a military armistice by means of the Earl of Morton, who was Governor of the Upper Galactic Barrier. On March 15, 1682, Emperor Probus himself, who was determined to turn his attention to other matters, accepted the armistice offer. The Armistice of Alemeda was signed (March 27, 1682); on April 9, negotiations began at the Belts of Barton in the Core Worlds. Two months of negotiations followed, as the Scottrian delegation made the greatest effort to regain control of the Rasdallan, Canian, and Southern Kalbachan Provinces, and as the Laurasian delegation (led by Chancellor Sir Thomasius Rotterdamia), sought to strengthen the Laurasian position in the Garaman Provinces. Finally, however, the Treaty of the Belts of Barton was signed (June 11, 1682), thereby concluding the Laurasian-Scottrian War of 1679-82.
 * By the terms of this treaty, the Laurasian Empire restored Kania, Rasdalla, Kalbacha, and Rogeria to the authority of the Celestial Kingdom of Scottria (those territories would remain under Scottrian control into the first half of the eighteenth century). However, King Jamsius III of Scottria now agreed to the concession of Ranieda Major, the Eastern Berwick Barrier, Ladoga, Onieda, and the Hypasian colonies of Prsi Burhadi, Mamdh Buhamidal, and Adjuajei to the Laurasian Empire; furthermore, Laurasia gained the right to occupy the Western Berwick Barrier, including Vilmanstrand, Frederickshamm, Crusher, Wheaton, and Janeway, for a period of ten years (to 1693). Furthermore, the Scottrian Government agreed to reconfirm all free-transit privileges previously granted to Laurasian merchants, and to extend these to the whole of the Scottrian Galactic Borderlands (until January 1, 1699). Finally, King Jamsius agreed to dispense the amount of €75.5 trillion denarii over the course of the next five years, to compensate the Imperial Laurasian Government for military and property damages. The Treaty of the Belts of Barton was ratified by Emperor Probus on June 28, and by King Jamsius III on July 12, 1682.
 * Almost as soon as the Treaty of the Belts of Barton was concluded, Emperor Probus turned his attention to a major territorial goal, a goal which had been an ambition of the Laurasian Empire’s since earlier in that century. This was the goal of the subjection of the old Dasian Heartland, ruled by the Kingdom of Karakorum, to the jurisdiction of the Laurasian Empire. Probus was encouraged in this goal by the renewal of overt hostilities between the Marasharite Empire, Haynsian Despotate, and Danubian Principalities on the one hand; and the Holy Austarlian Empire on the other. Under the rule of Ardashir I and his son, Shapur I, the Marasharite Empire entered a period of military revival and renewed, aggressive conflict against its neighbors into the second half of the seventeenth century. Ardashir's wars against Haxonia, Dejanica, the Great Breffal Federation, Austarlia (from 1632 to 1637), and Laurasia, during the first decade of his reign, have already been noted. The Marasharite-Austarlian War of 1632-37, instigated by Emperor Ardashir, in his effort to take advantage of Austarlia's entanglements with the Germanian Principalities, Brandenburg, Denmarica, Vendragia, and Franconia, among other powers, had ended with the Treaty of Linz, by which Karlstadt, Sathmar, Frausbach, and the Eastern Captiancy of Upper Hungary were conceded to the Marasharite Empire. Immediately following the conclusion of this conflict, Emperor Ardashir had renewed the offensive against the Great Breffal Federation; the ensuing war (1637-39), ended in a decisive victory for the Marasharite Empire, with the Marasharites overrunning Tabriz, Hamadan, and Baghdad, the capital of the Mesopotamian Regions.
 * The Treaty of Zhuab resulted in the restoration of Mesopotamia, Elam, Kuwait, Western Armenia, Western Georgia, and the Amulak Caucasian Colonies to the Marasharites. There had then followed the exhaustive Second Ardashiran War (1639-44). Following Ardashir's death in February 1642, Shapur continued with his father's policies of aggressive military expansion. He instigated the Cretan War with the Haxonian Confederacy, which began in June 1645. This war was destined to become the longest conflict in the Marasharite Empire's history, dragging for the next twenty-four years. The Marasharites, supported by the Barbary States, Ragusa, and the Haynsian Despotate, opposed the Haxonians, Genoa, Florence, the Duchy of Milania, Naparia, and the Kingdom of Greater Spamalka (after 1652). The Knights of Malta, Lucca, and the Romagna Principalities also became involved against the Empire. Marasharite forces overran most of the major strongholds of the Cretan Provinces between 1645 and 1648, with Chania, Rethymno, Ierapetra, Agios Nikolaos, and Sitra falling into Marasharite hands. The Haxonians however, resisted at Herkalion, besieged by the Marasharites from May 1648, which defied the Marasharites year after year.
 * Marasharite forces clashed with the Haxonians in Dalmatia, Ragusa, Epirus, and Macedonica; they overran the Sicilian Wayward Colonies; and they launched unsuccessful assaults against Malta, Naparia Prime, Tivorli, Leghorn, and other strongholds in the Italianian Provinces. Cyrene, Tripoli, Tunis, Boni, and Upper Aegyptiania fell under allied assaults, and the Haxonians expelled the Marasharites from Bahrain and Hormuz. Ultimately, however, the Haxonian resistance wore down, and in September 1669, Herkalion finally fell to the Marasharites. Later that month, the Treaty of Ravenna finally restored peace between Haxonia and Marasharita. Haxonia acquired Boi, Carvut, and Korcula in Dalmatia, but this was minor compensation by comparison. Marasharite overlordship of Bahrain was restored, and border rectifications were made in the Wayward Colonies. This same period, however, witnessed other conflicts for the Marasharite Empire. Besides the Shapuran War (1653-64), against the Laurasian Empire, as already noted, the Marasharites also engaged in military conflicts with the Southern Mascavanian Principalities (1648-51); Scottria (1650-52); Lesser Spamalka (1653-55, in support of Granada), and from 1656-59, subjugated the Sultanate of Morocco, which had been a bitter enemy of the Barbary States of Tripoli, Tunis, Algiers, and Mauritania for nearly two centuries. Moreover, in 1656, Shapur appointed a new Grand Vizier: Korpulu Ahmed Pasha, the first of that dynasty to ascend to the highest executive position in the Marasharite Empire.
 * The new Grand Vizier, besides encouraging his master's campaigns in the Caladarian Galaxy, instigated an intervention in Transylvania in May 1660, deposing George II Rackoszy, Prince of Transylvania, who had become involved in the Dejanican War of the Deluge and had aligned himself with Austarlia, Brandenburg, and Denmarica against the Commonwealth. The Marasharites had compelled Transylvania to pay tribute from 1654, and sought to strengthen their influence over those territories against the Holy Austarlian Empire. And indeed, in 1659, hostilities with Austarlia were renewed again. By that point, Austarlia was under the rule of Lea'dus I (1657-1705), whose reign was to see a considerable expansion of his empire's territory, power, and influence. Lea'dus had inherited the War of the Dejanican Deluge; by 1657, Austarlian forces had overrun Galicia, Lodomeria, Southern Lesser Dejanica, Sandomierz, and parts of Belarania and Pinsk. Yet Austarlian forces continued to clash with Marasharite, Danubian, and Haynsian units in Croatia, on the Military Frontier, and in Royal Hungary. Finally, war had erupted in September 1659, as the Austarlian Emperor was determined to prevent Marasharita from extending its direct rule over Transylvania. Austarlian forces launched a series of campaigns in Budin, the Upper Captaincies of Marasharite Hungary, and into Transylvania itself, seizing Debrecen, Varad, and Hurst, and blockading Eger.
 * Marasharite forces, however, penetrated into Croatia and Slavonia, conquering Gospic, Zabreg, Pasin, and Llubjana (1660), and inflicting severe damage upon Austarlian military positions in those star systems. In April 1661, Prince Janos Kameny, who had been installed by the Transylvanian Diet in defiance of the Marasharites, rebelled and issued a declaration of war. In response, Shapur and Grand Vizier Korpulu Ahmed launched a massive invasion of Transylvania; Kameny was compelled to flee to the Austarlian Archduchies, and Transylvania itself was placed under Marasharite military occupation. Marasharite forces then drove the Austarlians from Debrecen, Varad, and Hurst; relieved Eger; conquered Pressburg; and pressed into Royal Hungary. Odenburg, Steniamanger, Neutra, Tyrau, and Trentschin all fell into Marasharite hands. By 1662, Slavonia and Moravia were under invasion. Kranj, Velenjie, and Novo Mesto were all sacked by the Haynsian Despotate; Marasharite forces penetrated as far as Izonza and Austarlian Istria. In Moravia, Ostrava and Zlin were conquered. Marasharite efforts to storm Nove Samky failed six times during 1661 and 1662, but in January 1663, the stronghold finally fell into their hands. Ersekuvjar also fell into Marasharite possession in April 1663. By the end of 1663, Marburg, Lalach, and Graz were all under threat. In early 1664, the Austarlians launched a counteroffensive, and the Florencian Count Raimondo Montecuccoli managed to recover Darda, Pressburg, Odenburg, Neutra, Tyrau, and Llubjana from the Marasharites.
 * In March 1664, however, Novi Zirin fell into the Grand Vizier's hands; the Marasharites then isolated Linz and moved directly against Vienna. Montecuccoli, supported by units from Bavaria, Saxony, Wurttemberg, and Baden, all of whom had aligned themselves with the Austarlians, won a decisive victory at St. Gotthard (August 1, 1664), thereby halting the Marasharite advance. Shortly afterwards, Shapur asked for peace, and the Treaty of Vasvar, signed later that month, restored peace. Austarlia recovered all lost strongholds. Uygur and Transylvania were confirmed to be under the jurisdiction of the Marasharite Empire. The Treaty of Vasvar maintained peace between the two empires for the next two decades. During that time, Marasharita engaged in wars with Scottria (1666-67), Portugallia (1671-75), the Great Breffal Confederation (1669-71, 1677-81); the Cossack Wars and the War of Podolia, involving Marasharita, the Danubian Principalities, and Haynsia against the Dejanican-Lithuanian Commonwealth, were also fought during this time. But by the early 1680s, the Marasharites and Austarlians were on the path to war again.
 * In Royal Hungary, widespread unrest transformed into open rebellion against the Emperor Lea’dus I’s regime, arising out of his pursuit of centralization and religious conformity policies throughout his realms. In 1681, various anti-Habsburg forces, led by Imre Thokoly, erupted into formal rebellion against the Emperor, and received assistance from the Marasharites, who recognized Thokoly as King of "Upper Hungary". The Marasharites promised to confer the "Duchies of Austarlia" upon Upper Hungary if they prevailed. During 1681 and 1682, clashes between the forces of Thokoly and the Holy Austarlian Empire intensified, and the incursions of Austarlian forces into Central Hungary allowed for the Marasharite Grand Vizier, Kara Mustafa Pasha, to convince Emperor Mehmed IV (who had ruled since 1673), and his Grand Council to authorize for war. The Emperor permitted him to operate as far as Kmoram and Gyor in Royal Hungary. War was formally declared on August 6, 1682, although Marasharite forces in the Great Amulak Spiral were mobilized from January. It would not be until January 1683, however, before the Emperor extended the range of operations indefinitely; in that month, Austarlia and Dejanica concluded the Treaty of Dejanica Major, pledging common assistance to each other if either were menaced by the Marasharites.
 * All of these developments therefore encouraged Probus to assault Karakorum, which had been under Marasharite “friendship” or protection since 1656. On August 2, 1682, the Emperor mobilized his military forces at Sierra, Felix, Glassia, Capone, Mocktrialis, Scanlan, Garner, and among the strongholds of the Corporate Sector. Ten days later, he dispatched a ultimatum to the King of Karakorum, the Brestord Manna I of Houston, demanding that the Karakorianites recogize the jurisdiction of the Laurasian Empire, and surrender all of their garrisons to the Laurasian Emperor’s authority. King Manna, confident that his Marasharite “protectors” would not fail him, failed to respond to the ultimatum. On August 22, 1682, therefore, Emperor Probus issued a formal declaration of war and launched his invasion of Karakorum. Syr-Daria, the Oirat Complex, and Vandross fell quickly into the Empire’s hands (September 1682), and on September 22, 1682, the Battle of Mary-Lou ended in a decisive victory for the Emperor. Four days later, after halting a Karakorian counteroffensive against Theodore and Andrea Doria,   the Emperor besieged Tyson. Tyson’s fall (September 31, 1682), therefore entrenched the Laurasians in Karakorum. Belkadan was then besieged (October 2-17, 1682), and fell, with Brestord General Alelda being captured, tortured, and then executed on the Emperor’s orders. Nedao surrendered on November 2, 1682; four days later, with Sernapasia and Houston both isolated by Laurasian units, Emperor Probus approached the outskirts of Karakorum. Karakorum, once the capital world of the Great Dasian Empire, and the throne-world developed by the Great Khans Ogedei, Mongke, and Kublai, had a population of six hundred million inhabitants in the late seventeenth century, a far cry from the height it had enjoyed eight centuries earlier. Nevertheless, as the capital world of the Kingdom of Karakorum, it was an important target of the Emperor’s, and its capture would bring the last of the Dasian capital worlds into Laurasian possession, following Saray (1267), Crimean IV (1321), Istantius (1412), Venasia Prime (1506), Jasonia, Samarkand, and Hunt Major (1516).
 * The Siege of Karakorum formally commenced on November 9, 1682, and lasted for the better part of the month. The Garrison of Karakorum was commanded by the Arachosian mercenary-General Nirgusha-Pelit, who was one of the Kingdom’s leading military commanders, and was renowned for his formidable defensive and strategic skills. Consequently, the forces of the Empire experienced serious casualties in the course of the siege; numerous assaults by the defensive garrison across the Karakorum Straits, Karakorum Outposts, and at the minor systems of Karkol and Tsoss Station caused irritation for the Laurasians. Ultimately, however, with General Lord Howardis of Soria leading the main offensive charge, Karakorum’s shield defenses finally succumbed to the relentless Laurasian assaults (November 28, 1682), and the Emperor Probus was able to execute the swift, and final, land offensive. The Valley of the Khans, the Karakorum Admittance Station, and the quadrants of the Great City of Dasia were all overrun by the 9th and 11th Regiments of the 30th Imperial Army; Lord Stanelis in particular distinguished himself in the military confrontations. It was not until December 7, 1682, however, before the ruins of the Golden Palace fell into Laurasian hands; the following day, Nirgusha-Pelit, who found himself besieged and battered from all directions, surrendered. By December 14, the entire Karakorum star system was in the possession of the Laurasian Empire.
 * Emperor Probus was ruthless, and he gave his troops leeway to plunder the businesses, homes, and properties of many of those resident on the world. The Emperor was determined to savor in this victory, and to cast the impression of the Empire’s relentless victory over its enemies. Furthermore, Karakorum, once the "jewel of the Caladarian Galaxy", was now in Laurasian hands, and he was determined to exact his revenge upon the remnants of a once great civilization, who had oppressed and brutalized the Laurasians in their time. During the course of the next three months, millions of Karakorian denziens would be executed, deported, or imprisoned by the Empire’s invading forces; many of the planet’s settlements and cities would be despoiled, and laid bare; and the treasures of the Karakorian Treasury were borne off, to the benefit of the Imperial Laurasian Government. Karakorum’s population fell to less than two hundred million by 1688; it would fall even further to forty million by 1725, and would never fully recover from this latest, devastating foreign incursion (following those of 987, 1005, and 1141). Empress Aurelia’s reign would see a surge of foreign colonists, and a stage of economic rehabilitation, but even at the end of the eighteenth century, Karakorum would have a population of only 65 million. With the fall of Karakorum, the Emperor Probus’s subjection of the remainder of the Dasian Heartland proceeded at a rapid pace. Tataria fell (December 11, 1682), and on December 14, Sernapasia finally surrendered. Dasian General Timur-Gimshan was captured, interrogated, and then imprisoned on the Emperor’s orders, at Ipsus V; more than 30,000 officers of the Sernapasian garrison were executed or tortured; and many of the world’s agricultural, industrial, and mining colonies were laid waste. Houston then surrendered (December 19, 1682), and was shortly afterwards followed by Nandi Diri (December 22) and Elbing (December 24). By the end of 1682, the Oirat Complex and Upper Belkadan were the only remaining strongholds still under Karakorian control.

