Constantine XXII Capet

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Emperor Constantine XXII Capet
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Birth
1 September 1850
Accession
17 August 1898
Death
19 March 1929
Titles
By the Grace of God, Emperor of Pantocratoria, Autocrator of the Romans, Caesar Augustus, King of France and Navarre, Duke of Normandy, Equal of the Apostles, God's Vicegerent on Earth, the Very Christian, Sebastocrator, Porphyrogenitus, King of Kings Ruling over those who Rule, Grand Master of the Order of the Pantocrator

His Most Catholic and Imperial Majesty Emperor Constantine XXII (born Philippe-Constantine) was the second son of Emperor Manuel IX and Empress Marie. Under his rule, Pantocratoria joined the First World War on the side of the Allies, although with the exception of one naval engagement, the country was virtually a non-participant.

Until 1869 Philippe-Constantine hadn't been expected to succeed his father, but when his elder brother Prince Manuel died he became the heir apparent. In 1871 he was proclaimed Despot of New Constantinople, married Theodora de Drakos, and left his father's court to move to New Constantinople. Their only child was born in 1877 - Prince Constantine's pregnancy was difficult and his birth extremely traumatic, rendering Theodora incapable of bearing any more children. The three were an affectionate and fairly private family, at least by the standards of the House of Bourbon-Comnenus-Palaeologus.

In 1898, Emperor Manuel IX lay dying, but arranged for Prince Constantine to marry his cousin, Princess Marie, daughter of Philippe-Constantine's brother Prince Louis. Philippe-Constantine was opposed to the match, but his father made him promise to abide by his wishes even after his death - the wedding went ahead shortly after the old Emperor's death, and after Philippe-Constantine's accession as Emperor Constantine XXII.

Early in Constantine XXII's reign, his nephew Michael Phocas was given his first command, HIMS Constantinople. Captain Phocas would go on to have the most distinguished career in Pantocratorian naval history after the total decimation of Pantocratoria's dreadnoughts in the disastrous Dardenelles campaign of World War I forced the Imperial Navy to turn to him for leadership. Constantine XXII's decision to involve Pantocratoria in World War I by assisting with the Allied campaign against Turkey proved a catastrophic one - the blow to the Empire's military prestige was considerable, although the everyday lives of most imperial citizens were not particularly impacted upon by the war. After the Treaty of Versailles didn't fulfill Constantine XXII's ambitions for the war, the Empire returned to its traditional isolationist stance until the end of the reign in 1929.

Emperor Constantine XXII died of old age in 1929, the future of his dynasty in limbo, since Prince Constantine remained without an heir.

Preceded by:
Manuel IX Capet
Emperor of Pantocratoria
1898-1929
Succeeded by:
Constantine XXIII Capet
Preceded by:
Manuel Ier
King of France (titular)
1898-1929
Succeeded by:
Constantine II