House of Donatus

History

The House of Donatus begins with Otrosa Donatus. A human warrior who after the fall of the allied human forces in the fall of Minavere rallied his local village to his side and helped protect his people against the confusion and pandemonium brought about by the destruction of most political figures in the Human lands. Otrosa quickly rose from a local village warrior to a tribal leader, to a warband leader leading most of the surviving Human forces. It Was in the War of the Gods that Otrosa became legend along side his five fellow heroes eventually winning the war and returning home. Upon returning to his Village Ortosa found that his village was broken and his people were swollen with ranks of people from all over the continent with no home to return to. In the end Otrosa would found the Donatus bloodline, becoming king of his people and uniting with diplomacy his people and those from House Unhold and House Wyrmsca, Forging a Empire that would one day grow beyond his wildest imagination.

The Splitting of the House

Following the third century since the founding of the Empire, and the House of Donatus, The Empire became embroiled in a civil war. Stemming from Emperor Vetus Donatus having six male children, and his reluctance to name a heir. Vetus wrote in his will who would be the heir to the Empire but his will was burned by his eldest son Fortis. This action caused the rest of Vetus children to call treason and each supported themselves for the thrown. The Civil War nearly tore the empire into pieces and lasted ten long years damaging the Empires stability for generations to come. In the end The Surviving heir and new Emperor Veritas Donatus decreed a new law to prevent such actions from happening again. Starting with his children and into perpetuity the Royal Line of Donatus would be split into the Magna line and the Luminaire line. The Magna line of House Donatus would be the first born male of the Emperor reared to rule, with his wife being welcomed into the Magna Line. The Luminaire line would be for those descended from the Royal line and for all later born children to those in the Magna Line. Those who are in the Luminaire Line are given no political inheritance and in the case of the Magna Line ending due to lack of providing a heir the next closest relative to the Emperor is adopted back into the Magna Line.

Modern Politics

The House of Donatus is the leading family in the Empire making up as the Royal line of Emperors. The families Magna line was broken when the last Emperor Sapiens Donatus III died due to illness in his old age. His son Aquilae went missing during a diplomatic envoy just months before the Emperors death. Aquilae is still considered missing and because of this no member from the Luminaire line has been chosen to replace the line and become Emperor. The Luminaire line has seen a massive decrease in political power in the last eight years as the queen regent has declared any Luminaire attempting to restore the line traitorous and placed strict limitations on what the Luminaire line can influence. The Luminaire line has also seen a decline in family members closely related to the late Emperor, those with the most influence. The Donatus House as the Royal Family and one of the founders of the Empire holds right to have its own private military, as such it hosts the Royal Guard named the "Scarlet Dragons" a elite force of veteran soldiers loyal to the Emperor above all else. The Royal guard is the largest of all the houses armies numbering close to eight thousand members.

Fiefs

The Donatus family holds rights over all Imperial lands but directly only rules through the Magna line and the Magna line only directly rules Destora the capital of the Empire. Though it has been known for the family to take lands under their rule during turbulence or strife such as how they currently do in (69).

"Pars magna bonitatis est velle fieri bonum"

(Much of goodness consists in wanting to be good)

Sigil

The sigil for the House of Donatus is a golden eagle entwined with a red dragon on a black field. The golden eagle representing the Magna Line. The red dragon representing the Luminaire line. Both being entwined showing their shared roots, and how one cannot live without the other. The black field behind them signifying the birth of the house amidst dark times. Colors worn on armaments tend to be gold for members of the Magna line and their personal servants, and red for members of the Luminaire line and those loyal to the Empire.

Type

Family

Important Family Members

The most important member of the Donatus family belong to the Luminaire line since the Magna line currently has no head family member. In the Luminaire line the current head of the family is Lady Dimitte Luminaire eldest daughter of late Emperor Sapiens Donatus III. Not being a male she was rescinded to the Luminaire line upon reaching adulthood where she served the Royal line as a deft administrator. Since the death of her father she has adamantly opposed Queen Regent Casia Mercator and rallied members from the Luminaire line with her cause to see the Queen Regent step down as steward and name a new Magna Family member. Aside from Dimitte the most well known member of the Luminaire line is Ferox Luminaire distant cousin to Dimitte and close cousin to Lucius Unhold, The Magnus Princeps. Ferox is best known for his wealth and private ownership of a large caravan company where he guards travelers on their journeys giving him a small army at his disposal, putting good use of the skills he learned as a ward in the Unhold House.