King in Vallos: Difference between revisions
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| image = File:Fürst Hans-Adam II. von und zu Liechtenstein (cropped).jpg | | image = File:Fürst Hans-Adam II. von und zu Liechtenstein (cropped).jpg | ||
| incumbent = [[Maximilian I of | | incumbent = [[Maximilian I of Castedilia|Maximilian I]] | ||
| incumbentsince = 21 May 1976 | | incumbentsince = 21 May 1976 | ||
| style = {{plainlist| | | style = {{plainlist| | ||
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| heir_apparent = None (elective title) | | heir_apparent = None (elective title) | ||
| residence = [[El Escorial de Gama]] | | residence = [[El Escorial de Gama]] | ||
| appointer = [[Imperial elections in | | appointer = [[Imperial elections in Castedilia|Grand election]] | ||
| precursor = | | precursor = | ||
| formation = [[1497]] | | formation = [[1497]] | ||
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| website = | | website = | ||
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The '''King in Vallos''' ([[Classical Latin|Latin]]: ''Valosiae Rex''; [[Pelaxian language|Pelaxian]]: ''Rey en Valos''; [[Brenadine Tainean|Reform Tainean]]: ''Kasike en Valaus'') is the title used by the [[ | The '''King in Vallos''' ([[Classical Latin|Latin]]: ''Valosiae Rex''; [[Pelaxian language|Pelaxian]]: ''Rey en Valos''; [[Brenadine Tainean|Reform Tainean]]: ''Kasike en Valaus'') is the title used by the [[Castedilian Emperor]] following his election through the [[Imperial elections in Castedilia|grand election]]. During the Emperor's reign, it is one of his subsidiary titles. The reason why the title uses "in" instead of "of" is because of its status as a {{wp|legal fiction}}, and because the King in Vallos was not legally the {{wp|head of state}}, only the King of Pelaxia was. The same applies to [[Castedilia]], which maintains active use of the title. | ||
The title was originally conferred to the [[Pelaxia|Pelaxian]] monarch in reference to the Pelaxian colonies of [[Vallos]], the largest of which being the [[Viceroyalty of Los Rumas]]. The title was typically only given to the Pelaxian monarch during his coronation ceremony, and would remain with him for life. Initially a minor title, the growth and prosperity of the viceroyalty made the title into a major subsidiary title of the Pelaxian monarch to the point that the title even came with its own regalia, which was changed twice ever since the manufacturing of the first pieces of Rumian regalia (first in 1647, and next in 1815). This title was carried over to the [[Carto-Pelaxian Commonwealth]] and the subsequent Pelaxian monarchies until its final abolition in 1852. | The title was originally conferred to the [[Pelaxia|Pelaxian]] monarch in reference to the Pelaxian colonies of [[Vallos]], the largest of which being the [[Viceroyalty of Los Rumas]]. The title was typically only given to the Pelaxian monarch during his coronation ceremony, and would remain with him for life. Initially a minor title, the growth and prosperity of the viceroyalty made the title into a major subsidiary title of the Pelaxian monarch to the point that the title even came with its own regalia, which was changed twice ever since the manufacturing of the first pieces of Rumian regalia (first in 1647, and next in 1815). This title was carried over to the [[Carto-Pelaxian Commonwealth]] and the subsequent Pelaxian monarchies until its final abolition in 1852. | ||
The actual holder of the title would vary afterward. Initially to the king of the [[Delepasian Kingdom]], a short-lived Pelaxian {{wp|government-in-exile}} that hoped to establish a dual monarchy between the realms of Pelaxia and the former viceroyalty, the title fell into disuse after the kingdom collapsed three months later where it remained dormant until the title was revived in 1976 as both a title to designate who would be [[Coronation of the | The actual holder of the title would vary afterward. Initially to the king of the [[Delepasian Kingdom]], a short-lived Pelaxian {{wp|government-in-exile}} that hoped to establish a dual monarchy between the realms of Pelaxia and the former viceroyalty, the title fell into disuse after the kingdom collapsed three months later where it remained dormant until the title was revived in 1976 as both a title to designate who would be [[Coronation of the Castedilian Emperor|crowned]] [[Castedilian Emperor|emperor]] of the new [[Delepasian Commonwealth]] and as a subsidiary title for the Emperor himself. The title would survive the [[Velvet Revolution]] of 1994 and remain in use today. | ||
There exists a pretender to the title of "King in Vallos", that being the [[King of Oustec]], itself a title that dates back to the 16th Century before being made dormant after the fall of [[Oustec]] from 1859 until it was revived in 1876 as a subsidiary title of the Great Prince of [[Burgundie]], currently [[Pasqual I]]. Unlike the Delepasian/ | There exists a pretender to the title of "King in Vallos", that being the [[King of Oustec]], itself a title that dates back to the 16th Century before being made dormant after the fall of [[Oustec]] from 1859 until it was revived in 1876 as a subsidiary title of the Great Prince of [[Burgundie]], currently [[Pasqual I]]. Unlike the Delepasian/Castedilian claim, which has it as an elective title much like the imperial office and claims it on the basis of continuity from the viceroyalty which held the title beforehand, the Burgoignac pretender claims it as a hereditary title. | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
===Background=== | ===Background=== | ||
Royal titles are, obviously, not an entirely foreign concept to [[Vallos]]. Indeed, some of the earliest of such titles date back to over one thousand years ago. Of course, many of these titles were not exactly descriptive of what realm the holds had authority over. The [[Taineans]], for example, had [[Kasike|Kasikes]], tribal leaders who ruled over polities known as kasikasgos; Tainean leaders were chosen based on semi-hereditary and democratic methods, much like the method used to [[Imperial elections in | Royal titles are, obviously, not an entirely foreign concept to [[Vallos]]. Indeed, some of the earliest of such titles date back to over one thousand years ago. Of course, many of these titles were not exactly descriptive of what realm the holds had authority over. The [[Taineans]], for example, had [[Kasike|Kasikes]], tribal leaders who ruled over polities known as kasikasgos; Tainean leaders were chosen based on semi-hereditary and democratic methods, much like the method used to [[Imperial elections in Castedilia|elect]] the [[Castedilian Emperor]]. The Latins had their own royal leaders, usually termed ''rex'', ''princeps'', or ''dux'' depending on the size of the polity (determined by the size and prestige of the polity's capital; the largest polities used ''rex''). The clash of cultures during this period of time led to the [[Vallos#First warring states period|First Warring States Period]] on the subcontinent. Because many of these early polities were {{wp|city-states}} and thus were generally very limited militarily, many of these polities sought to court powerful allies on [[Sarpedon]]. The most notable of which being the [[First Imperium]] of [[Caphiria]], at this time at its relative zenith of power and influence. | ||
Starting in 600, Caphiric diplomats began to be sent on envoys to Vallos, almost always with the intent to gain potential tributes and alliances between Caphiria and the local polities on the subcontinent. Unlike later Caphiric imperiums, which have historically shown lots of favourability towards the [[Latinic people]], the First Imperium saw no issue in aligning itself with the Tainean polities and thus has never shown the kind of favouritism towards the Latin polities that was characteristic of later imperiums. The tributes given to the [[Imperator of Caphiria|Imperator]] proved to be a lucrative boon, thus leading to the Caphiric leadership considering further interventions into Vallos. Starting in 702, the Imperator personally led a campaign at the head of roughly 23,000 men across the [[Tainean Sea|Tainean]] into Vallos, at the time an unprecedently large military for Vallos. The Imperial Army, with the support of various local polities, waged a campaign of hugely violent proportions. Owing to its size and training, the Caphiric army won every single battle it fought in during this campaign as the local polities were too limited in resources to effectively mount a counterattack. | Starting in 600, Caphiric diplomats began to be sent on envoys to Vallos, almost always with the intent to gain potential tributes and alliances between Caphiria and the local polities on the subcontinent. Unlike later Caphiric imperiums, which have historically shown lots of favourability towards the [[Latinic people]], the First Imperium saw no issue in aligning itself with the Tainean polities and thus has never shown the kind of favouritism towards the Latin polities that was characteristic of later imperiums. The tributes given to the [[Imperator of Caphiria|Imperator]] proved to be a lucrative boon, thus leading to the Caphiric leadership considering further interventions into Vallos. Starting in 702, the Imperator personally led a campaign at the head of roughly 23,000 men across the [[Tainean Sea|Tainean]] into Vallos, at the time an unprecedently large military for Vallos. The Imperial Army, with the support of various local polities, waged a campaign of hugely violent proportions. Owing to its size and training, the Caphiric army won every single battle it fought in during this campaign as the local polities were too limited in resources to effectively mount a counterattack. | ||
