Monarchs

The Argent Imperium is a collective exonym referring to the possessions of the four Argent Dynasties ruling jointly (but with an elected Dominar) over lands in Arrandal, Montañi, Sil Dorsett, Lawston, Tlaakatland, Fuss, and [not yet worldbuilt]. The use of the term Imperium to describe the Argent possessions is, and has been, controversial. It was never used by any of its rulers. They preferred the term Dominar over that of Emperor, and Dominion over that of Empire. Despite that most historians continue to call it the Argent Imperium, arguing that it was still in fact, an empire.

The first Argent ruler was Azulnais, now revered as an orthodox saint, as well as the patron saint of Arrandal. He is a semi-mythical figure and is claimed to have ascended to heaven upon his deathbed. He founded a small nation on the Argent Coast and was posthumously given the title of Imperator, though he never used the term himself.

His four sons each ruled jointly together, expanding their power and the nation’s borders around the Argent Sea. The four sons took the title of Argentus, the Silver, as well as calling themselves Imperators. After the death of Azulnais' youngest son the title was dropped by all following rulers. Instead Dominar was chosen to better represent the elective nature of the position. The position became elective in 78 bce, with each subsequent Dominar being chosen from one of the four Argent houses.

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Herakles Argastos is considered the first Argent Dominar. He inherited the title as eldest of Azulnais' grandchildren in 130 bce. Under a single strong ruler the Argent Imperium was able to defend its frontier from invasion and expand even further than they had before.

Initially the title of Dominar was hereditary, son and then grandson each taking the throne in turn. But a large rebellion in [province name], which saw the Imperium divided for over a decade, forced the Argent House’s to rethink how the empire was to be ruled. A council was held and it was decided that the next Dominar would be elected from among one of the four houses. So in 78 bce, the first Bastillusos Dominar was elected. Each of the four houses would have their chance to rule.

The Imperium also had no singular capital city, but was relocated to the chief city of whichever house currently held the title of Dominar. When House Argastos ruled the capitol was located at Constanja. House Corstavos ruled from their capital at Arina, but then moved to Glazpolst in 553 ce. House Bastillusos ruled from Bienus until 410 ce when it was moved to Inflorirval. House Kosianus ruled from Uscla but then moved to Liepz in 537 ce.

The empire came to an end in the 1100s. Over the previous couple centuries the Argent Dynasties had been slowly losing their lands to encroachment. At the battle of Nance (now called Niantz) in 924 the empire received a crushing blow, losing their most fertile region in southern Arrandal.

Over the next two centuries following that defeat, their lands were chipped away by invaders and rebellions. In 1137, Aeruljas the Stormbringer, crushed the last of the Argent Legions and forced Dominus Konstantin X to disband the Imperium and abolish the title of Dominar, ending the Argent Imperium forever.

Arrandal as a unified state came into existence on December 25, 1865. Before that the land was divided up under a number of Principalities and Grand Principalities. The titles were merged together under Valerjan V of Rycerzkraj uniting them into the title King of the Arrands. As such, each Princely ruler that came before is considered when choosing regnal numbers. Hence why Valerjan was still considered the fifth king to bear his name, despite being the first King of Arrandal. And why Jadzia is the third of her name, despite being the first female King.

The founding of the first Principality happened in the year 924 when Bajoras Ironhand came down from his stronghold at Aszenhal and defeated the Argent Imperium at the legendary Battle of Nance. The empire’s defeat was so complete that Bajoras was able to claim most of Rautinut and the entirety of the Vlakonval Valley. The principality would survive for over a hundred years through the turmoil of the era. It would finally fall in 1098 to a combination of the Argent Imperium pushing back against the Arrand lords and a series of dynastic wars which weakened Karatas II hold on the region.

Aureljus’ Kingdom stretched from the Capashean Mountains to the shores of the Silver Sea. The Stormbringer defeated the remnants of the Argent Impirium and pacified the lords of the Kranznikot. His sons would spend the next forty years fighting among themselves for control of the kingdom, ultimately weakening it until it would collapse into a dozen squabbling states following the death of Prusas IV.

In 1412 after a nine year campaign to subjugate the Vlakonval in retaliation for the deaths of her husband and brothers, Tatijana the Hammer declared herself the first Princess of the Vlakonvalska. She spent the entirety of her reign trying to restore the lands of the Arrandskja, which she nearly succeeded in doing. Her descendants were never able to achieve her dream and a string of bad luck, poor decisions, and military setbacks eventually spelled the end of the Principality in 1477.

The Second Principality was an attempt to restore the greatness of the Arrand lords. While Aureljus IV was able to unite Kranznikot, Rycerzkraj, and Molinverzina, he was never able to do the same with the coastal provinces. He died while attempting to subjugate the Esticgrad, and though his son inherited the principality he was unable to hold it for longer than three years until infighting once again fractured the region in 1627. The title would be held onto, sold and transferred over the next few years before eventually being abandoned in 1753.

