The Holy Human Empire

* Coat of arms
* Regions
* World

The Holy Human Empire is the largest and most populous human polity in the western half of the continent. It is a highly decentralized feudal monarchy. It was formed in 1650 MA. The HHE is bordered by Lacertia and the Elven Exarchiae in the north, the Kingdom of Boisival in the southeast, and the Kingdom of Sertorio and the Dwarven Marches in the southwest.

### Direct Imperial Vassals, Fiefs, and Subdivisions

#### Royal (or Crown) Fiefs

The Royal, or Crown, Fiefs are those which are held directly by the Emperor. While they usually have a noble of rank charged with administering the province, the positions are neither hereditary nor lifelong, and thus all vassals of these fiefs serve at the pleasure of the Emperor, able to be removed or replaced at his slightest whim.

1. Imperial City
2. Duchy of Goldenfelder
3. Duchy of Erdemuller
4. County of Harburg
5. County of Stureich
6. County of Katzien

#### Imperial Fiefs

The Imperial Fiefs are those vassals which consist of holdings with varying degrees of privilege and autonomy. The Imperial Fiefs have varying inheritance laws which the Emperor does not have the legal power to interfere with. The noble houses of the Imperial Fiefs thus tend to be quite independent-minded and hostile to any efforts to further centralize power in the Empire.

1. Principality of Tollemeer
2. Principality of Sudlichefestung
3. Principality of Krachensvelt
4. Duchy of Heimatverteidiger
5. Duchy of Drei-Schluchten
6. Duchy of Atrium
7. Duchy of Achenpass
8. Duchy of Buchtelfen
9. Duchy of Sudenschloss
10. County of Erdhorn
11. County of Hamreich
12. County of Tausendseen
13. County of Reinheitsgebot
14. County of Naugard
15. County of Elfisches Todesfield
16. County of Rasenland
17. County of Scwertruhe
18. County of Mittelstaate
19. County of Octoberg
20. County of Eisenbergwerk

### History

1650 MA - King Hagen of Harburg, a young vassal monarch of the Second Elven Empire, unites a coalition of dissatisfied human factions together, including the Deodatic Church, in a rebellion against the Second Elven Empire. This is considered the start of the Human Wars of Independence, and the foundation of what would be later called the Holy Human Empire.

1666 MA - Before signing a peace treaty with the Second Elven Empire, King Hagen of Harburg crowns himself Emperor Hagen I, so as to approach the Elven Emperor as an equal.

1668 MA - Crown Prince Goswin is born.

1698 MA - Emperor Hagen I dies of natural causes. His son, Emperor Goswin I, ascends to the throne.

1716 MA - The Crown Prince Hagen is born. Hagen is the third son of Goswin I, but the only one to survive past infancy.

1719 MA - The War of the Alliance begins.

1723 MA - The War of the Alliance ends. Krachensvelt, Naugard, Elfisches Todesfeld, Eisenbergwerk, Atrium, and Heimatverteidiger are annexed to the Empire, increasing its size by about a third.

1749 MA - Emperor Goswin I dies of suicide, after a lifelong struggle with depression. Emperor Hagen II ascends to the throne.

1770 MA - Present day.

### Politics

#### Emperor Hagen II, House of Himmelbrust

**Emperor Hagen II, HoH** is the current Emperor of the Holy Human Empire.

Emperor Hagen II has pursued in general an active and aggressive foreign policy, in accordance with his late father's wishes. He relies heavily on mercenaries and his personal retinue, which allows him to engage in wars of an expeditionary scale, rather than requiring national levies. This has made Hagen II popular, as his wars bring national pride to the hearts of the people without bringing much of the terror or cost of war to them or their families. His most unpopular act thus far has been the imposition of a luxury tax, and the lifting of several sumptuary laws; many of the wealthier noble families resent both the removal of the exclusivity of their luxuries, and the increased cost imposed on them.

In private affairs, Hagen II remains an active hunter, fencer, and rider, despite entering his 54th year of life. He holds some appreciation for music and poetry, but cares little for reading, preferring to have poems recited. He does not much care for prose, and regards attending to matters of administration as a necessary evil. He is active and social, but neither loud nor talkative; he is an attentive listener and a sly and subtle flatterer. He has a certain confidence and charisma that many find alluring, but he is reasonably dedicated to his wife, the Empress Gunthilde, whom he calls his 'Morning Star', and has only sired a handful of bastards over the course of his life.

Emperor Hagen II sired two legitimate heirs before ascending to the throne. All his legitimate issue since ascending to the throne have been daughters or stillborn. His two sons, Konrad (the elder) and Siegward (the younger), are infamously contentious, and there is concern that upon Hagen II's death, Siegward may attempt to press his own claim.