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===Rise in prestige=== | ===Rise in prestige=== | ||
[[File:Emperador_Jerónimo_lll.jpg|thumb|275px|Jeronimo III, third King in Vallos]] | [[File:Emperador_Jerónimo_lll.jpg|thumb|275px|Jeronimo III, third King in Vallos]] | ||
The growth of the new viceroyalty was unprecedented for it proved to be a massive financial boon for Pelaxia and to its monarchy, thus making the Viceroyalty of Los Rumas the crown jewel of the Pelaxian colonial empire. In light of this, the title of the King in Vallos soon rose to become a major royal title of the Pelaxian crown, second only to the title of King of Pelaxia. This meant that there was a need for a set of regalia associated with this new title, including a new crown to be used for coronations of subsequent Kings in Vallos; it was eventually given to the [[Abbey of Los Rumas]] in 1563 as a {{wp|holy relic}}. This was the basis for what would become the [[Crown Jewels of | The growth of the new viceroyalty was unprecedented for it proved to be a massive financial boon for Pelaxia and to its monarchy, thus making the Viceroyalty of Los Rumas the crown jewel of the Pelaxian colonial empire. In light of this, the title of the King in Vallos soon rose to become a major royal title of the Pelaxian crown, second only to the title of King of Pelaxia. This meant that there was a need for a set of regalia associated with this new title, including a new crown to be used for coronations of subsequent Kings in Vallos; it was eventually given to the [[Abbey of Los Rumas]] in 1563 as a {{wp|holy relic}}. This was the basis for what would become the [[Crown Jewels of Castedilia]]. Oftentimes, the Pelaxian monarch would use the title "King of Pelaxia and in Vallos" to reflect the viceroyalty's importance to the Pelaxian monarchy, and just how willing they were to fight to ensure that that title remained as apt as they thought it should be, especially when it became clear that Los Rumas was key to ensuring safe passage through the Southern Route to Alshar, leading to battles such as the Battle of Azure Waters in 1506, the Clash of the Tainean Shores in 1512, the Encounter off the Isle of Mists in 1602, the Engagement at Sunlit Horizon in 1620, the Skirmish at Crimson Bay in 1630, the Conflict of Twin Suns in 1635, and the Confrontation at Dawn's Passage in 1665. | ||
This dual royal title was soon joined by a third title when the Pelaxian monarch became the King of Cartadania after invading the lands sometime after the Great Schism in 1615, turning the title into "King of Pelaxia, of Cartadania, and in Vallos". This was confirmed in the Union of Alahuela in 1632 which established the [[Carto-Pelaxian Commonwealth]]. This necessitated a change in regalia to reflect the rise in status and power for the Pelaxian monarch. In preparation for this, the Viceroy of Los Rumas purchased the viceregal crown from the [[Abbey of Los Rumas]] and had it melted (save for the religious figurines which he had removed and gifted to the Abbey as holy relics) to use the metal to manufacture a new crown that would be worthy of the grandeur of the Carto-Pelaxian monarch. The final result was a crown that is 22-carat gold, 30 centimetres (12 in) tall, weighing 2.23 kilograms (4.9 lb), and is decorated with 444 precious and fine gemstones ranging from {{wp|Beryl#Aquamarine and maxixe|aquamarines}} to a large {{wp|spinel}}. The crown would be used to symbolise the Carto-Pelaxian monarchy in Vallos for years to come. It was also around this time that the [[Taineans]] were beginning to assimilate into the Pelaxian culture, with Tainean elites intermarrying with inland colonial elites, thus creating the first {{wp|Mestizos}}. | This dual royal title was soon joined by a third title when the Pelaxian monarch became the King of Cartadania after invading the lands sometime after the Great Schism in 1615, turning the title into "King of Pelaxia, of Cartadania, and in Vallos". This was confirmed in the Union of Alahuela in 1632 which established the [[Carto-Pelaxian Commonwealth]]. This necessitated a change in regalia to reflect the rise in status and power for the Pelaxian monarch. In preparation for this, the Viceroy of Los Rumas purchased the viceregal crown from the [[Abbey of Los Rumas]] and had it melted (save for the religious figurines which he had removed and gifted to the Abbey as holy relics) to use the metal to manufacture a new crown that would be worthy of the grandeur of the Carto-Pelaxian monarch. The final result was a crown that is 22-carat gold, 30 centimetres (12 in) tall, weighing 2.23 kilograms (4.9 lb), and is decorated with 444 precious and fine gemstones ranging from {{wp|Beryl#Aquamarine and maxixe|aquamarines}} to a large {{wp|spinel}}. The crown would be used to symbolise the Carto-Pelaxian monarchy in Vallos for years to come. It was also around this time that the [[Taineans]] were beginning to assimilate into the Pelaxian culture, with Tainean elites intermarrying with inland colonial elites, thus creating the first {{wp|Mestizos}}. | ||
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This rise in national consciousness was especially apparent at a time when the Carto-Pelaxian Commonwealth was dissolved in 1795 after the Third Partition. Seeing the loss of Cartadania as a chance to assert themselves as the predominant secondary title of the Pelaxian crown, the colonial administration began to make plans for a new set of viceregal regalia that would be even more grand than the current regalia in use. These plans, however, were put to a halt when the Pelaxian monarchy was overthrown in 1804 to make way for the First Pelaxian Republic, a triumvirate republic which retained sovereignty over all its colonies, including the Viceroyalty of Los Rumas. This meant that the title of King in Vallos was dormant, and the viceroyalty became a Grand Colony. The colonial administration, however, was able to set up a clandestine {{wp|government-in-exile}} in [[Las Joquis]] which acted as the viceregal government during the era of the First Pelaxian Republic. The republic would soon collapse due to internal turmoil in 1814 and the Pelaxian monarchy would be restored afterward alongside the viceregal government and the title of King in Vallos. | This rise in national consciousness was especially apparent at a time when the Carto-Pelaxian Commonwealth was dissolved in 1795 after the Third Partition. Seeing the loss of Cartadania as a chance to assert themselves as the predominant secondary title of the Pelaxian crown, the colonial administration began to make plans for a new set of viceregal regalia that would be even more grand than the current regalia in use. These plans, however, were put to a halt when the Pelaxian monarchy was overthrown in 1804 to make way for the First Pelaxian Republic, a triumvirate republic which retained sovereignty over all its colonies, including the Viceroyalty of Los Rumas. This meant that the title of King in Vallos was dormant, and the viceroyalty became a Grand Colony. The colonial administration, however, was able to set up a clandestine {{wp|government-in-exile}} in [[Las Joquis]] which acted as the viceregal government during the era of the First Pelaxian Republic. The republic would soon collapse due to internal turmoil in 1814 and the Pelaxian monarchy would be restored afterward alongside the viceregal government and the title of King in Vallos. | ||
During the final decades of the Pelaxian monarchy, the colonists continued their calls for reform and elevation in status, but this time not as a part of Pelaxia directly, but rather as an independent nation in a {{wp|real union}} with Pelaxia. To further this point, a third set of regalia was made in 1815, complete with a new viceregal crown that contained almost 5,000 diamonds (now known as the [[Imperial Crown of | During the final decades of the Pelaxian monarchy, the colonists continued their calls for reform and elevation in status, but this time not as a part of Pelaxia directly, but rather as an independent nation in a {{wp|real union}} with Pelaxia. To further this point, a third set of regalia was made in 1815, complete with a new viceregal crown that contained almost 5,000 diamonds (now known as the [[Imperial Crown of Castedilia]]), and was first used in the coronation of King Fernando I in 1815 despite being even heavier than the previous crown. This event assuaged the Delepasians, who were now believing that the restored monarchy would be more receptive to their proposals. None of the three post-restoration monarchs ever considered changing the status of the viceroyalty, fearing a repeat of the Carto-Pelaxian Commonwealth, its collapse still fresh in people's minds. | ||
===Delepasian Kingdom=== | ===Delepasian Kingdom=== | ||
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===Interregnum=== | ===Interregnum=== | ||
Within three months, the Delepasian Kingdom was dissolved and each state was free to do as they please. Some of the same nobility who have came up with the dual monarchy idea in the first place decided to attempt to strong-arm the state governments into becoming monarchies with themselves as the monarch. These were only successful in [[Bahia ( | Within three months, the Delepasian Kingdom was dissolved and each state was free to do as they please. Some of the same nobility who have came up with the dual monarchy idea in the first place decided to attempt to strong-arm the state governments into becoming monarchies with themselves as the monarch. These were only successful in [[Bahia (Castedilia)|Bahia]] and [[Rios Gemelos]] with the rest settling for various flavours of republican governance. Despite initial fears, the period of chaos was short-lived and many of the Delepasian polities entered into a period of relative stability, thus preventing a Third Warring States Period on the subcontinent. The title of King in Vallos fell into disuse shortly afterward as none of the polities felt it appropriate to make use of such a boastful title of pretense and a relic of colonialism. Same applied to the viceregal regalia, which were sent to museums as display pieces, representing the prestige that the region once had under the Pelaxian crown. | ||