1683

 * 1683, the 83rd year of the seventeenth century, commenced with the Emperor Probus’s nearly concluded campaigns in the Dasian Heartland. The Emperor of Laurasia, now hailed by many of his subjects as a military conqueror, sought to complete the rapid subjection of the remaining Karakorian holdouts, and to return to Laurasia Prime to celebrate his triumph. On January 10, 1683 (a century before the Fall of Imokhill during the Desmonian Rebellion), Probus obtained a decisive victory in the Battle of Uiratia, thereby compelling the surrender of that stronghold and the destruction of Karakorian supply lines to the Oirat Complex. Pandi Diri, Trans-Glassia, and the colonies of Rataria, Ukhari, and Ogediana then fell in succession (January 12-24, 1683). Finally (January 29, 1683), the Oirat Complex fell under siege. The Complex, once one of the most imposing military complexes and colonies in the Dasian Heartland, was a shadow of itself, but yet had become an important fortification for the Kingdom of Karakorum.  It was commanded by Prince Yurveli of Sernapasia, an Anastasian migrant who had risen high in Karakorian service. Nevertheless, the Emperor Probus’s forces accomplished their task, with the Oirat Stockades falling first. On February 4, 1683, the Central Oirat Repository then became subject to a Laurasian assault; its fall five days later, compounded with the death of Prince Yurveli in a futile last charge against Laurasian warships, completed the fall of the Complex. Upper Belkadan then surrendered (February 12, 1683), and four days later, the remains of King Manna I and his personal flagship were found floating near Morlan. On February 24, 1683, the surrender of Goncan and Honcharania, on the very outskirts of the Outer Borderlands, completed the conquest of Belkadan.
 * Emperor Probus now began his progress back to Laurasia Prime in due order, entrusting Howardis of Soria and Parrius with providing for the further consolidation of Laurasian rule over the Dasian Heartland. The Emperor departed from Glassia on the Corridor on March 1, 1683, and proceeded promptly with his military forces, down the Larkian Way, to Laurasia Prime. Arriving at the Empire’s capital world four days later, the Emperor was greeted with much ceremony by the inhabitants of the star system. He conducted a triumph through Hepudermia, Jadia, the two Calaxies, and the Approaches of Christiania, before descending into the city itself. Christiania, and all of Laurasia Prime’s other cities, greeted His Majesty with a series of parades, performances, firework displays, and honorary salutes, both by the troops of the garrison and by the respective police forces, local governmental authorities, and nobles. The Quencilvanian Palace, Westphalian Cathedral, Senatorial Palace, Old Royal Palace, Imperial Academy of Sciences, Imperial Academy of Arts, the Galactic Opera, and the Universities of Laurasia Prime and the Empire were all decked out in full colors for the ceremonies. These continued for the next several days, and the Holy Synod, as well as the Governing Senate, honored the Emperor with the title of Dasianus Maximus (March 12, 1683).
 * Yet by that point, the Emperor’s health had entered a serious decline. As early as September 1682, Probus had complained of a nagging pain in his back. By March 1683, headaches, eye strain, and constipation were added to his health troubles, and he found himself constantly tired, dehydrated, and distracted. On March 19, 1683, the Emperor was compelled to undergo emergency brain surgery; this was further compounded by subjection to a regime of medicinal and bacta treatments, with the hope of reviving his condition and of alleviating his symptoms. None of this worked, however, and on April 1, 1683, the Emperor suffered a stroke in his personal bedchambers, which left him paralyzed and unable to move from his bed. Now immured in the Royal Hospital, Probus struggled to issue commands to his subordinates. His subjects were astounded by this sudden change in his condition, and attributed it to "unhappy" circumstances. They now prayed constantly for him, and entreated the Lord Almitis to be kind to them.
 * It was not to be. On April 6, the Emperor gave his approval to his final will and testament, formally naming his elder son, Grand Prince Maximinus, who was then only ten years old, as his successor, and entrusting his younger brother, Grand Prince Titus, with the title of "Lord Protector of the Laurasian Empire", thereby giving him the authority to govern the Imperial State in his nephew’s name, and to look after his nephew’s interests until he reached his majority (at eighteen). This was the first time in the history of the Laurasian Empire that a Lord Protector was named. Three days later, on April 9, 1683 (almost exactly a century before the annexation of the Haynsia by Empress Aurelia the Great, and whilst the Siege of Vienna by the Marasharite Empire was ongoing), Probus I died at the age of 51, after having reigned for barely six years. In accordance with the arrangements in his will, his son Maximinus was proclaimed Emperor, the first in the Imperial Laurasian Period to accede to the throne while still a minor.
 * The new Emperor Maximinus, who had been at the Palace of Placenta on Darcia, at the time of his father’s death, was brought to Laurasia Prime (April 15, 1683), by Howardis of Soria. On that day, his uncle, Grand Prince Titus (then 30 years old), formally assumed the title and rank of Lord Protector. At first, it seemed as if everything was well. Titus declared his adherence to the testament of his brother, and on April 17, on his orders, the Holy Synod blessed his memory. Four days later, Probus was formally buried at the Westphalian Cathedral. By the end of April 1683, plans were underway for Maximinus’s coronation; the Lord Protector, on his part, ingratiated himself with the Empire’s populace through the alleviation of tax rates, the conferral of pardons for lesser offenses, the reduction of conscription, and the commutation of obligations. Yet by this point, Titus was already revealing his true nature, and his true intentions as regards to Maximinus and his younger brother, Andronicus. On April 29, 1683, the Lord Protector had a conference with the Duke of Goldaria and Sir Richardius Greysius, the brother and nephew, respectively, of Probus’s Empress Consort, Flavia Agrippina. This conference took place on Ralina Vixius. Shortly after the conference ended, the two were arrested and imprisoned upon the Lord Protector’s orders, at the Monastery of Windowia Photis.
 * On May 4, 1683, the Lord Protector, who had "informed" the Emperor of an attempted conspiracy by Goldaria and Greysius, had him moved to the Imperial Apartments at the Fortress of Baureux. Dowager Empress Flavia, on her part, took sanctuary at the Westphalian Cathedral, together with her five daughters and her youngest son, the Duke of Constantinople. It was not until June 16 before the Dowager Empress agreed to hand over Constantinople into the custody of Chief Procurator Boucherius, so that he could participate in his brother’s coronation, planned for June 22. Yet on June 11, Titus sent communiques to Lord Nevillius, the City of Christiania, and other Laurasian notables asking for their support against “the Dowager Empress and her colleagues, who have conspired relentlessly against the authority of our government.” On June 13, Sir Willanius Hastingta was attainted and executed on the orders of the Lord Protector; others, such as Lord Thomasius Stanelis and Bishop Mortonia of Apathama Vixius, were arrested and imprisoned. Shortly afterwards, the Lord Protector was “informed” by the Archbishop of Americana that Dowager Empress Flavia was illegitimate, and that consequently, her children were ineligible to ascend to the Imperial Laurasian Crown. On June 22, 1683, the Archbishop preached a sermon at St. Katherine’s Cathedral, proclaiming the late Emperor Probus’s children bastards, and recognizing Titus as the rightful Emperor. On June 26, 1683, the Governing Senate, Holy Synod, and Council of Civil Service confirmed the bastardizations of Maximinus and his siblings; formally deposed the ten-year old boy from the throne; and proclaimed Titus Emperor and Autocrat of All the Laurasians, just over two months after the death of his elder brother Probus. Titus accepted, and on his orders, both Grand Princes Maximinus and Andronicus were moved to the Prison Quarters in the Fortress of Baureux. He crowned himself Emperor on July 6, 1683.
 * As for Maximinus and Andronicus, the Emperor ordered for them to be denied medical treatment, and for the conditions under which they were held to be tightened and worsened. The two Grand Princes, who had never enjoyed the most robust of health, rapidly declined, and by the end of July 1683, it was reported that they were both in a pitiful condition, both physically and mentally. On August 3, 1683, Grand Prince Andronicus died, aged only nine; his brother, former Emperor Maximinus II, who had "reigned" for just over two months, followed him on the 25th. On August 28, Emperor Probus announced that his nephews had died from the Angrames malady, and that nothing could be done to alleviate their conditions. He then had them interred at the Westphalian Cathedral on September 6, and they were given a ceremonial funeral, as befitting Grand Princes. Yet rumors now spread that Probus had murdered his nephews. These rumors would become more persistent during the following months, and would play a major role in destroying his reputation, and thereby encouraging rebellion against him.
 * And indeed, it was not long before active rebellion did erupt against the Emperor’s authority. It was the Duke of Americana who provoked a rise against the Emperor. Americana, once an ally of the Emperor’s, was now determined to depose him from the throne and to promote the interests of the exiled Earl of Tudoria, Neuchrus. It is now expedient to provide information about what had transpired with Neuchrus, in the time since his birth. As noted above, he had been in the care of his uncle, the Earl of Mariana Prime, but in February 1661, his uncle was implicated in Igenallus’s Rebellion, and was compelled to flee for his life from the Laurasian Empire, to the Dejanican Duchy of Northania and Semigallia in the Great Tesmanian Cloud. Shortly afterwards, Emperor Gaillenus conferred the Earldom of Mariana Prime, and its associated properties, estates, and revenues, upon Sir Willanius Herbertia. He also assumed the guardianship of the Dowager Duchess of Tudoria, and of her son Neuchrus. Young Neuchrus’s education became Herbetia’s responsibility; the Earl arranged for him to have the best tudors. His chief tutor was Sir Aurelius Hermogenianus (1629-1712), the later compiler of the Codex Hermogenianus, and one of the most respected educators and legal theorists in the Empire. Sir Hermogenianus, a Professor of Jurisprudence, first at the University of Laurasia Prime (1662-74) and then of the Empire (1674-1705), and destined to become a Governing Senator, Recorder of the Court of the Star Chamber, and Chancellor of the Imperial Jurisprudence Academy, inspired in his pupil a passion for literature, theology, legal studies, forensics, history, geography, psychology, sociology, archaeology, and political sciences, among other subjects. Neuchrus became proficient in six other languages besides Laurasian, and adept at fields from philology and ethnology to physics.
 * On May 27, 1669, the Earl of Malaria Prime was killed in a fracas at the Belts of Mantin, and as a result, Neuchrus came temporarily into the custody of the Duke of Christiania. In October 1670, his uncle Acillius was pardoned by Emperor Aurelian, restored to his title as Earl of Mariana Prime, and permitted to return from exile, back to the Laurasian Empire. The restored Earl now took custody of Neuchrus and his mother, and in November 1670, they were presented before His Majesty at the Quencilvanian Palace. The Earl rose high in the Emperor’s service, and in September 1671, he became Governor of Tudoria and Senatorial Procurator of the Venasian Cluster, thereby giving him a position of comfort and of prominence. Neuchrus, on his part, now received military training at the Imperial Academy of Laura, and he studied at the Imperial Academy of Sciences, thereby further perfecting his professional education. His mother married Lord Thomasius Stanelis in June 1672, and was later named a lady-in-waiting at the Imperial Court. In 1675, however, the fortune for Neuchrus (who was now eighteen years old), and his uncle came to an end, following the assassination of Aurelian. The new Emperor, Demetrius Severus II, was not too fond of the Craterles family, and in January 1676, he revoked the pardon granted to Sir Acillius, and commanded him to make his leave from the Empire’s territories.
 * Lady Beaufatia, who was now married to one of the most prominent nobles at the Imperial Court, was commanded to remain with her husband, and forbidden contact with her brother-in-law and her son. Then, in March 1676, the Earl, once more disgraced, fled with his household and personal servants, taking his nephew with him. They fled at first to Talinin in the Dejanican Duchy, but when war broke out between Laurasia and Dejanica (February 1677), Sir Acillius made the resolution to flee to the Amulak Spiral. They made their way to the Franconian Duchy of Brittany, then ruled by Fransios II (1658-88), who had successfully maintained his independence against the Franconian Crown. Reaching Rennes (March 19, 1677), they were granted official asylum by the Duke, astounded by the arrival of such personages from an Empire, and galaxy, which, in the late seventeenth century (more than two centuries following the establishment of Laurasian diplomatic and economic ties with the nations of the Amulak Spiral), was still a mystery to most of the Amulak powers. The young Earl of Tudoria and his uncle were to remain in exile at the court of Nannes for the next seven years. During that time, Neuchrus was able to gradually build up a base of support at the Imperial Court and in the Laurasian Empire. Many in the Venasian Cluster and Venasian Triangle regions, and throughout the Eastern Core Worlds, were sympathetic towards the young Earl's plight. Furthermore, Neuchrus received generous financial aid from Duke Fransios II, and from the Duke's Treasurer, Pierre Landais (1630-85), who permitted him to recruit mercenaries from throughout the Duchy, and from other foreign powers in the Amulak Spiral. Both were hopeful that their assistance to Neuchrus now would have benefits in their relations with the distant Empire in the future. By 1683, the young Earl and his uncle, along with their supporters, had assembled a substantial force of Laurasian, Franconian, Haxonian, Vendragian, and Germanian mercenaries, troops, and naval vessels; starhoppers, navigators, retainers, and military veterans alike contributed to his cause; and Neuchrus issued numerous manifestos from Nannes, promising to deliver the Laurasian Empire from the hands of oppressors and to bring to it true and stable government.
 * In light of all of this, the Earl of Americana planned his rebellion against the Emperor. By September 1683, the Earl had secured the assistance, and the allegiance, of the Governor of Metallasia, Sir Antiochus Wiloughby (a uncle of the future Duchess of Sufforia); Sir Thomasius Gresius, Marquess of Doracia; Sir Giletus Daubeny (the future Lord Chamberlain of the Empire under Neuchrus I); Demetrius Mortonia, Archbishop of Ralina Vixius; and Sir Walterius Hurlangia of Blackria, among others. Furthermore, the Earl had assembled military supplies, retainers, and equipment at his estates on Americana, Soria, Fulcania, Apathama Vixius, Oxia Vixius, Augis II, Augis V, Clackimaris, Ietas, Katie, Vetta, Taurasia, Lusceulum, and other strongholds in the Laurasia Prime Purse Region; he was determined to strike quickly against Emperor Titus, and to make his strike while he had the opportunity to do so. The actual rebellion itself, however, did not break out until October 7, 1683. Emperor Titus and his court had then retired to Condtella, as the Emperor sought to conduct a progress throughout his territories in the northern Central Core. It was at this point that Americana announced his rebellion. Issuing a manifesto from the Palace of the Greats on Americana, the Duke proclaimed that he could not give his allegiance to the Emperor any further, and that he was rising "to bring true government, religious uniformity, and stability back to these realms." And indeed, Americana was able to make some initial gains. Fitzsimmons and the Station of Dosch fell into his hands (October 9-18, 1683), being shortly afterwards followed by Merandaz (October 22); Rainnan (October 25); Rucell (November 1); Chesham's Star (November 6); and Sapphire (November 11).
 * Mercedes, Andriana, and Constantine I found themselves all under siege by rebel units, who penetrated as far as Janesia, Reoyania, Conservan, and Maroni, threatening the upper Clancian Trunk Line. Yet by the end of November 1683, by which time Metallina and Courdina V had surrendered to rebel forces, and Sauvania seemed on the verge of doing so, the Imperial Laurasian Government had organized a vigorous response. Emperor Titus himself denounced the rebellion; commanded his loyal subjects to root out any dissent or rebellion against his authority; and ordered for a vigorous response to be taken. Howardis of Soria now assumed command of the government forces. Departing from Laurasia Prime (December 1, 1683), Howardis wasted no time in reversing the tide. On December 4, he relieved Mercedes; two days later, he humiliated a rebel force in the Battle of Kelby, and then stormed the colonies of Ian, Kellerman, Luke, and Jasmine, thereby imposing a ring around Merandaz and Rucell. Rebel expeditions into the Central Core were terminated by December 14, and two days later, the Battle of Taurasia resulted in the capture of Sir Hurglania by Howardis's chief subordinate, Vice-Admiral Sir Lysimachus Laradilla. Chilisia and Falloria Minor were then secured (December 17, 1683); Merandaz surrendered the following day, being shortly afterwards followed by Rucell and Chesham's Star. Sapphire was then reconquered on Ascentmas Day, 1683; then on the last day of the year, Constantine I and Andriana were both relieved of rebel forces.

1684

 * 1684, the 84th year of the seventeenth century, commenced with the government forces of the Laurasian Empire, under the command of Howardis of Soria, gaining the advantage over the rebel forces of the Duke of Americana. On January 7, 1684, the Lieutenant-General gained a major victory in the Battle of Vetta, thereby recovering that stronghold for the government. Rebel estates on Katie, Vetta, and Lusceulum were then confiscated, and on January 17, 1684, Rainnan fell back into government hands. From there, Fitzsimmons was blockaded and then seized (January 22-February 1, 1684). The Station of Dosch and Augis II followed on February 16, 1684; by the end of February 1684, rebel units had been expelled from Chloe, Apathama Vixius, Oxis Vixius, Fulcania, and Soria, thereby completing the virtual destruction of their position in the Purse Region. On March 4, 1684, the Duke of Americana was finally captured near Lomanis I, thereby completing the destruction of his rebellion; Sir Giletus Daubeny was able to flee into the Galactic Borderlands, to Dejanican Lavella, and was shortly afterwards condemned in absentia by the Emperor, who officially named him a traitor. The Marquess of Doracia was also compelled to flee; he went, by means of the Barbarossa Wormhole, to the Franconian Duchy of Burgundy, and in April 1684, joined the exiled Earl Neuchrus and his uncle Acillius at Nannes. In the meantime, on April 1, 1684, with the last cells of the rebellion suppressed, Emperor Titus made his formal return to Laurasia Prime. The Duke of Americana and several of his colleagues were at that time conveyed to Laurasia Prime in chains. Five days later, they were tried by the Senate, Synod, and Council of Civil Service; on April 18, they were formally convicted of treason, conspiracy, and les-majestie, and were condemned to death. In addition, the Senate passed damnatio memoriae on the condemned men, while the Synod issued a bull of excommunication. Emperor Titus confirmed all of this, and signed their execution warrant on April 22. On April 29, 1684, Americana and thirty of his colleagues were executed at the Fortress of Baureux, before a crowd of more than 200,000 spectators. Emperor Titus proved especially ruthless in response to those who had participated in the rebellion, as the common soldiers; more than six million individuals would be executed in sixty different star systems throughout the Laurasia Prime Purse Region during the course of the next four months, thereby further darkening his already sinking reputation.
 * As for Viscount Howardis of Soria, he received a flurry of rewards from his grateful Emperor. On May 5, 1684, he was formally created 1st Duke of Norfolkius; Norfolkius was the capital and largest city of Soria, and one of the most prominent cities in the Laurasia Prime Purse Region. The Dukedom of Norfolkius had fallen into abeyance in 1681, upon the death of the last Countess of Norfolkius (of the 1597 creation), Anna Mobrania, at the age of only eight. Norfolkius was also named Steward of the Imperial Household and Chief Prefect of the Praetorian Guards, thereby making him the Emperor's highest household and security official. At the time of these elevations, he was sixty-two years old; his son, Thomasius, who now became Earl of Soria, and heir-apparent to his father's position, was forty; and his grandson, also named Thomasius, now Lord Howardis of Soria, was eleven. Thus the Howardis family came into their prime, at the apex of power and authority within the Laurasian Empire; they would remain prominent in the annals of the Empire's history until 1772, into the reign of Empress Aurelia the Great. Furthermore, Emperor Titus showered the new Duke of Norfolkius and his family members with a accumulation of estates and titles, with vast properties on Soria, Fulcania, Tarravania, Clackimaris, Katherine, Chancia, Americana, Caladaria, Laurasia Prime, and Darcia being included. The Earl of Malaria Prime was another beneficiary of the Emperor's generosity; in August 1684, he would be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-General, made a Suffect of the City of Christiania, and given jurisdiction over the Christiania Police Force and the Quencilvanian Palace Palatial Command. At the same time, however, tensions were building. Earl Neuchrus of Tudoria, who remained in exile, was now considered by many Laurasians as a strong contender for the throne. As he was related to the Emperor Lucius Verus (and furthermore, claimed descent from the Laurasian King Gordian I, who reigned from 449-62 during the First Laurasian Period), Neuchrus was considered to have some hereditary claim to the Imperial Laurasian Crown. And in December 1683, while Americana's abortive rebellion was underway, he had pledged himself to marry Emperor Probus's eldest child, his first daughter Aurelia Zemakala (her last name came from her mother's maiden name). By September 1684, Neuchrus had amassed a force of more than thirty million military personnel and some 3,000 military warships; he was brimming with energy, and continued to receive funds from the Ducal Court of Nannes.
 * Emperor Titus, who was growing increasingly paranoid, and fearful of the support for Neuchrus, now embarked on a harsh regime of oppression which further alienated him from his subjects. On September 29, 1684, he issued Titlus Regius, a formal imperial statute laying out the reasons for his occupation of the throne the year before; denying that the "Earl" Neuchrus of Tudoria, or any member of the Craterles family line, had any title to the Imperial Laurasian Crown; and ordering for all rival claims to that of his own family, the Probian Dynasty, be disavowed and denounced by the Imperial Almitian Church. The Synod backed up the Emperor's proclamation with a manifesto in October 1684, forbidding prayers from being said for pretenders to the throne, and ordering all congregations to offer all of their "aid and comfort" to the preservation of His Majesty's position. That same month, Titus banned any public reference being made to Neuchrus or other pretenders, and he confiscated all financial and commercial revenues still held by the Craterles family, or by their supporters, within Laurasian dominions. In November 1684, he reiterated his commands against rebellion, and ordered the Duke of Norfolkius to conduct a purge of the Imperial General Headquarters, to root out those with wavering sympathies. Yet Titus also took other measures. He tightened his control over the Praetorian Guards, in the process angering them. Already, in May 1684, the Emperor had forbidden the Guards from transporting or taking leave without his permission; the following month, he had cut their donative, tying any further military benefits to "absolute performance of their duties"; and on September 2, 1684, he conducted a purge of the officer's corps, cutting it in size by more than 20%. Furthermore, the Emperor reformed the discipline and uniform standards, requiring for the Guards to adopt tighter-fitting uniforms, restricting their access to high-powered arms and weaponry, and announcing plans for the demolition of the Praetorian Barracks in Heliotrope and Ostis. As for the military, Emperor Titus increased conscription rates; extended the range of penalties for crimes committed in the service; and reduced leave privileges, while at the same time (October 1684), instituting a harsher court-martials system, with service-members losing their rights to a hearing, and to being informed of the charges and evidence against them. By December 1684, Emperor Titus had imposed heavy-handed restrictions on communications, public assemblies, and navigation, thereby constraining his subjects within the context of a police state. He also talked of plans of abolishing all trial proceedings at the local level, depriving non-Laurasian subjects of their rights of subjecthood, and introducing new taxes on Church estates, noble properties, and business operations. All of this increased Neuchrus's popularity, and lowered that of Titus.

