James Kennan

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James David Patrick Kennan
Title
Grand Duke of Saxmere, Baron of Cambera
Born
1978
Residence
Umbra, Saxmere
Notable
Until recently he had lived his entire life in exile in Excalbia and Pantocratoria.

After Patrick II, the last Grand Duke of Saxmere, was overthrown in 1806 by his Council of Ministers, the Kennan family and several of their closest retainers went into exile in the Excalbian court at Citadel Excalbia. Over the years, it became traditional for the descendants of Patrick II to use the title Baron of Cambera while foregoing the title of Grand Duke. It also became customary for members of the former royal family to hold commissions in the armed forces of the Holy Empire of Excalbia while retaining the distinctive red uniform of the former Grand Duchy.

With the Kennan family in exile, Saxmere briefly existed as an independent republic before becoming part of the Confederation of Soveriegn States. For more than a century, the Kennan family considered their claims to the throne of Saxmere to be a lost cause. The 2004 election of Thomas Caine as President of the Confederation, however, has opened a rift between devoutly Catholic and highly conservative Saxmere and the more materialistic and secular States of the Confederation. In particular, Caine's affiliation with the Order of the Invisible Hand and the Dutch Democratic Republic of Knootoss have raised opposition in Saxmere.

In early 2005, the exiled Baron of Cambera, Albert James Patrick Kennan, died, leaving his grandson, James David Patrick Kennan, as his heir. After assuming the title of Baron of Cambera, James called on Sir Alec Nugent, descendant of one the old Grand Duke's retainers and a confident of his grandfather, to establish contact with those opposed to Caine and the Order in Saxmere. James has launched a crusade to, in his words, liberate his people from the hands of the Order. To further his quest, he has relocated his residence from Excalbia to the New Rome in Pantocratoria.

In late 2005, after much conflict and long negotiations, the Confederation, Saxmere and their allies concluded an agreement to resolve the so-called "Saxmere secession crisis" through a referendum in Saxmere. The referendum, held shortly after the signing of the Treaty of Courtland, determined that Saxmere would remain a part of the Confederation, but would gain greater autonomy and would reestablish the grand ducal throne.

In early 2006, Baron James finally returned to his ancestral homeland and assumed the throne of the Autonomous Grand Duchy of Saxmere as Grand Duke James.