Aistanian Coronation Ceremony
When the time came to decide who should be the leader of all the species, none could agree. It came down to each race to choose a leader for each of the species, and those leaders formed the Kings’ lineage, the Breinhoeleid, from which all kings came from."Coronation ceremonies in Western Agia are a vital part of any country that has a monarchy. The ceremony helps establish a monarch’s legitimacy and reaffirms the loyalty of the nobility and the subjects to the crown. But the largest and probably the oldest coronation ceremony is the Aistanian coronation ceremony, dating back to Manaes, the last Breinex O Dynbodaul of Agia.
History
The first known records of the ceremony are mostly based on the Book of Irath and Scroll of Rathias. The first mention of a coronation ceremony is in the second chapter of the Book of Irath, telling that Irath gifted each of the first kings of the species a crown. Thus, the word “crowning” is dated to this point."Rathias had no favourite. She thought each species was equal and deserved a gift worth this balance they had found themselves. She gave each king a golden apple, telling them that true wisdom and balance were a leader’s responsibility. The apple should remind them to always have their people fed and prosper within the balance of nature."
It was during King Berain II's time that the Northern Agia fashion influenced other cultures in Western Agia. It is believed he introduced the apple at his coronation in -1007 BGD after witnessing a crowning of a vassal king under Isith in Western Agia.
Having a rival religion’s ceremonial part in a ceremony that is as religious as the coronation in Aistana is very controversial. Though no one would ever admit they took a part in the Rathianic belief in their ceremony. Today, the apple is more commonly known as the Apple of the Realm, but it resembles more an orb than an apple. It often has a little Glux above the orb to show it is the realm under the Glux that the new king is to govern. The little glux was added shortly after Isith’s return to Northern Agia, to make sure none thought it was inspired by the Scroll of Rathias.
The Process of a Coronation
The Death of a King, the Rise of a New
The beginning of a new king always starts at the death of an old one. When the old king dies, the Council of the Realm chosen by the previous king determines the eligible successor candidates. Leaders from each region of Aistana gather for an election, including the Yppwenlas or their representative.The candidates for the crown are determined based on military prowess, family connections, political alliances, and royal heritage.
The Travel and Hunt
When a successor has been chosen and all planning is finished, the king then has to travel from Aistalion to Diundad da Luzven to be officially crowned by the Yppwenlas. It takes about a week to travel with all the king’s court and people to serve him during his travel.In the recent two hundred years, it has become popular to go on a hunt. The first animal to die at the hands of the king is to be prepared and eaten by the king. Each animal is considered to have different virtues the king will gain for his reign. But some kings want more majestic beast and sometimes orders an exotic animal to be chained for him to kill it. Several are known to even gain lions or bears to let him consume their virtues.
However, it is not well regarded amongst the nobles since they will take it as a sign that a king is weak to have his token beast imported and chained for him to kill it.
The Coronation
Upon arriving at the Yppwenlas' palace, the king can relax and get his final preparation finished before the coronation takes place the day after. The final adjustments on his coronation clothing are also done on this day.The moment the Glux is at its highest, the ceremony begins. The king arrives on horseback, with a token of the animal he has slain somewhere on his clothing. When the king arrives at the church, music is played, and he enters and sits on a small prayer stool while the Mass is held.
The Mass contains several parts of the golden Book of Irath, a holy artefact said to contain Irath's words, and prayers from the elective arch-bishops of Aistana.
The Book of Irath is then closed and the king has to place his gloved hand upon its cover. The reflection of the gold cover is said to glow when a rightful king has his hand upon it.
The Yppwenlasthen asks six questions to the king to which he will answer “I will”:
- “Will you defend the Words of our Goddess, our Faith and deny the evils of Rathias?”
- “Will you defend the Church of Irath?”
- “Will you maintain and uphold the laws of Aistana and the Church?”
- “Will you maintain justice and defend the citizens of Aistana?”
- "Will you submit yourself to the Yppwenlas and Irath?"