During this period known as the interregnum, numerous people claiming to be the King in Vallos have emerged over the years. Many of them have claimed that they were a long-lost illegitimate descendant of the last Pelaxian monarch and that they have come to restore the Delepasian realms to their full glory. Despite accruing a sizeable amount of followers, the one thing that these people have in common was that none of them were formally recognised by any of the Delepasian polities, though one of the most well-known cases was a man who called himself [[Antonio, King in Vallos|King Antonio]], a commodities trader who lost his fortune in trying to corner several markets, who not only claimed the title of King in Vallos from 1852 until his death in 1876, he also claimed that he was a member of the House of Oustec, declaring himself King of Oustec after [[Oustec]] was dissolved in 1859. During his time as King in Vallos, Antonio made numerous proclamations ranging from declaring himself the "Protector of All Taineans" to giving out "official approval plaques" for the places he visited. When he died in 1876, his funeral, which was generously funded by the wealthiest businessmen in the Delepasian polities, was attended by upwards of 50,000 people from all across the Delepasian polities from Rios Gemelos to the recently-established Navidadia. He remains the only commoner in Vallos to have received a royal funeral. | During this period known as the interregnum, numerous people claiming to be the King in Vallos have emerged over the years. Many of them have claimed that they were a long-lost illegitimate descendant of the last Pelaxian monarch and that they have come to restore the Delepasian realms to their full glory. Despite accruing a sizeable amount of followers, the one thing that these people have in common was that none of them were formally recognised by any of the Delepasian polities, though one of the most well-known cases was a man who called himself [[Antonio, King in Vallos|King Antonio]], a commodities trader who lost his fortune in trying to corner several markets, who not only claimed the title of King in Vallos from 1852 until his death in 1876, he also claimed that he was a member of the House of Oustec, declaring himself King of Oustec after [[Oustec]] was dissolved in 1859. During his time as King in Vallos, Antonio made numerous proclamations ranging from declaring himself the "Protector of All Taineans" to giving out "official approval plaques" for the places he visited. When he died in 1876, his funeral, which was generously funded by the wealthiest businessmen in the Delepasian polities, was attended by upwards of 50,000 people from all across the Delepasian polities from Rios Gemelos to the recently-established Navidadia. He remains the only commoner in Vallos to have received a royal funeral. | ||
===Delepasian revival=== | ===Delepasian revival=== | ||
[[File:Hans-Adam_II_von_und_zu_Liechtenstein.jpg|thumb|275px|Maximilian I of | [[File:Hans-Adam_II_von_und_zu_Liechtenstein.jpg|thumb|275px|Maximilian I of Castedilia, King in Vallos since 1976]] | ||
The title of the King in Vallos would not be properly revived until 1976 when the newly-unified [[Delepasian Commonwealth]] began to use the title to designate people who were elected in the [[Imperial elections in | The title of the King in Vallos would not be properly revived until 1976 when the newly-unified [[Delepasian Commonwealth]] began to use the title to designate people who were elected in the [[Imperial elections in Castedilia|grand election]] prior to their coronations. Such a title was to remain with that person for life as a title that was subsidiary to the main imperial title. Initially, the new Delepasian government did not wish to revive the title, seeing it as a colonial-era vestige that was better left in the dustbins of history, but ultimately decided to revive the title on the basis that the Delepasian Commonwealth was the legal successor to the [[Delepasian Kingdom]], which also made use of the title of King in Vallos. In light of this decision, there arose calls to use the second viceregal crown as the Great Imperial Crown, citing its weight, historical and symbolic significance, and just how colourful it was while calling the third viceregal crown a "heavy, very sterile and colourless piece that never managed to attain the history and symbolism that the second crown had despite it never having been used in actual coronations". | ||
Nonetheless, the new government opted for the third viceregal crown precisely because of its lack of historical and symbolic significance. It was not as strongly associated with the colonial era as the second crown was and thus could attain historical and symbolic significance as an imperial crown and have a strong association with that imperial realm. As such, that was the crown that was picked to be the Great Imperial Crown used in coronations and other highly ceremonial matters pertaining to the emperor. All that was needed now was to designate a King in Vallos. | Nonetheless, the new government opted for the third viceregal crown precisely because of its lack of historical and symbolic significance. It was not as strongly associated with the colonial era as the second crown was and thus could attain historical and symbolic significance as an imperial crown and have a strong association with that imperial realm. As such, that was the crown that was picked to be the Great Imperial Crown used in coronations and other highly ceremonial matters pertaining to the emperor. All that was needed now was to designate a King in Vallos. | ||
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The rules and stipulations put in place in searching for someone to designate as the King in Vallos. The first of those requirements was that the individual must be a direct descendant of [[Mauricio Delepas]] and thus any remaining members of the House of Girojón, if any, was disqualified. The second requirement was that the individual must be the senior-most descendent of Delepas, meaning that junior lines may be ignored if a senior line has a proper heir. The third requirement specified that the individual must be from a male-only line, which excluded any female lines that may have been more senior than the more junior male lines. The fourth requirement stipulated that the individual must be married with kids, or failing that, be of a young enough age where he could conceivably have kids without dying too soon, this meant that elderly and childless descendants may be skipped over in favour of a younger descendant; the government wanted to make sure that they would not have to reconvene anytime soon just to designate a new King in Vallos. Based on those rules, the search through genealogical records had begun. | The rules and stipulations put in place in searching for someone to designate as the King in Vallos. The first of those requirements was that the individual must be a direct descendant of [[Mauricio Delepas]] and thus any remaining members of the House of Girojón, if any, was disqualified. The second requirement was that the individual must be the senior-most descendent of Delepas, meaning that junior lines may be ignored if a senior line has a proper heir. The third requirement specified that the individual must be from a male-only line, which excluded any female lines that may have been more senior than the more junior male lines. The fourth requirement stipulated that the individual must be married with kids, or failing that, be of a young enough age where he could conceivably have kids without dying too soon, this meant that elderly and childless descendants may be skipped over in favour of a younger descendant; the government wanted to make sure that they would not have to reconvene anytime soon just to designate a new King in Vallos. Based on those rules, the search through genealogical records had begun. | ||
Tracing through the senior-most male-only lines proved to have been fruitless as many of these lines were either extinguished or ended with an elderly and childless descendant, the most notable of which being the 100-year-old [[Paulo Delepas]]. As each and every male-only line wound up in a dead end, the requirements were altered so as to remove the male-only line requirement. Starting the search again, they were able to find a suitable King in Vallos through the descendants of the son of Delepas's great-granddaughter. They were able to trace genealogical records all the way to a man by the name of [[Maximilian I of | Tracing through the senior-most male-only lines proved to have been fruitless as many of these lines were either extinguished or ended with an elderly and childless descendant, the most notable of which being the 100-year-old [[Paulo Delepas]]. As each and every male-only line wound up in a dead end, the requirements were altered so as to remove the male-only line requirement. Starting the search again, they were able to find a suitable King in Vallos through the descendants of the son of Delepas's great-granddaughter. They were able to trace genealogical records all the way to a man by the name of [[Maximilian I of Castedilia|Marion de Bruce]], a 36-year-old man from [[Alstin]] who was married and already had six kids with a seventh one well on its way. Satisfied with the results, Marion and his family were soon flown over to [[Santa Maria]] where he was designated as the first King in Vallos in over 120 years. Because of the length of time it took to find him, his coronation happened just five months after his accession as plans for the coronation were already well underway at the time. Marion was crowned as Emperor Maximilian I of the new Delepasian Commonwealth in 1977, with his wife and children being given Pelaxian names. The King in Vallos also came with a new crown made specifically for the winner of the grand election prior to coronation, complete with a heraldic depiction. | ||
