Autarch of Drakaes

The Autarch of Drakaes, referred to as Autarka bon Drakaes in Drakaeschlange and Autarca de Drakaes in Amarillian, was the title used by the ruler and head of state of the Drakesland Autarchy and its pan-Drakaen successor states such as the Regnum Drakaes, the Drakaen Köntrybund and Zie Western Drakaes. It has also been used as a ceremonial title during the periods in between the dissolution and formation of a Pan-Drakaen state. Often, it was only called "Autarch", without explicitly talking about Drakaes, as the Autarch title was unique and implicitly associated with Drakaes. 
Originally, the title represented a semi-elective autocracy during the Drakesland Autarchy. The title became a fully elective monarchy with the end of the Regnum Drakaes and the Drakaen Concordat. It then became a federative elective monarchy in the Drakaen Köntrybund and was finally turned into a federative republican charge. Between the years 77 TE to 146 TE and 160 TE to 232 TE, taking place between the fall of the Concordat to the Coronation of Delta Aulian Drake and her suicide to the coronation of Maria Canalopin, the title was often referred as "Last Autarch of Drakaes" and held a ceremonial, non-binding value. 
== Title ==
The Autarch of Drakaes title is often considered of the highest prestige in the Drakesland. It is matter of debate if the Autarch title is equivalent to titles such as "Emperor" or "Empress". Even though no emperor in the Drakesland has been a vassal or subject of an Autarch in any point in the history of Drakaes, the annexation of the Andlirian Empire and the subordination of the Ellysian Empire, point towards the Autarch title occupying the highest step in the hierarchy of titles in the Drakesland. Pan-drakaenist historians also defend this thesis due to the difference in nature of the Autarch title compared to Imperial ones. While most imperial titles in the Drakesland claim rule over a nation of its own, within the Drakesland, the Autarchy is the only institution with explicit drakaen-wide projection throughout its history.
On the other side, some point out that both the Valrean Empire and the Empire of Amarillo, the two main declared empires in the Drakesland, had some Drakeslands-wide ambition, partially justified by a rejection of Drakaes as a single nation. In Amarillo's case, it was also justified by the notion of the Drakeslands as a coherent political region and by Drakaen common heritage. All of this makes the Emperor and Autarch titles of equivalent prestige and symbolism, but very different ideologies and sources of legitimacy. 
Other scholars point out that the comparison of the prestige between each title isn't really pertinent, and it depends mostly on the political situation at a given moment. For example the Autarch's title powers, source of legitimacy and way of appointment, changed a lot throughout history, making its perceived prestige change as well. In the same manner, the other empires in the Drakesland mostly became empires after traumatic weakening events, and are often considered to have been more influent and powerful in their earlier iterations than right after becoming Empires, despite the uncontestably more prestigious title. Finally, for the pan-drakaen ambitions, Amarillo already had approximately the same pan-drakaen policy and the same justifications for it as a Kingdom than as an Empire. In this period, the King of Amarillo held more power and authority than the Autarch, whose title was, by then, ceremonial. He also was, regarding influence or authority, on a par with the Emperor of Valreach. Despite this, no one would say the King title in itself is equal or superior in prestige to the titles of Autarch or Emperor. According to this vision, prestige is something that is more tied to the political figures themselves, and depends on their concrete political situation rather than on what title they hold.
It became a tradition and a symbol of respect to refer to the people occupying the title as Autarch, previous to their name. When naming the full title, it was often preceded by the number of succession in which they held the title. As so, the ceremonial way of referring to Kawaii II during its reign would be "Autarch Kawaii II Poliorcetes" or "Kawaii II Poliorcetes, Twelfth Autarch of Drakaes". If the person who held the title had other ceremonial or land titles, they would be added after the Autarch title.
