Julian Palace
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| Julian Palace | |
|---|---|
Palatium Julii | |
 Exterior of the Julian Palace and interior of the Concilium Daoni chamber | |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Location | Urceopolis, Archduchy of Urceopolis |
| Country | Urcea |
| Named for | Julian dynasty |
| Construction started | ca. 500 AD |
| Renovated |
|
| Owner | Government of Urcea |
| Known for | Official residence of the Apostolic King of Urcea Seat of the Government of Urcea |
The Julian Palace is a royal residence and the seat of the Government of Urcea. The building contains the Julian Throne and Crown Jewels of Urcea, as well as the throne room, royal apartments, chambers for both the Concilium Purpaidá and Concilium Daoni, in addition to office space for leadership of both councils, including offices for the Procurator and Chancellor and Temporary President. While the Julian Palace is nominally the official royal residence of the Apostolic King of Urcea, the King and his courtiers primarily reside in Castle Welute outside of the city of Urceopolis proper.
History
The Julian Palace began life in the early 6th century as a relatively large home of the Julii called the Domus Julii. With the fall of Great Levantia, the custom of noble families in Urceopolis had evolved to building relatively large urban estates that could be fortified. Though not especially politically influential, the Julii began construction on their large fortified manor, which was completed by 515. Levantine contemporaries note that the Domus Julii was far larger and more impressive than that of the Brutonii and Neronii, despite the power held by those families. Despite its size, the distance from the Forum attests to the political and social status of the Julii at the time.
The fortunes of the Julii did not change with the organization of the Duchy of Urceopolis in the 640s. The major reversal of fortunes came as a prominent son of the family, Gaius Julius Cicurinus won fame on the battlefield on behalf of the Latin League against Hištanšahr, and, in 749, Julius was elected Dux of Urceopolis. Living and doing business in the Domus Julii, the complex began to be an important center of Urceopolitan civic life. With the advent of the Levantine Empire and elevation of the Julii to hereditary control over the newfound Archduchy of Urceopolis, the Domus Julii became the focal point of political power and the home of the hereditary Archdukes of Urceopolis. Accordingly, the first Archduke began a major renovation of the Domus Julii in 791. The renovation transformed the building from the reserved mansion of Late Antiquity to a towering Levanesque building based on the recently constructed Imperial Palace in Corcra. It was completed in 804, after the death of Archduke Julius, who would soon become known to history as Saint Julius I. The Domus Julii became increasingly known as the Palatium Julii, the Julian Palace, as its position as home of the hereditary ruling Archduke was solidified.
Renovations and evolution
Urceopolis became a major center of continental power during the reign of the early Levantine Empire and Southern Kingdom of the Levantines, reaching a new zenith with the unification of the Archduchy of Urceopolis and Duchy of Yustona in 922. The Palace, rebuilt only a century before, was already showing considerable signs of inadequacy for the growing responsibilities of the state. Various crises and major geopolitical developments prevented the Palace from being renovated again for another two centuries. The enactment of the Golden Bull of 1098 increased the urgency for a rebuilt Palace, and work began in 1105 to give the building increased space and prestige befitting the new King of Urcea. The 1105 renovation largely created the central core of the current structure - the "Royal wing" - as well as a series of defensive walls and large gardens which were eliminated in future renovations. Minor renovations of this version of the palace would occur in 1303, when many of the inner walls were removed and replaced with small additional wings intended to house a larger cohort of servants while also providing accommodations to visiting nobles from across the greatly expanded Kingdom. The two 1303 wings - which existed on northwestern and southwestern diagonals from the Royal structure - were demolished in the 1620 renovation.
In 1620, the structure received significant renovations. The outer walls and gardens from earlier renovations were removed and the 1303 additions were demolished. The 1620 renovation saw the building largely take its current footprint, adding a small western expansion topped with a baroque dome and flanked by small but well-built wings to its north and south for the Concilium Daoni and Concilium Purpaidá respectively. The Palace also saw many new gardens and galleries added. The 1620 dome, hailed at the time as an architectural achievement, had a number of structural issues which made it unstable and required various reinforcement efforts beginning as early as 1634. This dome stood until 1858 when it collapsed completely, damaging other parts of the building and leaving the Palace a ruin for a short period in which time the Apostolic King of Urcea Aedanicus VIII began to reside at Castle Welute.
The 1861 renovation completely altered the building, creating the current Gothic and Renaissance revival structure. A new dome, constructed mostly out of newly available steel beams anchored below the building, was erected in the center of the building. Major changes were made to the interior and exterior, replacing many of the Baroque innovations with flying buttresses, archways, and colonnades appropriate to the new style. The wings erected for the two Concilia were effectively demolished, though minor remnants can still be found in the Palace's basement, and the size of the Palace was effectively tripled by creating large wings for both Concilia with office and receiving space included. Earlier residential rooms and add-ons were also demolished and the Royal apartments were significantly enhanced. The new Palace was equipped with indoor plumbing, greatly increasing the sanitation and appeal of the interior spaces. This renovation was the last major structural renovation to the building. In 1890, the building was wired the building for electricity with telephone and other innovations added in the subsequent decades. The building was renovated most recently in 2004 with structural integrity enhancements and various historical restorations, including removing office spaces added during the 20th century in order to ensure the maximum historical appeal of the building. Internet service and fiber optic wiring was also added to the structure in 2004.
Interior
The Julian Palace is roughly divided into three wings, with the central wing serving as throne room for the Apostolic King of Urcea including apartments for the Royal family, the southern wing serving as chambers for the Concilium Purpaidá including limited office space for its members, and the northern wing serving as the chambers for the Concilium Daoni with limited office and committee space included in the building. In addition to the three main wings, there is a smaller central area, including the building's main rotunda, which serves as a depository for the Crown Jewels and also as a public museum. The Royal Household offices are not located within the Palace, and a majority of Daoni offices and meeting spaces are located in adjacent office buildings within the Pale's New City borough.
Throne room and royal residence
The throne room also hosts the annual Presentation of the Debutantes.