And so, began the quest of a bewildered monarch, who had the wildest stories to share with his grandchildren, and an illuminating soul of an ancient historian, both united in their pursuit of intellectual satisfaction.
Under Polybius' guidance, Nolan delved into the depths of this unfamiliar world's history, learning about its diverse cultures, rulers, and the wide array of kingdoms and empires that had risen and fallen over the centuries. The luminous ancient historian, Polybius, proved to be an invaluable mentor, as his years of learning and recording histories proved an invaluable experience.
As they explored the vast library of historical texts, ancient scrolls, and dusty tomes, Nolan's understanding eventually became better. The book titled "The Constitution of Aurelia and its Cities" became Nolan's primary source of knowledge about the realm he was destined to rule, and it offered him the answers he had been desperately seeking.
The book discussed the founding of the realm that Nolan found himself in after his transmigration but the founding of the Aurelian Empire is a tale shrouded in mystery and debate. Throughout the centuries, contemporaries, intellectuals, and scholars have engaged in discussions about the origins of the empire. Although the extant versions differ in some details, they all center around the story of the marriage between Princess Livia and Nannos, a sailor from Aurelia. Two primary sources, Cleon's "Rise of Aurelia" and Alexandros' account, both complied together into one book, shed light on this ancient tale.
Cleon is an apparent famed historian of Aurelia from generations ago while Alexandros was the fourth king of Aurelia, dating almost five centuries before.
In Cleon's narrative, he recounts how the Aurelians, who resided in the distant western lands, were traders who later founded the Aurelian Empire. Nannos, their leader, had been banished from his homeland after a failed attempt to seize power from his older brother. Seeking refuge with his supporters, Nannos fled westward and eventually settled in the region that would become Aurelia. It was during this time that he became a guest-friend of King Maccis. When Maccis celebrated his daughter Livia's wedding, Nannos was invited to the feast. The wedding tradition entailed the bride offering a bowl of wine mixed with water to the suitor she chose as her bridegroom. To everyone's surprise, Livia offered the bowl to Nannos, and they were married. King Maccis recognized this as a divine sign and allowed Nannos and his people to find refuge in the old harbors of Aurelia, from which they expanded and established the Aurelian Empire.
On the other hand, Alexandros' account depicts a party of young Aurelian warriors sailing into distant bays and founding Aurelia amidst various tribes and vassals. They engaged in daring feats, defending themselves against neighboring aggressors and retaliating when provoked. They thrived by focusing on fishing, trading, and even piracy, which was considered honorable in those times. Seeking to establish a city in the territory of the Listans, they sought the friendship of King Maccis, who was arranging the marriage of his daughter, Livia. At the wedding banquet, Livia chose Nannos as her husband, and with this choice, Nannos was granted the site for founding the city, which eventually became the Aurelian Empire, near the mouths of the river and the old harbors.
With Aurelia established, its expansion faced challenges when Maccis' son, Vanoss, fearing the empire's growing influence, waged war against the Aurelian colony. Despite Vanoss' attempt, he and his men were defeated, leading to the annexation of the newly acquired lands. This period marked the golden age of the Aurelian Empire, solidifying its position as the dominant local power and even a formidable force, rivaling other powerhouses, and after restless ages of conquests and centuries of prosperity, it became known to be the strongest empire spanning thousands of kilometers in the continent of Armani with its history woven with tales of conquest, prosperity, and the enduring legacy of its founding myth.
The Aurelian Empire, despite its strength and dominance, had its fair share of formidable enemies throughout its history. As it expanded its territories and influence, it often faced resistance and opposition from rival powers and neighboring kingdoms, some of which still live to oppose the kingdom.
The Aurelian Empire was also not immune to the insidious webs of political intrigue. Within the vast and diverse lands of the empire, ambitious nobles plotted and conspired to further their personal agendas, even at the expense of destabilizing the entire realm. Factions emerged among the nobility, seeking to assert their influence and power, challenging the central authority of the emperor. The sheer size of the empire made it nearly impossible for a single ruler to govern with absolute competence, necessitating the delegation of governance to a wide caste of noble elites.
The courtiers are well adept at manipulating information and orchestrating conspiracy campaigns against their rivals, seeking to tarnish their reputation and weaken their positions. Regional governors and military commanders, entrusted with vast territories, sometimes used their authority to build personal power bases, challenging the central authority of the emperor. It is within these complex intricacies that Nolan, the History enthusiast now-turned-a king, finds himself in.