The source of legitimacy of the title has been changing throughout Drakaen history. It began as senatorial legal title, given by a legislative chamber, but in a single generation it turned into a title tied to a divine right over the land. With the implementation of Vareism as the state philosophy of the Autarchy, it became again a rational-legal title. It is often considered that the during the Drakaen Köntrybund, the source of legitimacy of the Autarch was a hybrid between traditional legitimacy, backed by ancestry, and rational-legal, due to its institutionalization with the Neu Köntrybund Saculdum. With the Mandate of Zie Western Drakaes, the Autarch title became fully backed by constitutional legitimacy, even if a continuation from the previous ceremonial Autarch was kept.
=== Associated titles ===
The title of Autarch was traditionally tied to other titles of similar relevancy or ceremonial such as the title of "the Dragon", "Protector of tthe drakaen People" or "Unifier of the Drakesland", among others. These ones were strictly tied to the figure of the Autarch. However, some ended up being held by other people who didnt occupy the Autarchy. 
==== Drake ====
The word "Drake", probably being a word for "Dragon" in Old Drakaeschlange, now Drage, was most probably the surname or family name of Thomas Drake. It was inherited by Edmund when he ascended to the Autarchy as a way of ensuring the legitimacy of his status. Some historians think that the title held a religious value, tied to the entity known as "the Dragon" . That would explain why the Autarchs that followed Vareism stopped using Drake as their surname and was just sometimes added at the end of their name. The title was stopped being used after Maria Drake Canalopin. 
====Protector of the Drakaen People====
The first use of the title of "Protector of the Drakaen People" dates back to the end of the War of Saafir. It was created by the Drakaen Senate and attributed to Autarch Ivo Marcella following the conquest of the city of Al Saafir. Ivo created the title to refer to the end of the threat that the people of Saafir meant to the Drakaen People. The title fell out use after his death and became purely symbolical and redundant.
After Delta Aulian Drake and Canalopin became the Sixth Autarch of Drakaes, she also claimed the Protector of the Drakaen People attached to the Autarchy. She turned it into one of her main ceremonial titles and gave it a new meaning for her own work to keep peace among the Drakaen people across the Drakesland. Upon her death, the title was inherited by her husband, Soronaca Aulian de Porphyropolis, even though the Autarch title was inherited by her sister Maria. From then on, Soronaca would keep the title, mostly spelt it as "Protector of the Drakaen Peoples", to reflect his cooperative pan-drakaenist ideals. The title was never attached again to the Autarch title, but it stayed strictly personal and did not become attached to the Amarillian royal title either. Under Soronaca's reign and, to a more limited extent, when he acted as Viceroy of Las Islas Doradas, this title was used by the walrus as a symbol of his drakaen policy, and as a way to legitimize his and Amarillo's prominent role in creating peaceful, independent and self-determined Drakeslands.
====King of Aurica====
Before being named Autarch by the Senate of Aurica, Thomas held the title of King of the City of Aurica, an independent city-state that had broken ties with Rathnir. The new title of Autarch did not overwrite the Kingship of Aurica since the City of Aurica turned into the capital of the Drakesland Autarchy, a wider state formed by more municipalities that got representation in the Senate. The Autarchs that ruled the Autarchy and Regnum used the title mostly for ceremonial purposes since the city's administration was traspassed to a Constable during Edmund's Autarchy.
After the dissolution of the Drakaen Concordat, in 77 TE, the title stopped being used by Autarch Tiffany. At the same time, the regions of the "Heartlands" or "Dragon's Heart" gained independence and got divided between Barbossa and their vassals of the Smegsland and the Old Guard. These last two merged into the "Drakaen Westlandes" and then integrated the city state of Königsburg. This last integration supposed the formation of "Zie Drakaen Union", a Autocratic Kingdom ruled by the House of Fairfax, last Constables of Aurica. Ocelton Fairfax began, then, using the title of "King of Drakaes". Even if there was no mention to it as successor of the Kingship of Aurica, it is considered as a legitimate continuation of the old title.
