Difference between revisions of "Emperor"
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|align=center|'''Wilhelm''' the First | |align=center|'''Wilhelm''' the First | ||
|align=center|unknown, early days of the Empire | |align=center|unknown, early days of the Empire | ||
− | |align=center| | + | |align=center|Possibly the same as Wilhelm of Stirland. |
|align=center|[[Warhammer: Glottkin]] pg. 102 | |align=center|[[Warhammer: Glottkin]] pg. 102 | ||
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Revision as of 02:19, 26 September 2018
The Emperor is the leader and ruler of The Empire, the most powerful nation of the Old World. He is chosen from the Elector Counts by the fifteen Electors and crowned by the Grand Theogonist. The first Emperor was Sigmar Heldenhammer and his crowning started the reckoning of the Imperial Calendar. The current Emperor, Karl Franz, was crowned in 2502 IC.
Despite being technically both head-of-state and commander-in-chief of the Imperial military, the Emperor is by no means an absolute ruler. He has to share much of his power, influence and responsibilities with the powerful Elector Counts.
Election
Upon the death of an Emperor the throne does not automatically pass to his heir. An election is held with fifteen Electors, ten of which are Elector Counts. The heir of the deceased Emperor is an obvious candidate; under normal circumstances he will be supported by the friends and allies of his predecessor. Therefore a dynastic succession is a strong possibility. However the heir may lose the election due to personal enmities or because of personal failings.
Nearly all Emperors in Imperial history were chosen from among the Elector Counts and in many ways being an Emperor means being but the "First among equals". He is largely the leader of the Elector Counts, each of whom is powerful and independent. Many matters are debated between the Emperor and the Counts on an equal standing and then agreed upon, and not always as the Emperor wants.
Powers
The Emperor's power is severely limited by the inability of enforcing his edicts within the semi-independent provinces. Far from the capital and inside their own provinces, the Elector Counts rule and they can choose to largely ignore his edicts and decrees. Furthermore The Empire is not a centralised state, but a feudal confederacy. The Emperor does not control the entire military of the Empire and he does not receive all, or even the majority, of taxes. His taxes and resources are collected from his own province and his own personal treasury will pay the military units under his direct control.
Each of the Elector Counts collects taxes from his respective province and will spend his wealth as he sees fit. He will recruit and pay his own provincial army, who is far more loyal to its local ruler. Depending upon the wealth of the province, a wealthy Elector Count may even afford and recruit a larger army than the Emperor. A wise Emperor will realise that trying to subdue the Elector Counts through threats and/or force is a very dangerous errand, which all too easily ends up in open rebellion and civil war. Gaining their respect and loyalty through example and fair leadership tends to be the best policy.
The Electors can de facto depose a weak emperor.
Known Emperors
Name | Reign | Notes | Sources |
Sigmar | 1 IC - 50 IC | Chief of the Unberogens, founder of the Empire. | Warhammer Armies: The Empire (4th Edition), pg. 11 Warhammer Armies: The Empire (6th Edition), pgs. 56, 58 Warhammer Armies: The Empire (7th Edition), pg. 30 Warhammer (7th Edition Rulebook), pg. 172 |
Siegrich I | 50 - 51 | Count of Averland. | Tome of Salvation, pg. 15 Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (4th Edition) pg. 272[*] |