===Recent years=== | ===Recent years=== | ||
The title of King in Vallos survived the [[Velvet Revolution]] of 1994 and the chaotic revolutionary progress that spanned much of 1995 alongside the imperial title. When the new [[Constitution of | The title of King in Vallos survived the [[Velvet Revolution]] of 1994 and the chaotic revolutionary progress that spanned much of 1995 alongside the imperial title. When the new [[Constitution of Castedilia|constitution]] was drafted, it was agreed that the circumstances in which the title of the King in Vallos is obtained would remain unchanged from how it was done in the Delepasian Commonwealth. This meant that the title of the King of Vallos is one of the few aspects of Delepasia that has remained in place even after the Velvet Revolution. This was confirmed in the first session of the [[National Assembly of Castedilia|National Assembly]] in January of 1997. | ||
In July of that same year, it was decided that the second viceregal crown of Los Rumas would be retroactively be given the title of "King Emeritus in Vallos" in recognition of its years of serving as the King in Vallos throughout the 17th and 18th Centuries. Official recognition was also given to King Antonio for the fact that, despite having been a commoner all his life, his eccentricities inspired a Delepasia at a time when the Delepasian polities were reeling from the major economic and social consequences that came after the collapse of the [[Delepasian Kingdom]]. A memorial was soon constructed in his honour alongside the establishment of a state {{wp|scholarship}} in his name for "students who have demonstrated and and above all performed to the ideals and hopes of King Antonio in Vallos". The scholarship is awarded annually each May. | In July of that same year, it was decided that the second viceregal crown of Los Rumas would be retroactively be given the title of "King Emeritus in Vallos" in recognition of its years of serving as the King in Vallos throughout the 17th and 18th Centuries. Official recognition was also given to King Antonio for the fact that, despite having been a commoner all his life, his eccentricities inspired a Delepasia at a time when the Delepasian polities were reeling from the major economic and social consequences that came after the collapse of the [[Delepasian Kingdom]]. A memorial was soon constructed in his honour alongside the establishment of a state {{wp|scholarship}} in his name for "students who have demonstrated and and above all performed to the ideals and hopes of King Antonio in Vallos". The scholarship is awarded annually each May. | ||
==Process of designation== | ==Process of designation== | ||
{{main|Imperial elections in | {{main|Imperial elections in Castedilia}} | ||
The position of the King in Vallos is entrusted to members of the imperial family, that being the [[House de Bruce]]. Laws surrounding the designation process have made it so that the designation of the King in Vallos will not happen until after the emperor either passes on or abdicates. While the emperor may train a specific member of the imperial family for the eventual role as future emperor, the emperor may not name a successor nor may he be involved in the designation process should he abdicate. | The position of the King in Vallos is entrusted to members of the imperial family, that being the [[House de Bruce]]. Laws surrounding the designation process have made it so that the designation of the King in Vallos will not happen until after the emperor either passes on or abdicates. While the emperor may train a specific member of the imperial family for the eventual role as future emperor, the emperor may not name a successor nor may he be involved in the designation process should he abdicate. | ||
The designation of the King in Vallos is entrusted to a committee of forty-one, chosen by eleven persons, who in turn were chosen by lot from a group of forty-five people chosen by nine persons chosen from a committee of twenty-five, who in turn were chosen by a group of twelve selected from a group of forty that were elected by a group of nine; that group being chosen from amongst a group of thirty members chosen by lot from amongst the membership of the [[Congress of the Peerage]]. This complex machinery for the designation process is intended to prevent foreign interference in the designations of the Kings in Vallos as well as to ensure a consistently orderly designation. The quorum for each election is as follows: twenty-five out of forty-one, nine out of twelve, or seven out of nine. The one with the most approvals from the committee of forty-one is designated as the [[King in Vallos]], a title he will keep even after his coronation. | The designation of the King in Vallos is entrusted to a committee of forty-one, chosen by eleven persons, who in turn were chosen by lot from a group of forty-five people chosen by nine persons chosen from a committee of twenty-five, who in turn were chosen by a group of twelve selected from a group of forty that were elected by a group of nine; that group being chosen from amongst a group of thirty members chosen by lot from amongst the membership of the [[Congress of the Peerage]]. This complex machinery for the designation process is intended to prevent foreign interference in the designations of the Kings in Vallos as well as to ensure a consistently orderly designation. The quorum for each election is as follows: twenty-five out of forty-one, nine out of twelve, or seven out of nine. The one with the most approvals from the committee of forty-one is designated as the [[King in Vallos]], a title he will keep even after his coronation. | ||
During the coronation, the King in Vallos is presented to the people in attendance with the words: "Sirs and Dames, I hereby present unto you Emperor/Empress (name), undoubtedly your Emperor/Empress if it please you: wherefore all of you who are here on this day to do your homage and service, are you willing to do the same?" This ceremonial gesture signifies the assent of the people of | During the coronation, the King in Vallos is presented to the people in attendance with the words: "Sirs and Dames, I hereby present unto you Emperor/Empress (name), undoubtedly your Emperor/Empress if it please you: wherefore all of you who are here on this day to do your homage and service, are you willing to do the same?" This ceremonial gesture signifies the assent of the people of Castedilia in the process of designating a King in Vallos. | ||
==Pretender from Burgundie== | ==Pretender from Burgundie== | ||
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==Notable Kings in Vallos== | ==Notable Kings in Vallos== | ||
* Jeronimo I of Pelaxia - Jeronimo I was the first King in Vallos. He was the monarch who licensed [[Mauricio Delepas]] to go on exploration to find lucrative land. In honour of Delepas landing on the [[Bay of Los Rumas]], Jeronimo created the title of King in Vallos to signify his holdings in [[Vallos]], and most importantly as the title associated with the newly-established [[Viceroyalty of Los Rumas]]. | * Jeronimo I of Pelaxia - Jeronimo I was the first King in Vallos. He was the monarch who licensed [[Mauricio Delepas]] to go on exploration to find lucrative land. In honour of Delepas landing on the [[Bay of Los Rumas]], Jeronimo created the title of King in Vallos to signify his holdings in [[Vallos]], and most importantly as the title associated with the newly-established [[Viceroyalty of Los Rumas]]. | ||
* Jeronimo III of Carto-Pelaxia - Jeronimo III was the first monarch of the [[Carto-Pelaxian Commonwealth]] as established in 1632. It was because of him that the [[Viceroy of Los Rumas]] decided to upgrade the viceregal regalia to match the splendour of the Pelaxian monarch at the time. This was what led to the creation of one of the most iconic crowns in the history of | * Jeronimo III of Carto-Pelaxia - Jeronimo III was the first monarch of the [[Carto-Pelaxian Commonwealth]] as established in 1632. It was because of him that the [[Viceroy of Los Rumas]] decided to upgrade the viceregal regalia to match the splendour of the Pelaxian monarch at the time. This was what led to the creation of one of the most iconic crowns in the history of Castedilia. | ||
