Isadora I Thesprotia

Empress of Gardsel

It is often said that Gardsel's greatest emperors were those who never expected to rule. Empress Isadora I is the most commonly cited example of this, born into the imperial succession with two elder brothers, but during some of the worst trouble the empire has faced. She is the one who rose to the occasion, consolidating and strengthening the empire and resolving foreign issues with tact and wisdom. Her story is an inspiration to women - and indeed men too - throughout Gardsel, not only overcoming the situation that led to her inauguration, but bringing about one of the empire's greatest times of prosperity and peace.

Mental characteristics

Personal history

Born 787 to the then-Emperor Hector II and his wife Katrine, young Isadora showed remarkable intelligence from a young age, and it seems there was some expectation that she would become a diplomat for the empire, aiding whichever of her elder brothers would become emperor after their father. The eldest, Adrian, was severely injured during a journey to the north of Gardsel, so upon Hector II's death in 811, the title passed to Darius. The struggle of running the empire during such a trying time took its toll on him, and five years later, after much deliberation, he abdicated the throne, and Isadora was inaugurated as Empress of Gardsel at the age of 29. Her reign was characterised by a continual struggle to end the disputes internal and external, and she proved herself more than capable of resolving them.

Accomplishments & Achievements

The most pressing matter at the time of Empress Isadora's inauguration was that of the Teldus border, where tensions had been slowly escalating for nearly fifteen years. How she did it is forgotten, but she was able to negotiate with the King of Teldus and the local princes, and establish a favourable agreement for both sides as to exactly where the border lay, an agreement which holds to this day. Much of the rest of her work was internal to Gardsel. She re-integrated the areas Leit and Saari, investing much in improving the road network connecting the latter to the rest of the empire. She gathered the army and drove the witherwitches from the Aude marshes, ending their hundred-year reign of terror. She organised the reconstruction of Lahrun after the fire in 843, reportedly even working on the plan for the new city herself. Her focus was always on improving what the empire had, rather than conquering land from others.

Social

Family Ties

Isadora Thesprotia was the daughter of Emperor Hector II and his wife, Katrine. She had two elder brothers, Adrian and Darius, and one younger brother, Priam, who inherited the throne after her death.

Social Aptitude

As empress, it was her duty to speak to the people of Gardsel, and she did so with ease, but her true talent was in writing. Reports indicate that she would often remain awake late at night, deliberating over how to best convey her will in written word. More than 500 letters were sent by her to places within and without the empire, and I have never heard it said that even one was not received favourably.

Life

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