Hedrich I | 51 - 100 | Receives the Runefangs from the Dwarfs. | Warhammer Armies: The Empire (6th Edition), pg. 57 Warhammer Armies: The Empire (7th Edition), pg. 30 Warhammer (7th Edition Rulebook), pg. 172 |
Hündrod the Furious | unclear, around 322 | Slays the dragon Mascar the Great in Drakwald Forest | Sigmar's Heirs, pg. 20 |
Sigismund II | 479 - 505 | The Empire absorbs Marienburg. | Warhammer Armies: The Empire (7th Edition), pg. 30 Warhammer (7th Edition Rulebook), pg. 172 |
Siefried the Lawgiver | 505 - ? | Spires of Altdorf pg. 5 | |
Siegfried I | 677 - 732 | Dies at the Battle of Fates. | Warhammer (7th Edition Rulebook), pg. 172 |
Jürgen the Opuelent | unclear, sometime during the 9th century | Sigmar's Heirs, pg. 16 | |
Ludwig the Fat | unclear, around 1000 | Establishes The Moot, and gives an electoral vote to the Elder of the Moot. | Warhammer Armies: The Empire (7th Edition), pg. 30 |
Boris Goldgather | 1053 - 1115 | The Skaven release the Black Plague which devastates the Empire, Boris is one of its last victims. | Warhammer Armies: The Empire (4th Edition), pg. 11 Warhammer Armies: The Empire (6th Edition), pg. 58 Warhammer Armies: The Empire (7th Edition), pg. 30 |
none | 1115 1124 |
The Empire is largely overrun by the Skaven invasion. | Warhammer Armies: The Empire (7th Edition), pgs. 10, 30 |
Mandred Skavenslayer | 1124 - 1152 | Count of Middenland, defeats the Skaven invasion, was later murdered by a Skaven assassin. | Warhammer Armies: The Empire (4th Edition), pgs. 7, 8, 11 Warhammer Armies: The Empire (7th Edition), pg. 10, 30 Warhammer (7th Edition Rulebook), pg. 172 |
none | 1153 - 1358 | The Electors are unable to choose a leader. This situation continues unchanged until 1359. | Warhammer Armies: The Empire (4th Edition), pg. 11 Warhammer Armies: The Empire (7th Edition), pg. 10, 30 |
Wilhelm | 1359 - ? | Count of Stirland, his election is disputed by Ottilia, Countess of Talabecland, leading to civil war. Possibly the same as Wilhelm the First. | The Empire at War, chapter Guile the Battle of the Talabec Warhammer Armies: The Empire (4th Edition), pg. 8, 11 Warhammer Armies: The Empire (6th Edition), pg. 59 Warhammer Armies: The Empire (7th Edition), pg. 10, 30 [Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (4th Edition)]] pg. 273 |
Two feuding candidates | 1360 - 1546 | The Empire is torn by civil war between the elected Emperors and the Ottilian Emperors. | Warhammer Armies: The Empire (4th Edition), pgs. 8, 11 Warhammer Armies: The Empire (6th Edition), pg. 59 Warhammer Armies: The Empire (7th Edition), pgs. 10, 30 |
Several feuding candidates, claimants and pretenders | 1547 -2303 | The self proclaimed Wolf Emperors escalate the civil war into an Age of Three Emperors. |
Warhammer Armies: The Empire (4th Edition), pg. 8, 11 Warhammer Armies: The Empire (6th Edition), pg. 59 Warhammer Armies: The Empire (7th Edition), pgs. 10, 31 Warhammer Armies: Beasts of Chaos (6th edition), pg. 11 |
Magnus the Pious | 2304 2369 |
A noble of Nuln, saves and re-unites the Empire. | Warhammer Armies: The Empire (4th Edition), pg. 11 Warhammer Armies: The Empire (6th Edition), pgs. 59, 76 Warhammer Armies: The Empire (7th Edition), pgs. 14, 31 Warhammer (7th Edition Rulebook), pg. 172 |
Leopold | 2369 - ? | Count of Stirland, grandfather of Dieter IV. | Warhammer Armies: The Empire (4th Edition), pgs. 10, 11 Warhammer Armies: The Empire (7th Edition), pgs. 15, 31 |
Dieter IV | 2411 - 2429 | Count of Stirland, fails to defend The Empire from Waaagh! Grom. Receives a bribe in exchange for the independence of Marienburg; was later deposed by the Electors. | Warhammer Armies: The Empire (4th Edition), pgs. 10, 11 Warhammer Armies: The Empire (7th Edition), pgs. 15, 31 Warhammer Armies: Orcs & Goblins (8th Edition), pg. 21 Warhammer (7th Edition Rulebook), pg. 172 |
