Velenus IV
Velenus IV (born Velenus Kador) was an Amarr Emperor who reigned from 22626 AD until his unexpected death in 22729 AD. His reign is typically considered a low-point of the Imperial throne, as he was largely ineffective, dominated by his mother Lady Phanca, and came during a time of stagnation in the Empire.
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Early Life
Velenus was born to Phanca Kador and her husband in early 22478 AD. Named after a previous Emperor from the Kador Family, Velenus displayed a keen intellect, creativity, and charisma. However, his lack of drive and ambition quickly earned him the nickname “Lazy Lordling”, an epithet his mother despised. Left to his own devices, Velenus preferred engaging in what his tutors deemed “flights of fancy”, constant daydreaming, and neglecting his studies.
Lady Phanca would not abide her son's lack of motivation, however, and pushed him to succeed. She poured much of her energy into getting Velenus to study and utilize his abilities for his own benefit. When she was not directing her son, she worked behind the scenes to spread his influence.
By the time Velenus was a young man, he was one of the bright stars of the Kador Family. Under his mother's direction, he cultivated relationships with influential Holders and won the love of commoners. When the Kador heir passed away, his mother piled all of her influence with his and used it to have him named the new heir.
Heir and Rise to Emperor
As heir of the Kador Family, Velenus proved to be even more controlled by his mother. The duties required of ruling did not appeal to him and he frequently found himself frustrated by tasks he considered mundane. In many of these cases, he turned to his mother, who directed and guided his actions. On several notable occasions, he simply allowed his mother to make decisions in his name.
Little of this was public knowledge, however. Only the closest advisers knew of Lady Phanca's stranglehold over her son's policy. Because Lady Phanca was a skilled politician and manipulator, Velenus gained great esteem throughout the Empire.
When Damius III passed away, Lady Phanca saw the chance to push her son to the very top. She went to work, securing the support of the Theology Council and other important members of Amarr society. Under her guidance, Velenus won the throne and was crowned Emperor.
Reign
Velenus assumed the throne in 22626 AD. With her son now the most powerful man in the Empire, Lady Phanca dropped all pretense and began to openly wield her influence. In meetings of the Privy Council, she would sit at his side and advise him on how to handle matters. On the rare occasions that the advice ran counter to the other Imperial advisers such as the Court Chamberlain and Imperial Chancellor, Velenus would always side with his mother. When Lady Phanca had no opinion on a subject, Velenus would remain indecisive.
Velenus quickly began to lose respect among the Privy Council and the rest of the Imperial leadership. Often, he was bypassed entirely, with people speaking directly to his mother. She always maintained protocol, however, and ensured that whatever decision was agreed on was spoken from his lips, keeping up the public pretense of his control.
Eventually, Lady Phanca began having her son issue decrees to cater to her personal desires. In the beginning, these decrees related directly to the rule of the Empire. As the years passed, the decrees grew more and more capricious. The most famous of these decrees came to be known as the Ardishapur Decree.[1]
Later years and death
As Lady Phanca exerted more and more control over Velenus, his health began to fail. Members of the Privy Council, who had always been opposed to the arrangement, began to resent his mother's control and struggled to release Velenus from her influence, especially as her decrees and rulings became more erratic and cruel. Several attempts were made on Phanca's life, though all were foiled by the Imperial Paladins.
With assassins failing, an attempt was made to transfer Velenus's loyalty away from his mother. Several plots were put into motion, including one where the Kor-Azor tried to wed the unmarried Velenus to a daughter of their heir. However, because each member of the Privy council desired Velenus's loyalty for themselves, these plots wound up working against each other more often than not.
Finally, they attempted to get Velenus to reject his mother entirely and assert himself. They found Velenus completely unwilling to take charge of his own life, however.
Eventually, the stress of decades of plotting and manipulation by both Lady Phanca and the Privy Council ruined Velenus's health. During a particularly heated exchange during one Privy Council meeting, Velenus suddenly toppled from his throne. Imperial physicians rushed to aid him, but pronounced him dead of a brain aneurysm shortly after.
Legacy
Velenus IV's reign is typically regarded as unsuccessful by historians. While some of the early decrees issued on behalf of Lady Phanca benefited the Empire, they had little long term impact on its health. Trade stagnated, disputes between powerful Holders and the Heirs were left unresolved, and the Empire failed to make any major territorial expansion during his rule.
Many of Lady Phanca's decrees were undone by subsequent Emperors. The only one that remains in effect is the Ardishapur Decree, which has become a badge of honor among the Ardishapur Family.[1] Lady Phanca herself outlived Velenus and spent her remaining years in a Kador Family manor, kept from influencing other members of the family.
See Also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Chroncile: Lady Phanca's Pet Furrier: http://www.eveonline.com/background/potw/default.asp?cid=jun01