Alexander Black
| Alexander II of The Divine Imperium | ||||||||
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Alexander Adolphus Black (High Roanian: Ailessanro ???? ????) (b. IR 2415) (5764 CE) was Lord-Emperor of the Divine Illuminated Imperium from IR 2490 to IR 2740 (5839 to 6089 CE). Despite showing much promise in his early years, following the death of his first wife he slowly sank into decadence and murder. With his assassination in 2740, nearly 3000 years of the Black Dynasty came to an end.
Contents
Early Life
Being the eldest son of Lord-Emperor Edward Asmodeus Black and Lady-Empress Lucille Black, Alexander had access to vast quantities of wealth and power, and quickly learned to flaunt both. Rather than 'waste his time' in the palace, the young Alexander instead chose to travel the Imperium and the Galaxy, seeking new ways to amuse himself and gratify his growing desires.
From the time he was 20 he was more frequently off of Rudan than he was on the planet, becoming a frequenter of pirate worlds and slumming in other fashions. Somewhere along the way he was scarred across the face, a scar he never allowed to be healed.
His adventures were varied, and took him even to Sol, where he is believed to have had a relationship with Sara Resi, daughter of the CEO of The Resi Corporation, at the same time as he pursued Kelly Maxwell, a resident of Phalanix. Certainly, in his earlier days he affected the attitude and appearance of a rogue.
All this changed upon his return to Rudan at the age of 45. He threw himself into the role of prince, making close friends and allies amongst the upper and lower classes. Prince Alexander became famous for his generosity, even opening his private residence to the people of Roslin when that city was damaged by a severe hurricane. He was frequently called 'The Accessible Prince', a pleasing alternative to his ancient father, who had retreated into seclusion shortly after the death of his wife, the event which had called his son back to his side. This growing public popularity almost certainly contributed to Alexander's own desire for power.
Alexander's close friend Leopold Darquis, in his posthumously released memoirs Master of Gryphons (Hochburg, Audrey House Publishing, 2750) says that "His Serene Highness (as he then was) seemed at first to have an almost loving relationship with public opinion. It was his custom at times to simply walk the streets of Roslin as a private citizen, nodding and greeting people as he passed... when the public 'betrayed' him, in the assassination of Ailis, he was deeply hurt, and the outpouring of public sympathy was twisted in his mind..." (pp 70-71, Master of Gryphons)
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When Alexander started a relationship with the retiring Lady Ailis of Haracon, the nation as a whole was surprised that the volatile prince would be so willing to settle down. Initially, the rumour was that his father had placed pressure on him to follow his younger brother's example. But it quickly became evident the Prince was dedicated to Ailis, and during their twenty year courtship they were rarely seen apart.
Relationship with his family
Despite his close attention to the public and his friends, Alexander frequently evinced nothing but loathing for the majority of his family, reserving particular scorn for his brother Richard and Richard's wife, Nicole. Even before he lost his final vestiges of 'humanity', encounters between the pair often ended in insults.
His relationship with his sister is more ambiguous. While rumours of an incestuous relationship have surfaced occasionally, there is no proof and little chance of finding any.
Ascencion to the Imperial Diadem
After his father's sudden death, Alexander Tyrol Black was quickly confirmed as Lord-Emperor in an elaborate ceremony at the Cathedral of Adytum. He thus became His Most Divine Illuminated Imperial Majesty Lord-Emperor Alexander The Second of the Imperium of Rudan, Prince of Roan, King of Agua, Sovereign of Derricks, Lord-Protector of Altara and the Free Cities, Keeper of Alaitoc, Most Blessed Servant of the Light, Master of the Empire, the Supreme Autocrat, the Ultimate Arbiter, the Most Beloved Imperial Captain Commander of the Most Holy Legions, et al.
At the same ceremony he was married to Lady Ailis. General public opinion was highly favourable to the new couple, with the House of Commons and House of Nobles voting a 10 year period of public celebration.
Assassination of Lord-Emperor Edward
Alexander has frequently been linked to his father's death, most publicly by Lord Walters, his brother-in-law. While upon his accession such a thought would scarcely have been credible, recent evidence suggests that Alexander might very well have been involved to an extent in the death of Edward, though it is always possible the aged Lord-Emperor had simply given up the fight for life.
Rumours that Alexander fed his father a poisoned kumquat are not credible and are dismissed by all respected authorities.
Early Rule
For the first 20 years of his reign, Lord-Emperor Alexander governed wisely and justly. He restored habeas corpus and was the first Lord-Emperor to make an attempt to ameliorate the conditions of the slaves. Sadly, this liberal rule was destined to come to a premature end.
