Niceroslav

Niceroslav (born Cesareș Devanga Rapafavaldi Răcini; 2 April 1832 - 25 April 1915) was a Caphirian military leader and statesman who reigned as Imperator of Caphiria for 27 years from 1887 until 1911. Niceroslav was born into the powerful Răcini Estate, which had dominated Caphirian politics since the formation of the Fourth Imperium in the late 18th century. Niceroslav is renowned for being one of the greatest Caphirian generals of the 20th century and is responsible for Caphiria's continental hegemony on Sarpedon after leading Caphiria to victory during the First Great War.

In his youth, Niceroslav was a talented chemist, with his work in the field of chemistry being recognized by many Caphirian and Sarpic chemists. However, his military and political victories as Imperator leave his legacy as one of Caphiria's most successful generals and greatest military genius of the 20th century.

Early life and career
Niceroslav was born Cesareș Devanga Rapafavaldi Răcini on 2 April 1832 into the wealthy Răcini Estate. Niceroslav grew up under the thumb of his dominating grand-uncle, Imperator Arturpiulerix III, who largely excluded his parents from any role in bringing him up due to their estranged relationship.The marriage between Niceroslav's father Arturpiulerix Verantus and his wife Korada Fandresi disintegrated before he was born; rumors of Korada having a long-standing series of affairs with various Sarpic men with whom she could obtain more emotional and sexual satisfaction than she could with Arturpiulerix Verantus, who fiercely resented being cuckolded. As such, Arturpiulerix III deemed Korada as unqualified to raise Niceroslav because of her affairs and immorality. It is rumored that Arturpiulerix III took Korada as his mistress, though it is uncertain if this was before, during, or after the birth of Niceroslav.

Additionally, the childless Arturpiulerix III, who had always wanted a son and needed an heir, treated Niceroslav as his surrogate son and thoroughly spoiled him, indulging his every whim. Arturpiulerix Verantus was a rather shy and weak man who was easily overshadowed by the charismatic Korada, who became increasingly popular as Arturpiulerix III's concubine by the 1850s.

After finishing his elementary studies, Niceroslav spent his youth traveling the Imperium before enrolling at the Moncalieri Academy of Military Science. Although he was quite frail and not very tall, Niceroslav was reported to be the perfect soldier, healthy and disciplined, and also a very good politician with liberal ideas. Records from the school show that his conduct was very good, he had no errors, his natural talents were exceptional, and his fervency and diligence were constant, being very severe with himself but also with the others. He was familiar with several Sarpic languages. During this period, he wrote to his mother that he would rather be a philosopher or scientist than a soldier. After graduating from the Moncalieri Academy, Arturpiulerix III had Niceroslav commissioned with the rank of Decurion in the Imperial Legion. He was deployed to Audonia several times. Despite his relative success in the military, in his letters he wrote that he despised the life of a soldier because he had to obey officers whom he did not respect and that he dreamed about a free and active life that he could not find in the army. In 1855, Niceroslav was able to exit the Imperial Legion and finished his military service with a course of study at Fortuna Institute to be a student of chemistry.