* The Crown of the Viceroyalty of Los Rumas - From its creation in 1647 to the establishment of the First Pelaxian Republic in 1804, the Crown of the Viceroyalty of Los Rumas became the King in Vallos after the viceroyalty was snubbed by the monarch's refusal to wear the new crown in their coronations. Out of spite, the colonial administration had decided that all new colonial administrators were to swear an oath of loyalty to the physical crown itself and plastered depictions of the crown all over the viceroyalty. This began a period of time when the King in Vallos was ''{{wp|de jure}}'' the Carto-Pelaxian monarch, but was ''{{wp|de facto}}'' the physical crown of the viceroyalty. | * The Crown of the Viceroyalty of Los Rumas - From its creation in 1647 to the establishment of the First Pelaxian Republic in 1804, the Crown of the Viceroyalty of Los Rumas became the King in Vallos after the viceroyalty was snubbed by the monarch's refusal to wear the new crown in their coronations. Out of spite, the colonial administration had decided that all new colonial administrators were to swear an oath of loyalty to the physical crown itself and plastered depictions of the crown all over the viceroyalty. This began a period of time when the King in Vallos was ''{{wp|de jure}}'' the Carto-Pelaxian monarch, but was ''{{wp|de facto}}'' the physical crown of the viceroyalty. | ||
* Fernando I of Pelaxia - Fernando I was the first king of Pelaxia since the collapse of the First Pelaxian Republic. Fearing a repeat of the "cult of the crown", he opted to be crowned as the King in Vallos using the crown that the colonial elites have given him to wear. This ushered in a period in which the colonists hoped for the establishment of a dual monarchy between Pelaxia and the viceroyalty. | * Fernando I of Pelaxia - Fernando I was the first king of Pelaxia since the collapse of the First Pelaxian Republic. Fearing a repeat of the "cult of the crown", he opted to be crowned as the King in Vallos using the crown that the colonial elites have given him to wear. This ushered in a period in which the colonists hoped for the establishment of a dual monarchy between Pelaxia and the viceroyalty. | ||
* Luciano II of Pelaxia - The last king of Pelaxia, Luciano II fled to the viceroyalty after he was deposed in 1852. He was quickly made the king of the new Delepasian Kingdom and thus held the title of the King in Vallos. He quickly abdicated and fled the country due to the kingdom's instability, remarking that the [[Delepasians]] were "ungovernable", and the title of the King in Vallos fell into disuse. | * Luciano II of Pelaxia - The last king of Pelaxia, Luciano II fled to the viceroyalty after he was deposed in 1852. He was quickly made the king of the new Delepasian Kingdom and thus held the title of the King in Vallos. He quickly abdicated and fled the country due to the kingdom's instability, remarking that the [[Delepasians]] were "ungovernable", and the title of the King in Vallos fell into disuse. | ||
* [[Antonio, King in Vallos]] - Although never formally declared the King in Vallos, Antonio declared himself the King in Vallos in 1852 after he was financially ruined due to a botched commodities cornering that went horribly wrong. The mental anguish led to him becoming an eccentric, but loveable figure across all of the Delepasian polities, and in thanks he was given a royal funeral with 50,000 people in attendance. He also claimed to be the [[King of Oustec]] after the fall of [[Oustec]] in 1859. | * [[Antonio, King in Vallos]] - Although never formally declared the King in Vallos, Antonio declared himself the King in Vallos in 1852 after he was financially ruined due to a botched commodities cornering that went horribly wrong. The mental anguish led to him becoming an eccentric, but loveable figure across all of the Delepasian polities, and in thanks he was given a royal funeral with 50,000 people in attendance. He also claimed to be the [[King of Oustec]] after the fall of [[Oustec]] in 1859. | ||
* [[Maximilian I of | * [[Maximilian I of Castedilia]] - The first monarch to have been formally declared the King in Vallos in over 120 years, Maximilian I began his rule as a ceremonial monarch as all executive power was distributed between the prime minister and the commander-in-chief. This would all be changed when the [[Velvet Revolution]] happened in 1994, with him gaining many executive powers upon being made Castedilia's {{wp|chief executive}} (a separate position commonly found in [[Julian republics]]). He has recently celebrated his [[Golden Jubilee of Maximilian I|Golden Jubilee]] in 2026. | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
* [[Viceroyalty of Los Rumas]] | * [[Viceroyalty of Los Rumas]] | ||
* [[King of Oustec]] | * [[King of Oustec]] | ||
* [[Imperial elections in | * [[Imperial elections in Castedilia]] | ||
[[Category:Politics of | [[Category:Politics of Castedilia]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Castedilia]] | ||
[[Category:IXWB]] | [[Category:IXWB]] |
Revision as of 15:44, 8 July 2024
King in Vallos of and by All the Imperial Electors | |
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Valosiae Rex Rey en Valos Kasike en Valaus | |
Incumbent | |
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Maximilian I since 21 May 1976 | |
Details | |
Style |
|
Heir apparent | None (elective title) |
First monarch | Jeronimo I of Pelaxia |
Formation | 1497 |
Residence | El Escorial de Gama |
Appointer | Grand election |
The King in Vallos (Latin: Valosiae Rex; Pelaxian: Rey en Valos; Reform Tainean: Kasike en Valaus) is the title used by the Castedilian Emperor following his election through the grand election. During the Emperor's reign, it is one of his subsidiary titles. The reason why the title uses "in" instead of "of" is because of its status as a legal fiction, and because the King in Vallos was not legally the head of state, only the King of Pelaxia was. The same applies to Castedilia, which maintains active use of the title.
The title was originally conferred to the Pelaxian monarch in reference to the Pelaxian colonies of Vallos, the largest of which being the Viceroyalty of Los Rumas. The title was typically only given to the Pelaxian monarch during his coronation ceremony, and would remain with him for life. Initially a minor title, the growth and prosperity of the viceroyalty made the title into a major subsidiary title of the Pelaxian monarch to the point that the title even came with its own regalia, which was changed twice ever since the manufacturing of the first pieces of Rumian regalia (first in 1647, and next in 1815). This title was carried over to the Carto-Pelaxian Commonwealth and the subsequent Pelaxian monarchies until its final abolition in 1852.
The actual holder of the title would vary afterward. Initially to the king of the Delepasian Kingdom, a short-lived Pelaxian government-in-exile that hoped to establish a dual monarchy between the realms of Pelaxia and the former viceroyalty, the title fell into disuse after the kingdom collapsed three months later where it remained dormant until the title was revived in 1976 as both a title to designate who would be crowned emperor of the new Delepasian Commonwealth and as a subsidiary title for the Emperor himself. The title would survive the Velvet Revolution of 1994 and remain in use today.
There exists a pretender to the title of "King in Vallos", that being the King of Oustec, itself a title that dates back to the 16th Century before being made dormant after the fall of Oustec from 1859 until it was revived in 1876 as a subsidiary title of the Great Prince of Burgundie, currently Pasqual I. Unlike the Delepasian/Castedilian claim, which has it as an elective title much like the imperial office and claims it on the basis of continuity from the viceroyalty which held the title beforehand, the Burgoignac pretender claims it as a hereditary title.
History
Background
Royal titles are, obviously, not an entirely foreign concept to Vallos. Indeed, some of the earliest of such titles date back to over one thousand years ago. Of course, many of these titles were not exactly descriptive of what realm the holds had authority over. The Taineans, for example, had Kasikes, tribal leaders who ruled over polities known as kasikasgos; Tainean leaders were chosen based on semi-hereditary and democratic methods, much like the method used to elect the Castedilian Emperor. The Latins had their own royal leaders, usually termed rex, princeps, or dux depending on the size of the polity (determined by the size and prestige of the polity's capital; the largest polities used rex). The clash of cultures during this period of time led to the First Warring States Period on the subcontinent. Because many of these early polities were city-states and thus were generally very limited militarily, many of these polities sought to court powerful allies on Sarpedon. The most notable of which being the First Imperium of Caphiria, at this time at its relative zenith of power and influence.
Starting in 600, Caphiric diplomats began to be sent on envoys to Vallos, almost always with the intent to gain potential tributes and alliances between Caphiria and the local polities on the subcontinent. Unlike later Caphiric imperiums, which have historically shown lots of favourability towards the Latinic people, the First Imperium saw no issue in aligning itself with the Tainean polities and thus has never shown the kind of favouritism towards the Latin polities that was characteristic of later imperiums. The tributes given to the Imperator proved to be a lucrative boon, thus leading to the Caphiric leadership considering further interventions into Vallos. Starting in 702, the Imperator personally led a campaign at the head of roughly 23,000 men across the Tainean into Vallos, at the time an unprecedently large military for Vallos. The Imperial Army, with the support of various local polities, waged a campaign of hugely violent proportions. Owing to its size and training, the Caphiric army won every single battle it fought in during this campaign as the local polities were too limited in resources to effectively mount a counterattack.
