Kalistani Major History

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Empress Nicolette laid to Rest
National Assembly Confirms Crown Prince Fredrick Emperor
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
March 1, 5528


Funeral For the late Empress Nicolette II Ananto, at National Cathedral, Officiated by Kalistani Yearly Meeting Clerk

The National Cathedral hosted the funeral for the Empress Nicolette II who died in the train crash in northern Ananto last month. The State Funeral was held in Brethrenist Fashion, and was in every way similar to the previous funeral for Princess Nicolette I just ten years before. The funeral was attended by the people of Eveari, who were specifically by the Crown Prince. In addition to the thousands who drove in from Eveari, tens of thousands of mourners filled the streets of downtown Kaliburg in a spontaneous demonstration of grief for the loss of the vibrant Empress. Following the Brethrenist Meeting, which was presided over by the Clerk of the Kalistani Yearly Meeting, the late Empress' casket was driven in a fifty mile long procession from Kaliburg to Eveari where it was interred in the Ananto Family Mausoleum, located on the Imperial Estate.

The Prince Consort, who was also nearly killed in the crash, is said to have wanted to attend the funeral, but the severity of his injuries and his ongoing treatment prevented him from being permitted to leave the Eveari Medical center. The Crown Prince attended with his uncle, Duke Victor Ananto-Martin, with whom he is currently staying along with the Duchess Carlota Ananto-Orleans, and was reportedly devastated by the loss of his mother and the news of his father's near death. The Prince Consort is reportedly awake in the hospital, and though he doesn't remember the crash at all, he said that he is looking forward to being strong enough to begin rehab. He is expected to remain in the hospital for several more months before doctors will discharge him to his home.

Following the funeral, the National Government met in emergency session to make the acting Institutional Party Government legitimate, and to officially Affirm the enthronement of the Crown Prince, who is currently only 11 years old. Duke Victor has agreed to act as Regent in Kaliburg, for as long as it takes for His Highness Prince Bjorn to heal completely and step into the role. Though Fredrick is not old enough to serve, Victor and then Bjorn will take his instruction upon themselves, and shall work closely to ensure that Fredrick gets enough training to Carry on the title. This position is unexpected for Victor, who has built a life for himself in the world of finance, and spends much of his time travelling abroad to secure financing for various Kalistani ventures.

Prince Regent Victor said three years ago, "People will ask if I feel passed over, and I say not at all. I like to make deals and enjoy my private life. Nicolette has more of the temperament for Rule. I would be a horrible ruler, because I couldn't just put up with all the formality and protocol. I am just not cut out for that sort of separation: I love schmoozing and I love the finer things in life. I have more money than I know what to do with, and all the freedom which comes from being anonymous." As Prince Regent, however, Victor will cast into a new role: None of the Imperial Protocol will apply, but he will be vested with proxy powers of the Head of the Kalistani State, and will be required to perform the functions of that office as an example for the minor Emperor.

Though clothed with Imperial Authority, the Minor Emperor Fredrick will remain cloistered as he continues his education, and shall not be permitted to speak publicly in his role as Emperor until his 16th Birthday, which is the age of Majority. At that point, he will be free to claim his Majority, and then take up the Mantle of State. An official coronation will then happen. Meanwhile, the Minor Emperor will continue to attend school and will receive an accelerated political and administrative education from both Prince Consort Bjorn and the best political and constitutional scholars and political theorists in Kalistan, who aim to inculcate not only the ideology of Absolute Imperial Rule, but also a strong emphasis on theories of distributive and procedural justice, mercantilist economics, and the duties and expectations of a Kalistani Monarch. Fredrick will also receive a rigorous education in Anantonese and Kalistani National History, as well as introductions to physics, biology, languages and music. There is a question as to whether Fredrick will also serve in the National Service Program, an act that will prolong the regency; that question will be resolved as the Minor Emperor gets closer to his age of majority.

The Prince Regent is expected to send official delegations to the Governments of Lourenne, Dolgava, Lodamun, Gaduridos, Luthori, Dundorf, Hutori and Kundrati with formal greetings and expressions of good will from the Government of Kalistan, with the aim of starting the Regency off on a positive note and invite foreign diplomatic, cultural, and economic missions to Kalistan.

The Empress Nicolette II Ananto is not with her beloved Mother: a new era is upon Kalistan. We hope that other nations will welcome the Minor Emperor Fredrick II Ananto, and defer to him as they did to Nicolette. Long live the Emperor.