The Empire of Reimia (3)

A personal view of the monarchs of the Remian Empire and the periods of their reign


Lapis Rem (191-240)
The first ruler and, in a certain sense, the founder of our empire, is undoubtedly very difficult to judge critically or to view in a negative light at all. Thanks to his remarkable charisma, his confidence in victory, and his courage in taking sole responsibility for the lives of an entire country (whereas previously this had been mainly the business of a weak-willed senate), Rem was able to secure a foundational position on the world stage and leave a decisive mark on the history of the whole continent.
Assessing the military deeds of the former Egir Valenshtein, I cannot recall any serious blunders or failures that, in hindsight, could be held against him. Moreover, in the works of a fairly well-known Remian historian, Karper Shennakh, an curious statistic is cited that points to the overall ineffectiveness of a democratic republican regime under conditions of prolonged warfare and an unlikely victory. Thus, I consider the granting of exceptional and absolute dictatorial powers to Lapis Rem during the period 191-226 to have been a necessary step and one of the utmost importance for the formation of the entire future state.
It is difficult for me to judge the peacetime rule of the first monarch from a single perspective, since in those troubled times everyone had to devote far more attention to the military craft than to the development of trade or agriculture. The only question I would like to consider here is the necessity of dissolving the senate and creating a new monarchical system of government as opposed to returning the country to its pre-war political regime. From a legal standpoint, Lapis Rem ought to have immediately returned the high powers granted to him after the end of the Thirty Years' War; however, the general instability of the region, the frequent armed clashes between neighbors and the betrayal of those neighbors, taken together with the general weakness and corruption of the senate, would most likely have left the country with no chance of fruitful development and would in all probability have ruined it within the following decades.

Hegon Rem (240-277)
The reign of Hegon Rem seems to me ideal in that particular historical situation — offering economic prospects and civil liberties to citizens weary from years of war, establishing friendly ties with neighboring countries, developing trade and diplomacy. I would like to separately mention the conclusion of a peaceful alliance with the kingdom of the elves and the introduction of the first magical arts onto the territory of the country.
I could not recall any particular negative factors during the reign of Hegon Rem, except perhaps his strange and probably not very far-sighted decision in choosing his successor to the throne.

Archon Rem (277-323)
The third ruler can be singled out on both the positive and the negative side in roughly equal measure. The strengthening and development of the magical arts within the country, the creation of new kinds of magic, and the construction of the first magical academies made a significant contribution not only to military might but also to the culture and art of those times. Below I quote lines from a work by the ancient Remian poet Khabartar:
"Truly, I cannot even imagine how wretched and pitiful our life was, like rainworms, before we attained magical knowledge!"
Despite the significant contribution that Archon Rem made to the history of the country, his deeds also had a negative character, dealing a serious blow to the traditional orders and foundations of Remian society. The mass curtailment of the civil liberties of the populace, the construction of prisons, the shifting of the law-enforcement apparatus toward the introduction of harsh and severe — often even inordinately so — justice, were the first alarming bells, to which was subsequently added the general madness of the third monarch. Could the opposing faction, led by his own children, have halted the deformation of the country without so many victims? I think the absolute conviction in his own infallibility and authority, established back under Lapis Rem, played a cruel joke on his heirs, and from then on very many of them, to my greatest regret, would be subject to this hereditary stubbornness and self-assurance in their own rightness — as effective in wartime as it was ruinous in peacetime. Archon Rem was no exception here.

Eirin Rem (323-382)
The fourth ruler, like the founder of this line, was far more taken with foreign policy than with domestic. Since by this time the country had already recovered sufficiently from the old wars and was ready for offensive campaigns, it is no surprise that Eirin Rem chose for himself a fairly aggressive policy of conquest.
The subjugation of the western mountains, the annexation of the elven kingdom of Alait and many other countries of the continent was an obvious consequence of the superior strategic command of the first emperor.
Nevertheless, I would like to give separate attention to the genocide of the western mountaineers, as well as to the failures of the eastern campaigns, which resulted in great losses and economic damage for the empire. My view is that Eirin Rem, for all his positive qualities, was a man not only impulsive but almost entirely devoid of patience and mercy. Qualities useful for a commander and a conqueror, but which risk leading, in peacetime, to a rise in protest sentiments among both the common populace and the aristocracy. And had it not been for the might of the legions of Rem, the unpreparedness of their opponents, and the death of the emperor himself in an arena duel, who knows what his further reign might have led to. The absence of any serious successes in domestic policy may serve as a certain confirmation of this.