After the campaigns, the Imperium opted to reorganise the many polities of Vallos into a group of eleven moderately-size tributary states. Rather than base the divisions of these tributary states on cultural boundaries, it was decided that these new polities would follow geographical features to ensure an ease of governance. The new states were highly autonomous for the most part, the only stipulation being that they regularly submit a quarter of their total yearly revenue to Caphiria as tribute. The heads of these tributary states, to reflect the old Vallosi system of local Latin leaders making using of certain titles depending on the polity's size, all held the title of King which they could pass on to their own descendants, so long as the new king was confirmed by the Imperator, that is. Because these tributary states were highly autonomous, the kings were under no obligation to one another and thus would often conduct raids against one another to ensure timely tribute payments once the tribute was changed to a flat rate. Because of these raids, there were often kings who were unable to pay tribute or have attempted to revolt against the Imperium and thus had to be deposed by the Caphiric armies and replaced by another king.
The period of loose Caphiric hegemony still established relative stability in the subcontinent for many centuries, allowing for Christianity to spread and become the state religion of all eleven realms as well as the majority religion amongst the Taineans and the Latins and thus the concepts of Occidental coronations were introduced to Vallos. This period would end in 1172 with the end of the Second Imperium of Caphiria, and thus the Second Warring States Period began. Unlike the first warring states period, this second period of chaotic warfare saw multiple royal dynasties come and go over the span of a decade at a time as regional polities rose and collapsed. Indeed, there was no one single king in Vallos who held much authority beyond the lands under his direct control as fiefs would often turn against their liege and become their own independent kingdoms.
Initial Pelaxian monarchs
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2d/Michel_Sittow_004.jpg/275px-Michel_Sittow_004.jpg)
In 1497, Isurian Captain and explorer Mauricio Delepas, under license of King Jeronimo I of Pelaxia, landed on the shores of the Bay of Los Rumas after a perilous journey over the treacherous waters of the Tainean Sea, and set foot on a land that was home to disparate polities and piratocracies. Under the dominion of the Pelaxian crown, this new colony on mainland Vallos quickly expanded over the course of a decade with the promise of material wealth and prosperity as well as a potential indigenous labour force and an opportunity for the Pelaxian monarchy to assert its authority over a new frontier under the auspices of "civilising" an overly-violent land. To further make a point, a new royal title was created for this exact purpose, that being of the King in Vallos. Great care was taken in using the word "in" and not "of" like in most royal titles for only the King of Pelaxia was the monarch of these new colonies and not the King in Vallos, it was legal fiction to represent an overall civilising mission to fix a wartorn subcontinent. Other lands that fell under this title directly was the Viceroyalty of Puerto Negro. The lands that would become Almadaria would be placed under the suzerainty of this title to reflect its status as an independent state under Pelaxian hegemony and not an outright colony like in the viceroyalties.
For the first four decades of the title's existence, the title was initially seen as nothing more than a work of legal fiction, just a means to project a sense of paternalism towards the non-Pelaxian inhabitants of Vallos. The most that any Pelaxian monarch got of anything pertain to this title was a mention in passing during his coronation and a lesser Pelaxian crown was used to represent this title; there was no such thing as a separate Vallosi regalia for the Pelaxian monarch at the time even with the fact that the colony on mainland Vallos, the Viceroyalty of Los Rumas, held high amounts of autonomy and even had the right to determine its own monetary policies under a separate but closely-linked-to-Pelaxia currency that would become the Rumian real. The Latins, being the closest to the new colonists, were the first to quickly assimilate, with intermarriage between old Latinic dynasties and new Pelaxian families being a common occurrance and thus are traditionally seen as the "first subjects" of the King in Vallos (Pelaxians were, at the time, still seen as subjects to the Pelaxian crown directly).
Rise in prestige
![](/images/thumb/5/5f/Emperador_Jer%C3%B3nimo_lll.jpg/275px-Emperador_Jer%C3%B3nimo_lll.jpg)
The growth of the new viceroyalty was unprecedented for it proved to be a massive financial boon for Pelaxia and to its monarchy, thus making the Viceroyalty of Los Rumas the crown jewel of the Pelaxian colonial empire. In light of this, the title of the King in Vallos soon rose to become a major royal title of the Pelaxian crown, second only to the title of King of Pelaxia. This meant that there was a need for a set of regalia associated with this new title, including a new crown to be used for coronations of subsequent Kings in Vallos; it was eventually given to the Abbey of Los Rumas in 1563 as a holy relic. This was the basis for what would become the Crown Jewels of Castedilia. Oftentimes, the Pelaxian monarch would use the title "King of Pelaxia and in Vallos" to reflect the viceroyalty's importance to the Pelaxian monarchy, and just how willing they were to fight to ensure that that title remained as apt as they thought it should be, especially when it became clear that Los Rumas was key to ensuring safe passage through the Southern Route to Alshar, leading to battles such as the Battle of Azure Waters in 1506, the Clash of the Tainean Shores in 1512, the Encounter off the Isle of Mists in 1602, the Engagement at Sunlit Horizon in 1620, the Skirmish at Crimson Bay in 1630, the Conflict of Twin Suns in 1635, and the Confrontation at Dawn's Passage in 1665.
This dual royal title was soon joined by a third title when the Pelaxian monarch became the King of Cartadania after invading the lands sometime after the Great Schism in 1615, turning the title into "King of Pelaxia, of Cartadania, and in Vallos". This was confirmed in the Union of Alahuela in 1632 which established the Carto-Pelaxian Commonwealth. This necessitated a change in regalia to reflect the rise in status and power for the Pelaxian monarch. In preparation for this, the Viceroy of Los Rumas purchased the viceregal crown from the Abbey of Los Rumas and had it melted (save for the religious figurines which he had removed and gifted to the Abbey as holy relics) to use the metal to manufacture a new crown that would be worthy of the grandeur of the Carto-Pelaxian monarch. The final result was a crown that is 22-carat gold, 30 centimetres (12 in) tall, weighing 2.23 kilograms (4.9 lb), and is decorated with 444 precious and fine gemstones ranging from aquamarines to a large spinel. The crown would be used to symbolise the Carto-Pelaxian monarchy in Vallos for years to come. It was also around this time that the Taineans were beginning to assimilate into the Pelaxian culture, with Tainean elites intermarrying with inland colonial elites, thus creating the first Mestizos.
Later Pelaxian years
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/64/Saint_Edward%27s_Crown.jpg/275px-Saint_Edward%27s_Crown.jpg)
Despite the new crown being far more opulent and prestigious than the previous crown, many monarchs have refused to wear it for coronations, fearing that its weight, almost five pounds, would strain their necks during the coronation. As such, the crown remained in the viceroyalty throughout its entire existence, never to be sent to Pelaxia for coronations (which have reverted to using a lesser Pelaxian crown to represent the King in Vallos). This was seen as a snub to the colonial elite who proceeded to use depictions of the crown extensively on official documents and on just about anything pertaining to the monarchy. New colonial administrators were ordered to head to the Residence of the Edifier, the official residence of the viceroy, where they would be sworn in by swearing an oath of loyalty to the physical crown itself. This began a period of time when the King in Vallos was de jure the Carto-Pelaxian monarch, but was de facto the physical crown of the viceroyalty, a phenomenon which proved to be the first of many seeds for the eventual emergence of the Delepasians as a whole.
