Sternenkaiser

## Emperor of the Stars

Coat of arms of the Sternenkaiser

The **Sternenkaiser** (Galactic Standard: *Star Emperor;* more formally *Emperor of the Stars*) is the *de jure* head of state and elective monarchic ruler of the Menschlicher Sternenstaat. The *Sternenkaiser* also serves as the head of the Holy State Church and its ceremonial functions in Veran Catholicism, and acts as the direct overlord or suzerain to all vassalized and autonomous polities of the nation.

Currently, the *Sternenkaiser* exercises the privilege of being one of the most powerful individuals in the Nauticus Sector as per the constitution of the nation (the Stellare Diktate), and arguably even that of most of the Gamma Quadrant of the Milky Way galaxy. Sitting upon the Verdant Throne, all Sternenkaisers embody the natural supremacy and nobility of mankind across the stars. The position of the Emperor of the Stars originates from the last *Urvater* of the Veran Star Confederation, Leonel Kästner, and his transformation of the then-fascist Confederation into the monarchic "Human Star State" on the Day of the Phoenix, in addition to his subsequent coronation as the first monarch on the 31st of December, 0 SA. Jürgen III is the current *Sternenkaiser* of the Menschlicher Sternenstaat, and has reigned for approximately 12 years. He ascended to the Verdant Throne with the approval of the Imperial College upon the death of his predecessor and father figure, Laurenz I of House Ortmann, on the 3rd of February, 779 SA, after a series of devastating financial blows were dealt to the Ortmann family.

The powers and roles that the *Sternenkaiser* possess have been historically altered based on a variety of national events - such as the Civil War of the State - but have nominally always sat upon the Verdant Throne as the final, authoritative figure on almost all issues present within the Sternenstaat. Many of the early monarchs, such as those from House Kästner and onward until the "middle era" of the country, wielded total power and intervened on a plenitude of issues presented to them by the Imperial Court, *Staatskongress*, and *Staatskanzlei*. However, the increasing proletariat awakening to the threat of incapable Star Emperors and the need for the empowerment of the lower classes lead to the Kasman Revolution and subsequent civil war, with the end of such a devastating conflict bringing sweeping empowerment to the civil bureaucracy, the disenfranchisement of the Imperial Court, and the eventual formation of a *de facto* functional diarchic relationship between the *Sternenkaiser* and *Staatskanzler*. Even though the former still retains the enshrined powers of total rule, it is often acknowledged by both parties that the handling of political affairs was to be best delegated to the latter after the civil war; thus making the position of *Sternenkaiser* take on the trappings of a nominally ceremonial role (save important decisions such as declarations of war).

All modern *Sternenkaisers* have resided in the *Palast der Sterne* residential and palatial complex. Such a massive set of structures sits atop the superior surface of the Weiße Lilie superarcology, one of the largest urban clusters on the capital world of Vera. In addition to this, all monarchs have had access to personally constructed flagships, with Jürgen III's currently being a *Himmel*-class mothership.