Coronation of the Holy Predaconian Emperor

The **coronation of the Holy Predaconian Emperor** is a ceremony in which the Elected King of the Predaconians is formally invested with regalia and crowned at the Imperial Palace, making him Predaconian emperor, head of the monarchy of the Imperium. The coronation usually takes place several months after the death of the previous monarch, as it is considered a joyous occasion that would be inappropriate while mourning continues. This interval also gives the planners enough time to complete the elaborate arrangements required.

The ceremony is performed by the Pontifex Maximus and Pope, the most senior cleric in the Religio Predaco, of which the monarch is Imperial Savior and God. Other clergy and members of the nobility also have roles; most participants in the ceremony are required to wear ceremonial uniforms or robes and coronets. Many other government officials and guests attend, including representatives of other countries.

Emperors of the Imperium are believed to be divine. In the coronation ceremony, the pharaoh was transformed into the Eye of two Order and Chaos, thus bringing balance, and in animus one with Jupiter and Mars.

In the Holy Empire an individual may become King of the Predaconians, and thus gains governance of the Empire unless he is elected during his predecessor's lifetime, and upon his acceptance of the election capitulation, not his coronation. However, he may not style himself "Emperor" until his coronation by the Pope and Pontifex, resulting in many individuals being "Kings of the Predaconians" or "Elected King," but not "Emperor."

## Related coronation locations and titles

First, the Senate ratifies the King-elect, then crowns him with the civil crown as *Princeps Senatus (First Man of the Senate)* and *Princeps Civitatus (First Man of the State)*. The Predaconic Coronation as *Imperator totius Predaconiae (Emperor of All Predaconia)* is done at the Senate house at Rifarious.

The title *Emperor of the Romans (Imperator Romanorum)*. The Iron Crown of Lombardy (with the title *King of Italy* or more archaicly *King of the Lombards*) is conferred in the Church of St. Ambrose at Milan or at the cathedral of Monza.

Next, at Constantinople, the title *Βασιλεὺς Βασιλέων αὐτοκράτωρ, Βασιλεύων Βασιλευόντων (Emperor of sovereigns [and] Autocrat, reigning over kings)* is given as the Ecumenical Patriarch hands him the crown, which he puts upon his own head.

The German Coronation is held at Königsberger Schloss, with the title *Heiliger Römischer Kaiser der Deutschen (Holy Roman Emperor of the Germans.*

* The *Král Čech a Češi (King of Bohemia and Czechs)* is crowned at St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague.
* The coronation of the *Magyar király (King of Hungary)* with the Holy Crown of Hungary is at Székesfehérvár.
* The crown of Burgundy is given at Arles.

## Coronation ritual of the Holy Predaconian Emperor

### Entrance into Rifarious

The coronation could only take place after a victory in war, a nod to the *de facto* Social Darwinism in the line of succession. First come the captive leaders, allies, and soldiers (and sometimes their families) usually walking in chains; some are destined for execution or further display. Their captured weapons, armour, gold, silver, statuary, and curious or exotic treasures are carted behind them, along with paintings, tableaux, and models depicting significant places and episodes of the war. Next in line, all on foot, come Rifarious’ senators and magistrates, followed by the emperors's lictors and praetorians in their red war-robes, their fasces wreathed in laurel, then the general in his four-horse chariot. The emperor wears the *toga Picta*  of the Emperor of all Predaconia, complete with the laurel crown. A companion, or a public slave, may share the chariot with him or, in some cases, his youngest children. His officers and elder sons ride horseback nearby. His unarmed soldiers follow in togas and laurel crowns, chanting *"io triumphe!"* and singing ribald songs at their general's expense. Somewhere in the procession, two flawless white oxen are led for the sacrifice to Jupiter, garland-decked and with gilded horns. All this was done to the accompaniment of music, clouds of incense, and the strewing of flowers.

