Difference between revisions of "House of Craven"

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The Imperial Standard, flown for members of the House of Craven. Featured is the Family Crest.

The House of Craven is the current reigning Imperial Family of Cravan, having been in power since modern Cravan's founding in 1708. As outlined in the Constitution of the Eastern Empire, the House of Craven is the only family which may rule Cravan and her Overseas Territories. It is a direct lineage, meaning that the eldest child of the previous monarch capable of ascending to the throne recieves the title of Crown Prince/ss and is made the Heir Apparent. Thusfar seventeen monarchs have passed through the Imperial Palace attaining the title of Emperor or Empress, and the recently coronated Robert II of Cravan holds the position, having inherited it from his still-living father Matthew of Cravan.

History

Beginnings

The history of the House of Craven dates back to pre-revolution times, when the nation was ruled by the House of Cantoriavan. The Cantoriavans had since renamed the nation to Cravan, in honor of their home county of Cravenshire, which lies in the present-day Imperial Province. The Cantoriavans were notable for their ruthless ways and their iron grip on the nation, and thus the seeds of a revolution were spread. Among the forefront of the revolters was Sir John Craven the First, a key tactician and revolutionary leader who had united the rebels in Laurana for the storming of the Senate building, eventually leading the charge on the Imperial Palace. In the new government, Craven already held a high rank. Craven was a member of the ruling family of Cravenshire, the county which the nation had been named in honor of, and he held the honorary title of Knight. Thus, with the people not wishing to lose their status as a monarchy, a constitution was drafted, and the people chose John Craven I as the first Emperor of the New Empire of Cravan. He ascended to the throne and served for twelve years before his death in 1720, at which point his son Kyle ascended to the throne.

Modern Monarchs

In recent years, the Imperial Family has become some sort of an icon in Cravan and around the world, most notably from the time of John IV of Cravan onwards. John IV led Cravan through the latter years of the sixties and seventies, bringing Cravan to the forefront of technology and culture at the time. Upon his passing from lung cancer in 1974, his son Robert I of Cravan took the throne. Robert's reign, however, was cut short by a tragic accident which rocked the Empire and the world. Imperial One, en route to Laurana International after a state visit, crashed near Scarnonian waters. The tragedy sent Cravan into a deep state of shock, and a week of mourning took place as the late Robert was mourned. Susan of Cravan, who had remained in the Palace for the duration of her husband's trip, was granted temporary ceremonial powers until her son, Matthew of Cravan, could be coronated. The funeral took place on November 14th, 1986. Two days later, on the 16th of November, Matthew of Cravan was coronated in the Imperial Cathedral of Laurana.

It was Matthew who would propel Cravan into a new era, as his rule from 1986 through 2007 was filled with many reforms in both domestic and foreign affairs. The Empire itself took many radical changes, as Matthew, a noted libertarian, undid the decades of political bickering which had twisted the Constitution of the Empire, reverting it to its original meaning and spreading libertarianism. It was this boost that allowed the Libertarians to make a surprise seizure of the Imperial Senate in the 1991 elections, holding on to that majority to this day with the Conservatives closely trailing behind. Matthew led the Empire through many testing international and domestic crises, averting near destruction time and again. Under his guidance the seeds of the GASN were sown, and international relations soared. The Primary Director at the time was Vince Gallens who, despite his Conservative affiliation worked closely with the Emperor to make Cravan a better place and establish it as an international power.

Matthew willingly retired at the age of 46 in 2007, leaving the throne to his son Robert II of Cravan. Robert's reign thusfar has been notably successful, as Robert's popularity continues to soar. Already he has set to work continuing his father's work to promote Cravan around the world.

Customs

Succession

To legally ascend to the throne in Cravan, one must fufill the following four requirements, as outlined by the Constitution of the Eastern Empire.

• Be the first-born blood offspring of the former Emperor/Empress
• Be named the Heir Apparent by the currently reigning Cardinal of the Imperial Church of Cravan, a sect of the Roman Catholic church. (Cravan is a secular society, however the Imperial Family is notably Christian, in particular Catholic)
• Be married to a Cravanian-born individual capable of bearing children, preferably of the same overall ethnic and religious background (exceptions have been made to religion)
• The former monarch has either willingly stepped down or has passed on in office

Ceremonial Duties

In addition to the political powers outlined by the Constitution of the Eastern Empire, the monarch is also responsible for making state visits and public appearances throughout the Empire and other nations. It is also the monarch's unofficial duty to serve as commander in chief of all armed forces, however oftentimes the monarch will activate their limited military powers to influence military action from Imperial Forces. Despite being the commander in chief of the armed forces, if the monarch was a member of the military beforehand they are not permitted to wear a rank insignia higher than that which they attained in their military career on their uniform. (for example, Robert II retains the rank pins of a Lieutenant)

List of Past and Present Monarchs