Isenha-Raad

The Most Holy of Empires, the Heavenly and Most Serene Kingdom of Isenha-Raad

Isenha-Raad's birth came in the year 334, when the 20th Emperor of Tomania, Orophin Thranduilion, died. By Tomanian tradition, upon the Sovereign's death the kingdom is handed to his eldest son, or if he has no son, his eldest daughter. Emperor Orophin was left with a predicament, however, because he actually had three eldest sons -- triplets. In order that the boys not be treated unfairly, Orophin decided that the wisest course of action would be to divide his kingdom into three parts -- north, south and east -- one for each son. The eastern portion is what is now known as Isenha-Raad.

The eastern part of the Tomanian Empire had only been conquered for twenty years. As such, the population was still mostly indigenous. The new Emperor, Isthenin Rúthlagor, encouraged Tomanians to immigrate to this new nation and become a new people -- Isenians. As the people of what would become Isenha-Raad traveled further into their new nation, they came upon an indigneous people who called themselves The Haraad. These people were a farming culture who had learned to harness the few resources left in the harsh Exterran deserts and turn them into food and shelter. They taught the new Isenians how to do this for themselves, and soon there was a mass Isenian expansion into the deserts. To honor this new brotherhood, the Emperor of this new land renamed it and himself. The land became known as "Isenha-Raad" -- "The Land of Isenians and The Haraad." The Emperor took the name Bashi.

This peace would not be long-lasting. Only 80 years after the two cultures had been united, Emperor Salir Ibaen Hallil-Bashi took power. As he saw it, the land belonged to the superior Isenians. He saw The Haraad as interlopers upon the land that had been divinely gifted to the Isenians.

Emperor Salir declared a "Cleansing of the Land" -- an effective genocide of all people of Haraadian descent. After 20 years, all the Haraad had been effectively killed or driven out of Isenha-Raad. The land was completely Isenian.

After Salir's "Cleansing of the Land", the government of Isenha-Raad took a decidely authortarian turn. The worship of Illùvitar was not just mantatory -- blasphemy against His name would become punishable by death. Illùvitarian prophets and priests claimed visions sent from Illùvitar himself telling them of cultural and governmental changes which must be set in place. Freedoms were stripped from the Isenian people slowly, and soon almost all freedoms were simply a memory. The women of Isenha-Raad suffered the worst; severe restrictions were put on their movements, speech, and even dress. Still today in Isenha-Raad, women are mandated by law to wear intricate makeup designs, over which they must wear a full face and body covering. This is to show their humility toward Illùvitar. They must weight their garments with chains or lead weights, to show their willingness to take on a burden in the name of Illùvitar. They must endure foot binding and ritual scarification in order to show their willing to sacrifice for Illùvitar.

In recent years, there was an uprising of a women's rights force in Isenha-Raad. They declared civil war on their government, and in an unexpected turn of events, were backed by Morindira, one of the most militariscally powerful nations in all of Gemini Exterro. The Emperor of Isenha-Raad had little choice but to grant these women their independence, and they formed the small nation of Erulisse-Heryn.

Isenian Coronation Ceremony

Isenha-Raad is home to some of the most intricate and complicated ceremonies in all of Gemini Exterro. The most recent of these ceremonies was the coronation of their young princess, Sairalindë Tinehtelë Bashi-Bashi.

The ceremony required Princess Sairalindë to wear the traditional Isenian coronation gown, which some nations in Gemini Exterro deem "unfit" for human beings. The gown, made up of many layers of ornately hand-painted silks, requires the wearer to endure the pain of twelve excruciating rings that make the waist appear narrower. The placement of the rings, traditionally performed by the Princess' mother, requires that the Princess' three lower ribs be cracked and re-set. The gown also includes six heavy rings that adorn the Princess' shoulders, six around her neck, and six around each leg and arm. In additon to the metal rings, the Princess' feet will be bound. The bindings are tightly-woven silk ropes that will cut off the circulation to her feet in order to keep them small and lady-like.

The traditions date back centuries and are supposed to help the Princess demonstrate a willingness to sacrifice for her nation. In addition, these adornments are said to make the Princess seem more graceful, her movements slowed due to pain and weight of ornament.

The ceremony usually lasts nine hours, during which the Princess will sit on the Royal Throne of Isenha-Raad, her gown, ornaments and traditional makeup perfect. Her posture is especially important -- if she appears weak beneath the body-punishing dress she will be seen as a weak leader to the people of Isenha-Raad.

After the ceremony, there is a traditional Isenian feast during which the Princess is required to make an appearance in full dress. She will address the crowd but not eat; eating in the Princess' Royal Coronation Gown is seen as quite a cultural faux pas. In fact, in the week following her coronation the Princess will fast. This fast will furthermore demonstrate her willingness to sacrifice for her nation, and bring her simpathy for the less fortunate.

At last, the Princess will only be required to fulfill one more tradition, known as the Ritual of Sanctification. Also performed by her mother, the ceremony requires the removal of the Princess' gown. After she is nearly nude, her mother will place upon her body the "Náriël", a sophisticated belt-and-brassier that has a locking mechanism in the back. This will serve as a sort of chastity belt, to ensure that the Princess stays pure until the day of her marriage. The belt encircles the Princess' waist and crosses under and between her legs, allowing the flow of waste but prohibiting sexual contact. It then crosses her back and stomach, wrapping around her breasts so that no one may touch them before she is married. The Náriël closes in a series of three locks. The keys that open the locks are entrusted to the custody of three different people, one to the Princess' mother, one to the present Emperor and one to the High Prophet. On the day of her marriage, which usually falls around the Princess' fifteenth birthday, the keys will be given to her husband on their wedding night. After the consummation of their marriage only will the Princess be free from the Náriël.

