Gordian VI. Artanus - Guardian of the Empire

Gordian VI. is, surprisingly for a man often hailed as "Saviour of Vardania", not particularly well remembered. Some will be able to name him as the first emperor of the Artanid Dynasty but won't bring forth much more than that. His fate is that of the ordinary man, to be forgotten as just one piece of the greater puzzle that is Vardania.  

Shrouded History

  Gordian's early life is shrouded in mystery. Other than that he was born in late 3080 DA on the family estate near Tarquinnia, there is no information on his whereabouts. At some point before 3115 DA he seems to have entered the Imperial Army, as he appears as a Legatus Munitorum around that time. He most likely spent the majority of his service up until then as a minor officer and only rose in rank after the Mad Emperor's downfall in 3114 DA.  

Imperial Warlord

  His control over several of the remaining Imperial Arsenals seems to have allowed him to establish and maintain a sizeable force. By 3125 DA, he stood as one of five contenders for imperial power in what remained of the Fourth Hegemony. Unlike his rivals, Gordian does not seem to have been an especially competent general, however.   When the Eskani invaded Vardania in 3127 DA, he remained passive for the most part. Using diplomacy, he was able to forge an alliance with Jordanus of Aurelia, another major warlord of the era, and the Heronians. It was this alliance that helped him gain a victory over the invaders on the river Tevia in 3131 DA.   This victory, combined with the destruction of his rivals by the invading Eskani, allowed Gordian to declare himself "Emperor of the Fourth Hegemony" later that year. Not only was it the first uncontested coronation of an emperor in nearly 80 years, but it also was the first time it had been done by the Imperial Senate since 1993 DA.  

Civilian in Charge

  It quickly became clear that Gordian's reign was to be far more of a civilian one. A novelty in an empire that had effectively been ruled by the army since the late 2900s. Three main areas would occupy his attention:     Gordian focused the majority of his energy on restoring and reforming the inner workings of the Hegemony. He believed that with the right methods even a decimated Hegemony could remain a major power on the continent and that any ideas of restoratio or reconquest needed to be put aside for the time being.   He discarded what was no longer working and reformed what could be saved. Tirelessly travelling the empire, he tried to ensure that his policies were implemented fully but took time to consider the opinions of local administrators. Through a mixture of diplomacy, subterfuge and various means of force he was able to keep his internal rivals in line and ensured that he would reign for two decades, a length unheard of in over a century.  

Defending a Dynasty

  Part of why he is not as well remembered as some of his successors is that he remained on the defensive against the Eskani. After the Tevia, he never again led an army into battle and focused most of his attention on fortifying his borders. Luck was with him, for the Eskani had entered a period of chaos following the death of their leader in 3135 DA. This state lasted for nearly the entirety of his reign and war remained a low intensity affair as a result.   His strategy, focusing on establishing a solid base rather than trying to retake lost areas, is probably the single biggest reason for his comparative unpopularity. But it gave the Hegemony precious times at a critical moment and most historians agree that it was Gordian's patience and restraint that made its resurgence later in the century a possibility. A lesson that many of his successors would fail to learn.   Gordian retired from office in 3151 DA, having crowned his oldest daughter Maria co-empress five years earlier. He remained as an advisor to her, however, and was engaged in government until his death in 3159 DA.