1685

 * 1685, the 85th year of the seventeenth century, and the concluding year to the Crisis of the Seventeenth Century, commenced with the Emperor Titus having alienated many of his subjects through his various military, judicial, and economic policies. Furthermore, his act of "seizing" the throne had come to be despised by many, who desired for the return of a fully stable government, and for an end to all the troubles which had plagued the Empire throughout most of the century. Emperor Titus himself added further credit to this impression during the first months of 1685. On January 8, 1685, Antiochus Polsius, the Emperor's nephew, was raised by him to become Earl of Licantoria; one month later, the Emperor named him Prefect of the Malarian Provinces, and had the Senate designate him as Senatorial Procurator of Angelica, thereby giving him power over a substantial slice of the Empire's Wild Marshes Territories. This offended the Earl of Malaria Prime, who nevertheless remained loyal to the Emperor; in fact, in February 1685, the Emperor named Malaria Prime as Senatorial Procurator of Hypasia and Kelvania, thereby assuaging his grumbles. By that point, as well, Titus had taken action, in an attempt to drive a wedge into Neuchrus's support base. On January 21, 1685, the Emperor sent a communique to Treasurer Landais; the Duke of Brittany had been stricken with illness, and was forced to recuperate from that bout. In this communique, Titus offered to sign a pact of non-aggression with Brittany, and to provide for free commerce between the Empire and the Duchy, if in exchange Landais agreed to hand Neuchrus and his supporters over into his custody.
 * Landais, seeking to secure Brittany's position against the ever-present threat of Franconia and its new king, Charman II (who had acceded following the death of Lujak XI the Prudent in August 1683), decided to accept. Neuchrus, however, who had been aware of this threat, had already been sending his mercenaries and supporters to Normandy, Anjou, and Calais; in March 1685, he and his uncle made their formal retreat to Parri, thereby eluding the grasp of ducal authorities. The King's older sister, Duchess Anna of Bourbon, who along with her husband, Duke Peter of Bourbon, served as the regent of the kingdom in her brother's name (until they reached the age of majority), realized what she had at play, and pledged full support to Neuchrus's cause. Neuchrus was now making rapid progress, and by the end of May 1685, he considered himself ready to move against Titus. Titus, on his part, grappled with personal tragedy. On March 16, 1685, his wife, Empress Consort Octavia, died on Nystadia at the age of just twenty-eight. She had been devastated by the death of her and the Emperor's only son, Grand Prince Demetrius, in April 1684. Titus was stricken by her death, and for the better part of two months, he refused to reflect on anything of what was going on outside his Empire, or in it. The regime of oppression continued, and pro-Neuchrian tensions had developed in full form in the Xilanian Provinces, Northern Territories, and Schauerian Provinces by April 1685.
 * It was thus under these conditions, on June 4, 1685, that Earl Neuchrus of Tudoria made his formal departure from Parri with his combined mercenary and Laurasian loyalist forces, now exceeding more than seventy million military personnel, and over 3,000 warships. He was accompanied by his uncle, Sir Acillius Craterles, Earl of Mariana Prime; by Sir Giletius Daubeny; and by Sir Antiochus Verius, a former Praetorian Guardsmen and one of his most ardent supporters. The rebel forces made their quick progress across the Galactic Void, through the Barbarossan Wormhole, and thence to the northern outskirts of the Caladarian Galaxy. Dejanica, Marasharita, and Haynsia were all distracted by the Great Marasharite War then ongoing in the Amulak Spiral, and in the satellite galaxies themselves; consequently, Neuchrus's forces were able to pass unobstructed. On June 18, Neuchrus reached Belkadan; the world quickly admitted him, and he secured full possession of it within a short time. Tyson, Houston, Vandross, and Syr-Daria then all submitted to Neuchrus in quick fashion, and by June 25, 1685, his forces were besieging Glassia, Karakorum, Sierra, and Felix. The Oirat Complex became Neuchrus's first command headquarters. Emperor Titus, who had been alerted to Neuchrus's advance, now departed from Laurasia Prime (June 29, 1685), with Norfolkius, the Earl of Malaria Prime, and Sir Willanius Parrius in tow, along with the Senatorial Procurators of Constantia and Goldaria. Yet Neuchrus continued to pick up support.
 * Karakorum and Glassia both capitulated to him on July 1, 1685; later that same day, the garrisons of Sassanay, Massnay, Cibourney, and the Western Redoubt rejected Titus as Emperor and declared their allegiance to Neuchrus. On July 7, the Duke of Istantius and the Earls of Cheryl, Laronn, Quanna, Methusalah, Big Twinny, and Leopolodia all defected to Neuchrus's cause; two days later, the Corporate Sector, Scanlan, Edmundia, Coronadia, English Star, Mackenzia Major, Cassie, and Jacobs I followed suit. By July 14, garrisons throughout the Barsar Regions, Melorkian Provinces, and Shenadonan Provinces were declaring their allegiance to Neuchrus. On July 16, Titus suffered a major blow when the Senatorial Procurator of Homidinia Major, Sir Galerius Crassius, proclaimed his loyalty to Neuchrus, thereby effectively handing him the entire Homidinian Provinces, Elijahana, Hannis, and Organia. Then on July 22, 1685, Tudoria, Bolgrahay, Ipsus V, and Robbay arose in rebellion; within four days, all of these worlds had gone over to Neuchrus. By this point, defections throughout the Barsar Regions were ramping up: Samantha, Messalina, Chobania, Offshora, Reading, Goni, Riley, Drea, Duana, the Orion Cluster, Leo's Redoubt, Gardiner, Kimanis Mooria, Kimania, Rolle, Bookman, Christopher, Narra, Nanking, Breha, and Gilestis were all in Neuchrus's camp by the end of July. On July 31, 1685, Sir Walterius Herbertia and the Morganian Governor of Satie and Norah, Rhys ah Muhdraddad, both defected to Neuchrus, thereby entrenching him in the Borderlands Territories; by August 6, he had secured Capone, Lawson, Mocktrialis, Alyssa, Halassion, Chalassia, and Chalassion, thereby encircling the Lacian Cluster, whose worlds were defecting to his cause in droves. The Carinan and Melarnarian Provinces were also declaring their support for Neuchrus. Sir Gilbertius Talbertia, the Governor of the Nexus Route, then capitulated (August 14, 1685), allowing for Neuchrus to extend his range of operations into the Core Regions. By this point, morale had broken down in Emperor Titus's forces, with so many of the Empire's strongholds and regions having defected to Neuchrus. Titus, nevertheless, ordered his forces to assemble at Archleuta, Colsonia, Selena, Tyleria Perea, and Jessica Perea; Norfolkius and Malaria Prime were placed in charge of these preparations. The Emperor believed that if Neuchrus were drawn into battle and decisively defeated, all the rebel territories would return to their proper allegiance. Neuchrus, on his part, advanced slowly towards the Nexus Route, delaying any direct confrontation with Titus so that he could increase his own military strength and consolidate his hold over the territories that had now defected to him. On August 20, the Emperor Titus moved with his forces to Archleuta, joining Norfolkius and Malaria Prime there, and now seeking to attempt a swing maneuver to intercept Neuchrus's advance.
 * On August 22, 1685, fifty years after the assassination of Emperor Alexander Severus had sparked the Crisis, the forces of the Emperor Titus deployed at the Bosworthian Fields, just six light years north of Archleuta. The Duke of Norfolkius commanded the right flank; Malaria Prime commanded the left. Behind the center, and at the Bosworthian Military Outpost, Emperor Titus commanded a wide, unobstructed view of the battlefield. The Stanelis brothers, who had figured so much in Laurasian politics over the preceding decade, were deployed on the one side; Neuchrus's on the other. The Emperor Titus had more than two million military personnel and 1,500 warships deployed; Neuchrus had 1.5 million, with 1,200 warships. Many of his bulk units were comprised of Franconian mercenaries, commanded by General Philibert de Chandee (the first time that Franconians were for hire in the Laurasian Empire). While Neuchrus's forces advanced, Emperor Titus sent a message to Lord Thomasius Stanelis, threatening to execute his son, Lord Stranganius, if Stanelis did not join the assault against Neuchrus immediately. Stanelis replied that he had other sons. Enraged at this defiance, the Emperor gave the order to execute Stanelis, but his officers persuaded him to defer the execution.
 * Neuchrus on his part, aware of his own military inexperience, entrusted direct command of his forces to Sir Verus, the most talented military commander at his disposal, and remained at his strategic headquarters with his bodyguards. Verus, on his part, ordered for the forces to remain together, and for them not to stray, fearing that the larger Imperial Laurasian forces might envelop them. Emperor Titus's artillery and turbocannons bombarded and pounded the rebel warships; more than a third of them suffered damage of some kind. Norfolkius, along with several contingents of the Emperor's chief force, began to advance against Verus. There soon followed a vigorous confrontation in space, as the rebel and the governmental warships struggled with each other as they closed. Verus's warships proved to be the firmer, and many of Norfolkius's formations were broken and scattered. The Emperor, realizing that his forces were at a disadvantage, signaled to Malaria Prime to assist, but the Earl did not stir. At this time, Neuchrus ventured to the Stanelises. Informed of this, Titus decided to end the confrontation quickly, through a direct offensive against Neuchrus's positions. He led his starfighters and armored transports (with Imperial Marines and Praetorian Guards in tow), in a massive frontal onslaught, managing to kill Neuchrus's standard-bearer, Sir Willanius Brandeia, through use of turbolasers. Neuchrus's flagship, however, eluded the Emperor's range, and a formation of destroyers and cruisers was gathered, thereby protecting Neuchrus from attacks by Titus's units. Upon seeing Titus separated from his main force, Willanius Stanelis made his move. He led his units into the battle at Neuchrus's side. Within minutes, the tide had turned; Emperor Titus's naval squadrons were surrounded, and within minutes, his own flagship, the IMS Imperatica, had been boarded. Titus and his bodyguards, along with his personal troops, fought to the death, but in vain. At 5:00 P.M., the Emperor Titus II the Cruel, third and last ruler of the Probian Dynasty, who had ruled for just over two years, was hacked to death by vibroblades, by a number of Neuchrus's troops and retainers onboard the Imperatica. Nearly two-thirds of the 15,000 personnel onboard the flagship also lost their lives to the assaults of Neuchrus's troops. Titus himself suffered ten wounds, eight of them to the head; his skull was crushed in, and much of his facial flesh was hacked off.
 * Within hours, news of the Emperor Titus's defeat and death had spread to the rest of the battlefield. The Earl of Malaria Prime and his remaining forces, knowing that all was lost, and having suffered extensive casualties, beat a hasty retreat from Bosworthian Fields; Norfolkius, on his part, was unable to make it out, and died instantly when his starfighter was incinerated by a squadron of Neuchrus's couriers. By the end of the day, the Battle of Bosworthian Fields had ended in a decisive victory for Earl Neuchrus of Tudoria, and for his forces. What had seemed a long-shot was now reality; Neuchrus was predominant. At the end of the day, one of the Earl's troops found the Emperor Titus's circlet (smaller crown), in his personal chambers on the Imperatica. It was presented to Lord Stanelis, who now proceeded post haste to Neuchrus. Near midnight, on August 22, 1685, two hours after the final termination of the battle, Neuchrus, in the presence of his troops, naval personnel, and chief subordinates, placed the crown on his own head, on the bridge of his flagship, the IMS Gloriana of Almitis. Stanelis then led then all in hailing him, and proclaiming him, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Laurasians. And indeed, it was so. The Crisis of the Seventeenth Century, which had lasted for fifty years, was finally at an end. Neuchrus I, as he now was, would become one of the greatest monarchs in Laurasian history, responsible for reviving the Empire's fortunes, resuming its general territorial expansion, and involving it to a greater extent in the affairs of the Amulak Spiral and satellite galaxies than ever before. The Neuchrian Dynasty's 118-year reign over the Empire had commenced.
 * On August 24, 1685, the Governing Senate, Holy Synod, and Council of Civil Service all formally recognized Neuchrus as Emperor and Autocrat of All the Laurasians. By the end of the month, Neuchrus had been acknowledged as Emperor by all of the gubernatorial, military, and civil authorities throughout the entire length and breath of the Empire; Titus, on the other hand, was declared a usurper, and the Almitian Church now condemned, or threatened to excommunicate, any who challenged Neuchrus's rights to the throne. All officers and servants of the Imperial Laurasian Government and Court, and all of the Empire's subjects, swore an oath of allegiance to Neuchrus as Emperor. With his title to the Imperial Laurasian Crown now fully recognized, now-Emperor Neuchrus took immediate action to consolidate his position further, to alleviate the distresses of his subjects, and to make all of the indications of the start of a new regime. On September 3, 1685, he issued a general pardon to all military personnel and officials who had fought for Titus on the day of Bosworthian Fields, exempting only certain nobles or gentlemen in the Purse Region. Two days later, he backdated his reign to the day before the Battle of Bosworthian Fields, thereby annulling any official authority Titus had on that day, and absolving all of his subjects for his responsibilities at Bosworthian Fields.
 * On September 11, the Emperor formally repealed Titus's regulations concerning navigation, communications, and finances, thereby relaxing censorship of the media and earning the support of his new subjects. This was followed on September 18 with the repeal of Titus Regius, and the overturn of all excommunication sentences and penalties imposed by Titus in accordance with that statute. Furthermore, he temporarily increased the donative to the Praetorian Guards; lifted some of the regulations imposed on the military; and reconfirmed their privileges of leave and elevated pay, thereby earning the loyalty of military personnel throughout the realms. Then on September 21, 1685, with these preliminary measures taken, Emperor Neuchrus began his progress back to Laurasia Prime. Conducting a tour through the Central Core, Eastern Core Worlds, and Purse Region, he arrived on his capital world (October 13, 1685), to the acclaim of his subjects. Preparations were already underway for his coronation, which took place at the Westphalian Cathedral (October 30, 1685). Neuchrus, then twenty-eight years old, crowned himself Emperor with much ceremonial; Chief Procurator Thomasius Boucherius of the Holy Synod presided over the ceremony for the last time. Shortly afterwards, the Emperor rewarded those who had aided his rise to the throne. On November 3, 1685, Verus was created the 1st Earl of Oxfadia, and named to the Imperial General Headquarters, with the rank of Lieutenant-General, as a result of his command efforts against Titus. Verus also became Chamberlain of the Household and Constable of the Fortress of Baureux; the Emperor was already formulating plans for elevating these to Offices of State, among the first of his sweeping governmental reforms. Four days later, Sir Willanius Stanelis became Comptroller of the Imperial Household, and was granted extensive properties and annuities from the Imperial Estate. His brother Lord Thomasius was raised to become Earl of Duana; he was granted properties in the Central Core.
 * On November 16, 1685, Emperor Neuchrus issued a special manifesto officially proclaiming his mother, the Dowager Countess of Tudoria Margarina Beaufatia, as Grand Princess of the Laurasian Empire. In this manifesto, the Emperor mandated that his mother was to enjoy precedence over all other women in the Empire except for his future wife and consort. Furthermore, the Emperor gave his mother responsibility for the affairs of the Imperial Household; she became Chief Gentlewoman of the Privy Chamber and Mistress of the Robes, thereby assuming direct jurisdiction over the Emperor's servants and attendants. On December 2, Neuchrus issued another manifesto by which he again confirmed that any man who swore allegiance to him, regardless of the penalties imposed upon him during the preceding reign, would be secure in their lives, titles, and possessions. Four days later, Neuchrus abolished the Agency of State Security (Vadimonti), originally established under Antigonus I in 1514. During the intervening century and three-quarters, the Agency had become a hated, and feared, instrument of state surveillance and police control within the Empire. Its abolition thereby relieved burdens upon the governmental administration and pleased many of Neuchrus's subjects. Furthermore, Neuchrus liberated all political prisoners, granted amnesties for minor offenses, and in December 1685, ordered the closure of imperial prisons on Laurasia, Brittany, Denver, Jared, Christopher, Drennan, Sanegeta, and the colony of Haley, to which many had been consigned by Emperor Titus and his predecessors over the preceding decades. The manifesto of December 9, 1685, confirmed all privileges and subject rights enjoyed by the non-Laurasian inhabitants of the Empire, thereby addressing their fears that they would be deprived of those benefits. As 1685 ended, the Laurasian Empire had gained a new, and vigorous Emperor who was now actively engaged in raising the State's fortunes.

1686

 * 1686, the 86th year of the seventeenth century, witnessed the Laurasian Empire continue its efforts at consolidation, in the aftermath of the Crisis of the Seventeenth Century. It also witnessed the Emperor Neuchrus's first foreign forays. Neuchrus now honored his pledge to marry the Emperor Probus's eldest surviving child, Grand Princess Aurelia Zemakala. The Grand Princess and her sisters had already been lodged at the Quencilvanian Palace from Neuchrus's seizure of the throne, and Neuchrus had ingratiated himself with the Grand Princess. The actual marriage itself took place on January 18, 1686, at the Westphalian Cathedral, amid pomp and circumstance. It served two purposes: one, by providing Neuchrus with a wife by which he could begin to build his dynasty, and two, by tying him to the Emperor Probus, who had been a respected military campaigner and an efficient administrator. Chief Procurator Boucherius, who presided over the wedding, and who was in declining health, abdicated from his duties of office and retreated to Lambathian Palace in Christiania; his death on March 30, 1686, after thirty-one years in office, longer than any Chief Procurator before in the Laurasian Empire's history, was greeted with some lamentation. Emperor Neuchrus now appointed Bishop Mortonia of Ralina Vixius as the new Chief Procurator; he assumed office on October 6, 1686. Under Mortonia's leadership, the Church would improve its educational and social welfare systems, and would begin issuing a series of comprehensive regulations to clarify its ideology and curriculum. In accordance with this goal, Emperor Neuchrus would abolish the title of Pontifex Maximus in November 1686, mandating that while he remained head of the Almitian Church, such a title could only be accorded to the Lord Almitis.
 * Furthermore, Neuchrus continued his efforts of reform and revitalization of the state. He reinstated the Charter of Planetary Privileges (passed during the reign of Demetrius Severus I), in January 1686, thereby returning administrative and civil self-governing privileges to the Empire's most important municipalities. The Emperor abolished the monopolies which had been granted by Titus, Probus, and other crisis Emperors, thereby returning more direct revenue to the Imperial Treasury; confirmed the exemption of clergy and monasteries from conscription; and relaxed more restrictions on cultural expression, petition, and public assemblies. In March 1686, the Emperor abolished many contradictory military regulations and directives which had been issued over the preceding two decades, with the goal of reforming the military command. He issued new instructions to the General Headquarters; ordered for an increase in funding for military equipment, arms, and shield generators; and on March 27, 1686, appointed the advisory Commission on the Reform of the Imperial Armed Forces, to investigate the possibility of reforming the military rank system and of streamlining the chain of order. Neuchrus, by this point, had made his first foray into diplomacy.
 * On September 13, 1683, King Janius Sobieskius of Dejanica-Lithuania had successfully broken the long Marasharite siege of Vienna; the decisive Battle of Vienna fought that day resulted in the destruction of more than two-fourths of the total Marasharite force, the humiliation of Grand Vizier Kara Mustafa (he was executed by strangulation on December 25), and the termination of the Marasharite threat to the Austarlian Duchies. During the course of the succeeding years, Dejanica, Haxonia, Austarlia, and the Germanian Principalities made substantial gains against the Marasharites. The Battle of Parkany (October 1683), resulted in the fall of that stronghold to Dejanican and Austarlian forces. In March 1684, by which time Upper Hungary was being overrun by allied forces, the Holy League was formally organized among those powers, who thus established a full-scale military and diplomatic alliance against the Marasharite Empire and its vassals. All powers who subscribed to the treaty agreed not to make a separate peace treaty with the Marasharites. Then in succession, battles at Vac, Esterzgom, Visegrad, Ersekujvar, Eperjies, and Kassa (June 1684-October 1685), all ended in decisive League victories, and most of Upper and Central Hungary, including Grau, fell into the hands of the Holy Austarlian Empire. At the same time, the Haxonians obtained victories in Epirus, Macedonica, Ragusa, the Morea, and the Ionian Provinces, while the Dejanicans advanced forth in Podolia and in the Galactic Void. This was in spite of the failure of the first allied Siege of Buda (July-September 1684). Therefore, by early 1686, the Dejanican-Lithuanian Commonwealth, fully engrossed in the Great Marasharite War, found it necessary to make arrangements with the Laurasian Empire, as regards to their common territorial boundaries. On February 9, 1686, Emperor Neuchrus made the first offer to the Dejanican Government, for a conference in order to settle the territorial disputes of the two powers. It was not until March 11 before the King of Dejanica communicated his approval of this request. The conference itself convened in Warsaw, on Dejanica Major, on March 22, 1686.
 * The Emperor of Laurasia was represented by the Earl of Oxfadia, Antiochus Clergius, Archbishop of Laurasia Prime, the Earls of Malaria Prime, Almastead, and Katherine, and by Antiochus Foxius, future Archbishop of Winchestrius. Dejanica, on its part, was represented by the Voivode of Poznan, Krystof Gzymultowskia, the Chancellor of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania Macjan Oglinski, and the Grand Hetman of Lithuania, Karlazia Rejanickia. Negotiations continued for more than a month, as the two delegations wrangled over the exact conditions of territorial delineation. Finally, the Treaty of Warsaw, known also as the Eternal Peace Treaty, was signed (May 6, 1686), thereby providing for the resolution of all territorial disputes. By the terms of this agreement, the Dejanican Borderland Territories, including Shashanaya, Orion, Flournoy, Black Chandlier, McIntyre, Adelita, Monique, John, Irutsk, and Yakhutsk were confirmed to be irrevocably in the possession of the Laurasian Empire; the Empire's jurisdiction over the Satian and Malarian Provinces was also finally recognized by the Commonwealth. In return, the Laurasian Empire agreed to recognize Dejanica's rightful rule over Podolia, and its absolute jurisdiction over the Lavellan Provinces; furthermore, it promised not to conclude any treaty with the Marasharite Empire without first notifying the powers of the Holy League, and to forbid its merchants or officials from conducting non-essential business in Marasharite dominions. Dejanica, on its part, agreed to the termination of all raids and other military operations into Laurasian territory. The Eternal Peace Treaty was ratified by Emperor Neuchrus on May 19, 1686, and by the Dejanican Diet on June 14. The boundaries and economic relations established by the Treaty were to remain in effect until the First Partition of Dejanica (1772), in spite of the Expedition War, the War of the Dejanican Succession, and the War of the Bar Confederation that were to come in the eighteenth century.
 * Yet in July 1686, the Emperor Neuchrus faced the first challenge to his authority: in the Huntite Provinces. Following the Battle of Bosworthian Fields, two of the late Emperor Titus's supporters, the Lord Lovellia and Sir Heredotus Staffordia, had fled to Veliky in the Outer Borderlands, attempting to evade the retribution of governmental authorities. They, along with others of Titus's remaining supporters, hoped to depose Emperor Neuchrus. Yet the Emperor employed his agents to keep track of the activities of known Titian supporters. At the end of June 1686, he was informed that Lovellia and Staffordia were planning a rebellion. On July 5, 1686, the Emperor ordered Major-General Sir Antiochus Engumbia and Commodore Sir Willanius Tyleria to apprehend the men, and to storm Veliky. Lovellia, knowing that the game was up, fled on July 17, following his failure to provoke a general uprising in the OsonBoka Nebula. Yet Staffordia, along with his younger brother Sir Thomasius, managed to reach Clarise and to provoke rebellion there (July 12, 1686). Within days, they seized control of Jodie, Northrop, Grumman's Star, Lector, and Solay, posing a serious threat to the defenses of Jasonia. But on August 4, 1686, Commodore Tyleria inflicted a serious defeat upon Sir Thomasius in the Battle of Penez; four days later, he repelled a rebel offensive against Horne and Hacker, thereby maintaining those two strongholds; on August 19, Jasonia Minor became the scene of another major government victory. Lector and Solay were both recovered by the end of the month, and on September 7, 1686, Sir Thomasius was defeated and captured by the Commodore at Haxey Star. Northrop fell ten days later, followed shortly afterwards by Grumman's Star. It was not until October 17, 1686, however, before Jodie was stormed, thereby leading to the end of the short-lived Lovellia and Staffordia Rebellion. The elder Staffordia now fell into government custody. On Emperor Neuchrus's orders, the two brothers were taken in chains to Hunt Major, tried by the Huntite Court of Criminal Assizes, and on November 5, convicted of treason, conspiracy, and les-majestie. Ten days later, Sir Heredotus was executed at the Spaceport of Hunt Minor. His younger brother, however, was now spared by the Emperor, and was consigned to life imprisonment at Lorna.
 * With this rebellion having taken place against his authority, Emperor Neuchrus found it prudent to implement his first measures regarding the Governing Senate and the Praetorian Guards. He dealt with the Senate first. Already in April 1686, the Emperor had indicated that he would be welcome to the Senate's advise on state affairs, but that he would not tolerate insubordination or conspiracy from its members. Two months later, Neuchrus had imposed the first limits on senatorial authority and influence in provincial administration, requiring the Procurators to submit direct reports to him, and to the Council of Civil Service, on all matters of concern within their jurisdictions. Furthermore, any reports the Procurators produced for the Senate were to be given to the Emperor as well, and he claimed the right of demanding reports on any other matters, as befitted his attention. Then on November 6, 1686, the Emperor issued the first of his Senatorial Administrative Regulations. This first one deprived the Senate of its traditional authority to impose damnatio memoriae upon the reputations of condemned criminals, or of Emperors; furthermore, the Senate's proclamations and directives now became subject to direct ratification by the Bureau of the Imperial Chancellory, and the Senate lost its right to confer titles, honors, or other decorations upon prominent personages, unless if so authorized by His Majesty. Then in December 1686, the Emperor abolished the tax exemption status of the Guards, which had been in existence for over two centuries (since the reign of Claudius II). This thereby laid the first limit on their influence.