The king then repeats the oath he pledge and asks at the end: “Will you accept me as your king?” to which he receives “Let it be done”.
The king is then stripped to his linen or silk shirt, his trousers are still on, and is then dressed in a white and purple tunic, and a golden robe. A belt is then placed around him to hold the sword and the little decorative shield.
He then sits on the throne and the Yppwenlas then gives him the sword in his right hand to which is said “With sword you shall carry out justice.”
Then the Yppwenlas place a small decorative shield and says “With the shield, you shall defend your subjects.” The sword and shield are then placed in the king’s belt.
Proceeding with the regalia, the Yppwenlas places the signet ring on the king’s right ring finger and a chain of office around his neck, while saying “With the ring and chain you accept your obedience to your title and the church, and all the responsibilities that come with it.”
The orb is placed in his left hand, to which the Yppwenlas says “With the orb, you show wisdom and intelligence to govern a realm beneath the Glux ."
Then the Yppwenlas places the sceptre in his right hand and says “With the sceptre, you guide all the subject under your rule.” last, the Yppwenlas places the crown on the king’s head and says “With the crown, you shall govern all your subject rightfully and justly.”
The nobles then gathers to swear an oath to serve the king and be loyal. Each time on one knee and taking the king’s hands into their own while saying their oath.
The Feast
The feast is often held at the Yppwenlas’ palace where a menu ordered by the king is served. However, one tradition is that Simlen is to be served, and to mark the beginning of the feast, the king and the Yppwenlas have to break a simlen to show a harmonious partnership between the realm and the Church.Regalias
The Sword
The sword is ornate with gemstones and made entirely of silver. It is said to be the only silver sword in Agia. The handle is made from a horn. A legend tells, it is from a horned horse sent by Irath to comfort the Queen Aistana, daughter of Manaes, to show her pure heart and will to govern.The Shield
The shield is ornamental and completely useless in battle. It is only 30 cm in diameter and made of gold. It is ornate with garnets to form a lion, symbolising the braveness of a king.The Signet Ring
The signet ring is made from gold. It contains a crowned lion with a Glux above its head. It is the oldest signet ring in Agia, said to belong to the first Breinex O Dynbodaul.The Chain of Office
The Chain is actually two chains connected through castings of the Aistanian crowned lion heads and Glux . A small pendant hangs from the middle of the chain. It is of the goddess Irath , holding Agia in one hand and the Glux in the other.The Orb
The Orb is a golden orb that slightly resembles an apple.The Orb is a golden orb that slightly resembles an apple. Two gold bands now decorate the orb, with a Glux on a stick added at the top, have been added later to show it now belongs to the Faith of Irath.The Scepter
The Scepter is a golden stick containing several ornamentations and at the top is a crown with the Glux in the middle. The crown is bejewelled. Three smaller bands with lion heads of gold have been added. One at the bottom, and two above and below, where the hand is supposed to hold the sceptre.The Crown
"And they would gather for the Assembly of the Kings to keep the peace between the races. The First Kings ruled with a firm and a loving hand. Irath looked upon them and was filled with pride of their decision, and she gave each of the Kings a crown, to remind them of their duty to their species, and to symbolise their wisdom and leadership."
The Crown is considered to be the very crown Dynbodauls. It consists of two parts, the old crown which is a wide metal ring bejewelled with sapphires, emeralds, rubies, and yellow diamonds.
In the middle, there is a large Glux with 12 round pearls, and a large amber, also used as Emberstone, in the middle.
At the four largest tips of the Glux , there are four enamelled heads of each of the four main species, also known as the First: Taroth, Môrwen, Ghrefeims, and Dynbodaul.
At a later period of relative peace, the ability to advance the goldsmith technique and gem cutting, extra details to the crown was added; four taller tips of three Flowers of Light on each of them. Three of them have four sapphires and one ruby in the middle.
The large tip in the middle, above the Glux , has three sapphires, one diamond, and a large pearl. The pearl was the very one Urgan the Usurper stole, and is a birthing pearl of a Môrwen.
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Amazing article
Thank you :D