This title over the Drakaen Kingdom disapeared in 141 TE, when the Constitution of the High Kingdom of Valreach was signed by the Diarchs of Valreach. The three kingdoms forming the Valrean Realm, Nidaros, Nujh and "Neu" Drakaes were merged into a single one and the title stopped being used.
Following the end of the Valreach Civil War, the regions of Drakhaart and the Smegsland were integrated into Kingdom of Irulan and later Elanor. These region, that had called itself Smegan Shogunate during the Civil War, achieved independence in 169 TE under the name of Pirate Kingdom of Aurica and ruled by Max Zuhteus. The King claimed continuity from the former Kingdom of Neu Drakaes, as it adapted its flag and symbols of legitimacy. This Kingdom kept its independence until 174 TE, when, after a short period as Third Holy Drakaen Empire, it was annexed by the Kingdom of Amarillo. The Kingdom of Aurica or Neu Drakaes disapeared again and the region of Aurica and the Smegsland became a Viceroyalty within the Amarillian Realm. 
After forty-four years in the Kingdom and Empire of Amarillo the region became independent once again in 221 TE under the name of Kingdom of Aurica. The title of King of Aurica was restored. Garoldi Smegsint and Bob Ignis were both named Kings of Aurica, turning the Kingdom into a diarchy, de jure. The Kingdom joined Zie Western Drakaes as an Exarchate in 232 TE but remained its royal institutions. The alliance between the diarchs was sealed with a marriage between their offspring, Aurica Smegsint Canalopin, daughter of Garoldi and Kuiper Ignis, son of Bob Ignis. 
===Claimed titles===
Through different means, mostly annexation of lands, different titles and charges ended up in hands of the Autarch and transmited to the following ones. Most of them never appeared in signatures of the Autarchs during their lives but it is considered that they held the title to assert control over the conquered lands. The titles of lands that were lost by the Autarch usually stopped being considered. However, Pan-Drakaenist historians defend that these titles held relevancy even after the fall of the Regnum Drakaes. 
Claimed Titles tied to the Autarch of Drakaes
Title 	Adquisition Date	Notes
Prince of Saafir 	190 ATL 	Used by the rulers of the Wasteland of Saafir, adopted by Ivo Marcella after its conquest.
Lord of the Woodland 	212 ATL 	Land title of the Adopted by Ivo Marcella after the annexation of the territory of the Woodland Dwellers. The province would be then renamed to Western Reach.
King of Vionir 	242 ATL 	Used by chief of the peoples of Vionir, it was taken by Arnin Hanicai after the conquest of Vionir.
Warden of Arqueus 	255 ATL 	Title created by the Drakaen Senate and given to Arnin Hanicai during the adhesion of the peninsula of Arqueus. The title was not used explicitly in signatures after the loss of the peninsula to Taernsbia.
King of Ragdon 	256 ATL 	Title used by Arnin Hanicai after the annexation of the Andlirian Empire, as ruler of the Lands of Ragdon.
King of the Pavili 	257 ATL 	Used by the chief of the Pavili tribes. Obtained by Arnin Hanicai after winning a duel against the previous King and killing him.
Lord of the Tatterlands	~257 ATL 	Title adapted from the previous "Raja de Patatas". Granted by Juan Salvador y Artillero upon the annexation of the Rajahnate of Patatas. The title would stop being used after Autarch Tiffany Canalopin sold most of the Tatterlands to the newly formed Empire of Preyella.
King of the Alanai 	257 ATL 	Previously used by the Raja de Patatas for his rule over the people of Alanai, it was given to Arnin Hanicai with the annexation of Patatas. Most tribes of the Alanai people never recognised the Drakaen rule over the land.
Emperor of Ellysia 	258 ATL 	Formerly used by Thas Ellas for his rule over the Ellysian Emprie, it was adapted by Arnin Hanicai to commemmorate the annexation of Ellysia under the Drakaen banner. Tiffany Canalopin, as last living member of house Ellas also used the title. Future Autarchs of Drakaes of the Canalopin dynasty would use this double claim on their signatures.
