Kalistani Major History

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Regency Ends as Emperor is Officially Crowned
Small Ceremony maintains Ananto Family Tradition
Eveari, Grand Duchy of Ananto
August 1, 5539


Investment Photo of His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Fredrick II Ananto, at Imperial Seat in Kaliburg

His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Fredrick-Bjornsson William Ananto-Nordholm has been formally invested and crowned Emperor and Sovereign of the Empire of Ananto and Kalistan at a small ceremony in Eveari. The coronation occurred, as the two previous coronations, at the Eveari Monthly Meetinghouse in Eveari, Ananto. In doing so, the Emperor not only affirmed his family's faith tradition, but also the tradition of his mother and grandmother to maintain direct ties with the Brethrenist Faith as a guide while governing the Empire.

The short Meeting for Worship with Attention to Guidance offered Brethrenists the opportunity to tell the Emperor, age 23, directly their opinions on the Monarchy and on his coming reign. Members were remarkably candid about their thoughts. Some pled for a larger role for the People in the government of Kalistan, while others hoped that the Emperor continued a policy of peace and justice in the Empire. Some others wished the Emperor to surround himself with wise advisors, and others wished the Emperor happiness, a long life, good health and a happy family. Nobody called for the abolition of the Monarchy.

At the end of the Meeting, the Clerk of the Meeting, along with the Chancellor of the Empire, Dame Lindsay Ontiveros-Maxwell and Prince Regent Bjorn, called the Emperor forward, and the Chancellor read the investiture proclamation before the Meeting. The Emperor lowered his head and the Chancellor placed the Imperial Crown that was made specifically for Emperor Fredrick II Ananto on his head, and gave him the keys of State, transferring all powers and titled of State to His Imperial Majesty's person. The Emperor then turned to the Prince Regent, and without sentimentality or display of emotion, thanked the Prince for his loyalty to the previous Empress, and his service to the Emperor and the Empire, and then relieved him of his duties. The Prince was the first to take a knee before the new Emperor, and all others in the Meeting followed suit. With this, the Minor Prince shed his long name and assumed the title of His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Fredrick II Ananto.

Following the ceremony, the Emperor, the now Prince Bjorn, the Chancellor, and members of the Government, as well as the Emperor's personal retinue and many members of the Eveari Brethrenist Meeting, travelled to Kaliburg by train, along the same track that Empress Nicolette II was travelling when she died. During the ride, the Chancellor and senior members of the Government met with the Emperor in formal audience, and the Emperor confirmed the last government under the Regency in their place as His Imperial Majesty's Cabinet. The train arrived in Imperial Station and the Emperor and Prince Regent travelled to Wilson House, which has recently completed its renovations, and the Emperor took a tour of his new Palace. Following a brief enthronement Portrait, and his first full security briefing from the Imperial Bureau of Security Intelligence director, Caroline King, the new Emperor attended a small gala thrown in his honor by the Chancellor, where he greeted members of Kalistani nobility, and was introduced to several members of Kalistan's business and security community. Gaduri business and representatives of the caretaker government were also in attendance, though they were there in their functions as private citizens and friends of the Duke Victor Ananto, the Emperor's uncle.

Compared to previous coronations, this event was low key: there were only a handful of events scheduled to celebrate the affair. This was largely due to both the uncertain date of the Emperor's end of National Service, and the fact that His Imperial Majesty has been taking up more and more official duties during his leave periods over the last year. "It feels like we have watched this young man grow up," said Kaliburg Crown-Watcher and tabloid columnist Nadine Anderson. "And to be completely honest, it kind of makes sense that there wouldn't be a lot of fanfare around his coronation: He lost his mother just as he was about to be a teenager, and there is a certain sadness about this Emperor which accompanies a heavy sense of duty. It just doesn't feel like something to really celebrate, I don't think he would celebrate."

The new Emperor, clothed as he is in the heavy burdens of state, is known to be a very reserved young man. He has never been described as brash or braggadocious. In fact, he has rarely made public pronouncements of any kind, but when seen in public, often simply smiles and waves. "I don't think the Emperor craves the attention he has gotten most of his life," said Anderson. "He works on cars, often by himself, and he is known for loving to race the cars he modifies. He also is known to play bocce and Go, but you will not see him jumping in front of cameras or out and about on the town with some socialite. That doesn't seem like the Emperor." The Emperor also has a soft spot for animals. "As a teenager, one of the one public things he did was to volunteer at the animal shelter in Eveari," said Anderson. "He had a reputation for caring for strays, and worked well with dogs, cats, and even the occasional possum. We should expect to see a strong support for animal welfare and the environment during the Emperor's reign, as helping animals seems to be a passion of his."

The investiture completed, Kalistan has a new sovereign and Prince Bjorn will be allowed to pull back from the day to day administrative duties he had to carry out during the Regency. "His Highness, Prince Bjorn will keep his County in Luxon likely until he dies, but there is not much involved in running that county on a day to day basis, and so Prince Bjorn will be effectively in retirement going forward, but has still offered to serve as a special envoy for the Emperor at need, given Bjorn's long tenure as Prince Regent and Prince Consort. There is no doubt that the Emperor will rely on his father for advice and help, especially over the next few years."