Reisen Rem (382-444)
I would like to divide my assessment of the deeds of the second emperor in the post of ruler of the Remian Empire into two parts:
First, the creation of the class system became the third and last key factor in the reorganization of Remian society. Relying on the works of the advisor on domestic economy, Lovekhs Mi'itar, I have singled out the three most significant of these processes:
1) The elimination of the elected senatorial system of government by Lapis Rem.
2) The tightening of legislation and the shifting of the hierarchy of power toward the nobility and civil servants by Archon Rem.
3) The establishment of a class-based society, finally burying the democratically free regime in favor of the absolutization of the power of the monarch and the aristocracy, by Reisen Rem.
Lovekhs Mi'itar concluded that all three of these key reforms finally "maimed the traditional views of Remian citizens and in fact drove them into slavery under the heel of all-powerful emperors."
note: For his views Lovekhs Mi'itar was subsequently executed, and although we live in much freer times, I would not recommend his works for overly careful study, since they, despite being almost completely censored by Kamiya Ren, can still fall under articles related to the overthrow of power, the instigation of banditry and violence.
Be that as it may, Reisen Rem's reforms led to the creation of a stable state order that endured right up to the time of Olivius Lapis Rem. One of the most difficult questions remains: was there really any need for such a significant change in the way of life of the country's inhabitants? The twenty-year civil war that followed can give its own definite answer to this. And if one examines the whole situation from the vantage of several centuries, one can discover that the regime created by the first Remian rulers ultimately served the significant enrichment of its inhabitants and the development of the state as a whole. My personal opinion on this matter, however, remains more negative: I believe that the rulers of Rem should not have tried to reorganize the orders of a free society, and if they were to do so, then by far slower and gentler methods.
The second important factor of Reisen Rem's reign I consider to be his forbidden activities and connection with the dark arts. Unfortunately, information related to this still remains quite classified or else has slipped outside my field of view; however, it is quite obvious that the second emperor engaged in carrying out some terrible experiments in his palace, which was subsequently sealed off for many centuries. As evidence I can cite notes authored by Seliad Kovencrar — one of the first explorers of the palace in the year 762, which were partially published in one of the yellow press papers. For the reliability of this information, unfortunately, I cannot vouch: 1 2
Thus, I consider the figure of Reisen Rem to be on the whole a negative one for the history of the empire. Quite possibly, the cause of this was some outside influence, or else an innate weakness of mind of the second emperor.

Beryl Rem (444-496)
The era of Beryl Rem's reign has not been preserved particularly well in the historical chronicles; however, numerous positive mentions by his contemporaries allow us to conclude that the third emperor carried out many internal reforms and transformations designed to smooth over the sharp corners and reduce the degree of aggression between the common citizens of the country, the aristocrats, and the members of the imperial family.
Despite these positive achievements, my impression of Beryl took shape as of a very cautious and mild man, not ready for overly harsh actions to develop the ideas of the previous rulers or to return to traditional civic orders and foundations. Probably, in trying to sit on several chairs at once and to please everyone, he nevertheless may have let slip many attractive projects that could have been carried out earlier than they ultimately were.

Verilian Rem (496-~520)
The era of Verilian Rem is associated with a new important turn in the evolution of our species as a whole — the discovery of erinium and, thus, the appearance of the first technologies of the future. Everything that has already become a habitual part of our life goes back to the times of the fifth century. And even magic gradually began to move into the background.
Having at his command a huge and powerful state, all that was required of Verilian Rem was not to let slip such an important chance to forever take the leading position in the world — and with this task the fourth emperor coped excellently.
I believe that Verilian did everything necessary from a state standpoint, and I append to my opinion quotes from a contemporary study by my sister Marlea Leveristos, who three years ago graduated from the capital's academy in economic sciences.
"... thus, it is quite obvious that for the most effective development of the key external and internal economic indicators the country requires a full-fledged competitive private market, whereas the functions of the state should include exclusively the regulation of antitrust legislation, the carrying out of logistical linkage, and the construction of the necessary infrastructure for future private projects and investments."
It was precisely along such a path that Emperor Verilian went, simply seizing the territories necessary for the development of the state. Did he have the right to lay claim to lands belonging to the primitive snake-creatures, to burn their homes, to drive them by force into reservations? Aggressive expansion can never be assessed in a positive light. But for the inhabitants of the country itself it had a beneficial effect, and to remain idle in times of a great historical redrawing of spheres of influence means to sign one's own death sentence.