The ceremony's festivities last one week, during which the Princess herself is confined to her chambers, fasting, studying the duties of the Princess of Isenha-Raad and tending to her healing ribs and her newly-bound feet.

Isenian Naming Systems

Men: There are two ways men can be named. The first is if the man's mother's family and father's family are different:

Bashi X Hatur Bashi-Bashi

The man's first name (Bashi), followed by his mother's family name (Hatur), followed by the hyphenated coupling of his father's family name and his paternal grandfather's family name (Bashi-Bashi). The "X" that you see here is simply a generation differentiation, since his father was named "Bashi" as well.

The second men's naming system is used if the man's mother's family is the same as his father's family:

Ahmaed Hatur-Hatur im'Hallil

The man's first name (Ahmaed) followed by the hyphenated coupling of his father's family name and his paternal grandfather's family name (Hatur-Hatur), followed by the word for "son of" (im'), followed by his father's first name (Hallil).

Women: There are two ways a woman can be named. The first is if the woman is the eldest daughter in the household.

Sairalindë Tinehtelë Bashi-Bashi

The woman's first name (Sairalindë) followed by her mother's first name (Tinehtelë), followed by the hyphenated coupling of her father's family name and her paternal grandfather's family name (Bashi-Bashi).

The second naming system for a woman is used in case she is not the eldest daughter. This is the most commom naming system for women.

Tinehtelë Táralóm ma-Hatur

The woman's first name (Tinehtelë) followed by her mother's first name (Táralóm), followed by the word for "daugher of" (ma-) coupled with her father's family name (Hatur).

Classification: When we say "family" we mean father's name. So, if Kamil's father is Hallil, and Hallil's father is Hatur, and Hatur's father is Kamir, and Kamir's father is Bashi, then Kamil's name would be:

Kamil Hatur-Kamir im'Hallil OR Kamil *mother's family name* Hatur-Kamir

Also, as noted earlier, if a father and son have the same first name a numeral can be inserted after the son's first name in order to differentiate between the father and his son.

Bashi X Hatur Bashi-Bashi VS. Bashi XI Hatur Bashi-Bashi

The Royal Family of Isenha-Raad

Bashi X Hatur Bashi-Bashi: Emperor

Tinehtelë Táralóm ma-Hatur: Lady Consort the First

Bashi XI Hatur Bashi-Bashi: Crown Prince

Sairalindë Tinehtelë Bashi-Bashi: Crown Princess

Tári Carnesîr ma-Hatur: Great Mother of the Crown

Ahmaed Hatur-Hatur im'Hallil: Grand Duke

Séreméla Arnatuilë Hatur-Hallil: Duke's Consort the First

Elessar Hatur Bashi-Bashi: Grand Duke

Alassë Oronar ma-Hatur: Duke's Consort the First

Fingolfin Hatur Bashi-Bashi: Grand Duke

Eáránë Idril Bashi-Bashi: Duke's Consort the First

Fingon Khamir Hatur-Hatur: Grand Count

Eärwen Telrúnya Hallil-Hallil: Count's Consort the First

Gwindor Hallil-Hallil im'Gelmir: Grand Count

Eldárwen Galathil ma-Hallil: Count's Consort the First

Immediate Family of Emperor Bashi X

With Lady Consort the First Tinehtelë Táralóm ma-Hatur:

Crown Prince Bashi XI Hatur Bashi-Bashi (04/14/1986)

Crown Princess Sairalindë Tinehtelë Bashi-Bashi (05/31/1992)

Prince Thranduil II Hatur Bashi-Bashi (07/22/1987)

Prince Fingolfin V Hatur Bashi-Bashi (10/09/1989)

Princess Máraran Tinehtelë ma-Bashi (01/11/1994)

With Lady Consort the Second Eldárwen Séregon Hatur-Fëanáro:

Prince Ahmaed VII Hatur Bashi-Bashi (03/19/1985)

Princess Nienna Eldárwen Bashi-Bashi (05/29/1986)

Prince Beren Hatur Bashi-Bashi (08/07/1988)

Prince Linwëlin Hatur Bashi-Bashi (08/14/1989)

Princess Elendil Eldárwen ma-Bashi (07/15/1991)

With Lady Consort the Third Amarië Ringëril Salladis-Tathar:

Princess Itarildë Amarië Bashi-Bashi (04/03/1990)

Princess Nessa Amarië ma-Bashi (06/24/1993)

Princess Nénharma Amarië ma-Bashi (06/24/1993)

Princess Faelivrin Amarië ma-Bashi (10/18/1996)

Prince Vardamir III Salladis Bashi-Bashi (02/23/1999)

With Lady Consort the Fourth Inwë Tári ma-Bashi:

Prince Elessar IV Bashi-Bashi im'Bashi (09/13/1987)

Prince Anwarünya Bashi-Bashi im'Bashi (09/13/1987)

*This list includes the Emperor's legitimized children only.*