Emperor of Cloudia and Aros

This is only a "cosmetic change", my son, but always remember, We, due to our merits alone, are the best of all the branches that descend of Arcadius VII, may he enjoy the company of the gods, we are the true Emperors of Ikaria, because we defended the Blatian people from the barbarian invaders, our ancestors spilled blood trying to preserve our ancient homeland, these...relatives of ours in Blati ...the only thing they've done is to hide beneath their powerful walls waiting for an opportunity to weaken the rest of the Blatians so that they could claim the Imperial title to themselves!

— Emperor Afranius IV to his son, prince Andronicus.

 

Origins

Originally, after the establishment of the Empire by Afranius I with the help Snow Elves, the rulers of Cloudia claimed the Imperial title for themselves. Their hope was to have a sort of diarchy, two emperors of Ikaria, both descendants of the last emperor Arcadius VII; one in the West ruling from the wealthy and well-fortified Blati and the other ruling from Murnum, trying to hold the Barbarian onslaught with the help of the Snow Elves.   Though it is true that the Emperors of Blati recognized that both them and the Emperors of Cloudia belonged to the same Dynasty and shared the same origins, they never made it clear that they wanted to share the title with anyone else, and they have good reasons to do so, they had inherited the regalia of the old Empire, including the old sceptre given to the first Emperor by the goddess Zerah that only the Emperor could touch. So due to this "vacuum" both courts claimed the title of Emperor. But, from the late 6th century onwards, and especially after the Battle of the Walls of Fire and the later wars of Blatian expansion, the Emperors in Blati began to see themselves not just as possible Senior Emperors, but as the sole Emperors of Ikaria, the only ones that could rightfully claim and restore the legacy of the fallen Empire.   From that time onwards the Emperors of Cloudia began to be called "Kings of Cloudia" in Blatian documents. The situation didn't improve as Emperor Severus II of Cloudia asserted his control over the island of Aros, minting coins celebrating the reconquest of the island with the title Emperor of Ikaria written in them. It was said that in the official ceremonies and liturgies of the Reformed Church the priests of Cloudia were using the title Emperor of Ikaria while commemorating their Emperors. The Emperor of Blati protested and, in turn, the Emperors of Cloudia threatened to raise the High Priesthood of Murnum to an equal level of that of the Archpriest of Blati.   But due to internal threats and barbarian invasions, the political dispute was interrupted for a while. With the Reconquest of Ikaria by the Blatian Empire in 654 AP, many Blatians began to see it as the true restorer of the Imperial glory, and many of the last petty Blatian kingdoms that remained submitted to their "rightful Emperor". 50 years after the reconquest of the old Imperial capital in order to get help from Blati against the last true serious barbarian invasion the Emperors of Cloudia had to relinquish their claims to the title of Emperor of the Ikarians. In turn, the Emperors of Blati recognized the right of the rulers of Cloudia to be called "Emperors" but from something else, thus the monarchs of Cloudia created the title "Emperor of Cloudia and the island of Aros", as well as reviving the old Ikarian title of Protector of the Northern Provinces. Though informally, inside Cloudia, their Emperors were still called Ikarian Emperors, and some monarchs were even depicted in murals with the inscription saying "Emperor of the Ikarians".

Requirements

For being elected as Emperor of Cloudia, you need to be part of the Imperial Family, a descendant of the first emperor, Afranius I and of the last Ikarian Emperor, Arcadius VII. No one outside the imperial family can hold the office. (Contrary to the old Ikarian Empire, where the system of succession was more relaxed and not dependant so much on the family). This is so because they want to show the legacy and the continuity with the old Empire. No age is required for the office, is the Emperor is a child, a Regency is stablished and his public ceremony of coronation is postponed until he becomes an adult, when he reaches the age of 16. Until then, the child emperor, wears a imperial diadem and a child sized version of the imperial robes.   Like the old Ikarian Empire and in their counterpart in Blati Cloudian Emperors might choose to rule alongside a co-emperor (always a close relative or a member of the Imperial family) in times of crisis or if the Emperor is a child and the Senate of Cloudia considers it's the best for the country.

Appointment

Regarding his appointment and coronation the ceremonies and the Imperial ideology is the same as in the Blatian Empire. According to tradition the ceremony of proclamation of a new Emperor is done outside the city walls. There the soldiers will raised the Emperor on a shield and put the crown on his head, after this, the military standards will be raised and the soldiers will acclaimed the candidate to the throne as Emperor. Then, in a procession they will escort him to the main Square of the city (in the case of the Blatian Emperors they will be escorted to the Hippodrome of Blati). There he would be presented in front of the crowd in full military armor and if the people gives it approval, they will cheer and acclaimed him as Emperor.   (If you want to know more about the ceremony of Coronation of the Emperors of Blati and Cloudia you might enjoy this article)

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Regalia

The regalia of the Cloudian emperors is, like the regalia of the Emperors of Blati directly inspired by the regalia of the Emperors of Ikaria. Though aside of a seal given by the last Emperor during the fall of the city to his son Afranius, inherited by all the Cloudian Emperors, nothing more has been inherited from the old Empire, as the Imperial crown and the Imperial sceptre were given to Eutychius, the fist Blatian Emperor and subsequently inherited by his descendants (which gave them a sort of legitimacy in the eyes of some Blatians).  

The Title nowadays

  As it has been said, despite the fact that they have officially relinquished their claims to the title of Ikarian Emperor in favour of the Emperors of Blati, unofficially inside their kingdoms many continue to refer to them as Emperors of the Ikarians, or Emperors of the East (suggesting that they ruled jointly with their distant relatives in Blati, who would in theory rule the western provinces of the old Empire). But decades of civil wars and political instability have damaged the Imperial institution. The Snow Elves, whose help was fundamental for establishing the Empire, seem to no longer support the Cloudians as they have done in the past, instead they seem to be more friendly now to the Blatian Empire, which has now its eyes set on perhaps annexing Cloudia now that the Empire is again in turmoil with the premature death of Emperor Andronicus IV and the ascension to the throne of the child Emperor Constans III, whose regent, Aemilian, the real power behind the throne is more worried of keeping his position than managing the Empire.