Olivius Lapis Rem (730-762)
Olivius Rem turned out to be the last ruler of the main historical period in the history of our country, and I consider it necessary to evaluate his decisions and actions in the most detail.
The entire thirty-year term of his reign can be divided into several key foreign-policy decisions:
1) The unleashing of war with Beliad, Tanarsis, Areid, Khem, and Astea.
2) The unleashing of war with Nihon.
3) Numerous and many-year conquest campaigns.
To generalize, it seems to me that all of this is a rare and quite unique historical case when resounding victories and incredible successes exert a far more destructive influence on a state. Of course, a century later it is fairly easy to draw such conclusions, but could Olivius's contemporaries and his advisors have suspected the first alarming notes?
1) The first victorious war ended with the annexation to the empire of part of the territories of a close ally, Beliad, and access to the southern waters of the continent. But was there any sense in it? At that moment the Remian Empire possessed unlimited military and economic might, as well as political influence and numerous trade agreements. Even in the long term, was this new sea route advantageous compared with the loss of the support of several countries and allies at once? Instead of cementing their relations through mutually beneficial trade, the government of the time considered intimidation through fear and the rattling of an ephemeral weapon a more advantageous way of conducting international relations.
2) The war with Nihon, which resulted in great losses and the empty expenditure of budgetary funds, ultimately provided the empire with access to extremely disadvantageous territories, whose freedom-loving inhabitants were ready to seize any opportunity and weakness of the opponent to start riots and armed uprisings. The subsequent questions of cultural assimilation — neither of this nor of any of the other subjugated peoples — were given due attention under Olivius Rem.
3) All the new and new military campaigns could have been justified in the historical periods of the early Remian emperors, but by no means in the prosperous seventh century. The time of the development of private enterprise, freedom, and trade was in no way compatible with bloody conflicts and a militaristic theme in general.
At the very moment when the emperor realized the need for internal reforms rather than military campaigns, the right time had already been missed. By the end of Olivius Rem's reign, the empire had in its arsenal three of the most serious problems, which would ultimately lead to its disintegration:
— The faction of the aristocrats had significantly separated from the imperial family and clearly laid claim to control over the entire country;
— The common inhabitants were being subjected en masse to the influence of various opinions, both political and religious, which, together with the already existing racial and class distinctions, only added fuel to the fire;
— Individual duchies and border territories had in effect acquired full autonomy and sovereignty, which made the local population question the need to remain part of the Remian Empire.
For some reason, all these important questions went unnoticed both by the emperor and by his advisors, and his sudden death and testament became the first heralds of the coming of the bloodiest conflict in the history of the continent.

Sonata Rem (762-765)
To acquaint myself with the personality and ideas of Sonata Rem I used the works of several respected Remian historians, including Lergar Mitchers and Elevara Beraviin, as well as the autobiographical notes of aristocrats of the time. As follows from the retelling of one of the marchioness's friends, who was present at the well-known coronation of the new emperor:

— To this day, and throughout all the past centuries, a large share of the resources of our enormous country has, unfortunately, been spent and continues to be spent on the very voracious desires of the aristocracy, whereas they could have been spent on solving more pressing problems — raising the standard of living, developing science, improving the quality of education and medicine, strengthening defense capability... There are many ways to use the resources of a country for the benefit of all its citizens, and various entertainments and the wasteful lifestyle of the representatives of high society, in my view, do not number among them. At the very least, that is not what taxes should be going toward.

To this, in turn, her interlocutor objected to the future empress:

-I understand your position; however, the redistribution of economic resources is no simple process. It will require, above all, decisive action and firm resolve, but what worries me most are the specific methods by which this may be achieved. From history we know what it can lead to if one suddenly and too sharply begins to oppress the higher estates of our society, and this may bring about the most varied unpleasant consequences for the country.