Wilhelm the Wise | 2429 - ? | Count of Reikland, cousin of Dieter IV, the Imperial throne has remained in his family until today. | outdated sources name him Wilhelm II Warhammer Armies: The Empire (4th Edition), pgs. 10, 11 Warhammer Armies: The Empire (7th Edition), pgs. 15, 31 Warhammer (7th Edition Rulebook), pg. 172 |
An unknown number of emperors | All Counts of Reikland. | Warhammer Armies: The Empire (7th Edition), pg. 15 | |
Matthias IV | ? | Karl Franz's great-grandfather. Disappeared. | Beasts in Velvet (Novel), pg. 124 |
Mattheus II | ? | Karl Franz's grandfather | The Enemy Within, pg. 14 |
Luitpold | ? - 2502 | Count of Reikland, father of Karl Franz. | Drachenfels (novel), Act One, chapter XI Warhammer Companion, pg. 75 |
Karl Franz | 2502 - present | Count of Reikland. | Warhammer Armies: The Empire (4th Edition), pg. 11 Warhammer Armies: The Empire (6th Edition), pg. 60 Warhammer Armies: The Empire (7th Edition), pgs. 15, 31 Warhammer (7th Edition Rulebook), pg. 172 |
Others
Little is known about several other Emperors and Empresses of the Empire, other than their names and titles only; the years of their reigns are not recorded.
unknown Emperors & Empresses | |||
---|---|---|---|
name | reign | notes | sources |
Gunthar II the Faithful | unknown, probably early days of the Empire | Ruled during the brief period in which the Empire controlled northern Tilea | Sigmar's Heirs, pg. 26 |
Wilhelm the First | unknown, early days of the Empire | Possibly the same as Wilhelm of Stirland. | Warhammer: Glottkin pg. 102 |
Frederick | unknown, before 1124 IC | Fought an expansionist war against the Ungols | Blighted Empire (Novel) pg. 59 |
Agnetha | unknown | possibly the wife of a ruling Emperor, founded the first colleges of Nuln | Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (1st Edition), pg. 285 |
Hjalmar the Tyrannical | unknown | Elected by the Electors, probably during the Age of Three Emperors. Had no children and was assassinated (skewered through the eye with a tent peg?). | Drachenfels (novel), Act One, Chapter III; Act Four, Chapter II |
Didrick the Unjust | unknown | Elected by the Electors, probably during the Age of Three Emperors | Drachenfels (novel), Act One, Chapter III |
Bloody Beatrice the Monumentally Cruel | unknown | elected by the Electors, probably during the Age of Three Emperors | Drachenfels (novel), Act One, Chapter III |
Albrecht the Wise | unknown | His hair turned white before he was 30 as he saw a daemon dressed in the uniform of the Imperial Guard. | Drachenfels (novel), Act Three, Chapter II |
Dieter III | unclear, around 1602 | Kislev: Claws of the Great Bear, pp. 12, 28[**] | |
Eberhardt the Just | unclear, around 2243 | (perhaps not canon) founded the Great Hospice of Frederheim, near Altdorf | Warhammer Companion, pg. 83 |
See also
- High King
- Phoenix King
- King of Bretonnia
- Tzar
- Dragon Emperor
- King of Khemri
- elected Emperor, for the respective line of candidates
- Ottilian Emperor, for the respective line of claimants
- Wolf Emperor, for the respective line of pretenders
- Reikland pretender, for the respective line of candidates
- Elector Count of Marienburg, for the respective line of claimants
Notes
*: WFRP 4th Edition states that Siegrich was of the Asoborns, rather than Averland.
**: Much of the information in this publication has been retconned. However, the existence of Dieter III does not contradict any more current information.
- The beginning of Boris Goldgather's reign is unclear. Warhammer Armies: The Empire (7th Edition)[1] states that he ruled from 1053 until 1115. Warhammer (7th Edition Rulebook)[2] provides different dates: 1109 - 1115. However the description of Boris makes it clear that he ruled (poorly) for a considerable amount of time and therefore the information in the first book makes more sense.
Sources
- 1: Warhammer Armies: The Empire (7th Edition), pg. 30
- 2: Warhammer (7th Edition Rulebook), pg. 172