Prince of Almaria 	259 ATL 	Title used by the sovereigns of the Almarian Realm in the Akora peninsula. Their integration into Regnum Drakaes turned Autarch Arnin into the new Prince. The title ended up tied, as well, to the Realm of Ragdon.
==History==
In Drakaen tradition, Thomas Drake was proclaimed as Autarch in 10 ATL, in the Drakaen Calandar, or 218 SIP in the Elder Calendar, with the foundation of the Drakesland Autarchy by the Senate of Aurica, that became the Drakaen Senate. The tales are vague about the decade between Thomas' Landing and his coronation. While some claim that he had crowned himself as ruler of the entire Drakesland, most historians agree that the Autarchy did not have expansionist intentions until Edmund's autarchy.
For most of its history, the Autarch of Drakaes title has been elective or semi-elective. Thomas Drake, first Autarch of Drakaes, endorsed Edmund Neumanne the year 72 ATL as his successor to the Autarchy. It is unclear if the endorsment was followed by a vote in the Drakaen Senate or if Edmund was later ratified as Autarch once Thomas had passed away.
In the Neu Köntrybund Saculdum, closest text to a constitution the Drakaen Köntrybund had, the Autarch is able to name a successor. However, the text seems to tie this allowance to the abdication of the Autarch. Either way, the Köntrybund only had one Autarch throughout its history. After its dissolution, Delta Aulian Drake passed the title on to her sister Maria Canalopin. The decision to not give the title to any of her legitimate children is still a matter of debate. Most suggest that since Delta's right to the Autarchy came through her mother, Tiffany Canalopin, she saw fit traspassing it to Duchess Maria. Some historians, closest to the figure of Delta, suggest a sense of guilt as the main drive to pass the title to her sister.
When Maria inherited the title, she held it ceremonially for the following sixty-two years, becoming the seventh Autarch. During most of that time, she lived in New Yoake and Takavia. The title held no power or authority over any state or organisation, however it was still a title of high prestige among the Drakaen nobility. When she was chosen Autarch of Zie Western Drakaes, the senate considered the eighth autarchy had begun and thus, she became both the Seventh and Eighth Autarch. 
The People's Mandate of Zie Republik Wäßener Drakaes was the first and last legislation that specified a system of renovation of the charge, through its republican and elective nature. Five Autarchs have ruled Western Drakaes during the eighty years it endured. Both Maria Canalopin Smegsint and Lennard Osri-Poliorcetes ruled for twenty-two years as Eighth and Ninth Autarchs. Afterwards, the mandate was reformed and the term for an autarchy was reduced to sixteen years. Autarch Bob Ignis and Autarch Tania Arilla Kyani ruled for this period of time. 
Following the election of the twelfth Autarch, Kawaii II Poliorcetes, the War of the Last Cycle began and for the first time in history, several people claimed the title for themselves during the same period. While Kawaii II is usually considered as the Twelfth Autarch before and during the war, until his death, an unclear situation arises with Aurica Smegsint Canalopin and Delta Drake Canalopin, who were proclaimed Autarchs during Kawaii II's reign. Some sources still use the Sixth Autarchy as the only nomenclature for Delta's title while some others add the Thirteenth. Autarch Aurica Smegsint, since she had not held the title before, it is only referred as the Thirteenth Autarch. The legitimacy of the three claimants is still a matter of debate among scholars. And so, different dates are given for the begining and end of reign of them three. 
==List of Autarchs==
No.	Autarch	State 	Reign 	Notes
1. 	
Thomas Drake"the Dragon"	High City of AuricaDrakesland Autarchy 	10 - 82 ATL 	After seven years as chief of Aurica, he was crowned as Autarch by the city's people. His rule is little known, but he surely established the core Drakaen institutions that we know today, such as the Senate. He expanded the boundaries of the Autarchy to the Drakaen Sea but he failed to subjugate the main regional native civilizations
2. 	