This short dialogue, quite possibly, did in fact take place and turned out to be quite prophetic. But I will not go into the details that followed, since they are already known almost verbatim to the general public, and will proceed directly to an assessment of the three-year reforms and ideas of Sonata Rem.
Unlike many other bearers of imperial blood, Sonata set as her goal, in a certain sense, a return to the traditional foundations of Rem — the building of a free and highly organized civil society and the deliverance from the aristocratic estate that had taken shape over the centuries. As her partner she took, perhaps, the only person who was capable of carrying out such a risky project — Larian Twise. By joint efforts they brought to life a new system of taxation, which in fact put an end to the class inequality that had existed in the empire, but which also spilled over into an active conflict with the representatives of the nobility. A further summary of the most important laws is published in the "Remian Chronicles" (issue 101 and onward)
Analyzing part of the works of Larian Twise, officially published by the modern Larian government, I cannot but agree with many of his arguments. To solve the political and economic questions that existed within the country at that time by soft and slow paces was not possible. The development of the private market was indirectly hindered by representatives of the nobility, who bought up the shares of entire companies and in essence became the sole owners not only of their own lands but also of hundreds of thousands of common workers. Jointly they controlled state officials, the courts, and the police, which gave small enterprise and ordinary citizens no chance whatsoever to defend themselves in any way within the framework of the law. From this standpoint, Sonata Rem's actions can be considered quite positive for the common population of the country.
But was everything so simple with Sonata herself? Numerous witnesses point to the excessive rigidity and unscrupulousness of the young empress, and her unwillingness to enter into any cooperation, make concessions, or settle matters with little bloodshed. At times it seemed that many of her political decisions were more "against" something rather than "for" anything concrete. And the fact of her unlawful occupation of the throne in the end only added enemies to her and gave the aristocrats and the future emperor Tiarius a significant trump card against the then-government. Additionally, it is worth mentioning that Sonata's government also did not strive to carry out an equivalent privatization of industry, in fact taking away the most promising companies such as "Remford," and then restricting access to external investment in them. Such were the Remian "sixties."
In conclusion, I think that the pile-up of serious questions accumulated under the reign of Olivius Rem could no longer be resolved by peaceful means, and an internal conflict in the empire was already unavoidable. Whether Sonata Rem was a lawful and merciful empress or not, the war would have happened all the same. And therefore she can and should be judged only to the same extent as, for instance, Lapis Rem for the dispersal of the senate and the seizure of power.

Tiarius Rem (765-769)
Of the three key problems of the then-Remian Empire that I indicated above, Sonata Rem tried to resolve the first, connected with the influence of the aristocratic nobility on the development of the state, which led in the end to a short but bloody coup, as a result of which, as many believed, the lawful heir to the throne, Tiarius Rem, stood at the head of the empire.
It makes little sense to describe all the countless atrocities and madnesses perpetrated by the latter; however, it is quite curious that, just like his own sister, he in the end fell victim to the third problem unresolved by his father — the excessive independence granted to individual regions of the empire. Having sensed their own strength and the weakness of the central state apparatus after the burning of the capital, the empire instantly split into separate sectors, which marked the beginning of a new, still more terrible war.
Tiarius's reforms were aimed at the strengthening of his sole power and the most brutal eradication of any representatives of the opposition. Old friends and supporters could not understand the changes that had overtaken a once noble and selfless man, and how in such a short time he had turned into a bloodthirsty, hard-hearted, and self-absorbed tyrant. Unfortunately, in my own research I was unable to find a single fact that could be used to describe the reign of Tiarius Rem in a positive light. The fragmentation of the country, the destruction of the economy, the halt of trade, the decline of magic and technology — such are the results of the short reign of the "ideal prince."

Vagael Rem (~770-790)
Despite the fact that many respected historians connect the reign of Vagael Rem in the period of the "shards" with the final and irreversible decline of a once great nation, I would also like to bring forward several arguments in his defense.
Corruption, bureaucracy, greed, and venality of power, the absence of any control over his lands are the main arguments against Vagael, not to mention his true origin. And with them it is indeed very difficult to argue.
However, it is important to mention that it was precisely he who managed, albeit unconsciously, to briefly divert the main conflict away from the war-ravaged capital, preventing the complete and final destruction of all of Ackervald. Even under a bad ruler, torn apart by bandits and demons, the name of the empire survived this historical conflict, and the damage inflicted turned out possible to restore. In the future these lands were seized by "Orion," who likewise had no desire to destroy them, but rather to rule them. As I see it, the true cultural value lies not in specific objects — paintings, ornaments, or furniture — but in the name and the idea associated with it, for the sake of whose existence people are ready to go to voluntary suffering in order to preserve it at any cost and pass it on to future generations. Did Vagael and the members of "Orion" pursue such ideas? Very doubtful. But did their desire to hold onto power in these lands by any means serve the preservation of the capital and the entire central region? More than.

Kamiya Ren (790(?)-827)
Historical justice, in a certain sense, was done when the throne of the empire was taken by Kamiya Ren — the son of Kamiya Kyokhei, who is known to us under the name of Yubin Rem and the true heir of Emperor Olivius. A separate theme of many writings are the speculations about what would have become of the empire had Yubin taken the throne that belonged to him by right?
Once an ally of Sonata's daughter Simfonia, upon learning the truth about his origin, Kamiya joined the organization "Event Horizon," where he quickly attained the rank of grandmaster. Into my hands fell the records of Selkhia Seymour, who once served under his leadership. She described the then still young Kamiya Ren exclusively in positive terms.
Since the contribution of the previous emperor to the victorious war with the demons and the beginning of the second era of flourishing in the history of the Remian Empire is difficult to overestimate, I will devote attention only to his subsequent reforms. In some ways this story may be reminiscent of the rise of the first ruler, Lapis Rem. The same strict but just laws, harsh censorship, broad propaganda, and a significant strengthening of monarchical power. And, much like the events of seven centuries ago, the empire's external surroundings simply oblige it to be ready for anything and to stay on its guard. But unlike the old times, nowadays people have at their disposal entirely different technologies, orders, and even a way of thinking. In order that all of Kamiya Ren's achievements not go to waste, the next emperor must give the younger generation, which has not seen the horrors of the demonic war, a positive contrast. And, thanks to the deeds of the present emperor, his name together with that of his father evokes in people mostly positive associations.