The rise of a distinct ethnic group separate from the Pelaxians began with the Mestizos, the descendants of inland colonists who have intermarried with the Taineans, who were in conflict with the coastal Latino-Pelaxians, who saw themselves as Vallosi-Pelaxians, over the very nature of the viceroyalty. Was it an extension of Pelaxia? A quasi-member of Carto-Pelaxia? Its own distinct country that just so happened to share the same monarch as Pelaxia and Cartadania? The one thing they agreed on, however, was the perceived loss of status within the Pelaxian crown, essentially playing second fiddle to Cartadania alongside Pelaxia. Of course, the groups would not unite until 1797, during the tricentennial of Delepas' discovery of the Bahía de Los Rumas, when author Juan Guerrero wrote, "Hace trescientos años, el intrépido héroe Mauricio Delepas plantó la bandera de Pelaxia en el hermoso dominio de Delepasia. Nosotros, los delepasianos, deberíamos desarrollar una identidad separada de Pelaxia, una identidad en la que abracemos la única fe verdadera sin importar si nuestros antepasados fueron pelaxianos, cartadanianos, latinos o los Vallosi, mitificados durante mucho tiempo." ("Three hundred years ago, the dauntless hero Mauricio Delepas planted Pelaxia's flag on Delepasia's fair domain. We Delepasians ought to develop an identity separate from Pelaxia, an identity where we embrace the one true faith without regard towards whether our forefathers were Pelaxian, Cartadanian, Latins, or the long-mythologised Vallosi."). Guerrero's words were widely-distributed amongst the colonists in the viceroyalty, leading to growing sense of national consciousness amongst all colonists regardless of whether they were on the coast or further inland.
This rise in national consciousness was especially apparent at a time when the Carto-Pelaxian Commonwealth was dissolved in 1795 after the Third Partition. Seeing the loss of Cartadania as a chance to assert themselves as the predominant secondary title of the Pelaxian crown, the colonial administration began to make plans for a new set of viceregal regalia that would be even more grand than the current regalia in use. These plans, however, were put to a halt when the Pelaxian monarchy was overthrown in 1804 to make way for the First Pelaxian Republic, a triumvirate republic which retained sovereignty over all its colonies, including the Viceroyalty of Los Rumas. This meant that the title of King in Vallos was dormant, and the viceroyalty became a Grand Colony. The colonial administration, however, was able to set up a clandestine government-in-exile in Las Joquis which acted as the viceregal government during the era of the First Pelaxian Republic. The republic would soon collapse due to internal turmoil in 1814 and the Pelaxian monarchy would be restored afterward alongside the viceregal government and the title of King in Vallos.
During the final decades of the Pelaxian monarchy, the colonists continued their calls for reform and elevation in status, but this time not as a part of Pelaxia directly, but rather as an independent nation in a real union with Pelaxia. To further this point, a third set of regalia was made in 1815, complete with a new viceregal crown that contained almost 5,000 diamonds (now known as the Imperial Crown of Castedilia), and was first used in the coronation of King Fernando I in 1815 despite being even heavier than the previous crown. This event assuaged the Delepasians, who were now believing that the restored monarchy would be more receptive to their proposals. None of the three post-restoration monarchs ever considered changing the status of the viceroyalty, fearing a repeat of the Carto-Pelaxian Commonwealth, its collapse still fresh in people's minds.
Delepasian Kingdom
In 1852, after a catastrophic loss which led to the independence of Almadaria, the Pelaxian monarchy was abolished permanently and the king and other high-ranking officials were forced into exile. Many of these people fled to the Viceroyalty of Los Rumas where they established a royalist government in exile known as the Delepasian Kingdom which stood in opposition to the Second Pelaxian Republic. The title of King in Vallos became the primary title of the exiled king, making it the first time that a King in Vallos actually lived in Vallos if one ignores the time that the second viceregal crown served as the King in Vallos, whose most loyal supporters were the Royalists, who hoped to overthrow the republican regime in Pelaxia with the help of the colonies and in return would establish a dual monarchy in which the Delepasians would finally be of equal status to the Pelaxians, giving the colonists exactly what they wanted. This position was only taken by the administration so as to ensure colonial support for the eventual restoration war. In opposition were the the National Constitutionalists who, while they remained loyal to the crown, would rather that the kingdom drop the pretense of being a government-in-exile and instead become an independent Delepasian monarchy under the Girojóns, believing that the abolition of the viceroyalty is the perfect chance to become an independent country. They wished for a more democratic form of government with the king as a ceremonial head of state. A third group, known as the National Republicans who wanted nothing to do with the deposed Pelaxian monarchy nor with Pelaxia in general. They wanted a republican form of government modelled after the First Pelaxian Republic albeit with more checks and balances placed upon the office of the triumvirate.
Because these three factions were unable to find a suitable compromise, the Delepasian Kingdom was racked with instability and chaos as the inland-coastal divide led to a few of the states within the kingdom to outright declare war on one another. King Luciano II would leave the country, proclaiming that "the Delepasians are the most ungovernable people that I and my predecessors have ever had the displeasure of ruling over." and subsequently abdicated shortly thereafter as tensions between the three groups grew hotter and hotter, with many fearing that a civil war would emerge and usher forth a Third Warring States Period in Vallos. People on the streets were beginning to attack one another based on political affiliation, thus making street brawls a common occurrence in the cities, and in rural areas bands of guerrillas ran around burning down the homes of those whom they disagreed with politically. The violence was getting so bad that the collective economies of the Delepasian polities took a dive so deep that it would not begin to recover for about eighty years, and even then it would not reach to sufficiently developed levels until the 2000s, roughly 150 years since the economies collapsed.
Interregnum
Within three months, the Delepasian Kingdom was dissolved and each state was free to do as they please. Some of the same nobility who have came up with the dual monarchy idea in the first place decided to attempt to strong-arm the state governments into becoming monarchies with themselves as the monarch. These were only successful in Bahia and Rios Gemelos with the rest settling for various flavours of republican governance. Despite initial fears, the period of chaos was short-lived and many of the Delepasian polities entered into a period of relative stability, thus preventing a Third Warring States Period on the subcontinent. The title of King in Vallos fell into disuse shortly afterward as none of the polities felt it appropriate to make use of such a boastful title of pretense and a relic of colonialism. Same applied to the viceregal regalia, which were sent to museums as display pieces, representing the prestige that the region once had under the Pelaxian crown.
During this period known as the interregnum, numerous people claiming to be the King in Vallos have emerged over the years. Many of them have claimed that they were a long-lost illegitimate descendant of the last Pelaxian monarch and that they have come to restore the Delepasian realms to their full glory. Despite accruing a sizeable amount of followers, the one thing that these people have in common was that none of them were formally recognised by any of the Delepasian polities, though one of the most well-known cases was a man who called himself King Antonio, a commodities trader who lost his fortune in trying to corner several markets, who not only claimed the title of King in Vallos from 1852 until his death in 1876, he also claimed that he was a member of the House of Oustec, declaring himself King of Oustec after Oustec was dissolved in 1859. During his time as King in Vallos, Antonio made numerous proclamations ranging from declaring himself the "Protector of All Taineans" to giving out "official approval plaques" for the places he visited. When he died in 1876, his funeral, which was generously funded by the wealthiest businessmen in the Delepasian polities, was attended by upwards of 50,000 people from all across the Delepasian polities from Rios Gemelos to the recently-established Navidadia. He remains the only commoner in Vallos to have received a royal funeral.
Delepasian revival
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The title of the King in Vallos would not be properly revived until 1976 when the newly-unified Delepasian Commonwealth began to use the title to designate people who were elected in the grand election prior to their coronations. Such a title was to remain with that person for life as a title that was subsidiary to the main imperial title. Initially, the new Delepasian government did not wish to revive the title, seeing it as a colonial-era vestige that was better left in the dustbins of history, but ultimately decided to revive the title on the basis that the Delepasian Commonwealth was the legal successor to the Delepasian Kingdom, which also made use of the title of King in Vallos. In light of this decision, there arose calls to use the second viceregal crown as the Great Imperial Crown, citing its weight, historical and symbolic significance, and just how colourful it was while calling the third viceregal crown a "heavy, very sterile and colourless piece that never managed to attain the history and symbolism that the second crown had despite it never having been used in actual coronations".
Nonetheless, the new government opted for the third viceregal crown precisely because of its lack of historical and symbolic significance. It was not as strongly associated with the colonial era as the second crown was and thus could attain historical and symbolic significance as an imperial crown and have a strong association with that imperial realm. As such, that was the crown that was picked to be the Great Imperial Crown used in coronations and other highly ceremonial matters pertaining to the emperor. All that was needed now was to designate a King in Vallos.