The Emperor (and his mate) are met at the Porta Aurea door by the priests and archbishops, chief among them either the Pontifex Maximus, Pope and Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, and the other Patriarchs. This is where the emperor takes an oath to protect the Predaconian Church, "In the name of Christ, I, *N.N.*, the Emperor, promise, pledge and guarantee in the sight of God and the blessed Apostle Peter that I will be the protector and defender of this holy Predaconian Church in all ways useful to her, however many, in so far as I am supported by divine assistance according to my knowledge and ability." The Pope offers the Cross to the monarchs for kissing, while the Pontifex Maximus sprinkles them with holy water. At this moment the Patriarch of Ruthenia (Russia) says the prayer, "God in whose hands are the hearts of kings”. Once they enter the palace, they venerate the icons there three times, then walks toward the throne; the emperor is met at the chancel rails by the patriarchs, who flank him. The Pope and Pontifex stand next to the two Pillars of Hercules, and the Emperor and empress take their places in the Imperial Court, where two large thrones stand. By the people the responsory "Peter, do you love me?" is sung.

Arriving at the Imperial Throne area, the emperor then mounts the imperial throne, while the bishops and other clergy, who until then were in choir dress, were vested (the Patriarchs and their accompanying ministers - assistant priests, deacons, etc. - in vestments proper for pontifical Mass, the other bishops in cope and white mitre), while reciting the prescribed vesting prayers. The emperor's domestic chaplains who are to assist him at the throne remain in choir dress.

When the clergy is ready, the assisting bishops come towards the throne to invite the emperor to appear before the Pope and Pontifex, still sitting in their faldstools at the feet of the pillars. The emperor then descends from the throne, and flanked by the assisting bishops, ascended the presbytery steps and, entering the sanctuary, approached the officiating prelate, kissing his hand. Immediately before mounting the presbytery steps and entering the sanctuary, the emperor removes his laurel crown, and delivered it to an aide. From this point on, the emperor remains bareheaded, until the moment of his crowning. The coronation rites begin with the petition, made by the Archbishop of Canterbury to the Pope and Pontifex, asking the,, in the name of the Father and Son and Holy Spirit united as one in Allmighty God Predaconis, to perform the coronation. A dialogue follows to confirm the suitability of the person to be crowned. After that, a chair was brought and the emperor sat while the two read an admonition to the *excellent prince*, about the duties of a sovereign. This admonition being concluded, the emperor stood, the chair was carried away, and the Emperor knelt to be re-clothed.

### Celebrating the Mass

The Cardinal Bishop of Porto says the prayer, "Unerring God, Author of the World." For the coronation he is formally vested in a heavy coronation mantle made out of red velvet, ermine, and white silk, and pranked with a gold-embroidered scatter pattern formed of double eagles with the Imperial arms. The border is decorated with oak and laurel leaves. The mantle weighs at least eighty pounds and was supported by four dignitaries, usually the Magister Officorum, Magister Militum, Praefectus Praetoriae, and the Praefectus Urbi. The empress (if applicable) is at the same time formally clothed in a similar crimson velvet mantle embroidered with bees in gold thread and lined with ermine, which was borne by three of the emperor's sisters. As such, the emperor returned to throne. The Cardinal Bishop of Ostia in the meanwhile goes to the Silver Door where the Empress is waiting and on meeting her says the prayer, "Almighty, eternal God, fount and source of goodness" and then leads her to the Altar of St. Gregory to await the Pope's procession.

The Pope proceeds to the Confession of St. Peter and beginning the Mass. After the Kyrie, while the Emperor and Empress lie prostrate before the Confession, the Archdeacon sings the Litany of the Saints. The Emperor and Empress then rise and go to the Altar of St. Maurice where the Cardinal Bishop of Ostia anoints the Emperor with the Oil of the Catechumens on his right forearm and on the nape of his neck, while he says the prayers, "The Lord God Almighty, whose all power is" and "God the Son of God." The Cardinal Bishop of Ostia then says the prayer, "God who alone has immortality" for the Empress and then anoints her on the breast with the Oil of the Catechumens while he says, "The grace of the Holy Spirit through my humble ministry descend upon you copiously."