In the year 1638, Mihail of Kalgary became Duke of Bravondy and Esticgrad, uniting the two duchies into a single principality. In 1711 Mihail II forced Molinverzina to accept his rule becoming the single most powerful Arrandi Prince. By the mid-1700s, the Principality controlled most of the old Arrandskjan territories. In 1811 after the unification with Walsthalkensfel it was refounded as a Grand Principality which lasted up until the coronation of Valerjan V as King of all of Arrandal in 1865.

Molinverzina united under the enigmatic Liudavikas, Duke of Ratinut and remained an influential player in the politics of the Arranfels even after its incorporation into the Principality of Bravondkraj, with the last Molinverzina Prince accepting the lesser title of Duke in 1711.

Alvydas I united the vast and remote territories of the Kranznikot highlands in the year 1697 naming himself Prince of Kranznikot. The Principality would fight with Bravondkraj near constantly over territory with the fortress of Aszenhal switching hands dozens of times. The Principality came to an end in 1764 when Kaspar II defeated Kaijus II in battle and subjugated the highlands under Arrand control forever.

Walsthalkensfel was founded to the west of the Capashean Mountains and was very successful, uniting the Transcapashean Plateau and Granzludgrad into one realm. While Walsthalkensfel and Bravondkraj fought off and on over the interceding period, they would eventually be united in 1811 when Jadzia II and Kaspar III became joint rulers of both Principalities. While the principality never controlled a significant amount of territory, it’s still considered a successor state nonetheless due to its power, success, and influence with the Malorian Empire as Dukes of Ravenstein, as well as its eventual unification with Bravondkraj.

The Grand Principality was formed in 1811 as a personal union between Kaspar of Bravondkraj and Jadzia of Walsthalkensfel uniting the east and west Arranfels for the first time, laying the groundwork for the modern kingdom.

On Christmas Day in 1865 Valerjan the Prince of Rycerzkraj was crowned as the King of Arrandal after defeating the Prince of Granzludgrad three years before. He was the first Arrandian monarch to use the title since Aureljus the Stormbringer in 929. For the first century the Kingdom remained at peace and rose to prominence as a powerful force in the region. However the kingdom would be plunged into a series of civil wars during the mid-1990s, until it came out of the turmoil in 2014 and has since been at peace under the young queen Jadzia III. Princes Sigrid Krummendike-Loðbrók of Prydania

Crown of Dusk The Crown of Dusk, also called the Crown of Kaspar III, was forged in 1811 for the unification of Bravondkraj and Walsthalkensfel, and the official founding of Rycerzkraj. The traditional crown of Walsthalkensfel was reworked in iron and argent silver, then gifted by Jadzia II to her husband Kaspar the Great. Jadzia then received the Crown of Dawn from her Husband. The exchanging of crowns signified the full unification of the two principalities into a Grand Principality to be jointly ruled.	Crown of Dawn The Crown of Dawn, also called the Crown of Jadzia II, was forged in 1811 for the unification of Bravondkraj and Walsthalkensfel, and the official founding of Rycerzkraj. The gold crown of Bravondkraj was reworked into a feminine crown and then gifted to Jadzia II. The crown remained unworn until 2017 and the coronation of Jadzia III.	Mantle of Saint Azulnais The Mantle of Saint Azulnais is the most ‘ancient’ of the Regalia. By legend it is said to be the cloak that Azulnais wore in the long struggle against the Shadow-King. When he was declared the first Argent Imperator he threw the cloak over his shoulders, a humble mantle for a goatherd. Since then the cloak has been repaired and expanded, with new designs and materials added to it, serving Argent Dominars and Arrandi Princes alike. Now, after all its restorations, nothing of the original cloak's material remains, but it's still considered to be the same garment.
Stormwind (Replica) Stzurmwezlac, or Stormwind, was the sword of Aureljus I and was said to be able to channel lightning from its blade. The original sword was lost but a replica was made by Valerjan V for the founding of Arrandal in 1865. The replica was built to description of the original sword, but pagan runes and decorative motifs were added to the blade and pommel.	Ring of Tatijana The Ring of Tatijana was the signet ring of Tatijana the Hammer, emblazoned with her seal, the Halkfeleni woman who unified the Arrandi under her banner. The Ring was passed through her descendants, becoming an emblem of the Princes of Bravondkraj, before passing into the possession of the Calagvics. It is traditionally worn on the index finger of the left hand during coronations.	Ring of Valerjan The Ring of Valerjan was gifted to Valerjan V the day before he defeated the last Halkfeleni Prince and unified Arrandal in 1865. It depicts him mounted on horseback and slaying a highland wyvern. Since then it has been tradition for the monarch to wear it on the ring finger of their left hand during their coronation.
	Evangelium Argentus The Calagvic Bible, or the Evangelium Argentus, was brought to Arrandal by Mihail Calagvic after he left his home in Kanada to become Duke of Esticgrad. This was the Bible Mihail swore his oath on ten years later becoming Prince of Bravondkraj. It is encased in a silver binding to protect its pages. Every subsequent ruler of the Calagvic line, except Mirek the Vampire-King, has sworn their oath of ascension on its holy pages.