1721 Funeral of Jeremiah Avon-El
The funeral of the late former Szodan of Benacia, Jeremiah Avon-El, was held in Merensk on 20.IX.1721 AN in accordance with Holodomatic-Cedrozurvanite ritual and attended by approximately 7,000 family members, friends, and supporters. Despite the desire of his son, Zacharias Avon-El, the Commissioner for War, to grant him state honours, the High Presidium of the Benacian Union denied this request. The denial was attributed to the deeply divisive legacy of the Scouring, a devastating event that saw the atomic immolation of seven Elwynnese cities during the Second Elwynnese Civil War. This event continues to trouble Elluenuueq and the Sovereign Confederation even after three decades.
Jeremiah Avon-El, who received exceptional medical care and rejuvenation treatments, eventually succumbed to colon cancer at the age of 96 years while living in exile at Cedarwood Hall in Natopia. His body was embalmed and temporarily interred in Natopian soil until negotiations could be made for the return of his remains to Benacia.
During the funeral, Avina Mira Avon-El, the late former Szodan's daughter, passionately defended his rule, seeing it as a necessary action to save Humanism and the Raspur Pact from dissolution in the face of what she described as unprecedented treason by the Elw and their Amokolian supporters. She expressed her gratitude and affection for her father, despite the negative portrayal of him by the international media.
Magister Zurvanudin Miran al-Osman, the officer commanding Benacia Command, presided over the funeral and urged the mourners to leave the judgment of Jeremiah Avon-El's legacy to history. He acknowledged the difficult decision that Avon-El had to make during the continental crisis of the Scouring in 1695, referring to it as the hardest decision for a soldier to assume high responsibilities.
The funeral of Jeremiah Avon-El highlighted the complex and controversial nature of his rule, with his daughter defending him while others acknowledged the need for historical perspective to judge his actions. The event served as a reminder of the ongoing impact and divisions caused by the Scouring in the Benacian Union.
Among the few international guests was Marcus Avon-El Myksos, the Dutch of Vigeland and Jeremiah Avon El's nephew by his late sister Sara. Jeremiah's sister-in-law, Lady Aurelia declined the invitation to attend, as did Li Naomiai Avon-El, Chancellor of the Order of the Holy Lakes (his second cousin), and Senator of the Lakes Asmila Avon-El (his first cousin once removed). As it was not a state funeral, Hurmu did not send a diplomatic representative.