Yujian Rem (827-?)
The era of bloody battles and squabbles for power is gradually receding into the past, new people are born with different dreams and ambitions, and the present state system must ideally reflect their vision of the world. Only thus will it be possible to achieve development and prosperity.
Fortunately, over his seven-year reign Yujian Rem has shown himself a man of exceptionally high moral qualities, hardworking, merciful, understanding. He gave the people what they desired — more freedom and self-expression. He promoted friendly cooperation with neighbors, the development of trade and the economy.
Despite this, the development of society never stops, and the desires and appetites of common people have no limit. I see the following important questions ripening in the empire:
— The need for a change of the state order / the granting of additional powers to posts elected by democratic means and a corresponding reduction of the power concentrated in the hands of the emperor.
— The resolution of the question of the research centers and secret laboratories left over after the war with the demons, rumors of which are increasingly seeping into the public. Should the empire, for instance, rid itself of the weapons of mass destruction, biological and subjugating weapons, that are at its disposal?
— The resolution of the diplomatic question with the neighboring Larian Republic. It is unknown who will have to make concessions, but the prolonged "cold war" between the two states threatens negative consequences for them both.
— The creation of a new, modern codification of laws providing for a clear establishment of political, economic, and class rights and freedoms for every inhabitant of the country.
These and many other important problems will face the new emperor to solve. I am not a politician or an expert, and so I cannot give a single-valued answer as to which path he should take. But I hope that our emperor will continue to leave behind only a positive impression, and that he will have enough strength and courage to make the key decisions at the right moment.

S
An excellently executed work. An excellent knowledge of history and the ability not only to think critically but also to express one's own opinion place this essay on a level with the works of professional historians and political scientists.

For this work the student Moriner Leveristos is awarded the medal named after Kamiya Ren, given only to the most diligent and talented students.

+1 to event points, +25% to learning speed.

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Lapis Rem
Also known as Egir Valenshtein, he went down in history as a genius strategist, a cunning politician, and, most importantly, the first king of Rem, who turned a once-small country into a superpower. Had it not been for the military talents of Lapis Rem, the country would scarcely have withstood the onslaught of the anti-Remian coalition. And yet, even so great a man had his flaws, the chief of which, without any doubt, was his thirst for power. It was this that prompted him to overthrow the senate that had until then ruled Rem and to become its sole ruler. It was this that prompted him to conclude a secret alliance with Beliad. And it was this that prompted him to expand his lands. The period of the first king's reign was characterized, above all, by the strengthening of both the external influence of the newborn kingdom and the personal power of Lapis Rem himself. In my opinion, in modern times a figure like Egir would not have gained popular support, despite all his talents. In the past, the difficult situation of the country played into his hands, making him a hero in the eyes of many of its inhabitants. The king died at the advanced age of 89 and left behind a strong country, the rule of which was taken up by his eldest son.

Hegon Rem
Having served as the right hand of his father for forty-nine years, Hegon Rem came to power in the sixty-fifth year of his life. His policy was radically different from that of the previous king. Where Lapis waged active conquests of his neighbors, there Hegon established trade relations with the new neighbors of the kingdom. During the reign of the second king, Rem took part in not a single major military conflict, enjoying a period of cultural growth and improvement of the citizens' condition. His greatest achievement, however, was the establishment of contact, and subsequently of friendly relations, with Alait. It was precisely in the times of Hegon Rem that the first mages appeared on the lands of the kingdom. In my opinion, Hegon Rem was a talented ruler who proved the ideal successor to his father. Where someone else might have tried to "capitalize on" Lapis's success with a series of new conquests, Hegon consolidated that very success. A truly wise ruler, he deserves no less praise than his predecessor. Hegon died in the one hundred and second year of his life, appointing as his successor his third son. One of the few known mistakes he made during his reign.

