Chapter IV: “The Founding of the Sirius Empire”
Europe in 1072 found itself a playing field once more. Kingdoms waging war and taking land, the Plague sent the world back into the 700’s. Our story begins here, after my election to the status of Pope. I, Alexander I crowned Brandon as King of Eastern Egrith, much to the dissatisfaction of his counterpart King of Western Egirth Andrey III. Each Kingdom claimed sovereignty over the other. A humble diplomat who had just arrived after settling peace in the Balkan region. A close friend of the Pope’s they went to his estate which he inherited near Alparis. There a feast was held to commemorate the young lad’s efforts. The Pope’s men found a hidden hatch and thought it to be a danger to the event so they decided to explore it. Upon breaking the lock everyone was shocked to discover that this was a secret hideout back from the ages of Charlemagne. In it were books and artifacts claimed to have belonged to the Emperor of the HRE. All of his records were sent to Rome with the Pope, while the young diplomat was sent to Frankia to make peace between West and East Egirth. Whilst in the middle of negotiations in 1073 a messenger burst into the room claiming he had a message from the Pope. It read:
Dearest friend,
The Imperial Archives in Rosewood
It joys me to share my findings with you. We have transcribed the writing found in the hideout. As fate would have it, we stumbled upon an ancient tomb, not filled with corpses, rather with knowledge. It would seem that Charlemagne’s line did not end, in fact it lives on to this day. In my hands I hold the record of every one of his successors. On the very bottom of the list is a woman whose name you might recognize. Antwanette. Yes, I can confirm without a doubt, that this is your mother. Therefore I hereby pronounce you legal successor of Charlemagne’s lineage. All of his titles and claims fall onto you.
Your trusted friend,
Alexander.
With this letter the room went silent, all of the knights and lords bent the knee, including King Andrey, who proclaimed:
“The blood of my family runs deep and long, therefore I find myself honor-bound to follow this man until my last breath.“
Rosewood folklore
King Brandon laughed this off and stormed out of the halls, returning to his capital. He later received a letter from the Pope commanding him to yield his lands and titles to the rightful ruler. Brandon saw this as a direct attack on the sovereignty of his nation. He raised his banners and declared war upon West Egirth. The war lasted for 2 years before Brandon was banished from the lands after having surrendered control of his city. On the 13th December 1075, the Pope crowned his friend Emperor of the newly found Sirius Empire which included Egirth, Late Munrich, and later Deston. And so Emperor Torrino I of the house of Sirius became the ruler of three Kingdoms. This has been a brief history of everything that has led to the creation of the Empire and its founding. More detailed reports and new additions will be added in further volumes.