1687

 * 1687, the 87th year of the seventeenth century, opened with the continuation of the Emperor Neuchrus's efforts at reform of the Imperial State. On January 3, 1687, the Emperor, after having held numerous consultations with his Council of Civil Service, and his Imperial Household, reorganized the six Great Offices of State, who were to serve as the chief administrative officers of the Imperial Household, and as the highest-ranking (precedence terms) of the Imperial Laurasian Government. To the older offices of Imperial Chamberlain, Privy Seal, and Marshal, the Emperor established those of High Steward, Treasurer, and Constable. The offices, as they were reorganized, were now (in order of precedence), those of Imperial High Steward, Imperial Treasurer, Imperial Privy Seal, Imperial Chamberlain, Imperial Constable, and Imperial Marshal. The first of these, the Imperial High Steward, became responsible for the general maintenance of the Imperial Household, for serving as the chief presiding officer, among the courtiers of the Household, at coronations, state weddings, and other state ceremonies; and for presiding over the Board of the Imperial Household, with the Comptroller and the Household Administrators becoming his subordinates. The Earl of Duana became the first Imperial High Steward.
 * The Imperial Treasurer, on his part, became the chief financial officer of the Empire, responsible for the monarch's personal expenses and revenues, and for those of the Imperial Household; the Treasurer also assumed the honorary place of say over the Imperial Government's monetary and budgetary matters. Sir Demetrius Wolmsat, 1st Baron Wolmsat, became the first Lord Treasurer of the Laurasian Empire. The Imperial Privy Seal became responsible for all state insignia, banners, seals, and documents; for maintaining the integrity of all governmental archives; and for ensuring the execution, and communication, of statutes, decrees, orders, directives, instructions, and charters, with the seal of the monarch. The Privy Seal also became responsible for providing judicial and administrative advise to the Emperor. Antiochus Foxius, elevated also to become Archbishop of Taurasia, became Imperial Privy Seal. The Imperial Chamberlain became responsible for the overall governance and supervision of the monarch's personal staff and household; for looking after the ceremonies, daily operations, and provisions of the household; and for regulating court uniform, procedures, and precedence. Sir Willanius Stanelis became Imperial Chamberlain. The Imperial Constable became responsible for the supervision of the monarch's estates and properties, and for maintaining heraldry and other honorary standards among the nobility. The Earl of Duana also became Imperial Constable. Finally, the Imperial Marshal assumed responsibility for the security of the monarch and their household, and for protection of all imperial properties and estates. Sir Willanius Berkalania, 1st Marquess Berkalania of Hannah, became Imperial Marshal. All of these positions therefore, were established as the prominent positions in the government of the Laurasian Empire; the Chancellorate, however, remained the highest post in governmental administration, and continued to be held by the Emperor's chief minister.
 * In February 1687, Emperor Neuchrus imposed further limitations on the Praetorian Guards. He now barred the Guards from participating in the trades or in economic activity beyond the confines of their duties; imposed strict penalties for the acceptance of bribes or other favors; and limited their allowance. The Emperor also abolished the franking, intelligence, and security privileges which had been granted to the Guards, rendering them the same as any other in the Empire's military forces. That same month, Neuchrus established the Commission of State Revenue and Finances, which became responsible for conducting an extensive survey of the Laurasian taxation system, preparing a report on the budget and financial situation of the Empire, and proposing recommendations to the Emperor and the Imperial Council of Civil Service. Yet by March 1687, Emperor Neuchrus was facing yet another, more serious rebellion against his authority. This rebellion now occurred in the Xilanian Provinces, which had, just under two decades before, comprised the dominions of the short-lived Empire of Zenobia. Soon after seizing the Laurasian throne in August 1685, Emperor Neuchrus had imprisoned the only child of the Duke of Naranja, the Earl of Sarah, who had been born on February 25, 1675, at Warwick Castle on Sarah. Created Earl of Sarah in 1678, and then honored with a Knighthood of the Imperial House by Emperor Titus in September 1683, Neuchrus had viewed the young boy as a threat to his own position. This was why he confined him at the Fortress of Baureux. Yet now Antiochus Polsius, Earl of Licantoria, the nephew of the unlamented Titus, who had been so generously treated by that Emperor, was convinced that he could stir up rebellion against his authority.
 * By January 1687, the Earl of Licantoria had begun assembling his retainers and military supplies on Jin Major, Jin Minor, Roxuli, Abraham, Eaidon, Zoe, Skyler, Xilania Minoria, Morg, King, Bingley, and other strongholds in the Northern Territories. The Earl of Licantoria was now convinced that he could strike against the Emperor Neuchrus, raise his own fortunes to even greater heights, and secure the reinstallation of the Probian Dynasty on the imperial throne. Therefore, he now supported the claim of the young commoner Alceltas Simnellia (1677-1725), who had been promoted by his tutor, Sir Simon Pyridus, as the rightful Earl of Sarah; rumors had long circulated that Sarah was actually dead, and that the fact of this was being concealed from the imperial public. Licantoria became determined to install Simnellia as his puppet Emperor. On March 19, 1687, he secured a pretext for a leave of absence from the Imperial Court, and journeyed to the Great Tesmanian Cloud. There, he assembled a force of Dejanican, Haxonian, and Vendragian mercenaries and vessels, determined to use this corps to his own advantage back in the Empire. By the middle of April 1687, Licantoria had assembled a substantial military for use in a rebellion against Emperor Neuchrus, and he had secured the support of a number of magnates among the Empire's nobility, as well as the Praetorian Guards. These included Lord Lovellia, whose abortive rebellion at Veliky the previous year has already been noted, as well as Sir Antiochus Harlstonia, the former Governor of Coronadia and Edmundia, and Vice-Admiral Sir Thomasius Daviadia, commander of the garrisons of Sernapasia, Belkadan, and Karakorum.
 * Then on April 22, 1687, Licantoria appeared at Satie, and secured the adherence of that garrison to his cause. On April 26, the garrisons of Chappelear, Guthmiller, Abrianne, Adrianne, Belaprasian, Natalie, Tiona, Belkadan, and Calrissian all proclaimed their loyalty to his cause. Then on May 4, 1687, the Earl of Licantoria moved to Xilania Major, where he was easily admitted by the world's garrison. With the assistance of the Duke of Xilania Major and Sir Thomasius Lacaghia, Senatorial Procurator of Nandia, he secured the adherence of the garrisons of Orkhan, Juxles, Margery, Multan, Lynne, Chapman, Sommers, Nisbis, and Carrhae to his cause. He also increased the number of regular Laurasian military forces at his disposal. By May 24, he had extended his authority over a vast sect of the Xilanian and Satian Provinces; on that day, he formally proclaimed his rebellion against the Imperial Laurasian Government, and now announced that Simnellia was Demetrius II, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Laurasians. Emesia, Lawson, Mocktrialis, Skyler, Ipshilion, and Massanay then fell into his hands, and on June 4, 1687, Licantoria launched his major offensive against the historic Istantius Capital Region. He was now joined by Sir Thomasius Broughtonia, Commander of the Garrisons of the Western Redoubt, who thereby provided him additional military resources and a vantage point from which to attack Rastaborn, Shannon, Dennis, Wendy, Coen, and other strongholds in that region. On June 10, 1687, Licantoria humiliated the Earl of Frederickslandia in the Battle of Tadaria, capturing more than 120,000 troops of the Imperial Laurasian Army in a single stroke. Yet by that point, Emperor Neuchrus was already moving forth with his military forces, under the tactical command of the Duke of Mariana Prime and the Earl of Oxfadia, in order to confront the rebel. On June 12, 1687, Licantoria managed to outmaneuver the Earl of Malaria Prime at Berhamia; he now seized that star system, thereby threatening the security of Istantius, and launching penetrating attacks to Methauslah. Then at Sair, Licantoria encountered government forces under Rear-Admiral the Lord Scalius. A series of confrontations ensued over the next three days, with Laronn, Cheryl, and Quanna withstanding rebel offensives. This gave Emperor Neuchrus time to receive reinforcements from the Malarian Provinces, commanded by Lord Straganius, and to consolidate his position in the historic region. On June 15, 1687, the Emperor began moving towards Alania, after receiving word that Licantoria was proceeding towards Big Twinny.
 * Then, early in the morning of June 16, 1687, the Emperor's advance formations, commanded by the Earl of Oxfadia, encountered the rebel forces at Anusia, a minor agricultural colony eighteen light years north of Alania. The Emperor's forces were divided into three formations, of which Oxfadia led the vanguard. As at Bosworthian Fields, the Emperor delegated the actual tasks of military command to his subordinates in the field. Now, the rebel forces, arrayed in a single concentrated formation, were hit by a volley of turbocannon fire. They now sought to go on the immediate offensive against the Emperor's forces, in the hopes of breaking his strategic lines and crunching his units. Though outnumbered, Licantoria did have the advantage of his foreign mercenaries. The vanguard experienced serious pressure, but Oxfadia rallied his warships and his personnel. The actual battle was bitterly contested, for over three hours, but rebel efforts eventually floundered. The mercenary corps were ultimately surrounded and pounded into submission by the Imperial Laurasian Navy; the remainder of Licantoria's forces fled. Yet the rebels had lost virtually all their leaders. Licantoria, Broughtonia, Lacaghia, and the Germanian mercenary-General Martin Schwartz were all killed during the confrontation; Lovellia barely escaped with his life. He made it as far as Morgania Minor, where he died (August 14, 1687), when his starfighter crashed into the planetary surface. As for the pretender Simnellia, he was captured by Emperor Neuchrus's forces at Candlewell (June 28, 1687). Emperor Neuchrus, realizing that the ten-year old boy was merely a pawn for the rebel cause, decided to pardon him of any offenses, and in August 1687, ordered for him to be named a servant of the Imperial Household. Simnellia would rise in the Emperor's service, eventually becoming Financier of the Howardis family and the father of the Dean of St. Osyth's Cathedral, Antiochus Simnellia. He would live into the reign of Antigonus III, and die on October 9, 1725, in Christiania, Laurasia Prime. By November 1687, the Xilanian Provinces and Northern Territories had returned to their allegiance to the Emperor, and he returned to Laurasia Prime in triumph. Furthermore the year before, on September 20, 1686, Empress Consort Aurelia Zemakala had given birth to the Emperor's first child, Grand Prince Craterus. The Earl of Oxfadia, Dowager Empress Flavia Zemakala, the Empress Consort's younger sister Grand Princess Ceciliana of Apathama Vixius, the Earl of Duana, and the Duke of Americana served as his godparents. The last months of 1687, therefore, saw the Empire in peace; Emperor Neuchrus was by now implementing further reforms to the Imperial Household and the military structure, thereby strengthening his own position.

1688

 * 1688, the 88th year of the seventeenth century, witnessed the Emperor Neuchrus continuing his reforms to the imperial bureaucracy and the administrative structure of the Empire and suppressing another revolt against his authority, this time from the Praetorian Guards. As regards to his reforms, Emperor Neuchrus now began to truly earn the title by which he would become known: the "Reformer". On January 24, 1688, the Emperor issued instructions to every Procurator, Praetor, and Governor within the Empire, ordering them to carry out their duties effectively and to maintain loyalty towards the state. The same instructions, furthermore, instructed all provincial and regional administrative officials within the Empire to maintain accurate enumeration, conscription, and taxation records within their jurisdictions; to take extensive surveys of all the star systems explored or colonized by imperial authorities, or under the patronage of the Imperial Laurasian Government; and to report on economic matters, particularly those concerning agriculture, industry, and commerce. The following month, on February 12, the Commission of State Revenue and Finances formally presented its report to the Emperor Neuchrus at the Quencilvanian Palace; this report stated that the Imperial Laurasian Government was in debt, to the tune of €11.2 quadmillion denarii, for successive Emperors had borrowed large sums of money and had bequeathed vast gifts upon many of their subordinates.
 * The imperial treasury's resources were drained, as the government's expenses were greater than its income, and the Imperial Treasury did not use its financial resources effectively. The Imperial Household's budget was in dire need of reform and proper management. The council recommended that expenses be revised, a balanced budget instated, and the entire tax system reorganized. Neuchrus agreed, and in March 1688, he ordered for the Imperial Treasury to produce a uniform budget concerning all state expenditures, revenues, returns, and obligations. That same month, Neuchrus lowered interest rates on government bonds; authorized for investors, brokers, and stock-market traders to have greater leeway in making their returns and in reducing their share exchanges; and imposed an artificial check on the prices of bonds and loans to the Imperial Treasury, thereby allowing for the government to regain its financial bearings. Furthermore, the Emperor began a reform of the Household's obligations and general expenses, imposing an allocation cap for entertainment and maintenance expenses, and ordering the Board of the Imperial Household to reform the salaries and taxation rates on all crown estates, properties, and holdings. In June 1688, Neuchrus would forbid the Imperial Household's suppliers and contractors from demanding a rate of service from his agents; furthermore, he mandated that all agents were to provide their services to the Household interest-free. All of these measures served to alleviate the situation. Furthermore, Neuchrus cut court, noble, heredity, and ecclesiastical spending, thereby intending to reduce the budget and to return unused tax dollars to the emergency reserves. All of these measures began bringing the financial situation under control; they were further helped by the abolition, in September 1688, of the government monopoly in feldspars, borite, and other rare minerals, thereby allowing for these goods to circulate freely in the market, and to thereby encourage competition, which would raise general tax receipts.
 * Beyond this, Emperor Neuchrus issued, in April 1688, an imperial constitution of decrees and edicts issued during the first three years of his reign. He paid increasing attention to the judicial situation in the Empire. The Emperor was determined to reorganize the antiquated legal and judicial administration of the Laurasian Empire, which had remained stagnant since the sixteenth century. From the start of his reign, Neuchrus dutifully replied to all petitions and legal documents submitted to his person, carefully supervised the Senate's judicial proceedings, and sent out detailed instructions to the Imperial Praetors throughout the Empire, commanding them to use fair judgment and consideration of all the evidence in their rendering of cases. And in December 1687, he decreed the establishment of the Court of the Star Chamber, which now became the leading court of civil and criminal cases of the highest-ranking personages of the Imperial Court and Chancellory, except those of treason and conspiracy, which were still to be handled by the Governing Senate. Neuchrus, in February 1688, appointed Sir Willanius Hussarania as the first Chief Justice of the Court, to be comprised of twelve members. Two months later, Neuchrus deprived the Council of Civil Service of its super-visionary authority over attaches, lower-level functionaries, and magistrates throughout the Empire; they were now obliged to report directly to the Judicial Praetors, who in turn would submit reports both to the Star Chamber and to the Senate. And in May 1688, Neuchrus formally transferred the Senatorial Provinces to the jurisdiction of the Imperial Council of Secretaries, placing them under the Emperor's direct oversight. He also installed a quaestor on the capital world of each province, who was charged with representing the Emperor and cracking down on corruption and inefficiency.
 * Yet it was the last of the Emperor's moves, which provoked final rebellion against him. In September 1688, the Emperor announced his plans to reorganize the Praetorian Guards, thereby reducing them to the role for which they had been intended: as a personal protection squad for the sovereign and Imperial Household. In accordance with this, the Emperor further reduced enrollment rates into the ranks of the Guards; raised the age of acceptance from 18 to 25; and lowered the mandatory retirement age, from 50 to 40. By this, he intended to shrink the Guards, making them more adaptable to the needs of the Imperial Household. Neuchrus also began demolishing the fortresses and barracks controlled by the Guards off Laurasia Prime. Those on Windowia Photis, Jenny, Chloe, Kelby, and Merandaz were dismantled in October 1688; on November 9, that at Caladaria was formally dismantled; and on November 23, the Emperor demolished the Praetorian Barracks of Calaxis II. He also reduced the size of the Casta Praetoria in Christiania, which had now served as the chief barracks and headquarters for the Guards for more than two and three-quarter centuries. This last move inspired the Guards to a desperate rebellion against the Emperor. The initiative was now taken by the Guards officer Sir Gregorius Simnelis, who believed that direct action against Neuchrus, within Christiania, would be the course. He gained the support of the Commander of the Quencilvanian Palace Control and of the Suffects of the Administrative Quadrant of Christiania, many of whom had ties to the Guards. On November 18, 1688, whilst Emperor Neuchrus and his court were progressing to the Byrnes Palace, the Guards announced their rebellion, declaring that they could no longer give adherence to an Emperor who trampled on their privileges. Within hours, Simnelis had led the Guards in seizing control of the Westphalian Cathedral (where Chief Procurator Mortonia was held hostage), the Senatorial Palace, the Imperial Academy of the Arts, the Imperial Academy of the Sciences, and the Commercial Quadrant of Christiania. The Commander of the Palace Control, however, failed to act on his alliance with the Guards, and Emperor Neuchrus was able to organize a vigorous counter-response to the rebellion.
 * The Emperor now entrusted Sir Athansius Mydarania, the Mayor of Christiania, and the Earl of Oxfadia with the task of suppressing the Praetorian Rebellion. The Christiania Police Force and the imperial garrison of Laurasia Prime remained absolutely loyal to His Majesty, and their more effective organization, larger personnel size, and more sophisticated communications turned out to be key. By the early hours of November 20, after a day of confrontations in the streets and quadrants of Christiania, the rebellion had been crushed. More than 15,000 Guards died in confrontations with the Emperor’s troops; Simnelis, all of his leading co-conspirators (including the Commander and the Suffects), and more than 20,000 members of the Guards were captured. Neuchrus was now determined to find out why the rebellion had erupted, and he was determined to punish all of those who had participated in the rebellion. The Governing Senate, Holy Synod, and Council of Civil Service were constituted into a special tribunal in order to investigate, interrogate, and to convict those involved. Simnelis and his conspirators were imprisoned at the Fortress of Baureux, the Post Settlement of Hepudermia, and the Tyburn Stockards of the Cron Drift.

1689

 * 1689 opened with the government's continuing response to the events of the Praetorian Rebellion. This year also saw the Emperor Neuchrus instigating military campaigns in the Barsar Regions against the Vectorian Empire, which still held the Western Hospallian and Anastasian Territories. From November 1688 to June 1689, a whole series of trial proceedings, interrogations, and torture sessions occurred, with Chief Procurator and now Chancellor Mortonia, Oxfadia, Privy Seal Foxius, and the Duke of Mariana Prime taking the leading roles. On January 5, 1689, Simnelis himself, along with Sir Metron Levasius (commander of the Palace Control), and Suffect the Baronet Meranius of Christiania, were formally tried and condemned by the Special Court after just two hours of further deliberations. Fourteen days later, they were executed at the Fortress of Baureux, in front of crowds of more than 200,000.  By the end of March 1689, virtually all of those who had been involved in the rebellion (over 25,000 individuals) had been condemned and either executed or imprisoned.
 * Emperor Neuchrus, now motivated further in his goal of consolidating his own position, exacted a terrible revenge upon the remnants of the Guards. The Emperor, by the decree of February 2, 1689, formally disbanded the Praetorian Guards; ordered for the demolition of the Casta Praetoria and for all other Guards fortresses, barracks, and installations; and banished all family members and associates of the Guards officers from Laurasia Prime. The Emperor dispersed the Guards commanders and officers who had not been involved in the rebellion among the regiments of the Imperial Army; deprived all who had retired from the Guards of their benefits and honors; and expunged all references to the Guards in public or official memoranda, documents, and orders. Neuchrus even went as far to destroy a statute of Seleucus I in the gear of the regiments which he had established. In April 1689, he formally established the Yeoman Guards of the Household, an elite regiment to comprise of no more than 10,000 men, who were to be stationed at the Palace; answerable directly to him; and given no special privileges or trading rights except for their salary and pension upon retirement. Admittance was to be strictly confined to those between the ages of 18 and 35; Guards officers were forbidden to travel beyond Laurasia Prime, or to make any financial or property transactions, without the Emperor’s consent. The Yeoman Guards thus established would become the main protection squad of the sovereign, to be joined by the Gentlemen Pensioners during the reign of his son Antigonus III, in the eighteenth century.
 * At the same time, Neuchrus was involving himself in matters of diplomacy. The second half of the seventeenth century had seen the intensification of the Empire’s ties with the powers of the Amulak Spiral; Neuchrus was determined to secure allies for Laurasia among these states, to counteract the power and ambitions of Dejanica, Marasharita, and Scottria. The first offer for alliance came from the Kingdoms of Greater and Lesser Spamalka. Neuchrus himself was aware that he had seized the crown through force, and he still faced a host of claimants with arguably better legal claims. Neuchrus was also aware of the ambitions of King Charman II of Franconia, and his intention to exert himself beyond the Amulak. By contrast, King Fe’ro II and Queen Fresia II of the Spamalkan Kingdoms, who had ruled together since 1679; had asserted their power in conflicts against Portugallia, Franconia, and the Barbary States; and were currently waging war with Grenada, the Knights of the Order of Malta, and the Haxonian Confederacy, found themselves secure. Furthermore, they were seeking to establish an alliance with that far-away realm in the Caladarian Galaxy, and to widen their own diplomatic ties. Neuchrus, on his part, had a young son, whilst the Spamalkan rulers had a young daughter. A marriage would help each. Neuchrus would gain acceptance of his position by a major foreign power; the Spamalkans would obtain financial, and potentially, military aid against Franconia.
 * The Spamalkan sovereigns made an offer of alliance as early as March 1687; but it was not until January 1689 before the Emperor accepted. Negotiations commenced at Medina Del Campo in Leon, on February 1, 1689. These negotiations proceeded speedily, and the Treaty of Medina del Campo was signed on March 26, 1689. By the terms of this treaty, the Laurasian Empire and the Kingdoms of Spamalka were obliged to come to the aid of each other should they declare war upon Franconia. Furthermore, if Laurasia entered into hostilities with Marasharita, the Spamalkan Monarchs pledged not to sign a separate treaty with that power. Laurasia recognized Spamalkan rights to Roussillon and Cerdanya; Spamalka in turn, Laurasian hold of the Galactic Frontier Route and rights of access in the Galactic Void. The treaty, furthermore, established that Neuchrus’s son and heir apparent, Grand Prince Craterus, was to be married to the youngest child of Fe’ro and Fesia, Catalina of Greater Spamalka. Catalina was to convert to the Imperial Almitian Church, to receive the title of Grand Princess of Shenandoah, and to reside at the Imperial Court, at Neuchrus’s expense, once she reached the age of fifteen. Finally, tariffs between the two realms were reduced, and rights of navigation and commerce were confirmed.
 * Neuchrus, however, did not immediately ratify the treaty, for throughout 1689 and 1690, he would seek to tread the waters of Amulak politics. Laurasia was to most of those powers (except for Marasharita and Dejanica, its direct neighbors), a foreign, distant realm. In the late seventeenth century, Vendragians, Haxonians, Pruthians, Austarlians, Franconians, and Portugallians alike believed Laurasia to be an enigma, for its military forces had never campaigned, or even reached the Amulak Spiral, it was located well over two million light years away from the Amulak Spiral, and it had not been actively involved in Amulak affairs during the sixteenth and much of the seventeenth centuries, excluding its relationships with Dejanica and Marasharita; as early as 1636, Jean Poton de Xaintrailles, Marshal of Franconia and the re-conqueror of Normandy and Guyenne from the Vendragian Confederacy, had excluded Laurasia, along with the Confederacy of the Breffals and the Grand Duchy of Masacavania, from the system of Amulak diplomacy. Yet the process was underway that would change Amulak views completely. In 1713, nearly eighty years after Xaintrailles's claim that Laurasia was "irrelevant" to Amulak politics, the Abbe St. Pierre, one of King Lujak XII's ministers, recognized that peace in the Amulak Spiral could not be guaranteed unless if Laurasia were part of the system. By the middle of the eighteenth century, the Laurasian Empire would be fully incorporated into the system of Amulak politics and war; in 1765, slightly over a century following Xaintrailles's death, the Vendragian Duke of Buckinghamshire would remark that the Laurasian Empire was "no longer to be gazed at as a distant glimmering star" but was now "a great planet which has obtruded itself into our system, whose place is yet undetermined, but whose motions most powerfully affect those of every other orb."
 * Following the Treaty of Medina del Campo, Emperor Neuchrus sent an ultimatum to the Vectorian Emperor Sargon Adad II, who had succeeded his father Shamashi Adad I upon his death in 1684 (April 7, 1689), a century before the death of Marasharite Emperor Selim III (who ruled at the outbreak of the Fifth Laurasian-Marasharite War of the 18th century). In this ultimatum, Neuchrus demanded for all the remaining territories once belonging to the Neo-Anastasian Empire and Deustiania, in the Barsar Regions, to be conceded to the authority of his Empire; for the Vectorians to return all captives and prisoners of war seized by their forces; and for the Vectorians to recognize transit privileges by Laurasians in the Galactic Borderlands. Sargon Adad II, who was overconfident and boastful, refused these demands on April 23, declaring that he would rather die than submit to the Imperial Laurasian Government’s terms. Consequently, Emperor Neuchrus, who had been engaged in extensive military preparations for war, for many months, declared war (May 14, 1689). The Earls of Oxfadia and Duana, Sir Giletus Daubeny, and Lord Thomasius Stanelis were the commanders of the Empire’s military forces, stationed in the Barsar Regions and in the Neo-Merlite Provinces. As soon as the declaration of war was issued, the Empire's forces began making substantial progress against those of their Vectorian foes. The Earl of Oxfadia repelled frantic Vectorian counteroffensives against Meridu, Skye I, and Jacksonian Backory (May 14-22, 1689), and on May 25, instigated a siege of Destiny Major, one of the chief remaining strongholds for the Vectorians in the Barsar Regions.
 * The Siege of Destiny Major, in which Oxfadia was aided by Lord Stanelis and by the Duke of Mariana Prime, lasted for some weeks, but on June 9, 1689, the stronghold fell into Laurasian possession. Destiny Minor and Hemkura followed (June 9-14, 1689), thereby securing Laurasian control over the entire course of the Murphian Trade Spine. From this, the attention shifted to Anastasia Major; after a series of confrontations between Laurasian and Vectorian units at Aletis, Caesearea, Helena, Hakura, and Grenada, this world, once the capital of the Neo-Anastasian Empire, fell under siege from the Imperial Laurasian Navy in July 1689. The Siege of Anastasia Major dragged on for more than two months, during which time Laurasian and Vectorian expeditions traded blows at Anastasia Minor, Hospallia Minor, Vuzurg, Nicole, Sejucia, Angela Masia, Meridu, Beatrice, and in the outskirts of the Durant Cluster. On September 5, 1689, the world's defenses were breached, and within hours, Oxfadia's troops had secured all land positions. By the middle of September 1689, Hospallia Major remained the only stronghold in the Western Barsar Regions, of significance, that was still in Vectorian hands. Yet during the preceding months, Laurasian forces had also launched other moves into Vectorian territory. On June 19, 1689, the Battle of Borgia resulted in a decisive victory for the Earl of Duana, who was commended by Emperor Neuchrus for his efforts. Tong, Pompus, Killing, and Milking then fell into Laurasian hands (June-July 1689), and on August 5, Duana secured another victory in the Skirmishes of the Endorian Bases. Destroying Vectorian colonies on Andath, Warwick, and Walker, he then, on September 2, penetrated the defenses of Mercia, conquering that stronghold with little difficulty. Dedantia, Camerania, Essie, and Kylantha suffered Laurasian raiding expeditions, and even Lwheek was threatened. By the beginning of October 1689, Laurasian forces were actively besieging Kaley and Sulios, and were planning for a move against Deira, the Gate Solarian Cluster, and Ompus Septimia. On October 14, the Vectorian Fleet-Admiral Isharana-Adak (a cousin of the Emperor), launched a counteroffensive, penetrating as far as Zoo, Marciano, Stephanpoulos, Trieste, and Morley before being decisively defeated in the Battle of Eliza Spencer (November 14, 1689). Two days later, the Earl of Oxfadia drove into the Wild Marshes, destroying Vectorian fortresses on Halia, Morg, and Cooper, and seriously threatening the defenses of Neustron. On December 7, 1689, Fleet-Admiral Isharana-Adak was defeated by Oxfadia and Duana in the pitched Battle of Clarchin; Renee, Alizea, and Katilyn were then conquered. On December 23, 1689, Kaley finally surrendered to the Laurasian Empire, being followed by Sulios on New Year's Eve 1689.
 * The second child of the Emperor Neuchrus the Reformer and his wife, Empress-Consort Aurelia Zemakala, Grand Princess Constantia (destined to become Queen-Consort of Scottria, mother of Jamsius V and grandmother of Mariana I), was born at the Quencilvanian Palace in Christiania, Laurasia Prime (November 28, 1689).