Archon Rem
The first, but unfortunately not the only, of the madmen on the throne of Rem. Being a graduate of one of the Alaitian magical academies, Archon saw perfectly well the whole range of possibilities that the sorcerous art opened up before people. Whereas the first mages had appeared on the lands of Rem through the efforts of his father, it was through the efforts of the third king that they were fully integrated into the life of the empire. Someone might say, even too densely. While no one would dispute the usefulness of a special educational institution for mages and their use as part of armies, the use of magic in the judicial system was a highly questionable decision. Leaving aside even the influence of corruption among the mage-investigators on the process, this directly contradicted the laws on the rights of the empire's citizens written by Hegon. And, who knows, had Archon's reign continued further, might he not have begun to execute people for thoughtcrimes? In the end, this was not the only case where the new king neglected the welfare of the common people. Moreover, he diligently imposed his own ideals upon them.
Naturally, under such a policy, Archon earned many ill-wishers — both among the common people and the nobility. And whereas in any other situation they might have resigned themselves and waited for the natural death of the ruler, Archon, being an extremely talented mage, diligently did not want to die, clearly planning to outlive even his own children. As a result, it was one of them, his eldest son, Prince Leos, who made an attempt to eliminate the tyrant, by means of the services of a Beliadian hired killer. To the conspirators' misfortune, even here magic helped the tyrant survive. But, although it dealt with his physical wounds, the wounds of the soul stripped Archon of those last scraps of humanity that he still had left. His regime grew even harsher, and for the opponents of the regime a special prison was built, named after its first prisoner — Leosfort. Only by the year 323 did the patience of the inhabitants of Remi finally snap, and Archon, at last, found peace. Perhaps for the first time in many years.

Eirin Rem
The youngest of the rulers of Rem, the grandson of the previous king, was chosen as ruler by the organizers of the second conspiracy against his grandfather. The reason for such a decision by the conspirators is simple and obvious — they hoped to make of the youth their own puppet, taking decisions advantageous, above all, to themselves. This plan, however, was not destined to come to pass — upon reaching majority, Eirin completely renewed the state apparatus of the kingdom. The bungling manipulators lost their posts, but kept their lives.
In terms of cunning, firmness of character, and readiness to go all the way, Eirin was no inferior to his distant ancestor, Lapis Rem. And like him, the young king brought stability to the country and significantly expanded its territories, including annexing to Rem the kingdom of Alait and the lands that would in the future become the duchy of Larian. Also like him, he transformed his country into something greater — the Remian kingdom took on the proud name of the Remian Empire. Despite all his successes, Eirin died as tragically as he did absurdly — at one of the tournaments he himself had founded, at the age of sixty-five. An incredible stupidity for, it would seem, a very talented ruler. One can only guess whether many of the merits attributed to him were in fact the result of his own efforts, rather than the hard work of his advisors.

Reisen Rem
A madman and a bloody tyrant, Reisen Rem came to power owing to the fact that all the other heirs had "mysteriously" died, in one way or another. Unlike Archon, the reign of Reisen had not a single even remotely positive moment. It was through his efforts that the class system became officially entrenched in the country, and the attempts of the people to stand against it led to the twenty-year civil war, after which Reisen practically ceased to leave his equally mysterious as he was sinister palace. The regime of the second emperor ended after his mysterious death — for an unknown reason, Reisen's heart stopped. And the sight of what Reisen had been doing in his palace was so terrible that the palace remained sealed for several hundred years. Historians still have not agreed on what exactly the dead emperor had been doing there. According to one of the most popular, though unofficial, versions, Reisen was a dark mage and a demonologist who filled his dwelling with unclean spirits of every kind.

Beryl Rem
Known for his saying "I will take upon my shoulders the sins of my grandfather," Beryl was among the first to step across the threshold of Reisen Rem's palace and to decide to seal it. Although he was not the direct heir of the previous emperor, his charisma allowed him to convince the other claimants to the throne to yield this right to him. Absorbed in the work of restoring the damage inflicted by Reisen's reign, Beryl did not leave behind in history so noticeable a mark as many of his descendants and predecessors. Yet everything that is known to us about him characterizes him as a very talented and wise ruler.

Verillian Rem
The period of the reign of Verillian Rem, crowned in the year 496, is above all characterized by the active development of erinium technologies. So characterized, in fact, that it even exerted a great influence on the foreign policy of the empire. It was precisely the wealth of the swamps of the snake-men in erinium that became the cause of the armed conflict between them and the Remian Empire — a conflict from which the latter, thanks to its superior technologies, emerged the victor. The discovery by Remian navigators of Frongkhvar, the "continent of pain," is also in many ways connected with their use of erinium ships. Unfortunately, Verillian's death came precisely during the time of this very expedition, and the government that succeeded him, lacking the foresight of the late emperor, put an end to further exploration of the mysterious continent. Perhaps not the greatest of the Remian rulers, Verillian more than earned his place in history as an active champion of technological progress.