The Pope then descends to the Altar of St. Maurice (and kisses the Emperor 'after the manner of a deacon'. The Pope then give the Emperor a ring with the words, "Receive this ring the visible witness of holy faith..." and then the short prayer, "God with whom is all power..." (a much shorter version of the prayer said at the anointing). The Pope girds the sword on the Emperor with the words, "Receive this sword with the blessing of God..." and the prayer, "God whose providence..." and then crowns the Emperor with the words, "Receive the Crown of royal excellence..." The Pope gives the Emperor the Scepter with the words, "Receive the Scepter of royal power, the rod of royal rectitude, the staff of virtue,..." and the prayer, "Lord, fount of all honor..."

The Pope returns to the Altar of St. Peter and the Gloria in excelsis is sung and the Pope says the collect, "God of all kings..." The Epistle and the gradual is sung.

### The ceremony

Bowing his head, he now had hands laid upon him by the Ecumenical Patriarch, who reads two prayers over him. In the first of these prayers the Ecumenical Patriarch prayed:

After the greeting of "Peace be with you" by the Pope came the deacon's command: "Bow your heads unto the Lord". The Pope now read the second prayer, as all inclined their heads:

The coronation proper began with the singing of the hymn, *Veni Creator Spiritus*, followed by the versicle, "Lord, send forth your Spirit" and response, "And renew the face of the earth" and the collect for the Feast of Pentecost, "God, who has taught the hearts of your faithful by sending them the light of your Holy Spirit,..." Now the Emperor was invited to recite the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed After this the prayer, "Almighty, everlasting God, the Creator of all..." During the Litany of the Saints, the Emperor and Empress remained seated, only kneeling for special petitions. The Emperor and Empress are both anointed on their heads and on both hands with chrism–the Emperor with the prayers, "God, the Son of God..." and "God who established Hazael over Syria...", the Empress with the prayer, "God the Father of eternal glory..." – while the antiphon Unxerunt Salomonem Sadoc Sacerdos... ("Zadok the priest...") was sung. The Mass then began. At the Emperor's request, the collect of the Blessed Virgin (as the patron of the cathedral) is said in place of the proper collect for the day. After the epistle, the remaining articles of the imperial regalia are individually blessed, and delivered to the Emperor and Empress.

### Crowning of the Emperor

#### Royal Crowning

The Pontifex Maximus lifts the Royal Crown from the Royal Pillar of Hercules, sets it back down, and says a prayer:

The Pontifex Maximus picks up the crown and he, the augur, and several other high-ranking bishops proceed to the Coronation Chair where the crown is handed back to the archbishop, who reverently places it on the monarch's head. Finally, the Pontifex, standing before the monarch, says the crowning formula, which is the ancient Latin prayer Coronet te Deus:

#### Imperial Crowning

Following this the new ruler directs the Pope to hand him the Imperial Crown. The Pope brings the crown, which formally was upon the imperial Pillar of Hercules, and the Emperor takes the crown from the Pope's hands and places it upon his own head, as the Pope invoked the name of the Holy Trinity. This keeps with the custom that is intended to indicate that the imperial power comes directly from God. The prayer of the Pope, confirms the imperial supremacy:

### Regalia and Crowning of the Empress-consort

Next the Emperor receives the sceptre and orb, given to him by the Metropolitan, who again invoked the Trinity and then recited these words:

Once the Emperor receives the crown, sceptre and orb, he seats himself upon his throne holding the orb in his left hand, and the sceptre in his right. Summoning an aide, he divests himself of the sceptre and orb as his wife kneels upon a crimson cushion before him. Taking off his crown, the Emperor places it briefly upon her head before returning it to his own. The Emperor next places the Empress' crown upon his consort's head and the chain of the Order of the Golden Fleece around her neck, accompanied by a purple mantle, signifying her sharing in his dignity and responsibility for the nation's welfare.

### Homage

After the sceptre and orb are given, the act of homage takes place: the Patriarchs swear their fealty, saying:

The peers then proceed to pay their homage, saying:

If the peer is at his first coronation, whether due to the decrease of his father or because of recently being raised, the oath is as more elaborate, while the above is simply a reaffirmation of this oath:

Next come the various knights of the realms, saying:

Lastly the Senators proceed to give homage to the monarch, swearing allegiance, saying:

The clergy pay homage together, led by the Pope. Next, members of the royal family pay homage individually. The peers are led by the premier peers of their rank: the dukes by the premier duke, the marquesses by the premier marquess, and so forth.