1690

 * 1690, the 90th year of the seventeenth century, and the opening of the 1690s, witnessed the further advance of Laurasian military forces against the Vectorian Empire. Deira, which had been constantly harassed by raiding expeditions launched by the Imperial Laurasian Navy, was assaulted (January 19, 1690), resulting in a decisive victory for Laurasian arms. Following this victory, the Earl of Oxfadia quickly stormed Lwheek, Ompus Septimia, and Hedonsis (February 1690); at the same time, Duana secured Tekos IV, Hippuca, and Gazarus, with these former military strongholds of the Arachosian Empire thus falling into the Laurasian hold. On March 5, 1690, Intenti was conquered after a short skirmish between Laurasian and Vectorian naval forces in the Ladaranian Straits; Dolmes followed twelve days later. Nagosh was now suffering from repeated Laurasian raiding moves. The Nagoshi colony-worlds of Ach, Arcturus, and Badraius had already been seized by Laurasian naval fleets (January-February 1690), and on March 18, the conquest of Francia cut off the Francian Supply Highway, which was vital to commercial and financial activity on Francia. By the end of the month, Oxfadia and Duana had further stormed Aubrey, Tessa, and Noelle, thereby confirming the Laurasian grip in the Nagoshi Homeland Territories. Vectorian counteroffensives against Eliza Spencer, Meridu, Helena, Hospallia Major, Teutonica, and Destiny Major continually ended in failure, and on April 14, 1690, the Battle of Nagosh was waged. The Vectorian Governor of Nagosh, Peredith-Gabash, proved to be a resilient and effective military commander; he was not willing to give space to the Laurasian foes willingly, and he organized a vigorous defense. Several successive Laurasian assaults upon Nagosh's military defense lines ended in failure; on April 22, Vectorian forces even broke out to Timber, Joanna, and Blake, recovering those outposts and posing a serious danger to the imperial supply lines.
 * Ultimately, however, Duana shored up the lines, and on May 4, 1690, the stronghold finally fell into Laurasian hands. Duana, however, proved to be kind to the subjugated inhabitants of the star system, forbidding his troops to quarter on private property or to ransack privately-held factories, businesses, and enterprises without his permission. The conquest of Nagosh, which was shortly afterwards compounded with the fall of Neustron and Invictis Mesura to the Empire's forces (both on May 21, 1690), finally compelled the Vectorian Emperor Sargon Adad II and his Council of Regents into requesting for negotiations with the Laurasian Empire. The armistice request was made on June 3, 1690; it was responded to three days later, and on June 17, 1690, the Truce of Marith was signed, thereby suspending hostilities between the opposing Empires. It was not until July 3 before delegations from the two governments convened at Skold for terminating the conflict; Privy Seal Foxius, Sir Giletius Daubeny, Chancellor Mortonia, Imperial Marshal Berkalania, and the Duke of Mariana Prime served as the chief commissioners for the Imperial Laurasian Government. The Vectorian Government, on its part, was represented by the Lord Ashur-dugul of Vector Prime; by High Admiral Isharana-Adak; by General Asinum of Arachosia Prime; and by the Governor of the Sassi-ruuk Provinces, Libaya Barsak. After a month of negotiations, the Treaty of Skold was signed (August 3, 1690), a century before the conclusion of the Treaty of Sistova which ended Austarlian involvement in the Fifth Laurasian-Marasharite War. By the terms of this treaty, the Emperor Neuchrus pledged to restore the Sassi-ruukian, Nagai, and Kthexoxian Provinces (that is, all territories seized by Laurasian military arms within the Galactic Borderlands), back to the Vectorian Empire. This restoration was to be accomplished by no later than September 1, 1691. All military prisoners of war were to be exchanged, but no financial compensations were to be paid by either government. In return, however, the Vectorian Empire agreed to the concession of Hospallia Major, Anastasia Major, Destiny Major, and the remaining Western Barsarian Territories to the Laurasian Empire, thereby establishing the boundary between the two states as it was to exist at the commencement of the eighteenth century. Furthermore, free transit and navigation privileges for Laurasian subjects in Vectorian territory were guaranteed, and all foreign nationals were to gain a right of appeal to the Council of High Regents. The Treaty of Skold was ratified by Emperor Neuchrus on August 19, 1690, and by Vectorian Emperor Sargon Adad II on September 7.
 * By October 1690, therefore, the Laurasian Empire's hold over the entire Barsar Regions had been confirmed; Emperor Neuchrus, on his part, had continued with his program of reform. In November 1689, the Emperor had decreed the establishment of the Imperial Court of the Chancery, which now became the highest court of appeal for criminal suits from throughout the Empire, and for criminal cases concerning lower government officials, members and servants of the Imperial Household, and employees of the Imperial Laurasian Government. Then two months later, the Emperor had established a legal commission to review the situation of the Empire's judicial system, and to compile all imperial statutes, constitutions, decrees, prescripts, charters, and orders issued since 1517 (up to 1690), into a new uniform code. He appointed his childhood tutor Sir Aurelius Hermogenianus, as well as the Chief Justices of the Star Chamber and Chancery, the jurists Sir Gregorius Ladaria (1638-1726) and Sir Arcadius Charasius (1645-1719), and Privy Seal Foxius to this commission. The commission's labor would extend over six years, and ultimately produce two codifications of the Empire's laws. Emperor Neuchrus also began his taxation reforms; in April 1690, he changed the tax due date to September 1, established the office of decurion in order to levy taxes directly from estates and businesses, and reorganized the Imperial Internal Revenues Service (IIRS), entrusting it with greater jurisdiction over cases of tax fraud, evasion, and peculation. In October 1690, the Emperor deprived nobles and gentry in the Empire of their exemption from taxation, and imposed a new system of graduated taxation upon their estates and titles; in January 1691, the city of Christiania would lose its traditional tax-exemption status. In November 1690, internal tariffs on spices, military hardware, and industrial equipment would be abolished; the following month, Neuchrus would order for an extensive account of all state excise and import revenues to be compiled by the Imperial Treasury. In June 1691, he would abolish the Agency of State Diversions, thereby producing a uniform reserve fund for all government agencies.
 * Yet also, by the end of 1690, Neuchrus was facing other foreign policy issues. On September 22, 1690, Emperor Neuchrus, who had continued to angle for further concessions from the Spamalkan Monarchs, and also potentially from the Holy Austarlian Empire, finally ratified the Treaty of Medina del Campo. Yet in November 1690, the Spamalkan Monarchs made the proposal to revise the terms of the alliance, so as to abolish all tariffs and other restrictions upon commerce between the two realms, and to promote a more specific military alliance against Franconia or any other "threatening" power in the Amulak Spiral. Emperor Neuchrus, on December 4, authorized for these negotiations to proceed. A conference was convened at Madrid from December 14, 1690, and negotiations would continue for over three months, with the Laurasian Ambassador Sir Peresus Madasius taking the lead. Ultimately, however, the Conference of Madrid would end in March 1691 without the revisions being agreed to; the Spamalkan Monarchs, on their part, did not give absolute adherence to the provisions of the Treaty. And finally, the Emperor found himself facing another pretender threat: from Alexander Warbeckia. Warbeckia, who was born at the Laurasian Conclave on Tournai, in the Durthian Duchy of Burgundy, on June 22, 1674, nevertheless had a startling resemblance to Grand Prince Andronicus, the younger of the doomed sons of Emperor Probus. Warbeckia, who received an extensive education on Antwerp, Brussels, and Dunkirk, came to be supported by many of the members of the Laurasian Conclave; enemies of the Imperial Laurasian Government, in particular, considered him to be the rightful heir. By 1690, a faction of them, among them Sir Demetrius Lyrthies, a former Praetorian Guard and Suffect of the City of Christiania, who had fled to the Amulak Spiral in February 1684, on compulsion from the Emperor Titus's agents, had conceived the notion of using the boy as a way to strike at Neuchrus, depose him from the throne, and elevate their own position. Warbeckia, who they now claimed was the Grand Prince, suddenly appeared at the Durthian Court of Brussels in December 1690, and announced his claim to the Imperial Laurasian Crown. The boy, only sixteen years old, now claimed that his elder "brother" Maximinus had been executed by Titus's subordinates, but that they had spared him, due to his youth and "innocence". However, he had been made not to reveal his true identity under oath until "some years" had passed. From 1683 to 1690, he had resided in Burgundy, under the protection of "loyalists" to the Probian Dynasty, and was "left free" when his "guardian", Sir Antiochus Brampatia (who had conveniently died), had returned to the Empire earlier that year. Therefore, he revealed himself. Warbeckia now began receiving a surge of mercenaries and financial aid from those "sympathethic" to his cause. Emperor Neuchrus, on his part, denounced Warbeckia's claims, but for the time being, the pretender still did not pose too much of a threat to his own position.

1691

 * 1691 witnessed the threat of Alexander Warbeckia, against the Emperor Neuchrus and against the new-found stability of the Laurasian Empire, intensify. Warbeckia, throughout the early months of 1691, continued to build on his support. On January 7, 1691, he issued a further "manifesto" from Antwerp, declaring that all those who adhered to the authority of the "mortal enemy" Neuchrus, whom he denounced as a usurper and a traitor to the Almitian Church, should not deserve any mercy. By March 1691, Warbeckia had assembled a force of more than ten million troops and nearly one thousand military warships. This force was not a uniform one; it was a heterogeneous collection of mercenaries, starhoppers, and military units, both from the Amulak Spiral, and from the Caladarian Galaxy (along with its satellite galaxies). Haxonian, Franconian, Durthian, and Pruthian corps formed the cream of the military force; furthermore, Warbeckia had at his disposal a number of defectors from the Imperial Laurasian Military. Baronet Melealger Karanous of Oxia Vixius, who had himself fled to the Durthian Duchies in November 1689, became Warbeckia's chief confidant, and the main commander of his newly assembled military forces. Warbeckia now made the determination to take advantage of the "vulnerabilities" in the Robertian Provinces, and to make his bid for power against Neuchrus in that region. He believed that "rebel" elements throughout the Outer Borderlands, and elsewhere, would come to his cause, and that together, they could defeat the Emperor. On May 4, 1691, Warbeckia departed from the Amulak Spiral, and gaining passage through the Barbarossa Wormhole, quickly made his progress to the outskirts of the Caladarian Galaxy. Arriving at the Osonboka Nebula on May 19, he maintained contacts with his supporters within Laurasian realms, and encouraged rebellion against the imperial authorities. Abrianna and Abuza defected to the pretender (May 25-29, 1691); he defeated a government expeditionary force in the Battle of Malarky (June 2), and on June 14, his units stormed Parsons. McEvlogue, Alamaia I, and the Jageron Worlds were then secured (June-July 1691), and by the beginning of August, Iego, Dickinson, and Brenda seemed to be in trouble.
 * Warbeckia, on his part, had secured his hold of the OsonBoka Nebula. He continually denied Neuchrus's hold of the throne; had his religious officials "excommunicate" the Emperor, and issued repeated appeals to subjects throughout the Empire, urging them to revolt and to restore the rightful government. Yet Warbeckia was now to find that his incursion was unprepared, and in the face of superior government forces, doomed to absolute failure. On August 14, 1691, the Duke of Homidinia Major, who had hurried from that stronghold and assembled his military squadrons at Calms, Buranti, Taraning, Ian, Sanford, Gibbs-to-Lester, and Mackenzia Minor for a major counteroffensive, inflicted a decisive defeat upon Warbeckia in the Battle of Jeanne. He then repelled a rebel offensive against Meredith, and on September 1, 1691, definitively secured the defenses of Iego and Dickinson in the Battle of Sofia. By the middle of September, Parsons, Abuza, and Abrianna were back in government hands; McEvlogue was reconquered on September 6, and on September 14, the Battle of Golgriga resulted in another decisive victory for the Duke. On October 2, 1691, Warbeckia, hoping to evade capture by government forces, and realizing that his plans were foiled, made his retreat back into the Galactic Void with his forces; all rebel territories had been reconquered by government forces, by the end of October. Warbeckia now made his return to the Amulak Spiral, but decided to make his case at the court of Parri.
 * On November 4, 1691, he was received by King Charman II of Franconia in a lavish ceremony at the Tuileres Palace. Charman agreed to grant him sanctuary status and to permit him to rebuild his military support for future operations against Neuchrus. These actions were to instigate seven decades of hostility between the Laurasian Empire and Serene Kingdom of Franconia, involving the former realm into the state of affairs in the Amulak Spiral, more fully than ever before. Franconia, in particular, had been strengthening in recent years. On July 22, 1683, King Charman had been betrothed to Margaret of Austarlia (then three years old), the daughter of the Austarlian Archduke Maximilian of Inner Austarlia (1659-1719), the nephew of Austarlian Emperor Lea'dus I, and his wife, Mary, Duchess of Burgundy (1657-82), the only surviving child of Duke Char'vak the Bold. Mary's death (March 27, 1682), had left her son Philivus (the future father of Spamalkan Emperor Char'va I), as Grand Duke of Durthia and Burgundy; his father Maximilian ruled as regent. The marriage itself had been arranged by Charman's father King Lujak XI, by Archduke Maximillian (with the connivance of his uncle Emperor Lea'dus), and by the Estates of Durthia and Burgundy, as a result of the Peace of Arras (1682), which had confirmed the transfer of Franconian Burgundy, Artois, and the Ardennian Worlds to Franconia. Margaret of Austarlia, consequently, was raised at the Franconian Court of Parri during her childhood years. But on September 9, 1688, Duke Fransios II of Brittany, the same Duke who had sheltered the young Earl Neuchrus of Tudoria and his uncle during the reign of Probus, died at Coureon from injuries sustained in an riding accident, leaving his 11-year old daughter Anna as his heiress. In 1690, Anna's protectors arranged a marriage between her and Archduke Maximilian. The Queen-Regent Anna of Franconia, however, and her husband, the Duke of Bourbon, refused to countenance this marriage, since it would strengthen Austarlia's position via-a-vis Franconia. In June 1690, Brittany was invaded by Franconian forces; the Duchess was eventually forced to revoke her agreement to a marriage with Maximilian, and to agree to be married to Charman instead. The marriage took place in December 1691 at the Chateau de Langreais. It was not until May 4, 1693, however, before the conclusion of the Treaty of Senlis formally terminated Margaret of Austarlia's engagement to King Charman, providing for the return of her and her dowry to Austarlia; Franconia's possession of Charolais, the Duchy of Burgundy, and Artois was confirmed however, and it also gained the succession rights to the Free County of Burgundy (enacted 1714).
 * The future Antigonus III the Extravagant was born at the Gilbertine Palace on Tudoria, his father's hereditary residence, on June 28, 1691. Grand Prince Antigonus, who became Duke of Laurasia Prime from the moment of his birth, was nevertheless not expected to succeed his father upon the Laurasian throne, due to the presence of his elder brother Craterus. Antigonus, however, would prove to be far more alert, both physically and mentally, than his elder brother. He was baptized by Privy Seal Antiochus Foxius, who was now Archbishop of Taurasia.

1692

 * 1692 witnessed the continuation of the threat of Warbeckia and, more importantly, the Laurasian Empire's first-ever military conflict in the Amulak Spiral, against the Serene Kingdom of Franconia. By early 1692, Charman was asserting his authority as King of Franconia, and he sought to look beyond, to the Caladarian Galaxy. His harboring of Warbeckia was in accordance with this goal. Warbeckia, on his part, issued a stream of manifestos from Parri, expressing his contempt for Emperor Neuchrus; urging his subjects to rise up against him, and to reject his authority over the realms of the Laurasian Empire; and declaring that any who defected to his cause would be doing a service to the Imperial Almitian Church. Neuchrus, on his part, issued a manifesto of condemnation on January 5, 1692, threatening severe punishment for any who continued to condone, or to promote, the claims of the "heinous pretender Warbeckia, whose only intention is to bring anarchy and ruin to our dominions." As regards to Franconia, Emperor Neuchrus now engaged in a diplomatic juggling-act, in his attempt to pressure the Franconians into dropping their support for Warbeckia, and also in hopes for ensuring the autonomy of the Duchy of Brittany, which was now bound in personal union to the Franconian Crown. As far back as November 1691, the Imperial Laurasian Government had exchanged parleys with its Durthian and Austarlian counterparts, with the goal of providing for the autonomy of Brittany; the security of the Durthian Duchies; and the limitation of Charman's forays into Orange, Franche-Comte, and Alsace, among other regions. By January 1692, delegations from the three governments had convened at Liege, for the purpose of drawing up a treaty relating to these matters. The Treaty of Liege, however, was not signed until February 22, 1692. By the terms of this treaty, the Emperors Neuchrus and Lea'dus I, and Archduke-Regent Maximilian of the Durthian Duchies, pledged themselves to a common military front against the ambitions of Franconia. Considering that Austarlia was still tied up by the campaigns of the Great Marasharite War against the Marasharite Empire in Transylvania, the Danubian Principalities, Serbia, and Bosnia, the responsibility would fall upon the Laurasian Empire for "providing military resources by which to conduct the effectual defense of the interests of the Duchy of Brittany, and to prevent any aggressive moves from the direction of His Majesty of Franconia whereof."
 * The following day, Neuchrus and Maximilian came to a further secret understanding, by which each bound to declare open hostility to Franconia and to make actual war upon it, at their expense, within the next three years, if the Franconians continued to pursue any aggressive claims to Flanders or to Brittany. This agreement constituted the Laurasian Empire's first-ever military alliance with any of the Amulak powers, a precursor to the entanglements and conflicts of the eighteenth century. In March 1692, Emperor Neuchrus requested of the Spamalkan Ambassador, the Count de Medesto, that the terms of the Treaty of Medina del Campo be further "elaborated" upon; he insisted that negotiations commence immediately, understanding the failure of the previous addition efforts. The Codicil of Christiania (April 7, 1692), provided that if Franconia should invade the territory, or violate the neutrality of, Laurasia, the Spamalkan Kingdoms, or the Durthian Duchies, and if either monarch should declare war against Franconia, than the other should be bound to declare war upon Franconia, and to launch immediate military offensives at their own expense. Furthermore, the conflict should not be discontinued until mutual consent had been agreed between the two realms, and not until Greater Spamalka was assured its recovery of the regions of Roussillon and Cerdagne. Yet this codicil as well, was doomed not to be fully enacted; Fe'ro and Fresia hedged on their commitments, as both monarchs were actually considering a compromise settlement with King Charman. Furthermore, they had completed the destruction of Grenada (January 2, 1692), and were besieging Ceuta, held by the Knights of Malta. It was therefore not in their interest to rush to war against Franconia. Yet Neuchrus, determined to force Charman to drop his support for Warbeckia, continued his vigorous military preparations; by the beginning of August 1692, the Empire's forces, assembled at Belkadan, Sernapasia, Houston, Tyson, Vandross, the Oirat Complex, Syr-Daria, Glassia, Theodore, Andrea Doria, Scanlan, Joyner, and Gardner, were posed for an advance across the Galactic Void, and into the Great Amulak Spiral. The Imperial General Headquarters had drafted plans for the most ambitious military campaign yet in the Empire's history; no Laurasian force had ever penetrated out of the Caladarian Galaxy before. Neuchrus, furthermore, assisted Maximilian in his efforts to reconquer Sluys, which had defied Durthian authority for more than two years; this constituted the first direct Laurasian provision of aid to any power in the Amulak Spiral. Then on August 27, the Emperor himself, along with the Earls of Oxfadia and Duana, departed from Laurasia Prime; he determined to command the military operations himself. Eight days later, Neuchrus made history by being the first Laurasian sovereign in the Space Era to ever leave the Caladarian Galaxy; by juncture of the Trans-Void Wormhole, he and his forces made their quick progress into the outskirts of the Amulak Spiral.
 * Yet at this juncture, the Emperor of Laurasia was informed that the Regent of Durthia would not be joining in an offensive against Franconia; Sluys was still resisting him, and skirmishes with Pruthia and the Electorate of Hanover in Westphalia, Frisia, and Groningen distracted the Regent's energies. Furthermore, Neuchrus learned that his Spamalkan "allies" were already negotiating a settlement with the Franconian Government, and that they would not be coming to his aid. Nevertheless, Laurasian units launched their first ever-offensives in Franconian territory (and in the Great Amulak Spiral). Maubeuge, Lens, and Douai fell to Laurasian offensives (September 22-October 8, 1692), and on October 12, the Earl of Oxfadia destroyed a Franconian force under the Duke of Nancy in the Battle of Lievin. Roubaix, Tourcoing, and St. Omer then fell (October 13-18, 1692), and on October 20, the siege of Boulougone, one of the most important military bases and strongholds held by Franconia, commenced. The Sieur d'Esequerdes, commander of the Boulougone garrison, was authorized on October 24 to make a peace parley to the Laurasians; Neuchrus, on his part, whose supply lines were already overstretched, and aware of the lack of engagement shown by Spamalka and the Durthian Duchies, decided to heed these parleys. On November 3, 1692, the Truce of Arras was signed, thereby suspending military hostilities between Laurasia and Franconia. Delegations from the two governments convened at Etaples, thirty light-years southwest of Boulougone, on November 10. After just four days of negotiations, the Treaty of Etaples was concluded (November 14, 1692), thereby terminating the First Franconian War.
 * By the terms of this treaty, King Charman II agreed to drop his support for Warbeckia; to recognize Neuchrus's rightful title as Emperor and Autocrat of All the Laurasians; and to banish the pretender, his agents, and supporters from Franconian territory. Furthermore, Charman recognized Laurasian rights of campaign against the Marasharite Empire in the Caladarian Galaxy; agreed to pay a compensation of €13.75 trillion denarius to the Emperor of Laurasia; and assured free passage, by Laurasian merchants and starhoppers, through Franconian territory. He also agreed to reduce import tariffs on Laurasian goods by 15%. In exchange, Neuchrus recognized Charman's protectorship of Brittany, and his marriage to the Duchess Anna; he also confirmed Franconian sovereignty over Alsace, Artois, and the Ardennian Worlds. The Treaty of Etaples was ratified by Emperor Neuchrus on November 18 and by King Charman II on December 1. Following the exchange of ratifications, the Empire's military forces immediately retired from Franconian territory; Neuchrus himself arrived back at Belkadan on December 7, and then proceeded to Laurasia Prime, reaching his capital world four days later. The First Franconian War, the first-ever conflict between Laurasia and Franconia, and the first ever fought by Laurasia beyond the confines of the Caladarian Galaxy, proved epoch-making. As a result of this conflict, the powers of the Amulak Spiral were made more aware, than ever before, of the presence of the Laurasian Empire, and of its potential to project itself into the affairs of that galaxy at its own volition. The intervention gave the Laurasians the chance to obtain military experience against the Franconians, and to gain a sense of their military capabilities.
 * Yet this year also saw two other events: the promulgation of the Codex Gregorianus, and the creation of the Imperial Privy Council. In March 1692, whilst his entanglements with the Franconians and other powers were ongoing, Emperor Neuchrus promulgated the Codex Gregorianus, which had been completed by the legal commission two months earlier, and extensively revised by the Emperor and his fellow legal experts. This code compiled all imperial enactments, constitutions, and prescripts issued since 1531, during the reign of Lysimachus I. It provided an extensive guide, complete with annotations, references, and summaries, of all imperial documents and laws since that time, and those that were still in force. This code served to clarify the confusion in the legal system which had ensued during the seventeenth century, due to the conflicting laws and decrees of successive Emperors, and of competing Emperors. And then, by the decree of June 6, 1692, Emperor Neuchrus, in one of the most significant administrative reorganization decrees of his reign, established the Imperial Privy Council. The Council, which was now installed to replace the Councils of Civil Service and Secretaries (which had existed since the reigns of Antiochus I and Claudius II respectively), became the highest council of state in the Imperial Laurasian Government, above the Senate and Synod, and the monarch's leading advisory body.
 * The Council, to be composed of the Officers of State, the Secretaries of the Bureaus of State (they would not be replaced with ministries until 1712), the officials of the Imperial Chancellory, and six specifically-designated Privy Councilors, drawn from the Synod, Civil Service, and Senate, now assumed responsibility for providing advice to the monarch on all state matters; for enforcing the decrees and commands of the monarch; for supervising the daily operations of the government and civil service; and for issuing orders and instructions to governmental subordinates, agencies, and bureaus, for the purpose of enforcing His Majesty's will. The Council was to coordinate compilation of legislation and judicial rulings with the Senate, and to deliberate on religious matters with the Synod. Neuchrus provided extensive regulations on the Council's committee system, salary scales, secretarial services, and relationship to the Imperial Court. The creation of the Privy Council, the third of the Councils of State, served to systematize government operations, and in the eighteenth century, it would be transformed into a major instrument of the Neuchrian sovereigns. By this time, also, Neuchrus had two new chief ministers, who would prove effective at enforcing his will, but would become very unpopular with the Empire's subjects. These were: Sir Ricomedius Parsonius (1650-1710), and Sir Edmundis Dudley (1662-1710). Parsonius and Dudley, who would not actually receive their knighthoods until 1704, were nevertheless his chief officials in the Imperial Laurasian Government from before that. Parsonius was to become Chancellor in 1700, upon Mortonia's death; Dudley had already become Secretary of the College (Bureau) of Finance in November 1691, and was named the first Imperial President of the Privy Council in August 1692. They would be responsible for the significant administrative and financial reforms of 1694-97, as to be described below.