Olivius Lapis Rem
Of all the emperors of the Remian Empire, Olivius was closest in character to his distant ancestor and founder of the dynasty — he was as talented as he was, but in equal measure as power-loving. It was precisely as a result of his ambitions that the long peace that had reigned in the empire for many years was broken and its territories once more began to expand. First at the expense of a former ally, Beliad, and subsequently at the expense of the empire's long-standing opponent — Nihon. It was precisely the desire to seize this country that drove Olivius, as though the expansion to the east never completed by Eirin had been a personal insult to him. However, its capture did not satisfy the emperor's ambitions, and his expansion continued for some time, until he deemed further growth of the empire inexpedient and took up the strengthening of the position of his own line.

Sonata Rem
The first empress, the mere mention of whose name to this day can give rise to heated debate. An extremely talented and purposeful personality who, in following her own ideals, was ready to go to great lengths. For instance, to usurp the throne, which, taken together with her striving to abolish the aristocracy, did not meet with the approval of the majority of the noble houses of the Remian Empire. Nevertheless, the common folk loved their new ruler, who spared no effort to improve the quality of their lives. And perhaps, had she acted more cautiously or had the situation with Tiarius unfolded somewhat differently, she might have succeeded in leading the Empire into a new golden age. Unfortunately, Sonata rushed with some of her reforms and, in only a few years, managed to set against herself a whole row of influential factions at once, which dealt a heavy blow to the integrity of the empire. And this was enough for her brother Tiarius Rem, more popular with the aristocracy, to succeed in overthrowing her and laying his hands on the throne. The subsequent history of Sonata Rem, no matter how anyone may relate to her, could not be called anything other than a tragedy.

Tiarius Rem
In the early years of his life, Tiarius was famous, if for anything, then for his positive personal qualities and numerous talents. A wise leader and a favorite of the aristocracy, he was regarded by all as the most likely heir to his father's throne. But at the moment when Sonata usurped power, the "ideal prince" showed his true face. In the course of the civil war, by means of weapons of Reisen Rem obtained from unknown sources, a personal army of thugs, and the support of the "Legacy" faction led by Thalassius Semis Deim, later to become the demon lord Thalas, Tiarius occupied the capital and seized power in the empire.
Compared with what Tiarius and his bandits did, even the crimes of Reisen and Archon pale. Numerous brothels with slave women, the legalization of slavery, and the "academy of brides" — this is only a small part of the list of his crimes. The invasion of demons arranged by Thalassius was the cherry on the cake. By his atrocities, the usurper united against himself the fragmented factions of the empire and, in the end, was defeated. But behind him he left only broken lives and smoking ruins. What none of the external opponents had managed to do over many centuries, Tiarius achieved in only a few years — he destroyed the empire that he had wished to rule.

Vagael Rem
Also known as Vagael L. Morr, he was a distant relative of Olivius Lapis Rem. Although initially, after the overthrow of Tiarius, power had been planned to be placed in the hands of Luciola Rem, she was severely wounded in the battle with the usurper and fell into a coma, which continues to this day. It was precisely the absence of direct heirs, taken together with the lack of desire on the part of the coalition members to engage in the restoration of the empire, that allowed such a pitiful and weak man to seize the throne. In any other situation, a petty rogue like Vagael could not have counted on such an honor. In part, it is precisely for this reason that beyond the borders of the then "Remian Empire" he was not even considered an emperor. The new ruler could not and did not wish to deal effectively with any of the problems that his country faced. Bandit groups, ignored by the official authorities, were the norm for his regime. And, in the end, it was precisely one of such groups, "Orion," that gained sufficient influence in the country and overthrew Vagael. Only a bullet from an unknown hero, fired at the coronation of the leader of "Orion," saved the empire from yet another usurper.

Kamiya Ren
The son of the lawful heir of Olivius Lapis Rem — Yubin Rem, also known as Kyokhei Kamiya. Nevertheless, despite his being the lawful heir to the throne, Kamiya Ren never took the surname of Rem, although he had a far greater right to it than his predecessor. A skilled warrior, a genius strategist and scholar, the possessor of many talents — he was exactly what the country needed at that time. He raised the Remian Empire from the ashes, won back the lands of Laytia from the demons, and even completed part of the reforms begun by Sonata. Under his rule, the empire ceased to be a pitiful shadow of its former self and once more became a country of which its citizens were proud. But, despite all his merits, Kamiya Ren was, above all, a leader for wartime. And, when peacetime arrived, the legislative code of the empire began to become overgrown with ever new and new prohibitions, while representatives of the press and culture were subjected to harsh censorship. Despite this, Kamiya Ren is deservedly considered one of the greatest heroes of the empire. In the year 827 the emperor fell victim to a hired killer.