The rules and stipulations put in place in searching for someone to designate as the King in Vallos. The first of those requirements was that the individual must be a direct descendant of Mauricio Delepas and thus any remaining members of the House of Girojón, if any, was disqualified. The second requirement was that the individual must be the senior-most descendent of Delepas, meaning that junior lines may be ignored if a senior line has a proper heir. The third requirement specified that the individual must be from a male-only line, which excluded any female lines that may have been more senior than the more junior male lines. The fourth requirement stipulated that the individual must be married with kids, or failing that, be of a young enough age where he could conceivably have kids without dying too soon, this meant that elderly and childless descendants may be skipped over in favour of a younger descendant; the government wanted to make sure that they would not have to reconvene anytime soon just to designate a new King in Vallos. Based on those rules, the search through genealogical records had begun.
Tracing through the senior-most male-only lines proved to have been fruitless as many of these lines were either extinguished or ended with an elderly and childless descendant, the most notable of which being the 100-year-old Paulo Delepas. As each and every male-only line wound up in a dead end, the requirements were altered so as to remove the male-only line requirement. Starting the search again, they were able to find a suitable King in Vallos through the descendants of the son of Delepas's great-granddaughter. They were able to trace genealogical records all the way to a man by the name of Marion de Bruce, a 36-year-old man from Alstin who was married and already had six kids with a seventh one well on its way. Satisfied with the results, Marion and his family were soon flown over to Santa Maria where he was designated as the first King in Vallos in over 120 years. Because of the length of time it took to find him, his coronation happened just five months after his accession as plans for the coronation were already well underway at the time. Marion was crowned as Emperor Maximilian I of the new Delepasian Commonwealth in 1977, with his wife and children being given Pelaxian names. The King in Vallos also came with a new crown made specifically for the winner of the grand election prior to coronation, complete with a heraldic depiction.
Recent years
The title of King in Vallos survived the Velvet Revolution of 1994 and the chaotic revolutionary progress that spanned much of 1995 alongside the imperial title. When the new constitution was drafted, it was agreed that the circumstances in which the title of the King in Vallos is obtained would remain unchanged from how it was done in the Delepasian Commonwealth. This meant that the title of the King of Vallos is one of the few aspects of Delepasia that has remained in place even after the Velvet Revolution. This was confirmed in the first session of the National Assembly in January of 1997.
In July of that same year, it was decided that the second viceregal crown of Los Rumas would be retroactively be given the title of "King Emeritus in Vallos" in recognition of its years of serving as the King in Vallos throughout the 17th and 18th Centuries. Official recognition was also given to King Antonio for the fact that, despite having been a commoner all his life, his eccentricities inspired a Delepasia at a time when the Delepasian polities were reeling from the major economic and social consequences that came after the collapse of the Delepasian Kingdom. A memorial was soon constructed in his honour alongside the establishment of a state scholarship in his name for "students who have demonstrated and and above all performed to the ideals and hopes of King Antonio in Vallos". The scholarship is awarded annually each May.
Process of designation
The position of the King in Vallos is entrusted to members of the imperial family, that being the House de Bruce. Laws surrounding the designation process have made it so that the designation of the King in Vallos will not happen until after the emperor either passes on or abdicates. While the emperor may train a specific member of the imperial family for the eventual role as future emperor, the emperor may not name a successor nor may he be involved in the designation process should he abdicate.
The designation of the King in Vallos is entrusted to a committee of forty-one, chosen by eleven persons, who in turn were chosen by lot from a group of forty-five people chosen by nine persons chosen from a committee of twenty-five, who in turn were chosen by a group of twelve selected from a group of forty that were elected by a group of nine; that group being chosen from amongst a group of thirty members chosen by lot from amongst the membership of the Congress of the Peerage. This complex machinery for the designation process is intended to prevent foreign interference in the designations of the Kings in Vallos as well as to ensure a consistently orderly designation. The quorum for each election is as follows: twenty-five out of forty-one, nine out of twelve, or seven out of nine. The one with the most approvals from the committee of forty-one is designated as the King in Vallos, a title he will keep even after his coronation.
During the coronation, the King in Vallos is presented to the people in attendance with the words: "Sirs and Dames, I hereby present unto you Emperor/Empress (name), undoubtedly your Emperor/Empress if it please you: wherefore all of you who are here on this day to do your homage and service, are you willing to do the same?" This ceremonial gesture signifies the assent of the people of Castedilia in the process of designating a King in Vallos.
Pretender from Burgundie
With the death of King Antonio in 1876, news of his death reached Burgundie when it turned out that he had claimed the title of the King of Oustec after the fall of Oustec in 1859. Fearing that future pretenders might try and do the same, the title of King of Oustec was revived as a subsidiary title of the Great Prince. The Great Prince has also attempted to make use of the title of the King in Vallos, another title that Antonio claimed, but to no avail, especially after the title was revived by the Delepasian Commonwealth in 1976 for use as a sudsidiary title of the Emperor on the basis of legal continuity with the short-lived Delepasian Kingdom, and because the Emperor would actually reside in Vallos proper, making it the second time (third if the second viceregal crown is counted) that the King in Vallos actually resided in Vallos.
Notable Kings in Vallos
- Jeronimo I of Pelaxia - Jeronimo I was the first King in Vallos. He was the monarch who licensed Mauricio Delepas to go on exploration to find lucrative land. In honour of Delepas landing on the Bay of Los Rumas, Jeronimo created the title of King in Vallos to signify his holdings in Vallos, and most importantly as the title associated with the newly-established Viceroyalty of Los Rumas.
- Jeronimo III of Carto-Pelaxia - Jeronimo III was the first monarch of the Carto-Pelaxian Commonwealth as established in 1632. It was because of him that the Viceroy of Los Rumas decided to upgrade the viceregal regalia to match the splendour of the Pelaxian monarch at the time. This was what led to the creation of one of the most iconic crowns in the history of Castedilia.
- The Crown of the Viceroyalty of Los Rumas - From its creation in 1647 to the establishment of the First Pelaxian Republic in 1804, the Crown of the Viceroyalty of Los Rumas became the King in Vallos after the viceroyalty was snubbed by the monarch's refusal to wear the new crown in their coronations. Out of spite, the colonial administration had decided that all new colonial administrators were to swear an oath of loyalty to the physical crown itself and plastered depictions of the crown all over the viceroyalty. This began a period of time when the King in Vallos was de jure the Carto-Pelaxian monarch, but was de facto the physical crown of the viceroyalty.
- Fernando I of Pelaxia - Fernando I was the first king of Pelaxia since the collapse of the First Pelaxian Republic. Fearing a repeat of the "cult of the crown", he opted to be crowned as the King in Vallos using the crown that the colonial elites have given him to wear. This ushered in a period in which the colonists hoped for the establishment of a dual monarchy between Pelaxia and the viceroyalty.
- Luciano II of Pelaxia - The last king of Pelaxia, Luciano II fled to the viceroyalty after he was deposed in 1852. He was quickly made the king of the new Delepasian Kingdom and thus held the title of the King in Vallos. He quickly abdicated and fled the country due to the kingdom's instability, remarking that the Delepasians were "ungovernable", and the title of the King in Vallos fell into disuse.
- Antonio, King in Vallos - Although never formally declared the King in Vallos, Antonio declared himself the King in Vallos in 1852 after he was financially ruined due to a botched commodities cornering that went horribly wrong. The mental anguish led to him becoming an eccentric, but loveable figure across all of the Delepasian polities, and in thanks he was given a royal funeral with 50,000 people in attendance. He also claimed to be the King of Oustec after the fall of Oustec in 1859.
- Maximilian I of Castedilia - The first monarch to have been formally declared the King in Vallos in over 120 years, Maximilian I began his rule as a ceremonial monarch as all executive power was distributed between the prime minister and the commander-in-chief. This would all be changed when the Velvet Revolution happened in 1994, with him gaining many executive powers upon being made Castedilia's chief executive (a separate position commonly found in Julian republics). He has recently celebrated his Golden Jubilee in 2026.