The Aurelian royal family bloodline itself has a long and storied history, spanning several generations and mainly three distinct dynasties. Each dynasty had its turn in controlling the throne, with some periods marked by peaceful transitions, while others were marred by depositions and coup d'états. The current royals are, infact, part of restored dynasty. After the deposition of the Valerius dynasty, the predecessing dynasty, a period of instability ensued, with several claimants to the throne vying for control. Amid the chaos, a descendant of the House of Marcellus emerged as a unifying figure, promising to restore the dynasty to power and uphold the values of the first Kings. With the support of influential nobles and the backing of the people, King Verilian I, reinstated his dynasty, after 109 years, as the rulers of the Aurelian Empire.Only a mere 50 years have passed since this event.
Nolan discovered his lineage traced back to King Verilian I who was his grandfather, after Verilian I passed away as consequences of political tyranny and being promptly assassinated, Maximus the Elder succeeded him, leading a challenging reign spanning twenty-three years before succumbing to natural causes. Following Maximus' demise, the throne passed to King Basilius I, the current ruler, only a month ago.
It is within this setting that Nolan had now assumed the identity of King Basilius I since yesterday but Basilius ascension to the throne proved contentious. His cousin, Julian, challenged the legitimacy of Basilius rule, citing his age as a critical factor. At a mere twenty-two years old, Basilius became the youngest emperor ever to be seated on the Aurelian Empire's throne, a fact Julian used to fuel his opposition however Julian was just one of many who harbored disposition of the restored Marcellus Dynasty. But, who knows how many more wished to challenge his rule, all with their own claims and reasons. Afterall, being a ruler is not a easy feat and maintaining this esteemed status is an even more tenacious task.
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"But how will we deal with Julian? I am afraid we really can't afford to wage battles," Nolan asked Polybius, deep in thought, as he shut closed the book on his hands.
"Perhaps renting out your massive four-poster bed might gain you enough funds?" Polybius responded with a hint of jest.
"This is no time for jokes. My very means of survival are being questioned right now," Nolan replied, visibly stressed, nervously biting his fingernails. While he had acquired general knowledge of the world's history, he lacked a deep understanding of its culture, religion, and military capabilities. It was clear that Julian wouldn't challenge an emperor without sufficient support or financial backing, leaving Nolan uncertain whether he had enough resources to defend his title.
Navigating these complexities required time and steady learning, but time was a luxury Nolan didn't have. As they continued their studies, a servant rushed forward to Nolan, breathless and agitated.
"My Lord! The nobles are protesting against your absence from the courthouse for the last two days. They require your presence for the delayed debate!" the servant informed him hurriedly.
The servant seemed oblivious to the humanoid luminous manifestation, Polybius, atop Nolan's head. But Nolan quickly dismissed those thoughts and focused on the pressing matter at hand. Under stress and unable to devise a suitable response, Polybius sensed Nolan's distress and swiftly took control of his body, overpowering Nolan's authority.
"Tell them that the debate will resume tomorrow. They will be graced with my esteemed presence then. Until then, do not dare disturb me," Polybius spoke through Nolan's mouth.
"Yes, My Lord! I will quickly inform them of your response," the servant hurriedly departed, wary not to disturb the king any further.
Once the servant had left, Nolan regained control of his body, feeling exhausted and drained. "W-what did you do? I-I feel so tired," he stammered. His heart pounded intensely, and he struggled to catch his breath, feeling as though he hadn't slept in ages. He was astonished by Polybius' ability to take control of his body, but the thought of such a violation left him shaken.
"Have no worries, I only momentarily took control of your body. Your mind was a mess, and you weren't able, even to reply to a servant," Polybius reassured, seemingly unfazed by his actions.
"So, you can even take control of bodies, huh?" Nolan thought to himself, uncovering yet another uncanny ability of his mentor.
"For now, we will finish our session. You have learned enough for the debate tomorrow. Get enough sleep," Polybius instructed before swiftly disappearing, leaving Nolan alone with his thoughts.
Feeling tired and restless, Nolan decided to heed Polybius's advice and retire to his chamber. The weight of uncertainty of the his own future weighed heavily on him as he lay on his massive four-poster bed, thinking of how the debate tomorrow would be like.
"Maybe I should really rent this bed out to gather money."