Yujian Rem
The younger son of Kamiya Ren, Yujian was crowned at the age of nineteen after his elder brother, Kamiya Yuki, had renounced his rights to the throne. Over the seven years of his reign, the young emperor has achieved much, repealing many of his father's controversial laws and continuing the course once taken by Sonata Rem toward the expansion of civil rights. Despite his age, Yujian Rem gives the impression of a wise ruler who genuinely cares for his subjects, and I am confident that under his leadership the empire will enter a new era of prosperity.

A
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Lapis Rem – a great man who saved our country, paralyzed by a weak and corruption-ridden senate, from inevitable ruin. In essence, the founder of our state, without whose actions Rem would now either not exist at all or would be a weak power of no geopolitical significance. He spent more than a third of his life fighting for our country, and although some historians now try to revise his merits and call him a "dictator" and a "usurper," I am deeply convinced that he was a true hero.
Hegon Rem – a true son of his father, who carefully preserved and enriched what the previous king had created. If Lapis Rem gave Rem its territories, then Hegon turned those territories into flourishing lands. His foreign policy, too, proved to the whole world that Rem knows how not only to fight but also to befriend, which was especially important after the protracted wars of the previous ruler.
Archon Rem – a tyrant who forgot that the aristocracy of spirit is the most important thing and decided that he could solve any question by means of magic. His only merit is that he developed the system of magical sciences in our country, thanks to which for a long time the imperial school of magic was one of the strongest in the world.
Eirin Rem – a capable sovereign who ably employed both diplomacy and military action. His method of incorporating Alait into the empire has deservedly gone down in the textbooks of history as one of the most brilliant political moves ever carried out by our rulers. It was he who turned Rem into an empire and became our first emperor. I would like to note that although his death was an honest and noble one, I still consider it extremely unreasonable – a ruler must put the needs of the empire and the people above all else, and not the desire to demonstrate his skill in a martial duel.
Reisen Rem – a madman who nearly ruined the empire – if rumors are to be believed, twice. The first time he did so during his own reign. The second time it happened when the greedy mercenaries who penetrated his palace released from there a multitude of horrors theretofore sealed away – knowledge of necromancy, demonology, and also a woman who became the cause of the fall of Tiarius Rem. Of course, this information was not officially confirmed, but I deemed it still necessary to note. However, like Archon, he did after all do one correct deed – he gave the aristocracy its privileges, for nobility of spirit and of birth ought to be recognized and exalted above the common people.
Beryl Rem – although his name did not enter the annals of history as the name of a great diplomat, conqueror, or politician, it was he who saved the empire from ruin. As often happens in this life, the one on whom many lean remains unnoticed by the majority of people.
Verilian Rem – gave the empire emirium and, in essence, laid the foundations of the country's future industrialization, thanks to which Rem was for a long time the most technological country in the world.
Olivius Lapis Rem – it seems to me that his middle name does not coincide by accident with the name of the founder of our nation. After all, he conquered lands as though the spirit of our first king had entered into him. A great emperor who managed to bring such a mighty country of warriors as Nihon to its knees.
Sonata Rem – a usurper who unlawfully seized power, trampled the will of her father, the customs and traditions of this country, and also doomed our state to the most painful civil war in its history, from the results of which we have not been able to recover to this day. Sonata also destroyed the institution of the aristocracy as such, replacing the rule of noble blood and spirit with the rule of money.
Tiarius Rem – a man who ascended the throne because of the actions of the previous empress, who replaced the true testament of the emperor. A tyrant who split our country, ruined and destroyed countless lives, and ordered things to be done with his sister that cannot be described even on paper. Truly, he was the embodiment of evil.
Vagael Rem – a talentless individual who was engaged in his own enrichment instead of governing the country. Doomed to be forgotten by history.
Kamiya Ren – when it seemed there was no longer any hope for Rem, we were given more than just a ray of hope – we were given a veritable sun. Emperor Kamiya Ren saved our country from ruin and transformation into an insignificant state. In essence, one may say he founded the country anew, much like the first king, Lapis Rem.
Yujian Rem – strictly speaking, it seems to me still too early to add this emperor to a history test, for his reign has not yet ended. But if one sets that fact aside, I consider him one of the "peacetime" emperors who so often appear in history after those who expanded the borders of the state. Yujian Rem – a ruler who can heal the wounds left by war. From what I have personally seen and heard of him, he is also the kindest of men, who loves and values his subjects above all else.

B
Recommendations: take a harder and more skeptical attitude toward unconfirmed facts and rumors, and distinguish truth from fiction.