King Clements

Coronation portrait of a young Clements

None (October 10th 802 - December 13th 803)

Emperor Briac the Younger (December 13th 803 - September 13th 808)

None (September 13th 808 - Unknown)

King Clements Courviner was an Imperial noble and statesman during the late eighth and early ninth centuries. He was an extremely influential political figure during the reigns of Empress Mathilda and Emperor Briac the Younger. He was the ruler of the agriculturally rich region of Ord'tresse, an inheritance his family has held since the founding days of the Empire. He was also the defacto leader of the conservative camp, and a staunch opponent of expanding church influence in politics. His main powerbase lay in the legislature, which he would use to fight an increasingly powerful executive branch, headed by the High Priest, who would be his main rival throughout his career. He played a prominent role in the Elector Conspiracy of 802, and the standoff with the High Priest of the year of Interregnum. During this year, tensions between the Church and the Nobles nearly boiled over into Civil War between the two men. After the Compromise of December, and the resulting electoral gridlock of Briac's reign, he would gradually take a more passive role in politics, possibly doing to his advanced age, though he continued to lead the conservative camp and wield great influence in the College of Kings, helping to defeat efforts by the High Priest to establish a universal Aether Based Currency. This dropped off further in 805 when he failed to react to blatant gerrymandering in the Dolinian conquests which broke the Conservative majority in the College of Lords. In 808 disagreements over how to respond to a series of peasant uprisings lead to Civil War in the Empire. Despite possessing a powerful Riverfleet, it failed to arrive in time to stop Clovis and his Army from crossing the Oleg. It is believed that he evacuated to Kasteynia with his fleet and court, where he would no doubt lead the Conservative Faction in Exile. However, the results of this Civil War are beyond the scope of the Season.

King Clements was an undeniably brilliant politician, who along with the High Priest would be one of the most powerful men in the Empire during the Aether Age. He managed to build and maintain an effective opposition of Nobles, and carve out a counterweight to growing clerical power, which he fought for his entire career. He proved himself adept at gerrymandering, managing to secure a conservative majority in the lower and upper house for two years. He also left the Empire with some beneficial legislation, such as the Electoral reform bill, which created a system for runoff elections in the event of a tie when selecting a new Emperor. However, his political maneuvering sometimes backfired, such as when he attempted to weaken the power of the Knightly orders over military affairs, which lead to the Settlement of October 783 and the granting of voting rights to the Temple for the first time in Imperial history. He failed to permanently check the rising legislative power of the Church and there growing influence over Government, with most of Clovis' centralizing and anti-feudal reforms being implemented. He did however succeed in forging the aristocracy into a political force to be reckoned with and managed to defeat efforts at land reform in Ord'tresse itself during the 780s.

## Minister of Agriculture

### Monarch

Empress Mathilda (March 3rd 783 - October 10th 802) None (October 10th 802 - December 13th 803)

Emperor Briac the Younger (December 13th 803 - September 13th 808)