Difference between revisions of "Manuel V Comnenus"
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When he proclaimed himself an adult, his first task was to send ambassadors to the courts of Europe. He ordered that Pantocratorian sailors adopt Spanish navigation techniques so that they could actually find their way through their own archipelago and into the open seas, establishing trade routes. He was amazed at the sketches of styles and fashions from the French court of Versailles, and hired French architects to redesign the Imperial Court of Christ Pantocrator, creating the style of architecture Pantocratoria is (in)famous for - that clash of Byzantine with Baroque, of Gothic with Rococo. | When he proclaimed himself an adult, his first task was to send ambassadors to the courts of Europe. He ordered that Pantocratorian sailors adopt Spanish navigation techniques so that they could actually find their way through their own archipelago and into the open seas, establishing trade routes. He was amazed at the sketches of styles and fashions from the French court of Versailles, and hired French architects to redesign the Imperial Court of Christ Pantocrator, creating the style of architecture Pantocratoria is (in)famous for - that clash of Byzantine with Baroque, of Gothic with Rococo. | ||
− | In 1712, he made a decision that perhaps only a man of his youth and inexperience could've made - he decreed that Greek be abandoned, and that French become the national language. This decision's repercussions are still felt today, with a large minority of Pantocratoria's population still only speaking Greek. | + | In 1712, he made a decision that perhaps only a man of his youth and inexperience could've made - he decreed that [[Greek]] be abandoned, and that [[French]] become the national [[language]]. This decision's repercussions are still felt today, with a large minority of Pantocratoria's population still only speaking [[Greek]]. |
He was deeply unpopular for his attempts at modernisation, and was called "that Barbarian" or "the Frank" by his Greek subjects. He revelled in the title, feeling that being called "le Franc" was recognition of his modernising reforms. He was assassinated by poisoned tobacco, dying with his pipe in his mouth in the midst of the massive baroque ballroom which was still under construction in his new Imperial Court of Christ Pantocrator. Some say he haunts those few parts of the Old Palace which are still left, pipe in his mouth, spewing profanity in French about how they've not been pulled down yet. | He was deeply unpopular for his attempts at modernisation, and was called "that Barbarian" or "the Frank" by his Greek subjects. He revelled in the title, feeling that being called "le Franc" was recognition of his modernising reforms. He was assassinated by poisoned tobacco, dying with his pipe in his mouth in the midst of the massive baroque ballroom which was still under construction in his new Imperial Court of Christ Pantocrator. Some say he haunts those few parts of the Old Palace which are still left, pipe in his mouth, spewing profanity in French about how they've not been pulled down yet. |
Revision as of 11:56, 15 December 2004
Emperor Manuel V "le Franc" | ||||||||
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Emperor Manuel V le Franc
His Imperial Majesty Emperor Manuel V came to the throne at the age of 7. His reign was ended in its prime, and had probably the single most profound impact on Pantocratorian culture since the nation was established. Manuel V came to the throne as a mere child of 7 - his mother Maria Comnenus ruled as regent until 1710, when Manuel reached the age of 18 and proclaimed himself an adult.
Manuel's youth was a period of great change and modernisation in Pantocratoria - full contact had been re-established with much of Europe through chance encounters with France and Spain at sea. In the halls of the Imperial Court of Christ Pantocrator, built in the Byzantine style of 1000 years before, excitement filled the air as the Old Palace was suddenly abuzz with foreign ambassadors, exotic spices, and new fashions. On nobody did this have a greater impact than the young Manuel, who was so taken with this new wave that he developed a disdain for the old Byzantine way of doing things.
When he proclaimed himself an adult, his first task was to send ambassadors to the courts of Europe. He ordered that Pantocratorian sailors adopt Spanish navigation techniques so that they could actually find their way through their own archipelago and into the open seas, establishing trade routes. He was amazed at the sketches of styles and fashions from the French court of Versailles, and hired French architects to redesign the Imperial Court of Christ Pantocrator, creating the style of architecture Pantocratoria is (in)famous for - that clash of Byzantine with Baroque, of Gothic with Rococo.
In 1712, he made a decision that perhaps only a man of his youth and inexperience could've made - he decreed that Greek be abandoned, and that French become the national language. This decision's repercussions are still felt today, with a large minority of Pantocratoria's population still only speaking Greek.
He was deeply unpopular for his attempts at modernisation, and was called "that Barbarian" or "the Frank" by his Greek subjects. He revelled in the title, feeling that being called "le Franc" was recognition of his modernising reforms. He was assassinated by poisoned tobacco, dying with his pipe in his mouth in the midst of the massive baroque ballroom which was still under construction in his new Imperial Court of Christ Pantocrator. Some say he haunts those few parts of the Old Palace which are still left, pipe in his mouth, spewing profanity in French about how they've not been pulled down yet.
Emperors of Pantocratoria
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