1693

 * The year 1693 saw the Laurasian Empire reside in an uneasy state of peace with its neighbors, both in the Amulak Spiral and in the Caladarian Galaxy. These years saw the continuation of the Emperor Neuchrus's program of economic, military, cultural, and administrative reform, a process which continued into 1695. In January 1693, the Emperor, in a proclamation from Laurasia Prime, announced his intention to reorganize the military command structure of the Empire. The experiences of the First Franconian War had revealed numerous flaws in the Empire's system of military coordination, and the Emperor was determined to rectify this. By the decrees of February 22 and March 7, 1693, the military ranks and classification system was revised. The Emperor now established a schedule of ranks and titles for the Imperial Army, Imperial Navy, Imperial Marines, and Imperial Auxiliary Corps. The naval and army commands were separated, although both were to remain under the jurisdiction of the Imperial General Headquarters. Neuchrus now created the rank of Field-Marshal of the Laurasian Empire, to be awarded to officers recognized for their strategic talent and virtue.
 * The rank of Field-Marshal was to be equivalent to a five-star general; they were to enjoy command over all army, marine, and naval forces placed under their jurisdiction. The ranks of Legate-General and Procuratorial General were abolished; the system which now existed (in descending order), comprised of the ranks of Field-Marshal (five-star), Lieutenant-General (four-star), Major-General (three-star), Brigadier General (two-star), and General (one-star). These generalities were followed by the ranks of Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel, Major, Captain, First Lieutenant, Second Lieutenant, Chief Warrant Officer (four categories), Warrant Officer, Sergeant-Major, First Sergeant, Master Sergeant, Staff Sergeant, Sergeant, Corporal, Specialist, and Private (three classes). A similar system was established for the Navy. The ranks of Captain-Admiral and Legate Admiral were abolished. The new system therefore established comprised of the ranks of: Fleet Admiral (five-star), Admiral (four-star), Vice-Admiral (three-star), Rear-Admiral (two-star), Commodore (one-star), and Fleet Captain. The lower ranks ranged from those of cadet, ensign, and lieutenant (lower ranks) to those of lieutenant commander, commander, and captain (higher ranks). And in May 1693, Emperor Neuchrus instated a new pay scale system for the Imperial Forces, tying benefits, pay raises, and vacation privileges to merit and recognition in the service.
 * Then on June 19, 1693, the Emperor ordered for the establishment of the Special Commission on the Reform of Military Discipline. This commission, chaired by the Earl of Oxfadia, first convened in July 1693, at the Senatorial Palace in Christiania, and worked for the next several months. Then on October 12, 1693, it presented its recommendations to the Emperor and the Imperial Privy Council at the Gilbertine Palace of Tudoria. These recommendations were soon codified in the Revised Code of Military Justice (December 1, 1693). This code provided for the subordination of military court-martials to the Court of the Imperial Chancery; the right to preparation of legal evidence for all in the military services charged with a crime; and an elaborate set of penalties, including fines, reduction in rank or benefits, dishonorable discharges, and criminal punishment, for offenses against the military. The Code served to clarify the obligations and the duties of all those in the service. The Emperor also introduced other beneficial reforms. In May 1693, he lowered the age of military conscription from 21 to 18, and mandated a service term of twenty-five years (this term would be reduced to twenty in 1706, fifteen in 1722, ten in 1748, and ultimately five in 1765). Furthermore, he sponsored the establishment of the Imperial Academy of Military Sciences on Laura and the Imperial Marine Corps Academy of AstroNavigation on Taurasia. Neuchrus also expanded the defensive capabilities of the Imperial Armed Forces; military expenditures devoted to new weapons systems, shielding, armor, and equipment rose by more than 600% between 1692 and 1696. The Emperor also sponsored a massive reconstruction and modernization of the Limes Saticus on Norah, the Lysimachid Barrier Defenses in the Hypasian Provinces, and the Hutsite Reaches Barriers in the Barsar Regions.

1694

 * 1694, the 94th year of the seventeenth century, saw a continuation of internal reforms. In January 1694, Emperor Neuchrus ordered for the installation of new Harkanid-class shield generators on the surface of Laurasia Prime. During the course of the next two years, a comprehensive system of these new-class shield generators, orbital turrets, and defensive platforms would be constructed by the Emperor, with a total cost of more than €200 trillion denarius (soon to be replaced by the dataries). Yet 1694 also saw the Emperor's focus honing in more on judicial and legal reforms. By 1691, the Emperor had implemented several more beneficial changes to the structure and administration of the Governing Senate. Through the last of his Senatorial Administrative Regulations, Neuchrus had reduced the size of the body from 450 to 150; limited its advice to merely those concerning administrative or judicial matters; and imposed a term limit upon every Senator. All of these significantly reduced the Senate's influence.
 * Furthermore, Neuchrus had in 1691 established the Court of Requests, to deal with civil suits, financial cases, and cases of bankruptcy, counterfeiting, forgery, and other such crimes at the level of the Imperial Government, and of its administrative divisions. Then, on March 5, 1694, Emperor Neuchrus organized the last of the Imperial Courts, that of Common Pleas, to deal with petitions from the Empire's subjects to the imperial authorities, as well as petitions among governmental organizations and disputes or cases of corruption relating to the Empire's administration. In April 1694, the Emperor increased the cap on quaestors, procurators, and other financial officials. Two months later, he established the Agency of Governmental-Local Revenue Coordination, in order to regulate matters related to the distribution of funds to the Empire's administrative functions, and the purposes to which they could use those funds. Then in November 1694, Neuchrus abolished the office of Praetorian Prefect; the Chancellor now assumed the duties of that respective office. Furthermore, the Senate's authority to demand reports from the Senatorial Provinces was circumscribed, and towards the end of the year, Neuchrus ordered for the Imperial Bureau of Regional and Provincial Administration to begin a study of the Empire's local administrative system. Yet towards the end of 1694, tensions were building up again.

1695

 * 1695, the 95th year of the seventeenth century, commenced with the Emperor Neuchrus, having continued with his program of reforms, once again facing the threat of the pretender Warbeckia. In November 1694, in a move of retaliation, Neuchrus had imposed an embargo upon all commerce between the Laurasian Empire and the Durthian Duchies. Neuchrus declared that the harboring of Warbeckia by the Regent-Representative of Durthia, Margaret of Burgundy, the step-grand mother of Duke Philivus I, was "a crime against Almitis, and upsetting to the tranquility of all powers of extra-galactic civilization." In January 1695, the Emperor forbade his subjects from traveling to, or engaging in commerce within, the realms of the Durthian Duchies. Warbeckia, on his part, who was assured that there were elements within the Empire (particularly in the Burglais Arm), which were opposed to Emperor Neuchrus, decided to try again, and to launch his renewed invasion there. Throughout the early months of 1695, Warbeckia, receiving financial aid from Margaret of Burgundy, expanded upon his support. He had, by April 1695, a substantial force of mercenaries, overwhemingly Durthian, Germanian, and Haxonian, and had secured access to a number of dreadnoughts, star destroyers, and battleships. Furthermore, Warbeckia continued to issue manifestos from Brussels, decrying the Emperor Neuchrus's regime and declaring that he was the only legitimate ruler. On June 21, 1695, shortly after the Emperor Neuchrus finally mandated the abolition of all jurisdiction by the Governing Senate over the Empire's administrative functions, Warbeckia made his departure for the Caladarian Galaxy. His forces sallied from Flushing, Halarem, Roosevelt, Niewpoort, Ostend, and Brill, proceeding immediately across the Galactic Void. They reached the outskirts of the Burglais Arm (July 3, 1695).
 * Within five days, Warbeckia's units had managed to secure the outposts of Deal, Schfaly, Haffley, Yeh, Barnett, and Jenna. Yet the response by the government forces of the Empire was swift and unrelenting. On July 21, 1695, Vice-Admiral the Lord Berganius of Coronadia Minor inflicted a decisive defeat upon Warbeckia in the Battle of Cherelle; five days later, an attempted offensive against Taraning, Ian, and Calms ended in failure. In August 1695, government forces reconquered Yeh and Barnett, repelling expeditions into the Corporate Sector. And then on September 4, Warbeckia was finally forced to terminate his operations in the Burglais Arm. Yet he now sought a rash offensive against Sernapasia and Karakorum, which came to nought in the Battle of Taranian Dyria (September 27, 1695). With this, the rebel offensive was finally broken.
 * Yet that was not the end for Warbeckia. Unable to return to the Amulak Spiral at this juncture, he now decided to make his way to the Angelina Spiral: specifically, to the Celestial Kingdom of Scottria and to King Jamsius IV. Warbeckia, making his journey in the northern Galactic Void, and successfully evading pursuit forces dispatched on the order of the Emperor, reached Branxholme (October 4, 1695). The King of Scottria, who was alerted of the arrival of the Laurasian pretender in his dominions, first considered giving him into the custody of the Imperial Laurasian Government. Ultimately, however, he decided to use the pretender as his leverage against the Empire. On October 21, 1695, the King formally received Warbeckia on Ediania, and announced his support for the pretender.
 * It is now expedient to note some of what happened in Scottria, following the conclusion of the Laurasian-Scottrian War of 1679-82. From September 1682 to January 1683, the Duke of Albany struggled with King Jamsius III over control of the government of Ediania. In that latter month, he fled to his estates on Dunbar. The King was able to reassert control over affairs on Ediania, but found that he could not act against Albany, due to persistent rebel tensions in the Dumbarton Provinces, and in Kalbacha. In 1684, Albany attempted to seize Locamben, Locheleven, and Dumblaine, but he was foiled by the King's garrisons in those star systems. After another failed effort to breach the defenses of Stirling and Leith, Albany finally fled to the Amulak Spiral in February 1685, dying on August 7 at Parri. The King, however, found himself estranged from his second wife, Margaret of Denarica, and came closer to his second son. In January 1688, he made this son Duke of Ross. Furthermore, he named four Lairds as Lords of the Scottrian Estates: John Drummond of Cargill, who became Lord Drummond; Robert Crichton of Sanquhar, made Lord Sanquhar; Johnes Hay of Yester, made Lord Hay of Yester; and the Knight William Ruthven, made Lord Ruthven. The Earls of Angus and Argyll, supported by the Homes and Hepburns, opposed the King, and on February 2, 1688, the King's eldest son Jamsius had been delivered into the hands of rebels. Formal rebellion erupted in March 1688, and on June 11 of that year, the Battle of Sauchieburn was waged between the King on the one hand, supported by the Duke of Montrose, the Earl of Menteith, and the Earl of Glencairn; and his son Jamsius of Rothesay, Lords Home and Montogomerie, and the Earl of Angus on the other. The battle ended in a decisive victory for rebel forces: King Jamsius himself was struck down on the field of battle.
 * His son now assumed the throne, and was crowned as Jamsius IV at Scone (June 24, 1688). Yet once he became King, Jamsius proved to be an effective and wise ruler. He built a strong working relationship with the Scottrian Estates; lowered taxes and financial obligations on his subjects; and proclaimed a policy of religious toleration for all within his realms. He offered appealing terms to those who would settle in his realms. In 1689, the King suppressed a uprising on Glencairn, Ross, and Angus; in 1693, he finally completed the subjection of the Western Lordships, something which had evaded his father and grandfather. Thus by 1695, the Celestial Kingdom of Scottria was relatively stable, and enjoying a period of economic prosperity. Thus Jamsius's support of Warbeckia was a surprise move. Emperor Neuchrus, learning that Warbeckia was now in Scottria, was alarmed. In November 1695, the Emperor issued a series of communiques to the Court of Ediania, demanding an explanation for why Warbeckia was being welcomed as a guest of state. The Scottrian Estates responded that he was being sheltered under the "protection" of the King of Scottria, and that they would continue to shelter the pretender until the Emperor of Laurasia granted him pardon. Neuchrus was angered by this, and on December 7, 1695, condemned his Scottrian counterpart's actions. On December 21, the Emperor was emotionally affected by the death of his uncle, the Duke of Mariana Prime; ten days later, he ordered the General Headquarters to draft plans for a renewed military conflict with Scottria. 1695 therefore ended with hostility between Laurasia and Scottria building up.

1696

 * 1696, the 96th year of the seventeenth century, commenced with the Laurasian Empire and the Celestial Kingdom of Scottria veering on a path of renewed war. The Emperor Neuchrus the Reformer, angered by the harboring of the pretender Alexander Warbeckia at the Court of Ediania, was determined to terminate the threat which Warbeckia posed to his own security, and to the security of the Laurasian Empire's realms. On January 17, 1696, Emperor Neuchrus, in a further manifesto to his subjects, declared that he would not countenance any "attempt at rebellion, or direct revolt, directed against impinging upon and threatening my hereditary rights; and furthermore, upon challenging the stability and tranquility of these realms." The Governing Senate, acting on the Emperor's orders, issued a declaration of formal treason against Warbeckia and offered a bounty of €250 billion denarius for any loyal subject who revealed any of Warbeckia's connections, strongholds, or supporters within the Empire's realms. Strict limitations upon communications, transit, and correspondence were imposed, so as to prevent rebel defectors from departing the Empire's territory, and heading into that of Scottria. Vigorous patrols were conducted in the Garaman Provinces, and in March 1696, Emperor Neuchrus forbade his subjects from engaging in commerce, or traveling to, the Scottrian realms without explicit authorization from his authorities. Yet these were not the only measures. The Emperor still pushed on with his program of reform, and he also brought the hostilities with the Durthian Duchies to an end. By the decrees of November 17 and December 8, 1695, Emperor Neuchrus instigated a complete reorganization of the regional and local administrative system of the Laurasian Empire. In order to increase the efficiency of tax collection, strengthen governmental oversight over every aspect of local administration, and improve the quality and the professionalism of the Imperial Civil Service, the Emperor effected an increase in the number of provinces within the Empire, from fifty to over two hundred (by the middle of the eighteenth century, that number would increase to five hundred). The provinces of the Empire were now to be grouped into twelve (ultimately forty) dioceses, each of whom was now to be governed by a Vicar, or deputy of the Emperor. Emperor Neuchrus would implement revisions to provincial apportionment and jurisdiction throughout the remainder of his reign; the changes of 1698, 1699, and 1706 would be the most substantial modifications enacted.
 * The Governor of Laurasia Prime, who now assumed the former duties of the Praetorian Prefect as regards to law enforcement and judicial administration, remained the chief planetary governor in the Empire; the Mayor of Christiania assumed the right to participate in sessions of the Council of Suffects, and to issue executive instructions and civil orders to his subordinates. Governors in general, however, saw their powers curtailed, as the Emperor required for them to submit routine reports to the Privy Council, and entrusted the Quaestors and Aediles of each Province with the responsibility of confirming appointments, orders, and decorations made by each Governor. Furthermore, the Emperor affected the establishment of the office of Justice of the Imperial Peace, responsible for petty cases and for the administration of justice on the local and planetary level. Justices of the Peace helped to make subjects more aware of their obligations, to keep corruption in local bureaucracies in check, and to keep the higher officials informed of local affairs. Furthermore, Neuchrus greatly expanded the Imperial Bureaucracy and Civil Corps, founding thirty civil service academies between 1695 and 1709; imposing a new qualifications system; strictly limiting patronage and spoils; and requiring for all officials to pass a comprehensive examination before assuming their duties. Neuchrus also entrusted the Procurator-General of the Governing Senate with greater authority to root out corruption and to report officials who violated their responsibilities.
 * And then, on February 24, 1696, the Treaty of Antwerp, also known as the Intercusus Magnus was signed by the Laurasian Empire and the Grand Duchy of Durthia and Burgundy, thereby bringing to an end years of hostility, and of economic sanctions. Regent Maximilian of Durthia, who viewed economic and diplomatic ties with the Laurasian Empire to be supremely important, had in August 1695, sent an offer of negotiation to the Emperor of Laurasia, proposing for a conference to resolve all differences between the two realms. Emperor Neuchrus, aware of the increasing importance of Durthian commerce, accepted this offer. From October 12, 1695, delegations from the two governments convened at Antwerp, in the Durthian Duchies. The Haxonian Confederacy, Grand Duchy of Tuscany, Florence, the Holy Austarlian Empire, and the Germanian Electorates of Hanover, Baden, and Wurttemburg were also represented by auxiliary delegations at the conference. The Treaty itself terminated all economic sanctions imposed by Laurasia and Durthia against each-other; announced Durthian recognition of Neuchrus's title as Emperor, and the formal repudiation of the claims of Warbeckia; and provided for the restoration of commercial and diplomatic relations. Laurasian and Durthian merchants alike were granted reciprocal navigation and trade privileges; furthermore, all internal tariffs on the goods of either realm were to be devoted to the "common benefit" of both governments, a joint commission would determine navigation and justice disputes, and a definite schedule of duties and rates was established. Furthermore, the Durthian States-General agreed to respect the privileges, property, and practices of all Almitian Church dioceses in Durthian territory. The Treaty of Antwerp, ratified by Emperor Neuchrus on March 7 and by the States-General on March 25, helped to lay the groundwork for the further expansion of commerce between the Caladarian Galaxy and Amulak Spiral, which was to become a hallmark of the eighteenth century. And then, on April 5, 1696, Emperor Neuchrus promulgated the Codex Hermogenianus, which provided a codification of all imperial statutes, re-scripts, and constitutions between 1683 and 1696. This code also contained a guidebook on the principles of Laurasian legalism, a work which would become standard with law schools and other such institutions within the Empire during the eighteenth century.
 * By August 1696, the tensions between Laurasia and Scottria had built up to such an extent that there was finally a formal outbreak of war. Emperor Neuchrus imposed an economic sanction on all commerce with Scottria in May 1696; by the following month, the Imperial General Headquarters had completed their preparations for war, and had mobilized garrisons throughout the Empire's territories in the purpose. Emperor Neuchrus himself conducted a progress through the Malarian Provinces, Borderland Territories, and Wild Marshes during June and July 1696. The purpose of this journey was to express the military capabilities and the reach of the Empire, and to demonstrate to the Scottrians that they could not imitate him. On July 14, 1696 (a century before the death of Durthian Protector Philip William of Orange), Emperor Neuchrus issued an ultimatum to the Court of Ediania. He issued this ultimatum from Massanay. In it, the Emperor declared that the continued Scottrian support for the pretender Warbeckia threatened all tranquility, and that unless Warbeckia was returned into his custody, he would have no option but to take recourse to war. King Jamsius pointedly ignored this, and at the end of July, he actually established his command headquarters on Perth; his plan was to launch his forces into the Barsar Regions and into the Garaman Provinces. On August 7, 1696, the period for the ultimatum expired, and Neuchrus issued a declaration of war against his Scottrian counterpart. Nevertheless, it was Scottrian forces which made the first swift moves. The King of Scottria's forces, placed under the battlefield command of the Earls of Angus, Ross, and Madelaine, quickly stormed Sejucia (August 9-14); Nicole (August 25); and Ladoga (September 1).
 * Onieda fell under siege from September 7, 1696, and it did not fall until ten days later. By the middle of September 1696, Ranieda Minor, Dasalaburgh, Zebetha, and Ranieda Major had all been stormed by Scottrian forces. King Jamsius now issued a taunting declaration from Perth, declaring that all who continued to support the Laurasian Emperor were "dooming themselves". Shelton and Michelle fell (October 9, 1696), and on October 14, the Earl of Aretha suffered a humiliating defeat against Angus in the Battle of Garbia. That world now fell into Scottrian possession, and King Jamsius himself blockaded Garama, which fell on October 28. November 1696 saw the conquest of Zabi, Cydamus, Roxburgh, and the Laurasian colonies of Yoder, Marcotte, Blumer, and Filpovic; furthermore, Thubnae was threatened by Scottrian expeditionary units. But on December 9, 1696, King Jamsius's offensive against Castellum Dimmidi came to nought in the Battle of Flarence; Smallings, June, and Jordan were then recovered by Laurasian units under Aretha. On December 18, the Earl of Oxfadia assumed supreme command of Laurasian forces in the Merlite Provinces, and he successfully repelled Scottrian assaults upon Jacquenthia, Evan, Orithiania, and Aretha.