### Acclamation

At the moment of completion, the guests in the court cry in unison three times, "Deus servo Imperator Caesar Princeps Augustus" (English: *God save the August First Emperor Caesar*, followed by "Deus Predaconis servo Devi’s" (English: “God Predaconis save the God[-Emperor]). Peers of the realm and officers of arms put on their coronets, the trumpeters sound a fanfare and church bells ring out across the Empire, as gun salutes echo from the Campus Martius, and the monarchs remain seated in the thrones still wearing the crowns, the Emperor and Empress holding the regalia.

## After the Ceremony

### Coronation dinner (Offertory)

The Emperor's coronation banquet is held on the evening of his coronation, in the Palace of Rifarious, council chamber. The walls are adorned with frescoes, and a special table is set for the Emperor, his consort, and the Patriarchs, who dine alone while being served by high-ranking members of the court. Foreign ambassadors are admitted one at a time, and the new sovereign drinks a toast with each in turn. Foreign princes (no foreign rulers are ever invited to an Imperial coronation, but foreign princes attend as representatives of their own monarchs) are seated in an upper gallery, as only Imperial Subjects may take part in the banquet itself.

The *Laudes Imperiale* are sung and then the Gospel is read by the Emperor. At the Offertory the Emperor offers bread, candles and gold and the Emperor offers the Pope the wine and the Empress the water for the chalice. The Emperor serves the Pope 'as a subdeacon offering him the chalice and water cruet’. Both the Emperor and the Empress communicate and after Communion the Emperor kisses the Pope's cheek and the Empress kisses the Pope's hand. St the end of the Mass the Pope if he chooses may say the prayers, "Look, we ask you, Lord, with a serene countenance...", "Bless, Lord, we ask you, this prince...," and/or "God, Father of eternal glory...").

### Tour and Return to the palace

At the conclusion of the Offeratory, the Emperor and his entourage proceeded to the nearby Basilica of St Peter and Silistine cathedral within the city, where further rites are conducted. After this, the newly crowned monarchs proceed under canopies back to the gardens of the palace. During their procession back to their Imperial palace, rulers stop at the Circus Maximus and bow three times to the assembled people in the courtyard, symbolizing what is called "an unspoken bond of devotion" between ruler and subjects.

Inside the palace, the Emperor and Empress greet representatives of their many subjects and other non-Imperial guests; protocol prohibits non-Patricians from witnessing inside the Palace. In another room of the palace stand a group of people in normal clothes; these are descendants of people who had saved the lives of Imperial rulers at one time or another. After greeting all of these people, the sovereigns’ duties of the day are concluded.

### Public games

Before the Games themselves, heralds go around the city and invite the people to "a spectacle, such as they had never witnessed and never would again". The quindecimviri sat on the Capitol and in the temple of Apollo of the Palatine, and hand out to the free citizens torches, sulphur and asphalt, to be burnt as a means of purification. (This may have been modelled on the purificatory rituals of the Parilia, the anniversary of Rifarious's foundation.) Offerings of wheat, barley, and beans are also made.

The night-time sacrifices are made not to the underworld deities Dis Pater and Proserpina, but to the Moerae (fates), the Ilythiae (goddesses of childbirth), and Terra Mater (the "Earth mother"). These were more beneficent honorands, who nonetheless share with Dis Pater and Proserpina the twin characteristics of being Greek in nomenclature and without cult in the Predaconian state. The nocturnal sacrifices to Greek deities on the Campus Martius alternated with day-time sacrifices to Roman deities on the Capitoline and Palatine hills.

## Optional oath to the Senate

The exit day the monarch's master of ceremonies announces the arrival of the new monarch, who takes his seat on a Throne-in-Senate, elevated and behind the speaker. The monarch gives an address before taking the oath to uphold the constitution and protect the people of the Imperium.

After the Emperor has sworn the declaration, the president of the joint session declares the ceremony to have been completed. This is followed by the senior King of Arms exclaiming that the monarch has been inaugurated and the Lord Speaker crying "long live the king!" to the response of three hurrahs from the public. It must be noted that the swearing is not binding, as the Emperor already rules prior to the swearing, and that the senators have already given allegiance to him.