Edmund Drake	Drakesland Autarchy 	80 - 144 ATL 	Edmund succeeded Thomas after serving as his steward for decades. He founded the city of Varasopolis and integrated the Smeglands into the Autarchy. He dealt with the First Vareist uprisings with an iron fist.
3. 	
Ivo Marcella"the Consolidator"	Drakesland Autarchy 	144 - 231 ATL 	He dealt with the Second Vareist uprisings soon after he became Autarch, following Dhanir fi Varas' death. He introduced Vareism as the state religion of the Autarchy. Later into his reign, he launched a campaign against the People of the Wastelands and took the city of Saafir.
4. 	
Arnin Hanicai"the Conqueror"	Drakesland AutarchyRegnum Drakaes 	231 - 266 ATL 	Not even a decade into his reign, Arnin began a campaign with the largest succession of conquests in the history of Drakaes. He conquered the east, north and far west of the Drakesland, annexing Andliria and Patatas and integrating Taernsbia as a vassal. He led the Drakaen troops in the Coalition Wars, annexing and then disbanding the Ellysian Empire. He died during the Drakaes-Barbossa Diplomatic Crisis.
5. 	
Tiffany Canalopin"the Last Dragon"	Regnum DrakaesDrakaen Concordat 	266 - 269 ATL 	Tiffany Canalopin was chosen as Autarch and took over during convoluted times. She had to achieve peace with Barbossa, allowing the western lands of the Regnum to secede. Afterwards, she oversaw the transition into the Drakaen Concordat. This short-lived state would end up being dissolved by the Autarch herself, kickstarting the War of Drakaen Succession.
6. 	
Delta A. Drake and Canalopin"the Awaken Dragon"	Drakaen Köntrybund 	338 - 351 ATL 	Many decades after the Fall of Drakaes, Delta A. Drake proclaimed herself Autarch, right after her mother's death, Tiffany. She embodied a renaissance of the Drakaen identity, transforming the Drakaen Köntrybund into the cultural successor of the Autarchy of old. After an ultimatum she launched to the Ephorate, she dissolved the Köntrybund and committed suicide soon after. Her short reign had a strong impact on the following generations, keeping the sparkle of the Drakaen identity alive.
7.
8.	
Maria Canalopin"the Blood Dragon"	Ceremonial Title
Western Drakaes 	352 - 424 ATL424 - 446 ATL	She inherited the title from her older sister, Delta. After a brief period as Queen of Nidaros, she fled to Regnum Yoake, where she lived in exile. After the Nachtenreich collapsed, she moved to Takavia. Her reign is marked by constantly fleeing from the Valrean Imperial Realm. She was ratified as Autarch when Zie Western Drakaes was formed. During her rule as Autarch of the ZWD, she saw the integration of the Arthholds and the vassalisation under the Ashai Crownlands.
9. 	
Lennard Osri-Poliorcetes"the Phantom Prince"	Western Drakaes 	446 - 468 ATL 	She was chosen by the people of Zie Western Drakaes to rule as Autarch.
10.	
Bob Ignis"Sword of Hirane"	Western Drakaes 	468 - 484 TE 	
11.	
Tania Arilla Kyani"the Dragon of the West"	Western Drakaes 	484 - 500 ATL 	
12.	
Kawaii II Poliorcetes"the Enlightened"	Western DrakaesSecond Regnum Drakaes 	500 - 511 ATL 	His early reforms of the Western Drakaes into a more dictatorial state almost ended his life. The turmoil resulted in the War of the Last Cycle, a civil war that Kawaii II lost. He died at the hands of Lennard, his nephew.
13.	
Delta Drake Canalopin"the Nachtenreikina"	Second Drakesland Autarchy 	502 - 511 ATL
(Contested since 507 ATL)	
13.	
Aurica Smegsint Canalopin	Drakaen Old GuardSecond Drakaen Köntrybund	Since 507 ATL
(Uncontested since 511 ATL)	
Category:History
Category:Lore
Category:Drakaes