1697

 * 1697, the 97th year of the seventeenth century, commenced with the Laurasian Empire and Celestial Kingdom of Scottria engaged in a bitter fight, relating to the claims of the pretender Warbeckia. On January 7, 1697, the Battle of Eliza Spencer resulted in a victory for Scottrian forces under the Earls of Ross and Caithness. By January 16, Scottrian units had stormed Meridu, Hemkura, Helena, Aletis, and Grenada, thereby entrenching themselves within the Hospallian and Anastasian Provinces. Hospallia Major, Teutonica, and Anastasia Minor, however, defied their attempts, and on February 1, 1697, Oxfadia blunted a Scottrian move against Jacksonian Backory, in the Battle of Childress. On February 17, Roxburgh and Yoder were recovered by Oxfadia in a series of surprise assaults; and by the end of the month, Zabi and Cydamus were both under siege by the Imperial Laurasian Navy. Scottrian expeditions into the Merlite and Ashlgothian Provinces continued to be repelled by Laurasian fleets and garrisons. Yet Warbeckia continued to be favored by King Jamsius. By his connivance, the Pretender married the Scottrian Lady Catherine Gordon, daughter of the 2nd Earl of Huntly (March 4, 1697). This ceremony took place on Kathy Major, and was celebrated with much lavishness and much vigor. Yet it provoked Emperor Neuchrus yet more, and on March 16, he issued his "firm resolution" not to make peace with Scottria until the pretender and his forces had been expelled from that realm. March 1697, however, saw the tide of conflict turn in the favor of the Emperor. On March 6, 1697, the Siege of Zabi ended in victory for the Laurasian Empire; Cydamus fell on March 19. Marcotte and Blumer were more difficult, but by the beginning of April 1697, both star systems were back in Laurasian hands. The Earl of Oxfadia, along with his subordinate, Vice-Admiral the Earl of Almastead, then secured Sejucia and Nicole (April 5, 1697), and on April 22, the Scottrians were driven from Aletis. On May 1, 1697, Hemkura and Meris were recovered, and four days later, Oxfadia inflicted a ruinous defeat upon the Earl of Angus in the Battle of the Berazanius. Shelton and Michelle were recovered on May 11, and four days later, Wheaton in the Galactic Borderlands was stormed by Admiral Sir Giletus Daubeny, thereby giving the Empire a foothold in Scottrian realms. By May 19, Crusher, McKellen, Janeway, and Frasier had all been seized by the Laurasians; Gholaia and Castellum Dimmidi were recovered on May 24; and Ranieda Major was besieged from May 26 (it would ultimately fall on June 2).
 * Yet other troubles were stirring for Emperor Neuchrus and his officials: in the Heuthrian Provinces. Emperor Neuchrus's taxation and conscription policies, which had been intensified due to the outbreak of war with Scottria, had alienated many of his subjects in those regions. As early as November 1695, protests on Sauvania, Heuthros, Ietas, and Tyndaris against government exactions had occurred. Emperor Neuchrus had, through a series of tax measures in 1695 and 1696, formalized the requisition system into one of proper taxation. He introduced a extensive new tax system based on heads (capita) and property (iugera)-and tied to a new, regular census of the Empire's administration and wealth. Census officials conducted communications and traveled extensively throughout the Empire's realms, assessing the value of labor and land for each nobleman, business-owner, and landowner. They then used these values to compile the capita and iugera values for the wealthiest and middle-class individuals in the Empire. The iugera (effectively a property tax), was at first not a consistent measure, but varied in accordance with the type of terrain, the product raised or produced, and the amount of labor required in order to produce that good. The capita was also not consistent, with women and foreign species being assessed at half the value of Laurasian males. Star systems were now obliged to provide tax revenue, manpower, and supplies in accordance with the capita, and agricultural requisitions in accordance with the iugera.
 * The reform of census procedures in particular (June 28, 1696), had regularized the process, authorizing for it to take place every five years. His reforms also increased the number of financial officials in the Empire's regions: rationales and magistri private almost tripled in number, as did the Quaestors of Finance. Rates of taxation were shifted by the Imperial Treasury to take inflation into account. All of this seemed to impose a new burden upon many of the Empire's subjects, and some railed against these reforms. Rainnan, Jenny, and Metallasia all experienced outbursts of wanton anti-taxation unrest during late 1696 and early 1697; in March 1697, Mylae and Rucell were ravaged by widespread demonstrations against governmental authorities. Then on May 25, 1697, the first stirring of true rebel unrest arose in the Laurasian Colony of St. Keverne on Danstin, whose inhabitants were angered by the acts of the rationale Sir Demetrius Orbania, a provost of the University of Jenny and one of the Empire's most respected tax-collection experts. Sir Michaelius Josapherius, a prominent businessman and property owner in St. Keverne, joined with Sir Thomasius Fladamnia, President of the Bodmin Guild of Shipwrights on Chesham's Star, in order to raise the banner of revolt against the Imperial Laurasian Government.
 * Within days, the garrisons of Danstin, Chesham's Star, Jenny, Kelby, Chloe, and Mylae had defected to them; Rucell fell into their hands on June 1, and on June 3, so did the garrison of Rainnan. Fladamania and Josapherius, with the assistance of defecting Major-General Sir Licinius Mearsius, advanced from Rainnan to Willamson and Mettalina, posing a serious threat to both strongholds. Along every step of their progress, the rebel forces attracted provisions and support; the Laurasian colonies of Taunton, Devon, and Welleria proved especially receptive to their message. On June 6, 1697, they were joined by the Baron Audelius, formerly Governor of Oxia Vixius, and one of the most prominent courtiers at the Imperial Court. Neuchrus's abolition of the exemption of nobles and the gentry from taxation (1692), had angered Audelius, and he believed that the Emperor was imposing too much burden upon the imperial nobility. Camarina, Guyah, and Scout defected with Audelius, thereby considerably strengthening rebel units. On June 13, 1697, rebel forces approached the outskirts of Ietas, which although ravaged with civil and social dissent, had remained in the hands of governmental authorities. Emperor Neuchrus, however, who had been startled by the emergence of the rebellion, had nevertheless not remained idle. On June 9, he had recalled Sir Daubeny from the theater of war in the Barsar Regions; the Earl of Soria, son of the late Duke of Norfolkius, and now one of the Emperor's leading ministers, was on his part commanded to shore up the defenses of Laurasia Prime. Oxfadia held up the line against the Scottrians. The Emperor had his wife and children (including his youngest child, his one-year old daughter Didymeia, who had been born at the Gilbertine Palace on Tudoria March 18, 1696), moved to the Fortress of Baureux, for their own safety, and he ordered a proclamation of rebellion issued in the affected regions. On June 14, 1697, the day following the approach of rebel forces before Ietas, Daubeny decided to take the offensive against the rebel forces.
 * That day, a governmental reconnaissance expedition confronted, and defeated, the rearguard of the main rebel armada at Tikra. At that point, Josapherius and Baron Audelius decided to move to Depthania, a minor colony located ten light years east of Ietas, with the intention of luring government units into a trap. Sir Daubeny, however, was alerted to their advance, and he had prepared his forces accordingly. On June 17, 1697 (a century before the death of Vendragian King Georg IV), the Earls of Estatius and Sufforia, under the overall command of Daubeny, moved against rebel forces during the early hours of the day. Estatius and Sufforia executed a pincer maneuver around the rebel forces, thereby surrounding them completely. Daubeny then executed the main move. At the gates of Depthania, the rebels had stationed a line of corvettes and cruisers, but Daubeny was able to use his dreadnoughts and cruisers to break the line. Daubeny then took advantage of gaps in the rebel lines to penetrate through into the star system; he and his forces pursued their offensive with great vigor. Within hours, the rebel lines had broken, and the Battle of Depthania ended in a decisive victory for the Laurasian Empire. Josapherius managed to flee as far as Sapphire before being captured on June 22. Audelius, Mearsius, and Fladamania, however, were captured at the battlefield. Emperor Neuchrus, on his part, conducted a victorious triumph on Laurasia Prime, announcing that the suppression of the rebellion restored tranquility and stability to the Empire's realms. By the end of July 1697, all rebel territories in the Heuthrian Provinces, and in the western outskirts of the Laurasia Prime Purse Region, had returned to their proper allegiance towards the Emperor Neuchrus's government. Neuchrus, on his part, displayed some leniency towards the common soldiers, officers, and personnel who had participated in the rebellion; most of them were pardoned, or were convicted of lesser offenses (amounting to fines and terms of imprisonment). But for the ringleaders of the rebellion, the Emperor did not have any mercy. On June 27, 1697, after being attainted by Neuchrus and convicted of treason, conspiracy, and les-majestie, Fladamania and Joasperius were executed by hanging, drawing, quartering, and incineration at the Tyburnian Stockards of the Cron Drift. Audalius, on his part, was tried and condemned by the Governing Senate, Holy Synod, and Imperial Privy Council; as a peer of the realm, he was executed by blaster fire on June 28 at the Fortress of Baureux.
 * With the suppression of the Heuthrian Rebellion, as it was known, Emperor Neuchrus focused all of his, and his Empire's, attention once again upon the campaigns in the Galactic Borderlands and Wild Marshes against the Celestial Kingdom of Scottria. Helena and Grenada were back in Laurasian hands by the middle of June 1697, and on June 26, the Earl of Oxfadia gained a smashing victory over his Scottrian counterpart, Angus, in the Battle of Meridu. By the end of that month, all Scottrian units in the Barsar Regions had been conclusively repelled. On July 4, 1697, the Earls of Soria and Duana, directing a coordinated thrust from Ranieda Major, Ladoga, Onieda, Zebetha, and Dasalaburgh, breached the defenses of Roger Minor, one of the chief Scottrian strongholds in the eastern Galactic Borderlands. Despite all the efforts of the Scottrian garrison and of the Earl of Caithness, Roger Minor fell on July 11. Bristain, Sasha VI, Littleton, Marlton, and the El Paso Colonies were then subdued by Laurasian forces (July 12-19, 1697), and on July 24, 1697, Soria gained another victory in the Battle of Roger Major; this world, once the chief stronghold of the Rogerian species, now fell into the hands of the Laurasian Empire. Perth, Barching, and Partisia were all subdued during the last days of July 1697; Bane, Zannah, Cognus, and Gwynne were now all under serious threat. On August 7, 1697, King Jamsius himself, in an attempt to reverse the Laurasian momentum, launched a surprise counteroffensive, penetrating to Ranieda Major, Cydamus, and Castellum Dimiddi. His forces now instigated a siege of Norhamia. Yet the Scottrian surge did not last long, and on August 12, Jamsius was forced to abandon the siege due to the approach of the Earl of Soria's forces. Goriance fell on August 14; four days later, the Earl of Soria besieged and conquered the Scottrian colony of Ayton, capturing more than 25,000 harquebusiers of the Scottrian Royal Army and inflicting a humiliating defeat upon the forces of the enemy.
 * Ayton now became the chief Laurasian operational base for further operations against Sabinia, Seeben, Kalbacha Minor, and the Iswill; Pram Buhamidal was also blockaded by Laurasian units. Zannah surrendered on August 22, 1697; within four days, Bane, Gwynne, and Cognus were also in Laurasian hands. On September 2, 1697, Soria's victory in the Battle of Palaris III finally convinced King Jamsius of the futility of the military conflict with Laurasia. Jamsius, who was facing rebellion in the Dumbarton Provinces, decided to turn his attention back to affairs in the Angelina Spiral. Yet before he could do so, the pretender Warbeckia, increasingly unwelcome at the Scottrian Court, made one last venture of folly into Laurasian territory. On September 7, 1697, the pretender appeared at Ho Chi Minh, in the Hypasian Provinces, with a force of Scottrian, Haxonian, and Vendragian mercenaries; he proclaimed that he would be able to alleviate the "burdens" imposed by the Emperor upon his subjects, and to bring true unity to the Empire, and to the Almitian Church. Warbeckia's wife, Lady Catherine, who attended her husband, was brought to Spencer, one of the few Laurasian colonies in the region to actually defect to the pretender. He soon made the resolution to attack Coleman, and at this, found himself acclaimed Emperor and Autocrat of All the Laurasians by his supporters. Within days, rebel units had sieged Saigon, Valeris V, Huerta Mongol, and Qu'emia, and it appeared that the Emperor Neuchrus would have to grapple with yet another rebellion against his authority. Warbeckia's energy fizzled out, however, and Sir Daubeny, still entrusted by the Emperor with the Prefectship of the Laurasia Prime Purse Region, proceeded immediately against the rebel forces. On September 13, 1697, the Battle of Glastria, the last military confrontation between the government forces of the Empire and those of the pretender Warbeckia, resulted in a decisive victory for the former. Warbeckia, realizing that all was lost, gave up hope; his supporters abandoned him; and Valeris V, along with Saigon and Huerta Mongol, returned to their proper allegiance. On September 31, 1697, he surrendered to Sir Daubeny and his forces at Beauleria; on October 4, Ho Chi Minh and Qu'emia surrendered, thereby bringing an end to the abortive Hypasian Uprising of 1697. Warbeckia, on his part, was imprisoned on Emperor Neuchrus's orders. In October 1697, he would be incarcerated at the Monastery of Windowia Photis. In March 1698, on the Emperor's orders, Warbeckia would then be moved to permanent quarters at the Fortress of Baureux. Warbeckia's wife, Lady Catherine, would be captured by Laurasian authorities on October 3.
 * The capture of Warbeckia gave King Jamsius IV every reason to terminate the war with his Laurasian adversaries. On October 5, 1697, after receiving assurance that Warbeckia and his wife were both in the custody of Emperor Neuchrus's officials, Jamsius sent his request for an armistice, and for a diplomatic conference to terminate the war, to the Imperial Laurasian Government. Neuchrus, himself eager to end this conflict, and now assured of his control over Warbeckia, accepted the offer within hours. Negotiations between the two realms were now to be aided by the Spamalkan Ambassador to the Court of Ediania, Pedro de Ayala. Fe'ro II and Fresia I, who had been following events in the Caladarian Galaxy with interest, were now the joint sovereigns of a united Holy Spamalkan Empire. Their conquest of Granada (1692), which was recognized by the Knights of Malta and the Haxonian Confederacy in the Treaty of Barcelona, had strengthened their position. Furthermore, the Spamalkan Monarchs, who had already subdued the Canary Protectorates, and who were strengthening Spamalkan hold of Ceuta and Melilia, were then in the process of continuing the subjugation of the Spice Colonies and Colonial Territories, a process which had then been undergoing for more than two centuries. In 1694, they had assumed the honorary rank of "Most Catholic Monarchs of Their Realms", in recognition of their victories over the "fiends" of Granada. Two years later, on June 26, 1696, they had been proclaimed Emperor and Empress of Holy Spamalka by the Estates of Greater and Lesser Spamalka, Valencia, and the Basques. The formation of the Holy Spamalkan Empire, in the midst of the still ongoing Great Marasharite War, had greatly influenced the diplomatic scales, and encouraged them to build further relations with Laurasia. In June 1696, de Ayala, who had previously served on diplomatic missions to Laurasia, Franconia, Haxonia, and Austarlia, had been appointed by the joint sovereigns as Ambassador to that of Ediania. He had been received with much pomp and ceremony by the King of Scottria, and later attended the King as he conducted his military offensives in the Barsar Regions against the Empire. De Ayala, therefore, had a great grasp of diplomacy, and of the affairs of those two realms; he was determined to bring about a peace which would work to the advantage of the parties involved, and to his own Spamalkan masters.
 * The Armistice of Kania was signed on October 14, 1697, thereby terminating active military hostilities in the conflict. Ten days later, delegations from the two governments convened at Ayton, so recently subdued by the forces of the Laurasian Empire, for the actual conference to terminate the war. The Laurasian Empire was represented by Privy Seal Foxius, the Earls of Soria and Oxfadia, Sir Demetrius Carthigania, and by the future Chief Procurator of the Holy Synod, Willanius Warhamius, then Under-Secretary of the Imperial College of Foreign Affairs and Dean of the Westphalian Cathedral. Scottria, on its part, was represented by William, Clainnarch Elphinstone, Andrew Forman, Sir Patrick Hume of Fastcastle, and Master Richard Forman. Ambassador de Ayala served as the mediator between the two delegations. Negotiations continued for over two months. Finally, on December 11, 1697, the Treaty of Ayton was signed, thereby terminating the Laurasian-Scottrian War of 1696-97, the last conflict between the two powers of the seventeenth century. By the terms of this treaty, the status quo ante bellum between the two Empires was restored, with the exception that the boundary in the Hypasian and Rogerian Provinces was revised to the favor of the Laurasian Empire. Ayton, therefore, was transferred to Laurasian control. Free-transit and free-immigration privileges in the Berwick Barrier, Garaman Provinces, and the Wild Marshes were guaranteed, to last until January 1, 1705, when they were to be renewed by agreement of both parties. Furthermore, arrangements for extradition of criminals, border patrols, and navigation disputes were made; a Joint Commission between the two governments was to handle specific cases related to these matters. All prisoners of war, and all properties captured, in the preceding conflict were to be returned to their rightful owners. Neither realm was to harbor rebels or pretenders from the other; furthermore, King Jamsius agreed to formally denounce all claims by Warbeckia, or any other pretenders, against the Imperial Laurasian Crown. However, the Scottrian Government agreed to dispense €5.7 trillion dataries over the course of the next four years, on demand, to compensate those who suffered undue damage from Scottrian raiding expeditions over the course of the preceding twenty years. The Treaty of Ayton was ratified on December 22, 1697 by Emperor Neuchrus; King Jamsius, however, who was actively engaged in the suppression of rebel movements on Smwerick, Niddry, Baltinglass, Brechin, Corgaff, Kerry, and Limerick, deferred. Nevertheless, Emperor Neuchrus declared that the end of the war brought tranquility and stability back to the Empire.

1698

 * 1698, the 98th year of the seventeenth century, began with the Laurasian Empire at peace with its Scottrian neighbors once again; the next Laurasian-Scottrian War would not occur until 1713, in the reign of Neuchrus's son, Antigonus III. Yet the previous year, which had seen two rebellions (including the capture of Warbeckia), and the clash between Laurasian and Scottrian forces, both in the Barsar Regions and Galactic Borderlands, had also seen further reforms by Emperor Neuchrus. These concerned the currency of the Empire. For nearly four centuries (1321-1697), the Empire's currency was the denarius, which had been introduced as far back as the 8th century BH as the currency of the United States of Laurasia. From its establishment, the Empire was highly monetized, with money being used to express prices and debts. The sesterius, whose standards were formally established by Seleucus I in his currency reforms of 1301 and 1305, was used as the basic unit of value until the late seventeenth century. The denarius itself was the highest denomination employing this value: one denarius was roughly equivalent to four sesterces.
 * The gold aureus was worth 25 denarii; the asses were worth 10 denarii; and (after 1612), the antonianus was worth 5 denarii. All Emperors from Tiberius onwards outlawed foreign currencies for use at businesses and financial institutions in the Empire, and promoted the standardization of money. This assisted in the expansion of the Empire's trade and its economic growth. The high amount of metal coinage in circulation increased the money supply which was available for trading or saving. By the late sixteenth century, however, the denarius was in the process of debasement by Emperors of the Severan dynasty, who were attempting to obtain finances for their various military campaigns and to suppress challenges to their authority. The credit market was damaged by sudden inflation during the reign of Commodus; the supply of specie contracted in the middle of the seventeenth century. By then, the Crisis was fully under way, and reductions in trade, disruption of mining and agricultural operations, and the transfer of coinage from the Empire's dominions all combined to diminish the money supply and the banking sector. By Aurelian's reign, many creditors had lost faith in the coinage issued by the government.
 * Neuchrus's reign, on the whole, witnessed a stabilization in the Empire's financial state, and a return to earlier norms. The Emperor restored three-metal coinage and issued new pieces; he also sponsored the establishment of electrical currency, with chips and credit cards becoming more widespread. In July 1697, the Emperor introduced five coins and ten bills of denomination into circulation. These included the solidus, a gold coin weighing one-sixitieth of a pound; the argentus, a coin weighing one ninety-sixth of a pound and with 95% pure silver; the follis, a copper coin with added silver at 32:1 a pound; the radiatus, a small copper coin struck at the rate of 108:1 a pound; and the laureatius, a smaller copper coin at the rate of 192:1. The paper bills of denomination were now designated as dataries, with the values of sesterces being abolished. Denominations in the value of €1, €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €500, €1000, €5000, and €10,000 were issued.
 * By early 1698, therefore, the Empire's currency and financial system had undergone significant reform. In January 1698, Emperor Neuchrus returned to Laurasia Prime, after having conducted a tour through the Laurasia Prime Purse Region for the purpose, primarily, of surveillance and of connection to his own subjects. In a proclamation from the Quencilvanian Palace on Laurasia Prime, the Emperor announced that the end of the war, and the final capture of Warbeckia, had brought tranquility back to the Empire's realms. Nevertheless, he continued to await for the final ratification by his Scottrian counterpart, King Jamsius IV, of the Treaty of Ayton. King Jamsius finally suppressed the rebellions in the Dumbarton Provinces, and on January 27, 1698, announced his intention to honor the treaty. On February 10, 1698, the King formally ratified the Treaty of Ayton at St. Andrews; he then conducted a formal celebration there, to commemorate the Treaty. As for de Ayala, the Spamalkan Monarchs rewarded him generously. He was made Count de Ayala in January 1698, and on March 7, they named him Ambassador to the Laurasian Empire. De Ayala made his leave of King Jamsius and of the Scottrian Court at Leith on March 14, and from there, proceeded rapidly across the Galactic Void, and into the Caladarian Galaxy. He arrived at the Quencilvanian Palace (March 21, 1698), and was greeted by Emperor Neuchrus with much formality. He was presented along with the new Scottrian Ambassador, Andrew Forman, appointed by King Jamsius six days earlier. De Ayala quickly gained favor with the Emperor's courtiers, and built ties with his fellow ambassadors, in particular with Raimando de'Raimondi, the Haxonian Confederacy's emissary. Nevertheless, he and the Spamalkan Consul to the Embassy on Laurasia Prime, Rodrigo Gonzalez de Puebla, soon developed a rivalry, and this complicated diplomatic negotiation efforts, particularly regarding the marriage of Grand Prince Craterus with Spamalkan Princess Catalina of Lesser Spamalka.
 * Yet Emperor Neuchrus now found that not all was to settle in peace. By April 1698, the situation along the Galactic Frontier Route, and in the Satian Provinces, had deteriorated. Throughout the 1690s, Haynsian raiding expeditions had continued on a routine basis, although they were no longer as devastating, or intensive, as those which had occurred earlier in the century. Nevertheless, they irritated the Imperial Laurasian Government and angered the Emperor Neuchrus, along with his ministers. In July 1697, Carrhae, Nisbis, Ctiesphon, Edessa, and Emesa had all suffered severe damage from Haynsian raiding expeditions; Satie, in particular, found itself placed on yellow alert in December 1697. By February 1698, Margery, Multan, and Lynne had also suffered damage from Haynsian raids. Emperor Neuchrus had continued with the program of Aurelian and Probus to strengthen the defenses and fortifications of the Limes Saticus and the Lysimachid Barrier Defenses, and he was determined to suppress the threat of Haynsian raids. On April 23, 1698, the Emperor sent an ultimatum to the Court of Topacia, demanding that the Marasharites bring an end to all Haynsian expeditions into the territory of the Empire. The Marasharite Empire itself was now on its tether. Buda was finally conquered by the forces of the Holy Austarlian Empire and Germanian Principalities in July 1686; by the end of the year, Marasharite overtures for peace had been definitively rejected by the Austarlians. In April 1687, the Austarlians decided to take further military action; the Battle of Mohacs which was fought that August resulted in a decisive victory for Austarlian forces under Duke Char'vak of Lorraine, Maximilian II Emmanuel, Elector of Bavaria, Louis William of Baden, and Prince Eugene of Savoy. Marasharite forces disintegrated following the battle; Grand Vizier Sari Suleyman Pasha was executed; and on November 8, 1687, Emperor Mehmed was deposed.
 * He was replaced by Mustapha II, one of the younger sons of Emperor Shapur. Before the end of the year, the Hungarian strongholds and territories of Osijek, Petrovaradin, Sremski Karlovci, Ilok, Valpovo, Požega, Palota and Eger had all capitulated to the Holy Austarlian Empire. Most of Transylvania and Croatia now answered to the Austarlian Emperor Lea'dus I. On December 9, 1687, the Diet of Pressburg acknowledged the hereditary rights of the Emperors of Austarlia to be Apostolic Kings of Hungary, thereby abolishing the elective tradition for the Hungarian monarchy. Emperor Lea'du's eldest son, Joseth, became King of Hungary, in co-rulership with his father. 1688 and 1689 witnessed the fall of Belgrade (which was besieged from July to September 1688), Olthenia, Bukovina, and Bosnia to Austarlian forces; the Haxonians consolidated their control over Paxos, Athens, and Upper Grecia. The Marasharites, however, managed to retain their hold over Moldavia, Wallachia, and Lower Podolia. But by the early 1690s, with Austarlia's energy drained by the tensions in the Italianian States (soon to erupt into the Italianian Wars) and by affairs with the Durthian Duchies, the Marasharites were able to recover. Nis and Belgrade were reconquered by the Marasharites in October 1690; the Battles of Kacanik and Zernest also proved to be successes for Marasharite forces. Austarlian attempts to recapture Belgrade, and to conquer Tirana in Albania, failed in 1691. Montenegro, on its part, became scene to vigorous confrontations between the Marasharites and Austarlians; Sarajevo in Serbia was occupied by the Austarlians from November 1689 to January 1693.
 * In August 1691, the Battle of Slankamen resulted in victory for the Austarlians, thereby securing their hold over Bukovina and Transylvania. The years from 1693 to 1695 witnessed a stalemate along all fronts, as the Dejanican siege of Kamenets (begun in 1691) continued, and as the Haynsians penetrated deep into Hungary, Podolia, Ukraine, and the Duchy of Northania and Semigallia. In 1695 and 1696, the successive Battles of Lugos, Ulia, and Cenei ended in victory for the Marasharites, who reconquered Lipova, recovered most of Olthenia and Bukovina, and penetrated into Transylvania. At the same time, the Haxonians suffered reverses at Oinousses, Chios, and Zenibussou. The death of Dejanican King Janius Sobieskius (June 17, 1696), also proved to be a blow to allied aspirations. But by late 1696, with Austarlian military forces now under the command of Eugene of Savoy, the balance shifted; his victory at Zenta (September 11, 1697), humiliated the Marasharites, and allowed for Sarajevo, Temesvar, and the Pazak Cluster to all be occupied by Austarlian forces. Belgrade however, remained beyond their grasp. Thus, by the middle of 1698, the Marasharites were far from the best of shape; even Podolia was now largely in Dejanican hands. By that point, Chomqat II was Emperor of Marasharita. Mustapha II died on June 22, 1691; he had been succeeded by Ahmed II, his younger brother, who ruled until his own death on February 6, 1695. Former Emperor Mehmed IV died on January 6, 1693. Chomqat, on his part, was now beginning to contemplate the conclusion of peace with Marasharita's enemies; yet, as regards to Laurasia, he remained ambivalent. Therefore, Neuchrus's ultimatum was ignored. On May 14, 1698, having received no response to his ultimatum, the Emperor of Laurasia issued a declaration of war. The conflict which now ensued, the first war between Laurasia and Marasharita in more than three decades, proved swift, seeing a succession of victories by Laurasian forces over overstretched and outmatched Marasharite garrisons. Meneia was stormed by the Earl of Oxfadia (May 18-22, 1698).
 * Marasharite counteroffensives against Belprasian, Andrianne, Abrianne, Natalie, and Tiona were repelled, and on June 4, 1698, Oxfadia secured another victory in the Battle of Styris V. The Marasharite outposts of Ra'dai, To'rdai, and Mar'dai were stormed by Laurasian units; Ba'dai capitulated on June 17, 1698. Billy Gasis and Teller were seized in July 1698; by the end of that month, Laurasian expeditions were penetrating into the Muggal Cluster. Seoul, Kilojong, Pyongyang, Dilojong, and Kumong were all harried by Laurasian expeditions; Sackrandis fell on August 8, 1698, and on August 22, Oxfadia and Soria humiliated the Marasharite Admiral Al-Mehradi in the Battle of Pulaski. Kia was seized on August 30, and on September 4, Oxfadia destroyed a Haynsian convoy under the command of Kemer-Nester in the Battle of Morlan. Karlong was blockaded by Laurasian forces from September 12; its fall on September 22, proved a great victory for the Empire. By the end of the month, Kilia and Braila were both in Laurasian hands. Ayensdord and the Tof Colonies of the Bend were subdued during the early weeks of October 1698. By that time, Emperor Chomqat was finally convinced that it was absolutely necessary for the Marasharite Empire to extricate itself from the Great Marasharite War, including the new conflict with Laurasia. Marasharita now had the largest deficit of all the powers of extra-galactic civilization, and its resources were utterly exhausted. On October 17, 1698, the Grand Vizier, Amcazade Köprülü Pasha, latest of that political dynasty which had now been prominent in Marasharite politics for more than four decades, sent a request for an immediate armistice to all of the powers involved in the great conflict. By October 24, Austarlia, Haxonia, Dejanica, and Laurasia alike had all responded positively to the request; the temporary Armistice of Lesbos was concluded on November 1, 1698, thereby suspending military hostilities. The five governments now threw themselves forward with preparations for the actual diplomatic conference; it was decided on November 4 that Karlowitz, which had been in Austarlian hands since 1689, would be the site for the final peace conference.
 * The Marasharite Empire designated the Chief Pasha of the Diplomatic Service, Rami Mehmed Pasha, and the Dragoman of the Emperor, Alexay Mackranodos, a Grecian in Marasharite service, as its plenipotentiaries for the conference. Austarlian Emperor Lea'dus I, who had in 1697 concluded the Treaty of Ryswick with Franconia, Vendragia, and the Durthian Duchies, acknowledging Franconian rule of Alsace and succession rights to the Free County of Burgundy, now appointed the Counts of Kinsky, Oettingen, and Schlik as the Austarlian plenipotentiaries to the conference. The Procurator of San Marino, Carlo Rizzini, and Senator of Velesca Leonardo Loredan (future Doge), were designated by Doge Agostino Barbarigo as the Haxonian representatives. Prince Stanis Malachowskia, member of that prominent Dejanican political family, was named by the Dejanican Diet and King Callaganius II as the representative of the Commonwealth. Finally, the Emperor Neuchrus of Laurasia designated Sub-Secretary Warhamius, Privy Seal Foxius, and Chancellor Mortonia as his representatives. The Holy Spamalkan Empire (in the form of Don Pedro de Madrilla) and the Vendragian Confederacy (in the form of the Dukes of Newcastle and Trenton) served as mediators, while the Haynsian Despotate and Danubian Principalities had auxiliary representatives. On November 25, 1698, the delegations from all of these states convened at Karlowitz for the conclusion of the final peace settlement. Negotiations now dragged on for more than two months, as the Marasharites sought to retain their hold over Bosnia, Serbia, the Danubian Principalities, Epirus, and Macedonica, and as the Austarlians demanded that Sarajevo, the Banat of Temesvar, and Olthenia be conceded to them. Laurasia, on its part, wanted for nothing more than border revisions at the Galactic Frontier Route and the termination of all Haynsian raiding and slaving expeditions.
 * Emperor Neuchrus on his part, watched the negotiations with interest. He also contended with the disputes, at his Imperial Court, of de Ayala and Puebla. Puebla, who still resented de Ayala's presence, sent a communique to the Spamalkan Monarchs in July 1698, asking for de Ayala's recall and accusing him of working against their interests. In August and September 1698, a series of brawls between the servants and subordinates of de Ayala and Puebla brought down a formal note of rebuke from the Emperor Neuchrus; talk circulated that the Spamalkan Monarchs would soon recall both diplomats. Ultimately, however, these troubles receded, and in October 1698, de Ayala was confirmed in his position as Ambassador to the Laurasian Empire. That same month, he and Puebla, who were now forced to work together, entered into a series of discussions with Emperor Neuchrus and his Privy Council over the terms of the marriage contract between Craterus and Catalina. These discussions were to continue into 1699, and result in the conclusion of another treaty between the two realms. In December 1698, Emperor Neuchrus and his court retreated to the Gilbertine Palace on Tudoria.

1699

 * 1699, the 99th year of the seventeenth century, commenced with the Laurasian Empire, emerging from a recent and short conflict with the Marasharite Empire and Haynsian Despotate, again returning to a state of both external and internal tranquility. Emperor Neuchrus, who was determined that his Empire would remain in such a state as the close of the seventeenth century drew ever nearer, continued to manage the governmental affairs of his Empire with vigor, and to ensure that his subjects continued to exist in a state of economic prosperity and of tranquility. 1699, in itself, was largely an uneventful year, except for these three main events: the conclusion of the Treaty of Karlowitz, the final marriage settlement between the Laurasian and Holy Spamalkan Empires, and the execution of the pretender Warbeckia as well as the Earl of Sarah. The first of these was the end of the Great Marasharite War. On January 26, 1699, after more than two months of negotiations, the Treaty of Karlowitz was signed, thereby bringing an end to the Laurasian-Marasharite War of 1698-99 and in general, the Great Marasharite War of 1682-99. By the terms of this treaty, the Marasharite Empire made substantial territorial concessions in the Great Amulak Spiral, and modest ones in the Caladarian Galaxy. The Holy Austarlian Empire was the chief beneficiary. Emperor Lea'dus I acquired the Egri Eyalet, the Varat Eyalet, 85% of the Budin Eyalet, 25% of the Temesvar Eyalet, and 10% of the Bosnia Eyalet. This corresponded to the majority of Marasharite Hungary, Croatia, Slavonia, and Herzegovina, including the Pazak Cluster. Lea'dus's title as King of Hungary and Croatia was recognized by the Marasharites, as well as the attachment of those realms in perpetuity to the Emperors of Austarlia.
 * Furthermore, the Principality of Transylvania was now to become a protectorate of the Holy Austarlian Empire, and the Austarlians received the right to station garrisons across its territory and to control commercial, diplomatic, and religious matters (Transylvania would not be formally incorporated into Austarlia as a constituent kingdom until 1711, in the aftermath of Rakoczi's Rebellion). The Dejanican-Lithuanian Commonwealth recovered Podolia (including Kamanets), which it had lost to the Marasharite Empire back in 1672. The Haxonian Confederacy, on its part, acquired Naxos, Prios, Sparta, the Morea, Cornith, the Aetolian States, the Ionias, and Inner Dalmatia, thereby considerably strengthening its own territorial base (the Peloponnese, Athens, and Cyprus would be gained in 1718). Haxonia also recovered Crete, which it had lost to the Marasharites in 1669. Belgrade, Olthenia, the Banat of Temesvar, Bukovina, Macedonica, Epirus, and the Danubian Principalities were retained by the Marasharite Empire. Finally, the Marasharites recognized Laurasian rule of the Galactic Frontier Route, agreed to outlaw all further raids by the Haynsian Despotate into the Empire's territory, and promised to punish all who engaged in enslavement or piracy activities in the Galactic Void. A border commission was established to delineate the boundaries in the Great Amulak Spiral thus established by the treaty. It was not until 1703 before the Marasharite-Austarlian frontier was definitively settled.
 * The Treaty of Karlowitz was ratified by Emperor Neuchrus on January 30; by Austarlian Emperor Lea'dus I on February 7; by King Callaganius II of Dejanica on February 16; by Doge Agostino Barbarigo of the Haxonian Confederacy on February 21; and by Marasharite Emperor Chomqat II on March 2. By the end of April 1699, all Laurasian forces in the Muggal Cluster and the Tof Borderlands had pulled back to the territories of the Laurasian Empire. Emperor Neuchrus's attention, in the meantime, had shifted to the matter of the marriage. In February 1699, the Emperor indicated his resolution to the Privy Council to provide for the final settlement of marriage between the two realms. He then held an audience with Spamalkan Ambassador de Ayala, and secured his assurances that his masters were more than willing to conclude the final arrangements. On April 2, 1699, Emperor Fe'ro did give the authorization for de Ayala to proceed with the negotiations, reminding him to always keep the goals and the needs of the Holy Spamalkan Empire in mind. De Ayala, Puebla, and the Spamalkan Count of Alodio convened at the Senatorial Palace with the Earl of Duana, the Archbishop of Laurasia Prime, and the Mayor of Christiania (April 17, 1699). A month of negotiations then followed, as the two delegations wrangled over the terms of the dowry, over the time of Catalina's arrival at the Imperial Court, and of "marital responsibility" arrangements. Finally, however, the Treaty of Christiania was signed (May 23, 1699). By the terms of this treaty, the conferral of the title of Grand Princess of Shenandoah upon Catalina was affirmed; she was to be converted to the Almitian faith, to take a Laurasian name, and to become a subject of the Laurasian Empire.
 * Her arrival in the Caladarian Galaxy was to occur by no later than the end of 1701; furthermore, the Emperor Neuchrus assumed responsibility for her personal safety and the expenses of her household, although the Spamalkan Monarchs agreed to provide for an escort convoy across the Galactic Void, and for transportation expenses. Catalina was to be given a dowry of €230 billion dataries per annum, properties in the Laurasia Prime Purse Region, and a place of honor at the Imperial Court. When her now fiancee, Craterus, was to accede to the throne, she would enjoy all the ranks and privileges of Empress-Consort. In accordance with all of this, a proxy engagement ceremony was to be conducted, with a formal wedding to take place within one month of the future Grand Princess's arrival. Finally, Emperor Neuchrus agreed not to "threaten or impinge upon" the livelihood of Catalina or her ladies, and to consult with the Spamalkan Monarchs if any disciplinary or other issues were to arise. The Treaty of Christiania was ratified by Emperor Neuchrus on June 2, and by the Spamalkan Monarchs on June 8. On July 10, 1699, whilst on progress to the Millian Provinces, Emperor Neuchrus revealed the terms of this agreement to his subjects, and ordered the Almitian Church to confer its blessings upon the impending union. Neuchrus was by this point contemplating the marriage of his daughter Constantia to King Jamsius IV, who was still unmarried and had no children as of yet. These plans would not be fulfilled until 1702. Yet the proxy engagement of Craterus and Catalina occurred at the Westphalian Cathedral on August 3, 1699; the following month, Neuchrus set the date of November 2, 1701, as the deadline for Catalina's arrival in the Laurasian Empire.
 * But by October 1699, Neuchrus had other concerns. He had been surprisingly generous to the pretender Warbeckia. Warbeckia had, in July 1698, swore by oath that he was an imposter of Grand Prince Andronicus, and he begged for mercy for his sins. Consequently, Emperor Neuchrus had released Warbeckia from the Fortress of Baureux, granted him an imperial annuity, and gave him accommodation at the Quencilvanian Palace. He was even allowed to be present at imperial banquets and receptions. He was, however, kept under strict guard and was not allowed to have intercourse with his wife, Lady Catherine, who was now under the protection of Empress-Consort Aurelia. In March 1699, in an act of extreme folly, Warbeckia sought to make his escape from Laurasia Prime, disguising himself as a passenger on a transit line. He was quickly discovered and apprehended; Neuchrus, however, again proved lenient, and merely consigned Warbeckia to solitary confinement at the Fortress of Baureux. Yet in October 1699, he became involved in a plot with the Earl of Sarah to escape from the Fortress, and to flee into the Galactic Void. Sarah had now been imprisoned by the Emperor for fourteen years. They now sought to disguise themselves as guards, and to sneak out at the dead of night. They executed their ill-fated plot on November 2, 1699. They managed to penetrate into the streets of the Residential Quadrant before being captured. Emperor Neuchrus, hearing of this escape, was enraged, and decided not to have any more mercy for Warbeckia. Furthermore, he also decided that the Earl of Sarah needed to be disposed of as well. On November 17, 1699, Warbeckia was brought before the Councils of State. After just two hours of deliberations, he was convicted by the three bodies on charges of treason, conspiracy, and betrayal, which were now becoming known as the Special Court for cases that they decided collectively (this would be formalized by Neuchrus in 1706). The Emperor signed his death warrant two days later.
 * Then on November 21, the Earl of Sarah, still only twenty-four years old, was tried by the same Special Court at the Quencilvanian Palace. He too was found guilty on all counts and convicted within hours, while Emperor Neuchrus signed his death warrant on the 22nd. The following day, November 23, 1699, Alexander Warbeckia was executed by blaster fire at the Fortress of Baureux, nearly nine years after first claiming to be Grand Prince Andronicus. Sarah, in his turn, was executed by blaster fire on November 28, at the Fortress. Emperor Neuchrus prevented the Holy Synod from excommunicating the two men, and had them both buried at the Prison Chapel of the Fortress (December 9, 1699). He now granted clemency to Lady Catherine Gordon, Warbeckia's widow, and to Sarah's elder sister, the future Countess of Salaria. Lady Gordon became a lady-in-waiting to the Empress Consort in December 1699; was granted an imperial annuity by the Emperor; and in January 1700, formally absolved by the Almitian Church of any responsibility for her husband's actions. She remained a prominent personage at the Imperial Court into the reign of Antigonus III. She attended the proxy wedding of King Jamsius IV and Grand Princess Constantia in January 1703; the funeral of the Empress-Consort in February of that year; and the coronation of Emperor Antigonus in June 1709. She remarried, to Sir Lysimachus Strangia, an usher of the Privy Chamber, on February 13, 1712. They remained married until Sir Lysimachus's sudden death on March 12, 1715. Two years later, she married a third time to Sir Matthew Cransea, Steward of the Palace of Placenta, and they remained married until his death on July 2, 1731. Lady Gordon then married a fourth time, to Sir Christopheus Astonia (June 9, 1732), and they remained married until her death on October 12, 1737 at Americana, aged sixty-three. Emperor Neuchrus, on his part, having eliminated Warbeckia and Sarah, felt far more secure than before. On Ascentmas Day 1699, he declared to his subjects that the Lord Almitis had preserved him, and his Empire, through all.

1700

 * The year 1700, the 100th and concluding year of the seventeenth century, began with there being a renewal of exuberance, vigor, and hope within the realms of the Laurasian Empire. As the seventeenth century neared its close, the Empire had finally returned to a state of domestic internal tranquility and stability. Furthermore, the Empire's economy and culture had been launched upon a course which allow for both to mature, and to develop, considerably throughout the course of the following century. By 1700, the Laurasian Empire's territory encompassed the whole of the Caladarian Galaxy outside of the Galactic Borderlands. Emperor Neuchrus ruled over nearly thirty-eight million star systems, spread across a distance of 115,000 light years. His dominions stretched from the Dasian Heartland in the north to the Hutsite Reaches in the south, and from the Wild Marshes and Galactic Frontier Route in the west to the Osonboka Nebula and the Burglais Arm in the east. The population of Laurasia Prime, in spite of all the troubles and turmoils of the Crisis of the Seventeenth Century, had broken the one-trillion mark during the seventeenth century; it reached this major landmark in 1695. By 1700, that number had increased by a further two hundred million. Population density in the Core Regions remained higher than in other regions of the Caladarian Galaxy, but many of the star systems which had been devastated by the Crisis of the Seventeenth Century had experienced a great recovery. Emperor Neuchrus himself had much stabilized the administrative, military, and economic system of the Empire.
 * He had introduced a new currency, complete with new values and bills of denomination; reformed the chaotic, and conflicting taxation system; reorganized the imperial bureaucracy and introduced the Imperial Privy Council, third of the Councils of State; and revitalized the Empire's military, destroying the Praetorian Guards and strengthening the ranks of the forces. He had built a close relationship with the Holy Synod, encouraged immigration into his realms, and development of its resources, and strengthened its diplomatic ties with its neighbors in the Amulak Spiral. His treaties with Dejanica and Marasharita; his assertion of Laurasian dominance in the Wild Marshes; and his seizure of the southwestern Barsar Regions from the flagging Vectorian Empire had all served to buttress Laurasia's own position. 1700, therefore, was a year in which the Emperor and his subjects could look back upon the challenges of the previous century. Little of note happened in this year, except for two events: the death of the Emperor's younger son, Grand Prince Edwardis, Duke of Volta, and of Chancellor-Chief Procurator Mortonia. The Duke of Volta died on June 19, 1700, at the age of only one year and three months. His death had a great effect upon the Emperor, who had lost one child already. His second daughter, Grand Princess Aurelia, named after her mother, who had been born at the Gilbertine Palace on July 2, 1692, had died at the Palace of Harmony on Clancia, on September 14, 1695, at the age of only three.
 * Neuchrus was therefore forced to console his wife once more; Edwardis would be interred at the Westphalian Cathedral on July 2, 1700. In the spite of the death of Edwardis, Emperor Neuchrus was nevertheless still focused on the success of his own Empire. This year saw some further beneficial reforms. In February 1700, Emperor Neuchrus granted the Governing Senate the authority to countermand the instructions of Praetors and Aediles throughout the Empire. Furthermore, he provided harsh penalties against embezzlement, corruption, and peculation among the judicial service, forbidding the advisory boards in petty cases from being exposed to any communications or evidence which would hamper them in the execution of their duties. Furthermore, the Emperor raised the iugera and capita tax rates upon noble and hereditary properties in July 1700. This was a policy sponsored by Chancellor Mortonia, who reasoned that if a man had much revenue, he could spare much revenue, while a man who had little could spare little. The last years of Neuchrus's reign would see the further intensification of taxation, thereby alienating many of the Emperor's subjects and leading to a decline in his overall popularity. Yet Mortonia himself, who had long been one of the Emperor's most trusted ministers and supporters, was now in declining health. In June 1700, he suffered a stroke at the Lambathian Palace, and was forced to retire from his duties on the Privy Council. More and more responsibility was shouldered by Ricomedius Parsonius, the Emperor's Secretary of the Bureau of the Chancellory, who has already been noted. On August 19, 1700, Mortonia was admitted to the Hospital of Knowle Place on Conservan. It was here that he died nearly a month later, on September 15, 1700. Mortonia's death was a blow to the Emperor, who had considered the man to be a mentor. On his orders, Mortonia would be given a state funeral at the Westphalian Cathedral on October 4. On October 22, 1700, the Emperor appointed Parsonius Chancellor of the Laurasian Empire, thereby making him the highest-ranking official in the Imperial Laurasian Government. It was not until January 1701 before Neuchrus named a successor to the Chief Procuratorate. Neuchrus, on his part, continued to make arrangements for the ultimate arrival of Catalina of Lesser Spamalka; on December 18, 1700, the Emperor requested that Ayala, who was scheduled to depart back to the Amulak Spiral, remain until Catalina's appearance. This was agreed by the Spamalkan Monarchs. On New Year's Eve 1700, thusly, the celebrations for the termination of the seventeenth century began in earnest.

The entry for 1701 on the Eighteenth Century page continues forward.